text:
Give Obama
a chance
My heart and soul are hurt by Mr. Jim Drennan's comparison of President Obama to a groundhog! This is demeaning beyond belief, and damaging to honest discourse.
Barack Obama is of finer character than many men who have served as leader of the United States. His book, "The Audacity of Hope," is a wonderful portrayal of his ideals, and they are the highest and best for our country, in my opinion.
His leadership has been not up to par in the first two years perhaps, but if the Republicans hadn't made it a mission to block everything he tried in Congress, we would all be in a better place.
It is clear I would not have been supporting George W. Bush, but never in his eight years did I wish he would fail! I wished he would succeed better in Iraq once he made a war there, and I hoped I'd be proven wrong in the many areas I differed with him.
This sadly gridlocked condition we are in has benefited no one. President Bush got to do what he wanted, and President Obama should have been given the same chance.
The best aspect of our democracy is that the opposition didn't make a coup after this regrettable November election. This is the biggest strength of our system in comparison with other countries.
Roz Luther
Underwood, Wash.
Guns not
to blame
I read the letter from the Best family in the Jan. 12 issue of the Hood River News with sadness. Why is it that every time a firearm is used in the commission of a heinous act we blame the gun?
I feel terrible for all the families that were forever affected by the recent shootings in Arizona, but I truly believe that at times like this we must put the blame where it belongs: on the perpetrator, not the tool.
To believe that firearms are to blame for gun violence is akin to believing that pencils are responsible for misspelled words. Further, it would not have mattered that this was a "semi-automatic" handgun, for if they were not available, a couple of revolvers could have produced the same result.
Being willing to compromise my Second Amendment rights and thinking that our communities are safer for doing so is wrong thinking. It would only serve to make us more vulnerable.
Please check statistics and become informed voters; not ones given to knee-jerk reactions in times of profound injustice or emotion.
Ralph Lane Jr.
Hood River
Check statistics
I would like to respond to a letter written by Wendy and Dick Best (Jan.12).
First of all, quite like the sheriff of Pima County, Ariz., they are wrong to lay the blame for the shooting tragedy last week on "political extremists."
According to his family and friends, the man responsible for that nightmare did not watch Fox News or any other news station. He did not listen to talk radio. He was not a member of any well known political group. He was simply a troubled man suffering from mental illness.
It is sad to read the thoughts of some people who wish to change the Constitution of the United States to something more acceptable to them. They state the founding fathers had no idea what a semi-automatic handgun could do. On that point Wendy and Dick are absolutely right.
The founding fathers did have an idea, however, how insecure a population could be with all power in the hands of the government. The Fathers were not thinking about the right of a farmer to hunt game, but the right of a people to be free.
They go on to state the 30,000 people in Mexico have died in gun violence by drug cartels and ask if we are heading in that direction. Well, Mexico has some of the most strict gun laws in the world and that has gotten them nowhere.
While I am saddened by the events in Arizona, a call for gun control is simply an avenue with an uncertain future. There are 70 million gun owners in the United States and in Oregon there are many tens of thousands of people with a permit to carry a loaded handgun. Wendy and Dick Best are in the vicinity of a firearm more times than they are aware.
Ninety-nine-point-six percent of all guns are never involved in a crime, according to FBI statistics. I would urge people to do a little checking on the facts before laying the blame for something really tragic on those who are not in any way responsible.
Mike Farmer
Hood River
Vote disappoints
I've read with interest the recent exchange of letters in the Hood River News about the values represented by Congressman Greg Walden's voting record.
While I am disturbed by our Congressman's record on multiple issues within just the last month, what has alarmed me the most is his vote against HR 2103, the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act.
This bipartisan bill was unanimously passed by the Senate before being sent to the House. It would have authorized existing State Department funds to be used to implement a strategy to protect girls from forced marriage.
In a letter to Congress, Archbishop Desmond Tutu pleaded for passage of the bill, saying: "Child marriage is a harmful practice that treats young girls as property, stops their education and robs them of their childhood and dignity. By passing this bill, you may help make the difference between lives of opportunity or enslavement for millions of girls.
"Child marriage is sanctioned sexual abuse that destroys girls' lives. The choice before this Congress is to do nothing as young girls, children, continue to be enslaved, raped, and condemned to a life of abuse and poverty.
"Or, we can join the U.S. Senate and vote to pass HR 2103 and have the United States stand with millions of girls - today and tomorrow - who seek nothing more than the freedom, the opportunity, and the time be allowed to be children and grow into adulthood without being forced into marriage."
I had to wonder about Congressman Walden's values when he voted against the bill to improve health services and provide financial compensation for 9/11 first responders, but he believes in fiscal responsibility and I guess he thought it would cost too much. However, the Preventing Child Marriage would not have spent one additional dollar that was not already appropriated by Congress for health, education, democracy, or other development activities.
I can only presume that Congressman Walden and his Republican colleagues in the House didn't regard it as a good use of those funds. We all have to make hard choices about how to spend our resources, but I believe that we can mix fiscal responsibility with a spirit of compassion and generosity.
Unfortunately, I do not see this spirit demonstrated by the voting record of Congressman Walden. I am ashamed to be represented by a man who helped defeat such an important effort to provide opportunity to girls who, in Archbishop Tutu's words, are "condemned to a life of abuse and poverty."
Paul Woolery
Hood River
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text:
April 14, 2007
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Rookie Stephen Morton dominated his events and the Engineers collected 11 event victories as MIT defeated four opponents from the Pine Tree State, Saturday, at Steinbrenner Stadium. MIT closed with 262 points to finish well-ahead of second-place Bates College (191), while Colby (91), Southern Maine (85) and Colby-Sawyer (43), finished third through fifth, respectively.
MIT was dominant in nearly every part of the meet, winning every event on the track from 100-5000 meters with the exception of the steeplechase and the 400 hurdles. Morton was in spectacular form as he easily swept the sprint events. Morton broke the tape in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.88 before cruising to a split of 21.91 in the 200m.
Morton also led a tremendous team performance in the jumps. The freshman jumped 22'8" to outdistance teammate Anthony Teixeira for top honors in the long jump, although Teixeira paced a 1-2-3 finish in the triple jump after a leap of 43'6". Morton equaled Teixeira's distance later in the event to secure second, while Chris Bateman followed up a fourth-place finish in the long jump to finish third in the triple. Teixeira's win in the triple jump served as his second victory on the day after he outdueled Omari Stephens for a 1-2 finish in the 110-meter high hurdles.
The highlights for the Engineers on Saturday were numerous. James Oleinik enjoyed an easy victory in the shot out as his toss of 48'11" was over three feet further than the nearest competitor, while Greg Tao won the pole vault. William Fedus split 50.07 to win the open 400m and followed up with a fifth-place finish in the 200m, and the 4x100-meter relay unit was also convincing in its first-place showing.
Bill Phipps finished on top in the race of the day, splitting 1:58.14 to finish three-one hundredths of one second ahead of Southern Maine's Jimmy Sawyer (1:58.17). MIT had three runners under the 2-minute mark in the race and three of the top six finishers.
MIT was even more dominant in the 5000m. While senior Eric Khatchadourian cruised to victory in a time of 15:10.4, the Cardinal and Gray also grabbed third through fifth, with Chris Wong, Brian Jacokes and Trevor Rundell authoring the mighty team effort.

subset: commoncrawl


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|Livermore, Calif.
|High School:
|Granada HS
Doug Whichard finished 34th at the 2009 Big West Championship meet in a time of 25:24.6, a personal best in the 8k...Ran a personal best 35:55.58 in the 10k to finish 177th at the NCAA West Regional champonship...Also set a personal best in the 5k when he ran a 15:36.31 at the Cal State Northridge Invitational...Finished 42nd at the UC Riverside Cross Country Invitational at 25:20.9...As a freshman in 2008, Whichard finished 46th at the Big West Championships with a time of 26:22 over the 8k course...Also competed at the Stanford Invitational, placing 183rd with a time of 27:49.
High School
Whichard placed eighth in the East Bay Athletic League Finals for cross country in 2005 and 2006...Went on to place second at the CIF-NCS Cross Country Finals, which qualified for the State Meet...In track he was 3200m league champion in both 2006 and 2007...Was also 800m and 1600m league champion in 2007...Placed third in the 1600m CIF-NCS final, qualifying for the State Meet...Lettered in golf his freshman year.
Son of Kim and Craig Whichard...Double majoring in Environmental Studies and Geography...Most memorable moments were winning three League Championships in one meet as well as winning the 800m, 1600m and 3200m during his senior year of high school...Favorite sports teams are the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland A's, Golden State Warriors and the San Jose Sharks...Enjoys watching James Bond films...In his free time you can find him throwing a frisbee or hiking...Favorite athletes are Steve Young and Jerry Rice.
Collegiate Career Bests
8k-24:21 (Northridge Invitational, 10/16/10)
1500m- 3:59 (USC Invitational, March 2011)
5000m- 14:52 (Ben Brown Invitational, March 2011)
3000m- 8:34 (All-Cal Meet, Feb. 2011)


