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Heavy Metal Mudder Phase II - Part 6: Cooling ComponentsPosted in Project Vehicles on February 1, 2010
Keeping cool is top priority. No, we're not talking about iPhones, big rims, or overpriced jeans. The cool we covet is our powertrain's vital fluid temperatures. While the operating temp of the engine is generally determined long before it sits between the vehicle's framerails, maintaining those heat numbers once the powerplant is running under the hood is not always simple.
Since our '99 Dodge Durango's factory 5.9L radiator wasn't designed for the heat and volume of the new Viper V-10 engine, we tossed it aside. After taking a few measurements and consulting with our expert Viper tech, Tom Sessions, we decided on a high-flow aluminum radiator and electric fan system from Flex-a-lite. For years Flex-a-lite has offered performance cooling systems for both OE and custom applications. When we presented them with the challenge of keeping our 505ci cool in extreme conditions, they were ready for the test.
With our Mopar Monster still being operated on by the crews from National Speed and Momentum Performance in Wilmington, North Carolina, we continue to cut and craft our way through the project. Putting the fabrication skills of both performance shops to the test, we molded our aftermarket cooling system into place and started work on the interior reassembly.
Next Month
Since we've sliced and diced almost every mounting bracket and tab on our dash, we still have a little work to do before we can finish our interior. Be sure to check us out next month as we tackle the dreaded wiring harness and finish up a few loose ends on our cooling system and interior.

subset: commoncrawl


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text: The Mississippi Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recently named Lucy Priddy as Young Engineer of the Year and Jeb Tingle as Engineer of the Year. Both are employees in the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg. Priddy is a research civil engineer and has served ...Read More »


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character reference letter for court samples
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Sunset Boulevard
Palace Theatre - Broadway
Prix dès € 171.20
It's as if we never said goodbye.
Glenn Close returns to Broadway in the tour de force performance that earned her the Tony Award® for Best Actress– and a place in Broadway history– in Sunset Boulevard.
Sunset Boulevard will co-star Michael Xavier as Joe Gillis, Siobhan Dillon as Betty Schaefer, and Fred Johanson as Max von Mayerling.
Featuring a 40-piece orchestra, the largest in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony Award®-winning masterwork of dreams and desire in the land called Hollywood comes to the Palace Theatre for 16 weeks only.


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8:30 am
Winemakers "Harvest Challenge" In the first episode, 12 people from all walks of life arrive on the gorgeous Central Coast of California just as the grape harvest kicks into high gear. It's initiation by fire as the contestants work around the clock for 48 hours picking grapes, cleaning tanks and making wine. In the end we separate the mere wine lover from the budding wine maker and find out who has the drive and dedication to become a winemaker. D
9:00 am
Knit and Crochet Now! "Scarves" Robyn will show how to make a Tunisian scarf designed by Kim Guzman and then Kristin shares a color work knit scarf by Irina Poludennko. Afghan square is crochet Pretty in Pink. D
9:30 am
Paint This With Jerry Yarnell "Autumn's Delight, Part 5" Final highlights and details. In this final episode, Jerry shows how to detail and highlight the large autumn tree with much brighter colors. Now he finishes the painting with much brighter highlights on the rocks, water, grass and trees. D
10:00 am
Primal Grill with Steven Raichlen "In The Fire" The first "grills" possessed neither grates nor burners. The grilling was done right in the embers. The march towards barbecue enlightenment hasn't completely eliminated this primal method of grilling. D
10:30 am
Barbecue University with Steven Raichlen "High on the Hog" From the Deep South comes coffee-crusted pork tenderloins with redeye barbecue sauce. Steve makes spit-roasted coconut-crusted ribs on the latest in hi-tech outdoor kitchen equipment.G
11:00 am
Connect with English "A New Home/Meet The Discussion Group" In the first segment, Rebecca arrives in San Francisco, and is surprised to discover that her godmother Nancy expects her to pay rent as well.G
11:30 am
Connect with English "Job Hunting/A Bad Day" At school, Rebecca learns that her work-study program has been canceled so she goes on a job search - and meets some interesting prospects.G
12:00 pm
Ethics In America "Truth On Trial" Is an attorney's first obligation to the court, the client, or the public? Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Judge Robert Merhige, attorneys Floyd Abrams and Stanley Chesley, philosopher John Smith, and others debate civil litigation's ethical dilemmas.G
1:00 pm
Unfinished Nation "Decade of Discord" Sectional tensions over slavery subside with the Compromise of 1850; resurface as western states seek territorial and then state status. Railroad expansion plans ignite bloodshed in Kansas and Missouri. Parties sectionalized; Whigs disappear, Republicans emerge. Lincoln-Douglas debates foreshadow future Harper's Ferry Raid convinces South they'll never be safe in the Union. Election of 1860 divides country; Abraham Lincoln wins ballot.G
1:30 pm
Unfinished Nation "House Divided" Election of Abraham Lincoln spawns secession of seven states led by South Carolina. Confederate States form provisional government before Lincoln is inaugurated, take over two southern forts. Neither side believes there will be war, but attack on Fort Sumter by Confederate forces signals beginning of conflict. Both sides mobilize quickly. Union has material advantage; Confederates win early battles. Lincoln and Union generals want to minimize damage to South so they can come back into Union. Influence of border states. Confiscation Acts address problem of captured and runaway slaves. War becomes harder with no end in sight.G
2:00 pm
Biography of America, A "America at Its Centennial" As America celebrates its centennial, 5 million people descend on Philadelphia to celebrate America's technological achievements, but some of the early principles of the Republic remain unrealized. Professor Miller and his team of historians examine where America is in 1876 and discuss the question of race. D
2:30 pm
Biography of America, A "Industrial Supremacy" Steel and stockyards are featured in this program as the mighty engine of industrialism thunders forward at the end of the nineteenth century. Professor Miller continues the story of the American Industrial Revolution in New York and Chicago, looking at the lives of Andrew Carnegie, Gustavus Swift, and the countless workers in the packinghouse and on the factory floor. D
3:00 pm
SciGirls "Workin' It Out" Jekima and friends break a sweat in steamy South Carolina hiking, playing soccer, dancing and doing yoga -- all to find out, "what's the best exercise for me?". D
3:30 pm
Biz Kid$ "Taking Charge of Your Financial Future" Join the Biz Kids as they figure out where they want to be financially and make plans on how to get there. You can work on your plans and meet some new kid entrepreneurs, too. Follow along as a Biz Kid sets up his first savings account. D
4:00 pm
The Electric Company "Wordball Games" Right before the yearly Wordball Games, the neighborhood Olympics, Hector sprains his ankle. With Hector unable to compete, The Electric Company does not have enough players to participate against the four Pranksters! But when Manny also gets hurt, the numbers are even once again. Now the question is, can Marcus handle Hector's event the Word Obstacle course?. D
4:30 pm
Cyberchase "Codename: Icky" The kids devise a series of codes to trick Hacker while searching underwater for a cyber-slug.G
5:00 pm
Knit and Crochet Now! "Scarves" Robyn will show how to make a Tunisian scarf designed by Kim Guzman and then Kristin shares a color work knit scarf by Irina Poludennko. Afghan square is crochet Pretty in Pink. D
5:30 pm
Paint This With Jerry Yarnell "Autumn's Delight, Part 5" Final highlights and details. In this final episode, Jerry shows how to detail and highlight the large autumn tree with much brighter colors. Now he finishes the painting with much brighter highlights on the rocks, water, grass and trees. D
6:00 pm
Joanne Weir's Cooking Confidence "Never Too Young" Joanne welcomes her youngest student Stella to class and they nestle in to create a menu of some of Joanne's favorite chilly weather dishes: roasted game hens with prosciutto and mushrooms and quinoa pilaf with dried blueberries and apricots. Recipes: Sweet and Hot Pepper Relish Crostini, Roasted Game Hens with Prosciutto di Parma and Mushrooms, and Quinoa Pilaf with Dried Blueberries and Apricots. Student: Stella Ginsberg, Student and Blogger. D
6:30 pm
Martha Stewart's Cooking School "Pasta" Explore the art of making fresh pasta from scratch with Martha and her friend Michael White, chef, restaurateur and pasta specialist. Learn how to make the dough and then form it into strands by hand or with a pasta machine, and to hand-shape dough into shapes such as farfalle and tortelli. D
7:00 pm
This Old House "Essex 2012/13, A Cottage in the Wood" Kevin and Norm tour scenic Essex, Massachusetts, and roll up to the new project: a 1935 English-style cottage in the woods that homeowners John and Julie Corcoran hope to turn into an accessible in-law residence for aging parents. Architect Sally DeGan and Tom use a 3-D model to preview the plan for aging in place, and work begins. D
7:30 pm
Rick Steves' Europe "Germany's Black Forest and Cologne" Rick and his family dip into a classy mineral spa, devour chocolate-cherry cake and explore Germany's most romantic forest.G
8:00 pm
Travelscope "Swiss Roots" Joseph joins his producer and wife, Julie, on her search for her Swiss roots in and around Lucerne, Switzerland. Their hunt takes Travelscope atop Mount Pilatus where they scale the local peaks, try their hand at cheese making and then travel across Lake Lucerne to historic alp horn and handoergeli (Swiss accordion) shops in the village of Schwyz. In Ebikon and Koelliken Julie takes a walk in her grandparents' footsteps and shares a glass of local wine and a pot of fondue with her long-lost and newly-met Swiss relatives. D
8:30 pm
Lidia's Italy In America "California: Pasta - The Ultimate Showcase" Lidia returns to California to visit Andy Boy farm and learns all about broccoli rabe. Later, Lidia meets up with Dino Cortopassi, owner of Corto Olive, to hear his family's colorful culinary history. Join Lidia and Grandma in the kitchen as she makes Baked Stuffed Shells, Penne with Artichokes, and Bacon Orecchiette with Andy Boy's Broccoli Rabe. D
9:00 pm
Cook's Country from America's Test Kitchen "Dixie Chicken" NULL
9:30 pm
Simply Ming "Poaching with Guest Jasper White" This week on Simply Ming it's all about Poaching - a technique that is often forgotten in today's kitchens. To help bring poaching back into favor, Ming teams up with friend and celebrated chef, Jasper White. Together they demonstrate how poaching preserves moisture and texture while adding flavor and no fat. D
10:00 pm
Primal Grill with Steven Raichlen "In The Fire" The first "grills" possessed neither grates nor burners. The grilling was done right in the embers. The march towards barbecue enlightenment hasn't completely eliminated this primal method of grilling. D
10:30 pm
Rick Steves' Europe "Germany's Black Forest and Cologne" Rick and his family dip into a classy mineral spa, devour chocolate-cherry cake and explore Germany's most romantic forest.G
11:00 pm
Death: A Personal Understanding "Death Rituals" To what degree do individual circumstances require spontaneous adaptation of traditional rites? A minister who lost her brother in the Lockerbie air disaster, and a father whose failing marriage affected his role in his young son's funeral, discuss their need to adapt traditional rituals to their own circumstances. A cancer patient planning her service in advance and a veteran at a Vietnam memorial provide a comparison of private and public rituals. D
11:30 pm
Death: A Personal Understanding "Good Death" Should we help people die, or force them to live? What constitutes a good death? Perspectives from native North American culture and urban medical ethicists provide background as we meet a woman facing death from breast cancer and a young family with a terminally ill infant. The special grief long-term caregivers can fall into is also discussed as we discover the ways that the dying can help to heal the living. D


