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I spoke with John Chigos, CEO of license plate recognition provider PlateSmart, which bills itself as the only "software only LPR solution."
It's a newer company that got its start at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa. "That was our beta," Chigos said.
Chigos officially introduced the product to the market in 2013 and it's now deployed in locations such as the Port of Tamp, Florida hospitals, a large fashion house (for use at its distribution points, in traffic safety monitoring applications, and college campuses.
The 20-employee firm, based in Oldmar, Fla., is privately held. It has "growth equity from [undisclosed] VCs, and will continue to do that until we reach sufficient size to continue growth internally," Chigos explained. The company is in growth mode right now, Chigos said, "bringing on additional sales and marketing people as well as increasing our development staff."
Unlike the LPR "hardware/software solutions," Chigos said he envisioned an open platform that would work with all kinds of hardware and software. PlateSmart is ONVIF compliant, works with Exacq, OnSSI and other VMS providers and it has relationships with a number of analog and IP camera providers including Pelco, Panasonic, Samsung and Axis.
Chigos says PlateSmart can "use existing equipment and [end users] get more robust analytics."
Because no hardware is involved, customization is quick, he said.
PlateSmart offers a mobile application, designed for law enforcement, and a fixed-location platform called ARES. The next step will be to offer Platesmart in a cloud-based SaaS form, making it affordable smaller organizations, and also giving installers a new revenue stream.
In addition, PlateSmart can read "jurisdictional data … it can recognize the state, province or country and provide that data with the plate-read," which provides more data and accuracy for the end user, he said.
It can also read the color of the vehicle, which can help determine if a car has the correct license plate.
PlateSmart's basic package is two cameras but it can easily scale to a couple hundred cameras, he said.
What about privacy concerns? Chigos said that "LPR does not provided the information many people believe it provides. Our technology carries out the process of [identifying vehicles of interest] for law enforcement …it's not for enforcement on the other side of the equation [ie.] who's running a red light."
He describes PlateSmart technology as "speeding up the process [of identifying vehicles] that law enforcement and security have done visually for decades."
Furthermore, he says "we never touch, see, or handle the [license plate] data. Only the end user of the technology can see or act on the data."
Companies that get involved with LP data, particularly selling that data, are the ones that cause legitimate privacy concerns, he said.
Chigos quoted research group IHS, saying the worldwide market for LPR is estimated to be $600 million today and is projected to grow to $1 billion by 2018.
"Applications for LPR are growing everyday," Chigos said. "It's going to be a mainstay of security in this country because it delivers information in real time."
ADT has invested $25 million in a new partnership with Life360, a provider of location-based services and family networking technology that has more than 33 million customers, ADT announced this week. The partnership is expected to lead to cobranded mPERS solutions and also "provide a valuable lead generation source for ADT," the company said.
During a discussion of ADT's disappointing Q1 results earlier this year, CEO Naren Gursahaney cited some "lead generation challenges," the company had been having and said ADT planned to expand its lead generation activities in response.
On May 13, ADT announced the Life360 partnership, which it said will "enable the development of innovative, cobranded mobile security applications to provide greater safety and security services to families." According to a news release, ADT is taking a minority ownership stake in the company, "through a $25 million investment, leading a $50 million Series C financing for Life360. The investment forges a mutually beneficial bond for the two companies to work together to advance personal security solutions available to the more than 33 million families who use Life360."
Arthur Orduña, senior vice president and chief innovation officer for ADT, said the partnership allows ADT to expand security outside the home. "Today, ADT provides security and monitoring solutions for families wherever they are. This partnership with Life360 fits within our innovation strategy to reinvent the idea of 'security' for our increasingly mobile lifestyles. It's a perfect pairing as ADT and Life360 are both leaders in their categories that share a very similar vision and mission – to provide peace of mind to families," Orduña said in a prepared statement.
The release said the two companies plan to release a new codeveloped mobile application in late 2014. The new mobile app "will integrate features from ADT Chaperone, an existing 'on-the-go' personal security offering from ADT. The upcoming mobile application from ADT and Life360 will provide direct access to ADT's 24/7 monitoring centers that can connect users to police, fire and emergency medical responders," the release said.
According to Orduña's statement, "Soon every family will be able to use the app to meet their unique needs, whether it's providing a chaperone for a child walking home from school and verifying they reached their destination, or knowing to arm the home's security system when the house is vacant."
The app will be free. Also, the release said, "and upgraded security features from ADT will be available at a nominal monthly subscription fee."
Chris Hulls, Life360 founder and chief executive officer, issued a statement saying: "Mobile is at the center of the connected home, and given security is a critical element for today's families, our integration with ADT offers customers the value of one of the world's largest security and home automation providers, plus the connectivity of the largest family network."
Good news for Ascent Capital, the parent holding company of Monitronics, according to a recent research report conducted by Imperial Capital's Jeff Kessler. The takeaway is that the monitoring company's Q1 2014 earnings—$484 million in revenue, EBITDA of $321 million—were consistent with estimates and the company is "not experiencing impact from the entrance of cable/telcos."
As a result, Imperial Capital is maintaining the outperform rating and one-year price target of $94, about 43 percent above the company's recent share prices, recorded in the report at $65.80.
The share price is being impacted currently by skittishness surrounding the big new market entrants, referred to as a "false negative perception about the competition from cable/telcos."
"We believe that Ascent remains fundamentally strong and is not seeing any slowdown as a result of cable/telcos entering the security space," the report says.
As far as the new competitive landscape, Kessler believes traditional security companies remain Monitronics' primary competitors. He also envisions something of a schism taking place between traditional large security companies and the newcomers who established themselves first in other industries.
The former, according to the report, will continue to command their share of business in the market for critical life safety systems, while the latter will bring to market more of a "home services," lifestyle-focused package. The report said that existing skepticism about the "commitment to service" of the cable/telcos could hinder their ability to gain share from the largest security providers.
Kessler's report was extremely thorough, full of many fascinating prognostications about not just Monitronics but the industry at large. Needless to say, a lone blog post can hardly do it justice. Here's a sample sentence from the report that certainly piqued my interest:
"We believe smaller, undercapitalized security companies who do not have the capital to install Alarm.com or iControl wireless interactive systems may face real competitive threats."
The report also touched on the implications of the enormous advertising budgets of the new market entrants, as well as the positive effects of Monitronics' acquisition last August of Security Networks.
There was lots of video analytics news today.
Avigilon, which acquired VideoIQ at the end of 2013, today came out with the first combined offering of VideoIQ and Avigilon products. Avigilon added Rialto to its portfolio. Rialto has three appliances (for IP, analog and thermal cameras) that will enable end users to add VideoIQ analytics to existing Avigilon or other manufacturers' cameras. I have a call into Avigilon for more details.
Avigilon's analytics play is a good move according research firm TechNavio which announced today a new report that predicts global intelligent video analytics market will have a compound annual growth rate of 34.12 percent over the period 2013-2018.
What will drive that growth? TechNavio said it's the need for sophisticated tools to analyze the "unstructured data" generated by video surveillance systems, as well as increased security concerns.
The other, important driver is the "increasing demand for intelligent video analytics with business intelligence tools," the report said.
"When operational data is integrated with BI features, companies can generate profits by identifying and implementing profitable projects, increase sales by applying fact-based selling tools, enhance customer loyalty, and retain customers by optimizing customer experience management," said Faisal Ghaus, VP of TechNavio, in a prepared statement. "Organizations can use IVA solutions combined with BI tools to predict the future behavior of potential and existing customers, which is a major driver for the growth of the market over the forecast period."
This all made me think about the very excellent educational session at TechSec 2014 "The IP camera of the future," where there was lots of talk about the crucial nature of video analytics that work.
"The full potential of the business value of security cameras has yet to be realized," said Ray Coulombe, an entrepreneur and CEO of SecuritySpecifiers.com, who moderated the panel. "Analytics, big data implementation, and the proper mindset of security practitioners will develop to the point where security cameras, and other devices, will be viewed as a more integral part of the business fabric."
The vendors involved with the TechNavio report were listed as: Agent Video Intelligence, Axis Communications, Honeywell, Bosch, Cisco. IBM, Infinova, Intellivision, Nice Systems, ObjectVideo, Verint, VideoIQ.
Honeywell's recent advertising success is on a scale that would make Mad Men's superstar adman, Don Draper, envious.
First, the company recently won a coveted Telly Award for a Tuxedo Touch music video that it introduced this past December during the holiday season. Also, it got actor John Slattery—who plays the suave but mercurial Roger Sterling on AMC's Mad Men television series—to star in a new TV commercial where he demonstrates the voice control capabilities of Honeywell's Wi-Fi thermostat.
The Telly Awards were founded in 1978 and honor the best and most innovative in film and video productions, web commercials, videos and films, and local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs. Now, Honeywell recently announced, it has won a Silver Telly Award for the music video featuring Tuxedo Touch.
I blogged about that video, for which Honeywell actually commissioned a Nashville band, Telecommunicators, to create an original song, "You're My Heart."
In a recent post on Honeywell's The Security Channel blog, David Gottlieb, Honeywell Security's global marketing communications leader, gave special thanks to the Telecommunicators "for the great song" that helped to win the award.
And check out the new TV spot featuring Slattery and the Wi-Fi thermostat. The theme of the spot is that the future is already here—with Honeywell.
The actor, sitting on a couch in a living room, talks about how voice control is the future. He says the word "beer," and a pint glass appears on his coffee table. He says "dog," and an instant pet appears on the couch next to him.
Then Slattery says, "Impossible? Maybe, but Honeywell's latest innovation gives me hope." Then he tells his thermostat he's too hot, so it lowers the temperature in the room.
