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Jackie's "Navy Patterned" Room
Like this entry? Favorite it below!
- Name:
- Jackie
- Location:
- Woodbury, MN
- Division:
- Cool
- Inspiration for my palette:
- This room is big. It is two stories with tons of large windows. With so much natural light, I wanted to play with a really dark color on the walls and furnishings. Turquoise is my favorite color, so I splashed it all around the room as an accent color. The rug adds a huge punch of pattern and color in the room. The navy rug inspired the center-striped pillow which ties the room together. The teal and green from the other pillows and the ice blue velvet on the chairs match colors in the striped pillow.
- Colors used in my room:
- Wall Color - Zinc by Martha Stewart
Trim Color - Divine White by Sherwin Williams
Rug - Moroccan Trellis in Navy from RugsUSA
Sofa - Andre in Pewter from Room & Board
Chairs - Ice/Aqua Blue Velvet
- Tips for using color successfully:
- Don't be afraid to use a lot of colors in one space. As long as you have something, like the striped pillow in my room, to tie them all together it will work beautifully. Using the same color in a few different shades adds depth and helps the room look layered.
- Palette:
- Navy Patterned


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In the good and festive spirit of Sinulog (Cebu's biggest festival in honor of the Sto. Nino), I want all my readers (based in the PH) to get a chance to win one of 5 amazing pairs of shoes from Hebe. The ones above are my personal picks, and I've gotta say, they're even more versatile and classy than they look!
To enter, just like the HEBE page, share the Contest Photo (below) and tag 3 of your friends!
Each entry shall be in this format:
Complete this caption: Hebe is (something witty here)
Visit shophebe.tk today!
(Contest Photo with tagged friends)
Leave a comment below (1 per person) with your name, email address and the link to the shared photo on FB.
Up to 5 entries will be picked. The winner will get the chance to pick the shoes she prefers and friends she tagged in her entry will receive the shoes she picked for them.
Contest starts now and ends on January 25 at 11:59PM. Goodluck!!!

subset: commoncrawl


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For some of us, it's too early to think about a sun and surf vacation, not only because summer hasn't completely slipped away, but because Alberta can be at its most golden in the next couple weeks. The aspens turn a dazzling sunburst shade and the days are sunny, though a bit cooler, perfect for hiking, flying through the air, wildlife watching and even camping.
The busloads of tourists have tapered off and there's no shortage of weekend packages and things to do close to home. The shoulder season, as it's known in the travel biz, (post-summer, pre-ski season) is the time of year to hit the blacktop, for a routine-busting weekend or a take-the-whole-gang day trip. These mini-getaways will make Monday feel a long way off.
Movie and a sleepover
Do: Program your GPS, load up on Milk Duds and hit the road for a weekend on one of three "reel roadtrips" around Alberta highways and backroads. Soak up the scenery that formed the backdrop for movies like Assassination of Jessie James, Unforgiven or Passchendaele (hitting theatres next month). Travel Alberta (www.albertamoviemaps.com) has created three detailed drives: The Stuff of Legends; Saddles and Side Trips; Badlands and Bad Guys. Printed maps are available at visitors centres around the province; detailed written directions are on the website with suggested sidetrips and other activities, including dining suggestions.
Stay: Stay on for the night in the Badlands, for a truly authentic experience. Rather than packing your own tent, bed down for a night under the stars in a teepee sleepover at the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Centre's Tipi Village. Until mid-October, the centre (www.blackfootcrossing.ca) offers four teepee camping packages, from basic to luxurious, with costs ranging from $200 to $450. The basic setup includes a one-night tepee stay for up to four people, wood stove, water and lantern. The top-end package, for up to eight people, includes everything needed for a cosy night under the stars: bed, bedding, buffalo robes the aforementioned necessities plus a story teller and a ceremonial dancer.
In both packages you can opt to bring your own food or eat at the cafeteria at the interpretive centre. You can also ask about catering.
Take the kids, tire them out
Do: If you and your kids were inspired by the recent Cirque du Soleil show, Corteo, in Calgary, here's a chance to get a feel for what it's like to fly through the air yourself. The Fly Canmore Trapeze school opened last month. "It's a physical workout, and be prepared to fly through the air," says proprietor Matt Hamer. Join in the "open fly bar session" with unlimited "flying" or the "catch class," secure in the fact trained gymnasts and trapeze artists will help you, and show you some tricks to get you started.
The facility, at 500 Bow Valley Tr., is set up outdoors and will stay open until mid-December (subject to weather conditions, but patio heaters will be set up as the days get cooler). All that's needed is a love of swinging and comfy clothes. Call ahead (403-621-3753) or drop in. (flybanff.com). Large groups can be accommodated.
Stay: If you're looking to stay in one place for a laid-back weekend, but want to get out of the city, Banff's Douglas Fir Resort (www.douglasfir.com) is set up for just such an outing. An impressive waterslide and full-sized play zone will keep the kids buzzing all day (and tire them out).
The resort offers a "Bed and Make Your Own Breakfast" package, starting at $64 per person, depending on the type of accommodation. The one-bedroom condo loft is just right for most families.
The breakfast basket, delivered to your room, (available only one morning of your stay), includes eggs, bacon, croissants, loaf of bread, juice and more.
Adrenalin junkies
Do: You'll still be in city, but floating above it getting a whole new view of the landscape before most people are even out of bed. Though hot air ballooning is weather-dependent any time of year, autumn can be ideal. The changing trees never look prettier than from the sky as the sun rises in the east. (www.rainbowballoons.ca) Cost is $275 per person and includes Champagne and orange juice and continental breakfast, once you've landed.
You can hook up with Yamnuska Mountain Adventures (www.yamnuska.com) for a full or half day rock-climbing lesson. Lessons are available for all levels of climbers, and run through to mid-October (subject to weather conditions).
Stay: After a day of rock climbing, Canmore's just another few kilometres down the road. You'll be ready to quaff a cold beer and perhaps spend the night at one of the "Charming Inns of Alberta" in Canmore.
The Georgetown Inn (www.georgetowninn.ca) is noted for its traditional country-style British B & B, complete with a pub-style restaurant, popular among adventurous locals and out-of-towners.
Through April, the Georgetown is offering a Saturday night stay with half price on Sunday night.
Depending on the room, prices range from $157.50 to $277.50.
Nature lovers
Do: Those rascally elk are heading into their rutting season, making this time of year perfect for wildlife viewing tours. Join a half- or full-day tour of Banff National Park with www.banfftours.com
Stay: Spend the night at cosy Num-Ti-Jah Lodge (num-ti-jah.com), located just north of Lake Louise, on the banks of the Bow River. The Elkhorn dining room is the perfect place to end your au natural day. The lodge has 25 rooms.


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Review Group Week 215 - AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #626
Hey you! Reader! Want to be a part of the GREATEST COMIC BOOK AND GEEK COMMUNITY on the web?! Well, they're not accepting new members, but we'll take anyone here, so why not sign up for a free acount? It's fast and it's easy, like your mom! Sign up today! Membership spots are limited!*
*Membership spots not really limited!
Hey you! Reader! Want to be a part of the GREATEST COMIC BOOK AND GEEK COMMUNITY on the web?! Well, they're not accepting new members, but we'll take anyone here, so why not sign up for a free acount? It's fast and it's easy, like your mom! Sign up today! Membership spots are limited!*
*Membership spots not really limited!
by Starlord » Thu Mar 25, 2010 9:51 am
extremely well thought out review. I can't disagree with any of that and I strongly agree with what you said about the art. It does not fit this book in any way shape or form. I'm like you. I want those popping colors and the brightness that is the world of Spidey. Lately when I get the issue I can barely stand looking at the pictures. Yet, I love the style in Luke Cage or Spider-Man Noir. It fits there.
by spidertour02 » Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:15 am
See, but for one issue I think it fits. This was a down-and-dirty kind of story, so a dirty art style works in a sense. Granted, I'm not a huge fan, and I dislike the colors as much as you do, but for a one-off story it's fine.
I have a bigger problem with people like Max Fiumara and Paul Azaceta doing multiple issues ...
by thefourthman » Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:18 am
But I think that has to do with your dislike for their art work. I don't Azaceta is the best match either, but they have a playfulness to their designs that works for both worlds, the gritty and the bright four color world.
Gaydos wouldn't look right colored another way. It is part of his style. Just like I don't want Sean Phillips being a regular on the book either.
by ****** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:24 amSean Phillips doing an issue of Amazing Spider-Man?
Had this had more traditional/house style art, I probably would have been as bored as the rest of you.
by Punchy » Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:59 amSpider-Man lends himself to the widest variety of art styles of any character. I love that in one month we can have Gaydos, Fiumura, Azaceta and Martin.
by Potter Who » Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:04 pmNot the best issue by a long shot, but I enjoyed the art, and Peter and Michelle improving their relationship is a good thing IMO.
by Zero » Thu Mar 25, 2010 5:11 pmThe Amazing Spider-Man #616 - The Sting
I like Michael Gaydos' art. I like Spider-Man. Unfortunately they go together like oil and water here and the bland story makes the most of neither of them.
While Peter Parker's relationship troubles have cropped up in the odd issue of ASM I've read over the last couple of year, this was the first issue that really hung on them and I was a little lost. Can't blame the book for that but the fact that it didn't make me want to find out more about the story indicates that it's a boring one and needs sorting out. The Scorpion plot is generic two as a pair of heroes have a misunderstanding and them team up to fight some generic villains. Why bother using Tombstone, The Hood and Bushwaker when nothing they do couldn't have been accomplished by any three nameless characters? It wasn't even funny, and when Spidey and a writer best known for fun books can't crack a smile for me, then something has gone a little bit *very* wrong.
Like I said before, I like Gaydos' art but he doesn't really fit superhero art very well. The skulking around in the shadows parts are easy enough on the eyes but the fight scenes look awkward and posed. Fine art for a crime book or something talky and grim like Alias, but the light moments here look gloomy. Bit of a mismatch here.
I like the writer, I like the artist, and I like the character but the story here doesn't play to the strengths of any of them. Nice cover though.
by Dragavon » Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:55 pm
I think I picked a book that might get the fewest amount of reviews.
by Eric Ratcliffe » Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:15 pmAs usual I read a different book then some of the group
Amazing Spiderman #626
Michelle aka Pete's roomate gets herself into a bit of trouble as she goes after one of her clients who is doing something stupid. Meanwhile Peter is at the same location running into Fred Van Lente's scorpion who apparently got a costume change and a new attitude. (I remember the last time we saw her, she aged or something.)
Anyways the issue is a fun mix between in costume and out of costume insanity. Though there is one thing that bothers me...The Hood. I just don't like thuggish hood being wrote at all. I prefer the more cunning scumbag we saw in the bendis books recently and the one jeff parker, dwayne mcduffie and BKV wrote.
Gaydos art is strong here and Michelle looked a lot like Jessica Jones in a few panels. I've honestly e njoyed Fred and Joe's work on the book most lately.
All in all you get a 7.5, not the best story and not the worst.
by Eli Katz » Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:23 pmAre Peter and Michelle romantically involved?
by Punchy » Fri Mar 26, 2010 3:09 am
They had sex once after Aunt May's wedding, and the Chameleon confused things, but not really.
by Old Man » Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:05 amThere are any number of books coming out next week that might deserve to get the Review Group treatment. With a quick skim of the list, I see at least 7, maybe 8, that I wouldn't mind reviewing.
But one book stands out as having a big neon sign flashing REVIEW ME!
Blackest Night #8.
I fully expect to see a lot of 4s, 5s, and 6s because of the hate factor, but that's my choice.
by thefourthman » Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:06 amawesome!
by Old Man » Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:08 am
Anyone who rates this a 10 has just rolled a -2. You are now amlah4.
by thefourthman » Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:13 am
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Mirror, mirror on the wall...
When I'm out shopping for jeans, I look into you, mirror, after I've wriggled into a skinny pair and buttoned them up, to sometimes, gleefully, see this:
I get home.
I tear my new magical jeans out of their bag like a kid on Christmas morning, ripping the tags off with my teeth while doing some serious lower body yoga to put my legs into the leg holes almost simultaneously so I can check 'em out with my favorite shoes. Oh the joy! The elation!
Only... I find that, somehow, someway, in the mirror at home I no longer look like a miniature screen siren or 16 year-old Russian with a butt that defies gravity. I look a little closer, in disbelief. Surely... no. That can't be me. I turn around to make sure there's no one behind me and that somehow, perhaps, I've lost my reflection so I'm actually looking at her, the insane lady in those jeans who has snuck into my bathroom, in all of her middle-aged, Fuptastic glory.
The horror sets in and...
I realize that... dear god
In fact...
I look more like this:
How, mirrors of the world, can you be so flattering one moment and so cruel the next, like a bad grade school boyfriend?
How is it possible to look so wildly different in two bits of mirror wearing the SAME pants?
Maybe it's the thumping, bumping music that makes you feel like you're living out your very own Chic Flick in the store. So distracting yet, like, totally super fun! Yay! Cue Reese Witherspoon bouncing around...
Or the low lighting.
Or that all of your clothing comes home with you in banana-yellow bags.
Whatever it is, the scores stands at:
Mirror:1, Me: 0
Not for long, though. Not. For. Long.
Watch your back, mirror.


