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Pride and Parenting: Gay Fatherhood in America
In her new book, Gay Fatherhood: Narratives of Family and Citizenship in America, Ellen Lewin investigates the nuances of gay adoption and describes the many challenges gay men face—from the "family values" Right as much as from the "radical queer" Left—as they actively seek to become parents.
For the last several decades, gay fathers have largely been treated as relics from a closeted history, from a time when gay men married heterosexual women in an attempt to quash or counter their own homosexuality. While this of course still occurs, many openly gay men today also actively pursue families and parenthood outside of heternormative structures. But despite the increasing prevalence of gay fathers, statistics do not offer reliable data about how many gay men, coupled or single, have actively sought fatherhood outside of earlier heterosexual relationships.
In her new book, Gay Fatherhood: Narratives of Family and Citizenship in America, Ellen Lewin investigates the nuances of gay adoption and describes the many challenges gay men face—from the "family values" Right as much as from the "radical queer" Left—as they actively seek to become parents. Lewin's study, a comprehensive ethnographic look at gay fathers in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Iowa City, Iowa, explores the options available to gay men wishing to be parents: fostering, adoption (public, private, or international), and surrogacy. Between 1999 and 2003, she interviewed 95 men, 42 couples, and a lesbian couple co-parenting with a single gay man. [Full disclosure: Ellen Lewin was briefly one of my undergraduate Women's Studies advisers at the University of Iowa. I say briefly because during most of my time in the department, she was away doing fieldwork for this very book.] A dense, comprehensive academic text, Gay Fatherhood nevertheless deserves a large, diverse readership. The issues contained in its pages are simply too important.
Not surprising—if not well enough known or understood—gay men face unique challenges when seeking to foster parent, adopt, or have children via surrogate. While lesbian mothers can, to some extent, rely on the cultural construction of "feminine" to support their choices, Lewin states that gay men face a paradox based on stereotypes about their cultural values and sexual practices. Conservatives who argue against gay male adoption often cite a narrow understanding of queerness, which they see as wholly contradicting certain morals and ethics necessary for proper, dutiful parenting. Lesbians also have several celebrity mothers—Rosie O'Donnell and Mary Cheney among them—that can counter the weight of cultural stereotypes. Gay men, Lewin argues, have no such public figure on their side, though this does fail to take into account gay celebrity fathers like Clay Aiken.
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But on the more troubling flip side, some queer scholars deride the choices of lesbians and gay men to pursue families with children, arguing that queer families "mainstream" GLBT resistance. Positioning all queerness as radical, these researchers assume a particular cultural and political position of gay and lesbian parents. In large part, Lewin explains, these arguments rely on monolithic definitions of queerness, and I personally find it troubling that so many researchers apparently seek to politicize others' sexuality. Lewin also points out that some scholars fear gay marriage for the same reasons: it may increase visibility, but it will not challenge homophobia. In fact, it may cause conservatives to raise yet another false binary: "good gays" will be known as the ones who "settle down," while "bad gays" will remain single and thereby promiscuous. She also cites feminist scholars who resist the idea of "reclaiming marriage," having long critiqued any family structure as oppressive to women and GLBTQ people.
Legal proceedings and statutes have also been problematic for gay fathers. In North Carolina's 1998 case Pulliam v. Smith, for example, the North Carolina Supreme Court handed down a decision to place sons raised from birth by their gay father with their mother after she remarried and filed for custody. Despite how the children had thrived with their father—their sole custodian since birth after their mother abandoned the family—the judge ordered that the boys be placed with their newly remarried mother, as their father's sexual orientation surely included exhibitionist sexual deviance that would damage the children. Other cases, such as a Mississippi case from 1999, also show bias against gay fathers, when in this instance, a child was returned to his mother and stepfather's abusive home instead of being placed with his single gay father. As of the writing of Gay Fatherhood, Florida and Mississippi had outright bans on gay adoption, and many states had laws that could still be read as exclusionary.
The case studies found within the book offer a mix of disappointment and hope. Against all odds, some gay couples had little trouble finding a child. Liam and Matthew, a couple from San Francisco, adopted a little girl in the late 1980s in the midst of the AIDS crisis when few would have given their children to gay men to be raised. Their daughter's birth mother, however, wanted her child raised in a Catholic home and wished to be the baby's "only mother." A few weeks after submitting their application to an adoption agency, the men brought their daughter home.
Most cases, however, are not so simple. As Lewin explains through personal stories, cited research, and her own investigations, gay men's options for fathering are often limited by economic forces as much as cultural ones. Often, issues of biological attachment, race, and ethnicity are also raised. While public adoption offers prospective parents a lower cost way to search for children, private adoptions are more guaranteed to produce a particular type of child. In public adoption cases, gay men are often offered "hard to place" children, including children who are handicapped, in sibling groups, or biracial. In some cases, labels like "special needs" can simply apply to African-American children. While this systemic perversity seems to indicate that some children are more worthy of stable homes and families, children who have been labeled as "special needs" may also be given financial benefits from the state, thereby providing additional assistance to the adoptive parents. One couple that went through the public adoption process, Carl and Frank, explained that based on social pressure, they sought out adoptive daughters to ease the discomfort of social workers prone to assuming gay men are also pedophiles. Time and time again, Lewin uncovered situations in which uncomfortable compromises were made. That isn't to say that adoption doesn't come with its own set of compromises from the jump, only that gay men face unique barriers to entering the process in the first place.
In cases of international adoption, it isn't uncommon for adoption officials to simply omit information or lie about their clients' sexual orientation, as many countries do not allow homosexual adoption of any kind. Of the men Lewin interviewed, those who had adopted internationally had children from Guatemala, where there are no specific restrictions for single men adopting and often, the children are very young when put up for adoption. One couple, Josh and Brent, reluctantly admitted that international adoption meant little interference or judgment from a nearby birth family.
For many gay men, Lewin found that parenthood created or solidified other aspects of the men's lives. Some of the men finally felt like adults and felt that parenthood gave them much-needed responsibility, in addition to community stature as capable members of society. Some gay fathers also reported that adopting "hard to place" children came with its own set of social assumptions about heroism and selflessness. Some men reported seeking such altruistic experiences and actively sought out "hard to place" kids in part because they knew that was their best chance at parenthood. Circling back around to the idea of politicized sexuality, some also felt that adopting children who look differently than they do battles racism and injustice, in a sense.
Though biological issues did not loom large for all couples, surrogacy felt like the best option for Alan and Art because of their desire to raise their child Jewish. Knowing that state adoption would likely yield an African-American or biracial child, the men simply felt so many contradictory cultural messages would "be too much for the kid." In the end, the men decided that they valued the possibility of a visible biological connection to their child, and the cost—in excess of $100,000—was affordable. While some couples and single men have had to make decisions based on money, for a couple like Alan and Art, their personal finances allowed them to choose this option.
The book, while not exceptionally long, covers an extraordinary amount of ground, exploring the many complications and nuances of gay fatherhood. Lewin's main strength as a researcher—though she has many—is her ability to showcase all sides of this issue without advocating for one particular position or solution. Despite the bold stands of many queer researchers, Lewin explains that her interest is not in elevating one stance. Instead, her ethnography explores the hurdles gay men must overcome and how their determination to have families affects other aspects of their lives and identities. She also notes that as a "middle-aged lesbian researcher with longstanding interests in gay and lesbian family life," her subjects were perhaps more comfortable with a seemingly allied researcher recording their stories and observing their lives. While personal politics should theoretically be checked at the door, it is unavoidable fact that Lewin has spent much of her academic career researching and writing about issues of lesbian motherhood and gay family life. That her work led her to the dilemmas facing gay fathers is hardly a stretch, given the politicized climate in which so many personal decisions are made today.
Simply put, Gay Fatherhood does what many studies, papers, and book fail to do. It lends an unbiased ear to the struggles of gay men seeking fatherhood by any means necessary. Illuminating this struggle within GLBT communities is not only a necessary part of the growing conversation around homosexuality in America; it is an integral part of how we continue to redefine our expectations surrounding gay identity, the law, and "family."


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Mark Thomas
Juniper is a traditional seasoning for meats and game. Look for the dried berries in the spice section of the supermarket. What to drink: A Rhône red or varietal Syrah.
- Yield
- Makes 6 servings
- 6 6- to 8-ounce duck breasts (thawed if frozen)
- 1 tablespoon dried juniper berries, crushed in resealable plastic bag using flat side of mallet
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 pound purple seedless grapes, cut into small clusters
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- Coarse kosher salt
- 3 cups arugula
- 1/4 cup crème fraîche or sour cream, stirred to loosen
- Using sharp knife, score skin of duck breast diagonally to create 3/4-inch-wide diamond pattern. Sprinkle crushed juniper berries and thyme over both sides of breast; press to adhere. Place on rimmed baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 4 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
- Preheat oven to 500°F. Arrange grape clusters in single layer on baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper. Roast until skins are slightly crisp but grapes are still soft and juicy inside, about 14 minutes. Cool. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
- Sprinkle both sides of duck breasts with salt and pepper. Heat heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add duck, skin side down; cook until almost all fat is rendered, about 7 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until skin is brown and crisp, about 4 minutes. Turn duck over and cook about 3 minutes longer for medium-rare. Let duck rest 5 minutes.
- Divide arugula among 6 plates. Thinly slice duck breasts crosswise and fan out slightly; place 1 breast atop arugula on each plate. Drizzle crème fraîche over each breast. Divide grapes among plates.

subset: commoncrawl


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Myanmar moved a step closer to clearing the way for foreign companies to invest in the long-cut-off authoritarian country, after Nobel Prize-winning opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi threw her support behind lawmakers who challenged a clause in the law that would have protected businessmen who had virtually a clear field under the country's former regime.
Reuters reported Wednesday that the clause required an investment or startup capital of at least $5 million, the largest such requirement in Southeast Asia, from foreign companies seeking to do business in the country, whose military-backed leadership has instituted a number of pro-democracy reforms in the past year. Such a requirement would not only have served as a serious impediment to small businesses hoping to enter markets there, it would have cut foreign participation drastically and preserved favorable conditions for a group of businessmen who thrived under the regime.
While in June Suu Kyi stayed away from the investment law, warning corporate executives to avoid "reckless optimism" and investors that "even the best investment laws would be of no use whatsoever if there are no courts that are clean enough and independent enough to be able to administer those laws justly," she has now changed tactics and backed the removal of the provision, according to Soe Thein, a minister in the president's office.
In the report, Thein was quoted saying, "She took part in talking about the new foreign investment law and supported dropping stuff like the $5 million requirement." Thein is a former naval commander-in-chief and senior member of the ruling military-backed party. Pro-democracy activist Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest.
Myanmar business leaders who thrived under the old regime now face competition as outside interests enter the country after 49 years of sanctions and limited access. While numerous companies have expressed interest in exploring the Myanmar market, their executives have said they want regulatory clarity to ensure a more level playing field against the entrenched business interests.
Among the broad opportunities beckoning outside companies is telecommunications. While Myanmar is far behind other Asian countries, even the poorest, in its access to digital networks and data downloads, the sector has become the target for major reforms and a new plan to boost the industry could be introduced as early as this week, according to inside sources.


