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Miley Cyrus had better watch out what she's saying in public, especially when she's out for sushi in Studio City. Some of the tabloids got wind of her talking about her crazy sex life with boyfriend Liam Hemsworth.
She was dining at her favorite sushi spot, Kiwami. The National Enquirer reported that she gushed to her girlfriends: "There's no holds barred…the sex is wild! Liam fulfills all my fantasies, and I fulfill his." (They supposedly went into a lot of detail.) . . .
Sweet Selma Blair split up with the daddy of her baby, Arthur, who is 16 months old. The daddy, Jason Bleick, isn't in the picture anymore, but now the big question is who is the hunk that she's hanging out with in Studio City?(Ssome of the photos above.)
She's 40, and he's well, a bit younger, and they've been followed by photogs for two weeks. See photos in the Daily Mail (CLICK HERE)! . . .
Vanessa Hudgens is tireless! She goes to yoga three times a week (sometimes daily), and you can see some of the best photos above in the video montage above. She's shopping this week at one end of Studio City, then dining at a diner at the other end of Ventura Boulevard a few hours later, then out for dinner dressed up all fancy later in the evening. Click here, and you can see some photos of her in her leggings.
She isn't so friendly to the guys chasing her with cameras, but she's always sweet to fans, particularly the younger ones, and is fine about signing autographs and posing for pictures. . . .
While perusing the Studio City Farmers Market, a friend was telling me there was a notable woman walking the fruit stands (but he couldn't remember her name, so we don't know if it as a rare sighting or a typical one.) However, Mr. Studio City did see photographers following none other than Wayne Knight, the funny character actor who got gobbled up by a dinosaur in Jurassic Park and who worked nearby at the CBS Radford Lot when he guested on Seinfeld.

subset: commoncrawl


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Micklegate celebrates start of winter festival with lights switch-on (From York Press)
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Micklegate in York celebrates its winter festival with a Christmas lights switch-on
10:47am Saturday 24th November 2012 in News
MICKLEGATE celebrated the start to its winter festival last night when the Lord Mayor switched on its Christmas lights.
Traders on the street clubbed together to buy decorations for the street's Christmas tree and celebrated an official switch-on for the first time last year.
This year, Coun Keith Hyman said the Micklegate Action Group had worked hard, making the most of the Queen's visit to the city and to develop the marketing of the area.
Jack Baber, owner of Bill Baber Knitwear and a member of the Micklegate Quarter, said: "It is a symbolic moment signalling the start of our winter festival. We want to get people on the street, introduce the Micklegate Quarter, and drum up support for membership of the Micklegate Quarter next year."
Other events taking place during the festival include an affordable art and Christmas craft fair at Bar Lane studios and a children's storytelling events at We Are Your Emporium on December 1, a visit to the street from Father Christmas, The Stained Glass Centre Christmas fair and a children's Christmas crafts event at York Baptist Church on December 8, and An Audience with Charles Dickens at Jacob's Well on December 15.
The festival will close on December 22 with a carols event in Micklegate.
Comments (5)
Please log in to enable comment sorting
11:53am Sat 24 Nov 12
bob the builder says...
12:38pm Sat 24 Nov 12
Even AndyD says...
4:24pm Sat 24 Nov 12
roskoboskovic says...
8:49pm Sat 24 Nov 12
Even AndyD says...
roskoboskovic wrote:So what you suggesting? Make no effort? Knock the whole street down and build a car park? Or hey - maybe make an effort to keep things turning over until we are no longer living in the darkness of recession?
are they bloody mad.the street is a dump with very few shops of any interest and still plenty of vacant premises.is this called positive thinking or are they just deluded.
10:52am Mon 26 Nov 12
Blimp says...
Comments are closed on this article.


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Job: Owner, Abe's Gourmet Popcorn at 101A E. Main St. in Belleville (233-9010 www.abesgourmetpopcorn.com)
Outlook: "We thought, why don't we just expand our popcorn because everybody loves it anyway?"
It was two years ago this month when Dave and Sandy Schoenborn opened their gourmet popcorn business next to their movie theater, the Lincoln Theatre in downtown Belleville. Initially, they started with about 20 different flavors that included an assortment of buttered, cheese, caramel and chocolate popcorn. They have since doubled their selection that now includes black licorice-, cherry- and green apple-flavored choices. Dave Schoenborn recently invited business writer Will Buss over to talk popcorn:
Why did you start this business?
"Everyone always loved the Lincoln (Theatre) popcorn, and we've always had people who've come just to buy the popcorn here. We were doing some other remodeling (at the theater) and we thought, why don't we just expand our popcorn because everybody loves it anyway?"
Exactly how many flavors do you have?
"Well, we're saying over 40 now. We keep a fair amount on the shelf. Some of those are seasonal, and they come and go. Some of those are experiments. We have a few that we don't make regularly, but on request."
What is the most popular?
"The chocolate peanut butter and caramel. If you want to count by numbers, it's caramel and another that's caramel and cheddar together, and the chocolate-peanut butter is right up there with them. Those are the three top sellers."
So how does one make green apple or sour cream and chives popcorn?
"Some of the flavors we have are seasonings that we make and others are seasonings that you can buy commercially. But the key is to use good ingredients. For all of our ingredients, we try to use the top-notch seasonings to make it better. Real vanilla flavoring, not invitation vanilla. Stuff like that. Our caramel is our own recipe from scratch. I had a friend of mine give me the base and then we tweaked it to something we could manage and do here. Our cheddar isn't a powder. Our cheddar is a paste. We just don't have chocolate-peanut butter, we have flavored chocolate that we use. We mix all of that ourselves. That is something unique to us."
What kind of popcorn do you use?
"We use a mushroom corn. The mushroom is what you need to use to do the coatings, and on some of the savories I just use the theater popcorn because the kernel opens up more like a flower so the season has a place to catch on to. The mushroom corn is more smooth. So for the savories, we use the regular popcorn for that because it's more of a flower and has more places for the seasoning to hold on to."
Abe's Gourmet Popcorn is also available at the theater?
"Yes, you can always buy it at the theater concession stand. We're here during the day making it, but we may not be open at night, but on the weekends we tend to be open. We're open on Friday nights all of the time and then on Saturday, depending on how popular the show is at the theater."
How long has your family owned the theater?
"It's been in the family since 1980. And my wife and I have been running it since the mid-2000s."
How has this business complemented the theater?
"It seems to fit along really well. We're still learning how to do stuff en masse because we make everything in small batches. But as our volume picks up, we've got to figure out a better way to do that and we have a very small space here, too. We're still building the business."
Contact reporter Will Buss at email@example.com or 239-2526.


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(Posted on 11/29/13)
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I feel I have to start these reviews off with the fact that I'm a brick - 5'7" and 190lbs. I own a large Trio Jacket complex/system/kit. I actually really like it. I got it for those 20 degree days in CO (dry snow). However, I rarely wear it as designed. I usually wear my own base and mid-layer. I use the nylon from this jacket as the mid-layer for my Maximus for the super cold days. I should note, I am a normally warm-bodied individual. This jacket has a normal length, I would almost like it to be a bit longer (even for my height). But all in all, it's a good jacket. The Pertex seems flimsy, but shields well from the snow. It is not "warm" - you normally need to wear a layer or two when skiing. I have not used this is super wet conditions, and I would be leery to. I prefer a solid waterproof shell when the snow is damp (Maximus). But for CO, this is a great option, especially for those 30 degree spring days. My only complaint is when the hood is stowed, it makes for a super fat collar. Personal preference - I never use hoods. Well, almost never. All in all, I would recommend for "dry" country skiers. It's a great addition to your arsenal.
(Posted on 8/14/13)
- Men's Revel Trio Jacket (Review by By Mac)
Bought this jacket about 2 months ago. Just wore it for the first time in a decent rain and was disappointed. Significant dampness on the inside of the fabric. It was a good thing I had a fleece top on under the jacket or I would have been soggy. I had on rain pants from another manufacturer that were dry as can be.
(Posted on 11/10/12)


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Raleigh Fire Chief Earl Fowler will retire at the end of the year, the city announced Tuesday.
Fowler began his career as a firefighter while serving in the U.S. Navy and joined the city of Raleigh Fire Department in December 1971, following in the footsteps of his father, B.T. Fowler, who served the city as a fire inspector for 35 years.
He rose through the ranks, spending nine years as a firefighter, six years as a captain, three years as a district chief and nearly 10 years as assistant chief and fire marshal before taking the department's reins in 1999.
"What an outstanding career; that's about all you can say about 34 years as a leader in the field of public safety," said City Manager J. Russell Allen, in a news release. "Earl is the consummate fire professional who has provided terrific regional leadership."
Allen said that he will conduct a nationwide search to replace the fire chief.
Fowler, a Raleigh native, said that he is most proud of the regional partnership that has formed over his six years as fire chief, with the chiefs of the Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill fire departments.
Fowler said advances in technology and building safety have helped save hundreds of lives, but there is still work to be done.
"Most fire victims are lost in one- or two-family dwellings," he said. "So we've got to get sprinklers in those residences and continue to teach people about fire prevention."


