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Supreme Court considers first campaign finance decision since Citizens United.
Story Transcript
JESSICA DESVARIEUX, TRNN PRODUCER: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Jessica Desvarieux in Baltimore. And welcome to The Real Debate.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard the case of McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission. The case is one of the most consequential campaign finance decisions since the 2010 Citizens United ruling, which allows corporation spending in elections.
Now joining us in a discussion about the case and its implication on the political process are our two guests. Adam Lioz is a lawyer and policy advocate who serves as Demos counsel. And we have David Keating, who is the president of the Center for Competitive Politics.
Thank you both for joining us.
DAVID KEATING, PRESIDENT, CENTER FOR COMPETITIVE POLITICS: You're welcome.
ADAM LIOZ, COUNSEL, DEMOS: Thanks.
DESVARIEUX: So, David, let's start out with you. I know that you and your organization filed an amicus brief in support of McCutcheon. Can you explain your organization's position and why you are supporting McCutcheon?
KEATING: Well, our organization is a big believer in the First Amendment. We think it should mean what it says. And it's fairly simple: the Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.
And this law [incompr.] McCutcheon and other people across the country clearly limits their right to affiliate with candidates to the extent that they would like. As one of the justices today indicated, he said, well, let's say we have a person who would like to support candidates who believe in environmental regulations and gun control. If they want to give the maximum they can, they have got to choose between the types of candidates they want to support, because they won't be up able to support them all.
And so we say that the clear effect of this law–and it's not surprising, given who passed it–it's members of Congress. And they want to starve the ability of candidates to raise money so they can take on the incumbents. And so that's why we think the Court should strike this law down.
DESVARIEUX: Okay. Adam, what's your response? Do you think the Court should strike this law down?
LIOZ: Absolutely not. It would be a pretty radical departure from prior precedent if the Court were to do that. Really this case is called McCutcheon v. FEC, but really it's about do we want a democracy of the many or of the money. What's at stake here is whether the Court is going to reach in and give more power to a very narrow set of wealthy donors who already have tremendous influence over who runs for office and who wins elections.
At Demos, we're big fans of the First Amendment too, but we do not think that the founders intended the First Amendment to be a tool for use by the wealthy to dominate the political process. The Supreme Court has mangled the First Amendment over the years, and this case is an invitation to do that further. We really think that what's necessary here is a democracy in which the strength of your voice does not depend upon the size of your wallet. And this case would take us in the opposite direction.
I just want to say a couple of words about what Mr. Keating said about incumbency protection. That's an argument that we hear a lot. It sounds very reasonable. But it's just not borne out by the facts. Our big-money system, which we already have, which–by the way, the limit that Mr. McCutcheon is challenging is currently $123,200. That's how much he'd be allowed to contribute into the political system in just one election cycle. That's twice what the average American family makes in a year. So we're not talking about a stringent infringement on anybody's rights to participate.
And the reality is that we already have a big-money system, and incumbents fare very well in this system. Incumbents already raise substantially more money than challengers. As an example, our recent report, Billion-Dollar Democracy, showed that in the 2012 cycle, House incumbents outraised challengers by more than 400 percent. They simply have more access to big money than do most challengers. So a big money system suits incumbents just fine. Usually the strongest campaign finance laws–.
KEATING: That's incorrect. The data show that challengers rely on a larger–especially successful challengers, rely on a bigger portion of their fundraising from bigger donors. And that's not surprising.
And we can also look back. And I think probably the most instructive situation: the last time we had a sitting president who was taken out in a primary for reelection was during 1968 election, and we had Gene McCarthy, who ran against sitting a president. He started his campaign in October of the year before the election with the New Hampshire primary in February. That is a very compressed schedule. Gene McCarthy raised about $10 million in today's money from five donors, and he used that money to make the case against the Vietnam War. And if we had the kind of campaign contribution limits then that we have now, there would've been no Gene McCarthy campaign, LBJ wouldn't have been seriously challenged for his nomination, and he wouldn't have been forced out of the race.
So to say there's no evidence that you have at all that incumbents benefit from big money–in fact, it's probably the reverse. The incumbents have the name ID, they have the franking privilege, they get coverage in the media, and it's the challengers that need access to money from somebody who really believes in them.
LIOZ: Actually, I do have evidence. There's studies that have looked comprehensively at this issue across the states and have concluded that contribution limits do not harm challengers.
But we can argue back and forth about this particular point. I mean, I think it's instructive if you–.
KEATING: The fact is we have not had a sitting president pulled out by a challenge in a primary. It hasn't happened since.
LIOZ: There's anecdotal evidence, you know, all over the place. You know, there are comprehensive studies on this issue.
I think the most instructive point on this particular issue is, if you look at how most strong campaign finance laws have been passed across the states, they're mostly passed on the ballot, where that's an opportunity. If you look at low-limits ballot initiatives, they pass overwhelmingly by the people. So if you're trying to paint a picture of–.
KEATING: So what? For many years–for many years we had laws that we passed overwhelmingly to ban gay marriage. Just because people vote for something doesn't make it right that a majority can silence or take away rights of a minority.
LIOZ: No, sure. David, I'm just making a narrow point, which is that if you're trying to paint a picture of incumbents going into back rooms and passing laws to protect themselves in secret, then that's not the picture of campaign finance reform. Those laws tend to be passed only with tremendous amount of public pressure and in the light of day, often on the ballot. So the picture you're painting just doesn't accord with the process and the overwhelming majority of citizens that support these stronger limits. So I see–.
But let's move on. I mean, we can move on to other bigger-picture questions.
DESVARIEUX: David, let's talk about Adam's point specifically regarding big money and them having a greater influence in politics because of this legislation. I mean, can you argue against that, really? I mean, doesn't it sound very logical that if someone has more money and they're able to contribute $1 million or more to someone's campaign, wouldn't that grant them a level of access that the average Joe who might donate $10 to a campaign cannot afford?
KEATING: Yeah. Who's going to deny that? But there are lots of other levels of influence as well. If people who are famous movie stars, famous public figures, they do endorsements, I mean, should we limit influence of influential people? I mean, I say no. And some people, their influence might just stretch to they've been successful in life, they've worked hard, and basically they just want to speak.
And, you know, Adam's point of view is he doesn't want anyone to spend any money speaking if it has anything to do with an election. And I think that's a mistake. I think what we should do is we should have free flow of information, people should speak, voters should listen and the voters vote. And we have laws against giving people money to vote a certain way. We have laws against giving legislators money to vote a certain way. But I don't think we should have laws saying people can't speak. And I also think if candidates and voters think it's really important, we should leave it up to the candidates and the voters to decide these sorts of things.
Now, as far as the McCutcheon case, let's keep some perspective here. No matter how the Court rules, nothing is going to change in terms of how much an individual can give to an individual candidate. It's still going to be $2,600 per candidate for election. That's not going to change from the Court's decision. But what may change is if someone wants to give to a 19th candidate the maximum amount, then it's going to be okay.
And I say if there are people–look, there are a lot of votes that needed to be changed, for example, if you believe in gun control. You're going to need to change a lot more than 19 votes in Congress. So if you want to, if you can find people that want to support people that support gun control and they want to give to 40 candidates, I say there's nothing wrong with that.
DESVARIEUX: Okay. Let's have Adam speak for himself. Adam, what's your response to that?
LIOZ: Sure. It's not the case that I don't think anyone should speak or in fact spend money. Actually, I think that going out and knocking on doors and raising money from average citizens at $100, $200 a pop is actually a very healthy part of our democracy.
All I'm trying to say is, again, the size of your wallet shouldn't determine the strength of your voice. So just because you happen to be successful or even just lucky in the economic sphere, inheriting or making a lot of money, doesn't mean you should be able to translate that economic might directly into political power. And that's what this case is about.
KEATING: Okay. So let's say–.
LIOZ: David, you talked for a while. Can I–?
KEATING: You can spend more time–
DESVARIEUX: David.
KEATING: –knocking on doors, and you think that's okay. Or let's say you're famous and you can hold a free rock concert to sell, you know, lots, hundreds, maybe tens of thousands of tickets for your favorite candidate,–
LIOZ: There's a reason why money is different [crosstalk] There's a reason why money is different [snip] saying there's actually a very particular reason why money is different from all those other examples that David has given, which is that new political science research has confirmed what common sense would tell you, which is that people who are very wealthy don't think, work, or live the same as the rest of us, and they have very distinct and different policy preferences than the rest of us.
A great example of this is the priority that folks give to reducing the debt and deficit versus creating jobs and getting our neighbors back to work. The very wealthy consider the debt and deficit their top priority and reducing unemployment much less so. The general public has the reverse priorities. So what we have is a situation in which the very fact that people are wealthy is giving them different priorities. And the next point is really critical, which is that the Congress and government in the U.S. responds almost exclusively right now to the priorities of the wealthy. If you are in the bottom third of the income distribution, your preferences do not matter at all to the Congress, and if you are in the 90 percent, your preferences are trumped by the top 10 percent.
So what that means is that money is different. Money gives you a different life experience, a different set of preferences. And in our current big-money system, which McCutcheon would make worse if it goes badly, it means that the government and Congress are listening almost exclusively to the people of the top. That is not a fair democracy. That is not what the founders intended. And so we think there are ways consistent with everyone getting to participate and speak freely that would create a system that's just more fair.
DESVARIEUX: Okay. I'll let you have the final word, David.
KEATING: That's a very dangerous line of thinking, because if you look in various industries that have a lot of influence, a lot of people think the media has a certain point of view, a lot of people think the entertainment industry has a certain point of view. And I think it's a very dangerous idea to say, because people have certain points of view, then Congress should be able to regulate how much they can get involved in speaking, whether it's by paying for the speech or running the speech on their own news networks. That's a recipe for government control of exchange of ideas. It's a very, very dangerous idea. That sort of idea could be used for the Congress someday to say, we don't like things like The Real News Network. We don't like what they're putting out. They're putting out a certain point of view. We think we should regulate it because it's dangerous, because it speaks to a certain audience, or because it comes from a certain audience.
I say let a thousand voices speak, let everyone speak the way they can. And if rich speak, fine. If famous people like Opera speak, fine. I say let everyone speak and let the voters decide. Adam basically doesn't trust the voters to go through this information, so he wants to control what they will hear.
DESVARIEUX: Okay, Adam. I have to let you respond to that.
LIOZ: Thank you. I think that's just unfair. And it's not about censoring any particular viewpoint. It's about certain people being able to flood the system and having an overwhelming volume, which drowns out other voices.
And we also, by the way, filed an amicus brief in this case, and what we showed in our brief is that that very reality is contributing to an overwhelming appearance of corruption in this country. Congress has the lowest opinion levels on record even before the shutdown. And that is directly related to the fact that the average citizen understands that he who pays the piper calls the tune and his or her representatives are more accountable to their large donors than their constituents.
This is not a tenable situation for a robust democracy. It's something we need to fix, not something we need to exacerbate. And, unfortunately, Mr. McCutcheon and his allies are pressing a case in the Court which would make things much worse.
DESVARIEUX: Okay. Very, very lively debate.
Thank you very much for joining us, David.
KEATING: You're welcome. Thank you.
DESVARIEUX: And thank you for joining us as well, Adam.
LIOZ: Thanks for having me.
DESVARIEUX: And we'll certainly be keeping track of this case in the final ruling in the Supreme Court.
And thank you for joining us on The Real News Network.
DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy.