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Gaston County�s hospital unveiled a new name and slogan Thursday.
Gaston County�s hospital unveiled a new name and slogan Thursday.
The name: CaroMont Regional Medical Center.
The slogan: �Cheat Death.�
The move sparked criticism among residents and county leaders.
CaroMont Regional Medical Center will take the place of Gaston Memorial Hospital.
The changes for Gaston County�s hospital come on the heels of a March announcement of plans for changes in Cleveland County�s health system.
The operators of Charlotte-based Carolinas HealthCare System will pay Cleveland County more than $100 million to take over the property and operations of the Cleveland County HealthCare System. Plans include a new Cleveland County Health Department facility and a local presence of Levine Children�s Hospital.
�A health movement�
During an announcement of Gaston County�s hospital changes Thursday, leaders focused attention on a plan to improve the health of the region�s residents.
The strategy will have the health-care nonprofit partnering with restaurants for cheat death menu items and gyms for cheat death workouts.
A social media campaign will offer tips on cheating death.
�What we�re actually talking about for this community is a health movement,� said CaroMont CEO Randall Kelley.
The move is largely a response to studies that show the health of Gaston residents compares poorly with the rest of the state and nation, said Kelley.
Cheat death represents a shift from the focus on solely curing the sick and injured to preventing sickness and injury in the first place.
Get beyond the initial shock of the word death and Kelley says people can realize the tagline represents exactly what patients want doctors to help them do � live longer.
Why the change?
The hospital name change touches on problems uncovered by research with patients and staff, according to the CaroMont CEO and heads of the Chapel Hill marketing firm Immortology.
Focus groups showed people from Gaston County, regardless of whether they have been to the hospital, overwhelmingly have negative opinions of Gaston Memorial, said David Smith, a creative director for Immortology.
�So negative, in fact, it is overshadowing not only the CaroMont system name but it also overshadows the great and good work we�re doing here every day,� Kelley said.
People fail to realize Gaston Memorial and CaroMont have been one and the same for more than a decade, according to Kelley.
The CEO said the new name will also better reflect the reach of the hospital outside the county line.
Smith is the son of hospital Board of Trustee member David Smith.
Board Chairman Spurgeon Mackie, as well as David Smith Sr., said CaroMont�s management � not trustees � hired Immortology for help with research and marketing.
The decision came before the board got word of the plan, according to Mackie.
�There�s no conflict,� he said.
Leaders opposed to slogan
Hours after CaroMont made its announcement Thursday, hospital board member and county commissioner Jason Williams was calling for the health-care nonprofit to back away from the cheat death slogan.
�I think this campaign, albeit very well intentioned in my opinion, is going to strike out here in our county,� he wrote in an email to fellow hospital Board of Trustee members.
He suggested stopping the marketing campaign and looking for a new, positive tagline.
Williams said he has heard from CaroMont employees who feel the language cheapens their mission, as well as pastors who find the message blasphemous.
Tom Keigher, one of several Gaston County commissioners who have condemned the name change, took issue with both the CaroMont Regional name and the cheat death catchphrase. He took issue with CaroMont�s decision to stop using �memorial� in the hospital name.
�Do we need to start thinking of new names for the Lincoln Memorial or the Jefferson Memorial?� he asked.
Commissioners have also argued the new name is disrespectful to veterans, for whom the hospital was named Gaston Memorial.
Will the changes stick?
Keigher insists the new hospital name and CaroMont�s marketing campaign should have been subject to a vote by the hospital�s board.
Commissioners appoint all but one member of the group.
�We just need to make sure we take better care with the people we appoint to this board,� Keigher said.
They are there to serve county residents who own the hospital building and to help guide administration, not to work for CaroMont, said the commissioner.
He doesn�t think CaroMont will reverse its decision on the hospital name.
�I wouldn�t be surprised if this slogan got gone really fast,� Keigher said.
CaroMont spokeswoman Penny Cowden says the nonprofit hopes local leaders and community members will get on board with the campaign.
�We, of course, would love for them to embrace people living longer, healthier lives and our deep commitment to make that happen but we also understand it is a very bold concept and it is shocking to hear for the first time,� she said.
Reach Ragan Robinson at 704-869-1833.
Readers respond
Readers of The Star and its sister paper The Gaston Gazette responded Thursday to news of Gaston County�s hospital�s name change. Here�s a sample of what readers said. To join the conversation, �like� The Shelby Star on Facebook.
�Why not just �Live Longer?��
Brad Huss
�If you saw the actual presentation it makes more sense as to what the goal is. It is about prolonging your life thru healthier habits and lifestyle changes, to keep you out of the hospital. I do wish they would have added Cheat Death live longer. Change is always scary and confusing but give it a chance before you trash it.�
Elizabeth Baker McCourry
�It is horrible, Death should not have been included. The last slogan was upbeat. Also where is local pride? It is Gaston memorial.�
Eddie Vanhoy
�I hope they didn't spend too much money on that slogan. If they did, I wonder what came in second.�
Pat McKee Richards
�The word death is a bit disturbing.�
Doug Collins


text:
Staples baseball routs Ludlowe
WESTPORT -- Staples senior pitcher Ryder Chasin vividly remembers the last time he took the hill against FCIAC rival Ludlowe prior to Saturday's showdown between the two teams.
Chasin yielded four runs in the first inning en route to a crushing walk-off loss early last season that put Staples in an early hole that left it scrambling for a postseason spot.
Over a year later, Chasin got revenge by firing six innings of two-run ball as the Wreckers defeated Ludlowe 10-2 for their third straight victory. Staples (9-3, 8-2 FCIAC) remained in second place in the FCIAC standings with the win.
"Last year against Ludlowe was definitely my worst start of the year (a 5-4 loss), and it was a bitter loss for the team," Chasin said. "I was happy to be able to come out a year later, and have the same opportunity on our home field."
The Wreckers broke open a close game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Leading 4-2 entering the frame, Staples sent 10 batters to the plate. Noah Yokoi, Nate Panzer and Topher Brown each had RBI hits during the inning.
"We had everyone contributing in that inning," said Staples' Sam Ellinwood, who hit a home run in the bottom of the first. "A lot of kids contributing and a lot of kids getting on base. We have a lot of talent on this team and a lot of kids that can make an impact."
The Falcons (7-4, 5-4) got a pair of hits from Kevin Hickey, including an RBI single in the first inning to give Ludlowe the lead. The Falcons took a 2-1 lead into the third inning on an RBI single by Tom Ryan.
"I keep telling the boys it's a matter of execution, offensively and defensively," Ludlowe coach Mike Francese said. "There is a lot of parity in this league and everyone has someone that can do something, it's a matter of who can do it consistently."
Panzer, who went 3-for-3 with a walk, broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the third inning with an RBI double that plated Bryan Porter. Panzer drove in a run during the fifth inning surge with a bunt single.
"Panzer has been performing very well for us," Ellinwood said. ¦ "He's playing smart baseball, he's playing well in center field for us, and he laid down that bunt in a clutch time."
Ludlowe had a chance to narrow an 8-2 gap in the top of the sixth inning. The Falcons loaded the bases with two outs for Mikey Arman, but Chasin got Arman to fly out to center, ending the threat.
"The key to getting him out was luck," Chaskin joked. "I jammed him with a two-seam fastball and with these BBCOR bats; it's hard to drive a ball like that. It was just keeping my composure and making sure I hit my spots."
firstname.lastname@example.com, @ryanlacey11
Staples 10, Fairfield Ludlowe 2
Records: Fairfield Ludlowe 7-4, 5-4 FCIAC; Staples 9-3, 8-2.
Batteries: FL--Steve Zadrevec (L), Chris Huzil, Max Settineri and Conner Daley . S--Ryder Chasin (W), Alec Johnson and Adam Dulsky. Highlights: S--Sam Ellinwood went 2-for-3 with a home run, walk and two runs scored. Nate Panzer went 3-for-3 with a walk, two doubles, and two RBI.


text:
It is that time of year again when people get in trouble with purchases.
It is that time of year again when people get in trouble with purchases. People spend more than they can afford for the holidays and find themselves in debt.
The holidays can be expensive. However, they do not have to be. Strive in having a simple Christmas.
Do not get wrapped up in purchasing lots of presents and keeping up with the Jones.
If you cannot afford it, do not buy it. Do you leave the holidays in credit card debt. Try to make memories and keep your Christmas on a budget.
One of the ways you can keep your Christmas simple is by making your own Christmas ornaments.
Just the other day I found a recipe for making your own ornaments. All it consists of is flour, salt and cookie cutters. I thought this would be a great activity to participate in with my children and to keep for our tree or to hand them out as presents.
We also do not go out and purchase Christmas music.
We have already found several radio stations that have begun playing Christmas music. We enjoy celebrating in the season and we are not breaking the bank.
Our family also enjoys making Christmas cookies.
These are great things to give to neighbors, teachers and friends.
It is a fun activity to participate in with your family and fun gifts to give away.
I am also not afraid to recycle toys. I find by recycling toys I save a lot of money.
Many of the toys that I have purchased for my children this holiday season have been previously loved. I have found my items at yard sales, consignment sites and eBay.
Not only am I bringing life back into a new toy, but I am also saving lots of money.
I have to admit I love sending out Christmas cards.
However, I purchased the cards during the end of Christmas clearance last year.
The cards cost me very little. For those family members who love receiving photos of my family, I also saved money.
Instead of spending a lot of money on professional photos, I received 50 free photos in a special offer this year and took my favorite print of the entire family and made free prints to give away this holiday season.
I will be honest with you. I cannot tell you many of the gifts that I received for Christmas as a child.
However, the memories I made with my parents have lasted me a lifetime.
I would encourage my readers to not get caught up in the holiday shopping bonanza. Instead make memories, they are far better than any purchase under the tree.
Do you have frugal tips? E-mail them to email@example.com.


text:
Question on pumpkin ale: what type of pumpkin is best to use in brewing?Sugar pumpkin orRegular pumpkin orCanned pumpkinAnd how much do you need for a 5 gal recipe.Thx!-Eldon
Agreed. Put in the mash, not the boil. I liked to use canned pumpkin for convenience.
No, I'll be making an all grain batch. Sounds like a good plan, I'll modify the recipe to throw the pumpkin in with the mash. Thank you for your reply!!!Brian


