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UKIP's rise is not what I think a flash in the pan. Coming from a member of said party, I doubt that will hold much weight at all. I think a significant proportion of the British people though have found solitude and sympathy with the policies and views of UKIP's right wing and somewhat populist rhetoric. Why? Because it has come from UKIP, because it is from a party that looks and feels anti-establishment – especially with Farage's somewhat 'man of the people' image. Were the rhetoric and the policies to come from the Conservatives however… the swell in support for the Tories will not be as prevalent as it it with UKIP.
Why would it not be the same case for the Tories? Because they are the Conservative Party, because they are the Tory Party, the party of Thatcher, the party that had brought economic ruin on the industrial north*, the party that has a leader with an image of "an out of touch upper class bloke dictating the running of the country from his country home in Oxfordshire," saying he sympathises with the (patronisingly put) 'hardworking people'. The word 'Tory' can make a bloke from the North so angry. The day of Thatcher's passing brought my local Tory Club in Knaresborough (North Yorkshire) to be stoned and smashed up. That's the consequence of the Tory image, and please do not think I revel in that. I exploit its image, because I'm a political activist from the opposition, but I am sad that it is around and prevalent. The image of the Tories I depicted above is widely held across Britain, even Tory MPs agree with it. Tim Loughton of Worthing has said there is an unfair concentration of Tory leaders that have come from Eton or Oxbridge, harming the party image. Nadine Dorries of Bedfordshire has spoken of the disconnect of Cameron and Osborne with that of the working Britons and summarises this with their ignorance to the price of milk. Such saying, "do you know the price of milk" has been used by journalists repeatedly, Jeremy Paxman for example asking Boris the price of milk, bread, a bottle of wine or a bread maker for instance…
But back to the point of this piece, the Tories have been falling in the polls. Marginal seat polling has seen UKIP overtake them in a number of areas: Grimsby and Thanet South for instance. UKIP are supposedly "stealing their votes" and should "lay off our [Tory] marginals" for want of the arrogant phrase coined by respectable MP Bill Cash. Even were Tory support to stay level in 2015, but UKIP were to surge, a Labour majority would be likely, simply because of first past the post… so, what should the Tories do?
The easiest option for the Tories to win back support would be to pander to the rhetoric and policy of UKIP. Alas, this will not help. Were the Tories as a party to adopt policies that are economically more right wing than Thatcher, and social policies incredibly sceptical of multiculturalism, they would be crucified. The words 'Nasty Party' would ring true forever more and a Labour majority that would shame Tony Blair could ensure. If the Farage-rhetoric came from the Tories, it won't work. We Britons are a sceptical people now, too long abused by broken promises and party political trickery. They simply do not trust the sincerity of David Cameron. The image of being a party of upper class corruption and the dismissive nature towards those who disagree with them (swivel eyed loons) stays strong, it will hurt them. Couple that with the 'Nasty Party' image by chasing UKIP will seal their electoral defeat for eternity. The people do not want a party that will became a false copy of the original. Who will Britons choose: real UKIP, or a UKIP copy?
The Conservative Party is the oldest party in existence, it has survived because it has done something which is completely at odds with its now misleading name, it's adapted, it's been progressive, it's kept up with the society around it and attempts to preserve that society. When the Great Reform Act was passed, the Tories adapted to the political landscape that had suddenly changed. The Tories adapted to Home Rule in Ireland and its eventual independence, despite their stubborn opposition to anything of the sort beforehand. They adapted to the loss of the Empire, viewing Britain as more of a nation that could be great and strong internally instead of being a military and colonial superpower. They adapted to Clement Attlee's landslide and the post-war consensus of a National Health Service and a Welfare State, and they have finally attempted to adapt to the opposition decade after Blair's landslide in '97. Some say the Tories did not win an overall majority because of UKIP. I think not, I blame the constituency boundaries that are heavily in favour of Labour, and the still carrying failure to adapt to a party post Mrs Thatcher. But, how can they adapt post Thatcher? Alas, I don't think they can. They are The Conservative Party after all. The name itself bangs the flame of Thatcherism.
Attempts at pandering to UKIP aren't working. The referendum promise was found disbelieving. The 'go home' fans were pounced on as racist. The changes to immigrants on welfare was found to be unsubstantial. All of these were seen as pandering to UKIP, and therefore found to be disbelieving, further validating the rise of UKIP!