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May 28, 2014
Video: Medal of Honor recipient Father Emil J. Kapaun
When the story of human history comes to a close, death and violence don't get the final word. The love of God does. That love, burning bright in the heart of Fr. Emil Kapaun in the darkness of a POW camp in the Korean war, made him a hero.
7 comments:
Simply beautiful. I saw Father's story when he received theReplyDelete
Medal of Honor last year. He is surely a saint already,
canonization must not be far away.
A touching story of Heaven-sent Fr. Kapaun to warriors in need.ReplyDelete
.... ...... I can add nothingReplyDelete
"Father Kapaun, pray for us."ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 14, 2014 at 6:08 PM
I was a young Bristish soldier serving in Korea at the time and am certain that Father Kapaun came to see us. I feel so blessed.
Wonderful dedication and love. Father Kapaun pray for us.ReplyDelete
May his story inspire us all to be strong and live our Faith.ReplyDelete
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subset: commoncrawl


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Does Your Wellness Program Hurt Your Profit…and Maybe Even Your Employees?
Suppose a vendor made you this proposal: "Pay us to take your employees off the job for medical tests that the government specifically says are unnecessary, and then send them to the doctor (at your expense) even though the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) says healthy adults don't benefit from checkups. We also want you to bribe or even fine employees to drive participation. Despite this adverse morale impact and wasted time and money, we promise you'll reduce your healthcare spending, mostly because we'll make up the savings numbers." Here's a solution.


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Tricky questions shouldn't have a place in a trial that is meant to be an exercise of justice but, then, Joan of Arc's trial wasn't designed to be fair. It was designed to reach the scandalous verdict of blasphemy and heresy for one who opposed English rule. At its most basic, it was the cloaking of the State in the garments of the Church so that power could be exercised in new and terrifying ways. The inquisitor–the one in charge of determining Joan's guilt–allowed her accusers to ask a leading question meant to solidify her guilt before the onlooking crowds. They asked her if she was certain that she rested within God's grace. On the surface, it seems a simple question for a woman who had received visions from God calling her to do unconventional things and speak truth to powerful and influential people. But, Joan was aware that there was no good, simple answer. If she said she knew she was in God's grace then she would be labeled a heretic for claiming knowledge that her accusers insisted was open to nobody–after all, only God could claim to know such a thing. If she said that she didn't know then she would be dangerously close to admitting her own guilt before a panel of accusers all too willing to punish her.
Joan responded, "If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me." Though this was a beautifully crafted response, in Joan's ears its beauty could not compare to the sound of the silence that followed it. Her accusers were dumbstruck by the careful precision offered in her words and were forced to take another route of accusation to arrive at the predetermined verdict of guilty and condemned to death. They condemned her for her visions and claimed she was an impostor wrapping herself up in the garments of the Church while serving a civil master. They condemned her for wearing men's clothing and armor as she led French soldiers to resist the abusive and land-destroying practices of the English invaders. She was ceaselessly questioned and housed in a prison guarded by English soldiers instead of in a monastery or convent as the law concerning ecclesastical trials demanded. So, when she wasn't being questioned and tricked by her accusers, she was held in a rough prison cell, forced to wear a flimsy dress that provided no protection from the cold, and "guarded" by the soldiers she had been fighting only weeks before.
After she was condemned–and her condemnation caused no surprise among anybody–she was asked to sign a statement renouncing the crimes with which she had been labeled. Being illiterate, she was duped into signing the statement under threat of immediate death and then this statement was replaced with one confessing her alleged crimes. With this final duplicitous act, she was condemned to be burned at the stake for heresy without it having ever been proved or rightly tried. She agreed to wear women's clothing to her execution but this plan changed after she was sexually assaulted in her cell before the day of her martyrdom. They did not return her torn dress to her and so, instead, she was marched to her death wearing the same clothes she had worn when she fought the English who now condemned her. She was tied to a stake and burned to death on the 30th day of May in the year 1431. As she died, two clerics held a cross before her so that she might focus on the instrument of execution that had robbed her savior of his life. After the flames died down, the coals were raked back so that the crowd would have no doubt that she had died in the flames and at the hands of the English. They took the remains, burned them twice more until they were but ash and then threw the ashes into the Seine river so that no relics might be obtained by those still loyal to Joan.
Read more from Joshua Hearne at his personal website and the website of Grace and Main Fellowship, the non-traditional community he ministers with.


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We are proud of our son for being able to write his name, and my wife was boasting that she helped him learn to write it. Ultimately, we both know it's from God that he is able to learn this skill and my wife has the ability to teach him.
I know that pride and boasting in ourselves is not good (see verses below), but as long as we ultimately acknowledge God in our pride and boasting, is it acceptable to do this?
23 This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
24 but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD.
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble."


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In its 114th year, Billboard remains the world's premier weekly music publication and a diverse digital, events, brand, content and data licensing platform. Billboard publishes the most trusted charts and offers unrivaled reporting about the latest music, video, gaming, media, digital and mobile entertainment issues and trends.
Common terms and phrases
4-channel 8-track album AMERICAN TOP 40 Angeles artists Atlantic SD audience Audio auto cassette awards bass bill Billboard blues Bobby bootleg broadcast Capitol ST Car Tapes cartridge television catalog CBS International channel stereo chart COIN Columbia concert consumer Continued Conway Twitty Corp country music dealers director Distributor DONNY HATHAWAY feature Fillmore East film FIND firm Howard industry jazz Jerry Jerry Reed John juke jukebox June KFML label Love manager manufacturers Maxell ment Mungo Jerry Nashville Nashville Sound operation Parizot percent performance play player Porter Wagoner president profit promotion radio RCA Victor RCA Victor LSP recent record companies record/tape release retail rock SACEM selling singer single songs Sony sound special order station studio talent tape tion Tournier unit Vegas videocassette videotape vocal week WRNB York


