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Solarize Roanoke brings affordable clean energy to the region
If you own a home and live in zip codes 24011, 24012, 24013, 24014, 24015, 24016, 24017, 24018 and 24019 – this could be the time to invest in solar. Sponsored by the City of Roanoke, the 3-month effort enables people to get into solar for about $7,500 up front, a far cry from costs of the past.
Check it out here: http://www.solarizeroanoke.org/
ICLEI once again on Roanoke County agenda
On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors will once again (for the third time in two years) examine the $1,200 expenditure for membership in ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability, a membership that enables the use of software to measure, track and plan the reduction of municipal and community greenhouse gas emissions. In addition the membership allows the county to easily network with hundreds of other communities in the U.S. and elsewhere that are members of ICLEI.
The tea party and other groups with ties to the fossil fuel industry have targeted ICLEI membership in the past few years, spinning tales of vast United Nations conspiracies such as this bizarre statement on the John Birch Society's website: "ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. Agenda 21 seeks for the government to curtail your freedom to travel as you please, own a gas-powered car, live in suburbs or rural areas, and raise a family. Furthermore, it would eliminate your private property rights through eminent domain. Agenda 21 can be stopped at the local level by organizing and informing others to encourage local government officials to end their community's membership in ICLEI and to repeal any of the Agenda 21-related 'sustainable development' laws and ordinances they have enacted."
In reality, Agenda 21 was part of the Rio de Janeiro Summit in the 1992, where 178 nations, including the United States, voted in favor of an entirely voluntary program for sustainable development in the 21st century.
You can send a letter to the entire Roanoke County Board of Supervisors using this email address email@example.com
Below is the letter sent on behalf of the Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition:
January 26, 2014
Dear Roanoke County Supervisors,
I am writing on behalf of the 273 affiliates (businesses, individuals, and organizations representing over 25,000 citizens) of the Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition, most of whom live, work or do business in Roanoke County. See a complete listing here: http://rvccc.org/affiliates/.
We are dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy conservation, energy efficiency and the use of clean, renewable energy.
I urge you to support the fine work of RC CLEAR and to continue the county's inexpensive membership in ICLEI, a membership that allows the county to easily measure its own efforts and to benchmark those efforts against other localities in Virginia and across the country.
Using less energy means burning less coal, diesel and gasoline, producing cleaner air and cleaner water for the Roanoke region.
It is disappointing to see that, for the third time in 2 years, the County is revisiting a very small expenditure of funds for a software vendor, especially when that same vendor is in wide use in Virginia, including the nearby localities of Harrisonburg, Abingdon, Blacksburg and the City of Roanoke.
In the scientific community, human-caused climate change is not a "belief" that requires a leap of faith. It is a demonstrable fact accepted by over 97 percent of climate scientists. Just as state and local health departments rely on the germ theory of disease to deal with influenza and other transmittable diseases, climate scientists rely on their studies to understand the causes and likely effects of rising greenhouse gas emissions on the earth's atmosphere.
Will the questioning of "beliefs" held by county staff and community volunteers extend beyond established science into other areas such as political preferences and religion? This seems like dangerous territory indeed.
RC CLEAR's work focuses on ENERGY CONSERVATION and ENERGY EFFICIENCY, both in local government and for local citizens and organizations. This can be seen very clearly on the award-winning Save a Ton website, which provides tools for citizens to measure their energy savings and dollar rewards for conservation and efficiency. http://saveaton.org/ Save a Ton is collaboration among four local governments (Roanoke County, City of Salem, City of Roanoke, Town of Blacksburg) and local businesses and organizations.
A recent Virginia Tech survey showed that Roanoke Valley residents have two overwhelmingly important priorities for the region: economic development/jobs (92%) AND clean water/clean air (85%). They want both, as do many businesses that visit the region with plans for potential creation of new jobs.
Air pollution and water pollution present serious threats for our region:
- Current threats to human health (especially asthma and heart disease)
- Potential threats to economic development (such as the decision by Sierra Nevada not to locate here)
- Ongoing threats to the joy of living in such a beautiful area (poor air quality days, warnings not to consume fish caught in local rivers, streams and lakes).
It is so encouraging when local citizens use their precious time to help the county and their fellow citizens. And it is equally disappointing to see ideological extremists make harsh and undeserved attacks on the members of RC CLEAR, a volunteer committee appointed by unanimous vote of the county supervisors.
Members of RC CLEAR have given hundreds of hours to help the county and its citizens, and the only thanks they can hope for is the feeling of a job well done and appreciated. Extremist critics offer no constructive advice, simply a chorus of negative opinions and bizarre conspiracy theories manufactured by sources like the witch-hunting John Birch Society, a remnant of the 1950s McCarthy era. http://www.jbs.org/issues-pages/stop-agenda-21
It seems likely that success in attacking RC CLEAR and ICLEI would only besmirch the region's reputation as a desirable place to live and work while emboldening these "patriots" to attack something else.
Who is writing such extremist messages to encourage the waste of energy, and who can possibly benefit? Certainly not local homeowners and businesses.
Dr. Diana Christopulos, President
Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition
907 Greenbrier Court, Salem, VA 24153
Political, Environmental, Business leaders will urge action on Climate Change at Grandin Village event
What: Climate Action Rally in the Roanoke Valley
When: Wednesday, August 28, noon
Where: Amphitheater at Virginia Heights Baptist Church (next to Roanoke Natural Foods Coop at Grandin & Memorial, Roanoke)
Who: This event is sponsored by Environment Virginia, with additional sponsorship by Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition and Organizing for Action. See flyer below for confirmed speakers as of this date
Why: We need action now on climate change, both to reduce carbon pollution that is causing the earth's temperature to rise and to mitigate the effects of climate change that we are already experiencing
Click the link below to access a flyer that can be printed or distributed by email
Pictured (L to R): Mark McClain, Dan Crawford, Sen. John Edwards, Diana Christopulos
Rupert Cutler, Freeda Cathcart
Cool Cities president Diana Christopulos and director Mark McClain were on hand when local Sierra Club Chair Dan Crawford presented the award (made from recycled glass). They were also joined by legendary environmental advocate and former Roanoke City Councilman Rupert Cutler, and political and environmental activist Freeda Cathcart, a Sierra Club-endorsed candidate for Virginia's House of Delegates. Meeting with Sen. Edwards in his Roanoke office, the group enjoyed a genial visit with this veteran legislator, who has been a steadfast supporter of good environmental policy. The Sierra Club distributed the following announcement to media statewide:
July 3, 2013 (Richmond, VA):
Richmond, VA — For the first time, the Virginia Chapter Sierra Club voted to recognize members of the General Assembly with awards lauding their work in the Legislature. The Chapter's Legislative Committee voted unanimously to honor Senator John Edwards with the Legislator of the Year Award to recognize his outstanding public service.
On receiving his award on July 3, Senator Edwards offered the following quote, "I am honored to receive this award from the Sierra Club, an organization I admire. Like the Sierra Club, I am interested in developing clean energy, improving the environment, protecting our outdoors and preserving our natural heritage."
The Senator from Roanoke is receiving the Legislator of the Year Award in recognition of his outstanding record of public service and commitment to his constituents and welfare of our Commonwealth. In addition to the leadership he has provided over the years on the Commerce and Labor Committee, in 2013 Senator Edwards patroned a bill that allows customers of Dominion Virginia Power to install solar projects as large as 1 megawatt using a power purchase agreement (PPA) financed by private companies. The law's significance cannot be understated, as the PPA model has been the driver for most solar projects around the country in recent years, making solar energy available with low risk and minimal upfront cost.
"Senator John Edwards has been an unfailing friend to the environment and to the citizens of Southwest Virginia. His intelligence, combined with curiosity and courage, make him a real champion for the entire state," said Dr. Diana Christopulos, a dedicated Sierra Club member.
Hampton Roads, already judged to be the second most at-risk area in the US for rising seas, now faces some of the first consequences: dramatically increased insurance costs for homeowners, if they can get insurance.
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science recently published a study about the effects of recurrent flooding from sea level rise. Commissioned by the General Assembly, the study confirmed that Virginia's coastal communities should plan for water levels to increase by at least a foot and a half in our lifetime.
Hampton Roads localities are scrambling to address the issue, which currently leaves local governments on the hook for flooding of coastal sprawl development.
A New York Times report in late 2012 showed that inaction on climate change would produce permanent flooding in 39% of Newport News, 99% of Virginia Beach, and 100% of Norfolk.
See more details here http://hamptonroads.com/2013/06/rising-waters-and-insurance-rates http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/11/24/opinion/sunday/what-could-disappear.html?_r=0
SIERRA CLUB announces charter bus to Feb. 17 Climate Rally
A bus has been chartered to transport local residents to the February 17 Climate Rally (details in previous post, below). Cost for the round trip is only $37.92. CLICK HERE to be transported to the signup page for bus reservations.
Bus to Washington Rally available from Charlottesville
If you have been thinking about going to the Climate Rally (Feb. 17, Washington DC) but reluctant to drive up there on your own, you're in luck! The Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club has two buses going from Charlottesville, which will save you half the driving and nearly all the aggravation, The first bus is already filled, but there are seats available on bus #2. Cost is only $26 for adults, $10 for students. For all the details, review the fact sheet:


