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Argument from the efficacy of prayer
- "Now, you come along, and pray for something. Well suppose the thing you want isn't in God's Divine Plan? What do you want Him to do? Change His plan? Just for you? Doesn't it seem a little arrogant? It's a Divine Plan. What's the use of being God if every run-down schmuck with a two-dollar prayerbook can come along and fuck up Your Plan?"
Prayer is the act of speaking to a god or goddess, either mentally or out loud, to profess loyalty or ask for favors. For example ancient pagans sometimes prayed to the sun. They were scared if they didn't pray the sun might set one day and not bother to rise the next day.
Christianity and prayer
Prayer in the New Testament is presented as a positive command (Colossians 4:2 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ). Christians are challenged to include prayer in their everyday life, even in the busy struggles of marriage (1 Corinthians 7:5 ) as it brings people closer to God.
Prayer in the New Testament is also presented as being completely dependable. For example:
- Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"
- Matthew 17:20 "For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you."
- Matthew 21:21 "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
- Mark 11:24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
- John 14:12-14 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it."
- Matthew 18:19 "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Thus, the stipulations one must fulfill for having their prayers answered are these:
- Have faith. It doesn't matter how much, for even someone with the faith of a mustard seed will have their prayers answered.
- Don't doubt in your faith.
- Believe in Jesus and the works that he does.
- Believe that you will receive what you pray for.
- If you really want your prayer answered, get a group of people to all pray for the same thing.
- If your prayer is not answered it.s your fault because you didn't have enough faith.
The Bible says that if you adhere to these rules then this is what God will do for you:
- He will answer your prayers, no matter what you ask for.
- Nothing will be impossible for you if you pray about it.
Can prayer move mountains?
According to Matthew 21,21 and other verses prayer can indeed move mountains.
If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. [1]
Has this ever happened? If a mountain ever fell into the sea it would cause such an enormous tsunami that history would record it. [2] Any number of Christians have faith, Christians who don't know about the tsunami might well pray in faith for a mountain to move but history does not record a mountain moving. This verse of the Bible can't be literally true.
By the way if Jesus was an ignorant 1st Century wandering preacher we can easily understand him talking about prayer moving mountains. Those who imagine Jesus was God and was therefore omniscient must wonder why on Earth Jesus would encourage good people to pray for such a devastating tsunami? Why does God allow tsunami in any case?
Objections to prayer
- As the George Carlin quote suggests, the act of prayer seems a little odd for people with belief in a god who is supposed to be omniscient and omnibenevolent. Clearly an omniscient god would already be aware of your problems and know what you want. Ultimately, your request may be regarded by God as either good or evil. If it is good, then why would God not have granted your wishes already? If it is evil, then why would God ever grant your request?
- Billions of people pray for various things every day. Many of the prayer requests are even contradictory. For instance, in a football game, often the players and fans on both sides are praying to win. If God answers prayers, which side should He choose? The side that prays loudest?
- Christians often state that God can answer prayers in one of three ways; "yes", "no", or "wait". This makes God no different from random chance. After all, when you pray it can either happen (i.e. God answers "yes"), not happen (God answers "no), or you have to wait to see if it will happen (God answers "wait"). This atheist video ridicules the Yes, No and Wait concept, The best optical illusion in the world!
- "Successful" prayers rarely have an unambiguous form. Apologists point to events like cancers that go into remission or people waking up from comas as evidence for the power of prayer. Yet cancer goes into remission and people wake up from comas all the time. How are we to tell the difference between cancer that healed naturally (or thanks to the presence of skilled doctors) and cancer that was cured miraculously? A commonly asked question is, "Why doesn't God heal amputees?" Live footage of a severed limb miraculously regrowing would be far more convincing as proof of the power of prayer. Yet such prayers are apparently never answered, or answered away from the prying eyes of meddlesome investigators.
- Some people say that it isn't God's will to perform unambiguous miracles through prayer. However, if it's all just God's will then why pray? God will just do what he wants to whether you pray about it or not.
- Christians might also say that God doesn't want to provide unambiguous proof of his own existence since this would deny faith. However, this rationalization ignores the myriad of times in the Bible that he does just that.
- Another common rationalization is that God uses unanswered prayers to demonstrate his power through the suffering person's life. For example, a patient with terminal cancer whose faith is deepened because of their ordeal. This raises the question, however, of why an all-knowing and all-loving God couldn't think of a less painful way to accomplish that particular goal. It also raises the question of why a person who already had faith has to endure more pain to have it "deepened".
- A less common rationalization is that a person who gets their leg shot off in a way chose to be on that battlefield of their own free will and, thus, God has no obligation to heal them. However, this ignores the millions born with missing limbs that were never healed. It's not that God ignores some amputees, it's that he ignores all amputees.
- Some might say that God does heal amputees by divinely inspiring doctors and scientists to cure them. This, however, is easily refuted by Occam's Razor. God's inspiration isn't necessary for doctors and scientists to find ways to cure amputees. And why did God feel the need to bypass this kind of helpful inspiration for thousands of years and reduce the suffering only in the modern age?
- Others say that God can't be tested since he's so much higher than us. This ignores the story of Gideon in the Old Testament and Thomas in the New Testament who both did exactly that and who received the proof that each had asked for.
- Some Christians say that Jesus never specified when he would answer prayers and that maybe he will answer them in the afterlife. This is unfair since God apparently answers so many other prayers during the believers' lifetimes. Also, the verses quoted above are unambiguous in the fact that they state that whatever you ask for you'll get during your life.
- Some might bring up the objection that these verses aren't to be taken literally. Firstly, the verses themselves are certainly written like they should be taken literally. Secondly, if this objection is used the believer must provide an objective reason why these verses are non-literal. If no reason can be provided then the verses should continue to be taken literally.
- Matthew 21:21 says that you must have faith and not doubt for your prayers to be answered. This offers a convenient loophole for unanswered prayers. If you pray and you satisfy every single stipulation and yet your prayer is never answered, Christians can always fall back on saying "You didn't believe enough" or "You doubted your faith". Since there is no empirical way to define how much belief is "enough", this becomes an ad hoc explanation which makes prayer unfalsifiable. It also undermines the fact that some theists will claim that they themselves or people they know of have become believers after being prayed for and where the result was some miraculous event.
- It's important to remember statistical probability when considering supposed miracles. For example, let's say there's a disease that has no cure and let's say 999,999,999 people so far have contracted it but none have survived. However, let's say the billionth person to contract it does survive. This isn't a miracle; it simply means that the odds of survival are now 1 out of 1,000,000,000.
- Finally, when all else fails a Christian might say "People have believed in Jesus for 2,000 years. There must be a good reason for it." This is a non sequitur because it ignores the political and cultural forces that shape all societies and modes of belief throughout time and instead focuses on its own supposed inherent goodness. It also fails to account for all of the other competing beliefs that survived with it for equally long or longer periods of time like Islam and Judaism. Strangely, you don't hear Christians arguing that there must be good reasons for those religions' survival too!
External links
- Why Won't God Heal Amputees?
- George Carlin on Religion and Prayer (full version)


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Hour sill be shifted to accommodate move. Donors asked to come in early
Houchin Community Blood Bank operations at its downtown properties on G and H Streets at 26th Street will be relocating to the new Bolthouse Donor Center at 11515 Bolthouse Drive on Saturday.
To accommodate the move, operating hours will be shifter earlier in the day.
The blood bank will be open on Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and be closed all day on Saturday for blood collection at 5901 Truxtun Ave.
It is important that blood donors come in earlier in the week to help maintain adequate levels of inventory over the closure, especially in light of the currently low inventory of most blood types.
Open hours on Wednesday are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday's hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Various blood bank offices will be moving in stages to the new facility over the next four weeks.
The functions moving this weekend include manufacturing, quality assurance, distribution and the laboratory.

