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Dabe Alan
Games are art: Rock Band, and its history, prove it
Roger Ebert stepped into a hornet's nest when he claimed that not only were video games not art, they could never be art. Ebert is a film critic who has written any number of thought-provoking pieces on any number of subjects since his battle with cancer stripped him of his physical voice. The problem with gamers getting defensive about his stance is that he's a film critic who has, by his own admission, played very few games to completion. Ebert himself seemed surprised by the backlash his comments received, and reading through the endless number of articles and refutations to his words proved impossible while researching this article. I'm not interested in quoting any of them at length, simply because the definition of what is or isn't art, or what art can and can't be, is tiresome. Those discussions are best kept to drunken conversations in loft apartments. "Do they require validation?" Ebert asked. "In defending their gaming against parents, spouses, children, partners, co-workers or other critics, do they want to be able to look up from the screen and explain, 'I'm studying a great form of art?' Then let them say it, if it makes them happy." I agree with this statement. My problem with Ebert, and other critics who so easily pick up their gavel to rule on the inability of games to be art, is that it's much more enlightening to try to understand why millions of people have emotional reactions to games instead of simply telling them they're wrong to do so, or that their engagement is less important than that of someone watching a film or listening to music.
Games are art
Yes, I think games are art. I think all games are art, in fact, although I also believe that most games are poor art. The problem is that we're focusing on the wrong things when we have this conversation; whether we're talking about a novel, a play, a painting, or a song, the best art creates emotion in the person consuming it. We consider the painting hanging on the wall to be the art, but value we place in that painting is the emotion we feel as we look upon it. There are ugly shades of commerce and politics that go into the valuation of paintings and other forms of "high art," but those are external, and artificial. The intrinsic value of art is the created emotion in the viewer. A meal from a master chef is considered art, but we value neither the presentation nor the ingredients as we much as we like to pretend we do; those are simply a means to the end. The value comes from what we feel and experience as we eat the food. I've enjoyed meals made of multiple courses that create a sort of multi-sensory narrative. In some cases these meals have created a story much more compelling than many books. For that food to mean something, however, it needs to be experienced. You must look at it, smell it, and ultimately eat it. Everything else is secondary. This is why I use the word "consume" when I talk about art, because the painting or the novel are nothing without someone to interact with the colors or the words. All these different art forms are inert until someone brings themselves to them and begins an interaction, and I reject the idea that some forms of art are interactive and others aren't. The worth of great art is only noticeable once that interaction begins, and there is nothing passive about going to a gallery to look at paintings. You don't need to hit a button in order for there to be a give and take with a piece of art; the best piece of music is a dead thing on a piece of paper until there is someone to take those notes and play them, and even that is of limited worth without a set of ears to hear the music and react to it. The end result of all art forms is the same: a change in the emotional state of the person consuming it. If that doesn't occur, the art is a failure. This is why you can't argue for or against games as an art form without taking the time to play through the games themselves. I've seen clever people at cocktail parties claim that a few shapes on a canvas can't be art, and this is usually combined with a sneering contempt for what passes for "art" in our modern times… although it seems like that argument has been going on for the past century or so. There is an intense difference between seeing an image of a Jackson Pollock painting in a book and coming upon a Jackson Pollock painting in a gallery. Only in person, when you see the texture, size, and scope of that painting can you begin the interaction that's necessary to grasp what does or doesn't make it art. I've seen people look at images of shapes on the walls of gallery and react as if they had been punched in the gut. That interaction needs to take place before you can have an opinion. Games aren't more or less experiential than paintings, music, or novels. You have to show up. You have to be an active participant, and it's very hard to have an informed opinion until you do these things. Roger Ebert's mistake was reading what amounted to a text description of a Jackson Pollock painting and assuming spatters of paint held no interest for him. People ask me what games they should play if they would like to be convinced that video games are an art form, and I always have the same answer: Rock Band. Not Shadow of the Colossus, not Ico, not anything that merely looks like art or tends towards the inscrutable. Rock Band is the most compelling argument for video games as art, and very few series come close to proving the point that games occupy a unique place in the world of art. To explain my position, we need to go back in time and visit a few young students at MIT.
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"It's art amplification"
The first two Guitar Hero games, and then the entirety of the Rock Band franchise, were developed by a company called Harmonix Music Systems. The staff at Harmonix doesn't just like music: being in a band and going on tour is a major part of the company's culture. The company's CEO, Alex Rigopulos, divided the time in his early years between playing video games, programming on the Apple II, and performing in self-described "crappy bands." He studied music composition at MIT as a young man, which is something that's apparently possible. His graduate years were spent in MIT's Media Lab, where he met a man named Eran Egozy. Egozy had a degree in computer science from MIT and was a talented, classically trained musician. The two men realized that they shared an interesting collision of interests, and they had a dream for how they would like to leverage those interests to share their passions. "We wanted to solve what we perceived to be a big, important problem in the world," Rigopulos told me. "And that is the fact that making music and performing music feels awesome. It's this deeply joyful experience that everyone tries to have, and very few people get to have. We're all born with this innate desire, and most people try to learn an instrument in their life, and most people quit because it's so fucking hard to learn, to get to the point where you get to have that joyful experience. We saw this as a great tragedy." They began Harmonix Music Systems with a small amount of money, and began to experiment with software that would give the user some sense of what it was like to play a musical instrument. The company's first product was a program called The Axe: Titans of Classic Rock, which allowed players to interact with music on their PC using a keyboard, mouse, or joystick. "Basically, you pick an instrument and then press one of four buttons to play along with one of eleven classic rock songs," a review from the website AllGame.com stated. "It takes some getting used to, but after a few practice sessions, you start to pick up on the nuances of the game. When you strip away the video segments, the gist of the game is trying to figure out where to put your cursor so your instrument plays at the right pitch and the right tempo." It was a fun distraction for a few minutes, but failed to sell in any quantity. Harmonix created an interactive experience for Disney's Epcot Center, which allowed people to move their body and trigger sounds and animations. A program called CamJam also gave players the ability to interact with the game with their physical movements. The company was still a very long way from sharing the emotional connection to music that drove them to create the company. "There was a feeling that perhaps we were going down a blind alley," Harmonix programmer Ike Adams said in a 2008 presentation, looking back on this time period. "We really needed to come out with that next 'big thing' in order for Harmonix to survive." The next big thing came from Japan, when video games such as PaRappa the Rappa grabbed the imagination of the Rigopulos and Egozy. They decided to retool the company to become a video game developer. They realized this was the way to share the feeling of music performance with the world: video games. "We gravitated towards the core aspects of game design that lent themselves well to recreating the critical aspects of musical performances in a way that hadn't really been tackled yet in games," Rigopulos told the Penny Arcade Report. The result was Frequency, a psychedelic game released in 2001. The player controlled a ship that moved around the screen, and you hit different buttons on the controller in time with circular gems that raced down the screen.You had to jump from lane to lane to hit all the gems and, if you succeeded, you began to layer different tracks on top of each other to play electronic and techno songs. It was like nothing else on the market, and felt amazing to play; fans of the game would begin to move their body with the music as they played, and the collection of eclectic artists that provided the game's soundtrack added to the experience. Unfortunately, the game had a hard time finding an audience, and the abstract game play didn't help things. Gamers wanted to be able to understand a game when they first picked up the box, and the musical nature of the action and the addictive qualities of the game weren't apparent unless you played it yourself. It was hard to understand what the hell was going on if you just picked up the box or saw a screenshot. The game was a critical hit, and to this day it enjoys a cult following, but it died an ugly death at retail. "That was the beginning of a process of us learning a lot of hard lessons. We thought that if we made something that was really addictive and really compelling and it was brought to market by a well-funded publisher that it could be a successful product," Rigopulos said. "We were insensitive to a number of critical factors, such as the very alien visual aesthetic. It was so hard to describe what the game was. What was the narrative conceit? Who were you as a player, what were you doing there? These were basic questions we didn't have concise answers for." The game suffered from the lack of a single easy hook that could be used to lure players. Rigopulos also admitted the musical selections didn't do the game any favors. "The music was, you know, for the cool kids. It was niche, underground. We though it was great, but it didn't have mainstream brand appeal. All these factors made it an impossible game to market." Despite the soft sales of the first game, Sony Computer Entertainment allowed Harmonix to create a sequel, Amplitude. The game offered multiplayer where up to four players could play at the same time, and the game was even playable online, but it suffered from the same problems as Frequency. "It was the beginning of us learning the process that you can't just make a good game, you need to think about the package, and be able to describe it in a few sentences," Rigopulos said. He realized that games need to fulfill specific wishes of the player, and the wish had to be immediately clear from the first moment the player saw the game.Harmonix took the lessons learned from the commercial failure of its first games and applied them to Karaoke Revolution, a more successful product that allowed the player to sing along to pop songs using a USB headset. The game could tell by the pitch of your voice how close you were to singing the song correctly, and would give players