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24/7 Monitoring Without a Phone Line.How it works
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You deserve to feel safe at home. The FBI unified crime report goes over some of the crimes that happen in Grove City, but one that stands out is that there are more than 222 burglaries here every year. Knowing this, you can probably see why Grove City residents want help from a home security system to keep their property safe and secure.
Property Crime-138 occurrences
Larceny Theft-71 occurrences
Burglary-22 occurrences
Motor Vehicle Theft-3 occurrences
Without a security system...
1 in
With a security system...
1 in
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With a series of computer-controlled earthquakes, simulating some of the most devastating in recent memory, engineers from Berkeley's Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) showed off new technology designed to keep bridges not just from collapsing in a catastrophic temblor but open to traffic. A 30-foot scale-model bridge, set up on the shake table (earthquake simulator) at the Richmond Field Station, was the star of the show, put on by Berkeley's Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER).
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By Rob Burgess
Tribune columnist
Friday saw a pair of horrific attacks perpetrated by young men on elementary school students living in villages, but with two distinctly different outcomes.
It was just after 8 a.m. in the village of Chengping, Henan Province, China, when a 36-year-old man was subdued by security guards after he stabbed 22 children arriving for school with a knife, according to The Associated Press.
Meanwhile, about 12 hours before and some 6,700 miles away, a 20-year-old man shot his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School in the village of Sandy Hook, Newtown, Conn., carrying a SIG Sauer 9-mm handgun, a Glock 10-mm handgun and a Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle.
In one of the incidents, the victims suffered only minor injuries. No one died.
In the other, 20 kids and eight adults, including the culprit, were slaughtered.
Care to hazard a guess as to which one is which?
Before I go any further let me stop and say this: I like guns. I really do. I grew up in southern Indiana where I shot rifles, handguns and shotguns. In college, my roommate and I had many an exchange about our zombie apocalypse plans while admiring his 9-mm handgun. When I lived in Northern California, some of the most fun I've ever had happened on top of a mountain in Mendocino County while target shooting with .22-caliber rifles. I've even shot black powder and antique flintlock guns while on assignment as a reporter.
I get it.
But you know the saying, "guns don't kill people, people kill people"? Well, as comedian Eddie Izzard once said, "I think the gun helps."
2012 has proven particularly gruesome. The Nation's George Zornick has tallied at least 16 mass shootings in the United States this year, leaving 88 dead.
Fear not, lovers of firearms: what gun control advocates think doesn't really seem to matter. It's one of those so-called "third rails" that no politician usually wants to touch. Candidates generally think of this as political suicide. In fact, polling conducted over the last 20 years by the Pew Research Center has consistently shown a sharp decrease in support for gun control legislation following mass shootings. In fact, those numbers presented a noticeable increase in support for gun rights following such incidents.
At present, no other country even comes close to touching America's rate of gun ownership.
"Americans don't just have more guns that anyone else – 270 million privately held firearms. They also have the highest gun ownership per capita rate in the world, with an average of about nine guns for every 10 Americans," wrote Max Fisher of The Washington Post. "The second highest gun ownership rate in the world is Yemen."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., told David Gregory, host of NBC's "Meet The Press," on Sunday she intended to introduce legislation banning assault weapons on the first day of the new legislative session. That may be true, but I'll be extremely surprised if this actually goes through. The National Rifle Association is roundly considered the most influential lobbying organization in Washington. The most recent legislation in the U.S. regarding firearms only expanded concealed carrying laws: Trained Michiganders can now carry these deadly weapons in schools, day care centers, stadiums and churches, reported Slate's David Weigel.
Was this bloodiness of the massacre in Sandy Hook significantly high enough to spur change? Was the body count high enough? Were the victims young and innocent enough? Can we finally engage in a realistic conversation about this issue? What about greater availability for mental health services? Might we add that to the agenda too while we're at it?
The parents of those poor children in rural China were no doubt shaken to their cores by the attack on their loved ones, but at least they all made it home that night. Twenty 6- and 7-year-olds in New England weren't so lucky.
I don't claim to know what the answer is, but that might be because we aren't even allowed to have the conversation.
Rob Burgess, Tribune night editor, may be reached by calling 765-454-8577, via email at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Friday Roundup: Math Geeks Make Good Dates
Today's roundup includes a tale of finding love through data and a look at dumb-people music.
This week's roundup includes a bit of the depressing (the U.S. has very little social mobility), a bit of the uplifting (math can lead to love), and the trivial but cool (a chart of our music tastes by decade).
Using numbers to find love: Data nerds are inherently attractive people, but this week came another story of someone taking it up a notch in the online dating world. Mathematician Chris McKinley used math, some truly impressive coding skills, and a willingness to go on lots of first dates to up his chances of finding Ms. Right on OKCupid. The best part? It worked.
[READ: Friday Chart Roundup: Booze, Bathrooms and Baltimore's Decline]
What new domain names are going to look like: Chances are that many of the websites you visit end in one of a few ways: .com, .org, .net, and .gov, for example. But come Feb. 4, addresses are going to become much more diverse, as the internet adds 1,000 new website address suffixes, technically known as gTLDs. Many new gTLDs are more descriptive than current choices; the new roster includes .tunes and .baby. Quartz helpfully mapped out the new names this week.
Economic mobility in the U.S. isn't getting worse: A new study from researchers at Harvard University and the University of California-Berkeley explained that mobility isn't getting worse, contrary to popular belief. It would be good news, except for one other key finding: mobility has for decades simply held steady at very low levels. (Bonus finding: the great state of Iowa is the most economically mobile state in the nation.)
[CHARTS: Among Best Jobs, It Pays to Be Stressed]
Google maps the music universe: Google has been watching what sort of music users have been listening to on its Google Play service, and using that data has charted what we're listening to, in some cases decades after the songs were released. The result isn't so much a map of the music scene over time as a map of what kind of music has phenomenal staying power.
Music that makes you dumb: Today's final link is a throwback to a study you might want to keep in mind while you sort through Google's music. Liking certain artists, it seems, could mean you're kind of dim. At least, that's what one researcher, Virgil Griffith, found when he matched up people's music tastes with their alma maters' average SAT scores, as reported by College Board. No, there's no causation; there is, however, another reason to make fun of Nickelback (And for those who are curious, Griffith did it for books, too.)
More News:


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« EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS - Lindsay Lohan Almost Crushed In Garage Door Incident | Main | Bruce Willis And Wife Expecting A Baby »
EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS – Is Jennifer Aniston Hiding A Baby Bump?
Posted on Wed Oct 26, 2011 06:45 AM PDT
Is Jen trying to hide something?
We spotted the Horrible Bosses star carefully covering her midsection as she waited for her car at the medical building in Los Angeles, on Tuesday.
Aniston has been paying frequent visits to an acupuncturist and to an orthopedist for her ongoing knee problems, but she's still wearing those high heels, of course!
The normally ultra-fit star has appeared to be a few pounds heavier, as of late -- sparking reports she's expecting her first child with beau, Justin Theroux. But Jen says it isn't so!
The former Friends star recently confessed to Britain's Hello! magazine: "No we're not pregnant. It's just I quit smoking, so I've gained a couple of pounds."
The 42-year-old star also took some time to clear up that "marriage" rumor, revealing:
- "I am not planning to get married any time soon. This ring that I'm wearing is not an engagement ring. I've been married once and I don't know if I'll get married again, but I can tell you that as of this very moment, as of today, I have no plan to get married. Got that?"
We got it!
But that doesn't mean there couldn't be a baby in the very near future!
Jen was spotted checking out an $8.7 million penthouse last Saturday in Manhattan's posh Grammercy Park neighborhood. The space boasts not one, but two nurseries, and a view of the only private park in NYC.
SEE THE GALLERY Jennifer Aniston Hides Her Tummy At Medical Building
EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS - Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux And Shirley MacLaine: Table For Three - Jul 12, 2012
Jennifer Aniston Is A Hair-Tossing Hottie With A Sexy Body - Jul 05, 2012
FIRST PHOTOS - Jennifer Aniston Wearing Diamond Ring After European Vacation With Justin Theroux - Jun 25, 2012
Jennifer Aniston And Justin Theroux Take A Roman Holiday - Jun 17, 2012
EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS - Jennifer Aniston And Justin Theroux Jet Out Of Town For Romantic Retreat - Jun 11, 2012