So I say this to the Conservative Party. I'm sorry, but the time of being the sole party of the right is over, a multi party state is coming. It won't be just UKIP that will be a new player. The Greens are on course for a breakthrough soon, as are Respect amongst the ethnic minority vote when the time is right. The anger at not finding a party that represents many people's views could be finally coming to the forefront. Voters who are angry won't stay in bed on polling day like they did before, they will go out and vote with a vengeance for UKIP, for the Greens, for Respect, and even for this 'Left Unity', although the latter two to a lesser extent and the Greens still have a long way to catch up with UKIP. These voters won't just vote out of anger, they will vote because they might have found a party that they truly believe in. Take the South Yorkshire/Humberside towns for instance. Such area was on the brink of a Lib Dem surge in 2010, some seats could've fallen from from the Labour stranglehold into the yellow peril lap such as some in Hull, but they didn't, because the Lib Dems weren't right wing enough. There is a centre right vote out there in the north that the Tories will never win, thanks to Thatcher. The BNP flirted with it back in the last decade but now UKIP is hoovering that support up, the centre right is uniting behind UKIP in those seats, replacing Team Blue as the main challenger to Labour. So long as Mrs Thatcher's legacy will last, this is unlikely to change. Even post EU withdrawal, I dare say UKIP will stay around, but perhaps at lesser strength. The time for a populist right has come, but the centre right needs to remain strong, and will. Yes, the Conservatives will lose many council seats to UKIP, and maybe even a constituency come the GE, but such is the cost of adapting to change. Certain Tory branches have come to terms with the rise of UKIP, and whilst I shan't name names they privately admit that UKIP has a far better chance of winning their local seat at the next election than they ever will… and as such, that branch might not put in as much effort as they would were UKIP not present. They admit that UKIP will be a deciding factor of 2015. Can the Tories realise this, and give up on pandering to UKIP? Stay on course to be the party that David Cameron wanted it to be. There will be pains, there will be screams, there will be defections, but such is the cost. Focus your efforts on attacking Labour, and live with the arrival of rising new parties.
I must add, before the comment thread attacks me for thinking UKIP could win seats. Do not assume they won't. New UKIP is on radical maneuvers, campaigning at a rate never seen before. I do not doubt the Survation polls commissioned by Alan Bown will be used by UKIP in South Thanet mercilessly, triggering a possible desertion of the Tory vote only seen in Canada back in 1993.
Pander to UKIP, copy UKIP policy, and you will win over the UKIP vote. You will win that battle, but you will not win the general election. Imagine the centrist Tory vote? Do you seriously think that will stay loyal?
National Liberal Party, anyone?
*I worship Margaret Thatcher to quite an extent, but even I realise economic damage was brought on the North. We were a nation too concentrated on nationalised industries. No satisfactory replacement of industries in places like Blackburn has ever really emerged yet. Cities like Leeds though have recovered well.


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4Paula Abdul Got Burned — From A Tanning Bed
Paula Abdul straight-up got burned, badly, from a tanning bed. I really shouldn't make puns because it sounds like she was seriously injured, and what sort of person would I be if I joked about a thing like that? I mean, I may as well draw penises all over celebs' faces. But anyway. Back to Ms. Abdul. Here's what TMZ is reporting about the incident:
Paula claims in her lawsuit — obtained by TMZ — she went to UVASUN in L.A. back in 2012. She bought a SlimStar infrared body wrap treatment and then apparently went into the tanning bed.
When she came out … she claims she suffered gross burns over her body, an "especially severe second or third degree burn on a portion of [her] left thigh."
So really, this is a serious thing. OKAY HAVING SAID THAT, MAY I ASK: who the hell still uses tanning beds??? It's just a question, not a judgement. I just thought those went out with the '00s.
Also, how did she not realize she was getting severe burns? Was she high? IT'S A FAIR QUESTION.
Okay but once again, in all seriousness, get better, Paula Abdul.
January 11, 2014 at 8:30 am by Catherine St. Ives
4 Responses to "Paula Abdul Got Burned — From A Tanning Bed"
My father in law….. The goofy fruit is 83, dons a hair net, nut sling and hits the tanning bed. Judging from the amount of vapid bimbos that are always with him, it seems to work for him. Well, that and a pile of cash. I watched him in action one night….22 minutes for him to hit on & get the number of a 23year old, and it was actually her number… Go figure….
My hubby uses sun beds, as a way to ease his chronic psoriasis which covers 65% of his body – we even have one at home. No way I would use it though, and he wouldn't either if he didn't have to. I have to check him weekly for changes in moles etc, and we even have a 'mole map', they are dangerous but for him it's the lesser of two evils. There's still loads of people over in the UK that do though, for some mad reason.
I know what she feels like, the first (and only) time I used a tanning bed I knew nothing about it and the attendant gave me 10 minutes in what apparently was a high-powered standing unit and it wasn't until I got home into the shower that I realised that I was severely burnt. I was maroon for a month. Luckily thanks to my tanning ignorance I left my underwear on, I had a tan line on my waist and legs for a year after.
im sure it was the wrap that caused severe burns. People use tanning beds all the time but I've never heard of wrapping yourself first. Im sure that helped cook her worse than a tanning bed itself.