a score based on their performance. Players were also given a human avatar so they could see clearly who they were supposed to be in the game, and the concept was easily explained and fulfilled a wish: You were a pop singer! People knew what Karaoke was, and the song selection was much more welcoming to fans of mainstream pop music. Karaoke Revolution spawned a number of sequels, and became a hit for Konami's "Bemani" line of rhythm games. The company had its first commercial success, but more importantly, everyone now understood how to make music games work in a competitive market. It was time to tackle something more ambitious, a product that was closer to the original vision of sharing the feeling that comes from playing live music. "Guitar Hero was our first opportunity to merge the more successful presentation aspects of Karaoke Revolution with some of the addictive and engrossing rhythm game play we had experimented with in Frequency and Amplitude," Rigopulos explained. It's fascinating to look back and see how many elements of Guitar Hero were already visible and working in Frequency and Amplitude. You had the round jewels that told you when to hit a button, and they traveled down a series of lanes at a speed that matched the tempo of the music. By pressing the buttons in time to the music and hitting the jewels, you began to feel as if you were part of the performance.Harmonix hit the winning formula with Guitar Hero by mixing the successful aspects of Frequency with the wish fulfillment and easily explained game play from Karaoke Revolution. The game play was simplified to one single lane with five slots, corresponding to five buttons on the guitar-shaped controller. Instead of techno music, the focus was shifted to rock and roll. The abstract, moody backgrounds and splashes of color from Frequency were ditched in favor of smoky clubs and epic arenas. Finally, and most importantly, you weren't mixing techno songs, you were playing the guitar. Guitar Hero was released in 2005 and shipped with a plastic guitar featuring five buttons and a strum bar. You had to press the button in time with the music while also strumming the faux instrument to play. It was easy to understand and explain. It tapped into a very common fantasy, and the title itself explained the game. Twisted Pixel's Dan Teasdale did some design work on Guitar Hero 2 and, later, Rock Band, and he explained that they actually de-emphasized many game-like aspects to focus on the music. "We tried not be gamey about things, and allow the game to be representative of how it feels [to play the music.] A lot of things we tried early on, like power-ups and stuff, they didn't make you feel like you were part of a band, which was the goal," he said. The game was created with the help of peripheral designer Red Octane, and it became a monster hit. Guitar Hero began to pop up at parties, in basements, it was played in college dorms… anywhere people used to listen to music. It proved impossible to license the original tracks for the songs in the game, which included a strong mix of modern and classic rock, so Harmonix was forced to license the compositions themselves from the record labels and had an in-house band re-record cover versions of the songs for inclusion in the game. Guitar Hero became a sensation, but the game was only step one for Harmonix. "The idea of the full band predated Guitar Hero. The full band game was the full realization of the dream. The guitar-only game was what was achievable on a shoe-string budget and as a first outing. It was the sensible place to start," Rigopulos stated. Shipping a game the size and price of Rock Band without the proven success of a guitar-only game would have been impossible. "Guitar Hero acted as a beachhead at retail," he said. Harmonix and Red Octane followed the game's success with Guitar Hero 2, which became a monstrous success. Activision, sensing opportunity, acquired Red Octane in 2006 and put Neversoft to work developing Guitar Hero 3. Harmonix was done with guitar-only games, and began working on its dream project: a game that would combine vocals, guitar, bass, and drums to allow players to feel as if they were playing music in an actual, working band. Nailing the physical interaction with the music via all the physical instruments was key. "The important ingredient was the challenge of translating music as an abstract notion, as a score, translating that via a physical interaction to music as sound," Rigopulos explained. If you don't hit the buttons, you don't hear the note, and the songs were set up to mimic what it would feel like to play the actual music on a real instrument. This was done with great accuracy on the drums, where you had to hit the pads in time with the music, just as you would with an actual drum set. The many notes of a guitar were simplified down to five buttons for the game, but with four drum pads and a kick pedal the experience of playing the actual drums could be simulated with great precision. The act of playing with others was also a core part of the experience. "We wanted to make it feel like a group of four people were doing things together," Teasdale said. If a player in the game begins to do poorly on their instrument they can fail out of the game, only to be saved whenever another player in the game activates their Overdrive, a special boost that is gained by playing very well in certain sections of the song. This mirrors life in a real band: when someone doesn't pull their weight, everyone else has to improve to pick up the slack. These elements of the game were working very early on, as Harmonix knew how to do guitars from their work on the early Guitar Hero games, and the Karaoke Revolution games taught them how to handle vocals. The problem was getting everything to work together in a way that felt cohesive. "We spent a year trying to get the communication, the feeling of being in a band, so that everyone felt like they were working together. We tried tons of different things trying to get that back and forth between different people," Teasdale said. "As soon as you start giving people things to pay attention to around themselves, they're not paying attention to that track anymore." The game also required more hardware, and Harmonix had members of the development team flying back and forth to China to take a look at the early versions of the game peripherals, which would look and feel much more like actual guitars compared to the toy-like aesthetics of the Guitar Hero instruments. The team members developing the game at home were stuck playing and testing the early code on primitive versions of the hardware; the prototypes were hacked together at the office. This made for some interesting challenges, and the developer didn't have access to near-final drums until four months before the game was scheduled to ship to retailers. "We did a lot of prototype work, but much of it was crossing our fingers and hoping it would all come together in the end," Teasdale explained. The screen itself was designed around the idea of how real bands were laid out. The singer is out front, so it was put on the top of the screen. The guitar and bass were given the sides, with the drums in the middle. It gave everyone an intuitive idea of where to look on the screen when they were focusing on their instruments. It had to make sense to everyone the first time they looked at it, and this is just one of the aspects of the game that was play-tested extensively. In Guitar Hero 2, there were songs that were so difficult that players became stuck and never saw the final songs, and Harmonix was adamant about wanting to avoid similar mistakes. The difficulty in Rock Band definitely had spikes, but there wasn't nearly as much as a roadblock as there was in the past games. Another important bit of testing was described by Dan Teasdale, and proved prophetic: the team would grab people coming out of clubs and bars to make sure the game was playable even after you've had a number of alcoholic beverages. Teasdale bluntly called it "drunk testing," and stated the importance of a user interface that was easy to navigate even while inebriated. After the game was launched and became a success, many bars actually began hosting Rock Band nights where you could drink while taking turns playing your favorite songs on the stage while your friends belted out the lyrics into a beer-drenched microphone. The drunk testing paid off. This unorthodox play testing also taught them how real people would play the game, and features were added to deal with unexpected interaction. "Everyone felt the need to mash on the strum bar at the end of every song, and that's something we didn't expect," Teasdale said. People would come in, finish a song, and then they would enjoy hitting random notes and strumming the plastic guitars as quickly as possible, which at that point caused your energy to go down, and could in fact lead to someone failing a song at the last minute. "That was where the big rock endings came from, we made some game play where people could wail away and sound awesome." On the other hand, there were design decisions that took a significant amount of time to create that players took for granted. They spent many hours thinking of how to show the kick pedal on the drums, and finally decided on a wide orange bar that stretched across the entirety of the lane. Despite the difficulty of the problem, the solution was elegant; players knew instinctively what to do when they saw that bar. "PAX was when we first showed it to the public, and the two years before that we had been scrabbling [to finish the game], and things were breaking and we had just been looking at bugs and crunching for six months… we were only looking at the bad side of Rock Band," Teasdale said, describing the first time the game had a public exhibition for players and the press. Fans lined up for three hours or more to play the game, and after their session they walked back to the end of the line to wait to play again. "Even now, thinking about, it was like holy shit, we have something amazing here." There was another unknown factor, however: was the market ready for a "game" that included multiple plastic instruments, cost nearly $200, and required four people and an entire room to play and enjoy all the features? "We actually weren't getting much pushback from retail. At that point Guitar Hero 2 was out, and it was selling like crazy," Rigopulos said. That fear took place when they launched the original Guitar Hero, when retailers weren't used to selling games that came in larger boxes, and of course the higher price of the game and the peripherals was also a concern. Retailers were ready to take a chance on Rock Band due to the success of Guitar Hero, but those inside Harmonix itself were scared of the bet they were making. "We were sure Guitar Hero was going to sink at retail because of the price point and the size of the box. We took it to a whole new level with Rock Band, where the price point was almost two and a half times [Guitar Hero], the volume was substantially higher than just the guitar, and at that point resistance was not from retail," Rigopulos remembered. "Retail had a lot of confidence and were eager buyers of the product." To this day, those at Harmonix marvel at the complexity of the product, the size of the box, and cost they were asking gamers to pay to play the game. "We had to put a frickin' powered hub in the box for all the peripherals. It was just an insane proposition," Rigopulos said. They did not know if the consumer was ready to go from a guitar-only experience to the full band. Rigopulos said they were "terrified." The game was another huge hit for Harmonix, with players more than willing to buy the game and instruments, and Rock Band night became a ritual for many families and groups of friends. "I'm impressed that people spent $170 on plastic, looking back and seeing how crazy that bundle was… I mean, it's an awesome game, but for a console-level investment to do that well, it's insane," Teasdale said. Now to answer the final question: Why is Rock Band art?
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So why is this art?
