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Growers will face sticker shock soon when checking some seed prices, particularly those of Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans. Monsanto recently announced it is increasing the price of RR soybeans in its Asgrow and Dekalb brands by $4 to $5/acre and RR corn about $2/acre.

Although licensing agreements are confidential, industry experts assume a similar price increase is online for Monsanto's seed partners, the regional companies contracting with Monsanto for its trait technology. This means that a substantial portion of the U.S. seed market for RR soybeans and corn will be priced higher.

When asked about the price increase, John Raines, Monsanto's director of U.S. marketing, states, “We've taken the RR soybean royalty up, and we've strengthened Roundup WeatherMax through Roundup Rewards and lowered the list price of Roundup OriginalMax. So the total cost of buying RR soybean seed and Roundup OriginalMax in 2005 should be similar to the cost of buying both this year. In addition, growers who purchased generic glyphosate products in the past because of price will find Roundup OriginalMax more competitively priced today.”

Monsanto is increasing its Roundup Rewards elements for both Roundup WeatherMax and Roundup OriginalMax. For example, crop loss and replant provisions in RR soybeans are now available for Roundup OriginalMax.

“The cost of the RR soybean weed control system has been flat to down since its introduction in 1996,” Raines says. “As value has shifted away from the herbicide, we have shifted more of that value over to the trait. We are a company that invests in research and development to bring farmers new technology for their operations. Our products have to provide farmers more value than they cost and we have to earn a return on the investment that we sell into the marketplace.”

Monsanto's research and development investment is $500 million a year, according to Kim Magin Sutter, Monsanto's director of global industry affairs. This large budget allows the company to continue work on new traits and technology that benefit growers and consumers.

Raines believes growers will continue to use the RR soybean weed control system. “In feedback from growers and dealers, many customers prefer to spray a Roundup brand herbicide that has the safety, convenience and consistency that they've come to appreciate in a brand that is at a much lower price,” he says.


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Saturday, March 31, 2012

CBC Cuts 115 Million/CPC Advertising 136.3 Million

One of the more maddening refrains we keep hearing OVER and OVER again, the observation that this budget didn't cut as deep "as expected". What that insight reveals is that one had already succumbed to government spin and manipulation, in effect an admission you bought into propaganda and were effectively played like a fiddle. The Conservatives float massive cuts, the very notion ORIGINATING with them, and when they bring in "relatively" tame, it appears just that, when really it is an exercise in manipulation.

This isn't a fiscally prudent budget, this is a vendetta budget, wherein the Conservatives go after their perceived foes. Environmentalists are attacked on the charity angle, the environment is attacked on the review angle and our public broadcaster takes a DISPORPOTIONATE and massive 12% hit, for no apparent reason, given cuts to other areas. This isn't a budget concerned with getting our fiscal house in order, this is a budget that is once again political and mean spirited. Perhaps when people are done tripping over themselves to tell us how "relatively small" the cuts, they can digest just how obscene the cuts to CBC are for example.

The title of this post tells a relevant story. It was left to a Liberal partisan on CBC itself to note this government didn't cut ONE DIME from it's advertising budget, ONE NICKLE from the PMO budget or the Privy Council, all three of which have BALLOONED under this government, to such a degree it should equate to outrage. These Conservatives spend more than THREE times that of their predecessors on government advertising. In 2005-6, the Liberals spent 41.3 million on advertising, last year the Conversatives spent 3.3 times more, a staggering 136.3 million. As well, most objective observers agree advertising has taken a decidedly partisan tone, many see the Conservatives ads as very close to a concerning ethical line. And yet, we hear very little about the nature of the advertising, even moreso the gross misuse of taxpayer money.

Perhaps the Conservatives could pledge to exclusively advertise on the public broadcaster, which would offset the CBC cuts and STILL leave 21.3 million in advertising to spread around elsewhere, basically half what the former Liberals spent. This government sees no need to cut back on self promotion, and yet we apparently need to gut our public broadcaster? This government is so self assured, they didn't even bother to announce some window dressing cutbacks on the size of the PMO, Privy Council, advertising, any organ or expression which contributes to political fortunes, which plays to Conservative advantage.

When are people going to start calling out these nonsensical advertising abuses of power, masquerading as vital means of government communication? Perhaps Canadians should weigh in with an answer to a very simple question: would you prefer the government cut the CBC or advertising promoting the government itself? I suspect the Conservatives wouldn't like the answer, but alas, no HEAT is forthcoming.

Jerry Prager said...

All conservative media in Canada was on the verge of bankrupcy in 2008-2009, thanks to the Action Plan Propaganda budgets, all right wing media is now floating in cash from the Conservatives and who have artificially sustained every right wing voice in the country that otherwise would now be silent.
Until the Liberals go back to the Keith Davies and Kent commission reports into the concentration of media ownership complete with CRTC flow charts and a plan to do something about it, nothing will change.
Liberals are afraid to point out the obvious because they buy into the pretense that there is a free press in Canada. the only free press in Canada that remains is incidental not institutional.
Stop beating around the bush, do the research, and then show up with CRTC ownership charts, government spending etc etc etc.

bigcitylib said...

On another topic, was it you that told me at the NDP convention that Don Martin needed a handler to follow him around? It looks like he's cracked and gone apeshit.

Steve V said...

Not I BCL.

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Thursday, March 7, 2013

1013 - lavandachic (New Sweet Paris) ..

Hair : ::Exile:: Crazy in Love: Light Blondes - By Kavar Cleanslate
Hair accessory : :::WEG::: hair accessory gacha Primavera RARE - By lucia genesis
Sweater : lavandachic*Sweet Paris sweater-pink NEW - By Uklea Resident
Bottle : DooDads - Bottle of Bugs (Dollarbie 1L) @ Marketplace - By Paisley Mizin

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Friday, 1 August 2014

20% Off Onepiece Onesies and Hoodies!

Coral 'Groove Zip Hood' - Onepiece

So Onepiece do clothes other than Onesies?! I know, right? And guess what, you can now get a cheeky 20% off any Onepiece items whether it's a Onesie, or one of their cute summer hoodies when you enter the following code at the checkout:

I know what you're thinking, Onesies are far too warm for the summer surely? Well, the hoodies, like this Coral 'Groove Zip Hood',* and 'lightweight' Onepiece Onesies are very much lighter in comparison to the originals which tend be heavier and fleecy lined, so there's no worries if you fancy cosying up in one during the summer/festival evenings! (Just look out for the Feather symbol on the product description to make sure it's lightweight!)

Speaking of festivals, I'm super duper excited to be heading down to Boardmasters festival next weekend with the team at Onepiece!! If any of you guys will be there make sure you pop to the stand and say hi! I'll be there for the making the most of Onepiece #slackerlife :) Cannot wait!!

P.S. I have to make a point of saying you can even get onesies now for your children and dogs... brilliant.

Friday, 11 July 2014

The Body Shop 'InstaBlur' Review.

Instablur // The Body Shop // £14

All hail my make up bag's new holy grail - Instablur, the Perfecting Primer from The Body Shop! This little number is my new daily essential that has firmly found  it's way into my everyday make-up routine - one of those products that you buy and wonder how you've ever lived your life without, ya' know?

Let me start off by saying my past experiences with Primers haven't been the best. Either too greasy for my oily/combination skin, or too thick to use on a day-to-day basis, I've tried my fair share and figured they must not be for me. That was until recently. I found The Body Shop's beauty card in my hands after purchasing a few make up brushes and as a member got a heads up of Instablur's release. The introductory promotional price was pretty arm-twisting so naturally, the deal-hunter in me thought it would be worth giving it a go! I went in on the second day release and it was pretty much sold out bar the odd tube left! The lovely lady in my local store applied some to my face and the instant imperfection blurring effect was amazing. So I popped back home happy as larry with this new toy to play with.

