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2014 New Jersey Composer Commission Competition Update
Please read about our composer for 2014 and peruse his music for this upcoming year's Composer Commission Competition.
2014 Winter/Spring Newsletter
The 2014 Winter/Spring NJMTA newsletter is now online and can be found on our 'Newsletters' page. This issue contains information about the upcoming State Conference in the fall, deadlines and a recap of the Performathon this year.
Piano Duet Master Class
Piano Duet Master Class update for the November 2014 State Conference.
2014 MTNA Student Composition Competition
2014 MTNA Student Composition Competition
The purpose of the Music Teachers National Association Composition Competition is to encourage creativity and self-expression in student musicians through the art of composing and to recognize their achievements, as well as the significant work of their teachers.
Application deadline: September 10, 2014, at 3:00 PM EST.


text: A unanimous Supreme Court held, on March 21, 2012, that parties who receive administrative compliance orders from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") under the authority of the federal Clean Water Act are entitled to "pre-enforcement review," that is, they may bring lawsuits to challenge the jurisdictional basis for such orders in court. When EPA determines that a person is discharging a pollutant into the "waters of the United States" without a permit, the Clean Water Act requires EPA either to issue a compliance order or to file a lawsuit to enforce the Act's requirements. Compliance orders have become a preferred tool for EPA to obtain quick remediation through "voluntary compliance." Parties who questioned the government's assertion of federal jurisdiction over their property either had to obey the government's compliance order, thereby losing the benefits of their ownership of their land, or refuse to comply, thereby risking ruinous liability for penalties of up to $37,500 per day if EPA decided to sue and the court decided that the government had properly asserted federal jurisdiction.