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|Meeting the NCA Criteria >> Criterion 2 ...
University Governance || Faculty || Staff || Students || Financial Resourses || Budget Process
Business Processes and Information Systems: M-Pathways
In March 1995, the University of Michigans Strategic Data Plan (SDP) (http://www.umich.edu/~uip/SDP/), presented recommendations for extensive revamping of core business processes and information systems of the University. As approved by the Executive Officers, these recommendations are the basis of the Universitys M-Pathways Project.
M-Pathways goals include:
Bridging the gaps between departments, schools, colleges and administrative units, M-Pathways seeks to integrate processes in the following areas: General Ledger, Purchasing, Accounts Payable, Inventory, Budget, Accounts Receivable, Asset Management, Space Management, Project Costing, Plant Management, Human Resources, Benefits, Payroll, and Time and Labor, Admissions and Recruiting, Student Records, Academic Advising, Student Finance, Financial Aid, Campus Community, Notification of Research Opportunities, Assistance with Proposal Preparation, and Managing Proposals and Awards.
The University has contracted with PeopleSoft, Inc., to use their integrated software for Human Resources and Financial Systems, while working with PeopleSoft to develop new Student Information and Research Administration Systems. The University has also created a Space Management system to complement PeopleSofts suite of programs.
The M-Pathways Project will affect faculty, students and staff in a number of ways:
These transformations in how the University carries out its day-to-day business requires every unit's participation. Representatives from schools and colleges helped design the University's new systems by sitting on advisory boards, co-development teams, and implementation teams. Schools and colleges are working with technical team leaders to define the computer equipment needed to support the new systems. Faculty, students and staff in every college and school are being trained to use the new systems.

subset: commoncrawl


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In the world of professional wrestling, as in any other sport, there are certain "under currents" that permeate the surface. What I'm referring to are the rumors and tall tales/legends in the annals of sport. Whether they be a sliver of a truth that has been exaggerated over the years, or actual events that have transpired, these "myths" and "secrets" have become as interesting and controversial as the athletes associated with them.
Recently, I read an article in USA TODAY regarding the Michael Jordan "flu game" in the 1997 NBA Finals. The trainer now says that Jordan had food poisoning prior to that game being played. But just a few moths prior, Jalen Rose said it was a hangover that caused Jordan's sickness.
This is exactly the type of example I'm talking about, where facts get mixed up or the truth gets stretched. What examples are there of this in wrestling?
I can name a couple to start and hopefully that gets the ball rolling on what I believe to be a most interesting topic.
My first example is that of WrestleMania 1. Some say the WWF originally intended to have Muhammad Ali wrestle in the main event instead of Mr. T., and that the only reason he was given the role of special guest referee, is because it became clear he or somebody else might get hurt if he were to wrestle.
One more example is the legend of a few unnamed wrestlers in ECW having actually killed someone.
I personally don't know too many more and rather than listing them here, I''ll just wait to see them in the comments section instead. I'm excited to see how this turns out and will hopefully learn something new in the process!


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|International [Change]
Mobile metal analyzers have been used for over 30 years to conduct metal analysis onsite. The rapid development in instrument technology has led to significant advances in the application possibilities.
As a technology leader, SPECTRO has markedly shaped and formed this development from the start. As the worldwide market leader in this area, SPECTRO is today the only company to offer a complete range of metal analyzer products – from handheld XRF to arc spark OES spectrometers – for the many different tasks in onsite metal analysis.
The current range of applications for mobile metal analyzers far exceeds the original, yet still critical, steel mill sorting requirements. Demanding metal analysis tasks such as the laboratory-like analysis of complex alloys or the detection of nitrogen in duplex steels highlight the modern capabilities of on-site metal analysis.
The complete family of products SPECTRO offers for onsite metal analysis allows the optimum instrument selection for the individual testing requirements. The right instrument delivers the optimum results. All of SPECTRO's onsite metal analyzers share important traits like a robust and rugged design, best-of-class analytical performance and intuitive operation.


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Text: Neale Bayly • Photography: BMW North America
With a design philosophy to create a machine that has the functionality of a scooter and the riding pleasure of a motorcycle, BMW introduced their two new "Maxi-Scooters" recently in Madrid, Spain.
Centered on the same frame architecture and sharing a common power plant, the C 600 Sport and the C 650 GT come equipped with a quiet, smooth, water-cooled, parallel twin engine. Displacing 647cc and producing 60 hp at 7,500 rpm and 48 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm, both machines perform like a midsize motorcycle. With a 270-degree firing order, a 90-degree crank pin offset, and twin balancer shafts, vibration is almost non-existent until you get close to maximum speed. The cylinders tilt forward at a 70-degree angle, which lets the engine sit low in the frame. This makes the scooter a step-thru and helps centralize mass for better handling and maneuverability. Electronic fuel injection is used, and double overhead camshafts operate four valves per cylinder. Burned gasses exit through a stainless steel exhaust, which contains a closed-loop catalytic converter and oxygen sensor that meet upcoming Euro 4 standards.
For new riders, the big advantage maxi scooters have over motorcycles is no clutch to master and no gears to shift. Instead, they have a conventional throttle and directly integrated CVT (continuously variable transmission) to drive the rear wheel. It also has handlebar-operated brakes. Once the engine is running, all you do is twist the throttle to go and squeeze the levers to stop. Aided by antilock, hydraulically operated disc brakes, maxi scooters are safe, fun, and easy to ride.
Attending the press test in a busy, European city allowed me to quickly appreciate this ease of operation as I dodged cars, buses, other scooters, and pedestrians with aplomb.
With both variations of the scooter to ride, I started on the C 600 Sport and was immediately impressed by the handling as we ducked and dived through the busy Spanish streets, changing direction with the lightest nudge on the bars. This sharp steering doesn't come at the expense of high-speed stability when you get up to highway speeds; even at around 80 mph, the scooters remain composed, comfortable, and stable.
(End of preview text.)
For the complete article of the riding impression(s) and technical specifications, please purchase the July/August 2012 back issue.


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In order to turn over aging inventory and make way for more current stock, some products on our site are listed in a "Dutch Auction". In a Dutch Auction, the selling price of a product is repeatedly lowered every day until product is sold out. As a result of the decreasing purchase price the product deal becomes more enticing to other buyers.
Act quickly to purchase at this "special price" before inventory is depleted and the product is sold out.
Ideal for smart, eco-conscious parents, the BABYBJÖRN Babysitter Balance
Organic allows you to accomplish tasks while keeping your baby happy and safe.
The lightweight, foldable chair with a removable restraint system is easily
transportable and operates without batteries. The Babysitter can be adjusted to
three different positions so your baby can play, rest, and sleep anywhere you
The unique design of the Babysitter Balance utilizes babies' movement to
generate a natural, rocking motion, so they can entertain themselves for
hours--all without the use of batteries. By creating his or her own movement,
your baby will develop balance and build important motor skills.
The chair can be securely locked into three different positions so your baby
can sleep, rest, and play in comfort. The chair is suitable for newborns and
holds up to a maximum weight of 29 pounds. When your baby is old enough to sit
down in the Babysitter on his or her own, you can remove the restraint system
and it will become a comfortable resting chair.
The Babysitter Balance Organic helps you preserve the earth for future
generations. The durable fabric is soft to your baby's skin and made from 100%
organically grown cotton, meeting the GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard),
the most recognized international organic standard. In addition, all fabrics and
materials used in the Babysitter that come in contact with baby's skin are Öeko-Tex
Standard 100 Class 1 certified, an international safety standard for textiles,
and contain no health-hazardous substances.
The ergonomic design provides support for a baby's back and head while
molding comfortably around the body. Both the fabric seat and restraint system
can be easily removed and are machine-washable. As an added touch, the seat and
restraint system are reversible when you want a fresh, new look. The chair
features striking, vertical piping that is instantly recognizable as a
BABYBJÖRN product.
The Babysitter Balance is designed with a footrest attached to the front for
reliable stability. It also features anti-glide strips that ensure the
Babysitter rests securely on the floor.


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Former UFC champions Rich Franklin (28-5, 13-4 UFC) and Forrest Griffin (17-6, 8-4 UFC) meet in the co-main event of UFC 126.
How do these guys stack up?
Griffin: 31 years old, 6'3", 77" reach
Franklin: 36 years old, 6'1", 76" reach
What have they done lately?
Griffin: W Tito Ortiz (DEC), L Anderson Silva (KO), L Rashad Evans (TKO)
Franklin: W Chuck Liddell (KO), L Vitor Belfort (TKO), Wanderlei Silva (DEC)
How did these guys get here?
Forrest Griffin won the first season of The Ultimate Fighter in an epic slugfest against Stephan Bonnar. He quickly proved himself a legitimate top level fighter and shocked the MMA world with a submission win over Mauricio Rua at UFC 76. One fight later, Griffin won the UFC light heavyweight championship with a decision win over Quinton Jackson. He found himself unable to successfully defend the title, losing by TKO to Rashad Evans and followed that up with a KO loss to middleweight king Anderson Silva. The Silva fight was a low point in Forrest's career as he was unable to do anything effective while Silva danced and dropped him three times in one round. In November of 2009 he get back on the winning path with a decision victory over Tito Ortiz.
Rich Franklin won the UFC middleweight title in 2005 by stopping Evan Tanner in the fourth round. That win was the nineteenth win in twenty fights for Franklin. Prior to the Tanner fight, Franklin had been competing as a light heavyweight. Franklin would defend the title successfully twice before running into the middleweight buzzsaw that is Anderson Silva, losing that fight by knockout. Two more wins set Franklin up with a chance to win his title back from Silva. Franklin was again stopped by Silva and started to bounce between middleweight, light heavyweight and 195 pound catchweight fights finding mixed success. Franklin was successful in his last trip to the Octagon, a KO victory over UFC legend Chuck Liddell.
Why should you care?
Two former champions and popular fighters doing battle at a pivotal moment in their careers should make for explosive action. The loser will face a long road back to contention while the winner will get in line for a possible title eliminator.


