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Posts for December, 2007
Missing the snow
Early last week, I briefly considered driving to Stevens Point on Saturday and running the YMCA Frostbite Road Race, but too many lingering household duties kept me closer to home.
The forecast for a good winter storm wasn't much of a deterrent at all. In fact, I was feeling a bit jealous when the flakes started falling on Lapham Peak around 11 a.m.
I was nearing the finish of a beautiful run at the time and lamented that my dash through the snowflakes was limited to just a couple miles, while the competitors up in Stevens Point were about to enjoy a whole race through a giant slow globe.
Joel Patenaude, the editor of Silent Sports Magazine, added to my envy this morning, with this recounting of fogged up glasses and frozen eyelids.
If anyone has pictures to share, send them my way: firstname.lastname@example.com.
It looked like fun, really
A rational thought after watching the State Cyclocross Championships on Sunday would be: "I wouldn't try that if you paid me in gold bars and beer."
Buried in a couple inches of icy snow, the course in Hales Corners Park alternated between a snow cone and a muddy stripe; the rain pelted down in bursts and the temperature never topped bone-chilling. Gears seemed useless, and not just because of mud, but ice build up.
But after watching 169 racers slog through the snow, I wasn't deterred. I was inspired. This, I thought, is something I have to try.
Click here for the slideshow and decide for yourselves.
These people were having fun; the kind of fun that kids have when snot's running down into their scarves and they can't wait to get back up the hill for another ride.
Riders made snow angels after crossing the finish line, and spectators goaded the competitors by throwing snowballs.
Click here for the race results and read on for some of the impressions that stuck with me from the first cyclocross race I've observed in person.
Sportsmanship: At the end of a long day, chief referee Richard Weiss told me, "The thing I really like about this sport is that they race neck and neck for 40 minutes, cross the finish line one, two, three, then they shake hands, and they mean it."
I saw the same thing.
Nobody poured popcorn into their helmet (see Terrell Owens) after winning a duel at the finish or turning their race into a four-loop victory lap.
At the end of the men's master's 40+ race, Greg Ferguson, of Middleton, and Tim Boundy, from Illinois, rearranged the mud on their faces, compared notes, assessed where Ferguson had won and Boundy had lost, then laughed together.
Simplicity: Jane Moran, 11, didn't have much to say about her second-place finish in a junior girls race, but she made her point very well. "I like the part of riding, but my toes were extremely cold," she said, while clutching those frozen feet in her hands.
Team Pegasus: They earned victories in the women's category 4 contest and in pre-race preparation.
I passed their tent off the parking lot a half hour before the first shout of "go" and was impressed. They had a Coleman stove cooking up the hot liquids and a 30-pack of Pabst delivering the cold ones. Their state title, in the women's category 4, was won by Katie Steudel, who I recognized as one of the winter biking die hards regularly pedaling the Kinnickinnic to Water St. route in Milwaukee.
Good eats: You have your $7.00 hot dogs and $3.00 bottles of water in the pro sports stadiums. In the Hales Corners Park bathhouse, the volunteers who put out pots of soup, coffee and cider charged only what you put into the donation jar.
On balance: I was amazed at the lack of falls.
Staying upright on two skinny tires, while making turns in peanut butter, downhill at slow speed, seemed beyond my imagination, and certainly my bike handling skills. Maybe the slow speeds helped in the accident prevention area, but I've seen more riders hit the ground in a charity ride than I did on Sunday.
A double dip: Marko LaLonde, of Madison, outdistanced the field by at least a half-lap to win the pro 1/2/3 race, riding a single speed, custom built Jericho.
The bike, in fact, took two state titles.
James LaLonde, of Milwaukee, rode the same rig to victory in the Men's Category 3 race. When he finished, James told Marko the tires and gear ratio worked well and the older brother took little convincing.
If you're looking for a set up to run in similar conditions here's what worked: skinny 30c Challenge Grifo tubular tires, Paul cantilever brakes, Crank Brothers egg beater pedals and a gear ratio of 42x19.
Marko explained: "The skinny tires were great for slicing through the slop down to solid ground. The tread really hooked up well in the mud. The Paul brakes have really good mud clearance which really helped keep the frame clear of buildup. Also, the pedals have a really open design, once again to prevent too much build up. The gear worked well for the slow course."
Dedication and rewards: When I first saw the race director, Bob Schueler, on Sunday morning, he was chasing around a corner trying to get his course workers to redirect some of the tape used to keep riders going in the right direction. A few hours later, I saw him in almost the same spot, this time crashing around a corner in the men's 50+ race.
A bit disheveled at the finish, he got his reward from a fellow rider, who praised the course and Schueler's racing. It may be a brutal sport, but it isn't thankless.$ (2)
Birkebeiner chooses its warriors
Thom and Gary Gerst, brothers from the Minneapolis area, will take on the roles of great Viking warriors in the 35th edition of the American Birkebeiner Ski Race, on Feb. 23, in Hayward.
Race organizers began recreating the Birkebeiner legend as part of the race festivities several years ago, dressing two skiers in the birch leggings and warrior accessories of the saviors who rescued the baby Prince Haakon during the Norwegian Civil War, in 1206. Their escape and the 800-year-old legend inspired the creation of the 51-kilometer race through Bayfield and Sawyer Counties.
This year, race organizers have added another character, Inga of Vartieg, the mother of the rescued prince.
Gaile Moede Rogall, has been selected to ski the Korteloppet as Inga, and her 8-month-old son, Bjorne, will handle the role of the prince.
Gary Gerst is a biology tearcher and cross-country ski coach at Maple Grove High School and Thom is a family practice physician in the Twin Cities area. They have tallied 27 and 17 American Birkebeiners, respectively.
Rogall is an outreach coordinator at the US Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center in Madison. She has completed seven Birkebeiners and one Kortelopet, the 23-kilometer race.
Bjorne's Birkebeiner history was not included in the official release, but his age does seem to provide some possibilities.
The Doc's wax clinic: timely and tasty
The Bicycle Doctor in Dousman hosts a ski wax clinic Thursday night, featuring presentations and tips from Swix, Toko and Fast Wax reps.
The instruction is valuable, but Tom Klein, (the Doc) readily admits all that wisdom is a secondary draw for his skiing customers.
"Free beer" is the real lure for the aptly named "Bock with the Doc" event, along with a big spread of food and a performance by "The Front," the house band. Doors open at 6 p.m. and close at 10, and it will be festival seating.
Doc says the instruction from the wax techs will range from application of the high-end fluorocarbon glide waxes to the basic grip waxes for classic skis. A good review of scraping and brushing is always helpful at the start of the season.
I'll be paying close attention for tips on proper beer and wax separation.$
Footwear options for these frosty days
The timing couldn't be much better for these winter shoe reviews compiled by Running Times Magazine.
The online monthly shares the pros and cons of 20 models from the top manufacturers, Merrell, Vasque, Brooks, La Sportiva, Asics etc.
It looks like a good mix of options, lightweight offerings for trail racing and heavier models for plowing through the snow and muck.
The trick will be to get them delivered by 4 p.m., in time for a post-work workout.$
Beating the bumpers on two wheels
I chose to bike into work this morning more out of curiosity than ambition.
Plus, while I worked with the neighbors to dig out cars parked on the street, a guy pedaled by me on a Surly, and I took that as a personal challenge. Pride, of course, often comes before a fall.
Surprisingly, I found staying upright less difficult than I had imagined. The skinny, but knobby tires on my Gunnar Crosshairs (a cyclo-cross frame) cut through the snow and held a pretty straight line down the road.
And, as I moved steadily north on Kinnickinnic Ave. and S. 1st St., I found that I wasn't just the fastest thing on two wheels, but the fastest thing on the road. The cars and trucks crept bumper to bumper, while I pedaled steadily past the long line of chugging traffic, including a Hummer H3.
For the most part, I stayed as far right as possible and within the tire tracks cut into the brown slush.
I had little difficulty bashing through the occasional drift or snowpile, but struggled to push through longer stretches where the snow was still a few inches deep.
On the down side, the exhileration of leaving the rest of the commuting world in the slush was tempered by an unshakable fear that at any instant I would lose control and slide under the wheels of a truck. Thankfully, that never happened, and I had to dab a foot down only twice on the ride from Bay View to Fourth and State. (That's not counting the stop lights).
The three-mile ride took about a half hour, about 10 minutes longer than usual, and for a change I nailed the clothing: neoprene booties over the shoes; wool socks; a water-proof layer over running tights; two, medium-weight jerseys under a jacket, a light hat over a balaclava and a pair of thin liners under biking gloves. I was warm, but not drenched in sweat.
For more stories and suggestions on how to beat the snow on two wheels, check out this discussion board, or this Bike Winter web site.
Finally, for the guy on the Surly: I'll race you home.$
Cross-training with a shovel
I skipped the gym yesterday figuring I had secured plenty of strength and aerobic work shoveling the sidewalk and digging out a car, again.
But I wasn't quite sure which muscles I was strengthening and how I could make the work payoff on the cross-country ski trails.
John Burns, a Milwaukee-area physical therapist with a strong background in martial arts and movement sciences, gave me some answers.
As I suspected from the soreness in my shoulders and torso, "shoveling snow is a whole-body resistance workout." In particular, it strengthens the glutes, quads and adductors, along with the transverse abdominus, back extensors and obliques, Burns said. Biceps and wrist flexors also factor into the lifting and throwing.
As in most work outs, proper technique is essential to maximizing the pay off.
Burns, 53, suggests a 10- to 20-minute warm up that includes more than a cup of coffee, to warm the body's core temperature and increase flexibility. (I wonder if grinding the beans and pouring water might help fill that suggested element).
Once you have the shovel in hand, the proper start position is similar to a martial arts ready position. As Burns described: "positioning your dominant arm/leg to the rear and your non-dominant arm/leg forward to take advantage of the years of using your dominant side for lifting everything from suitcases to small children."
