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President Barack Obama gave his State of the Union speech yesterday. During the speech, Obama outlined fairly liberal proposals for the economy, climate change, gun control and immigration. He also suggested raising the minimum wage to $9 and attaching it to rising cost of living standards. The Washington Post analyzed the proposals here. To watch a bunch of old people clap too much while the president outlines policy proposals that will likely never pass a gridlocked Congress, click here.
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is standing firm in its firing of Purcell Marian High School administrator Mike Moroski. The termination came after Moroski publicly stated his support for same-sex marriage on his blog — a position that contradicts the Catholic Church's teachings. CityBeat covered Moroski's case in this week's news story, and gay marriage was covered more broadly in a previous in-depth story.
Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls wants to stop
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from selling
768 housing units in Walnut Hills, Avondale and Millvale. Qualls says
the sale is "eerily similar" to a sale dating back to 2007, which
resulted in dropping property values and blighted buildings. She argues local buyers should get a chance to take up the properties before HUD makes the sale to a New York company.
State Treasurer Josh Mandel is up to his old tricks again. In a letter to Ohio legislators Monday, Mandel, a Republican, opposed the Medicaid expansion,
claiming, "There is no free money." But for the state, the Medicaid
expansion is essentially free money. The federal government will cover
all the costs of the expansion for the first three years, then phase down to paying 90 percent of the costs by 2020 — essentially, free
money. Gov.
John Kasich, another Republican, has backed the Medicaid expansion, claiming it makes
financial sense in the long term. In 2012, Mandel lost the race for Ohio's Senate seat after he ran
a notoriously dishonest campaign against U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.
Financing details for the Brent Spence Bridge are due in March. The details will provide much-wanted information for local residents cautious about the new tolling scheme, which will help pay for the bridge's reconstruction.
Cincinnati officials and residents celebrated the work completed near the Horseshoe Casino at an event yesterday. Mayor Mark Mallory highlighted the infrastructure improvements made to accommodate the casino, calling the work a successful collaboration between city government, the casino and residents.
The Ohio Resource Center has a new website for K-12 digital content. The website, ilearnOhio, is supposed to provide parents and students with the tools needed for online distance learning.
Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill is being sued for not paying rent. The restaurant claims it's financially viable, but it's holding the rent in escrow after its landlord allegedly violated the leasing agreement. The establishment was one of the first to open at The Banks.
A public Ohio school district is fighting a lawsuit in order to keep its portrait of Jesus. The school district claims the portrait is owned by a student club and is "private speech," but opponents argue the portrait violates separation of church and state.
Update on the Alamo situation at Tower Place Mall: Only one tenant remains.
The unofficial spokesman of Heart Attack Grill, the infamous Las Vegas restaurant, died of a heart attack.
Americans expect a human mission to Mars in the next 20 years, but that's probably because they don't know how little funding NASA gets.
An asteroid will barely miss Earth on Feb. 15. If it were to hit, it would generate the explosive equivalent of 2,500 kilotons of TNT. In comparison, the nuclear bomb that hit Hiroshima during World War 2 generated a measly equivalent of 17 kilotons of TNT.
While anti-urban Cincinnatians gripe over the twice-approved $95 million streetcar project — some going so far as to attach anti-funding amendments to federal bills that will never be included in the final legislation — authorities on the other side of the river are demonstrating just how little $20 million on transportation funding can provide. The state will widen KY 237 in Boone County using elevated ramps to allow for left-hand turns, adding a freeway-style element to the residential/corridor area. The two-year project will be paid for using Federal Surface Transportation Program funds.
Starting this fall all students in Newport Independent Schools will get free breakfast and lunch because the district is participating in the Community Eligibility Option in President Obama's Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.
CBS News says Chief Justice John Roberts initially sided with the other four conservative justices but wasn't prepared to strike down the entire health care law. Roberts wrote the court's majority opinion, which upheld most of the legislation.
Here's three ways the ruling hurt Mitt Romney, according to the Boston Globe.
The Mark Wahlberg/teddy bear film, Ted, brought in $54.1 million over the weekend. CityBeat's film dude said it was good, too.
Scientists say they are on the verge of finding a "God particle" that could explain the creation of the universe.
For particle physicists, finding the Higgs boson is a key to confirming the standard model of physics that explains what gives mass to matter and, by extension, how the universe was formed. …
Rosen compared the results scientists are preparing to announce Wednesday to finding the fossilized imprint of a dinosaur: "You see the footprints and the shadow of the object, but you don't actually see it."
Spain won the 2012 European Championship soccer tournament on Sunday with a 4-0 victory over Italy. The Spanish team is being considered one of the greatest ever, as it has won three straight major tournaments, including the 2010 World Cup and 2008 Euro.
Public service announcement: There will be no Morning News and Stuff Thursday and Friday due to Thanksgiving break. Happy Thanksgiving, and CityBeat will see you again on Monday!
With gains in the civilian labor force, Cincinnati's seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate dropped to 6.8 percent. The city's unadjusted unemployment rate is below the nation's rate of 7.5 percent, but it's above Hamilton County's 6.2 percent rate and Ohio's 6.3 percent rate.
The Ohio Graduation Tests will soon be no more. As part of broader reform, state education leaders have agreed to establish new standardized tests with a focus on college and career readiness. But the reform faces some concerns from Democrats, who worry the new standards, particularly the school report cards that evaluate schools and districts, may be unreasonably tough. An early simulation of the new school report cards in May showed Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) dropping from the second-best rating of "Effective" under the current system to a D- under the new system, with 23 CPS schools flunking.
Gas prices in southwest Ohio appear to be on the rise. Since Monday, they have moved up 10 to 20 cents.
The Horseshoe Casino is hiring again. This time, the casino is looking for people experienced in restaurant management, hosting, banquet, finance, marketing and guest services.
One problem Ohio must consider in its decision to expand Medicaid or not: a doctor shortage. Still, one study found states that expanded Medicaid had notable health gains. Contrary to the fiscal reasons normally cited by Republican Gov. John Kasich's office, another report from the Arkansas Department of Human Services found expanding Medicaid would actually save the state money by lowering the amount of uncompensated care.
Thirteen people are going for the Ohio Supreme Court. The vacant slot needs to be filled after Justice Evelyn Stratton announced she was stepping down earlier in the year. Her replacement, who will be picked by Gov. Kasich, will finish the two years of her six-year term. Some of the candidates are from the Cincinnati area, including Pat Fischer and Pat DeWine, the newly elected First District appellate judge. Surprisingly, Republican Justice Robert Cupp did not submit an application despite recently losing re-election.
A ban on internet sweepstakes cafes is on its way. The cafes are allegedly susceptible to illegal activities such as money laundering, racketeering and sex trafficking.
Marc Dann, the Democrat formerly in charge of the Ohio attorney general's office, lost his law license for six months. Dann resigned from the role of attorney general in 2008 after 17 months of scandal-ridden service.
Three staffers at Gov. Kasich's office were cleared by the Ohio inspector general's office of engaging in political activity during work hours.
The mediation between Hostess and a striking union failed. The company is blaming the union for shutting down, but the free market is a likelier culprit.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, here is some science on weight gain.
A new way to give drugs to patients: injectable sponges that expand inside the body.
After two years of racking up an excellent rating on its state report card, Robert A. Taft Information Technology High School appears headed for a lower grade.
Preliminary school report cards released Wednesday by the Ohio Department of Education show an "effective" rating for Taft, a technology-magnet school for grades 9-12 in Cincinnati's West End. Taft had won accolades nationally for its steady climb from academic futility during the past seven years. In that span, Taft went from "academic emergency" in the 2004-05 school year to excellent in 2009-10 and 2010-11, mainly on the strength of Ohio Graduation Test pass rates that were the highest of all public high schools in Southwest Ohio. The U.S. Department of Education gave it a coveted National Blue Ribbon Award.
[Download the Ohio Preliminary Report Cards spreadsheet here.]
CityBeat called those achievements into question in a February article ("Miracle or Mirage," issue of Feb. 22). CityBeat found that the same graduating classes (2009-10 and 2010-11) that were posting regionally high OGT pass rates had average composite ACT test scores of 15, or the 10th percentile in Ohio. CityBeat also took the first hard look at an independent audit showing that, of 1,707 erasures on Taft OGT exams in 2006, 88 percent resulted in correct answers, an outcome one nationally prominent testing expert called "not logical." Cincinnati Public Schools, then led by former superintendent Rosa Blackwell, refused to investigate the matter, and ODE let the district get away with it.
For the
2011-12 school year, Taft still posted high pass rates on the OGT, but
its graduation rate of 82.1 percent (down from 91.4 percent in 2010-11)
and attendance rate of 91 percent (down from 96.7 percent) were below
state benchmarks, leading to the effective rating on its interim report
While Taft fell from excellence among the city's public schools, another school, James N. Gamble Montessori High School in Spring Grove Village, received its first-ever excellent rating. And Walnut Hills extended its long-running streak of excellent ratings. Winners of effective ratings were Clark Montessori and Withrow University high schools.
As for the district, Cincinnati Public Schools itself fell one notch on its state report card. Last year, CPS was rated effective, making it the highest-rated urban school district in Ohio. For 2011-12, it dropped to "continuous improvement." Said CPS spokeswoman Janet Walsh: "We really would have loved to have gotten effective again, but the fact remains that overall performance, as rated by the state performance index, did reach 88.5, which is our highest score ever, and we continue to improve."
Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel has already had a rough week, having to give back more than $100,000 in campaign contributions in response to an FBI investigation. Today The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Politifact website looked into one of the five claims made in Mandel's new 30-second TV ad, and it seems to be pretty false. Mandel claims that his opponent, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, "cast the deciding vote on the government takeover of health care." Politifact notes that since the health care overhaul passed by the minimum 60 votes necessary, that every vote was technically "deciding." But, on the other hand, Brown was an early supporter of the legislation, and it is widely known that Ben Nelson of Nebraska was the final "yes" vote to join. Plus, technically, Brown was the seventh person to vote because it was taken in alphabetical order.
Ohio public schools have received a waiver for parts of No Child Left Behind that will remove a requirement to get all of their students proficient in math and reading by 2014. Nineteen states have received the waiver, meaning they'll have to create their own federally approved academic progress standards.
Covington leaders are expecting staff reductions as part of balancing the 2012-13 budget to cover $1.5 million that was left out. The city is facing $1.6 million in cuts to public-safety services and about $700,000 across other departments.
Mitt Romney officially won the Republican presidential nomination yesterday, but no one's talking about it because all the stories involve Donald Trump and the fact that his iPhone app misspelled "America."
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has two weeks to offer arguments against extradition to Sweden after a U.K. supreme court ruling.
The makers of Blackberry are considering how to remake their products into something people will actually want again.
Facebook's public offering drama has caused experts to ask questions such as, "should investors see the wretched performance of Facebook's IPO as any sort of signal about the likely future direction of the overall stock market and the economy?"
While the rest of us were living our lives, two asteroids zipped past the earth early this week. Don't worry — they were small.
In February, the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent, from 7.9 percent in January, and the nation added 236,000 jobs. Many of the new jobs — about 48,000 — came from construction, while government employment saw a drop even before sequestration, a series of across-the-board federal spending cuts, began on March 1. Economists seem quite positive about the report.
In January, Ohio's unemployment rate rose to 7 percent, from 6.7 percent in December, with the number of unemployed in the state rising to 399,000, from 385,000 the month before. Goods-producing and service-providing industries and local government saw a rise in employment, while jobs were lost in trade, transportation, utilities, financial activities, professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, state government and federal government. In January, U.S. unemployment rose to 7.9 percent, from 7.8 percent in December.
A new report outlined renovations for the city-owned Tower Place Mall, which is getting a makeover as part of Cincinnati's parking plan. A lot of the retail space in the mall will be replaced to make room for parking that will be accessed through what is currently Pogue's Garage, but two rings of retail space will remain, according to the report. The parking plan was approved by City Council Wednesday, but it was temporarily halted by a Hamilton County judge. The legal contest has now moved to federal court, and it's set to get a hearing today.
Meet the mayoral candidates through CityBeat's two extensive Q&As: Roxanne Qualls and John Cranley. Qualls spoke mostly about her support for immigration, the parking plan and streetcar, while Cranley discussed his opposition to the parking plan and streetcar and some of his ideas for Cincinnati.
A Hamilton County court ruled against the controversial traffic cameras in Elmwood Place, and the Ohio legislature is considering a statewide ban on the cameras. In his ruling, Judge Robert Ruehlman pointed out there were no signs making motorists aware of the cameras and the cameras are calibrated once a year by a for-profit operator. The judge added, "Elmwood Place is engaged in nothing more than a high-tech game of 3-card Monty. … It is a scam that motorists can't win." Bipartisan legislation was recently introduced to prohibit traffic cameras in Ohio.
JobsOhio, the state-funded nonprofit corporation, quietly got $5.3 million in state grants, even though the state legislature only appropriated $1 million for startup costs. JobsOhio says it needed the extra funds because legal challenges have held up liquor profits that were originally supposed to provide funding. In the past few days, State Auditor Dave Yost, a Republican, has been pushing Republican Gov. John Kasich and JobsOhio to release more details about the nonprofit corporation's finances, but Kasich and JobsOhio have been pushing back.
Advocates for Ohio's charter schools say Kasich's budget amounts to a per-pupil cut, with funding dropping from $5,704 per pupil to $5,000 plus some targeted assistance that ranges from hundreds of dollars to nothing depending on the school. A previous CityBeat report on online schools found traditional public schools get about $3,193 per student — much less than the funding that apparently goes to charter schools.
Fountain Square will be getting a new television from Cincinnati-based LSI Industries with the help of Fifth-Third Bank and the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC). The new video board will have better image quality and viewing angles, but it will also come with more screen space for sponsors.
Ohio's casino revenues rose in January. That could be a good sign for Cincinnati's Horseshoe Casino, which opened Monday.
In light of recent discussion, Popular Science posted a Q&A on drones.


