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Problem of star trailing with loaded CGE Pro Mount
Posted 06 March 2013 - 12:40 PM
Posted 06 March 2013 - 02:19 PM
Posted 06 March 2013 - 02:42 PM
I have a problem: I have a telescope setup...see photo...wherein I cannot get it balanced in RA and DEC in order to track.
Two things:
You need to get it balanced before trying to use it, How bad is it? I suspect that with all that stuff on top of the OTA you don't have sufficient counterweight for RA balance.
You say it drifts "to the left". That doesn't tell us anything useful. Is the drift in RA, dec, or both? If it is in dec then you aren't polar aligned and need to fix that before trying to use it.
Posted 06 March 2013 - 04:20 PM
Posted 06 March 2013 - 04:29 PM
No matter what I do, the drift of stars on the monitor moves from right to left in RA or DEC. I'm beginning to think that I need to polar align again.
I went on your website. Your M31 is great. I took the attached photo with my HyperStar and Starlight Xpress for a combined time of 5 min. I would just like to get back to where I was before I added all the new stuff. What should I keep and what should I get rid of? What would you advise to make my setup an ALL IN ONE setup?
Attached Files
Posted 06 March 2013 - 05:52 PM
Posted 06 March 2013 - 06:07 PM
I'm rather new to how Cloudy Nights has expanded. Can I ask how you came across my post? It seems there're are 1000s of threads these days.
Posted 06 March 2013 - 06:36 PM
First, I would take everything off EXCEPT the main OTA and your imager. Get that all balanced where DEC is in perfect balance and RA is very slightly east heavy. Now try to image and see how it goes. If there is still a problem then you are probably talking about the gear meshing loosening up or something like that. You'll either need to adjust it yourself or send it back to Celestron and have them play with it for a month. If things look good then add one item, re-balance (slightly east heavy each time) and check again. Each time it passes the test add one more thing. Remember to clear and retrain PEC too. If your values are all before you added all that stuff it won't work.
Good luck
Edit: OH and yah, of course check your polar alignment and double check it.
Posted 06 March 2013 - 07:39 PM
Duncan ... That just may be the case. Since I won't get out to do polar aligning because in NW lower Michigan we get so many fronts coming off Lake Michigan, I may have to wait a few weeks for a cloudless night.
I'm rather new to how Cloudy Nights has expanded. Can I ask how you came across my post? It seems there're are 1000s of threads these days.
Remember, that I'm talking about how mount is balanced with the counterweight shaft "horizontal" not "vertical" as in your picture.
I just decided to take a look, and came across your post quite by accident.
The other thing is, if you leave your mount running at the sidereal rate, while the dec shaft is vertical, as in your picture, does the mount slowly move in RA, as it should?
Posted 06 March 2013 - 08:00 PM
Posted 06 March 2013 - 08:06 PM
If the balance and tracking is good with just the C14, start with that and add things one-at-a-time, re-balancing in between each. It'll be tedious, but you'll be able to easily find out where the problem is.
Posted 06 March 2013 - 08:14 PM
Duncan...I've had one cloudless night since I added everything. I can't answer your question because of the weather. I used Precise Go-To to Capella. Everything I tried, the drift away from it could even be seen in Telrad Finder.
You don't need to open your observatory to test balance or to check if the mount is running at the correct speed. Just start the mount and let it run at sidereal rate - it should rotate in RA at 15 degrees per hour ( or one hour of RA)and it should be easy see the movement after even a few minutes.
Posted 06 March 2013 - 09:25 PM
Posted 07 March 2013 - 01:07 AM
The side by side bar is from adm accessories. link
To browse the forums, go to the top of this page and click on forums. Then a list of forums shows up, this post is in the mount forum. Your other post where your original question was posted was in the Beginning and Intermediate Imaging forum.
Your image post is not big enough but it looks like field roatation. Its hard to tell but are your top stars trailing like \ and your bottom stars are trailing like / ?? That would indicate polar misalignment. If all the stars are trailing one way, it's usually flex ,poor balance, etc..
You do know how to balance the scope correct? Your picture of your scope really looks like it rear heavy with all the attachments and scopes on the rear...
Posted 07 March 2013 - 03:16 AM
Attached Files
Posted 07 March 2013 - 10:22 AM
Posted 07 March 2013 - 12:04 PM
Thank you for contacting Celestron Technical Services.
