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Freeze thrilled" to take over as ASU head coach, "hit the recruiting trail" "
New ASU head coach
Hugh Freeze
New ASU head coach
JONESBORO - After enjoying successful stints as a head and assistant at the NCAA?FBS, NAIA and high school levels over the past 18 years, Hugh Freeze was named Arkansas State's 27th head football coach Thursday.
Freeze just completed his first season as Arkansas State's offensive coordinator, guiding the Red Wolves' offense to a record-breaking year in 2010.
"I am thrilled to be the next head coach at Arkansas State and continue building on the foundation Coach Roberts has set," Freeze said. "It is a dream come true and I can't wait to hit the recruiting trail and get us some players. I am very indebted to President Welch, Chancellor Howard, Dr. Lee and Dr. Potts for their confidence in my ability to take this program to another level. My family and I look forward to being a very vital part of the Jonesboro community and the A-State family."
Freeze made an immediate impact on ASU's program, leading the offense to a No. 43 national ranking in total offense one year after the Red Wolves finished toward the bottom of the NCAA?FBS rankings at No. 95. In just their first year under Freeze's up-tempo Spread, the Red?Wolves broke nine offensive school records that included 4,841 yards of total offense currently ranked No. 1 in the Sun Belt Conference.
ASU also announced a special pricing on season ticket packages for the 2011 football season. Beginning Dec. 3, 2010 through Feb. 28, 2011, season tickets may be renewed or purchased at a reduced rate. For ticket information, call the ASU Box Office at 870-972-2781 or 888-ASU-FANS. You can also log on to Arkansas State's official athletic website, www.AStateRedWolves.com, for more information.
Freeze, a noted speaker, motivator and recruiter throughout his career, led the ASU?offense to other school records such as total plays (856), first downs (262), pass attempts (438), pass completions (266), completion percentage (.607), passing yards (3,057), passing yards per game (254.8) and passing touchdowns (23).
The Red Wolves' potent offensive attack averaged 403.4 yards per game, eclipsing over 300 yards all 12 times it took the field for the first time in the history of the program. A-State posted at least 400 yards of total offense in seven games during the 2010 campaign, the most ever as an NCAA?FBS member.
ASU, currently ranked 46th in the nation in scoring offense, finished the season averaging 30 points a game and recorded at least 20 points in 11 consecutive games for the first time in school history. Freeze's offense scored 46 touchdowns, including 23 on the ground and 23 through the air, for the fourth most in school history and the most since the 1975 season. While the Red Wolves' 23 passing touchdowns broke the school record, their 23 scores on the ground were the most by an ASU?team since 2002. Their 360 total points were the most since 1987 and tied the fourth most in ASU?history.
Under Freeze, the A-State offense was among the most dangerous in the Sun Belt Conference in 2010. The Red Wolves were ranked among the top two teams in the league in scoring offense, passing offense, total offense, pass efficiency, red zone offense and first downs. In addition to its No. 43 national ranking in total offense and No. 46 spot in scoring offense, ASU?is ranked among the top 50 teams in the nation in red zone offense at No. 33.
In addition to working as ASU's offensive coordinator, Freeze was also the quarterbacks coach for the Red Wolves. Under Freeze's direction, sophomore Ryan Aplin exploded onto the scene in 2010 to emerge as a Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year candidate. Aplin not only broke the ASU?records for total offense, passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions, he posted numbers that rank among the top 10 in Sun Belt Conference history in the same categories. Aplin was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week three times during the 2010 season.
"We are extremely excited to named Hugh Freeze head football coach at Arkansas State University," Dr. Lee said. "He is a tremendous leader that makes those around him better and his high energy level is contagious. Coach Freeze has a great passion and vision for our football program. He is highly organized and has a plan that has made him successful throughout his career."
Prior to his arrival at Arkansas State, Freeze compiled a 20-5 record over the 2008 and 2009 seasons at the helm of the Lambuth University football program.
Freeze was named the American Football Coaches Association's Southeast Region Coach of the Year in 2009 after leading the Eagles to their best regular season in school history with an 11-0 record. Under Freeze's direction, Lambuth won the Mid-South Conference West Division, advanced to the second round of the NAIA playoffs for the first time since 1999, finished the year with a 12-1 mark and ascended to the No. 6 ranking in NAIA.
The Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year oversaw the offense and called the plays for a Lambuth team that averaged over 40 points per game and ranked ninth nationally in total yards per game (465 ypg). The Eagles also ranked first in the nation in fourth down conversions, fourth in first downs per game and third down conversions, fifth in passing offense and eighth in scoring offense per game.
Prior to taking over as head coach at Lambuth, Freeze served as interim head coach at the University of Mississippi in November of 2007 and was an assistant coach with the Rebels from 2005-07. He was named the Rebels' recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach before the 2006 season after originally serving as Assistant Athletic Director for Football External Affairs upon his arrival in Oxford.
In his first year as recruiting coordinator, he helped bring in the nation's 13th ranked recruiting class, the highest in the history of the program. Freeze was responsible for the recruitment of nine signees, including two that went on to be named Freshman All-America, in the class alone.
While maintaining his duties as recruiting coordinator, he moved to wide receivers coach in 2007 and tutored two players that were ranked among the top-15 players in receiving in the SEC. Ole Miss' 2007 signing class was ranked 25th nationally and he was responsible for nine commitments in the 2008 signing class.
Before going to Ole Miss, Freeze served 13 years at Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, Tenn., as a classroom teacher, coach and administrator. He was the Saints' head football coach from 1995 to 2004, running the no huddle "spread system" for six years that led to six straight state championship games.
Freeze compiled a 99-23 record, which included an undefeated season in 1996, while at Briarcrest and led the school to state championship titles in 2002 and 2004. Briarcrest won regional championships in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002, and Freeze was named the Region 8-AA Coach of the Year five times and Associated Press Coach of the Year four times.
Before assuming the role of head coach at Briarcrest, Freeze served as the Saints offensive coordinator and defensive backs coach from 1992-1994 as the Saints reached the TSSAA state semifinals twice.
A 1988 graduate of Senatobia (Miss.) High School, Freeze earned his bachelors degree in mathematics with a minor in coaching and sports administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1992.
Hugh and his wife, Jill, are the parents of three daughters, Ragan, Jordan, and Madison.