subset: commoncrawl


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With the school year coming up fast, hundreds of thousands of young people are gearing up for another great year of learning — along with cafeteria food, less-than-luxurious housing, and the occasional beer (or three). Pumped? Bummed out? We put together some of the best hacks to make dorm life a little more manageable. With tips on everything from brewing coffee without a pot to the world's cheapest AC, come summer, you may even miss those twin beds and cinderblock walls.
1. Instant climate control. Cram enough people into the same building, and it's bound to get hot. So if dorm AC is inadequate — or nonexistent — cool a room instantly by hanging a damp towel in the window. (Pro tip: keep another window or door across the room open to create a cross breeze, letting the towel-cooled air circulate.) If the room has a ceiling fan, make sure it's set to run counterclockwise — which creates a breeze instead of an updraft — for optimum cooling power.
2. No-cook scrambled eggs. No kitchen? No problem. All it takes is a microwave and a mug to make scrambled eggs. Spray some cooking oil in a mug, crack in a few eggs, and microwave for 90 seconds. Remove, stir, and microwave for another 90 seconds, then enjoy!
3. Study smarter just before bed. We're all about finding ways to boost brainpower, and who hasn't needed that extra help in college? Studying before bed is a simple trick to help retention, and studies suggest doing so can help the brain store more material. (Take that, Chem 101!) [1]. But it's a good idea to avoid studying or doing work in bed or the dining hall, two spots the brain associates with activities meant to relax or divert our attention.
4. Brew coffee without a coffee maker. Sometimes we need a little jolt, and coffee makers aren't always handy. So use a disposable cup, filter, and rubber band to make a one-mug-sized filter for coffee you can put right over that favorite mug. Add hot water and enjoy another few hours of cramming time.
5. Chill booze fast for an impromptu party. Peeps coming over but don't have cool drinks to crack? Chill the booze of choice quickly by placing ice along the bottom of a bucket and adding a layer of salt. Place your bottle (or can) of choice on top, then surround to the top with alternating layers of salt and ice. Fill the remainder with cold water. The ice will lower its melting point, melting the outside portion of the ice and letting the coldest interior ice crystals chill the mixture. The drinks will be ready to go in record time.
6. Get wrinkle-free. It's a good look when a semiformal's coming up, or when we just want to look put-together for a change. Get the wrinkles out of clothes by tossing them in the dryer for 20 minutes, then hanging immediately. Still need an iron? Hot pans or kettles can make great substitutes when a real iron isn't lying around. Just make sure to go easy on the heat or dab some water on beforehand to help steam out imperfections.
7. The world's cheapest fridge organizer. All those beverages can take up valuable (mini) fridge space, so use a binder clip on one of the shelves to keep bottles stacked neatly.
8. Sleep like a pro. The college social schedule isn't always the best for peaceful rest, but it's not a lost cause. The body's natural sleep cycles are regulated in part by exposure to light,
so for more restful sleep on even the craziest schedule, install blackout curtains to keep
light out when it's time to snooze [2]. And avoid digital alarm clocks with bright displays in order to minimize extra light when sleeping.
9. Build your own sit-stand workstation. Hunching over a laptop can cause some serious back soreness, so make your own sit-stand workstation for a posture-friendly study center. Just stack textbooks on an existing desk until you can place a laptop at a height comfortable to use while standing. Voila!
10. Prep food like a pro, no equipment required. Sometimes it's nice to go a little fancy, but don't splurge on a new set of knives for a dorm wine and cheese party. Just use dental floss to cut soft items — this includes everything from cheese to birthday cakes. And if you're minus a corkscrew, just bust out the tool kit. To open stubborn bottles, insert a screw into the cork and pry it out using the back end of a hammer. (Best to try this one sober.)
What are your favorite tips for surviving dorm life? Let us know in the comments below! Love these tips? Check out Greatist's complete Hack Series!


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Top city leaders and law enforcement held their annual salute on Friday to honor their retired comrades.Police Chief George Turner, Mayor Kasim Reed and other officials attended the 36th annual Jenkins-Lee Atlanta Police Retired Officers Roundup. It was held at the Grant Park Pavilion.Mayor Reed said the city cannot do enough to support its finest for their sacrifice.Each year, this event provides an opportunity for retired Atlanta police officers to connect with old friends and colleagues.
KMSP-TV11358 Viking DriveEden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: (952) 944-9999Fax: (952) 942-0455


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ODU Partnered Alliance to Build Wind Turbine Testing Facility
The Lone Star Wind Alliance, a partnership between various energy companies and research universities that includes Old Dominion University, has reached an agreement to build a new wind turbine testing facility in Ingleside, Texas.
The Large Blade Research and Test Facility (LBR&TF), being built in cooperation with the Federal Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), will be dedicated to testing and developing larger, next-generation wind power turbines.