The Effects: An All-In-One, 5-Action Perfecter, the texture of InstaBlur is fairly thick and velvety as you squeeze it out the tube. For day-wear I usually apply a pea-sized amount to freshly cleansed skin and blend it in over my face. It notably softens, smooths and is absorbed quickly by my skin and instantly feels soft to touch and matt-ifys my complexion. Any un-even skin tone is corrected and I find that imperfections are less noticeable. Now the real bonus for me is I find applying my make-up is much easier and I really feel like my foundation 'stuck' almost to the primer. It also helps prevent my make-up from budging over the day's work and doesn't clog my pores or leave me with an oily/shiny complexion! Hurrah!

Would I buy it again? Ohhh yesser. You're not going anywhere Instablur.

Have you tried Instablur?

Sunday, 29 June 2014

Hobbs A/W '14 Press Preview

On Wednesday I was kindly invited to check out the Hobbs collection for this Autumn/Winter and what can I say ladies, this is your warning, there are some pretty amazingly lustworthy pieces you'll be desperate to clear your wardrobe for! The event took place at the beautiful Hobbs HQ where all the pieces were displayed in their stunning collections. We were treated to some rather tasty prosecco and treats before having a perooze at all the collections and a run through of the behind the scenes inspiration from the designer! Interestingly all the pieces are pattern drafted and toiled at Hobbs HQ, giving the clothes that beautiful fit, British styling and quality tailoring they're so well known for.
Beautiful classic dresses up pieces - how much of a beauty is this low v-back LBD?

I absolutely adored the 'invitation' collection which has pretty dreamy colour palette of soft creams, blushes and warm tones. The sheepskin jacket, beautiful lace dress and clean tailored coats were a few amongst many highlights for me. This collection is also pretty special, with Hobbs teaming up with well known Royal Palaces to draft their inspiration from Brickwork at Hampton Court Palace, to floral regal inspired patterns. But more on that is to be revealed soon!

Next up was a look at the gorgeous camel, navy and tweed pieces. With a nod to Chanel's classic tweed styling, the pieces embrace their British heritage emulating equestrian inspiration with heavy cable knits and detailing. Slouchy 60's dressing has also influenced this collection with roller-neck shift dresses and sleevless shirts. How amazing is the cocoon shaped brocade coat too?

Pillarbox and telephone reds complimented with Boucle 'granite-like' yarns, it's fab to see the London City inspiration behind this collection. Included are staple wardrobe pieces such as the double-faced coats (genius - I mean that's two coats for the price of one right?!) a gorgeous leather jacket and 'Prince of Wales' checked dresses, all perfect for day/work wear whilst feeling pretty patriotic too. I fell a little in love with this classic cashmere t-shirt and leopard print skirt combination - I could just imagine it as an 'off-duty' look!

The NW3 collections featured an array of teals and greys with textured wovens and knits perhaps more suited to colder winter wear. As one of the many 'christmas jumper' fans the fairisle prints teamed with the rouched leather skirt was a personal favourite alongside the button up shirts and duffle coats. I may have spent quite a while bag crushing on the gorgeous printed clutch and tote below - I mean how fab would they be as accent accessories with a classic outfit?

Thank you to all the team at Hobbs HQ for allowing us a fab insight into the collection! It was fab to meet a few new bloggers too, such as Bessie from Fashion Noodle,  Annie from Annieemac Blog, Jasmin from What Define's Us, Chrisabella, Thread and Mirror, and Banke from A Style Diary.

What do you guys think of the A/W '14 Collection?


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Friday, September 30, 2011

In Honor of the Day

Why, yes, I think I will say Mass in Latin today!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The Catholicism Series

So far, I have viewed the first three episodes of Fr. Robert Barron's Catholicism Project, which joyously awaited my return from Detroit.  Since Monday was a brain-dead day for recovery after a week and a half of long days, I watched the first two episodes and caught the third last night, since nothing else was on.

I cannot express how much I enjoy these episodes.  They are well executed, planned, beautifully shot, etc. etc.  Fr. Barron is a master story-teller and covers some very intricate points in great detail, but without too much that he would scare away either the neophyte or non-Catholic.  (For example, his discussion on the Problem of Evil in ep. 3 is superb!)  He draws you into the story of Catholicism, our story, fully presenting it as ever ancient, ever new.  His underlying principal comes across that Beauty (as a Transcendental) teaches and forms and he draws liberally from the artistic patrimony of the Church.

This, I think, becomes key to why I am enjoying this series so much.  He does not re-enact the story, but he 'retells' the story in picture and voice.  He visits the places where some of our greatest mysteries originally ocurred: Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Mt. Sinai, Hagia Sophia, St. Peter's Basilica; but he resists that filmmakers urge to dress up in cheesy costume and have Mary and Joseph with the Christ Child.  Rather, in visiting Bethlehem, he presents the ancient roots of our faith, but in a modern way to convey the connection between the historical events in salvation history and the modern effects of those events.  Ever ancient, ever new; the faith spawned by the Jewish Carpenter inspires and informs the Chicago food pantry.

In a way, this series seems like the Catechism in picture.  He mentions Aquinas' Five Proofs for the Existence of God, but only delves into one.  He sketches the notion of the problem of evil as a deprivation of the Good, but points you in the direction for further study.  He draws imagery out of the Old Testament to illustrate the mission of the Messiah, but resists the temptation to get bogged down in the minutiae of the Torah.  In all of these, he sets the stage that there is much more to be discovered and unearthed, whetting the appetite for the intellectually curious to search more deeply.

Finally, a note has to be made about his use of artwork.  (I counted at least two different Caravaggio's.)  Fr. Barron uses art and architecture, the beauty of nature and the power of man's creativity to enhance his message.  In citing art from across the Christian spectrum, he often gives the interpretive key in how to read that particular piece, and hence then to also read other pieces of the same genre.  And, he uses the great masterpieces from across time to illustrate and reinforce his dialogue.  Therefore, while there is no actor portrayal of Mary and Joseph with the Christ Child, there are severak artistic representations of the Nativity event.  In my viewing, this greatly enhances the overall feel and texture of the presentation.

This series is a great evangelization and re-catechesis tool, either as a stand alone piece or with the accompaning study guide and leader guide.  I cannot wait to view the next seven episodes.

God Bless and thanks to Fr. Robert Barron and Word on Fire Ministries for such a fantastic contribution to the New Evangelization!

The 'Ten Best' vs. the 'Ten Worst' Jobs Surveys

I'm a little late to the party, (hey, Detroit was grand!), but wanted to comment on recent releases of the 'Ten Best' vs. the 'Ten Worst' jobs. sums up the lists here, but the common themes surface:

(For those who don't want to visit the link, Clergy 'The least worldly are reported to be the happiest of all' won again)

1) Those who give of themselves to others find greater fulfillment and happiness.

2) Among the 'Ten Happiest' jobs, many are focused on making the lives of others better, not our own.

3) Creativity and a certain level of autonomy seem to be consistent themes.

Among the 'Ten Worst', let's see:

1) So tech jobs are all the rage, huh?  (5 in this list are in the tech sector)

2) Comments here suggest 'imprisoned by hierarchical bureaucracies' as reasons for 'unhappiness.'  Obviously, I work in an 'hierarchical bureaucracy,' and often admit that I didn't get into the priesthood to work in an office building downtown, but on the whole, the positives outweigh the negatives, at least for me.

3) Among the list, creativity seems stifled and, as described for law clerks, one is often subuject 'to the whims of a mercurial supervisor.'

Where are you in your position?

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Notes from the Field

My latest runs in this week's Catholic Telegraph, reflecting on last week's Vocation Director's Conference in Detroit:

Every year, the national organization of Diocesan Vocation Directors holds an annual convention that brings my counterparts from across the country for formation, training (especially for new Vocation Directors), key note addresses and just plain fraternization among priests. It tends to be an exciting week of activity and sharing of stories as we all compare notes of how we are doing in the home diocese. Admittedly, we do some bragging if we are doing better than others, but always in a friendly.

As we have compared notes so far, there are two very positive things that I thought I would share here. First, vocation numbers are up across the country: the increase that we have seen here in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati (we now have 42 men, up from just 28 a few years ago) is being repeated elsewhere. Several seminaries have reported full enrollment, nearly every seminary reports positive increases, and the vocation directors have all been very aggressive in attracting new men to study for the priesthood.