The ad has already aired on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and, what with Slattery's Mad Men fame and the intriguing content, is sure to catch the eyes of viewers. And who knows … is another Telly Award in Honeywell's future?
Video verification in the residential market—it was a topic that surfaced in some of the PPVAR panels I attended at TechSec, though the discussion had been picking up momentum well before that.
It really seemed to pick up last August, when Honeywell Security announced it was joining the membership ranks of PPVAR, a move that some saw as a sign of the "mainstreaming" of video verification.
That seemed to be the gist of Scott Harkins (president of Honeywell Security Products Americas) words in the prepared statement released at the time, in which he said Honeywell recognized that "video verification is an important product category as we look to the future of security."
Harkins, who was a panelist at one of the PPVAR sessions at ISC West, for the most part reiterated that sense of optimism, saying there was indeed potential for video verification in the residential space. He did however add the caveat that, from Honeywell's perspective, bringing the technology into the mainstream had to be done in a way that keeps such systems affordable to a mass residential market.
Keith Jentoft, president at Videofied - RSI Video Technologies and an industry liaison for PPVAR, has given me some leads in recent weeks about a few monitoring companies that are striving to fulfill the vision put forth by Harkins (EMERgency24, based in Des Plaines, Ill., is one of a few he's mentioned).
In the days and weeks ahead, I plan to explore how some of these companies are taking video verification to a broader residential market, zeroing in on the strategies that have worked as well as the challenges.
I'm here at PSA-TEC in Westminster, Colo., where today I had a chance to catch up with Christine Lanning, president of systems integration firm IST.
Christine and her husband Andrew (CEO) founded IST, a PSA Security owner, in 1998. Here's a story I wrote about the company a couple years ago. This year, Christine was honored as one of this year's Women's Security Council 2014 Women of the Year.
IST just finished moving its headquarters to a new facility that they own, (and saving 30 percent owning rather than leasing, thanks mostly to favorable conditions for an SBA loan.)
It was a year-long transition for IST to deal with permits and build out the new headquarters. "That meant we were without a demo or training space [in house] for a year," she said.
Christine said they didn't realize how much they missed having those capabilities in house, for business and training, of course, but also because she's a techy.
I asked Christine why she got interested in technology.
Her interest started early. Technology was something that was promoted and valued in her home as a child, she said. "Our weekend jaunts were to Radio Shack where we'd get circuit boards to solder LED lights to."
In high school Christine was the only girl in an elective electronics class.
Christine has an undergraduate degree in business and a Master's degree in IT. At grad school in Hawaii, she was one of three women out of 50 students in the class.
Christine met Andrew when they were both working at an alarm company in Hawaii. They left that alarm company to start IST. Christine ran the business side, until as the company grew, it became clear that the company techs didn't understand IT—a necessity for IST, which always did systems integration. "In 2004, I took over operations. I still ran administration and accounting, but I was really pushing that IT knowledge to the staff."
She'd sit the staff down for "lunch and learns" regularly. "I'd have discussions with the staff about IT: What does ARP mean? Trace RT? How do you ping a device? We had conversations about how to do things."
And she'd go out in the field and teach techs to mount cameras, program devices in the field, patch systems, configure servers.
Is her teaching style different from a guy tech? Perhaps. She describes her approach as collaborative. She may be the boss, but "what I've found is that people really respond when you talk to them as a peer."
As I've written many times in this space, there's a dearth of women in the security industry, but only a small percentage of the women in security have either a technical role or work closely with technicians and engineers. That may be starting to change however. Women are beginning to be welcomed—even recruited—into those roles, at least among the smartest integrators.
While Christine and I were talking in the lobby of the Westin Westminster, we saw Bethany Taylor, who I learned from Christine, is the director of operations for Dakota Security. She oversees the engineering group at Dakota. And, after the interview I ran into Kirsten Klokis, who works for Northland Control Systems. Kirsten came to Northland out of college and is learning all aspects of the business, including spending time in the field with the technicians.
SIA is actively working to get young people interested in technical entry level jobs in the security industry. It's launching a security degree program at a community college in New Jersey next year. And, SIA, ISC West and the Women's Security Council are creating a scholarship for a woman to attend the college program. Here's that story. Asked where else the industry should look for women who may be interested in security, Christine Lanning suggested women with a military background.
"They have great training, understand structure, and are used to working in a male-dominated environment," she said.
National distribution company ADI's newest branch office in Omaha, Nebraska features a much smaller layout and a new concept. Assuming the "ADI Express" concept works well in Omaha, ADI will be opening up a lot of new branches in secondary markets, Michael Flink, ADI president told me.
The Omaha branch is ADI's 100th branch. "ADI has 99 regular-size branches in 65 major markets," Flink said. Typically, ADI branches are about 8,500 square feet and have six or seven employees. The new ADI Express office is about "half the size, half the number of employees," Flink said.
Every couple of years, ADI does real estate research. Recent findings led the distribution company to explore the idea of a smaller store in smaller markets. "Initially we thought the smaller stores would also have half the inventory as well, " Flink said, but good design enabled ADI to carry "almost as much merchandise [in the smaller ADI branch as in the larger branches]."
"One thing we did not want to do is lose value in the what ADI offers," he said. So, while most of the merchandise is moved behind the counter, the ADI Express still has a small training room, a 7/24 pick up room for dealers and a small show room. "Dealers like to come in and see, feel and touch the products," he said.
In smaller markets a dealer's staff may not get to travel to trade shows, but a local ADI Express showroom is a good place to see a variety of new products and technology, Flink said."It's like bringing a mini version of a trade show into the branches," Flink said. "We carry a lot of products."
ADI currently offers 1,800 training classes. The smaller branches will enable ADI to bring more training to secondary markets. "We can get the manufacturers to come to the smaller markets for training, [because] we can fill up a class if they come."
ADI plans to open up one more ADI Express branch in Q3. It will then take about six months to evaluate and tweak the smaller branch concept. Flink predicts ADI Express "will dramatically increase the number of markets we can open in," he said.
Dealers are invited to attend the grand opening at the Omaha branch tomorrow, May 1. The event will include training events, sales specials, and free giveaways. The ADI Omaha Express Store is at 12112 Centennial Road, Suite 7, in La Vista, Nebraska
ESA just wrapped up its annual Day on Capitol Hill, bringing to the attention of lawmakers several topics of consequence for the security industry, including school security.
The ESA has positioned itself as a partner with Security Industry Association in developing a comprehensive guide to help end users and legislators better understand what electronic security technologies they have at their disposal to bolster school security.
"Most school districts don't know what type of security to install, and many legislators don't understand all the technology that's out there and what exists," said Daniel Gelinas, who attended the event in his capacity as government liaison for Rapid Response Monitoring. ESA's Electronic Security Guidelines for Schools, he said, were designed as an authoritative resource to address that knowledge gap.
The timing of the school security guide is especially good, in light of the latest appropriations act cleared by Congress in January, which contains $75 million in funding for assessing methods to improve school security.
But ESA's activities on the Hill weren't limited just to school security matters. The association and industry members are also pushing for expanding the industry's access to the FBI's background check database, allowing security companies to better vet their employees for prior criminal activity.
Gelinas said the pair of bills addressing this (one in the House, another in the Senate) would not be a mandate. Rather, if enacted, they would allow security companies in the 26 states without the licensing requirement for the database to access it.
The organization was also in the Capitol promoting funding measures that would protect against elderly abuse through expanded use of video surveillance in nursing homes. Gelinas noted that this would not be a mandate for health care facilities, but would instead give concerned families the option to use electronic security systems to ensure that elderly relatives are getting proper medication and care.
The final area of focus for ESA was getting Congress to back a balanced approach for smoke alarms and other early fire detection systems, putting them on "the same footing as sprinklers" when it comes to receiving tax incentives and government grants, Gelinas said. That would involve amending the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act to include life safety, fire and smoke alarms.
I plan to give more space to this final issue, and some of the aforementioned ones, in an upcoming legislative roundup.
I've written here before about former NFL star Aaron Hernandez, who is charged with killing his friend Odin Lloyd, apparently failing to realize his home security camera was recording him with a gun both hours before—and minutes after—Lloyd was shot to death last summer. Now a home security system could be a key piece of evidence in the murder case against another sports star, the "Blade Runner."
The security system in the home of Oscar Pistorius, the South African double-amputee track star accused of murdering his girlfriend, came under scrutiny in his trial in Pretoria, South Africa in early April, news reports say.
Pistorius, 27, known as the "Blade Runner" for the high-tech artificial legs he uses, was being grilled by prosecutor Gerrie Nel when, according to Alliance News, "Nel went into details about whether the alarm system at Pistorius' home was in order and whether he had turned it off."
"A functioning alarm would contribute to discrediting Pistorius' claim he mistook his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp for a burglar when he shot her dead through the bathroom door in February last year," Alliance News said. "Pistorius said several times he was unable to remember all the details and complained he was tired."
The Globe and Mail newspaper reported that Pistorius "acknowledged that he must have deactivated the house's alarm system when he carried the injured Ms. Steenkamp down his stairs after the shooting, although he said he doesn't remember it."
And the Globe and Mail reported: "Nel said the alarm system was functioning and should have alerted him to any intruder. Mr. Pistorius said his external motion-detectors were sometimes removed when the house was painted, and ladders were sometimes left in the garden that could have been used to enter his bathroom window, but he admitted that he hadn't checked on either on the day before the shooting."
Pistorius, who lost his legs below the knee because of a congenital abnormality, was the first double-leg amputee to compete against able-bodied athletes in the 2012 London Olympics.
