On Sunday December 30, BMX website The Come Up and DC Shoes are hosting a Brett Banasiewicz Benefit Jam from 6 p.m. until midnight at Rye Airfield in Rye, New Hampshire. The event, packed with a lineup of dozens of top pro riders, is a fundraiser for the Athlete Recovery Fund with proceeds directly supporting Banasiewicz, a rider who sustained traumatic brain injuries in a crash in August during the LXVI BMX Invitational presented by Vans in Virginia Beach, Va.
"Brett's been improving a lot, but he still has a ways to go," Aaron Cooke, executive director of the Athlete Recovery Fund, told . "He's working on his mobility, strength, and balance, and just being able to get around on his own, leave the wheelchair behind, and work his way back to getting on a bike." (Earlier this week, a video was posted featuring Banasiewicz pedaling a BMX bike for the first time since his crash.)
Alfredo Mancuso, one of Banasiewicz' DC Shoes BMX teammates and the chief financial officer/chief information officer for The Come Up, says it was important to him bring the BMX community together over the holidays with Banasiewicz in mind.
"We wanted to do something for Brett to not only show support but also to help chip in with the medical bills and rehabilitation therapy and all the debt he's about to be in," Mancuso told. "When he woke up from his coma he basically had to re-learn how to do everything, but he's come a long way and Brett has a lot of friends. Once word got out that we were doing this event it sort of turned into this huge BMX community gathering on pretty short notice and it's pretty cool to see all these riders and brands, so many awesome people, coming together. It's going to be an awesome time, and there's actually a chance that Brett is going to be there himself if we can get all the details sorted out."
Mancuso will be riding at the event and says the Jam will also feature Banasiewicz's DC Shoes BMX teammates Kelly Bolton, Stevie Churchill, Mike Clark, Edwin De La Rosa, Chris Doyle, Ryan Jordan, Craig Mast, and Jeremiah Smith, as well as dozens of top pros including Van Homan, Ryan Guettler, and Jamie Bestwick. Tickets to watch the event are $10; for $20 attendees can ride in the jam with the pros.
Cooke says events like this are what have kept the ARF afloat and allowed the non-profit organization to help so many injured athletes in recent years.
"It's super critical to keep reminding people about the work we do and how the Athlete Recovery Fund can help in these worst-case scenarios, and events like this are awesome for that reason," Cooke says. "A lot of riders don't realize everything we do until they need our help, but we survive and thrive off of donations from the public, from various action sports brands and event organizers, and from the riders themselves. So it's a full-circle kind of thing, and it's awesome to see The Come Up, DC Shoes, and so many great companies and riders coming out in support of Brett and of the work we do."
In addition to direct work helping injured athletes and their families with recovery and rehabilitation costs, the ARF has been working with sport organizers and lobbying the action sports industry to improve safety measures. Earlier this month the ARF announced new rule changes, effective in 2013, for the X Games, Dew Tour, and the ASA Action Sports World Tour requiring the use of Consumer Product Safety Commission certified helmets in BMX competition. Banasiewicz was wearing a skateboard helmet not certified for bicycle use when he was injured, according to Cooke.
2012年12月28日星期五
2012年12月26日星期三
There was no shortage of volunteers to handle the holiday
For those who had nowhere else to go for Christmas, Carl Perron had a place. Perron rushed in and out of the downtown Mid-City Concerns kitchen Tuesday to serve Christmas meals for seniors and Spokane’s homeless.
“This young man has a tremendous background,” said Matthew “Pops” Bolar. “Every holiday he contributes and he takes it out of his pocket. That’s the crazy part.”
He once gave away the shoes off his feet, said volunteer Ron Jemison, who remembers the moment four years ago.
“We were just getting ready to turn off the lights when a gentleman asked if I had any shoestrings. I said no, but you can go ask Carl,” Jemison said.
Now it’s a tradition. Randall Sluder, 55, who said he lost his job as a maintenance man at a downtown motel last week, was this year’s recipient of a new pair of size 11 tennis shoes.
“Oh my gosh – the soles were starting to break down and all,” Sluder said, expecting to walk a lot in the new shoes, about an hour every morning.
After organizing a warm Christmas meal each of the past 13 years, Perron, 51, doesn’t tire of the effort he makes with the help of donors and volunteers from about five local churches.
“This is my family. My mom and dad are gone,” Perron said. “I’m not sure why I’m so emotional today. Maybe I need more sleep.”
Perron estimated they served about 140 guests, who all went home with an extra plate, and about 275 more meals went out to seniors via Meals on Wheels.
There was no shortage of volunteers to handle the holiday workload. Nearly 50 showed up to help serve the exquisite meal.
One of the youngest volunteers, Trevor Tuflija, a 9-year-old who goes to Hamblen Elementary School, helped serve the meal of brisket, turkey, stuffing and scalloped potatoes.
“It’s just very nice to volunteer. Everyone is happy and likes to talk to me and laughing. They’re entertained when they talk to me,” Tuflija said. His father was cooking in the kitchen.
At the event designed like a traditional family dinner, guests came together to celebrate.
“I’m enjoying the crowd, seeing old friends I don’t get to see very often,” said Ivan Brooks, sitting with his walking stick adorned with a horse hame.
This isn’t the only Christmas joy Brooks received on Tuesday. During his morning walk, a van pulled up beside him across from the downtown library. A “very nice fellow” opened the door and offered him a wrapped gift, Brooks said. Inside was a plaid winter shirt Brooks described as “moss green.” He tucked the present under his jacket for safekeeping.
The meal’s finale was topped off with a wide variety of pies, including homemade custard and fruit pies. Some guests tried as many types as possible, but others, like Sluder, just couldn’t make room for extra.
Eventually, nearly 300 pounds of brisket and 11 turkeys were consumed. Some of the extra pies found a good home with the volunteers.
Reflecting on the day, Perron said he feels blessed by the successful feast, describing it as an extension of his dining room.
“This young man has a tremendous background,” said Matthew “Pops” Bolar. “Every holiday he contributes and he takes it out of his pocket. That’s the crazy part.”
He once gave away the shoes off his feet, said volunteer Ron Jemison, who remembers the moment four years ago.
“We were just getting ready to turn off the lights when a gentleman asked if I had any shoestrings. I said no, but you can go ask Carl,” Jemison said.
Now it’s a tradition. Randall Sluder, 55, who said he lost his job as a maintenance man at a downtown motel last week, was this year’s recipient of a new pair of size 11 tennis shoes.
“Oh my gosh – the soles were starting to break down and all,” Sluder said, expecting to walk a lot in the new shoes, about an hour every morning.
After organizing a warm Christmas meal each of the past 13 years, Perron, 51, doesn’t tire of the effort he makes with the help of donors and volunteers from about five local churches.
“This is my family. My mom and dad are gone,” Perron said. “I’m not sure why I’m so emotional today. Maybe I need more sleep.”
Perron estimated they served about 140 guests, who all went home with an extra plate, and about 275 more meals went out to seniors via Meals on Wheels.
There was no shortage of volunteers to handle the holiday workload. Nearly 50 showed up to help serve the exquisite meal.
One of the youngest volunteers, Trevor Tuflija, a 9-year-old who goes to Hamblen Elementary School, helped serve the meal of brisket, turkey, stuffing and scalloped potatoes.
“It’s just very nice to volunteer. Everyone is happy and likes to talk to me and laughing. They’re entertained when they talk to me,” Tuflija said. His father was cooking in the kitchen.
At the event designed like a traditional family dinner, guests came together to celebrate.
“I’m enjoying the crowd, seeing old friends I don’t get to see very often,” said Ivan Brooks, sitting with his walking stick adorned with a horse hame.
This isn’t the only Christmas joy Brooks received on Tuesday. During his morning walk, a van pulled up beside him across from the downtown library. A “very nice fellow” opened the door and offered him a wrapped gift, Brooks said. Inside was a plaid winter shirt Brooks described as “moss green.” He tucked the present under his jacket for safekeeping.
