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The Real Poop
OK, the common parlance is "professional recruiter," but really, they just want heads (attached to bodies… not like in a duffel bag). That's how they get paid, anyway. In fact, the term "headhunter" is pejorative and refers only to the riffraff of the industry; most professional recruiters realize that helping companies find employees is a lifelong endeavor, a real partnership - not a one-off transaction which ends with a very nice roasted pig in a sand pit and a body missing a place to put a hat.
But we think there's some glamor - or at least excitement – associated with the term "headhunter," so we're gonna stick with it.
Headhunters play a balanced game of cat and mouse where the playing field tilts like a teeter-totter in good economies and bad. The cat and mouse game is all about schmoozing the top talent - while getting the frantic begging call from bottom talent who has just been fired, has a mortgage, a high-maintenance spouse and three kids who all need braces. That is, a headhunter is both a seller and a buyer of their service expertise.
Some extreme examples help illustrate the dynamic: Imagine what a top algorithmic computer engineer's discussion was like during the search wars (which Google won) in the early 2000s in Silicon Valley. That top coder came from Stanford's PhD program, was already known, respected, and liked by the key management (i.e. the CTO or Chief Technology Officer to whom they'd report) and, in parallel, known via their professor's relationships... by the venture capital community who funds new companies. That candidate could almost literally "write their own ticket." Want a massage each day? No problemo. Mountains of candy? Sure. A boatload of stock options? You got it.
That's the cat.
And the economic climate was booming, at least in the search wars where dozens of companies were trying to "own" the consumer navigation of the web. So not only did that candidate have uniquely highly talented skills - but they were in a climate where everyone was clamoring for their services. Companies in that space held, as weapons, the engineers they had in their stable - if they ran out of engineers who were the ones building new stuff, the companies lost the war and became dinner for the winners.
So in that environment, you - the would-be headhunter - would have gotten a sheepish call from the CEO of the company, asking for... help. And that's a really wonderfully awesome call, as a headhunter, to get. (Chuh. Of the Ching.)
But then there's the mouse.
You're now teleported to Detroit. It's the crash of '09. Nobody is buying cars. In fact, the car companies are going bankrupt, more or less. You'd made a career placing executives at GM (and in many industries headhunters are loyal to one firm inside of an ecosystem - that is, you likely would not place executives at Ford if you're a GM gal). Now the phone call flow is reversed. It's not the companies calling you begging to have you help them put arrows in their quiver; it's the executives who have either already been fired or, if they are smart, knowing that they are about to be fired, down-sized and/or let go - and they want to get a half-step ahead of the stampede out the door.
"You gotta get me outta here...." Then you hear the story about the mortgage and the maintenance and the braces. And if the entire world isn't in Depression, and somebody is hiring, your next question might be, "So... how do you feel about Maine?" There might be silence on the phone from the other end or, if the exec is desperate enough, maybe he'll move. And then of course, there's a gnawing question in your brain that asks why THIS exec is calling you - that is, is she the least talented? The first to be let go? Why would the company not fight to keep her if she was actually... good?
When you hold out a candidate for a position, it's your reputation on the line every time. Stick a company with a lunatic and your career may be over. CEOs talk.
Headhunters don't just place executives - they place board members, government officials, service people and pretty much anyone else, as long as it results in them getting paid a commission. They also opine on fairness practices for compensation, legal matters, policies around sexual harassment, and really anywhere else they can do things... for a small fee.
And those fees can be awesome. A headhunter placing a top exec at a 100-person start-up commands all kinds of creative compensation packages, usually based on the first year's salary (and stock options and boni) of the person they are placing. Think: 0.25-1.0x. That is, an exec making $350,000 might be "found" through a headhunter for a fee to the company of $65,000. Nice work for a phone call. That's the high end. But it's a big high end. (LINK: http://juicefriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/huge_butt.jpg)
The experience is vastly different as a headhunter for a major firm versus just being a one-person shop. A major office like Egon Zehnder or Korn Ferry has thousands of professionals around the world with vast resources and a database system that taps directly into "every exec who matters." Because companies with a hundred thousand employees or more have vast resource needs in recruiting, many large firms provide "wholesale deals" in the form of ongoing contract services for headhunting needs.
With the large office comes a lot of bureaucracy, overhead costs and fights to be first in line at the water cooler. But there's a brand, deep-seated relationships and… camaraderie. In some form, anyway.
At the other end of the spectrum is a lone wolf operator. A single person who IS their company. Many headhunters who have spent 25 years covering a domain "know everyone" in their space. Working 50 hours a week at a big firm gets them $350,000 a year in salary and bonus – yet they provide billings to The Firm of a million or more, maybe much more. So they ask themselves, "Why am I working so hard for all of this overhead? Sure, the secretaries and custom coffees are nice, but I have an answering machine and can get Starbucks on my own – then I can keep all the dough myself. And when clients call MegaGlop Headhunting Firm, they aren't calling MegaGlop – they are calling me."
It's all about relationships. Years of shmoozy, boozy parties and developing the persona that you "really know how to assemble talent"… that's the marketing platform under which you will market yourself and pay your light bill. A client calls and says, "Hey ho, I need a CFO" – and you say, "Hoo haw, let me bring you blah."
You scour existing companies in that related field (that is, if the CFO is being hired into a lugnut building company, you'd look for existing CFOs and maybe one step downers – like controllers or internal audit people with roles very closely related to that of the CFO – and… just call them). Like, who doesn't return a phone call from a headhunter?
And over time, if you've done 20 searches for CFOs in the lugnut industry, odds are good that you're going to have your own easily searchable database so that the search can be completed quickly with relatively low pain. In any domain, there are usually only a few thousand execs qualified to do a given task so it's not all that hard to just... find all of them. At $20k-$150k a search, if you can do one a month or so, it's a really nice gig. And you get to meet lots of people who are oh so happy to return your call along the way.


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Undergraduate Program
The SJSU Department of History welcomes new majors in good academic standing with minimum GPAs of 2.0.
Undergraduate Program Information for the New 4 Unit Curriculum
- Frequently Asked Questions About The New Major Requirements (PDF)
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subset: commoncrawl


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The improved Mall Road in Florence is continuing to see big changes.
In the last two years, Mall Road has been repaved with new sidewalks, curbs and landscaping.
Now, Kroger is planning a new Marketplace store in Florence Square on Mall Road at a site previously occupied by a movie theater. The company has submitted a site plan to the Boone County Planning Commission for the 123,678-square-foot store that would include a fuel center, a drive thru pharmacy and 485 new parking spaces.
The businesses in the corridor generate more than $30 million a year, according to the governor's office.
Florence Mayor Diane Whalen says the Kroger development is the type of project that was envisioned with the $13 million state-funded reconstruction of Mall Road.
Kroger is not saying how much the project will cost or how many people might be employed.
On top of all of that, Smokey Bones and Olive Garden on Mall Road in Florence are getting a new neighbor, BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse.
Construction is expected to be completed this summer.
The City of Florence has provided a few facts about Mall Road:
General Facts
Economic Impact
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Very ornate wall sculpture discovered on a historical building. Too me, he looks like he could be whistling a happy tune or he could be the human form of the Northwind. Special effects, Photography and Copyright 2010 Carol F. Austin, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


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Athletes are battling for 21 gold medals in 10 different sports Tuesday, with a day of drama promised in the Olympic Stadium -- site of the track and field events -- and in the velodrome and the gymnastics arena.
Chinese badminton player Yu Yang quits the sport after being disqualified for match throwing. Jaime Florcruz reports.
Eight female badminton players were disqualified from the Olympics this week for apparently trying to throw their matches to secure a favorable draw.
The Australian women's basketball team and the Japanese women's soccer team flew in premium economy seats in their flights to Europe, while their male counterparts stretched out in business class.
Brazilian soccer icon Zico has hailed the South American country's World Cup-winning team of 1958 as the best in the sport's history, ahead of the reigning world and European champions Spain.
CNN's Pedro Pinto and Al Goodman report on Spain's momentous win over Italy in Euro 2012 final in Kiev.
F1 designer Hermann Tilke gives CNN an inside track into the Shanghai International Circuit ahead of Sunday's race.
The foreign invasion of China's professional football league reached fever pitch this week with the announcement that former Chelsea forward Didier Drogba will play with the Shanghai Shenhua team next season.
CNN's Richard Quest talks to Jeffrey Sachs, director of Earth Institute, about the European banks.
Euro 2012 is beginning to resemble the eurozone -- a case of sport imitating economics.
WARSAW -- Three thoughts on the U.S.' 1-1 tie at Guatemala on Tuesday, which moved the U.S. into pole position in its semifinal-round World Cup qualifying group with four points, followed by Jamaica (four with less goal differential), Guatemala (one) and Antigua and Barbuda (one).
GDANSK, Poland -- It was the game of the tournament so far in Euro 2012, a thrillingly open back-and-forth between the champions of World Cup 2010 (Spain) and World Cup 2006 (Italy). And when the smoke finally cleared, both sides came away with a point in a 1-1 tie that featured fascinating tactics (Spain's six starting midfielders; Italy's three-man back line), aggravating misses (Fernando Torres' miscues; Mario Balotelli's Leon Lett impression) and first-rate goalkeeping by two of the world's best, Iker Casillas and Gigi Buffon.
There really is no argument at this point: The European Championship is the most competitive high-level soccer tournament in the world, even more so than the World Cup. When Euro 2012 starts on Friday with Poland-Greece (ESPN, noon ET) and Russia-Czech Republic (ESPN, 2:45 p.m. ET), every team will bring something to the table. The tournament has only 16 national teams (at least until it moves to 24 in four years), and so it's possible to have a first-round group of Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark, four teams in the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings.
A huge chunk of Europe's male population is salivating at the imminent arrival of Euro 2012 -- a month long festival of football between the continent's best soccer sides.
