And this is exactly what happens at the construction site on a weekly basis. When something doesn’t work well or someone makes a mistake, and we are staring at something terribly wrong, an accomplished artisan will step forward and tell me to go away for a day. And when I return, abracadabra, the dipsy-do has disappeared.
I used to have deep doubts and high blood pressure. No longer. There is almost nothing that cannot be salvaged; salvaged is the wrong word, for that implies something less than originally desired. We are talking the full monty. Sometimes, the results are better than what was planned.
The ugly splotched Martian bar of a week ago is back to being the lovely steel Dumpster we had envisioned from the start. Stripper, sanding and elbow grease did the trick. The undersized front door is now the perfect size and will keep the weather out and the good vibes in. The straps that support the sprinkler pipes have been placed in strategic and symmetrical places, painted black, and are no longer a negative cynosure.

See the full article from “New York Times (blog)”

… Jason Stetser betrayed those whose rights he violated, the public he was sworn to protect, and all of the honest police officers who risk everything to keep us safe,” Fishman said.
Stetser was teamed with four other officers in a patrol or special operations division identified as Platoon #4 when he joined the force in 2003, officials said.  According to Stetser, the conspiracy operated within this platoon.
Stetser admitted that he or other members of the conspiracy added drugs to the amount of drugs seized during an arrest in order to make the arrest appear more significant, planted drug evidence during arrests where no drugs were found, and paid cooperators and informants – who were often prostitutes – with drugs in exchange for information.  Stetser further admitted that he and the other officers falsified police reports in an endeavor to conceal their actions.

See the full article from “NJ.com”

Posted on Tue, Jun. 29, 2010
NJ cop at center of wrongdoing probe due in court
The Associated Press
CAMDEN, N.J. – A New Jersey police officer at the center of a corruption probe is scheduled to appear in court for a plea hearing Tuesday.
The Courier-Post of Cherry Hill first reported the appearance of Jason Stetser, citing court records.
Stetser and at least three other Camden police officers were suspended last year. The FBI investigated claims the officers planted drugs, used drugs to bribe prostitutes and other informants, searched without warrants, and lied on paperwork and in court.
One officer, Kevin Parry, pleaded guilty in March.
The same day, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office announced it had dropped charges in 185 cases , most of them involving drugs. Prosecutors said their evidence relied on the officers.

See the full article from “Philadelphia Inquirer”

Tiger Woods Attends Daughter’s Birthday Party Accompanied By A Woman
By Robert Paul Reyes
Tiger Woods is obsessed with reclaiming his throne as the most skilled and feared golfer in the PGA. He cares more about his driver and his putter than he does about his children.
After Tiger was exposed as a womanizer of epic proportions who exploits women and neglects his own family, he vowed never again to miss a birthday of one of his children. The disgraced golfer missed his daughter’s birthday to play in the US Open.
To try to make amends the playboy golfer organized another party for the little girl. But the shameless golfer brought along his manager and another woman. It could be that this unnamed female was a Catholic nun, and not a prostitute or a cocktail waitress.

See the full article from “NewsBlaze”

Therefore it’s reasonable to conclude that he has moved closer to losing his career.
Vick didn’t plan his birthday party and I don’t think he had any idea that a co-defendant, Quanis Phillips was going to be there but that’s no excuse for jeopardizing his return to the NFL and a $5.2 million dollar 2010 salary.
Why would you give somebody like Phillips the chance to destroy you, if you’ve been give a second chance like Vick?  Going to a night club in your hometown for your birthday party isn’t wise if you’re in the predicament which Vick finds himself.
Vick should stay away from every kind of club except a golf club.  For the rest of his career, Vick shouldn’t allow anybody to use his name in the same sentence as a night club or a strip club.