Once completed, the facility will have to ability to conduct the full-scale testing of 70-ft blades, which are designed to meet the growing need for megawatt-scale industrial turbines. According to the LSWA, the LBR&TF will be the largest, most advanced turbine research and test facility in the world.
For their part in the project, ODU's researchers are employing the university's wind tunnel capability to test whether or not the blades can meet requirements for life expectancy, performance, and cost.
Texas is currently produces more electricity from wind than any other state in the U.S., and already boasts some of the most advanced wind-power research facilities in the world.
The agreement between the LSWA and the NREL will provide the new facility technical and operational assistance, plus $2 million in testing equipment. LSWA has also received $5 million in funding to be put toward construction from the Texas State Legislature. The facility is expected to be completed in 2010.
Following completion, the LBR&TF will largely be operated and funded by private wind turbine and blade manufacturers, though the NREL will have access to the facility to conduct their own research.
This article was posted on: June 12, 2008
Old Dominion University
Office of University Relations
Room 100 Koch Hall Norfolk, Virginia 23529-0018
Telephone: 757-683-3114
Old Dominion University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution.


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Saturday, April 16, 2011 - 7:50pm
UTEP fans who renew or purchase football season tickets prior to June 1 will be entered into a special "30 Prizes in 30 Days" drawing. For each day in the month of June, a variety of prizes will be given away, including polos, t-shirts, back packs, jerseys, flags, footballs and more. The grand prize, to be awarded on June 30, is a trip for two to the Miners' game at UCF in Orlando. Award-winners will be contacted and posted on the UTEP Athletics Facebook page.
The UTEP Season Ticket phone number is (915) 747-6150.


text: High Country News http://www.hcn.org These are the search results for the query, showing results 1 to 6. In praise of ancient tree stumps http://www.hcn.org/issues/44.12/in-praise-of-ancient-tree-stumps Snoqualmie, Wash., is scattered with giant stumps that tell the area's history -- except in a brand-new development, where such signs of "real" Western life have been removed. No publisher Becca Hall Becca Hall Logging Planned communities The Ridge development Old-growth forests Tree stumps Snoqualmie, Washington Small town life 2012-07-17T15:25:20Z News Article The terror and beauty of away games http://www.hcn.org/wotr/the-terror-and-beauty-of-away-games In small Western towns, schoolkids – and their parents – often make long journeys over rugged mountain roads just to play other high school sports teams. No publisher Paul Larmer Colorado Small town life Winter travel Paonia High school sports High school basketball School buses Paul Larmer Parents and children 2010-02-05T09:16:55Z News Article Life during wartime http://www.hcn.org/issues/40.23/life-during-wartime In his new short story collection, Refresh, Refresh, Benjamin Percy explores the lives of people in rural Oregon during the Iraq War. No publisher T.K. Dalton Benjamin Percy Oregon plateau Small town life Short story collections Rural life Refresh, Refresh Short fiction Iraq war in fiction 2010-02-05T08:57:32Z News Article Everybody wants to move to my town http://www.hcn.org/wotr/everybody-wants-to-move-to-my-town Steve Bunk returns to his old hometown of Boise to find he's not the only one in search of a sanctuary. No publisher Steve Bunk Steve Bunk Western communities Small town life Boise Best places to live Idaho 2010-02-05T09:18:10Z News Article The Doc is in http://www.hcn.org/issues/40.20/the-doc-is-in Rural folks find common ground at a vet's office in Western Colorado. No publisher Michelle Nijhuis, JT Thomas Veterinarians Dr. Norman Vincent Small town life Cats Pets Animal health care Dogs 2010-02-05T09:15:21Z News Article The day they close the pass http://www.hcn.org/issues/310/15930 As mountain towns get more accessible and lively, even in midwinter, the author relishes the way his tiny, remote town slows to a stop once the mountain pass highway is closed for the season No publisher Steve Voynick Human Beings And Nature Small town life mountain towns Rocky Mountains ski resorts winter highways personal history memoir economics winter snow Independence Pass Twin Lakes Aspen Colorado Department of Transportation highway closures 2010-02-05T08:31:51Z News Article


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YIKES!!!!!! I decided to go ahead and rebuild my "spare" '55 cub touch control (hydraulic block) rather than take it to DSCF (since I want to concentrate on my transmission rebuild). As I removed the Safety Valve the last part out of the boring should have been the Safety Valve Bushing Tension Spring, a wavey washer. Well, it came out in 4 pieces! May have been installed cockeyed and was broken upon reassembly...don't know, but I called the local IH dealer, and that little puppy is about FORTY FIVE DOLLARS!! Couldn't have been the one that looks the same (Pressure regulator spring) which is only about $12! Noooo... sheesh!