text:
Small-Boat Sailing
From MeritBadgeDotOrg
|Small-Boat Sailing merit badge is an option for the National Outdoor Badge for Aquatics.
|Small-Boat Sailing merit badge requires prior counselor approval for requirement(s) #6c.
|The Small-Boat Sailing merit badge is an option for the Start Your Engines! STEM Nova Award.
|Small-Boat Sailing merit badge
|BSA Advancement ID:
|Requirements revision:
|Latest pamphlet revision:
|Sailing is one of the most enjoyable pastimes on the open water. The quiet and peacefulness of the water can provide a pleasant break from everyday life. However, smooth sailing requires paying careful attention to safety.
Small-Boat Sailing merit badge requirements
View the change list (history) of these requirements. The text of these requirements may be locked. In that case, they can only be edited by an administrator.
Please note any errors found in the above requirements on this article's Talk Page.
Requirement resources
First Aid
1a. Hypothermia - Dehydration - Heat Reactions - Motion Sickness - Cuts - Scratches - Abrasions - Contusions - Puncture Wounds - Blisters
1b. CPR
- Your handbook is your primary reference. See First-Aid Skills for step-by-step instructions and lesson video links.
- See also: First Aid merit badge pamphlet - First-Aid Kit - Emergency Kit - Guide to Safe Scouting - Annual Health & Medical Record
2. BSA Swim Test: Diving also has the feetfirst jump in - Sidestroke - Breaststroke - Trudgen Crawl - Backstroke - Swimming Turns - Floating
- Your handbook is your primary reference. See Swimming Skills for step-by-step instructions and lesson video links.
- See also: Swimming & Lifesaving Merit Badge Pamphlets - Guide to Safe Scouting - Safe Swim Defense - Safety Afloat
3. Sailing Basics - Parts of a Sailboat - Nautical Terms
4. The BSA Safety Afloat policy you need is in the Small-Boat Sailing Worksheet.
5. Weather Merit Badge has resource links
6. How to Sail Video Lessons - Steering - Rigging - Knots - Much more…
7. Knots
- square (reef) knot - clove hitch - two half hitches - bowline - cleat hitch - figure-eight
- Animated Knots: Basic Scout Knots - Forty Scout knots - Special Knots - Sailing knots - Fishing knots - Folsoms Knots - Animatedknots.com - Great Animations - More Animated Knots - More great Animated Knots - Still more - Knot Videos - Basics Videos - Basics2
- Other Knot Links: Advanced knots - Ropers Knots Page - Climbing Knots - Fishing knots - Knots Index
Related awards
|Sports-related awards
See also
|General Merit Badge information
The Seaman Badge was one of the Original Merit Badges from the 1910 BSA Handbook. It was relabeled as the Seamanship Merit Badge in 1911, and retitled as Small-Boat Sailing in 1964.
External links


text:
If you live in Sacramento, shutters can be purchased anywhere, as you probably already know. However, doesn't it make sense to buy them from someplace where you can actually make a difference with the money you are spending? Every day, consumers make decisions; some have very positive effects. This can be one of those times!
How You Can Make a Difference with These Sacramento Shutters
You may be interested to learn that here at Danmer, we manufacture all of our Sacramento shutters here in the USA. We have a Rebuild America program; when you take advantage of it, you get a U.S. Savings Bond.
We believe that one of the most powerful ways of restoring America is by selling products that create jobs for the American worker. Depending on the shutters that you choose, you can earn a bond as high as $250. Establish your Treasury Direct account and get started today.


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Inadequacies of Allegory
The chapter that has most impressed me, at least for the moment, is one discussing two of Coetzee's most famous novels, Waiting for the Barbarians and Life and Times of Michael K. Attridge titles the chapter "Against Allegory", and one of the reasons I gravitated toward it is that when I first read both books, having read nothing else by Coetzee, I disliked them because I thought they were trying to be allegories, but I couldn't crack their references. Nothing added up. The structure of Michael K particularly bothered me -- the first section, focused on Michael K's experience of the world, is breathtaking and engrossing, but then it is interrupted by a doctor's report that seemed to offer either too many or not enough answers, and then the narrative returns to Michael K. It seemed when I first read it that Coetzee didn't know when he was writing well and when he wasn't, or that he wasn't trusting his story or readers, or -- well, all sorts of ors. Both books bothered me enough that I reread each a few times (they're short), and eventually I realized that Coetzee was a lot smarter than me -- he knew exactly what he was doing, and the moments that felt most heavy-handed made far more sense when I realized that they were critiques of interpretation, not models of it. I also realized that no attempt to make the books into simple morality plays would work, either, because close inspection revealed how much an allegorical reading had to mangle and mash in order for any sort of this-is-that symbolic meaning to appear.
Attridge writes:
In order to move to parallels outside the world of the book, many of the rich and sometimes apparently quite contingent details of the text have to be ignored, as do narrative temporality and succession (and this includes the extensive use made of gaps in the narrative sequence). The powerful physical depictions, the intimate experience of an individual's inner states, the unsuccessful attempts at interpretation, the posing (but not resolving) of delicate ethical dilemmas: all these have to be played down if we are to seek meanings in worlds elsewhere. Yet these are surely what give the work its uniqueness and its appeal, these are what engross and move readers (though most of us would be hard put to name the complex affective responses that are aroused). And all of these attributes, which reach us as events of reading, are brought into being by the shaping of language, the phrasing of syntax, the resonating of syllables, the allusions and suggestions -- historical, cultural, even physical -- that play continually through the text: a manifestation of linguistic power that is central to our enjoyment of the novel. (48)To anyone who has read much of Coetzee's criticism, particularly the essays and interviews in Doubling the Point, it's not surprising that allegorical readings might not be the most productive for Coetzee's work. His own criticism focuses more on style, language, and structure than on metaphor, and in interviews he scrupulously avoids pinning down any particular meaning for his own work (while also pointing to various possibilities -- it's not that the work is meaningless, but that it can and should bear many different types of reading).
It's particularly difficult not to read a South African writer as anything other than someone responding to the political situation of South Africa, because that political situation so came to dominate the world's perception of the country. Coetzee both laments and accepts this -- throughout the interviews in Doubling the Point, he seems to want to be free of the label of South African Writer, while also accepting the historical position he was in. For instance, after discussing the poem "Five Men" by Zbigniew Herbert, he says,
It is because Herbert feels himself so deeply to be a European and believes, with whatever hedgings and reservations, in the vitality, the social vitality, of the literature of shepherds, roses, and so forth, in the power of poetry to bring those symbols to life, that he can oppose poetry to the great shambling beast of history. In Poland one can still hold such beliefs, and who, after the events of 1989, would dare to scorn their power? But in Africa...? In Poland one can still address the five men in the cell, or their executioners in the yard, indirectly, via the almost infinite lattice that a shared European culture provides. In Africa the only address one can imagine is a brutally direct one, a sort of pure, unmediated representation; what short-circuits the imagination, what forces one's face into the thing itself, is what I am here calling history. "The only address one can imagine" -- an admission of defeat. Therefore, the task becomes imagining this unimaginable, imagining a form of address that permits the play of writing to start taking place. (67-68)Attridge doesn't deny that Coetzee's books invite allegorical readings, and even that allegorical readings can be fruitful up to a certain point, but he suggests that readers shouldn't accept the invitation uncritically -- that, indeed, Coetzee uses the temptations of allegory as a way of making meaning:
The reader may become conscious of the power and allure of allegory, of the temptation to generalize or codify meaning, and at the same time gain a heightened awareness of the specificity and contingency of language and human experience as these resist such generalizations and codifications. In fact, a responsive reading of a literary work will always be alert to the possibility of allegorical meaning, to the constant leaking of meaning away from the literal. (61-62)It's a complex argument and I'm not doing it justice in this short space, but one of the reasons it fascinates me is that it made me think of one of the problems a lot of writers who are not primarily science fiction writers get into when they try to write science fiction: they allegorize too easily. Most SF readers don't read SF books as allegories (or, at least, merely as allegories), but for the literal presentation of impossible worlds and situations. A lot of SF doesn't make sense to readers who have been trained in literary study, and doesn't seem valuable, because one of the first impulses of most such people is to dive beneath the literal as soon as possible.
A lot of the contemporary writers outside of the SF world who interest me seem to be moving more and more away from the metaphorical tendencies that literary criticism has encouraged and fed off of for so long -- a writer like Aimee Bender, to take just one example, writes stories that can feel, at times, like parables, and yet they just don't work when interpreted that way; they fall apart and dissolve. This is a strength, not a weakness -- they shatter any one meaning and can only give pleasure to a reader willing either to suspend the interpretive impulse altogether and take the story literally, or to a reader who is comfortable holding multiple possible interpretations in mind at once. SF readers tend to be very good at the former, and it's a perfectly acceptable and justifiable position -- indeed, one that most authors, I'd guess, would endorse: close attention to what the words, sentences, and paragraphs actually say.
Perhaps it's not that authors are moving away from writing stories that support clear metaphorical readings, but that the limitations of metaphorical reading are now so obvious that we're all moving on. Writers have been writing stories that resist such interpretation for as long as writers have been writing stories. Some of us are just not in the habit of reading that way, but it's a good habit to cultivate.


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Magican is a sophisticated, and easy to use, all-in-one solution to fulfilling the following user needs; cleaning, optimizing, protecting and monitoring their Mac.
New features:
1. Enhanced detection in App Uninstallation
2. Optimized memory usage of Magican
3. Enable displaying Fan speed in floating window even if Fan Control closed
4. Fixed network speed display bug in Firewall part
5. Other bugs fixed
What can Magican do for you? It enables you to carry out several basic operations in a floating window. For instance, Magican monitors the network traffic in an absolutely new way, and the "Purge RAM" can help you quickly convert the inactive memory into free memory. In addition, you can also get the local weather forecast and terminate unnecessary processes in the floating window.
Furthermore, Magican has more features on the main window. Magican can help you locate all of the junk and virus-infected files on your Mac, and then "One-Click" helps to eliminate all of them. If your Mac has a virus-infected file, you can choose to trust it, delete it or place it in "Quarantine". Of course, you may also still wish to know the real-time information on your Mac, so Magican can show it to you with pictorial symbols. All of the data is clearly displayed. Moreover, "Software" helps users completely uninstall any software with the use of a "Remove" button. Besides the uninstall feature, it also helps users get discounted software from the App Store, and reminds you of any new app updates that are available. Users can also retrieve hardware information from the main window, which can be exported out as text or image files.


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Well the first hang was Ok but not great hat CBS and then my bladder had to wake me up every 1.5 hrs grr. temp was 19 ° F was happy but felt I needed to correct before the February Hang.
Second test back to cold damp garage no heat no side door temp 18 ° F snowing had 5 " fall through night. added another knot 6" from existing knot on suspension per Adam stormcrow recommendations . I had also sewed my thin fleece walmart throw blanket throw like sleeping bag to a shape that sort of resembles a TQ so it fit in my 20° montbell 650 down fill bag I use as a TQ currently. I wore the same as the last test fleece baklava knit had poly wool long johns fleece top fleece sweatpants and single pair of wigwams 40 below wool socks. I did omit the face mask this time. I settled into the hammock at 9:30 pm with a little cbs so attached my piece of shock cord to middle side loop of UQ and tossed over hammock ridge line and clipped onto opposing loop, withing second cbs was gone. I slept like I never slept before the whole night other than once at 2 am to do nature call slept until 6 am when garbage truck pulled up to my garage and started compacting lol. probably could have fallen back to sleep , but honestly was refreshed from such a warm and comfortable night. I still feel I can get my setup down atleast another 10-15 °. Now on another note I tried denatured alcohol instead of heet for my alcohol stove and same scenario left it out with water and was just as sluggish to light and preform as was the heet. So that being said will have to sleep with fuel to keep warm. February Hang here I come whooo Buddy !!!