His trial began in March and is expected to continue into May.
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OGDENSBURG - The St. Lawrence Psychiatric Centers fate could be known as soon as Monday.
Acting state Office of Mental Health Commissioner Kristin M. Woodlock told more than 300 people gathered at the psychiatric centers Unity Center Wednesday that she hopes to have a plan in place by then to develop regional centers of excellence. The centers will deliver mental health services that rely more on community support and less on inpatient treatment.
Whatever we come up with has to be good for the people we serve and their families, Mrs. Woodlock said.
She said if the time frame seems rushed, thats because it is. OMH is under pressure to revamp its antiquated mental health system before a shift to managed care next year and health coverage changes take effect under the federal Affordable Care Act. She said the state also has to comply with a 12-month notification period for any hospitals slated for closure.
The state also has a relatively poor track record in complying with the Olmstead Decision, which requires that mental health patients get to live in the most integrated community setting they choose, she said. Mrs. Woodlock said the state still relies too heavily on inpatient care and needs to put more emphasis on helping people sustain themselves in the community by providing better education, housing and employment supports.
We want to help people get better, Mrs. Woodlock said.
The idea behind regional centers of excellence is to provide patients with the community supports they need and better coordinate mental health care with medical care. Centers will partner with higher learning institutions and hospitals that can bring mental health treatment methods up to the same standard that medical treatments are expected to meet and bring cutting-edge advances to the states mental health system.
I see a smaller footprint for our hospitals, she said. We will shift away from asylum care and move toward best-in-nation care.
Many community leaders and residents who spoke at Wednesdays state listening-tour stop said the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center is already conforming to the states vision for the future. The vast majority of speakers urged the state to designate the facility a regional center of excellence.
The local communities and a multitude of support agencies have collaborated on a continuum of care, Ogdensburg Mayor William D. Nelson said. We are a regional center of excellence and a beacon of hope throughout the region.
Today you will hear how important this hospital is to our economy, state Sen. Patricia A. Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, said. You will hear about the quality of care here and why the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center is already considered among the best.
Mrs. Ritchies office collected more than 2,100 signatures on an online petition seeking to save the facility from closure. She said many of those who signed were from other states.
This community supports St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, she said. Let there be no doubt.
Speakers also noted the facilitys geographic isolation and the difficulty travel would pose for family members of patients who would have to seek treatment elsewhere if the hospital were to close.
We are 129 miles from the nearest OMH hospital, said Patrick J. Kelly, CEO of the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency, speaking for a task force of community leaders lobbying to support the psychiatric center. For the others throughout the state, the average distance is 32 miles.
He said that in researching the services the facility provides, he was surprised at the broad range of community-based options for patients.
He also said that the hospitals proximity to higher learning institutions with psychology, nursing and other medical-related programs is a perfect fit for the university collaboration the state seeks.
The building blocks are here, Mr. Kelly said. Most important is the excitement and interest we have to support this facility and work with it as it tries to evolve. We see this facility as an important piece of our community landscape.
The state also cannot lose sight of the economic impact closing the psychiatric center will have on an already struggling community, said businessman Lynn L. Blevins, Ogdensburg. He said the state could be in a position to provide more jobs in the community by expanding what the facility can offer.
It would be irresponsible to close a hospital in an area with a huge unemployment problem, Mr. Blevins said.
The center employs 520 people and serves an inpatient population of roughly 180. Its outpatient programs serve about 1,600 people.
Services must remain in the north country, said National Alliance for the Mentally Ill President Lynn Matott, Gouverneur. Families should not have to travel more than an hour to see their loved ones.
Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.
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Expect rainy weather late Thursday night through Friday afternoon
From coast to coast and top to bottom, unforgettable foliage displays happen in all sorts of unlikely places. Here's your guide to chasing falling leaves around the country, from now to Thanksgiving.
Want to pinpoint the exact right time to head upstate to take in New York's spectacular fall foliage? There's a map for that.
Aging is particularly hard on gardeners who must bend, lift and stretch to make their beloved green things grow. But you don't have to give up on gardening when your body no longer cooperates.
Sometimes the loves of our life -- gardens and dogs -- don't get along. Doggies dig up our rhododendron and azalea, which pay back the petal-eating pooches by sickening them.
Fall is for planting bulbs. Their flowers are the harbingers of spring and one can never have enough of them.
When it comes to protecting your home against fire, flood and wind, you can let Nature battle Nature when you plant the right trees, shrubs and grasses.
Although springtime is associated with growing new things, in many places in the country, fall is the best time to plant trees.
Near wild flowers that bloom in early autumn cast a magical glow while presaging the coming of winter.
Sep 20, 2011; 5:00 AM ET Why do leaves change from green to beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow in the fall?


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Beit Am Synagogue
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Beit Am welcomes diversity in Jewish worship and seeks opportunities to accommodate its congregation. Religious Services are held on a regular basis. In all services men...
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Women's Center back room, Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center (BCC), 2325 NW Monroe, Asian and Pacific Cultural Center (APCC), 2683 NW Jackson Street, and International Living & Learning Center- ILLC 448.
A few rooms on campus are available for students to use, at no cost, for personal or small group prayer, reflection, or spiritual or sacred practice....
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text: Josh Naylor washes down the tables at the pavilion in Sunnyside City Park last Friday. Personnel in Carbon County and all local cities work to keep public areas clean, but the task is often a frustrating job. Residents can assist the efforts by not littering and cleaning up after outings.


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Out of the rubble a wine is born! Jean-Marc gave more than heart and soul when he made his first wine: he gave his blood, his tears, and an alarming number of kilos. I talk about this, and more, in an interview about the organic winemaker on a French TV. Today, Jean-Marc's birthday, seems a perfect occasion to share the footage, recorded in 2010. Scroll down to enjoy today's tribute. Can't see the video? Click over to the blog to view it.
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A few notes about the 3-minute interview:
- The interviewer asks: Alors son vin? So, how's his wine (how does it taste?). You will note a moment of panic as I try to resolve this dilemma: I can't admit I have never (ever) tasted my husband wine. Finally, I figure out a way to respond... which brings us to today's French phrase (see it below, along with the video)
- You will feel much better about your own French pronunciation... when you hear mine!
Also seen in the video are Alexis, our stagiaire. The reporter is Jeff Carias.
The fun way to learn French
il paraît (eel-pah-ray)
: it seems, it appears
synonyms: on dit (they say) or le bruit court (rumor has it)
Example from today's video:
"Alors, son vin?" So how's the wine?
"Il paraît que c'est bon!" I hear it's good! (or Rumor has it it's pretty good!)
Click on the screen, below (or click over to the blog), to enjoy the following video. To comment, click here.
Portrait de Jean-Marc Espinasse pour l'émission... par BrokenArmsCompany
I am sorry not to have a transcript, in English, of this interview. I hope many of you can understand what is being said. I know I had a hard time... which led the interviewer to rephrase a question or two... To leave a comment or to read the comments, click here.
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The man who can passionately follow his vision--yet keep his eyes soft enough to see what lives and loves around him--his family, his friends--that is beauty.
Jean-Marc taking time out of whirlwind winemaking - to dance the tango with his mother-in-law, Jules.
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Have fun--but not too much fun!... Untangle yourself from those Arlesiennes and hurry home!
Jean-Marc is in Seattle today, the 29th! Meet him at Pike and Western Wine Shop. Info here.


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Business Intelligence- Consumer Training Follow-up
Thursday, February 27, 2014 -
12:00pm to 1:00pm
Hempel Collaboratory, Markee Pioneer Student Center
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This is the drop-in help session for those who have attended Business Intelligence, Level 1-Consumer Training. Registration is not required.
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|YMCA Supporters Weigh Watauga Task
|Written by Gary Childers
|Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:12
On Tuesday evening, approximately 60 people showed interested in renewing an effort to establish a YMCA in Boone by attending a meeting at the Watauga Medical Center Auditorium. The program was sponsored by High Country Recreation, a new non-profit organization
in Watauga County, with Scott St. Claire, president, explaining the purpose to those gathered. Then Bob Conklin, President of the YMCA of Catawba Valley, shared the objectives and mission of YMCAs, and went on to explain the requirements for being a YMCA with mission and goals of the USA YMCA organization. He then explained what US, YMCA projects as the criteria a community needs to meet for starting and sustaining a program, including an explicit need; second, a population of 25,000 or more; third, one million dollars raised to support start up costs for two to three years; and finally, six to seven million dollars raised later on to cover the cost of purchasing land and building a facility in which to provide a gym, swimming pool, wellness center, baby sitting, and locker rooms. At the close of the session, Mr. St. Claire invited everyone present who was interested in being involved to sign up before leaving. He also invited anyone hearing about this group through media outlets who also wanted to be involved to contact him at High Country Recreation.
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Submission US to drive 3,000 Wi-Fi linked vehicles in massive crash avoidance trial->
coondoggie writes: "The US Department of Transportation said it will run a massive road test of cars, trucks and buses linked together via WiFi equipment in what the agency says will be the largest test of automated crash avoidance technology to date. The test will be conducted by the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), and feature mostly volunteer participants whose vehicles have been outfitted with vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication devices ."
Link to Original Source
Link to Original Source


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The cost of getting a Calgary car insurance can mean a big chunk slashed from the budget. Did you know that younger drivers are more likely to pay higher insurance than the one who has been driving for about ten years? This may come as a surprise, but in truth, the age as well as the driving history of the one buying the insurance could mean a couple of hundred dollars add-on to the insurance premium. So is it even possible to save on the costs of car insurance Calgary?