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Спасибо за интерес к нашим villas. С нетерпением ждем разговора!
Indonesian food, known for its street cart presentation and lunch time warungs, is rarely found in a high-end restaurant as a main course, let alone prepared by professional chefs in an industrial kitchen. Bambu does just this though. And they do it well. Opened in 2013 by the same owners as acclaimed La Lucciola, Bambu is a tucked away restaurant on Jalan Petitenget serving mouthwatering flavors indicative of the Indonesian archipelago's culinary traditions as a whole. Hours: Dinner only (reservations recommended)

subset: commoncrawl


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Tag: fair trade jewelry
Jeweled Triton: Fair Trade, Recycled Glass Jewelry
Do you realize that beer and soda bottles make some of the most beautiful jewelry ever? Well, it's true! Everyone knows I'm a big fan of Tracy of Strawberry Hedgehog… she is a talented and creative baker, crafts maker and soap...
Read more >>


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CLARION, PA — The Clarion County YMCA is expanding its services by collaborating with a local hospital. Clarion Hospital's fitness program, Wellness Works, will merge with the Y's wellness services effective on March 1.
The Wellness Works members will be transferred over to the new wellness program, which will be called Healthy Friends. The hospital's fitness trainer will move over to the Y, which will offer customized exercise plans for each member and work with patients who have completed rehab programs.
The partnership will allow the Y to take a more active role in helping members recover from fractures, sports injuries and surgery, says Mike Ebert, Y program director.


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National Fraud Initiative Open or Close
We are required by law to protect the public funds we administer. We may share information provided to us with other bodies responsible for; auditing, or administering public funds, or where undertaking a public function, in order to prevent and detect fraud.
The Cabinet Office is responsible for carrying out data matching exercises.
Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body against other computer records held by the same or another body to see how far they match. This is usually personal information. Computerised data matching allows potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. Where a match is found it may indicate that there is an inconsistency which requires further investigation. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until an investigation is carried out.
We participate in the Cabinet Office's National Fraud Initiative: a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. We are required to provide particular sets of data to the Minister for the Cabinet Office for matching for each exercise, as detailed here.
The use of data by the Cabinet Office in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority under Part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.
Data matching by the Cabinet Office is subject to a Code of Practice.
View further information on the Cabinet Office's legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information. For further information on data matching please telephone 01246 242424.
CCTV Open or Close
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras are used for a variety of purposes and are an effective way of reducing crime and protecting public safety. Within the district there are community based cameras with the centres of Clowne, Creswell, Shirebrook and South Normanton. The Council also uses CCTV at its main buildings.
The Council adheres to the ICO's CCTV Code of Practice. We also have strict internal controls in place to ensure that only authorised individuals can view and handle footage.
Please note that footage is only kept for a prescribed time period typically between 14 to 28 days depending on the scheme. You may wish to contact us before submitting your request to check the retention period for the scheme in question.
Data Protection Open or Close
The Data Protection Act 1998 promotes a culture of openness and fairness in those who process personal data (data controllers). Bolsover District Council, as a data controller, complies with the Act. The Access to Data and Information policy outlines how the Council will ensure the public have access to data and information as appropriate.
You have the right to:
ask the Council if it holds personal information about you
ask what the information is used for
ask to be given a copy of the information held
ask whether the Council discloses your information to others and if so to whom
ask the Council to correct, erase or destroy any incorrect data
ask the Council not to use personal information about you for direct marketing purposes
ask the Council to stop processing which you consider is causing you unwarranted damage or distress
seek compensation if you have suffered damage caused by the Council's contravention of the Act
To make a subject access request you must apply in writing with:
your name and address
details of the service(s) holding your personal information
any other information (e.g. proof of ID, date of birth, rent or council tax number) that would help the Council identify your information
a fee of £10.00 for the provision of the information
- Fill in the application form here
The Council will provide help to make the request if you need it.
Once your request has been received with the fee we will respond within 40 days:
telling you whether we hold information about you
providing you with copies of the information we hold
describing the purposes for which we process your data
listing to whom the information may have been disclosed
listing the sources of the information (if available)
Freedom of Information Open or Close
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 intends to promote a culture of openness and accountability in public authorities, by providing people with rights of access to all types of recorded information held by them. Anyone asking for information has the right.
- to be told whether the information exists (except for absolute exemptions where we do not have to confirm or deny whether we have the information);
- to receive the information (unless it is exempt) and, where possible, in the form requested.
- to receive the information in the format requested (where possible)
Our Access to Information Policy (138kb) sets out how we will comply with the following Acts – Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
The Publication Scheme
Under the FOI Act 2000, all local authorities have to produce a Publication Scheme (827kb). This is a directory of information and publications that we already make available, so before you ask for any information, you should check whether it is included in our Publication Scheme. Please also see Transparency page for additional information
How do I request information?
A lot of information, often referred to as 'business as usual' requests is routinely available and all you have to do is contact the relevant section or department for the information you need. If you are not sure whether the information is already available, or who to contact, check the Publication Scheme (827kb).
For information which is not routinely made available, then you will need to put your request in writing. This can be a letter, fax, email or you can complete the Information Request Form. It will help us to identify FOI requests if you state Freedom of Information at the top of your letter, fax or email. You do not have to tell us why you want the information, but it may help us to find exactly what you want if you do. Send your request to the Customer Service and Improvement (Freedom of Information), Bolsover District Council, The Arc, Clowne, Derbyshire S44 4JY. We have to deal with these requests within 20 working days.
Will I be charged for information?
For information included in our Publication Scheme (827kb), you may be charged for the cost of photocopying, printing and posting a copy of the relevant document(s). The Publication Scheme indicates whether such a charge applies. However, many documents can be obtained free of charge from our Contact Centres.
Is there any information that cannot be released?
Yes, if an exemption applies. There are two categories:
- Absolute exemptions - These are unquestionable exemptions under which we are not allowed to provide the information and include court records and personal information that would come under the Data Protection Act
- Qualified exemptions - This category is subject to a public interest test. This is where we will look at whether the balance of public interest is weighted in favour of giving the information requested. Where this is found to be the case, the information will be given. This category covers areas such as law enforcement and health and safety.
What happens if a request for information is turned down?
We will tell you why we have turned down the request, quoting any relevant exemptions. You then have a right of appeal, initially under our Complaints Procedure. If, after the appeal, the information is still not disclosed, you can ask the Information Commissioner to review the decision. The Information Commissioner's Office is the Government department that oversees and enforces FOI.
Re-use of Public Sector Information
A European Directive came into force on 1st July 2005 which allows people to apply to re-use public information held by public bodies (including this Council). The directive does not provide access to the information itself. Information needs to be sought under information regimes such as Freedom of Information Re-use means using the information received for a purpose other than the purpose for which the information was originally produced (including commercial purposes). Guidance on the re-use of information explains how you can make a request to re-use information and how we deal with requests.
For more information please visit the Information Commissioner's Office website http://ico.org.uk
Where can I find out more information on FOI?
We have produced a customer's guide to requesting information from the Council or you can visit the Government's FOI website for more information.
We continually monitor to see how many FOI requests we have received and how we are performing against our targets in responding to these requests.
- FOI Report 2016 - 2017
- Freedom of Information Requests April 2015 to September 2015 (70kb)
- Freedom of Information Requests October 2015 - March 2016 (73 kb)
- Freedom of Information Requests April 2016 - March 2017 (219kb)
- EIR Requests April 2015 - March 2016 (26kb)
- EIR Requests April 2016 - March 2017 (167kb)
Body worn video Open or Close
Body Worn Video (BWV) cameras are used for a variety of purposes and are an effective way of reducing crime and protecting public safety. Within the district there are community based cameras with the centres of Clowne, Creswell, Shirebrook and South Normanton. The Council also uses BWV at its main buildings.
The Council adheres to the ICO's BWV Code of Practice. We also have strict internal controls in place to ensure that only authorised individuals can view and handle footage.
Please note that footage is only kept for a prescribed time period typically between 14 to 28 days depending on the scheme. You may wish to contact us before submitting your request to check the retention period for the scheme in question.