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Seattle Seahawks
Paul McQuistan - #67 - G
|6' 6"/ 315 lbs.
|Lebanon, OR
|Weber State
|Years played
|2006, 3rd round, 5th pick by Raiders
Branch's exit from Seattle makes few waves
There was nary a shrug when the disappointing Deion Branch era came to an abrupt halt in Seattle with his Oct. 11 trade back to the Patriots in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.
Patriots reacquire Branch from Seattle
The Patriots reacquired WR Deion Branch from Seattle on Monday, according to reports by ESPN and NFL Network, both of whom cite a league source. Both reports say that the Seahawks will receive a 2011 fourth-round draft choice in return.
Reports: Patriots in talks with Seahawks about WR Branch
While nothing is close to imminent, the Patriots and Seahawks are reportedly talking about a potential trade involving Seahawks WR Deion Branch.
Seahawks hope Lynch will fill RB bill
There's strong reason to believe newly acquired Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch will benefit from a badly needed change of scenery.
Bills trade RB Lynch to Seahawks
The Bills have agreed to trade RB Marshawn Lynch to the Seahawks for a 2011 fourth-round draft choice and a conditional choice in 2012, according to Fox Sports. To make room for Lynch, Seattle released veteran RB Julius Jones.
Seahawks LB Hill suspended one game
The league announced Monday that Seahawks LB Leroy Hill will be suspended one game and fined one additional paycheck for violating the league's personal-conduct policy.
Rams' defense stuffs Seahawks 20-3
QB Sam Bradford and a tough defense led the Rams to a 20-3 win over the Seahawks on Sunday.
Seahawks pleased with fill-in OT Polumbus
Seattle was very happy with the play of Tyler Polumbus while he was filling in for starting OLT Russell Okung, and Polumbus may soon get some opportunities at right tackle.
Seahawks LB Hill placed on I.R.
The Seahawks placed LB Leroy Hill on injured reserve because of an Achilles injury, ending his tumultuous season. The team re-signed DT Craig Terrill and promoted OG Mike Gibson from the practice squad.
Washington bolsters Seahawks' biggest strength
With the addition of Leon Washington, the league's leading kickoff returner, special teams continue to be the Seahawks' biggest strength.
Seahawks cut veteran OG Pitts
The Seahawks had high hopes for OG Chester Pitts but were forced to cut him on Thursday after he struggled to stay healthy.
Reports: Seahawks sign WR Stokley
The Seahawks have reportedly signed free agent WR Brandon Stokley and cut RB Quinton Ganther to make room on the roster.
Washington's two kick-return TDs lead Seahawks to victory
Leon Washington returned two second-half kickoffs for touchdowns of 101 and 99 yards, making up for a long list of Seattle mistakes, and the Seahawks held off Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers 27-20 on Sunday.
Seahawks far from giving up on Hasselbeck
Even though he had a very forgettable performance against the Broncos in Week Two, we hear Matt Hasselbeck remains firmly entrenched as Seattle's starting quarterback.
McLoughlin announced as Seahawks president
The Seahawks named Peter McLoughlin their new president, replacing Tod Leiweke.
The Jaguars released McQuistan on Sunday.||||||| The move was made to make room for defensive tackle Landon Cohen, a seventh-round draft pick in 2008 who started four games last season and had 23 tackles and one forced fumble.
McQuistan (knee) has been placed on injured reserve.||||||| McQuistan's injury hurts the depth of Oakland's interior offensive line. He was a backup at both guard spots.
The rookie will start at left guard for Oakland against Cincinnati on Sunday. The third-round pick out of Weber State started the first two games of the season at right guard before being benched.||||||| McQuistan has spent most of the last 10 games playing on special teams for the Raiders. With Barry Sims and Corey Hulsey both hurt, McQuistan will return to the starting lineup.


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Route Guide - iPhone / Android - Partners - Forum - Photos - Deals - What's New - School of Rock
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This is the short wall just off the road next to the the old power plant ruins.
Getting There
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Short But Steep 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b CA : Sierra Eastside : ... : Shaded Wall
A short, steep jug haul that climbs like a gym route. The top still could use some trundling (er, I mean cleaning).Fun for like a minute....[more] Browse More Classics in CA
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text: Team Specialized / Sierra Nevada will promote a time trial event this year and we're interested in your opinion on what categories would be fun. We want to know if you'd prefer individual, 2-person, or 4-person. Would you like to see an "Eddy Merckx" class that would ban aero helmets, aero bars, and aero wheels (no discs. no deeper than 30mm)


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Browser Comparison 2010
UPDATE: Since there were many browser release such as Safari 5 and Chrome 8, this post is somewhat outdated. I will update it as soon as I return from my overseas trip. *sorry for the delay*
Hi guys. Since the last update that I gave you, I have been quite busy as hell. Got a submission this week, as well as mid-term exam on the same day. Best bit? It's all about C++ programming which I have left several years ago. I gotta admit that I'm probably being too spoiled using object-oriented modern languages such as Java that has its own garbage collector, but what do you know, after all these years I finally understands the beauty of C++.
Anyways, enough of the (mid?) weekly update. I was planning to give these results on March but weren't able to do so. Nowadays there are so many browsers out there, and by browsers I meant web browsers. Some of them you might not know of, such as Konqueror (Kubuntu users probably will smack me), or Midori. Some, you might have it installed in your computer. But here is the thing: of those widely known browsers, which one is the best?
Well, to tell you the truth, it really comes down to your own personal experience (NOT personal preference, though, which I will explain a bit later on). Some browsers might have their own strengths, such as Firefox with its plugins, Chrome with its simplicity, Opera with its damn good user experience, and so on. But the thing is, they all have to be able to do the most important thing: delivering the web content to the user.
JavaScript Execution Time
Let's face it, the world's most visited website is facebook (pun SEVERELY intended). Whether you realize it or not, most social interaction sites such as facebook, twitter, linkedIn uses AJAX for processing request-response interaction. To put it in a simple way, everytime you clicked on that 'Share' button on facebook, or tweeting, you use JavaScript to send the text you're about to share, and the other people will get the text using JavaScript as well. It all happens in the background.
The test, measuring the JavaScript execution time using the SunSpider JavaScript benchmarking test, is intended to measure the time it takes to fully executes the most used JavaScript components. The test itself has an error latency of less than 10%, which in my opinion its more-than-average accurate. Faster JavaScript execution means faster user response time, meaning your status will be updated straightaway the moment you click the 'Share' button.
DOM Selection Speed
No, I'm not talking about the DOM in the Gundam universe, but rather, the Document Object Model, a representation of objects used in the browser language (HTML, XHTML and its derivatives). Most of the web 2.0 applications such as the online Photoshop, or even this WordPress dashboard uses DOM as the object model. As such, DOM is in a way a standard in web development. The test measures the DOM selection speed by using jQuery using the SlickSpeed Selector test. It is worth noting that using Dojo instead of jQuery to simplify the interaction between AJAX and HTML pages is faster, however it only runs perfectly in Google Chrome. The faster the selection speed is, the more responsive the web application would be.
CSS Rendering Speed
As with AJAX, most of us would already seen this before. The reason why facebook have a similar theme in every single language, the reason why we can change themes in twitter, and the reason why we even have sidebar in My Sanctuary (it's on your right, really), is because of CSS. Cascading Style Sheets define the graphical elements to be displayed such as your fonts, your font color, the background image, and even, the position of those things. CSS has gone way way beyond the first time I learned CSS. It's becoming too deep, therefore I had to stop and focus myself to learning what I did best. Anyways, the CSS rendering speed defines the response time of a web page. The tests are taken using the Nontroppo CSS test and measures the page load times of a heavily CSS-ed webpage.
Page Load Time
In conjunction of the previous test, the next test measure the page load time on a website. Of course everyone would want the fastest browser that can render a webpage instantly without even thinking or waiting for it. However, given the location, broadband speed, network topography and site traffic, the results may vary one another. Therefore it's probably best if these considerations are taken into account. The tests are measured using the Numion Stopwatch for loading the Yahoo! main page, using a wireless broadband network in Melbourne.
Acid3 Test
This is where all browser is put into real test. Remember the primary goal of a web browser? Displaying a web page to the user correctly and according to the web standards. The reason web standards are there is because the worldwide web, like information and communications technology, is growing exponentially everyday. New inventions are made and old ones might or might not be discarded. Without a certain standards, this would be a chaos.
A bit of history lesson, the worldwide web emerged with the first generation browsers. At that time there were no standards. People at that time wouldn't even imagine that the world would be just like the world we're living in now. As such, they did not bother to create a standard. Guess what, the worldwide web revolutionized the whole world (if I could, I would surely vote it as the most revolutionizing invention ever), and at the same time, Microsoft dominates the PC market, thus the dominance of Internet Explorer.
As you can see from the test result, Internet Explorer fails the Acid3 test. IE is known by us web developers as infamously notorious for breaking or failing to compel with web standards. The reason is because it was the dominant browser in every single PC in the world (save the Linux and Mac users), so that rather than abiding to the newly established web standards, it would rather create its own standard. That is until Firefox kicked in, then IE starts to step-by-step complying to the web standards.
Some Additional Info
Of course the test is not considered valid if it is tested on different machine. That's why I tested all of it under my Throne Drei. Below is the info for the machine and the versions of the browsers that I used. Keep in mind that all browsers are extensions-free. That means no plugins and extensions installed in every browser.
It is interesting to note several things that I encountered when I did the test. First of all, under my machine, Internet Explorer DID actually starts up really fast. Like blazingly fast. In fact it is even faster than Chrome. I suppose it has something to do with my 64-bit operating system since it utilizes RAM better than 32-bit. And although we might say that IE is not web standard compliant, when it comes to using a standard static (although in theory, a fully static website is almost extinct) HTML pages, IE renders it perfectly. This might be on the fact that most web developers uses IE for testing purposes (it is still by now the world's most heavily used web browser in the browser market).
Another interesting fact is that, Chrome 3 actually performs BETTER in these tests (as seen by previous tests in other websites). I guess the inclusion of extensions in Chrome 4 really put things to the ground after some hype that the Chrome caused in recent years.
Safari, with a decent results in these tests could be the browser you might want to choose. But note just this single thing. As with IE, Opera, and Chrome, putting up search string in the URL bar takes you straightaway to the search results of your default search engine. In Firefox, you would be taken to the related website, or if there's no related website, you'll be taken to the search results as well. In Safari, however, apparently their developers are just too lazy to put a redirection page. You would see an error page which prompts you to click to redirect to the search results. Disappointing, I must say.
Opera, on the other hand, performs very VERY well in these tests. Opera 10.5 really did a good job and is a big improvement over Opera 10. However, there is one slight thing that I dislike. It sometimes, just sometimes, renders a webpage incorrectly. I know it's not on every website, but it's just not right for a browser that emphasizes on user interface.
How about Firefox? The used-to-be IE competitor and rival seems to be pretty good in these tests. I couldn't agree more that Firefox is INDEED better than IE overall, but again, as a web developer, I couldn't help but feel that Firefox is way too BLOATED these days. I used to trust Firefox and use it for my main browser, but once, just once it betrayed me. For all those web developers, mind these, Firefox do NOT support synchronous AJAX. Added with the slow startup time, those are enough reason for me to leave Firefox be. I'm just hoping Firefox did not make the same mistake as IE did, creating its own standards.
So what's my verdict then? As I've told you beforehand, it really comes to your own personal experience rather than personal preference. For me, I prefer the Safari sleek Apple-ish design, but my experience told me otherwise. If you want a good user interface, go for Opera. If you want plugins and customizable browser, go for Firefox. But if you're a web enthusiast, never ever ever EVER use IE as your main web browser. As for me, the simplicity and the omnibar of Chrome is more than enough for my daily usage. So, what's your choice?
May 23, 2010 at 10:04 PM
July 7, 2010 at 7:58 PM
July 29, 2010 at 8:53 PM
August 3, 2010 at 4:14 AM
January 7, 2011 at 4:11 PM