Secondly, there is a wonderful positivity among my counterparts concerning the men who are entering formation, too. We, as vocation directors, are in awe of the men who are approaching us in their discernment of the priesthood. They are serious, yet fun; prayerful, yet engaged in the world; a sense of holy detachment while still being fully engaged in the modern culture. It is a wonderful and exciting time in the Church, with so many new movements and energies that are flowering in so many wonderful ways. As Vocation Director, I can see the fruits starting to ripen while still on the vine, and it brings great hope for the future.

But among the Vocation Directors gathered here in Detroit, there is also a determination. We recognize the current shortage that we are under, especially as many of my brother Vocation Director also serve in parishes. There is a drive to what we do because there is a strong recognition that in order for the Church to continue her God given mission of proclaiming the Gospel in the modern world, we must reach out to those men whom God is calling to the priesthood.

This last idea, that it truly is God who calls these men to the priesthood, is what focuses our attention. Jesus is truly the Vocation Director and our bishop sets the vision that each vocation director implements. Quite simply, we work for them, and it is an honor to do so. In order to stay in touch with Him who is our strength, we began each morning with an Eucharistic Holy Hour, we celebrated Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours; we prayed the Rosary as a group. In all this, Christ remains the light guiding us in our work, for without Him; our efforts would be in vain.

In our efforts to build a Culture of Vocations within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, this centrality of Christ helps to foster an environment in which all Catholics work in the Vocation field, for we have all been called to some special purpose. It is in praying with and for one another that we find that true purpose, it is in our communion with Christ that we are given the grace to respond with that generous ‘yes’ that is demanded whenever Christ calls us forward.

May we all work for a greater awareness of the need to grow this culture, let us all continue to pray for those priests and religious we need, so that mission of the Church may continue to thrive and grow not only here in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, but throughout our nation and our world.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Admit it, you're jealous

You just didn't know it yet.

Wayne, my trusty sidekick in the Vocation Office, and I are heading to Detroit tomorrow (and will be there until next Friday) as the Ohio and Michigan region of Diocesan Vocation Directors meet in our annual Convention.  There will be well over 200 priests (and a few lay folk thrown in, too) present from most parts of the country, internationally too, representing their respective Diocesan Vocation Offices, seminaries, vocation promotion efforts, etc., to chat about how we can do this whole thing better.

Archbishop O'Brien was to give one of two key-note addresses, but the Pope had the gall to move him to Rome without consulting us.

Workshops are offered on relations w/ seminaries, international candidates and immigration issues, social media (your's truly is co-hosting that one), discernment retreats, etc.  We have 'cultural excursions' to the Henry Ford Museum and plant among a few other things; business to attend to (electing two 'at large' board members), training for new Vocation Directors, etc., etc. etc.

If you could, please offer a prayer or two (perhaps even daily) for us all while we gather.  I'll try to post some things here, but keep tabs also on the twitter feed to the right and maybe even a few Facebook updates along the way.

We are meeting right in the heart of downtown Detroit, at the Marriott in the RenCenter.  Our closing Mass is w/ Archbishop Vigneron at Sacred Heart Seminary next Thursday.  (Which allows Wayne and I just enough time to get back to Cinci for CREDO next weekend.)

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Pope Benedict and the Regensburg Moment

An address I gave to the Cincinnati Serra Club:

Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of Pope Benedict’s somewhat infamous ‘Regensburg Address.’ Shortly after he was elected Pontiff, he returned to the school where he first began his academic career to give a lecture to representatives of the Science Colleges on the nature of the interplay between faith and reason, launching from there into a discourse into our understanding of the very nature of God.

It is this aspect that I would like to focus on today, because I think it hits to the core of who we are as Catholics, how we pray, how we worship, how we interact with both one another and with the world, especially as we stand in the shadow of the remembrances of September 11, 2001 and the atrocities committed that day.

Early in his address, Pope Benedict cites a medieval dialogue between the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus and educated Persian on the subject of Christianity and Islam, a dialogue which was likely written by the Christian Emperor shortly after this encounter. On a side note, it was the citation of this work that caused a bit of backlash in the Islamic world, but which has ultimately led to a greater and deeper dialogue between the two great cultures, which may be one of Pope Benedict’s lasting legacies, one which is only seen in hindsight.

As Pope Benedict launches from this discourse into the core of his lecture, he ponders the historical growth of Christianity and the intertwining of Christian thought with Hellenistic, Greek thought. For Pope Benedict, it was a marriage made in heaven, as the Revealed Word of God found new expression in the on-going logical reflection upon the mysteries of this world. In summary, the logical approach of the ancient Greek philosophers found their completion in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of the Father, the Divine LOGOS, as revealed in both the initial versus of the Book of Genesis and the prologue of the Gospel according to St. John. For the Christian, God is knowable, because God acts in a logical, consistent way, unfolding His divine plan of salvation in way that draws the believe deeper into relationship with the One True God, while still in the context of the corporate Body of the Church.

However, the approach taken towards God in both Islam and, frightenly, in some Protestant circles, is much different. Instead of highlighting the nature of God as LOGOS, rationality and logic; the focus is on God’s omnipotence, His power, His Will: Voluntas. This changes the nature of discipleship in a dramatic way. No longer is one to be drawn deeper and deeper into an ever unfolding manifestation of the mystery of God; now all one has to do is follow, obey.

The result of this shift in focus from the rationality to the power of God results, actually, in a split between faith and reason. No longer should reason be used to explore the mysteries of the faith, for to do so is to cheapen the faith into something man-made, or so it is thought. As a result, theology dies a slow and painful death, while the sciences take precedence and priority.

Pope Benedict, however, does not conclude with a call to return to an age prior to the Enlightenment. Rather, we must seek out a new wedding of faith and reason, one that sees these two great approaches to modern understanding wedded back together. For the believer, faith must necessarily take a leading role in guiding reason to the one foundation of Truth: Jesus Christ.

We must also examine our prayer life, seeking out a deeper understanding of to whom it is that we pray. Do we pray to have our will taken away? Or do we pray to come to a deeper understanding of the mysteries of God so that we can then operate in this world as a more committed disciple of the Logos? It is this latter approach that we see the tide of a secular culture turned back and continued new flowering of Faith as the New Evangelization dawns as we still sit at the precipice of the Third Christian Millennium.

Monday, September 12, 2011

We Are Catholic

Fr. JR sent in this video, had to be shared:

Some thoughts on yesterday's observences

As has been remarked in many places, yesterday saw the 10th anniversary of the horrendous attacks of 9.11.2001.

In the lead-up to the commemoration in NYC, news was made about the lack of clergy during the day; for it was argued that to include one, one had to include all and it was a violation of Church/state separation to include clergy members.

I have thought a great deal about this question in the ten years since 9/11; and have a few thoughts to share as to how we have arrived at this position where clergy are now devisive figures in the realm of the secular society.

In the eyes of the secular cutlure, what caused these attacks?   At the most basic level, it was a religious fundamentalism.  Sure, as Catholics, we recognize that it was an Islmacist, Jihaddist, Fundamentalism that was at the core of it all, but to the eyes of a secular cutlure, there is no difference between the terrorists who perpetrated this crime, the members of Westboro Baptist Church who shamefully protest at Military funerals, and Catholics who stand praying outside of abortion mills.  In the eyes of a completely secular culture, anyone who takes their faith seriously ultimately leads to flying planes into buildings.

We know it is not so, so how do we convince the world otherwise?

First, we must pray, for Christians are to be noted as a prayerful people.  We pray for the victims, first and foremost, that our ever-merciful Father will grant them rest in the life to come.  We pray for the responders who are a very visual embodiment of Jesus' statement: 'No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for a friend.'  We pray for our country, that she may be healed of the deep wounds that continue to bleed.  Perhaps the greatest challenge: we pray for those who perpetrated this crime that their hearts might be changed from anger and violence to peace and justice, cooperation instead of conflict.

We must also act, for our faith demands it of us.  We act in charity to those who have lost, we must not stop doing so.  We act in reparation to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice that all might know the love we have for God and He has for us.  We act in love, that we might draw others to the Truth.

