Connecting People has always been one of my favorite slogans. So when I got a job at Nokia, first as contractor and a year later as full time employee, those two words became part of my daily practice, part of my life. As an extreme extrovert, the first time I saw Nokia San Diego campus, aka The Club Med, I felt like a kid in a candy store: tons of phones (sorry, I should say devices!) to play with and to… communicate with the world, and for free! Tons of smart people to share experiences with, not just coffee time chat or projects. Plenty of activities, volunteer opportunities, friendships to be formed, leadership to be admired, trails to be hiked, processes to be learned. The connections forged during those years (2005 to 2014) are still strong.
The Connecting People was not just a clever slogan, it materialized in building the language and culture gaps across the globe. All these years I was a proud member of the localization team, that big entity that was difficult to catalogue, to classify, to put in a box in an engineering oriented company. We were the rara avis, the funny folks, the 'ones who translate'. It took so much effort and energy and passion for all of us in localization to evangelize how important was to reach the globe. The world does not speak only English and Finnish, and Nokia understood it very well.
Localization at Nokia was big, strong and bold like the white and blue colors of our logo. We all feel so proud of our contribution to the world via technology and making our devices speak the user's language. A user was not a gray, nebulous entity, it was a person, we catered them. I loved how Nokia had people doing so much research about a multitude of demographics, creating all personas you can imagine and shaping products that catered their needs. People being able to say "I love you", "I will be late for dinner" or "see you never" in languages I never heard of before, like Marathi, Kannada, Gujarati…even in my own native language Catalan! I am glad I had the opportunity to live, enjoy, suffer and learn from all these platforms, from CDMA days, to S40, from Symbian to the Lumia days with Microsoft.
From the localization and internationalization perspective, I have to still see a company that invests so much in finding out so many different and new ways to use our phones (first world issues versus emerging market real problems). I remember reading the studies of our researches in African villages where our most humble devices were used as the 'public' phone for a whole community and where people used the phone to transfer cash to nomadic communities. All that fascinating side of Nokia made Nokia a very special company. It was not all about hardware, software, plastics, metal, glass, prototypes… but also about people and how to connect them in their own language in their own context.
"Work smarter, not harder", Jari Niemela would say in every all-hands meeting. I would retain that phrase in my memory forever. Thanks for all these years of continuous learning!
Elana: N95 saves the day!


Thanksgiving is a great time to share the things you love with friends and family. Why not share a little of your love of quilting for all to enjoy! Take a little of your quilt block magic and it apply it in ways you may not have thought of before. Here you can see we cut pie crust to turn our plain pumpkin pie into a patchwork pumpkin pie – definitely yummier! Of course, this pie crust idea can be applied to any type of pie.
Using quilting designs, like feathers, to swirl the top of a cheesecake and bake. A chocolate swirl or cranberry cheesecake would be especially delicious!
Bring two classics together by arranging mashed potatoes and mashed sweet potatoes in a 9-Patch in a serving dish.
Using your favorite block design, make a stencil from freezer paper, and lay it over a green bean casserole before baking. Sprinkle panko breadcrumbs or crumbled up crispy fried onions, remove the paper, and bake for a patchwork inspired dish.
Cut out cookies in basic quilt shapes and decorate into units. Arrange the cookies to make elaborate quilt blocks.
Bake the dinner rolls in triangle shapes.
If you cook up festive quilting food for your Thanksgiving feast be sure to share pictures with us on our Facebook Group, Project Parade!
I love it! Quilty goodness & food – great combination.
Would like to wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving. Being a German quilter in Malaysia I sadly have not found any quilty friends yet and watching the weekly chat gives me a bit of being a friend feeling. Thank you very, very much for this. I even did a quilt with your generous free Halloween apple pattern but it's not quilted yet.
Thank you again and enjoy the time with family and friends.


