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No matter how you like to shop, you can do it at the Apple Retail Store. Test-drive any Apple product. Get all your questions answered by a knowledgeable Specialist. Or browse and buy on your own. And when you purchase a new Apple product, we can even set it up for you before you leave the store.
Our Specialists know Apple products better than anyone, so if you need advice or want someone to guide you through a test drive, just ask us. We'll take the time to answer all your questions. And because we don't work on commission, we won't try to sell you something you don't want. After you buy, we'll even get your Apple product set up. We'll show you its key features, transfer your contacts, get you started with iCloud, and more — before you leave the store. Learn more about Personal Setup
Express Shopping is the fastest way to get your new Apple products. If you know exactly what you want when you come into the Apple Retail Store, just look for the Express Shopping sign and make your purchase. You can be in and out right away, and we'll email your receipt immediately.
With the Apple Store app for iPhone and iPod touch, you can make Genius Bar and One to One reservations and sign up for workshops and events when you're on the go. And when you're at the Apple Retail Store, you can use the app to request a Specialist and check in for your reservations. You can also buy products from the app and have them shipped to your home.
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When you're at the Apple Retail Store, you can purchase select accessories right from the Apple Store app on your iPhone. Just scan the barcode and complete your transaction using the app's EasyPay feature. You'll be in and out in minutes.
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Your favorite non-touchscreen phone design?
Sometimes I miss the days of phones before the modern smartphone simply because they came in all kinds of wildly varied designs. They were willing to take risks with case designs before they all became a basic rectangle with a screen in the middle. My favorite phone was the Motorola ROKR Z6. It seemed like a natural progression of the RAZR and had decent MP3 capabilities.
via www.extragsm.com
What was your favorite?

subset: commoncrawl


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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Montee Ball ran for a career-high 247 yards and scored three touchdowns to help Wisconsin beat Purdue 38-14 on Saturday afternoon.
James White added 124 yards rushing for the Badgers (5-2, 2-1 Big Ten), who outgained Purdue 645 yards to 252. The Badgers pounded out 467 yards rushing in the rain.
Ball moved past Texas Tech's Taurean Henderson and now is alone in third place in NCAA history with 72 total career touchdowns.
Akeem Hunt ran for 85 yards and a touchdown for Purdue. The Boilermakers (3-3, 0-2), who were coming off a 44-13 loss to Michigan, travel to Ohio State next week.
The win gives Wisconsin a favorable position in the Big Ten's Leaders Division, especially since Ohio State and Penn State cannot qualify for the conference title game because of NCAA rules violations.
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We could go over the reasons, the accusations, the missteps and even the painful truths of why this season, which when the New Year rang down was looking so bright, now stands as close to a utter and complete rout as hockey allows. But I've carried those arguments around to banter with other fans of the game who ask me about my self destructing love of my life. I come home to witness massacres as the Bruins and Flyers inflict. The little painful knives teams like Carolina leave in our stomachs. I don't even watch the highlights. I read the reports of horrors from recaps left on this website like a French general in 1940. If I want to hear a play by play of sadness, I read the comments of my fellow fans who beared witness to the moment by moment unfolding of the flower of pain each game seems to be.
The only thing which seems to be the positive about this season is that it will soon be over. However the truth is, eight long years stand between a season I haven't echoed that sentiment. Playing for a draft pick would have been a legitimate excuse five years ago. Now it feels like we've ran only a treadmill to realize we expended energy without moving. I know Burke will spin the situation and blow smoke to his benefit so far as he can. He's a salesman, and at this point he's selling a load of his own Grade A. I'd argue the worst thing we can suffer from is hubris in this life. It is impossible to fill a cup which is already full. Once you believe you've got the answers, you'll never have the possibility of learning or growth. I don't want to say Burke is the sole reason for why we are here, but I'd argue he may be the one impediment to us moving from here. He's too focused on destroying criticism of his methods and resistant to the idea that errors made can be admitted without failure being the result. Maybe he can change, and maybe he will. I hope I eat my words this time.
I was enamoured with the man when he came here. My exact exclamation was: The saviour has arrived. However we should be cautious of those elevated to deities. The gods were capricious and egotistical creatures. Prone to madness, hubris and vengeance as common emotions. We'd be best to hold our hearts for heroes. Those who speak through action, and often suffer the same dark nights of the spirit, full of questions as we mere mortals.
I hope Brian Burke realizes we don't want a salesman as GM, or a perfect image of hockey perfection in his acts and choices. We want to see a banner ascending, with that sacred symbol we all worship emblazoned on it like a blue and white sunrise. Heralding a victory which we've wept over and wanted so many times. How we earn that battle flag, who leads and who follows, who charges and who defends, we don't care. The Toronto Maple Leafs, the ideal they represent, the emotions they carry for each of us is bigger than any one man. All that matters in the end is the victory.
And for a man to swallow his pride and create something better, if that's how it begins, show me that man by being that man. Earn this trust we place in you, tell your players when they put on that jersey it's not just another rag. It's as close to wearing the clothing of a hero as they can get. They carry hopes and dreams with them. And if they forget that, if they forget the magic they can summon they forget what it means to be a human being capable of being so much more. To become a hero, an immortal.
This season is over. We stand at the bottom of the hole. I want you to know I still believe. Contrary to my better thinking, I'll share with you another part of that email to my father that tastes like ashes. May it sustain your light in the dark places you may go.
I have always known how the team would be when its moment came round again, call it a premonition of their energy from myself watching the twelfth be revealed, knowing I can die happy with a perfect vision to grace my eyes. They will not be the fastest, nor the strongest, skill may not be their power on all nights nor domination their chosen path. Often they will be outmatched, the paper tigers will roar and blow them away every day, yet they will prove those who have nothing to lose can win everything and they'll have one weapon to which their opponents find constantly wielded against them: the will to win and persevere against all odds. A pure decision made in the heart of pain and struggle to say to defeat: not today. The team will not believe themselves to be a team graced by any destiny, in fact they'll be accused of thwarting or challenging it, an accusation they will wear as a badge of honour. The team will be infused with a different belief: There is no destiny, there is only what is earned by those willing to leave nothing to fate, and if required to sacrifice for what is desired.


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Caper On Always
Keipron Orlwaise
By Jeremy Austin
Paintings, illustrations, some t-shirts and other capers by Jeremy Austin.
About the Author
Publish Date June 28, 2010
Dimensions Standard Portrait 40 pgs
Standard Paper
Category Arts & Photography
Tags graphic design, paste ups, painting, illustration, stencils, design, t-shirts, stickers, screenprinting, skateboards
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Start your own book today from US $3.99.
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(photo credit: Shutterstock)
Have you ever been in a situation where you were FRIENDS with a guy you were really into...but you weren't sure if he wanted to "cross the line." Ugh...there's nothing more frustrating than being stuck in the "friend zone" when you want so much MORE.
According to The Stir, here are 10 THINGS GUYS SAY WHEN THEY WANT TO BE MORE THAN FRIENDS:
1. You really get me. Even guys want someone who seems to truly understand them. That's not always easy to find.
2. I loved that dress you wore yesterday. Men don't pay attention to our fashion sense unless it really makes an impact. The fact that he is still thinking about it is a sign he can't get you out of his mind.
3. Another girl would have been upset and totally overreacted to that. The fact that you can take a joke is clearly not lost on him. He loves the fact you have a good sense of humor.
4. I wish my girlfriend were more like you. That's the green light to make a move once he is single.
5. He locks eyes with you. Sometimes a look says more than actual words. If he holds your gaze when you talk to him, then he likes you. Really likes you.


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Sigh of Relief
I'm back home from Chicago.
Four days is a long trip from home!
I am sooo tired. And exhausted. O-D-'d on scrapbooking this past week. Almost want to lock the door to my scrap room – but not quite. :)
Felt so good to hear feedback on the paper in person.
Met SO many nice people.
Chicago is an AMAZING and beautiful city. Went on a tour of the city today. LOVED it. All ready to go back in an instant. :)
So many more things to say and pictures to be posted…but I'll leave you with one of my favorite show samples by Sharon Laakkonen using the Art Box line. : Zany Girls.
So funky and fun and cool.
so glad you had a great time!
can't wait to see the pics


