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Home » News » Politics
Derry council will not reconsider vote on Adams Pond Dam
DERRY - A motion to reconsider the town council's vote on accepting jurisdiction over the Adams Pond Dam failed at Tuesday night's council meeting.
The issue was initially raised when the state dam bureau deemed the dam unsafe and charged dam owner Jean Gagnon with either repairing or removing it by 2014.
Gagnon had stated that he did not want to spend the money to repair the dam and would remove it, but the town and Gagnon did reach a tentative agreement for the town to take control of a .73-acre parcel of his land that includes the dam. However, after the town council deadlocked 3-3 on the vote to take over the property in September, the motion was defeated.
On Tuesday night, Councilor David Milz made a motion to reconsider the Adams Pond Dam vote.
If the vote had passed, it would have meant only that the council could have considered the issue again at a time of its choosing. It would not have resulted in the town taking over control of the property.
"I have received some further information since we took the vote and I would like to explain it if possible," said Milz.
Ultimately, the motion to reconsider was defeated after several minutes of parliamentary wrangling.
With Councilor Phyllis Katsakiores away for business, four of the six members present would have had to vote to reconsider, according to Town Administrator John Anderson.
By the time it was Chairman Brad Benson's turn to vote, two councilors had voted to reconsider, two had voted no, and Councilor Brian Chirichiello, who stepped down and did not take part in the September vote, abstained.
Benson voted to reconsider, making the final tally 3-2 with one abstaining, meaning the measure failed to garner a majority vote. Saying he was uncomfortable with Chirichiello stepping down, Benson ruled the motion defeated.
During the public forum portion of the council meeting, former Councilor Janet Fairbanks said she was against the council taking up the issue again.
"I hope you would give this a lot of reconsideration before you make the motion to reconsider," she said.
Although the council will not reconsider the Adams Pond Dam vote, several residents have begun an effort to save the dam, establishing a fund through the town for donations.
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Scoop: ONCE UPON A TIME on ABC - Today, November 3, 2013
"Ariel" - Back in the Fairy Tale Land that was, when Ariel (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) saves Snow White from drowning in the ocean's depths, Snow returns the favor by helping her new friend get acquainted with Prince Eric, with whom she has fallen madly in love with. Meanwhile, Emma, Mary Margaret, David and Hook attempt to save Neal, who is imprisoned in one of Pan's encampments, and Regina and Mr. Gold begrudgingly team up to find a way to take down Pan, on "Once Upon a Time," TONIGHT, NOVEMBER 3 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
"Once Upon a Time" stars Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret, Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Lana Parrilla as the Evil Queen/Regina, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/David, Emilie de Ravin as Belle, Colin O'Donoghue as Hook, Michael Raymond-James as Baelfire/Neal Cassidy, Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills and Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold.
Guest starring are Robbie Kay as Pan, JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Ariel, Gil McKinney as Eric, Parker Croft as Felix, Josh Kalender as lead knight, Adam Lolacher as black knight and Arpad Balogh as footman.
"Ariel" was written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz and directed by Ciaran Donnelly.
"Once Upon a Time" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format with a 5.1 channel surround sound. This program carries a TV-PG,V parental guideline.
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Tel: (215)368-1100
Calvary Baptist School exists to assist parents in their God-given responsibility of educating their children.
We seek to provide a quality education for grades PK3-12 in a Christ-honoring environment.
School Overview
|School Membership(s)School Assoc.
|Other religious school association(s)
|Religious Affiliation
|Grades Offered
|Grades Prekindergarten - 12
|Learning Difference Programs
|Year Founded
Student Body
|Total Students
|306 students
|Student Body Type
|% Students of Color
State avg.: 20%
|Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
|Total Classroom Teachers
|35 teachers
|Student : Teacher Ratio
National avg.: 13:1
|Number of AP Courses
|4 courses
|Advanced Courses
|AP Calculus, AP English Grammar & Composition, AP Physics, AP US HIstory,
|Average ACT score
|Classroom Dress Code
Finances and Admission
|Admission Deadline
|None / Rolling
|Acceptance Rate
National avg.: 85%
|Total Sports Offered
|5 sports
|Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Soccer, VolleyballBaseball, Basketball,
Cheering, Soccer,
School Notes:
Calvary Baptist School exists to assist parents in their God-given responsibility of educating their children. We seek to provide a quality education for grades K-12 in a Christ-honoring environment.
Nearby Schools:
All Schools | High Schools | Elementary Schools | Preschools | Public Schools
Show me:
- School Location Miles Students Grades
Lansdale Corpus Christi School
920 Sumneytown Pike
Lansdale, PA, 19446
(215)368-0582(Roman Catholic)0.3 mi | 506 students | Gr. K-8
LansdaleWest Point Child Learning Center
1631 S Broad St
Lansdale, PA, 19446
(215)699-7044Daycare / Preschool1 mi | 19 students | Gr. PK-KG
LansdalePlay And Learn-lansdale
800 S Broad St
Lansdale, PA, 19446
(215)855-7322Daycare / Preschool1.1 mi | 12 students | Gr. PK-KG
LansdaleHopwood Nursery School
1520 Quarry Rd
Lansdale, PA, 19446
(215)368-1135Daycare / Preschool1.3 mi | n/a students | Gr. PK
LansdaleRainbow Express Preschool
630 York Ave
Lansdale, PA, 19446
(215)368-4693Daycare / Preschool (Mennonite)1.4 mi | 7 students | Gr. KG
School Reviews
Area Statistics
Recent Articles
Updated October 26, 2014
What do you do when you are dissatisfied with your local public schools? Homeschool your children? Send them to private school? Let's look at your options.
Your religion matters to you. You want your child to attend a school which will combine academics and religious education. Here is an overview of what is available together with some links to denominational web sites.
Add things up and you'll quickly find the answer- math is crucial both in academics and the real world. By following these strategies and following personal training programs, students can uncover their weaknesses and conquer math.


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RSABG is a 501C(3) non-profit organization, and your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. You will be provided with a gift receipt confirming the value of your gift for tax purposes.
Many options are available to make a gift to Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden:
Donate Online – For your convenience you can use your MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover to make a gift.
Mail Your Gift – Make your check or money order payable to RSABG and send your gift to RSABG Development Office, 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont, CA 91711.
Make a Pledge – Pledges are large gifts made over an extended period of time. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden's Development Office staff can help you establish a regular gift schedule, call (909) 625-8767 ext. 222
Matching Gifts – Corporate matching gifts provide an opportunity for you to double or even triple your gift to RSABG. If you work for a matching gift company (click here for list), simply request a matching gift form from your company's personnel office and follow the directions to initiate the match. Mail the form to our office and we will do the rest.
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden joins you in honoring a friend, loved one or business associate by offering you a special way to give a gift. You can recognize someone special, commemorate a milestone or celebrate a special occasion, such as an anniversary, retirement, wedding or birthday, when you make a tribute or memorial gift. In doing so you support the mission of RSABG and have the satisfaction of knowing your gift will help to provide a lasting legacy for while supporting the mission of RSABG. Simply put your gift information on the order form.
Gifts in Honor of someone are a meaningful way of recognizing a family member, friend, colleague, teacher, etc., for special occasions such as births, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, retirements or other achievements. We will send the individual a card acknowledging your thoughtfulness; the amount of the contribution will not be revealed.
Gifts in Memory of a spouse, family member, friend or loved one are a special way to celebrate a life. A card will be sent to you acknowledging receipt of your gift and the individual or family recognized will be sent a card to let them know of your thoughtfulness. No gift amount will be revealed.
Planned, Deferred and Life Income Gifts Give You More Options.
We encourage all members and garden lovers to give to The Garden Fund, but there are other ways that you can support and become involved with Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden including Planned, Deferred, and Life Income gifts. Click here for more information about Planned Giving or call (909) 625-8767 ext. 222.
Garden Fund donors receive special benefits. All Garden Fund donors are listed in the Honor Roll of Donors and receive the yearly edition of the Garden Variety newsletter that includes the honor roll listing. $500 and greater donors have the option of receiving a membership with their donation and $1,000 and greater donors receive Aliso (RSABG's scientific journal), an invitation to the Majestic Oak Leadership Dinner, free entry to the Butterfly Pavilion for donor(s) and immediate family, and reusable RSABG admission guest passes (not applicable for special or ticketed events and number varies on donor level).
"Green Friday" Plant Sale
Friday, November 28, through Sunday, November 30
10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
All in-stock items at both locations of RSABG's Grow Native Nursery will be 20% off. RSABG members can receive a special 35% total off live plants in stock! The sale will be held Friday, November 28 through Sunday, November 30.
Admission is always free to Grow Native Nursery. For directions, hours, and more information on classes and events, visit Grow Native Nursery in the Veterans Garden or Grow Native Nursery Claremont.
November 8, 2014-February 22, 2015
Presented by Claremont Museum of Art
Gallery open to the public daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Included with standard admission or membership. Claremont Museum of Art Members receive free Garden admission with proof of membership during the exhibit.
Over a lifetime of creating sculpture in many media, John Svenson's work in wood stands out and expresses his love for this living material. The exhibition John Svenson: For the Love of Wood begins with a one-day display at the Padua Hills Art Fiesta on November 2, then moves to Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, opening November 8. John Edward Svenson's love of nature and mastery of his materials is evident throughout his large body of work, which ranges from small wood carvings to monumental public commissions. A native of the Pomona Valley, he studied art at Claremont Graduate School and worked for many years with sculptor Albert Stewart and artist/designer Millard Sheets. During his prolific career, Svenson produced over 23 sculptures for Home Savings and Loan banks and numerous public works in California and Alaska.
Exhibition Opening Reception
Friday, November 14, 5-7 p.m. at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
Artist John Svenson will be honored at the opening reception of the exhibition John Svenson: For the Love of Wood. Admission to RSABG will be free for this event. Public are welcome to attend.
About the Artist
Over a lifetime of creating sculpture in many sizes and medium, John Edward Svenson has had a love affair with wood. "There is a direct connection to the material, one can observe the grain and understand the life of the tree. If I am lucky, I can express this life and create something of beauty" says Svenson. Understanding natural form through flora and fauna is at the core of his creations. John began working in wood as a child and never stopped. Unlike materials such as bronze, which require multiple processes, working in wood is time consuming but immediate. The act of carving wood is therapeutic and personal. John Svenson was born in Los Angeles in 1923 and grew up on a citrus grove in the Pomona Valley. After WWII, the GI Bill allowed him to attend Claremont Graduate School to study art at Scripps and Pomona College. For many years he worked with sculptor Albert Stewart and artist/designer Millard Sheets. During his prolific career, Svenson produced over 23 sculptures for Home Savings and Loan banks and many public works in California and Alaska. His sculpture and medallic work are held in numerous public and private collections in national and international locations. Teacher Albert Stewart and mentor Paul Manship nominated Svenson to the National Sculpture Society in 1966 and he advanced to "Fellow" in 1971.
Dec. *5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20; 6 - 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday nights.
*Friday, December 5 is members-only night.
New, expanded loop trail route! Over a half-mile of luminaria-lit trails.
Illuminated evening walks featuring live acoustic music, cookies and hot cider and more than 1000 glowing, candle-lit luminarias lighting a half-mile, accessible loop on Indian Hill Mesa.
Luminaria Nights Live Musical Lineup - - Still Developing...check back for additions
* Friday / December 5 - CLICK HERE to purchase tickets
*Friday, December 5 is members-only night. Members night includes tastings of jams, sauces, and dips in the Gift Shop, and 25% off all purchases in the Gift Shop that evening (6-9 p.m.). Cannot be combined with other discounts; Friday, December 5 only. Not a member? Become one today!
Saturday / December 6 - CLICK HERE to purchase tickets
Friday / December 12 - CLICK HERE to purchase tickets
Saturday / December 13 - CLICK HERE to purchase tickets
Friday / December 19 - CLICK HERE to purchase tickets
Saturday / December 20 - CLICK HERE to purchase tickets
Ticket Information
RSABG Members: $5 per person (children under 3 free); purchase online with link above or at the Admissions Kiosk in advance or at the door on the evening of the event.
Public: $8 per person.
Garden admission fees do not apply for this special ticketed event.
There are no refunds on pre-purchased Luminaria Nights Tickets. In the event of cancellation due to weather, pre-purchased tickets may be used for either: admission to another scheduled Luminaria Night date in 2014 OR one free general admission to Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (excluding special, ticketed events and expiring one year from ticketed event date).


