Sunday 14 November 2004
Dear Jaspers,
648 are active on the Distribute site. There are 21 bouncing.
If you are reading the issue on the web, but have no need for the email service, please register on the Yahoo "Distribute_Jasper_Jottings" website as a "Special Notices" participant. Last week, the host of the www.jasperjottings.com site was in trouble and I had to put that week's issue somewhere else. I was eventually able to get it in its proper place a little later. I have no way to notify the web site only readers that there was a problem and that the issue was hosted elsewhere. If you register, I would also know the correct count of participants (something that bugs me personally) and have a quick easy way to connect with you in the event of a problem.
The new alumni site is functioning:
http://www.alum.manhattan.edu/authenticate.htm
It appears "tighter" than the last iteration. Without fouling some one up, I haven't tried to "crack" or "hack" it. Standard warnings apply. There are 88 people register there, but only three have photos. Check out my photo and see if you can pick me out of a crowd.
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This issue is at: http://www.jasperjottings.com/jasperjottings20041114.htm
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We Dec 15 Treasure Coast FL Alumni Holiday Inn
--- on US 1 in Stuart, Florida at noon
--- contact Ed Plumeau '52A c/o Jasper Jottings
We Jan 26 Treasure Coast FL Alumni Holiday Inn
--- on US 1 in Stuart, Florida at noon
--- contact Ed Plumeau '52A c/o Jasper Jottings
We Mar 16 Treasure Coast FL Alumni Holiday Inn
--- on US 1 in Stuart, Florida at noon
--- contact Ed Plumeau '52A c/o Jasper Jottings
Wkend Apr 2-3 '05
--- Relay For Life '04 was a first time event for Manhattan College, and we
helped
--- raise close to $20,000. How will you get involved and make this year's
Relay
--- For Life even more successful
--- Form teams with alumni (Class of '79, 82, etc.)
--- Form Teams with family and/or co-workers
--- Sponsor student teams on-campus
--- Find companies that can help underwrite the event
--- Speak on your experiences of Cancer in your life at the event
--- Be part of the planning team for Relay for Life '05
----- Contact Kinah Ventura-Rosas at 718-862-7477
----- or e-mail at kinah.ventura AT manhattan.edu
=========================================================
My list of Jaspers who are in harms way:
- Afghanistan
- - Feldman, Aaron (1997)
- Iraq
- - Mortillo, Steven F., son of Mortillo,
Steve (1980)
- - Sekhri, Sachin (2000)
… … my thoughts are with you and all that I don't know about.
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Five Valuable Lessons From a
Remarkable Family
by Charlie Byrne
===<begin quote>===
Meb Keflezighi (kah-FLEZ-gee) is 29 years old, weighs 127 pounds -- and he's faster than greased lightning.
You may recognize the name. He took the silver in this year's Olympic marathon in Athens, running 26.2 miles in just over two hours and 11 minutes. If you're counting, that's a pace of about 12 miles an hour.
Most people can't run that fast for 100 feet, never mind 26 miles.
But Meb is more than just one of the world's fastest runners. He's also got a degree in business communications from UCLA.
And just take a look at his family, profiled in a recent New
York Times article:
* Fitsum, his oldest brother, is an electrical
engineer.
* Aklilu, another brother, has his M.B.A.
* Bahghi, his younger sister, is in medical school.
* Merhawi, a younger brother, is in law school.
* Bemnet, yet another brother, is studying economics.
* Four younger siblings are still at home -- but are all planning to go to
college.
It's an impressive list of accomplishments for one family. But is it really that extraordinary?
When you find out what the Keflezighi family has done to get to where they are today, your answer will almost certainly be a resounding "Yes!"
The children were born into abject poverty in Eritrea, a small country in East Africa. Their homeland was at war, trying to gain independence from Ethiopia. The family had no electricity, no running water, and little food.
Their father, Russom, finally decided to do something about their situation in 1981. He walked 150 miles across rough and embattled terrain to Sudan, and eventually made his way to Italy. There, he worked odd jobs and sent money back home until they'd saved enough so that, with help from relatives, they managed to immigrate to the United States.
When they arrived in the U.S., they had nothing. In fact, they couldn't even speak the language. But they didn't let that stop them.
Russom drove a cab during the day and cleaned banks half the night. He'd come home at 3 a.m., wake up the kids, and teach them a little English before sending them off to school.
"Education will make you free from poorness, from stupidness," Russom told them. "It is like prepared food. Come and eat," he said.
Thanks to his father's tutoring and the family's high standards, Meb, one of the middle children, became an "A" student in high school and was accepted into UCLA. His other siblings met with similar or even greater academic success.
"It's the most extraordinary family I've ever met," said Dr. Steven Van Camp, a Los Angeles cardiologist.
Van Camp had become became a mentor to Meb when Meb was in high school. He took him to the library and showed him books about Jim Ryun, as well as Ethiopian marathon champion Abebe Bikila and Kip Keino, the star runner from Kenya.
After graduating from UCLA, Meb began running longer distance races. In his first marathon, the cheers of the crowds got him overly excited. In mid-race, he burnt himself out too soon. He finished ninth.
"I went for it," Meb told The Times. "I do not regret it. Live and learn."
But, as his father had done at work, Meb persisted. He did well in subsequent marathons, qualified for Athens in 2003, and meticulously planned his training for the Olympic Games.
"So many people can train well, but it was the details he paid attention to that made the difference," fellow Olympic runner Deena Kastor said after Meb's second-place finish.
Now, this Sunday, just two months after his silver-medal performance in Greece, Meb hopes to become the first American since 1982 to win the New York City Marathon.
His brother Fitsum told The Times that there was one thing his parents drilled into all the siblings: "Whatever you put your mind to, work hard and it is going to pay off."
We will find out this weekend if Meb can make his family proud of yet another outstanding accomplishment. If he does, it will only be icing on the cake. Meb has already achieved more than he ever imagined.
"My philosophy is that if you win nationals, it's like having a Masters in education," he said. "If you make the Olympic team, it's like a Ph.D. If you win a medal, you have done something extraordinary, like a Nobel Prize."
What can we learn from Meb and his family?
1. If you think you've got it tough, don't sit around moping. Get going and do something to change your situation. Take action. When Russom realized that his family was in a dead-end position, he took drastic measures. He moved away so that he could earn enough to bring his family to a better place.
2. When you're just starting out, there's no substitute for long hours, hard work, and a good education. Russom worked his fingers to the bone for years so that his children could get the schooling he never had. And he made them study just as hard as he worked. Now look where they are: doctors, lawyers, and engineers.
3. When Meb needed guidance in high school, he turned to a local professional man. And he read everything he could find about history's greatest runners. Network and find mentors from amongst the most successful people in your field.
4. Meb was disappointed after his first marathon. But instead of giving up, he carefully analyzed what he had done wrong and took steps to avoid making the same mistake again. If you suffer a setback, regroup, plan more carefully, work harder, then try again.
One more thing.
Before finishing his interview for The Times article, Meb opened his day planner to August 29, 2004 -- the date of the Athens race. Keep in mind that up until that day, no American had medaled in the marathon since 1976.
He read the entry to the reporter.
"Olympic marathon. Goal: top three."
=== <end quote> ===
Wow. T think this speaks for itself!
Reflect well on our alma mater, this week, every week, in any and every way possible, large or small. God bless.
