<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<rss version="2.0">
  <channel>
    <title>The Backroom</title>
    <link>http://the-backroom.com/</link>
    <description>Since 2007; Reviews, Comments, Humor and more...</description>
    <language>en-us</language>           
    <generator>Nucleus CMS v3.41</generator>
    <copyright>ï¿½</copyright>             
    <category>Weblog</category>
    <docs>http://backend.userland.com/rss</docs>
    <image>
      <url>http://the-backroom.com//nucleus/nucleus2.gif</url>
      <title>The Backroom</title>
      <link>http://the-backroom.com/</link>
    </image>
    <item>
 <title>Waterboarding a Journalist</title>
 <link>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=921</link>
<description><![CDATA[<div class="leftbox"><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1579920046" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=20047560001&playerId=1579920046&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></div><b>Journalist Mike Guy</b> underwent waterboarding by a trained member of the U.S. military in the site's new Lab Rat feature.<br />
Guy bet that he could endure 15 seconds of the interrogation technique used by the Bush administration on al Qaeda chief Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Abu Zubaydah.<br />
<i>These are the results</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
]]></description>
 <category>From Members</category>
<comments>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=921</comments>
 <pubDate>Wed, 7 Oct 2009 20:37:53 -0400</pubDate>
</item><item>
 <title>Ask Doctor Cheng</title>
 <link>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=924</link>
<description><![CDATA[<div class="leftbox"><a href="http://the-backroom.com/media/6/20091007-doctor.jpg">Doctor Cheng</a></div><b>Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true? </b><br />
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.  <br />
<br />
<b>Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables? </b><br />
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your    recommended daily  allowance of vegetable products. <br />
<br />
<b>Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake? </b><br />
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain... Bottoms up!<br />
<br />
<b>Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio? </b><br />
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc. <br />
<br />
<b>Q: What are some of  the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program? </b><br />
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain... Good!<br />
<b>Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?  </b><br />
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?  <br />
<br />
<b>Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle? </b><br />
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.  <br />
<br />
<b>Q: Is chocolate bad for me? </b> <br />
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around! <br />
<br />
<b>Q: Is swimming good for your figure? </b><br />
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me. <br />
<br />
<b>Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?  </b><br />
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!  <br />
<br />
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. <br />
<br />
<b>And remember:</b><br />
<br />
'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride' <br />
   <br />
<b>AND...</b><br />
<br />
For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.  <br />
<br />
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and <br />
suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.<br />
<br />
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and <br />
suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. <br />
<br />
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and <br />
suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.<br />
<br />
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and <br />
suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.  <br />
<br />
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and <br />
fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. <br />
<br />
<b>CONCLUSION</b><br />
<br />
Eat and drink what you like.<br />
Speaking English is apparently what kills you. <br />
<br />
]]></description>
 <category>The Fun Place</category>
<comments>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=924</comments>
 <pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:26:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item><item>
 <title>The shopping trip</title>
 <link>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=922</link>
<description><![CDATA[<!-- Code Horz --><div class="cajaC"><div class="quotIn">&nbsp;</div><div class="quote">If you don't laugh at this one, there is something wrong with one of us! &#8221;</div></div><br />
