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Ted Olson, David Boies Team Up Again To Make Virginia For All Lovers
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
The bipartisan legal dream team behind Prop 8 is back at it. Republican Ted Olson And Democrat David Boies announced Monday that they're joining a case that will challenge the constitutionality of Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage.
Olson explained to reporters at a National Press Club briefing that the Virginia law hit a little too close to home.
[BROWSE: Editorial Cartoons on Same-Sex Marriage]
"I'm a Virginian, I've lived in Virginia for 32 years," Olson said. "I've come to really love Virginia – it's natural beauty, the entrepreneurial spirit of its people, it's history, the state of Patrick Henry and George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, the state of the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal. Of all places in the United States, Virginia should recognize rights of equality."
The Virginia Marriage Amendment was enacted in 2006 and defines marriage in the commonwealth as between a man and a woman and bans legal recognition of relationships similar to marriage, like civil unions.
"It is a draconian, distasteful, gratuitously insulting and mean statute to our citizens, who are just as valuable, just as important as every other citizen in this country," Olson stated.
In the Bostic v. Rainey case, the plaintiffs are two couples, one of whom got married in California, but whose marriage isn't recognized in Virginia. The other couple, partners Tim Bostic and Tony London, applied for a marriage license in Norfolk in July, after the Supreme Court knocked down the Defense of Marriage Act and said Prop 8 defenders didn't have standing, making gay marriage legal in California.
[READ: Supreme Court Leaves State Gay Marriage Cases Alone]
In Virginia, Bostic and London had their marriage request denied, setting up a scenario where Boies and Olson can have another crack at a history-making, legalize-gay-marriage-everywhere Supreme Court ruling.
"Last June, when we had the Supreme Court decision, it was really the end of the beginning of our fight for marriage equality," Boies said. "What we're hoping, with the case in Virginia, [is] it's the beginning of the end."
Olson had a good feeling about this one, too. "And we're not only going to be successful, but we're going to have a good time doing it," he said, smiling from the podium.
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With the 150th birthday of Canada coming up in 2017, the federal government has decided it's time we had a national museum devoted to the accomplishments, achievements and events that have shaped the Canadian identity. They're creating a Museum of Canadian History by refocusing the current Museum of Canadian Civilization. The Museum of Canadian Civilization is a huge spread in Gatineau, Quebec, just across the Ottawa River from Ottawa, Canada's capital. It overlooks the Parliament Buildings from that vantage point.
The plan is to use existing resources and to make new partnerships with museums across Canada. About 50,000 square feet of public space will be renovated, replacing exhibits on civilizations around the world with those on Canadian history. Displaced exhibits could be moved to other museums in Canada. James Moore, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, said in a statement that the transformation of the museum will cost $25-million, which will come out of the Canadian Heritage department's existing budget. The museum will also be developing new fundraising activities to get support from the private sector.
Just in case cynics think it is part of a political plot to rewrite Canadian history with a Conservative slant, there will be plenty of Canadian historians and museum officials keeping an eye on things to make sure the country's past is presented with an impartial viewpoint. Plans are under way to consult Canadians about what they want to see in the museum. Read the article to find out what's in the works and how you can contribute suggestions.
Photo: Museum of Canadian Civilization
© Flickr user trec_lit
More Federal Canadian Museums
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Canadian Museum of Nature
Federal Museums in Canada


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Bank of America Weekend Family Workshop: Starshine
Time: Saturday, January 11, 2014 - 11:00am - 2:00pm
Event Type: Public Program For Families For Educators
Location: Side Gallery
Programs at 11am and 2pm --Approxomately 45 min.
What exactly is a star? How are they created? Come find out at this weekend's workshop looking at the lifecycle of a star.
Weekend Family Workshops are sponsored by Bank of America.


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Closing arguments in the George Zimmerman trial began Thursday and ended Friday in Sanford, Fla.
Six women will decide the fate of the 29-year-old crime watch volunteer, who killed an unarmed 17-year-old on a rainy Feb. 26, 2012. It was dark, and no one saw how the fight began.
Zimmerman listened to prosecutors call him a liar Thursday. The Martin family watched a defense attorneys' animation that showed an avatar of their son Friday. And a juror may have shed a tear during rebuttal Friday afternoon.
Here are the highlights of the impassioned final round:
Defense attorney Mark O'Mara presented the defense's closing argument Friday.
O'Mara presented the defense's controversial animation, which depicted the night of Feb. 26, 2012. It showed an avatar of Trayvon Martin walking toward an avatar of Zimmerman, and punching him in the face. Zimmerman's avatar fell to the ground.
The animation also showed Trayvon's avatar on top of Zimmerman's avatar and played Retreat at Twin Lakes resident Jenna Lauer's 911 phone call. It also based some of the action on Retreat at Twin Lakes resident John Good's testimony.
O'Mara also showed a 10-feet-long time line. [Click here to view a version the defense released.] He carried a piece of concrete and put it on the ground in front of the jurors.
These are some of statement's O'Mara made Friday morning:
"We know the altercation started exactly where George Zimmerman said it started."
"The fact that [Zimmerman] was going to say it on a recorded call to law enforcement is evidence of non-guilt"
"If you don't know it, it hasn't been proven. You can't connect the dots for the State Attorney's case, you're not allowed to do it," O'Mara said. "If you're not careful, you will connect the dots when you're not supposed to."
O'Mara said it was apparent Zimmerman wanted to be of service to the community, and "he wanted to be involved ... and, yeah, he wanted to be a cop."
"When I first got this case, I thought it was going to go in 20 minutes," defense O'Mara said. He said he thought all he had to do was identify the screamer in the 911 call recording.
"I'm not going to allow you or the state to ignore the realities of what happened that night."
Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda presented the prosecution's closing argument Thursday.
These are some of statement's de la Rionda made Friday morning:
"A teenager is dead. He is dead through no fault of his own," De la Rionda said. "He is dead because a man made assumptions ... Unfortunately because his assumptions were wrong, Trayvon Benjamin Martin no longer walks this earth."
"He assumed Trayvon Martin was a criminal. That is why we are here," de la Rionda said.
"The law doesn't allow people to take the law into their own hands," de la Rionda said. "This defendant didn't give Trayvon Martin a chance."
"How does he [Zimmerman] get the gun out? Armpits -- how does he get the gun out?" De la Rionda said. "The truth does not lie."


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Scott P. Sells, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Savannah State University and the executive director of the Savannah Family Institute in Georgia. Over the past fourteen years, Dr. Sells has personally treated more than three hundred difficult children and has served as a consultant for the Department of Juvenile Justice. In addition, he has spent the past three years conducting seminars in which he has spoken to over four thousand professional counselors and parents about the material found in his book Treating the Tough Adolescent: A Family-Based, Step-by-Step Guide. Dr. Sells has recently launched a three-week parenting education program, "Parenting the Out-of-Control Teenager," for parents and their teenagers, and he is currently in the process of developing parent support groups and counselor certification training throughout the country.
Scott P. Sells


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Margaret Smith
From Openwaterpedia
Margaret Smith is from Caistor and an accomplished open water swimmer who received the British Long Distance Swimming Association Outstanding Swim of the Year award and annual breaststroke award. She is the Hon. Administrative Secretary of the British Long Distance Swimming Association.
Irish Long Distance Swimming Association
She is also the namesake for the Margaret Smith Award, an annual award given by the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association to an individual for his or her contributions to the sport of open water swimming. Its recipients include Nuala Moore in 2011 and Owen O'Keefe in 2012.
External links
- Margaret Storms To Outstanding Honour
- Next Generation Of Leadership At Sandycove Island
- Owen O'Keefe website
- All-Ireland Long Distance Swimming Party
- Irish Long Distance Swimming Association
- Open Water Swimming
- Marathon Swimming
- 2013 Irish Long Distance Swimming Award Nominations
- ILDSA Awards 2013 Voting


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1964 AC Shelby Cobra CSX2241. Every so often an extraordinary car comes up for sale that truly captures the imaginations of automobile enthusiasts. This... More
This is a high end replica of a 1964 AC Cobra 289 slabside. We took photos of 3 original cars and modeled it to... More
Texas Vin CSX3060. This car was serial numbered CSX30601 by Brian when it was first built. The car was sold to a gentleman in Japan... More
For Sale: 1938 AC 16/80 Competition Roadster Only 44 were built by AC Cars in the late 1930s. This handsome example is light non-metallic grey... More
1993 AC Cobra MK IV Original Factory Lightweight: Left Hand Drive EU Registered / Taxes Paid: 1 of only 12 cars Produced AC Owners Club Concours Winner AC... More
AC: 1968 Frua fastback coupe, rare, in metallic blue with black leather, must see. Hyman Ltd, 314-524-6000, MO; details at: www.hymanltd.com... More
AC: 1957 Ace-Bristol, BRG/saddle, 20,772 miles, extensive restoration to show standards, matching numbers motor with 3 Weber carbs, used in long distance rallies, complete... More


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Nov 17, 2009 | 08:17:10
A local photographer of Malaysian/Singaporean origin by the name of Stefen Chow (no, not Steven Chow) once uttered what I find to be a brilliant way to understand China and its history:
If you want to understand the first 3000 years of China's history, go to Xi'an.
To understand the last 300 years, go to Beijing.
For the last 30 years, go to Shenzhen.
(paraphrased slightly).
That really about sums it up.