subset: commoncrawl


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Insider's Guide to the 2014 National Cherry Blossom Festival
If you're looking to experience the start of spring in all its glory (as many of us are after one of the worst winters on record), the National Cherry Blossom Festival makes a great weekend getaway or day trip to kick off the season. Originally a gift from the Japanese government to the United States in 1912, the cherry trees now number nearly 4,000 and attract more than 1.5 million visitors each year.
Washington, D.C. hosts a number of special events during the festival, which runs from March 20 through April 13 this year—you'll see the blossoms at their very best during peak bloom, from April 8 to 12. One of the biggest events, the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on Saturday, April 12, features celebrity performances, colorful floats, giant helium balloons, and marching bands from across the United States.
Another top draw, the Blossom Kite Festival, held March 29 on Washington Monument grounds, showcases kite ballets and demonstrations by pros, and gives kids and families a chance to build and fly their own kites.
Make sure to check out a few other places around Washington, D.C. to get your full dose of spring. Daffodils, crocuses, forsythia, and many other flowers will be blooming at the U.S. National Arboretum's gardens. The Enid A. Haupt Garden's dramatic setting at the Smithsonian Castle makes for a great combination visit to both the gardens and the museum.
Mount Vernon, George Washington's estate overlooking the Potomac, is a 30-minute drive from D.C. The site has lovely gardens of its own—you can even get there by boat, passing the riverbank cherry trees along the way. In Virginia, right across the Potomac, Alexandria will offer an Old Town food tour with cherry-themed eats, plus scenic boat rides, riverside bike tours, and more.
Where to Stay
When you book your trip, be sure to look for a festive hotel package with value-added perks like Metrorail passes and cherry-infused treats in breakfasts and cocktails. Here are three of this year's best packages:
1. Mandarin Oriental
The luxury, Asian-inspired Mandarin Oriental (a Fodor's Choice hotel) is centrally located downtown with some of the best views of cherry blossoms, the waterfront, and the National Mall. This year, the hotel's Cherry Blossoms Bloom package offers the perfect couple's escape. Indulge in a complimentary breakfast for two and cherry blossom-inspired treats before heading out to enjoy the day's events, and make sure to unwind with the 20 percent discount on a weekday, cherry-themed spa treatment. The package includes overnight valet parking and a suite upgrade for an additional $200.
Details: Package is available from March 14–April 13, 2014 and is subject to availability. Rates start at $355/night.
2. The Liaison Capitol Hill, An Affinia Hotel
As a modern-chic Capitol Hill destination, The Liaison Capitol Hill, An Affinia Hotel boasts a trendy nightclub vibe with a rooftop pool and deck, plus pet-friendly offerings. This year, the Cherry Blossom Getaway package guarantees a complimentary welcome cocktail (cherry-inspired, of course) upon your arrival, plus a $10 Metrorail pass per adult each day. Cruise around the city on the hotel's bicycles, available on a first-come first-served basis, and make sure to snag a commemorative cherry blossom branch as a festival souvenir.
Details: Package is available from March 20–April 13, 2014 and is subject to availability. Rates start at $189/night.
3. Kimpton Hotels
Eleven D.C.-area Kimpton hotels are offering a family-friendly Blossoms & Bubbles Package from March 20–April 13, 2014. Kids receive a bubble toy at check-in, and parents can sip complimentary sake at the hotels' nightly wine hour from 5 pm to 6 pm. Enjoy a gift of handcrafted herbal Cherry Blossom Soap from local Virginia-based Harmony Creek Farm, and use the package's daily $25 room credit for your choice of breakfast, dinner, or parking. Rates start at $159/night, subject to availability.
Three of the 11 Kimpton hotels offering the package are Fodor's Choice selections, too:
- Hotel Monaco: Choose this downtown hotel for its close proximity to the International Spy Museum, plenty of Penn Quarter restaurants and shops, and a Metrorail stop just down the street. Fun fact: Architect Robert Mills, who designed the Washington Monument, also created the Hotel Monaco's historic building.
- Hotel Palomar: The modern, artfully minded Hotel Palomar is near plenty of eateries, bars, and art galleries in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. Try to request one of the corner rooms—they're the same size as the hotel's suites.
- The Hotel George: With an ultramodern, boutique take on luxury, The Hotel George is located steps away from Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Building. Dine in the hotel's Bistro Bis for classic French fare—it's a popular après-work spot for congressmen, celebrities, and Washington's power elite.
Wherever you choose to go or stay, visit nationalcherryblossomfestival.org for the complete festival lineup with activities and events.
Arabella Bowen is Editor-in-Chief of Fodor's. Follow her on Twitter: @arabellabowen.
Photo Credit: Cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin in Washington DC with Jefferson Memorial: courtesy of Dasharosato, Dreamstime.com
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As a business owner, there is nothing that I hate more than an employee trying to fake an injury to get Workman's compensation. One of my own employees faked an injury on the job and tried to get compensation and threatened to sue me. I wasn't going to stand for such an obvious case of fraud and risk losing any money. I knew the only way to prove that my employee was faking his injury would be to watch him all day, which was impossible for me to do. A private investigator in singapore could watch the employee for me and report his finding back to me and my legal team.
I had a suspicious feeling that my employee was going to various public places and having the time of his life while trying to use company money. He loves to go to the beach, and I figured that the beach would be the first place he would go to if he didn't have to go to work. I had a private investigator watch him and once my employee left his home, the investigator followed him by car. My employee left his home in a wheelchair, but he didn't stay in the chair. He met a female friend at the beach and stood up, took of his cast, and headed right for the water on foot. He wasn't injured and he definitely didn't need the chair or the cast.
After the private investigator showed me and my legal team the pictures of my employee swimming at the beach, I fired him on the spot, and then I filed a lawsuit against him for trying to commit fraud. He will be brought to court on these charges and will more than likely go to jail for his actions. Luckily for me the private investigator was able to catch this fraud.


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Golden budda statue in Dalat, Vietnam
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Panoramic photo by Malinnikov Ruslan Taken 13:04, 27/02/2011 - Views
Golden budda statue in Dalat, Vietnam
Statue of Sitting Buddha in Dalat
A 78.74 ft (24 m) high statue of Sitting Buddha was built at one of the highest places in the city of Dalat in 2002. This Buddha statue has contributed both to the Buddhist Temple located nearby and to Dalat as far as the statue can be seen from many places throughout the city. In a small Temple room anyone can buy recordings of Buddhist ministries and songs. A tea and coffee shop with real Vietnamese coffee situated in the neighborhood is another pleasant addition to the sightseeing spot.
Crazy House is a common nickname for the hotel with peculiar, eccentric, intricate and somewhat creep...
It's the patio of Crazy House, the hotel designed and constructed by Mrs. Dang Nga and situated in th...
Falls Yangbay located on the river near the town of Nha Trang. A series of small waterfalls in a scen...
Asia is the biggest continent on Earth, a darling little gem floating around in space.
Hm, what is Asia? Who's in on it?
China and India are safe bets for Asian nations. Korea, Japan, Thailand, you're fine.
Europe? No. Europe would sort of be on the "Asian continent" if not for those pesky Ural mountains dividing things up in the middle, and then also the whole lineage of kings and wealth and nations and the EU and all that "give me my respect" stuff.
Russia would probably be happiest as its own continent, so for now we'll leave it in "Eurasia" and just hope the natural gas supplies keep flowing.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are dang close to Asia, but politically they show up in "Middle East" news stories an awful lot. Verdict: Eurasia.
I guess we'll actually have to consider everything from Turkey on eastward to be "Eurasian", although the moniker seems overlappitory of the territory.
The Asian economy is now officially raging like a wild furnace of lava that consumes everything in its path. Japan has had the largest individual economy in Asia for decades, but it is forecast that both India and China will outstrip Japan within twenty years.
China is the largest holder of United States debt and is positioned to become the world's next superpower, provided that Godzilla doesn't return and decide to stomp everybody back into the Shang Dynasty.
Text by Steve Smith.


