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By Chef George Mavrothalassitis, Chef/proprietor of Chef Mavro restaurant
Serves 10
Ingredients for short rib marinade:
1 short rib, whole (4-5 pounds)
2 bottles red wine
2 medium onions sliced
2 carrots, sliced
4 celery stalks sliced
8 thyme sprigs
2 Bay leaves
1 qt beef jus (or beef broth)
sea salt as needed
fresh ground white pepper as needed
Ingredients for celery root puree:
2 celery roots (celeriac) peeled and cut into cubes
1 pt heavy cream
3 T extra virgin olive oil
As needed sea salt
As needed fresh ground white pepper
Ingredients for red wine sauce:
1 bottle red wine, burgundy
1 onion sliced
1 carrot boiled
2 oz butter
2 T needed sea salt
As needed fresh ground white pepper
Ingredients for chimichurri:
2 garlic cloves, peeled and degermed
1 Hawaiian chili pepper
1/4 c shallots minced
1 c flat leaf parsley leaves chopped
1 c cilantro leaves chopped
2 T Marjoram leaves
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
2 T red wine vinegar
Method for short rib:
Marinate the short rib with red wine, vegetables and herbs overnight.
Separate the short rib from the wine and dry.
Season the short rib with sea salt and fresh ground white pepper. Sear in a hot pan with oil.
Brown all sides and remove from the pan.
Add the vegetables from the marinade to the pan.
Sauté the vegetables for 5 minutes or until caramelized.
Add the red wine (from marinade) and reduce by half.
Add the beef jus and simmer for 15 minutes.
Place the short rib and liquid in a braising pan and cover.
Place in a 250°F oven for 3.5 hours.
Remove the short rib from the liquid.
Remove the bones and trim the rib meat.
Cut into 2 oz pieces.
Strain the braising liquid and skim off fat.
Store the rib meat in the liquid.
Method for celery root puree:
Wash the celery root in running cold water.
Remove the skins from the celery root and cut into medium-size cubes.
Place the celery root in the medium-sized sauce pot and cover with heavy cream.
Cook on medium heat until the celery root is cooked.
Puree the celery root in a blender with some of the cream.
Season with sea salt and fresh ground white pepper.
Add the white truffle oil.
Method for red wine sauce:
Reduce a quarter of the red wine with onion until dry.
Add the other quarter of red wine and repeat process two more times.
Add the last quarter of red wine and reduce by half.
Place the reduction into a blender with the cooked carrot.
Blend well.
Add the butter and extra virgin olive oil.
Season with sea salt and fresh ground white pepper.
Strain the sauce.
Method for chimichurri:
Using a mortar and pestle, make a paste with the garlic and a pinch of sea salt.
Add the chili pepper and shallots and work all the ingredients together.
Add the herbs and make a paste like a pesto.
Add the extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar.
Season with sea salt and fresh ground white pepper.
Place the celery root puree on the center of the plate
Arrange the braised short rib on the celery root puree.
Spread a good amount of chimichurri on top of the short rib.
Surround the dish with the red wine sauce.


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Pure DWTS 2011 – Dancing With The Stars TV Ratings For May 23-29
Below are the new Nielsen TV Ratings for May 23rd-29th. Listings include the week's ranking and viewership. As you can see, the Dancing With The Stars Results show beat out American Idol's performance night last week with 22.86 million viewers. However, American Idol's Finale topped the list with 29.29 million viewers which drew its largest audience since 2008 (a 21-percent increase over last year's 24.22 million viewers). The two-hour season finale of "Dancing with the Stars" on May 24th was third for the week, averaging 21.42 million viewers, "the second-most for a Spring finale and 16 percent more than the 18.4 million average for last Spring's finale". The hour-long final competition program May 23rd finished second, averaging 22.86 million viewers, "the most for a spring final competition program and 18 percent more than last spring's final competition program". The combined average for the Spring season of "Dancing with the Stars" and "Dancing with the Stars: The Results Show" was 21.1 million viewers, "the most in series history" according to OCRegister. More listings and ratings below. Note how high the finale show's for Glee and House are on the list. "So You Think You Can Dance" had a great premiere night placed at 9th with 9.46 million viewers. (Heidi's Note: So, Nigel Lithgow has been doing some very creative bragging on Twitter about how AI's "finale" beat DWTS – he neglected to mention that when the two shows went HEAD TO HEAD, AI loses. Sure, Idol won wednesday night – no competition. I suspected from what I had seen that Nigel was full of crap – nice to see the confirmation in writing. 🙂 Heck, Glee isn't doing well as a lead – DWTS re-run isn't far behind it. No wonder they keep doing that – it's a smart plan.)
1. "American Idol" (Wednesday), Fox, 29.29 million.
2. "Dancing With the Stars," ABC, 22.86 million.
3. "Dancing With the Stars Results," ABC, 21.42 million.
4. "American Idol" (Tuesday), Fox, 20.57 million.
5. "Glee," Fox, 11.8 million.
6. "Dancing With the Stars" (Tuesday, 8 p.m.), ABC, 10.36 million.
7. "Modern Family," ABC, 10.31 million.
8. "NCIS," CBS, 9.83 million.
9. "So You Think You Can Dance" (Thursday), Fox, 9.46 million.
10. "The Mentalist," CBS, 9.26 million.
11. "House," Fox, 9.11 million.
12. "The Bachelorette," ABC, 9.02 million.
13. "NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS, 8.67 million.
14. "The Voice," NBC, 8.49 million.
15. "The Big Bang Theory," CBS, 8.28 million.
16. "The Biggest Loser 11," NBC, 8.2 million.
17. Auto Racing: NASCAR Sprint Cup, Fox, 8.13 million.
18. "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 8.03 million.
19. "NCIS" (Tuesday, 10 p.m.), CBS, 7.91 million.
20. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 7.74 million.
Sources used for this post: OCRegister, Yahoo

subset: commoncrawl


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Latest Updates
[9/12] Preview: 37th Annual Mexican Independence Celebration at Fiesta Gardens
Today at Fiesta Gardens marks the 37th annual Mexican Independence celebration presented by Fiestas Patrias of Austin. As always, there will be … [Continue]
[8/23] Preview: Marcos Orozco at Dance Across Texas
Sunday August 23, Dance Across Texas welcomes award-winning Tejano superstar Marcos Orozco, along with his top-notch backing band, Grupo Rebelde. The … [Continue]
[8/22] Los A-T Boyz and Lobo IV at Texas Club Bar and Grill
Tonight, the Texas Club Bar and Grill welcomes Austin's own Los A-T Boyz and San Antonio's Lobo IV to the stage. Los A-T Boyz, formerly known as … [Continue]
[8/21] Preview: Cañonazo CD Release Party at Toro Negro Lounge
Tonight at Toro Negro Lounge, Cañonazo celebrates the release of their brand-new self-titled CD. Copies of the new album will be on hand, plus some … [Continue]
[8/21] Preview: AJ Castillo at OK Corral
Tonight, OK Corral will welcome A.J. Castillo for the very first time. The Austin native will be bringing his "New Movement" flavor of Tejano to what … [Continue]
[8/15] Preview: Jimmy Gonzalez y Grupo Mazz at Desperados in Kyle
Tonight, the legendary Jimmy Gonzalez y Grupo Mazz return to Desperados in Kyle. The Brownsville native and bonafide Tejano superstar is considered … [Continue]
[8/15] Preview: Jay Perez at Texas Club Bar and Grill
Tonight, the Texas Club Bar and Grill welcomes "The Voice" Jay Perez. The San Antonio superstar will return to the southeast Austin Tejano hot spot, … [Continue]
[8/14] Preview: Conjunto Romo at OK Corral
Tonight, Conjunto Romo will take the stage at OK Corral. The Kyle-based family band will be pretty much playing for a hometown crowd when they make … [Continue]
[8/9] Preview: The Latin Breed and Pio Treviño y Majic at Dance Across Texas
Sunday, Aug. 9 will be a night to remember at Dance Across Texas when Adalberto and The Latin Breed and Pio Treviño y Majic return to Austin. These … [Continue]
[8/8] Preview: Cinco Doce and Bidi Bidi Banda at Holy Mountain
Tonight at Holy Mountain, Austin's own Cinco Doce will share the stage with Bidi Bidi Banda. Fans should be prepared for lots of cumbias and lots and … [Continue]


