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Zulgad's Roundup: Projection doesn't see good days ahead for Vikings
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The moves made by Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman this offseason have left little doubt this organization is in the midst of a rebuilding project.
In the NFL, of course, the expectation is that retooling doesn't have to take many years.
The San Francisco 49ers, for instance, went from 6-10 in 2010 (same record as the Vikings that season) to 13-3 and NFC West champions in 2011.
But with the Vikings coming off a 3-13 finish in 2011, at least one national publication doesn't seem to see things getting better anytime soon.
ESPN's future power rankings for the NFL, which were recently released and attempt to evaluate every franchise in certain categories looking to the 2015 season, rank the Vikings 31st out of 32 teams.
The only team the Vikings are ahead of is the Cleveland Browns.
The Vikings, by the way, are expected to spend that season playing outdoors at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus while the team's new stadium is being completed on the site of the Metrodome.
ESPN's categories to project the future of each franchise include roster, quarterback, draft, front office and coaching. Each category is given a percentage with the roster making up 32.5 percent, the quarterback 17.5 percent, the draft 15 percent, the front office 15 percent and coaching 20 percent.
Former NFL general manager Bill Polian helped in the process and then stepped away as four of ESPN's other NFL experts evaluated every franchise in each category. The experts included Mel Kiper, Trent Dilfer, Gary Horton and Matt Williamson.
The Vikings scored a total of only 38.81 points out of 100, while the Browns had 38.69 points.
The Vikings roster and coaching got only 3.5 points apiece on a scale of one to 10, with the quarterback getting 3.75 points, the draft 4 points and front office 5.25 points.
The quarterback assessment for the Vikings and Christian Ponder was written by Dilfer, a former NFL quarterback who was very critical of Ponder after the Vikings' made him the 12th-overall pick in the 2011 draft.
"Chrisitian Ponder looked like a rookie last year," Dilfer wrote. "He has a good set of tools, but there are legit questions about his ceiling. He has some odd tendencies, such as a great ability to throw on the run, but pocket pressure really hampers him. He'll need to show development or Minny could be back to square one."
Meanwhile, ESPN sees much better things for some of the Vikings' NFC North rivals.
The Green Bay Packers rank atop the 2015 rankings with a score of 87.25 points., and the Detroit Lions have 74.44 points to place sixth. The Chicago Bears are 17th with 59.88 points.
The rest of the top 10 behind the Packers includes the New England Patriots (85.38 points), the New York Giants (81.13), the 49ers (78.43), the Pittsburgh Steelers (77.94), the Lions, the Philadelphia Eagles (74.00), the New Orleans Saints (72.88), the Houston Texans (71.88) and the Baltimore Ravens (70.44).
The bottom 10 teams are the Tennessee Titans (55.75), the St. Louis Rams (50.94), the Kansas City Chiefs (49.31), the Arizona Cardinals (48.88), the Indianapolis Colts (47.50), the Miami Dolphins (44.75), the Oakland Raiders (41.38), the Jacksonville Jaguars (39.56), and the Vikings and Browns.
Limited expectations
The Vikings' over-under total for victories in 2012 is six, according to Cantor Gaming.
That group is the first major sports book to release its NFL over/under for wins this coming season.
The Packers and Patriots are atop the list with an over-under of 12, which is two more than any other team.
The Lions, meanwhile, are at 9.5 and the Bears are at 8.5
New group to oversee stadium
Five appointed members will make up the new Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, according to the Associated Press.
The group, which will play an instrumental role in the construction of the Vikings' new stadium, will be named by mid-June and will be picked by Gov. Mark Dayton and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.
Dayton will name the chairman and two members, according to the AP report, and Rybak will name the other two.
Among the authorities responsibilities will be keeping the construction process on budget - the project is targeted at $975 million - and completing the 30-year lease that will be signed by the Vikings.
The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which oversaw the Metrodome, will be absorbed by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority.
Getting to work
The Vikings will hold Organized Team Activities starting Tuesday at Winter Park.
The offseason program has been ongoing and includes the majority of players, but this will give the team a chance to get on the field and begin the type of installation work that wasn't possible last spring and summer because of the NFL lockout.
One of the newcomers who will be a popular target during media access on Wednesday will be kicker Blair Walsh, who was taken in the sixth round of the April draft.
Walsh was in attendance at the Vikings rookie minicamp, but the media talked to him before the club decided to cut ties with veteran Ryan Longwell.
Walsh went from being a guy who might have been expected to learn behind Longwell, and perhaps compete, to a guy who now is the clear-cut favorite to handle all the kicking duties on opening day.
That should be interesting considering Walsh has a big leg but missed 14 of 35 field-goal attempts as a senior, including 14 from 40 yards and beyond.
Signing draft picks is not expected to be an issue for the Vikings, who like other teams have a much easier system to work within when it comes to rookie contracts now that there is a new collective bargaining agreement in place.
So far the Vikings have signed seven of their 10 selections. Only first-round picks Matt Kalil, the left tackle from Southern Cal, and Harrison Smith, the safety from Notre Dame, and third-round cornerback Josh Robinson of Central Florida are unsigned.


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Chicago Bulls v Atlanta Hawks
Parole chiave
Ivan Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Nazr Mohammed and... Foto di attualitàAtlanta,Atlanta Hawks - Squadra di basket,Basket,Basket - NBA Pro,Chicago Bulls,Composizione orizzontale,Drive - Termine sportivo,Georgia,Ivan Johnson - Basketball Player,NBA,Nazr Mohammed,Philips Arena,Sport,Stati Uniti d'America,Taj GibsonPhotographer Kevin C. CoxCollection: Getty Images Sport 2012 Getty ImagesATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 22: Ivan Johnson #44 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Nazr Mohammed #48 and Taj Gibson #22 of the Chicago Bulls at Philips Arena on December 22, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

