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Archdiocese of Mexico backs sentence of priest jailed for abuse
March 15, 2018 CNA Daily News News Briefs 0 Print
Mexico City, Mexico, Mar 15, 2018 / 02:58 pm (ACI Prensa).- The Archdiocese of Mexico reaffirmed its commitment to fighting sexual abuse and expressed its support for the 62-year jail sentence for a priest found guilty of abuse.
The archdiocesan communications office issued a statement March 13 on the sentence imposed on the priest Carlos Lopez Valdés, who was found guilty of molesting Jesús Romero Colín several times between 1994 and 1998.
Lopez Valdés, who is now 72, served at San Agustín de las Cuevas parish in Tlapan, south of Mexico City. Romero was his altar boy, and was abused between the ages of 7 and 11.
Romero filed a complaint against the priest in 2007 and the Archdiocese of Mexico then opened an ecclesiastical trial, which found the priest guilty and dismissed him from the clerical state.
Lopez Valdés was arrested Aug. 27, 2016, in Jiutepec. Morelos State, and sent to the Reclusorio Oriente (prison) in Mexico City.
Romero has also accused former Mexican cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of protecting the priest and concealing the abuse. The now-retired Cardinal Rivera was accused last year by two former priests of failing to report several cases of abuse. The Mexico of Archdiocese at the time denied any failure to act on the part of the cardinal.
Romero sent a letter to Pope Francis in 2013. The Holy Father replied expressing his "pain" and "shame" for what had happened and asked for "forgiveness in the name of the Church."
In their March 13 statement, the archdiocese expressed its "complete readiness to cooperate with the authorities to procure justice in society."
"We express our solidarity with the victim and his family. We deeply regret what happened. This terrible behavior causes us pain and shame and confirms us in our commitment to do everything necessary to address the root cause of these situations," they continued.
"We will not be satisfied until this evil is extirpated. As Pope Francis has recently said, this is one of the priorities of the Church in our time."
The archdiocese also reiterated that "our standard is 'zero tolerance' in face of these situations," and acknowledged "the need to report, recognize the evil and ask forgiveness."
This article was originally published by our sister agency, ACI Prensa. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
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Why is St. Francis Xavier's arm flying across Canada?
December 5, 2017 CNA Daily News 1
Ottawa, Canada, Dec 5, 2017 / 07:00 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- While he was alive, St. Francis Xavier never got to ride in an airplane. They would not be invented for 400 more years after his death.
But now, his severed arm will get to take a trip across Canada in its very own seat.
The relic of the Jesuit missionary, ordinarily kept in the Church of the Gesù in Rome, will be making a cross-country trip through Canada this winter, as part of an initiative from the university group Catholic Christian Outreach.
The arm of St. Francis Xavier, on display for veneration in Rome.
Angèle Regnier, co-founder of Catholic Christian Outreach, told CBC radio that travelling with the saint's arm will be "like doing a road trip with a friend."
"I mean, I know it's bones, but connected to that is a living friendship with St. Francis Xavier," she said.
In the Catholic Church, relics are physical objects that have a direct association with the saints or with Jesus. The arm of St. Francis Xavier is considered a first class relic, which is the body or fragments of the body of a saint. The practice of venerating relics has been a Scripture-based tradition in the Church for centuries.
Regnier will be accompanying the saint's arm on its trip from Rome to Canada, where the relic will make a month-long tour through much of the country.
The fragility of the relic, which is encased in a gold and glass reliquary and has its own padded duffle bag, necessitated that it travel in its own seat on Air Canada.
"We can't put it underneath. We can't even put it in the overhead bins. Like, he has to have his own seat," she told CBC radio.
"You're trying to explain this to Air Canada. We need to book a seat. He is a person in a way, but it's not a person, it's an arm."
The saint's arm is a significant relic. With that arm, it is estimated that St. Francis Xavier baptized hundreds of thousands of people during his time as a missionary in Asia. The relic is also considered to be partially incorrupt, which means that it has not decayed in an ordinary way.
Regnier said that the group wanted to bring the saint's relic to Canada because he is one of their patron saints. While a university student, Francis Xavier was known for being athletic and the "cool guy," Regnier said. But it was also during time that he underwent a conversion, and his roommate, St. Ignatius of Loyola, became his spiritual mentor.
St. Francis Xavier would become one of the founding members of the Jesuit order, along with St. Ignatius of Loyola and Blessed Peter Faber.
"So for us, as a university student movement, we want university students to come alive in their faith, so we find a lot in common with St. Francis Xavier's history," Regnier said.
The saint's arm will be traveling throughout Canada from Jan. 3 – Feb. 2, during which time the faithful are invited to venerate the relic.