"Collector-in-chief" John
john.reinke--AT--att.net
=========================================================
[CONTENTS]
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5 |
Headquarters |
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(like MC Press
Releases) |
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0 |
GoodNews |
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0 |
Obits |
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2 |
Jaspers_in_the_News |
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4 |
Manhattan_in_the_News |
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9 |
Sports |
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0 |
Resumes |
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4 |
Emails |
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2 |
Jaspers found
web-wise |
[PARTICIPANTS BY CLASS]
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Class |
Name |
Section |
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1951 |
Helm, Robert A.
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1957 |
Uhran, John |
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1962 |
Higgins, Cornelius
J. |
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1966 |
Magliano, John V. |
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1971 |
Turini, Barry L. |
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1975 |
Boyle, Patrick
G. |
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1975 |
Dowd, George
B. |
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1975 |
Regan, Robert
M. |
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1976 |
Sekhri, Vinod |
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1979 |
Burozski, Robert |
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1979 |
Placek, Rosemarie |
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1982 |
Brennan, Robert
T. |
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2000 |
Sekhri, Sachin |
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2003 |
Sekhri, Nitin |
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2004 |
Connor, Amanda
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2007 |
Martin, Brigid |
[PARTICIPANTS BY NAME]
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Class |
Name |
Section |
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1975 |
Boyle, Patrick
G. |
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1982 |
Brennan, Robert
T. |
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1979 |
Burozski, Robert |
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2004 |
Connor, Amanda
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1975 |
Dowd, George
B. |
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1951 |
Helm, Robert A.
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1962 |
Higgins, Cornelius
J. |
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1966 |
Magliano, John V. |
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2007 |
Martin, Brigid |
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1979 |
Placek, Rosemarie |
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1975 |
Regan, Robert
M. |
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2003 |
Sekhri, Nitin |
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2000 |
Sekhri, Sachin |
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1976 |
Sekhri, Vinod |
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1971 |
Turini, Barry L. |
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1957 |
Uhran, John |
http://www.manhattan.edu/alumni_friends/volunteerservices.php
Chapel of St. John Baptist DeLaSalle and His Brothers
Our newly refurnished and now air-conditioned chapel needs some final touches! Many of the sacramentals, including the processional crucifix, paschal candle, and candle holders must be replaced. This is a unique opportunity for a testamentary gift!
Please contact Kinah Ventura-Rosas
at 718-862-7477, or e-mail at kinah.ventura AT manhattan.edu
***
MANHATTAN COLLEGE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION PROGRAM SCORES INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
The College joins 46 schools whose educational curriculums in strength and conditioning meet high standards
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) recently recognized Manhattan College for its proactive efforts in providing students with the education needed to be successful in the exercise and sports fields.
Careers in strength and conditioning involve more than just an interest in health and fitness, or past involvement in sports. Students wishing to excel in the profession need a more formal education encompassing sport and exercise science, anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, exercise technique and nutrition.
The College’s physical education and human performance program meets the requirements set by the NSCA, which emphasize anaerobic conditioning and training within the specified curriculum. As part of the three-year recognition, the College gains additional exposure through NSCA publications, Web sites and other forms of marketing. Meeting NSCA’s standards also underscores the high quality of the program the College is providing to its students.
The NSCA is the leading authority on strength training and conditioning. For nearly 30 years, the group has bridged science and application to provide reliable, research-based strength and conditioning information to its 30,000 members and the general public.
Manhattan students that graduate with a degree in physical education or exercise science go on to physical therapy or occupational therapy schools, or pursue careers in hospitals or corporate fitness.
2***
TOP MANHATTAN COLLEGE STUDENTS WIN SCHOLARSHIPS FROM PRESTIGIOUS ENGINEERING ASSOCIATION
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Yonkers, New York, residents Daniel Ramos ’05 and Christopher Andrade ’05 have been awarded scholarships from the Association of Old Crows (AOC), a non-profit professional group that promotes careers in the defense industry.
Daniel, a senior computer engineering major, won the top prize – the Edwin A. Drogin Scholarship Award for $2,000. Christopher, a senior electrical engineering major, received a scholarship award for $1,500. This marks the fifteenth consecutive year Manhattan College engineering students have won scholarships in this academic competition, which is open to all computer or electrical engineering students who are residents of New York City, Westchester, Nassau or Suffolk counties.
A banquet to honor winners will take place on November 12, 2004 in Woodbury, New York. Dating back to 1989, Manhattan College engineering students have won more than $32,000 in scholarships from AOC in competition with some of the finest engineering schools in the metro area.
AOC is an international organization with more than 14,000 members and 115 corporate participants who are focused on the science and practice of electronic warfare and related disciplines.
3***
MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY, RESIDENT PATRICK G. BOYLE JOINS MANHATTAN COLLEGE’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The College taps executive vice president of New York Life Investment Management to join its esteemed board
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Morristown, N.J., resident Patrick G. Boyle, executive vice president of New York Life Investment Management (NYLIM) and a Manhattan College alumnus, has recently been elected to the College’s Board of Trustees.
Under Mr. Boyle’s direction, NYLIM’s guaranteed products team has emerged as a market leader in providing fixed-income investment services to top-notch clients, including many Fortune 500 companies. NYLIM, based in Parsippany, N.J., is an established money management and investment services firm with more than $180 billion in assets. Mr. Boyle was instrumental in building a business model that manages more than $23 billion in fixed-income assets. He is also responsible for Madison Capital Funding, a finance company that provides leveraged capital for buyouts, acquisitions and recapitalizations.
Mr. Boyle is actively involved in the institutional investment management community. He sits on the executive committee of NYLIM and serves on the boards of Eclipse Funds, New York Life Trust Company and Madison Capital Funding. Mr. Boyle, who has over 25 years of experience in the investment management business, has previously served as a director MBL Life Assurance Corporation (formerly Mutual Benefit Life) and Quorum Capital Management in London.
He graduated from Manhattan College in 1975 with a bachelor’s of science degree and completed the College’s master’s program in business administration in 1982. Mr. Boyle went on to complete the advanced management program at the Harvard School of Business in 1991. A native of the Bronx, Mr. Boyle attended Cardinal Spellman High School, where he has helped raise funds for student scholarships and building renovations. He continues to generate support for Catholic High Schools in New York City and the American Heart Association.
Mr. Boyle joins Mr. John V. Magliano, chief executive officer of leading engineering, construction and consulting firm Syska Hennessy Group, as the newest members of the College’s board of trustees.
4***
BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK, RESIDENT JOHN V. MAGLIANO JOINS MANHATTAN COLLEGE’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The College taps chief executive officer of Syska Hennessy Group to join its esteemed board
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Bronxville, N.Y., resident John V. Magliano, chief executive officer of Syska Hennessy Group and a Manhattan College alumnus, has recently been elected to the College’s Board of Trustees.
Mr. Magliano oversees one of the nation’s leading consulting, engineering, technology and construction firms. After completing an electrical engineering degree from the College in 1966 and serving a four-year tour in the United States Air Force, Mr. Magliano joined Syska, overseeing major projects for key clients such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and the United Nations. Mr. Magliano, who joined the company in 1970, is a licensed Professional Engineer in 12 states. He also serves as Syska’s chief engineer, heading the firm’s Technical Leadership Committee, a group that provides guidance and sets policy for all technical work.
Aiming to foster future engineers, Mr. Magliano established Syska’s unique Engineer in Training (EIT) program, which offers intensive training for new engineers and recent college graduates. He is also a founding member of the ACE Mentor Program, a nonprofit group that provides mentoring for high school students in the fields of architecture, construction and engineering. He currently serves as chair of the ACE Mentor Program’s New York board of directors.