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Veterans can qualify for $0 down with the VA home loan benefit. Competitive rates. No private mortgage insurance required. Prequalify online in 2 min.
If you've imagined being behind the scenes in game creation, Full Sail University can show you where to start.
Named a 2014 IIHS Top Safety Pick. Advanced safety features are available on the new 2015 Mazda6. Learn more about our safety features today!
If you are currently insured, have no DUI's, and drive less than 50 miles per day, you may be paying too much for auto insurance. Find out now.
Discover a safe, natural sleep-aid that is helping people of all ages get the best sleep of their life.


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If you have a debit or credit card you can pay by phone.
Contact your local court to make a payment by phone. Please have your card handy when you call.
Remember you can also pay online.
Fines for Speeding or Red Light Offences
Fines issued by the Safety Camera Partnerships are NOT payable by phone as your driving licence must be endorsed with penalty points. You must post your payment, licence and paper counterpart to any Scottish Court, or take these to the court in person.
If you wish to send your payment by post you can do so by enclosing a cheque or postal order made payable to 'Scottish Court Service'.
Scottish Court Service
Central Processing Unit
PO Box 23
You can pay your fine in person at any Sheriff court with a public payment counter. The following methods of payment are accepted:
If you have received a fine – you must pay it. All fines, which include Sheriff Court Fines, Justice of the Peace Court Fines, Fiscal Fines and Police Fixed Penalty Notices, will be robustly pursued by the Scottish Court Service.
What happens if I don't pay my fine?
If you don't pay, we can:
See the latest examples of fines collected by SCS and the measures we used to make sure they were paid.
What happens if I can't pay my fine?
If you are having genuine difficulty in paying a fine, get in touch with your local fines enforcement officer - they can give you help and advice to arrange payment.
How many fines does the Scottish Court Service collect?
Every three months, the Scottish Court Service produces a report on the fines collected in Scotland.
What types of fines can I pay online?
Online payment is accepted for:
View examples of these fine types.
When will I NOT be able to pay online?
Can I pay a speeding or red light fine online?
Fines issued by the Safety Camera Partnerships for speeding or red-light offences cannot be paid online as your driving licence must be endorsed with penalty points. You must post your payment, licence and paper counterpart to any Scottish Court, or take these to the court in person.
What information do I need to pay my fine online?
To pay your fine online you will need your fine reference number and the surname of the person who was fined - or your vehicle registration number if you wish to pay a parking ticket.
Where do I find my fine reference number?
Your fine reference number will be displayed on the ticket issued to you by the police or on documents sent to you by the Court or Procurator Fiscal's Office.
Is there a maximum I can pay online?
The online payment facility has a maximum limit of £500 per transaction.


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Laverne Cox is breaking out of the big house. At least temporarily.
The Orange Is the New Black star is set to guest-star on the new Bravo scripted series Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce, the network announced Tuesday.
TV's most stylish characters
From Buffy the Vampire Slayer writer Marti Noxon and based on the best-selling books of the same name, the hour-long series centers on Abby (House alum Lisa Edelstein), a self-help book author who tries to hide her separation from her husband as she begins to navigate life as a single woman in her 40s. She goes to her divorced friends, instead of her married ones, for advice which leads her to unexpected and life-altering experiences.
Cox will play...
Read Full Article
Season 6, Episode 13
Naomi returns for Addison's wedding day; Cooper struggles in his role as a stay-at-home father; Violet starts a new project that has special meaning.
Season 6, Episode 12
At Henry's court date, Addison realizes the judge has concerns about Jake's past; Sheldon wants Miranda to meet his friends; Charlotte goes into labor.
Season 6, Episode 11
The doctors at the practice set Amelia up on a series of blind dates that all end up being disastrous; Amelia and James team up for a medical procedure.
Season 6, Episode 10
Charlotte continues to run the hospital from her bed; Mason starts acting out in school.
Cox will play...
read more
As expected, Amelia Shepherd is sticking around Seattle!Caterina Scorsone has been promoted to series regular for Grey's Anatomy's upcoming 11th season, TVGuide.com has learned.Fall TV: Check out all the new showsDuring Season 10, Scorsone reprised her Private Practice role as Amelia Shepherd, the younger sister of....
read more
Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr. and Sara Ramirez have signed new two-year deals for Grey's Anatomy, TVGuide.com has learned.
Gallery: The cast of Grey's Anatomy says farewell to Sandra Oh
The quartet joins...
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With Sandra Oh leaving Grey's Anatomy, the new vacancy at Grey Sloan could be quickly filled by Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone).
Exclusive: Private Practice's Caterina Scorsone returning to Grey's Anatomy
Derek's lil sis returned last week to test out what family life is like now that James (Matt Long) has proposed to her. Unfortunately, Amelia's babysitting experiment ended with ...
read more
Grey's Anatomy dropped several bombshells during Thursday's episode, which also marked the return of Private Practice's Caterina Scorsone to Shondaland!
The day after a dejected Cristina failed to win the Harper Avery Award, everyone is going to bat for her, but none more so than Webber. He had planned a trip to Boston to celebrate, but instead turned his trip into an inquisition to find out why Yang was stiffed. It turns out...
read more
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OPEN DAILY 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ranger Rick's Backyard Safari is bringing together kids, nature and fun. Come with a sense of adventure. Leave inspired to care for the wildlife in your own backyard!
Get a peek behind the scenes of the Aquarium's Husbandry department. Read their weekly animal updates and get an insider's look at caring for over 10,000 animals and plants.
» Our Animals » Fishes » Ripsaw Catfish
Flooded Amazon exhibit in River Journey
FUN FACTS The gentle Niger Ripsaw Catfish or Plated Catfish is the largest member of the Dorididae
family of catfish. They have very sharp armored scales running down their lateral lines, plus sharp thorn-like hooks attached to their razor sharp scales. Sometimes literature refers to the doradids as "Talking
Catfish" due to the fact that they can be heard to make audible noises, almost as if they are speaking to
one another.
CONSERVATION The niger takes a long time to reach sexual maturity, and being slow to reproduce has placed
them as code red on the endangered species list.
SIZE: They can grow up to 3 feet in the wild. RANGE: They are found throughout many of the major river systems of northern South America – Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. HABITAT: Muddy areas of slower moving water or lakes. DIET: An omnivorous detrivore, they will consume anything edible they find as they sift through the substrate, although a large proportion of the diet is composed of benthic crustaceans and the larval forms of various insects.
One Broad Street, Chattanooga TN, 37402
phone: 800-262-0695
Map & Directions
The Tennessee Aquarium is a non-profit institution.
See how you can help support our many education, conservation and research programs.


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Using a new technique to track the swimming motion of a single bacterium, researchers have discovered that the movement of the bacterium's body — not just thrust from the flagellum — allow movement through fluids. The finding could shed new light on the evolution of cell body shape.
For anyone considering engineering at Brown, this page can help answer some common questions.
The School of Engineering has created a bulletin board for internships, employment, faculty projects, and other opportunities. Please note that the bulletin board can only be accessed from Brown IP addresses (which means it can be accessed on campus, or through the campus VPN if off campus). This is required since it is not a public site.
Whether your goals are a career in academia, research, or enhancing your employment prospects and earning potential, Brown's School of Engineering offers programs that meet your needs. Explore our graduate programs and see why Brown is the right choice for your graduate education.


text: Publications Search Results Your query returned 1 citations. Results 1 - 1 Results per page: 25 50 100 Sort by: Pub Date (newest) Title Recent Additions Author [1] Clear All Pub. Year Citation 2014 Boardman, Jason D., Menard, Scott, Roettger, Michael E., Knight, Kelly E., Boutwell, Brian B., Smolen, Andrew . Genes in the dopaminergic system and delinquent behaviors across the life course: The role of social controls and risks. Criminal Justice and Behavior. 41, (6), 713-731. Full Text Options: DOI Worldcat Google Scholar Export Options: RIS EndNote XML Results 1 - 1 of 1 [1]


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GLASGOW — Louisville guard Kevin Ware has pleaded guilty to speeding charges and fined $268 by a Barren County Circuit Court judge.
Kentucky State Police ticketed Ware on Oct. 26 for driving 95 mph in a construction zone on Interstate 65 while heading to Bowling Green in 2013 Dodge Challenger that Ware says he borrowed from another Louisville student. The Barren County Court clerk told The Associated Press in an email the speeding charge was amended to 25 mph over the limit.
Ware must pay the fine before May 23.


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By BRAD KELLAR
Herald-Banner Staff
Hordes of customers will be descending on stores during the next three days, buying Christmas gifts and just about anything else they can get their hands on, during the busiest shopping period of the year.
Retailers are offering deep discounts on merchandise, with big sales starting today, continuing on Black Friday and extending into Small Business Saturday.
The Herald-Banner is offering its biggest edition of the year today, filled with sales circulars from local and area stores, allowing readers to choose among the best deals out there.
Several individuals who posted on the Herald-Banner's Facebook page said they intended to do their shopping, locally on Saturday.
Small Business Saturday is intended as a way for consumers to show their support for smaller and locally owned retailers and to help boost the area's shopping community.
Tim Drennan said he does a lot of shopping locally and encouraged others to do the same.
"All the big box stores and so-called specialty shops in the high dollar shopping districts have the very same stuff that everybody buys, everybody gives, and everybody gets for Christmas," Drennan said. "Be original. You can find the best gifts at small stores, craft malls, antique shops and second hand stores if you use your imagination and choose carefully."
"Having a small, local, business ourselves we prefer to give locally and to the small businesses and hope in turn, they will do the same," said Toni Capilla Walker. "We can all benefit from the support."
But not everyone is planning to endulge their shopping urges, according to responses to a post on the Herald-Banner's Facebook page.
While many said they support shopping at local merchants on Small Business Saturday, others indicated they may be skipping on the Black Friday madness, while there was some opposition expressed to starting the sales on Thanksgiving.
Karla Sherrod Lindamood indicated she would not be shopping today.
"Absolutely not," Lindamood said. "Thanksgiving is a time to be spending with family and not shopping."
"Thanksgiving is meant for family," echoed Kristen Chambers. "Not shopping. I will be with my family."
On the other hand, Jamie Ismael said, "Deff going shopping on Thanksgiving day. WALMART HERE I COME!!!!!"
Courtney Brianne Jackson said when she shops, she will probably be going to Rockwall or Frisco, but she won't be shopping on the day after Thanksgiving.
"No Black Friday shopping for me ever," she said.
Patricia Gager is also staying close to home Friday.
"I tried the Black Friday thing once many years ago... it was not a fun experience," Gager said. "Besides, there is not gonna be anything for sale worth me getting trampled over."
Katie Rawlings said she was tired of all of the bashing being done about shopping in Greenville.
"Good grief! Why would anyone want to put a business here when all anyone ever does is complain either about the lack of or the type of business we have," Rawlings asked. "There are plenty of small businesses, cute boutiques and such that need our business and I plan to shop Saturday to show support. Maybe if we'd start spending more locally we'd get more locally. Just a thought!"