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Newburyport Daily News
---- — NEWBURY — Four local men have a plan to eradicate "phragmites ignorance."
This invasive common reed (phragmites australis) spreads quickly, out-competes native plants and is infamous among those familiar with marsh lands around the country. But most people who live and work next to the invasive reed don't know its name or the degree of harm it's doing to local wetlands.
Geoff Walker, Peter Phippen, Dr. Gregg Moore and Richard Hydren are hoping to change that by recording the efforts that will be made over this coming growing season to deal with common reed infestation in the Great Marsh in Massachusetts, with the objective of sharing the finished videos freely on YouTube.
Officials at The Trustees of Reservation, Massachusetts Audubon Society, the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Historic New England, Essex County Green Belt Association and Essex National Heritage Commission have all expressed an interest in having the videos available as teaching tools with links on their websites.
The roots of a phragmites plant extend deep into the bog, two to three times deeper than native plants. The reeds reach 12 to 18 feet in height at a density that direct sunlight cannot penetrate.
Even when conditions aren't ideal, the phragmites plant possesses several methods of expanding into the marsh. First, it can propagate through seed. Second, it expands through fast-growing roots and rhizomes (underground stems). Third, it increases in size through above-ground runners — each capable of producing countless stems along their length. Even the smallest phragmites patch can expand — doubling, tripling or more — from one growing season to the next if conditions suit.
In winter, the tall dried stems are a major fire hazard with many stands abutting homes and business properties.
Efforts to control the spread of the invasive plant have been underfunded for years, with mostly local money being invested.
The three men who have agreed to help educate the public represent some of the most knowledgeable people on the subject in the area. Moore is an assistant research professor at the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, University of New Hampshire; Phippen is the Coastal Resources coordinator for Eight Town and Great Marsh Committee; and Walker is a Newbury selectman and well known for his expertise on the Great Marsh.
The video will be produced by Richard Hydren, Rowley Chamber of Commerce president and owner of Staddles Productions, a video production company dedicated to recording stories about the Great Marsh.
The objective of "Danger in the Reeds" is to create a video series to be hosted on YouTube and shared freely with schools, town officials and various organizations with interests in wetlands all across the country. The series will focus on the life cycle of the plant, the harm it causes and the various strategies for dealing with the invasive reed.
To help fund this project, they have posted Danger in the Reeds on Kickstarter. More than 34 people who understand the problems phragmites create and the difficulty of educating the general public have made pledges totaling more than $4,800. Half-way through their 30-day period, they have more than half the pledges needed to reach their goal of $8,000.
To learn more, visit http://www.linkyy.com/eYU.


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Acura CL from North America Statistics
|Would buy another Acura?
|Would not buy another Acura?
|More Statistics
Newest Acura CL Reviews from North America
Reliable FWD version of a BMW
|1st Mar, 2013
I was going to buy a new TL, but I bought a new truck. Love this CL Type S 6 speed manual
|25th Jul, 2012
The Ultimate Underdog!
|13th Jul, 2011
I would recommend this car
|6th Nov, 2010
Newest Acura CL Comments on reviews from North America
|1 week ago
|2003 CL Type S
|5 weeks ago
|2003 CL Type S
|5 weeks ago
|2003 CL Type S
|8th May


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Have you seen Veronica Mars? Let's assume you have. If you haven't, go watch it so my assumption will be correct. You can thank me later.
Okay, now that we're all up to speed, who is one of the best characters on the show? Keith, the dad, played by Enrico Colantoni. If I could rent a father, I would rent Keith Mars. He's that awesome.
Well, Veronica Mars ended, but Enrico Colantoni is an actor, so he went on to other things. (You also saw him as Mathesar, the head of the Thermians in Galaxy Quest--but that was before VM.) You may have seen him in Flashpoint.
You probably didn't though, not a lot of people saw it. It was a summer-released show to see if it would take in the regular CBS fall schedule. Premise? Toronto, Ontario, Quebec SWAT team is trained in negotiating tactics to attempt to settle volatile situations without unnecessary body count. Redubbed the SRU, they get to be all empathetic and polite while reserving the option to shoot you in the head.
I gave the show a try because it's Keith Mars and Keith Mars deserves a shot. Unfortunately, it wasn't that good a show. I stalled out by the third or fourth episode and that was that. It went for three seasons and got canned.
Well recently, we got our basement repaired and set the TV back up. I was looking for something to watch and was in the mood for some Enrico Colantoni. I decided to skip the first season and see if season 2 got any better. Sometimes shows do that.
Oh how I wish I hadn't stopped watching! About episode 7 or 8 of the first season, the show REALLY found its groove. My wife and I just watched the entire second season in the span of a couple weeks (and I watched half the first season as well).
Here's the standard breakdown of the show: start with out-of-context climax then flash back to a few hours before. Introduce situation, respond, try different methods, resolve the situation, make you cry.
That last part happens enough that it is part of the standard show outline. My wife says the show could feature a goat in a pudding factory and it would still make you cry. She is not wrong about this.
The thing is, it breaks a lot of stereotypes in the procedural drama realm. The big tough guy doesn't have to be closed off emotionally. The sniper doesn't have to want to kill everyone and everything. Shooting the bad guy isn't always the best solution (rarely is), and just become someone is a bad guy doesn't mean the cops will look the other way while a victimized citizen introduces him to Old West justice.
We like to say it's because they're Canadian, but really I think it's just snappy writing. I love taking an established genre and turning it on its ear without clubbing it over the head with a baseball bat. It's good to see characters portrayed as human and the hardships they endure having to be in a job where their decisions can cost people's lives. (Lewis! *tear*) I wish it had hit its stride sooner. I would have watched it while it was on rather than a few years later when it was too late to give it my support.
Anyway, if you have Netflix, it's available for streaming.


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Problems with developing Ed-Tech in schools7 06 2012
Ed-tech is a joyful undertaking done by the luckiest and most talented teachers, working at the best schools in the world, who have all the time and resources they wish to have in order to complete their mission.
That's what it feels like sometimes, browsing the Twittersphere.
Allow me to bring some perspective to the overall picture. Lots of us little schools out there may strive to reach lofty ideals, but to get there can be a frustrating battle.
Where we are going
- From next year all teachers are expected to have a 'presence' in Moodle.
- I have been working on documentation of all our tools, including a detailed Moodle course on 'How to Use Moodle'. All staff have access to this before the school year starts and should be familiar.
- PD in the week before school, to ensure teachers understand their course creation privileges. Continued PD opportunities particularly in Q1 to keep Moodle course development moving.
- A new school information system, which will hopefully be integrated with our Moodle/GApps SSO.
- Have hired an ICT specialist for primary school whose focus/experience is on tech-integration (on the same page is vital).
Where I'm at
I am called the 'ICT Coordinator & Teacher'. And that's exactly what I do. I do what is essentially a full time job in itself (attempting the management and development of ICT) and have a full teaching load (9 classes, 98 students).
I was recently shown this diagram. And it scared me a little bit, and really got me thinking about the model we have to keep driving towards. How do you develop effective ICT staffing and job responsibilities. Well, I can tell you, having one person in charge of all PD, development, integration AND teaching doesn't work well, or not well enough. Unfortunately, not a lot will change next year, as I will still be teaching a full timetable. I hope that after having improved the access to the materials on using our VLE I will be able to free up more time to start some effective tech integration.
In many schools, I'm sure there are a number of barriers to effective Ed-Tech.
1) Top down
Involvement of technology in the curriculum and school-wide philosophy needs to come from the top down. We are disenfranchised if the school focus is elsewhere, and also if administrators 'do not get it'. It is not entirely hopeless, but you will end up working with only the willing, rather than as part of a school-wide push to improve in this area. That leads to fractured and ineffective use of technology. Without a top down drive into technology, there is little hope of providing off timetabled time for that purposes, as other priorities are in place.
Many of the best schools in regards to ED Tech actively hire teachers who already have an ed-tech background. For many schools, that is a luxury that is not afforded. And yes, those teachers who DO have proven ed-tech backgrounds deserve the best jobs, they are pushing the boundaries in their chosen subjects and are inherently creative and motivated.
3) Established
Schools with advanced and effective Ed-Tech have often chosen technology to be at the forefront of everything they do. They have also already established successful how departments work together effectively, and have other major focuses successfully completed like curriculum development and accreditation.
4) Resources
5) Misson/Vision
This kind of dovetails in with all of those above. The school needs to have 21st century learning in its mission, at its forefront, as an integral part of teaching and learning, and that expectation needs to hammered home to teachers.
6) Delivery
Co-planning for technology integration should not seem like 'extra work', rather an adaptation of what you are already doing, improving your classroom efficiency. Hence the delivery of PD and changes to practice needs kid gloves. Here again is a link to the importance of the support and vision of admin, where off-timetable meetings may help facilitate the process, rather than hanging back after school or during lunchtimes.


