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| ! Hunting & Fishing Licenses | Boat Registration Renewal
Freshwater Mussels
Freshwater mussels are bivalved mollusks, which means that they have two shells held together on one side by a hinge. They are also called clams, shellfish, or simply mussels. All but two of Alabama's species belong to the family Unionidae, so they are referred to as unionids. The other two species are members of the Margaritiferidae and may be called margaritiferids.
Mussels are important to man as well as the environment. Because they are filter feeders, mussels serve as natural water filters to remove sediment, bacteria and excess algae from the water column. Since they are very sensitive to environmental changes they may also serve as indicators of water quality. Freshwater mussels also serve as food for many types of animals, including various fishes, otters, muskrats and several species of birds. Alabama has one of the most diverse mussel assemblages in the world with 182 species. Approximately half of North American mussel species, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico, have been reported from Alabama.
In addition to being incredibly diverse, some of Alabama's mussel populations are very dense, and some species have substantial commercial value. In the late 1800s and first half of the 1900s mussel shell was the primary raw material for the pearl button industry. Thousands of pounds were harvested each year. The development of plastics in the 1940s reduced the demand for mussels as a button source, and the last pearl button factory closed in the 1960s.
As the button industry was coming to a close, a new use for freshwater mussel shell was discovered. Small cubes of mussel shell could be rounded and polished and inserted into an oyster to start a pearl. After a period of time, the cultured pearl is removed from the oyster and used in jewelry production.
The Tennessee River is the most important source of commercial mussels in the world, and the Alabama River system also contributes considerably to the U.S. shell export. During the 1990s, the yearly value of exported shell exceeded $20 million. However, demand for freshwater mussel shell has declined greatly since then due to a number of global economic factors.
Mussel populations can withstand regulated harvest, but other factors have led to declines in mussel numbers and diversity in many areas. River impoundment, channelization, siltation, and pollution, as well as modern industrialization, urban development and poor agricultural practices, have caused reductions in the mussel fauna in most rivers. Almost three-fourths of Alabama's mussels are considered extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened, or vulnerable. Proper management, protection and monitoring of the surviving native mussel resources (especially habitat) are essential to preserve this biologically diverse group.
Commercial Musseling Regulations
The State of Alabama sets certain guidelines on the harvest of freshwater mussels. Consult the current regulations for species, size restrictions, and other harvest information. If you possess a valid fishing license, you may harvest Asiatic clams for bait. Commercial species of legal size may be collected with a valid commercial mussel catchers license. Other mussels must be returned immediately to the river. Possession of any part of a protected species is illegal, and penalties for a violation may include a fine and imprisonment.


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Democrats Distort Newt Gingrich's Medicare Comments--Again
Gingrich is saying, truthfully, that forcing people to leave the Medicare system is as bad a choice.
Democrats are taking advantage of Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's comments about proposed changes to Medicare to exploit America's seniors and scare them.
New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer seized on the former GOP house speaker comments this week as an endorsement of the idea that the suggested GOP reforms are "extreme"--a theme he promised to echo throughout the coming campaign season.
It's not the first time. Back in 1995 Democrats similarly seized on something Gingrich had said to allege the GOP had "a secret plan" to abolish Medicare. The problem was, then as now, they were being untruthful.
In a speech that October to a Blue Cross/Blue Shield conference Gingrich said he held to the belief that the federal bureaucracy overseeing Medicare--then the Health Care Financing Administration, now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services--would "wither on the vine because we think people are voluntarily going to leave" Medicare once market-based alternatives were made available.
[Vote now: Should Paul Ryan's budget plan become law?]
At the time Gingrich had successfully led the charge against ClintonCare and the GOP was advocating for free-market alternatives to the command and control approach taken by the federal government and being pushed by the Clinton White House.
Democrats, taking the "wither on the vine" comment out of context, started an editorial and advocacy campaign alleging that it was Medicare itself--not the federal bureaucracy behind it--that Gingrich was saying should be allowed to die a slow and neglectful death.
As CNN's Brooks Jackson wrote at the time, "They call it "Medi-Scare." It's the tactic of frightening the elderly by claiming Republicans plan to destroy Medicare. And the latest television advertisement from the AFL-CIO is a case in point." [See how Newt can win the GOP nomination.]
The ad, Jackson wrote, was "just dishonest. What Gingrich really said was that the Republicans believed the Medicare bureaucracy would wither on the vine---not Medicare benefits."
The idea Gingrich was talking about, then as now, is that the right alternative to a bureaucratic, centralized, government-run system to provide healthcare to America's elderly would be replaced, over time, with one based on personal choices, much the way the healthcare system works for most American's today. [See a photo history of Newt Gingrich's career.]
He has a point that whatever changes be made to the system be voluntary, at least for those currently enrolled in the program. Much like President Barack Obama falsely promised to the American people that, under his plan, they could keep the healthcare they had if they wanted to Gingrich is saying, truthfully, that forcing people to leave the Medicare system is as bad a choice, morally and politically, as forcing them into it.
It's a point worthy of debate and one limited government advocates should consider as healthcare reform moves forward. Moreover, it's important that the discussion be an honest one, designed to produce real solutions rather than scare seniors as Schumer and others appear to be ready to do.

subset: commoncrawl


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TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol
- TCP/UDP Port Numbers
- Working with IP Addresses (49)
- Working With MAC Addresses (7)
- FTP File Transfer (8)
- TCP/IP Benchmark Tools (5)
- IP and IPv6 Protocols
- DNS - Domain Name System
TCP/UDP Port 0
Port 0 is officially a reserved port in TCP/IP networking, meaning that it should not be used for any TCP or UDP network communications.
What is TCP/IP?
TCP/IP is an extremely popular network protocol that enables communication between most of today's computers. Did you know that TCP/IP is over 30 years old?
IP Tutorial and Course Outline
This tutorial explains IP, TCP, and UDP networking in a progressive series of articles.
Internet Protocol (IP) Practice Exam
This interactive question-and-answer quiz tests your knowledge of IP, the foundation protocol of TCP/IP. Use this resource to help prepare for certification exams or to quickly learn important technical details about IP.
Guide to Working With IP Addresses
IP addresses are a key element of TCP/IP technology that must be set up correctly for home networks and Internet access to function. Learn about the basics of finding, changing, and hiding IP addresses.
TCP/IP Administration and Troubleshooting Tools in Windows XP
Microsoft Windows XP contains a set of standard utilities for TCP/IP network administration and troubleshooting. This page reviews the purpose and function of each utility.
TCP/IP Fundamentals - Free Newsletter Course
Take a step-by-step guided tour of Internet Protocol (IP) networking. Sign up for this free newsletter course to receive automatic daily emails. Learn to work with IP and TCP/IP technology.
Multihoming is the configuration of multiple network interfaces or IP addresses on a single computer. Multihoming can increase the reliability and sometimes the performance of network applications.
"TCP/IP Clearly Explained"
Author Pete Loshin explains both the basic concepts and more advanced technical details of TCP/IP.
MTU - Maximum Transmission Unit
In TCP/IP networking, MTU is the largest size (in bytes) of a single IP data fragment that can be sent over the physical network link.
tcpdump on Linux
Tcpdump is a command-line tool for monitoring network traffic available on Linux and other popular operating systems.
Do IPX Games Work Better Than TCP/IP Games?
IPX games sometimes run more smoothly on a home LAN than TCP/IP games do. There is a technical reason for this, and a technical fix that helps TCP/IP games perform better.
UDP - User Datagram Protocol - is a simple OSI transport layer protocol for client/server network applications based on Internet Protocol (IP). UDP is the main alternative to TCP and one of the oldest network protocols in existence, introduced in 1980. UDP is often used in videoconferencing applications or computer games specially tuned for real-time performance.