subset: commoncrawl


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Guys, This is what I had to say about Nita Ambani for the 2nd Anniversary Issue of Hello!!
Some of it got edited ( space constraints.... or???). I had a lot of fun writing the piece. I'm sure you'll enjoy reading it as well. Nita leaves for South Africa tomorrow. She will be away for 45 days. When she called to say 'bye', she joked she'll become a local by the time she returns. If her team makes it to the semi finals, I promised I'd go and cheer. Good luck, guys !
Nita Ambani : " I don't think I'm on any pedestal…"
She is often referred to as the 'Empress of India." Perhaps Vicerine is a more apt title. At a recent dinner party hosted by a diplomat with a terrace apartment overlooking the $ one billion, 67 floors 'home' of the richest Indians on earth, awestruck guests couldn't get those agape jaws to close as they stared at the high rise in the heart of Mumbai's super snob neighbourhood of Carmichael Road. The host commented sardonically that he had just returned from Simla after a stay at the former Viceroy of India's grand summer residence - 'Wildflower Lodge' – where he'd unearthed an interesting factoid. The Viceroy had 600 people on his personal staff. And so does the new Ambani residence, he chuckled, alluding to Mukesh as the neo- Viceroy of 21st century India. All true?? I asked Nita about her dream home… she had an interesting response to that and other questions. But first, the prelude…
Blame it on traffic snarls caused by high security measures required along the Chilean President's route. Nita was stuck at the Taj Mahal Palace and Hotel, and was likely to be a few minutes late for our appointment .What did she do?? Phone and apologise? Make excuses? Nope. She decided to dump the car … and walk! That too,down one of the busiest areas of Mumbai – Colaba Causeway. Sure,she was accompanied by a retinue of very nervous security personnel ,but Nita being a stickler for punctuality, ignored their advice and resolutely marched on, stopping to admire beads and baubles being sold by pheriwallas (pavement hawkers) on those dusty footpaths. She herself was wearing a 6- carat diamond pendant, a 5- carat ring, and 4-carats on each earlobe (call them her 'casual, power lunch 'jools'). I asked whether people had stared . " Yes. Some people did recognize me… but I think they were looking at my dress," she laughed, a trifle out of breath after half- running the short distance. Nita was clad in Chanel. Meet the New Nita – corporate lady. She definitely doesn't want to discuss her legendary diamonds. Nor does she want to talk about her controversial residence. That's crazy. A little like a top model refusing to discuss fashion shows. Nita explains, " I cringe when the subject of money comes up. I feel like diving under the table." That must make her a competitive diver by now. Like it or not, people are obsessed with the Ambani wealth. Everybody wants to know how much they really, really possess. And how they spend it. F. Scott Fitzgerald had famously said, " The rich are different – they have more money." Sorry, Nita. There's no getting away from that topic - a billionaire's life is not easy!! So… how difficult is it being Nita Ambani? " It used to bother me, when I first got involved with Mukesh's projects and people in Jamnagar would talk behind my back… wait for me to leave, hoping I wouldn't come back and ask too many questions. It hurt to be treated like a rich man's wife.Same thing happened when I started my school. People only talked about the 27-crore building. They didn't expect me to succeed. You see, I take my work very seriously." Right now that involves asserting herself as the owner of Mumbai Indians, the IPL cricket team her husband acquired last year. " We lost four matches in a row. The team was so discouraged. Then I went to Kolkata – we won there against Shah Rukh's team… and then won six more matches after that. I'm confident we'll do better this time." She is far more visible this season and can be seen handling the tricky imbroglio created by the BCCI's decision to shift the matches out of India, with her customary calm.
Nita is known to be ambitious and focused. A complete No. 1 personality ( her birthday falls on 1st November). She describes herself emphatically as 'decisive'. Driven maybe a more apt word. Others see her as a natural born leader. Ruthless when required. She's fastidious enough to forgo sleep ( bedtime is between 1 30am and 2 30am), and gets up at 6 30 am, to hit the road running after supervising all the various dabbas and diets( Mukesh's, her own, her kids').She arrives at her school at 8 10am, so that the schoolkids can't say, " But ma'am , you are late yourself!" Her kids are also her eyes and ears and she values their 'fearless and frank feedback." Used to cat- napping in the car, she says, it is the only 'me time' she gets. " I wait to have dinner with Mukesh, no matter how late he comes home. We often eat after midnight." And what do billionaires sup on?? I love my two gheeless theplas, Mukesh prefers bajra rotlas, lasoon chutney, daal, onion sabzi." Sounds more like a Gujarati farmers' hearty fare. Nita smiles, " We aren't foodies. Our Sunday treat is a South Indian breakfast of idlis and dosas. Even when we are in New York, Mukesh goes to his favourite rassam joint." And no, their personal chef ( or a Gujju maharaj) does not accompany them, not even on their aircraft, which Nita insists was not a birthday gift! "It is a Reliance jet, we all use. Mukesh takes it for meetings in America, turns around and flies right back when done. Others in the company use it too." So… if the plane was not her birthday gift, what was? " Mukesh is very, very romantic… unlike me. He cannot keep surprises a secret, but this year he did. He pretended he had forgotten my birthday. I sulked and said, " You are really taking me for granted these days. He said ' I've been so busy. Let's go to the Taj… I have to meet some government people there.When we walked in to the Bell Tower suite, there were all my friends! And a band!" Aaah friends…. Who are these special friends?? Nita thinks hard and names one - Meeta Doshi, a dentist in America. They speak twice or thrice a week, and have known each other since their school days. That's it?? Nita thinks some more and adds, " Well Ananya.. Anu…" I guess she is referring to Ananya Goenka and Anuradha Mahindra. Ditto for Mukesh, who prefers to hang out with school buddies more than corporate czars. His idea of chill out time with Nita is long drives, late at night, to Worli Sea Face and back. Drives made special by the choice of music in the car stereo – cd's hand picked by Mukesh and loaded by Hari, his man Friday, who knows which track to play for madam. On the way back, there' s a short ice cream halt at Natural, their ice cream joint of choice.
Nita candidly admits she doesn't cook these days. To the question, " Do you know the current price of bhindis and kaddus?" She shoots back that with Reliance Fresh in the basket, she'd better know. But she does go to the kitchen first thing in the morning, and says with pride, " I run my own home. I know exactly how much Rasikbhai Bhaajiwalla charges for everything." God help Rasikbhai the day he overcharges Nita by even five bucks per kilo of anything. Rasikbhai is the veggie vendor in Cuffe Parade. Pricey, but reliable. Nita's youngest son, Anant, only trusts Rasikbhai's organic, non-toxic veggies to feed his own pet cows and goats. The bill comes to 35,000 a month, but Mukesh does not mind, since he sees it as Anna's good karma... an investment.Hard to believe, but the Ambanis are cost -consciousbillionaires, with Nita asserting that they refused to stay in the Presidential Suite of the Four Season's Hotel in New York, because they found the $5,000 dollars per night tariff too high!! " Mukesh and I just looked at each other and said, " an Executive Suite will do fine." Similarly, she says when some girlfriends tried to 'chadhaav her into buying a croc bag ( I'm guessing it's the Birkin) for $45,000, she nixed it. Also, she proudly declares, when she planned her mother-in-law Kokilaben's recent 75th birthday bash, she sat with Manish Malhotra and Abu-Sandeep, going over all the costings with a tooth comb before okaying the budget for the fashion show. Old habits die hard, she shrugged - " Those initial cravings have gone. I have no appetite left for spending crazy amounts these days. You shop to feel good. But I don't feel good wasting money." In fact, so thrifty is Mukesh, that he continues to wear Vimal pants. His black bush coats (standarised evening wear!), are still stitched by Kachin's ( who has been his local tailor since the age of 17). He continues to head to Macy's, a proletariat department store in downtown Manhatten,believe it or not, to buy his favourite, 5-pocket Docker's. Nita explains, " You don't have to spend a lot of money to be well- dressed. You have to look and feel fresh. I'm only particular about my nails and hate chipped polish. Otherwise, I put myself together in fifteen minutes." With a little help from Alpa and Pratibha, who are her faithful handlers. Mukesh travels light, with just one suitcase for his clothes ( bag packed by Hari, the handler) and two more filled with books. Nita avoids answering which credit card she carries or what her card limit is. Demurely, she states, " Why do I need a card? Like any wife, my husband pays for everything when we are traveling." Mmmmmm.Perfect husband. And when Nita is in Mumbai, one phone call is all it takes to refresh her wardrobe " Flecka ( the efficient major domo at Abu-Sandeep's store) keeps things out for me. They know my taste. I pick it up from the store myself… but I can't sleep till the full payment is made … that's how I was brought up."
There was just one craving left in Nita's life…. and now even that craving has been taken care of. " As a young dancer, I used to wear a fake 'mangmala' and dream of owning a real one someday. I just found a beautiful, antique one with lotuses, and am so thrilled." She refused to divulge the price, though. Fakes and Nita? Why not?? " Recently, my friends threw a party and presented long strands of plastic pearls to guests, just for fun. When I wore them other women came upto me to gush how exquisite the pearls were and asked me where I'd got them from. Those pearls cost just fifteen rupees!" However, money is no laughing matter to Nita. She is touchy about the rumours surrounding their new home. " I don't know why people are making such a big thing out of it. The figures being thrown around in the media are exaggerated – they are nowhere close to the truth." So, what is the truth? " Right now we occupy two floors in 'Seawind'. The new house will give us four floors on top. That's all." What about the remaining 60 odd floors?? " "Actually, the building has been constructed like an oil rig…" One hell of an oil rig, I'd say . We leave it at that.
Nita, who grew up in suburban Mumbai, recalls those early days without a trace of embarrassment. Once their marriage was pucca, Mukesh wanted 'Murli Uncle' (Deora) to see Nita. She remembers, " I took a train from my home in Prabhat Colony, got down at Churchgate station, jumped into a cab and reached Murli Uncle's office. At heart I'm still the same middle class girl. I don't think I'm on any pedestal." Well…not to worry… Eva Peron felt exactly the same way.Nita remains very close to her mother, who wanted her to become a chartered account, so that Nita could 'earn a living' when she grew up. If Nita has a single regret, it is that she could not study in America, being a good student. " I wanted to pursue a career in dance, but my mother wanted me to appear for my CA entrance exam. I told her, "You wait and see…I'll dance all my life." The biggest compliment Nita has ever received came from her dance Guruji, who recently told her daughter Isha, " Your mother at 45 dances like a 27-year- old. She is my most sincere and regular pupil." Isha's opinion matters tremendously to Nita. Isha was a precious baby, and Nita's eyes cloud over when she recalls details of her difficult pregnancy and the birth of the twins (Isha and her brother Aakash) in America. " Imagine being told at 25, after years of being married, that I could never have biological children! I was shattered. But today, when I look back I can really say that my three children are a true testimony that miracles do happen. I am a devout Krishna bhakt. Mukesh and I pray together every single day." Nita does not tolerate sycophants, she says, adding firmly, " I don't get taken in by anyone or anything." She's tough and very much her own woman, aware of her position, but smart enough to play it down as and when required. She says she gets high on life and relishes every moment, often breaking off in the middle of a meeting to stare at gaily decorated fishing boats visible from the large picture windows of her own office, which has a simple 'Nita Ambani' (no designation), on the door. It is the size of a luxury flat… but then it is N.A's office! Since life itself gives her a kick, she refuses to touch alcohol (Mukesh is a teetotaler, too), though she serves Chateau Margaux, thanks to N.K. Uncle ( Singh).
Nita Ambani is peaking. You can see it in her body language. Through her words. And via the incredible transformation in her appearance. She has lost weight, and sensibly discarded most of her old 'Gujjuben' wardrobe that made her look like an auntyji from an Ekta Kapoor saas –bahu serial. Mukesh loves the reinvented Nita ( he loves ANY Nita, let's face it!). She is sure of her role and confident of playing it to perfection. As a heavy duty power lady, Nita is all set to assume fresh responsibilities on all levels. Please note: ALL. About the infamous rift in the family, she says carefully and cautiously, " I believe in destiny. Some things can be in your control… some things you leave to fate. On a human level, you wish for a perfect world. I have taught myself to take each day as it comes." Bravo.What saw the couple through those terrible times?? Phat comes Nita's answer , " Each other." What else can one say but 'Rab ne Bana di jodi.....