The Netherlands came mighty close at the 2010 World Cup -- and quite a few experts believe Bert van Marwijk's team can go one better this year. The starting lineup is virtually unchanged from two years ago. Whether that's a good or bad thing is largely a matter of opinion. If anything, both the strengths and weaknesses of the Dutch seem more pronounced this time. Going forward, "Oranje" certainly looks better than ever. Scoring 37 goals in 10 qualification games would suggest that the "negative and ultra-brutal" tag that the team earned after the final in Johannesburg was over-simplistic and inaccurate.
The long qualifying road to World Cup 2014 starts on Friday in Tampa for the U.S. men's national team, and while the first semifinal-round opponent (tiny Antigua and Barbuda) shouldn't provide much resistance, there's always a danger in taking World Cup qualifying for granted. The U.S. is one of only seven nations to reach the last six World Cups -- along with Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Italy, South Korea and Spain -- and at least 16 qualifying games over the next 17 months stand between the Yanks and Brazil 2014. As always, there are no guarantees.
Like all the best rags-to-riches stories, this one has a twist. In fact, Franck Ribery's story dovetails nicely with that of the France national team: both were loved and supported after reaching the 2006 World Cup final, and both were vilified following the strike threat in protest of Nicolas Anelka's exclusion from the squad four years later. Neither has been completely forgiven, but Euro 2012 offers the perfect opportunity for redemption.
In the inner sanctum of the Bayern Munich players' quarters, on a wall next to the communal dining areas, there's a giant black-white picture with photos and red letters. They spell out the clubs unofficial mantra Mia san Mia (We are who we are) and a number of its defining ideals. Full of confidence, loyal, technically brilliant, innovative, effective, focused, attacking, tactically flexible. In between those big words there are snap shots of 11 men who don't need any names or introduction, Bayern's all-star team:
From the courts of the ancient Pharaohs to a simple game of catch on a spring afternoon; the ball has a centuries-long history of play. It's one of our simplest yet most enduring inventions. While the games have evolved, the ball in all its various forms continues to play a key role in different cultures around the world.
An India icon and now a cricket legend, Sachin Tendulkar is a marketer's dream come true. Mallika Kapur reports.
Ricardo Teixeira has resigned as both the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and head of Brazil's organizing committee for the 2014 World Cup finals.
Brazil's best footballers often seek riches in leagues abroad, but the country's booming economy is changing that.
Canadian skier Nik Zoricic died of head injuries sustained from a crash while racing Saturday at a World Cup Ski Cross event in Grindelwald, Switzerland.
If there is anyone who embodies the fighting spirit of Japan's disaster-laden year, it is Homare Sawa.
Football's global governing body FIFA will examine Bahrain's "unusual" 10-0 World Cup qualifying win over Indonesia on Wednesday.
South Korea beat Kuwait 2-0 Wednesday to seal their place in the final stage of Asia World Cup qualifying as Group B winners.
Veteran Dutch coach Guus Hiddink is the latest man to take the reins at big-spending Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, succeeding Yuri Krasnozhan who resigned before he'd even taken charge of a match.
He was the soccer referee known as "golden whistle" who officiated in high-profile events such as the World Cup and the Olympics.
It was nearly 1 a.m. Cairo time last Friday when Bob Bradley called. If you're the Egyptian national soccer coach, as Bradley has been since last September, lack of sleep is understandable these days. On Feb. 1, more than 70 people died in violent clashes after an Egyptian league game between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly in Port Said.
VANCOUVER -- When a team has beaten another team in all seven meetings by an aggregate score of 34-0, is there anything to be worried about?
FIFA and World Cup host nation Brazil are on a collision course over whether alcohol should be served in stadiums during the 2014 finals.
LOS ANGELES -- Greetings from Southern California, where I opted to spend some time with the U.S. women's team this week as it prepares for the Olympic qualifying tournament later this month in Vancouver. (We have MLS Draft coverage elsewhere on SI.com, so don't worry.) I decided to open up the mailbag this week for questions on Alex Morgan, Clint Dempsey, Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and a number of other topics. Let's dive in:
There are two traits prevalent among the top prospects available in Thursday's MLS SuperDraft: finishing and creating.
Almost six months after Japan's women gave the country a much-needed boost by winning the football World Cup, the team was again celebrating after scooping a hat-trick of prestigious awards.
Looking ahead to the headlines of our game in 2012, here's where much of the domestic U.S. soccer news will come from, everything from the awesome to the awful and points in between:
It's that time of year again where we look back on a selection from the standout soccer stories in the year just passed. Here's the best of 2011:
Lionel Messi scored twice as European champions Barcelona secured the Club World Cup with a 4-0 rout of Brazil's Santos in Yokohama Sunday.
Brazilian side Santos booked their place in the FIFA Club World Cup final on Wednesday with a 3-1 defeat of Japanese outfit Kashiwa Reysol in Toyota City.
Shasta Darlington talks with Brazil's new Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo about preparations for the World Cup in 2014.
In the last decade, we've seen a lot of Lindsey Vonn. Three Olympic Games, including a gold medal in the 2010 downhill in Vancouver. Five world championship medals, including two golds in 2009. Three consecutive World Cup overall titles (2008, '09, '10) and 45 career victories, by far the most of any U.S. ski racer of either gender. She has been photographed in ski suits and swimsuits (SI, 2010); she has walked red carpets and sold Red Bull. She appeared in a 2010 episode of her beloved Law & Order, and not as herself. In the small world of ski racing, she stands very large.
As ever, with thedraw for the European Championship, the first thought is how many exciting ties there are in prospect in the group stage. Holland vs. Germany, Spain vs. Italy, France vs. England, Portugal's games against the Dutch and the Germans ... this is how tournament soccer ought to be; big games at every turn. The World Cup, ludicrously bloated as it now is, doesn't offer that sense of immediacy, of giants clashing from the off, and the fear must be that as the euros expand to 24 teams from 2016, it too will be diminished by the grind of small sides packing their half and seeking to frustrate opponents.
Sports Illustrated will announce its choice for Sportsman of the Year on Dec. 5. Here's one of the nominations for that honor by an SI writer.
This is supposed to be the sweet spot for a professional women's soccer league -- the space between an interest-fueled World Cup and a promising Olympics.
Ireland will seek to win the World Cup of Golf for the first time since 1997 on Sunday after Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell earned a two-shot lead in China.
Irish pair Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell shared the lead at the halfway stage of golf's World Cup in China after a second round four-under-par 68 Friday.
Lionel Messi inspired Argentina as the two-time world champions came from behind to defeat Colombia 2-1 in a South American World Cup qualifying clash on Tuesday.
One of the classic stories of U.S. soccer is set to appear in movie theaters across the nation on Thursday night. Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story, which is being shown in more than 125 theaters, retraces the inspiring journey of an MLS reject from Green Bay who goes to London and somehow rises from playing in pub leagues in city parks to competing in the English Premier League and shutting down Wayne Rooney in the 2010 World Cup.
All Black fans flood the streets of Auckland to celebrate New Zealand's first Rugby World Cup title in 24 years.
New Zealand woke up to a giant collective hangover Monday as the rugby-mad nation savored its triumph in the World Cup final in Auckland.
CNN's Alex Thomas reports from an exuberant crowd of All Blacks fans following New Zealand's victory in the Rugby World Cup.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is warning his side against complacency as they go into Sunday's Rugby World Cup final against France as odds-on favorites to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy.
Big news in the world of U.S. soccer came on Friday when FIFA awarded the U.S. broadcast rights for 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Fox (English language) and Telemundo (Spanish language). The Sports Business Journal reported the total rights fee for the U.S. to be between $1.05 billion and $1.1 billion, an increase of at least 147 percent over the combined $425 million that ESPN and Univisión paid for the rights to the '10 and '14 tournaments.
Sidelined superstar Dan Carter has told his New Zealand teammates to "expect the unexpected" ahead of Sunday's Rugby World Cup final against France in Auckland.
CNN's Alex Thomas visits a New Zealand rugby youth tournament that typifies how rugby unites the nation.
France beat heroic 14-man Wales 9-8 in Auckland Saturday to reach the final of the Rugby World Cup.
Next Wednesday is one of the most important days of the next decade for soccer in the United States. That's when bids are due in Zürich, Switzerland, for the U.S. broadcast rights for World Cups '18 and '22. ESPN, NBC and Fox are expected to bid for the English-language rights, while Univisión and NBC-owned Telemundo are expected to be in competition for the Spanish-language rights. After the bids are submitted on Wednesday -- there will be no formal presentations, as there were for the Olympic rights bids earlier this year -- the FIFA executive committee will meet on Thursday and could reach a decision on the winners as soon as that day.
It has been clear for some time that the Spanish will be at next season's European Championships in Poland and Ukraine. The question now is which of the Spanish?
Jordan took a step nearer qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time with a 3-0 win over Singapore Tuesday to top Asian Group A with a 100 per cent record.
Whichever way you dice it, Reid Klopp is a man of faith.
As the powerhouses of the rugby world continue to battle over the Web Ellis trophy in the knockout stages of the World Cup, some of the sport's less-fancied teams are making their way home after a valiant, if unsuccessful, fight in the group stages.
England striker Theo Walcott tells CNN's Pedro Pinto about the ups and downs of his international career so far.
1987 World Cup winner John Gallagher won the title with New Zealand, but is an Englishman. CNN's Alex Thomas reports.
Four years ago a shock defeat by France sent a rugby-mad nation into mourning, but New Zealand's All Blacks erased some of that hurt with a comprehensive 37-17 vanquishing of their longtime bogey team on Saturday.
Seamstresses in South Africa turn recycled materials into rugby balls just in time for the World Cup.
While the country's rugby team battle for glory in the World Cup a group of South African seamstresses are tackling poverty by cashing in on the action.