Mr. Magliano is active in the American Consulting Engineering Council and is a member of numerous technical and professional organizations. He has authored several articles in technical journals and has taught as an adjunct professor at the New York University School of Continuing Education. In addition, he advises the Tuckahoe School District’s Board of Education and sits on the Preston High School Board of Trustees.
Mr. Magliano joins Mr. Patrick G. Boyle, senior vice president of New York Life Investment Management, as the newest members of the College’s board of trustees. Both members were designated in October.
5***
[Collector's prayer: And, may perpetual light shine on our fellow departed Jaspers, and all the souls of the faithful departed.]
Your assistance is requested in finding these. Please don’t assume that I will “catch” it via an automated search. Sometimes the data just doesn’t makes it’s way in.
None
[JR: I'm going to try a new section for "updates". These are changes that "pop" in from the various sources that are not really from the news. I thought it might be valuable to alert old friends seeking to reconnect or "youngsters" seeking a networking contact with someone who might have a unique viewpoint that they are interested in. This is a benefit of freeing up time trying to make email work by "outsourcing" the task to Yahoo.]
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Burozski, Robert (1979) |
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Connor, Amanda (2004) |
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Dowd, George B. (1975) |
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Martin, Brigid (2007) |
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Turini, Barry L. (1971) |
JASPER_in_the_NEWS: Brennan, Bob (MC????) to the newly created post of President, North America
Google Alert for: "manhattan
college" -"marymount manhattan
college" -"borough of manhattan
college"
Iron Mountain Names New President, North America
mysan.de - Germany
... of software and microcomputer products. Bob holds a BA in Psychology from
Manhattan College. Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM ...
Bob Brennan, CEO of Recently Acquired Connected Corporation Selected to Lead
North American Operations
BOSTON, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM), the leader in records and information management services, today announced the appointment of Bob Brennan to the newly created post of President, North America. The selection follows an independent executive search for the position, and the recent acquisition of Connected Corporation.
"During the last few years working and partnering with Connected, I've had the opportunity to witness first hand Bob's performance and his team's success," said Richard Reese, chairman and CEO of Iron Mountain. "Over the course of our discussions about the acquisition, I realized that Bob would be a great candidate for this new role. It was our good fortune that Bob's experience matched the requirements of the search already underway with an outside firm."
In this new capacity, Brennan gains accountability for Iron Mountain's two largest business units in North America: Records Management and Off-Site Data Protection. He will play a significant role in strategic and long-term decision-making related to service and product offerings, technology application and development, sales, marketing, and related general management activities. Brennan will maintain his current responsibilities as CEO of Connected, an Iron Mountain subsidiary, until the integration of the business is complete.
"I'm honored to take on this leadership role with Iron Mountain," commented Brennan. "I have great admiration for the team here and what they've accomplished. I look forward to joining them as we accelerate Iron Mountain's leadership in records and information management."
Brennan joins Iron Mountain with more than 20 years of senior management experience. He joined Connected Corporation in April 2000 as the company's CEO and was named Chairman in 2003. Before Connected, Brennan was a General Manager with Cisco Systems for Network and Service Management. Brennan also served as CEO of American Internet prior to its acquisition by Cisco in 1998. From 1993 to 1995, Brennan was the Vice President, General Manager for Merisel, a distributor of software and microcomputer products. Bob holds a BA in Psychology from Manhattan College.
About Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) is the world's trusted partner for outsourced records and information management services. Founded in 1951, the Company has grown to service more than 200,000 customer accounts throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Latin America. Iron Mountain offers records management services for both physical and digital media, disaster recovery support services, and consulting -- services that help businesses save money and manage risks associated with legal and regulatory compliance, protection of vital information, and business continuity challenges. For more information, visit the Company's Web site at http://www.ironmountain.com/.
Investor Relations Contact: Media Contact: Stephen Golden Melissa Burman Director, Investor Relations Director, Corporate Communications (617) 535-4799 617-535-8310 sgolden-- AT --ironmountain.commelissa.burman-- AT --ironmountain.com
Quelle: Iron Mountain Incorporated
[Mike McEneney reports: I believe that Bob is the Robert T.Brennan from the Class of 1982. (Thanks, Mike) ]
JASPER_in_the_NEWS: Placek, Rosemarie (MC1979) is one of six finalists for Gwinnett's Teacher of the Year.
Peachtree Ridge educator began career to change the world
http://www.gwinnettdailyonline.com/GDP/archive/article63128BE1BBF74C769FD2C3A6DD7C07BF.asp
Gwinnett Daily Post - Griffin,GA,USA
... Education: Bachelor's degree in chemistry and English literature, Manhattan
College; master's in education Long Island University. ...
By Jaime Sarrio jaime.sarrio
AT gwinnettdailypost.com
Special Photo: James Nedock
Rosemarie Placek holds a mole one of her students designed and named Rose "Mole-rie" Placek as her students study about moles in her chemistry class. Placek, a chemistry teacher at Peachtree Ridge High School, is one of six finalists for Gwinnett's Teacher of the Year.
SUWANEE - Before most people leave for work in the morning, Rosemarie Placek is at school. When the rush-hour commute starts in the afternoon, Rosemarie Placek is at school. And when prime-time television starts at night, Rosemarie Placek is at school. With all this hard work, anyone could see why this chemistry teacher would be considered one of the best in Gwinnett, except one person - Rosemarie Placek.
"I am not exceptional in any way," the Peachtree Ridge High School teacher says. "I'm like all the teachers who love kids, work 24-7 and really truly do put the kids first." Placek is one of six Gwinnett County Public Schools educators in the running for the system's annual Teacher of the Year award, which will be announced at a banquet on Nov. 9.
If selected, she will receive a $1,000 bonus every year she is employed by Gwinnett Schools. She'll also represent the state's largest school system in the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition.
The Suwanee resident was first nominated by co-workers for the award. From there, she was selected as a school winner, then a system semifinalist.
Fellow chemistry teacher Jennifer Collier said Placek's hard work and dedication to students won her the respect of the Peachtree Ridge faculty.
"She not the kind of person that when everyone is busy will sit back and watch others work," Collier said. "She has a true calling to serve."
For Placek (pronounced play-sick), the classroom wasn't her first choice of a career. The 47-year-old started off in the professional science world before quitting her job to become a mother. In the early '90s, she received a letter from Long Island University, a school near her home at the time. It began "Do you want to change the world?" and invited non-educators to earn a teaching degree.
Placek, whose childhood goal was to win the Nobel Peace Prize in literature and chemistry, did want to change the world and knew teaching would be the way to do it. "I am very much an idealist," she said. "I got to school and I loved it. I loved being around the students."
In 1992, Placek started teaching in New York. Several years later she moved to Gwinnett with her husband and three children, two who are students at Peachtree Ridge. Placek plunged herself into her profession. She arrives at work about 6:30 a.m. and sheepishly admits to leaving around 9 p.m., though her students say it is later. According to student Jessica Baker, her teacher sometimes works until midnight, making lesson plans and helping students with homework via e-mail.
"She's a wonderful teacher. She is so kind, and she actually cares about your grade," Baker said. "She makes you want to do better."
===
the placek file
Rosemarie Placek
Age: 47
Occupation: Chemistry teacher, Peachtree Ridge High School
Residence: Suwanee
Family: Husband, John; three children, Jeanmarie, 19;
John, 17; and
Catherine, 15
Education: Bachelor's degree in chemistry and English literature, Manhattan
College; master's in education Long Island University.