- Go online and get yourself auto insurance quotes online. It can be very tempting to just stick to your current insurance provider to avoid all the paper work, but the savings that you can get from a new insurance provider could make you get by the paper work. It could mean more money in your pocket and that makes a lot of difference.
- Work on improving your driving skills. They say practice makes perfect and if you do practice driving with a lot of care, it can bring about a good amount of slash off in your monthly insurance premium. Drive with care and boost your driving skills with a lot of practice.
Choose where you park your car. Be a defensive driver. If other drivers are not careful, make sure that you are quick enough to counter their driving skills to keep your car from getting damaged. This skill includes careful picking of where to park the car. It should always be where you can be the safest.
- Make your car more secure than people would expect it to be. Motorists who take the extra mile to keep thieves off their car tend to pay less insurance than those who has become a victim of theft a couple of times.
You can always find a way to save on costs even if the auto insurance quotes you get seem to already contain what you have to pay. Here are a few tips to help you get your hands of cheaper insurance premium


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Five Ten
Coyote VCS 2 Canvas Climbing Shoe (Men's) (out-of-stock)
Out of Stock Product Number: 25290
The Five Ten Coyote VCS is all about performance and comfort. This lined canvas climbing shoe forms to the foot, with no deadspace and no hotspots. Designed for entry level to advanced intermediate, the Coyote VCS is an all-around performer, as at home on desert towers as in an urban climbing gym.
- Lined canvas
- Slingshot heel
- VELCRO ® Brand closure
- Stealth® C4™ outsole
- Reinforced side stitching
- Materials: Lined canvas
Gender: Men's
Weight: (Size 9) 7.9oz/223.96g
Material: Lined canvas
Season: S13 F13
Vendor ProductId: 1242
Review ProductId: 25290
Reviewed by 1 customer
- Affordable
- Comfortable
- Simple
Best Uses
- Indoor climbing
Comments about Five Ten Coyote VCS 2 Canvas Climbing Shoe (Men's):
I have skinny feet so this might not apply to all. The shoes are velco and the strap closer to my toes fits perfect but the strap closest to my ankle fits a little loose. These shoes are so comfortable! Make sure if you wear a regular size 12 that you order a size 11 in climbing shoe. Or maybe even a 10 1/2.


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Browse GoColumbiaMo.com Skip top Navigation. Translate this page
Chapter Index: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
2-101 Responsibility
2-102 Knowledge
2-103 Duties
The operator shall be the person in charge or shall designate a person in charge and shall ensure that a person in charge is present at the food establishment during all hours of operation.
Based on the risks of foodborne illness inherent to the food operation, during inspections and upon request the person in charge shall demonstrate to the regulatory authority knowledge of foodborne disease prevention, application of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point principles, and the requirements of this Code. The person in charge shall demonstrate this knowledge by compliance with this Code, by being a certified food protection manager who has shown proficiency of required information through passing a test that is part of an accredited program or a program authorized by the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services, or by responding correctly to the inspector's questions as they relate to the specific food operation. The areas of knowledge include:
(A) Describing the relationship between the prevention of foodborne disease and the personal hygiene of a food employee;
(B) Explaining the responsibility of the person in charge for preventing the transmission of foodborne disease by a food employee who has a disease or medical condition that may cause foodborne disease;
(C) Describing the symptoms associated with the diseases that are transmissible through food;
(D) Explaining the significance of the relationship between maintaining the time and temperature of potentially hazardous food and the prevention of foodborne illness;
(E) Explaining the hazards involved in the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, poultry, eggs, and fish.
(F) Stating the required food temperatures and times for safe cooking of potentially hazardous food including meat, poultry, eggs, and fish.
(G) Stating the required temperatures and times for the safe refrigerated storage, hot holding, cooling, and reheating of potentially hazardous food;
(H) Describing the relationship between the prevention of foodborne illness and the management and control of the following:
(I) Explaining the relationship between food safety and providing equipment that is:
(J) Explaining correct procedures for cleaning and sanitizing utensils and food-contact surfaces of equipment;
(K) Identifying the source of water used and measures taken to ensure that it remains protected from contamination such as providing protection from backflow and precluding the creation of cross connections;
(L) Identifying poisonous or toxic materials in the food establishment and the procedures necessary to ensure that they are safely stored, dispensed, used, and disposed of according to law;
(M) Identifying critical control points in the operation from purchasing through sale or service that when not controlled may contribute to the transmission of foodborne illness and explaining steps taken to ensure that the points are controlled in accordance with the requirements of this Code;
(N) Explaining the details of how the person in charge and food employees comply with the HACCP plan if a plan is required by the law, this Code, or an agreement between the regulatory authority and the establishment; and
(O) Explaining the responsibilities, rights, and authorities assigned by this Code to the:
The person in charge shall ensure that:
(A) Food establishment operations are not conducted in a private home or in a room used as living or sleeping quarters as specified under ' 6-202.111;
(B) Persons unnecessary to the food establishment operation are not allowed in the food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas, except that brief visits and tours may be authorized by the person in charge if steps are taken to ensure that exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles are protected from contamination;
(C) Employees and other persons such as delivery and maintenance persons and pesticide applicators entering the food preparation, food storage, and warewashing areas comply with this Code;
(D) Employees are effectively cleaning their hands, by routinely monitoring the employees' hand washing;
(E) Employees are visibly observing foods as they are received to determine that they are from approved sources, delivered at the required temperatures, protected from contamination, unadulterated, and accurately presented, by routinely monitoring the employees' observations and periodically evaluating foods upon their receipt;
(F) Employees are properly cooking potentially hazardous food, being particularly careful in cooking those foods known to cause severe foodborne illness and death, such as eggs and comminuted meats, through daily oversight of the employees' routine monitoring of the cooking temperatures using appropriate temperature measuring devices properly scaled and calibrated as specified under ' 4-203.11 and & 4-502.11(B);
(G) Employees are using proper methods to rapidly cool potentially hazardous foods that are not held hot or are not for consumption within 4 hours, through daily oversight of the employees' routine monitoring of food temperatures during cooling;
(H) Consumers who order raw or partially cooked ready-to-eat foods of animal origin are informed as specified under ' 3-603.11 that the food is not cooked sufficiently to ensure its safety;
(I) Employees are properly sanitizing cleaned multiuse equipment and utensils before they are reused, through routine monitoring of solution temperature and exposure time for hot water sanitizing, and chemical concentration, pH, temperature, and exposure time for chemical sanitizing;
(J) Consumers are notified that clean tableware is to be used when they return to self-service areas such as salad bars and buffets as specified under ' 3-304.16;
(K) Employees are preventing cross-contamination of ready-to-eat food with bare hands by properly using suitable utensils such as deli tissue, spatulas, tongs, single-use gloves, or dispensing equipment; and
(L) Employees are properly trained in food safety as it relates to their assigned duties.
2-201 Disease or Medical Condition
Disease or Medical
Condition employer requires employee reporting of:
health status
The operator shall require food employee applicants to whom a conditional offer of employment is made and food employees to report to the person in charge, information about their health and activities as they relate to diseases that are transmissible through food. A food employee or applicant shall report the information in a manner that allows the person in charge to prevent the likelihood of foodborne disease transmission, including the date of onset of jaundice or of an illness specified under & (C) of this section, if the food employee or applicant:
employee is ill
(A) Is diagnosed with an illness due to:
(4) Hepatitis A virus;employee has
symptom of:
(B) Has a symptom caused by illness, infection, or other source that is:
$ intestinal illness
$ Boil or infected wound
employee previously ill
(C) Had a past illness from an infectious agent specified under & (A) of this section; or
(D) Meets one or more of the following high-risk conditions:
employee at high risk of becoming ill:
$ prepared or consumed food that caused disease
(c) Consumed food at the event prepared by a person who is infected or ill with the infectious agent that caused the outbreak or who is suspected of being a shedder of the infectious agent, $ lives with ill person
$ lives with person involved in disease outbreak
excluding ill employees
The person in charge shall:
(A) Exclude a food employee from a food establishment if the food employee is diagnosed with an infectious agent specified under & 2-201.11(A);
(serving general
(B) Except as specified under & (C) or (D) of this section, restrict a food employee from working with exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles, in a food establishment if the food employee is:
$ with symptom ofillness or
of pastillness
(serving high-riskpopulation)
$ with symptom ofillness or
of pastillness
(C) If the population served is a highly susceptible population, exclude a food employee who:
excluding and restricting jaundiced employees
(D) For a food employee who is jaundiced:
reinstating an excluded employee who is:
(A) The person in charge may remove an exclusion specified under & 2-201.12(A) if:
(1) The person in charge obtains approval from the regulatory authority; and
$ no longer ill
$ free of jaundice
(2) The person excluded as specified under & 2-201.12(A) provides to the person in charge written medical documentation from a physician licensed to practice medicine or, if allowed by law, a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, that specifies that the excluded person may work in an unrestricted capacity in a food establishment, including an establishment that serves a highly susceptible population, because the person is free of the infectious agent of concern as specified in ' 8-501.40.
reinstating a
employee who is
$ free of symptoms
(B) The person in charge may remove a restriction specified under:
(1) Subparagraph 2-201.12(B)(1) if the restricted person:
$ free of suspected infectious agent
$ has symptoms that are not caused by an infectious agent
$ no longer a shedder
(2) Subparagraph 2-201.12(B)(2) if the restricted person provides written medical documentation from a physician, licensed to practice medicine, or, if allowed by law, a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, according to the criteria specified in ' 8-501.40 that indicates the stools are free of Salmonella Typhi, Shigella spp., or E. coli O157:H7, whichever is the infectious agent of concern.
reinstating an excluded employee serving: high-risk population
(C) The person in charge may remove an exclusion specified under & 2-201.12(C) if the excluded person provides written medical documentation from a physician licensed to practice medicine or, if allowed by law, a nurse practitioner or physician assistant:
(1) That specifies that the person is free of:
(2) If the person is excluded under Subparagraph 2-201.12(C)(1), stating that the symptoms experienced result from a chronic noninfectious condition such as Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or ulcerative colitis.reinstating an
employee who is:
(D) The person in charge may remove an exclusion specified under Subparagraph 2-201.12(D)(1) and Subparagraph 2-201.12(D)(2)(a) and a restriction specified under Subparagraph 2-201.12(D)(2)(b) if:
$ not suspect source of illness
(1) No foodborne illness occurs that may have been caused by the excluded or restricted person and the person provides written medical documentation from a physician licensed to practice medicine or, if allowed by law, a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, that specifies that the person is free of hepatitis A virus as specified in Subparagraph 8-501.40(D)(1); or
$ suspect source of illness
(2) The excluded or restricted person is suspected of causing foodborne illness and complies with the requirements in Subparagraphs 8-501.40(D)(1) and (D)(2).