The meal’s finale was topped off with a wide variety of pies, including homemade custard and fruit pies. Some guests tried as many types as possible, but others, like Sluder, just couldn’t make room for extra.
Eventually, nearly 300 pounds of brisket and 11 turkeys were consumed. Some of the extra pies found a good home with the volunteers.
Reflecting on the day, Perron said he feels blessed by the successful feast, describing it as an extension of his dining room.
2012年12月24日星期一
The Buena Marching Band has much on common with the Rotary
The Marching Band builds goodwill for audiences and members alike and the band is similar to a family — it feels safe.
Also, the band teaches discipline which is illustrated as rehearsals are held at 6 a.m. and in addition provides many leadership opportunities for members, such as section leader or band officer.
The band also helps students grow and develop, focusing on achieving what the student wishes to achieve. The Buena Marching Band has much on common with the Rotary 4-Way test. Tyler plans on attending the University of Arizona and studying music.
Patricia Peterson and Krystal Speed updated the club on the collection shoes by the Community Coalition for Haiti.
Currently, 3,000 pairs of shoes have been collected and are being stored at Horizon Moving and Storage until arrangements are finalized for shipment to Haiti.
Both thanked the club for all the support provided for the collection of shoes.
Col. Roger Sangvic (Chief of Staff, USA Intelligence Center) and Rebecca Pipik (director, Kids Hope USA Mentoring Program for Cochise County) introduced the Rotary Club to the goals and objectives of Kids Hope USA which provides a one-on-one adult relationship with at-risk children in elementary schools.
This program is a partnership between a local church congregation and an elementary school which pairs at-risk students with mentors to provide a supportive adult relationship.
Pipik explained that mentors are trained and provided support materials by Kids Hope USA and will spend one hour per week reading, talking, playing and listening to a child.
The goal of course, is to help that child feel loved and valued which are essential for a child to learn, grow and succeed in life.
Col. Sangvic explained Kids Hope USA began on Fort Huachuca as a means to make a difference in the lives of at-risk students.
This program focuses on support and currently there are nine Kids Hope USA mentors available on Fort Huachuca.
Thunder Mountain Community Church was the first religious group in Sierra Vista to sponsor a Kids Hope USA mentor program and currently has 17 mentors working with at-risk students.
Recently, the Village Meadows Baptist Church signed up to sponsor Kids Hope USA mentor program at Village Meadows Elementary School.
Pipik explained all training is provided for mentors as well as the materials required by Kids Hope USA.
This is a turn-key operation and provides a positive and meaningful way for church organizations to reach out to the community.
Currently, Kids Hope USA is seeking sponsoring church organizations for other schools in Sierra Vista as well as elsewhere in Cochise County.
The goal is to have a Kids Hope USA mentor program at every elementary school in Cochise County.
Also, the band teaches discipline which is illustrated as rehearsals are held at 6 a.m. and in addition provides many leadership opportunities for members, such as section leader or band officer.
The band also helps students grow and develop, focusing on achieving what the student wishes to achieve. The Buena Marching Band has much on common with the Rotary 4-Way test. Tyler plans on attending the University of Arizona and studying music.
Patricia Peterson and Krystal Speed updated the club on the collection shoes by the Community Coalition for Haiti.
Currently, 3,000 pairs of shoes have been collected and are being stored at Horizon Moving and Storage until arrangements are finalized for shipment to Haiti.
Both thanked the club for all the support provided for the collection of shoes.
Col. Roger Sangvic (Chief of Staff, USA Intelligence Center) and Rebecca Pipik (director, Kids Hope USA Mentoring Program for Cochise County) introduced the Rotary Club to the goals and objectives of Kids Hope USA which provides a one-on-one adult relationship with at-risk children in elementary schools.
This program is a partnership between a local church congregation and an elementary school which pairs at-risk students with mentors to provide a supportive adult relationship.
Pipik explained that mentors are trained and provided support materials by Kids Hope USA and will spend one hour per week reading, talking, playing and listening to a child.
The goal of course, is to help that child feel loved and valued which are essential for a child to learn, grow and succeed in life.
Col. Sangvic explained Kids Hope USA began on Fort Huachuca as a means to make a difference in the lives of at-risk students.
This program focuses on support and currently there are nine Kids Hope USA mentors available on Fort Huachuca.
Thunder Mountain Community Church was the first religious group in Sierra Vista to sponsor a Kids Hope USA mentor program and currently has 17 mentors working with at-risk students.
Recently, the Village Meadows Baptist Church signed up to sponsor Kids Hope USA mentor program at Village Meadows Elementary School.
Pipik explained all training is provided for mentors as well as the materials required by Kids Hope USA.
This is a turn-key operation and provides a positive and meaningful way for church organizations to reach out to the community.
Currently, Kids Hope USA is seeking sponsoring church organizations for other schools in Sierra Vista as well as elsewhere in Cochise County.
The goal is to have a Kids Hope USA mentor program at every elementary school in Cochise County.
2012年12月20日星期四
That year Congress also passed Medicaid
The United States is fighting a messy war alongside an unreliable ally in Asia, residents are deeply divided between conservatives and liberals, a new health care law just took effect and the nation is struggling with racial and ethnic divisions.
What's happening in the United States in 2012 could just as easily describe the nation in the 1960s: President Lyndon Baines Johnson escalating the war in Vietnam, defeating conservative Republican nominee Barry Goldwater, passing Medicare and pushing through landmark civil rights legislation.
An insider's look at how the Texan dealt with those challenges is on display at the newly remodeled LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, where the old 1970s-style exhibits now use 21st century technology to put visitors in Johnson's shoes. Mark Updegrove, the library's director, said the reopening comes as historians take a fresh look at Johnson's efforts to fight poverty and improve the health of the nation by creating a Great Society.
"The election of 2012 was a referendum on the Great Society programs put into place by President Johnson," he said. "If you look at what is happening in America today, the Great Society is so evident, in the Supreme Court taking a look at voting rights or racial quotas, and the Congress debating cuts to Medicare or PBS."
The new permanent exhibit takes advantage of the presidential archives, which includes 643 hours of recorded phone conversations between LBJ and dozens of people. At one station, a display resembling an old telephone booth plays key conversations about civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr., FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and others. After a yearlong renovation, the library reopens Friday in honor of first lady Lady Bird Johnson's 100th birthday.
The library also has a Vietnam "situation room" where an interactive display provides formerly secret documents and recordings of conversations with advisers such as Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. The display lets the visitor decide what they would do and then shows whether LBJ agreed. The computer screen then displays the consequences, with short videos of presidential historians explaining the significance of the decision.
LBJ's biggest accomplishments, though, are the Great Society programs that extended life expectancies, reduced poverty and banned discrimination. An exhibit shows how he used his years of experience in Congress to push through some of the most iconic laws in the nation's history, including Medicare.
"Every social issue we're dealing with now, Johnson tried to tackle it," said historian Douglas Brinkley of Rice University in Houston. He added that "the season is right for a revisionist look" at Johnson, with a focus on his domestic achievements.
Updegrove, who this year authored "Indomitable Will: LBJ in the Presidency," said that when LBJ took over after President John F. Kennedy's assassination, the U.S. poverty rate was at about 20 percent. It plunged to 12 percent, by the time he left office. Poverty in the United States hit an all-time low of 11 percent just after LBJ left office, then went up to 15 percent under President Ronald Reagan, where it remains today.
Medicare was the Affordable Care Act of its time, providing federally administered health care to all people 65-years-old or older. Reagan, a young conservative at the time, called Medicare a socialized medicine scheme that would bring an end to freedom in America. More than 45 years later, the program is one of the most popular in the nation.
That year Congress also passed Medicaid, the joint state-federal health care program for the poor. President Barack Obama tried to expand Medicaid coverage through his health care overhaul, but a dozen Republican governors around the country have refused.