We regret to hear you are having tracking problems with your CGE-Pro. Sometimes adding extra equipment can cause flexsure in the system when the scope is pointing at certain angles which is hard to avoid. The mount has a feature called mount calibration under utilities. After the alignment calibrate the mount if weight is added or removed.
I would assume that I should re-polar align the mount (2 + 4) with the equipment I want on it whenever the next cloudless night occurs, then go to Utilities and re-calibrate the mount.
At this point I googled up the question "When should I use the CALIBRATE MOUNT utility? What does it do?"
Celestron's answer online is: There are two functions in the CALIBRATE MOUNT submenu. Depending on exactly what mount you have and the hand control firmware version, the first one is called RA SWITCH or RA INDEX CALIBRATION. The second function is GOTO CALIBRATION.
RA SWITCH corrects for any error in the placement of index marks (Advanced GT or CG-5, CGEM) on the mount housing or the position of the RA index switch inside the mount (CGE or CGE Pro). This will help the mount to more accurately find the two stars it uses for sky alignment when starting up an observing session.
RA SWITCH should be run when you are finished aligning the scope. It just needs to be done once, as the information is remembered by the mount's hand control. Your next alignment will be easier once you've done it.
GOTO CALIBRATION does just what the name says: it changes the final motions of a GOTO to compensate for imbalances cause by any heavy accessories attached to the scope to keep GOTO times short. It should be used whenever you are reconfiguring your scope and cameras, heavy binoviewers, guidescopes, etc. It is also remembered by your mount's hand control.
Now, I am confused. Should I use GO-TO CALIBRATION? If so, then what do I do? Will that give me the 00-00-00?
Posted 07 March 2013 - 12:57 PM
The best thing to do at this point is to try to star narrowing down what component or setup is causing the problem. If you had no problem with an earier setup, go back to that setup and ensure that you still have no problem with it. You may find that you do now. If not, then start adding things one component at a time until the problem starts to appear. The problem with a setup that is a complex as yours is that it gets to be impossible to pin point a problem area so you need to start eliminating possibilities. You could do that by working backwards (removing items), but since you had a working system before, I would start from there and work forwards instead.
Posted 07 March 2013 - 03:36 PM
Posted 08 March 2013 - 12:16 AM
Posted 08 March 2013 - 09:52 AM
2+4 star calibration is not polar aligning. Once you finish your 2+4, slew to a stat near the meridian and Dec 0 and then hit the align button, then choose polar align, then follow tge directions. The 2+4 star calibration is a star model for the mount, not polar alignment.
Amen Brother! Preach it! If your hand controller does not prompt you to physically adjust the mount in Alt and AZ (like my LXD75 does for a 1 star alignment), you are not doing a Polar Alignment.
I tripped over this for a long time and could not figure out what was "wrong" with my mount.
What it boils down to is Polar Alignement affects TRACKING which explains why folks serious about AP prefer drift aligning.
All this felgercarb about 2, 3, and 4 star alignments and calibration stars is about generating a pointing model for GoTos.
Basically, your Polar can be off and GoTos can be spot on and vice versa. What matters for long exposure imaging is the accuracy of your Polar alignment, and here is an easy way to prove that.
Fire up your mount, and do a Polar alignment, then do a drift. DO NOT run any of the multi-star "alignments". Use the hand controller and slew to a star, any star. Get the star centered and then walk away. Come back 15 minutes later. Barring any errors in the gear train the star should be right where you left it.
If the star has drifted you can run what ever test motors/calibrate motors/train drive/ PEC train functions your mount has and then run this test again.
Posted 08 March 2013 - 06:13 PM
Attached Files
Posted 08 March 2013 - 07:06 PM
Celestron ships the mount with it in the upper position, which works from low latitudes, to about 45 degrees. That silver plate at the top of the circle in your picture can be moved into a lower position for higher latitudes. I believe that there a 4 hex bolts on each side that you need to remove, and then re-add in the lower position.