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Gene Marks, Contributor
I cover technologies helping companies be quicker, better, wiser.
President Obama gave an excellent speech last week in Kansas about inequality in America.
"This is the defining issue of our time." He said. "This is a make-or-break moment for the middle class, and for all those who are fighting to get into the middle class. Because what's at stake is whether this will be a country where working people can earn enough to raise a family, build a modest savings, own a home, secure their retirement."
He's right. The spread between rich and poor has gotten wider over the decades. And the opportunities for the 99% have become harder to realize.
The President's speech got me thinking. My kids are no smarter than similar kids their age from the inner city. My kids have it much easier than their counterparts from West Philadelphia. The world is not fair to those kids mainly because they had the misfortune of being born two miles away into a more difficult part of the world and with a skin color that makes realizing the opportunities that the President spoke about that much harder. This is a fact. In 2011.
I am not a poor black kid. I am a middle aged white guy who comes from a middle class white background. So life was easier for me. But that doesn't mean that the prospects are impossible for those kids from the inner city. It doesn't mean that there are no opportunities for them. Or that the 1% control the world and the rest of us have to fight over the scraps left behind. I don't believe that. I believe that everyone in this country has a chance to succeed. Still. In 2011. Even a poor black kid in West Philadelphia.
It takes brains. It takes hard work. It takes a little luck. And a little help from others. It takes the ability and the know-how to use the resources that are available. Like technology. As a person who sells and has worked with technology all my life I also know this.
If I was a poor black kid I would first and most importantly work to make sure I got the best grades possible. I would make it my #1 priority to be able to read sufficiently. I wouldn't care if I was a student at the worst public middle school in the worst inner city. Even the worst have their best. And the very best students, even at the worst schools, have more opportunities. Getting good grades is the key to having more options. With good grades you can choose different, better paths. If you do poorly in school, particularly in a lousy school, you're severely limiting the limited opportunities you have.
And I would use the technology available to me as a student. I know a few school teachers and they tell me that many inner city parents usually have or can afford cheap computers and internet service nowadays. That because (and sadly) it's oftentimes a necessary thing to keep their kids safe at home than on the streets. And libraries and schools have computers available too. Computers can be purchased cheaply at outlets like TigerDirect and Dell's Outlet. Professional organizations like accountants and architects often offer used computers from their members, sometimes at no cost at all.
If I was a poor black kid I'd use the free technology available to help me study. I'd become expert at Google Scholar. I'd visit study sites like SparkNotes and CliffsNotes to help me understand books. I'd watch relevant teachings on Academic Earth, TED and the Khan Academy. (I say relevant because some of these lectures may not be related to my work or too advanced for my age. But there are plenty of videos on these sites that are suitable to my studies and would help me stand out.) I would also, when possible, get my books for free at Project Gutenberg and learn how to do research at the CIA World Factbook and Wikipedia to help me with my studies.
I would use homework tools like Backpack, and Diigo to help me store and share my work with other classmates. I would use Skype to study with other students who also want to do well in my school. I would take advantage of study websites like Evernote, Study Rails, Flashcard Machine, Quizlet, and free online calculators.
Is this easy? No it's not. It's hard. It takes a special kind of kid to succeed. And to succeed even with these tools is much harder for a black kid from West Philadelphia than a white kid from the suburbs. But it's not impossible. The tools are there. The technology is there. And the opportunities there.
In Philadelphia, there are nationally recognized magnet schools like Central, Girls High and Masterman. These schools are free. But they are hard to get in to. You need good grades and good test scores. And there are also other good magnet and charter schools in the city. You also need good grades to get into those. In a school system that is so broken these are bright spots. Getting into one of these schools opens up a world of opportunities. More than 90% of the kids that go to Central go on to college. I would use the internet to research each one of these schools so I could find out how I could be admitted. I would find out the names of the admissions people and go to meet with them. If I was a poor black kid I would make it my goal to get into one of these schools.
Or even a private school. Most private schools I know are filled to the brim with the 1%. That's because these schools are exclusive and expensive, costing anywhere between $20 and $50k per year. But there's a secret about them. Most have scholarship programs. Most have boards of trustees that want to give opportunities to kids that can't afford the tuition. Many would provide funding for not only tuition but also for transportation or even boarding. Trust me, they want to show diversity. They want to show smiling, smart kids of many different colors and races on their fundraising brochures. If I was a poor black kid I'd be using technology to research these schools on the internet, too, and making them know that I exist and that I get good grades and want to go to their school.
And once admitted to one of these schools the first person I'd introduce myself to would be the school's guidance counselor. This is the person who will one day help me go to a college. This is the person who knows everything there is to know about financial aid, grants, minority programs and the like. This is the person who may also know of job programs and co-op learning opportunities that I could participate in. This is the person who could help me get summer employment at a law firm or a business owned by the 1% where I could meet people and show off my stuff.
If I was a poor black kid I would get technical. I would learn software. I would learn how to write code. I would seek out courses in my high school that teaches these skills or figure out where to learn more online. I would study on my own. I would make sure my writing and communication skills stay polished.
Because a poor black kid who gets good grades, has a part time job and becomes proficient with a technical skill will go to college. There is financial aid available. There are programs available. And no matter what he or she majors in that person will have opportunities. They will find jobs in a country of business owners like me who are starved for smart, skilled people. They will succeed.
President Obama was right in his speech last week. The division between rich and poor is a national problem. But the biggest challenge we face isn't inequality. It's ignorance. So many kids from West Philadelphia don't even know these opportunities exist for them. Many come from single-parent families whose mom or dad (or in many cases their grand mom) is working two jobs to survive and are just (understandably) too plain tired to do anything else in the few short hours they're home. Many have teachers who are overburdened and too stressed to find the time to help every kid that needs it. Many of these kids don't have the brains to figure this out themselves – like my kids. Except that my kids are just lucky enough to have parents and a well-funded school system around to push them in the right direction.
Technology can help these kids. But only if the kids want to be helped. Yes, there is much inequality. But the opportunity is still there in this country for those that are smart enough to go for it.
Editor's note — This post has generated an enormous amount of feedback here on Forbes and across the web. Here are a few of those responses:
Kashmir Hill, Forbes: Trolling The Internet With 'If I Were A Poor Black Kid'
Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic: A Muscular Empathy
Kelly Virella, Dominion of New York: If I Were The Middle Class White Guy Gene Marks
Cord Jefferson, GOOD: An Ode To A 'Poor Black Kid' I Never Knew: How Forbes Gets Poverty Wrong
Gene, we all ought to applaud hard work and the people who overcome their hardships, but the notion that simply studying hard and getting good grades is all it takes ignores many other factors
For a couple of decades my mother worked teaching home bound children in a number of districts in our hometown. The children at the wealthy schools had access to computers in school, modern books and parents who could spend large amounts of money on their car. The children in the poor schools had no computers, twenty year old books and households full of distraction such as houses of prostitution being run out of the back rooms.