I first played Guitar Hero at a conference for video game retailers, months before the game was scheduled for release. The guitar felt small and slightly flimsy in my hands, and I failed the first song I tried to play. I scraped by after playing a more familiar song on my second attempt. By the time I played my third song I was hooked, and bought the game the moment it was released. I began showing it to friends and family, and the game spread among people I knew, until most nights we were playing Guitar Hero to the exclusion of everything else. I was a member of the press by the time Rock Band was released, and I marveled at the size of the box and the audacity of the product when the first pre-release bundle showed up on my doorstep for review. It took me an hour or so to set everything up the first time, and the game took over my living room for months. My friends and I took turns on our favorite instruments, argued over which songs to play, created a virtual band and played though the game over and over. It became an addiction. The founders of Harmonix set out to create a product that shared the feeling of playing live music in front of an audience, which is a very real emotion that's created by a number of factors. It's a mixture of the thrill of being skillful at something that's difficult, the praise of an appreciative crowd, and the thrill of creating a piece of music that you enjoy. The game recreates all these aspects of the live music experience, and seeing people who have never had much success learning how to play an instrument lose themselves in the music as they nail a guitar solo on the hardest difficulty setting or hit the drums as hard as they can as they bang their head through their favorite metal song is thrilling. There is a rush that comes when you play the game well and you're working together with those in your living room, all playing their own plastic instruments and, while it's not quite as good as writing or playing your own music, it's not far off. The ability of everyone to share in the joy of playing live music has even raised the ire of musicians who claimed the games cheapen music, or that people should just stop playing games and pick up the guitar or drums for real. The criticism actually makes sense to Rigopulos. "People don't criticize Madden players by saying they should just go out and play football, and they don't criticize Call of Duty players by saying they should just go out and join the army," he said. "It seemed like a strange criticism to me, but the more I thought about it, the reason these games provoke this very specific cultural criticism is that no one believes that they're playing football when they're playing football, and no one believes, when they play Call of Duty, that they're really in combat. But there is a suspension of disbelief when you're playing Rock Band that you are really playing music. The simulation is much closer to the real world experience in these games than the simulation is in these other genres of games. It's this closeness that provokes the criticism. There is a genuine simulation going on." This is why Rock Band is the best example of games as an art form. The game leverages every strength of the medium in order to share a very specific feeling, and the final product re-creates that emotion with great skill. When people bring up games as art they often talk about games that look like art, as if recreating a certain aesthetic is enough to be effective. Other people point to a game's writing, which may be done artfully, but it still doesn't make the game itself art. The power of Rock Band comes from the ability to bring people together, teach them a skill, and then as they get better at the interaction it rewards them with a feeling that few have experienced before. It's a feeling that used to come with a high cost in terms of both time and money. This is why snobby guitarists become so precious about their craft: they want to hoard that joy instead of sharing it. The argument seems to be the joy is unearned unless it comes from years of practice. "What's fascinating to me is that I agree with you, it's an entertainment experience that relies on the medium… the flipside is that much of the artistic content of the game is third-party art," Rigopulos said when I brought up my thoughts on Rock Band as a triumph of artistic expression. With the rhythm game genre proven to be a marketing giant, they had no problems licensing the master tracks of songs for the Rock Band series. In fact, there was data from the music industry that showed you could boost the sales of songs by including them in rhythm games. "In a way, we're just taking the emotional content that already exists in this incredible music and presenting it to the player in this interactive context where it amplifies the emotional power. They have access to the emotionality of that music on a level that they wouldn't as passive listeners. It's almost like an art amplification device as much as it's own artistic statement," Rigopulos explained. That's certainly part of it, but he's selling short the work of Harmonix. There is joy to be found in simply listening to this music, but it's the people who created this game under his leadership who allowed players to interact with the music in a deeper way. When you play the bass line or drums, even in the limited capacity the simulation allows, you begin to understand how these parts of the song work together to make a whole. As you learn how to play the game and you no longer have to think about the movements of your fingers, you slip into a state of bliss that is deeper and more satisfying than just listening to the song. That emotion was recognized by Rigopulos and Egozy years ago, but it took years of iteration and experimentation before they found a medium and method of sharing it with anyone who wanted to play their game. Video games offer a set of tools and shortcuts to our brains that other art forms do not, and it takes artists to use those tools to share their feelings with the world. Rock Band does that in an effective, almost Dionysian, manner. Gamers who have never picked up a real guitar can, in a matter of hours, play along with songs by The Who, and they often find themselves pinwheeling their arms like Pete Townshend. Players often jump up and down in time to the music, their pupils dilated, their cheeks flushed. The game engages the whole body, and creates an ecstatic state on demand.Alex Rigopulos and company identified a wonderful emotional connection they shared with music, and they understood that the feeling you got from playing music could be re-created with the right tools. The people at Harmonix then took the medium of games and crafted an experience that allowed anyone with a television, a game console, and the Rock Band package to experience, in some small part, the thrill of playing live music. This is what makes an artist: The act of finding an emotion or experience that elevates or informs the human condition, and then creating a way to share it with the world. Rock Band was the end result of a long quest to share the joy in playing live music with the masses, and the most effective way to share that feeling was through a video game. The question of whether or not video games are art has, in my opinion, been asked and answered. The only question is which artists have the vision and talent necessary to show us new things, and to share new experiences.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Nick & Michelle
Windsor, California September 23, 2006
De Sarah & Joe
My fiance and I gave this book as a gift to our friends Nick & Michelle. We took a few more pictures than normal during their beautiful wedding in Windsor, California. A few weeks later we gave them this book.
Acerca del autor
Sarah Wert specializes in contemporary portraits of children and custom books through Blurb. She also offers additional custom products including slipcases to protect and showcase your books.
Sarah looks forward to working with you to customize a book for your family, business, or organization.
Fecha de publicación 05 de diciembre de 2006
Dimensiones Apaisado estándar 102 páginas
Papel estándar
Categoría Bodas
Etiquetas wedding, windsor, vineyard
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RALEIGH — The N.C. Attorney Generals staff had strong misgivings about parts of Raleighs Dorothea Dix property lease and suggested that the agreement might need a second vote from the Council of State, according to email records released Tuesday.
The emails bolster claims from supporters of a bill that would scrap the lease. They say the deal made during Democratic Gov. Bev Perdues final month in office was illegitimate. The Republican-sponsored bill passed the state Senate in March, and it has been awaiting a hearing from the House judiciary committee for the past month.
It was kind of an end-run to the process, said Sen. Tommy Tucker, a Republican from Union County who co-sponsored the bill. This is the point of the city taking property from state government a power grab without question.
Just nine days before Perdue and Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane signed the lease in December, attorneys for both parties had two drafts of the 30-page agreement. Version A was the states suggested draft; Version B was the citys proposal. Each document had several revisions from the negotiations.
The drafts were produced less than a week after the Council of State voted 6-2 to lease the 325 acres, where Raleigh wants to build a destination park. Some state officials were given a single morning to review the draft before it was sent to Raleighs attorneys, emails show.
Killing Version A
With the clock ticking on the Perdue administration, Secretary of Administration Moses Carey told state attorneys Dec. 19 to kill Version A in favor of the citys language.
In the interest of time, I am asking that you transmit Version B as soon as possible to the city for review and work with their attorney or other representatives as appropriate, Carey wrote in an email.
But one section of the lease terms in Version B prompted very strong misgivings, wrote Don Teeter, special deputy attorney general to Roy Cooper, a Democrat. Teeter encouraged Carey and others to delete a provision Raleigh wanted that governs loans for planned park facilities. Under the lease, Raleigh doesnt need the states permission to take out a mortgage or other loan for construction on the Dix property.
That section of the lease, Teeter wrote, goes beyond the terms that the Council of State approved. Sending the language back to the council for another vote, he told Carey, is at least wise and probably required.
If this lease were to be ajudged to exceed the scope of Council of State approval, the continued validity of the lease is very much more in question, he added.
One lawyer being cautious
State Sen. Josh Stein, a Democrat whos strongly opposed to scrapping the lease, said the agreement remains a valid contract and the state needs to keep its end of the deal. The way I read it was just one lawyer being cautious, Stein said Tuesday. The attorney general voted for the lease. If he thought it were illegal or in need of some major reform, I dont think he would have supported it.
But Sen. Ralph Hise, a Mitchell County Republican who co-sponsored the bill to scrap the lease, said the email highlights another reason for his legislation. Hise and others have argued that the lease terms are too cheap and dont provide funds to mental health in keeping with the lands original purpose.
The correspondence between the states attorneys and Gov. Perdues administration further supports the Senates concern that the Dorothea Dix lease is unlawful, Hise said Tuesday.
While the fate of the Dorothea Dix lease remains unclear, Raleigh City Manager Russell Allen is ordering a $40,000 boundary survey for the property.
Allen said its important to establish where the property lines are for the leased tract.
Nobody has a boundary survey; all they have is an estimate of what the boundaries are and what the acreage is, he said. Thats one of the baseline tasks that needs to be done with our lease.
Even if the bill to revoke Raleighs lease passes, Allen pointed out that legislators agree that a park should be part of the plan.
We feel like a boundary survey is going to be critical no matter what happens, he said.
Campbell: 919-829-4802 or twitter.com/RaleighReporter