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Routes Sorted
L to R R to L Alpha
After an awkward and high first clip, this climb follows a blunt arete that succumbs to all manners of trickery. Morning Sun/Afternoon shade.
Cat in the Hat is located on the east face of Big Pine Tower. This is the second bolted route from the right. To those familiar with the Rupley Towers approach, this climb starts right where the trail drops downhill from BPT to the last short scramble to the base of the RTs.
Bolts and chain anchors


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Casey McGehee's homer boosts Brewers over Cardinals, 8-7
MILWAUKEE -- Casey McGehee homered with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-7 victory over St. Louis after the Cardinals rallied against closer Trevor Hoffman.
Hoffman was protecting a 7-4 lead with two outs in the top of the ninth when baseball's career saves leader unraveled for the second straight appearance. Albert Pujols hit his second two-run homer of the game to cut the lead to one, and Matt Holliday followed with a tying shot.
But McGehee connected off Kyle McClellan (0-1) with one out in the bottom half to give Hoffman (1-1) an unlikely victory.
Giants 6, Braves 3 at San Francisco: Tim Lincecum struck out 10 and overcame an early home run and San Francisco beat Atlanta in a game that finally started after a rain delay of 4 hours, 9 minutes.
Nationals 5, Mets 2 at New York: Josh Willingham wound up with a grand slam off Johan Santana after an instant replay review by the umpires, and Washington beat New York.
Marlins 6, Dodgers 5 at Miami: Jorge Cantu tied a career high with five RBI, and Florida rallied past Los Angeles.
Reds 3, Cubs 1 at Cincinnati: Top draft pick Mike Leake pitched into the seventh during his major league debut, Ramon Hernandez drove in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk and Cincinnati rallied beat Chicago.
Phillies 2, Astros 1 at Houston: Roy Halladay struck out eight in his first N.L. complete game, and Philadelphia swept winless Houston.
Rockies 4, Padres 2 at Denver: Troy Tulowitzki hit a two-run double and Colorado beat San Diego to take the deciding game in the series.
Diamondbacks 15, Pirates 6 at Phoenix: Pitcher Edwin Jackson hit the first homer of his career, capping a 13-run burst in the fourth that sent Arizona over Pittsburgh.
Yankees 7, Rays 3 at St. Petersburg, Fla.: Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez drove in two runs apiece to lead New York over Tampa Bay.
Red Sox 8, Royals 6 at Kansas City, Mo.: Dustin Pedroia collected four hits, including a home run as Boston beat Kansas City.
Blue Jays 5, Orioles 2 at Baltimore: Jose Bautista and Alex Gonzalez hit consecutive homers in the eighth inning, and Toronto swept Baltimore.
Tigers 9, Indians 8 at Detroit: Carlos Guillen scored the winning run on Chris Perez's wild pitch, capping a three-run ninth and lifting Detroit over Cleveland.
White Sox 5, Twins 4 at Chicago: J.J. Hardy was nailed at the plate for the final out when he tried to score on pinch-hitter Jim Thome's long drive, and Chicago held off Minnesota.
Rangers 9, Mariners 2 at Arlington, Texas: Scott Feldman pitched seven solid innings and Michael Young homered, helping Texas beat Seattle.
Athletics 9, Angels 4 at Anaheim, Calif.: Adam Rosales homered in his first A.L. at-bat and finished with four RBI as Oakland beat Los Angeles.
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