German World Cup winner Lothar Matthaus has been sacked as coach of the Bulgarian national football team.
England and France set themselves on course for the quarterfinals of Rugby's World Cup with their second wins of the competition in New Zealand Sunday.
Another NFL season is upon us, and so is one of the greatest inventions known to man: the NFL Red Zone channel, which whips around from city to city, allowing you to see live look-ins, real-time highlights and all the scoring plays from every NFL game on any given Sunday.
CNN invites you to take part in their Rugby World Cup crossbar challenge as demonstrated by the London Irish rugby team.
England captain Lewis Moody has dismissed suggestions his team have been handed an easy draw for the group stage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Three thoughts on Saturday's WPS final, won by the Western New York Flash on penalties over the Philadelphia Independence after a 1-1 tie:
Not long ago -- well, very long ago if you're only tracking in 15-minute news cycles -- much of our country halted on a Sunday afternoon. They tuned into a television, tracked on a smart phone and wanted to know what happened when an appealing team of soccer players wearing our nation's uniform took the field against an emotionally charged team from Japan. It was the Women's World Cup. It was cool. It was entertaining. It was invigorating.
On Thursday, top English Premier League side Chelsea confirmed the $22m signing of teenage striker Romelu Lukaku on a five-year contract, a transfer that continues the recent trend of young Belgian talent moving across Europe for big money.
PEREIRA, Colombia -- Along the road to the stadium, the hawkers still sell their Colombia shirts, but the yellow seems a little less vibrant now. Round Plaza de Bolivar, the yellow of the national team remains the most common item of clothing, but the television adverts imploring fans to "have pride in the shirt" feel have taken on an air of poignancy. A man sitting near me in the pasta restaurant where I have lunch takes off his baseball cap and lays it on the table, looking forlornly at the Colombia national team badge on the front.
MANIZALES, Colombia -- Thoughts on the just concluded group stage in the U-20 World Cup:
PHILADELPHIA -- The first thing you notice is the shirt. Jurgen Klinsmann is wearing a blue-and-red Nike shirt with the badge of the U.S. national team as we sit down on Sunday for our first private interview since he took over as the U.S. coach. For some reason, seeing Klinsmann in the team gear for the first time rams home the point more than anything else so far. He's here. The World Cup-winning German really did take the job.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- On a glorious summer day not long ago, Sporting Kansas City president Robb Heineman stopped the tour he was giving me of his jaw-dropping new soccer stadium, Livestrong Sporting Park, and picked up his handheld radio.
Even with the tonnage of analysis on how Jurgen Klinsmann might spice up the U.S. national team stew, the rest of the soccer world just keeps on spinning.
Reigning champions Spain will face 1998 winners France in the same qualifying group, as the draw for the 2014 World Cup was made in Rio de Janeiro Saturday.
The curious timing of Bob Bradley's abrupt, stunning dismissal won't seem so curious if we discover that U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati already has identified a successor.
Goal-line technology in soccer could be used as early as 2012 if FIFA give the go-ahead at a meeting of their international board in March next year.
Going into the Copa America, we posed questions about the campaigns of the 10 South American sides. Now that the 43rd Copa America is history, we look back to find out if the tournament came up with the answers. (Listed from winners down to the teams eliminated in the group phase)
Women's Professional Soccer is back in full swing following the Women's World Cup. The always hoped for and oft-alluded to bump in interest was very evident last week in WPS, which registered two of its top-three all-time crowds in the past seven days. Most importantly, two games were on display in front of national TV crowds, making it a watershed week for WPS. Those types of numbers will not last very long, but they provide a glimpse of hope for a league that was more than in need of one.
What comes next for the U.S. women's soccer team? That's the question I'm hearing from several precincts after the dramatic end to the Women's World Cup on Sunday. The short answer is this: the 2012 Olympics come next. Women's soccer has a strange schedule, since its two main events (the World Cup and Olympics) take place in consecutive years, followed by two years in which women's soccer largely drops off the radar.
Countless pundits have wondered aloud whether or not the incredible attention the U.S. women's national team has received can be translated to Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). The extremists have had their say. Women's soccer faithful talk about the sport "arriving" after such a glorious Women's World Cup run in which the U.S. fell just short, losing to Japan in a captivating final. On the other hand, mainstream media conditioned to think soccer -- let alone women's soccer -- is an inferior sport will continue to think that it's a waste of time.
Portuguese giants Benfica have completed the signing of Spain's World Cup winning defender Joan Capdevila from Villarreal.
SI.com asked several current and retired SI writers to offer reflections on the best team they ever covered as sports journalists. Here's Grant Wahl on the French national soccer team that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European championship: The man behind the hotel desk in Rotterdam got right to the point. "Did you come for a sex-and-drugs tour?"
Hope Solo, goalkeeper for the U.S. Women's soccer team, previews Sunday's final game for the World Cup title.
Everyone remembers the iconic image of Brandi Chastain on her knees after the U.S. women's soccer team won the 1999 World Cup Championship. Hope Solo was only 17 then, inspired by the American women on the field.
Women's World Cup stories in the SI Vault
The FIFA Women's World Cup set two new records for number of tweets sent per second on Sunday.
Japan's women's soccer team returns home after winning the World Cup. CNN's Paula Hancocks reports.
It's not often that it's acceptable to open a bottle of champagne at 7 o'clock on a Monday morning, but this was one of those occasions.
Japan celebrates their team's win in the 2011 Women's FIFA World Cup. CNN's Paula Hancocks reports
India Barnes charged a makeshift goal during Friday's soccer practice. The 9-year-old's blue and white uniform flapped at her back as she dodged past her teammates through a patch of dirt.
The curtain came down on the Women's World Cup on Sunday, Japan clutching the trophy for the first time as the U.S. players graciously applauded. Japan's 3-1 win on penalties (after the game ended 2-2 in extra time) was a fitting ending to an absorbing, highly competitive three weeks of action played in tremendous spirit. Here's a look back at some of the standout moments:
"We're focusing on our game. This is going to be very exciting to watch," midfielder Lauren Cheney tells PEOPLE
Japan's victory in the Women's World Cup gives a disaster-weary nation a boost. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.
Japan won the Women's World Cup for the first time on Sunday, denying the United States a record third title after twice coming from behind in the final and then winning a penalty shootout in Germany.
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Rebels overthrow Central African Republic president, he flees capital as fighters seize palace
BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) -- Rebels overthrew Central African Republic's president of a decade on Sunday, seizing the presidential palace and declaring that the desperately poor country has "opened a new page in its history." The country's president fled the capital, while extra French troops moved to secure the airport, officials said.
The rebels' invasion of the capital came just two months after they had signed a peace agreement that would have let President Francois Bozize serve until 2016. That deal unraveled in recent days, prompting the insurgents' advance into Bangui and Bozize's departure to a still unpublicized location.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the unconstitutional seizure of power and called for the swift restoration of constitutional order, U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
The U.N. chief appealed for calm and reiterated that the January peace agreements "remain the most viable framework to ensure durable peace and stability in the country," Nesirky said. Ban also expressed deep concern at reports of serious human rights violations.
Witnesses and an adviser to Bozize said rebel trucks were traveling throughout the town on Sunday hours after the palace was seized. Former colonial power France confirmed the developments, issuing a statement that said French President Francois Hollande "has taken note of the departure of President Francois Bozize."
Cyprus secures international bailout, avoids bankruptcy, but large bank depositors face losses
BRUSSELS (AP) -- Cyprus secured a 10 billion euro ($13 billion) package of rescue loans in tense, last-ditch negotiations early Monday, saving the country from a banking system collapse and bankruptcy.
"We've put an end to the uncertainty that has affected Cyprus and the euro area over the past week," said Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who chairs the meetings of the 17-nation eurozone's finance ministers.
In return for the bailout, Cyprus must drastically shrink its outsized banking sector, cut its budget, implement structural reforms and privatize state assets, he said.
The cash-strapped Mediterranean island nation has been shut out of international markets for almost two years. It needs the bailout to recapitalize its ailing lenders and keep the government afloat. The European Central Bank had threatened to cut crucial emergency assistance to the country's banks by Tuesday without an agreement.
Without a deal by Monday night, the tiny Mediterranean island nation of about 1 million would have faced the prospect of bankruptcy, which could have forced it to become the first country to abandon the euro currency. That precedent would have roiled markets and spurred turmoil across the entire eurozone of 300 million people, analysts said, even though Cyprus only makes up less than 0.2 percent of the eurozone's 10 trillion euro economy.
Kerry tells Iraq it shouldn't allow Iranian overfights to Syria, calls for unity
BAGHDAD (AP) -- Just days after the 10th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry confronted Baghdad for continuing to grant Iran access to its airspace and said Iraq's behavior was raising questions about its reliability as a partner.
Speaking to reporters during a previously unannounced trip to Baghdad, Kerry said that he and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had engaged in "a very spirited discussion" on the Iranian flights, which U.S. officials believe are ferrying weapons and fighters intended for the embattled Syrian government.
Kerry said the plane shipments -- along with material being trucked across Iraqi territory from Iran to Syria -- were helping President Bashar Assad's regime cling to power by increasing their ability to strike at Syrian rebels and opposition figures demanding Assad's ouster.
"I made it very clear that for those of us who are engaged in an effort to see President Assad step down and to see a democratic process take hold ... anything that supports President Assad is problematic," Kerry said at a news conference at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad after meeting separately with Maliki at his office. "And I made it very clear to the Prime Minister that the overflights from Iran are, in fact, helping to sustain President Assad and his regime."
The overflights in Iraq have long been a source of contention between the U.S. and Iraq. Iraq and Iran claim the flights are carrying humanitarian goods, but American officials say they are confident that the planes are being used to arm the support the Assad regime. The administration is warning Iraq that unless action is taken, Iraq will be excluded from the international discussion about Syria's political future.