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The verdict is in, but the dispute may not be over.
A highly technical equipment protest lodged by two of the three teams competing in the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series of the America's Cup was upheld by an International Sailing Federation jury Thursday, but questions remain concerning the future of the third team.
Italy's Luna Rossa Challenge and Emirates Team New Zealand had protested the size and shape of the catamarans' new rudder wings, which slow the boats down. While they were happy with the ruling, they may differ on whether a third boat – Artemis Racing – should receive special treatment to allow the Swedish team to compete.
Artemis CEO Paul Cayard has said his team couldn't take part in the challenger series if the protests were upheld. But a five-member jury said in a 23-page, single-spaced report that it lacks the authority to grant Artemis an exception from reverting to the original smaller rudder wings, the subject of the protest.
Artemis hasn't been on the water since May 9 when, in a practice run, its boat capsized near Treasure Island. A dozen crew members were thrown into the water and Andrew "Bart" Simpson died after being trapped beneath the wreckage for more than 10 minutes.
Change of rudder
In the wake of Simpson's death, regatta director Iain Murray issued 37 safety recommendations, one of which was that teams should use heavier, symmetrical winglets on its rudders to help prevent similar pitchpole crashes.
Unlike the other teams, the Swedish team would have a problem reverting to the old rudder because its new boat incorporates Murray's safety recommendations, including the revised rudder arrangement.
Grant Dalton, CEO of Team New Zealand, proposed letting the Swedish team race next month using the new rudder wings, if all the teams agree.
"We want them back on the water for the event," Dalton said.
Such an agreement, though, may not be simple.
After Luna Rossa made its first appearance of the regatta Thursday and picked up a point in a solo sail – because Artemis wasn't ready – skipper Max Sirena said his team hasn't decided whether to cut Artemis some slack.
"We built our boat under the original class rule," he said. "I don't understand why other people don't respect that (rule). You should ask the other team."
Cayard could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Series continues
Murray appeared to back off his July 3 comment that he would tell the Coast Guard the regatta was unsafe if the protests were upheld. He said Thursday he would huddle with the teams on the rudder issue and try to reach an agreement that he could present to the Coast Guard, which presumably would have to issue a new race permit.
Both Luna Rossa and Team New Zealand currently comply with his rudder-wing specifications and can proceed with the challenger series, he said. The two teams will sail Saturday at 12:15 p.m. in the first real race of the Louis Vuitton regatta.
Both teams said they protested mainly because they didn't think Murray should be allowed to change the rules on his own, particularly so close to the competition.
"There's no vindication," Luna Rossa's Sirena said. "We protested because we felt there was a good reason to protest. We're obviously happy with the result."
New Zealand's Dalton urged the teams "to put down their weapons and get on with it."
Oracle in their sights
It is widely assumed, though, that the protests were also aimed at Oracle Team USA. The defender has been using the new rudder wings on both its boats since the safety recommendations were put in place.
Ben Ainslie, an Oracle skipper, said his team will simply go back to smaller rudder wings. The process shouldn't take more than a few days, he said. Oracle has plenty of time: The America's Cup finals begin Sept. 7, and no Oracle boat is required to sail in the regatta leading up to the Cup races themselves.
"We were complying before the (Artemis) accident in May," Ainslie said. "The situation has been blown out of proportion a little bit."
Any talk among the other challengers that Murray's rudder-wing proposal might benefit Oracle was "a classic America's Cup conspiracy theorist's dream," Ainslie said.
He said it's possible the smaller wings could make his team's boats even faster. The shore crew has to rebalance the boats on its foils. "It just depends on the configuration you adopt," Ainslie said.
Murray said he was disappointed in the jury's decision, but he hopes an agreement can be reached for Artemis' sake. "I've seen the effort that Artemis has put into picking themselves up from the depths of May 9," he said. "I hope they can compete."
Tom FitzGerald is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail:email@example.com Twitter: @tomgfitzgerald


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As wind energy makes increasing headway in reducing America's dependence on fossil fuels and the harmful emissions associated with their use, the fossil fuel industry has launched an increasingly desperate misinformation campaign to muddy the waters about these indisputable benefits of clean energy. The latest attack comes in a Baltimore Sun op-ed by Mr. Charles Campbell, a retired senior vice president of the Gulf Oil Corporation ("Wind farms wrong answer to Md.'s greenhouse gas emissions," July 25).
Mr. Campbell's op-ed is marred by numerous false statements and a serious misunderstanding of how the power grid operates. One only need to look to Iowa or Texas, which last year produced 15 percent and 8 percent of their electricity from wind respectively, to see that adding wind to the grid actually improves power system reliability.
Moreover, there is no need to "back up" wind output as he claims. How is this possible? The output of wind plants is aggregated with all of the other changes in electricity supply and demand on a massive interstate power grid. Even though many of those sources of supply and demand are changing unpredictably (think of factories coming on and offline, people turning air conditioners on and off, fossil-fired power plants breaking down unexpectedly), together their combined output is stable and manageable.
Compared to these other changes, both onshore and offshore wind are relatively easy for grid operators to integrate, as changes in wind energy output occur slowly and are predictable. In fact, it would be far more appropriate to talk about the need to back up large fossil and nuclear power plants. They are the ones that experience large, immediate, and unexpected outages, requiring grid operators to keep 1,000-plus megawatts of fast acting, expensive and inefficient standby generation ready 24/7 in case one of those plants goes down.
U.S. Department of Energy data conclusively show that states that have ramped up their wind energy output over the last several years, like Colorado and Texas, have seen major reductions in air pollution emissions. In addition, every independent grid operator that has examined the issue has found that adding wind energy to the grid results in significant reductions in fossil fuel use and emissions.
Michael Goggin,Washington
The writer is manager of transmission policy for the American Wind Energy Association.


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Good Idea: Printable Recipe Card Templates
Do you use recipe cards? Do you keep them organized in a box, maybe alphabetically or by subject? Or maybe you like to copy a favorite recipe onto a card and attach it to a whisk or a clutch of wooden spoons as a housewarming gift. If so, then this roundup is for you!
We're not certain yet if the internet has killed the recipe card. While many people use online sources for discovering and managing their recipes, there still seems to be a place for the personal recipe card — especially for gift giving. And when you can easily download and customize them from shops on Etsy and other craft marketplaces, the possibilities are endless.
Here's a few of our favorite recipe card templates. The way these work is that the designer offers an inexpensively-priced download. You pay your money and then the store sends you a link to a download. You are now free to fill out these editable Word documents or PDF files with your own recipes, framed in by the designer's cute graphics. This is great for those of us who prefer to type out recipes rather than handwrite them; it's often much faster and neater to do it this way.
• 1-2 Food Friends and A Baker's Best (Tool) Friends from wildolive
• 3-4 Modern Blue and One Blue Whisk from upup
• 5 Personalized Recipe Cards from Jen and Ink
• 6-8 From WhiskerGraphics there's Fork and Spoon , Chicken and Food templates
• 9 Little Paper Dog's Food Fetish Kit also includes tags, labels and shopping lists
• 10 The Painted Face Sharing Cards from the Small Object


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Interior designers are much more than 'decorators'
At UNI, the Interior Design program is about more than just putting a new layer of paint on the walls and picking out a new rug. It's a field in which you can make a difference in the world while enjoying what you do.
Matrasa Phillips, Cathy Koch, Zoe Browning and Karly Evans, all interior design majors, share some of their recent projects.
Students in the program get a wide range of living experiences such as navigating campus in wheelchairs, or wearing dark sunglasses smeared with Vaseline. These experiences help students understand how they can improve interior designs for people with disabilities.
The program also has a strong foundation in balancing people's desires and the planet's needs through sustainably "green" designs. The interior design faculty are LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Students learn how to find the fine balance between the needs of the client and needs of the design. They question if it's long lasting, how it impacts the Earth, whether there's a health impact on people, and many other factors. The goal is to make the design flexible and useful for people with different needs.
A portfolio review process is held every spring. There's a strong emphasis on business skills to provide students an entrepreneurial perspective.
A variety of field trips such as visits to housing constructions sites complement the program. Also, students intern anywhere from the West Coast to the East Coast and between, and can travel to London during a study abroad experience. There are also study tours available in many cities such as New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, Kansas City and more. Interior design professor Gowri Betrabet states that, "When you're in these cities you get to see design at it's best, and you sometimes get to meet the designers." The impact of these trips can be seen in studio in the student's work.
In the studio, students learn team dynamics. In the design world, working with others can't be avoided. You never know how paths might cross someday, so UNI students learn how to make "meaningful connections that last a lifetime," says Betrabet.
UNI's interior design students and faculty shine in national competitions. At the Durkan Design Competition, recent UNI grads took special mentions and a national award for their projects. However, Betrabet says, "Each student is an achievement no matter what. They are wonderful assets and contributors."