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Events in Egypt continue to deteriorate. On Wednesday, rival groups of protesters clashed outside the presidential palace in Cairo, when Muslim Brotherhood supporters of President Mohamed Morsi confronted 300 opposition members who were staging a sit-in. The protesters were initially routed, but after a lull in fighting, hundreds of young Egyptians returned to the scene and a violent exchange of firebombs and rocks ensued. Gunshots were also fired, and more than 211 were injured, medical sources reported. The violence marks the worst outbreak of unrest in the deepening crisis centered on Egypt's new draft constitution, scheduled to be put to a vote December 15.
By nightfall Wednesday, more than 10,000 members of the Muslim Brotherhood had massed around the palace, setting up metal barricades to keep traffic off a stretch of road that runs parallel to the palace in Cairo's upscale Heliopolis district. A banner saying, "May God protect Egypt and its president," was posted on a truck the Brotherhood brought with them. On top of the truck, a man with a loudspeaker began reciting verses from the Quran. Chants from the Islamist crowd also began to fill the air. "The people want to cleanse the square" and "Morsi has legitimacy," they intoned, according to AFP news agency. The fighting extended into Thursday morning, after riot police tried and failed to separate opposing forces. When police failed to ease tension on the streets, residents took matters into their own hands, erecting makeshift road blocks to check passers-by.
The latest round of protests is apparently an escalation of Tuesday's violence, when anti-Morsi supporters descended on the palace, and police fired tear gas to stop their approach. Morsi was inside conducting business, but he left when the crowds "grew bigger," according to a presidential official who spoke on condition of anonymity. By Wednesday, the protests had spread beyond Cairo, and offices of the Muslim Brotherhood's political party in Ismailia and Suez were torched.
The protests were labeled "The Last Warning," by opposition forces, who are increasingly angered by a draft constitution that was rushed through parliament without proper consultation, and does not do enough to protect political and religious freedoms, or the rights of women and minorities. That anger is further exacerbated by Morsi's November 15 decree, granting himself sweeping new powers absent judicial oversight. Shortly thereafter, an Islamist-dominated constitutional panel passed a draft constitution without representatives speaking for liberals and Christians.
Morsi is reportedly unruffled by the latest developments, but four of his aides resigned in protest on Wednesday, reportedly over his handling of the crisis. Three aides quit last week, so now seven of his panel of 17 advisers have left their jobs since the latest unrest began. Egyptian Vice President Mahmoud Mekky attempted to offer the opposition a compromise, claiming that the "door for dialogue" remained open, and that amendments to the 15 disputed articles out of a total of 234 in the draft constitution could be worked out. Yet he insisted that the constitutional referendum on December 15 must go ahead regardless, even as he admitted that his "initiative" was personal, not one endorsed by Morsi.
Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood supporters are urging the opposition to open up a dialogue with the Egyptian president, but they refuse to do so unless he rescinds his decrees and postpones the referendum. Opposition coordinator Mohamed ElBaradei confirmed that position. "Today what is happening in the Egyptian street, polarization and division, is something that could, and is, actually drawing us to violence and could draw us to something worse," he told reporters Wednesday. "We are ready for dialogue if the constitutional decree is canceled…and the referendum on this constitution is postponed," he added.
It is unlikely to happen. First, Morsi claimed he acted to prevent the courts, still full of pre-revolution, Mubarak appointees, from derailing the draft constitution meant to complete Egypt's political transition. Thus, he is imbued with a sense of self-aggrandizing destiny, aided and abetted by the Brotherhood, along with the ultraconservative Salafi Islamists–all of whom are politically astute and well-organized. Second, while liberals, leftists, Christians, ex-Mubarak followers and other public sectors opposed to Morsi form a sizable opposition, they are currently incapable of organizing a mass movement or a grassroots challenge to the current power grab. As a result, opposition leaders consider their best option to be a choice between initiating a campaign for a "no" vote on the referendum, or calling for a boycott against it.
In other words, barring a miracle, it seems virtually certain that Morsi and his Islamist followers will put the finishing touches on their fascist coup in less than ten days.
As these events unfold, President Obama, who was more than willing to abet the ouster of Hosni Mubarak just under two years ago, has "responded" in a manner similar to the one he employed over one hundred times as an Illinois state Senator. Politico put it best: "As protests continued in Egypt on Wednesday, the White House declined to take sides in the conflict, noting that the United States has an important relationship with Egypt, but called for all sides to refrain from violence." In other words Obama voted "present." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was equally "forceful," saying dialogue was urgently needed on the new constitution, which should "respect the rights of all citizens."
Such reticence is a reprise of what occurred when Morsi initially seized control on November 22. President Obama, who was more than willing to praise Morsi for his help brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas–the day before the Egyptian president's first move aimed at consolidating dictatorial power–had nothing to say then, either. "We have some concerns about the decisions and declarations that were announced on November 22," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said, adding that Obama praised Morsi for his help in Gaza because he deserved it. When asked if the president felt "betrayed," by Morsi's coup, Carney's response was remarkable. "We see those as separate issues," he said.
In Egypt, Saad al-Katatni, head of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, illuminated exactly where the nation is headed. "The crisis we have suffered for two weeks is on its way to an end, and very soon, God willing," he told Reuters. That "end" will be the establishment of another Islamic state in the Middle East. It is an Islamic state the Obama administration, as evidenced by its calculated refusal to stand against this naked power grab, is willing to countenance.
Freedom Center pamphlets now available on Kindle: Click here.


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By Cary Greene
If you're exporting wine, or thinking about it, you should be aware of an emerging trend relating to foreign registrations and inspections. The implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has been hot topic recently, particularly with respect to the new registration requirements contained in that law.
But FSMA also gave the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) greater power to inspect foreign and domestic facilities. While wineries are largely shielded from these new powers due to a first of its kind exemption that limits FDA's authority over wine regulation, FSMA's inspection provisions seems to be starting a problematic trend—in the form of retaliatory foreign registrations and inspections.
China, Canada, Russia, Vietnam and Indonesia, are in the process of implementing legislation that directly responds to FSMA. In apparent protest of FDA's new powers, these countries are giving their local agencies registration and inspection authority over U.S. producers.
While we've have heard no reports of actual inspections, we've expressed our concern with the Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB). Foreign inspections would pose a host of practical and business problems for American wineries. It should be up to TTB to determine whether a producer is complying with U.S. production laws, and we will work with the agency to ensure there is a clear plan to deal with this potentially significant problem.


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PITTSBURGH – The players who arrive from other teams notice it immediately. There's something different about a Ravens-Steelers game.
The hitting seems louder, almost as if the stadium sound system is being turned up to a rock band-level. The intensity seems greater. The bumps and bruises last longer, the following week's game seems to arrive much sooner than usual.
Competitively, no NFL rivalry is closer. Each of their last four regular-season games was decided by three points. Last season, the Ravens won in Baltimore, the Steelers won in Pittsburgh. This season, the Ravens won in Pittsburgh, the Steelers won in Baltimore.
That's close.
"To me, it's definitely the best rivalry in sports," Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "It's the most physical game of the year."
As the mirror-image AFC North rivals from adjoining states await their eighth matchup in the last three seasons — the equivalent of a half season's worth of games — there appears to be one discernible difference between them going into Saturday's AFC divisional playoff.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has figured out how to beat Baltimore in big games. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has improved during each of his three NFL seasons, but he's still working on solving the mystery wrapped in an enigma that can be the Steelers defense.
Statistics and records don't always tell all but, considering how close the rivalry is otherwise, those in the Flacco vs. Roethlisberger series are telling. Roethlisberger is 8-2 against Baltimore, with both losses occurring in 2006. Roethlisberger also is 8-2 in the playoffs. Flacco is 2-5 against the Steelers.
"I think he's beaten us every time he's been under center," Suggs said of Roethlisberger. "That's definitely my bigger problem."
He's right.
Since Flacco came into the league, Roethlisberger has thrown five touchdown passes and three interceptions while going 5-0 against the Ravens. He missed two games against them due to an injury in 2009 and the four-game suspension he served earlier this season. Flacco has thrown six touchdown passes but seven interceptions against Pittsburgh, two of which cost his team games.
For all the rivals' similarities, and their shared toughness, the Ravens understand they probably won't overtake the Steelers until Flacco's play matches or surpasses that of two-time Super Bowl winner Roethlisberger.
"It seems like we see great quarterbacks a lot," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "We've beaten our fair share, but we haven't beaten him. So it's our turn."
Despite a suspension that delayed his season debut until Oct. 17, Roethlisberger — according to offensive coordinator Bruce Arians — is playing as well as he has at any point in his career. He has a career-low five interceptions, and none in his last 158 passes. Roethlisberger and second-year wide receiver Mike Wallace have teamed up on seven completions of 40 yards or longer.
"He's playing extremely well right now. He's really into it," Arians said. "We haven't probably put in a new pass play since he came back. You just dress them up, change them each week. As long as he knows what he's doing and he's comfortable, I couldn't be more comfortable."
Flacco may have taken a step toward closing the quarterback gap when he led Baltimore to a 30-7 wild-card win in Kansas City last weekend, deftly executing the offense while throwing two touchdown passes.
Still, the divisional playoff game would be in Baltimore, and not Pittsburgh, if Flacco hadn't lost a fumble caused by Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu on Dec. 5. The turnover late in the fourth quarter led to Roethlisberger's game-winning TD pass and a 13-10 Steelers victory that flip-flopped the teams in the AFC North standings.
"If the same situation comes up this game, I'm pretty sure we're going to handle it, and we're going to be disappointed if we don't," Flacco said. "Yeah, great play by him but, at the same time, it's something we probably should have handled."
Baltimore also might have won the AFC championship game two seasons ago if Polamalu hadn't halted a late Ravens drive by returning an interception thrown by then-rookie Flacco for a touchdown that wrapped up the Steelers' 23-14 victory.
Earlier this week, Suggs predicted the Ravens-Steelers winner likely would go on to win the Super Bowl. Clearly, he believes Flacco is up to the challenge.
"I have 32 more regular-season games, a couple of more playoff games (since 2008)," Flacco said. "I think any time you have more game experience, you become more prepared for any team you're playing. We've played the Steelers a lot of times since I've been here, so the more game experience you get against that defense, the more you can prepare yourself. Once the ball is snapped, it's not going to make a difference that this is a playoff game against the Steelers."
No doubt Harbaugh hopes Flacco takes that mindset into Heinz Field, where the Ravens are 0-2 in the postseason.
"You talk about Ben and what he's meant to the Steelers," Harbaugh said. "We're hoping to get Joe to that kind of perch where he can take over games just by his talent and personality. He's played really well all year — minus that play where Troy got us."