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This is the second installment of this series. Last predicted a Broncos victory over the Chiefs by a score of 27-17. I also simmed that game five times and came up with 2 Broncos' victories and 2 Chiefs' wins. Reality played out fairly similarly to the game I played. I was off on margin of victory by three points. Not bad.
Follow me after the jump to see what Madden has to say about this week.Ladies and gentlemen of MHR, Madden says it is going to be a good week in Bronco country. First I will give results and stats from the game I played, then I will do a section on the sims I ran. Here we go
Final Score: Denver 35, New York 7
This game started off with a bang. Denver kicked off and Jonathan Wilhite forced a fumble on the runback which Cassius Vaughn picked up and returned for a touchdown. After the ensuing kickoff, Sanchez threw a pick-six to Chris Harris on the third play of the drive. It was 14-0 before Tebow & Co. ever stepped on the field, and Denver never looked back.
Relevant stats:
Passing: Den. T. Tebow - 12/16, 117 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT
N.Y. M. Sanchez - 13/26, 216 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Den. W. McGahee - 18 runs, 79 YDS, 1 TD
L. Ball - 2 runs, 7 YDS
T. Tebow - 9 runs, 92 YDS
N.Y. S. Greene - 17 runs, 104 YDS
M. Sanchez - 2 runs, 8 YDS
Receiving: Den. D. Fells - 4 REC, 53 YDS, 1 TD
E. Decker - 3 REC, 27 YDS, 1 TD
N.Y. D. Keller - 4 REC, 124 YDS
S. Holmes - 2 REC, 27 YDS, 1 TD
Defense: Den. E. Dumervil - 4 TCKL, 1 SACK
V. Miller - 2 TCKL, 1 SACK
C. Harris - 1 TCKL, 1 INT, 1 TD
N.Y. D. Revis - 4 TCKL, 1 INT, 1 SACK
Special Teams: Den. J. Wilhite - 1 FF
C. Vaughn - 1 FUMR, 1 TD
N.Y. There was nothing special about the Jets' special teams.
Sims results:
Here is where it gets interesting. For some reason I cannot fathom, Madden seems to really like Denver in this matchup. I simmed the game five times to get a reasonable sample size and got the following results.
Denver 5-0
Sim 1 - Denver 31, New York 7
Sim 2 - Denver 35, New York 0
Sim 3 - Denver 22, New York 14
Sim 4 - Denver 14, New York 3
Sim 5 - Denver 27, New York 21
I can tell you why the game I played through was a blow out. Touchdowns on defense and special teams to start the game put New York out of their game plan early and made them one dimensional. Denver's pass rush ate them up. But I have no idea what happened in the sims to get those results. Here is hoping the Madden magic comes through for us and that the boys on the field can match these results. GO BRONCOS!!