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Research Spotlight on Recruitment and Retention
NEA Reviews of the Research on Best Practices in Education
As the baby-boomers begin to retire and more students enter school, America faces a serious dilemma: a shortage of teachers. Yet, the research suggests that teacher retirement and an increased number of students entering school are not the primary reasons for the impending crisis. It's retaining teachers that's the greatest problem.
Over 40 percent of new teachers leave the profession within the first five years. We must address these high levels of attrition or face a projected need to fill 2.2 million vacancies by 2010.
Much of the research shows that poor working conditions and lack of on-the-job training are the root cause of this situation. Many states and school districts offer incentives, professional development (which often lacks follow-up), and increased salaries, but the reality is that the factors that determine whether a teacher remains in the profession is dictated by what happens at the school site. The school is their world, not the state or district office.
The Education Commission of the States (ECS 2005) conducted recruitment and retention research based on eight questions:
- What are the characteristics of those individuals who enter teaching?
- How do those individuals who remain in teaching compare with those who leave?
- What are the characteristics of schools and districts most likely to be successful in recruiting and retaining teachers?
- What impact do the working conditions in schools have on their ability to recruit and retain teachers?
- What impact does compensation have on the recruitment and retention of teachers?
- What impact do various strategies related to teacher preparation have on teacher recruitment and retention?
- What impact do induction and mentoring have on teacher retention?
- What is the efficacy of particular recruitment strategies and policies in bringing new teachers into the profession, including specifically targeted populations?
These questions—and their answers—must be considered by education policy makers as they prepare to address the pending teacher shortage.
To learn more, read Eight Questions on Teacher Recruitment and Retention on the ECS Web site. This report is designed to help policymakers gain a better understanding of both the nature of the teacher workforce and of promising recruitment and retention strategies. The report is also available in PDF form as:
Full Report ( PDF, 519 KB, 158 pgs.)
Related Links
- Mentoring and Supporting New Teachers ( PDF, 245 KB, 13 pp) -State policymakers have directed much attention to programs aimed at recruiting new teachers but less attention to teacher attrition rates, the reasons teachers leave, and the policy strategies that could help retain them in the profession. National Governors' Association 2002.
- Teacher Turnover, Teacher Shortages, and the Organization of Schools ( PDF, 165 KB, 40 pp) - This research suggests that a major cause of inadequate school performance is the inability of schools to adequately staff schools with qualified teachers, due to the shortage of teachers. R. M. Ingersoll, Center for the Study of Teaching and Policy, January 2001.
- The Wrong Solution to the Teacher Shortage ( PDF, 183 KB, 6 pp) - Loss of new teachers plays a major role in the teacher shortage, but pouring more teachers into the system will not solve the retention problem. R. M. Ingersoll & Thomas M. Smith, Educational Leadership, May 2003.
- The Workplace Matters: Teacher Quality, Retention, and Effectiveness ( PDF, 504 KB, 34 pp) -This brief describes workplace conditions in "learning centered" schools, where practices are consistent with the research about learning and its context. Its purpose is to support fundamental, long-term change by offering a vision of best practice for educators to consider, discuss, and adapt to their circumstances. Susan Moore Johnson, NEA 2006.
- Professional Community and Professional Development in the Learning-Centered School ( PDF, 527 KB, 34 pp) - Provides a research-based blueprint for teacher learning, including the goals it can serve, strategic content priorities, and effective approaches or strategies. The focus is on "learning-centered" schools where both the student and teacher are engaged in learning. Judith Warren Little, NEA 2006.


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Crying Sumo Ritual Has Japan's Babies in a Tantrum
An old Japanese tradition aimed at warding off evil spirits has been making a comeback in recent years. It's called "Crying Sumo" and Japan's babies are less than thrilled. Video courtesy Associated Press.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... here is a duty shrine in Tokyo ... rather unusual ritual has been growing in popularity ... it's called crying sumo ... babies are brought into agreeing but mentors to sumo wrestlers ... well a referee Yeltsin ... all in an attempt to get them to cry as much as possible ... the priests here say this as a baby's cry is said to be innocent and pure word ... getting them to travel drive away evil spirits ... thus ensuring the baby's health and strength as they grow ... it's an old tradition and and it's been making a comeback in recent years ... the first baby that cries declared the winner ... the victory may not feel quite so sweet ... Franklin for the last return ...


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A web video competition shows young Catholics how they can share their faith online.
God's providence can manifest through technology, according to Suzanne Haugh, director of Goodness Reigns, a short web video project that summons the creativity of youth and young adult Catholics to tell their faith story. The undertaking will end with 22 winning entrants either attending World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid or receiving video equipment if they choose.
Officially launched in 2009, seeds for Goodness Reigns had been planted years before while Haugh was teaching high school journalism, working collaboratively with students to produce a school newspaper and other literary material. "It was a wonderful process, and I used to tell them, 'This is real world stuff. It's not like a paper that when you turn it in it's just for you. You're producing something that's for a community. You're contributing to the legacy and history of the school by documenting its history."
Haugh says she soon began seeing the value of connecting both written and visual communication. "People can look at a headline and they might flip the page…but if you can make a short video that can grab them right at the beginning, then you can get some wonderful information across."
The competitive nature of teens coupled with their ease with new media and technology proved a perfect blending. "We're hoping the youth and young adults who have participated will have a sense of being a digital witness for their faith," Haugh says.
The project even garnered the attention of a teen girl in Pakistan who wanted to get involved but had no video equipment, but did have photographs. Eventually, Haugh connected the student with a teacher at Archbishop Carroll High School in the Philadelphia area. They've since begun a multi-country collaboration. "Through this, I've become more aware of the persecution that Christians face around the world," Haugh says, "To think that for some people, going to Mass on Sunday, they're risking their lives, it's an important realization that we need to sit with here in the United States."
Haugh's children, 14, 12, and 8, and husband also have become involved in the project, praying with her for its sustenance, helping prepare registration materials, and watching the videos. "It's been a blessing to me to be able to share with them how, when we give ourselves to God in service of other people, we're allowing great things to happen," she says.
This is a web-only article that accompanies Come follow me, which appeared in the July 2011 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 76, No. 7, pages 28-32).


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UCONN WOMEN: Huskies regroup after learning of Brianna Banks' injury
STORRS >> Things were rather festive in the UConn women's basketball universe Sunday night as the members of the third-ranked Huskies gathered to watch the Baltimore Ravens hold off the San Francisco 49ers in one of the most competitive Super Bowls in recent memory.
However, the joyous overtones that accompanied the Huskies were nowhere to be found about 12 hours later when they received the sobering news that underrated sophomore guard Brianna Banks would not play again this season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee.
With the innocent way that Banks tumbled to the court midway through the first half in Saturday' win at St. John's, there was the hope that Banks suffered a bone bruise or an injury that might sideline her for just a week or two.
However, head coach Geno Auriemma was among the first to be informed that Banks' injury was indeed of the season-ending variety. Rather than spoil his team's glee in watching the Super Bowl, he waited until Monday morning to tell Banks the news he termed as "nauseating."
Now the Huskies must proceed without one of their most reliable reserve perimeter players beginning with tonight's rematch with Marquette at Gampel Pavilion (7 p.m., SNY).
"I don't bring religion into anything that I do publicly but that saying that God works in strange ways is strange," Auriemma said. "You go from where she was last year to where she is this year, how much she improved and how much she has worked to get her game to where it is and her mind to where it is and obviously you are disappointed for anybody who has to go through that but it is a little more disappointing because you know how far she has come and that is one of the cruelties of this game, of any game to be honest with you that it can be taken from you that suddenly."
Banks struggled with her confidence as a freshman and it showed when she saw little or no playing time in the most competitive games during UConn's run to the Final Four. When she headed home for a brief period after the season she used that time to do some soul searching. When she returned, Banks looked like a different player and acted like a different person.
Banks is one of four Huskies to play in each of the first 21 games. She is averaging 17.1 minutes per game and is averaging 7.3 points with 35 assists and 25 steals for the 20-1 Huskies.
"Starting from the summer you could tell she gotten a lot more confidence for her and it seemed like this way going to be a good year for her," classmate Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis said. "It continued on after we started practices with Coach (Auriemma) and games, she just improved so much from last year mentally and physically she has gotten stronger as well. It just (stinks) that after she has been contributing so much to our team and now this is where it is going to end for her right now but she is having a great attitude about the whole thing and she is supporting our team."
UConn had the ability to call on either Banks or freshman Moriah Jefferson to come into the game and pick up the defensive pressure. Now the question is whether the Huskies can extend their full-court pressure for as long as they could with a healthy squad.
"No question it changes our team a little bit," Auriemma said. "I remember when Mel Thomas and Kalana Greene, they both went down during the course of the(2007-08) season and we were even more of a fullcourt team then we were now, defensively anyways. It changed our team and we had to stop doing it. I don't know if we'll stop completely but I think it changes the extent of what we'll do."
Jefferson is one of the fastest players to ever don a Connecticut jersey so she certainly has to talent to impact a game defensively although she is not as aggressive a player on the offensive end that Banks was.
"Of course it brings pressure now because you have to perform well," Jefferson said. "You have to take it as a challenge and any time there is a challenge you have to attack it as hard as you can. I not too much worried about it; I am going to do the best I can."


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Cockroach Control ,a part of Pest Control Herefordshire can offer you a complete Cockroach Removal Service in Hereford and surrounding areas. We deal in all aspects of Cockroach Eradication and Prevention for both domestic and commercial properties.
Our customer service is paramount, Pest Control Herefordshire have built our business not through spending thousands on advertising but from customer referrals and repeat customer business, you will find that all our Pest Controllers will talk you through each step of the way and offer advice on how to deter Cockroaches from your home in the future.
You will also find our prices very reasonable as Pest Control Herefordshire are not a large national company and our advertising costs are kept to a minimum, as well as this we can also offer a Same Day Service to any Cockroach problems you may have.
We are all fully qualified here at Pest Control Hereford and we use the latest chemicals, so if you find that you have any unwelcomed pests, or even if it's just advice you require, just pick up the phone and give Pest Control Herefordshire a call our helpful team a call today.
Call us Cockroach Control Team at Pest Control Herefordshire Free Today On: 0800 0258 677
About Cockroaches
Cockroaches are able to hold their breath for up to 40 minutes, why they do this is unknown, although it is thought that it may be to save water. They are also one of our planets great survivors and cockroaches have been around since the dinosaurs and they will most probably out live all us too.
Cockroaches are amphibious and when threatened they will run into water. There is also more to cockroaches than we may think they are one of the most adaptable creatures that exist worldwide apart from the Polar Regions and in elevations above 2,000 meters. They can also survive under water for several hours.
There are around 4,300 species of cockroaches throughout the world and less than 30 of these are considered as pests. The world's smallest cockroach is approx 3mm long and the heaviest is an Australian Rhinoceros which is approx 80mm in length and the cockroach that has the largest wingspan is the Megaloblatta Blaberoides.
However we in the UK are quite lucky as there are only 3 species of which has probably been brought in from abroad, these are the Tawny, Lesser and the Dusky Cockroach.
If you do have a problem with cockroaches Pest Control Hereford 24 will be on hand to help you, with our team of dedicated technicians we offer you a fast and efficient service, covering both commercial and domestic properties.