<div class="funPlaceImg">&nbsp;</div>A woman was in town on a shopping trip. She began her day finding the perfect shoes in the first shop and a beautiful dress on sale in the second. In the third everything had just been reduced by 50 percent when her cell phone rang. It was a female doctor notifying her that her husband had just been in a terrible car accident and was in critical condition in ICU. <br />
<br />
As she hung up she realized she was leaving what was shaping up to be her greatest shopping day.  She decided to hit a couple of more shops on the way to the hospital. <br />
  <br />
After a cup of coffee and a slice of chocolate cake, compliments of the last shop. She was in an absolutely jubilant state when all of a sudden she remembered her husband. Feeling guilty, she dashed to the hospital. She saw the doctor in the corridor and asked about her husband's condition.<br />
The lady doctor glared at her and shouted, 'You went ahead and finished your shopping trip didn't you!? I hope you're proud of yourself! While you were out for the past four hours enjoying yourself in town, your husband has been languishing in the Intensive Care Unit! It's just as well you went ahead and finished, because it will more than likely be the last shopping trip you ever take! For the rest of his life he will require round the clock care. And taking care of him will now be your career!' <br />
  <br />
The woman was feeling so overwhelmed with guilt she broke down and began sobbing. <br />
  <br />
The lady doctor then chuckled and said, 'I'm just pulling your leg. He's dead. Show me what you bought.' <br />
<br />
]]></description>
 <category>The Fun Place</category>
<comments>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=922</comments>
 <pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item><item>
 <title>&quot;Ferris Bueller&apos;s Day Off (1986)&quot; Movie Review</title>
 <link>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=872</link>
<description><![CDATA[<div class="leftbox"><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rj1bJ2xd_As&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rj1bJ2xd_As&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object></div><br />
<b>Time: </b>98 mins.<br />
<b>Rating:</b> PG-13<br />
<b>Genre:</b> High School Comedy<br />
<br />
<b>SYNOPSIS:</b> A high school wise guy is determined to have a day off from school, despite the attempts of his principal and younger sister to sabotage his good time. <br />
<br />
<b>BOTTOM LINE:</b> Broderick reigns supreme as the king of slacker cool in Hughes' most blatantly fun teen comedy. Perhaps he's too good as the lovable loafer who makes the most of ditching school, as this role is the one that defined his burgeoning career. It's also a role that gave those of us on the high school fringe something to hope for. You see, Ferris is popular not because he has the most money or the fastest car. He's everybody's best friend because he's a friend to everybody. His irresistible charm comes from his inner self-confidence. Ferris could have been a cartoon character, but Broderick makes you believe that a teenager could actually BE happy with who they are. A rare and inspiring concept.<br />
<b>The story follows his fairly tame,</b> but incredibly fun adventures around Chicago with his exotic girlfriend (Sara) and neurotic best friend (Ruck), as he tries to turn them on to his way of living. He's supposed to home sick, however, his beleaguered principal and bitter sister (played by Jeffrey Jones and Jennifer Grey) know he's up to no good and pull out all the stops, to their pain, to prove he's out having fun. They are the perfect counterpoints to Ferris: angry, jealous and afraid that people won't like them for who they are. The message of the film is pretty clear, even if it is buried beneath a ton of fluff. Life is what you make of it and Ferris makes it extremely entertaining. A film that probably won't appeal to today' teens, but still one of our favorites.<br />
<br />
]]></description>
 <category>From Members</category>
<comments>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=872</comments>
 <pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:45:01 -0400</pubDate>
</item><item>
 <title>Healthcare Reform &quot;Humor&quot;</title>
 <link>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=865</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p><div class="funPlaceImg">&nbsp;</div>Apparently the American Medical Association has weighed in on the new healthcare reform package (even before anything has been announced)....<br /><br />The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.<br /><br />The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.<br /><br />The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception.<br /><br />The Ophthalmologists considered the entire idea shortsighted.</p><p>The Pathologists yelled, &quot;Over my dead body!&quot; while the Pediatricians said,'Oh, Grow up!'<br /><br />The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.<br /><br />The Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.<br /><br />The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, &quot;This puts a whole new face on the matter.&quot;<br /><br />The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.<br /><br />The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.<br /><br />In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Washington to wipe up. </p><p>&nbsp;</p>]]></description>