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do you read there facebook?
the King needs his Queen and pet! Queen Veena and Battle Lion for MOTUC!
For the Love of Illumina & her Cat Sleetah!!
my Feedback http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/...d.php?t=205099
my sale page http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/...d.php?t=205041
I think they can get into some real trouble for using those MOTUC accessories in their mold.
Justice, Truth, Honor and Loyalty!
Visit my website for handmade Scenery, Statues & More! CUSTOMSCENERY.NL
I was hoping to have this item in hand by CHRISTMAS 2011. Anyone who is still holding out hope for this is delusional. I spent over a year waiting for this to materialize before bailing and here we are another year later and not a single Castle has shipped. Like EtherianChronicles said......"No answers." "No timeframes." A great alternative is available.....http://www.facebook.com/TheCastleOfPower. This was in my hands within a few weeks. This guy knows what he is doing, has the funds available for the necessary supplies, and is responsible/respectful enough not to make promises he can't keep.
I'm glad I never got mixed up in this mess.
While I'm only an observer, it does seem like these guys are making this set. Scammers wouldn't bother replying or posting pics or generally being as polite as they have been. Those who invested and have been waiting 2+ years have reasons to be annoyed, absolutely, but until they vanish without a trace, I think it's safe to say they feel an obligation to see these through.
I could be wrong, but just reading the last two pages, I don't get the sense anyone's going to be left high and dry.
I don't disagree that the Ben's probably feel an obligation to complete the project. The problem is the level of dedication and the lack of communication. The last straw for me was finding out that they were working on a completely separate Hot Toys Iron Man diorama at the same time and were just as far behind. The whole thing has been handling very irresponsibly. I hope that those holding out hope eventually get their fortress. Regardless of how I feel about their conduct, the fortress really is a work of art.
I wonder if I'll ever get my deposit back... Emailed them on Facebook when we learned that the official Grayskull was going ahead and haven't heard anything back from them. I'm willing to give the guys the benefit of the doubt though as they probably had a whole lot of cancellations. I just wish they'd talk to us more.
Evil Simian Mechanic of the Horde!
Currently Looking for:
Dragon Walker with tattoo he - man MIB.
Parts I need:
Zodak Calves, Feet and Loin Cloths.
As frustrated as I was with this situation, I want to be clear that I DID get my deposit back. I suspect that a lot more folks dropped out when the Matty Grayskull was announced. I also still feel that the $400 price tag would be worth it if they could actually get this thing made. I would love to have it in addition to my Zombiehama castle and the Matty one, but would never deal with these guys again unless the project was completed and ready to ship immediately.
I just wanted to go on record here that my deposit was refunded and I have no reason to believe this was a scam. These guys simply underestimated the work and time involved with the production of the fortress. As far as I know, they still intend to fill all the remaining orders and refund the money of those who have canceled their order. We all make mistakes, and this project was extremely ambitious and so you gotta give these guys some credit for forging ahead with the project ahead despite the unexpected challenges along the way. So I hope people will cut these guys a break- I believe they are doing the best they can.
this was not a scam guys and gals they had every intention of making this happen. the real castle is the problem here- people asking for refunds.Tthey spent the money making early samples and such figuring out how best to go about this project. good luck on your refunds personally I wouldn't let people back out of this if it were me. Howd the NEW guy get a refund?
Ben is a good guy, they just bit off more then they could chew. Plus with the real life problems that came up and with also trying to do work to pay their bills, it just got out of hand. But i still stand by these guys will come through either with a refund or the fortress.
the ignore list is my new best friend
Guys come on, this was in no way a scam. You saw the hard work they put into this. They were trying to make these with no plastic mold injector no aluminum molds.
This was a love child of artists and their enthusiasm to share their love for motu. Give them a break they don't have a factory nor do they have corporate funding. This is art. Art takes time. All those involved should have known.
BESTIA PELUDA!!!!!<Skeletor dubbed in spanish
At the center of the universe,at the border between the light
and dark, stands castle greyskull.............
i understand folks' frustration with their lack of communication... they SHOULD have been (and still should) posting regular updates of status... even if that's "we've been too busy this week with other things coming up... so nothing new to tell." but, even way back they SAID it would be a LONG process and thus didn't want to estimate timeframe. i give them that, and feel anyone who signed up should have done so acknowledging that there was no guarantee of WHEN they'd get it. i LOVE the thing, and feel it is a masterpiece that i have no doubt will likely even appeal to me more than the matty castle. that's why i signed up, and why i continue to be SUPER excited about getting one! (hopefully, now, not TOO much longer!)
i DO think it stinks that people cancel especially because of the reveal of the matty one, as these guys needed/used those initial deposits toward this production. i HOPE they'll open up another sign-up list to fill those gaps, so that they at least don't LOSE (too much) money on this project. either way, no one can take away from them the amazing job they've done... i hope the bens can still be excited and proud about this work. and, once i have mine, no one will be able to take from ME this awesome unique part of my collection!
as a indi toy fan i think there has been some over reacting going on. 3A takes your money and some times you don't see the figure for a year.
the King needs his Queen and pet! Queen Veena and Battle Lion for MOTUC!
For the Love of Illumina & her Cat Sleetah!!
my Feedback http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/...d.php?t=205099
my sale page http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/...d.php?t=205041
Received my refund, thank Cthulhu.
Contact BadVermin for all your customs and repaints.
sadly Shocker toys is not gone but they guy reopened it under a new name, he's not told us if he will still send out the figs guys paid for.
the King needs his Queen and pet! Queen Veena and Battle Lion for MOTUC!
For the Love of Illumina & her Cat Sleetah!!
my Feedback http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/...d.php?t=205099
my sale page http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/...d.php?t=205041
let the shipping begin... #1.
( That door is not painted. Just pulled it from the mold. )
Speaking of doors...
Head over to the ON DEADLY GROUND facebook page to see more.
Last edited by bishart; February 7, 2013 at 04:22pm.
-ben bishop


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Crime Stoppers is offering a $51,000 (US) reward for information leading to an arrest for the murders of Rochelle Wise and Donny Pichosky. The Toronto snowbirds, who were found dead in their Hallandale Beach condominium townhouse Jan. 10, died of asphyxiation, Hallandale Beach police revealed at a press conference March 5.
Hallandale Beach police chief Dwayne Flournoy told reporters there were at least two perpetrators, and police have "no reason to believe the people responsible were known to [the couple]."
Flournoy would not comment on the gender of the perpetrators, nor on their motive or whether they took anything from the couple's home.
Wise, 66, was a retired preschool administrator at Bialik Hebrew Day School, and a former director of Crestwood Valley Day Camp. Pichosky, her husband of four years, was a retired businessman who volunteered with seniors at Baycrest. The couple belonged to Shaarei Shomayim Congregation in Toronto.
Flournoy said police are still hoping to identify a woman seen on a neighbour's security surveillance video Jan. 9. She may be a witness and not even know it, he said. "She may have seen a car… It's someone we need to identify."
He appealed to anyone who knows "any bit of information" as well as to one of the perpetrators who may be "less culpable" than the other or others.
"Your freedom is short-lived, but your incarceration may be diminished if you're the one that comes forward and tells us what happened," he said.
He expressed confidence that the murder would be solved. "It may not be tomorrow, it may not be in a month… I may be sitting home retired in 10, 15, 20 years, but this case is going to be solved, trust me."
One of the reasons police did not initially release many details, he said, was because of the "volumes" of evidence.
"We're still in the early process of going through the evidence. The lab has placed us on high priority… We just need that one piece to the puzzle, so we can fill it all in."
A January visit to Toronto by Flournoy and other members of his team helped them develop and test theories, he said.
Wise's son Jamie, speaking at the press conference, likewise expressed his confidence in the chief and his team.
Pichosky and Wise spent the morning of Jan. 9 at synagogue, then headed to Walmart, and later spoke to a family member on FaceTime.
A neighbour became concerned when the couple didn't show up for a planned lunch and failed to answer repeated phone calls.
Flournoy said the murder angers him. Wise and Pichosky "have no enemies. They were nice people. They were enjoying their retirement, their new marriage. They went to shows, went out to eat, they went to temple, they loved their grandkids."
He added it was "almost laughable" that one of the tips had to do with a "windfall" at the casino. The only reason Pichosky went to the casino is because he loved to take his grandchildren to the ice cream parlour there, Flournoy said.
Jamie Wise told reporters that his mother and Pichosky were "very caring people… She worked hard her whole life and finally found love."
The couple had met on a blind date. Pichosky, a widower, had been married to his first wife, Sandra, for 46 years. Wise was divorced.
"It's so sad on so many levels, because it's senseless. It was so the wrong time," Jamie Wise said.
"Today we're putting the pain aside, so we can appeal to everyone, if they know any bit of information that can help us solve this, then that's what today is for."
Wise's friend, Pearl Gladman, also speaking at the press conference, described Wise as the sister she never had.
She said she felt "a tremendous loss" that hurts even more because the murder happened in one of the couple's favourite places. "They loved this area a lot," she said.
Gladman said Wise had been "so happy… She always said God was good to her."
To contact Crime Stoppers, call 954-493-TIPS, 1-866-493-TIPS (8477), or go to www.browardcrimestoppers.org.