subset: commoncrawl


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Hydrangea Cottage
from £60 /night help Price for guests, Nights approx:
7 reviews
from £60 /night help Price for guests, Nights approx:
Estimated nightly price based on a weekly stay. Excludes fees (if applicable). Enter your dates to see the total cost.
House / 3 bedrooms / sleeps 6 Home 150717
Availability Your dates are available
House / 3 bedrooms / sleeps 6
|Key Info
Located in the centre of Seaton this makes the perfect base for exploring the World Heritage Site of the Jurassic Coast, the unique birdwatching environment of the Axe Marshes or just enjoying the clean, gently shelving pebble beach. Other local attractions include Seaton Tramway, Pecorama Model Railway and the picturesque fishing village of Beer. The long flat promenade is perfect for a stroll by the seaside or you can always pop over to the neighbouring towns of Sidmouth and Lyme Regis for rockpooling or fossil-hunting.
As locals ourselves we do our very best to make Hydrangea Cottage a "home from home" for you and are very willing to provide any further local information that would help you plan your stay.
|Sleeps up to 6, 3 bedrooms
|3 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms of which 1 Family bathrooms
|Nearest beach
|Seaton 300 m
|Car advised
|Nearest Amenities
|100 m
|Nearest travel links
|Nearest airport: Exeter 40 km, Nearest railway: Axminster 14 km
|Family friendly
|Great for children of all ages
|No pets allowed, No smoking at this property
Features and Facilities
|DVD player
|Central heating, TV, CD player, Wi-Fi available
|Kettle, Toaster, Iron, Hair dryer
|Clothes dryer, Cooker, Microwave, Fridge, Freezer, Washing machine
|Double beds (1), Single beds (4), Cots (1), Dining seats for 8, Lounge seats for 7
|Linen provided, Towels provided, High chair
|Private garden
|Parking, Not suitable for wheelchair users
|Further details indoors
- Complete interior refit for 2011 to a high standard including kitchen and bathroom
- Downstairs is laminated-floored, upstairs is carpeted
- Well-equipped kitchen with double oven and washer-dryer
- Spacious and airy
- Coal-effect gas fire in lounge to supplement central heating during winter months
|Further details outdoors
There is a small sheltered patio to the rear framed by wooden trellising with a bistro table and two chairs. Car port to the rear with room for a large family car and space for prams/bikes/surfboards.
The Devon region
Devon has long been a favourite destination for tourists with its beautiful coastline and dramatic inland Moors. The World Heritage SIte of the Jurassic Coast stretches along East Devon and West Dorset with its unique fossil bearing geology and there are numerous Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty within easy reach.
If you want to venture out for a day trip the Cathedral City of Exeter and the Dartmoor National Park are within easy reach by car.
The stunning coastline of Lyme Bay provides a variety of both pebble and sand beaches for sea swimming, walking and birdwatching. The imposing Edwardian seafront of Sidmouth and the striking scenery of the Lyme Regis Cobb which inspired Jane Austen and John Fowles are also close by.
Seaton, Devon
Seaton itself has a long flat promenade for strolls with a number of cafes, pubs and restaurants and an interesting and varied selection of independent shops. Axe Cliff Golf Club with its beautiful cliff top course and Seaton Tennis and Bowls clubs welcome visitors. There are a good variety of children's play areas and the main public park slopes down to the sea front.
You may also like to visit the unique electric tramway which also gives marvellous views for birdwatching in the Axe Estuary or see the Model Railway Centre at Pecorama. The neighbouring pretty fishing village of Beer has many excellent restaurants, tea shops and galleries and also in the local area are the nationally renowned restaurants, River Cottage H Q & Canteen and Hix's Oyster House.
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7 Apr 2013
"Wonderful, clean, child friendly accommodation!"
We visited Seaton with our two young Grandsons age 2 & 3 and this was a perfect home from home. Spotlessly clean, very spacious and everything you need for young children is there, including toys. The house is within easy walking distance to the beach, a playpark, cafe's and local shops. We travelled to Seaton to visit Pecorama and this was the perfect base. The owners couldn't have been more helpful and there was a lovely touch of a cream tea and a bottle of wine waiting for us on arrival. We will definitely stay here again:-) Highly recommended.
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The UC Alumni Association is your primary means of staying connected with the more than 275,000 alumni living across the United States and throughout the world.
This connection can pay real dividends for you – easing the transition to a new city or country, catching up with old friends, seeking career and professional advice, or just keeping up with goings-on at your alma mater.
And we make it easy, with social media portals, events, publications and all other manner of communications and connection points. If you have other suggestions, by all means let us know! We're here to serve you.


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By MELANIE STEELEStaff Reporter
East Carbon and Sunnyside fire fighters recently joined efforts to educate Petersen Elementary students on the dangers of fire and the importance of being prepared.
Many sponsors from the area chipped in to make the day memorable for the youth.
One student from each grade won a bicycle and every youngster received a bike helmet and a fire safety activity bag.
As part of the day's educational activities, the emergency personnel from the two cities went over the basic procedures of fire safety with the elementary school participants.
"You kind of drill it into their heads," said fireman Jake Taylor.
The students were able to see a full-dressed fireman and hear the individual's voice while on the respirator.
Sunnyside Chief Bill Jackson said, by exposing children to fire fighters in full gear, the youngsters learn not to be afraid in an emergency situation.
Students had an opportunity to put their knowledge into practice in the Utah Fire Marshal's Life Safety House.
The safety house is a portable trailer set up like a home and filled with examples of fire hazards.
Peterson students were able to tour the trailer and identify household items that are dangerous such as an exposed wire, a gun, hot containers of food on a stove and a curling iron in a sink.
The specially equipped trailer was filled with fake smoke and the children were able to practice a fire-drill, remembering to stay low and crawl to the nearest exit.
In addition to the presentations, the students worked with parents to make maps of their homes and review exits and meeting places in case of an emergency.
Volunteers man the Sunnyside and East Carbon fire departments. Sunnyside has 15 volunteers and East Carbon has 12.
"We don't get paid but when you get the kids coming up and giving you a hug, it pays for your day," pointed out training officer Earl Halton.
The departments hope the annual presentation will help kids to be better prepared in an fire situation.
"It's just a good thing," concluded Chief Jackson. "If you could save one life, it's well worth it."


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Producing a well-contrasted picture is perhaps the most important task any television can tackle, and the Samsung LN52A750 ($3,999.99 list) delivered the best contrast results we've encountered in an LCD HDTV. This 52-inch set's out-of-the-box color quality was outstanding, and it handled standard and high-definition video well by preserving fine detail while minimizing distracting image artifacts. Throw in a useful selection of network-enabled multimedia features and an excellent set of picture controls, and the LN52A750 adds up to one of the most capable TVs we've seen.
Read the full review: Samsung LN52A750


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Friday, May 14, 2010
© Copyright 2015 Gwinnett Daily Post
ATLANTA -- Georgia has joined a lawsuit challenging a new federal health care law.
Gov. Sonny Perdue said Friday that an amended complaint was filed Friday that added Georgia to the 19 other states suing to find the law unconstitutional.
Perdue said the recently enacted health care law ''will exact a huge cost on our state and curtail our economic growth.''
Georgia is being represented by Frank C. Jones as Special Attorney General after Attorney General Thurbert Baker refused to sue on behalf of the state. Baker said the state lacked a viable legal claim.
The lawsuit was originally filed in federal court in the Northern District of Florida on March 23 just after President Barack Obama signed the measure into law.
More like this story
- Georgia governor to name special AG for health lawsuit ( March 25, 2010 )
- Perdue to name special AG for health suit ( March 25, 2010 )
- STATE IN BRIEF: Nathan Deal disputes ethics allegations ( March 30, 2010 )
- Perdue: AG should sue over voting checks ( April 8, 2010 )
- Georgia AG refuses to sue over voter checks ( April 22, 2010 )