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During our guests' stay with us at Wild Mahseer one thing we absolutely guarantee is to take care of their taste buds.We can teach them how, too.
So why not pick some fresh seasonal produce from our vegetable and herb gardens, come into the kitchen and learn to cook a selection of North Indian, Assamese and Anglo-Indian dishes?
With a little notice informal cooking classes can be arranged at any of the bungalow kitchens (Heritage, Golden Tips and Silver Tips).


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If you are looking for something to read today, I highly recommend the "Reynoso Task Force Report," with its accompanying "Kroll Report" appendix. These are the findings of the panel chaired by Cruz Reynoso, a well-known former Justice of the California Supreme Court, charged with looking into the causes and consequences of the pepper-spraying episode at UC Davis last November.
The report is relatively short, and is also direct, non-mealy-mouthed, and very much worth reading in its entirety.
If anything, the lengthy accompanying "Kroll Report," from private investigators retained by the U.C. system president Mark Yudof to look into the event, is more startling and dramatic. According to its cover page, it was originally considered "Confidential - Do Not Distribute," and you can see why. It includes a lot of raw testimony from people involved in the decisions about when and how to disperse the demonstrators.
Campus police and others come in for their share of criticism, including specifically the police lieutenant who has become notorious from the picture above. Both he and the UC Davis police chief remain on paid administrative leave. But at face value its findings are also very damaging to the still-serving Chancellor of UC Davis, Linda Katehi. For instance, the Kroll report says about a letter asking the demonstrators to disperse:
In case that's illegible, it says:
"Chancellor Katehi told Kroll investigators that Student Affairs wrote the letter and that she did not review it before it went out. The record contradicts both of these statements, as detailed below. Katehi did review the letter, provided an editorial change and approved it. Student Affairs did not write the letter..."
The Kroll report offers email and other evidence to back up this claim. Similarly, from the main Reynoso report:
And if that is illegible:
"When explaining their decisions on Nov. 17 and 18, UC Davis administrators repeatedly referenced this concern about individuals not affiliated with the university at Occupy movement protests and encampments on campus, and the security risks created by their presence. Indeed, in Chancellor Katehi's letter distributed to campus protesters on Nov. 18, the day of the pepper spray incident, the Chancellor wrote "We are aware that many of those involved in the recent demonstrations on campus are not members of the UC Davis community. This requires us to be even more vigilant about the safety of our students, faculty and staff." As our report will indicate these concerns were not supported by any evidence obtained by Kroll."
This last point is important because the heavy-handed police response was initially justified by the need to remove "outside agitators" -- non-students -- from the campus. The chancellor might well have convincing responses to these and similar findings, but the report certainly shows that responses are needed.
There is much more in the report. The episode is off the front pages, but the UC system will show important things about itself with its long-term response and steps toward internal accountability. In its clarity and directness this first step is encouraging.
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to email@example.com.