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700 activists in over 80 cities around the world, including Taipei, Hong Kong and Beijing, make their voice heard and demand that the world's largest fashion retailer, Zara, eliminate all hazardous chemical from its clothing and supply chains. Through street theatre Greenpeace demand Zara to Detox now.
© Steven Vigar / Greenpeace
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Ask a man which products he prefers for his grooming regime and he may give you a blank stare in return. Or so it once was.
There's been a noticeable influx of adverts geared towards the male grooming regime; from Old Spice's hilarious "Mr. Wolfdog" campaign to Gillette's sexified showing of facial hair art (hello, Adrien Brody) that it's obvious the category is inhaling a fresh breath.
It's not that men have never been marketed to before - advertisements for cologne, razors and deodorant have always been common - but the nature of the ads has changed. Where we once saw a super buff stud emerging from the water in all seriousness (for Davidoff's 'Cool Water', for example) we now see Isaiah Mustafa atop a gleaming white stud (literally), log-rolling and sand-blasting a countertop saying, essentially, "you're not as smokin' hot as me but you can smell as awesome if you use Old Spice."
The newest ads are a helluva lot funnier than they once were and, according to Peter Ignazi, Senior VP and Executive Creative Director at BBDO Toronto, it's not only good fun - it's to make the biggest splash. "Being funny and using outlandish ways of speaking to men is a way to make them feel more at ease with using cosmetics." Employing the dude-est men doing the dude-est of things, and being funny about it, allows men feel it's feasible to want smooth skin and still be a manly-man.
Using tongue-in-cheek humour is undoubtedly on trend, but it's not the youngest crowd advertisers are speaking to. Youthful guys are generally more hip to the use of cosmetics but, until recently, mature men have required something more to activate a purchase. As such, advertisers were more challenged when speaking to a male crowd. Today, and with the advent of social media, they can afford to be more transparent. Since social sharing became a measure of success, advertisers began using in-your-face hilarity (remember the $12 shave club?) to trim the fatty rhetoric and reinforce to older men that primping is commonplace and a-OK.
The truth is men have been interested in good grooming habits much longer than the industry has given light to. Women often share stories of how their favourite skin cream disappears faster than they could use it and, formerly, men may not have admitted to being the culprit. Now that they're more aware of their appearances, and gender norms are slowly receding, men are easing into the wonderful world of beauty.
Jeremy Freed, Editor-in-Chief of SHARP Magazine and Book for Men says grooming is a hugely popular section of their content stream, and especially so in November when they run their annual 'Grooming Guide' - last year's featured "71 ways to groom better every day." Their readers' reaction to the guide proves to Freed that men want to know how they can look their best, no matter which stage of life they're in. His editorial team writes for a balanced male demographic that spans the guy who's in his first corporate job and wants to stack up well next to his boss, and the guy who's retired and can spend more time learning how to straight-blade shave. One area he's not sure Canadian men are ready to explore, however, is makeup.
"I couldn't NOT see it happening, but we're not there yet. It would be quite the feat of marketing to convince the average North American 'dude' that wearing makeup is OK and he wouldn't be made fun of for it." I'd have to agree, but with 'no-makeup' makeup being so popular for us ladies, makeup on men isn't that crazy a concept. Personally, I feel tickled that it is being explored by some men, even if it's as entry-level as an under-eye concealer or tinted moisturizer.
Earlier this week, the alt-femme website Jezebel ran an article titled "Should Guys Wear Tinted Moisturizer?" and had a handful of men try it out. The testers were undoubtedly dude-ly and the outcome was subtle enough that numerous male commenters said, "yeah, why not then?" Tinted moisturizer, for men who may not know, is skin cream with a tiny bit of pigment that evens your complexion, or removes its redness and the sight of a breakout. It's subtle, effective and couldn't strip a man of his manhood if it tried.
The key to having more men give makeup a go may be in the terminology. What women call makeup, guys may prefer to call "tinted moisturizer" or even better, "BB Cream." The latter title eliminates any hint of the word "makeup", though the effect is the same - daily moisture and sun protection with a bit of surface-level improvement. What's so bad about that?
Lab Series Skincare for Men recently released a "BB Tinted Moisturizer" that combines moisture with pigment and a broad-spectrum SPF35, and consumers' reaction online reads positively. Perhaps its success lies within how well BB Cream blends in without giving up the fact that it's technically makeup. Men don't need to purchase a male-specific BB either, they can purchase whichever one they find first on the shelf that matches closest to their skin-tone, of course.
For bros who are curious and would like to explore, helpful how-tos are beginning to pop up online via blog posts and video tutorials. Pixiwoo, one of my favourite sites for learning, recently did a how-to video with a surfer who brightened right up with the help of a little tint.
I asked Grace Lee, lead makeup artist for Maybelline Canada, what guys need to build the manliest of makeup kits, and she said it's as simple as picking up these three things:
1. BB Cream for all-over moisture and subtle coverage
2. Concealer for super-dark circles (after a wild night out, of course) and breakouts
3. Clear mascara for combing through the brows to keep them tame
That's it! No biggie.
Very clever and accessible marketing campaigns are helping to reel men into comfort with cosmetics but, in this case, the chicken may have come before the egg. Men, feel free to jump in the makeup pool. The water's warm, we promise.


text: This classic Gucci handbag is an effortless accessory. It features green and red webbing that accents the signature beige-and-ebony GG fabric. Light goldtone hardware, signature snap closure with an engraved logo. Inside, a zip pocket and cell phone slot help keep you organized. Dimensions: 15"L x 6"W x 12"H, 8" drop handle.


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In The No Spin Zone Bill is even madder than when he wrote his first non-fiction bestseller The O'Reilly Factor and fans like you love him even more. He's mad because things have gone from bad to worse, in politics, in Hollywood, in every social stratum of the nation. True to its title, The No-Spin Zone cuts through all the rhetoric that some of O'Reilly's most infamous guests have spewed to expose what's really on their minds, while sharing plenty of his own emphatic counterpoints along the way.
Shining a searing spotlight on public figures from President George W. Bush and Senator Hillary Clinton to the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and his former CBS News colleague Dan Rather, The No-Spin Zone is laced with the kind of straight-shooting commentary that has made Bill the voice of middle America's disenfranchised. Examining sex and violence in the media and the tarnished legacy of the Clintons with the same feistiness as the death penalty (which he opposes) and timid national news organizations that roll over for the powerful, Bill delivers not only his opinions, but the documented attitudes of the country?s movers and shakers as well. The No Spin Zone demonstrates just why Bill has become the most successful, the most controversial, the most beloved (by some), and the most disliked (by others) figure in television news today and a culture hero to tens of millions of everyday Americans. And that's FACT, not spin.
"All I ask is for powerful people to respond honestly to the questions, and if they can't, explain why," says Bill. In The No Spin Zone he excerpts past interviews with various memorable opponents, including: ?James Carville on Bill Clinton?Dr. Laura on working mothers?Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders on sex education?Puff Daddy on rap music?Susan Sarandon on police brutality?Al Sharpton on boycotts?Dan Rather on news stories the media overlooksAlso: James Ellroy contributes an afterword to The No-Spin Zone. He is a famed novelist and journalist who profiled Bill for the magazine GQ. His latest book is The Cold Six Thousand.Regular viewers of his TV program and listeners to Bill's radio show know that the No Spin Zone is where "lies are rejected and equivocations are mocked".
An essential piece of modern political commentary, The No Spin Zone belongs on your bookshelf and also makes a great gift to those you care about.
The big question is: Do you own this book yet??


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WESTFORD -- Nashoba Valley Technical High School will destroy the temporary records of all members of the Class of 2005 after Jan. 18, under the direction of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Chapter 71 of the General Laws.
The school will retain students' permanent records, including grades, credits earned and transcripts.
Members of the Class of 2005 can obtain their temporary records in whole or in part from the Student Services Department before Jan. 18 by calling 978-692-4711, ext. 1223, to arrange a pickup time.
No records will be mailed.