10 Things to Know for Monday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Monday:
European finance ministers signed off on a deal that requires holders of bank deposits of more than 100,000 euros to take losses.
New York's Bloomberg, NRA chief spar on gun control, say it's up to public now to press Senate
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two of the loudest voices in the gun debate say it's up to voters now to make their position known to Congress.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and National Rifle Associate Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre claim their opposing views on guns have the support of the overwhelming number of Americans. They are looking at the next two weeks as critical to the debate, when lawmakers head home to hear from constituents ahead of next month's anticipated Senate vote on gun control.
Bloomberg, a former Republican-turned-independent, has just sunk $12 million for Mayors Against Illegal Guns to run television ads and phone banks in 13 states urging voters to tell their senators to pass legislation requiring universal background checks for gun buyers.
"We demanded a plan and then we demanded a vote. We've got the plan, we're going to get the vote. And now it's incumbent on us to make our voices heard," said Bloomberg.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday that legislation would likely be debated in his chamber next month that will include expanded federal background checks, tougher laws and stiffer sentences for gun trafficking and increased school safety grants. A ban on assault-style weapons was dropped from the bill, fearing it would sink the broader bill. But Reid has said that he would allow the ban to be voted on separately as an amendment. President Barack Obama called for a vote on the assault weapons ban in his radio and Internet address Saturday.
Syrian opposition plunges into disarray as leader quits and military chief rejects new PM
BEIRUT (AP) -- Syria's opposition plunged into disarray Sunday as its president quit and its military chief refused to recognize the newly elected prime minister of an interim government for rebel-held areas.
The moves reflected deep splits in the body the U.S. and its allies hope will emerge as the united face of the opposition and advance the fight to topple President Bashar Assad's regime.
The missteps of the opposition's mostly exile political leadership drew little notice inside Syria, where rebel fighters dismissed it as ineffective and pushed ahead with their offensive to gain ground near the country's southern border with Jordan. Nearby, the Israeli military in the Golan Heights responded to fire by shooting back at targets inside Syria.
The first blow to the opposition Syrian National Coalition was the surprise resignation of its president, who said he was quitting in frustration over what he called lack of international support and constraints imposed by the body itself.
Mouaz al-Khatib, who rose to prominence as a preacher in Damascus' most famous mosque, said in a statement posted on his Facebook page that he was making good on an earlier vow to quit if undefined "red lines" were crossed.
Police: anonymous tip led them to arrests in case of baby who was killed in stroller
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) -- Police in Georgia say an anonymous tip helped them make arrests in the shooting death of baby who was killed in a stroller.
The Brunswick Police Department said Sunday that they got a tip that someone was crouched in the back seat of a vehicle as it drove away from the shooting on Thursday. The Glynn County detective's division spent hours following up on the tip and eventually arrested a 14-year-old suspect. The boy's statements led them to take 17-year-old De'Marquise Elkins into custody.
Elkins is charged with murder in the death of 13-month-old Antonio Santiago. The baby's mother, Sherry West, said she was walking home when Elkins and a younger boy approached and asked her for money.
Elkins' family says he did not shoot the baby.
Colo. prison chief's death highlights constant safety concerns for guards, wardens, officials
BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- The newest warden was sworn in Friday to oversee South Carolina's Lee Correctional Institution, a prison described by Gov. Nikki Haley as a dangerous place "housing the worst of the worst of our convicts."
It was a milestone in the career of Mike McCall, but the warden refused to let his wife accompany him to the ceremony.
"He didn't want anybody seeing the TV or the newspapers to know what she looks like," for fear she could be become a target, said Clark Newsom, spokesman for the South Carolina Department of Corrections. "It's the nature of the business. The average person doesn't realize how dangerous this can be."
The shooting death last week of Colorado's prison chief has focused attention on the danger faced by those who oversee the prisons housing the nation's convicts. Prison guards, wardens and correctional system administrators have been targeted in the past, often by convicts who had been freed after serving their sentence.
A former Colorado inmate killed in a shootout Thursday with Texas authorities is a suspect in the death of Tom Clements, the Colorado corrections director shot at his front door. Colorado authorities say evidence gathered in Texas provided a "strong lead" in the case but stressed investigators had not yet confirmed a link between the crime and Evan Spencer Ebel, the paroled inmate and a member of the white supremacist prison gang the 211s.
AP PHOTOS: Images from Holy Week around the world
Pope Francis leans over to kiss a baby after celebrating his first Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square. Penitents in white robes and pointed white hats wait outside a church before a procession in Seville, Spain. In Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a woman grasps palm fronds and a rosary while praying during an outdoor Mass at an earthquake-damaged cathedral.
Here are some of the images from Holy Week:
1 winning ticket for Saturday's $338M Powerball jackpot sold in NJ; 4th largest jackpot ever
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- When Teddy Jackson heard Sunday morning that the lone winning ticket for a $338.3 million Powerball drawing was sold in New Jersey, the Toms River resident combed through his 40 tickets and hoped for the best.
About 20 minutes later, after checking each ticket at least a couple times, Jackson realized he would have to go work on Monday.
"There were a few where I had one or two numbers, but that was it," the 45-year-old electrician said Sunday. "Now, I have to watch someone else get my money, buy the powerboat I would have gotten .... it was fun to dream about those things for a few minutes while I checked everything."
Details on where and when the winning ticket was purchased and other related information were not disclosed Sunday by New Jersey Lottery officials, who also would not say if anyone claiming to hold the ticket had contacted them as of Sunday afternoon.
They said information on the ticket would be released at a news conference on Monday morning at the lottery's headquarters in Lawrenceville.


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Appropriately enough, the IndyCar folks are headed to Japan - a perfect time for another edition of Haiku Tuesday!
Takuma Sato, driver of the #5 KV Racing Dallara in the IZOD IndyCar Series, has co-founded the "With You Japan" charity to help those affected by the recent earthquakes and tsunamis.
You won't need a 14-hour plane flight to get your taste of Japanese culture! This week's race at Twin Ring Motegi is previewed in Pop Off Valve's Haiku Tuesday.
Will Power's win at the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma was sheer visual poetry. Pop Off Valve commemorates the event with poetry of the written kind in our weekly Haiku Tuesday feature.
The writer rises from his sickbed to impart more awesome racing haikus after the IZOD IndyCar Series' Mid-Ohio race weekend.
There are haikus aplenty from this weekend's IZOD IndyCar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250. Check out the racing action expressed in verse!
Pop Off Valve spends a slow Tuesday giving out nickname advice to the newcomers in the IZOD IndyCar and Firestone Indy Lights series.
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"The remodelling of Limerick will complement the major regeneration of the city centre that is currently underway with the private sector investing over €1 billion in developments such as the Opera Centre, new hotels, commercial and residential projects,†Mr Mackey said. And the new proposed Orbital Route will still give traffic access to the city centre while giving pedestrians and cyclists better access to quality public space, Mr Mackey added.
Limerick city is one of the nine National Spatial Strategy Gateway Centres targeted in the National Development Plan for regional investment. The Exchequer is to provide €300 million in a Gateways Innovation Fund to these local authorities for local economic infrastructure.
The National Development Plan lists among its priority investment for the Limerick-Shannon Gateway; "the significant upgrading of the public areas and streets in Limerick City centre and re-imaging of Limerick through a major urban renewal initiativeâ€. Mr Mackey said: "Limerick City Council has developed a comprehensive Public Realm Strategy and is in the process of advancing many schemes to design and construction stage that could avail of the Gateway Innovation Fund.†The €50 million Limerick City Centre Regeneration Plan was unveiled to the 17 local councillors at a meeting in City Hall.
It includes:
- The full pedestrianisation of O'Connell Street between William Street and Roches Street.
- The widening of footpaths and improved landscaping of the remainder of the O'Connell Street to give priority to pedestrians.
- Pedestrian priority treatment for all of William Street with the widening of footpaths and improved landscaping.
These new works are part of an overall strategic pedestrianisation plan that has already started, or is under construction, with the remodelling of Baker Place; pedestrianisation of Bedford Row and the remodelling and pedestrianisation of Lower Thomas Street, Little Catherine Street and Augustinian Lane at a cost of €10 million.
And Limerick City Council is shortly going to tender for the:
- Remodelling of Upper Thomas Street and Catherine Street (Thomas Street to Roches Street.)
- Rremodelling and pedestrianisation of Foxes Bow and Limerick Lane.
Limerick City Council Director of Traffic and Infrastructure Pat Dromey said: "The history of pedestrianisation is that it brings increased footfall to streets and a better trading environment. Limerick traders who experienced pedestrianisation to date have stated publicly that it has improved their business.â€
Mr Dromey added: "The one way orbital routes in city centres are considered a very efficient and safe way of moving traffic with up to 50% less turning at junctions and a decreased risk of collision.â€
This Public Realm initiative will also complement the major regeneration and improvement works planned for the Shannon riverside along, Clancy Strand, Curragower Bund, O'Callaghan Strand, Steamboat Quay and Sir Harry's Mall, Mr Dromey added.
As well as facilitating the pedestrianisation works on O'Connell Street, the Orbital Route will also allow wider footpaths and board walks to be constructed between Bishops Quay and Arthurs Quay along the riverside, Mr Dromey said.
The proposed Orbital Route around the city centre will create a mainly one-way two lane clockwise traffic system that will be divided into three sections: Northern, Central and Southern.
- The Northern Section travels along: Arthurs Quay, Charlotte's Quay, Clare Street, Saint Lelia Street, New Road and Cathedral Place.
- And the Central Section travels along: Sarsfield Street, William Street, Upper William Street, Sexton Street, Roches Street, Shannon Street and Henry Street.
- The Southern Section travels along Parnell Street, Mallow Street and Henry Street.