Only in Christ will true peace and justice reign, and that only by members of His Body being willing witnesses of His Truth to the world.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Ongoing Treasures of World Youth Day

My latest runs in the newly revamped Catholic Telegraph, now beginning her monthly, instead of weekly, circulation:

Every year, when the Center for the Applied Research in the Apostolate releases their survey of the men being ordained to the priesthood, the statistics, facts and figures get bantered about by those who work in the vocation business. The surveys show some consistency, however, in what leads a man to realize the potential of a call to the priesthood. While the direct invitation from a current priest remains the greatest influence in a future priest’s possible vocation; the second factor is usually attendance at one or more World Youth Day pilgrimages. Conveniently enough, as I type this article, hundreds of thousands of youth from around the world are gathered with Pope Benedict XVI in Madrid, Spain, for World Youth Day.

As I reflect on my own time at World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada, nine years ago, what is it about these ‘Catholic Woodstocks’ that elicit the call to the priesthood and/or religious life among the young? I have a few theories:

1) There are scores of young priests and religious among the pilgrims. It seems every group has a fairly newly ordained priest with them. Young, vibrant, joyous religious mingle among the scores of teens. The joy that is evident from those who are still growing into their chosen vocation is infectious, and the teens are drawn to them. During the meal breaks, walking around the common areas, the teens invite the priests and religious over to tell their story, how did they hear the call? In these stories, the teens hear their own story, that even though he or she is now a priest or religious, their childhood was no different from what that teen experienced, and the happiness that they have now can be found nowhere else but in Christ.

2) The international aspect of World Youth Day opens one’s eyes to the breadth and depth of Catholicism that is rarely experienced ‘back home.’ Growing up in a small town, I thought most Catholics were just like me. Heading off to college, I realized that this was not the case. Attending World Youth Day in Toronto, this notion was absolutely blown out of the water. We met Catholics from across Latin America, the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia. In listening to coverage from Madrid, in a two minute span, a reporter met pilgrims from Spain, South Africa, the United States, Iran, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy and Germany. This international flavor helps our young people see that the Church is much bigger than just my local parish. And while there is a sense of the immensity of the Church, there is still a strong sense of belonging. Even at Mass with over one million in attendance, it feels as if the Pope is still speaking to me, one on one.

3) While the joy and the fun get all the media attention, the backbone of World Youth Day are the daily catechetical sessions led by the bishops. There is a deep beauty in the intellectual tradition of our faith, that for us as Catholics, faith and reason go hand in hand as we explore the depths of what it means to be Catholic. For many attendees, this might be the first time that they get to explore these depths in a challenging way. (The fact that the new YOUcat was distributed to this year’s attendees is a real bonus.)

4) Last, but not least, the connection with the pope brings it all home. When I attended in Toronto as a chaperone, one of the boys that went was a fairly typical high school student: into sports, girls and not so much into school and religion. I think he attended because his friends were going, and hey, it was a trip out of the country, even if just to Toronto. He was the social butterfly of the trip and loved talking with new folks and peers from around the world. His comment at the end of the week was telling, however, as he reflected: “Before I came on this trip, my heroes were athletes: Michael Jordan, Sean Casey, etc., but now, after spending time in the pope’s presence, there is something different. I can really look up to him and hear that challenge he is giving me.”

As our young people return from Madrid, let us all pray that they continue to be open to Christ call to something more.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Data Dump

I would call this a '7 quick take' for a Friday, but I don't do those, so I won't.

Sorry for the radio silence over the last few weeks, been focused on a few projects we have coming due, and they've been taking all of my (admittedly) limited brain power.

First, we had 12 men enter formation this fall for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, assigned to the following locations: 4 to Mount St. Mary's Seminary, Cincinnati (three into Pre-Theo I, one into I Theology, with 2 men who transferred from College Seminary programs); 4 to Bishop Simon Brute College Seminary in Indianapolis; 3 to the Pontifical College Josephinum; 1 to North American College, Rome (but he is studying for the Oratory in Formation that is part of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati).  All told, we now sit at 42 seminarians, which is getting closer to our goal of 100.

Speaking of Mount St. Mary's Seminary, there have been some updates to the Chapel:
Looks nice, eh?

This weekend, I'm heading back to my home parish to celebrate the 10:30 Mass on Sunday with my grandmother on the occassion of her 90th Birthday!  I think all of my cousins and the next generation will be there, hmm.... rough tally, I know my math is wrong: Grandma and a few of her sisters who are still kicking; my mom and her five siblings and spouses; 23 grandchildren (and quite a few spouses); 25 (really, I have no idea, I think it is higher than that now, 17 are just my nieces and nephews, and there has to be maybe 15 from my cousins?) great-grandchildren.  It promises to be an excellent time.  If you could, say a prayer for Grandma as she continues to recover from hip replacement, because she didn't want to be confined to a wheel chair, at 90.  YOU GO GRANDMA!

Tonight, I have second of three weddings in a row; after the one next weekend, only one more this year.  I think that makes 8, total, this year.  All my brother priests in parishes are throwing stuff at me right now!  (My fee: first born son to the seminary!)

I was very happy to recieve a review copy of Brain Gail's latest, Childless, which is to be published and released on October 7th.  All I'll say now is that it is a good read, I'll publish my full review closer to publication date.

Our Vocation Awareness Week materials are taking the lion's share of my brain power.  We're focusing them around the Mass as a Well Spring of Vocations.  If you could spare another prayer for inspiration that I might finish my section!  (They were only due in rough draft form July 1st, and I have five sections yet to write.....)

Finally, point #7: the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors are meeting later this month in Detroit.  I am doing a workshop of use of new media in vocation promotion, teaming up with Sam Alzheimer of Vianney Vocations, he's hitting facebook and email marketing, I'm hitting blogging and twitter.  Should be fun!  Archbishop O'Brien of Baltimore was supposed to do our keynote address, but something about the pope calling pre-empted him.  There BXVI goes again, pulling rank!  ;)

I think that's all the randomness floating around in my head right now, make sure to follow me on Twitter, like us at Facebook, and visit our main page, where the Vocation Prayer is now translated into Spanish!


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Yoyo Meet at Fatlace

Yesterday Paul Han held a yoyo meet at the Fatlace store in japan town for the release of his signature yoyo and the limited edition Giants Superstar. This was one of the best turnouts we have had so far. Thanks to everyone that came out and i hope everyone had fun. If you were interested in purchasing the super limited Superstar and also the limited Paul Han Winston Rockstar you can check out our webstore or our store front in japan town.

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Fatlace Crew

Articles by Fatlace Staff and Editors.

At first glance, Fatlace is your typical shop with dope beats, comfy sneaks and kids from car meets but stay a while and discover the details that set this place apart from your usual street boutique. Chill with the crew, grab some free candy and enjoy the exquisiteness that is The Paddock. You can also check out our online emporium where we carry all of our latest product.


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"Do not rob the poor, because he is poor... for the Lord will take up their case and plunder those who plunder them." Proverbs 22:22-23

Thursday, August 26, 2010

FBC Jax Was Center Stage for Florida Politics Sunday - and Mac Picks Up the Endorsement

FBC Jax and Mac Brunson were front and center in the Florida Republican gubernatorial primary this past Sunday, and several newspapers around the state reported on it. But ironically on this day it wasn't a politician who got a ringing endorsement, it was the preacher, as I'll explain.

Bill McCollum and his wife were present at FBC Jax for the a.m. worship service sitting next to former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, and a whole team of Republican politicians. McCollum has been in an absolutely nasty, no-holds-barred campaign against his opponent Rick Scott for the Republican governorship nomination.

Why was McCollum sitting next to Huckabee in the service? Earlier in the week Huckabee endorsed McCollum for governor, announcing their intent to visit the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville during their last minute campaign swing before Tuesday's election.

In a clever, roundabout way, McCollum was presented by FBC Jax as the conservative choice for governor. Huckabee sits next to him, and Huckabee comes to the platform to a standing ovation.

