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Wednesday, February 13, 2008
In-Progress At Daytona: "RaceDay," The Gatorade Duels and "Victory Lane"
Thursday marks the beginning of the serious racing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season. There are many stories in-progress surrounding the Gatorade Duel races airing this afternoon at 2PM Eastern Time on SPEED.
Prior to the actual racing, SPEED has a one hour edition of RaceDay at 1PM. With all of the engine issues and driver/team combinations involved in these two races, Wendy Venturini should be very busy down in the Garage Area.
RaceDay will have the full cast of characters on-hand led by John Roberts. The NASCAR on Fox team will call the Gatorade Duels, and then Roberts and crew return to host a one hour edition of Victory Lane scheduled for 5:30PM.
With all the things that can go wrong in these races from rain to wrecks to group engine failures, it should be interesting.
This page will serve to host your comments about the afternoon of NASCAR programming on SPEED. Please feel free to post before, during, or after the programs. To add your comment just click on the COMMENTS button below and folllow the easy instructions. The rules for posting are located on the right side of the main page.
Thanks again for taking the time to stop by and share your opinion at The Daly Planet.
54 comments:
- elena said...
My tv guide shows ESPN2 showing Nationwide practice in 30 minutes.
- February 14, 2008 at 9:03 AM
- Anonymous said...
SPEED has truck practice from 11-1 pm and truck qualifying at 7pm. Full day for them.
- February 14, 2008 at 9:07 AM
- stricklinfan82 said...
I have one request for the guys in the production truck if they are reading this. If there is a battle for the final transfer spot in the final lap please keep the cameras focused on that battle all the way to the line.
This new Duel format has been in place for the last 3 years. In 2006 TNT did a fantastic job of keeping the cameras focused on the transfer spot battle on the entire last lap and all the way through the cars crossing the finish line.
In 2005 and 2007 though when Fox/Speed covered the Duels they kept the cameras focused on the transfer spot battle for 15/16 of the final lap but at the line used a very wide shot and completely lost sight of the cars battling for the transfer spot. Those most important cars got completely lost in the middle of a large cluster of cars racing in a huge pack. Fox did a great job of following the dramatic K. Wallace/K. Earnhardt battle in '05 and the Said/Bliss and Marlin/M. Wallace/Nemechek battles in '07 but left the viewers at home clueless as to who nipped who at the stripe by turning the cameras away from them at the finish.
This is a unique exception to normal races because these are qualifying races. The most important battle on the track on the final lap - the one for the final transfer spot - is most likely going to be in the middle of the pack somewhere. Fox needs to find that battle and keep the cameras isolated on them all the way through the finish line.
- February 14, 2008 at 12:13 PM
- bevo said...
Just watching the truck practice you have to wonder how much longer before Rick Allen is calling cup races. ESPN/ABC would be smart to make a run for him.
- February 14, 2008 at 1:16 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
What the hell was the point of the Rutledge - Air Force segment? We're 30 minutes from the start of the most stressful races of the year. Instead of interviewing the bubble guys like Said, Allmendinger, Elliott, Schrader, Marlin, etc. to get a feel for the tension in the garage Speed is sending their clown (not a driver, not a crew chief, not an owner... their on-air clown) to fly a fighter plane???
I have all the respect in the world for the men and women of the U.S. military but I just don't see the point of this segment.
Rutledge needs to go. There's just no point to this guy being on our TV screens.
- February 14, 2008 at 1:28 PM
- SophiaZ123 said...
Breathe Deep!....again...;-) We know you don't like Rutledge and I understand he is overused. Not the boy's fault..he is doing what the folks tell him.
I hear the guy is a nice guy in person and very sweet to the fans.
Just hate to hear him ripped into for doing his job...but I knew RaceDay would be a puff piece today
and I might warn you not to watch on Sunday...THREE hours of RaceDay...will have lots of padding and minutia. Good grief!!
I still say take the show back to ONE HOUR on raceday and we would have more substance and less marshmallow fluff.
Let's just hope the camera work is good during the race. let me hear your comment on that Strick..you and I feel very similar about those issues for sure.
I am dreading this weekend when the new "updated" Draft tracker makes an appearance.
Nice to see the driver's interviewed now...gorgeous day there.
I am still shocked all the replaced engines is not BIGGER news...very odd since it is many manufacturers.
- February 14, 2008 at 1:52 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
I'm sure he's a nice guy an all. My problem is with his 'role' not him personally. I don't like seeing a clown running around on TV every day adding nothing to the broadcasts but a bunch of running around and saying "I know nothing about what you guys are talking about but look at me ride on my scooter, weeee!".
My requests for today's camera work are different than normal given today's unique circumstances. Since this is a QUALIFYING race I want to SEE the battle for the final transfer spot LIVE. I don't care how many other cars I miss finishing, I want to see the most important battle - the one for the final transfer spot - all the way to the finish line (like TNT did when they covered these races in '06).
In 2005 and 2007 Fox/Speed missed a combined total of 3 photo-finishes for the final transfer spot by using a very wide shot at the finish. Normally I love the wide shot at the line but not today. The only thing that really matters today is the battle for the final transfer spot.
Have fun watching, I know I will. These are probably my two favorite races of the year.
- February 14, 2008 at 2:00 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
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- February 14, 2008 at 2:04 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
I'm going to go out an a limb and say Jimmy Spencer's predictions of who will race their way in will be wrong. He picked 3 drivers from race 1 and 1 driver from race 2... D'OH! LOL.
I would have liked to hear more of the Speed guys' predictions on Raceday but since we didn't I'll offer up mine. Race 1 - #2 and #83. Race 2 - #49 and #50 (yes, Stanton Barrett, just call it a hunch... I'll look like a genious if I'm right and no one will remember if I'm wrong so I have nothing to lose, LOL)
- February 14, 2008 at 2:08 PM
- SophiaZ123 said...
I am looking forward to these races as well. I hope my fave guys make it and almost afraid to mention them by name...some are older drivers.
I am making notes of your predictions, SFan.
These races are also great because they are shorter. I am no ADD person but honestly, some of the races could be shorter since we mostly see 'commercials' anyway.
But I digress.
- February 14, 2008 at 2:10 PM
- Anonymous said...
Krista has a major presence on the duels today. Which is great, I like Krista.
Great coverage so far. Lots of driver interviews from Wendy and Hermie.
Like the Aerosmith song that got played 20 million times last year, I can tell I'm going to get tired of SPEED's new "Be There" theme song and I've only heard it yesterday and today.
However, I have to give them props for not bowing to the "back to basics" pressure where Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace and all those folks were saying NASCAR needed to stick to country music for racetrack performers and TV themes(it's a rock song). There's room for all types of music in NASCAR...at least there should be.
- February 14, 2008 at 2:13 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
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- February 14, 2008 at 2:27 PM
- Anonymous said...
I know DW was excited about being out of the booth and right down on the track, but that constant highpitched screaming for the first two laps was too much. Gave me a headache. Glad Mike Joy finally calmed him down in a polite way: "Darrell, recess is over. "
- February 14, 2008 at 2:28 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
Mike Joy is wrong. If Nemechek races his way in Boris Said is next in line to fall back on his time. If both Joe and Boris race in then Patrick Carpentier is next.
Vickers needs 3 faster qualifiers of the go-or-go home group to race in to fall back on his time.
- February 14, 2008 at 2:28 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
Split-screen with live racing and a replay. YES!
- February 14, 2008 at 2:31 PM
- haus20 said...
like the split screen as well...
GUYS in the truck, the ambient audio is not mixing well with the booth...turn down the ambient mics please.
- February 14, 2008 at 2:33 PM
- SophiaZ123 said...
I gotta say, I would be THRILLED to stand where DW was...the flag pole..the visual, the thunder and FEELING the cars...amazing.
sorry, no fan of KB but I hate to see ANOTHER engine issue so early.
What the heck's the deal with the engines this year? I hope they find out soon with all the problems.
Great split screen timing INDEED SPEED!
- February 14, 2008 at 2:34 PM
- Charles said...
Love the split screen. Hope that carries over to fox.
- February 14, 2008 at 2:43 PM
- haus20 said...
Audio seems to be better...maybe it was just me or maybe something was changed...either way - thanks.
- February 14, 2008 at 2:50 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
Green flag pit stops are starting and Speed is going to commercial. Huh?
- February 14, 2008 at 2:50 PM
- boyd said...
Hey all,
Is anyone else getting the feeling that the winner of Sundays race may be the lucky ones that have 1)the right internal engine pieces, or 2)gets lucky with tires?
- February 14, 2008 at 2:51 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
I'm using the free Trackpass preview for the first time and it's amazing what we are missing on TV. There is a ridiculously crazy battle for the transfer spot every lap and we're not seeing it on the TV broadcast.
- February 14, 2008 at 2:57 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
11 to go and a commercial break. Ugh.
- February 14, 2008 at 3:03 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
Alright Speed, it's time to step up here. The cameras MUST stay focused on that battle for the final transfer spot on these final 2 or 3 laps. Every go-or-go homer pitted other than Kenny Wallace and his teammate Joe Nemechek. This is going to be BIG.
- February 14, 2008 at 3:11 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
Great job Speed. Thanks for the split screen on the final lap. FANTASTIC!
- February 14, 2008 at 3:16 PM
- SophiaZ123 said...
Go JR!!
Congrats Kenny W...I was rooting for him. He is so happy...
- February 14, 2008 at 3:17 PM
- SophiaZ123 said...
Wow...Was speed reading this blog? LOL
Great camera work at the end there.
- February 14, 2008 at 3:17 PM
- boyd said...
They covered the end of the race the way you requested.
Overall good job on the first 150.
I forgot how much I rely on DVR to skip commercials.
- February 14, 2008 at 3:18 PM
- haus20 said...
great split screen...need to add labels to differentiate between replay and live.
- February 14, 2008 at 3:18 PM
- SophiaZ123 said...
I don't think it was at the same time but I had some quirky audio noise with ambient sounds and then it cleared out...I am watching on regular digital tv...not HD
I have noticed I sometimes have SPEED issues with sound when other parts of the country do not...must be along the internet highways to our cable systems
- February 14, 2008 at 3:20 PM
- Ritchie said...
I keep wondering, if Jeff Gordon has won the most restrictor plate races ever, why do they keep saying that Dale Jr. is the best restrictor plate racer?
Junior hype in overdrive yet again.
- February 14, 2008 at 3:26 PM
- haus20 said...
sophiaz, thanks for the info...i am watching on HD this year...I am certainly enjoying it...there was a similar audio problem last friday or saturday as well and they were able clear that up...
i like the speed pit box they just showed, but a different camera angle would be preferred
- February 14, 2008 at 3:35 PM
- SophiaZ123 said...
RATS@!!!! Hope Dario's car is ok...what a mess
Bad for stanton barrett and Jamie :(
- February 14, 2008 at 4:16 PM
- SophiaZ123 said...
Well that totally STINKS for Blaney.
I hate watching the new engines being "tested" in SPEED WEEKS.
Bizarre car issues this year
- February 14, 2008 at 4:35 PM
- SophiaZ123 said...
THANKS for the sound of the cars ONLY for a minute.
That is the best thing you do...no graphics junk, no talking JUST THE SOUND OF THE ENGINES!
An idea LOST on many other stations.
Thanks again for this "Natural noise" sound and I hope you make this a regular thing ...a few times for each race.
- February 14, 2008 at 4:51 PM
- boyd said...
Overtime!!! Think there are any fuel issues?
Loved the sound of Speed. I could listen to that all day.
- February 14, 2008 at 5:16 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
Thanks again for the split screen at the finish Speed Channel. I can't wait to hear from Dale Jarrett and John Andretti. Wow, the Front Row Racing Team makes the Daytona 500, what a story.
- February 14, 2008 at 5:29 PM
- Newracefan said...
Home just in time GO DJ, poor Schrader.
- February 14, 2008 at 5:30 PM
- SophiaZ123 said...
Sniff...HATE it that Schrader missed getting in...so darned close.
- February 14, 2008 at 5:37 PM
- Jake Hollywood said...
Ahhhh...for those of paying attention, last year I first to predict that a TOYOTA would win one of the first ten races in this season of Cup racing...
And Hamlin's win in the second Dual 150s shows that Toyota certainly has moved up on their learning curve.
I predict (once again) that Toyota will win a points race in Cup -- only I'm adjusting my pick to be one of the first eight races.
Maybe even the 50th running of the 500 (though I think that in reality the race winner might be someone who has never won before--getting their first Cup win--or Mark Martin (but I'm secretly hoping Dale Jarrett--a nice way to go out--or Michael Waltrip wins--a nice way to put his "tainted" wins behind--win)
- February 14, 2008 at 6:03 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
Hey Guys,
Does this finally convince you that the good folks in the TV compound read your comments as the programs are in progress?
- February 14, 2008 at 6:42 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
Interesting observation during Victory Lane - Speed's schedule for the rest of the week mentioned that the Nationwide race will air on ESPN2. It's nice to see that these networks seem to be cooperating more this year. Let's hope this cooperation means we get ALL practice sessions back on LIVE TV during the ESPN portion of the Cup schedule.
Please guys, when you competing networks work together the fans are the big winners. When you don't the fans are the biggest losers, like we were last year.
- February 14, 2008 at 6:55 PM
- SophiaZ123 said...
Blogger Daly Planet Editor said...
Hey Guys,
Does this finally convince you that the good folks in the TV compound read your comments as the programs are in progress?
YES, it does...and if I had addresses of those sweet folks doing cool things like split screens AND the "SOUNDS OF SPEED" ideas, I would send home made cookies...oatmeal or chocolate chip! :-)
You, too, JD.
This was a GREAT set of races. I will probably watch the repeat just because I want to see it again and hear the SOUND OF SPEED.
Now that's addiction. :)
- February 14, 2008 at 6:58 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
Looking ahead to truck qualifying tonight and Nationwide qualifying tomorrow I'll be very interested to see how the new qualifying rules will affect the TV coverage.
With the go-or-go homers all qualifying together at the end of the session, it should be much easier for the announcers and graphics departments to follow the drama of the go-or-go home situation. Let's hope that each network (Speed tonight and ESPN2 tomorrow) front-loads the commercial breaks so we can see the go-or-go homers qualify with no commercial interruption.
- February 14, 2008 at 7:01 PM
- Anonymous said...
Other than missing the flyover, SPEED did a great job all day today. Thanks SPEED.
- February 14, 2008 at 7:08 PM
- darbar said...
They did a great job. I loved how they "abandoned" Jr, and showed the guys who had to race well to get into the race. Good job focusing on Kenny Wallace. Since it didn't matter about Jr, they showed what was important. I liked the pairing of Jeff Hammond and Krista. They do work well together. This is how a race needs to be produced. Good Job Speed
- February 14, 2008 at 7:15 PM
- haus20 said...
JD. One of the first things I noticed today was the live / replay split screens...I immediately thought of comments made on this page last week.
That is pretty cool...it is also a good reminder to all of us fans that as long as we are respectful and courteous in our observations and criticisms, we have a good chance of seeing immediate results.
We certainly want to do our part to maintain the credibility of this site and the comments on this site as those of knowledgeable and caring race fans.
So many other blog sites are irrelevent because of the ridiculous comments and posters that are allowed to be on the site.
Thanks for the work JD.
- February 14, 2008 at 7:16 PM
- SophiaZ123 said...
They might have missed the fly OVER but I did see a quick show of 4 jets during the anthem.
I have noticed all tv often misses the fly bys which is much more exciting than a glimpse of the jets...but I was told a couple of years ago sometime the timing is off of the singer and where the jets are...so we get what we get.
I am sure somebody who knows more about this can correct me but I did see the glimpse of the jets. But if you sneezed and closed your eyes, you might have missed it! :)
The split screen was GREAT but there were moments some of the cars looked like gnats...I watch on a 25 or 31 inch tv....Not everbody has the tv's the size of a truckside.
And MANY "HD" tv's I see for 800. are SMALL and skimpy...in actual 'real estate' of tv viewing...but I am still THRILLED of the improvements as opposed to ELIMINATING live racing.
Wonder how ESPN will compare...hello they YAK over the green flag racing, show draft tracker, pre recorded video...show INTERVIEWS OVER the green flag racing.
And a couple times as SPEED went to break there was a wreck and they stayed around.
So COMPARED to ESPN, I give SPEED A B plus!!
They would've gotten an A if they give us a few more minutes of the sound of SPEED...If I wouldve thought sooner I wouldv'e turned on the radio to enjoy the races (My room mate has TV thru stereo for music he sees on tv and for my NASACAR racing)
- February 14, 2008 at 7:59 PM
- TexasRaceLady said...
sophiaz, if you send the cookies, I'll send the champagne to wash them down.
That's want TV coverage ought to be for EVERY race.
I was loving every minute of it. Excellent camera work, the commentators describing what they are seeing, and NO extraneous frou-frou.
JD, tell the guys in the SPEED truck that this old-time race-fan has been rejuvenated. Job well-done.
And, I'm definitely watching the replay after the trucks qualify.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have RACING!
- February 14, 2008 at 8:09 PM
- TexasRaceLady said...
The word should be "what" in that 2nd sentence.
Old fingers. LOL
- February 14, 2008 at 8:12 PM
- Skeet said...
Today, I felt happy to take off work just to watch the races. The split screen was brilliant and a wonderful surprise. All the Speed/Fox guys and Krista were on their game today. This type of tv coverage is what we have all been asking for. Even when someone said on here that the background noise was too loud, the people in the production truck must have been reading this blog. Mike Joy said someone said they were too loud, he made a comment that it was the fans that got louder when JR took the lead. At least they are reading and wanting to take the opinions here to make the coverage better for us. Thank you Speed for making today a joy to watch and listen to. And Thank you JD for all your hard work.
- February 14, 2008 at 8:31 PM
- Alex said...
Brilliant coverage, and while I think that Voda and Hammond were a good pair, some of Voda's scripted bits (she used them quite often to describe the atmosphere of the duels) were a bit tiresome.
Other than that, a fantastic performance by all on a wall-to-wall day of coverage. It should be an interesting contrast between Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday evening.
- February 14, 2008 at 8:49 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
Hey All,
There is a new column up about the Thursday coverage from Daytona on SPEED. Please add your comments.
- February 14, 2008 at 9:37 PM
- shinnery said...
The thing that I didn't care for in the four way split screen views was that every time I saw the clouds, in the upper right corner, I thought they had "The Big One" and all you could see was tire and engine smoke while the announcers were blathering on. Overall much better than last year.
- February 14, 2008 at 9:39 PM