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An anonymous reader sent us this very interesting photo of Adrian Peterson eating what appears to be a very slippery lunch of seafood and chips....just hours before he dropped the football three times in Sunday's NFC Championship game.
Is it legit? Well, that sure looks like "All Day" and those sure look like Vikings fans behind him ready to go to a game. It appears that he's eating at "Duffy's", which is mere blocks from the Superdome on Canal St. (just down the block from the Ritz-Carlton, which you can see in the background. Click to enlarge.) The photo was supposedly taken around 2:30 p.m. local time, which matches the timestamp left in the photo's metadata by the camera ... just about three hours before kickoff. Feel free to debunk, but it definitely looks like A.P. covered his mitts in a nice thick coat of greasy fry batter right before the biggest game of his career. Curious.
Now Adrian Peterson's fumble-itis problems were notorious even before Sunday's near-meltdown, but has anyone on the Vikings ever checked to see what his traditional pregame meal is? No one is saying they need to cut off his fast food intake on gameday, but at least hand the guy a wet nap before he his the turf.
* * * * *
That's all for today. And yes, I know he wears gloves during games so don't bother. I suspect there might be a few things to say about the Super Bowl before the week is out. Enjoy the respite for now and thank you for your continued support of Deadspin. The Drew abides.


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Arizona 4x4 Adventure - The Ghost TrailPosted in Events on April 1, 2008
During the 15th century, the Spanish Empire laid claim to most of North America calling it the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Explorations of the new territories were funded, and missions were established. A myth materialized by word of mouth about the existence of "The Seven golden cities of cbola."
The myth is based on an event from a time in the 11th century when Muslims conquered the city of Mrida in Spain. Supposedly, seven priests fled the city taking sacred religious relics to a faraway land and established the cities of cbola and Quivira. For centuries, the location of those cities was unknown.
In 1539, a man named Fray Marcos de Niza crossed into Arizona and became the first European to explore the territory west of the rockies. A monument can be found at the border- crossing town of Lochiel, Arizona, recording April 12 as that day in history.
De Niza discovered the Zuni people living in seven cities throughout territories now in the states of Arizona and New Mexico. The Zuni are believed to be descendants of the Anasazi cliff dwellers. Whether or not they lived a peaceful life prior to de Niza's visit, there would be nothing but trouble to follow.
De Niza was not allowed into the cities. He observed them from a distance and imagined they were hiding many treasures. His claims developed into rumors that the Seven cities of cbola had been found and were filled with riches beyond anything ever known. Other explorers, eager to claim the treasures, ventured into The territory. Some never returned, and others who did return embellished the stories that great wealth was there to conquer.
Those stories evolved into the myth of the Seven golden cities of cbola.
In anticipation of claiming the treasures protected by the Seven cities, another explorer named Coronado assembled an army. He conquered the Zunis and was soon in control of the Seven cities but found no treasures. The myth was dispelled and de Niza was dishonored for his false claims.
The Spanish Empire retained control of territories in North America until the 18th century when its dominance began to crumble. Mexico declared its independence in 1821, and the United States took the rest of the Empire's claims in North America in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American War.
The crossing used by de Niza to enter Arizona continued to be a popular trail. During the 1880s, a community consisting of a few hundred people sprung up at the crossing to support mines being worked in the nearby hills. Smelters, boarding houses, saloons, and numerous stores made up the community that eventually became Lochiel, Arizona.
Even the famous outlaw, Pancho Villa, used the crossing. His banditos would cross into Arizona, steal as many cattle as possible, then run back through Lochiel into Mexico. His visits were a tense time for the citizens of Lochiel. Although he might spend money during his visit, he might take back more than he would spend.
Modern-day Lochiel is a ghost town. The area around it is best known for drug smuggling. If you visit the area, mind your own business and do not stop to visit with anyone except those in border-patrol vehicles.
Lone Writer and Happy Jack left Tucson early one Sunday morning to visit the country where Spanish explorers and Pancho Villa spent so much time. Their first stop was the town of Patagonia.
Patagonia is a quiet ranching town. It was founded during the 1880s to serve ranches and mines in the outlying mountains and grasslands. It was the supply point for those who defended what little they had from roaming banditos.
A hitching post still spans the front of the Stage Stop Inn, which is a complex including a motel and restaurant. A boardwalk shadowed by a porch covering the full length of the building could have come right off the pages of a Wild West novel.
After enjoying breakfast at the Home Plate restaurant in the Stage Stop Inn, Lone Writer and Happy Jack used the Harshaw road to leave Patagonia. They stayed on backroads to the border town of Lochiel. When de Niza crossed at this point in 1539, there was probably nothing more than a watering hole to mark the location. When Pancho Villa frequented the crossing during the 1800s, Lochiel was a bustling town with hundreds of residents and lots of saloons where his banditos could party. Another century passed before customs established a border-crossing station. A few decades later, the abandoned buildings became home to ghosts and the beginning of what some call the ghost Trail to Nogales.
Arizona has more than one trail with a theme from those who have passed on. The Devil's Highway is probably the most famous. Immigration across the border from Mexico is nothing new, even though it gets a lot more attention in this century. For the most part, the ghost theme for such roads in Arizona is recognition for those who died in search of a better life in the United States. In the early days, such treks were done on foot across many miles of waterless desert where temperatures can swell far above 120 degrees F. Those who had wagons sometimes died when mechanical failure put them at the mercy of the environment. Others simply could not find the isolated watering holes.
It is likely the ghost Trail became known for those same reasons. On the other hand, there were others who died from gold fever. Mining was a hazardous occupation. If claim jumpers didn't get them, and they survived any number of mining disasters, they were likely to die with a lung disease from working in the dusty tunnels. The land was ruled by survival of the fittest.
Lone Writer and Happy Jack stopped at the customs house in Lochiel and studied its locked gates. It seemed strange to have such an elaborate gate when a few miles in either direction, the border could be crossed with no effort at all. There were several buildings standing in Lochiel, but nothing looked inhabited. The best choice seemed to be staying in the car and not staring too long in any one place.
At the edge of town, the monument for de Niza stood in a state of decay. Obviously, no one really cared about it, and only curious travelers even look its way. De Niza's monument claims the first European west of the rockies arrived on April 12, 1539. Being the skeptic as usual, Lone Writer wondered if records in those years were really accurate enough to be that certain.
With the windows down on a cool January morning, Lone Writer turned the rental SUV away from the monument and started the journey along the ghost Trail. The first stop was the ghost town of Duquesne. The entire mining camp is posted as private, but much of it can be viewed from the road. There are numerous mining claims in the area including the Washington camp. The two towns were so close together that miners teased, "If you step on the tail of one, the other will bark." During the 1880s, more than 1,000 residents lived in or around Duquesne. Those Who did not work in the mines supported others who did.
Lone Writer and Happy Jack left Duquesne on the Duquesne road. It took them up a steep grade to the pass overlooking Nogales and the valley below. The scenery was beautiful. They spent some time admiring the many views from the pass before continuing down the pass.
The ghost Trail may be used by ghosts of those still wandering the hills in search of gold, but Lone Writer and Happy Jack did not find them. There is no doubt that many people died in battles between miners and Apaches, battles between miners and claim jumpers, and just individual confrontations among the hard cases who lived and died in the Santa rita Mountains.
Lone Writer and Happy Jack spent the night visiting rusty, a friend who is part-owner of the Abrego Self Storage in green Valley. He has explored just about every backroad within a hundred miles of Tucson and recommended they visit Bull Springs road to see ghosts of a different kind. Rusty would not be able to join them due to other obligations, but he drew out a route for them on some very tattered maps.
Early the next morning, Lone Writer and Happy Jack took the exit off Interstate 19 for Elephant Head road. They had Happy Jack's Explorer with them for this trip since rusty had pointed out that Lone Writer's rental SUV might not have enough clearance. They headed toward the Santa rita Mountains and left the pavement with a turn onto Bull Springs road. At first, the road surface was not too demanding, but some of the dry creek crossings required careful negotiation in the rental. The road was lined with prickly pear cactus, desert ironwood trees, and a variety of other desert plants.
Lone Writer's rental car was pushing its limits long before they reached the sign stating "4WD recommended." The rental car was left parked at the sign. Lone Writer took the shotgun seat in the Explorer, and the trip continued. As it turned out, the most difficult obstacle along the route was the one where the rental car was parked. There were several steep descents and climbs through dry washes, but nothing that challenged the Explorer.
The "ghosts of a different kind" were everywhere. All makes and models, all colors, and in every state of disassembly. The route was a graveyard of abandoned vehicles. Stories tell of thieves driving the vehicles into the mountains and stripping them to the metal. Other stories say the thieves were trying to get the vehicles across the border but abandoned them when the Border Patrol closed in. Regardless of why the vehicles were driven into an impossible terrain, they became a part of the landscape and will likely remain there for many years.
In one place, Happy Jack pointed out a group of people in the distance. They seemed to be in no hurry as they crossed the road about 1/2 mile ahead. They all wore backpacks and faded clothing that blended in with vegetation and landscape. As quickly as they appeared, they were gone.
Another ghost appeared beside the road ahead. Alto is a Spanish word meaning "high" and was the last identity used for the town where only one building remains. Spanish Jesuits began mining the area where the town of Alto was established as early as 1690. The post offi ce operated from 1907 to 1933. Prior to being called Alto, it went by the name of El Plomo taken from the Spanish word for "lead."
A short distance past Alto, the road surface changed from rough and rocky to graded. It is a county road passing private lands that are posted and locked behind gates. The next 8 miles went by quickly. After a creek crossing, the road connected to Highway 82.
A few minutes later, they parked the Explorer facing the hitching rail at the front of the Stage Stop Inn.
On the following day, Lone Writer dropped the rental SUV at the airport in Tucson and boarded a plane to Indiana. A motorhome that needed to be delivered to a dealer in Los Angeles as waiting at the factory. Other rails in Arizona would have to wait for another day.
Larry E. Heck has been writing backcountry adventure stories since 1985. Some of the newer e-book products in the camp- fire Tales series can be found at his website (www.lone-writer.com). The site also contains campfire Tales written decades ago. If you have an idea for a historic backcountry trail that you think Larry should consider, write to firstname.lastname@example.com or call (303) 349-9937.
|Bull Springs Road from {{{Tucson}}} to Petagonia
|Trip Meter
|31 47.3636
|111 1.2473
|Take Exit 56 off I-19 and go to the stop sign on the
|east access road stop sign. Turn right (south).
|31 44.9324
|111 2.6445
|Turn left (east) on Elephant Head Road.
|31 44.2493
|111 1.3491
|Right on Mt. Hopkins Road.
|31 41.3670
|110 58.4566
|Right on Bull Springs Road (dirt).
|31 40.2181
|110 {{{57}}}.9275
|Right fork.
|31 39.6082
|110 58.1083
|Left fork.
|31 39.5346
|110 57.5443
|Entering National Forest on Road 143. Stay on
|143 until next note.
|31 39.3472
|110 56.4174
|Exit National Forest.
|31 39.2295
|110 55.8017
|Right fork.
|31 39.1045
|110 55.6456
|Begin 4x4 recommended.
|31 39.0279
|110 54.9404
|Right fork.
|110 53.4854
|Right fork.
|31 38.3122
|110 52.9644
|Right fork. This ends 4x4 recommended.
|31 37.8984
|110 52.7822
|Left fork.
|31 37.2270
|110 52.5418
|Alto town site.
|31 36.6993
|110 52.5649
|Entering private lands. Stay on road.
|31 35.6453
|110 53.1611
|Stay left on main road.
|31 31.0597
|110 47.7014
|Right fork to highway.
|31 30.9333
|110 47.3649
|Highway 82. Left is Patagonia.
2PhotosView Slideshow
|This route begins at the Stage Stop Inn in Patagonia and through Lochiel to Nogales.
|Trip Meter
|31 32.4203
|110 45.1954
|Stage Stop Motel. Go north.
|Connects to Harshaw Road.
|31 29.3274
|110 41.5525
|Straight onto dirt road.
|31 27.2980
|110 39.0785
|Straight toward Lochiel.
|31 27.1019
|110 35.4800
|Right turn.
|31 22.7250
|110 34.1812
|Right toward Lochiel.
|31 21.2977
|110 34.7626
|Right toward Lochiel.
|31 29.9885
|110 37.3258
|Lochiel border crossing.
|31 20.3554
|110 37.6422
|Historic marker for the first European
|west of the Rockies.
|31 22.0669
|110 40.1713
|Left on Duquesne 128.
|31 22.1902
|110 41.1046
|Duquesne town site. Right fork.
|31 22.7545
|110 41.2223
|Left on Duquesne Road.
|31 23.1982
|110 41.5148
|Left toward Nogales.
|31 23.1779
|110 42.8622
|Pass. Cross over the top and
|follow the signs to Nogales.