- UAU1 likes this
Posted 08 March 2013 - 07:08 PM
Dave...I understand all of that and have done the 2 + 4 several times for various reasons. In the sequence of events that follows, one is prompted to polar align with the All-star Polar Alignment. I had tried drift alignment and Kochab method and others, but the Celestron method gave me the best results. What may be a problem on my mount is the knob which points down vertically (see photo) that determines latitude. I had to insert a piece of metal and glue it in order to get latitude correct because the knob and and screw were not long enough and use a pipe wrench to adjust. There is a guide which is not very accurate. Doing polar alignment watching the monitor in Maxim DL with 1 sec or less continuous exposures, I get the crosshairs dead on the alignment star, going back and forth with latitude knob and the horizontal logitude knob which work very easily. I did get 00-00-00 and tracking from then on was quite exceptional. My observatory is at 44 degrees; 81 min North latitude and 85 degrees 42 minutes West longitude.
Looking at your photo I see why you had trouble with the latitude adjustment. The plate that the adjustment knob screws into can be moved further down in order to adjust to higher latitudes. If you look at the side of the base casting there are two holes further down on each side for mounting the plate. Simply remove it from the current location and attach it in the lower location and then the knob will be long enough to reach your latitude and will also push the axis housing at a better angle. With the additional wieght this could actually be a flexure point for you since the angle between the knob and the contact plate gets lower as the latitude gets higher. Adding addition wieght with the knob threaded all the way in could actually cause some flexture.
Posted 08 March 2013 - 07:10 PM
You polar align the mount and not the telescopes. Take off all but your little finder, if weight is an issue, and polar align.


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For decades U.S. presidents have been presented with Thanksgiving turkeys, and – at least in recent history – those turkeys have received a presidential "pardon," sparing them from the dinner table. A look at some of history's most famous turkeys.
Charlie, Caroline Kennedy's pet Welsh terrier, inspects a turkey presented to President John F. Kennedy after a traditional Thanksgiving week ceremony at the White House. President Kennedy pardoned the bird, sending it back to the farm. Charlie had the run of the grounds during the ceremony.
President Bill Clinton and nine-year-old Shawn Arbogast, of Harrisonburg, Va., look over Tom, a 50-pound turkey presented to the president in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington D.C. After the ceremony, the president pardoned Tom who took up residence at the Flying Pan Park in Chantilly, VA.
President George W. Bush, standing with Jim Stocam, left, and Tom Fix, of Carthage, Mo., pets Stars the national Thanksgiving turkey during a ceremony pardoning the turkey in the Rose Garden of the White House. Stars, who was raised by Stocam and Fix, was given to Kidwell Farm in Virginia.
Pilgrim Mickey Mouse at Ten Star Ranch in Dubois, Ind., unveiled two turkeys that received presidential pardons that year. Those turkeys went on to become the grand marshals of the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade in Florida. The birds were transported aboard a United Airlines flight that was renamed to "Turkey One" to mark the occasion.
President Barack Obama pets Courage the turkey on the North Portico of the White House in Washington. After receiving its pardon, the famous fowl went to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estates in Virginia. National Turkey Federation Chairman Walter Pelletier, his wife Elizabeth Pelletier, and Sasha and Malia Obama look on.

subset: commoncrawl


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Variable ML7D : Medicine given: Quinine
Type: Discrete
Format: character
Width: 1
Valid case(s): 0 (0)
Invalid: 0 (0)
File: ch
Children aged 0-4
Source of information
The mother or caretaker of the child aged 0-4.
Warning: these figures indicate the number of cases found in the data file. They cannot be interpreted as summary statistics of the population of interest.
Literal question
What medicine was (name) given?
Circle all medicines given. Ask to see the medication if type is not known. If type of medication is still not determined, show typical anti-malarials to respondent.
Interviewer instructions
Circle the codes corresponding to all medicines taken by the child to treat the fever, both antimalarials and other types of medicines such as acetaminophen given during this illness. If the respondent cannot remember the names of all the medicines the child took, use the following approach to probe for the correct names of the antimalarial or other types of medicines taken: (1) Ask to see the package of leftover medicines; some households keep popular antimalarial and other medicines at home. (2) Show the respondent a sample of each common antimalarial - from both public and private sources - in the original packages, in case some respondents remember the containers. (3) Use common brand names when asking the respondent about antimalarial medicines. If the medicine is an antimalarial but is not listed, circle 'H' and fill in the name in the space provided. If the medicine is another type of medicine, but is not listed, circle 'X' and fill in the name in the space provided. If the mother/primary caretaker still doesn't know, circle 'Z'.


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by Andrea Gillespie, Account Executive, Business Wire/Chicago
Successful media relations in Chicago over the last several years has meant both strengthening your news eye to find and pitch the most relevant stories, and finding new places, people and forms of media in which you can get those stories picked up.