Professional experience: Teacher of the year finalist at the local school
level, 2003
===
###
[JR: We often point to the Lasallian tradition of Manhattan College. Here's
an example? We can learn a lot from what our fellow alums accomplish.]
[Mike McEneney reports: I believe that Rosemarie is a member of the class of 1979. (Thanks, Mike) ]
[Manhattan_in_the_News]
Sunday Mail (Queensland, Australia)
November 7, 2004 Sunday
SECTION: ESCAPE; Pg. E16
HEADLINE: Take me out to the ball game
BYLINE: Karen Graham
'I BELIEVE in the church of baseball. I've tried all the major religions and most of the minor ones. And the only church that truly feeds the soul day-in, day-out is the church of baseball."
So said Susan Sarandon, playing kooky baseball groupie Annie Savoy in Bull Durham -- a film conveying a game intricately woven into the American psyche.
Overflowing with colourful phrases and bizarre rituals honouring the winning streak, the film introduced me to baseball.
But did Hollywood portray the real thing? I wanted to see for myself -- and where better than New York, home to the most successful baseball team in history, the New York Yankees.
Even rookies know some of the folklore. In 1920 the Yankees bought the contract of Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox for $125,000. Since then, the Yankees have won the national title (the "World Series") 26 times but in that time the Red Sox didn't win again -- until this year, beating the Yankees on the way.
At the Yankees, Ruth reignited public interest in the game.
In 1921 the Yankees clinched their first American League pennant and in 1922 construction began on Yankee Stadium.
This marked an era of Yankee domination in the roaring 20s. In the 1927 World Championship year, Ruth, by then dubbed the "Yankee slugger", hit a record 60 home runs.
"He was a circus, a play and a movie, all rolled into one," said team-mate Lefty Gomez. "Kids adored him. Men idolised him. Women loved him. There was something about him that made him great."
It was also the era of Lou Gehrig, who hit 493 home runs in a record 2130 consecutive games for the Yankees. In May 1939 he was diagnosed with a degenerative muscle disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and only two years later Lou Gehrig was dead. He had farewelled his team-mates and fans at Yankee Stadium in July 1939, in a now-famous speech, saying, "I am the luckiest man alive".
Now I was inside that stadium, making my way to the highest point in the bleachers. We heard the announcer welcoming fans: "It's a bee-yooo-tiful day for baseball."
It was the New York Yankees taking on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and my lesson began immediately. Of course, I knew the basics -- I played softball in school -- and as the manager in Bull Durham expressed it: "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, and you hit the ball."
He forgot to mention terms such as switch hitter (left or right-hand), the sacrifice bunt (getting out to allow a runner to advance) and a gas (a fast ball).
Fly ball to the left field is a big hit to the outfield and RBIs are a statistic for the batter if his hit results in a runner crossing home plate (a Run Bought In).
As I struggled with the baseball lingo I recalled taking an American to a game of cricket and trying to explain silly mid-off, a leg-cutter or an LBW. I guess we're even now.
Surprisingly, the development of baseball was influenced by cricket, along with rounders, town ball, old-cat, goal ball, the Massachusetts Game, and finally the New York Game.
Earliest mentions of an organised game appeared in 1823, in The New York Gazette and General Advertiser, and by the 1840s the rules had been written down by Alexander Cartwright and other members of the New York Knickerbockers.
I was brought back to the present when my companion pointed off in the distance and told me there was "action in the bull-pen".
What sort of action, I wondered. But I was also distracted by the shenanigans of the crowd.
The peanut man must have been a pitcher in a previous life as he tossed bags of peanuts to customers in the stands. It was worth the cost of the peanuts just to see his perfect throw. Amazingly, he always got his money, with the crowd obligingly passing it along to him.
Apparently it "just wouldn't be baseball" without beer and crackerjacks (caramel popcorn), and what better time to enjoy them than the seventh-inning stretch when the crowd bursts into song.
Take me out to the ball game
Take me out to the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks; I don't care if I never get back
Cause it's root, root, root for the home team
If they don't win it's a shame
For it's One! Two! Three! strikes you're out
At the old ball game!
The crowd erupts -- "Play ball!" -- and the
players return.
The seventh-inning stretch dates to 1896, when Manhattan College, a Jesuit school, was playing in a close and tense game. When the umpire made a bad call against the home team the crowd became angry but Manhattan's coach sensed the mood. He suggested everyone stand up to take a stretch; it relaxed the crowd and saved the day.
Leading 4-0 at the top of the 9th inning, the Yankees looked to be home, but Tampa Bay provided an entertaining last inning. They loaded the bases and managed to score one run before the final batter was struck out.
The crowd roared, then burst into song, "Start spreading the news . . .", accompanying a Frank Sinatra rendition of New York, New York.
Paul Richards, former manager of the Baltimore Orioles, once said: "Baseball is made up of very few big and dramatic moments, but rather it's a beautifully put together pattern of countless little subtleties that finally add up to the big moment, and you have to be well-versed in the game to truly appreciate them."
As an Australian at my first major league game I had to agree -- I was converted.
But it will be a long time before I understand what Kevin Costner's character Crash Davies meant when he referred to a "dying quail" and a "groundball with eyes".
YANKEE STADIUM
GETTING THERE: Flight Centre (13 16 00) has flights to Los Angeles, with connecting flights to New York. They can also arrange fly-drive packages, which may reduce your airfare.
DETAILS: Stadium at 161st Street and River Ave in the Bronx, close to the subway. A trip from midtown Manhattan takes less than 25 minutes. For more information on subway and bus transport to the stadium, contact the New York City Transit Authority on (718) 330 1234 or visit their website, www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/. Travel light as no bags are allowed into the stadium and there are no cloakroom facilities.
CONTACT: Tickets to Yankees games can be booked online at www.yankees.com. For further information contact the Yankees ticket office on (718) 293 6000 or e-mail tickets-- AT --yankees.com
MORE: For information on all major league baseball teams go to www.mlb.com
LOAD-DATE: November 6, 2004
[JR: Sigh. I guess Australian reporting isn't any better than Florida. BTW, I sent them an email via their web site. Let's see if they respond. ]
MNews2
Austin American-Statesman (Texas)
November 6, 2004 Saturday
SECTION: LIFESTYLE; Pg. E1
HEADLINE: Taft wasn't first to stretch his legs in seventh inning
BYLINE: Jane Greig, AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Q: My husband was shocked to hear that I'd not heard of the seventh-inning stretch. As he watched the Red Sox beat the Cardinals, I perked up when I heard a new song. I thought the game was over and I could have my television back, only to learn that it was just this break that has been going on for years and years. Can you tell us the origin of this stretch?
-- Aidan Larson
A: The popular story is that the stretch was a happenstance. President William Howard Taft -- a rotund man tipping the scales at 300-plus pounds -- is often credited with the practice. While enjoying a game in 1910, at the end of the seventh inning the president rose to stretch his legs and the audience rose with him, thinking he was leaving the ballpark.
But the stretch was mentioned 40 years earlier in a letter penned by Harry Wright of the Cincinnati Red Stockings, who noted fans stood about this time to relax after sitting on the park's wood benches.
Another story courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum refers to an 1882 game between Manhattan College and the New York Metropolitans. The school's moderator of athletics noticed the students getting restless, so he encouraged them to get up and stretch and move around at the start of the seventh inning.