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Narrow your search
CTIA shows off what's new in smartphones, accessories, and all things mobile.
Impressive Amazon features and an outstanding display make the the Fire HDX 8.9 one of the best and most affordable media consumption tablets.
Strong performance, high-end specs, and an ultra-affordable price make the Google Nexus 5 not just the best unlocked phone on the market, but the best Nexus phone by far.
Nokia's phone business belongs to Microsoft now, so it's made an affordable 7.9-inch tablet with Android Lollipop and a high-res screen.
Pricing not available
Affordable, reliable, and easy to use, the XYZprinting Da Vinci 1.0 AiO 3D Printer is great leap toward making 3D printing available to the masses.
The hefty pricing aside, the Samsung SSD 850 Pro is one of the best, if not the best, standard consumer-grade solid-state drives on the market.
Thanks to its stellar performance and affordable price, the Nexus 7 is the Android tablet to get.
Pricing not available
The Microsoft All-in-One Media keyboard is a keyboard-plus-touchpad combo for home theater PCs that is both low-cost and simple to use.
This well-designed machine is a very good option for fans of at-home coffee and espresso. Consider the $159.99 Bunn My Cafe MCU if you want a more versatile coffee maker.
The Fujifilm X-T1 is a great camera for advanced photographers as long as its quirks don't bother you.
With its powerful processor, great camera, decent screen and gorgeous, waterproof design, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is the best small Android phone around.


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Town Square
Palo Alto, St. Francis meet for the first time in postseason
Original post made on Nov 24, 2011
Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, November 24, 2011, 10:52 AM
Comments (1)
a resident of another community
on Nov 24, 2011 at 1:35 pm
The Palma-Sacred Heart game will be broadcast live on KION 1460 AM & 101.1 FM in Salinas. For those not attending, you can listen to the game via the 'net at www.1460KION.com, beginning at 6:35pm on Friday, November 25th.
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Grab a Bowl of Heaven soon in Mountain View
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Furniture displayed at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile show a turn to a darker side.
From health care facilities to offices, these surfaces offer aesthetics and function
A U.K.-based start-up is developing technology that live-streams outdoor views into lifts.
Irish designer Ray Power crafted the Escape S pendant for lighting studio LZF using FSC-certified flexible wood veneers that are fabricated using a proprietary chemical-free process.
Now available in a brushed brass finish, this pendant series was inspired by the shapes of ancient cooking pots and water jugs.
These digitally printed designs are inspired by materials reclaimed from urban renewal projects.
A Wi-Fi–enabled window air-conditioning unit joins the "Internet of Things," Ikea hires an all-star team to design its latest furniture series, a set of toy connectors gets help from the crowd, and more product news.
Deborah Osburn, the California-based designer behind online luxe tile marketplace Clé, is applying traditional Japanese textile-dyeing techniques to tile production using a method that relies on equal parts chemistry and patience.
Like many emerging and seasoned designers, the founder and principal of Merge Architects is a maker.
A new product-design practice from Swedish studio Form Us With Love debuts with geometric acoustic wall tiles.
Copyright © 2014 Hanley Wood Media, Inc. All rights reserved.


