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Friday News, December 7
Orange City Teen Found Guilty of Burglary and Robbery
(Orange City) -- A 16 year old Orange City teen was found guilty by a Sioux County jury of robbery in the first degree, a class B felony, as well as Burglary in the first degree, also a class B felony. Because of the nature of the charges, under Iowa law, the defendant, Leandro Valdez, was charged in adult court. Valdez was accused and convicted by the jury of participating in an armed robbery and burglary at a residence in Orange City on August 30th. At the trial, the victim testified that he awoke to find five intruders in his bedroom at approximately 11;30 p.m. The intruders were dressed in black and were wearing ski masks. One of the intruders was armed with a handgun and three others were armed with knives. The victim testified that the intruders demanded money from him, threaten to kill him, and held him at gunpoint as they ransacked his home searching for valuables. The resident testified
that he was able to flee the home by pushing past one of the attackers, when his attention
was diverted, and tumbled down a flight of stairs. The intruders pursued him, beating and kicking him, but he was able to get to a neighbor's home where the neighbor called 911. At the trial, the victim testified that he was able to identify only one of the attackers, the defendant, whose face he was able to observe when the defendant's ski mask fell off during the robbery. Valdez was taken into custody a few hours after the incident. To date, no one else has been formally charged in the incident.
Plymouth County Realtors To Ring Bell For Salvation Army
(Le Mars) -- Today (Friday) outside of the Le Mars Wal-Mart, some familiar faces will be ringing the bells with the hopes of filling their kettles in support of the Salvation Army. Shane Sitzmann of Lance Sitzmann Real Estate explains.
Listen to
All the brokerage offices in Le Mars will be participating in ringing the bells from 11-6 today (Friday) outside each door. Sitzmann adds that volunteering to do this is important to him because every coin placed in those kettles adds up.
Listen to
According to the Siouxland Salvation Army office, based in Sioux City, money from the kettles is equitably distributed back to the counties where it was raised each year. They added that volunteers are needed throughout the season to ring the bells here in Le Mars. Any group, organization, family or individuals wanting to help can contact the Salvation Army office at 712-255-8836 and ask for Janice.
Realtors Donate To Local Charities
(Le Mars) -- The Plymouth County Multiple Listing Service comprised of the Realtors in Plymouth County have teamed up to donate $500 to the Christian Needs Center and $500 to the Le Mars Backpack program this holiday season. The Christian Needs Center is a food and clothing pantry for the needy in Plymouth County. The Le Mars Backpack program packages and donates bags of snacks and nutritional items on a weekly basis to 377 children at Le Mars Community and Gehlen Catholic schools. The Plymouth County Realtors are proud to donate to these great causes that have such a significant and positive impact on the community.
Snowmobiles and ATV's Need To Be Registered
(Le Mars) -- Plymouth County Recorder Jolynn Goodchild wants to remind Snowmobile and ATV owners that registrations expire on December 31st. Renewals can be made at the Plymouth County Recorder's office located at the Plymouth County Courthouse between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Renewals can also be mailed with the appropriate fee. If you should have questions, you can contact the Recorder's office at 546-4020.
Authorities Believe Found Bodies Are Those Of Missing Cousins
EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) - Authorities say they're "confident" bodies found in an isolated wildlife area are those of two young Iowa cousins who disappeared while riding their bikes last summer.
Black Hawk County sheriff's Captain Rick Abben said that's based on evidence at the scene and the preliminary investigation. However, autopsies are still pending.
Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins vanished while riding bikes in Evansdale in July. Elizabeth was 8 and Lyric was 10.
Hunters found the bodies Wednesday in a rural park about 25 miles away.
Local and state police and the FBI joined in a massive search
that continued for months after the girls disappeared. No one has been charged in the case.
Evansdale is about 90 miles northeast of Des Moines.
Flags To Be Lowered For Pearl Harbor Day
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has ordered all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
The flags will be half-staff from Friday morning through the afternoon.
Public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state will participate. That includes the State Capitol Building and the Capitol Complex.
Officials are encouraging individuals, businesses, schools and other government subdivisions to fly their flags at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.
Congress has designated Dec. 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. The surprise attack on Dec. 7, 1941, by Japan on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii pushed the U.S. into
World War II.
Des Moines Man Faces Nine Years In Prison For Robbing Bank
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - A 38-year-old Des Moines man has been given more than nine years in federal prison for robbing a bank in Williamsburg.
Federal prosecutors say Ryan Randles was sentenced this week to 115 months. He must serve five years of supervised release after leaving prison and make restitution of nearly $5,700 to Keokuk
County State Bank.
Randles had pleaded guilty in September to charges that he robbed the bank on Oct. 20, 2010, and pointed what appeared to be a firearm at two people during the heist. No injuries were reported.


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4.OA.2. Multiply or divide to solve word problems involving multiplicative comparison, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem, distinguishing multiplicative comparison from additive comparison.
4.OA.3. Solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpreted. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.
5.NF.2. Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions referring to the same whole, including cases of unlike denominators, e.g., by using visual fraction models or equations to represent the problem.
6.EE.7. Solve real-world and mathematical problems by writing and solving equations of the form x + p = q and px = q for cases in which p, q and x are all nonnegative rational numbers.
6.EE.9.Use variables to represent two quantities in a real-world problem that change in relationship to one another; write an equation to express one quantity, thought of as the dependent variable, in terms of the other quantity, thought of as the independent variable.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Details from a criminal complaint reveal how the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration took down one of the Sacramento area's biggest crack cocaine distributors.
Alleged crack distributor Dahoma Lin sold the drug from her shoe store, Lanai's Shoe's at 6244 Mack Road in Sacramento.
A confidential source tipped the DEA to her operation and the agency quickly began a series of undercover buys over months in 2012.
According to the complaint, the source said Lin, "was related to a particular family which was notorious for drug dealing and for being members of the Oak Park Bloods. The Oak Park Bloods are one of Sacramento's oldest, and most violent street gangs."
The informant told agents, "Lin was one of the biggest cocaine base dealers in the Oak Park neighborhood," and added, "She supplied large quantities to several individuals operating multiple crackhouses."
After several large buys, agents eventually swept down on Lin's home in Stockton, where she tried to drive away, but was blocked by agents' cars. She was arrested with nine ounces of crack in her possession and an ounce of heroin in one of her pants pockets.
Former shoppers at Lin's store said they were stunned to learn she'd been dealing drugs under their noses.
"She was talkative. She was amazing. Gave me a discount on my shoes," customer Imari Barnes said.
The investigation eventually led to her alleged supplier, Gilbert Arreazola, who lived at a ranch in Madera. When arrested by agents, he showed them two ounces of cocaine he had hidden in a truck.
In a recent jailhouse interview, Arreazola said he had done deals with Lin, but complained she exaggerated their size in an attempt to get a better deal with prosecutors.
"Since she turned against me, I believe they're saying I distributed more than five kilos with her, which is untrue," said Arreazola, who spent time behind bars for distributing cocaine after a bust in Washington state in 1993.
He is facing 20 years to life for distribution of cocaine. Both Lin and Arreazola are awaiting trial.
Copyright ©2013 News10.net. All rights reserved.


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There are some weekends where things just seem to turn out well and this last weekend in Atlanta, March 7-9, was definitely one of them. My flights were on time, I found a really unique place to explore, I had dinner and celebrated with good friends each evening and I was part of an excellent, well attended woodworking show in sunny and 70 degree sunshine. Really can't ask for much more than that!
Whenever and wherever a health emergency breaks out in the world, one organization is tasked with finding a cause and a solution. The Centers for Disease Control, established in 1946, has been on the leading edge in efforts to identify and confront issues such as Toxic Shock, Aids, Legionnaires Disease, Ebola, Small Pox and Anthrax to name but a few. At their headquarters in Atlanta I found a small but very informative museum on this large campus complex. In addition to epidemics, the CDC is involved in the fight against heart disease, smoking and work place safety to improve and safeguard public health. Having grown up fearing the scourge of Polio, I was particularly drawn to the Iron Lung and the story of the man who lived in it for almost 40 years. Overall, a fascinating place to visit.
Our doors opened in Norcross to very large crowds of eager attendees who found all the educational seminars, even those packed into the tiniest corners and behind vendor booths. Our show literally filled the entire exhibit area and provided something to see in nearly every phase of woodworking. Stationary tools (heavy iron) occupied a large part of the floor and there were portable power tool vendors in every aisle.
A local favorite, the Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia, conducted a juried contest of member's projects and ran impromptu classes all day long. A T Rex stood guard at the corner of their very spacious booth.
The Gwinnett Woodworkers Association had turning displays amongst other member's projects.
Barry Gross held classes with large crowds on creating and finishing a pen masterpiece in his booth throughout the weekend.
In the Redmond Machinery booth, in addition to the Saw Stop table saw demonstrations, there were sales of used machinery for those looking for a bargain. And at the Peachtree booth, I saw some of the most amazing examples of pyrography where wood burning is combined with India inks to create beautiful art objects.
We also saw a very nice collection of projects in our Project Showcase. I was disappointed with the lack of any youth submissions but the adult entries were very well done.
In the Furniture Category, first place went to the Chair by Steve Deafenbaugh.
In Turnings/Carvings, third place was given to the Spalted Maple Bowl by Don Heath. Second place went to Ron Britton's Cherry Burl Bowl and the Chip Carved Chest by Mickey Hudspeth took the top spot.
In Models/Toys, Earnest Keretz was our second place finisher with his Marsh Buggy Excavator. First place was awarded to the Locomotive by Harry Kilpatrick.
In the Open Category, the Butterfly Inlay by Kenneth Kline took third place. Steve Carmichael's Foot Long Sandwich gobbled up second (couldn't help it). The Teardrop Trailer by Brian Harris was our first place finisher.
The People's Choice winner was Harry Kilpatrick's Locomotive and this weekend's overall winner, Steve Deafenbaugh, won the Educator's Choice award with his Chair.
Atlanta's weekend may be tough to beat but our show in Milwaukee at the Wisconsin Expo Center in West Allis on March 14-16 will definitely give Atlanta a run for its money. I hope that if you're in the area you'll stop in to see one of the best woodworking shows in the country. If you'd like to catch some of the educational opportunities, you'll easily need a couple of days because we've got a lot to talk about. I'll be in the WOOD Magazine booth reviewing cabinet construction if you're so inclined. You know I'll have plenty to talk about! Hope to see you there.
'Til then, I'll see you on the road.
Jim Heavey
WOOD Magazine Traveling Ambassador
Categories: Woodworking Show Reports | Tags: Atlanta, Barry Gross, Gwinnett Woodworkers Guild, Jim Heavey, Milwaukee, Peachtree Tools, Redmond Machinery, The Woodworking Shows, WOOD Magazine Traveling Ambassador, Woodworkers Guild of Georgia
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See the top 20 most helpful scuba gear reviews
Average Customer Review: based on 1 reviews.Rating: Divegear Ladies Full Zip Poly Fleece Dive Jacket
176 Ladies Full Zip Fleece Jacket
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Pill proof.
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Divegear offers dive shops, liveaboard yachts and resorts a way to feature their business by adding a name drop or logo on most all products.
Our registered trademarked logos identify the wearer as an official 'Diver'. Our attitude is to not only 'Do It', but 'Wear It'.