While some news holes seems to be shrinking in and around Chicago, many new print and online opportunities have emerged. These sites are empowering the community to share and own the news.
On Wednesday, August 4th, Business Wire hosted a media breakfast with the editorial management staff behind some of Chicago's newest media outlets.
- Kyle Leonard, Managing Editor, Triblocal
- Tracy Schmidt, Editorial Director, ChicagoNow.com
- Tara Tesimu, Regional Editor, Patch
Moderator: Raschanda Hall, Global Media Relations Manager, Business Wire
Triblocal/Kyle Leonard, Managing Editor
Triblocal is your spot on the Web to find out about local news and events. The site encourages everyone to become contributors by writing stories, posting events to community calendars and posting photos. All contributions will be posted on the site; however, many are chosen for the weekly print edition and even the Chicago Tribune. Key Takeaways for Communications Professionals:
- All stories must have a local tie to them.
- You can post stories, photos and videos.
- Everyone loves looking at videos on YouTube – hyperlink to your YouTube channel.
- Leonard prefers you post your story or event to the site first, then email him directly if you think your posting would be a good fit for the print version. He also suggests you follow up via phone.
- Chicago Tribune editors read Triblocal, and some stories found on Triblocal will make it to the Tribune pages.
- Pitches should be publicists telling a good news story. Every organization has a "Locks of Love type story," tell them yours.
- With events, publicize the event two weeks out, but then further publicize the event after it takes place. Send photo galleries and event highlights, especially if there's a fundraising goal. Many people will see the event after it takes place and still want to donate to or learn more about your cause
ChicagoNow.com/Tracy Schmidt, Editorial Director
ChicagoNow.com is an online community of Chicago bloggers covering a variety of subjects including Chicago politics, fashion, sports, food, music and events. The site was created by the Chicago Tribune Media group but is run by its own full-time staff. Key takeaways for communication professionals:
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- If your client is an expert at something (medicine, finance, real estate, etc.) having them become a blogger is a great way to get publicity and expand customer base.
Patch/ Tara Tesimu, Regional Editor
Patch is an AOL-owned hyperlocal site now covering the Chicagoland areas of La Grange and Skokie (more than 48 additional communities are expected to launch shortly). Patch's focus is community engagement, and they ask readers to submit their own announcements, photos and reviews. All professional editors, writers, photographers and videographers live in or near the communities they serve. Key takeaways for communication professionals:
- If you have an event in a Patch community, post it – all calendar events go right up on the site. Two weeks is a good lead time.
- Provide photo galleries and videos, as they will also be included and are highly encouraged.
- Reach out to editors via the Patch Facebook sites.
- All businesses in Patch communities have a profile in the Patch directory, so be sure to fill yours out, and add photos, too.
- Will cover a business or person outside the community if that person has a community tie.
For more upcoming local Business Wire events or to see what's coming up in our award-winning webinar series, visit http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/business-wire-events.
Follow Business Wire events on Twitter! Hash tag #bwevents


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Zodiac (2007)
Zodiac Synopsis
Based on the actual case files of one of the most intriguing unsolved crimes in the nations history, Zodiac is a thriller from David Fincher, director of Seven and Fight Club. As a serial killer terrifies the San Francisco Bay Area and taunts police with his ciphers and letters, investigators in four jurisdictions search for the murderer. The case will become an obsession for four men as their lives and careers are built and destroyed by the endless trail of clues.
The last thing we need is yet another serial killer movie. So when we all heard David Fincher was making one about the Zodiac killer, even though it's David Fincher, I had a hard time getting interested.
Then I saw the trailer. Zodiac is not just another serial killer movie. The trailers tone is surprising to say the least. This isnt yet another attempt to recapture the greatness of Silence of the Lambs, this is more like Silence of the Lambs crossed with Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang., and not just because Robert Downey Jr. is in it. Now Im interested.
After Se7en and Fight Club, Fincher became one of those wildly popular, geek crowd directors who movie nerds lust after with the kind of fervor your parents might have reserved for someone like oh, Woody Allen. Todays Woody Allen equivalent makes movies with severed heads and split personalities. Personally, I think we have it a lot better.