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SUU football: Fake punt sets up Thunderbirds game-winning field goal, propels them to victory 30-20
Gutsy call leads to SUU's go-ahead score in the fourth quarter
Associated Press
MISSOULA, Mont. — It isn't often that a head coach views his punter as the team's secret weapon. But after punter Brock Miller scampered for 22 yards Saturday to set up the game-winning field goal in Southern Utah's 30-20 victory over Montana, Thunderbirds coach Ed Lamb did just that.
"The secret is out now," Lamb said. "Our punter is one of the fastest guys on the team."
Miller's run on a fake punt paved the way for Colton Cook to hit a 38-yard field goal and give Southern Utah a 23-20 lead over the Grizzlies with 2:12 left.
"We were looking for it all game," Lamb said of the fake punt. "They either bring a lot of rush or block a lot of people. We saw that they were trying to block."
Both teams are 3-4, and 2-2 in the Big Sky Conference.
"To lose here at home is very disheartening," Montana coach Mick Delaney said. "One thing that's very obvious is that we cannot finish in the second half."
The Grizzlies jumped out to a 17-13 halftime lead behind a 6-yard pass from Trent McKinney to Clay Pierson, McKinney's 2-yard scoring run and Chris Lider's 43-yard field goal.
The Thunderbirds rebounded in the second half, going ahead 20-17 on a 2-yard run by Brad Sorensen with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.
Montana knotted the score at 20 when Lider kicked a 42-yard field goal with 7:58 remaining.
But on fourth-and-2, Miller saw the entire Grizzly defense drop back to block and took off down the left sideline to the Montana 27-yard line.
"We felt if we needed it, it would be there," Lamb said.
After Montana turned the ball over on downs, Myles Crawford-Harris ran the ball 34 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory for the Thunderbirds.
Sorensen completed 30 of 53 passes for 294 yards. He connected on first-half touchdown passes of 7 yards to Fatu Moala and 20 yards to Henna Brown. Sorensen was also sacked seven times by the Montana defense.
"I don't think I will be able to move tomorrow," Sorensen said after the game. "I'm pretty sore right now."
Moala hauled in a game-high 11 catches for 104 yards.
McKinney finished the game 17 of 29 for 194 yards and one touchdown. Montana's Peter Nguyen led all rushers with 91 yards on 15 carries.
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NEWS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS Basic BlackA production of
Recent Episodes
Basic Black: Immigration Reform and... an Icon Implodes?
Basic Black: Immigration Reform and... an Icon Implodes?
Basic Black
November 21, 2014
This week on Basic Black: President Obama has thrown down the gauntlet to his detractors on immigration reform in the form of an executive action. Who does it impact and does this signal the beginning of a battle with Congress? Later in the show, the unmaking of an icon, as up to 13 women have come forward with accusations of sexual assault against comedian Bill Cosby.
Photo: President Obama delivers an address on immigration reform from the East Room of the White House, November 20, 2014. (Official White House photo by Pete Souza.)
Basic Black: A Hyphenated Life?
Basic Black: A Hyphenated Life?
Basic Black
November 14, 2014
Identity is an ever evolving, some would say elusive concept in American culture: Grammy award-winning artist Pharrell declares himself part of the "new black" generation… The US Army only last week eliminated "Negro" as a racial designation… "More Hispanics declaring themselves white" was a New York Times headline in May… and Asian American and Pacific Islander students at Harvard recently held a forum to bring their issues to the forefront. This week on Basic Black we look at the common thread through these and other stories identity, and what it means on a personal level and the global landscape.
(Photo: Pharrell/Jonathan Short - Invision- Associated Press, 2014.)
Basic Black: Victory for Baker | Viral Video from NYC
Basic Black: Victory for Baker | Viral Video from NYC
Basic Black
November 7, 2014
On the ground and in the street…
Charlie Baker beat the highly touted Democratic ground game to win the Massachusetts Governor's race. What does his victory mean for communities of color? And later in the show, the viral video that to date has gotten over 30 million views: men catcalling a woman while she's performing the simple act of walking through the streets of New York City. We'll talk about what it shows, and why it has sparked a heated debate about street harassment, race, and sexism.
(Image: Screenshot from the video by Hollaback!)
Basic Black: Thomas Menino's Imprint on the "New Boston"
Basic Black: Thomas Menino's Imprint on the "New Boston"
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October 31, 2014
In remembering the legacy of former Mayor Thomas Menino, State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry remarked, "He didn't just focus on downtown, it was also our neighborhoods." This week on Basic Black, we look back at the city's longest serving Mayor and the huge imprint he left on Boston's neighborhoods and communities of color.
Basic Black: Cornel West and Black Prophetic Fire
Basic Black: Cornel West and Black Prophetic Fire
Basic Black
October 24, 2014
In the aftermath of his arrest protesting the killing of Michael Brown, a young black man shot to death by a white police officer, Cornel West sits down for a conversation with Callie Crossley about his new book Black Prophetic Fire, an examination of the lives of historic African American icons and how their courage to speak truth to power still resonates with contemporary activism from the events in Ferguson, MO to taking a stand against the policies of the Obama Administration.
Photo credit: Meredith Nierman, WGBH.
Basic Black: Voting Matters in Black & White
Basic Black: Voting Matters in Black & White
Basic Black
October 17, 2014
Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Charlie Baker are in a dead heat in the Massachusetts governor's race. The margin of error in the polls for both candidates is slim, but can voters in communities of color fill the margin with a victory, sending one of them to the governor's office? Are the campaigns of the independent candidates resonating with black, Latino, or Asian voters? This week on Basic Black, we look at how the candidates for governor are delivering their message to communities of color in the race to the finish line on November 4.
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February 15, 2013:
This week, with the State of the Union, President Barack Obama delivered his first major address after his second inaugural speech. Most polls showed a favorable reception to the speech, which emphasized domestic issues including raising the minimum wage, voting reform, and a bigger push on passing immigration legislation. But with a divided Congress and a country of competing constituencies, how much can be accompanied in a lame duck Obama presidency?
Our panel this week:
- Callie Crossley, host and moderator, Boston Public Radio, WGBH
- Kim McLarin, assistant professor of writing, literature and publishing, Emerson College
- Phillip Martin, senior reporter, 89.7 WGBH Radio
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history, Tufts University
- Rev. Talbert Swan, president, Springfield, MA branch of the NAACP
(Photo: President Obama delivers the State of the Union Address, February 12, 2013. Official White House photo, Chuck Kennedy.)
News updates from WGBH


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There has been a fall in the quantum of private equity investments in the real estate sector in the first three quarters of 2012, says the latest investment market report released by real estate consultancy, Cushman & Wakefield, India.
The private equity investments has been recorded at Rs.35 billion which is approximately 15 per cent lower than same period last year and the total number of private equity transactions so far this year stand at 23, marginally lower when compared to same period last year.
Of the total investment this year so far, the first quarter saw majority of the investments at Rs.21 billion while the remaining two quarters recorded Rs.13.80 billion. While the second and third quarters depict a drop in investment volumes, the real estate sector continues to attract steady investments during the year.
Sanjay Dutt, Executive Managing Director - South Asia, Cushman & Wakefield feels the reason for the fall in number of deals was mainly due to concerns on the government policy front coupled with an uncertain investment scenario, valuation and continued focus on exits for some vintage funds. "However, recent policy initiatives, opportunities in key markets should turn things around in the coming quarter and make up for the shortfall," he says.
The residential segment witnessed the maximum private equity investments with the share of deals of the total private equity investments increasing by 9 per cent in first three quarters of 2012 compared to 2011.
Most of the deals this year were executed through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) in contrast to last year where investments were witnessed in both entity and SPV level as they provide greater transparency and accountability along with ease of exit.
Mumbai continued to be the preferred destination for private equity investments followed closely by Bengaluru and NCR. However, their share had reduced from 84 per cent in the first three quarters of 2011 to 78 per cent in same period this year. Other cities including Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad have witnessed steady interest from private equity investors, says the Cushman & Wakefield report.


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Claims Data Underreports Pressure Ulcers
Rates of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers vary widely in hospitals based on how the data is collected, researchers say. In one study, surveillance data identified 10 times more pressure ulcers than billing data.
Hospitals that rely on claims data to measure hospital-acquired pressure ulcers are likely under-reporting the problem and creating an inaccurate comparison with competitors for the public. A far more accurate measure uses surveillance reports by trained clinicians inside the hospital, a new study shows.
A University of Michigan School of Medicine study, which appears this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that HAPU rates varied wildly in hospitals based on how the data was collected, inaccurately making some hospitals appear to be better or worse than peer institutions.
The UM study examined two million all-payer administrative records from 448 California hospitals and quarterly hospital surveillance data from 213 hospitals in that state that were publicly reported on CalHospitalCompare in 2009. The researchers winnowed the sample to 196 acute care hospitals with at least six months of claims data and surveillance data.
Jennifer A. Meddings, MD, an internist and pediatrician at UM and the leader author of the study, says researchers "looked at the same hospitals in the state of California in the same year and mapped criteria looking at the same patients as much as possible and the same severity of ulcers."
Comments are moderated. Please be patient.
- In Lakeport, CA, a Population Health Laboratory is Born
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- Transforming Decision Support and Reporting
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- As Retail Clinics Surge, Quality Metrics MIA
- Slideshow: Healthcare Executives Eye Efficiency
- Insurers' listings of in-network doctors often out of date
- Upfront costs of going digital overwhelm some doctors


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Mon, 18 March 2013 at 11:30 pm
Debby Ryan: Google Hangout with Ok! -- Watch Now!
Debby Ryan keeps it cute in a printed bomber jacket while out and about in New York City on Monday afternoon (March 18).
The 19-year-old actress stopped by the OK! magazine offices for a Google+ hangout with the glossy and her fans.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Debby Ryan
"Debby shared her musical knowledge and lots of other amazing details on her life," the mag wrote on their site.
Catch the Google+ hangout below and see if she answered your questions!
FYI: Debby is carrying Rebecca Minkoff Collection 'Allie' bag.
Debby Ryan – OK! Google+ Hangout
Like Just Jared Jr. on FB
Credit: Christopher Peterson; Photos: SplashNewsOnline
Posted to: Debby Ryan
Posted to: Debby Ryan


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A Play by Post Roleplaying forum for beginners and advanced writers alike with various genres to suit any roleplayer.
immortal, bloodlines, role, play, forum, vampires, characters, arcane, fantasy, anime, apocalyptic, werewolves, witches, angels, demons, death, story, stories, blood, realms, kalimorre, #saints, sinners, city, writing, write, family, fangs, wolve
More than a Saints Forum, FOR ALL WHO LOVE THE CITY OF SOUTHAMPTON!!!!! Stars of Stage & Screen and Ex-Saint stars among members!!
southampton, world, forum, #saints, starbar, family, football, games, star, celebrity
Here we have a forum dedicated to the st bernard!we want people to post who have an intrest in the breed from Breeders to pet owners from people who show there saints to people who admi
bernard, things, saint, ourfairview, breed, large, chat, breeders
Join our loving and exciting community. If you are interested in Angels, Ascended Masters, Healing, Spirituality, Dreams and chatting. This is an insightful forum.
spiritual, forums, angels, #saints, spirituality, healing, dreams, holistic, hands, angel, readings, paranormal, aliens, chatroom


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Listen to Roseanna
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I want to use categories to explore an area.
If I include a
categoryId in a call to the explore endpoint, it seems to work! But, this isn't documented (on an already-experimental API) so I'm not super comfortable using it.
Is there a reason categories aren't officially supported on this endpoint?
Related, what differences should I see between an explore and a search in an area (with
intent set to


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Top 10: #2: Hollins' Amazing Dunk vs. Badgers
May 30, 2014
Click here to see the complete Top Ten archive!
Gopher men's basketball, under first-year head coach Richard Pitino, put the wraps on one of the most successful seasons in school history. Setting a new school record with 25 victories, including wins over top-25 opponents Ohio State, Wisconsin and Iowa at Williams Arena, the Gophers captured the 2014 NIT title at Madison Square Garden. GopherSports.com will take a look back each day with the top 10 moments from the 2013-14 season.
#2: Austin Hollins' Amazing Dunk vs. Wisconsin
In the Jan. 22 home game against Wisconsin, the Gophers overcame early adversity to dominate the rival Badgers in front of a frenzied Williams Arena crowd. One moment, however, nearly blew the roof off the 86-year old building.
More Headlines
11/25/2014Game Preview: Minnesota at St. John's
11/22/2014Walker Leads Gophers Past UMBC, 69-51
11/21/2014Game Preview: Minnesota vs. UMBC
11/18/2014Minnesota Tops Western Kentucky, 76-54
11/14/2014Minnesota Awarded 2019 NCAA Final Four
11/13/2014Video: Gophers in Puerto Rico


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Tech Talk: Wired Retail and Future of Digital
FELLT Industry
Two of the tech sector's biggest news titles have lined up over 40 speakers to talk technology and the future of retail at two conferences in London and Sydney next weekRead more
Nine months ago fashion's favourite cross-dresser underwent sex reassignment surgery. Now she is charting that journey via a documentary and memoir
This season, fashion has a new address. Very excitingly, I've been working for the past few months on a stupendous exhibition of French fashion, and next month it will finally be unveiled.
Another Quick photo shoot in busy New Yorkwith all the Show castings and fittings happening
You know that feeling when you see something and you just have to have it no matter what? You imagine yourself with this thing everywhere and you build a dream about who you will become if you have it and how everything will be so good? This jacket is one of those things.
Sharing a recap of the event I hosted for Kiehls in collaboration with Popsugar at their new Bondi Junction store.