"It's quite a production," Regnier said. "We want to touch most of Canada with it."
The schedule for the relic tour is as follows:
* Jan. 3: Quebec City
* Jan. 5: St John's
* Jan. 7: Halifax
* Jan. 8: Antigonish, N.S.
* Jan. 10: Kingston, Ont.
* Jan. 12-14: Toronto
* Jan. 16: Winnipeg
* Jan. 18: Saskatoon
* Jan. 20: Regina
* Jan. 21-22: Calgary
* Jan. 24-25: Vancouver
* Jan. 27: Victoria
* Jan. 29-30: Montreal
* Feb. 2: Ottawa
In Vancouver, Lunar New Year bumps Friday abstinence for Asian Catholics
February 15, 2018 CNA Daily News 0
Vancouver, Canada, Feb 15, 2018 / 01:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Archbishop of Vancouver has dispensed from the Friday Lenten abstinence Asian Catholics and their guests who are celebrating Lunar New Year Feb. 16.
"It is my pleasure to offer greetings and best wishes for a Happy New Year to all Asian Catholics in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, as well as to all who will join them in celebrating the Year of the Dog," Archbishop John Miller wrote in his Lunar New Year Message.
"Although this year's celebrations fall during the solemn season of Lent, it is certainly fitting that social celebrations among families and loved ones take place," he said.
"As is customary in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, dispensation from the Lenten discipline of abstinence is granted to Asian Catholics and their guests celebrating the festival on Friday, February 16. Even so, I urge you to keep in mind the spirit of prayer and charity that we seek to practise during the Lenten season."
Archbishop Miller concluded his message, saying: "May God's abundant blessings be with you and your loved ones during this special time and through this entire year."
He also asked for prayers regarding a rumored agreement in the works between the Chinese government and the Vatican on the appointment of bishops.
"I would also ask you to use this occasion to keep in your prayers current discussions between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China as they work to better the relationship between them and improve the situation for Chinese Catholics."
The communist government of China expelled foreign missionaries after 1949, and later established the "Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association," a government-sanctioned Catholic Church. This has existed in opposition to the 'underground' Church, which is persecuted and whose episcopal appointments are frequently not acknowledged by Chinese authorities.
The archbishop's message was written in both English and Chinese.
The Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese people all observe a calendar in which the lunar new year falls this year on Feb. 16.
In the Vancouver archdiocese, five parishes offer Mass in Cantonese, three in Mandarin, four in Korean, and two in Vietnamese. In British Columbia (of which Vancouver is the largest city), more than 10 percent of respondents to the 2006 Canadian census identified as Chinese, and about one percent each as Korean and Vietnamese.
Dispensations like Archbishop Miller's are common throughout East Asia.
In 2015, Chinese New Year coincided with Ash Wednesday, and dispensations from the day's requirement of fasting and abstinence were granted by bishops across the Philippines and southeast Asia, or moved to a different day. Archbishop Miller also granted such a dispensation that year.
Lunar New Year, also called the Spring Festival, falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice; it will be celebrated until the Lantern Festival, observed this year March 2.
The event is celebrated culturally, and Catholics observe it with Masses of thanksgiving, blessings of cemeteries, agape meals, and sharing charitable gifts.
The festivities unite families in offering thanksgiving and in praying for their predecessors' souls.
Abstinence from meat on Fridays of Lent is obligatory for Roman Catholics from the age of 14.
Catholics are bringing health care to one of the world's poorest countries
March 28, 2017 CNA Daily News 0
Port au Prince, Haiti, Mar 28, 2017 / 05:37 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Catholics are banding together to bring life-saving health care to rural areas in one of the poorest countries in the world.
"The key thing that I saw was partnership. Catholic Med… […]
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Letter from Rome: January 17, 2020
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Amy and the Dirty Girl
Nick Olszyk July 29, 2015 0
MPAA Rating, R USCCB Rating, O Reel Rating, (3 out of 5) The heroine of Trainwreck, Amy (played by Amy Schumer), spends her days writing for a pulpy men's magazine and […]


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HomeLA High School FootballDITR: Cole Donahue
DITR: Cole Donahue
August 9, 2021 Braden Erwin LA High School Football, Latest News 0
Cole Donahue from Rosepine High School in Rosepine, Louisiana
Cole Donahue is a Class of 2022 Tight End from Rosepine High School in Rosepine, Louisiana. As a do-it-all tight end, Donahue lined up off the tackle, in the slot, and as the outside receiver. His ball skills and yards after the catch ability make him a threat, and he makes cornerbacks look silly when he is lined up at receiver. His speed makes him a problem for linebackers, and he is a matchup nightmare. With that, he is an aggressive blocker, making large gaps in the running game for previous Diamond in the Rough, Grant Ducote. Donahue is 6'2" and 205lbs, and is a 2 time 1st team All-District 4-2A and a 2 time 1st team All-Vernon Parish Selection, all while maintaining a 3.2 GPA.