You can alternate sides to make the workout more symmetrical.
If the snow is particularly heavy (remember Sunday morning) take the snow off in layers, duplicating the standard gym approach: reps and sets.
"To actually remove the snow - no matter what the consistency - remember this martial arts adage: 'Steal the power from the earth, direct it with your core, and express the power through your arms.'
"This basically means - lift the snow with your legs - not your back! On each and every lift, flex at the knees and not at your waist, then lift the snow from the legs up. This is similar to a compound squat which provides resistance to the whole body. As you flex at the knees, you lengthen your quads and glutes to pre-load them to contract when you lift the snow with your whole body.
"Once you have the shovel positioned in the snow at the depth you can lift (over and over again for the duration) lock your elbows in a flexed position. This locked position will require strength of the biceps as well as a counter force provided by the triceps (just as you should use these muscles in a locked position when poling while cross-country skiing before the poling motion follow-through).
Now, before you lift, engage your core (transverse abdominus muscles) by exhaling as you lift the snow - like a martial artist does when they punch or kick. You can also use the martial artist's vocal cry or "Kia!" on each and every exhale or lift to really maximize your core directed power - but your neighbors may find this a bit strange especially very early in the morning.
Finish the lift and removal by rotating your center of gravity in the direction of where you want the snow to fall. This core-directed rotation of your center of gravity is the key to engaging the whole-body through the core and not relying on isolated muscle groups such as using just your arms or back.
The follow through consists of synchronizing the core-directed rotation from the legs up through the arms. This is accomplished by contracting the muscles of the legs (quads, adductors, and glutes), the muscles of the core (transverse abdominus and obliques), and then the arms (biceps).
"By utilizing these proper body mechanics, this "cross training" workout can enhance your power endurance for any other winter workout or sports activity."
For a bit more on Burns' strength training advice, check out this story from Silent Sports Magazine.$ (1)
The best of times
For avid cross-country skiers these are the times we live for.
Consider the scene at 6:30 this monring at Lapham Peak State Park:
It was one below zero with no wind and there was snow everywhere.
The machine-set classical tracks were perfect. The skating lane also was groomed, although it was a little chopped up.
Another two to four inches of snow are expected tonight.
Best of all, below freezing temperatures are predicted at least through next Wednesday.
It's hard to imagine a better year for skiing than last year when we had skiable snow from mid December through February, but we are off to an incredible start.
The early trail reports confirm good skiing conditions can be found on the trails throughout the Kettle Moraine State Forest, both in the northern unit and the southern. Some of the classic tracks on the Scuppernong and Nordic trails are icy, but the expected overnight snow could improve those conditions nicely.
Skiers further south have found plenty of snow and terrain in the UW-Parkside Trails in Kenosha County, adjacent to the Petrifying Springs County Park.$
Back country skiing
Yesterday day I was at Lapham Peak State Park skiing on well groomed trails. It was a real delight.
This morning I went to the Vernon Wildlife Preserve in Waukesha County and did a little skiing through ungroomed snow.
It too was a lot of fun.
Obviously you don't move as fast. And a lot of your energy is used just plowing through the snow.
But there's something to be said about setting your own tracks in virgin snow.
With all the snow that fell Wednesday night, there probably are a number of good places to back country ski.
Even a golf course might work.
If you have a suggestion for a good spot to back country ski, preferrably one without deer hunters, post it here.$
Renting time on the snow
A lack of gear shouldn't necessarily stymie anyone looking to take advantage of some great early-season conditions on the Nordic ski trails in the area.
Local shops will have their rental departments up and running this weekend close to popular terrain at Lapham Peak and the Scuppernong, McMiller and Nordic trails, also in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest.
The Wheel & Sprocket store in Delafield will have rentals available through the store on Wells St., and in the barn adjacent to the Evergreen Parking lot at Lapham; and the Bicycle Doctor, in Dousman, will have skis available closer to the trails further west.
The Wheel & Sprocket rental hours at Lapham are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, 10-5 on Sunday, and 4-9 on Monday and Tuesday. The cost is $15 for a same-day return and $20 for a two-day rental.
The Bicycle Doctor, 105 N. Main St., charges $22 a day for skis and $15 per day for snow shoes. Check here for the store hours.
Snow shoes also can be rented at the REI store, 13100 W. Capitol Dr., in Brookfield. A one-day rental costs $10 for youths and $15 for adults, and each additional day is $3 and $5, respectively.
Closer to the Greenbush and Zillmer Trails in the northern unit of the Kettle Moraine, Sheboygan Bike 'N' Ski rents both downhill and cross-country equipment. Nordic gear can be had for $15 a day and $50 for a full weekend. Click here for store hours and location.
Skiing and hunting
Employing the ThighMaster technique
Sarah, another of the friends/victims we introduced to cross-country skiing on Saturday, found a reference to Suzanne Sommers' infamous exercise gadget of particular value on the hills at Lapham Peak.
In installment number two of the Off the Couch "rookies on snow series," the Milwaukee-area attorney shares a few other revelations as a Nordic ski beginner.
"I am more of a summer/hot weather person. I feel most comfortable in 80+ degrees, but cross-country skiing outside in the cold was much more enjoyable than I thought it would be.
"Unlike downhill skiing or many other outdoor activities, where I put on layers of clothes and still can't make it too long without several breaks to warm up inside, I was pleasantly surprised at how warm I got after several minutes of skiing, so much so that a few layers had to be removed after my first successful loop around Lapham Peak.
"It was very useful to have experienced, and patient, individuals with us who could share advice and techniques, the most useful to me being when you go downhill, squeeze your thighs like you are squeezing a ThighMaster, which I believe helped keep me upright on most of the hills (that and a fear of falling). It's also nice to ski with other people who are beginners, so the falling that does occur isn't quite as embarrassing.
"It was a bit slow going at first, but once I began to understand the gliding motion, I actually passed a few other newbies out on the trail. (That was probably my proudest moment).
"And once we were finished, a beer to cap it all off made for a great afternoon of skiing.
The trails at Lapham were a great place for a first time ski. Although I don't think I'll be skiing the black trails anytime soon, I will definitely try cross country skiing several more times this winter.
This fish takes to frozen water
I missed Erica Perez' first attempt at cross-country skiing last winter, and therefore am unable to confirm or deny her estimate of falling, "oh about 20 times, going up one hill."
It seemed reasonable, though, given that she had lived in around Los Angeles for her entire life, before moving to Milwaukee and the Journal Sentinel in January.
She's been blogging about that "Fish Out of Water" experience on the JS web site, and put her writing skills to good use for this take on cross-country skiing. It serves as the final installment in the "Rookies on Snow" series.
$ (2)
"I went cross-country skiing for the second time ever this weekend. And even though my body still aches and the mere thought of stairs is painful, I think I'm in love.
"It could be the joy of spending three or four solid hours of outdoors time in a season that I tend to otherwise spend mostly inside. The icy air stings at first, but before I know it I'm huffing and puffing and perfectly comfortable, if not a bit hot, in 20-degree weather.
"It could be the extreme sense of payoff I get when I experience a long, winding downhill after exerting all my effort to get up an incline.
"It could be the thrill of anticipating that untested steep downhill without any tracks, where I'm not sure if I can make it without eating snow. This isn't the typical, predictable workout, where I run a few miles or do 40 minutes on the elliptical without fear of injury.
"This is an adventure. And when I do fall, and I'm covered in snow, and I'm lying across the trail, the tension floats away with a hysterical laugh at my ridiculousness.
"But the best part is that, at a certain point, I start looking forward to those beers and chips we brought. I envision the cozy lodge and my stomach grumbles. At the end of the outing, when we're all tired and amused at each other's tumbles, we crack open the much-deserved snacks and put the perfect ending to a half-day's adventure."
Train with a celebrity
Tim Cigelske, who writes for the weekly MKE publication has decided to reprise his role as personal training advisor and partner.
In the first "Train With Tim" outing, Cigelske joined a single mother from Oak Creek, Kelly, and trained for the Lakefront Marathon in October. They both finished, despite the grueling heat.
For 2008, "Train With Tim" will take on two athletes or would-be athletes. His training partners will receive yearlong gym memberships, free weekly personal training sessions and the chance to cover many miles together, by foot, bike or other means.
The entry deadline is Dec. 13, which means it's time to sprint, not cruise to enter.
As for that celebrity part, Tim has been on TV, which usually qualifies in this town.$
Nordic rookie shares his first taste of snow
"Pain, oh, the pain, it
hurts so bad, Why does Tom Held
insist I suffer?"
This haiku penned by one of my co-workers left me feeling a bit guilty, but with something of a smirk, after I guided him on his first venture on cross-country skis.
Ben was one of five rookies who joined Katrina and I for an outing at Lapham Peak on Saturday, and his poetic assessment made me wonder just what sort of frustrating hell we had created for someone unfamiliar with the feeling of being on skis.
So, I asked for their impressions, sort of a post-class review of the course.
In honor of his poetic efforts, we'll start with Ben, a 20-something from Ohio, who joined the Journal Sentinel as a guru of data bases and computer assisted reporting:
"As a cross-country skiing novice, (and no skiing experience whatsoever) I found Lapham Peak to be a great place to learn.
"There is plenty of flat terrain in the meadow to practice your form and master the best way to fall down. The trails are well-marked and a beginner like me can stay on the Meadow Trail (green) to learn the basics.
"My group started on the Meadow Trail and then joined the Kettle View Trail (blue) on our first loop. That took about an hour. It's challenging to get up those inclines on classic skis for a first-timer.
"That's the understatement of the year.
"Conversely, it's a thrill to float down the Big Slide or the Magic Carpet Ride in the tracks (the only way I can stay upright courtesy of my utter lack of balance).
"On the second loop, my friendly guide took us on a section of the Moraine Ridge trail (black).
"Whoa. It was beyond my current skill set of zero skills. I cursed a fair amount. I asked myself necessary questions: Which shoulder will I dislocate first? I wonder how my smaller skiing companions will drag my frozen body out of the woods?