The St. Petetersburg Times blog called the church service a "Tallahassee quorum", with politicians Mike Haridopolus, John Thrasher, Steven Wise (FBC Jax member), Adam Hasner, Leonard Bembry, and Holly Benson all present and accounted for. Most, if not all of these, were supporters of McCollum for governor. As is customary Jim Whitmire graciously introduced each one (see the video at end of this post) and had them stand and wave to the crowd after which Whitmire reminded the congregation of their responsibility to pray for their elected leaders.

Maybe this is in part why Scott won Tuesday. McCollum, a career politician and current Attorney General, was the choice of almost all Tallahassee insiders and in this political season the people preferred an outsider not connected with all the career politicians. Not saying this is right, but that seems to be the case. The "Tallahassee quorum" at FBC Jax Sunday perhaps didn't help.

When Mac got up to preach, he first called Mike Huckabee to the stage. While they didn't mention McCollum, the connection was apparent when the church saw the two sitting together when announced by Whitmire. Mac told the story again of how Huckabee had been a blessing back in Dallas during a difficult time. As reported by the St. Pete Times:
"The 2012 White House hopeful received a whooping (for church) standing ovation and pastor Mac Brunson, a person [sic] friend, brought him to the stage to share a few words. (By contrast, McCollum received just polite applause when he was introduced.) In his brief remarks, Huckabee didn't mention McCollum but the connection likely stuck."
While Huckabee didn't mention McCollum, Mike took the mike and instead gave the Brunsons a ringing endorsement of their Christian character. He said when he met them he "fell in love with them", and "they are some of the most authentic, most genuine Christian examples I've ever known in my life." Now THAT, is a strong endorsement from the Huckster. But I just wonder - are the Huckabees and Brunsons that close of friends where Huckabee knows them that well to give such an endorsement? Seems odd to me, unless they are very close friends. Huckabee added that the "platform team" of Brunson and Whitmire is the best in the country. Mac then gave a nice little endorsement of Huckabee's TV show. I thought next they both might plug each other's latest book - or hand out brochures on each other's respective 2011 Holy Land trips ("Walk Where Jesus Walked", while walking with Mac or Huck; sign up here, Master Card and Visa accepted: Mac's Holy Land Trip and Huck's Holy Land Trip).

Ironically, in that evening's service, Mac did give an explanation to his congregation of why he "tolerates" such brazen political displays in the church:
"Now thank the Lord I don't think we have any politicians [here] tonight....I so badly want them to experience and encounter Jesus Christ that I tolerate what we do, if they'll stay here and listen to me preach - with the prayer, that maybe, MAYBE, the word of God will penetrate somewhere."
Interesting comment. Just as he tolerates politicians, probably the politicians at City Hall tolerate the preacher's invocations in their chambers, with the hope that he'll stay and be genuinely concerned about the city's needs instead of vacation excursions and church building renovations. And Mac would probably agree that his Bible sermons don't penetrate very far into the thick skin of politicians. After he preached on unwholesome speech and false attacks Sunday, McCollum continued his bashing of Scott over his company's Medicare fraud case and spending his fortune on political commercials. But Mac's sermon on lying in July didn't penetrate very far into Scott either when he heard it, as he continued the misleading ads including a last-minute ad linking McCollum to a corrupt politician, even putting a phony "mug shot" of McCollum matching the original mug shot of the politician.

But as I said, McCollum lost despite Huckabee's endorsement and their last minute campaign swing through conservative northeast Florida. And if you think this campaign was ugly, wait until Democratic candidate Alex Sink starts going after Rick Scott in the general election - this will be very, very ugly, and I predict a Democratic Florida gubernatorial victory in November.

Here is the video of Whitmire's introductions, followed by the Mike and Mac exchange on the platform.

Mac Loves Mike, Mike Loves Mac from FBCJax Watchdog on Vimeo.

Anonymous said...

Interesting article.

I don't know Flordia politics that well, but I am sorry for you guys that Rick Scott will be on the ballot this fall.

Scott is not liked anywhere he used to live - Kentucky (where he worked at Humana, I think), or Nashville (where he worked at HCA and got the company in big time trouble).

I was really surprised to find that Rick Scott is supposed to be a rip-roaring conservative these days. That's not at all how he was in Nashville. In fact, the church he attended was a liberal Presbyterian Church with an openly gay pastoral staff member. (I grew up in that church).

I have not followed Scott's career at all and had no idea that he had become a politician in Florida.

I suppose if he is not elected governor, he will embark on a new career path. Maybe he'll become an evanglical preacher and raise money to build at $100 million buidling or something. (I used to think that was bad - until I saw that California just spent $579 million on a high school, and has a $2.2 billion school in the works before it was pulled due to budget issues).

Of course, I don't know McCullom at all. So Scott might be better than McCollum. And either might be better than the Dem running.

I like Huckabee on TV and he did not embarrass himself in the Presidential campaign, but he did siphon away support from more experienced conservatives, thereby handing the nomination to McCain who was the worst Republican nominee in my lifetime.

This is an iteresting article because it shows a lot of interesting connections.

Anonymous said...

I say kick all the bums out of office, local, state and federal. Even a guy like Scott can't do any worst than the current group of yahoos. At least businessmen have had to meet payrolls, balance budgets,and work 60-80 hours a week to make all these things happen for their employees. And then on top of that watch the government take half of what they make and then take a more ridiculous chunk when they die.

Any thinking person knows these guys visit churches to get their mug seen. I like what Homer Jr. used to say. "let em all come, who knows, the Gospel make take a hold of their hearts and get saved. Amen Brother." I can hear him saying it so clearly and so can a lot of other folks.

Frankly, although most folks don't think about it, God puts our leaders in power as the scripture says. It just goes to show how little most people really care. Less than 25% voter turnout. PATHETIC!! We deserve what we get!!

Anonymous said...

I'm for a total change. I say turn them all out this November. Put some men/women in that are not political, but just plain honest and who have some business sense.

Anonymous said...

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth,” he urged those gathered at the mega-church, citing Ephesians 4:29. “Be nice!”
Ummm, everyone is to "Be Nice", but Mac Brunson who seems to have forgotten his words that made headlines in the Florida Times Union.

These politicians show up every election year at FBCJ and are treated like little Gods - they campaign aggressively in large churches or wherever they can persuade the people to vote for them.

I'm glad McCullum's gone - I too want total change.

Anonymous said...

Some politicians never go to church or even attend during their election campaigns. Its really something to see those that rarely attend going to various churches and pretending to be something other than putting in an appearance for votes. If I were the pastor they would not even be acknowledged. They would be treated like any other sinner, no more, no less.

FBC Choir Member said...

"wait until Democratic candidate Alex Sink starts going after Rick Scott in the general election - this will be very, very ugly, and I predict a Democratic Florida gubernatorial victory in November."

Yep. I voted for Alex Sink Tuesday and I can't wait to vote for her in November. I think she will make a great governor.

I'm torn between Kendrick Meek and Charlie Crist for Senate. I hope I make up my mind in time.

FBC Jax Watchdog said...

Choir member: I sure was glad to see Meeks beat that other guy in the primary. He made my skin crawl.

Have you considered the independent governor choice, Bud Chiles?

Thy Peace said...

Off Topic: The Wartburg Watch > Ergun Caner’s Successor – Surprise, Surprise…

Anonymous said...

I believe Palin is the person who really gets the job done. Look at all the candidates she has help win so far. She is a real winner and the left is scared of her so they pretend she is ignorant. I believe she will be back in 2012 as another VP hopefully on a real strong Republican to win the presidency. Here's hoping.

Anonymous said...

FBC Choir Member said... "wait until Democratic candidate Alex Sink starts going after Rick Scott in the general election - this will be very, very ugly, and I predict a Democratic Florida gubernatorial victory in November."

Just like a liberal!
What are now a seer?
Don't count your chickens before they hatch!

Anonymous said...

The dems are literally asking Obama NOT to help them in the campaigns. And he is not even in his 2nd term!

Anonymous said...

I was undecided on who to vote for between Scott and McCollum until I saw who was endorsing McCollum. If Brunson and Huckabee are for him, I clearly was not. I voted for Scott (I live in Duval county) and was glad, elated, to see that despite the endorsement from the largest congregation in NE Florida, Scott kicked McCollum's tail handily in Duval county! It shows me that the Millionaire Mac and Millionaire Mike, don't have the political influence they would like people to think they have.