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subset: commoncrawl


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how much spending money is needed on Contiki?
20 Feb 2012 DayOutWithEThomas asked
How much spending money would you guys advise a girl to take to Europe for a weeks hardcore sightseeing Contiki stylee?
- 0 people like this
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20 Feb 2012 Jen_au said
I'd aim for between 80-100 euro per day including optionals! Depends on if you like shoppng or drinking as they are the most expensive things to do on contiki lol!!! I did 2 months which had 2 contikis and a top deck tour and about a week or so solo travel and it averaged to about 95 euros a day. Some days are more and some less, I didn't really do a heap of shopping but had to replace my camera in Venice which was a bit pricy :(, went out drinking nearly every night of my euro contiki and did all of the optionals on that amount!! :)
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CNHI News Service
Thursday, August 22, 2013 —
RALEIGH — Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Wayne Goodwin joined Shaw University President Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy and members of the Raleigh Fire Department this week for a dormitory fire demonstration on the Shaw University campus. Sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Insurance and Office of State Fire Marshal, the demonstration was an effort to promote fire safety awareness among college students.
"Today's demonstration shows the staggering reality of how quickly a fire can change — or even end — lives," said Goodwin.
"Fortunately, college students living both on and off campus can incorporate steps into their back-to-school routine to proactively keep them from becoming victims of a tragic fire."
Since 2000, 11 students have perished as a result of fires in on-campus and off-campus residences in North Carolina. Nationwide, 162 people have died in campus-related fires since January 2000, and four out of five of those have occurred in off-campus housing where a vast majority of the nation's 18 million students live.*
"Educating our students about fire safety is an important priority for the university, and we are happy to partner with fire safety advocates to spread this message," said Yancy.
"We hope all college students in North Carolina will apply the safety tips presented today to prevent fires and to help protect themselves now and in the future."
Students from Shaw University, North Carolina State University, Meredith College, William Peace University and Saint Augustine University were invited to attend the demonstration, which included the live burn of two model dormitory rooms.
Parents and their students can work together by following these helpful tips as they head off to school:
Always plan two ways out of your dormitory, off-campus residence, college stadium, theater, etc.
Sprinklers save lives. Select student housing that has fire sprinklers.
Smoke alarms save lives…do not disconnect them, take out the batteries or tamper with them in any way.
When a fire or smoke alarm sounds, get out of the building. You never know when it's a real fire.
Be cautious at parties! A number of fires start when people are drinking alcohol and not watching where they put their smoking materials. Many fires start once a party is over and smoldering materials fully ignite.
Refrain from drinking alcohol while preparing a meal, and never leave food unattended on the stove or in the microwave.
Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Don't overload outlets or extension cords as they can overheat and start a fire.
Download the "Questions to Ask When Looking at On-campus & Off-campus Housing" resource sheet from www.campus-firewatch.com and other resources from www.campusfiresafety.org.


