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Internships Group Volunteer Projects
Senior Recreation Programs
Located at Louden Nelson, the Downtown Senior Center uses volunteers to teach and lead many of its senior programs. Volunteers teach computer courses, lead exercise classes and help with the administration to keep the senior programs running. Highly rewarding, this volunteer program requires a long-term commitment and volunteers who enjoy working with seniors.
Civic Event Hosts
A fun way to get involved in our community, the Civic Center uses volunteers to assist at Civic events. It makes sense that this volunteer program is very popular. The Civic staff is fun and easy to work with and they always let volunteers watch the show. If you want to volunteer at a Civic event call the CitySERVE coordinator early, because they fill up!
Children's Programs
The City of Santa Cruz has three excellent after school recreation programs. These programs welcome community volunteers who are interested in working with children. Help the City of Santa Cruz create a fun and safe environment for local kids! Children's Program volunteers are required to commit to volunteering for at least six months and must be fingerprinted.
Graffiti Free Santa Cruz
Concerned about the spread of graffiti vandalism into our neighborhoods and business districts? Be part of the solution! Graffiti Free Santa Cruz is looking for volunteers to Adopt an Area near where they live or work and pledge to keep it graffiti free. The City of Santa Cruz will provide the supplies you'll need and some training on how to remove graffiti.
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The City of Santa Cruz has an excellent internship program which is designed to give local college students the opportunity to gain practical work experience. Interns are placed in nearly every City department, including City Manager, Finance, Human Resources, Parks and Recreation, Public Works and Planning.
If you are interested in an internship, please contact the CitySERVE Coordinator to schedule an interview and discuss a possible placement.
Current internship opportunities
How to apply:
Contact the CitySERVE Coordinator to schedule an interview. During this interview you will discuss your interests in more detail. Additionally, you should provide the CitySERVE Coordinator with a resume outlining your past experience. Go to Online Forms for a pdf version of the Volunteer Application.
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Group service projects give groups the opportunity to spend productive time together and have fun while giving back to their local community. The City of Santa Cruz has one day volunteer projects for almost any size group year round. Group service projects are almost always outdoors and usually are physical in nature.
Examples of Past Group Projects:
Santa Cruz High School's Girls Honor Society participated in a beach clean-up; Monterey Bay Academy students helped to paint the Municipal Wharf and helped clear trails in Harvey West Park; Members of the Neighborhood Church helped to clean-up the San Lorenzo River.
How to arrange a group project:
There are projects for any size group from 2 to 100. All you need to do is call the CitySERVE Coordinator with a proposed day and the number of people in your group. We will do our best to find you a place to volunteer where your efforts will be appreciated.
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City of Santa Cruz Official Government WebsiteSanta Cruz City Hall, 809 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060©2009 City of Santa Cruz. All Rights Reserved. | Website Created by Vision Internet.Coastal images in the City of Santa Cruz homepage banner courtesy of Michael Santa Cruz


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As "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" hits theaters, take a look at images of actor Woody Harrelson throughout his career.
Woody Harrelson through the yearsUPDATED 10:45 AM EST Nov 18, 2013
Slideshow Central
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subset: commoncrawl


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This week -- two more miniatures from the Demonweb.
Iron Dragon Prowler
When you think of iconic monsters in Dungeons & Dragons, it is only natural for dragons to come to mind. This year we focused on the chromatic dragons, such as the blue and the black dragon. The metallic dragons will have full attention next year, and the first thing that fans of previous editions will notice is the dragons based on alloys have been replaced with pure metals. In Against the Giants, you were able to get your hands on one of the two new metallics, the Adamantine Dragon. This week, we preview the other new metallic dragon.
The Iron Dragon Prowler is one of seven creatures in the set with the Dragon keyword and one of three true dragons in Demonweb. To make him stand out from other silvery metallic dragons, his wings have been darkened and slightly rusted. The miniature is fantastic -- individual scales have been sculpted, and a dark wash really brings out the recesses of the figure.
This figure marks a departure from previous creatures. Most of the miniatures have represented monsters, but this set has a new class -- objects. The Deathcap mushroom follows the Living Flaming Sphere and Animated Statue as miniatures that have an increased usefulness in the roleplaying game. There are a lot of options -- general dungeon dressing is the most immediate use. These could represent doomspores, a hazard found on page 88 of the Dungeon Master's Guide. While out of the scope for this preview article, I can imagine these deathcaps being used after a failed skill challenge in a dungeon where the PCs tried to bypass a growth of shriekers.
For the miniatures battle game, the Deathcap changes the battlefield. Instead of moving around like a creature, the immobile Deathcap is placed in a victory area. There, it affects the creatures around it, either granting additional victory points or additional poison damage, depending on whether it is in your victory area or your opponent's.
I'm looking forward to reading the response to this creature. I see it as a figure you're either going to love or hate. There are three or four figures in this set that could easily be used in the RPG as things other than monsters, but only this one is explicitly defined as an object in the miniatures battle game.
Next week … more minis!
About the Author
Peter Lee is the newest member of the RPG R&D Design team and the new Lead Designer for theD&D Miniatures game.
©1995-2008 Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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21:28 Monday 28 July 2014
The East Anglian Railway Museum is located at Chappel & Wakes Colne Station on the Marks Tey to Sudbury branch Line. It has always been a matter of mystery how this branch and the station managed to survive the attentions and best efforts of Dr Beeching, but somehow it did.
This has left a unique situation of a very rural location for a Beer Festival, yet with a National Rail station actually within the festival Site. The location of this very convenient station means that the majority of people use the train to get to and from Beer Festivals here. Trains run to/from Sudbury (calling at Bures) to Marks Tey about hourly, with good connections at Marks Tey to London, Chelmsford, Shenfield, Witham, Colchester, Ipswich, Clacton and Norwich. It take just over the hour to reach Chappel from London Liverpool Street.
There is a hourly bus service from Stansted Airport, calling at Dunmow and Braintree, which then connects at Marks Tey for the train to Chappel. Normally for the duration of Beer festivals at the museum extra trains run up to and beyond festival closing time. Once we get confirmation of these train times, they are posted on the relevant beer festival web sites (see bottom of this page for links).
It is only a 10 min walk from Chappel Village centre where the hourly Colchester to Halsted bus service stops until late at night.
We do have some car parking at the site, but obviously having to drive home tends to spoil a good nights drinking, your driving licence and future insurance premiums.
A special Service is runs on the Marks Tey to Sudbury Line during the beer festival amd extra trains stop at Marks Tey (especially late at night) to make connections.
The 88 bus calls at Chappel Post Office, 10 Minutes Walk from the beer festival. This runs until late evening between Halstead and Colchester.
If you really must drive set your SATNav to CO6 2DS, and follow the signs to Chappel & Wakes Colne Station. We have free parking in front of the station.
View Larger Map


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Your BearID password is good for 180 days (approximately six months). The 180-day count begins on the day you reset or change your password. You may change your password at any time -- you do not have to wait for a reminder or until your password quits working.
When you want to change your password, go to the password change page. Log in using your BearID and password, and follow the prompts.
If your password has stopped working, go to the password reset page. After verifying your identity, you will be instructed to answer the security questions that you chose when you originally set your BearID password. Once the correct answers are verified, you will be instructed to set a new password.
ITS will automatically send you an e-mail reminder when your password is near it's expiration date. To see the text of the e-mail, click here.
Restart your computer after you have changed your password. Faculty and staff must restart their computers to synchronize all Baylor systems that use the BearID and password for access to the new password. If you do not restart, email, printing and others systems will not function properly.
The ITS Help Desk will be happy to assist you with changing or resetting your password, (254) 710-4357.
Updated February 27, 2014