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Who We Become
by Eric Petersen
Phone Skins
Skins are thin, easy-to-remove, vinyl decals for customizing your device. Skins are made from a patented material that eliminates air bubbles and wrinkles for easy application.
- 147Promote
Thanks Donuts, Andrea Hrnjak, Marianna Tankelevich, RichCaspian, gwenola de muralt, pascal+, Robin Curtiss, Alex Drubetsky, Sircasm, Angelo Cerantola, Exit Man, k_c_s, and Wayne Edson Bryan!


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Hyndburn MP calls for tough action on rogue letting agents (From Blackburn Citizen)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Hyndburn MP calls for tough action on rogue letting agents
11:00pm Wednesday 28th November 2012 in News
AN MP is calling on the government to crack down on "rip-off" letting agents.
Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said tougher rules are needed to prevent the high number of tenants currently feeling conned.
He said: "A recent Shelter and YouGov poll found that one in four people have been charged an unfair fee by a letting agent.
"Citizens Advice found that that 94per cent of letting agents imposed up to seven additional charges.
"Lettings agents are not required to meet minimum professional standards and are not subject to any form of licensing regime.
"AGents can charge extortionate and opaque 'administration fees or evict tenants with little or no notice.
"This means that the tenant has very little protection when things go wrong unless their letting agent is a member of an Ombudsman Scheme such as RICS and ARLA.
"RICS has commissioned independent consumer research on the issue which found that consumers overwhelmingly want better regulation."
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Redbird Arena
|232 West College Avenue
Normal, IL 61761
|40°30′38.18″N 88°59′56.44″W / 40.5106056°N 88.9990111°WCoordinates: 40°30′38.18″N 88°59′56.44″W / 40.5106056°N 88.9990111°W
|Illinois State University
|Illinois State University
|Broke ground
|June 1985[1]
|January 13, 1989[3]
|Construction cost
|$17.4 million
($33.1 million in 2014 dollars[2])
|CRS Sirrine Inc.[1]
|Structural engineer
|Geiger Engineers
|General contractor
|C. Iber & Sons Inc.[1]
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena is a 10,200 seat multi-purpose arena in Normal, Illinois. Built in 1989, the building is notable for its use of a Teflon-coated roof that gives off a "glow" during night events. The home of the Illinois State Redbirds, it hosted the 1990 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament title game.
When competing in volleyball, Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena has a virtually unrivalled home advantage. The sheer number of volleyball fans has made Illinois State one of just 10 college volleyball programs to draw more than 250,000 fans in the last decade.[4]
Students who enjoy men's basketball and sit in the student section often paint their faces red and wear red t-shirts and become part of "Red Alert," the official student spirit group of Illinois State athletics.
Redbird Arena boasts new scoreboards installed during the 2006-2007 basketball season. The center-hung scoreboard has four-sided HD video boards. They were initiated at the Bradley game when the court was named after ISU great Doug Collins[citation needed]. For the 2011-2012 basketball season an HD video board between opposing benches courtside was installed. It was funded and named after sponsor Frontier Communications Company, that also provided new black leather chairs for players and coaches.
Redbird Arena has hosted a variety of Illinois High School Association events. It has been the home of the girls' volleyball tournament since 1990 and the girls' basketball tournament since 1992. It has also hosted the dual team portion of the state wrestling tournament and in 2006 hosted the inaugural state competitive cheerleading meet[citation needed].
- ^ a b c Redbird Arena | Structurae
- ^ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2014. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
- ^ Hanley, Brian (January 12, 1989). "Illinois State a Winner in Arena Debut". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- ^ Illinois State University Official Athletic Site Accessed 18 August 2008
External links[edit]


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MADISON (WKOW) -- Call it an early Christmas present.
Gas prices in the Madison area are dipping below $3 per gallon.
The average price for gas around Madison is still at $3.04, but at least three locations have prices of $2.99 a gallon.
Drivers say the price drop is more than welcome.
"That does a lot for me. I mean I travel about 36 miles a day back and forth to work so that's a lot for me," says Kevin Peters of Columbus.
Statewide, the price of gas averages about $3.09 a gallon, below the national average of $3.24.


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BOSTON (AP) — Paul Pierce had 27 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists and the Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to seven games with a 118-114 triple overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
Boston's win also ended Denver's winning streak at nine games.
Pierce made a tying 3-pointer in the second overtime to make it 107-107 and extend the game.
Kevin Garnett had 20 points and grabbed 18 rebounds while Jason Terry scored a season-high 26 points off the bench.
The Celtics also stayed unbeaten since point guard Rajon Rondo's season-ending knee injury.
Terry hit a 3-pointer with 1:33 remaining in the third overtime to put the Celtics ahead 116-113.
Danilo Gallinari, who finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, hit a free throw, but Denver would not get any closer.
Terry, who had missed five consecutive 3-point shots in the first two overtimes, also made the defensive play of the game when he stole the ball from Andre Miller with 35 seconds remaining.
Denver had one last gasp as Miller missed a 3-pointer with 4.9 seconds remaining before Terry dribbled the ball up the court and made a layup at the buzzer to finish the scoring.
Denver's Ty Lawson had 29 points, nine assists and six rebounds and hit several key shots, including a running bank shot to send the game into overtime tied at 92-92.
Gallinari struggled from the field as he shot 7 of 20 from the field for the Nuggets. Kenneth Faried had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Denver.
Garnett was 3 of 4 from the field in overtime after missing 14 of his previous 20 shots.
With Denver leading 105-104 in the second overtime, Lawson hit another jumper to put the Nuggets up 107-104 with 18.9 seconds remaining.
But Pierce hit a 3-pointer with Miller in his face with 5 seconds left to tie the game at 107-107.
Gallinari then had an open lane to the basket as he was overplayed by Garnett, but missed his shot as time ran out.


