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SpeakOut is Truthout's treasure chest for bloggy, quirky, personally reflective, or especially activism-focused pieces. SpeakOut articles represent the perspectives of their authors, and not those of Truthout.
Supreme Court Decision Places Arbitration Above Class ActionsBy Scott Nelson, Public Citizen | Press Release
The U.S. Supreme Court today, in American Express v. Italian Colors Restaurant, issued another stinging blow to consumers, employees and small businesses injured by corporate wrongdoing. The decision increases the ability of companies to use arbitration to suppress claims based on illegal conduct that harms many people. Specifically, the Court held that companies can enforce arbitration clauses that ban class actions even when class actions are the only economically feasible way of pursuing claims because the costs of arbitrating individually exceed the possible recovery for any one person.
The decision will allow companies to get off scot-free in many cases where their actions have inflicted small – or even not-so-small – amounts of damages on large numbers of people. As Justice Elena Kagan stated in her dissent, the decision allows defendants in such cases to insulate themselves from liability even if they have in fact violated the law.
Government Agrees to Provide Ongoing Access to Court Documents in Bradley Manning TrialBy Staff, Center for Constitutional Rights | Press Release
Last night, a federal district court dismissed a lawsuit by the Center for Constitutional Rights after the U.S. government voluntarily agreed to provide ongoing access to documents in the court martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning. The suit, bought on behalf of a group of journalists, asked the court for a preliminary injunction under the First Amendment ordering the military judge in the court-martial of Bradley Manning to grant the press and public ongoing access to documents in the proceedings as done in ordinary criminal trials. In addition, the suit challenged the fact that substantive legal matters in the court martial have been decided in secret.
The Judge in the case, Ellen Lipton Hollander, ruled that a First Amendment decision was unnecessary since the government voluntarily acquiesced to the journalists' demands and stated that the remaining issues in dispute were not significant enough to justify her intervention on an expedited, emergency basis.
With Little Fanfare, US Prepared to Execute First Woman in Three YearsBy Emma Eisenberg, SpeakOut | Op-Ed
Kimberly McCarthy's impending execution suggests that women are not anomalies in American capital punishment, and new research shows they're not anomalies in committing violent crime either.
In Lancaster, Texas, just south of Dallas, Kimberly McCarthy called on her 71-year-old retired neighbor and asked if she could borrow a cup of sugar. Once inside the retiree's house, McCarthy stabbed the old woman with a butcher knife, beat her with a large candleholder and cut off the ring finger that held her diamond wedding ring.
The last time a woman was executed in Texas, it was 1998. The case of 39-year-old Karla Faye Tucker - who had killed two people with a pickaxe - generated an explosive media kerfuffle. Urgent pleas were addressed to then-Governor George W. Bush to spare Tucker's life on the grounds that she was a woman and a born again Christian. There were several made-for-television movies, a feature length film, and even an Indigo Girls song.
The History of Mass SurveillanceBy Chris Thomson, SpeakOut | News Analysis
In 1791, the English philosopher and death penalty abolitionist Jeremy Bentham published the design for his "Panopticon" prison- a structure Bentham hoped would embody the utilitarian ideals of a more humane society. In late 1800s England, there were around 200 offenses punishable by death- pick pocketing included. Besides execution, other common methods of punishing criminals were sending them to fight wars or to make the long dangerous journey to penal colonies in America and Australia. There were a few rudimentary prisons in England during this time; these were mainly debtor prisons and they had terrible conditions. Convicts languished in overcrowded filthy rooms - with the more unruly shackled bloody wrist to some dank corridor's wall. For Bentham, these early prisons were not an acceptable alternative to execution, war or exile. These dark rooms and corridors overseen by merciless guards posed a problem that he hoped- creative architecture could solve. The objective of this architecture was to harness the illuminating power of light. Light that would keep order in the prison, a more humane approach than the constant threat of physical punishment. An idea of noble intentions- but an idea that would change the course of history. The Panopticon's design laid the foundation for modern surveillance.
Sister of 9/11 Victim Goes to Yemen to Oppose the Creation of More VictimsBy Terry Rockefeller, War Is a Crime | Op-Ed
"You don't solve mistakes, with more mistakes! As a government, the U.S. must follow the law. Be legal!" pleads the brother-in-law of Hayeel Aziz Al-Mithali.
Hayeel went from Yemen to Pakistan when he was 17 to study the Qu'ran. Captured following the 9/11 attacks, Hayeel has spent the last 12 years in Guantanamo. The U.S. had made no charges against him, yet Hayeel still faces indefinite detention. And so he has joined the hunger strike.
Along with fellow members of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, I have been protesting the corrupt and cruel Guantanamo system for years. I came to Yemen to deepen my understanding, but sitting face-to-face with the families whose lives have been devastated, I am sickened anew by how my country's responses to 9/11 continue to multiply the pain and injury of the attacks.
How to Get Sued by the Chamber of Commerce and Influence PeopleBy Staff, Waging Nonviolence | Op-Ed
Last week the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — the world's most formidable big business lobby — quietly abandoned a trademark infringement lawsuit against a number of individuals connected to activist pranksters the Yes Men, including John and Jane Doe 1-20, in whose mysterious company I was presumably represented. It's been a while since I've given any thought to the circumstances surrounding the four-year-old suit, and while the news came as a relief, it also made me a little nostalgic for a particularly madcap chapter in my colorful career. By the standards of my fancy sounding job, that year as "Director of Marketing and Outreach" for the release of the Yes Men's latest documentary film, "The Yes Men Fix the World," being sued by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce felt par for the course.
Allow me to take you back to the fall of 2009, where from a small, crowded academic office-cum-film distribution headquarters, my official duties involved coordinating a marauding ragtag volunteer "Survivaball" army, helping to organize mini-riots at Whole Foods, and avoiding capture by the NYPD after a failed attempt to launch an amphibious assault on the U.N. (which led to the apprehension of one of my colleagues).
Government, Guns & MoneyBy Robert A G Monks, SpeakOut | Op-Ed
Not many issues are as polarizing as gun control in this country. Politics around regulation and deregulation have been intense for years and the fights have grown more vitriolic – and more expensive –more recently as we've seen a growth in disturbing mass murders. The public outcry for action was deafening after December's shootings in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. And most of the country seemed to support background checks, if nothing else. A new study from Quinnipiac University showed 88% of gun-owning households and 91% of the general population supporting it. And a Pew surveyfrom January shows that 85% support background checks.
And yet it didn't pass in Congress. With such clear public support why With such clear public support why didn't lawmakers pass it? Well, the cynic in me suggests that we look at the amounts of money spent on lobbying the issue.
Predicting the US and Global Economy 2013-14By Jack Rasmus, JackRasmus.com | News Analysis
Annually for the past three years this writer has made leading edge predictions about the trajectory of the US and global economies for the 12-18 months to come. The last previous set of predictions appeared in the January 2012 issue of 'Z' magazine. Eighteen months later, it appears most have materialized. The following briefly summarizes those prior predictions, and makes further predictions for the next 18 months, through December 2014:
Obama's Visit to Berlin - Our Demonstration on June 17thBy Elsa Rassbach, SpeakOut | Press Release
For the official visit of President Barack Obama to Berlin on June 18th & 19th, ca. 800 people protested against US policies in a lively demonstration through central Berlin. The main banner reads: "Against War, Repression and Racism!" The call for the demonstration was by a broad coalition of peace, civil rights, and solidarity movements and takes as its theme the red penalty card, used in many sports, indicating that a player has committed an offense so serious that she or he must immediately leave the game.
At the climax of the demonstration, the protesters made a human chain encircling the US Embassy, which is next to the Brandenburg Gate where Obama was to speak. Because of the high-security lockdown of central Berlin during Obama's visit on June 18th & 19th, this broad-based, legal demonstration to the US Embassy could only be scheduled prior to his visit. Other demonstrations took place throughout Berlin on June 18th & 19th.
Blacks as HumansBy Lee R. Haven, SpeakOut | Op-Ed
I wrote, "Savannah's blacks are largely a poor lot, often more because of Savannah custom rather than of their own doing, and just about all black-owned clubs had begun reflecting the desolation that accompanies poverty."
This is how, however, the piece appeared recently in the guest commentary: "Savannah's blacks are largely a poor lot... and just about all black-owned clubs had begun reflecting the desolation that accompanies poverty."
I am appreciative the editor let me have my say in a tribute to a famous Savannah-based musician who died tragically. My last job in my hometown was as a writer and columnist for the paper, and I hadn't seen the musician, and successful businessman, since I moved to Atlanta in the nineties. This is what also must know about Savannah: There have been improvements, but race remains as thick as the legendary heat, and that the only difference is that you can usually avoid one during winter.