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Piles of French novels, 1888
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
This picture is a study for a slightly larger work which Van Gogh named Romans parisiens (Parisian novels). Vincent was an admirer of such French Naturalist writers as Emile Zola and Guy de Maupassant. In his opinion, these authors 'paint' life 'as we ourselves feel it.' The books in this painting symbolised the contemporary life that he believed to have been captured so well by these authors.


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Private Clubs in Boston
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Specify a location by clicking at a point on the map or entering an address and clicking Search. Once you have a location you can specify how far you'd like to look around by choosing a distance from the pulldown menu below.
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Algonquin Club
217 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02116
Boston College Club
100 Federal St., Boston, MA 02110
College Club of Boston
44 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02116
Harvard Faculty Club
20 Quincy St., Cambridge, MA 02138
Milton Hoosic Club
193 Central Ave., Milton, MA 02186
Squantum Yacht Club
646 Quincy Shore Drive, Wollaston, MA 02170
Winthrop Yacht Club
649 Shirley St., Winthrop, MA 02152
1 – 7 of 7 Listings
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Getting Your Feet Off The Ground
I'm writing this with a huge smile on my face! Today I received an email from one of my readers on MzeroA saying
"I don't know what took me so long to get my feet off the ground. I've been a reader of your blog and even picked up a copy of your Private Pilot Blueprint like you suggested in your AOPA post "I Want to Learn to Fly - Where Do I Start?" Thanks for helping me get my feet off the ground."
What an awesome email to get! I find this all over, students who have the itch to learn to fly but don't know where to get started or aren't sure that you can do it.
All it takes is a trip out to your local airport to get you hooked! Schedule a discovery flight, these flights are usually very inexpensive and give you a quick taste of what flying is all about.
What's it going to take to get your feet off the ground? What about a friend you've been nudging to come flying.
To learn more about Jason visit his website at http://www.m0a.com. Interested in grabbing your FREE copy of his Private Pilot Blueprint? You can do so HERE


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Renewed interest in where food comes from and buying local is a trend on the rise in Connecticut, particularly in the younger demographic, according to Linda Piotrowicz, who heads the state Department of Agriculture's Farm-to-Chef Program
"Right now we're in a really exciting time for agriculture and local food," Piotrowicz said, attributing the surge in local food demand to concerns about "food-borne illness outbreaks" and the "national obesity epidemic," as well as awareness in schools about food and health. "All of the stars are really aligning."
Farmington Valley and West Hartford residents can get a taste of the initiative themselves during the state's third annual Farm-to-Chef Week from Sept. 16 to 22 in 65 locations statewide, including school cafeterias and health care facilities.
Restaurants will each feature four menu items made with at least one ingredient grown or produced in Connecticut. Establishments that serve alcohol will offer at least one Connecticut wine.
"It encourages them to go above and beyond what they normally do with local ingredients," said Piotrowicz, who helped start the Farm-to-Chef Program in Connecticut in 2006.
It's also a way for restaurants and farmers to connect, she said.
The program was launched after the state passed legislation in 2005 establishing a revenue source from land record fees for the agriculture department to use "to encourage the sale of Connecticut-grown farm products to restaurants and institutions," Piotrowicz said.
Some Farm-to-Chef Week participants will host cooking demonstrations and several-course meals. The food ranges from meat-heavy dishes to vegan and vegetarian fare.
"It's quite a bit more diverse than a typical restaurant week," Piotrowicz said. "Participants have a lot of flexibility in menu and pricing."
J. Foster Ice Cream, route: {:controller=>"listings", :action=>"show", :id=>"j-foster-ice-cream"} -->, which has locations in Avon and Simsbury, will serve maple bacon ice cream with bacon from Eagle Wood Farms in Barkhamsted and maple syrup from Sweet Wind Farm in East Hartland, apple brandy sorbet with apples from Gray's Farm in New Britain, honey vanilla ice cream with honey from Jones Apiaries in Farmington, and carrot cake ice cream made with organic carrots from in Avon and Max Burger and


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MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. – Charlotte-Mecklenburg police conducted a raid early Friday morning on a suspected methamphetamine lab operating a short distance from a west Charlotte elementary school.
Police activity began about 4 a.m. at a vacant residence on Mount Olive Church Road. The home, in the 4400 block of the road, is about 250 yards from Berryhill Elementary School.
Officers detained two people for questioning as they searched the house.
They arrested one of them, Miguel Fairchild Perez, 32 in the case. He's in custody on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of precursors for methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a dwelling.
Officers at the scene told reporters they had discovered a meth lab, apparently in a trailer or storage facility near the residence.
At 8 a.m., agents from the SBI arrived at the scene, to help clean up the facility.
"We were not allowed outside of our house we had to stay inside the house while it happened. They didn't tell us to evacuate, but said we might have to cause if it blows, everyone had to evacuate," says John Broome
Broome lives at the house next door.
A green extension cord runs from the outlet on his trailer home to the suspected meth house.
"They just asked to use the power and we didn't think nothing about it," he said.
Nick WInecoff's spent the night under the same roof-- only to wake up to the sirens and blue flashing lights next door.
He says two men came knocking around midnight and asked to use the bathroom and microwave so they can heat up their fast food.
"He didn't say hello, he came over here and said, can I borrow some power, kinda awkward. We just fed him some power through the power cord and he went on with his business," said Winecoff.
His mother Tracie told her son he should have known better.
"They should have had better judgement, than letting someone they might have seen once or twice come in," she says.
The property owner eventually arrived to secure the trailer once officers left the premise. He told NBC Charlotte, he lives in South Carolina and had no idea what was being made inside. For several months, he had tried to rent out the property with little success.
Students were not affected by police activity, because today is a teacher workday in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
Staff members were supposed to be working, but it wasn't clear if police activity affected the workday.
Perez is in custody at the Mecklenburg County jail.