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Car chase suspects in custody after trying to 'blend in'
10/17/2013 7:30amThree people accused of leading police on a chase are in custody. Police said the trio tried to blend into their surroundings to avoid officers who were looking for them.
Cox sworn in as new lieutenant governor
10/17/2013 7:48amAddressing an ornate room in the state Capitol crowded with what looked to be most of his rural hometown, newly sworn-in Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox was overcome briefly by emotion Wednesday.
Cellphone prompted shooting, victim says
10/17/2013 8:03amA man accused of shooting another man twice in Sevier County, was charged this week with attempted murder.
School recruits 42 volunteers to read with students
10/17/2013 8:58amCoordinators at Westfield Elementary in Alpine have recruited 42 PTA volunteers to read with struggling students every week for the school year.
Program succeeds at finding future family doctors
10/17/2013 9:30amReports show that 23 out of the 29 counties in Utah have some sort of shortage in primary health care doctors. Despite this, one medical program is having success finding future family doctors.
Comcast launches 1,000 new Wi-Fi hotspots
10/17/2013 9:53amComcast is announcing a new network of more than 1,000 WiFi hotspots in Utah that will allow Xfinity Internet customers to access fast wireless service for free. In addition, hot spots will be available to non-Comcast customers at low or no cost.
'Jeopardy!' features LDS Church category
10/17/2013 11:46amThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints grabbed the spotlight earlier this week with its very own category on "Jeopardy!"
Public vote in the works on exchanging tax exemption for school funding
10/17/2013 2:03pmSen. Pat Jones said she intends to call for a non-binding public vote on a bill that would eliminate the personal tax exemption to fund schools.
State attorneys want court to toss 'ag gag' lawsuit
10/17/2013 2:40pmAttorneys for the state want a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit challenging Utah's so-called "ag gag" law.
Reporter who led Romney's election coverage to speak at SLCC
10/17/2013 5:13pmNPR's White House Correspondent Ari Shapiro will be speaking for free at SLCC.
Utah delegates stand by their shutdown votes
10/17/2013 5:38pmUtah's congressional delegation are standing by their votes, whether they voted "yes" or "no," on the measure to reopen the government.
Families turn to coconut oil as healthy alternative
10/17/2013 5:46pmMany families are using coconut oil as an alternative fat for cooking or even in their beauty routines.
Pop culture references contribute to resurgence of 'Molly' drug in Utah
10/17/2013 5:55pmThe emergence of "Molly" in pop culture has led to a Utah resurgence for the old drug with a new twist, police and case workers say.
Students rally for peers who lost parents in RV crash
10/17/2013 6:02pmTimpview High School students are planning a fundraiser for the Clark family, whose parents were killed when their RV hit a St. George home in May.
Semitrailer rolls and burns in Weber Canyon
10/17/2013 6:28pmA semitrailer rolled and caught fire in Weber Canyon Thursday morning, closing I-84 in both directions between Taggart and Morgan.
1 killed using machinery at meatpacking plant
10/17/2013 7:00pmOne person is dead after an accident at a meatpacking plant.
Rare Utah beetle dropped from endangered species consideration
10/17/2013 7:28pmUtah elected officials were joined by state park managers in celebrating the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to withdraw its proposal to list the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle under the Endangered Species Act.
Utah state parks break attendance records amid shutdown
10/17/2013 8:44pmThe federal shutdown created a wild two weeks at Utah's state parks. In spite of the closure of national parks, visitation numbers at a few state parks broke records.
Logan residents experience 3.6-magnitude quake
10/17/2013 8:45pmDid you feel a small earthquake in Cache Valley on Thursday? If so, the University of Utah's seismology center wants to hear about it.
Single mom sends out desperate plea for return of lost $700
10/17/2013 8:49pmIt may not seem like a lot of money, but for a single mother of five, $700 was all she had. Now, Arely Sandoval hopes the person who found the cash will return it.
Atheist group finds resistance from Utah ad companies
10/17/2013 9:26pmAn atheist group trying to advertise their convention is reportedly getting the cold shoulder.
Man in court for texting crash that nearly severed woman's leg
10/17/2013 9:50pmA Roosevelt woman faced the man in court who nearly severed her leg in a car crash involving texting.
Many uninsured Utahns frustrated by federal healthcare website
10/17/2013 10:29pmThough the website that allows uninsured Americans to shop for affordable healthcare launched two weeks ago, many are still reporting glitches in the site.
Jury to determine whether woman died of natural causes or murder
10/17/2013 10:31pmMichele MacNeill died of natural causes — not murder — and investigators have worked to find a way around scientific facts in order to bring charges against her husband, a defense attorney told jurors Thursday.
Video of men toppling rock formation could have criminal consequences
10/17/2013 10:45pmTwo men have come under scrutiny by the public and possibly by prosecutors after a video made the rounds online showing them pushing over an iconic rock formation in Goblin Valley State Park.
DEA: Russian street drug with 'horrifying' effects may be in Utah
10/17/2013 11:08pmA deadly street drug that originates in Russia has made its way to the United States — and possibly even Utah.
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Following the power cutting on and off with the recent storms, I decided it was finally time to replace my UPS, as its battery had reached the point where my machine would go to sleep after even slight power dips. I found a big 1500VA unit at Best Buy for $139, and while it turned out it was mismarked, they agreed to charge me that instead of the proper $209 since it was their mistake. Nice, right? We then stopped on our way home at Marshalls to see what sort of bargains they had there and I found a Le Creuset crock for holding spoons and such for all of $12.99, but the blue one I wanted had no price tag. I told them the price up front, but they insisted on a price check, and ended up charging me the $7.99 listed on a cheaper crock. So it seems yesterday I was surrounded by some sort of magic forty-something percent discount field... Too bad I wasn't in a position to buy some resalable commodity and profit wildly from this.
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The Last of Us is one of our favorite games of this year, in part because of the relationship between its lead characters, Joel and Ellie. But Ellie's similarities with actress Ellen Page didn't go unnoticed, and she says it was "not appreciated."
In a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" thread (via IGN) over the weekend, a fan asked how she felt about The Last of Us and if she would have taken the role of Ellie herself. "I guess I should be flattered that they ripped off my likeness," she replied, "but I am actually acting in a video game called Beyond: Two Souls, so it was not appreciated."
Ellie's similarities to Page didn't go unnoticed, and some fans even assumed that the Juno and Inception star would be playing the role. Naughty Dog subsequently announced that Ellie would be played by Ashley Johnson (What Women Want), and remodeled the character to look more like Johnson. Naughty Dog chalked up the resemblance to coincidence. After Page's comment over the weekend, The Last of Us creative director Neil Druckmann tweeted support for Johnson, saying "no one could have done a better job."
In April, Eurogamer asked Quantic Dream's Guillaume de Fondaumiere about the resemblance, since Ellen Page is actually involved in their game. "They probably inadvertently were inspired by Ellen Page, but indeed, they had to slightly change the model such that she wouldn't look like Ellen Page because, indeed, we have Ellen Page," he said.


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The familiar face of Joe Gaddis will return to the Oak Ridge High School football sideline this fall.
The familiar face of Joe Gaddis will return to the Oak Ridge High School football sideline this fall.
"I am thrilled to be coming back," Gaddis said Monday. "I was thrilled in 1988 to be the football coach there. Having done it once, I'm absolutely floored to be able to do it a second time."
The Wildcats winningest coach is marching "home" after getting the orders from two ironic sources — Robert Smallridge, the superintendent the last time Gaddis was hired to take the helm of the Wildcats, and athletic director Mike Mullins, a former member of Gaddis' football staff.
"In my interview and talks with him, I see pretty much the same Joe Gaddis that I saw in 1988," said Smallridge, who retired as school superintendent but is also now back again — serving the school system as interim school superintendent. "He is very enthusiastic and I think he will do a super job again. I don't see any diminution of his intensity."
He will be introduced in an informal meet-and-greet reception at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Wildcat Arena. The public is invited.
Gaddis was 119-24 as coach of the Wildcats from 1988 to 1998 and had 10 playoff appearances in 11 seasons. In those seasons, Oak Ridge won 10 or more games nine times and won the Class AAA state championship 30-0 over Gallatin at Vanderbilt University in 1991.
"I truly believe it is the best high school football job in Tennessee," Gaddis said. "I know there are some schools in East Tennessee that have had great, great runs in the last 10-15 years. But Oak Ridge has the best football tradition in Tennessee. It's the only school that has won state championships in the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and they were eight points away from winning one back in 2005 — and this decade isn't up yet."
Mullins delivered the news to the team today during their winter workouts in much the same way he broke the news to the team a month and a half ago that Scott Blade had resigned to take the coaching position at Independence High School. Blade took the Thompson Station job to be closer to family.
"The last time we met was Jan. 17," Mullins said of the Oak Ridge football team members. "I made them a promise that we would get the very best football coach in the state.
"During the search process, it was our goal to find somebody who could embrace and carry on the storied tradition of Oak Ridge football. Joe Gaddis is the embodiment of everything we were looking for in a head coach. He has a proven record of state championship success at Oak Ridge as a head coach. His energy, passion and charisma is going to motivate our student athletes, alumni, faculty and community."
Mullins said it has been an "unbelievable whirlwind," but was glad to have his friend and colleague on the sideline again.
"He is the reason I'm here," Mullins said.
Mullins said he and the coach search committee received 119 résumés from 30 states — well exceeding the amount of interest generated when Blade was hired in 2009. Back in January, Mullins credited Blade and the current team for that interest after finishing 10-2 and claiming the first district title since 2005.
The 60-year-old Gaddis was presumably the head-on favorite after Blade's departure. Almost instantly a grassroots effort by the community sprang up to bring the former Wildcat great back. A Facebook group "Ridgers for Joe Gaddis," with 1,415 members as of Monday afternoon, along with a flood of letters and emails to the school system administration.
"This has been unbelievable," Mullins said. "We received a record amount of input from the community."
Mullins said the biggest things expressed in those letters were already among the things on his list for the next football coach — a person who can increase player, fan and community participation, as well as renewed energy and enthusiasm to keep Oak Ridge on the up-and-up as they move to Class 5A this fall.
Since Gaddis' departure, the coach has been at the helm of Pascagoula High School in Mississippi, Austin High School in Decatur, Ala., Henry County High School in Paris, Tenn., Lexington High School in North Carolina, and most recently, at Peabody High School in Trenton, Tenn.
At Henry County, he coached the Patriots to three straight Class 4A semi-final games. In his one season at Peabody, the Golden Tide went 9-4, 6-0 in District 14-A, and won their first district title since 1992.
"I'm going to coach for a while," said Gaddis when asked about his energy level for the game. "I have more energy than most 30 year olds. I coached for 11 years here. My plan is to out do that. I'm not ever leaving Oak Ridge. I'm there to stay."
Gaddis' current head coaching record is 258-112 (69.7 percent) in 30 years. He has two grown children, a son, Joe Jr., who currently lives in South Carolina, and a daughter, Carry, who lives in Nashville.
Robert Holder can be contacted at (865) 220-5508.