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July 31, 2014
July 2, 2014
On Tuesday, July 1, detectives with the Charlottesville Police Department arrested Joby Easton McCauley, a resident of Keswick.
McCauley has been charged with four counts of felony embezzlement.
She was subsequently released on bond.
Officials say McCauley has been employed by a local construction company and the embezzlement has occurred over a number of years. The loss to the business is said to be substantial and the investigation is still on-going.
If anybody has any information regarding this case please contact Detectives Bradley Pleasants or Lisa Best at 434-970-3280.


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Sony DSC-W830 20MP 8x Digital Camera
$90 + free shippingSHOP NOW
Posted 2 days 21 hr ago
Best Buy offers the Sony DSC-W830 20.1-Megapixel Digital Camera in Silver or Black for $89.99 with free shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find by $18. It features a 2.7" LCD, 8x optical zoom, image stabilization, 720p video capture, SDXC and Memory Stick Pro slot, and USB.


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MRC sets Thanksgiving service
Miracle Revival Center will host a Thanksgiving service at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The Grace Victors Gospel Group and others will perform. Rev. Stephen Grace said the service is open to the community.
The church is at 2865 South 13th.
Musical ministry at Glad Tidings
Glad Tidings Assembly of God will have guests Bill and Carol Bartolomucci at the 10:45 a.m. Sunday service.
Scheduled to perform a musical service, the couple is from Whitesboro, Texas. Their background includes radio and TV ministry.
Glad Tidings minister is John Douthitt and the church is at 1614 E. Beech.
Corum Assembly of God gets cowboy pastor
Corum Assembly of God's new minister is John Johnson, a longtime Empire rancher. Johnson is fulfilling his dream to serve as a cowboy church pastor.
His wife, Susan, will assist with the ministry in leading praise and worship.
Corum Assembly of God is 8 miles west of Comanche on State Highway 53.


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|Found 12 Cookbooks
|Revise this Search New Search
Food, Music & Fitness w/ Tarah D.by Physical Vitality I am a specialist in fitness nutrition and the owner of Physical Vitality health & wellness. I wanted to create a series..
Cost: $5.99
The Best of Brock: Celebrating 85 Years of Cookingby socrtwo This is the 5th in a series of cookbooks published by Claudie Brock on 5 year anniversaries (quinquennial) of Brock and ..
Cost: FREE
Eatalian. Mangia Italiano. Authentic and traditional.by luciano.schipano We are going to do a journey in the past and see how the Italian habits changed as well as recipes have been modified in..
Cost: $2.99
Just Give Me Chocolate!by chicbites Who can resist chocolate? In any form, this ingredient is divine. So dig in, pore over the recipes, and let your inner c..
Cost: $8.99
Savor the Foodby chefrandall Hi my name is Randall and I love to cook and bake. My passion is designing food. Taste matters but so does color. It's..
Cost: $3.99
50 Shades of Tasteby revmel 50 shades of Taste is a community cookbook to raise funds for TSRnetwork.com to help keep live TV broadcasting free for ..
Cost: $1.99
Kids Cuisineby ambles Kids cuisine is a cookbook for children and their parents to create healthy fun meals for all the family! My children l..
Cost: $1.99
KITCHEN CAUCUS Conservative Creationsby Kitchen Caucus KITCHEN CAUCUS Conservative Creations is intended for food and policy enthusiasts who are interested in politically insp..
Cost: $2.99
KITCHEN CAUCUS Liberal Helpingsby Kitchen Caucus KITCHEN CAUCUS Liberal Helpings is intended for food and policy enthusiasts who are interested in politically inspired r..
Cost: $2.99
Food Travels Through Italyby acooknotmad Who doesn't enjoy Italian food? Come with us as we travel through Italy and create authentic (and not so authentic) rec..
Cost: $2.99
Cupcake Wars Winning Blueberry Pancake Cupcake Recipeby goodiegirls Hello and thank you to everyone who has downloaded my last FREE cookbook with 5 amazing recipes! Some of these recipes ..
Cost: $0.99
$30 Wine+Food Pairingsby RickBakas The economy is in the toilet but don't put down that corkscrew just yet! You don't have to spend a lot to eat and drink..
Cost: $1.99


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Online Balboa Dance Lesson Video: The Bal Trot Basic
Lesson Info
Bal-Trot is a newly-created dance inspired by vintage footage of the Double Shuffle, which adapts Balboa and Bal-Swing steps to fit the context of a traveling dance. This lesson will give you everything you need to know to get started with this brand-new style!
Get the Whole Pack and Save
Instead of just the "The Bal-trot Basic" lesson, grab a whole Lesson Pack that it's part of at a 15% discount:
$11.94 $10.15
$105.47 $89.65


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There is a huge coal-burning plant in Lamar County, Ga., that produces a lot of electricity.
In order to do so it burns a lot of coal. Each and every day three coal trains arrive and each one is two miles long. This is described in Bill McKibben's new book "Eaarth" published in April 2010 (p187).
Now let's just do a little math.
Each rail car is about 50 feet long and has a capacity of about 120 tons each. This works out to about 105 coal cars per mile (5,280 feet) or 630 in a three-train day. This corresponds to about 75,600 tons of coal delivered, and consumed, a day. That is every day. One more calculation suggests that this one plant alone consumes about 27,594,000 tons per year. Now that is a mountain of coal.
If we connected together all these coal cars used in one year, it would stretch for 2,190 miles, or the distance from Plattsburgh to just short of Salt Lake City, Utah. Incidentally, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) website, in 2008 there were 599 coal-burning plants of varying sizes in the United States though none apparently as large as this one in Georgia.
When the carbon in coal from this one Georgia plant alone is burned, it combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide gas with a total weight of over 100 million tons annually. And guess where this goes — yup, into the atmosphere. And this is only a tiny fraction of the total emissions that we produce.
Coal formation and consumption
Note that in the map (inset) of the coal fields of the United States, the EIA reports that over 1 billion short tons (1 short ton equals 2,000 pounds) of coal was mined, and burned, in 2009. Small amounts of this coal are exported but additional coal is also imported from Colombia, Venezuela and Indonesia. The United States coal was laid down long, long ago during four periods of the Earth's history when the planet was very, very warm and humid, and with carbon dioxide levels several times higher than today.
These periods are the Carboniferous from 280 million to 360 million years ago, the Triassic from 205 million to 245 million years ago, the Cretaceous from 70 million to 140 million years ago, and the Tertiary from 2 million to 7 million years ago. In just a few centuries we will return most of this fossil carbon, locked away for up to hundreds of millions of years, into the atmosphere.
Here is one more interesting fact that might bring these numbers closer to home. If we run one 100-watt light bulb continuously for one year it would require the combustion of 966 pounds of coal, or almost one half ton.
It takes a moment for numbers this big to register and settle in. At least they do for me. What they do show is the enormous nature of the problem that we face in the United States, and globally, as we try to grapple with how we can reduce our fossil fuel consumption as we follow our energy intensive lifestyle.
But why is this consumption and the resulting carbon dioxide emissions a problem? Let's take a closer look.


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M Sport package.
Take sport to the streets: show everyone just how wild your BMW 2 Series Coupé really is with the M Sport package. Combined with the M Aerodynamics package (included), it's an optical exclamation mark that makes its abilities clear even before you make your intentions known.
The M Sport package featuring M Sport suspension and M Aerodynamics package with specialised front apron, side skirts, and rear apron was designed with especially sporty drivers in mind. Large 17" M light alloy wheels in Doublespoke style 460M help emphasise the athletic styling. The BMW Individual High-Gloss Shadow Line features high-gloss Black side window surrounds, including on the mirror base and frame. Eight wide kidney grille slats finished in high-gloss Black, the side "M" logo, chrome tail pipe, and exclusive Estoril Blue paintwork complete the M Sport package aesthetics.
Other colours for the M Sport package are also available, including Mineral Grey metallic, Black Sapphire metallic, Glacier Silver metallic, Mineral White metallic, Alpine White non-metallic and Melbourne Red metallic.
18" M light alloy wheels in Double-spoke style 461 and the Chrome Line are also available.
The M Sport package features an interior with M door sill finishers and sport seats for the driver and front passenger in exclusive M-style Anthracite Hexagon cloth/Alcantara upholstery with contrast stitching in Royal Blue. Further highlights of the M Sport package include the M driver foot rests, shortened gear lever with the "M" logo, M leather steering wheel with multifunction buttons and instrument cluster featuring speedometer and tachometer with red chronoscales and red accent rings. The interior trim in Aluminium Hexagon with Estoril Blue accent lines is particularly sporty. Orange-red and white variable interior lighting provides an athletic atmosphere. The BMW Individual Anthracite headliner on top complements the dynamic look. The radio remote control with Estoril Blue detailing puts the finishing touches on the M Sport package.
Black Dakota leather, Oyster Dakota leather, Terra Dakota leather and Coral Red Dakota leather are also available with the M Sport package upon request.