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UT's Kevin Acee has reported AJ Smith just fired Matt Wilhelm. AJ Smith claims that with the acquisition of Kevin Burnett they no longer need Wilhelms's services. He said that if they hadn't got Burnett, Wilhelm would be starting in 2010. Ouch!
It's still unclear weather or not he'll still be a Charger in next years Madden video game and if that'll effect who he plays in the popular EA Sports game.
In other news, Charger fans scramble to find a new scapegoat.

subset: commoncrawl


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July 13, 2006
Albany - A day after a heated Gubernatorial debate, voters turn out in big numbers to cast their ballots early. As of Thursday night, more than 800 Dougherty Countians had taken advantage of early voting in the primary election.
The last time there was a Governor's race in Georgia, 1,000 people voted absentee. So early and absentee voter turn out this year is right on track.
In 2002, 48-percent of registered Dougherty County voters cast ballots in the gubernatorial primary.
Voter Barbara Shuler Paschal says early voting gave her a chance to go ahead and cast a ballot in the race that mattered to her the most.
"This is a Governor's race, and this will be a very big race," said Paschal.
724 of the 827 people who've already voted in Dougherty County chose the democratic ticket.
feedback: firstname.lastname@example.com?subject/voting
P.O. Box 3130
Albany, GA 31706
(229) 446-1010
FCC Public File
(229) 446-4005
EEO Report
Closed Captioning


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No matter when they arrived, all immigrants are linked by the common experience of a journey.
Over the past two centuries the immigration journey to Australia has changed from a perilous sea voyage of up to 3 months to a routine flight lasting up to 24 hours. Changing transport has not only shortened the journey, but made it more comfortable and affordable.
The journey remains one of the most memorable aspects of any immigration experience.
The Journeys Gallery, also known as the Long Room of Old Customs House, features a 17-metre replica ship where visitors can experience the changes in sea travel first hand from the 1840s to 1950s.
Included with museum entry.
MV Members receive FREE museum entry.
We love receiving comments, but can't always respond.
Like to learn cooking Burrito, tacos and torillas and different sauces and mexican spices.
To read the latest tweets from @immigration_mv
Follow Immigration Museum on
Hi Serina - Have a read of our information sheet about finding passenger lists. The information you need should be there in the section on post-1923 arrivals. I...


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Loved The Descendants? You Have to See Nebraska
Will Forte: Following in George Clooney's Footsteps
Get Ready For Will Forte's Dramatic Side in the Nebraska Trailer
Seth Meyers Marries Alexi Ashe in Martha's Vineyard!
Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman, and Friends + Mumford & Sons = Hilarity
Is This Jennifer Aniston's Cutest Costar Yet?
Chanel's Fresh Face, Kate Moss's Juicy Tip, and Barneys' Team of Comedians
Link Time — New Photos From Scream 4!
Who Is Your Favorite Current SNL Cast Member?
ESPYs Mix Bikini Babes, Sports, Starlets, SNL, and Efron in LA!
Link Time — Daniel Craig to Star in Dragon Tattoo?
Watch, Pass, or Rent: Ryan Phillippe in MacGruber


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Though you may not think so, the fate of the proposed Cedar Crossing casino could affect your daily life, even if you don't gamble.
No matter your stance on gambling, casinos do bring money to the community.
The Black Hawk County Gaming Commission gets a percentage of the profits from the Isle of Capri in Waterloo, and officials say their funds would drop if Cedar Crossing is built. That money is used to improve the community.
"Downtown redevelopment projects with Main Street or something up at [the University of Northern Iowa,] like the scoreboard, those would be very hard to do," said Tim Hurley, with the BHCGA.
Grants include $150,000 to the Waterloo fire department, $60,000 to the Grout Museum, $20,000 to the Arboretum, and $500,000 for the new scoreboard at the UNI Dome.
Still, it's a tough decision.
"We look at other things like the impact on the community, the jobs created, those kinds of things," said Jeff Lamberti, Iowa Racing and Gaming Commissioner. "What new revenue we might generate, and quite frankly there is no magic number set in code or anything like that."
On the other hand, the mayor of Cedar Rapids says the new casino will bring more gaming revenue to the state, but opponents say it'll take a piece of an already limited pie.
A site visit for the proposed casino is coming up in a few weeks, and the final decision will be made a few weeks after that.


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Theverge.com is heavy on browser and that's useful
As we know theverge.com is a pretty demanding site for browsers. As result, I find the new iPad to be a significant upgrade over the third gen because it's much smoother navigating around this site. I don't find too much difference from the new processor in everyday experience but I can say it definitely has significantly boosted my enjoyment of this site Nd it's a rather noticeable difference. (The other place where you can feel the extra speed is the 3D feature in the maps app) Going through the comments, typing a post like this, etc, feel snappier on the latest iPad over the older model.
I am not sure if that's what Joshua & co has intended but for me the site has become a good indicator of the general browsing ability and one website that I usually pick out to test a device. Thanks to you theverge.com!


