You all know the drill. Whoever puts the most over the fence wins the gold, in this case approximately twenty-five (25) dollars. So step up and swing the stick. 'Banquet' will follow fully catered by Saltí's mom and Papí's Grandmother. Information is as follows:

Rules
1. You get ten (10) outs each round. An 'out' is defined as any ball you swing at that doesn't go over the outfield fence as a homerun, that is, any ball that is fouled, missed, or hit inside the park.
2. Poor Sportsmanship will not be tolerated. Behave like an athelete. If you are asked to leave the contest you're money will not be refunded and you will not be allowed to continue into any further rounds.

Regulations
There will be approximately twelve (12) competitors. The batting order of the players will be chosen at random, through a name in hat pull. Each participant gets to choose his own pitcher, who will throw the same pitch repeatedly until the batter has ten (10) outs. The 'on deck' batter will sit in the dugout until it is his turn to bat. The remaining players will be in the field collecting the balls.

After each round a number of players will be eliminated and another round will commence. The standard rounds will be twelve (12) players in the first round, eight (8) in the second, four (4) in the third, and two (2) in the fourth and final round. In the event that two (2) players have the same number of homeruns, each player will be given three (3) swings. The player with the longest hit ball of his turn will advance to the next round.

Further Information
This Home Run Contest will take place on the 14th of June, 2008, at 5:00 P.M.
The location for the contest will be Black Creek Ballpark, on the first field (closest to the pavilions).
Entrance fee will be ten (10) dollars. This will cover the cost of baseballs, food, lights at the field, and the winners prize money.
The first twelve (12) people to sign up are guaranteed a spot in the competition, further applicants may or may not be accepted, depending on how late we can keep the field.

Sign up either through Cody Dickerson or John Speights. Cody at Gardendale, John at Fultondale.

If you have any further questions please email me at: gfdalebaseball@gmail.com

Lawrence Kohlberg once proposed that there are six primary stages to ethical behavior, progressing from basic thought processes for simple moral dilemmas to those more capable of dealing with moral issues. Kohlberg place no age on the advancement of these six stages, though he discovered that they progressed throughout the lifetime of an individual. He also discovered that one could rarely ever relapse into previous stages, and that they could also never 'skip' a stage. To test his theories Kohlberg would present his subjects into a moral dilemma, from which he would place their justification into one of the six steps. One of the most popular of these will be presented after the six stages are explained. The six stages are divided into three levels of consciousness if you will; Pre-Conventional, Conventional, and Post-Conventional. Each level is divided into two of the six stages.

The first level is considered Pre-Conventional because one is completely self-centered, egotistical and oblivious to the consequences on others. This level is mainly exhibited in children. The stages are as follows:
Stage I
Obedience and Punishment Orientation. (What can I do to stay out of trouble)
Stage II
Self-Interest Orientation. (What can I gain from the situation?)


Level two, the Conventional level, is based more upon the views of adolescents and younger adults that watch how society plays out. They base their own conscience on the conscience of society and what it takes to be accepted. The stages of Level two are:
Stage III
Interpersonal Accord and Conformity (Good boy/girl)
Stage IV
Authority and Social-Order Maintaining Orientation (Law and Order)


Level 3 is considered the principled level. In the Post-Conventional level, each individual is viewed as a separate entity, and the view of oneself is placed before the opinion of the masses. Stages from this level are oft mistaken for those of level one because oneself is viewed first, although the opinion of others is observed as well. Here are the stages:
Stage V
Social Contract Orientation (Everyone Has an Opinion)
Stage VI
Universal Ethical Principles (Principled Conscience)

A seventh stage of morality is proposed that links morality with religion, but thats a topic for another time. As obligated; here is one of Kohlberg's tests, answer if you will and see where you fall into the stages of morality.


"""A woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times what the drug cost him to produce. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2,000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman's husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could only get together about $ 1,000, which is half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said, "No, I discovered the drug and I'm going to make money from it." So Heinz got desperate and broke into the man's store to steal the drug for his wife.

Should Heinz have broken into the laboratory to steal the drug for his wife? Why or why not?"""

Leave your answer and justification to me and I'll share with you your stage.