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With more people turning to mobile devices and other portable screens when breaking news erupts, how important are TV ratings for the cable-news networks?
At present, the answer is "plenty," with Fox News Channel dominating the arena. But other screens may soon take news viewers' attention to other areas. "The rapid growth of mobile is a key factor driving the move to digital news," according to Pew Research Center's 2013 edition of its "State of the News Media" report. "Indeed, the proliferation of devices is giving rise to a new multiplatform news consumer, one who accesses news through a combination of different devices and traditional sources."
Surges are already taking place. In October, Fox News Mobile saw the number of unique visitors for browser access alone increase by 75% over the year-earlier period, and 18.2% over September, according to data from comScore. Unique visitors by application access grew 59% over the year-earlier period and 16% over September.
With that in mind, audience interaction with the news outlets' various digital outposts bears watching. In October, for example, Nielsen found smartphone apps and mobile sites related to CNN's Digital Networks amassed 27.9 million unique users, compared with 16.3 million for Yahoo-ABC News sites, 13.8 million for Huffington Post, 10.78 million for the Fox News Digital Network, 10.76 million for USAToday.com, 10.14 million for the NBC News Digital Network, and 9.03 million for the CBS News Network.
When it comes to the amount of time users spent with each, Nielsen determined a different pecking order. Readers of the New York Times spent an average of 54 minutes-plus with the mobile sites during the month, while CNN aficionados spent more than 33 minutes in October. Readers of USAToday.com spent an average of 25 minutes and 15 seconds while Fox News Digital Network captured readers for an average of 20 minutes and 7 seconds during the month. Readers of NBC News Digital spent an average of 14 minutes and 39 seconds. Other news outlets kept readers during the month for six minutes or less.
The numbers may play a bigger role in how some of the nation's most recognizeable news brands are perceived in years to come. As smartphone ownership rises, so too, one suspects, will the behavior of seeking out news content from digital venues first, and TV secondarily. Already, CNN has vowed to increase its emphasis on consumers who get its content from mobile phones and tablets. The Time Warner network has invested at least $15 million 2013 to rework its digital infrastructure to make the placement of news content and advertising across different digital outlets easier.
News junkies likely make decisions about where to get their information based on a strange calculus of breaking-news alerts, mobile access, and more. Even happenstance may nudge a decision. So Jeff Malmad, who heads the mobile practice at MindShare North America, a large media-buying shop that is part of global ad company WPP, likes to dig deeper when choosing where to place his clients' commercials on news-outlet mobile sites.
"There's a whole host of data points that I would look to understand where I'm getting the best traction," he said. He examines app stores and looks to understand how long consumers spend at a particular site and what drives them to stick around or split. He also may consider whether he needs the scale of a single media brand or if he can build an audience by buying up inventory across different news sites.
While mobile tells part of the story, traditional Web surfing relates another. For the month of November, comScore found Yahoo-ABC News captured the most unique viewers, nearly 77 million, while CNN lured 65.9 million.


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Posts tagged lesson-mode
Rocksmith 2014's lesson trailer takes us to school
The latest trailer for Rocksmith 2014 Edition details the game's enhanced teaching capabilities, which are accurate and specific enough to not just tell us that we're doing it wrong, but specifically how we're doing it wrong. Hey Ubisoft, can you patch this into our Significant Others?...
Featured Stories
Assassin's Creed Rogue review: Avast ye, clone!
Posted on Nov 25th 2014 9:01AM
Get a closer look at final retail Amiibos
Posted on Nov 22nd 2014 9:00AM
Barely Related: Star-Lord's dance-off, comet sounds
Posted on Nov 21st 2014 8:30PM


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WASHINGTON (AP) - Pushing back against demands to supply arms to Ukraine, Obama administration officials said Friday that economic sanctions would remain the primary weapon as the U.S. and its European allies seek a diplomatic solution to Russia's aggression.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Talks are underway to resolve a costly question at the shuttered San Onofre nuclear power plant in California - who pays a bill that could top $3 billion, officials disclosed Friday.
NEW YORK (AP) - Breakfast is now being served with a side of sticker shock.
NEW YORK (AP) - The "Every Day Low Price" king is trying to shake up the world of pricing once again.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The new health care law helps some people, hurts others and confuses almost everyone. Hoping to simplify things a bit, The Associated Press asked its Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus followers for their real-life questions about the program and the problems they're running into as the March 31 deadline approaches to sign up for coverage in new insurance markets.
HONOLULU (AP) - Honolulu police officers have urged lawmakers to keep an exemption in state law that allows undercover officers to have sex with prostitutes during investigations, touching off a heated debate.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - A gym in Albuquerque refused to let a Muslim woman wear her religious head covering when she tried to work out, according to a new lawsuit against the company.
MIAMI (AP) - The head of Miami-Dade County's Crime Stoppers program avoided jail time Thursday after a judge found him in contempt of court for refusing to divulge details about an anonymous tip, some of it on a piece of paper he ate rather than turn over at a previous hearing.
SEATTLE (AP) - Seattle police on Thursday released previously unseen images showing drug paraphernalia from the scene of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's suicide 20 years ago.
NEW YORK (AP) - A teenage thrill-chaser slipped through a fence, eluded a security guard and climbed to the top of 1 World Trade Center, authorities said Thursday as concerns swirled about a seemingly audacious breach at what is supposed to be one of the world's most secure sites.
STARKE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida man has been executed for killing two female co-workers by beating them with a hammer and setting them on fire during a robbery at a fabric store where they worked. One witness to the lethal injection Thursday blurted out "Die!" as the inmate read his last statement.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Hash brownies, space cakes and other pot-laced munchies won't be among the items allowed at Oregon medical marijuana dispensaries, state officials said, and that's drawn criticism from pot-shop advocates.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Even preschoolers are getting suspended from U.S. public schools - and they're disproportionately black, a trend that continues up through the later grades.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Fred Phelps did not care what you thought of his Westboro Baptist Church, nor did he care if you heard its message that society's tolerance for gay people is the root of all earthly evil.
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida man accused of killing his parents and then throwing a party with their bodies still inside their house was ordered Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
MIAMI (AP) - A shooting sent terrified patrons scrambling from a Miami nightclub early Sunday and left 15 people wounded, including an 11-year-old child, authorities said.
CHICAGO (AP) - Teen girls who have sex should use IUDs or hormonal implants - long-acting birth control methods that are effective, safe and easy to use, the nation's most influential pediatricians' group recommends.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - A marijuana giveaway for veterans attracted about 1,000 people to a Colorado hotel.