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today we have been able to get confirmations for all deliverys, its not to easy :-)
Now i am ready to Announce, that APM America who will make a little Grand Opening at NEAF 2009 , will show at his Booth the largest Serial Production Apo in the World, this is also a Worldpremier !
the 10" APM/LZOS Apo will be displayed on the Giant Astrophysics AP3600GTO Mount and show the Potential of this in my opinion way to inexpensive mount.
The Whole Set is available for straight purchase.
The take away Price is US $ 80,990.00 only.
So if you plan to buy this apo, make shure you have enough cash. I will ask Roland to sign the mount and if you like , really only if you like, I sign the scope and will not charge anything for the sign :-)
Is this expensive ? Not its dam cheap, I believe a 8" TAK OTA alone cost same or more, right ?
so come, see, pay and take home
see you at NEAF


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Formulated with fewer ingredients to help reduce the likelihood of digestive problems and food sensitivities, Nutro Natural Choice Limited Ingredient Diet Lamb & Whole Brown Rice Adult Formula dry dog food is made with two primary ingredients: real Australian and New Zealand lamb, and whole brown rice.
Each tasty bite of this crunchy dry dog food provides the optimal nutrition your dog needs and the visible health benefits you want. Added vitamins, minerals, and natural antioxidants support a healthy immune system and overall cellular health. Optimal levels of Omega-6 fatty acid (linoleic acid), zinc, and B vitamins help maintain your dog's healthy skin and soft, shiny coat. Plus, Limited Ingredient Diet Lamb & Whole Brown Rice Adult Formula dry dog food contains no corn gluten meal, wheat, or soy protein - ideal for dogs with digestive sensitivities. Contains 22% protein, 14% fat, and 3.5% fiber. For adult dogs 1-7 years of age.
If you like this formula, why not try Doctors Foster and Smith Dry Adult Lamb and Brown Rice Formula? This premium healthy food was formulated by our veterinarians with high-quality real lamb protein, wholesome grains, real vegetables and fruits - and NO wheat, corn, or soy. You'll find our formula at a better price, pound per pound, so you can feed your dog well for less money. Try our formula risk free. If you are not happy with it, return the unused portion for a full refund.
Shop all dog food.
Please click on "More Information" for guaranteed analysis, ingredients, and feeding guidelines.


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Cooler than average temperatures this week.
A company said it has faced challenges since seeking approval to put a care ...
The No. 24 Arkansas baseball team (21-13) raced out to an early lead Wednesday ...
Due to the threat of inclement weather, Arkansas baseball's series opener with ...
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - The man who complained about an airline breaking his guitar back in 2009 via a catchy country song has helped start up a social media venue for griping about customer service. Enter Gripevine.
Musician and social media expert Dave Carroll produced "United Breaks Guitars" after claiming United Airlines had a poor response when he approached them about his guitar breaking on a flight. The video landed in Time Magazine's Top 10 Most Viewed Videos.
Gripevine.com is a landing strip of sorts where customers can post complaints about shopping and customer service experiences. Once that gripe is posted, the website then notifies the targeted business and a manager is encouraged to build a free company page on Gripevine so that he or she can access contact information for the person who posted the gripe.
In an email-based interview with THV 11 News, Carroll said "Gripevine is a fully realized version of what Richard Hue and I had set out to build; a platform that gives consumers the voice they require and incentives for companies to engage in meaningful dialogue. Fighting doesn't solve problems. Resolutions solve problems, and we designed Gripevine to skip the fighting and resolve disputes quickly for the benefit of all. It's gratifying to be involved in something that takes multiple challenges into consideration and improves the world."
When you land on the homepage of Gripevine you see an entertaining cartoon (pictured to the side) with a description of the site alongside. It boasts that it is "simple, free and easy." By a few clicks of the mouse, the consumer can "plant" their gripe.
A few of the companies to note that have profile pages on Gripevine are Verizon, Coca-Cola, Walgreens, and Hewlett Packard.
More from Carroll's interview with THV 11's Jessica Johnson:
• Was there a personal experience that led to the creation of Gripevine?
When United Breaks Guitars was posted to YouTube I believed others would find it relatable. I wasn't prepared however for the outpouring of support I would receive and for how strongly so many people feel about their right to expect good service and products that meet expectations (if not exceed them).
I received 10,000 emails in those early first weeks and aside from the encouragement and congratulations I received for doing something positive for customers, I discovered consumers everywhere are longing for an amplified voice and don't believe they have one.
• Is there an app? If not, do you see that coming in the future?
Yes, there will be an iPhone and Android App as well as a Facebook app all in the works. Our goal is to get our new platform lunched first and begin launching the app's in the second quarter of 2013. Plans and designs are already in the works.
• Are companies becoming more aware of Gripevine? Have you seen a change in customer service due to this service?
Absolutely, this is evident by company responses and resolutions in place monthly. We are a long way from changing the face of customer service in general because companies have to adapt changes internally for customer service to really change as an industry but have we seen positive embracement and amicable resolution through the Gripevine "complaint-resolution" platform, absolutely.
According to the Wall Street Journal in December, Gripevine has raised $2 million in seed money from angel investors.


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Student Accessibility Services will address your concerns with the utmost care and respect for confidentiality. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis. The first step in this process is to schedule an initial interview with our Disabilty Specialist, Tom Sagerhorn.
During that meeting, we will collaborate to identify barriers which you may encounter as a student on our campus. Your input and active participation in this process is necessary for us to determine your eligibility for accommodations. Be advised that we may require further supporting documentation to verify eligibility. If have have copies of any evaluations that you believe will be helpful, you are invited to bring them to the interview.
To schedule an appointment, please call 320-363-5760.


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Recently Opened Restaurants
by Julie Besonen, 04/09/2014
Photo: Alexander Thompson
- more in dining/
- recently/
50 MacDougal St., 917-639-3571, SoHo, Manhattan
The City has had some pizza-related dustups of late: the media erupted into a frenzy when Mayor Bill de Blasio ate pizza with utensils instead of his hands, and Jon Stewart mocked Chicago's deep-dish style as a casserole, among other insults (Justice Antonin Scalia, who grew up in NYC, followed a couple of months later by saying Chicago's version was "not pizza"). The easiest resolution to such outbursts is to merely give the people what they want: more pizza. This approach is very much alive at Chicago native Emmett Burke's boxy, exposed-brick joint, which plays to a full house every night (proof that not everyone shares Stewart's POV). In these pies, pedestals of high-walled crusts barricade pools of red sauce from escaping; an accompanying egg timer delivered to your table ensures the pizza is set before wedges are scooped out. However counterintuitive, deep-dish pizza is inverted, the cheese melted on the bottom, followed by toppings and then a crowning of tomato sauce. The pies take at least 35 minutes to bake, but a festive air, good salads and some wine or beer help make the wait less taxing.


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Two Questions:
1. Qmail has a little addon called auto respond, it allows for the create of a mail robot. Basically you can send to it and it auto replies, as well as forwards the original message to whomever. This would easily be accomplished by creating a user and setting forward and auto reply, but the only problem is the email still remains in the account mailbox. I don't ever want the email to be delievered to the mailbox, just forwarded to someone elses. Any thoughts or ideas on how to do this?
2. I have a multi server setup LDAP, Mailstore, MTA. I'm seeing some odd messages in my log regarding my spam accounts. I did somelooking at their LDAP entries and they MailTransport attribute is set to sent via LMTP to my LDAP server and no the mail store. I am assuming it is like this because the LDAP server is the first to be installed and at that time the spam accounts are distinguished. My question is can I just remove them and recreate them via command line
zmprov da email@example.com
zmprov da firstname.lastname@example.com
zmprov ca email@example.com
zmprov ca firstname.lastname@example.com
and all will be fine??
Thanks for the help.