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Feb 07, 2013|
Location: The alleyway connecting Wellington Street to Wo On Lane
Cindy wears: Lightning cheongsam with pink piping, $3,580; Black vintage bag, $1,280, Ranee K. Earrings, stylist's own.
Tim wears: The navy Tiller suit, $14,100; Twill slim fit shirt, $1,700; Ledger skinny satin tie, $1,200, Thomas Pink. Sheet of A4 paper (impromptu pocket square), stylist's own.
(2000) As fast-paced, loud and overcrowded as Hong Kong can be, the great Wong Kar-wai adeptly revealed to his audience a slower, quieter and indeed, rather lonely side of the city in his critically acclaimed "In The Mood for Love." Set in the 1960s and starring Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, the story of hidden desire and restrained passion begins when journalist Chow Mo-wan (Leung) and secretary Su Li-zhen (Cheung) immigrate from Shanghai with their spouses and move into a cramped apartment complex. Left alone in a strange city while their spouses work, Mo-wan and Li-zhen become friends, and soon learn that their partners are having an affair. However, despite their growing attraction, they choose not to stoop to the level of their cheating spouses. Intricate details, from the set design to the cinematography to all 46 of Cheung's cheongsams (she wore a different one in every scene but obviously some were cut from the final film), were carefully selected by the director to set the perfect mood for this restrained yet powerful love story.
Recreate It: The famous cafeteria scene (picture, left) was shot in the Café de Goldfinch (G/F., 13-15 Lan Fong Rd., Causeway Bay, 2577-7981), an old-school Hong Kong-style Western diner. The decoration put up by the film crew remains, so go and order an "In the Mood for Love" set menu, which consists of sizzling steak, borscht, and other kitsch dishes.
Location: The Langham Place Hotel's Chuan Infinity Room
Cindy wears: Short sky blue lace cheongsam, $4,380; Headband, $398, Ranee K. Shoes, model's own.
Tim wears: Aslett suit, $14,100; Twill slim-fit shirt, Thomas Pink.
(1960) If you've spent any time in Wan Chai then you're likely familiar with this melodramatic American romance story, at least in name. Shot partly on location in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island, the story of an American artist (William Holden) becoming involved with the seedy prostitute underworld serves as a vivid time capsule for our city in the 1960s. The title character is portrayed by Nancy Kwan, who was called in to reshoot half the film after the original actress (France Nuyen) was dismissed. It seems her romantic involvement with Marlon Brando—and the rumors of his affair with another actress at the same time—led Nuyen to gain so much weight that she no longer fit into production costumes. The drama off-camera mirrored the mood on-screen, as the artist must decide between the prostitute-turned-painting-muse and the wealthy banker's daughter, both of whom have fallen for him.
Recreate it: While you'll likely have no problem navigating your way onto the Star Ferry—where Robert uttered that famed line after Suzie wrongfully accuses him of theft—there are a wealth of original filming locations for fans to uncover in Wan Chai and beyond on a walking tour. Visit Gwulo's blog post, which includes an exhaustive list of locations and maps, and appreciate the cinematic history that unfolds before you.
Location: The Langham Place Hotel's Chuan Infinity Room
Cindy wears: White embroidery top, $1,680, Ranee K.
Tim wears: Shirt, model's own.
(1988) Directed by Stanley Kwan, this story about a pair of doomed lovers is all the more poignant after the death of both its leads—Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui—in 2003. Set in 1930s Hong Kong, the suave "12th Master" Chan Chen-pang (Cheung) meets Fleur the courtesan (Mui) in a bordello. Their passionate love affair is decried by Chan's family, and after their love is forbidden, they vow to commit suicide and be together in the afterlife. However, while Fleur dies, Chan does not. Fleur's spirit waits in hell for 50 years, before returning to earth to revisit her former lover, now an old man filled with regret. The film swept the film festivals in Asia and abroad, with wins for Mui's performance at the Golden Horse Film Festival, the Asia Pacific Film Festival and the Hong Kong Film Awards, where it was also awarded best director, best original film score and best picture.
Recreate it: Many of the scenes set in modern-day Hong Kong are filmed in Shek Tong Tsui. Climb aboard a tram headed for Whitty Street and recreate the moment where the newspaper editor realizes he's talking to Fleur's ghost.
Location: Stanley Beach
Cindy wears: One piece swim suit, model's own.
Tim wears: Swim trunks, model's own.
(1955) There's something about William Holden and old Hollywood movies shot in Hong Kong. Holden stars again in this critically acclaimed tale as Mark Elliot, an American news correspondent who falls in love with the beautiful Eurasian widow Dr. Han Suyin (Jennifer Jones). Based on the real-life Han Suyin's autobiography, the couple must deal with the disapproval of her traditional family and the city's strict racial laws, and then must work through the consequences of Mark's assignment to cover the Korean War. The film was given an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, and Jones was nominated for Best Actress, which she likely deserved—she and Holden reportedly could not stand one another while on set. Holden later wrote in his memoirs that Jones would chew garlic before their love-making scenes, complained constantly about her makeup, and once threw a peace offering of roses in his face. Diva!
Recreate it: While the beach scenes were shot at privately-owned Middle Island, Aberdeen Harbour's romantic and historic pair of floating restaurants have been featured in countless films including this classic. Be sure to grab a table at Tai Pak, the Jumbo's less glitzy sister restaurant, and imagine yourself in 1950s Hong Kong.
Shum Wan Pier Drive, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, 2553-9111.
Want to pick up a sharp suit or a sultry cheongsam of your own? Pay these stores a visit:
Ranee K: 25 Aberdeen St., Central, 2108-4068.
Thomas Pink: Shop B67, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Rd. Central, 2155-9671.
Special thanks to the Langham Place Hotel for use of its suite: 555 Shanghai St., Mong Kok, 3552-3388.
Phil Edward Kenny is a Hong Kong movie buff and the owner of the excellent blog Hong Kong (& Macau) Film Stuff, which identifies shooting locations for local movies. Although action flicks are his forte, he suggests some lesser-known locales for (quasi) romantic movie scenes.
Shek O Health Centre
"King of Comedy"—where Cecilia Cheung wraps her legs around Stephen Chow—whaddya mean that's not romantic!!!?
140 Shek O Village, Shek O, 2809-4564.
Felix at The Peninsula Hotel
Where Jackie Chan takes Shu Qi for dinner in "Gorgeous."
28/F, The Peninsula Hong Kong, Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2920-2888.
Chinese YMCA
Where Andy Lau chats up Cecilia Cheung in "Running on Karma."
51 Bridges Street, Sheung Wan, 2803-7715, www.ymca.org.hk.
Shatin Inn
Chow Yun-fat takes Sylvia Chang to reminisce (and argue) about their past relationship in "All About Ah Long."
Tai Po Rd., Tai Wai, 2691-1425.
Swimming Pool at Dragon Garden
Where James Bond meets Chew Me in "The Man with the Golden Gun."
32-42 Castle Peak Rd., Tsing Lung Tau, www.dragongarden.hk.
Barker Road Peak Tram Stop
The end scene in "Soldier of Fortune" when Susan Hayward returns to Clark Gable and meets him at the tram stop, with its nice view over the harbor.
Barker Rd., The Peak.


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A block of apartments under construction in Shanghai just fell over, as if it had been built out of Lego bricks and toppled with the flick of a finger. There is nothing much else to say, or at least until someone finds out why, but the pictures are remarkable.
Monthly Archives: June 2009
Reality Check Advisory
When the figures are released for June, power generation is expected to show its first monthly increase in eight months. A sign of recovering economic activity, or a byproduct of the hot weather that parts of the country have been experiencing? Calibrate your economic optimism meter carefully.
Zhou Bangs On About The SDR As World Currency
The People's Bank of China has found a drum and continues to beat it. In its annual financial stability report, the central bank again calls for a super-sovereign currency to replace the dollar. The bank's head, Zhou Xiaochuan, has been a cheerleader for this course of action, and caused a stir earlier this year when he said the dollar could eventually be replaced as the world's main reserve currency. As well as using the SDR in that role, the PBOC report recommends that the International Monetary Fund manage a portion of its member countries' foreign reserves.
We heard a similar thumpty-tee-thump ahead of the BRICs summit in Yekaterinburg earlier this month, though in the event not much policy to that end. China feels acutely the weak dollar's diminishing of its large and largely dollar-denominated foreign exchange reserves (though it would face a similar problem under an SDR regime if it continued to run huge surpluses). However, the PBOC has the luxury of seeing the policy remedy to its current dollar bugbear through a purely economic lens, without the realpolitik filter the top Party leadership must employ. (Yves Smith has more detailed discussion of the economics at Naked Capitalism).
Filed under China-U.S., Economy, Markets
Beijing Starts To Play By WTO Rules. Good.
There was a time when Beijing quietly settled WTO trade complaints against China. In the first five years after joining the organization in 2001, it didn't contest a single complaint against it. No longer. It says it will contest the newly lodged complaints from the U.S. and the E.U. that it unfairly limits exports of raw materials in a way that subsidizes local steel and manufacturing companies. And it has launched a tit-for-tat complaint against the U.S. over poultry. Similarly it countered Buy American provisions in the U.S.' stimulus package with Buy Chinese ones of its own.
Does all this amount to a ramping up of protectionism. To this Bystander's mind, not as much as the doomsters would have us believe. China is learning the rules of the WTO game, and starting to play it. Better by far for the rest of the world to have Beijing on this particular field than off.
Filed under China-E.U., China-U.S., Economy, Politics & Society
Google and Baidu, Pornography and Protectionism
Is Beijing's reining in of Google trade protectionism–or a shake down?
The FT reported that Google has ben ordered to stop users of its Chinese-language service accessing overseas web sites. The directive is to suspend foreign searches and a feature that automatically suggests multiple search results once typing commences in the search window, according to the report. The FT suggests that
the move against Google appeared to be an attempt to deflect attention away from the domestic censorship uproar by redirecting concerns about pornography against a foreign company.
Authorities say Google is being "punished" for linking to pornographic content.
But Baidu, a domestic search engine that holds a 59% market share, is not subject to the same restrictions, according to Digital Beat. The site also suggests that CCTV has been less on Baidu's back since it started throwing some sponsorship dollars the state broadcaster's way.
Filed under Uncategorized
Anglo American Next In Chinalco's Sights?
The consolidation of the global natural resources industry in response to the bursting of the the commodities bubble of the early years of the decade and the subsequent global recession means one of two things: more joint ventures such as the one between BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto in iron ore or more combinations within a limited group of companies who need global economies of scale.
The collapse of Chinalco's proposed $19.5 billion investment in Rio earlier this month makes it a potential bidder for either Anglo American or Xstrata, who have embarked on a merger dance of their own. Anglo's iron ore, platinum, coal and copper assets make it the better prize for Chinalco. Xstrata's scrappy entrepreneurial management style would sit uncomfortably with the state-controlled giant, making the Swiss-based company a more natural partner for Brazil's Vale. Chinalco would also be better placed to circumvent the labour and monopoly concerns the South African government has raised that any bidder for Anglo will have to deal with.
Chinalco, though, will have to come up with a deal that values Anglo at somewhere upwards of $45 billion. Anglo shareholders have already rejected Xstrata's no premium bid, and a 30% premium is the benchmark for successful mining industry mergers. Anglo's current market capitalisation is $35 billion. Nor would Chinalco be likely to be able to squeeze out the $700 million-1.5 billion of cost savings (taxed and capitalised worth $3 billion-6 billion) that Xstrata sees in Anglo that could justify a lower bid price.
Reports of Beijing Selling Off Its Treasuries Are Misplaced
Brad Setser's Follow The Money blog on the Council On Foreign Relations site is always worth the read for anyone following global capital flows, and especially his post questioning whether China sold down some of its Treasuries in April as U.S. Treasury's monthly data on total foreign holdings of long- and short-term Treasuries suggests.
Setser says that what actually happened was that China shifted from bills to short-dated notes rather than reduce its overall Treasury portfolio, but the way it buys its longer-term notes, through London, isn't accurately reflected in the U.S. monthly data as some of China's purchases get allocated to the U.K. Setser says the past five surveys of foreign portfolio investment in the U.S. have all revised China's long-term Treasury holdings up (in some cases quite significantly) even as they revised the U.K.'s holdings down.
So what Beijing has been doing is shuffling its dollar-denominated assets not reducing them.
Filed under China-U.S., Economy, Uncategorized
Beijing Mulls Easing FDI Rules
Worried by eight consecutive months of falling foreign direct investment, Beijing is considering relaxing the FDI rules, according to the China Times. Forty-two rules covering tax, foreign exchange, other regulatory supervision, has been submitted to the state council for approval, the paper says. Most notable among the changes would be greater access to the high-tech sector. The June 2007 anti-speculation restrictions on property investment would also be eased. China attracted $34 billion in FDI in the first five months of the year, 20.4% less than in the same period a year earlier. Keeping that pump primed.
Filed under Economy
World Bank Raises China Growth Forecast
The World Bank has raised its forecast for China's economic growth this year from 6.5% (its March forecast) to 7.2%. That is shy of the magical 8% Beijing is shooting for but a sign of how last year's four trillion yuan stimulus package is boosting economic activity, at least more than the Bank had expected.
Reflecting concerns that a lot of the money being pumped into the economy is finding its way into asset inflation, the Bank says that "it is too early to say a robust, sustained recovery is on the way". The Bank can't see a recovery in exports, but it notes that "following a spectacular surge in the first quarter, lending moderated in the second quarter." It also notes that "government-influenced investment has soared," while private investment lags.
There are limits to how much and how long China's growth can diverge from global growth based on government influenced spending, given that China's real economy is relatively integrated in the world economy. Meanwhile, market based investment is likely to continue to lag for a while because of the squeeze on margins amidst spare capacity in many manufacturing sectors. Prospects for real estate activity appear reasonably good, but consumption is unlikely to pick up speed.
The Bank says it is expecting the same rate of growth to carry over into 2010 and reiterates that Beijing needs to pursue structural adjustments to make the economy more domestic demand led.
Filed under Economy
Beijing Hints At Flexing Its New Antitrust Muscles On Behalf Of Jilted Chinalco
There was obviously some wounded pride following the collapse of Chinalco's proposed $19.5 billion investment in Rio Tinto. But to add insult to injury, Rio is now proposing an iron-ore joint venture with BHP Billiton in Western Australia.
Such a combination would account for 80% of the exports from one of China's main sources of supply, Australia. To Chen Yanhai, who heads the raw materials department at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, "The potential deal has an obvious color of monopoly. The joint venture is likely to have a big impact on the Chinese steel industry as China is the world's biggest iron ore importer" (from CCTV via Reuters). "The deal should be subject to Chinese anti-monopoly law," Chen adds.
That sting in the tail will raise some eyebrows among international M&A bankers. China's anti-monopoly law says the ministry has to approve business combinations if the joint global revenue of the companies involved exceeds 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) or 2 billion yuan in China if two or more of the firms involved each cross a threshold of 400 million yuan of revenue in China during the previous accounting year. Both BHP and Rio have blazed past that. In the year ended June 30, the former's revenue in China was $11.7 billion while the latter's was $10.8 billion.
It is unclear what remedies would be imposed if the Rio-BHP deal was found to be monopolistic by Beijing (or even if it could apply such a ruling), but Chen indicated aid to domestic miners could be one. There have already been discussions around this between Canberra and Beijing at the diplomatic level, we hear. And BHP says it and Rio would be discussing the potential regulatory issues with Chinese officials, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, Chinalco has to decide what to do with the stake in Rio it does hold, and whether to take up its allotment of Rio's rights issue that is replacing its investment. It could dump its stock with a grumpy flourish and take the loss, not do that but not take up its rights issue allotment, thus diluting its stake, or take up its rights and hang in to see what develops. Patience rather than petulance might well be the right virtue in this instance.
Filed under China-Australia, Economy, Markets