A food employee or a person who applies for a job as a food employee shall:
(A) In a manner specified under ' 2-201.11, report to the person in charge the information specified under && 2-201.11(A)-(D); and
(B) Comply with exclusions and restrictions that are specified under && 2-201.12(A)-(D).
The person in charge shall notify the regulatory authority that a food employee is diagnosed with an illness due to Salmonella Typhi, Shigella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, or hepatitis A virus.
2-301 Hands and Arms
2-302 Fingernails
2-303 Jewelry
2-304 Outer Clothing
Hands and Arms
Food employees shall keep their hands and exposed portions of their arms clean.
(A) Except as specified in & (B) of this section, food employees shall clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms with a cleaning compound in a lavatory that is equipped as specified under & 5-202.12 by vigorously rubbing together the surfaces of their lathered hands and arms for at least 20 seconds and thoroughly rinsing with clean water. Employees shall pay particular attention to the areas underneath the fingernails and between the fingers.
(B) If approved and capable of removing the types of soils encountered in the food operations involved, an automatic hand washing facility may be used by food employees to clean their hands.
Food employees shall clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms as specified under ' 2-301.12 immediately before engaging in food preparation including working with exposed food, clean equipment and utensils, and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles and:
(A) After touching bare human body parts other than clean hands and clean, exposed portions of arms;
(B) After using the toilet room;
(C) After caring for or handling service animals or aquatic animals as specified in & 2-403.11(B);
(D) Except as specified in & 2-401.11(B), after coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief or disposable tissue, using tobacco, eating, or drinking;
(E) After handling soiled equipment or utensils;
(F) During food preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination and to prevent cross contamination when changing tasks;
(G) When switching between working with raw food and working with ready-to-eat food; and
(H) After engaging in other activities that contaminate the hands.
(I) Prior to use of gloves.
Food employees shall clean their hands in a hand washing lavatory or approved automatic hand washing facility and may not clean their hands in a sink used for food preparation, or in a service sink or a curbed cleaning facility used for the disposal of mop water and similar liquid waste.
(A) A hand sanitizer and a chemical hand sanitizing solution used as a hand dip shall:
(1) Comply with one of the following:
(2) Comply with one of the following:
(3) Be applied only to hands that are cleaned as specified under ' 2-301.12.
(B) If a hand sanitizer or a chemical hand sanitizing solution used as a hand dip does not meet the criteria specified under Subparagraph (A)(2) of this section, use shall be:
(1) Followed by thorough hand rinsing in clean water before hand contact with food or by the use of gloves; or
(2) Limited to situations that involve no direct contact with food by the bare hands.
(C) A chemical hand sanitizing solution used as a hand dip shall be maintained clean and at a strength equivalent to at least 100 mg/L chlorine.
2-302.11 Maintenance. (A) Food employees shall keep their fingernails trimmed, filed, and maintained so the edges and surfaces are cleanable and not rough.
(B) While preparing food, employees shall not wear artificial nails or fingernail polish.
While preparing food, food employees may not wear jewelry on their arms and hands. This section does not apply to a plain ring such as a wedding band.
Outer Clothing
Food employees shall wear clean outer clothing to prevent contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, and single-service and single-use articles.
2-401 Food Contamination Prevention
2-402 Hair Restraints
2-403 Animals
(A) Except as specified in & (B) of this section, an employee shall eat, drink, or use any form of tobacco only in designated areas where the contamination of exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; unwrapped single-service and single-use articles; or other items needing protection can not result.
(B) A food employee may drink from a closed beverage container if the container is handled to prevent contamination of:
(1) The employee's hands;
(2) The container; and
(3) Exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles.
Food employees experiencing persistent sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose that causes discharges from the eyes, nose, or mouth may not work with exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; or unwrapped single-service or single-use articles.
Hair Restraints
(A) Except as provided in & (B) of this section, food employees shall wear hair restraints such as hats, hair coverings or nets, beard restraints, and clothing that covers body hair, that are designed andworn to effectively keep their hair from contacting exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles.
(B) This section does not apply to food employees such as counter staff who only serve beverages and wrapped or packaged foods, hostesses, and wait staff if they present a minimal risk of contaminating exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles.
(A) Except as specified in & (B) of this section, food employees may not care for or handle animals that may be present such as patrol dogs, service animals, or pets that are allowed as specified in Subparagraphs 6-501.115(B)(2)-(5).
(B) Food employees with service animals may handle or care for their service animals and food employees may handle or care for fish in aquariums or molluscan shellfish or crustacea in display tanks if they wash their hands as specified under ' 2-301.12 and & 2-301.14(C).
Chapter Index: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8


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- Northern New York Newspapers
- Watertown
- Ogdensburg
- Massena-Potsdam
- Lowville
- Carthage
- Malone
- NNY Business
- NNY Living
- NNY Ads
OGDENSBURG The Ogdensburg Public Library has hired CITEC Business Solutions of Potsdam to assist it in developing a strategic plan.
Library Executive Director Wayne L. Miller said the business consulting firm will conduct training and planning sessions with him and the librarys board of trustees to create a management plan.
This will be targeted specifically at the role of the board and the development of a board work plan, he said. It will also look at the current bylaws and other governing documents and make recommendations for changes as warranted.
CITEC is charging the library $2,200 for its efforts which, according to business development director Robert D. Oram, will begin next month and conclude with a report that will be delivered to the library by the end of June.
The intent is to assist a work group of board members and the library director with development of a clear, practical. usable and inspiring plan for the future that will enable the organization to achieve its goals and increase its value to the community that it serves, he wrote in a memo describing the scope of his assignment.
Mr. Miller acknowledged that he is far from wanting in terms of library expertise and advice in the trustees, his staff and the Friends of the Library support and fundraising group.
It is precisely because we have such a wonderful array of talent on the board, staff and Friends that having an objective outside management group help us develop a common vision, work with us on improving organizational communications, clarify roles, and work with the board as a group to identify a common vision and path forward is so valuable, he said. The board meets for an hour or two per month and those meetings are consumed with taking care of the issues of the moment. The board retreat I conducted last year was deemed so useful by the board that they wanted to repeat the format and bump up the expectations for results. I agree and am glad a powerful tool like CITEC is available to us.
