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Bitumen is a black, oily, viscous material that is a naturally-occurring organic byproduct of decomposed organic materials. Also known as asphalt or tar, bitumen was mixed with other materials throughout prehistory and throughout the world for use as a sealant, adhesive, building mortar, incense, and decorative application on pots, buildings, or human skin. The material was also useful in waterproofing canoes and other water transport, and in the mummification process toward the end of the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt. It is also flammable. And, thanks to recent scholarship, this gooey stuff is also identifiable to source.
The earliest known use of bitumen was by Neanderthals, some 40,000 years ago. Bitumen was found adhering to stone tools used by Neanderthals at sites such as Hummal and Umm El Tlel in Syria; it was probably used to fasten a wooden or ivory haft to the sharp edged tools. During the late Uruk and Chalcolithic periods at Hacinebi, in Syria, bitumen was used for construction of buildings and water proofing of reed boats, with among other uses.
Some of the bitumen in Syria was found to have originated from the Hit seepage on the Euphrates River in southern Mesopotamia. The earliest reed boat discovered yet was coated with bitumen, at the site of H3 at As-Sabiyah, about 5000 BC. And, one of the myths of the Mesopotamian Sargon the Great of Akkad was that as an infant he floated in a bitumen-coated reed basket down the Euphrates River.
The use of bitumen in Egyptian mummies was important beginning at the end of the New Kingdom (after 1100 BC)--in fact the word from which mummy is derived 'mūmiyyah' means bitumen in Arabic. Recent studies in Mesoamerica (pre-Classic and post-classic periods were included) have found bitumen was used to stain human remains, perhaps as a ritual pigment as red ochre is. But more likely, say researchers Argáez and associates, the staining may have resulted from using heated bitumen applied to stone tools which were used to dismember those bodies.
The La Brea Tar Pits in California is one place where a smelly oily bitumen lake can be, uh, experienced first hand.
This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guide to Raw Materials, and the Dictionary of Archaeology.
A wonderful source on bitumen is the paper by Krishnan and Rajagopal cited below, which has an extensive summary of bitumen used throughout history, and a long discussion about the mechanical properties and locations of the material throughout the world, as well as a 500+ entry bibliography on the subject.
Argáez C, Batta E, Mansilla J, Pijoan C, and Bosch P. 2011. The origin of black pigmentation in a sample of Mexican prehispanic human bones. Journal of Archaeological Science 38(11):2979-2988.
Connan J. 1999. Use and trade of bitumen in antiquity and prehistory: molecular archaeology reveals secrets of past civilizations. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 354:33-50.
Connan J, Carter R, Crawford H, Tobey M, Charrié-Duhaut A, Jarvie D, Albrecht P, and Norman K. 2005. A comparative geochemical study of bituminous boat remains from H3, As-Sabiyah (Kuwait), and RJ-2, Ra's al-Jinz (Oman). Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 16(1):21-66.
Connan J, and Van de Velde T. 2010. An overview of bitumen trade in the Near East from the Neolithic (c.8000 BC) to the early Islamic period. Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 21(1):1-19.
Krishnan JM, and Rajagopal KR. 2003. Review of the uses and modeling of bitumen from ancient to modern times. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Applied Mechanics Reviews 56(2):149-214.
Rawcliffe C, Aston M, Lowings A, Sharp MC, and Watkins KG. 2005. Laser Engraving Gulf Pearl Shell--Aiding the Reconstruction of the Lyre of Ur. Lacona VI.
Schwartz M, and Hollander D. 2008. Bulk stable carbon and deuterium isotope analyses of bitumen artifacts from Hacinebi Tepe, Turkey: reconstructing broad economic patterns of the Uruk expansion. Journal of Archaeological Science 35(12):3144-3158.
Wendt CJ, and Cyphers A. 2008. How the Olmec used bitumen in ancient Mesoamerica. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 27(2):175-191.
Wendt CJ, and Lu S-T. 2006. Sourcing archaeological bitumen in the Olmec region. Journal of Archaeological Science 33(1):89-97.


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Something has happened to the Atlanta Falcons defense and the Carolina Panthers are more than happy to take advantage. The latest player to look like a stud against them is Greg Olsen, who just scored a 42-yard touchdown to give the Panthers a 21-6 lead over the Falcons.
Just a week ago, the Falcons had won 5 of 6 and looked to be a contender. After Olsen's touchdown, they find themselves looking at a second straight loss.
Olsen didn't have to do anything special on this one either. He broke a couple tackles, but nothing spectacular and just kinda jogged into the end zone.