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23-3-1 welterweight Jon Fitch hasn't fought since February but is itching to get back in the cage to compete and has finally been cleared by his doctor to do so after an extended absence due to an injured shoulder.
Fitch recently updated the world on his improved status through Twitter where he wrote, "Started training like I'm in a fight camp this week. If anyone gets hurt I'll be ready."
The proud Purdue Boilermaker forced to idly sit by while AKA teammate Josh Koscheck was recently selected to fill in for Diego Sanchez against Matt Hughes when "The Dream" went down with a broken hand and a swap of his peers in co-headlining action at UFC 137.
Fitch was last seen going to a Draw with B.J. Penn where he dominated the fight at times. He holds past wins over Sanchez, Ben Saunders, and Thiago Alves.
MMATraining Take: I'm not sure what bouts would make sense for Fitch as a replacement other than Martin Kampmann vs. Rick Story at UFC 139. A fight against either would be entertaining for sure. In fact, the UFC should just book him for the November event anyways since it's in San Jose and it would either prepare him for filling in against Story/Kampmann or get him back on track for one more well-deserved title-shot.
[...] Kickboxing Academy's Jon Fitch recently let the world know he was healthy again and would step in to replace one of his injured [...]
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts on IA. As a technical person getting my start in application development, and eventually architecture - I've found it difficult to describe what I do so naturally - IA. Your post has helped me with that conversation.
Thanks Steven. Your comment serves as a good reminder to those of us within the information architecture and user experience communities that most of the world has yet to discover IA.
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The Democratic committee will hold a nomination meeting this weekend in Poplar Bluff to choose a candidate to run in a June 4th special election for the 8th Congressional District. The three possible nominees whose names have been released by committee members or the candidates themselves include Barry Aycock, a Parma businessman and farmer; state Rep. Linda Black, who represents the 117th House district that covers St. Francois County; and Todd Mahn, a De Soto businessman who briefly ran as a Democrat in the 8th district last summer. Cape County Democratic Committee Chairman Mike Masterson tells KZIM-KSIM their group has chosen to back Aycock for his business and agriculture experience and the 8th District Committee meeting will be at 4pm on Sunday, January 27th in Poplar Bluff. At that time, they will hear from the candidates and make their choice to nominate for the election. U.S. Representative JoAnn Emerson's last day in office was Tuesday, she resigned to take the position of president and CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.
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The films of fall to give us something to talk about other than special effects and action setpieces and how on Earth can Batman possibly fight Superman. There will still be plenty of blockbusters, including another Thor movie and the second installment in the Hunger Games franchise.
But there are also new movies from Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips), Ridley Scott (The Counselor), Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street), Alexander Payne (Nebraska), Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity) and Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), along with adaptations of popular novels and celebrated smaller pictures that have earned praise on the festival circuit.
Here are some of the 50-plus movies coming before Thanksgiving.
Baggage Claim: Intent on getting engaged before her younger sisters wedding, a flight attendant (Paula Patton) gives herself a month to find her perfect man. Djimon Hounsou, Adam Brody, Taye Diggs and Derek Luke are among the eligible bachelors.
Blue Caprice: Isaiah Washington and Tequan Richmond star as the deranged team who embarked on the Beltway sniper attacks that left 10 people dead in October 2002.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2: Bill Hader returns as the voice of the hapless inventor who came up with a machine that made food rain down from the sky. Now he must figure out how to deal with the voracious animals that mutated as a result of 24/7 chow. Watch movie trailer.
Don Jon: Joseph Gordon-Levitt wrote, directed and stars in this comedy about a promiscuous online-porn addict who falls for an innocent woman (Scarlett Johansson) weaned on happily-ever-after Hollywood romances and fairy tales.
Enough Said: Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars for writer-director Nicole Holofcener (Please Give, Walking and Talking) as a divorced single mom who realizes the man (James Gandolfini) she has started to fall for is the ex-husband of her new best friend (Catherine Keener).
Metallica Through the Never: Shot in IMAX 3-D, this thriller centers on a Metallica roadie (Dane DeHaan) who is sent on an increasingly surreal mission during one of the bands concerts.
Rush: Ron Howard directs this no-nonsense, R-rated look at the legendary rivalry between Grand Prix drivers James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) during the 1970s, on and off the race track. Watch movie trailer.
Concussion: After getting conked on the head by her sons baseball, a married lesbian housewife (Robin Weigert) suffers a mid-life crisis, breaks free from the shackles of domestic life and becomes a high-end escort. No, I am not making this up.
Gravity: The early word on director Alfonso Cuarons sci-fi thriller about two astronauts (Sandra Bullock and George Clooney) sent floating through space after an accident, tethered only to each other, is that the movie is good enough to stand alongside 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Runner Runner: A broke grad student (Justin Timberlake) travels to Costa Rica to confront the online gambling tycoon (Ben Affleck) who may have conned him out of his money.
All the Boys Love Mandy Lane: Seven years after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, this slasher flick finally gets a release. Amber Heard stars as one of the teenagers having a party at a remote farm who start getting picked off one by one.
Captain Phillips: Paul Shakycam Greengrass (The Bourne Ultimatum, Green Zone) directs this fact-based thriller about the 2009 hijacking of an American cargo ship by Somali pirates. Tom Hanks stars as the captain trying to keep his cool under great duress. Watch movie trailer.
Escape from Tomorrow: Writer-director Randy Moores already-legendary thriller, shot on location at Walt Disney World without permission, follows a husband and father (Roy Abramson) who learns he has been fired during the final day of a family vacation at the Magic Kingdom.
Machete Kills: Mel Gibson, Lady Gaga, Antonio Banderas and Sofia Vergara join the self-conscious B-movie fun in the second installment of writer-director Robert Rodriguezs campy action series about a machete-wielding Mexican government agent (Danny Trejo).
Romeo & Juliet: Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) and Douglas Booth play the star-crossed lovers in screenwriter Julian (Downton Abbey) Fellowes adaptation of one of Shakespeares play.
12 Years a Slave: Shame director Steve McQueen returns with another artful provocation, this one based on the true story of a free black man (Chiwetel Ejiofor) from upstate New York in the pre-Civil War era who was abducted and sold into slavery. Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti and Brad Pitt co-star. Watch movie trailer.
Carrie: Chloe Grace Moretz takes over for Sissy Spacek as the bullied teen with telekinetic powers in this reimagining of the Stephen King novel. Director Kimberly Pierce (Boys Dont Cry) reportedly consulted with Brian De Palma, who made the 1976 original, before shooting began. Julianne Moore co-stars as Carries fanatically religious mother.
Escape Plan: Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzegger co-star for the first time (no, The Expendables movies dont count) as convicts who attempt a daring prison break. Directed by Mikael Hafstrom (1408, Evil).
The Fifth Estate: Having finally put the Twilight saga to rest, director Bill Condon (Kinsey, Showgirls) gets back to real movies with this drama about the price WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his partner Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Daniel Bruhl) paid after they starting posting classified documents online.
The Counselor: Novelist Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men, The Road, Blood Meridian) makes his screenwriting debut with this thriller about a lawyer (Michael Fassbender) who dabbles in the drug trade and quickly finds out you cant just dabble in the drug trade. Ridley Scott directs the falls most formidable cast, which includes Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz, Bruno Ganz and Dean Norris.
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa: Johnny Knoxville stars as an 86-year-old grandfather who takes his 8-year-old grandson on a cross-country trip, stopping at every inappropriate spot possible (including Charlotte, strip joints, funeral homes and biker bars). Shot largely with hidden cameras using real people, a la Borat.
Enders Game: Filmmaker Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) adapts Orson Scott Cards popular sci-fi novel about an unusually gifted boy (Asa Butterfield) drafted into military school by two officers (Ben Kingsley and Harrison Ford) who are helping defend Earth against an alien invasion.
Last Vegas: Four lifelong sixtysomething friends (Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline) head to Las Vegas for a bachelor party. You know, like The Hangover but with the cast of Cocoon.
Man of Tai Chi: Keanu Reeves makes his directorial debut with this chopsocky adventure about a young martial artist (Tiger Hu Chen) who joins an underground fight club.
Dallas Buyers Club: Even though the film hasnt yet been screened, Matthew McConaughey is already expected to land a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance as the cowboy Ron Woodroof, who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1985 and given 30 days to live, then resorted to tracking down alternative and illegal medical treatments from around the world. Jennifer Garner and Jared Leto co-star for director Jean-Marc Vallee (C.R.A.Z.Y., Cafe de Flore), who is ready to break out of the art-house ghetto. Watch movie trailer.
Thor: The Dark World: Alan Taylor, who directed some of the most memorable episodes of Game of Thrones, Mad Men, The Sopranos and Deadwood, makes his feature film debut with this second movie about the adventures of the hammer-wielding God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth). Natalie Portman, Idris Elba and Anthony Hopkins all return. So does the dastardly Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Watch movie trailer.
Nov. 15
The Best Man Holiday: Old flames, ancient rivalries and buried hatchets all rise to the surface when a group of friends (including Terrence Howard, Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Regina Hall and Morris Chestnut) reunites over the Christmas holiday for the first time in 15 years in this sequel to 1999s The Best Man. Watch movie trailer.
The Book Thief: In World War II Germany, a little girl (Sophie Nelisse) escapes the horrors of the real world by stealing books and sharing them with other people. Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson play her adoptive parents in this adaptation of Markus Zusaks novel.
Kill Your Darlings: Before they became stars of the Beat generation, the young Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe), Jack Kerouac (Jack Huston) and William Burroughs (Ben Foster) were brought together in 1944 after being implicated in a murder by a classmate (Dane DeHaan). Elizabeth Olsen, Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Jason Leigh round out the cast for first-time director John Krokidas.
The Wolf of Wall Street: Leonardo DiCaprio teams up with director Martin Scorsese for the fifth time (after Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed and Shutter Island) for this adaptation of Jordan Belforts memoir about his meteoric rise and inevitable fall as a corrupt stockbroker. Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill, Jean Dujardin and Spike Jonze co-star.
Nov. 22
Delivery Man: Writer-director Ken Scott remakes his own French-Canadian 2011 comedy Starbuck. Vince Vaughn plays the underachiever who discovers his donations at sperm banks over a 20-year period made him the father of 533 children, many of whom suddenly want to meet him.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: After winning the 74th Hunger Games competition, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) go on a victory tour that inadvertently sparks a rebellion. Director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Constantine) takes over from Gary Ross, who managed the seemingly impossible by turning the first novel into a crushingly dull film. Watch movie trailer.
Nebraska: Director Alexander Payne (The Descendants, Election, Sideways) gets out of his comfort zone by collaborating with a new screenwriter (Bob Nelson) and using black-and-white film to tell the story of a cranky old drunk (Bruce Dern) who goes on a road trip with his reluctant son (Will Forte) from Billings to Lincoln to claim a million-dollar magazine sweepstakes prize.
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St. Louis Rams News
St. Louis Rams news continually updated from thousands of sources around the net.
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Crown Candy, Sugarfire, Strange Donuts - at the Rams game?
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Eskenazi Health Center and Local Community Team Up to Offer Free Health Screenings
If the S.T.O.P. Program sounds like a blast, answer these questions to see if S.T.O.P. is right for you and your family:
If you answered "YES" to all of these questions, you and your child may be ready to S.T.O.P. and start living a healthier lifestyle!
The S.T.O.P. program meets at Eskenazi Health Center Forest Manor and Eskenazi Health Center Pecar (Spanish-speaking coaches available).
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"Tony Dungy†Proves Robots Can Be Successful Coaches
"Tony Dungy†Proves Robots Can Be Successful Coaches
[img width=167 height=160]http://www.sportspickle.com/features/volume6/2007-0124-dungy.jpg[/img]The Indianapolis Colts' victory over the Patriots in Sunday's AFC Championship Game was not just a typical playoff victory. It also ushered in a new piece of NFL history as Indianapolis head coach "Tony Dungy†became the first robot to ever coach a team to a Super Bowl.
"This is a huge moment in the NFL and a huge moment of validation for the field of biorobotics,†said Peyton Manning. "I'm very happy for Tony. I just wish he had the human ability to feel and exhibit actual emotion so he could enjoy it, too.â€
Bioroid Model No. 2164b – or "Tony Dungy†as the highly advanced robot is better known – deflected the weight of the accomplishment and instead just focused on the upcoming game itself.
"Reaching the Super Bowl is important,†said Dungy. "But winning the Super Bowl is the goal. In fact, that is what I was programmed to achieve and meeting those objectives is my sole purpose here.â€
Colts' general manager Bill Polian says Dungy's success is proof he made the right decision in having the robot shipped to Indianapolis from Tampa in 2002.
"People said that when Tony was dismantled by the Buccaneers after the 2001 season that robots could never win a championship in the NFL – that their inability to be expressive did not fit well in what is a very emotional sport,†said Polian. "And while that is true – Tony most definitely is a vacant, emotionless droid, it's ability to sometimes elicit a human-like smile notwithstanding – its processor and operating system allows it to carry out tasks human coaches can't. Plus, it never sleeps. It is always on and working, except for its monthly cleaning and software upgrades. Purchasing and rebuilding Tony and bringing it to Indianapolis is one of the best decisions I've ever made.â€
Dr. Rasmi Usrah, the head of biorobotics at MIT who built Dungy, says he is confident the success of Model No. 2164b will soon cause every NFL team to have a robot head coach.
"A robot coach does not get rattled. Ever,†said Usrah. "It is impeccably organized. It does not need to analyze film after the game, because it has already recorded, digested and catalogued everything it saw while on the field. Its playbook included millions and millions of plays. It has all of the odds memorized for when and where to go for it on fourth down. It can instantly mimic any football move for the instructional benefit of its players, from the three-point stance to how to create separation from a defensive back. The list could go on and on and on. There is really no comparison between a human and robot coach. Yes, they can't show any emotion, but they can also call up any famous inspirational speech from history and say it word for word. Really, the only downfall is that if you dump Gatorade on them they can short out.â€
Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please. Mark Twain
Re: "Tony Dungy†Proves Robots Can Be Successful Coaches
Lmao that last paragraph kills me.I like Mr Robot Dungy tho and I hope he destroys daaaaaaaaaaaaa bears.
Theres NOTHING greater then a Florida Gator!
"I promise everyone this. When Childress is let go in two years I can honestly say this.
"I am not surprised"."-PurplePackerEater
Re: "Tony Dungy†Proves Robots Can Be Successful Coaches
LMAO.... I guess I would rather have a robot for a coach then instead of a human..
Re: "Tony Dungy†Proves Robots Can Be Successful Coaches
then all the bears need to do is send him a virus.woo out
just two corn cobs shy of a bushel
Re: "Tony Dungy†Proves Robots Can Be Successful Coaches
I never realized Dungy was a robot.
This is crazy!... But it all makes sense now.
Re: "Tony Dungy†Proves Robots Can Be Successful Coaches
Tony Dungy a robot?
Who knew!?
Funny stuff!Proud member of PP.O since April 5th, 2003!
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BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State swept Ohio Dominican in a women's and men's basketball double-header on Thursday night.
The FSU women beat Ohio Dominican 69-56 behind 26 points from Sarah DeShone. The win improves Ferris to 3-3 on the season and also gave first-year head coach Colleen Lamoreaux-Tate her first home win.
The Ferris State men topped Ohio Dominican 74-64 to improve to 3-3 on the season as well. The Bulldogs trailed by one at the half, but outscored OD 46-35 in the second half. Drew Lehman led the way with 20 points.