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New 3DS finally coming to America with Animal Crossing: Home Designer
The New 3DS handheld unit, originally not scheduled for release in the U.S. (we only got the New Nintendo 3DS XL, has... Read More
The New 3DS handheld unit, originally not scheduled for release in the U.S. (we only got the New Nintendo 3DS XL, has... Read More
Since Nintendo introduced the idea of 3DS Menu wallpapers you could pay for, some first-party and third-party games have... Read More
Animal Crossing: New Leaf is not done with you yet. Pull out your 3DS and get ready for some special in-game items from... Read More
I speak no ill words towards the Nintendo 3DS XL. I strongly believe if I was to ever get into mobile game consoles,... Read More
Yesterday, we speculated that Nintendo would announce an Animal Crossing: New Leaf-themed 3DS XL hardware bundle during... Read More
Looks like someone at a video game retail store in the U.K. jumped the gun on a new 3DS bundle. The U.K. retailer ShopTo... Read More
Animal Crossing is arriving for 3DS in North America next year. The life simulation game will launch a bit earlier, in... Read More
Weirdly enough, download codes will be offered at retail in addition to the eShop Read More
Still no word on the North American version Read More
The latest scoop on the next entry in the Animal Crossing series Read More
Consoles get price cuts all the time. It's a common practice by manufacturers to ensure that their respective systems' cost to consumers is properly Read More
Wii U news has you down about lack of GameCube compatibility? We give you reasons to hold on to that tiny cube of goodness Read More
Dive head-first in the new Animal Crossing title for the Nintendo 3DS. Read More
Nintendo revealed their list of North American launch window releases for the 3DS, although specific dates are being kept under wraps at the moment. Read More
  Ever since I saw the 3DS at E3 2010, I have been buzzing with anticipation for the handheld. Seriously, the device does exactly as it promises, which in itself is an amazing achievement. I'm so excited, that at the age of 23, I'm saving up my pocket change to have enough to buy the device at launch. I'll be lucky if I can afford a game as well. Unfortunately, while we still wait for a North American release date, the Japanese can look forward to a February 26 launch date. Even worse, Nintendo has this semi-annual event called Nintendo World, a Japan-only event where they show off the latest games and hardware. Rubbing salt in the wound, Nintendo is showing off over 30 brand new 3D titles! Sure, only 15 of them are actually playable, and the others are just demos, that's a ton of content to let people play for a fresh console. However, trust me, this thing is hot, and knowing that Nintendo fans in Japan will get to play with these games before we even get a release date is a major drag. Mostly for me. Looking over this list, I do have to say that Paper Mario is the title that most excites me, with the 3D version of Metal Gear Solid 3 and Nintendogs + cats not far off. Of course, the 3D version of Ocarina of Time could be a goodie too. There are so many awesome sounding games! And I can't be the only one to notice that Pokemon Black and White is coming out not long after the rumored March 3DS launch, so maybe there will be some 3DS support inside? And what 3DS games are you excited about? The full demo list is after the jump Read More
Nintendo has updated the official Nintendo World 2011 website to list 32 3DS titles that the public can see for themselves at next month's event in T Read More
Platform Producer, Hideki Konno, explained in an interview with Wired that Nintendo hopes the non-3D features in the 3DS wont be overshadowed. Konno stated what will be working under the hood of some 3DS games and what the device's gyroscope means for motion control gaming. "3D is not the only feature that we are pushing toward with this hardware," said Konno. Just what the 3DS can do, after the break! Read More
Video chat is coming to the world of Pokémon in Pokémon Black & White. This feature will only be available to gamers with the DSi and, once it releases, the 3Ds. Why? They have cameras, of course. Hit the break for more... Read More
It was announced before the show, but we still weren't really sure what to expect. By the time the Nintendo press conference was over and we got our hands on the device -- like everyone else -- we were blown away. The 3D really works and doesn't require glasses or any other kind of trick. On the right side of the unit is a "slider" which allows the player to control the intensity of the 3D. When the slider is turned all the way down the game downgrades to 2D, slide it back up and it reverts to 3D. Click the jump for a bullet pointed run down on all of the 3DS information. Read More
Excitement is high for Nintendo's new handheld following their spectacular E3 press conference. The Nintendo 3DS looks set to be the next big thing in portable entertainment, particularly with a lineup of games like there has been confirmed so far. It's pretty strong. Hit the jump for more. Read More


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- Northern New York Newspapers
- Watertown
- Ogdensburg
- Massena-Potsdam
- Lowville
- Carthage
- Malone
- NNY Business
- NNY Living
- NNY Ads
WADDINGTON The former priest at St. Marys Catholic Church collected what could be more than $100,000 from his parishioners and gave the cash to someone he wrongly was led to believe was in dire financial straits because of a sick child.
Monsignor Robert L. Lawler was duped into giving the money to a person whose name has not been made public, said church officials.
Our understanding is Monsignor Lawler was the victim of a scam that went on for a period of time, said the Rev. Kevin J. OBrien, moderator of the curia for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg. He thought he was assisting someone, but the reason for need appears to have been false.
Father OBrien would not say how many people donated or how much money was involved, and said the diocese is cooperating with state police investigators, who would not comment on the case.
It is my understanding she was hard up and had a child that was really sick, said Edwin E. Sharlow, who was one of the parishioners who donated to the bogus cause.
St. Lawrence County Undersheriff Scott F. Bonno said his office learned of the hoax several months ago.
After a conversation with one of the donors in late winter of last year, Mr. Bonno said he advised members of the church of the possible scam.
I spoke with members of the parish there, their board, to let them know there was possibly something going on, he said. Some of them had given (Monsignor Lawler) money, too.
No one pressed charges and so he said his involvement in the case went no further.
Without a complaint, where do you go? he said. You cant build a court case without witnesses and signed statements.
Mr. Bonno said the investigation started after family members of one of the people who gave money to Monsignor Lawler contacted state police.
He said he was unsure how many people donated or how much money was involved.
Ive heard numbers, and theyre six-figure numbers, he said about the amount of donations given to the priest.
The undersheriff and Mr. Sharlow both said they thought the priest was a victim in the scam.
Obviously, he did this because, in his mind, he was concerned about their well-being and trying to help another member of the community, Mr. Bonno said.
Mr. Sharlow, who would not say how much money he gave to Monsignor Lawler, worries more about the priest he helped than about the money he lost.
Hes been the best person in the world his whole life, and then he tries to help someone and ends up hurting himself, Mr. Sharlow said. In his mind and heart, he really believes to this day he was helping them out. He was doing what he thought was right, and I made a donation to him to help whoever he thought needed help. He gave everything he had. They took advantage of him.
Monsignor Lawler retired July 4 as pastor of St. Marys and St. John the Baptist Church in Madrid, where he also served. The dioceses website lists Monsignor Lawler as a pastor in residence at Notre Dame Church in Ogdensburg. He continues to serve as vicar general and on the diocesan finance council.
Monsignor Lawler was not available for comment, a diocese official said.
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walnut oak aurora lamp
by THE GOOD FLOCK
Men's Size Chart
Product Details
Beautifully handcrafted conical shape wood base lamp. Great for areas with limited space, this lamp looks great on a table but can easily be hung on a wall with a single screw. The lamp is built with a porcelain socket, in-line on/off switch, US cotton covered cord and finished with tung oil for a natural and protective finish. Fitted with plug compatible in North America and Japan.
• 8 feet cord length
• 120V bulb
• measures: 6.5" x 3.0"
• made in Aurora, Oregon


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We'll respond shortly.
(Title: Standup 11/31/2000: Something Interesting from the post)
"Storage free/DB-less ActiveRecord (in Rails 2)?"
This seems to be readily available in Rails 3. For those who would not like to upgrade their projects, the following options have been suggested:
"Restricting ActiveRecord API?"
Sometimes you want extra assurance Bad Things are not being done by the wrong users. Possible solutions to lock permissions and such:


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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres finalized their purchase of the Webster Block Friday, marking another significant step forward for the HARBORcenter project.
Mayor Byron Brown (D-Buffalo) and Cliff Benson, the team's Chief Development Officer, attended a deed-signing ceremony in the atrium of First Niagara Center.
Work has already started on the $172 million multipurpose facility that will sit directly across from the arena in the city's Canalside District. A ground-breaking is expected as soon as next month.
The structure will be anchored by two new ice rinks that will be open for community use by September of 2014, officials said. A 200-room, full-service hotel is expected to open in May of 2015.
Sabres officials would not say who would operate the new hotel, although the Marriott hotel chain has been rasied in connection with the project in the past.
In addition to the ice rinks and hotel, there are plans for a hockey-themed, upscale restaurant and bar, additional retail space and an 850-space parking structure. HARBORcenter will have 18 floors when complete.
Planners anticipate that 500,000 people a year will be visit the new HARBORcenter -- a number greater than the number of fans who attend Buffalo Bills games at Ralph Wilson Stadium in a season, or roughly 1,300 people per day. The project is expected to create 350 new jobs for the area.
The facility will be directly connected to First Niagara Center and the combined structure will be the only three-pad ice complex in the National Hockey League. Additionally, the structure will house a hockey "center of excellence," which will be designed to help grow and develop the sport of hockey in the region.
Bensen said the closest comparison to the sports themed bar and restaurant part of the project, which is hoped to become a downtown favorite, would be the Real Sports Bar and Grill which is located near the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont.


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GAME DAY: WILD AT ISLANDERS, 1 PMGame two of a four game homestand
Steven S, Massapequa Park
If you'd like to see your picture on a gameday post, send it to firstname.lastname@example.com or tweet @schultz88.
Update, 11:00a: Arthur Staple tweets Montoya to start today
It's only one game… It's only one game…
It is certainly irrational to freak out after losing just one of 82 games. If Saturday night had been the 8th, 28th or 68th game of the season no one would have batted an eye. A loss, sure, but in the middle of the season it would be a normal occurrence devoid of any real statement to make about the team, it's destiny or ability.
Taken in context as the first game of the season in front of a raucous home crowd, it's a little different. In the standings, it means the same. One of 82. In the context of opening night, which cannot be ignored, it does raise some questions. Why did they come out so flat? Can they not handle pressure situations? What of the top 3 lines, with Coach Capuano stating that he thought the 4th line was the best?
The answers are probably a combination of a young team with nervous stomachs in the first of hopefully many high pressure situations they will face. You can't fault them for that, the only other night for them that compares to Saturday is the debut of John Tavares on opening night against Pittsburgh two years ago. And now that this one is out of the way, things will get easier. Patience is the name of the game in the six-and-a-half month grind that is the NHL's regular season but the Islanders did get a great opportunity from the scheduling overlords by opening the year with four in a row at home.
The Islanders face the Minnesota Wild at the Coliseum today in a Columbus Day matinee. It's another winnable game at home against a team that missed the playoffs in 2011. With the dynamic Lightning and hated Rangers coming in later this week to complete the four game homestand, the Islanders need to avoid going 0-for-2 with the two toughest games of the homestand ahead. The Wild will be better than the Panthers after adding Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley this off-season and the road ahead only gets tougher.
+ Al Montoya got the surprise start on Saturday night and played well. Regardless of how the rest of the team played, going 27 for 29 with one goal coming on a 5-on-3 where he was completely screened is a good outing for Montoya. That said, give the situation in net I'm sure we'll see someone else in net if not today then certainly by Thursday.
+ On the Isles telecast Saturday night Howie Rose called the crowd the loudest he's heard save for a banner raising. I wouldn't agree with quite that much hyperbole but it was certainly the loudest since a certain playoff series.
+ Check out the 40th anniversary video played on Saturday night.
+ Crowd chant by Long Island's own Joe Satriani is your new goal song. I guess we have to take their word for it because… Uh… With the shutout and all.