The proposed remodelling works will include high quality pavements, improved pedestrian crossings, new street furniture, tree planting and the removal of some on-street parking.
The Contents of the Plan can be Viewed in the Attached Documents: (Limerick City Council)


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Building Enrollment and School Community
This course will be offered again later in 2014
Tim Seldin and Sharon Caldwell
You will have access to the entire course online classroom and resource collection, the video talks, and ongoing discussions with the instructor and your fellow students, for an entire year after the course ends.
Location: Your office or home, on your computer!
Instructors: Tim Seldin and Sharon Caldwell.
Time: Set your own schedule, working on weekly learning activities and projects that will directly benefit your school next year. You should expect to invest at least five hours a week reading the extensive course materials, viewing online video presentations or listening to audios, collaborating with fellow students and Tim Seldin, and working on PR, marketing, and recruitment strategies that will directly impact your school.
We will schedule weekly live conversations with Tim Seldin. Participation is recommended, but not required. We will record them and post the recordings online.
Do you have a trip or specific time during this period when you will not be available? No problem! While it is best to participate with the entire group in ongoing discussions, You can catch up when you return.
Course description
A school is nothing but people. It lives in their hearts and minds. A great school is group of people acting in accordance with a common set of beliefs and values, who feel a sense of commitment to each other and to the institution.
So often, schools agonize over the difficulty of attracting and retaining enough students to meet our budget, and every time a Montessori child leaves before graduation, our classes and school community suffer.
The Montessori Foundation believes that this endless cycle can, and must, be broken. We can build our schools with children who will blossom in Montessori, and with parents who will value and remain committed to Montessori. This highly practical and hands-on course will show students how to organize their admissions/recruitment program to identify and attract the perfect families for your school.
Does this sound familiar?
"We worry about our enrollment every year."
"My teachers get tired and discouraged when we hold parent education nights, and only the same five really committed families show up."
"I wish that our parents were really supportive! What does it take to get parents to understand that we sometimes feel as if we've all taken a vow of poverty just so their tuition will stay low."
"I'm really tired of defending Montessori to parents who think that we're involved with a cult?"
A Montessori child can never be replaced! This course will help you to attract not only children who will blossom in your school, but parents whose values and commitments are in line with your school's vision.
This course will help you to:
- consider how to make the most of the currently weak economy that many schools face.
- define your school's unique identity
- build a stronger school community
- get the most out of your promotional dollars
- learn how to get positive PR on a shoestring
- understand the recruitment secrets of the most successful schools
- turn your school's "limitations" into assets
- develop highly effective school brochures
- make direct mail strategies work for your school
- develop and effectively use direct mail pieces
- get free publicity for your school
- use slide shows and videos
- make your school newsletter your single most effective PR tool
- organize effective open houses and special events
- motivate your present families to help
- find the perfect match between family, child, staff, and school
- keep your vision alive
- develop effective parent education programs
- organize monthly community and class meetings
- work with parent volunteers
- make new families feel at home
- give children "bragging rights" through a strong extracurricular program
- organize a Financial Aid Program
- develop a more family-friendly school
SHARON CALDWELL, B.A.Hons./HDE, has been involved in Montessori for fifteen years, after a six year stint as a teacher in a conventional high school. She founded Nahoon Montessori School, which drew strongly on democratic school tradition to realise the principles of student governance suggested in Dr. Montessori's writings. As a result of her experience and insight into a variety of educational models, Sharon has run workshops and presented at Montessori, Alternative/Democratic and other education conferences in the USA, Australia, India, China and South Africa. She is coeditor of the International Montessori Council's publication Montessori Leadership, has edited course materials for the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, and is a regular contributor to Tomorrow's Child. She supports Montessori schools and parents internationally as a mentor on Montessori_Online, an online discussion group sponsored by the Montessori Foundation, and is an instructional guide on two of the Montessori Foundation's leadership programs: Building a World Class Montessori School and Finding the Perfect Match. She has contributed chapters to The Directory of Democratic Education and Turning Points: 27 Visionaries in Education Tell Their Own Stories. She lives in East London, South Africa, with her husband, Denver, and two former Montessori and now self-directed home-educating sons, Christopher and Nicholas.
TIM SELDIN, M.Ed. is the President of The Montessori Foundation and Chair of the International Montessori Council. His almost forty years of experience in Montessori education includes twenty-two years as Headmaster of the Barrie School in Silver Spring, MD, his own alma mater (age two through high school graduation). He has also served as the Director of the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies and as Head of the New Gate School in Sarasota, Florida. He earned a B.A. in History and Philosophy from Georgetown University, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Supervision from The American University, and his Montessori certification from the American Montessori Society. Tim Seldin is the author of several books on Montessori Education, including his latest, How to Raise An Amazing Child; The Montessori Way with Dr. Paul Epstein; Building a World-class Montessori School; Finding the Perfect Match - Recruit and Retain Your Ideal Enrollment; Master Teachers - Model Programs; Starting a New Montessori School, Celebrations of Life, and The World in the Palm of Her Hand.
How to Apply:
You can register online or mail your application and payment by credit card or check (drawn against a US bank) in to us at The Montessori Foundation, 19600 State Road 64 East, Bradenton, FL 34212 USA. Please make checks payable to The Montessori Foundation.
Registration Fees:
Non-IMC Members: $750 for the first person from a school/$600 for each additional person enrolling from the same school.
Members of the International Montessori Council (IMC): Individual IMC members, or participants sponsored by a school that is a member of the International Montessori Council, receive a discount: $700 for the first person enrolled from an IMC affiliated school/$500 for each additional participant enrolling from the same IMC member school.
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Keanes Oyster Bar and Restaurant
Lisdeen, Kilkee, Co Clare
Keanes Restaurant is open year round with a full menu served daily. Meals are served from 5:30 pm with flexible closing hours.
Naughtons Steak & Seafood
46,47,48 O Curry St, Kilkee, Co. Clare
Naughtons is a smartly presented 1870s pub on the main street, with outdoor seating on fine days. Owned by Elaine Haugh and her huband Robert Hayes, who is the chef, this friendly place is a lovely comfortable and elegant pub.


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Best Android Phone on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile
It's not the best time to buy a new Android phone, but it's always a complicated situation with how many models come out every month, so here we go.
If you need a new phone today, and you are on T-Mobile, get the new LG Nexus 4. Get the Samsung Galaxy S III if you're on Sprint. If you're on Verizon, get the Droid DNA unless you want a stupendous battery, in which case the get Droid Razr Maxx HD. On AT&T, get the HTC One X+ if you don't mind the lack of reviews. But if your current phone still works, it's best you wait.
To me, Android phones are the best smartphones. They're also the worst smartphones. And they're most of the ones in between, considering how many different kinds of models there are.
Android is best for tinkerers. If you don't want to have to make a lot of decisions, get an iPhone which is the phone we recommend for most people. But Android is the phone for people who are not like most people and who want to actively participate in their technology. If you want to be able to swap out keyboards, change the OS entirely, or even tweak weird hardware settings like clock speeds, get a good Android phone.
The latest version is 4.2, but 4.1 Jelly Bean is where Android went from solid to great. Google Now is fantastic and the overall UI and responsiveness of the OS are superb. The newest version of Android is 4.2. It's still called Jelly Bean, and it's even better than 4.1, adding new features for Gmail, lock screen widgets, a better notification area, and many performance improvements. So far it's only on the new Nexuses: the 4, which is a phone, and the Nexus 7 (7-inch tablet) and Nexus 10 (10-inch tablet). That's the main benefit of these Nexus devices from Google–even when they have smaller screens compared to the latest and greatest, they have the most current software and that makes them the most capable and useful of all Android handsets. Generally.
Update: Android 4.2
iOS still has a bigger, more mature app ecosystem, but having gone from iOS to Android years ago, I can't remember the last time I saw an app I liked on iOS and couldn't find it or a close equivalent (or both) on Google Play. Still, nearly every app is available for iPhones and there are still some corporate and weird hobby apps that you can only get on an iPhone. If this is a concern you should search for apps on each platform that fit with your hobbies and work needs, and see what comes up. Lastly, apps on Android are often of lesser polish or incompatible with older or outlier Android handsets because they have to be designed to work with various screen sizes or hardware types or operating systems. This is changing as more developers adopt the Holo design guidelines that Google encourages.
Another advantage iOS has over Android is its accessory ecosystem. This is mostly due to the fact that all iPhones are more or less the same, which makes everything easier. But for the first time, Android is starting to catch up.
Samsung has sold 40 million Galaxy S3s in the past half year or so and as a result, accessory makers are actually finding it profitable to start making quality, branded cases for it. Case in point, when Otter Box designed its new flagship Armor Series cases, the GS3 was the only non-iPhone deemed worthy of protection.
Of course, iPhones still lead this category by a huge margin, but it's good to know that there's finally a viable alternative in the world of Android. It's definitely something to consider if you like to accessorize your gadgets.
Android's deep hooks into Google's services make it especially wonderful if you live with Google services every day. Google Maps is still the best map and navigation software, and it's free on every Android phone. Android is also the most natural place to use Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, and the rest of Google's cloud services. Google Now is better than Siri, and if you give it access to your Gmail it'll spook you with its helpfulness–automatically tracking packages and flights, reminding you of appointments, even pinging you when it's time to leave for the airport based on traffic.
What To Look For
Essentially, get a Nexus phone if you're on T-Mobile and are stuck with T-Mobile. Otherwise, wait until there's a good Jelly Bean (Android 4.1 or later) phone on your carrier.
If you absolutely need a new phone today (but not an iPhone), the Samsung Galaxy S III is still the phone to beat on Sprint, and it just got Jelly Bean 4.1 in late October. If you're on Verizon, you should get the stupendous new Droid DNA, if a five-inch phone isn't too large for you. AT&T users should get the HTC One X+.