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Sunday, 22 March 2009
Des Says too much sometimes
He was my guest blogger a few times but he got sick and wasn't able to continue posting. He then told everyone who asked, that I had banned him from my blog because he was way funnier than me and I couldn't handle the competition.
Well he is right. He is funnier but I'm way more humble.
He still comes up with blog ideas and he and his 86 year old sister have long phone conversations about stories for 'my' blog. He has a list, he told me, should I run out of ideas. I'm too scared to look because the pair of them have long memories and they are bound to incriminate me in some horrific way or other. It is strange how long the blog tentacles extend sometimes, isn't it?
Humor is a wonderful quality to have and it's something you don't need to lose with age.
Des has shown me that people who can laugh at themselves, the situations they find themselves in and their misfortunes have a far easier passage through life. He has a unique perspective on life despite what gets thrown his way.
The nature of his health these days means that he has his good days and his bad days. A few weeks ago I took him to the National Museum. He was in his wheelchair. When we arrived a guy came up to us and asked Dad if he wanted something 'better' to drive.
An electric chair.
He jumped at the chance and flew around the museum like some teenage hoodlum who had just got the keys to his first car. I was literally chasing him around the building! He said he was doing me a favour as I needed the exercise.
Today was another good day so I decided to take him out for dinner. It was a spur of the moment decision so I didn't make a reservation and thought we would just take our chance.
When we arrived at the restaurant, the Maitre'd told us we would have a 30 minute wait for a table. My father, with a dead pan look on his face looked up at the Maitre'd and said, "Oh, that's a shame because I am 82 you know and I may not have 30 minutes". We were seated straight away.
I may take him everywhere with me now.
Laugh and the world truly does laugh with you. Or, in my father's case, the world is usually left speechless with gaping mouths before it realises that he was in fact joking.
He really is some guy. Do you think he might leave me his sense of humor in his will?
85 comments:
Good morning! Just checking in and getting caught up on my blog reading! Happy Saturday!ReplyDelete
OMG, I think I love him. That last line about not having 30 minutes made me laugh out loud.
Give the old fart a kiss from me.
@ Julie - will do!!ReplyDelete
Oh, this is so great! And I love the last line, too! I may try that before too long, afterall he's only got ten years on me!! What a great father you have and that is such a blessing as you know. Please give him a hug and a kiss for me, too!ReplyDelete
Ooops! he's only got six years on me! I'd better watch it!ReplyDelete
Oh, I love him too! I'm surrounded by miserable old people. Those people are incredibly hard to love. Believe me on that one. And two of them are Leon's parents.ReplyDelete
I told him to just shoot me when I get that miserable.
And of course he jumped at the chance to look at me and say, "So, now would be a good time then?"
Asshole. lol
Oh, and I think you should post his list of bloggables for those of us to are used up and can't think of a single thing! I'm so desperate I'm posting about my 15 year old's love life! How sad is that?ReplyDelete
- Anonymous22 March 2009 at 02:53
I'm sure he would leave you anything you want, but you don't need someone else's (albeit VERY funny) sense of humour, you have your own unique brand that fits you perfectly.ReplyDelete
@Rhonda(2nd comment): Scary territory!!!
Your Dad is great! I loved the response at the restaurant. Hehe. You DO have your father's sense of humor and I'd love to see the list he created!ReplyDelete
Lilly, I think you have inherited Des' sense of humor :)ReplyDelete
Your father is priceless! I love old people with a sense of humor. We tend to take everything way to seriously. Even though I usually don´t come up with such great responses, as your father did, I enjoy hearing people who do.ReplyDelete
I agree with Rhonda, I would love to see that list of blog ideas they came up with.
I fell in love with your dad when I read his first guest blogging. What an incredible guy! It's obvious that he is a very intellectual, humorous and probably very handsome man. He's already passed all those gifts on to you. I had to chuckle imagining him hot rodding through the museum.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous22 March 2009 at 04:08
Hope you don't mind - but I'm in love with your dad!ReplyDelete
Hope he gets as much of a kick out of reading our comments to him as the two of you gave to us in your post!! I have a feeing he won't need to "leave" you his sense of humor, he has most definitely rubbed off on you :) I think you are right, take him with you, from now on, always take him with you!ReplyDelete
LOL Lils! He is a hoot! I like that he got you all into the restaurant more quickly! I think you should take him up on his blog idea list - let him choose the Top Ten!ReplyDelete
{hugs} Juls~
My grandparents are the same way.ReplyDelete
I tell them to come on down and visit.
They reply, "We don't make plans, we don't know how much longer we will be around. We don't even buy green bananas anymore."
They are 81 and 84. Their health is good, but they are content sitting in their chairs and chitchatting about the good old days. I love them so much and hate to think about them not being a phone call away.
p.s. Rhonda's hubby sounds like mine! hahahaha ...ReplyDelete
When I asked Mart years ago if he'd ever divorce me. He said, "Nah. I'll just shoot you and bury you in your piano out in the back yard..." LOL! He's such a romantic!
The title of your blog post is incorrect. Des should actually be saying more. There is an entire population of bloggers waiting for a post from him on your blog....
I am absolutely smitten with the idea of Des and his older sister, discussing and advising you seriously on your blog. Thats where you got your consulting genes, in case you were unaware. :-)
I think you should have an additional section on your site called Third Umpire, and have all of Des's ideas listed there.
Is Des following Women's Cricket ? India just beat Aus for 3rd place in Sydney in the Womens World cup... It might interest him to know that we are having national elections in a month here, and the IPL Cricket thing is scheduled at the same time. Instead of worrying about issues relevant to common man, there is this tussle going on between the government and the IPL about providing security to the teams. I think even the govt has become cricket crazy here.
Please convey my respectful regards to Des.
Great not to grow cynical as you grow older.ReplyDelete
Lilly, I guess humor is in the air. Check out my last blog post from a couple of days ago - I think you'll enjoy it!ReplyDelete
And, I LOVE a good dead-pan sense of humor. "Oh, that's a shame because I am 82 you know and I may not have 30 minutes." Too damn funny! Kudos to him and his sister for keeping a list of blog ideas for you. Don't be scared to check them out - I bet there are some real gems there!
Laughter is the best medicine. It has always worked for me. Great to hear you and your dad spend some wonderful time together. I enjoyed reading about his new chair too..watch out Jimmy Johnson, Des is heading your way.ReplyDelete
I can see where Des gets his sense of humour Lilly.ReplyDelete
I'd have LOVED to see you two at the National Gallery. And I'd have LOVED to share the artworks with you both.
I'm sorry Des is not so spry on some days, but what happens on others could even things out. Ask the waiter!
June also in Oz
Your Dad sounds a great fella, Lilly! Cherish every moment you have with him. I wish mine was still here with me.ReplyDelete
"Oh, that's a shame because I am 82 you know and I may not have 30 minutes". --- HILARIOUS!!! Sounds like you have a wonderful and affirming relationship with your dad... treasure it!ReplyDelete
I am totally in love with your dad. What a lovely gift he gives to your family. Laughter to me is the greatest gift we can ever share. And I'm pretty sure you already got the sense of humor from him....so you might want to hold out for something else in the will!ReplyDelete
He has a zest for life, that's for sure! ANd, that is truly admirable!! You must be so proud to have him as your dad!!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous22 March 2009 at 11:20
Oh my, if he is like that now I can only imagine what he was like when he was much younger. It just reaffirms to me that people's personalities do not change at all the older they get if they don't want them too. Life may get tougher in some ways but it doesn't mean you still can't enjoy yourself. Go Des, you need to get yourself one of those electric chairs and hit the road...with Lilly chasing after you. I agree, its a great fitness program.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous22 March 2009 at 12:15
What a wonderful post! Your dad sounds like a very special person. I love both of the comments you shared.ReplyDelete
I can see where you get your sparkling personality from, Lilly! God bless and may your dad have many comfortable and happy years ahead of him.
I think you've already inherited it!ReplyDelete
I think that is the one thing he will not have to leave you Lilly! This is so funny. I needed a good laugh tonight and this was a good one. I love the part where you are chasing him around and he said you needed the exercise.ReplyDelete
Thanks everyone for your comments. He is not for sale yet but I could hire him out, he he. Some days I can't keep up with him! I think you are either born with great energy and a positive spirit like that or not.ReplyDelete
oh my gosh that is so funny! I love your Des storiesReplyDelete
I am on the way to "jail" tomorrow to see my dad and I might take him out for dinner and i am so going to tell him to use Des' line! LoL
@ Mind of a Mom - hey thats good and I look forward to catching up with you about how your visit goes. He must have been behaving lately has he?ReplyDelete
Lilly you got his sense of humor and if he leaves you with his I'm going to stop writing my blog because then you're going to beat my ass down with your super powers of humor, for sure. I love your dad he's so wonderful and your so lucky to have him.ReplyDelete
My dad he's just a giggalo dammm...what the hell am I getting out of it but alot of maybe gigging and bad dates...take care of Des.
Lilly your Dad is just great. It must be fun to be surrounded with people like you and your Dad.ReplyDelete
Besides all the fun and humour that is oozing out of this post; I am impressed by the wonderful relationship that you share with him. How many people care enough about their old folks the way you do Lilly ? Your Dad is blessed to have a daughter like you and that too, who has his sense of humour.
I hope he has healthy days ahead and keeps his wit intact. aamen
I am going to go back to archive and read your older posts, if I may.
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
@ JB - I cant find your blog anymore, where is it?ReplyDelete
- Anonymous23 March 2009 at 01:29
What a wonderful story . . . I so love it that your dad and his sister share stories about your blog! I love it that they even know what a blog is! Thanks for sharing.ReplyDelete
OMG, how cute! Des is adorable! How lucky you are to still have him around--enjoy every minute you can with him. And you're right, humor is something that stays with us no matter how old we get, God willing. Thanks for such a cute post--looking forward to hearing more of this sweet old guy!ReplyDelete
Hi Des.,ReplyDelete
I see Lilly is still denying access Can't you get in league with your sister and threaten a touch of blackmail, or a demonstration or a lock out or even a hunger strike?
I think you look great in the the electric chair and would make a good pin up
Do you think I could crib some of your ideas ? Love the restaurant ploy and must try it.
I hope the good days are outnumbering the bad.I think we are sent bad days so that we really appreciate the good and can go haring round museums at a great lick and get up to all sorts of mischief
Are you free anytime ?
I hope you will be allowed to write a post soon.
love to hear from you,
Love Barbara
Your Dad sound like someone I would really enjoy hanging out with.ReplyDelete
An Arkies Musings
Lilly, I do believe you already have a good portion of his sense of humor. You can't get the rest until you can compete with his age bracket, LOL.ReplyDelete
Des may need some flames for that chair, and perhaps a pit crew. I bet he would try to soup up any powered chair he got. Next thing you know he'll be entering all the races.
Yer dad sounds way fun. You are so lucky to have him!!!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous23 March 2009 at 06:07
Your post brought a huge smile to my face. Your father has a wonderful outlook on life.ReplyDelete
By the way Gran Speaks sent me over. I'm so glad she did.
- Anonymous23 March 2009 at 06:26
Your dad is fabulous Lilly!! The part about him riding around fast on his motorized chair had me bent over. I guess, because I do the same on my scooter and its SO FUN!!!ReplyDelete
Oh... he IS fantastic... and yes my dear... you already have his sense of humor.., better ask for something else...ReplyDelete
My Father is 70 this year, and I don't think my Dad is as spritely as your 82 year old Papa.
What a neat man!
- Anonymous23 March 2009 at 06:36
Do take him everywhere you go.ReplyDelete
I'd love to be able to do so with my dad...
So he isn't humble, he is funny as hell. :-) Who needs humble at 82?
Dear Lilly ... I don't think you have to wait to 'get' his sense of humor ... you were born with it. Have a wonderful week!ReplyDelete
He sounds like a hoot (and a treasure!)ReplyDelete
I think maybe you've already gotten his sense of humor :)
Someday you should make a video of you chasing him around in the scooter!ReplyDelete
You could set it to "The Benny Hill Show" song.
Des, you are a sharp as a 25 year old.
Peace - Rene
My dad was the same way.ReplyDelete
Wow, I'm comment #51. You sure know how to draw a crowd, Lilly :)ReplyDelete
Your dad sounds fabulous! You are so lucky to have a dad like him and he's definitely passed his goodness down to you! You always make me smile and I thank you for that more than you could know.
Keep being your Fabulous Self!
I love your Dad...... Your words touched my heart . may god bless you !ReplyDelete
Lilly you are both priceless !ReplyDelete
May God bless Des with plenty more 30 mins.
Hi Lilly,ReplyDelete
God bless you Dad, may he have a lot more 'thirty minutes' full of doubled-up laughter. And don't worry about that legacy - he's alreday gifted it to you way back.
Thanks all for your comments he is going to have a good laugh when I read them to him.ReplyDelete
Lilly, I suspect that your father has been "leaving" you his sense of humor (as has mine!) for a very long time now -- one of many gifts that only gets bigger the more you use it.ReplyDelete
You're a lucky woman.
oh yeah i agree with everyone who says he already gave you his sense of humor. more than that--he gave you a wonderful parent. thats the greatest gift of all i think...is being parented by an awesome human being.ReplyDelete
i would have died had i been the waitress when he said that! lol
I'm picturing him in that electric chair and laughing my head off. I love it. Des is so awesome.ReplyDelete
Your father sounds wonderful. And kudos to the restaurant for seating him right away!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous24 March 2009 at 07:56
A lovely post!ReplyDelete
I'm hooked, and will join from my home computer. Just wanted to say "Aloha & thank you for joining my blog "Walking in Waikiki"
oh man..I love your dad..ask him if he'd like to come to texas and have some kolaches..ReplyDelete
@ yellowdog - what the hell are kolaches - I'm coming over to ask you that.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous24 March 2009 at 17:55
Great post! Made me laugh. I too have a Dad with a great sense of humour who keeps coming up with ideas for blog posts. Gotta love em!ReplyDelete
How wonderful this post is! Lilly, I love it so much. I am reminded of the times I shared with my dad and what fun we had. He lived with me for the last couple of years before we lost him. It was a sight to see, him going down the walk pushing his oxygen tank to the car. How great memories are. You are so blessed to have that relationship with your father, the makings of some beautiful memories for you to cherish someday. Take care, my friend.ReplyDelete
I'd have commented sooner on this Lilly, but due to recent circumstances I had to think very carefully about what I was going to say. Parents are a joy and your dad sounds like a wonderful guy.ReplyDelete
Hi Lilly,ReplyDelete
You definitely already have your Dad's sense of humor. Oh, how I laughed so hard, reading the part about the restaurant scene. I'm getting into the age, so, I have to remember this and try it when the time comes.
Please extend my best wishes to Des and also to your mom. It sounds like you've been spending lots of quality time with him. That's very good. I'd be so interested to read more of your Dad's and your Aunt's ideas for your blog.
This is such a sweet post honouring your Dad and his sense of humour. May he be around for many, many years to come shedding laughter in your life and enabling you to get the best seats at any restaurant in the country!ReplyDelete
hahahaha ADORE your father. He has passed down some WONDERFUL traits to his daughter!! =)ReplyDelete
Hope you are having a good week.
Love ya!
I love that line he used on the waiter. So funny! What an interesting man. I'm looking forward to his posts, if you let him ;).ReplyDelete
Errr...Lilly, you DEFINITELY got his sense of humour down already!ReplyDelete
LOVE this:"My father, with a dead pan look on his face looked up at the Maitre'd and said, "Oh, that's a shame because I am 82 you know and I may not have 30 minutes". We were seated straight away.
I may take him everywhere with me now."
I hope I'm even half at spritely at hs age adn man, he has a good head of hair for his age, don't you think?
I love him. What a sweetheart! Wish I could shake his hand and get to know him.ReplyDelete
I love what he told the host! What a hoot!ReplyDelete
Oh bless his fuzzy heart! He sounds delightful. What a lucky girl you are to have such a charmer for a Dad. I think he is amazing and his outlook on life touches my heart. I can only imagine how proud you must be.ReplyDelete
Lilly i loved this article. My dad is 85 and i must say your story sure got me to thinking about Dad and I. After mom died in 2007 we have become like new friends, instead of dad and son. He is a character as is your dad. I seem to learn something new from him everyday now that i did not know or had forgotten. Keep up your great work here. I am one of your biggest fans, even though i don't comment alot.ReplyDelete
Your ol hillbilly friend
- Anonymous25 March 2009 at 12:59
Well, this explains a lot! LOLOL!!! Now I KNOW where you get your outrageous humor from and your great big heart! I am so glad your Dad was and still is like this. He is an unbridled wild hoot! I would adore him as much as I do you. I just know it. I already just LOVE him. The world needs a lot more people like him. Hugs, RobinReplyDelete
Your post made me smile. Your whole BLOG makes me smile. I'm glad I came back. Didn't leave for any reason other than to find myself a bit. I think I'm on my way there.ReplyDelete
And for what it's worth...I blogged tonight. (YAY!!!)
Des had a good laugh at all your comments. Thanks so much for them an dall your wishes for him. It made him smile. And yes Barbara as you are his adopted daughter he will be back.ReplyDelete
Oh I just love your dad! I might of married younger, but I perfer older (wink, wink).ReplyDelete
You really need to let go of that ban and let him blog ;)
I think your dad has already given you his gene for humor. You write so beautifully and I only wish that I had a smidgen of your talent.
Now the scooter your dad was riding looks like the one I have.. Your dad and I could race...he sounds like a wonderful wonderful man!
I like him already!ReplyDelete
This is the first time I have visited your Blog, but in reading about you and your Dad, I would say you already have been given his sense of humor. :-)ReplyDelete
Tell your father I said hello from way over here in North Carolina.ReplyDelete
Thanks Dwayne will do, and lovely to see you dropping by.ReplyDelete
That's great - Des is great. His comment "I'm 82 you know and I may..." is terrific. (I may use it even now)ReplyDelete
I love it that you call your father Des...I called my mother Christina as you know. It means you see them also as a person and not 'just' a parent.
What a great post! Thank you! And a big kiss to Des. xoReplyDelete