 <category>The Fun Place</category>
<comments>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=865</comments>
 <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:21:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item><item>
 <title>Second largest aquarium tank in the world</title>
 <link>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=854</link>
<description><![CDATA[<div style="width:100%; height:24px; clear:both;"><div style="float:right;" class="upd">Revised, August 7, 2009</div></div><br />
<div class="leftbox"><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5606758&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=0&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=ffffff&amp;fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5606758&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=0&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=ffffff&amp;fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br />
<a href="#" onClick="MM_openBrWindow('/files/kuroshio.htm','kuroshio','scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=900,height=550,left = 270,top = 125');return false" title="Play Kuroshio Sea in HD">Play in HD <i>(Recommended)</i></a></div>  <a href="http://vimeo.com/5606758">Kuroshio Sea - 2nd largest aquarium tank in the world - (song is Please don't go by Barcelona)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/theradblog">Jon Rawlinson</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<i>(Give this some time to load before watching...otherwise you won't have smooth playback)</i><br />
<br />
<b>The main tank </b>called the "Kuroshio Sea" holds 7,500-cubic meters (1,981,290 gallons) of water and features the world's second largest acrylic glass panel, measuring 8.2 meters by 22.5 meters with a thickness of 60 centimeters.  Whale sharks and manta rays are kept amongst many other fish species in the main tank.<br />
This was shot using a Canon 5DMKII with a 28-135mm lens.<br />
THERE IS SUCH INCREDIBLE LIFE IN OUR OCEANS....WE MUST PROTECT THEM! <br />
<div class="copyR"><b>Credits:</b><br />
You should visit my website:  http://jonrawlinson.com<br />
You should follow me on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/jonrawlinson<br />
This was shot at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan. http://www.kaiyouhaku.com/en/<br />
The music is "Please don't go" by Barcelona.<br />
PLEASE BUY THIS SONG ON THE iTUNES STORE: http://bit.ly/1zAVu<br />
Barcelona's website: http://www.myspace.com/barcelona<br />
Buy the album Absolutes by Barcelona on the iTunes store: http://bit.ly/o57OL<br />
Watch Barcelona's response to this video: http://bit.ly/zGYZw<br />
Download the desktop wallpaper: http://bit.ly/19rTC5</div><br />
]]></description>
 <category>From Members</category>
<comments>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=854</comments>
 <pubDate>Thu, 9 Jul 2009 22:45:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item><item>
 <title>Letter to the Washington Post</title>
 <link>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=853</link>
<description><![CDATA[So... I have been buying the Post for thirty years&hellip; I have been doing the crossword for the same amount of time&hellip; Now&hellip; I get the Express&hellip; the Examiner&hellip;and Politico&hellip; I can certainly appreciate the cost saving measures which have been implemented by the Post... but NOT when it comes to the size of the crossword. The solver needs the space so that the numbers are not covered by the INK all the time... this is not possible anymore. Making the comics smaller... changing the format of the business section... slashing pages is meaningless to me and probably other solvers...<br />
I no longer buy the Post... and I miss it very much... but the Post bit me in the ass with the increase in the cost and the declination of its' value to me.<br />
Well... that's off my chest... Thank you for reading this... if ya did???<br />
<br />
Fredd Fezzo<br />
<br />
<div class="copyR">Read the response below:</div>   Fredd,<br />
Thanks for writing. I've heard from quite a few readers who think the size of the crossword puzzle is too small. Alas, I don't think the editors plan to change it. Space is at a premium. They're trying to preserve as much content as possible.<br />
Sorry you've abandoned The Post. Despite all the cutbacks (affecting every newspaper), most Post readers have remained loyal. Year-over-year first quarter daily circulation actually grew slightly (perhaps because of the inauguration).<br />
<br />
Best wishes,<br />
Andy Alexander<br />
Washington Post Ombudsman<br />
<br />
]]></description>
 <category>From Members</category>
<comments>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=853</comments>
 <pubDate>Wed, 8 Jul 2009 22:57:46 -0400</pubDate>
</item><item>
 <title>Creative Puns for Smart Minds</title>