These are ten Bodhisattva vows that I feel should be expressed. I found these while lookin into something I found on The Gadfly's page relating to Buddhism. These vows are quite enlightening, and could do well to be kept by our public; and are from the Brahma Net Sutra, which would mean the "Thread/word from god". They are as follows:

1. Not to kill any living creature
2. Not to steal anything
3. Not to engage in any form of sexual misconduct
4. Not to lie or use false speech
5. Not to trade alcoholic beverages
6. Not to discuss the faults and misdeeds that occur by any Buddhist
7. Not to praise oneself or disparage others
8. Not to be stingy or abusive towards those in need
9. Not to harbor anger or resentment or encourage others to be angry
10. Not to criticise or slander the Three Jewels*

The Three Jewels that are spoken of are Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

Buddha can be interpreted as either the Historical Buddha or the nature of all things.

Dharma is the teachings of the Buddha.

And the Sangha are the Enlightened Ones, thes will help one to attain as such.

Hope you enjoyed the read and will perhaps consider these vows, as an assistance to your balance.

T£h R£v£r£nd

**Sources Include**
http://www.wikipedia.com
http://www.strath.ac.uk
---------------------------
And the Gadfly's page which I encourage you to read
Gadfly

To those who say
That we won't make it.
I have a few words,
I know we can take it.

We've had our times
And our toils too
Still passion burns strong
It shall never fade

I've decided,
These words go in verse
Then they last forever
As my love will for her

Quickly we may have moved
But the heart makes up the mind
She's going to be mine soon
With or without you.

Nothing's halting this love
There's naught as strong as it's bind
She's the one I love
And you can't change what's to be.

---John---

Everytime you say I love you
makes my heart melt
it makez me wanna kiss you
for i while this is how I have felt

You always make me smile
I wanna be with you forever
Nd lay with you a while
nothin will come between us never

Everything makes me think of you
I will alwayz care
without you I dont know what I would do
for you my love I will only share

I want you to know how much I love you
Nd I do with all my heart
Nd I know you feel this way too
I dont want us to ever be apart
--------------------------------------------------
This love i have for you
Cannot be explained but in writing
But i know that you share it too
and to get out my heart is fighting

I cant stand to be here without my love
it makes me miss you so
because your gentleness reminds me of the dove
without you here i feel so low

But i'll see you again soon
and i sit here and think of that time
it makes my soul and spirit croon
and then even my heart begins to rhyme

because now it has a song to sing
a tale of true love it starts
the lyrics and words they echo and ring
then at the end they are together the two hearts

And happiness and bliss are forever theirs
and no one could cause that to fail
it catches them all at unawares
and our love causes all others to pale

because when you are here with me
it makes my life seem to glow
brighter than those shirts of bright green
that i wear in show :P
---------------------------------------------------------
:)
nd all this makes me love you so
even more than you know
you make my world glow bright
nd being with you feels so right

I cant think bout bein anywhere
else but you
I juss wanna be here
juss us two

seeing your words on here
make me so happy I wanna cry
I juss wanna be with you here
without you I think I would die

you make me happy you juss dont know
I cant wait till we dont have to be apart
I wonder why you love me so
But I do love you with all my heart
-------------------------------------------------
my world is set afire
when your here with me
none of this is simple satire
for our love i want the world to see

I never want you anywhere
but here on my arm
because all i can do is sit and stare
because with you I lose my need for charm

If you ever want to sit and cry
im here to hold you always
I'll never leave you and will forever try
to be here in every ways ^_^

because one day we'll be wed
and together we will share all
and we'll lie together in our bed
and speak together without recall

Of any other times when we were apart
because then we were not complete
we were only half done, then our hearts
became one. and our love was true and neat
-----------------------------------------------------
I always want to be with you
from now until forever
for my love is true
I will leave you never

your alwayz running through my head
I alwayz want you to be here with me
esp with all the things you said
nd for all the world to see

I love you so much
no matter how many times you lick me
I love your stare and touch
I juss want you to see

how much I care
I cant keep my eyes out of yours
my love with you ill always share
each day I love you even more
---------------------------------------------------
I could write for days
with you as inspiration
and show love in many ways
I think i will without hesitation

I love you in more ways even though
that i could never show them all
to try to name them makes me think 'whoa'
and makes my mind stumble and fall

and I'll lick you again and again some more
because your taste is sweet
you alone are the one i adore
and then of course i'll tickle at your feet :P

because it makes you smile
and that makes me grin
and I'll love you all the while
because you make my world spin
----------------------------------------------------
I have been makeing these up easy
on the spot since ive been replying
even if they seem cheesy
with these I aint lying

I love you so
you make my head spin
you dont even know
you alwayz make me grin

seeing you makes me smile
makez me wanna be with you
forever nd a while
this I know you you feel to

I love how you are alwayz warm
juss to be with you
I liek being in your arms
nd I love you so
---------------------------------------------
hehehe a little cheesy?
of course unless im wrong
but as for saying its easy?
yes it is, because our love is so strong

but our love will last forever
and eternity and then some still
because we'll always be together
and love you i always will

because there's nowhere else id rather be
than sitting around holding you
I want you close laying here with me
and I know you'd love it too ^_^

In this last stanza written here
I want to tell you this
I love you more than anything m'dear
And i finish my writings with a kiss

Consider this for a moment. Simple properties of multiplication in mathematics state that:

1) If a positive number is multiplied by another positive number then the product will ALWAYS be rendered as a positive number.

