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Nobuyuki Tsujii has become a
worldwide sensation in the past year, most notably winning the Gold medal at
the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
Nobuyuki was born on September 13, 1988 in Tokyo, Japan. He began taking
lessons at the age of 4. He was also born blind but with a gift in music as
well. Here's a great quote that pretty much sums up the skill of Nobuyuki's
performances at the Cliburn Competition:
It's almost beyond imagining that
he has learned scores as formidable as Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto and Beethoven's
Hammerklavier Sonata by ear…Through all three rounds, he played with unfailing
assurance, and his unforced, utterly natural Chopin E-minor Piano Concerto was
an oasis of loveliness…He brought delicate expressivity to Debussy's first book
of Images and admirable proportion to the first movement of Beethoven's
Appassionata, and he managed to make Liszt's La Campanella fun but not vulgar.
–Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, June 2009
It's almost beyond imagining that
he has learned scores as formidable as Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto and Beethoven's
Hammerklavier Sonata by ear…Through all three rounds, he played with unfailing
assurance, and his unforced, utterly natural Chopin E-minor Piano Concerto was
an oasis of loveliness…He brought delicate expressivity to Debussy's first book
of Images and admirable proportion to the first movement of Beethoven's
Appassionata, and he managed to make Liszt's La Campanella fun but not vulgar.
–Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, June 2009
Now I've learned pieces on guitar that topped out at about 8
minutes, of varying difficulties, but to learn a Piano Concerto by Rachmaninoff
by ear? That's pretty spectacular! Rachmaninoff was pretty well known for
writing some of the most technically challenging pieces ever, and I read that
he could reach from C to G past the octave on his left hand (that stretch seems
superhuman to me).
Nobuyuki's performance of Franz Liszt's "La Campanella" (the
third piece of the six 'Grandes Etudes de Paganini') is one of the best
interpretations I have yet heard.
For more about Nobuyuki Tsujii, check out:* Nobu Piano: Official Site * Cliburn TV
Aran Jenkins is a recent graduate of WV State University. He plays piano and guitar, writes for the Charleston Gazette, and is working on a novel.
Previous posts by Aran Jenkins:* The Master Segovia* Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff* Finding Connections* B is for Beautiful? * The Passion of Julian Bream* Ana Vidovic and Julian Bream
Aran Jenkins is a recent graduate of WV State University. He plays piano and guitar, writes for the Charleston Gazette, and is working on a novel.
Previous posts by Aran Jenkins:* The Master Segovia* Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff* Finding Connections* B is for Beautiful? * The Passion of Julian Bream* Ana Vidovic and Julian Bream
Right now, we're raising money to support WV Public Radio with the Chocolate Challenge, and as I write this, we're just past half way to our
goal (update 1/29 6pm -- we made it! Congrats!). Classically Speaking is part of how WV Public Radio connects you
with classical music, and we're doing our part to raise money to support what
the station does for classical music online and on the radio.
It is both good and noble to support your favorite public
radio station, but it's also nice sometimes to get a present.
One of the gifts we've selected is the album QSF Plays Brubeck. Quartet San Francisco performed in West
Virginia last year, and they've been interviewed twice on the Classically Speaking blog
(March 2008 and November 2009). On this
album, they interpret the music of the great American composer and performer
Dave Brubeck.
It's a good match: Brubeck has embraced classical music and jazz throughout his
career, while Quartet San
Francisco also embraces a variety of music and musical styles. Their recording of Brubeck's music combines sensitivity and
Take five, pledge your support to WV Public Radio, and
reward yourself with one of our recent favorites: QSF Plays Brubeck (plus, check out our other classical gifts: Keeping Score: Symphonie Fantastique and Bach Orchestral Suites/Boston Baroque, Martin Pearlman, the chocolates that can be mailed anywhere in the country by Valentine's Day, and how you can also help ship medical supplies to assist volunteer medical workers from the area who are going to Haiti).
* Giving Quartet San Francisco a Whirl * QSF at Concord (interview) * Contribute to WV Public Radio * Favorite things (2009)
I'm a fan of Mark O'Connor's music, no matter what genre
he's playing or composing. So when I
heard that he was performing on Mountain Stage with his group Hot Swing, I made
sure to find a way up to Morgantown to hear the concert.
It was a long trip on a rainy day, and I was passing up a
night in my own bed and the chance to hear the Peabody Trio play Mendelssohn
and Schubert a lot closer to home. I
started to wonder if it was worth all this trouble.
Once I heard O'Connor warming up during the
soundcheck, I knew I'd made the right decision. The moment he started playing, I lost track of whatever
conversation I was having and just listened.
This entire Mountain Stage show was amazing; each of the groups gave great performances, the venue was nice, and the audience was engaged throughout the night.
Larry Groce described this as a "picker's show," rightly so
with all the great guitar, banjo, mandolin, and bass playing. But it was definitely also a "bower's show,"
with some really cool fiddling/violin playing.* Mark O'Connor's playing was exuberant and just amazing. I was especially taken with the performance of a tune by O'Connor called "Gypsy Fantastic." Plus, the Depue Brothers Band took the stage with four violin players. Their set included a pretty wild performance of the Hoedown from Copland's Rodeo.
This show will be on the radio in April. It will also be available online by then -- as a podcast and streaming through NPR Music.
You simply must hear it.
Bonus: I've got some free download cards for a few tracks from a recording of Mark O'Connor's string quartets. I'll send one of these cards to the first 10 people to email
firstname.lastname@example.com with "Americana"
in the subject line.
* Mark O'Connor* Mark O'Connor interview * The Depue Brothers Band * Mountain Stage * Mountain Stage @ NPR Music * Mountain Stage Podcast
* Violin, fiddle, I don't care what you call it – if you
must, you can take up that argument in the comments.
Violinist Corey Cerovsek will be in Charleston
and Parkersburg this weekend,
playing Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major with the West Virginia Symphony.
We spoke over the phone earlier this week, and he discussed the joy of
playing Mozart and gave an engaging description of the music.
We also talked about the variety of music he plays, and he compared
playing violin and biking, shared what he loves about the violin he currently
plays, and had some thoughts about live concerts versus recording. Enough of me describing all of this; it's more fun to listen to him tell it -- you can download or stream the interview here:
The West Virginia Symphony presents "Classical Majesty," featuring Corey Cerovsek, Friday and Saturday in Charleston
and on Sunday in Parkersburg . Links:
* West Virgina Symphony * Corey Cerovsek * Some recordings by Corey Cerovsek
What does it take to create an opera and get it on stage? Evan Mack is a composer and pianist living in Charleston, WV, who was interviewed on Classically Speaking in May 2009. He is currently in the process of having his opera Angel of the Amazonproduced, and he will be writing here about the experience, from his first inspiration through the opera being staged. You can read the first part of this series here.
Having all the characters hashed out, I treated them as pieces to a puzzle. I knew that certain events had to take place in the opera. However, there were so many events that were significant in Sr. Dorothy's mission and life that I had to pick and choose which events would be best. Also, I felt that there were so many "happenings" that a linear presentation of facts would be too repetitious and many of the images and ideas I wanted to convey would be lost.
I knew that the violence around her only escalated when her mission escalated. This is why I decided that a flashback would show that both violence and success of her mission were happening all the time, despite certain events occurring.
Sr. Dorothy died speaking the beatitudes. I knew that despite each plot event, the beatitudes had to come into play. So each scene is based on one of the beatitudes. Musically, I reinforce the idea with the playing or singing of the "beatitude" motive every time it occurs. The motive is even warped at times, when Sr. Dorothy's words become twisted by the forces working against her. Again, the opera becomes more about the role she assumed, rather than the events that took place.
Character development was such a critical previous step. Knowing the characters in and out, made it easy for me to figure out how they would act/react in each scene. Much of the drama is built up through character interaction within a specific situation. Much the story, true to her biography, alludes to the story of Christ, including martyrdom.
I also used the symbols of the wet/dry season of the Amazon. In Dorothy's letters, there were many references to how the wet season would wash out roads, giving protection from the loggers and ranchers invading her people's lot of land. I was drawn to the idea of the wet season, and the Amazonian rain, to symbolize the waters of Baptism. Water, rain, the river are referenced throughout.
While these writings might make the opera seem like a play with a religious message, that impression is far from the truth. Since Sr. Dorothy was a religious figure, I felt that these issues had to be addressed in the opera. However, as the story unfolds, we find that the poor people with whom she worked contain a much higher moral authority than an apathetic Catholic church, a misogynistic Brazilian culture, and a corrupt government.
Much of the message of the story becomes apparent through the characters and their interactions of events rather than what an audience member would expect from a character based on their occupation or social status.
How does the music drive that message home? Check back to find out in part three...
* From Idea to Opera: Part One
Things you love: Classical
music, public radio
Things you probably don't
love: Fund drives
So what if you could have more radio and less fund drive? Stick with
me here:
* No one really likes having
their programs interrupted for fundraising,
* BUT interrupting
programs for a few days is the best way to get a lot of people's attention and
raise the needed money,
* AND without
raising money to pay for the programs, we will have an even worse interruption
– the permanent kind :(
* No one really likes having
their programs interrupted for fundraising,
* BUT interrupting
programs for a few days is the best way to get a lot of people's attention and
raise the needed money,
* AND without
raising money to pay for the programs, we will have an even worse interruption
– the permanent kind :(
"But I'd give money anyway!" you cry. "Really!" (really?) Or perhaps you are wondering, "How much do I have to
give to make them stop?"
Here, with the power of the Internet,
we have a chance to make it better.
For every $10,000 that is
raised online, they will take away one day of this fund drive!. $10,000 is what they expect with one day of
fundraising on the air -- if we can raise that money online before they get started, then we get that day back for news, music, and all that good stuff
that is not fund drive.
Let's do it!
Plus, it is the Chocolate Challenge,
where you can have a box of chocolates sent anywhere in the country by Valentine's Day as a thank you gift when you pledge $120 . Those clever fundraising folks have also
sweetened the deal with a chance to win a box of chocolates every month for a year .
(I'll also be posting later
about some nice classical music gifts we have to share. And if you don't like
chocolate or the other stuff we're offering, you can always choose to forgo the
gift and have all of your money go to support WV Public Radio ).
Speaking of opera ... 100 years
ago, public radio broadcasting was born, with an opera broadcast!
Read about the unusual circumstances of the first
broadcast in, "Metropolitan Opera to Celebrate 100 years of Live Broadcasts." You can also read The New York Times article from 1910! "To Hear Opera by Wireless" [PDF] **
The technology has surely changed,
but the Metropolitan Opera is still broadcasting after all these years.
You can hear Bizet's Carmen on WV Public Radio this weekend
at 1pm, or see it Live in HD in some movie theaters. The New
York Times has a good review, including some very nice pictures of the production.
We're giving away a few tickets to Saturday's Carmen movie broadcasts in Barboursville and Morgantown on the WV Public Broadcasting Facebook page. Stop on over to say hi and enter to win some
tickets while you're there. (These tickets have now all been given away, but we'll be doing more giveaways, so check back!)
** Update: Want to read more about the history of opera broadcasts? Mark Schubin (from the Metropolitan Opera's Media Department) has written a great piece covering the history of broadcasts, from the Met and elsewhere. We've given permission to post it here: Radio pioneer Lee De Forest was an opera
lover. The May 1907 prospectus of his Radio Telephone Company said,
"It will soon be possible to distribute grand opera music from
transmitters placed on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House by a Radio
Telephone station on the roof to almost any dwelling in Greater New York and
vicinity." He hired opera singers to sing into his microphones and
also transmitted opera-music records, even from the Eiffel Tower.
He couldn't get Met general manager Giulio
Gatti-Casazza to agree to allow a live radio broadcast, however, until De
Forest pointed out that a stage microphone would also allow Gatti-Casazza to
hear from his office what was happening on stage. Finally, an
experimental broadcast was authorized.
On January 12, 1910, Acts II & III of Tosca were
sent by a transmitter at the Met, via an antenna strung between two masts on
the roof, to a handful of receiving stations in the New York area. The New York Times accurately
reported, "This will only be an experiment and perfect results are not
expected immediately." Those singing or talking into a microphone
offstage were heard much better than those singing on the stage. Memory