 <link>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=855</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p><div class="funPlaceImg">&nbsp;</div>1.&nbsp; The roundest knight at King Arthur's Round Table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi. </p><p>2. &nbsp;I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian . </p><p>3.&nbsp; She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still. </p><p>4.&nbsp; A rubber band pistol was confiscated in an algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption. </p><p>5.&nbsp; The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work. </p><p>6.&nbsp; No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery. </p><p>7.&nbsp; A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering. </p><p>8.&nbsp; A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart. </p>9.&nbsp; Two silk worms had a race.&nbsp; They ended up in a tie.<p>10.&nbsp; Time flies like an arrow.&nbsp; Fruit flies like a banana. </p><p>11.&nbsp; A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall.&nbsp; The police are looking into it. </p><p>12.&nbsp; Atheism is a non-prophet organization. </p><p>13.&nbsp; Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway.&nbsp; One hat said to the other, &quot;You stay here, I'll go on a head.&quot; </p><p>14.&nbsp; I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger.&nbsp; Then it hit me. </p><p>15.&nbsp; A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said, &quot;Keep off the Grass.&quot; </p><p>16.&nbsp; A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital.&nbsp; When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, &quot;No change yet.&quot; </p><p>17.&nbsp; A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion. </p><p>19.&nbsp; The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large. </p><p>20.&nbsp; The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran. </p><p>21.&nbsp; &nbsp;A backward poet writes inverse. </p><p>22. &nbsp;In a democracy, it's your vote that counts.&nbsp; In feudalism, it's your count that votes. </p><p>23.&nbsp; When the cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion. </p><p>24.&nbsp; Don't join dangerous cults, practice safe sects!</p><p>&nbsp;</p>]]></description>
 <category>The Fun Place</category>
<comments>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=855</comments>
 <pubDate>Mon, 6 Jul 2009 01:16:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item><item>
 <title>Miami Priest: Father Alberto Cutié Caught In Sex Scandal</title>
 <link>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=830</link>
<description><![CDATA[<div style="float:right;" class="copyR"><div style="float:left; margin-right:3px; margin-bottom:-4px;"><a href="http://the-backroom.com/media/3/20090619-upd.gif">Updated</a></div>Revised, June 19, 2009</div><br />
<br />
MIAMI (Reuters) - A former Roman Catholic priest and media celebrity who left the Catholic Church last month after he was photographed cuddling a woman on a Florida beach has married his girlfriend, local media reported on Wednesday.<br />
<br />
Alberto Cutie, 40, who joined the Episcopalian Church after the photos scandal stoked debate over the Catholic celibacy requirement for priests, married 35-year-old Ruhama Buni Canellis on Tuesday in a civil ceremony, the Miami Herald reported.<br />
<br />
<div class="copyR"><b>Source:</b> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE55G3LL20090617" title="Read the whole story on Reuters">Reuters</a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="float:right;" class="copyR"><div style="float:left; margin-right:3px; margin-bottom:-4px;"><a href="http://the-backroom.com/media/3/20090619-upd.gif">Updated</a></div>Revised, June 1, 2009</div><br />
<br />
<div class="leftbox"><a href="http://the-backroom.com/media/466/20090619-ac_wed1.jpg">Albert Cutié</a><div class="copyR">Father Albert Cutié and Ruhama Canellis<br />Splash News</div></div>Embattled priest, Father Albert Cutié left the Roman Catholic Archdiose for the Episcopal church and announced that he will marry Ruhama Canellis, the woman at the center of the religious scandal that has rocked the Miami area. <br />
<br />
Cutié and Canellis had apparently been having an affair for two years when they were photographed frolicking on the beach and kissing. Those photos, which ran in TV Notas a few weeks ago, led to the Father being forced to leave his congregation and posts in the Archdiocese of Miami. At the time, Cutié said he wasn't sure which direction his life would take, or whether he would continue being a Catholic priest. The whole ordeal had been the cause of much soul searching on his part, especially since the woman at the heart of the matter was not a fling, but rather someone he loved. <br />
<br />
Cutié and Canellis participated in a small, private cermony yesterday surrounded by Priests and deacons from the Episcopal church, many of whom were accompanied by their wives. Bishop Leo Frade, head of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, led the ceremony as the couple were officially accepted into the Episcopal church. <br />
<br />