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|Random drug testing summarized as first year ends
|Written by Brenda Johnson Brandt
After a year of random drug testing for Holyoke students in grades 7-12, no positive tests were reported.
Principal Susan Ortner presented the year's summary to the Re-1J School Board at its May 19 meeting.
With the testing pool including those involved in extra-curricular activities, Ortner noted it represented 62 of 82 7th and 8th grade students or 76 percent and 130/156 of students in grades 9-12 or 83 percent.
A total of 203 tests, averaging 5.48 per week were administered during the school year. This included 126 five-panel dip tests (test for cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, marijuana and PCP), 77 Etg tests (test for alcohol up to 80 hours after consumption) and also two hair tests (test for drugs listed above, up to three months after use).
Twelve students were selected and tested twice first semester, 10 during second semester and 35 over the course of the entire year. Thirty-two students were not selected at all.
Total cost to the district was $3,335. This included $1,260 for Dip tests at $10 each, $1,925 for Etgs at $25 each and $150 for hair tests at $75 each.
Only one alteration in practice from policy was initiated—the principal took a bottle of water to each student selected for testing 30 minutes prior to the test.
Ortner emphasized the results were always confidential, just the testing selection was not.
In one recommendation for policy change, Ortner suggested when students request a hair sample test rather than a Dip or Etg, the family would be required to make up the $50 difference in cost.
She also reported she has been called by a community group and another school district in Colorado, asking for a copy of the district's random drug testing policy.
Clarification asked for selection procedure
Just for clarification, Ortner was asked to review the procedure for student selection for random drug testing.
Centennial Mental Health has the numbers, which they've generated for testing through a computer program. They call Ortner with the student ID numbers to be tested. Ortner then matches names with the numbers to determine who will be tested. A half-hour prior to the testing, she takes a bottle of water to those students.
Afterwards, on the records, Ortner marks the test date and kind of test and stores the info in a locked file cabinet. She noted test results for the 2008-09 school year will be shredded the week after school is out.
Board member Dan Kafka noted he understands the security of the test after it's administered, but said he didn't remember talking about privacy of who would be tested.
Board members questioned why there would be a stigma for being selected for testing, as fellow students know who's in the testing pool.
Michelle Van Overbeke said the accountant in her is coming out, but she sees there being a weakness in that there's no protection for the random drug testing officer, who is Ortner in this case.
There's no accountability to know that the students who were selected were actually the ones who were tested. "It has nothing to do with questioning her, just for protecting her," said Van Overbeke.
Supt. Stephen Bohrer said there's implication the students are being hand-picked for testing.
Board members acknowledged if the records are opened for more scrutiny, they're just subject to less confidentiality. Suggestion was made for someone independent from the school system to provide the accountability back-up.
Ortner said, "There isn't anything I'm going to do to corrupt the policy."
Van Overbeke again said you audit people to protect yourself. She noted the person in charge of matching the student numbers to names needs protected from the accusation of hand-picking them.
Board president Kendon Olofson said the idea of an independent auditor of student selection in random drug testing is something to explore.


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[Return to Directory Listing]
Instructor I - Health Sciences
Phone: (239) 590-7452
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Office: Marieb Hall 448
Dr. Pamela St. Laurent received her Doctorate of Education with a concentration in Healthcare Education and a minor in Adult Education from Nova Southeastern University. She also earned an Education Specialist degree from the University of Central Florida and a Master's in Health Science with a concentration in Health Professions Education from FGCU. Prior to her arrival as Instructor 1/Academic Coordinator for Clinical Education for the Clinical Laboratory Science Program, she worked at the Kleist Health Education Center for five years where she taught age appropriate health curriculum to K-12 students in local counties. Dr. St. Laurent has also worked as worked as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist for approximately 14 years in Massachusetts and 6 years in Florida specializing in the area of Microbiology.
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Blvd, South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565
(239) 590-1000 or (800) 590-3428


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|Ruiz is thankful to be here
|Written by Chris Lee
A year ago, he was in the hospital battling pneumonia and celebrating his 82nd birthday with family and hospital staff.
Last week, Jessie Ruiz spent time with his family celebrating his 83rd. "I'm here, thanks to God," Ruiz said last week as he sat comfortably in his daughter's home while his wife and another daughter prepared a cake and birthday meal. "I'm happy. I never thought I'd be here again with my family."
Ruiz and his wife, Minnie, had driven their white Buick from Regent Park and Carriage House to spend time with their children. Daughter Estella said when Ruiz was moved into assisted living earlier this year, he told them they could sell everything except his white Buick—he loves it too much.
Jessie Ruiz is pictured with his wife Minnie on his 83rd birthday
—Enterprise photo
Last October, Ruiz was at Medical Center of the Rockies (MCR) in Loveland undergoing surgery on his stomach. Estella couldn't remember the exact term for the procedure, but explained Jessie's stomach had moved up into his chest area and had to be pulled down.
The surgery was performed by Dr. James Schiefen who practices in Holyoke every Thursday. Following the surgery, Ruiz was preparing to head back to Holyoke the next morning, but he went into shock.
Doctors found a small pencil-sized tear in his stomach and within an hour, he was back in surgery. Estella said Jessie was put on a respirator for about three days. He spent the next two weeks in the hospital before Estella and her husband Oscar traveled to transport him back to Holyoke.
"He was glad to be home," Estella said. Jessie was a swing bed patient at Melissa Memorial Hospital because he wasn't able to go home. It wasn't long before Jessie came down with his first bout of pneumonia.
One ambulance ride later, he was back at MCR. After another few weeks, he was moved back to Holyoke.
A feeding tube had to be inserted in Jessie's chest after he had complications with eating. It wasn't long before Jessie came down with another round of pneumonia. The kids huddled and decided to keep their father in Holyoke this time.
They learned that Jessie had to sleep with his head in an elevated position in order to keep the contents of his stomach from coming up. Ruiz ended up fighting two more rounds of pneumonia.
He was living at home and his children worked as a team each day to prepare the feeding tube and equipment. However, it became too much.
The decision was made to move Jessie into the nursing home. He was told by his doctors that everything they could do had been done. Estella said the doctors as well as the nursing staff did an outstanding job with her father during the rough period in his life.
"They just fell in love with dad," Estella said of the nurses in Holyoke. "We're very fortunate to have such a facility in Holyoke."
The move to Regent Park/Carriage House came just two weeks after his wife had moved there. The hopes were Jessie could move in with Minnie on the assisted living side after he got better. And that is exactly what happened.
The duo, married 56 years, now spends their time working with the staff during physical therapy and celebrating the fact that Jessie is still around. Ruiz weakened during his time in the hospitals and is working to regain some of his strength.
"We couldn't ask for any better care," Estella said of Regent Park. "They bend over backwards trying to help my dad."
Jessie and Minnie have made some good friends in the latest chapter of their life. Estella said their door is always open to visitors.
Jessie gathered with his family last week to enjoy another birthday. Jessie and Minnie have six children. Three live in Holyoke (Estella, Yolanda and Jessie) while three reside in Texas (Sandy, Isabel and Joe). Daughter Isabel made the trek last week to be with her parents and siblings.
The Ruiz family moved to Holyoke in 1969 from Hereford, Texas. Jessie worked with local farmers. Following his retirement, he kept busy riding his lawn mower around town, mowing lawns for people. He also enjoys detailing vehicles. Older vehicles really tickle his fancy.
Holyoke Enterprise October 25, 2012


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|Fecht wins mothers' FT contest
|Written by Holyoke Enterprise
Kari Fecht, mother of HHS senior boys' basketball player Deyten Klein, was the winner of the 2013 mothers' free throw contest, held at halftime of the HHS boys' game with Wray Saturday, Jan. 19.
Fecht and Horalia Lopez, mother of junior girls' basketball player Zuri Lopez, both shot two for two in the first round of competition. Fecht made three for five in the shoot-off to win this year's contest.
Holyoke Enterprise January 24, 2013


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I joined Technorati today to get more readers for the blog!
So I thought I would write about it so you guys would know about it, plus I have to do a post on here with a special link to confirm that this is my blog.
So if you are on technorati add my blog to your favorties.
Technorati Profile
Chef Scotty came over on Sunday, and he recounted a banquet he threw for a bunch of good ol' boys, in the awl bidness. He had paired the wines with the courses, and he greeted the execs at the door with a glass of chilled rosé.
Eyebrows were raised. Looks were askance. "Gotta beer?" was a typical response. He held firm. But Texas boys of a certain age are just going to have that reaction to rosé. In our misspent youth, we guzzled saccharine sweet rosé like it was kool-ade. What was it called, Mateus? Boone's Farm? I think it came in a cute bottle, always a prerequisite for wine selection.
Even until recently, I have personally been biased against rosés. When Gladys and I visited Napa in January, we went o the Sattui winery, and the tour host offered a glass of this rosato, the 2006 North Coast rosato. Gladys and I both had to be talked in to trying it.
Really spectacular! Chef Scotty's story reminded me we had this in our "cellar" (no one really has cellars in Houston, we have wine rooms). I am going to chill it and savor it. I remember that it was crisp, dry, just a hint of sweetness, and a delicious slightly acrid flavor like the dusty residue of crushed grape pips. I notice that the winery took the precaution of putting the word "dry" on the label.
Chef Scotty says the awlmen loved the rosé. He said the topper though was when he told them that all the wines he served were CostCo's proprietary line of meritage wines, Cameron Hughes, which are all priced around $10 or so. Even in these flush times, awlmen love a bargain.Even in these flush times, awlmen love a bargain. - Posted by Enrico Hale
As most of you know by now, Robert Mondavi, Napa and America's Ambassador for Wine, recently passed away at the age of 94. Mondavi changed the course of the U.S. wine industry which, in 1966 (when he started Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville) was made up primarily of generic jug wines.
In 1968, Mondavi introduced Fume Blanc (1966 vintage) as a varietal. It (Sauvignon Blanc) is the grape of Pouilly-Fume and Sancerre in the Loire Valley, France, but Mondavi's rendition revealed a unique, gorgeous ripe fruit quality that was exciting to experience, and which was the forerunner of the great Sauvignon Blanc wines now coming out of California and other parts of the new world.
His reserve Pinots and Cabernets rivaled the greatest early Napa wines such as Heitz Martha's Vineyard and B.V. Private Reserve. He was an indefatigable visionary and marketing genius. I remember numerous occasions in the late '70s and throughout the'80s when he or his son Michael would open one of these great reds alongside a Grand Cru Burgundy or a First Growth Bordeaux, not to obtain flattering remarks, but to see what I thought about how they were doing by comparison. Proof of their success came when we entertained Isabel and Michael Mondavi in our home in the '90s, and among other wines served Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir Reserve 1985, Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1985 and Chateau Margaux 1985. Although very different wines, all agreed there was no perceptible difference in quality!
The next time you have a glass of wine with a friend, please raise a glass to toast Robert Mondavi. There may never be another one like him!
Written by Denman Moody, President of CorporateEventWines.com
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(AP) -- New York's three major airports will be operating under reduced schedules as flight services start returning to normal following Superstorm Sandy.
John F. Kennedy International Airport and Liberty Airport in Newark, N.J., which reopened Wednesday, will continue to offer limited service on Thursday.
LaGuardia Airport, which had remained closed amid storm-related damage, says it is due to reopen Thursday morning with reduced service.
U.K. airlines Virgin Atlantic and British Airways say they are operating close-to-normal schedules to New York and have added an extra flight to reduce backlog.