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Meet the Stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Series
Read full bios on all the series regulars, including major accomplishments, best runs, hobbies, and more, plus team and driver Twitter account info on the social media page.
NitroMall is your one-stop spot for official NHRA merchandise, products from some of the teams of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, and more. The NHRA Store is the place to join NHRA and purchase specialty items and DVDs, and the NHRA Museum Store has items to satisfy history buffs, from vintage T-shirts to historical books.
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After a merciful weekend off, we now head to Brainerd. Funny how the title of the classic movie "Fargo" refers to a North Dakota city on the western Minnesota border, but 99 percent of the flick happens in the Twin Cities or Brainerd. I guess Fargo just seemed like a better name.
Anyway, as a public service I'm willing to ease the travel worries of many of you who might be considering a trip to the little burgh in the woods where Marge Gunderson hunted down the evil killers in the movie. If you live in New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis, the Quad Cities, or even St. Paul, simply put your boat in the Mississippi River and go north. When you reach Brainerd, dock the boat and hitchhike to the track. Piece-o-cake, and with NHRA fans being such upstanding people, you'll get a ride in no time. Wear your Got Wilk? shirt and you'll get picked up even more quickly. You're welcome.
Since there was no race to report on after last weekend, I guess we'll just look forward with much anticipation to the Brainerd weekend coming up. It's truly (and literally, and really, and I mean it) my favorite race of the year. I'll be heading up tomorrow, and it's always a treat to travel to a race without having to even step foot in an airport. Also, thanks to our longtime fan and team friend Erica Moon, I've been tipped off that one of the optional routes from the Twin Cities (the one that goes north out of Elk River to Lake Mille Lacs) is under construction, so I'll be taking the primary route up toward St. Cloud and then north through Little Falls. Thanks Erica!
You already know that the Brainerd race is 100 percent unique on the tour, because a vast majority of the fans arrive as early as today, set up their campgrounds within the track property, and never leave until Sunday or Monday. That makes for a festive atmosphere and it also makes inbound and outbound traffic a breeze for those of us staying in hotels. Yay for that! It's a fabulous race, and I'm told a lot of people have a ton of fun at a place called The Zoo. I'm not that big into caged animals, so I'm not absolutely sure of these stories…
Being in mid-August, Brainerd can experience all sorts of weather during the weekend, and the forecast for the race is mostly good, with a chance of scattered storms on Saturday and Sunday. I'd say about 90 percent of the country has a chance of scattered storms this time of year, so that's not too bad. Brainerd is just far enough north from the Twin Cities to have a slightly different climate, and being such a small town, out in the woods surrounded by lakes, plays into that. There have been many Brainerd races where it's still very much summer in St. Paul but at the race I've detected the first hints of autumn in the air. You know that first late-summer day when the humidity drops and in the morning you just know it's about to be transition time. I dig that…
Speaking of the weather (or more precisely, writing about the weather) I'm typing this blog installment on my laptop, which is always the case, but this time the description is totally accurate. It's a gorgeous day in Woodbury, and my two assistants and I are on the screened porch enjoying the delicious breeze and the sounds of birds chirping, the leaves rustling, and roofers nailing shingles onto yet another new house. The Twin Cities' housing market recovered pretty quickly after the recession, and once the backlog of foreclosures was mostly erased the new housing starts in this part of the metro area have been startling. There are new houses and entire new developments popping up like mushrooms. That's a good thing, so I choose to believe that the sound of roofers on a new house is a pleasant bit of atmosphere.
Let's do a little Brainerd rambling…
Those of you who are putting your boats in the water down in New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis, or the Quad Cities wouldn't recognize the Mighty Mississippi up Brainerd way. It's a lovely little stream with clear water, and it's barely noticeable from the overpass. There's no Mississippi bridge in Brainerd. It's really just an overpass. I took a photo of the Not-Yet-Mighty Mississippi a few years ago, so since today's blog is mostly reminiscing, I'll post that one again today.
I got a text from my buddy Jeff Finger the other day. He's the former Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leaf defensemen ("defenceman" for my Canadian friends) who is a huge NHRA fan and now a big Wilk backer. He watches us every weekend we're on TV, and has come to the Brainerd race with his dad a few times. Unfortunately, he's not going to be able to make it this weekend, but he wanted to each out and wish us luck. Good guy, whose career was cut short by a series of nagging injuries and then finally concussions.
This time last year, the entire team dropped by Woodbury on their way up and we had that fun dinner over at Neighbor Dave's house. After this backbreaking string of 10 races in 12 weeks, they needed a little rest and had a lot of shop work to do, so no time to do that this year. In some ways, that cool Circle K car seems to have happened eons ago, but in others it seems like it was yesterday. In truth, it was about 365 yesterdays ago.
And no, I shall never forget my ongoing saga with the vinyl on the left side of that car. I spent hours trying to repair and tape up the rips that formed, but it was all to no avail when nearly the entire left side of the wrap blew off. It does seem like yesterday when I was up in the lounge after that run and Wilk came in, wearing his fire suit and still all wound up after just getting out of the car, saying with a laugh "Uh, you better take a look at the body now…" All I could do was grab a razor blade and start cutting off all the wrinkled and ruined vinyl. Made for a nice ESPN segment though. The cameras don't show up just so Jamie Howe can report "Tim Wilkerson and his team just got back to the pit after that big win, and the huge news is that the Circle K vinyl on the car still looks great! Back to you, Dave."
I've stayed in a lot of different places up in Brainerd, but the truth is I've rarely ever stayed in Brainerd itself. There was an old Holiday Inn on the road heading into town, back when I first started in this business, but it was about as high class as it got for that little town back then so we never stayed there until it was rebranded about three times (and not in an upward trajectory). We finally stayed there a few years ago, and it could be described in two words: Bed Bugs.
For most of the Worsham years, we stayed at a "rustic" little Days Inn up in Nisswa, about 10 minutes north of the track, where the carpets might have been stained and the beds might have been awful, but the rates made up for it by being sky-high (which reminds me of the old baseball joke "I might be slow, but at least I can't hit"). We also used to stay in Baxter, right next to the old amusement park that's no longer there, featuring the Paul Bunyan statue that now stands outside a bowling alley, at a little dump that was so bad I've somehow forgotten the chain. That charming little inn had a five-night minimum. The fact Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox now have to stand outside a bowling alley is just wrong, but at least they still exist.
Ever since I've joined Team Wilk I've stayed at a different hotel than the guys in Brainerd, because Tim has a longstanding relationship with the people at little motel called the Chaparral Bunkhouse, and they only have enough rooms for our crew guys. Lately, I've taken to booking my room at one of the three rustic resorts on Gull Lake (and this time I mean rustic in the complimentary way). This year it will be my second time staying at Madden's. Cragun's was sold out and Grandview Lodge, which is really a nice place, had rates that could only be described as stratospheric. The rate at Madden's is just short of being on the edge of outer space, but Brainerd is one of those markets where they have a vast overabundance of hotel rooms for about 360 days a year. On those other five days, racers and race fans make up a huge part of their annual business. When something like a Holiday Inn Express can cost you $250 a night with a four-night minimum, and the view out of your window is a parking lot or the dumpster behind a Perkins, you might as well spend another couple of bucks to get a lakeside room at Madden's. As I told Tim "You know, if you're going to pay ridiculous money for a hotel room up there, after a long day at the track I'd just as soon have a patio that looks out over Gull Lake, so I can wind down watching all the boats come in."
When I first started in this business, I was usually broke and I always worked at it very hard to find the cheapest rooms, the least expensive rental cars, and the lowest airfare no matter what airline I had to fly or how many stops I had to make. In those years when we lived in Austin and our CSK team had a deal with now-defunct Vanguard Airlines, I'd often make the three and a half hour drive up to Dallas DFW airport to catch a free flight on Vanguard that would connect in Kansas City and have about 50/50 chance of ever getting me where I needed to be. It was always an adventure, and rarely a good one.
After a number of years of doing that throughout each long season, when I finally was in the black in terms of my annual P&L statement, I came to realize that your body and your mental health are as important as anything, and that if you simply flew the same airline all the time (to get that elite status that would remove the stress and put you in one of the comfortable seats), rented cars from one of the better agencies (which also gave you elite status and free upgrades), and made sure you had a good bed and a quiet room to stay in, over the long haul it really wasn't that much more expensive and at the end of each weekend you were far less worn out. Hence, no more Days Inn in Nisswa and no more Vanguard Airlines. It's worth it. I used to beat the bushes to save $20 on an airfare, or $10 on a rental car, and in the end it was better to just stick with Delta (rest in peace, Northwest) and Hertz.
I don't think it's there anymore, but there used to be a little place on the road to the track where a guy sold wood carvings he made from tree trunks. Barbara and I stopped there once, way back in around 2003 or so, and saw a great carving of a bear sitting under a pine tree. We couldn't resist and we bought it. It hung on the fence next to our hot tub at our old house, and it will always hang next to whatever house or hot tub we own.
You can buy cheese curds and mini-donuts at the track. So there's that!
I also love chatting with fans who are surprised to meet a guy from the Twin Cities who works for a famous Funny Car driver from Illinois. Wearing a Twins hat will often start those conversations.
The great news for this year is that Barbara has a plan to come up on Saturday morning! Woo Hoo!!! I'm really excited to have her at a race again, and she likes Madden's too so it's all good, as long as her trip to Boston doesn't get extended or include any canceled flights. Then, we'll escape the nightly rate madness at Madden's on Sunday, and after the race we'll drive over to the big casino/hotel at Lake Mille Lacs where the rate is $49 for a beautiful room, and that's clearly based on the mathematical odds of us spending way more than that on a couple of slot machines. We can also stop and see the giant Walleye statue, as we have in the past. And yes, as reported here a few years ago, the literal translation of Lake Mille Lacs is Lake One Thousand Lakes. You can learn things like that at the Department of Redundancy Department.
Dan Wilkerson will be there, with his old Funny Car, but since Team Wilkerson no longer owns that car he won't be driving it. As most of you know, Tim sold that entire operation to Brian Stewart, who lives here in the Twin Cities (Inver Grove Heights.) Daniel will be helping out in the tuning department, as he did in Chicago when those guys made their debut.
Oh, and also on the good news side of things, I got a call from Tom "Shorty" Shannon, our friend who owns American Motorsports Bar & Grill near here, in Cottage Grove, and he will once again be feeding us with his incredible culinary offerings this weekend. The guys have been talking about his french fries for weeks. He's also going to be racing there himself, in the Super Gas class. I wonder who is sponsor will be? Some "car bar" in Cottage Grove, I assume.
Also racing in Super Gas will be Breanna Rachac, who we've known for at least a decade as a fan. She's a longtime blog reader, and was the girl who made up a sign that said "Big Man Fan Club" when Tom Leskovan and I were both on the CSK team. The next year she decided to honor Chase Steele with a similar sign. She's always been a sportsman racer, but as far as I know this will be the first time she has actually raced at the Brainerd national event. She's also in Super Gas, so maybe she'll face Shorty at some point. That would be cool! Best of luck to both of them
Can't wait to get up there. I think it's safe to say that no other track on the tour has fans who have as much fun as the Brainerd fans. They're the best.
Now let's go win some more rounds.
Wilber, out!
I'm not sure exactly when it became my "home race" but Seattle has absolutely taken on that character for me, and I really enjoy that. It all has to do with this exact blog you're reading right now, because up until this thing was launched in 2005 I was just another nameless and faceless guy on a team, who wasn't actually getting his hands very dirty unless I was cleaning the body. I had met a few very friendly people over the years, but once the blog was started it seemed like Seattle became the world headquarters for new friendships. Apparently, my personality and the corresponding personalities of a large number of people from the Pacific Northwest seem to mesh.
It's almost impossible to mention everyone here, because there are so many people at the Seattle event that I now consider friends of the highest order, but let's start with Kim Campbell (aka Kim the Lawyer) and his son Andrew, who make the annual trek down from Vancouver. Kim is a brilliant guy and a terrific writer who spins elaborate yarns and tells fanciful tales in his emails. Let's just say that we don't often fire back and forth notes that simply say "How ya doin'?" Andrew is a fine lad I'd be proud to call my own son. His folks clearly had a good idea about how to raise their kids.