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DALLAS -- For the past few months, Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles has had to defend himself at just about every turn.
Lately, community leaders, activists, and even members of the business community have taken to expressing their concerns about the embattled superintendent through letters and e-mails.
The latest war of the written word comes through e-mails exchanged between Miles and former Trammel Crow CEO J. McDonald "Don" Williams. Both Miles and Williams copied several other individuals in their e-mails, including the DISD board of trustees, Miles' chief communications officer, and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings.
The first e-mail was sent by Williams to Miles on May 22. It was in response to a letter sent to him by Miles on May 5, asking that the two meet again for further discussion.
In that e-mail, Williams said:
"We have already had two private meetings, which, in my view, were unproductive. Based on those meetings, as well as numerous interviews and conversations with a representative cross-section of stakeholders both inside and outside the District, I am deeply concerned about your leadership and believe Dallas needs and deserves a broader conversation on how you are executing your "reform" agenda."
Attached to that e-mail is a "discussion paper" prepared by the Foundation for Community Empowerment. It's a non-profit group that Williams founded and chairs.
On May 25, Miles responded to Williams:
"I remain open to meeting with you to discuss concerns and ideas. Such a meeting might be particularly helpful as it would provide me an opportunity to correct many of the inaccuracies and misstatements in your document. However, I don't think we are serving the children of Dallas ISD, or the educators working hard on their behalf, to conduct a public letter writing campaign.
"We have thousands of great educators across our district; my goal is simply to ensure that each and every student within DISD has one guiding their future. On that I hope we can agree."
Then Tuesday, Williams fired back with another e-mail. He addressed the claims of inaccuracies by saying that Dallas ISD's lack of transparency in the district's "processes, methods, standards and data" make it difficult for his organization to analyze data.
"Much of our information was developed in interviews with parents, teachers and administrators," Williams wrote. "Hence, rather than receiving merely dismissive conclusions and labels, we would welcome specific evidence or data supporting corrections to our document."
Williams also said that he believes a public, rather than private, discussion of the issues within Dallas ISD better serves the community.
"So, rather than lowering the "amplitude" or avoiding a "public ... campaign," we believe a public dialogue vetting these issues is exactly the better community-based, and democratically useful, way to go about this," Williams wrote in the response (emphasis his).
He also took issue with the firing of Marian Willard, the former principal of Madison High School.
"As you know, we believe your firing of the current principal, Marian Willard, was both unwise and unjust," he wrote. "Our objectives are based on neither race nor job protection; rather, on her remarkable record of leadership and performance for students in our toughest socio-economic environment – comparing unfavorably to New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward."
Previously, letters both backing and criticizing Miles have been made public.
In April, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price sent letters to dozens of Dallas pastors urging them not to allow Miles to speak at their churches. Then on May 17, the Dallas Regional Chamber and Dallas Citizens Council sent a letter to the board of trustees saying they support the reforms Miles is pushing for the district. It was signed by dozens of prominent business and community leaders.
E-mail firstname.lastname@example.com


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You will need the latest version of Acrobat Reader in order to view and print the documents.You may download, view or print the entire publication:Complete Precedent (40 pages)You may also download, view or print each article:Table of Contents
Stuck in the Middle: The Sandwich Generationby Gary Toohey Increasing numbers of Americans are finding themselves "sandwiched" between taking care of their children and caring for an aging or disabled parent, creating enormous stress and raising fundamental financial, health, and emotional issues for everyone involved. But lawyers – many of whom are themselves members of this so-called "Sandwich Generation" – have the training, knowledge and experience to make this process better organized and less strenuous.
Law Practice ManagementBridging the Language Gap for Corporate Clientsby Lee Webb
Time ManagementTen Steps to Squeezing More Time Out of Your Dayby Natalie R. Kelly
The Executive Summary Protecting the Missouri Plan: A Model for the Nationby Sebrina A. Barrett
Writing It RightGeorge Orwell's Classic Essay on Writing "The Best Style 'Handbook'" for Lawyers and Judges (Part I)by Douglas E. Abrams
Ethics "You're Charging Me for Text Messages?" Communication Should Begin With Your Representation Agreement by Melody Nashan
Missouri Legal Triviaby Joseph Fred Benson
Make the connection ... Follow The Missouri Bar
Missouri Bar Asks Lawyers to Voluntarily Report Annual Pro Bono Hours
Receive the Journal of The Missouri Bar Electronically
Congratulations to the Newest Members of The Missouri Bar
Benefits of Bar Membership
When personal problems intrude, MOLAP can help.
Index to all issues of Precedent
Comments? Suggestions? Click here to contact us
Paid for by The Missouri Bar Sebrina Barrett, Executive Director PO Box 119 Jefferson City, MO 65102


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Don't let Auburn's acceptance rate of around 80% fool you -- you'll still need pretty strong grades and test scores to get in. In the scattergram above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the great majority of successful applicants had "B" or higher averages, SAT scores of about 1700 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 23 or higher. Higher numbers clearly improve your chances of getting an acceptance letter.
Note that there are some red dots (rejected students) hidden behind the green and blue -- a few students with grades and test scores that were on target for Auburn did not get in. Note also that several students were accepted with test scores and grades below the norm. This is largely because Auburn takes into consideration the rigor of your high school courses, not just your grades. A student who takes challenging AP, IB and Honors courses can get accepted with somewhat lower grades than a student whose academic courses are remedial.
To learn more about Auburn University, high school GPAs, SAT scores and ACT scores, these articles can help:
- Auburn University Admissions Profile
- What's a Good SAT Score?
- What's a Good ACT Score?
- What's Considered a Good Academic Record?
- What is a Weighted GPA?
- Lists Featuring Auburn University:


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|René Nyffenegger's collection of things on the web
René Nyffenegger on Oracle - Most wanted - Feedback
Diagnostic event errorstack
event='ora-error-number' trace name errorstack' event='ora-error-number' trace name errorstack level level-number'
The errorstack diagnostic event will write a trace file whenever the error indicated with ora-error-number occurs.
ora-error-number is the number only, without the ORA- part.
The highest level for errorstack is 3.


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News, sport and entertainment from Chorley and the surrounding villages
Review: Celebrity Big Brother Day 6, Channel 5 (From Chorley Citizen)
When news happens, text CIT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Review: Celebrity Big Brother Day 6, Channel 5
11:35am Tuesday 23rd August 2011 in TV By Hadassah Steinberg
AFTER getting off to a dramatic start, Celebrity Big Brother housemate Lucien Laviscount seemed to have a quiet day.
Despite his numerous romantic interests in the house including Amy Childs, Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff and his most recent crush Tara Reid, he appeared to copy fellow housemate Bobby Sabel's game and kept a low profile.
The day began with the promise of mischief as Lucien woke up next to Tara Reid and the housemates discovered he had caused chaos by mixing up the kitchen.
But Lucien then spent the rest of his time sitting pretty and observing everyone else.
As various groups are forming and the housemates are discovering their likes and dislikes, it seemed that Lucien stepped back to a more observational viewpoint.
However, despite Luciens' more reserved behaviour he still managed to find the time to admit he's rather taken with Tara Reid and have a few laughs with Kerry Katona.
And later in a brief exchange with Amy where she confessed that although she found Lucien attractive did not want a relationship, he rather coyly responded 'who said anything about a relationship?' So what is Lucien playing at?
Is he just a 19-year-old boy enjoying himself? Or is he using schoolboy tactics to play the women against each other?
Does Lucien actually fancy any of the women? Or just himself most of all?
Is Lucien game playing or just playing the game that is Big Brother?
Comments are closed on this article.


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Right now the Sharks stand pat at the Number 2 seed in the western conference holding a 1 point lead after a blowout loss to Anaheim and a shutout loss for Detroit. There is no doubt that most of you are upset at tonight's loss to Anaheim, and we should be for a myriad of reasons. I will not go into any of those reasons here because Jason and Matt will no doubt do a much better job anyway. However, what I am willing to discuss is our postseason.
For those of you unfamiliar with playoff scenarios, the Sharks clinched the Pacific Division on monday which means that we cannot enter the playoffs with a seed any lower than 3rd. Also Vancouver clinched the presidents trophy what seems like forever ago so there is no way the Sharks could enter the playoffs any higher than 2nd. For the past few days, if the Sharks had to enter the playoffs as the second or third seed I would honestly rather have the third seed; and here is why:
The way that the western conference has been totally log-jammed has led to a lot of desperate play by some of the fringe teams. Teams like Los Angeles or Phoenix have been in the middle of the standings playing some mediocre hockey and Detroit is playing its worst hockey of the year. However, teams that have been flirting with the 7th and 8th seed like Chicago, Calgary, Anaheim have been fighting hard and not doing too poorly doing so. Calgary is on a three game win streak. Chicago came back from a two goal deficit to win tonight. And Anaheim has won 8 of its last 11 sans Jonas Hiller and just spanked us tonight.
History has shown that the bottom seed teams are not to be taken lightly. The two teams that take the 7th and 8th seed this year will be dangerous because of how hard they will have fought to get there. They will be riding emotional highs and copious momentum into the playoffs. Two years ago, the Ducks went on something like a 10 game win streak to steal the 8th seed of the western conference and proceeded to eliminate us in the first round. I didn't mean to open up any old wounds but you see the point I am trying to get across. Vancouver, Detroit, and our Sharks better watch out for those bottom three teams this year. There hasn't been a whole lot separating the third seed from the 8th seed this year (7 points as of tonight, and only 2 points between the 4th and 8th seed!)
The seedings could look completely different in a few days which is why I put the word "might" in the title. All I know is that I would prefer to avoid teams like Anaheim, Chicago, and Calgary in the first round and would MUCH rather play teams like Los Angeles or Phoenix right now. Nashville is also quite scary right now the way they wrapped up the month of March. The seeds are deceiving my friends. There isn't much to separate the wheat from the chaff this year. Just no one go jumping off a bridge if we enter the playoffs as the third seed. Seeds might not mean as much this year as they used to be. It's going to be an exciting playoff for the western conference.
And in case you are curious, regardless of whether or are the 2nd or 3rd seed, the earliest we could play Vancouver is the western conference finals.
So my fellow finatics, which team scares you the most of our potential first round opponents?