LBJ also passed major civil rights legislation that guaranteed people of all races the right to vote, access to public services and to equal opportunity. Yet LBJ's decision to expand the war in Vietnam remains his foremost legacy, something Updegrove believes is changing.
"We haven't properly honored Johnson's herculean domestic achievements," said Brinkley, the historian from Rice University. "It got overshadowed by the Vietnam War. Half a century later we can see that a lot of what Johnson did has stuck."
For now, though, Democrats rarely invoke LBJ's name, and Republicans use the phrase "Great Society" to ridicule social justice proposals. But Updegrove said politicians of all stripes could learn a lot from how Johnson forged consensus.
"The conversations are a primer in how to get things done in Washington," he said. "If you listen to those conversations you can hear how remarkably effective LBJ was at getting things done and they serve as an example of Washington can do."
What's happening in the United States in 2012 could just as easily describe the nation in the 1960s: President Lyndon Baines Johnson escalating the war in Vietnam, defeating conservative Republican nominee Barry Goldwater, passing Medicare and pushing through landmark civil rights legislation.
An insider's look at how the Texan dealt with those challenges is on display at the newly remodeled LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, where the old 1970s-style exhibits now use 21st century technology to put visitors in Johnson's shoes. Mark Updegrove, the library's director, said the reopening comes as historians take a fresh look at Johnson's efforts to fight poverty and improve the health of the nation by creating a Great Society.
"The election of 2012 was a referendum on the Great Society programs put into place by President Johnson," he said. "If you look at what is happening in America today, the Great Society is so evident, in the Supreme Court taking a look at voting rights or racial quotas, and the Congress debating cuts to Medicare or PBS."
The new permanent exhibit takes advantage of the presidential archives, which includes 643 hours of recorded phone conversations between LBJ and dozens of people. At one station, a display resembling an old telephone booth plays key conversations about civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr., FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and others. After a yearlong renovation, the library reopens Friday in honor of first lady Lady Bird Johnson's 100th birthday.
The library also has a Vietnam "situation room" where an interactive display provides formerly secret documents and recordings of conversations with advisers such as Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. The display lets the visitor decide what they would do and then shows whether LBJ agreed. The computer screen then displays the consequences, with short videos of presidential historians explaining the significance of the decision.
LBJ's biggest accomplishments, though, are the Great Society programs that extended life expectancies, reduced poverty and banned discrimination. An exhibit shows how he used his years of experience in Congress to push through some of the most iconic laws in the nation's history, including Medicare.
"Every social issue we're dealing with now, Johnson tried to tackle it," said historian Douglas Brinkley of Rice University in Houston. He added that "the season is right for a revisionist look" at Johnson, with a focus on his domestic achievements.
Updegrove, who this year authored "Indomitable Will: LBJ in the Presidency," said that when LBJ took over after President John F. Kennedy's assassination, the U.S. poverty rate was at about 20 percent. It plunged to 12 percent, by the time he left office. Poverty in the United States hit an all-time low of 11 percent just after LBJ left office, then went up to 15 percent under President Ronald Reagan, where it remains today.
Medicare was the Affordable Care Act of its time, providing federally administered health care to all people 65-years-old or older. Reagan, a young conservative at the time, called Medicare a socialized medicine scheme that would bring an end to freedom in America. More than 45 years later, the program is one of the most popular in the nation.
That year Congress also passed Medicaid, the joint state-federal health care program for the poor. President Barack Obama tried to expand Medicaid coverage through his health care overhaul, but a dozen Republican governors around the country have refused.
LBJ also passed major civil rights legislation that guaranteed people of all races the right to vote, access to public services and to equal opportunity. Yet LBJ's decision to expand the war in Vietnam remains his foremost legacy, something Updegrove believes is changing.
"We haven't properly honored Johnson's herculean domestic achievements," said Brinkley, the historian from Rice University. "It got overshadowed by the Vietnam War. Half a century later we can see that a lot of what Johnson did has stuck."
For now, though, Democrats rarely invoke LBJ's name, and Republicans use the phrase "Great Society" to ridicule social justice proposals. But Updegrove said politicians of all stripes could learn a lot from how Johnson forged consensus.
"The conversations are a primer in how to get things done in Washington," he said. "If you listen to those conversations you can hear how remarkably effective LBJ was at getting things done and they serve as an example of Washington can do."
2012年12月18日星期二
I would rather give a monetary gift to those
They spent the summers collecting and canning many jars of food for the winter. We had cows for milk and butter, meat for the table, and chickens for eggs. Kind of self-sufficient. My folks came from Germany with their clothes on their back and couldn't speak the language — yet they made it.
We got no food stamps, or welfare, and there were no government hand outs. So, our Christmases were unlike today. For presents we kids got gloves, a stocking cap, shoes or a warm coat, and we were thrilled to get them.
Unlike today, toys were pretty well out of the question. I am amazed at the expensive toys the kids of today get and I don't think they are appreciated as much as we were with our meager gifts. Go to a home today with kids a few days or week after Christmas, and see broken toys scattered all over the house, in the yard, and often covered with snow until spring.
I buy few if any gifts. I would rather give a monetary gift to those who are less fortunate than I am. Instead, I enjoy making my own Christmas cards from pictures I take on the farm. I them take them to the store for processing. I make 150 for my many friends and relatives.
My cards all say, "Merry Christmas," no season greetings, or happy holidays. I believe in keeping "Christ" in Christmas — after all, Jesus is the reason for the season. People call me and say they kept all the cards I ever made over the last 20 years or so.
The Christmas Eve service is special to us at Trinity Lutheran of Glen Savage. The little kids sing, "Away in the Manger" and other songs, then each has a recitation followed by a skit in costumes. Then there is the adult choir, singing carols, after that our Pastor Paul Yanke has the Christmas message. He teaches the word of God in its truth and purity. We Missouri Lutherans sometimes are called the "strict" Lutherans. We do not go along with churches that support abortion, same sex marriage, or the ordination of gay clergy, all which is clearly defined in the Bible. Pastor Paul may step on a few toes in these matters, but so be it. Bless you Pastor Paul!
Kids' styles were almost like adults'. The most popular designer of that era was Uncle Sam. We went directly from patched blue jeans and high-top, black tennis shoes to army-style cargo-pants and black combat boots with buckles on the top. The winter coats were wool, and scarves, ear muffs and army-green wool gloves plus knit-tassel caps with a yarn ball on the top were all the rage.
I'll admit that I had a few affectations in those days, nothing like I do today. For example, I wanted my blue jeans to have noticeably ironed creases in the front, and I loved to wear button-down-collar shirts. It was not unusual for me to wear long underwear, but these cotton long johns were always white, and I really hated when they showed in the space between my socks and my pants cuffs or rolled up blue jeans. So, I remember spending a lot of time pulling down on my pants or pulling up on my socks.
A few weeks before Christmas, my dad always managed to buy the craziest looking Christmas tree on the lot. It was usually a long-needled Scotch pine tree that always lost half of its needles by the third day of its inside existence. We had shiny, bright, very fragile glass ornaments, and boxes of lead-based icicles that we placed on the branches one-by-one, by hand, until they produced a delicate icy look. Mom and dad were responsible for stringing the lights and supervising the hanging of the balls and controlling the meticulous stringing of the icicles. Some hand-strung popcorn, and an outsized white angel topped off the decorations along with a fluffy cotton, snow-like tree skirt casually wrapped around the trunk.
Our wish lists were relatively modest with requests for things like Lincoln Logs or Block City (a precursor to Legos), a Winky Dink and You with Magic Kit (plastic screen/crayons/eraser), and a truck or some plastic toy soldiers. Of course grandmothers came through with a little cash and underwear, and aunts always provided at least one or two pairs of argyle socks.