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Tribute night raises more than £2,000 for British Heart Foundation (From Braintree and Witham Times)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting BWT to 80360 or you can email us »
Tribute night raises more than £2,000 for British Heart Foundation
5:00pm Friday 21st February 2014 in News
A musician has raised more than £2,000 for charity by performing as Michael Buble and Olly Murs.
Johnny Routledge, of Ash Fall, Witham, took to the stage in the Witham Town Football Club as a tribute act to the famous singers in memory of his late cousin, David Routledge, 40, who died from a heart attack last year.
Mr Routledge, a dad of two, has been singing professionally for five years and decided to do the show to give something back to anyone who would donate to his chosen charity, the British Heart Foundation.
The singer, who goes by the stage name Johnny Mack, sold all 250 tickets weeks before the performance and managed to raise £1,100 for the British Heart Foundation on the night with a raffle and auction plus ticket sales.
To donate visit justgiving.com/Johnny-Routledge
See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story
Comments are closed on this article.


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2 Bedroom Condo on Golf Course- Williamsburg Virginia in Williamsburg
- bedrooms 2
- baths 2
- sleeps 6
- pool yes
- hot tub yes
- pets allowed no
- type Condo
- community Greensprings Resort
rates (USD)
/ night
$ 599 - $ 1,099 / week
vacation rental description
Greensprings Plantation is located on what was once a colonial plantation, and is adjacent to Williamsburg's only Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, the Williamsburg National Golf Club! In addition to the resort's convenient location, just five miles from Colonial Williamsburg, there is a wealth of onsite amenities including an indoor pool
and an outdoor pool, fitness center, and sauna.
Other historic and family fun sites are just around the corner including, Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, Jamestown Settlement, and Yorktown Battlefield. When you are done sight seeing, visit one or all of the many shopping areas located in Williamsburg providing a variety of outlet, specialty & antique shopping venues.
The two bedroom suites at this resort feature one king bed in the master bedroom. In addition, one queen bed or two twin beds are located in the second bedroom. A separate living area includes a sleeper sofa and balcony or patio. The full kitchen includes microwave, refrigerator, range, and coffee maker. Additional upgrades include fireplace, washer/dryer, and whirlpool tub in the master bedroom.
As local residents of Williamsburg we are able to provide all star treatment and the best pricing available. We would love to tell you all about the area or answer any questions about Williamsburg you may have.
vacation rental location
property availability
- dates with deals
- unavailable dates
Last modified on 09-2-2008 at 2:09 PM.
email owner view full calendar
Resort Advantage 866-695-2175
condo rental amenities
Resort Amenities
* Fitness Center
* Picnic Area
* Playground
* Sauna
* Table Tennis/Ping Pong
* Tennis
* Volleyball
* Indoor Heated Pool
* Indoor Hot Tub
* Outdoor Hot Tub
* Outdoor Children's Pool
* Outdoor Pool
Room Amenities
* Hair Dryer
* Whirlpool Jet Tub
* Air Conditioning
* Alarm Clock
* Balcony or Patio Some Rooms
* Color TV W/ Remote
* Fireplace
* Handicap Accessible Units
* Individual Climate Control
* Iron and Ironing Board
* Washer/Dryer
* Telephone
* Voicemail Answering Service
* Fully equipped kitchen
* Cookware
* Dishes
* Dishwasher
* Flatware
* Glassware
* Toaster
* Activities Dept.
* Daily housekeeping service (Fee)
* Laundry Facilities
* Parking On-Site
* 24-Hour Security
Room Types
* Two Bedroom
* Sleeps 6
* King Bed
* Queen Bed or Two Twin Beds
* Sleeper Sofa
* Two Full Baths
activities and attractions in Williamsburg Virginia
Bush Gardens
Water Country USA
Colonial Williamsburg
Jamestown Settlerment
Yorktown Battlefield
Prime Outlets
Beach - 1 hr away
Mini golf
vacation rental rates
Nightly rates starting at $99.00 per night! Weekly rentals from $599.00 during low season! Peak season rates weekly rates start at $1099. 2 night minimum stays. All pricing is based on 2 bedroom/2 baths with full kitchen. We also offer four bedroom units. Please call or email us for the pricing.
As local residents of Williamsburg, we are able to provide all star treatment and the best pricing available. We would love to tell you all about the area or answer any questions about Williamsburg you may have.
Resort Advantage 866-695-2175
payment methods
Owner has not provided their accepted payment methods
Prior to paying a reservation deposit, always verify payment instructions by calling the phone number displayed on this listing page. By contacting the owner directly and paying by an approved method - credit card, paypal, check or bank transfer - your reservation payment will be protected up to $1,000.Learn more in our Security Center
Top things to do in Williamsburg
- Shopping at the Prime Outlets
- Visit Colonial Williamsburg
- Bush Gardens
- Water Country USA
Resort Advantage , owner