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Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski to participate in canonization celebration
Posted by Emily Opilo at 11:58:34 AM on April 23, 2014
Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski will be in New York City this weekend to participate in a canonization celebration for Popes John XXIII and john Paul II at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
The event, which will be held in conjunction with a similar ceremony in Vatican City earlier on Sunday, will include musical performances and readings in Italian, Polish and English to reflect the native languages of the two popes.
Pawlowski was invited by Mateusz Stasie, Deputy Consul General of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York to read the English translation of several pieces written by the two popes.
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Categories: Allentown, Government and politics, Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Religion
Comment | Linking Blogs | Digg It
Posted by Nicole Radzievich at 06:08:04 AM on December 4, 2012
For decades, the Citizens Christmas City Committee has raised nearly $20,000 each years to put the lights on for the holiday season in Christmas.
Categories: Bethlehem area, Festivals, Religion, Upcoming events
The Walking of the Cross
Posted by Account Deleted at 06:51:52 PM on April 4, 2012
An evangelical church in Allentown is hosting a three-hour recreation of Christ's walk with the cross on Saturday, the day before Easter.
Officials at Resurrected Life Community Church said the 2-1/2 mile walk from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. will bring the message of the cross to the city in a concrete and immediate way.
"The church of Jesus Christ has no greater burden and no greater blessing than sharing the message of the cross," Pastor Gregory Edwards said. "We are called by Christ to bear our crosses and spread the good news of His love. The "Walking of the Cross" is one of our many symbolic acts which unashamedly points others to somebody who can change anybody - Jesus."
Resurrected Life moved into the old St. Michael's Lutheran Church at at 9th and Turner Streets almost two years ago and serves some of Allentown's poorest neighborhoods.
Edward's colleague, evangelist Linda Everest Lewis, organized similar events on the Las Vegas Strip when when she ministered in that city.
"Bringing the message of the cross with such vivid reality revives hearts and souls in the community as churches unite with singing, prayer and praise through the streets of the inner city," she said. "The message of the cross is for everyone; for all denominations, cultures and ethnic backgrounds, and is the message that Jesus already paid the price for our sin."
Lewis said Allentown's Union Baptist Church will participate and nearly two dozen other churches have been invited to take part.
The procession will begin at 9th and Turner streets and head south to Linden Street, then west on Linden to 11th Street and south to Hamilton Street.
It will proceed east on Hamilton to 6th Street, then north on 6th to Linden, east to 7th Street, then north on 7th to Tilghman Street.
The procession will go west on Tilghman to 9th Street, then south on 9th to Turner, ending where it began.
Resurrected Life describes itself as a "non-denominational, multi-cultural and socio-economically diverse congregation that is pro-active in the city of Allentown and the Lehigh Valley community...with a vision to resurrect families who have experienced spiritual, emotional and economic decay by sharing the Gospel in a way that calls all to love and live the Christ life."
For more information please email evangelism@rlccministries.org or call 484-221-8179.
Categories: Allentown, Lehigh County, Religion
Bishops call for special day of prayer for liberty
Posted by Account Deleted at 02:44:29 PM on March 14, 2012
Pennsylvania's Catholic bishops are calling on the faithful to observe a day of prayer, fasting and abstinence for religious liberty, saying the cherished right is under assault by the federal government.
In a joint letter, the 10 Latin and Eastern Rite bishops, including Allentown Bishop John Barres (pictured left), said Catholics should offer their sacrifices on March 30 "for the cause of religious liberty, that the Church may be granted the basic right to practice what she preaches."
Categories: Allentown, Bethlehem area, Easton area, Government and politics, Religion
Allentown honors its drum majors
Posted by Scott Kraus at 11:29:43 AM on January 17, 2012
Martin Luther King Jr. was famous for banging the drum for civil rights.
It's an image that comes from a 1968 sermon he gave in which he said: "If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter."
You may have read about how the quote was controversially shortened, and is now being fixed at the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in Washington D.C.
Allentown released its own list of drum majors Tuesday: Seniors who devoted more than 8,300 hours of volunteer service to the city through the AARP's SERV Allentown program. See their names below:
Categories: Allentown, Arts and entertainment, Community giving, Holiday fun, Local history, Religion
Hanover Township, Northampton County, welcomes Am Haskalah
Posted by Nicole Radzievich at 03:15:28 PM on May 17, 2011
Congregation Am Haskalah, which is affiliated with the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, celebrated Sunday its move from Allentown to Hanover Township, Northampton County.
The congregation is now sharing space with Congregation Brith Sholom at 1190 Macada Road in an effort to reduce costs and increase cooperation with the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community, according to a statement released this week.
About 150 people attended the opening, including Councilwoman Karen Dolan.
The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation is the smallest of four main denominations of Jewish in the country and the only one in the Lehigh Valley.
The following is a contributed photograph of Dolan signing the ceremonial scroll for the Congregation. Rabba Nehama Benmosche, Rabbi of Am Haskalah, is looking on:
Categories: Bethlehem area, Religion
Scrooge (the reformed one) would be proud
Posted by Account Deleted at 04:52:57 PM on December 6, 2010
A while back I wrote a column about a Christian theater troupe called Players of the Stage, which was founded a decade ago to serve homeschooled children in the Lehigh Valley.
I'm happy to report its production of "A Christmas Carol" -- consisting of four shows over three days at Living Hope Presbyterian Church in Lower Macungie -- raised more than $10,000 in donations for the Allentown Rescue Mission.
My wife and I took our girls to the Thursday evening production. It was great fun and a good cause.
Categories: Arts and entertainment, Education, Holiday fun, Religion
Tea Party: Keep the Constitution in your back pocket kids
Posted by Scott Kraus at 02:10:06 PM on September 10, 2010
Say what you will about the Tea Party movement, its members really love the U.S. Constitution.
In fact, you could say they revere it. The politically conservative movement is far from monolithic but if there is one thing its members all agree on it's that people need to learn more about their nation's founding documents.
So, in honor of Constitution week, which starts Sept. 17, The Lehigh Valley Project 9/12 Tea Party group has donated 600 pocket Constitution/Declaration of Independence booklets to the Saucon Valley School District, which is the home school district of group leader Kim Schmidtner (pictured at left in the yellow t-shirt with obligatory Don't Tread on Me snake.)
"Education is the primary way we are achieving our mission of restoring appreciation for, and the practice of, the American principles of liberty, equal opportunity, and the recognition of the unalienable God-given individual rights that are so eloquently articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution," said Schmidtner, Organizer of the Lehigh Valley Project 9/12 Tea Party Group. "The education of future generations of Americans in these principles is critical to the preservation of our nation."
The group also donated two copies of "The 5,000-Year Leap," by Cleon Skousen, a favorite of conservative radio-talker and National Mall rally organizer Glenn Beck. The Tea Party activists describe the book as a chronicle of how the founding fathers used 28 fundamental beliefs to create a society based on morality, faith and ethics.
Liberal critics call the book a "heavily illustrated and factually challenged attempt to explain American history through an unspoken lens of Mormon theology."
Two very different opinions. But hey, isn't it great to live in a country where the Constitution protects both sides' right to express them.
Categories: Bethlehem area, Community giving, Education, Government and politics, Northampton County, Religion, Saucon Valley
Is there room for a swingers' club in Emmaus?
Posted by Patrick Lester at 06:00:00 AM on June 14, 2010
A proposed social club in Emmaus described by some locals as a "swingers' club" or "sex club" is generating quite a buzz in Emmaus. See the recent story about it here.
Here's your chance to chime in on the debate that is likely to heat up as June 24 approaches. That's the night the borough's zoning hearing board is scheduled to hear applicant David Mayi Jr.'s request to open the Vault Social Club at 302 Main Street.
Categories: Allentown, East Penn, Lehigh County, Religion
40 knitters + 40 days = 250 hats, scarves and mittens
Posted by Kathy Reinhard at 11:47:20 AM on December 7, 2009
Forty members of First Presbyterian Church of Allentown got out their needles and spent 40 days knitting.
The result: They produced more than 250 hats, scarves and mittens just in time for winter's chill.
The colorful hats, scarves and mittens will be delivered to Roosevelt Elementary School and the Allentown Ecumenical Soup Kitchen.
The knitters began their project on Oct. 24 as the church came together to celebrate the installation of its new pastor, the Rev. Tony Sundermeier.
They dubbed the project, Sharing the Warmth, and used yarn donated from a Got Yarn? campaign.
The group showed off its efforts by hanging the hats in a church hallway for the congregation to see.
First Presbyterian's mission committee has partnered with Roosevelt in the past. Members provide reading partners for the school's monthly Book Blast reading program, volunteer at school fairs and collect school supplies and personal care items for students.
Categories: Allentown, Community giving, Education, Religion
POLL: Do churches belong in municipal buildings?
Posted by Christopher Baxter at 09:35:51 AM on October 29, 2009
The HOPE Wesleyan Church and the Forks Township Community Center agreed in August to a one-year rental arrangement for the gymnasium and several rooms on Sundays, 7 a.m. to noon. But now, many township officials who were unaware of the deal say it violates the separation of church and state.
Read today's story.
The township will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at the municipal building to receive advice from their solicitor. But before residents turn out to the meeting, we want to hear from you about whether churches should be allowed to take up service and office space in a municipal building.
Should churches be allowed to hold services and have offices in municipal buildings?(surveys)
Comments:11
Categories: Easton area, Religion, Sports and games
Who determines what's news, Part 2
Posted by Brian Callaway at 02:59:29 PM on September 16, 2009
For what it's worth, I'm not the one responsible for the latest bit of Jon Gosselin minutiae today.
I was responsible for the hub-bub last week, though, then got a little snippy about all the flak we were catching for it online and tried to point people toward a better story.
So I figured since the Octodad is monopolizing our hits again, I'd at least try to point folks to a better story again. Today's offering: Dan Sheehan's column about a friendship forged on 9/11.
Go ahead, read it. Not to heap too much praise on a co-worker, but if that story doesn't move you, you might want to call a cardiologist to discuss your missing heart...
Categories: East Penn, Lehigh County, Religion
Central Moravian Church pastors to be honored Sunday
Posted by Nicole Radzievich at 12:03:32 PM on August 13, 2009
Between the two of them Central Moravian Church senior pastors Rev. Dr. Douglas W. Caldwell and Rev. Carol Reifinger have 65 years of service at Central Moravian Church.
They'll be honored in a special communion service at 10 a.m. Sunday at the main sanctuary in historic Bethlehem. A traditional lovefeast on the lawn will follow.
The celebration marks the 40th anniversary of Rev. Caldwell's ordination as a Moravian Minister and the 25 years Rev. Reifinger's service to the church, which now numbers 1,000 members.
The communion service also marks the spiritual renewal of Moravian Church. Church historians trace its histor to Aug. 13, 1727, at a Holy Communion service in a parish near the village of Herrnhut (Saxony Germany. Moravians had taken refuge there from the persecution in Moravia and Bohemia, which is now the Czech Republic
Board of Trustees President Ned Spitzig and vice chairwoman of the Board of Elders Beth Boyer have invited members to celebrate the milestone by contributing money in two funds in Caldwell's and Reifinger's honor More than $10,000 has been collected already to support the Christinan Spring Spiritual Retreat Center in Bethlehem Township near Route 191 and Route 22. Another $8,500 has been donated to a Moravian Ministry in Nepal.
Categories: Bethlehem area, Community giving, Northampton County, Religion
Blog Chronicles Moravian Students' Archaeological Dig in Israel
Posted by Marion Callahan at 03:41:41 PM on August 10, 2009
Israeli President Shimon Peres visited professors and students from Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary who are working at Ramat Rachel, a excavation site between ancient Jerusalem and Bethlehem in Israel.
The Aug. 7 visit is captured in photos on http://houndsintheground.wordpress.com/, the blog chronicling the adventures of 13 College and Seminary students who are on the archaeological dig that is being led by Moravian's Deborah Appler, associate professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, and Jason Radine, assistant professor of religion, Moravian College. The group trip began on July 18 and will continue until August 15.
Categories: Bethlehem area, Education, Religion
The priests on the bus
Posted by The Morning Call at 01:19:50 AM on July 31, 2009
While I've been busy with my computer out here in the cathedral's vestibule, Allentown's new bishop has been busy, too -- he's been posing for non-stop snapshots with his very proud family.
Which is just fine, because Bishop Barres doesn't really have anyplace else to be. Well, he's headed to a family reception nearby -- but in a very real sense, whenever he's in this church, he's already home. The cathedral, his seat, is now his official, spiritual home base.
So, where does that leave all the rest of the priests in the diocese? It leaves them taking the bus -- or, more precisely, the trolley.
For giant events here at the cathedral, much of the congregation is left to park over at the Allentown Fairgrounds, just a few blocks away. And for this event, the diocese had chartered trolleys -- the same ones I've seen at Musikfest in past years and elsewhere around the Lehigh Valley -- to carry the priests back and forth from their cars to the cathedral. (I snapped this photo of the priests on the trolley with me on the way over).
And with those clergy and nearly everyone else back to their cars by now, the people in charge of the cathedral are about to lock up the doors and close down for the night -- which is my cue to leave. Thanks very much for sticking with themorningcall.com's live coverage of the ordination of Bishop John Barres!
Categories: Religion
Photo of Ceremony
UPDATE: Additional note from blogger Michael Duck:
Remember what I wrote about requiring the new bishop to demonstrate subservience? Well, here's another example.
This requirement that the bishop-elect prostrate himself on the floor isn't unique to the ordination of Catholic bishops -- I've seen it in the ordination of an Episcopal priest, for example.
In this photo, Barres is lying facedown on the floor in the direction of the altar and the crucifix (which is out of frame here). First, this physically demonstrates the new bishop's total subservience before God and the will of God.
Secondarily, requiring the new bishop to assume this pose in public, in his full vestments, has an obvious element of humility in it. It's pretty hard to be prideful or even dignified in that position; it's a reminder that even the bishop, the one who leads the whole diocese, is still himself just a servant -- of God, and of God's people.
The service has ended; Allentown has a new bishop
The Mass ordaining new Bishop Barres ended about 15 minutes ago, and nearly all the priests and other guests have filed out of the cathedral -- many of them stopping on the way to ask ushers and other officials if they could grab some extra programs from the Mass for their friends, family and parishioners back home.
I'll be here at the cathedral just a bit longer, capturing the scene as everything's wrapped up.
Now it's his turn
Following Communion, new Bishop Barres took a minute to walk throughout the cathedral offering blessings to everyone here in the congregation -- the priests who now must follow his direction, his brother bishops, his family and his friends. Showing true magnanimity, he even paused to bless the reporters and photographers over here in this corner of the sanctuary.
Then he took to the pulpit to deliver his first remarks as bishop, which began with notes of gratitude to his family and mentors and brother priests, and grew into an exhortation for his new flock (which, notably, includes hundreds of priests -- who will have to carry his message to hundreds of thousands of local Catholics).
"Last October, ... Pope Benedict encouraged every Catholic around the world to study and pray the sacred scriptures daily," Barres said. "He told us that if each of us commits deeply to the word of God, there will be a new springtime of evangilization.
"Now is the time for that springtime," Barres declared. "Now is the time for evangilization -- using every means of modern technology at our disposal to spread the Gospel."
After referencing the example of Abraham Lincoln -- one of his heroes, who was "approachable and lvoed to understand the daily concerns and trials of the average American ... magnamimous and generous in his forgiveness and his pursuit of the common good" -- Barres went on to set an ambitious agenda while acknowledging many of the challenges the diocese faces.
Echoing Lincoln's words, he said the diocese must commit to "binding up the wounds of the Church and the world," including the wounds of "the wounds of the poor and those suffering from the financial crisis ... the alienated and inactive Catholic, the unborn and the elderly, the victims of clergy sexual abuse and all forms of abuse."
He said the diocese needs to "treasure and appreciate the history and ethnic faith of our ancestors," a key point following the recent closures of so many historically ethnic churches in the Diocese. He pointed to the "realities that all institutions face with an economy in crisis and changing demographics," a reference to the struggles many churches now face in staying afloat financially.
Feeding the many
Posted by The Morning Call at 11:55:28 PM on July 30, 2009
The very first task John O. Barres faced as a newly ordained successor to the Apostles, the fourth-ever Bishop of Allentown, was to lead a ritual he's been performing for years -- one that's familiar to Catholics all over the world: the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The symbolism is hard to miss: It emphasized Communion's importance to the Church and the entire diocese, and it put the newly ordained in the position of ministering to and serving his new flock right from the start.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist at this Mass wasn't fundamentally different from those experienced by Catholics in churches across the world each Sunday -- though there's something unique about hearing the Eucharistic Prayer spoken and chanted, in unison, by well over a hundred priests and bishops.