My paper route customers gave me some handkerchiefs, a 50-cent piece here or there and plenty of hot chocolate. Expectations were carefully managed by my mom who would say, "Nicky, don't expect much from Mrs. Musser or Mrs. Coter because they are living on their Social Security checks just like your grandmothers."
I'm not sure how much Social Security checks were in those days, but if I got a $5 bill from my Italian grandparents, it was an enormous gift. My English/Scot- Irish grandmother was even more frugal with gifts that came from her change purse because she had so many grandkids, but it was the thought that counted, and even as little kids we knew not to expect much in the way of cash from our elders.
We got no food stamps, or welfare, and there were no government hand outs. So, our Christmases were unlike today. For presents we kids got gloves, a stocking cap, shoes or a warm coat, and we were thrilled to get them.
Unlike today, toys were pretty well out of the question. I am amazed at the expensive toys the kids of today get and I don't think they are appreciated as much as we were with our meager gifts. Go to a home today with kids a few days or week after Christmas, and see broken toys scattered all over the house, in the yard, and often covered with snow until spring.
I buy few if any gifts. I would rather give a monetary gift to those who are less fortunate than I am. Instead, I enjoy making my own Christmas cards from pictures I take on the farm. I them take them to the store for processing. I make 150 for my many friends and relatives.
My cards all say, "Merry Christmas," no season greetings, or happy holidays. I believe in keeping "Christ" in Christmas — after all, Jesus is the reason for the season. People call me and say they kept all the cards I ever made over the last 20 years or so.
The Christmas Eve service is special to us at Trinity Lutheran of Glen Savage. The little kids sing, "Away in the Manger" and other songs, then each has a recitation followed by a skit in costumes. Then there is the adult choir, singing carols, after that our Pastor Paul Yanke has the Christmas message. He teaches the word of God in its truth and purity. We Missouri Lutherans sometimes are called the "strict" Lutherans. We do not go along with churches that support abortion, same sex marriage, or the ordination of gay clergy, all which is clearly defined in the Bible. Pastor Paul may step on a few toes in these matters, but so be it. Bless you Pastor Paul!
Kids' styles were almost like adults'. The most popular designer of that era was Uncle Sam. We went directly from patched blue jeans and high-top, black tennis shoes to army-style cargo-pants and black combat boots with buckles on the top. The winter coats were wool, and scarves, ear muffs and army-green wool gloves plus knit-tassel caps with a yarn ball on the top were all the rage.
I'll admit that I had a few affectations in those days, nothing like I do today. For example, I wanted my blue jeans to have noticeably ironed creases in the front, and I loved to wear button-down-collar shirts. It was not unusual for me to wear long underwear, but these cotton long johns were always white, and I really hated when they showed in the space between my socks and my pants cuffs or rolled up blue jeans. So, I remember spending a lot of time pulling down on my pants or pulling up on my socks.
A few weeks before Christmas, my dad always managed to buy the craziest looking Christmas tree on the lot. It was usually a long-needled Scotch pine tree that always lost half of its needles by the third day of its inside existence. We had shiny, bright, very fragile glass ornaments, and boxes of lead-based icicles that we placed on the branches one-by-one, by hand, until they produced a delicate icy look. Mom and dad were responsible for stringing the lights and supervising the hanging of the balls and controlling the meticulous stringing of the icicles. Some hand-strung popcorn, and an outsized white angel topped off the decorations along with a fluffy cotton, snow-like tree skirt casually wrapped around the trunk.
Our wish lists were relatively modest with requests for things like Lincoln Logs or Block City (a precursor to Legos), a Winky Dink and You with Magic Kit (plastic screen/crayons/eraser), and a truck or some plastic toy soldiers. Of course grandmothers came through with a little cash and underwear, and aunts always provided at least one or two pairs of argyle socks.
My paper route customers gave me some handkerchiefs, a 50-cent piece here or there and plenty of hot chocolate. Expectations were carefully managed by my mom who would say, "Nicky, don't expect much from Mrs. Musser or Mrs. Coter because they are living on their Social Security checks just like your grandmothers."
I'm not sure how much Social Security checks were in those days, but if I got a $5 bill from my Italian grandparents, it was an enormous gift. My English/Scot- Irish grandmother was even more frugal with gifts that came from her change purse because she had so many grandkids, but it was the thought that counted, and even as little kids we knew not to expect much in the way of cash from our elders.
2012年12月16日星期日
How about putting a time limit on how long you can remain on elfare?
When I was growing up it was an embarrassment to be on welfare. It meant that you could not take care of your own family. Unfortunately nowadays the motto seems to be why take care of your family when the government will do it for you?
It used to be that welfare was a helping hand to help people get back on their feet – now it has become a way of life. But you know, what amazes me the most is that these people on welfare have money for cigarettes (which I quit smoking due to the price!), beer, cars, trucks, brand name clothes and shoes, tattoos, manicures, pedicures and let's not forget the newest cellphones that are out.
The only thing they can't afford is their actual living expenses such as rent, doctor bills and food – you know, all those pesky bills that the rest of us pay! I don't know about you, but I do without a lot of things so that I can provide for my children! If you can't provide for your child, then you shouldn't be having children. Maybe instead of handing out food stamps, free medical care and money, they should start handing out birth control!
It just amazes me when I am at the grocery store and people are paying with their “card.” They load up on junk food, sodas, ready-made food, etc. Let's be honest here – why should they be allowed to buy ready-made foods? It is not as if they don't have time to cook, since most of them don't work!
I am also aware of a “lady” who is on welfare who buys all the items she needs to run her taco stand in Somerton, so we are footing the bill for her business! This is a fact!
I guess unfortunately for me, my mother raised me NOT to lie, cheat or steal, so therefore I can't get on welfare! Whose job is it to check and verify everything regarding the applicants? I think that something needs to be done, and soon!
How about putting a time limit on how long you can remain on welfare? You get 6 months to a year to get on your feet, and after that you are on your own! I have three children, and each time I had another child my employer did not give me an automatic raise because my family was increasing – yet that is exactly what welfare does!
Does anyone not see how wrong this picture is? It is time for the hard-working Americans to stop being penalized and stop rewarding the people who don't take care of themselves or their families!
If I could afford it I would move to Australia, but unfortunately I am too busy working and taking care of my family, as well as supporting all the people on welfare!
After being blanked by Atlanta, the New York Giants have to worry about being shut out of the playoffs.
Eli Manning and the defending Super Bowl champions were held scoreless in a regular-season game for the first time in 16 years. Manning threw two first-half interceptions in his worst performance in five years and the Giants were stopped on three fourth-down plays in their 34-0 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
The Giants' first regular-season shutout loss since falling 24-0 at Philadelphia on Dec. 1, 1996 cost New York sole possession of first place in the NFC East. The Washington Redskins beat Cleveland to pull even with the Giants (8-6), and the Dallas Cowboys played later Sunday with a chance to make it a three-way tie.
"Atlanta was very, very good and we were very, very bad," said Giants coach Tom Coughlin. "We started the game off doing exactly what we said we couldn't do, which was turn the ball over."
Manning completed 13 of 25 passes for 161 yards with two interceptions for a 38.9 quarterback rating, his lowest since a 32.2 rating in a win at Buffalo in 2007. The first interception was on New York's second play, giving the Falcons possession at the Giants 16-yard line. Asante Samuel picked off a pass intended for Hakeem Nicks. Four straight runs by Michael Turner gave Atlanta a 7-0 lead.
It used to be that welfare was a helping hand to help people get back on their feet – now it has become a way of life. But you know, what amazes me the most is that these people on welfare have money for cigarettes (which I quit smoking due to the price!), beer, cars, trucks, brand name clothes and shoes, tattoos, manicures, pedicures and let's not forget the newest cellphones that are out.