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|George R R Martin Discuss the writings of author GRRM.
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|17th June 2011, 05:26 PM
|#16 (permalink)
Stake Holder
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 1,818
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
|17th June 2011, 07:33 PM
|#17 (permalink)
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ireland
Posts: 966
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
A number of my friends who have not read the books, but are avid fan's of the TV series,were gutted when Ned lost his head. Yet, they could understand it and the way the series has gone so far, it felt right to them.
The downside is that I am getting bombarded with questions along the lines of 'Will such and such a character make it?' None of them have threatened to leave the show.
|17th June 2011, 10:40 PM
|#18 (permalink)
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 4,639
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
Warning... A Game of Thrones and The Princess Bride SPOILERS ahead!
Tezz, thanks for the thread. My friends and I have been debating since January whether the series will be able to survive Eddard Stark. I've wanted to talk to you all about this, but I was unwilling to start this thread without spoiling the story before episode nine.
From the linked article from examiner.com in the OP:
Personally, I've watched every episode of AGOT, LOST, Cheers, M*A*S*H (I think), Veronica Mars (admittedly, a guilty pleasure), and Life. I've seen at least half (if not almost all) of Legend of the Seeker, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, ROME, The Sopranos, True Blood, and Law and Order. And... I must have seen upwards of thirty thousand sporting events on TV.
I understand about becoming emotionally invested in characters. But is emotional all there is? What about time? AGOT in ten episodes, including the repeated credits, total about nine hours and ten minutes. Reading AGOT takes each reader a different amount of time, but it's probably eighteen hours, on average. The investment in time is definitely more for the reader than the viewer.
Here's an analogy: People always talk about spending qualtity time together... especially with their children. I think this is a fallacy. Mandating quality time can be done, but with irregularity. Other peoples emotions should not always be forced into another person's desires. To get quality time with loved ones, a person needs to spend a large quantity of time. Teachable moments can be created, but most times they just happen. One does not know when a child or lover will be hurting... and that time of comfort cannot just be made up later. Time investment is emotional investment. I think this can be transferred to reading versus viewing.
After fifteen chapters out of the first fifty-nine in AGOT, all readers are invested in Eddard. We've read about his love for Catelyn. We've read of his love for his children. We've read about his loyalty to his friends. We've read of his unwillingness to sully his family name and his honor. And we've read much about his memories and dreams of his father, brother, and sister. I've not yet seen or heard mention of Lyanna on the show except for Robert's visit to her tomb. What do viewers know of "Promise me, Ned"? What do they know of the woman in the bed of blood and roses? What do viewers know about the quarrel between Eddard and Robert after the sack of King's Landing? What do they know of the Sword of the Morning, the White Bull, and Ser Oswell Whent? What do they know of Howland Reed? What do they know of Eddard's silent promises to tell Sansa and Jon about his decisions? What do they know of his faithfulness to Catelyn in turning down Cersei's sexual favors?
And what about the Arya and Brienne POVs? These chapters specifically show the plight of the common people. These chapters show the ins and outs of family, religion, and social hierarchy in daily life. GRRM has something to say on social justice.
So Eddard lived a good and honest life. He's probably in Westerosi heaven. But what about Littlefinger, Cersei, Tyrion, Sansa, the Hound, Arya, Dany, Bran and Jaime? What of their ambitions and desires? Will Eddard's children suffer or succeed? Will they follow in his honorable footsteps or become what he despised in their desire to avenge him? Will any of Eddard's enemies be inspired by his life and death enough to renounce their wicked ways? Is redemption possible?
And for those who loved Eddard, I must ask, What about Robb? What about Jon? How will his teenage sons trained to command soldiers deal with his murder? Aren't their stories compelling?
Personally, I feel that reading requires more of my attention, imagination, and memory than viewing the television. The only way I have a greater investment in the show is monetary. A used paperback version of AGOT is $5 while three months of HBO is running me around $200.
So the readers are the "wow crowd"? Personally, I think there is much less gratuitous nudity in the books.
So... the "mass appeal just got beheaded"? When the going gets tough, should we quit reading? All of Eddard's loved ones are now in jeopardy without him to protect them, but they must be the characters that Tamcamry doesn't "care much about". If Eddard was all the story had going for it, then I'd agree whole heartedly with Tamcamry. But really, don't the characters who manipulated and outfoxed Eddard seem interesting? Shouldn't viewers desire to see them get theirs? I think the boy from The Princess Bride had a better concept of stories than this...
That being said, will the series survive the death of Eddard? I'm not sure.
I'm also not sure if HBO really has intentions of finishing the series. Unless, the show's second season is a sensation, then I think that HBO will seriously think about shutting it down. HBO is in business to make money. Amen. So AGOT will not need to be a critical success, it will need to be a viewing success. If it becomes a water fountain conversation mainstay, if Matt Groenig parodies it, if tens of millions of people worldwide only have HBO for the express purpose of watching AGOT (i.e. me and my friends), then HBO will judge it to be a show worth finishing.
Thanks for your investment of time in reading this post.
Last edited by Boaz; 17th June 2011 at 10:55 PM.
|18th June 2011, 06:11 AM
|#19 (permalink)
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North East Lincolnshire
Posts: 30
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
I must admit when I first read these books I was totally shocked when Ned had his head cut off. Like some one else said, I'm used to the hero/good guy being saved in just about every book/TV show/movie I've ever read or watched. Martin has proved time again that no character is safe in his books (Imagine the reaction there is going to be if HBO make it as far as a certain unconventional wedding!) and seems to kill them with joyful abandon. He is one of the few authors that I've ever read that is brave enough to kill the main players in his books, be they good or bad. Which if I'm honest makes it more enjoyable and unpredictable and possibly more lifelike. Life can be a bit cr*p and the good guy doesn't always come out smelling of roses and will often get trampled on.
As far as the series is concerned I hope people that have never read the books don't switch off because of this. I wondered how they would react to arguably the shows biggest star being killed off (Sean Bean must get tired of playing characters that get killed part way through a major fantasy franchise!).
If people do switch off will HBO get cold feet and cancel future series? I certainly hope not.
|18th June 2011, 07:52 AM
|#20 (permalink)
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 4,639
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
Really, I don't know anyone, reader or viewer, who was not shocked when Eddard died. He was the primary protagonist. Seriously, who kills off their main character in the first book of a series? But that very action boldly announced that GRRM is in full author-ity of the story. Eddard's death tells us that GRRM will be taking us down rarely trodden paths... that the world is a deceptive place... that wolves can be killed as easily as ostriches.
|18th June 2011, 08:59 AM
|#21 (permalink)
Aye fur Alba
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Perth and Kinross
Posts: 4,134
Blog Entries: 2
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
Yes, there's a difference between book and TV audiences, book audiences have functioning brains, even in the US.
Thankfully, the mindset that wanted to film, 'Mort,' but leave out Death, invite Jane Austin to do a lecture tour or drop the, 'III,' from, 'The Madness of King George III,' because audiences wouldn't go if they hadn't seen I and II, is pretty rare except in Hollywood's higher echelons.
|18th June 2011, 11:43 AM
|#22 (permalink)
Bearly Believable
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK: ENGLAND:
Posts: 13,996
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
Could posters here please remember that this thread is in the TV section, not the Author section, of the Chrons? There shouldn't really be even hints at possible spoilers in this thread.
I know it isn't done on purpose, but there may be people coming here who will see later seasons still not having read the (relevant) books. I'm sure none of us would want their enjoyment (or whatever) spolied.
|18th June 2011, 11:51 AM
|#23 (permalink)
Stake Holder
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 1,818
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
I hope some of these poor sensitive viewers who spend so much time investing in the main character never see Edward Woodward playing Sergeant Neil Howie.
|18th June 2011, 02:28 PM
|#24 (permalink)
Wherever I Am, I'm There
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Greater London
Posts: 14,148
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
I've not watched the TV series, nor have I read the books. So thanks, you've just spoiled everything for me!
Some of the comments i.e. book readers vs. TV watchers are just empty-headed, but I still think there is a valid point to be made. A TV series is different to a book. It has nothing to do with "investment in characters" but I think I understand where those commentators are coming from. If HBO heavily promoted this new series as "Starring Sean Bean" there would be some expectation for the "Star" of the show to continue to be in in. Those "in the know" find it all hugely funny, but many people do watch a TV show simply because they "like the actor and he is always in good things." Now, before you all pile onto me about "that's the beauty of the writing" and "that's what makes it better than the usual TV fare", I'm not saying that, I'm just saying it was wrong of HBO to promote the show in that way, well knowing that would be the expectation from many of their viewers. They did it deliberately and knowingly.
Last edited by Dave; 18th June 2011 at 02:40 PM. Reason: sentence made no sense
|18th June 2011, 04:16 PM
|#25 (permalink)
Thicker than water
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Australia, New South Wales
Posts: 729
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
I don't see how you could describe HBO's promotion as "wrong". I don't see anything unethical or immoral or even offensive about it. To me, if anything, it looks like they overestimated their audience, assuming that perhaps people were ready for something new and different.
Apart from which, I don't really see what other options there were for promotion. If you had to pick the main main character in AGoT, it's Ned. His storyline is the titular game of thrones. Tyrion is arguably a contender in that regard, but I feel Ned's storyline more clearly illustrates what the game is actually about. Since this makes him the lead character, they cast a fairly prominent actor in the role - and they then promoted this, as you would expect in any TV show.
I see it as nothing more than a clever transition from novel to television by HBO. In my mind a poster or teaser trailer for a TV show is roughly parallel to a blurb for a book. All the blurbs for AGoT clearly establish Ned as the main character ("As Warden of the North, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when..."). Book and TV show: both are working to subvert the same cliche. In order to do that - and milk it to its full effect - they need to build it up as much as possible. To that end the "deceit" in promotion is entirely necessary. What would be the point in underplaying Ned, or shoving him off to one side? Then what's the point in even telling that story? No one would care.
Entertainment is most entertaining at its most visceral: when it has some kind of deep emotional impact. HBO did everything they could to make Ned's end powerful. It may have caused a backlash on Twitter, but all that does is generate more attention. We'll have to wait til the next episode to see if there's any drop in numbers, but I doubt it. I can pretty much guarantee that anyone who watched the last episode, regardless of how happy they were with the outcome, got their money's worth in terms of entertainment and emotion. And now I think others will latch onto that based on what they've seen and heard online.
I think it's a win all round: for GRRM, for clever, engaging storytelling, and of course for the TV show.
|18th June 2011, 04:34 PM
|#26 (permalink)
Bearly Believable
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK: ENGLAND:
Posts: 13,996
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
The trouble is, Dave, Ned is the central character of the book, A Game of Thrones. He has the most chapters; he is at the centre of most of the intrigue (in the sense, perhaps, that he's the eye of the storm); he has the noble character against which all the others' are measured and found wanting.
Without Ned showing that nobility exists in the world of ASoIaF, we might more easily accept the amorality of that world. And that would be tempting: most of the other characters are too busy trying to save their own skins to ponder much on what is wrong and what is right. And Ned's fate underlines this: he does the "right" thing by everyone and he dies, having put his whole family in the firing line.
Most of the characters, even the ones we love to hate, are not evil: they have valid reasons for their actions (from their place in history to their personal circumstances). And this, more than anything else (even the twisted, not to say contorted, nature of the plot), is why ASoIaF is so good: if we dare, we can place ourselves in the position of most (though not all) of the characters and find that we might not behave any more "honourably" than they do. (Take, for instance, Jaime's appalling act at the end of episode 1 of Game of Thrones: if you were Jaime, would you hold Bran's life more dear than your own and those of your sister and your three children?)
Because of all that, Ned is, and has to be, the main character in season 1 of Game of Thrones. He has to be there in the spotlight; and being so, he has to have top billing.
|18th June 2011, 04:56 PM
|#27 (permalink)
Wherever I Am, I'm There
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Greater London
Posts: 14,148
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
Considering what digs and Ursa just said I'm trying to think of another comparable situation in another TV show to make a comparison, and quite frankly I can't find one. So, maybe this was just inevitable?
Am I right in thinking that the Season is over half way through? So, in actual fact, he does appear in most of the Season anyway? If so, then what is the problem - I mean to say, in TV shows actors often leave at the end of Seasons so there was never a guarantee Sean Bean would be in Season 2. Some of the critical comments made do strike me as a little odd in that respect.
|18th June 2011, 08:37 PM
|#29 (permalink)
Glad to be Geek
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: UK: SCOTLAND:
Posts: 556
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
Digs, everything you said +1.
HBO are not wrong in promoting Ned as the star. Sean Bean arguably is the most famous person in the cast, so it makes sense to use a big name. Plus early on in the show, and in the book, you believe Ned is the pivotal character of the story. So you made assumptions that were completely thrown back in your face in episode nine. And instead of sitting back feeling gobsmacked and thinking "OMFG, this is incredible; I've never read/watched anything like this", you take to the internet and bitch cos you feel what? That you were set up? Ripped off? To be honest, I think people threatening to cancel their subscriptions solely cos Ned died are muppets. Sorry.
People I've spoken to were stunned at the audacity of killing off the "main" character, but I think everyone is now desperate to know what happens next. Personally, I like have my perceptions messed with. I think it's the sign of good storytelling, that I can watch a prominent character be killed, or that I can start off loving/hating character X, then later on do a complete U-turn. Do people really want more of the formulaic shows that Hollywood churns out by the bucket-load?
|18th June 2011, 08:49 PM
|#30 (permalink)
Stake Holder
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 1,818
Re: "TV Fan's" Backlash
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text: This course teaches students hard-to-find advanced editing and finishing techniques. Learn how to create polished transitions, fix screen direction errors, edit multi-camera projects, work with nested sequences, create fantastic effects use filters creatively and composite like a pro. This course also covers advanced workflows for managing media and working with film. Text is included. This course is an Apple Approved Training course. Academic Level Continuing Education Level Subject Apple Based Technologies Department Continuing Ed - Open Classes Credits Not Available Prerequisites None Corequisites None Return to Noncredit Course Search Academic Calendar Class Schedules College Catalog Online Learning Bookstore Register For Classes Request Information