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The Artery has been in Olivette as a framing shop in the Olivette Shopping Center since November 1993. The shop at 9636 Olive St. has many ties to Ladue Horton Watkins High School and Patch dropped by to find out just how.
Patch: If which ways are you connected to Ladue High School
Kim Good, owner: In many ways. I am a 1984 graduate of Ladue High and my husband, Rob teaches social studies at the high school. We have a lot of connections there and many of their parents do their framing here. We support the school. We donate to all the fundraisers they have going on up there. We always advertise in the yearbook and the school newspaper.
Patch: After 19 years in the same location, you must know a lot of your customers well.
Good: We have very good relationships with a lot of our customers. We have a second generation of framers now. Kids that we were framing pictures of when they were in grade school are now coming by to frame their own projects. They have their college degrees and their first apartments and they are bring us things to frame.
Patch: What changes have you seen come to the art industry.
Good: When I opened, we really didn't have the internet. So I had five bins of posters and prints and the internet has kind of wiped that part out. We still keep our catalogues up to date. The framing end of it hasn't changed too much. There are many different options and styles in moldings today. Molding companies try and change with the different changes in furniture design and decor.
Patch: Where do the woods come for these frames.
Good: The moldings, we probably deal with 10 different companies. We have an excellent hard wood company in Boulder, CO and there are many hand mills and high quality hard wood frames places to buy from.
Patch: How did you decide to locate in Olivette.
Good: My brother in law had a great idea. He's in commercial real estate and he plotted every frame shop in town on a map. There was a huge dead zone all the way down Olive. There was one on Craig Road and one on McKnight/Woodson Road and nothing in this strip of shops. We knew growing up in this area this was a strong community and I had ties to Ladue and that helped. With Monsanto in the area and a lot of commercial operations, that all helps to draw from.
At the time there were three vacancies and I looked at all three spots. Pier 1 was on the corner and Petco moved in shortly after we started. That kept it a strong shopping center for a long time.
Patch: What is your art background.
Good. I have a degree in interior design. I didn't feel like I would make a living as an artist and went into interior design and I ended up framing for extra money in college and really enjoyed it and didn't get that dream job in an architects office and ended up going back to framing and decided if others could make money doing this, I could too.
Patch: What is the most important part of a frame.
Good: A frame is used to enhance any piece of art. Everyone has a different opinion. Some want the frame to stand out, and others don't want it to be noticed at all. Some artists use a white frame or a black frame just to keep it simple.
The Artery in Olivette
9636 Olive Blvd.
Hours: 9:30-5:30 Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday. Closed most holiday weekends.
Phone: 314-991-8006
Artery Website.


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Make every day a special occasion with our safe, temporary creative grooming services! Our caring, qualified PetStylists can help add a special touch to your pet's groom. Whether celebrating a holiday or creating a fun look, our washable Pet Expressions services can help express you and your pet's unique personality.
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Cualquier descuento u oferta especial en esta página, incluyendo las ofertas de PetPerks, no son válidas en Puerto Rico a menos que alguna oferta en específico indique lo contrario.


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Expect lines and crowds at the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) Tuesday as customers line up for a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes.
IHOP started National Pancake Day in 2006, asking customers to help local charities when they come in for free pancakes. This year, they hope to raise $3 million nationwide on Feb. 5 as they offer the free breakfast food all day long-- the San Bruno IHOP location included, according to the company.
Over the last eight years, the restaurant chain has already raised more than $10 million to support Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities, the company said.
"Millions of free pancakes served on National Pancake Day mean millions of miracles for those in need," said Julia Stewart, Interim President, IHOP and CEO of the parent company, DineEquity, Inc. "The concept is simple, but our mission is ambitious; to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible through Children's Miracle Network Hospitals."
This year, the company estimates they'll flip and serve up 4 million free pancakes.
"Children's Miracle Network Hospitals funds are often used to purchase equipment and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of our mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible," according to the company's website.
IHOP is located at 590 El Camino Real in San Bruno.
Stay Patch in! Follow San Bruno Patch on Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for the daily newsletters.


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The price reflects no revenue reported,what happen to all these flagship facilities that he supposedly opened all over the country. The international agreements? Smoke and mirrors? If this company had revenue from half those facilities they would be trading at least a dollar. The companies main debt is the operating cost of the CEO himself.


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Best Entrees at Cochon, Herbsaint, & Jacques?
I've been talking up NOLA food to a large group I'm leading to the city and don't want to let them down.
What are the best ENTREES to get at:
-Herbsaint (for lunch)
-Jacques-Imo's ?
Also, any thoughts on the better lunch, Cochon or Herbsaint? Would a Friday lunch for 4 require a reservation at either of those places? And anyone know if Herbsaint will cook the pork belly for you at lunch? Pleeeeeease...
i can only speak to cochon but the rabbit & dumplings were pretty damn good. i will say however that the kitchen really seems to excel on the small plates, the boucherie, & their soups & salads. i thought the alligator small plate was terrific & the head cheese fantastic. my s.o. was vegetarian &, incredibly, she had her best meal in n.o. here ordering from the small plates & soups & salads. enjoy.
IMO you'd be best served at Cochon making a meal from their appetizers. Their menu remains the same lunch/dinner. You will not have the same experience with lunch as you will at dinner at Herbsaint. Check the menus. Jacques Imos has large portions of mediocre food. Best dish: fried chicken. Getting back to Herbsaint, dinner: apps: short ribs, gumbo, salad with goat cheese beignets (occassional special item). Entrees: pork belly, duck confit. The lamb, steak and shrimp are also done well, but the first 2 are the standouts.
Cochon is my favorite dish at Cochon. I've tried every entree there except the brisket, and liked them all except the court bouillon. Eggplant dressing and jalapeno spoon bread are also really good.
Frog legs and pork belly at Herbsaint. Not real familiar with the lunch menu though. I'm not sure if they would cook pork belly for you either.
Fried chicken at Jacques Imo's. Alligator cheese cake is good, too. And if they have it, get godzilla meets fried green tomatoes. Panneed rabbit is also good.


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Believe it or not, but Nebraska basketball has had some news in the past few weeks. Here's what you've missed!
Huskers' Tim Miles continues roster overhaul, filling staff.
Indiana heads to Lincoln for the first time since the 1940s and looks to right the ship.
http://www.kearneyhub.com/sports/huskers/article_6c3593f2-a6bf-11de-8e38-001cc4c03286.html Brian Diaz is Nebraska's presumptive starter at center after a season-ending knee injury to 6-11,...
The second of three hurdles to German recruit Christian Standhardinger playing basketball for Nebraska this season has been cleared, coach Doc Sadler said Sunday night. Standhardinger received a...
Husker basketball coach Doc Sadler announced today that Christopher Niemann, a 6'10" transfer from Germany, retore his ACL last week. Niemann originally injured his knee in March and was cleared...
Nebraska center Christopher Niemann is out for the season after re-injuring his knee. Cornhuskers coach Doc Sadler said in a statement on Friday that the 6-foot-11 German tore the ACL in one of his...
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will offer a beautiful display when it peaks Saturday night and Sunday morning.
The shower splashes through the sky every year in early August when Earth passes through the comet Swift-Tuttle's orbit and sweeps up some of this debris. We see shooting stars—rapid streaks of light—as the tiny rocks encounter the thin upper atmosphere of the Earth and the air is heated to incandescence.
Hopkins Patch talked with volunteer Ron Schmit about the best ways to watch the shower. Schmit, whose day job is providing tech support for nuclear power plants, has introduced visitors to the observatory for about 15 years. Here are his tips for watching this weekend's meteor shower.
- Early in the morning beats late at night: The meteors aren't falling to Earth. The planet is just plowing through a cloud of dust. Schmit said the rotation of the Earth means watching the shower during the night is like being on the back of a boat: You'll still catch some spray but won't be hitting it full force. Viewers at that time might see five to 15 meteors per hour. But as the Earth rotates, it's like you're moving closer and closer to the front of the boat. The best time is 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. when our point on Earth will be plowing right into the dust cloud. That can mean as many as 40 to 60 meteors per hour. The downside: "It's tough for little kids."
- Find a place with few lights and a broad horizon: It's best to find an open area away from city lights. Both and are options in Hopkins, but places outside the lights of the metro area are even better. The Onan Observatory at Baylor Regional Park in Noorwood Young America just west of the Twin Cities is an option. Or for something a little more unique, Schmit recommends grabbing a boat and heading onto Lake Minnetonka where it's dark and open. Bonus: It's also bug free out on the water. "It's fantastic."
- Look to the east: The Perseids get their name because they seem to emanate from the constellation Perseus. But the rotation of the Earth and other factors means meteors won't always appear near the constellation to viewers on the ground. Schmit recommends facing generally to the east.
- Kick back: Meteors won't usually be seen near the horizon, so Schmit suggests reclining back to look up at the night sky. "The best place to watch is to just get a lawn chair and lay back.
- Plan other options: Waiting on meteors to appear isn't necessarily exciting—especially for little ones. So Schmit recommends using the waiting periods to look at other features in the night sky in between watching meteors.
Stay up to date on all your local news. Sign up for the free Hopkins Patch newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Editor James Warden's Pinterest boards. Do you own a local business? to learn about five easy ways your business can use Patch.


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day view
The former WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World, James 'Bone Crusher' Smith, will visit campus to talk about challenges he overcame and how he became successful in college and career.
For more information contact Solomon McAuley, MADE COACH, at firstname.lastname@example.com. Sponsored by MADE: Men of Academic Distinction and Excellence.
For more information please contact Mary Parker, Career Services Coordinator at (919) 718-7396 or via email at email@example.com.
Join the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition, Duke Energy and CCCC as we celebrate Alternative Fuel Day. We will have a panel discussion on the future of alternative fuels in NC, cut the ribbon on our charging stations, enjoy a tour of the campus sustainability features and have some great food from the Natural Chef Cafe.