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Courses & Curriculum
Education Technologies & Emerging Media Courses and Curriculum
Online Master of Science in Education Technologies and Emerging Media
Sample Schedule
Degree Requirement Summary (DRS)
The Canisius College Master's Degree in Education Technologies requires 33 credit hours and leads to New York State (NYS) certification as an Education Technology Specialist. The master's program also provides a non-certification option for those who may be interested in teaching in college or corporate settings. The four course certificate provides teachers, faculty and trainers with practical and innovative tools to enrich and enhance learning.
Required Courses:
EDT 501: Learning with Technology (3 credits)
EDT 502: Instructional Design Theories and Models (3 credits)
EDT 503: Educational Multi-media Design (3 credits)
Includes a 10 hour field experience for those seeking NYS certification
EDT 504: Integrating Technology in the Differentiated Classroom (3 credits)
Includes a 10 hour field experience for those seeking NYS certification
EDT 505: Integrating Technology & Emerging Media into Content Areas (3 credits) Includes a 10 hour field experience for those seeking NYS certification
EDT 506: Research Methods: New Literacies (3 credits)
EDT 507: Transformational Leadership and Technology (3 credits)
Includes a 10 hour field experience for those seeking NYS certification
EDT 508: Technology for Social Change (3 credits)
Elective: Select one of the courses below (3 credits)
OTT 501: Introduction to eLearning
OTT 502: eLearning Course Development
OTT 503: Technologies for eLearning
OTT 504: Evaluating eLearning
Select one of the following practicum courses (6 credit hours):
EDT 511: College supervised practicum
For candidates seeking NYS Certification OR
EDT 510: Integrated Master's Project
For candidates not seeking NYS Certification
The practicum or master's project may be completed in the candidates local area. There is no residency requirement.
Total: 33 credit hours
Required Courses for Online Education Technologies Certificate:
|Learning with Technology (3 credits)
|Instructional Design Theories and Models (3 credits)
|Educational Multi-media Design (3 credits)
|Integrating Technology in the Differentiated Classroom (3 credits)
Course Descriptions
EDT 501: Learning with Technology (3 Credit Hours)
This course helps teachers create safe, supportive, respectful, and equitable learning environments utilizing technology in order to facilitate learning for all students. Students will investigate how to gain quality and effectiveness in teaching by expanding their knowledge of technology as a tool, a medium, and a setting for learning. The content focus will not be on learning specific technologies, but rather to gain an understanding of how technology can be much more than "just a tool" in a classroom or training.
EDT 502: Instructional Design Theories and Models (3 credit hours)
Students investigate and apply models for systematically analyzing instructional problems and developing valid and practical solutions specific to their professional goals.
EDT 503: Educational Multimedia Design and Emerging Technology (3 credit hours)
Students will examine theory and practice of creating educational and instructional multimedia for learning and will look at future trends in teaching and learning. They will explore promising technology and discover how the use of these may help them lead in their field and address current challenges in their work and professions. Students will demonstrate their ability and willingness to become agents of social change through the thoughtful and scholarly integrating of technology for learning. This course includes a 10 hour field experience.
EDT 504: Integrating Technology in the Differentiated Classroom (3 Credit Hours)
This course introduces educators and professionals to technology that can be used to support, supplement and deliver differentiated content and assessment in the mixed ability classroom, including those with disabilities and specific learning needs. The benefits and challenges of incorporating technology will be considered while participants learn how to integrate technology into their curriculum. Participants will gain hands-on experience using technological strategies for differentiation that will engage learners of all styles, ranging from new uses for basic software applications and online collaboration, to the production of multimedia. This course includes a 10 hour field experience.
EDT 505: Integrating Technology and Emerging Media into the Content Areas (3 Credit Hours)
This course provides practical, timely, and relevant ways to integrate technology for content learning. Students will examine best practice use of Education Technologies for their content areas, emerging technology, and curriculum-specific uses of technology for learning new content. This course includes a 10 hour field experience.
EDT 506: Research Methods: New Literacies (3 Credit Hours)
This course is a response to the call of the 21st century to make students interactive, technologically savvy citizens. As our global society increasingly turns from page to screen for most aspects of modern life, teachers in all content areas will need to know not only the traditional knowledge, skills and methods of their disciplines, but they also must develop competencies in new literacies. New literacies are now necessary for everyone to interact and function in business, for entertainment, and in virtually all other areas of modern life. It is vital, therefore, for teachers to teach students to use inquiry, collaboration, and multimodal design, as well as more traditional types of critical thinking to do their life's work.
EDT 507: Transformational Leadership and Technology (3 Credit Hours)
Students will examine concepts and strategies needed for leadership in the use and integration of technology for learning. Topics include strategic planning, leadership styles, change processes, and policy issues in educational technology. This course includes a 10 hour field experience.
EDT 508: Technology for Social Change (3 Credit Hours)
Students will prepare for educational leadership and be better able to be advocates of social justice through the use of technology for learning. The course focuses on policies that relate to social justice and technology in an attempt to prepare educational leaders to make a positive contribution in their fields. The main objective is to better understand how technology can impact society and how to make that positive change happen.
EDT 511: College Supervised Fieldwork in Education Technologies (6 Credit Hours)
This course is the culmination of the work throughout the course and will require students to complete a practicum of 90 hours working with a teacher or leader in the field. The program will follow the protocols set forth by the School of Education and Human Services, and will utilize the same rubrics, lesson plan formats, unit plan formats, Code of Ethics, Student Teacher Candidate Contract, etc.
Elective Courses
OTT 501: Introduction to eLearning (3 credit hours)
Learners will get an overview of elearning, learn about the basics, and learn how to teach and assess readiness for elearning. Participants will be introduced to the concepts of the virtual classroom, including the design and delivery of online coursework. Course concepts include synchronous and asynchronous learning systems, using the web for instruction, virtual communities, online teaching tools, and how students' needs can be addressed in online delivery. Current research in online teaching and learning will be explored and participants will begin to consider how they might build a basic course or course component in their field. The course or course component will begin the participant's capstone project, which will be developed throughout the program and which will exemplify the application of the program concepts.
OTT 502: eLearning Course Development (3 credit hours)
Students will learn how to plan, design, develop, deliver, and assess an online course and learners. They will also learn how to accommodate a wide variety of learners. Participants will investigate online teaching concepts and models. They will plan their learning outcomes and incorporate them into their plan for implementation by aligning learning outcomes and models. They will build and rationalize appropriate assignments and technology tools to meet course goals and objectives.
OTT 503: Technologies for eLearning (3 credit hours)
Because technology and innovation happens at a fast pace, students will be expected to learn how to find, evaluate, and synthesize how new tools may benefit teaching and training. This course examines emerging technology tools for virtual learning environments. Students will be expected to utilize the learning outcomes for a particular class or training session to purposefully choose appropriate technologies, including both synchronous and asynchronous tools. They will demonstrate careful consideration for selecting certain technology tools and how they will help learners succeed in a classroom setting.
OTT 504: Evaluating eLearning (3 credit hours)
Participants will investigate how the history of innovation and distance education has impacted educational thought and culture, including managerial and organizational issues, change-management, decision-making, and solutions for successful course and program management. They will investigate and plan for the use of research-based solutions to educational problems, both in face-to-face and online environments. As a deliverable, participants will analyze which particular challenge(s) they may encounter and write a plan for addressing such an issue. The plan will be included in their course development portfolio.


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↵That's video from the arrest of Matt Bush, the former No. 1 overall selection of the San Diego Padres in the 2004 MLB draft. He plead not guilty to a DUI, resisting arrest and drunken driving charges. ↵
↵Bush isn't even actually in baseball anymore -- he was released by the Blue Jays earlier this season -- but try to find the silver lining in this folks. For a few days, Ryan Leaf wasn't the first guy everyone thinks of when you say "former top pick by a San Diego team to have a very public meltdown." No, for at least a few days, Matt Bush went ahead and stole that show. ↵↵
↵(Found via Digg) ↵
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.


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Today was a typical game for the White Sox as we Sox fans have grown to know them, dragging the win out at the last second and taking a day off our lives with each second. And Scott Podesednik thrived in the clutch as he always has in Chicago, and he loves it.
The day started out rough for the Sox as the Dodgers broke the 0-0 tie in the fourth. It all started when Clayton Richard hit Juan Pierre to lead off the inning. Then, Russell Martin flew out to right, which pushed Pierre over to 2nd. Next, Juan Pierre stole 3rd without much of a surprise. Then, Orlando Hudson drove in Pierre with a single to left. Casey Blake singled moving Hudson to 2nd. Kemp flew out to deep right, allowing Hudson to get to third. The stolen bases against the White Sox grew higher as Blake took 2nd. Mark Loretta then delivered a double to deep left driving in Blake and Hudson. After the 4th, 3-0, Dodgers.
Top of the 5th made the Dodgers look even better, with the hits and sacrifices still piling up, only 1 run was plated by the Dodgers in the 5th. Richard only made 1 out in the fifth before being taken out and being replaced by Carrasco, who came in and allowed nothing more by getting Blake to fly out and striking out Matt Kemp, who is one of the best power hitters for the Dodgers, which left men on 2nd and 3rd. Middle of the 5th, Dodgers up 4-0.
Finally, the Sox's offense decided to respond in the bottom of the 5th with Konerko leading off with a homer and Wise tripled to deep center right after Josh Fields walked. End of the 5th, Sox still down 4-2.
In the 6th, Carrasco came out strong once again as he allowed a double to Loretta and then striking out Jones, Ausmus, and Castro. In the bottom half, Dye doubled to right after Ramirez flew out. Thome walks and Konerko fails to do anything. With 2 outs, AJ comes up to the plate and puts one over the fence to finally give the Sox the lead, 5-4.
Top of the 7th, Dodgers respond once again while taking advantage of a throwing error from Ramirez to get Russell Martin out at first. Unfortunately, Hudson then singles and pushed Martin to third and Blake grounds out to second as the Sox concede the run for the out.
In the top of the 8th, Sox reliever Scott Linebrink looking strong after struggling for a couple of weeks. (I will admit, once I saw him come out, I felt like having a heart attack since he has been throwing horribly.) Luckily, Linebrink ends up striking out 2. From the 8th to the 11th, only 1 hit was given up by the Dodgers.
In the bottom of the 12th, Sox blow a huge chance to win it. Podsednik singles after Wise flies out and Ramirez pushed Pods over with a nice single to the shortstop. With 2 men on and only 1 out, Anderson grounds out to first which moves them both over, but Nix fails to get a base hit to drive in anyone to end the inning. In the 13th, Poreda came in and struck out 2 out of the 3 batters he faced, proving he belongs in the majors.
In the bottom half of the 13th though, the Sox redeemed their chance for the win as Konerko singled and was then replaced for Gordon Beckham. AJ then singles to right and Getz is intentionally walked to load the bases. With bases loaded and no outs, Field AND Wise both fly out to center. With 2 outs now and hope running out for runs in the inning, Pods proved once again how clutch he is in Chicago by getting a base hit to center to drive in Beckham. In the end, Sox get the 'W' but with some unnecessary stress for the fans.
Even though I love the Sox, sometimes I hate the stress they put into each game... They keep it exciting at least. Sox go on to face the Cubs at the Cell. Hopefully the Sox can take advantage of this Cubs team that has been beaten around this year and who has just gotten swept by the Tigers.