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Cleveland Botanical Garden is an ever-changing urban escape where you find enrichment and inspiration through fabulous gardens, an exotic Glasshouse and enchanting events. We make our community greener and healthier by growing young lives and restoring land throughout the city.
Cleveland Botanical Garden's Media Policy
The Garden encourages members of the media to contact our marketing and communications team at any time for help with arranging visits and tours, setting up interviews with our staff, developing story ideas and gathering photos for publication. We're here to help!
Current Annual Report
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To spark a passion for plants and cultivate an understanding of their vital relationship to people and the environment.
Media Contact
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Morgan Stanley CEO Brokerage Recruiting Wars Are Overfor Now
After a transformational year, turnover at Gorman's Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in the top two producer quintiles was at a historic low of less than 1 percent in the fourth quarter, the firm revealed in its quarterly earnings Wednesday, January 20.
"We went through a frenetic period as an industry over the last couple of years in terms of deals and dislocation," Gorman said in response to a question about turnover on Morgan Stanley's quarterly conference call. "I truly believe the industry is moving toward a more rational recruiting model."
"The lower turnover is for real," he added. "For the next couple of years it should stay low and relatively stable."
Gorman's remarks, and Morgan Stanley's report of lower broker turnover, came on the same day that Bank of America also revealed that headcount in its 15,000-broker Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management group also stabilized.
Morgan Stanley's purchase of Smith Barney, which closed in May, created the largest brokerage firm in the world, with 18,135 representatives as of the end of 2009. In the third quarter, Morgan Stanley had 18,160 representatives. Leading up to the close of the acquisition, both firms saw a notable number of reps depart for other wirehouses—or in some cases, regional and independent advisory firms.
With attrition stabilizing in the fourth quarter at Morgan Stanley, each rep brought in $692,000 in revenue, on an annualized basis. Client assets totaled almost $1.6 trillion, more than doubling from a year ago as a result of the merger, but up just 2 percent from the third quarter, mostly from higher asset prices, according to the firm.
This year and next, consolidation expenses related to the merger will continue to rise, peaking in 2011, Morgan Stanley said. Gorman took over from John Mack earlier this month. He has a background in wealth management at Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. and Morgan Stanley, whereas his predecessor had an investment banking background.
Gorman expects costs of $450 million this year, due to the rationalization of real estate and information technology following the merger.
In response to a question from an analyst on dealing with these costs, Gorman responded, "We're obviously in the middle of a complex integration program. These items will all come to a head full-year 2011. It's kind of a two- to three-year program."
Filed by Hillary Johnson of InvestmentNews, a sister publication of Workforce Management. To comment, e-mail email@example.com.
Stay informed and connected. Get human resources news and HR features via Workforce Management's Twitter feed or RSS feeds for mobile devices and news readers.


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can you use any of the scuba masks for snorkelling? also, are all oceanic snorkels compatible with all of the oceanic masks? or do certain snorkels only go with certain masks one more thingnew at this, sorry!i am a 117 lb 54 female. do i need a small mouthpiece? thank you! d
All scuba masks will work perfectly with all snorkels. You don''t have to worry about a particular model or brand not working with another. Also, all scuba masks are suitable for snorkeling as well. The regular size mouthpiece on the snorkels will work for about 95% of the users out there. The only time you''d need to consider a "mini" sized mouthpiece or snorkel would be if you have something akin to a toddler''s sized mouth.
Maskwear that keeps you focused. Sleek 100% liquid silicone skirt attached directly to the tempered glass lens. No mask frame means the Shadow Series offers an incredible field of vision and packs flat. Available in 2 colors and 2 sizes for a perfect fit.
No-frame design reduces weight and provides one of the largest fields-of-view
Extremely low volume design
Swiveling, easy adjusting buckles
Ideal for hunters and photographers
Perfect back-up mask as it folds and fits easily in your BC pocket
Type Frameless
Material Liquid-Silicone
Colour Black
Blow-off valve No
Optical lenses No
Dioptre No
Frame colour Black, Ice
Water is more dense than air, which makes objects look blurry. A mask provides an air spae in front of the eyes to eliminate distorted vision.
Prior to using the mask for the first time, thoroughly clean both sides of the lens with a nonabrasive liquid detergent, or toothpaste, to remove any residue, then rinse with fresh water.
To prevent fogging during use, rub a 'no fog' solution, or saliva, on the inner surface of the lense while it is still dry, then rinse with water.
Adjust the strap so that it holds the mask comfortably and firmly in position on your face without being too tight or restrictive.
Place the mask on your face and pull the strap over the top of your head.
To clear water that enters the mask, stand up or come to the surface and lift the bottom of the mask away from your face to allow the water to drain out. While underwater, tilt yourhead back and exhale gently into the mask while pressing the top portion with your fingers. Water will be forced out the bottom edge.
To eliminate mask squeeze caused by the higher pressures that are experienced when diving deeper than a few feet, exhale slowly into the mask through your nose as you dive deeper. To equalize pressure in your ears, pinch your nose closed with your thumb and finger and blow gently while holding your mouth closed.
Care and Maintenance
At the end of each day of use, rinse your mask thoroughly in fresh water and towel dry. Do not allow the clear silicone skirt or strap to come in contact with items that are black rubber. This will cause the clear silicone to become discolored. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or excessive heat.
Ensure that the mask is completely dry before storing. Store in a cool, dry location.


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Improving Protected Area Governance to Support Livelihood Security in Selected Countries
To promote enhanced equity and livelihood security through participatory protected area management and ensuring fair benefits distribution in selected countries
Background and activities
This component of the project will focus on Bolivian, Peruvian and East and Southern African regions with extensive protected area networks that considerably overlap with local community lands and resources.
At the core of solving the conflict between protected area objectives and the livelihood security of the rural poor is a set of governance issues related to tenure rights, access to resources, legal frameworks, decision making, responsibilities, accountability and the rule of law. However, because political decisions are conditioned by current economic hardships, improving governance and conservation on the ground remains a challenge for IUCN and its partners. IUCN remains dedicated to promote progress towards the empowerment of local communities and the improvement of governance at all levels.
In order to address these governance issues, The IUCN-Headquarter team and a group of project partners in selected regions are collaborating in conducting case studies that can guide further analysis and understanding of these fundamental issues. This will allow project actors and, eventually, the wider protected area management community to adjust and adapt tools for the integration of livelihood security, participatory decision-making and transparency into protected area planning and governance.
To strengthen the capacity for good governance of protected areas specifically, training workshops are being conducted with protected area managers, community representatives, government personnel and development and conservation organisations. In Southern Africa, the recent development of transfrontier conservation has introduced novel inter-regional governance issues and IUCN advises in creating regional and sub-regional national policy changes that promote and secure local livelihoods.
In addition, continued collaboration with partners and relevant government agencies aims to influence protected area policies at the national and international levels, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA).
Through its initiatives, this component will enable tools and frameworks to be adapted and developed to support the integration of livelihood security, participation and transparency in protected area planning and governance.
Multiple stakeholders in protected area management will gain the capacities and tools to integrate good governance goals into the creation and management of protected area systems. As a result, protected areas will contribute to livelihood security and greater equity between stakeholders and, as a result, conflict between communities and managers will be diminished.
Partners and Roles
Although coordinated by the IUCN-Headquarters Social Policy team, various partners will be involved with the implementation of these project efforts on the ground. These include the partners mentioned in other sub-projects found in these regions.
The Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) is a key partner in addressing rights related issues of protected area governance, especially in forest areas, and so is an important player in the development and application of these initiatives within existing networks.


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Current AnnouncementsFROM: Dr. Michael J. Slavin, Theatre and Dance RE: AUDITIONS AND TECHNICAL INTERVIEWS - Don't miss it!!!
Sent: 8/27/2012 4:37:10 PM
To: Students
Who: ANY STUDENT INTERESTED IN ACTING, SINGING AND/OR DANCING
What: Mass Auditions and Technical Interviews for all Department of Theatre & Dance
Fall 2012 productions.
Roles available for:
· An Evening of One Acts (multiple roles for both genders-acting only)
· Law and Order: Fairy Tale Unit (Only first year Cal U students are
eligible to audition)
· A Christmas Carol, the Musical (Looking for actors, singers and\or
Technical positions available:
Light Board Operators, Follow Spot Operators, Lighting Technicians, Sound Board Operators, Sound Technicians, Video Projection Operators, Video Projection Programmers, Set Construction, Run Crew, Scenic Artists, Properties Construction, Properties Run, Costume Construction, Costume Mistress, Costume Run,
Hair and Makeup, Assistant Stage Management, House Management, etc.
Where: Blaney Theatre on the lower level of Steele Hall (enter through the rear of the building)
When: Thursday, September 6th, 2012 beginning at 5:30 PM and ending when we are done!
Why: To cast all roles and fill all technical areas for all productions for Fall 2012
Open to all majors!
No previous experience required!
Prepare 32 bars of a song for Carol auditions. No a capella singing. Accompanist provided!
Come prepared to MOVE!
Contact Dr. Michael Slavin (firstname.lastname@example.com) or Dr. Michele Pagen (firstname.lastname@example.com) for more information.