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The Knights of Columbus of Hampton Bays with the help of friends from the Varsity Club of Hampton Bays High School, the Boy Scouts of Troop 483 and many others, held their annual Christmas party for the developmentally disabled on Dec. 1.
The party was held at St. Rosalie's Community Center.
Guests arrived from all over the East End and enjoyed games, lunch, magic by Wazoo the Clown, and a visit from Santa and his elves bearing gifts for all.
Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.


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3rd Annual Taste of MetroWest
Tue, Mar 12, 2013
Times: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Venue: Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center
1657 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701Contact:
Beth Reynolds
0 people saved this
Representatives from the area's finest restaurants, caterers, gourmet and ethnic markets, gift boutiques, wineries, brew houses and local purveyors of fine liquors will offer delicious samples of food and beverages at this event. Over 40 exhibitors expected!
There will be "People's Choice" awards for different food and beverage categories, giving "Taste" guests the final say as to who is "Best of the MetroWest."
Discovering deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
Among all the great museums spread across Massachusetts, deCordova is a special one. Located just 20...
Search All Listings Here.


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The Nazareth Area High School Theatre Troupe will kick off the highly-anticipated winter break with its "Winter in Nazareth Variety Show."
Curtains will rise at 7 tonight (Dec. 21) in the high school auditorium.
Admission is $2. All proceeds will be donated to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund, which was established to provide direct monetary assistance to families of victims and the Newtown, CT, community.
The variety show will feature Christmas favorites, including "There's No Place like Home for the Holidays" and "Hey, Santa," and scene performances from "A Christmas Carol."
Holiday goodies and snacks will be available for purchase after the show.


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Don't Miss the Pot de Creme at Marla Bakery Next Sunday
There's been no shortage of deliciousness coming out of pop-up Marla Bakery, run by former Nopa pastry chef Amy Brown and Joe Wolf formerly of Wise Sons. But one thing that consistently stands out is baking duo's pot de cremes in various flavors. French for literally "pot of creme," it's a rich custard reminiscent of panna cotta or creme brulee without the sugar crust, and is usually pretty forgettable. Not here. The first time I had one was at the third anniversary of Pal's Takeaway -- it was chai-masala flavored, with just a hint of warming spices topped by a soothing rose and huckleberry syrup, and was startlingly good.
Anna Roth Chai-masala pot de creme with rose and huckleberry syrup from Marla Bakery.
See also: Earl Grey and Panna Cotta Make Beautiful Music Together at Cowgirl Creamery
Yesterday I took a breather from Bay to Breakers madness to check out Marla Bakery's pop-up brunch at State Bird Provisions. Everything we ordered was tasty -- the savory leek tart with perfect flaky buttery crust, the lamb with a delicate yogurt sauce made with Middle Eastern spices, the rose and chocolate macaron. But what I'll remember is the subtle coconut pot de creme topped with a cap of intense bittersweet chocolate from Dandelion. I ate much more than my fair share because I kept sneaking back for bites when my friends weren't paying attention.
You can still catch Amy and Joe in action for one more Sunday brunch at State Bird Provisions, on May 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Follow @annaroth
Follow @sfoodie