text:
Available Lessons
Geometry Around Your School
Grade: 4
Teacher will read aloud "The Greedy Triangle" by Marilyn Burns. After read aloud the class will create a list of the geometric shapes from the story. Students will add geometric shapes to the list that were not included in the book (e.g., three dimensional objects). Then students will work with a partner to walk around the school campus to find real-life examples of their assigned geometric shape and take digital photographs of the objects. Students will create a class book about the objects and use their digital photographs to illustrate the book.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Atlanta rapper Michael Santiago Render, known professionally as Killer Mike, released his sixth album this month. It's called R.A.P. Music. The album's title isn't about hip-hop, per se, but refers to an acronym tweeted by another Georgian, a critic named Maurice Garland, two years ago. "He just put it up randomly: 'Rap music is supposed to be Rebellious African People,' " Killer Mike told Morning Edition. "I said, 'Yo, i'm naming my next album that.' "
You can hear a portion of the show's interview with Killer Mike at the audio link, but keep reading for more.
On his album's title
"First of all, all humanity is from Africa, and i think we've been trained to put color on it. But, in terms of the black people who were directly descended from Africa and brought here a few hundred years ago, that voice began in the fields as wailing, which turned into gospel. Gospel got secular and turned into blues, and blues got faster and became rock 'n' roll and became funk and became soul and R&B. What's more American than young people speaking their mind over things they had to create over pots and pans and electronically because music was taken out of schools? What's more American than making something out of nothing? What's more gospel than rap music?"
On celebrating women, especially in his song "Untitled"
"I have not done that at points, but I'm growing, I'm being somewhere else now. I have two daughters now that I'm trying to grow with — not just one daughter I'm trying to feed. I have matured as a man to understand where my suspicion of women comes from, and how that has everything to do with me and nothing to do with them. I have to deal with that.
"So, I'm still me. I can still be a bigoted, hard-headed, sexist man, but what I'm not is a misogynist. I don't see women as lower class or lower than; I see them as partners and equals, and that's beginning to come into fruition into my music. I'm blessed to have grown to this point for a big reason, because I have a woman that has challenged me now and I have two daughters that challenge me constantly to rethink these things."
On raising daughters
"I have four children, and I was a terror. My daughters made me believe in a thing called karma. I'll never forget saying to my older daughter, 'Why do you want to go to a Halloween party as Marilyn Monroe? You couldn't think of another woman to be?'
"I gave her the litany of why you should want to be Zora Neale Hurston and Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth. I gave it to her, and she turned and looked at me and she said, 'But Dad, Pony Boy is Freddy Krueger. He's Freddy Krueger. You didn't tell him to be Malcolm or Martin or Frederick.' And I just looked at her and said, 'I like the wig.'
"And she went as Marilyn, and what I had to understand from that experience was for her as a young woman, one of her first definitions of beauty are going to be these superstars. This woman has been a definition of beauty for 50 years, and there's nothing I can do to combat that. All I can do is embrace that and tell my daughter, 'You're the most beautiful chocolate Marilyn I've ever seen in my life.' That allowed us to get closer because she could see that her dad didn't have expectations that were beyond her and not for her brothers."
On his song "Reagan," and its meaning
"Ronald Reagan was an actor. He was a pitchman at first, and so people naturally trust him. He understood how to weave magic when he was speaking, and that's what we as entertainers do. So when Jay-Z tells you to buy some Reeboks, it means more. Ronald Reagan at one point was the biggest pitchman in the world. I think that Reagan was used by a political party, by people who had vested means, to push their own agendas. He had his own agendas, and I think that no rapper had ever said, 'I've been guilty of this. I have hurt my community as a rapper.'
"I'm not saying it hypothetically. I have hurt my community. I have to look myself in the mirror and know that, and I have to own that in order to grow past that.
"It's social. Much of my music gets interpreted as political, but it's social. I don't absolve myself from any responsibility, I don't take myself outside the problem. I just say it as a part of it. But, you know, Reagan is an ideology; it isn't just a human. I don't know if any of us know the real human being, besides Nancy, who Reagan really was.
"I think that in a lot of ways we are like that as rappers — no one really knows us. I just wanted to give people my most sincere and honest thoughts, so I hope that the ideology that's Reagan somehow diminishes."
On not joining a political party
"If I tell someone, 'I was listening to NPR,' they're going to naturally assume, 'He's a black liberal, he supports ... ' If I tell someone, 'I was just listening to Fox Radio,' they're going to assume, 'He's a black neo-conservative.' I just listen 'cause I'm curious. I don't want to be married to any ideology, because life is a lot more fluid than that, and I think that we're trained and conditioned in this country to think in teams.
"Even if they don't catch you between football, baseball and basketball as a kid, they catch you in terms of clubs in high school, where you be in the Homemakers Club or Future Business Leaders. What are you gonna be? I just be, and who I can support is based on who I'm being at that time. Who I'm willing to give my vote to, who I'm willing to give my soul to, has to align with my being. It doesn't have to align with a certain title."
On owning a barbershop rather than a vanity label
"I own a barbershop in Atlanta — Graffitis SWAG Shop, 3461 Roosevelt Highway — if you ever get off the airport, come and get your eyebrows arched or something.
"I got tired of the music business, because the music business often turns into the music-scheming business. I wanted to do a business that I knew could sustain in the community, that would be relatively easy to open and operate, and one I was genuinely interested in. In the African-American community, very few businesses are owned by African-Americans, so it begins to bring up the debate of, 'Do you have a community if you don't own the businesses in that community?' But one of the only things that African-Americans still own and operate are barber and beauty shops.
"With barbershops, you have the ability to know what's going on in the community, to influence the community. I want a chance to have my finger on the pulse of the community and at the same time provide jobs and make profit, so I went into that. Some of my next ventures will probably be store ownership, beauty supplies, nails. I want to be where black people are spending money.
"It's sexy to sell vodka, it's sexy to own a record label, it's sexy to own a clothing company. But sexy is not what's paying for the communities that are north of Atlanta. Our dollars are just buying sodas and potato chips, and I think that we have to get into the business of being the merchants of our own communities."
Now to an album creating buzz in the world of hip-hop. It comes from Atlanta-based rapper Michael Render, better known as Killer Mike.
KILLER MIKE: (Rapping) You are witnessing elegance in the form of a black elephant, smoking white rhino on terraces. Will I die slain like my King, by a terrorist? Will my woman be Coretta, take my name and cherish it? Or will she Jackie O., drop the Kennedy, remarry...
WERTHEIMER: Killer Mike's new album is called "R.A.P. Music." Not rap - it stands for rebellious African people.
MIKE: First of all, all humanity is from Africa. And I think that rap, for a very long time, has been the stepchild of the black musical and the American musical experience.
WERTHEIMER: He wants rap music to be embraced like jazz, blues or gospel.
MIKE: What's more gospel than rap music? You know, young men and women exposing their soul over beats.
MIKE: (Rapping) Like the dream of a teen when they cycle through this life on the valley of (unintelligible) motel. (unintelligible) these young, black boys self-sabotage they-selves. Or maybe they too smart and they choose to go hard, 'cause they know the good guy will fail. So you ask what happens to a dream deferred, (unintelligible).
WERTHEIMER: Atlanta holds a special place in Killer Mike's heart. He runs a barbershop there and is something of a community leader.
MIKE: I want to chance to have my finger on the pulse of the community, and at the same time provide jobs that make profit. You know, it's sexy to sell vodka. It's sexy to own a record label. It's sexy to own a clothing company. But sexy is not what's paying for the communities that are north of Atlanta.
WERTHEIMER: Killer Mike addresses this issue in a politically charged song called "Reagan."
MIKE: (Rapping) We brag on having bread, but none of us are bakers. We all talk having greens, but none of us own acres. If none of us own acres and none of us grow wheat, then who will feed our people when our people need to eat?
WERTHEIMER: That's Michael Render, better known as Killer Mike. His U.S. tour kicks off tonight in Atlanta. His new album is called "R.A.P. Music." Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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What would you find if you examined a typical landfill? Plastic packaging, diapers, old furniture, carpets, shoes, paper, food waste and computers. The list goes on and on. Billions of dollars' worth of material assets were used to make most of these products.
Food and paper are biodegradable and have value, since they decompose and return nutrients to the soil. When these biodegradable items are put in our landfills, their soil enhancing values are wasted and are the ultimate example of the one-way "cradle to grave" model. In this model, a landfill or incinerator is the "grave" for resources that were extracted, shaped into products, sold and eventually disposed of.
Modern manufacturing is dominated by "cradle to grave" designs, with more than 90% of material produced in the U.S. becoming waste almost immediately. Many products are designed with "built-in-obsolescence". They are not designed to last and rather than repair the original item, we are encouraged to trash it and buy a new one.
"Eco-efficiency", a response to this environmental decline, is a noble idea but it is not a strategy for long-term success. One of its central tenets is reduction. To achieve that goal, incineration is praised by energy proponents as "waste-to-energy" and perceived healthier than land-filling. Valuable materials such as paper and plastic are flammable and incineration of wastes is possible. However, dioxins and other toxins are released during incineration because these materials were never designed to be burned.
Another tenet of eco-efficiency is recycling. However, most recycling is actually "down-cycling," reducing the quality of the material over time.
Our race for economic progress results in "crude" products that are not designed for human and ecological health. These products are affecting us by producing poor indoor air quality, off-gassing teratogenic and/or carcinogenic compounds. Consequently, allergies, asthma and "sick-building syndrome" are on the rise.
Waste, pollution and crude products are the consequences of outdated and unintelligent design. Human industries and sys- tems need to be designed in a way that replenishes, restores and nourishes the rest of the world.
Instead of fine-tuning the existing destructive framework, we need a new design that allows for "cradle-to-cradle" exis- tence. People and industry need to create the following:
• Buildings that produce more energy than they consume and purify their own wastes.
• Factories that produce effluents of drinking water quality.
• Products - that at the end of their useful lives - can be tossed in the ground and decompose or be returned to the industrial cycles to supply high-quality raw material for more products.
• Transportation that improves the quality of life.
• A world of abundance, not one of limits, pollution, and waste.
Source: Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, William McDonough
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Tea Party alert: Feds to flush $1.4 million into the Thames
There are times, not many, when I can sympathize with the anti-government rants of the Tea Party.
And nothing raises any taxpayer's ire more than government waste.
This week, we saw an especially good example of it in New London, where the owner of a city marina, a Fairfield County real estate entrepreneur, was awarded a $1.4 million grant to build new docks for transient boaters.
The grant, which requires the marina owner to invest about $500,000 of his own money, will provide $1.4 million in federal funds for the construction of new floating docks and a concrete breakwater to minimize the effect of wakes from passing boats on the river.
There are so many troubling aspects to this grant it's hard to know where to start ranting. I guess that's where some genuine Tea Party input would help.
The marina in question, Thamesport, at 260 Pequot Ave., was purchased in 2008 for $1.5 million. Yes, that's right, the federal government is going to invest almost as much money in this private business as someone paid for it five years ago.
Why not let the government help you double your money?
Another amazing part of the awarding of $1.4 million in federal grant money to build more docks in New London is that there is a glut of dock space in the city. Among the accommodations for transient boaters that go largely unused are the city's own floating docks at City Pier and the new city mooring field off the Waterfront Park, also built with the help of federal money.
I suspect the owner of Thamesport believes that by using his federal grant money to build a wake-busting breakwater that he will be able to draw more transient boaters than nearby marinas or the city itself.
But doesn't that put the federal government in the awkward position of helping him undercut the competition? In fact, the feds seem to be helping to thwart the city's own slip and mooring rental enterprise.
And if a breakwater is needed, shouldn't the government just build it so that it benefits all?
As for the economic development the marina owner has forecast, I am sure the city would be much better off if visiting boaters without cars tied up downtown at the city's own docks or at its moorings, not out on Pequot Avenue.
Another incredible aspect to this grant is that the money will come from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Yes, I know, I too thought Fish & Wildlife was supposed to be looking out for the fish and birds and bunnies, not building docks for big stinkpots.
A spokesman for Fish & Wildlife explained that the $1.4 million bound for the privately owned New London marina comes from a boating fund that is financed by taxes and fees generally paid by the boating community, like taxes on marine fuel and fishing gear.
I think a good Tea Party delegate might suggest that the government should stop collecting those taxes, rather than play reverse Robin Hood and take the money from boat owners and give it to marina owners.
As for the reasoning behind granting money to build docks in a city that already has too many of them, the Fish & Wildlife spokesman referred me to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
A DEEP official explained that the state agency did indeed give a thumbs-up to the Thamesport grant request, largely because it was the only one submitted from the state in that category this funding cycle.
The implication is, well, if it's federal money coming in to Connecticut, why not get our piece? Apparently no one else from Connecticut thought to submit a better proposal in that category for DEEP to consider. (The New England Science & Sailing Foundation of Stonington, a nonprofit that provides water-related programs for young people, did get $900,000 in a smaller grant category.)
I know it's comparing apples to oranges, but it's hard to ignore the symbolism of reading in one single edition of The Day that, on the one hand, the government of New London is contemplating cuts to the Public Library of New London that could force it to close, while the federal government is going to finance the unnecessary expansion of a privately owned marina in the city, to accommodate large yachts.
It kind of makes you want to join the Tea Party.
This is the opinion of David Collins.
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Good Night & God Bless:
A Guide to Convent & Monastery Accommodation In Europe
Volume 1: Austria, Czech Republic, Italy
By Trish Clark
Hidden Spring, a division of Paulist Press; 264 pages; $20
- - -
Ever traipse around a city for hours searching in vain for a hotel with vacancy, then exclaim "oh thank God!" when you finally find one?
Trish Clark knows that feeling well.
Especially the God part.
In 1970, she was backpacking in Rome and, finding her youth hostel of choice fully booked, reluctantly ended up at a convent near the Spanish Steps.
Would there be rigid rules? Would the sisters be stone-faced? Would fun be banned? Would she be forced to pray? The questions clanged in her head like church bells.
But Clark's fears were quickly hushed when she was greeted warmly, then led to a former nun's cell that was both clean and comfortable.
"I was woken by the sound of the nuns singing hymns during morning Mass. I soon learned that when the singing stopped breakfast was ready," says the Australia-based Clark.
At the table, she was joined by other travellers who shared stories and tips as they dined on fresh bread rolls, homemade jam and "delicious, steaming hot, milky coffee." The experience was so exceptional that Clark continued to seek out similar accommodations.
Now, 39 years later, Clark has penned a guidebook to monastery and convent accommodation in Europe called Good Night & God Bless. The first volume covers Austria, Czech Republic and Italy (Volume II: France, England and Ireland, is due out in January).
It's a guide for everybody, focusing on some of the cheap, safe and well-located accommodation that you may have bypassed if you've been sticking to the mainstream hotel circuit.
"Hospitality has long been a tradition of religious orders," points out Clark.
Couple that with the fact that many monasteries and convents are dealing with soaring maintenance costs and declining enrolment and you can see why they've had to get creative and open their doors to tourists.
The colourful, easy-to-navigate pages of Good Night & God Bless are divided into two categories: "open houses" and "spiritual retreats."
"Open houses" welcome both men and women, married couples, families and singles of all faiths or none.
"From my experience no one will be asked what faith they adhere to or if they don't adhere to any," says Clark.
Another misconception associated with religious accommodation is that prayer is mandatory.
"There is no obligation to attend any religious services and no pressure to do so will be applied," reports Clark.
The "spiritual retreats" have a more religious slant, and are geared to pilgrims or visitors seeking quiet reflection.
You might be surprised at just how prime some of the monastery/convent real estate is.
One of Clark's all-time favourites is situated in Nice, France, right on the beach.
Breakfast and dinner are served on a large stone terrace where visitors can worship the view of the Mediterranean.