The only thing they can't afford is their actual living expenses such as rent, doctor bills and food – you know, all those pesky bills that the rest of us pay! I don't know about you, but I do without a lot of things so that I can provide for my children! If you can't provide for your child, then you shouldn't be having children. Maybe instead of handing out food stamps, free medical care and money, they should start handing out birth control!
It just amazes me when I am at the grocery store and people are paying with their “card.” They load up on junk food, sodas, ready-made food, etc. Let's be honest here – why should they be allowed to buy ready-made foods? It is not as if they don't have time to cook, since most of them don't work!
I am also aware of a “lady” who is on welfare who buys all the items she needs to run her taco stand in Somerton, so we are footing the bill for her business! This is a fact!
I guess unfortunately for me, my mother raised me NOT to lie, cheat or steal, so therefore I can't get on welfare! Whose job is it to check and verify everything regarding the applicants? I think that something needs to be done, and soon!
How about putting a time limit on how long you can remain on welfare? You get 6 months to a year to get on your feet, and after that you are on your own! I have three children, and each time I had another child my employer did not give me an automatic raise because my family was increasing – yet that is exactly what welfare does!
Does anyone not see how wrong this picture is? It is time for the hard-working Americans to stop being penalized and stop rewarding the people who don't take care of themselves or their families!
If I could afford it I would move to Australia, but unfortunately I am too busy working and taking care of my family, as well as supporting all the people on welfare!
After being blanked by Atlanta, the New York Giants have to worry about being shut out of the playoffs.
Eli Manning and the defending Super Bowl champions were held scoreless in a regular-season game for the first time in 16 years. Manning threw two first-half interceptions in his worst performance in five years and the Giants were stopped on three fourth-down plays in their 34-0 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
The Giants' first regular-season shutout loss since falling 24-0 at Philadelphia on Dec. 1, 1996 cost New York sole possession of first place in the NFC East. The Washington Redskins beat Cleveland to pull even with the Giants (8-6), and the Dallas Cowboys played later Sunday with a chance to make it a three-way tie.
"Atlanta was very, very good and we were very, very bad," said Giants coach Tom Coughlin. "We started the game off doing exactly what we said we couldn't do, which was turn the ball over."
Manning completed 13 of 25 passes for 161 yards with two interceptions for a 38.9 quarterback rating, his lowest since a 32.2 rating in a win at Buffalo in 2007. The first interception was on New York's second play, giving the Falcons possession at the Giants 16-yard line. Asante Samuel picked off a pass intended for Hakeem Nicks. Four straight runs by Michael Turner gave Atlanta a 7-0 lead.
2012年12月12日星期三
who complain about all the vacations
Great news! The outgoing Congress has passed the fewest number of laws since any Congress in the last 70 years. The Founding Fathers would be proud, and as a conservative I am pretty impressed. Instead of raising our taxes, increasing regulations, making life more difficult for citizens and businesses everywhere, the current Congress has done its part by sitting on its collective hands and passing as few laws as possible, specifically 196 at last count. This is great — let freedom ring!
Of course, you would never know of this great accomplishment by reading the NBC News First Read website. Bemoaning the low congressional approval rates, Kyle Inskeep of NBC News recently wrote that the current Congress is the “least productive Congress since the 1940’s” because it has passed so few laws. We can’t have that. The next-least productive Congress, which lasted from 1995-1996, enacted a mere 333 laws.
According to Inskeepf, an active Congress passing as many laws as possible is a good Congress. Even out-going Republican Senator Olympia Snowe got into the act, complaining that “I do find it frustrating, however, that an atmosphere of polarization and ‘my way or the highway’ ideologies have become pervasive in campaigns and in our governing institutions.”
I hope no one on our side is falling for this. When Congress makes laws, money is taken away from someone, business is made more difficult, the fiscal hole our country is in gets dug even deeper. And when fewer laws are made, less of our freedoms are taken away and less money is blown. A Beltway reporter like Inskeep or a politician like Senator Snowe might not see it this way, but people outside of Washington DC are better off when fewer laws are passed.
Kind of reminds me of some conservatives who complain about all the vacations taken by the Obama family, or the fact that President Obama plays so much golf. A few days after the election there was a blog entry at Weekly Standard, reporting with disgust that right after the election President Obama headed to the golf course. In the past, President Obama has also been sneeringly referred to as the “Golfer in Chief.”
People, let’s be clear: the more President Obama plays golf, the less damage he can do from the Oval Office. Yes, our country is much better off when President Obama is on the golf course. For a few precious hours, we can know that things will not get worse.
Take for example President Obama’s trip to a global nuclear summit last March in South Korea. President Obama was actually caught on an open microphone telling the Russians that “after the election I will have more flexibility,” then he looked around guiltily, hoping no one else had heard what he just said.
At that point there were a number of smaller countries that were put on notice: you may be invaded by the Russians just like ex-Soviet Georgia was in 2008. Would American or NATO soldiers rush onto a battlefield because the Russians invaded some friend of ours? Possibly.
But the point is, wouldn’t we all have rather President Obama spent a nice, relaxing weekend on a golf course somewhere instead of going to South Korea that weekend? And this is just in foreign affairs. Instead of passing Dodd-Frank, Obamacare or the $800 billion stimulus, wouldn’t it have been preferable to have President Obama spend some time golfing?
As far as I am concerned we should sign up President Obama for the PGA Tour. The more time he spends on the golf course the less time he will be in the Oval Office doing damage to our country. Or maybe we can all pass around the hat and buy President Obama a membership at Pebble Beach.
Here’s an idea: let President Obama endorse golf stuff. Where is it written that a sitting president cannot endorse golf balls, shoes or clothing? In fact, “the Barry Putter” has a nice ring to it. (Well, let’s face it, a wedge might be more appropriate.) And who knows? Rush Limbaugh might even be willing to interview President Obama on his show to promote the new Obama putter.
A few years ago it was the liberals who complained whenever President George W. Bush went to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, to clear brush with his chainsaw.
And chainsaws are dangerous. With all the best-selling books, movies, plays and liberal comedians waxing so eloquently about President Bush dying or somehow getting assassinated, you would think that liberals would want President Bush out of the Oval Office and on his ranch, wrestling with his chainsaw. He could have been seriously injured by that chainsaw. But no, the liberals who hated President Bush so much actually complained when he went to his ranch in Texas! It made no sense at all.
We conservatives need to be consistent here, and we need to keep our eyes on the prize: it is a good thing when Congress passes very few laws, and it is a very good thing when President Obama takes the afternoon off to go to the golf course. In fact, President Obama needs to stay on the golf course as much as possible.
Of course, you would never know of this great accomplishment by reading the NBC News First Read website. Bemoaning the low congressional approval rates, Kyle Inskeep of NBC News recently wrote that the current Congress is the “least productive Congress since the 1940’s” because it has passed so few laws. We can’t have that. The next-least productive Congress, which lasted from 1995-1996, enacted a mere 333 laws.
According to Inskeepf, an active Congress passing as many laws as possible is a good Congress. Even out-going Republican Senator Olympia Snowe got into the act, complaining that “I do find it frustrating, however, that an atmosphere of polarization and ‘my way or the highway’ ideologies have become pervasive in campaigns and in our governing institutions.”
I hope no one on our side is falling for this. When Congress makes laws, money is taken away from someone, business is made more difficult, the fiscal hole our country is in gets dug even deeper. And when fewer laws are made, less of our freedoms are taken away and less money is blown. A Beltway reporter like Inskeep or a politician like Senator Snowe might not see it this way, but people outside of Washington DC are better off when fewer laws are passed.
Kind of reminds me of some conservatives who complain about all the vacations taken by the Obama family, or the fact that President Obama plays so much golf. A few days after the election there was a blog entry at Weekly Standard, reporting with disgust that right after the election President Obama headed to the golf course. In the past, President Obama has also been sneeringly referred to as the “Golfer in Chief.”