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A recipe from my dear friend honeybeesweets, althought mine is not as nice as hers, but still can eat larr...hee hee! At least my husband and my daughter said good...:)
As you can see from here, i added too much filling into it....haha! Just want to finish up all the floss in my cupboard. Using a 10x14" tray my friend got for me made the rolling easier. And also the all purpose flour to replace the cake flour made the texture softer. I'll make more swiss roll from now on...hee hee..;p
For friends who like to try this pork floss swiss roll, please get the full recipe and method from my friend, honeybeesweets. Her recipe is wonderful.....thanks alot BB for the recipe and also your precious time for showing me the method..:)


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Travis Porter - Mighty Mighty (feat. F.L.Y.)
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|Survival and Preparations Long and short term survival and 'prepping'.
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Why are you prepping?
Are you prepping to survive global economic collapse? Are you prepping to head to the hills and survive for a few years on your skills? Are you doing it to survive for 3 days after the big earthquake and FEMA can rescue you? Trying to survive after the next hurricane or tornado hits your area? Are you going to Bug Out?
Let's hear your reason and how your are meeting those goals.
Our preps began with the idea of being able to survive and do for ourselves for the suggested 3 days after a major earthquake. (We are in So. Calif.) Soon the idea of three days was a joke to me and my goal was 3 weeks. The concept of three weeks was covered and now 3 months of food stuffs seems within a close reality.
We are not going to "head to the hills and live off the land." The hills here in So Cal could not support more than a minute number of people for any length of time. We will "Bug In" and with God's grace be able to ride it out until things are stabilized.
Earthquake, We're in spitting distance of the San Andreas Fault.
If a movement on that fault line interrupts the only road into our rural community. We're in a bad way so we have food, water the ability to make heat and elec and cook. We'll be fat and happy til it all gets sorted out. Being in the rural desert we make sure we have enough to last a long long time.
This end of the world or global collapse who ha I leave to others to prepare for. I'm too old to worry about that stuff.
I let my wife choose my hobby.
I said I either wanted to chase younger women or shoot.
Here I am.
"I'm for Hoffa until they pat my face with a shovel and steal my cufflinks." Frank Sheerin
Last edited by cannon; 01-06-2013 at 8:07 PM..
Due to our location pretty much the only thing that would affect me is an earthquake or possibly a nuke dropped on the Marine Base. Don't need to worry about fire, flood, tornadoes, mud slides or other natural disasters. Although our preparations will cover anything that might come up for several months at least.
We already live far enough "out" that we have no need to "bug-out". So I don't need to worry about being able to move my supplies.
Due to our location pretty much the only thing that would affect me is an earthquake or possibly a nuke dropped on the Marine Base. Don't need to worry about fire, flood, tornadoes, mud slides or other natural disasters. Although our preparations will cover anything that might come up for several months at least.
We already live far enough "out" that we have no need to "bug-out". So I don't need to worry about being able to move my supplies.
In the most basic terms I can think of...
I refuse to be hungry, thirsty, or uncomfortable (cold/wet) any longer than I really have to be.
I do not want to rely on anyone for my (or my family's) comfort/safety
Earthquakes for the most part. I've got enough to live comfortably for three weeks or so. Longer if I reduce the ration sizes.
Earthquakes, all the way down to losing my job. Either way I'm covered with the necessities and thats a lot of stress off my shoulders.
If you are wondering if you can get a LTC in Riverside County: THE ANSWER IS YES!
Join the discussion at:http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=352777
Terrorist Attacks, Earthquakes, or other natural disasters. I don't have a huge stockpile of food, mostly a bunch of rice and beans and some canned foods, enough for about 3 weeks. I also keep a total of about 6-10 cases of water between my house, fifth wheel, and truck. I have emergency kits in the vehicles with enough for 3 people for 3 days. I'm resourceful enough to be able to come up with any additional food or water I might need if it looks like I won't have enough. Guns and ammo=food- plenty of rabbits and squirrels running around here, and I live next to an avocado grove.
Work harder! Millions on welfare are depending on you!
Any reason really. It started in boyscouts. Then volunteering with red cross and local cert.
The main reason is disaster. However I also "prep" unseen reasons I've been laid off in the past and it sucks when you have a family and try to make ends meet.
There's my reason.
WTS: Mossberg RARE Bullpup and Mossberg 500
WTS:NiB coated XDS 45 CCW,(Inland Empire)
FS: Saiga Vepr 12 barrel shroud / PSL 1911 pink carbon grip / G3 Cetme MP5 lower
WTS: Plate carrier load bearing / BLACKHAWK Load-Out Bag Wheeled / SIG rifle bag 36"
WTS: 7n6 5.45x39 spam cans / Crates IE area Riverside San Bernardino
prepping to me means preparing for the event of a major environmental/external (natural or other) change that may occur with or without notice... that may require planned readiness to withstand and survive it.
my purpose in prepping is simply that should SHTF... my readiness to survive would be equal to the requirements to do so.
The main reason I am a prepper is because it drives my inlaws NUTS!
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
- Samuel Adams
All viable reasons in my opinion. Stay ready, you don't have to get ready right?
I think here in Cali earthquakes are the biggest threat right now (there are others of course like dirty bombs, etc..) and I have had experience and training in response to these events. The problems that will arise with a major quake is ruptured gas lines and water lines. This means lots of fires and no water for the responders to work with if they could even get to your location with all the roads and freeways torn up. I know at some of the training I went through, the heads of the fire departments talked about using air support to fight the fires in the urban cities due to the above problems. Some people were isolated for weeks after the Northridge quake and the only way we got into help them was via Chinooks from one of the marine bases. I think lots of other problems will happen also such as looting, bands of roaming thugs, etc...it will be absolute chaos for awhile in some areas and may be days, weeks or longer before help arrives. Preppin is the only way to survive and hopefully keep your family safe and well also. I am working on mine little by little as time goes by depending on money of course but I am pretty well prepared just want to have all areas covered. Lots of good info on this site and appreciate all the input everyone contributes.
Last edited by lavey29; 01-07-2013 at 4:02 PM..
"Prepper" is the new derogatory slang by the current progressive bourgeois and social elitist out there. They wish to slander anyone doing this as an extremist or paranoid weirdo. It has gotten worse since the Newtown tragedy because the media has called the mother of the shooter a "prepper". Since I do swim among the progressive bourgeois left often - most that are also pretty well to do, I over hear this regurgitated false contempt more often now.
It's weird. But I see that the word is being transformed in media culture as derogatory.
On topic, I reasonable hold supplies mostly for anything - primarily for a natural disaster like an earthquake where water, food, shelter, basic medical, sanitation, security could be hard to obtain for a long period of time.
"Just leave me alone, I know what to do." - Kimi Raikkonen
The moment the idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.' and that `Property is surely a right of mankind as real as liberty.'
- John Adams
Already experienced several SHTF. More than half from a different place in a different time. The remaining half here in the US. 2003 and 2007 wildfires, So-Cal blackout of 2011, earthquake, riots, and such is why I prep.
living in this state the only real possibility of things going bad is when "the BIG one" hits. and that is a scientific fact it will happen we just don't know when.
that is the only real reason to prep is for that.
Thank your neighbor and fellow gun owners for passing Prop 63. For that gun control is a winning legislative agenda.
contact the governor
In Memory of Spc Torres May 5th 2006 al-Hillah, Iraq. I will miss you my friend.
NRA Life Member.
The San Andreas fault is just a few miles from my house although they say the Hayward fault across the bay is likely to snap sometime in the next 20-30 years. I've got 45 days worth of food puls, firwood, colman fuel, batteries, etc but could stand to store some more water. Of course have guns and a decent stockpile of ammunition for protection
To prep is a part of life for me. Just as a stay abreast of technology to stay employed, put money away for things that may come up, I stock food and water for the same reason. Get medical training in the event it may be needed when no emergency crews are around. Take weapons training to defend my family, friends & neighbors.
In my many decades on this planet (here in L.A.), I've seen riots, EQs, fires, dought, lots of rain, etc.
I like to keep enough of the usual stuff around to get thru the few weeks after an "event" until the govt. help arrives---don't want want to be like the Katrina folks holding up their starving, sweaty, thirsy babies to the news choppers screaming about not having any help or food.
Carrying things a bit farther, I plan to have enough on hand to help/trade/share with my local friends---you can't get thru these hard times without help from your local friends and family.
No, I am not planning for the End of the World!
I gotta wife and 2 daughters. After seeing the natural disasters that have occurred around the country, I would like to think that I did what I could to give ourselves the best possible outcome.
Nominally, "the biggun" on the San Andreas/Newport-Inglewood faults combined with a sleazy and inept government response.
Longer term, maybe 20 years out, history is starting to rhyme and it ain't rocket science to figure it out.
Boy Scouts taught me to be prepared.
Being stuck in a couple of blizzards in the upper Midwest and the Loma Prieta earthquake here taught me to have supplies.
oh, and the zombie apocalypse, natch.
NRA Benefactor Member
NRA Golden Eagle
SAF Life Member
CGN Contributor
Earthquake / Civil Unrest.
I worked for the City of Anaheim about 20 years ago. One of the things they had new employees do was a series of lectures/orientations. The head of Risk Management spoke at one time. He made the biggest impression on me. He talked about how we have a major event (earthquake) on average something like every 100 years in SoCal. And it was past due. So it wasn't a matter of if, it was a matter of WHEN.
And of course after the LA riots...I realized that earthquakes wasn't the only thing to be prepping for.
As far as world wide collapse and crazy wars etc....I don't think that, that is something I can really prep for...and considering where I live...no real way to probably get out and no where to go to. So my preps consist of 30 days of food and water for 4, plus arms and ammunition to defend and a decent place to hole up.
Specific scenarios I plan for:
I plan for several things:
Getting home. What problems could I face in getting home, and what can I do now to be prepared in a worst case scenario.
Bugging in. I don't want to be running to the store to buy supplies when everyone else is thinking the same thing. If people will pepper-spray one another over a black Friday sale, imagine what they'll do in a crisis for food, batteries, or a case of water. My preferred response to most scenarios is to lay low until normal life resumes.
Evacuation. This could be as simple as what to grab on my way out in case of fire, but it runs to what destinations I'll aim for, what routes I'll take, what modes of transportation I'll choose, and what to bring with me.
Security. My planning here focuses on avoiding trouble, hiding, and getting away--but being equipped to deter and prepared to defend my family and our ability to survive if that fails.
Community. I am developing relationships now that will enhance my ability to survive in several scenarios. Mutual aid means we can get more rest and can be more efficient in several preparations.
Last edited by Paltik; 01-08-2013 at 4:31 PM.. Reason: completeness
Have you seen how long it takes for our government to come the aid after the hurricanes hit back east and the south. I have friends in New Jersey and they told me that they were out of power for 3 weeks after Hurricane Sandy hit. I understand that it would not be easy for any government to help everyone as quickly as we would want them to so we we need to take actions to prepare ourselves.
The San Andreas Fault moves approx 1 centimeter a year. During the "Big One" I read that geologists expect the fault to move up to 25 feet at one time! If that happens expect our Southern California connection to the rest of the county to stop since the infrastructure will be destroyed. Our local grocery stores will be out of stock within a few hours. We need to have enough food, water, fuel and cash to last at least a month.
For any number of calamities we may face, i just want the assurance my wife and baby can depend on me to protect them and keep them as comfortable as possible. Ammo and food can only.get you so far. Being able to stay in our own home has the advantages of a safe zone in what could potentially be an unsafe environment. Very good for the psyche.
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The following crimes are from the week of Nov. 18 to Nov. 24, 2012.
Nov. 19. 400 block E. Gravers Lane. Complainant states that while he was checking a property that is up for sale he noticed a side door was open and damaged. He notified police and when they arrived they did a walk through with negative results.
Nov. 20. 8200 block Seminole Ave. Complainant states that a black male took a package from the front porch and then jumped into a red Subaru station wagon, drove southbound on Seminole and then turned westbound on Willow Grove Ave. Taken were various cosmetics. Offender, black male, 5'10" tall, mid 30's, medium build.
Nov. 21. 7700 block Germantown Ave. Complainant came into store using his cell phone and was observed on security camera leaving the store with Dove body wash, Dove soap, Nivea body wash and Nivea lotion. Offender, black male, 36 – 40 years old, 5'8" – 5'9" tall, medium complexion, wearing white sneakers, black puffy jacket, white shirt, black hat and tan khaki pants.
Nov. 21. 200 block W. Northwestern Ave. Complainant states that when he returned from walking he found that someone had entered his 2010 Toyota Camry and ransacked the glove compartment, stealing money and an American Express and Visa card.
Nov. 22. 7700 block Crittenden Street. Police arrived at 9 a.m. to find door smashed in. Witness states that offender fled westbound on Mermaid Lane toward Germantown Ave. in a Ford Taurus with the cash register drawer.
Nov. 24. Unit block Abington Ave. Complainant states that between 4 p.m. on Nov. 23 and 6 p.m. on Nov. 24, someone broke the right front window of a 2010 Honda Accord and stole a bluetooth Headset.
Nov. 24. Unit block Summit Street. Complainant states that between 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., someone broke out the back door window and stole necklaces, watches, pendants, earrings and a wedding band from bedroom.
Summary – Seven crimes for week: three burglaries, one theft, one retail theft and two thefts from vehicles.
Town Watch.
If you have been the victim of a crime and would like information, service or support, call Northwest Victim Services, 6301 Germantown Ave., Second Floor, Suite One, 215-438-4410. The service is free.