Well, guess I should be happy it is even available, right??!!


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Oracle Customer: Christian Medical College, Vellore
Location: Vellore, India
Industry: Healthcare
Employees: 8,650
Annual Revenue: $100 to $500 Million
Oracle Customer: Christian Medical College, Vellore
Location: Vellore, India
Industry: Healthcare
Employees: 8,650
Annual Revenue: $100 to $500 Million
Christian Medical College, Vellore (CMC Vellore) is a hospital and medical teaching institute in southern India. The hospital and its outreach centers provide emergency, inpatient, and outpatient treatment to more than two million people in India, and from countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The medical institute trains more than 1,000 students a year in a variety of medical disciplines, including anesthesiology, general medicine, and nursing.
CMC Vellore stores medical and administrative data for patients, staff, and students in its primary hospital information system. The organization wanted to ensure system availability 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so the hospital and college could operate efficiently. It also wanted to add financial data to the information system.
CMC Vellore decided to upgrade to Oracle Database 11g, Enterprise Edition with Real Application Clusters and implement Oracle Enterprise Manager to achieve 99.999% availability and eliminate system downtime during scheduled maintenance. The upgrade also improved system performance by approximately 50%—enabling it to complete month-end financial processes more quickly. It can now generate pharmaceutical drug usage reports in 20 minutes, compared to 3.5 hours, previously.
"It is essential for our primary hospital information system to be highly available, so we can treat patients 24 hours a day. The upgrade to Oracle Database, Enterprise Edition 11g has increased system availability to 99.999% and improved system performance by around 50%." – Ebenezer Sundararaj, Systems Manager, Christian Medical College, Vellore
CMC Vellore has been using Oracle Database since 2001 and is continuously impressed by its strength, speed, and scalability. The organization also uses Oracle's PeopleSoft Campus Solutions to manage its medical college administrative information and wanted to continue using products from the same vendor for its infrastructure.
"We didn't look at other databases, as we knew Oracle Database is always best in class," said Ebenezer Sundararaj, systems manager, Christian Medical College, Vellore. "We wanted to take advantage of the enhanced availability of Oracle Database, Enterprise Edition 11g, and since we were already happy with the previous database's performance, it was an added bonus to achieve such a great improvement."
CMC Vellore completed the upgrade to Oracle Database 11g, Enterprise Edition with Real Application Clusters and Oracle Audit Vault, in just one month. The organization also implemented Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Management Diagnostic and Tuning Packs.
The new infrastructure went live in May 2010, followed by Oracle Advanced Analytics in June 2010.
Oracle Partner
Tata Consulting Services Limited
CMC Vellore engaged Oracle Specialized Partner Tata Consulting Services Limited to support the organization's in-house team during the main database upgrade. CMC Vellore then worked with Oracle Advanced Customer Support Services to install the new two-node disaster recovery database.
"Both Tata Consulting Services Limited and Oracle Advanced Customer Support Services provided excellent support throughout the project, and we were very pleased with their services," said Sundararaj.


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Rockwell Anderson and the crew at Rockwell Unscene have been documenting local music for years.
On Friday, Oct. 12, Anderson will release "Our Stories: Our History" which follows veterans who talk about their experiences and how music saved their lives.
The release date will also include a show at Stinger's in San Bernardino, the first in a series of "Freedom Beat Concerts," which will raise money for music equipment and scholarships for veterans, active members of the military and their families.
Other shows are planned for the Anaheim House of Blues on Oct. 21 and Marquee 15 in Corona on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
The San Bernardino show will include Dante's Boneyard, Tweaked 4 Play, XNO (Sphynx Xno & crue), KaVaN (Paul Kavan Harkin & crue), Aef Production (All Else Fails with DJ FM of the Psycho Realm and Mike Inhale (Inhale).
Tickets are $10.


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A Sharia council in London was revealed Sunday to have utterly failed the community of battered Islamic wives in Britain by forcing numerous women to stay with abusive husbands, ostensibly to work out their differences with the help of God.
Secret video shot inside the Leyton Islamic Sharia Council, later obtained by BBC One's program "Panorama", shows Dr. Suhaib Hasan, in thick beard and thicker glasses, listening as a woman pleads with him to grant her divorce.
"I hate him," she says. "I can't even bear to look at him, he has ruined my life."
Instead of granting her request, Hasan sent the couple away for another month of counseling, in what the BBC says has become a common order of business for the group.
While that might sound shocking to most endowed with western sensibilities, it bears a striking resemblance to a plan to make divorce harder in North Carolina, hatched by Republicans who currently have near complete control of their state's government following last November's election.
The so-called "Healthy Marriage Act" works by mandating a two-year waiting period for all divorce requests, during which time the couple would be required to undergo marriage counseling and take classes on improving communications skills and the impacts of divorce on children. It does not require that the couple live together or take classes together.