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M.I.A. Brings the Noise at HARD NYC
While Los Angeles fans missed out on catching M.I.A. in their city due to a cancelation, the HARD Festival went on as planned on the East Coast. The controversial headliner, wearing a yellow top and shorts, seized the stage at HARD NYC on New York's Governors Island on Saturday (July 24), performing old and new material before a downpour cut her time short.
The festival also featured sets from M.I.A.'s protégée Rye Rye, Sleigh Bells, Die Antwoord, Theophilus London, and more. Katy Perry and fiancé Russell Brand were spotted in the audience.
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Annual Fall Conference: VT Assoc. for the Education of Young Children
On Friday, October 18, Shelburne Farms Director of School Programs Linda Wellings and educator Kestrel Plump will be facilitating a workshop at the VAEYC conference, "Farm to Preschool: What's it All About and How It Can Help Your Program." On Thursday & Friday, October 17 & 18, they'll have a table to share information about Vermont's Farm to School and VT FEED programs, and they'll also be conducting taste tests.
Complete Conference Information & Registration
Contact: Linda Wellings, email@example.com Details:
You must register for conference with VAEYC to attend. Register here.
See all events.


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McMillian's Mom & Dad: It's Kim's Birthday, Send Her Money
The emailed invitation:
It is our daughter Kim's birthday and we hope you will join with us in wishing her a Happy Birthday! Kim has a long campaign ahead of her and she needs your gift of support.
Kim is running for Governor of Tennessee because she believes in a bright future for all Tennesseans. We couldn't be more proud of her and we know she is going to work hard every day to bring new jobs to our state, improve our education system, and expand coverage options so that every citizen has access to affordable healthcare.
As you know, running for Governor takes all of us coming together. Please join with us, and with Kim, to move our state forward. In celebration of Kim's 48th birthday, please donate $48 now to her campaign!
Kim needs your help to have her positive message heard across Tennessee. She worked hard for all Tennesseans during her twelve years in the House of Representatives, as the Majority Leader, in Governor Bredesen's Cabinet and in partnership with Austin Peay State University and Hemlock Semi Conductor to bring new jobs to our state. Kim has the right experience to serve as our next Governor and we know she'll do a great job.
Even as a little girl, Kim always sought to improve the lives of those around her and we are so proud to see her continuing to give back and make a positive difference for all Tennesseans.
Join us in the celebration by contributing $48, or whatever you can afford, to Kim's campaign now!
For Kim's 48th birthday, help us show her we appreciate her and support her campaign for Governor. I know she is grateful for each of you so much and it would mean so much for her to have your warm and generous response.
Roy and Celia Ambrester
P.S. Kim just told us about a new poll from the Nashville Business Journal which shows her leading over the other Democrats in her race for Governor and that she'll be letting us know the details soon. We're going to be keeping an eye out on her website to learn more about it. In the meantime, help her keep up this momentum by contributing $48 for her 48th birthday by making a safe and secure online donation.


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Weight: 0.52
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International customers, please view our shipping page for information on additional shipping fees. CLICK HERE
COUSIN-Tis The Season Collection: Glass/Metal Charms. Get ready for all of those festive and family parties you have to attend with these charms! Create beautiful jewelry creations to wear or to give away as special gifts. Each bead is made of glass or metal and comes in great holiday shapes; themes and colors. This package contains one set of beads. Available in a variety of designs (number of pieces varies by design); each sold separately.


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A really simple concept that is so difficult to execute, especially in the heat of a sporting event.
Do your job.
It's one of the concepts laid out by the JU football coaching staff this week in the wake of the season opening loss at Georgia Southern. It seems as the game went on, some players literally were trying to do too much.
"Everybody has an assignment,'' coach Kerwin Bell said this week. "Do your job, don't do anybody else's but yours.''
The Dolphins (0-1) travel to Charleston Southern (0-1) Saturday and Bell is hoping his team learned some lessons from last week's 58-0 loss.
"I don't mind getting my butt whipped if I learn a lesson and that's what I told the kids,'' Bell said. "Let's learn something.'' Bell said the loss showed some areas in need of help and they have been addressed this week in practice.
"We've got to take care of ourselves and be a much better team if we are going to win,'' he said. "That's what we're focused on.
We've got to play at a different speed, play with more concentration and play a tough game.''
Last year's contest was a tough game.
JU's kick returner Colby Walden returned the opening kick 93 yards for a touchdown and from there the teams were even in a 37-0 Dolphins win.
The Bucs never won a game in 2011 and have lost 13 consecutive and 19 of 20. Last week they lost to The Citadel, 49-14 after leading 14-7 early.
"They weren't able to find a win last year; they are going through a lot,'' Bell said.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, struggled against in the ss to third-ranked Georgia Southern. The defense gave up 557 yards rushing, none passing and the offense netted a total 178 yards.
"We'll get going offensively,'' Bell said. "I've started seeing signs this week. Our offensive line has looked very good in practice so we're ready to go. You will not see a more athletic and faster team than we saw last week and hopefully that prepared us for the season.''
Game time is 1:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on 92.5FM with Terry Norvelle on the call. The pregame show begins at 1 p.m.


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About Us
The facility was designed and built from the ground up, and is constantly undergoing updates and changes. Change is good!
The studio features a large, great sounding room, with several iso rooms, all with good sight lines to each other. Keyboard players appreciate the well-maintained Yamaha C-7F 7' 6" grand piano and the classic Hammond B-3.
Every style of music has been recorded at Red Rock, from jazz, to hard rock to hip-hop, classical, country, big band and string and woodwind ensembles, opera, blues, children's music, contemporary pop, jingles, and voice-overs.
In business for over 30 years, things tend to go quickly and smoothly at Red Rock - so you may have some time to enjoy the great surroundings, or just complete your project on time and on budget.
We also offer in-house CD duplicating, and location recording.
Read a recent article about us HERE.


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William Blackstone
From Conservapedia
(Redirected from Blackstone)
It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sir William Blackstone. (Discuss)
Sir William Blackstone was born on July 10, 1723 in Cheapside, England. He wrote Commentaries on the Laws of England and published it in four volumes through 1765-1769.
He was the leading legal authority on English law, upon which much American law is based. Law students in America hear about him frequently in law school. In The Rights of Englishmen, Blackstone described the source of the rights of the people.


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text: 500 pts Music Trivia <107.3 VIP Which rock band is finishing up work on their new album? Click here to see the answer. Sign in to Participate Category: Trivia Ends: Thursday April 24 at 8:59PM PDT Visit our sponsor: Click here to see the answer. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter More Leave a comment Send to a friend! Print this page Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr! More Ways To Get and Use Points Samsung ChromebookKFFM Artist of the DayMusic TriviaWhat Do You Do When You Need Your Computer Fixed? [SURVEY]Funny TriviaMusic Trivia


text: Info Search results 29 items matching your search terms. Filter the results. Item type Select All/None Page Event File Folder Form Folder Image Link News Item Templated Document Collection New items since Yesterday Last week Last month Ever Sort by relevance · date (newest first) · alphabetically Dr. Bill Roper named to '65 Physician Leaders of Hospitals and Health Systems' Wed, June 22, 2011 — Dr. Roper is one of three physician leaders in North Carolina who were included on the list, which represents "some of the brightest leadership in the health care industry," according to Becker's Hospital Review. Located in News / 2011 / June Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities celebrates new space Wednesday, October 20, 2010 — The Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities is one of the few comprehensive centers for developmental disabilities in the United States dedicated to research, training and multi-disciplinary comprehensive clinical services for individuals with developmental disabilities of all ages and their families. Located in News / 2010 / October Featured Video: Match Day 2010 Friday, March 26, 2010 — Tears, hugs, screams, cheers -- it's Match Day again. On March 18, fourth-year medical students and their families packed the 4th Floor Clinic Auditorium to the gills for the event. Match Day takes place on the third Thursday of March every year and next to graduation, it is probably the most anticipated day in a medical student's career. It's no wonder why each student is given an envelope that holds a single sheet of paper telling them where they'll be spending the next several years completing their residency training. Located in News / 2010 / March Raj Pruthi named chief of urologic surgery in UNC School of Medicine Wednesday, December 1, 2010 — In addition to his new role as division chief, Pruthi is an associate professor of surgery and director of urologic oncology. He also serves as disease group leader for the Genitourinary Oncology program at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Located in News / 2010 / December Sex trafficking scholar to visit UNC campus Oct. 6-7 Monday, September 20, 2010 — Jay Silverman, an associate professor of society, human development and health at the Harvard School of Public Health, will be visiting the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in early October to discuss the health consequences of sex trafficking. Located in News / 2010 / September Dedication of N.C. Cancer Hospital highlights new face of cancer care Tuesday, September 15, 2009 — More than triple the previous cancer clinic space, which was located in a 1950s-era building, the new hospital was funded by the state of North Carolina and designed with patients and families in mind. Located in News / 2009 / September Back by popular demand: 2009 UNC Mini-Medical School Monday, February 9, 2009 — The annual Mini-Medical School series is back again with a program of lectures and discussions hosted by researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Located in News / 2009 / February UNC receives federal funding to expand pediatrics primary care residency program Wednesday, October 13, 2010 — This 5-year grant will be used to create four additional intern slots per academic year, beginning in 2011, for resident physicians in UNC's Department of Pediatrics who plan to pursue careers in primary care. Located in News / 2010 / October UNC School of Medicine again ranked highly by U.S. News and World Report Tue, Mar 15, 2011 — The School ranked 2nd in Primary Care and 20th in Research overall. Located in News / 2011 / March Yale chemist to inaugurate Oliver Smithies Nobel Symposium Mon, Feb 28, 2011 — Dr. Smithies, the Nobel Laureate and Weatherspoon Eminent Distinguished Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will soon begin inspiring a new generation of scientists by using money that came with his prize to fund annual symposia at UNC featuring lectures by other Nobel Laureates. Located in News / 2011 / February Next 10 items » [1] 2 3