There were also some grace notes in the Eucharistic service, acknowledging its importance as part of Barres' first Mass as bishop. For example: Before the Eucharistic Prayer, the gifts of bread and wine to be used in the sacrament were brought forward and presented to Barres by a small group of students representing the diocese's Catholic schools.
Communion has nearly ended. Soon, Barres will take to the pulpit himself for his first remarks as bishop.
The symbols in the sacrament
If you've been watching the live video feed of this afternoon's ordination, you probably have some questions about what exactly was going on. Why, for example, did they hold a big, open book over Barres' head like a tent? What's that stuff they poured on his head? And what's up with that staff and hat they gave him at the end?
The program here at the cathedral has some answers on how to decode those symbols. I'll take them in the order in which they happened during the ritual:
While Rigali was speaking the "essential words for the conferral of the sacrament" (put another way, the words that had be spoken by a bishop to consecrate Barres as a bishop), a book of the Gospels was held over Barres' head -- open, and with its pages facing down, so that it formed a little roof above him. The program says that was a "sign of the power of God's word and of the new Bishop's responsibility to preach the Good News." The book itself was given to Barres shortly thereafter.
Barres then leaned forward, towards the seated Rigali, so that Rigali could pour olive oil on his head. The anointing with oil, which has been blessed by a bishop at an earlier service, is an element of Baptism, Confirmation, Annointing of the Sick (formerly known as "Last Rites") as well as Holy Orders. As the Catholic Encyclopedia notes, anointing with oil was also a part of many rituals described in the Old Testament, including the coronation of kings and the consecration of high priests.
Then Barres received what are known as "the signs of his office":
A ring, "symboliz[ing] his fidelity to Christ and his espousal to the Church" (comparable to the rings exchanged by a husband and wife in the sacrament of marriage)
The pastoral staff, also known as a "crosier," "a sign of his ministry as a spiritual shepherd."
The miter, the distinctive bishop's hat. The program describes it as signifying "the bishop's resolve to pursue holiness."
And then, while everyone else stood up in a rousing standing ovation to celebrate Barres' new status as bishop, the man sat down in the big marble chair where Rigali had been sitting. This was significant, too: the word "cathedral" is derived from the Latin word for "chair"; the cathedral is literally the "seat of the bishop." So, by taking a seat on the throne here, Barres was claiming his authority as the bishop of the Diocese of Allentown.
The rite of ordination
Near the start of the rite that is to consecrate Barres as a new bishop, he had some key questions to answer.
In a part of the liturgy known as the "Promise of the Elect," Rigali questioned him "about his resolve to uphold the faith and to fulfill the responsibilities of the Episcopal ministry," as the program for the Mass explains. The scripted series of questions includes queries such as:
"Do you resolve by the grace of the holy Spirit to discharge until death the office entrusted to us by the Apostles, which we are about to pass on to you by the laying on of our hands?"
"Do you resolve, for the sake of the Lord's name, to be welcoming and merciful to the poor, to strangers, and to all who are in need?"
"Do you resolve to pray without ceasing to almighty God for the holy people and to carry out the office of high priest without reproach?"
And so on. Barres, who stood alone in front of the cathedral's altar facing Rigali during the questioning, answered each query with a confident "I do."
After the "Littany of Supplication" -- a long, sung prayer which the congregation appeals to a list of saints and holy people to pray for the church and its members --came what the program describes as "the essential rite of the Sacrament of Holy Orders": the laying on of hands.
As Barres kneeled before the altar, the long line of his brother bishops passed by him and, one by one, pressed their hands on his head. It's a literal, tactile representation of how Barres is now -- in the Catholic Church's view -- one of the personal successors of the Apostles.
Becoming a bishop
Under Roman Catholic church teaching, becoming a bishop is to take on a role that's literally historic in its proportions. Bishops are regarded as the successors of the original Apostles -- the dozen followers of Jesus that he, according to the Gospels, selected to help carry out his ministry; the Apostles were also the ones anointed by the Holy Spirit (as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles) to continue Jesus' work after his life on earth. The Cathoilc church -- like several other Christian churches -- traces its spiritual authority back through an unbroken line of bishops back to those first disciples.
This is not a small deal, naturally. And the church's rite of ordination, with its length and compexity, reflects the importance the church recognizes in the office.
"The Second Vatican Council has a very beautiful and incisive passage that shows the link that exists between Christ and his bishops," Cardinal Rigali said during his homily. "It says simply but clearly, 'In the bishops, whom the priests assist, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Supreme High Priest, is present in the midst of those who believe.'
"In other words, dear John," Rigali continued, "you are being ordained to make present in this local church the Lord Jesus himself. You are to do this through the holy word of God and through the Sacraments of the Church, and also through the love and kindness that will emanate from your sacred person, now to be sacramentally transformed to the highest level of the priesthood of Jesus Christ."
That's right -- "sacramentally tranformed." Ordination (or "Holy Orders") is one of the Church's seven sacraments -- and just like baptism and the Eucharist (communion), this sacrament involves a kind of transformation.
The actual rite of ordination is filled with significant symbols and actions by the bishop-elect and the seated bishops, archbishops and cardinals who will administer the sacrament. That part of the rite is about to begin; I'll decode them here on the blog as they go forward.
A welcome for the new bishop
This afternoon's ordination Mass has fundamentally the same structure as any other Catholic Mass, but woven throughout the more familiar elements of the liturgy are elements unique to this celebration.
Following the opening hymn and procession but before moving on to the more familiar parts of the Mass, Bishop Emeritus Edward Cullen offered his welcome to Bishop-elect Barres, as well as "you who are here in the cathedral, as well as the thousands who are with us in spirit via the television and Internet."
Cullen saluted Barres, saying, "Bishop Barres' gifts and strengths are many, pre-eminent among them is a heart that deeply loves our triune God, treasures our Catholic faith and desires only to serve selflessly those entrusted to his spiritual care."
Cullen emphasized the warmth of diocese's welcome to Barres, but offered that this must be a time of apprehensiveness for the new bishop amidst all the excitement and warm feelings. "One can be brought to the brink of being overwhelmed by the awesome responsibilities you are about to receive through ordination to the Episcopacy as well as that of holding the office of Diocesan bishop," Cullen said -- possibly speaking from experience.
"And so," he continued, "to help you receive in a relaxed state of mind and with pece of soul the spiritual blessings which God will bestow upon you in this liturgy, I now invite everyone here to stand and re-affirm our delight in having you as our bishop, the Bishop of Allentown."
The congregation here stood and gave Barres a lengthy standing ovation.
Cullen's remarks were followed by those of Cardinal Pietro Sambi, the personal representative of Pope Benedict XVI to the Catholic church in the United States. In addition to his own remarks about Barres and his impending ministry, he also read the official letter from the pope naming Barres as the new bishop. The letter itself was then shown to a portion of the assembled clergy.
The service then moved on to rites that are common to typical Sunday Masses -- the sung penitential rite ("Lord have mercy ..."), the Gloria ("Glory to God in the highest ..."), and the readings from scripture.
The first reading, from the start the 61st chapter of Isaiah, was read in Spanish by Sara de la Rosa. The second and third readings -- from the Second Letter to Timothy and the Gospel of John, respectively -- are to be read in English.
Bishop's ordination: The service begins
Just after 2:15 p.m., the organ rang out with the march-like hymn "Go Up to the Altar of God," the smell of incense washed across the sanctuary, and a procession of priests from across the diocese began pouring into the cathedral.
The cathedral's central aisle was lined with members of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic social order, all with their full ceremonial garb of capes, swords and plumed hats. (I snapped this photo of a few Knights, as well as some white-robed Altar servers, just before the procession began.)
The single largest group of people here is easily the clergy, who took at least 20 minutes to file into the church — requiring the choir to sing through the six-verse hymn more than a few times. The priests and deacons fill up at least half of the pews, but there are also a few dozen members of Bishop-elect Barres' family and friends, as well as a few local officials.
Cardinal Justin Rigali, of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will say this afternoon's Mass. He, Barres and Allentown Biship Emeritus Edward Cullen entered near the end of the procession, accompanied by roughly a dozen other bishops and cardinals from other nearby dioceses and archdioceses.
The cathedral is buzzing
Preparations are well underway here at Allentown's Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, where in within the next few hours Monsignor John Barres will be ordained and installed as the new bishop of the Diocese of Allentown.
Musicians in the choir loft — an ensemble that includes brass, woodwinds, strings, an organ and a choir — are playing joyful, triumphant music as the congregation gathers in the Cathedral. Priests, members of religious orders and others from across the diocese (Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan just walked past me, for example) are assembling for the three-hour service, which is to begin momentarily.
The service is to open with a procession of priests, followed by a Mass that's to begin around 2:30 p.m. I'll be updating soon with more details, but in the meantime make sure you didn't miss my colleague Daniel Patrick Sheehan's story about Barres' vespers service from last night, which included his public Oath of Fidelity to the Catholic Church.
LIVE BLOG: The Installation of John O. Barres
Join The Morning Call and the Queen City Daily blog this afternoon beginning at 2 p.m. for live coverage of the installation and ordination of The Most Reverend John O. Barres as the fourth bishop of Allentown.
Morning Call reporters Daniel Patrick Sheehan and Michael Duck will be reporting from the event, with Mike blogging live here during this afternoon's ceremony.
You can also watch the event live at themorningcall.com beginning at 2 p.m., and stick with The Morning call for live story updates and photos throughout the day as well.
Categories: Allentown, Religion, Science, tech and the Web
Goodbye, Easton Catholic
Posted by The Morning Call at 09:59:04 PM on June 5, 2009
As I write this, the doors have already closed on Easton Catholic School's final day.
The love for this school came through powerfully in all the comments I heard while interviewing people for this morning's story and in the remarks several people left here on the blog. I pledged to post some of those comments, so here they are — one last tribute to this institution that meant so much to so many.
I start with Mayor Sal Panto Jr., an alumnus. When I ran into him at the farewell Mass, he mentioned the comment he left on my last post about Easton Catholic. You can read his whole statement here; this is an excerpt:
It will be with a heavy heart that I attend tomorrow's [Thursday's] Mass which will mark the official closing of the elementary school I attended through the 8th grade — St. Anthony's School, now known as Easton Catholic Elementary School. [...]
Everyone at our school was one big family and we share a bond that many students never get to experience. I truly believe that my parents' sacrifice to send me to a [...] faith-based school helped to mold me into the individual I am today.
I have serious concerns about the diocese['s] commitment to a Catholic education and this closing continues to confirm my belief that there really is not a commitment. What's next? The closing of my high school alma mater — Notre Dame. Without sending schools where will they be in a few years? [...]
Also at the farewell Mass was Sam Malone of Palmer Township, a member of the class of 1986 and now a radio host on CAT Country 96's morning show.
On the closing:
"Unbelievable. You never thought this day would come."
He added: "So many memories. ... It's sad, but we're celebrating the life — how it was and will always be ... in our hearts."
Allison Shaw of Easton, class of 2001, who returned for the farewell Mass:
"We spent eight years here. It's part of us. It's part of who we are."
Gabriella Karam of Palmer, a sixth-grader, was the one to stand up and welcome the congregation to "the last Mass for Easton Catholic school."
About saying those words: "It's kinda sad. ... because it's the last year here. All your friends are being separated. ... I love coming here because all your friends come here. [Also,] it's a smaller class." She said that'll be a bit different next year when she's at St. Jane Frances.
Categories: Easton area, Education, Religion
Looking for Easton Catholic alums and parents
CLARIFICATION (posted June 5): Anyone who knows anything about Easton Catholic will have already caught this, but I'll mention it anyway: The school shown here in this file photo is indeed Easton Catholic, but it's not the one that closed this week. It is, of course, the former Easton Catholic campus at St. Joseph's on the South Side. That campus closed last summer, and all its students moved to the campus at St. Anthony of Padua Church — the one that just closed this week.
We learned back in January that the end of the school year would mark the demise of Easton Catholic School — the last Roman Catholic school left in Easton. Well, the end of the school year is upon us: Principal Frank Creazzo tells me that Friday is the students' last day, and staff and students are marking the week with graduations and a final Mass on Thursday.
I'll be writing about this end of an era for Easton Catholic, but I also need some help from you readers:
I'm looking to talk with former Easton Catholic students, as well as parents of the school's current students. So if you're an alum or a parent — or can put me in touch with someone who is — please shoot me an e-mail or leave me a comment here so that I can contact you.
The best comments I get from people will end up in my story; if I get a big response, I'll try to post some of the additional comments here on the blog.
Posted by The Morning Call at 12:46:27 AM on December 16, 2008
South Bethlehem churches feature some of the most recognizable doors in the city. Rounded or rectangular, fancy or plain, the doors tell a lot about the architecture and the people who built the churches.
Now, you can take home that story.
The South Bethlehem Historical Society has printed 250 posters featuring the "Church Doors of South Bethlehem."
The poster was produced by two board members, photographer Dana Grubb and graphic designer Ken Raniere.
The proceeds will help support South Bethlehem Historical Society programs.
Posters are $15 each at TIMEZONES Global Goodies and Framing Gallery, the Lehigh University Bookstore, Historic Bethlehem Partnership Welcome Center, Donegal Square, Mary Beth Baran Gallery and The Snow Goose Gallery.
Categories: Arts and entertainment, Bethlehem area, Holiday fun, Local history, Religion
Local children featured in Moravian College Vespers
Posted by The Morning Call at 06:55:43 PM on November 24, 2008
Three local children have been selected to sing the solo portions of the traditional Moravian hymn, "Morning Star," at the Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary Christmas Vespers services in December.
Chosen for the honor were Natalya Schienholz, 9, a fourth grader at Bushkill Elementary in Nazareth; Rory Lipkis, 11, a sixth grader at Moravian Academy in Bethlehem; and Allura Kistler, 10, a fifth grader at Moravian Academy. Two other children from New Jersey were also selected: Patrick Carpenter, 11, from Logan Township and Kayla Demarest, 8, from Long Valley.
The younger students will sing with the Moravian College Choir, conducted by Paula Ring Zerkle, which will be featured in six services December 5-7, and 12-14 at Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem. Members of the Moravian College Music Department chose the soloists.
Moravian College's tradition of celebrating the Christmas season with special vespers services dates back to 1742. The Christmas Vespers services are held for the immediate college community and invited guests.
Categories: Arts and entertainment, Bethlehem area, Religion
Get outta town
Posted by The Morning Call at 06:41:05 PM on September 18, 2008
This information comes to the blog courtesy of our colleague Gail Scudder:
There are plenty of seats left for a bus trip from Easton to the San Gennaro Festival in New York City's Little Italy this Saturday (Sept. 20). Organizers describe the event as the city's "oldest, biggest and most famous religious street festival," and it includes everything from religious processions to a cannoli-eating contest.
The bus will leave at 8 a.m. from the C-Town parking lot, 250 Line St., and return at 8 p.m. The cost to ride the bus is $45 per person (first-come, first-serve if paying at time of departure). Admission to the San Gennaro Festival is free.
The trip is sponsored by the Greater Easton Area Democratic Women's Committee, and proceeds will support its scholarship fund. For information or reservations, call 610-438-8340.
Categories: Easton area, Festivals, Food and Drink, Religion
In storm's wake, a vision of Jesus?
Posted by The Morning Call at 01:40:07 AM on September 14, 2008
The tornado that swept through East Allentown last week did more than damage dozens of homes and nail Dieruff High School.
It also left Kathy Porter feeling inspired.
Porter, a Morning Call reader, says she was riding through the affected neighborhood after last week's storm with her son Ed, taking photos. Most of the pictures were clear, she says, but one was distorted.
Do you see anything? Porter does, and says people she's shown the photo to agree. Here's part of her (capitalized) e-mail about the photo:
I SHOWED IT TO LOTS OF [PEOPLE] AND GOT THE SAME REACTION. EVERYONE SAW A FACE AND MOST BELIEVE IT LOOKS LIKE JESUS.... I STILL HAVE THE PHOTO ON MY CAMERA AND EVERY TIME I LOOK AT IT I AM IN AWE. HOW THIS PHOTO TURNED OUT THE WAY IT DID.......NO IDEA.
We showed the photo around our offices just to get opinions. Court reporter Kevin Amerman is pretty sure he sees a lion. Features writer Marion Callahan doesn't see anything. A certain editor who shall remain nameless says he's convinced he sees Jesus, but he also said he's "seen the Grateful Dead at least six times," and therefore may not be trustworthy.
The QCD, by the way, kind of sees something. Here's our hint: Take a few steps away from your screen and it all may get a little more clear. The nose, eyes, maybe even the crown of thorns?
Categories: Allentown, Religion
The next generation of politicians
As everyone who is breathing and blinking knows, there is a presidential race going on in this country. On the Republican side it's John McCain and his vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin. On the Democratic side it's Barrack Obama and his running mate Joe Biden.
It's a captivating contest that could generate interest in young people to get into — or stay out — of politics.
Here's a group of Bethlehem Catholic High School students who have begun their political careers by being elected as the 2008-2009 Student Council Officers and Homeroom Representatives.
Categories: Bethlehem area, Education, Government and politics, Religion
Polka for Jesus
