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Aug 3, 2009
Magic Words: A Dictionary
The following is a guest blog by Craig
Conley, author of Magic Words: A Dictionary
If you've ever paid a compliment, written a mission statement, stated
an affirmation, made a wish, shouted a command, or said a little prayer,
you've used some magic words.
Indeed, magic words aren't just for stage performers or superstitious
folks. They're powerful language tools, like blueprints for constructing
reality. With magic words, we define a sacred arena where miracles can
come into play. There are profound truths in that old cliché of
a magician pulling a rabbit out of an empty hat with the magic word abracadabra.
Almost everyone recognizes the image. But what relatively few people know
is that our stereotypical magician is speaking an ancient Hebrew phrase
that means "I will create with words." He is making something
out of nothing, echoing that famous line from Genesis: "Let there
be light, and there was light."
In the course of compiling Magic
Words: A Dictionary, we unearthed a wealth of magical expressions
from comic books, television shows, rock 'n' roll, ancient Egyptian scrolls,
and pulp fiction. Here are some of our whimsical favorites:
The title "Purple One" popularly refers to the artist formerly
known as Prince. But former teen idol and now game show host Donnie Osmond
was a purple one back in the mid-1970′s. Elprup is the word that
Donnie Osmond spoke on The Donnie and Marie Show to transform
into Captain Purple. The word is purple spelled backward.
Frosty the Snowman's secret comes to us courtesy of home automation expert
Gordon Meyer, author of Smart Home Hacks. Animovividus Homonivalis
is a pseudo-Latin spell for bringing a snowman to life. The word animo
refers to the life force or soul of the snowman, which is conjured to
vivify with the word vividus. Nivalis means "snowy,"
and homo means "man."
Zabar, Kresge, Caldor, Wal-Mart is Bart Simpson's spell for
conjuring zombies, chanted in Matt Groening's animated series The
Simpsons (Season 4, Episode 64, "Dial Z For Zombies," Oct.
29, 1992). The words are actually names of discount retail markets.
Bart also has another zombie spell: Cullen, Rayburn, Narz, Trebek.
The words are names of game show hosts: Bill Cullen of To Tell the
Truth, Gene Rayburn of Match Game, Jack Narz of Concentration,
and Alex Trebek of Jeopardy.
The magic word rantorp (a Scandinavian name) changes people
into chairs in the play General Gorgeous by Michael McClure (1982).
Alizebu is a magic word for revealing hidden passages in the
computer game King's Quest 6 (Sierra Entertainment, 1992). The
word zebu comes from the Tibetan ceba, meaning "hump."
Zebu is a breed of hump-backed India ox. With the Arabic Ali
("by the most high") in front, Alizebu could be translated
as "holy cow."
This phrase is a love spell chanted in the song "Witch Doctor"
by David Seville (1958). "It is a song of unrequited love cured by
the magic incantations of the witch doctor" (Bob McCann, "The
Declension Song," 2003). Diana Winn Levine suggests that ting
tang are the magic words and walla walla bing bang mean
the magic is over.
If Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat were a magician, his magic word might be
inspiratus, Latin for the divine "breath" that inspires
creativity. We unearthed a delightful fakir's incantation that incorporates
the word as it celebrates a Schrödinger's
Cat paradox:
Hocus, pocus, inspiratus,
there is a cat in the hat;
hocus, pocus, inspiratus,
there is no cat in the hat.
(Incantation quoted in Lawrence Bruehl's The Mathematics of Unlimited
Prosperity, 1939)
Abba Zabba recalls the expanse of the alphabet, A (abba) to
Z (zabba), the alpha and omega of creative power. The words appear in
a Captain Beefheart song of the same name (1974). The lyrics are a sort
of nursery rhyme about childhood rituals and seem to suggest that the
primal syllables abba zabba are "song before song before
song." Abba Zabba is also the name of an old-fashioned peanut butter
taffy candy bar.
peanut butter figures into other magic words. A-la Peanut Butter Sandwiches
has appeared in a "Rugrats" comic strip and is the Amazing Mumford's
magic expression on the Sesame Street television series. The
peanut is like the sesame seed of Open Sesame fame—a spiritual
food which unlocks a doorway to a world of wonders. The pods of peanuts
and sesame plants open to reveal their seeds, just as the wall of rock
opened for the legendary Ali Baba when he said the secret password.
Here's a magic word that is tailor made for a wishing well. Found in
18th-century Kabbalistic treatises, matba is a magic word for
obtaining small coins. It literally means "bring forth." As
a talisman to be carried in one's money purse, matba was to be
written on a square of paper.
Mekka-Lekka-Hi, Mekka-Hiney-Ho was popularized by the children's
television series Pee-Wee's Playhouse (1986). "One of Pee-wee's visiting
pals to pop into the Playhouse was in the form of a genie—a disembodied,
turban-topped talking head named Jambi. Always a jokester, Jambi swiveled
his head and worked his magic much to Pee-wee's rapture; he granted wishes
if Pee-wee chanted along with him" (Stephen Cox, Dreaming of
Jeannie, 2000).
Jiggery pokery is action with astonishing results or a clever
deception. It is the name of one of the plagues and misfortunes that was
contained inside Pandora's box of mythology.
Cei-u (pronounced "say you") is the word that gives
comic book character Johnny Thunder (Flash Comics, 1940) the
power to summon The Thunderbolt (his magical partner who appears as a
puff of pink smoke).
In the folklore of West Cornwall, England, Nomme Domme was a
name that spirit-quellers used to address and obtain power over ghosts.
The name is undoubtedly a corruption of the Latin In Nomine Domini
("In the Name of the Lord"). The name was considered "a
magical word, very likely the spirit's name among spirits, for old folks
held that they acquire new ones quite different from what they bore when
in mortal bodies" (William Bottrell, Stories and Folk-Lore of
West Cornwall, 1880).
It's been said that a watched pot never boils, and perhaps that inspired
this Italian magic spell for getting water to bubble: Pentola, pentola,
pentola, bolli.
Exclaimed at the end of a chant, the magic word harrahya could
be likened to the shout of a martial artist delivering a knifehand strike,
focusing power toward an amazing conclusion.
Popularized by the Captain Marvel comics in 1940, Holy Moly
is an expression of wonderment that recalls a magic herb of Greek mythology.
Sporting white flowers and black roots, moly was Hermes' gift to Odysseus,
to protect against incantations.
In the Oz books by L. Frank Baum, it is said that to transform
people and objects, the word pyrzqxgl must be pronounced correctly.
The Munchkin named Bini Aru, who discovered the word, hid away the pronunciation
directions after Princess Ozma decreed that only Glinda could practice
magic in the land.
Oh! Brocoli,
Oh! Brocoli,
A magic word
is Brocoli!
—J.A.H., "The Masonic Password," Freemason's Magazine
(Aug. 15, 1868)
The incantation quoted above was said in jest, yet it's not preposterous
that the vegetable broccoli have a magical name. The word derives from
a Latin root, brocchus, meaning "projecting." A simple
definition of a magic word is "a powered projection" (to paraphrase
W. Ong, The Presence of the Word, 1967).
Zolda Pranken Kopeck Lum are the magic words the character Uncle
Arthur teaches Darrin Stephens in the television series Bewitched,
when Darrin is convinced he's been turned into a Warlock.
Excelsior is a cry of ascendancy, supremacy, mastery, greatness.
It is a charm for gaining the upper hand. The silvery tones of this heart-stirring
magic word "put a soul in every bell / To triumph o'er the powers
of hell—Excelsior!" (Thomas Bracken, "Longfellow,"
Musings in Maoriland, 1890). In his poem "Excelsior,"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow likened the word to a sigh, an oft-repeated
prayer, the accents of an unknown tongue, and a falling star. Excelsior
is of Latin origin, ex meaning "beyond" and celsus meaning "lofty."
It is typically taken to mean "ever upward."
by Encarta as "America's most creative and diligent scholar of letters,
words and punctuation," Craig
Conley has also been called a 'cult hero' by Publisher's Weekly.
A former college teacher of writing and literature, he left academia to
pursue his research into one-letter words, magic words and ancient Zen
versions of Rock-Paper-Scissors.
In addition to Magic
Words: A Dictionary
(Weiser Books) and One-Letter
Words, a Dictionary
(HarperCollins), he has written a field guide to identifying unicorns
by sound, a coloring book that requires no crayons, an atlas of blank
maps, and four editions of the textbook Human
Diversity: A Guide for Understanding
. Craig blogs at OneLetterWords.com/weblog
and MysteryArts.blogspot.com.
Are you an author and would like your book featured on Neatorama? Please
email me about a possible guest blog
post just like this one!
Tagged: college