People, let’s be clear: the more President Obama plays golf, the less damage he can do from the Oval Office. Yes, our country is much better off when President Obama is on the golf course. For a few precious hours, we can know that things will not get worse.
Take for example President Obama’s trip to a global nuclear summit last March in South Korea. President Obama was actually caught on an open microphone telling the Russians that “after the election I will have more flexibility,” then he looked around guiltily, hoping no one else had heard what he just said.
At that point there were a number of smaller countries that were put on notice: you may be invaded by the Russians just like ex-Soviet Georgia was in 2008. Would American or NATO soldiers rush onto a battlefield because the Russians invaded some friend of ours? Possibly.
But the point is, wouldn’t we all have rather President Obama spent a nice, relaxing weekend on a golf course somewhere instead of going to South Korea that weekend? And this is just in foreign affairs. Instead of passing Dodd-Frank, Obamacare or the $800 billion stimulus, wouldn’t it have been preferable to have President Obama spend some time golfing?
As far as I am concerned we should sign up President Obama for the PGA Tour. The more time he spends on the golf course the less time he will be in the Oval Office doing damage to our country. Or maybe we can all pass around the hat and buy President Obama a membership at Pebble Beach.
Here’s an idea: let President Obama endorse golf stuff. Where is it written that a sitting president cannot endorse golf balls, shoes or clothing? In fact, “the Barry Putter” has a nice ring to it. (Well, let’s face it, a wedge might be more appropriate.) And who knows? Rush Limbaugh might even be willing to interview President Obama on his show to promote the new Obama putter.
A few years ago it was the liberals who complained whenever President George W. Bush went to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, to clear brush with his chainsaw.
And chainsaws are dangerous. With all the best-selling books, movies, plays and liberal comedians waxing so eloquently about President Bush dying or somehow getting assassinated, you would think that liberals would want President Bush out of the Oval Office and on his ranch, wrestling with his chainsaw. He could have been seriously injured by that chainsaw. But no, the liberals who hated President Bush so much actually complained when he went to his ranch in Texas! It made no sense at all.
We conservatives need to be consistent here, and we need to keep our eyes on the prize: it is a good thing when Congress passes very few laws, and it is a very good thing when President Obama takes the afternoon off to go to the golf course. In fact, President Obama needs to stay on the golf course as much as possible.
2012年12月10日星期一
Johnson-Lynch disappointed with postseason play
Riding a 10-match winning streak highlighted by an upset of No. 3 Texas at home to close out the regular season, the Cyclones (22-8, 13-3 Big 12) were on fire.
But then Selection Sunday happened, when the team was told it would host the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament as the No. 15 seed. The following day at practice, coach Christy Johnson-Lynch sensed something was different and her team wasn’t the same.
“We were great against Texas,” Johnson-Lynch said in her final news conference of the year on Monday. “I thought it was our best match of the year and after that we just never played well again.”
Against I-P Fort Wayne and North Carolina, the Cyclones needed five sets to get through each match. Prior to the NCAA tournament, Iowa State had only played two five-set matches against Texas during the entire conference season.
Senior Jamie Straube couldn’t quite put her finger on it either, but said she thought the will to win got the best of them.
“I think it was a little bit of excitement but I think in a way we were putting a lot of pressure on ourselves,” Straube said. “We had high expectations — we’re all pretty driven players and we want to do our very best — so we were on a mission I think but there’s that balance of knowing when to back off and let it happen and when to keep pushing forward.”
In both the first- and second-round matches, the Cyclones put themselves in win-or-go-home situations. Each time, Iowa State won the first set but dropped the second and third to put Hilton Coliseum on edge. The Cyclones went on to win the fourth and fifth sets both times to advance.
Johnson-Lynch noticed the nervous demeanor among her players as well.
When asked about if it was a little too much for the freshmen to handle in their first year, Johnson-Lynch was quick to point out that it wasn’t just the newcomers who were out of their element.
“I think that was everybody,” Johnson-Lynch said. “No one but [Rachel] Hockaday really put up very good numbers against Stanford, so it wasn’t like we had a lot of freshmen and we’re young.”
The Cyclones capped off what Johnson-Lynch called a really disappointing final two weeks with Stanford on Friday. Stanford handed Iowa State its first sweep since Oct. 3 at Kansas State in a match the Cyclones couldn’t seem to find a rhythm.
The Cardinal finished with 49 kills to Iowa State’s 35 and Victoria Hurtt led the Cyclones with seven. With volleyball, offensive and defensive production often goes hand-in-hand and Straube said it was one of the reasons for the low offensive numbers.
“When we’re digging balls and we’re playing tough defense, all our offense just goes with it," Straube said. "But I think we weren’t playing very good defense and they were coming at us from the outside and then they’d hit us with the middle and they just had so many great attackers.
"I don’t think we ever got into our defensive groove and that kind of affected our offense a little bit."
Johnson-Lynch was quick to note it was one of her most memorable seasons she’s ever had at Iowa State.
It’s not an easy feat to make NCAA tournament appearances year-in and year-out but now it’s back to the drawing board and maybe next year the team's NCAA tournament residency will last a little longer.
“I think most programs would kill to be in our shoes and to have been in the Sweet 16 this many times and to finish, again, in the top-16 in the country on one hand is a remarkable season," Johnson-Lynch said. "On the other hand I wish we could have played a lot better those last three matches."
But then Selection Sunday happened, when the team was told it would host the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament as the No. 15 seed. The following day at practice, coach Christy Johnson-Lynch sensed something was different and her team wasn’t the same.
“We were great against Texas,” Johnson-Lynch said in her final news conference of the year on Monday. “I thought it was our best match of the year and after that we just never played well again.”
Against I-P Fort Wayne and North Carolina, the Cyclones needed five sets to get through each match. Prior to the NCAA tournament, Iowa State had only played two five-set matches against Texas during the entire conference season.
Senior Jamie Straube couldn’t quite put her finger on it either, but said she thought the will to win got the best of them.
“I think it was a little bit of excitement but I think in a way we were putting a lot of pressure on ourselves,” Straube said. “We had high expectations — we’re all pretty driven players and we want to do our very best — so we were on a mission I think but there’s that balance of knowing when to back off and let it happen and when to keep pushing forward.”
In both the first- and second-round matches, the Cyclones put themselves in win-or-go-home situations. Each time, Iowa State won the first set but dropped the second and third to put Hilton Coliseum on edge. The Cyclones went on to win the fourth and fifth sets both times to advance.
Johnson-Lynch noticed the nervous demeanor among her players as well.
When asked about if it was a little too much for the freshmen to handle in their first year, Johnson-Lynch was quick to point out that it wasn’t just the newcomers who were out of their element.
“I think that was everybody,” Johnson-Lynch said. “No one but [Rachel] Hockaday really put up very good numbers against Stanford, so it wasn’t like we had a lot of freshmen and we’re young.”
The Cyclones capped off what Johnson-Lynch called a really disappointing final two weeks with Stanford on Friday. Stanford handed Iowa State its first sweep since Oct. 3 at Kansas State in a match the Cyclones couldn’t seem to find a rhythm.
The Cardinal finished with 49 kills to Iowa State’s 35 and Victoria Hurtt led the Cyclones with seven. With volleyball, offensive and defensive production often goes hand-in-hand and Straube said it was one of the reasons for the low offensive numbers.
“When we’re digging balls and we’re playing tough defense, all our offense just goes with it," Straube said. "But I think we weren’t playing very good defense and they were coming at us from the outside and then they’d hit us with the middle and they just had so many great attackers.
"I don’t think we ever got into our defensive groove and that kind of affected our offense a little bit."
Johnson-Lynch was quick to note it was one of her most memorable seasons she’s ever had at Iowa State.
It’s not an easy feat to make NCAA tournament appearances year-in and year-out but now it’s back to the drawing board and maybe next year the team's NCAA tournament residency will last a little longer.