<extraneous deleted>
LOAD-DATE: November 10, 2004
MNews3
FiberNet Signs Network Services Agreement with Manhattan College
Monday November 8, 7:55 am ET
Integrated Network Design Includes Dedicated Internet Access, Colocation, and Wide Area Network
NEW YORK, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FiberNet Telecom Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: FTGX - News), a leading provider of managed network services, today announced the successful deployment of an integrated network solution, incorporating dedicated Internet access, colocation and wide area network connectivity for Manhattan College, an independent, Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning in New York City.
As part of an integrated network design for Manhattan College, FiberNet will provide high bandwidth dedicated Internet access at its network node at 60 Hudson Street. Manhattan College will deploy its IP equipment in FiberNet's colocation space at 60 Hudson Street, and Manhattan College will utilize this network node as a primary backup site for its servers. In addition, FiberNet will transport broadband traffic back to Manhattan College's campus in the Bronx via its Network Solutions initiative, which offers end-to-end network services for metro applications outside FiberNet's core New York metro market.
Utilizing these services, Manhattan College will furnish rapid Internet connectivity to over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students at its Bronx campus, as well as faculty and administrative staff. Network reliability, scalability, end-to-end design and project management, and improved total cost of ownership were key factors in selecting FiberNet to provide these network services.
"For a higher educational institution, having real time, reliable connectivity has become indispensable for administrative and instructional departments," said Walter Matystik, Assistant Provost of Manhattan College. "As such, FiberNet's secure and reliable dedicated Internet access and wide area network solution with 24/7 support was a deciding factor for us."
FiberNet's dedicated Internet access services provide customers with links to the global Internet via multiple, redundant Tier 1 connections, while providing carrier-class performance and reliability for the most mission-critical carrier and enterprise applications. The service provides an end-to-end solution bundled with FiberNet's extensive network reach to customer locations and FiberNet's colocation facilities. This solution allows FiberNet's customers to realize the significant efficiencies of not having to establish separate connections to multiple Tier 1 backbones. Customers can pay for only as much bandwidth as they need, in scalable increments of Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, or T-1 interfaces, with both burstable billing and flat rate billing options.
Matystik added, "FiberNet's end-to-end services and integrated network design also greatly simplified a complex process for us. To support our educational mission, Manhattan College has to make the best use of our IT vendor dollars and time, and FiberNet helped us accomplish that by presenting a comprehensive, creative and cost-effective solution. We can now provide higher bandwidth Internet access for Manhattan College's faculty and students without breaking the bank."
This agreement highlights the successful launch of FiberNet's dedicated Internet access services, with the implementation of this innovative new service among various enterprise customers, law firms, telecommunications carriers, educational institutions, and others.
"We are gratified to be selected by Manhattan College to provide this prestigious institution with a comprehensive suite of IP services," said Tom Brown, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at FiberNet. "This contract illustrates the value that customers are seeing in FiberNet's dedicated Internet access, colocation, and wide area network services. Our expertise in managed network services that support enterprise goals, combined with our customer focus and end-to-end capabilities, is a combination that is hard to beat."
About Manhattan College:
Manhattan College was founded in 1853 upon the Lasallian tradition of excellence in teaching inspired by St. John Baptist de La Salle. Manhattan College is an independent, Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning offering more than 40 major programs of study in the areas of arts, business, education, engineering and science.
For more information on Manhattan College, please visit the College's website at http://www.manhattan.edu.
About FiberNet Telecom Group, Inc.:
FiberNet Telecom Group, Inc. deploys, owns and operates fiber-optic networks in the two gateway markets of New York/New Jersey and Los Angeles, designed to provide comprehensive broadband connectivity to other telecommunications service providers and enterprise customers for data, voice and video transmissions. FiberNet's networks provide an advanced, high bandwidth, fiber-optic solution to support the demand for network capacity and to facilitate the interconnection of multiple carriers' and customers' networks. For additional information on FiberNet, visit the Company's website at http://www.ftgx.com.
Various remarks that we may make about the FiberNet's future expectations, plans and prospects constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such remarks are valid only as of today, and we disclaim any obligation to update this information. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including those discussed in FiberNet's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: FiberNet Telecom Group, Inc.
MNews4
Gloucester's great eight
<http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-09579sy0nov04,0,106602.story?coll=dp-sports-local>
Hampton Roads Daily Press - Newport,VA,USA
... problems. We don't have any of that.".
Heritage forward Kymesha Alston committed to play
basketball at Manhattan College next fall. A ...
November 4 2004
<extraneous deleted>
I'LL TAKE MANHATTAN
Heritage forward Kymesha Alston committed to play basketball at Manhattan College next fall. A 5-foot-11 forward, Alston averaged 14.7 points per game last season at Phoebus before transferring to Heritage over the summer.
"When I went there, I just liked New York," Alston said. "You can never get tired of being in New York; that's where my heart was."
Alston, who scored a game-high 24 points against Warwick last season, chose Manhattan over Radford, Maryland Eastern Shore and Penn State.
"We've only had her since the middle of the summer," Hurricanes coach Mike Gardner said. "She's shown that she is an impact player."
She was all-Peninsula District selection last season.
<extraneous deleted>
###
CIC'S SUGGESTION: Everyone who works for a major corporation should send resumes placed here into their HR system or department. While you may not see the value, it may be that one thing that delivers an opportunity to a fellow Jasper that changes their life.
FROM THE COLLEGE’S WEB SITE: Your resume can be sent to employers who contact our office seeking to fill positions. For more information contact the Recruitment Coordinator at (718) 862-7965 or Email to JGlenn--AT--manhattan.edu
Actual jobs at MC are at: http://www.manhattan.edu/hrs/jobs
The only reason for putting this here is to give us a chance to attend one of these games and support "our" team.
Date Day Sport Opponent Location
Time/Result
11/14/04 Sunday M. Soccer MAAC
Championships Lawrenceville, NJ TBA
11/19/04 Friday W. Basketball at
Fordham Bronx, NY 7:00 PM
11/20/04 Saturday Volleyball MAAC
Championships-- AT -- TBA
11/20/04 Saturday Cross Country
IC4A/ECAC Championships
Riverdale, NY 11:00 AM
11/21/04 Sunday Volleyball MAAC
Championships-- AT -- TBA
11/21/04 Sunday W. Swimming
NJIT/Hunter Newark, NJ 1:00 PM
11/21/04 Sunday M. Basketball South
Dakota State HOME 3:00 PM
11/22/04 Monday Cross Country NCAA
Championships Terra Haute, IN TBA
11/23/04 Tuesday M. Basketball Rhode
Island HOME 7:00 PM
11/24/04 Wednesday W. Basketball at
Syracuse Syracuse,
NY 12:00 PM
11/27/04 Saturday M. Basketball at
Fordham Bronx, NY 7:00 PM
11/28/04 Sunday W. Basketball Bucknell HOME 2:00 PM
11/30/04 Tuesday M. Basketball at
Fairfield* Bridgeport, CT 7:30 PM
12/1/04 Wednesday Track & Field
Manhattan Multi Invitational
HOME 1:00 PM
12/2/04 Thursday W. Basketball
Iona* HOME 7:00 PM
12/4/04 Saturday W. Swimming St.