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Post-election, reality sets in for Sandy victims, like Donna Vanzant
Remember this iconic picture?
This was Donna Vanzant, two days after Hurricane Sandy, being hugged by President Obama. This picture was beamed around the country and the internet, showing Obama's care for hurricane victims. It may have factored in helping him get re-elected after trailing in polls to Mitt Romney.
Donna owned North Point Marina in Brigantine, New Jersey which suffered over $500,000 in damage from the storm. President Obama flew in for about an hour, hugged her, made promises, got pictures taken with Gov. Christie and left.
But before he left he had the following exchange- "we are going to make sure that she immediately gets help":
Well, Donna received many kindnesses and heard from countless people as a result of the picture. But is it any shock that she still hasn't heard from the government?
According to the Bergen Record, Donna says it was an honor to meet the President, but she is frustrated that she has yet to receive any help from either her insurance company or the government.
"The President told me I would get immediate help", she said. "Looking back on it, it wasted a lot of people's time", she said of the visit. The future of North Point Marina remains uncertain. "I am just moving minute by minute, because the insurance companies are telling me, no, no, no!" she said.
Not only was the photo op used, the picture of Donna is still up on the White House site, proclaiming "We are here for you".
Donna has finally heard from President Obama. He responded to her email with a form letter, thanking her for supporting the troops. See more here.
Was President Obama told who debate questioners would be?
There has been a lot flying in the Twitterverse about whether the "undecideds" at the second presidential debate at Hofstra University may have been plants.
We'll wait till we see more evidence.
But this video raises an interesting question.
We are led to believe that the candidates do not know the people asking the questions.
In the video, at around 1:06:35, Candy Crowley says that we have a question coming from Kerry Ladka. Then you see President Obama move directly toward Kerry Ladka and say "Hi Kerry". Then realizing his mistake, he starts to cover up, looking around as though he is looking for the questioner. Then when Kerry Ladka stands and begins, Obama asks him his name, as though he didn't know it, to again put distance from his earlier mistake.
Crazed "feminists" attack Catholics who defend their church from defacement in Argentina
Here is insane view of the actions of a mob.
About 500 angry, pro abortion feminists attending the "National Women's Encounter" conference in Posadas, surrounded the nearby cathedral, intent upon defacing the church. Several of the local Catholics locked arms in front of the church to prevent them from defacing it. The feminists then attacked and abused Catholics, spray painting them, spitting on them, screaming at them, taunting and otherwise abusing them. They also spray painted the cathedral with anarchist and pro abortion phrases.
Some took pictures and posed laughing in front of the abused Catholics. The Catholics locked arms and continued to pray the Rosary as they were abused.
It is not clear where the police were. There have been similar actions before from prior National Women's Encounter events elsewhere in the country, including in 2010, when they vandalized buildings and seriously injured one person.
The ongoing investigation into the Benghazi attack- "capabilities in place" to retaliate, "hold up is in Washington"
Asharq Al-Awsat, an international Arabic daily based in London, has provided a little more of a window into the investigation than MSM has been providing in the United States. The daily describes some of the suspects and their connection to Al Qaeda.
Asharq Al-Awsat noted:
-sources close to the FBI investigation into the attack also informed Asharq Al-Awsat that primary evidence in the case has been lost or compromised after the Libyan authorities failed to secure the scene of the crime over a period of two weeks.
-Libyan authorities arrested 8 suspects in connection with the attack
-The FBI team is reportedly made up of between 20 and 25 agents, in addition to around 10 "Delta Force" soldiers providing security.
-Sources close to the FBI investigation into the Benghazi attack informed Asharq Al-Awsat that this is focusing on three suspects with alleged ties to the Al Qaeda terrorist network.
The first of the three suspects is known as "Juma", a resident of the Libyan port city of Derna. He is reportedly a leading member of the Libyan Islamist "Ansar al-Sharia" militia that advocates the implementation of Islamic Sharia law across the country. This suspect is also reportedly a former detainee of Guantanamo Bay and is believed to have tried to contact Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. He disappeared from Derna just days after the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi.
The second suspect is known as "Bu Kitf", a former inmate of Gaddafi's prisons and a leading member of the "17 February" battalion, which was responsible for providing security to the US consulate.
The third suspect is known as "Abu Ahmed", also a former prison inmate released following the Egyptian revolution and the ouster of the Mubarak regime. The Americans believe that the Egyptian national sent a message to Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri last July asking permission to form an Al Qaeda branch in Egypt.
-The source also revealed that the Egyptian authorities had failed to provide any information or cooperation with the Americans regarding this suspect. The Egyptian authorities failed to respond to an Asharq Al-Awsat request for comment on this issue.
-Barak Barfi, research fellow at the New America Foundation, stressed that "there was a significant failure in American security." He added "I think that the Americans believe that Abu Ahmed is responsible for the explosion at the Benghazi consulate…with the participation of Libyans from the Ansar al-Sharia group."
The three suspects mentioned in detail by Asharq Al-Awsat do not appear to have been part of the eight arrested in Libya. The US State Department has identified Yemen based Ansar al-Sharia as an alternative name for Al Qaeda operating in the Arabian Peninsula.
Two suspects were also arrested trying to enter Turkey last week. The suspects, identified as Tunisians, were detained late Wednesday as they attempted to enter the country with fake passports, Kanal D said.
Meanwhile, testimony continued this week before Congress on the circumstances leading up to the attack.
According to CBS News, a State Department officer told House Committee panel members there were 13 separate specific threats made against the consulate during the six months before the attack. Those threats included a threat against both the Consulate and Ambassador Stevens made on Facebook. One post included mention of the route which Stevens took to jog each morning.
There were also two separate bombings on the consulate - one on April 6 (when two former security guards hurled improvised explosives at the building) and another on June 6.
Lt. Col. Andrew Wood told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that U.S. security was so weak that in April, only one U.S. diplomatic security agent was stationed in Benghazi. Security Officer Eric Nordstrom also told committee members that repeated requests had been made for increased security, requests that were denied. He said his requests for more security were blocked by a department policy to "normalize operations and reduce security resources." He stated that Charlene Lamb, the deputy assistant secretary for international programs, wanted to keep the number of U.S. security personnel in Benghazi "artificially low".
It has been over a month since the attack, yet there has been no response as yet from the United States.
Three U.S. officials told The Daily Beast that the U.S. military has the special-operations forces and other assets in place to begin going after individuals in Libya.
"At this point, the capabilities are in place," one U.S. intelligence officer said. "The holdup is in Washington."
Oops, at least one Occupier DID meet with Ahmadinejad.
Citizen Journalist ran a piece three days ago on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad allegedly planning a meeting with Occupy members during the time he is in NYC to speak at the United Nations.
The announcement, which was met by revulsion, even from some supporters of OWS, pushed some in OWS to take to the media to denounce it. "Nobody in their right mind would meet with a fascist dictator like Ahmadenijad," said Shawn Carrié, a longtime Occupy activist, in a direct message to Rosie Gray at Buzz Feed.
I was working with the group CODEPINK several years ago when Ahmadinejad came to [New York] and held a meeting to discuss global issues. I imagine this is the same. We have no idea who is organizing the meeting and how they came up with this story.
I've been trying to reach someone from Fars to ask them who they are talking about. Anyone going is doing so as an individual," Balicki said. "There is no organized effort on behalf of OWS to meet with Ahmadinejad. This smells like a propaganda effort to me.
Except now we know at least one of the people that actually met with him was in fact an Occupier from Occupy DC, again according to Fars. Occupier Leah Bolger is also president of Veterans for Peace, one of the groups in the left anti-war coalition which also includes Code Pink. When queried for confirmation of the meeting, Ms. Bolger failed to respond.
Here is Leah with Occupy DC on Day 4 of their occupation
Fars printed a long statement from Ms. Bolger, speaking on behalf of Veterans for Peace, which basically translates to Israel and US want war, Iran is just an innocent. Of course, meeting with these people only serves Ahmadinejad. It is too bad they fail to realize they are just propaganda bait.
Apparently Mr. Carrié will have to have a conversation with Leah Bolger about the state of her mind.
Mr. Carrie may have to wait before talking with Leah Bolger. She is off to Pakistan with others of Veterans for Peace and Code Pink to protest drones. If one protests US use of drones, the logical place to protest would be here, as both groups have done. There is no reason to go to Pakistan other than being a propaganda puppet.
Welcome to our site, Iranian state media- "Press TV"
Except that in response, Dana Balicki then notes that she, as part of Code Pink (which is one of the groups involved with Occupy), did meet with Ahmadinejad 'several years ago" (actually 2008).
"I was working with the group CODEPINK several years ago when Ahmadinejad came to [New York] and held a meeting to discuss global issues. I imagine this is the same. We have no idea who is organizing the meeting and how they came up with this story."
"I've been trying to reach someone from Fars to ask them who they are talking about. Anyone going is doing so as an individual," Balicki said. "There is no organized effort on behalf of OWS to meet with Ahmadinejad. This smells like a propaganda effort to me."
As we noted in our prior report, Occupy members, most notably, Imam Musa, went to Iran for an Occupy conference over the winter.
They have also had a cosy relationship with Press TV, Iranian government TV, which has promoted them in its media. Press TV is state run, by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran.
Yesterday, Press TV ran an interesting report talking about the alleged visit and alleged meeting with Ahmadinejad. We wouldn't be linking to it, because we don't like to link to propaganda, so if you'd like to see it, be our guest, we will quote the relevant parts.
They noted:
Analysts see Iran as "just one example of the connection between OWS movement and the Middle East, which is based on a common enemy, the governments of the United States and Israel".
This quoted part was taken straight out of our prior article, of course, excerpted and used for their own purposes.
Press TV then goes on:
Occupy protesters stormed an Israeli consulate in Boston on November 2011, waving Palestinian flags and shouting "Long Live the Intifadah!" and "not another nickel, not another dime! No more money for Israel's crimes".
Taken from our story, but adding the line "No more money for Israel's crimes" (which Occupiers did in fact chant).
Participants made clear that they are not anti-Semites, but anti-Zionists, critical of the Israeli government's current policies.
Well, now, no they didn't. They never said any such thing. so we're curious as to how Press TV came to this conclusion. But it makes them sound nicer, so I guess rewriting truth is Press TV's inclination.
But it's nice to know that Ahmadinejad can have "journalist" propagandists to help his agenda.
Press TV's report was then picked up by another propaganda arm, RT (Russia Today) the Kremlin run media outfit. They ran the following, in pertinent part:
Iran's Press-TV have also picked up the story and quotes unnamed analysts who say Iran is "just one example of the connection between OWS movement and the Middle East, which is based on a common enemy, the governments of the United States and Israel."
We want to welcome Press TV to our readership. But when you steal our stuff, try to get it right. You may actually learn something.
OWS: "We are the proletariat!"
Here is more video from the #S17 protest on the anniversary of the start of Occupy Wall St a year ago September 17.