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Sun City veterans honor first responders at Flag Day ceremony.
Throughout Sun City, American flags hung from wall mounts, were planted in front of mail boxes and decorated neighborhood landmarks. As in many other patriotic days, the community was decked for the occasion.
The annual Flag Day ceremony hosted by the Sun City Veterans Association was short in length but long in meaning and ceremony. Those who attended shared the passion for honoring the Stars and Stripes.
From the podium, SCVA Senior Chaplain Larry Della Vecchia in his invocation exhorted all those present to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms represented by the American flag. He recalled the dedication of all who served in a military uniform and recognized the bravery and commitment of those who serve their community as first responders - firefighters, emergency medical technicians and police officers.
Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, offered a few words on what the flag meant to him from the perspective of people around the world. He told the small audience that while speaking to a local high school class, a foreign exchange student from China said that from a small child she had always wanted to visit America and that in her country, the United States is seen as a place of opportunity and freedom.
He shared Oliver Wendell Holmes' poem, "God Save the Flag," which ended with the verse:
"God bless the Flag and its loyal defenders,
While its broad folds o'er the battle-field wave,
Till the dim star-wreath rekindle its splendors,
Washed from its stains in the blood of the brave!"
SCVA members had long prepared for the ceremony, gathering some of the vast numbers of old, worn and tattered national ensigns that had been collected. Most of them had been placed in various drop boxes around the community and at the Bluffton Township Fire District Headquarters for proper disposal in accordance with the U.S. Flag Code.
Wood was already burning in the barrel positioned next to the dais on a brick platform. At the proper moment, SCVA Sgt.-at-Arms Bill Gardner and David Griffiths ceremoniously folded a worn American flag and presented it to Bluffton Township Fire District Capt. Randy Hunter who dropped it into the barrel. As flames began to rise, SCVA members Bill McMoil, past commander, and Jay Snyder carefully placed flag after flag into the barrel.
First responders were especially honored and recognized for their service and sacrifices and Hunter was presented with a newly designed banner called the Flag of Honor. Similar to the American flag, its stars and stripes were filled with the names of those who perished on Sept. 11.
After the ceremony, Hunter said that it was a great honor not only to represent the BTFD, "but when you see the names of the first responders, everyone who lost their lives that day, it's a pretty overwhelming set of emotions."
Hunter said the banner would be mounted and displayed in a prominent place in the Sun City station in appreciation for the gift from the community's veterans group.


text:
Matrix™ Language Upgrade
Graco Lubrication continues to provide new, upgraded and exciting products to better serve your markets.
We are pleased to announce yet another step in the development of our state-of-the-art fluid management system.
Both the Matrix™ meter interface and the Matrix software are now available in several additional languages. With a simple click in the software settings, the meter and software interface can now be selected in:
- English
- French
- Spanish
- German
- Italian
- Polish
Information required to order the Matrix configuration that best suits your needs can be found in the updated brochure, via the following link:
- Matrix Configuration Brochure English
- Matrix Configuration Brochure Russian
- Matrix Configuration Brochure Turkish
For more information do not hesitate to contact your Graco LED regional Sales Manager.
Good selling,
LED Marketing Division


text:
Early holiday promotions don't usually work on me. I'd like to say that I'm good at planning ahead, but I usually save all my gift shopping for a very stressful Christmas Eve.
This year, I'm starting early. And I'm not alone. About 61 percent of consumers plan to finish holiday shopping by early December, according to CFI group, a retail analytics firm.
Many stores are dangling preseason deals to move the early shopping trend in their favor. You may not be trading your pumpkins for a Christmas tree this week, but it won't hurt to see what's on sale ahead of the busy season.
Catch the tail-end of the storewide sale at Kohl's this weekend for big discounts on apparel for the whole family. Those with a Kohl's charge card will get an extra 15 percent to 30 percent off their purchases.
Find 25 percent to 50 percent off discounts on women's apparel by designer lines such as LC Lauren Conrad, Elle Contemporary, Simply Vera by Vera Wang and more.
There are also plenty of good deals to find in the toy section. Toys from Leap Frog and VTech are 15 percent off; Fisher-Price, Playskool and Little Tikes are 25 percent to 30 percent off and art supplies from Crayola and Play-Doh are 30 percent off.
If fine jewelry is in your gift budget this year, Kohl's collection is especially affordable at 50 to 60 percent off.
If you're buying a big-ticket item that's out of your budget this holiday season, consider using a layaway plan instead of a credit card.
Walmart and Toys R Us have waived its layaway fee for the first time in several years. Free layaway is a lot like saving up money in a jar for a big purchase, except the item you want is already stowed away.
You put a down payment of $10 towards the purchase of at least $50, and you can pay it off in increments. If you want to pay it off by Christmas, you'll need to put it on layaway early.
Good deals on big items at Walmart this week include the Xbox 360 for $179 and Playstation 3 and GoPro Hero 3 camera for $199 each.
Price-matching is the latest weapon for competing retailers, and Toys R Us is arming itself early.
The toy store will match the lowest price on toys sold online by Walmart, Amazon and Best Buy this year.
And until Oct. 31, you can earn 10 percent back on toy and kids' costume purchases.
Reach Abigail Darlington at 937-5906, follow her on Twitter @A_Big_Gail. For more tips, check the Retail Report blog at blog.post andcourier.com/retail-report.


text:
CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt's most senior judges announced on Monday they would delegate judicial officers to oversee a referendum on a controversial draft constitution, overriding calls for a boycott amid growing popular unrest.
The judges' decision brings a measure of relief to President Mohamed Mursi even as pressure mounts against him in the streets, with the opposition calling a new protest rally for Tuesday.
The new charter, which was rushed through by the Islamist-dominated constituent assembly after Mursi on November 22 issued a decree expanding his powers, has become the focal point of Egypt's biggest political crisis since the president was elected in June.
Mursi's decree and the adoption of the constitution by an Islamist-dominated panel has polarised Islamist and largely secular forces with Cairo becoming the theatre of mass rival rallies.
The latest demonstration is scheduled for 1400 GMT on Tuesday, when a coalition of opposition groups, including Nobel Laureate Mohamed ElBaradei's party and supporters of former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi, are to rally outside the presidential palace to oppose the charter and the referendum.
But the Supreme Judicial Council's announcement that judges would after all monitor the December 15 nationwide referendum required for the draft constitution to pass into law comes as a blow to Mursi's opponents, including judges, who had hoped to delegitimise the vote.
Mohammed Gadallah, Mursi's legal aide, told AFP the decision meant that the referendum would after all take place under judicial supervision.
"The largest body responsible for judges is the Supreme Judicial Council," Gadallah said. "They realised they had a responsibility before the nation to supervise.
"This means, it's over," he said when asked whether it was still possible for the vote to be boycotted by judges.
On Sunday, the Judges Club, which represents judges nationwide, said it would not oversee the referendum on the new constitution.
Judicial anger at Mursi's decree, which puts his decisions beyond the review of the courts, rages on however and on Monday judges began an open-ended strike.
The Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) suspended its work indefinitely due to "psychological and material pressure" following a protest by Mursi supporters which judges said prevented them from delivering a key ruling that might have dissolved the panel that drafted the charter.
They had intended to hold the session in defiance of Mursi's decree, which barred them from making a ruling on the charter or the Islamist-dominated senate. The court had previously disbanded parliament.
Egyptian expatriates will begin voting on the constitution ahead of time, starting on Saturday when embassies will extend their opening hours, foreign ministry spokesman Amr Roshdy said.
The press threw its weight behind the mounting protests against Mursi, with an editorial in daily Al-Shuruq printing: "Beware - fascism is coming."
"When Islamist protesters surround the SCC headquarters and prevent judges from entering, know that the seeds of a fascist state have been sown," it said of Sunday's demonstration outside the constitutional court.
Eleven independent and opposition party newspapers have declared they will not go to print on Tuesday.
The draft constitution, which is to replace the one suspended after president Hosni Mubarak was toppled in early 2011, has been criticised for failing to protect key rights and allowing a stricter interpretation of Islamic law.
Mursi's supporters accuse the opposition judges of being elitist holdouts from the Mubarak-era who oppose Islamists.
Mursi and his supporters have stressed that his new sweeping powers are temporary pending the ratification of the charter by public vote.