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Pascal's Wager
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Regardless of one's belief about a benevolent God, the results still favor a Good Life. Pascal's wager relies on the judgments of an evil God who sends good people to hell for not believing in him. Moreover, because there are an infinite number of possible such God's getting the right answer is a 1 in ∞. Even if a faith rewarding God existed, believing in an incorrect faith-rewarding God for might anger such a god more than not believing in any gods with [[Evidentiary argument|good reasons]].
Regardless of one's belief about a benevolent God, the results still favor a Good Life. Pascal's wager relies on the judgments of an evil God who sends good people to hell for not believing in him. Moreover, because there are an infinite number of possible such God's getting the right answer is a 1 in ∞. Even if a faith rewarding God existed, believing in an incorrect faith-rewarding God for might anger such a god more than not believing in any gods with [[Evidentiary argument|good reasons]].
===Definitions: Belief===
===Definitions: Belief===
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* [[Apostasy]]
* [[Apostasy]]
===External ===
* [http://www.jhuger.com/pascal Pascal's Sucker Bet] by [[Jim Huber]]
* [http://www.jhuger.com/pascal Pascal's Sucker Bet] by [[Jim Huber]]
Revision as of 13:32, 13 June 2010
Pascal's Wager is the argument that states that you should believe in God even if there's a strong chance that he might not be real, because the penalty for not believing, namely going to hell, is so undesirable that it is more prudent to take our chances with belief.
Background information
Based on simple probability theory, the argument was first formally put forth by Blaise Pascal, a 17th-century philosopher and mathematician.
This is one of the most common arguments presented for god which atheists commonly encounter in the form of the question, "What if you're wrong?"
God might or might not exist. It is a gamble whether you believe in him or not. As with any gamble, we should consider the odds.
Pascal described the payoff of this gamble as follows: If God does not exist, then you neither gain nor lose anything from belief or disbelief. In either case, you just die and that's the end. However, if you choose to believe in God, and you are right, then the reward is infinite: Eternal bliss in heaven. On the other hand, if you choose not to believe in God, and you're wrong, your pay off is negative infinity: Eternal suffering in hell.
To summarize:
|Table of Payoffs
|Believe in God
|Don't believe in God
|God doesn't exist
|God exists
|+∞ (heaven)
|−∞ (hell)
Since the chance of God existing is unknown, but the payoff/punishment scheme is infinitely in favour of believing in God, just on the small chance that he might exist, you'd better believe. It's the only wager that makes sense.
This argument, as can be seen, is based in the same logic of a lottery wager. The differences in this case is that in the lottery, if you lose the reward, you also lose the money you payed for the card, while Pascal states that, by believing in God, you lose nothing.
- p1. Believers and non believers alike, agree that payoff is good, punishment is bad.
- p2. if god is real you receive infinite punishment for disbelief or infinite payoff for belief
- a. if you believe you go to heaven for eternity.
- b. if you do not believe you go to hell for eternity.
- p3. if god is not real you don't really loose or gain anything either way.
- a. if you believe falsely that god does exist you haven't really lost anything.
- b. if you don't believe and it turns out god doesn't exist then you don't really gain anything.
- c1. Therefore even if there is strong evidence against god it is still better to believe.
- a. the payoff for believing if there is a god, is infinitely better than the benefit for not believing if there's no god.
- b. the punishment for not believing if there is a god, is infinitely worse than the loss caused by believing falsely that there is a god.
Counter Arguments
False Premise p2: Begging the question
Pascals wager commits the fallacy of begging the question, by assuming in its premises, certain characteristics about the very god the argument is intended to prove.
Rather than the typical christian god, what if we hypothesise the possibility of a god who rewards skeptical thinking unbelievers and punishes credulous believers? Such a god would be consistent with the fall-back response of theologians "we cannot understand the ways of god", so it is feasible that such a god would want to reward atheists. This god would not need to be malevolent, merely inactive (mirroring deism with regards to creation), and wanting to reward those who take a rational, logical, reasonable, and or skeptical approach to their beliefs.
The new table including a Maltheist god may look like this:
|Table of Payoffs
|Believe in God
|Don't believe in God
|God doesn't exist
|Legalistic religious god exists
|+∞ (heaven)
|−∞ (hell)
|Anti-conventional god exists
|−∞ (hell)
|+∞ (heaven)
The mere possibility of such a god makes the expected outcomes for each column undefined, but more importantly, equal.
If you can accept Pascal's Wager as a realistic reason to believe, that leads you to a point where you have no choice but to believe just about everything on the same grounds. Lacking specific evidence about the nature of the true religious faith, there are an infinite number of possible requirements for going to heaven and avoiding hell. Maybe only those who collect stamps go to heaven. Maybe you have to donate $10 a week to Iron Chariots for life. Why quibble about a few measly dollars if it will save you from eternal hellfire?
False Premise p3: Nonzero cost of belief
In the case where God does not exist, there really is a clear advantage to not believing. In other words, the payoff is not zero.
For one thing, if you go through life believing a lie, that is a bad thing in itself. Besides that, there is more to being a believer than just saying "Okay, I believe now" and getting on with your life. Serious believers spend a lot of their time in church, and contribute a lot of money as well. There's a reason why some towns have very affluent looking buildings for churches, and why large and elaborate cathedrals are possible: they're funded by folks who donate a tenth of their income throughout their lives to tithing. This is surely quite a waste if the object of worship isn't real.
That's to say nothing of the persecution of other groups that's been instigated in the name of God throughout the ages. Also, in the US, churches don't have to pay taxes, which includes property tax. Property tax is what goes to schools, so all the land that churches own is sucking money out of schools.
When "God Did It" becomes an acceptable answer, there is little incentive to continue exploring the question. More damaging, the "success" of this theory encourages one to apply it to other areas of human understanding. Practiced in this manner, theism can actively discourage human knowledge by compelling people to follow an arbitrary code of conduct, rather than one based on logic and reason.
And by the way, you don't lose pork.
Special Pleading: Which religion?
Even if we ignore the logical fallacy of begging the question, an accept the second premise, that still doesn't tell us which religion to believe in. Any Abrahamic religion, or Abrahamic like religion, which has some form of afterlife and values belief above action, can be argued with Pascals wager.
Pascal himself was Catholic and was using it to prove you should be a Catholic. This just highlights the problem, as many Fundamentalists believe that Catholics are going to go to hell. Pascal's it seems, is not much better off than an unbeliever. We don't know if the Jews are correct, or perhaps the Muslims, or if Buddhist reincarnation is right.
Of all the things you could "believe" in, you are in constant danger of incurring the negative consequences of disbelief even though you choose the "belief" option. If you are a Christian for instance, and it turns out Islam is the correct faith, you will spend the rest of eternity in the Islamic hell. Can you calculate the odds on that? The best wager, it seems, would be to choose the religion with the worst punishment for non-belief and the best reward for belief.
Other counter arguments
Atheist's Wager
The Atheist's Wager is a variant of Pascal's Wager which divides the gods who reward faith and the gods who reward works finds that it is better to not-believe and do good works, for maximum benefit. If one takes into account that rewarding and punishing based on faith in a deity without reasonable evidence to believe that god is evil and spending your time sucking up to a such a deity is a waste of time. If one discounts the possibility of a God who sends good people to hell for bad reasons, we are left with a completely different payoff table.
- If one does not believe in God.
|Table of Payoffs
|Good Life
|Evil Life
|Benevolent God Exists
|+∞ (heaven)
|−∞ (hell)
|No God Exists
- If one believes in God.
|Table of Payoffs
|Good Life
|Evil Life
|Benevolent God Exists
|+∞ (heaven)
|−∞ (hell)
|No God Exists
Regardless of one's belief about a benevolent God, the results still favor a Good Life. Pascal's wager relies on the judgments of an evil God who sends good people to hell for not believing in him. Moreover, because there are an infinite number of possible such God's getting the right answer is a 1 in ∞. Even if a faith rewarding God existed, believing in an incorrect faith-rewarding God for might anger such a god more than not believing in any gods with good reasons.
Definitions: Belief
Even if one assumes that the wager applies to the Christian god, would he really accept the kind of faith it promotes? The wager doesn't promote true, deep faith; it promotes a fake faith. The person simply pretends to be convinced because they're afraid of the punishment for not believing. The wager is simply an attempt to force the person to believe (see argumentum ad baculum). (Or, perhaps more accurately, it attempts to force the person to act as if he or she believes — that is, it serves as an instrument of social control.)
An analogy to this would be a child that professes belief in Santa Claus out of fear that they will not otherwise receive presents, knowing full well that the presents were left under the tree are really from his or her parents.
Moral implications
There are deep moral implications to Pascal's wager if the argument is taken to its logical conclusions. It promotes the idea that beliefs are more important than actions. Or more precisely that apostasy is the only unforgivable sin.
The central tenet of substitutionary atonement in Christianity, means that you can spend your life murdering, raping, killing, waging genocide, etc, and as long as you accept Jesus Christ as lord and savior before you die, you are entitled to an eternity of pleasure in heaven.
However, on the other hand, a non believer who spends a good honest life helping others, is damned to spend an eternity being tortured in hell despite their good deeds.
This is illustrated in the Gun Slinger (Chick tract).
See Also
External links
- Pascal's Sucker Bet by Jim Huber
- Reverse Pascal's Wager at strongatheism.net
- Wikipedia:Pascal's Wager – Wikipedia article on Pascals wager
- Wikipedia:Blaise Pascal – Wikipedia article on Blaise Pascal