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People's Revolution. Whitney announces that she's going to New York the next day, and she and Lauren express surprise that things are happening so quickly with Whitney's new job. Lauren jokes that all Whitney can do is "pack lots of black." I feel like there's a euphemism in there somewhere, but I can't quite find it, so I'm just going to stick with the ever-popular "That's what she said." I don't know what that means. Whitney earns her paycheck for the week by turning the conversation to Lauren and Doug. Lauren admits that she's not that excited about Doug, and she's kind of over it, because there's no spark there. Whitney advises Lauren to end things, because it's not like a spark is just going to present itself at some future point. She even gives Lauren some talking points, which boil down to "It's not you, it's me." Lauren knows she should do it, but just doesn't want to have the conversation. Who does? Is there anyone out there who looks forward to the break-up conversation?
FIDM. Lauren meets up with Stephanie on a wall outside. Stephanie breaks the news that Spencer disowned her over the birthday party. The thing that cracks me up is this: wouldn't you be kind of devastated, or at least mildly upset, if a sibling got so angry with you that he or she disowned you? And yet, Stephanie talks like she's discussing the fact that the pizza place ran out of pepperoni, so she had to have a plain cheese pizza for dinner last night. Not that she eats carbs, but you get the point. I'm not sure if this is because A) the sibling in question is Spencer, and he sucks, or B) Stephanie kind of sucks, or C) this whole thing is fake so who cares? Probably D) all of the above, right? Anyway, Stephanie uses the opportunity to express how grateful she is that Lauren is still her friend and it's all kind of embarrassing because I actually kind of like Lauren as a character on this fake show but the adulation does get a little over the top.
NYC. People's Revolution. Whitney shows up and Kelly immediately starts in on her, accusing her of lingering on the way in from the airport, and Whitney is all, "No! I swear! I came straight here!" That job would be exhausting, with the constant accusations and backstabbing. Anyway, Kelly tells Whitney to jump right in by helping with casting a male model. There are lots of half-naked model-types hanging around. Kelly starts questioning one of them and Whitney starts chatting him up, because they both went to USC. We learn that Whitney wasn't in a sorority, and then Kelly makes the dude take off his shirt and then invites the dude to join them all for drinks that night. I'm not clear on whether she's inviting the dude to be Whitney's new love interest, or if she's interested in him herself, or if this is just how she does business. It's fascinating. Kelly tells Whitney that this is multitasking "in the power bitch way."


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William S. Guttenberg To Receive Honorary Degree May 17 at Continental Arena
William S. Guttenberg, of Tenafly, who has spent his life, time and fortune making the world a better place for people with physical limitations and who are developmentally disabled, will receive an honorary doctorate from his alma mater New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).
During the May 17, 2007 graduation ceremony in Continental Airlines Arena which starts at 9 a.m., Guttenberg will speak briefly. (ATTENTION EDITORS: To interview him, call Sheryl Weinstein, 973-596-3436.) Among the thoughts he intends to leave with students: "NJIT has given you the tools to become successful in any field that you choose. Through education this country and the world can survive. Remember to repay NJIT so that others can follow you."
Guttenberg's passion to help less fortunate others was borne from the challenges of cerebral palsy experienced by his own two children, both of whom have passed away.
Guttenberg talks proudly of his endowed scholarship program at NJIT.
Established in 1986 and expanded this past January, the program now provides eight students, some with physical challenges, four-year scholarships. The new bequest will allow a minimum of an additional 10 scholarships. First preference is to be given to deserving youngsters who are physically challenged. In addition, possible recipients may also be graduates of Paterson's East Side High School, other inner city students, and/or Albert Dorman Honors College students. Guttenberg, himself, is a 1940 graduate of East Side. Guttenberg says this honor especially thrills him because as he receives his degree, so, too, will two current recipients of his scholarship program. "Wow," he adds.
In 1980, Guttenberg, his late wife, Adele along with several other parents started Spectrum for Living, an organization to provide education, training and a residence for the multi-handicapped when aging parents can no longer meet their basic needs. The organization today serves more than 700 individuals in three New Jersey counties in an intermediate-care facility, group homes, apartments and adult training centers. After the death of the couple's son, Chuck in 1997, they also contributed an endowment to the Jewish Community Center (JCC) on the Palisades, Tenafly, to create a services and programs in Chuck's name. The center now offers more than a dozen therapy and recreational programs.
NJIT awarded Guttenberg a BS in electrical engineering in 1944 under an accelerated program necessitated by the manpower demands of World War II. Almost immediately following graduation, Guttenberg was inducted into the army as an infantryman in Europe, where he was wounded twice. While recovering, Bogue Electric Manufacturing, Paterson, where Guttenberg worked, rehired him. Guttenberg rose to president, but left in 1972 to found his own company, Wilco Electric, a Hackensack manufacturer of electro-mechanical parts for motors. Guttenberg retired in 2006.
At NJIT, Guttenberg's support has been recognized with the university's Alumni Achievement and Outstanding Alumni awards, and with the Weston Medal. In 1990, Guttenberg Information Technologies Center, a large multi-story building at NJIT was named in his honor.
"We at the JCC on the Palisades have been privileged to see Bill's vision firsthand," said Avi A. Lewinson, executive director of the JCC in Tenafly. "Bill serves as chair of the special services department which offers more than 65 weekly and monthly programs for individuals with disabilities and their families, including special life skills and vocational programs as well as specialized programs for children and teens with autistic spectrum disorders. As part of his contributions to our Center, Bill encourages parents to become involved in 'making a difference' as he and Adele did for decades."


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To the naked eye, nothing seems out of place—with the exception of a few strands of hair, which is normal for female hockey players. The girls listen patiently as coach Jon Dondore tells them to be aggressive but smart. They also offer words of encouragement to their fellow teammates. One would never know a lone player from the rival Spartans has joined the Stars from .
"The team and the families have been very welcoming," Alyson Niesen, a student, told Richfield Patch. "I was really nervous—being the new girl—but as soon as I walked into the rink, one of [my new teammates] came over to me so excited."
Niesen, who had played hockey for her school, joined the girls' hockey team a few weeks ago with the and for lack of players.
"It was really sad because it seemed like it all dissolved so quickly," Niesen recalled. "I wanted my last year, my senior year, to be [at Richfield]. I honestly never thought I would be playing for Holy Angels right now."
Since the ending of the Richfield team, for not being more proactive to keep the program.
"We saw this happening a couple years ago," Niesen said. "I feel there could've been a lot of more action taken."
While Niesen didn't know exactly what that action might have been, she did say the handful of players who decided not to play also contributed to the team's demise.
"I give them all the credit for doing things for themselves," Neisen said. "But at the same time, it's a team effort. We've all played together since Mites."
Niesen has held onto her goal to play college hockey and that she'd do whatever it took to reach her goal—even joining up with a rival team.
"That's what I want. I want to play college hockey," Neisen said. "I'm really lucky to have had support [from both Holy Angels and Richfield] in reaching my goals."
While Niesen said she is extremely happy to be part of the Stars family, she's still looks back fondly on her experience on the ice with her schoolmates.
"I know the Richfield team has not been the most [successful] team," she said. "But it has always been the upmost fun to play with those girls."


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Rockwell Automation Router Offers VPN, Firewall Capabilities
- Details
- Published: Friday, 10 January 2014 14:22
The Allen-Bradley Stratix 5900 services router is the first in the Rockwell Automation network product portfolio to deliver virtual private network (VPN) and firewall capabilities simultaneously. These capabilities make the router well-suited for securing cell/area zones, as well as connecting to a cell/area zone from a remote location over an untrusted network.
Read more: Rockwell Automation Router Offers VPN, Firewall Capabilities


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Review Date: 9/28/2011
The MeeGo OS-powered ASUS Eee PC X101 offers extreme portability and a fresh interface for $199, but the cramped keyboard and short battery life give us pause. Read Review...
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The first 10-inch netbook with Nvidia Ion graphics offers plenty of pep but involves some trade-offs. Read Review...
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Like its neighbors, school officials in Glen Rock decided the smart course of action was to cancel school on Monday and Tuesday.
The decision, made early Sunday evening, followed consultation with the borough's OEM team, a review of weather forecasts and Governor Christie's state-wide recommendation, schools spokeswoman Andrea Tahinos said.
"All school related activities, including sports, before school, after school, and evening activities and programs are cancelled, including child care. All community school programs are cancelled."
In addition, Borough Hall will be closed for business on Monday and Tuesday. It will remain open for residents to dry off and recharge electronics from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The library will also be closed and there will be no leaf, garbage or recycling pickups, the borough said in a statement Sunday night.
Municipal and school parking lots are open to residents until midnight on Tuesday. Those who park in the lots are asked to leave their names and phone numbers on the dashboard in large letters.
The district recommended all residents stay indoors as Hurricane Sandy makes landfall, potentially as early as Sunday night. Winds up to 75 mph are expected to drop trees and power lines in town, making travel dangerous.
Halloween parades for the elementary schools have been rescheduled to Friday, pending the damage of the storm.
Make sure to stay with Ridgewood-Glen Rock Patch for the latest developments on Hurricane Sandy.
Previous hurricane coverage:
- Ridgewood OEM: Be Prepared to Evacuate or Keep Shelter for 3 Days
- Ridgewood Offers Free Parking During 'Frankenstorm' to Flood-Area Residents
- NJ Transit to Begin System Shutdown at 4 p.m. on Sunday
- Sandy Inland Flooding Threat Increases For NJ
- Hurricane Sandy: Everything You Need to Know in Ridgewood/Glen Rock
- Tons of Supplies Still at 'Nimble' Glen Rock Hardware
- Evacuations Possible if Hurricane Sandy Hits Bergen County
- No Halloween Curfews Planned in Ridgewood – For Now
- Strengthens
- Glen Rock Institutes 'Mischief Night' Curfew
Have a question or news tip? Contact editor James Kleimann at firstname.lastname@example.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox every morning, sign up for our daily newsletter.