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U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., is expected to visit RIT today to talk about the federal Omnibus Bill that was recently signed. It provides $66.29 million to NTID for its annual budget to allow the college to continue its mission to prepare deaf and hard-of-hearing students for career success.
RIT President Bill Destler and NTID President Gerry Buckley are also expected to make remarks.
A news conference is scheduled at 12:30 p.m. at Ellie's Place in the Student Development Center, building 55. RIT faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend.


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Pragmatismprevious next
Also: Realism
Pragmatism means accepting what's real and making the best of it.
Pragmatism is figuring out how to fulfill our values and mission in the real world rather than spending our energy complaining that things should be different. When we are pragmatic, we accept the status quo, even if we don't like it. We explore the cause and effect relationships that govern our lives, and then use the power we have to make things better.
Pragmatism means that we look at our own behaviors and ideas and ask ourselves—Do they work? Are they getting us to where we want to go? Pragmatism and flexibility go hand in hand, because the world keeps changing around us.
- What does pragmatism look like in a person? (0 responses)
- What does pragmatism look like in a society? (0 responses)
Photo: G & A Scholiers, Belgium


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World of Goo iPad Review
If there's anything that games like Angry Birds and Ragdoll Blaster have taught us, it's that sometimes simplicity is key. A title that pairs a single, streamlined mechanic with smart level design and quirky production values can enthrall us in ways that an overproduced licensed property almost never can. 2D Boy's World of Goo is just such a title, and its arrival on the iPad is a sheer delight.
World of Goo was crafted almost entirely by two guys who plunked $10,000 of their personal savings into its creation. When it first shipped as a Wiiware title two years ago, it became an unqualified hit, earning numerous accolades and a community of rabid followers and modders. Its success just goes to show you that a game doesn't need a huge deveIopment team and the resources of a major studio behind it to be outstanding. Plus, if our experience is any indication, its legions of fans are about to get a whole lot bigger.
More stretching than yoga class.
World of Goo's premise seems basic enough. The world is filled with balls of goo whose only wish is to be sucked through a pipe to goo heaven. Your task is to build bridges, pyramids, and various other structures out of the goo to facilitate its escape. And that's it.
Don't be deceived, however. What starts out as a simple idea quickly evolves into an engaging, addictive, and often pleasurably maddening experience.
Over the course of the game's 48 levels, you'll face increasingly puzzling challenges, such as building a goo suspension bridge over a pit of spikes, or crafting winding goo scaffolding up through the esophagus of a giant beast. Some levels require relatively straightforward thinking and rudimentary structural engineering, while others will feel like having to climb a mountain after running a marathon.
Despite the occasional frustration, however, you will not be able to stop playing. When your goo invariably falls into an abyss, or your tower collapses under its own weight, the siren's call to regroup and rebuild is irresistible.
Clamoring for the top.
Along the way, you are largely left on your own to figure out the mechanics of the game. The developers provide no tutorial, and the only in-game instruction comes in the form of enigmatic messages left by a person identified only as 'The Sign Painter.' Sometimes, these notes to the user lend a useful clue to the completion of a level, but other times they simply contain a darkly comic complaint. While we sometimes felt that this lack of guidance left us at sea in some of the initial levels, we appreciated that it encouraged us to explore, tinker with, and master the world of the game on our own.
You'll also face a physics system that is second-to-none. The weight of your goo is palpable as your structures teeter perilously, swaying in the breeze, as you strive to counterbalance the load. Likewise, weather effects and various types of basic machinery will affect your goo in creative ways. In one particularly tricky early level, for example, maddening gusts of wind blow your strand of goo toward a perpetually spinning windmill. If you don't attach balloons to your chain in just the right places and with just the right timing, your precious goo gets torn to shreds.
To further add to the challenge, you'll have to master the use of many different, specialized varieties of goo, such as elastic, rigid, reusable, helium-filled, and even flammable. Each type has a use tailored to specific situations throughout the game, and we enjoyed having to use many different kinds of goo in order to solve a complex problem. Look no further than the Chapter Three level 'The Third Wheel,' which requires no less than four types of goo in order to scale a mountain and surmount three large cogs that stand in your way.
The huddled masses.
If the situations and environments sound kooky and unpredictable, it's because they are. The level design feels like a wonderfully twisted combination of Tim Burton and Dr. Seuss' aesthetic sensibilities, which lends a charming (if sometimes a tad unsettling) visual feel to the proceedings. Prepare to see your goo erupt forth from the mouth of a frog or pass by desolate, windswept, apocalyptic vistas.
Likewise, the background music is cinematic, whimsical, and appropriately varied in tone, depending on the level. Just as the visuals are Burtonesque, the audio feels straight out of the mind of Danny Elfman and often alternates between genres such as off-kilter, chromatic polkas and gently sweeping, atmospheric melodies. In short, World of Goo is fantastic for both the eyes and ears.
Some people will likely object to the game's $9.99 price tag, but we can assure you that the investment is worth it. In addition to the title's nearly 50 levels, which took us over eight hours to complete, each level has an 'OCD' challenge for completionists, and the game also contains a meta-game wherein you use surplus goo accumulated throughout the levels to build a gigantic tower. This structure acts as an online leaderboard; as you build, you will see (and pass) clouds representing the height of other users.
If we have one complaint about the essentially flawless World of Goo, it's that the game actually comes to an end, and its creators have stated that there will not be a sequel. In that case, we may have to start a second playthrough, because, frankly, living in a world without goo is a proposition we're just not ready to face.


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Today's Featured Database is a project on ShipsListsOnline.
ShipsListsOnline is transcribing ships passenger lists leaving USA, bound for Europe and United Kingdom. Many of these passenger lists were donated to ShipsListsOnline by Shelby Thompson from her personal collection. Others were submitted by visitors to Ships Lists Online .
ShipsListsOnline is hard at work on these lists so visit the ShipsListsOnline page or join Olive Tree Genealogy Newsletter for updates on this and other Ship Passenger List Indexing Projects


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Internet Marketing forum. marketing your business and learn from each other. Also affiliates marketing ideas.
Use this control to limit the display of threads to those newer than the specified time frame.
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We have had lots of rain and cold temperatures in NW Ohio. I think all the wheat got top dressed and lots of anhydrous ammonia was put on corn ground before the rains came. I've planted some oats and alfalfa. I've taken my wife to the Cleveland Clinic four times in the last month. I take Route 224 which crosses northern Ohio. I've been disappointed as I haven't seen a single field planted to a cover crop. I look at each farm along the way as closely as I can while I drive. There are lots of new pole barns that have gone up in the last couple years. Farms along the way range from immaculate to totally run down and abandoned. One thing that is sad is the lack of names on mail boxes or signs identifying the owner of the farm. 50 years ago nearly everyone had their names on their mail boxes. I have been trying to sell some hay and straw. I put an ad in my local newspaper but have gotten very little response. I think everyone has been using Craigslist. The newspaper has been getting thinner and thinner every month and the number of ads has really gone down.
Read Daryl's last blog here:


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Game on. Competition was the name of the game for this year's Best of the Best contest. Numerous fitness facilities entered the fourth-annual contest, and after much consideration, our panel of judges decided which clubs were on top of their game for 2006. We'd like to congratulate this year's winners and applaud all those facilities that entered for their hard work in the industry.
All entries were rated on a scale of 1 to 10 based on innovation, appeal, effectiveness and cost effectiveness by our panel of judges — carefully chosen by the Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro staff for their expertise in certain categories. Each judge's totals were then tallied resulting in a total score for each club. The facility with the highest average in each category was crowned Best of the Best.
You may notice that two facilities tied for best specialized program for the obese population. Because we feel both programs equally deserve the title of Best of the Best, we've decided to feature both of them.
Turn the page to read about each of the winners and learn what others in the industry are doing. Their programs are sure to inspire and motivate fitness professionals nationwide.
Best Renovation
The Houstonian Club, Houston, TX
When you have Britney Spears and former First Lady Barbara Bush as guests, your wet areas better be up to par.
The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa in Houston, TX, is known for ritzy clientele and luxurious amenities, so it's no wonder that in 2004 when it wanted to become more of a resort property than a hotel and club operating separately, the facility decided to invest in a $3-million renovation. When you have Britney Spears and former First Lady Barbara Bush as guests, your wet areas better be up to par.
Pre-renovation, the Houstonian had three pools: a 25-yard, six-lane lap pool that was 4 feet deep; a 70,000-gallon free-form pool used by mainly hotel guests and families; and a residential, 50-gallon kidney-bean pool for adults only. That wet space was drastically changed on Aug. 20, 2004, when construction began. By May 1, 2005, a resort pool, sports pool, garden pool and pool gazebo had been built bringing in new guests, members and an energetic buzz to the facility.
This buzz was brought on by the wet area's array of features. The 4,000-square-foot resort pool includes a 32-foot long slide, waterfalls, a zero-depth entry with geysers and a separate baby pool perfect for families. The 25-meter-by-25-yard, 10-lane sports pool keeps the temperature at 80 degrees during Houston's hot summers with a state-of-the-art cooling system using a chill water heat exchanger. And, the garden pool features 1,300 square feet and an added lap lane for swimming. For prime socializing, the pool gazebo has a granite pool bar area, which seats 45 people, complete with ceiling fans, plasma TVs, a margarita machine and a dedicated kitchen. On dry land, the renovation added an outdoor surround-sound system, landscaping, cool decks with stamped concrete to create a natural-stone look, and a new service bridge connecting the hotel to the gazebo, as well as the hotel to the garden pool to maximize guest and member services. All pools are open to club members and hotel guests.
Before construction began, the Houstonian used newsletters and its Web site to inform members of the renovation. The club also posted a rendering of the three pools in its lobby as construction started and sent out a series of mailers 120, 90, 60 and 30 days prior to opening to generate excitement and increase the number of visitors to the pools. The mailers were sent to members; 9,000 households who requested membership information; and to a list of $150,000-plus income households in a seven-mile radius.
When the pools opened, beach balls and picture frames were given out to all members, and hotel room keys featured pool images and mentioned the pool opening. Press releases were also sent out about the new wet areas, and advertising featured the pools as a main selling point.
The renovation was worth it. Business increased for weekend travel and social events, member use of the spa picked up, the Sports Shop sold more swimwear and loungewear, outside dining at the gazebo doubled its revenue, swim lessons increased by 60 percent, and aquatic classes increased 40-50 percent. Most notably, membership increased from April 2005 through August 2005 by 118 members, resulting in $2.1 million.
Now that's a paycheck even big-name Houstonian guests would respect.
Best New Member Integration Program
Healthtrax at Avon Wellness Center, Avon, CT
A member coach is a partner in figuring out how to get started and keep going based on what they really want to do for a fitness program.
Healthtrax at the Avon Wellness Center in Avon, CT, is hoping to solve a mystery that clubs have struggled with since the fitness industry was born — why members quit within their first 90 days of membership.
The facility is cracking the membership code with the Healthy Connections member retention system that helps members get more out of their membership and stay connected to their fitness programs. At the core of the system is the member coach, who helps on all fronts of member integration and retention. The member coach provides welcome calls to all new members within their first 30 days of joining; facilitates coaching sessions to get them started, explains more about fitness programs and services, and how to stay motivated; provides followup to members who are at risk due to low usage; and manages weekly e-mail communications. In general, the position was designed to provide a more welcoming and supportive environment by personalizing a member's orientation into the fitness center. Originally, each member, regardless of his or her fitness level, stage of readiness or personal preference to exercise was oriented into the center in a cookie cutter fashion, says Kristine Blaha, executive director.
"By capitalizing on the members' interests and motivation level, as well as understanding how the member wanted to be supported, our member coach helped co-create a comprehensive fitness plan with the member," Blaha says. "By providing this level of support and guidance, our goal was to help members be more comfortable and confident in their program, increase their participation and ultimately decrease the number of members who quit within the first six months of their membership."
So far, the program has decreased sixth-month cancellations of new members (when comparing June 2004 to June 2005) by 34 percent, and it has better integrated new members into the center's programs and services including additional coaching sessions and personal training and group training referrals.
While the new 25-hour-a-week position cost the center $25,000 a year, it earned an additional $83,000 by increasing membership retention 3 percent (keeping 72 members at a membership rate of $1,125 per year).
The program has also led to a cultural shift operationally at the facility, as each employee is more cognizant of assisting members to become more active and comfortable in the facility, Blaha says.
However, the position's success lies in maintaining integrity, Blaha says.
"Members are aware that a member coach has no hidden agendas, i.e. selling personal training services," she says. "A member coach is their partner in figuring out how to get started and keep going based on what's best for them and what they really want to do for a fitness program."
Making sure new members are comfortable and supported is a sure way of keeping them, she says. Mystery solved.
Best On-Site Community Program
The Keller Pointe, Keller, TX
Offered free to the community, participants came to the event to "swim with the pumpkins" in the facility's indoor pool.
Ever wonder what more than 350 pounds of fruit might look like in your facility's indoor pool? Ask the staff at the Keller Pointe, the city of Keller, TX's community recreation center. They dunked 350 pumpkins (yes, pumpkin is technically a fruit) in the pool for their second-annual Pumpkin Splash event last October. Offered free to the community, participants came to the event to "swim with the pumpkins" in the facility's indoor pool. Swimmers then picked a pumpkin, dried it off, decorated it and took it home for Halloween, which was just a few days away. Other activities included face painting, darts, beanbag toss and a bounce house obstacle course.
"Parents were so thrilled that at that time of the year the kids could be indoors and do something safe around Halloween time," says Elizabeth Hart, recreation supervisor of the Keller Pointe. "Community members thought it was a great idea."
And the community sure did come out to the event — 350 of them to be exact. Through a sponsorship with Verizon, the Keller Pointe was able to offer the event for free. That sponsorship helped to bring more people to the event than the previous 2004 event, which drew roughly 200 people who each paid a small fee to attend.
Staff handled the large crowd with a well-thought out plan. Check-in was conducted outside, which alleviated a crowded lobby and long lines inside the facility, and registration was split into three alphabetical groupings to expedite check-in. The center gave each participant a goodie bag, wristband, agenda, program evaluation and a ticket for his or her wave. Each wave of 50 participants (most were children, but many adults also jumped in) had 15 minutes in the pool to find their perfect pumpkin. After all the waves were finished, the pool was opened for a free swim.
To ensure the safety of all participants, 15 lifeguards were on hand, along with part-time and full-time staff and 20 volunteers. This many hands on deck and planning helped the event run smoothly, Hart says.
Advertising was one major reason for the event's success, Hart says. The staff posted event flyers throughout the 82,000-square-foot facility, and Hart placed an ad in the local newspaper and on the city cable television channel. She also asked other local businesses for help. Three months before the event she informed business owners about it. Many let her hang posters in their buildings or donated funds or supplies.
However, word of mouth was the best advertising tactic.
"Friends told friends about the event and brought their friends," Hart says. "People were able to see the facility and what we are about, and a handful of people signed up for new memberships that night."
The Keller Pointe staff is busy planning this year's third-annual Pumpkin Splash. Because the 2005 event went so well, Hart doesn't foresee many changes.
"Not as of now," Hart says. "Because it went so smoothly and was so successful, we're just trying to run it the same way that we did last year."
Best Non-Member Program
Genesys Athletic Club, Grand Blanc, MI
The REACH program doesn't weigh its participants because the program is about lifestyle change, not a number on the scale.
When participants of the Genesys Athletic Club's REACH program attend their first group exercise class, it's important that the door is shut and the blinds are closed to ensure privacy. But a few weeks into the program, participants couldn't care less about privacy, says Ruth Anne Harmes, REACH program coordinator. Increasing a woman's self-esteem along with her health is the reason she started REACH.
"I would run into women outside of the club who said, 'I'll join the club when I lose weight,'" she says. "Because we're associated with a hospital, our median age is 43. We're not just fit 20-year-olds. We really focus on health, and I wanted to create a program that addressed these women."
Harmes pitched the idea — a low-cost, effective program for the deconditioned female market — to the hospital-based athletic center's management, and in January 2005, the REACH program was born. Each eight-week session consists of three components: weekly nutrition lectures, daily exercise classes (45 minutes in length) and a half-hour weekly coaching session with a personal wellness coach. The club gives participants a notebook with weekly education handouts, healthy recipes, and a daily food and thoughts diary to record food intake and emotions. So far, more than 500 women have completed REACH.
Harmes attributes the program's success to an attention to making deconditioned women comfortable. Besides placing group ex classes in a private studio, REACH doesn't weigh its participants. Instead, measuring is encouraged, because the program is about lifestyle change, not a number on the scale.
"I don't want any obstacles to stand in their way, and I didn't want there to be any reasons a woman wouldn't join," she says. "If they leave feeling just a little better than when they came through the door, then that's a success."
However, the program has also been successful financially. Each session has turned a profit, and in a year-and-a-half, more than 60 new memberships have been attributed to REACH. Many of these new members took advantage of their REACH incentives; the program is $249 for non-members and $199 for club members, and at the end of the eight weeks, $199 of those fees can be applied to the facility's $395 initiation fee. Also, the club invites participants to bring their family members into the facility for a free workout while they are in REACH classes. Many families take advantage of that incentive, Harmes says.
"Everyone is getting fit together, and then it becomes a family lifestyle change and not just hers," she says.