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Please check your email inbox for a confirmation message.
Just click the link to complete your subscription and receive your coupon codes.
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Early Warning Signs
As part of Ellie Harrison's residency at Two Degrees festival at Artsadmin in London from 12th - 18th June 2011, four of these special signs were produced and placed out along London's Commercial Street. Utilising the brazen marketing techniques of capitalism, the signs attempt to grab the attention of passers-by; to remind them of the consequences of excessive consumption and to force climate change back onto the agenda. The harder the wind blows, the faster they go!
Adopt a Sign
Whilst in residence, Ellie thought long-and-hard about the environmental compromise of producing such material-heavy permanent signs for the sake of a one week festival (this is detailed in her guest text for the Artsadmin website). She felt it important for the festival's (and her own) integrity, that the signs be allowed to continue to promote their cause long into the future and so she decided to launch this life-long campaign to find suitable arts organisations to 'adopt' them on a year-by-year basis, continuing indefinitely into the future.
- Are you part of an arts organisation / gallery that would like to be seen to be actively acknowledging climate change?
- Would you like to help create awareness / discussion about climate change in your local area?
- Then why not take responsibility for one of the four signs by committing to display it in an outdoor public location at / near your venue for one year
The sign will be delivered to your site free-of-charge on the following conditions:
- the sign must be displayed publicly (preferable on the street) for at least one year following its delivery
- the sign must be 'put out' on display during all days / hours that the organisation is open
- the organisation must take responsibility for the sign's safety, stability and security during this time
- at the end of the year, the organisation must pay for the cost of delivering the sign to another organisation in the UK so that the project can continue
Venues for 2012
The four host venues for the first year of the project are:
- Site Gallery, 1 Brown Street, Sheffield
- Dundee Contemporary Arts, 152 Nethergate, Dundee
- Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
- The Hidden Gardens, Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, Glasgow
Venues for 2013
Applications to adopt a sign for the second year of the project have now closed. The four host venues are:
- Eastside Projects, 86 Heath Mill Lane, Birmingham
- Castlefield Gallery & Lionel Dobie Project, Hewitt Street, Manchester
- Space Station Sixty-Five, Building One, 373 Kennington Road, London
- Travelling Gallery, Edinburgh (and various locations throughout Scotland)
To Apply for 2014
Please email the following information to firstname.lastname@example.com with 'Early Warning Signs' as subject:
1. your full name, address and organisation
2. a sentence explaining why you would like the sign
3. a photo of the proposed location for the sign
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 31st October 2013
Further Reference
- Images of Early Warning Signs
- Video of Early Warning Signs on Vimeo
- Ellie's guest text on Artsadmin website
- Download PDF of text
- Interview with Ellie Harrison for This Is Tomorrow
Other Projects
- High Street Casualties: Ellie Harrison's Zombie Walk
- Dark Days
- After the Revolution, Who Will Clean Up the Mess?
- The Global Race
- Transition Community of One
- Attempt at an Inventory...
- Anti-Capitalist Aerobics
- The Other Forecast
- The Redistribution of Wealth
- The End Product
- Austerity & Anarchy
- Fair Game
- Early Warning Signs
- A Brief History of Privatisation
- The History of Revolution: Ellie Harrison's Fireworks Display
- Press Release
- General Election Drinking Game
- Toytown
- Vending Machine
- The History of Financial Crises
- Transactions
- Know Your Thinkers & Theorists
- Angel Row Jukebox
- Self-Destruction (Building Site Ballot)
- I've Been Watching You
- Daily Data Display Room
- Daily Data Display Wall
- Sneezes 2003
- The Monthly Sculptures Determined by the Daily Quantification Records
- Gold Card Adventures
- Statistics Are Hot Air
- TicTac Typing & Peanut Typing
- Mass = Energy = Time
- Potential Generator
- Kinetic Cake vs Kinetic Carrot


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By Zolton in New Art on Tuesday 21 June 2011
Some people have too much time on their hands. Either that or this was an opportunity just too good to pass up. Regardless of the motivation, this street assembled iPod is pretty damn rad.
Read more
Share your favourite cultural finds with the Lost At E Minor community and become famous in the process. Well, kinda.
by Rachel Oakley
by Inigo del Castillo
© 2015 Lost at E Minor | Image Attribution | Privacy Policy


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A reader sent this:
Summorum Pontificum Wangaratta (Victoria Australia) now has Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month at 5pm in Delaney Chapel, St. Patrick's Wangaratta. See blog for more info. www.wlms.blogspot.com
A reader sent this:
Summorum Pontificum Wangaratta (Victoria Australia) now has Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month at 5pm in Delaney Chapel, St. Patrick's Wangaratta. See blog for more info. www.wlms.blogspot.com
Wonderful news!
If every parish had such a group we'd be so much better off.
You realize, of course, that the TLM is slightly different Down Under:
V. Dominus vobiscum, g'day
R. Et cum spirituo tuo, mate
V. Oi, auxilium nostrum in nomen Domini
R. Qui faecit caelum et Foster's
(end ecclesiastical silliness)
No-one drinks Foster's DownUnder… Every Aussie knows that…
In Wang… the drink of choice is a Bundy & Cola.
It seems we have a reputation for being a pack of boozers and wallys WONDERFUL!!
Come to Wang and I promise a beer for all those who want one…after Mass of course ;)
to pick up on Steve's comment…
"If every parish had such a group we'd be so much better off."
…and it is not that difficult to do.
1. set up a blogspot (good looking one)posting propers for every Sunday and Holy day.
2. send link to it to Bishop and all diocesan priests
3. send link to all other 'Traditional Mass' groups
4. Make sure all PP's of diocese and Bishop has copy of Summorum Pontificum (send them one anyway).
5. Visit local PP and bishop – they know about the society and SP by now. Request a regular Sunday mass. Ask the bishop to help you to organise the Mass.
6. If the only priest in the diocese prepared to come and say the mass lives a long way away, pass the hat around and pay him to come. If only once.
7. Advertise the Mass in local newspaper and send in well written press releases to local media and any church bulletins or gazettes, along with copies of Summorum Pontificum.
8. Write or email fitting 'thankyou's' to all involved if Mass is achieved ie. Bishop, PP for permission to use his church. Take photos and spread them around. Write report of Mass and send photos with it to media above.
9. Be persistent, Never give up – you've got nothing to loose and the Mass to gain.
10 Pray.
"Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon must inevitably come to pass."…with God's help.
Excellent news, that's been worked for I know for years – if only here in Tasmania we could get a EF Mass more than once a month; if only there were such in Launceston and not solely in Hobart!
St. Gregory Nazianzus
ep. 131 - AD 382
Raymond Card. Burke
And check out the stunning FULL SIZE altar cards HERE. I have a set on my altar.
See my post about the Domus Australia HERE
- St. John Paul II
- Basil of Caesarea - ep. 243
- Sean McCabe @seanwes
- C.S. Lewis
- Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137, 176
- Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, 1824. ME 16:73
- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
- Anonymous"Father John Zuhlsdorf is a crank"
- Michael Sean Winters
- Edmund Burke
Visits tracked by Statcounter since Sat., 25 Nov. 2006:


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Baltimore vs. Kansas City, 07/25/2013 20:10 EDT, Score: 1 - 7
Money Line: -123 Baltimore
Sportsbook: Bet365
Result: Loss
BAL -125: huge pitching advantage for Orioles today as Miguel Gonzalez has only given up 3 runs over last 18 inning (3 starts), Guthrie on the other hand has given up 10 runs in last two starts. Orioles bats break out the big sticks as we win big. BLOWOUT Here 5 star play
« Back


text: It's time to stop dreaming and start driving a race primed stock car on an official NASCAR race track. A day at Talladega Superspeedway puts you in the driving seat and tests your high speed driving skills to the limits. Driving highly tuned stock cars as used by the stars of NASCAR, this a once in a lifetime opportunity to burn some serious rubber. For the complete NASCAR style driving experience on a super slick race track look no further than this.