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There were many things I did like about this book, but some aspects didn't quite jell for me.
Summary via Goodreads:
It's 1982, and Lisa is twenty-four years old, a waitress, an aspiring singer-songwriter, and girlfriend to a famous Latin musician. That year, she makes a decision, almost without thinking about it.
But what if what if her decision had been a different one?
In the new 1982, Lisa chooses differently. Her career takes another direction. She becomes a mother. She loves differently, yet some things remain the same.
Alternating between two very different possibilities, The Original 1982 is a novel about how the choices we make affect the people we become-and about how the people we are affect the choices we make.
The first thing that intrigued me was the premise of life done differently. The first book I encountered that suggested this approach was Penelope Lively's Making it Up, which was well written and interesting, but didn't deliver on that promise to me. The Original 1982 does that, presenting the choice that changes things, and marking out a new path (and comparing it to the old) that follows that decision.
I liked Lisa, the main character, in both versions of her life, and both paths were interesting, and completely different than any life I've seen.. She was surrounded by people that I wanted to get to know, and a few I didn't, but I liked reading about anyway. I enjoyed the author's writing. The book was written as a letter to a daughter that never was, and that choice resonated with me.
My biggest problem was that I wanted more, from both of the paths. Big issues were touched on, then the story moved on. Relationships were introduced, but not explored.
The second problem was that I didn't entirely buy the new path, and I can't tell if that was deliberate. Was I learning from this that Lisa is deceiving herself about what her life would have been like, or did the author fail to construct a life I could buy into? How much is the original life based on the author's real life, and is the new life her personal wish, or does it belong only to the character of Lisa?
I enjoyed reading the book, and I'd love to have the chance to argue some of these questions with someone else that read it– I think it would be a very interesting book club choice.
I read this book as part of a TLC Book Tour, and was provided a copy of the book to read and review. For other opinions on this book, visit the other tour stops:
- Tuesday, May 28th: No More Grumpy Bookseller
- Wednesday, May 29th: BookNAround
- Thursday, May 30th: Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews
- Monday, June 3rd: Books and Movies
- Tuesday, June 4th: Traveling With T
- Monday, June 10th: A Reader of Fictions
- Wednesday, June 12th: Good Girl Gone Redneck
- Thursday, June 13th: A Chick Who Reads
- Monday, June 17th: Reading Reality
- Tuesday, June 18th: Twisting the Lens


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This week on Pokémon Battle Evolution, eSeamus and Scott are joined by Tyler for a discussion of Pokémon Battle Trozei!
Thanks to Alec, Tuddrussell, Mikey from Pokémon Crossroads, Necrostevo, and Matt Smith for buying some packs for the show!
Want to donate booster packs to Pokémon Battle Evolution? Head to bit.ly/PBEwishlist to check out the wishlist. Donate a pack and eSeamus will plug whatever you want (within reason) every time the pack is talked about on the show!
Music on this episode is from Retro of the Ophidians on YouTube.
Get more information and talk about this episode on the forum!


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What am I talking about? How come when humans wander in nature and enter the habitat's of wild animals (http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/08/05/norway.polar.bear.death/...) and a human casualty results - subsequently they kill the animal? It is like this with mountain lions, bears, etc. I don't understand - we wander in their turf, what do we expect? These things are going to happen from time to time.
There was one exception - recently in Yosemite there was an attack in which the bear was simply defending its cubs so they didn't kill the bear as the visitors seemed to encroach into the bear's territory - but I just don't understand why the first knee-jerk reaction is to kill the wild animal. I actually find it sad and abhorrent. I don't know...am I getting upset over nothing??
Views: 268
Partly I get to decide Michael because I present some evidence for my argument. Like the history of the organisation, my personal experience of 6 weeks with them in Svaalbard, my own training with them of how to deal with Polar bears. So if you have some contrary evidence, or a different interpretation of the evidence we might have something to discuss. What are you adding here?
But where did I say I got to decide how people should react? I said: find out what actually happened before commenting. I objected to ignorant posts.
What kind of argument are you putting up? Present some evidence, or discuss mine. Tell us why you disagree perhaps and there would be something to discuss. This is a shit argument. Try harder.
Right here with you. It's not only wrong it's pathetic.
That's pretty strong. Did you check the circumstances before you commented so harshly?
And what would you have done Gabriele? Would you ban travel to the arctic? Because once you allow it, then interaction with bears will occasionally result - and rarely and unfortunately, that will end up with dead humans and /or dead bears.
But for the BSES this is very rare; and killing a bear is very much the last resort. So I don't think it's pathetic. But in the context of the fantastic work done by the BSES, this is an isolated and unfortunate incident. I would definitely still want my children to go on one of the BSES expeditions.
I was on this same expedition to the same place (Spitzbergen/Svaalbard) with the BSES in 1989. The precautions taken by the expedition to avoid incidents with bears are severe. The requirement to carry a rifle is imposed by the Norwegian Government - but rightly so in these circumstances as the bears are aggressive and do attack.
This expedition had set trip wires and flares around the tents to intimidate the bears - but apparently they didn't go off. So by the time a bear is in a tent and killing a teenager, the not unreasonable reaction is to put a dumdum bullet into it's head.
Yes - it is less than ideal. But the alternative would appear to be to ban travel into arctic regions so as to avoid contact with bears which would also be pretty bad. This organisation has been organising actic expeditions for teenagers for decades and it has a pretty good accident record. My trip was life changing - and I'd not have missed it.
So I think that this was a rare and tragic accident - but I'd not advocate changing much, other than reviewing the saftey precautions which no doubt will happen now anyway.
I feel the same. First we are animals too and mammals have emotions of love, fear etc. Its time to respect the wild life and give them their space.
Right. Its like they don't think lions, bears etc are fierce animals. They do what they're supposed to do. Then when something happens, people get all personal and take "revenge"...like thats gonna show those other animals not to mess with us
Ronald: this is just not accurate. Please read my responses above.
They did not get personal and take revenge. They shot a bear that had go into a tent and was killing a teenager.
As much as I love animals too Jimmy Boy has a point that it is important to check all of the facts before placing judgement. This is an emotional issue because people have overreacted before and animals got slaughtered needlessly but this is not always automatically the case.
Thank you Doubting Thomas. This is a topic I actually really do know something about and the level of ignorance displayed in the comments here is horrible.
Freethinkers should check their facts before firing off on their pet topics. We all do it, but for once I really happen to be able to comment specifically - and it is apparent that the quality of comment here is really very low.
The organisation (The British Schools Exploring Society) is responsible for ground-breaking primary research over many decades in this environment. They have massive respect for the arctic, for Svaalbard, for the bears - and this is the first time I have heard of them having a bear kill an explorer. I'm trying to find out if they have ever had to resort to shooting a bear before at all. Certainly nothing like it happened the year I went. Respect for the environment, the animals and plants was absolutely top of our agenda. That was why we were there!
To hear the comments on this thread, one might be forgiven for thinking that a bunch of kids just decided to go camping in the wilds and got the wrong spot. This could not be further from the truth.
Ironically it is very plausible that the bears are moving further inland looking for food etc. because of the effects of global warming that we have wrecked upon the planet.
Polar bears are by nature inquisitive and aggressive. The law demands that you are armed before venturing out on Svalbard because of the danger to your life and health. These are not pleasure killings, but usually a desperate final act of survival.
You should probably visit the area to get the full experience, nature is continually trying to expel humans from Svalbard and the few people living there are clinging on for dear life. Usually polar bear killers are never allowed to travel to Svalbard again and it is not unlikely the perpetrators will be fined by the sheriff.