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Time for our own All-Star game
24 Comments · Posted by Pat Coleman in General
The news today that Division III football players won't be able to participate in the Aztec Bowl this season only drives home more strongly the point that Division III football should have its own All-Star game.
The Aztec Bowl has been fine in a lot of ways. Sure, we wish it gave more players the chance to participate, or that it were held in a place that we could get to, or that it didn't coincide with the Stagg Bowl or the playoffs, but it did provide three things: organization, funding and a ready-made opponent (the Mexican college league's champion).
But after ONEFA dropped the ball, we can't expect the AFCA to be left holding the bag for another $50,000, considering that would double what they already spend. I'm convinced we could do it cheaper, and I know we could do it better, here at home.
Why should we spend all the money it takes to fly people to Mexico and deal with all the administrative hassles required in crossing the border, etc.? Why should we tell seniors who play on the Stagg Bowl teams, or sometimes the semifinal teams, that they can't play because Mexico schedules the game when it's convenient for them?
For the vocal minority that insists the Stagg Bowl should be played in a warmer climate, here's your chance. Let's put the All-Star game in a warmer climate, scheduled after the Stagg Bowl, and see how it draws. Let's give 96 seniors the chance to participate instead of 48.
And meanwhile, let's find that all-important $100,000. Unfortunately, that's a significant amount of money, far more than D3sports.com's annual budget. (That's why we all work full-time jobs.) But if scheduled in the right location, I think we can get it done.
AFCA · all-star game · Aztec Bowl · funding · seniors
24 comments
Author comment by USee · October 21, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Phenomenal idea. I couldn't agree more. Forget the Aztec Bowl. How do we get this started? I can't imagine it would take 100k for an American based event. What if AFCA hosted it near their HQ in Waco? I would think Texas would be a great hosting spot. Maybe San Antoino or Austin? We could call it the TexMex Bowl!
Author comment by GoHop · October 21, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Here is my suggestion, I am rounding to even numbers to make it easy.
$100000/200 teams = $500/team
There must be a way that each d3 team can raise $500. $50 from 10 families or $25 from 20 families or $10 from 50 families. When you spread the cost across all the teams it isn't very much. Another way would be to get a corporate sponsor or two. Nike or Coke would probably jump at it.
Author comment by Pat Coleman · October 21, 2008 at 3:49 pm
It would be nice to get corporate sponsorship but I believe the AFCA has already tried to go down that road.
Author comment by CStateFB06 · October 21, 2008 at 4:07 pm
The Aztec Bowl concept should not die… It would be a great thing for the best D-III has to offer to complete against one another in our own version of a Pro Bowl. East vs. West, North vs. South… whatever. The game should be played a week or two after the Stagg Bowl in a warm location or maybe a northern dome facility. This could possibily lead to more D-III players getting looked at for the professional levels; NFL, CFL, NFL Europe, Arena Leagues, etc. Something to highly consider.
Author comment by USee · October 21, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Pat, maybe corporate sponsor is more likely with a game on home soil vs Mexico?
Author comment by AUPepBand · October 21, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Having had several Saxons represent the USA in past Aztec Bowls, and the location prohibiting Alfred fans from attending, Pep would be in favor of the AFCA hosting an all-star game in the States. Perhaps the North and South or East and West could each muster an all-star band to add to the game atmosphere….a Battle of the Bands!
Author comment by Pat Coleman · October 21, 2008 at 8:48 pm
USee, it's certainly more possible. Couldn't much be less possible at this point.
I also wonder if players would be willing to raise funds to participate.
Author comment by D3Keith · October 21, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I have a great idea for this, but I'm saving it for tomorrow's ATN.
I call dibs on my idea, no one steal it!
Author comment by budcrew08 · October 22, 2008 at 12:32 am
I wonder if there is anything us ATR guys can do?
Author comment by Ron Boerger · October 22, 2008 at 1:20 pm
$100K sounds close to right. You have to pay for airfare at last-second rates, have to get the coaching staffs there (which means paying them some honorarium and getting them there), pay for the stadium, hotel costs, food costs, local travel costs, etc … times 96.
Making the players raise funds … a tough call. A lot of them are up to their eyeballs in debt already, after all, they're at D3 schools.
There are a lot of people that have lots of frequent flyer miles just sitting around. I'd chip in a ticket for someone but coordinating all that would be a disaster. This is something where someone needs to put out an appeal (say, AFCA?) and see how doable this might be.
The D3football.com All-Star Game … sounds great, I'd chip in funds but somehow I doubt the boys want to take on that much of a challenge even if the funds did appear out of nowhere. Maybe AFCA would call it the D3football.com bowl if we were able to raise, say, $20K to underwrite part of the costs.
Author comment by allsky7 · October 22, 2008 at 2:51 pm
What about doing it in Salem the same weekend as the Stagg Bowl? Either Friday night or even Sunday. Even though the players on the Stagg Bowl teams wouldn't be able to participate, there would be a ton of D3 talent on display in one location over a short period of time. A real D3 showcase. Do you think ESPN could sacrifice a few hours of Texas Hold Em to show the D3 guys a little love?
Author comment by cnu85 · October 22, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I think 2 weeks after the Stagg Bowl and at rotating sites would be great. The time frame would still be in the 50 day window from the end of D1 season and bowl games (what a farce!). Have it in the south one year, out west the next, up north in a dome the next. If someone had the time and talent to coordinate things, it could be done. You can't have teams pay for it, as some teams that never produce the talent for an all-star game would complain. Then you would raise the suspicion of teams paying to get kids on the team. Players can't pay (see note above about D3 kids being in debt – unless, of course you take only public school kids and not private – oops – thought I was on the USA South board!)
D3Football.com could start a survey as to the potential of how much could be raised from fans. I'll toss in some bucks. Sponsors can be obtained. You just need the right sales pitch. Get a president of a college to spearhead it. I vote CNU's Sen. Paul Trible. Since he's been at CNU they have spent $500 million in capital improvements with another $500 million planned and partially committed. That's a BILLION dollars in a decade. He even obtained sponshorship for POMOCO stadium naming rights – $1 million. I'm sure he (or other like minded visionaries) could scrape up some corporations to dump $1 million for 10 years of All-star games! Heck – I was at the UVA UNC game this past wekeend and they have Wachovia sponsoring some things on the scoreboard – Wachovia!!!! – They need to be sponsoring jobs for their employees and secure accounts for their customers!!
Just some ideas. And if any of these are Keith's ideas, I stole them right out of his head.
Author comment by Gordon · October 22, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Maybe this is an area where we can borrow ideas from Division II's Cactus Bowl.
Author comment by lg1970 · October 23, 2008 at 1:41 am
There are two matters to think about from my perspective: (1) funding sources for the game itself and all of its logistical considerations and (2) the appeal of a second DIII game to a major TV network if broadcasting the game is a goal. Regarding the first point, we need to be realistic in our expectations about external sources of funding. Prospective sponsors would require pro forma financials showing the potential ROI (that is where TV comes in). As for the second point, it would be interesting to know the profitability to ESPN of the Stagg Bowl broadcasts. Their continued coverage would suggest they don't lack for corporate sponsors, but would a second DIII game be pushing it? For that matter, is the second point a necessary consideration to us? I just don't know. But I love the concept and even asked Pat a couple of years ago about the possibility. I even emailed Grant Taff, the Exec Director of the AFCA, about the idea but never heard from him.
Author comment by Pat Coleman · October 23, 2008 at 1:44 am
I agree that I'm not sure televising the game is a goal. At least, broadcasting it on ESPNU instead of ESPN or ESPN2 is more likely.
By the way, Keith filed ATN and it's been published:
Author comment by donnie · October 23, 2008 at 9:18 pm
As I read each comment everyone appears to agree with the concept of a bowl game after the Stagg Bowl Champship game. Everyone suggest ways to raise funds for the event. The one thing that everyone can't agree on and how to get it done is who will spearhead it, where it will be. Hopefully when Keith provides us with his great idea tomorrow it will all be simple and easy and will become reality. I for one would love to see this happen and would definitely attend.
Author comment by Pat Coleman · October 23, 2008 at 9:20 pm
It's in Around the Nation, already published with the link I posted earlier.
Author comment by D3Keith · October 24, 2008 at 2:28 am
But the winning idea is to play the game in Salem in conjunction with the Stagg Bowl, perhaps the day before. Any ticket purchased gets a fan into both games, and it provides a mixed crowd of all-stars and their families the chance to see Division III football (and hospitality) at its very best. The ten Gagliardi Trophy finalists and four regional finalists would all likely be on the all-star teams, and therefore be on hand for the presentation. Media covering the Stagg Bowl would be in the house for the all-star game and vice versa. Surely, too, it would be more cost-effective to stage a game where there already would be one. The game officials, usually from a neutral Division III conference, might even get some practice with the instant replay system, which is currently used at our level for the Stagg Bowl only.
Of course, it's easy to suggest some random somebody fund and stage this game. So put Around the Nation on the record offering to select the teams for the game (they'd look a lot like a pre-playoffs seniors-only version of the D3football.com All-Region and all-American teams) and donating the first $5 to the cause. (What? We're in an economic crisis here!) I'll even offer to set up a mandatory D3football.com Study Hall so NESCAC players can participate.
Think about it. The best of the best, not in some random city with no connection to Division III. If we're going to do the game, let's do it right and put it somewhere where the D3 die-hards can turn it into a big-game atmosphere. Oh yeah, one can only hope there'd be enough hotel rooms in the Roanoke Valley.
Author comment by D3Keith · October 24, 2008 at 2:33 am
I honestly think it's best not to overshoot our scope here. Treat it like a reward, but TV and a bowl-like location … we just aren't going to have the audience to justify that.
In the column I suggest that a D3 city with a ready-made crowd be willing to host. (The Gagliardi Classic)
But I think at this stage, unless D3football.com could pull it off, which we can't, it might be wishful thinking.
It's not bad to get the idea in the pipeline though.
I think having it in Salem with the Stagg Bowl enhances both events.
The D3football.com All-Star Game … sounds great, I'd chip in funds but somehow I doubt the boys want to take on that much of a challenge even if the funds did appear out of nowhere. Maybe AFCA would call it the D3football.com bowl if we were able to raise, say, $20K to underwrite part of the costs.
Actually, underwriting it is the major problem. I would volunteer to coordinate it (or at least coordinate the search for someone who knows how to coordinate such things) if I thought it were truly feasible. Selecting players is the easy part. Something tells me (perhaps playing in a low-budget "all-star" game before, myself) that these things are much harder to put on than they appear.
Author comment by D3Keith · October 24, 2008 at 2:37 am
That above quote is from Ron Boerger BTW.
I guess the problem with Salem is they're so focused on the Stagg Bowl and making it a championship experience for those kids, would they have the time or even want to be bothered with a No. 2 event in town the same weekend?
I think it would be a great showcase for both events, in that other players get exposed to Salem and the Stagg Bowl and the Gagliardi Trophy event and take that back to campus (plus the stars would do the clinics, etc.), and the media in town for Stagg would see the stars, etc.
Author comment by D3Keith · October 24, 2008 at 2:41 am
Also I wonder if there are NCAA issues with them being able to accept meals and plane tickets, or would it not matter if the game was filled with seniors whose eligibility was up? Or would our game get the same waiver as the Aztec Bowl?
Pat's idea of playing NAIA stars is interesting too.
In the end of course we all fellowship and make something good out of it.
The weather is not that great of a concern for me. A player whose career has recently ended gets to hangout for three days and play once more? You can put that game in Yakima, Yemassee, S.C. or the Yukon and players would be in.
Author comment by Buckeye4u · October 25, 2008 at 9:41 am
I have always felt that the Hall of Fame field in Canton, Ohio would be a good fit for the Stagg Bowl. Being there are some NAIA teams in that area….a NAIA/DIVlll All-Star game would draw a crowd. I did suggest this to a Canton Sports writer..his reply (not a very convincing one to me) people would consider that field to be a home field advantage to Mt. Union…..who I think played there once…1947 vs Kent State…Just my thoughts on a site…
Author comment by footballfan2 · October 26, 2008 at 2:00 pm
A d3 all-star game is definitely needed and a d3/naia game is a good idea. as of this year there are only a handful of all-star games for players of all divisions (SR bowl, shrine game, cactus, texas vs nation, east coast bow), most of which are played in texas with exception of sr bowl (mobile, al) and east coast bowl (petersburg, va). the east coast bowl (in its 8th year) started as a d2/d3 only game and eventually added fcs (formerly iaa) a couple years ago. having worked with their administration for a couple years they are the only game that doesnt pay for transportation and their talent has continued to improve with guys drafted in each of the last 2 games. they pay for everything else,aside from travel, and typically spend between 20,000 and 30,000 to run the whole game. since the players are finished in school and draft-eligible they are able to get transporation funded through a variety of sources: agents, college booster clubs, school administrators, local businesses that are supporters of that school and other avenues. considering the geographical location of VA, the bulk of the players drive themselves to the game. having some type of non-profit/agency that benefits from the game helps to give alittle marketing leverage, i.e. east coast bowl award local high school player scholarship money, shrine game donates portion of proceeds to shriners hospital. in my opinion, the first step to saving money would be to centralize the game so the majority of players are able to drive in…reimbursing gas money would be a whole lot cheaper than paying airfare.
Author comment by cwru70 · October 29, 2008 at 9:05 am
NAIA just picked up Russell Athletic as sponsor for its Championship. So sponsoship is do-able. Just one sponsor down.
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1800 East Oakton Street
Des Plaines, Illinois 60018-2187
August 31, 2004
The Honorable John Henshaw
Assistant Secretary for Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSHA Docket Office – Docket No. C-06
Room N-2625
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave., NW.
Washington, DC 20210.
RE: Proposed Voluntary Protection Program for Construction
Dear Assistant Secretary Henshaw:
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), on behalf of its 30,000 member safety, health and environmental (SH+E) professionals, offers the following comments in strong support of the Occupational Safety and Health Adminstration's proposal to advance the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) to the construction industry.
Among its thirteen practice specialties, ASSE's Construction Practice Specialty members are among the most active leaders in managing safety and health concerns in virtually every area and phase of construction. They work with the largest companies and the smallest contractors, on public and private projects, as employed safety and health practitioners, and as consultants.
ASSE and these members strongly support OSHA's role in setting appropriate occupational safety and health standards in construction as well as an OSHA committed to holding employers to those standards through effective enforcement. As a means of encouraging
commitment to safety and health that exceeds those standards, ASSE also supports OSHA's efforts to establish effective and accountable cooperative mechanisms that encourage and reward employers' demonstrated commitment to occupational safety and health. Such cooperative efforts mirror the work our members do every day in helping employers address safety and health risks. Most employers know that effective management of those risks helps them achieve a
competitive position in the marketplace. Therefore, OSHA's proposal to establish a Voluntary Protection Program for Construction (VPPC) provides a long needed opportunity for construction companies to step forward and demonstrate their commitment to their employees' safety and health. The plan proposed by OSHA in the August 31, 2004, Federal Register (69 Fed. Reg. at 53299, et seq.) has every chance of succeeding.
The only general concern expressed by our members is that the program does not go far enough in taking into account the reality that the construction industry relies greatly on small companies that work at jobs for short lengths of time. Whether through this proposal or the establishment in the future of still another more specifically targeted VPPC program, it is important that small employers and those employers who work short periods of time at construction sites be encouraged to achieve excellence in their management of employee safety and health.
In our members' view, small and, in many cases, even medium-sized construction companies and contractors will not have an opportunity to participate in VPPC. Many such companies will view the requirements as complex and involved and necessitating the hiring of a full time safety professional. The hiring of a full-time safety professional should be encouraged on large construction projects. To encourage medium and small-sized companies to participate in this program, ASSE urges that language be added to inform companies that construction safety consultants who can help meet these requirements are readily available through ASSE's Construction and Consultants Practice Specialties, other associations like t he Associated General Contractors of America and companies' insurance carriers.
Our members have also expressed concern over the length of time required for participation under this program. For example, a member who works for a company he believes could meet the requirements proposed here works projects that usually last between 3 months and a year. It would be a shame to restrict a company with a good safety and health management system strictly because they did not meet the relatively long-term site requirement. Encouraging these companies' commitment to the safety and health of their employees is important to the industry as a whole.
Related to this issue is the view of our members that they do not believe the program's application to jobs that are mostly subcontractor-performed is generally explained well enough in the proposal. Specific criteria are needed for general contractors to be able to understand the contractor requirements and mentoring opportunities for subcontractors.
Our members are enthused about this opportunity. They already indicate a strong interest for their own companies to achieve VPP status through this program as soon as possible. As one member commented to us, "This has been needed for a long time." Again in their view, construction companies get a "bad rap" because of the industry's overall statistics. They know there are good companies that should have a means to be recognized for their success in occupational safety and health. VPPC is a way of giving them the recognition they deserve. It may also be a way for some of the companies that need improvement to develop a plan or vision to move forward and become better. Given the hazardous nature of the construction business and past difficulties in construction, this program could be the key component of improving safety conditions in construction throughout the nation.
ASSE appreciates this opportunity to comment on the VPPC proposal and, as always, stands ready to involve our members in helping ensure this cooperative effort's success.
Gene Barfield, CSP
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Daniel Lee | February 28, 2012 | Comments |
Case studies from Qantas and Singapore Zoo show how brands have landed in hot water unnecessarily.
In my spare time as a martial arts instructor, the students I train often ask what's the best technique against a punch, a choke, or maybe a knife hold up. Generally, the answer is "run" (also known as Nike-jitsu), but the best answer is "don't be there in the first place." In other words, avoidance is the best technique.
Now with social media, it's clear that it can be a minefield for mishaps and torrents of negativity for your brand. Everyone is watching: your customers, your competitors, your stakeholders, but especially the media at large who needs a news story about the latest social media casualty. Often, the sting of mainstream media coverage is far worse than the actual online damage.
The same self-defense principle applies. If you can avoid known risk factors, then 99 percent of the time, your social media experiences are likely to be relatively smooth and you won't have to execute a crisis management plan.
Let's examine the three most dangerous risk factors and how brands have landed in hot water unnecessarily.
1. Timing is everything: be aware of pre-existing negative sentiment.
1. Timing is everything: be aware of pre-existing negative sentiment.
When Qantas Airways ran a Twitter promotion in November 2011, asking users to tweet an answer to "what is your dream luxury in-flight experience?" with the hashtag #qantasluxury - it sounded like a run of the mill (safe) promotion.
Except that the Qantas PR team was probably in their own little brand bubble, and had "forgotten" that Qantas had just been through more than three preceding months of labor union disputes and safety incidents, resulting in the entire grounding of the Qantas fleet with mass delays. In other words, there were thousands of unhappy customers, as well as thousands of disgruntled union members and their families.
When this pre-existing negative sentiment is coupled with the opportunity to lambast and lampoon the brand, a social media disaster ensued. Badly timed, but most importantly just not thinking about the context of engaging in social media.
2. Use separate tools for corporate and social posting, even to the point of workflow.
2. Use separate tools for corporate and social posting, even to the point of workflow.
You're not going to be able to stop the social media team from posting personally during "work" time, but when they use the same tools (usually a third-party management tool) to manage their personal accounts and the corporate account, the potential for a momentary lapse in concentration and a wrongly intended post is huge. Never mix personal and corporate accounts in the same tool, and for the totally paranoid, many social media engagement tools now feature profanity filters and workflow approval processes.
3. Do not underestimate socially active constituents.
3. Do not underestimate socially active constituents.
It's been well proven that social media can effect change by mobilizing a mass of socially active participants to create a groundswell of momentum that is hard to ignore. When the Singapore Zoo permanently cancelled the Halloween Horrors event in September 2011, less than three weeks before the official start and with 1,000 tickets already sold, the negative social media reaction and subsequent mainstream coverage was unexpected by the acting CEO, Isabella Loh.
The event had run previously for six years, was commercially successful, and delivered by Singapore Polytechnic students as a final year project, working for seven months prior. When the event was cancelled - without consultation and provided with only tenuous explanations from the CEO - these students and their friends turned to the channels they knew to voice their opinion: Facebook, Twitter, forums, and blogs.
Keeping Your Brand Free From Social Media Disasters
Keeping Your Brand Free From Social Media Disasters
If your brand is active in social media (who isn't?), then you are likely to face a social media crisis eventually. But in the meantime, you can significantly reduce your exposure by applying the simple principle: consider the known risks and plan to avoid them. It's far better than an unexpected social media assault.
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Daniel Lee is one of the few digital professionals whose experience spans over 12 years in the digital industry in both the agency side and client side with Telstra Corporation. He recently joined Euro RSCG Singapore after management and digital strategy roles with Ogilvy, JWT, Walkers Advertising, and pure play digital agency Terabyte. He has worked across multiple industries with international clients such as American Express, Nestlé, Purina, BP, and Ford and regional Australasian clients such as AMP Financial Services, Sanitarium, and Macquarie Bank. Before social media was "the in thing" he had launched Australasia's largest new mothers portal for SCA Hygiene, and worked on Diet Coke's first content driven fan platform in 2003. He is also is an active online reviewer and serves as a moderator on a community forum. In his spare time, he enjoys martial arts, derivatives trading, and spending time with his young family.
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Reading the recent fanpost about acquiring Juan Pierre I was taken back to a theory I have had for several years regarding a new direction teams, particularly financially strapped ones, could take and theoretically be more competive. It is radical, and to my my knowledge has never been attempted in totality. Drum roll please...
A lineup composed in near entirety of speedy players running wild, surrounded by contact hitters. Lets delve in to this concept a bit.
Im literally proposing a team that would ideally be composed of guys who get on base and just run. Green light to go everytime. We may get thrown out plenty of times, but how often would we have runners in scoring position? Bunts, squeezes, contact swings. Teams would have fits controlling this way of play.
First lets start with the reasoning of how this could work and why it is effective. Speedy players do a number ofthings that change the way games are played.
1. When on base, they are always in the pitchers head, and thus taking some of their focus off of the hitter.
2. A single can develop into a double or triple within the span of a couple pitches.
3. The pitcher is reduced many times to a slidestep reducing their velocity.
4. Singles hitters become much more effective when each runner is capable of stealing bases.
5. Pickoff throws, are akin to adding to pitchcounts.
6. Relief pitchers are often much less effective at holding baserunners.
7. Small ball in this scenario could cut teams to pieces
8. Speedy players are generally very good defensively
I used to play a little college ball, and Im sure anyone who has played any form of competitive baseball knows how unsettling a speedy baserunner can be to the other team. No pitcher would feel comfortable with a team composed in such a way...
No lets get into the composition... First off it require a total commitment to the process. Just start drafting this way. No other team in the game would be doing this... instead of looking for the next Bryce Harper or Prince Fielder... we would be looking for Coco Crisp (7th round) or michael bourn (4th round). Its clear as day speed players go way later than power hitters, obviously. We could have a drafts with no competition, theoretically of course.
And this concept continues into the majors. Chicks dig the long ball. And so do agents. And every team.. Homers get paid top dollar...Steals do not.. And contact hitters do not.
Now this is not scientific as arbitration and pre free agent salaries are in play.. And homeruns are not the sole statistic of truth, but here is a breakdown of last years top 10 sb leaders salaries going into this year vs. those of the homerun hitters.
1. Bourn 4.4 million 1.Bautista 8 million
2.crisp 5.75 2. Granderson 8.25
3. Gardner 575,000 3. texeira 23.125
4. Ichiro 18.0 million 4. Kemp 7.1 million
5.Maybin 429,000 5.Prince 15.5 mil
6. Kemp 7.1 million 6 Albert 14.5
7.Bonifacio 425,000 7. Reynolds 5.33
8. Stubbs 450,000 8.Uggla 9.14
9. Reyes 11.0 mil 9.Stanton 416,000
10 ellsbury 2.4 10. Howard 20 mil
Total 50.5 million Total 111.361 million
Now what this tells us is a few things. Sb leaders are younger and therefor are more productive straight out of minors. Whereas these homerun hitters typically take a few years to be monsters. This benefits the small market team. As the parts will be more replaceable. And. generally the top shelf salary for this type of player is much lower... Even though the perfect player for this scheme is Ichiro, who does receive that top shelf price.
Next lets go and just for kicks take the highest sb totals per position (per ab) and subtracting the 5 tool players such as Kemp, and attempt to field a lineup.
C: Russell Martin 8 sb: we have to start somewhere 4.0 mil
1B: Jesus Guzman 9 SB in 247 ab's League minimum
ok now away from the weak positions... and in fairness those two positions would be best served through contact hitters such as Sean Casey type. Martin would suffice as well
2B: Jemile Weeks 22 in 406 ab's Minimum (kinsler and pedroia had more)
3B: Chone Figgins 11 in 288 ab's 9 million (in years past would have been perfect)
ss Bonifacio 44 SBs 425,000
OF Gardner 49
OF Bourn 61
Of Crisp 41
I would definitely come up with some better lineups for this scheme... But I can just see in my minds eye a team like this, given the directive to run wild could hurt teams and be effective on the cheap. Im in no way saying this team would beat the yankees in the ALCS... but would certainly be more effective than running an aged Giambi and Matsui out there, in my opinion.
Its getting late but i needed to get this off my chest and see what my brethren here have to say about this.