Posted by The Morning Call at 07:21:27 PM on August 10, 2008
My family and I have just returned from the annual Polka Mass at Festplatz, put on by the good folks from Sacred Heart Hospital. The Mass has been a tradition since 1993, but this was the first year we stopped by -- and now I'm sorry we hadn't checked it out sooner.
I'm ordinarily not much of a polka fan, but this was some of the catchiest liturgical music I've ever heard. Even better was the spirit and heart shown by the musicians, the singers, the Rev. John Hilferty (Sacred Heart's chaplain) and everyone else involved in the service.
Speaking of heart, my colleague Veronica Torrejón reports that love is in the air at Musikfest. Specifically, her story for this morning's paper includes the stories of a couple that's been honeymooning at Musikfest this year (Josh and Crystal Husser, shown here in a photo by Michael Kubel) and another that tied the knot Friday at Plaza Tropical.
In other news, we have Keith Groller's review of the Diamond Rio and Lonestar show from last night, as well as Geoff Gehman's take on Rosanne Cash's Zoellner show. Yesterday's Festblog posts include an introduction to Musikfest's veteran "Gray Team," the results of the Musikfest's worst idea poll and photos of the aerial act Strange Fruit.
I know next to nothing about most of the bands playing on this final day of Musikfest's 25th year, so today's picks of the platzes are a bit of a crapshoot. From the little bit I've heard, Runaway Pete Karp sounds like he'll put on a good, bluesy show at 7 p.m. at Liederplatz, and the highly eccentric Wahoo Skiffle Crazies, a jug band from Staten Island, ought to be pretty entertaining during their 5:30 p.m. Main Street appearance.
Categories: Arts and entertainment, Bethlehem area, Festblog, Festivals, Religion
Canta a Dios
Posted by The Morning Call at 07:54:49 PM on August 3, 2008
If I have my Spanish right, that means "Sing to God"; and that's just what a few hundred people were doing this morning at Holy Infancy Roman Catholic Church's sixth annual tri-lingual Musikfest Mass.
The religious service at Plaza Tropical (one of three at various Musikfest venues this morning) featured songs and readings in English, Portuguese and Spanish, celebrating a century's worth of immigrants who have made Holy Infancy their spiritual home.
I'm a lifelong Catholic; I've been to Mass in well over a dozen cities on two continents, including two Papal Masses. But I've never before been to a mass that included Irish step dancers and a Mariachi band. This is something to be experienced.
Speaking of getting religion, Will Scheihing kicked off today's Festblogging by recounting the Mother Truckers' version of "Save My Soul," along with other highlights from yesterdays' free shows. Veronica Torrejón has also chimed in with some thoughts from her platzing last night.
Elsewhere on mcall.com, Veronica has the first of several stories about Musikfest volunteers — this one focuses on the core 35 volunteers who have stuck with the festival for 25 years. Also, Mark Wogenrich has a review of last night's Live and Collective Soul show at RiverPlace.
And in case you missed anything on the Festblog yesterday, we also had a weather update from Veronica and Will's take on Musikfest 2008's first night. We're also desperately in need of your suggestions for the best food of Musikfest, so drop us a line with your favorites. (Gracias to frequent Bethlehem Daily Star commenter MOB for her contributions!)
Some good bets for this afternoon's platzing: Father-son blues duo Beaucoup Blue (3 to 4:30 p.m. on Main Street); local acoustic favorite Donovan/Roberts (8 to 8:40 p.m. at Lyricplatz); and, because I'm a sucker for accordions played to a funky New Orleans beat, Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience (Volksplatz, 9 to 10:45 p.m.)
UPDATE/CORRECTION: Co-Festblogger Veronica Torrejón reliably informs me that, as I suspected, my Spanish isn't very good. I've corrected the title on this blog post.
Musikfest, eat your heart out
Don't let anybody tell you that the Lehigh Valley's only festival this weekend is in Bethlehem — the good folks at Easton's Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church know how to throw a pretty good party, too. And their annual Lebanese Heritage Day has been running now for 31 years, compared to Musikfest's paltry 25.
Admission to the festival is free, so stop by the church at Fourth and Pine streets for huge helpings of music and dancing — not to mention shish kebabs. The festival's food has quite a reputation, so take note, Bill White.
The headliner musical performers include Rana Beyruti and Toumah Toumeh. The party goes from 6 p.m. to midnight tomorrow (Saturday) and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
(Photos here are of the 2005 Lebanese Heritage Day; courtesy of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church's Web site.)
Categories: Arts and entertainment, Easton area, Festivals, Food and Drink, Religion
Graffiti busters
With Musikfest set to kick off its 25th anniversary at 5 p.m. today it did not take city parks crews long to wipe out graffiti that was sprayed in the dark of night in downtown Bethlehem.
The first piece of graffiti, an attack on police, was tagged on the wall of central Moravian Church, Main and Church streets, was spotted by me, a Morning Call reporter, as I made my walk from police headquarters to our soon to be closed Bethlehem bureau.
About two hours after I took the "Die Pigs," the tag was gone. How?
Bethlehem police Lt. Joseph Kimock said police did not receive any criminal mischief calls on the graffiti.
Categories: Bethlehem area, Crime and public safety, Festblog, Festivals, Government and politics, Religion
Ominous signs?
The opening of Musikfest is about seven hours away and signs are popping up that the silver anniversary of the festival could be trouble for Bethlehem police.
A vandal spray-painted "Die Pigs" on the brick wall of the grand Central Moravian Church at Main and Church streets, the heart of downtown where teens congregate and sloshed adults wobble when the sun goes down.
Pigs of course is the old derogatory term for police. And it was painted on a church.
Wow! Threatening police on a church. Is nothing sacred?
As if that is not enough. The cardboard trash cans city crews are putting up on the sidewalks are blowing everywhere.
So we have a warning of sorts and blowing trash cans. Do you believe in signs?
We're about to call the police, church and Musikfest officials to find out if they do.
Categories: Bethlehem area, Crime and public safety, Festblog, Festivals, Religion
Dalai Lama wrap-up
As many of you are no doubt glad to hear, life around Bethlehem is returning to normal (well, sort of) now that the Dalai Lama has moved on.
But before we get too far along, I wanted to pass along some information from Joshua W.C. Cutler, who runs the Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center in Washington, N.J., and who was one of the key coordinators for the Dalai Lama's visit. I interviewed him this week for the "Newsmaker Q&A" that will appear on B3 of Sunday's newspaper, but in the meantime, here's some information that won't be in the paper:
Where did the Dalai Lama stay while he was here?
He spent part of the time at Cutler's center, which began as a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. The only downside is that it's a 40-minute drive away from Stabler Arena, where he was speaking.
So, "then he moved over to the Hotel Bethlehem," Cutler told me. "He likes to maximize his time," he said, and less time in the car meant more time for things like meeting with people and praying.
Categories: Bethlehem area, Dalai Lama, Food and Drink, Religion
Another low-key day
The relaxed crowd outside Stabler Arena, where the Dalai Lama will begin speaking again in about half an hour, continues to create a mellow scene here on Lehigh U.'s Goodman Campus.
A crowd of hundreds has been good-naturedly buzzing over by the temporary food court set up at the Rauch Field House, but nearly as many people had spread out over the campus — picnicking, napping, meditating or reading.
I'm sitting under a tree beside to a cornfield at the far edge of the parking lot, where I have a view of South Mountain towering over the arena. Puffy white clouds are gliding through the blue sky overhead; the only sounds are from songbirds twittering nearby. I've been sharing my shade with a woman behind me, who appears to be napping, and a woman to my left, who is until a few moments ago was meditating with the help of some stretches and yoga poses.
So, where are all those protesters we keep talking about?
Well, for one thing, they're commenting here on our blog. That particular group is expected to show up in force on Saturday. (Here are some overviews of why they're protesting.) At this point, though, we might end up seeing the biggest crowds of protestors during Sunday afternoon's 2 p.m public lecture — because that's when the demonstrators know the television cameras will be out in force. We'll see.
Categories: Bethlehem area, Dalai Lama, Religion
Hello Dalai!
If you haven't already seen it, there's a giant billboard on the corner of Goepp Street and Stefko Boulevard announcing the arrival of the Dalai Lama. He's coming tomorrow, a day earlier than announced.
Tickets to see the Dalai Lama sold out in 15 minutes back in March.
Don't have tickets? We're here to help.
At the Bethlehem Daily Star we're busy making last minute preparations so you can get up-to-the-minute information on our main page and here on the blog. We'll be updating both throughout the day with news, photos, commentary and other interesting tidbits.
At 2 p.m. the first lecture on a 600-year-old Tibetan Buddhist text begins at Lehigh University's Stabler Arena. Rumor has it the Dalai Lama will be arriving on campus a few hours earlier. We'll be inside the arena getting you lecture highlights and outside with protesters and supporters waiting for the first glimpse of the Tibetan spiritual leader.
Check back throughout the day and feel free to share your photos and interesting stories. We might even post them.
Preaching to no choir
Posted by The Morning Call at 01:11:18 AM on June 4, 2008
Pro cyclists weren't the only ones putting on a show in the heart of center city Tuesday. Close to 4 p.m., as the Lehigh Valley Classic was nearing its end, we noticed a couple of preacher-esque guys standing at Hamilton and 8th, half-a-block away from the finish line.
We'd heard these guys have become semi-regulars at the corner, but we've never seen them ourselves, so while everyone else was focused on the race's last few minutes, this QCDer decided to wander over and see what was up.
Turns out, they didn't seem to want to say where they were from.
"We're from the land of Israel, that's where we're from," one of the men (the guy on the left in the above photo), said.
We didn't stay to get the full gist of what they were saying, but it had something to do with the slaughter of the native Americans and God being angry with the United States.
"You think God is for America?" guy-on-the-left asked. "You must be out of your mind."
The men were drowned out by cheers about a minute later as the crowd applauded cyclists as they entered the last lap of the race.
Categories: Allentown, Religion, Sports and games
A dedicated coach and teacher
Posted by The Morning Call at 06:51:44 PM on May 29, 2008
Mike Grasso is an icon at Bethlehem Catholic High School.
For 22 years, he's taught and coached at Becahi.
His longevity and commitment to Catholic education was honored at the Fourth Annual Leadership in Catholic Youth Sport Awards, which was held May 20 at Neumann College in Delaware County. Grasso, the Golden Hawks baseball coach, was a finalist in the secondary level of coaching and was described as the "most positive, encouraging, and affirming person."
Becahi spokeswoman Susan L. Walkiewicz said, "His baseball teams have won district championships, but more importantly, coach Grasso is loved and respected not only by his colleagues and players at Bethlehem Catholic, but also by opposing coaches and players as well."
Aside from his coaching duties, Grasso has served as an administrative assistant, teacher and the school's crisis coordinator, who helps students and staff deal with personal and community-wide issues and emergencies.
Now that's service.
Categories: Bethlehem area, Education, Religion, Sports and games
National Day of Prayer in downtown Allentown
Posted by The Morning Call at 03:31:14 AM on May 2, 2008
For about four dozen people in downtown Allentown, 12 p.m. Thursday was more than just lunchtime.
At a ceremony to commemorate and celebrate the National Day of Prayer, people gathered at Seventh Street and Hamilton Boulevard to pray for the country, local schools, local government and the armed forces. The group also said prayers for the city, for peace and for those in need.
Addressing the day as the "healing of our land," Kari Holmes opened the event by leading the group in singing "Amazing Grace."
Her mother, the Rev. Karen Holmes, recited a poem, titled, "Hate is Not a Color -- it is a Spirit." She told the gathered crowd, which included city officials and local pastors, "Hate will putrefy your culture and collapse your society, while it makes you less of a person than any person was meant to be."
Lisa Pawloski, the mayor's wife, announced the proclamation to commemorate the day. The National Day of Prayer was designated by Congress in 1952 as an official day to come together and pray. It is held on the first Thursday of May.
"Prayer is the component that changes the things that the government can not," she said.
Also at the event was Rev. Rodney Keister of Northampton and his Prayer Station, a movable street ministry. The Prayer Station is a moveable stand where Keister can provide those in need with information about the power of prayer. If needed, he makes himself available to pray for those in need.
Newspaper pulpit
Posted by The Morning Call at 04:50:57 PM on April 30, 2008
For most people, helping to shepherd some 16,000 people, spread throughout 66 churches across eastern Pennsylvania, would be enough of a challenge.
But for Bishop Paul V. Marshall of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, that was just a starting point. Soon after becoming bishop here in 1996, he decided to reach out to the hundreds of thousands of people he'd never see in the pews by writing a monthly newspaper column.
Since that first column in February 1997, Marshall's columns have been printed in as many as 15 newspapers (including The Morning Call) across the 14 counties in the diocese. He's compiled many of those columns into a new book titled "Messages in the Mall: Looking at Life in 600 Words or Less."
Finding common ground
They are strange bedfellows: environmentalists (traditionally on the far left politically) and church leaders (on the far right). But they are increasingly finding common ground in the fight to halt global warming.
Pick up a copy of The Morning Call Sunday for a story on the issue. My colleague Mike Duck and I are busy interviewing local church leaders who are organizing Earth Day events. If your church is planning an Earth Day event, we'd love to hear from you before Friday (send us an email).
Bethlehem's Central Moravian Church is one of several in the Lehigh Valley gearing up for Earth Day this year with special services focused on global warming. The historic church will also host a two-part series looking at both religious and scientific voices calling for increased involvement in the environmental justice movement.
More information below.
Lama lectures
Between the Dalai Lama's upcoming visit to Lehigh University, his current visit to Seattle and the recent protests involving Tibet, China and the 2008 Bejing Olympics, the Tibetan spiritual leader has been all over the news recently.
To learn even more about the Dalai Lama and his culture, stop by Lehigh University this afternoon when a lecturer from Harvard University, Janet Gyatso, will talk about women and gender politics in Tibet. A Lehigh news release points out that the Dalai Lama has moved to reestablish a fully ordained nun's order in Tibet, making this a pretty timely issue.
The lecture, at 4:10 p.m. in Sinclair Auditorium, is just the latest in a year-long series of events celebrating the Dalai Lama's visit.
Also, don't forget the ongoing lecture series about the Dalai Lama at the Bethlehem Area Public Library, which continues on Thursday (Apr. 17) and Apr. 24.
A Becahi student with an eye on our future
Posted by The Morning Call at 05:33:15 PM on April 4, 2008
Seo-Hyun "Grace" Choi is only a junior. But the Bethlehem Catholic High School student has already seen the world and she aims to fix it.
Last summer, Choi of Hellertown traveled to Leverkusen, Germany, to participate in the Tunza International Youth Conference, a global youth forum of the United Nations Environment Programme. The U.N. program brings together young environmentalists from all over the world to share experiences on the environment.
For her commitment to the environment, her drive to scholastic excellence and her willingness to learn other languages, Choi has been selected to participate in the Pennsylvania Governor's School for International Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. She was selected based on a winning essay. The program runs from June through July 26, 2008.
Night in Venice
Ciao! Golden Hawks enthusiasts.
Che c'è di nuovo?
Do you have to ask? I'll tell you what's new.
Bethlehem Catholic High School will be hosting Saturday its sixth annual auction, "Una Notte a Venezia: An Evening in Venice," which will feature a taste of Italy in Bethlehem. The fund raiser will include a social hour, dinner and silent, live auctions and a virtual tour of romantic streets and canals of Venice.
Categories: Bethlehem area, Community giving, Education, Religion
A little Lama for everyone
In advance of the Dalai Lama's upcoming visit to Lehigh University, Bethlehem Area Public Library is offering chances for kids and adults to learn more about this world-renowned spiritual leader who's deeply involved in the ongoing conflict in Tibet and who also sold out Stabler Arena in just 15 minutes last month.
For the grown-ups, the library is hosting a series of free public lectures on the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism, beginning Thursday (April 3) and continuing every Thursday night through the end of the month, according to a release from the library. All of the lectures, which are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. each week, will double as a sort of book club focused on the Dalai Lama's book Ethics for the New Millenium.
Each week will feature a different speaker, starting this week with a religion professor from Moravian College, and the April 10 lecture will also include meditiation. To register, call 610-867-3761 x259 or e-mail eholzinger@bapl.org.
And for the children (and their families), the library is presenting a preschooler-friendly program called "A Little Kindness" from 7 to 8 p.m. on April 15.
The celebration of "kindness, compassion and peace" will feature crafts, stories and simple yoga exercises led by Kira Willey, a local singer, songwriter and children's yoga instructor, according to a library news release. To register for the free presentation, call 610-867-3761 x499 or e-mail youthservice@bapl.org.
The lectures and the children's presentation will all be at the library's main location at 11 W. Church St.
valley 610 resources
Where To File A Complaint
Local Government Audits
'It's going to be like losing Bob Sheppard's famous voice...'
Bethlehem's Sun Inn to get a new tent
Education funding discussion comes to the Lehigh Valley
Trade your guns for K-Mart gift cards in Allentown
Saucon Valley Barn tour takes place next month
Bethlehem schools another step closer to selling Rosemont, Monocacy
Allentown expands 911 texting service
Bethlehem wins water award
City Center gets OK to demolish Hamilton Street property
Allentown's Hamilton Kitchen, across from PPL Center, sets opening date
Grumpy on Meet Ray O'Connell, Democrat for Allentown Council
Christina Trabosci on Developer wants "complete mix" at new Forks plaza
lisa scibetta on Liberty High Grenadiers to march in Rose Parade
David on City Center gets OK to demolish Hamilton Street property
Marian Hoffner on Toomey meets with area fire chiefs to talk grants, legislation
sudden9 on Toomey meets with area fire chiefs to talk grants, legislation
1001 Spiele on Zoo's Molchany appointed Lehigh County director of general services
Richa Sharma on Phantoms open new Phan Shop in Allentown
K Jones on "Frozen" showing at Allentown's Arts Park Friday