Although the program takes employee training and a dedicated staff — up to 10 coaches — it's worth it.
"Many women join because at [the end of the program] they have a relationship, and they've made exercise a part of life," she says. "We don't have to sell it because we make our money with monthly dues."
Blinds opened or closed, the REACH program is a win-win.
Best Children's Program
Bodyworks Family Sports Center, Lubbock, TX
We've opened the doors of the imagination and made each element special and unique — just like the kids.
Their mission statement may be a mouthful, but it helps keep the staff at Bodyworks Family Sports Center focused: "To help our members attain mastery and control over their bodies and lives, renewing and fulfilling their spirit, so they may use their own unique gifts and talents to become all they are meant to be."
That mission is greatly embodied in the GO! program, Bodyworks' youth fitness program targeted to children ages 2-12. The program provides a variety of weekly classes to both youth members and nonmembers including a Target & Skills program designed to teach children more specific skills such as dance, tumbling, Kung Fu and swimming.
"We knew that we wanted kids to feel like individuals with individual needs, talents and goals, so we tried to create a program that welcomed diversity and fostered originality," says Kristi Franks, youth fitness director at Bodyworks. "However, our focus is always on fun. Without it, the kids lack motivation and habit development — the same things adults need to work out."
Bodyworks' Get into the GO! Zones are designed to keep those fun levels high. Available for all youth members, they include: the AthletiZone (a full indoor basketball court), the CyberZone (an interactive gaming area with Dance, Dance Revolution and Xbox games), the GrooveZone (an exercise room with kid steps, balls and ballet barres), the RepZone (a series of hydraulic strength-training equipment made just for kids), the SplashZone (an indoor waterpark), the VertiZone (a two-story climbing wall) and the AquaZone (a junior Olympic-sized pool completed in July). During summer camps this year, the CyberZone was probably the most popular, Franks says.
"In dividing our space into these exciting areas, we were able to really highlight all the features of each zone," she says. "We've opened the doors of the imagination and made each element special and unique — just like the kids."
GO! started January 2006 with the official opening of Bodyworks Family Sports Center. The facility hoped to earn $1 million in revenue for the new center, but exceeded that by reaching $1.3 million. This spring, the center was $300,000 above its revenue goal. Since its opening, the program has helped Bodyworks almost quadruple its memberships. The facility spread the word about the program through TV and radio ads, local conventions and mailers.
The program's success has lead to additions in the program's classes including swimming lessons and possibly a special needs program later this year. To keep fresh, the GO! staff (composed of everything from elementary PE teachers to stay-at-home moms and exercise sports science majors) hosts quarterly meetings to review teaching strategies and catch up on continuing education in the field.
"I think one of the biggest reasons for our success is the willingness to share ideas, communicate regularly and keep the focus on the children."
Mission accomplished.
Best Senior Program
Fairhaven Retirement Community, Sykesville, MD
One resident improved her muscles, joints and energy level; another brags about her "25-year-old blood pressure."
Live Well. Be Well. Belong. Fairhaven Retirement Community's wellness program's marketing message says it all — promotion of a valued lifestyle, not a promise of a certain lifespan. And the Community of Well Being (COWB) program helps Fairhaven do just that.
Owned by Episcopal Ministries to the Aging, a nonprofit organization, Fairhaven began contracting Corporate Fitness Works' fitness services for the retirement community in September 2002. COWB evolved from that partnership in February 2004 and urges Fairhaven residents to "be" six things: independent, creative, strong, involved, vibrant and well. All six pillars of wellness are promoted through various events including luaus, healthy dinners, resident-organized hikes and dances, memorial candelight services around the pool and health fairs.
The program was started to emphasize the way in which Fairhaven residents were already living, says Robin Shepherd, director of residential communities at Fairhaven.
"Our community's philosophy empowers residents with opportunities and respects their right to divert from the traditional road of aging, to their own path of aging well," she says.
Part of that package includes the on-site fitness center. Besides offering treadmills, recumbent bikes, a stretch station, strength machines, a pool and a spa, group exercise classes such as yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates and water aerobics are offered. The seasonal shuffleboard court is also a popular spot.
Staff at Fairhaven constantly track enrollment and participation in monthly and quarterly events; at each COWB event residents register before entering the event and sign in at the door. All flyers and educational materials have a number in the top right corner to track distribution, and evaluations are available for each Fairhaven resident at each event.
With countless activities and offerings, COWB has surpassed its program goals. Fairhaven wanted to increase the number of residents participating in the fitness program from 211 to 235. It did that and more by recruiting two new members to the fitness program each month of the year. Fairhaven also wanted to retain at least half of its membership in the fitness program on a monthly basis. It retained 51 percent. The program also updated its pedometer program, Stepping into Spring, and the Maintain Campaign, a motivational program to help residents maintain their weight over the holidays.
Many residents have benefited from the fitness program. One resident improved her muscles, joints and energy level; another brags about her "25-year-old blood pressure."
However, COWB is much more than just fitness, Shepherd says. It practically markets itself.
"[COWB] is more than just the programs and field trips that are being offered; it is an approach to life infusing everything that takes place at Fairhaven," she says.
Best Specialized Program for the Obese Population — TIE
Elmwood Fitness Center, New Orleans
Not only does the program help make the New Orleans community healthier, but it also earns the facility $10,000-$12,000 every three months.
Nothing could stop New Orleans-based Elmwood Fitness Center's I Can Do It program — not even a hurricane. Sure, Katrina may have knocked the program a bit "off track," to use Elmwood Fitness Center Child Specialist Michael Heim's words, but it certainly didn't stop it.
The category-five storm hit the southeast Louisiana coast and Mississippi state line the morning of Aug. 29, disrupting lives, damaging property and interrupting one of I Can Do It's three-month sessions. In a region known for its delicious food and battle with obesity, the fitness and nutrition program helps children develop skill sets to regain control of their health, happiness and futures.
"Katrina hit in the middle of a session," Heim says. "Then [while everything was shut down and access to foods was limited], people started putting on pounds. When the kids were able to come back and finish the program, they actually gained weight."
Although recovery in the storm-wrecked region is ongoing, the program is doing better than ever. In fact, since Heim developed the program in 2002, the program has helped more than 350 children aged 7-17 years old increase their self-esteem and change their lifestyle.
Each session includes 36 hours of circuit training, a six-lecture nutrition series, and three guest lectures and a cooking demonstration for parents. The center even designated 2,400 square feet for strictly children's fitness.
Elmwood Fitness Center, a service of the Ochsner Health System, offers the program to members and nonmembers four times a year, charging $350 for each child per three-month session. Many children and parents are referred to the program via their primary care physician, but the program is marketed to Elmwood members through newsletters, brochures and posters. Local media — news stations, newspapers and magazines — have also helped gain notoriety for the program.
Not only does the program help make the New Orleans community healthier, but it also earns the facility roughly $10,000-$12,000 every three months, Heim says.
Although a nice bonus, revenue is not the main reason the program is offered. In fact, in 2005, Heim started Rock & Ride: Fight Against Childhood Obesity Fundraiser, a group cycling ride, for those families not able to afford the program fees. Elmwood plans to give out the $8,800 raised at the 2005 event, and hopes to raise more at the 2006 ride on Nov. 5.
Seeing the children's progress is the most rewarding part of the program, Heim says. One 15-year-old participant lost 25 pounds in 12 weeks and attended 33 out of 35 sessions, despite being a 45-minute drive away from the facility.
"If the children come and do what they're ask-ed, they find out it's actually really fun," he says. "They all start to realize what it takes to get the goal they want."
Best Specialized Program for the Obese Population — TIE
PRO Sports Club, Bellevue, WA
So far, the program has helped more than 3,500 people lose an average of 40 pounds and reduce their medication costs by $1,300 a year.
Although you can't place a price on good health, the PRO Sports Club in Bellevue, WA, has found that moving people from unhealthy habits to an active lifestyle is quite costly; however, it's a cost well worth it.
In 1993, Dr. Mark Dedomenico invested $1.4 million in the 20/20 LifeStyles program at the club. The program includes diet and nutrition education, exercise and behavior modification, all lead by a staff of physicians, registered dietitians, psychologists and personal trainers. That investment has been well worth it, Dedomenico says.
"We've recapped that money," he says. "We had to try a lot of things, and as the program developed, we could do more and more."
The hardest thing was to get people to come in to buy the program, Dedomenico says. Depending on a participant's needs, a program can last between 10-20 weeks and costs an average of $6,110-$10,290.
That cost became much easier for participants (PRO Sports Club members and non-members alike can sign up for the program) to swallow after large companies such as Costco and Nintendo agreed to add 20/20 LifeStyles as an employee benefit, picking up part of the tab. Participant numbers rose. At any given time, about 60 percent of the program's participants are from a large company. Microsoft has been with the program the longest.
Microsoft covers 80 percent of the program's costs for its employees and their spouses, and the PRO Sports Club also supplies the company with health club services. Although investing $4,888-$8,232 per employee and staff seems a hefty price to pay for healthier employees, Microsoft realizes a 195 percent return on its investment in four years.
"Mostly companies look at how they're going to save money with their budgets," Dedomenico says. "The cost of medicine is getting out of hand."
So far, the program has helped more than 3,500 people lose weight and become healthier. Participants lose an average of 40 pounds and reduce their medication costs by $1,300 a year.
Each year the program grows in size and revenue. In 2003, 536 participants helped bring in $4.1 million; in 2004, 648 earned the facility $4.8 million; in 2006, 726 signed, boosting revenue to $5.4 million. Although 2006 isn't over, 800 people are projected to bring $6 million into the program.
Ninety-eight percent of those who join the program finish it, and almost half maintain their weight loss after three years versus the national average of 2 percent. Many alumni sign up for the club's alumni program that includes fitness challenges, seminars, cooking classes, newsletters, follow-up appointments with a staff physician, repeat health assessments and access to an interactive Web site.
With the obesity epidemic getting worse every year, Dedomenico says clubs are critical.
"People need help and are looking for help," he says. "You have to help them every step of the way. That's what the health club business does."
- Vernard Alsberry, Kids Health Club
- Cuoco Black, fitness facility designer
- Lauri Bradley, Lady of America
- Bruce Carter, Optimal Fitness Systems International
- Kelli Calabrese, Calabrese Consulting LLC
- Laurie Cingle, Club Northwest
- Joe Cirulli, Gainesville Health and Fitness Center
- Sandy Coffman, Programming for Profit
- Terry Dezzutti, Merritt Athletic Clubs
- Geoff Dyer, Lifestyle Family Fitness
- Rudy Fabiano, Fabiano Designs
- Nestor Fernandez, Western Athletic Club
- Grant Gamble, ACAC Fitness and Wellness Centers
- Ronda Gates, Lifestyles by Ronda Gates
- Jasmine Jafferali, East Bank Club
- Diane Kelton, Milestone Wellness Center
- Jill Kinney, Club One
- Gale Landers, Fitness Formula
- Julie Main, Santa Barbara Athletic Club
- Colin Milner, International Council on Active Aging
- Joe Shank, Almaden Valley Athletic Club
- Steve Tharrett, consultant