text:
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (AP) -- A Veterans of Foreign Wars outpost is angered by a directive from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The Palmer Lake VFW in Brooklyn Park has been flying American flags over five highway overpasses for eight years. But now, the VFW has been told to take them down. The veterans complied, but think the law needs to be changed.
MnDOT says the issue is about distracted driving. It's against state law to place or affix any advertisement or object within the limits of a highway.
Former post commander Lee Ulferts says the flags haven't been a distraction in eight years.
WCCO-TV says Gulf War veteran Andrew Reinhardt has organized a rally for Sunday on the Regent Ave. bridge to oppose the directive.
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text:
Expired Property Listing
This property is disabled.
Luxury Units next to Yacht Club and Shopping Malls in Manila
- bedrooms 3
- baths 2
- sleeps 5
- pool yes
- hot tub yes
- pets allowed no
- type Condo
- community Malate
rates (USD)
/ night
$ 483 - $ 903 / week
$ 750 - $ 1,195 / month
vacation rental description
Nicely decorated vacation condo's in an elegant building. Top location for tourists in Malate, Manila's nightlife district.
Walking distance to US Embassy, Malate Church, SM Harrison, Robinson and 15 minutes travel from airport
condo rental amenities
Shopping malls and hundreds of restaurants are within a walking distance.
- Queen or King size bed
- Bedsheets, towels, soap, shampoo, tea and coffee
- Airconditioners in all rooms
- Hot and cold shower, bathtub
- Balcony with a nice views
- Free purified water
- LCD Tv with around 80 Cable channels
- DVD Player and Stereo
- Fully equipped kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, stove, rice cooker, bread toaster and coffe making facilities
- Dining table and chairs
- Sofa and chairs
- Iron and ironing board
- Hair dryer
- 24 hour reception
- Swimming pool
- Free Gym for residents
- Game room with pool table and table tennis
- Children play area
- Professional gym on the ground floor
Daily cleaning service included
activities and attractions in Manila Philippines
Close to tourist destination such as historical event fort bonifacio, manila bay, manila yahct club, intramuros museum.
vacation rental rates
1 Bedroom at 59-84 usd/night depending on season and availability
2.5 Bedroom at 89-129 usd all inclusive per night good for 5 persons and extra 8 usd per night for extra person.
Daily and weekly rates are all inclusive.
Lower monthly rates do not include utilities or service.