See the full article from “Garry Cobb”

At that time, Ferich, an ecological economics student at Eastern State, didn’t even have a job offer in Camden. But she said she was inspired to move there after hearing Monsignor Michael Doyle, Sacred Heart’s magnetic leader, speak at her school.
Like her, Doyle was a farmer and a poet. He preached the need to revive destitute places like Waterfront South by caring for the Earth and creating beauty wherever possible.
Impressed by Ferich’s mission work in Camden, Pierson offered her a job.
Ferich’s first major project was building the greenhouse on the vacant property the church had already turned into a small garden. She secured a $14,000 grant from the John and Mary Louise Scanlan Foundation to purchase a greenhouse kit and assembled it with the help of children in the neighborhood.
Ferich named it “Eve’s Garden and Greenhouse” after a prostitute she’d met when she first moved to the city. It reminds her that “sometimes the land is as prostituted as our bodies,” she said.

See the full article from “Cherry Hill Courier Post”

GLOBAL ZENIT NEWSRome’s Zenit News
What to Do About Pornography (Part 2)
By Genevieve Pollock
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pennsylvania, JUNE 25, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Across the country, men are waking up to the dangers of pornography use and are banding together in order to battle this scourge in their own lives and in society.
A newly released DVD, “What’s That Purple Building, Daddy?” documents the efforts of a group of men that closed down a strip bar in their neighborhood. These men, part of the Philadelphia-based “The King’s Men,” came together for mutual support against pornography, and to act together on a “no more porn” tour picketing places where this industry thrives.
Peter Kleponis, a Catholic psychotherapist who specializes in marriage and family therapy, men’s issues and pornography addiction recovery, was featured in this DVD.

See the full article from “Catholic.net”

Very Quick Take: Wall – an athletic and skilled point guard – will give life to a stale Washington franchise. Look for Wall and Gilbert Arenas to form an exciting, high-scoring backcourt. And look for the Wizards, with new owner Ted Leonsis taking charge, to improve in 2011.
2) Evan Turner (Ohio State University to Philadelphia 76ers, shooting guard).
Very Quick Take: The rebuilding 76ers hope Turner’s all-around game makes them relevant again in Philadelphia. A mature and steady playmaker, Turner will fit next to athlete Andre Iguodala and developing Jrue Holiday.
3) Derrick Favors (Georgia Tech University to New Jersey Nets, power forward).
Very Quick Take: There’s no guarantee the Nets – even with new billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov throwing his money around like Nelly at the strip club – sign a top free agent power forward. Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, and Amar’e Stoudemire could go elsewhere, so adding Favors makes sense.

See the full article from “Hoopsvibe.com”

Michelle “Bombshell” McGee attends the Celebrity Wrestling 1 Press Conference at South Philly Bar and Grill on May 6, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images)more pics »
We’ve heard a lot of things about Michelle McGee, Jesse James’ alleged mistress. She’s been in the news quite a lot since the whole affair scandal went public, and among the rumors about the tattoo model and former stripper are claims that she grew up in an Amish community until she was 16.
Does Michelle McGee have an Amish background? (Getty)
Apparently before Michelle had tattoos on her forehead, she was a sweet blonde girl from Ohio. She said in a March interview: “I grew up Amish but left the church when I was 16 — I never looked back. I moved to LA and got tattooed.”

See the full article from “Zimbio”

At his first committee meeting, Johnson discussed the ongoing prostitution and drug problems in the area, as well as the robbery and burglary issues.
While the spate of recent robberies and burglaries did not involve any weapons and resulted in minimal injuries, many allegedly were committed by repeat offenders.
Sixth District Sgt. LaRose noted that when repeat offenders come through the system, the police captain usually notifies the district attorney’s office to request a higher bail — but it’s not always granted.

“We’re going to have more foot patrol in the area and also going to be doing a lot more narcotics work and prostitution surveillance in the area,” LaRose said. “There’s myriad things we’re going to be doing because now that summer’s here, there are going to be a lot more people out.”

See the full article from “Philadelphia Gay News”