The BBC noted that London's Leyton Islamic Sharia Council is the country's most active, hearing about 50 cases a month. Nearly all of the cases are marital disputes brought by Islamic women seeking a divorce, and only on rare occasions are their requests granted, the report added.
The lack of contrast between the London Sharia council's practices and the North Carolina Republican proposal is stunning, particularly for a political party that embedded a rejection of Islamic law in its core platform.
That Republican Party plank was created by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who admitted on camera that he is "not aware of any court that's actually accepted" Sharia law in place of American law.
In 2011, North Carolina was one of more than 30 states where Republicans introduced bills to ban Sharia law, resulting in unintended consequences like accidentally banning Christian traditions, and leaving Islamic women with marriage contracts forged outside the U.S. suddenly without any legal standing in the event of a divorce.
North Carolina's anti-Sharia proposal, pitched by the now-retired state Rep. George Cleveland (R), ultimately died in committee.
Although several states did pass bans on Sharia, a federal appeals court held in Jan. 2012 that such bans violate the religious freedom of Muslim-Americans.
Photo: Shutterstock.com.
By Katie Halper
By TBogg
By Roy Greenslade, The Guardian
By The Conversation
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Founded in 2004, Raw Story reaches 9 million unique readers per month and serves more than 30 million pageviews.
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Team Hollendorfer is nothing if not confident.
When a trainer has 6,568 victories and counting in a Hall of Fame career that ranks him third all-time behind Dale Baird and Steve Asmussen, a touch of braggadocio is certainly within reason.
Through the first 14 days of Santa Anita's meet, Hollendorfer has won 13 races from only 32 starts, 41 percent, putting him two in front of 11-time Santa Anita training king Bob Baffert, who has sent out 33 runners. Hollendorfer won with both his starters Thursday.
In the words of Al Jolson, "You ain't seen nothin' yet."
While he won every training title in the Bay Area during a 12-year span from 1986 to May 2008, including 32 straight at Golden Gate and 37 in a row at Bay Meadows, Hollendorfer has never won a crown in Southern California. But he has only been a presence on the circuit "for five or six years." This could be the meet. He is making up for lost time.
"Get used to it," said Dan Ward, Hollendorfer's trusted assistant, expressing self-assurance consistent with Team Hollendorfer's record.
With an abundance of runners that includes a Who's Who of local stakes campaigners, including unbeaten Kentucky Derby Future Book contender Shared Belief, Ward has every right to express optimism, even in the face of Midnight Hawk's daylight win in Saturday's Grade III Sham Stakes, which could lead to a possible future showdown between the two.
"I didn't see anything in the Sham that scared me, even a little bit," Ward said. "The last eighth, that horse (Midnight Hawk) was lookin' for a bleeping taxi to get him home. He went in 13 and one (fifth). You could have timed him with a sun dial."
Baffert pooh-poohs that by pointing out that the Sham was "a match race," and that Shared Belief has never won on dirt.
Hollendorfer, forced to move his main base of operations to Santa Anita upon the closing of the Inglewood track Dec. 22, has made the transition from synthetic to dirt without so much as a hiccup.
"Our horses had been training at Hollywood Park, but they are better here, sounder here," Ward said. "We couldn't be happier."
Added Hollendorfer on his transition from "owning" the Northern California circuit to becoming a force in Southern California: "It takes a long time to learn the ropes and to build up a stable, so we've been very patient in that regard, and we're doing pretty well right now, but we've got a long ways to go."
Midnight Hawk vs. Shared Belief in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5 would be a PR man's dream. Maybe it wouldn't be The Thrilla in Manila, but with Shared Belief the likely favorite, it could be billed as The Hawk vs. The Chalk.
The two leading 3-year-olds on the West Coast, both Midnight Hawk and Shared Belief currently are unbeaten, both are trained by members of racing's Hall of Fame, each is bred to the purple, Midnight Hawk by the mighty young stallion and two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Midnight Lute, whose sire was 1998 Kentucky Derby winner Real Quiet, and Shared Belief by Candy Ride, out of the Storm Cat dam Common Hope.
There are enough storylines to satisfy Col. Parker.
But, the Santa Anita Derby is light years away in horse time.
Stay tuned.
Shared Belief, who missed a scheduled workout last Sunday due to an abscess on his right front foot, still is ticketed to make his 3-year-old debut the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Feb. 8, but Hollendorfer understandably will not rush the gelding.
"I'm not going to work him until he's perfect," Hollendorfer said Friday morning. "We want to try and make the Lewis if we can, but if we don't, it's not going to bother me any.
"The injury is not serious at all, but it's the kind of thing that if you go too quickly, then you could set yourself back. It still wouldn't be serious, but you could set yourself back if you don't time it right."