Joseph's/SUNY-Old Westbury Patchogue,
NY 3:00 PM
12/5/04 Sunday Track & Field
Princeton Invitational
Princeton, NJ 11:00 AM
12/5/04 Sunday W. Basketball at
Fairfield* Bridgeport, CT 1:00 PM
12/5/04 Sunday M. Basketball at North
Carolina State Raleigh, NC 5:30 PM
12/9/04 Thursday M. Basketball
Siena* HOME 7:00 PM
12/10/04 Friday Track & Field
Fordham Invitational ^ New York,
NY 2:00 PM
12/12/04 Sunday W. Basketball
Dartmouth HOME 2:00 PM
12/17/04 Friday W. Basketball Fresno
State HOME 7:00 PM
12/20/04 Monday W. Basketball
Miami-Ohio HOME 1:00 PM
12/21/04 Tuesday M. Basketball at
Arizona Tuscon,
AZ 8:30 PM
12/28/04 Tuesday W. Basketball at
Wagner Staten Island, NY 7:00 PM
12/30/04 Thursday M. Basketball
Wisconsin-Milwaukee HOME 7:00 PM
12/30/04 Thursday W. Basketball at
Villanova Villanova,
PA 7:30 PM
If you do go support "our" teams, I'd appreciate any reports or
photos. What else do us old alums have to do?
LADY JASPERS ROUT GAZELLES IN REGULAR SEASON TUNEUP
Riverdale, NY (November 12, 2004)- Senior guard Donnette Reed (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) scored 21 points to
lead five Lady Jaspers in double figures tonight in a win over the New York
Gazelles, 83-49. Tonight's game was the only exhibition affair for the Lady
Jaspers before their regular season opener next Friday at Fordham.
1**
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES THREE PLAYERS ADDED DURING EARLY
SIGNING PERIOD
Riverdale, NY (November 12, 2004)- Three student-athletes have
signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball at Manhattan College under
head coach Myndi Hill, beginning in the 2005-06
academic year. Kymesha Alston (Newport News,
VA/Heritage), Anne McIntyre (Portland, OR/Central Catholic), and Kelly Regan
(Williamsville, NY/Nichols) will join the Lady Jaspers as part of the Class of
2009.
2***
MEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNS DEVON AUSTIN
Riverdale, NY (November 12, 2004)- Devon Austin (White Plains,
NY/White Plains) has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at
Manhattan College beginning in the 2005-06 academic year, it was announced
today by sixth-year head coach Bobby Gonzalez.
3***
ESCOBEDO NAMED TO MAAC ALL-ROOKIE TEAM; PUMO, MAGUIRE NAMED TO
MAAC ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Riverdale, NY (November 12,2004)- Manhattan College freshman
Javier Escobedo was named to the MAAC Men's Soccer All-Rookie Team, while
junior Joe Pumo and sophomore Tom Maguire were named
to the MAAC All-Academic Team, it was announced last night at the MAAC Awards
Banquet.
4***
MEN'S BASKETBALL DEBUTS AT #19 IN COLLEGEINSIDER.COM MID-MAJOR
POLL
The Manhattan College men's basketball team received a
preseason rank of 19 on the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major top-25 poll, it was
announced recently.
5***
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
They'll take Manhattan
MAAC coaches pick Jaspers to finish at top of conference, which is a surprise
and a compliment
BY MICHAEL WEINREB
STAFF WRITER
November 4, 2004
There are expectations for his program now. If Bobby Gonzalez didn't know that already, he found it out the moment he walked into the Madison Square Garden Theater for the MAAC conference's preseason media day and saw his Manhattan team had been picked to finish first by his fellow coaches.
This, despite the fact that the Jaspers graduated three starters, including two-time conference player of the year Luis Flores, a guard who's now with the Golden State Warriors. They also graduated center Jason Benton (6 points, 4.7 rebounds) and forward Dave Holmes, who averaged 8.4 rebounds last season, but they remain the team to beat.
"That's what I just heard," said junior Mike Konovelchick, shortly after he arrived with his coach. "I guess that's a huge compliment."
Manhattan's four first-place votes and 85 total points outdistanced Fairfield and Niagara, who tied for second with 83. It is, perhaps, a sign of respect for the program that Gonzalez has built, and for the fact that he's led the Jaspers to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. But Gonzalez appeared surprised by the results.
"I was taken aback," he said. "I figured we'd be somewhere in the top five, but I think it's a great compliment."
Gonzalez, who signed a contract extension through the 2009-10 season in August, took some ribbing from his fellow coaches about the designer suit he wore yesterday. But after an offseason during which his name was bandied about in connection with the head coaching jobs at St. John's and Miami, he insists he's found a measure of comfort at Manhattan.
"I had a choice [to stay]," he said. "Some people think I had no choices. But I had a choice, and the situation at Manhattan is a good situation."
Not quite as good as it was heading into last year, however. Between Flores, Holmes and Benton, the Jaspers, who were 25-6 last season, and defeated Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Wake Forest, lost more than 43 points per game.
"We're going to have to rely on some new guys where we might not know what to expect," Gonzalez said.
The Jaspers' leading returning scorer is St. Raymond's graduate Peter Mulligan, who averaged 10.9 points per game and was named second-team preseason all-conference.
"We lost three guys that were really the leaders for our team," said Konovelchick, who averaged 6.6 points last season and was named third-team preseason all-conference. "But we've got a lot of returning guys with some experience."
Among them, of course, is their own coach. "Even after the season ended, I thought [Gonzalez] might be leaving," Konovelchick said. "The lure of a much bigger program and bigger money, it's hard to pass up. But he was always honest and truthful with us, and we're glad to have him back."
1***
http://sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=cbask/news/AEN3590711.htm
College Basketball Preview - Metro Atlantic Athletic
Conference
The Sports Network
By Gregg Xenakes, College Basketball Staff Writer
OUTLOOK: Over the last few seasons the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has pumped out some of the best, never-heard-of players in the nation, and this year that tradition should continue. Despite losing two-time MAAC Player of the Year Luis Flores to the NBA, the Manhattan Jaspers appear poised to again take the league title. The only difference this season is that it probably won't be a runaway for the squad from the Big Apple. As the only team to finish without double-digit losses in 2003-04, the Jaspers have produced a model of consistency that many of the other programs in the MAAC would be smart to emulate. This year it appears as though a couple other teams are going to make a run at unseating Manhattan, those squads being Fairfield and Niagara. The Stags have one of the top big men in the nation in forward Deng Gai and the Purple Eagles have scoring machine Juan Mendez to turn to in a pinch. St. Peter's had the nation's leading scorer a year ago in Keydren Clark, but to expect him to lift the Peacocks out of obscurity is a lot to ask. Then there's the rest of the league, teams like Siena, Rider and Iona that will play just well enough to survive, while Canisius, Marist and Loyola- Maryland will again struggle for respect. The Greyhounds, who claimed the longest losing streak in the nation for awhile last year, could pick up where they left off since then have a new coach and quite a number of new players after several chose to transfer rather than endure another disappointing campaign.
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Manhattan
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1. Manhattan; 2. Fairfield; 3. Niagara; 4. Iona; 5. Siena; 6. Rider; 7. Saint Peter's; 8. Marist; 9. Canisius; 10. Loyola-Maryland
TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS:
MANHATTAN: He's been one of those coaches to watch for a number of years now, taking his Jaspers to remarkable heights, but it appears as though Bobby Gonzalez is now off the market, so big-time programs should stop asking to speak with him, at least until 2010 when his new contract extension runs out. Gonzalez, who is entering his sixth season with the Jaspers, has increased his win total both in conference and overall in each of his campaigns with the program, which shows that he knows how to recruit and motivate his players to reach their potential and beyond. Even though he no longer has Flores to hand the ball to, Gonzalez, who led the Jaspers to a 16-2 mark in the MAAC last season to set a new league standard, still has senior forward Peter Mulligan (10.9 points, 4.4 rebounds per game) to call upon. As one of the top recruits he has ever brought to Riverdale, freshman guard C.J. Anderson (6-6) could possibly be Flores' successor. Junior guard Mike Konovelchick has been in the system long enough to know what is expected of him and should make an even bigger impact at both ends of the floor this year.