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In this weekend's LA Times, the Think Long Committee, which includes prominent billionaires like Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, announced that they are going to place a $10 billion dollar tax hike on the November ballot with the additional money going to support public schools. The details of this plan include provisions that citizens earning less than $45,000 a year would pay no income tax and those earning up to $95,000 a year would pay only 2% income tax. According to the Financial Times, "The Think Long for California committee is being bankrolled by Nicolas Berggruen, a Paris-born billionaire, who has vowed to spend heavily to get the committee's recommendations on the California ballot next year – and to convince voters to approve them." It is interesting to note that Berggruen is well connected in California. In a recent meeting in Los Angeles, both Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger joined him, along with former White House officials Condoleezza Rice and George Schultz to talk about how to help California's economy.
As a public school advocate, it would make sense for me to back this initiative—but I am not yet ready to support it for two reasons. First, I am not ready to support this new tax initiative because I honestly do not believe that more money is the answer to the public school crisis in California. Make no mistake; it would be great to restore much of what has been cut from public schools over the last five years. But, this crisis is also a great opportunity for California to innovate and transform public education. If we could effectively transform California public education much like how Steve Jobs transformed Apple, we would not only improve education for the kids in California, but also we could be a beacon for the rest of the country on how to reinvent public education.
I believe that the current model of how we educate our children in this state (and this country) does not work well for most children. If California Public Education was an investment bank back in 2008, the Federal Reserve would have let it fail just to put it out of its own misery—extremely erratic performance over time, little quality control with employees, guaranteed raises and virtual job security after three years, expenses that are guaranteed to rise regardless of the income that comes in each year.
We have a unique opportunity during this crisis to make systemic changes to how we educate our children and how we manage our public schools. A vote to pass this tax hike would only put more of a burden on our citizens and put off—once again—dealing with the fundamental failure of the operational structure of the California public school system; a system where expenses are locked on a perpetual growth curve with both employee raises and artificial cost of living increases as determined by the California Department of Education. It is a bizarre organizational and business model.
Citizens across the economic spectrum are disenchanted with the public school model that all but guarantees jobs to employees after two or three years of service—where mediocrity is rewarded with annual raises. Citizens also are fed up with our children being held hostage by our state politicians up in Sacramento because they lack the political will to balance the state budget during difficult economic times. Why? Because the state politicians continue to pay homage to the biggest political donor in the State of California—The California Teachers Association. Over the last ten years, The CTA has been the most influential spender in California politics; spending more money on politicians and to influence California voters than Chevron, AT&T, Philip Morris and Western States Petroleum Association combined.
The second reason why I am not yet ready to support this new tax proposal is that I am opposed to the process of using a ballot initiative to make such an important decision. Just as in previous years, special interest groups like the CTA and the Jarvis Taxpayers Association have hijacked ballot initiatives like this to further their own specific goals. Rather than end run Sacramento with such a dangerous game, citizens ought to force Sacramento politicians to make these hard choices—after all, it is what we pay them to do. When we let the state legislature off the hook and make decisions by referendum, we end up with such unintended consequences like the high-speed rail fiasco or situations like Prop. 8.
That being said, I am empathetic to the furstration felt by Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Berggruen. We all are frustrated with what is happening in California with both its public school funding cuts and ailing economy. I applaud this group's creativity and effort to accomplish what Sacramento has been unwilling to do for the last five years. I would be more inclined to support such a proposal if the funding and tax hikes were tied to guaranteed education reform initiatives such as enforcement of the Stull Act across the state as it relates to performance evaluations, repeal of tenure laws, and stronger laws to support the expansion of public charter schools across the state.
It is ironic that the California referendum movement was born at the beginning of the 20th century in response to a pathetic state congress in Sacramento where politicians were bought and paid for by special interest groups like the Railroads. In 2011, nothing has changed except that now the players are Big Oil, the CTA and other special interest groups that continue to undermine good governance and fiscal responsibility within our state. I am not yet ready to support the Think Long Committee tax proposal. But, given the options with our political fat cats up in Sacramento, I would not be surprised if there is building momentum to pass such a referendum.


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WARRENSBURG Expanding opportunities for the middle class, making it easier for students to pay for college and the success of the Missouri Innovation Campus were some of the topics President Barack Obama touted Wednesday during a stop at the University of Central Missouri.
Addressing a crowd of approximately 2,000 people in the UCM Student Recreation and Wellness Center, including many UCM students and staff, Obama said the bargain the country made with the middle class after World War II has begun to fray.
In the period after World War II, the middle class were the engine of prosperity, he said. The economy did well in part because everyone was participating, whether you owned the company or swept the company floors or were somewhere in between, America offered a basic bargain if you work hard youll be rewarded with fair wages, a chance to save for retirement ... but most of all a chance to pass on a better life to your kids.
Then that engine began to stall ... and now a lot of middle class families believe the odds have been stacked against them and theyre right. Theres been a long-term erosion of middle class security thats evident for everyone to see.
The good news, Obama continued, is that five years after the worst of the recession America is recovering, noting in the past 40 months more than 7.2 million jobs have been created, the private sector has seen its strongest job growth since 1999, America produces more natural gas than any country in the world. (The country) is about to produce more oil than we buy overseas for the first time in 20 years, and the deficit is falling at the fastest rates in 60 years.
We did this together, Obama said to the crowds cheers of approval. Americans are gritty and resilient and work hard. Weve been able to clear away the rubble of the financial crisis and were starting to lay a new foundation for more durable economic growth. But Im here to tell you what you already know were not there yet.
Building a middle class, ensuring its security and getting the economy to work for everyone were what Obama named as his No. 1 priorities, saying Washington has some basic changes to make.
We have to get back and focus on whats important, he said. We need to focus on jobs, the economy and helping middle class families get ahead. If we do that well solve a whole lot of other problems. We cant get involved in short-term thinking and keep having the same old debates, we have to focus on the core issues that matter.
Much of the long-term plans Obama suggested Wednesday dealt with education, including making high-quality preschool programs available to every 4-year-old and connecting 99 percent of the countrys schools to high-speed Internet within five years.
Obama also said it was important to re-think high school so our kids graduate with real world skills and reward schools that forge partnerships with universities and businesses and focus on science, technology, math and engineering. He added colleges must do their part to keep tuition rates down, and in turn, states should prioritize education funding during budget talks.
One long-term idea Obama noted was the Missouri Innovation Campus, a collaboration between UCM, the Lees Summit R-7 School District, Metropolitan Community College and area businesses that allows students to fast track their education and graduate high school with both their high school diploma and associates degree. Students are then able to attend UCM and receive a bachelors degree in as little as two years, while being guaranteed an internship and possible job in a high-tech field upon graduation.
Everyone is working together to equip students with better skills, allowing them to graduate faster with no debt and a certainty of getting a job at the other end, Obama said. Thats a recipe for success over the long term. Thats exactly the kind of innovation we need to cut college costs. I want the entire country to notice it, for other colleges to take a look at whats being done here.
During the next three years of his term Obama said the focus needs to be on tackling college costs, creating more good jobs, establishing a better bargain for middle class families and an economy that grows not from the top down but from the middle out.
It may seem hard right now, but if were willing to take a few bold steps, if Washington can shake off its complacency ... I promise you our economy will be stronger a year from now, he said. There are so many wonderful things about this country but what makes us the envy of the world is that ... no matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from or who you love, you can make it here if youre trying hard enough. Weve got to make sure that continues, not just for this generation but for the next generation too.
Im going to spend every minute, for as long as I have the privilege of being in office, making sure Im doing every single thing I can so middle class, working families out there struggling every single day know that work can lead to a better place, to making sure the American dream is available for everybody, not just now but in the future.