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Print Page


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Some people think OPC congregations are characterized as being well dressed and having well-behaved children in their worship. Might that be a turn-off for poorer families, or ones with difficult children? How can we address that with people unfamiliar with those practices, without making them think they must conform to fit in?
Thank you for your question. My immediate response was laughter: they should come visit with us! Our congregation is multi-racial, though most of the population is Caucasian, and if you come for an evening service, you'll likely find that I'm the only one wearing a necktie. I well remember when a man, arriving for the service at which he would make a public profession of faith, had to search his vehicle for another shirt to wear: one with sleeves. He does manual labor and has few shirts other than those in which he works. And we don't mind!
Sadly, the characterization is a caricature. It is perhaps drawn from the importance we attach to worship. We come to meet with Someone very important, so we seek to make our outward dress suitable to the importance of the occasion. It is a mark of respect, a universally recognized application of the Fifth Commandment.
The "children" thing also is a part of our understanding of their place in the Covenant. We recognize their covenant membership in baptism, and a part of our keeping of the vows is their regular attendance upon the chief means of grace: the Word preached. They are a treasure from the Lord, and we rejoice in the hope of their joining with us in praise of our God.
I would suggest that you approach people with such concerns with a simple affirmation: the Church is made up of sinners. We are all saved only by the grace of God in Christ, and have no right to look down on anyone who is also seeking that same grace. Every pastor could tell tales of marvelous redemption in his flock, and also describe heartbreaking situations which are not evident to the casual observer. Many years ago I read an insurance brochure, from a company that specialized in providing insurance for ministers. It said, "The average pastor sees more grief in one week than most people deal with in a lifetime." As the years go by, I understand the truth of that statement more and more.
So, encourage your "critic" to come on in. We are just sheep, coming to our shepherd for his care.
"Questions and Answers" is a weekly feature of the OPC website. The answers come from individual ministers in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church expressing their own convictions and do not necessarily represent an "official" position of the Church, especially in areas where the Standards of the Church (the Scriptures and the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms) are silent.
The questions come from individuals like yourself. If you have questions about biblical and theological matters, you are invited to send them by e-mail by using the "Pose a Question" link on the OPC home page or by clicking here.
At least one new question is posted each week, so there should always be something new here for you to read. (For those people who would like to look at previous questions and answers, they will continue to be available as well.)
The purpose of the OPC website's "Questions and Answers" is to respond to biblical and theological questions. Matters of church discipline, disputes, or debates go beyond the scope of our work. We recommend that you present your concerns in these areas to the appropriate judicatory. In most cases this will be to a local pastor, elder, or session. We do not want the website to replace personal involvement in, or commitment to, the local, visible church.
While we will respond to every serious questioner, we are not bound to give a substantive answer to every question, should we deem the question to be beyond the scope of our purpose or our own ability to answer.
You will receive an answer by e-mail. Please be patient as many of our respondents are busy pastors. The response to your question may take up to two (2) weeks. Some of the questions submitted will be chosen to be posted here, along with the corresponding answers.
Note that the "Questions and Answers" posted on the site have been editedall personal references are removed, Scripture references or from some source may be added, and sometimes portions are expandedto make the questions and answers more useful to a larger audience.
|© 2020 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Chaplains and Military Personnel


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For Most Graduates, Grueling Job Hunt Awaits
Graduating college students face a mixed job market at best this year, and most will leave school without an offer in hand, despite an uptick in hiring by on-campus recruiters.
A survey of employers by the National Association of Colleges and Employers showed those that recruit on campuses plan to boost hiring of new grads by 10.2% from last year. However, on-campus recruiting is only a small slice of the pie—the bulk of graduates find jobs on their own.
In a study to be released Thursday, the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University found that recent graduates are taking awhile to find work. Only 49% of graduates from the classes of 2009 to 2011 had found a full-time job within a year of finishing school, compared with 73% for students who graduated in the three years prior.
Related Reading
Overall, the unemployment rate among 20- to 24-year-olds with bachelor's degrees was 6.4% in April, compared with 8.1% for the overall population, according to the Labor Department.
Experts say four broad issues will make it tougher for today's graduates to launch their careers and succeed over the long run.
FIRST, the job market is still far from booming: March and April's disappointing job numbers—employers added only 154,000 and 115,000 jobs, respectively, compared with an average gain of about 250,000 in the previous three months—suggest the recovery remains fragile. The downbeat news echoes a pattern in the past two years, when much-heralded economic "green shoots" early in the year failed to blossom into sustained improvement.
On the positive side, Americans are quitting their jobs in higher numbers, leaving behind openings for which new graduates can apply. In February, the last month for which data are available, two million people gave notice, according to the Labor Department. While still historically low, it is the highest number of resignations since November 2008. That churn—the natural turnover that occurs as workers quit or retire—is a sign of slowly improving economic confidence and good news for new grads and all unemployed people.
SECOND, the class of 2012 faces tougher competition thanks to what Carl Van Horn, director of the Heldrich Center, calls "the recession hangover." Young adults who graduated into the dire labor market of 2008 and 2009 and have been out of work or underemployed since are applying for the same jobs as new grads are. The same goes for earlier grads who were laid off during the recession. Those job candidates, who likely have more experience than new grads, may have an edge, Mr. Van Horn says.
In a better position might be those seniors who took advantage of on-campus recruitment programs. Lauren Martinez, 22 years old, will graduate from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., on Saturday with an entry-level consulting job in hand. Competition during recruiting season felt "hard but not terrible," says Ms. Martinez, who received two job offers. Her friends who are graduating without full-time jobs, she adds, have mostly lined up volunteer work, internships and temporary research positions while they continue to search for permanent work.
THIRD, a debt burden looms. Two-thirds of students from the class of 2010, the latest figures available, graduated with student loans, with an average tab of $25,250—up 5% from the previous year—according to The Institute for College Access & Success, an independent group that promotes higher education affordability.
Tuition isn't getting any cheaper, so loan figures are expected to be even higher for the current crop of graduates. That means a greater share of those starting salaries will go to repaying lenders, rather than to rent, furnishings or a down-payment fund for a house, delaying financial independence for many young adults.
LAST, even when new graduates do find jobs, their starting salaries tend to be lower than those for their counterparts who graduated a decade earlier, adjusted for inflation. With a lower base pay, research shows they may never catch up.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank, entry-level, college-educated men age 23-29 earned an average $21.68 an hour in 2011, a 7.6% decline from 2000. For women, the corresponding figure fell 6%, to $18.80. Men and women both now earn just a bit more than they did in 1989, when measured in 2011 dollars.
Many students nonetheless express optimism, though perhaps that's simply the Lake Wobegon effect: They might believe they're all above-average after years of positive reinforcement from their parents. In the same vein, they may see themselves as exceptions to the rules of the job market.
Write to Lauren Weber at email@example.com and Melissa Korn at firstname.lastname@example.com
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Late in the first quarter of Wednesday evening's Wizards at Cavaliers Game 5 playoff game (Cavs lead series 3-1), LeBron James drove down the left baseline at the rim, guarded by Darius Songaila. Their arms got tangled, and LeBron went up to try to score, was aggressively holding Songaila off with his arm in what appeared to be totally legal fashion but his other arm and Songaila's arm were entangled the whole time, and as LeBron landed and they untangled, Songaila, using his left hand side-arm back-handed Lebron in the face. It clearly seemed intentional.
It wasn't a full-on punch, but it was like a clear back-hand to the face. He didn't follow through, so I can't call it a full back-handed pimp-slap. More like taking your hand and swinging the back of it right into someone's face, and then pulling your hand back in the same direction it came from.
LeBron just took the jab and stayed backed away, not retaliating.
I thought Songaila should have been ejected, yet the refs just called a personal foul and a technical foul on him, which was surprising.
And during the discussions after the incident, DeShawn Stevenson and Anderson Varejao had a very minor disagreement, and the refs quickly slapped a double-tech on them. I hate that call. Neither player needed a tech called on them.