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Authorities in Indiana and Washington are beginning a new effort targeting dangerous driving by operators of both semis and four-wheelers.
The Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks program from the Federal Motor Carrier Administration uses both education and high-visibility enforcement in an effort to reduce truck-involved crashes.
The Indiana campaign began on Sunday and runs through June 8.
Troopers will specifically look for motorists driving dangerously around semi trucks and other commercial motor vehicles. Some of the violations troopers will be concentrating on include unsafe lane changes, failure to yield the right of way, following too closely and aggressive driving.
A similar campaign in Washington state will be much shorter, running May 20-24, but police will ride along with truckers. When a trooper spots a car or other truck speeding, cutting others off or driving aggressively, a trooper will radio ahead to fellow officers to stop the person behind the wheel.
This is the fourth effort by the Washington State Patrol in a recent series, with the first one taking place in September 2012. During that one, 280 tickets were issued and troopers conducted 18 commercial motor vehicle inspections. In the second, last December, 286 car drivers and 23 commercial motor vehicle drivers receiving tickets for driving aggressively around other big trucks.
Troopers will concentrate their efforts along parts of I-5, I-90, I-405 as well as state routes 18 and 167.


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Our goal is to foster an engaging, challenging, and creative environment where each student feels competent, confident, and motivated to learn the skills and information necessary for success.
Our Open House schedule mimics the students' school day. Freshmen and senior parents will start their classes at 5:20, have 10 minute sessions, and hear Mr. Bob Monroe speak at 6:00.
Junior and sophomore parents will start with Mr. Monroe's message at 6:00 and attend classes after that (approximately 6:20-7:00). Juniors parents are asked to stay for a short meeting regarding our job shadow program following classes.
Please contact email@example.com if you have any questions.
Utica Community Schools is Michigan's second largest school district.
Student achievement in the district outpaces all county, state and national averages. The district's graduation rate is 12 points higher than the state average and students are staff are regularly honored for excellence.
For more information on Utica Community Schools, please visit this link .
14201 Canal Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313
Mr. Steve Bernier, IRC Administrator
Dr. Christine Johns, Superintendent of Schools
Website Accessibility


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designext brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 125 Designs von 29 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT ANY NEW SAMPLES - WE ARE WORKING ON A FEW REVISIONS TO FINAL CANDIDATES NOW. Thanks for your work!
We are looking to have a logo designed for Integrity Sports USA. The logo should include the name Integrity Sports USA along with any type of symbol related to it. The organization is a sports league that will offer different tournaments and games for Soccer (Football for those outside the US) and other sports.
We do not have anything specific in mind other than it needs to fit a primarily male audience, be unique, and current looking. This logo will be used on a web site, in print, and an apparel.
PLEASE NOTE: We do not want a huge soccer ball in the logo
UPDATE: We would like to see some more examples of logos using the initials ISU to create some type of symbol. Or possibly just the initials IS for Integrity Sports and then USA would be located somewhere else on the logo.
COLORS: The logo does NOT have to be red white a blue. Any color scheme concepts are welcome.
Integrity Sports USA
Have fun, be creative and stand out with this contest! We have a successful history of 3 completed logo contests awarded and paid. This contest will be awarded and paid as well.
- Modern, Unique Logo
- No clip art or pre-created concepts
- anything too complex or detailed
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


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Laurabradford7 needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 175 designs submitted by 23 freelance designers.
Salis Skincare
I am creating a salt scrub. Sal Salis is actually Latin for Salt! Cool huh! I also work at a spa doing facials, but am creating this salt scrub from Real Salt. The best salt in the world from Utah! It has lots of trace minerals and is completely pure and amazing. Salt has a lot of healing properties to the skin.
I really love White Stargazer lilies and would like to incorporate that into my logo. I also have a few attachments of logos that I kind of like, but don't love. My target audience is women, from ages 14-65. I am more of an organic type person, but I really like high-end looking products (ex: Aveda, Intelligent Nutrients) etc. I don't really have a Slogan, but the Skincare part should be secondary to Salis. I also included a picture of me! Just so you can see what I look like :). I also really love the getty image of the stargazer attached. However, that specific picture is a TON of money. Copying that type of idea has been kind of rough, but a worthwhile endeavor. That is why I came to 99 design.. I need your help.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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The United Soybean Board announced winners of its Outstanding Achievement Award and Excellence Award at the recent Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn. Through the awards USB recognizes the commitment of individuals and companies who have made an outstanding, positive impact on the soybean industry.
The checkoff's highest honor, the USB Outstanding Achievement Award, was awarded to Richard Wilson, retired national program leader for oilseeds and bioscience research at the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.
Wilson has made valuable contributions to the soybean industry during his distinguished 32-year career with USDA. As national program leader, he led more than 400 scientists in nearly 300 projects in crop genetics, molecular biology and agricultural product utilization.
Prior to that position, Wilson served as the research leader for the USDA-ARS Soybean and Nitrogen Fixation Research Unit, guiding the focus of soybean research on quality traits.
"I am deeply honored to receive the USB Outstanding Achievement Award and am very proud to be selected as an example of how checkoff investments are helping improve soybean quality and enhance the competitive position of U.S. soybeans in global markets," said Wilson.
Wilson's accomplishments are evidenced in part by more than 225 scientific publications, including 11 books. Even after his retirement, Wilson actively coordinates soybean research initiatives and continues to author scientific articles.
"USB farmer-leaders selected Wilson because he has made major contributions to soybean research in his tenure," said Rick Stern, USB production chair and farmer from Cream Ridge, N.J.
"Dr. Wilson was the principal investigator for two large checkoff-funded projects before he took on his role with the oilseeds program, and he's been a supporter of checkoff research for many years."
USB's Excellence Award, focused on production research, was awarded to Randy Shoemaker of USDA-ARS.
Shoemaker's contributions in genomics research have been important for soybean farmers.
In his role as a research geneticist with USDA-ARS, Shoemaker has helped lead the way in mapping the soybean genome, which will aid efforts to bring disease and pest resistance and improved soybean composition traits to the market.
Shoemaker's research, funded in part by the soybean checkoff, helped establish a genomics database that is widely used by both public and private researchers.
Through his leadership of the Soybean Genomics Executive Committee,
Shoemaker has been instrumental in guiding the strategic plans of the group and in the development of projects that have sped up the research on soybean genomics and streamlined the work being conducted across the country.
"Dr. Shoemaker stands out as a leader in the field of soybean genomics," said Stern.
"He helped establish a genomics strategic plan and guided the direction of genomics research, research that will help farmers far into the future."
USB is made up of 68 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers.
Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply.


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Best Western Wasaga Beach properties are listed below. Search for cheap and discount Best Western hotel rates in Wasaga Beach, ON for your upcoming individual or group travel. We list the best Best Western Wasaga Beach hotels & lodging so you can review the Wasaga Beach Best Western hotel list below to find the perfect place.
Our page will also show you discounted Wasaga Beach, ON lodging properties that are comparable to the quality of Best Western.Booking a group or meeting? Get bids from hotels in Wasaga Beach ON
How should we direct your call?