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Lama El Homaïssi
Musician in Residence, 2022
Lama El Homaïssi, she/her, (SHIM:NYC Resident for 2022) is a Lebanese performer, writer and voiceover artist currently based in New York City.
Lama started her career in entertainment working for years as a television writer in Lebanon, creating original shows for the Sony Pictures Television Arabia and Talpa Middle East catalogs, developing commissions for clients, as well as adapting productions to the SWANA region (most notably The Voice and So You Think You Can Dance).
In 2017, Lama pursued her MFA in Musical Theater at Boston Conservatory at Berklee where she honed her skills in acting and storytelling through song, then began developing and performing her own work for the stage. Her capstone project Article 534 was a play about queer identity, resistance and safe havens in Beirut that combined storytelling with music. The project is titled after the archaic article in the Lebanese penal code that criminalizes the LGBTQIA+ community, deeming queer relations "contrary to the order of nature" to this day.
While in Boston, Lama served as a dramaturgy assistant on Daniel and Patrick Lazour's We Live in Cairo, a new musical about the 2011 Egyptian uprising that premiered at American Repertory Theater in 2019. She contributed Arabic lyrics to the song "Tahrir Is Now" on the Lazour brothers' album Flap My Wings: Songs from We Live in Cairo, released in 2020. Lama later went on to work as a Dramaturgy and Publications Assistant for A.R.T.'s 2019-2020 season and was involved as a storyteller and singer in several community engagement and education events in both Boston and New York City.
As part of her SHIM:NYC residency, Lama is writing and developing a new play with music, Missing (working title), which is a story of diaspora, coping with loss, and a generational gift that comes calling.
Venues Lama has performed at include Club OBERON, Joe's Pub, Berklee Performance Center, and Lincoln Center's David Rubenstein Atrium and Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse.
Lama's writing has also been featured in the Brooklyn Rail and her essay on Storytelling as an Act of Survival has been published in HowlRound Theatre Commons.
For more, visit: lama-elhomaissi.com