text:
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
Summary of National Dialogue Session with EPA COOP Planners
Kansas City, Kansas
March 26, 2008
A National Dialogue session was held in EPA's Kansas City regional office during a meeting of EPA's COOP (Continuity of Operations Planning) planners. Approximately 16 people attended and participated in the discussion on information access needs during a COOP scenario (both alternative work location scenarios were discussed – traditional COOP alternative location and social distancing/distributed work at home alternatives in a pandemic flu situation). The session started with a PowerPoint briefing and Molly O'Neill's introduction video from the National Dialogue website. Two EPA employees facilitated the discussion.
Summary notes of the dialogue:
How Is Information Used:
- Distribute Knowledge
- Execute Mission (under COOP - enabling others – provide response program when they don't have normal access)
- Recovery/Reconstitution - figure out how to get at information alternatively, for both programs and NGOs, locals and states with grant information
- Communication to Stakeholders
- G.I.S. (geographic information systems)
- Stakeholder data (States, locals, etc)
Types of Information:
- Reference Materials
- Regulations/Legal authorities
- National Systems – Access (How to get to them)
Office of Emergency Response representative – Under COOP, we have to relocate or have virtual access to enable critical functions and support day-to-day activities; have to support Program offices. Information requirements change when shifting from emergency mode to recovery mode.
We want states to know – they need status information, location information. Need reference materials, maps, websites. Need regulations and policy data and legal authorities in response situations.
We need email, but also access to national systems. The access path depends on the facility that is down. Need alternate paths; alternate addresses/names for access. Pay attention to know WHERE. Have instructions on alternate paths. In a COOP location, this is transparent, but working from home would be different.
Attorneys have a QuickPlace site they use in national response.
GIS data is needed. Some try to duplicate everything – there are advantages and disadvantages – IT issues.
How to Get to the Information
- Inter/Intra net
- Quickplace
- Portal
- Email (Groups and Individuals)
- Wikis
- Web 2.0 (Social Networking Tools)
- Local News
- Desktop Sharing (Collaboration tools)
- Phone (audio conferencing) + voicemail
- Paper
- BlackBerry Pin-to-Pin
EPA has essential functions: Emergency response, Water and Administrative (employee and IT infrastructure). There are internal and external components. There is the data itself and infrastructure.
Internal – perform program management for emergency response – GIS is an output – need data to go into that from program systems. The Administrator prefers the use of maps.
PeoplePlus, Invoice payments are access requirements on the administrative information side. Day to day duties, but prioritized tasks.
COOP Planner: GIS data – there are bandwidth issues – information prepared and sent to others. Site and analytical data. GET data from "elsewhere" – states, locals, subscription data. Tapping into pipeline to it.
External information needs QA/QC. Take regional data and post for public access – People to review, plus be paid and fed.
Channels used? Both Internet and intranet. Use of QuickPlace (multiple) and Portal. The COOP page needs to move to the portal so that non-html folks can update it.
Get information from email, especially during the transition period. Use of email groups – Use Group Box by Roles (role-based addresses).
Future use of Wiki and chat for info sharing – webinars "beyond voice". Use of Sametime for desktop sharing. ORD Science Connector does better than others. Potential use of IPTV and live video.
Office of Emergency Response representative– video is critical but also basic pen and pencil. Human brain works that way – face time – is that generational? If born before 1976 – have to read the newspaper, not online. How is your brain wired?
Access to local News is a big requirement.
All this technology is great, but in a COOP situation, senior managers can't/don't know how to use technology. Will call on the phone, use audio conference and PIN to PIN.
The key is to make sure the right people have edit rights for updates. It's the Achilles Heel – depends how its set up.
Look at every available communication output. There's an expectation that all methods will be available.
- Customer/employee education
- Will stuff work? What do we do if it doesn't?
- Infrastructure in tact
- Exercises
- Some info is not searchable
- Competing resources
- Attitudes
Stakeholder Communication
- Not all information needs to go out
- May be used by EPA at times
- Phone numbers may change
- Locations of COOP sites may be sensitive
- General access to EPA's position on something that may have happened.
- Bandwidth issues?
- Communicate expectations to stakeholders in a COOP.
- Office of Public Affairs
Customers "don't fully utilize the asset". Training is needed, and money. If the electronics are up and working – if lose the NCC or other – we rely too much on electronics. Electric window versus crank example. Concern about over-reliance on electronic access– stone tablets. People don't know what's available /don't use – like portal or QuickPlace. Circumstance may not allow – what if phone or other infrastructure is not available?
Part of the workforce is not comfortable using some methods – text message for example. Need training. Management won't participate - Just tell me what I need to do, but I won't read the instructions.
Need to practice working at home in order to make it work in an emergency.
Silo information is not searchable – like email. "Need better models for cross-discovery of information". Competing resources within household – conflicting access demands.
The Office of Emergency Response is looking at a portal for the Office of Emergency Management – push out/collect. Interconnect in emergency response community. Email silos in Lotus Notes – polling information – attachment to central location/system.
3N example – pipeline/bandwidth being overwhelmed – be careful about advertising access.
Internal access sometimes restricted – may limit access in some circumstance, like limit GIS access.
The COOP phone numbers are different – classified – not readily available. The issue in an emergency is they (anyone outside EPA COOP community, including local/state responders) can't call you – they can't find you – EPA is physically in a different place. They don't know where you are because the alternate location can't be advertised.
Need a way to interact so they'll need to find you.
Need access for non-impacted folks – they want business as usual. Local needs in Alaska continue normally while there is an emergency in Seattle.
Public Health event – environmental and health and safety. Opposite – Need to PRIORITIZE information – Is it safe to go outside?, etc. Use News, other outlets.
Public Affairs interface with a communications plan for information access during emergencies.
3N 60 line example – pipeline/bandwidth being overwhelmed – be careful about advertising access.
Office of Technology and Operations representative – make sure the notes reflect the different theories – let the states know the expectations – business as normal? Not planning for - clear expectations to be set.
Hurricane Katrina put information on the web, but people that needed the information didn't have web access. Put stuff out in a format that people can get to.
If we don't get information fast enough, people will get information, even if it is wrong.
Public Affairs again – major policy change. Regions can't push environmental information any more – both messaging and data.
Know need - to get information to those affected – info to those that need to consume it.


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Drayton Hall
3380 Ashley River RD
Charleston, SC 29414
Phone: (843) 769-2600
City: Charleston
Region: Coastal & Islands
Drayton Hall
Circa 1738, Drayton Hall is the oldest unrestored plantation house in America still open to the public and the nation's earliest example of fully executed Palladian architecture. Drayton Hall was acquired by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1974. Instead of restoring it to a specific time period, the Trust took a radical approach to preserve or stabilize the site. Today, after seven generations, the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, and numerous hurricanes and earthquakes, the main house remains unaltered, allowing the beauty of the architectural details and compelling stories of its history to become the focus for visitors. The entire site—including the historic grounds with its ancient live oaks, broad vistas, vanished structures, and rare period features—serves as a testimony to America's heritage. Visitors discover Drayton Hall through daily tours, programs, and activities, including professionally guided house tours, the interactive "Connections: From Africa to America" program, the 18th-century African-American cemetery—one of the oldest documented African-American cemeteries in the nation still in use, self-paced nature walks, and a popular Museum Shop with a collection of signature merchandise inspired by Drayton Hall's history and architecture.
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'Stand and fight' for gun rights, NRA's LaPierre urges
NASHVILLE — National Rifle Association leader Wayne LaPierre renewed his call on Thursday for armed guards in schools and urged gun owners to "stand and fight" for the Second Amendment.
In a speech billed as the NRA response to President Obama's State of the Union call for new gun regulations, LaPierre noted in remarks to the National Wild Turkey Federation in Nashville that the speech didn't mention school security. He dismissed Obama's calls for background checks for all firearms purchases and bans on assault weapons and ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.
"We will not be duped by the hypocrisy in the White House or the Congress who would deny our right to semi-automatic technology, and the magazines we need to defend ourselves and our families," he said.
LaPierre said the proponents' real intentions would be to "ban every gun they can, tax every gun sold and register every gun owner."
George Thornton, the CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation, said his group agrees with LaPierre's positions, even though not all of the gun-control proposals would directly affect hunters.
"You really don't need large clips for hunting," he said. "However, I have a very strong belief when you start to limit things, that the limits continue to chip away."
LaPierre said a universal background check would not stop criminals or the mentally ill from getting firearms.
"Even when prohibited people are flagged by the system now, they are almost never stopped," he said.
Mark Kelly, husband of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head in 2011, said in a statement that background checks are a simple and fair way to keep children safe.
"If a dangerous criminal can't buy a gun in a store, they shouldn't be able to buy a gun at a gun show or on the Internet," he said. "That's just common sense."
While LaPierre was critical of the president in the speech, the remarks were milder than sentiments he expressed in an opinion piece published this week by The Daily Caller, a conservative website, in which he predicted the president's financial policies will lead to chaos.
"Nobody knows if or when the fiscal collapse will come, but if the country is broke, there likely won't be enough money to pay for police protection. And the American people know it," LaPierre wrote.
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Most-Read Nation
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As a sufferer of osteoporosis , I can tell you that it isn't any fun !
As a sufferer of osteoporosis , I can tell you that it isn't any fun !
Have you ever heard the advice that high-impact exercise, like jump rope, builds bone strength? I don't know for what age group this is advised - but I remember hearing about a study a few years ago that proved that giving your bones a few good jumps helps them get/stay strong.
dudesmama - It seems that the jumping advice is really for the VERY young - this article says it's good for 7 and 8 year old girls to prevent osteoporosis in their futures. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/10/981006073222.htm
So maybe jumping is out for me too.
Just don't tell me to give up coffee.
Best of health to you!