If Huckabee is that poor of a judge of character, I as a conservative Christian, will be sure to not only vote against him if he ever runs for office again, but I also will campaign for his opponent in the primaries. And no longer will I watch his brown nosing tv show either. The man lost all credibility with me. He is either a liar, or easily duped, when it comes to the Brunsons.

They probably gave him some of "God's money" in his last campaign so he really loves them. Maybe we'll see a Huckabee commercial during the service now? I wonder if Huck gave Mac and Debbie any expensive gifts while he was here?

At least Huck didn't tell us how tired Mac was from planting shade trees and start spitting at anonymous emails, or talking about how deserving Mac is of his high salary.

Pathetic. But these guys know their gullible demographic.

Too bad for them the voters of Duval county (who by the way are the jury pool for the upcoming trials involving the church!) are not so easily fooled by these clowns!

Dr Who said...

That man is sooooo full of himself. Did you see him pat himself on the back when Huck a Berry finished. No, but he sure wanted to.

I wish I could help you show people how deceptive this man and others just like him are. Those at FBC JAX sure have their heads buried in the sand and you can't correct this kind of ignorance.

W/D your hands are full. I feel for you. God bless you brother in your fight.

What a mess. WHAT A MESS!!!

Anonymous said...

I hate seeing politics and religion in each other's pockets. Beware the Political-Religous Complex

Anonymous said...

I hate seeing politics and religion in each other's pockets. Beware the Political-Religous Complex

Anonymous said...

The good news is that not very many people are this gullible to applaud Big Mac and Big Mike. Sure it seems like a lot when you gather a few thousand people in one place, but think about this, assuming a population of 1 million people in the Jax area, and about 7500 attend FBC Jax. I will take that to mean 992,500 people are "just saying NO to Mac and FBC Jax." They get it. They have voted with their feet and their wallets. They go and give elsewhere or nowhere. Let Mac build his family empire on the backs of those 7500 who are getting what they are paying for.

Now about those at the JSO and SAO who got involved to help identify and shut down a religious blogger who criticized Mac and the church...how did that turn out for YOU boys?

Anonymous said...

I hate seeing politics and religion in each other's pockets. Beware the Political-Religous Complex

August 27, 2010 10:25 AM

Then you will really hate knowing that JSO Detective Robert A. Hinson, who opened a (retaliatory?) investigation to find the blogger's identity, is also 1.) a long-time member of the church AND (2) a deacon at the church AND (3) an employee on the church/pastor security detail, and (4) a member of the church discipline committee!

That, my friends, is about as entangled as it can get!

Anonymous said...

What I found comical in Hucks speach is that he says the very same thing about all the guest that come on his show - they are just the "most wonderful and gracious people he has ever met"

Be glad when Dawg moves on - Big Mac's picture makes me gag every time I see his hypocritical face.

And yes, the Detective is another puppet (well paid) and highly esteemed in the church. He doesn't represent fairly the citizens rights of the Jacksonville community - he's all Baptist!

Anonymous said...

We must not forget however that Rick Scott visited FBC Jax in late July of this year. In fact, I would say he got a larger applause than McCollum. So just be careful on pinning a church with who they support. Of course Huckabee was with McCollum at a large church event...he endorses him. I just find it difficult to pin the church on promoting one campaigner over another just because his endorsers are with him.

I follow your blog Watchdog, and I agree with some things and disagree with others, but this post got rather close to "slanted journalism" in my opinion. And I dont want your message ignored due to incomplete "press".

However, I am wary of either men due to obvious corruption shown on both sides, and pray that God will continue to bless our State regardless of the hearts of our leaders. Stay vigilant and true Mr. Rich.

Many Prayers,
Austin (6th Grade Sunday School) ;)

FBC Jax Watchdog said...

Hi Austin - glad you are reading the blog, hope all is well.

As a conservative Christian myself, I was not enthused about either candidate, and I think the lackluster applause McCollum got shows that there was not an excitement at FBC Jax about him for sure. I think that many people in the audience, if they were like me, were not sure WHO they would vote for as they sat there Sunday morning.

But we do know who excites FBC Jax, and that is the Huckster. Knowledge that Huckabee supported McCollum might have been a deciding factor for some. So having him sit there with McCollum in church, recognizing both Huckster and McCollum, AND then calling Huckster to the platform got the word out to many in the audience who probably didn't know: Mike Huckabee is supporting McCollum. That was an attempt to get some conservative votes, and Mac willingly played into that strategy by calling Huckabee to the front to make sure they knew he was there, that he loves Mac and FBC Jax, and it bolstered the message: Huckabee supports McCollum, and thus you should too.

And Mac got a ringing endorsement from Huckabee at the same time. Brilliant!

Thy Peace said...

Off Topic: That Mom [Karen Campbell] > august 26 podcast: patriarchy/patriocentricity two, part ten ~ Jon Zens and What’s with Paul and Women, part one

Anonymous said...

Huckabee implemented PDL at his church in Ark. He also has been close friends with Bill Gothard. I view Huckabee as typical politician pastor...blowing with the wind on trends and wealthy friends.

I think folks would find that Huckabee rarely disagrees with someone he is talking to at the time.

I would rather have a conservative liberaterian.

Anonymous said...

FBC Choir Member said... "wait until Democratic candidate Alex Sink starts going after Rick Scott in the general election - this will be very, very ugly, and I predict a Democratic Florida gubernatorial victory in November."

Paul a.k.a. FBC Choir member would vote for other flaming liberals besides Obama.

It is sad to waste youth on the young! Perhaps someday you will have an epiphany, get educated about the issues and vote based on issues that are not contrary to scripture.

FBC Jax Watchdog said...

Pastor William Thornton makes the following comment on his blog, concerning this post:

"FBCJax Watchdog reports on the quasi-political rally/worship service last Sunday at FBC Jax. Mike Huckabee and some state and local politicians were all present to be noticed. Looks pretty tame to me, as political stuff in church goes, but with this kind of stuff we SBCers ought to be pretty close to the place where we stop complaining about political activity in Black churches."

I agree William.

Anonymous said...

I am of an extremely Conservative political mindset. I would never vote for Huckabee. Everytime I look at him, I see a SBC preacher looking back. It's truly interesting that an ex., SBC preacher should go into politics (governor), then go into show business. How apropoe!! And how also to get rich, and richer.

Where are the Godly men that preach the Gospel? Are there anymore of them left? Actors....they are all actors and the pulpit is their stage. Sad..very sad!!!

FMBJr said...

Jesus said His house was to be a house of prayer not a circus!

FMBjr said...

FBCJax in it's day under the Lindsey's meant that God reigned supreme. The gospel of Christ was at the center. Good preaching and good ole family values.

Anonymous said...

FMBjr. You are so right!!!Those days are gone and gone forever. There is no turning back now. All you are going to get is more change and you won't like it. By the way, how is that change working out for the rest of you???

Anonymous said...

I am having great difficulty accepting Mac Brunson as the preacher at FBCJ.

His calling appears to be history lessons and just plain telling stories. Where is the BIBLE history? I am tired of stories.

All week I hear our Lord cursed and made fun of...I come to church to hear Him UPLIFTED and GLORIFIED but all we are getting is HISTORY lessons! What happened to preaching the Word at FBCJ?

I am tired of my ears being tickled with stories that interest the Pastor. They do not interest me. I want to hear about Jesus Christ because I am a sinner and need His Word every time I enter the church.

History lessons are not building the church at FBC Jax...it appears to have a negative effect to many. Just look around. Plenty of seats available and more opening up weekly.

Anonymous said...

What is going on in Surfside and what does it reflect about what is going on in Florida?

Influence of special interests. Developers. Big money. Zoning changes. Corruption issues.

Can't be missed, takes about a half hour to read through the whole situation and the comments, but wow it is worthwhile.