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There are no Upcoming Shows listed for this comedian.
Wild Willy Parsons
At first glance, Wild Willy's biker clad girth could send societies most decadent citizens scampering for their lives. But instead, he sends them home with a fresh and positive outlook about their own misconceptions of the "stereotypical" bikers' image.
Wild Willy Parsons is a professional comedian and has been since 1985. He tours the country continuously headlining clubs, colleges and private functions such as children's benefits, Law Enforcement functions and countless biker festivities. He has also made numerous television appearances including: Last Comic Standing, The Carson Daly Show, The Dennis Miller Show, Showtime, MTV, Tracey Ullman Show, Evening at the Improv and Comics Only to name just a few. Willy has opened for such acts as Sam Kinison, Andrew Dice Clay, Richard Jeni, Pauly Shore, Steppenwolf, The Charlie Daniels Band and Buddy Miles. He has also been the comic relief for numerous Easyriders videos which happen to be the best selling ones. His solid, multi-dimensional character has also opened the door of the acting arena by landing roles in movies and television such as: The Guardian, Nothing to Lose, Trancers II, Vietnam,Texas, Matlock, Silk Stalkings, Down the Shore, That 80's Show and a couple national beer commercials. Willy has also earned an Emmy award for his television writing.
Billed as "The Original Biker Comic", Wild Willy Parsons appeals to a mass audience from the "upper class" down to "the lowest common denominator" and all points in between. His subject matter ranges from his personal experiences in life with the justice system, societies judgement of ones appearance, current events and even raising a family in todays world.
Wild Willy is a natural performer who's presence onstage evokes laughter from his diverse audience without reaching deep into the slime bag for his material. After seeing him perform, you will never look at a biker the same way again.
Wild Willy Parsons's Upcoming Shows
Wild Willy Parsons is Known For


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- For statistics, see Daelin Proudmoore (Warcraft III).
- "Can your blood atone for genocide, orc? Your Horde killed countless innocents with its rampage across Stormwind and Lordaeron. Do you really think you can just sweep all that away and cast aside your guilt so easily? No, your kind will never change, and I will never stop fighting you." - Grand Admiral Proudmoore
Daelin Proudmoore was the "Lord Admiral"[2] (W2Man 43) [3] (DotD 4) and king of Kul Tiras.[4] (APG 161) [5] (ToD 72-73) As "Grand Admiral" of the Alliance, he was the supreme commander of the naval forces of the Alliance during the Second War. He was a staunch enemy of the Horde, refusing to believe that it could ever change its ways — he greatly hated the orcs and would have been more than willing to see them all dead. Eventually he was consumed by his own hatred, killed by the Horde led by Rexxar.
Second War
Proudmoore led the island nation of Kul Tiras in the Second War, and it was Kul Tiras who funded much of the armada of the Alliance. After the First War, orcs began to attack coastal settlements in Kul Tiras and the surrounding shores of Lordaeron and Khaz Modan. And with his longtime friend Anduin Lothar at his side, Proudmoore wouldn't back down from a fight.
Pronounced Lord of all the Alliance's mighty fleets, Proudmoore led the naval assault on the orcs, destroying their forces on land, sea, and air, while managing the oil refineries in Stratholme, which provided the main node of resources for the navy. He lost his eldest son, Derek, and everyone on board the six ships of the Third Fleet when they were attacked by dragons.[3] (DotD 4) [5] (ToD 314)
Proudmoore stayed beside King Terenas through the political turmoil that followed the Second War, even when he opted to have the orcs put into internment camps. His daughter, Jaina, became involved with Terenas' son, Arthas, but their affair was ended when she chose to focus on her studies of magic.
Proudmoore also had a second daughter outside of his marriage when he had an affair with an elven sorceress named Kilnar Goldensword. The daughter, Finnall, was not made publicly known.
Aftermath of the Third War
Proudmoore remained a close ally of Lordaeron for many years, with Jaina studying in Dalaran under Antonidas himself. He was crushed and horrified to hear the news that Lordaeron was destroyed by the demonic invasion. When he searched Lordaeron for survivors, he found nothing but legions of undead and demons, and few survivors. Grand Admiral Proudmoore is one of the people responsible for the breakdown of Horde-Alliance relations after the fall of the Burning Legion. In the aftermath of the Third War Daelin departed from Kul Tiras, leaving his son Tandred behind, taking a large part of the Kul Tiras fleet and sailing across the Great Sea to Kalimdor, in order to search for his daughter and the survivors that fled there after Lordaeron fell to the Scourge. Though Jaina Proudmoore had managed to earn Warchief Thrall's trust, Daelin felt that he had to crush the Horde before they gained a foothold in this "new land" and became too powerful to defeat.
He began raiding the coast and assaulting the orcish settlement, but when they began to fight back, he withdrew and retreated to the island citadel of Theramore which he discovered Jaina had established. When he arrived, he was overjoyed to find her alive, but found her keeping some strange company: Rexxar the Mok'Nathal, Rokhan the Darkspear troll and Chen Stormstout the Pandaren, all allies of the Horde, were with her. Proudmoore immediately demanded that they all be arrested, but Jaina retreated and helped Rexxar and his friends escape.
Unwilling to allow Jaina any explanation, Proudmoore usurped control over Theramore and used it as the staging ground for his newest campaign to have his vengeance on the orcs, but he was beaten back by their numerous allies, and was forced to retreat back to Theramore. But Thrall and Rexxar knew that Proudmoore would never stop harassing their people while he still drew breath. Proudmoore established a naval blockade around Theramore Isle to prevent the Horde from launching a counterattack. What the Admiral didn't count on was his own daughter siding against him. Jaina realized that her father was trapped in the past and that his vendetta against the orcs would only lead to more needless death and destruction for both sides. She approached Thrall and informed him of a goblin shipyard that housed juggernauts capable of breaking the Admiral's blockade. Rexxar liberated the shipyard and used the juggernauts to sink the six powerful battleships protecting Theramore.
The Horde then laid siege to Theramore and battled their way to his keep, where Rexxar squared off against the Admiral himself. Thrall tried to reason with Admiral Proudmoore, telling him that the Horde was no longer the same enemy he had fought so many years ago. Proudmoore, however, refused to believe that the orcs could ever change and launched himself into battle. After an arduous fight, Daelin Proudmoore, victim of his own hatred, was slain by Rexxar. With his death, the battle ceased. Jaina knelt at the body of her prideful father and mournfully asked why he didn't listen. Rexxar told Jaina to remember her father for the proud warrior he was.
Admiral Proudmoore was succeeded as head of the Proudmoore family by his children, Jaina and Tandred. Proudmoore's second-in-command, Lieutenant Benedict, took command of Tiragarde Keep in Durotar to maintain a human presence in orcish lands, while Lieutenant Alverold continues his exploratory mission.
Stormwind City Heroes Tribute
- "Death to the Blackbloods!"
- "For Sir Lothar!"
- "For Lordaeron!"
| Preceded by:
| Position:
Lord Admiral of Kul Tiras
| Succeeded by:
Tandred Proudmoore
| Preceded by:
| Position:
Supreme Commander of the Alliance Navy
| Succeeded by:
Grand Admiral Jes-Tereth


text:
After Dinner Mint Dog Treat
3" Length
We strive to provide the best service in our industry and stand behind every item we sell. We hope you enjoy visiting our store and are pleased with every purchase you make.
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Liberal Arts Colleges offer undergraduate educations with a emphasis in the liberal arts, specifically aimed at providing students a general knowledge and developing general intellectual capacities.
Unlike career colleges or vocational schools, Liberal Arts Colleges focus more in a theoretical knowledge base incorporating a broad spectrum of diverse coursework.
In most cases, Liberal Arts College are smaller and more personal than large, national-level research universities, offering students a more individual education experience.
Liberal Arts Schools, Colleges and Universities:
Have you ever considered attending a small liberal arts college? The education you can receive is top-notch, the individualized attention you receive from full professors who teach classes can be a marvellous, and the side benefit of these wonderful colleges are immense.
Most liberal arts colleges do not have a law school, a medical school, a business school, or a graduate school. They are instead focused on undergraduate education, and in most cases do so in an excellent fashion. Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages of attending a libearl arts college rather than a large research university.
Recent News about Liberal Arts Colleges:
Here is a list of important factors to consider when evaluating liberal arts colleges:
• Full professors generally do the teaching. There are seldom any Teaching Assistants or Research Assistants teaching classes. Thus, undergraduates are taught by experts in their fields.
• Colleges generally have small class sizes. The student-faculty ratio is low - often below 10 to 1.
• Everybody knows you.
• Professors know you well. I have two children who attended small liberal arts colleges and both of them blossomed tremendously as a result of their experiences.
• Liberal arts colleges are especially beneficial if you want to go to professional or graduate school, such as law, medical, or graduate school.
• The emphasis on undergraduate education.
• Usually these small colleges partner with larger institutions for course they don't offer, such as engineering programs, business courses, etc.
• When you attend a small college, it's easier to be a big man on campus Some of their advantages are also disadvantages:
• Everybody knows you. Some people would like to sit back and relax without always being around people they know.
• The small liberal arts colleges often lack variety and diversity. Al of the students may seem to be cut from the same mold. They may be of predominantly the same religion, socioeconomic status, etc.
• Campus life can be boring. They don't have high-adrenaline Division I Sports programs and the excitement and enthusiasm such a sports program frequently brings to campus for current students and alumni. Social life can be limited.
• Sometimes the professors know you too well. You can't hide.
• Life on campus can be like living in a fishbowl. Everyone knows what everyone else is doing. So the small liberal arts college has pros and cons. Decide for yourself if you like what they have to offer. A campus visit should help you decide. Also talk with current students.
Ultimately, whether you decide to attend a large research university or a small liberal arts college will may not be the definitive decision in your career path. In most cases, the deal-maker (or deal-breaker) is you. In actuality, you are the one who will make the principle difference in your career path and future success, whether at a liberal arts college or not.


text:
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Find answers to frequently asked questions.
Find listings of area businesses and nonprofits in the Resource Directory.
Peruse staff contact information in the Staff Directory.
Read news and press releases at the Town News Center.