There's Chris and Jane Gorny, she of the now-popular nickname Crazy Jane, also from Vancouver. I remember the first time I had a real interaction with Jane. It was an email wager on an upcoming Canucks vs Wild hockey game, and if the Wild fell to her beloved Canucks I had to write an entire paragraph in the blog that was completely complimentary in terms of her favorite hockey team. The rivalry was intense, the good guys lost, and that was a hard paragraph to write.
There's Tom Miller and his son Doug, from West Linn, Oregon. Tom simply signs his emails TFWL, and I know exactly who it's from (Tom From West Linn). There's Terry Mattis who takes fabulous photographs and follows us avidly on social media. Scott Burris, also simply known as Scott The Pilot, who signs his emails STP while addressing me as BTPRG (Bob The PR Guy). Tristan Slezak, who I met 18 years ago when he was just a boy, but who stays so loyal to Del Worsham and now Tim Wilkerson. What a good kid. There's Jeff Eason, who is a real honest-to-goodness rock star. This weekend, we had a great conversation about the band Sevendust and his side of it was first-person, considering he was in a band that opened for them on tour. Great guy, and very talented. And Ryan Deccio, who is a huge fan of the Washington State Cougars. We see a lot of "Go Cougs!" license plate frames and window decals around Spokane, because WSU is located just about 75 miles south, in Pullman.
It's a group of folks who are all different in so many ways, but all very much alike in others. They all love NHRA and the Northwest Nationals, and they all enjoy this blog. Weird how they're all from the same part of the continent. And many in the group are now friends themselves, brought together by this blog adventure over the years. There are more, as well, and Seattle seems to be one of those races where I'm almost constantly being greeted by people I've rarely met (or often never met at all) just to have a word or two and make a connection with a handshake. I love it.
Bottom line: Seattle has become a very special race for me, and I enjoy every minute of every day. Okay, not the one full hour it took to get in my car and out the gate, trying to leave on Saturday even though I stayed in the pit for nearly two hours after the racing was over. Pacific Raceways is scenic and rustic, but it also has a real hard time emptying its parking lots because they all converge onto the only access road. There's a double-secret way out, just for the pro racers and officials, but even though I got there "early" in terms of when I typically arrive at the track on a Saturday, the little "lot" (it's really just a grove of trees people park between) inside the pits was already full and I had to backtrack to the huge Gold Key lot outside the gate. I therefore couldn't swim back upstream to use the secret racers' exit and had to wait it out. The troopers and parking attendants do the best they can, but it's tough. I actually thanked the two volunteers working the Gold Key gate, where it joins the main road, after it took me 30 full minutes just to go 30 feet. Why? Because without them stopping cars and making everyone alternate to allow people out of the lot, I might still be sitting there.
And one of the reasons it was so tedious upon exit was because there were a LOT of people there. Considering the annual SeaFair was going on the same weekend, where many thousands of people descend upon Lake Washington in Seattle, to see the hydroplane races in the water and the Blue Angels in the sky, the attendance at Pacific Raceways was almost stunning. A good crowd on Friday was followed by fantastic attendance on Saturday and Sunday. The big group filled most of the seats while many more were standing at the fences, and the pits were so wall-to-wall it was hard to get through. Bravo to the NHRA fans in the Pacific Northwest, and that makes it official that all three legs of the Western Swing were incredibly well-attended.
For us, it was a fun weekend with Rottler Manufacturing on the car and a lot of new partners and guests to get to know. We had a full house on Saturday, in our hospitality area, and not only did they all have a great time, it was even better because this was so new to almost all of them. Wide eyes and big smiles, all around.
I've been working with Anthony Usher at Rottler nearly constantly for the last few months, often trading dozens of emails and phone calls a day as we worked out all the details for the weekend. In just the last week before the race, Jeff Butcher came aboard at Rottler as their new Sales & Marketing rep, and it was great to finally meet both of those guys at the race. Very smart people, at a very good company, making and selling incredibly good machines. To cap it off, Andy Rottler was in attendance on Saturday, at his first drag race ever, and to see him so excited and engaged was a real highlight. Hosting that many important people is real work, but of the most enjoyable type. Great stuff, and great guests.
As you know, we won our lap in round one against my former boss (almost my entire drag racing career summed up in one round, right there) but we lost a heartbreaker to Gary Densham in round two. Yes, we lost by about an inch, but Tim's philosophy was "If we would've run what we were trying to run, it wouldn't have been close. We would've won going away, but the clutch didn't cooperate and we allowed ourselves to get beat." So, we go into Brainerd with a 30-point lead on our buddy Fast Jack Beckman, and we're also only 33 points behind Del. It's going down to the wire for sure, but doesn't it always?
I got my PR work done and saved it all on my computer until the race was over. That's a lesson I learned a long time ago, when email was first becoming essential and if I'd write my Post-Event Report and send it right out, after we lost early, some fans would get mad because once it popped up in their in-box at midday, they knew we hadn't won the race. In my career, that was the first example of a "spoiler".
Once all the writing was done, I headed back to the pit from the media trailer (yes, Pacific Raceways is the venue where the PR reps are in a trailer only a few yards behind the starting line, but we can't see the track. We watch the racing on a TV monitor while the real stuff is happening so nearby the trailer shakes every time two fuel cars launch) and I helped the team with the full tear-down. We were about done when the final round went off, so I traipsed back to the media trailer to send out my stuff, then packed up the laptop, said my goodbyes to my colleagues and friends in the PR world, and helped with the final tear-down. An hour after the final, when the Pros are allowed to finally move trailers, Tim brought the support rig into the pit and all of our hospitality stuff (flooring, tables, chairs, banners, walls, fans, lights, coolers, awnings, side skirts, and poles) was put away, followed by the golf cart. The whole circus goes into one 45-foot trailer, and there's still room for extra parts and the Ford Flex tow vehicle.
With everything done, I made my way back out to the dusty parking lot and battled the final vestiges of the traffic to head north, up to the Seattle-Tacoma airport, where I had a room waiting for me at the Radisson, right across the road from the main terminal. I didn't think I was that hungry, because I had been grazing all day, but I decided to order a Caesar Salad from room service just because I could. When I looked down at the plate about 15 minutes later, and saw that it was completely free of any remaining salad, I figured I'd actually been starving. Tasted good, too!
I got a good night's sleep, but woke up at around 4:30 a.m. for no good reason. I looked out my window in the darkness and saw traffic and headlights on International Drive, the road leading to the airport, for as far as the eye could see. Clearly there must be a lot of 6:00 a.m. flights out of SEA and there were a lot of people trying to make those departures. Just another reason I do all I can to not be one of those sleepy-eyed folks on those early-morning flights. Mine was at 11:30, and that was early enough for me. I went back to bed and got up at 8:00…
I was in seat 2A on the flight, which was the first 767 aircraft I've been on this year. It's been a while since I was on a jet with two aisles, but I was at a window anyway so there wasn't really any difference from my perspective. I picked that seat on purpose because I was hoping we'd take the same flight path we were on when I arrived in Seattle. Sure enough we did, and about 30 minutes after departure both Spokane and Liberty Lake were directly below my window. I posted the shots on Facebook with a remark about how totally weird it was to look down and see our Liberty Lake house, and Barb's office at Itron, from 38,000 feet. I waved. Barb said she waved back and could see me in the window seat. Still weird though, to look down there and know your wife is hard at work in her office in that big square building you're looking at, on the north side of town. Strange life we lead…
They know the sound of the garage door opener, so they are usually both standing by the door that leads into the laundry room when I come in. I come through the door and there they sit, two brothers with wide eyes. Buster makes an "Erf" sound and Boofie turns and walks away, uttering one meek meow on the way. For the next 20 minutes or so, we play the game and they either ignore me or literally scream at me, just to make me understand that my being gone for nearly five days is simply unacceptable. They've been well fed, and Buster actually sleeps very near the sitter at night, but it's still totally unacceptable. About an hour into this, they realize there are treats to be had and the mood shifts. After some delectable goodies, everything transforms from being angry to being very (VERY) cuddly and needy. For the next few hours, as I watch TV, I'm covered in cats. It's a dance, and it plays out the same way every time I come home from a race. Buster is standing on my desk right now, staring at me as I type this.
So there you have it. We get a weekend off now, and then it's on up to Brainerd. You betcha!
Well here we go again. First of all, it's July 30 and that means Friday, when we start qualifying for the Northwest Nationals in Seattle, it will be August. This is the point when, as a kid, I'd start to wake up with a stomach ache every day, knowing that the inevitable return to Mary Queen of Peace grade school was inching ever closer. Now I wake up knowing that another summer and another year and another birthday are all flying by at a ridiculous pace. I need to find the brake pedal.
Anyway, I'll be flying out to Sea-Tac tomorrow and on Friday we'll hit the track with our special-edition Rottler car. As I type this, the guys are actually at the Rottler headquarters displaying the car during a cool Demo Days promotion the company is doing, where they invite racers and engine builders to stop in and see the big machines in action. So yes, for the record, the Demo Days refer to demonstrations, not demolitions. We certainly hope.
We're going to have quite a few Rottler employees and guests with us this weekend, with the biggest group coming on Saturday, so I'll need to have my emcee skills sharpened and honed, as I'm sure many of these folks will be first-timers, especially in terms of actually being in the pitside hospitality area, getting such an up-close look at everything. I'm looking forward to it!
The headline on today's blog installment has to do with the points situation and the Countdown playoffs. Once again, we're locked in a tense battle to earn a spot in the post-season, and with three races left in the regular season I can state with great confidence that this is going to go down to the wire.
After the runner-up in Bristol, we were "movin' on up" and in ninth place, obviously trending in the right direction as well. Then the three straight first-round losses during the rest of that four-in-a-row knocked us back to 11th. That would be what we officially refer to as "trending in the wrong direction". Our buddy Fast Jack Beckman is the guy we're currently locking horns with, and he went into Denver ahead of us by a round. We faced him in the second round and won, which put us back in 10th but only by a smidge (technical term).
The smidge was so small that Jack actually went back around us by a point based on qualifying position in Sonoma, but our final qualifying lap moved us into 13th and that meant that we raced him again, but in the first round this time. This is what we call a 40-point round, when you're racing head-to-head against the person you're battling with for a playoff position. In hockey it's a 4-point game, and in drag racing it's a 40-point round, because that's the complete difference in positioning when comparing winning to losing.
Let's face it, we didn't exactly run very well in qualifying at Sonoma. Tim blamed his own greediness for smoking the tires on both Friday runs, trying to go a little too fast, but he felt good going into Q3. Instead, the beast did it again and we went into the final session 15th, but only because some other teams had messed up even worse. It was hot in Sonoma, as in frying pan hot, and even on Friday night when everyone was making their best laps, the marine layer never showed up and it didn't massively cool off like it normally does. We went into Q4 knowing we at least had to go down the track just to have any sort of baseline for Sunday, and that's what Tim skillfully did. It moved us up to 13th, and with Jack in the No. 4 spot we were paired up. I'd like to say we planned it that way, but it wouldn't be true.
As reported earlier, I was not in attendance at Sonoma, but I did the PR work from home and the beauty of ESPN3 had me feeling like I was there. I was at our Liberty Lake home, out in Spokane, in the climate-controlled comfort of my office, but my palms were as sweaty as they would've been had I been there in person. I don't get that nervous all that often, but I guess it was the combination of it being a head-to-head race against the guy we were then technically chasing again (since he moved back up on us by one point with those qualifying digits) and we were racing a car that had run way better than we had.
The whole reason I flew across the country to do the PR work from home was the fact Barbara was slammed and buried with work, so there was no way she could come back to Minnesota and this summer we've been in opposite places too much. She was working at the dining room table, and I was one room away in my office. I told her "We're up next" as ESPN3 played on my laptop screen, and she came in to watch with me. If you saw the race, you know how we did. That lap was a thing of extraordinary beauty, and Barb and I were cheering along and high-fiving when the LRS car crossed the stripe first. We were back in 10th.
We lost to Matt Hagan in round two and our day was over, but some work had been done. The only hitch is that we're 19 points up on Jack now, and that means we're back in the territory where one round, up or down, can shuffle us again. We hadn't raced Jack all year until Denver, when it was all on the line, and now we've raced him twice in two races. What are the odds for Seattle?