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DWTS Season 14 – The Great "Previous Dance Experience" Debate, Part II
So last Wednesday, we took a look at the male contestants' dancing pasts. Today we'll take a look at the women, who are arguably less talented (and more comical) this season 😉
First up, we have the much buzzed-about Sherri Shepherd, who, aside from possibly taking some lessons at Dance with Me prior to the start of this season, also busted some moves in a choreographed hip-hop number at her wedding reception:
Court: She's not stellar, but she's keeping up pretty well – and paired with the extra practice she's gotten prior to the show, I'd say she has a pretty good foundation. What's funnier to me about this clip is Elizabeth Hasselbeck – poor girl sticks out like a sore thumb in line 😛
Heidi: Heh. When the women are dancing it's like "Dancing with America's Next Top Model" they are so stiff. Thank god for the men – they're killin' it. 🙂
Vogue: I sure hope Big Bird isn't around as he might want to steal the wedding bride? 😯
The verdict: Sherri may have some hip-hop moves, but it looks like Val's got his work cut out for him!
Now let's take a look at Maria Menounos, who got an impromptu belly dancing lesson during a segment on Access Hollywood:
Heidi: :::whines::: Derek gets ALL the dancers. She's such a ringer.
Vogue: Hmmm, I'm afraid for Derek now a little. Is anyone else?
Courtney: I think this clip just reiterates for me that her biggest obstacle likely won't be the dances themselves, but just getting over feeling like a goober when she dances – you can tell she feels totally silly here, and it makes her look even more ridiculous.
The verdict: D's on goober patrol this season.
Up next, we have Katherine Jenkins, who did a number from Carmen during her arena tour that involved some dancing:
Vogue: She's got some dance skills for sure. What's more, girl knows about theatrics and how they work. Mark is theatrical in his dancing as well. He's going to be in heaven with this one.
Court: If she can overcome the potential fanbase problems I could see her having, she could be pretty good – hell, this dance even looks vaguely paso doble-y.
Heidi: Okay, so why is no one screaming "ringer" over this one? The Opera Singer does some actual dancing. Then again, odds are that Mark won't focus on her in the choreography so it won't matter. 😀
The verdict: Opera or no opera – Katherine could actually be kinda good.
Let's move on to Gladys Knight, who admitted during the cast announcement that the Pips "never let her dance"! So admittedly, there really aren't any videos of Gladys dancing…but I will never turn down the opportunity to listen to the Empress of Soul herself belt out the song that made her famous – "Midnight Train to Georgia":
Courtney: I doubt the Pips would have taught Gladys anything truly worthwhile that would help her on this show 😛 I mean, side-tap, other side-tap, walk backwards, walk forwards, gesture with your arms. I'm pretty sure an orangutan with ADD could probably do it. But I'm nonetheless excited to see what Gladys has up her sleeve 😛
Heidi: Er, well, sure me too…keeping in mind this video is probably from 30 years ago. 🙂
Vogue: When Gladys is finished with Dancing With The Stars, she'll be able to trade places with her back up singers. Nice moves!!
The verdict: Gladys may not have learned much from the Pips, but she could still be a contender.
Up next, we have this season's "tough cookie", Martina Navratilova – and I must admit, I think I found the perfect video for her 🙂 Why? It's very ironic…just watch:
Heidi:I certainly admire the thought behind this video – Martina trying to keep people on the move and active. But dancing?? A bit stiff. But then, that comes with age, especially for top ranked athletes.
Vogue: Martina is going to be fierce. I have a feeling when she gets the hip movement down for a Samba, she won't need a racquet to play tennis anymore. 🙂
Court: Ok, maybe I'm in the minority here, but I'm not sold on Martina being as fierce on the dance floor as she is on the tennis court. And in this clip, she actually doesn't seem all that enthralled by dance to me – you could replace "dance" with "colonoscopy" and it would make more sense for me 😛 But she does seem to have the right philosophy – even if it was scripted. But check out the dude in the background…he's cracking me up!
The verdict: Not sure about Martina, but the dude in the background LOVES to dance!
Last up, we have Melissa Gilbert, who is best known for playing Laura "Half Pint" Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie. Here's a cute clip of the episode where she stole Nellie's music box and danced to it in the hay loft…although I doubt it played Adele:
Vogue: I'm utterly speechless. At this point in time, I'd say Maks (like Derek) is in trouble as well. 😯
Court: Granted, this clip is older than the hills, and I'm not sure that pioneer girls really had a whole lot of slick moves to bust. But it's cute, and it's the only remotely dance-related clip of Melissa I could find 😛
Heidi: Heh, this could be one of those times that growing older is helpful. 😉
The verdict: With age comes wisdom. 🙂