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Orange Pot Roast
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(Recipe ID: 334)
Serves 12
Preparation time: 4 hours; Cook time: 3 1/2 hours
Source: Vito De Carolis
Familiar Pot Roast made special with aromatic citrus flavorings.
Items indicated with an astrisk (*) available for purchase in the Avanti Savoia store. See below to add these items to your cart.
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil *
- 1 Boneless rump roast (about 5 to 6 pounds)
- 2 teaspoons Fine sea salt *
- 1/2 teaspoon Black peppercorn, freshly ground *
- 1 Onion, sliced
- 1 Bay leaf *
- 1 tablespoon Orange honey *
- 1/2 teaspoon Dried leaf thyme *
- 1 teaspoon Orange rind, grated
- 2 cups Fresh orange juice
- 2 tablespoons Fresh pink grapefruit juice
- 1 1/2 tablespoons All-purpose flour
- In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil; brown meat on all sides.
- Add all remaining ingredients except flour.
- Cover and bake in 350 degree oven for 3 hours or until meat is tender.
- Remove meat to platter; keep warm.
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Posted on September 21, 2012
Believe it or else, blueberry pot pie, there are people who bring me their problems. This is not because I can offer assistance nor because I have a particularly kind face. It is because, 99 times out of 100, I refuse to give advice.
Some people are completely the other way, you see. One of my acquaintances had a little sign on his desk, saying "Busy Man: If You Don't Want Advice, Don't Complain." But where other people are eager to tell you how to fix up your life, I am content to make sympathetic noises. That's all some people really need, and takes less time than formulating Uncle Blogsy's Guide To Life's Sticky Bits.
Once, I fear, I was less than sympathetic. A lady I knew had worked herself into something of a state, and told me, "I've never read The Prince and the Pauper! And I probably never will read The Prince and the Pauper."
I understood the first bit—she was from a part of the Mississippi River shoreline in which the works of Mark Twain are regarded as Holy Writ. The second half, however, eluded me.
"You can get a nice, cheap copy from the Book Fair," I said. "If…."
"No," she told me. "I have copies of the book. I just don't think I'll ever read any of them."
At length, I realized there are two problems at once. Sooner or later, most of us have to admit we've passed the age where we have the time, or even the inclination, to pick up everything that looks interesting and read it. There is a period in your life when your time is open and your responsibilities are limited, and you can and will read any halfway decent book that comes your way. Later, though we may still pile those books up, we know we will read less than a tenth before we lose our last bookmark.
The other problem came cup during one of those debates on "What Is Literature?" which volunteers and customers at the Book Fair want to indulge in just as I am rushing to the break room to check out a rumor of chocolate doughnuts. (A manager needs to keep track of these things.) I was explaining Nobel Prizes and Classics Illustrated and other guides to literature when a passerby paused to set us straight.
"Literature," he said, "Is the books you feel guilty you haven't read."
Not perfect, but pretty good. We all remember Required Reading Lists, and the last decade has produced plenty of Guilt Books. You've seen 'em: 1,000 Places To Visit Before You Die, 100 Cars To Drive Before You Die, 100 Movies To See Before You Die, and, of course, 1,000 Books To Read Before You Die.
I love reading these things—they're fun to argue with—but they do have two flaws. One, they are far more interested than I appreciate in my impending demise. And, two (wait for it) there are no books you must read before you die.
Yes, I hear you, those of you crying out about the holy books of your chosen religions. But really, friend, don't most of us use those as reference books rather than as reading books? That is, like a dictionary or a phonebook, we take it out, read the part that answers our questions at the moment, and set it back again. And YES, you in the back: you say your father will kill you if you don't pass Geography, so you MUST read the textbook? Yeah, read that book, but don't keep weaseling around my point.
Those Great Books? They're great books, and I think you should read as many of them as interest you. But they were great books before anybody thought to put them on a list. If the listmakers could offer a guarantee—you must read these before you die, so if you don't read them, you won't die—then they'd make a difference in your life. They do not represent a moral obligation.
The lady I mentioned earlier has died, and to the best of my knowledge, she never di read The Prince and the Pauper. But unless Mark Twain is scolding her for it right now, I don't suppose it makes much difference.