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Financial stocks jumped on Thursday in a late day rally after a report the Federal Reserve will use its meeting next week to try to calm market fears the central bank is close to raising short-term interest rates. Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke will stress any move to reduce the quantitative easing program will not mean it is close to the end of the program, said a report in The Wall Street Journal. The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund /quotes/zigman/246222/delayed/quotes/nls/xlf XLF +0.44% , which tracks financial stocks in the S&P 500 /quotes/zigman/3870025/realtime SPX +0.0061% , was up 1.88% at close. Morgan Stanley /quotes/zigman/182639/delayed/quotes/nls/ms MS +2.11% was up more than 3% and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. /quotes/zigman/188479/delayed/quotes/nls/gs GS +0.13% was up 2.45%. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. /quotes/zigman/272085/delayed/quotes/nls/jpm JPM +0.46% and Citigroup Inc. /quotes/zigman/5065548/delayed/quotes/nls/c C +1.17% were up nearly 2%. Bank of America Corp. /quotes/zigman/190927/delayed/quotes/nls/bac BAC +1.56% was up more than 1%. Barclays PLC /quotes/zigman/152323/delayed/quotes/nls/bcs BCS +4.16% was up nearly 3% and Credit Suisse Group AG /quotes/zigman/172227/delayed/quotes/nls/cs CS -0.65% was up more than 2%.
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The Copyright Act
On the 1st of September some changes to the Copyright Act take effect. The changes establish a process to deal with unauthorised sharing of copyright material via the internet.
The new law is designed to discourage the illegal download, and upload of content, such as music, film or books, via online file sharing. Copyright owners will do this by recording alleged infringements based on an IP address, which is a unique identifier for any broadband connection.
With this new law, IPAPs (Internet Protocol Address Providers) like Telecom will be required to pass on copyright infringement notices from rights owners to our customers.
As the account holder of an internet account you are liable for what happens on your internet connection. In the case of a recorded infringement, account holders will receive up to two warning notices. At the third notice an Enforcement Notice, the rights owner may take action against the account holder at the Copyright Tribunal.
Please read the Q&A for more detailed information or visit med.govt.nz. The Q&As are intended to provide general information, not legal advice. and you cannot rely on this information as a substitute for legal advice
What does this mean for you?
Ordinarily, this law should make no changes to how you use your broadband. However, if you upload or download files (e.g. music or video) to and from the internet using a filesharing application you'll need to make sure that you, or anybody else using your internet service, are not infringing on the copyright of others. Should this happen, you may receive infringement notices. On the third notification (an enforcement notice) the Copyright owner can bring its case with you to the Copyright Tribunal.
How does this work?
Copyright owners will be monitoring alleged infringements of their works online based on IP addresses. When they wish to pursue an alleged infringement they will notify us, your ISP. We then match the IP address to the relevant account holder and pass the notice on to you.
Challenge a notice
If you don't agree with the alleged infringement you have 14 days to challenge a notification by downloading this form or using the paper copy you received with your notice (notices will be sent to you in the same way you receive your bill). We will then pass this on to the Copyright owner. We will also inform you of their response when they accept or reject your challenge.
More information for Rights Holders
In accordance with Regulation 5 of the Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Regulations IPAPs can specify a process by which rights owners can provide rights owner notices to the IPAP. Please contact Telecom for information on Telecom's process at: email@example.com.
More information
You can find more information about this Act, what it means to you and what to do when you receive a notice at telecom.co.nz/help or visit med.govt.nz. Annual compliance report in accordance with section 122T(4) of the Copyright Act.
In accordance with section 122T(4) of the Copyright Act ("the Act") Telecom confirms that it has complied with section 122T of the Act for the period 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2012. In particular Telecom has:
- In accordance with section 122T(1) has retained, for a minimum of 40 days, information on the allocation of IP addresses to each account holder;
- In accordance with section 122T(2) has retained for a minimum of 12 months the following information:
- All information about infringements that was sent by rights owners to Telecom for the purpose of matching infringements to account holders; and
- All infringement notices issues to account holders; and
- All challenges to infringement notices and all responds to them and
- Information on cancelled and expired infringement notices.
- In accordance with section 122T(3) Telecom confirms that it has not released the name or contact details of an account holder unless authorised to do so by the account holder and/or Tribunal.