How long have you been playing football?
Cole: This is my 3rd year playing tackle football. I used to play flag football when my dad was stationed in Germany. He is an active First Sergeant in the U.S. Army, and when he was stationed here in Louisiana is when I started playing tackle.
How would you describe your role on the team?
C: I would say I'm a positive impact to the team. I like to hype my guys up and let my teammates shine. I'm not a star, I'm very much a team player, but when the team need it, I'm reliable and I get the job done.
How would your teammates describe you?
C: I'm a leader. We have a large senior class coming back, and we've all been taught really well by the older guys who graduated. I've stepped up as a leader and I've been trying to encourage the team, I've been breaking huddles, motivating, coaching as much as I can when our guys are struggling. We don't have a tight end after I leave, so I've been working with those guys who might end up replacing me, and working with young corners and receivers after practice to make sure the team is in the best spot.
What would you say is your biggest strength?
C: I mean, my size and my hands are by biggest strengths. With my size, I can get off corners easily and catch the ball in traffic. I've also been working on my speed, and I got my 40 time down to a 4.7, and I can burn linebackers over the top.
What do you need to improve on the most to make sure you're successful at the next level?
C: I went to a lot of camps, and footwork is bread and butter at the next level. I've been focusing on footwork and mechanics.
Who would you compare yourself to, in college or the NFL?
C: I would say Darren Waller is a good comparison, he's a versatile tight end that is a good blocker and a better pass catcher. He's also a little smaller for the position, like I am, but the tweener aspect of his game makes him so great.
What is your goal for this season with Rosepine?
C: I want to take us somewhere we've never been before, past the 2nd round in playoffs. I want us to carry on to 3rd or 4th round. Winning Districts would also be a huge deal, it is my goal to beat our rival high schools.
What are you going to bring to the college team that recruits you?
C: Honestly, the Darren Waller comparison sums it up pretty well. No matter where I go, I'm going to help the team. I'm going to put on size to be a true tight end, my blocking game is improving, and my catching game will help the whoever signs me.
Click here to check out Cole's Hudl.
all-parish
rosepine
tightend
vernon parish
Diamond In The Rough: Jalarrion Newson
Diamond in the Rough – Samuel Andrews
March 15, 2020 Leann Wills 0
DITR: Grant Ducote
August 6, 2021 Braden Erwin 0

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE in the project root for license information.

using UnityEngine;
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
It's "Golllllll!" for Lula against Western Push for Iran Sanctions
By Robert Naiman (Posted May 17, 2010)
Iran, TurkeyCommentary
If I were in Washington this morning, I would run down Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to Congress with a big Brazilian flag, as the young Brazilians run down the Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo during the "football" match, shouting "Golllllll!"
Because with the news this morning that Iran has agreed to ship most of its enriched uranium to Turkey, in a nuclear fuel swap deal reached in talks with Brazil and Turkey that could "deflate a U.S.-led push" for new sanctions against Iran, the President of Brazil has scored a goal against the neocons in the West who want to gin up confrontation with Iran towards a future military conflict.
Robert Naiman is National Coordinator of Just Foreign Policy. Naiman also edits the daily Just Foreign Policy news summary and blogs at the Web site of Just Foreign Policy. This article was first published in the Just Foreign Policy blog on 17 May 2010; it is reproduced here for non-profit educational purposes.
Thailand: In the Killing Zone
Postcard for Mother's Day from Gerardo Hernández
Also by Robert Naiman
U.S. Boat to Gaza Is a Quarter Jewish -- "Not Too Shabby!" by Robert Naiman June 08, 2011
At Long Last, House Debates and Votes on Libya War Powers by Robert Naiman June 03, 2011
Tell America: There's an Alternative to Domestic Budget Cuts by Robert Naiman April 14, 2011
WikiLeaks Honduras: State Dept. Busted on Support of Coup by Robert Naiman November 30, 2010


Edith Olivier was a minor British novelist who first novel was a tale of a neurotic spinster who is haunted by an imaginary child who becomes less and less imaginary. The Love-Child was published in 1927 when Olivier was 55. One of 10 children, Olivier was born in Wilton, Wiltshire. It was this country setting that influenced Olivier's most compelling works of non-fiction. For many years, Olivier served as the mayor of Wilton.