“I think most programs would kill to be in our shoes and to have been in the Sweet 16 this many times and to finish, again, in the top-16 in the country on one hand is a remarkable season," Johnson-Lynch said. "On the other hand I wish we could have played a lot better those last three matches."
2012年12月6日星期四
marketing in the airline industry
Many people are familiar with Delesprie's lifelike bronze sculptures: the man sitting on a bench reading a newspaper at The Promenade at Westlake, his children playing nearby, and the proud Chumash Indian holding his bow to the sky atop a fountain at the Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks.
The petite, attractive sculptor's clients are as diverse as Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue and the Rev. Robert Schuller. Subjects include animals and angels, adults and children, the familiar and the unknown.
"All my inspiration comes from God," said the Westlake Village artist, whose name means "from the spirit" in French. "It's way too much for me. I look at my work and say, 'I didn't really do that, did I?' "
Delesprie started sculpting as a teenager, living in Montreal, gathering clay from the riverbank and sculpting natives.
She came from a family of artists: her mother was a painter; her sister is a sculptor of miniatures. Her dad was a photographer working for the Montreal Star and did photo engraving.
"We all worked with our hands," she said.
Her mother wanted to send her to art school, but there wasn't enough money.
"I had been given a gift and I knew I was good at it," she said. "I was trying to hone in on it on my own it without any direction. I didn't think I could make a living at it and so I got my degrees in other fields."
Delesprie worked as a flight attendant and attended Loyola University in Montreal and CSU Northridge, earning degrees in business and counseling, but also taking art classes.
"I was planning to go into advertising and marketing in the airline industry," she said.
"But I was sculpting on the kitchen table. People would say, 'I could sell that.' "
One of those early sculptures was seen by Michael Wayne, John Wayne's son. He commissioned her for a sculpture.
"From there, it just snowballed," she said. "It was that statue that the Autrys saw, and that led to the Autry monument at Griffith Park."
From there, she received more commissions to do public and private sculptures.But despite her success as a sculptor, Delesprie had felt unsettled in her private life since childhood.
"I always had a lot of nervous energy, always felt there was something missing from my life," she said. In 1981, she met a woman, a Messianic Jew, who invited her to attend Bible study classes.
Delesprie begins her pieces by meeting with the client and discussing the mission statement.
"The best ones are when they give the artist the go-ahead," she said. "If you come up with the idea, you're going to be a lot more inspired to accomplish it."
After she gets approval for the sketch, she builds the armature, then sculpts a flat silhouette.
"You have to get it right on the inside for it to be right on the outside," she said.
"The monument of Donald Pruner at Los Robles Hospital, even though he's fully clothed with a suit, tie, shoes, I sculpted him first without, with a flat sculpture, with the bone structure, muscle structure and finally the clothing. I roll almost sausage-like forms to create fabric."
The petite, attractive sculptor's clients are as diverse as Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue and the Rev. Robert Schuller. Subjects include animals and angels, adults and children, the familiar and the unknown.
"All my inspiration comes from God," said the Westlake Village artist, whose name means "from the spirit" in French. "It's way too much for me. I look at my work and say, 'I didn't really do that, did I?' "
Delesprie started sculpting as a teenager, living in Montreal, gathering clay from the riverbank and sculpting natives.
She came from a family of artists: her mother was a painter; her sister is a sculptor of miniatures. Her dad was a photographer working for the Montreal Star and did photo engraving.
"We all worked with our hands," she said.
Her mother wanted to send her to art school, but there wasn't enough money.
"I had been given a gift and I knew I was good at it," she said. "I was trying to hone in on it on my own it without any direction. I didn't think I could make a living at it and so I got my degrees in other fields."
Delesprie worked as a flight attendant and attended Loyola University in Montreal and CSU Northridge, earning degrees in business and counseling, but also taking art classes.
"I was planning to go into advertising and marketing in the airline industry," she said.
"But I was sculpting on the kitchen table. People would say, 'I could sell that.' "
One of those early sculptures was seen by Michael Wayne, John Wayne's son. He commissioned her for a sculpture.
"From there, it just snowballed," she said. "It was that statue that the Autrys saw, and that led to the Autry monument at Griffith Park."
From there, she received more commissions to do public and private sculptures.But despite her success as a sculptor, Delesprie had felt unsettled in her private life since childhood.
"I always had a lot of nervous energy, always felt there was something missing from my life," she said. In 1981, she met a woman, a Messianic Jew, who invited her to attend Bible study classes.
Delesprie begins her pieces by meeting with the client and discussing the mission statement.
"The best ones are when they give the artist the go-ahead," she said. "If you come up with the idea, you're going to be a lot more inspired to accomplish it."
After she gets approval for the sketch, she builds the armature, then sculpts a flat silhouette.
"You have to get it right on the inside for it to be right on the outside," she said.
"The monument of Donald Pruner at Los Robles Hospital, even though he's fully clothed with a suit, tie, shoes, I sculpted him first without, with a flat sculpture, with the bone structure, muscle structure and finally the clothing. I roll almost sausage-like forms to create fabric."
2012年12月4日星期二
most evocative performance of the most famous
MANILA, Philippines – A lot of biopics have either hinted or explicitly suggested that Andres Bonifacio was the “more deserving” national hero than Dr. Jose Rizal. But if there’s one film that makes a good case for such an argument, it would be the Richard Somes-helmed “Supremo.”
Like his role in the late Mario O’Hara’s “Ang Paglilitis Kay Andres Bonifacio,” actor-politician Alfred Vargas, one of the few mainstream actors in “Supremo,” has big shoes to fill in this flick. But, thanks to his glowing adulation for the hero, Alfred rose to the challenge and delivered a most evocative performance of the most famous Katipunero to date.
Out of the countless biopics done in honor of Bonifacio, “Supremo” depicts the subject as person; more human and less like an unrelatable, overly patriotic war hero. That despite his great love for the country, he has had his moments of weaknesses and doubts.
Set in old Manila circa 1800s, the film traced what lighted Andres’ fire to fight for freedom against the Spanish regime; how the Philippine version of the league of extraordinary gentlemen aka as KKK (Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan) was formed; and even about the treachery he suffered in the hands of his own “Katipunero” brothers.
All these were showcased in sepia toned frames, underscored by breathtaking dusk and silhouette scenes set against vast meadows and rice paddies, which the old Manila was best known for.
For a biopic shot in just 15 days, “Supremo’s” production team sure took the time to make the best of what they have. From the hefty props and costumes of the actors, to the apt locations, and the vivid fight scenes down to the music used for the scoring, everything spelled class and creativity rolled into one.
But with students as the film’s obvious target audience, perhaps it would be wise for "Supremo" to be cut shorter than it’s original two-and-a-half-hour run? More, it needs some polishing on the transition sequences. The abrupt scene changes tend to be confusing in that one isn't sure if Andres was having flashbacks or if he was in present time.
Alfred did justice to Andres’ controversial yet courageous life. But it was theater actor Nicco Manalo, the son of comedian Jose Manalo, who was a revelation in the film as he breathed so much vigor into the character of young soldier Emilio Jacinto. Unfortunately though, Macario Sakay’s (Mon Confiado) character was overshadowed by the two, probably because he wasn’t given much lines or maybe even because his wig was in disarray the entire time.
Produced and starred by Alfred Vargas, “Supremo” opens on Dec. 5 exclusively in SM Cinemas nationwide.
Like his role in the late Mario O’Hara’s “Ang Paglilitis Kay Andres Bonifacio,” actor-politician Alfred Vargas, one of the few mainstream actors in “Supremo,” has big shoes to fill in this flick. But, thanks to his glowing adulation for the hero, Alfred rose to the challenge and delivered a most evocative performance of the most famous Katipunero to date.
Out of the countless biopics done in honor of Bonifacio, “Supremo” depicts the subject as person; more human and less like an unrelatable, overly patriotic war hero. That despite his great love for the country, he has had his moments of weaknesses and doubts.