Noted time is in his favor, Hollendorfer agreed, then added, "We're not going to get too worried about it. As long as we keep him safe and sound, we'll be happy, because there's plenty to run for this year."
Meanwhile, Baffert and Hollendorfer are set to square off in Santa Anita's two Grade II stakes this weekend, Saturday's Strub Stakes and Sunday's La Canada.
Baffert has Govenor Charlie and Malibu winner Shakin It Up entered in the Strub, while Hollendorfer has Hear the Ghost and Zeewat.
In the La Canada, Baffert entered Fiftyshadesofhay and Ondine, while Hollendorfer entered Broken Sword and Let Faith Rise.
The field for the Strub: Dice Flavor, Jose Valdivia Jr., 15-1; Rookie Sensation, Victor Espinoza, 6-1; Shakin It Up, Mike Smith, 7-2; Zeewat, Rafael Bejarano, 4-1; Govenor Charlie, Martin Garcia, 4-1; Hear the Ghost, Corey Nakatani; Heir of Storm, Joe Talamo, 4-1; and Say Ow, Tyler Baze, 20-1.
The field for the La Canada: Let Faith Arise, Corey Nakatani, 12-1; Ondine, Martin Garcia, 4-1; Oscar Party, Joe Talamo, 8-1; Fiftyshadesofhay, Mike Smith, 8-5; Broken Sword, Rafael Bejarano, 7-5; Spellbound, Victor Espinoza, 8-1; and Rathbaun, Tyler Baze, 15-1.
Tim Yakteen has put on his game face and soldiered on like the professional that he is ever since Points Offthebench was euthanized due to a training mishap eight days before he was scheduled to run as the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita last Nov. 2.
Friday morning, with the picturesque San Gabriel Mountains as a backdrop at Clockers' Corner, Yakteen was preparing to depart for Florida where Points Offthebench is a finalist for an Eclipse Award as Outstanding Sprinter of 2013. The Eclipse Award winners will be announced Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
"Bobby (former mentor Bob Baffert) got a ticket for me and I'm all squared away, so Millie and I are on our way," said Yakteen, who was Baffert's assistant for five years until going on his own in 2004. "Millie" is Tim's wife, Millie Ball, host and analyst for HRTV.
Yakteen preferred to see the glass as half full. "It could be bittersweet under the circumstances," the 49-year-old native of Nuremburg, Germany, said. "But it's an honor to be mentioned in the same breath as some of these Hall of Famers like Baffert, (Jerry) Hollendorfer, (Charlie) Whittingham and (Ron) McAnally.
"The list is endless. This is what we're in the game for."
On the surface, judging by name, one might think Drayden VanDyke just stepped off the canvas of a Rembrandt painting, or arrived from an overseas port of call like The Netherlands.
Not so. The 19-year-old apprentice jockey, who won his fourth career race Thursday and benefits from a 10-pound weight allowance until he wins No. 5, at which time he adds three pounds, is American born and raised.
He's a bit fuzzy on his genealogical tree, however.
"I was born in Louisville but raised in Hot Springs," VanDyke said after piloting Horse Laugh to a come-from-behind, 2 ¼-length victory for owner Lathrop Hoffman and trainer Jerry Fanning in yesterday's second race. Horse Laugh carried 110 pounds, getting 10 from 11-10 favorite Maximinus, who ran second.
"I've been around the track for two years, but only riding for about four months," said VanDyke, who is represented by first-time agent Sarah Wolfe. "My dad (Seth) was a rider. Now he gallops for Dale Romans."
VanDyke weighs a Shoemakerish 103 pounds and tacks 106, certainly a plus with horsemen looking for a spread on the scale.
"He's a nice kid and he can ride," Fanning said. "And he can do the weight."
Mucho Macho Man's nose victory in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic has been voted by fans the 2013 National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Moment of the Year.
The results of the online poll were announced at the second annual ThoroFan Awards Breakfast at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Mucho Macho Man, owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, went off at 4-1 in the Breeders' Cup Classic, a race in which he finished second the previous year. Jockey Gary Stevens, who earlier in 2013 had come back from seven years of retirement, urged Mucho Macho Man to the lead approaching the top of the stretch and saved enough to barely hold off late charges from Will Take Charge and Declaration of War in a three-horse photo finish.
Heart transplant survivor Kathy Ritvo became the first female trainer to win North America's richest race, rewarding Patti and Dean Reeves for the faith they showed in both her and the popular horse, who had never won a Grade I event until the second half of 2013 despite several close tries.
Balloting was conducted at the NTRA Web site, ntra.com, and offered voters 12 different images illustrating a range of human emotions as well as outstanding displays of equine athleticism. Finishing second was Paynter's winning return to racing following a miraculous recovery from colitis and laminitis. The popular Grade I winner's near-fatal illness earned topped the 2012 Moment of the Year voting.