This group of marchers was made up of mostly Hispanic self-identified Maoists. One was was wearing a pro-Palestinian scarf with little Che buttons on it. He noted that most of the pro-Palestinian people with whom he was familiar were also pro-communist.
Although it is not always reported on, many in Occupy are pro-Palestinian, anti-US involvement in the Middle East.
As they chanted, they seemed oblivious to the concept that most Americans would have no idea what they were talking about, and would in fact step back from such classist terminology. It is not clear that these people, at best in their twenties, really understood what happened the last time marching groups waved around that little red book, the flags and millions died.
Video by Billy O'Keefe @DefendWallSt
Student denied entry to Michelle Obama event for wearing McCain t-shirt
According to Campus Reform.org, a conservative student was denied entry into a rally featuring First Lady Michelle Obama at the University of Florida on Wednesday because he was wearing a t-shirt in support of Republican John McCain's (R-Ariz.) 2007 campaign for the White House.
The student, Matt Pesek, was pulled out of line for the event and told the event was only for supporters. "I was waiting in line wearing a 'Gators for McCain' shirt when a guy [representing the Obama campaign] comes up to me to just intimidate me," Pesek told Campus Reform. "[He then] asks me for my ticket saying… this is an event with only Obama supporters."
When Pesek objected, saying he would turn his shirt inside out, was not there to cause trouble, and would even applaud for her, he was still denied entry.
At this point, the Dean of Students, Jen Day Shaw, approached Pesek and reportedly told him that the Obama officials "can refuse entry to whomever they want" because it was a "private event."
A university spokesman seemed to corroborate part of Pesek's story on Tuesday confirming the Obama campaign was given complete control of the event and the crowd.
"The event was a ticketed, non-university function run by the Obama campaign," University spokeswoman Janine Sikes added in a brief statement to Campus Reform.Sikes stressed that "any UF officials attending the event attended on their own time" and denied that university officials or resources had been deployed towards the event.
Pesek disputed the claims that this was a "private event" noting, "They [the university] certainly advertised it to students… I didn't hear about the rally from the Obama campaign. I heard about it from people at the university."
The student government sent out an email to the students directing them to Organizing for America sites to pick up tickets. Further, the emails noted the following:
"The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required for entrance. To pick up your ticket, you can visit one of the following locations beginning Friday, September 14th, at 10 AM."
According to Campus Reform, despite multiple calls and e-mails requesting comment, they received no response from the Obama camaign.
Perhaps the campaign believes Campus Reform and Matt Pesek are part of that 53% that they can ignore. But doesn't Barack Obama believe he is the president of those who supported John McCain as well?
Being President of the United States of America means you're President for everybody. http://t.co/CCGbyEca—
Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 19, 2012
Except when they attend your wife's events promoting you.
HT ERJohnson for Campus Reform story
Jesse Jackson: Founders "maybe shouldn't have said 'endowed by our creator'"
In the wake of the "God" debacle at the DNC on Wednesday, September 5, Sean Hannity interviewed Reverend Jesse Jackson from the convention.
The DNC intially removed reference to God and Jerusalem as the capital of Israel from its platform. Then, on Wednesday, they tried to add it back in on a voice vote from the floor. The voice vote, which requires a 2/3 vote became a debacle, when three times the DNC chair Antonio Villaraigosa called the vote and three times it failed to pass, amidst boos on it being added back. On the third try, Villaraigosa just declared it affirmed, although it was clear it had not achieved the required vote total.
Hannity then interviewed Jackson asking what he thought of what had occurred. At ~3:30:
HANNITY: We are endowed by our creator, our founding document. We are endowed by our creator. It was in the 2008 platform, it was seven times in the 2004 platform. They purposely took it out. The delegates wanted to keep it out you. How should America interpret that?
JACKSON: Maybe it shouldn't have been the word "creator" in the first place. I've gone to schools where you have 50 different languages and several different religions, and so the issue of a religion and a name can be quite divisive a multi-cultural society.
Note: the transcript on Fox of this exchange is inaccurate, the video clearly shows what Jackson said.
Pic of the Day – "Hope and Change" leave Obama HQs
The Death of Hope and Change
"Hope" and "Change" caskets removed from protesters in Chicago, about 7:10 last night, Prudential Plaza, Chicago, Obama's Campaign Headquarters.
"Hug-a-Thug" at the DNC
More fun at the DNC.
The local AFL-CIO has a booth where union members will be giving out free hugs on Labor Day, in celebration of American workers on the eve of the Democratic Convention in Charlotte. Calling the event, "Hug-a-Thug", the Union is trying to fight portrayals from critics that they are thugs, and promote the importance of unions. "The Hug-a-Thug booth is part of a broad, long-term initiative by America's unions to be a voice for all working people," the organization said in a statement.
The booth will also include information on unions, and union members will give out thank you cards to workers.
North Carolina is one of the least unionized states in the country. It is a "right-to-work" state which means that workers cannot be forced into joining unions against their will and paying dues they do not wish to pay. Unions, such as the AFL-CIO are fighting such laws.
Because of the location in a right-to-work state, the AFL-CIO has scaled back their involvement in the DNC, including scaling back their financial contributions, according to the International Business Times.
Video of Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO, asking people to celebrate workers. Huggable?
Obama- sand sculpture Mount Rushmore imitation
This one takes the cake.
At the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Charlotte, they will have pictures of such American icons as the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore.
Apparently President Obama has such a high opinion of himself that there is also a sand sculpture of him, erected at the DNC at the EpiCentre entertainment complex, seemingly in imitation of Mount Rushmore. It consists of 15 tons of sand trucked in from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
This raises interesting questions, such as how much must this have cost? What was the effect on the beach, environmentally? And how big an ego do you have to have to try to imitate Mount Rushmore while you are still a sitting president?
Let the jokes begin! Shovel ready job, house built on sand, no graven images, etc…
Update: Looks like we raised a good question about the sand removal. The Morning Spew reports that back in 1998 the Army Corp of Engineers spent $60 million of public money to put sand back into the beach!
I would want to know how 15 tons of South Carolina beach ended up at the DNC Convention in Charlotte, NC. It's also puzzling that Democrats, who consider themselves bastions of environmental policy, would actually think that digging up a beach for this purpose was a good idea, especially when beaches remain a fragile habitat for many types of endangered wildlife.
Since the original 1998 replenishment, the beach was replenished in 2009 as well in order to protect people and property from storm damage along the shore. According to the US Army Corps of Engineers, it is scheduled to continue to be replenished with Federal, state and local money through 2046.
We will let you know when we track down exactly where the sand came from in Myrtle Beach.
We earlier noted that there was a report the sculpture was being taken down. From what we can ascertain at this point, there was a sculpture being built in front of the Ritz Carlton around the corner from where it is now. They had been working on it for weeks. A couple of days ago, they decided it needed to be taken down for "security reasons". That is a different one than this one (perhaps even more sand!). So as far as we know at this point, this one is in fact still up. Thank you, Sister Toldjah!
Just couldn't resist posting, courtesy of Lyby, a commenter over at Free Republic.
Don't build your house on the sandy land
Don't build it too near the shore
Oh it might be kind of nice
But you'll have to do it twice
And you'll have to build your house once more
You better build your house upon the rock
And put a sure foundation on the solid spot
And though the storms may come and go
Peace of God you'll know.
The finished creation! They added the chair today. Seriously. #Eastwooding.
@andrew_dunn @theobserver VisitMyrtleBeach.com is hosting a little meet & greet for @InvisibleObama & @SandObama :) http://t.co/JsWmJy5u—
DNC Myrtle Beach (@DNCMyrtleBeach) September 01, 2012
Again, can't make these things up! Sand Obama is no more! A torrential downpour hit Charlotte this afternoon and washed it away, according to the Washington Times. No joke, apparently.
We should note that apparently this sculpture was sponsored by Myrtle Beach, obviously with the hope of improving tourism. The team that put the sculpture together was reportedly Team Sandtastic. We are sad for Myrtle Beach that this happened, and hopefully, they have another option to advertise. Hopefully, also, that means that someone had some sense about where the sand came from.
Update 65 in the continuing saga of Sand Obama:
Reports of Sand Obama being washed away were somewhat exaggerated. He is damaged, but still lives, dented and in need of repair. Kind of like the President himself.
Nope, not messianic at all. PR photo below:
For those who think there wasn't DNC involvement in this, think again.
15.5 tons, brought in by @DNCMyrtleBeach, sand sculpture. @AmericanDream1_ #DNC2012 #voiceyourvote http://t.co/st38GK6K—
Sarah Martin (@sarahremartin) September 02, 2012
Russia Today (RT) propaganda runs amuck "Your choice couldn't be any clearer"
Is there any doubt that much of the media is in the tank for the re-election President Obama?
Apparently the Kremlin and Putin are down for more Obama (Remember the "I'll have more flexibility after the election" comment of Obama's, and the "I'll transmit that to Vladimir" reply?) Listen to this from Thom Hartmann from the "Big Picture" show from Russia Today(RT) . Russia Today is the Kremlin-funded propaganda arm, reporting in the United States. It continually attacks the US. But even for them, this went over the line.
Hartmann bashes the RNC, which is presently being held in Tampa. He speaks of the dream of Dr. King, " tonight, that dream is a nightmare in Tampa".
Start listening at ~ 5:10. Transcript is below.
Today we're in a never-ending "war on terror" promoted by those same people in Tampa that you'll be hearing more from. In fact, the one voice in the Republican Party that aligns with Dr. King in opposition to war, Ron Paul, has been banned from speaking at the convention. Instead, he's been replaced by people like John Boehner and Rick Santorum, who want even more war, who believe America's army is "God's Army" and should bring democracy to the Middle East through drone strikes, cruise missiles and cluster bombs. America is already too far down those long dark shameful corridors that those nations that possess power without compassion have walked in the past.
Dr. King's dream of peace is a nightmare tonight in Tampa Florida. And so, on this night, a half century after King talked about his dream, we should all be aware of the choice in front of us. It's a choice that, frankly, couldn't be any clearer. On one side we have the dream or nightmare coming from the RNC. A dream that only the wealthy can be trusted, that minorities are flawed, and that endless war is destined by God. And on the other side, we have the American dream, a dream rooted in equality, economic justice, and lasting peace. The dream handed down to us from the Rev Doctor Martin Luther King. And a dream that our nation can and will achieve, if we just all work at it, and don't give in to the politics of division that we're hearing from Tampa. The stakes couldn't be higher.
Of course, not only is Hartmann on the crazy train, but it's rife with lies. The truth is that Ron Paul was invited to speak and he turned it down, which he said on Fox News from the convention(yes, he was there). He was clearly still upset about not getting the nomination. The person currently conducting wars and drone strikes is President Obama. There is no basis for any of the other attacks. But why let facts get in the way? If it helps get Obama elected so he can be "more flexible".
Hartmann is right. Our choice couldn't be any clearer.
Take your vaginas to the RNC
There isn't much that one can say about this one.
RNC -discussion of economy, foreign affairs, Obamacare, jobs. Code Pink – vaginas.
Dancing in the middle is head of the organization, Medea Benjamin. Looks like a CEO, right?
It's a creepy catchy little ditty.
DNC Convention Chair calls for more taxes and spending to solve economy
Democratic Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa decided it would be classy to show up to grab some media in Tampa where the Republican National Convention is being held. Villaraigosa is also the Democratic National Committee Convention Chair. As you can also see, courtesy of PJ Media, the mayor believes the way out of California's debt and economic crisis is to spend and tax more:
Of course, this may be no suprise, given the Mayor's political association with the Democratic Socialists of America and his "community organizer" past. At their 2005 conference, the DSA spoke about helping to get him elected:
Now we have a progressive mayor, thanks in large part to this impressive network of grassroots organizations, labor unions and community and environmental organizations. Many of them have lifted up some of their leaders into positions of electoral power.
Obama campaign coordinator attacks Romney's Mormonism
Obama for America LA coordinator Samuel Cook III chose Mitt Romney's gracious comment on the death of Neil Armstrong to attack Romney's Mormonism, managing both to be insulting to Romney's religion and disrespectful of Neil Armstrong in one fell swoop.
Neil Armstrong today takes his place in the hall of heroes. The moon will miss its first son of earth.—
Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) August 25, 2012
@MittRomney Kolob?—
Sam Cook, III (@SamuelCookIII) August 25, 2012
Kolob is a star or planet referenced in Mormon scripture. So it's a little like being insulting by referencing the burning bush or "Ezekial saw the wheel".
He gets called out, rightfully so, for his bigotry. There has been a not-so-subtle effort on the part of the Obama campaign to smear Romney to Christians and Evangelicals as "not really a Christian".
This is so stupid as to almost be a calculated deliberate move that the campaign wants media to pick up to split Romney from conservative Christians. But what Mr. Cook doesn't get is people are not fools. It is Romney that certainly more in concert with conservative Christians' issues.
You would think that Obama, having had people raise questions that he felt were unfair about his Christianity, that he would be "fair" to Romney. Don't bet on it.
The whisper campaign has stopped and the full out attack seems to be starting.
Mr. Cook is keeping up the bigotry, again making it very clear that this was calculated and no accidental slip up. He mocks the prayer attire that some Mormon's wear as "magic underwear", a derogatory term.
He then goes full Illuminati and veers into a conspiracy of Mormons to "infiltrate the government".
How much of this idiocy does the Obama campaign support and how much further will they stoop to try to attack Romney's religion and sow divison?
Mr Cook has now protected his tweets. A little too late, one would think. He now claims he is "speaking for himself", yet he is Obama for America Louisiana coordinator.
Obama campaign still hasn't managed to stop Mr. Cook from putting his foot in it. One more time, as he admits and tries to justify attacking Romney's religion:
Is @SamuelCookIII repping Obama towards violation of US Constitution Article VI's #ReligiousTestClause? - http://t.co/fQE0bcB1—
Adam Baldwin (@adamsbaldwin) August 26, 2012
Mr. Cook is now apologizing for his comment:
"I would like to personally apologize to @MittRomney for my inartful remark following his Armstrong tribute. It was crass and undignified."
"Inartful comment" .
How about series of comments, not just one, over a period of hours that are offensive and bigoted about Mormons in general, and not just Romney? Accusing Mormons of a conspiracy to take over the government? Making fun of religious clothing? Then trying to justify the religious attacks?
Mr. Cook thought he could play open season on Mormons. He found out differently.
Mr Cook purports to be a "Republican for Obama". Yet he is co chair of Young Democrats of New Orleans in addition to his Obama campaign position. See here.
He is also Gen44 coordinator in Louisiana, meaning he is coordinating of the "official under-40 fundraising program of Obama for America—created to cultivate and empower a rising generation of leaders for the Democratic Party". He has also made comments saying the South need more "strong Progressive leaders" and called for a "cap" on Republicans that are elected.
Strange Republican.
Sounds similar to more alleged "Republicans for Obama" who are actually Democrats, as was recently exposed in the "Republican Women for Obama" campaign video.
The Obama campaign is having a bit of difficulty between the bigotry and the lying.
Hopefully Democrats and others in the Obama campaign will repudiate these attacks and not follow in Mr. Cook's footsteps.
And once again, Mr Cook seems not to get that Internet is forever. He deleted his tweet in response to Adam Baldwin where he justified attacking Mormonism, calling Mormonism "fair game" because of birther questions about Obama. Sorry, Mr. Cook, again too little, too late-saved for posterity.
Occupiers storm Obama campaign headquarters in Oakland and Portland, scuffle with staffers (video)
In a coordinated effort (and we leave how coordinated and with whom to your imagination), Occupy Oakland and Occupy Portland stormed Obama campaign headquarters in their respective cities in Oakland, California and Portland, Oregon. The Occupy group in Oakland was comprised of the far left organizations including Iraq Vets against the War(including Scott Olsen who was injured in October of last year at a protest) and Code Pink. Both groups are active members of Occupy. The headquarters in Oakland still had boarded up windows from Occupy smashing the windows out on August 3.
After members stormed the office in Oakland. they read a formal statement by bullhorn asking President Obama to apologize to Bradley Manning for saying he broke the law, for better treatment and for a pardon for Bradley Manning. Bradley Manning is awaiting trial on charges related to leaking government documents.
Protesters crowd the Oakland office here.
Photos of Code Pink and Iraq Vets Against the War members blocking the doorway in Oakland, Scott Olsen is 4th from the left, with the long blond hair:
After storming the office in Oakland, they got into a scuffle with Obama staffers when Occupiers climbed on top of and over chairs and tried to move further into the working area of the office.
Video taken by Scott Olsen:
Police were called in both locations. See pictures of Portland and in Oakland of police. A hostage negotiator actually had to be called out in Oakland to talk with seven Occupiers, who refused to leave. Police lost patience and moved in to make the arrests in Oakland around 9 pm last night. Scott Olsen was the only one of the seven not arrested, as they were given a last opportunity to leave and he left. Six were arrested in Oakland and five are reported to have been arrested in Portland.
After the arrests in Oakland, other demonstrators marched on the Oakland Police station.
Reports this morning indicate that the people arrested in Oakland have been released already, except for one who will be held over the weekend.
The last time that Obama campaign headquarters faced "occupation" or sit ins was when illegal aliens occupied the offices in some locations in the week prior to President Obama granting amnesty to those who were brought here as children.
Spreading the wealth
What does Obama mean when he talks about "spreading the wealth"?
Well, let's find out, courtesy of Penn and Teller:
God Hating Chick Fil A protester turns out to be Occupier
Remember those nasty Chick Fil A protesters who were harassing the street preacher in this video?
Meet Spencer Thayer, the loud one in the video in the plaid shirt who "hates God".
In our "it's a small (leftist) world" file, turns out Spencer Thayer is with Occupy Chicago. Like many Occupiers, Spencer is a professional "activist". He was one before Occupy, and now is going back to some of the things he did before Occupy. He creatively has the anarchist circle "A" as part of his name on Twitter. He also has strong feelings about America:
@BLMBaH Thank you. "Death to America!"—
SPENCER THⒶYER (@spencerthayer) August 08, 2012
When he learned about the reaction to his actions, Spencer reveled in the attention:
Hello, I am Spencer Thayer. "Faggot Mob Leader," as seen on The Blaze and the Christian News Network.—
SPENCER THⒶYER (@spencerthayer) August 09, 2012
And speculated on what he could do with a picture of Breitbart:
@sabokitty Totally. Help me find a hi-res image of #breitbart? One I can photoshop. Or one with a gun to his head.—
SPENCER THⒶYER (@spencerthayer) August 10, 2012
Spencer, while seeking attention, has yet to realize that he is not attracting more folks to his cause by his actions. Indeed, the more he and his fellow anarchists do, the more they show themselves for what they are. So keep on Spencer, as you are a useful example.
Priest praying rosary verbally attacked at Chick Fil A
Last Friday, pro gay marriage activists verbally harassed a preacher reading a bible at a Chick Fil A in Chicago.
Here is more Chick Fil A confrontation from that same location in Chicago this Wednesday. What is it about Chicago and that location that brings out the attack police?
In this video, there are actually two sets of protesters-one set pro-traditional marriage apparently, the other pro gay marriage. The priest, Father Gerald O'Reilly, begins to walk, praying the Rosary quietly, but in the middle of the pro gay marriage group. He is then verbally set upon, loudly and viciously, until he is led out by police.
In the free market of ideas, is it an outdated thought that one can actually hold an opposing view and not be set upon? Or, possibly, even that calm sharing of ideas can result?
HT to Rebel Pundit by way of Legal Insurrection for video:
White House claims Occupy collusion emails were "mistaken"
In an interview with Victoria Taft on the Victoria Taft show KPAM radio at AM 860 , Judicial Watch spokesperson Tom Fitton announced that the White House had responded to the growing scandal surrounding their decision to "stand down" from enforcing the law against Occupy lawbreakers.
The scandal was revealed when Judicial Watch, having obtained documents through the FOIA act, discovered emails between the GSA(General Services Administration) and the DHS (Department of Homeland Security). Occupy was illegally camping on federal land administered by the GSA. While camping on the land, and other land in Portland, they created multiple problems, including threatening reporters and vandalizing local banks. Taft also spoke of the "420 tent" that was at the Occupy Portland where people went to get stoned.
The emails revealed GSA Commissioner Robert Beck saying that they had consulted with the WH and were "standing down" from enforcing action against Occupy. See more here.
Now Fitton has said the White House has responded, claiming, despite the emails showing White House collusion, GSA Commissioner Beck was "mistaken" about the White House's approval for standing down from enforcing the law.
Fitton and Taft expressed incredulity that the White House could be taking that posture, given the emails.
The White House and prominent Democrats, such as Nancy Pelosi, have made various endorsing statements about Occupy since its inception, most famously, Nancy Pelosi's statement, "God Bless them". Most of the people who started Occupy have a background in Democratic or leftist causes including with ACORN, SDS, SEIU, the Wobblies, Code Pink and the Democratic Socialists of America.
Occupy has been involved with over 7500 arrests as of the current date, everything from disorderly persons charges up to murder. Nationally, the damages resulting from various Occupy actions exceed 40 million dollars. In LA alone, in a state bordering on bankruptcy, Occupy has cost the city over 4 million dollars.
Charles Barron trounced in NYC Democratic Congressional primary, demands recount
Charles Barron isn't taking the loss well.
He lost badly to Hakeem Jeffries in the 8th district Congressional Democratic primary race, which is primarily Brooklyn. Jeffries, who was endorsed by party leaders, got 71.9 percent of the vote. Barron, endorsed by the unions and outgoing Congress member Ed Towns, received 28.1 percent of the vote, which translated to about 10,000 votes.
In part, the election was a bit of a test of the strength of the unions, the local union DC-37 and parent AFSCME, who objected to Jeffries's pro-charter-school stand.
But also included in the mix was Barron's long history of making incendiary remarks, everything from calling Thomas Jefferson a pedophile to making remarks about Jews and gay people, as well as supporting dictators. He has spoken of wanting revolution and fighting capitalism, noting that he does not want Obama to do anything to fix the economy, since that would only prolong capitalism. He has called Israel a "terrorist state", and been endorsed by David Duke. He supported OWS including an action to take a man's home, that was characterized as "taking a home back from the banks".
See more background here.
His severe loss did nothing to gag his venom. He denounced the media as "really lowlife scum" and he refused to concede defeat.
"At the risk of sounding like a sore loser, honesty compels me to say there will be no congratulatory statement to the opposition tonight, only because of the way the campaign was run," Barron was quoted as saying by the New York Daily News.
"We had them scared from the very beginning," Barron claimed. "There's something bigger than politics and that's a movement. A movement of the people. We have that here tonight. When we launched this campaign, we knew we were going up against…the entire New York Democratic political leadership."
While Jeffries espouses support such things as charter schools, he also had the support of the Working Families Party(rebranded ACORN).