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Spring in the Savannas

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Spring and autumn kissed yesterday in the savannas east of Lake Okeechobee, and autumn died of it. Autumn was lucky thus to be raptured out of existence, for he was but a weakling, lingering along inertly, showing little of that brown tan in which, farther north, he glories. In all the woodland hardly a fallen leaf rustled under his footstep and on the open savanna only the dull olive wild grasses paid homage to him. On the day he died I thought I saw tribute to him, in the red of a swamp maple's passing leaves, but I was wrong. It was the blush of spring blossoms instead, so little does the world of the twenty-seventh parallel care for autumn, so potent is the aura of spring as the lusty hussy sweeps in on the wings of the southeast trades. I suspect spring of being born on the tropic edge of the Sargasso Sea whence these winds blow, mothered by the cool brine of its vast depths, fathered by the most vivid sun and bringing in her amorous heart the alchemic vigor of both, whereby she transmutes all things into golden bloom. The long surges of this sea following her, leap in adoration and desire. A dozen miles inland from the Atlantic I yet hear the roar of their plunge on the beach, a roar softened and made into a sleepy lullaby, an undertone droning in soothing cadences when the breeze is hushed for a moment. They may not follow her farther, these devoted waves, but they send the cooling scent of the brine far beyond the sound of their voices, sometimes to the very heart of the peninsula.

"Spring and autumn kissed yesterday in the savannas east of Lake Okeechobee"

Yet it is not altogether the scent of the brine which gives the amorous softness to the winds that brought spring, yesterday. The garments of the goddess, trailing over the Bahamas, have caught the scent of all wild flowers in their folds and there wooed and welded them into a fond sweetness which no man may describe yet by which all must know when spring comes, whether in the Everglades or the New England pastures. On nights when the wind blew gently I have caught whiffs of these odors of spring before, breaths to make one fill the lungs to their very depths in long-drawn inspirations, to reach one's arms towards the stars in sudden joy of yearning, but now the air of day as well as night is full of it.

The savannas are the pine barrens of the northern part of the State, made, somehow, more open hearted, lovable and kindly in stead of lonely and aloof. The pines are here still, but they no longer grow in close-set ranks that shut off the view in the near distance with a wooden wall of brown trunks. Instead they grow far apart and the glance trots merrily along for miles among their trunks before it finds its way barred. There are enough of the long-leaved variety to give stateliness to the view, but in the main the pine of the savannas is a shorter-leaved, less straight and dignified tree, smaller, though a good-sized tree, and one that is enough like our Northern pitch pine to be a friend at sight. These and the palmettos that sway in picturesque groups along on their way, no one knows whither, are all the trees one finds for miles on miles.

It is rather odd, this matter of the palmettos being on their way. It is not so with the pines. They stand. But the palmettos stroll on. I do not know what gives them this semblance of groups in motion, but they surely have it. I fancy it is their erect trunks which are never quite erect. They seem to lean forward just poised for a step. Under foot is the scrub palmetto, brown grasses that fatten the range cattle, and the gallberry bushes now black with fruit At first glance this seems all and you have to live with the savannas for a little before they give up more. At rare intervals you may find a tiny streamlet that in flood time has dug its course down through the sand to a hard bottom where its clear water slips gently along. This will be bordered by myrtles a dozen feet tall, making a wall of foliage that you may see a mile ahead of you barring your way beneath the pines. But this is only an incident and does not affect the general tenor of the landscape.

But, though streams are rare, there is water in abundance in the saucer-like pools which make the savanna so lovable. Just when your way is becoming weary and the place the abode of monotony and loneliness, one of them bars your path and fills you with sudden admiration of its wild beauty. You may count them, little and big, by the score sometimes within a mile, you may find a mile without one, or you may find a single pool which takes up the mile. However long your walk in the level plain, it can never be lonely because of the comradeship of these. Here is one that is rimmed with prim, green rushes, standing close-set and bristly pointed as if guarding the clear, unvexed surface. Here is another so shallow that the wild grasses grow up through the water all about, spiring in tender points that are olive brown with the touch of autumn. Yesterday in such pools olive brown was the only color above the water which reflected the blue of the sky. To-day, under the touch of this amorous spring that swooped down upon them, these somber spires stand guard over prickings of tender green that sprang up in a night to meet the call of the passing goddess.

Here is another pool, deeper, this one, whose borders are halberded with the leaves of the pickerel weed, already flying blue banners here and there, starred with the white of the water plantain. In spots in these clear, deeper pools the tape grass stripes the surface and the crow blackbirds ride dry-footed on the round, floating leaves of the yellow pond lily. Many of the smaller pools are fairer yet, their clear, black water all rich with gold ornaments, curiously and beautifully carved and shining yellow in the sunlight which seems tangled in embossings and fret work. Not till I wade knee deep into the middle may I find out whence comes this curious and delightful ornamentation. After all, it is but the tangled blooms of Utricularia vulgaris. riding free and floating on the bladder-bearing whorl of leaves till gentle winds push them close and the spurred, bilabiate flowers tangle golden heads in nugget-like masses. Nowhere in the world, I fancy, can you find utricularias so large flowered and massed in such profusion as in the little, quiet pools that star the savannas from the Indian River westward to the northernmost beginnings of the Everglades.

The pools do not have a monopoly of the beautiful yellow blooms of the utricularia. Along one tiny path or another which I follow along level miles, made by the range cattle and kept open as highways for all the wild creatures of the place, tiny motes of richest sunshine dance aside for my passing feet. Scarce larger than a pinhead are these blooms of Utricularia subulata, most elflike blooms, that seem to have no connection with earth. If you try to pluck them they shake all over with mirth which they cannot contain at your clumsiness. Leaves they have none, and the stem which bears them up is of such a neutral tint and of such gossamer fineness that it is almost impossible to see it. And that is all there is to it; a stem like a spider's thread, springing from moist sand or mud in the path, bearing on its invisible support this tiny scale of sunshine, making the most elusive and fairylike plant that one might find on a continent. In Northern swamps and on the borders of still lakes the utricularias have given me pleasure, but never have they supplied such an amazement of delight as they spread before my feet in these wild savannas of southern Florida.

Along with the path-haunting utricularias is another tiny plant whose Northern prototype is familiar. This is the sundew. I take the one that carpets portions of these moist, wild ways with rich red to be the Drosera brevifolia from its shorter, wedge-shaped leaves. The nap of fine glands that clothes these holds diamond glints of infinitesimal dewdrops that flash finely in the sun and catch my attention and hold it, even as they do the tiny insects for whom the snare is spread. In favored locations these round mats of the sundew half carpet the gray-black soil along the path edges with a diamond-frosted, cerise velvet and should pleasantly pad the footfall of all small, wild creatures that pass that way.

"all must know when spring comes, whether in the Everglades or the New England pastures"

The sundew grows only on the moist places. In the dryer spots, now that spring has come wooing with warmth and with showers, troops of sun-bonneted beauties show up, these seeming to have sprung magically forth in a night. It may be that there were golden yellow sunbonnets nodding coquettishly in the wind all along the savannas ten days ago. I can only say that I tramped them back and forth and did not see any. It may be that the smaller, more modest blue sun-bonnets were there too. I can only say that I did not see them. There is a freemasonry of the wild that keeps secrets from you till you are found worthy. Hence to know a wood or a plain you must visit it often. Often in coming back along a path which I have scanned in going I find flowers, nodding by the very path brim, that I did not see in going out. It is not to be believed that these opened in the interval; rather we must think that like children they lose their fear of strangers after a little.

So with these butterworth girls that wear the yellow and blue sunbonnets. I fancy there were a few of them along the path on my first day, but they did not care to be seen. Now they have taken heart at the boldness with which spring scatters love tokens all about and are trooping forth on the level sands. Pinguicula pumila I actually found first, though she is the more modest. Her blue bonnet is smaller and she herself is shorter of stature, nestling down among the wild grasses in a snugly confiding way which makes them love her. They cling close and it is difficult to pluck Pinguicula pumila without getting a half handful of defending grass stems with hers.