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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The president of Ohio State University is getting a pay increase and a bonus of about $330,000.
Ohio State's board of trustees on Friday approved a $25,000 pay increase that will bring the base salary of President Gordon Gee (gee) to nearly $860,000 a year.
The board also approved a 40 percent performance bonus that will come from a fund created from private donations. Board members praised his fundraising efforts and other projects that have brought in more money for the school.
Gee is among the highest paid public university presidents in the country with an overall package of around $2 million per year.
He's been at Ohio State the last five years. He also was the school's president from 1990 to 1997.


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Exclusive Use
What better way to entertain or celebrate than having Homewood Park exclusively yours.
We are pleased to offer exclusive use of the house, Restaurant and grounds, to include a total of Twenty one bedrooms, of which we have seven classic bedrooms, seven superior bedrooms, three junior suites, two master suites and two garden suites.
Our dedicated events coordinator, Katherine Lund will be delighted to discuss your individual wishes as she tailor makes your perfect event.


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On the corner of Pleasant Street and Townshend Road sits Woodard House. Comfortably cozy, it's a great house for a family.
On the first floor, you will find one bedroom with a queen sleigh bed and a private bath. There is a dining room, full kitchen and living room with TV and phone. Upstairs are two more bedrooms, one with a queen sleigh bed and large private bath and the other with matching double iron beds and a full bath. There is a bright sitting room at the top of the stairs.
Woodard House is now pet friendly. We welcome well-behaved cats & dogs.CHECK RATES
« All room types and Rental Houses
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Room WD1
Queen sleigh bed. MORE »
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Two double beds. MORE »


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Maria Sharapova and her fly-away hair were spotted at sponsor TAG Heuer's cocktail reception at the Royal De Versailles Jewellers in Toronto where the 22-year old had co-hosting duties.
Shrieka is entered into the Rogers Cup draw which begins next week and will face compatriot Nadia Petrova in the first round. I'd say the draw gawds weren't kind to the 3-time Grand Slammer but she handled Nads pretty easily (read: 6-1, 6-2 beatdown) during their last meetup in Stanford.
Thanks Nirili!
(images via celebrity-gossip.net)
Sunday, August 16, 2009
SIGHTING: Fly-away Shrieka co-hosts TAG Heuer event in Toronto
Labels: celebrity, Maria Sharapova, parties, sponsorship, Tag Heuer, tennis
8 comments:
Is that the only pair of shoes Shrieky has? I think I have seen her in every variation of those style of shoes. I know she had a pair of Christin Leboutin that she wore to almost every event, then there were the flats, and now these. I know there is a recession on, but come on now even plebs like myself have more than 1 pair of shoes in my closet at a time.ReplyDelete
HA - they're actually from her Cole Haan collection in a grey color:ReplyDelete
I suppose she should pimp her own line now and then.
Thanks for that Rich. No wonder she keeps wearing them. Nothing like self-advertisement. I have to admit that I dont particularly care for them.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 16, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Oh Karen, don't be a typical catty hater. Poor form. I'm the first to note when Maria looks dodgy. But she looks great there. Thumbs up.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 17, 2009 at 2:25 AM
i really don't see the "beauty" in maria sharapova i find her really dull in interviews and she tries to be likable and it doesnt seem natural to me a bit reheasered maybe?ReplyDelete
she's got great legs not doubt and a good body but she's nothing special somethign in me still think she's an anna kournikova wanna be in the looks department
that being sed i'd kill for her legs
Why does she wear such high heels if she's like 6 feet or more?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 17, 2009 at 9:57 AM
because she doesn't give a shit about intimidating the midget men. i find it kind of funny and actually adirmable. wish more tall women had the confidence to do that instead of slouching around and trying to make themselves seem less just so some insecure guy won't feel intimidated. if i had a dollar for every tall teenaged girl i knew who tried to hide and slouch...ReplyDelete
I love Maria's current look!ReplyDelete


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This map is actually really interesting-looking. I was gonna mention for you to put in some rivers, but apparently that's next on the list.
At first I thought how the land overlaps the border in the top left corner didn't look to good, but then I reconsidered. Taking a second look, I didn't mind it too much. I await the details - I am looking forward to seeing them.
I love the color of the border. Really simple and frankly awesome. ,The dark blue of the sea is also superb. And pretty much everything else about this map is great...
Awesome work.