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The Safe Families Program was the pilot program for CASTLE and continues to be greatly sought after by families seeking assistance with parenting strategies. The Safe Families Program employs trained professionals to provide free in-home services, aiding parents in developing child-rearing skills and building positive relationships with their children. The goal of the program is to help parents obtain the skills necessary to raise their children in a positive way, free from any type of abuse or neglect.
Motivated by the success of the Safe Families Program, CASTLE recently created a new program in its likeness, incorporating trained and supervised volunteers from the community. Volunteers mentor low-risk families in their homes and implement a similar curriculum to that of the Safe Families Program. Harnessing the efforts of volunteers, the Safe Families Volunteer Program is able to provide a larger number of families with more appropriate levels of service thereby preventing increasing incidences of abuse or neglect.
The Safe Families Volunteer Program appears to be following suit of its predecessor. Since the not so distant start in the summer of 2012, the volunteer program has already been able to provide positive parenting skills to over 30 families in an in-home setting. The program has extended its reach beyond the home and is now providing parenting assistance via a classroom setting throughout various locations made possible by a partnership with the local school board and Harvest Foods. Taking steps such as this, the volunteer program has allowed CASTLE to make an even greater impact in the community and has allowed volunteers to provide services to over 50 families.
Three families have already completed the in-home program successfully and several more are making great progress, nearing this achievement.
The Safe Families Volunteer Program is available for any parent seeking additional parenting techniques or hoping to improve their communication and overall relationship with their children. The program is also looking for volunteers who are interested in being trained to work with families. Volunteers will learn how to assist families in implementing new parenting techniques and provide them with necessary information and resources specific to their needs.
Those interested can contact Jessica Brinkerhoff, Parent Educator Volunteer Supervisor at 772-567-5700.
Philanthropy is a life style for many because giving to others is often times taught at home. We teach our children to support programs in school, collect pennies for patients, and buy Girl Scout cookies for a good cause. Children collect clothing for those who need jackets, and donate back packs for classmates in school who are in need.
Read more...
Page 1 of 2
Need immediate assistance or have you witnessed child abuse? (800) 96 - ABUSE(800) 962-2873
St. Lucie County (Main Office)
3525 W. Midway Road,
Fort Pierce, FL, 34981, USA
Tel: (772) 465-6011
CASTLE is much more than an awareness program...Our mission is to STOP child abuse before it even happens! We accomplish this by empowering Parents with the proper tools and education necessary to be successful, loving and nurturing Parents. We're making a difference one family at a time.


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Player & Remady - Disappear 2014 (Cortez Remix) (Pompeczkacom)
Eli, Oana Radu feat Dr Mako - Tu zuzumnet
Enrique Iglesias feat Sean Paul - Bailando (English Version
Lidia Buble feat Adrian Sina - Noi Simtim La Fel (Zippy) by RadioFLyws
Dj Sava Feat Raluka Connect-R - Aer Original Radio Edit
Marius Moga - Pe Barba Mea [ @ NvpMuzic & wWwVitanClubNet ]
Smiley - Nemuritori [ @ NvpMuzic & wWwVitanClubNet ]
Title: FLORIN SALAM - CU TINE AS FUGI IN LUME [LIVE LA CASA KADOR] by Alecs'x @ muz
F!O-E(RG14) - a song that you can just download our search mp3 absolutely free. It is located on the hosting Zippyshare. Mp3 is already listed 84 times and downloaded 5 times.
Remember that our mp3 search has a lot more of this type of music. Simply go to the search box or przejrzyć list of songs next. Artist of this mp3 is - FLORIN SALAM
There you will find club music - electro, progressive and radio hits. Not limited to one genre. This gives us a huge advantage because you can find almost anything that interests you.


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SuBLime Manga Titles on Sale for Valentine's DayPosted in Manga News on February 14, 2014 by Johanna
From now through February 20, to celebrate Valentine's Day, all SuBLime digital manga titles are discounted $1 at the company website.
That makes most of them $4.99 instead of $5.99. (Prices at the site right now reflect the discount.) The digital purchases come with both a downloadable PDF and the ability to view the manga online. SuBLime carries yaoi and boys' love titles (thus the intercaps) that are generally for mature readers.Similar Posts: SuBLime Manga, Viz's Yaoi Line, Offers First Titles for Sale § SuBLime Manga Republishing Yaoi Titles From Defunct Publishers § Viz Announces SuBLime Yaoi Manga Line § Yaoi Manga Moveable Feast Now Ongoing! § Manga Out Loud: Tezuka for Adults


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Spend the day exploring different snorkel sites accessible by boat only.
Experience everything Ningaloo Reef has to offer by joining our day tour we visit two different dive sites. Light refreshments, lunch and snacks included
Spend the whole day on the water exploring the Islands or visiting the outer reef on the west side.
Jump on our bus and travel to Yardie Creek gorge and the many snorkeling bays on the west side.
Have a Whale of a time! Sit back for a joyride on a super fast boat as we travel to our snorkel site on the Ningaloo Reef then zoom out to view the Whales from a purpose built vessel.