While in her 50's she met and befriended a then a 19-year-old Rex Whistler. She was a confidant and hostess and her house became a refuge for many artists and writers in the 1930's, including Siegfried Sassoon, Osbert Sitwell, and Cecil Beaton.
My favorite Edith Olivier book is Country Moods and Tenses. The book features a lovely Rex Whistler cover (as does Cecil Beaton's Ashcombe.) Olivier takes the five grammatical moods: Infinitive, Imperative, Indicative, Subjunctive and Conditional and uses them as divisions to revel the different aspects of country life. There is a beauty in her innate understanding of the sense of place in which she lives and lived her entire life. There is also a kind of disconnect as her circle of friends are very much products of the city but it is the soil of Wiltshire that is in her blood. The scholarly take of Edith Olivier is one of missed potential. Her early success at Oxford and her privileged upbringing and ambition led many to feel that her late start at writing and relative poverty were signs of failure. I disagree.
Love-Child was reprinted as a Virago Modern Classic with an introduction by Hermione Lee and is well worth a read.
Edith Olivier's book titles intrigue me.
or On the Way to Jane's Grandmother's?
I enjoyed the post - lovely photos. A minor piece of trivia that you might be interested in - Edith Olivier was distantly related to the actor Laurence Olivier. I think Edith's uncle Henry was Sir Laurence's grandfather.
Dear Lucindaville, I have been most interested to read this posting which you have complemented wonderfully by such handsome photographs. I recently wrote about the Whistler mural which decorates the Tate gallery's dining room in London and which, I am sure you are aware, was a collaboration between Whistler and Olivier. So, your posting of today gave a further insight into this rather ephemeral of C20th novelists.
I am so pleased to have discovered your weblog and have signed up as a Follower in order to keep in touch.
I'm just catching up----love, love, love this post.
I'm coming very late to this, but what a lovely post! Where did you get the photograph images from, I'd love to know?
The Love-Child is one of my favourite books, and although the other Oliviers haven't lived up to it (those that I've read, that is) I have now ordered Country Moods and Tenses on your recommendation!
awesome set of vintage photos ! do you have more sweetheart?


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text:
North Korea: What would nuclear attack on Seoul, Tokyo look like?
A DETAILED analysis has revealed what would happen if Kim Jong-un did the unthinkable and actually fired a nuclear weapon.
Debra Killalea@DebKillalea
news.com.auOctober 7, 201710:28am
Is war the only option we have with North Korea?
This is the potential blast area if a nuclear bomb hit Tokyo. Picture: Google Maps/38 NorthSource:Supplied
ONE single reliable warhead fired by North Korea could destroy densely populated cities, killing millions.
Those who aren't killed in a nuclear blast would be left with devastating injuries while their cities would be flattened with vital infrastructure destroyed.
A detailed analysis by 38 North, at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, has revealed what would happen if Kim Jong-un did the unthinkable and actually fired a nuclear weapon.
In A Hypothetical Nuclear Attack on Seoul and Tokyo: The Human Cost of War on the Korean Peninsula, Michael J Zagurek paints a terrifying picture of the damage it could cause.
Assuming North Korea has 25 operational nuclear weapons with warhead yield ranges from 15 to 250 kilotons timed for airburst at optimal altitude, Zagurek runs through seven different scenarios.
The potential blast area around Seoul would be significant. Picture: Google Maps/38 NorthSource:Supplied
The warhead yield ranges are based on current and possible future capabilities and the estimates of casualties were also based on the size of the city and population density.
In the most extreme estimate of a 250kt weapon being used, Seoul and Incheon which has a combined population of 24,105,000 would have 783,197 fatalities, and 2,778,009 injuries.
Tokyo and Yokohama with a combined population of 37,900,000 would have 697,665 fatalities and 2,474,627 injuries.
Maps showing four blast areas from a 250 kt airburst detonation also show how far the fallout and blast would reach.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ramped up his war of words with US President Donald Trump. Picture: KCNA/APSource:AP
North Korea has launched 98 ballistic missiles since 2011, including 19 this year.
However it remains unclear exactly how many warheads it possesses and how advanced they are.
Nuclear disarmament campaigner John Hallam said the analysis was fairly authoritative.
Mr Hallam speculated the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) had between 40 and 60 warheads.
He also said he believed it will be a while before North Korea hit its nuclear goals.
"I'm also inclined to think that it will be a while before they fit a 250Kt warhead to more than one or two rockets," he said.
"So 38 North analysis being based to a large extent on smaller warheads is not unreasonable — but the number of larger warheads will clearly rise over time."
Mr Hallam said it was reasonable to assume Seoul and Tokyo were obvious targets but the analysis didn't include an ability to strike US west coast cities.