and imagination probably helped listeners.
Still, the world's first live opera
broadcast went fairly well. But, as is so often the case immediately
after a reasonably successful experiment, the idea was exploited.
Reporters were invited by the Dictograph Company, which provided the microphones,
to hear two operas broadcast the next day, Cavalleria Rusticana and I
Pagliacci, with superstars Emmy Destinn and Enrico Caruso.
The press invitation said the beautiful
voices would be "trapped
and magnified by the dictograph directly from the stage of the Metropolitan
Opera House, and borne by wireless Hertzian waves over the turbulent waters of
the sea to transcontinental and coastwise ships, and over the mountainous peaks
and undulating valleys of the country." In fact, on the 12th, there was
shipboard reception, on a vessel docked at a Manhattan pier. As for the peaks and valleys,
The Times had estimated a radius of perhaps 50 miles, given the low
height of the opera-house roof.
On the 12th, others respectfully refrained
from interfering with the broadcast. On the 13th, a report in Telephony
said, "deliberate and studied interference from the operator of
the Manhattan
station of the United Wireless Company" caused "some
interruption." "But," according to The Times,
"the reporters could hear only a ticking which the operator finally
translated as follows, the person quoted being the interrupting operator: 'I
took a beer just now, and now I take my seat.'"
Oscar Hammerstein, whose Manhattan Opera
House competed with the Met, installed a wireless station in his new London
Opera House the next year. But it wasn't for broadcasting; it was for
selling tickets to "passengers in the great liners 500 miles out at
sea," according to The Times.
Want to know a little bit more about early
opera radio before the Metropolitan Opera's Saturday-afternoon series began in
1931? Read on.
Before the First Live Opera Radio
In 1876 (55 years after opera broadcasts
were predicted in The Repository of Arts), Alexander Graham Bell
patented the telephone (whether Antonio Meucci, a former stagehand at
Florence's Teatro della Pergola opera house, actually beat Bell to the punch in
1849 experiments as technical director at Havana's Teatro Tacon opera house is
a different issue). On March 22, The New York Times noted that "By
means of this remarkable instrument, a man can have the Italian opera, the
Federal Congress, and his favorite preacher laid on his own house." In
fact, they raised the box-office concern that "No man who can sit in his own
study with his telephone by his side, and thus listen to the performance of an
opera at the Academy, will care to go to Fourteenth street and to spend the evening in a hot anti
crowded building. The following year, George du Maurier published a cartoon
in which a household selected among opera offerings delivered by wire.
In 1881, Clément Ader demonstrated the
world's first stereo transmission from the stage of the Paris Opéra. An
1882 book had a chapter on opera on TV Of opera without visuals, a
critic reported, "The telephone is a harsh judge." But
commercial Théâtrophone service followed, delivering operas in stereo to homes
beginning in 1890, the world's first electronic entertainment service for
homes. The idea soon spread across much of the world, and, in 1891, the
opening of the opera Le Mage in Paris was heard live in London.
The Théâtrophone used a coin-operated
business plan. Ader's Hungarian associate, Tivadar Puskás, chose a
monthly-subscription model for his version, which began in 1893. That
meant that the lines were available when operas weren't being transmitted, so
the newscast was invented to give subscribers something to listen to before
operas (and during intermissions). In 1930, the Hungarian service,
Telefon Hírmondó, had 91,079 subscribers in Budapest alone who got the opera each night, with
news reports during the intermission.
In 1900, at the Paris Exhibition, Horace
Short (like Ader, better known as an aircraft inventor) installed an
"auxeto-gramophone," a compressed-air-amplified record player, near
the top of the Eiffel Tower and acoustically broadcast recordings of arias by
stars of the Paris Opéra. The sounds could be heard throughout Paris, with no listening apparatus required.
In 1904, Professor Otto Nussbaumer of
the University of Graz in Austria sang into a microphone and was heard
wirelessly next door, possibly the first vocal music carried by radio.
The physics department head reportedly told him, "Your box works, but your
singing is awful."
Between the First Live Opera Broadcast and
the Start of the Met Saturday-Afternoon Series
In 1919, U.S. Navy transmitter NFF
broadcast live from the New Brunswick Opera House and was reportedly heard by a
ship 2,000 miles at sea. In Chicago, the Signal Corps aired opera records.
A 1919 proposal called for opera movies
to be shot & distributed and projected to the singers, whose voices would
be broadcast live to movie theaters to run in sync with the pictures. The
Met's first live cinema transmission (31 theaters in 27 cities) took place in
1952, with local TV stations having to agree to drop their network feeds so the
coaxial cable could be used for the opera. Today, the Met's Live in HD
reaches more than 1,000 cinemas in 42 countries via satellite.
In 1920, Nellie Melba sang into a
powerful transmitter at the Marconi factory in Chelmsford, England and was heard throughout Europe and even across the Atlantic. In fact, the transmission was so
powerful that it interfered with all others and was eventually shut down by the
authorities. The Melba transmission was recorded in Paris, possibly the first off-air sound
The same year, four medical students in Buenos Aires had planned a single radio transmission,
but, not wanting to be outdone by Marconi & Melba, changed it into an
entire season of live operas broadcast from Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires. The first, on August 27, was Parsifal.
In 1922, shortly before the Met
broadcast a Veteran's Day concert version of Aida from an armory, the
real-life son of the singer playing Mimi stepped in as her lover Rodolfo in an
amateur Salt Lake City Bohème broadcast after the tenor "got out of
line." An "elocutionist" described the action.
In a 1924 Boston broadcast of Il Trovatore, the
manager announced that the tenor couldn't continue after the second act and a
messenger would be sent to get Gaetano Tommasini, to replace him. Having
heard the announcement in his hotel room, Tommasini arrived before the
messenger left.
AT&T's WEAF (now WNBC) established a
National Grand Opera Company in 1925, when it began weekly condensed-opera
broadcasts. There was also a WEAF National Light Opera Company, both
later taken over by NBC (which also ran a television opera company for 16
The 1927 inaugural broadcast of what is
now CBS included a condensed version of Deems Taylor's opera The King'sHenchman.
A condensed version of African-American composer Harry Freeman's opera Voodoo
was broadcast in 1928 before being staged. And, in 1929, Cesare Sodero's Ombre
Russe became the first full opera to have its world premiere on radio (NBC)
before opening in an opera house. But the first opera commissioned (by
NBC) for radio (Charles Cadman's The Willow Tree) didn't premiere until
1932, and, in 1937, Louis Gruenberg's Green Mansions was the first
commissioned (by CBS) as a "non-visual opera."
In 1930, NBC carried a live broadcast of
part of Fidelio from the Dresden State Opera House in Germany. The schedule noted it would be
carried "atmospheric conditions permitting."
In 1931, the Met began its live network
opera broadcasts, which continue to this day, said to be the longest-running
series of live broadcasts (they were sponsored by the same company, best known
as Texaco, from 1940 through 2004, said to be the longest continuous
sponsorship in broadcast history). During the first broadcast,
commentator Deems Taylor described the action during orchestral interludes,
outraging opera purists, who called NBC, one woman saying she couldn't hear
what was going on because "some idiot keeps talking." A
telegram asked, "Is it possible to have Mr. Taylor punctuate his speech
with brilliant flashes of silence?" But Taylor told the audience two weeks later,
"We have received several thousand replies, of which fewer than 100 were
opposed to being told what was going on upon the stage."
Nevertheless, the Met later restricted commentary to periods when the house
lights were on.
And the rest --
live TV, cinema, subtitled, satellite, Internet, HD, and even 3-D opera -- is
Mark Schubin(freelance) Engineer-in-ChargeMedia DepartmentMetropolitan Opera
What does it take to create an
opera and get it on stage? Evan Mack is a composer and pianist living in Charleston, WV, who was interviewed on Classically Speaking in May 2009. He is currently in the process of having his opera Angel of the Amazon produced, and he will be writing
here about the experience, from his first inspiration through the opera being
In late 2005, I attended a lecture at St. Anthony Church in Madisonville, Ohio. The
speaker told a story of a nun in the Brazilian Amazon who had been murdered in
February of that year. I was struck by the fact that Sister Dorothy met her
gunmen the day before, fed them, prayed with them, and showed them her work
with the peasant farmers of the area. When the gunmen showed up the next day,
Sr. Dorothy opened her bible, said, "This is my only weapon," and
started reading the Beatitudes...Blessed
are the poor for theirs is the Kingdom, Blessed are the.... She was then shot six times. She was 73.
As soon as I heard that story, I thought, "This NEEDS to be
an opera."
There have been remarkable biographies on Sr. Dorothy. However,
my goal was not to give a play-by-play account of her life. It was to recreate
her life and mission through music, with hopes that the opera would inspire
audiences to help continue the spirit of her work.
This was a challenge. How do you take forty years of work and
put it into a two-act opera? I had access to Sr. Dorothy's letters from 1969
until one week before her murder. The amount of information was overwhelming.
There was one aspect, however, that I latched onto, and knew I could run with
when trying to create a dramatic thread.
I noticed reoccurring cycles in her story: as her mission grew,
so did the forces to stop her. This cyclical nature became the main dramatic
artifice for the opera. I noticed her language changed as well. Her early
letters, fairly innocuous, gradually became harsher, more urgent in tone.
"Land owners" became "Land Sharks," and then "Land
Sharks" became "Invaders." I also noticed that Portuguese words
crept more and more into her letters. This fact became important both musically
and dramatically.
How could I translate this into an opera? Since her work was
surrounded by hope on one side and violence on the other, I knew these dramatic
elements had to remain constant, despite the passage of time. Therefore, I use
the flashback to create the semse of life as a circle, not a straight line. Her
language changes in her letters meant that I needed to show growth in her
character and make the "lessons learned" main points of interest, not just list
event after event, happening after happening.
To portray her immersion into the
mission and life of the people she served, I used identifiable musical styles
to demonstrate her progress. Her musical
language in the beginning of the opera is very "Western;" as the
opera progresses, Brazilian rhythms and music enter her musical language and
eventually becomes fully integrated as she assumes the role of leader and
The other players in the story were a little easier to adapt.
There were three main community leaders while she lived in Brazil. I combined
them into one character. For dramatic reasons, I had to give a bit more depth
to the character of the logger who ordered the murder. The news reports about him were very one
dimensional. In all honesty, he is one evil person, and whiny on top of it all.
At no point can an audience sympathize with "Vito," but I, as the writer, had
to humanize him to make it believable. This is where real life seemed more fake
than art!
Once I had the characters developed, I created a time line to see
how everything unfolded.
More of that in part two...
* Angel of the Amazon site * More about Sister Dorothy Stang * Evan Mack's site * Interview with Evan Mack
It was bound to happen.
Right after I made my list of favorite recordings for 2009, one of the best
recordings I have ever heard showed up in the mail.
Brahms String Quartet No. 1 – Piano Quintet / Quatuor Ebène, Akiko Yamamoto
This is how chamber music should sound, how experiencing it
should feel – collaborative, yet also combative. It's immediate and intense, and while they're
working together to create this music, it sometimes sounds as if they are
trying to destroy each other. In the
sweeter moments of music, it feels as if the world might melt.
So add this to the list of my favorite things, not just from
2009, but ever.
Let's leave it at that, because now I just want turn up my
stereo as loud as I can get away with and listen some more.
Related links:
* Quatuor Ebène's site * Brahms String
Quartet No. 1 – Piano Quintet / Quatuor Ebène, Akiko Yamamoto* Ravel/Debussy/Fauré String Quartets/ Quatuor Ebène (I have yet to hear this; it's definitely on
my wish list)* A short profile of the quartet:
The beginning of the year is a bit quiet, but there are some nice concerts happening around the state this month. If there are any others that we're missing, let me know in the comments or by sending me an email.
Jan 3: First Stage Concert (Carnegie Hall Lewisburg )
Jan 6: Met Opera HD Encore: Tales of Hoffman (Barboursville, Morgantown, Ashland)
Jan 9: Met Opera HD: Der Rosenkavalier (Barboursville, Morgantown, Ashland)
Jan 13: Shepherd Children's Chorus and Shepherd Preparatory Orchestra Concert
Jan 16: Met Opera HD: Carmen (Barboursville, Morgantown, Ashland)
Jan 17: The Peabody Trio (Charleston Chamber Music Society )
Jan 18: Shepherd University Honor Band Concert
Jan 20: "The Opera Show" (WVU Arts & Entertainment)
Jan 21: Julio Alves, guitar; Wendell Dobbs (interview), flute (Marshall University Faculty Recital )
Jan 22-23: WV Symphony, with Corey Cerovsek, violin "Classical Majesty"
Jan 23: Marshall University Flute Day
Jan 24: WV Symphony Parkerburg, with Corey Cerovsek, violin "Classical Majesty"
Jan 24: Janis-Rozena Peri, soprano; Catherine Crotty, piano (WVU Community Arts Recital)
Jan 24: Opera in Cinema: Il Viaggio a Reims (Huntington, Charleston, Beckley )
Jan 27: Met Opera HD Encore: Der Rosenkavalier (Barboursville, Morgantown, Ashland)
Leave a comment or drop me a line to let me know about other concerts!