text:
The purpose of this policy is to set clear guidelines for students enrolled in the M.S. degree in Computer Science at Drexel University, who may want to transfer to the Ph.D. degree in Computer Science at some point during their graduate studies. NOTE: this policy applies only to Computer Science students currently enrolled in the M.S. program. It does not apply to B.S./M.S. students, who must go through the regular admissions process (administered by the Drexel Admissions office) to apply to the Ph.D. progam.
An MSCS student who wants to transfer to the Ph.D. program must first of all fulfill the following pre‐requisites:
The student must have already successfully taken the three core courses indicated for the MSCS degree, as well as 3 courses from the Flexible Core list for the MSCS degree (Core and Flexible core courses are listed on the MSCS degree requirements and plan of study document).
The student must have passed the qualifying requirements for the first 6 graduate Computer Science courses taken at Drexel.
The student's overall graduate GPA – computed over all the courses she has taken towards the MSCS degree – must also be 3.5 or better.
No application can be considered if the student has not fulfilled the aforementioned prerequisites.
A student wishing to transfer from the M.S. to the Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, and who fulfills the prerequisites above, must make a petition to the Graduate Committee. The student may make this petition only after having earned a minimum of 24 graduate credits towards the M.S. degree.
The student's petition must include the following material:
The student must submit this petition 4 weeks before the beginning of the quarter in which the transfer would take effect. The Graduate Committee as a whole will meet to evaluate any submitted petitions, and decide whether to admit the student to the Ph.D. program. If the petition is accepted, the student's change of status becomes effective at the beginning of the next quarter.
Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 - 215-895-2000
Copyright 2014 - All Rights Reserved.


text:
Go where you will and you will see French fashions but only in Paris do you see how they should be worn -Frances Trollope 1835
It all started with Emily, who has Phoebe Philo kind of vibe: pulled-back blonde ponytail; black no-button slim-cut coat; flat-front classic-cut trousers and those boots: tall and black with a tiny gold button at the back and mid-height block gold heels: the perfect mix of sobriety tempered with frivolity. "They're Celine." Emily who works between London and Paris drops the name of the designer of the year's label with French insouciance. "But they were cheaper in Paris," she adds, with Brit thriftiness. "They cost £200 less than in London. It made them almost seem like a bargain."
She's not the only one. I've been dividing my time between Paris and the UK for years and guess where I shop. OK I prefer French style but that doesn't mean an Hermès scarf and Chanel two-tone ballerines any more than it means a beret and a string of onions. I buy (in the sales bien sur) from smaller, more affordable designers - Les Prairies de Paris, APC, Vanessa Bruno and, before meteoric catwalk success pushed up her prices with her global presence, Isabel Marant. These labels are pure contemporary Paris style: immaculately cut and beautifully made with just the right amount of detail, neither boring nor fussy; anti-bling and effortlessly cool. What's more they're all slightly to majorly cheaper in Paris than in the boutiques that import them across the world.
So why not shop in Paris? If you live in Southern England, it takes no longer and costs no more to travel to Paris than to Edinburgh but to get your head round it you're probably going to have to give your trip some serious justification. So here's the plan. Don't look on it as a day at the shops: think of it more as a sales-cation. When you offset your savings against the cost of your trip you'll find it comes in at a kind of B.O.G.O.F. (buy a coat, get a free holiday).
Here's my first map: Saint Germain
Is there anywhere else you would go?