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We did a short overnight trip up to Bahia San Gabriel when friends Paul and Sarah stopped by on their vacation to Baja California Sur.
We had great weather for walking the white sand beach and some swimming -- just not enough wind for sailing.
Now we'll head out again tomorrow for a longer trip. We'll be gone a week to 10 days and head further north to explore some new territory.
Going to Espirtu Santo and Isla Pardita is about the equivalent of going to Blake Island from Gig Harbor -- this next trip will be more like going to the San Juans!
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
Happy New Year Everyone!
We wish you all health and happiness in 2010!
Terry & Heidi
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
For the 1st time in MONTHS I've had a good enough internet connection and some free time so I could upload some pictures to our Photo Gallery!
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
See you in a few weeks...Plan dinner at our house one night.xoxoxoxo
12/24/2009, the Sea of Cortez
We send warm wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with health and happiness!
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
We've put 2,300 miles under Cetus's keel since leaving Gig Harbor at the end of May.
The first two months were a relaxing vacation in the beautiful San Juan islands and then we began the long trek south.
We had many enjoyable stops along the way, including two extended stops (3 weeks in San Francisco Bay and a month in San Diego), but for the most part we've been in traveling mode the whole time.
That all ended yesterday when we dropped the anchor in the lovely, cozy anchorage of Caleta Lobos, a few short miles north of La Paz. We could see the anchor as it sank into the sand beneath the boat and it wasn't long before we were swimming in the clear, warm water.
It was then that it hit us: we had finally arrived at our destination, we were actually in the Sea of Cortez! We are done traveling because we were where we wanted to be. No more long passages for a while, we would be gunk holing around the Sea of Cortez much like we did in the San Juans, only here there are cactus instead of Evergreens and Magnolias and water that we can swim in! There are many more anchorages just as enchanting as this one (though right now it's hard to imagine anything could rival the beauty of this place) and we have the whole next year to explore.
In a couple days we will head in to "the city" of La Paz where we'll spend some time at Marina Palmira while we have family and friends that will be visiting the area. We'll have WiFi while there and I'll once again be able to post pictures to add to these blog posts.
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
10/20/2009, Disneyland!
Our daughter, Carly, got to come down and visit for another mini vacation! Her last visit was in September when we were in San Francisco.
She flew in Friday night and we had a nice dinner at the Galley Restaurant here at the marina, then the next day was a relaxing "beach day". We crossed the bay in our dinghy and spent the afternoon on the Silver Strand reading and watching a surfing class. The fog rolled in that day (it finally caught back up with us! We thought we'd lost it back at Point Conception!), but it was a "warm" fog, so it was still a nice day.
We got up early Sunday and made the 2 hour drive to Disneyland for a fun family day. We've never managed to be in California for any length of time without squeezing in a Disney trip -- and since Terry used to spend so much time working in California there weren't many years that we didn't make it to Disneyland -- it's a Kotas Family Favorite. After a full day going from park to park (We really enjoy California Adventure, too) and doing all the rides and eating all our favorite treats, we headed home for a good nights sleep.
Carly flew out Monday afternoon and we are back to preparations for Mexico. Things are wrapping up quite well. Terry completed the installation of the new motor for the autopilot, our Mexican insurance is in process and provisioning is basically done (just fresh foods to pick up at the last minute).
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
07/13/2009, Garrison Bay, San Juan Island
We've been up here in the San Juans thoroughly enjoying ourselves for the past 43 days, and now it's time to move on. It's been a great shakedown cruise trying out all the new systems (new radar, chart plotter, solar panels and watermaker) and getting refreshed on old ones that we haven't used for a long time (SSB and Ham radios to name a couple). It's been like a long fun vacation. Since the last couple days have been cooler with some rain mixed in, it made us realize that the lovely weather we've been enjoying will eventually turn to months of the same and we are excited to begin our journey south to follow the sun.
We will spend a couple days here in Garrison Bay, once again meeting up with our friends, Jack and Joan, on Interlude. Then we will say our goodbyes and cross the Straits of Juan de Fuca to Sequim Bay, where we will stay about a week giving me a chance to head down to Gig Harbor to take care of a few things before we head to Neah Bay and then down the coast.
As always, it's hard to say goodbye and to leave favorite places behind, but the excitement of the adventure ahead lures you on. So we will soon be changing gears from "San Juan vacationers" to "Blue Water cruisers" and we are very much looking forward to it!
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
06/12/2009, Blind Bay, Shaw Island
Sun and wind -- something that you usually don't get at the same time too often here in the Pacific Northwest -- but we've been enjoying both for the 10 days we've been up enjoying the beautiful San Juan Islands.
I'm having to file this remotely, since I don't have internet connection here, so I won't be able to include any of the pictures of our spinnaker flying as we move on to our next anchorage. I will add those later when we get back in range again in a few days.
We were able to sail off our mooring at Spencer Spit today, then tacked out of Thatcher Pass and took a look at James Island for a possible stop, but the dock was full (with 2 boats) and it's not a great anchorage so we decided to press on.
It took us a bit to decide where to go, we thought of heading north to Matia or Sucia, but there was a strong current that would be against us and we wanted to sail, so we turned back into Thatcher pass and turned north and hoisted the spinnaker!
The winds were very light, but we were able to move along quite nicely and when the wind died completely we turned on the engine -- that's all it took for the wind to come up again, so out went the Genoa and we sailed the rest of the way to Blind Bay.
We grabbed a mooring buoy near Blind Island and are thoroughly enjoying our new "back yard". We have been using mooring buoys on most of our stops, as we have a Park Pass that we don't have to pay the $10 a night -- so the more we use it the more we save!
And even though this time in the San Juans is our time to test everything and work on skills, anchoring is one we are pretty confident with, since we've spent many years anchoring in the South Pacific. So we'll sit back and enjoy another beautiful sunset and look forward to another day in paradise.
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
Charlie and Diane
We left our slip earlier than we intended to this morning -- a lot of nervous energy and we just wanted to get going.
Arrived at the Tides dock and settled in relaxing in the cockpit waiting for them to open the doors at 9 o'clock.
Lots of special friends showed up to bid us fair winds and many stayed and enjoyed breakfast with us! It was a wonderful send off.
We docked at Blake Island about 1:00 and after lunch enjoyed our favorite 'round the island hike. I've entered a collection of photos from this morning in the gallery to the right.
Looking forward to a nice relaxing evening and leisurely morning.
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
We're packed and provisioned and ready to go!
We plan to leave our slip between 7 & 8 tomorrow morning, then after a stop at the Tides Tavern for breakfast we'll be off! First stop: Blake Island.
Our daughter Carly will be going with us on this first leg -- Blake Island has always been one of our family favorites. Then the next day we'll go to Bell Harbor (right by the Pike Street Market) so she can go home and then we'll begin our trip to the San Juans the next morning.
I've spent the last couple weeks stashing and stowing and filling up every nook and cranny with food and supplies. I've put some of the provisioning pictures in our photo gallery.
Remember to send an email to FollowCetus at gmail dot com (or just click on the send email button to the right) if you'd like to be on our email list for updates along the way!
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
It sounds like life is good and so is the weather. Great start to your jouney! Sorry we couldn't get together before you left but will see you and hear all about the trip when you return. Have a great time.
05/09/2009, Gig Harbor Yacht Club
Check out the photo albums on the lower right for recently added pictures from our Bon Voyage party on May 9th!
We threw the party not to say good bye, but rather to have fun and as a way to thank all of the special people in our lives: family, friends, fellow boaters and those we've worked with through the years.
I've always said the hardest part of cruising is saying good bye to new found friends when it's time to set sail. It's very bittersweet with the excitement of the new adventures laying ahead mixed with the sadness of leaving.
Leaving from home is the hardest, because then it's not just new acquaintances, but family and very dear long time friends.
But this time I don't think of it as saying goodbye. We plan to be back home to visit at least once a year and we hope to enjoy the company of family and friends who will come and meet us on our journeys. Plus, with the much improved communications in the world today, we will be able to keep in touch so well, in ways it will be like we're still right here in Gig Harbor (but hopefully out of this nasty rain!)
So don't say goodbye, just wish us safe voyages and look forward to the times we'll be together again -- preferably somewhere tropical!
Heidi & Terry
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
We've changed our Countdown Calendar!
Today is Terry's last day of work, so the "Day's Till Freedom" link at the right has been changed to "Set Sail!" and is now counting down the time till we cut the dock lines and leave Gig Harbor.
After leaving the slip, our first stop will be the Tides Tavern for breakfast, then we'll head up to Blake Island for our first Port o'Call.
Our daughter, Carly, will join us on that first leg, then the next day it's across the Sound to Bell Harbor Marina in Seattle to drop her off and enjoy Pike Street before heading further north to explore the San Juan and Gulf Islands.
Whooo hooo!
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
Terry just has a handful of workdays before his retirement on April 30th!
It will make the last of the preparations easier, since we won't have to try to fit everything in to the all too short weekends -- now every day will be a "weekend" day!
In May we will continue on changing the boat over to "cruising mode" -- taking off the things that we need here for life as usual -- work clothes, some decorations, and other odds and ends. And we will start the hard core provisioning to stock up on foods and supplies to keep us going for the next 4 - 5 months.
We do have a trip to the Indy 500 over Memorial Day Weekend again this year! This will be our third time attending this exciting event and our friends, Liz & Tom will join us for the 2nd time.
Terry will be talking at a "Meet the Author" event on May 19th! It's put on by our local bookstore, Mostly Books, and will be held at the Chapel on Echo Bay on Fox Island at 7 pm. He'll be talking about the events building our 1st cruising boat, Cassiopeia, and the adventures sailing it to Hawaii and across the South Pacific -- which is what "Adventures Aboard Rick's Place" based on. So join us there to get the "story behind the story"!
Finally, on May 31st we will sail out of Gig Harbor! After we leave our slip at Murphy's Landing, we will stop at the Tides Tavern for breakfast and then continue up to Blake Island. Our daughter, Carly, will be joining us for that trip -- Blake Island has always been a favorite of hers. The next day we will sail across to Bell Harbor to drop her off and then continue up to the San Juans and beyond.
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
01/07/2009, rainy Gig Harbor
Terry & I are excited to be going on our first "cruise ship" cruise this month!
It was a great deal offered by our friend Yolanda Essig of Unique Travel (check out her link to the right -- she's the best!). She and her husband Steve did the same trip last year and just loved it, so this year she arranged for a group of us to go along with them. Should be lots of fun. I've always thought that a cruise would be "my dream vacation" so it's great to start out the new year finally experiencing it.
One of the best parts are the destinations -- because they are along the Mexican coast line that we will be sailing down next year.
We've been to two of the ports of call: Manzanillo and Zihuatanejo, but this will be our first time into Acapulco and we're happy to see it from the deck of the Carnival Spirit -- it will make sailing in aboard Cetus much easier since we'll already have a lay of the land.
I will be taking our SPOT messanger with us to record much of our route -- so you can check out the "Where in the World are we" link to follow along if you'd like. We'll also be able to keep the GPS waypoints we record and enter them into our GPS on Cetus to aid us in our coarse plotting when we sail on our own.
Terry's shoulder surgery has been postponed till we get back from the cruise. Originally we thought it would be a great relaxing way to recoup, but since it was all scheduled he had a knee problem crop up and yesterday we found out he can have both the knee and the shoulder done at the same time -- and they don't recommend flying so soon after knee surgery due to the danger of blood clots.
So in a week we're off on a cruise aboard a much bigger boat than we're used to!
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
Have a great great time....take lots of pictures.
Happy New Year!
The snow is pretty much gone and right now we're enjoying the first sunny day that's come this way in a very long time!
It's time to take down the Christmas lights and decorations and start plugging away at our list of things to do to get ready to cruise!
Terry's scheduled to have shoulder surgery January 8th, then he'll have knee surgery in March. Hopefully his recovery time will give him a chance to get some writing done on his next book that's in the works.
Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2009!
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
10/07/2008, Gig Harbor, WA
One thing that we're looking forward to on our upcoming cruise is the luxury of time.
The last two cruises we had a limited number of days before we'd have to return to the rat race. This one should be more open ended.
And because we'll have more time, we can get into cruising mode as soon as we leave our slip in Gig Harbor. Always before we needed to rush down the coast to maximize our time in the southern climes.
Now we plan to harbor hop down the coast, so instead of staying out to sea for a week at a time, we'll pull into and enjoy coastal towns along the way.
We've been lucky to have cruising friends nearby that have shared information with us on their experiences to help us form our plans.
Steve & Kay Van Slyke of Kavenga have harbor hopped down the coast twice and gave us tips on the best stops and "must dos" in each port.
Then we got together with Roy & Winona of Saucy Lady for an evening of reminiscing and they shared their experiences in the Galapagos -- one of our main goals.
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
In addition to the new format we're trying out, to the right you'll now find a link to our photo gallery.
We've only entered a few pictures so far, but many more will be coming, so stop on by and check it out!
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
I think the question we get asked the most about our upcoming trip is "Where will you go this time?"
And our answer is vague, because as we've learned in the past, cruising plans are fluid, "written in Jello", as is said. Cruisers must be flexible and ready to change their plans for any number of reasons. so we won't have a hard and fast scedule when we depart.
We do, however, have a couple of destinations that we really hope to see:
1. The Galapagos
2. Australia
What we do on the way, in between, or after those goals remains to be seen, so even though we have a couple definite destinations in mind we don't have a time schedule for visiting them -- that will be made up as we go.
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
Here's a beautiful sunrise off the stern of Cetus one crisp winter morning.
When we moved back aboard Cetus last June we were a bit apprehensive about what living aboard in the winter in the Northwest would be like, but sights like this make it all worthwhile.
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew
We've set a date to set sail, so it's time to start a log!
This will be our 3rd Bluewater Cruise and our 2nd aboard Cetus, our Fantasia 35 that we live aboard in Gig Harbor, WA.
There's a link to the right that will take you to a web page with pictures and info from our last cruise to Mexico and the South Pacific from 1998 - 2003.
Our first cruise was aboard Cassiopeia, a Golden Gate 30 that we built from a bare hull. That cruise lasted from 1992 t0 1994, so it was before web pages or blogs so no information is currently accessable on it, but I have plans to get some pictures and stories together on that wonderful time in our lives.
So follow along as we continue to prepare Cetus and the crew for our next offshore adventure and then finally cut loose the lines and sail off into the sunset.
|Blog Posts: Cetus Crew


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About Lindseyy
The name is Lindsey, do me a favor and try not to wear it out.
Ok lets get some things straight...
1 I am NOT emo/scene/ghetto/preppy. I am me, nothing more nothing less.
2 I DO NOT tolerate fakes. If you're too ugly to use your own pics than get the fuck off the internet.
3 I WILL most likely Tell you if I think your a fake, I'm right 99% of the time.
4 I WILL tell you when something is bothering me so PLEASE stop asking me "Are you ok" every other sentence.
5 I WILL Tell you straight up if I don't like something you're doing/saying.
6 If I am being mean to you, I'm most likely just playing around and teasing you. I love everyone and wouldnt do anything to hurt them.
7 I have typing issues
8 I hate it when people say something about me but they won't tell me. It makes me feel like shit, if you cant say it to my face don't say it at all.
9 D0 N0T T4LK LYK D1S, or like thish(Ish meh thish, sawy).It's extremely obnoxious.
I think that's everything that I have an issue with.
I like Converse, Skinny Jeans, and Tight Tees. I dress how I dress, I am who I am. I hide behind these walls I built around me. Afraid to come out. Im always the one that will open my heart to anyone. I trust easily, making everything hurt twice as hard. My love isnt something just anyone can have. Sure Ill tell you that I love you, but I rarely actually mean it like that.
I haven't added this to my profile yet


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In case you were wondering, Mother's Day didn't just form out of thin air. Its beginnings are credited to Anna Marie Jarvis, daughter of Ann Jarvis, a Civil War–era social activist whose Mothers' Day Work Clubs aided both Confederate and Union solders. After her mother's death, Anna Jarvis passed out carnations (now the traditional Mother's Day flower) to each congregation member at her mother's church in West Virginia. She embarked on a campaign to make Mother's Day a recognized holiday, which she achieved in 1914.
There you have it. Now, on to the fun part – the shopping. Whether she's your mom, grandmother, step, part-time, or pseudo-mother, show your appreciation – because with all the battles you put her through, she cared enough not to throw her arms up in the air and say, "F$%& this, I'm out of here." Phew. Thanks, Mom.
Our What a Mom Wants: Gifts for Mother's Day Boutique opens Thursday, April 4, at 11AM ET.
By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer
Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You'll love Rue La La. Join now.