"Oh, and I fell; a lot, and with surprising regularity.
"I would have hit the bull's-eye on the Target Tree, but by that point I had momentarily given up and was content to use the means of transportation that usually works best for me: I walked.
"It's embarrassing to carry your skis while spandexed baby boomers zip by effortlessly, but I got a chance to look around and appreciate the beauty of Lapham Peak in the winter. The only thing seriously bruised was my ego. And my knee caps."
Watch for the other reviews in upcoming posts on Off the Couch.$
Biathlon returns to the Southern Kettle Moraine
The Wisconsin Biathlon Association opens the winter season with a clinic on Saturday at the McMiler Sports Center in Eagle.
Combining cross-country skiing and target shooting, the sport has attracted a couple dozen core participants who regularly use the range off of County NN. The association drew 100 to its clinics last year and is offering another opportunity for the curious to check out something new.
Kevin Eccles, an area skier, biker and race director, was hooked on the sport after his session at McMiller last year, as he wrote in this piece for Off the Couch.
Details on the clinic are available here, and please note the need to pre-register or at least send an email to give organizers a decent count on how many to expect.
The rifles, targets and ammunition will be supplied by the club, so partcipants need only bring the proper clothing.
Conditions on the 2-kilometer biathlon ski loop should be outstanding, based on reports from the groomers, and the shooters on the range won't have to contend with deer hunters in the area. The extended antlerless hunt in Wisconsin ended on Sunday.$
USATF honors Crain
It's about time I dug out from under the snow and tackled an overdue report on the honor USA Track & Field bestowed upon Jenny Crain earlier this month, naming her the women's long distance Athlete of the Year for 2007.
Two other Wisconsin athletes, Lois Ann Gilmore, of Janesville, and Roy Pirrung, of Sheboygan, were honored as runners of the year in their respective categories: Gilmore in the masters age group, 75-79, and Pirrung in the masters ultra runner group.
The Athlete of the Year designation for Crain was no token of sympathy for an injured runner, but a recognition of the contributions she has made as a advocate for athletes on the USATF women's long-distance running committee. It also honors the fine results she had posted early in the season, before the horrific accident that left her with devastating injuries.
Elizabeth Phillips, the chairman of the women's long-distance running committee, said Crain's name came up immediately in the discussion of the 2007 award candidates.
"First of all, she had a great beginning of the year and she was always very supportive of our championships and competed in a lot of them,' Phillips said.
Crain placed sixth in the women's half-marathon championship in January and 13th in the USA marathon championship in April.
"More importantly, I knew her from her participation at USATF," Phillips said. "It's not often a still-competing athlete will get involved and come to the convention and sit in on the meetings. She would come to the committee and was very vocal about changes that needed to be made."
The selection panel also recognized Crain for her fighting spirit, and the effort she's put forth in her recovery, Phillips said.
A fun run organized by Phillips' committee generated $1,000 for the Make it Happen Fund created to help cover the costs of Crain's treatment and rehabilitation.
The 39-year-old athlete was struck by a car on a training run near Downtown Milwaukee in August, and suffered severe head and neck injuries. She is working on her recovery at the Columbia St. Mary's Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center.
Crain's friends and colleagues have organized a benefit for her at the Milwaukee Ale House, 233 N. Water St., at 5 p.m. on Jan. 17. The All-Northwestern Mutual Band, "Say Van Delay," will provide the entertainment. All proceeds from the event will go to the Jenny Crain Make It Happen Fund.$
Rampaging santas and red lights
These are the sort of Santa Clauses that would fit nicely in the humor-laden adventures of Jean Shepherd and the "Christmas Story" character he created in the BB-gun toting Ralphie.
And they'll be on the streets of Milwaukee this Saturday for the annual Santa Cycle Rampage.
Ralphie, no doubt, would have wheedled, connived and plotted to join them, but no such mind-of-a-child strategies are necessary.
In the true Christmas spirit, all are welcome to rampage right along, starting at 10 a.m. at the Cafe Hollander, 2608 N. Downer Ave. Santa costumes are encouraged, but not required, as any sort of iconic holiday characters will be embraced, if not assaulted.
The ranks of rampagers has been growing since the Milwaukee cyclists copied the Santa ride from their Chicago friends five years ago, and organiers are expecting about 100 to spread holiday cheer this go-round.
The ride will head north, then loop through Downtown, and finish back on Downer about 2 p.m.
Those participating in the group ride might be well-served by a quick read through of this "Legally Speaking," written by cycling law expert Bob Mionske. It covers the situations in which traffic lights turn red while large groups are pedaling through an intersection.
It lacks the fun of a Jean Shepherd short story, but then Shepherd never seemed intent on keeping anyone out of trouble.$
Finding places to play closer to home
A friendly invitation to ski fresh tracks into the snow in Currie Park reminded me that winter play can be found without driving to the nordic ski areas in the state forests.
Trail reports have been glowing from Minooka Park in Waukesha County and the groomers have done their work on the ski loops in both Whitnall and Brown Deer Parks in Milwaukee County. These areas tend to be forgotten through years of lean, or non-existent snow cover.
With a bit more snow in the forecast, the Milwaukee-area trails should be freshened up quite nicely for the weekend.
Guy Smith, a deputy regional manager in the Milwaukee County Parks System, helped bring me up to speed on the ski trails and some of the other recreation options now open.
The Brown Deer trail is accessible from the Boathouse adjacent to the lagoon or down at the golf course south Parking lot.
The trails at Whitnall are all accessible just across the parkway at the south exit to the golf parking lot. There are three different trails within 50 yards of that location.
Whitnall Park, 5879 S. 92nd St., is also a favorite for outdoor sledding, and the clubhouse at the top of the sledding hill offers a warming fireplace and concessions Friday 4 to 8 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m).
Other daytime sledding hills in Milwaukee County Parks include:
- Columbus - 7301 W. Courtland Ave.,
- Greene - 4235 S. Lipton Ave.,
- Hales Corners - 5765 S. New Berlin Rd.,
- LaFollette - 9418 W. Washington St.,
- Maitland - 6001 S. 13th St.,
- McCarty - 8214 W. Cleveland Ave.,
- McGovern - 5400 N. 51St.,
- Sheridan - 4800 S. Lake Dr.,
- Wilson Recreation - 4001 S. 20th.
Lighted sledding hills for day or night-time fun until 10 p.m. include:
- Brown Deer - 7835 N. Green Bay Rd.,
- Currie - 3535 N. Mayfair Rd.,
- Dretzka - 12020 W. Bradley Rd.,
- Humboldt - 3000 S. Howell Ave.,
- Mitchell - 524 S. Layton Blvd.,
- Pulaski Milwaukee - 2677 S. 16th St.,
- and Whitnall - 5879 S. 92nd St.
The crews are still working on icing the toboggan run at Whitnall Park, and hope to have that open late next week.
Similarly, the ice rink in Lake park will be open once the surface can be finished.
Ice skating is open downtown on the outdoor rink at Red Arrow Park, 920 N. Water Street.
Patrons may skate for free if they bring their own skates. Skates may be rented for $5.50 a pair.
The cozy warming house includes a Starbucks, lockers and restrooms plus a nice view of the skaters.
December rink hours are M-Th 11am - 9pm, Fri & Sat 11am - 11pm, Sun. 11am - 6pm, Dec. 24th 11am- 3pm, Dec. 25th closed, New Year's Eve 11am - 1pm.
Indoor ice skating is available at Wilson Park Recreation Center, 4001 S. 20th St., please call (414) 281-6289 for information.$
Harder than it looks
The friends who shared their experiences as cross-country ski rookies earlier this week were gracious, if not entirely honest.
They had kind words for my instruction, but in truth, I think I struggled more to provide proper direction than they did to stay upright over those first few miles on snow.
If there's one bit of advice I could share that I truly believe would help them enjoy the sport, it would be to check out the free lessons at Lapham Peak on Tuesday nights. For a number of years, when the conditions have allowed, some of the real veterans and experts in the area have been explaining the proper techniques to groups of skiers, from beginners to racers looking to hone their technique.
The lessons start at 7 p.m., under the lights at the trailhead just off the Evergreen Parking Lot.
Ben Lund, a member of the Toko Tech Team, is organizing the sessions this year and figures to have three to five coaches each evening. That works out to about one coach for every five to 10 skiers, for both the classic and skate techniques.
Wheel & Sprocket has ski rentals on site and the Bicycle Doctor, in Dousman, will loan you a pair of skis free; just remember to return them to the store.
And as an addendum to the "Rookies on Snow" series, I can offer this review from Kyle, a 26-year-old whose baseball background makes him more comfortable with a bat in his hands than skis on his feet.
$ (1)
"After downhill skiing only a few times over the past years, I would be lying if I did not say that I went cross-country skiing Saturday with a bit of initial hesitation.
"After a few hours on the track, however, it is certainly something I would do again.
"Sure I spent some time in the snow', ran into my wife when I was going down the first hill, and almost killed the man in the red hat while I was trying to get up from my first fall. But those mishaps were part of my first loop; the second loop around the novice track at Lapham Peak was much cleaner. In fact, the first spill came within a stone's throw of the ski lodge.
"Overall, it was a great workout with beautiful scenery and excellent company.
"And my apologies to the man in the red hat."
Finding inspiration in Corbitt's ultra life
The rush of news this week, particularly the revelations about steroid use among Major League baseball players, steered my attention away from the obituaries for Ted Corbitt, the 88-year-old ultra-distance runner who died on Wednesday.
Tributes to Corbitt described him as both the father and grandfather of American distance running. It was humbling to read about his determination to race against prejudice in the 1930s and '40s and his more recent accomplishments in racing ultra marathons into his 80s.
This quote, pulled from the New York Times obituary, stands out for me: "Running is something you just do. You don't need a goal. You don't need a race. You don't need the hype of a so-called fitness craze. All you need is a cheap pair of shoes and some time. The rest will follow."