+ Reader Eric B. sent in this video of the festivities.
with Ryan Henning from Minnesota Sports blog the Victoria Times and Barry Melrose Rocks
KS: Ryan, can you give us a general outlook for the Wild this season? We're not familar with them here in the east and they've made some serious offensive additions.
RH:After many years of mediocrity, and a lack of a scoring touch, Wild fans are pretty excited to have a scorer and a young offensive prospect in Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi. It's amazing how much that has changed the outlook for Minnesota, if only in public perception. Having Pierre-Marc Bouchard back is also a welcome addition to the team as he gives a little bit of dynamic depth.
Last season, the forwards were pass first, and having three players that are a little more willing to shoot the puck are going to help (in Bouchard's case admittedly very little more willing to shoot). I mean, they scored 4 times last night. A veritable offensive explosion. The defense is fairly young, but Minnesota has always been able to get the most out of defensmen through development, but also because the forwards are generally adept at the back check. I think this season, barring injury, Minnesota should be a little bit more interesting to the casual viewer, and may even claim one of the last spots in the playoffs. Given what a horrible year it's been for Minnesota sports, this would be a welcome change.
KS: A lot of fans on Long Island naturally wanted to grab Eric Nystrom off the waiver wire when he was cut by the Wild. Can you talk a little about Eric and why he didn't make their opening night roster?
RH:If the team is going to move forward and they have the option of bringing a player who is slightly less skilled but significantly younger, they will do so. Guys like 19 year old Brett Bulmer or 22 year old Colton Gillies have a chance to develop into something great. Nystrom's probably near what we could ever expect from him. And it kills me to say that, because he is the same age as I am. We've both peaked.
KS:What are your thoughts on the Islanders this year?
RH:I wish nothing but the best for the Isles this year. Any team that can get under the skin of the Penguins is A-OK in my book. It seems that lately, they have been building the team the right way, investing in youth and building from within, rather than dumping a lot of money into high priced free agents that might block youngsters. A personal favorite for the Islanders is University of Minnesota product Kyle Okposo. I think they might be a year out, but it's probably not much more than that before they become a threat in the Eastern Conference again.


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I, Robert P. Pero, County Clerk-Auditor of Carbon County, State of
Utah, in accordance with Utah Code Section 20A-5-101 do hereby give
notice of offices for which candidates are to be elected and ballot
propositions qualified for the ballot as of this date at the upcoming
General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010.
U.S. Senate One Senator for a six (6) year term.
U.S. House of Representatives. One representative for a two (2) year
term in the Second Congressional District consisting of Carbon,
Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, Piute, Salt
Lake (part), San Juan, Uintah, Utah (part), Wasatch, Washington, and
Wayne Counties.
State Executive. Each position will be elected for a two (2) year
(1) Governor
(2) Lieutenant Governor
House of Representatives. One (1) member from District Sixty-Seven
(67) Carbon County, to include Voting Districts Scofield No. 2, East
Helper No. 7, West Helper No. 21, Fairgrounds No. 27, Spring Glen No.
37, Carbonville No. 38, and Westwood No. 39, and
One (1) member from District Sixty-Nine (69) Carbon County, to
include Voting Districts Wellington South No. 15, Indian Hills No. 16,
East Price No. 17, South Price No. 18, Wellington North No. 19,
Sunnyside No. 20, East County No. 22, East Carbon North No. 25, East
Carbon South No. 26, Castle Heights North No. 30, Central Price No.
31, Northeast Price No. 32, North Price No. 33, Castle Heights No. 34,
South County No. 36, and Miller Creek Special No. 40, each for a two
(2) year term.
Board of Education
State Board of Education. One (1) member for a four (4) year term
from the following State Board of Education Districts: District
Fourteen (14) located in Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield,
Grand, Kane, Piute, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Uintah and Wayne
Local School Boards. One (1) member for a four (4) year term from
each of the following local school districts: District No. 4 and
District No. 5; District 4 to include Castle Heights, Castle Heights
North, North Price and Northeast Price. District 5 to include
Wellington North and south, East County, East Carbon North and South.
Court of Appeals. There will be an unopposed retention election for
one (1) Court of Appeals Judge for a term of six (6) years provided
that the incumbent whose term is expiring files during the filing
District Court. There will be a retention election for two (2)
Judges for a term of six (6) years in the Seventh Judicial District,
which consists of Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan Counties provided
the incumbent(s) whose terms are expiring file during the filing
Justice Court Judge There shall be subject to an unopposed retention
election in Carbon County and Wellington City, one (1) justice court
judge for a term of six (6) years and also Helper City and East Carbon
one (1) justice court judge each for a term of six (6) years in which
the court to which the judge is appointed is located and provided that
the incumbent(s) whose term is expiring files during the filing
One (1) County Commissioner for a term of four (4) years.
One (1) County Commissioner/Surveyor for a term of four (4) years.
One (1) County Attorney for a term of four (4) years.
One (1) County Clerk/Auditor for a term of four (4) years.
One (1) County Treasurer for a term of four (4) years.
One (1) County Assessor for a term of four (4) years.
One (1) County Recorder for a term of four (4) years.
One (1) County Sheriff/Constable for a term of four (4) years.
Ballot Proposition
H.J.R. 8 (2009 General Session) Resolution Regarding Secret
2010 Filing Fees
U.S. Senate $1,305.00
U.S. House of Representatives $435.00
Governor $268.00*
Lieutenant Governor $254.60*
Utah Senator $26.30
Utah House of Representatives $13.20
State Board of Education $15.00
Justice and Court of Record Judge $50.00
County Offices 0.00125 X Term of Office X Annual Salary
Justice Court Judge $25.00
Local School District Board $25.00
*Half filing fee listed based on 2 year term requirement
The Declaration of Candidacy filing period for these offices shall
begin on Friday, March 12, 2010, and ends at 5:00 p.m., Friday, March
19, 2010 at the office of the Carbon County Clerk, Courthouse
Building, 120 East Main, Price Utah. All National, State and Local
offices are required to file at the office of the Lieutenant Governor,
State Capitol Building, Salt Lake City Utah, on the same dates or in
the County Clerk's office in their county of residence.
DATED this 10th day of February, 2010.
s/ Robert P. Pero
Carbon County Clerk-Auditor
Published in the Sun Advocate February 11, 2010.


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I'm looking for a new pack for our 2010 trek and was considering the Ohm, but was wondering if it would be big enough for a Philmont trek. I've been moving toward lightweight and while I'm not quite there yet, I will be by Philmont. My current base weight is around 18 lbs, but I targeting sub 15 lbs by next year.We're planning on using very little of the Philmont gear (only bear bags), following a lot of the ideas on BPL. Thanks to Doug Prosser and others for all the knowledge sharing.I know a Circuit would work well, but I'm concerned that it will be too big a pack for overnigters or other short trips after Philmont. It doesn't seem like it's able to reduce volume for smaller loads.Thanks in advance,Gregg
Edited by gmartell on 07/23/2009 23:40:41 MDT.
I wouldn't think the Ohm would have enough room for your share of troop gear, and food. Maybe it would. But I doubt it.
Gregg,Just got back on July 10th. I used a Catalyst which worked great for Trek 25. Both my sons used them too. My oldest used one for Trek 30. Mine was about 33 lbs. leaving base camp; 18 pounds total upon returning. I think the Ohm is probably a little small. Catalyst is probably a little big but worked great. At times with food and 6 liters of water it was filled to the top.Glenn
I think the OHM would bee too small. Of note, the Circuit is really not THAT big for use after as a 'day pack.' The main bag is 2400 cubes not using the extension collar and the front pocket is elasticized so stays flat against the pack when not in use. It compresses quite well as well so can effectively be used as a smaller volume load carrier without issue (IMHO).Go for the Circuit.
Gregg, you'll have to try it out with your own gear. Brian Frankle is a very helpful guy. You might just see how you could exchange the pack if it doesn't fit. Based on my experience the Ohm might work. But the Circuit is a sure thing.I carried a ULA P-1 on a prior trek, 2,450 cubic inches in the pack bag. It's a very close match to the Circuit. I never had to use the extension collar at all. We had guys carry the Circuit on the prior trek and this year as well. They worked very well. No one had issues with volume.If you're lightening your gear below 12 pounds you should be fine. You also have to think about the crew gear -- dining fly, stoves, pots, first aid, etc. Has the crew also lightened the shared load and its volume? What about your tent? Are you using a lightweight down sleeping bag?The food is high volume. That is a bit harder to test.Finally, this year I carried a Gossamer Gear Mariposa Plus - 2,800 c.i. in the pack bag. Again, I had plenty of room in the bag. I think that I could use an even smaller pack. But your mileage may vary.