text:
School starts next week! Here's a bunch of information you'll want to know for various Shelton Schools. Much of the information comes from the public schools website, but we've broken it down to (hopefully!) make navigation a bit easier.
Looking for something? Ask us in the comments. Also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for breaking news updates and all local news info.
- Bus Routes:
Contact: 203-924-1023, x 310 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Shelton Intermediate/Perry Hill
- "Back to School Night" Schedule
Booth Hill: September 20
Perry Hill, Grade 5: September 24
Perry Hill, Grade 6: September 27
Long Hill: October 1
Sunnyside: October 2
SHS: September 18
Elizabeth Shelton: October 3
Mohegan: October 4
SIS: September 19
- School Lunch Menus:
See attached PDF for September's menus and schedules. You can find menus here as the school year progresses.
Also see about changes to the hot lunch served in schools, including price differences.
- Student Handbooks, Guides & Policies:
- Sports
Contact: John Niski, Athletic Director, 203-922-3014 x515 or firstname.lastname@example.com
2012-13 Pay to Participate Information FAQ (download link)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
5 Tips for Current or Prospective Law School Students in a Difficult Economy
Applicants should mind their online profiles and apply as early as possible.
The header of Third Tier Reality states that the blog exposes the "ugly realities" of law school. Paul Campos, a University of Colorado—Boulder Law School professor, writes a blog called Inside the Law School Scam, and Above the Law regularly covers topics such as law school "admissions fraud" and unemployment rates among young J.D.'s.
Whether a result or a symptom of the disparaging views of legal education and the job market, recent data from the Law School Admissions Council suggest that the number of law school applications dropped 11 percent this fall. Despite this trend and the competitive job market, some experts still advise people to apply to law school. Here are five ways applicants and law students can maximize their opportunities:
[See U.S. News's rankings of top law schools.]
1. Get experience early: "[I]f there is one tip I can give to someone considering law school, it is to get a real life experience of working for a law office," says Daryl Binkley, who runs a law office in Palm Desert, Calif. "If it was up to me, I would make this a requirement for applying to law schools."
Binkley says real-world experience, such as working as a paralegal, helps would-be applicants ensure they truly want to be lawyers before investing in a J.D. "So many people either apply to law school right after college or after working in nonlegal careers and then attend law school only to later discover that they really don't like the law profession," he says.
Mark Sigala, an attorney at the San Jose, Calif.-based firm Corsiglia McMahon & Allard, says if students lack legal experience as applicants, they can get it in law school. "If you're not in the law field, get in it while you're going to school," he says. "Be a paralegal, a copy person. Volunteer as a law clerk. Get the experience and a foot in the door."
2. Avoid procrastinating on your application: "Timing is critical in applying to law school," says Kathryn Espiritu, director of admissions at Fordham University Law School. "Law schools read files on a rolling basis ... [so] it is always best to apply as early as possible."
Anna Ivey, a former admissions dean at University of Chicago Law School and an admissions consultant, agrees. Ideally, law school applicants should submit their completed applications by the end of November, she says, and definitely by the end of December.
[Learn how to get into law school.]
3. Mind your online reputation: Experts disagree on how, if at all, prospective J.D.'s should use social media in the application process. Todd William, founder and CEO of the "online reputation management" company Reputation Rhino, says law schools hire his firm to vet applicants' social media handles. William says a recent Kaplan study, which revealed that 37 percent of law schools check applicants' online profiles, was an "eye opener." But "a well-written profile highlighting personal and professional achievements and accomplishments can help a candidate stand out from the crowd," he says.
Miami-based trial attorney Justin Leto says Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter didn't exist when he was in law school, but he acknowledged that things have changed a lot. "Employers do look at your online presence to see what kind of person you are, so prospective students need to be cognizant of what they post online," he says.
Jonathan Rosenfeld, a Chicago-based lawyer, advises aspiring J.D.'s to blog and Tweet. "Creating a broad base of contacts is vital to finding a job in any field, and social media and networking are becoming increasingly important in finding a legal job as well," he says.
[Read three tips to make a wise investment in law school.]
4. Know your school's focus—and your own: Mandee Adler, president of International College Counselors, advises applicants to visit schools' websites and to talk to current students and faculty to determine a school's specialties. "When applying, students should ... speak to the differentiating factors of the school itself, rather than just send a generic 'Why I want to go to law school' application to each," she says.