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I live in the South, so the heat outside has been pretty unbearable for most of the summer. But we've been able to deal by hiding inside with the wonder that is air conditioning.
But then, our air conditioning died. My husband thinks he can fix it but it may have to wait a few days because he works a lot of overtime.
We have box fans and ceiling fans, but with a temperature of nearly 90 degrees outside it was a little unbearable. For me at least.
For my nearly 3 year old toddler, the heat didn't seem to faze her. She continued to run around the house like she normally did while I was sweating just sitting in front of the fan.
I'm not sure if she deals with the heat better because she is younger or if I'm just a wimp. I do know that I was surly and didn't get anything done because I was so warm. It makes me wonder if I'm too reliant on technology. I'm screwed if the zombie apocalypse happens in the summertime because I wouldn't be able to move very fast to get away from the hoards of undead.
How do you deal with the heat if you don't have the luxury of air conditioning?


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A mixed metal and marble piece delightfully crafted in Vietnam.
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Sandra Oh is checking out of "Grey's Anatomy."
The actress, who has portrayed doctor Cristina Yang since the ABC series premiered in 2005, will exit after the upcoming tenth season, E! News has confirmed.
"It's been a great privilege to play the character of Cristina Yang on 'GA' and I am both sad and excited to see where this, her final season will take her," Oh says in a statement. "It was an emotional and deeply creative decision for me and I feel fully supported by Shonda [Rhimes] and the writers. It's so rare in an actor's life to be able to explore and grow a character so fully, so completely. I am profoundly grateful to everyone at 'GA' for the opportunity. I'm excited to celebrate and cherish every moment of my final season on 'GA' with the fans who have made it all possible."
MORE: "Grey's Anatomy" Scoop: 4 Interns Promoted to Series Regulars
While there are no details about how her character will exit the series, Rhimes says that she will get a goodbye worthy of her years on the drama.
"One of the best days of my life as a writer happened the day Sandra Oh walked in my door to audition and forever changed the course of 'Grey's Anatomy' with her brilliant, nuanced portrayal of Cristina Yang," Rhimes says. "Over the past ten seasons, I have been made better by Sandra's trust, faith and friendship and I can't quantify how grateful I am for her collaboration on a character we both love so deeply. This year is going to be bittersweet for us--we're both going to savor every moment of Cristina Yang and then we're going to give her the exit she deserves. And when Sandra walks out of my door, 'Grey's Anatomy' will be once again be forever changed."
THR first reported the news of Oh's exit.