North Korea has fired off 19 ballistic missiles this year, sparking global condemnation. Picture: KCNA/APSource:AP
"If that ability does exist, then it's also possible for them to strike Sydney, which doesn't mean they necessarily will — the highest priority target in Australia, indeed almost in the world — is Pine Gap, critical for US command and control," he said.
"If US cities become part of the equation which they will in a year or two if they are not now, then that body count will be higher."
He also pointed out the analysis didn't take into account US President Donald Trump's threat to wipe out the DPRK, which would increase the body count even further.
Mr Hallam said there would also be fallout which would also add to the huge casualty toll.
"It would be necessary to take into account the effects of fallout drifting in one direction all over South Korea, and in the other direction, into Manchuria," he said.
"Maybe once Seoul has been levelled, which can be done without use of nukes at all, a little fallout from the rubble bouncing in the DPRK is of lesser consequence, but it needs to be taken into account somehow."
Donald Trump, flanked by Defense Secretary James Mattis (left), and Chief of Staff John Kelly (right), meets with senior military leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFPSource:AFP
Meanwhile Mr Trump said his administration's goal was for North Korea to denuclearise.
"We cannot allow this dictatorship to threaten our nation or our allies with unimaginable loss of life," he said.
"We will do what we must do to prevent that from happening. And it will be done, if necessary, believe me."
The President had been discussing Iran and North Korea with US military leaders and posed for a photo with them before declaring the moment "the calm before the storm".
"You guys know what this represents?" Mr Trump said after journalists gathered in the White House state dining room to photograph him and First Lady Melania Trump with the uniformed military leaders and their spouses.
"Maybe it's the calm before the storm," he said.
When asked what storm, Mr Trump replied: "You'll find out."
- with Reuters
debra.killalea@news.com.au
King Tutankhamun's sarcophagus removed from tomb for first t...


The WSJ report said that a memo, prepared by Google's legal and policy staff and shared with senior executives, warned that disclosing the incident would likely trigger "immediate regulatory interest" and invite comparisons to Facebook's leak of user information to data firm Cambridge Analytica.
Per WSJ, a "software glitch" allowed user data to be potentially exposed to unwanted eyes from 2015 all the way through March 2018 when Google learned about it.
"The Data Protection Commission was not aware of this issue and we now need to better understand the details of the breach, including the nature, impact and risk to individuals and we will be seeking information on these issues from Google", the Irish regulator said.
As many as 438 applications had access to the unauthorized Google+ data, according to the Journal.
Impact: We're still months away from Google+'s ultimate demise, and even though Google nearly certainly will not change its decision, some users are still hoping they can change that via Change.org petition.
But Google+ and the company's other experiments with social media struggled to win over users because of complicated features and privacy mishaps. Google will also work with developers to give them time to adjust the required permissions for apps and services that will be affected by the changes.
Sources have told the Wall Street Journal that Google's social network, had a major vulnerability that allowed app developers to collect private data - name, date of birth, gender, relationship status, job title and employer as well as profile pictures - of users who are related to those who signed up for the app. For one thing, soon, only Android apps which the user has assigned as their default for use will be allowed to request certain permissions like making calls and sending SMS.
Several policies Google introduced on Monday are created to curb the data accessible to developers offering mobile apps on the Google Play store or add-on apps for sending and organising Gmail messages.
Earlier this year, Google started a project to review third-party developer access to Google accounts through the use of APIs. Google declined to comment beyond its blog post. Google CEO Sundar Pichai was allegedly briefed on the company's plan not to notify users about the bug. Given these challenges and the very low usage of the consumer version of Google+, we chose to sunset the consumer version of Google+.
Google will continue to operate Google+ as an enterprise product for companies.
To make the closure of the service as seamless as possible, Google says it'll implement a "wind-down" period over the next 10 months with the goal to have everyone off Google+ and officially pull the plug by the end of August 2019.
Thirty-five year old Darren Sproles figured prominently in the opener, but hasn't played since due to a hamstring injury. Wendell Smallwood , Corey Clement , and Josh Adams will compete for increased carries in Ajayi's absence.
Haley, the former governor of SC , was a critic of Trump's during the 2016 Republican primaries and endorsed his opponent Sen. The President said he plans to name a successor for the US's top diplomatic post at the United Nations in two to three weeks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday urged the Saudis to back up their claim that Mr Khashoggi left the consulate. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters about the subject.
Devo , John Prine , MC5, Roxy Music , Todd Rundgren , Rufus and Chaka Khan, and The Zombies make up the final list of nominees. Fans can also participate by going to rockhall.com and can cast votes for the artist they believe to be most deserving.