subset: commoncrawl


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Picking games is passe, isn't it? Let's try a round of picking some other kind of statistics. Throw your prediction out there on the comment section for bragging rights to see if anyone can get one of these right.
Who will throw the most interceptions this week?
-- John Skelton: 3 interceptions
(Skelton is a gunslinger and will be under huge pass rush pressure.)
Who will rush for the most yards?
-- Arian Foster: 186 yards
(Baltimore is giving up a lot of yards on the ground, and Foster is one of the best in the game.)
Who will pass for the most yards?
-- Drew Brees: 354 yards
(I don't really know, but it could happen.)
Who will have the most yards receiving?
-- A.J. Green: 162 yards
(Pittsburgh gave up a lot of yards to Demaryius Thomas, and Green is another Beast.)
Who will have the most sacks?
-- Dwight Freeney: 2.5 sacks
(Hey, it could happen if Luck gets the Colts up early and the Browns play from behind with a rookie QB.)
Who will kick the most field goals?
-- Rob Bironas, 4 field goals
(I'm guessing Buffalo turns the ball over a few times, but the Tennessee offense settles for field goals.)
So, what are your predictions?


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Sabrina has served as CEO of Palo Alto Software since 2007. She and her husband, Noah, founded a UK software distribution company in 2001 that later was purchased by and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Palo Alto Software. Sabrina is a successful Internet expert, having served as Director of Online Marketing at Commtouch, Senior Producer at Epinions.com, and founder of her own Web consulting company, Lighting Out. She is a graduate of Princeton University.
Sabrina masquerades as MommyCEO (www.mommyceo.org), where she writes a blog about running a business and balancing that with life with her husband and three young sons. When Sabrina is not at work she can be found chasing her kids all over Oregon: biking, hiking, swimming, skiing, and anything outdoors that uses up a lot of little boys' energy.
One of the most important things a startup can do is make sure that they are keeping track of their data. In this webinar, we take time to discuss the different metrics that startups—and established businesses—should be tracking. Tracking metrics and making sure you know what's going on with your business is crucial; it enables... Read more »
We all have goals for our business, but sometimes we forget how important it is to clearly define these goals. This is especially true when it comes to financial goal setting for small businesses, where often financial goals are only vaguely defined or based too heavily on assumptions. Many small business owners may keep a... Read more »
Welcome back to #TrackThis! Today, Matt Rissell, CEO of T Sheets Time Tracking, and I sat down to talk about tracking your ROI of attending conferences and trade shows. It's an important question: Is it worth attending these events to get your name out there, or to have your people trained? It's hard to know necessarily,... Read more »
What do you need to know about small business loans before you apply? A lot! You have a lot of options, and there are a lot of variables in the equation that determines whether you'll qualify for the loan you're applying for (or whether that loan is even a good fit for you and your... Read more »
Welcome to episode five of #TrackThis, my recurring webinar series with Matt Rissell, CEO of TSheets! This episode's topic is something we at Palo Alto Software are constantly discussing, and that's why I wanted to share it with you. If your company provides Software as a Service (or SaaS), then you're probably familiar with how... Read more »
John Jantsch is a marketing consultant, speaker and the best-selling author of Duct Tape Marketing, Duct Tape Selling, The Commitment Engine, and The Referral Engine. He is the creator of the Duct Tape Marketing System and Duct Tape Marketing Consulting Network that trains and licenses small business marketing consultants around the world. He is the... Read more »
Welcome to episode four of #TrackThis, my recurring webinar series with Matt Rissell, CEO of TSheets! This episode's topic is a big deal for my company, and that's why I wanted to share it with you. Happy employees are more productive, and they'll make your company better. Money spent on employee happiness is money well... Read more »
Tax season has come and gone, but the main takeaway from our recent webinar on tax planning for small businesses is that the key to saving money on your taxes is to think ahead and plan. It's never too early to start thinking about how to prepare for your business taxes. One of the first... Read more »
Have you ever heard of the book The Lean Startup by Eric Ries? It's an incredible guide to rethinking how you develop your business, whether you're just starting out or launching a new product or into a new market. And usually, when people are talking about this book, they're talking about it like it... Read more »
You know you need to project a sales forecast, and create a budget, and then compare your actual revenue and expenses to what you guessed you'd make, and what you hoped you'd spend. But what about comparing your business's performance to other, similar businesses, and how they did last month, or last year, or last quarter?... Read more »
A lot of times people want to ask me about crowd funding. What is it? Is it legal? Read more »
Budgets are an important tool for non-profits, but the traditional way of approaching them is cumbersome and not very useful. Here are three good reasons to think about changing your non-profit budget process. Read more »
If you're looking to start a new small business, there are a lot of factors to consider. But boil it down, and you're left with just these ten things to focus on. Read more »
Last month, an internal HR Yahoo! email from the head of HR about Yahoo's work at home policies and changes to that policy was leaked. Apparently Marissa Meyer is trying to whip the company back into shape and wants to reign in employees who have flexible working arrangements and work from home. Here is a... Read more »
This post was previously published on Forbes.com. As entrepreneurs, we know that running a business brings a lot of headaches and worries along with the more positive experiences of leadership. Every day seems to be filled with decisions that affect your success and the success of your employees. Should you buy that new truck? Should... Read more »
These days more than ever, as a business owner and entrepreneur, you need to innovate or die. This mantra is most true for any business in the technology sector. We constantly need to move forward, create new things, better and faster. The pressure that a small business owner has to leverage innovation into growth is only emphasized by the... Read more »
Time and time again I am surprised when people espouse the common myth that you only need to write a business plan if you are seeking funding for your business. And then I start lecturing them. Yes, every entrepreneur needs to start with a business plan, and I mean EVERY entrepreneur, not just those seeking... Read more »
Tim was recently invited to be the keynote speaker at the George Mason Entrepreneurship Research Conference. Not only is it an honor for Tim, but also for Palo Alto Software. And now for the cherry on top, a post from Campus Entrepreneurship: Just listened to Tim Berry give the keynote address during lunch. Tim was... Read more »
About a month ago I reserved a condo in New York for a business trip I have coming up at the end of May. I run the Princeton Entrepreneurs' Network and we run an annual conference every year in late May, and this year I am the one in charge, so I have to be... Read more »
Barry Moltz, a popular blogger and author, wrote a very interesting post on what Obama should do to stimulate the American economy. Here is what he suggests: If we took the $750B and divided it among the approximately $150M working Americans, each of us would get $5,000 to spend in this economy. The government would... Read more »