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Community Engagement and Career Development at USM gives students the opportunity to gain experience in the field, explore career directions, develop global citizenship skills, and give back to the community. Our office is a resource to multiple audiences:
Students: We have strong community relationships throughout Southern Maine and on campus. We can connect you to a wide variety of experiential learning opportunities including service-learning experiences, volunteer and internship opportunities. We can also help with your transition into the work force by providing you with career guidance, helping you prepare your resume and cover letter, and many other services.
Community Partners: Our commitment is to mobilize USM students, faculty, and staff to address community-identified needs in partnerships marked by respect, reciprocity, and mutual benefit. We can connect you with our faculty about service-learning experiences, as well as help you find student interns, employees, or volunteers.
Faculty and Staff: We are here to help develop community connections for you and your students. You can use us as a resource for assisting in service-learning experiences, finding internship site placements, and preparing students for entering the workforce.
What is Community Engagement?
Community Engagement at USM is a pedagogical approach that integrates academic learning with meaningful experience or work in the community. It is an experiential focus on learning that must be embedded in the curriculum. Students in community engagement bring theories, knowledge, and practices developed through academic reading, writing, and analysis to specific topics-related study and work in community sites. Community Engagement advances USM's mission to foster in students "a spirit of critical inquiry and civic participation." We believe community engagement is a critical element of USM's commitment to the Maine community.


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BKE Classic Matlock Shirt
Sorry, this product is currently not available on buckle.com.
- Slim fit button front plaid shirt
- 100% Cotton.
- Machine wash in cold water with like colors, gentle cycle. Use only non-chlorine bleach when needed. Tumble dry low. Warm iron if necessary.
- Made in India.
Have a Question?
- Chest measures 42" on a size medium.
- Center back length measures 29 1/2".
- Slim Fit is form-fitting. The silhouette of the slim fit from shoulder, chest and bodice of a shirt is more fitted.
- Model Info: Height: 5'10" | Chest: 38" | Waist: 33" | Hip: 39" | Wearing Size: Medium


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Package Deal Part XIIWritten by on January 31, 2006 Contributors: Classic Trucks Staff Sacramento Vintage Ford's Mail Order F-100, Time To Shine
Wet and wild! This month the Package Deal '56 F-100 is getting sprayed in a brilliant water-based paint. Water-based, you say? I know that doesn't have the best ring to it, and it probably brings to mind all the past attempts by the paint industry to make this actually work. Water-based usually sounds like a shot in the dark to make things environmentally friendly instead of making them work. Auto-Air Colors is doing its best to make the most of all of these aspects jive. Whether anyone likes it or not, water-based paints are here to stay, and will be the future of automotive finishes.
What Auto-Air has done is to use the latest in water-based technology and make it durable, easy to use, safe to clean up, and available in a plethora of custom colors, including pearls, pearl-flakes, metalflakes, metallic colors, chameleons, chameleon-pearl flakes, candy colors, iridescent colors, and more.The color choice for Sacramento Vintage Ford's Mail Order F-100 was Auto-Air Color's 4500 Series Sparklescent Rock Star Red. They also let me be the first to tell you how it "pops" in the sunlight. Auto-Air's paints not only look good while standing still, but they can hold up going fast, too. Just look at the Worsham Racing's C.S.K. NHRA Nitro-Class Funny Car that Jerry Sievers at Paint 'N' Place splashed Auto-Air Colors on. You don't have to worry about this stuff coming off while going down the highway.
Basically, there is plenty more where this came from and it might be sooner than you think before your classic truck gets hit with some of Auto-Air Colors water-based paint. Follow along as we step into the future of automotive finishes and stay tuned for more breakthroughs from Auto-Air Colors.
More Photos From This Article View Slideshow
Tools of the ever-changing trade. Here's Jerry's SATA RP HVLP (high-volume, low-pressure) spray gun that has seen more paint through its 1.2 tip than you can shake a paint stick at. Most of that paint is now in the form of Auto-Air Colors water-based paints.We left off last month with everything being ready to seal and paint. Here is our gallon of Auto-Air Colors 4000 Series Base Coat Sealer in white. One cool thing about Auto-Air's water-based paints is that you don't need to mix several components together, like adding an activator or catalyst, into their paint products, and then pour everything straight from the bottle to the gun.The gallon of sealer will be enough for two coats on everything. Paint 'N' Place starts with a light first coat followed by a medium second coat. The wait time between coats depends on many things, like if the spray booth has heat or the humidity and temperature outside if it doesn't. The main thing is not to rush it, NEVER spray heavy coats with any of the Auto-Air paints, and make sure each coat is fully cured before applying another.Just seeing things change colors gets your blood going, and knowing the progress being made. Since Paint 'N' Place's booth has heat, it was only necessary to wait around 15 minutes between sealer coats.Now it's time to really get things going. This is a gallon of Auto-Air's 4500 Series Sparklescent Rock Star Red water-based paint. Again, just as with their sealer, pour the paint straight into the gun. Being able to eliminate adding all of the extra products saves you around fifty bucks a gallon!Starting here is the first of what wound up being five light coats of the Sparklescent Rock Star Red, which is typical of the "glamour" shades of paint......Again, there is NO need to spray heavy coats of color; multiple light coats work the best. Try to use an even spray pattern to avoid modeling or blotchiness. Remember, it's not a race.Here is a closeup of the first coat of color. It's almost like you are dusting the truck with the paint. Sievers sprays with and recommends SATA RP spray guns. Yeah, they're expensive, but you get what you pay for. With the rapidly changing world of paint, it's good to have the right tools. He also recommends spraying Auto-Air's paints with a 1.2 tip.You can use any other urethane paints on top or underneath Auto-Air's for graphics. This also means that to clear the Sparklescent Rock Star Red, you can use any quality urethane clearcoat. Jerry uses PPG #4010 Hi-Solids clear. Once the last coat of color has been sprayed, you need to wait at least four hours in a booth with heat or at least 12 hours without heat on a warm day to clear the parts. Now is the time to spray heavy coats; three good ones should do it. Another bonus with Auto-Air's paints is that you can clear over them at anytime, unlike urethanes, which if you wait more than eight hours you would have to scuff them up for the clear to stick.
To start color sanding, you need to wait about the same amount of time you waited before clearing everything. All of the big areas of the F-100 were hit with the D.A. sander using 1500-grit paper followed up with 2000-grit, all of which was done dry as opposed to wet sanding.This is where patience is key. You don't want to burn through that new paint; you just want to get the top of the clearcoat roughed up with the same uniform dull look to it. It's easy to get carried away with the D.A. and take too much off......To help avoid burning through on the edges and corners of the body, masking tape was used to outline and provide a thin "oops" barrier for potential problem areas. Finish any exterior areas that couldn't be done with the D.A. by hand.This may be the trickiest job of them all and is often better left to capable hands. Buffing everything out to final gloss is done with a variable-speed electric buffer with several different pads and compounds.If you choose to try your hand at "cutting and buffing" don't be afraid to still ask for help. Don't cut corners on the products to buff the paint, either--you've come this far, now follow through. Paint 'N' Place uses 3M and Meguiar's compounds, polishes, and waxes.


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Hello. New to Zimba and to this forum so I hope you don't mind a daft question.
I've connected all my accounts and imported all my messages. No problems.
Now I want to import my contacts. I've exported them all from my existing accounts as CSV files but I can't find the Import/Export command in Zimba. I checked the help files which say I find it under preferences, but when I go to preferences it isn't there. What am I missing?
I'm using version 7.2.2 on Windows 8.
Thanks for your help.


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OSTI is the DOE office that collects, preserves and disseminates DOE-sponsored R&D results. We hope this newsletter broadens public understanding of who we are and how best to use our products and services.
OSTI Mission: To advance science and sustain technological creativity by making R&D findings available
and useful to Department of Energy (DOE) researchers and the public.