text: Flights between North America and Asia often involve a layover in Narita, Japan. Since the international airport at Narita (New Tokyo International Airport) is far from Tokyo and in a country that seems impossibly expensive, travelers to Asia often seek advice about what to do during their hours, days and perhaps night in Narita. This page is geared toward folks who intend to stay in the vicinity of the airport, including nearby Narita City. However, there are links to information on traveling into Tokyo and elsewhere. Thanks to J. Sachs and Ken Heard who supplied many of the details in the early days of this effort. Other information has been gleaned from the Web and from my own personal experience. Any errors are my own.


text:
I need to apologize for my lack of uploaded photos of the COMET progress from the past month. It's so frustrating, because I really want to share them with you all, but I am having technical difficulties with the camera, alas! HOPEFULLY I can resolve the issue soon and we can get back on track!
Until then, I have some other news:
1. Just got back from a 2 day "Greenhouse Design" workshop at Yestermorrow Design/Build School, where I finalized the design of my "bumper" garden – a mini, lightweight greenhouse mounted to the back of the trailer, supported by the bumper. It was great to learn about the different material options for building a greenhouse. In order to be as lightweight as possible, I'm going to go with aluminum framing and polycarbonate sheets – a structural panel. Can't wait to get started on the fabrication/building of that!
2. Lloyd Kahn, my favorite tiny house/alternative dwelling author, is coming out with a new book and guess what it's all about? Campers and houseboats! yay! He recently released his Tiny House book, which had a full page spread about mobile dwellings, but I can't wait to get a hold of this book dedicated to unique camper houses and house boats. I think it is going to be titled "Wheels and Water". If you live in an awesome trailer or houseboat, he is looking for submissions too for the book. Head over to http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.com/ for more on that!
3. I've been on a fermentation rampage the last few weeks. Saurkraut, Curtido (Salvadorean suarkraut for papusas), and Kombucha have been filling the fridge and the dark corners of the basement. I've been experimenting with double fermentation of the Kombucha and have been perfecting the Curtido recipe (which is extra magical as it uses whey as part of the fermentation process). I have more Kombucha mothers than I know what to do with at this point, but it's nice to have enough to try all different flavors with. My first batch turned into straight up vinegar, but I have been planning on using that for salad dressings and other vinegar drinks that I have recipes for from the book "Making It" by Kelley Coyne + Erik Knutzen. I will share my super affordable, DIY $5 fermentation set up and some recipes soon!
4. I'm addicted to looking at Pinterest pages that are all about vintage camper eye candy. I have 4 new ones to share with you. It's such a high concentration of vintage camper pictures in one place, it is almost overstimulating. Each one is full of good ideas for design + storage too.
Here we are:
Trailer Parks + Trailers I LOVE!
My Vintage Trailer Restoration
Some of them have some of the same photos, but for the most part each one is worth checking out if you love vintage trailer eye candy!
I am always trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up (I feel like the answer will always be "Everything"). While at Yestermorrow, I get so excited about each subject I learn about it's like a new career path unfolds in front of me every other week! I'll be a solar house designer, I'll be a Greenhouse builder, I'll be a tiny house builder or a teacher. I made use of the drafting tables at Yestermorrow while I was there and after class did some "architectural" drawings of camper designs of the future (We can all agree that most modern RV designs are terrible and tacky, right?). Maybe I'll be an RV designer and try to usher in a new era of campers that look like old campers! While I work towards the silliest degree in the world (I think I've explained my major before – vintage trailer restoration and the culture of mobile dwellings?), I try to see how I can apply it to the future of our culture and the planet. Not sure where I'm going with this, but that's okay once in a while right? One step at a time! Sorry this was a bit of a rambling paragraph.
Anyway, I really hope to have the camera situation fixed very soon and then I can share more COMET progress and trailer restoration how-to's. Until then, have a lovely day! and THANK YOU for reading!


text:
When Google recently released its own diversity data, few who follow the tech industry were surprised: just 30 percent of Googlers are women. That number is much likely better than many tech companies, given that a scant 12 percent of computer science degrees are earned by women.
Nothing highlighted the degree of gender disparity in the tech industry more than a photo tweeted out from the opening day of Apple's 25th Worldwide Developers Conference, showing a long line for the men's restroom and a nonexistent line for the women's.
Apple WWDC…where there's a long bathroom line for men and not women. pic.twitter.com/Vuf34MMDJz
— Jo Ling Kent (@jolingkent) June 2, 2014
The photo looked an awful lot like one tweeted out last year.
WWDC explained in one photo. pic.twitter.com/fm8jAqEs4v
— Dan Ackerman (@danackerman) June 10, 2013