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10.6 million tablets is a whole heck of a lot, and that's the number that the Turkish Prime Minister is talking about purchasing. Recep Erdoğan is visiting the U.S. on a very large shopping spree, and is visiting Microsoft, Google and Apple personally, before splashing the cash.
The visit is part of the FATIH Project, designed to modernize Turkish schools by replacing textbooks and chalkboards with tablets and electronic whiteboards. The whole project is expected to cost in the region of $3billion - $4billion and take 4 years to complete.
Apple of course unveiled their interactive Textbooks back in early 2012, in a definite move to try and change the way we use tablets in education. Apple sells a lot of tablets, tens of millions every quarter, but an order such as this is not to be sniffed at.
Who out there already uses their iPad at school? Are you making use of the textbooks, or just using it as a productivity tool. We'd love to know, so drop a line in the comments below!
via 9to5Mac


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By Marcus Thompson II, CONTRA COSTA TIMES
OAKLAND - Warriors coach Mike Montgomery isn't kidding himself.
He sees through the buzz surrounding the team now. He remembers the 54 games before the Feb. 24 acquisition of Baron Davis. He knows playoffs are much further than they appear.
"I don't think it's fair to just disregard the first part of the season," Montgomery said. "We didn't do the things we needed to do and there was some learning that went on there for all of our guys. Certainly the fact that we're finishing strong, that we appear to be able to compete more often than not, is an encouraging sign for everybody. But when you sit back and step back and evaluate, you know there's a lot of things we have to do better to legitimately be a playoff contender."
The Warriors (34-48) closed the season on a high note by beating the Utah Jazz 106-89 at the Arena in the regular-season finale. They are now 18-10 with Davis, a winning percentage that would have been good for the Western Conference's No. 5 seed this season. They closed the 2004-05 season as one of the hottest teams in the league, beating Phoenix, Seattle, Houston, Sacramento, Washington and Philadelphia -- all playoff teams.
But there is still this issue of winning just 16 of their first 54 games and finishing 14 games below .500. There's still the nine-game losing streak and the two six-game skids. There are still the 21 home losses and the average of 100.9 points per game allowed.
"I wouldn't say this season is a success as a whole," Warriors executive vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin said during a press conference at halftime Wednesday. "This is not the time to throw a parade and take the summer off."
It certainly has been an eventful year for the Warriors. They lost five players and acquired six in four midseason trades. But even before the acquisition of Davis, the Warriors were playing better.
An injury to power forward Troy Murphy forced the Warriors to experiment with a small lineup, a move that inspired a transition to an uptempo style of play. Davis' arrival took the team to a whole new level.
But that doesn't change the fact that as a whole, this was Montgomery's worst season, as far as winning percentage, since going 7-23 at Stanford 1992-93. Only three coaches in franchise history have had a worse record than Montgomery in their first full season with the Warriors. Bob Feerick went 31-49 (.388) in 1962-63, his only season with the team. P.J. Carlesimo was 19-63 (.232) in 1997-98 and Dave Cowens was 17-65 (.207) in 2000-01.
"In the end," Montgomery said recently, "we're not going to the playoffs."
Late in the first half, Warriors forward Mike Dunleavy capped a fastbreak by throwing a lob pass to Davis, who threw it down backwards with two hands. The play got fans, and Mickael Pietrus and Rodney White on the bench, out of their seats. It drew smiles from Davis, Dunleavy and Richardson.
Montgomery, on the other hand, didn't twitch. He sees the hike ahead, even through the hype.
Notes: The Warriors established a single-season attendance record by averaging 16,350 fans, capped by Wednesday's showing of 16,804 fans. It's the fifth-consecutive season the Warriors have seen an increase in attendance. Only the Detroit Pistons can say the same. It's also the third-consecutive season the Warriors set a single-season franchise record. ... The Warriors finished the season tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the ninth-worst record in the league -- a feat considering that at the trade deadline, the Warriors were 16-38 and the Lakers were 28-25. There will be a drawing to determine which team drafts first provided neither team lands one of the top three picks. Utah finished with the fourth-worst record. ... Forward Zarko Cabarkapa missed his second consecutive game with an allergic reaction. ... The Jazz played without forwards Carlos Boozer (strained right foot) and Andrei Kirilenko (broken left wrist), guards Raja Bell (bruised right leg) and Raul Lopez (left knee injury) and center Curtis Borchardt.
Roller coaster of a season ends well for Golden State
Discuss anything related to Golden State Warriors basketball here
Moderators: Mr. Crackerz, JREED, Guybrush, 32


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MIAMI — LeBron James is on the bench nursing a cramp, Dwyane Wade has all eyes on him and the game of the Miami Heat's season is on the line. So naturally, the play called out of the timeout was for Mario Chalmers to save the day?
Well, that's not exactly the way Heat coach Erik Spoelstra drew it up in the huddle with his team clinging to a 99-96 lead with 44.6 seconds to play Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
But that's the way Chalmers envisioned it in his head (and on his arm, where the "Mr. Clutch" tattoo rests). It's also the way it played out, with Chalmers stepping up time after time to help the Heat rally and hold off the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-98 for a crucial Game 4 win and a commanding 3-1 series lead in The Finals.
His driving layup for a 101-96 lead was the separation the Heat needed late to seal the deal and put the Thunder away. It was a moment Chalmers is familiar with, having nailed a huge shot to help Kansas win the NCAA title in 2008.
"Coming out of that timeout I told D-Wade, 'Find me. Let's get this win,' " Chalmers said. "He found me and I was able to get to the hole."
Chalmers was able to hit his marks repeatedly, coming up with huge plays all night long as the Heat got everything they could out of their forgotten man. He was a bit player through the first three games of this series before his breakout effort in this most crucial of games for both teams.
"Mario has that thing, that thing called heart," Wade said. "And no matter what, no matter how tough we are on him, he actually thinks he's the best player on this team, and that's a gift and a curse. But tonight, it was a gift for us because he never gets down on himself. He always believes, 'Find me, I can make a shot. I can make a play.' He was huge for us. We don't win the game without what he did in the fourth quarter, making some baskets and going to the hole."
Chalmers had 17 points in the first three games of this series, combined. He shredded the Thunder for 25 Tuesday night, tying his postseason career-high and matching Wade's 25. On a night when Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook was the most dominant force on the floor, it was the oft-maligned Chalmers who stole the show with the game on the line.
Westbrook scored 17 of his game-high 43 points in the fourth. Chalmers answered with 12 of his own, including the Heat's final five points of the game. He scored 19 in the second half, helping the Heat rally from an early 17-point deficit to take control after halftime.
That driving layup, though, was the sort of play the Heat would have expected from Wade or James, not necessarily from a guy whose contributions to that point in the series didn't rate a second look.
"That kid is not afraid of any moment," Spoelstra said. "We all know that. He's a gutsy kid.
"He's a gamer. He's got guts. You can't quantify that. You can't measure it. You can't necessarily evaluate that with a kid that you're drafting. He obviously had a big moment in college. But he's done it time and time again in big games in college, big games in the pros. He's not afraid of the moment, you can't teach that."
The Thunder had Kevin Durant guarding Chalmers for much of the night, an effort to keep Durant out of foul trouble and a clear sign that they had more important issues to worry about other than the Heat starter who hadn't made much of an impact on the series up to that point.
"I took that as a sign of disrespect," Chalmers said. "For me, I worked too hard to be in this position I'm in now … I know the way they've been playing all series they've been helping off of me and letting me have those shots. And I've just been missing them. I think they forgot about me and let me roam a little bit more tonight. Even though my offense wasn't clicking [the first three games] in the series, I wanted to step up for my team and I was able to do that."
An easy target for criticism on a team with a Big 3 of James, Wade and Chris Bosh, Chalmers has a prominent role on this team as the player most likely to get yelled at. But not this time, not when he stepped into the void and saved the game for the home team.
"You've got to love his mentality," Bosh said. "He wants to be the best, and that's where it starts. He puts in the work all the time and he truly believes in his talent. It really is contagious. Once you see him, you can't help but believe in him. We've been staying on him because we need him. We knew coming into the season we needed him to be a better point guard, and we all had to get better, and he's just outlasted a tremendous amount of pressure and he's responding every time. That's what he does."
Rajon Rondo turned into an All-Star playing alongside the Celtics' Big 3 of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Chalmers has had to fend off not only the constant tough love from his teammates but the play of rookie Norris Cole, who looked good in early relief of Chalmers in this game.
It helps to have supreme confidence in yourself, that unshakable belief that you and no one else can do what you do. Chalmers has it in surplus, that ability to rise above the noise with a game on the line and deliver the dagger when needed.
"It's a part of your DNA, you're just born with it," Wade said. "What is says on his arm, 'Mr. Clutch,' that clutch gene. You've got to be born with it. And he has it."


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The greater Irish Hills area will open the holiday season starting Nov. 30 with a series of activities across the weekend.
From 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, the annual Evening of Lights at Hidden Lake Gardens will feature luminaries and lights to offer those in attendance a holiday atmosphere. The lights display will be accompanied from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday by the botanical garden's annual holiday festival.
On Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1 and 2, downtown merchants in Brooklyn will hold extended hours and Christmas open houses, while select businesses and organizations throughout the Irish Hills will also have open houses.
MIS Cares, the nonprofit arm of Michigan International Speedway, will host its fourth annual charity toy drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1.
Guests may take a lap around the track in their personal automobile in exchange for a new, unwrapped toy or a bag of nonperishable food. All items will be donated to the CCIS Food Pantry in Brooklyn and the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots campaign.
"We are happy to be part of this great event and help the local community," MIS President Roger Curtis said in a statement. "We don't just work here; we live here and we're happy to be part of this community."
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, the annual Onsted Craft Show and Jubilee will take place in the middle school gym and cafeteria, 10109 Slee Road, while at 3 p.m., the Distinguished Young Women of the Irish Hills Scholarship Program will take place at the adjoining Onsted High School. Brooklyn American Legion Post 315 will host a Christmas dinner and dance at 6 p.m. in Brooklyn. The post is at 211 Chicago St.
The Irish Hills Gift and Trade Center, 7980 U.S. 12, will host a Christmas gala from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday and again from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
"The Irish Hills are awesome, and this is just one of the many ways to show our hospitality and sense of community," said Cindy Hubbell, executive director of the Brooklyn-Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce.
For more information and a complete list of area events throughout the Irish Hills during Holidays in the Hills, visit brooklynmi.com or call the chamber office at 592-8907.
Irish Hills area opens holiday season with events set for upcoming weekend
The greater Irish Hills area will open the holiday season starting Nov. 30 with a series of activities across the weekend.