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YAKIMA, Wash.-- Yakima city workers will be turning a one-way portion of "A" Street to two-way traffic this weekend.
The work will happen Sunday on "A" Street between North First and North Front Streets.
The city says they decided to make the change to ensure easy access to businesses along North Front Street when construction on the MLK Boulevard underpass starts next year.


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Over the years, Frankenstein's monster, originally brought to vivid life in the pages of Mary Shelley's classic horror novel "Frankenstein," has been many things—a hulking brute, a tortured poet, a comic foil, a Marvel superhero. But in Stuart Beattie's colorless new sci-fi mishmash, "I, Frankenstein," the creature created by the mad scientist Victor Frankenstein is blandly recast as a biblical savior, tasked to even the playing field in an eternal struggle between (would you believe) hellish demons and stoic gargoyles (yes, gargoyles), with Earth hanging precariously in the balance. Or something. For all of "I, Frankenstein"'s wooshy visual effects and sexy brooding (not to mention its overtly convoluted plot), it's hard to find much of a pulse.
In the opening moments of "I, Frankenstein," the filmmakers at least give a passing nod to having read the original text (or at least skimmed the Spark Notes), with the creature making its way into the arctic. Then, about five seconds later, some demons show up and try to kill the creature (played with strapping good looks and a straggly hippie wig by Aaron Eckhart) for reasons that still, even after having seen the movie, we're not entirely clear about. The creature is then whisked away by a pair of gargoyles to some giant castle, where the benevolent gargoyle queen Lenore (Miranda Otto) explains to the monster, who she calls Adam, that there is a war raging between unholy demons and much holier gargoyles. Adam is then talked at by a bunch of characters, most of whom are insanely attractive in their non-gargoyle form and who unload page after page of clunky exposition and unnecessary "rules" for this made-up universe.
Adam then just kind of disappears for 200 years, to "Where no human, demon, or gargoyle could find me." Oh. 200 years. And nobody finds him? Really? Adam has taken this time to perfect his demon-hunting skills, and growls (in a sub-theatrical-version-of-"Blade Runner" voice over) about how he's going after them since he was tired of them coming after him. When the story resumes, it's present day, and Adam is now rocking closely cropped hair (with a dollop of product to perfect that spiky flip), fingerless gloves (presumably from his time spent as part of an eighties break-dancing crew) and a hooded sweatshirt he borrowed from Tom Cruise in "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol." Adam, it should be noted, is still really cute for being stitched together from a bunch of corpses.
After all this time Adam also happens to find himself back in the anonymous Eastern European city where the gargoyle kingdom still stands (Prague? Somewhere in Bulgaria?), and promptly gets drawn into a treacherous, unwieldy plot involving a demon prince (played by Bill Nighy, on full autopilot), who wants to use the same technology that created Frankenstein's monster to bring an army of demons back from the underworld. In order to save the planet, Adam must regain his humanity, mostly through making goo-goo eyes at a comely young scientist (Yvonne Strahovski) who has been tricked into aiding the drably evil plot, even though the most scientific thing we ever see her do is radiate a dead rat with what can only be described as blue lightning, a process that is marginally more scientific than Herbert West injecting a body with glowing green goo in "Re-Animator."
The biggest problem with "I, Frankenstein," a movie that oftentimes feels like it's nothing but problems, is that it's thoroughly silly without ever revealing a sense of humor. The central conceit is an inherently insane idea, and that insanity should have been embraced, on some level. Instead everything is treated with an agonizingly straight face, with dialogue recited like it's Shakespearean verse and a blue-gray color palette that suggests an even dimmer version of the "Underworld" movies. This is a movie with gargoyles, wings outstretched like giant bats, flying through modern European cities, and yet no one says anything about it? Surely a bystander with an iPhone must have gotten a glimpse. And do any of the characters have any sense of humor about the cosmic ridiculousness of their plight? Apparently immortality comes with a huge price. That price is crankiness.
Every action sequence (and there are many) is staged and filmed exactly the same way, with Adam or the gargoyles dispatching demons with all the subtlety and nuance of a videogame cut scene, complete with tons of swirling fireballs and heavenly rays of light. But for all of the unimaginative, overstuffed computer trickery, the demons are literally guys with cheap, Halloween-y masks on that look like monsters from a Z-grade episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Even Bill Nighy, covered in rubbery latex and hamming it up to an almost obscene degree, doesn't make much of an impression or seem like he's having the least bit of fun. These sequences are creatively bankrupt bores, and for a movie that tries desperately to fit into the difficult action-horror genre, come across as neither scary nor thrilling.
It's hard not to feel bad for Frankenstein's monster himself, Aaron Eckhart. Not the character in the movie but the actor in real life. Eckhart used to do consistently interesting work, which wasn't always a complete knockout, but was often daring and courageous (think about his performance in "Erin Brockovich," for one). But since his success as a second fiddle villain in the blockbuster "Dark Knight," he's been stuck in a series of agonizing genre affairs, like last year's tepid "Olympus Has Fallen." To hear the performer, who would so nimbly recite acidic bits of Neil LaBute dialogue, say things like, "Descend in pain, demon" is borderline tragic. Hopefully this role paid for a house, or at the very least a really big, gargoyle-adorned boat.
"I, Frankenstein" was written and directed by Stuart Beattie, a competent genre craftsman who wrote the knockout script for Michael Mann's "Collateral" and last year wrote and directed one of the niftier YA adaptations, "Tomorrow, When the War Began" (a more soulful variation on "Red Dawn"). Here, however, Beattie seems to be resting on autopilot, with a script that doesn't have any forward momentum (or surprises or meaningful character moments) and lacks a single memorable set piece of any kind. It's a movie about a man cobbled together from other men, and it's a movie cobbled together from other movies (amongst them: "The Matrix," "Van Helsing" and, of course, the "Underworld" movies). This movie is a corpse in desperate need of reanimation. [F]
Indra | February 9, 2014 9:44 AM
It's funny to read the clueless dweebs posting here bashing the movie in a lame attempt to get some sort of empowerment and pseudo artistic credibility.
The movie was actually pretty good. You guys should stick to rating the quality of the fries you serve to customers in your job at the fast food joint.
The problem that many critics have with the premise is the religous element. Hollywood is extremely liberal, and the left have a problem with religion. Many of them are ignorant as to the origin of the war on religion and just jump on board to appear intellectually credible and vent all their bitterness and prejudice against an politically correct enemy.
The real reason is that the globalists implementing a world government cannot tolerate devotion to any institution other than the state, particularly when it promotes love, individual rights, family values and social cohesion. They need to remove all social barriers to complete state control and social division, thus they created the war on religion via social engineering, high profile celebrities/the new atheists attacking religion, and propaganda in the media.
There are also the corrupt critics paid of by companies like Warner Brothers to bash movies from other studios such as this one.
Either way, the bashing of this movie is excessive and unwarranted to the point where political/financial motivations become likely. Then there are weak, gutless bloggers who will jump on any bandwagon to appear to feel like they fit in with the mob.
flinstonesinvivalahate | January 26, 2014 6:33 PM
That bums me out actually. Stuart Beattie can write a script and Aaron Eckhart can definitely act. If he's trying to bid for leading man status, he should do something more comedic -- "Thank You For Smoking" was a sweet spot for him.
Cyrus | January 26, 2014 11:03 AM
This is shockingly horrible - here is the best of the bad reviews I have read:
shit bird | January 26, 2014 9:04 AM
So which one is the worst film of 2014 so far. This or the Hercules movie?
Glass | January 25, 2014 8:58 PM
Requesting a thorough investigation and 28-page New Yorker article on the mental health of everyone involved in this. The whole hierarchy - from the studio to the actors to Mr. Beattie.
J | January 25, 2014 6:24 PM
Surely it doesn't get any worse than this.
Karl | January 25, 2014 11:37 AM
I think your review was to generous. It should have received a G-.