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Middle men
The Midwest battleground: As the 2000 presidential campaign enters its final weeks, Al Gore and George W. Bush are tailoring their messages and their travel schedules to play to the industrial Midwest. The reason: A handful of Rust Belt states likely will determine who wins the first national election of the new millennium
Hey, George W. Bush, you just 'won' the second presidential debate. What are you going to do now?"
"I'm going to Michigan!"
Sorry, Disney World. After a perfect high jump or record-breaking swim, Olympic athletes may head to the Magic Kingdom, but after a crucial debate, presidential candidates head to the Midwest.
Back to the Midwest. For the umpteenth time. After essentially battling to a draw in the Winston-Salem debate, both George W. Bush and Al Gore wasted no time in getting back to the region they've come to know best. Mr. Bush went to Michigan, while Mr. Gore campaigned in Milwaukee. It was hardly the first time: Since Labor Day, Mr. Bush alone has made 15 appearances in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri-and that's not counting stops by his running mate and various relatives.
A foreigner observing his first American election might think the two parties were vying for king of the Rust Belt. What's going on here?
It's more than just geography: Mr. Bush has visited Wisconsin five times more often than neighboring Minnesota, while Mr. Gore has never bothered to set foot in Indiana. Those states, like about 35 others, are considered a "lock" for one candidate or the other, so neither party wants to squander precious resources there. With the race going down to the wire, neither Mr. Bush nor Mr. Gore has the 270 votes needed to win the Electoral College. That means that just a couple of million undecided voters in nine battleground states will make all the difference on Nov. 7. And that, in turn, means those nine states will get almost all the candidates' attention between now and then.
Two of the states, Pennsylvania and Florida, are eastern. Two others, Washington and Oregon, are in the Pacific Northwest. But the single largest cache of undecided electoral votes is clustered in the industrial Midwest. More than any other region, the Rust Belt is driving both the style and the substance of election 2000.
Take Mr. Bush's energy policy, which he formulated only recently. When Mr. Gore went to vote-rich Pennsylvania and called on his boss to tap the nation's strategic petroleum reserve in an effort to keep down the cost of home heating oil, the Bush campaign scrambled for a suitable response. Cold winters, after all, are one unifying characteristic of the Great Lakes region, and Republicans could hardly afford to let voters there be bought off with the promise of cheap heat this winter.
So, on Sept. 29, the Bush entourage rolled into Saginaw, Mich., for what handlers billed as a "major policy speech." Some 150 blue plastic chairs sprouted in front of the assembly line at Wright-K Technologies, a manufacturer of specialty machines for the automotive industry. While dozens of invited guests shivered outside on a chilly fall morning, TV crews got in early to set up on carefully positioned risers. The coffee vending machine on the factory floor dispensed free caffeine to bleary-eyed journalists. Workers in company logo-wear were liberally sprinkled throughout the factory, wherever the cameras might turn.
When Mr. Bush finally took the dais to deliver his energy speech, the importance of the setting became obvious. While Mr. Gore had framed his oil policy in terms of low-income consumers who couldn't afford high heating bills, Mr. Bush was more narrowly focused. Calling the Clinton-Gore energy policy "nothing but excuses and bad ideas," he explicitly linked his own policy to the lifeblood of Michigan's economy: the auto industry.
Each of the last three recessions was tied to an oil crisis, he noted. Without a steady and secure oil supply, Americans would have no use for the shiny new models rolling off Detroit's assembly lines. And, he hinted, that might be just fine with his opponent, who declared his antipathy to the internal combustion engine in his environmental tract, Earth in the Balance.
Appealing to the auto industry is a given in Michigan politics, but tying an entire energy policy to that appeal was a stroke of genius for the Bush campaign. The most controversial part of the speech-a call for new drilling in the Alaskan wilderness-elicited an uncharacteristically muted response from the tree-hugging vice president. With Michigan's 18 electoral votes looming large in his calculus, Mr. Gore simply could not afford to alienate voters there by seeming to defend the Alaskan wilderness at the expense of autoworkers.
"Family values" provides another good example of how Midwestern politics is driving the message for the entire country. During the primary season, Republican candidates, in particular, spoke largely in the terminology of the Bible Belt, stressing issues such as the right to life, gay marriage, and prayer in schools.
But on Oct. 5, speaking from a classroom in suburban Detroit, Mr. Bush showed how "family values" had taken on a distinctively Rust Belt tone. "Today, I want to talk about how we can help deal with a culture that sometimes is the enemy of what parents are trying to teach," he said in a media market that reaches half of all suburban swing voters in the state. Among the proposed "tools for parents" that the government would provide under a Bush administration: federal tax breaks and regulatory freedom for corporate employees who work from home; increased flexibility to choose comp time rather than overtime pay; Internet filters in schools and libraries; and a "family hour" of non-objectionable TV programming in early prime time each night.
The next day, during a speech on the other side of the state, Mr. Gore shot back with his own version of Midwestern family values: expanded Head Start programs; tax cuts for child care; and more government-funded after-school programs. Neither man mentioned the family issues that are popular in more conservative sections of the country. Instead, each one's message was carefully tailored to polling results among suburban Midwesterners.
This "Midwest effect" can work both for and against conservatives. While the region's moderate politics may muffle Bible Belt issues, it also keeps the Democrats from playing to their core liberal constituency. Left-wing Democrats in California and New York, for instance, have called for more emphasis by Mr. Gore on issues such as gun control and unlimited abortion. But those are issues that don't play well in the heartland, leaving Mr. Gore to moderate his tone.
Some may grumble at the outsized role that five states have come to play in the election, but there's no denying their strategic importance. With 69 electoral votes among them, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin are states that neither side can afford to write off. In fact, neither campaign has yet been able to come up with an electoral map that gets them to 270 votes without at least splitting the Rust Belt states. (Three other Midwestern states are no longer in play. Minnesota leans strongly Democratic, while Indiana goes just as strongly for Republicans. And, faced with an 11-point deficit in the polls, the Bush campaign has recently pulled its television ads in Illinois, which earlier had been considered a toss-up.)
Candidates like campaigning here because the states share so many demographic features. All are heavily unionized, thanks to their history of heavy manufacturing. Thousands of blue-collar, "Reagan Democrats" are liberal on issues like the minimum wage, but often fairly conservative on social issues. Outside the big cities, all five states have major agricultural economies, from the dairy farms of Wisconsin to the cornfields of Iowa. And, with the exception of Iowa, the states all have large Catholic populations-anywhere from 20 to 30 percent.
Given their shared interests, a candidate's message in one state is likely to resonate across the entire region. But there are differences, as well. From political machines to minority populations, each state presents a unique challenge to Mr. Bush and Mr. Gore. Here's a look at each candidate's opportunities and obstacles in this crucial region:
Iowa: With just eight electoral votes, Iowa usually gets ignored once its first-in-the-nation caucus is over. But the extraordinarily close election this year has put the state back on the political map. Though it leans Democratic, Iowa voters are quirky-even cranky. Democrats are better organized for get-out-the-vote efforts, but the religious right is strong here, which may offset Mr. Gore's natural union advantage.
Missouri: A classic swing state, Missouri has gone with the winner in every presidential election of the past 100 years (except 1956, when voters preferred Adlai Stevenson to Dwight Eisenhower). That makes it an important barometer of the national mood, as well as a source of 11 electoral votes. So far, that barometer has been inconclusive, with the latest polls showing the race deadlocked: 43 percent for Mr. Gore, 40 percent for Mr. Bush. Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan is running for Senate, which has kept his political machine from devoting its full attention to Mr. Gore. And Republicans believe a recent Clinton veto of a spending bill will drive voters to their party. The president insisted-and the vice president agreed-that the bill be rewritten to allow altering the flow of the Missouri River in order to protect two endangered species of birds. Farmers in the state argue that would cause flooding along the banks-and they vow to mobilize voters against the administration's stand.
Wisconsin: Political pundits are amazed that this state's 11 electoral votes are even in doubt. Wisconsin is such a reliably Democratic state that it actually voted for Michael Dukakis in 1988 (almost no one else did). Milwaukee and Madison, home of the notoriously liberal University of Wisconsin, turn out hordes of Democratic voters every Election Day. But the Fox Valley, running from Green Bay to Oshkosh, is heavily Catholic and working-class and may turn out enough Republicans to swing the state to Mr. Bush. Four-term Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson is working hard for his Texas colleague, but Mr. Gore is saturating the airwaves: From June 1 through mid-September, more pro-Gore ads aired in the Green Bay TV market than anywhere else in the country. A poll taken before the first debate shows Mr. Gore up by 5 points, but Gov. Thompson says independent polls have the candidates tied at 41 percent each.
Michigan: Perhaps the hardest-fought of all the Midwestern states, Michigan's 18 electoral votes could well make the difference on Nov. 7. Both sides have the state in their must-win column, and, with polls showing the race tied, either side could triumph. Some union members are still angry with the Clinton administration's support for NAFTA, which they see as draining manufacturing jobs out of heavily unionized states like Michigan. And Mr. Bush has tapped into a latent fear of his rival's environmental policies that could threaten the auto industry. Still, union leaders have vowed a massive get-out-the-vote effort, and Mr. Bush may be hard-pressed to match their numbers in the western part of the state, a traditionally Republican enclave. Gov. John Engler is an enthusiastic Bush supporter, but his machine proved ineffective in the primary, when John McCain scored an upset win. As in Wisconsin, Ralph Nader could steal just enough Gore voters to allow Mr. Bush to slip by with a narrow win.
Ohio: The biggest prize among the up-for-grabs Midwestern states also happens to be the most reliably Republican. While Mr. Gore surged in nationwide polls following the Democratic National Convention, he never gained on Mr. Bush in Ohio. Good thing, too: No Republican has ever been elected president without winning the state, currently worth 21 electoral votes. Still, the race is close, with 48 percent favoring Mr. Bush to 43 percent for Mr. Gore, and a late surge of Democratic union support could turn things around quickly. That will keep both candidates coming back to Ohio for frequent visits between now and Election Day.
If Mr. Bush is tempted to take Ohio's 21 electoral votes for granted, he'd do well to remember the example of Gerald Ford. In 1976, the incumbent president lost the state by just 11,000 votes out of 4 million cast. A win in Ohio combined with three electoral votes from tiny Delaware would have kept Jimmy Carter out of the White House.
Note to the Bush campaign: Better not spend all your time in the Midwest. Delaware is still a toss-up.


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For more information on facilities & telephone services and to submit a work order request, Denison community members should visit MyDenison.
With the campus starting to look green for spring, Denison is continuing its active campaign to go green and to be more sustainable.
For telephone services, key requisitions, and to submit a work order request, employees and students should visit Facilities Services on MyDenison.


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Jackson County, MO (KSDK) - A one vehicle crash near Kansas City Thursday has left an area man hospitalized with serious injuries.
Missouri Highway Patrol troopers say around 1:00 p.m. yesterday, an eastbound pick-up truck on Interstate 70 in Jackson County, slid on a patch of ice.
That ice is what caused 40 year old Birnes Massey of St. Charles to lose control of the truck, forcing the vehicle off the pavement where it then rolled over into a ditch.
Investigators say Massey was taken to an Independence, Missouri hospital with serious injuries. Massey was wearing a seat belt at the time of the incident.