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Pet Pal Animal Shelter and the Tampa Bay Rays are partnering for the 2012 Major League Baseball season to help abandoned and abused pets in St. Petersburg.
For every home run Evan Longoria hits, the Rays third baseman will join Bright House Sports Network and the Rays to each donate $100 to Pet Pal Animal Shelter, a no-kill, non-profit shelter in St. Pete.
A local Tampa Bay-area business is also stepping up to the plate. HydroDog Mobile Dog Grooming, based in Tampa, will match the $100 donation to Pet Pal Animal Shelter for every homerun Longoria hits, Pet Pal said.
"I cannot express in words how grateful and thankful the Pet Pal staff and volunteers are for these amazing men and women who have come together to support our Shelter. Their generosity will help save hundreds, even thousands of animals' lives. This is a huge win for the animals," says Scott Daly, Executive Director of Pet Pal in a news release.


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Moderated by Colleen Williams, Co-Anchor for NBC 4 News at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., this free community event will feature a panel of domestic violence experts who will discuss how to strengthen the safety net for victims. Scheduled speakers include:
- Debi Biederman-Ash, MS, Marriage and Family Therapist
- Patti Giggans, Executive Director of Peace Over Violence
- Ava Rose, LCSW, Director of NCJW/LA Women Helping Women ~ Community Counseling & Support Services
- Robin Sax, Legal Analyst and Commentator, victim's rights advocate, author, and former prosecutor
- Terra Slavin, DV Lead Staff Attorney, Legal Services, for L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
According to Rose, volunteers for Women Helping Women's Counseling Talkline spoke to an average of more than 15 community members per month in 2011 about domestic violence and provided them with support and resources. During several of the months, there were nearly 25 domestic violence-related calls. "These data reflect a sustained and growing need in our community, even as the resources to prevent and respond to that need shrink due to the economic downturn," she notes. "To face this challenge, it is essential that we raise awareness and strengthen the safety net for victims of domestic violence."
The event is co-sponsored by NCJW/LA, LA Gay & Lesbian Center, and Peace Over Violence. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information or to RSVP for the program, call 323-852-8503 or email email@example.com.
About the National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles Section: The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. NCJW's Los Angeles section has been at the forefront of social change for more than a century by providing the community with programs and services. Today, NCJW/LA serves more than 15,000 individuals each year by providing over 220,000 hours of programs and services with the support of 400 volunteers.
For more information on the NCJW Los Angeles Section, visit www.ncjwla.org, call 323-651-2930, fax 323-651-5348, or write NCJW/LA, 543 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036.


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5214 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, WA 98499
A-I offers alternative education for high school students. In 2010, A-I High School implemented new programs to…More ensure students' academic success. One of the most exciting aspects for the A-I High School program is the partnership between Clover Park School District and Clover Park Technical College. This partnership will allow the high school students, interested in a technical and/or trade-related fields, to participate in the college's Northwest Career and Technical High School. A-I High School students have access to online credit retrieval courses through the Internet Academy.
A-I High School students can move forward to Clover Park Technical College's (CPTC) Northwest Career and Technical High School as high school juniors. Eligible students will be given priority entrance into the following CPTC programs:
- Automotive;
- Construction;
- Cosmetology;
- Culinary Arts;
- Nursing, and
- Media Design and Production.
11920 Seminole Rd SW, Lakewood, WA 98499
Tyee Park Elementary was originally constructed in 1958 and is located in the residential area bearing the same…More name. The school was built on the site of a one-time harness racing track. Carrying on the Native American theme, the school has a Seminole Road address and the sign that greets visitors is decorated with Native American petro glyphs.
Tyee's mission statement is: "Tyee Park, in partnership with community, staff, parents and students, provides a positive environment that nurtures and supports academic excellence, social growth and responsibility in a diverse and changing world." The school's mascot is the tiger.


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Satisfaction Very Good
Value Score Average Value
Good For Couples
Show Prices
Show Prices
Show Prices
Show Prices
It was okay - 2007
We got this hotel on wotif.com for about 75 euro a night with breakfast and we were happy with it for that price.
It was newly renovated and spotlessly clean. The shower was amazing - gushing jets of hot water - this is not always encountered in hotels in Italy.
Strange towels though - more like tablecloths.
Some of the staff were a bit offish.
And they have a nicely appointed lounge in the foyer - but if you are planning to sit and read late at night because you are afflicted with jetlag you will make the night porter very unhappy. He turns the lights off and kips on the sofa.
Nowhere to smoke at all except on the street or just outside the hotel doors. Very annoying for a smoker.
TV and mini bar. Rooms are quite small.
Breakfast is just pitiful - nothing savoury at all. Not a hard boiled egg, not a slice of cheese. I got quite grumpy.
It's not close to anything though. Except Porta Maggiore - which Matthew called the Roundabout Of Death. Trams buses cars trucks scooters hurtling around and criss crossing - what terror.
And not many cafes or restaurants around. It's a hotel that is kind of marooned nowhere.
Unique Quality: The worst thing is it is just too far to walk from Termini - and the first part of the street is rather unsavoury. It would be scarey at night. There are buses and trams that come down a parallel street - but that would be hard to work out when you first arrive.
- 1
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Residents of the Capistrano Shores Mobile Home Park are fighting to keep from getting kicked off their plot on Pacific Coast Highway in North Beach.
As the city embarks on its 10-year planning process, city leaders are considering a Costal Element that calls for the park to be acquired for public open space. While city staffers and appointees have stated unequivocally that they have no plans to acquire and clear the park, home to 90 households, its residents think the proposed planning documents say otherwise.
In the 1990s the city changed the zoning from light residential to open space, said San Clemente Associate Planner Jeff Hook. But that doesn't mean the park can't stay where it is indefinitely.
"Under certain instances, it can continue to exist," Hook said. "But there are limitations to what you can change. It's a legal non-conforming use. There is no real program for changing anything we've done in the past."
What pushed the Capo Shores board into action was a provision in the draft general plan -- the package of zoning and land use direction that will govern development in the city for at least the next decade -- that called for the eventual disbanding of the park and converting it to public recreational use.
One of the measures in the Coastal Element of the general plan called for the city to "strictly enforce the city's municipal code regarding non-conforming land uses on the existing, non-conforming Capistrano Shores Mobile Home Park. Investigate alternatives and feasibility for acquiring said land for public ownership."
Attorneys Sue Loftin and Sherman Stacey, attorneys for the park's residents, have written letters to the San Clemente Planning Commission calling for the removal of "all language, directly or indirectly, stating or suggesting that the park be eliminated and revert to the city be stricken from the General Plan and Coastal Development Plan," as Loftin's letter states.
San Clemente Planning Commission Chairman Lew Avera in a meeting last year also reiterated the city's position that it didn't want to take Capo Shores' land.
The attorneys also seem to be using the general plan process to jockey for a rezoning of their land back to residential, which would make the property more valuable.
Loftin states in her December letter that "serious questions arise" as to whether the 1995 downzoning was legal or not. She said the move was done without council justifying the policy and without notifying the residents of Capo Shores.
Loftin said the board declined to comment for this story, pending what they hear back from the city.
Even if the city wanted to rezone the park, Hook said officials would run into problems: Since 2005, any reclassification of open space-designated land would require approval by voters, he said.


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By Mark Boshnack
The Daily Star
---- — Last month more than 46 boys in grades 6-8 in the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego Board of Cooperative Educational Services and the Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES regions participated in the annual "It's a Guy Thing" program at SUNY Oneonta. The event is coordinated through DCMO BOCES enrichment services and is made possible through a collaborative effort of a number of educators and community resources, according to a media release.
Eleven mentors volunteered, each meeting with three groups of boys in a 40-minute session. The goals for the day were to encourage and increase the boys' interest in academics by creating a link to real-world careers, to expose them to positive role models, to address career-planning and decision-making, and to provide positive peer interaction.
Delaware Academy Central School District at Delhi is the top ranked school in the area according to a recently published listing by Business First of Buffalo. The statistics, based upon New York State Education Department data from 2011-2012, ranked 430 upstate school districts that have enrollments of 260 or more. The results are an advancement of seven places, as compared to last year's results, Delhi Superintendent Jason Thomson said.
Farm Catskills and local arts educator "Story Laurie" McIntosh presented the culmination of their Cultivating Connections program at Delaware Academy Elementary School at Delhi earlier this month. A similar performance was held at South Kortright Elementary School a month earlier. Cultivating Connections is an interactive songwriting workshop for elementary classes designed to cultivate student and community connections with the environment, healthy foods and nutrition, and farms in the New York City Watershed.
Two classrooms at Delaware Academy Elementary School participated in the five-week program led by McIntosh that lets students learn about gardens and how they grow while promoting critical thinking about the processes. The students created an original song that was shared with their peers, families and communities Nov. 9.
"Lately, many communities have realized the health and economic values of local farm-to-school initiative programs," says McIntosh. "Experiential, hands-on learning is so important for kids, and allowing them to work creatively together to produce food for themselves and their families — to get their hands in the dirt and literally dig into the subject — is such a powerful idea."
In November, Jay Schuurman and Jason King from Springer's, Inc. of Oneonta attended Kubota Tractor Corporation's 2012 National Dealer Meeting in Dallas, Texas, to celebrate Kubota's 40th anniversary in the United States.
More than 1,000 Kubota dealers from across the country joined together to celebrate the company milestone and to receive a first look at all 2013 product enhancements.
MARK BOSHNACK can be reached at email@example.com.