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Four 'don't miss' indie films opening here
Those bemoaning the lack of quality film fare this spring can take heart.
Four independent films by and with filmmakers and talent of note are scheduled to open here before the summer rush which starts - believe it or not - April 19, with Tom Cruise's "Oblivion."
The indie films are:
- Robert Redford's "The Company You Keep," about a journalist's hunt for a 1960s radical;
- "To the Wonder," Terrence Malick's enigmatic love story with Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams and Javier Bardem;
- "The Place Beyond the Pines," by the director of "Blue Valentine," and with Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes and Bradley Cooper;
- And Sally Potter's "Ginger and Rosa," about a girl's coming of age during the Cuban missile crisis, with Elle Fanning.
Watch the trailers below. And take heart.
Tags: Gosling : Malick : Redford : To the Wonder : Place Beyond the Pines : Company You Keep
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Korean, Filipino, English, German, Irish, Native American
Aloha! My name is Bernadette Cagampang and I'm currently 15. I was born and raised and currently live on the Continue reading
Aloha! My name is Bernadette Cagampang and I'm currently 15. I was born and raised and currently live on the Continue reading
My father was Chinese, from Hong Kong, and my mother is Canadian, with a background of several European countries. I Continue reading
I am the bouncing baby boy of two wonderful Hapa parents. My mom is Korean and English and my dad Continue reading
Hi everyone! My name is Julie Taeko Gramlich, and I have always associated more with my Asian side. I am proud Continue reading
Hi my name is Taylor Hurst and I am from Southern California. My Father is English/German and my mother is Continue reading
I am of Chinese, Japanese, Italian, French, German, English and Spanish descent! My Japanese grandma met a US merchant marine Continue reading
My mother is South Indian with a trace of English blood, and my father is 1/4 Irish with the rest Continue reading
I am Japanese-Hawaiian (mom's side) and English-French (dad's side). I never knew the term Hapa until recently, but it has Continue reading
Hello everyone! I'm Brian, and I have Japanese, Danish, Irish and English roots. As with the stories of others, my Continue reading


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ENID, Okla. —
The Enid Area Horseshoe Pitchers Club hosted the 2013 Bailey/Leavengood/Watkins Memorial Tournament on Saturday at Meadowlake Park. Twenty Three (23) pitchers came from across the state. Results were as follows:
Championship & A Class
1st Lee Driscoll (Glenpool) 4-0
2nd Harold Gaston (Sperry) 3-1
1st J.C. Bowen (Hillsdale) 2-2
2nd David Montgomery (OKC) 1-3
3rd Jerel Flora (Pawnee) 0-4
B Class
1st Ray Smith (Bristow) 3.5-1.5
2nd Katherine Johnson (Norman) 3-2
3rd Burl Cox (Norman) 3-2
4th Bud Goodroad (Bristow) 3-2
5th Alyeene Hensley (Mooreland) 2-3
6th Jim Hudson (Enid) .5-4.5
C Class
1st Lee Howard (Hillsdale) 5-0
2nd Sherman Johnson (Norman) 4-1
3rd David Williams (Moore) 3-2
4th Anthony Taylor (OKC) 2-3
5th James Crabtree (Enid) 1-4
6th Tyler Agnew (Yukon) 0-5
D & Junior Boys Class
1st Bob Dennis (Enid) 5-0
2nd Johney Vanderburg (Moore) 4-1
3rd Ron Agnew (Yukon) 2-3
4th Jason Bowen (Hillsdale) 0-5
1st J.D. Graves (Norman) 2-3
2nd Jeremiah Johnson (Norman) 2-3


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The eight-member "D" squad, Newburyport's youngest crop of cheerleaders, is headed to the nationals in Walt Disney World. The team includes, from left, Laney Janvrin, Katelyn Adams, Brooke Osborne, Martina Ward, Maddie Medeiros, Sophia Beninatto, Summer Noonan, Kate Sarra and head coach Brenda Medeiros. Not pictured are assistant coaches Liz Little and Molly Hanson.
- Offbeat
Plane through: Cessna lands on Houston golf course
HOUSTON (AP) — An area near the 11th hole at a Houston golf course provided a smooth landing spot after a small plane ran out of fuel and glided on to the grass.
The Cessna 170 was expected to be moved from Hermann Park on Tuesday. The unplanned landing of the single-engine plane happened Monday night on a flight from Lafayette, La.
- Maine ice shack transformed into 'Shangri-La'
- PETA proposes robotic groundhog for Pa. festival
- Judge: Dance parties a no-no at Jefferson Memorial
- Video: Man playing with chicken on NYC subway
- Plane through: Cessna lands on Houston golf course


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Giants tried to acquire Eric Chavez before trade deadlineBy
Via Buster Olney, the Giants tried to acquire Eric Chavez from the Yankees prior to the trade deadline by offering outfielder Nate Schierholtz. I'm curious about the timing of the offer; I assume it came before San Francisco acquired Marco Scutaro. That trade happened four days after Alex Rodriguez got hurt and five days after the Yankees acquired Ichiro Suzuki.
Chavez, 34, is having a fantastic season off the bench (113 wRC+) and is indispensable following A-Rod's injury. I like Schierholtz more than most, he would have been a nice and cheap left-handed platoon outfielder for the next two years as the Yankees try to get themselves under the $189M luxury tax threshold in 2014. He ended up going to the Phillies in the Hunter Pence trade. I do think the offer was more than fair (if anything it favors the Yankees) but this isn't a vacuum, the timing and roster pieces didn't really fit. For shame.
12 Comments»
3 weeks ago this would have been a slam dunk but Il take Chaves and Ichiro > Nate, Mitchell, and probably Scutaro at third every time.
Forgot mcgehee
Chavez is the perfect complement to A-Rod. I hope they can convince him to come back next year; but I doubt he'll accept a 900k base next time.
Chavez staying healthy this long is pretty much a minor miracle. He's a great bench guy but I can't see a team spending a few million on him unless the expect him to play a bigger role and I don't think he's capable of holding up.
I guess it depends on the rest of the roster. If he's improved at 1st and got some DH ABs as well, I could see him signing a Andruw Jones style contract offer from the Yankees –i.e., a higher base ($1.5-$2m) plus PA incentives.
Eh, not much to like about Nate. Not much power, poor on-base skills and doesn't even have good splits.
Career-wise, you're right, but Schierholtz is hitting .296/.377/.504 against righties this year. Either it's a small sample fluke (135 ABs) or he's developing into a rather useful hitter.
Even if the roster pieces made sense, I doubt Cashman would've dealt Chavez. Remember, Chavez made it pretty clear this past offseason that he would either play for the Yanks or retire. It would be a pretty dick move if they traded him. Part of the reason the Yankees are able to get these useful veteran players is because the guys know they'll be treated with the respect they feel they've earned over their careers. These guys want to win, but they also don't want to have to move their families around, or get bad-mouthed on their way out of town (coughBostoncough).
Much better day for Ty Hensley. 2IP, 1H, 1R, 2BB, 5K.
I am a little bit concerned with Chavez and his feet (the reason he was removed last night) – I know Yanks say it was nothing and he is fine but we all know he is injury prone – we face six more righties in a row and I hope Joe plays McGehee or Nix in at least two of those games, even if platoon advantage favors Chavez – I don't want to lose Chavez.
Interesting… It wasn't long ago that the Yankees were on the other side of this equation: looking desperately at the deadline for veterans to covet as opposed to having veterans that others covet (covet enough for a trade, that is… I am sure 5 teams would want Alex if he didn't have roughly $2billion owed to him over the next century).
Also, imagine Cashman makes this move 2 days before Ichiro and A rod… Talk about getting lamb basted!
All told, gimme Chavez off the bench and Ichiro over Shierholtz for low money…