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The slow-moving currents in the ocean depths move in a rhythm untouched by the ever-changing surface of the sea. As we tune into patience and learn to feel a deeper rhythm, we discover that the eternal currents of the cosmic ocean of energy also flow unchanging, despite the storms that blow in material realities.read more
When we put our highest selves in charge, our inner joy and understanding grows. Children can learn to feel for the right direction within and to recognize that every impulse is not the right one simply because it is there. Every time we remember to put our highest self in charge, the more inner joy and freedom we experience.read more
Join Ian Lawton, founder of Soulseeds.com, for transformative conversations with renowned spiritual leaders from many traditions as we explore awareness. Beyond all the things that divide us, both from ourselves and each other, awareness brings up back to our essential oneness. Through this conference, you will come to a deeper understanding of your own wholeness and your connection to all else. Together, we can increase the peace, both within and in the world. In this session, Ian interviews Bishop John Shelby Spong on "Coming to Self Awareness." They cover topics from God, prayer, Jesus' message, the church, and consciousness.read more
TeenText is different! Instead of providing youth with answers that "come from the Bible," these resources meet the students where they are – grappling eagerly and passionately with growing up, becoming who they are. In this educational setting the student is the curriculum, not the written study guide.read more
Every parent and educator will welcome the blend of multicultural tales, biographies, universal spirituality, and original fun adventures of children who could live on your street. Expansive, respectful, real, and warm with kindness, these stories offer possibilities for life to children and adults who feel in their heart that they belong to a larger reality.read more
Every once in awhile, we come across resources that are not easily available to our global readership and we feel l it necessary to support and offer them. This kind of creative work we support helps people all along the spectrum understand our intent and theology. The Mystic Bible is perfectly balanced on the progressive spectrum, meaningful for people who are deeply connected to the stories of the Bible, mystical and poetic, and yet innovative and theologically progressive.read more
Ultimately, Tension in the Tank is about faith that is relevant, secure and ever-evolving. It is a guidebook for building meaningful relationships with Spirit, self and each other. Radically open to possibility and wonder, Tension in the Tank offers the opportunity and challenge to live our faith in such a way that the walls between us come down and we become pursuers and enactors of universal justice.read more
For many Christians, a supernatural theistic God is a daily reality in their lives, but for many others, this kind of God is simply not there. They long to feel God's presence and God's love, but instead they experience emptiness and isolation. They worship God in church, but find that God is not present in the sanctuary. They pray fervently to God in private moments, but realize that their prayers often go unanswered. In the end, there is only silence.2 The biblical character of Job cried out to God in despair, "I cry to you God, but you do not answer. I stand before you, and you don't even bother to look."3read more
When prayers in Jesus's name go unanswered, and when unrelenting "knocking on heaven's door" produces no result – even when bargains are offered ("I'll stop smoking") – instead of confronting the possibility that God is not going to intervene, the failure is treated as a "test of faith" that "God has a better plan for me." But the transformation of human thought is far more powerful than petitions to a discredited god. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, first given by John's Jesus, descends in tongues of flames on the Christian community gathered in Jerusalem. They are empowered to tell the story of Jesus in every language of the known world. Peter quotes the prophet Joel, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Paul proclaims, "For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." The imagery of fire represents the outpouring of the presence of sacred being and of creative power. No magic is required.read more
SAMSARA is a Sanskrit word that means "the ever turning wheel of life" and is the point of departure for the filmmakers as they search for the elusive current of interconnection that runs through our lives. Filmed over a period of almost five years in twenty-five countries, SAMSARA transports us to sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial sites, and natural wonders. By dispensing with dialogue and descriptive text, SAMSARA subverts our expectations of a traditional documentary, instead encouraging our own inner interpretations inspired by images and music that infuses the ancient with the modern.read more
With each generation, the popularity of religious conservatism has declined. Forty-seven percent of the Silent Generation (ages 66 to 88) are religious conservatives, compared with 34 percent of Baby Boomers, 23 percent of Gen Xers and 17 percent of Millennials.read more
When we see God within ourselves and others, being kind is natural.read more
If we look honestly at our mistakes and listen within for guidance, we will discover our true identity as an unlimited spirit.read more
This incredible short film shares an Indigenous Native American Prophecy that links all of life and the future of our planet.read more
Today we examine "Progressive" Christianity. In particular, what is "Progressive Christianity"? Including what that term is most widely understood to mean today, how that label is evolving, and how we can still build a community around it. As well as what it might imply to situate one's self amongst "Progressive Christians" in today's growing post-modern context. We will also be exploring whether there can be any "hope" in progressive ideas about Christianity. As well as why it can be nice to have progressive communities around to help facilitate conversation with others of similar mind, background, and experience.read more
We are here to praise and enjoy God with body and soul, mind and heart, with song and word, with hands and feet.
We are here to give because of the abundance God has given us, to share with each other, and to receive, because God has created us to depend on each other.
We are here to celebrate the differences that otherwise might divide us: differences of age, of body, of culture, of opinion, of ability, of religious conviction.
We are here to put things in perspective: to celebrate what matters, to laugh about things we take too seriously, to cry about things that truly touch our hearts.
So may it be this morning: Amen!
In A Joyful Path, Year Two, we focus on some of the main tenets of Progressive Christianity and Spirituality, giving our children the foundation they need to walk the path of Jesus in today's world. It has stories and affirmations written to help children clarify their own personal beliefs while staying open to the wisdom of other traditions.read more
Oh, when we think in depth on the reality
Of life emerging everywhere on earth,
We share the restlessness and rich vitality
With creatures in our home of noble birth.


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30-Minute Soup Recipes (Slide 5)
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Recipe: Sweet Potato-Peanut Bisque
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Minestrone with Endive & Pe…
Considering that this minestrone soup incorporates mostly frozen vegetables, it is remarkably savory…View slide
Ravioli & Vegetable Soup
Fresh or frozen ravioli cook in minutes and turn this light vegetable soup into a main course. Look …View slide
Chicken & White Bean Soup
Once again, rotisserie chickens can really relieve the dinner-rush pressure-especially in this Itali…View slide
Italian Egg-Drop Soup
Italian egg-drop soup, Stracciatella, is traditionally a light soup made with just chicken broth, eg…View slide
Sweet Potato-Peanut Bisque
This satisfying vegetarian, sweet potato soup is inspired by the flavors of West African peanut soup…View slide
Salmon Chowder
The flavor of this salmon chowder is greatly enhanced by adding either fresh dill or dried tarragon:…View slide
Chicken & Spinach Soup with…
This fragrant, Italian-flavored soup takes advantage of quick-cooking ingredients—boneless, skinle…View slide
Fragrant Fish Soup
Lemony rice, delicately flavored broth and gently poached tilapia are topped with a colorful blend o…View slide
Spicy Cioppino
San Francisco's Italian immigrants developed this stew to use the abundant local seafood. We've opte…View slide
Vietnamese-Style Beef & Noo…
Inspired by pho--traditional Vietnamese soup--this one-pot meal is garnished with crunchy mung bean …View slide
Herbed Zucchini Soup
This is one of the few soups that make the cut in summer. Serve it chilled to take the edge off a ho…View slide
Greek Lemon Rice Soup
Smooth silken tofu replaces the eggs in our version of the classic Greek soup. Add an extra drizzle …View slide
Asparagus Soup
This creamless but still creamy soup is a great lunch or summer-night dinner on its own - but you ca…View slide
Curried Corn Bisque
Frozen vegetables are perfect for making soups and we particularly like the fresh flavor of frozen c…View slide
Tomatillo Gazpacho
This tomatillo-based gazpacho is gorgeously green with a tart flavor that complements the sweet shri…View slide
Watermelon Gazpacho
The delicate flavors of cucumber and watermelon go hand in hand to create a sweet-and-savory chilled…View slide
Black Bean Soup
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Howard Greninger
The Tribune-Star
A century ago Thursday, the musical work of a Terre Haute native was recognized as Indiana's first official emblem — the state song.
The Indiana House of Representatives and later the Indiana Senate on Thursday at the Statehouse passed resolutions honoring Paul Dresser for his song, "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away."
"This is an immense day in Indiana's history as we recognize the centennial anniversary of our state song," said state Rep. Bob Heaton, R-Terre Haute, told the House.
"Our state song symbolizes more than just world-renowned music, it is intertwined in the very fabric of our Hoosier heritage," Heaton said.
Nine Terre Haute residents representing groups including Art Spaces Inc.-Wabash Valley's Outdoor Sculpture Collection, the Cultural Trail, the Vigo County Historical Society and the Swope Museum stood in front of the Indiana House along with Heaton and Rep. Clyde Kersey, D-Terre Haute, co-authors of a House resolution, along with Randy Truitt, R-West Lafayette.
Sen. Tim Skinner, D-Terre Haute, spearheaded a similar resolution in the Senate.
"The state song was the first official symbol of Indiana. It was adopted four years before the state flag was adopted," Kersey told the House.
But Kersey, a former public school teacher, said he wanted to make clear a song annually heard at the Indianapolis 500, while connected to Dresser, is not the state song.
In 1917, Maurice Richmond Music purchased the copyright from Dresser's bankrupt company, Haviland and Dresser Co. Maurice Richmond gave Ballard MacDonald and James Hanley permission to use parts of Dresser's "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" in their new song, "Back Home again in Indiana."
"That song has kind of taken the place of Dresser's song as it is sung at the Indianapolis 500. But Dresser's song is still the official state song," Kersey said before the House session.
The state song was composed in 1897. "The song was published and later became the second, best-selling song in the 19th century," Heaton said. The House resolution states that a record 1,471 copies of the song were sold at one department store in a single day.
Born Johann Paul Dreiser Jr. in Terre Haute on April 22, 1858, he spent his youth near the Wabash River. "He left home at 16, changed his named to Dresser and became a traveling musician, comedian and actor," Kersey said. "Eventually, he wound up in New York City where he became a songwriter and composer."
His younger brother, Theodore Dreiser, also from Terre Haute, became a famous author.
"Our legislators of 100 years ago certainly had great foresight in choosing this song — not only because of the beauty of its music and its touching lyrics, which offer a tribute to our state — but because it recognizes one of our state's most timeless treasurers, the Wabash River," said Mary Kramer, executive director of Art Spaces Inc.-Wabash Valley Outdoor Sculpture Collection, as she addressed the Indiana House.
"This vital natural resource flows undisturbed for nearly 500 miles, through 18 of Indiana counties. Combined with its many tributaries, it touches the lives of a majority of Hoosiers. The Wabash is Indiana's state river."
Kramer said the resolution is part of Terre Haute's 2013 Year of the River and provides an important step in a process to create a sculpture to honor both Paul Dresser and Indiana's state song, she told the Indiana House.
The sculpture would be the second along the Cultural Trail. The first sculpture was of world-renowned poet Max Erhmann, dedicated in August 2010.
"Most people have forgotten that [Dresser] was one of the most important song writers of his time. He was so important, in fact, that when he died [in 1906] a major New York newspaper called him 'the greatest of American popular song writers.'" The sculpture will provide a reminder, Kramer said.
Art Spaces now has 13 sculptures put in place over the past six years.
Kramer told the Indiana House that a fundraiser for a Dresser sculpture will be held June 6, featuring a performance by Tedi Dreiser Godard, the grandniece of Dresser and Dreiser.
Thursday was the not the first time since 1913 that state legislators have honored Dresser.
In 1967, the Indiana General Assembly designated Dresser's relocated home in Fairbanks Park in Terre Haute as a state memorial site. The National Music Council lists his home as "a landmark of American music."
Reporter Howard Greninger can be reached at 812-231-4204 or email@example.com.