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Sanjukta Chandra is out to change the world — or at least her
corner of it — and the University of North Florida is a big part of her plans.
The native of India is studying electrical engineering at the
master's level at the University of North Florida. She also holds a bachelor's
degree in electrical engineering from her homeland. She is highly proficient in
her field, but it is not her passion. If she had had her choice, she would have
studied classical Indian dancing. But as a product of the middle class in
India, her profession was not her choice. As is the custom there, parents
choose the educational and professional path of their children.
"Parents in India want their children to make safe career
choices," the petite brunette said. "They want their children to be engineers, management
graduates or doctors or to study information technology so they will be assured
of a good salary and a secure life. But that is not how it should be. Children
should follow their interests, their passion."
Chandra likes electrical engineering well enough, but it is not
the path she would have selected for herself even though it does pay much
better than dancing professionally ever would. And it wasn't until she came to
UNF that she understood it does not have to be that way.
Once she met and worked with Dr. Len Roberson, the dean of the
Graduate School, she realized that education and passion could be combined and
often is in the United States. Chandra was already deep into her UNF studies
when her parents decided to send her younger brother to the U.S. to also study mechanical
engineering. UNF soon became the top school on the list and Chandra was the
point person to get her brother into school and to obtain the correct
immigration status.
"My brother was trying to get into UNF as a graduate student and
we were having a hard time," she said. "I was so lost and did not know what to
do. I finally sent an e-mail to Dr. Roberson and within an hour, I had a reply.
He asked me to come in and meet with him and that he would do everything he
could to help. I could not believe it. Here was someone who did not know my
brother at all but he was willing to help us."
And he did. One of the things that sets UNF apart from other
colleges and universities is its employees' devotion to students. Time and time
again, one hears about faculty and staff members who have gone out of their way
to help a student overcome a situation. Roberson is no exception.
"He did everything he could to get my brother accepted into UNF and
to find a graduate assistantship to help offset the financial burden on my
family," Chandra said. "It came down to the School of Engineering and whether
or not he would be accepted to the mechanical engineering program. Then one day
I was sipping a cup of coffee and Dr. Murat Tiryakioglu (director of the School of Engineering) walked past and said, 'I
accepted your brother.' I could have hugged him. First Dr. Roberson and now Dr.
Murat had helped my brother without even knowing him."
And that was when Chandra made a decision to change the education
system in India. Along with her husband, Mayukh Das, a Ph.D who works as a
business analyst for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Chandra hopes to return
to her native land and begin to educate parents and their children about how to
combine a passion with an education. "If I dream of living a life doing the
things I most enjoy, it is because of my husband," she said. " It was not that
I was unaware of my passion, but I lacked the courage and support to follow it
as a career path. Mayukh is the one whose guidance, inspiration and constant
support encouraged me to think outside the box and to do the things that give
meaning to my existence." Now, she wants to — with her husband — help her
countrymen and women to understand that passion and a secure future are not
mutually exclusive.
"If a student has an interest in a subject, they will work hard to
learn all they can about it," she said. "And they will find new ways to apply
the knowledge and to grow their field. The more interest they have, the better
they will be. And the better they are, the more money they will make. It is
simple, really. But we have to show them it can be done."
At UNF, that is already the norm. The faculty and staff in the
Graduate School live and breathe that mantra. Students who choose to study at
the master's level at UNF can combine their academic interests with a solid
professional career. A UNF degree will open many doors for them in the future.
In concert with the University's academic colleges, the Graduate
School supports and promotes graduate education at the University of North
Florida by developing, maintaining and enhancing strong graduate programs and
an excellent graduate faculty. Its programs cultivate advanced knowledge and
skills in their chosen fields, encourage proficiency with research and other
forms of scholarship and are relevant not only to its students, but to the
communities it serves through discovery, community-based learning and academic excellence.
Dr. Len Roberson, in his second year at the helm of the Graduate
School, has been at UNF for 13 years. The father of seven has been on the
faculty of the Department of Exceptional Student and Deaf Education, served as
the program director for the deaf education graduate program and was its
department chairman for nearly four years. He earned his doctorate in deaf
education from Gallaudet University, holds a Master of Education degree in
educational leadership from the University of Central Florida and a bachelor's
degree in deaf education from Flagler College. He holds national certification
as a sign language interpreter from the National Registry of Interpreters for
the Deaf. He is involved in several national organizations, led the development
of the new ASL/English Interpreting program at UNF that has both an
undergraduate and graduate program in interpreting and has published several
articles in the area of teacher effectiveness and interpreter education.
And he has a vision for the future of the graduate school. "I
would love to see us more forward with additional doctoral programs," he said. "We
have a long-standing Ed.D and the doctor of physical therapy and the doctor of
nursing practice which are both entry-level degrees for the field — meaning
that they are the minimum required degree for the profession — but I would love
to see our University graduate programming expand to include doctoral programs
that meet our regional and local needs."
"As the University of North Florida continues to grow, it must
also continue to meet the needs of the community we serve," said Dr. Mark Workman,
provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. "More and more professionals
are returning to the classroom to seek master's and doctoral degrees as they
round out their educations and careers. We are continually working to determine
which programs fit our strengths and which meet the needs of the community."
Roberson said that is the challenge — to determine which programs
have the depth and breadth necessary to expand at the graduate level. Growth is
good, he said, but not just for the sake of growth. Academic expansion needs to
be strategic and forward-thinking.
Roberson said another goal is to explore alternative delivery
methods of graduate degree programs such as distance learning. With more and
more of the population wanting to pursue advanced degrees but still needing to
work full time to finance the further education, potential graduate students
want to be able to enroll in programs that can be provided wholly online.
"The students may not be able to attend a 3 p.m. class in a
building on campus," Roberson said. "They want the convenience of taking online
classes that are of high quality and from an accredited university. They would
love those programs to be at UNF."
Roberson said UNF's reputation precedes itself at both the
undergraduate and graduate level. "UNF offers a high-quality education with
pre-eminent faculty who not only teach, but are active in their professions and
in research. To be able to offer even more graduate-level programs for which
there is a demand from students and employers will only enhance that
What sets UNF's graduate programs apart from others in the region
and in the state is the small faculty-to-student ratio and the relationships
that are formed between faculty and students in and out of the classroom.
"Because of our small class sizes, there is a direct connection
with the faculty, and students build an experience base for a career," Roberson
said. "Our graduate classes provide opportunities for faculty-student
interaction, formal research and ongoing relationships that help our students
feel connected to their program and the University as a whole."
And that experience begins with the first contact a potential
student has with the Graduate School. Roberson and his staff of six are
committed to working with students from the moment they inquire about a UNF
graduate program to the moment they walk across the stage at commencement to
receive their graduate degree.
"The dedication of our staff to graduate student success is
phenomenal," Roberson said. "The staff is absolutely committed to making sure
the students have a positive, student-focused experience during their time at UNF.
Their studies might happen in one of the academic colleges, but we take care of
just about everything else they need from helping students maneuver through the
academic system to getting answers about financial aid. We have to know a
little bit about everything to provide that high level of service that students
have come to expect from us. And we would not have it any other way. The staff won't
let anyone fall through the cracks."
Chandra and her brother can certainly attest to that.
"I told my brother he was the luckiest person I know," Chandra
said. "Dr. Roberson did everything he could to help us and he never met my
brother — never exchanged one single e-mail with him — and he helped my brother
through the application process, helped him find a graduate assistantship and
additional funding for his education. How can a person be so helpful to a
Because it is the UNF way.