Pinguicula lutea is a bolder creature. In her yellow sunbonnet she is a flaunting blonde and the gold of her flaring ribbons is visible far under pine and palm. When the full warmth of the sun is on the savannas she flips back the rim of this big, yellow bonnet till it flares in salver form and shows her buxom face and the gold of her hair to all who will look. I do not think it possible that Pinguicula lutea let me go down the path on the very first day without noticing her and I am therefore confident that, her season begins here in mid-January. She and her shyer sister have given a sudden joy to the wide spaces that was not there before and I welcome them as near relatives of the utricularias.

Over them all on the day that spring came, over the sandy levels, the round-eyed, flower-bedecked pools, rang the tinkling, joyous songs of I do not know how many million meadow larks. A day or two before I had seen but a scattering one or two and not one had sung for me. On that day they appeared everywhere, not in flocks like the robins and blackbirds, but singly and by twos and threes well distributed over all the landscape. They sing from lowly stations, a short, dead stub in the lonely reaches, a fence post near the farm, or the low ridgepole of the farmer's shack. Nothing could be more spring-like than their music and they are the first Northern birds that I have found singing freely so far South. The robins and the redwings are songless, the bluebird carols shyly as he flies but so gently that he is rarely heard. The crow blackbird works hard but it is hardly a song that he produces, and so the mellow tinkle of these myriads of meadow larks is a delight to the Northern ear.

It is a joy also to see one of them after his song flutter forth from his perch, spread his wings in mid-flight and sail sweetly down, lighting in among the wild grasses as if he loved them. The meadow lark's breast wears a rich yellow that pretty nearly matches that of the sunbonnet of Miss Pinguicula Lutea. I am wondering if there is anything in it. That might account for her persistent strolling along the sunny reaches of the interminable savannas. It might account for his melodious outbursts from low observation points and the quivering set of his wings as he soars down into the grass at her side. This spring that came sailing up over the Bahamas brought many a yearning along with the tropic odors in her train.

As out of the lark-filled air the spring has brought melodies, so out of the yellow-flecked pools she has brought two sounds which are in vocal adoration of her. One is a queer little rap of a sound that is like the hitting of dry sticks together in a rub-a-dub-dub. If fairy frogs march the borders of the pools to drumbeat, this is the drumbeat.

The other is a frog sound, too, the love call of the tree frog. The hyla's voice with us, North, is the first sure call of spring. When we hear that we know that the ice is gone from the marshes and the tiny fellows have come out of their winter's sleep and are down in the open water, piping, Pan like, their love songs among the reeds. Neither amorous scent of stephanotis bloom borne from islands of the Southern seas on the soft air, nor amorous tinkle of lark love songs could so mark to my Northern trained ear the presence of spring. There is no chorus as yet; just an occasional shrill peeping, such as I have heard in April out of the moist ruck of last year's grasses in a cold meadow, while yet there is a touch of frost in the air and the low sun scarcely gives color in his slanting beams. Here it comes in warmth as of June out of pools where bewildered flowers bloom the year round, not knowing of a certainty where one summer ends and another begins. Yet the sound and its meaning are unmistakable, the final evidence whereby I know that spring came to the savannas yesterday.

Excerpt from Chapter Eleven, "Spring in the Savannas" Florida Trails, 1910. Next Section; Table of Contents.

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GSA signs agreements with Web 2.0 providers

The General Services Administration has negotiated terms of service agreements with Web 2.0 providers MySpace, Blist, Slideshare and AddThis allowing federal agencies to use the services, GSA officials have said. Agencies that want the services can sign onto the agreement, which is effective now.

MySpace is a social portal for connecting people and content. Blist provides a service for publishing data on the Internet. Slideshare is a site for sharing PowerPoint, Word and PDF documents. AddThis is a bookmarking and sharing platform.

During last 10 months, a coalition of agencies led by GSA has been negotiating agreements with new media providers, and other federal agencies can choose to sign the same agreements, GSA officials said April 28. The agreements resolve legal concerns and conditions that pose problems for federal agencies, such as liability, endorsements, advertising, freedom of information and governing law, they said.

GSA already signed agreements with Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Vimeo, and and is in discussions with many other providers that offer free new media services.

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Research grants lead to career opportunities for students

by Laurie Krasin

Ron Theys

Everyone remembers that one special professor who mentored them. The professor who changed the course of their life and influenced their career choice.

Faculty mentorship is that hard-to-define educational experience that can have long-reaching impact.

One way that students at UW-Fond du Lac get this important experience is through undergraduate research projects on campus.

Opportunities like this are usually reserved for juniors or seniors at larger universities. It’s different at UW-Fond du Lac. Students are able to participate in undergraduate research during their first or second year of college. These experiences often chart the course of their future career and provide valuable connections in their chosen field of study.

The chance to do undergraduate research is possible at UW-Fond du Lac thanks to grants, faculty mentorship, university collaborations and community partnerships. A recent $10,000 grant from the UW System Undergraduate Research and Discovery Grant program is funding five projects at UW-Fond du Lac (see related story).

One of these projects is a continuing collaboration between two University of Wisconsin schools. UW-Fond du Lac Professor Ronald Theys, Ph.D., has been collaborating on research of an anti-inflammatory drug with UW-Milwaukee Professor M. Mahmun Hossain, Ph.D.

The learning is both practical and philosophical according to Theys. “Some of the practical things they learn are new lab skills and techniques as well as application of theoretical concepts to worldly applications.”

On a philosophical level, Theys says the experience gives students the opportunity to explore their interests and curiosities. Hossain agrees and adds that research students gain invaluable experience that can’t be attained in the classroom. “They gain practical experience with chemistry in a real laboratory setting, learn to read papers in chemical journals, design experiments and present their findings to their peers,” said Hossain.

All of this helps students build a career portfolio. Several UW-Fond du Lac students who have participated in undergraduate research with Theys have gone on to pursue careers in chemistry.

“It challenges higher-achieving students and pulls them beyond their comfort levels. Undergraduate research is often the catalyst, to use a chemistry term, for propelling them to a desire for a higher level of education, often a Ph.D.,” Theys added.

Two former students who have done just that are UW-Fond du Lac alumna Sarah Oehm, a Ph.D. student at UW-Milwaukee and alumnus Eric Bloch who received his Ph.D. from UC-Berkeley.

Bloch is now a postdoctoral researcher working with professors at Harvard and MIT. After his two years at UW-Fond du Lac, Bloch transferred to UW-Milwaukee and went on to graduate school at UC-Berkeley.

Bloch credits his experience at UW-Fond du Lac as being directly responsible for his current position.

“After taking two years off after high school, I went to UW-Fond du Lac with no idea of what I wanted to do,” said Bloch.

It was during a general chemistry class with Theys when Bloch first realized he wanted to do something related to chemistry for the rest of his life. Then, he began participating in the research with Theys. “This led me to realize I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry and be involved in research for my career,” said Bloch. “I learned a lot about chemistry taking coursework, but I really learned to think like a scientist during the research experience.”

Theys feels the value of a collaboration with a research institution like UW-Milwaukee is immensely important to college freshman and sophomores.

“It provides an opportunity for undergraduates to work on graduate level projects,” he explained. “It also provides access to graduate student and professor-level expertise and mentoring. This helps students develop contacts and connections to experts in their field.”

The experience also helps students develop teamwork, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking on the highest educational levels in the field. “They learn from experts who have varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences,” said Theys. “That is, they experience diversity.”

His students at UW-Fond du Lac are also exposed to advanced equipment like Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) instruments which are normally only discussed in a class. Through this collaboration students are able to see these instruments and watch how they are used Theys added.

Thinking creatively, solving problems, and finding innovation - these are the important skills employers of today need and the careers of the future will require. This is what students learn by participating in undergraduate research at UW-Fond du Lac. Students from area high schools have also been able to experience being a part of this research collaboration.

Through programs like Youth Options, Concurrent Enrollment or Course Options, students can earn college credit while still in high school. Alex Lundberg from Fond du Lac High School and Tyler Beres from Campbellsport High School were enrolled in chemistry courses at UW-Fond du Lac and assisted Theys with the research. These programs are important community partnerships between UW-Fond du Lac and the area high schools and open the door to greater learning opportunities for the students.