We've actually had a decent year, in terms of winning rounds. We're 13-15 overall, and 9-6 in the first round, so we're getting out of the first one enough to be in contention. The problem is we've only been to three semifinals, and we haven't won a race. We haven't won a race in three years! And where did we win that last one? Yep, Seattle.
To secure this playoff spot we can't rely on anyone to help us, and we can't hope for someone else to simply lose. We need to do what we've done every year since I joined this team, and that's get hot when it matters. Right now, it matters. And you know what? I have more confidence in Tim Wilkerson and these guys than I ever have.
Three races left in the regular season. That means there are 12 rounds left, as well as qualifying points and bonus points. Bottom line, if we win one more round that Jack over these next three, we're in. Or, we could both win three more rounds than Del and we'd both be in. The stark truth is that either Jack, or Tim, or Del, or possibly Cruz (but that's a long shot) will not make the playoffs. There aren't enough spots for everyone. Time to get busy, I think.
Other ramblings…
I sure picked the right weekend to go back out to Liberty Lake. The massive wildfires in central Washington had not only been blazing unchecked, but the winds out of the west were blowing all the smoke right over Spokane. The weekend before, Barbara said the sky was basically brown, and you could smell the smoke as if someone was burning brush right across the street. The National Weather Service didn't just put out an advisory that the air was unhealthy for those with respiratory problems, they put out the most severe advisory they have, stating that air was unhealthy for everyone. Barb agreed with that assessment.
During the week, some much-needed rain helped the fire-fighting effort, and a switch in the wind allowed the crews to fight the fires better, while it also spared Spokane, and when I got there on Friday it was simply sublime. Upper 70s with a sky so blue you'd think it was fake. There's a photo of our backyard in the gallery today, and it is completely as the camera saw it. Amazing.
Being in the same time zone as the race helped a lot too, and it allowed us to enjoy a nice dinner each day I was there. I broiled some chicken after I arrived on Friday, and we had that with Caesar Salad once qualifying was over. On Saturday we went to a new restaurant that has just opened in Liberty Lake, and it was fantastic. And on Sunday we enjoyed a dinner on the deck at Palenque, our local Mexican place, overlooking the ninth hole at Trailhead golf course. Yes, Margaritas were consumed. It's a rule. You have to sign a contract when you walk in. Seriously. Okay, maybe not, but it's still a rule.
I flew back to MSP on Monday, and as we took off from GEG we flew right over Liberty Lake and the view was right outside my window. It was another crystal-clear day, so I flipped my iPad over and took a photo. It's in the gallery as well, and it's the best shot I've ever been able to get of Liberty Lake from the air. The photo pretty much illustrates what the entire town is about. There are patches of subdivision streets, but only enough houses to give the town a population of about 6,600. There's one little business district. There are a couple of parks. There's Liberty Lake itself, from which the town gets its name. And there are three golf courses. From the air, the entire town looks like golf, golf, golf. And you can drive your golf cart anywhere you want. Kids can even drive them, if they stay on the sidewalks.
The seasonal differences in air travel between GEG and MSP are startling. In the winter, the aircraft is either a CRJ-900 regional jet, or an Airbus A-320 at the most. During the summer, it's a Boeing 757-200. I wondered about that for the longest time, because it's not exactly like Spokane is on everyone's Top 10 List of Summer Destinations, so I asked the gate agent about it and her reply was so simple I couldn't believe I hadn't added that up. Yes, some people are flying in just to get to Spokane, but most are coming out for visits to Coeur d'Alene, and not just on vacations. Coeur d'Alene Resort is a top spot for corporate getaways, conferences, and other functions, so the inbound flights are often full of a lot of people who know each other and are excited to get to CdA. Makes perfect sense.
As often as I've been there, this time will be different. We're staying in a hotel we've never been to before, right off I-5, so we're going to have to be early each day to beat the traffic on Rte. 18. For the last few years we'd been staying up north of the track, which allowed us the pleasure of coming into the track from across Rte. 18, instead of on it. The traffic on 18 can get backed up for miles.
And, with the special Rottler car and all of their guests, it's going to be a unique experience in that regard as well. All new faces, all new people to meet.
And then there are those pesky points. We need to keep earning them. That would be a very good idea.
I'll take photos…
Wilber, out!
Denver is in the books, and it was a good story. As I'm sure you know, we had a great qualifying run on Friday night, which temporarily had us on top with a new track record, and then we capped that off with a semifinal finish, making our best lap of the day in that semi but coming up just short to Robert Hight. All in all, it was good and everyone was smiling and proud of a job well done. Plus, the win over Fast Jack in round two moved us back into tenth place in the points, albeit by a margin so small it could be easily overcome by the little bonus points. There's lots of work to do to secure a playoff spot, but we're back to trending in the right direction, and that's a good thing.
Rather than tell a story most of you already know (especially with the "live" TV on ESPN) I'll just launch straight into Denver ramblings…
The Friday night run was a thing of beauty, and it was one of those moments where we did something grand at the time you're supposed to do that. We're not often known for being a big home-run team, although we certainly do have our moments. People tend to think of Wilk as a "hot weather expert" and I'm happy to say that such a designation is also true, but from time to time we can swing the big bat, make solid contact, and hit one out of the park. Q2 was one of those bombs, with a 4.071 that earned us the No. 3 spot on the ladder. Way to go boys!
We added a new staff member to the team this past weekend, and she'll be with us at a lot of races going forward. Leah Hook has worked for a few teams in the past, and she'll be helping us with hospitality and pitching in on the car at times when we're not flooded with corporate guests. She's a very nice and very focused young lady, and she's an asset for sure.
We didn't let her dip a toe in the waters gingerly, either. The Denver weekend features our single biggest day in terms of hospitality all year, when Dick Levi and about a million handpicked friends descend on our pit for a long day of enormous fun. Leah did great. And Jim and Nancy Butler were there as well, helping out and working so hard in the heat and mile-high air. The Butlers have really become a valued part of our Team Wilk family.
Sunday was not only a good day to win a couple of rounds against tough competition, it was also my day for camera calamities. Our old video camera was really struggling earlier in the year, and only the MacGyver magic performed on it by Rich Schendel kept it going. It was finally so beat up and on its last legs Rich found another one just like it online and we brought it out as a replacement. But, that new one had some sort of flaw in the way it "unlocked" the tapes and they'd constantly get jammed. so Rich performed some extra magic on the old one and it's been chugging through the races okay.
On Sunday, as I got ready to shoot round one, it wouldn't go into "Record" mode. I tried a dozen times, even as the car was backing up from the burnout, but it wouldn't work. So, no video of that run. I gave it a few more tries back in the pit, but with no luck, so I grabbed the newer camera and hoped for the best in round two. The car did its burnout, and I turned it on… Just to see a flashing red cassette icon on the screen. I figured it was jammed again, so I opened the tape slot only to see something far worse. I motioned to Krista and showed her the open slot, where there was NO TAPE at all. I had turned that camera on to make sure it would work, but it didn't occur to me that I should confirm there was actually a tape in it. Ugh.
After that round I gave it one more shot with the old camera, figuring I'd just manhandle the on/off switch to try to get it into "Record" mode. After all, if I broke the thing it wasn't like we were at a net loss. It was already not functioning. It turned out to be the right thing to do. I pushed it in the other direction, to the "Play" mode and felt the switch give just a little. I guess the MacGyver switch Richie had created was out of alignment a little, and the hard push got it back where it was supposed to be, and it would then have room to move forward to record. Whew… I'll never forget standing there before round two and opening that thing up to see it was empty. Won't make that mistake again!
It was great to see one of my nephews and one of my nieces at the track. James Doyle was there on Friday and Saturday, and Erin Doyle came on Sunday. Both brought newbies too, so that adds to the fun.
As we were servicing the car and beginning the tear-down process after the semifinal loss on Sunday, Tim got a text from Graham Light at NHRA, and it was a warning that some strong winds and heavy rain were on their way. We started strapping things down and moving some chairs when a huge gust of wind hit the front of our pit, knocking over our complete solvent cleaning station and about tearing the whole transporter awning off. We're very lucky nobody got hurt in that deal, and with all the heavy metal stuff crashing around it missed the nose of our Ford Flex by a mere inch. Everyone ran over there and a few of us grabbed awning poles to keep it from flying away, while others picked up all the overturned stuff. There's an awning panel on the end there, and it was catching the gusty wind like a sail, so it needed to come off, but with all the debris on the ground there was no way to set up a ladder. Big Tom Leskovan, from the Tasca team, had heard the noise and he'd run around to help out, so he just had Nick Casertano get up on his shoulders, so that Nicky could unsnap the panel and take it off. Sometimes you have to be creative, and Big Tom came to the rescue.
Just as the final round was going off, after that weather delay, I rounded up Leah and we headed out toward the Denver airport. Her original itinerary had her leaving on a 4:00 flight on Sunday afternoon. I have no idea why, and the only way anyone would've been able to get her there was if we'd had a horrible race day. So, we got her flight changed to Monday morning but she then needed a room for that night. As I often do, I had already planned to check out of our race hotel on Sunday morning, and had reserved a room at the Embassy Suites right by the airport for Sunday night.
When I do that, I pay whatever I feel like paying for a nice room, because by Sunday night the things I crave the most are a good bed, a quiet room, and a place that has room service. For Leah, since Tim would be paying for her room, I checked all the budget chains out by the airport and they were all higher than the $139 rate I had secured at the Embassy Suites, so I called the hotel to ask about availability. The nice guy at the desk said it was no problem, and he had a "best rate" of $119. Perfect! So he transferred me to the reservations center, which is located somewhere else and not at the hotel itself.
I told the reservations agent that Reggie at the desk had quoted me $119, and that I'd like to reserve a room for someone at that rate. Her reply was "We do have a $119 rate but it's for specific handicapped-access rooms, which we can't reserve in advance." Huh? I told her that the nice gentleman at the actual hotel had told me he had a room with a king-sized bed available for $119, so how about we just do that. She said "That rate is not available." So, Reggie had a room at $119, but it's not available. I believe we call this the old "bait and switch" and I told her that. I did get a room for Leah at the same $139, but I was none too pleased by the whole "disappearing rate trick" pulled on me. Still, the $139 was cheaper than even the discount chains, and it's a terrific hotel. My Caesar Salad from room service was nice, as well, and the pillows were outstanding.
I called Barb at around 7:00 on Sunday evening, because I was so tired I didn't know if I'd even be able to stay up until 10:00. Sure enough, by 9:00 or so I was zonked out and probably snoring. When I woke up (very early) on Monday, I was recharged and ready to fight through the mayhem of Denver International. That place can be a total zoo, and sure enough the TSA lines were snaked all the way back through the massive mazes on both sides of the main terminal. Even with TSA pre-check it can be a hassle, but I gave myself plenty of time and got through it with only a modicum of stress.
Barb and I had to do the old "car swap" at MSP, which is always not fun because it means we've missed each other as we travel. I left Thursday and she picked the car up when she flew into MSP on Friday. She flew back to Spokane on Sunday night, and I picked the car up on Monday. We each have a set of keys for that car, and we text each other with its location after we park. It's the part of the "life we lead" that makes this tough.
So… Denver was hot, the sun was bright, and we did some good. We also almost got totally blown off the hill at the top of the lanes when those gusts of wind about tore us apart, but we survived. And now onto Sonoma, where Tim has won twice and been runner-up once. Let's add to at least one of those columns, eh!
On a totally different note, I was contacted yesterday by a gentleman named Patrick Despain, who is a baseball writer for WFAA TV in Dallas, which is the station where my old friend and roomie, Pete Delkus, is the head meteorologist. Patrick had discovered one of my old "Bob On Baseball" blogs about Pete, and his amazing career as first a pitcher in the Twins' organization and then as a weatherman of enormous repute, and he wanted to blog about it on the WFAA website. He asked me for some additional background on Pete, to add some flavor to his story by having an old friend, roommate, and teammate relate those memories, and I was happy to trade emails with him yesterday. It turned out to be a fantastic story, and it's here:
Good stuff, about a really good guy. And, if you missed that original Bob On Baseball and want to learn more about Pete, you can find that here:
I've been incredibly fortunate to know and be friends with a lot of amazing people in my 58 years on this planet. It's been a life so rich in that regard that I'd be classified as a Billionaire in the friends department. Pete Delkus is one of those people. One of the best guys I've ever known…
So, with all that said how 'bout we just go out there and win Sonoma? I'd be good with that.