It was taken from a 1998 book by Gail Waesche Kislevitz, "First Marathons: Personal Encounters With the 26.2-Mile Monster."
Hopefully, I'll remember that simple philosophy the next time the cold and snow freeze my motivation to run.
Click here for the Washington Post's tribute to Corbitt, which includes more quotes from him and accolades from Bill Rodgers.$
Wisconsin riders claim four titles in cyclocross nationals
The conditions for the USA Cycling National Cyclocross championships over the weekend should have been familiar for the Wisconsin contingent: wind-driven cold and a course covered in snow and mud.
Anna Young, of Madison, Bjorn Selander, of Hudson, Diane Ostenso, of Cottage Grove, and Marko LaLonde, of Madison, all warmed to the challenge and claimed national titles in their respective categories. LaLonde's single-speed chase was not in a championship category, but his lap times were some of the fastest of the weekend.
And while not quite a podium performance, Tristan Schouten, of Sheboygan, scored a solid 8th place finish in the men's Elite race. Schouten, 25, has been challenging the nation's best on the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross series and certainly showed he belonged among the top riders in the country.
Selander, though, likely scored the biggest victory of the Badger group, winning a sprint and the Under 23 crown on Saturday, when the conditions in Wyandotte County Park in suburban Kansas City were at their most brutal.
Ostenso, who slid around the Hales Corners Park in the state championships two weeks ago, claimed a solid win on Friday in the women's masters 55-59 category. That's 2007 national title number two for Ostenso, who teamed with her husband, Gordon Paulson, to win the mixed tandem event in the USA road cycling championships over the summer.
Young, who races for Regent Cycling, took first in the women's junior 17-18 group, and shared the podium with Samantha Schneider, of West Allis, third in that category.
Three other Wisconsin racers claimed podium spots in the junior categories: Sarah Huang, of Kenosha, 3rd in the 13-14 group; Kaitlinn Antonneau, of Racine, second in the 15-16 group; and Ian Haupt, of Whitefish Bay, 2nd in the 10-12 group.
Click here for the Velonews coverage of the chilly weekend events and check www.skinnyski.com for a great set of photos from Minnesota rider Corey Coogan.
Renee Callaway, of the Capitol Velo Club, also has a terrific slide show of LaLonde racing to victory on his singlespeed.$
Rampaging santas
The country's top cyclocross racers weren't the only ones pedaling through the snow on Saturday.
Milwaukee's Santa Cycle Rampage drew about 75 riders, who traveled the city streets sans Dasher, Dancer, Comet or Blitzen. Tim Cigelske, the intrepid outdoor writer for MKE, displayed equal cycling and photography skills in pulling together this compilation.
I looked for the red-clad mass while Christmas shopping on the East Side, but caught only rumors of their existence. A patron at Regano's muttered that he had seen what he described as the "Red Hat Harriers" around noon.
He may not have recognized the rampaging santas, but I believed.$
Great moments to warm chilled runners
Running USA has compiled its top 10 moments in U.S. running for 2007, and I'm hoping it will serve as something of a mid-winter motivator.
Three of Ryan Hall's performances made the top 10: his U.S. marathon and half-marathon records and his victory in the Oylmpic Marathon trials. Hall's run in New York tied for first among the memorable moments, with Kara Goucher's bronze medal effort in the 10,000 meters in the World Championships in August.
Matt Tegenkamp, the former University of Wisconsin star, scored two mentions: number eight for his record-setting two-mile race in the Prefontaine Classic in June and an honorable mention for his near-miss in the World Championships.
Somehow, my age group victory in the Blue Mound Trail Run back in June was overlooked by the fine folks at Running USA. I'll have to make a call to find out how that happened.$
Lakefront paths cleared - more or less
The sunshine and warmer temperatures expected today should thaw some of the lingering ice and snow that is making a run or bike ride on the lakefront paths something of an adventure.
Runners and bikers will find most of the paths, from the Marcus Amphitheater north through Lake Park, easily negotiable, but long stretches of ice pose a challenge, especially on the cleared path on the new Lakeshore State Park. Clean pavement gives way to glare ice in several areas.
Milwaukee County crews are handling the snow removal work on the inward segment of the island park, under a contract with the state, and also plow the Oak Leaf Trail along Lincoln Memorial Dr. and up through Estabroook Park.
The operative word in the county's snow removal manual is "plow," which leaves a layer of hard-packed snow on the paths, particularly the path through Lake Park and the Oak Leaf Trail from the lake to Estabrook Park.
On the plus side, the footing is actually better on that solid crust than the patchwork of pavement and ice in other areas, particularly the segment on the east side of Lincoln Memorial, from Veteran's Park through Bradford Beach.
One thing about the plowing effort that has puzzled me for years: the snow banks piled up at intersections. The clumps left at the curbs make terrific obstacles for anyone training for the steeplechase, but that's probably a pretty small percentage of the people who run, bike or hike through the winter.
And it would appear that the segment leading to the Oak Leaf Trail from the top of Lafayette Hill, above the Alterra Coffee Shop, is considered a "do not clear" zone. It hasn't been plowed or shoveled in any winter that I can remember.
I hope to check out the Hank Aaron State Trail and some of the other hiking and biking paths in the county as the winter progresses, but feel free to send along any trail reports to share with the others who skip the winter hibernation.$ (1)
Thoughts of candlelight skiing to ease the impending doom
This forecast for drizzle, freezing drizzle and rain has me unsettled to say the least.
That sort of atmospheric onslaught could easily wipe out the near-ideal cross-country ski conditions we've enjoyed for most of the month. One can only hope that enough snow falls late on Saturday to cover the icy mess and spare us striders from the sticky evils of klister kick wax.
Perhaps its best to look ahead at the opportunities in the future - the candle light skiing events organized by the Department of Natural Resources. The schedule is posted here.
Thoughts of cold nights, firm tracks, starry skies, hot chocolate and warm fires will go a long way to stave off the dread of freezing fog.$ (1)
Double Birkie turns 20
I should have suspected that the dauntingly long Double Birkie Trail Ski originated as part of an even more mind-boggling endurance pursuit: in this case, 1,000 hours of training for a single year.
Sure, at first glance,1,000 hours appears to be a nice, tidy attainable goal - sort of like 1,000 miles on a bike. That's doable, even in a slightly ambitious summer.
But to achieve 1,000 hours of training in a year requires nearly three hours of biking, running or another activity each and every day, which would explain why Tom Schuler was looking to get in a very, very, very long day on skis back in December 1988.
At the time, Schuler was at the peak of his professional cycling career and a USPro Road Champion. A Michigan native, he and a group of fellow cyclists, including Greg LeMond, used skiing as a way to maintain and build endurance through the winter.
And with the calendar closing on that 1,000 hours goal, it was only logical for Schuler to think: "Let's ski the Birkie Trail in both directions, that will be a long ski."
It's also been a long run, as Schuler plans to tackle the Double Birkie Trail for a 20th time on Saturday, Dec. 29.
The 51-year-old, who lives in Wauwatosa, expects about two dozen skiers to join him at the Fish Hatchery Park outside of Hayward for the start at 8 a.m. Another dozen or so will join the group at the Highway OO trailhead and more will meet them at the turn-around point, the Telemark Lodge in Cable, and ski back to Fish Hatchery.
"We get about 60 or 70 to participate at some point, and eight to 12 people ski the whole distance (90 kilometers) every year," Schuler said.
"In the last five years, I've only completed the distance once. I just don't have the fitness or the endurance, and my back complains about it. Usually, I'll bail at OO, and get a ride to my car at Fish Hatchery. Then we tend to all meet back at the Sawmill Saloon that evening to talk about it and brag."
There have been variations throughout the years: occasionally the route has started or ended in Hayward and included the full 51-kilometer Birkie course; and one year the group skied 90 kilometers of black loops at Lapham Peak in the Town of Delafield, when the snow didn't fall on the north woods.
If one thing has remained constant, it's the fixation on pursuing endurance extremes.
"A few times, people will do the Double Birkie, then add 10K to get their 100 for the day," Schuler said.
Anyone who wants to tackle all or part of the Double Birkie is welcome.
There are no fees, t-shirts or timing chips. Schuler advises leaving drop bags with food and dry clothing at Telemark and 00, for those looking to go the whole distance.
* There will be a brief break in Off the Couch postings through Christmas. The writers, no doubt, will be chasing their own, less-ambitious, endurance pursuits.$
Buried in snow and Old-fashioneds
I ignored the advice of a wise man last week and it proved to be the smarter decision by about eight inches.
Normally, I would follow the adage Tom Schuler had shared - it's foolish to leave snow to find snow.
But the forecast for rain in the Milwaukee area tipped a stay-home-or-go decision firmly toward a drive to Vilas County and the prospect for skiing fresh tracks by Sunday.
My wife, Katrina, argued for the pack-the-car verdict by citing the stress-reduction benefits of a north woods lodge, holiday movies on cable TV and supper club Old-fashioneds.
Our five-day holiday venture started at Minocqua Winter Park, where instructor Dan Clausen's suggestions resonated clearly, even in the fog and mist.
With visions of bent ankles, active hips and long glides, we settled into the comfortable Whitetail Inn, and waited for the storm to hit St. Germaine.
Saturday, though, brought only more fog, mist and freezing rain. We trekked further north to the Wolverine Nordic Ski area in Ironwood to beat the lingering weather Grinch.
The hilly trails adjacent to the Powderhill resort have become favorites, and the conditions Saturday proved better than expected: well-set tracks and full snow cover throughout the trail system. It was a terrific outing, aside from the need to apply klister to the kick zone of my classic skis.
The rain finally turned to snow about the time our waitress delivered round number two Saturday night. By Sunday morning, the roads were covered, the trees were bowing from side to side and the snow was falling in surges.
My plan all along had been to ski on fresh snow on the trails in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, and the two tire tracks leading down Nebish Road off Highway M suggested it was possible to reach the parking area for the Escanaba Trail.