text:
mnp13 wrote:Well I have a ba-zillion errands to do tomorrow, can I come out and see them and maybe take some pictures???
pitbullmamaliz wrote:HOLY JEEBUS they are quite possibly the cutest things EVER!
mnp13 wrote:they have bright orange poop, and they do it everywhere.
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text:
Convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky isn't getting the new trial he asked for after arguing that his lawyers weren't given enough time to prepare for the proceeding that ended with a 45-count guilty verdict.
Judge John Cleland on Wednesday issued a 27-page order that said Sandusky's lawyers conceded that their post-trial review turned up no material that would have changed their trial strategy.
"I do not think it can be said that either of the defendant's trial counsel failed to test the prosecution's case in a meaningful manner," Cleland wrote. "The defendant's attorneys subjected the commonwealth's witnesses to meaningful and effective cross-examination, presented evidence for the defense and presented both a comprehensive opening statement and a clearly developed closing argument."
U.S. & World
He also rejected post-sentencing motions regarding jury instructions, hearsay testimony and a comment by the prosecution during closing arguments that referred to the fact that Sandusky, who did not testify at trial, gave media interviews after he was arrested in November 2011.
Cleland said the prosecution's closing was not presented in a way that "was either calculated to, or did, create in the jurors a fixed bias toward the defendant."
Sandusky also argued that charges should have been thrown out because they were not sufficiently specific, but Cleland said the lack of specific dates did not prevent Sandusky from pursuing an alibi defense.
"The defendant has simply argued the offenses did not happen," Cleland said.
The former Penn State assistant football coach is serving a 30- to 60-year state prison sentence (virtually a life sentence for the 69-year-old) for sexual abuse of 10 boys. He's maintained his innocence and vowed to appeal.
Sandusky lawyer Norris Gelman says the decision means the defense will appeal to mid-level Superior Court within the next 30 days.
The state attorney general's office, which prosecuted Sandusky, offered no immediate comment.