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I just installed a pretest version of TeXLive 2010 and tried compiling some files as a test. None of my XeLaTeX files compile because apparently the command
\newfontinstance (which was defined in
fontspec, if I remember correctly) no longer exists.
Reading the documentation (
texdoc fonstspec) I see that this is indeed the case and that there are now other commands such as
\newfontfamily, ...
What is the minimal change I have to do to my XeLaTeX documents to get them to compile? Is is simply a question of changing
\newfontinstance to
It seems that making the above change works (insofar as the document compiles and looks alright), but I'd like confirmation that I'm doing the right thing. Thanks!


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Colombia's class of the 1990s will forever live in the hearts of its nation. Los Cafeteros reached the Round of 16 at Italy 1990, thrashed Argentina 5-0 in Buenos Aires to reach USA 1994 unbeaten, and made it three successive FIFA World Cup™ appearances at France 1998, all the while playing a breathtaking brand of football that filled its people with pride.
With Colombia on the cusp of guaranteeing a place at Brazil 2014, television network Caracol TV is capitalising upon football fever with its new TV series – one based on the enrapturing story of Faustino Asprilla, Rene Higuita, Freddy Rincon and especially Carlos Valderrama. Unsurprisingly, La Seleccion - seen in the above photo - has stormed to the top of the ratings chart.
"I initially turned the part down because I thought I looked nothing like him," explained actor Edgar Vittorino, who plays the wild-haired Valderrama. "But when I saw photos of him when he was younger, I realised we actually did look alike, that with the same hairstyle I could pull it off.
Vittorino didn't take the role lightly: "I travelled to Barranquilla to meet El Pibe, to Santa Marta to meet his family and learn everything I could about him, and to Pescaito, where he grew up, to help understand him and how hard he had to fight to make it. I also watched all the footage I could of El Pibe, read as much as I could about him, and practised [football] for three hours every day."
The results have been mutually delighting. "El Pibe is really happy with my portrayal of him," said Vittorino, a smirk of satisfaction on his face. "He thinks I'm doing a good job imitating how he talks and acts.
"And the viewers are loving the series. People on the steet hug me and tell me I've done a good job. They tell me they feel like they're actually watching El Pibe!"


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A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
Grotius attempted to codify the historical, moral, and legal grounds for justly waging war against an enemy. Here are his thoughts on acts committed in an unjust war:
III. We then first declare, if the Cause of the War be unjust, tho' it be undertaken in a solemn Manner, yet all the Acts of Hostility done in it are unjust in themselves. So that they who knowingly do these Acts, or join in the acting of them, Are to be accounted in the Number of those, who without Repentance cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, 1 Cor. vi. 10. But true Repentance, if Opportunity and Ability will allow, absolutely requires that he who has done any Damage, either by killing, ravaging or plundering, should make full Restitution.
About this Quotation:
We continue to explore Liberty Fund's new edition of this great work. In this passage Grotius argues that if the cause of a war be unjust, then any acts of hostility done in that war are also unjust; and the party which does any damage in that war must pay full restitution. These thoughts remind one of what Bates says to King Henry on the eve of battle in Shakespeare's play Henry V.


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World Horrorcon is over…sadness
World Horrorcon 2012 is now over, and I am sad. I had an awesome time. Sure my voice is broken, my head is pounding, and I feel like a truck ran over and then had it's way with me, but I wish it had never ended.
I got to meet so many cool people. You would not believe the amount of aspiring writers who came to this convention. My wife is now obligated to write reviews of several writer's novels for the site or those same writers have sworn a blood oath to track us both down and bath in our steamy blood… or they might just be upset… one of those two options.
Regardless we'll be having some book reviews on the site soon as I'm not sure which option they'll choose. That makes me afraid.
My prize that I'm taking away from Horrorcon is this awesome sketch and autograph done for me by Mike Mignola, the creator of Hellboy. He sat across the hall from my wife and I and I got to listen to a tonne of amazing stories about behind the scenes stuff in Hollywood and Comics. Mike Mignola was really cool, I was almost too intimidated to come up to him and ask him for an autograph, but I'm glad I did.
I even managed not to embarrass myself or say anything dramatically weird or insane for our entire conversation. That's a new personal best for me.
This Hellboy sketch and autograph by Mike Mignola is going in a frame and going in my office for sure. Officially one of my most prized possessions.


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I made some special treats for the boys and yes the boy dog Jake . Everyone loved these!
This strips were so yummy and Cole went back for thirds !! I tweaked this recipe a bit and made it my own (make sure to click the recipe tab below). Recipe was found here.


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Approximate Measurements
40.7cm x 53.5cm ≈ 16" x 21"
A noble lady sits eating a traditional meal in Japan.
This is done on canvas with oil paints. The canvas is mounted to 1½" (39mm) thick museum style stretcher bars. This means the artwork is ready-to-hang. However, you could also frame it if you wish.
Tomo Uesugi, a contemporary artist from Japan.
Uesugi Tomotsugu (or Tomo as his friends call him) was born in Kyoto, Japan in 1979. After growing up in Osaka, he left in search of adventure and something different in other parts of the world. His interest in other cultures led him to places like Italy and Ireland before deciding to spend some time in America.
While he sees these adventures in other countries as an exciting and unforgettable chapter in his life, he didn't realize that it would also present great opportunities for his art. During the past few years, Tomo has created a buzz about his unique artwork at several exhibitions in Southern California. In fact, I personally invited Tomo to feature his newest pieces at our Asian art exhibition in December 2006.
Tomo's artwork comes from his experiences. Some of his paintings have a very Japanese theme, from his memories of growing up in Osaka. Others are reflections of people that he's met along the way in his travels around the world. He never uses models, pictures in magazines, or other media for inspiration. It all comes from his memory, which makes the artwork more personal and emotional.
Since we, as westerners may not notice their own environment, it may surprise you to hear that Tomo thinks of California as an exotic land full of diverse people from many different cultures. He doesn't think of Japan as being that exotic, because "all the faces are similar, and the culture is so unified". He feels that in California, the faces are all different, as if the people are like colors of paint and the city is the canvas. This has allowed Tomo to live his philosophy that all races can co-existence. This is the philosophy he often expresses in his art.
The more faces Tomo sees, the more he realizes how similar we all are. He's met a friend from Iran that reminds him of a friend in Japan. And when in Japan, the people he meets often remind him of his friends in America. Through his art, he hopes that in some small way, he can show others how close or similar all of mankind is, and spawn a desire to create a less violent society where people of varying backgrounds can develop positive relationships.


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The Dublin Review of Books is pleased to present a handsome book of over 500 pages celebrating some of the finest writing from its first ten years.
Jane Austen inherited a tradition in which the novel was expected to teach good behaviour. But that was not what interested her. Her fictions are less moral examples than celebrations of wit and intelligence.