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The Penguins' Matt Cooke is one of those guys that skates around trying to instigate trouble with the other side; he's sort of like a hockey mother-in-law. But leave it to a guy named Evander Kane to finally shut the front door. Kane gets one look at Cooke and he can't get his gloves off fast enough. And then the drama unfolds the way you'd expect when a black guy fights a white guy. It's all waiting for you after the jump.
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Two people were injured in a crash Friday afternoon in Mt. Juliet.
The wreck was reported about 12:30 p.m. along North Mt. Juliet Road near Caldwell Street.
Police said one of the injured people is in critical condition, and a medical helicopter was called to the scene.
Investigators haven't released any other information, including the possible cause of the wreck or the identities of the people involved.
The scene was cleared about an hour later.
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Video: Hospital for Advanced Surgery at Jacobs Medical Center
The Hospital for Advanced Surgery will offer patients access to more than 200 surgeons who specialize in complex procedures for all medical conditions.
Examples of these surgeries include:
Our expert team of surgeon-scientists will continue to combine leading-edge diagnostics and surgical care to ensure every patient receives the best possible treatment.
To enhance safety, and to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients, surgeons will have access to the region's only intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. From two operating suites, neurosurgeons will be able to image the brain in real-time to be certain that malignancies such as glioblastoma have been removed. Intraoperative ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) will be used in two adjoining operating suites for a range of procedures, including lymph node mapping and other applications that are in development.
"UC San Diego surgeons have pioneered innovations in robotic technology, miniaturized microsurgery, single-incision laparoscopy and natural orifice transluminal surgery. Our new operating rooms are designed to accommodate these lifesaving techniques while promoting surgical safety. The hospital is designed for what we do today and for what we predict we will do in the future."
- Christopher Kane, MD, interim chair of the department of surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine
The Hospital for Advanced Surgery will have 14 new, 650 square foot, operating rooms. These rooms are larger than a standard OR, and the ideal size to accommodate rapid changes in technology. The operating room designs incorporate input from UC San Diego Center for the Future of Surgery, which was established to research, design and teach the most safe and effective surgeries for patients.
Patients will recover in one of 24 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or 12 Intermediate Care Unit (IMU) rooms. All of the rooms will be private, each with a bathroom and a fold-out bed for a family member.
NOTICE: All Jacobs Medical Center images, such as photographs and renderings, are copyrighted by UC San Diego Health Sciences' Marketing & Communications Department, and are for its exclusive use. To obtain permission to use any of these images, please contact Beth Regan at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Official Web Site of the University of California, San Diego.


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I don't understand why the Bobcats would sell Jeremy Tyler for $2M. The kid has made mistakes in the past but is a physical freak with lottery size and athleticism. Wouldn't it be better to send the kid to the D-League and see if he grows up? Isn't the second round all about taking chances on potential? Even if there is only a 10% chance he grows up it appears to be worth the risk for a team that is clearly rebuilding for the next few years.
Generally I like the Bobcat's draft and plan but this move baffled me. Curious what others think.


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(based on 3 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
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of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
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(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Just Shock!
By KCBorn2Shop
from Virginia
About Me Casual
Comments about Maureen Casual Sandal:
This is a really great and cute sandal for the hot season. I just wish it came in a larger size. I just have tried it on and wore it around the house to see how it feel and so far so good. It feel really comfortable and the Velcro straps didn't come a lose. I am glad I finally order this sandal.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
Just fine
By JoanKnot
from Pasadena, CA
Usually sandals are too big if I order my ususal size (9 1/2) but in these I ordered a 9 and they were fine. They adjust in three places, velcro closures and then an elastic back. They work well with thin socks, and also with no socks. Not leather, of course, which would be better, but I feel glad that I got these.
(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Comfy and versatile
By Jeanne-Nicole
from Bloomington, IL
About Me Alternative, Casual, Stylish
I got the white pair, the shoe is a bit long on the toes but does not look bad and does not trip me. The white is bright which is much better than the picture depicts. They look good with pants or skirt so they are very versatile. They do not breath, my feet sweat in them. The hole for the upper strap is not reinforced so I am curious to see how long they hold up. A small amount of padding on the heel but not on the arch or toe.I just exopected a little more quality for [$].
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
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Town Square
Blood transfusions drop at Stanford Hospital
Original post made on Jun 11, 2013
Read the full story here Web Link posted Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 5:10 PM
on Jun 11, 2013 at 9:00 pm
Jehovah's Witnesses *blood transfusion confusion*.
Jehovah's Witnesses fare better with bloodless surgeries that are elective non emergency.Tens of thousands have died in the emergency room from traumatic blood loss.
To those newly introduced to the Watchtower twisted blood transfusion ban, these cases are classic cherry picked success story while ignoring the 50,000 to 100,000 or more Jehovah's Witnesses who have died for refusing life saving blood in emergency trauma.
Jehovah's Witnesses blood transfusion ban against "whole* blood is a deadly church dogma that confuses the ER staff and patient victims causing many deaths.
When someone has lost a lot of blood giving IV fluids will not replace blood loss.
Danny Haszard
on Jun 12, 2013 at 8:38 am
No one is guaranteed to come out of any surgery with their life. The medical experts are telling us based in their study that people who don't have blood transfusions recover better and had fewer complications than those who do. In my personal experience of 25 years in a local JW congregation not 1 person who has had any type of surery has died because not accepting blood.
on Jun 12, 2013 at 8:46 am
This is in reference to Danny Hazards comment. Is it wrong for a people of the Jewish persuasion and the Muslim community to eat pork even if they were starving? Or for a Catholic father having to choose the life of the baby over the life of the mother if it is a matter of life or death for the baby or the mother? I am sure that maintaining integrity to your religious persuasion is better than to live after violating your religious persuasion. Jehovah's Witnesses obey the Bible injunction to "Abstain from blood" even if the result is death for abstaining.