The most common causes for homebound status in the wealthy schools were long term illnesses and periods of time in mental health facilities, in the poor schools they were pregnancy and gun shot wounds
hardly a level playing field and more disheartening than your starry eyed prognostications anticipate
The one thing left out in all this is dealing with the threat of violence that many kids suffer in low income areas. My friends from the schools in the city of Richmond have crazy stories they luckily survived. But that's what kids did there, survive. Not much of an education happening, just an attempt to keep kids under control. It seems many schools, over crowded and under supplied, are this way these days. Teachers are more referees than educators.
upgradeddiddy– do you have any suggestions for readings about this topic and that support your point of view?
The inequality around us is more than kids not applying themselves nor them not taking advantage of the resources available. Let's look at the unemployment rate for 2006 comparing the races as it relates to having a Bachelor's or higher:
Blacks: 2.8%
Hispanics: 2.2%
Asian: 2.1%
Whites: 2%
Also, if we look at the statistics for those who only have a high school diploma, we will see an even greater indication of this obstacle.
Blacks: 12.8%
Whites: 5.9%
Hispanic: 5.5%
Asian: 3.8%
It is not a lack of smarts nor can it be contributed to laziness or any other excuse people give-especially those that have never experienced that type of upbringing.
You mentioned how 99% of the students at a charter school in W. Philadelphia are black. Philadelphia is the fourth largest predominantly black area in the U.S.-with 82% of the population being black. So, the black population in any school in Philly would not be lower than any other race.
As far as the question you asked yourself, you can always speculate, but until you have actually lived it, you will never know what you would be able to do…
Gene – I'm a white middle-aged white-collar guy who grew up upper-middle class and stayed that way. It would be easy for me to agree with your advice to young african americans, if I hadn't actually spent some time in public schools in Chicago and seen what they're facing. Gene — a challenge. Get your phone. Call the principal of an elementary school in the bad area you reference. Ask to volunteer in a classroom for two weeks, maybe an hour or two a day. Talk to the kids and the teachers. Most importantly, hang around and talk to the adults who pick up the kids. Give those adults your advice in person. Really. Then write a follow up to your article. You need to know the subject you're trying to cover. And you do not. Two weeks. Pick up the phone now, call a principal, volunteer. You simply do not, not, not know anything about the subject. And once you do, I hope you'll write again with new and better ideas.
Geez-Louise, Gene- Caught the tiger by the tail with this one. Just heard Rev. Al dissing you on the radio and Smerconish applauding. Methinks a clarion call to participate in multiple team sports would've gone a long way toward mullifying the opposing masses. But that's just the musings of a former single parent kid from 69th St. who used education and technology –and team sports–to improve his lot in life! Endure the storm!
Mr. Marks,
::sigh:: (That's a heartfelt, burdened sigh, not a sarcastic one!)
No doubt your intentions were good, and your heart was in the right place when you wrote that article. However, your article brings to mind, "forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do." In your case, what you SAY.
You know not what you say because you have not, and can never have, any idea what it is like to be BLACK in America. You have no idea of the odds that are stacked against you, whether you're rich or poor. You can't have that experience because you're just not black. So sorry to state the obvious, but that's a major factor to be considered when you're write a piece such as the one you wrote.
You know not what you say because you have not any idea what it is like to be POOR. I sincerely hope that you never have to find out.
Additionally, you know not what you say because you rely on hearsay, and second- and third-person input, to guide your thought processes. That is like being a person who wears glasses, trying to wear someone else's glasses on top of your own, while trying to look through a microscope; everything is distorted.
I have a challenge for you: come visit the school where I teach in Kensington, North Philadelphia. Of course, if you live near West Philly, you could visit there, but you wouldn't have the opportunity to talk me. I am BLACK teacher. I was POOR, and as a SINGLE MOTHER, I raised a daughter in North Philly, who later whose daughter attended Central High. I currently serve poor, black children, the very ones you write about. Come visit, and acquire FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE of your topic.
IF you should decide to come, you will need to remember one thing: POOR IS POOR, whether you're black, white, Asian or latino. Being poor is, in and of itself, a challenge. However, being poor and MINORITY, particularly POOR AND BLACK, well, that's a horse of a different color.
If you'd like to meet my challenge, please reply to my comment, and contact me!
A formerly poor (but still black) teacher
Your article was a kind attempt to address the problems of inequity. However, by focusing only on blacks it became made it racist. The challenges of the poor are not solely the problems of African Americans. Inequities make life hard on Hispanics, Asians and although I agree they have it easier, Whites too. The way out of the ghetto is so much more than computer access. Just access to a quality education, without sub coming to the lure/safety of gangs and drug sales, is a challenge. Proper health care, role models, visible positive alternatives, and family support is a challenge to many poor. By choosing the title "Poor Black Kid" you are ignoring the larger problem and creating a different problem.
Great note. Of course some people make it out of dire circumstances. But many don't. I got the benefit of educated white parents who had the money to send me to college (no debt). My fiancee's parents were connected so I got a great job out of college. Eventually, I became an entrepreneur, what conservatives would call a self-made man. But every step of the way I was helped by a network of family, friends, and education paid for by my government. The message for poor children was right on, but everything has a context. I work with a neighborhood action coalition in my downtown San Jose neighborhood where one street is historic homes, and the next street is single moms and the near-homeless living in tiny apartments. I see kids every day who are not going to get out of their circumstances. Some will, but many won't. They won't have computers or be educated enough to get maximum value out of them. They won't have parents who read or discuss finance and politics at the dinner table. They won't have friends whose parents are connected to help them get that next job or promotion. So, yes, by all means let's teach kids to apply themselves, but let's also advance in their experiences and education.
I agree with ryanc86. In contrast to his self-motivation (which I stand up and applaud) I have a friend who is female, now in her 40s. Her parents weren't wealthy but not poor either. After only one month in high school she begged her parents to let her drop out saying she "couldn't do the (school) work". All through school she made B and C grades and although not failing by any means, they let her quit. She pats herself on the back for working under the table, mostly at bar-tending, boasts about having never paid any social security, and cheating the government by not paying taxes on that under the table money she earned. In short, she hasn't put much into life, hasn't planned for the future or any sort of retirement. She doesn't have a good worth ethic and yet she expects to have a decent retirement. On what, I ask? There are lessons to be learned here. First, her parents did her a terrible disservice letting her drop out of school. Second, her desire to do nothing with her life except basically take up space is the height of pure laziness. She told me she doesn't want to work. I told her that when you get down to it, nobody would want to work if they didn't have to. The rest of us do it because we want to have something and to have gotten it for ourselves. I also told her that if everyone did as she has, there would be real problems with that. Whenever you wanted to buy groceries there wouldn't be anybody working there, and if you wanted to stop and grab a burger there wouldn't be anyone working there either. There is nothing wrong with earning a living. There is everything wrong with waiting for someone to "give you something". By working we are all giving something back and not just taking away a paycheck.