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Confusion reigned supreme in the nation's highest court last month as it heard arguments on two same-sex marriage cases. Confronted with the possibility of endorsing the right of men to marry men and women, women, the Justices resembled nothing so much as a group of kittens playing with a ball of barbed wire.
They poked at the cases and retreated from them. Then they circled around and poked again, never quite daring to confront the issue directly.
Admittedly they're strange cases. In one, the Supreme Court was asked to overrule a lower court's decision that had found unconstitutional California's Proposition 8 — a ban on marriage equality that the state itself wasn't willing to defend.
Instead, a group of private citizens with no real standing in the case brought the appeal.
"I just wonder if the case was properly granted," said Justice Anthony Kennedy, seemingly speaking for a majority of the Court.
So why did the Court agree to hear the case in the first place? Two words: Antonin Scalia. You can always count on him to be on the wrong side of an issue.
Court observers say that he, above all the other Justices, despises the growing trend toward same-sex marriage rights. Thinking that this would be the Court's best shot to knock it down before it gains even more acceptance, he reportedly talked three fellow conservatives into taking up the case.
The Court spent half the day arguing about whether they should be considering the case in the first place, rather than struggling with its central question: Do gay people have a right to lawful wedded bliss like everyone else?
Not that the rest of the debate was marked by much more clarity.
At one point, Justice Elena Kagan asked how marriage equality would damage traditional marriage. The lawyer for those supporting Proposition 8 responded that the key to marriage is procreation.
That's news to many heterosexual couples that have no intention of having children. Hasn't he heard of birth control — you know, condoms, diaphragms, the pill, things like that?
The questioning then veered off into an unproductive discussion of infertile couples, elderly couples, Strom Thurmond, and other matters that had nothing to do with anything.
The bottom line is this: The opponents of marriage equality have yet to explain satisfactorily how allowing gay people to marry would harm "the sanctity of marriage." I think that expanding the franchise would make the institution stronger, not weaker.
LGBT people aren't attacking marriage, they're improving it. More power to them.
Supreme Court watchers, by the way, expect the justices to duck the issue and send it back to the state. That would be too bad. Rights shouldn't be left to individual states to grant or not. We have constitutions to protect minorities from majorities, not to let them be oppressed by them.
The second case involved the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act," in which Congress defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman. It was signed into law by President Bill Clinton, who now says he regrets doing so.
The law was challenged by an 83-year-old woman who was forced to pay much higher inheritance taxes when her wife died than she would have had the federal government recognized their marriage.
Once again, the government had second thoughts and decided not to defend its own law in court. The Republican anti-gay wing of the House took on that task. The Court's discussion of the case was just as confused as that of the California case.
Bringing clarity to the matter was the woman who brought the claim, Edith Windsor. She and her partner had been together 40 years but only married the last two. And she said it was the best two.
"For anybody who doesn't understand why we want it and why we need it," Windsor said, "it is magic."
You'd think that true defenders of marriage would embrace that sentiment, not oppose it.


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Monitoring Code Coverage for JavaScript
Code Coverage shows how much of your code is covered with tests and marks covered and uncovered lines visually right in the editor.
In this section:
- Prerequisites
- Enabling running tests with coverage in Karma
- Measuring code coverage for tests executed on JSTestDriver
- Measuring code coverage for tests executed on Karma
- The JSTestDriver or Karma test runner is installed and configured.
- Additional third-party testing frameworks, for example, Jasmine, QUnit, or Mocha, are downloaded and integrated with IntelliJ IDEA.
- A runner-specific configuration file is generated or written manually.
For more details, see Preparing to Use Karma Test Runner or Preparing to Use JSTestDriver Test Runner depending on your choice.
Enabling running tests with coverage in Karma
Coverage for tests run in Karma is calculated by the istanbul coverage tool.
The tool is shipped within the
karma-coverage package.
Therefore running tests with coverage in Karma requires that you download the
karma-coverage package and manually update
karma.conf.js configuration file.
karma-coverage package should be installed in the same folder with Karma (
karma (library home) package),
no matter whether Karma is installed globally or in your project.
Keep this restriction in mind when installing
karma-coverage manually in the command line mode.
If you are installing
karma-coverage through the Node Package Manager interface, the proper installation folder will be chosen automatically.
Install the
karma-coveragepackage through the Node Package Manager (npm).
- Open the Settings / Preferences Dialog by pressing Ctrl+Alt+S or by choosing for Windows and Linux or for OS X, and click Node.js and NPM under Languages&Frameworks.
- On the Node.js and NPM page that opens, click Install in the Packages area.
In the Available Packages dialog box that opens, select the
karma-coveragepackage, click Install Package, and close the dialog box when ready. IntelliJ IDEA returns to the Node.js page, where the
karma-coveragepackage is added to the Packages list. Click OK.
For details, see Installing and Removing External Software Using Node Package Manager.
Open the
karma.conf.jsconfiguration file and add the following information to it manually:
Measuring code coverage for tests executed on JSTestDriver
- Prepare tests manually or have tests generated by IntelliJ IDEA.
Create a JSTestDriver configuration file
*.conf. For details, see JSTestDriver Configuration file.
Create a run configuration of the type JSTestDriver.
To have specific files excluded from coverage analysis, specify the paths to them in the Coverage tab of the Run/Debug Configuration: JSTestDriver dialog box.
- Start the JSTestDriver server and capture a browser to run the tests in.
- On the main toolbar, select the JSTestDriver run configuration in the Run/Debug Configurations drop-down list and click the Run with Coverage button .
- Monitor the code coverage in the Coverage tool window.
Measuring code coverage for tests executed on Karma
- Prepare tests manually or have tests generated by IntelliJ IDEA.
Create a Karma configuration file
karma.conf. For details, see Running Unit Tests on Karma.
- Create a run configuration of the type Karma.
- On the main toolbar, select the Karma run configuration in the Run/Debug Configurations drop-down list and click the Run with Coverage button .
Monitor the code coverage in the Coverage tool window.
Note that when the tests are executed on
Karmathe Coverage tool window does not contain the Generate Coverage Report toolbar button because a coverage report is actually generated on the disk every time Karma tests are run. The format of a coverage report can be configured in the configuration file, for example:The following
// karma.conf.js module.exports = function(config) { config.set({ ... // optionally, configure the reporter coverageReporter: { type : 'html', dir : 'coverage/' } ... });};
typevalues are acceptable:
htmlproduces a bunch of HTML files with annotated source code
lcovonlyproduces an
lcovproduces HTML +
.lcovfiles. This format is applied by default.
coberturaproduces a
cobertura-coverage.xmlfile for easy Hudson integration
text-summaryproduces a compact text summary of coverage, typically to the console
textproduces a detailed text table with coverage for all files


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German Girl Trains Cow to Jump, Run and be Ridden
After her parents nipped her horse-owning dreams in the bud, German-based Regina Mayer didn't give up. Instead of begging and pleading as most young ones do, she decided to take matters into her own hand by training Luna, one of the family's cows. Mayer spent hours with the brown-and-white cow, teaching it how to run, jump hurdles and respond to commands like "go," "stand" and


text: Shop Tactical Clothing including Tactical Vests, BDU Clothing, Tactical Basic Pants or Tactical Fleece Jackets. Sportsman's Guide has a great selection of protective Tactical Clothing perfect for when you need a little extra out of your clothing with more pockets, more straps and more compatibility with your gear. Once you find the clothing you're looking for, be sure to grab all necessary Tactical Gear as well!


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Certified Angus Beef and Wine at Bogle Winery
I was recently invited on a trip to the Sacramento area with Certified Angus Beef, learning about what the brand and organization is all about while eating plenty of beef (Certified Angus, of course). As part of the tour, we had lunch at the lovely Bogle Winery in the Sacramento Delta.
|Not a bad setting for lunch, eh?
For lunch, we had some coulottes. This is the cap of the top sirloin, which is a highly marbled cut and acts like tri-tip. If you've gone to a Brazilian steakhouse like Fogo, you'd know this as the picanha.
With lunch were three bottles of wine including the Bogle Chardonnay. The chardonnay is aged half in barrel and half in stainless steel. It's crisp with nice yellow fruit notes. It's a lovely wine the retails only $9!
Now, marbling-wise USDA prime and Certified Angus Prime is the same, but the Certified Angus has additional specifications like maturity level, seen by the ossification of the bone.
After our "class", we turned to some beef and wine pairing. The best part! We had the Bogle Cabernet with a center cut filet.
The Bogle cab has lots of tannin and notes of cassis and cherry. I like the mouthfeel on this one and the vanilla aroma. The wine was aged in American oak barrel and it's another great value at $11-13 retail!
The center cut filet is the tenderloin, and it's the most prized cut of the cow. Why? Because there are only 3 lbs of this cut per cow. As the name would suggest, this cut is also very, very tender.
For our next pairing, we had a red wine blend called the Phantom ($16-18) with the rib eye.
The rib eye is the most robust cut and packs a lot of flavor. These days, restaurants like to serve it with the bone attached (served this way, it's called the cowboy steak).
The tannins in the Phantom cuts the fat from the rib eye. Tannins have a drying effect, but also allow red wines to age for decades. On the other hand, diacetyl (present in varying levels in all alcoholic beverages) create a buttery smell and sensation. At low levels it creates that slippery, buttery mouthfeel, or at high levels (think buttery Chardonnay) it really evokes that butter sensation.
The winemaker also brought us some rose they just finished harvesting. Fizzy grape juice!
We spent a lovely afternoon at Bogle, and I certainly learned a lot about USDA beef grading. Certified Angus Beef doesn't sell any product to consumers, they're in charge of certifying the beef for producers who want the CAB label on their products and to educate the public about Angus beef.


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Wayne A. Robledo, Sr. Services (12/20/09)
For best viewing, click on the large photo on the right side of the page. A larger photo will appear. Use the R or L arrow keys on your keyboard to move to the next photo (or use the navigation buttons above the photo). To download (FREE!), right click on photo and choose "save image as".Read More


text:
Sterile Sweep® Germicidal UVC System and Sterile Sweep® Plus- UVC/UVV Systems offer a versatile, full line of whole-house air purification solutions that install directly into the central heating and cooling system ductwork or plenum. The high intensity Dual-Radiant™ UVC "H" Lamp disinfects the air by neutralizing airborne pathogens including bacteria, viruses and mold. According to the EPA, the combined use of filtration and germicidal UVC light is an effective means of preventing the distribution of airborne viruses in occupied spaces. With ultraviolet light, high output micro-watts translate to effectiveness.
Sterile Sweep® sixteen-inch (16") UVC lamps produce a very high output of 180 micro-watts @ 1 meter which is significantly higher than most UVC lamps on the market.