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Ireland: Galway & Connemara Coast
Warm Winter
Cycling South Africa: Cape Town & the Garden Route
Sicily: Biking the Southern Coastal Villages
Puglia: Italy's Undiscovered Coast
Spain: Under the Andalusian Sky
Adventure Costa Rica!
New Zealand: The South Island
Journey through Vietnam
Exploring Northern Thailand
Charleston to Savannah: A Southern Reel
Mississippi: The Natchez Trace
Winter Sun: Cycling California's Death Valley
United States
Colonial Virginia: Riding the Road to Independence
Maryland: Cycling the Chesapeake Bay
Charleston to Savannah: A Southern Reel
Mississippi: The Natchez Trace
California Wine Country & the Pacific Coast
Winter Sun: Cycling California's Death Valley
Colorado: Biking the Rockies
Maine Coast: Purely Acadia
Cape Cod & Martha's Vineyard
Vermont: Champlain Valley & Islands
Classic Vermont
Biking Southern Vermont: A New England Idyll
A Typical Day - Biking
Comfort on the Road - Biking
Why travel by Bike & Barge?
Walking Tours
Walking China: Footpaths to Shangri-La
Walking Austria, Germany & the Czech Republic: A Bohemian Rhapsody
The Amalfi Coast & Capri
Italy: Quiet Pathways of Tuscany
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley
Walking the Italian Lakes
France: Slow Road Through Provence
Ireland: Walking the West Country
Spain: A Walking Tour of Basque Country
Walking New Zealand: Splendor of the South Island
Walking Vietnam: The Trails of Indochina
Coastal Maine: Walking Acadia
Yellowstone & Grand Teton: Walking America's Wilderness
A Typical Day - Walking
In Step with VBT - Walking
Walk with VBT
Special Departures
President's Tour
Special Culinary Departures
The VBT Experience
The VBT Difference
Inspired Dining
Trip Leaders
VBT Testimonials
Mind, Body & Spirit
Solo Travelers
VBT Cycling Jersey
Pay Your Invoice
About VBT
Press Room
General FAQ
Biking and Walking Equipment FAQ
Packing for your Active Vacation
VBT Community
The VBT Team
Contact Us
Open Positions - International
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Privacy Policy
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Ways to Save
Web Specials
Refer a Friend
Groups Reservation Form
Group Travel Program Overview
VBT's Ways to Save
Price Comparison
Good Buy Plan
Travel Protection
Air Advantage
Pay Your Invoice
Paul Williams, Director of Marketing
802-453-4811 ext. 3414
January 15, 2013
VBT Bicycling & Walking Vacations Releases Newest Catalog of Active Vacations
With new departure dates and renegotiated air rates to lower prices, 2013 promises to be a banner year for travel with VBT
BRISTOL, VT—VBT Bicycling & Walking Vacations has announced the release of its latest catalog, featuring bicycling, walking and skiing vacations in 46 destinations through 28 countries around the world.
VBT's newest vacations have been extremely popular and due to traveler demand
new departure dates have been added to their
Sicily: Biking the Southern Coastal Villages
vacation. Additionally, VBT's all-new
Cross-Country Skiing tours
have been very well received by guests. The first departures for these 2013 ski vacations are already under way.
The active vacation company continues to offer traveler favorites like
The Czech Republic, Germany & Austria
Tuscany by the Sea
Croatia: The Dalmatian Islands
in addition to their popular Bike and Barge vacations in Holland and Belgium and Central Europe. Prime travel dates still remain for these sought-after destinations.
"We're always evaluating our offerings and we continue to look for new opportunities in areas that we've yet to explore," said Gregg Marston. "Our Product Development team does an excellent job of assessing the success of current vacations and in scouting out new locations. However," Marston continued, "we recognize that one of our greatest resources is our travelers' feedback. We're very pleased to now offer traveler reviews directly on our website. We've received over a thousand reviews and we've been very happy about what our travelers have had to say."
With the release of their newest catalog, VBT reaffirms their commitment to providing the highest quality vacations at the absolute best value in active travel. The 42 year old company has recently renegotiated air rates with their long-standing partners and has subsequently been able to reduce prices on many of their tours.
"Our mission is to deliver meaningful cultural experiences through physical activity that enhances the health of mind, body and spirit at an unsurpassed value," said Gregg Marston. "We've continued to deliver on that objective and as we enter into 2013, we look forward to continuing to provide our travelers with life-changing vacations that are affordable."
VBT continues to garner praise and recognition from their travelers and from peers within the industry. A full 99 percent of VBT's travelers say they'll recommend the active vacation company to their friends and 98 percent of their travelers plan to travel with VBT again.
"Few things are more satisfying than hearing that we're hitting the mark with our guests and we look forward to continuing to provide our travelers with exactly what they want in 2013. We encourage our guests to keep filling us in on how we're doing by reviewing their vacations at www.vbt.com," said Director of Marketing, Paul Williams.
In 2012, VBT was voted #3 in the
Travel + Leisure
annual readers' poll, marking the third consecutive year that VBT has been ranked among the World's Best in the Tour Operator category. VBT received a score of 95.36 out of 100 in 2012 and is in the running again this year.
Founded in 1971 by a Middlebury College professor, VBT offers deluxe, small group bicycling, walking and cross-country skiing tours worldwide, including destinations in Europe, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Vietnam, Thailand, Peru, Argentina, Canada and the U.S.A. Each trip includes all accommodations, many meals, two expert local Trip Leaders, unique sightseeing and cultural activities, and full vehicle support. Unlike other companies, VBT also includes international airfare in its trip cost.
For reservations or more information, and to receive the most recent VBT catalog, call 800-245-3868.
Paul Williams, Director of Marketing
802-453-4811 ext. 3414
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Jedi Master Satele Shan streaks through space aboard the sleek Republic Striker-class Starfighter. With attack and cruise mode wing configurations, flick missiles, rear lightsaber storage and T7-O1 droid, this powerful starfighter has everything it needs to take on the evil Sith Empire! Includes 3 all-new minifigures: Satele Shan, Republic Trooper and T7-O1 Astromech Droid.
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MADISON (WKOW) -- The Wisconsin football team loaded up on four team buses on Tuesday morning, departing from Camp Randall Stadium. The team was taken to a local airport, where it then flew to Los Angeles for the Rose Bowl. Wisconsin eventually arrived in LA around 5:30 pm CT, later that day. The team traveled to California one week before its set to play Stanford in the Rose Bowl game on Jan. 1. The team will practice out in California and also take part in numerous Rose Bowl events, including a trip to Disneyland, and the Lawry's Beef Bowl. For coverage of the Badgers' "Return to the Roses," tune into 27 News at 5, 6 and 10 beginning Thursday, Dec. 27.
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URS has combined their Classic Compressor and Classic Console Equalizer into a highly efficient channel strip plug-in featuring a compact screen design.
These are my comments.
Jimi Hendrix Duets with Dusty Springfield
John Mayer Responds to Jason Becker's Ice Bucket Challenge
Redesigned Ampeg BA-112 and BA-115 Bass Combos Now Shipping
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Alesis Pro X Hi-Hat now available
Blue Mics releases MoFi active-amplified headphones
Modern Times: The Cars' Elliot Easton Wears His Heart Under His Sleeve
Seymour Duncan Re-Releases Pickup Booster Pedal
Dave Grohl-Touted Hardcore Outfit Baptists Premiere New Song, "Harm Induction"
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Gloucester Daily Times
---- — Week of Aug. 28
all schools
Wednesday — Teriyaki chicken dippers, pineapple rice, broccoli.
Thursday — Pasta with sauce, mozzarella sticks, green beans.
Friday — No School
Served daily — Salad with pita bread and choice of tuna, egg, turkey or cheese; chicken patty on a bun; sun butter and assorted deli sandwiches; fruit, and milk.


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NRS Latex Neck Gasket Repair Kit
0 reviews
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1-star: 0
Where to Buy
sponsored links
Help support Trailspace by making your next purchase through one of the links above.
Manufacturer's Description
Visit NRS's Latex Neck Gasket Repair Kit page.
Retailers' Descriptions
Here's what other sites are saying:
Instead of draining your bank account for a new dry top, repair that blown gasket yourself with the NRS Neck Gasket Repair Kit. With complete instructions and everything you need to get the job done right, you'll save money and acquire a new skill.
- Backcountry.com
Stay dry and don't miss a day on the water. The NRS Latex Neck Gasket Repair Kit gives you all the repair materials you need to replace one neck gasket. You supply the elbow grease. The kit contains: one high-quality latex neck gasket, 1/2 oz. Aquaseal Adhesive, 1/2 oz Cotol-240 Cleaner & Cure Accelerator, fine-grit sandpaper and complete instructions. The neck gasket supplied in the kit is the same original equipment gasket that comes on NRS garments. See the sizing chart for the correct size gasket. Replacing deteriorated or torn gaskets yourself saves you time and money and is a very useful skill to have. Look at our online Gasket Replacement Instructions to see how easy this is to do it yourself!
- Altrec Outdoors
NRS Latex Neck Gasket Repair Kit
currently retails for:


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Sanitation workers in Dickson County made a shocking discovery Friday when they found an injured puppy in a landfill. Officials believe the dog was intentionally thrown away.
"Anybody would've done the same thing," said Jonathan Owen of Dickson County Solid Waste. "We were just at the right place at the right time."
The workers are quick to say, between the machinery in gear, crunching glass and compacting, it is a very loud place. That's why they're so surprised and grateful, they managed to hear a tiny whimper in the midst of so much noise.
"I operate the machine right here," said worker Troy Holt. "I was pushing a load of garbage, and I thought I heard something."
"Sure enough, it was a little dog," added Owen. "We just pulled it out, brought it out here, got it some water. It looked pretty dehydrated. How can people do this? It's just unreal."
"I thought it was a shame to see something like that," continued Holt. "He tried to stand up, get out of my way. He'd fall back down. He couldn't stand up or nothing."
"I looked at him, his head was all messed up on one side," said worker Robert Dile. "It looked like it just got mashed."
After getting the dog some water, the workers rushed him to a vet.
After medical care, food, and love, the Last Chance Pet Rescue posted a video to show the dog moving around just fine with his tail wagging. The dog is now in the care of a foster family and has been named Midas.
"Yeah, that's a pretty good name," laughed Holt. "They could've named him Lucky."
"We're lucky we heard it and could do something about it," said Owen. "Hopefully it'll make someone a good dog one day."
Last Chance Pet Rescue workers told us so many donations have been pouring in, they've already got enough to cover all of Midas' medical expenses.
Copyright 2014 WSMV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved