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December 6, 2011 By Stephanie True Moss
January 13, 2012 By Stephanie True Moss
Wolfram Alpha offers a variety of widgets and one is a QR Code Generator that can easily be added to your website or blog. You can specify the color and size of the widget to fit your site. Create QR Codes for URL, plain text, or phone numbers. The QR Code correction level is editable. […]
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Contact Us Copyright © 2020 QRmedia.us
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text:
This is not an offer for credit and should be used for estimation purposes only based on the information you provided. You should not base your decision on this estimate alone. Title, registration, tax and other fees, and personal circumstances such as employment status and personal credit history, were not considered in the calculations.
Front - Dual floating discs, four-piston fixed calipers, diameter 320 mm
Rear - Single disc, dual-piston floating caliper, diameter 265 mm
ABS - BMW Motorrad ABS
Cast aluminum
Front - 3 x 19 in.
Rear - 4.5 x 17 in.
Front - 120/70 R 19
Rear - 170/60 R 17
Unladen weight - 32.3 in.
Inner leg curve, unladen weight - 72 in.
Mixture control / engine management - Electronic fuel injection
Fuel type - Premium Unleaded
Front - Telescopic forks, Ø 43 mm
Rear - Cast aluminum single swing arm with BMW Paralever; central spring strut, spring preload fully adjustable by hook wrench, rebound damping adjustable
Rear travel 5.5 in. (140 mm)
Payload (with standard equipment) - 463 lb. (210 kg)
Permitted total weight - 948 lb. (430 kg)
Option 719 Black Storm Metallic / Aurum
Option 719 Black Storm Metallic / Light White
Stereo Matallic Matt
Category: Motorcycles / Scooters


text:
All News Releases By Date
Maine Company Fined for Clean Air and Emergency Right-to-Know Act Violations
Release Date: 09/24/2008
Contact Information: Paula Ballentine, (617) 918-1027
(Boston, Mass. – Sept. 24, 2008) - A Thomaston, Maine cement production company will pay a fine of $77, 470 and perform an additional project, resolving violations of the federal Clean Air Act and of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
EPA alleged that Dragon Products LLC violated National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants required under the Clean Air Act by failing to comply with regulations designed to reduce emissions of air toxics, including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, benzene, toluene, dioxins/furans, hexane, and formaldehyde. The regulation also is designed to reduce emissions of particulate matter and hydrocarbons, some of which are volatile organic compounds that contribute to the formation of smog. The adverse environmental and health effects associated with all of these substances are well-documented.
EPA also alleged that Dragon violated EPCRA by failing to submit to EPA Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (TRI) Forms for lead, nickel, polycyclic aromatic compounds, manganese compounds, and nitrate compounds. Dragon manufactured, processed or otherwise used those chemicals in quantities exceeding the established reporting thresholds.
TRI requires facilities to report chemical releases to the environment in individual communities and is an important "right-to-know" tool. The reported information is also used to assist research, and aid in the development of regulations, guidelines and emissions standards.
Dragon Products will spend at least $298,000 to take measures that will reduce the emission of fine dust particles from its facility. Exposure to fine dust particles is a serious threat to human health and has been a concern in the community surrounding Dragon's facility.
More information:
- EPA New England enforcement of the Clean Air Act (epa.gov/ne/enforcement/air/index.html)
- EPA New England enforcement of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (epa.gov/ne/enforcement/epcra/index.html)
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.


text: This site is intended as information only. The content is derived from contacts made. Contact information is not guaranteed. Visitors are advised to search local sites for contact information as well. The builder, subscriber and lister of this site is a licensed real estate agent in the state of Arizona.


text:
1. Re: ModeShape standalone - againbcarothers Nov 23, 2010 7:20 AM (in response to clemensdev)
Clemens Wyss wrote:
Unfortunately I haven't found an equally simple setup/installation example for ModeShape. For our needs ModeShape should make use of the jpa connector (preferably with a derby db/driver). The transient connector will not work out, because the evaluation/tests include many many nodes.
JcrConfiguration config = new JcrConfiguration().loadFrom("/path/to/configRepository.xml");
JcrEngine engine = config.build();
Repository repo = (Repository) engine.getRepository("repositoryNameFromConfigFile");
Session session = repository.login( ); // Logs in with a guest session - works by default.
If you have any questions about how to set up the configRepository.xml, please feel free to post here, although there are several examples in the quickstarts and the documentation.
Unfortunately I haven't found an equally simple setup/installation example for ModeShape. For our needs ModeShape should make use of the jpa connector (preferably with a derby db/driver). The transient connector will not work out, because the evaluation/tests include many many nodes.
There's no scalability limit on our in-memory repository that I'm aware of. In fact, if you're comparing ModeShape's performance to JR's transient repository, the in-memory repository is the nearest parallel.
Because we use Hibernate as our JPA implementation and Hibernate currently has some open defects around Derby support, you are better off using MySQL or PostgreSQL for an open source backing store for the JPA connector at this time.
General ModeShape question:
which ModeShape-setup/connector performs/scales best, if it is only used as a jcr container (i.e. replacement for jackrabbit), no federation etc (at least not yet)?
By default, the JCR container uses federation to share the jcr:system graph, so it's not an either/or decision. I don't know that we've done any scalability tests. If you do run some of these tests, could you share your results?
2. Re: ModeShape standalone - againclemensdev Nov 23, 2010 7:28 AM (in response to bcarothers)
Thx for you reply.
my concrete questions are:
1) how does the configRepository.xml look like when making use of JPAConnector->MySQL
2) what jars do I need (in the modeshape-jcr.2.3.0.Final-jar-wirth-dependencies.jar there are no connectors...)
3. Re: ModeShape standalone - againbcarothers Nov 23, 2010 7:43 AM (in response to clemensdev)
I've attached an example configuration file that we use for integration testing against JPA databases. You would have to tweak this file for your own use, as described in http://docs.jboss.org/modeshape/latest/manuals/reference/html/jdbc-storage-connector.html.
We have built jars-with-dependencies for each of our connectors just like we have for our JCR implementation. The one that you'd need for the JPA connector is at modeshape-2.3.0.Final-all-with-dependencies.jar. Inside that JAR, you should find a JAR called modeshape-connector-store-jpa-2.3.0.Final-with-dependencies.jar. Of course, you'd still need to add your JDBC driver JAR to your classpath.
configRepository.xml 5.3 KB
4. Re: ModeShape standalone - againclemensdev Nov 23, 2010 7:49 AM (in response to bcarothers)
Thx again!
I guess the attached configRepository.xml is used in a maven test run?
What are your values for:
5. Re: ModeShape standalone - againrhauch Nov 23, 2010 9:33 AM (in response to clemensdev)
Yeah, that configuration is used in some unit and/or integration tests. Here are some values when using MySQL:
dialect = org.hibernate.dialect.MySQL5InnoDBDialect
driverClassName = com.mysql.jdbc.Driver
url = jdbc:mysql://[host][,failoverhost...][:port]/[database][?propertyName1][=propertyValue1][&propertyName2][=propertyValue2]...
The rest of the properties are easily changed based upon your configuration and environment, but some general values might be:
maximumConnectionsInPool = 5
minimumConnectionsInPool = 1
numberOfConnectionsToAcquireAsNeeded = 1
maximumSizeOfStatementCache = 50
maximumConnectionIdleTimeInSeconds = 10
referentialIntegrityEnforced = true
largeValueSizeInBytes = 256
autoGenerateSchema = create
retryLimit = 3
compressData = true
Again, these are all explained in the first table in http://docs.jboss.org/modeshape/latest/manuals/reference/html/jdbc-storage-connector.html
6. Re: ModeShape standalone - againclemensdev Nov 23, 2010 12:04 PM (in response to rhauch)
getting closer :-)
ModeShape creates a schema in the MySQL database!, i.e. the connection/connector basically works. BUT now I encounter a NoSuchMethodError-Exception:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: org.apache.lucene.analysis.snowball.SnowballAnalyzer.setOverridesTokenStreamMethod(Ljava/lang/Class;)V
at org.apache.lucene.analysis.snowball.SnowballAnalyzer.<init>(SnowballAnalyzer.java:46)
at org.modeshape.jcr.RepositoryQueryManager$SelfContained.<init>(RepositoryQueryManager.java:286)
at org.modeshape.jcr.JcrRepository.<init>(JcrRepository.java:650)
at org.modeshape.jcr.JcrEngine.doCreateJcrRepository(JcrEngine.java:370)
at org.modeshape.jcr.JcrEngine.getRepository(JcrEngine.java:270)
at ch.mysign.tools.proj2sling.ModeShapeAccess.setupSession(ModeShapeAccess.java:98)
at ch.mysign.tools.proj2sling.ProjectJcrTester.<init>(ProjectJcrTester.java:64)
at ch.mysign.tools.proj2sling.Proj2SlingApp.main(Proj2SlingApp.java:83)
ModeShapeAccess#setupSession looks alike:
JcrConfiguration config = new JcrConfiguration().loadFrom(MODESHAPE_XML_FILE);
JcrEngine engine = config.build();
Repository repo = (Repository) engine.getRepository("Project Repository Source"); // <- the exception occurs here!
Session session = repo.login( );
and my modeshape.xml file is attached.
PS: thanks :-)
modeshape.xml 5.3 KB
7. Re: ModeShape standalone - againrhauch Nov 23, 2010 12:51 PM (in response to clemensdev)
This looks like there's a different (probably older) version of the Lucene Snowball JAR already on the classpath, perhaps provided by your application or another library (maybe Sling??). ModeShape currently uses 3.0.2 (the latest).
8. Re: ModeShape standalone - againclemensdev Nov 23, 2010 1:36 PM (in response to rhauch)
bingo! I've got jackrabbit-jars in my path...