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Wildfire: Are You and Your Home Prepared?
Wildfire: Are You and Your Home Prepared?
Understanding Wildfire
Your Building Site
Improving the Firesafety of Your Structures
Firewise Landscaping to Improve Fire Safety
A Home Check-up
Download A Printable Home Wildfire Safety Assessment Form Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact
Introduction to the Wildfire ProblemAfter the last ice age, fire became the main natural cause of change in the Great Lakes region of North America. Fire has affected the location and ages of plants in the region and promoted tree species of white, red, and jack pine.
Before Europeans settled here, the intervals of natural fires ranged from 20 years in Northwest Minnesota and Ontario to 100 years in the pine forests of Wisconsin, Michigan, and central Ontario. Settlers first came to the region largely because of the abundant forests. This development upset the natural balance of fire by changing the landscape and increasing the number of fire starts.
The results of many of these fire have been huge losses of life and great damage. Some examples are:
- Wisconsin and Michigan - The Peshtigo fire on October 8, 1871, claimed 1,500 lives and burned 2,500,000 acres (810,000 hectares);
- Michigan - in 1881, a great fire took 169 lives and burned 1 million acres (400,000 hectares);
- Minnesota - The Hinckley fire on September 1, 1894, burned 1 million acres (400,000 hectares) and claimed 418 lives;
- Ontario - On July 29, 1916, the Matheson fire burned 500,000 acres (200,000 hectares) and 250 lives were lost.
Why are there more wildfires with more property losses than ever? Why is it likely that there will be even more fires in the region? First, reforestation has resulted in the return of pine forests, which are good conductors for fire. Second, more people are moving to rural and forest areas to get away from crowed cities. More people are also coming for recreation.
We can live in harmony with nature but we have to know how to prevent fire. Unlike the early settlers, we can easily find out about the hazards and risks of fire and how to prevent fire disasters.
This booklet is for permanent and seasonal residents of rural and forest areas, and for anyone planning to move into such an area. It explains how you can prepare yourself and your home and how to make sure fires don't start.
Causes of Wildfire
Three-quarters of wildfires are caused by people being careless. These fires can be prevented. One-third of them are caused by recreationists such as campers, anglers, and hunters. In the Great Lakes region, more than one-quarter, or 1,500 fires annually, are caused from careless burning by residents, and children playing with matches.
Fires in rural and forest areas are hard to control. Homes are usually not close to fire stations, and tend to be far apart and hard to reach. Because there are fewer firefighters than in cities, when some are sent to protect homes and families from wildfire, the wildfire may spread more quickly. Properties that have not been fire-protected add to the fire hazard.
What can be done about it?
Adding more firefighting resources is not the answer. The real solution is up to you. As a resident, you have to know the hazards and the risks and learn what you have to do to protect yourself and your property. Ask for help from your local fire agency.
When you do everything you can to reduce the risk of fire, you help to reduce wildfires. The cooperation of everyone is needed.
Wisconsin's Peshtigo Fire
October 8, 1871 was the date of one of Wisconsin's most serious fires in terms of human lives lost. Known as the Peshtigo fire, it took more than 800 lives in Wisconsin and burned more than 1.5 million acres (622,000 hectares). In one hour, a village of 2,000 people was completely wiped out.
In 1977, the Saratoga fire on the outskirts of Wisconsin Rapids destroyed 90 buildings and burned more than 6,159 acres (2,490 hectares). Many people had to be evacuated.
Over the years, the number of large wildland/urban fires (those fires than occur in areas where homes, towns, or cities and wooded lands meet), building losses, and fire protection problems have increased. The fires have ranged from 2 acres (0.8 hectares) to the 17,590 acre (7,120 hectare) Brockway fire near Black River Falls. The Brockway fire threatened two entire communities.
The second home, or "place up North" has become an enjoyable source of family recreation. It has also become a fire protection problem for local fire protection agencies in Wisconsin. Many homes fall short of current fire-safety standards. Fire protection agencies are cooperating with each other to solve this problem by educating property owners through individual and group meetings, inspections, video tapes and self-help aids such as this booklet.
The solution to the wildland/urban fire problem is complex and will require the cooperation of everyone concerned.
Michigan's Stephan Bridge Road Fire
It was May 8, 1990, near Grayling in North-central Michigan. In a little over four hours, the Stephan Bridge Road fire travelled 8 miles (13 kilometers), burning 5,916 acres (2,390 hectares) and destroying 76 homes, 125 other buildings, and 37 vehicles. More than 300 people had to be evacuated. Losses totalled over $5.5 million for property, and $500,000 in state-owned timber resources.
The fire was detected within minutes after it started and fire crews were close by. Despite this, it could not be stopped. The first firefighters at the scene said that the fire was already moving through the tree-tops and several buildings were on fire.
- A number of measures would have stopped the spread of the flames:
- allowing for more space between buildings and vegetation that could catch fire;
- keeping firewood away from buildings;
- keeping porches and decks (both on top and below) and roofs clear of dead leaves, needles, and twigs;
- having private roads and driveways that are fairly straight and wide so firefighters can get to the buildings and leave in a hurry when there is danger.
Fortunately, wood shake roofs aren't usually used in this area. Asphalt-surfaced roofs saved many homes because the burning embers falling on them usually went out. However, some homes with asphalt surfacing on their roofs were not protected because dead needles and twigs had not been cleared from the roofs.
A report on the fire from the National Fire Protection Association noted that a large number of area residents were unaware of or ignored fire hazards. Many residents had not protected their homes against fires, even though the area had a history of many large fires.
One resident said that he had been told for years that the surrounding jack pines could be a major element in supporting a destructive forest fire. However, he had never believed it. His home was destroyed.
Minnesota's Huntersville Fire
At 11:28 a.m. on September 7, 1976, smoke was spotted 3 miles (5 kilometers) southeast of the Nimrod fire tower. The forester in-charge headed for the fire and notified a 20-person stationed nearby. By two-way radio, he asked for helicopter and water bomber drops.
The crew was only able to work on the rear and sides of the fire since there was not way the front could be stopped. By 1:00 p.m. the fire was one mile (1.6 kilometers) long and one-quarter mile (.4 kilometers) wide and burning faster. It raced through slash (a litter of dry twigs and branches left after logging) and later jumped a road and moved into dense stands of jack pine. During the next four hours, the fire raced another 8 miles (13 kilometers).
In the afternoon, the wind shifted from the southwest to the northwest. The fire's direction and strength changed, spreading to a 9-mile (14.5 kilometer) wide front.
Luckily, by night the wind slowed, the temperature dropped, and light rain began to fall. The giant fire was then brought under control.
The Huntersville fire consumed more than 23,000 acres (9,310 hectares) and cost almost $1 million in firefighting resources. Six occupied and several unoccupied cabins, a store, and a few abandoned buildings were destroyed. Most unburned homes were saved because they had enough clearance from combustible vegetation. Others were saved because the residents had driveways suitable for fire vehicles to get to the homes
Ontario's Kenora 14 Fire
It was a warm spring morning in April of 1988 - one of several during the month that had increased the fire danger to extreme in the Kenora area. A ban on campfires was being considered for Northwestern Ontario.
An innocent but serious mistake by a local cottager would soon send the Kenora Forest Fire Headquarters into action and result in millions of dollars in damage to summer homes and area forests.
On April 30th, the cottager delivered a small trailer full of brush to an area garbage dump. Despite obvious "NO BURNING" signs at the dump site, the cottager ignited the brush.
The fire spread quickly through the dump site and into the adjacent forest before it was reported to the Kenora Forest Fire Headquarters. This fire was to be known as Kenora 14, the 14th fire of the season for the district.
Hot dry winds blew from the south, fanning the flames and causing Kenora 14 to spread quickly. It was headed for prime cottage country with more than 200 summer homes in its path.
Firefighters worked hard to save the cottages and, in some cases, risked their lives by pulling burning embers from underneath unskirted (foundations unenclosed) buildings.
Before it ended, the Kenora 14 fire burned 10 cottages, many out-buildings, several boats and other equipment. The loss of timber for local pulp mills was in the millions of dollars.
The loss of those 10 cottages could have been prevented if the owners had carried out a few, simple measures like those found in this article.
The Homeowner's Role
As a resident in a rural or forest area, you play a key role in wildfire protection. Perhaps you are already a member of a group organized to protect yourselves from fire. Cooperative groups have been formed after almost every large fire in North America, to develop protection strategies to prevent future fires and the related losses.
You are responsible for protecting your buildings and property. If you already live in, or are planning to build in rural areas, you should take fire into account. It isn't difficult. Common sense will help you plan precautions.
The Basic Steps to Wildfire Protection
- Understand how wildfires start and spread
- Choose a building site that offers natural protection
- Build a house that is fire-resistant, or improve the fire-resistance of your present house.
- Use firewise landscaping principles to reduce a fire's ability to spread easily.
- Follow fire-safety rules.
These steps all work together. When you are weak in one factor, another strong step may make up for it. For example, wildfire has less chance to reach the foundation if you keep material that easily burns away from the building. This way, how the construction materials used for the foundation aren't quite as important. But, if a vital step is lacking in an important area, any improvements may mean nothing. If there is vegetation growing right by the building, the building my burn even though other measures were followed.
Understanding Wildfire
It helps to understand how fire works. You can then be more aware of the things around your home and property that may catch fire. Every fire needs three things to start and burn: fuel, oxygen, and heat. Heat comes naturally from lightning, or it may come from man-made sources, such as chimney sparks, barbeque and incinerator coals, and matches. Oxygen is always in the air. Fuel is the trees, shrubs, and ground cover (including your lawn); it can also be your house and outbuildings.
Heat Transfer
Heat transfer is heat passing from one place or substance to another. It is the main way that fire spreads. There are four ways that heat can pass.
Radiation is where heat moves out from the source in all directions. You feel radiant heat when you sit beside a campfire. As a fire gets hotter, more heat is radiated. This type of heat can make wood foundations catch fire when nearby plants and debris are burning.
Conduction is the movement of heat through an object. When a fire starts at one end of a log, the heat is conducted through it and the whole log catches fire. You depend upon conducted heat to cook foods in a pan on your stove.
Convection occurs when heated air rises from the heat source. Convection causes fire to spread up hills, into tree-tops, and to roofs. Strong winds bring convective heat into contact with unburned fuels, causing pre-heating.
Sparks can be carried for up to a mile (1.6 kilometers) ahead of a forest fire. They leap over any barrier and cause the fire to spread even faster. They also make the spread of fire very difficult to predict and control.
Fuel is any living or dead material, above, on, or below the ground that will burn. With enough heat, almost anything burns. Fuel is described in terms of loading and distribution.
Fuel loading is the size of the material and the amount available. Fine leafy or woody debris, such as that found on forest floors, acts as kindling. It easily catches fire, and, as it burns, it creates heat that dries out, preheats, and sets fire to larger fuels such as trees.
Fuel distribution includes the fuel on the ground and above the ground.
- Fuel that lays evenly on the ground lets fire spread easier.
- Fuel that spreads upward, such as shrubs, small trees, and low branches, is called a fuel ladder. Fire climbs to tree-tops on fuel ladders.
- Crown fuels are the branches and leaves to tree-tops.
Wildfire can easily spread from tree-top to tree-top in areas where the crown fuels are close together and where there is a lot of ground fuel. For protection against this type of fire, create fuel breaks and get rid of most of the growth beneath the trees.
Weather is the most important factor influencing how a fire behaves and therefore its potential to threaten your property. Weather includes temperature, wind, relative humidity (amount of moisture in the air) and precipitation (rain or snow).
Weather influences wildfire by the way it affects the moisture content of forest fuels. The drier the fuel, the less heat needed to start a fire and keep it burning.
Temperature affects drying and preheating of fuels, making them easier to ignite.
Wind can act to dry fuels. It also affects the size and direction of a spreading fire. In the Great Lakes region, the wind comes mainly from the west, from southwest to northwest.
Relative Humidity affects the moisture content offline fuels like leaf debris, grasses, twigs and needles. The lower the relative humidity, the easier fuels will ignite.
Precipitation increases the moisture in forest fuels. A dry spring, or even a few days of drying after a rain, can leave forest fuels very dry, creating hazardous conditions.
Morning and evening tend to be cooler, with lighter winds and higher relative humidity. Afternoon tends to be drier and warmer.
Season affects moisture content of ground cover and trees. In early spring and late fall, ground cover made up of dead, loose material from the summer before is at its driest. Fires start easier and spread faster. In spring and fall fire spreads so quickly it can get out of control in minutes. In summer, when vegetation is moisture-laden, fires do not spread as quickly, but they are usually hotter.