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Availability: The Westin Grand, Berlin
Deluxe Double or Twin RoomMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child)
Deluxe Double or Twin Room, Garden ViewMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child)
Junior SuiteMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 1 child)
Beaux Arts-style hotel in Mitte, Berlin's historic center
In heart of Mitte
In Mitte, Berlin's historic district, the hotel is located where boulevard Unter den Linden meets Friedrichstrasse and is close to Brandenburg Gate, Gendarmenmarkt, the Guggenheim Museum, and Potsdamer Platz.
Spa, restaurants
The Westin Grand, Berlin features a spacious lobby, on-site dining, a spa and wellness center with indoor pool, and a 3,000-square-meter garden.
Views, premium bedding
With views of Berlin or the garden, guestrooms at the Westin Grand mix historic décor with modern amenities including Heavenly Beds and LED televisions with satellite channels.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
The Westin Grand, Berlin Amenities
- General
Facilities at the Westin Grand, Berlin, include a full-service spa featuring massage, aromatherapy, health and beauty options, a fitness center, and an indoor pool and steam room. Also on-site are a bar/lounge area and a restaurant.
Located on the corner of Friedrichstrasse and Behrenstrasse, the Terrace is an outside bar where guests can sip coffee drinks and cocktails while people-watching. The courtyard garden space features fountains and bronze scupltures.
Event facilities at this exclusive hotel include 11 meeting rooms with over 10,760 square feet (1,000 square meters) of space, a 24-hour business center, banquet space, and the Dragon House, which is located in the garden and ideal for summer events. Wireless Internet in public areas and wired Internet access in the business center are available for a surcharge.
- 24-hour front desk
- Number of floors - 7
- Babysitting or childcare
- Year Built 1987
- Bar/lounge
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Coffee/tea in lobby
- Express check-in
- Conference space
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Full-service spa
- Express check-out
- Hair salon
- Health club
- Wireless Internet access - surcharge
- Children's club
- Concierge services
- Shopping on site
- Barbecue grill(s)
- Rooftop terrace
- Luggage storage
- Laundry facilities
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Spa treatment room(s)
- Meeting rooms
- Total number of rooms - 400
- Terrace
- Porter/bellhop
- Restaurant
- Room service (24 hours)
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Conference space size (feet) - 10760
- Conference space size (meters) - 1000
- Sauna
- Garden
- Spa services on site
- Spa tub
- Steam room
- Supervised childcare/activities
- Indoor pool
- Wedding services
- Television in lobby
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Computer station
- Multilingual staff
- Valet parking (surcharge)
- Poolside bar
- Conference center
- Number of meeting rooms - 11
- 24-hour business center
- Smoke-free property
- Internet
Available in all rooms: Wireless Internet access (surcharge) , Wired high-speed Internet access (surcharge)
Available in some public areas: Wireless Internet access - surcharge
- Parking
Valet parking (surcharge)
- Room Amenities
- Premium bedding
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Complimentary newspaper
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Minibar
- Daily housekeeping
- Turndown service
- Bathrobes
- Hair dryer
- Slippers
- Shower/tub combination
- Satellite TV service
- Iron/ironing board
- Desk
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Wireless Internet access (surcharge)
- Wired high-speed Internet access (surcharge)
- In-room safe (laptop compatible)
- In-room massage available
- Climate control
- Pillow menu
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Dining
Relish Restaurant & Bar - The international menu combines classic cuisine with modern touches and is open for lunch and dinner.
Lobby Bar & Lounge - The dark-wood Lobby Bar serves coffee, drinks, and snacks. The relaxed atmosphere attracts businesspeople, families, and tourists, as well as locals.
Restaurant Coelln - The restaurant serves a breakfast buffet each morning. A wide selection of international dishes is available.
24-hour room service is available.
- Recreation
A state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor heated pool, and spa tub are part of the Emotion Spa. Men's and women's saunas are also available (surcharges apply). The hotel provides maps of running paths and routes in the local area.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or near the hotel; fees may apply.
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Spa
Emotion Spa offers massages, body treatments, facials, manicures, and pedicures (surcharges apply). Specials include the golden treatment with a massage, facial, and glass of champagne; the luxury treatment with a massage, body peel, and pedicure; and the couples treatment with massages and facials. Guests can also select treatments individually.
- Hot stone massage
- Steam room in spa
- Aromatherapy treatments
- Sauna in spa
- Spa tub in spa
- Manicures and pedicures
- Body wraps
- Massages
- Body scrubs
- Body treatments
- Facial treatments
- Accessibility
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible path of travel
- Accessible bathroom
- Roll-in shower
- Accessible parking
- In-room accessibility
The Westin Grand, Berlin Policies & Fees
- Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Special check-in instructions:Please note: Due to construction underway nearby if using a GPS satellite navigator please select the following address and/or coordinates to get to the hotel: Behrenstrasse 52, 10117 Berlin, Germany - 52.51573°N/13.38829°E.Please note that from 14th July to 25th August 2014, S-Bahn Berlin will be performing work on its tracks running from Ostbahnhof via Friedrichstrasse and Hauptbahnhof to Zoologischer Garten. Rail traffic will be completely out of service for the sections listed during this period. For more details, please contact the hotel using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
- Payment types
Accepted at this hotel: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa
- Pets
Pets allowed
- General
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Fees
- Unless otherwise indicated, the charges below are not included in the overall room price. If not included in the overall room price, they will be charged by the property at check-in or check-out. Charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book. This property told us they will charge you for the following:
We have included all charges provided to us by the property. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
- A 5 percent city/local tax will be charged
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
- Breakfast fee: EUR 32 per person (approximately)
- Fee for in-room wireless Internet: EUR 15,00 (for 24 hours, rates may vary)
- Fee for in-room high-speed Internet (wired): EUR 15,00 (for 24 hours, rates may vary)
- Fee for wireless Internet in public areas: EUR 15,00 (for 24 hours, rates may vary)
- Valet parking fee: EUR 28 per day
- Pet fee: EUR 30 per pet, per night
- Deposit: EUR 50 per night
- Rollaway bed fee: EUR 60 per night
- Additional Details
Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments. Reservations can be made by contacting the hotel prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Children 11 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
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Offer valid at participating Westin Hotels and Resorts. Guests must call the Service Express desk to request shoes and clothing in their size; items are delivered to guestroom. Shoes come with socks and disposable insoles. Details at check-in.