The 2013 images and events that fans chose from (listed chronologically, with percentage of votes received, rounded to the nearest tenth of a percentage point):
• Gary Stevens rides his first winner in North America since 2005 aboard Branding in the first race at Santa Anita. (1.2%)
• Spicer Cub bolts around the parked starting gate along the outside rail and still nearly wins at Pimlico Race Course, losing by a nose. (15.8%)
• Orb wins the Kentucky Derby for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and owners Stuart Janney III and Dinny Phipps. (5%)
• Oxbow wins the Preakness Stakes, giving Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas his sixth win in the Triple Crown's middle jewel and Gary Stevens his third. (3.5%)
• Paynter, after battling back from life-threatening illness the year before, returns to the races to win an allowance at Betfair Hollywood Park. (18.3%)
• Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze becomes the first North American rider to reach the 12,000-win milestone aboard Handful of Pearls at the Alameda County Fair at Pleasanton. (2.2%)
• Ken & Sarah Ramsey win three major Grade I turf stakes – the Secretariat (with Admiral Kitten), Sword Dancer (Big Blue Kitten) and Arlington Million (Real Solution) – at two different tracks in less than two hours. (4.2%)
• Will Take Charge barely gets up to beat front-running Moreno by a nose in the $1 million Travers at Saratoga Race Course. (5.3%)
• Retired jockey Ramon Dominguez is presented with the Mike Venezia Award, as well as the 2012 Eclipse Award trophy for Outstanding Jockey he was unable to accept last January, during a ceremony in the Saratoga winner's circle. (5%)
• Five-year-old mare Mizdirection beats males in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint for the second straight year in her final career start. (3.2%)
• Wise Dan wins the 2013 Breeders' Cup Mile for the second straight year, capping a season that will likely be recognized with a repeat Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. (6.2%)
• Mucho Macho Man wins the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic for Gary Stevens, trainer Kathy Ritvo and owners Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. (30%)
"Mucho Macho Man's win in the Breeders' Cup was thrilling because it was a wild finish decided by a nose, but it was especially unforgettable because of the stories behind the horse," said Keith Chamblin, NTRA Senior Vice President. "Voting for the Moment of the Year was up more than 50-percent this year and the popularity of Mucho Macho Man and his connections are surely part of the reason."
The first-ever "NTRA Moment of the Year" was the touching scene between Charismatic and jockey Chris Antley following the 1999 Belmont Stakes. The next year's winner was the stretch run of the 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic, which saw Tiznow hold on for a dramatic victory against Giant's Causeway.
Tiznow won again the following year as fans selected his stirring repeat victory in the Classic over Sakhee. In 2002, fans cited the passing of the last living Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew. In 2003, the popular Kentucky Derby win by Funny Cide was selected. Birdstone's upset win in the Belmont Stakes over Smarty Jones took down top honors for 2004. In 2005, fans selected Afleet Alex's spectacular victory in the 2005 Preakness Stakes. Voters in 2006 chose Barbaro's gallant struggle to recover from his Preakness injury while at the New Bolton Center. The 2007 Moment of the Year was a historic victory by filly Rags to Riches over Curlin in the Belmont Stakes. In 2008, it was Zenyatta's win in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic. Zenyatta "repeated" in 2009 as fans selected her triumph in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
FINISH LINES: Santa Anita welcomes jockey Alexis Archard who will be riding here 10 weeks, primarily for trainer Leonard Powell. The 22-year-old Frenchman has 73 victories . . . Happy Birthday number 93 to Paddock Supervisor John Shear . . . On Monday, Jan. 20, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Santa Anita offers holiday racing and Dollar Day. Beers, hot dogs and sodas will be just a buck. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. First post time is 12:30 p.m.


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Friday, 17 February 2012 13:27
McALLEN — South Texas College's board is currently accepting nominations to fill the unexpired term of the late Mike Allen for the District 3 seat.
The term for the seat expires in May 2016 and encompasses South McAllen, Southwest Pharr, Hidalgo, Southeast Mission and Granjeno.
"From finance to facilities and workforce issues, the decisions made by our STC board members have a profound impact on the lives of thousands of Rio Grande Valley students," explained STC Board Chair Gary Gurwitz. "I have served on the college's board since its founding in 1993 and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I have served with some tremendous leaders, including the late, great Mike Allen.
Read more: STC accepting nominations for District 3 trustees seat


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New Jersey Healthcare Nullification
Honorable Governor Chris Christie: We humbly request that you take to nullifying Obamacare. As we know, New Jersey is in a deep recession and cannot afford it. Obamacare is a direct infringement on the tenth amendment: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states' or the people." Also, Thomas Jefferson called nullification the; "rightful remedy. Please consider this governor.
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