Topography describes land features such as lakes, rivers, swamps, hills and their relationship to one another. Water areas increase the moisture in the land and air around them.
Fires spread faster uphill due to heat radiation and convection. The steepness or slope of a hill affects how fast a fire will spread. The greater the slope, the faster the spread. As well, hillsides facing west or south have a greater fire risk because they get more sun and so are drier.
How a fire burns is complex and influenced by many uncontrollable factors; however, understanding basic fire behavior can help homeowners to assess their home's risk and its most unprotected areas.
Your Building Site
Choose the location of your house and the type of site carefully. The chance that your property will survive a wildfire could depend on the decisions you make. Read all the information in this article to find out how to avoid common and perhaps costly mistakes.
What if you already own a site? You can make many fire prevention improvements around your house and land, as suggested in this article.
Fire Protection
You may have chosen to live in either a rural or forest area to get away from a busy city. Don't forget that the fire department may be only a small group of volunteers, located far away. Before you buy property, it is a good idea to ask local fire officials if the fire department will have trouble getting to the site that interests you. More information can be found in the subsequent section titled "access."
Don't be tempted to build on a hillside because of the marvelous view. It could cost you your home. Level building sites are the best protection from wildfire.
If your site is near a ridge, set your home back 30 to 100 feet (10 to 30 meters) from the crest. Clear vegetation downslope from the house. Avoid narrow valleys or canyons. These act as natural chimneys during a fire, and would draw heat and flames to your home.
Firefighters need to get to your home quickly and safely. They also need room to move their equipment around.
- A gate with a strong lock could stop firefighters from reaching your home in time to save it. If you must have a locked gate, leave a spare key with your local fire agency.
- Access roads should be two-way, with broad shoulders to let emergency vehicles through. Avoid steep and winding roads. Plan grades that have no more of a rise than 10 feet in 100 feet (3 meters in 30 meters). Provide a minimum unobstructed width of 12 feet (4 meters), and a minimum unobstructed height of 14 feet (4.2 meters).
- Try to put your driveway on the downhill side of your home or the side that faces the wind. This makes a good fire barrier.
- Bridges have to be wide and strong enough to hold a fire truck. We recommend that the bridge should support a minimum weight of 40,000 pounds (18,100 kilograms). Ask your local fire officials what they require. They may have a small truck now, but could buy heavier equipment in the future. Ask them to check out bridges on your property, and on roads leading to your property.
- A turnaround is ideal for the end of your private drive or road. Make sure it is at least 100 feet in diameter. Don't park on it. Clear a separate area for parking.
Make Your Home Easy to Find
Firefighters need to find your property quickly. At the entrance to your property put up a sign with your house number, road name, and any other needed details. Make sure the sign can be read from the main road. Use large, easy-to-read letters and numbers in a color that contrasts with the background. Keep trees and bushes cut back so that sign always stands out.
When we think of having a home in a rural or forest area we tend to dream of a cedar shake chalet with a broad, open deck and a cozy fireplace, nestled among tall pines. To protect yourself from fire, this is not the type of structure and surroundings you want. However, if this is what you already have, you can still do a lot to make your home more "firewise."
Start With Design
Your home can be fire wise and still be attractive. Protective features such as smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, water taps and enclosed eaves are easy to add. If you are building or renovating, you and your architect or builder should talk to fire safety experts and have them review your plans.
Construction Materials
Roofs are the largest surface areas exposed to airborne sparks. Studies show that sparks setting fire to wood shake roofs are the major reason for home losses in rural and forest areas. The best roofing materials are those that have the best resistance to fire.
Metal, tile, and fiberglass roofing materials offer the best protection because they are not likely to catch fire.
Asphalt shingles and tar paper are less protective because they are make of oil-based products which can catch fire when exposed to enough heat.
Wood, such as cedar shakes, offers the least protection. The smallest spark can set fire to dry, sun-baked wooden shingles. Note: fire retardants are available, but must be applied at regular intervals. Follow the manufacturers recommendations.
Metal eavestroughs are the best. Wooden and plastic eavestroughs are a hazard. All eavestroughs can be a danger if they are not regularly cleaned; airborne sparks can set fire to debris in them.
Outside Walls
Like roofs, walls should be built with fire-resistant materials. Stone, brick, and metal are the best. Wood and vinyl give the least protection.
The foundation area of a building is often the first area to come into contact with a spreading wildfire. Stone, brick, and cement are the materials to use here. A closed foundation is safer than an open foundation.
Closed - The best foundations are made of cement block or stone. The material will not burn, and fire can't be trapped under the building, where it would set fire to beams and floor bases.
Open - A foundation of wood posts or cement-block pillars with no skirting around has the greatest risk and should be fire-protected. It can be improved by covering open areas with one-quarter inch (6 mm) wire mesh. If there is a good fire break around the building (see the Landscaping section), wooden or fiberglass skirting is acceptable. Skirting also helps to reduce the accumulation of debris under the building. Note: never store flammable materials underneath.
Structural Hazards to Watch For
A flat roof holds sparks that heat up and set fire to the roof. Sparks will roll off a steep roof, but can get caught in any roof valleys or grooves.
Eaves (the projecting roof edges) should be boxed in or have little overhang. This lessens the chance of heat or flames becoming trapped there. Eavestroughs should be cleaned regularly.
Attic and undereave vents can draw sparks into the attic, starting a fire. Undereave vents should be put near the roof line and away from the wall.
Cover all outside vents with wire mesh, not larger than one-quarter inch (6 mm). Do not use plastic or nylon mesh as it will melt and burn.
Keep chimneys above the roof line.
Roof sprinklers can give a false sense of security. Don't forget that the pumps will fail if electricity stops, high winds can blow the water away, and water pressure is often lowered when firefighters open hydrants in public water systems.
Windows are often overlooked as fire hazards, but they can be a serious risk. Radiant heat can pass through them and set fire to curtains. More heat is radiated with large windows and they break more easily. Cracked windows shatter with heat, letting in fire and sparks.
Multi-pane windows provide insulation from trapped air and give more protection from radiant heat than single-pane windows. Tempered safety glass should be used for picture windows, sliding doors, and other large glass areas.
Protect windows from the outside with fireproof shutters. Fire -resistant draperies and metal flashing around skylights will also add protection to your home.
Heating Systems
The choice of heating systems will not affect the survival of your home in a wildfire, but it affects the extent to which your home is a fire hazard. Heating a building with a wood-burning stove or furnace increases fire hazards. The hazard increases even more when the chimney is not insulated and has no spark arresters. Spark arresters and regularly cleaned chimneys will greatly reduce the risk of starting a fire.
Firewise Landscaping
Fire wise landscaping means changing, reducing, or eliminating the amount or type of fuel near your building by creating a fuel break. The fuel break should be around all buildings and be at least 30 feet (9 m) wide, with more width on the downhill side of a slope.
Clear a 3 foot (1 m) strip around the outside of each building, right down to sand or gravel (mineral soil). This cuts down on the treat of a surface fire burning across the strip and reaching the building. This strip is the first section of your fuel break.
Trees in the 30 foot (9 m) fuel break should have all branches removed up to a height of 6 to 10 feet (1 to 3 m). Space the trees so that the edges of the crowns are at least 10 to 16 feet (3 to 5 m) apart.
Keep the fuel break clear of everything that could burn. Remove small trees, household debris, ground fuel, and shrubs.
A green lawn or a rock garden are good fuel breaks. Grass must be kept watered and cut, and dead grass removed.
Stone, brick, or masonry walls, free of vegetation, are good fire barriers. They can be located inside or outside of the fuel break area.
Beyond the 30 foot (9 m) fuel break area, prune branches away from power lines and outbuildings. Remove ladder fuels by cutting lower branches and any dead branches. Remove small shrubs, scrub growth, ground litter, dead trees, and older trees.
Fire-Resistant Plants
Many common plants naturally resist fire and can keep fire from spreading. Generally, well-watered green plants burn slowly. Select plants that have little oil content, or that don't produce much litter, or have leaves that stay moist. All of the plants listed below will survive in the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Forest Region. Your local garden center can provide more information.
Ground Covers
Goutweed (Aegopodium)
Bugleweed (Ajuga)
Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria)
Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra)
Spotted Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
Stonecrop (Sedum)
Spurge (Spurge)
Periwinkle (Vinca)
Native Bearberry (Arctostaphylos)
Bearberry (Cotoneaster)
Euonymus (Euonymus)
Keeping Your Property Safe
Proper maintenance of your structure and the surrounding grounds helps considerably in protecting your home from wildfire. The guidelines presented here apply at any stage of construction or occupation of the site.
Fire-safe Storage
Store items that could easily catch fire at least 30 feet (9 m) away from your home. They should be outside your 30 foot (9 m) fuel break. These items include:
Fire wood
Oil and propane tanks
Brush and slash
Paint and Solvents
Get rid of brush and slash by chipping or composting. Gasoline, paint, and solvents can be very dangerous; store these materials in a cool, well-aired area, away from other flammable materials. Clean up spills and safely dispose of soiled rags, following local environmental rules for disposal.
What to do with yard waste
Don't burn yard wastes. This may start a wildfire. You can make us of all material such as grass clippings, hedge trimmings, or dead plants. Plow or rototill it into your garden. Or make compost or mulch with it.
There are several ways to do this. The easiest is to put all garden and yard waste in one pile in a back corner of your property. The waste will slowly decompose (break down). If you want it to break down faster, your environmental agency or Cooperative Extension Service office can advise you of various methods.
Spread garden and lawn waste in thin layers on the ground. For example, grass clippings, leaves, and compost can be placed around garden vegetables and flowers to keep down weeds and retain moisture. Mulching will also keep the soil around your plants cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
If you must burn yard wastes, check with your local fire agency for fire permit regulations and safety information.
Fire Safe Lifestyles
Make sure you and your family are prepared for a fire emergency.
- Keep firefighting equipment handy. This includes fire extinguishers, buckets, shovels, ladders, and lengths of hose.
- Develop a fire escape plan. Practice it with your family regularly.
- Have at least two ground-floor escape exits.
- Install smoke detectors or alarms and test them monthly. Replace batteries annually, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Set up a fire-watch with neighbors. This can protect your home when you are not there.
- Have reliable telephones or two-way radios and keep the local number for reporting fires handily.
Your Home Check-up
- Mark the entrance to your property with a sign that can be easily seen and read.
- Cut grass short around your buildings.
- Clear a 3-foot (1 m) strip right down to sand or gravel around all buildings.
- Create defensible space around your buildings by creating a 30 foot (10 m) wide fuel break with additional space on downward slopes.
- Extend this defensible space by removing dead wood, ladder fuels, and thinning out grown beyond the 30 foot (10 m) fuel break.
- Store materials that easily catch fire away from main buildings.
- Put skirting or mesh around open foundations.
- Replace wooden shingles with fiberglass ones, metal, or regularly treat the wooden shingles with a retardant.
- Put fire retardant on wood siding, or, better still, brick the outside of your home. Metal and stone are also good, fire resistant siding materials.
- Close in the ends of eaves, and put metal screens on vents.
- Insulate chimneys, and put spark arresters on them.
- Keep roofs and eavestroughs clear of debris.
- Keep firefighting equipment handy. This includes fire extinguishers, buckets, shovels, ladders, and lengths of hose.
- Develop a fire escape plan. Practice it regulary with your family.
- have at least two ground-floor escape exits.
- Install smoke detectors or alarms and test them regularly. Replace batteries annually, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Set up a fire-watch in your neighborhood. This can protect your home when you are not there.
- Have reliable telephones or two-way radios and keep the local number for reporting fires handy.
Tips if you are planning to build or purchase in a rural or forested area:
- Choose as flat a site as possible.
- Avoid narrow, steep, or winding roads and driveways.
- Place driveways on the downhill side of your home, or the side toward the prevailing wind, to act as a fire barrier.
- Do not build on poles or pilings.
- Use roofing and siding material that won't catch fire.
- Keep chimneys above the roof line.
- Install water taps on two sides of your home and near each outbuilding. Attach hoses to each tap.
- Use firewise landscaping techniques in the design of your yard. Using your yard to create defensible space is the most important fire safety practice.
- Manage the vegetation to provide a fuel break of 30 feet (10 m).
- Use fire-resistant plants.
- Masonry walls at least 2 feet (60 cm) high provide additional protection.
The guidelines on this page are generally accepted in most states and provinces. However, check with your local officials to find out what local regulations may apply. Rural and forested areas sometimes have special building and zoning codes.
The information presented here was developed by the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact.