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A Macon attorney died Sunday evening after he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle in Monroe County.
Walter Leggett, who lived in Monroe County, died a little after 8 p.m. at The Medical Center of Central Georgia, about four hours after he was hit on U.S. 41 near Heritage Drive, said Monroe County Coroner Joey Proctor.
Leggett, 61, was struck by a Lincoln Town Car driven by 78-year-old Ahmad Rasheed of Macon as Leggett attempted to turn left onto Heritage Drive from U.S. 41, according to a Monroe County Sheriffs Office news release.
Leggett, 61, had practiced law for more than 30 years and specialized in estate planning, probate and elder law.
In recent years, he opened his own office on Vineville Avenue.
Leggett graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law, according to his website.
He had been an ordained deacon at Mabel White Memorial Baptist Church and served in the Army National Guard for eight years before his honorable discharge as captain.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane, and his three children, one of whom is a Monroe County deputy.


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According to the American Association of School Administrators, the average age of a superintendent falls between 54 and 55. For , the new superintendent of the , he's defied the expectation by more than 20 years.
McCoy, 34, took the reins of the district on July 1 and has moved swiftly into getting ready for the 2011-12 school year.
Before opening the doors to students for the new year, he had already helped receive new programs and grants for students in the district, scheduled town hall meetings for community members and parents in the district, and established several councils to reinforce relationships with communities.
However, the official transition for the job started in January. The board of education named McCoy to succeed former Superintendent Jeff Spiegel in December. At that time, McCoy served as assistant superintendent for secondary education.
McCoy said that in January, he began to get to extend to the elementary schools to get to know their students, staff and families.
"It's been an awesome experience to have the assistant (superintendent) role, so that as soon I was appointed, I was expanding my roles to the superintendency," he said. "So that my first day I was able to accomplish goals that we've already started with four new programs, grant money and major changes."
Despite his young age, McCoy has a track record of doing things at a young age.
At the age of 18, McCoy graduated from Lafayette High School and had 45 college credit hours upon his graduation. At the age of 19, he graduated from Harris Stowe State University and then decided to bring his talents back to St. Louis as a math teacher at Lafayette.
While there, he was reported as the state's youngest certified teacher.
McCoy understands that his age carries some harsh realities.
"To be the youngest is an extra weight of responsibility because this road requires a level of maturity that often time individuals question when age is not abundant," McCoy said. "Being a superintendent in your 30s is rare across the nation, but it causes you to fall into a category of oppression … ageism is the word. Anyone below 30 and anyone above 60 falls into groups of oppression in society as to how we treat them."
As McCoy discussed his vision and plans for the district, he displayed his knowledge and sounded as wise as someone who's had this position for more than a few weeks.
"Having over a decade of central office experience as an administrator, it's something that is rarely said of someone of my age, but it's often someone in their 50s or 60s because of the time they may have spent doing things at an earlier time," he said.
Director of Secondary Education couldn't believe the level of deep knowledge and understanding McCoy had during a recent administrative training.
"To me, I thought, 'Wow, he's only been in the district three years, but yet he has such a great understanding," she said. "If you were on the bus listening to him speak about the community, you would have thought he'd been there for longer than just three years. It was really impressive."
McCoy stressed that the district will be about, "Excellence and equity every day," and he plans for the district to strive for the highest achievements.
Some of his goals include:
- Increasing graduation rates by three percent
- Increasing attendance rates by 1 percent or improving to an overall district rate of 95 percent
- Green goals, such as adding more gardens as well as recycling and energy efficiency
"We are perfectly posed for higher achievement," he said. "I definitely intend for the whole state to see that. We're a lighthouse in the community, in the region."
With more than a decade of teaching and educational administrative work behind him, McCoy plans to spend many more years growing and helping in his superintendent role.
"Age is such a benefit because this community and I have an opportunity for long-term sustainable change and consistency and leadership," he said. "My age positions me best to not even be thinking about retirement but to be thinking about the next decade and the next generation of people that I'll still be serving 20 to 30 years from now."
Check back tomorrow for more information on the goals and vision of the superintendent for the district in the short and long term.


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Amish Chair:
21½" W x 22" D x 28½" H
Seat height 16½"
Due to its handmade nature, variations in size and color can be expected and are an intentional and desirable aspect of this product.
Material: Wood, leatherette, vinyl
Care: Wipe with a damp cloth
Brand: Pearl River Modern NY
Origin: Imported
Warm weather is arriving soon (or now, depending on where you are). So get ready for outdoor entertaining with Pearl River Modern's timelessly stylish — and ultra-strong — furniture: seating sets, daybeds, and beyond.


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At the beginning of each school year, there is a great push at just about all the grade levels to promote understanding of place value. I have spent the past week trying to wrap my head around that very same concept. Adding zeros to numbers makes them bigger. I get that. But just like fourth graders, there comes a time and a decimal place when my brain just locks up. For fourth graders, it's somewhere in the hundred thousand to million range. For me, it's in the billions.
I took astronomy classes in college and I became familiar with the practice of using scientific notation to describe numbers by powers of ten. It was that tricky little exponent above the ten that could mess you up completely. The distance from the earth to the moon is in the ten to the fourth power neighborhood, and the distance from the earth to the sun is in the ten to the seventh power vicinity. What I found even more useful was the concept of Astronomical Units. Knowing that the distance between the earth and the sun could be described as one Astronomical Unit, I began to use this measurement in as many different impractical ways as possible. For example, what fraction of an astronomical unit is it between here and the nearest 7-11?
When I heard that the government's bailout of the various failing financial institutions was going to cost somewhere close to half a trillion dollars, I found myself searching in vain for some kind of real number that I could start with. Remember, I'm the guy who struggles with a million of something. A "trillion" just seems as made up as Laurie Anderson's "kerjillion," or Dennis the Menace's "lebentyseven." If only this sum could be paid in nickels, then it would be meaningful to me. Take your half trillion and multiply that by twenty. Now that would be a number worth pondering.
Instead, I would like to suggest the following: From now on, just as we have come to do with astronomy, let us now use this half-trillion mark as a single unit. I propose that we now refer to this unit as a "Greenspan" in honor of the man who once rode herd on all those zeros. Now when we say "It's only going to cost the government a Greenspan to cover the fallout of this financial crisis," we can all rest just a little bit easier. But I guess we'd all feel a little better if we didn't have to think about it at all.
Friday, September 19, 2008
How Much Is Too Much?
Posted by David Caven at 5:05 PM
Labels: pop culture
1 comment:
Let's hope it also costs a McCain.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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They are passengers waiting for high speed trains in the railway station waiting area on the second floor ( F2 ) of the main building of the Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.Plan your Shanghai Tour? No matter you are arriving at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station or leaving from Shanghai Hongqiao Raiway Station, it is advisable to have some basic knowledge of its structure, functions and pubic transportation.
Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station is part of the Hongqiao Tranportation Hub, the largest transportation hub in China, combining airport, railway, subway, city bus and long-distance bus. Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station mainly operates the Beijing–Shanghai High Speed Rail, the Shanghai–Hangzhou High Speed Rail and the Shanghai–Nanjing Intercity High Speed Rail.
F2: Departure floor as well as the station waiting area ( Also for ticketing offices )
F1: Platforms and tracks for outgoing and incoming bullet trains
B1: Arrival floor for train passengers, a huge traffic transit hub for subway, flight, taxi, city bus and long-distance bus. There are several ticket selling outlets on the B1 floor.
B2: Platforms for subway lines (subway line 2 & 10)
After arriving at Hongqiao Railway Station, if you would like to use Shanghai subway, then you walk down the escalator from the F1 floor ( platform ) to the B1 floor (arrival floor), buying subway tickets on B1, again walk down to the B2 floor to connect Shanghai subway, either line 2 or line 10.
F1 Floor
If you need any help at Hongqiao Railway Station, please go to the Enquiry Counter with a question mark "?" on the second floor.
F3 Floor
The third floor is for restaurants and shops and Vip lounge. The McDonald's or KFC at T2 of the Hongqiao airport offer 24 hours service. Hongqiao Train Station and T2 of Hongqiao airport are connected by a moving sideway, 15-minute walk.
1) RMB 20 for large suitcase.
Complaint: 95105105
3. The McDonald's or KFC at the Hongqiao airport offer 24 hours service. Hongqiao train station and Hongqiao airport are connected by a moving sideway, 15-minute walk.
4. A Smoking Room is by the Gate 4 ( south) on the arrival Hall ( second floor)
Any questions, just drop a line.