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Amp Buzzing until pushed down!, Buzzes until I push down on one of the corners
Amp Buzzing until pushed down!, Buzzes until I push down on one of the corners
Sep 17 2013, 22:28
Post #1
Group: Members
Posts: 32
Joined: 7-May 06
Member No.: 30518
Hi all,
I've got a strange issue with my Marantz 6003 amp. It builds up a buzz shortly after turning it on and can get very loud eventually.
I used to rip my hair out thinking it was a grounding loop, or that my flat's wiring was poor.
One day I put some books on the amp and the buzz completely stopped. I narrowed it down to one of the corners on the front right, if I push down when its buzzing, the buzzing stops completely! I have no idea what's going on?????
Does anyone know what might be causing this? I really dont want to buy a new amp if I don't have to.
Sep 17 2013, 23:26
Post #2
Group: Members
Posts: 2566
Joined: 24-August 07
From: Silicon Valley
Member No.: 46454
Is that a mechanical buzz (from the amp) or an electrical buzz (coming out of the speakers)?
In either case, something is probably loose... Something could be loose mechanically or electrically. i.e. It could be a loose screw/washer (some vibration is normal from the AC transformer), or a loose grounding-screw, or loose connector, etc. If you have to take the cover off to wiggle things around and push on things, etc., it's worth a try. If it's an electrical issue, just unplugging and reconnecting the internal connectors might cure it. I'd leave the power on when wiggling/pushing things (so you can potentially zero-in on the problem), but turn it off before disconnecting/reconnecting connectors. (And be careful of the AC power.)
...I once had a VCR the only worked with the cover off. I never could find the problem because it just wouldn't fail with the cover off. The repair shop gave-up too. (That was back when VCRs were worth repairing.)
This post has been edited by DVDdoug: Sep 17 2013, 23:26
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Our impact on prostate and testicular cancers
We're fighting over 200 cancers, and prostate and testicular cancers are in our sights. Every single pound donated helps fund our groundbreaking research, bringing closer the day when all cancers will be cured.
Thanks to our supporters, testicular cancer is one of research's great success stories. Today more than nine out of ten men are cured, compared to only around seven out of ten in the 1970s. Many of these lives have been saved thanks to cisplatin – a drug we helped to develop - and our research continues today.
Cancer Research UK is a major funder of research into prostate cancer - the most common cancer in UK men. We helped to develop abiraterone (Zytiga) - an important new drug for advanced prostate cancer which is now available for men in the UK. Our work is transforming our understanding of this disease and how to treat it, working towards a day when prostate cancer is cured.
Our researchers are heroes. Find out how your donation could support their pioneering, life-saving work.
Here are just some of the ways our work has helped change the picture for men's cancers:
In the 70s, our researchers played a key role in the development of cisplatin1 – a drug that has transformed the treatment of advanced testicular cancer.
Even further back, our scientists discovered diethylstilboestrol in 19382 - the first synthetic hormone drug that mimics the action of the hormone oestrogen. It became the treatment of choice for advanced prostate cancer for over 40 years and paved the way for other hormone treatments that are still used today.
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We also funded important work into new drugs called PARP inhibitors. These are showing tremendous promise in clinical trials across the world for many different cancers, including for men with prostate cancer caused by inherited faults in BRCA2 and other genes.
Many thousands of men with prostate cancer receive radiotherapy as part of their treatment every year, and our work has made a significant impact in this area.
We played a pivotal role in the development of conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer3 – a treatment that 'shapes' radiation beams to target tumours. This has changed the way that men are treated today.
Cancer Research UK pioneered the first UK trial of an even more precise type of radiotherapy for prostate cancer called IMRT4 (intensity modulated radiotherapy) that delivers radiation more accurately, helping to avoid side effects. Around eight out of ten men with the disease could benefit from this treatment, once it becomes more widely available.
Scientists funded by Cancer Research UK are leading the world in the search for gene faults and variations that are linked to cancer. For example, we funded researchers leading an international team that discovered the important BRCA2 gene5. Inherited faults in this gene can significantly increase a man's risk of developing prostate cancer.
And we funded studies involving more than 50,000 men, revealing 16 genetic variations that are linked to prostate cancer risk.6 This work should help to identify men at greater risk of developing the disease, and lead to more effective screening in the future.
Now our researchers are taking part in a worldwide collaboration called the International Cancer Genome Consortium, decoding the genes at the heart of prostate cancer to find the faults that drive the disease. This work will uncover vital clues for new tests and treatments – find out more on our blog.
Read more about research into prostate cancer genes on our Science Update blog.
There isn't currently a national screening programme for prostate cancer but men can ask their GP for a PSA test as part of an informed choice programme.
Deciding whether to have a PSA test is not simple, and there are lots of things to take into account. For this reason, our researchers developed information packs to assist GPs across the UK in counselling men about the benefits and limitations of the test. This is helping men to make an informed decision about whether to take the PSA test.
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- Connors et al New platinum complexes with anti-tumour activity. Chem Biol Interact (1972) 5: 415-24
- Dodds et al Oestrogenic activity of certain synthetic compounds. Nature (1938) 141: 247-48
- Dearnaley et al, Comparison of radiation side-effects of conformal and conventional radiotherapy in prostate cancer: a randomised trial. Lancet. (1999) Jan 23;353(9149):267-72.
- Nutting, C. et al, Reduction of small and large bowel irradiation using an optimized intensity-modulated pelvic radiotherapy technique in patients with prostate cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. (2000) Oct 1;48(3):649-56.
- Wooster et al. Localization of a breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA2, to chromosome 13q12-13. Science (1994) 265; 5181: 2088-90
- Eeles, RA, et al. Multiple newly identified loci associated with prostate cancer susceptibility. Nature Genet. (2008) 40: 316-21