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Chapter 1 – "Simply Breastfeeding – Introduction"
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Hi Shari
I am an expecting parent and was referred to you by a friend with a nice success story that encouraged me. All of your videos are very educational and motivating! Before I watched these I knew nothing about breastfeeding and now I feel really confident that I can do it. I learned a lot in these two days. I feel that I can now do it successfully. Thank you so much for your help Shari!! I watched lot of breastfeeding videos online but none compare to what you have put together. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience to help new parents like me!
Dear Shari,
My husband and I feel that your breast feeding class and video was one of our best investments in preparing for our daughter Lilli. We followed your methods and teachings to a tee and have been very successful. She is now 10 1/2 months old and has NEVER had drop of formula. My husband and I watched your video before the birth and again when we came home to help us reference what we needed to do and for some extra encouragement that we were doing everything right. We believed in what we learned from you. We did have a few struggles and worries, however the support we received from you and your staff was wonderful. Even just a quick phone call or visit to the store to say hi and to hear "you can do it!" That was all we needed. I made a commitment to my husband and daughter and I am sticking to it! I have so many new mom friends who I have seen struggle trying to breast feed and haven't taken your class or watched your video. Also, many can not believe Lilli is 10 1/2 month old and I am still nursing her.
Love, Elena Mills, NJ
When I became pregnant with my first child, I knew I wanted to breastfeed, but was totally clueless about everything. I was not breastfed myself, and did not know ANYONE who had done it successfully for any amount of time. Everyone I knew gave up by 6 weeks. I read everything I could and even took a class at my hospital. While I felt informed I still wasn't confidant I could do it, then I found Shari.
Her method was simple and precise. Everything I read and heard spoke about proper latch, but although I knew what it was supposed to look like, I didn't know how to achieve it. Her suggestions of sitting upright, using a pillow and stool worked amazing. By using the pillow I was able to use my other hand to support the breast and was able to get a proper latch.
I was able to successfully breastfeed both of my children, while working full time. My older one is now 3 and is an extremely healthy child; in fact she has only needed an antibiotic once, something that I attribute to breastfeeding.
We all know that breastfeeding is best; we just unfortunately live in a society where it is not the norm. I know my family has benefited greatly from Shari's method and I encourage everyone to please send this link to every woman they know expecting or not. There are so many women who would like to breastfeed their children they just don't know how and that it is possible to do so successfully.
Thank you Shari for your commitment to moms like me and so generously sharing this with the world!!
Thank you so much for sharing this crucial information with us!! You are such an incredible person; your passion for breastfeeding and motherly wellness is apparent and helps inspire us mamas to do what is best for our children. I love how you help women learn how to actually enjoy this epic time of their lives! I would never have known how to breastfeed if it weren't for being blessed with having an incredible lactation consultant at the hospital. I also had the pleasure of having a lactation consultant come to my home with my first child to "check up" on his progress a few weeks into his life. Now, with my newborn I haven't had a chance to have a consultant and no one in the hospital helped with the process, so I would have been lost without this video! Thank you for making this available for us all, because it is SO important to new moms to know how to breastfeed. What joy it can bring when it is done right! Keep it up, Shari!!
Hi Shari! Over two yrs ago when I had my first child I took one of your breast feeding classes. I applied what I learned and was able to nurse my son for 13 mths. I never suffered from all the normal discomfort I hear from many moms. When I had my 2nd baby 2 mths ago I watched the dvds from your class and my little 7 pounder is 13lbs and nursing like a champ. I just want to say thank you for your wonderful advice and sharing your knowledge on a rather tough subject.
When my husband and I went to take Shari's "Newborn Novice" class to prepare for the arrival of our twins, I had no interest in breastfeeding. I thought it would be impossible with twins. During the class Shari talked briefly about the benefits of breastfeeding. She wasn't pushing it on anyone, but we were having a discussion about it. My husband and I left the class and starting talking about the possibility of breastfeeding. I went in to talk to Shari and she suggested the breastfeeding class. My husband and I attended and decided we were going to do it. It worked great for 3 months, which was my goal. Thank you so much Shari for helping me give my babies such a wonderful gift.
Thanks! I am an experienced brest feeder but it has been 8yrs since my last child, this really helped refresh alot of what time has washed away!
Shari Criso, award-winning author of the "Simply Breastfeeding: The Criso Method" DVD program, welcomes you to her website with a ground-breaking offer for all new & expectant parents interested in learning how to successfully breastfeed their newborn.
Are you expecting a baby or a new mom planning to breastfeed? If so, you've definitely come to the right place because here on this website I will teach you everything you need to know to be successful with breastfeeding your baby! I have dedicated … [Read More...]
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Thomson Reuters recognizes 2013 everyday heroes
Thomson Reuters customers encouraged to submit their stories for 2014 awards
The press release below on the Thomson Reuters website summarizes the Everyday Heroes award program and the 2013 winners. Learn more at hero.thomsonreuters.com.
EAGAN, Minn. – In the fall of 2013, officers with the Pasadena Independent School District Police Department in Pasadena, Texas obtained a tip through a crisis hotline that an anonymous caller was threatening to stage a shooting at a local elementary school.
With only a phone number and IP address from the hotline's interaction with the suspect, officers turned to CLEAR® – a powerful investigative platform for law enforcement and credentialed organizations to identify and locate individuals or organizations – and as a result, were able to identify and apprehend the suspect before he could act.
Read the full press release…


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Mumbai, Aug 30:
Gold futures on the Multi Commodity Exchange opened higher at Rs 30,952 per 10 gram on Thursday against the previous close of Rs 30,498.
In Comex, it was trading down by $3 at $1660 a troy ounce at 10.15 am.
Gold prices in the futures market may trade firm as rupee has depreciated by 12 paise against dollar in the morning.
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Motorist and paramedic car collide in Battersea (From Wandsworth Guardian)
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Motorist and paramedic car collide in Battersea
Updated 12:01pm Saturday 25th January 2014 in News
A paramedic on their way to an emergency collided with a motorist in Battersea last night.
The accident happened in Strathblaine Road, at about 9.15am, when a paramedic travelling in a single responder collided with another car.
A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that one of our single responders was involved in a road traffic collision at Strathblaine Road.
"The driver of the second vehicle was treated for minor injuries at the scene but declined further hospital treatment."
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