text:
- Studio: Buena Vista Pictures
- Release Date: Mar 31, 2000
- Starring: John Cusack
- Summary: In this biting romantic comedy, Rob Gordon (Cusack) is the owner of a semi-failing record store in Chicago, where he sells music the old-fashioned way -- on vinyl. His needle, however, skips the love groove when his long-time girlfriend, Laura (Hjejle), walks out on him. As he examines his failed attempts at romance and happiness, the process finds him being dragged, kicking and screaming, into adulthood. (Touchstone Pictures)… Expand
- Director: Stephen Frears
- Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance, Music
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
Positive: 31 out of 35
Mixed: 4 out of 35
Negative: 0 out of 35
A guaranteed pleasure for anyone who ever loved pop music, owned a record collection or suffered in love
The extent to which Black and Louiso help make this film terribly witty and caustic and worth every minute of its almost two-hour running time is immeasurable.
High Fidelitys hip structure and offbeat characters provide consistent laughs and a good time.
Even if it sometimes skips, it's consistently wittier and more idiosyncratic that most studio movies.
It may seem perverse to fault a movie for being too accurate, but when surface accuracy is coupled with tunnel vision about self and society the result is a wee bit irritating.
Score distribution:
Positive: 19 out of 22
Mixed: 0 out of 22
Negative: 3 out of 22
Jun 8, 2014This is an underrated movie in my opinion. The dialogue in the music store and the structure of the flashbacks is very interesting and funny. Considering that I just caught this movie on TV and was not expecting anything, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone wanting a light-hearted comedy.… Expand
Oct 18, 2011High Fidelity's best attribute is that it is so incredibly self aware and through that self awareness it exudes this sense of realism. High Fidelity is so incredibly real that your connection with John Cusack's Rob is so strong you get invested and you also understand him despite the fact he is an incredibly well thought out, written and acted character. He is joined by Jack Black and Todd Louiso's Barry and Dick who add a sense of fun to the proceedings which is sorely needed because the main tone set by Rob is one of doom and gloom as he discusses the breakups that ruined him the most. Black especially pulls out all the stops with Barry being a delight because he is just so incredibly self confident despite the fact he is the most despicable of the bunch. This would have been hard to show if it wasn't for Black who really does pull out his best performance. Cusack is great as the bleak Rob and the only reason I don't say this is his best role is because he was just fantastic in Say Anything. (if you thought I was going to say 2012 you deserve to be shot). Overall the film has a confidence you rarely see in films and it knows what its trying to do in a way that by the time you leave the viewing you are extremely happy and satisfied, like me after a roast dinner… Expand
Oct 29, 2012This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. At the beginning of the movie I was thinking of just close it and surf the net. But I didn't !!! There is something that made me want to see more. This is NOT a boring romantic comedy; instead its a vivid enjoyable, fresh, peerless movie. Its like Cusack presenting his relationship more than just acting. I LOVE BONET!!!! and also Jack Black. I think the music references are the spark for everything.… Expand
May 13, 2013This would make my Top 5.
The secret to making a good film is the soundtrack and this film nails it. Its a story of heartache, love and the bits inbetween told pretty much first person by a Record Store owner.
The characters in the film are padded out well and do draw you in and you begin to feel who they are rather than empty vessels. There are some nice little double take moments and moments where the plot is directly told to camera. These feel correct in the context of the film and explain emotions and thoughts of the people on screen. Casting fits well with Jack Black doing his normal over the top character, John cusack as the confused Store owner. Even a Cameo by 'The Boss' Bruce Springsteen does not feel out of place. All in all a good solid film which I have watched several times and enjoyed them all.… Expand
May 4, 2014High Fidelity is a fantastic romantic-comedy that perfectly captures the spirit of relationships gone sour. All set to a celebration of amazing alt-rock. For a certain generation, this film hits home hard. I am of that generation. Great stuff!… Expand
- By user score


text:
Rotary dial telephones may be a thing of the past, but that doesn't mean they're not valuable anymore.
Michael Roman has been collecting military artifacts for nearly 40 years, and cherishes an Army Officer's field phone from WWII.
"The phone is collectible primarily because of the time period that it represents," says Roman. "This is a prime example of their peak of communication on the battlefield, so for historical significance it marks a point in military history."The phone looks like it's made of brass, but it's actually a steel shell that's been lacquered to look like brass. It's very heavy and is nearly indestructible.Roman says the retro, streamline design is another reason this phone is so treasured by collectors."It maintains some of the Art Deco appeal of the '30s going into the '40s, and the modern era," says Roman. "A phone like this in good condition is probably in the $150 range. Today it's mostly collectible because of its aesthetic appeal. People like the way they look, so that gives them more value."Roman says old field phones can be re-wired to work with today's land lines. So if you're wandering a flea market and a military field phone calls your attention – answer it! Because it's a direct line to history.
Copyright 2013 America Now. All rights reserved.


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Banned Book Week Approaching
Thinking about the singular impact that books have had on us as individuals and on the civic life of our communities brings us to Banned Books Week, which will be celebrated in libraries and bookstores across the country from Sept. 22 to 28. Conceived more than three decades ago in response to attempts, often led by parents or school officials, to censor books, Banned Books Week is a time to rejoice in—and defend—the freedom to read.
The Village Bookstore has a great selection of Banned Book titles and a brief history as to why they were banned. We invite you to stop by the Village Bookstore.
Posted By: Marc Katz
Date: Thu Sep 19 09:27:27 EDT 2013


text:
'Star Wars' actor Mayhew has surgery on knees
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Actor Peter Mayhew, who portrayed Chewbacca in the "Star Wars" films, has had double knee-replacement surgery at a Texas hospital.
Mayhew was recovering Wednesday at Plaza Medical Center in Fort Worth. Angie Mayhew says her 69-year-old husband had the surgery Monday and hopes to walk again. She says her spouse has been using a wheelchair for two years.
Angie Mayhew says her husband also had a tendon-stretching procedure to stabilize his legs. Peter Mayhew was born with a condition known as gigantism, which causes excessive growth. He's 7 feet 3 inches tall.
The British-born actor's medical issues will be the subject of an upcoming documentary, "Standing in the Stars- The Peter Mayhew Story."
The Mayhews live in Boyd, about 20 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
- Bickley Blast - Wednesday August 27Would an NHL expansion benefit the Arizona Coyotes?
- Dr. Cynthia Arnson - Immigration and Central America Expert - Tuesday July 22Why are we seeing this influx of immigrant minors?
- Max Domi, Arizona Coyotes prospect - Thursday July 10Prospect Max Domi talks about the possibility of making the Coyotes roster.
- Who Impressed Who Depressed - Monday June 30The Arizona Rattlers disappointed Vince over the weekend. Luke is impressed by Don Maloney and the C
- Sam Gagner, Arizona Coyotes center - Monday June 30New Coyotes center Sam Gagner thinks he�s a perfect fit with Arizona.


text: Dr. Vance Ricks took a swing at that question Nov. 1 as the speaker for Pi Gamma Mu and Phi Kappa Phi's annual fall lecture. An associate professor of Guilford College, Greensboro, Ricks told a crowd of nearly 70 that friendship today uses computer-mediated communication to spend time togehter, not as a substitute for spending time together but as another way to spend time together without sharing the same geographical space. For instance, when Facebook users post comments including an announcement that a person's day is going badly, it is an invitation for friends to ask about the problem and offer help. In other words, Facebook can be as valuable a way to maintain a friendship as face-to-face relationships although it is not the same. One of the problems of online sites is the stage managing of messages that are crafted and massaged for maximum effect. This can be a problem for a friend who may find it difficult to learn a person's genuine character. It may be more a part of a kind of fun house mirror representation. Ricks is part of the North Carolina Humanities Council.


text:
Smartphone face-off: iOS 5 vs. Android 4 vs. Windows Phone 7.5 vs. BlackBerry OS 7
Now that every major mobile platform has gained a substantial update, which smartphone is the best for business?Follow @MobileGalen
Deathmatch: Hardware
The Galaxy Nexus's 4.65-inch Super AMOLED screen gets the oohs and ahhs -- the same phenomenon you see at a Best Buy as people drool over the 70-inch HDTVs. But the Samsung Focus S's 4.3-inch screen boasts the best size of the bunch -- it makes the iPhone 4S's 3.5-inch screen feel cramped. The Galaxy Nexus's support for 4G cellular networks places it as the winner in connectivity, though 4G penetration is quite low; this capability matters little now, but it will become more relevant as the year progresses.
But the iPhone 4S wins on every other hardware count. It has a very fast processor, wired and wireless video-out capabilities, low-power Bluetooth, a high-density Retina display, the highest-quality rear camera, strong battery life, a worldphone-capable 3G radio, and a high-quality steel and glass bezel. (The BlackBerry 9900's bezel is of equally high quality.)
The lowlights of the hardware for today's flagship smartphones are the puny 8GB of RAM in the BlackBerry Bold, the flimsy, tacky back cover of the Galaxy Nexus, and the BlackBerry Bold's poorly placed camera button.
Deathmatch: Business connectivity
The iPhone has the best, most desktoplike business connectivity of the bunch, with the best support for Microsoft Exchange and IMAP email, the richest message capabilities, and the easiest-to-use calendar. But competitors exceed the iPhone's iOS 5 in some areas. For example, the Galaxy Nexus's Android 4 has a better mechanism for navigating multiple accounts, and the BlackBerry is unchallenged in its support for sophisticated repeating-event patterns.
Lowlights include iOS's inability to work natively with zipped attachments, iOS's inability to create groups of contacts, the BlackBerry's awkward time-stamping of messages received when offline, and iOS's poor integration of social networking.
Deathmatch: Application support
This category is one where the iPhone 4S shines the brightest. Not only does the App Store have a huge array of useful, richly capable apps (in addition to the junk found in all app stores), but the entire Apple ecosystem -- AirPlay, iCloud, and iTunes -- makes it oh-so-easy to bring an iPhone into your whole computing context, especially if you use a Mac. The iPhone also has the best control over location information usage, providing the most user privacy of the bunch. It also offers more useful core apps than the rest, such as with its Notes and Reminders apps, and has one-upped Android's notifications capability with a better approach.
The iPhone 4S takes all these iOS 5 advantages and adds the Siri voice-based personal assistant to the mix. Siri is simply amazing, despite its beta status. You can actually talk to your iPhone and have it understand much of what you are asking and saying. Its voice recognition, both for dictation and interactive queries, is unmatched by the other voice-capable platform, Android, whose once-heralded voice search and dictation features suddenly feel primitive. Windows Phone 7.5's voice search is the least accurate, and it offers (inaccurate) dictation only for sending text messages.