"I am continuing the call to spread God's love," Cutié told the Miami Herald, pointing out that he had experienced a "deep spiritual and ideological struggle." <br />
<br />
<b>Should catholic Priests be allowed to marry?</b><br />
<br />
<object width="746" height="413"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/cp/vjVQa1PpcFOeP6Pe1_diTkO--Wt1leohuExPyw37BDc="></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/cp/vjVQa1PpcFOeP6Pe1_diTkO--Wt1leohuExPyw37BDc=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="746" height="413"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<b>Father Alberto Cutié </b>— a celebrity priest dubbed “Father Oprah” by devoted fans followers — has been relieved of his holy duties after a Spanish-language magazine published steamy photos of him breaking his vow of celibacy by kissing, fondling, and embracing a woman on a Miami beach. <br />
“First photos of a priest ‘in flagrante’ with his lover,” reads the cover of TV Notas.<br />
<br />
On Tuesday, the Archdiocese of Miami removed Father Cutié as head of the St. Francis de Sales parish in Miami Beach and at the Catholic radio station Radio Peace and Radio Paz. <br />
<br />
Since 1998, c, who was ordained as a priest 15 years ago, has hosted several Spanish-language talk shows and programs, seen in 24 million homes in 22 countries. He also writes a syndicated newspaper advice column called “Advice From a Friend.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Read Father Alberto Cutié On-line Statement below</i><br />
<br />
<div class="center"><table cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10" class="center"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><a href="index.php?imagepopup=3/20090519-padre1.jpg&amp;width=450&amp;height=312&amp;" onclick="window.open(this.href,'imagepopup','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,width=450,height=312');return false;"><img src="http://the-backroom.com/media/3/thumb_20090519-padre1.jpg" width="160" height="110" alt="" title="" /><br /></a></td><td align="center"><a href="index.php?imagepopup=3/20090519-cutie1.jpg&amp;width=480&amp;height=326&amp;" onclick="window.open(this.href,'imagepopup','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,width=480,height=326');return false;"><img src="http://the-backroom.com/media/3/thumb_20090519-cutie1.jpg" width="160" height="108" alt="" title="" /><br /></a></td><td align="center"><a href="index.php?imagepopup=3/20090519-padre3.jpg&amp;width=480&amp;height=297&amp;" onclick="window.open(this.href,'imagepopup','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,width=480,height=297');return false;"><img src="http://the-backroom.com/media/3/thumb_20090519-padre3.jpg" width="160" height="99" alt="" title="" /><br /></a></td><td align="center"><a href="index.php?imagepopup=3/20090519-padre5.jpg&amp;width=316&amp;height=423&amp;" onclick="window.open(this.href,'imagepopup','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,width=316,height=423');return false;"><img src="http://the-backroom.com/media/3/thumb_20090519-padre5.jpg" width="119" height="160" alt="" title="" /><br /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center">STATEMENT FROM FATHER ALBERT CUTIÉ <br />
<br />
Before God - full of love and mercy - I ask for the forgiveness of those who may be hurt or saddened by my actions. Since I entered the seminary at the age of 18, the priesthood has brought me great joy.  The commitment that I made to serve God will remain intact. I am grateful for the love and support I have received today from so many in our community, especially my parishioners and the supporters of the radio stations who have demonstrated great compassion and understanding toward me as a human being.<br />
I will spend several days on a personal retreat and I ask for your continued prayers and support for me and my family.<br />
<br />
Father Albert Cutié<br />
<br />
..........................................................................................................................................<br />
<br />
DECLARACIÓN DEL PADRE ALBERTO CUTIÉ <br />
<br />
Ante Dios - lleno de amor y misericordia - y ante toda nuestra comunidad, quiero pedir perdón si mis acciones les han causado dolor y tristeza. Desde mi ingreso al seminario a los 18 años, el sacerdocio me ha traído gran alegría. Les aseguro que mi servicio y dedicación a Dios continuarán intactos. Doy gracias a Dios por la compasión y el apoyo humano que he recibido en el día de hoy de tantas personas en nuestra comunidad, especialmente mis feligreses y oyentes de nuestras emisoras.  <br />
Estaré haciendo un retiro espiritual durante varios dias y pido sus oraciones.<br />
<br />
Padre Alberto Cutié</div><br />
<br />
<b>Related Posts from the Web:</b><br />
<a href="http://fatherjoe.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/father-alberto-cutie-defects-to-episcopal-church/">Father Alberto Cutie Defects to Episcopal Church</a><br />
<a href="http://fatherjoe.wordpress.com/2009/05/14/where-does-a-fired-catholic-priest-go/">Where Does a FIRED Catholic Priest Go?</a><br />
<a href="http://fatherjoe.wordpress.com/2009/05/13/father-alberto-cuties-struggle/">FATHER ALBERTO CUTIE’S STRUGGLE</a><br />