As we motored over the road-turned-snow drift, Katrina clutched the arm rest in a death grip that Clausen had advised her to relax, when applied to her ski poles.
Once on the trail, we floundered a bit in the six inches of powdery snow, but eventually found a slow rhythm through the trees decorated with a heavy white coating. The constant wind and blowing flakes magnified our sense of isolation.
A woodpecker hammering away, working on a day of rest, was our only companion.
After dark, I ventured out again for a tour of the Shannon Lake Trail, just north of St. Germaine.
The snow flying in front of my head lamp was disorienting at times, but the pleasure of quietly adding my tracks to those of the rabbits and deer quashed my flitting, lonely fears.
We returned to Minocqua Winter Park on Monday, looking to find the ease of a well-set track. A few side trips onto un- groomed trails reminded us how much we had struggled in the deep snow a day earlier.
I capped the ski-venture with a Christmas morning tour of the Pike Lake Trails outside of Hartford, in Washington County. The trails showed the deterioration from Saturday's steady rains, but the snow that followed the rain provided sufficient cover.
There wasn't much track to be found, and the remnants of klister proved to be a problematic kick wax, slowing my progress back to the car and my family's waiting Christmas celebration.
I wasn't eager to rush, figuring I already had my gifts: snow on the trails and a courageous companion willing to ski in my tracks.$
Train with Tim winners
I left town just before Tim Cigelske announced the winners of the 2008 Train with Tim contest, so the congratulations to Hillary Wucherer and Laura Halfmann is a bit delayed.
The pair will work out with Cigelske, an athlete who writes for the MKE weekly, and pursue their fitness goals.
Wucherer has been steadily dropping pounds after topping out over 300, but is looking for help to reach a normal body mass index; and Halfmann is looking to cut into her triathlon time, and continue to overcome previous health problems.$
You got a license to pedal that?
The $240 million price tag for addding bicycle lanes and upgrading streets in Seattle, Wa., has some Emerald City residents calling for a licensing requirement that would have cyclists pay for a share of the improvements.
This piece from seattle.pi.com gives a good accounting of the debate in Seattle and the similar tussle for dollars and right-of-way across the country. It includes a couple nods to Madison and Wisconsin and the local approaches to the pay-as-you-pedal provisions.$
Missed out on this one
About 120 Wheel & Sprocket customers timed their November purchases properly to score free merchandise in the retailer's third annual "Lucky Day" event.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel business reporter Doris Hajewski wrote this accounting of the sales promotion.
It appears nobody scored a truly big-ticket item - say a full carbon fiber road bike priced at $5,000 or more.$
Can't beat this weather
The snowfall reports from late Friday showed even better news than expected for skiers, sledders and other winter sports enthusiasts, throughout the Milwaukee area.
Instead of delivering on the low side of the four to six inches that was forecast, this latest snowstorm dropped upwards of eight inches on the ski trails from Palmyra to Plymouth.
The trail reports from groomers in the southern and northern units of the Kettle Moraine State Forest were encouraging even before Friday's snowfall, and conditions for the weekend should be outstanding.
Check here for some updated reports posted on the Friends of Lapham Peak site and check out this previous Off the Couch offering for some information on ski rentals, if Santa failed to deliver at Christmas.
One option I left off that earlier list, probably due to a wax fume-related impairment, was Backyard Bikes, near the Nordic Trails in the Southern Kettle Moraine.$
Snow and 24-hour race return to Telemark
With little need to repeat his curse El Nino celebration, Harry Spehar is focusing again on the real purpose of the 24 Hours of Telemark ski race: "early season distance training."
Abundant snow on the trails at the Telemark Resort in Cable should ensure the race will return on Saturday, after a cancellation in 2007. That's not to say this year's race won't have its challenges, particularly if the forecast for rain and temperatures in the upper 30s proves correct.
But as Spehar proved last year when he turned the cancelled race into a party, the festive atmosphere of the 24-hour ski event will prevail, regardless of the weather.
"Some people see the 24-hour and they get scared away, but it's really a fun event," he said in a recent telephone chat.
Those competing in the 24-hour solo categories certainly turn it into a grueling competition, knocking out upwards of 350 kilometers. The real fun is found in the team categories, with two, four and six-person squads donning costumes and sharing great spirit and camaraderie.
If I counted right on the registration form, there are 23 different categories covering solo skiers and teams in three-hour, six-hour, 12-hour and 24-hour events. Spehar is expecting about 250 competitors in all.
The team names are indicative of the let's have fun approach. The 2006 roster included Four Score and Seven Beers Ago; Hula Bean Singers; Dumber Than Dirt and Spehar's team, Chix & Hix on Stix. That six-person coed team knocked out 73 laps, good for 365 kilometers.
Mark Parman, a teacher, skier and writer, captured the scene well in this write up.$
And if all your friends biked into the lake...
It's possible to question Bill Rouleau's sanity, but not his honesty.
When I asked, the organizer of the Milwaukee Bicycle Polar Plunge didn't try to sell me a bill of goods about how riding a bicycle into Lake Michigan at noon on New Year's Day would be invigorating, liberating or life-changing.
He gave it to me straight:
"It's like getting punched in the face, is what I tell people. You try to get up enough steam and you get into roughly thigh height, maybe the top of your knees. The bike comes to a halt and you do an endo and a face plant into the lake. It's not too bad if you go in all at once."
That might not have sold me on the idea of joining the two-dozen or so cyclists expected to put their own spin on the annual New Year's deep-freeze plunge, but it didn't entirely dissuade me, either. I've actually been toying with the idea since I witnessed the first group hit the water at South Shore Beach a year ago.
It looked crazy, and cold, but oddly inviting.
Rouleau, the co-owner of Rush-Mor Records and a well-known Bay View dignitary, doesn't have any aspirations of challenging the trendier plunge by foot at Bradford Beach.
"It's hard to explain to people, and once you do, they think you're stupid," he said. "This seems to appeal more to the extremists."
For those looking to be extreme, the cyclists will meet at 11 a.m. at the Palomino tavern, at E. Russell and S. Superior Sts., then pedal over for the plunge at the South Shore boat launch. The details are posted here.
And for those seeking warming fluids, Rouleau will be back behind the bar at the Palomino later in the day.
On a philosophical level, I wonder if starting 2008 by doing something so outrageous (perhaps stupid) would bode well for the new year or start a pattern.$ (1)


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Summer Camp Registration Begins for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Vallley ... Community is Invited to Summer Open House Sign-up Day
The summer season will be here soon and it's time to start making plans! The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley are gearing up to provide a memorable summer for youth ages 3-14 with action-packed camps and a Sunday soccer sports leagues.
Families can learn about all the program options during a free Summer Open House on Saturday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Marion & John E. Anderson Youth Center on the campus of Los Cerritos Middle School, 1980 E. Avenida de las Flores in Thousand Oaks or go online to view the Summer Camp Program at www.bgcconejo.org.
The Summer Camp program is filled with a variety of choices for youth to learn while having fun. Camp options include Traditional Day Camps, Sport Camps, Overnight Adventures, Traveling Camps and two new programs – STEM Summer School (Science Technology, Engineering & Math) and a Musical Theatre Camp performing Seussical the Musical. In addition, a Counselor-In-Training program is available for students in the 10-12 grades.
In addition to obtaining valuable information, the Summer Open House will also include free hot dogs, chips and juice in addition to several fun carnival games, an inflatable and prizes!
The Summer Camps run for 10 weeks and campers can choose to attend all of the summer sessions or register for a few weeks at a time. Registration for Summer Camp can be made by calling 805-493-2917 or online at www.bgcconejo.org.
About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley are open before and after school, during lunch, on weekends, throughout the summer for the camp program and all day during school vacations with tours of the Clubs available upon request. For more information about supervised youth programs, to donate, volunteer, or register online, please log onto www.bgcconejo.org or call 818-706-0905.
This story is contributed by a member of the community and is neither endorsed nor affiliated with Ventura County Star.
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subset: commoncrawl


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How to download YouTube Videos on Android Phone
If you are having an Android phone and are in search of an Android app which works like a YouTube video Downloader, then you should really read this article.
YouTube is a website where we can find tons of videos of all the categories. Most of the smart phone users access YouTube from their Android Phones for streaming videos. But streaming a video on a smart phone Consumes your phones battery so instead of streaming a video I would suggest the user to download and save the videos in their smartphones on their memory cards, so that the user can watch the video at any time he desires, but the main thing is many users doesn't know how to download videos on Android Smart Phones. So let's have a look at a very fascinating free Android app known as TubeMate through which we can download HD videos from YouTube.
Now what exactly is TubeMate?
Tubemate is an Android App through which users can download videos from YouTube directly to the Phone.
Here is a brief description of Tubemate which I found while using this Android App
a. Fast download mode (with multiple connections for a download)
b. Pause and Resume Download available.
c. Background, multi-download
d. Save favourite videos to your YouTube account, create playlists.
e. Convert videos to Mp3 (Powered by Mp3 media converter)
In short TubeMate YouTube Downloader enables you to quickly access, share and download YouTube videos, because downloading always happens in background you can go on to watch another video, surf internet or listen to their music while downloading.
How to use TubeMate YouTube video downloader
• The interface of this app is very user friendly. You just have to install the app on your phone, just install the app like you install other apps.
• After installation when you start streaming videos on your phone you will get a popup page asking you whether to download the video or just watch it. You just have to tap on download video.
• After doing so you have to select resolution like 640 x 480, 1280 x 720 (HD), 1920 x 1080 (full HD) and video formats like FLV or MP4 according to your phones compatibility.
• Then save the desired video on your phones SD Card and that's it you are done.
You can download Tubemate app here.
This is the best app to download YouTube videos on your mobile. I would like to receive a feedback from the users after using this app so go ahead and use this app on your Android Phone.