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A shortened season goes by quick; it doesn't seem like that long ago we were celebrating a 2-1 win against the Islanders. Now 12 games have gone by – we have played 1/4th of our regular season. Obviously we are all happy with an 8-1-3 record; we sit atop the eastern conference and have recorded at least one victory against our divisional foes. We are also in the midst of a 5 game winning streak. But it is pointless to boast about the Devils accomplishments because there are still 36 more games on the schedule and nothing is guaranteed. Here are some numbers regarding the first quarter of our season and how we compare to other teams:
1) Win Percentage
The Devils have amassed 19 out of a possible 24 points; that makes for a win percentage of 79.16%, which is second best in the east. The Bruins with an 8-1-1 record have an 85% win percentage to lead the east; they should have played 11 games but their game against Tampa Bay was postponed due to the blizzard. How does our win percentage compare to last year? The Rangers clinched first in the east with a win percentage of 66.46%; the Senators snuck in as the 8th seed with a 56.10% win percentage. The Devils clinched the 6th seed with 62.20%. In the last shortened season, the Nordiques clinched the top spot in the east with a win percentage of 67.71%; the Rangers with a win percentage of 48.96% were the 8th seed and the Devils clinched the 5th seed with 54.16%.
It is unrealistic that the Devils will have their current win percentage of 79.16% by the end of this season; also the data seems to suggest that a shortened season is a bit more wide open – the difference in win percentage between the first and eighth seed was nearly 20% as compared to about 10% last season.
So what would be a target win percentage for the Devils to clinch the Atlantic? If I had to make an educated guess I would say between 65 and 68%. The fact that the Devils have only one loss in regulation makes a significant difference in the standings. Of course no one is happy about losing in overtime and a shootout, but if we did not pick up those three additional points, our win percentage would drop to 66.66% (8-4-0); because there are less games, points have more value.
2) Special Teams
The Devils have had 53 power play opportunities, which is the 8th most in the league; the Red Wings are first with 61 opportunities. It is no surprise that the Devils are in the upper third of this category – they play a gritty brand of hockey that gets underneath the skin of their opponents; just look what happened to the Penguins during last Saturday's game. Out of those 53 chances, the Devils scored 11 times – that makes for a PP percentage of 20.8%; this places them right at the middle of the league at 14th. The Blues have a staggering 36.6% PP, which is a full 8 percentage points ahead of the second place Lightning.
The Devils have the 7th ranked penalty kill in the league; they have been down at least one man 58 times and have allowed 8 goals – that makes for a 86.2% PK; the Blackhawks and the Bruins are tied for first with a 92.9% PK. On top of this, the Devils lead the league in shorthanded goals with 3, which leads the NHL, but perhaps just as important, they have not given their opponents any shorthanded goals; this was a problem at the beginning of the season last year.
I know many fans are less than impressed with our 14th ranked PP; however, this isn't the biggest of the Devils problems regarding special teams. Our 58 times shorthanded is tied for second most in the league right behind the Oilers who have 61; the obvious statement would be that the Devils need to take less penalties. The Devils have also racked up 170 PIM, which is tenth most in the league. Luckily we mostly take minor penalties. The Canadiens lead the league with 248 PIM. Yet, if you look how effective their penalty kill is and how sometimes it can either change the momentum of the game or frustrate the opponent, perhaps taking the second most penalties isn't such a terrible thing. That's the only way I can justify it, but I would like to see less penalties – it burned us twice in OT against the Islanders and Canadiens, two teams that we should have beaten.
3) Face-Offs
Face-offs were a weak spot for us last year and sadly they have not improved much this year; as a team we have won 320 face-offs and lost 373. This puts us at a dismal 27th in the league with a face-off win percentage of 46.2%; the Bruins lead the league in this department with 58.2%. Clearly, we need to improve upon face-offs; they are essential to maintaining offensive position or safely clearing the puck from our own end.
4) Goals
The Devils are not a club known for their offensive firepower; however, they are currently ranked 8th in the league with 33 goals – the struggling Lightning lead the league with 43 goals. We sit right in the middle of the league with a goals for average of 2.69. What is not surprising is our goals allowed – the Devils have let 23 pucks slip between the pipes; this ranks them tied for 6th in the league along with the Blackhawks and surprisingly enough the Avalanche. The Sharks have let in the least amount of goals with 20. We are tied for fourth with the Blackhawks with a goals allowed average of 1.87. We have 315 shots on goal, this puts us at 19th in the league – the Senators have the most with 403. A more telling number for our offense is what percent of our shots go in – 10.5%, which is good for 5th in the league. The Lightning lead the league with 14.6%.
5) The Goalies
I would be remiss if I didn't add a section about the Devils goaltending – it is amazing how well Marty and Moose have been playing; the Devils are one of a few teams in the league that have the luxury of two very good goaltenders, which is even more crucial given the shortened season. It may sound crazy, but I would take this combo over Schneider and Luongo in Vancouver – both men understand the role that they play and are such smart goalies. Let's look at the numbers:
The Devils have a save percentage of 92.6%, which is 8th best in the league. I can only recall one game where Marty was less than good – the 5-4 OT loss against the Islanders. Brodeur is tied for 17th with a .911 save percentage; Senator's Craig Anderson leads all goalies with .950. Marty's goal allowed average is 2.29, which puts him at 13th in the league. Once again, Anderson leads the league with 1.49 GAA. But the stat that matters the most is wins – Brodeur is tied for second with seven other goalies who have 6 wins.
Moose's numbers are simply ridiculous; in 3 games he has a save percentage of .973 – he has allowed only 2 goals on 74 shots. His GAA is .065. If it wasn't for letting in a less than stellar goal against the Bruins, he would be 3-0-0. You can make a strong argument that he is currently the best back up in the league – he gives the Devils just as much confidence when he is in the crease as when Marty pads up.
9 goals – tied for second in the league. I'll type that again: 9 goals – tied for second in the league.
We are quarter completed and out of all of these stats, the only one that truly matters is wins. Devils play a very effective system that is based on good goaltending, solid defense, and capitalizing on offensive chances. It will be interesting to see how these stats will change over the next 12 games.
*Statistics were obtained from NHL.com and Yahoo Sports NHL


text:
Another gorgeous day in the Mid South! Temperatures
will steadily climb, under plenty of sunshine, to the lower 90s - which is
seasonal for this time of year. Moisture will begin to return overnight
and throughout the daytime Saturday, so humidity levels will increase and our
chances of rain rise Saturday afternoon and continue over the weekend.
WHBQ-TV | Fox 13 485 S. Highland St.Memphis, TN 38111Main Station: (901) 320-1313Newsroom: (901) 320-1340