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This book uncovers the experiences of disabled women who have suffered domestic violence, drawing on the first UK national study conducted in this area. It discusses the nature of violence perpetrated against disabled women and the range of its impacts, and outlines how services can be developed and improved, pointing to examples of good practice. more »2011, Paperback: £22.99/ $45.00
Keywords: adult protection, community care, disability, domestic abuse, families, mental health, relationships, sexual abuse, social care, social policy, social work, violence
The authors examine the underlying causes of BESD, and discuss research-based theory. They offer a range of interventions and therapies for use in and out of school, and encourage practitioners to develop skills such as engaging with parents, identifying special educational needs and setting constructive boundaries. more »2010, Paperback: £18.99/ $34.95
Keywords: ADD, addiction, ADHD, adolescence, advocacy, alcohol, anger management, anxiety, bereavement, bulimia, bullying, challenging behaviour, child protection, child psychology, children, children's rights, cognitive behavioural therapy, counselling, depression, disability, divorce, drugs, dyslexia, dyspraxia, eating disorders, education, educational psychology, emotions, families, inclusive classroom, mainstream education, mental health, occupational therapy, parenting, pastoral care, psychology, resilience, safeguarding children, self esteem, self harm, social care, social work, special education, substance abuse, suicide, teenagers, violence, youthwork
This is a classic text for students and practitioners in the child care and protection field which summarises important current thinking on child development and applies it directly to practice. The book covers key issues such as resilience and vulnerability and the impact of protective or adverse environments. more »2010, Paperback: £19.99/ $34.95
Keywords: addiction, adolescence, adoption, attachment, bereavement, carers, challenging behaviour, child development, child protection, child psychiatry, child psychology, children, children's rights, counselling, disability, divorce, domestic abuse, drugs, early intervention, Early Years Foundation Stage, families, fostering, grief, joint working, looked after children, mental health, mental illness, nursing, parenting, psychology, race, relationships, resilience, risk assessment, safeguarding children, self esteem, self harm, sexuality, social care, social work, teenagers, transitions, trauma, violence, youthwork
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July 31, 2014
Stay up-to-date with KAKE News:
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Kansas officials say neither candidate has asked for a recount in a Democratic legislative primary that ended in a tie.
Tom Brungardt, of Milford, and Melody Saxton, of Junction City, each received 206 votes in the Aug. 7 primary for the 65th Kansas House District.
Candidates had until Friday to request recounts. Because Brungardt and Saxton did not, the State Board of Canvassers will decide their primary by drawing lots or flipping a coin.
The winner will face Republican Allan Rothlisberg, of Grandview Plaza, for the open seat in November.
Saxton didn't return a message Friday seeking comment.
Brungardt says he calculated the odds of winning a recount as roughly the same as winning a drawing of lots, and he'd face paying for a recount if he lost.


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CARY — A team statistician asked Green Hope senior Mackenzie Koeller an understandable postgame question: "Why aren't you smiling?"
Koeller had just been a part of a gritty come-from-behind 15-13 Friday night overtime win against fellow girls' lacrosse powerhouse Apex.
She had a simple reason.
"I'm ready to beat them again on Wednesday," Koeller said.
The teams will play twice in less than a week, an anomaly created by a rescheduled rainout. Whatever happens Wednesday, it'll be hard to match Friday's dramatics between the two programs that have combined to win seven of the last eight state championships.
The visiting Cougars, ranked fourth in The News & Observer rankings, were up 13-11 on No. 2 Green Hope in the final minute thanks to Jessie DeLuca's fifth goal with 47.2 seconds left.
The Falcons needed to win draws to pull it off, and San Diego State recruit Katherine Smith was ready for the pressure.
Katherine won the draw, then scored her third goal with 37.6 seconds left. She won the next one too, and Quincy Smith scored with just 5.0 seconds left to force overtime.
"Usually me and Maggie (Auslander) take the draws, but I have the ability to draw it to myself to where I can get the ball, and then all the other girls know what to do," Katherine said.
Katherine Smith won nearly every draw in the two three-minute overtime periods, giving the Falcons (9-1, 7-0) full control.
It helped that Apex was down two players. Erin Cornell, who had three goals in the first half, had two yellow cards and the Cougars had to trim their lineup by another player after picking up a fourth team yellow card.
"When we were even, I thought that we definitely proved to be the better team," Apex coach Sarah Fellows said. "You just never think to practice a situation when you're two men down for so long. We had a hard time winning it back, but I thought they fought hard the whole time, so I can't ask for anything more."
Koeller scored on an assist from Lilly Stanley with just more than 1:20 left in the first overtime, then Stanley (three goals, three assists) assisted Koeller (two goals, one assist) for the game's final score with 34.7 seconds left in the same period.
"Katherine and I have it worked out," Koeller said. "She takes the draw and I've got her outlet. She draws it to herself and I'll come out and get the ball and normally run it down and set up something on the attack."
Apex scored the game's first three goals, but Green Hope's got on the board thanks to a Cougars mishap. A lose ball was knocked the net by an Apex defender following one of goalie Rose Redfoot's 13 saves.
Apex (9-2, 7-1) led 6-5 at halftime.
The two will play 6 p.m. Wednesday at Apex in what will likely be the difference in an outright or co-Conference 2 title.
"Now we kind of know how Apex is going to play, they know how we play – it's going to be a lot harder and more physical," Katherine Smith said.
Mia Castagnero had two goals for Apex, while Anna Adcock, Kristen Maselli and Abbey Flynn each scored once. Beth Fellows had three assists.
The Falcons' Kate Murphy (three goals) Maggie Auslander (one goal and two assists) and Avery Hidalgo (one assist) also got into the scoring act.
Blake: 919-460-2606; On Twitter: @JMBpreps


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Anonymous commenting is allowed
#255 - Pink Floyd (06/08/2012) [-]
#454 to #255 - mtandy (06/08/2012) [-]
#586 to #454 - Pink Floyd (06/08/2012) [-]
Well yeah I'm sorry. There's nothing wrong with that. You don't seem like the kind of person that feels entitled to everything because you're smart. I just don't like the people that brag about how smart they are and think everyone else is an idiot. The message here came off the wrong way.
#303 to #255 - JohnLennon (06/08/2012) [-]
Whelp, after reading this entire thread I can honestly say that you're completely right. The idiots flock together to bash the one person that disagrees. Poor, brave soul that disagrees. That's what you get for having an opinion. Retards can't comprehend someone that thinks differently than you lol
#312 to #309 - Pink Floyd (06/08/2012) [-]
#331 to #328 - Pink Floyd (06/08/2012) [-]
#343 to #331 - obbichan (06/08/2012) [-]
inb4 "Proved me right again, you came back! *winky face*"
You're a flaming piece of **** . My beef isn't with JohnLennon, its with your cocky little ass.
The fact that you admit that all you wanted to hear was that "I am mad" doesn't help your case, you're just backing up the fact that you are an overgrown bitch ass emo ***** who can't fight his own battles on FunnyJunk, and gets your friend to join in and make a better argument than you could ever produce. You are the definition of a butthurt little bitch.
Also, that isn't the definition of "ragequit", keep up.
You're a flaming piece of **** . My beef isn't with JohnLennon, its with your cocky little ass.
The fact that you admit that all you wanted to hear was that "I am mad" doesn't help your case, you're just backing up the fact that you are an overgrown bitch ass emo ***** who can't fight his own battles on FunnyJunk, and gets your friend to join in and make a better argument than you could ever produce. You are the definition of a butthurt little bitch.
Also, that isn't the definition of "ragequit", keep up.
#357 to #343 - Pink Floyd (06/08/2012) [-]
No really. Answer my question. Emo girls are hot as **** . Annoying, but hot. Oh god could you imagine if they actually still exist? (WAAAA MOMMY WONT BUY ME THE NEW (god what do they listen to nowadays?) FALLOUT BOY CD) Heh... buying music. Dumb bitch. She's lucky she's hot. Well actually I know why they don't exist anymore. They grew up to be hipsters or basement goth kids. C'est la vie I guess. You know? Yeah. Sucks. The new emo kids are too young to for me to be interested. That'd be creepy wouldn't it? HA a 20 year-old like me attracted to 14-16 year-olds that wear too much black make-up. That's silly. You know what else is silly? The entire 12-16 age group. What is it about them that makes 'em so stupid? I can't say a whole lot about it. We were all there at some point right? Haha. Stupid teenagers. They have no idea that high school relationships rarely last and suck compared to college relationships. You hear me 16 year old me?! Sure you're going to have sex with her in her room, but little do you know why the **** should you bother with this chick? She's just going to turn into a ******* bitch. You think sleeping in the same bed as a girl is fun? Yeahno. Your future girlfriend is going to hog all of the bed and blanket then blame YOU for hogging all of the bed and blanket. Can you believe that **** , obbichan? I can't believe that **** . God I love that girl... Oh yeah. So if emos do exist let me know. My theory is that they're all just emotional 14 year-old girls that are too ***** to cut themselves anymore. I was never emo and the only time I cut myself was an accident whilst chopping onions. I'm a clumsy ****** I tell you what. You know what? Let's be friends. I like you. You're not afraid to speak out against something you don't agree with. I like it. It reminds me of myself. Right? Don't give a **** about what anyone else thinks! **** OTHER PEOPLE! Am I right? Wait you don't give a **** about me? **** YOU THEN. I can't stay mad at you. You're too cool. :)
#361 to #358 - Pink Floyd (06/08/2012) [-]
You're funny. Ignoring everything I typed was a good call. I thought it was pretty funny though. I guess we're not the same :( You monster. I still want you to answer my question of if emos still exist though. That's a very important piece of information I'll need for later on tonight. If you know what I mean.
0#376 to #374 - Pink Floyd has deleted their comment [-]
#277 to #255 - Silver Quantum (06/08/2012) [-]
#287 to #277 - Pink Floyd (06/08/2012) [-]
Wrong. There's plenty of smart people on FJ. I talk to them and am friends with them. Sorry, I guess I did over-generalize when I said FJ. I did mean the majority though. I mean, think about it. You see constant bitching about reposts getting to the front page, yet they get to the front page because of people thumbing the **** up. Yet the people bitching blame OP for it. OP posted it, sure. OP's not the one that thumbed it up. That's just a small example of the idiocy I see here. I don't care about reposts personally. But that's off-topic. Point was that I admit that I over-generalized and I do apologize for that. There are some smart people that use this site.
#264 to #261 - Pink Floyd (06/08/2012) [-]
I'm not going to argue with you. It's 2:30 in the morning and if you want to be an ******* and point out typos then go right ahead. The amount of ***** I give could not possibly get any lower. Case and point: Meme is pretentious ******* , not "smart people problems". FJ users are a *********** of 12 year old retarded sheep that will jump at the chance to make themselves look smart. I call them out on it. I get thumbed down and another pretentious ******* /twelve year old sheep calls me out on "using complex language. That's all I'm going to say about it, I'm right. I don't care. Don't reply. You'll reply anyway. Prove me wrong.