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All quotes tagged Knowing
(3402 quotes found)
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"A wise man could fool anyone, one of his famous tricks is acting as a fool like the fools he is with or by asking a fool a foolish question or fooling a fool, and what is so fun about this is that these fools who are being fooled by the wise man knows that they are being fooled by him but they regret it, enjoy it, and what is worse is that they always say that he is a fool."
"Impressed With Chancellor Harris' Accomplishments. He Knows How to get Things Done....Kokomo Indiana is fortunate to Have Him"
"Impressed with Chancellor Michael Harris' accomplishments. IUK. He knows how to get things done....Kokomo Indiana is fortunate to have him."


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|OHSAA releases Football State Championship Pairings
|Sunday, December 01, 2013 9:00 PM
Information submitted
COLUMBUS – The pairings, game times and locations of the football state championship games were finalized by Ohio High School Athletic Association Friday and Saturday following the state semifinal games played this past weekend. The championships kick off Thursday night in Stark County, which has hosted the finals since 1990.
2013 OHSAA Football State Championships
Home Team Listed First
Thursday's Game
Div. III: Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (14-0) vs. Trotwood-Madison (11-2), 7 p.m. at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium
Friday's Games
Div. VI: Kirtland (14-0) vs. Haviland Wayne Trace (13-1), 11 a.m. at Canton Fawcett Stadium
Div. IV: Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (10-4) vs. Clarksville Clinton-Massie (13-1), 3 p.m. at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium
Div. II: Cleveland Glenville (13-1) vs. Loveland (14-0), 7 p.m. at Canton Fawcett Stadium
Saturday's Games
Div. V: Columbus Bishop Hartley (13-1) vs. Coldwater (12-2), 11 a.m. at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium
Div. I: Mentor (13-1) vs. Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (13-1), 3 p.m. at Canton Fawcett Stadium
Div. VII: Glouster Trimble (14-0) vs. Maria Stein Marion Local (14-0), 7 p.m. at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium


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Take your birthday party out of this world! Fly through our solar system and get an in depth look at our planets and some of our favorite constellations! Great for ages 8 and up, limit of 15 children per show.Click here to book now!
For questions or additional information:
Call (860) 520-2140 or email email@example.com
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 9AM–4PM.
Big Screen Gaming
For ages 9+Gaming is a $150 add-on to our birthday package. You and your guests will have the entire theater for yourselves for one full hour. We will provide a choice of these Wii games:
- Mario Kart
- Rock Band
- Wii SporWii Sports
- Just Dance
- Warioware
For questions or additional information:
Call (860) 520-2140 or email email@example.com
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 9AM–4PM.
Party Planning
Please read and complete the Online Birthday Party Request form. You will be contacted regarding your request within 48 business hours. A non-refundable $100.00 deposit is required to hold a date. This deposit will be applied to the final balance of your party. Party time slots are filled on a first come, first served basis.
Can I bring my own decorations?
You may bring decorations as long as they do not hang from the ceiling or walls. Please note that we do not allow balloons or candles in the Science Center.
Can I bring my own food and cake?
SUBWAY® is the exclusive birthday caterer at the Connecticut Science Center. Outside food or beverages are not permitted by the CSC, with the exception of a (non- ice cream) birthday cake. However, if you have specific allergy/dietary needs, please speak to the CSC Birthday Party Coordinator.
Do I have to provide my own party goods?
The Science Center will provide all of the tableware needed for your birthday party. You are also welcome to bring in your own themed goods in addition to the supplies we offer.
How long before the party can I make changes?
Final attendance is required one week (5 business days) before the date of the party. Any changes made within one week of the party may not be accommodated. Any reductions in numbers within one week of the party will not be refunded.
If I cancel my party, will I get a refund?
If you choose to cancel your party, you will forfeit your $100 non-refundable deposit. If you need to reschedule, you must let the Birthday Coordinator know within 2 weeks of your party, otherwise you will be charged a $75 rescheduling fee. You will have 3 months to reschedule.
When is my final payment due?
The remaining balance is due on the Monday before your party. This will include your food order, final head count, and any add-on costs.
Guests & Attendance
Any guest over the 14 included with the party is $14 per person (adults and children). Children under 3 are free of charge, and will not count towards your paid attendance number. Guests that are members of the Connecticut Science Center will receive a discounted rate.
*Each adult and child must have a birthday wristband in order to enter the exhibits.
Can parents attend my child's party?
If parents would like to join their child for a birthday party, it will be $14 for each person. If the parents do not want to go through the galleries, they are welcome to stay in the birthday party room free of charge.
Can I use my membership to get into a birthday party for free?
If you are a member of the Connecticut Science Center, you will receive discounted rates for birthday admission, but it will not be free.
Birthday Parties are private events; Membership does not include free admission into private events. This policy is stated on the back of every Membership card.
Food & Beverage
SUBWAY® is the exclusive birthday caterer at the Connecticut Science Center. Outside food or beverages are not permitted by the CSC, with the exception of a (non- ice cream) birthday cake. However, if you have specific allergy/dietary needs, please speak to the CSC Birthday Party Coordinator.
How long before the party can I change/update our food order?
We must know the party's final food order one week (5 business days) before the date of your party.
Arrival Information
Parents and guardians dropping off their child for a birthday party may park in our bus drop off area for no more than 10 minutes. All visitors staying for the duration of the party can park in our garage, explained below. Parents/guardians picking up their child after a birthday party should go to the Ticketing Counter in the Lobby Area, or the Birthday Desk on Level G1, and let an employee know which party their child is attending. A chaperone from the party will then escort the child to meet their parents.
Where can I park?
Convenient parking at the Science Center/Riverfront Garage is located at the corner of Grove St. and Columbus Boulevard, underneath the Science Center building. It is a public garage. Please know that the CT Science Center neither owns nor operates the Science Center/Riverfront garage. The fee is $3 for the 1st hour and $2 for every additional hour.
The Cupcake Brake (Hartford, CT)
The Cupcake Brake is a mobile cupcake truck that you can have at your birthday party! Their fresh-baked cupcakes use only the best local ingredients. Customize your cupcakes with a variety of frostings and fillings.Add the Cupcake Brake to your Connecticut Science Center birthday party for $50 for use of the truck for one half hour, which includes up to 12 cupcakes for you and your party guests. Additional cupcakes are $2 each; additional filled cupcakes are $2.50 each. The truck can deliver your cupcakes or stay and become part of the birthday fun!
For more information and to place your cupcake order:
Website: www.thecupcakebrake.com
Email: email@example.com
Dee's One Smart Cookie (Glastonbury, CT)
Allergies? No problem! Dee's One Smart Cookie will prepare an allergen-free cake just for your birthday party. These special cakes accommodate those who are peanut & tree nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, corn-free, and/or egg-free (upon request) and are always Non-GMO. Cakes are prepared locally in a dedicated allergen-free facility.
As a gift from Dee's, your cake will be delivered to the Connecticut Science Center free of charge and will be decorated to suit the theme of your party (valued up to $10.00).
For more information and to place your cake order:
Website: http://www.deesonesmartcookie.com
Email: email@example.com
Sugarbelle (Glastonbury, CT & South Windsor, CT)
Your cake should make your birthday dreams come true! Sugarbelle creates beautifully decorated custom cakes and cupcakes as well as decorated cookies that can be individually wrapped as party favors. You'll receive free delivery service to the Science Center when you book your party with us!
For more information and to place your cake order:
Website: http://www.sugarbellecakes.com
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Pastry Bag Cake Co. (Vernon, CT)
Pastry Bag Cake Co. will make your birthday party unforgettable with a custom gourmet cake to match your party's theme. Book your party with us to receive free cake delivery; if you order cupcakes, you'll receive the first dozen themed cupcake tags at no extra charge!
For more information and to place your cake order:
Website: http://www.pastrybagcakeco.com
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com.