text:
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text:
In real-world practice, women with early-stage breast cancer were more likely to survive if they had a lumpectomy rather than mastectomy, a population-based registry study found.
Overall survival was 19% higher after breast-conserving surgery and radiation than with mastectomy after adjustment for other factors, E. Shelley Hwang, MD, MPH, of Duke University Medical Center, and colleagues reported online in Cancer.
"For more than 2 decades, it has been believed that early-stage breast cancer outcomes were equivalent with either mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery with adjuvant radiation (breast-conserving therapy)," they wrote.
The comparable survival seen in randomized controlled trials appears to have played out differently outside the trial setting, the group noted.
"These data provide confidence that breast-conserving therapy remains an effective alternative to mastectomy for early stage disease regardless of age or hormone receptor status," they concluded.
The real question now is why women did better with lumpectomy, Michael Cowher, MD, a breast surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic, commented in an interview with MedPage Today.
The answer has implications for practice, as the trend in early-stage breast cancer has been toward mastectomy in recent years, he noted.
The analysis of the prospective California Cancer Registry included all 112,154 diagnosed with stage I or II breast cancer from 1990 through 2004 and treated with breast-conserving therapy (55%) or mastectomy without radiation (45%).
Follow-up through 2009 showed a hazard ratio for overall survival of 0.81 with lumpectomy versus mastectomy (95% confidence interval 0.80 to 0.83) after adjustment for tumor grade, proportion of positive nodes, race, socioeconomics, tumor size, age at diagnosis, and year of diagnosis.
That advantage to breast-conserving therapy was found across age and hormone receptor status groups.
Women younger than 50 with hormone receptor-positive disease accrued the least benefit from lumpectomy versus mastectomy but still a significant one at an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.93 (95% CI 0.86 to 0.99).
Disease-specific survival was also better with breast-conserving therapy for women 50 or older with hormone receptor-positive disease (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.91) and those younger than 50 with hormone receptor-negative disease (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.98).
Results were at least as good as with mastectomy for women 50 or older with hormone receptor-negative disease (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.02) and those under 50 with hormone receptor-positive disease (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.02).
Overall survival was superior with breast-conserving therapy for both stage I and II cancers.
To get at confounding by indication, an analysis was done by cause of death within 3 years of the index breast cancer diagnosis "as a proxy for preexisting comorbidities that may have influenced surgical treatment decisions."
Mastectomy was associated with a higher likelihood of death from each cause examined, suggesting a higher burden of nonfatal comorbidities at presentation that could have influenced surgical decision-making.
"Nevertheless, this factor alone cannot account for why women with mastectomy had lower disease-specific survival after adjusting for age and tumor characteristics," Hwang's group noted.
The study couldn't account for variables, such as health insurance coverage, distance to closest radiation facility, availability of reconstructive surgeons, and provider-related factors, "all of which have been shown to affect rates of breast-conserving therapy."
Nor did the cancer registry include data on comorbid conditions, prior chest wall radiation, tumor-to-breast ratio, other medical contraindications to radiation or lumpectomy, measures of tumor aggressiveness, or HER2 status.
"The magnitude and consequence of these potential biases are difficult to estimate but may in part account for the observed findings," the group acknowledged.
The study was supported by the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.
The researchers reported having no conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse Planner