text: National Museum of Costume National Museums Scotland has announced that the National Museum of Costume at Shambellie House, near New Abbey, Dumfries is to close. National Museums Scotland has announced that the National Museum of Costume at Shambellie House, near New Abbey, Dumfries is to close. As a consequence of the economic recession, National Museums Scotland, like many organisations in the public sector across the UK, has seen a reduction in available public funding. The very low numbers of visitors to the National Museum of Costume along with high operational costs is no longer sustainable. In addition, the domestic layout of Shambellie House places limitations on it being used effectively as a national museum. The decision to close the site has been taken following full consideration of a range of options for savings across all National Museums activity as well as comments received directly from the public and at meetings with stakeholders in Dumfries and Galloway. The site will not reopen for 2013. Speaking of the closure, Bruce Minto, Chairman of the Trustees of National Museums Scotland, said, "It is with great regret that we have taken the decision to close the National Museum of Costume. While this has been an extremely difficult decision for the Board of Trustees, we are clear that in the current challenging financial climate it is a necessary part of a range of cost savings which ensures the long-term future of our national collections." See the full press release here and further information about the closure here.


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Hillsborough Commissioners plan to take a step forward in their efforts to ban the possession, sale and manufacture of synthetic drugs in the county when they meet on Wednesday.
The County Attorney's office has a proposed ordinance ready and is asking commissioners for their approval to set a first public hearing at 2 p.m. on Feb. 20.
"This ordinance will assist the county and municipalities to combat the rise in the sale and use of dangerous substances commonly known as synthetic drugs," the agenda item states. It would levy a fine on anyone caught selling, manufacturing, distributing or possessing synthetic drugs in Hillsborough County.
With synthetic drugs, such as bath salts, K2 and Spice, becoming a major concern throughout Hillsborough, commissioners directed staff last summer to create a law that would help law enforcement agencies shut down the flow of the chemically created drugs within the county. While state laws already exist banning the drugs and sting operations have been held throughout Hillsborough targeting manufacturers and stores that sell synthetic drugs like Spice and K2, the county wanted to add some local muscle the fight.
The county's reasons for wanting to do so are summed up in the proposed ordinance:
"Synthetic drugs may be more potent and dangerous than the controlled substances they are designed to mimic due to the unapproved chemicals and chemical compounds contained within them."
Ingestion of these drugs, often sold in shiny packages with cartoon characters on them to lure in young users can "produce undesired and dangerous side effects such as headaches, agitation, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, loss of consciousness, elevated blood pressure, tremors, seizures, paranoid behavior, anxiety, increase heart rate and even death," the ordinance continues.
The proposed law carries with it a $500 fine for each "package containing a synthetic drug" for first-time offenders. Second time offenders would face $1,000 fines for each package that they sell, manufacture or possess.
This particular law would allow the county's Consumer Protection and Code Enforcement offices to issue violation notices in addition to law enforcement officers.
Commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, at County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.
To see the full agenda, visit the county's website.
Does the county need to add its muscle to the fight against synthetic drugs or are state laws sufficient? Share your thoughts in the comments section.


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The popular fair will feature an exciting lineup of entertainment, pet-related vendors as well as low cost adoptions from six Los Angeles County shelters. All pets are spayed or neutered, up to date on vaccinations, and licensed at time of adoption.
"Our mission is to celebrate pets, encourage animal awareness and promote pet adoption. We're happy that thousands of people agree and join us each year to participate," said founder Yvonne Allbee. "Of course, our biggest thrill is when these wonderful pets find homes. Last year, we adopted out close to160 dogs and cats. We'd like to increase that number in 2013."
Since it began in 2001, the Valencia-based Bow-Wows & Meows, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, has adopted out more than 1,360 shelter animals at their annual pet fairs. "Adoption is not only cost-effective, it saves shelter animals and reduces the overpopulation problem created by breeders and pet stores," Allbee said. "At Bow-Wows & Meows, our goal is to give every shelter pet a second chance at a wonderful life."
Bow-Wows & Meows Pet Fair, Sunday, October 12 2014 at William S. Hart Park, 24151 Newhall Avenue, Newhall. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. For more information, visit www.bowwowsandmeows.org or call (661) 297-5961. Hart Park offers shuttled parking for people/pets at just $3 and free parking remains available in the surrounding areas.


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IMP Awards > 2008 Movie Poster Gallery > Doomsday Poster #7
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Doomsday (2008)
TRAILERS | IMDB | AMAZON | added: Apr 9th, 2008
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Internet Movie Poster Awards - Featuring one of the largest collections of movie poster images on the web.
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Southwest to Partner with Chase for Ultimate Rewards
Chase continues to add value to Ultimate Rewards, the loyalty program linked to its Sapphire Preferred (for consumers) and Ink Bold (for business) credit cards. The latest, from Southwest's website:
Effective January 5, 2012, Chase Sapphire, Ink and Bold Customers will be able to redeem their Ultimate Rewards points for Rapid Rewards Points. Point transfers via Ultimate Rewards are not eligible for status, including A-List, A-List Preferred, or Companion Pass Status. Ultimate Rewards points will be converted to Rapid Rewards Points on a 1:1 ratio.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card is already one of the most robust of the multi-purpose rewards cards. The addition of Southwest as a transfer partner, allowing a 1:1 exchange of Ultimate Rewards points for Rapid Rewards points, further solidifies its position atop the category.
The card's vitals:
- Annual fee: $95, waived the first year
- Annual percentage rate: variable, currently 15.24 percent
- No foreign transaction fees
- Cardholders earn one point for every $1 charged for most purchases, two points per $1 for travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and up to 10 points per $1 for purchases through the Ultimate Rewards Mall.
- Cardholders earn a 7 percent dividend on points earned during the year.
- When redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, points are worth 1.25 cents each.
- Points can also be transferred 1:1 for miles/points in the programs of British Airways, Continental, United, Hyatt, InterContinental Priority Club, Marriott, and Amtrak.
- Customer service calls are "answered by people, not prompts."
And then there's the bonus: New Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders earn 50,000 points after charging at least $3,000 to the card during the first three months.
Assuming they are redeemed for travel—flights, cruises, etc., with no capacity controls or blackout dates—through Chase Ultimate Rewards, the bonus points are worth $625.
This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.