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Corvallis (AP) – The game was minutes old and Ryan Murphy and his Oregon State defensive teammates were gasping for air. Arizona State had wasted little time in unleashing its spread offense in Corvallis last season. The Sun Devils recovered a fumble for a touchdown on the third play of the game, then proceeded to drive 75 yards in nine plays for another TD.
By the end of the first quarter, ASU had 149 total yards and led 16-10. "They were just gashing us," Murphy, a safety, said. "And we couldn't catch our breath." T
he Beavers eventually did and pulled away for the win. Similar scenarios will no doubt occur every weekend in the Pac-12 Conference this season. Play nearly any team and your defense will get a workout.
The offenses will come with speed, huddle-free drives keeping the tempo pumping. Spread teams will try to play in space and strike with big plays. How well a defense can counter those relentless attacks means the outcome of most games and ultimately the season.
"Overall, defenses are just evolving like offenses evolve," Murphy said. "You've got faster backs, quarterbacks are faster. Overall, the offenses are just more spread out so guys have to run to the ball." Schemes might need to be tweaked or even turned inside-out.
Murphy pointed to the NFL and how a team such as the Green Bay Packers has tried a 1-5-5 in an attempt to slow offenses.
The Beavers have already started making a few changes.
"What offenses around the world are doing now, you've got to be versatile and diverse in what you do and how you approach the game," OSU coach Mike Riley said. "So with that in mind we added some stuff a year ago and did some stuff that was new and out of the box for us and we're continuing with some stuff like that and adding some stuff that we think will be a good addition to these looks and packages that we have."
The new-look defenses often require a new style of player.
Athletes with versatility are in demand.
They have to be able to run and play in space.
"When you look at this thing defensively, what people have had to do is incorporate more guys, whether they're an outside linebacker in a 4-3 style defense or a safety," Riley said. "Almost interchangeable bodies sometimes. We can take a guy like Ryan Murphy and he can look like an outside linebacker as a nickel player or he can play free safety. "So you're looking at more versatile, more athletic people throughout your defensive scheme."
A linebacker might move up to the line, put his hand to the turf and rush the passer.
The Beavers are currently tinkering with the idea of using a linebacker or two as pass-rush specialists.
Dyllon Mafi, a 6-foot-2, 224-pound senior, could get a shot.
"Mafi is a versatile guy and he might see some lineman play as a specialist, like a third-down guy, because he's got some pass-rush skills," Riley said. "He's pretty slippery off the edge and so he might find a way to get on the field on third down."
The Beavers are already set with certain players, such as Murphy, defensive end Scott Crichton and outside linebackers Michael Doctor and D.J. Alexander.
They all show the speed and athleticism necessary to stay on the field against the Pac-12 offenses.
"It's been an interesting evolution," Riley said. "There's still big people that need to play on the interior of the defense, but your edges, if you're going to lead the league in sacks then having a great edge rusher is always at a premium and very important. Those kinds of people give you tons of flexibility because you can put pressure on the passer with a speed rusher or a couple good defensive ends. "Like offenses have become diverse — we're going to see six different versions of the spread offense in our league — you've got to have diversity on defense, too."
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Question up for comments: Ecology and Nostalgia
Submitted by Ron Broglio on
I'm hoping blog readers might be willing to post their take on this basic issue haunting ecological criticism: how susceptible is ecocriticism to the critique that it is a nostalgia? Follow up: in what ways might ecocriticism work outside of nostalgia?
Main Blog Categories:
Parent Resource:
RC Blog


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There\'s good news for average-Joe-looking fans of World Wrestling
Entertainment mega-Diva Trish Stratus .
You don\'t need a body rippling with bulging muscles like Chris Benoit,
flowing blond locks like Chris Jericho or movie-star charisma like the Rock to
win the heart of the (shockingly) still-single Canadian beauty.
All a potential suitor requires is a sense of humour, the ability to fit in
with her sizable close-knit Greek family and, oddly enough, a little skill at
the bowling alley.
\"The main thing for me is a good personality. I have to be able to click
with someone,\" said Stratus in a chat with the Sun to promote her new
behind-the-scenes DVD, 100% Stratusfaction Guaranteed.
\"All of my boyfriends in the past have never had a similar body. Short,
tall, dark, I\'ve had them all. Wait, I haven\'t had them all.\"
Despite her gorgeous features, sharp wit and bubbly personality, the
27-year-old, who launched her WWE career only three years ago, doesn\'t fit
much social time into her hectic schedule. Between four nights on the road
with the RAW crew and numerous personal appearances, such as stops last week
at MuchMusic and at the WWE\'s store in Niagara Falls, Ont., there just isn\'t
much time to meet Mr. Right, especially when Stratus is back in her hometown.
\"I can\'t go out in Toronto,\" laughed the four-time WWE women\'s champ. \"I\'m
more of a homebody, anyway. I eat a lot of takeout or I\'m over at my mom\'s -
she\'s a great cook. I either stay home or I go bowling at a 24-hour place.\"
Stratus is certainly generating some steam on TV, however, with a current
storyline that has her in the arms of fellow Canuck Chris Jericho. It\'s not
the first time fans have seen Stratus enjoy a little liplocking but maybe not
with the voltage of sparks being exhibited by these two.
But read nothing into the smouldering fire.
\"I\'ve had the luxury to be able to develop my character physically onscreen
and I\'ve gotten over in the ring,\" Stratus explained. \"Now fans get to see me
act in a dramatic role. It\'s a real challenge acting in those little
vignettes, but it\'s working and I love the soap-opera aspect of it.
\"That storyline is all the fans want to talk about right now and I take
that as a compliment on our acting. Chris and I have been friends for a long
time and we\'ve always had a good chemistry. We really know how to interact
with each other. The key is being able to keep their interest up.\"
One wonders, though, how does Mrs. Jericho react to her husband smooching a
hottie on national television?
\"I\'m friends with her, too, and she\'s well aware that it\'s acting and we\'re
just playing a dramatic role,\" chuckled Stratus , who was no stranger to the
cameras and lights when she joined the wrestling empire.
The former pre-med student at York University was a developing a slight
celebrity status as a fitness model, beginning with a 1998 cover of MuscleMag,
when the WWE came calling. That led to much more exposure under Vince
McMahon\'s tutelage and Stratus\'s hot look led to multiple appearances in WWE\'s
own magazines and videos. The fans were smitten, twice naming her Babe of the
Year and ultimately crowning her Diva of the Decade.
The photos, posters and videos led to a fashion spread in Flair magazine
and an appearance on Fox\'s Mad-TV.
\"I\'m not actively pursuing Hollywood but there are a lot of opportunities
that come to us,\" said Stratus , who is rumoured to be up for the role of Sonja
in Mortal Kombat 3. \"I love to do comedy because it just fits with my
personality being sort of quirky and witty.\"
Stratus had already gained valuable experience behind the camera as well.
The blond bombshell had so much input into what her fans would see that she is
credited with much more than a starring role on the new release.
\"I was aware that a DVD was being put together and I thought about a couple
of stories to tell,\" she explained. \"I wanted fans to know the real Trish so I
got some ideas together, laid things out and ended up being the producer. I
didn\'t want to step on anyone\'s toes, but I was thrilled I got to have that
much input and be the first WWE Superstar to get that involved in a project.\"
The DVD chronicles Stratus\'s early years when she was dubbed an
\"entertainer\" and \"agitator\" by her aunts, her progression from model to valet
to wrestler, and includes several clips of her raciest scenes, along with
classic in-ring moments such as being put through a table by the Dudleys and
her mudbowl match with Stacy Keibler.
It\'s a testament to Stratus\'s appeal in a business where popularity can
soar and dip in an instant.
\"The fans have grown with me,\" said Stratus . \"They\'ve watched me progress
in a genuine way and I have that feeling that they\'re behind me.\"