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The Universe Is Made of Stories
The late poet and political activist Muriel Rukeyser famously said, The Universe is made of stories, not of atoms. It's not just words that make up stories. A scientific equation is a story, and so is getting up from my seat and stretching—it's the story of back care for an editor. We can tell a story with the expression on our faces. What does it tell you when a loved one rolls her eyes at you, or blows you a kiss? How do you feel when a stranger winks at you? Flips you the bird? That last story may not end well.
I'm convinced that to live healthy, sustainable, and meaningful lives in a fragile environment with limited natural resources, we have to undergo a full-scale change in our attitudes. All the technology and all the good intentions in the world won't change people's minds about the cars we drive or the resources we consume; but a good story can. A good story can shake up our world-view and open up new ways of seeing.
In his public preaching, Jesus used stories in a powerful way. His parables in particular turned the world of his listeners upside down. For example, his story of the vineyard workers—some worked all day, and some only an hour, but they all were paid the same. Both corporate CEOs and union bosses would have a hard time swallowing that idea. But Jesus was making a point about the graciousness of existence, the generosity at the core of life that can't be earned, bought, or sold. Think about love, for example, or creativity, or just plain having fun. If we put a price on those things, they often disappear into thin air.
When I was a Catholic priest I used to enjoy preaching about another one of the parables, the familiar story of the Prodigal Son. The prodigal son asks his well-off father for his inheritance early. He goes off and lives large for a time. I imagine a wine, women, and song kind of life, with maybe some shady investments and cocaine making it a contemporary story. But an economic downturn triggered by a drought causes the son to lose everything. He decides that it would be better to live as a servant on his father's estate than to continue living on the street and so he goes home and begs his father to hire him. The father throws the prodigal son a party, puts rings on his fingers, and is overcome with joy that his son has returned. The brother of the prodigal son, who stayed home and obeyed all the father's rules, isn't moved by his brother's return. I've worked for you for years, he said, and not even once did you throw me a party.
Most of us think the point of the story is that God—represented by the father—welcomes the sinner. But that's only part of it.
When I preached on that story in church, who do you think were in the pews, the prodigal sons and daughters? No, the people who go to church every week tend to be the ones who've stayed home and obeyed the rules and did what was expected of them, like the dutiful son. At the end of the story, both the father and the prodigal son are rejoicing, but the dutiful son is resentful.
After several years of being a priest, I realized that the best way for me to influence people in my ministry was to be a happy, strong, compassionate, and creative person. But often I was depressed. I didn't like to preside at weddings—I can admit this now—because I wanted to be married and I resented the happiness of the couples. When I was deciding on whether to stay or go, a friend gave me a whole new way of looking at things; he told me that if I left the priesthood and decided to get married, I would be joining a large community of men and women who could support me in the effort. I was worried about being lonely, not realizing that living outside the norm, as a celibate man in a religious community, was making me lonely already. Many people find a good balance of solitude, friendship, and service that makes a celibate priesthood a good option, but not me. I needed a partner.
I think we can learn from all three characters in the Prodigal Son story, and be change agents for ourselves and for others. We create new stories by our actions as well as by our words. Like the prodigal, we have to be risk takers at times. Anyone who leaves a secure job to go off on her own, for example, has to have a bit of the prodigal in her. Mostly we associate the father in the story with God. But we can be divine instruments when we generously offer mentoring to a young person in the home performance community, or when we work "pro-bono" (for the good) because to love unconditionally is to act in closest approximation to the Divine.
Maybe because I can relate most to the dutiful son, I find the most insight by standing in his shoes. I was following the best of intentions in sticking around as a priest for years after there was some pretty strong evidence to support the proposition that it wasn't for me. I felt grateful for the faith that educated and enlightened me, but I was trying to be good to the detriment of being honest with myself about what I needed in life. I had to act a bit like the prodigal son and take the risk of leaving to be on my own for a while before I could find a life that better suited me.
One way that we can be change agents is by first spending some time getting to know people who think differently than we do. I had a great conversation with someone in our community who presented the other side of the "whole house professionals versus HVAC crowd" debate. The HVAC crowd has wisdom to share, and if we want to move forward with the whole house approach, we better listen. Then we may be able to have them join us, sign up for a subscription to Home Energy, go to ACI conferences, and join Efficiency First, RESNET, and BPI. We may even have to let go of some of our most cherished opinions. Just as the good son in the Bible story could learn a thing or two from his brother, we may have to admit that the people who frustrate us the most may just have a piece of the truth we need. We need to hear their stories as well as tell them our own.
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Just got done watching Kansas City Chiefs Matt Cassell on NFL replay as he played the Colts.
In this game Ive seen:
1). Matt has a good ability to scramble when all else fails, but he needs to learn to go knees first or hes going to get hurt.
2). He will look off Safeties to get a wide out more open.
3). A lot of his yards come from throwing to a reciever and letting him do the work ( at least in this game ). But with a Wes Welker, thats a no-brainer.
4). I love his pocket presence. He is aware of his drops and even in shotgun goes back into the pocket. Although at times he seems too anxious or figety, you can tell hes been sacked a lot.
5). He will rely on his recievers and throw the ball up there and let the recievers and DBs play keepaway. Most of the times in this game for not. Which is why is really sucks that we dont have TG.
6). Not impressed by his "comeback at the end of the game" ability (at least not in this game). A lot of it to do with #5.
This is just base on this game. And he held his own against a former championship team with a lot of talent losing 18-15.
If you missed it they will re-air it again at 10:00 tonight (Sunday) and tommorow at noon (Central time). NFL network.
What do you think?