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In case you missed it…
Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero, and seven others, were sent to minor-league camp Tuesday > Read more on MetsBlog.
Jon Niese returned to Mets camp Tuesday, he's ready to resume throwing and said over-exertion in an attempt to increase velocity may have led to his latest setback > Read more at the New York Post.
Bartolo Colon and Dillon Gee are on pace to pitch the first series of the regular season, though the team has yet to announce an Opening Day starting pitcher.
The D-Backs and Mariners were scouting Mets minor leaguers Tuesday, leading to speculation about how Sandy Alderson may try to trade for a new shortstop > Read more at ESPN.


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Warren-Brennan Court
The End of Privacy
February 16, 1998
"It's not their business," Monica Lewinsky allegedly told Linda Tripp, explaining why she was inclined to lie to Paula Jones's lawyers about her relationship with President Clinton, as her friend's hidden tape recorder whirled. "It's not their business." And Lewinsky was, of course, correct.


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Dr. John G. Erhardt
SEEKONK - Dr. John G. Erhardt, 92, a retired educator, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 5, 2012. He was the beloved husband of Rita M. (Gagnon) Mooney-Erhardt and the late Eleanor (Tareila) Erhardt. Born in East Providence, the son of the late John G. and Katherine J. (Kirby) Erhardt, he resided in Riverside before moving to Seekonk over 40 years ago.
Mary C. Read
PAWTUCKET - Mary C. (Lanois) Read, 86, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 5, 2012. She was the beloved wife of Kenneth I. Read for fifty-nine years.
A lifelong resident of Pawtucket, she was a daughter of the late Albert Lanois Sr. and Grace (Elderkin) Lanois. Mary was a winder at the Seekonk Lace Company for twenty years before retiring in 1988. She attended New Horizons Adult Day Center for the past three years.
Ronald J. Gauthier
PAWTUCKET - Ronald J. Gauthier, 71, of Wilton Avenue died surrounded by his loving family Sunday, November 4, 2012 at home after a short illness. He was the beloved husband of Elaine S. (Laffey) Gauthier.
A lifelong resident of Pawtucket, he was a son of the late Rosario and Hilda (Boday) Gauthier.
Maurice Bricault
PAWTUCKET - Maurice Bricault, 84, passed away on November 3rd at home. He was the husband of Louise Rita (Bourget) Bricault. They have been married for 59 years. He resided in Pawtucket most of his life before moving to Wake Robin Rd, Lincoln 4 years ago.
He had been employed by the former Olney and Payne Oil for 30 years; he then worked for Oleans Oil. He was a Korean War Veteran.
In Memory of
Rita (Gagne) Giguere
May 29, 1917 - October 10, 2012
RICHARDSON, TX - Rita Giguere, age 95 of Richardson, TX passed away on Wednesday, October 10, 2012.
Robert H. Allard, Sr.
Robert H. Allard, Sr., 75 of Pawtucket died Wednesday at the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center in Providence. He is the husband of Tracy (Walsh) Allard and they have been married for 30 years. Born in Fall River, Massachusetts he is the son of the late Edward and Catherine (O'Regan) Allard. He has been a Pawtucket resident for 44 years.
Robert was the owner and operator of Coleman Tire Sales in Pawtucket for 30 years. He was also an Army Veteran
James R. Murray
PAWTUCKET - James 'Jimmy' R. Murray, 66, passed away October 24, 2012 after an illness.
Born in Pawtucket, a son of the late James Madden and Loretta (Beauregard) Murray, he was a lifelong resident of the city, and had been employed as an expediter for the former Feldman Furniture Co. for several years. Jimmy had also tended bar part time in the Pawtucket area.
He leaves a sister, Rita E. Buteau and her husband Richard and a brother Al Beauregard all of Florida, 4 nephews and a niece.
Jose Lameiras Alves
CUMBERLAND - Jose Lameiras Alves, 79, of Cumberland, passed away Friday, November 2, in the Rhode Island Hospital, Providence. He was the husband of Mary C. (Paiva) Alves.
Born in Aldeia Formosa, Portugal, he was the son of the late Adelino and Maria Augusta (Tavares) Alves. He resided in Cumberland for many years.
He was a United States Army, Korean War Veteran.
Mr. Alves was employed as a production manager for American Insulated Wire for 38 years, retiring in 1990.
G. Eleanor D'Olivo
LINCOLN - G. Eleanor (Bateman) D'Olivo, 92, of Vista Drive died Sunday, October 28, 2012 at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, North Providence. She was the wife of the late Ralph W. D'Olivo.
Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Charles E. and Pearl (Blanding) Bateman, she had lived in Lincoln for the past 55 years.
Maurice F. Benoit
NORTH SMITHFIELD - Maurice F. Benoit, 94 of N. Smithfield, formerly of Cumberland, died Sunday at St. Antoine Nursing Home. He was the husband of the late Beatrice T. (Guindon) Benoit. Born in Central Falls, he was a son of the late Albert and Laura (Dumaine) Benoit.
Mr. Guindon was a self employed owner of a Maintenance business for over 35 years. He was a World War II veteran having served with the Merchant Marines.
Mr. Benoit was an avid golfer and in his younger years he was a boxer.
Thomas J. Kerry, Jr.
PAWTUCKET - Thomas J. Kerry, Jr., 69, entered into eternal life on Thursday, November 1, 2012. He was the beloved husband of Pamela (Leake) Kerry for 25 years. Born in Hartford, CT, he was a son of the late Thomas J., Sr. and Mary (Ellsworth) Kerry.
Tom worked as a software programmer for Matchrite Color Matching Systems for over 15 years. He was a communicant of Blessed John Paul II Parish and an active 4th Degree member of the parish's Knights of Columbus council.
Michael N. Kazas
PROVIDENCE - Michael N. Kazas (70), son of (the late) Nicholas and Keriaki (Mastrantonis) Kazas of Providence, RI, died early morning Thursday, November 1, 2012 after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Espie (Beck) KazasProvidence, RI; his daughter, Sunday Kazas and granddaughter Aspasia-Dina Gordon, Providence and Pawtucket, RI; his son Nicholas Kazas and wife Melissa Kazas and grandchildren Matthew Seavey-Pimental & Damiana Kazas, Douglas, MA.
Herbert B. Tootell
PROVIDENCE - Herbert B. Tootell, 67, of Sassafras Street, Providence, died Wednesday, October 31st, 2012 at Rhode Island Hospital. He was born in Central Falls, a son of the late George and Mildred (Garde) Tootell.
Joseph T. Flanagan
PAWTUCKET - Joseph T. Flanagan of Charlton Avenue, Pawtucket died Thursday, November 1, 2012.
Mr. Flanagan was born in Pawtucket, the son of the late Thomas J. Flanagan and Catherine (Pierce) Flanagan. He was a United States Navy Veteran.
Mr. Flanagan is survived by his sisters, Catherine Arnston of California, Ruth Cabral and Lorraine Connolly both of Pawtucket. He also leaves his brother William Flanagan of Pawtucket. He was the brother of the late Thomas Flanagan.