Since Fight Club though, Fincher hasnt exactly been prolific. Thats symptomatic of most of his contemporaries, Hollywoods current crop of great directors, most of whom popped onto moviegoers radar in the 90s. Their films are great when they make them but Fincher, PT Anderson, Baz Luhrman, Darren Aronofsky and the rest just dont get around to making movies very often. This is only Finchers second film since Fight Club in 1999, and the other one, while well received at the time, seems to have been quickly forgotten. Anyone remember Panic Room? No not Flightplan. The good Jodie Foster thriller.
The problem wasnt with Panic Room, from anyone else it might have been a memorable experience. But this is the guy that made Fight Club, and everything he does must suffer by comparison. Now its Zodiacs turn to stand up and take a Fight Club punch. Can it stand up? If Fincher really has found a way to turn the stagnant serial killer genre and turn its on its head, Zodiac may do more than take the hit, it just might punch back.
Zodiac Release Date
In Theaters March 2, 2007
Zodiac Credits
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo
Written by: James Vanderbilt
Directed by: David Fincher
Produced by: Ceán Chaffin, Brad Fischer, Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer, James Vanderbilt
MPAA Rating: [ R ]
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Subscribe To Zodiac Updates
if you're excited for Zodiac


text:
Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant, 147 E. Main St., Newark, will host its February Brewmaster's Dinner and Hopapalooza 2013 on Feb. 12 and 23.
Head brewer Justin Sproul and head chef Mike Petrilla will host a five-course beer pairing dinner at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Tickets are $65 per person, including beverages, tax and gratuity. The Hopapalooza will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday and will feature hop-heavy beers from some of the countries best-known craft breweries.
For more information or to make a reservation visit, ironhillbrewery.com.
Location, ST | website.com


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See All Contributors »
which "Big 12 South Power" do you pick and why?
TX has played like Poo so far against subpar teams.
'00 Grad
"Can I borrow your towel, my car just hit a water buffalo" Erwin Fletcher
Oklahoma- Bob Stoops loves to run up the score and has said that he wants to do so to ISU. Plus, they are the "team to beat" this year in the BIG XII
I pick Oklahoma, because it seems they have run some of our seasons into the ground in past years notably what could have been in 2002. Plus, Bob Stoops is a hawkeye at heart.
I picked Oklahoma since I'm not sure Texas will even be ranked by the time we play them. They are not that good and could easily be coming off a loss to K-State and a throttling by Oklahoma.
I think OU will win the Big XII, it'd be nice to say we beat the conference champs.. It still somehow feels like a pipedream however..
Oklahoma. Beating a team that could potentially play for the nat'l championship? It would be the greatest upset in Iowa State history, hands down. Well, maybe the win over Nebraska in '92 is still better.
www.widerightnattylite.com/ - All the news on the team that gives you fits
Oklahoma, when we play thim in the Big 12 championship game!!!!
"Politics: Poli a Latin word meaning many; and "tics" meaning bloodsucking creatures." ~Robin Williams
While I know OU is the team to beat a victory there would probably be viewed as a total fluke at this stage. However, a victory over a struggling power like Texas will be similar to some of our recent victories over Nebraska. It will appear to be a step in our progression to get better with a victory against a solid opponent. Plus I'm sure it would be sweet for Gene.
Originally Posted by wolverine68
Oklahoma, when we play thim in the Big 12 championship game!!!!
How'd you know I was refering to that game and not the one on October 13th???
I picked Texas just because I'd like the Big 12 to win the NC this year, and OU is the only team to do that.
"Seven minutes to glory."
Texas for Gene's sake. Beating Oklahoma is not going to happen, unless they all get food poisoning the night before the game
oklahoma - cause they kicked the crap outta miami, and miami kicked the crap outta A&M. so....it'd kinda be like beating 3 good teams....right? :)
OU because...
1. They look like a better team.
2. People would put an * next to a win over Texas stating it was only because Chizik had inside knowledge, his rivalry game
3. OU has embarrassed us since the beginning of time.
1) They are the best team in the Big 12
2) Texas, as it has been said, is having a down year (comparatively)
3) A win against Oklahoma would produce instant credibility to this new regime
4) I am actually going to be at the OU v. ISU game and I would love for it to NOT be a blow out
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Noticed interesting feature on this picture:
(drag message here to tag it)
My 1. question would be: is it possible to implement "tagging categories" on a organization-wide basis ... tagging categories that would appear in user's client ?