text:
Yahoo Sports Junior themed hockey blog, Buzzing the Net, reports OHL director of scouting, Rob Kitamura, is lleavign his position with the OHL to become a scout with the tampa Bay Lightning. It may just seem like a small bit of unimportant news, but when the guy responsible for the selection of (then) junior level stars Drew Doughty, Logan Coture and P.K. Subban is the scout in question... Well, it makes things interesting.
Su Ring, from Daily Su, and I are talking hockey. This is a weekly event, so bookmark the link. Oh, and we also have a CCPT Facebook Group for you to join as well. We'll have announcements on that page, and hopefully people will be making comments and suggestions for future shows. So even if this isn't announced every week, we will be on every Sunday at 3 pm Pacific, 6 pm Eastern, 11 pm British. See you there!
Join Cassie, Su Ring from Daily Su, and special guests: Flyers fan/writer David Strehle, Blackhawks fan/writer Claire Lewis, Paul Gheduzzi with an update on the Phoenix Coyotes situation, Raw Charge's John Fontana with an update on the Tampa Bay Lightning... and 3 Questions for Cassie! 3 pm Pacific, 6 pm Eastern, 11 pm British.
Here we go again kids. Come one, come all for some hockey talk. Today at 11 pm British, 6 pm Eastern, 3 pm Pacific with Su Ring from Daily Su.
Su Ring from Daily Su and I have started up our own hockey show. Join us for some discussions on the NHL, AHL, major junior leagues, international competition - basically, we'll cover whatever's going on as long as it's hockey-related. Su has already talked to some minor league hockey players that she's interviewed before, and they may stop in from time to time. For those who are new to this, there's a chat room going on as we broadcast, and you can download the podcast later if you miss it. (The chat room is only active and available during the broadcast, however.) Right now, the show is one hour long, but we may expand to two hours if there's enough of a demand. So from here on out, Su and I will be on every Sunday at 11 pm British / 6 pm Eastern / 3 pm Pacific. See you then!
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Tablets priced under $35 on the horizon
Generic Android tablets with 7-inch screens and quad-core chips that deliver decent performance could soon sell for under US$35.
Apple losing its grip as top tablet company
Apple's grip on the tablet is loosening, with the iPad losing ground during the second quarter this year to Android and Windows tablets.
As Microsoft readies Q2 earnings report, non-financial questions swirl
Microsoft will detail Thursday its second quarter financial performance, but it's not clear whether the company will take the opportunity to also clear up some of the uncertainty over key products and corporate changes.
Microsoft adds real-time joint editing to Office Web Apps
Office Web Apps, the browser-based, pared-down version of the Microsoft suite, now lets people co-edit documents in real time, a capability its main rival Google Docs has had for more than two years.
iPad Air still coveted by Chinese consumers, despite rise of Android tablets
Android tablets may be on the rise in China, but that hasn't stopped Beijing resident Fu Zheng from buying Apple's latest iPad product. He was among the first to get his hands on the device on Friday when Apple launched the iPad Air at one of its local stores in the city.
Symantec boosts encryption options for Apple iOS, Dropbox file-sharing
Symantec this week announced two new data encryption options, one that is file-based encryption for use with Dropbox, and the second that works as an extension to the Apple iOS mail client to encrypt and decrypt documents.
Apple, Samsung both claim to be innovators in opening of patent trial
Apple and Samsung Electronics hurled strong statements at each other in the opening rounds of their Silicon Valley patent trial on Tuesday, kicking off a case that could result in billions of dollars in damages.
iPhone and iPod prototypes revealed at Apple-Samsung case
Documents submitted to a California court as part of the patent battle between Apple and Samsung Electronics provide a fascinating look at the iPhone and iPad designs considered by Apple before the devices went on sale.
Apple's iPad 2012 - everything you need to know
After months of waiting, Apple have finally released the latest version of the iPad. The iPad 3, you say? Oh no. Apple have Christened their new tablet the Apple iPad 2012. Whether you're an Apple-ite keen to know about the iPad's new features or wondering how the iPad 2012 can benefit your business, this is the place to be.
New iPad - First look at latest Apple tablet
Following our few minutes with the new iPad, here are a few photos and thoughts about the new Apple device.
Topic Zone
Latest News
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Why you should not buy your child an iPad
With the iPad 3 debut coming, you can bet a lot of children and young adults are begging their parents to buy them an Apple tablet. But you'd be wise to resist the urge.
What to expect from tablets in 2012
What will tablets look like in the coming year? Tablets are out of their infancy and moving into adolescence - which means that we can expect big changes ahead as tablets' design and components improve.
Cisco Cius versus Apple iPad
The Cisco Cius tablet is more than an Apple iPad knock-off. Here's how the two stack up.
Apple Tablet event: Live countdown
All the rumours and all the facts from the Apple product launch in Yerba Buena Gardens.
Apple Tablet is all about content
The Apple event has been ruined by a slew of rumours that leave little to the imagination by the time Jobs and company hit the stage.
Apple Tablet event and the hype machine
The much-anticipated launch of the Apple Tablet is upon us, and it seems the hype machine has slipped into overdrive. Here are some of the more outrageous media reports on the internet.
Apple Tablet Event: A geek's guide
We're just a few hours away from the Apple event, when Apple is expected bestow an exciting new product on tech enthusiasts, rumoured to be a 10-inch touchscreen tablet designed for consuming a variety of media including video, news, books, and music.
5 crazy Apple Tablet rumours
If any device was destined to fail to meet expectations, it's Apple oft-rumoured tablet device. Tablet rumours have been piling up for years, but the gossip mill has gone into overdrive since Apple scheduled a special press event for Wednesday, January 27.
Apple tablet: what about the text?
Even professional skeptics like me are reaching the point where we have to admit that Apple is probably about to release some sort of tablet device, even if there's little consensus about what it will look like or precisely what niche it will fill. Me, I find myself wondering about one aspect of the tablet idea in particular: text entry.
Eight reasons ebook readers could fail
The Nook e-reader will debut on 30 November at Barnes & Noble stores, joining several new electronic reading devices hitting the market soon.


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Ship(s): Sea Spirit
Trip Highlights:
East Greenland expedition with Tundra hiking, kayaking, and Zodiac cruises; chance to see Northern Lights and explore the world's largest fjord system.
Summary: Explore Greenland's eastern coast where some of the best Aurora displays in the world are seen. Scoresbysund, the world's longest fjord system, beckons you to explore Greenland. Enticing you with some of the world's best displays of the Northern Lights, the Inuit settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit also offers you a rare connection to the past, as they still live off the land as their ancestors did hundreds of years ago. Iceberg choked fjords, tundra hikes and the Arctic wildlife of Greenland National Park create picture perfect scenes every day. On this active expedition, you can climb atop mountains and watch herds of grazing musk oxen on the horizon. This is pure wilderness, the untouched Arctic as it was thousands of years ago.
Your adventure begins with an overnight stay in thoroughly-modern Reykjavik, the world's northernmost capital city.
Day 2: Reykjavik / Embark
After a leisurely morning exploring Reykjavik on your own, you and your fellow shipmates will be transferred to Reykjavik's port to begin the expedition to Greenland. As you sail out to sea, your first wildlife sightings will be seabirds above and whales below, get ready for a great adventure!
Days 3 - 4: At Sea
Sail through the Denmark Strait en route for mysterious Greenland. Your onboard Expedition Team will keep you informed and entertained with presentations about Greenland's wildlife, history and geography.
Days 5 - 7: Greenland National Park
Fjords and flower meadows punctuate the scenery of Greenland National Park, where Arctic fox and musk oxen roam free. Your days will be spent exploring and learning about the unique history and geology of Greenland. King Oscar Fjord is a hiker's paradise. You may walk across the delicate flower-and-berry-strewn tundra at Holm Bay, Zodiac-cruise through spectacular Alepfjord or challenge yourself with a climb to the top of nearby Ella Island (the views are worth it.)
From Ella Island you'll head to the Antarctic. Yes, curiously, there is an Antarctic Sound in the Arctic. The area is home to beautiful purple and gold colored rocks with Ymer Island and Blomsterbugten, the "Bay of Flowers," ready to explore in the distance. Keeping a constant eye out for wildlife, you will then head south along the Liverpool Coast. Weather conditions are variable here, but you'll aim to visit Storefjord and the "warming island" of Uunartoq Qeqertaq, which was only discovered in 2005.
Days 8 - 11: Scorsbysund Fjord
Arriving at Scoresbysund, find yourself mesmerized by the largest, longest, and – some say – most beautiful fjord system in the world. At the start of the sound, Itoqqortoormitt is East Greenland's most northerly community and one of the world's last remaining examples of a living hunter society. With clear skies, you'll have a great opportunity to see the Northern Lights here. You can also support the local Inuit artisans by purchasing unique handicrafts. Time here is spent bonding with the Inuit people and gaining an appreciation of their way of life.
Sailing on, deeper into Scoresbysund, encounter massive icebergs and an ancient Thule settlement as you approach Sydkap and Øfjord. The scenery here is comprised of towering mountain sides and hundreds of apartment size icebergs playing tricks with your sense of perception. Pushing onward, your expedition will come to Rypefjord and Kap Hofmann Halvø. Keep your eyes peeled for sightings of rare blue icebergs, which are more normally seen in the Antarctic. With binoculars in hand, birders should keep watch for wheatears, snow buntings and ravens at Rypefjord. At Cape Hofmann Halvø, you'll have the best chance for closer encounters with grazing musk oxen and enjoy a final hike out on the colorful tundra.
Days 12 - 13: At Sea
Your homeward journey re-crosses the Denmark Strait, giving you a couple of days for whale watching. You may spot white-beaked dolphins and humpback, minke and blue whales. Birders may enjoy spotting kittiwakes, gannets, guillemots, fulmars and razorbills on the journey back to Iceland.
Day 14: Reykjavik / Disembark
Your Greenland adventure comes to an end as you enter port in Reykjavik. Head to the airport, or if you have time, stick around to explore this great city.
Note: The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and sightings are not guaranteed. Read this itinerary as a guide only; the exact route and program varies according to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife you encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition.
Mandatory Travel Insurance:
All guests are required to have comprehensive travel insurance coverage. Due to the remoteness of the areas in this itinerary, travelers must have a minimum $50,000 of emergency medical coverage. Proof of coverage is required prior to embarkation. The shipping company will not be held responsible for delays due to force majeure. Any additional costs accrued will be the responsibility of the traveler. ExpeditionTrips strongly recommends that the travel insurance policy covers trip cancellation insurance, trip delay (interruption or after departure coverage), baggage and repatriation. ExpeditionTrips can assist you with this.
Sea Kayaking Option: $595 per person
Pre-booked option; minimum age 16 years. For experienced kayakers; please advise at time of booking; places strictly limited.
Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping; all breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage (Please inform of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible. Unfortunately, the ships' galleys cannot prepare kosher meals.); all shore landings per the daily program; leadership throughout the voyage by experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings and other activities; all Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program; formal and informal presentations by Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled; photographic journal on DVD, documenting the voyage; a pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings; an expedition parka – yours to keep; coffee, tea, cocoa available around the clock; complimentary selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; hair dryer and bathrobe in every cabin; comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Arctic Reader; all miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program; all luggage handling aboard ship; emergency evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of $100,000 per person*; 1 complimentary night pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Reykjavik with breakfast, as indicated in the itinerary; on embarkation day, group transfer from the host hotel to ship; on the day of disembarkation, group transfer from the ship to downtown hotel.
Not Included:
Any airfare; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; any beverages that are not in the complimentary selection; any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel before embarkation, if applicable; baggage, cancellation and medical travel insurance; excess baggage charges; laundry and other personal charges; telecommunications charges; the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for ship's crew and Expedition Team members; fuel surcharge may apply.
*Emergency Evacuation Insurance:
Emergency evacuation coverage to a maximum benefit per paying passenger of $100,000 is included in the cost of this expedition. Included coverage is applicable only to travel between the first and last day of the expedition purchased. Additional days of travel prior to the expedition and/or after the expedition are not covered by the included emergency evacuation insurance. We strongly advise all passengers to purchase medical, cancellation and baggage insurance, and additional emergency evacuation coverage.
Why does AntarcticConnection partner with ExpeditionTrips?
True experts with first-hand polar experience, the ExpeditionTrips staff has sailed on the ships they represent; with a combined amount of 100 Antarctic trips between them;and can help you thoroughly compare and contrast the expeditions.
Their approach to travel is highly personal and professional, offering unbiased travel assistance to ensure you choose the very best Antarctica trip to meet your needs!
ExpeditionTrips works only with the highest quality small ships-all under 200 passengers-ranging from a 48-passenger Russian research vessel to a 200-passenger luxury expedition ship.