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Graduate Student Council
The Graduate Student Council is an organization of physics graduate students trying to make the physics department even awesomer for graduate students. We have a list of ongoing physics graduate events as well as useful resources. If you have any website suggestions, or general questions, you can contact us by emailing: firstname.lastname@example.com
All Events
Here is a list of all the physics department events that are focused towards graduate students.
Lunch with Colloquium Speaker: Every Tuesday that has a colloquia. This is a chance to have an informal discussion with the visiting researcher. We talk about physics as well as how to succeed in research, academia, and life. Complete list here.
Student Research Lunch: Every Tuesday that does not have a colloquia. Graduate students will present about their research followed by discussion. See complete list here.
Graduate Student Talks: These include Preliminary Oral Exams, Departmental Seminars, and Thesis Defense.
Student Condensed Matter Seminar: Graduate students presention and discussion on Condensed Matter papers (broadly defined). Currently organized by Luca D'Alessio, follow link for full CM Journal Club schedule.
Ice Cream Social: The first Thursday of every month. Ice cream always leads to better physics discussions. Event list here.
Summary of Upcoming Events
For the complete list, see the links above. Below are the events in the near future.
Who is the Graduate Student Council?
Elsa Abreu, Alan Gabel, Kun Geng, Alex Lang, Jiayuan Luo, Carsten Maedler, Sebastian Remi, Ying Tang, Kyle Vigil
Useful Resources
Graduate Student Organization (GSO)
GSO Graduate Student Survival Guide
BU Comprehensive Exam: Past exams and tips coming soon


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Smacking Google on the head: the 3 main problemsBy Marques • Oct 12th, 2007 • Category: Featured Articles, Google, Internet
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
First of all I'm a Google fan. I've said so before and until Google as a search engine stops working for me I think I'll stick with it as my first choice.
Nonetheless, a comment by Diefenbaker on my post "A Day Without Google: sorry, no thanks", where he states his unhappiness with Google mainly due to privacy concerns, made me look around the net and find what others are thinking.
Problem: Monopolization
While I'm still a Google apologist, the mad rampage at which Google is acquiring smaller companies (47 on this list since 2001) leading to a monopolization of the market is sure to raise some flags and provide an interesting subject for debate.
Ok, they are doing a nice job with all the applications they are making "freely" available but monopolization, albeit for now a strong word, is never seen with good eyes by the world. With monopolization comes dependency and since the effects with Microsoft are here for all to see nobody really wants anything like that again.
Problem: Privacy
Google might already be the biggest personal information database on the planet with personally-identifiable information being stored for 18-24 months. Although it seems that for now it's only used to deliver relevant information (what is relevant for them might not always be for me), the possibility for privacy breach is here and starts to worry. The most blatant one is of course Google's servers reading any message sent and received on Gmail.
And many have publicly started sharing their concerns on Google's privacy policies in general and how they handle information and even governments started to have their say (Germany and the whole EU in general are discussing it).
Is it something to be worried about? It sure is… Not many of us would deliberately provide private information to marketers without a clear return. But that is exactly what we do by using Google's applications. In the end it's a balance between investment and return.
A remarkable video on Google's Master Plan was developed by O. Halici and J. Mayer.
Problem: Slashing the net
With monopolization comes fear of loss.
At the moment, Google is, without question, the major provider or paid links for websites. Every other site (if not more) uses Google AdSense as a source of revenue. And while revenue reports for some bloggers clearly show Adsense as the main player, even if with differences in success ($4,730, $284, $92), many others have jumped the wagon and report direct ad sales as the main revenue (and even talk about big decrease in Adsense revenue).
Nonetheless, while I don't know if fear of loss is what is happening but Google started slashing at site owners selling text links. Many report drops on PageRank and attribute it to paid links and there is even talk about a Google's war on paid links, all under the excuse of fighting poor relevancy, of course.
So, the big question remains: should webmasters drop paid text links turning them a thing of the past?
Is Google afraid of the poor competition these links are to their AdWords? Maybe… but maybe Google should also realize that users made Google what it is today and slashing like this may not be the best strategy. I'm assuming that the debate is not over on this issue. Does Google's "Don't be Evil" still apply?
Anyway, does Google's privacy policies and data management scare you? Have you been affected by the latest war on paid links? Is Google part of the internet or is Google THE internet? Share your thoughts with us…
Popularity: 39% [?]
Found it interesting? Don't forget to bookmark the feed from the site.
Categorized as Featured Articles, Google, Internet | Trackback URI |


text: One of the ways AYSA supports our local youth soccer community is to offer two $500 college scholarships each year. The Arrowhead Youth Soccer College Scholarship Program was established in the year 2000 through the efforts of the AYSA Board of Directors. High school seniors that live in an area served by AYSA and that participated in AYSA or another local youth soccer program are eligible to apply. Recipients are selected by the AYSA Board of Directors in late summer or fall of each year. Registration forms are available here and will be sent to local high school guidance offices by April 1. Congratulations to our 2013 scholarship recipients; James Foldesi from Denfeld High School and Lauren Elwell from Duluth East High School! If you have questions regarding the college scholarship, please contact Dave Geary at 218-624-1713 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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I look back on the first Men In Black film with some nostalgia; it was one of the BIG movies when I was in high school. Everybody knew the song, the dance and the suits, making it prime material for costume parties and underage discos. The second forgettable film cast major doubt on the possibility of a third Men in Black film. And yet, here it is, fifteen years after the original.
But is it any good?
Men in Black 3 is a blast.
Agent J (Will Smith) travels back in time to 1969 in order to stop Boris the Animal from assassinating Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones). He teams up with a young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to prevent the alien from changing the course of history and destroying Earth. The film builds the character relationship between K and J, as well as delving into the hidden past of K.
Will Smith is in high form playing off the deadpan Agent K, in the typical goofy humor of Men In Black. Brolin nails his impersonation of Jones as the straight-shootin', country music lovin' agent. Especially good is Jermaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) as the antagonist, Boris the Animal. His conversation with his future self is one of the comedic highlights of the film. In fact, the whole film is carried by the excellent work of the cast, with no weak performances.
The special effects are able to meet the vision of the director, Barry Sonnenfeld. There are some mind bending vertical shots, like the overhead views of Shea stadium, where J and K get an insight into the Mets winning season. The time "leap" sequence is incredibly well done, showing the history of New York in thirty seconds. While I didn't view the film in 3D, these vertical views and popping effects would work well in 3D.
There are small lags in the scripting, particularly with the Griffin character who slows the plot down, but these are minor problems in a wholly entertaining film. There are moments of pure gold, including the encounter with Andy Warhol and Smith's dressing down of two highway cops. Where most films fall apart in the last third, Men In Black 3 concludes with an ultimately touching ending. My cinema companions and I had a tear in the eye as we discovered why Agent K became the surly and brooding man of the future.
Men in Black 3 is one of the most enjoyable films I've seen all year. It's already made twice the revenue of the previous film. I'd highly recommend it; you'll be smiling the whole way through.