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48" Scag Kawasaki 14 Hp Motor
What i have is a older 48" Wb belt drive Scag mower, I bought it off ebay last spring they said it needed a few parts to make it a runner. it needed a lot more than a few parts. I have decided after reading a lot of posts that i do not want a belt drive mower anyways. so i will part out this unit or sell it complete as it is. it has a very good running Kawasaki 14 hp. motor starts first pull very strong no smoke. has a 5 speed trans. all gears work no grinding. most of the mower is there but both tires keep going flat, the drive belt spool is missing, the handle bars need to be replaced or welded to be firmed up, like i said, it looks like crap but runs good. NOT USABLE in its current condition, for sale to the first person with $350.00 cash whole or we can parted out. thought i would offer it here before putting it on ebay you can PM me for more info or if you want this.
Budget Lawn Care
Clare Michigan
Isabella County
1990 F350 8x12 stake 4x4
6x10 enclosed trailer
Woods ztr & Quick 36 Mowers
Echo PB-400E blower
Stihl Blower BR600
Stihl Edger,Trimmer,& Hedge trimmer.
Lawn Mowing and Snowplowing is the Game
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News and Information
for residents and visitors
of KAWEAH COUNTRY —
Three Rivers,
Sequoia and Kings Canyon
National Parks,
Lemon Cove and Woodlake
March 1995 ~ March 2005
For the past decade,
The Kaweah Commonwealth
has been telling readers
things they won't read, hear,
or see anywhere else!
In the News - Friday, APRIL 1, 2005
Lions to pay
to firefighter
"Although I've
been through a lot of training, I never really thought of a career as
a firefighter," John said. "I guess you could say I got involved
because I've always had the urge to help people when they needed
a hand."
"Because I work
in the family business, I can normally break away at a moment's
notice," John said. "From work, I can be back here in 35 or
40 minutes."
"What's really
changed since I first became involved is the training," John says.
"More and more hours are required each year to be trained or recertified
in one life-saving emergency or another."
"I guess I first
became involved for the adrenaline rush of responding to an emergency,"
recalled John. "After all these years and hundreds of calls, I volunteer
for the satisfaction of knowing I saved a life or was able to help somebody
in need."
"You've heard
all about the raids and the thousands of plants that were discovered growing
in the parks in the past couple of years," said Alexandra Picavet,
the parks' public information officer. "Restoration is the
rest of the story."
"These kinds of
materials cause tremendous impact to the environment and may eventually
find their way into the East Fork of the Kaweah River and drinking water
of Three Rivers," Demetry said.
"The growers cut
out the understory but try to leave most of the canopy to prevent being
seen from the air," Meadows explained. "The piles of cut vegetation
and some of the tent camps in this area must have been visible from certain
places along the Mineral King Road."
"We're putting
pressure on these growers and they're moving to other parts of the
parks and to adjacent public lands just outside the national park boundaries,"
the anonymous ranger said.
"We're glad
that you are all here today to help spread the word," Picavet said.
"The law-enforcement activities and the restoration of these public
lands will be ongoing and it's going to take a lot more funding
to do the job."
one injured
"It is imperative
that motorists drive defensively and use extra caution, especially with
all the extra tourists and Lake Kaweah boating traffic," said Officer
Travis, CHP spokesperson.
Plan workshop
"It is very important
that the Three Rivers community come to a consensus on what growth would
be appropriate in thearea," Ishida said.
"This strange procedure is fascinating to observe," wrote Sam Pusateri in a July 1960 article. "Once the fruit matures, it begins to split at the lower end and thus exposes the elongated, bean-shaped, olive-colored seeds.
"During the heat of the day, gases contained in the compartments expand. As the pressure mounts, the seeds shoot out with great force.
"This process is like a cork-stoppered bottle filled with air. A change in the pressure will cause the cork to eject with a bang.
"A few seeds will
remain in the capsule. These escape only after the fruit has been reduced
to a net-like bladder."
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1995— A proposed zoning change of approximately 172 acres of the Thorn ranch on North Fork Drive to "commercial/recreational" was considered by the County of Tulare Planning Department. The zoning change was requested by prospective buyers Helena Kallianotes and Marino Restrefo to construct a 24,000-square-foot lodge with restaurants, 30 guest rooms, stables, tennis courts, swimming pools, and as many as 90 guest cabins. The meeting was continued to April 26.
Greg and Randy Dixon
of Three Rivers worked their way through a 32-car field to win the Street
Machine One class championship during the 36th annual March Meet at the
Bakersfield Raceway.


text:
John McCain praises Obama!
by crackityjones, Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 07:05:46 PM EST
I lifted this from the Concord Monitor newspaper website. This should only help Obama in the primaries on Tuesday.
McCain on Obama
Submitted by Monitor Staff on Sun, 2008-01-06 18:18.
To hear John McCain tell it, Barack Obama reminds him a lot of himself eight years ago. He described Obama as the anti-establishment candidate with a bipartisan message who's breaking through.
"Knowing him well, as I do, I know he had great potential, but I wasn't sure about, and I think all of us who indulge in the conventional wisdom didn't know, is whether he could have success against what was basically very strong control of the party and its apparatus in Sen Clinton," he said. "It's sort of what we faced in 2000 with Gov. Bush. He had the whole party apparatus behind him. I'm not saying she had all of it, but she certainly had a good part of it."
In 2000, McCain won New Hampshire but lost the nominating contest to Bush. He said today that it would be unwise to count Clinton out of the race.
Quiz: Is McCain talking about himself in 2000, or Obama in 2008?
"He is very articulate. He's got a very strong message of let's work together and get something done for the country. I think he has articulated that message very effectively. I think that he campaigns extremely well, and he's able to motivate people, to say the least, very well. And I think he has a pretty good message."
- Margot Sanger-Katz
Tags: Barack Obama, John McCain (all tags)