text:
Regular price
The PTS MOE Hand Guard for AR15/M16 rifles with mid-length gas systems combines the light weight of a standard hand guard with modular flexibility. Slots at the two, six, and ten o'clock positions allow for optional mounting of Picatinny rail sections for tactical lights, vertical grips and other accessories. Reinforced, high strength polymer construction provides operational durability without the weight and expense of an aluminum rail hand guard. Front extensions and lower lip provides an index point when gripping the hand guard and acts as a partial hand-stop.
*Replaces standard plastic AR15 mid-length hand guards*Compatible with both 'direct impingement' and most piston-driven gas systems*Easy to install utilizing existing delta ring and round or triangular front hand guard retaining cap*Slots at the two, six, and ten o'clock positions for mounting MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails or other optional accessories*Reinforced, heat-resistant polymer construction*Front lip and side extensions, shields hand from hot gas block*Relieved area at the top rear accommodates most overhanging optic mounts
Optional Accessories
*MOE Polymer Rail Sections (5, 7, 9, and 11 slot lengths available)*MOE Illumination Kit*MVG - MOE Vertical Grip


text:
September 22, 1962 - January 27, 2013
Marlboro, NY
Randall John Zeiner, age 50, of Marlboro, died unexpectedly Sunday, January 27, 2013 at St. Francis Hospital, Poughkeepsie. Randall was born September 22, 1962 in Rochester, NY. He is the son of Virginia Hogan Zeiner and the late William Zeiner.
He was employed by Unitex of Newburgh, NY as a Machine Mechanic. Randy loved fishing and the outdoors and was a big Minnesota Viking's Fan.
He is survived by his mother, Virginia Hogan Zeiner of Rochester; two daughters: Heather E. Zeiner of East Rochester, Nichole Zeiner-Gonzalez of Rochester; one stepdaughter, Jemma Greiner and her husband, Randy of Marlboro; two brothers: Chuck Zeiner and Kevin Zeiner, both of Rochester; three sisters: Ginger Engert of Rochester and Rose Mowers and Anita Lorenzo, both of Florida; five grandchildren: Morgan Fleming, Antonio Gonzalez, Isabella DePorras, Gracie DePorras and Katie Greiner, and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Randy's life will be held on Wednesday, February 6th from 5 to 8 p.m. at The DiDonato Funeral Home, 1290 Route 9W, Marlboro, NY.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Randy's name to The Hudson Valley S.P.C.A., 940 Little Britain Road, New Windsor, NY 12553.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the DiDonato Funeral Service, Inc. 845-236-4300, www.didonatofuneralservice.com


text: Hello, My name is Sharon. I have been painting and taking photos for a few years now. I mainly give away paintings that I do as gifts. With much urging from friends and family I am putting some items up for sale. I don't have a specific style, I mainly just paint what looks interesting to me or what people request. Some of my items have the original canvas for sale and some are only prints as the original has been given as a gift. I will take pictures of whatever catches my eye. I hope you enjoy my work. Thanks for checking it out.


text:
While we are all hanging on the "fiscal cliff" and wondering what will happen in Congress, there are two new taxes that will definitely become effective Jan. 1.
Regardless of what comes of the fiscal cliff negotiations, a new Net Investment Income Tax goes into effect starting in 2013. The 3.8% tax applies to individuals and estates and trusts that have certain investment income above threshold amounts. It is part of President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act and Medicare overhaul. Also, a new Additional Medicare Tax goes into effect in 2013 as well. The 0.9% tax applies to an individual's wages, Railroad Retirement Tax Act compensation and self-employment income that exceeds a threshold amount based on the individual's filing status.
The IRS recently released proposed regulations concerning the two new taxes and how they will apply.
The Net Investment Tax
What is the net investment tax?
Individuals will owe the tax if they have "net investment income" and also have modified adjusted gross income over the following thresholds:
Filing Status
Threshold Amount
Married filing jointly
Married filing separately
Head of household (with qualifying person)
Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child
What is net investment income?
Net investment income includes, but is not limited to: interest, dividends, capital gains, rental and royalty income, nonqualified annuities, income from businesses involved in trading of financial instruments or commodities and businesses that are passive activities. Net investment income is reduced by certain expenses properly allocable to the income.
Estates and trusts are subject to the tax if they have undistributed net investment income and also have adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest tax bracket for an estate or trust begins for such taxable year (for tax year 2012, this threshold amount is $11,650).
The tax will not apply to any gain that is excluded from gross income for regular income tax purposes. For example, the first $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple) of gain recognized on the sale of a principal residence is exempted from gross income for regular income tax purposes and, thus, from the net investment tax as well.
Investment expenses, such as investment advisory and brokerage fees, expenses related to rental and royalty income and state and local income taxes may be deductible in arriving at net investment income.
For individuals, the tax will be reported on, and paid with, Form 1040. For estates and trusts, the tax will be reported on, and paid with, Form 1041.
The Additional Medicare Tax
The tax applies to wages and compensation above a threshold amount that are received after Dec. 31, 2012, and to self-employment income above a threshold amount received in taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2012. The tax will be levied at 0.9%.
Filing Status
Threshold Amount
Married filing jointly
Married filing separately
Head of household (with qualifying person)
Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child
All wages that are currently subject to the Medicare tax are subject to the tax if they are paid in excess of the applicable threshold for an individual's filing status.
Individuals liable for the tax will calculate their additional Medicare tax liability on their individual income tax returns (Form 1040). Individuals will also report the tax withheld by their employers on their individual tax returns. Any amount of tax withheld by an employer will be applied against all taxes shown on an individual's income tax return, including any additional Medicare tax liability.
How Are Employers Affected?
Employers must withhold the tax on wages paid to employees in excess of $200,000 in a calendar year, beginning Jan. 1, 2013. An employer has this withholding obligation even though an employee may not be liable for the tax because, for example, the employee's wages together with that of his or her spouse do not exceed the $250,000 threshold for joint return filers. Any withheld tax will be credited against the total tax liability shown on the individual's income tax return (Form 1040).
An employer that does not deduct and withhold the tax as required is liable for the tax, unless the tax that it failed to withhold from the employee's wages is paid by the employee. Even if not liable for the tax, an employer that does not meet its withholding, deposit, reporting, and payment responsibilities may be subject to all applicable penalties. There is no requirement that an employer notify employees about the tax.
The new proposed regulations concerning both taxes may or may not shed much light on them. Their implementation in 2013 will also provide guidance. However, it is clear that 2012 is the last year to which these taxes will not apply. Consider taking capital gains now, before any new taxes kick in, and take advantage of 2012's lower rates as well. The best time to plan, as always, is sooner, rather than later.
For additional coverage of this issue and similar ones, we invite you to sign up with AdvisorOne's Summit Business Media partner, National Underwriter Advanced Markets, for a free trial.
You may also be interested in signing up for a free trial with another Summit Business Media partner, Tax Facts Online.


text:
Summer's almost over and the kids are almost back to school…3 weeks more in our neck of the woods!
I've got mixed feelings about this.
On the one hand, I'll miss the twins so much during the day, as they'll be going to full-day kindergarten, and on the other hand, I'll have enough time to catch up on everything from housework to sleep to errands to getting back to a regular novel-writing schedule.
Anyhoo, in honor of the school lunches/snacks I'll have to pack, here's a giveaway of Newman's Own Organics Cookies!!!
3 winners will each receive 1 voucher good for their choice of 1 package of cookies.
And there are a lot of cookies to choose from (depending on availability at your local supermarket).


text:
Antitrust Case Filings
Antitrust Case Filings
To filter the list of cases, select desired options from the left navigation pane.
View the list of NAICS and SIC industry codes used by the Division. To view all industry codes, visit Census.gov.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1
|Case Open Date
|Incident Date
|Case Type
|Federal Court
|Industry Code
|U.S. v. Bradley J. Hansen
|June 2, 2009
|Michigan, Western District
|On-Line Information Services