Every carrier has promised to get Jelly Bean on the flagship phones, but carrier update promises are roughly as believable as a Celebrity Rehab contestant. Don't believe your phone will be updated until two weeks after the update actually happens. Until then, assume the carrier has no reason to spend money making your old handset more useful when they can sell you a new one.
If you're adventurous as well as impatient, you can get Jelly Bean before your carrier pushes it to your current phone, by putting it on your phone yourself. The vast majority of Android phones can be rooted and have their operating systems replaced entirely, and most phones from the past few years have vibrant modding scenes that work to get the latest version of Android onto phones that the carriers have abandoned. CyanogenMod is a good place to start, although it's by no means the only or the best custom ROM out there, it's one that supports many devices and has lots of documentation to make the process easy. Check their website to see if CyanogenMod 10 is available for your phone; it's the version based on Jelly Bean.
The phone with the best hardware/software combo right now is the Nexus 4 running stock Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the latest software. Being Google's official handset, It should also get software updates and new features straight from Google and much sooner than phones from other manufacturers. It has a gorgeous Gorilla Glass chassis, bright 4.7-inch 1280×700 screen, superfast quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, and the best version of Android ever. It also supports wireless charging (via the Qi standard), NFC, and screencasting via Miracast. There's just one problem, but it's a huge one in the US, and it could be a dealbreaker for you: the Nexus 4 doesn't have LTE, the high speed network that most flagship phones in the US have, giving your handset the most responsive, high speed internet connection that can rival slower home cable modems. It's unfortunate, because the phone would be the best Android handset around if it had LTE and better carrier support.
If you're on T-Mobile, which now finally has LTE, you should get the Nexus 4. The 8GB version is $200 and the 16GB is $250 with a two-year contract, but you should get the unlocked version from Google Play. It's just $300 (8GB) or $350 (16GB)–cheap enough that you should strongly consider getting the unlocked version and a prepaid plan, especially if you travel internationally.
(update 12/2:) If you buy the Nexus 4 from T-Mobile and get a Value plan, you'll pay an extra $15/m0 for T-Mo's Equipment Installment Plan. That's what T-Mo uses on the (slightly) cheaper Value plans instead of the subsidy of the Classic plans. If you buy the phone from Google and bring it to T-Mobile for the Value plan, you won't have to pay the EIP, and the extra up front cost will pay for itself after 7 months. Thanks Sean Finnigan for pointing this out.
Google's new Nexus 4 is getting great reviews for its stock Android 4.2 software and its hardware, but the Nexus 4 doesn't have an LTE radio, so you're stuck at still-fast HSPA+ speeds. And its radios are GSM only, so you're stuck with AT&T or T-Mobile. It's unbelievably cheap for a phone of this caliber–although it has far less storage than other handsets, and no MicroSD slot–and may make you wonder if you really need LTE at all, especially because the rest of the phone is so good.
I've been using the unlocked Nexus 4 on T-Mobile for a few days, and the lack of LTE is an occasional drag, but it's the only thing I don't love about the phone. It feels like a grown-up version of my Galaxy Nexus, and I love Android 4.2. The interface just keeps getting more and more polished. Google Now is a lot faster than it is on the Gnex, the new notification-area status toggles are fantastic, and the lock screen widgets make me practically giddy. Both the camera app and the camera itself are superior to the Galaxy Nexus. Actually, everything I do with the phone feels faster than 4.1 on my Galaxy Nexus.
The Verge's Josh Topolsky gives the Nexus 4 an 8.3, and says "It's easily the best Android phone on the market right now, and has some of the most powerful software that's ever been put on a mobile phone. It's an upgrade from last year's Galaxy Nexus in every way." However, the lack of LTE is a dealbreaker for Topolsky: "If you buy the Nexus 4, you have to decide whether you're willing to compromise data speeds for the purest and best form of the Android OS. After comparing the options and seeing the gulf between Google's flagship and other devices on the market, I've decided it's a compromise I won't be making again."
AnandTech's Brian Klug digs deep and likes what he finds: "If you're an Android enthusiast, the Nexus 4 is obviously the phone to have right now. [. . .] At a fundamental level there is quite literally no better vehicle out there for Google to communicate its smartphone platform via than the yearly Nexus refresh. On its own, the Nexus 4 would otherwise be phenomenally great hardware. As a Nexus, it's a level even beyond that."
ABC's Joanna Stern loves the phone but misses LTE. "Google fixed every feature I have complained about on my Galaxy–the camera, the build quality, and the performance issues."
Jamie Lendino at PCMag.com gives the Nexus 4 an Editor's Choice award, and high praises as an unlocked phone for travellers, but wasn't a huge fan of the camera, which he says "is an improvement over the Galaxy Nexus, but not enough of one." He says, "The Samsung Galaxy S III has much faster LTE on AT&T, a superior camera and camcorder, and is roughly as fast in the real world for most tasks despite its dual-core CPU, even if it lacks the up-to-date, stock Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS."
Of course, the Nexus 4 only makes sense if you're on America's worst network, which is a problem in and of itself.
If you're on Sprint, you should get the Samsung Galaxy S III. It's still one of the best phones out there, and it has been updated to Android 4.1. If you don't care about Jelly Bean, you're nuts, but you can also get the LG Optimus G, which has the same speedy guts as the Nexus 4, but is still on Android 4.0, which doesn't have Google Now or the performance improvements of 4.1.
The Samsung Galaxy S III has been the phone to beat since it came out early this summer. It has a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and 2GB of RAM, and a gorgeous 4.8-inch 720p AMOLED screen. It has up to 64GB of internal storage as well as a microSD card slot so you can add even more. The AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon versions all have zippy LTE service, too, though Sprint's LTE network is in its infancy.
Samsung's TouchWiz interface that lies on top of Android is not the worst UI ever. Parts of it are garish and confusing, but it does add some cool touches. For example, if you're texting someone or just viewing their contact info, and you bring the phone up to your face, it'll automatically dial them. Pretty handy.
Reviewers love the S III, too. Here's what they said when it came out:
Mike Gikas from Consumer Reports loves the S III's sheer speed. He described the overall performance as "top-notch" and loved the lightning-fast response times from the S III's huge 4.8-inch screen. Gikas gave mixed marks to S-Voice, Samsung's baked in Siri-like voice software, but ultimately said the S III potentially qualifies as "the new template for smart-phone design, kinks and all."
CNet's Jessica Dolcourt says the S III is "absolutely" worth buying based on features and price. Dolcourt also says the S III's solid combination of the lens, backlit sensor and LED flash is "worthy of a flagship phone." She gives Samsung's camera software high marks too thanks to "Burst Mode" and a "Best Shot" mode that algorithmically auto-selects the best pictures of the bunch. Dolcourt ultimately gave it "4-of-5 Stars" and Editor's Choice for June 2012.
PC Mag's Sascha Segan was yet another reviewer impressed with the S III's zippy processor:
"Performance was excellent in my tests. The Qualcomm S4 chip running at 1.5GHz is the fastest one we've seen in smartphones so far, and it's able to take on any app challenge you throw at it, including games on the HD screen. Our benchmark tests proved this, although they were within the margin of error when compared with the One X. Both phones are very fast."
The Samsung Galaxy S III is available on all four major US cell providers and is still as powerful as ever, although the other carriers have better options now.
If you're on Verizon and don't mind a large phone, get the HTC Droid DNA. It's a 5-inch handset with an unbelievable 1920×1080 screen. It's the smallest 1080p screen ever. The Droid DNA has an S4 Pro quad-core processor like the LG Nexus 4, 2GB of RAM, and Android 4.1. It's not 4.2, but at least it's still Jelly Bean. Reviewers are going nuts for this thing, and it looks like a great option for a lot of folks.
Brian Bennett at CNet calls the Droid DNA "Verizon's best Android deal," and praises the camera, screen, and battery life. "The $199.99 HTC Droid DNA has a winning combination of stylish design, devilish good looks, blazing performance, and a lovely screen, all for a good price. Its great camera is icing on the cake but enough to edge out the Motorola Droid Razr HD. Frankly, the DNA is HTC's best smartphone — and Verizon's best Droid — yet."
PCMag's Alex Colon gives it an Editors' Choice award but classifies it as a "phablet" rather than a pure phone. "As a phablet, the HTC Droid DNA is easily the best device we've reviewed on Verizon Wireless so far. It has a huge, gorgeous display, top-of-the line performance, and fantastic build quality, which earns it our Editors' Choice. The Samsung Galaxy Note II is sure to give it a run for its money, with longer battery life, more internal storage, and a microSD card slot. But for now, the Droid DNA reigns supreme." Alex doesn't dig its paltry storage options or lack of removable battery.
At Gizmodo, Brent Rose gives it 4/5 stars. "It's a really nice piece of hardware with tremendous guts and some pretty good software. It's not the best display ever, but it's certainly the best screen on a Verizon phone. It's also handily the fastest phone on Verizon. We would have liked a better camera and longer battery life, but in general, we really like this phone a lot."
Laptop's Sherri Smith gives it 4 out of 5 stars, but writes, "In this price range, the Galaxy S III offers more robust sharing features and gestures in a thinner and lighter design. There's just more innovation packed inside Samsung's device. Plus, the S III offers both microSD card expansion and a removable battery. However, the DNA has a brighter and higher-res screen and offers better 4G performance and a faster quad-core CPU. It really comes down to what you value most."
On the other hand, Dan Seifert at The Verge gives it a more measured 7.7, praising the screen but citing weird power button placement, a slightly too large frame, and weak battery life. "The DNA offers a lot for the $199 asking price, but the miserable battery life and occasional performance hiccups are reason to pause before hitting that purchase button. A great display alone unfortunately cannot make up for the DNA's other problems. Verizon users looking for a new Android smartphone have a number of other options at their disposal, including Samsung's still relevant Galaxy S III and Motorola's pair of Droid RAZR HDs."