slidingwardrobes.co.uk (national) Limited is a family run business that was founded with over 40 years of experience behind us in the manufacturing of sliding wardrobes and bedroom furniture.
We supply only and deliver online products nationwide so that you can experience the huge range of sliding wardrobes, interiors and bedroom furniture at cost-saving prices that will suit all your needs. It is so very easy for you to install the wardrobes yourself giving a sense of pride once completed and you can then sit back, relax and enjoy what you have accomplished.


text:
namespace {

void UnblockOnProfileCreation(Profile::CreateStatus expected_final_status,
                              base::OnceClosure quit_closure,
                              Profile* profile,
                              Profile::CreateStatus status) {
  // If the status is CREATE_STATUS_CREATED, then the function will be called
  // again with CREATE_STATUS_INITIALIZED.
  if (status == Profile::CREATE_STATUS_CREATED)
    return;

  EXPECT_EQ(expected_final_status, status);
  std::move(quit_closure).Run();
}

void UnblockOnProfileInitialized(base::OnceClosure quit_closure,
                                 Profile* profile,
                                 Profile::CreateStatus status) {
  UnblockOnProfileCreation(Profile::CREATE_STATUS_INITIALIZED,
                           std::move(quit_closure), profile, status);
}

void OnCloseAllBrowsersSucceeded(base::OnceClosure quit_closure,
                                 const base::FilePath& path) {
  std::move(quit_closure).Run();
}

void CreateAndSwitchToProfile(const std::string& basepath) {
  ProfileManager* profile_manager = g_browser_process->profile_manager();
  ASSERT_TRUE(profile_manager);

  base::FilePath path = profile_manager->user_data_dir().AppendASCII(basepath);
  base::RunLoop run_loop;
  profile_manager->CreateProfileAsync(
      path, base::BindRepeating(&UnblockOnProfileInitialized,
                                run_loop.QuitClosure()));
  // Run the message loop to allow profile creation to take place; the loop is
  // terminated by UnblockOnProfileCreation when the profile is created.
  run_loop.Run();

  profiles::SwitchToProfile(path, false, ProfileManager::CreateCallback());
}

void CheckBrowserWindows(const std::vector<std::string>& expected_basepaths) {
  std::vector<std::string> actual_basepaths;
  for (const Browser* browser : *BrowserList::GetInstance()) {
    actual_basepaths.push_back(
        browser->profile()->GetBaseName().AsUTF8Unsafe());
  }

  if (actual_basepaths.size() != expected_basepaths.size() ||
      !std::is_permutation(actual_basepaths.cbegin(), actual_basepaths.cend(),
                           expected_basepaths.cbegin())) {
    ADD_FAILURE()
        << "Expected profile paths are different from actual profile paths."
           "\n  Actual profile paths: "
        << base::JoinString(actual_basepaths, ", ")
        << "\n  Expected profile paths: "
        << base::JoinString(expected_basepaths, ", ");
  }
}

void ExpectUserManagerToShow() {
  // If the user manager is not shown yet, wait for the user manager to appear.
  if (!ProfilePicker::IsOpen()) {
    base::RunLoop run_loop;
    ProfilePicker::AddOnProfilePickerOpenedCallbackForTesting(
        run_loop.QuitClosure());
    run_loop.Run();
  }
  ASSERT_TRUE(ProfilePicker::IsOpen());

  // We must hide the user manager before the test ends.
  ProfilePicker::Hide();
}

}  // namespace

class StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest : public InProcessBrowserTest {
 public:
  StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest() = default;
  StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest(
      const StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest&) = delete;
  StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest& operator=(
      const StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest&) = delete;

  void SetExpectTestBodyToRun(bool expected_result) {
    expect_test_body_to_run_ = expected_result;
  }

  bool DeleteProfileData(const std::string& basepath) {
    base::FilePath user_data_dir;
    if (!base::PathService::Get(chrome::DIR_USER_DATA, &user_data_dir))
      return false;

    base::FilePath dir_to_delete = user_data_dir.AppendASCII(basepath);
    return base::DirectoryExists(dir_to_delete) &&
           base::DeletePathRecursively(dir_to_delete);
  }

  bool RemoveCreateDirectoryPermissionForUserDataDirectory() {
    base::FilePath user_data_dir;
    return base::PathService::Get(chrome::DIR_USER_DATA, &user_data_dir) &&
           base::DenyFilePermission(user_data_dir, FILE_ADD_SUBDIRECTORY);
  }

 protected:
  // For each test, declare a bool SetUpUserDataDirectory[testname] function.
  bool SetUpUserDataDirectoryForLastOpenedProfileMissing();
  bool SetUpUserDataDirectoryForLastUsedProfileFallbackToLastOpenedProfiles();
  bool SetUpUserDataDirectoryForLastUsedProfileFallbackToUserManager();
  bool SetUpUserDataDirectoryForCannotCreateSystemProfile();
  bool SetUpUserDataDirectoryForLastUsedProfileFallbackToAnyProfile();
  bool SetUpUserDataDirectoryForLastUsedProfileFallbackFail();
  bool SetUpUserDataDirectoryForDoNotStartLockedProfile();
  bool SetUpUserDataDirectoryForNoFallbackForUserSelectedProfile();
  bool SetUpUserDataDirectoryForDeletedProfileFallbackToUserManager();

  void CloseBrowsersSynchronouslyForProfileBasePath(
           const std::string& basepath) {
    ProfileManager* profile_manager = g_browser_process->profile_manager();
    ASSERT_TRUE(profile_manager);

    Profile* profile =
        profile_manager->GetProfileByPath(
            profile_manager->user_data_dir().AppendASCII(basepath));
    ASSERT_TRUE(profile);

    base::RunLoop run_loop;
    BrowserList::GetInstance()->CloseAllBrowsersWithProfile(
        profile,
        base::BindRepeating(&OnCloseAllBrowsersSucceeded,
                            run_loop.QuitClosure()),
        BrowserList::CloseCallback(), false);
  }

  void SetUpCommandLine(base::CommandLine* command_line) override {
    command_line->AppendSwitch(switches::kRestoreLastSession);
    command_line->AppendSwitch(switches::kNoErrorDialogs);
  }