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What to Expect From an Eye Exam
Local Optometrists in your area
Which eye exam or series of eye exams your optometrist chooses to give you will depend upon the symptoms you are experiencing and also your age. If you feel you should be having a test that your optometrist has not administered, feel free to discuss it with him and he will give you his opinion on whether you need the test or not. Here is a rundown on the different types of eye exam available.
Visual Acuity Tests
These are the first tests that are administered in any conventional eye exam. The purpose of visual acuity tests are to measure the clarity and sharpness of your vision. During these tests you will be asked to read from a wall chart to measure your visual acuity at a distance and from a hand-held chart to measure your acuity at close range.
Refraction Test
This type of eye exam is usually conducted after the visual acuity test, and assesses the need for corrective lenses. There are two common types of refractive errors; farsightedness and nearsightedness. These occur when light entering the eye cannot be focused in the correct place on the retina. Refraction problems cause blurring of vision and can easily be corrected with prescription lenses.
Color Tests
This is a screening test that is performed to rule out color blindness.
Visual Field Test
This type of eye exam is conducted to test for spaces in your peripheral vision (side vision). Your complete visual field is what you see with both eyes at the same time, including what you see straight ahead and the rage of detail form the sides of your eyes.
Cover Test
In this eye exam the optometrist examines one of the patient's eyes and then the other while the patient focuses on an object in the distance. The aim is to see how the eyes work together and if they have the correct alignment.
Your optometrist may recommend this eye exam to get a general idea of the eyeglass prescription you need. In this test the lights are dimmed and you will be asked to look through an optic machine and focus on a large target. The eye doctor will then alternate the lenses in the optic machine while shining a light in your eyes. The optometrist will be able to make a close assessment of the prescription you need based on the way the light reflects from your eyes.
The Glaucoma Test
This type of eye exam is designed to measure the pressure in your eyes to see if you have a developing glaucoma. During the test a puff of air is blown in to the eye from a machine. The machine will measure your eye's resistance to the air and calculate your inner eye pressure.
If you are having problems with your vision you should consult an eye doctor as soon as possible.


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"Our coaches say a lot, 'Good things happen to good people.' You just want to do the little things right. A lot of that is, doing your best at what you do. School is part of that," Mundy said.
All 30 of the state's honorees will be recognized on Sunday, December 1 when the Colts host the Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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(Weight Watchers Friendly Crock Pot Cooking Day 22 – Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup)
Here's an easy tasty slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup perfect for stuffed pepper lovers.
I tasted stuffed pepper soup for the first time several years ago at a restaurant in northern Wisconsin and was immediately smitten. So, when I saw this recipe for slow cooker stuffed pepper soup in a Gooseberry Patch Slow-Cooker Recipes Cookbook, I decided to give it a try. It's unique in that it calls for a package of cooked Spanish rice, instead of plain or brown rice.
Skinny on Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup
The recipe also calls for two bell peppers. Green bell peppers can be kinda strong, even if you like them. So, I used one green and one red to tone it down a bit.
And I added two cups of beef broth.
This slow cooker stuffed pepper soup recipe turned out thick and hearty, perfect for a chilly fall or winter meal.
According to my calculations, each 1 cup serving has 179 calories and *5 Points Plus.
You could substitute ground turkey if you wanted. Or turn it into a vegetarian slow cooker stuffed pepper soup by using veggie crumbles.
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef, browned and drained
- 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces) tomato soup
- 1 can (14 to 15 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 2 cups broth (chicken, beef or vegetable)
- 2 bell peppers chopped (I used one green and one red)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 package (5 to 6 ounces) Spanish rice mix, uncooked
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving, if desired
- Combine the cooked ground beef, tomato soup, diced tomatoes, broth, bell peppers, onions and Italian seasoning in your slow cooker. (I used my Ninja 3-in-1 cooker so I could brown the meat then proceed with slow cooking. A 5 or 6-Quart cooker should work.)
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, until the peppers and onions are soft.
- Prepare the rice mix as the package directs. (I needed water and a 14-1/2 ounce can of diced tomatoes for mine.)
- Stir the cooked rice mix into the soup and cook on low for 30 minutes more to blend flavors.
- Serve with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top, if desired.
Source: Adapted from Slow-Cooker Recipes Cookbook
*PointsPlus® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc.
If you liked this slow cooker stuffed pepper soup, you might also like:
Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Bean and Cabbage Soup
Slow Cooker Pizza Soup
Slow Cooker Mexican Meatball Soup
Light and Healthy Slow Cooker Wild Rice Soup
Olive Garden Slow Cooker Pasta Fagioli
I made this slow cooker stuffed pepper soup in my Ninja 3-in-1 Slow Cooker. The more I use it, the more I like it.
This post contains Affiliate Links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links, I receive a commission that helps support this site. Thanks for your purchase!


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The McLaren P1 Design Study is pretty much what we're going to get in the final P1 product that is set to supersede the supreme F1 supercar. David Cardoso wasn't ready to accept this design as the end all be all, so he took some time and made one himself, and the result is pretty drastically different. No radical boomerang headlights, no massive wing on the rear, and no giant honeycomb taillights. Which do you prefer?
Related: Full Look at $1.56 Million McLaren P1 Hypercar Exterior Released
[via Cardess Design]


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iPhone 6 to debut on Sept. 9, reports say
Apple will debut its next iPhone, potentially called the iPhone 6, at a media event on the second Tuesday in September.
Amazon's smartphone fails to kindle a 'Fire' among reviewers
Amazon.com Inc's new Fire smartphone features "gimmicks" — such as 3D effects and object scanner — that may not be […]
3 hot stock sectors
Here are my three picks for the hottest stock sectors on the market.
Craigslist seller charged with robbing potential South Jersey buyers
After responding to multiple Craigslist advertisements to sell his iPhone 5, a 33-year-old Burlington County man is now facing robbery charges.
iPhone is a security risk, says Chinese state media
Chinese state media branded Apple Inc's iPhone a threat to national security because of the smartphone's ability to track and […]
Seinfeld emoji could be available next week
Get your puffy shirts and your marble rye ready, America. Seinfeld emoji could become available as early as next week.
VIDEO: iPhone 6′s sapphire crystal display is almost unbreakable
Apple fanboys and fangirls will go gaga for the new iPhone 6 sapphire crystal display.
6 Tips and tricks for creating glorious music with Apple GarageBand
Music creation software Garageband for Apple's suite of products isn't just Logic lite. Here are some tips and tricks to turn your iPad into a powerhouse.
Amazon hopes to break from the pack with 3D-ready 'Fire' smartphone
Amazon unveiled a $200 "Fire" smartphone equipped with a 3D-capable screen and an ability to recognize music and TV shows.
Two men stole $17,000 worth of laptops from Manayunk elementary school, police say
Police released surveillance video Monday which shows two young men stroll into a Manayunk elementary school and walk out with $17,000 worth of Apple computers.


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The Tahiti 26 Mens Beach Cruiser Bike is an all out grade A badass bike. The Tahiti will undoubtedly turn heads with its classic white rimmed tires and great look.
Price includes the Tahiti 26 Mens Beach Cruiser Bike and FREE SHIPPING within the continental U.S.
26" Tires ...
Jul 10 -
Indianapolis :
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Earthquake in Disneyland?
Disneyland, one of the most magical places on Earth. The most commonly known ones are the Disneyworld in Florida and the Disneyland in California. (I've been to Disneyworld!) Did you know there was a Disneyland in Japan though? (I didn't). Well Momona Yamagami from the American School in Japan posted her middle school graduation trip experience on Quakestories. Her and her fellow classmates didn't seem very excited to go to Disneyland for their graduation trip (I have no idea why, I would be psyched to go to Disneyland as a graduation trip!). Many of the stories I have read and seen on Quakestories take place in either their school or homes, I think it's pretty unique that she experienced an earthquake in Disneyland. Luckily, she wasn't on any rides because of her dislike towards them, but Momona started feeling the shakes while shopping inside a gift shop. Once the shaking stopped for awhile, she and her friends were directed to Cinderella's castle.
I love the way Momona laid out the storyline. The beginning of her story takes place at her graduation, which occured after her Disneyland earthquake experience. As the principal was making a speech, there was a mention of the "incredible maturity and kindess" that was shown during the earthquake, and how "calm (they were) in the face of the crisis." Which brought her in some kind of flashback to her experience. Unlike all the other stories though, this seemed to be told from more of a negative point of view. As said in the beginning of the story, Momona and her classmates weren't all that excited to go to Disneyland, This was probably because after the students were taken to a nearby elementary school, she had to stay the night there because she was sick.
Momona and the students were taken to the infirmary, where they were tested to see whether or not they were sick. The healthy students got cardboard and newspaper beds, while the sick students (including Momona) were taken to a classroom with beds. Not only did she have a high fever of 38 degrees celsius (which is 100.4 degrees fahrenheit), but she had to sleep next to a guy that was in her class! She seemed to be very calm and strong from the outside, but her last line says different, "No one ever knew that I was scared out of my wits the entire time." But after the flashback finished, she went back to her graduation. She smiled because it was all over, and she finally graduated. This is probably a graduation Momona will remember for a long time.