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Isuzu Trooper Check Engine Light
I've got a 93 Isuzu Trooper that is giving me a check engine light intermittently in the morning. Again, this only happens in the morning and is intermittent. When the car idles, I get no check enging light. When I accelerate, the check engine light comes on. In the afternoon, when the day is warmer, the check engine light stays off. I took the car into the dealer and was told this was the EGR valve so I have removed and cleaned the valve but am still getting the same check engine indicator. I am going to try and replace the EGR valve but was wondering if anyone has seen this before and could offer some advice before I go through the trouble and expense.
Hi, here is what the manual says about the EGR, should be about same for either v6 engine. If you would like the chart, here is a link:
http://www.carspace.com/atfdmike/Albums/ISUZU%20TROOPER%20FORUM/egrchart7.gif/ph- oto/v./photo.jpg
Hope this helps.
1993 Isuzu Truck Trooper (4 Door) V6-3165cc 3.2L DOHC (6VD1)
Vehicle Level Powertrain Management Emission Control Systems EGR Valve Testing and Inspection
Testing and Inspection
Warm engine to operating termperature (120°F / 60°C).
Place finger on on EGR valve diaphragm and accelerate engine, diaphragm should move.
Disconnect vacuum hose from EGR valve.
Using a vacuum pump, apply 10" of vacuum to the valve. It should move and engine should run poorly or stall.
If valve passes above test use CHART C-7A. If valve fails, replace valve.
lesliecooper Posts: 1Same subject but different ingredients! (In the UK)I have a 2001 Isuzu Trooper 3.0L diesel automatic which overheated on me whilst towing my caravan in hilly country. I noticed it before any damage was done but not before the Check Engine light came on. Thereafter the light came on and off in a completely random fashion without any apparent effect on the engine, all the functions of which seemed normal. However during a visit to the main Isuzu dealer nearby I asked them to plug in their electronic analyser thing, and they told me the throttle body needed replacing (at a great cost). I have obtained a replacement throttle body (not new but said to be in good working order) and having fitted it I find that the light comes on when the engine is not under load, but instantly goes out when an accelerator load is placed on the engine. This suggests to me that one or other of the sensors on the throttle body is minutely out of adjustment - I noticed that both the sensors have slotted mounting holes - but I am not able to find anywhere where the functions of the two sensors are described nor the manner in which they should be adjusted. Even the people I spoke to at the main dealers did not seem to know!! Can anyone please help.
Unfortunately, the diesel has not been available in the US, so little practical experience with it here. On the gas engines though, the TPS (throttle position sensor)and other sensors for air flow and idle are also there and some are adjustable and I would imagine the same is true for yours. I assume you have already checked the fuel (and water?) filters as equipped?
The procedure usually includes the use of a digital voltmeter and is not technically challenging, but hopefully someone who has done it or has a diesel manual will see your post and respond. One guys opinion.
mbp1 Posts: 1In my 1998 Trooper S, I've been getting check engine light due to insufficient EGR flow every year since the past four years. I was told by a dealer that this could be because of my shorter and slower commute (15 miles at 35 mph the most). The dealer advised me to occasionally use higher octane fuel. I've been doing that but no relief. I cleaned the valve and the inlet pipe from the exhaust just recently and reset the codes. But the problem resurfaced in a month.
Any suggestions on resolving this issue?
Any suggestions on cleaning the outlet pipe that goes into air intake? I could not clean this pipe properly. Is there any way to clean without opening the air intake?
Thanks very much in advance.
Located on RH side of engine near rear. It has a wiring connector and two bolts that hold it in place. The only way to verify it is working is to use a Tech 2 and monitor it while running.
There is a gasket between it and the manifold that you may need to replace if in removing the valve it is damaged. Your discretion.
Original Isuzu part no is 8170961783
Hope this helps
mcharger Posts: 1get po401 error replaced erg valve light went off took to get IM inspection came back on failed with same error drove it for about 50 miles light went off again stayed off for 2 days now back on same error took to mechanic has no clue hard to find Isuzu dealers in UT any ideas what else problem could be---mechanic says could be wiring from valve or the whole computer. Random on and off of the check engine light with always same p0401 code. Really fustrated :sick:
Hi, welcome to the forum. I am not sure which engine you have, as I have the older 3.2, but I did a quick search for you and found the following. It is a pretty common problem, and if you can figure out the location on your engine and clean it (try carb cleaner first, I think) by flushing it and soaking it to loosen deposits, you could resolve the problem. HTH
" The car will not idle correctly, is difficult to start and runs rough much of the time. My truck did not do any of that. I was also told that in many cases, the insufficient flow may be from carbon in the passageways to and from the EGR valve. After some closer looking with a flashlight in hand, I found a plug that has access to the line between the ERG and the cylinder intake. The plug is located below the EGR unit on the left hand side. You will need a set of hex keys to remove this plug. Once I had the plug removed, I had clear access to the horizontal passageway to the engine intake. I quick inspection did show quite a bit of carbon build up within. To clean the passageway, I broke out my gun cleaning kits and used the barrel brushes attached to a 12 inch section of rod. I believe that it was the .40 caliber brush that was the closest in size. I also used the generic carb cleaner in the process as well. This scrubbing did remove much more buildup than I imagined. I installed the plug back in it's place and have not had a 401 so far. So I believe that possibly could have been the problem. "
The fact that the mechanic did not try to sell you O2 sensors leads me to believe that maybe what you need is a good long high speed run on the freeway to burn some of the carbon deposits on the valves, etc. After doing so a couple times, clear the code and see if it comes back. Post your results. HTH
icarus681 Posts: 2I am having this problem for a couple of months now.The trooper has a PO171 code. I already change the 4 o2 sensor, clean the egr and reset the ecu.the trooper has 100,000 miles on the odometer and it has the original catalytic converter.I do not know for sure if this has something to do with the codes,and when i stand behind the muffler i notice the smell of rich mixture instead of lean mixture.if there is a answer for this codes,do i have to do the same as the other post or do i have to do other things?
sealfrog Posts: 1Engine runs rough at idle, once you get it going it seems to run okay, check engine light and three trouble codes, P171, P174 and P303. Left bank lean, right bank lean and misfire on cylinder #3. Change #3 plug, also trouble code book said MAF sensor bad. It got to the point that the engine would run rough at idle then die. Of course it would start up but you have to keep the rpms up or it would die. I unpluged the MAF and it would not die, within 30 secondsof pluging MAF back in engine dies. Bought a new MAF, it no longer dies but still runs rough and still gets the three trouble codes. signed sealfrog
i have a 2001 trooper, rescently it started to idle rough. I took it to a shop and the codes read basically a tune up and O2 sensor, having 75000 miles i had them do one. the trooper ran better, but still idled rough and the light was flashing at or about 2500 rpm. i took advice from another blog and learned the intake gasket was shot. i changed it and the truck runs alot better, but the light still is on and flashes after 2500 rpm, and reads no codes. Any ideas?
yep my guess was the intake gaskets also.not sure why the light would still be on and no codes.disconnect the battery for 15 minutes that should reset it.let me know what happens.should clear all codes.if light comes back on you have to have a code stored...keep me posted.gl.


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Tuesday, August 20, 2013 —
On Sept. 8, the Oakboro Museum will have its opening of a new exhibit.
This exhibit will be the start of several events that will take place this fall and winter.
The museum will celebrate the coming of the railroad and train in 1913.
Anyone who has any information or items from the railroad, depot or trains that would share with the museum, would be greatly appreciated. All items will be returned at the end of the exhibit.


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To all the 'lovers' out there...Happy Valentine's Day!! Romantically speaking of course, but also for all the lovers of love!!
Yes...Love is everywhere if we take the time to 'feel' it...By 'being love', and 'sharing' it with everyone, you will be loved-- even if you may not have a 'special romantic someone' today, at this very moment, you will better understand...
"You cannot be lonely if you like the person you`re alone with." – Wayne Dyer
"Whatever you are doing, love yourself for doing it. Whatever you are feeling, love yourself for feeling it." – Thaddeus Golas
With that being said....If you are looking for a little entertainment, maybe you want to add a little spice to your life, your overall health and well-being- for you and your romantic partner 'in love', for the love of a special friend, and/or, it can also include the love for yourself...I think you'll really enjoy this link- Happy Valentines Day~ Sensual Poems/Sensual Stories ~♥ From my ♥ to your ♥ *☮ • Love & Lightི♥ྀ Laughter & warm hugsღ ~Tina Rizzitello.´~ ♥ (*◡*) ♥


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One could try to avoid comparing TNT's new reality show "The Great Escape" withCBS' long-running and perpetually Emmy-winning reality show"The Amazing Race," but why? Especially when the similarities and differences are so readily apparent.
In "The Amazing Race," 11 teams of two travel around the world chasing clues and fighting off elimination in hour-long episodes until the finale where three teams compete for the $1,000,000 grand prize. Meanwhile, in "The Great Escape," three pairs of contestants spend an hour-long episode chasing clues and evading capture as they frantically labor to escape from some labyrinthine site in order to win $100,000. So, a bit like "The Amazing Race: Home Edition."


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With dreams come nightmares...but where do nightmares come from?
"CHAPTER TWO."While hiding with The Dream Merchant, Winslow and Anne learn the truth about Winslow's dream and about what is coming - a shocking revelation they have to see, or dream, to believe.
All content copyright © & Trademarked TM 2014 Image Comics or their respective owners
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-The Gift of Time
It all began with a simple, but challenging idea: Design a high quality, cost effective, college preparatory alternative that GIVES TIME BACK to parents and students so they can develop closer relationships.
That single GIFT of TIME has proven to be . . .
• The most precious commodity we could have given busy and involved parents and
• The most strategic contribution we could have made to the total education of students.
Research has overwhelmingly indicated that the most influential people in a child's education do not even work at school. They live in the home!
The University-Model of Education (UME) emphasizes the importance of developing strong family relationships and structures the educational process in order to address the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of children. This is accomplished by accessing the single most powerfully known influence for reforming education in America:
Involved Parents!
The significance of the UME lies in its ability to effectively utilize parents at home in partnership with highly qualified professional instructors on-campus to gain better educational results among students of all academic levels. UME schools not only empower parents in this teaching paradigm, but Dr. John Turner, in his UME book, Character-Driven, College Preparation, indicates that these schools "are also demonstrating the positive difference made when parents know that they are built into the learning process – needed, wanted, and expected." (p.21)
We invite you to learn more about the University-Model of Education. It might provide you and your children with the Gift of Time that is so desperately needed.
(To Know More)
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Hearst-Argyle, Where Are You on YouTube?
June 4, 2007 11:12 AM
So local TV stations are getting hip to YouTube. Hearst-Argyle Television started offering local videos from five stations on YouTube today. You can find them online at: www.youtube.com/wcvbtv, www.youtube.com/wmurtv, www.youtube.com/kcratv, www.youtube.com/wtaetv and www.youtube.com/wbal.
But can you find them if you don't have the URL? If I was just strolling around YouTube, would I happen to land on one of these channels? Let's talk a walk and find out.
I don't see any links on the home page. But that's OK – people go to YouTube and search.
Next, I try the link for "channels" but the featured ones are the ones with the most subscribers. So then I click on "partners" and find videos from No Good TV, CBS, National Geographic, LonelyGirl15 and other YouTube partners. Then I try an alphabetical search, then I click on "category" and finally I just plug "Hearst Argyle" into the search bar. But the first video there is from KSBW-TV in April.
So finally I plug in the URLs directly. And the channels do look good. But really, how are you supposed to find them, to stumble upon them, to serendipitously discover all that you never had but suddenly desperately want from local TV online?