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This section contains 869 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)
This book is a memoir of growing up poor, Jewish and intellectual in a small, suburban American community in the early part of the 20th Century - specifically, in the years leading up to and during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The author contemplates and explores his feelings of not belonging in the world in which he lives or in the world in which he aspires to live. He explores themes relating to the nature of being an outsider, being Jewish, and being torn between life at home and life "beyond".
The narrative begins with the author's description of his feelings upon returning to Brownsville, the community where he grew up (see "Quotes", p. 6). He lists a number of specific ways the area hasn't changed: the near-despairing "damp sadness" of the place, the physical and spiritual sense the people...
(read more from the Part 1, From the Subway to the Synagogue, p. 1 - 30. Summary)
This section contains 869 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)


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London football starting from scratch
Freshmen, sophomores make up team
CORPUS CHRISTI - Driving up to the London ISD schools deep on the south side of town, it's hard to see where a football team could make its home.
There's certainly no football stadium in sight, and the only visible patches of dirt that haven't been turned into a cotton field are mostly cracked earth, hardened from typical South Texas weather.
Then, Robert Moreno takes you for a walk.
About 100 yards behind the school, located between two cotton fields is Moreno's practice field oasis. Everything around it is brown and looks extremely painful for anyone that could potentially be tackled there, but on that practice field, the surface is green and lush.
"We have some great parents," said Moreno, London's athletic director and head football coach. "We didn't have anywhere to practice. Thankfully, we had parents come out here and plow this spot, then one of them seeded it and took care of it and it's been great for us. We had nothing before this."
When Moreno says they had nothing, he's not exaggerating.
London is in its first year of high school football, and when Moreno showed up to take over the fledgling athletic program, he had to start from scratch.
The junior high team he put together practiced on a patch of dirt in front of the school. Football pads and helmets needed to be ordered. Assistant coaches had to be hired. Most importantly, a decision had to be made.
London has to play an independent schedule these first two seasons before the UIL puts the Pirates in a district with the next realignment. Other schools in similar situation have opted to play a junior varsity schedule until they're in a district.
Moreno decided to go the opposite way. Although the school only has a freshman and sophomore class, he chose to put his team up against a varsity opponent every week.
"We're going to take our lumps with nothing but young kids, but I think it will pay off in the long run," Moreno said. "When we do get the chance to play in meaningful district games, we'll be ready. None of our kids will be psyched out by the Friday night lights. They'll have been there and done that already."
The decision also was a tool to keep his players around. Because London doesn't have all four grades, students are allowed to transfer to other schools in the area to play sports. Only when London has a senior class in the high school will students be locked into the school by district boundaries.
"I know everyone wants to play for a big school, and they could go to a Carroll or a Tuloso-Midway or something like that and play freshman or JV football," Moreno said. "But where else are you going to get to play on varsity as a freshman or a sophomore? Where else are you going to get to play on Friday nights? You'll only be able to do that by staying here."
The sales pitch worked as much of the team Moreno put together at the junior high a year ago has stuck together. He now has 24 players — 19 freshmen and five sophomores — with 2014 circled in their mind's eye as the target date to be ready to make some noise. The other sports at London are competing in Class 1A because the high school currently only has an enrollment of 65 students. By the time the next realignment rolls around, London likely will be close to 2A numbers.
For now, Moreno has scheduled as many small 1A schools as he can. He put together an eight-game schedule with the three home games being played at Tuloso-Midway and West Oso. The hope is eventually London will have an on-campus stadium to call its own.
The Pirates' first taste of high school football ended with a frustrating 8-6 loss at Lasara last Thursday night. Jose Briones returned a kick 80 yards for a touchdown, but that was about as much excitement as the Pirates could muster in their debut.
Moreno installed the one-back shotgun spread that he used in his six-year stint as Taft's offensive coordinator. However, playing with nothing but 14- and 15-year-olds means his offense could have similarly long nights ahead.
"I felt like we earned some respect, though," said Moreno, whose team plays at Runge on Friday. "Lasara looked at us as little kids pretty much. After the game, their coach came up to me and said he was surprised we were as good as we were.
"We have a long way to go, though. We dropped some passes. We can't really throw the deep ball yet because our offensive line just isn't very big and they don't have that aggressive attitude that you only get from playing football for a few years. But we're confident all that will come after we take some lumps."
Even that perfectly planted grass field behind the high school has taken its lumps. On Tuesday morning, a farmer drove his tractor from one cotton field to another and drove right over the 40-yard line, leaving big tire tracks from sideline to sideline.
"That's just another thing we'll have to get worked out," Moreno said.
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Viewers: in countries Watching now:
Photoshop Masking and Compositing: Fundamentals is the introductory installment of Deke McClelland's four-part series on making photorealistic compositions in Photoshop. The course shows how to make selections, refine the selections with masks, and then combine them in new ways, using layer effects, blend modes, and other techniques to create a single seamless piece of artwork. Deke introduces the Channels panel and the alpha channel, the key to masking and transparency in Photoshop; reviews the selection tools, including the Color Range tool , Quick Mask mode, and the Refine Edge command; and shows how to blend masked images so they interact naturally.
Over the course of the last several chapters, you've seen how Photoshop automates the process of both creating and editing selections and masks. But while automation is great, it represents just a small part of what Photoshop can do. Photoshop's most powerful masking features come entirely without operating instructions, which means that they require not only study and practice, but also forethought, and some manual labor. But that's actually good news. The real nirvana of masking comes when you stop making Photoshop jump through your hoops, and you begin to look at the world through Photoshop's eyes, by which I mean, in this chapter, you'll learn how to use the image to select itself.
I start by showing you how to evaluate the independent color-bearing channels in an image, so you can spot the one that provides the specific information you'll need to generate a mask. Then I show you how to increase the contrast of a mask, both globally, using the Levels command, and then selectively, using the Brush tool, combined with the Overlay blend mode. Next, I show you how to take a masked image, and composite it against an entirely different background; one that shares almost nothing in common with the original. And we'll take our first look at the Calculations command, which let's you composite two channels to create a mask.
That's right; we're using masking to create a composition, and compositing to create a mask. And did you notice? We'll be selecting hair, down to the individual strands, as well as feathers. Get ready for the best chapter yet.
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Thank you for coming to my blog, where I will be sharing my everyday experiences with you, and you can give your own
opinions, comments, and concerns about my everyday life! I will try my best to make my life as interesting as possible and
share everything I can! (with the exception of exact locations and details of where I am, where I live, where I will be going, etc.)
Hopefully you find my life interesting. To read my posts, simply click the News button and read on, my friends! If you like, post
in the comments of one of my posts the link to your blog website, and I will be happy to read and become a member of your
ongoing blog! Well, thanks for reading this, and I hope I can satistfy your interests.


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Motor Car Chassis - Rootes Group, Humber Hawk Mark VI, 1957 Reg. No: ST 028753
- Summary:
- The Humber Hawk Mark VI was first built in Britain by the Rootes Group in June 1954 and remained in production until May 1957. It was the last model of the Hawk series to retain the box-section chassis frame. All subsequent models used a unitary body and chassis structure. The engine is a four-cylinder 2.3 litre unit. These vehicles were assembled at the Rootes Group factory in Port Melbourne from imported components.
This sectioned chassis was prepared by the Rootes Group in Australia for display at motor shows and was later given to RMIT for motor trade instructional purposes. It was then donated to the Museum by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 1973.
- Acquisition Information:
- Donation from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), 1973
|1300 mm (Height), 1650 mm (Width), 4360 mm (Length)
More information
|Tagged with:
|motor cars, displays
|Themes this item is part of:
|Melbourne Working Men's College (RMIT), Engineering Collection, Transport Collection
|Primary Classification:
|Secondary Classification:
|Motor Vehicles
|Tertiary Classification:
|motor cars
|Model Name/Number:
|Mark VI; Hawk
|Rootes Group, England, Great Britain, circa 1954
|Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Australia, circa 1956-1973
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Summerville Trolley Tours are taking off again this Friday, Feb. 7, after a month-long hiatus and reorganization.
Summerville DREAM began managing the tours after the conclusion of the 2013 tour season. The Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce previously organized the tours.
Now under new management, the tours will be changing this year, said DREAM Director Jan Hursey.
For starters, the Summerville Dorchester Museum is going to be the new start and stop point for all the tours, so they will be originating downtown, she said.
DREAM has also increased the number of tours, from one tour day each month, three tours per day, to three tour days per month, two tours per day.
Hursey said right now only two people are leading the tours, but DREAM is in search of more volunteers with outgoing personalities and flexible schedules to learn to become tour guides. She said DREAM will be launching a training program soon.
The tours will be expanding this year to include four different themes, which will highlight different elements of area history, in addition to the historic city tour that forms the basis of each trolley ride: Good Eats with a special focus on culinary traditions, a visit to the Timrod Library, low tea at the Summerville Dorchester Museum and a tour of Linwood Gardens.
Tickets for the hour-long tours cost $27 and include admission to the Summerville Dorchester Museum. They will take place on the first three Fridays of every month, departing at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Originally the tours were designed to help support the growing tourism industry within Summerville, but Hursey said locals should also have an interest in taking a trolley ride.
Weve found that for the locals its all about learning about their town. Summerville has so much history and people dont even know about it, Hursey said. We think its important for locals to take the tours to learn about history, get familiar with new things in the downtown area, and it also helps create a sense of belonging to the town. If you know the history youre going to feel more connected.
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5 Must Know Jazz Guitar Pentatonic Scale Patterns
In today's lesson we'll be looking at 5 of my favorite jazz guitar pentatonic scale patterns.
Now, I know what you're thinking, "The minor pentatonic scale isn't very jazzy."
Well, sometimes it's not. But, with the right pattern, a good sense of swing and the right tone, you can make the minor pentatonic scale come alive in your jazz guitar lines and solos.
Each pattern will provide you with unique sound quality that you can bring into your solos, and into your practice routine as you work it into the tunes, Jazz Chord Progressions and ear training exercises that make up your daily time spent in the woodshed.