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Girlfriend Intervention is a new 2reality makeover series on Lifetime. Learn more about the show--including what makes it unique--meet the stars and discover background info in this reality show profile.
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Rich Kids of Beverly Hills is a new reality series from E! It's a little like a younger version of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and is loosely inspired by a popular Tumblr page, "Rich Kids of Instagram" (#richkidsofinstagram). Meet the cast of Rich Kids of Beverly Hills.
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January 2014 sees the return of some of the best reality series on TV (including Real World, Dance Moms, The Bachelor, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and American Idol)--and new shows like Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, Under the Gunn and 100 Days of Summer . Here's the schedule for reality TV premieres in January 2014.
Bravo Introduces New Reality Shows in 2014
Find out more about the new reality shows Bravo is unveiling in 2014--including Toned Up, 100 Days of Summer and Blood, Sweat and Heels. Bravo is the network behind such fan favorite franchises as Real Housewives and Top Chef. Will one of these shows prove as successful?
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The new lifetime reality competition, Under the Gun, Stars Project Runway Alums Tim Gunn, Mondo Guerra, Anya Ayoung-Chee and Nick Verreos as the host and mentors.
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Bravo's new reality show, Thicker Than Water stars a self-proclaimed "Black Brady Bunch" wealthy blended family
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May 2013--New & Returning Reality TV Shows
May 2013 features new seasons of favorite shows like So You Think You Can Dance, Masterchef and The Bachelorette; the return of Supernanny's Jo Frost and the launch of new shows like The Big Brain Theory, Never Do This at Home and The American Baking Competition. Get the run down on reality shows coming in May with this day by day schedule of...
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What new show premiere this fall? Which favorite shows are returning? Who will compete in this season's reality competitions? Who are the new judges on X Factor? What other changes are in store for reality TV
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I have not had a whole lot of luck growing sunflowers which is pretty frustrating considering just about everyone else can grow these flowers like weeds. For whatever reason, they have been a gardening challenge – either birds or other critters have eaten the seeds before they could germinate or the plants didn't seem to thrive and never flowered. This year, however, I have sunflowers! Not a lot, just three plants but they are beautiful.
Here are some pictures – seems I'm not the only one that appreciates these beautiful flowers.
I am personally not a stew fan. The guys all love stew and I'll make it, but I would just as soon make something else for myself rather than eat the stew. It's nothing personal, I'm told I make good stew, but it just doesn't hold a whole lot of appeal to me. There are things that are just so much more appetizing. That being said, since yesterday was St. Patrick's Day and since Irish blood does course through these veins and since we don't eat corned beef and cabbage, I thought I'd make an Irish stew. I looked online for some Irish stew recipes and decided to go with a hybrid of sorts. A total lamb stew, I'm not sure how that would have gone over since we are not super big lamb eaters. An all beef stew, well, I already stated my opinion on that one. So I mixed them together, threw in some stout beer. I bought a single bottle of chocolate stout from a local brewing company since I couldn't get a single Guinness (and since we don't drink beer, I refuse to take up refrigerator space with any) and a bottle of red wine. I started this stew at 4 and we ate at 7. So, it really didn't take very long at all and came out tasting quite good and coming from a non-stew lover, this is really, really high praise.
1 1/2 lbs lamb stew meat cut into bite size pieces
1 1/2 lbs beef chuck stew meat cut into bite size pieces
2 T. tomato paste
1 t. sugar
1 t. Worcestershire sauce
1 bottle chocolate stout beer of your choice
1 c. red wine (I used Shiraz)
4 c. beef broth (I used 1 T beef base with 4 cups water)
3 T. butter
6-7 carrots cut into bite size pieces
6-7 Yukon gold potatoes cut into bite size pieces
1 large onion cut into bite size pieces
2 bay leaves
olive oil for searing
salt and pepper to taste
1. I took the cut up beef and lamb and browned it in the olive oil in my dutch oven. I did the lamb first and then the beef. Removed it to a bowl when each was done.
2. I put the cooked meat back into the pan and added my onion, sauteed for a few minutes.
3. Add stout, red wine, beef broth, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, tomato paste and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer and cover.
4. In a separate pan, add butter and saute carrots for about 15 minutes. Turn off and leave in pan.
5. Allow meat to simmer, covered, for one hour. Then add potatoes and carrots, season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Allow to cook uncovered at a medium heat for approximately 40 minutes or until potatoes and carrots are cooked through.
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Truth can be stranger than any fiction. We were reading an interesting article yesterday about parasitic flies that are eating the brains of Vermont honeybees. These flies, known as phorid flies pierce the abdomen of honeybees and deposit eggs. The fly larvae then consume the insides of the honeybees, turning them into what has been dubbed zombees. These bees exhibit extremely strange behavior such as leaving the hive in the dark and have been seen flying around outdoor lights, where they often are found dead the next day. This is strange with a capital "S" behavior.
There have been a lot of sightings of zombees on the west coast and yesterday we learned that these zombees have been found most recently in Vermont as well. There is a site called www.zombeewatch.org which is attempting to document the presence of these zombees. They are looking for zombee hunters, (a/k/a citizen scientists) so if you're passion has been to hunt zombies, hunting zombees might be up your alley. There is a tutorial on how to become a zombee hunter on the website, which includes collecting the dead bees that you may find in certain outdoor locations into resealable plastic bags. The guide will instruct you on how to make a light trap to capture zombees and how to contain the dead bees while you wait and then watch the larvae emerge. Since I personally squirm when there are maggots in the summer garbage can, I most definitely can tell you that this is not the project for me; I am sure that those who are of much hardier stock may take some great interest in helping the folks at ZomBeewatch.org document the presence of these infected bees around the country. I mean, how cool it is t be able to say that you are both a citizen scientist and a zombee hunter in the same breath?
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- Fall Hive Inspection – Lots of flowers are still in bloom (myhoneybees.wordpress.com)
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Today is one of those autumn days when you know that fall has reached its peak. You don't need a weather forecaster or foliage specialist to let you know that we are on the spiral to winter.
Most of the leaves up on the hill are making their way from their home in the branches to the ground where they create a colorful fall carpet and make the wonderful rustling noises that make you unable to resist dragging your feet through the leaves as you walk along. Today it is raining, off and on, and the leaves are falling from the trees like snow. It won't be long before the trees up here are bare.
Color is about as good as it is going to get, it is almost bursting with yellows, oranges and reds. The surrounding mountains are speckled with the colors of fall.
Today was a peppery kind of day. I bought a bushel of sweet peppers at the farmer's market today and combined it with some other delicious pasilla peppers from Alchemy Gardens. I added to that peppers from my CSA at Evening Song Farm and my own poblano peppers. What does one do with all those peppers?
First, I washed seeded and cut up a bunch to freeze for later in the winter, when we need some homegrown peppers. These will remind us of the warm weather when gardening is but a dream.
Then I roasted a whole lot of the peppers. Some of them were fixed with garlic and extra virgin olive oil. We will have these with some homemade bread from the farmer's market for dinner tonight.
Finally, I took some of the roasted peppers and canned them for use later on, much like you would buy in the store. These will be added to pasta or soup, or some other goodies in the coming weeks.
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The past couple days the road at the bottom of the hill has been closed due to railroad track repairs. That for us is the easiest and most direct route to Rutland and Ludlow. I have become very accustomed to living here. Driving to get somewhere isn't really all that big of a deal, however, when a commonly traveled road is closed, it can put a kink in your plans. For instance, one of the boys forgot the other day and for some unknown reason the huge traffic sign indicating that the road was closed from that direction was located about 100 feet from the actual road closure. Not much for notice especially since by that time you have driven the better part of 15 minutes to get to the closed road. Needless to say, he was not a happy boy. Despite attempting to negotiate with the crew working explaining that he lived just on the other side of the closed road, he was forced to turn around drive the 15 minutes down to Route 7 and then into Wallingford and up the other side of the closed road to get home. Not a good time.
As I was driving today, thankfully remembering that the road was closed and actually purposefully driving out of my way in order to go to the post office (which of course happened to be right on the very other side of the road closure) I realized that we do indeed live on a mountain (although we refer to it as a hill) and there aren't but a few ways to get from one side to the other. Unfortunately, if you are like my son, hopefully you remember before you trek miles essentially on what was for all practical purposes a dead end road and have to turn around.
After traveling to the post office (and double checking that the road was indeed still closed for repairs – because would I have felt stupid if I drove all those extra miles when the road was open) I turned around and cut across the only other way between here and there. In the words of Mr. Frost – the road less traveled (which these past couple days has most likely seen more traffic than normal). It was a very beautiful late summer day.
This afternoon, the sun was perfect and I got out the camera and took these:
It's hard to believe that there's one less Heffernan boy in the house this year when school started today, although for him school started a couple days ago. This year, of the two boys still in high school, one is a senior and one is a junior. Hard to believe that they are so grown up. They both departed for school driving their respective vehicles since after school activities and jobs will take them in two different directions at the end of the day.
I have a soft spot in my heart for "back to school". I'm still a student at heart and the newness of a new school year, the possibilities, the clean slate are all good things. Pair that up with autumn, my favorite time of the year and well, it's just perfection. I am sure however, that a lot of children, especially my own, probably would beg to differ.
The air is different, there are warm days and cool, crisp nights. There are chilly mornings. The color is coming onto the hill, slow but steady – every day there is more and more of it and September hasn't even arrived yet and the official start of fall, or end of summer, depending on your perspective, is weeks away.
Have a wonderful day particularly if this is the first day of back to school. Whether you're celebrating a new school year and all the possibilities that come along with it, or simply rejoicing that the kids are back to school and occupied for the majority of the day – enjoy!
Happy First Day of School from the hill here in Vermont.
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I made these peach preserves over the weekend with fresh peaches. Oh my goodness, are they good. I found the recipe here at Natasha's Kitchen and I suggest that you hop on over there to check it out. I adapted it a bit to add a touch of vanilla (about 1 teaspoon) to the peaches before I jarred them. I had my doubts since the recipe takes a couple days to complete, but it seems that it is well worth the wait.
Anyone who has had a child knows "the bag" the one that sits, at the ready, for days or even weeks waiting for the "big event." The one that contained symbols of the new roles that husband and wife would be taking on — the first outfit, the knitted hat, the snuggly blanket, as well as all the mom stuff that the new mother would need while she was being overwhelmed by those first hours of motherhood.
Here's that bag for me.
It's a great bag that my sister bought for me for the baby shower. It not only still exists but it has taken many journeys with our expanding family over the years. Somehow, it seemed appropriate that the bag that brought everything to the hospital when he was born should be the bag that went with us when we delivered TJ to the next big phase of his life. And so, "the bag" accompanied us to Burlington — a symbol of what had been and what was yet to be.
We were off, truck packed and the five of us enjoying a ride through the mountains to TJ's new home for the school year. It didn't take long for us to get him unpacked and for him to turn the contents of those boxes, foot lockers and duffle bags into his new digs. By the time we returned with lunch in hand and perishables for his new fridge, he had transformed the stark space into a very comfy spot, very "TJ".
Everyone says that saying goodbye and leaving your child at college is hard, but the goodbyes weren't very different from goodbyes when we've dropped the boys off elsewhere. Hugs and small talk. Last minute thoughts, a heartfelt "I love you". Despite the admonitions from everyone including the parking attendants "Mom, no crying!" when we first pulled in, there were no tears. I am very proud of TJ and all that he has accomplished. He deserved to enjoy that day without a blubbering mom in the background or the foreground and I delivered. What was difficult is the coming home to TJ not being here. When we pulled into the driveway, my thought was "oh TJ's home" when I saw his truck sitting there…only to realize that "no, he wasn't home, that's just his truck". So, the long and short of it, is while TJ got the "no tear" send-off from his mom, the rest of the family hasn't been so lucky since we've been home.
I'm mopey, I admit it. No one but another mom understands that it's hard to share your life and for the better part of a year, share your very body with another person occupying the same space without feeling sad that things will never be the same. Will things be different? Yes. Will things be better? Maybe. Will you be proud of your child and their accomplishments? Absolutely.
But your family will never be the same configuration and chemistry and you will never be the same person as you were when you got in the car for that ride to college. We all know it's coming. It might as well be printed on that bag that accompanies you to the hospital for the birth. It's implicit in the very definition of parenting. The process of promoting and supporting the physical,emotional, social, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood. From the second we are "officially" parents at the birth, it is a process of independence, of teaching another human being to be self-sufficient and in so doing, tearing yourself away from that person that you have created.
Leaving TJ at the door to his dorm, there was not a cell in my body that wasn't happy for him and confident that Tom and I had done the best job we could in the preceding 18+ years in preparing him for this next journey. There wasn't a part of me that wasn't swelling with pride at the young man he has become. At the same time however, there are just as many cells yearning to freeze time and protect the familiar part of my life. In the days that follow "drop off" there will be adjustment…contrary to the "how to" books, it won't be so much for the college student as for the college student's mom.
Try as I might I cannot figure out why over the past several nights I have woken at almost the exact same time 2:15 and been unable to go back to sleep. The first time I blamed caffeine as the culprit but night before last, no caffeine in the picture – I didn't even have two cups of coffee in the morning! I'm blaming it on hormones I guess since sleep problems do not seem to plague our male counterparts. As I lay in bed tossing and turning, begging for sleep to come alongside me, my husband is sound asleep. It is very frustrating, almost as bad as the sober person around a bunch of drunk folks who are acting incredibly stupid.
After it became apparent that I was definitely, try as I might, not going back to sleep and dawn was now approaching I figured I would get up. I got up, made a crumb cake, made the coffee and then went out for a run (or run/walk as may be more appropriate). There wasn't a car out on the road while I was out. Here are some pictures from the morning yesterday
TJ leaves on Friday for college. We are in the countdown phase for sure. This past week, the UPS guy and the FedEx guy have been making almost daily stops to our house, delivering in drips and drabs various components of TJ's new life away from home. Each delivery brings with it another dose of reality that things will be very different around here next week this time. Nonetheless, I am putting on my big girl panties and keeping a brave face. This is not the end, but the beginning.
He will be off to a new adventure for which I hope we have prepared him well. At least, it seems judging by the boxes and foot lockers strewn around the house, he will be well packed.