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Are you dreaming of your next trip abroad? If you are, we're guessing one of the first things you'll be checking out is whether the country you plan to visit requires a visa.
Securing a visa, or documentation showing you are authorized to enter the country for which it is issued, can get complicated at times. Requirements and costs vary with each country, and the whole process can involve a bit (or a lot) of waiting. Because of this, many Filipinos usually opt for visa-friendly destinations. According to Henley & Partners, a company that monitors global visa regulations, Philippine passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 58 countries. This was reported in their 2013 Visa Restrictions Index, which ranked countries based on their citizens' travel freedom. The Philippines came in at number 69. Of the countries that allow Filipinos to enter with no visa or with a visa on arrival, a good chunk of them are in Asia. Leading the pack in this region are the nine other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with which the Philippines shares no-visa travel agreements.
So we'll begin Skyscanner's three-part series on visa-friendly countries by first looking at some popular and emerging tourist destinations across Asia.
Read our second and third part of the series here: Visa friendly countries in the Americas for Filipinos and Visa-friendly countries in Africa and Oceania for Filipinos
1. Brunei
Brunei grants Filipinos visa-free access for 14 days. Take the opportunity to discover the cultural and environmental treasures of this oil-rich nation. Visit the majestic mosques and scenic water villages of its capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. And explore one of the most diverse and pristine rain forests on earth, found in the Ulu Temburong National Park.
2. Cambodia
Cambodia does not require visas for trips fewer than or up to 21 days. So nothing's stopping you from seeing the iconic Angkor Wat up close, along with the other temple ruins of the Khmer empire. The nation's capital, Phnom Penh, takes you on a bittersweet journey from Tuol Sleng, a museum chronicling the Khmer Rouge years, to the splendid architecture of the Royal Palace. For some sun, sand and sea, head for the beaches clustered in Sihanoukville.
3. Hong Kong
Hong Kong allows visa-free entry for trips not exceeding 14 days. Make the most out of your visit by catching the breathtaking harbor and skyline views, riding the historic Peak Tram and famous Star Ferry, and exploring the vibrant shopping scene—from the luxurious boutiques to the budget-friendly street markets. If you're traveling with your kids, you might want to spend some time too at Hong Kong's large world-class theme parks.
Get cheap flights to Hong Kong
Read more: 6 things to do in Hong Kong
4. India
India issues Philippine passport holders a 30-day visa upon arrival at the airports of Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Kochi and Bangalore. This comes with a $60 fee per person. From there, you can go on to explore India's majestic religious, historic and cultural attractions, experience the lively street markets and colorful festivals, or simply marvel at the Taj Mahal.
5. Indonesia
Visa-free travel to Indonesia covers 30 days. For a relaxing getaway, go straight to Bali and bask in its stunning white-sand beaches and fine resorts. Bali also features dense jungles, volcanic peaks and hot springs, in case you want to see more of the island. Then there's Lombok, known for its gently rolling hills and great snorkeling and diving sites. Do note, however, that foreign nationals cannot visit the restricted areas of Maluku, Poso and Irian Jaya without special authorization.
Get cheap flights to Indonesia
Read more: 6 reasons to visit Bali, Indonesia
6. Israel
Filipinos do not need a visa to jet off to Israel, although the length of their stay should be within 90 days. A journey to Israel can bring you from haunting deserts, cliffs and caves to medieval bazaars, castle ruins and even surf-friendly beaches. Along with diverse attractions, the country now has an array of first-rate hotels, resorts and restaurants.
Travel advisory: Observe a high degree of caution when traveling to Israel in light of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Skyscanner advises against travel in the regions of Israel surrounding the Gaza Strip as it continues to be affected by the ongoing conflict. This advisory is issued at the time of publication of this article.
7. Laos
Laos offers visa-free privileges to those who plan to stay for 30 days, at the most. If you do get to visit this country, make room in your itinerary for its golden Buddhist stupas, centuries-old monasteries and French colonial towns. Ecotourism is big in Laos right now, so you can also go rock climbing, trekking, caving, kayaking, rafting or tubing.
8. Malaysia
Filipinos can enjoy a no-visa stay in Malaysia for 30 days. Have fun touring the skyscrapers and colonial buildings in Kuala Lumpur and partying at the hip bars and cafes of Bangsar. Also visit Malaysia's grand Buddhist temples and explore its ancient rainforests. Don't forget to try out the hawker stands for a taste of the local favorites.
Read more: 5 Best places to stay in Malaysia
9. Maldives
Filipinos can travel to Maldives without a getting a visa prior to arrival. On arrival to the island nation, a 30-day visa is issued. It is advisable to have a hotel reservation ready when travelling to this breath-taking destination in Asia. White sand beaches, warm weather and turquoise reefs make it an idyllic holiday. It is time to book your tickets now.
10. Nepal
Known to be one of the world's most adventurous destinations, Filipinos can avail the visa on arrival facility to visit Nepal, home to world's largest mountain ranges. Visitors can enjoy the extravagance of the ornate palaces, well-crafted pagodas and monumental stupas in the Kathmandu valley or step into the pristine beauty of Pokhara, with its serene lakes and verdant gardens. Filipinos' get visas on arrival for 150 days and their passports must have at least 6 months validity on entry.
11. Myanmar (Burma)
Visa-free travel to Myanmar started in January 2014, for visits of up to 14 days. Although the country is just starting to open up to the world, a host of attractions already awaits tourists, from religious and ancient sites to nature trails and beaches. There's also much to see and experience in its big cities, namely Yangon and Mandalay.
12. Singapore
Singapore's travel policy lets Filipinos visit visa-free for up to 30 days. The country has been drawing more and more tourists thanks in large part to recently added attractions such as Marina Bay Sands, Resorts World Sentosa and Gardens by the Bay. Of course, its diverse dining scene and upscale malls and hotels are still big crowd-pleasers.
Get cheap flights to Singapore
Read more: Things to do in Singapore that Pinoys love
13. Sri Lanka
The visa travel arrangement between Sri Lanka and the Philippines allows for a maximum 30-day stay. If you're looking for a destination that's rich in cultural and natural wonders but is affordable and uncrowded, dare to venture into Sri Lanka. Small as it is, the country hosts eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, shelters oodles of elephants, and boasts of endless white beaches and world-class surf and dive spots.
Get cheap flights to Sri Lanka
14. Thailand
Filipinos can fly to Thailand without a visa and visit for a maximum of 30 days. If you enter its borders by land (from Laos, Myanmar or Cambodia), you're allowed a 15-day stay. Either way, you're in for a treat. From opulent palaces, gleaning temples and ancient ruins to breathtaking beaches and unique culinary adventures, Thailand has much to offer.
Read more: 6 Awesome Hangouts in Bangkok
15. Vietnam
Visa exemption rules in Vietnam permit trips of up to 21 days. During your visit, explore its booming cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, and their colonial architecture. Royal tombs and pagodas and a historic port can be found in the central provinces. Vietnam also boasts stunning karst mountains and limestone islands, so try to catch a glimpse of those as well.
These are just some of the countries in Asia that allow visa-friendly stays for Philippine passport holders. Destinations in Europe and the Americas offering similar privileges will be featured in the second and third parts of this series.


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Takoma Park Maryland Library · 101 Philadelphia Avenue · Takoma Park Maryland 20912 USA · 301.891.7259
We have 28 Internet stations, offering access in twenty-some languages.
To use any of these stations you must have a valid library card from this library and have it with you, or buy a $5 two hour guest pass.
In the senior room, and rooms A and B, you may have 3 sessions or 2 hours per day, whichever comes first. (Unless otherwise marked)
Additional information: Policy
Seven catalog stations are available. Access is limited to the library catalog but anyone can use them, no account is necessary.
Note: except for two of the catalog stations, all our public access computers are Linux-based. You probably won't even notice.


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10:00 pm
Globe Trekker "Spanish Islands" Alex Riley explores the Balearics and the Canary Islands.G
11:00 pm
Outdoor Idaho "Climbing Idaho" Today's rock-climbing enthusiasts support climbing gyms, clubs and advocacy groups - no longer the exclusive band of wanderers of just a few decades ago. The heights they achieve throughout the state require skills, levels of expertise, techniques and climbing methods as varied as the state's terrain. Cameras follow as they seek to conquer nature's rock walls.G
11:30 pm
Dialogue "S.C. (Sam) Gwynne: Conversations from the Sun Valley Writers' Conference" The reporter and author whose book, Empire of the Summer Moon, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2011, talks with host Marcia Franklin. The book traces the rise and fall of the Comanches, the most powerful Indian tribe in American history. It also entails the epic saga of pioneer woman Cynthia Ann Parker and her mixed-blood son Quanah, who becomes the last Comanche chief.G


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Dec. 8, 2007
NORTON, Mass. - Behind three wins each from Laurent Charpentier, Rastislav Racz and Michael Dobson, MIT's men's swimming and diving team eased to a 224-48 victory over New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Wheaton College on Saturday afternoon in Balfour Natatorium. The Engineers garnered maximum points in 13 of the 14 swimming events and both diving events in a contest that was selected as SwimmingWorldMagazine.com's Meet of the Week.
MIT improved its dual meet record to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the NEWMAC this season with the triumph, while Wheaton fell to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
Remarkably, the Cardinal and Gray had the top-two finishing quartets in both of the afternoon's relay events. Jeff Zhou and Luke Cummings teamed up with Charpentier and Racz to take top honors in the meet's opening event, the 200-yard medley relay, with a time of 1:37.26. They were followed in second-place by Peter Wellings, Deke Hu, Toomas Sepp and Kalvin Kao - a group which clocked in at 1:41.98. The Engineers performed a similar feat in the afternoon's final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay. Zhou, Dobson, Cummings and Trace Sauter were the victors, touching the wall first at 3:19.75, while Charpentier, Wellings, Brendon Sullivan and Eric Roselli copped runner-up honors by finishing with a time of 3:20.58.
In addition to one relay win apiece, Charpentier, Racz and Dobson each picked up two individual victories, as well. Charpentier, a junior transfer-student in his first year with the Cardinal and Gray, took first-place in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.02, while teammate Cummings finished right behind at 22.08. The 100-yard butterfly was also won by Charpentier, as he touched the wall at 53.18 to beat out the competition. Racz won both the 100-yard (1:00.89) and 200-yard (2:14.45) breaststroke events, while Dobson finished first in both the 500-yard (4:48.62) and 1000-yard (10:02.94) freestyles. Incredibly, Racz led a 1-2-3 finish in the 200-yard breaststroke, as he was followed by Kao (2:17.71) and Hu (2:18.20), while Dobson's top time in the 1000-yard freestyle was trailed by Jack Hill (10:19.65), Harrison Hall (10:27.95) and Roselli (10:50.42) to give Tech the top four finishers.
MIT's swimmers engineered three more 1-2-3 finishes on the afternoon, beginning with Kao (1:48.87), Hu (1:52.35) and Zack Cordero (1:52.63) in the 200-yard freestyle. The Cardinal and Gray did the same in the 100-yard backstroke (Wellings, Sepp, Sauter) and the 400-yard individual medley (Kao, Hu, Hill).
The Engineers other swimming triumphs came in the 100-yard freestyle, which was won by Wellings with a time of 49.10, and the 200-yard backstroke, which Sepp earned maximum points in by touching the wall first at 2:07.09.
Freshman Carson Darling won both the one-meter and three-meter diving events, scoring 202.20 points and 205.45 points, respectively, though he dove without a competitor from Wheaton.
MIT won't return to action until after the winter break, as the Engineers will have a lengthy recovery time until their next meet on Saturday, Jan. 19, when they will host Colby College at 1:00 p.m. Wheaton will also return after the winter hiatus, as it will battle Clark University and Vassar College at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12.