text:
Ty Dillon currently leads the Richard Childress Racing drivers in the Nationwide Series driver point standings in third, only six points out of first. Brendan Gaughan sits sixth and Brian Scott seventh.
A new face took home the checkered flag in California.
The team were fighting for top-10 finish.
"We ran all the laps and learned a lot," - Ryan Reed
Win at home for Larson.
Two Camry drivers are currently in the top-10 in the NNS unofficial point standings – Sadler (fifth) and Buescher (ninth).
4th - Joey Logano; 9th - Trevor Bayne; 13th - David Ragan; 14th - Chris Buescher; 17th - Ryan Reed; 20th - Dakoda Armstrong
Cassill rolled home 12th in Saturday's race at BMS and now moves from a fast half-mile track to a very fast two-mile oval.
Landon Cassill moved up three spots in points to put his name in the elite top 10 in points.
Ty Dillon currently leads the Richard Childress Racing drivers in the Nationwide Series driver point standings in third. Brendan Gaughan sits sixth and Brian Scott seventh.
The Roush Fenway Racing driver wound up two laps down but was able to get caught up to speed towards the end.
Kyle Busch became the first driver in history to post 16 victories at a single track in NASCAR's three national touring series.
Ryan Reed ran in the top-15 for most of the Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 presented by Lilly Diabetes.
Ryan Blaney: ""You've just got to be patient in these long races. These are a lot longer than truck races and so much can happen."
Seventh win for Kyle Busch at Bristol
The race was Earnhardt's third in the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller Chevrolet.
James Buescher and the RAB Racing No. 99 Rheem team battled a loose-handling race car.
Brad Keselowski: "I told somebody it felt like a game of Tetris..."
Toyota driver Kyle Busch was the first Camry driver to the finish line in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Trevor Bayne finished eighth in Saturday's Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Interstate batteries driver earns third top-15 of 2014
Reed restarted the race in 15th, and remained there for the rest of the race, earning his best finish of the 2014 season.
Keselowski led 144 of 200 laps.
Bayne spent most of the later laps hovering close to a top-five finish until rain forced NASCAR to wave the red flag on lap 168.
Elliott Sadler finished the day in the sixth position, and moved within six points of the lead for the Nationwide Series driver championship points.
The race, dominated by Sprint Cup invaders, was shortened by 32 laps because of rain.
Jamie Dick: "It's a huge bummer to end a race like this with a blown motor..."
10th Annual Blue Jeans Go Green 200 (Phoenix International Raceway) called official on Lap 168 due to rain.
With this finish, Buescher would tie his career best finish of 12th at PIR in a NASCAR Nationwide Series car.
The race was shortened by 32 laps because of rain with Ty Dillon finishing 10th, Brian Scott 11th and Brendan Gaughan in 16th place.
With 32 laps to go, the race was called after a nearly two-hour delay.
Trevor Bayne pushed eventual-race winner Regan Smith to the front, before making one last three-wide move for the victory.
The right rear damage received on pit road slowed Lagasse Jr.'s throughout the day, but managed to run inside the top-20, slipping to 26th late in the race.
"This was the best car I have ever driven at a superspeedway", said Jamie Dick.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series resumes action Saturday, March 1st when they travel out west their first of two visits at the Phoenix International Raceway.
Due to an accident in NASCAR's new qualifying format, the No. 16 started 39th.


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text:
Just in time for Thanksgiving, a Rock Hill charter school found its holiday concert the site of a debate on whether religious Christmas carols belong in school.
The controversy spawned national attention and a liberty group's promise to lawyer up.
York Preparatory Academy returned "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and "Joy to the World" back to the lineup of its December holiday band and choral concert after they had briefly been removed, The (Rock Hill) Herald reported.
The academy's managing director, Clay Eaton, told The Herald that "after careful review," school leaders decided that a "balanced musical program, which included both religious and secular music, best affirmed" the school's ideals.
After the songs were yanked from the program, the family of a freshman band student contacted the Alliance Defending Freedom – an Arizona-based nonprofit that has a team of lawyers to advocate for "religious liberty, the sanctity of life, and marriage and family."
In a letter to the charter school, the alliance's attorneys said they "would be happy to defend the academy free of charge."
The student said the American Civil Liberties Union had threatened the school. Not true, the school's director told The Herald, adding that he had received a news release a year ago or earlier with the ACLU's position on Christmas carols in school.
But Victoria Middleton, the ACLU's S.C. director, told The Herald that the organization did not send a news release or letter to the school.
The ACLU's website says the organization gets blamed for driving the "war on Christmas" – when, really, it supports the right to celebrate Christmas in public or private. Though the ACLU has fought prayer in school, or attempts to pressure students to adopt one religion over another, it also has defended public school students' rights to celebrate Christmas and their faith in school, according to a list of court cases on its website.
Common Core: The fight that unifies
S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley supports a bill currently in the state Senate that would render null and void the Common Core education standards – reviled by vocal limited-government activists and some lawmakers as a government takeover.
Her support for the bill, confirmed by her spokesman Wednesday, really is no surprise to The Buzz, considering Haley supported an identical bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Fair, R-Greenville, in the previous legislative session.
Except that state Sen. Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg, has emerged the most vocal supporter of the current Senate bill, which he has co-sponsored with Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley.
Haley endorsed Bright in 2012, only to berate him publicly for blocking an ethics reform bill Haley pushed for passage this year without success.
Allen Olson didn't leave the Tea Party, the Tea Party left him
One of South Carolina's first Tea Party leaders has severed his ties with the conservative movement and is running for Lexington County Council.
Allen Olson, who founded the Columbia Tea Party several years ago, is running for the County Council District 7 seat, which includes Seven Oaks and parts of Irmo.
In the months leading up to the 2012 S.C. Republican presidential primary, Olson was frequently quoted as a spokesman for that group. But he resigned to endorse Newt Gingrich, who would go on to win South Carolina's primary but ultimately would lose the nomination to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Olson spoke with The Buzz recently. Below is an excerpt of our conversation:
BUZZ: Why are you running for County Council?
OLSON: I think it's because I'm frustrated with the system and I'm frustrated with the Tea Party and I'm just frustrated all around.
BUZZ: Why are you frustrated with the Tea Party?
OLSON: They've gone in a different direction that I don't think is in line with what the Tea Party started out as.
BUZZ: Such as?
OLSON: Immigration reform. Some of them are taking on social issues, these conspiracy theorist issues, Sharia Law ... . The more issues they take on the further away they get from what it started out as.
BUZZ: When did you cut ties with the Columbia Tea Party?
OLSON: I resigned to endorse Newt Gingrich (in the 2012 Republican presidential primary). I never left at that time. But the more I saw the direction they were going, the more I was disheartened with it.
BUZZ: Do you still consider yourself a member of the Tea Party movement?
OLSON: I consider myself Tea Party with what it started out as, not with what it has become. Ronald Reagan said he never left Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left him. I guess that's where I sit with the Tea Party.
Buzz Bites:
Happy holidays from the birthplace of secession! When viewed from Main Street, the new state Christmas tree seems to have an unusual topper – a Confederate soldier. Seems the tree is just a tad too short to cover the Civil War monument behind it. Oops.
Where's Lee Bright? U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham's four announced GOP contenders have been invited to appear together in West Columbia Dec. 3 at a luncheon hosted by the First Tuesday Republican Club of Richland and Lexington Counties. But Bright will not be there. That's because he's campaigning out of state in Tulsa, Okla., with the Tulsa 9.12 project. "Spend your lunch afternoon with South Carolina State Senator Lee Bright who will be sending Senator Lindsey Graham home for good!" says an email invite from the group's president.
Tiger fans? A new political action committee – the Crush Graham Cracker PAC – set out to "sticker bomb" U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, hoping for an unlikely coalition of USC and Clemson football fans on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium. The group's treasurer, Gretchen Ramey of Charleston, has launched a fundraising effort to raise $5,000 for the sticker campaign. But, as someone wanting Gamecocks and Tigers to "unite in solidarity," Ramey's fundraising page was conspicuously orange.
Staff writers Adam Beam and Jeff Wilkinson contributed. Reach Self at (803)771-8658


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Raincoat Couture
So with hurricane Irene barreling right towards New York City, we thought we'd share how we're preparing in style. We are loving these transparent Burberry raincoats, Jimmy Choo Hunter Boots, and Missoni ponchos. Make sure to have to have a good flashlight handy, and stay safe!
Helmut Lang Street Style
One of our favorite street fashion photographers, Phil Oh, teamed up with Intermix to shoot a few different Helmut Lang looks in NYC's Meatpacking District. We can't get over the downtown-chicness of the shoot, and are so excited to see Helmut Lang's new spring styles. [Intermix]
Getting Miss Piggy With It
We love the fall nail colors we've seen so far, but nothing compares to OPI's Holiday collection inspired by The Muppets. With names like "Gettin Miss Piggy With It" and "Fresh Frog of Bel Air" how can you resist? [Racked]