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Nuggets on cusp of franchise record for wins
DENVER (AP) -- Ty Lawson goes down with a torn right heel, the Denver Nuggets keep right on... More
- ARNIE STAPLETON AP Sports Writer
DENVER (AP) -- Ty Lawson goes down with a torn right heel, the Denver Nuggets keep right on... More
DALLAS (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki was a baby-faced kid barely old enough to drink the last time the... More
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DETROIT (AP) -- Josh Johnson put his team in another tough spot with one of the worst outings of... More
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Ilya Kovalchuk will not play for the reeling New Jersey Devils until his... More
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said he expects to be cleared to begin... More
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Chicago White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham is expected to miss about six... More
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Route Guide - iPhone / Android - Partners - Forum - Photos - Deals - What's New - School of Rock
Routes Sorted
L to R R to L Alpha
This is one of the longer lines on the mountain, and is fairly committed. Depending on which variation you do (there are probably a half dozen established variations, and even more possible), there are between 4 and 7 ice steps, ranging from 10' to closer to 40 on the upper reaches. The steps are technically not difficult, as ice goes, but probably exceed most climbers' single-ax ability- two tools is advisable.
From the top of Palmer, cut across the top of Zig Zag glacier to the "Saddle," or the col between Illumination Rock and the mountain proper. Looking NW from the saddle, the Reid glacier is below you, and Yokum Ridge will be clearly visible on the other side. An entirely different route, Leuthold's Couloir, is the gully between the upper section of Yokum Ridge and the mountain proper- Stop short of the lowest cleaver of rock between you and Yokum, and turn up from there. This is the base of Reid Headwall.
This is a great route for a running belay. It's not technically demanding, falls (of competent climbers) are unlikely, and it will save a ton of time. Especially if the mountain is shedding rime- speed will be in your best interest.


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Final 4 bound -- Tech's Men's Doubles Team
Tech's Double's team, Gonzalo Escobar and Raony Carvalho, shock the #2 doubles team to advance to the Final 4 at the NCAA Men's Doubles National Championships. The lucky number of the day: "26" Read how the #26 seemed to be the magic number for these two Tech Men's Tennis players. Let's hope the #27 is magical too (26+1) Tech goes up against Ole Miss's team, Chris Thiemann/Marcel Thiemann. They are Seniors and twins. The winner of this match plays either Ohio State or Oklahoma. It would be very interesting to have a Big 12 Final. The Buckeyes' team is ranked #1 in the nation. Bracket for the championship Live Stats/Scoring Live Streaming Video of the matches 4:30pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012 Wreck 'Em !!! Go Tech !!!


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Update: 11:50 p.m. EST - NASCAR confirms Budweiser as official beer of Daytona International Speedway and sponsor of the Speedway through 2015. No word on if this includes the Shootout. DAYTONA...
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. - The Budweiser Shootout could be viewed as an extended test session for next week's season-opening Daytona 500. After watching this year's race, the stars of the Sprint Cup...
This may be the most captivating commercial ever dedicated to NASCAR and the Daytona 500. The 30-second TV spot, set to the tune of Coldplay's Paradise, sets the tone for everything NASCAR fans...
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Let's get ready for some NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing from Phoenix International Raceway. This is an in-depth look at who has the best stats of the weekend.
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Do you need some help with your NASCAR Sprint Cup Series fantasy league? NASCAR Ranting and Raving offers and in-depth look at the Tums Fast Relief 500. Check out Fast Five!
Fast Five Facts for the Good Sam's Club 500 from Talladega Superspeedway. Do you play fantasy racing and need some stats for the weekend? This article will help with some of the hard picks for the...
Fast Five Facts of Charlotte Motor Speedway. NASCAR drivers stay in Charlotte tihs weekend for some fun Saturday night racing. Who has the best stats?
SPARTA, Ky - At the end of the 2010 season, fans at Kentucky Speedway proclaimed their track as not ready to host a Sprint Cup weekend. On Saturday their worst fears were realized. Traffic was...
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Despite reports that she still pines for Jon, Kate Gosselin says she's looking for someone new and is about ready to get back into the dating world.
"I'm kind of out-ish, sort of," the Kate Plus 8 star said. "You never really picture yourself back in that scene after you're done with it in your 20s."
"But I'm trying to be a little more open-minded now," Kate added. "If there's anybody out there that wants to deal with us, that would be good."
JON & KATE: On the same page, albeit not together.
It's not like the mother of eight, who has gone through personal and media hell and back over the last few years, hasn't come a long way, though.
"I'm encouraging the kids to enjoy their time with him," Kate says, referring to ex-hubby Jon, who she's a lot kinder to in public comments lately.
Kate, who just celebrated her 36th birthday last week, says that when it comes to her ex, she's "keeping communication as positive as possible."
Not exactly a convincing, heartwarming statement, but ... baby steps.