So, without further ado, here they are, 5 Must Know Pentatonic Scale Patterns.
Got a question or comment about this lesson? Visit the 5 Pentatonic Patterns thread in the MWG Forum.
Learn Jazz Guitar Scales and Scale Patterns with the Matt Warnock Guitar Jazz Scales App.
Jazz Guitar Pentatonic Scale Patterns 1 – 1 Up 1 Down
This pattern is built by playing one ascending interval followed by a descending interval, creating a three-note pattern.
The first interval is a "third" in the sense that you play the first note, then skip a note in the scale and play the note that is three notes higher in the scale.
Then, you descend down one note in the scale to finish the pattern, such as the A-D-C in the first bar of the written example below.
To run this pattern up the scale, you then just to the second note of the first pattern and start from there. So, in this case you would play A-D-C, then start the next pattern on D, D-G-E, then start the next pattern on G and so on.
Because it is a three-note pattern, if you play it in continuous 8th notes as is the case with the example below, you create a syncopated effect that hides the bar line since you are playing a three-note pattern over a 2-note rhythm.
Jazz Guitar Pentatonic Scale Patterns 2 – 2 Up 1 Down
The second pattern is a favorite of mine that I took from Lenny Breau, and is played by stacking two notes on top of your starting note, then falling back down by one note to finish the lick.
To begin, you play the first note of the scale, then you skip a note and play the note on the same fret one string higher. You do this one more time to build the ascending section of the line, A-D-G in the first bar of the example below.
From there, you simply fall down to the closest scale note to complete the four-note pattern, A-D-G-E in the written example.
To continue this pattern, you start it again on the second note of the first group of four notes. So, you play A-D-G-E, then D-G-C-A, G-C-E-D and finally C-E-A-G to complete the line as you've now run out of room in this position.
This four-note pattern sits nicely when you run it up the neck using 8th notes, but if you want to go for a syncopated feel, try playing it with triplets, so a four-note pattern over a three-note rhythm. Very hip!
Jazz Guitar Pentatonic Scale Patterns 3 – Up 1 Down the Next
The third pattern is a descending lick that goes up the "right" side of the scale, G-C in the written example, then down the "left" side of the scale, A-E in the example.
This pattern then continues down the scale starting on each note on the "right" side of the pentatonic fingering you're using.
To add a bit more modern feel to this pattern, try putting a pull-off between the two notes that occur on the same string.
So, in the first four-note group you could put a pull-off on the first string between the notes C and A for example, then continue this idea as you work your way down the scale.
Jazz Guitar Pentatonic Scale Patterns 4 – Side Step Down
With this pattern we're getting a bit more modern as we introduce an "inside-outside" lick to the pentatonic scale.
The crux of this pattern is that you play four notes of the A minor pentatonic scale, then you play four notes of the Bb minor pentatonic scale.
You continue this back and forth until you reach the top of the scale and run out of room on the neck.
This technique is called "side-stepping" and has been used by many great jazzers such as John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Michael Brecker and others.
It won't fit into every musical situation, so get this lick under your fingers and then let your ears and musical taste dictate when is the right time to unleash this idea in a jam or gig situation.
Jazz Guitar Pentatonic Scale Patterns 5 – Side Step Up
Again, with this lick you are using a side-step technique to ascend the neck, moving between A minor pentatonic and Bb minor pentatonic as you go.
The difference with this lick is that you are shifting up the neck instead of back to the original position as you did with the previous pattern.
Because of this, you are covering three different "box-patterns" as you move up the neck, which is why this pattern can be very effective. Not only will it bring an "inside-outside" sound to your lines, but it will allow you to run up from the 5th to the 12th fret and all six strings at the same time.
How to Practice Jazz Guitar Pentatonic Scale Patterns
Here are some of my favorite ways to practice these, and any, scale patterns in the woodshed.
- Run these patterns with a metronome in the given key from 50 to 250 bpms if possible.
- Work each pattern in 12 keys along with the metronome at various tempos.
- Practice soloing over a one-chord vamp, using one or more patterns as the basis for your lines.
- Practice soloing over a Jazz Blues Progression, using one or more patterns as the basis for your lines.
- Practice soloing over a Jazz Standard, using one or more patterns as the basis for your lines.
As you work through each of these scale patterns, the goal is to get your chops up, but also be able to inject these ideas in a natural and musical manner when you take them to a jam session or gig situation.
So have fun with them and see where these patterns will fit into your technical and improvisational workout this week.
6 Comments
thanks, nice lesson
Dr. Warnock,
I find your system for jazz improvisation very interesting…I have been studying some of Robert Conti material.
His approach involves not learning scales and modes but learning by playing jazz. You copy what he does and that helps you get the rythmic feel to play jazz.
His method is very attractive especially after you have tried to learn jazz by spending hours memorizing scales and modes and then trying to understand how to use them, unsucessfully.
However, with his approach, I really don't understand "why" what he does works..
Is your approach to jazz improvisation better? Is learning scales and modes necessary to play jazz?
Thanks for checking out my site, glad you are enjoying the articles. I think that it's good to learn some scales and arpeggios, the building blocks of music, mixed with learning licks and patterns, the language of jazz. So a mixture of both is what I've done over the years and it's worked well for me.
Hope that helps.
Hi Matt,
My question is on technique. When you are playing and you encounter two or more notes on the same fret above or below one another on different strings do you use the same finger or alternate fingers ? Is there a rule or is it what feels like a fit for the player. Thanks for your time and for the practice material.
Yep, whenever I have two notes on the same fret and different strings I roll the same finger over to use one finger for both notes. Hope that helps!
Matt- excellent lesson. I really like the side-stepping examples! Please cover some more on this technique with some contextual examples and a bit of analysis of what is being harmonically implied by the outside notes.


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About this event
- Web site
- /sites.google.com/…
- When
- 21–24 Sep 2014
- Where
- João Pessoa , Paraíba, Brazil
- Registration deadline
- Jul 25, 2014
- Contact address
- Brazil
- snneutrinoworkshop@gmail.…
I Workshop on Physics and Astrophysics of Neutrinos from Supernovae
Since the explosion of the supernova SN1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a lot has been speculated about the mechanism of explosion of stars and the role of neutrinos in the stellar cataclysm. Neutrinos can be powerful tools to be used to investigate astrophysics and, at the same time, ideal environments to study neutrino properties, for example, its mass. Particle physics and astrophysics walk together and cannot be decoupled. This workshop aims to discuss the current status and future perspectives of the physics and astrophysics of neutrinos from supernovae. A complete overview of the present understanding of supernovae neutrinos, of the current mechanisms of stellar explosion and of the the numerial simulations will be presented. Several types of detection techniques, such as the water Cherenkov, scintillation, new argon detectors, such as the one under development in the Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE), will be discussed.


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18 Shouts - 16,339 Scrobbles
Aisles have been considered one of the most interesting Progressive Rock bands of recent years and will soon be releasing a third studio album. Their soulfully crafted combination of rock, progressive rock, art rock, fusion, world music and other styles illustrates the band's unique liberal and eclectic music vision.
Aisles have been regarded as Neo-Prog, but their approach to music goes far beyond that while creating a very powerful and unique type of music and sound.
Read more about Aisles on Last.fm.
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Enjoy exerpts from the shanghai disneyland opening ceremony. Included is an interview with Bob Iger about the importance of this sth Disney park/resort, and the significance of the shanghai, china market to Disney.
Prepare to be entertained by Chinese language versions of songs such as Whole new World, Wish upon A Star, and It's a small World.


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110 W. New York Ave.
DeLand, FL 32720
Nature Scenes: Mute swans aren't really silent
By Lynn Bowen
posted May 27, 2014 - 12:19:03pm
Looking quite serene swimming in an Orange City pond, the beautiful white mute swan reigns over his territory. Originally from Europe and Asia, mute swans were introduced to North America in the late 19th century to beautify parks and ponds. Escapees have established a breeding population in a few parts of North America.
Mute swans are not really silent as their name seems to declare! They can lose their temper when provoked, and have a variety of calls. Sometimes they will show their disgust with a snort, grunt or hiss! However, they are less vocal than some others, including whooper swans and Bewick's swans.
When a mute swan raises its wings halfway up, it is displaying an aggressive posture called "busking." In the photo accompanying this column, a swan is showing this posture halfheartedly, and he doesn't appear to be upset.
Fifty to 67 inches tall, with an impressive 75-inch wingspan, this 22-pound white-plumed swan had an orange bill with a distinctive knob at the base, and black feet and legs. The swan in my photo has a pale-yellow-colored neck and head. Also, the long neck and vivid black at the base of the bill are distinguishing features. The males are larger than the females, but otherwise they look alike.
Mute swans breed between 3 and 5 years of age. They usually mate for life, but not always.
The female lays about six eggs annually from March to April in a large 4- to 5-foot floating nest or on the shore. She and her mate construct the nest, and both incubate the eggs for 35 days. Usually only three babies survive, due to starvation and disease.
They consume 4-8 pounds of seeds and roots of water plants daily. They also eat insects, fish and frogs. Because of the swans' huge appetites, submerged vegetation that other waterfowls need to survive is severely reduced.
Swans present problems in many ways. They are a threat to humans since the swans are extremely aggressive. People need to keep an adequate distance from them and especially from their nests.
They endanger native wildlife as well, plus they destroy wetland habitat with their appetite. This, of course, has negative effects on waterfront property values and tourism.
Mute swans live an average of 19 years if they survive their first five years.
— Bowen lives in DeLand. Send email to her at email@example.com.