On Saturday, 17 people got into a limo to go to a brewery in Schoharie, New York , to celebrate Amy Steenburg's 30th birthday. Prestige agreed to take its fleet of cars off the road in the wake of the accident, according to a Monday statement.


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Gaynotes
Myra Wineera
Rangi Parker
Manu Elkington
The Gaynotes consisted of three Maori girls from Porirua, Wellington. They were a popular vocal trio, releasing one single on the Kiwi label in 1967. The single was "I Got Rhythm"/"Raindrops" and they were backed by the Soundells on this recording.
The following year, the group evolved into the Shevelles, after which Rangi Parker went solo.
Kiwi records released an EP of the Gaynotes in 1969 called "Sweet Sound Of Maori Song".


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SRC asks city to fund Amtrak return
Posted by Dale Liesch | Dec 18, 2019 | Bay Briefs | 0 |
Members of the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) have asked the city to fund the local match for a federal grant that would pay the majority of costs associated with bringing Amtrak service back to Mobile.
Amtrak and the SRC have said they can bring passenger rail service back to the Port City in two years in the form of twice-daily service from Mobile to New Orleans, if the City Council approves a maximum $3 million commitment in local funds over three years.
Dan Dealy, a consultant hired by SRC, said the local match would bolster a federal grant program designed to provide supplemental funding for the first three years of rail service. Dealy said the funds would pay for 80 percent of the operating costs the first year, 60 percent the second year and 40 percent the third year. The remainder of the operating costs would be covered by passenger-generated revenue, he said, like food and beverage sales. The commitment from the city would cover any outstanding costs.
The "conservative" plan Amtrak is using to calculate the needed funding, estimates that three coaches per train would be at least 40 percent full and those passengers would spend $18.33 each, Dealy said. With four trains per day, that equals out to 38,400 passengers per year.
The SRC is calculating that the city's commitment would break down to about $725,000 in the first year, $929,000 in the second year and $1.3 million in the last year of the grant. Dealy said the city would be required to participate in those first three years.
The SRC is calculating ticket prices for one-way fares to New Orleans would average between $28 and $35, he said, which means the $3 million estimated for the local contribution could be less.
"I don't think it'll be that much," SRC Chairman Wiley Blankenship said of the $3 million commitment.
SRC officials had previously reached out to Gov. Kay Ivey's office for the local match, but through this resolution are now seeking funding from the city.
"We're coming straight to the city," Blankenship said. "If the city really want this … they can fund this. If they want this to happen, the ball's in the court of the city and the mayor to do this."
Blankenship said the SRC would still possibly ask the state for help with infrastructure upgrades.
The council heard the resolution on first read on Tuesday, Dec. 17 and doesn't have another meeting scheduled until Dec. 31. Meanwhile the SRC is facing a Tuesday, Jan. 6 deadline to have a grant written in order to receive federal funds. Both Blankenship and Dealy said they anticipated a Dec. 31 up or down vote.
"I believe there were really good questions asked by councilors …," Blankenship said of the council's reaction to the resolution as presented. "I'm hoping they all are looking at this as a benefit for all Mobilians."
Blankenship said the trains will bring visitors and their money to Mobile.
"This will provide a transportation option for those who do not wish to take I-10 to New Orleans on the Mississippi coast," he said. "This checks the box in many areas of quality of life."
City acting Chief of Staff and Finance Executive Director Paul Wesch said the money for the commitment could be budgeted in 2023 and a previous station design plan could be altered slightly to move passenger loading and offloading to the Brookley Aeroplex.
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Dale Liesch
Dale Liesch has been a reporter at Lagniappe since February 2014. He covers all aspects of the city of Mobile, including the mayor, City Council, the Mobile Housing Board of Commissioners, GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico and others. He studied journalism at The University of Alabama and graduated in 2007. He came to Lagniappe, after several years in the newspaper industry. He achieved the position of news editor at The Alexander City Outlook before moving to Virginia and then subsequently moving back a few years later. He has a number of Alabama and Virginia Press association awards to his name. He grew up in the wilderness of Baldwin County, among several different varieties of animals including: dogs, cats, ducks, chickens, a horse and an angry goat. He now lives in the Oakleigh neighborhood of Mobile with his wife, Hillary, and daughter, Joan. The family currently has no goats, angry or otherwise, but is ruled by the whims of two very energetic dogs.
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Stage 9 turned into a far more exciting stage than expected, whilst still managing to disappoint slightly by the end. Most expected a quiet stage that would be won by a breakaway. However, Movistar and Saxo-Tinkoff were having none of it, managing to isolate Chris Froome on the first climb. Sadly though, they were not able to take advantage with seemingly neither Valverde or Contador having the energy to really attack Froome on the final climb.