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What a 2013-14 Fantasy Basketball Season its been! There have been tears, there have been laughs, there have been [formerly] Luminescent Lithuanians… Hard to believe a mere six-and-a-half months ago, we were launching into the season. Man, was I right to be scared of Tobias Harris' ankle! It ended up being scarier than watching Alien as a 10-year-old! Something was popping outta something! While this is the last daily recap until October, we're going to have all sorts of fantastic content through the season starting with a rankings review with Slim and I, my very fun "Way Too Early Rankings" right around the end of the month, a few big announcements, and a video of me shaving "High as Greg Kite" in my head. Which, well… Sigh… Anyway, it's been a great year, hopefully we've helped win you some titles and can win a few more for you Roto players. Here's what's going down on the Season Finale of Fantasy Basketball:Please, blog, may I have some more?
Andray Blatche
Hmmmm, ok, who did you pick in you office "who scores 40 points tonight" pool? I bet the Vegas odds were… a million to one on Nick Young. "So you're saying there's a chance!" Too bad Nick Young sucks in fantasy. You actually have to go back 15 games to find him putting up a 5 in any counting stat other than treys. The ThrAGNOF fairy strikes again! Dude went a preposterous 15-26 (6-13 3PTM 4-5 FT) 40/4/1/2/0 and only had one turnover last night. The Blazers should be ashamed. I'm pretty sure this game never actually happened, and it was some sort of elaborate April Fool's joke. Swaggy P shockingly led the Lakers in minutes off the bench, and with his shoot first, ask questions later attitude, Mike D'Anotni's rape stache kept curling upwards in facial hair glee. By the end of the game (and yes, another Lakers loss), D'Anotni's mustache looked like Rollie Fingers. Here's what else I saw last night in fantasy basketball action:Please, blog, may I have some more?
The injury bug hath claimed another victim, with LaMarcus Aldridge suffering a tough fall in San Antonio on his lower back/coccyx. What are you doing to us fantasy gods?! While reports right now is it was only a lower back contusion, you never want to hear "needed a wheelchair to get around the arena." Unless you're Professor X! Yikes. As Slim is putting out early this afternoon, the Blazers have a mammoth of a 5-week slate coming up in the second week of the playoffs. So if you're an Aldridge owner, I would just thank my blessings, or count my lucky stars, or something like that, if L.A. can indeed give you all five of those. In the immediacy, Thomas Robinson looks like an interesting pickup for some flashy upside. "Oh camon JB, Thomas Robinson again!?" Yup! And I said it last time and he had a 14/18/2/0/2 in there! I serious doubt Aldridge will suit up again this week, giving T-Rob some serious run. We'll obviously get some more detailed updates throughout the day, so sacrifice a shot of rum to Jobu, or rub your bunions against the carpet, whatever you do to appease the fantasy gods to get a healthy Aldridge back for the postseason. Here's what else went down in fantasy action:Please, blog, may I have some more?
So anyone watch the Clippers last night? Who was cheering for Blake Griffin to go for 50? BG just obliterated the Suns interior defense in the first quarter, putting up 22 on 11-12 shooting. Then I don't know who had their hearts broken more by Griffin not even getting to 40 – fantasy owners looking for a huge start to their week or the Clips announcers who were decorating their trapper keepers with flowery Blake Griffin pictures all game. P.J. Tucker got a little heart broken too! Blake went all dog pile on Tucker for really no reason. Tucker was like, "That's a clown dog pile yo!" and clocked Blake right in the chinny chin chin . Pow, right in the kisser! At one point, the announcer dude said, "See Blake just loses his footing…" Pshhhhh! Griffin is kinda like a high-flying, better-at-basketball Tyler Hansbrough. Burn! Regardless, ended the night with a ridic 14-16 FG and 9-10 FT 37/6/3/1/0 line. Did rack up 6 TOs and was limited to only 32 minutes due to fouling out. Shockingly, one of those 6 fouls wasn't for tackling a guy… I mean, I've seen that sort of tackle flagged in the NFL! Don't get me wrong, I like watching Blake, it's awesome how he can get under opposing teams' skin, and he's had a career fantasy year. Although, I think Slim might like him a little less since it's probably going to cost Tucker a game with a suspension. The notice comes from the league office with a letter that reads merely: "You've been Silvered!" Here's what else went down across NBA action last night:Please, blog, may I have some more?
Oh man, rough night for matt's Pacers! Al Jefferson just went absolutely bonkers, adding to his stretch of bonkertude giving Jefferson owners a huge boost for the playoffs. Owning Roy Hibbert like an Entertainment 720 entrepreneur, Big Al shot 16-25 in a full multi-cat dance party of 34/8/3/1/1 and even hit a three! Only his sixth of his career to pepper all the cats. Over his last 3, Jefferson has hit 44 of 65 shots for a very high volume 67.7 FG%. Jefferson hasn't played this well since his Minnesota days, and you can even argue this has been a career year. Which for a guy with the history Jefferson has put down in the stat sheets is really saying something considering how rocky it all started. Remember the ankle issue that had him sit a lot of games? Then the slow start? Because I sure do, and I steadfastly said "Hold me tighter baby!" Is that a song? I feel like there's something close to that… Anyway, hopefully you were able to buy low or weather the storm and now you're reaping some big man stats like it's the 90s. We miss you David Robinson! Two losses in a row for the Pacers, right after barely beating the Jazz. The Heat are now only 1.5 games behind, and might be taking the Pacers piece of the home-court advantage pie! Here's what else I saw last night in fantasy hoops:Please, blog, may I have some more?
- – do this anymore!!!! And that's appropriate too because when you run out of the Air Canada Centre, it turns from solid ground to ice! Both Kyle Lowry and Terrence Ross won't be frantically chasing down kids any time soon with ankle injuries last night. Lowry still finished out the OTs, but coach Casey said it was a bad booboo. He's had a ton of injury problems through his career, so I wouldn't be surprised if he misses at least a couple. We'll see after it gets re-evaluated today. Then Ross' sounds worse, happening in the 2nd quarter and he wasn't able to get back in. Ross can't! Stepped on a foot and it rolled. Those are never fun. Did shoot his freebies and walk off under his own power, so there's that. In shallow leagues, if Ross was giving you some points you sorely needed you can hold out maybe a game, but he's probably streamable. The main takeaway is Greivis Vasquez chose the perfect game to get hot, scoring a season-high 26 for a 26/2/8/2/0 line with 4 treys which is muy bueno. Did have 6 TOs which is muy mal. With the Raptors possibly missing both Lowry and Ross Sunday against Golden State, un opporunidad is there for Vasquez to have a major stream-tastic outing. You can sneak in Pts/3s/Asts/Stls and when you win, you're opponent is gonna be like, "clever girl!" Here's what else I saw last night in NBA hoops:Please, blog, may I have some more?
Wow, what a wild night across the NBA-osphere. Tons of injuries, lots of scrubs getting some burn, if I didn't know better, I woulda though it was late March. But no! I guess we can start with that other JB as Jerryd Bayless moved into the starting line-up and lit up the Hawks for a season-high 29 Pts. Shooting 12-21, it was pretty ThrAGNOFfy for 29/2/2/1/0 with 5 treys. Why you avoid the 3-point specialists on draft day! Who knows what preppy-boy Brad Stevens is going to do next, and while getting the Pacers on Saturday isn't a great matchup, home games vs. GS, BKN, then DET next week could be a 10 3PTM week for JB. And while he's not as multi-cat as the real JB over here, we can all grab the band if we need some scoring. I'll wear a headband as well for the moral support! Here's what else went down on a very busy night of injuries and surprise games in the NBA:Please, blog, may I have some more?
I can't for the life of me remember why we went to Walmart on a Sunday. It was probably for something pretty important but me and JB can get sidetracked pretty easily. Anyway, I don't want to be there any longer than necessary so when we go I insist we shop by the method we have fondly been calling The Heely Derby. It's just like the 80′s style Roller Derby, daisy dukes and all, only with Heelys instead of roller skates so we are slightly less conspicuous. I remember it was early in the race, we were gaining speed still, weaving around the blockers when out of nowhere I was caught with a forearm shiver that sent me flying. When I was able to finally free myself from the shirt rack and locate my adversary I was astounded by what I saw. She couldn't have been more than 8 years old, decked out in Hello Kitty paraphernalia and still locked in her Kung Fu like pose. Even in my shock I could tell something was wrong. Her kitty doll which no doubt was her most prized possession had been knocked to the ground. Still locked in her pose she slowly turned her head toward me and calmly demanded, "Say you're sorry".Please, blog, may I have some more?
The trade deadline is here! Today! And even though we had a few trades already go down, more are sure to proliferate through the league office. Hopefully the NBA has faster fax machines than the NFL. I mean, seriously on that Elvis Dumervil thing?! BREAKING NEWS! The Heat trade LeBron James to Cleveland for Anthony Bennett, but the trade was sent just over a month too late. Reports indicate it was sent on April 1st. Hah! Sent from some hooligan named David Stern… You've been punked Adam Silver! Back to reality, we've seen Marcus Thornton get traded to the grandpa Nets for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans and Steve Blake get all his fantasy value decapitated Hershel-Walking Dead style by getting shipped to the Warriors for Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks. The takeaways thus far is you can cut Blake in virtually all leagues, and in deeper leagues I actually think Reggie Evans could start at some point as the Kings 4. Jason Thompson is one of the many rumored on the trading block which would open up that role. I'm not saying Evans would play 30 minutes or anything, but could maybe average 8 boards a game while doing nothing else in the typical Evans fashion. So when I say deeper leagues, I mean deeeeeeper. We'll recap the rest of the trades in tomorrow morning's piece as well as in the comments throughout the afternoon to help with your fantasy moves. Here's what else went down in NBA action:Please, blog, may I have some more?
The All-Star Break is here! With skills competish, Mike & Mike in the evening, and everyone's favorite – the Slam Dunk Contest. It's exactly what everyone needs during the grind of the regular season, even for us fans who are only nursing such injuries like Larry Drew-ophobia, general malaise, and fantasy bewilderment. I have all of those symptoms! Plus we all get four straight nights of not worrying about our fantasy rosters, nights off to spend with ladies (Valnetine's Day just happens to be during the All-Star Break, who planned this? Does Jared own the NBA?!), nights off to go out drinking without constantly checking box scores on the iPhone, and nights off to spend working on some Fantasy Baseball rankings… Oh, and nights off to dig out our cars, sheesh this weather! So with all that in mind enjoy the All-Star Break, get on twitter and have fun faux-titling the Dunk Contest throwdowns, and I'll be back on Wednesday next week as we approach the fantasy playoffs. Here's what I saw last night in the few NBA games and a few injury updates:Please, blog, may I have some more?