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I stopped travelling mid-May (I arrived home in Boulder from San Francisco on 5/17). I've decided not to travel at all for the rest of 2013, except for three personal trips (my parents 50th anniversary, Amy's birthday, and my birthday.) After travelling 50% – 75% of the time for the last 20 years, I needed a break.
It has been awesomely mindblowingly great to not travel.
I've had three other periods of extended no-travel in the last 20 years. I stopped travelling for three months after 9/11. Two summers ago Amy and I spent 60 days together in Europe (half in France / half in Tuscany) just living (no travel). Last summer we spent 90 days at our house in Keystone. It's clear I had a taste of this, but nothing like where I am right now.
Even though it has only been seven weeks, when I look forward to the rest of 2013 I feel huge amounts of open space and time in front of me. I know this has helped me come out of the depression, which I just wrote about in an article in Inc. Magazine, that I struggled with for the first part of this year.
But it's more profound than that. In a few short months, I've changed my work pattern a lot. I feel so much more rested and alert. When I'm doing something, I'm in the moment. The companies I'm an investor in are all over the place, but I feel like they are actually getting more of my attention because I'm not being torn in a zillion different directions.
I don't feel like I'm constantly trying to jam in the "work" around all the friction time – in airports, in taxis and cars being driven to things, before I head out to yet another dinner on the road, or late in my hotel before I go to sleep. My environment is familiar and comfortable and things just flow.
I'm mastering video conferencing – I've now got every configuration a human could need. I figured out three big things that solve for 99% of the strangeness of it.
- Make your video conference full screen – don't have ANYTHING else going on your computer other than what is in the meeting.
- Use a BIG monitor – seeing heads that are normal size makes a huge difference.
- Make sure your audio and video are on channels with enough bandwidth. Shift to a conference call for audio while keeping video up if you are having performance issues.
I've also started using my Mezzanine video conferencing system extensively – it's just incredible. More on that in a separate post.
I love Boulder and I'm finding myself running a lot again. It's hard to run as much as I'd like when I'm on the road – early morning meetings, fatigue, and being in random places gets in the way. But here, I just put on my shoes and head out the door for one of my favorite trails. With or without Brooks the wonder dog.
On that note, I think I'll go for a run right now.
I was at the annual meeting for one of our LPs yesterday. Promptly at 10am the took away the breakfast buffet. I was getting a new cup of tea at the time and watched them haul off trenchers of food that would easily feed 50 people. I had the same experience the previous two days at the SERGE event as several of the meals were buffet style and at the end of the meal there was still food for a group that was equal to or larger than us left.
Tuesday night dinner at SERGE was a sit down meal in a ballroom. The food was "ok" but not awesome and when I looked around there was a lot left uneaten, especially the dessert which was about as many calories as the main course. It was a pretty simple four course meal – soup, salad, main, and giant dessert. I found out after that the cost for each person was $300. Now – I've had my share of $300 meals – the one we had that night was a $50 meal at best.
I probably wouldn't have noticed this if I hadn't had three things connect – the giant waste of food on Monday and Tuesday (which I mentally noted on Tuesday at lunch), the trenchers full of food being hauled away Wednesday morning, and the $300 / person ticket for the mediocre meal at a top end hotel on Tuesday night.
It feels a lot like getting charged $15 / day for Internet service when you stay at a $400 / night hotel. The hotel is just jacking you on price because they can. But it feels worse when it's a perishable good, like food, that is going to just get tossed in the trash.
I have no clue what to do about it but figured it was worth a rant. Maybe some of you have constructive suggestions.
I travel constantly – at least 50% of the time and sometimes as much as 75% of the time. My partners at Foundry Group all travel a lot – think 100,000 miles per year for each of this.. We committed to this when we started Foundry Group as our strategy was to invest across the United States while being based in Boulder. We knew that we were signing up for a lot of travel.
The travel itself sucks much of the time, but I'm come to terms with it and just thinking of myself as baggage when I get to the airport. I'm baggage until I leave the airport that is my destination. I'm good at sleeping on planes so I often get to experience time travel – where I go to sleep before takeoff and wake up at landing.
However, the process of making travel reservations absolutely sucks. My amazing assistant Kelly takes care of it and uses plenty of different tools available to her, including a travel agent. But the online tools, travel agent, endless email coordination, and calendar madness sucks. And then it gets worse as I constantly change my mind, have new things move a trip around, or travel changes occur in the middle of a complex trip. Add in trying to coordinate my wife Amy's travel to overlap with mine when we go, or end up in, places together and you have a giant, soul crushing, time suck for Kelly.
There must be a better way. I don't care if it costs more – I'd probably be willing to pay another $10,000 / year to make this 10x easier for Kelly. I don't know how much of her time she's spending on it at this point, but I know it's probably the worst and least satisfying part of her job. Plus, I want her to get all that time back so she can work on other stuff!
Any suggestions out there? Software, services, or better approaches welcome.
At some point in the future, the machines will take over. At that time the machines can create Feldborgs if they so desire; until then there is only one of me.
After a day like today it's hard to accept that I can't go to every city on the planet and talk about Startup Communities. Today I was in LA – starting at LaunchPad LA, followed by a meeting with Ivee (so, so cool), then an interview with Jason Calacanis for This Week In Startups, and finishing up with a fantastic evening at Cross Campus, first with about 20 VCs who are the core of the LA VC community and then 300 or so entrepreneurs talking about Startup Communities until late in the night. It was an awesome day and my last travel day of the year.
On Monday, Kelly and I had a chance to go through my 2013 calendar and lock down commitments around Foundry Group and the companies I'm involved in, Startup Communities, and most importantly my beloved, Amy. While I am flattered by the plethora of interest in Startup Revolution, I don't have the ability to do something physically in many of the cities (or countries for that matter) that I have been requested to visit in 2013. I'm tempted to revisit this after a great day like today, but I've made a commitment to myself and to Amy that I'm going to approach travel differently in 2013, and part of that is locking down where I'm going to be in advance of the start of the year.
However, just because I can't be everywhere physically doesn't mean I can't participate remotely via Skype, Google Hangout or some other form of video conferencing technology. I've been gradually increasing this form of participation and have had great success with it. If for some reason I can't make it to see you, but you think a remote session would be useful, just ask.
In the meantime, keep an eye on Startup Revolution where I will be posting book tour cities and dates for 2013 shortly. And – LA Startup Community – thanks for today. Y'all are awesome.
Put this in the "every business traveller thinks this on a regular basis" rant category. Sure – I'm whining, but I imagine I'll feel better after I get done. I doubt it has any impact on the universe, but hopefully it'll be a story that rings true to some of you out there who travel as much as I do. And to my friends at Starwood and AT&T, you made my day yesterday, which was already intense, a lot harder than it needed to be.
I just woke up, made some coffee, turned on my computer, and noticed that my hotel bill was shoved under my door. Last night before I went to bed I tweeted "Dear AT&T and Westin Hotel Wifi: I give up. Good night." I rarely look at my hotel bills but this time I was curious so I grabbed it. $323.10 for the room, $32.32 for State and County Tax, $9.95 for Internet Service, and $180.76 for 10 telephone calls.
Remember that I said I rarely look at my hotel bill. I travel constantly and I'm what I'd describe as a high end utilitarian traveler. When I travel alone I'm not terribly picky about the hotels I stay at, generally prefer modern to classic, just want a dark, clean room that I can make cold at night, and want to be left alone. I try to be super polite to the hotel staff while simultaneously very low maintenance.
I used to be annoyed that I'd pay $500 or more for a room and get hit with a $14.95 bill for Internet access. I stopped being annoyed by that a while ago and just view it as part of the cost of the room. I don't watch television so my time in the room is spent working on my computer, talking on my cell phone (or my computer via Skype or Google Chat), sleeping, or being in the bathroom. That's it. Oh – and I appreciate the free coffee service in the room since I get up at 5am and there's rarely a coffee option anywhere until 5:30am.
Yesterday at about 2pm I arrived at the Westin Arlington Gateway. I've got a set of meetings tomorrow at the National Science Foundation so I'm staying down the block. My amazing assistant Kelly had scheduled a dozen phone calls between 2pm and dinner so I figured I'd just sit in my room and grind away on calls and email. A few of my calls where Skype calls and my phone number is a Google Voice number so I'd just sit in front of my computer and work in between the calls.
When I checked in at 2pm, the room they had assigned me to wasn't ready. The guy checking me in was super nice, asked me a bunch of questions (do you want a high floor or a low floor, near the elevator or away from the elevator) to which I answered "I don't care – whatever room you have will be fine, and found me a room. He informed me that my Starwood preferred number was on file (whatever that means) and was very polite.
I plopped down in my room, took out my laptop, went through the "connect to the Internet" process which appeared to cost $9.95 for the day, and got to work.
After 10 minutes I knew I was screwed. The Internet performance was painfully slow. Since I had back to back calls, I didn't have a window to call "tech support" and have them take a look so I put up with it for a little while. I figured I'd use my iPhone as a hotspot as the backup and switched over to it. That was even worse. I tried to make a phone call with my iPhone instead of Google Voice. It took three tries for it to go through and then it dropped after 60 seconds.
I was officially in RidiculousTelecommunicationStan. I struggled through the first few calls (anyone on the other end, especially the poor souls on Skype, could probably sense my frustration and theirs was probably higher) before giving up and switching to the landline in my room. Yes – a landline. I had to think for a moment whether to dial 9 first or 8 first (remember that I'm in a hotel), got it right, and simply made all the calls from that phone. Internet performance was still miserable, but by using Sparrow I managed to work "semi-offline" and the emails went through what seemed to be simulating a 2400 baud modem.
Eventually I had 15 minutes between calls so I pressed the "Service Express" button on the phone to ask for Internet tech support. The nice person took down my info and said someone would call me back. They did 15 minutes later which overlapped with my next call. I eventually called them back just as I finished up but before I left for dinner. We did all the standard troubleshooting things which indicated that the Internet was slow and after an escalation, resulted in someone "resetting a router" remotely. I went to dinner, was about 15 minutes late, but was optimistic that when I got home I'd be able to jam through another hour or so of email.
No such luck. After calling Amy on the land line and saying goodnight, I struggled through 15 minutes of email before deciding to just screw it and go to bed. I tweeted out my frustration and quickly got a response from @StarwoodBuzz that said "Sorry about that. If you can DM us your stay details in full, we can do our best to help. We've followed you." Nice, but I was done for the night, closed my laptop, and will DM them this blog post and see what happens.
And then I woke up this morning, started a cup of coffee, and noticed by $180.76 bill for 10 phone calls. Total stupidity on the part of Starwood where I'm apparently a "not very preferred guest." It's been a long time since I resorted to using the landline in my hotel room and it didn't even occur to me that they'd rip me off like this. I remember staying in a Marriott near an airport recently and the cost for Internet and unlimited long distance phone calls was $9.95, so I'm doubly perplexed. And I don't see any of those little plastic signs saying "if you use this phone to make a call we are going to charge you $2 per minute" (which is what it appears they were charging based on a few of the calls.)
I can't remember the last time I made a fuss when I checked out over a hotel bill. I'm sure I eat some extra charges her and there, but whatever. This morning, when I head downstairs, I'll ask to have all the phone calls taken off my bill. We will see what happens.
In the mean time, I'm going to keep reminding myself that this is 2012, not 1996, where we are just discovering the expensive magic of Internet in hotel rooms. I look forward to 2024 when I no longer have a landline in my room and the Internet works flawlessly for the $9.95 I pay a day to use it. Or maybe AT&T will work in the middle of Arlington, Virginia. Or maybe pigs will fly.
Update: The manager at the Starwood Arlington left a message for me that he had reversed all of the charges. So he did the right thing and I appreciate that. An AT&T customer service person also called and assured me he would talk to the hotel and explore if there is a dead spot in the area. I'm now on Acela to NY where their Wifi doesn't work for shit but AT&T is tethering ok today. Now, if I could only get the soccer mom two rows up to stop telling stories about her 7th grade son's soccer team I'd maybe be in a less grumpy place.


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Home School Heartbeat Radio Program
|Click here to get Home School Heartbeat's daily e-mail transcripts
On this week's program, meet Krisa Winn, HSLDA's newest special needs consultant! "When I can provide a timely word or resource, I know it helps [a member] to realize that God is walking alongside them in this journey and that they're not alone." — Krisa Winn
Program Listing:
Krisa Winn
Krisa Winn holds a bachelor's degree in early childhood and elementary education from Arkansas State University, and an associate's degree in practical theology from Christ for the Nations Institute. For more than 20 years, she has been a classroom teacher in both the private Christian school and public school settings. She has also worked as a private tutor and early childhood intervention specialist. Throughout her career, she has had many opportunities to work with children with various special needs. She is fascinated by the marvelous design of the human brain, and loves helping children and parents discover the key to unlocking the door to learning. Krisa joined the HSLDA family in 2012. Besides teaching young children, Krisa enjoys singing, playing piano, leading worship, blogging, and taking walks. After almost 23 years of marriage, Krisa and her husband were blessed with the birth of their first child, Grace. Three years later, their second miracle baby, Karis Joy, was born. Krisa, Byron, Gracie, and Karis make their home in Winchester, VA.