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Beyond Braun: The Shortcomings of MLB's Drug Policy
Today's topics: Bud Selig gets a statue, Corey Hart is thirsty, and Seth McClung gives a great interview.
Some things to read while reusing a pizza box. Casey McGehee had a night to remember last night, hitting the game-winning pinch hit home run just hours after his 2 1/2 year old son Mackail threw...
Tuesday typically isn't the best day for Brewer links and other hot stove notes.
From another sbnation blog. The quotes of CcC (not to be confused with CC or C.C.) quoted don't seem to indicate that he had a problem with Bud's decision, but that's the author's take. In any case, anyone know what else Cecil may have said?
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Jack Brooker has always loved Christmas.
When he was a child, his father made a big deal out of Christmas. Now, with five children, 15 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two more great-grandchildren on the way, he and his wife, Ann, are Christmas "hosts" to thousands of visitors who come to see their decked out home in Pleasant Grove each year.
"We started Labor Day," Brooker explained of the thousands — or possibly hundreds of thousands — of lights he and his family place on their house, outbuildings and all around their yard every fall. "We just love Christmas, and I have been doing it for years."
They estimate about 2,000 people have come through since Thanksgiving when they turned on the lights. The tradition has been ongoing for about 20 years at the home at 114 Broadacre Road NE, and it's evolved greatly since then. The display runs from through New Year's Eve.
Every light or fixture is on a timer so they all begin coming on at about 5:30 p.m. and are all off by about 10 p.m. A vehicle counter Brooker installed not only tracks the number of visitors to the house but also lights up a candelabra placed in the family's living room so they know when someone pulls into the drive. At the same time, it signals holiday music to come over two loudspeakers reportedly heard as far away as on the opposite side of Cleveland Highway, and it triggers an electronic toy train to begin making its rounds on a circular track situated inside covered box.
On Friday alone, 167 vehicles came through. That night, the Brookers and some of their family members were handing out candy canes to passersby and greeting them as they ohh-ed and ahh-ed over the lighted penguins, turtles, Disney characters, churches, Christmas trees, helicopters, backhoes, tractors, Santa Clauses, ballplayers, reindeer, gingerbread boys and Merry Christmas signs. They buy many of their things in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. and at Lowe's in Dalton on sale. The electricity bill, Brooker said, is costly, but worth it for the joy it brings to onlookers.
Sallie Thomas, one of the Brookers' daughters, said the lights are her favorite Christmas tradition.
"I think it's just a joy that it brings my dad, even though it's work," she said. "It's another excuse for us to get together."
The family gets together often, eating at the Brooker home on Sundays, gathering there on Christmas Day and, of course, helping put up Christmas lights and decorations. It's fun, they said, but it's also work. Jack Brooker builds and rigs up special electrical boxes so there are enough outlets for all the cords he has to plug in. Grandchildren Brooks and Drew Carter helped this year with some of the larger items.
"It takes about two or three people to put them up," Brooks added.
Drew said the "end result when you get to see people come through and enjoy it" makes the effort worth it. Granddaughter Kelsey Kirk said she helps out with decorating the inside of the house — which is not open to the public — but enjoys the entire process and was part of the candy cane giveaway recently, too.
"Especially when you're off at school, you don't realize how much you miss (family)," said Kirk, a freshman at Shorter University. "I think my favorite tradition would have to be coming up here because at home Santa's already come, and then you come up here and, it's like a whole other round of Christmas."
Family members said their family's Christmas traditions started with Henry L. Brooker, Jack Brooker's father. In Jack Brooker's living room hangs a framed note written by his father at Christmas in 1951 when he was about 80. The note talks about the importance of Christmas and of living a Christian life.
"I tried not to live for myself alone but for others," Brooker wrote. "I want you all to do the same, to remember our home was founded on Christianity and to be proud to keep it that way. I leave to every one of you the privilege of keeping our family together and loving each other and God."
To get there:
From Dalton, head north on Glenwood Avenue. Continue on Cleveland Highway. After about six miles, turn right at Broadacre Road NE. The Brookers' home is on the right.


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Devin Golden
It's down to the final four.
Dalton State College could name a men's head basketball coach within the next two weeks from a group of four finalists, athletic director Derek Waugh said Tuesday. One finalist is a former DSC Roadrunner player and North Whitfield High School graduate.
The finalists are: former University of Tennessee-Chattanooga head coach Henry Dickerson; Dalton native and former Kennesaw State University head coach Tony Ingle; former Georgia Southern University assistant Carl Nash; and former Winthrop University head coach Randy Peele.
"They'll all visit in the next week or week and a half," Waugh said.
After the interviews are completed, Waugh will make the hire with input from DSC President John Schwenn. Eight candidates had phone interviews last week and the field was cut in half Monday. The finalists will come for in-person interviews starting this week, Waugh said.
Dickerson, who lives in Durham, N.C., is known locally for his 15-year tenure at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. He was an assistant basketball coach from 1989-1997 and head coach from 1997-2002. He is currently the Johnston Community College (Smithfield, N.C.) head coach. He previously was an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina Wilmington from 2009-2010 and was the North Carolina Central University (Durham, N.C.) head coach from 2004-2009.
Ingle is best known for his 11-year head coaching tenure at Kennesaw State, which won the 2004 NCAA Division II national title under his direction. The Acworth resident was fired at the end of the 2011 season after his team finished 8-23, and school officials attributed the decision to the program's poor academics. He was a Brigham Young University head basketball coach and has nine NCAA postseason appearances from the Division I or Division II level.
Nash, of Del Norte, Colo., was a Georgia Southern University associate head coach from 1999-2009, Auburn University assistant coach from 1994-1996 and Clemson University assistant coach from 1994-1995. He also was the Spring Hill College (Mobile, Ala.) athletic director and men's basketball head coach from 1986-1993. As of late, he's spent time coaching outside of the United States. He coached the Al Rayyan Professional men's team in Qatar from 2009-2010 and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers professional team for two months after that.
Peele, a Rock Hill, S.C. resident, is the only finalist without any direct Georgia or Tennessee ties, but he arguably has the most head coaching success at Division I. He was the head coach at Winthrop University in Rock Hill from 2008-2012, winning the Big South Conference Championship and reaching the NCAA tournament twice, in 2008 and 2010. He was fired after the 2012 season following a 12-20 record. He was the school's assistant coach from 2002-2008. He previously was an assistant coach at Virginia Tech from 1999-2002 and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro head coach from 1995-1996 and an assistant coach there from 1991-1995.
The Roadrunners are making progress toward relaunching athletics, with men's basketball the early focal point. The school has not had a men's basketball team in 30 years, but expects to return to the hardwood for the 2013-14 school year to begin play in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Waugh, who was hired in February, targeted the men's basketball hire as one of the first tasks in rebuilding DSC athletics. Waugh said he had more than 60 inquiries about the job spanning "every level of basketball from high school to pro." There were 27 official applications.
Waugh then formed a six-person committee to narrow the field to eight candidates for phone interviews. The committee took part in each of the eight phone interviews via "hour-long conference calls," he said. Waugh said last week the phone interviews with eight candidates were complete and it was up to him, with the help of the committee's recommendations, to reduce the field to "two to four."