Moving onto Stage 10 and it should be one for the sprinters. With just one small category 4 climb, it would be a major surprise were anyone to get dropped and it is tough to see the sprinters not competing for the stage win. Team Sky are likely to take it easy and let the sprint teams close down any breakaway in this stage.
The finish is very straightforward with no corners within the final 5km, it is unlikely to cause any problems. A strong tailwind should mean that the pace is very high, so having your lead-out train in the perfect position will be important. If delivered to the perfect position, any of the trio of leading contenders - Cavendish, Greipel and Kittel - are very tough to beat.
The breakaway should get away early, but it would be a real surprise should it stay away. One might imagine that Team Sky would be happy to let it stay away and for someone to take over the yellow jersey until the next mountain stages, but it is tough to see the likes of Lotto-Belisol, Argos-Shimano and Omega Pharma Quick-Step allowing that to happen. It would be no surprise to see the likes of Juan Antonio Flecha, Ramunas Navardauskas or Anthony Delaplace in that breakaway.
In the last sprint stage, Lotto-Belisol judged their delivery of Andre Greipel to perfection and the German hung on for the win. Arguably Argos-Shimano have the best lead-out train in the race right now, so if they can deliver Kittel to the ideal spot, he should win. And Mark Cavendish is the fastest man in the peloton, so if he gets ahead, he will be impossible to catch.
With the importance of position in this stage, it is tough to see a winner from outside this trio. The tailwind will help any sprinter that attempts to go from a longer distance, but it will require a massive effort to achieve this. Whether the likes of Sagan, Boasson Hagen, Kristoff, van Poppel or Lobato are capable of this is debatable.
As with the next couple of stages, it should be a showdown between Greipel, Kittel and Cavendish, with Sagan popping up occasionally to grab some points toward the green jersey that now looks nailed on to finish on the shoulders of the Slovak. I fancy Cavendish to win it with Greipel and Kittel pretty evenly matched for second, possibly with the merest of edges to the Lotto-Belisol man.


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Barthez, Fabien 1971-06-28 France Goalkeeper 05/06 24 0
Carrasso, Cédric 1981-12-30 France Goalkeeper 05/06 15 0
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Ribéry, Franck 1983-04-07 France Left Winger 05/06 35 6
Niang, Mamadou 1979-10-13 Senegal Centre Forward 05/06 28 10
Maoulida, Toifilou 1979-06-08 Mayotte Centre Forward 05/06 16 6
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Luyindula, Péguy 1979-05-25 France Secondary striker 05/06 2 0
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As larger club operators such as Crunch Fitness and Gold's Gym roll out mobile applications for their members, many smaller club owners may be contemplating whether to invest in one, too.
According to CNN Money, more than 34 million iPhones were sold in the first quarter of 2012. Google reports that 850,000 Androids are being activated every day, bringing the total number of active Android smartphones and tablets to more than 300 million. Cisco Systems predicted mobile traffic will double in 2012.
These facts are the reason small club owners must have a mobile presence, according to Joe Martello, a business development manager at Bottega Sol, Chicago. Mobile apps engage members and strengthen connections between the club and its customers, he says.
Despite the growth of the mobile market and the benefits that apps offer, some small club operators are hesitant to create their own app because of the cost, but the cost of creating a mobile app varies.
Martello says that the annual cost of ownership for a mobile app can be anywhere from $55,000 to more than $150,000, which includes the cost to create the app and maintain it.
"Mobile apps require a substantial investment from a club operator for the development phase, implementation and the ongoing support and maintenance," Martello says.
However, Andy Wigderson, vice president of sales and marketing for CSI Software, Houston, knows club operators who have created a mobile app with a budget of $5,000.
And Casey Conrad, president of Communications Consultants, knows operators who have created apps for just $500.
The cost will vary depending on the complexity of the mobile app. The more complex the mobile app needs to be, the more the club operator will spend on it, Conrad says. Maintenance often is the highest cost factor of a mobile app, she adds, citing software updates as a constant expense.
Martello says products such as MiGym, the mobile app platform created by Bottega Sol for the fitness industry, can be a more cost-effective way to create an app, ranging in cost from $99 to $299 per month. With MiGym, clubs brand their own app with features such as Book It, a facet of the app that allows members to book personal training and spa-related services.
Club owners also can set up their mobile apps to allow members to do things such as look up club hours, sign up for classes or use a calorie counter.
Although Wigderson says that club owners should get into the mobile market, he advises them to first create a mobile strategy. By doing so, they will have a clearer sense of their goals for the app.
Conrad says that the bottom line is to determine the purpose that a mobile app will serve. If the app is not going to retain members or generate revenue, it will not be worth its price.