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Kent County and The Greater Dover Boys & Girls Club hope to team up to construct the Kent County Recreation Complex, a 75,000-square-foot athletic facility on New Burton Road.
The property is owned by the county and adjoins Brecknock Park. Including parking, landscaping and the building itself, the facility will sit on about seven acres of the 53-acre tract. The facility would serve the needs of both organizations.
"There are certain efficiencies gained by combining the spaces," said County Administrator Michael Petit De Mange. "If we built two separate buildings, common things would be needed."
The portion of the building known as the "field house" would be a 40,000-square-foot indoor sports complex, owned by the county. It will be used to host community field hockey, soccer, basketball and volleyball games for both youth and adult leagues.
The Boys & Girls Club portion of the complex will be housed in a separate building, connected by a breezeway. Their facility will take up around 35,000 square feet. As far as ownership of the building goes, the two parties have set up a condominium-type ownership system.
"We've set up unit properties," said Petit De Mange. "This enables portions of a building to be deeded to separate owners without subdividing the land."
According to Petit De Mange, if one party decides to vacate their portion of the complex, the other party will be given first right to purchase it.
Funding remains an issue
At the March 5 Kent County Levy Court meeting, the Boys & Girls Club asked the county for up to $600,000 in funding to put toward its half of the project.
At a Kent County Levy Court meeting on March 5, Ed Dulin, the chairman of the Boys & Girls Club's Capital Campaign Committee, reported that the organization has received pledges or donations of $1.2 million. The organization is expecting another $225,000 to come in from private donors but is fearful it will fall short of the $2 million it needs to break ground.
Kent County Commissioner Bradley Eaby said the county had already made significant contributions to the project.
"We recognize the importance that the Boys and Girls club in the state of Delaware provides and we've demonstrated that," Eaby said. "The county has donated the land of considerable value and will be providing the maintenance interior and exterior on an ongoing basis, which has a significant value. I just wanted to make those comments so you understand we are assisting."
The land would remain under county ownership, but made available to the Boys & Girls Club for the facility, De Mange later clarified. If the funding issues are resolved, Petit De Mange said he anticipates construction could begin in early 2014.
The Levy Court was non-committal about being able to offer additional resources, indicating only that they'd have to review their budget.
"Forgive me for not understanding what we were doing tonight…the only thing I had for the Boys & Girls club was just an update on your progress," said Commissioner Eric Buckson. "…At the end of the meeting you requested for us to support the capital campaign to the tune of about $500,000. My apologies, I didn't know that was coming."


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As a school counselor in the Oak Ridge schools for over 25 years, I helped numerous students deal with behavioral, social, and emotional issues so they could perform their best in school. I was a support to many parents in helping their children achieve greater success in school.
To the Editor:
As a school counselor in the Oak Ridge schools for over 25 years, I helped numerous students deal with behavioral, social, and emotional issues so they could perform their best in school. I was a support to many parents in helping their children achieve greater success in school.
I have grave concerns with SB234 and HB1332 and urge our area state legislators to vote "No." This bill limits the ability of school counselors to help students succeed in schools. According to the Tennessee Model for Comprehensive School Counseling adopted by the State Board of Education, counselors must work with ALL students, to promote academic, personal/social, and career development. Additionally, many local school districts expect counselors to teach personal/social skills like Character Counts, personal safety training, positive attitudes, self-confidence and self-motivation. This bill will prevent counselors from teaching personal/social skills and addressing the total needs of children and youth in schools.
Educators and parents know that the whole child must be engaged in learning. When youth are stressed by social concerns or emotional problems, they do not perform well in school. Teachers have no time to address social and emotional issues of their students given today's increased academic standards. Parents often struggle to find answers for the troubles their children face today; so they turn to their child's school counselor for assistance.
School counselors support parents when their children are preoccupied with such social issues as peer pressures and conflicts. They help students cope with emotional worries like death of a loved one or the separation and divorce of their parents. Trained school counselors help students become more resilient in dealing with typical developmental social and emotional issues so they can survive and thrive in schools and in society today.
When students feel too much pressure from peers, teachers, and others, they seek the support of their school counselors, whom they trust. The role of the school counselor is to teach students how to solve problems and to be responsible for their actions. In this helping relationship, counselors urge students to use the resources within their world to make good decisions. The most valuable resource children have is that of loving parents or guardians who support them.
One of the central concerns I have with SB234 is that it would cause school counselors to violate their ACA and ASCA Code of Ethics, which is the standard of care for the profession. Regardless of their personal convictions, school counselors are ethically bound to help ALL students to the best of their training. For many school students, the school counselor is the only trained person available to help them address typical social and emotional issues. Federal law called FERPA and court rulings require school counselors to inform parents of educational and counseling issues when requested. Therefore, this bill is unnecessary. It destroys the counselor's helping relationship with students and it adds undue burden to overloaded school counselors. Again, I urge state legislators to vote "No" on SB234 and HB1332.
Michael Bundy
Former Willow Brook
Elementary School counselor
Oak Ridge