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Weatherford Democrat
ANNETTA — Here is a look at the candidates seeking Place 3 or Place 5 on the Annetta Town Council. In Place 3 incumbent Chuck Sheridan faces challenger Joann Jessup. Mike Brasovan and Kent Stasey are running for Place 5, currently held by Farrar Patterson, who did not refile.
Position: Annetta Town Council, Place 3
Name: Chuck Sheridan
Age: 66
Occupation: senior vice president, mortgage lending, Omni American Bank
Family: wife Laurie, 24 years; two sons (Dayton and Brendan) both graduates of Aledo ISD and both currently enrolled in college
How long resided in city: 24 years in the same home, which was annexed into Annetta city limits two years ago
Community involvement: member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church; Board of Realtors; Mortgage Bankers Association
What are the three most important issues the city is facing? How do you plan to address those?
First, the water system is a critical issue to the citizens of Annetta and the customers of our
water system, many of whom do not currently reside inside the city limits of Annetta. The
engineers hired by the city told us that we needed three wells in order to bring the water
system into maximum efficiency. One well has been drilled and is now operational. We need to work with all concerned to find suitable site locations for the remaining two wells and complete that process. We also need to work together to develop a plan to insure that maintenance and repairs on the system are up to date.I believe that the appointment of the Water Advisory Committee was one of the best things the Annetta City Council has ever done. The members of the advisory committee studied the issues facing the city and provided sound advice that has helped the mayor and council move forward. At this time, I do not think the city is ready to take over the day-to-day operation of the water system from Hudson Oaks. As noted in the Water Advisory Committee's report, and backed up with financial data they provided, Annetta simply cannot operate the system as well or as cost efficiently at the present time as Hudson Oaks is doing. We are still in the learning phase. While we someday hope to take over the operation of our water system, now is not the time. Second, the proposed annexation of approximately 450 homes into the town of Annetta is an issue that must be appropriately dealt with by the council. I am in favor of the annexation of area residents serviced by the city's water system. When new residents are brought into the city, the city will be able to collect franchise fees paid by the utility companies those families use.I have estimated that this will increase the revenue earned for the Town of Annetta by approximately 100 percent over what is currently being paid to our town by utility companies. This additional revenue will enable Annetta to pay for much needed road repair and establish an annual road maintenance plan. In addition to increased revenue, this will enable more citizens to have input into city government and an opportunity to serve our community. This would hopefully result in better representation of the entire community.
Road repair and maintenance is also an issue that is extremely important to our entire community. When our roads are in disrepair, as they are now, accidents are more likely and our vehicles are subject to costly damage. This is not good for anyone. The Town of Annetta has very limited funds to repair roads. In fact, it was only two years ago that the council established a form process to budget for road repairs. One benefit of the annexation of additional homes on the water system would be increased revenue from franchise fees, some of which could be designated for road repairs. We must fix the roads that are currently in need of repair and develop an annual road maintenance plan so that work is done before the roads get in such bad shape. Like most things in life, maintaining a road is much more cost effective than repairing it after problems develop.
Are you for or against the annexation of area residents served by the city's water system? Why?
At the December 20th council meeting, I made a motion to accept the annexation petition and start the process for two public hearings. This would have allowed the entire community to have questions answered and concerns addressed. The purpose of the public hearings, according to state law, is to allow a time period during which the "pros and cons" of the issue can be discussed by all involved. Unfortunately, my motion died for lack of a second. Every member except Farrar Patterson was present. Mayor Pinckard called a special meeting on January 3, 2013, to discuss annexation again. Again, I made a motion to begin the process of public hearings. My motion again died for lack of a second.
In March the council held a workshop on annexation. Community members (Annetta residents and water customers) attended. Questions were asked and concerns raised. Two primary issues came out. First, what costs would be incurred by the city if the homes were annexed into the city - primarily costs of maintaining the roads where these homes exist. Second, how much income might be derived from these households if they are added to the city's rolls to help offset those costs.
Within a few days after that workshop, we had the answers. Commissioner Renfro gave his assurance that prior to any annexatian, the county would bring all county roads to be annexed up to county standards. Furthermore, we were able to determine the approximate costs associated with road maintenance. We contacted utility companies to determine possible income from franchise fees. Each time a customer pays a bill to a utility company, that company pays a franchise fee to the city. For those who live outside of Annetta, that income is "left on the table." So, even though those families use Annetta-owned water and drive across Annetta-maintained streets, Annetta doesn't collect the franchise fees from their utility companies. We determined that the increased franchise fee income from the annexation should increase income to Annetta by approximately 50 percent over the amount now collected annually. This would cover any increase in road repair expenses.
These questions, raised at the workshop, are exactly the kind of benefit that comes from the public hearing process. I support the annexation of these families. They are our water customers and our neighbors. They contribute to our schools and our community. Clearly, they will bring many added benefits to Annetta.
Why do you believe you are the best candidate for the position? What separates you from your opponent?
I have lived in the same home here for 24 years. I raised both my sons here in the Aledo school district, and my wife and I have been active in the community. I decided to run for the city council two years ago because I wanted to represent my friends and neighbors, and to help make the best decisions possible for the entire community. I am not a politician. I'm a husband, a father and a businessman. I care about my community, and it has been a privilege to serve. Having served for the past two years on the city council, I believe I have invaluable experience regarding the internal operations of the City of Annetta. I have proven myself to be a voice of the people; I have presented myself with professionalism and shown fiscal responsibility with the city's assets. I have helped provide integrated solutions to solve the problems of the city and earned the mutual respect of not only fellow council members, but also the citizens of the community. I have never started anything in my life that I haven't finished. I decided to run for re-election because I believe that we still have some work to do. I am grateful for the support I've received and I respectfully ask the people of Annetta to vote for me again, so that we can continue the work we've started and finish the projects on the table. I promise I'll do my best to serve with integrity and honesty as I have done the past two years.
Position: Annetta Town Council, Place 3
Name: Joann Jessup
Age: 41
Occupation: sales / certified public accountant
Family: husband, 13 years; two boys (ages 5 and 7). Both attend Aledo schools; two dogs, Hank and Bogie
How long in Annetta: 5 years
Community involvement: Aledo youth soccer coach for 4 years, Aledo youth baseball coach for 4 years
What are the three most important issues the city is facing? How do you plan to address those?
High water rates: As a Deer Creek water customer myself, I too am frustrated by the high water rates. Just the water for inside my house in the winter runs over $100. I would like to see lower water rates and plan to use my skills as a CPA to investigate the finances of the water system to determine if we can make changes that allow for lower water rates.
Lack of water supply: Not being able to water at all in the summer is very frustrating for all of us water customers. I would like to see more water wells and tanks constructed in areas that do not lower or depreciate home values. I will push for more resources toward constructing these wells and tanks and getting them operational in a timely manner.
Road Conditions: Our current road conditions are not optimal. The council was able to budget $15,000 for roads and will use that money to repair only a small section of roads in our town. I would like to see more money budgeted for roads if possible, especially if the annexation of more residents occurs.
Are you for or against the annexation of area residents served by the city's water system? Why?
There are some great reasons to annex the area residents that are serviced by the water system. By annexing these people in, they will have a vote in the city elections and can elect individuals that share their ideals and concerns on the water system. This will also give these neighbors a feeling of community instead of feeling like outsiders. Annetta will also have more oversight on zoning of these areas and can assist in keeping the "small town" feel that most people desire. However, as a CPA, my concern is the finances. There needs to be an independent analysis done to look at the increase of revenues compared to the increase in expenditures this will create. The annexation would possibly double the town's population, and the increase in revenues may or may not be able to cover the increase in expenditures brought on by this. Just an example, is our roads. The town was able to budget $15,000 for roads in 2012. That will only cover a small portion of roads. The annexation will increase the number of roads in our town. I do not want to annex these folks in and then not be able to provide them with the necessary road repairs they deserve.
Why do you believe you are the best candidate for the position? What separates you from your opponent?
I believe my 20 years in business and sales as well as the fact that I am a CPA qualifies me for this position. I am independent and am not running in any group; therefore, you can be assured that I will not align myself with any one councilman or mayor on an issue based on who I ran the race with. I will look at all the issues independently, collect the facts, report the truth, and vote based on what is best for the people of Annetta and not my own personal gain. I have a strong voice and am not afraid to state my opinion. I will admit when I am wrong. I have a strong track record of negotiations and conflict management. I promise to work professionally with other members of the council and not hold disagreements personally.
Position: Annetta Town Council, Place 5
Name: Mike Brasovan
Age: 43
Occupation: energy/utility consultant
Family: wife Karen, 19 years; two kids, ages 16 and 17.
How long resided in city: 1.5 years in Annetta, 8 years in Annetta North
Community involvement:
Chairman Elect for the Parker County Center of Hope Board of Directors
Member of the East Parker County Chamber of Commerce (EPCC)