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Todd Heatherton had groped students, according to allegations, and was facing termination.
A Deathly Pallor
March 1, 2015|
Global warming could lead to lighter-colored insects with waning immune defenses.
March 1, 2015|
Global warming could lead to lighter-colored insects with waning immune defenses.
March 1, 2015|
Evolving Ourselves, The Man Who Touched His Own Heart, Bats, and The Invaders
March 1, 2015|
UC Berkeley biologist Robert Dudley explains his "drunken monkey" hypothesis for how humans developed a taste for alcohol.
March 1, 2015|
A mutation in an ethanol-metabolizing enzyme arose around the time that arboreal primates shifted to a more terrestrial lifestyle, perhaps as an adaptation to eating fermented fruit.
February 26, 2015|
Strong selective pressure can lead to rapid and reproducible evolution in bacteria.
February 23, 2015|
Ocean animals have been getting bigger over the millennia, according to an analysis of thousands of genera that have plied Earth's seas since the Cambrian Period.
February 13, 2015|
Researchers working in China have unearthed the fossil remains of two diminutive mammals that speak volumes about faunal diversity during the Jurassic Period.
February 12, 2015|
Full genomes of Darwin's Galápagos finches reveal a critical gene for beak shape and three overlooked species.
February 10, 2015|
With the help of a virus that infects its prey's nervous system, a parasitoid wasp coerces a lady beetle to protect its young.
February 10, 2015|
Ancient sulfur-eating deep-sea bacteria closely resemble modern variants, suggesting evolution may not occur in static environments.


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Allergies Defined
Solution Guides
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Solution Guides
Health Tips
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- Allergy Bedding
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This EnviroRite laundry detergent comes in a 1 gallon bottle and uses non-toxic products to remove allergens from your clothes and bedding. There are no irritants in its ingredients so that your skin will not be irritated after washing. This allergen killing laundry detergent is 100% biodegradable and free of allergy inducing agents. You only need 1/8 of a cup for a regular wash load and it will still be efficient enough to clean and freshen your garments.


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- UCAR Home
- About Us
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- For Staff
The Mesa Lab semi-annual building maintenance shutdown is scheduled for Saturday, 9 April from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. During this time the Mesa Lab and Fleischmann Buildings will experience intermittent electrical, heating, and air conditioning interruptions, some for extended periods.
Access to the Mesa Lab will be restricted to authorized employees, and there will be no public access to the building. Visitors may still use the trails around the building.
CISL will be releasing information regarding the impact of the Mesa Lab computer room portion of the shutdown in the near future as details become available.
For CISL computer room questions, contact Jasen Boyington, ext. 1859 or email@example.com.


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In what was his most substantive and wide-ranging State of the State address ever, Gov. John Hickenlooper on Thursday took on the issues of gun control, Medicaid, tuition for illegal immigrants, child welfare and constitutional reform, among other topics.
The Democratic governor even found room to praise the Denver Broncos in his third such address to the legislature, which lasted nearly 42 minutes.
Hickenlooper called for a moment of silence in the House chamber to remember those who died in Colorado wildfires and in the Aurora shooting massacre. The mayor, police chief and fire chief of Aurora were present for the governor's annual address.
As he has done in previous speeches, Hickenlooper tried to radiate a level of optimism in his address.
Photos: Gov. John Hickenlooper
"Speaking of faith and recovery, the inspirational renewal of the Denver Broncos parallels our state's economic rebound," the governor said. "After a historic recession and several challenging years, our economy is back."
Republicans disputed that assessment later.
House Minority Leader Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, noted the state still has a 7.7 percent rate of unemployment.
"That's not a signal to me that our economy is back," Waller said. "We need to get that unemployment rate down under 4 percent in order for us to truly say the economy is back."
The governor received a standing ovation, at least among Democrats, when he called for background checks on all gun sales. Currently, people who purchase guns from individuals are not required to undergo background checks. But Republicans did applaud Hickenlooper when he called for strengthening the state's mental-health system in hopes of catching would-be assailants sooner.
"Surely, Second Amendment advocates and gun-control supporters can find common ground in support of this proposition: Let's examine our laws and make the changes needed to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people," Hickenlooper said. "It's not enough to prevent dangerous people from getting weapons. We have to do a better job of identifying and helping people who are a threat to themselves and others."
The governor also called on lawmakers to:
• Pass legislation allowing civil unions for same-sex couples.
• Reform the state's enterprise-zone laws, which give tax incentives to businesses.
• "Find an equitable and fair way for undocumented kids" to attend college in Colorado.
• Help reform the state's child-welfare system, whose failings were outlined in The Denver Post/9News investigative project "Failed to Death."
• Pass oil and gas regulations that are "fair, rational and based on science."
Hickenlooper brought up the issue of constitutional reform, saying the state is on an "unsustainable fiscal course" with conflicting amendments that restrain the budget while simultaneously requiring greater spending. Any rewrite of the state funding formula for schools should take this into account, he said.
The governor also called on lawmakers to work together on expanding Medicaid eligibility, a move that he said could be done in tandem with cost savings. Republicans, now in the minority in both chambers, adamantly oppose the expansion.
Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, said the governor's plea for constitutional reform seemed a disconnect with his desire to expand Medicaid.
"We have a real serious conflict between the governor who says we are on an unsustainable fiscal course and in the same speech he's talking about expanding the largest-growing unfunded program in the state with Medicaid expansion," Cadman said. "How do we tie our wagon to a train that's definitely going to crash?"
The governor also called for cooperation on crafting a framework of regulations for the limited sale and possession of marijuana, which voters legalized in November.
"We are determined to implement this new law in a way that promotes the health and safety of all Coloradans," he said.
And the Democratic governor dismissed suggestions that he'd had a honeymoon for his first two years, when a divided legislature kept many controversial issues from ever coming to his desk.
"They say I got lucky — but I don't see it that way," Hickenlooper said. "Our blessing was not divided government in the last two years; our blessing was in the many relationships we formed with lawmakers from both parties — and that you have with each other."
The former brewpub owner concluded, "These relationships endure. They span the geography of our state, and they transcend political affiliation. And they've been nourished by our working together — helped along every once in a while by a cold Colorado beer."
The governor made no mention of repealing the death penalty, an issue some Democrats are talking about. Hickenlooper has said previously he is still struggling with the issue.
Tim Hoover: 303-954-1626, email@example.com or twitter.com/timhoover