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Spacious Garden Duplex in the heart of Old City Sultanahmet
Size130 m²
Floor No.
- Family/child friendly
- Internet/WiFi
- Kitchen
- Air conditioning
- Washer/dryer
- Smoking allowed
- Balcony/terrace
Accommodation summary
The apartment is located in the heart of the Old City in a quiet residential neighborhood, a short walk from the Hippodrome, Sultanahmet Square (500 meters from the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern), and the famed Covered Bazaar. It is 18kms from Ataturk Airport and airport transfers can be arranged upon request.
The balcony and patio face an inner courtyard garden and
offer pleasant outdoor spaces in which to relax.
This two-floor apartment can accommodate up to 9 people with an extra bed.
Entrance to the duplex which is the upper floor, opens to a sleeping area with a queen size bed (150 x 200cm). This floor has also a kitchen, bathroom and living/dining area with a 140x200 cm sofabed facing the courtyard garden.
On the lower floor, which is accessed by an
internal stairway, there is a low-ceiling children's
sleeping area with two single beds (this area does
not have any windows), a hallway, bathroom and
a double bedroom opening to the garden.
The sleeping areas are either open or
separated with a glass partition so this
apartment works best for families or groups
who do not require a lot of privacy.
The full kitchen has a dishwasher, 4 gas burners,
microwave, full size refrigerator and washing
machine. The bathroom has a glass-enclosed
tub/shower and is stocked with traditional white
Turkish towels and toiletries. The bathroom on the lower floor
features a jacuzzi bathtub inviting long soaks.
The tub also has a shower hookup.
Stylish contemporary decor highlighted with
bright Turkish rugs and throw pillows, air
conditioning units in both the living room and
bedroom, a wall-mounted LCD television with
cable reception, wireless internet, laptop desk,
MP3-CD player and cordless phone make this flat
a great choice for a large family or group.
Linens and pillows are also provided.
Cleaning service can be arranged with a surcharge for short stays. For longer stays of more than a week cleaning and sheet changes will be arranged once in a week.
Wireless internet is free. Cable TV, air- conditioning and natural gas heating are included.
The building does not have an elevator.
Luggage storage is available.
Complimentary first day breakfast will be offered. There are various restaurants and coffee shops around the area. We will provide you with a recommendations handbook and necessary phone numbers in case you may need assistance during your stay.
House rulesRATES
Linens, towels, detergent, toiletries,
Standard kitchen utensils,
Electricity, Gas, Water, Air conditioning,
Satellite TV, Local telephone calls, DSL ethernet or wireless internet access,
First day complimentary breakfast,
Weekly cleaning,
All taxes.
Available with surcharge:
Calls made to mobile phones will be charged at cost to the guest's credit card upon receipt of the monthly telephone bill.
Extra guests up to the maximum occupancy limit will be charged at USD40 (EUR 30) per night per person supplying an extra bed, including children over age 2. We cannot accept more people than the maximum occupancy with the exception of children under two years old who will sleep in a crib or with an adult.
Discounts and special offers may not be combined.
Baby crib (cot) is available with a charge of USD13 (EUR10) /night.
Daily cleaning can be provided with a surcharge of USD40 (EUR30).
Daily tidy up can be provided with a surcharge of USD20 (EUR15).
Private airport transfer can be arranged. The cost will vary depending on the airport and number of passengers.
Luggage storage and fax/photocopy service available with a surcharge.
Daily Istanbul tours, daily excursions to nearby cities can be arranged upon request.
New amenity for your daily travel needs in Istanbul:
'Istanbul Card' is now available upon request!
We started to offer IstanbulKart (formerly named as Akbil) at cost. It offers a very convenient and cheap way to travel around Istanbul by tram, bus and subway. The card itself costs TRY 7 and we load it with TRY 13 so the total becomes TRY 20. Please let us know if you need these cards and how many so that we will make them ready for you when you arrive.
We do not require deposits but we would like our apartments to be in good shape after our guests leave as to expect them to keep the property in good order and leave the apartment in the same condition as when they arrived. All guests are required to give their credit card details as a security deposit in the event of any damaged or missing items.
We would like our Guests to inform us in advance your arrival details and encourage you to order the airport service as it makes your arrival to the apartment much smoother unless you know Istanbul well or have stayed with us previously and know how to get to the building. If you prefer to come on your own we will provide you with directions in Turkish (for the taxi driver) and a map showing the directions to our address. We will appreciate if you can bring a photocopy of each guest's passport on your arrival who will be staying in the apartment as we need to keep for security reasons on behalf of local authorities.
CHECK-IN and CHECK-OUT
Check-in hours are between 2 pm(14:00) to 11 pm(23:00) and check-out hours is 9 am(09:00) to 11 am(11:00). We do our utmost to accommodate the individual needs of our guests and we honor early check-in and late check-out unless there is no check-in/check-out after or before your check-in/check-out time.
2 sets of keys will be provided. Lost key set will be charged at USD10 (EUR 8).
We have a moderate Cancellation Policy. You will be refunded the total price minus the Wimdu cancellation fee if you cancel the booking at least 4 days before check-in (by 12 noon, local time). For cancellations that are made less than 4 days before check-in, you will be refunded 5% of the total price minus the Wimdu cancellation fee. Please note that no refunds whatsoever will be given for cancellations made in response to circumstances beyond our control such as natural disasters or political events. Guests who depart before the scheduled date are charged the tariff for the entire rental period.
Guests are advised to read the website/house rules carefully with particular attention to the character and nature of the properties and the area. The building does not have an elevator and the apartments are not recommended for individuals who have difficulty walking or climbing stairs or for those who expect daily housekeeping and other hotel services unless you require one of our daily cleaning or tidy up services.
People other than the paid guests may not stay overnight in the property. Any other person in the property is the sole responsibility of guest. All of the units are privately owned; the owners are not responsible for any accidents, injuries or illness that occurs while on the premises or its facilities. The Homeowners are not responsible for the loss of personal belongings or valuables of the guest. By accepting this reservation, it is agreed that all guests are expressly assuming the risk of any harm arising from their use of the premises or others whom they invite to use the premise.
The apartments are placed in a quiet residential neighborhood and we expect our guests to respect our friendly neighbors.
Smoking is allowed on most of the apartments but we highly recommend smoking outside at the balconies or garden. We will be using ozon generator to clean up the apartment to get rid of any unwanted odors and bacteria.
To the rear, the building faces an inner courtyard with trees, alive with birds -- lots of birds!
Unfortunately pets are not allowed in properties.
Children are welcomed except for the Penthouse Suite. Please pay special attention to the stairs connecting the two apartments of balcony duplex as some stairs are very narrow.
Guest shall allow Homeowner access to the property for purposes of repair and inspection. Homeowner shall exercise this right of access in a reasonable manner.
|Price for > 8 guests
|$ 17 US per guest/night extra
|Check-in after
|Check-in before
|Check-out before
|Cancellation Policy
Reviews for this host's other properties
Our time in Istanbul was amazing. It is a huge city brimming with a culture that goes back thousands of years. Our hosts Gulnar and Aslan met us on arrival and explained everything we needed to know about the apartment. They were exceedingly friendly and helpful throughout our stay and deserve a huge accolade for their service. The apartment is very comfortable, clean, well appointed and well located. It takes a day to get your bearings but once done,you'll find that you are within easy reach of all the main attractions. Aslan advised us to use his driver and buy a travel card( you only need one between two people). We took that advice and we're grateful for it. It makes a world of difference when you arrive to have a person to meet you especially when not too much English is spoken and the signage is in Turkish!! Study a map of the area before you go as the streets can seem like a spiderweb and it's not difficult to get lost....but don't worry, it's part of the adventure! People generally speak enough English to help you out.
Our experience was exceptionally good and we would recommend Aslan Apartments as a great place to stay and absorb the culture of Istanbul.
For Australians and New Zealander's a trip to Gallipoli is a 'must'. You can do it in a (long) day. A big thankyou to Gulnar and Aslan for making our stay so enjoyable.
Lindo apartamento, igual a como son las fotos en internet. Por problemas de conexión llegamos a las O3.00 y nos estaba esperando. En la heladera agua,leche, queso, manteca, aceitunas. En la mesa pan, galletas, fruta., café etc. Muy servicial y atento. Volveriamos encantados
We had a wonderful time in Istanbul. We enjoyed the wonderful seaview from the apartment which is nice, clean and very well equipped. We appreciated the communication with Aslan and Gulnur, they always answered quickly and gave us all support we needed.
We stayed at Seaview Family Suite of Aslan Apartments. The apartment was on the third floor and there was an amazing view at the marmara sea. Our apartment was exactly how it is described. Everything was fine. The hosts were very friendly and there was a good communication before and during our stay. Aslan Apartments is just 3 minutes far from the metro station "cemberlitas" and 5 minutes walking distance from blue mosque (on the front door you only have to go right, at the end of the street turn left). To find a mini market you also have to go 15 meters from the front door in the right direction. The reason why we don´t give 10 points is the surrounding of Aslan Apartments. One of our neighbours made some annoying gestures. We cleared the situation by hanging some carpets over the handrails.
Everything was very well organized. Aslan apartments are very quiet and yet centrally located in the old city of Istanbul. Upon our arrival, we received an extensive introduction to the apartment and the surrounding area. Thanks for the hospitality and good time in Istanbul. We will be back!
Alles war sehr gut organisiert. Aslan Apartments liegen sehr ruhig und trotzdem zentral in der Altstadt von Istanbul. Bei unserer Ankunft haben wir eine umfangreiche Einführung in die Wohnung und die Umgebung erhalten. Vielen Dank für die Gastfreundschaft und die gute Zeit in Istanbul. Wir kommen wieder!
A quality apartment, very good condition, well equipped, the wifi works.
Friendly welcome and advice if necessary. Cleaning done once during the week.
Good location you can do everything in the old town on foot from the apartment.
Un appartement de qualité, très bon état, bien équipé, le wifi fonctionne.
Accueil agréable et conseils si besoin. Ménage fait une fois durant la semaine.
Bien situé on peut tout faire dans la vielle ville à pied en partant de l'appart.
A beautiful, very clean apartment in which we have felt from the beginning. The contact with the owner was smooth and very friendly even with information and questions about the area or Restaurants. Within walking distance of many interesting sights located .We love to come back.
Eine schöne,sehr saubere Wohnung in der wir uns von Anfang an wohl gefühlt haben . Der Kontakt mit dem Vermieter war problemlos und sehr freundlich auch bei Auskünften und Fragen zur Umgebung oder Restaurantsuche . In Laufnähe von vielen interessanten Sehenswürdigkeiten gelegen .Wir kommen gerne wieder .
Dear Gulnur and Arslan,
thank you so much for a wonderful stay in your appartement! We have enjoyed our time there a lot, especially the view from the balcony ;). Also we would like to express our gratitude to your very kind gesture in buying all the food for the first start for us! That is such a nice gesture! Very helpful had been the Information book, we received many recommendations from there, like where to exchange money and how much tip we have to give to whom. We also followed the advice in going with the ferry on a Bosporus trip and loved it from the very first minute. So, thank you for everything and we hope to come back in the near future! Best regards from Marcel & Nicola
Accommodation great, spacious, clean, etc.... we all felt like home. Very close to the tram and nearby convenience stores. Also the landlord was most helpful and forthcoming, who assisted us on our every request.
Would definitely recommend the apartment and the location.
Das Apartment liegt sehr zentral;man kann gut zu Fuß z.B. die blaue Moschee erreichen. Die Ausstattung des Apartments ist sehr gut und bietet einen sehr guten Komfort und Rückzugsraum gerade in einer so pulsierenden und spannenden Mega Stadt. Sehr zu empfehlen.
- Quality assured accommodation
- Every host is verified by telephone
- Secure payment via SSL encryption