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A groundbreaking experiment to learn more about blue king crab larvae has produced surprising results for research fishery biologist Brad Stevens and his team.
KODIAK, Alaska A groundbreaking experiment to learn more about blue king crab larvae has produced surprising results for research fishery biologist Brad Stevens and his team.
The experiment examined conditions for cultivation of larval crabs.
"We've probably learned more about blue king crabs in the last year than anything that has been published about these animals," Stevens said.
He said a few publications describe the crabs taken from the ocean, but no one has worked with them in a laboratory before, cultivated the larvae, or looked at hatching and embryonic development. "It is new ground we're breaking," Stevens said.
He was approached by a representative of the Pribilof Islands group, Central Bering Sea Fishermen's Association, which asked whether there was something he could do to help the group's members understand the blue king crab population fluctuations and decline.
The blue king crab fishery in the Pribilofs was closed in 1999 because of a low population and has remained closed.
Stevens received about $85,000 of grant funding from the North Pacific Research Board in 2003 for the experiment, which took place last year.
"My interest is looking at habitats. We could either go out there and do it, which is a very expensive operation requiring a lot of ship time and technology. We looked at that closely and decided it wasn't feasible," he said. "The other approach was to look at the larvae in a laboratory. That was the approach I decided to start with."
The first step was to produce enough small crabs for the experiment. Part of the funding was used to develop a cultivation procedure.
"We had been doing this with red king crab for four years with variable success. Sometimes we'd get 10 percent survival of the larvae, sometimes we'd get up to 50 percent but never exceeded that," Stevens said.
"We were looking for really good improvement," he said. "To do the kind of research we want to do on settlement behavior, we needed about 1,000 settling crabs. It takes space to cultivate those, so we need to do it efficiently."
The experiment targeted three things: diet, temperature and density of cultivation, or the number of larvae per liter.
The larvae were primarily fed with brine shrimp, also known as artemia, or "sea monkeys."
Stevens and his team set up a "sea monkey" farm in the lab where the eggs hatched overnight.
They fed the crab larvae with four different combinations of brine shrimp, including some fattened with different types of diatoms, or microscopic algae.
The diet with the highest survival rate -- 92 percent -- was the one in which diatoms were added to the water with the brine shrimp to feed the crab larvae.
Nutrition from brine shrimp alone gave them about 50 percent survival rate, compared with about a 1 percent rate in the wild.
"That was much higher than we expected to get," Stevens said. "We were very happy with that result."
The experiment also found that the crabs' best survival occurred in water at nearly 43 degrees Fahrenheit.
Another part of the experiment was to find out when crabs hatch.
"That question can be fine-tuned," Stevens said. "For instance, we can ask what month they hatch. Within that period of time, how long does it take an individual crab to hatch and what occurs on a daily basis?
"We have done this with red king crab and with Tanner crab, and were checking off species as we get a chance to do this because timing tells you about the reproductive strategy of these animals."
King crabs have the longest hatching period of any crab species in the world, taking 30 days to release all their larvae.
"They do it in little spurts every day," Stevens said. "We put these crabs in individual tubs, let them hatch and collect the larvae every day. We can determine the hatch time.
"Every evening, as soon as we go home and turn off the lights, in the next hour, they start releasing larvae and they do it for about two hours. Every day they do that for a month."
He said that was unexpected. Now Stevens is preparing another grant proposal to the North Pacific Research Board to request two years of funding to look at some yet unanswered questions.
One question is about the crabs' settlement behavior, and other questions are about the hatching process, such as why it takes 30 days to release their eggs.
"We want to look at the effects of temperature on development," he said.
"For instance, if you put this animal in cold water, does it just slow down the whole process of development or does it slow down at a specific stage?" he said. "Do they develop all the way up to the point where they are going to hatch and then they just stop until they get some hatching cue, or does it slow down the whole process?"
His goal is to find out why things happen the way they do, but the information does not necessarily translate into ways to increase crab populations.
"At this point, I don't foresee being able to control any of that," he said. "We are not going to be able to go out and change the conditions under which these animals are living out in the ocean." The research aims to explain the reasons for crab population fluctuations.
Stevens began with the hypothesis that the decrease of the blue king crab population occurred somewhere between hatching and settling.
"Either the larvae are not surviving to the point where they become first-year crabs or they're not ending up in the right place where they can settle," he said.
He noted that one possibility is that currents carry them away from preferred habitats.
Data gained through the experiment are directly applicable to aquaculture.
"People can see that it's going downhill, and they want to do something about it," Stevens said. "They are interested in the idea of aquaculture.
"I do not think it's feasible or economical to farm king crabs because it takes them 10 years to get to legal size for the fishery. They take up a lot of space, they are highly cannibalistic and they are a top-level predator so they need to be fed a lot."
Source: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News


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John Avlon and Ben Smith mark the passing of a New York City legend. Smith:
Koch, New York City's dominant political figure of the 1980s and the architect of what remains its governing political coalition, stayed politically relevant through his long political twilight, courted aggressively by figures including Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama for his role as a proxy for pro-Israel Democrats willing, but not eager, to cross party lines.
Koch's later years of quips, movie reviews, and presidential politics remain secondary to his central legacy, which is in New York's City Hall. Tall and gangly with a domed, bald head and a knowing smile, Koch was New York's mayor and its mascot from 1978 to 1989. Through three terms, he repeated one question like a mantra: "How 'm I doing?" At first, the answer was clear to observers who had watched the city slide toward bankruptcy: exceptionally well. Koch managed New York back from the brink, drove hard bargains with municipal unions, cut jobs where he had to and reduced taxes where he could. He presided over a boom in Manhattan, and spent his new revenues on renewing the south Bronx.
In Koch's semi-retirement, from the comfort of a Greenwich Village apartment, he remained a political player and sometime kingmaker, always quick with a memorable quote for reporters on deadline. In Ric Burns's epic New York City documentary, Koch played the role of joyful-eyed elder statesman, which somehow did not conflict with his syndicated turn judging The People's Court, a cameo in The Muppets Take Manhattan, or his occasional mystery novels and reviews and regular film reviews. He was a man in full who was alternately flattered and hostile to enduring questions about his sexuality, even into old age: "I find it fascinating that people are interested in my sex life at age 73. It's rather complimentary! But as I say in my book, my answer to questions on this subject is simply 'Fuck off.' There have to be some private matters left."
For all his flinty wit and occasional impulse to antagonize, Ed Koch was, in the end, almost impossible to dislike. In this, he reflected his city.


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"Good Poop" Chunky Magnet
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Do you love Others T-shirts? Then this cool Others T-shirts is for you! The tee will stand out! Perfect for Others T-shirts occasions. You'll be sure to find a shirt of every taste, preference, or need with distinctive styles of Team Cano Lifetime Member Tee Shirts. Go on and show your true colors! A lot more items in our Others T-shirts collection Here >>.


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With names like Mr. MFN eXquire, Speakz, and Goldie Glo, you'd think we were promoting the Player Hater's Ball, but that's not the case. Instead, we have three young MCs with some of the grimiest bars in the game, which they display on their collaborative effort, "Igloo." The trippy beat was produced by Pyramid Murdock.
The gold front toting Mr. MFN eXquire recently inked a deal with Universal Republic Records. Now the question is how his name will fair in the commercial market. If all else fails, the Brooklyn MC could take our advice. Either way, check out the track after the jump.
• Behind The Scenes Of Trina's "I'm Back" Video Shoot [PHOTOS]
• Willow Smith Gets A "Fake" Tongue Ring [PHOTOS]
• A$AP Rocky Rocks Weird Clothes For WAD Magazine [PHOTOS]
• Nike Air Foamposite Pro "Gym Green" [PHOTOS]
• 7 Reasons Why Dr. Dre's Detox Will Never Drop
• The Hater's Guide To Handling A Potential Miami Heat Championship [PHOTOS]
• Wired 25: The 25 Best Wives and Girlfriends In Hip-Hop
• 10 Rappers That Will Prosper With A Proper Name Change
Photo: Mel D. Cole


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David C. Driskell, Dancing Angel, serigraph, 2002, © David Driskell, 2014, David C. Driskell Center Collection, Gift of Sandra and Lloyd Baccus Collection
PRINCESS ANNE, MD -(Jan. 21, 2014)-African-American art from the David C. Driskell Center will be among the featured events at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore during Black History Month next month.
The exhibit opens with a reception Feb. 6, from 4-6 p.m. in the Mosely Gallery located in the Thomas Briggs Arts & Technology building on UMES' campus.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to view and gain an appreciation of so many important works of African-American art history," said Susan Holt, UMES' Mosely Gallery director.
Some 30 pieces of African-American art on loan from the center will be on display, Holt said. The works span eight decades with varying themes, styles and types of media "to embody a cross section of this visually and thematically rich history." Twenty artists are represented including nine pieces by Driskell, professor emeritus at the University of Maryland College Park.
The Driskell Center, housed at the College Park campus since 2001, was created to honor its namesake, an artist, collector and art historian. He is a leading authority on African-American art and the black artist in America, Holt said. Driskell's artworks are part of collections in the National Gallery of Art and the Yale University Gallery. Former president Bill Clinton awarded Driskell the National Humanities Medal in a 2000 White House ceremony for his exhibit "Two Centuries of Black American Art: 1750-1950," which laid the foundation for the field of study, Holt said. He is also designated as a National Academician by the National Academy.
Driskell is scheduled to visit the UMES campus Feb. 25 for a 3 p.m. gallery talk about his collection and life work. All events in conjunction with the exhibit are free and open to the public. Call 410-651-7770 for more information or visit www.moselygallery.com.
For information on other Black History Month events including an Interfaith Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 21, and a lecture by Morgan State's Dr. Dale Green on "The Hill," a significant African-American archeological site in Easton, Md., visit www.umes.edu.
Gail Stephens, assistant director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-651-7580.