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You just know that the "news" of the Sony BMG-signed John Mayer making out with the rainbow-haired gossipeuse is going to result in a directive from the VP of publicity at the company to all the promoters dealing with its male artists, telling them to get their tongues wagging in Perezzers' general direction ASAP in an effort to work around his "ban" on the label's artists. (And maybe Beth Ditto, since she seems like she'd be up for some gender-bending.) [Perez Hilton]
Perez Hilton Breaks Sony BMG Embargo After 24 Hours In Interest Of Self-Promotion
Apr 3rd, 2008 // 1 Comment
Maybe Perez is subliminally dissing Sony because he claims that he kissed John Mayer for five minutes.
Then again if Perez hasn't learned by now that he can buy Adobe Photoshop for only a few hundred dollars…


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Dannii Minogue dating Swiss singer? (From Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News)
Get involved! Send your photos, video, news & views by texting WEEKLY NEWS to 80360 or email us
National Entertainment News RSS Feed
Dannii Minogue dating Swiss singer?
7:31am Tuesday 7th January 2014 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2014
Dannii Minogue is rumoured to have found romance with rock singer Adrian Sieber.
The singer and TV star was spotted holding hands with the Swiss rocker in her native Australia, according to the Daily Mirror.
It has also been reported that the pair, and Dannii's three-year-old son Ethan, then joined friends to spend the afternoon at the beach.
While neither Dannii or the Lovebugs frontman have commented, it has triggered speculation that they are an item.
Former X Factor judge Dannii split from English model and ex-professional rugby league player Kris Smith, her son's dad, in 2012.


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|Excellent - 18 reviews
With a stay at Pinehill Inn in Oregon, you'll be within the vicinity of Hal Palmer Park and Dillehay Park. Make yourself at home in one of the 6 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and DVD players. Your room comes with a memory foam bed. Cable television is provided for your entertainment. Conveniences include phones, as well as desks and irons/iro...
Overall Rating - Excellent - 18 reviews
Excellent 10.0
We visited Pinehill Inn on June 1 to 3 .. We had a romantic and peaceful trip. Our room was somerset after the Book the razor edge.. ( 1920) Very clean room and bath. Chris and Ken were wonderful hosts. Breakfast was so Good.... The history was very interesting. We will be back.
|Okay - 99 reviews
Take the family on a fun-filled trip to this Howard Johnson Hotel Rockford IL hotel off Highway 20, only five minutes from Chicago Rockford International Airport, and near Metro Center, Coronado Theatre, and great restaurants. Enjoy your morning with a complimentary continental breakfast and newspaper, or catch up with friends using the complimentary wirele...
Overall Rating - Okay - 99 reviews
Poor 1.0
Very dirty. Bad smell. Loud factory next door madeloud noises all night.I will never stay there again.
Poor 1.0
The place was disgusting! I had to pay for a microwave and fridge and they wheeled me in a fridge that smelled like something died in it! Im currently in the extended stay america in rockford it was cheaper and 100 times better! I will NEVER stay atHJYou should remove it from your list im angry that i had to pay you guys for such a disgusting experiance!
|Good - 91 reviews
Located in Rockford, Rockford Alpine Inn and Suites is close to Anderson Japanese Gardens and CherryVale Mall. This inn is within the vicinity of Jefferson Street Bridge and Burpee Museum of Natural History. Make yourself at home in one of the 114 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you c...
Overall Rating - Good - 91 reviews
Excellent 10.0
It was clean, free wifi, and close to food.
Nope.It's also a very nice looking hotel.
Good 7.0
The free breakfast was nice.
The bed was too soft, probably very old, so I had a backache all night and next day.The motel is fine for a motel, afterall, I only paid ---/night. Rooms don't come with shampoo/conditioner, you should bring your own or ask for some at the front desk. It's an older place and it shows its age. The towels are super thin and old. The sheets are clean, and housecleaning does keep it clean as it can be given it's age. Rooms had a frig and microwave, which is nice. I'm used to staying at 4 star hotels, so I told my husband, never again at a motel. You have to go with proper expectations for paying ---/night at a motel. My friends also usually stay at 4 star hotels, so I wouldn't recommend this unless you were really on a budget. But like I said, it is a motel, so if you want to book a motel or true budget accommodations, it is fine.
|Mediocre - 58 reviews
Located in Rockford, Travel Inn Rockford is close to CherryVale Mall and Anderson Japanese Gardens. This hotel is within the vicinity of Magic Waters Water Park and Jefferson Street Bridge. Make yourself at home in one of the air-conditioned guestrooms. Free self parking is available onsite
Overall Rating - Mediocre - 58 reviews
Poor 1.0
Absolutely nothing. If there was a way to get a refund I would have left and gotten it.
The room, it was filthy. The public spaces, were also filthy. The 'complimentary breakfast' looked like it hadn't been changed since the mid 80's... Roughly the same time the place was last cleaned.Between myself and the guy I was traveling with, we have several years of security experience along with traveling in 3rd world countries. We both agreed this was top 5 worst places we have ever stayed in. The air conditioner in the room was covered in what looked like mold. The towels in the bathroom were stained, the shower curtain was ripped off the wall and was laying under the sink, the wallpaper was ripped off the wall in patches. The headboard on one of the beds was coming off the wall, the carpet looked like it hadn't been cleaned since ever. Both of us were VERY disappointed, however after already traveling for 14 hours we were too exhausted to try to find s...
Poor 1.0
It was terrible. Filthy, No water pressure, bad t.v. remote. We were afraid to use the beds for fear of bedbugs.If I were your company I would not recommend this place to anyone.
|Excellent - 123 reviews
Overall Rating - Excellent - 123 reviews
Excellent 9.0
The great service and clean environment
There was no room service.
Mediocre 4.0
Close to the Ohare Bus stop.
Hotel was difficult to find, even though we are very familiar with the area. Met basic needs, which was to meet the 5:00 am Ohare bus. Will never stay there again.Nothing is free. Breakfast and coffee in the lobby cost, prices are quite high especially considering there is fast food within walking distance.
|Excellent - 193 reviews
The hotel offers 10,000 square feet of meeting space and a full service Forest City Restaurant and Pub, Business Center, Laundry Facility and Indoor pool and whirlpool. Complimentary wireless high speed Internet is available throughout the hotel
Overall Rating - Excellent - 193 reviews
Good 8.0
We were able to have a king bed in our room. The room was great; the air conditioner was cool and easy to manage. I needed the iron and ironing board; they worked very well.
Some noisy patrons passed by our door in the night (no extended talking...). This is not the hotel's fault although the guest laundry was next door. We don't know if the noise makers were using the laundry or not.nothing to tell. Parking was easy in the back of the hotel. We used a side door when we could which was also very easy...
Excellent 10.0
Room was excellent and comfortable. Desk clerk pleasant and helpful. only problem, check was NOON. Do not disturb sign was hung out yet cleaning staff attempted to enter room at 9:30 AM and AGAIN at 10:45 AM. THANKFULLY slide lock was in place!! Staff's reason for attempting to enter was they were told we had checked out. Explains FIRST entry attempt but SECOND attempt was with (assuming) staff supervisor. Poor communication and clearly a verbal (language) barrier
|Okay - 68 reviews
Located on Lincoln Highway/Route 2, the Magnuson Hotel Dixon is just minutes from the boyhood home of Ronald Reagan, the Brandywine Restaurant and Banquet Hall, and home to the annual Petunia Festival the first week of July. Rockford, Illinois is 42 miles, and Chicago is 100 miles to the east. The pet friendly Magnuson Hotel Dixon provides guests a free c...
Overall Rating - Okay - 68 reviews
Okay 5.0
Most of the staff was quite friendly
Needs a lot of repair and cleaning done. The lawn needed mowing and the whole building needs cleaning and repair.
Poor 1.0
Extremely hard to find. Was out of town not in Dixon. Gps couldnt find it either.arrived after dark. There wasnt anyLighted signs. Only one out side light. Parking lot dark. Did not feel safe.hotel looked and felt like it was closed and creepy.
|Okay - 131 reviews
The Super 8 Rockford, Illinois is conveniently located at I-90 & Business Hwy 20. The Super 8 is located between Freeport and Chicago, Illinois. The Super 8 Rockford, Illinois is just minutes away from Midway Village. The Super 8 Rockford, Illinois is located near Magic Waters Water Ride. Other attractions in the area include Volcano Falls Game Center...
Overall Rating - Okay - 131 reviews
Okay 5.0
the cleanliness and location
my tv didnt work in the roomits an alright hotel nice and cheap too
Poor 1.0
Everything is terrible. Beat up old rooms, and tv receptions is snowy,Terrible would never stay again
|Excellent - 243 reviews
experience true serenity.. welcome to the Hampton Inn Rockford When you stay at the Hampton Inn® hotel in Rockford, you'll find a host of activities to crank up your vacation. Our fabulous museums will enthrall you (and your children) for hours. Watch a NASCAR race. Take the tots to a water park, or let them explore 200 hands-on activities at the Discovery C...
Overall Rating - Excellent - 243 reviews
Excellent 9.3
We were with a multiple family group (reunion) and able to meet in small groups in comfort. Hotel was chosen because of breakfast and because of patio area outside of pool, where adults could chat and monitor kids in pool. Staff were very friendly. Business center was helpful for some of our group who needed to check in with work.
No complaints!
Poor 1.0
Wrong room. Wouldn't let me pay for an upgrade! Undisclosed credit card charges. Unhelpful staff.
|Good - 237 reviews
Rockford, IL Hotel's Amenities are Impressive. When searching for hotels in Rockford, Illinois, consider the Holiday Inn Hotel Rockford (I-90&Rt 20/State St), situated near this blossoming, Midwestern community's best businesses and attractions. We boast modern accommodations with excellent services, including complimentary shuttle transportation within a fi...
Overall Rating - Good - 237 reviews
Good 8.0
The room was a good size and I liked the layout of the room. I didn't get a chance to use the pool/hot tub but it looked nice.
My king non-smoking room smelled slightly smoky.
Excellent 10.0
convenient and nice
Kinda used to breakfasts being included so missed that.
|Good - 314 reviews
Located in Rockford, Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort is close to Anderson Japanese Gardens and Burpee Museum of Natural History. This hotel is within the vicinity of Coronado Theatre and Jefferson Street Bridge. Make yourself at home in one of the 105 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Your room comes with a pillowtop bed. Private b...
Overall Rating - Good - 314 reviews
Okay 6.0
Very large, spacious room. Good breakfast buffet. Great customer service.
The hotel is tired looking and could use a face-lift. Poor made service.Good value for the money. The breakfast was exceptional, and included stuff like bacon and eggs. The shower water pressure was very good, but the bed was a bit lumpy. Maid service was lacking; got overlooked completely the first day, and then the second day they only made the beds! They left all the garbage piled up against the wall, and the bathroom was untouched. The pool was very warm, which was much appreciated.
Good 8.0
Great staff, big rooms
Loud music in built in speakers in the halls woke us up
|Excellent - 45 reviews
Overall Rating - Excellent - 45 reviews
Good 7.0
The rooms are especially spacious. The Housekeeping staff was particularly helpful.
The internet service is slow and the television service/selection/reception is on the poorer side.This hotel is pricey, for its star rating, but supply-and-demand of the area indicates appropriate cost. The hotel rooms are, indubitably, the greatest feature- with vast size, comfortable beds, accommodations for elongated stays, and cleanliness.
Excellent 10.0
Free breakfast and sometimes free dinner. Staff is pleasant.
Room had a strange smell almost like a smoking room but overall everything was great!
|no reviews
|Excellent - 139 reviews
The Hilton Garden Inn Rockford hotel is a wonderful addition to the Rockford, Illinois area! Our hotel is right off I-90 on the east side of Rockford and close to Chrysler, Sportscore, Metro Centre, Magic Waters and the Rockford Airport. Our Rockford, IL hotel is within walking distance or a short drive to over 30 dining options including outstanding restaur...
Overall Rating - Excellent - 139 reviews
Excellent 10.0
We were in town visiting family, it was centrally located close to nice restaurants and shopping. The hotel had wonderful public spaces so we could meet up with family and the pool was great to use with little ones.
The bar area is located in the lobby and after a long day with relatives, walking in and the bar would be packed with a group it was so loud and sometimes obnoxious, it was at times intimidating for a woman.Jillian at the front desk took care of every question and every drunken problem (wedding party across from us NOT the hotels problem) we had. She was so gracious and always had a smile....
Excellent 9.0
Cleanliness, and accommodations. My son also liked the pool. I liked the 'hydration station' in the lobby each day.
Restaurant was overpriced.
|Good - 234 reviews
The Days Inn Rockford is pleased to provide our guests with exceptional service and quality amenities at an affordable price. Whether you are here for Business or Leisure you can enjoy our Fitness Center, and Free High Speed Wireless Internet in all guest rooms, Free Cable and much more. After a restful night of sleep, you can look forward to starting your d...
Overall Rating - Good - 234 reviews
Excellent 9.0
room was as nice as most 2 star hotels I have been to. location was convenient for Ohare bus.
Excellent 10.0
Very clean for a 1 star hotel. Brick walls between rooms made it very quiet. Staff was helpful. Breakfast included eggs, waffles, yogurt and granola. The staff kept the coffee going all day. Comfortable mattress. Safe area, with lots of restaurant options