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Buddypress front page doesn't appear, Only main blog does
I have recently installed BuddyPress on my fresh WPMU install.
I am having great difficulty getting the main page of BuddyPress to appear, All I get is the default blog of the installation.
Any ideas????
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Attention Extensions Students: SuperWeek registration is now open! SuperWeek is an excellent opportunity to earn up to 5 credit hours toward your degree* while minimizing your travel to Dallas for your required residential hours. Please go to http://www.dts.edu/superweek/ and click the purple "Register Now" button to register for both courses and lodging. If you have any questions, please contact Erin Stambaugh (email@example.com).
*Non-MACL students: Please check with the Advising Center to learn how BE103 and SL305 and any residency requirements fit in to your degree plan.
site | add to calendar | map
Applications for Spring 2015 graduates and Summer 2015 graduates, who desire to participate in the Spring 2015 commencement ceremony are available online under Forms and Information, in CampusNet. If you are planning to graduate in Spring or Summer 2015 and participate in Spring 2015 Commencement, your completed application is due December 1, 2014.
NOTE: Your graduation application is not complete until any/all church verification and personal reference letters have been received. After December 1, 2014, graduation session for those students with incomplete applications will be moved to a later session.
For additional information or assistance contact the Registrar's Office.
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Don't miss this incredible conference! The 2014 Sentralized Conference will be held in Dallas, TX, at Irving Bible Church, September 25th – 27th. Come learn from some of the best missional thinkers and practitioners in the world. Spend time with and learn from Alan and Deb Hirsch, Mark Labberton, Michael Frost, Neil Cole, Hugh Halter, Wendy McCaig, Mark Sayers, Dan Kimball, Lance Ford, Kathy Escobar, Kim Hammond, Christena Cleveland, Caesar Kalinowski, Matt Smay, Laura Hairston, Efrem Smith, Brandon Hatmaker, Bob Roberts, Barry Jones, Ryan Hairston, Mindy Caliguire, Ori Brafman, & others. There will be 18 main sessions, and 55 breakout sessions, and significant time to connect with all the presenters. For more information, go to www.sentralizedconference.com
Do you want to go to Israel and earn three credit hours? It's easier than you think. A study trip to the land of Israel is the ideal supplement to your classroom education. Such a trip enables you to visualize the places where the key events in the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the Book of Acts actually took place. Please contact Tina Smilie in the Bible Exposition office for more information.
The mission of Dallas Theological Seminary is to
glorify God by equipping godly servant-leaders
for the proclamation of His Word and the
building up of the body of Christ worldwide.


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Me and a few friends are making a road trip to your fine berg for one day in June. We are driving through ARK, stopping to watch a Rangers AA game in Springdale, then heading to STL Saturday morning for a day game against the Brew Crew. We aren't going to be in town long as we are headed to KC Sunday morning to catch a noon game before heading back to Fort Worth.
My question is this...if there was ONE restaurant we HAD to eat at, ONE bar we HAD to drink at, ONE concession item we HAD to try, what are they? And what is one attraction we have to see before leaving your fine city? (already planning on dropping by the arch).
Much appreciated, and if anyone wants to grab a drink before or after the game say when and where are we will be there.
One Love,


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The Nationals Review has moved! While you can still find the archived posts here, there is a new site. You can find it here:
Hope you like the new look.
Thanks for the support, and I'll see you over at the new site.
The Nationals Review has moved! While you can still find the archived posts here, there is a new site. You can find it here:
Hope you like the new look.
Thanks for the support, and I'll see you over at the new site.
Anthony Rendon is doing just what he wanted to do in Spring Training – get noticed. Of course, ranking 17th on Keith Law's prospect list and 35th on Baseball Prospectus' list, its safe to say he had already been noticed. But you get my point. He's hit .400/.428/1.000, with 3 HRs and 3 doubles in 21 PAs after Wednesday's game, which is, needless to say, a good start.
We know that spring stats are to be taken very lightly. And even if they were more valuable, the sample size is so small that his numbers seem much less impressive. It's a great week, not much more. But because he is only 22, and because he has less than 200 pro PAs, this is still very encouraging to see. It's clear he can hold his own against high end pro pitching, even if he isn't facing aces all the time.
No matter how well he hits in the spring, though, there should be no question where he belongs to start the season. He has less than half a season of pro baseball under his belt, and there isn't a hole in the lineup waiting for him. So he'd be resigned to the bench, which is probably the worst place for a hitter with his experience. He needs to hit every day if possible, because he still needs to learn every day. But that isn't the end of the conversation with him. Read the rest of this entry »
Danny Espinosa revealed that he played the end of last season with a torn rotator cuff, and that if he had known how bad he was hurt, he probably wouldn't have played. A few questions come to mind, the most important one is probably why he is electing to not have surgery. He could, after all, have surgery today and probably be back by late May.
We'll tackle that one later. Another question that comes to mind centers around his performance. How much was he affected? Did he hurt the Nats chances, will he be all better this year, etc etc.
He said he was hurt in early September, and got a cortisone shot on Sept 17, but that didn't really help. The injury seems to have been made public on Sept 17, it had hurt for "the past week" and he only played 3 games in that week, due to leaving for his grandmother's funeral after Sept 11. So using Sept 11 as a cutoff point, we can see what he did
Pre-injury: .255/.321/.416, K/PA:.276
Post-injury (reg. season): .183/.258/.283, K/PA: .364
Playoffs: .059/.176/.059, K/PA: .368
The playoffs looked even worse, but that's not surprising as the injury had more time to hurt, the pitching was tougher, and the sample size was small enough that anything can happen. The K/PA didn't change much, but, again, sample sizes. Now combining the last few PAs of the season, adding the playoffs stats to the post-injury regular season, it looks like this:
Pre-injury: .255/.321/.416, K/PA: .276
Post-injury: .156/.241/.234, K/PA: .365
One more exercise – if you've read this blog at all you know I love to get rid of April with Espinosa's numbers. Not because April doesn't count, but just because he was so bad in April, that whether he was hurt, mentally lost, heartbroken, or his contacts were in the wrong eyes there was something different about him. Well, let's not just eliminate it, let's line it up with the other pieces of his season:
April 5 – May 3: .182/.277/.239, K/PA: .313
May 3 – Sept 11: .269/.330/.451, K/PA: .271
Sept 11 – Oct 12: .156/.241/.234, K/PA: .365
Alright, so I didn't expect some sort of statistical revelation from this, just interesting to look at that. It's hard to imagine he had this injury in April, but he looked like a completely different hitter for 490 PAs from early May to mid Sept than he did before or after. And other than a few more singles in April, he was basically an identical hitter in April and September, which is interesting.
As for the injury we KNOW about in September, that one clearly affected him. He hit is OPS high water mark on Sept 5 (.746) and stayed around there all week, including his last day before leaving, Sept 11 when he went 1 for 4 with a double (.737). While I'm not sure when he actually got hurt, it was possible in those last 3 games before the time off, he was, as he did go just 1 for 10 with that double. Of course, that is only 3 games, and while we're dealing with small sample sizes here, lets not go down to that ridiculous level.
It was pretty much a downhill skid from there, and if he hadn't gotten hurt, it was likely he'd finish the season on the same path he had been going since May 3. His .781 OPS in that period wouldn't have been reached, because we can't take the season out to infinity. But getting above .750 looked like it was in the cards, and if he had an OPS above .753, that would have been good for third best among all NL 2Bs. Remember, that's including his April skid.
The point of all of this? Well, it shows that the numbers certainly reflect multiple Espinosas, and the one from May 3 – Sept 11 last year is the one we want for 2013. The timing of the shoulder injury certainly lines up perfectly with the injury, and the reports from the time. So maybe we can dismiss the horrible NLDS and late Sept performance to a player who was really too hurt to hit. And for whatever reason, that exact same player showed up in April as well.
It further convinces me that whatever was happening in April was more than just a typical slump, although we may never know what was happening. It also makes me believe that if something was indeed up in April, then a healthy Espinosa is a very good second baseman, perhaps one of the best in the NL, and can be a huge asset to this team.
The question remains though, is he healthy now? And will he be healthy a month or two from now? Or should he be sent to get his surgery right away so he's healthy for the majority of the season? I'll get to that next time…
I don't blame the Nats for trading somebody, and with the way contracts and defense worked out, Mike Morse made the most sense. I would have done the same thing if I was Rizzo, but he will definitely be missed. He is an exciting player to watch, and he has one of the best stories I can remember from any National.
In a little bit of a cheapy here, I just want to reprint what I wrote last week when LaRoche was signed and it was clear Morse might be on the way out. Here's his story, from a scouting and performance perspective:
Because of this contract, it seemingly relegates Morse to the bench. It likely means that management will trade him, which makes sense in terms of building the best team. It is unfortunate to feel the need to trade such a good player who is a fan favorite, and count me as one of those fans who enjoys watching his enthusiastic play. His emergence as a true power hitter was more surprising than you may recall.
In one of the more lopsided trades this team has made (in hindsight), they gave up Ryan Langerhans to get Morse. Langerhans looked like the better player at the time – although he hadn't had much success hitting, he was at least a lefty, had shown some power in the minors, and was a good fielder. Morse, on the other hand, hadn't yet shown power in the majors, or the minors for that matter. He was also a converted infielder who couldn't seem to field anywhere that well. Here is what Baseball Prospectus said about him before the 2008 season:
As utilitymen go, Michael Morse is a tweener-he doesn't have the defensive skill to back up the middle infield positions or the power to hold down even the short-side of a platoon at one of the corners. What that leaves, particularly on a team that already has Willie Bloomquist, is not much
The Nats currently have what may well be the best rotation in the entire Major Leagues. Nobody is going to rank them any worst than 3rd or 4th in MLB, and even that might be considered low by everyone. However, if there is one knock on the group, it's the lack of depth. They have 3 studs in Strasburg, Gio and JZimm, but there are questions after that.
It would be great if Detwiler is as good in 2013 as he was in 2012, but in reality all he has to do is be good enough to be a #4 or #5 guy and start most of the year. We don't really know if he can do that, although I suspect he will be that and more. As for Haren, that move is exciting for the potential to have a top flight guy at the bottom of the rotation. But it is also a little scary due to injury history and a poor 2012.
Regardless of the health of the rotation in general, and even if Haren starts 30 games, it is highly unlikely that they will only use 5 starters the whole year. John Lannan was their first backup plan, but now that he's gone, who do they have?
The first choice might be Zack Duke, who started 26 games in AAA last year and has been a starter all of his career. Unless he ends up being their only reliable lefty relief man, in which case he's going to be needed elsewhere. Christian Garcia is another option – a converted reliever who was successful in a limited 2012, but hasn't recorded a start in 2 seasons. Of course, there's Yunkesy Maya, who had a decent 2012 in AAA, but was nothing special there. Almost all of his MLB appearances have been pretty rough. Jeff Mandel started some games and did well in AAA, so could get a shot as well. That's about all I see from the obvious choices. Another route would be to go after a free agent.
The Nats re-signed Adam LaRoche today, getting him on a two year deal. Comparing LaRoche to the other first base options, Michael Morse and Tyler Moore, I think this is the scenario most likely to be the most successful.
The defense gets a boost with LaRoche over the other guys. On offense, it allows them to have a better lefty-righty mix, and is the most probable candidate for best lineup. Morse has the potential to hit better than either of the other guys, but he also has the potential to turn in a .320 or lower OPS, and even with more power than LaRoche, this is a hindrance to his value. Moore is still unproven as a full timer, and while I'm excited to see what he can do, I doubt its the .840 OPS he showed this year.
I've heard that 2012 was a career year for LaRoche, but it really wasn't. I wrote about it at length here in October, but suffice to say it wasn't so much better than his 2006, and slightly better than 2008 and 2009. He'll probably end up with another strong but non-spectacular offensive 1B season. Rizzo went with best probable lineup rather than best potential lineup, and I can't blame him for that. All that coupled with strong defense made him the best choice for this team.
The Morse Surprise
Because of this contract, it seemingly relegates Morse to the bench. It likely means that management will trade him, which makes sense in terms of building the best team. It is unfortunate to feel the need to trade such a good player who is a fan favorite, and count me as one of those fans who enjoys watching his enthusiastic play. His emergence as a true power hitter was more surprising than you may recall.
If you're pacing back and forth, worrying about yesterday's game, take heart, you're not the only one. In actuality, both teams come into Washington with some reason to be excited. St Louis should be happy to have a win after losing game 1, as game 2 was semi-must win for them. As a corollary they have to be happy they survived the Nats two "best" starters.
The Nationals should be very happy with their situation, as well. They went on the road and won a game, which means they only have to win a home series, 2 out of 3. And unlike a week ago, they now have a bunch of guys who have playoff experience, and hopefully any jitters are out of their systems.
But rather than go into some sort of big analysis of two games of baseball which would no doubt be based on extremely limited sample size and wildly exaggerated observations, I figured I'd just give you some links to help you enjoy the off day. And you should enjoy it, because even though they lost yesterday, the Nats get to play in the postseason again tomorrow.
Here's my take on the big awards:
AL MVP – Mike Trout
I'll get the most contentious one out of the way first. I picked Trout over Miguel Cabrera not because of WAR (which I do like) or anything like that. I think the case can be made that Miggy was the best hitter this year, but Trout was awfully close. Trout, however, was a much better defensive player. Therefore, overall, Trout was better. I won't even get into the advantages that Miggy had with park effects and opponents' pitching staffs. Trout was a better player than Cabrera, even if you buy that Miggy was a better hitter. Frankly, because he plays such a more difficult defensive position than either guy, Cano may even be above Cabrera, but I won't get into that here.
NL MVP – Buster Posey
Posey's got a better OPS than McCutchen (in SF, a real pitcher's park) and a higher OBP than Braun (who should get extra points this year after coming back and killing it again) and he plays catcher.
…or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bombs.
As an aside from the playoff race and the fun that the Nationals are having looking forward to October, I'm always speculating about how they'll structure next year's lineup (the biggie: will LaRoche still be here?). If they're happy with Harper in CF they could just keep LaRoche, but that might not be up to them. And if it's not, they'll might have to find a free agent. Except that the corner outfield and 1B free agent market is sparse. So maybe get a real CF, move Harper to a corner OF spot and Morse to 1B.
If they do go that way, there are 3 big name center fielders that are available. One is Shane Victorino, but I have my doubts that he's the right answer. Another is Michael Bourn, and he's a good player, but he might want a big long term deal, and maybe they don't want to do that. Another guy who might be had a little cheaper, and maybe they could sign him shorter term is B.J. Upton (maybe they couldn't, but at least he's two years younger than Bourn).
And I like the idea of Upton, but is he the answer for this team? He's a low AVG, relatively low OBP (bad year this year, but .337 career aint awful) and decent power guy. In other words, he reminds me of Ian Desmond. Desi's had a much better than year than Upton, but the similarities are there in my mind. I just keep thinking they're OBP low and power high and maybe they need more OBP and they're great but streaky… well, I went ahead and worked myself into a frenzy, so I submitted this basic premise to Colin Wyers at Baseball Prospectus during his chat yeseterday:
September is approaching fast, and normally with the Nationals, it's when we can turn our attention back to the downtrodden team and see some young prospects get a shot with the Major League club. Instead, this year the Nats will be entering September as perhaps favorites to win the division, let alone grab one of the two wild card spots.
But that doesn't stop the roster from expanding, and it doesn't stop the minor league season from ending around Labor Day, so we'll still get to see a youngster or two. Remember that in order to be a September callup, a player has to be on the 40 man roster. I will use today's 40 man and assume it won't change by the weekend, but of course it probably will. Here's a few guys to look out for:
John Lannan – Heard of him? He's a lock to get called up, especially considering he's first in line to fill in for Stephen Strasburg once the ace gets shut down.
Corey Brown – He had an incredible season in the minors, he's a strong defensive CF, and he's already hit his first Major League homer this year. Hopefully he'll get to play some more – maybe to rest a seemingly fatigued Bryce Harper once in a while.