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A new think tank of registered investment advisors with inside knowledge of the RIA industry on Tuesday released Tuesday a white paper that flags the four major challenges ahead for independent advisors and lays out what they can do to position themselves for the future.
The white paper is written and published by the Alliance for RIAs (aRIA), a study group that combines the knowledge of six successful RIA firms that collectively manage more than $20 billion of client assets. It can be downloaded free at www.allianceforrias.com and is the first in a series of four, titled Creating Value and Certainty Within Your Independent Advisory Firm. The second paper will be published in mid-November, and papers three and four will be published in the first quarter of 2013.
Group members of aRIA include Brent Brodeski, CEO of Savant Capital; John Burns, principal at Exencial Wealth Management; Ron Carson, CEO of Carson Wealth Management Group; Jeff Concepcion, CEO of Stratos Wealth Partners; Matt Cooper, president of Beacon Pointe Wealth Advisors; and Neal Simon, CEO of Highline Wealth Management. Both Beacon and Highline were selected for AdvisorOne's 2012 Top Wealth Managers list.
In addition, John Furey (right), principal at Advisor Growth Strategies LLC (AGS), serves as aRIA's managing member and was involved in the think tank's formation. A former director of strategic business development at Schwab Institutional, Furey has been involved for years in the transition process for brokers who wish to become independent RIAs. AGS bills itself as providing "customized business management solutions for independent firms seeking to aggressively grow their business and for financial advisors in transition."
In a phone interview with AdvisorOne on Tuesday, Cooper and Furey said that the first white paper, The Evolution of Value Creation, presents aRIA's point of view on how the industry is changing and what successful firms are doing to position their businesses for the future. It includes an analysis of the challenges independent advisors face when breaking away from a wirehouse, growing an RIA practice and creating value in a practice.
"It's not uncommon for independent advisors to grow their business to a certain point and then to plateau with a certain group of clients that provide them with cash flow for their lifestyle," Cooper said. "They settle in and do a fantastic job of serving those clients for five to 10 years. What they don't realize is that while they have the same cash flow coming in, and it may even have increased with market growth, their business is actually degraded in terms of value because the certainty of future cash flows is in serious question because their average client age is now 10 years older."
Read on to learn more about business value and what aRIA's white paper identifies as the four most critical areas of concern for independent advisors.
The Alliance for RIAs, or aRIA, has flagged these four major challenges that independent advisors may face in the future:
1) Increasing competition from a new breed of market participants.
"The RIA channel has experienced significant growth over the past decades," Furey said in the phone interview. "Within the channel, there is a new breed of market participants, whether regional or national firms or very large RIAs or consolidators or online firms that are building very scalable entities. As those firms continue to grow, the 22,000 to 24,000 advisors that exist will face increasing competition from these firms."
2) The age of clients is a critical factor in practice value and transferability of business.
"Clients and advisors are getting older, and one of the systemic issues in the industry is the lack of both continuity planning and succession planning," Furey added. "Advisors age 55 years and older could face unforeseen consequences when looking to sell or transfer their business if there is an inverse correlation between age and practice value. If you and your clients are older, you may not be able to maximize the value of your firm." 3) Independent advisors have more choice than ever in delivering value to clients.
"Advisors have never had more choice with regard to growing and building their businesses, but all of that choice can be confusing if you don't understand what you are looking at," said Exencial's John Burns in a statement. "All of us [in aRIA] have gone through the process of surveying the options, dealing with the players and learning from those experiences."
4) Understanding the true worth of an advisory business.
"The true worth of an advisor's business is one of the big questions in the marketplace," Cooper said. "What do you really own? Do you own an enterprise with true transferrable value that can be sold? Or do you own what is essentially an annuity? One of the big issues that we discuss in this white paper is that the vast majority of advisors out there don't have any true enterprise value in their business because they are the business. Yet business value is based on the certainty of future cash flows. When the advisor leaves or becomes ill and dies, the likelihood of the clients staying with the firm is not great because the client was attached to that individual person. But if the business is institutionalized, where the clients have multiple touch points and recognize the brand as their advisor and not the individual, there's much value there for a buyer."
ARIA's first of four white papers can be downloaded free at www.allianceforrias.com. Future papers in the series will cover:
- Taking control of your future: scale, value and uncertainty
- Myth vs. reality: What is your independent advisory firm really worth?
- Navigating your path forward and achieving your ideal model


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There is no shortage of things in this crazy world that perplexes investors, and the list seems to grow daily for some. One of the simplest, yet most potentially hazardous, puzzlements out there is how interest rates in the US can remain so low (near historic lows in fact) despite a mountain of federal debt that keeps on growing.
In 1981, when the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond yield peaked around 16 per cent, the total federal debt outstanding stood at $800 billion. Last year, federal debt broke above $10 trillion and before the end of this year it will have reached $11 trillion. This seemingly mind-blowing number begs the question -- who is funding this debt and why?
The first answer is indeed simple, as the "who" behind the debt buildup is that group of nations and individuals who have surplus savings. The "why" behind this development is a little more complicated. Suffice it to say that investors are motivated by a lot of things, not just return. There's liquidity, and safety of capital to contend with as well.
Given that the U.S. dollar remains the world's reserve currency, and home to the largest and most liquid bond market, sovereign nations have long concentrated their reserves in Washington-written IOUs.
When deficits rose, and the hand went out to global savers to provide the funds needed, the call was answered, even as interest rates fell. And, as this trend of US deficit-financing intensified, the world's savers became symbiotically linked to this conundrum -- both the source of, and potential victim of the problem. As long as investors continued to buy U.S. bonds, yields would remain low, and prices of those bonds would be stable. Failure to do so would cause yields to rise, bond prices to fall, and produce capital losses for said investors. Agoraphobia is the fear of leaving a safe place; however, it is also the term applied to those afraid of being in a crowded place. The U.S. bond market has both characteristics, hence the dilemma.
For those of us with a vested interest in developments in the U.S. bond market, the vital question is what happens when someone decides to leave this safe, and crammed place first? To leave, an investor must first have an alternative place to go. That could be the equity market, and I have discussed this at length in recent weeks how an exodus from bond funds to equities could create a snap in bond yields in the US; although this would be more of a retail development, and not something the key global providers of capital would engage in. No, a viable alternative place to park reserves, or sovereign investment funds, has to be another country's bond market, and this has been the main problem -- until recently.
This week China, Japan, and South Korea signed an agreement aimed at increasing their respective investments in the countries' bonds. Though the initial purchases will be small, the plan is to raise the level of co-operative bond investments so that the currencies of the region are bolstered, with volatility in capital flows reduced. This decision also augments the soon-to- be signed Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) agreement in the region, but the increased investment in Asian bonds by Asian countries suggests that investments in non-Asian country bond markets might have to decline.
This doesn't mean the U.S. bond market is about to get clobbered.
For one, the flows into the aforementioned countries will be less than the envisioned size of the CMIM (about $240 billion), and this is less than a fifth of the size of the US budget deficit. To generate the types of outflows from the U.S. market that will keep us awake at night, something else has to happen in Asia, and that is a natural increased demand for funding. In other words, China would need to face a situation where it was forced to tap into its own reserves to finance domestic social initiatives (old age, health care, unemployment) before it would make a drastic shift away from the U.S. debt market.
The good news is that this isn't about to happen in the near future. The bad news is that it is virtually inevitable down the road. The real bad news is that around the same time that China begins to either dramatically cut back its purchases of U.S. bonds, or starts to divest itself of these bonds, other nations around the world will be arriving at the trough for financing, including Europe and Canada, to say nothing of other Asian nations.
In other words, the seeds are already planted for bond yields to climb over the long-term as we lose the traditional investors in the U.S. debt market. One way out of this dilemma is to get deficits under control and put debt (and debt/GDP ratios) on a more sustainable trajectory. If preventing a return to double-digit bond yields (and mortgage rates) in North America isn't a big enough motivation to do this, I don't know what is.


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|Monroe, CT
|High School:
|Club Team:
|Shelton Monroe AC
2011-12: Participated in six events at the Northeast Conference Championships: Helped the 800 yard freestyle relay team take second place (7:25.80), the 400 yard medley relay team earn second (3:52.19) and the 200 yard medley relay team earn third place (1:45.89)...Placed third in the 200 yard IM and in the 400 yard IM with times of 2:05.77 and 4:26.74, respectively...Finished fourth in the 200 yard butterfly with a time of 2:07.17...Placed first in the 400 yard medley relay (24:59), the 200 yard butterfly (2:10.86) and in the 100 yard butterfly (1:00.42) against Wagner...Helped take the 400 medley relay against FIU with a time of 3:59.94...Won both the 100 (59:56) and 200 yard butterfly (2:08.99) against Vermont.
2010-11: Earned fourth place in the 200 IM at the NEC Championships…Took eighth place in the 100 butterfly and seventh in the 200 butterfly.
2009-10: Placed third in the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly at the NEC Championships…Tied for second in the 200 butterfly…Contributed to second place finishes in the 400 and 200 medley relay.
Before Central: Lang joins a long line of former State Champions on the Blue Devil squad. She will impact all meets, both dual and championship, in a variety of events. Lang has the ability to score in any event at the NEC Championship and will add tremendous flexibility to the conference line-up.