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Stories by Jewel [0] Series by Jewel [0] Reviews by Jewel [0] Challenges by Jewel [0] Favorite Series [0] Jewel's Favorites [0]
Error!We encountered an error. Please go back and try again.
|The authors own nothing. Joss, UPN, WB, etc. own Buffy, the show, the characters, the places, and the backstory. The authors own any original plots.


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Electronic Arts has officially "revealed" Battlefield 4, a more "human, dramatic, and believable" action game powered by the new Frostbite 3 engine. The upcoming shooter will be released this fall, according to EA.
According to the press release, "multiplayer game design elements are incorporated into the single-player campaign." That means you'll be able to direct squad mates, play through "huge environments," and ride vehicles all in the campaign. The single-player mode will also track player progress, much like in MP.
Press were shown a 17-minute gameplay demo. However, here's EA's official description:
The demo begins as the player--Recker--opens his eyes to discover that he is trapped in a rapidly sinking car with three of his squad mates. Shooting the window is the only way out. Panic and fear are pushed aside as Recker makes a difficult decision--take the shot and recover the intel but risk that not everyone will survive. The emotional demo features a cast of characters unrivaled in interactive entertainment.
BOOM video 15048
Unfortunately, multiplayer has not been detailed.
"We are so humbled and proud to debut Battlefield 4 on a global stage with simultaneous events in San Francisco and Stockholm. To be this early in development, and to already be so polished is a huge achievement for the DICE team and reflection of their passion and commitment to driving the franchise forward. Today's demo was just the beginning -- we have so much more in store," EA Games VP Patrick Soderlund said in the press release. "It is thrilling to witness peoples' reaction when seeing the game for the first time. It really makes you realize that we are at the beginning of a whole new era for gaming. As artists and craftspeople, we are focused on creating a dynamic, open design that brings people together with amazing, surprising unscripted moments that they'll talk about for days. That's the beauty of Battlefield."


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Broomfield police and the North Metro Fire Rescue District will host a 9/11 memorial ceremony beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
The event, which will feature the ringing of a ceremonial bell, as well as bagpipes and the playing of "Taps," will start at the Broomfield Amphitheater, 3 Community Park Road, before migrating to the nearby Broomfield 9/11 Memorial monument park.
University of Colorado:
The University of Colorado College Republicans will take to the Norlin Quad at 5 p.m. Wednesday to begin placing 2,996 miniature American flags in the ground, each signifying a life lost in the attacks on New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.
Bearing photographs of fallen colleagues and loaded down with heavy equipment, 19 Boulder firefighters Wednesday will climb the 55 stories of Denver's CenturyLink Tower -- twice.
The idea behind the grueling climb, being undertaken by 343 firefighters from across Colorado, is to remember the 343 firefighters and paramedics who were killed in New York City in the 9/11 terrorist attacks as they worked to save lives in the 110-story World Trade Center Towers.
First organized in 2005, the Denver memorial stair climb is among dozens of similar events taking place Wednesday across the country.
Matt Zavala, an engineer for Boulder Fire, will participate in his fourth climb up the tower, 1801 California St. It's an annual tradition that he says has deep emotional meaning for the participants.
Prior to the climb, each participant is given a name tag with a picture of one of the fallen New York City firefighters. Zavala said many pin the tags to their jackets, which reminds them why they are taking on the demanding physical challenge.
"It's a way for firefighters in Boulder and across the country to build camaraderie and honor the sacrifice that those 343 made," Zavala said. "It's a pretty humbling event when it's all over."
While participants have the option to climb in athletic gear, Zavala and many others will take on the first 55 stories in full gear with a hose pack and ax, before unloading some of that and taking on the second leg while breathing in oxygen from their tanks.
"It's hard because you're carrying all this weight," Zavala said, estimating that full gear weighs 75 pounds. "It not like a typical race, where you warm up. You just get your gear on and go. Our job requires us to be ready on a moment's notice, and that's what happened on that morning."
Kim Scott, Boulder Fire Rescue's fire safety coordinator, said the 19 department participants this year run the gamut from new firefighters to seasoned veterans.
"It brings our staff together on a united front," Scott said. "You have to make a commitment to yourself to keep on learning and keep on training and bettering yourself."
Contact Camera Staff Writer Joe Rubino at 303-473-1328, email@example.com or twitter.com/JoeCarmenRubino.


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Shorpy is a year old today! Thanks to the many thousands of visitors and commenters and contributors who have helped make this Web site the remarkable place that it is. And of course we wouldn't be here without the efforts of the photographers whose pictures appear here, and the conservators and archivists who have preserved their work and made it available online through the Library of Congress. This might also be a good time to reflect on the life of our namesake,
Shorpy Higginbotham
, whose likeness animates these pages and spirit inhabits them. And now on with the show. Only a zillion more pictures to go . . . |
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Victim flees after suspect accosts her on Rails to Trails
Taft Police arrested a man who assaulted a woman on Rails to Trails early Sunday morning, charging him with lewd conduct and battery.
Maximino Hernandez, 37, is being held on $10,500 bail on the lewd conducted and battery charge, plus possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.
He is also being held on a no-bail hold from the United States Boarder Patrol.
Chief of Police Ed Whiting said Hernandez is accused of approaching the victim on Rails to Trails south of the 700 block of Main Street about 12:44 a.m. Sunday "and asking her for sexual favors," Whiting said.
Whiting said Hernandez then grabbed the woman, who was not identified.
She fled north towards Main Street and called 911 from her cell phone.
Whiting said officers responded quickly and found him on a bench next to the pathway.
He was detained and the victim identified him.
Whiting said Hernandez fits the general description of a man who has prompted several calls to police from women who have seen a man staring at them on Rails to Trails.
The suspect was also in possession of a fraudulent, forged social security card, Whiting said, and arrested on possession of forged, documents, but that charge apparently has not been filed in court.
Hernandez was arraigned Tuesday and is due back in court for a pretrial conference on Friday.


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For artists who want their brushes to last, this mat offers air flow while drying as well as protection from damage. Sewn onto the bottom half of the mat is a sectioned brush holder made from 100% cotton cloth. There are 12 slots for brushes ranging from 2 in. to 5 in. wide. Just insert each brush handle into the sleeve and roll the mat up. The cloth will help keep from moving and being damaged while transporting from one place to another. Tie up with two elastic strings. Measures 13 3/4 in. x 14 1/4 in.
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Great mat. Keeps everything perfectly organized.
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How many brushes does it hold (an estimate) if we had lets say "long handle size 8 round" brushes?- Asked by Jason on 19-Nov-13
The overall measurement of the mat is 13 3/4 in. x 14 1/4 in. and there are 12 slots measuring 2-5 in.- Answered by MisterArt on 21-Nov-13
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Trademarks & Licensing
The University of Idaho
Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is located in Moscow, Idaho. The University of Idaho is a doctoral-research extensive land-grant institution, with the principal responsibility for research and the granting of the Ph.D. degree in Idaho.
The University was ranked by U.S. World & News Report in its top category of national universities having the widest range of undergraduate and graduate majors. U of I offers more than 140 undergraduate degree programs, from agribusiness to virtual technology and design.
As the number of students, alumni, and supporters of the University of Idaho has grown, so too has the demand for the University of Idaho merchandise. To meet this demand, the
University manages a trademark licensing program.
Why Have A Licensing Program?
A Trademark Licensing Program gives University of Idaho control over its logos and marks, thus ensuring the quality and consistency of all of the University's merchandise. It also enables the University to generate revenue from the sale of merchandise bearing its logos and marks. The revenue is used to help support University programs and services. Outside of the University, the trademark licensing program creates a cooperative and positive working relationship with the manufacturers and retailers who work with the University of Idaho.
What Qualifies As A Trademark?
Any mark, logo, symbol, nickname, letter(s), word(s), or combination of these that can be associated with the University qualifies as a trademark. A list of University of Idaho's trademarks is on the back of this brochure.
What Products Can Be Licensed?
Students, alumni, and fans generate many great ideas for new University products. Products will be considered and must be approved by the University's Licensing Director. No products will be licensed without the approval of the Licensing Director.
This ensures all products associated with the University are of high quality and good taste, and ensures the non-approval of potentially hazardous items.
Who Needs A License?
Anyone wishing to use the marks, logos, and symbols of The University of Idaho must obtain a license.
What If You Do Not Get A License?
All products must be approved by The University of Idaho Trademark Licensing office. Failure to obtain a license or approval from the University's Trademark Licensing Office would be grounds for the seizure of all non-approved merchandise bearing the university's marks. It also could result in jail time and numerous fines if convicted.
Can You Sell A Product To The Bookstore?
The Bookstore works with a group of vendors to bring new products to market each year. For more information on the Bookstore's wholesale buying practices, contact the University Bookstore at (208) 885-6469
Can An Alumni Or Student Group Sell Products Using the University's Marks As A Fundraiser?
Before contacting local manufacturers regarding new products, designs, or an idea for a fundraiser, be sure to check with the U of I Trademark Licensing Office. They will be able to identify local manufacturers to produce the items, saving everyone time and effort.
What About Using the University's Name Or Logo On A Web Site?
Every use of University of Idaho's trademarks requires permission from the Trademark Licensing Office. The World Wide Web has made it easy for alumni, fans, and supporters to build Web pages with the University's name and logos, and The University of Idaho appreciates this support. However, federal trademark laws require that the University control its name and marks; therefore, U of I must be very selective in granting permission in these and all instances. For more information, contact The University of Idaho's Trademark Licensing Office.
Who Is Responsible For The Program?
Sue Chen
Director of Trademark and Licensing
University of Idaho
Phone: (208) 885-4007
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
How Can You Obtain A License Application?
Anyone who wishes to obtain a license to produce merchandise must submit a license application. This application informs U of I of how its marks will be used, what type of product the applicant makes, how the University is going to be represented, etc. applications can be obtained by visiting the "Licensing information section" of www.clc.com, and the answers to any questions you may have can also be found at this site.
What is the Collegiate Licensing Company?
The Collegiate Licensing Company is the licensing representative for The University of Idaho. As U of I's representative, CLC is responsible for administering the licensing program, including processing applications, collecting royalties, enforcing trademarks, and pursuing new market opportunities for the University.
Who Is Licensed With the University?
Either University of Idaho's Trademark Licensing office or CLC can provide a list of current licensees for the University's merchandise. It is typically much easier to work with an established University licensee than to try and license a new product or idea. Both U of I and CLC can provide you with information on the products produced by all licensees so you can match your needs with the correct company.
The "Officially Licensed Collegiate Products" hologram label signifies merchandise has passed the standards of quality set forth by UI and that a portion of the purchase is returned to The University of Idaho.
What Are the University's Trademarks?
The University's trademarks are any of the logos, marks, symbols, nicknames, letter(s), or word(s) displayed on this page. Any design that could cause public confusion due to similarity to the trademarks appearing on this page is an infringement on the University's trademark rights.
The University of Idaho ™
Idaho ™
Idaho Vandals™
Idaho Gold Pantone PMS 874
Idaho Silver Pantone PMS 877
Idaho Black Pantone PMS Process Black
Idaho White Pantone PMS Process White
The University of Idaho