On that note, the Droid Razr Maxx HD is a good bet. Its hardware is as powerful as the Galaxy S III, but its battery life is much better and it's only barely thicker. Its version of Android is also much closer to stock than Samsung's. Both devices have (as of February 2013) been updated to Android 4.1, so either is a good bet.
The Razr Maxx HD has a Kevlar back, Gorilla Glass front, and a massively high-capacity 3300mAh battery, but it's only a little thicker than the S III. The biggest reason to get it is that battery. If you're constantly running out before the day's over, get the Razr Maxx HD.
Laptop Mag's David Eitelbach gives it 4 stars and an Editors' Choice award, saying "With snappy performance, blazing 4G speeds, a beautiful display and a battery guaranteed to last you throughout the day, the RAZR Maxx HD is a winner," but he's not a huge fan of the camera or call quality. He prefers the S III if you care about camera quality and innovative features, but for sheer battery stubbornness the Razr Maxx HD wins.
Dan Seifert at The Verge gives it 7.6, citing the power of the hardware and the tremendous battery life, but docking it for a mediocre camera and for "[losing] the one thing that made the RAZR stand out from the crowd. The original model's impressively thin design made it worthy of wearing the storied RAZR badge, but the updated version is just another slab smartphone among a sea of many others."
One big caveat–even with its aging hardware, some people still like the clean Jelly Bean and LTE combination in the year-old Galaxy Nexus by Samsung. Josh Topolsky from The Verge actually ended up buying an old Galaxy Nexus for himself, which goes to show you how hard it is to decide on a best Android phone when the editor of a major tech publication ends up buying a phone over a year old instead of any of the newer handsets. The Galaxy Nexus could be a a good handset for you if having fast internet and Jelly Bean is important to you and you need to get a phone right now. But the hardware is aging, so it's better if you wait it out.
If you're on AT&T and don't mind a lack of reviews, go for the HTC One X+. It comes with a bigger 2100mAh battery, more internal storage, and a faster Tegra 3 processor than the original One X, which was our pick for AT&T before the Galaxy S III came out. Unlike the original One X and the Samsung Galaxy S III, the One X+ is running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
Gizmodo's Jamie Condliffe says it's "basically the same awesome phone" as the One X, but with a bigger battery and faster processor.
Sharif Shakr of Engadget likes the improved camera but found the battery life to be about the same as the original One X, likely due to the Tegra 3 chip's consumption balancing out the higher-capacity battery. "If you loved the physical design and excellent display on the original global One X but were put off by its 32GB storage cap and second-best performance, then this new flagship is definitely worthy of consideration."
And here's what the reviewers said about the original One X:
CNet senior editor Brian Bennett said the original One X ($150) is the carrier's current best: "It's fast, it's modern, and it boasts LTE, all of which at the moment makes it the best AT&T Android available." Brian Klug at Anandtech loved practically everything about it in his review, stating that the One X is "really the only one to get on AT&T."
Brent Rose at Gizmodo said it's "totally" worth buying and even challenges the iPhone 4S in his review:
"You could argue that the HTC One X is better than the iPhone 4S. Yeah, you heard that! The screen is most definitely better, the rest comes down to personal preference. Also, at $200 on contract, this thing is a steal."
(Although the wonderful Nexus 4, which can be bought unlocked, will work on AT&T, it will run under slower network speeds because of the types of network radios it has in it. It's also my thinking that if you can get a subsidy on a nice phone and you plan on having that cellphone for a while, you should take the subsidy.)
Other Options: If you don't mind a phone that's more than half tablet, Samsung's Galaxy Note II is better than the first, but unless you can palm a basketball one-handed, it may be too large. It has a 5.5-inch screen and comes with a stylus. It's really halfway between a phone and a 7-inch tablet and has proven surprisingly popular. But most people are better served with a smaller phone. While it's got beefier internal specs than the Galaxy S III, and the skinned iteration of Jellybean 4.1 that it runs isn't terrible, many reviews including those from TechRadar and CNet state that because of its size, the device is better thought of as a mini tablet with cellular capabilities than a mobile phone. The truth is, this phone won't fit in every pocket.
The Bottom Line: Unless your current phone is broken, don't upgrade until you can get a phone with LTE and Android 4.1 or later. Unless you're on T-Mobile, in which case you can't get LTE anyway and you should get a Nexus 4.
What To Look Forward To: (Last updated February 19, 2012)
HTC just announced the HTC One, and it looks impressive. It's a unibody aluminum phone with a 4.7-inch 1920×1080 pixel screen, quad-core Snapdragon processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB or 62GB of storage (though no microSD slot), and LTE. It also has a 4 megapixel camera and an IR blaster so it can be used as a remote for your home theatre setup. Pretty snazzy. It'll run Android 4.1.2 when it launches, and it's coming to Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T around March.
It seems likely that HTC announced the One to try to get ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S4. We don't know much about it yet but we know Samsung will likely announce it March 14th. So look forward to that as well.
Android phones are continuously improving and are released at a breakneck pace, which is good, but it's also frustrating. It's good because there's always something coming up that's going to be better but it's bad because it's hard to know when to actually buy something. I hope the next Nexus phone has LTE; it'd be a no-brainer.
Last Year's Model: Your current phone, with a custom ROM. Personally, I'd rather have a stock version of Jelly Bean and LTE than the newest, fastest hardware, so I'm sticking with my Verizon Galaxy Nexus and relying on the custom ROM community for updates. I'm not alone in this; Josh Topolsky of The Verge just bought a Verizon Galaxy Nexus, though not as his only phone–he still has an iPhone 5 on AT&T.
One reason the Nexus 4 doesn't have LTE is that that frees Google from having to cede any control over its Nexus devices to carriers, which hobbled last generation's Galaxy Nexus.
Thanks to carrier dillying, the Sprint and Verizon versions of the Galaxy Nexus received their official updates to Jelly Bean months after the rest of the Galaxy Nexus family. However, the intrepid custom ROM theme had stable Jelly Bean ROMs for the Sprint and Verizon phones the same day Android 4.1 launched. Android 4.2 code has been posted to the Android Open Source Project as of Nov 13, so Android 4.2 ROMs for the Galaxy Nexus will be available by the time you read this. Rooting your phone and adding a custom ROM is not something that everyone wants to do, but the difficulty level is somewhere between downloading a Windows Update and flashing a motherboard BIOS.
Custom ROMs aren't just useful for early adopters who don't want to wait for the very latest version of Android; they're also great for normal people who are stuck on a phone that the carrier isn't going to update. Carriers pretty much stop caring about phones once they've sold them to you, but you're the one who has to live with the phone until you're eligible for an upgrade. A custom ROM can breathe new life into your phone and give it an extra year of life. Forums like Rootzwiki and XDA-Developers will have subforums specific to your phone and carrier, with lots of ROMs to choose from and (usually) easy guides to getting a new ROM onto your phone in the first place.
Android 4.2: a new flavor of Jellybean, Android.comGoogle, Android 4.2: a new flavor of Jellybean
Nexus 4 Review, The Verge, November 2, 2012,8.3: "In the US, a flagship phone without LTE is like a muscle car with no wheels. For other networks in other countries, and for the lucky T-Mobile customers out there that are getting great speeds on its HSPA+ network — great. No problem. Go get this phone. But for others — many others — it's hard to imagine buying this device when you know it's a generation behind in terms of network technology."
Google Nexus 4 Review, AnandTech, November 13, 2012,"I'm very impressed with the direction that Google is taking Nexus in general. The Nexus 7 was impressive to me with its design and attention to in-hand feel, and the Nexus 4 is likewise a substantial improvement over the Galaxy Nexus."
Nexus 4 Review, ABC News, November 2, 2012.,
Google Nexus 4 (Unlocked), PCMag.com, November 12, 2012,4/5 stars, Editors' Choice.
Samsung Galaxy S III Shines Despite Some Glitches, Consumer Reports, June 20, 2012,Samsung Galaxy S III Shines Despite Some Glitches. No rating.
Samsung Galaxy S III review, CNet, June 19th, 2012,4/5 Stars,
Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD Review, Laptop Mag, October 24, 2012,4/5 Stars, Editors' Choice.