text:
Columbia University sponsors 29 intercollegiate teams competing in the Ivy League in NCAA Division I (I-AA for football).
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education of Columbia University in the City of
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education recognizes that the development of the mind, body and spirit is vital to the
Offer athletic and recreational opportunities that meet expectations of excellence
Foster an inclusive environment that nurtures intellectual growth, physical development and social interaction
Produce and maintain winning intercollegiate sports programs
Comply with all NCAA and Ivy League rules and regulations
Challenge our community to live a healthy and active lifestyle
Create, sponsor and provide programs to engage our University community and our neighbors
Develop our student-athletes with values reflecting the richness and diversity of the
Live by the guiding principles of the mission of the University; to educate and produce future leaders who will engage the world in a productive and thoughtful manner
Consistent with the mission of
Leadership of the Department will be visionary, decisive, motivating and participatory,
The Department will promote a safe, hospitable and enjoyable environment for guests and patrons of events and other activities,
The Department will promote the health, safety and well-being of each participant,
The Department will develop a clear set of goals that focus on providing excellent customer service through the coherence of goals, incentives, rewards, organizational structures and the presence of effective Departmental processes for assessment and self-improvement,
Programs will maximize involvement of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the University while recognizing and promoting the enhancement of diversity within the Department,
Sports programs will promote the highest standards in areas of academic and athletic achievement, personal growth and citizenship,
Recreational programs will enrich the student experience and contribute to the quality of life throughout the campus and local community,
The Department will foster the highest level of intercollegiate athletic competition and compete nationally in selected sports,
The Department staff will endorse integrity and ethics while maintaining a fiscally responsible structure that emphasizes sound leadership, teaching and coaching,
Programs will respond to the needs and interests of students, outreach goals of the University, competitive rigors of the Ivy League Conference and the financial demands of the ever-changing environment through regular evaluation and assessment and
The Department will identify, attract and retain staff who exhibit strong commitment to the values of the organization including open and honest communication, high energy, initiative, enthusiasm and creativity.
Under a unique agreement, women at
Established in 1983, the consortium was designed to coincide with the admission of women to
The female student-athlete at
Click here for information on


text:
Submission + - House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on TSA's 'Scanner Shuffle' (house.gov)
OverTheGeicoE writes: The Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security held a hearing on TSA's recent decision to move X-ray body scanners from major airports to smaller ones, which the subcommitte refers to as a 'Scanner Shuffle.' John Sanders, TSA's assistant administrator for security capabilities, testified that 91 scanners recently removed from major airports were now in storage due to 'privacy concerns.' Although TSA originally planned to relocate the scanners to smaller airports, those plans have been shelved because smaller airports don't have room for them. The subcommittee is also investigating allegations that the machines' manufacturer, Rapiscan, 'may have falsified tests of software intended to stop the machines from recording graphic images of travelers' (VIDEO). Coincidentally, shares of Rapiscan's parent company, OSI Systems Inc., dropped in value almost 25% today, its biggest intraday decline in about 12 years. If wrongdoing is proven, Rapiscan could face fines, prison terms and a ban on government contracting, according to a former head of federal procurement.


text:
Just like other holidays, Easter often leaves us with plenty of leftover food. George Duran, chef, entertainer and host of TLC's Ultimate Cake Off shares three new Easter leftovers recipes that he's created to spice up this year's post-holiday eats.
With suggestions like Bunnies in a Blanket, Spicy Tomato Deviled Eggs, and Thin Crust Honey Ham Glazed Pizza, George has masterfully taken classic Easter dishes and given them a little leftover twist all while sticking to simple, everyday ingredients. I have included the Spicy Tomato Deviled Eggs Recipe from George Duran below.
Spicy Tomato Deviled Eggs
by George Duran
Now you know what to do with all of the Easter eggs you found! Enjoy!
Prep: 35 minutes / Yield: 6 to 8 servings
1 dozen eggs
5 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Hunt's tomato paste
2 to 3 teaspoons bottled hot pepper sauce
Kosher salt or table salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For perfect hard-boiled eggs: Put the eggs in a large pot and cover them by at least 2 inches with cold water. Put the pot over high heat. When it comes to a boil, remove it from heat, cover, and let stand for 15 minutes. Drain the pot and run cold water over the eggs to stop the cooking. When cooled, crack and remove the shells.
Cut the eggs in half and put the yolks into a bowl. Mash them with the mayonnaise, tomato paste, and Tabasco until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place the yolk mixture in a re-sealable plastic bag. Just before serving snip off one of the corners of the bag. Gently squeeze the bag and fill each egg white. Garnish with paprika.
Yield: 6 to 8 servings


text:
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 18th Mar 2013 15:51 UTC
Thorsten Heins, BlackBerry's CEO: "Apple did a fantastic job in bringing touch devices to market ... They did a fantastic job with the user interface, they are a design icon. There is a reason why they were so successful, and we actually have to admit this and respect that. History repeats itself again I guess ... the rate of innovation is so high in our industry that if you don't innovate at that speed you can be replaced pretty quickly. The user interface on the iPhone, with all due respect for what this invention was all about is now five years old." Ironic, perhaps, that this comes from a BlackBerry CEO, but that doesn't make him wrong - although I'm sure the usual suspects will claim that it does.
Permalink for comment 555861
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RE[2]: He's right but
by leos on Tue 19th Mar 2013 05:48 UTC in reply to "RE: He's right but"


text:
What: Thanksgiving Day dinner
When: 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 1820 15th St., Boulder
Cost: Free
Info: fpcboulder.org
Vernon Ward remembers being on the business end of dire need.
Now the chef at Boulder's First Presbyterian Church, Ward -- who is directing preparations for Thursday's Thanksgiving dinner for the needy -- was reduced to living on the streets of Denver in the late 1990s.
He can't recall the specific holiday with certainty. He doesn't name a particular church or homeless shelter. But he remembers the graceless attitude with which he once saw charity dispensed.
"I'm not being ungrateful, but it was horrible," he said. "It was like, 'Here's your peanut butter and jelly, now, get on down the road. Either way, I'm going home, 'cause I've got a family. I've got a paycheck.'"
Ward, at the time, had just a little more than nothing. He was suffering a "deep depression," a recent divorce and emphysema caused by years of breathing noxious fumes while doing auto-body work. Additionally, he was wrestling the ravages of drug and alcohol dependency.
A U.S. Army veteran, Ward also had no place to call home. There were threats from his daughter that she would no longer permit him to see his grandchildren.
The miserly manner of someone who was supposed to be helping still lingers as vividly as the memory of those personal miseries Ward was enduring, little more than 10 years ago.
"That really stuck with me," said Ward, a 58-year-old Boulder resident, thinking back to when it was he who had his hand out in a season when so many people are celebrating an embarrassment of riches.
He was gradually pulled out of his nosedive by friends who encouraged him to start frequenting a Saturday Bible study group at the Boulder church that came with soup included. Before he knew it, Ward went from eating the soup to preparing it at First Presbyterian Church.
"I was tired of being out on the streets," said Ward, who hasn't had a drink now for eight years. "That wasn't the way I wanted to live."
The 300 or more people who pour through the doors Thursday for the parish's annual Thanksgiving dinner in Oerter Hall don't need to fear being met with peanut butter and jelly. Nor will they suffer a dismissive attitude from volunteers.
Instead, they should expect roughly 500 pounds of fresh-cooked turkey, 60 pounds of yams, the same quantity of mashed potatoes, about 80 pounds of stuffing, six large sheets of cornbread, garden salads and green beans, veritable oceans of cranberry dressing, 45 to 50 pies -- the only items not being prepared on site -- plus enough gravy and beverages to wash it all down with ease.
'Love of people'
There's another critical item on the menu, according to Melonie Fusilier, hospitality coordinator and kitchen manager for the church.
"I think the secret is a love for people, and a desire to help people, and that comes from our faith," Fusilier said. "That's what really does it. It's a love of people."
Love counts -- but so does an ability to organize. Ward, who sported a U.S. Army ball cap as he directed about a dozen people in the church kitchen during this week's preparations, studied culinary arts at the Emily Griffith Technical College. But cooking is also in his blood. His family ran two different restaurants in Denver when he was growing up, and Ward is clearly in his element in a high-volume kitchen.
"We got another turkey (fresh out of one of the kitchen's four ovens). Anyone want to cut it for me?" Ward hollered during preparations on Tuesday. "If not, I can do it tomorrow."
He didn't have to wait long to see someone set upon the bronzed bird with a knife.
"Why are you pulling the skin off the meat?" he shouted across to a volunteer dismantling another bird.
"You don't want the..."
"No, I don't," said Ward, without waiting for the volunteer to finish. "Lots of people like to have that browned skin, right along with their meat."
Ward is also comfortable enough in his role that last Sunday, the formerly homeless man stood up before the church congregation during a service and declared his goal: 30 donated turkeys, around which to build Thursday's feast.
The 30th bird was put in his hands by a woman who dropped by Tuesday with her son.
"Thank you and God bless you," Ward told them.
Safeway, King Soopers and Costco also have made contributions toward making the day a success.
'Kid on Christmas morning'
Rob Dean, a church deacon, expects as many as 350 people could show up to feast in two separate seatings between 1 and 3 p.m. Thursday, although the turnout could be somewhat trimmed by the mild weather the Front Range is experiencing this week.
Of those attending, according to Dean, roughly 200 might be homeless, with the balance being a mix of elderly, families that have fallen on hard times and even people who simply crave more company Thursday than they might otherwise be able to enjoy.
"We have fliers that are printed and the kids come in and pick up the fliers Thursday morning, and they will run around downtown Boulder" advertising the holiday dinner, Dean said. "But if the weather is warm, some of them will probably just be wanting to be outside.
"We're trying to help out the homeless, and sometimes they'd rather stay where they are -- camped out or whatever, particularly if they are not feeling cold or stressed."
Ward's motivation for his work as chef for numerous weekly and monthly events throughout the year at First Presbyterian Church has evolved over time.
"First, I did it because I had to," as a path out of the depression consuming him, he said. "Now, I do it because I want to."
Sizing up the beehive of activity in the kitchen as Thanksgiving approached, Ward added, "Now, I feel like a kid on Christmas morning."
Contact Camera Staff Writer Charlie Brennan at 303-473-1327 or email@example.com.


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