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JRPGs have become something of a niche genre--a far cry from when games like Final Fantasy VII commanded gamer mindshare. Why has the genre faded so much? Akihiro Hino, CEO of Level-5, developer of the upcoming Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, has a few ideas. "If pushed, I'd say Japanese RPGs tend to cater to players who are not skilled at action games and prefer to have command systems that allow them time to strategize, as well as those who enjoy stories that are similar to reading novels," he explained. "So for fans of Western RPG, such JRPGs might seem somewhat antiquated."
Hino says that his upcoming game does make some concessions to appeal to non-Japanese gamers. "We took the preferences of our Western player-base into consideration too, and implemented action elements such as the ability to move your friends and familiars freely around the battlefield," making the game feel more dynamic than your typical turn-based RPG.
Perhaps more significant than the ability to control side characters is the desire to harken back to the golden era of JRPGs, when the genre thrived internationally. Hino wants Ni no Kuni to be "a restoration or reformation of an RPG from the good old days," citing its focus on the "so-called fundamentals that make RPGs interesting."
He cites the numerous areas that can be discovered on the map, challenge battles, and a constantly changing cast of party members as part of the core tenants that Ni no Kuni embraces. "Perhaps you will find this orthodox approach a refreshing change from the many overly-individualistic titles that make up the bulk of the market in recent years," he told IGN.
It also helps that it's a really pretty game. Ni no Kuni will be available on PS3 in two weeks.


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Every year starting in October, the California gray whale embarks on its 10,000-mile roundtrip journey from the Bering Sea down to the lagoons of Baja. The pregnant females — the same ones who made the trip during last year's migration to breed in the lagoons — usually leave first, followed by the males, young adults and juveniles. Covering roughly 85-100 miles a day, most of the entire population will reach their destination by mid-January.
To witness the whales' path through San Diego's coastal waters, Birch Aquarium, along with several other companies around San Diego — including some located in Point Loma — takes to the high seas to give locals and tourists a glimpse of nature's longest mammal migration. On a recent whale-watching cruise (Birch offers twice-daily excursions for which it teams up with Flagship cruises), the air was brisk and the seas choppy, but that didn't stop a couple of whales from awing the crowd with their blows and flukes.
Soon after the ship left San Diego Bay, the onboard naturalist narrating the excursion announced a blow — the visible spray of vapor that appears after the whales exhale — had been spotted nearby. The blow, the naturalist explained, is the most common way of finding gray whales in the open water (contrary to some passengers' belief that the crew uses expensive and fancy equipment to locate the massive cetaceans). When gray whales come up to the surface to breathe, a pool of water is left on top of their head, and as their warm breath hits the cool ocean air, the pool condenses and is expelled above their heads, creating the perfect indicator for their location.
Following the "footprint" — the path of calm, glassy water that trails the whales, indicating the direction in which they are swimming — our ship was able to find the whale and witness its behavior as it surfaced for five or six blows and then dove deep for a three- to five-minute "sounding dive." A few times, the passengers crowding the deck of the ship were treated to a fluke, as the whale made a dramatic display of its tail before beginning its deep descent.
Gray whales, while once hunted almost to extinction, have made an impressive comeback, with numbers now keeping them safely off the endangered species list. Growing to about 45 feet long and weighing about 33 tons, the whales live a consistent schedule of migrating to Baja — with most preferring one of three lagoons: Scammon's, San Ignacio or Magdalena — where they rest, breed and give birth, after which they make the return journey with their new calves back up to the Arctic. When they return up north, they spend about five months feeding constantly on bottom-dwelling amphipods as they struggle to put on the six to 12 inches of blubber needed for the next migration (their prime source of food isn't found in abundance in other parts of the Pacific, so they feed very little during the migration period). Then the process starts all over again.
In all, our cruise viewed a few gray whales (the whales usually travel alone, so seeing groups of them together is unexpected, though it occurs sporadically), along with sea lions and several pods of common dolphins. Though passengers aren't guaranteed a whale sighting, the abundant marine life in the waters off San Diego is a treat in itself. At one point as the ship reentered the bay, a group of about 10 dolphins playfully followed the ship, jumping and weaving among each other as if escorting us back home.
Though the temperature called for heavy layers and the wind wreak-ed havoc on some passengers whose bellies didn't take kindly to the high surf, the cruise offered a chance to glimpse nature in all its glory. After all, the gray whales didn't care about San Diego's weather woes. They continued, slow and steady and stopping briefly to allow the humans to gawk at them, on their way to their Mexican vacation.
Whale-watching options in San Diego:
• Birch Aquarium with Harbor Excursions: departing at 9:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., 1050 North Harbor Drive, through April 14, (619) 234-4111, www.sdhe.com, $37 weekdays and $42 weekends (discounts for children, seniors and military)
• Hornblower Cruises: departs 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., 1066 North Harbor Drive, through mid-April, (619) 686-8715, www.hornblower.com, $37 weekdays and $42 weekends for adults (discounts for children, seniors and military)
• Seaforth Sportfishing with San Diego Whale Watch: 10 a.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, December through April, (619) 224-3383, www.seaforthlanding.com, $44 adults (discounts for children, seniors and military)
• H&M Landing: Daily departures at 10 a.m. from mid-December through March; 6-hour cruises to Coronado Islands departing at 10 a.m., (619) 222-1144, www.hmlanding.com, $37 weekday cruises, $45 weekend cruises ($60 six-hour cruise)
• Hike Bike Kayak Sports: departs 10:30 a.m from December through March, 2246 Avenida de la Playa, (866) 425-2925, www.hikebikekayak.com, single-person kayak $70, tandem kayaks $60 per head
• Birch Aquarium: excursions of four, five or six days following the whales down to their birthing grounds in the lagoons of Baja California, (800) 661-1325, www.andiamo-travel.com, call for pricing
• H&M Landing: trips of nine or 11 days, (619) 226-1729 or (619) 226-8224, cost varies
Fast facts
• A baby gray whale weighs 2,000 pounds at birth
• Gray whales' gestation period lasts 12 months, so some of the pregnant individuals being spotted off San Diego's coast this season could possibly be the same ones who were spotted last year heading to Baja to breed
• A mother's milk contains 50 percent milk fat
• A gray whale can eat up to 2,400 pounds of food a day
• Gray whales are estimated to live up to 70 years
• Gray whales communicate with a series of clicks and grunts
• A gray whale's flukes can measure 10-12 feet across
— Courtesy of Birch Aquarium


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1. Hattie McDaniel for her role as "Mammy" in Gone With The Wind, 1939.
2. Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Best Original Song.
3. "Glory" (1989 Best Actor in a Supporting Role) and "Training Day" (2001 Best Actor in a Leading Role.)
4. Morgan Freeman (age 67) (2004, Best Actor in a Supporting Role "Million Dollar Baby")
5. Russell Williams, Best Sound Mixing, 1989 "Glory" and 1990 "Dances With Wolves."
6. Jamie Foxx, nominated and won Best Actor in a Leading Role for "Ray" and nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for "Collateral," both in 2004.
7. Halle Berry, 2001, "Monster's Ball."
8. Octavia Spencer, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, "The Help" 2011.
9. Dorothy Dandridge "Carmen Jones" Role: Carmen Jones, 1954.
10. Billie Holiday.
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