text: Verity First time here? Use the CustomInk design lab to make your own t-shirts! Is it a winner? Current Score4.7 View full-size image Design Your Own < previous next > "The senior class of Verity Institute gathered in the elevator with our classy t-shirts to make one more memory before heading our separate ways." - http://verity.iblp.org/about/ - Verity (Mar 12, 2008) Similar Photos: gildan ultra cotton | k-12 | dark chocolate | verity institute Share this photo: Twitter Facebook


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Paperback, 54 pages
Published March 1st 2011 by Dramatists Play Service
From Goodreads
Video Games, violent movies, Marilyn Manson, the Internet, Prozac, or fame? What moves a teenager to cross the line and become a high—school shooter? More importantly how do we stop it? Pulitzer Prize—winning journalist Lax Morales is looking for a follow up to his groundbraking undercover piece on white supermacists. Although his video blog has an unprecedented online following among teens, Lax has been written off as Internet trash by the elite of the publishing world. He needs a big story and he knows it. After killing thirtynine students and teachers in a suburban Iowa school, sixteen—year—old Herman Howards takes the time to email video clips of the incident to his idol, Lax. He adds one line to the clips: "I want to tell my story on your show."The public pushes for herman's televised execution as Lax conducts three days of interviews, using every tool at his disposal to discover what drives the current poster—boy for evil. HELLO HERMAN is a mind—blowing examination of how tragic events like Columbina and Virginia Tech continue to happen in our country. No stone is left unturned as Lax searches for an answer to the question everyon's been asking but no one has been able to find: Why?
The sheer amount of kids tormenting other kids that remains present in our school systems blows my mind. With the programs that have been put in place to put a stop to this behavior I'd think that there would be less incidences but that isn't so. Bullying remains alive and kicking in our schools, playgrounds and even homes across America.
Take Herman Howards, a 16 year old boy who takes it upon himself to murder 39 of his peers that he says "had it coming" and he justifies this brutal mass murder as "standing up for the kids like me all around the world". Let's face it, we all know that children can be capable of the cruelest deeds with little thought to the emotional outcome.
John Mailer captures this perfectly while delving into Herman's mind through Lax Morales, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who exposed a white supremacist group a few years prior. Lax's expose didn't come at a small price to his personal life. Lax is now an Internet blogger with a strong teen following which leads to Herman sending video clips of his heinous crime to Lax.
Lax spends three days interviewing Herman while his trial is expedited and the public opinion is torn between those that want to see Herman executed and those that feel the taking of his life is no better than the mass killing he performed. While interviewing Herman, Lax is forced to view his own past behavior which was less than admirable.
Mr. Mailer focuses on a variety of issues that could lead to such an occurrence such as violent video games, absentee parents, the death of a sibling and let us not forget the bullying that is ever-present in today's society and he rolls this all into one big ball of issues that form Herman's psyche and mental state at the time of the school shooting.
I can't say that there were any real eye openers in this book - there weren't. Anyone who watches the news knows that bullying remains both a realistic and desperate issue. It isn't just for children but also for adults. It's imperative to be aware of not only how our children our behaving towards others but how others are behaving towards them and more importantly how are media/entertainment outlets affecting them? Do you believe that such things as violent music and video games, etc... can cause violent behavior? These are important issues that face today's youth.
* Side note: This is a bit different to read as it's written in a play format but no less 'dramatic' for its efforts. A great find at a garage sale! I'd love to see the play!