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James Coburn
The Edmond Sun
Here's our list of the top City of Edmond stories for 2012:
No. 1: Major economic investment made on Covell at Interstate 35
The Edmond City Council approved the negotiated agreements 5-0 in October for developing the $25.5 million Hilton Garden Inn and conference center to be located at the northwest corner of Interstate 35 and Covell Road. The City Council identified a need for a hotel and conference center to generate tourism and sales tax and improve quality of life in Edmond.
The City Council previously approved the $2.2 million purchase of 7.13 acres of undeveloped land at the hotel site. The $2.2 million was taken from the city's Real Property Tax Fund. Safeguards are in place to protect the city's land investment, said attorney Leslie Batchelor, representing the city in the projects. It is a legal requirement that the public not give anything away to private investment, she said.
The council also reached unanimous agreement concerning the development of Summit Sports Complex to be located on the northeast corner of the interchange.
A 40,000-square-foot Francis Tuttle Center for Municipal Excellence is being developed on the northeast corner of Interstate 35 and Covell Road. The center also will accommodate Adult and Career Development courses and workshops, complete as a business innovation center with classrooms and offices for a business incubator, said Peggy Geib, head of business and industry services at Francis Tuttle.
No. 2: City reveals Public Safety Center design and location
A design for the Public Safety Center was presented to the public in October. The 70,000-square-foot Edmond PSC will be built on a 1-acre site where the City of Edmond Administration Building currently stands at 100 E. First St. Laboratory, vehicles, evidence-based storage and other related functions will be at a $3.5 million auxiliary building to be constructed northwest of 33rd Street and Broadway.
Building exteriors such as the Forensic Science Institute, the OSBI laboratory and historic buildings downtown influenced the Public Safety Center design, said John Osborne, an architect with Frankfurt-Short-Bruza.
All of the city's downtown design guidelines are respected in the plan. Pedestrians will experience generously landscaped sidewalks to encourage an east-to-west pedestrian flow from downtown to the University of Central Oklahoma campus.
A corner entry off First Street and Littler will allow public access amid a vertical glass entryway rising three stories, Osborne said. The main facility will initially accommodate more than 170 police staff mixed with public safety staff.
An alley driveway will slope down on the south side of the building for police parking and detention functions secured by a fence. Detention cells will be secluded in a lower basement, with light from solar tubes.
The administration building is set to be demolished in January. Late spring is the target date before the bids will be approved. Construction should take 18 months to two years and the building should open in early 2015.
No. 3: Mercy Health Services construction progresses
Business and community leaders watched in February as construction workers hoisted the final steel beam to the sprawling $88 million Mercy Health Services. Mercy Health Services is being constructed on 25 acres of land south of 15th Street and west of Interstate 35.
"I think it's an acceleration of our being open for business and the quality of business that we see coming to Edmond," Mayor Charles Lamb said at the time.
The 200,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to open in 2013 with a focus on health and wellness, said David Tew, COO of Mercy Health. Mercy Health Services will initially employ more than 300 workers.
The project could generate 658 total jobs in Edmond, according to the Edmond Economic Development Authority. An annual financial impact of $29.8 million would result from the project to support a population of 1,383 people living in 574 households, the EEDA reports.
No. 4: 5th District voters re-elect Congressman James Lankford
Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District voters re-elected Congressman James Lankford with 58.9 percent of the vote in November. Lankford defeated Democrat Tom Guild of Edmond as well as two Independent candidates, Pat Martin of Jones and Robert Murphey of Norman.
Lankford received just more than $1 million in total contribution receipts for his re-election campaign, according to federal campaign reporting records. Lankford thanked his supporters, saying his re-election was not about him, but a set of ideas embraced by voters.
"I just happen to be the standard bearer of those ideas right now," Lankford said. "There's been other standard bearers before me and there will be others after me."
No. 5: Sales taxes boom for city of Edmond
City sales tax receipts were up for the first half of the fiscal year according to December state reimbursement figures.
"We're not halfway through our fiscal year. Sales tax totals continue to be extremely impressive," City Manager Larry Stevens said.
The latest reimbursement check from the state of $2.736 million makes the comparison from last year's December to this December an increase of 31.31 percent, Stevens said. December of 2011 brought in $2.083 million of collected sales tax revenue.
This period includes the last two weeks of October and the first two weeks of November, he said. The six-month aggregate total is 19.97 percent, said Ross VanderHamm, city finance officer. The City Council had budgeted for a 3 percent growth factor in this year's budget.
Repairing hail damaged roofs from a storm this year appears to be the major contributing factor to the sales tax increase, VanderHamm said.
The city's sales tax is 3.25 percent. It is added to the 4.50 percent state sales tax. This figure does not take into account the additional half-cent sales tax dedicated to building the downtown Public Safety Center, making the total sales tax assessed in Edmond at 8.25 percent.
No. 6: State Sen. Clark Jolley re-elected to District 41
With almost 80 percent of the vote, Sen. Clark Jolley retained his state Senate seat in November's general election voting.
Jolley received 27,380 votes, or 79.4 percent of Senate District 41's vote against Independent Richard Prawdzienski, who earned 7,103 votes, or 20.6 percent of the ballots cast, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board website. Senate District 41 encompasses most of Edmond and a portion of northern Logan County.
Jolley's general election campaign was decidedly tame after the heat and passion of a tightly contested Republican primary contest this past summer against local pastor Paul Blair.
No. 7: City breaks ground on softball complex
September was a home run for the City of Edmond with the groundbreaking ceremony of the Edmond Softball Complex at Route 66 Park.
The Edmond Parks and Recreation Department along with city leaders, staff and softball enthusiasts gathered about a quarter mile east of Post Road and State Highway 66.
Construction is expected to be finished in the late summer of 2013, said Steve Commons, assistant city manager. Edmond Softball Complex is expected to open in early fall of 2013.
The city purchased the park property in 2007 for $1.5 million with money from the city's 3/4-cent permanent sales tax approved by voters in December 2000 for capital improvements. The total project cost is estimated to be about $5.5 million to $6 million to fund four softball fields, said Ashleigh Clark, public information officer.
No. 8: Work continues on new pool facility at Mitch Park
Construction is under way for the expansion of the Multipurpose Activity Center at Mitch Park. The facility is a three-way partnership between the City of Edmond, the YMCA and Edmond Public Schools.
The city and the YMCA will each contribute $6 million and Edmond Public Schools will fund $10 million to the project. City funds are to be paid for by money reserved from the 2000 capital improvement sales tax.
The facility will offer a non-competitive swimming pool and an 8-lane, 50-meter competitive swimming pool with seating for up to 800 spectators, according to the city. It also will provide a variety of shared space that could include a lobby area, a public restroom and locker room facilities.
The project is expected to be completed next summer, according to city manager reports to the City Council.
No. 9: Covell and Kelly road work progresses
The Covell and Kelly widening project took shape in 2012. Roads were widened for motorists from two lanes to four lanes to accommodate growth. Improvements for motorists extend on Covell from Mitch Park to Thomas Drive and on Kelly from Danforth to just north of Covell. Improvements also include street lighting, medians and new signals at Thomas Drive and the entrance to Mitch Park.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is responsible for funding for the $14.7 million project with the city's share of cost at $3.2 million, according to the city manager's office. Duit Construction is the contractor with the city's share of $2.9 million.
No. 10: Group plans Arcadia Lake bike trails
Edmond residents took part in a discussion in October highlighting the environmental assessment for the proposed Arcadia Lake Multi-Use Trail Project. The public workshop was hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The 18-20 mile Edmond trail would wrap around Arcadia Lake. Nearby residents of the proposed trails voiced their privacy and safety concerns and questions about the project to the corps.
Mercy Health Chief Operating Officer David Tew of Edmond explained that the goal of the Arcadia Lake Coalition is to establish a multi-use paved bike and jogging trail around Arcadia Lake by 2014. The needs of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation are also tailored into the plan, Tew said.


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NASHVILLE, Tenn.- A 13-year-old was hit by a car outside McGavock High School Wednesday afternoon.
The incident happened in front of the school just after 5 p.m. Police said the teen had just gotten off the school bus to come to basketball practice when he ran around the side of the bus and was hit by a vehicle. The 13-year-old sustained serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
He was transported by ambulance to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt for treatment.


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I don't really know much about Donald Trump because I didn't watch the American Apprentice but I kinda get the picture that he's some rich American dickhead, and it sounds as if he's a Republican too, at least judging by these tweets. That isn't really surprising because I'm pretty sure most rich American dickheads are probably Republicans. But yeah, like so many dumb celebrities these days, when things weren't going his way and his boy Mit Romney lost the election Donald Trump took to twitter to vent his rage and criticise the American electoral system which I'm sure he loved so much in 2000 when it enabled George W. Bush to controversially get into office at the expense of Al Gore.
If you want to find out what kind of human being Donald is, check out this article from CRACKED:
10 Stories About Donald Trump You Won't Believe Are True
Check out some of these below where he suggests ridiculous ways of dealing with the election result, such as marching on Washington and starting a revolution. It's interesting to note that all these tweets took place between 11:18pm and 11:54pm EST last night. I'm betting Donal Trump was a bit boozy. Anyway, enjoy:


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By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer
Pennsylvania State Superior Court agreed Monday that Kenneth F. McCutcheon is a sexually violent predator, making him subject to more-stringent reporting requirements once he is released from prison.
McCutcheon, 50, pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault for exposing himself to a 20-year-old man with diminished developmental abilities, demanding that the victim touch him and pleasuring himself when the victim tried to walk away on Sept. 3, 2010, in Sharon, police said.
McCutcheon was sentenced by Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge John C. Reed to 1 1/2 to 5 years in prison.
McCutcheon's sole appeal issue was to challenge Reed's designation that he is a sexually violent predator.
McCutcheon argued that he did not exceed the force necessary to commit the offense; that he did not create an environment to attack the victim; that the contact was minor; that there was no specific evidence about the victim's mental age; and that he had had no relevant criminal conduct for 22 years prior to this offense.
Brenda L. Manno, a member of the Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, who frequently makes recommendations on sex cases in Mercer County, said she believes McCutcheon is a sexually violent predator because he had four previous sexually related convictions on charges of simple assault and indecent exposure; his victims were of both sexes and various ages and mental capacities; juvenile and adult detentions did not deter his behavior; and he has not had mental health evaluations or counseling.
McCutcheon has been unable or unwilling to control his sexual behavior, she said.
Based on Manno's testimony, Reed dubbed McCutcheon a sexually violent predator.
Judge John L. Musmanno, writing for a three-judge panel of Superior Court, called Reed's reasoning "sound" and accepted his written opinion, which was attached to the appellate court's opinion.