text:
The Vertical Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks, a former 20-year executive with the Nets, looks at the possible offseason plans and roster details for every team in the league.
Previous teams in the series: Nets and Suns | Timberwolves and 76ers | Magic and Kings | Hornets and Pelicans | Knicks and Nuggets | Lakers and Heat | Mavericks and Pistons | Pacers and Blazers | Hawks and Thunder | Bulls and Grizzlies | Clippers and Bucks | Raptors and Jazz
Offseason focus
The futures of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili
There is little doubt that Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili will be in the Hall of Fame one day.
While spots in Springfield, Massachusetts, are likely in their futures, this offseason brings a measure of uncertainty.
Before rupturing his right quadriceps against Houston in the West semifinals, Parker was playing really well.
Now a month removed from surgery, the 35-year-old's recovery this offseason will impact the Spurs next season.
Parker, entering the final season of his contract, has a $15.5 million cap hit and is not expected to be back when the season begins.
If Ginobili chooses to return, he could still be a key component to the Spurs' bench.
Signed to a one-year contract last summer, San Antonio could again sign Ginobili to a one-year deal and retain flexibility.
Ginobili does have Bird rights, so the Spurs can exceed the cap to bring him back.
Free agency: Patty Mills and Jonathon Simmons
Two components of the Spurs' bench who turned into starters during the playoffs will be free agents.
The $3.5 million and $847,000 bargain contracts of Patty Mills and Jonathon Simmons will soon be high-priced salaries.
The Spurs have the ability to sign both players – Bird rights for Mills and restricted free agency for Simmons – but will need to weigh the financial consequences.
Mills, a backup in his six seasons with San Antonio, is ranked eighth by The Vertical in a solid free-agent class of point guards.
But can Mills be the Spurs' point guard of the future?
Having never averaged more than 21 minutes a season, Mills' play was sporadic when his minutes increased during the playoffs.
With the emergence of rookie Dejounte Murray, the Spurs could have their backup point guard next year at a fraction of what Mills will cost.
Thrust into the starting lineup because of Kawhi Leonard's ankle injury, Simmons emerged during the playoffs as a solid two-way player.
Simmons has early Bird rights and can be signed by the Spurs, who also can match any offer sheet, to a contract that starts at $7.7 million or with cap space.
Teams wishing to sign Simmons cannot offer a contract more than the $8.4 million mid-level exception in the first year.
Teams can take available cap space and sign Simmons to a contract in which the first two years are a reflection of the full mid-level exception, with the last two years being back-loaded at a higher salary.
Simmons' offer sheet with a team that has $10.3 million in cap space would look like this:
Year 1: $8.4 million
Year 2: $8.8 million
Year 3: $12 million
Year 4: $12 million
Total: $41.2 million
Avg.: $10.3 million
San Antonio would have the right to match the offer sheet and average ($10.3 million per year) the contract over four years for cap purposes.
Under the 2011 CBA, San Antonio would have had a $12 million cap hit in the final two years of the deal.
Keep an eye on 2018
How the Spurs spend money on their own free agents or create cap space this summer will have an impact next year.
Entering the 2018 offseason, San Antonio should only have four players under contract: LaMarcus Aldridge, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Dejounte Murray, with Kyle Anderson being a restricted free agent.
Those four players total $52 million in guaranteed contracts, so San Antonio could have $40 million in cap space next summer.
However, to retain that room, San Antonio needs to be cautious in how it builds its bench this offseason.
Summer cap breakdown
Guaranteed 2017-18 Insider info
LaMarcus Aldridge $21,461,010 Extension eligible
Kawhi Leonard $18,868,626 Trade bonus
Pau Gasol $16,197,500 Player option June 29
Tony Parker $15,453,126 Extension eligible
Danny Green $10,000,000 Extension eligible
David Lee $2,328,652 Player option June 21
Kyle Anderson $2,151,704 Rookie extension eligible
Dejounte Murray $1,312,611
Davis Bertans $1,312,611
Non/partial 2017-18
Bryn Forbes $1,312,611
FA cap hold 2017-18 FA status
Manu Ginobili $21,000,000 Bird
Patty Mills $6,800,001 Bird
Dewayne Dedmon $3,477,000 Non-Bird
Jonathan Simmons $1,671,382 Restricted early Bird
Joel Anthony $1,471,382 Non-Bird
First-round cap hold 2017-18
No. 29 $1,404,600
Nikola Milutinov (2015) $1,465,920
Dead cap space 2017-218
Livio Jean-Charles $1,035,200
Tim Duncan $1,881,250
Salary table 2017
Guaranteed salaries $89,085,840
Dead money $2,916,450
Non-guaranteed $1,312,611
Tax variance $158,771
Free-agent cap holds $37,290,885
Salaries: cap $130,605,786
Salaries: tax $94,473,672
Salary cap $101,000,000
Luxury tax $121,000,000
Cap space None ($29,605,786 over)
Tax room $27,526,328
Projected cap space
San Antonio's management excels at creating cap space when the options are limited.
The Spurs have entered free agency for two consecutive seasons with no cap space and yet signed LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol.
This July will be no different for the Spurs, but perhaps more challenging.
San Antonio has $90 million-plus in guaranteed contracts, not including the $33 million in free-agent holds for Ginobili, Mills and Simmons.
With the likelihood of Pau Gasol opting into his contract, San Antonio would need to move the contracts of Gasol and Parker if they wish to create room.
June draft picks
San Antonio has its own first-round pick.
The Spurs also have the No. 59 pick in the second round.
Future draft picks
The Spurs own all their future first-round picks.
More from The Vertical:
• The Warriors look 'unstoppable' in their pursuit of perfection
• Why the Warriors are willing to risk their title chase on Steve Kerr's return
• Did LeBron James get tired in Game 2 of the Finals
Popular video from The Vertical:


text:
Workshops get kids started as entrepreneurs
- 43%25 of students in grades 5-12 want to be entrepreneurs
- January%27s youth unemployment rate was 17.6%25 -- one of the worst on record
- Youth entrepreneurship workshops are a hot extracurricular activity
Kids used to want to be baseball players or rock stars. Now they want to be the next Steve Jobs.
According to a Gallup poll released in January, now 43% of students in grades five-12 want to be entrepreneurs, and around the country youngsters are signing up for lessons in business savvy. Almost 60% of students say their school has classes on how to start a business, up from 50% in 2011. Those numbers don't even include after-school entrepreneur workshops, which are reporting a similar burst in popularity.
The huge popularity comes at a time when the youth unemployment rate is one of the worst on record. January's unemployment rate for ages 16-24 was 17.6%. A far cry from pre-recession level of 10.9% in January 2007, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many young entrepreneurs say if they don't make their own jobs, no one will.
"A lot of kids are just really hungry to work," says Youth Express enterprise director Randy Treichel, whose St. Paul-based organization's youth entrepreneurship workshops have become increasingly popular.
His solution: Youth Express runs a bike store, the Express Bike Shop, which employs workshop participants in key roles so they can learn how to run a business firsthand and try out the lessons they've learned in the workshop such as determining competitive advantage, understanding supply and demand, calculating gross and net profit and identifying a target market.
"We want them to learn it in the classroom setting and then be able to apply it pretty quickly in the work setting so that lesson really sets for them," he says. "It's a type of learning that a lot of young people can get really excited about."
Amy Rosen, CEO of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, or NFTE couldn't agree more. She wants entrepreneurship taught as part of "every career and technical class" in the country. If it's not, kids risk dropping out of school, she says, citing that high schoolers in the U.S. report only 44% engagement in the classroom, vs. 76% for elementary school students, according to recent Gallup Student Poll results.
"Making the classroom relevant to life and connecting school to opportunity would make them show up," she says. "They actually start having a life plan, and they connect with the community."
Clothing entrepreneur Gary Jiang, 20, says he was a quiet kid who "would always sit in the back of the class and not say anything" before he got bitten by the entrepreneur bug at a NFTE summer program in high school. Now he runs four small businesses: the clothing brand he founded at age 15, called MuffinMilk, a high-end sustainable clothing company called The Hight Club, a customizable watch start-up called Snake's Tail, and an online retailer called Superego Clothiers. Hight Club and Snake's Tail are "works in progress," while Superego is launching in April.
"I'm in a much more stable position as an entrepreneur than I would be just trying to find a job," says Jiang, a Junior at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass.
Critics say entrepreneurship can't be taught in the classroom. Get out of the classroom and work with local entrepreneurs and business incubators to pick up skills and experience, advises Dale Stephens, 21-year-old founder of UnCollege, an organization offering workshops and educational resources to young entrepreneurs who favor self-education over school. Stephens himself was entirely self-taught through high school.
"Learning happens all the time," says Stephens, whose company's new gap-year program drew around 500 applicants for 10 available spots in its first session starting in September. "It's about getting an education for yourself in a world where you can't necessarily rely upon school giving it to you."
But no amount of business savvy can carry young entrepreneurs over what may be their biggest hurdle: their own age. Older professionals still look at them like they're running a lemonade stand.
"It's something I have to overcome in the first conversations I have when I'm networking," Jiang says. "Until I start to spit some knowledge, and then they realize it's something I'm fully invested in."


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New movies on Nanotech islandMay 11, 2009
There are some new machinima movies available for viewing on Nanotechnology island in SL. The video screens in the foyer of the main building are now playing a selection of NPL science movies including an introduction to NPL, and TRUTHS 1 and 2 exhibit presentations.
If you already have a Second Life account click here to teleport direct to Nanotechnology Island.
Recrordings of past NanoShows will also be available soon.


text: This week, Carter the Crater Gator found another impressive road divot to stretch out in. To be honest, we've had a difficult time with this critter. He can't get over the fact that he'll always be second-fiddle when compared to Percival, and frankly, he's been getting a little snarky. While we've let him know that his replacement could waddle through the front door of the Tacoma Weekly office at any moment, the toothy sourpuss has countered with his own threat of "pulling a Percival" and disappearing. With this in mind, we are still in the process of trying out new pothole seeking varmints. If you've got any ideas, please send them to email@example.com.


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|The trainers find all sorts of fun ways to engage the dolphins!
Here at DRC, we always try to find new ways to enrich the dolphins' lives. This not only includes switching which trainer and dolphins work together, but also taking the interaction experience to a whole new level. It's common for guests to see us try new things in the middle of a program or narration, just to see how the dolphins will react.
We try to schedule at least one enrichment session a day for the dolphins. All of them seem to really enjoy the spontaneity and randomness. They never know what the trainers are coming down for during a session.
We recently tried taking a floating dock into the middle of the lagoon. Trainers sat on the dock and let it float around. Each of the dolphins in the front were like, "what is going on here?" Some of the kids had fun pushing on the trainer's feet or extended their dorsal fins for a tow. Others had absolutely no interest in what was going on and chose to stay by the seawall. It was a brand new experience for the maternity pod. When they finally became comfortable with the random dock, they did what they like to do best with floating objects; they pushed it to the far fence. The trainers ended up getting stuck out there for a little bit while the kids undoubtedly thought it was a riot.
The Animal Care and Training interns thought it would be fun to play a game of jack in the box with the dolphins. They decorated large trash cans with waves and got inside of them. Their goal was to pop out and surprise their gray faced friends. Unfortunately, this did not go as planned. The interns had trouble getting in and out of the cans so they eventually tried to stand behind them or simply put the lid on their heads. While we learned that we need bigger containers to play this game, it was still a lot of fun and something new to bring to the dolphins who weren't entirely sure of what was going on.
It's so fun to see how each dolphin reacts differently to new experiences. Some of them are always excited to investigate something new. Others are a little more timid and need to become comfortable when a new object or game is introduced. Enrichment allows us to get to know the dolphin's unique dolphinalities and see what makes them excited. As we continue to incorporate new things into the dolphins' lives, it helps us learn much more about them on both a personal and cognitive level.