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Thursday, September 10, 2009
What comes to mind when you think of Scotland? Haggis, ghosts, the questionable fashion of the kilt?
Well why not yoga? That's the aim, anyway, of two gurus who recently purchased a Scottish isle with the intention of turning it into an international destination for yoga practitioners.
The Guardian's got the scoop on this story, which includes the plans to change the island's name from Little Cumbrae to Peace Island, and the head guru's past claims that yoga practice can cure HIV and cancer.
What do Little Cumbrae's (er, excuse me, Peace Island's) residents think of the transformation? Well, there aren't too many of them, so likely they'll have little choice but to sit back and enjoy the show.
* Photo by MiiiSH
When Madison Avenue uses a picture of someone (a woman), the posture is always a ballet like super flexible out of reach for most mortals yoga posture. It is easy to understand a man's reluctance, or anyone's reluctance, to sign up for a class. But if you look behind all the salesmanship, the true picture of yoga emerges.


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Throw Pillows by Jennifer Rica
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Standing out.1$20 – $39 Jennifer Rica
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- January 11, 1931 - September 17, 2012
- Niceville, Florida
of Beverly's Passing
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�������������������������������������������� Beverly Jean Carr
�������������������������������������������������� 1931 - 2012
Beverly Jean Carr born on Jan 11, 1931 in Penn Yan, N.Y. to Richard Millis and Claudine Dencenburg. She �joined her Lord on Sept 17, 2012 at 2:30 P.M. following a stroke on the 4th.� Beverely �retired from Civil Service at Eglin AFB in 1991 and enjoyed travel, square dancing,�get-togethers and too many friends to count.� Most recently she attended Niceville United Methodist Church Sunday morning Bible studies and services after.� She also enjoyed square dancing and playing cards at the church.�
She is survived by: her daughter Vicky J. Caldwell and two sons Craig D. and Randy S. Caldwell, six grandchildren: Damian, Jeremy, Lindsay, and Melissa Caldwell, Vanessa Pavacic and Jessica Dunnington, five great grandchildren and her sister Marion Curle.
She was the cornerstone of the family and a loyal, loving friend and neighbor who is already missed greatly.
Her final resting place will be in Lake View Cemetery, Penn Yan, N.Y.
Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.Twincitiescremationsfunerals.com


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Lawyers in Arpaio profiling want no ICE testimony
Web Producer: Marissa Pasquet
PHOENIX (AP) - Lawyers representing Latinos who accuse Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office of racial profiling want a federal judge to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees from being called to testify by the sheriff's lawyers at a trial.
Motions filed late Friday say ICE gave the sheriff's lawyers permission to conduct depositions of the five employees but they never did. The lawyers for the five Latinos say because the depositions weren't done and they couldn't also question the ICE employees, their testimony should be barred. They said two other ICE agents don't have relevant testimony and also should not be called.
The suit alleges that Arpaio's officers made traffic stops because Hispanics were in the vehicles. Arpaio has denied the racial profiling allegations.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Posted by Jump-ball-overtime
Plenty of games when Paul Pierce or Ray Ray tried to take over a game on their own. They just can't do it as good as Kobe. Don't try to compare LA to the Cav's with Lebron. LA won back-to-back titles. C's couldn't pull that off. At least not in the last 40 years. Obviously the Lakers have some idea what they're doing.
Gasol owns KG. KP is no match for Bynum. Pierce is the biggest cry baby in the league. Rondo is over rated. Shaq is a ring chaser and a curse to his last 2 teams. Kobe is Kobe. and Doc Rivers has gills.


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Do you write off injured workers -- approve the workers' compensation claims, shuffle in replacements, and forget the wounded until their months on the dole are over? If so, you may be missing an opportunity.
Employees who are injured on the job don't necessarily have to be lost to workers' comp, says Thomas Lynch, of Lynch, Ryan & Associates Inc., a benefits consulting firm in Westboro, Mass. Companies can bring many of the injured back to do light tasks around the factory or office, thereby raising productivity, lowering insurance costs, and boosting morale at the same time.
"Think about tasks you've always wanted done but never had people around to do," Lynch says. "Weed through them: some can be done seated, others with one hand.'
Then, says Lynch, negotiate a temporary job description together with the injured employee and his or her doctor. In cases in which light or restricted work is possible, Lynch claims that many employees will accept the offer. "People want to work, they want to feel useful," he says.
And the business's benefit? In addition to getting worthwhile tasks accomplished, companies that routinely pursue this policy -- and have at least 80 to 100 employees insured under what is known as a loss-sensitive plan -- can receive refunds of 40% or more on their annual workers' compensation premiums, according to Lynch. Smaller companies usually don't qualify for refunds, but they may eventually get lower premiums.* * *


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German Family's Federal Court Appeal Hearing in April
Music teachers, Uwe and Hannelore Romeike, want to homeschool their children. In the United States, potential homeschoolers seek out our state homeschooling rights and responsibilities and follow them in order to homeschool. Romeikes would prefer their children were educated in their home country of Germany. But, unlike the United States, homeschooling isn't possible in Germany, so they moved to Tennessee to continue educating their children as they wished. Political asylum was sought in the United States to protect the family from being fined, having their children forced from their home and taken to public school, along with the potential they could lose their children for homeschooling them. Trying to wade past the emotion within the homeschool community, this post will share some of the details of an asylum case that will be heard in April in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
From the New York Times in 2010 – by Campbell Robertson, regarding Uwe and Hannelore discovering homeschooling and their start in Germany educating their two oldest children:
"She knew a family, but she didn't want to mention their name because it wasn't legal," Mr. Romeike said.
Months of research followed: the Romeikes read articles, sat in on court cases and talked to other home-schoolers in Germany. Eventually they decided to give it a try. Working with a curriculum from a private Christian correspondence school — one not recognized by the German government — they expected to be punished with moderate fines and otherwise left alone.
Before I started homeschooling, I researched, read articles and talked to other homeschoolers. Fortunately, I did not have to sit in a court room weighing the cons of homeschooling. My neighbors did not have to block the police from removing my children from our home because we homeschooled. The Global Post reports this 2006 incident in Krista Kapralos' 2010 article:
Romeike's heart stopped. He didn't know what to do. He prayed the officers would go away if he didn't answer the door. Instead, Romeike said, the officers left a voice message threatening to break in. (more…)


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Warren Buffett's Most Important Money Confession
Motley Fool
Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A ) (NYSE: BRK-B ) doesn't simply buy great stocks; it buys great businesses. And there is only one way a business can be "truly great." Like castles, it must it must have a wide moat that protects it …
Warren Buffett Buys WPLG-TV From Graham Holdings In Stock SwapValueWalk


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Media Madness Bracket: Bucs Beat Writers
Buccaneers CentralShop for Bucs Gear
NFL Scoreboard
NFL Standings
Team STATS
Team Schedule
Team Roster
Team Injuries
The Media Madness rolls on today and we today we start the print region. This bracket involves the winner of our play-in game from Pewter Report, Mark Cook. Mark took down his partner, Scott Reynolds. Mark will try to use his momentum from his first win in the tournament.
Greg Auman is a guy who has been around for a long time and is relatively new to the Bucs beat, Greg has been in the area covering USF athletics so he is a very versatile writer.
Roy Cummings has been a veteran Bucs reporter for the Tampa Tribune bringing great coverage to his readers on a daily basis. Roy also is a frequent guest of Fan Interference among other shows, and always does a great job anytime he is on.
Ira Kaufman is the veteran of this group. Ira, along with being a one of the beat writers for the Bucs, is also the Tampa Bay voter for the NFL Hall of Fame. Ira is responsible for the induction of both Warren Sapp last year and Derrick Brooks this year going into the hall.