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Outside U.S. Rep. Greg Walden's district offices this week passers-by could hear the chant "Whose streets? Our streets!" ringing up from a group holding the now familiar "We are the 99 percent" posters.
Walden, who lives in Hood River, has served the Second District since 1999. He was re-elected in 2010 by a 70-30 percent majority.
In recent weeks, representatives of the self-identified "99 percent" Occupy movement have organized recent sit-ins at two of Walden's district offices, leading to 14 arrests.
Walden's Second Congressional district of Oregon, CD2 for short, covers an area of close to two-thirds of the entire State, includes Hood River and is made up of 20 counties, mostly east of the Cascades. The two most populous areas in CD2 are Bend and Medford.
On Dec. 5, two "Occupy CD2" sit-ins were staged at Walden's district offices in both Medford and Bend - ultimately resulting in the arrest or citation of 14 individuals for trespass.
Those protesters, and the two dozen or so, who showed up at Walden's Wash., D.C. offices on Dec. 6, expressed dissatisfaction with Walden's accessibility. They asked Walden to hold five more town hall meetings in the district by April 2012 and to hear how they believe his economic policies and his votes have hurt CD2 constituents.
A News records search yielded a reference to a 2005 Walden town hall meeting in Hood River on the topic of methamphetamine abuse, but no others since then. Walden's staff provided no other record of an open town hall meeting for Hood River.
Public town hall meetings traditionally involve un-scripted, open-topic, direct question and answer exchanges between the politician and any local constituent wishing to attend.
The protesters also charged Walden to place more limits on "Wall Street" rights and reduce corporate influence over legislation and citizens.
According to Walden's staff, protesters in Medford and Bend were informed that Walden was in Washington D.C. but insisted on waiting inside the offices until closing time. They then refused to leave and were eventually arrested for trespass.
Andrew Whelan, Walden's press secretary, said police were called because protesters could not be left in the office after closing and their disruption of services needed to end.
Allen Hallmark, one of those arrested in Medford insisted the town halls were needed so that Walden "gets real feedback from real people."
Protesters at both sites indicated they are upset that the majority of Walden's meetings have not been in a town hall format, where anyone is invited to ask questions.
Whelan later responded to News requests for a listing of town hall meetings held over the last few years in the second district and any information on Hood River town halls in particular.
Whelan listed twelve completed community or town hall meetings in 2011, with two more scheduled for December. None have been in either Bend or Medford.
In an email, Whelan did note Walden's many other regular visits throughout the district.
"Representative Walden has now completed 437 round trips between Oregon and the nation's capital. By year's end, he will have visited each of the 20 counties in the second district at least twice. Each visit usually consists of multiple meetings and events, and he gets to many counties more often than that."
The remaining noted 2011 district visits on Walden's website have been events based on group invitations, dedication ceremonies topic-specific gatherings or public addresses.
To view a map of Walden's visits over the last few years click the "Where's Walden" button on the Congressman's website at: http://walden.house.gov/
The towns (and their respective populations) in which Walden has held community meetings or town halls in 2011 include: Heppner (1,395), John Day (1,821), Mitchell (170), Burns (2,659), La Pine (5,799), La Grande (13,082), Enterprise (1,895), Prineville (9,253), Ontario (11,366), Arlington (524), Lakeview (2,474) and Baker City (9,828).
Community meetings are not always synonymous with town hall meetings in format.
Reviewing 2010 listings according to Walden's website, town hall or community meetings were held in five towns - four of which were repeats from 2011.
The population of four cities in which no town hall or community meetings were held during 2011: Bend (76,639); Medford (74,907); The Dalles (13,620) and Walden's hometown of Hood River (7,167).
Two upcoming town halls have now been scheduled by Walden for Rufus (268) and Fossil (454) on Dec. 28 with details as follows:
In Rufus - a no host breakfast meeting at 7:30 a.m. at Bob's Texas T-bone,
101 E. First St.
In Fossil - Dinner at
5:15 p.m., at the Family Services Building Conference Room, 401 Fourth Street.
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text:
Previously in this blog we have been looking at permutation groups, and especially those which arise as the symmetry groups of graphs or other combinatorial objects. We developed a "graphAuts" function, which finds generators for the group of symmetries of a graph. In fact, "graphAuts" finds a strong generating set or SGS, which is a generating set of a special form, making various calculations in permutation groups relatively easy. What I want to look at this week, is how we can find a strong generating set for an arbitrary permutation group, given generators for the group.
Let's remind ourselves what a strong generating set looks like. Here's q 3, the graph of the cube.
The graphAuts function returns us a strong generating set for the symmetry group of the cube:
> :load Math.Combinatorics.GraphAuts
> mapM_ print $ graphAuts $ q 3
So what is special about this set of symmetries? Well, first of all, the strong generating set is a generating set for the group - all symmetries of the cube can be expressed as products of these generators (and their inverses). But notice how the SGS is composed of a number of "levels". The first level consists of some elements that move 0. The second level consists of some elements that fix 0 but move 1. The third level consists of an element that fixes 0 and 1 but moves 2. So we can think of there being a 0-level, a 1-level, and a 2-level. The sequence [0,1,2] is called the base for the SGS.
Let's call our group G. Now, if we discard the first level of the SGS (the 0-level), the elements that remain form an SGS for the subgroup of elements that fix 0, which is called the point stabiliser of 0, denoted G0. If we also discard the second level (the 1-level), the element that remains is an SGS for the subgroup of elements that fix both 0 and 1, which is called the pointwise stabiliser of {0,1}, denoted G{0,1}. So an SGS defines a sequence of subgroups called a point stabiliser chain for the group:
[[0,1],[2,3],[4,5],[6,7]] [[1,2],[5,6]] [[2,4],[3,5]]
[[0,2,3,1],[4,6,7,5]] [[1,4,2],[3,5,6]]
[[0,4,6,7,3,1],[2,5]] [[2,4],[3,5]]
Now, consider a pair of successive subgroups within this chain, for example, G_{0} and G_{0,1}. G_{0} consists of some elements that fix 1, some elements that send 1 to 2, and some elements that send 1 to 4. The elements that fix 1 are just the subgroup G_{0,1}, the point stabiliser of 1 within G_{0}. The elements that send 1 to 2, and those that send 1 to 4, are cosets of G_{0,1} within G_{0}. We look for a representative of each coset - that is, an element that sends 1 to 2 - [[1,2],[5,6]], an element that sends 1 to 4 - [[1,4,2],[3,5,6]], and for an element that sends 1 to 1 (fixes 1), we can take the identity. Once we have done that, every element of G_{0} can be expressed the product of an element of G_{0,1} with one of these representatives.
Just to show you what I mean, here are some representatives for each link in the chain for the cube group:
(0,[]) (1,[]) (2,[])
(1,[[0,1],[2,3],[4,5],[6,7]]) (2,[[1,2],[5,6]]) (4,[[2,4],[3,5]])
(2,[[0,2,3,1],[4,6,7,5]]) (4,[[1,4,2],[3,5,6]])
At each link in the point stabiliser chain, we have a base element b that we are going to stabilise. For each point within the orbit of b, we find a group element that takes b to that point. This set of group elements, U_b, is a set of coset representatives - a transversal for the cosets.
The Haskell code to find these transversals, given an SGS, is fairly straightforward:
baseTransversalsSGS gs = [let hs = filter ( (b <=) . minsupp ) gs in (b, cosetRepsGx hs b) | b <- bs]
where bs = toListSet $ map minsupp gs
cosetRepsGx gs x = cosetRepsGx' gs M.empty (M.singleton x 1) where
cosetRepsGx' gs interior boundary
| M.null boundary = interior
| otherwise =
let interior' = M.union interior boundary
boundary' = M.fromList [(p .^ g, h*g) | g <- gs, (p,h) <- M.toList boundary] M.\\ interior'
in cosetRepsGx' gs interior' boundary'
Here it is in action:
> :load Math.Algebra.Group.RandomSchreierSims
> let gs = map p [ [[0,1],[2,3],[4,5],[6,7]], [[0,2,3,1],[4,6,7,5]], [[0,4,6,7,3,1],[2,5]], [[1,2],[5,6]], [[1,4,2],[3,5,6]], [[2,4],[3,5]] ]
> mapM_ print $ baseTransversalsSGS gs
(0, fromList [(0,[]), (1,[[0,1],[2,3],[4,5],[6,7]]), (2,[[0,2,3,1],[4,6,7,5]]), (3,[[0,3],[1,2],[4,7],[5,6]]), (4,[[0,4,6,7,3,1],[2,5]]), (5,[[0,5,6,3],[1,4,7,2]]), (6,[[0,6,3],[1,4,7]]), (7,[[0,7],[1,6],[2,5],[3,4]])])
(1, fromList [(1,[]), (2,[[1,2],[5,6]]), (4,[[1,4,2],[3,5,6]])])
(2, fromList [(2,[]), (4,[[2,4],[3,5]])])
Okay, so what do these transversals give us? Well, hopefully it is obvious (by induction) that every element in our original group G can be expressed as a product u2*u1*u0, taking an element ui from each transversal. Moreover, this expression is unique.
This is the key to the usefulness of strong generating sets. For example, it means we can easily calculate the order of the group (the number of elements). Just multiply the sizes of the transversals. For the cube group, this tells us that we have 8 * 3 * 2 = 48 elements. We can also use the transversals to create a search tree for the group (more on this some other time). Of particular importance, we can test an arbitrary permutation for membership in the group, by "sifting" it through the transversals, as follows.
Given a permutation g, we look at its action on the first base, b1, and see if we can find an element in the b1-transversal with the same action. If we can, say u1, then we replace g by g*u1^-1, and proceed to the second base. We now look at the action of g*u1^-1 on b2, and see if there is an element in the b2-transversal with the same action. If g is in our group G, then g = un*...*u1, so at the end of this process, we will get 1. Conversely, if g is not in our group, then at some stage we will fail to find a transversal element matching the action of our g (including possibly the case where we go through all the transversals, but are still left at the end with a g /= 1).
Here's the code:
isMemberSGS gs h = sift bts h where
bts = baseTransversalsSGS gs
sift _ 1 = True
sift ((b,t):bts) g = case M.lookup (b .^ g) t of
Nothing -> False
Just h -> sift bts (g * inverse h)
sift [] _ = False
Okay, so we've seen what a strong generating set looks like, and why they're useful. Now, suppose someone gives us a set of generators for a group. How do we find a strong generating set for the group?
Well, it's actually fairly simple. We start with a set of empty transversals, corresponding to an empty SGS. What we're going to try to do is add elements to the SGS (and hence to the transversals), until we end up with a full SGS for the group. First of all, we need a slightly modified version of the sift function from above:
sift _ 1 = Nothing
sift ((b,t):bts) g = case M.lookup (b .^ g) t of
Nothing -> Just g
Just h -> sift bts (g * inverse h)
sift [] g = Just g -- g == 1 case already caught above
In this version, instead of returning either True or False, we return either Nothing, indicating success, or Just g, indicating failure, where g is the part-sifted element that we had at the point of failure.
Okay, so to find an SGS, what we do is feed random elements of the group through the transversals, using the sifting procedure. (How do we generate random elements of the group? - well roughly, we just form random products of the generators - but see below.) If our random element sifts through, then we move on to the next random element. If our random element doesn't sift through, then at some transversal, we have a group element whose action on a base is not matched by any element in the transversal. If this happens, what we have to do is add this group element as a new element to the SGS, and recalculate the transversals. In that way, we will gradually grow the SGS. What we're hoping is that if we look at enough random elements, we'll end up with an SGS for the whole group.
This algorithm is called random Schreier-Sims. It's a Monte-Carlo algorithm - meaning it can return the wrong answer: We might stop too soon, and return an SGS which only generates a subgroup, not the whole group. However, we can make this unlikely by choosing enough random elements.
Okay, so first of all, given some generators for a group, we need to be able to generate random elements of the group. One way to do this is called the "product replacement algorithm". What we will do is create an array containing 10 random elements of the group. Then every time we're asked for another random element, we will randomly replace one element of the array, by multiplying it either on left or right, by either another element or its inverse. The replacement element will thus be a new random element of the group. Ok, but how do we get 10 random elements in the array in the first place? Well, what we do is start off by putting the generators into the array, repeated as many times as necessary - eg a,b,c,a,b,c,a,b,c,a. Then we just run the product replacement a few times to "mix up" the array.
Here's the code. (Note, in this version, we maintain an eleventh element (the zeroth) in the array as an accumulator for results we are going to return - this has been found empirically to give better results.)
initProdRepl :: (Ord a, Show a) => [Permutation a] -> IO (Int, IOArray Int (Permutation a))
initProdRepl gs =
let n = length gs
r = max 10 n -- if we have more than 10 generators, we have to use a larger array
xs = (1:) $ take r $ concat $ repeat gs
in do xs' <- newListArray (0,r) xs
replicateM_ 60 $ nextProdRepl (r,xs') -- perform initial mixing
return (r,xs')
nextProdRepl :: (Ord a, Show a) => (Int, IOArray Int (Permutation a)) -> IO (Maybe (Permutation a))
nextProdRepl (r,xs) = -- r will usually be 10
do s <- randomRIO (1,r)
t <- randomRIO (1,r)
u <- randomRIO (0,3 :: Int)
out <- updateArray xs s t u
return out
updateArray xs s t u =
let (swap,invert) = quotRem u 2 in
if s == t
then return Nothing
else do
x_0 <- readArray xs 0
x_s <- readArray xs s
x_t <- readArray xs t
let x_s' = mult (swap,invert) x_s x_t
x_0' = mult (swap,0) x_0 x_s'
writeArray xs 0 x_0'
writeArray xs s x_s'
return (Just x_0')
where mult (swap,invert) a b = case (swap,invert) of
(0,0) -> a * b
(0,1) -> a * b^-1
(1,0) -> b * a
(1,1) -> b^-1 * a
One thing to point out: We have to select a random element to replace - x_s - and another random element to multiply by - x_t. We're not allowed to have s=t. The way I get round this is to wrap Maybe around the return type, and return Nothing if I happen to pick s=t. With a little bit of work I could probably do better.
Okay, so we can generate random elements from the generators. Now, to find a strong generating set, we start out with an empty set of transversals, and keep sifting random elements through the transversals, updating the transversals when we find elements that don't sift:
sgs :: (Ord a, Show a) => [Permutation a] -> [Permutation a]
sgs gs = toListSet $ concatMap snd $ rss gs
rss gs = unsafePerformIO $
do (r,xs) <- initProdRepl gs
rss' (r,xs) (initLevels gs) 0
rss' (r,xs) levels i
| i == 25 = return levels -- stop if we've had 25 successful sifts in a row
| otherwise = do g <- nextProdRepl (r,xs)
let (changed,levels') = updateLevels levels g
rss' (r,xs) levels' (if changed then 0 else i+1)
-- if we currently have an sgs for a subgroup of the group, then it must have index >= 2
-- so the chance of a random elt sifting to identity is <= 1/2
initLevels gs = [((b,M.singleton b 1),[]) | b <- bs]
where bs = toListSet $ concatMap supp gs
updateLevels levels Nothing = (False,levels)
updateLevels levels (Just g) =
case sift (map fst levels) g of
Nothing -> (False, levels)
Just g' -> (True, updateLevels' [] levels g' (minsupp g'))
updateLevels' ls (r@((b,t),s):rs) h b' =
if b == b'
then reverse ls ++ ((b, cosetRepsGx (h:s) b), h:s) : rs
else updateLevels' (r:ls) rs h b'
That's it.
This algorithm makes it possible to work with much larger permutation groups. We already saw it in use in an earlier post, where I found an SGS for the Rubik's cube group, in order to calculate the number of possible positions (approximately 4*10^19). Over the next few weeks I want to look at how we can use strong generating sets to investigate the structure of groups.


text:
Sarah Buxton and Husband Expecting First Baby in December
Congratulations to singer-songwriter Sarah Buxton and her husband Tom Bukovac who revealed to Taste of Country that they are expecting a little bundle of joy in early December.
"Thank God that He gives us nine months to prepare, because if it was any less than that, we would all go insane!" Buxton told Taste of Country, just a few months into her pregnancy. "Sometimes it's like, 'Let's get this thing going!' You really want the baby bump to show up, and you're ready for everybody to see it … but there's a lot of emotional things that have to happen before each little stage."
Luckily for Buxton she had two solid examples of good parenting. "I hope that I'm able to be half of the parent that my parents were to me," she praises. "They wanted me, and I always felt that … loved and wanted. I'm not a perfect person, and they weren't perfect parents, but they gave me some worth. That was the building blocks to everything, knowing that you're worth something and that you can go for something. That's going to be my main thing. They were always interested in what I was doing."
Buxton and Bukovac wed in 2010 in a private ceremony in Nashville. During that time, Buxton had an artist deal on Lyric Street Records resulting in the release of her self-titled debut album, which spawned the Top 30 hit 'Outside My Window.' In the recent years, Buxton's become well known for her songwriting successes, penning hits for Keith Urban ('Stupid Boy,' 'Put You In a Song') and the current Big and Rich song, 'That's Why I Pray.' Her husband, Bukovac, is a well-known and sought after session musician in Nashville who has worked on projects with artists like Martina McBride and Jimmy Wayne.
Buxton and Bukovac felt the time was finally right in their lives and careers to bring a baby into the world. The proud parents-to-be will not find out the gender of their baby until he or she arrives on Dec. 1. "I knew that I needed to make room in my life," she explains, adding that songwriting is what has taken on the biggest part of her life these days. "I knew that touring wasn't going to be something that I was personally going to be able to do and be the kind of mom I want to be. So I chose to go with songwriting, which was already something that I loved to do anyway.
"This is such a gift," she continues of her pregnancy. "I feel really honored to be able to have a chance to do this because I know a lot of my friends want to get pregnant, but haven't been able to. That's a gift in itself. There are just a lot of exciting things happening right now."
Congratulations to the expectant parents … something tells me this will be one musically talented little boy or girl!