Droid Razr HD and Razr Maxx HD review, The Verge, October 22, 2012,Verge Score: 7.6/10
HTC One X+ headed to AT&T along with new HTC One VX, AnandTech, October 2, 2012,
Compare the Droid DNA to its high-end Android competition, The Verge, November 13, 2012,


text: 10 Best San Francisco Brunch Spots Brunch! 10 San Francisco Spots That Can't Be Missed by Susannah Chen 9/20/10 32 Reactions 203 Shares Print 64 117 21 1 0 There's rarely a weekend when I don't seize the chance to eat out between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for my favorite feast of the day: brunch. After all, is there anything better than a filler-upper that offers the benefits of both breakfast and lunch? In San Francisco, brunch isn't just an offering — it's a way of life in the City by the Bay, a time for friends to catch up on one another's lives while recharging on eggs, baked goods, and hangover remedies. It'd be hard to choose the best brunch in a city that's full of winning midday meals, but here are a few spots that I like to frequent. Brenda's French Soul Food What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 I'm not normally one to wait an hour for a table, something that's a typical expectation when it comes to dining at Brenda's French Soul Food. But try the crawfish and chocolate beignets, the hangtown fry (scrambled eggs, oysters, and bacon), and the thousands-of-flakes biscuits, and you'll be willing to brave the wait, too. 1 / 10 The Little Chihuahua What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hidden at the end of San Francisco's Divisadero Corridor is The Little Chihuahua, a hole-in-the-wall eatery with a diminutive name but big, bold, Mexican-inspired flavors. Aside from being well-priced, the restaurant's hearty dishes will quell any appetite the morning after a night of too much drinking. My favorite order is the chilaquiles; the tortilla chips are soft yet still slightly crunchy, dressed with a complex vegetable sauce, and topped with the fluffiest possible eggs. 2 / 10 Foreign Cinema What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 In a city full of brunch spots, Foreign Cinema is the place to have a midday meal. This San Francisco landmark serves up creative California-Mediterranean combinations — like baked fromage blanc wrapped in fig leaves — in a loftlike space in the heart of the Mission District. 3 / 10 Bar Jules What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jessica Boncutter, the chef at Bar Jules in Hayes Valley, knows there's something to be said for simplicity. Her elemental brunch — composed of dishes like these slow-scrambled eggs with green beans — is made with local ingredients and plenty of care. 4 / 10 Kate's Kitchen What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 One of San Francisco's best-kept brunch secrets is out! Kate's Kitchen is a favorite among Lower Haight residents, and for good reason. Kate's charges ridiculously low prices to go with its generous portions of everything from standard breakfast platters to bacon and cheddar cornmeal pancakes. 6 / 10 The Liberty Cafe What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 My current favorite spot for brunch is The Liberty Cafe in residential Bernal Heights. Despite the fact that it's square away on the opposite side of town, I can't help but return to the bakery and restaurant time after time for its huevos rancheros, which are, hands down, the best I've ever had. 6 / 10 The Magic Flute What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 There's a reason why an unassuming Italian family restaurant like The Magic Flute is the go-to spot for ladies who lunch: its peaceful patio, hidden in the back of a quaint space in the city's posh Presidio Heights neighborhood. The menu, which offers everything from truffled scrambles to roasted chicken hash, never fails to please, and Phil LaCavera, the patriarch of the family operation, is always there to personally greet and seat customers. 7 / 10 The Golden West What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 The Golden West takeout window is the newest enterprise from Dennis Leary, the owner of famous city sandwich shop The Sentinel. While it's not a seated brunch option, the venture offers delicious sweet and savory specialties like creamed ham biscuits and pork, gigante beans, and a poached egg — all for under $5. 8 / 10 Little Skillet What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 There's no better sweet-savory brunch combo than waffles and fried chicken. As a back-alley takeout shop, farmerbrown's Little Skillet doesn't look like much — but nobody does this soul food duo better. 9 / 10 Primavera What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 One of the longest queues at the Ferry Building farmers market can be found at Primavera, known across town not only for its signature tamales but also for its tostadas, chilaquiles, and aguas frescas. The slow-cooked black beans? Their depth of flavor gets me every time. 11 / 10 64 117 21 1 0 Read More SlideshowDiningRestaurantsBrunchEating OutSan Francisco Get a Personalized Living Newsletter! Help us customize your newsletter by selecting your interests (optional): Home Love & Sex Food Tech What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Reactions srhollis 2 years Chambers eat & drink at the Phoenix hotel has to be the best kept secret out there. How can you go wrong with poolside brunch!? Especially in SF. Not to mention, its right around the corner from Brendas and no line! POPSUGAR-Beauty 3 years Foreign Cinema for sure. Zazie, I dunno -- never understood the major love it gets for brunch. chiefdishwasher 3 years Back yard at Magic Flute is perfect.............and the food is too! dannysf 3 years All about Foreign Cinema. Great list! POPSUGAR-Entertainment 3 years Love this post, but gotta agree that Zazie is high on my list :) 3 years You missed the most popular local favorites Tangerine in the Castro, Zazie's and Bambino's in Cole Valley, and the infamous Mama's! Link Love Chocolate Legos are basically an excuse to play with your food — HuffPost Taste Here's the full list of chefs competing on Top Chef season 12 — Grub Street Jimmy Fallon pokes fun at how Giada De Laurentiis pronunces spaghetti — Eater Sweet tea fried chicken would make any Southerner proud — Rachael Ray Show McDonald's goes deep fried with its latest menu item — Foodbeast Banh mi meets breakfast sandwich in this must-try recipe — Food52 Source: Akihiro Mizuuchi/Behance


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Here's an assessment from The Washington Post's Rob Pegoraro:
"Amazon's Kindle dominates this category but continues to suffer from self-imposed compatibility problems - the usage controls Amazon embeds in its e-books prevent you from using them in hardware or software not approved by the Seattle retailer and also forbid such customary practices as lending your copy to a friend. Its e-ink screen, meanwhile, exhibits the slow performance and low resolution of an early effort. A crop of new e-book readers - for example, Barnes & Noble's Nook, Plastic Logic's Que and Sony's Reader Daily Edition - promise better features but won't ship until the end of this year or even later. If you simply cannot live without an e-reader, get Amazon's basic Kindle model, not its bigger Kindle DX - but realize that a few months from now you may regret jumping into this market too soon."


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MACEDONIA-WEATHER-FLOODCredit: ROBERT ATANASOVSKI / Stringer
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A man and a dog jump from grave to grave trying to cross the flooded... News Photo 162795362Adult,Cemetery,Cross,Dog,Flood,Grave,Horizontal,Jumping,Macedonia - Country,Men,Tip,Trying,Village,WeatherPhotographer ROBERT ATANASOVSKICollection: AFP 2013 AFPA man and a dog jump from grave to grave, trying to cross the flooded graveyard in the village of Monospitovo, in the southeastern tip of the Republic of Macedonia on February 27, 2013. The torrential rains which in the last three days poured down on the fertile Strumica Valley inundated fields and villages, destroying or damaging crops and households. Tens of people in the region are now sheltered, as their homes were gravely damaged. AFP PHOTO/ROBERT ATANASOVSKI (Photo credit should read ROBERT ATANASOVSKI/AFP/Getty Images)


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Level float switch
January 10, 2003
Designed to be accurate within ±0.25'''', level float switches have only one moving part to help make them more reliable. They feature high-level warning and overfill protection, and up to five float switches are available. Users can use them with a variety of applications, including pump and valve controls, petroleum, gasoline or fuel oil tanks, lube oil and refrigeration reservoirs and well and sump switching.


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Two men have been arrested after an Orange County Sheriff's Deputy says they threw a meth pipe out of their truck window as they drove near an elementary school.
Around 1 p.m. Thursday detectives with the Orange County Sheriff's Office Special Services Division were patrolling the area of FM 105 near the Orangefield Elementary School. Detectives say they saw a black Chevrolet pickup veer onto the shoulder of the roadway and then crossed the center dividing line on FM 105 near Granger Lane.
Detectives conducted a traffic stop on the black Chevrolet truck.
As the vehicle was pulling over, Detectives say they saw an object, which was later determined to be a methamphetamine pipe, thrown from the window of the vehicle.
Detectives searched the vehicle and found 14 grams of methamphetamines hidden inside of the truck. Along with the methamphetamine, detectives found synthetic marihuana, numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia, and two pellet pistols inside of the vehicle.
The driver is identified as Scott Patrick Shaunesey, 31, and the passenger is identified as Levi Ryan Gollihare, 22. Both were arrested for possession of a controlled substance PG 1 in a Drug Free Zone felony 1.
Shaunesy and Gollihare were taken to the Orange County Jail.
Sheriff Keith Merritt said he will continue to use every resource the Sheriff's Office has available to take drugs off the streets.
Newsroom: (409) 838-1212
Front Desk: (409) 833-7512
News Fax: (409) 981-1564
News Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Choosing Platinum For Your Wedding Bands or Wedding Rings
A wedding is the most unforgettable event in every couples life. This might only happen once in a lifetime. Where a man and a woman are pronounced as husband and wife after sliding of their wedding rings or wedding bands in each others fingers. Wedding rings plays an important part in a wedding and an important role in every couples relationship.
Most couples prefers to have a wedding rings that will truly last for a lifetime. Of course, they were bind by wedding rings to live together. ?For richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do they part?. That is a promise of a lifetime commitment between a man and a woman and a lasting wedding band is important. For an original wedding ring given can never be replaced even if it's of the same kind. The sentimental value matter most.
When it comes to metal bands used for wedding rings, there's actually a lot of choices and decision to make before considering the perfect one. You can go with the most popular bands for wedding rings, yellow and white gold, titanium, silver and platinum. If you are looking for a metal band that will truly last long, then platinum is a must. It is the hardest and the most durable metal. This type of band is great for persons who do hard labor. For it doesn't affects or changes the color and clarity no matter how many times you soak it in liquids, soap and in any chemicals. Some people have allergies with other metal bands like the gold and silver. Platinum is sensitive to mans skin, it doesn't really irritates and cost allergies to human skin.
Platinum is as trendy and modern as with other metal bands. Any choices of stones amazingly looks elegant. It does not cost as much or as expensive as gold. You can start purchasing a platinum ring with a limited budget. Though quality and beauty of rings depends on the cost of it. The greater the quality is, the higher the value. Platinum goes well with any kinds of gemstones. The most popular is diamond. It can be cut into princess cut, tiffany cut and the most popular cut for engagement rings, the three- stoned diamond cut design. It might cost expensive once you choose diamonds as stone for your wedding ring but it's worth it to keep. A simple wedding band with the sprinkled of diamonds totally matches with a woman's diamond wedding ring. A platinum wedding band is perfect for men who only wears ring to display it's status for it last for a lifetime. Other gemstones to consider are sapphire, emerald, topaz, turquoise and pearl for women's wedding rings.
So if you want to have a wedding ring that will both keep your relationship as old as forever, better go for platinum wedding rings. I assure you, you will never regret choosing platinum as metal band for you and your bride's to be wedding rings.
Latoya Jones is a writer and webmaster of Rokstok.com. She is engaged in composing articles related to Engagement" target="_blank">www.rokstok.com">Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings , rings, wedding bands and diamond rings.