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BUDAPEST, Hungary – It's 8:30 a.m. on a work day, we're exiting a subway with a hundred other people, and it's dead quiet.
I mean, I don't hear anything other than feet on concrete and swishing clothes.
Budapest isn't exactly the quintessential large, cosmopolitan European capital city. That's true. People don't tend to go for flashy or even colorful clothing. They're not loud or demonstrative. It's a working-class mentality.
Still, walking out of that subway and not hearing a peep from a huge crowd is eerie. Then I realize: It's Monday. The start of a work week. And who's all bubbly and talkative at the start of a work week? Well, at the Deak Ferenc Ter station, on a Monday morning, nobody is. Nobody.
There's a starkness, some would say grittiness, one sees in Hungary that isn't evident across the western border in Austria. The latter is a country of obvious wealth, if not opulence. For two countries that shared control of a vast empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it's intriguing to note how their paths have diverged.
In the 17th century, the Austrians, then known as the Habsburgs, helped the Hungarians kick the Turks (Ottomans) out of Hungary. The Habsburgs decided to stick around and rule for a while, but after they lost a war to Prussia (Germany) in 1866, they took on the Hungarians as essentially equal partners. The twin capitals of Vienna and Budapest ruled the vast Austro-Hungarian empire.
Being on the losing side of World War I was a death blow to the empire. The partners split up, and, in the process of making war reparations, Hungary lost two-thirds of its territory, including Transylvania in modern-day Romania. Almost as important as losing the home of Dracula, Hungary lost a good amount of its resources and raw materials.
Austria and Hungary both joined (under pressure, no doubt) Nazi-led Germany for World War II – the war during which pretty much all of Europe finally got the idea that killing people in bulk isn't so much fun after all.
In any case, post World War II is where these once-powerful cohorts radically diverged.
Austria rebuilt under the U.S.'s Marshall Plan. It is now economically sound, environmentally aware and, to be honest, not the cheapest place to travel.
Meanwhile, Hungary was coerced into the Soviet bloc, and oppressed both by the Soviets and Hungarian communist hard-liners. Even after escaping from behind the Iron Curtain in 1990 it has been financially distressed. But it is cheaper for the traveler.
This juxtaposition is seen in the infrastructure. While Budapest does have some modern subway cars and trams and buses, many are what a Westerner would call antiques, possibly 50 or 60 or more years old. Again by Western standards, many of Hungary's bathrooms, light fixtures and roads just seem dated and worn.
Austria is all about modernity and tidiness. Just check out the immaculately cultivated fields as you cross the border. Everything is neatly tilled and trimmed. The well-behaved cattle seem to stay politely on the edges of bright-green grass fields, not to ruin the bucolic scene. The autobahns are wide, and rest area bathrooms large and clean and state-of-the-art.
Or compare architecture. Sure, Buda and Pest (the twin cities linked by numerous bridges across the Danube River) have fantastic, impressive architecture, mostly 19th-century creations, in the old parts of town. But hike up to the Buda Castle and look toward eastern Pest. Off in the distance are the blocky, gray, drab but functional apartment buildings constructed quickly and cheaply in the communist era. Austria has no such conforming, government-issued structures.
Maybe one day, maybe soon, Hungary will bounce back. On Monday mornings in the future, subway riders will alight with a bounce in their step and smile on their faces. (Don't count on it – that's just not Hungarians' style.)
But before it can move on, Hungary still has a lot to put in its past. Memento Park on the western outskirts of Buda is one attempt at that. It's where Budapest put 42 communist-era statues once prominent around the city, our tour guide Dora Szkuklik tells us. Stalin's public statue was pulverized during the 1956 uprising that the Soviets squelched, but there's a Lenin, a Marx and plenty of happy workers. There's a gargantuan 30-foot-high statue of a Soviet soldier running with a flag, once positioned in Heroes Square. The locals jokingly call him the "cloakroom attendant" – he appears to be running after someone who's forgotten a scarf.
It's obvious the past won't disappear overnight. At the House of Terror, now a museum at the sight of the former state security headquarters, enemies of the regime were once imprisoned and tortured. Hungary may eventually look back at its era under communism and laugh long and hard, but not yet. To me, one House of Terror display says it all:
As you complete your tour of the exhibits there's a wall of victimizers, people known to have been in charge of imprisoning and torturing. Below each head shot is a name, year of birth, and year of death. And this is what struck me: For many faces, the year of death has yet to be filled in.


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Late last week, we reluctantly handed over more than 3,000 confidential e-mails to BP, as part of a subpoena from the oil company demanding access to them because of the Deepwater Horizon disaster lawsuit brought by the US government. We are accused of no crimes, nor are we party to the lawsuit. We are two scientists at an academic research institution who responded to requests for help from BP and government officials at a time of crisis.
Because there are insufficient laws and legal precedent to shield independent scientific researchers, BP was able to use the federal courts to gain access to our private information. Although the presiding judge magistrate recognized the need to protect confidential e-mails to avoid deterring future research, she granted BP's request.
It is the lack of legal protection that has us concerned.
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster caused the death of 11 people and spilled oil at an unprecedented depth of nearly a mile under the Gulf of Mexico. That deep-sea environment was aqua incognita to the oil industry and federal responders, but a familiar neighborhood for us at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. BP and Coast Guard officials asked for our help to assess the disaster, and we obliged.
We responded by leading on-site operations using robotic submersibles equipped with advanced technologies that we had developed for marine science. We applied them to measure the rate of fluid release from the well and to sample fluids from within the well. We then volunteered our professional time to scrutinize this data and published two peer-reviewed studies in a respected scientific journal. We determined an average flow rate of 57,000 barrels of oil per day and calculated a total release of approximately 4.9 million barrels.
BP claimed that it needed to better understand our findings because billions of dollars in fines are potentially at stake. So we produced more than 50,000 pages of documents, raw data, reports, and algorithms used in our research — everything BP would need to analyze and confirm our findings. But BP still demanded access to our private communications. Our concern is not simply invasion of privacy, but the erosion of the scientific deliberative process.
Deliberation is an integral part of the scientific method that has existed for more than 2,000 years; e-mail is the 21st century medium by which these deliberations now often occur. During this process, researchers challenge each other and hone ideas. In reviewing our private documents, BP will probably find e-mail correspondence showing that during the course of our analysis, we hit dead-ends; that we remained skeptical and pushed one another to analyze data from various perspectives; that we discovered weaknesses in our methods (if only to find ways to make them stronger); or that we modified our course, especially when we received new information that provided additional insight and caused us to re-examine hypotheses and methods.
In these candid discussions among researchers, constructive criticism and devil's advocacy are welcomed. Such interchange does not cast doubt on the strengths of our conclusions; rather, it constitutes the typically unvarnished, yet rigorous, deliberative process by which scientists test and refine their conclusions to reduce uncertainty and increase accuracy. To ensure the research's quality, scientific peers conduct an independent and comprehensive review of the work before it is published.
A byproduct of the order to hand over our e-mails is that BP now has access to the intellectual property attached to the e-mails, including advanced robotic navigation tools and sub-sea surveillance technologies that have required substantial research investment by our laboratories and have great economic value to marine industries such as offshore energy production. The court provides no counterbalancing legal assistance to verify that BP or its affiliates do not infringe on our property rights. Although there is a confidentiality agreement that BP is subject to, the burden is left entirely to us, a single academic research organization, to police the use of our intellectual property by one of the largest corporations in the world.
Ultimately this is not about BP. Our experience highlights that virtually all of scientists' deliberative communications, including e-mails and attached documents, can be subject to legal proceedings without limitation. Incomplete thoughts and half-finished documents attached to e-mails can be taken out of context and impugned by people who have a motive for discrediting the findings In addition to obscuring true scientific findings, this situation casts a chill over the scientific process. In future crises, scientists may censor or avoid deliberations, and more importantly, be reluctant to volunteer valuable expertise and technology that emergency responders don't possess. Open, scientific deliberation is critical to science. It needs to be protected in a way that maintains transparency in the scientific process, but also avoids unnecessary intrusions that stifle research vital to national security and economic interests.Christopher Reddy and Richard Camilli are scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.


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NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners & Tacoma Rainiers blogger Danny Ferguson tells us what to expect from the AAA farm team of the M's in 2012. Fans should see Adam Moore, Franklin Gutierrez and Mike Carp in Tacoma on training assignments before being activated off the disabled list. Does Tacoma have the same potential this season as well? It is hard to know exactly what to expect with a fluctuating roster of a AAA team.
Five things to expect from the Tacoma Rainiers in April
April 5, 2012 By