text:
Phone: 0419 047 952
Our Field Service team operate vehicles packed with state-of-the-art equipment, many with the latest diagnostic tooling.
The custom designed and built WesTrac service vehicles carry specs for Cat machines operating in their region, including Genuine Parts list, service manuals and machine updates. But most importantly, they deliver a WesTrac technician with a wealth of experience and expertise and intimate knowledge of Cat machinery.
Our Field Service technicians are all fully qualified WesTrac diesel mechanics and have undertaken further complementary training ensuring you receive the level of support when you need it and where you need it to keep your machine working.


text:
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Trouble in the Spiritual World
I dont usually have existential doubts, but my good friend Sri Sri Fullananda and I were contemplating difficult cosmic questions recently over a spiritual bottle of Soma. Like me, Fullananda is also a deep thinker. That made two deep thinkers at that table.
We've done this kind of thing before, you know, this contemplation stuff. We like nothing better than a good delving into the cosmic. But that evening, I have to say this, even the usually satisfying topic of Oneness with the Supreme left us cold.
Soemthing seemed to be troubling Fullananda. I could see that he sipped his Soma listlessly.
"Not happening", said Sri Sri. The Sri Sri, for all his Sri Sri-ness employs the argot of the scatterbrain youth, a fact that I don't really approve of, but with Sri Sris, you have to bear with this sort of thing.
"Not happening? This Soma?" I enquired
"No, the Soma is great. Jolly miraculous, come to think of it, that the essence of spirituality should be so well captured by the Scots, of all people! Evidence that He pervades all humanity. No, I was referring to all this 'Oneness with the Supreme' business"
I was puzzled.
"What kind of defeatist talk is this, old chap?" I asked him, with the merest hint of alarm in my voice, for I knew him to be of the finest mettle when it came to mystical philosophy. The bearer of two Sris. One of the best speakers on heavy metaphysics. His discourse on 'The Lifting Of The Gossamer Veil of Consciousness To Get A Glimpse Of All Encompassing Reality' still makes my hair stand on end. (No, I can't tell you how it all came out in the end. Listen to it yourself!) "Oneness with the Supreme not happening? You're speaking through your hat, my dear fellow". Some might have thought my tone a tad sharp but you'd have to agree that it was deserved.
"You know, old chap," he said, gazing absently into the soma, "you and I are of a mien different from the rest. We Know All. But I fear things are not all hunky dory with our brethren"
"You mean our fellow philosophers?" I asked
"Yes. And in particular, I mean the practising Swamis. The Babas. The Sris. Even the Sri Sris. "
"What about them?"
"Well, the way they stumble about in the real world, unsuspecting and innocent"
The penny dropped. "You mean old Nithyananda being caught on camera?" Tragic. One of one of our best chaps. Just happened to be practising some oneness with a female disciple at an inconvenient moment. You won't believe how they hounded the poor man.
"There's nothing wrong with getting a bit of oneness going with one's female devotees, if the said devotees aren't against such oneness" he continued "the supraconsciousness being what it is and all, but the real world takes such a dim view of all this. That poor fellow is going to be pilloried now. And worse, it is the thin end of the wedge"
"I know what you mean. All of us will be suspect. Whenever they see us going into trances with female devotees in attendance, they will say we are yielding to base carnal desires. "
Fullananda giggled. "Actually, I kind of like those base carnal desires", he said, as if to himself, but quickly recovered. "No!" he said "No! We must lie low. We must go into seclusion. Alone. Without female devotees."
"Without female devotees?" I was puzzled. "How will we acheive communion with the inner being of the supreme self?"
"Oh do not worry about such things," said Fullananda. "Have faith in the eternal. Our Hand will be guided."
"And by the by", I askedFullananda, "what is your view on doctors?"
"Doctors? Sound chaps! Very sound."
"But don't they rubbish our faith-healing methods?"
"Some might, he said, "but deep inside they're on our side."
"How is that?" I asked, mystified.
"Well many doctors have told me that they desire nothing more than the demise of non-believers."
This was news to me. "Really? I've never heard anyone of my acquaintance say so"
"Oh come, come, old salt. Dont you know the battle cry of good doctors?"
"Its 'Die, Agnostics!'"
No, I didn't have the heart to tell him.
13 comments:
- Abirami Rajendran said...
no way!
have a heart, feed your (blog) readers please!:P
- April 1, 2010 at 8:09 PM
- Mahesh said...
It was alright Mr S :) I managed to read it before you took it off.
- April 1, 2010 at 8:48 PM
- Siddharth said...
hey...not allowed Naren. Here is the commandment from blogger's book, "Thou shalt not erase thy writings,
who do you think we are, shy vikings?"
Was it crappier than this one?
- April 1, 2010 at 11:10 PM
- Karadi said...
"Die Agnostics"
ROFL literally
- April 3, 2010 at 7:54 AM
- Chethana said...
oh, it was totally worth the reload.
- April 3, 2010 at 11:27 AM
- Conspiracy Theorist said...
nice one... though commenting for the first time, i have read most of your blogs and have enjoyed it thoroughly...
and yeah, "die agnostics" was superb... ROFL
- April 3, 2010 at 1:11 PM
glad to have you back...ur Groaners make me really ...arghh...GROOOOANNNNNNNNN... !!!
Can totally emphathise & then sympathise with the missus :)
something on your 'happeneing lifetsyle' please :D
- April 3, 2010 at 1:29 PM
- Maddy said...
boss - i believe that there were more than one, twosomes at times...kind of Ménage à trois
well it is interesting and fulfilling business in a sense
- April 3, 2010 at 9:10 PM
""Without female devotees?"...Our Hand will be guided". LoL
Couldn't help it. Funny PGWodehousian style post. Thnx
- April 4, 2010 at 1:27 AM
- narendra shenoy said...
@abirami - Thanks. I really do think this post is terrible. You are too kind :)
@mahesh :)
@siddharth Hehe. Ok, here goes!
@karadi - Thanks!
@Chethana - Thanks!
@conspiracy theorist - Thanks!
@payoshni -:) Ok, happening lifestyle coming up! Actually, the last month or so has been very very humdrum with exms going on and missus very stressed out etc. I've been concentrating on keeping out of the way
@maddy - Hehe :)
@AMD - Thanks!
- April 4, 2010 at 7:04 AM
*ouch* at the die,agnostics ... ROFLMAO at everythin else.. im sharin this page okie? ^^ thanku
- April 9, 2010 at 7:51 PM
Good stuff, bro
- April 16, 2010 at 7:10 AM
Regarding this post,
There's any influence?
Hatterr ask.
- April 30, 2010 at 2:14 AM


text:
The Olathe Northwest Ravens saw a comeback from a double-digit deficit late in the game get destroyed by Bishop Miege's Kelsey Wolf, who hit a 3-point shot at the buzzer to give the Stags a 50-47 win Saturday night in the championship game of the 37th Newton Invitational girls' basketball tournament. Meige, in just its fourth NIT, wins its first title. Northwest tied the game with 28.2 seconds remaining, coming back from 11 points down early in the fourth quarter. "That was a good shot," Wolf said. "I just shot it, hoped that it would go in and that we would win. It took a lot of composure, teamwork and heart." Lexie Hughes led Miege with 14 points. "It was tough, but I knew if we would stay in it, in the fast pace they were playing, we just had to go down and score everytime," Hughes said. "We just kept shooting." That was the play we go to when we need a shot," Miege coach Terry English said. "We have two options and the second one was open." It was the second game Miege had in the tournament where the Stags had to hold off a late comeback, surviving one in the opener against Garden City. "We don't have a lot of size, and we've been playing some pretty big teams around the basket. Northwest hit a couple bombs, but they were able to go inside against us. They were able to get to the free throw line and get back in the game. We missed some free throws, and they hit some. We hung on, we executed when we needed to win." Miege improves to 11-3. English called the NIT a possible preview of the Class 5A state tournament. "Kapaun had a great chance of getting there, Newton has a great chance of getting there and we have a great chance of getting there," English said. "There could be come repeat games there." Northwest was led by Kelsey Brooks with 17 points and Vashti Neal with 12 points. "We had to play a really tough game last night (a narrow win over Kapaun-Mt. Carmel)," Northwest coach Joel Branstrom said. "We looked tired at the beginning. Miege played well early on. We didn't play with the kind of energy we needed to against a team as well-disciplined as Miege. They have a program with a lot of tradition." Northwest falls to 9-4. "We play one of the toughest schedules in the state of Kansas," Branstrom said. "We played the no. 1 team from Minnesota. We played the no. 1 team in Missouri. We beat the no. 1 team undefeated Maize last week. We beat the no. 1 undefeated 5A team last night. We played an 11-time, something like that, state champion today. Our league is pretty tough. We'll be ready at the end of the season." Northwest jumped out to an 8-3 lead, but Miege stormed back to lead 13-12 at the end of the period. Miege scored the first five points of the second quarter, followed by a 6-0 Northwest run. Miege ended the half with a 5-0 run to lead 23-18. Miege opened the third quarter on a 5-0 run. After Northwest broke the run with a layup, Hughes hit a trey to put the Stags up by 11 with 3:43 remaining in the period. The Ravens drew within seven, but Miege led 35-26 at the end of the quarter. The two teams traded two baskets each in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter. Northwest got back in the game with a pair of free throws and a trey by Brooks. Northwest drew within three on a Vashti Neal trey with 2:44 remaining. A Neal trey with 33.8 seconds remaining got the Ravens within two. Brooks then got a steal and hit a layup, which tied the game. She missed a free throw on the play.
BISHOP MIEGE (11-3) — McFeders 0 0-0 0, 0; Wolf 1 (2) 0-2 1, 8; Piggie 2 3-4 1, 7; Hughes 3 (2) 2-2 3, 14; Rocker 0 0-0 0, 0; Villegas 1 (1) 2-2 2, 7; Vaughn 2 (1) 2-2 2, 9; Shurn 1 3-8 3, 5; TOTALS 10 (6) 12-20 12, 50. OLATHE NORTHWEST (9-4) — Jamison 1 0-0 5, 2; Mortensen 0 0-0 1, 0; Brooks 3 (2) 5-9 3, 17; Heller 0 0-0 0, 0; Neal 1 (3) 1-2 3, 12; Jackson 3 0-0 0, 6; Crall 2 4-4 4, 8; Shipman 1 0-0 1, 2; TOTALS 11 (5) 10-15 17, 47. B.Miege 13 10 12 15 —50 O.N-West 12 6 8 21 —47