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We keep our eye on links to Baylyblog. Recently, a gab-site called The Well-Trained Mind Community resurrected an old Baylyblog post and asked its members for their thoughts. It's worth pointing out the post was not written by David, me, or any other pastor. The post is the work of an elder of Clearnote Church who is a founding board member of a ministry of Clearnote Church, Bloomington, called Bloomington Christian Schoolhouse.
I don't know if I've ever done this before but I'm notifying readers of the discussion and linking to it because it opens up to our view the world of conservative, somewhat religious homeschooling mothers. Read the comments—all of them—and take the measure of these women. Hard to fathom, isn't it?
I know "feeding the Trolls" is never a good idea, but I have to point out my Favorite comment so far from the Forum: "What I think is that I would never take advice on my children's education from someone who randomly capitalizes terms that are not proper nouns."
Personally, I am Skeptical about advice from Someone who does Not practice capitalizing Very Important Words.
In other news, I've got a nickle that says this lady has no problem whatsoever with A.A. Milne :)
From "Hive Mind Queen Bee For a pastor, his writing sucks. And he is supremely sexist, besides sounding coo-coo for cocoa puffs neurotic."
I wonder if she asked her husband before she posted this diatribe..... "Hive Mind Queen Bee" pretty much tells us all we need to know about her. I didn't read every comment, but for the most part the comments were rude, disrespectful to a pastor, and didn't engage with what he actually said.
We used to have some neighbors that homeschooled five children. I will say their home was run by the dad who was in all ways the obvious leader, but this appears to be the exception rather than the rule.
I just got it!
oh the irony!
Wow, what happened to humility and being able to receive instruction?
Here in the UK I have only ever met one Christian homeschooling family and the mother ruled the roost and the son did not possess the masculine ingredient but was a very gelded young man.
Only a sample size of one but still....
Wow! Seems that you've struck a nerve amongst these ladies who, methinks, protest too much. Not the smallest cause for concern is the lack of reading comprehension skills.
I'm a regular reader of both this blog and the WTM community site. It saddens me to see this back and forth. I'm really surprised that you chose to extend it by answering the fools according to their folly. Why the vitriol?
Please note that the site managers did not start that silly thread; Rather, someone with just a few posts (aka troll) did. And relatively few of the site members are joining in the "discussion." This is not necessarily representative of the minds of conservative homeschooling women, or even of the "WTM community" as a whole. Some of the women are religious and others are plainly pagan. The common thread is homeschooling. The site does not claim any religion.
"Hive Mind Queen Bee" and other such titles come with post counts. Some people with that computer-given "title" may be gab queens but may also just have posted a lot of curriculum questions over time. How mean spirited and lacking in grace. I expect better from you, Nancy. I also read your blog.
My husband is the head of our home, even though we don't send our kids to the nearby Wilson-style classical Christian school. I'm not sure why his headship is in question just because I teach our children phonics while he's out winning our bread. He oversees everything with excellence, thank you very much.
As for the old post, I thought the original letter included several good warnings about the pitfalls of the Fortress School. Thank you for that. Please don't make the perfect the enemy of the good. Some families, like ours, arrive at the decision to homeschool with much prayer and trepidation. It's sad to come to the blog of a brother and find that "it is not an enemy who taunts me--then I could bear it."
Susan, I am pretty sure that the Nancy Wilson who posts here is NOT Mrs. Douglas Wilson. Just FYI.
Kim is correct. I'm not Mrs. Douglas Wilson. Same name, different person.
As per your comment about my post on "Hive Mind Queen Bee", it wasn't just her name that I was commenting on. The point was how rude and disrespectful her reply was to the Pastor.
She didn't interact with what he actually said, but instead replied with childish name-calling etc.
This is what she said to/about him - "For a pastor, his writing sucks. And he is supremely sexist, besides sounding coo-coo for cocoa puffs neurotic." Makes you wonder what her children are "learning" from her.
Susan, I'm Tim's daughter. I think you've really misunderstood this blog post to take offense at it in this way. Where are you seeing vitriol? The point of the blog post isn't to start a little back-and-forth or a good round of mud-flinging. The point is that the level that this particular WTM forum thread descends to is proof of the objections raised in the first place.
Brian's letter was not written to condemn homeschooling families, and certainly this post was not written to condemn you. (Brian's family, after all, home schools!) Brian's letter lists some pitfalls of various types of education, in an attempt to warn families away from the pitfalls. And this post is meant as a warning, too. It's more of a case lesson. It's not a diatribe against Well-Trained Mind, homeschool moms or gab-sites. It's simply a peek at one conversation that proves the very thing it's trying so hard to deny.
Sister, your brother is not taunting you. He may be poking a little fun with the post title quote, but, after all, it's funny! :)
After reading the thread on the WTM forum, I for one am glad to hear that these pitfalls are only dangerous to the homeschooling families in Bloomington, Indiana. It's comforting to know that they are virtually non-existent elsewhere in the country.
Hold on, I've met a lot of homeschool families from other parts of the country, too. And they all either fell prey to these dangers or guarded vigilantly against them. What gives?
That's the point. Either guard the good deposit, or it will be lost. And that good deposit? It isn't your children (Jeremiah 17:9), it is the Gospel of Truth.
Thank you all for the replies. Forgive me but I'm going to respond in a list form because I'm too tired to compose well.
1) I liked and agreed with the original (Brain's) letter. Sorry if this was not clear. My husband and I read it together and agreed that some of those reasons (particularly the magnified parenting mistakes) were the reason we were reluctant to homeschool until it became apparent that it was the Lord's plan for us.
2) Nancy (not Mrs. Douglas), I agree with you as well that there were many disrespectful replies. I didn't even read through them all. I ignored the thread until today when I decided to see what the hubub was about. What I take issue with was your response. Making fun of people, particularly those you think may be fellow Christians, is beneath us. Is this the way we want to speak to those we expect to see in heaven? If you see a reason to rebuke, do so. But I think your comment was an attack on the person and not the truth in love kind of speech that is more becoming.
3) As for this post, the one we are all replying to, I just don't see the point. Yes, it is a poorly written sentence and also ironic. OK fine. Why humiliate her about it? Why answer fools according to their folly?
4) I object to the WTM forum being called a "gab site". Perhaps some use it for gossip, but take a second and look at every other thread title on the forum where this blog is quoted. It's just moms (mostly but I think there are a few dads) discussing curriculum. I've found the forum to be very helpful and I do take offence at being labeled as a "gab site" user as if I'm some gossip looking to tear down pastors. That is not what the WTM community is about. It's the internet and there are going to be trolls and people. Frankly there is a lot more commenting on others here on this blog than I see there. The vitriol I see is the claim that the comments of women on that silly thread are a "glimpse into the mind of conservative, somewhat religious homeschooling mothers". It is not. If you had an account for WTM and signed in, you would see the "signatures" of each of those women. Half of them are atheists! And one of them is a self-proclaimed witch! So yes I take offense that you call attention to their bad behavior and say that families like mine must be the same, or just a rare exception to the rule.
PS, Michal, I appreciate you saying that this post isn't meant as a taunt. Perhaps I have misread, misunderstood, etc...but as an extremely conservative reformed Christian who regularly reads this blog, it comes across that way. I can only imagine how it comes across to a non-believer. I've seen homeschooling done well and badly from many different angles and I'm not afraid to hear about the pitfalls. Rather, I'm glad to read the warning. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. This particular post doesn't seem like that. The original, yes; this one does seem like an invitation for more mud-slinging, regardless of the intent.
For me as a homeschool mom the only problem I had about it is the language. I could have done with out the word in front of the word goddess. I found it sad that he couldnt have said something different being a man of God.
As doing outside ministry I do what I can. But my husband and I are concerned about the salvation of our own children. Our children do come first in our ministry. I dont mind serving others. We have helped out homeless people. We have fed people that didnt have food. We have paid for peoples groceries in front of our children. We encourage our children to think of God first others second and themselves last.
Dear Latisha,
It is important to understand that Mr. Brian Bailey, the author of the original post, was simply quoting a well-known phrase from William James.
"The moral flabbiness born of the exclusive worship of the bitch-goddess success. That — with the squalid cash interpretation put on the word success — is our national disease."
This is a very insightful quote, and Mr. James makes his point well. My point is that Mr. Bailey was not engaging in gratuitous vulgarity. He was referring to a well-known phrase that did in fact advance his argument.
Susan, I took "gab site" to mean an open(ish) forum, not an accusation that all women who converse there are busybodies.
Although it makes me happy to be mistaken for a Clearnote pastor, I'm not and what I wrote was not a sermon. Rather, it was a private e-mail sent to the men on the board to help us think about the purposes of the school we were forming and what to name it. Pastor Bayly heard about this e-mail from another man and asked permission to post it on his blog. He stated this clearly in the introduction to the May 2010 post.
As Michal points out, some of my best friends are homeschoolers. In fact, my wife homeschools our five oldest children. Bloomington Christian Schoolhouse has helped us in this work, and I think, helped us avoid some of the pitfalls identified.
Samuel Johnson says he never thinks he's hit his mark unless he gets a rebound. This is one of the oddest rebounds I've ever seen. My points weren't originally intended for public consumption and the reproach they're generating is flying back almost three years later. Better late than never. :)
It is very troubling that so many who take upon themselves the duty to educate their children cannot distinguish between a warning of the dangers inherent in a useful practice, and a condemnation of that practice. That the original post is the former rather than the latter is not the least bit unclear.
It is even more troubling to contemplate the possibility that this error arises out of a lack of deep understanding of the reality that any human endeavor, even the most godly pursued out of the best imaginable motives in the most conscientious manner, is subject to pitfalls and dangers because of the fallenness of the world and the sinfulness of all the people involved. People who take umbrage at the idea that something they may be doing well could possibly be done less well (in critical ways) if they are not careful, are effectively denying the nature of reality. Christians ought to know better. A voice here and there making this mistake is a matter of immaturity -- a whole group reacting the same way is more troubling.
If the personal attacks (ad hominem attacks for those in the classical education movement) are indicative of the tenor of this site, I would have to bet that Susan Wise Bauer (is that the Susan here?) ought to be very, very sad at what's happening with it. Her work, besides professorial work, is aimed at eliminating this kind of "reasoning."
(in this light, the term "gab-forum" is regrettably applicable)
And as the patriarch (hooah?) of a homeschooling family, I've got to confess that I've got to watch out for exactly what Mr. Bailey warns about. So if he wants insults from me, he's going to have to earn them. :^)
Shook my head after reading this mother's comment about sons:
"...she needs to recognize that he is growing up, and that he has a God-given desire to become a man and perhaps a leader"
Reading the comments on the other site, I am glad that Mr. Bailey's post made them aware of two ideas they seem never to have heard before, no doubt because they are deeply contrary to modern America:
1. Part of a pastor's job is to tell people how to live their lives.
2. Worldly success is not the Christian's goal in life.
I'm not Susan Wise Bauer.
Not to belabor this, but I'd like to point out once more that hundreds of WTM members (like myself) completely ignored the foolishness of the thread. To judge the whole group based upon a few shrew's comments is unfair. That's what I object to. Most had the wisdom to stay away from the gab and pastor bashing rather than try to engage the fools according to their folly. I'm sure the state of femininity in homeschooling moms is at least a tad better than it may appear when one only uses that thread as a measure. The only reason I responded here, is, well, it's here, on a Christian site I respect.
Thanks again for the original article, and for all your work in general.
Susan; exactly why I said "if". Is it time for a member of that forum to point out what's going on, and how it explicitly contradicts the entire goal of classical education?