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Junk mail delivered by Royal Mail
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Likes # 0
Posted November 15, 2012 at 8:44AM
Royal mail is now focussing on junk mail delivery to improve income.
Yesterday I received no addressed mail but eight pieces of unaddressed junk mail including local takeaway menus, Specsavers, jewellery catalogue etc etc.
As stated in the article linked to, the volume has increased dramatically of late and it is theoretically possible to de register here http://tinyurl.com/79q9n4c
Perhaps if we all did as I did yesterday and deposit all the junk mail in the nearest post box rather than my recycling box they might get the message!
Likes # 0
Posted November 18, 2012 at 12:40AM
Not possible Bing.alau
If it's an assortment of take away menus, catalogues etc the easy way is back in the post box.
Likes # 0
Posted November 18, 2012 at 9:23AM
"the easy way is back in the post box"
.Surely if it is addressed to you it will simply be re-delivered, and if it is not (e.g. Occupier) Royal Mail will junk it, costing us, the people that use RM, money
Is it not better to put in in the recycling bin, Thereby reducing the levy your council has to pay on landfill (the levy is worked out as a ratio of landfill to recycling) and ultimately benefiting you, either by more money for services or reduced council tax?
Likes # 0
Posted November 18, 2012 at 5:50PM
Unsolicited mail shots work, or the advertisers wouldn't do it.
Live and let live. The practise keeps an entire industry in business. If there is nothing that captures your interest, put them in the recycling bin. It's not difficult is it?
Likes # 0
Posted November 19, 2012 at 1:54PM
The only people who have a legitimate right to complain about his new policy are the postmen, who's bags will be getting heavier.
For householders, simply pop the junk in your recycling bin and be thankful that the junk mail is doing two things, preventing yet more stamp price rises, and keeping the Royal Mail afloat.
You can bet your bottom dollar that if the Royal Mail is privatised anyone living more than 1 mile from the delivery office will have to collect their own mail, or pay a fee to have it delivered.
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