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Jimbaran Beach
I have been living in Bali for almost three months. I choose to live in Jimbaran due to some reasons. First of all, it is closed to the beach. After living in Ubud for two weeks, I finally realized and was sure that I prefer beach to mountain. So, I moved to Jimbaran. Second, Jimbaran is not touristic areas such as Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu (recently). Therefore, the accommodation is still better and cheaper compared to those three areas I mentioned before. Third, even tough it's not touristic place, but many expatriates also choose to have the peaceful life here. It made the area is also developed as Kuta, but less crowded. Its location is also still in reasonable distance if I want to go to Kuta to enjoy more modern life. Fourth, it is closed to the airport. Bali is often used as transit place if people want to travel to eastern part of Indonesia, Timor Leste or Australia. That makes me easier to meet any friend who had long transit time at Ngurah Rai International Airport. Fifth, transportation is easy to get with the help of online taxi application. Sixth, I could find the 24 hours super markets which is situated only 100 meters from my apartment, bank is in front of my place, many restaurants and coffee shops around, and big shopping mall is only 20 minutes driving if I want to look for something special. To sum up, I have everything I need in Jimbaran.
Back to the beach, Jimbaran Beach is the closest one in my neighborhood. I actually found this beach after staying couple of days in my apartment, when my Russian neighbor, Lyudmila asked me to visit the beach in one morning. Mila (that's how I call her) was my swimming buddy since I always found her in swimming pool where I always spent my afternoon. We agreed to go together in the next morning.
The next day, we walked into the beach. Well, I actually knew about this beach. But when I looked into the map, it looks like a bit far and I told myself that I should take motor taxi to reach there. But, hey.. Mila knew the shortcut. We passed the backyard of our neighbors, passed the small street, and here we are.. At the beach in 15 minutes later. Not just that, Mila also knew some places with big trees, so we did not need to rent the umbrella while sitting there. That was perfect.
Jimbaran beach actually is more famous for its seafood restaurants. In the morning, the cafes and restaurants offered the umbrellas and chairs for visitors who want to enjoy the sunshine for the whole day. In the afternoon, they converted the area to be open space restaurants, providing variety of seafoods, such as grill fishes, prawn, calamari, etc. The wave could be strong and big, but still safe to swim. The sand is thick enough so that was easy to walk along the beach without wearing flippers or shoes. The beach is also closed to the airport. In many occasions, I may witness the planes took off and landed to the airport.
In other occasion after Mila left Bali to Srilanka, I often came to the beach in the afternoon where I also could witness the sun went down into the horizon. I love to walk along the beach, started from the open space seafood restaurant. I walked further, passed some five stars hotels where the beaches are cleaner. Anyway, people who are not guests of hotels are still allowed to swim or walk in the beach, as long as they don't enter the private areas, where gazebos are available for the guests. Walking further, I arrived at the fish market, with many colorful wooden boats were anchored at the edge of the shore. The beach here is more alive with many attractions to offer for the visitors. Some guys tried to offer me to ride on their horses when I walked there. Here, I also could find many open space restaurants. Nevertheless, the beach itself is a bit dirty with many plastic waste lying on the sand. It looks a bit disgusting.
Plastic waste has been an important issue in the last couple of years. And Indonesia had been watched by environment activist all around the globe after the dead whale was found couple of months ago in one of Indonesian seas. That was really sad to see that the dead whale had swallowed five kilograms plastic waste. It could be one of the cause of its death. The Government of Indonesia now is trying to do their best to protect our ocean. One of actions had been taken was the ban of plastic use. In Bali Province, the Governor already issued the policy to ban plastic use at all big super markets. Now, I have to carry my own bag anytime I want to do some shopping. Later, this policy will be applied to all supermarkets, including the small one. Not only that, I also found many restaurants had banned the straw use and plastic cup. We still have a lot of homework to safe the planet, but I think what local government in Bali does is a really good start.
This week, Tina challenged us to show the neighborhood where we are living. I hope you all enjoyed my Jimbaran neighborhood.


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S.F. City College can't afford all its campuses
Trustees may have to close sites to save money, academic standing
City College of San Francisco may be forced to close or combine some campuses - it has 12 of them - to help stave off a financial crisis and retain full accreditation, The Chronicle has learned.
More immediately, college trustees voted 4-1 Thursday evening to seek an independent, top-to-bottom financial evaluation even as they prepare to restore nearly 100 summer school classes that were cut to save money. That move shut out thousands of students and put about $1 million in future state funds at risk. It all comes as the college faces a $14 million budget shortfall that interim Chancellor Pamila Fisher said could lead to layoffs.
"Everything is on the table," said Fisher, who took over May 1 when Chancellor Don Griffin retired early for medical reasons. As for campus closures, "it's a very legitimate question for us to be considering."
City College is one of the nation's largest community colleges, with 90,000 full- and part-time students and a $200 million operating budget. An accreditation report due late this month is expected to identify several worrisome conditions - including dangerously low financial reserves and, apparently, more campuses than the college can afford.
"I think we're going to have to close some," said John Rizzo, president of the Board of Trustees. "They (the accreditation team) think we have too many campuses."
That could jeopardize City College's "financial management and stability," one of the standards required for accreditation. Although voluntary, accreditation is necessary for licensing agencies and employers to consider students' credentials legitimate, and it allows schools to offer financial aid. Federal law gives colleges two years to repair problems or lose accreditation.
City College not only maintains a dozen campuses across the city and at San Francisco International Airport, it also has classrooms tucked into at least 20 other locations, including the Stonestown YMCA, the Plumbing Apprentice Union, the Laurel Hill Nursery School, and the Jewish Home for the Aged.
Not even college officials can say offhand how many there are.
Shifting programs
But any closures would likely come from among the more expensive primary campuses, Rizzo said.
"It sort of makes sense," he said. "Our new Chinatown campus is just eight-tenths of a mile away from the downtown campus" at Fourth and Mission streets.
The downtown campus offers adult education classes and a culinary program, including the Educated Palate, a student-run restaurant.
Early discussions suggest that those programs could be shifted to the Chinatown campus at 808 Kearny St., Rizzo said. Others being eyed for closure are the Civic Center campus at 750 Eddy St., the Castro campus at 450 Church St., and the airport campus, Rizzo said, emphasizing that the firefighter training program housed at the airport is not in jeopardy.
A full financial analysis is needed before any decision is made to close a campus, Fisher said.
"When you close one of them, you lose a certain amount of support from the state - even if you move it," she said. "You will see us looking at all of that as the summer proceeds."
Convenient campus
Students visiting the downtown campus before summer session begins July 2 said they oppose closing it. "That's ridiculous!" said a woman who declined to give her name but said she is in her 50s and takes computer classes there. "I would not go up to Chinatown. That's bad."
Alicia Salazar, 34, who studies Photoshop, agreed. "I would be against that," she said, because Chinatown is hard to get to from her apartment near the Civic Center. A check of transportation options showed the fastest way there involves one train, one bus, and an 11-minute walk.
Barbara Beno, president of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, declined to discuss the pending report about City College but said that comprehensive reviews of member schools are conducted every six years. Members include the state's 112 community colleges and some private schools.
As of January, 28 colleges had failed to satisfy all of the accreditation criteria and are "on sanction," meaning they are on probation, got a warning or are at risk of losing accreditation altogether.
Inadequate reserves
In addition to having too many campuses, City College could be placed on that watch list because its financial reserves have dipped dangerously low, to $3 million, said Trustee Rizzo. The recommended cushion is $10 million.
Unrelated to accreditation is the plan to restore summer classes to bring back more students - and with them, future state funding.
Under Chancellor Griffin, college officials planned to reduce this summer's classes by 60 percent - more than 100 classes - as a straightforward way to save cash.
"But we shaved too many classes," Rizzo said. So many students were turned away that college officials feared they would lose about $1 million in state funds for dipping below a certain baseline. By restoring classes, City College hopes to bring back more than 3,000 students.
At the same time, the school's finances are so precarious that the trustees will ask the state's Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team for help on better ways to steer the ship. The trustees also voted unanimously to place a $79 per parcel tax on the November ballot that would raise nearly $16 million a year for eight years.
Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: email@example.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov