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Aurora churches kindle hope after the horror
Located less than a mile from the scene of the Aurora shooting, Mississippi Avenue Baptist Church has offered hope and comfort to the suburban Denver community.
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Posted on Jul 25, 2012 | by Aaron Earls
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AURORA, Colo. (BP) -- Almost as soon as the gunfire ceased in the Century Theater in Aurora, Colo., local churches began meeting the needs of the hurting in the community and their own congregations.
"I immediately felt the same anxiety that many others felt," said Mitchell Hamilton, pastor of Mississippi Avenue Baptist Church, "as I considered the very real possibility that one of our members might be directly affected. My second thought was to get to the church and begin organizing a response."
The church, located less than a mile from the scene of the shootings, opened its doors for prayer vigils and counseling. All of the church staff members have been involved, Hamilton said, and other counselors were brought in, including one who had ministered following the Columbine shooting.
During one counseling session, Hamilton was faced with a teary eyed 6-year-old girl asking why her cousin died.
"It was tough," Hamilton said of talking with the little girl and her mother. "The mother came to our church because that was the first place she thought might could help her daughter."
After sharing some about heaven and praying with the family, Hamilton scheduled an appointment for them later that day with a professional grief counselor.
While several people came by the church and received counseling, others simply wanted a place to mourn and pray.
"A young Marine came by in tears. He ran in and just wanted to go to the altar," said Allie McNider, associate pastor at Mississippi Avenue. "We lost two local servicemen and he was grieving for them."
Besides providing on-site help for the community, the church has empowered their members to minister to those around them.
"We offered any resource they may have needed," McNider said, "anything from counseling to a gift card for family members to eat at local restaurants while they are here."
"This is the essence of Ephesians 4:11-12," Hamilton said. "Our members were able to touch our community in ways the staff never could."
Rose Lamb, a Mississippi Avenue member, has been helping a co-worker who lost her son.
"Parents are not supposed to bury their kids," Lamb said.
While prayer was the most important need, Lamb said she and other co-workers have been able to meet some of their friend's immediate needs of "food, hugs, errands and daily visits to the home for emotional support."
While the church may not always have the answer to the "why" questions, Lamb said Christians "can offer comfort and support through listening, prayer and just being there for a hurting world. Just offering to pray with someone makes a huge impact. People remember that."
For Lamb, reaching out to the hurting should be how believers respond during tragedies. "Bottom line," she said, "it's what Christians are called to do."
Lamb said her friend needs prayer to have the strength to keep going and her community needs to regain a sense of security that was ripped away early Friday morning.
"Folks need to feel safe," she said. "There are so many who are struggling. Even those that were there but got out safe, their minds and hearts will be forever scarred. The city needs emotional healing as well as physical healing."
Despite the tragic events, both Lamb and Hamilton also expressed amazement at seeing God's hand at work since the shooting and even during those tragic moments in the theater.
In the midst of the pain, Hamilton rejoiced that the gunman's weapon jammed and that he was taken into custody without incident, allowing the police to discern that his apartment was rigged with explosives, preventing additional deaths.
Lamb has seen non-Christian friends attend Mississippi Avenue and Christians come together in prayer and support.
"There are incredible testimonies of believers who were in critical places to save and counsel the hurting," Hamilton said, "and there are miraculous survival stories."
Ryan Heller, pastor of The Edge Church, a Southern Baptist church plant in Aurora, experienced one of those stories as he discovered that one of his members was among the 58 wounded.
Pierce O'Farrill told Dave Delozier of NBC 9 News that he and a friend were only a few feet from the gunman when he first unleashed his torrent of bullets. O'Farrill and his friend were hit and fell to the ground.
As he lay motionless on the floor unable to attempt an escape due to his gunshot wounds, O'Farrill heard the shooter walk toward him, stopping only six inches from him.
"He was literally standing directly above me, and I could feel his boot right next to my head," O'Farrill said. "I just had my face down on the ground and stayed as still as I possibly could, and I prayed and prayed. He fired off a couple more rounds and then he left."
As soon as they realized one of their own was one of the victims, The Edge Church began to minister to O'Farrill.
"Our whole staff has really been involved in encouraging him," Heller said. "Lots of our people are visiting and loving on him. Kids from our children's ministry made him get well cards. We visited him in the hospital and joined hands in prayer over him and his family."
While O'Farrill will be sharing his story with his church family on Sunday, he has, in the words of his pastor, "stirred a national debate on forgiveness" after he told national media figures that he forgives the accused gunman.
The media exposure has allowed church members like O'Farrill and pastors like Hamilton to share their message personally with reporters and media personnel.
"We became very intentional to share the love of Christ and the Gospel with each member of the press we met," Hamilton said. "I had one videographer, with tears, tell me that he had never had anyone pray for him."
Since the shooting, Mississippi Avenue has had more than 10 media outlets on the campus.
"God has allowed us to tell His story of hope to the world through the media," McNider said. "This is a very small window. Next week, we could not pay them to come through our doors."
However, through this tragedy, McNider feels that they were "able to show them a side of church they may not have experienced. From statements they made, they saw the true spirit of the living God through His people."
Bob Ryan, team leader for the Denver-area Mile High Baptist Association, was clearly moved when speaking about the response of the area pastors and churches. "I'm so proud of my pastors," Ryan said.
Ryan recalled the string of tragedies that have occurred in and around the Denver metro area, beginning with the shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. He said these tragedies pose a danger to churches and Christians.
"You can become desensitized to pain and calloused to the hurting around you, but our pastors have not done that," Ryan said. "They have responded with brokenness and responded with hope."
Speaking of the Aurora tragedy along with the deaths of 14 in a recent truck accident in Texas, Ryan said Christians must always weep with the weeping and never stop being shocked at such events.
Mike Edlund, executive director of the Colorado Baptist General Convention, found the events hit "very close to home," as his daughter and son-in-law live near the theater and she works at University Hospital, where many victims were taken after the shooting.
Edlund said that despite the vivid reminder of the fallenness of this world, a responsibility exists for Christians. "We have the message of hope that must be shared with our state," Edlund said.
Hope was the theme that so many stressed as a community began seeking to move beyond this tragedy.
"The world will move on quickly," McNider said, "but this is only a mile from here. We will have to drive past that theater as we travel around Aurora. That makes it more difficult to move on, but we will move on. We have to get up and proclaim the message of hope in the midst of what the world would say is hopeless."
The church must be about "sharing hope in darkness," Ryan said. "This Sunday, there will be a lot of talk about pain, and in a way that helps, but there will also be talk of hope."
Hamilton had a similar message.
"We will continue to encourage our community," he said. "As time moves forward, we will continue to give a message of hope. It is quite obvious that God is here and touching lives."
McNider echoed these sentiments saying, "God will see us through this. He is beginning to give us the strength to put one foot in front of the other."
Aaron Earls is a writer based in Wake Forest, N.C. With additional reporting by Amber Cassady, Colorado Baptist General Convention correspondent. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (
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"Are You a Good Witch or a Bad Witch?"
- Joshua M Brown
- October 21st, 2011
When we came into the month of October, sentiment was atrocious pretty much everywhere. I was down in the dumps just like almost everybody else. I collected all the awful economic things we were hearing about and plowed them into one gigantic post, Season of the Witch. The market hit it's low for the month that day and hasn't looked back. All of the problems I listed are still with us, pretty much – what's changed is that the market has begun accepting and processing them. Earlier this week our inputs flipped and we began buying for the first time in awhile. For me, it's been an exercise in respecting what the market is telling us rather than what my gut or my emotions may say. I'm not much good at this, but I'm working on it.
Anyway I talked about our new buys on TV this past Tuesday, Barry has a post up going into more detail…
This week, I made several changes in the Core Asset Allocation model, adding several new names and increasing our exposure to equities. And, we did that by reducing our cash position significantly, rather than selling bonds.
Recall back on August 1, we sold emerging markets, technology and small cap positions. There were a variety of reasons why, detailed in There's Something Happening Here.
Since then, I have been patiently waiting for an opportunity to redeploy that capital. The trader in me wanted to get long for a quick pop, but . . . there is a huge difference between managing people's retirement money, and swinging cash around for short term P&L.
I insist on something beyond a mere gut feel (i.e., blink-like recognition). I need some hard data to confirm that the buys are a high probability trade, and by last Friday, we received it.
Read the rest below:
Tactical Shift in Portfolios: Reducing Cash (The Big Picture)
Full Disclosure: Nothing on this site should ever be considered to be advice, research or an invitation to buy or sell any securities, please see my Terms & Conditions page for a full disclaimer.blog comments powered by Disqus
The Reformed Broker is a blog about financial markets and the economy. Joshua Brown is a New York City-based investment advisor for high net worth individuals, charitable foundations, retirement plans and corporations... More.