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. Priced to sell vacant B-1 lot. Buy now and be ready when the exit ramps open up at I-485.More info
. Amazing Opportunity for Doctor, Dentist or Prof space in Class A building. Over 3100 usable SF withMore info
. This is a corner lot zoned B 1. Ajoining property is also for sale. Making a total of over 1 acre.More info
. Highly visible space on Albemarle Rd. close to Sharon Amity and all major roads. Clear spanned builMore info
. This sale includes adjoining parcel 05314202 1. 68acres and is being sold in conjunction with (parcMore info
. "Great Opportunity for a Commercial" location less than 1 mile off of I-85. This property is locateMore info
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. This unit is conveniently located near Park Road Shopping Center and is on the ground floor. Unit AMore info
. The perfect business solution! Own and build equity as you grow your business! Win-Win!. In the perMore info
. Just off I-85, zoned B-1 (Neighborhood Business). Sold "AS-IS" and seller won't make any repairs.More info


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Jon Stewart rally: Huge turnout forces early retreat to nearby bars
If the message behind Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity" is all about being reasonable, the attendees who most embody that spirit are probably the ones who bailed from the National Mall shortly after the event started.
Massive turnout for Saturday's rally quickly overwhelmed the Mall, forcing thousands of people into nearby streets and eventually, just giving up and leaving.
South of G Street, police were forced to close 7th Street NW to vehicular traffic as the beginnings of an early rally exodus took over the road. Further north, bars and restaurants quickly filled up with those seeking a bite to eat and a television on which to watch the rest of the spectacle on Comedy Central.
"I don't think they were expecting the amount of people who showed up down there," says John Brooks of D.C., who by 1:30 p.m. was sitting comfortably inside Chinatown's Bar Louie. Despite being from the area, Brooks and his family admit they got turned around amid the sea of people packing the streets. "We tried to help some tourists find their way, but it was hard."
Derrick Magnotta, a freshman at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, was in town this weekend for a Model UN conference, and had hoped to take part in the rally. But after being pushed out of his viewing spot close to the stage by security guards who were trying to keep access paths clear, he too found himself at Bar Louie. Is he disappointed?
"Yes and no," says Magnotta. "We have to be back by 4 p.m. ... we would have been there until midnight trying to get out of it if we had stayed."
It was a similar scene at other nearby businesses that had the foresight to tune their TVs in to the live broadcast. The normally spacious bar at Clyde's quickly became standing room only. A line formed on the sidewalk to get inside the Iron Horse Tap Room. By 2 p.m., the wait for a table for four at Carmine's was at least an hour.
"We could barely see, barely hear," says grad student Liza Meckler, who gave up on the rally after getting stuck in a crowd on the Mall west of 7th Street. After all that, she was happy just to be able to sit down, relax, and watch it all unfold on television.


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5 Steps To Help Increase Collagen And Elastin In Your Body
One of the side effects of aging is the loss of collagen and elastin in the body. When you are young, these compounds are everywhere, supporting your skin and ensuring that it is youthful, firm and soft.
As you pass the age of 30, levels in the body start to dwindle. By the time you reach the age of 60, there is virtually none left! This leads to the skin becoming wrinkled and saggy and can make you appear older than you actually are.
As age takes its toll, there are a number of steps you can take to prevent further loss of these important proteins and even increase the supply in your body!
Step One
You should aim to exfoliate the skin every single day. When you exfoliate, you remove the outer layer of your skin which includes dead skin cells. This allows for new skin to grow in its place.
This process activates the production of collagen along with elastin and can help to reduce fine lines, sagging and dry skin.
Always exfoliate gently to avoid deeper skin damage from scratching.
Step Two
Ensure that you eat a healthy diet or take vitamin supplements. Certain vitamins have proved to be effective in increasing the production of these proteins in the body. For example, vitamin C is required for the making of collagen and vitamin E is needed by the body to produce it.
Step Three
You should use a good moisturizer that contains only natural ingredients. Keeping the skin nice and moisturized will stop it becoming damaged and prevent the body using too much collagen or elastin (or both) to repair any damage that has been caused.
Step Four
Try and prevent the loss of these proteins as well as increase the production. Preserving these proteins will ensure that you do not age prematurely.
You can do this by avoiding spending too much time in direct sunlight as this can cause the breakdown of both collagen along with elastin and cause premature aging. Smoking is also a cause of the loss of these proteins and should be avoided.
Step Five
Start using supplements that contain hydrolyzed collagen. These supplements will ensure that your levels of collagen are kept high and will subsequently reduce the appearance of wrinkles and other skin problems.
Supplements are taken orally and are a much safer alternative to injections that often cause permanent scarring and other side effects.
Feedback on these supplements has been extremely positive and out of all the above steps, supplements are the most beneficial!
The Bottom Line
Although collagen and elastin reduce as you get older, and this reduction is the main cause of premature aging, it can be prevented.
By increasing the amount of these proteins in the body, you will also be protecting your joints and bones, along with your blood vessels which all need collagen to function at optimal levels.
Don't let aging catch you by surprise, you can start taking protective measures from a young age to ensure that you retain your youthfulness into your twilight years. Act now!
P.S. – If you're suffering from skin tags, or unsightly warts on your skin, collagen can't help you remove them. The reason is that collagen is something that protects your skin. If you want to remove skin tags, you're going to have to go to a dermatologist to do minor surgery.
There are products on the market that might be able to remove skin tags slowly, but they do take some time to work, and this might not be ideal for some people.
Taking supplements to improve your wellness is essential. Not only do you improve yourself from the inside out, you're establishing healthy routines for the rest of your life. If you work in a workplace or have an active way of life, doesn't matter. Taking supplements, help your body to be the best it can be.
That's why if you wish to increase muscle mass or work out better, you must check out cb-1 weight gainer. This special supplement helps your body boost it's muscle recovery normally. Taking supplements to enhance your wellness is vital. Taking supplements, help your body to be the finest it can be. This one-of-a-kind supplement assists your body increase it's muscle recovery naturally.


text: 1 of 5 Start here... Share this Amar'e Stoudemire always makes it a point to stay in shape in the offseason. This year is no different, he will show up to camp ready to go. Here are our Contributors' keys for Amar'e as he comes into camp healthy and ready to help the Knicks repeat as Atlantic Division champs.


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News, trends and ideas we're tracking today.
Posts filtered on Tag
Jessica Tata, jailed in deadly day care fire, now charged with food stamp theft
Jessica Tata, the day care owner jailed over the deaths of four children, now faces an additional charge of stealing food stamps, KPRC-TV Click2Houston reports on its website. Court documents show she stole food stamps from December 2007 through the end of February this year. The four children — Shomari Dickerson, 3; Elizabeth Kojah and Kendyll […] [Read More]
Taco Bell lobbies to be able to accept food stamps — USA Today
As the number of U.S. businesses — from convenience and dollar discount stores to gas stations and pharmacies — approved to accept food stamps has grown by a third from 2005 to 2010, restaurants want some of the action, reports USA Today. [Read More]


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Gear Review
These gloves are nice. The way the palm is put together is nice. It dosnt bunch up making those longer rides really comfertable. The swade like material on the back of the thumb is nice for wiping your head of sweat. They also fit very well. I used the sizing chart and they fit great. Not to mention they look cool.
View More Details on Giro Blaze 2 Gloves


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From The News-Enterprise
Signs standing on the shoulders of Interstate 71 in rural Carroll County mark the site of one of our country's most deadly bus disasters. Flowers, crosses, messages and other items can be seen around this sign, left as tokens to honor the lives lost on this stretch of highway.
Late on that May 14, 1988, night, a fiery collision involving a pickup truck in the wrong lane operated by a drunken driver and a church bus packed with children forever changed the lives of so many more.
Good luck Chamber Golf Scramble participants! The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce's 10th annual golf scramble is currently under way today, May 15, at the Fairway Golf Course in Wheatley, Ky.
The proceeds from the event provide funding for scholarships for our local students and for chamber events.
Check out next month's chamber article for a recap of the event.
The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce's Race Fest Day is Wednesday, June 26 on Main Street in downtown Carrollton. The event will begin at 5 p.m.
One of the things I like most about genealogists is their thirst for continuing education.
Year-round, conferences and workshops are offered on a wide range of topics by local, state, regional and national organizations. It's possible that someone with unlimited time and financial resources could attend two or three a month. Maybe more.
I encourage anyone interested in family history research – whether for your own enjoyment or as a paid professional – to seek out these opportunities.
Last week I read an article in the paper about the man from Williamsport, Penn., who started Little League. Teen-age boys who wanted to play baseball other than on the school teams had a league, but there was not one at that time for pre-teen youth. And note, I said boys; no girls played little league for decades to come.
Typically in my monthly column, I address legal issues or current topics in the legal field, but, with your indulgence, I am going to deviate slightly this month.
In case you did not know, this is National Teacher Appreciation Week. It is a week when we are to give thanks to those who give so much.
Nothing is more heartbreaking in homeownership than the high price of a large problem that started as a small, inexpensive problem. If you own a home, it is only a matter of time until you trace back a big mess to a failed part that cost $1.87.
It plays out the same way with children.
They may wear a variety of uniforms and have different areas of expertise, but one quality binds all first responders: They're the ones who immediately run toward an emergency when the first impulse is to run away.
Their invaluable contributions have been highlighted in recent weeks in the aftermath of the Boston bombings, the ricin-poisoned letters in Washington, D.C., and Mississippi and the explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant.
After a hard day or week of training, it's common, even with proper technique, to build up a deep, unending soreness in the muscles. Soreness is a good thing, it means you worked a muscle or muscle group hard enough to feel it, but recovering isn't always quick or easy. Here are a few great tips on how to minimize recovery time.
Hello once again my friends. It seems like it was just yesterday we were talking about hummus and how growing our food variety can add so many new flavors and tastes into our lives.
For many of our subscribers, our recent delivery of The News-Democrat fell short of the good service they expect.
A variety of different issues that cropped up over the past couple of months led to late deliveries for folks who are used to finding their newspaper in their mailbox on Wednesdays.
Our team at The News-Democrat, with support from other offices within our company and the plant that prints the newspaper, have worked diligently to resolve these issues.
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