Conrad notes that although mobile apps can have a high price tag, they also offer many ways to earn revenue. Clubs can do several things—from charging members to use the app to selling advertising— to help balance out the expenses of maintaining it.
Members primarily want a club's hours and contact information in an app, says David Buzo, the owner of MONA Group and the community marketing manager for the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, NC. Buzo adds that clubs should create two separate apps: one for members and one for nonmembers.
The nonmember app can offer a guest pass that allows prospects to try out the club. The member app can offer a discount that will appear as a message on the members' phones, prompting them to visit the gym.
If a club operator is not ready for the expense of mobile apps for members and nonmembers, an alternative is to create a mobile website, Buzo says. A good mobile website will be easy to use and bookmark, creating a similar Web presence as an app but without as high of a price tag.
Regardless of whether a club owner decides to create a mobile app or stick with a mobile-friendly website, Buzo says going mobile is necessary for a fitness club of any size.


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Ash Carter: All Military Occupations Open To Women
Defense Secretary Ash Carter announces his Women in Service Review during a press brief at the Pentagon, Dec. 3, 2015.
The following is a release from Cheryl Pellerin, DoD News:
Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that beginning in January, all military occupations and positions will be open to women, without exception.
RELATED STORY: Lisa Jaster Becomes Third Female To Graduate From Ranger School
For the first time in U.S. military history, as long as they qualify and meet specific standards, the secretary said women will be able to contribute to the Defense Department mission with no barriers at all in their way.
"They'll be allowed to drive tanks, fire mortars and lead infantry Soldiers into combat," Carter added. "They'll be able to serve as Army Rangers and Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Marine Corps infantry, Air Force parajumpers, and everything else that was previously open only to men."
HARNESSING WOMEN'S SKILLS
Even more importantly, he said, the military services will be better able to harness the skills and perspectives that talented women have to offer.
Despite real progress in recent decades and lately, opening more than 111,000 positions to women across the services, Carter said that about 10 percent of military positions – nearly 220,000 total – have remained closed to women.
These included infantry, armor, reconnaissance, and some special operations units, the secretary said.
Over the past three years, he added, senior civilian and military leaders across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Special Operations Command, or SOCOM, have studied the integration of women into these positions.
"Last month I received their recommendations [and] the data, studies and surveys on which they were based regarding whether any of those remaining positions warrant a continued exemption from being opened to women," Carter said, noting that the Army, Navy, Air Force and SOCOM said none of the positions warranted exemptions.
The Marine Corps asked for a partial exemption in areas that included infantry, machine gunners, fire support reconnaissance and others, he added, "[but] we are a joint force and I have decided to make a decision which applies to the entire force."
Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the Marine Corps commandant at the time, and Carter said that he and Dunford have discussed the issue many times.
"I just met with him and the other chiefs and service secretaries today, and he will be a full part of implementation," Carter added, noting that he believes the issues raised by the Marine Corps can and will be addressed in implementation.
DEPARTMENTAL MEMORANDUM
In a memorandum to the secretaries of all military departments and others, Carter directed the military services to open all military occupational specialties to women 30 days from today – a waiting period required by law – and by that date to provide updated implementation plans for integrating women into the positions now open to them.
Carter said Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work and Air Force Gen. Paul Selva, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will oversee the decision's short-term implementation, ensure there are no unintended consequences to the joint force, and periodically update Carter and Dunford.
Women will be fully integrated into combat roles deliberately and methodically, the secretary said, using seven guidelines.
SEVEN GUIDELINES
Implementation will be pursued with the objective of improved force effectiveness.
Leaders must assign tasks and jobs throughout the force based on ability, not gender.
Equal opportunity likely will not mean equal participation by men and women in all specialties, and there will be no quotas.
Studies conducted by the services and SOCOM indicate that on average there are physical and other differences between men and women, and implementation will take this into account.
The department will address the fact that some surveys suggest that some Service members, men and women, will perceive that integration could damage combat effectiveness.
Particularly in the specialties that are newly open to women, survey data and the judgment of service leaders indicate that the performance of small teams is important.
The United States and some of its closest friends and allies are committed to having militaries that include men and women, but not all nations share this perspective.
INTEGRATING WOMEN INTO ALL JOBS
Implementation won't happen overnight, Carter said.
"Fully integrating women into all military positions will make the U.S. armed forces better and stronger, but there will be problems to fix and challenges to overcome," he said. "We shouldn't diminish that."
The military has long prided itself on being a meritocracy, where those who serve are judged only on what they have to offer to help defend the country, Carter said.
"That's why we have the finest fighting force the world has ever known," he added, "and it's one other way we will strive to ensure that the force of the future remains so, long into the future."