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Dolphins Pay For Booker T. Washington's Championship Rings
The Miami Dolphins presented a check to Booker T. Washington's national championship winning high school football team to help the squad purchase commemorative rings.
Obama Steals Show As Heat Honored At White House
It's been almost seven months in the making, but Tuesday the Miami Heat were once again honored by President Barack Obama at the White House for winning a second-straight NBA championship.
Ex-Nole Gets FSU SEC Championship Ring
The Florida State Seminoles went to the Orange Bowl last year after winning another Atlantic Coast Conference championship. However, if you check the championship ring for one former 'Nole, FSU won the Southeastern Conference championship.
Battier Celebrates Win With Trip To Denny's
The Miami Heat partied well into the wee hours of Friday morning after capturing a second straight NBA championship. But one of the heroes of the game had his own unique way of celebrating the championship.
FAMU Hazing Suspects Plead Not Guilty To New Charges
Former Florida A&M band members are pleading not guilty to increased charges of manslaughter related to the death of drum major Robert Champion.
FAMU Band Members Charged With Manslaughter In Hazing Death
New charges have been filed against ten former Florida A&M University band members accused in the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion.
Lawyer: FAMU Hazing Incident Settlement Offer "Insulting"
Florida A&M university is being blasted by the lawyer for a student who died during a band hazing incident who said a proposed settlement in his death is unacceptable.
Heat, Pat Riley Look Ahead To Free Agency
Pat Riley's approach to free agency has changed considerably since 2010, simply because the Miami Heat have nowhere near the same amount of money left to spend as they did during the coup that brought LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh together.
FAMU Board Approves Plan In Response To Band Member's Death
The Florida A&M University board of trustees approved a plan on a 9-1 vote Monday to deal with the aftermath of the death of Robert Champion in a hazing incident.
Autopsy: FAMU Student Had Extensive Bleeding In Shoulder
The Florida A&M student whose death last month has uncovered a culture of hazing with the school's famed marching band had extensive bleeding in his back and right shoulder.


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A licensed elementary school teacher in Missouri faces 25 counts of possession of child pornography.
Andrew Ray Jr. was charged in Johnson County Circuit Court. Investigators said they found graphic videos of prepubescent and teen girls and boys engaged in sexual act.
On Oct. 31, detectives served a search warrant at Ray's home as part of an investigation into the distribution of child pornography. According to court documents, officers found 207 files on Ray's computer and the "majority of those files had names consistent with child pornography."
Ray's resume listed numerous employers in education. According to court documents, his wife told investigators that he worked as a substitute elementary teacher at Holden Elementary School.
Court documents offer graphic and salacious details about the videos found on Ray's computer with at least one of the files alleged to be depicting incestuous acts.
Ray admitted to downloading the videos and watching them at night after his wife went to bed, according to court documents. The files were downloaded in 2012 and 2013.
He faces five to 15 years in prison on each count.
Copyright 2014 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.


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Just wanted to drop in that the ASU Men's Basketball team will be holding a scrimmage on October 20th at 10 am. It is free and open to the public and will be held at Wells Fargo Arena. It'll be the first opportunity that fans have to catch a glimpse of highly touted first year starting guard Jahii Carson.
In addition to Carson the Devils also have two new potential starters: Evan Gordon, the younger brother of New Orleans Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon, and former Hawaii Warrior and deep threat Bo Barnes. Should be an interesting season for the Devils as Herb Sendek's job may very well be in the balance. I believe that this team will be the cinderella of the Pac-12 and that Jahii Carson has the potential to earn First Team Pac-12 honors.


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Ah Yeah. Nice Vert. What is that? Stalefish? No, wait, just give me a second here. Method? No. Shit. Okay, I confess. I use to street skate, and I was scared of Vert, so I don't know my "air jargon". Help a nostalgic brother out. Damnit, what is that? FS nose grab w/ your back hand?
frontside Crail


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We had a planned hike with fellow members of VFTT to Mount Moriah. But, after reading a trail report in which a group of hikers had lost the trail at 2500feet in deep snow, we cancelled that hike and just the two of us settled for Cathedral Ledge.
We bare booted the auto road to the fenced in viewpoint near the summit.
For minimal effort we had great views of:
Mount Washington Valley
Cathedral Ledge
Ski area of Cranmore
North Moat with Red Ridge
White Ledge
Afterwards we drove over to the Northern trailhead of the Moats to check out the condition of the trail for a possible hike tomorrow.
We walked to Diana?s Bath
Where we saw this frozen sculpture.


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Capitol Visitors Center Update
In an oversight hearing the witnesses testified about the progress of the construction of the new U.S. Capitol Visitors Center.
People in this video
- Ayers, Stephen T. Architect of the Capitol (Acting) Office of the Architect of the Capitol
- Dorn, Terrell Director Government Accountability Office->Physical Infrastructure Issues
- Udall, Mark U.S. Representative [D] Colorado
- Ungar, Bernard Project Executive U.S. Capitol->Visitor Center
- Honda, Michael "Mike" U.S. Representative [D] California
- McCollum, Betty U.S. Representative [D] Minnesota
- Wamp, Zachary "Zach" U.S. Representative [R] Tennessee
- Wasserman Schultz, Debbie U.S. Representative [D] Florida
Hosting Organization
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Witnesses testified on the progress of the construction of the Capitol Visitor Center. Topics included progress…
Capitol Visitor Center
The Architect of the Capitol and others testified about the progress of construction on the Capitol Visitor…
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Witnesses testified about progress towards the completion of construction of the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center, the…


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The New Republic ran a delightful little piece last month about the buzzword "disruptive." Author Judith Shevitz argues that the inventor of the term "disruptive innovation," which originally applied to the tech industry, has let it spin out of control, so that it's being applied to areas like education and public health. This trend, she says, is "a category error" because "[n]ot all civil services need to be hyper-efficient and bargain-basement and in a state of permanent revolution, especially when the private entities tasked with disrupting government operate largely outside public view."
I think her point is well taken, but I particularly enjoyed the story art, which mocks vacuous buzzwords generally. This got me thinking about some of the buzzwords I'm guilty of using. Of course, first and foremost is the title of this blog, as "data-driven" is ill-defined jargon. I decided to plot a few terms using Google's ngram, which charts how often terms appear in Google Books over time (click the hypertext to see a clear version of the chart below).
There's no real conclusion to draw here, but I thought the information was interesting regardless. Not suprisely, terms like data-driven, public-private, and civic engagement have increased dramatically in use in recent years. Intriguingly, "urban renewal" has been surpassed in use by "e-government."