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Keep your home and your loved ones safe—even If you don't have an expensive home security system. Our tips will help you protect yourself with inexpensive, easy-to-install devices.
You never want to open a door
unless you know who's on the
other side. A peephole lets you see
who's there, but entry doors don't come with
peepholes, and a lot of peepholes are so tiny
that they don't clearly show you who's out
there. Strangers can hide slightly out of view
or appear so distorted that they're hard to
Mail theft is a growing problem since unsecured mailboxes
are easy targets. One sure way to keep thieves
from stealing your mail—checks, credit card offers,
personal information—is to use a security mailbox.
Attach the alarm to the door or window
(with a screw or double-sided tape)
alongside the magnetic contact strip (they
don't have to be touching, but within 1/2
in.). When the door or window opens,
breaking magnetic contact, the alarm
shrieks. The door alarm has a delay feature,
giving you time to set the alarm and
leave, then open the door and deactivate
the unit when you come home, without
setting it off. The window unit has an
on/off switch. The alarm batteries last
two to three years.
Reinforcing your door jamb with a heavy duty
strike plate and extra-long
screws gives it the added strength needed
to withstand a burglar trying to kick in
your door. If your dead bolt was installed
within the last 10 years, it's probably
already reinforced. To check, simply
remove the strike plate. If it's heavy steel
with at least 3-in. screws or has a heavy
reinforcing plate, you can rest easy. If not,
buy strike plate–reinforcing hardware ($5
to $10 at home centers).
A flimsy old wooden garage entry
door has weak center panels
that can easily be kicked in by thieves.
Adding a dead bolt won't solve that problem.
A down-and-dirty way to beef up the
door is to add a 1/2-in. plywood reinforcement
panel and then bar it with 2x4s
placed in bar-holder brackets.
Identity theft is on the rise, and you may not
even know you've been victimized until you
apply for a loan and find out your credit has
been ruined. One way to protect your identity is to
shred your personal papers, including credit card
offers, bank statements and bills. Shredders start at
$20 at office supply stores. More-expensive models
shred credit cards, CDs and multiple
sheets of paper. Some even
"micro-shred" documents for
added security.
Replace a dead bolt screw with
SIMLock's special screw, then slide the
"lock" over it to keep the dead bolt from
turning. This product only works on dead
bolts that lock in the vertical position.
Share what's on your mind and see what other DIYers are thinking about.
March 07, 3:53 PM [GMT -5]
I have found that post-it notes work great when I'm on the road. Just stick one up in front of the room door peep hole for instant privacy.
February 07, 11:42 PM [GMT -5]
A peephole is important for your safety but you can't stop there. A criminal with a reverse peephole viewer can see into your home through the peephole from the outside. For added security it is important to install a cover on the inside of the door to block the use of reverse door viewers. A good source for peephole covers is www.secureaview.com.
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Learning Center Search Results
Showing 1-8 of 8 results
Apprenticeship Records for Family Historians
In this talk, Mark Pearsall, The National Archives' family history specialist, focuses on the apprenticeship system and how it worked in practice, and covers those records that survive in The National Archives, in particular the Apprenticeship Books in record series IR 1. It also suggests where to look for surviving apprenticeship records in other archives and record offices, as well as other useful sources for tracing apprentices where details of the apprenticeship indentures have not survived.
Credit Crunch Histories: Records of Bankrupts in The National Archives
Bankruptcy proceedings have been taking place in England and Wales for over 400 years. The records created by this process relate to about a million individual 'credit crunches'. This talk describes the bankruptcy records for England and Wales held by The National Archives, indicating the best ways of researching them, and referring to related records elsewhere Chris Cooper has worked at The National Archives since 1986, mainly in the public services and corporate planning areas. One of his first jobs when he arrived as a trainee was to write a guide to bankruptcy records, he has remained interested in them ever since.
From Cotton Spinning to Coffins: Specifications for Patents of Invention
Patents of invention cover a vast range of ideas, from the industrial and agricultural revolutions, to transport, domestic life and health. Many are bizarre, and some are even horrific, but they all have a fascinating story to tell. The specifications are the written descriptions of how the invention will work, with drawings where appropriate. This talk focuses particularly on the drawings, while explaining the process of enrolling the specifications themselves and exploring a remarkable range of inventiveness.
Shop Workers: Tracing Your Retail Ancestors
We all go shopping, albeit with varying degrees of enthusiasm, and many of us have also worked in shops. It was the same for our ancestors, and although the records may not always be easy to find, they are out there if you know where to look. There is also a wealth of background material to show us what our ancestors' shopping and shopkeeping experience was like.
Sources for Tracing Agricultural Labourers
It's all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that agricultural labourers are boring and that you can't trace anything about them. In fact they can be very interesting, and there's lots of information to be found if you know where to look. This talk covers resources available in The National Archives, parish and county records, and manor, estate and farm sources. Mark Pearsall is the Principal Records Specialist - Family History and works in the Records Knowledge team in the Advice and Records Knowledge Department. He has worked in several departments of The National Archives over the years and has contributed articles to a number of family and local history publications. He is the author of The Family History Companion and co-authored The National Archives Guides on Immigrants and Aliens and Family History on the Move. He has also produced transcriptions and finding aids for various record series.
The Metropolitan Police: An Introduction to Records of Service 1829-1958
This talk provides a basic outline of the surviving records of service for Metropolitan Police officers, with examples from the records, and an overview of the origins of the service. This will be of primary interest to those with ancestors in the Metropolitan Police, and those who have not used the records before. Chris Heather has worked at The National Archives for 25 years and is a Senior Reader Adviser in the Advice and Records Knowledge department. He has a particular interest in records of the Metropolitan Police, prisoners and transportation.
The Second World War and Roche's Expansion to the West: A Swiss Pharmaceutical Company in the UK
Roche was founded in 1896 as one of the very first industrial companies solely focused on the development and production of scientifically proven pharmaceuticals. After setting up a small factory in Basel, Switzerland, Fritz Hoffman-La Roche, the founder, immediately started a courageous global expansion process. The affiliate in the UK was set up in 1908. Together with Roche's operation in Nutley, New Jersey, USA, the British branch grew in importance after the First World War, and, as political tensions developed during the 1930s, became a major strategic asset for the company. This led to the opening of a stunning model factory at Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire in 1938. This lecture makes use of the extensive collection of documents and photographs on the history of Roche's activities in Britain, which is part of the Roche Historical Collection and Archive. Alexander L. Bieri studied information management and public relations before he started working in Roche Group Holdings. In 2000 he was appointed to the position of curator of the Roche Historical Collection and Archive. He has published many books and articles both on Roche-related and other themes. He also assumes responsibility for a variety of Roche in-house museums and has organised special exhibitions in Switzerland. In his capacity as a specialist for 20th century design, he is a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Switzerland.
Tourists and Booking Clerks- Information for Family Historians in the Thomas Cook Archives
Paul Smith, company archivist of Thomas Cook UK & Ireland, offers a general account of the holdings of the Thomas Cook Archives, with particular reference to records that might prove useful for family historians, such as staff magazines, contracts of employment and passenger lists. The talk also provides a brief history of the Thomas Cook organisation, and explains the importance of its archives for anyone, from academics to film producers, with an interest in the history of travel since the mid-19th century.


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I cannot seem to find a way to completely get the dimming headlight/illumination problem gone, so I figured I'd ask for some ideas, specially considering that my system is not THAT power hungry.
So I have
4awg wiring for both power and extra grounds.
180 amp Iraggi Alternator (just installed)
Optima Yellow top (checked it a month ago)
I only have 2 amps, one is 740rms (for subs), powering 2 polk momo 12's; and the other one is 500rms (I think... Eclipse XA4000), which is powering my SR6500's.
So any ideas? Is it time for a cap? :D JK, I know what you think of those by now.
The problem is certainly not severe, the music needs to be way way loud, and a bass intense song too, but it is there. I just installed the high output alternator and I thought they problem would be gone,but it is not the case.
Thank you for any input.


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Getty Images
A TSA agent waits for passengers to use the TSA PreCheck lane being implemented by the Transportation Security Administration at Miami International Airport on October 4, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The TSA has modified what it allows passengers to bring aboard a plane, which include snow globes and pies in carry-on luggage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Air travel this year will be more festive thanks to new TSA standards that allow small snow globes and pies in carry-on luggage.
With 1.8 million travelers and 2.2 million carry-ons passing through security checkpoints every day, according to the Transportation Security Administration, travelers are urged to prep their luggage accordingly to avoid being the Grinch that slows down the security line.
This year, if snow globes appear to hold less than 3.4 ounces of liquid -- about the size of a tennis ball -- and fit in a quart-sized, clear bag, they're OK.
Solid foods, like pies, fruitcakes, cookies, turkey and ham, are also allowed on the plane. But jams, jellies, curds, sauces and dips still have to abide by the 3.4-ounce rule, travel in a checked bag or be shipped ahead of time.
If "you can spill it, spread it, smear it, squeeze it, spray it, pump it, or pour it," then travelers should check it, TSA's Lisa Farbstein told KPCC.
Travelers are urged to wait 'til they arrive to wrap gift because while they are allowed in carry-on bags, if an agent needs to take a closer look at a concealed present, travelers will have to rewrap the gift when they land.
Firearms, weapons, sharp objects and these items are still prohibited, no matter the season.
These quintessential holiday items are cleared to fly in travelers' carry-on luggage:
The following items are not allowed in carry-on luggage:
If you're not sure if one of your items is allowed in carry-on luggage, the TSA has a search engine on its homepage that allows travelers to type in an item and get an answer. The agency also has a mobile app.