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Selman Akyol
Stifel Nicolaus
[email protected]
Atlas Pipeline Partners (APL) announced 2Q12 results, reporting distributable cash flow of $32.8 million versus $29.9 million the prior year and $35.2 million in 2Q11. Recurring adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (or EBITDA) totaled $49.0 million compared to $43.5 million the prior year and $51.1 million in 1Q12.
As previously announced, the partnership left its quarterly distribution per unit (DPU) at $0.56, unchanged from 1Q but up from $0.47 the prior year.
Processed volumes continue to increase; in 2Q, they increased 8% from 1Q to 682 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d). All plants are currently running at capacity, with the exception of its most recent edition at Velma. It is running at two-thirds capacity or 40 MMcf/d. Furthermore, volumes bypassing its Western Oklahoma plant total 115 MMcf/d.
Capital expenditure for the year continues to be robust at $320 million to $350 million and not only includes the recently added Velma plant, the 200 MMcf plant in Western Oklahoma (3Q), but down payments on the 200 MMcf/day plant in West Texas due to come online in 1Q13. The incremental capacity should lead to distributable cash flow growth.
As of June 30, APL had a total of $709 million of long-term debt compared to the prior quarter of $609 million of debt. Debt to total capital was approximately 36%. The partnership is projected to invest approximately $320 million to $350 million in FY12 as it completes its previously announced capital projects and has incurred $175 million year to date. The partnership invested $81 million in growth projects during 2Q.
APL should be able to continue to invest in its business without accessing the capital markets through 2012, as the partnership has total liquidity of $270 million, including cash on hand and capacity on its revolving credit facility.
Paul Forward, CFA
Stifel Nicolaus
[email protected]
Natural Resource Partners' (NRP) coal royalty revenues of $62.9 million were in line with our estimate of $63.1 million and above 1Q12 coal royalties of $60.0 million. Royalty revenues per ton averaged $5.25/ton in 2Q12 versus our estimate of $5.06/ton and 1Q12's average of $4.95/ton. NRP benefited from strong performance in Southern Appalachia, driven by Cliffs Natural Resources' Oak Grove longwall mine, which posted its strongest quarterly output since 2Q03.
Revenues other than coal royalties of $27.8 million were well ahead of our $22.8 million estimate. The main difference was $3.8 million in revenues from the sale of a right of way to the West Virginia Department of Highways for highway construction; cash from this sale will be received in 3Q12. Aggregates production in 2Q12 was 1.4 million tons vs. our estimate of 1.4 million tons, and aggregates royalty revenues of $1.7 million were approximately in line with our estimate of $1.8 million.
During 2Q12, NRP invested $26.7 million in acquisitions of oil and gas reserves located in Oklahoma and funded the final payment of $0.5 million associated with remaining obligations on a previously announced acquisition.
NRP ended 2Q12 with $122.0 million cash on its balance sheet and $227 million available on its credit facility ($73 million outstanding). NRP will fund the final payment on its acquisition of coal reserves at the Hillsboro mine in the Illinois Basin for $40 million during 3Q12. The Hillsboro longwall, operated by the Cline Group, is expected to begin operation in August and should help increase NRP's volumes in this region.
Amir Arif
Stifel Nicolaus
[email protected]
Following [Penn Virginia's Aug. 1 earnings] release, we have revised our 2012 CFPS/EPS (cash flow per share/earnings per share) estimates from $3.87/($1.00) to $3.89/($0.75).
Six new Eagle Ford wells were completed during 2Q and are producing, with an average peak gross daily production rate of 884 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), trailing the average initial production rate of 1,001 boe/d for PVA's initial 44 wells in the play. A third rig will be added to the play during 3Q. PVA has spud (started to drill) its initial test well in its Viola Lime prospect in Jefferson County, Okla., with results expected during 3Q. PVA holds 9,600 acres prospective to the play.
PVA reported 2Q12 CFPS/EPS of $0.98/($0.23), ahead of our estimates of $0.94/($0.33) and the Street at $0.90/($0.28), with the beat driven by higher liquids production, stronger oil prices, and a production taxes rebate. 2Q production averaged 19.6 million barrels oil equivalent/day (mboe/d), in line with our estimate of 19.6 mboe/d, but with a higher percent liquids cut (45% versus 43%). Operating costs (excluding production taxes) increased 4.5% quarter-over-quarter to $1.28/mcfe (thousand cubic feet equivalent), consistent with growing oil volumes.
Jason Gammel
[email protected]
Royal Dutch Shell's (RDS-A, RDS-B) 2Q11 clean net income of US$6.4 billion was 1% light on consensus and 6% below our estimate. Upstream earnings of US$5.4 billion were essentially in line with our forecast (and 2% ahead of consensus). While 2Q11 production of 3,046 thousand barrel oil per day equivalent (kboepd) was down 2% year-over-year, realizations (both liquids and gas) were better than expected and clean net income of US$1.6 billion in the Integrated Gas division was up 111% year over year. Upstream net income per barrel of US$19.6/barrel oil equivalent (boe) in 2Q11 was marginally ahead of our estimates, an increase of approximately 33% on 1Q11.
While this strong upstream result was aided by higher trading contributions, we take encouragement from signs that the major projects in Shell's upstream portfolio are progressing to plan. In particular, we note LNG sales volumes of 4.81 metric tons, reflecting the successful ramp-up of Qatargas 4 during the quarter.
Given our underlying macro assumptions and expectations for a tightening LNG market in Asia-Pacific, we believe similar margins are sustainable over the remainder of 2011 (and beyond). This strong upstream result is especially stark in contrast to BP's near-term operational issues in the Gulf of Mexico.
Clean net income in Oil Products of US$551 million was materially below consensus of US$900 million and our estimate of US$960 million. Shell highlighted especially weak refining margins in Europe and Asia combined with lower volumes due to planned and unplanned maintenance. Group refinery intake of 2.8 million barrels per day (mmb/d) in 2Q11 was down 14% year over year, while refined volumes in Europe were down 20% year over year to 1.1 mmb/d.
The weak result in oil products was partially offset by clean net income of US$530 million in chemicals, which was 24% higher than our estimate. Despite ongoing margin pressures in refining, management stressed that they now believe their U.S. chemicals business is well placed to continue delivering the strong results reported over the last three quarters.
Michael Gaugler
Brean Murray Carret & Co.
[email protected]
Looking forward, our view is that [Southwest Gas (SWX)] can rectify its issues at [subsidiary] NPL in a timely manner, and that it will benefit from new rates in Nevada and lower interest expenses from a recent refinancing, all of which should allow the company to make our 2013 earnings projection. We're maintaining our Buy rating and $49 target price, based on the shares attaining a P/E level of 17 times our 2013 EPS estimate of $2.87. Our risks to target include regulatory environment, weather impacts, inherent operational risks, and proposed climate change legislation.
SWX expects its General Rate Case filed in April of this year to be wrapped up in October, with new rates taking effect in November of this year.
SWX is requesting $25.4 million in Southern Nevada and $1.5 million in Northern Nevada, with an ROE of 10.65% and a common equity ratio of 53.6%. It also seeks to continue the revenue decoupling mechanism currently in place.
Taking all of the aforementioned into account, we expect the shares to be range-bound ($41-$45) at least until the 3Q12 results are released in mid-November, at which time management can provide a solid update on NPL with several months under new leadership. At that point an opportunity exists to lower the risk profile, and focus solidly on 2013 for valuation purposes, which we're doing now. We're maintaining our Buy rating and $49 target price, based on the shares attaining a P/E level of 17 times our 2013 EPS estimate of $2.87.


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Upon the death of Philip the II, the kingdoms surrounding Macedonia refused to accept the authority of his young successor. Alexander was treated as a child. How wrong they were, Alexander did not prove himself as a weak link in the dynasty. He seized power with fire and raw steel. Within just two years of his ascendancy Alexander conquered the lands of Greece and continued his conquest to the East. The unshakable Persian Empire, conceited Egypt and aggressive India all perished in fire as the great Alexander marched through. In the latest game from Game Factory Interactive and World Forge you play the role of Alexander the Great and take the might of Macedonia to a new level of greatness. The global map is the key element of strategy. The player chooses the territory that he/she wants to conquer, develops his/her own strategy, conducts battle and observes the result of the chosen actions. All maneuvers made by the player are reflected on the global map. Interactive global map for mission selection and strategy selection Trophy collections: the player has a chance to acquire weapons, vehicles and resources by taking them directly from the battle fields The player has control over soldier training and as well as the ability to rearm troops during battles Non-linear gameplay. The player has the ability to choose the sequence of the missions he/she is completing, which directly effects perks of the warriors, the availability of territories and lands
Pentium 2 GHz and higher 1 GB RAM Video card 256 MB supporting DirectX 9.0c 2 GB Free HD space Direct X 9.0c compatible sound card Keyboard, mouse
|Game Factory Interactive


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Get information from local Culinary schools in Wichita, KS
Culinary Schools in Wichita, KS
Find colleges and trade schools near Wichita, [st.] with culinary arts degree programs. Learn about accredited schools near you and get information about their culinary arts programs, Wichita college campus locations, financial aid assistance and more. You can specialize in pastry art or baking, nutrition, restaurant management and others.
Learn about: Culinary Art Careers
901 S Haverhill Rd
El Dorado, KS
2101 N Ash
Ponca City, OK


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24/7 Service Telephone: 0845 155 0245
Local Telephone: 0117 914 7333
We have crew all over the UK. Click here to get a bespoke quote.
We offer the most reliable equipment hire service in the UK
2000 Television is a professional camera crew hire company established in 1998; we provide everything you will need to create a professional video or recording. From a camera operator to a reporter, we can organise and provide a wide variety of services within our crews locally across the UK.
Whether you need a single Cameraman with kit to shoot a news item, or a full features lighting crew for a documentary, 2000 Television have the right people for you! With our portfolio of varied clients ranging from independent production companies to key broadcasters, we are proud to be able to provide extensive experience and a wide range of equipment that can be tailored to your requirements.
Our cameramen are available in any location, be that a cameraman anywhere in the UK. 2000 Television can provide you with a local crew members, ensuring we can keep your production costs down (local crew mean low or no mileage charges, overnights, travel days etc.) making us one of the most cost effective crew hire solutions in the industry. Whether you are planning a production in advance or require crew members at a short notice, 2000 Television have camera crew located around your area so we can react fast to urgent requests. A Cameraman operative can be at your set location in as little as an hour where possible.
Our professional cameramen have had experience with working for some of the top broadcasters in the UK and worldwide. Companies such as Sky Sports, BBC, ITV, Discovery Channel, CBS are included in our forever growing list of clients – all working on various genres of film, video & TV production.
Why not make an enquiry so we can provide you with a quotation for a cameraman or other crew members in the UK.
At 2000 Television we like happy customers. That's why we ensure that our service is second to none. This is why we continue to work with some of the top broadcasters in the industry.
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In the hit Netflix series "Stranger Things," North Texas' Chester Rushing plays Tommy H., a high school student who's nothing but a grade-A jerk.
"I just read a Buzzfeed article about 'Stranger Things' and it said Tommy H. and (the character's girlfriend) Carol are the worst bullies in TV history," the Roanoke native laughed. "It's good to make people feel something and remember."
In real life, he's the complete opposite: eager to strike up a conversation with fans of the show, whose reaction he calls "very humbling," and raise awareness for a cause near and dear to his heart.
The latest news from around North Texas.
"I really do think it's important, now that we have a platform, to get in front of a bunch of people and speak out about certain things," Rushing said. "Or stand up for people who may not have a shoulder to lean upon."
For him, those people are children with special needs and their families.
"I think a lot of people out there need to realize that just because you have a learning difference, that shouldn't make a difference," Rushing said. "We're all here on this earth together."
Rushing has a cousin who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. As a high school student, he volunteered as an aide in a middle school special education class. His fiancee, Ava, has a sister with autism and now runs an autism therapy center at a ranch. And his father, Chip, works for a nonprofit that helps families of special needs children in North Texas.
Their latest push is to give those families more options to have fun in their communities.
"It means a great deal to them to get out of the house with the children and be able to take them someplace," Chip Rushing said. "But there aren't a lot of places around here that will accommodate them."
The Rushings recently approached the management at the Cinemark theaters in Roanoke and asked if they would consider offering sensory theater screenings for special needs children and their families.
Because children with special needs can be more sensitive to light and sound, the screenings take place in theaters that aren't completely dark and that play films at a lower volume. Kids are also able to get up and move around the theater during the film.
"I said, 'If I can get enough people to come would, you do it?'" Chip Rushing recalled. "Two days later they came back and said, 'Yes, let's do it.'"
The theater hosted more than a dozen families Saturday for its first-ever sensory screening. Management has told the Rushings they'll do more of these events in the future.
Chester Rushing is encouraging other theaters in theDallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to do the same.
"Seeing their faces light up and that joy we can bring them through something like this. It's such a wonderful thing," said Chester Rushing. "Money can't buy the happiness."