Set in old Manila circa 1800s, the film traced what lighted Andres’ fire to fight for freedom against the Spanish regime; how the Philippine version of the league of extraordinary gentlemen aka as KKK (Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan) was formed; and even about the treachery he suffered in the hands of his own “Katipunero” brothers.
All these were showcased in sepia toned frames, underscored by breathtaking dusk and silhouette scenes set against vast meadows and rice paddies, which the old Manila was best known for.
For a biopic shot in just 15 days, “Supremo’s” production team sure took the time to make the best of what they have. From the hefty props and costumes of the actors, to the apt locations, and the vivid fight scenes down to the music used for the scoring, everything spelled class and creativity rolled into one.
But with students as the film’s obvious target audience, perhaps it would be wise for "Supremo" to be cut shorter than it’s original two-and-a-half-hour run? More, it needs some polishing on the transition sequences. The abrupt scene changes tend to be confusing in that one isn't sure if Andres was having flashbacks or if he was in present time.
Alfred did justice to Andres’ controversial yet courageous life. But it was theater actor Nicco Manalo, the son of comedian Jose Manalo, who was a revelation in the film as he breathed so much vigor into the character of young soldier Emilio Jacinto. Unfortunately though, Macario Sakay’s (Mon Confiado) character was overshadowed by the two, probably because he wasn’t given much lines or maybe even because his wig was in disarray the entire time.
Produced and starred by Alfred Vargas, “Supremo” opens on Dec. 5 exclusively in SM Cinemas nationwide.
2012年12月2日星期日
Man who races against Father Time
Fauja Singh may be older than the zip, but he's still got some. He was born before formica was invented and his collection of wrinkles will confirm it. He arrived on the planet months before Roald Amundsen discovered the South Pole in December 1911.
Most men his age are either entombed, embalmed or exhausted and even he said his buddies have all passed. So how come he's sprinting past me at the East Coast? He's 101, I'm 50, this is a mismatch. This dude is twice the man I am. A centenarian by definition, a rugged centurion from Rome in attitude.
Later, this runner who is in town for the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore's 10km event, grins and says in Punjabi: "I'm competitive."
Fauja's name roughly means soldierly and with his white flowing beard he resembles Gandalf in a yellow turban. A wizard in shoes. He runs at a neat, measured clip. His breathing is better than mine (a lifetime of no smoking and alcohol, alas, really does help). His knees lift high. "Yours don't," says his coach and interpreter Harmander Singh, to me.
Fauja is standing near the sea and I almost ask if he can walk on water. He started running marathons at 89 in 2000. He's done nine. One in 5hr 40min at 92. He does 16km a day even now of running and walking. This year, this grandfather of 16 and great-grandfather of six, finished the London Marathon in 7:49:21. When I ask if running ever brings pains to his ancient bones, he says he just runs it off.
Now he's retired from marathons. "He's got nothing to prove," says Harmander. Maybe he'll take up bungee jumping.
Where fact meets fiction in the Fauja story we don't know. He was born to a farmer in rural Punjab at a time when presumably birth certificates weren't fashionable. When he got his passport in the 1960s, to go see his children in England, his year of birth was registered as 1911. There it is, believe it or not. But how does it matter? If he was 89, or 93, would his story be less wondrous?
Fauja moved to England in 1992. Whether he ran before, or why he started running is not entirely clear. Harmander says that he would take part in short races in tournaments held to commemorate one of the Sikh gurus. Someone suggested he run longer distances whereupon he turned up to train in 1999 in sneakers and a three-piece suit.
The legend had begun. By the end of it, and Fauja tells this story with a boy's glee, he had customised adidas footwear, with "Fauja" inscribed on one shoe and "Singh" on the other. He has a book on his life called the Turbaned Tornado. And he once, reportedly, set eight world records - from the 100m to 5,000m - in one day as a 100 year old. Four of them did not even exist before.
Running is who this man is and running is what he does and running keeps him alive. If he does not flinch from familiar questions it is because he recognises his reality: "If I stop running, who will talk to me?" Bristling with positivity, he - a London Olympics torchbearer - speaks of Paralympians and says, "If they can do it, why not able-bodied people."
Fauja owns no unique secret beyond a DNA we can't see and a healthy early life lived in the fields; he follows no fancy diet though a cup of hot milk at night is essential; he takes no pills but a vitamin and what an advertisement he might be for it.
Yet as he leans back and drinks water on a hot morning, this man who cannot read or write offers us a message that is profound, familiar and literate. As the poet Samuel Ullman said: "Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul."
Fauja embraces life. With some style apparently. Evidently he has an Armani suit in his cupboard and arrived with nine pairs of shoes for five days. These do not include his running ones. "He's like a woman," giggled his team. He didn't respond. When last I saw him, on the beach, he was giving another interview, sitting there like patient Father Time wearing a gold watch.
Most men his age are either entombed, embalmed or exhausted and even he said his buddies have all passed. So how come he's sprinting past me at the East Coast? He's 101, I'm 50, this is a mismatch. This dude is twice the man I am. A centenarian by definition, a rugged centurion from Rome in attitude.
Later, this runner who is in town for the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore's 10km event, grins and says in Punjabi: "I'm competitive."
Fauja's name roughly means soldierly and with his white flowing beard he resembles Gandalf in a yellow turban. A wizard in shoes. He runs at a neat, measured clip. His breathing is better than mine (a lifetime of no smoking and alcohol, alas, really does help). His knees lift high. "Yours don't," says his coach and interpreter Harmander Singh, to me.
Fauja is standing near the sea and I almost ask if he can walk on water. He started running marathons at 89 in 2000. He's done nine. One in 5hr 40min at 92. He does 16km a day even now of running and walking. This year, this grandfather of 16 and great-grandfather of six, finished the London Marathon in 7:49:21. When I ask if running ever brings pains to his ancient bones, he says he just runs it off.
Now he's retired from marathons. "He's got nothing to prove," says Harmander. Maybe he'll take up bungee jumping.
Where fact meets fiction in the Fauja story we don't know. He was born to a farmer in rural Punjab at a time when presumably birth certificates weren't fashionable. When he got his passport in the 1960s, to go see his children in England, his year of birth was registered as 1911. There it is, believe it or not. But how does it matter? If he was 89, or 93, would his story be less wondrous?
Fauja moved to England in 1992. Whether he ran before, or why he started running is not entirely clear. Harmander says that he would take part in short races in tournaments held to commemorate one of the Sikh gurus. Someone suggested he run longer distances whereupon he turned up to train in 1999 in sneakers and a three-piece suit.
The legend had begun. By the end of it, and Fauja tells this story with a boy's glee, he had customised adidas footwear, with "Fauja" inscribed on one shoe and "Singh" on the other. He has a book on his life called the Turbaned Tornado. And he once, reportedly, set eight world records - from the 100m to 5,000m - in one day as a 100 year old. Four of them did not even exist before.
Running is who this man is and running is what he does and running keeps him alive. If he does not flinch from familiar questions it is because he recognises his reality: "If I stop running, who will talk to me?" Bristling with positivity, he - a London Olympics torchbearer - speaks of Paralympians and says, "If they can do it, why not able-bodied people."
Fauja owns no unique secret beyond a DNA we can't see and a healthy early life lived in the fields; he follows no fancy diet though a cup of hot milk at night is essential; he takes no pills but a vitamin and what an advertisement he might be for it.
Yet as he leans back and drinks water on a hot morning, this man who cannot read or write offers us a message that is profound, familiar and literate. As the poet Samuel Ullman said: "Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul."
Fauja embraces life. With some style apparently. Evidently he has an Armani suit in his cupboard and arrived with nine pairs of shoes for five days. These do not include his running ones. "He's like a woman," giggled his team. He didn't respond. When last I saw him, on the beach, he was giving another interview, sitting there like patient Father Time wearing a gold watch.
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