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Sibling actors Olympia and Apollo Dukakis lead the cast of an ingenious new script-in-progress by award-winning playwright Eduardo Machado. This newly-imagined "prequel" to Aristophanes' Lysistrata, directed John Farmanesh-Bocca, tells of an aristocratic Athenian matron who is crushed by fateful events and gradually transformed into the most celebrated peace activist of the ancient world.
Event repeats at 8:00pm.
Tickets on sale beginning December 18.


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|Assistant Men's Soccer Coach
|1st Season
|Alma Mater:
|Leeds Metropolitan University (England), 2005
Andrew Branton joined the men's soccer coaching staff in February and will coach alongside first-year head coach Jake Beverlin this fall.
Currently serving as the Jr. Boys & Girls (U12-U14) Technical Director for Aztec Soccer (Beverly, Mass.), Branton comes to UMass Boston with a wealth of knowledge having coached at the club, college, and professional levels.
Branton, who is a native of Royal County of Berkshire, England, started his coaching career at the age of 17 by earning his FA Level One Coaching Certificate (English Football Association) in the summer of 2001. From there he went on to coach in the Northern Premier League, as well as with the Leeds United AFC's youth development center and academy, and the East Yorkshire Girls Football Association.
While coaching, Branton went on to earn his degree in Sports Management from Leeds Metropolitan University. He would also go on to earn his FA Level Two and Three Coaching Certificates (UEFA Coaching License) and his FA Premier League Talent Identification qualification.
Over the last six years that Branton has been in the United States, he has coached at numerous camps and clinics working with both club and college level players. He has also served as a coach in a variety of states as well as in Canada and in the Caribbean. No stranger to the Division III level, Branton has worked on the coaching staffs of Newbury College (MA) and Bates College (ME).


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JOHN N. BOTENS, 81, of Waters, died Monday, Aug. 5, 2013.
Visitation will be at Gaylord Community Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. today. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary Cathedral, Gaylord.
Arrangements are by Gaylord Community Funeral Home.
BARBARA FISHER, 83, of Traverse City, died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at Munson Hospice House.
A complete obituary will be in a later edition of the Record-Eagle.
Arrangements are pending with the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.
CHARLES H. KOOP, 63, of Elk Rapids, passed away on Aug. 6, 2013.
Funeral services will take place on Friday, Aug. 9, at 11 a.m., at New Hope Community Church in Williamsburg. Visitation will be today from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Social Hall in Elk Rapids.
Visit our online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are being handled by the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.
WILLIAM J. MILTZ, 64, of Traverse City and Marco Island, Fla., passed away unexpectedly at his home Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013.
A complete obituary with service information will be in Friday's edition of the Record-Eagle.
The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
OMER MISHO, 90, of Traverse City, died Aug. 6, 2013, at Bortz Health Care.
No services are planned at this time.
The family was served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
A memorial service for MR. DAVID T. MUDGETT will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, at Faith Reformed Church. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior.
Memorial gifts may be made to Faith Reformed Church Youth Ministry or the charity of your choice.
Share memories with the family at their online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com.
Arrangements are by The Lee Chapel, Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc., 6291 S. Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444; (231) 798-1100.


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The Rockshox Revelation World Cup suspension fork has won numerous mountain biking awards. The Revelation World Cup's tapered carbon steer tube adds stiffness to the front end of the bike, ensuring the bike stays planted. The Revelation features BlackBox Motion Control technology. Black Box is based upon the original Motion Control damper. It adds Dual Flow compression and rebound damping. There are separate circuits for low and high speed compression as well as beginning and ending stroke rebound. This results in a fork that floats over both big hits and stutter bumps. Rockshox realizes that they have riders across the world that ride extremely different terrain. Therefore, they aimed to make a fork that was extremely tunable. The Revelation World Cup features Air technology. The independently adjustable positive and negative spring chambers make for superb adjustability. The highly tunable dual air system is one of the lightest air spring systems on the market.
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Please note this offer is only available to physical shipping addresses in the 48 continental United States (no PO Boxes), and oversize charges still apply on some heavy/large items.


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Oil-to-Propane Conversions on the Rise
Switching from oil to propane makes sense, especially in the six New England states.
According to the Propane Gas Association of New England (PGANE), from 2006 to 2009 more than 1,000 New Englanders converted their heating fuel source. "I can almost guarantee you that 80 percent of those [conversions] were from oil to propane," says PGANE president Joe Rose. "An oil and propane dealer in New Hampshire told me that his company converted 100 of their existing oil customers to propane because customers are looking for ways to save money on energy. That's the driving force. If you can go with a propane furnace or boiler that's 95-plus percent efficient versus oil at 85 percent there's a huge incentive there."
Even though a number of the rebate programs that were once available in New England have been phased out, dealers are still seeing a demand for propaneboth conversions and in new homes that are equipped with high-efficiency propane appliances and systems from the beginning.
Some customers make the switch because they want an energy source that is more environmentally friendly than heating oil. And, of course, fuel price also matters.
"Certainly there are fraction out there who want a cleaner-burning fuel like propane and we do the best we can to publicize [the benefits of] propane," says Nick Gnazzo, sales manager at Eastern Propane in Rochester, N.H. Whatever the reason for the conversion "people understand that oil will probably get more expensive down the line. Massachusetts is a particularly strong oil market, but we are certainly making some headway on the propane side."
Prospective customers of D.F. Richard, an oil and propane dealer in Dover, N.H., that's been on the scene since 1932, are offered both choices. "We don't steer them one way or another, but give them the Btu-per-gallon comparison," says Rick Card, D.F. Richard's CEO. "Converting from oil to propane started taking off a couple of summers ago when the crude price rose to $140 a barrel. Everything put together, propane is really the way to go. I've converted from oil to propane myself, as have the two owners and our sales manager."
Removing an oil tank and installing a propane-ready furnace or boiler isn't a do-it-yourself project for most homeowners. Bruce W. Maki, a remodeler and editor of HammerZone.com, takes 14 web pages to explain the process of getting two fuel-oil tanks out of his basement. Then there's the problem of disposing of the tanks, a complicated process that is often dictated by cumbersome EPA and state regulations.
The bottom line: It's best for remodelers and contractors to work with one of the more than 6,000 retail propane dealers for help with all aspects of converting from oil to propane.
For a detailed comparison of the first costs, efficiency levels, energy rates, and carbon emissions of oil and propane heating systems, check out the Comparative Heating Study interactive map and white paper. Also, stay tuned for our CEU course, Retrofitting Homes from Heating Oil to Propane, due to launch later this summer.