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Flags of the United States and New York were lowered to half-staff on state government buildings, Tuesday, October, 29, 2013, in honor of the victims of Superstorm Sandy.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued the order Monday in advance of Tuesday's first anniversary of when the powerful hybrid storm slammed the tristate area.
"Superstorm Sandy was one of the worst natural disasters to hit our State in decades, causing widespread damage and ultimately taking the lives of 61 people in New York," Cuomo said in a statement. "As we approach the one-year anniversary of this terrible storm, our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who perished, as well as the countless others whose lives were impacted in the days that followed."
Cuomo also called for New Yorkers to observe a moment of silence at 8 p.m. on Tuesday to mark the approximate time when the storm surge hit New York City.Sandy destroyed or damaged more than 300,000 housing units, knocked out power to more than 2 million people, and brought the transportation system to a half for more than a day Cuomo's office said.
Thousands of New Yorkers continue to cope with the impacts of the storm.
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As Seen on TV
From the days when Ron Popeil began shilling his Pocket Fisherman and Veg-O-Matic, television viewers have been ordering amazing products from those inescapable infomercials.
MainStreet rounded up five classic products that have made it under the tree for years by now and five new ones on late-night TV sure to become hits this year. You can thank us when you're looking for those last-minute gifts on your list.
Photo Credit: joelk
The Snuggie
How many times have you been sitting in your living room in the winter, keeping the heat down to conserve energy and lower your electric bill and found yourself wishing you had a blanket with arms that still allows you to perform all kinds of tasks such as eating popcorn or reading your Kindle? Snuggies hit the airwaves in 2008 in several basic colors, and while some laughed at the commercials of people wearing Snuggies to football games, millions were being sold. Snuggies now come in a variety of colors and prints, including camouflage, and children's and adult Snuggies now sell from under $10 to twice that depending on the pattern. For $5.99, you can give your dog a Snuggie too!
Photo Credit: Howard O. Young
Chia Pet
Ch-ch-ch-chia! The jingle for this little ceramic planter set shaped like all sorts of cute animals has been in the collective memory for decades (it was launched in 1977). Like the fabled Sea Monkeys advertised in the backs of old comic books, most people don't know exactly what to make of the Chia Pet. Is it a decorative plant or artful ceramic? Maybe it's both.
Chia Pets come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from the classic puppies and kittens to pigs, donkeys and even Scooby Doo or Homer Simpson. One of the latest creations is a President Obama Chia. Chia Pets range in price from $15.99 and up. (It'll cost you $19.99 to grow your Chia hair on President Obama.)
Photo Credit: YoTuT
The Clapper
Clap on, clap off, clap on, clap off … The Clapper! Sometimes the infomercial is just as memorable as the product, and The Clapper, while being a handy and unique product, also had one of the most memorable commercials (why, that elderly woman clapped and fell right to sleep without ever having to leave her bed to turn off the light).
The Clapper remains one of the most popular infomercial gifts, as it is good for almost anyone, including the elderly. It's also handy for turning on and off those Christmas lights without having to crawl back behind the tree. The Clapper Plus will handle two lamps or appliances and costs around $25.
Photo Credit: RiverRatt3
The Ove Glove
How many times have you put on a bulky oven mitt, only to have the heat sear right through to your hand? Enter The Ove Glove, a five-fingered glove that allows you to grab a hot pan up to 540 degrees and get it out of the oven safely. A great gifts for husbands who grill or do Dutch oven cooking. The Ove Glove is a classic infomercial gift and can be found for $15.99.
Photo Credit: dpstyles
The Garden Claw
Every half-serious gardener needs a tool that cultivates, aerates and weeds – one that would practically take the back-breaking part of the work out of gardening! Enter the Garden Claw, a device that claims to do all of the above, making grandma's or dad's gardening a little less work next spring.
The Garden Claw now has a mini-me product, the Mini-Claw, which works in rock gardens, plant boxes, greenhouses and other smaller gardening areas. The Garden Claw is sold at major retailers for as low as $27.
Photo Credit: Joseph Industries
Happy Nappers
One of the newer infomercial products on the list, these reversible pillows go from pillow at night to a snuggly friend during the day. There are several to choose from, including a dog in his dog house and a penguin in an igloo. They sell for less than $20, putting them under the threshold for a reasonably small gift.
Photo Credit: HappyNapper.com
Forever Lazy
If putting a blanket over your body that has holes for your arms isn't enough and you would rather completely wear your blanket as a piece of clothing, the Forever Lazy may be the right gift for you and your loved ones.
Like those one-piece pajamas many of us wore on Christmas morning when we were kids, these have the benefit of flaps in the front and back so you don't have to undress completely when nature calls. Priced online at $29.99 plus shipping and handling, there is usually a promotion going on that will give you two for the price of one.
Photo Credit: OrderForeverLazy.com
Vapor Cigarettes
Many people who haven't quit smoking may be looking for a way to be able to indulge in public without getting the dirty looks from what now seems to be a largely nonsmoking society. Vapor cigarettes reportedly allow smokers to continue smoking without annoying those around them with the secondhand effects. If you know a smoker who wants to quit or you want to hint to them their habit is annoying, this is a smoking-hot gift. Vapor cigarettes are now mainstays on the infomercial circuit, and starter kits begin at $59.95.
Photo Credit: informatique
Aluma Wallet
Really, who knew scam artists could be passing by you on a crowded street and pick up information from the electronic strip on your credit and debit cards! Enter the Aluma Wallet, which protects the electronic information held on your cards while providing a stylish look in four colors.
Available for men and women, a benefit to this wallet is that it is also crush-proof. Pay $10.99 plus shipping and handling and the company will include a second one for the additional shipping cost.
Photo Credit: AlumaWalletSale.com
OrGreenic Kitchenware
The thing that's always been a little scary about the traditional non-stick cookware is that if it overheats, the fumes can kill birds and other small pets in the home. When the non-stick coating peels, it can also be harmful when little bits of it get into your food. Enter OrGreenic Kitchenware, which uses a "green" ceramic non-stick coating that is not only more environmentally friendly to produce, but supposedly safer for you and your family.
The Web site offers two 9-inch sauté pans for $19.99 plus an additional shipping charge for the second. The purchase comes with a cookbook.
Photo Credit: OrGreenicSale.com
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Most of my residential tile work centers on the kitchen or
bathroom, but some homeowners also like the look and feel of
tile in other parts of the house. One of the most extensive
jobs we've done lately involved tiling every floor but the
staircase in a two-story, 2,500-square-foot house, including an
ornamental rug-pattern area in the great room. This was an
interesting project for us because the homeowners —
who happened to own a chain of upscale tile stores —
were unusually well informed about the latest tile installation
products and techniques.
Nothing spoils a ceramic tile floor installation like a large
stress crack running across the field. To prevent this kind of
expensive disaster, I always do a little pre-installation
detective work to make sure the floor is structurally sound.
Substrate deflection is by far the biggest contributor to tile
failure. If the span is too long for the joist dimension or the
joists are too widely spaced, problems are inevitable.
For most tile applications, sticking to the standard L/360
formula (span divided by 360 = maximum allowable deflection at
center) will keep you out of trouble. The exception is natural
stone tile, which is much more susceptible to breakage than
ceramic tile. Here it really helps to have the finish floor
specified before framing starts, because the Tile Council of
America (TCA) recommends reducing the maximum deflection by
half, to L/720.
Underlayment and plywood.
Whichever deflection standard is used, the total thickness of
the plywood subfloor and underlayment-grade plywood should
ordinarily be at least 1 1/8 inches. According to TCA,
particleboard underlayment and OSB subfloor panels are not
acceptable substrate materials under ceramic or stone
Underlayment edge and end seams must be offset from those of
the subfloor by at least 2 inches to prevent telegraphed stress
cracks. The subfloor plywood should be glue-nailed to the floor
joists and the underlayment nailed off on 8-inch centers in the
field and every 6 inches around the edges. Avoid nailing
underlayment into the floor joists, because that can telegraph
framing movement to the surface (see Figure 1). To be safe, I
use underlayment nails that won't penetrate the subfloor by
more than 1/8 inch. I also gap the panel ends and edges, using
a nickel or a quarter as a gauge, to let the panels "work" a
little without stressing the tile.
Full Size Image
Figure 1.An uninterrupted
expanse of floor tile is prone to stress cracking. Plastic
expansion strips installed every 20 to 24 feet divide the field
into smaller zones, minimizing cumulative movement and stress.
Thermal movement at door thresholds cracks grout. It's a good
idea to install an expansion strip there, too. A minimum 1
1/8-inch-thick plywood substrate and underlayment are required
to limit deflection between framing members. Underlayment
provides added stiffness and a disconnect between subfloor and
framing movement. Proper panel layout, edge gapping, and
nailing help ensure that the underlayment performs as
Finishes and Surfaces
Moisture Barriers
Pressure from utilities in sunny Southeastern states has put a chill on rooftop solar.
Risinger's recent video sparks a debate about Tyvek, and a reader takes issue with...
Tom Meehan
Q. Tiling a Curved Wall We've been asked to build a semicircular bathroom with tiled...
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2014 Hanley Wood Media, Inc. All rights reserved.


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T-Bone is a 2-year old Chihuahua from San Gabriel Valley Humane Society: (626) 286-1159. Very calm, very cool and well-mannered, T-Bone would be a great addition to your home.
Keep checking the FOX 11 Pet Project section for more wonderful animals to adopt, photos, pet rescue success stories, pet care information and anything else we can think of to stuff in here to keep you occupied while surfing our site!!
Believe or not, some cats just aren't drawn to catnip. Here's why.