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Brian W.
What would have happened if the author of Frankenstein and the world's first computer programmer met as girls in early 19th century London? Why, they would have joined forces and become private detectives! Follow along as Mary Shelley and Ada Lovelace sort through a false confession, eliminate some odd suspects and finally solve the mystery of a stolen necklace in The Case of the Missing Moonstone, book one of The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency series by Jordan Stratford.
Brilliant, yet socially inept Ada Bryon is not happy about the departure of her governess and the arrival of her new tutor, Peebs. However, this change does bring to Ada the first true friend she has ever known, the adventurous and kind Mary Godwin. The girls notice the newspaper contains several articles about crime so they decide to form a "private and secret constabulary for the apprehension of clever criminals." It isn't long after they run their advertisement for the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency that they accept their first case and begin their adventures.
A host of historical figures, including Charles Dickens and Charles Babbage, make appearances in this fun children's book. While Stratford has admittedly taken liberties with regards to the timeline (Mary Shelley was actually 18 years older than Ada Lovelace), the setting and character behaviors are historically accurate. A humorous, action-packed story, this book features strong female characters who use math, science and deductive reasoning skills to solve the crime in a vivid, alternative historical setting. I wouldn't be surprised to find this one on school reading lists this summer.
Emmy Rushford is a precocious and civic-minded 6th grader. When her class is assigned to do a community service project, Emmy thinks she has a great idea: Her group will collect food for a local less fortunate family. On the surface, this may sound like a good idea, but Emmy is not telling the whole story to her classmates or her family. In Peg Kehret's book, Dangerous Deception, Emmy begins innocently enough but she is soon put in harm's way.
Kehret makes Emmy a rather mature-for-her-years but believable character who wants to do good but naively believes she can handle some very adult issues. The family that Emmy is trying to help is in trouble. However, she cannot turn to her parents or teacher for help without exposing some lies she has told. Kehret sets up a dilemma for her heroine that may seem a bit beyond the abilities of most 6th graders, but she keeps Emmy from becoming a superhero. She is flawed but well-intentioned, and young readers may learn a lesson or two from some of Emmy's poor decisions.
Theodora Tenpenny has more than her share of burdens for a 13-year-old. With the death of her beloved grandfather Jack, Theo has been thrust into the role as head of the household which includes taking care of her sweet but thoroughly withdrawn mother, tending to the family's crumbling, 200-year-old Greenwich Village townhome, fending off creditors and trying to make ends meet with a legacy of less than $500. Fortunately, her grandfather's dying words have given her some hope. "Look under the egg," he tells her, hinting that a supposed fortune lies waiting there. In Laura Marx Fitzgerald's Under the Egg, this clue sets the plucky and resourceful Theo on a series of adventures that she could never have anticipated.
Fitzgerald does an amazing job of capturing not only what Theo is feeling as she is forced to take over the role of parent to her ineffectual mother, but how Theo manages to still behave like a typical 13-year-old girl. One thing Theo yearns for almost as much as a way out of her financial nightmare is to have a friend. When she meets Bodhi, the daughter of a Hollywood couple temporarily living down the street from Theo, the two girls instantly bond. They decide to team up to figure out the mystery surrounding an odd painting that Theo discovers in Jack's studio. Is this the work of the world-renowned artist Raphael? If so, how did Theo's grandfather acquire it? Soon Theo discovers that Jack also worked with the famous "Monuments Men" group during World War II, and she is confronted by even more questions. It's up to Theo and Bodhi to solve these questions and discover the real mystery lying "under the egg."
Want to share your love of Downton Abbey with your little one? Look no further than Mouseton Abbey: The Missing Diamond by Nick Page. This estate, populated by mice and presided over by Roquefort, the present Lord Mouseton, has an impressive history — it was originally a monastery and even survived the War of the Fondues!
At Mouseton Abbey, it's Cheesemas, and Roquefort has misplaced the Great Big Cheesy Diamond, which is a tradition for the family's Cheesemas banquet. Lady Brie, the Countess of Mouseton, is well acquainted with her husband's habit of losing things and even tried buying him a planner at one point (which he lost). Soon, everyone at Mouseton Abbey from Roquefort and Lady Brie's three daughters to the household staff is on a search for the diamond. But with last-minute banquet preparations underway, Roquefort is causing more disorder and housekeeping angst as he tears apart rooms and upsets cooking preparations in search of the treasure. Will the family find the diamond and be able to keep their Cheesemas tradition?
Adorable knitted mouse characters set in delightfully sketched rooms make this a fun and enchanting story, and the humor and mice misadventures will be appreciated by both adults and children. There is even a character chart in the beginning of the book with names and titles (Lady Gouda, in dress and demeanor, bears more than a passing resemblance to Downton's Lady Violet). With the mice's names — Wensleydale, Ricotta, Fontina — it could be a lesson in cheeses as well as aristocratic country estates!
Do you enjoy a good mystery? Are you fascinated by science and technology? If you answered "yes," then Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab by "Science Bob" Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith is definitely for you. This is the first book in a new series that follow 11-year-old siblings Nick and Tesla as they spend a summer in California with their quirky uncle Newt, an eccentric and somewhat absent-minded inventor.
The twins almost have free range of their uncle's lab in the basement of his home. They build a rocket out of PVC pipe and an empty soda bottle and some other odds and ends they find around the house. Something goes wrong on the rocket's maiden launch. Instead of just going up and back down, the rocket ends up in the yard of a spooky old house. But this is not just any spooky old house. This one is surrounded by a fence and guarded by dogs. Even worse, when the rocket didn't initially take off like they expected, Tesla got too close while checking a seal. The rocket took off with the necklace her parents had given her. Will they be able to retrieve the rocket and Tesla's necklace? Who's the mysterious girl in the creepy house's upstairs window? And why is a black SUV following them wherever they go?
This book is great for kids who have advanced past first chapter books. There are five illustrated experiments that show the reader – with the help of an adult, of course – how to make the gadgets that Nick and Tesla make in the story. A fast-paced adventure novel, Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab is sure to bring out your inner mad-scientist.
Twelve years ago on the day she was born, Cassie Romano's town was flooded to make way for a new dam and the residents of Old Lower Grange were moved uphill to a brand new town, New Lower Grange. The whole town turned out to celebrate the flooding except for Cassie's family. They were busy racing to the hospital to deliver Cassie eight weeks earlier than planned. In Meg McKinlay's children's novel, Below, Cassie is envious of her family's memories of a place she will never know and she grows up imagining a mysterious town underneath the still waters of the manmade lake. Fascinated with the past, she has spent hours studying old pictures, maps and historic documents and knows where every oak tree stood and where every road leads.
When a summertime drought causes the water levels in the lake to recede dramatically, Cassie and her friend Liam stumble on a long kept secret, a secret that was submerged under 200 of water. Despite their own physical limitations, they work together to solve the mystery below the water.
Below is based on the author's own experience as a teenager standing next to a drowned town and wondering what remained underneath the water and the mud.
Blue Balliett has created an unforgettable character in Early Pearl, the eleven-year-old heroine of Hold Fast. Early's life is happy despite a lack of money. Her parents, Dashiell and Summer, and her four-year-old brother Jubiliation form a tight-knit family that enjoys reading, words, and puzzles. Dash works as a shelver in the Chicago Public Library with a dream of one day becoming a librarian. Sum stays at home to take care of Jubie, but once he starts school, she wants to work with kids who need help. They all long for a home of their own someday, but until then are content in their cozy apartment on Chicago's South Side.
All that changes when Dash suddenly vanishes and the Pearl family is shattered. Forced to retreat to a shelter, Sum grows depressed, Jubie sick, and Early is anxious and determined to find out the truth about her father. Early becomes desperate to hold her family together and find her father. She realizes that he hasn't left without a trace, and with the help of her dad's former teacher, tracks down the patterns and rhythms of Dash's days prior to his disappearance.
Early is a wise and spunky young girl; Balliett infuses the story with the poetry and spirit of Langston Hughes, as evidenced by the book's title, which is from his poem "Dreams". This is also an interesting glimpse into life as a shelter kid and offers an honest look at homelessness. The mystery will keep readers engaged, especially with the public library at the center of an international crime ring. Enjoy getting to know this most special Pearl family, which is blissfully reunited despite great obstacles, thanks to the persistently clever Early who followed her heart and held fast to her dreams.
There's a new girl detective in town. As readers know from Jane O'Connor's Fancy Nancy picture book series, Nancy Clancy likes to live her life just a little bit fancier than most other people. She is now also the star of her first chapter book for young readers! In Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth, Nancy is taking on a new challenge and becoming a sleuth, which she explains is a fancy word for detective. To get into her detective persona, she dons a pink trench coat and carries a magnifying glass with rhinestones on it. She and her best friend Bree are looking for a mystery to solve. They find one at her school when her teacher's special blue marble goes missing. Can Nancy and Bree solve the mystery, and return Mr. D's favorite memento?
Nancy Clancy is inspired by another super sleuth--Nancy Drew. If the traditional Nancy Drew mysteries are still a little too challenging for your young reader, the Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series is a great starting point. These short chapter books feature eight-year-old Nancy Drew who forms a club to solve mysteries with her friends in River Heights. The newest release in the series is The Cape Mermaid Mystery. Nancy Drew and her friends go on a vacation to Cape Mermaid, New Jersey. After they hear spooky noises and there's a possible ghost sighting at the old inn on the beach, they begin to wonder if it's the rumored ghost of Cape Mermaid. This is a job for the Clue Crew!
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NPR Newscast
4min 45sec
Alder branches form a bridge in a Dumfriesshire, Scotland, stream. (Jan. 17, 2014)
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British artist Andy Goldsworthy's sculptures melt and decay. "It's not about art," he says. "It's just about life, and the need to understand that a lot of things in life do not last."
Fiston Mwanza Mujila was born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Fiston Mwanza Mujila's novel, Tram 83, is a freewheeling tale about life in an imaginary place inspired by the author's home country, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Critic John Powers has a review.
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Son of Saul, set in a Nazi death camp in 1944, won the Grand Prix at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Director László Nemes and star Géza Röhrig discuss the film with Fresh Air's Terry Gross.
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Patti Smith's memoir, Just Kids, won the National Book Award in 2010. Book critic Maureen Corrigan says her just-published new memoir, M Train, is a worthy — though altogether different — successor.
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Smith follows up her National Book Award-winning memoir, Just Kids, with another memoir, M Train. Critic Maureen Corrigan says it is a haunting story about weathering life's storms.
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Michael Solomonov describes Israeli-style hummus as "a marriage of chickpeas and tehina."
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Chef Michael Solomonov sees his mission as connecting people to the food of his homeland. "That, to me, is my life's work," he says. Solomonov's new cookbook is Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking.
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Now in its fourth decade of music-making, Los Lobos just released its first studio album since 2010. Rock critic Ken Tucker says Gates of Gold is "full of thick, mysterious music."
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Lady Gaga plays a mysterious character called the Countess on the new season of FX's American Horror Story, which begins on Wed.
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FX's American Horror Story returns for season five this week. TV critic David Bianculli says this season, which is set in a lavish old hotel, is "the most visually arresting and twisted one yet."
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Mexican-born journalist Jorge Ramos moved to the U.S. in 1983. "I am glad that I came," he says. "The First Amendment has given me all the opportunities that I couldn't have in Mexico."
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Singer Jen Shyu was born in Illinois, but spent years in East Asia, studying regional music, languages and literature. Critic Kevin Whitehead says that Shyu's research echoes throughout her new album.
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AMP Music Minute- Kanye West's Sixth Album, Robin Thicke Surprises Prom Students, Daft Punk's Album Expectations
May 21, 2013 6:00 AM
Michelle Read More
Kanye West's Sixth Album
Mark your calendars for June 18th!
Kanye West's anticipated album, Yeezus
will be one of the summer albums!
Robin Thicke Surprises Prom Students
What was your prom highlight?
Some lucky Eagle Rock students had a memorable
prom experience as Robin Thicke was spotted filming a music video
across the street from their party bus pickup and took photos with them!
Daft Punk's Album Expectations
Grab your space helmet and jam!
Daft Punk's "Random Access Memories"
is out TODAY! They're expected to
have the #1 album release in the U.S.