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Pokémon Professors work at tournaments and Pokémon League events as judges and organizers. They are among the most dedicated Pokémon fans and have demonstrated a thorough understanding of Pokémon games and of organized play. Professors have a desire to share their knowledge with others and to help the game grow.
We're looking for anyone who wants to have fun while providing a great opportunity for players in their neighborhood. Knowledge and love of the Pokémon universe are certainly a bonus, but if you have a passion for helping out your community and a knack for hosting events, we're hoping you'll join our ranks. Pokémon Professors are expected to adhere to the Spirit of the Game and the Professor Core Values.
Potential Professors must complete several steps to join the program. The first thing aspiring Pokémon Professors need to do is decide how they would like to volunteer their time. A Professor can choose from three areas of expertise: Organizer, Trading Card Game Judge, and Video Game Judge.
Once they know which certification they will start with, aspiring Professors will submit an application. The application covers basic contact information, info about your qualifications, and details that will help us decide whether you will be a good fit for our program. Once you have finished the application, you will immediately move on to your certification exam, which will show us that you have the basic knowledge and skills needed for your chosen role.
Finally, to protect our players and guarantee that Play! Pokémon events are placed in the best possible hands, we run a background check on organizer candidates whenever possible.
Once they are approved, new Professors will be asked to volunteer for a minimum number of events each year. Professors can earn higher ranks in a particular area or expertise, or they can become certified for multiple roles! The chart below gives a basic overview on Professor Ranks and certifications.
Basic Rank Professor
Stage 1 Rank Professor
Stage 2 Rank Professor
Organizer Certification skill sets
Registration, new player sign-up, age divisions, basic reporting, venue details
Handling late players, common TOM issues, event disruptions, staff issues
Major bystander/player disruptions, major TOM issues, staff issues
TCG Judge Certification skill sets
Basic deck construction, Pokémon intro concepts, game setup, game resolution, intended activities
Basic problem-solving, best-of-three game resolution, card reprints and errata
Major problem-solving, rewinding/fixing game state, identifying cheating, judge training
VG Judge Certification skill sets
Basic team creation rules, game setup, basic penalties, basic understanding of in-game tiebreakers, basic understanding of common ROM check flags
In-depth understanding of in-game tiebreakers, in-depth understanding of ROM check flags, basic understanding of how to troubleshoot game registration and mid-match game glitches
In-depth understanding of how to troubleshoot game registration and mid-match game glitches, knowledge of move priorities, ability to communicate these issues clearly to players
Minimum activity to retain role or qualify for the next rank
Staff at least 6 events per year in certification-appropriate role
Staff 8 events at approved venues per year, 4 of which must be Premier Events, in certification-appropriate role
Staff 12 events per year, 8 of which must be Premier Events, in certification-appropriate role
Do you think you've got what it takes to become a Pokémon Professor? If you're at least 18 years old, then log in to your Pokémon Trainer Club account to choose your first certification and take the exam to find out!


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DescriptionHere's a brand new, wonderfully cheerful, holiday track with an energetic Christmas & New Year mood. This festive track will be very useful for all your holiday-themed videos, websites, tv & radio productions, movies, e-cards and much more.
If you like the file, please leave a comment, thank you!
Do you like this song?If you like this item, you may also like :
Christmas Joy
Jingle Bells
Silent Night


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Veterans could play a key role in deciding whether Mitt Romney or Barack Obama is in the White House next year. The swing states — Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Nevada, Colorado and Ohio — have high concentrations of vets. And veterans as a group are twice as likely to vote as the rest of the electorate. No surprise, then, that both candidates are heavily courting their votes.
Veterans have traditionally favored Republicans. In 2008, Sen. John McCain won the overall veterans vote 55% to 45%, and George W. Bush had a 16-point margin over John Kerry in 2004. Polling suggests that Romney has an edge this year too, but the race for the veteran vote is not over. The cohort is more youthful — with more than 2 million troops newly returned from Iraq and Afghanistan — and their party loyalty is far from settled. Some 40% of new veterans are registered as independents, with the remainder evenly split between the parties. Moreover, for the first time in 80 years, none of the four candidates for president and vice president has served in the military.
A few key issues are likely to influence the vote. These include the prevalence of joblessness, homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide among veterans, the chronic backlog of benefit claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the implementation of the post-9/11 GI Bill for education, the difficulties facing women in the military and the national security and defense budget.


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Courtney Gruesc - Indian Classical Music - Sitar
Farhan Khan
Sitar players can play anything ranging from classic Indian music, to Buddhist and world music! They are a wonderful addition to any party - especially as the live entertainment during cocktail hour! If you are looking for a unique sound, or having an Indian or Bollywood themed party, then the Sitar is the perfect fit for you! Search here for Sitar Players in Orange County CA.


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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - On Sunday, the MIT women's swimming and diving team competed against New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opponents Springfield College and Coast Guard Academy. When the waves settled, it was the Engineers who came out on top in both match-ups, defeating Springfield 167-133 and Coast Guard 183-117. The win over Springfield marked the first time that MIT beat the defending-NEWMAC-champion Pride since the 2006-07 season.
Freshman Sarah Scodel had an outstanding meet for the Engineers. She was part of MIT's winning 200 Medley Relay (1:53.14) and went on to win the 200 Back (2:14.41), 100 Fly (1:01.93) and 200 Fly (2:14.46). Coupled with her four swims on Saturday, including two individual wins, Scodel's efforts earned her NEWMAC Swimmer of the Week honors.
Another MIT standout, junior Amy Jacobi proved her versatility in the pool, as the sprinter picked up a win in the 200 Free (1:57.47) and finished second in the 500 Free (5:17.33).
MIT swims on the road this week when the team travels to Medford, Mass. to face Tufts University on Saturday, January 23. Spectators should note that diving competition will take place at MIT's home pool in the Zesiger Center.


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Difference between revisions of "Nagaland"
Revision as of 21:35, 12 March 2013
Nagaland is in the north east of India.
There are 16 different tribes in Nagaland: 1.Angami 2.Ao 3.Chakhesang 4.Chang 5.Kachari 6.Khiamniungan 7.Konyak 8.Kuki 9.Lotha 10.Phom 11.Pochury 12.Rengma 13.Sangtam 14.Sumi 15.Yimchunger 16.Zeliangrong
Get in
Fly into Dimapur or take the fast train from Guwahati which leaves daily at 0630; connect to a share taxi in front of the Dimapur railway station (Rs 200) and reach Kohima by lunchtime. Direct buses also run daily between Guwahati and Kohima.
Entry formalities
Foreign nationals no longer need a Restricted Area Permit. If flying in, you should register with police at the airport, but even this is not strictly required.
Get around
Kohima, the state capital, houses the largest crucifix in Asia.
Touphema Tourist Village
Situated on a gentle hillock with panoramic views of the surrounding valleys at a distance of 41 km north of Nagaland capital Kohima, the Tuophema tourist village offers exquisite traditional Naga life in the lap of nature.
As part of the Naga hospitality, tourists are also offered local dishes with home made rice beer. A recently refurbished Museum inside the village offers an extensive ethnographic collection including wood carvings, musical instruments, textiles, handicrafts traditional artifacts, jewellery ans archaeological finds.
The Hornbill festival held in the first week of December shows that with its stunning natural beauty and great cultural traditions, Nagaland can offer a rich fare to tourists.
The state of Nagaland still supports a tribal culture and here at the Hornbill Festival, in the state capital Kohima, this is celebrated with a series of performances and demonstrations.
The festival sees each tribal Hoho (the leading body of each tribe) construct a Morung (boys dormitory), where the values of life are traditionally imparted. In these modern-day Morung, the tribes depict their original lifestyles as accurately as possible. Although they don't have the original totem poles or carvings, the ceremony still serves to give an authentic idea of the traditions of the tribes.
Traditional arts are also featured, with paintings, wood carvings and sculptures by modern Naga artists on display. Naga troupes sing folk songs, perform traditional dances and play indigenous games and sports.
In the evenings a programme of music concerts, catering for all tastes, ensure that the festive spirit continues through the night.
Dzükou Valley
Dzukou Valley Situated at an altitude of 2438.4 metres above sea-level, behind the Japfu Peak, it is 30 Km to the south of Kohima. The entire valley is overshadowed with a type of tough bamboo brush to make the place appear like a mown lawn. The serpentine stream that flows through Dzukou becomes frozen during winter. In summer, wild herbs sprout along the river banks. Lilies in white and yellow and a hundred of other specias of flowers in varied colour adorn the valley in summer. Rhododendrons in white and other colours ornament the hills surrounding the vale. This is one of the best trekking spots in the North-Eastern Region. A base camp for Trekkers' is being constructed on the way from the Jakhama route.
From June to September, the entire valley is covered with a carpet of wild flowers. Here, you are completely at peace with nature. The valley is surrounded by hills, natural caves & rocks and is thus, ideal for camping.
A typical Naga table consists of a meat dish, a boiled vegetable dish or two, rice and a chutney (Tathu). Nagas tend to prefer boiled edible organic leaves. Some common dishes are "fermented bamboo shoot" (made from the tender shoot of the Bamboo tree) with fish and pork. axone (soyabean boiled, fermented and either smoked or sun dried) with smoked pork and beef. Smoked meat is produced by keeping the meat above the fire or hanging on the wall of the kitchen for 2 weeks or longer, which could last for the whole year ahead. Anishiis fermented yam leaves made into patties and smoked over the fire or sun dried . Naga food tends to be spicy (chillies). There are different varieties of chillies in Nagaland. The ginger used in the Naga cusine is spicy, aromatic and is different from the common ginger. The garlic and ginger leaves are also used in cooking with meat. Another popular dish is a soupy dish which is had with cold rice made mostly when one feels under the weather or a migraine, called by different name by the different Naga tribes.
Consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the state.
Stay safe
Get out