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SPEC Kit 308 explores the variety of resources and services being delivered to or envisioned for graduate students and faculty. It includes documentation from respondents in the form of descriptions of services, descriptions of spaces, examples of marketing and outreach efforts, and partnership agreements.
This publication is available for purchase in both online and print versions. Download the spec-kit-purchase-options-2013.pdf for complete pricing and purchase options information.
Link to the online SPEC Kit 308 on the ARL Digital Publications website.
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Cheat Sheet: 4 Things You Maybe Missed This Week
January 21, 2011 at 11:14 am , by Catherine LeFebvre
I don't blame you, Fozzie. With all the snow we've had, I didn't want to get up off the couch either.
BUT, if you've made any weight loss resolutions, this might be a good way to get in a workout without leaving the house.
3. Dad and Daughter Cover 'Home'
This video is a little older, but it's so stinkin' cute, and also presents a good idea for families with cabin fever: sing it out.
If you do decide to venture out, I'd bring this golden retriever with you. The dog was spotted babysitting three other dogs outside a store in Hong Kong while its owner shopped inside.
Categories: Entertainment, Fun, Ladies' Lounge | Tags: Cheat Sheet, cute dogs, Cute Kids, funny videos | No Comments


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Africa News blog
African business, politics and lifestyle
Power cut dampens township's World Cup mood
The excitement is here in the townships too. We have our flags, our caps, our second hand sport shirts. All that is missing are the games.
Our electricity was cut off just a few days ago in what looks as though it was a crackdown on irregular power connections by the power company Eskom. No light. No television.
The only way to get electricity now would be to run a cable from the nearby brick houses, but that's not an option if you don't have the money to be able to buy the wire as well as someone who will let you take from their supply.
A few lucky people still have the right connections. Their shacks will be full of neighbours coming to watch the games.
Work stops when Bafana is in town
They stood in the winter sun for up to two hours just waiting to catch a glimpse of their nation's hope, Bafana Bafana. Some swopped their usual tie and shirts to don the South African National football jersey. Those who tried to work, it seems, eventually left their work stations and joined in the trumpet blast that gripped Johannesburg's business hub also known as Sandton.
They blew their vuvuzelas, sang Shosholoza, blew the vuvuzelas some more and finally…..the green double decker bus carrying the national team emerged. Bafana Bafana supporters showed their love to the team ahead of their World Cup Opening match against Mexico on Friday. The players, led by captain Aaron Mokoena, could be seen perched atop the open bus taking pictures of the fans below and waving at them.
World Cup Bonus for Workers
Soccer City in Johannesburg will be home to the opening and the final of the FIFA World Cup this year. On Monday, the men and women who helped build the stadium were given letters that assured them of two free tickets to the opening match.
120 000 tickets will be distributed to construction, community workers and children as part of a FIFA initiative to make sure that regular South Africans, who would normally not have the opportunity to go watch a World Cup match, can see their soccer heroes in the flesh.
An icy black swan
By Jeremy Gardiner, director, Investec Asset Management
There is a term in financial markets known as a black swan event. This term describes an event that has a significant impact on financial markets, but which could not / was not predicted by anyone. A volcano in Iceland leading to massive 'eruption disruption' certainly could not have been predicted by anyone. Certainly, market commentators were expecting some form of financial explosion out of Europe, but not a volcanic one!
Fortunately it seems to be 'blowing over' and within a week the world should be back to normal. However, this, together with charges against Goldman Sachs and ongoing fears over Greece, could just have provided the catalyst for the much expected correction markets have been anticipating for close on six months now.
Violence and tension come at worst time for World Cup
World Cup organisers probably dreamed of a placid, trouble-free final countdown to the soccer spectacular, with all the fears about crime, bad transport and accommodation shortages pushed to the background for Africa's biggest sports extravaganza. Sadly for them, they are getting the opposite. It would be difficult to conjure up a more unfortunate set of events less than 60 days before the tournament. Simmering racial tensions have burst into the open because of the murder of white supremacist Eugene Terre'blanche and the diatribes of Julius Malema, leader of the youth wing of South Africa's ruling African National Congress, who refuses to pipe down despite tough reprimands from President Jacob Zuma and other party officials. Even before what must be looking to hapless officials like a perfect storm, scenes had become commonplace of township residents rioting around South Africa against lack of improvements in their lives some 16 years after the end of apartheid.
To add to the torture for World Cup officials while the spotlight is fixed on South Africa, municipal workers have declared an indefinite strike over wages, threatening the chaotic scenes seen last year when rubbish was strewn over the streets. South Africa's biggest labour federation has threatened strikes during the tournament to protest against big hikes in power prices.
All of this illustrates the point that countries or cities staging major world events suddenly become fixed in an often uncomfortable glare of world attention as the big day approaches. But even by these standards, South Africa looks unfortunate. World Cup officials, led by chief organiser Danny Jordaan, have spent literally years fending off suggestions that soccer fans will be in mortal danger in South Africa, which has one of the globe's highest rates of violent crime. Jordaan and others have repeated a familiar mantra– the country has staged 150 sports and other events since the end of apartheid with little problem, millions of tourists have enjoyed South Africa's many attractions for years without major criminal attacks and protecting a finite event is a lot less complex than overcoming the national crime wave–especially since 40,000 police have been mobilised to do only that.
Nevertheless, many foreign fans and even visiting journalists are anxious about security and alarmist media reports have undoubtedly deterred some, especially it seems in Germany–hosts of the last event. What could be worse then, as the final countdown begins, than the events of the last week or so? Terre'blanche was hacked and bludgeoned to death on April 3 in a killing whose brutality seemed almost calculated to set off new anxiety about visiting South Africa, even though police believe it was a simple criminal, rather than racial, attack. Terre'blanche's own fringe AWB party lost no time in telling foreign journalists that overseas fans would be in danger during the World Cup and most reports on the killing mentioned the tournament's approach. The most extreme reaction came from the U.K. tabloid the Daily Star which said English fans risked a "machete race war" –sparking howls of protest in South Africa.
All of this has been made a lot worse by Malema, a firebrand demagogue who had hitherto been apparently used by some of the ANC to hit at leftwingers in the party and to mobilise the youth vote, but who now seems to have got out of control. Terre'blanche's supporters say that Malema's insistence on reviving an apartheid-era song "Kill the Boer" — which has now been banned by the courts –was the direct cause of the murder. Zuma said on Sunday, in an unusually strong reprimand, that Malema's comments and actions, including calling a BBC journalist a bastard and throwing him out of a press conference, were alien to the ruling party. Malema remained defiant despite the rebuke.
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
Does Angola attack really endanger the World Cup or just Africa's image?
The bloody attack on Togo's team bus in Angola is a huge tragedy for African football and like it or not, has cast a shadow over the World Cup in South Africa in five months time -- the biggest sports event ever staged on the continent.
It is highly debatable whether the attack, which killed two members of the Togolese delegation as they arrived for the African Nations Cup and forced the squad's evacuation on Sunday, really increases the risk to teams and spectators in South Africa.
Africa's year
All too often the Year of This or the Year of That fails to live up to the expectations of whatever we're supposed to be highlighting or celebrating.
There is no doubt that 2010 is going to be a big year for Africa.
The question is whether in a year's time we'll be looking back and saying it was big in the right ways.
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
Back on Robben Island — the men who changed the game
The year 1964 was a highly significant one in the fight against Apartheid: Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island and FIFA suspended South Africa from football because of the legalised racist policies of its Government.
If anyone had suggested then that one day FIFA's Executive Committee would meet on the outcrop off the coast of Cape Town on the eve of the draw for South Africa's World Cup, they would have been derided as a fantasist.
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
Confederations Cup defies pessimists but is World Cup on course?
So, the Confederations Cup is over and much of the pessimistic handringing beforehand proved unfounded.Despite some real logistical problems, the general verdict seems to be that the tournament was a success with enthusiastic and colourful crowds and some classy and unpredictable football, not least the United States' shock semi-final defeat of Spain and a thrilling final where Brazil went 2-0 down to the Americans before storming back to win 3-2 and ensure the football world was not thrown off its axis.Crucially, South Africa's own team, Bafana Bafana, did a lot better than many of their own fans had expected. The side suffered a lot of bad press from their terrible pre-competition form -- they did not even qualify for next year's African Nations Cup finals -- and Brazilian coach Joel Santana had been treated with scepticism by football writers and fans alike. Even Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the organising committee for next year's World Cup, expressed concern over their form. After a slow start, however, South Africa turned in a creditable, if not outstanding performance. They reached the semi-final and held eventual champions Brazil until the 88th minute when they went down to a scorching free kick by Daniel Alves. And in the third place final they pushed European champions Spain into extra time before finally losing 3-2, again to a freekick.They badly need more strike power and it looks like Santana must make peace with English-based striker Benni McCarthy who was dropped from the team for his apparent lack of commitment. But their performance gave grounds for some optimism.Bafana Bafana's Confederations Cup performance was key to the 2010 World Cup because it will encourage local fan participation -- a constant worry for the organisers, who expressed concern before this tournament about lack of home enthusiasm.Nevertheless, there are continuing worries that even the cheapest World Cup tickets are still too expensive for working class South Africans and that they will be unwilling to pay in advance for entrance in a year's time, something which goes directly against the entrenched local custom of buying tickets on match days.World Cup matches attended predominantly by foreign fans and restrained, middle class South Africans would be a huge disappointment for the first World Cup held in Africa, where the unique local atmosphere was a major selling point.That isn't the only worry in considering what the Confederations Cup tells us about the likely success of next year's much bigger global competition.FIFA boss Sepp Blatter gave organisers 7.5 points out of 10 for the Confederations Cup but World Cup veterans said this was nothing to be complacent about, given his likely tendency to talk up the tournament. Even Blatter said South Africa had to do "a little bit more" and FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke was more direct, acknowledging problems with transport, security and accommodation capacity, which is still significantly below what will be required next year.Security is a particularly sensitive issue, given South Africa's frightening reputation for violent crime, so it was unfortunate that the Confederations Cup saw alleged thefts from both Egyptian and Brazilian teams, although some of the circumstances remain mirky.More serious were security lapses in access to stadiums and other areas. Such failures must be cleared up in the time that remains if fans are to follow their teams without constantly looking over their shoulders.So the Confederations Cup provided both encouragement and warnings. Okay so far, but much more to be done. The next 12 months may be both nerve racking and frenetic for the organisers but we are all still hoping for a reasonably trouble-free football extravaganza with the special atmosphere that only Africa can give it--including those pesky vuvuzela trumpets...PHOTO: A South African fan at the June 28 Confederations Cup final REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Money will talk louder than any vuvuzela
The debate around the vuvuzela was always going to generate big noise but for some South African commentators it has become almost a neo-colonial conflict.
The noisy trumpet, which dominates the sound waves around the stadiums during the Confederations Cup, has got a lot of people covering their ears.