  // In this test fixture, SetUpUserDataDirectory must be handled for all
  // non-PRE_ tests.
  bool SetUpUserDataDirectory() override {
#define SET_UP_USER_DATA_DIRECTORY_FOR(testname)                       \
  if (testing::UnitTest::GetInstance()->current_test_info()->name() == \
      std::string(#testname)) {                                        \
    return this->SetUpUserDataDirectoryFor##testname();                \
  }

    SET_UP_USER_DATA_DIRECTORY_FOR(LastOpenedProfileMissing);
    SET_UP_USER_DATA_DIRECTORY_FOR(LastUsedProfileFallbackToLastOpenedProfiles);
    SET_UP_USER_DATA_DIRECTORY_FOR(LastUsedProfileFallbackToUserManager);
    SET_UP_USER_DATA_DIRECTORY_FOR(CannotCreateSystemProfile);
    SET_UP_USER_DATA_DIRECTORY_FOR(LastUsedProfileFallbackToAnyProfile);
    SET_UP_USER_DATA_DIRECTORY_FOR(LastUsedProfileFallbackFail);
    SET_UP_USER_DATA_DIRECTORY_FOR(DoNotStartLockedProfile);
    SET_UP_USER_DATA_DIRECTORY_FOR(NoFallbackForUserSelectedProfile);
    SET_UP_USER_DATA_DIRECTORY_FOR(DeletedProfileFallbackToUserManager);

#undef SET_UP_USER_DATA_DIRECTORY_FOR

    // If control goes here, it means SetUpUserDataDirectory is not handled.
    // This is okay for PRE_ tests, but not acceptable for main tests.
    if (content::IsPreTest())
      return true;

    ADD_FAILURE() << "SetUpUserDataDirectory is not handled by the test.";
    return false;
  }

  void TearDownOnMainThread() override {
    test_body_has_run_ = true;
  }

  void TearDown() override {
    EXPECT_EQ(expect_test_body_to_run_, test_body_has_run_);
    InProcessBrowserTest::TearDown();
    signin_util::ResetForceSigninForTesting();
  }

 private:
  bool test_body_has_run_ = false;
  bool expect_test_body_to_run_ = true;
};

// Most of the tests below have three sections:
// (1) PRE_ test, which is used to create profiles. Most of these profiles are
//     meant to be opened in (3) during startup.
// (2) StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest::SetUpUserDataDirectoryFor...
//     which sets up the user data directory, i.e. to remove profile directories
//     and to prevent the profile directories from being created again in (3).
//     We cannot remove these directories while the browser process is running,
//     so that cannot be done during (1) or (3).
// (3) The test itself. With the |kRestoreLastSession| switch set, profiles
//     opened in (1) are reopened. However, since the directories of some
//     profiles are removed in (2), these profiles are unable to be initialized.
//     We are testing whether the correct fallback action is taken.

// LastOpenedProfileMissing : If any last opened profile is missing, that
// profile is skipped, but other last opened profiles should be opened in the
// browser.
IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       PRE_LastOpenedProfileMissing) {
  CreateAndSwitchToProfile("Profile 1");
  CreateAndSwitchToProfile("Profile 2");
}

bool StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest::
         SetUpUserDataDirectoryForLastOpenedProfileMissing() {
  return DeleteProfileData("Profile 1") &&
         RemoveCreateDirectoryPermissionForUserDataDirectory();
}

IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       LastOpenedProfileMissing) {
  CheckBrowserWindows({"Default", "Profile 2"});
}

// LastUsedProfileFallbackToLastOpenedProfiles : If the last used profile is
// missing, it should fall back to any last opened profiles.
IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       PRE_LastUsedProfileFallbackToLastOpenedProfiles) {
  CreateAndSwitchToProfile("Profile 1");
  CreateAndSwitchToProfile("Profile 2");
}

bool StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest::
    SetUpUserDataDirectoryForLastUsedProfileFallbackToLastOpenedProfiles() {
  return DeleteProfileData("Profile 2") &&
         RemoveCreateDirectoryPermissionForUserDataDirectory();
}

IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       LastUsedProfileFallbackToLastOpenedProfiles) {
  CheckBrowserWindows({"Default", "Profile 1"});
}

// LastUsedProfileFallbackToUserManager : If all last opened profiles are
// missing, it should fall back to user manager. To open the user manager, both
// the guest profile and the system profile must be creatable.
IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       PRE_LastUsedProfileFallbackToUserManager) {
  CreateAndSwitchToProfile("Profile 1");
  CloseBrowsersSynchronouslyForProfileBasePath("Profile 1");
  CreateAndSwitchToProfile("Profile 2");

  base::ScopedAllowBlockingForTesting allow_blocking;
  ASSERT_TRUE(base::CreateDirectory(ProfileManager::GetGuestProfilePath()));
  ASSERT_TRUE(base::CreateDirectory(ProfileManager::GetSystemProfilePath()));
}

bool StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest::
    SetUpUserDataDirectoryForLastUsedProfileFallbackToUserManager() {
  return DeleteProfileData("Default") &&
         DeleteProfileData("Profile 2") &&
         RemoveCreateDirectoryPermissionForUserDataDirectory();
}

IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       LastUsedProfileFallbackToUserManager) {
  CheckBrowserWindows({});
  ExpectUserManagerToShow();
}

// CannotCreateSystemProfile : If the system profile cannot be created, the user
// manager should not be shown. Fallback to any other profile.
IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       PRE_CannotCreateSystemProfile) {
  CreateAndSwitchToProfile("Profile 1");
  CloseBrowsersSynchronouslyForProfileBasePath("Profile 1");
  CreateAndSwitchToProfile("Profile 2");

  // Create the guest profile path, but not the system profile one. This will
  // make it impossible to create the system profile once the permissions are
  // locked down during setup.
  base::ScopedAllowBlockingForTesting allow_blocking;
  ASSERT_TRUE(base::CreateDirectory(ProfileManager::GetGuestProfilePath()));
}

bool StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest::
    SetUpUserDataDirectoryForCannotCreateSystemProfile() {
  return DeleteProfileData("Default") &&
         DeleteProfileData("Profile 2") &&
         RemoveCreateDirectoryPermissionForUserDataDirectory();
}

IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       CannotCreateSystemProfile) {
  CheckBrowserWindows({"Profile 1"});
}

// LastUsedProfileFallbackToAnyProfile : If all the last opened profiles and the
// guest profile cannot be opened, fall back to any profile that is not locked.
IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       PRE_LastUsedProfileFallbackToAnyProfile) {
  CreateAndSwitchToProfile("Profile 1");
  CloseBrowsersSynchronouslyForProfileBasePath("Profile 1");
  CreateAndSwitchToProfile("Profile 2");
}

bool StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest::
    SetUpUserDataDirectoryForLastUsedProfileFallbackToAnyProfile() {
  return DeleteProfileData("Default") &&
         DeleteProfileData("Profile 2") &&
         RemoveCreateDirectoryPermissionForUserDataDirectory();
}

IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       LastUsedProfileFallbackToAnyProfile) {
  CheckBrowserWindows({"Profile 1"});
}

// LastUsedProfileFallbackFail : If no startup option is feasible, the browser
// should quit cleanly.
bool StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest::
    SetUpUserDataDirectoryForLastUsedProfileFallbackFail() {
  SetExpectTestBodyToRun(false);
  return RemoveCreateDirectoryPermissionForUserDataDirectory();
}

IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       LastUsedProfileFallbackFail) {
  ADD_FAILURE() << "Test body is not expected to run.";
}

bool StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest::
    SetUpUserDataDirectoryForDoNotStartLockedProfile() {
  SetExpectTestBodyToRun(false);
  signin_util::SetForceSigninForTesting(true);
  return RemoveCreateDirectoryPermissionForUserDataDirectory();
}

IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       DoNotStartLockedProfile) {
  ADD_FAILURE() << "Test body is not expected to run.";
}

// NoFallbackForUserSelectedProfile : No fallback should be attempted if the
// profile is selected by the --profile-directory switch. The browser should not
// start if the specified profile could not be initialized.
IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       PRE_NoFallbackForUserSelectedProfile) {
  CreateAndSwitchToProfile("Profile 1");
  CreateAndSwitchToProfile("Profile 2");
}

bool StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest::
    SetUpUserDataDirectoryForNoFallbackForUserSelectedProfile() {
  base::CommandLine* command_line = base::CommandLine::ForCurrentProcess();
  command_line->AppendSwitchASCII(switches::kProfileDirectory, "Profile 1");
  SetExpectTestBodyToRun(false);
  return DeleteProfileData("Profile 1") &&
         RemoveCreateDirectoryPermissionForUserDataDirectory();
}

IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       NoFallbackForUserSelectedProfile) {
  ADD_FAILURE() << "Test body is not expected to run.";
}

// DeletedProfileFallbackToUserManager : If the profile's entry in
// ProfileAttributesStorage is missing, it means the profile is deleted. The
// browser should not attempt to open the profile, but should show the user
// manager instead.
IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       PRE_DeletedProfileFallbackToUserManager) {
  base::ScopedAllowBlockingForTesting allow_blocking;
  ASSERT_TRUE(base::CreateDirectory(ProfileManager::GetGuestProfilePath()));
  ASSERT_TRUE(base::CreateDirectory(ProfileManager::GetSystemProfilePath()));
}

bool StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest::
    SetUpUserDataDirectoryForDeletedProfileFallbackToUserManager() {
  base::CommandLine* command_line = base::CommandLine::ForCurrentProcess();
  // Simulate a deleted profile by not creating the profile at the first place.
  command_line->AppendSwitchASCII(switches::kProfileDirectory, "Not Found");
  return RemoveCreateDirectoryPermissionForUserDataDirectory();
}