2***
The Union Leader (Manchester NH)
November 7, 2004 Sunday STATE EDITION
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. C3
HEADLINE: (COLLEGE NOTEBOOK) Harrington, Hohenberger
help spark rivalry
BYLINE: By JOHN HUSSEY
<extraneous deleted>
Junior Caryn Capalbo of Exeter will compete for her Manhattan College team next Saturday in the NCAA Regionals at 10 a.m. at Van Cortlandt Park. She placed 32nd overall in the recent Middle Atlantic Athletic Conference championship at Orlando, Fla. Marist won the women's event and Iona the men's championship. -----
<extraneous deleted>
LOAD-DATE: November 9, 2004
3***
Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia)
November 4, 2004 Thursday
FINAL EDITION
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. B4
HEADLINE: GLOUCESTER'S GREAT EIGHT
BYLINE: By MICHAEL C. WRIGHT mwright2-- AT --dailypress.com | 247-4759
<extraneous deleted>
I'LL TAKE MANHATTAN
Heritage forward Kymesha Alston committed to play basketball at Manhattan College next fall. A 5-foot-11 forward, Alston averaged 14.7 points per game last season at Phoebus before transferring to Heritage over the summer.
"When I went there, I just liked New York," Alston said. "You can never get tired of being in New York; that's where my heart was."
Alston, who scored a game-high 24 points against Warwick last season, chose Manhattan over Radford, Maryland Eastern Shore and Penn State.
"We've only had her since the middle of the summer," Hurricanes coach Mike Gardner said. "She's shown that she is an impact player."
She was all-Peninsula District selection last season.
<extraneous deleted>
LOAD-DATE: November 4, 2004
4***
From: Nitin Sekhri
[2003]
Sent: Sunday, November 07, 2004 12:39 AM
Subject: My brother-Jasper Jottings
Mr. Reinke,
My name is Nitin Sekhri, class of '03. I am the son of Vinod Sekhri, class of '76, and brother of Sachin Sekhri, class of '00 (obviously Manhattan's very important to us). First of all, I want to say thank you for compiling this newsletter. Second, I would like to add something to the next issue. My brother, Sachin Sekhri, is a 2nd Lt. in the Mass. National Guard and has been called up to serve as an MP in Iraq. I would just like that to be known because I am very proud of him.
Thank you again, and God bless.
Nitin K. Sekhri
[JR: You’re most welcome. It's an interesting effort. Your thanks and interest makes it worthwhile. Thanks for letting us know about your brother. I have added him to our list. We're all rooting for him to come home safe. Keep us posted on how he's doing. If you want to share his address when he gets settled, I know I'd be interested. ]
From: Yahoo! Groups Notification
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 1:54 PM
To: Distribute_Jasper_Jottings-owner-- AT --yahoogroups.com
Subject: APPROVE -- jasper581 wants to join Distribute_Jasper_Jottings
Hello,
The following person would like to join the Distribute_Jasper_Jottings group:
Email address: jasper581
Comment from user:
Thanks for the invite. I'm a recent grad of Manhattan College (Sept. 2004). Would love to keep up to date on the latest news.
==
From: Jasper John '68 -- AT -- Jasper Jottings.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 6:40 PM
To: jasper581
Subject: RE: APPROVE -- jasper581 wants to join Distribute_Jasper_Jottings
Hello fellow Jasper "jasper581",
Glad to have you aboard, but, I'd love to know who you are. I can't match 581 with any name I know. ;-) Although 158 is my wife's favorite number and my draft number in the 1970 Nixon draft lottery (I had already joined the Air Force.) So, drop me a email, and divulge your secret identity Batman.
John'68
From: John Uhran [1957]
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 9:42 AM
Subject: response
I filled out the card but the last window would not close so I do not know whether it took.
John J. Uhran, Jr.
Sr Associate Dean of Engineering
University of Notre Dame
[JR: Got it. It took. Thanks very much. It helps me stay a little bit organized. And, it is extremely helpful when someone's email starts bouncing. ]
From: Robert A Helm [1951]
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 7:25 PM
Subject: FW:
Importance: High
Good Afternoon All:
1. Since I am now, finally, officially retired by order of SECNAV dated 24 SEPT 2004 (!) the Hatch act no longer applies in any way, shape or form.
2. I have avoided almost all politicking this year because I didn't want anything to intervene in this 16 year and 7 month project. Later, I will tell the entire story of this saga in the world of the Boobacracy of the United States and of my beloved Navy...God, how I hate desk fliers...almost as much as I despise lying cowardly traitors who pass themselves off as Naval Officers and War Heroes. My respects to all the ladies and my compliments to all the gentlemen, even one of my jarhead friends.
Sincerely,
LCDR Robert A. Helm, USNR (RET)!!!!!
[JR: Hmmm, "boobocracy". Did you hear about that NY captain who wasn't completely out even though he thought he was? I'd suggest a low profile, but then what fun would that be. Congrats. ]
*******************************************************************
*******************************************************************
******** Historical Information ********
*******************************************************************
*******************************************************************
http://www.petharbor.org/heroes/regan.htm
REGAN was named for LIEUTENANT ROBERT M. REGAN, who paid the ultimate price in the attack on America September 11, 2001. Lieutenant "Bobby" Regan, age 48, Floral Park, New York, was employed as a firefighter with the Fire Department of New York, Ladder 118, Engine 205 in Brooklyn Heights. He earned a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Manhattan College in 1975. Family-oriented and handy with his hands, Mr. Regan joined the fire department to be close to home. Laid to rest on January 8, 2002, he is survived by his wife, Donna, and two children. We salute Lieutenant Regan, a hero, and name this beauty in his honor.
(Source: Newsday 10/1/01, New York Times 12/6/01)
[JR: While naming rescued dogs for 911 victims and heroes is perplexing, it is better than what our elected leaders do. Name a building for the biggest politician. I have often thought that every need for name be supplied from the rolls of the military KIA. We should not have "apple-cherry=or some other fruit lane". But, "LIEUTENANT ROBERT M. REGAN STREET". With the additional requirement that it can NOT be abbreviated to get mail delivered. Sorry but that is a small price to pay for the ultimate sacrifice made for this country. Please think of this the next time your town wants to name a school for the local politician or as a retirement present to a retiring principal. IMHO ]
http://www.cerf.org/about/board/higgins.htm
Dr. Cornelius J. Higgins
Principal
Applied Research Associates (ARA)
Dr. Cornelius J. Higgins
Tenure on CERF Board
Term: Through 2006
Biography
Dr. Cornelius Higgins, Principal, CEO, Secretary, and co-founder of Applied Research Associates, Inc., a 865-person research, engineering, and software company specializing in the effects of extreme physical environments (blast, shock, impact, wind, earthquake) on structures and integrated systems, as well as pavements engineering and environmental science and engineering. He is a Professional Engineer who holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Manhattan College, M.S. in Astronautics (Space Facilities) from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of New Mexico.