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Listed below are the forms and fee amounts you need to apply for a manufacturer or distributor license and a factory representative license.
License Fees
|License Type and Form
|One Year
|Two Years
|Manufacturer or Distributor License (DSD 10)
|Factory or Distributor Representative License (DSD 7)
The fee for the first two manufacturer or distributor license plates is $9.
Each member of your organization who acts in the capacity of a factory or distributor representative must be licensed as such.
Additional Information
If you are a Second Stage Manufacturer or assemble reconstructed vehicles or specially constructed vehicles, please attach an outline of any major or essential parts removed from and/or installed in the vehicles
If you are licensed as a manufacturer in another state, please submit your current certificate from that state with your application.
NOTE: Effective July 1, 2008, if you are a manufacturer or distributor headquartered in Virginia, Virginia Code § 46.2-602.2 allows for additional uses of vehicles displaying the new "HQ" or "MD" plates. Please indicate on your application or renewal form if you qualify as a Virginia-headquartered manufacturer or distributor.


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Tubes for all lovers of Fantasy, Fairy and Gothic Art!
Please read my Terms of Use and FAQ for PSP Tubes HERE
If this is your first ElvenstarArt Tubes order, then your license number will be emailed to you within 24 hours of your purchase. You will be able to download your tube immediately after you complete your order though.


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Here's an interview I did together with my friend Elias from Ice Age for Paradigm Magazine:
Monday, August 27, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
This is a special tour cuz I'm finally able to check out Eastern Europe on this run, the furthest we've ever gone was Czech Republic and Greece, in which we had an amazing time there. Can't wait to explore more on the eastern block. and I get to revisit some of my favorite cities to play in and see DB fans in Paris and Berlin.
*I'm turning 32 in Reykjavik, Iceland! "ohhhhhhhhhh, I'm not a young man anymore"
Tour dates below:
Sept 1 - London, UK - The 1234 Festival
Sept 2 - Larmer Tree, UK - End of the road Festival
Sept 4 - Reykjavik, Iceland - Harpa
Sept 6 - Helsinki, Finaland - Kuudes Linja
Sept 7 - Isle of Wight, UK - Bestival Festival
Sept 8 - Gronigen, Netherlands - Stitching great white open
Sept 9 - Brussels, Belgium - Les Atellets Claus
Sept 10 - Leipzig, Germany - Conne Island (W/ CROCODILES)
Sept 11 - Munich, Germany - Feierwerk (Opening for CROCODILES, Japandroids)
Sept 12 - Linz, Austria - Posthof
Sept 13 - Vienna, Austria - Chelsea
Sept 14 - Zagreb, Croatia - Park (Purgeraj)
Sept 15 - Belgrade, Serbia - KC Grad
Sept 17 - Skopje, Macedonia - La Kana
Sept 18 - Thessaloniki, Greece - Gaia Live
Sept 19 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Banana Republic
Sept 20 - Bucharest, Romania - Club Control
Sept 22 - Budapest, Hungary - Gozsdu Manó Klub
Sept 23 - Krakow, Poland - Rozrywki Trzy
Sept 24 - Warsaw, Poland - Cafe Kulturalna
Spet 26 - Berlin, Germany - West Germany
Sept 28 - Paris, France - Point Ephemere
Posted by Last Lizard/Dirty Beaches at 6:32 AM 18 comments:
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Posted by Last Lizard/Dirty Beaches at 4:21 AM 1 comment:
Posted by Last Lizard/Dirty Beaches at 3:10 AM No comments:
Thank you Mike RUNDMT for housing us in Baltimore. naty bo's and in car beat machine jam recordings next time. dat shit cray.
Posted by Last Lizard/Dirty Beaches at 3:06 AM 1 comment:
Durham, North Carolina
Reunited with our tour pals Xiu Xiu, special thanks to Jamie and Angela for housing our dirty asses. Korean BBQ next time in LA, fools~
Posted by Last Lizard/Dirty Beaches at 3:02 AM 1 comment:
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington also ruled. Thanks to Case for housing us and setting up the reunion show of street gnar/ trailblazer / and DB. And thanks to all y'all that came back since the 2009 show at the void skate shop. Red river gorge creek jumping and mountain cave drive are stuff that I will remember for the rest of my life. Videos COMING SOON.
Posted by Last Lizard/Dirty Beaches at 2:57 AM 14 comments:
Feel Trip Chicago
Thanks to Collin and everyone at feel trip that housed us. We had a blast in chicago. Feel trip rules.
Posted by Last Lizard/Dirty Beaches at 2:53 AM 4 comments:
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
LONDON: we are playing the 1234 festival with some of our homies Ice Age & Crocodiles and a ton of other bands, lets get sweaty before the winter hits us again. Come chill with us at shoreditch park LONDON, UK.
I wish Hype Williams was playing. I loved their set at primavera. SUPER HEAVY BASS CHEST BLAST.
Posted by Last Lizard/Dirty Beaches at 8:21 AM 5 comments:
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Attorney general speaking on human trafficking
OKATIE, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is scheduled to visit the coast to discuss human trafficking. Wilson is slated to speak Friday at a meeting of the Lowcountry Coalition Against Human Trafficking. The meeting is being held in Okatie, on the mainland side of Hilton Head Island. Last year, the Legislature passed a bill intended to strengthen South Carolina's laws against human trafficking. The measure created a task force headed by Wilson. He says the panel is working on ways to combat the issue.


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2 raw beetroot, scrubbed and trimmed
2 tbsp Waitrose Rich & Fruity Redcurrant Sauce With Ruby Port
2 tbsp orange juice
1 tbsp olive oil
2 large sprigs thyme
1 tbsp essential Waitrose Hot
Horseradish Sauce
3 tbsp crème fraîche
25g pack fresh flat-leaf parsley, 24 leaves to serve, the remaining finely chopped
50g pack Rahms Mini Croustades
1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC, gas mark 6. Place a large piece of foil into a roasting tin and top with a sheet of baking parchment of the same size. Place the beetroot in the centre.
2. Add the redcurrant sauce, orange juice, oil, thyme and some seasoning. Gather up the parchment and foil and squeeze together to make a tightly sealed parcel. Bake in the oven for 1 hour or until the beetroot is tender. Leave to cool completely in the parcel.
3. Remove the skin from the cooled beetroot with a vegetable peeler, then finely dice the flesh and place in a bowl with the cooking juices. Cover and chill until needed.
4. About an hour before serving, mix the horseradish with the crème fraiche and season. Cover and chill until needed.
5. To assemble, gently warm the beetroot through in a small pan. Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped parsley. Warm the croustades according to the pack instructions. Spoon the beetroot into the croustades, draining off any cooking juices, and top with a little horseradish sauce and a parsley leaf. Serve straight away.
Source: Read Full Article


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Between landing the first-ever daytime TV interview with the President, Barbara's new cow heart, Elisabeth Hasselbeck's tears, and the kerfuffle with Bill O'Reilly, 2010 has been a banner year for the ladies on The View.
10.) Levi Johnston's advances are rejected.
When the Wasilla mayoral candidate appeared took a seat at the Hot Topics table, he tried to ingratiate himself to the women by giving them flowers. Instead, the women tore into him with serious political questions, for which he was not prepared.
9.) Elisabeth calls Joy a "bigot."
Because Joy said that prayer and faith are not logical. This very literal definition of faith was not acceptable to Elisabeth.
8.) Sherri Shepherd demonstrates her handjob technique.
7.) Elisabeth unwisely tries to take on Kathy Griffin.
And she basically just wrote herself into Kathy's act.
6.) Babs returns with her new cow heart.
And she was feeling strong like bull.
5.) Elisabeth cries and realizes her five-year-old daughter is more mature than she.
A Jezebel staffer was in the studio audience for this!
4.) Michaele Salahi claims she was assaulted by Whoopi.
Before The Real Housewives of D.C. even premiered on Bravo, we got our first peek at Salahi insanity.
3.) Whoopi shows up high.
She took some sedatives for an international flight one weekend, which hadn't worn off by the time Monday morning came around.
2.) Snookigate.
During their history-making sit-down with President Obama, Joy decided to quiz him on some pop culture. The scandal here, is that he pretended to not know who Snooki was.
1.) The Walk Off.
After he made disparaging remarks (by lumping all Muslims in with terrorists), Whoopi and Joy famously stormed off the stage in the middle of the interview, much to Babs' chagrin.