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Infrastructure and Operations provides machine room and facilities management services for the ITS data centers, around-the-clock operational support for all ITS business computing activities, infrastructure for the operating systems for all non-research ITS servers, disaster recovery and business continuity activities for ITS, and infrastructure support to the desktop for the campus. The division is comprised of Desktop Infrastructure Services, Data Center Operations, Enterprise Storage Management, Identity Management, Infrastructure Management & Operating Systems Support, Enterprise Operations, Middleware Services, and Enterprise Database Administration.
Infrastructure and Operations
Stan Waddell, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice Chancellor for IT Infrastructure and CTO


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The Centreville High School field hockey team had a large turn-out for their "Play 4 the Cure" game in which they hosted Robinson High School. The stadium was decorated with pink balloons and the crowds were large, festive and wearing pink, while the athletes were playing for the cure.
All the proceeds from the gate, T-shirt sales and pink hair extensions went to breast cancer research. It was also a special night for the Lady Wildcats, as they honored their seniors: Gabby Dagata, Lindsay Egbers, Megan Kruse, Brooke Peterson, Shannon O'Donnell and Carly Sane.
CVHS did not disappoint their fans and posted a 4-0 win, with two goals coming from Lindsay Egbers, while Carly Sane and Katherine Zempolich each added a goal. Katherine Zempolich also helped the cause with two assists and Gabby Dagata also had an assist.
Sporting pink socks, the entire team played strong and goalie Megan Kruse posted the shutout. The Lady Wildcats now post a 10 - 6 record for the season and move into district playoffs.


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Changing China
Giant on the move
The invisible Mr Phelps
The envelope, somewhat crumpled in the hands of a female admirer waiting excitedly in the Beijing airport arrivals hall, bore a simple message: "To Michael Phelps, you have to look at."
Let's face it, the chances of the American swimming celebrity ever looking at the contents were never going to be good.
But they became non-existent when the 23-year-old phenomenon slipped quietly into Beijing through the side door on Monday afternoon, sidestepping his admirers and the television cameras alike.
Maybe there were security considerations to the six times gold medallist being spirited away, maybe he just wanted to keep his focus as he bids to become the most successful Olympic athlete of all time.
But one can't help but long for a bit more of a presence, if only for those local fans who had waited patiently for a glimpse of him.
Maybe he should have done what some of the other athletes did when faced with the waiting crowd – take out their own cameras and start snapping back. It captures the moment and sure beats the old footballers' favourite of walking past with a mobile phone clamped to the ear.
PHOTO: Michael Phelps dries himself with a towel after practice at the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the Water Cube, Beijing, August 4, 2008. REUTERS/Jason Reed
Are you Carrying the Torch for the Olympics? Upload your Olympics photos and videos now. Cheer on your favorite athlete, sport, or country. Demonstrate your own amazing Olympic feat. Or just show us what kind of sport you would add to the Olympics if you could invent your own. Carry the Torch!


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News by Michael Oryl on Monday June 29, 2009.
cell phone news · michael oryl
|Sponsored links, if any, appear in green.
According to a Reuters story posted on eWeek, most of the world's top cell phone manufacturers have agreed to adopt the
It has been reported that Nokia, Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Apple, RIM, NEC, Qualcomm, Research in Motion, and Texas Instruments have all signed on for the new charging port standard, which goes into effect next year. A similar plan for January 1, 2012 has been proposed by the
Private conversations we have had with other companies suggest that there will be others adopting the micro-USB port standard in the near future. [via Phone Scoop]
Michael Oryl
Michael is the Philadelphia based owner and former editor-in-chief of MobileBurn.com. You can follow him on Twitter as @MichaelOryl


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Find all files by this author
Merlin Chowkwanyun
Recent articles
Your Voice | Questioning real and pop science
I found the DP's fawning interview with Adrian Raine disturbing and free of the skepticism that one would think ought automatically accompany broad claims about brain chemistry and criminal behavior. It read more like a PR release than an interview from an otherwise excellent newspaper.
April 4, 2013
Your Voice | Adding a critical perspective
A graduate student calls for a more 'critical perspective' in a recent article about the Philadelphia Police's new surveillance center.
March 13, 2012


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Tennessee's post-game jubilation riled up James Franklin a year ago, but he's no longer upset by it
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee won only one SEC game last season and it was against the league's only other school in the Volunteer State.
I don't blame Franklin for taking the high road (at least publicly).
The Vols needed overtime to beat Vandy at Neyland Stadium, but they were understandably excited about getting the first win.
But when video of the locker room celebration leaked online, it caused a stir. Read on....
I don't blame Franklin for taking the high road (at least publicly).
He's probably worried right now that Derek Dooley will be replaced by a football coach. That will make things much more difficult at Vanderbilt.


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'SMART' Classrooms Finalist For Top Award
18 November 2011
A project developing 'green' classrooms which can be built in a day reached the finals of a prestigious regional business award.
The SMART-Pod project - led by the University of Derby in partnership with De Montfort University, and Derbyshire companies EKV Design and T4 Sustainability Ltd - was one of five finalists competing in the 'Open Collaboration' category of the 2011 Lord Stafford Awards. The finalists' dinner was held last night,17 Thursday November at the University of Birmingham's Great Hall.
SMART-Pod units, currently under development, could be assembled on any site in around 24 hours using pre-prepared parts. They will contain their own power, water and other services using environmentally friendly technology.
The annual Lord Stafford Awards celebrate collaborations between businesses and universities.
Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd and the University of Lincoln's School of Engineering won this year's 'Open Collaboration' category.
Other finalists in the same category were:
- University of Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP) and the University of Nottingham
- Manufacturing Technology Centre and the universities of Birmingham, Nottingham and Loughborough
- University of Birmingham Centre for Formulation Engineering and the University of Birmingham
As well as providing schools with extra classroom space that could be moved to different locations at short notice it's thought the SMART-Pod design could easily be adapted for use by businesses, the military and for natural disaster relief efforts. Units could be linked together or grouped on one level, or even stacked to meet the need for more room, and would be re-usable and recyclable.
The units would provide their own electricity to run lights and computers through environmental technologies such as photovoltaic (solar energy) panels and wind turbines, use highly insulated building materials to reduce heat loss, and could provide some of their own water supply through rainwater capture and treatment.
Andrew Hartley, University Managing Director for Strategic Developments, said: "SMART-Pod is an excellent example of what business and higher education can accomplish when working together.
"I'm very proud of the first class idea the team's combination of academic and business expertise produced, with the support of our commercial arm University of Derby Corporate. It is a project with great potential.
The SMART-Pod development project was funded by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund
(ERDF), through a Collaborative Research and Development Grant managed by the Sustainable Construction iNet initiative.
EKV Design and the University of Derby are also involved in a separate joint research project called Retro-Tek, which seeks to make empty homes more habitable and attractive through the use of new environmental technologies.
For further information please contact Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email firstname.lastname@example.com


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The beat . A blog by premiumbeat
Posts Tagged 'Apple Motion'
December 19, 2012
Learn how to add lights to your video footage in Apple Motion. These tutorials will walk you through the process of creating realistic lighting in your video projects. Read More
Creating Artificial Lighting in Apple Motion
August 13, 2012
Still Images: 2D to 3D using After Effects or Apple Motion
Make your photos come alive by 'transforming' your 2D images to 3D using Adobe Photoshop and After Effects or Apple Motion. Read More
July 18, 2012
Manifesto – FREE titling tool for FCPX, FCP, AE & Motion
Automate the keyframing of text crawls and rolls in your video editing application. Check out Manifesto, a FREE text generator for your video editing application. Read More


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Councillor lulls drunks with lollipops
You might not be able to change the world by giving people free candy, but a city councillor in Victoria says it's a good place to start....Source
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Related posts:
- DJ, councillor ready to rumble over spat
- City To Give Viagra To Men 70 and Older, Happiness is Important
- No dogs for drunks: Store owner
- Man Uses Candy Cane Lawn Ornament to Subdue Attacker
- N.J. Woman Determined To Become World's Fattest


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Sign up to receive information about new books, author events, and special offers.
Read the full excerpt
"…this fast-paced story will keep readers guessing as it sweeps them along to the offbeat yet satisfying conclusion." –Booklist
Chris Mould went to art school at the age of sixteen. During this time, he did various jobs, from delivering papers to washing up and cooking in a kitchen. He has won the Nottingham Children's Book Award and been commended for the Sheffield. He loves his work and likes to write and draw the kind of books that he would have liked to have on his shelf as a boy. He is married with two children and lives in Yorkshire.
Chris Mould
F&P Level A-Z: TAR Quiz Number: 140733AR Points: 2


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Contact Information
College of Education
Matthews Hall, Room 214
1300 West Highland Street
Denton, TX 76203
Contact the College of Education
Email Us
For technical problems with this web site, contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
College of Education Dean Jerry Thomas' research on throwing was recently cited in the Washington Post: Throw like a girl? You can do better. The article explores the differences between how boys and girls throw a ball from a very young age.


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Tim Farley
A glut of exhibit space and a drop in trade show attendance should cause Oklahoma City leaders to rethink their plans to build a new convention center and headquarters hotel downtown, a national planning expert said.
Oklahoma City Councilwoman Meg Salyer is trying to please chicken-lovers and everyone else.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is part of a series of interviews with Oklahoma City's 2014 mayoral candidates. Check okgazette.com for last week's interview with Joe "Sarge" Nelson and stay tuned for more.