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Challenge level:
Many numbers can be expressed as the sum of two or more consecutive integers. For example, 15=7+8 and 10=1+2+3+4. Can you say which numbers can be expressed in this way?
How many moves does it take to swap over some red and blue frogs? Do you have a method?
Problem solving is at the heart of the NRICH site. All the problems
give learners opportunities to learn, develop or use mathematical
concepts and skills. Read here for more information.
If you can copy a network without lifting your pen off the paper and without drawing any line twice, then it is traversable.
Decide which of these diagrams are traversable.
Imagine starting with one yellow cube and covering it all over with
a single layer of red cubes, and then covering that cube with a
layer of blue cubes. How many red and blue cubes would you need?
Consider all two digit numbers (10, 11, . . . ,99). In writing down
all these numbers, which digits occur least often, and which occur
most often ? What about three digit numbers, four digit numbers. . . .
Delight your friends with this cunning trick! Can you explain how
it works?
The NRICH team are always looking for new ways to engage teachers
and pupils in problem solving. Here we explain the thinking behind
maths trails.
How many pairs of numbers can you find that add up to a multiple of
11? Do you notice anything interesting about your results?
Imagine you have a large supply of 3kg and 8kg weights. How many of each weight would you need for the average (mean) of the weights to be 6kg? What other averages could you have?
Try entering different sets of numbers in the number pyramids. How does the total at the top change?
Do you notice anything about the solutions when you add and/or
subtract consecutive negative numbers?
It would be nice to have a strategy for disentangling any tangled
Four bags contain a large number of 1s, 3s, 5s and 7s. Pick any ten
numbers from the bags above so that their total is 37.
The diagram illustrates the formula: 1 + 3 + 5 + ... + (2n - 1) = n² Use the diagram to show that any odd number is the difference of two squares.
The triangle OMN has vertices on the axes with whole number co-ordinates. How many points with whole number coordinates are there on the hypotenuse MN?
A game for 2 players
Caroline and James pick sets of five numbers. Charlie chooses three of them that add together to make a multiple of three. Can they stop him?
Choose a couple of the sequences. Try to picture how to make the next, and the next, and the next... Can you describe your reasoning?
Charlie and Abi put a counter on 42. They wondered if they could visit all the other numbers on their 1-100 board, moving the counter using just these two operations: x2 and -5. What do you think?
Can you explain how this card trick works?
Can you tangle yourself up and reach any fraction?
Can you find the values at the vertices when you know the values on
the edges?
The number of plants in Mr McGregor's magic potting shed increases
overnight. He'd like to put the same number of plants in each of
his gardens, planting one garden each day. How can he do it?
Sets of integers like 3, 4, 5 are called Pythagorean Triples, because they could be the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle. Can you find any more?
Can you find the values at the vertices when you know the values on
the edges of these multiplication arithmagons?
Triangle numbers can be represented by a triangular array of
squares. What do you notice about the sum of identical triangle
Imagine a large cube made from small red cubes being dropped into a
pot of yellow paint. How many of the small cubes will have yellow
paint on their faces?
Start with two numbers. This is the start of a sequence. The next
number is the average of the last two numbers. Continue the
sequence. What will happen if you carry on for ever?
What would be the smallest number of moves needed to move a Knight
from a chess set from one corner to the opposite corner of a 99 by
99 square board?
This article for teachers describes several games, found on the
site, all of which have a related structure that can be used to
develop the skills of strategic planning.
A 2 by 3 rectangle contains 8 squares and a 3 by 4 rectangle
contains 20 squares. What size rectangle(s) contain(s) exactly 100
squares? Can you find them all?
Charlie has made a Magic V. Can you use his example to make some more? And how about Magic Ls, Ns and Ws?
Some students have been working out the number of strands needed for different sizes of cable. Can you make sense of their solutions?
Is there a relationship between the coordinates of the endpoints of a line and the number of grid squares it crosses?
Square numbers can be represented as the sum of consecutive odd
numbers. What is the sum of 1 + 3 + ..... + 149 + 151 + 153?
How could Penny, Tom and Matthew work out how many chocolates there
are in different sized boxes?
What is the ratio of the area of a square inscribed in a semicircle to the area of the square inscribed in the entire circle?
The aim of the game is to slide the green square from the top right
hand corner to the bottom left hand corner in the least number of
Use the animation to help you work out how many lines are needed to draw mystic roses of different sizes.
A country has decided to have just two different coins, 3z and 5z
coins. Which totals can be made? Is there a largest total that
cannot be made? How do you know?
Choose four consecutive whole numbers. Multiply the first and last numbers together. Multiply the middle pair together. What do you notice?
Can you find an efficient method to work out how many handshakes
there would be if hundreds of people met?
Find some examples of pairs of numbers such that their sum is a
factor of their product. eg. 4 + 12 = 16 and 4 × 12 = 48 and
16 is a factor of 48.
The sum of the numbers 4 and 1 [1/3] is the same as the product of 4 and 1 [1/3]; that is to say 4 + 1 [1/3] = 4 � 1 [1/3]. What other numbers have the sum equal to the product and can this be so for. . . .
An article for teachers and pupils that encourages you to look at the mathematical properties of similar games.
Euler discussed whether or not it was possible to stroll around Koenigsberg crossing each of its seven bridges exactly once. Experiment with different numbers of islands and bridges.
What are the areas of these triangles? What do you notice? Can you generalise to other "families" of triangles?
Spotting patterns can be an important first step - explaining why it is appropriate to generalise is the next step, and often the most interesting and important.
Pick a square within a multiplication square and add the numbers on
each diagonal. What do you notice?


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The Kings Park Board of Education voted unanimously to ratify the Civil Service Employee Association's contract, for the next three years.
The contract will give a 1.25 percent raise in the first year, with no step increase, a 1.75 percent increase in year two, with no step increase and in year three, a step increase and a two-percent salary increase.
District superintendent, Susan Agruso commended CSEA president, Rebecca Sobotkin for her efforts on the negotiations.
"This is a fair contract that benefits both sides and recognizes the financial situation the district is in, but also allows the district to recognize the good staff that are here," said Agruso.
"As part of the agreement we are not talking about busing for three years, the bus drivers are here to stay and we are very happy about that," she said.
A combination of consolidated runs, along with a decrease in declamation on insurance will net the district a savings of nearly $800,000 according to Agruso.
"Declamation is where two people work for the district and one spouse gets insurance and one would not," explained Agruso in a phone conversation. "In exchange for not taking insurance they get a certain amount of money. We've done that all along, but they have agreed to a decrease," she said. "They will still get some compensation and the district will save some money."
Through the cost saving measures, the district was able to reinstate a mechanic and maintenance position that had been cut.
"If not for Rebecca's determination we wouldn't have gotten to where we are... The contract that was presented was overwhelmingly supported by the members of the CSEA and presents a fair and balanced contract," said trustee Tom Locascio at Tuesday's meeting.


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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, whose campaign was left for dead months ago by many, is surging in South Carolina.
Gingrich has filled the void created by failing support of Rep. Michele Bachmann, Gov. Rick Perry and former Gov. Mitt Romney to take the No. 2 spot in a new poll out Friday from Insider Advantage. Businessman Herman Cain, despite allegations of sexual harrassment, still leads S.C. polling with 26 percent.
Gingrich has risen to 19 percent support, according to the poll, while Romney fell to third at 16 percent.
The poll, conducted Tuesday of 457 likely Republican voters across the state, continues a big month for Gingrich. And comes out just as the field visits South Carolina to take part in the first nationally televised debate of the season, live from Wofford College in Spartanburg at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The former House Speaker was fifth, with single-digit support, in a CNN/Time poll conducted the third week of October. A Rasmussen Reports poll in the first week of November showed Gingrich at 15 percent support, and in third place behind Cain and Romney. Now, he's moved into second, with Cain's lead tenuous as the he-said, she-saids continue to fly.
The move comes as little surprise to influential conservatives across South Carolina. In this week's Huffington Post/ Patch Power Outsiders poll, Republicans across the four early nominating states said they agree with Gingrich on many of the issues.
The HuffPo/Patch polling results were even stronger for Gingrich in South Carolina, where conservatives said they felt like Gingrich best represented what they wanted in leadership and experience and in issues including taxes, healthcare, immigration and foreign policy.
Romney and Gingrich tied for the top support on dealing with the economy. Only in abortion did South Carolina influential conservatives say he did not represent their views.
Gingrich has recently boosted his South Carolina effort, adding staffers and planning Saturday's opening of his state headquarters in Greenville. Romney, meanwhile, has made few stops in the state and has no office.


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Egeria was forlorn after her husband died, despite the nymphs (shown in the painting) sent by Diana to console her.
This painting is said to be based on a passage from Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book XV. Here is the relevant section from the translation of Brookes More in 1922:
[479] They say that Numa with a mind well taught by these and other precepts traveled back to his own land and, being urged again, assumed the guidance of the Latin state. Blest with a nymph as consort, blest also with the Muses for his guides, he taught the rites of sacrifice and trained in arts of peace a race accustomed long to savage war. When, ripe in years, he ended reign and life, the Latin matrons, the fathers of the state, and all the people wept for Numa's death. For the nymph, his widow, had withdrawn from Rome, concealed within the thick groves of the vale Aricia, where with groans and wailing she disturbed the holy rites of Cynthia [Diana/Artemis], established by Orestes. Ah! how often nymphs of the grove and lake entreated her to cease and offered her consoling words. How often the son of Theseus said to her "Control your sorrow; surely your sad lot is not the only one; consider now the like calamities by others borne, and you can bear your sorrow. To my grief my own disaster was far worse than yours. At least it can afford you comfort now.
[457] The grief of others could not ease the woe of sad Egeria, and she laid herself down at a mountain's foot, dissolved in tears, till moved by pity for her faithful sorrow, Diana changed her body to a spring, her limbs into a clear continual stream.


text:
Uganda boxers will not make it to the London 2012 Olympic Games unless the international body opens up another window for them. This follows the failure of the amateur boxing fraternity to have a new executive in place over the weekend, which was one of the conditions before they could be given a green light to participate in the qualifiers. read more
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Review for "Be My Detonator."
"Be My Detonator."
(#) stephaniebuchan 2011-12-21 11:15:45 AM
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Standard shape fashion tips
For many years, we have given styling advice to women, who although standard in height still have a variety of female body shapes just like the ones we have illustrated below. We are not symmetrical model shapes!
Choosing the most flattering styles of clothing for your standard shape will become easy once you understand how the features on clothes can help you to balance your body, whilst adding or taking away emphasis of good or bad points. These fashion tips will compliment your body shape and wardrobe…
Our e-book offers standard shape fashion tips which will help you:
- Create a stunning wardrobe, whatever your budget.
- Discover how to work with print and pattern.
- Learn how to balance your body shape by understanding your body symmetry.
- Discover the easy way to effortless accessorising.
- Find out which styles to prioritise and which ones to avoid.
- Understand how to work with all the tricks of a top stylist.
- Find out how to use colour and match it to your skin and hair tone.
- Create a style signature that's yours alone, and be your own wardrobe mistress!
- See how clothes have subtle visual features that will enhance your strengths and play down your weaknesses.
What Shape am I?
If you're not sure which e-book to select, let's identify your body shape……
Top-Heavy is when your bust measurement is the most dominant part of your body because you have a large and curvaceous bust and small hips and/or bottom by comparison.
Pear-Shaped is when your hips and/or bottom are the largest part of your body and your breasts are smaller by comparison.
Many of my useful fashion tips are shared in this easy to follow e-book so that you'll no longer need to feel confused or disheartened about what suits you and what doesn't ever again!