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17 July 2013
Testifying before the Senate defense appropriations subcommittee, Syring also told the panel that while his funding for fiscal 2014 is adequate for the testing and modernization programs that his shop envisions, the current base budget might not be adequate as threats change.
While never coming after the witness specifically, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., lobbed some harsh criticisms against the overall missile defense program, complaining that even after spending $150 billion over 30 years on missile defense, the US government hasn't been able to conduct a successful test in five years.
Syring responded simply that continued testing is imperative to improve the program, and that for 2014, "we're budgeted properly to do that. I won't say that additional money won't be required, but the budget as it's currently structured has adequate funding to complete the development" of the older Capability Enhancement (CE) I kill vehicle and the newer, untested CE II kill vehicle.
Durbin shot back that "there are still serious questions whether or not we have a missile defense system that can protect America against threats that we believe could be coming our way," adding that "this committee and Congress are being asked by some to expand the amount of money we spend on the systems at a time when testing has not proven that tests systems are effective."
Of particular concern to the senator is the fact that the US missile defense system has yet to be tested against intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and that the planned CEII kill vehicle has not been tested outside of simulations, despite the fact that it is currently installed on 10 of 30 rockets in the US arsenal.
Syring assured him that "we have extensive modeling and simulation capability that projects the results of our conducted intercepts testing" and the modeling tests "indicate that we would be successful" in hitting an intercontinental ballistic missile launched at the United States.
He also said that the CE II kill vehicle is on track for a March 2014 test, and that "we're in the process of manufacturing a target" to conduct ICBM tests by 2015, and there are eight ICBM tests scheduled by 2020.
While Syring sought to assuage the worries of the panel about his modeling and simulation capacities, some analysts were not comforted.
Syring "confirmed that the tests of the ground based midcourse defense system are undertaken in a 'controlled, scripted environment' and that the system has never been tested against an ICBM-class target" said Kington Reif, director of nuclear non-proliferation at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.
"So even the successful tests don't prove that the system would work under real world battlefield conditions."
In March, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced that the Pentagon would spend $1 billion on 14 new missile interceptor sites in Alaska, bringing the nation's total up to 44 sites.
Syring said that might only be the beginning.
"The 44 addresses [is for] what we see with North Korea today," he said, but there is the real potential "to go beyond 44 as we start to evaluate the threat from Iran and from other nations."
There will be contracts released this summer to begin the work on the 14 intercept sites at Fort Greeley in Alaska, Syring announced. The price tag will be about $75 million per interceptor.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Ark., who represents the state that hosts 26 of the current 30 missile interceptor sites — as well as all 14 of the new sites — questioned the admiral about how he would use the money he receives in the next budget.
"I would spend our next dollars on discriminating sensors, meaning big radars west and east to give us the capability [to meet] where I see that threat going in the next five to 10 years."
That made Sen. Susan Collins happy, since she supports the installation of additional interceptor sites on the East Coast, particularly in her state of Maine.
"I know my state of Maine is a very welcoming place for military installations of this sort," she said.
Syring confirmed that the Pentagon is considering two sites in Maine among other locations, and when Collins asked if his office is taking local support into consideration, he assured her that "it will be a factor in our decision."
The Republican-controlled House Armed Services Committee has voted to fund an
East Coast missile defense system, but the Senate Armed Services Committee may
well block the move again this year, as it did in the 2013 budget.


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She's already papped enough.
But these are the first shots of Reese Witherspoon since Us Weekly broke the news earlier today that she's expecting with husband Jim Toth. Click here for my full gossip analysis post on her pregnancy from this morning.
Be ready now for 7 months of wall to wall Reese baby coverage. One day this child will find that his/her womb experience can be fully documented on something archaic called the internet. I'll come back here to a point I've made several times: if they hate having their picture taken SO much, and especially with their children, or anything having to do with children, why is it they continue to support the publications - print, online, or otherwise - that purchase those photos and fuel the demand? PEOPLE.com has a section called "Celebrity Babies" on its site. And yes, this includes paparazzi photos.
Papping Reese every day
She's already papped enough.


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Add style to your Jeep without breaking the bank! Omix Stainless Steel & Black Powder Coat accessories are high-quality products that are reasonably priced. And easy to care for too! The Stainless Steel requires only an occasional waxing to keep their mirror-like shine. Accessories include all mounting hardware.
We're working on getting more reviews for this product. In the meantime, here's what people are saying about 4WD
Rugged Ridge was established in 2005 by the company Omix-ADA to focus on innovative aftermarket Jeep accessories. Many of Rugged Ridge's recent designs are so innovative they have been patented. This includes their floor liners, snorkel and XHD Modular Bumpers. Since 2005 Rugged Ridge has developed and manufactured over 3,000 kinds of Jeep related products. All Rugged Ridge Jeep accessories are trail rated. The Omix-ADA founder came from a family that owned a small Jeep dealership. It was the founder's dream from a young age to own a company that made accessories for Jeeps. The founder manifested the dream in 1992. Shop Rugged Ridge Now
Join our mailing list to receive information on new products, special events, discounts and more!


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STEWART, JOHN, clergyman; b. in Perthshire, Scotland, c. 1800; d. in New Glasgow, N.S., 4 May 1880.
John Stewart was educated at Perth Academy and at the University of Edinburgh where he studied medicine for a short time but finally chose to take a degree in theology. He was licensed by the presbytery of Dunkeld on 26 June 1832, and from 1832 until 1834 taught at St George's Academy, Edinburgh. Under the auspices of the Edinburgh Ladies Association and the Glasgow Colonial Society, he immigrated to Nova Scotia, landing at Plaster Cove, Cape Breton, on 23 Aug. 1834. After a year's missionary work in Cape Breton, he was ordained by the Pictou presbytery of the Church of Scotland on 6 Oct. 1835. Thirteen days later he was inducted into the West Bay charge of Cape Breton.
In the summer of 1836 Stewart returned to Edinburgh to marry Alica Murray Drysdale. The couple left Cape Breton in June 1838 and moved to Fraser's Mountain (New Glasgow) where John Stewart was pastor until his retirement in 1869. Fluent in both English and Gaelic, he continued his missionary travels in Cape Breton and elsewhere, and was often the first missionary to visit a pioneer settlement.
A disciple of Dr Thomas Chalmers, leader of the Free Church movement in Scotland, Stewart opposed state control and patronage in his parishes. In 1844 he worked to free his own congregation, the Pictou presbytery, and the synod of Nova Scotia from the Church of Scotland. In New Glasgow most of his congregation followed him when he left St Andrew's Church and formed John Knox Free Church. As early as 25 Dec. 1839, in a letter to the Halifax Guardian, he advocated the union of all Presbyterian bodies, and continued to support this policy until 1875 when practically every Presbyterian church in Canada was under one organization. Stewart also gave full support to the church's missionary work in the New Hebrides and Trinidad and was the leader of missionary activities in the synod for a number of years.
Perhaps the Reverend John Stewart's greatest contribution was in the field of ministerial training. By 1848, four years after the inception of the Free Church in Nova Scotia, he and several other clergymen had organized the Free Church College in Halifax. The college, giving classes in arts as well as divinity, opened with two professors and 15 students. In 1850 the synod sent Stewart to Britain to obtain funds for the endowment of the college. He travelled and canvassed widely, returning the following year with £1,000 and a valuable library. This divinity school was one of the ancestors of Pine Hill Divinity Hall, the present United Church seminary.
Free Church of Nova Scotia, Synod, Minutes (Halifax), 1844–60; Minutes of the last session, 1860. Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia, Minutes of the last session (Halifax), 1860. Presbyterian Church of the Lower Provinces of British North America, Synod, Minutes of the first session (Halifax), 1860; Minutes, 1860–75. Presbyterian Church in Canada, Synod of the Maritime provinces, Minutes (Halifax), 1875–80. Presbyterian Church in Canada, General Assembly, Acts and Proceedings (Toronto), 1880, 61.
Guardian (Halifax), 25 Dec. 1839, 12 May 1841. Presbyterian Record (Halifax), June 1880. Presbyterian Witness (Halifax), 12 July, 4 Oct. 1851; 8, 15 May 1880. The missionary record and ecclesiastical intelligencer for 1851 and 1852 (Halifax, 1852). Gregg, History of the Presbyterian Church, 344–47. John Murray, The history of the Presbyterian Church in Cape Breton (Truro, N.S., 1921), 54–57.
© 1972–2023 University of Toronto/Université Laval
Cite This Article
E. Arthur Betts, "STEWART, JOHN (d. 1880)," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 10, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed October 1, 2023, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/stewart_john_1880_10E.html.
The citation above shows the format for footnotes and endnotes according to the Chicago manual of style (16th edition). Information to be used in other citation formats:
|Author of Article:
|E. Arthur Betts
|Title of Article:
|STEWART, JOHN (d. 1880)
|Publication Name:
|Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 10
|University of Toronto/Université Laval
|Year of publication:
|Year of revision:
|Access Date:
|October 1, 2023


text:
The Honda Civic earned top scores in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's new "small overlap" crash test, but similarly sized cars from Kia and Nissan fared poorly.
The Institute put 12 new compact cars through the test, including two- and four-door versions of the Civic and two Kia models. The Kia Soul and Forte, as well as the Nissan Sentra, earned the worst possible rating of "Poor" in the test.
Kia and Nissan both pointed out that their cars have performed very well in other Insurance Institute and government crash tests. Kia also noted that the "small overlap" crash test "goes well beyond federal requirements."
Both automakers said they would review the test results as they seek to make further safety improvements in their cars.
Related: Tesla Model S gets a 5-star crash-test rating from NHTSA
This was the first time compact cars were subjected to this new type of front crash test. In it, the cars are propelled at 40 miles an hour and strike a crash barrier with just one quarter of the front bumper on the driver's side. That concentrates impact forces into a small area that often falls outside crash protection structures built into the cars. The impact also spins the car violently.
The test mimics a type of impact that accounts for nearly a quarter of all front crashes with serious or fatal injury to front seat occupants.
"In the worst cases safety cages collapsed, driver airbags moved sideways with unstable steering columns and the dummy's head hit the instrument panel," David Zuby, the Institute's chief research officer, said of the test results in a written statement.
Also, side curtain airbags sometimes didn't deploy or they didn't provide coverage far enough forward in the car to be of any help, he said.
In the case of the two Kia models, the cars' seatbelts spooled out too much, allowing the crash test dummy to move too far forward. At the same time, the side curtain airbags didn't provide protection that far forward in the car, allowing the dummy's head to hit the windshield pillar and instrument panel. The Kias' steel structure also provided insufficient crash protection in the tests, according to the Institute.
When the IIHS put a group of luxury cars through the same test in August, the first time results for the new test were released, only two cars out of 11 got top marks. The Institute has also put mid-sized cars and small SUVs through the new test.
Gallery - Coolest million dollar cars from Pebble Beach
In this case, while only the Civics earned the top possible rating of "Good" in the side impact test, the Dodge Dart, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Scion tC were rated "Acceptable." That was good enough to earn them, along with the Civic, the Institute's "Top Safety Pick Plus" award. That award is reserved for cars that perform well in all of the Institute's crash safety tests.
The Chevrolet Sonic, Cruze and Volkswagen Beetle earned "Marginal" ratings in the test. The Toyota Corolla wasn't tested because Toyota (TM) will be releasing a completely redesigned Corolla later this month.