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Conn. judge: 93-year-old woman can't keep her cats
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) -- A 93-year-old Connecticut woman who once had more than 50 cats in her home has lost a bid to get four of her felines back.
A state judge in Bridgeport ruled Wednesday that Marion Perreira of Stratford hasn't shown that she can properly care for the animals.
The Connecticut Post reports that authorities have removed 52 cats from Perreira's home and euthanized about 20 since 2010. Many cats were sick and much of her home was soaked with cat urine.
Perreira was arrested, but animal abuse charges were later dropped.
She signed an agreement in 2011 allowing the town to clean her home and have four cats returned to her, but the judge refused to allow the return of the animals.
Perreira's lawyer says he won't appeal the ruling.


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Deputy boss Claire Williams insists she is "happy" with the Oxfordshire based team's budget for 2014.
Her comments come amid reports many teams on the grid, like Sauber and even the title-charging Lotus, are struggling to survive.
"Our finances are open for everyone to see," Williams, referring to the Grove team's listing on the Frankfurt stock exchange, is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.
"We have a healthy budget and have done a good job on the business side to ensure that we are in a competitive situation as possible for next year," she insisted.
The daughter of team founder and boss Sir Frank Williams, however, said the fact Williams is in a healthy situation does not mean F1 should not do more to level the playing field.
"Williams has always embraced controls in spending," said Williams, "since they began to be implemented in 2009.
"It is very important for the sport.
"We are an independent team and so we can't afford to see costs increase when there is already such discrepancy in terms of (team) budgets.
"We must ensure that we can all compete more equally," she added.


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Bianca is a unique hybrid consisting out of three different and extremely popular strains. The famous White Widow, which is regarded as one of the most desirable marijuana strains ever produced and is a multiple Cannabis Cup winner. The Afghan strain, used to mountainous conditions, a very hardy and strong strain of cannabis, which can endure severe cold or heat. And then at last, but definitely not at least, the White Queen strain, also referred to as the Empress among the white cannabis genetics.
As I am sure you can imagine, the mixture of all these three strains, is bound to give a most exiting and beautiful strain of marijuana. It is widely sold all over the world, including in the Amsterdam coffeeshops. Depending on the space you have available, Bianca seeds will grow either indoors or outdoors. Bianca plants thrive on both occasions.
The best time for harvesting your Bianca plants will be about seven weeks, which is really fast. If you are planting your Bianca seeds outside, the right harvesting time will be about September or October, depending on the climate and conditioning. These Bianca plants grow to a medium height, so they are not very tall, due to the Afghani characteristics. There is a thick layer of THC crystals on the buds of the Bianca plant, which give them a nice and white look. The yield is pretty good as well, as the buds on the Bianca plant are big and fat. And even-though it might not be a very tall cannabis plant, it doesn't take away much of the weight in the end. The taste of the Bianca bud is a floral one, with a hint of hashish, a deep combination of flavors. It smells intense and powerful. Bianca has a very positive high, very strong. Because Bianca cannabis comes from different strains, which have different highs to it, it gives you an uplifting high with a strong lasting after-blow.


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American Ancestors and Cousins of the Princess of Wales by Gary Boyd Roberts and William Addams Reitwiesner (Genealogical Publishing Co.)
The Birthday Directory of Famous & Infamous People, 2nd edition, by Dennis Crossland (CAVA Press)
Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence by Frederick Wallace Pyne (Picton Press)
Great Americans: Famous Names, Real People by K. Otteson (Bloomsbury)
Handwriting of the Famous and Infamous by Sheila Lowe (Metro Books)
James Dean Died Here: The Locations of America's Pop Culture Landmarks by Chris Epting (Santa Monica Press)
Pocahontas' Descendants: With Corrections and Additions by Stuart E. Brown Jr., Lorraine F. Myers and Eileen M. Chappel (Genealogical Publishing Co.)
Private Lives: A True Compendium of Curious Facts, Bizarre Habits and Fascinating Anecdotes about the Lives of the Famous and Infamous throughout History by Mark Bryant (Sterling)
The Prominent Families of the United States of America by Arthur Meredyth Burke (Genealogical Publishing Co.)
The Royal Descents of 500 Immigrants to the American Colonies or the United States by Gary Boyd Roberts (Genealogical Publishing Co.)
Where Are They Buried? How Did They Die? Fitting Ends and Final Resting Places of the Famous, Infamous, and Noteworthy by Tod Benoit (Black Dog & Leventhal)
Web Sites
1930 Census Entries for the Rich and Famous
<www.rootdig.com/1930census>: Find images of famous Americans' census records — from Marlon Brando to Orville Wright, Katharine Hepburn to Martin Luther King Jr.
Associated Daughters of Early American Witches
<www.adeaw.us>: Connect with descendants of documented accused witches.
Celebrity Trees
<www.genealogy.com/famousfolks>: Surf the pedigrees of dozens of artists, athletes, politicians and other famous figures.
General Society of Mayflower Descendants
<www.mayflower.org>: Learn the history of our founding fathers and mothers, and browse the bookstore for compiled genealogies.
The Institute of Historical Research
<www.ihrinfo.ac.uk/welcome.html>: When researching anyone who might have worked in a royal household, this is one of the first places you'll want to visit. The Web site offers numerous impressive lists of officeholders employed by British monarchs and their siblings.
Just for Fun Family Trees
<genealogy.about.com/cs/famousandfun>: Find your favorite fictitious characters' family trees — from Donald Duck to Dracula.
The Presidents of the United States
<whitehouse.gov/history/presidents>: Visit the official White House Web site for biographies of all former presidents.
Yvonne's Royalty Home Page
<mypage.uniserve.ca/-canyon/royalty.html>: Get the scoop on royal family trees.
From the October 2003 Family Tree Magazine.


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Gaming headsets have certainly hit their stride in the market since the scene exploded a few years ago. Since then we've seen and reviewed countless headsets and headphones, all ranging from stereo to surround sound, digital, audio, wireless, wired, and everything in between.
From the get-go, Turtle Beach has remained a heavy hitter, consistently delivering solid-performing headsets for the gamer who wants to experience all the sound and detail video games provide without waking up the neighbors.
The PX5 marks the company's most prestigious effort yet, addressing nearly every concern and complaint gamers have voiced. Aside from a few quirks, the PX5 is truly a fantastic wireless surround sound gaming headset that offers an insane amount of customization along with a few new ideas we're really excited about.
For anyone who has used the Turtle Beach X41s, the PX5s seem like a much sturdier pair of headphones. That said, sturdier doesn't necessarily mean heavier. The headset's weight feels just right and the padded adjustable headband provides tons of cushiony comfort.
Each earcup is littered with buttons and switches. The left earcup sports an adjustable and detachable boom mic complete with wind screen along with the main power button. Along the cushioned cup you'll find a USB port, Xbox chat port, the presets button, and a game volume dial.
Looking over to the right earcup you'll find the "main" button, a mic mute, a Bluetooth LED indicator and its function button, and a Bluetooth volume switch.
The transmitting base that also doubles as a headset stand is back, a sort of cable modem-looking device that provides all the connectivity for the PX5. Up front is the power button, headphone jack, bypass button, along with a healthy amount of LED notification lights. Here players can tell if what they're hearing is being played in Dolby Digital or Pro Logic II.
Around back is where the connections are made. Turtle Beach offers two types of connectivity, analog and digital audio, with the former not available for pass-through audio.
The PX5 headset mostly resembles the Turtle Beach X41 set, but with a major overhaul under the hood. However, the setup process is nearly identical. The PX5 comes with a transmitting base that requires power via the included USB adapter (though you can purchase a USB to wall adapter separately). We used our Xbox 360 to power the base, but it also worked with a free USB port on our cable set-top box.
For entertainment setups that utilize an AV receiver, the PX5 can act as a pass-through, eliminating the need to unplug optical cables each time the headset is used. Though this worked, we did notice an occasional drop in audio when we were using the PX5's base as an audio pass-through. When we bypassed the PX5, the drops in audio went away.
For those curious about what exactly is included in the box, Turtle Beach offers up the PX5 headset, a pair of AA batteries, an Xbox Live chat cable, a USB cable, the RF transmitting base, a USB power cable, and a 6-foot optical audio cable.


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Tutorials/Arduino Projects/RC car Hacking Project/Controlling the motors
Interfacing the Arduino
The first thing we need to do before we can connect the motors is power the Arduino. To power the Arduino from the RC car power supply using the wires we soldered earlier, we will use the Arduino's 'Vin' pin which allows it to be powered from an external source without using the power plug.
Set the circuit up like the diagram below. We use the breadboard as we will need the raw battery power supply later to power the motors.
Turn the car on and you should see the Arduino power up.
Connecting the motors
Motor controllers
DC motors cannot be directly controlled by the Arduino - we will need an external motor controller to allow speed regulation as well as forwards/backwards control. These controllers all use the same fundamental concept - the H-bridge. This will use the PWM signal and convert it into useful DC motor commands.
Thankfully, VEX robotics has recently released the Motor Controller 29 - a nifty, compact motor controller to use with their new line of 2-wire motors. Fortunately for us, this is a controller that will work perfectly with our DC motors.
The VEX motor controller 29.
Another option for a motor controller is an Arduino Shield such as the Ardumoto from Sparkfun. This acts as a shield for the Arduino which lets you control up to 2 DC motors - perfect for our purposes.
The Sparkfun Ardumoto.
The wiring is pretty simple, nothing fancy. The signal cables should go to digital ports 9 and 10. Port 9 should be the Drive motor and port 10 should be the Steering motor. Keep in mind, we are powering the motor controllers straight from the battery and not from the Arduino 5V - the motors draw too much current otherwise.
NOTE: If you are using the Gymkhana or a similar vehicle with turn regulation, skip this next section.
To test the motors, we are going to write a simple program for the Arduino. First, configure the motors as Continuous Rotation Servos driveMotor (motor_5) and steerMotor(motor_6). While the motors are not actually servos, the Arduino needs to think they are for the motor controllers to work properly.
Let's make the car move forward turning one direction, then backward turning the other. This means the vehicle will end up amusing us by essentially trying to do an infinite-point turn.
- pragma config(CircuitBoardType, typeCktBoardUNO)
- pragma config(UART_Usage, UART0, uartSystemCommPort, baudRate200000, IOPins, dgtl1, dgtl0)
- pragma config(Motor, servo_9, driveMotor, tmotorServoContinuousRotation, openLoop, IOPins, dgtl9, None)
- pragma config(Motor, servo_10, steerMotor, tmotorServoContinuousRotation, openLoop, IOPins, dgtl10, None)
//*!!Code automatically generated by 'ROBOTC' configuration wizard !!*//
task main() {
while(true) { motor[steerMotor] = 127; motor[driveMotor] = 100; wait1Msec(2000); motor[steerMotor] = 0; motor[driveMotor] = 0; wait1Msec(500); motor[steerMotor] = -127; motor[driveMotor] = -100; wait1Msec(2000); motor[steerMotor] = 0; motor[driveMotor] = 0; wait1Msec(500); }
Run this out in an open area and watch the car control itself.