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Greenery celebrates 40 years
The Greenery Inc. and its employees celebrated this month their 40th anniversary of serving the Lowcountry's landscaping needs.
The Greenery was first established on Hilton Head Island in 1973 by Ruthie and Berry Edwards when they bought a small nursery with a staff of six employees, a couple of old pickup trucks and the desire to do something different. Since then, it has grown to 600 employees at the height of the season, serving customers on the island as well as Bluffton, Beaufort, Hardeeville, Savannah and Charleston with residential and commercial landscape services.
Berry Edwards said he is thankful for the opportunity provided many years ago to start his family business in a wonderful place, Hilton Head Island.
Lee Edwards, son of Ruthie and Berry, started his career at The Greenery as a young boy who spent his afternoons and weekends helping out in the garden nursery. Lee, now The Greenery's CEO, is providing new leadership at the helm of this employee-owned corporation.
The Greenery Inc. also operates the Antiques & Garden Collectibles Shop on Hilton Head Island. The historic building, circa 1873, was originally the Old Bethlehem Church just outside of Ridgeland. Ruthie Edwards purchased the building and had it moved 28 miles by flatbed truck and barge to its current location on William Hilton Parkway where it initially housed The Greenery's offices.
Davis named executive vice president and COO at Palmetto Electric
Berl Davis has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of Palmetto Electric Cooperative effective April 1.
Davis' appointment is part of a succession plan for the president and CEO position. Tom Upshaw has announced he will retire effective at the end of June 2014, according to Palmetto Electric Board chairman Jerry Vaigneur.
Davis has been serving as the Cooperative's vice president of engineering and operations since joining the company in 1988. Davis was previously employed by South Carolina Electric and Gas for nine years.
Davis, of Bluffton, is involved in numerous utility-related organizations. He is a member of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Transmission and Distribution Committee, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and is actively involved with the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina Engineering Association. Davis is also chairman of the NRECA Cooperative Research Network Distribution Operations Management Advisory Group.
Davis is very involved in civic and community activities. He is a former Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow, past president of the Coastal Discovery Museum, and a former director of the United Way of Beaufort County and the Beaufort County Economic Development Board.
Davis graduated from Clemson University with a BS degree in electrical engineering. He is also a graduate of the NRECA Management Internship Program at the University of Nebraska.
Davis is a native of Ridgeland and is married to Martha B. Davis.
Beaufort Memorial hires breast care coordinator
Beaufort Memorial Hospital has hired Amy Luce, RN, CPHM, as a breast care coordinator.
In her new role, Luce partners with breast care patients and their physicians to provide education, coordinate appointments, identify resources for services, or simply be a sounding board for patients and family members. She will be joining and working closely with another breast care coordinator, Jackie Brown, RN.
Patients are connected with Luce by their physician or surgeon, or through a self-referral.
Luce has held nursing positions in the Beaufort area for the past 10 years. She has a background in oncology case management and chemotherapy infusion and is seeing patients at the Beaufort Memorial Women's Imaging Center in Beaufort.
The services are provided at no charge to breast care patients. For more information, call 843-522-5895 or visit www.bmhsc.org
Owens joins Guerry Lumber Co.
Kevin Owens has joined Guerry Lumber Co. as an inside sales manager.
Owens manages the day-to-day sales for walk-in customers at Guerry Lumber. He was the general manager and vice president of Owens Supply Co. Inc. for 22 years.
Owens attended Georgia Southern University and the University of South Carolina Beaufort.
Thomas completes board certification
Dr. Gary W. Thomas in October 2012 completed his medical oncology maintenance board of certification examination conducted by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Thomas earned an overall score in the top 10 percent of medical oncologist in the United States. Thomas is the medical director at South Carolina Cancer Specialists and can be reached at 843-689-2895.
Hilton Head Properties launched
Longtime real estate agent Robbie Bunting recently launched a real estate business, Hilton Head Properties. The office is at 12 New Orleans Road, across U.S. 278 from the Village of Wexford.
Bunting, broker-owner, offers nearly 30 years of experience as a Realtor. He previously spent 26 years licensed with Dunes Marketing Group.
Bunting begins this venture with assistant and licensed Realtor Jane Hyers. The two have worked together for more than eight years.
Hilton Head Properties represents luxury homes, villas and home sites on Hilton Head, in Bluffton and the Daufuskie Island area. The company offers an opportunity for future real estate agents, who will have cutting edge marketing tools, as well as the choice to work onsite or from their homes. Additionally, agents licensed with Hilton Head Properties will participate in both income and growth of the company.
Ingegno joins digestive disease center and hospital staff
Beaufort Memorial Center for Digestive Diseases welcomes Dr. Joel Ingegno, MD, to Beaufort Memorial Physician Partners and to the hospital's medical staff.
Ingegno is a board certified gastroenterologist and joins Dr. Kevin Kearney. They are seeing patients in Beaufort.
Ingegno has been in practice since 1967 and brings more than 40 years of experience to the community. He was a member of the Beaufort Memorial medical staff from 2000-2006, and since has been associated with Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine, and Comp Health in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Collins joins The Alliance Group Realty
Collins has more than 18 years experience in real estate sales, marketing and management in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton area.
He is also a certified buyers agent. His past experience was in orthopedic medical sales, where he worked as both a sales representative and director of U.S. Sales Operations with a European orthopedic company.
He is involved with several local charities in the Lowcountry and is an active member of the Rugby community on Hilton Head.
Candlewood Suites names Bluffton managers
Marcel Boucher has joined Candlewood Suites in Bluffton as general manager. Born and raised in Cape Cod, Mass., Boucher previously managed the Candlewood Suites in Hazelton, Pa.
Before that, he managed the Hampton Inn in Boca Raton, Fla., for 12 years which received two Connie Awards for being ranked in the top five Hampton Inns in the country for quality and service excellence given by the Hilton Hotels Corp.
Boucher has a Bachelor of Science in hospitality administration from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.
Bryon Cmar has joined Candlewood Suites in Bluffton as assistant general manager. Cmar relocated from the Hilton Garden Inn in Wilmington, N.C., and brings with him more than 13 years experience in the hospitality industry.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in hospitality management from Ashford University and an Associate of applied science in accounting from Cape Fear Community College.
Kline hired by Morgan Stanley on HHI
Keith C. Kline has joined Morgan Stanley Wealth Management as a financial adviser in the 81 Main Street office on Hilton Head Island.
He will work with clients to define and accomplish their financial goals.
Before moving to Hilton Head Island in 2001, Kline attended the University of Kentucky. While at UK, he competed as a scholarship athlete on the men's track & field team.
He graduated with honors attaining a Bachelor of Business Administration - Decision Science and Information Systems degree.
Attorneys office opens at Belfair Towne Village
Brixmor Property Group announced a 5,787-square-foot Robinson Grant & Co., P.A., office recently opened at Belfair Towne Village on U.S. 278 in Bluffton.
Brixmor is the owner of Belfair Towne Village and was represented by Josh Durigan with Brixmor.
The Boxwood Cottage open in Beaufort
The Boxwood Cottage, a gift, jewelry, and home décor shop is open at 7 Market in the village of Habersham in Beaufort.
The Boxwood Cottage showcases antiques, vintage furniture, and home décor as well as folk art by local and out-of-state artists from Ohio and New York.
Heidi Brueggeman, a jewelry artist who relocated to the Lowcountry from Rhode Island, is featured at the boutique.
Brueggeman's collections include hand-made jewelry using combined vintage pieces and semi-precious gemstones.
The Boxwood Cottage will also feature garden accoutrements, plants, and outdoor accessories in addition to a selection of antiques and vintage pieces.
The Boxwood Cottage is open Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and also by appointment and chance. Call 644-1864 or visit www.theboxwoodcottage.com for more information.
The Vintage Market opens in Bluffton
The Vintage Market, a consignment store voted 'Best of Bluffton 2012,' held its grand opening recently at 28 Kitties Landing Road.
Owners Holly and Eugene Loebs tripled their business floor space, relocating Vintage Market to a 10,000-square-foot facility just off the S.C. 46 circle.
Dynamic Dentistry office opens
Christopher T. Reynolds, DMD has opened of Dynamic Dentistry in Bluffton.
Dynamic Dentistry is a full-service comprehensive general and family dental practice at 12B Arley Way, Suite 104 in the center of Bluffon close to the intersection of U.S. 278 and Buck Island Road.
Reynolds, his wife, and three children moved to Bluffton about nine months ago to reunite with Reynolds' and his wife's parents who live in Sun City.
Reynolds is native to Upstate New York, completed a B.S. in Biology at The University of Georgia, and completed his DMD at The University of Louisville School of Dentistry in 2008.
An Army scholarship took him to Fort Benning where he completed a one-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry program. He then became a brigade dentist for the 101st Airborne Division and deployed to Afghanistan for 11 months in 2010.
Reach them at 843-592-3060 or visitwww.dynamicdentistrybluffton.com.


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After decades of prison planning work in California and across the country, I've seen two prevailing assumptions about crime and punishment finally begin to crack amid years of real-world testing.
The first is that prisons are the primary way to reduce crime. The second is that law enforcement will not support changes that reduce incarceration. Both of these changing perceptions are converging now in California, just when the state must make major changes to protect its public safety and fiscal security.
First, some context. California has been experiencing its lowest crime rates since 1960, according to the latest statewide data (from 2011). This drop is partly due to demographics (an aging population) and other external factors, but improvements in policing procedures and better coordination among law enforcement agencies also play a critical role.
In 1960, California's prison population was less than 22,000. If you applied that year's incarceration rate to today's crime rate and total population, the state would have only 52,000 prisoners, well under the current state prison population of about 130,000. This dramatic rise is because the state, over the decades, dramatically increased the number of people it sent to prison and the length of their imprisonment.