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6+ software as a service agreement template
Software as a service agreement template
"A At some point you will have to decide on amusement. You will realize that a great deal of people and business are eager to help whenever they're capable. AgainIf you plan a business with who you are and what it is that you're performing, fully free solutions or a discount could be provided. Charge to the encounter that you provide your clients, not merely the foodyour diners will be seeking to indulge in both, and should you brand your business accurately, they're not very likely to flinch at a greater cost. Emailing a person to request a meeting caused invaluable work experience.
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To keeps things interesting, you're likely to wish to get an assortment of dishes that are distinct. Save just a little pasta water when you're draining the pasta. According to what beef you buy this dish can be extremely economically made. Start the pasta water when you begin to cook . Many cooks aren't ready to become chefs because of the fact that they don't understand how to set the standard.
Very great paper is expensive, but it will really make a huge difference. In business, one of the most well-known components of advice given to entrepreneurs is that they will need to earn their catalog of things based on what their clients wantnot what that they think their clients want. On the flip side, you may end up laughing uncontrollably. If you might create the dish function on your mind, then it's likely to make it work on the plate. In the end, if you're able to 't engage in a job, you won't ever fail. When a job is quite difficult, you will need all the time that you 're given to complete it. When you end up avoiding a specially sizeable job, slow right down and imagine what's likely to occur if you are still put off the job.
Reminding yourself of what's likely to occur if you keep on procrastinating is a good way to earn distractions less enchanting so that you're ready to focus on your job. You may add more later in the event that you want. Whatever the type of business you run, should you've got multiple offers, you've got an active advertisement calendar. A One of the approaching things that you must do is advertise. Hopefully, at this point you've got a clearer idea about what to do and see at Rome in two days. Precisely the same holds for proteins. In fact it's you've wanted he or she'd offer you for some time.


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Appealing the parking zones in Atlanta | News
ATLANTA -- There are four parking zones in Atlanta: Government, School, Mixed-Use, and Entertainment. Three of them are patrolled 12-15 hours a day, six days a week. The "mixed use" zone is the least restrictive. But it's also the least utilized.
Some residents say that needs to change.
Sometimes the traffic at the parking meter is worse than the traffic in the street at Little Five Points.
Because of the unyielding parking enforcement here, motorists often clog these streets looking for free spots in front of the nearby homes.
It has become a nightmare for everyone.
"Why would you have parking meters in Little Five Points?" asked Amichi Bertrand, as he clutched a PARKatlanta ticket that he found on his windshield. "That is a very nice artsy, residential, comfy neighborhood. That's not really parking meter poaching territory, but they're there every single day."
Indeed, many people in L5P have been saying that for years. But the city has not been sympathetic.
"This area is clearly a mixed-use area," said local dentist Richard Shapiro. "It functions as mixed-use; it's a small commercial node that's completely surrounded by residential streets. It has been since the 1920's when it was designed."
Shapiro is also a member of the local business association.
He and others want city officials to come back here, listen to the residents and businesses, and make parking in the area mixed-use. That would mean a 40-hour weekly reduction in enforcement.
Of the 2,500 spots in the entire city that are metered, I think that less than 20 of them are mixed-use," said Shapiro. "And those 20 are in a block and a quarter in the heart of downtown."
Dr. Shapiro plans to formally appeal the zone designation in Little Five Points to Public Works. He believes the city is beginning to understand they really need to listen to residents about PARKatlanta.
RELATED | Atlanta City Council discusses Parking Bill of Rights
You too can file an appeal about the zone designation in your neighborhood. All you have to do is send the Department of Public Works a letter requesting that the zone be reviewed.
The city will send a program management team out to assess the area and talk to residents. Within about 30-days, a decision will be made based on the zone criteria, the observations made by the team, and the input from the community.
If you wish to make an appeal, send your formal request letter here:
Department of Public Works
Office of the Commissioner
55 Trinity Avenue
Suite 4700
Atlanta, GA 30308
You can see our complete Parking Protest coverage and sign the Bill of Rights by clicking here.


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News and Issuances
Consumer Advisory
Comptroller of the Currency
Administrator of National Banks
Washington, DC 20219
Date: February 18, 2010
Consumer Alternatives for Receiving Income Tax Refunds
This Consumer Advisory provides details on alternatives that taxpayers have for receiving their income tax refunds.
What Are the Ways Taxpayers Can Receive Their Refunds?
Refund Check in the Mail
Direct Deposit
You can choose direct deposit whether you file a tax return electronically or mail your tax return to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or state income tax authority. If an income tax return is filed electronically and direct deposit is requested, the IRS has indicated that a refund will be issued in as few as 10 days.
The IRS makes it easy for taxpayers to choose direct deposit. To make a direct deposit into just one account, the bank routing information and account number should be entered at the end of the IRS Form 1040 as illustrated below.
The bank's routing number and account information can be obtained from a check or savings account deposit slip. The sample check, shown below, illustrates where to find routing and bank account numbers.
It is important to make sure that the names on the account are the same as the names of the taxpayers filing the return. If the names are different, it may prevent the IRS from depositing the refund electronically. If you are unsure whether the name on your account matches the name on the income tax return, you should check with your bank prior to filing the return.
Taxpayers who do not currently have an account at a financial institution should consider opening a bank account to use direct deposit to receive their tax refund. The account should be opened before you file the return.
The IRS allows direct deposits in up to three accounts. However, the taxpayer must file Form 8888 if the refund is being deposited into more than one account. Refunds can be directed into checking or savings accounts, individual retirement accounts, health savings accounts, accounts with brokerage firms, or other similar types of accounts. For more detail on how to deposit a refund into several loan accounts, visit the IRS Web site at: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=164570,00.html and http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8888.pdf.
Tax Preparation Firm Services
Additional Information:
Direct deposit information from the IRS is available at: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-your-refund-faster-Tell-IRS-to-Direct-Deposit-Your-Refund-to-One,-Two-or-Three-Accounts
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) offers free assistance to help low- to moderate-income taxpayers prepare their tax returns. Volunteers receive training and are certified to prepare basic tax returns. Most VITA programs also offer free electronic filing. To locate volunteer free tax preparation services, call 1-800-829-1040. For information on the IRS Web site see http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=107626,00.html and http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Find-a-Location-for-Free-Tax-Prep .
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly program provides trained volunteers who offer free tax counseling and help with tax preparation for individuals who are age 60 or older.
For more information see http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation-for-You-by-Volunteers .
Related Links


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A Massachusetts judge has granted a partial victory to a Roman Catholic college sued by an ex-student who said administrators didn't help her enough when she complained that her roommate was having too much sex.
Lindsay Blankmeyer says her roommate frequently had sex with Blankmeyer present. She said in a federal lawsuit she was driven into a suicidal depression because Stonehill College officials wouldn't find her a new place to live. She is seeking $150,000 in damages.
The college asked that the suit be dismissed.
The Enterprise ( https://bit.ly/SAfRRW ) reports that a judge last month threw out the part of the lawsuit where Blankmeyer claimed discrimination. But the judge allowed her claim that Stonehill didn't offer her alternate accommodations.
The next scheduled court date is Dec. 19.
Information from: The (Brockton, Mass.) Enterprise, https://www.enterprisenews.com


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Morenci takes the honors this year at the annual Valentine celebration at Fulton Manor in Wauseon.
Morenci residents Herbert "Bill" and Irene Cochrane were named King and Queen of the Manor.
Irene moved into the manor first, about four years ago, after she broken her hip. Bill moved into the assisted care facility for a few months before joining Irene in the Manor.
Bill farmed until 1964 before moving to Morenci to work for Jim Barrett and Harley Hodges, first in farming and later as a fairway mower at their golf course in Ottawa Hills. Irene was a homemaker all of her married life.
That leads to Bill's secret to a long and successful marriage: "She was willing to do it all, and I was willing to let her."
Bill will turn 90 years old Aug. 2 and Irene will follow Aug. 16. The Cochranes will celebrate 69 years of marriage on June 28.
Their children are Carol (and Larry) Clymer, Beverly (and Don) Zuvers, Sharon (and Ernie) Hicks and Gary (and Tammy) Cochrane. Bob is deceased. They have 15 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.
Carol said her parents are doing quite well, although her mother has difficulty walking. Her parents enjoy dinner out every Sunday.