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Retired Halifax utility workers to gather next week
- Last Updated on 08:37 AM 04/04/12
- BY The Gazette-Virginian
Known by a variety of names — Virginia Public Service, Virginia Electric Power Company (VEPCO), Virginia Power and Dominion Power — the South Boston based utility company has been a fixture in the community for several decades.
At 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 11, many present and retired employees and their spouses plan to gather at Ernie's Restaurant for a reunion.
According to former Vepconian Doc Clark who retired three years ago, the company has been around since the 40s.
Before 1946 it was named Virginia Public Service, and in 1946 Virginia Power became Vepco, a name that stuck until the 70s when the company assumed the name of Virginia Power.
Virginia Power it stayed until the 1990s when it changed to the current company name -- Dominion Power.
Although it is currently located on North Main Street in South Boston, Virginia Power once was located downtown next to the old movie theatre – a location utility employees called their home away from home until 1953 when it moved to its present location.
Clark said he was an employee with the company for 39 years describing it as "a great family, great place to work, and time just flew by."
In its prime, Virginia Power had over 100 employees, and according to Clark, "back then, it was all about hard manual labor.
"Everything was done manually. If you wanted new lines, you used a mule. Digging holes and setting poles were all done by hand, and each pole had to be climbed by hooks," Clark recalled.
However, the company now uses state-of-the-art technology with utility work changing dramatically over the years.
Now the company owns bucket trucks, and nearly all trucks are equipped with computers inside.
"Very seldom does anyone go out to climb a pole anymore," Clark said, with one employee being able to set a pole on his own.
Matter of fact, Clark said almost every job now can be accomplished by one person, thanks to technology.
Virginia Power was once the leading electric company. Now it is leading in technology, according to Clark.
The company also has become very diversified with the use of coal and gas.
"Now there is very little labor, and the technology is great," he added.
Due to advances in modern technology through the years and economic conditions and reorganization throughout the company, Virginia Power today has fewer than 30 employees.
Some of the managers who have stood out over the years in Virginia Power's South Boston history include Walter Matthews, Dale Tetterton, Jim Hamilton, Norman Bates, Bucky Pryor, Wade Briggs, John Smatlack, Rusty Steel and J. H. Cline.
"Hamilton stood out. He was military," Clark said, recalling how in the 70s he passed down a rule that long hair was not approved.
"So Cline told some of us older guys that we had to wear hairnets. We went to Rose's and picked up hairnets, but Cline said we didn't have to. We could have just gone and gotten a haircut."
Clark also recalls women who made a name for themselves as employees at the local utility company over the years -- Ruth Henderson and Katherine Vernon (Worley).
"Ruth was like a mama. She made sure you stayed out of the newspaper and paid your taxes," said Clark.
The Vepconian referred to the company as the type of company where people came, and they stayed.
"We were one big happy family," said Clark.
"John Burgess, Mary Kent, Waylon, Roy and Dodson Keesee, all had between 30 to 35 years at the company, and Raymond and Sam Compton, Charlie and Ben Franklin had 40 plus years between them," he said of former employees.
During earlier times with the company, employees enjoyed parties, picnics, dances and always found a way to support the community.
"There was always a budget for parties," said Clark.
"The company was big on community support. I think they helped the Lions, bloodmobile, ball fields, legions, fire departments, and some helped different churches," he added.
In 1970 when Clark began working at the utility company then known as Vepco, he was making $2.86 an hour as a lineman.
When he retired in June 2009, he made $30 an hour.
During his time with the company, Clark recalled two strikes, one in 1962 and the other in 2006. Both were related to benefits and the company trying to do away with retirement benefits, he said.
"They were peaceful strikes. It was a good paying company, and the combination of the union and company made for it to be a safe company and a leading industry for benefits," said Clark.
"The company taught me how to save, to be a good community citizen, and we were all well blessed with good retirement packages. It was one of the leading companies in this area with benefits," he added.
Many people who once worked with the company went on to pursue their career opportunities.
"Many local people…South Boston was just a stepping stone for a lot of people," said Clark.
Included on that list was John Smatlack who went on to become vice president of Dominion Power. Smatlack is scheduled to speak at the reunion on April 11.
"We worked hard, played hard and partied hard. It was a great place to work," Clark said.
The reunion will be held Wednesday, April 11, at 10:30 a.m. until.
Clark said currently over 100 people have said they will attend.


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Chad Toomey's Next Adventure
Many of you have heard, Chad Toomey is leaving Pacific effective Jan. 4, as he has accepted a position with the Forest Grove Fire Department.
In the interim, Phil Friesen will step into Chad's position as the director of Pacific Outback. We will continue to examine how the Outback and Voyages programs work together to meet our goals. Phil is eager to maintain the high level of innovation and safety of the outdoor program while preserving the continuity of the Voyages program. If you have any questions or need clarification please contact me.
Steve Klein
Posted by Steve Klein (email@example.com) on Jan 7, 2013 at 1:49 PM


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Summer's Not Over Yet
Seems like only yesterday that Memorial Day Weekend kicked off the exciting summer season in New Jersey. Now, the days are getting a little shorter as fall inevitably approaches. But that doesn't mean the fun summer activities are over. August and September provide plenty of thrilling activities and events, so guests can end the summer on a high note.
Beach Time: New Jersey is known for its beautiful beaches, stretching for miles down the coast and offering families fun, sun and surf, even in the late summer months. Cities such as Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant Beach and Ocean City, feature bustling boardwalks filled with entertainment, shopping and dining.
State and County Fairs: The end of summer brings a number of fairs and festivals, such as the New Jersey State Fair Sussex County Farm & Horse Show. The event features agricultural events and education, animals and a petting zoo, exhibits, a carnival, crafts and vendors, flower and vegetable shows, fair food and much more. The show runs Aug. 2- 11.
Amusement Parks: New Jersey has a wide selection of amusement parks that operate well into September
• Morey's Piers, the largest amusement piers in the world, offer three piers with hundreds of rides, two waterparks, and a number of roller coasters. The piers operate from Memorial Day until the first weekend in September after Labor Day.
• Six Flags Great Adventure is America's largest seasonal theme park with more than 200 rides, the biggest drive-thru safari outside of Africa, and one of the world's largest waterparks. The park operates from 10:30 am-10 pm everyday through Labor Day, and special weekend hours throughout Sept.
Labor Day Festivities: New Jersey hosts a range of celebrations over Labor Day Weekend, from the Labor Day Southern Hospitality Weekend in Ocean View (Aug. 31 - Sept. 1) to the Annual South Plainfield Labor Day Parade (Sept. 2). People can also check out Atlantic City for the fourth annual Comedy Fest (Aug. 31 – Sept. 1), or Cape May for FunFest (Aug. 31 - Sept. 1) and the 17th Annual Air Show (Aug. 30 – Sept. 2).
September Fests: The party doesn't end after Labor Day. There are a number of popular festivals to enjoy in the mild days of September, including the Atlantic City Seafood Festival (Sept. 14-15) and the Irish Fall Festival in North Wildwood (Sept. 19-22).
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Call 1-800-VISITNJ for free publications. For other inquiries call us at (609) 599-6540 Copyright © State of New Jersey,
1996-2014 Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism, P.O. BOX 460, Trenton, NJ 08625


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