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9 months ago
"IF YOU ARE WHAT YOU SHOULD BE, YOU WILL SET THE WHOLE WORLD ON FIRE." "LET THE TRUTH BE YOUR DELIGHT.... PROCLAIM IT..., BUT WITH A CERTAIN CONGENIALITY." ~ St. Catherine of Siena
~ St. Therese Lisieux
I saw her speak at the Arizona Right to Life conference in September, and everyone gave her a standing ovation.


text: http://www.daniweb.com – Hi all, I am doing a project work and I need to take the image(just as screenshot) of the first page of any file so that contents of that first page can be viewed by that image . And finally i want to set that image as an icon for that file. I have used "java.awt.Robot" class for taking desktop screenshot but I am not able to find out the way how we can take image of first page of any file by just giving the url of that file even if file is closed. Can any one help me? Waiting for your kind reply.......... Thanks in advance!! (General)


text:
It was interesting to meet Lucas St. Clair. Good guy. His rivals acknowledge that he's a likeable fellow, but note that it's the same plan. What is the future of the Quimby land around the East Branch? It's an interesting question that is yet to be answered.
I think it's really interesting to see Roxanne Quimby and George St. Clair in their younger days. They look very different than I expected. Hope you enjoy this story.


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Bife de Tira?
Posted 03 March 2004 - 06:13 PM
My favorite was a cut of beef called 'Bife de Tira', which was a long strip of steak with a strip of fat running the full length of one side.
Anybody know what this cut of meat might be called in English?
Posted 24 September 2004 - 04:16 PM
Anyway, bife de tira translates literally as strip beef. I believe it is either strip steak or top sirloin.
Posted 31 October 2005 - 04:54 PM
Compared to U.S. beef, I remember Brazilian beef as being a little less tender but infinitely more flavorful (rich beefy flavor).
Posted 01 November 2005 - 09:28 PM
-500g de bife de tira, com espessura de 2cm
-1/4 xícara de molho de tomate com manjericão
-1 xícara de abacaxi fresco cortado em pedaços
-1/4 xícara de pimentão vermelho picado
-1 kiwi descascado e picado
-1 banana nanica descascada e picada
-1 colher (sopa) de coentro fresco picado
-2 colheres (sopa) de suco de limão
Modo de Preparo:
Numa frigideira grande, derreta a manteiga e frite o bife em fogo médio, até o ponto desejado. Reduza o fogo e espalhe o molho de tomate sobre a carne.
À parte, misture os ingredientes restantes.
Sirva a carne cortada perpendicularmente às fibras.
Acompanhe com o molho de frutas.
E bom proveito!
and here
Posted 02 November 2005 - 08:57 AM
Posted 02 November 2005 - 02:50 PM
Ah, so the restaurant still exists! I wish I can go back to Brazil in the near future for their excellent beef.
Compared to U.S. beef, I remember Brazilian beef as being a little less tender but infinitely more flavorful (rich beefy flavor).
Posted 04 March 2009 - 06:08 PM
Posted 06 March 2009 - 04:27 AM
Well paisano it is true but the most important way is how you cook it
In Argentina, Asado de Tira is simply a strip of Beef Rib bones cut to about 4-5cm in width, still held together by meat, collagen and silverskin...essentially a long strip of short ribs.
I have found a small restaurant in Montevideo near the Uruguayan parliament to be a great place for this kind of meat and about the adobo(chimichurri) I won't tell you nothing because it was heavenly and that was 1995.
Posted 10 March 2009 - 03:24 PM
Casa SaltShaker - Restaurant de Puertas Cerradas
Spanish-English-Spanish Food & Wine Dictionary - a must for any traveler!