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The all new 7" tablet from Google
Now thinner, lighter, and faster - Nexus 7 brings you the perfect mix of power and portability and features the world's sharpest 7" tablet screen.
Smart, thin and gorgeous
The clean, simple design features a slim body, a thin bezel and a soft-touch, matte back. So it sits comfortably in the palm of your hand while the bright, beautiful 7" display brings your entertainment to life.
Lighter than ever, lasts longer
At just 0.64lbs (290g), the all-new Nexus 7 is light enough to take anywhere and fits easily in bags, backpacks, and even back-pockets. With up to 9 hours of HD video playback and 10 hours of web browsing or e-reading, there's plenty of juice to get you through the day, and built-in wireless charging means you can charge, grab, and go.
The sharpest 7" tablet screen ever
The world's highest-resolution 7" tablet puts over 2.3 million pixels in the palm of your hand. With 323 pixels packed into every inch, you can read text that's sharper than the printed page, see images more vivid than the highest quality photo magazine, and watch videos come to life in vibrant 1080p HD.
Fast and smooth
Nexus 7 is made by ASUS and packs a serious punch. With a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB of RAM, everything runs faster. Plus, high-performance rendering ensures 3D graphics are smooth and dynamic.
Sound that surrounds
Nexus 7 features stereo speakers and Surround Sound powered by Fraunhofer3 (the MP3 inventors) so you get rich and immersive audio. Hear it all more clearly with finely tuned volume boost technology that makes dialog and sound crisp and easier on the ears.
Best of Google
Nexus 7 comes loaded with your favorite Google apps - like Chrome, Gmail, YouTube, Hangouts and Google Now - so you can browse, watch, share and stay connected wherever you go. And because Google apps are designed for the cloud, everything is simple and works seamlessly across your phone, tablet and computer. Now you have all the stuff you need, when you need it.
Powered by Android
Nexus 7 is the first tablet to ship with Android 4.3, the latest version of the world's most popular mobile operating system so it's fast, fun and easy to make your own. Share your tablet with friends and family - each person has a separate customizable space, including personal homescreen, wallpaper, apps, storage, and more. You can also manage access to apps and content to create an experience that's appropriate for each member of the family.
Ready to Play
Nexus 7 is great for gaming and with favorites like Prince of Persia, Asphalt 8, and Riptide GP 2, you can tilt, tap, and touch your way to the top. The brand new Play Games app also lets you track your achievements, play with (or against) friends and gamers around the world, and discover new exciting games. And with an ever-expanding number of tablet-optimized apps like Flipboard, Expedia, or The Fancy, you'll find all the apps you love, and love the many new apps you'll find.
Kick back with the world's largest collection of eBooks, listen to millions of music tracks with All Access, and immerse yourself in thousands of movies and TV shows on Google Play.
Operating System: Android? 4.3 (Jelly Bean)
Display: 7.02" 1920x1200 HD IPS display (323 ppi); Scratch resistant Corning? glass
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro, 1.5GHz
Graphics: Adreno 320, 400MHz
Connectivity: 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4G/5G)
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: Available in 16GB or 32GB
Camera: Front 1.2MP fixed focus; Rear 5MP auto focus
Sensors: GPS, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Compass, Ambient Light
Audio: Mono speakers, Surround Sound - powered by Fraunhofer3
Battery: Up to 9 hours1
Dimensions: 114 x 200 x 8.65 mm
Weight: 0.64 lbs
Ports & Connectors:
Power and Volume buttons
3.5mm audio
1 x Micro USB port
SlimPort? enabled


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Last tango in Paris
Tribute will be paid at the start to two-time Tour winner Laurent Fignon, who died last year and rode for the Créteil club in his younger days. From there, the peloton will roll out in a festive atmosphere. Even by Tour standards, this final day is short at just 95km following the transfer from Grenoble, but will be no less intense once the race leader's team have led the race onto the Champs-Elysées. Mark Cavendish has won this stage for the past two years and his goal will be to make that a hat-trick and do so with the green jersey
on his shoulders.
Details -
Distance: 95 km
Highest point: 65m
Category: Flat
Bernhard Eisel says...
"Obviously by now you're just desperate to finish the thing. If you were a horse, they'd shoot you. That's all forgotten though, replaced by the sheer joy of riding. It's a celebration but it's also work. It's made for Cavendish and the eyes of the world are on us."
Matt White says...
"Can Cav be beaten on this hallowed strip of road? It's all in the lead out. The battle across the Place de la Concorde is a battle for victory."


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California Casualty has partnered with education associations for more than 65 years. We understand the growing financial strain on our public schools, and we want to help our friends in the education community.
The California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant was established to provide support to public middle and high school sports programs negatively impacted by reduced budgets.
The grant program name is a tribute to Thomas "Tom" Brown, Honorary Chairman of the California Casualty Group's Advisory Board and an avid supporter of youth sports. More about us


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MIDDLEBURY — The man accused in a string of burglaries committed in Addison County earlier this year faced additional charges in Vermont Superior Court's Criminal Division in Middlebury on Wednesday and was denied bail.
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Kitty and dog behavior
I have a couple questions that I'm looking for ideas on. the first is the more important. And grossest. a couple weeks ago Remington became quite irate with me when I came home after work, fed and walked him, and then had to leave again. that doesn't happen very often, but i try to make sure that there's no food on the counter and the garbage is secured because he's always gotten at both when he's been displeased with me. Except that this time, he went for the cat box, which I have recently moved to the living room of the apartment to prepare for my mother coming to stay with me for a couple months. (I was using the spare room for keeping the cat food safe and for their potty. she's not keen and cats, so the box needs to come out so she can close the door at night to sleep) He snacked. And then the next day while I was out helping mom pack, he had some pretty major diarrhea all over my bedroom, where I had him secured with his water bowl. As I was shampooing the carpet, I could smell cat urine, indicating to me that he'd eaten more than just some tootsie rolls from the litterbox. I saw one homemade litterbox on here recently, which I'm keen to try, but if anyone else has any suggestions, i'd be grateful. Rem does prefer the living room, so he can lay on the back of the couch and watch out the front window.
My second question is this: Boo has taken to nibbling the edge of the box tops that they like to sleep in. Okay, Gizmo primarily sleeps in them, but still. i don't especially mind, I can replace the box tops and clean up the shreds. with 3 furballs, I vacuum fairly often anyway. But she's also started to nibble on a couple of other boxes, ones that I actually need to stay intact because they're full. Can I train her to nibble on just certain ones and leave others alone? Or is this going to be an all or nothing situation? Seems like a tricky distinction for a little kitty to make, but I really can't have to chewing the boxes of Mom's old vinyl records, for instance. She also seems to really enjoy it. She's definitely the more destructive of the two, having 'killed' a couple of small fuzzy toys, where Gizmo really hasn't. He just loses them! I hate to take away something she likes, but....
(btw, the product that I used to get out the cat urine odor is called Kids and Pets. HERE I found it at Wal-Mart for about 5 bucks a 32oz bottle. Within minutes of thoroughly soaking the carpet, a good close sniff couldn't detect anything but the product. Once dried, there was no sign of the mess left at all. Very nice, and very affordable.)
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They're here: Talking about the v-word
Based on over 200 interviews with women from around the world, Eve Ensler's play, The Vagina Monologues, "explores the humor, power, pain, wisdom, outrage, mystery and excitement hidden in the vagina." That is, if you believe the hype that public relations types are famous for. That's the first line of their press release.
It's undeniable that this show has been a huge hit and that it has had a huge impact. It's grown from an off-Broadway favorite into an international phenomenon, performed in over 40 countries. There are currently two North American touring companies booked in 160 cities.
And Charlottesville is on the list. To capture the essence of the off-Broadway production (which featured a number of well-known performers doing guest spots), this tour has been specifically designed to include special appearances. Well-known actresses who fill the "third chair" on the stage along with Gretchen Lee Krich and Joyce Lee– the featured performers– generally have a connection to the city where they appear.
Charlottesville's own Amanda McRaven takes the stage in the production local audiences will see. McRaven has directed, produced, and acted in the play at UVA and at Live Arts. She has also toured internationally with Shenandoah Shakespeare and works as a director, writer, rock and acoustic DJ, and an acting teacher. She is currently directing the Live Arts production of True West.
Joyce Lee last appeared in TheaterVirginia's production of Tamer of Horses and is a graduate of NYU's graduate acting program. Gretchen Lee Krich has appeared in numerous New York productions as well as in television and film roles.
The Vagina Monologues was originally produced in 1996 by HOME for Contemporary Theatre in New York and opened off-Broadway in 1999. This production is directed by Abby Epstein, who has been in charge of several other incarnations of the show. Next season she takes on Eve Ensler's anticipated new piece, The Good Body.
The show runs for eight performances beginning Tuesday, February 11, and continuing through Sunday, February 16, at the Jefferson Theater on the Downtown Mall. 7:30pm most evenings with 2pm matinees on February 15 and 16. $29.50-$38.50. Tickets are available on-line at www.musictoday.com or by phone at 800-594-TIXX.


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Inspired by the raked sands and pebbled outcroppings of a Japanese Zen garden, Dollino matelassé is a study in quiet texture. The garden's simplicity inspired Sferra's color as well; its pure white hue recalls linens naturally bleached by the sun.
Piece-dyed Matelassé, stonewashed, pre-washed, and woven of 100% cotton in Portugal. Blanket and shams are finished with a plain hem and a 2" flange.
In 1891, Gennaro Sferra set the highest standard for luxury linens when he opened his SFERRA Fine Linens operation in Venice, Italy. His intricate Venetian lace cuffs and collars were prized and coveted, and as the turn of the century approached, Gennaro expanded his market to the United States. Traveling regularly in the U.S., he found his ideal clientele in the grand seaside resorts that dotted the East Coast from Maine to Palm Beach.
Recognizing the growing demand for delicate hand embroideries, Gennaro decided to take the next steps in building his business. In 1905, he opened Factory 5007 San Severo, located in the shadow of the Rialto Bridge in Venice. And in 1912, Gennaro relocated his family to a shop on Fifth Avenue, returning to his homeland twice each year by steamer to create a new collection of the most luxurious linens, handmade laces and embroideries in the world. Gennaro Sferra built a reputation on these linens—and his once small company experienced international growth.
A generation later, Gennaro's two sons, Enrico and Albert, further expanded their father's collection to include the most luxurious European linens of the day–renowned double damask from Ireland, Alençon laces from France, and beautiful embroideries from Belgium and Switzerland. SFERRA began providing exquisite bedding, luxurious bath linens and fine table linens to choice homes and hotels alike.
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