text:
There are three former TV stars in this video, one Dream and a Kanye. Drake shows why he's on our cover with a covertly wild nerdy first verse, Jamie wears glasses to hide the dollar signs rolling before his eyes, Dream is Dream and Yeezy cleans up with one for the Golden Agers. But the real star of the show? Coo-coo Jade from American's Next Top Model Cycle 6! Peep her with the gigantic frizz and histrionical non-dance moves. Don't change a thing, girl. Coincidentally and unbeknownst to even the most psychotic FADER acolytes, Jade modeled in a FADER fashion spread in an issue to rename numberless. If you find it, tell us in the comments and we'll send you something (broken VCR). (via TSS)
POSTED August 19, 2009 10:18PM IN MUSIC VIDEO Comments (3) TAGS: Drake, Hip-hop, Jamie Foxx, Kanye West, R&B, The-Dream
Shawty was in issue 20 on that L train shoot lmao. i recognized her in the video only b/c i was reading that over the wknd and was like hrmmm i remember this one. top model to video…ugh (cough) model. BALLIN!
this is still amazing, six hours later.
"i just hit alt-tab, switching in between two convos"
This was a very beneficial go through I love articles like this and I have bookmarked this website to look at back.


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If you haven't yet registered to vote, get it off your to-do list now.
Today is National Voter Registration Day, and thousands of local, state and national organizations have mobilized to make sure millions of people don't miss the chance to cast their vote in this year's elections.
Six million people didn't vote in the 2008 elections because they either did not know how to register or because they missed the voter registration deadline.
To preregister to vote in the Nov. 6 general election, voters must register by 5 p.m Tuesday, Oct. 16.
Residents can register at the following locations:
• Dakota County Administration Center, 1590 Hwy. 55, Hastings
• Dakota County Western Service Center, 14955 Galaxie Ave., Apple Valley
• Dakota County Northern Service Center, 1 Mendota Rd., West St. Paul
• Apple Valley Municipal Center, 7100 147th St. W.
• Rosemount City Hall, 2875 145th St. W.
Also, voter registration applications are available online by clicking here. A Spanish version is available by clicking here. Completed applications can be mailed to Dakota County Elections, Administration Center, 1590 Highway 55 Suite 2300, Hastings, MN 55033-2343.
Registration is permanent if voters cast ballots at least once every four years and do not charge their addresses or names.
Click here to check voter registration status.
Residents who are not registered and miss the pre-registration deadline can register the day of election at the polls.


text:
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The lower Polk Street neighborhood has long been one of San Francisco's hippest -- and grittiest -- nightlife areas. The array of seedy dive bars... More >>
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LEWISTON — Teri Clavet was going to marry her boyfriend, the father of her twins, until he pawned her engagement ring.
Game over.
She was better off single.
Catherine Audet got pregnant by someone she'd dated casually. He wanted an abortion. She said forget it.
"There was definitely no marriage talk," she said.
Stephanie Mills found out she was expecting after she and her boyfriend of a year-and-a-half had broken up. Tying the knot came up, fleetingly.
The past 10 years have seen Maine join the rest of the country in a trio of trends: Fewer marriages. Fewer births to married couples. More births to single mothers.
The number of marriages in Maine is down 10 percent over a decade, married births down 21 percent and births to unwed mothers up 21 percent, according to the Department of Health and Human Services' Data, Research and Vital Statistics office.
Experts point to factors such as the economy — fewer good jobs, fewer people feeling like they're on stable ground to make a commitment — and cultural shifts. There's less stigma, more tossing convention and a more pronounced split between the choices made by people with more education and those with less.
The result is that 40 percent of all children born in Maine last year were born to unwed mothers, up significantly from 10 years ago. What it will mean to the state if the trend continues is not clear; there are few hard numbers on the phenomenon and few people studying the impact.
But at least one scholar says the shift from two-parent to single-parent households means tough decisions ahead.
Two competing theories on handling the future are offered by Brian Duff, a Coastal Studies Scholar at Bowdoin College:
— Either Maine ratchets up public support — health care, financial help — and sees whether more security in day-to-day lives means less stress on relationships. Maybe more people will then stay together. Maybe more will then marry.
— Or, Maine yanks the help. Maybe more people do for themselves. Maybe more couples stay together the old-fashioned way.
"For women under 30, more women are having kids out of wedlock than in," Duff said. "(The state) should get ready. There's no doubt this trend is going to make it very, very hard for a lot of Maine families to get by without some social support. We can offer that social support to toddlers who need good pre-K or we can offer the social support to teenagers who get in trouble with the law; it is probably cheaper if you give it to the toddlers."
From 'I do' to 'we'll see'
In 2001, 10,453 couples married in Maine. This decade, that figure peaked at 11,228 couples in 2004, and dropped to 9,474 last year.
The numbers track with the long, slow slide in the popularity of marriage, said Charles Colgan, former state economist and a professor at the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service. The increased speed of the decline, especially since 2006, tracks with the recent recession.
"Marriage has always been about money," he said. "For all of our thinking about marriage being about romance — and it is, my wife would kill me if I said anything else — marriage as a social institution has always been about income and living arrangements."
Economists watch the figures because more couples mean more new households, more home sales, more furnishings.
"It's actually a driver of the consumer-side of the economy," Colgan said.
But over the past few years, job prospects have been shaky for those getting out of high school and college; fewer men are going to college and more 20-somethings are living with parents.
"Sex is still going on, but people are so worried about the economy that marriage is being postponed," Colgan said.
Forty years ago, unplanned pregnancies were more likely to result in unplanned marriages, said Emily Kane, professor of sociology at Bates College. Not so, now. In addition, Generation Y (people born from about 1980 to 1999) may be more cautious after so many watched their parents get divorced.
"A lot of family demographers have argued in the last few decades that young people have come to think of marriage as something you work toward; you get your life in order, then get married," Kane said. "(It's) not a loss of interest in marriage, but a shift in what it's for."
Love and marriage
Over the same 10-year stretch in Maine, births to women who were married fell by 2,000 a year, to 7,388 in 2011. It at least in part represents some women aging out of prime child-bearing years and being replaced by fewer young women, Colgan said.
Trends in income, delaying motherhood for career and women having fewer children are also at play.
"What's become increasingly common for people with less education and usually, as a result, less economic stability, is to separate marriage and child-bearing," Kane said.
In a list of wants — college, career, marriage, children — the last can look most attainable.
"Here's the truth: There's real, genuine rewards to being a parent," Duff said. "There are genuine rewards to marriage and also to a career, but if you're living in a world where marriage doesn't seem like it's going to happen because, for example, the men you meet just seem incredibly unreliable, and your career doesn't seem like it's going to come together . . . This is one you can do. The benefits are real, although the struggles are also profound."
She added, "You have generational values placed on whether or not this is a positive or negative move."
The great unknown: How many of those single moms were living with their partners.
"The big question is what are the effects of all these changes on children?" Milardo said.
Poverty may be the biggest potential negative, something to which one-parent households with one income can be more susceptible.
"It means less books for your child, less opportunities for your child to do things that cost money, like join organizations; less money for transportation, all kinds of things spill over and affect children," Milardo said.
Studies show that in single and cohabitating households, measures of physical and mental health, future incarceration rates and the likelihood of graduating from college are poorer than in married households, Bowdoin's Duff said.
"A lot of that effect has to do with income," he said. "But it also has to do with the amount of time you get to spend interacting with your parents when you're young, as opposed to your parent having two jobs (and) when they're home, scrambling to get the house clean, put food on the table, pay the bills."
Duff, who will return to the University of New England next year as an associate professor of political science, expects states to try different attempts to counter or reverse marriage and birth trends.
"(Down South) they're creating marriage-promotion efforts, and a lot of them have slightly religious overtones, but there's an interesting variety of them," Duff said.
Kentucky makes divorce more difficult. A Texas program encourages some pregnant women and their boyfriends to talk out issues such as finances.
He noted states such as Massachusetts that have higher marriage rates also have more social safety nets.
Kane said the notion of family has always changed with time. This, she said, is more change, not a crisis.
"The traditional family some of us in our minds have as some kind of golden era of the 1950s really never existed," Kane said.