EPCC Business Development Committee member (which interacts with local governments in Aledo, Willow Park and Hudson Oaks)
EPCC Legislative Affairs Committee member
Men's Bible study leader at Trinity Bible Church
Former Sunday school teacher at Christ Chapel Bible Church
Delegate to the Texas Republican Convention – 2008, '10, '12
Delegate to the Republican National Convention - 2008
What are the three most important issues the city is facing? How do you plan to address those?
Annexation Request: Bringing ~590 houses into the city would roughly double Annetta's population. I was one of the few citizens that spoke during the December meeting about this, and was generally supportive of the request. However, I also encouraged the council to take its time to make sure it was done right and would be a good thing for the city. The city, as of late March, still didn't have the data necessary to determine if the annexation would be good or bad financially for Annetta. We need that information before a decision can be made.
Water System Improvements: Upgrades need to be made to the system and the city has borrowed the money to accomplish this, but well sites haven't been identified for both ends of the system and tank locations are needed on the north end. I recently located an old contract between the water system and Split Rail developers that should have put the north side improvements in place at no cost to the water system. This same agreement gives free water to the golf course. It is my hope that an amicable solution can be put in place between the contract's parties, saving the water system at least some of the $200,000 to $300,000 needed for north side improvements and hopefully move the projects forward quickly.
Unifying Annetta: We need someone able to work with the council, even members they disagree with, to make sensible, timely decisions. I have a demonstrated track record of doing that and doing it well. I am not aligned with any candidate or council member, and am not beholden to any group with an agenda. I am independent, able to listen to both sides, and will vote based on what's best for the city as a whole.
Are you for or against annexation of area residents served by the city's water system? Why?
I am for whatever is best for the City of Annetta. As I stated earlier, we don't have all the facts to determine the costs and benefits of the annexation. I believe it's irresponsible to blindly support an annexation that could create unsustainable expenses for the city.
Once the facts are gathered, and if the facts indicate that the annexation would be a probable monetary benefit to the city, then the petitioners should request annexation again. Under those circumstances I think the petition should be discussed and the citizens of Annetta would have an opportunity for public comment. I would make my decision regarding whether to vote for the annexation based on the feedback of the citizens and a thoughtful analysis of the costs and benefits to the city.
Why do you believe you are the best candidate for the position? What separates you from your opponent?
I have a wide range of experience that will help me serve Annetta and sets me apart from my opponent. For 20 years I've been in the business of working with various utility customers across the nation – negotiating contracts and helping them lower their rates and receive better service from utility companies. Through this I have also worked with regulatory agencies, written rules and regulations and proposed legislation. This has given me experience and relationships that could help me better serve our city.
This customer focus should address any unfounded concerns that, because I'm not on the water system, I wouldn't support the system's customers.
My independence in this race also differentiates me. Unlike my opponent, I'm not running as part of a slate of candidates. I have no agenda other than serving the citizens to the best of my ability. This frees me to listen to all sides of issues, build consensus on the council and concentrate on making the best decisions for Annetta. In short, I believe I will be better positioned to help bring unity to the council.
Finally, my opponent and I have a different approach toward the Deer Creek annexation request. My opponent's website states that he supports the annexation as "the right thing to do." I strongly believe the decision to annex more than 500 homes cannot be made without having solid data, as well as giving Annetta's residents an opportunity to be heard. It may end up being the right thing, but we don't know that yet.
If you want to know more about me, please visit www.MikeBrasovan.com for a link to my Facebook page. Look at up to three years of posts. It's a great way to get to know me. Or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Position: Annetta Town Council, Place 5
Name: Kent Stasey
Age: 51
Occupation: senior pricing analyst of natural gas commodity for industrial retail customers
Family: wife Mary Beth; son, Tanner, a graduate of Aledo High School, currently a junior at UTA; and daughter, Samantha, who is in the fourth grade at Stuard Elementary School
How long resided in city: My family and I have lived in our home here for the past 11 years
Community involvement: I have served in various athletic coaching activities with my children, most recently with my daughter's Aledo Lions youth basketball team. I recently completed a three-year term as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at our church, Aledo United Methodist Church. My wife and I both participate in leadership projects with our church and help our daughter with her community activities, including a project we recently helped with to raise money to support the Pythian Home, which she initiated with her Sunday School class after her classmates at Stuard Elementary School "adopted" a young girl residing at the Pythian Home for Christmas. Our next family project is to support the "Give One Day" project in East Parker County.
What are the three most important issues the city is facing? How do you plan to address those?
Our citizens and customers want and need safe, well maintained roads. We don't have that now. We can work together to address the roads in a reasonable, cost effective way. As I've spoken with our residents, road conditions are often mentioned. We may not have a lot to spend on repairs, but we must spend our money wisely and meet the community's needs. We need to budget for road repairs and maintenance and monitor the budget to maximize our resources. We need to work with the county to be sure we are using those resources wisely as well.
Our water system is our greatest asset, and it must be improved and maintained to protect this asset for our citizens and water customers. It must be operated in a financially sound way so that maximum income from the system is available to pay existing debt and provide income for repairs and maintenance in the future and ultimately lower rates. Hudson Oaks is managing the system well for us and we need to take full advantage of their expertise until we have the infrastructure and historical advantage to operate the system ourselves in a financially sound way.
Our citizens want representation on the Council that respects city ordinances, works cooperatively with the Mayor, has the experience necessary to tackle the tough issues, and listens to ALL of those who are served by the city - current residents and water customers. Council members must consider the impact their decisions have on the entire community. I've spoken to the residents of Annetta and heard from many others who want to be in Annetta. They aren't happy with the attitude at council meetings in the past year. I'll be sure that residents and customers will feel welcome at meetings and have a place they can get their questions answered and their needs met.
Are you for or against annexation of area residents served by the city's water system? Why?
I am in favor of the annexation. I believe that our neighbors who have asked to be annexed into the Town of Annetta should be welcomed into our city and that the addition of these homes will generate much needed revenue from utility franchise fees (collected through regulated rates of utility companies) for our roads and other city needs. My family and I have been a customer of the water system for 11 years. It has had three owners during that time. Approximately 75 percent of homes on the system are outside the Annetta city limits. Those families will be responsible for repayment of the debt associated with the purchase, repairs and maintenance of the system. A legally drafted petition was presented to the current council members but the motion to proceed died for lack of a second.
These families have no vote in any matter before the council, including matters that specifically impact their water, which impacts the value of their homes. Several years ago, we fought for the purchase of the system from Willow Park because we had NO vote and NO representation in Willow Park. Current councilmen Machak, Wood, Patterson and Moore (whose homes are not on the water system) apparently believe restricted representation should continue and vote that way as a group. This behavior leaves the majority of the Annetta water system customers without any voice in preserving their property values, yet again, but still paying the majority of the debt. Not only is that not fair, it is not good business. We have an opportunity to bring these homes into the City of Annetta, collect the fees available from utility companies, increase city revenue and bring our neighborhoods back together while building goodwill and community, which has been severely damaged in recent months.
Why do you believe you are the best candidate for the position? What separates you from your opponent?
My family is dependent on the water system owned by Annetta, and I am directly impacted by the decisions made by the Annetta City Council. I'm neither a developer nor an investor, nor do I have any plans to be one. I simply want to do the right thing for my family and the families who live in my community. I have not run for other political offices and I do not have plans to run for other positions. I am focused on Annetta! I support the annexation of other families who want to have some say in how decisions are made that impact their life and their property.
I have lived here for 11 years, and I've shown that I believe in this community and I'm willing to roll up my sleeves and get involved. I know that my business experience will serve the community well when faced with important decisions that impact the lives of our citizens. I have a degree in business, utility business experience, I understand finances and I know what it takes to get a job done.
Most of all, I was raised in a family where I learned that integrity was the most important value a person can bring to the table, and I work hard to prove myself trustworthy and ethical in my personal and professional dealings with people. I believe that we should respect city employees, residents and customers, and build an atmosphere of goodwill and the willingness to DO THE RIGHT THING.
I have spent extensive time educating myself regarding the annexation issue and would NOT recommend annexation unless I felt it was financially in the best interest of Annetta citizens today and for the future. My opponents "wait" behavior simply aligns with the council members that refuse to second the motion by Councilman Sheridan to have formal hearings and initiate analysis and public input through the process allowed by state law. The motion died for lack of a second, twice. The mayor initially called a special meeting in January 2013 because the data indicated a positive effect for the town.
I am not a politician and I am willing to take a stand on an issue that is critically important to current and potential citizens of our town. My stance is based on sound data that is already available to the mayor and the town or anyone willing to put in the work, it's the Right Thing to Do.