text:
I consider myself a skeptic, at least where the supernatural is concerned. I've never been scared by ghost stories because if you don't truly believe that those monsters exist, it's hard to feel one way or another about them -- not just fear, but even basic interest. Show me a photo of a ghost, and my first reaction is "Photoshopped." Show me a video, and I immediately think of all the effects programs that are available to even the most novice of amateurs. But I'm telling you that, even with my skepticism, what happened to me on Christmas Eve of 2001 still gives me nightmares to this day.
My servants had taken off for the night, having recently been fired for walking behind me during mirror time. Their personal belongings crackled in the fireplace as I stretched out for a relaxing, silent evening, alone in front of my Christmas tree -- a rare Bois dentelle, of which there are only two in existence. I had it uprooted and imported from Mauritius, threw it on its side in the corner of my living room, and meticulously decorated it with my urine. I threw a Bois dentelle branch from the other remaining tree on the fire and settled back under my Amur leopard blanket.
Tom Brakefield/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Dido played softly in the background, my eyes growing heavy under the weight of her angelic voice. As I faded into sleep, I envisioned the joy on my face as I opened the gifts that my employees were required to buy me, then one by one looked them in the eyes as I stomped those gifts into tiny shards of wasted time and money. I drifted ...
When next I opened my eyes, the world was lit only by the faint red glow of fireplace coals. The sweet melodies of Dido caressed the room as I fumbled for my phone. I swiped the screen and blue light pierced the darkness. 3:14 a.m. With a grunt, I sat forward, turned off the phone, and waited for the grogginess to fade enough for me to get up and find my bed.
Something's not right. You can feel that, John, can't you? Something heavy. Something ... watching.
Suddenly, I was wide awake, scanning the dim blue room for intruders. Nothing.
No, it's not nothing. Look. Think. This isn't normal.
Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
I squinted at the fireplace. Nope. Just a smoldering pile of coals. The tree? No, that's exactly as I left it. Nothing in the corners of the room. Nothing behind me. Nothing on the floor. My phone is right wh- My phone.
That's right. You just turned it off. That screen is as black as your assless leather pants. So where's the blue light coming from?
I reached for the fire poker as my eyes frantically darted to random spots. I grabbed the handle, reconsidered, and then picked up my sword instead. Then I saw it. A face in the window -- blue, lucid, and peering at me with deep sadness. My heart raced, and I bolted out of the chair. Dido screamed and dropped her guitar.
"Get out of here before I call the cops," I yelled. "I have a sword!"
It spoke, and I suddenly realized that it wasn't outside looking in. It was behind me, its face merely a reflection in the glass. "I am the Ghost of Christmas Past, John, and I am h-"
I wheeled on the creature as he stretched an arm toward my shoulder. In one swift swing of my katana, I severed three of his fingers. They hit the floor and bounced like Vienna sausages, and the ghost let out a deafening howl.
Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
"MOTHERFUCKER! Oh my GOD, you cut my fucking fingers off! I'm the Ghost of Christmas P-"
Dido blindsided the monster with her acoustic guitar, screaming, "I want to thank you!" It snapped loudly against his skull, ringing out an off-tune open E, and the ghost crumpled to the floor. I saw my opportunity and swung the sword down hard onto his neck.
"Stop it, you idiots," he screamed, as I realized I was holding the blade sideways, so it only caught him on the flat side of the steel with sort of a slapping "thud" sound.
Dido did not stop. As Christmas pushed himself up onto all fours, she laid a Size 14 directly into his gut. He puked, and she ran away, screaming, "Ew, gross! Ghost chunks!"
"Nice move, Ghost of Christmas Ass," I mocked. "But right now, I have to sword you a question!"
Brand X Pictures/Stockbyte/Getty Images
I swung again, but he was ready. Holding out his good hand, his own blade materialized. It was beautiful, glowing blue with ethereal flames -- hungering to reap the unclean souls of the mortal world. My steel clashed against it, lighting up the room in a strobe of sparks. The force knocked me off balance, and I felt the pressure let up as he pulled back his weapon. He was swinging back at me, but I was too far off center to block.
My mind, a supercomputer of hand-to-hand combat strategies, quickly calculated my only move, and I obliged. With one swift jerk of my upper torso, I back flipped onto the fireplace mantle. The beast used the momentum of his swing to spin 360 degrees, changing the angle of his sword to aim for my ankles. The motion was fluid and unwavering, as if he had planned the fight centuries before it ever happened.
With 6 inches left until his blade met my legs, I front flipped over him. Then, in midair, I threw in a half twist and finished with another full back flip, landing in a really cool three-point landing. Keeping the pose, I slowly tilted my head up to him and said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to flip out on you."
"You don't have a ghost of a chance," he retorted. He dropped into a deep kung fu stance and readied his defenses, his sword arcing gracefully over his head like a martial arts rainbow made only of blue.
Duncan Smith/Photodisc/Getty Images
"Something's wrong with your tactics," I smirked, running my hand along the ground. "But I can't quite put my finger on it!"
As I finished the sentence, I threw a handful of his own fingers at his face. Two of them poked him in the eyes, and the third one flew into his open mouth, lodging in his throat. He gagged and swung blindly, missing my face by inches. I back flipped to my feet and caught his next swing with my katana, but the force was too much. My weapon was stripped from my hand and went sailing across the room.
The ghost coughed up his finger and inched toward me, his sword moving ever closer to my throat.
"You fool," he growled. "I am the Ghost of Christmas Past. I was sent here by a power far greater than you can possibly imagine. I was sent here to help you."
Dido cowered on the floor behind me, shielding her eyes from the puddle of ghost vomit. My sword was at least 20 feet from me, more than one-tenth of the way across my living room -- there was no way I could get to it in time. Cautiously, I crept backward as the spirit approached.
"You have lived your life in wicked self-indulgence long enough, John Cheese. It is time you saw the terrible ways you've affected others." He reached out most of a hand. "Come. I have many things to show you, and not much time to-"
While his defenses were down, I grabbed Dido by the ankles and said, "Sorry, ghost. But it's time to die-do!"
Anthony Harvey/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
I swung Dido at him, full force. She slammed into his chest with a sickening thud, sending him hurling through my living room wall. Utilizing the few seconds of separation, I made a quick dash for my sword. He was already sprinting back to me when I dove and grasped the handle. Rolling through the dive, I back flipped up to my feet -- my sword in my right hand, Dido in my left.
He skidded to a stop, studied my defensive stance, and then smirked.
"You want to play this game?" he asked through a sinister chuckle. "Fine. Let me introduce you to my uncle."
His weaponless arm twisted and contorted as a large body formed in its place. Christmas grimaced as the skin bubbled and reshaped, until it was finally replaced with a full human hanging upside down, its knees connected to the spirit's shoulder.
The ghost finished his sentence, "Uncle KRACKER, that is!"
We charged at each other, clashing at the center of the room in a magnificent explosion of sparks and fire. Sword met sword. Dido met Kracker. My house was a thunderstorm of back flips and spin kicks. Then, just when I thought he had the upper hand, I remembered the time bomb I had set earlier that day to go off roughly at this time.
Martin Poole/Photodisc/Getty Images
As Christmas drew back his sword for the final blow, I grasped the time bomb in both hands and jammed it into his gut, saying, "Not this time. You da bomb."
With that, I punched him through my roof. And just when his body was too high to see anymore, a brilliant explosion lit up the early morning sky. As we stared up at the glimmering brilliance, Dido said, "You know, John, I've learned something tonight. You are the most awesome person in the whole world."
"I know," I replied. "What do you say we smash a few presents?"
She smiled and nodded. But as I bent down to get one, I realized they had all been smashed during the battle. I fell to my knees and screamed "no" like Darth Vader. And from somewhere far beyond the mortal plane, a nasally Uncle Kracker laugh echoed throughout the land. I still have nightmares to this very day about not being able to stomp those presents.
John is an editor and columnist right here at Cracked, with a new article every Thursday. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook.
Do you have a cell phone with a camera? Then you're halfway to winning our pocket film contest. Bust out that phone and show us the funny in 30-seconds or less for your chance to win. Check out the contest details and submit here.


text:
By accounts of leading officials in both parties, the state treasurer, Bill Lockyer, is doing a good job. But he'll be forced from the post by term limits in 2014. So now he's apparently preparing for a run for another statewide office, controller.
The switch exposes two bits of madness in California's governing system: term limits and down-ticket executive offices such as treasurer (the person who sells state bonds) and controller (the person who signs state checks). Together, the combination of term limits and the state's insistence of holding elections for these lesser posts creates a game of political music chairs that produces little for California -- besides corruption.
Officials running for and holding these posts must raise money -- to get elected and then for their future races once they hit their term limits. But the most of the people who are interested enough in these lesser executive posts to give money are people whose business interests are affected by decisions. The result has been a series of pay-to-play scandals involving figures such as Supt. of Public Instruction Bill Honig, Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, and Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush.
The game of musical chairs also has turned Lockyer, one of California's most experienced public servants, into a vagabond. He served as attorney general before term limits forced him to run for treasurer in 2006. In 2014, when he'll be 73, he'll have to run for controller. Perhaps, if he lives long enough, Lockyer can run for superintendent of public instruction in 2022 at age 81, insurance commissioner in 2030 at age 87, lieutenant governor in 2038 at age 95, and secretary of state as a career capper in 2046, when he's 103. (Of course, if you're going to live that long, Bill, you might need to sell more stem cell bonds).
Perhaps by then, he might have the range of experience necessary to become governor. But Lockyer, who was encouraged to run for governor this year, has resisted, noting how hard it is for someone without big name recognition statewide to raise money and compete with better-known politicians. So instead, he plays musical chairs, stuck in California's strange political trap.