2) If a positive number is multiplied by a negative number the product will ALWAYS be a negative number

3) If a negative number is multiplied by another negative number then the product will ALWAYS be a positive number.

For the sake of argument all three of these rules will be examined, but the main point to be focused on will be the final 'Fundamental' of rudimentary multiplication.

The simplest way to explain multiplication seems to be with objects in groups, for instance: four times two can be represented as four groups of two objects, in any case, this yields eight.

|| + || + || + || == ||||||||
Following this base principle an attempt will be made to explain the latter two postulates of multiplication, for it already explains the first. Any number greater than zero can be grouped therefore can be represented as a positive number proving the first statement,

The next is a positive times a negative will yield a negative product.(i.e.-4 * 2 = - 8). This could be said as such: two objects in each of four groups of missing objects would yield eight missing objects. This is true because if there are four missing groups that each contained two objects then there are eight missing objects in total, denoted as negative eight (-8).

Though these first two principle have easily been proven, the third point seems quite contradictory to itself. For instance, if two times four yields eight, does it not make perfect sense that the opposite; negative two times negative four should yield the opposite result, being negative eight? The latter equation can be represented as four missing groups each containing two missing objects. This could point to the fact that eight objects are still missing, denoted once again as negative eight (-8).

Although this seems to make some sense, how would it be possible to multiply something that doesn't exist (here the absence of two) by a number of groups that don't exist either? Simply put it would make nothing times nothing equal something, which cannot be seen as true. As all 'numbers' involved are incomprehensible, there should either be no result at all or it could be denoted as zero.

The real question to be asked here though is, if this holds true, then why does negative four multiplied by negative two yield a positive eight in basic algebra? From and logical standpoint this does not make any sense whatsoever. Based on the examples that have been presented, A positive real number times a positive product; a positive times a negative a negative product; and a negative multiplied by another negative should yield either a negative solution, or no solution at all, which could be therein be denoted as a zero.

First things first, this is not to help you understand me, only a select few have even an inkling of who I am, and what goes through my head. They know who they are. This is more of a warning to all those who think they understand me, and think that I fall for them as easily as it seems.

1) I do not lie. I 'pride' myself on that. For one not to trust me hurts me more than any physical pain that they could ever hope to impose upon me. Trust is very important to me. If you hope to get close to me, do NOT lie to me, I don't forget and I am usually slow to forgive it. I have been lied to, I don't take it well. It's a true test of myself and my being to both forgive and forget someone lying to me, even if they think its something small.

2) I do not get 'attached' to others easily. Just because I play and goof around, hug you, call you 'hon', doesn't mean that I've fallen for you. Its not that easy. If I kiss you, its something special. Do not push me away, I'm not being forward, just showing that I care for you.

3) Love is sacred to me. If I say, 'I love you' then I mean it, do not take it lightly. It means that you have at least a small piece of my heart. If you tell me you love me, then I take it to heart, and believe that you mean what you say(back on the trust thing). If I do not return the gesture, do not take offense. I am not one to love many, there are approximately three that I will tell that I love.

4)I am not above disliking others, and you will never hear me say so, but I have no biased opinion based on race or religion. I know people from all walks of life: red, yellow , black and white; Jew, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic, and Christian alike; rich and poor, emo or saint. I don't honestly care about your lifestyle in an effort to 'judge' you. Often enough the dropout is more intellectual than the scholar with a Ph.D. and the Atheist is more level headed than the devout priest. I base my opinion on what you say, how you work, not how you look. You have to earn my respect its not freely given to many.

5) I honestly can, and probably will, coerce you into saying/doing things you normally wouldn't. Do not take offense, it is in my personality to 'manipulate' and get want I want. I am NOT your typical guy. I don't look for sex, I do not cuss, I am humble and yet sure of myself. I have no doubt of my limits but am unafraid to cross them. You won't even begin to understand this or me, unless I allow you perhaps a small glimpse of myself.

That is all,
John

I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficent in my Warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of lofe.
I am an American Soldier