I have never seen or worn an Ohm, however, I used a GG Mariposa Plus on my trek last year. The Mariposa Plus has 2,800 cubic inches in the main compartment and including the outside pockets it has a total of 3,600 cu. My base weight before food and water was 12 lbs. which included any group gear I had, such as a 4 qt. pot, stove and a bear bag.Your pack choice will alsol depend upon how much troop gear you take. We all went lightweight and besides the our own tarp, 2 pots, bear bags, ropes and the never used Philmont issued Frisbee, we were pretty much hiking like we usually do.To me, food and water are the main issues. Food at Philmont is heavy and more importantly, BULKY. Nonetheless, even with a 4 day resupply I never filled my pack main compartment to the top. If I were to buy a new pack for Philmont I would buy a Gossamer Gear Gorilla just because it is a paired down version of what I already have.I think I would still have room in my pack. As far as using an Ohm you just need to make sure your base weight is low enough so that you can handle the heavy resupply days.It also depends upon how bulky your items such as tent, sleeping bag and pad are. If they are real bulky you may run out of room. I used a Montbell SS#5, Torsolite (which does not go inside the pack), GG The One and a Polycro groundsheet. Few, clothes, toiletries, etc.I never ran out of space and was always comfortable.Good Luck
Thanks to everybody for the info, which confirmed what I was thinking - an Ohm was probably small for Philmont. As far as compressability goes, Dave Ure pointed out the main bag is 2400 cubic inches which is pretty good. I guess I didn't catch that when looking the ULA web site. I've ordered a Circuit as I see Brian is going to be off hiking from August to December. I've got two weeks to return it if the "walking around the house test" doesn't work out.Gear thoughts: We're pushing the crew on lighter gear but we have several families with more than one person going, so the trek costs alone are a big factor in what they can afford in gear. The big items were pushng to lighten up on are tents, sleeping bags and packs if they don't already own one. To minimize crew gear weight we're bring our own sil dining tarp, bear bags and Amsteel Blue rope. We still exploring cooking options, but we will not use Philmont cooking gear.Gregg
Got back 10 days ago. I used a Golite Odyssey, a 90 liter pack. We had some small boys who couldn't pack a lot of the troop gear and we took some weight off our 2 oldest advisors. I needed the room of the Odyssey, at least on day 1 & 5 when we were hauling 4 days food. Your crew may be able to spread the load around more evenly but I would think you'd still need at least a 75 liter pack.The food is very bulky and no real way to reduce that. The suppers are awful tasting by the way. Bad enough that I was quickly dreaming of Vienna sausages and Beanie-weanies.Under no circumstances use the Phil-tents. They take forever to set up, take 14 stakes to do it right, and weigh at least 10lbs.
I've used a Catalyst on 3 treks, great pack w/ sufficient capacity to carry your share of crew gear and 3 or 4 days of food.Unless you're a superultralight'er, I don't think a pack with much less capacity will work: The food and crew gear can alone swamp most smaller packs.Good luck,Mike
A Circuit might work. I used my Catalyst on a 4 day group trip in Northern NM a few weeks ago, and the size was handy(had lots of group stuff and food). But I'm thinking it would have all fit in my Circuit.
Edited by skinewmexico on 07/27/2009 15:39:00 MDT.
Hi,I've worked at Philmont as a Ranger, Rayado Ranger, Ranger Trainer, and ROCS instructor. It has been my experience that large capacity packs work best for all applications. Outside of the ranch on week long hikes or on the Colorado Trail I carry a ULA Conduit or Granite gear Vapor Trail, but on the ranch its back to the Dana Designs redirect at about five pounds. The Om will be too small. The Cataylst is a great pack and I've seen many people use it with success without having to radically change their, or their crew's gear. If you plan to climb baldy it works as a gear day pack when compressed. Be sure to take your chap stick out of the hip pocket before you hang your smellables as this is a common mistake with this pack. In all it will probably be cheaper to replace the pack and take less stuff than to re-buy a super light kit of gear. If you are concerned about the pack being too large after philmont, just pack your gear in a less compressed manor. I find a larger less dense pack much more comfortable than a tiny dense one. Looking at earlier posts I saw that you plan on taking your own bear rope. I don't speak for the ranch on this but, they will probably ask you to use their bear ropes. Take yours but be ready to use the provides cord. In recent years they have softened on the cooking policies, but make sure everyone in the crew has the specialty methods down. It has always been difficult to mediate the official methods with ultralight ones. The number of staff practicing light weight methods has grown exponentially and with NOLS teaching a light class, I would not be surprised to see changes to the official policies in the near future.I hope you have a great trek and let me know if I could help out any email@example.com needs a Philmont consultant, don't you think. I'm jobless and knowledgeable, they should give me a job!Nick
We did Philmont trek 18 in June. I carried a ULA Ohm and it worked great. Used a prolite 3 short pad folded inside for back support, had a summerlite, shared a tent ( I carried 3lbs of tent - it was not lightweight). We used their bear bags and rope and our canister stoves. Left base camp with 30 pounds including 2L of water and an unexpected 5 days of food. Still had room in the back mesh pocket. Came off the trail at 20 pounds in my pack, no water and only a few snacks. The ohm worked great, carried like a dream. Used it for day hikes and resupply side hikes as well.
Brian made one last Ohm before his 2 month vacation. One of my leaders carried it on Trek 32. Another leader carried a Circuit as did 3 of the boys. Another leader had a Catalyst.Oh, I carried a Conduit. . . . Never crossed 20 lbs except when hauling water to a dry camp.Crew gear was pared down to 2 pounds for each crew member (including tents, Cloudburst 2's and Squall 2's by Henry Shires). We were stopped multiple times and asked how we could carry such little packs. Thanks Henry and Brian for all your help outfitting our crew!
2 pounds of crew gear. That's too cool.
The OHM is rated at 3200 cu inches.I took a 3200 cu inch Osprey pack to Philmont and had more than enough room. I would have taken a smaller, lighter pack except for the need to carry water for a dry camp and the adult requirement to have enough room in your pack to off load those in need, for example in case of injury. My pack weighed 19 pounds on day one with 2 liters of water and 4 days of Philmont food. For common gear, I carried a stove and fuel and the means to brew fresh Peets coffee daily.The real question is whether the rated 12 pound load of the OHm will suit your needs.In reference to all the complaints above about the Philmont food, I would judge the food mediocre rather than "awful" although there were many breakfast and lunch items that I found inedible, these you leave behind or trade at the commissaries.I also carried a couple of oranges and one apple, and a collection of spices to augment the meals.On bear ropes and bear bags, I was a bit shocked at the damage to the forest floor and to the trees used to affix the ropes that was occuring around some of the bear cables. I asked one staff member if Philmont had ever considered building bear boxes or using portable bear cannisters, and from the response I got it was clear that the staff member had no experience using either type of device. While the BSA is officially committed to Leave No Trace, there is room for improvement at Philmont.
The OHM is rated to 3200 cubes but the main bag is 2400. The rest comes from the side and front pockets, nad an extension collar. It sure seems smaller than 3200 cubes....
Depends on your gear, but I carried 7 days of food + sleeping and cooking equipment for two persons and still had much room left in my Ohm. I even had my sleeping pad inside as back padding. It was a summer trip tho.
A few months ago I posted what I thought to be a fair piece of advice for what type of light pack on a philmont trek. To my surprise many people came forward claiming to have used the Ohm or Circuit for their treks. Great. I believe light gear can and will change the way the ranch is run and managed and I hope to hear more stories of fun injury free treks. Having to have carried one too many injured adults scouts out of the backcountry leads me to believe that lighter pack could mean a much smaller health lodge (hospital) in base camp. This being said, unless your CREW takes a light approach, bringing a low volume pack can be counter to crew building. Showing off a light weight approach belongs on training hikes. The Philmont experience, so often spoken about, is grounded in an ethical approach to the crew dynamic. By ethical, I refer to Levinas' notion of "assuming responsibility for the Other".While carrying a small pack lets one remain injury free and comfortable, it does little for the others in the crew and thus runs counter to a "crew" mentality. Being the one guy with the tiny pack in a crew was the position I took as a first year ranger in 2002 when I rarely carried more than 20 lbs in a pack smaller than the Ohm. The approach garnered awe, but cast me as the other or outsider and made being relatable to the crew I was leading difficult.A few more cubic inches of volume than you need at home with loosely packed lightweight load can make the difference between having people stop you to take a picture of your tiny backpack or being able to take on more weight for a struggling 110 pound 14 year old with a pack that weighs 55 pounds. Awe is great, but common respect is much more gratifying.NIck
Edited by nicksafley on 11/01/2009 12:34:17 MST.
Nick,I do believe that crew building is an important aspect of Philmont, however, I do not think a kid or adult that has prepared beforehand to carry a lighter load has to carry the same weight as the rest of the crew (if that is how I understand your post). We arrived at Philmont a day early due to train schedules so we had some time to burn. We hung out around the scale and watched the many 55-65 lb. packs being weighed. Occasionally, we would see a kid with a 35 lb. pack and give applause. One kid came in with I think was 32 lbs. which is lightweight for Philmont. He was quite pleased. However, a few minutes later one of the adult leaders came back and weighed his pack. He was quite upset and said "This is not right, the rest of the boys have heavy packs and he is not carrying his fair share. We'll take care of that" I was totally blown away. This kid took his packing seriously and now he was being penalized.My feeling is that if the kid is already carrying "his fair share" of crew gear he should not be penalized further. If the crew had 22 lbs. of crew gear to spread out amongst the kids then they should all carry an equal load; not an amount to equalize pack weights. Philmont literature does lip service to packing lightly. This kid did it. He should be able to carry the load he packed plus troop gear and that's it. If I were that kid I would be seriously PO'd.
Scott,I think you are completely correct that the pack weights should not be totally equalized. Even Philmont policy states that you should carry no more than 30% of your total weight. I think this percentage is the closest to a maximum healthy load. For me the max I could carry would be 55 lbs. (1/3 of 165lbs) My point, convoluted though it may be, is that equalizing pack weight is not necessary. A close range to some proportional load is ideal. More important, and more in relation to the beginning of this thread, is the question of pack volume. By simply having a loosely packed light load one can easily aid those crew members that are having difficulty with their equitable load. This gives the crew flexibility. Having the lowest volume pack that is tailored to you ulltralight load doesn't give this flexibility.Thanks for writing me back. This was an issue much discussed among some of us working in the Ranger and Conservation departments at the ranch. It is nice to hear feed back to what has been an internal discussion among some staff members.NIck
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