<a href="http://fatherjoe.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/government-public-bigotry-against-priests-the-church/">GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC BIGOTRY AGAINST PRIESTS & THE CHURCH</a><br />
<a href="http://blog.ancient-future.net/2009/05/28/fr-cutie-the-episcopal-church-welcomes-you/">Fr. Cutie: The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!</a><br />
<div style="float:right; margin-bottom:12px;"><a href="http://the-backroom.com/media/466/20090420-fb_ico75.png">The Backroom</a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
]]></description>
 <category>Current Events</category>
<comments>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=830</comments>
 <pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item><item>
 <title>&apos;20 Seconds of Joy&apos; Documentary Spotlight</title>
 <link>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=843</link>
<description><![CDATA[<b>Winner of the Best Film on Mountain Sport and People’s Choice Award</b><br />
<br />
<div class="leftbox"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoANL1N-5l8" target="_blank"><a href="http://the-backroom.com/media/466/20090601-20soj.jpg">Watch Trailer</a></a><br />
<span class="copyR">Click on Image to Watch Trailer</span></div><br />
<b>Running time:</b> 60 minutes<br />
<b>Director:</b> Jens Hoffmann<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Documentary<br />
<br />
"I don't want to die, I want to live. I'm pretty good at running away, and this is my escape." This is how Karina Hollekim describes her dedication to BASE jumping. Documentary filmmaker Jens Hoffman first met the now 30-year-old Norwegian in 2002. He immediately started to film, planning to follow Karina over a long period, trying to understand why a young woman would challenge herself mentally and physically in such an extreme sport. Jens accompanies her through many stages of her BASE-jumping career, until it comes to a sudden stop and changes all aspects of her life.<br />
<br />
<b>Jumping for Joy</b><br />
<br />
It takes a certain type of person to jump off a cliff, and a BASE jumper would definitely be considered one type. BASE jumping entails jumping off of a fixed object (a building, antenna, span or earth, according to the acronym) and free-falling hundreds to thousands of feet before releasing the parachute. It is possibly the most dangerous and fatal extreme sport there is. According to one BASE jumper, three things will happen if you BASE jump long enough: you will get hurt, you will watch people die jumping, and BASE jumping will eventually kill you as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="rightbox"><a href="http://the-backroom.com/media/466/20090601-21soj.jpg">20 Seconds of Joy</a></div>So why would anyone willingly accept the possibility of death just for the thrill of jumping? 20 Seconds of Joy is a documentary about professional athlete Karina Hollekim. The title comes from Hollekim herself when she asks if it is really that important to jump off a cliff and get 20 seconds of joy. To answer these questions, Director Jens Hoffman takes viewers on a journey through five years of Hollekim’s BASE jumping career, delving into her life and trying to explain her yearning to continually be involved in increasingly risky situations. He does so brilliantly, presenting Hollekim as a complex person who is simply doing what she loves, but also recognizes the dangers of her job and the strain she places upon her loved ones. Her struggle to reconcile these two aspects is dealt with sympathetically and you find yourself admiring her and wishing her the best. <br />
<br />
With gorgeous shots of breathtaking views, the documentary itself is pretty well made. Watching the jumps was a little suspenseful for me, knowing that I could be witnessing a person’s last moments and the mostly tasteful soundtrack built upon that suspense. There were times that I thought the music was too overpowering though. Some of the interviews were a little hard to understand due to the foreign accents of the interviewees and differences in the sound quality occasionally made sections sound awkward when they were spliced together. The timeline is also a little confusing because the film jumps around a lot; however, this is all minor. 20 Seconds of Joy lets you experience the sense of joy Hollekim receives from her life, yet it also left me pondering deeper subjects like life, death and fear. <br />
<br />
<div class="copyR"><b>Sources:</b> <a href="http://20secondsofjoy.com/">Official Website</a> :: <a href="http://www.20secondsofjoy.com/blog/2009/05/theaters/">Where to see</a></div><br />
<div style="float:right; margin-bottom:12px;"><a href="http://the-backroom.com/media/466/20090420-fb_ico75.png">The Backroom</a></div><br />
<br />
]]></description>
 <category>From Members</category>
<comments>http://the-backroom.com/index.php?itemid=843</comments>
 <pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2009 23:51:24 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
  </channel>
</rss>