// Flaky: https://crbug.com/951787
IN_PROC_BROWSER_TEST_F(StartupBrowserCreatorCorruptProfileTest,
                       DISABLED_DeletedProfileFallbackToUserManager) {
  CheckBrowserWindows({});
  ExpectUserManagerToShow();
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Place a Classified: Online • In Print
Send Us a Story • Photo • Video
Place Event
It's Queens Magazine
BQE Sports
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sports & rec.
Ogyiri preps for big summer ahead of senior season
by Bryan Fonseca Queens Ledger
Jun 01, 2016 | 9740 views | 0 | 84 | |
If you haven't yet heard of Kevin Ogyiri, it's about time you do.
The 5-foot-10 guard from the Lefrak City section of Queens just completed his junior season at Martin Luther School in Maspeth. With a student body in the low hundreds despite having grades 6-12, MLS has never been known for its basketball program, but this past season the team enjoyed a level of success it hasn't witnessed in years.
Ogyiri, a key part of the Cougars this season, averaged 15 points and three assists per game as his team finished 18-8, the most wins for MLS in a decade.
Led by first-year head coach John Sanchez, it was early in the season when the Cougars established themselves by emerging victorious in the early-season Martin Luther Invitational for the first time since the 2008-09 season after defeating Avenues School, 72-59, in the final.
"We proved to the school, league and coach that we are a new team this year," Ogyiri said. "If we do well, people are going to see it. We've just got to play in the right place, play in front of the right people, and we've just got to get better."
This season marked Ogyiri's first on Luther's varsity team. Ogyiri had previously spent time on John Bowne's junior varsity squad, where he averaged about nine points and 3.3 assists per game. Ogyiri described his previous time at John Bowne High School as a life-changing experience.
"Being at John Bowne made me more mature because in a big public school you're pretty much on your own," he said. "It got me ready for the real world and made me realize that I'm growing up quick. In terms of basketball it made me more of a leader and that's what I need at the point guard position."
He arrived at Martin Luther after friend and current teammate Cameron Thompson, a talented guard in his own right, convinced Ogyiri to make the move to Maspeth.
In one of their first games of the season, the Cougars were crushed by perennial PSAA favorite Lawrence Woodmere 114-78, a loss in which Ogyiri described as the low point of the team's season. However, it was shortly after this lopsided defeat that the Cougars turned around and played some of their best ball of the year, which included the aforementioned ML Invitational gold medal.
"Although I had 34 points I didn't perform the leader role and it just wasn't a team game," he said. "It changed us as a team though, because after that loss we were hungry and went on an eight-game winning streak."
While the Cougars did finish with a great record before losing to Grace Church in the first round of the PSAA Playoffs, Ogyiri says that the team could've had even more success had they not struggled with players' academic eligibility to the level which they did, an issue that also plagued the school's basketball teams in years past.
"When something happened with someone on the team where they couldn't play, in the locker rooms we would just say this is for that person, let's win this one for that person," Ogyiri said. "Let's win this one for coach because coach would be upset about how we didn't have a full team. We could've been way better if we had a full team."
Ogyiri always had a basketball in his hands, but took his love for the game to the next level in the sixth grade. The Queens-born combo guard also has friends in high places with a circle that includes elite class of '17 recruit Hamidou Diallo, former Christ the King forward David Cole, and ex-Wadleigh guard Lenny Kadisha.
"In Lefrak City a lot of people play basketball, we've got sections," Ogyiri said. "When I really started in sixth grade, a friend of mine who's now a five-star guard (Hamidou), I really hung with him. Him, Lenny Kadisha, and David Cole, we have a little group that goes around and plays all over the five boroughs."
With Cole set to attend Robert Morris University in the fall, Kadisha taking his game to the New Mexico Military Institute, and Diallo, who's gaining significant interest from power conference schools, Ogyiri also aspires to take his game to the height of college basketball where many other players strive to go, the Division-I level.
Martin Luther doesn't have a laundry list of past D-I talent, or even college basketball players in general, but Ogyiri, who has some Division-II interest, is seeking to buck that trend by playing in many high-exposure events in anticipation of a big senior season.
"I'm playing Live Periods, I'm playing Live in AC, Fab 48, I've been to a couple of HoopGroups, and I've been playing in a couple of local tournaments getting my name up," Ogyiri said. "I'm on a pursuit to get a Division-I scholarship."
In order to get to that level, Ogyiri understands the advantages of becoming better-rounded, and at his size, that means an adjustment to more of a pure point guard. The sweet shooter rattled off a game-high 23 points in a 70-50 victory in the 11th annual Queens Jam Christmas Classic, something he is looking to do with more regularity moving forward.
"Yeah I want to become more of a point guard because I'm short," Ogyiri said with a laugh. "I've got to get stronger, college coaches tell me I've got to get faster.
"I've just got to work at that, getting a better jumpshot and staying consistent is just where it's at right now," he added. "If I have 20 in one game and two the next game, I'm not really bettering myself or my team."
Follow Bryan Fonseca on Twitter at @BryanFonsecaNY.
Copyright 2020 Queens Ledger. All rights reserved.
Software Copyright © 2020 Sole Solution. Content Copyright © 2020 Queens Ledger. Business listing data provided in part by Localeze.
Queens Ledger - Breaking news, classifieds, businesses, events in Queens, New York. is in Queens, NY


Thanks to Raffy for a fun tour around downtown yesterday. We attended morning worship with friends, had a hearty Filipino lunch at Ongpin in Daly City, then hopped on the BART and the MUNI to get some cool photos at Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Then, after a few rounds of Hyperbowl at Metreon, we watched The Two Towers.
Afterwards, a quick jaunt to Union Square and a hearty Irish dinner of corned beef and cabbage at Lefty O'Toole's, then we headed home. Beautiful day to tour, lots of photos taken, and I even got to phoon the Wharf.
So today, I get to meet Rhesa of Creative Slips, and maybe even watch Two Towers again. And it's another beautiful, sunny day. San Francisco's being very good to me this Christmas.
The Two Towers. On an IMAX screen.


text:
Commentary OpinionCULTURE WARS
President Trump's 1st world tour versus Obama's
Exclusive: Chuck Norris on former president's 10 biggest apologies to Muslim nations
By Chuck Norris
Published May 21, 2017 at 5:24pm
Wow! How a decade can radically change U.S. relations in and with the rest of the world.
Eight years ago, President Obama went on his apology tour from the Middle East to Europe and China.
I'll never forget his Top 10 apologies or decries of America, as detailed by the Heritage Foundation:
1) Apology to France and Europe ("America has shown arrogance") in speech by President Obama, Rhenus Sports Arena, Strasbourg, France, April 3, 2009.
2) Apology to the Muslim world ("We have not been perfect") in President Obama's interview with Al Arabiya, Jan. 27, 2009.
3) Apology to the Summit of the Americas ("At times we sought to dictate our terms") in President Obama's address to the Summit of the Americas opening ceremony, Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17, 2009.
4) Apology at the G-20 Summit of World Leaders ("Some restoration of America's standing in the world") in the news conference by President Obama, ExCel Center, London, United Kingdom, April 2, 2009.
5) Apology for the War on Terror ("We went off course") in President Obama's speech at the National Archives, Washington, D.C., May 21, 2009.
6) Apology for Guantanamo in France ("Sacrificing your values") in speech by President Obama, Rhenus Sports Arena, Strasbourg, France, April 3, 2009.
7) Apology before the Turkish parliament ("Our own darker periods in our history") in speech by President Obama to the Turkish parliament, Ankara, Turkey, April 6, 2009.
8) Apology for U.S. policy toward the Americas ("The United States has not pursued and sustained engagement with our neighbors") in opinion editorial by President Obama: "Choosing a better future in the Americas," April 16, 2009.
9) Apology for the mistakes of the CIA ("Potentially we've made some mistakes") in remarks by the president to CIA employees, CIA headquarters, Langley, Virginia, April 20, 2009. The remarks followed the controversial decision to release Office of Legal Counsel memoranda detailing CIA enhanced interrogation techniques used against terrorist suspects.
10) Apology for Guantanamo in Washington ("A rallying cry for our enemies") in President Obama's speech at the National Archives, Washington, D.C., May 21, 2009.
And where did all of Obama's apologies and U.S. denigrations get us?
In 2012, Obama tried to convince an unconvinced American public that, "We can say with confidence and pride: The United States is stronger, safer and more respected in the world."
"Stronger, safer and more respected"?
Chuck Norris provides real solutions to our county's problems and a way to reawaken the American dream in his best-seller, "Black Belt Patriotism."
That was just a few years away from when he called ISIS a "JV team," too, remember? Shortly after, we began to learn of the barbaric atrocities done by ISIS in the name of Allah.
By the time of President Trump's inauguration, even CNN had to admit that "ISIS goes global: 143 attacks in 29 countries have killed 2,043."
The FBI also admitted that ISIS affiliates and sympathizers are in all 50 U.S. states, with 300 refugees who are presently subject of FBI terror investigations.
(Does Obama really sleep well after allowing ISIS' global expansion under his watch? In 2014, even his own former secretary of defense and past CIA director, Leon Panetta, laid 100 percent of the blame for ISIS growth at the feet of Obama's tragic and shortsighted policies in Iraq and Syria.)
I have to commend President Trump for starting his first world tour in a potential lion's den of the Middle East. First, he met with Saudi monarchy, signing defense deals worth billions of dollars. Then he met with more than 50 Muslim leaders from across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and admonished them to fight against ISIS with him without backing down from his position on American exceptionalism.
Just last year, then-President Obama was snubbed after landing in Saudi Araba and not even being greeted by King Salman. (Saudis looked with disdain upon the Obama administration, especially with their billions in donations to a pro-terrorist state like Iran.) How different was the reception for President Trump and first lady Melania, who were both warmly welcomed with an elaborate reception by the king and other members of the Saudi monarchy?
President Trump next heads to visit with the leaders of our greatest ally in the Middle East: Israel. In 2009, Obama intentionally avoided Israel, going from Saudi Arabia to Egypt, and then straight on to Europe. It took Obama five years (May 2013) – in the first year of his second term as president – to visit Israel. It took Trump only 120 days to get there.
Interestingly, just about a month ago, my wife, Gena, and I were in the holy land and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and prayed at the Western Wall. President Trump will do the same.
The president will also meet with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem, and try to facilitate an agreement that ends the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. Good luck!
Next, the president will fly to Rome and visit the pope at the Vatican. It has only taken President Trump 120 days into his presidency to visit the papacy. It took President Obama seven months (July 2010) to get to Rome, and a trip there was not repeated for another four years, well into his second term (2014). (It is interesting to note that President George W. Bush traveled to the Vatican more than any other American president.)
President Trump will wrap up his first presidential tour visiting leaders in Belgium and France and then going back to Italy for the 43rd G7 summit. He will finish by speaking to U.S. troops at Sigonella Naval Air Station. No doubt, he will have Memorial Day on his mind and speech, and pay tribute to our fallen heroes.
Outside of diplomacy and economic building, it's just right and good for all U.S. presidents to get out and experience other cultures as well befriend other global leaders on their own turf.
St. Augustine said, "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page."
Mark Twain spelled it out a little further: "Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one's lifetime."
Are you hungry for a fresh, inspiring look at the Bible? "The Restitution of All Things: Israel, Christians and the End of the Age" is available now.
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Chuck Norris is the star of more than 20 films and the long-running TV series "Walker, Texas Ranger." His latest book is entitled The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book." Learn more about his life and ministry at his official website, ChuckNorris.com.
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