He served as a Civil Engineering officer in the U.S. Air Force in Albuquerque, Taiwan, and Vietnam. After separating from the Air Force, he joined the defense analysis industry as an Assistant Division Manager for Mechanics Research Inc. and later as Vice President of Civil/Nuclear Systems Corp. In 1975 Dr. Higgins accepted a position at the University of New Mexico as the Chief of the Civil Engineering Research Facility, Geotechnical Analysis Division where he performed studies on nuclear ground shock and cratering, soil dynamics, wave propagation and earthquake engineering.
His areas of specialization include geotechnical engineering, soil and rock dynamics, experimental simulation, data analysis, physical modeling, computer code development and statistical analysis. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for Applied Research Associates, Inc. he also serves as a member of the board for Access Anytime Bancorp. He is a Registered Professional Engineer and a Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, AAIA and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.
[Mike McEneney reports: I believe the Doctor is from the class of 1962 BCE. (Thanks, Mike) ]
Copyrighted material belongs to their owner. We recognize that this is merely "fair use", appropriate credit is given and any restrictions observed. The CIC asks you to do the same.
All material submitted for posting becomes the sole property of the CIC. All decisions about what is post, and how, are vested solely in the CIC. We'll attempt to honor your wishes to the best of our ability.
A collection copyright is asserted to protect against any misuse of any original material.
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This is just my idea and has neither support nor any official relationship with Manhattan College. As alumni, we have a special bond with Manhattan College. In order to help the College keep its records as up to date as possible, the CIC will share such information as the Alumni office wants. To date, we share the news, any "new registrations" (i.e., data that differs from the alumni directory), and anything we find about "lost" jaspers.
You may only subscribe to the list, only if you have demonstrated a connection to Manhattan College. This may require providing information about yourself to assert the claim to a connection. Decisions of the CIC are final. If you do provide such personal information, such as email, name, address or telephone numbers, we will not disclose it to anyone except as described here.
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Spammers
The following link is an attempt to derail spammers. Don't take it.
<A HREF="http://www.monkeys.com/spammers-are-leeches/"> </A>
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul215.html
Social Security: House of Cards
by Rep. Ron Paul, MD
November 9, 2004
Dr. Ron Paul is a Republican member of Congress from Texas.
=== <begin quote> ===
President Bush should be commended for promising to address the looming Social Security crisis during his second term, a crisis that Congress and successive presidents have ignored for decades. Hopefully Americans will realize that the notion of Social Security as an insurance program is a lie, and that Congress has not put their Social Security contributions into any trust fund.
Most Americans already know that Social Security is in trouble. Demographic shifts and an aging population have undermined the unspoken foundation of the system, which is the practice of taxing younger generations to pay benefits for current retirees. Younger generations, however, simply aren’t big enough to pay for the millions of baby boomers who will begin retiring in the next decade. When Social Security began in the 1930s, many Americans never reached age 65. Today, however, millions of retirees live well into their eighties and nineties. These realities mean the current system could collapse in as little as twenty to thirty years.
Seniors hope the system will hold together for the remainder of their lives, while younger working people hope government will somehow fix things before they retire. Not surprisingly, Congress has chosen to ignore the problem until it becomes acute. It’s hard to sell voters on austerity today to avoid a relatively distant crisis. Politicians usually operate on the opposite principle, by promising great things now and leaving the bills for others to pay later.
The greatest threat to your Social Security retirement funds is Congress itself. Congress has never required that Social Security tax dollars be kept separate from general revenues. In fact, the Social Security “trust fund” is not a trust fund at all. The dollars taken out of your paycheck are not deposited into an account to be paid to you later. On the contrary, they are spent immediately to pay current benefits, and to fund completely unrelated federal programs. Your Social Security administration “account” is nothing more than an IOU, a hopeful promise that enough younger taxpayers will be around to pay your benefits later. Decades of spendthrift congresses have turned the Social Security system into a giant Ponzi scheme, always dependent on new generations. The size and longevity of the Baby Boom generation, however, will finally collapse the house of cards.
We’ve all heard proposals for “privatizing” the Social Security system. The best private solution, of course, is simply to allow the American people to keep more of their paychecks and invest for retirement as they see fit. But putting Social Security funds into government-approved investments could have dangerous consequences. Private companies would become a partner of sorts with the government. Individuals still would not truly own their invested Social Security funds. Payroll taxes likely would be raised to cover payments to current beneficiaries, as the President alluded to when warning us that fixing Social Security would be “costly.”
Furthermore, who would decide what stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other investment vehicles deserve government approval? Which politicians would you trust to build an investment portfolio with billions of your Social Security dollars? The federal government has proven itself incapable of good money management, and permitting politicians and bureaucrats to make investment decisions would result in unscrupulous lobbying for venture capital. Large campaign contributors and private interests of every conceivable type would seek to have their favored investments approved by the government. In a free market, an underperforming or troubled company suffers a decrease in its stock price, forcing it either to improve or lose value. Wary investors hesitate to buy its stock after the price falls. If a company successfully lobbied Congress, however, it would enjoy a large investment of your tax dollars. This investment would cause an artificial increase in its stock price, deceiving private investors and unfairly harming the company's honest competition. Government-managed investment of tax dollars in the private market is a recipe for corruption and fiscal irresponsibility.
The Social Security crisis is a spending crisis. The program could be saved tomorrow if Congress simply would stop spending so much money, apply even 10% of the bloated federal budget to a real trust fund, and begin saving your contributions to earn simple interest. That this simple approach seems impossible speaks volumes about the inability of Congress to cut spending no matter what the circumstances.
=== <end quote> ===
IMHO the Cato Institute has a good plan for getting us out of this mess.
=== <begin quote> ===
http://www.socialsecurity.org/pubs/ssps/ssp-32es.html
Individuals would be able to privately invest their half (6.2 percentage points) of their payroll tax through individual accounts.
Individuals who choose individual accounts will receive a recognition bond based on past contributions to Social Security. Workers choosing individual accounts will forgo accrual of future benefits from traditional Social Security.
Allowable investment options for the individual accounts will be based on a 3-tier system: a centralized, pooled collection and holding point; a limited series of investment options, with a lifecycle fund as a default mechanism; and a wider range of investment options for individuals who accumulate a minimum level in their accounts.
At retirement, individuals will be given an option of purchasing a family annuity or taking a programmed withdrawal. These two options will be mandated only to a level required to provide an income above a minimum level. Funds in excess of that required to achieve this level of retirement income can be withdrawn in a lump sum.
If an individual accumulates sufficient funds within their account to allow them to purchase an annuity that will keep them above a minimum income level in retirement they will be able to opt out of the Social Security system in its entirety.
The remaining 6.2 percentage points of payroll taxes will be used to pay transition costs and to fund disability and survivors' benefits. Once, far in the future, transition costs are fully paid for, this portion of the payroll tax will be reduced to the level necessary to pay survivors and disability benefits.
This discussion will be offered in the context of payable Social Security benefits. That is, the Social Security system will be restored to a solvent pay-as-you-go basis prior to the development of individual accounts. Workers who choose to remain in the traditional Social Security system will receive whatever level of benefits Social Security can pay with existing levels of taxation.
=== <end quote> ===
We all had better become real interested in this real soon. Politicians are idiots with an agenda. Keeping them on a short leash is in all our best interests. Lest the next system, have the customer focus of the IRS!
IMHO!
And that’s the last word.
Curmudgeon
-30-
GBu. GBA.