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Just four Tuesday's from now, Americans will head to the polls to decide who will be President of the United States.
The deadline to register in Illinois and Kentucky is Tuesday, October 9.
If you're in Missouri and you want to be one of those voters, you have less than 48 hours to register.
The deadline to register in Missouri is Wednesday, October 10.
While some of the specifics change from state to state, there are some rules that are the same in all of our Heartland states.
First, in order to vote, you must be a registered voter in the jurisdiction where you live.
can register to vote by going to the county clerk's office, the
secretary of state's web site and print off a registration form, or
register at any Department of Motor Vehicles location as long as you're
getting a new driver's license or renewing your old one.
For any questions, refer to your election official's website.
Missouri: http://sos.mo.gov
Illinois: http://election.il.gov
Kentucky: http://elect.ky.gov
Tennessee: http://tennessee.gov/sos
310 Broadway
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
FCC Public File
EEO Report
Closed Captioning


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Why Sony?
Sony is an exciting and innovative global company with a unique range of businesses operating in a variety of diverse marketplaces. From consumer and professional electronics to media and entertainment, Sony's operations are at the heart of global popular culture.
We compete in an exciting and challenging environment which offers an extensive range of career opportunities. The diversity of our organisation and the passion and pride shared by all of our employees helps us to amaze and inspire people, and make a difference to their worlds. We strongly believe that creativity and imagination are the keys to our success. This ethos allows each and every employee to make a real difference to the business, and to find inspiration in what they do. At Sony we care for our customers, our people, the environment and the communities in which we operate. Environmental and social initiatives that complement our market-leading products and services are at the heart of our operations and we embrace these responsibilities with pride.
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"Designing and implementing flexible and dynamic IT platforms to help your business achieve greater efficiency and growth."
Infrastructure becomes increasingly more important in today's world of complex distributed applications and mature design techniques. With ever increasing innovation from hardware and software manufacturers looking to exploit and expose functionality, the challenge faced in building your businesses technological foundation and unlocking the value from the residing applications gets bigger by the second.
To support both tactical and strategic solution offerings, risual provide both a modular and a programme orientated approach to projects which can pull on the necessary resources in each of the core infrastructure areas, covering physical, virtual, on premise, hybrid and off premise environments.
risual base their Infrastructure solutions on Microsoft' s Windows® suite of products. The solution offerings will help you:
>> Improve reliability and business continuity through inbuilt clustering and availability technology
>> Reduce the cost of providing a "virtual" environments for both servers and desktops
>> Transparent performance to that of locally installed applications for virtual desktop users
>> Inbuilt protection for access in and out of your network with granular policy controls
>> Flexible operating software to support multiple environment types on and off premise
>> Simplify security and manageability for IT through pre-designed role-based server provisioning


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the best reviews
their picks
what to buy
While it isn't the most durable hiking backpack on the market, the Teton Sports Explorer 4000 is one of the most affordable. This pack is great for beginning backpackers or for those on a budget who don't want to sacrifice too much of the quality found in many high-end bags.
Highly adjustable. Owners say the Teton Sports Explorer 4000 is a very comfortable backpack, thanks to its fully adjustable torso, shoulder and hip straps. Taller reviewers say they packed the Explorer to its absolute max -- about 40 pounds -- and it did a great job of holding the gear while still remaining a comfortable carry. Others say the versatile packing options make it a great backpack for weekend trips through the countryside or long hikes across Europe.
There are a few complaints from users about improper weight distribution, with some saying they felt the weight rested too much on their shoulders, making it uncomfortable. Others say this is because the waist belt requires some fiddling to get the weight distribution correct, while others feel this is a better pack, fit-wise, for a taller person.
Some reviewers find that the sleeping bag compartment is too small, but a bag will fit in the main compartment. In other words, use the compartments as they best fit your gear, rather than as Teton Sports may recommend. The Explorer 4000 is equipped with rain flaps covering the zippers and includes a rain fly, but some users complain the fly is a bit too small when the bag is fully packed.
Limited space. Although 65 liters is not a small amount of space, many seem to find the arrangement of the bag's compartments a bit inconvenient on the Teton Sports Explorer 4000. "The side pocket space was limited," writes one reviewer on Amazon.com. It also can take some fiddling to adjust the waist belt to fit properly and evenly distribute the load, reviewers say.
Things fall apart. There are many reviews on Amazon.com claiming the Teton Sports Explorer 4000 is a durable bag. However, reading deeper shows even some of the more positive reviews complain of zippers, seams and buckles malfunctioning or simply falling off. The 600D diamond ripstop material from which the Explorer 4000 is made is very resistant to wear and tear, but there are complaints of broken zippers and plastic parts.
Good reports for warranty replacements. The Teton Sports Explorer 4000 comes with a lifetime warranty. Reviewers say customer service was quick to send replacements, and there were no quibbles about what was covered under the warranty.
|TETON Sports Explorer 4000 Internal Frame Backpack (Grey)
In Stock. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Our Sources
1. Amazon.com
Review Credibility: Very Good Amazon.com customers rated the Teton Sports Explorer 4000 an overall average of 4.4 out of 5 stars. This rating was based on more than 270 customer opinions and experiences with the pack. User reviews provide useful insight into extended use and longevity of the pack.
Review: Teton Sports Explorer 4000 Internal Frame Backpack, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of March 2013
2. Best Camping Supplies
Review Credibility: Fair Editors give a very optimistic review of the Teton Sports Explorer 4000. They have nothing negative to say of the pack. There is also a space for customers to tell their own experiences with the bag in the comments section.
Review: Teton Sports Explorer 4000 Backpack Review, Editors of Best Camping Supplies, Not dated
3. SouthernPass.com
Review Credibility: Fair Robert Cooper reviews the Teton Sports Explorer 4000 on SouthernPass.com, based on his own field tests.
Review: Teton Sports Explorer 4000 Internal Frame Backpack, Robert Cooper, Aug. 13, 2012
5 picks including: Amazon.com, BackpackGearTest.org…
3 picks including: Backpacker.com, BackpackingLight.com…
2 picks including: BackpackGearTest.org, BackpackingLight.com…
1 pick including: Backcountry.com, BackpackingLight.com…
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