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Free Entry - Entry Information
Winding through the spectacular Blackall Range, a cool retreat in the hinterland of Queensland's Sunshine Coast, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk traverse some of Queensland's most scenic natural areas in Kondalilla and Mapleton Falls National Park and Mapleton Forest Reserve.
... more
Walk traverses the very best of the Blackall Range with three overnight walkers' camps. Campsites must be booked in advance. Day visitors can access sections of the great walk for shorter walks. The majority of the great walk is Class Three and Four walking track standard. Walkers need a moderate level of fitness and good ankle supporting footwear.... less
The Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great!Walk is a clearly marked track with a generally firm and stable surface.
The 58 kilometres multi-day adventure has been broken up into three sections: Baroon, Mapleton Falls and Delicia sections. Detailed information is available on the EPA website and the EPA topographic map available for purchase.
Track conditions may worsen during bad weather conditions (such as high rainfall), making walking slower, harder and more tiring. Walking bridges have been built over some creek crossings, but not all. Do not attempt creek crossings during times of high rainfall - flash floods can occur.
Do not leave food for native birds and animals.
Obi Obi Creek flows into Baroon Pocket Dam - the main water source for Caloundra and Maroochydore. Soap, detergent, skin creams, urine and food scraps affect water purity. Hybrid toilets can be found at all walkers camps and picnic areas along the Great!Walk.
Carry gas or liquid spirit stoves for cooking, as open fires are not allowed. Mobile phone coverage on the Great Walk is unreliable. Be prepared for fire dangers. Bushfires pose a threat to walkers and can occur without warning.
Sub-tropical weather makes this area a pleasant place to visit for most of the year.
* Please note: These rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available costs of listed products and services. To obtain a firm price from the provider, please use the contact the operator . All prices are quoted in Australian dollars.


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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota men's basketball team has a big-name opponent on this season's non-conference schedule: Duke.
The Battle 4 Atlantis tournament directors announced Thursday that the Gophers will face the Blue Devils in the first round of the eight-team event in the afternoon on Thanksgiving day, Nov. 22. The tournament takes place at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.
This will be the first time the Gophers play Duke since 1989, when they fell to the Blue Devils in the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament. The Gophers won the only other meeting in 1954.
Other teams in the Bahamas tournament this year are Missouri, Stanford, Memphis, Virginia Commonwealth, Louisville and Northern Iowa.
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Movie Review:
The Wizard of Oz
Rated G for General Audiences
Run Time: 101 minutes
Quick Take: The road to happiness is faithful, but never smooth -- especially in the land of Oz.
Magical Story Proves You're Never Too Old to See The Wizard
The magic of Oz draws in adults and children alike. We all start out in on the sepia-toned Kansas farm (think of old-timey photos). Then, together with Dorothy, we open the door onto a world of color and wonder and things never seen before. Munchkins, good witches, bad witches, nasty apple trees, blue-faced flying monkeys ... with every turn of the plot, there is a new visual marvel. And yet, there is that constant yellow brick road to follow.
Beyond the visuals, the film is filled with memorable lines ("Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore") and equally memorable songs ("Ding Dong, the Witch Is Dead," "We're Off to See the Wizard," just to name a few). It's hard to beat lyrics that rhyme real words with invented ones ("rhinoceros" with "imposs-erus"). And there is a contagious joy to this fantasy/musical, where characters dance and sing so effortlessly, they seem to dare us not to sing and dance along with them.
Kids Will Like:
Every child has dreamed of a place far from the troubles (or just plain ordinariness) of home—a place filled with magic, where s/he is at the center of it all. And who wouldn't love to have three good friends to share a journey? Kids will sing along with the Muchkins' Lullaby League and Lollipop Guild, as well as the Wicked Witch's somber guards' song ("doh- we-oh . . . ") The films offers adventure and danger, but then a happy ending where wishes come true.
Parents Will Like:
The film is good pick just for the fun of it (as a child might see it), but there are moments of humor—and human quirkiness—that only adults are likely to catch. Kids may not understand what the phrase "a horse of a different color" means even as they watch the horse change colors. The interplay among the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Lion offers wordplay, too. ("That's you all over," the Tin Man tells the Scarecrow as the Scarecrow tries to explain where his stuffing is scattered.)
Heads Up:
Adults often let Dorothy down. Her parents are gone, and her Auntie Em and Uncle Henry really don't help when Toto's in danger. The Wizard himself sails away without taking her back to Kansas. Dorothy's tears and fears are very genuine, which can be upsetting for young children. The witch can be very frightening, too, with her green face and death threats against Dorothy and her friends.
"The Wizard of Oz" was not the first or last children's movie to admit that life is not always simple and that there are no magical solutions to our sorrows. But it offers a touching reassurance that, if we just let ourselves find them, we usually have the answers to our problems within us.
Own It?
Yes, you'll want to see the details and hear the songs over and over again.


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Street Art, Granny Style
Jessie Hemmons makes knitting look as badass in a gallery as it does on the Philly streets
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Now – April 11
The Art Gallery at City Hall Room 116, East Portal Market St. Entrance
"It's graffiti with grandma sweaters," says Jessie Hemmons, better known as Ishknits, about her work as Philadelphia's yarnbomber. "Yarnbombing 101," her first solo exhibit, combines yarn installations with photography to tell the tale of Ishknits' latest Philadelphia escapade: knitting cozies for seats on SEPTA's Market–Frankford subway line.
There is something playfully rebellious in all of Ishknits' work. Using a traditionally feminine craft to enter the male–dominated world of street art, Hemmons's concepts feel more approachable than traditional graffiti. Ishknits brings this same rebelliousness into the gallery space of City Hall. What was once the seat of the patriarchal Pennsylvania government now finds itself invaded by the femininity of knitwork.
Upon entering the exhibition, it's hard to know where to look first. Two towering columns dominate the space, wrapped in kaleidoscopic patchworks. Soft and irresistibly cozy chairs greet visitors; the backrest of one literally invites viewers to "Take a seat." Every usable object in the room displays the intricacies of Hemmons's signature yarn treatment.
On the walls of the gallery hang stunning photographs by Conrad Benner that document Ishknits' yarnbombing of three seats on the Market–Frankford line. In placing the installation on a subway train, Ishknits not only makes a particularly bold statement, but presents her work to a broader and more diverse audience than typical gallery spaces allow for. While some street art — like a seat on the subway defaced with garbled words and spray–painted silhouettes — remains far from inviting, Ishknits' colorfully cozy yarn–graffiti encourage viewer interaction.
As residents of Philadelphia, we are lucky to have Ishknits. She's an artist ready to cover the city in a whimsical tapestry that not only protects our buttocks from the unfriendly hardness of a subway seat, but also encourages us to begin knitting the new social fabric that Philly has long been waiting for.
Read More: Artist Profile: Jaipal Singh.
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A friend asked me to create a portrait as a gift for his sister-in-law of her cats who had passed away. So, here are Hemingway and Blitzen as I interpreted them. I worked from multiple photos of the two cats and asked questions about their interactions and personality traits. For me, this is important work because to memorialize someone's beloved pets is a dubious responsibility. As the artist, I wanted to capture the essence and relationship of the cats, as well as create a mood that was respectful. I had fun making the painting because I like the challenge of combining the idea, intention, technique, and composition into a unified piece.
- Americans for the Arts animal art AP Studio Art Art Artbeat art in Italy Art Insitute of Chicago ArtPrize art teacher Art Teaching Balance Balthus cat drawing cats Chazen Museum of Art Children's Books circles Claude Monet Collage Corcoran Gallery of Art Dogs Drawing ducks German Expressionism Hardberger Park high school art Hiroshige Hopper Illustration Lotus Gallery Metropolitan Museum of Art Micron pens Musee d'Orsay Nature NY Times Painting Paintings of snow photography Picasso Recycled Art San Antonio San Antonio Animal Control San Antonio Art Education Association sculpture Seurat Sketchbooks Southwest School of Arts and Crafts Staedler pens student art Surface Design Teacher Institute for Contemporary Art teaching Textiles The New York Times Watercolor Painting


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ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -- It's the end of March and there is still snow on the ground. Now that ski slopes are closed, people are anxious for the spring weather to actually arrive.
KTTC checked in with employees at the Hampton Inn on Wednesday, where they were trying to push spring in by using a bit of reverse psychology. In the winter time, as a courtesy to guests if snow falls, the employees here will clean it all off.
But after seven straight Mondays of doing that, the workers here are ready to throw in the towel. They built a snowman Wednesday afternoon, and it's the hope that very soon the warming spring sun will melt him-- and the rest of the snow around the area.
"It's kind of the reverse rain dance. We are so tired of winter that we said today, 'we'll build a snowman, and if you have a snowman it's going to melt,' and spring is going to spring," said Dan Nelson, general manager of Hampton Inn & Suites.
They also have a pool going on when this guy will actually melt.
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Persons with disabilities who need assistance with issues relating to the content of this station's public inspection file should contact Administrative Assistant Jodi Neyens at (507) 280-5104. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, at 888-835-5322 (TTY) or at email@example.com.