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Tax Organzing 101: Categorizing Your Tax-Related Documents
Keeping your tax records organized may seem daunting, but if you keep your supporting documents organized throughout the year, completing your return goes much easier and faster. As you accumulate various forms, receipts and financial reports from banks, investments and lenders, keep them separated by category so you or your tax preparer can find information easily.
Use your previous year's return as an aid to creating your categories for current year tax paperwork. If you work with a tax advisor, ask him or her which categories would be most helpful.
Here are some typical categories that individuals may have:
- Wages, salary, tips, bonuses
- Investment income
- Capital gains/losses
- Interest income
- Taxable dividend income
- Tax-exempt dividends
- Business Income
- Social Security benefits
- IRA/Pension distributions
- State and local tax refunds
- Unemployment benefits
- Rental income
- Alimony, scholarship or jury duty income
- Gambling winnings
- Sales of property
- Sales of real estate
- Long-term care distributions
- Mortgage Interest
- Interest paid
- Real estate taxes
- Residential energy credits
- Property taxes paid
- Earned income credit
- Adoption expenses
- Vehicle registrations and taxes
- Education expenses
- Student loan interest paid
- Charitable contributions
- Medical expenses
- Sales and income taxes paid
- Contributions to IRAs
- Investment interest paid
- Investment expenses
- Employment expenses
- Tax preparation fees
- Moving expenses
- Alimony paid
- Household employee wages
- Filing extensions
- Estimated tax payments
- Alternative minimum tax
Personal information
You may also want to create a category of personal information for yourself and your family. This would include your name, address, marital status, dependants, occupation, state of residence and social security numbers.
Use this list as a starting point for deciding which categories you need to keep your tax-related documents organized. Select the topics that apply to your tax situation.


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This fall's deer hunt is expected to be the best in six years as the Maine deer population continues to rebound from severe winters that decimated the herd.
Biologists are expecting hunters to kill 25,000 to 26,000 deer this year. If that happens, it'll be the most bountiful harvest since 2007, when hunters bagged nearly 29,000 animals.
About a third of Maine's deer population was wiped out with the extreme cold and deep snow packs during the winters of 2008 and 2009. But following a string of mild winters, the population has now bounced back to pre-2008 levels, said Kyle Ravana, the state's deer biologist with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
People across the state are reporting increased deer sightings, setting the stage for what should be a productive firearms hunting season, which began Saturday for residents and starts Monday for out-of-staters. The season ends Nov. 30.
"Now that we're four or five years out of those severe winters, the population has bounced back. We're looking at good hunting this year," Ravana said.
The white-tailed deer is Maine's flagship game animal, drawing tens of thousands of hunters to the woods each year and pumping millions of dollars into the state economy.
Maine has an estimated 200,000 deer, but their population is concentrated in southern and central sections of the state.
It's important to restore their numbers in western, northern and eastern Maine, said David Trahan, executive director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine. The herds in those regions are improving, but they're still thin.
When Trahan was young, northern Maine had a reputation as a first-rate area for trophy bucks, and hunting was an economic driver for the region. That's no longer the case.
"Things are looking better, but we're not going to be satisfied until the population numbers are healthy statewide," he said.
There's reason for optimism, Ravana said.
The northern Maine buck harvest increased 78 percent from 2011 to 2012, and the deer population in southern Maine is large enough that the department aims to stabilize, not grow, its numbers. Last year's statewide deer kill increased 14 percent over 2011.
"And coming off another mild winter, we're expecting another bump up in the harvest again," Ravana said.
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Free Thanksgiving dinners to be delivered to Madison senior citizens Nov. 19
Obituary: Shirley E. Neddo
Obituary: Virginia L. (Kenerson) Cullivan
Obituary: Frances Elizabeth (Colton) Vashon
Obituary: Heidi Belinda Provencher


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Marine Corp Sgt. Corey Bowen served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. While on active duty, Bowen suffered multiple severe spine and hip injuries. As he continued to recover from these injuries, his wife, Detrese, was forced to leave her job to manage his medical care, leaving the family in difficult financial straits.
Thanks to support from national non-profit organization Operation Homefront, however, Bowen is learning new job skills, and the family is now "back on track."
Now, Eckrich Food's military family support program "Operation Inspiration" and Operation Homefront have teamed up to help move the Bowen family to Georgia from California to be closer to their extended family support system.
The first step was to provide the Bowens and their four children with a new home and furnishings in Lawrenceville.
This week national Television Meteorologist Al Roker was on hand to surprise the family at the new house. The event was filmed for inclusion in an upcoming half-hour special "Operation Inspiration" that will air on, WXIA, on June 29th at 7:30pm.
Eckrich is partnering with Operation Homefront for the second consecutive year and is donating 5 cents from the purchase of each specially marked Eckrich package from May 1st through July 4th, up to $250,000, to Operation Homefront to support military families.
The federal government, actively involved in the effort to assure that the words "homeless" and "veteran" are rarely used together in a sentence in the U.S., has announced a new program.
Approximately 280 homeless veterans living on the streets and in shelters in Georgia will soon find a permanent place to call home. U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced today that HUD will provide $60 million to local public housing agencies across the country to provide permanent supportive housing to homeless veterans, many of whom are living with chronic disabling conditions. Georgia will receive nearly $1,994,934 to assist its homeless veterans.
The housing assistance which was announced this week is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA. Since 2008, a total of 48,385 vouchers have been awarded and 42,557 formerly homeless veterans are currently in homes because of HUD-VASH.
"Our veterans have answered the call of duty. That's why our nation has its own duty – to help homeless servicemen and women rejoin the very communities they have given so much to protect," said Donovan. "These grants make it possible to help more veterans obtain housing, bringing us steps closer to our goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015."
(Photo: Injured Marine Corps Sgt. Corey Bowen and his family are the recipients of a new home in Lawrenceville as a result of efforts by Eckrich Foods "Operation Inspiration" and non-profit "Operation Homefront.")


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Quick Links
Local, State and Federal Government
Links and Resources
The Internet is an indescribable
wealth of information. We have located links and resource information about
local, state and federal government that we hope will help you. Click on any of
the links provided on this page to visit the link or resource you may be looking
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Communities page.
If you would like to recommend other local resources or links,
CLICK HERE to
contact the Web Administrator.


text:
Hot Air Ballooning Horsham
Scenes Above Oz » Hot Air Ballooning venues Near Horsham Victoria
Picture This Ballooning Hot Air Ballooning
From $380.00 ppThe view of the city and countryside from a hot air balloon is a view like no other. That's why our hot air balloon flights are a must-do experience f...
Barossa Balloon Adventure Hot Air Ballooning
From $195.00 ppBarossa Balloon Adventures have been ballooning in the Barossa Valley for over 30 years. Only 75km from Adelaide, South Australia. Barossa Balloon Ad...
Balloon Flights, Tasmania & Geelong Hot Air Ballooning
From $460.00 ppDescriptions coming soon!
Cloud 9 Balloon Flights Hot Air Ballooning
From $295.00 ppWe fly in the beautiful Hawkesbury Valley, at the base of the Blue Mountains, only 45 minuets from Sydney CBD and at the base of the blue mountains.
Pokolbin, NSW Hot Air Ballooning
From $349.00 pp Min. Age 7


text:
Stocks Hold Slim Gains
Solid economic data failed to inspire investors early on but a strong day for financial shares helped pull stocks into the black. Jonathan Cheng has details on The News Hub. Photo: Getty Images.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... while ... the market now ... responding to that he's ... looking at the NYSE Euronext right in front of us ... and some of them sang ... out that it's a market support is with me in the news in now ... in opening statements dining us ... that the clothing headlines the markets of the ... fall again The remain at the mercy of what happens in Washington can see ... aam has the politicians come out and say what they're going to say ... um I think ... the tough part for us to try to figure out what your Guinea get a deal not many had twenty Frank ... of Massachusetts Democrat coming out saying ... he doesn't think the deals can be done even really see that ... that that that the markets move on that for say but ... there's a lot going on now and I think Dom ... as we head towards Christmas and people just wanna ... see some signs of deals in the video and I think they're optimistic and are leaning ... towards this idea that there will be one ... in the credit line ... to get him one of its in house CEO with that the consequences of ... failing to high cost us how height of the consequences of not can it do not ... fault the most certainly get a big selloff on the markets we could enter recession if they don't ... get a solution if they don't do anything to me in ... and most of portly the might be ... another credit rating ... downgrade which we saw last August ... when ... there's some less of the circumstances happens ... and basically the market still like them and if we get a credit downgrade again ... it's down ... it could be a lot worse ... all eyes will be focused