That means, when installing the client on user's machine, to have already tagging-categories (taxonomy) included in his/hers mail client.
2. Can a message have multiple tags added to it?
3. Also would it be possible somehow to publish a message, say on a certain part "forum" or "company blog" or "blackboard" or however you would call that, and have that message tag also exported with. That would mean that certain information is tagged with certain tags, and having the same tags (taxonomy) all over the company, that would help gather/classify various emails (information) in organized way.
PS: Should this go to developers forum? Move it, please, if you find that more appropriate.


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WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), today joined 14 other senators to introduce a bill that would freeze assets and block visas of individuals who commit gross human-rights violations against whistleblowers and activists in the Russian Federation. Other co-sponsors of the bill include: Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Mark Begich (D-AK), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tom Udall (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
The Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2011 seeks to combat what has become a toxic atmosphere of impunity in Russia where despite occasional rhetoric from the Kremlin, the authorities have failed to follow through with meaningful action to stem rampant corruption or bring the perpetrators of numerous and high-profile crimes to justice.
"While this bill bears Sergei Magnitsky's name in honor of his sacrifice, the language addresses the overall issue of the erosion of the rule of law and human rights in Russia," said Senator Cardin, who in April 2010 called for a visa ban on 60 Russian officials involved in the torture and death of Magnitsky. "It offers hope to those who suffer in silence, whose cases may be less known or not known at all."
Senator Cardin's bill targets those involved in Sergei Magnitsky's case and also targets individuals "responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of human rights." The bill also seeks to protect individuals who expose illegal activity by officials of the Government of the Russian Federation as well as extend protection to those who advocate for freedom of expression, religion or other democratic principles.
In introducing the bill, Senator Cardin said: "Private and even public expressions of concern are not a substitute for a real policy nor are they enough, it's time for consequences. The bill I introduced today sends a strong message to those who are currently acting with impunity in Russia that there will be consequences for corruption should you wish to travel to and invest in the United States. Such actions will provide needed moral support for those in Russia doing the really heavy-lifting in fighting corruption and promoting the rule of law, but they will also protect our own interests – values or business related."
Key Points of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2011:
Please click here for Chairman Cardin's floor statement on the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2011.
Please click here for a PDF of the bill.
Click here for the previous year's Press Releases


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July 3, 2014 | 4242 views
L.I. continues streak over NYC
Huntington's Kocis named MVP of Empire Challenge
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Despite allowing 268 rushing yards and going 1-for-9 on third-down conversions, Long Island continued its recent dominance of New York City by capturing the 19th annual UnitedHealthcare Empire Challenge football all-star game, 24-18, before a record-crowd of 9,762 at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium on June 25.
Long Island never trailed in winning a fourth straight matchup and for the fifth time in six years. Quarterback Ben Kocis (Huntington), who directed a 95-yard scoring drive in the second quarter and threw a touchdown pass in the fourth, took home MVP honors. Linebacker Lawson Prendergast (St. John The Baptist) had a 24-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth and six tackles.
"It was such an honor to play with all of these all-stars," said Kocis, who completed 10 of 15 passes for 165 yards. "It's the last time I put on a football helmet, so I wanted to leave everything on this field."
Lawrence quarterback Joe Capobianco (3-for-7, 73 yards) led a scoring drive late in the first half, Carey's Andrew Ris had three receptions for 51 yards, Sewanhaka's Elijah Smith recovered a fumble, and James Kretkowski (Oceanside) and Brian Burke (Lynbrook) were key parts of an offensive line coached by Mike Stanley of Carey.
"It was a great two weeks working with the kids and coaches," said Rick Punzone, who served as Long Island's head coach after guiding Babylon to a second straight L.I. Class IV title. "We wanted to win and keep the streak going. The kids pushed each other in a friendly way and did everything the coaches asked."
Established in 1996, the Empire Challenge showcases some of the best football talent in the state and benefits the Boomer Esiason Foundation for cystic fibrosis, the Gunnar H. Esiason Scholarship Fund at Hofstra, and local youth sports programs. "It is a night when we acknowledge the outstanding skills of the coaches, the athleticism of the players, and the strength of the football programs in our area," Boomer Esiason said.
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The fall indoor season continues to be a thorn in the side of Novak Djokovic.
The Serb started the year by earning his maiden Grand Slam in Melbourne and winning Indian Wells and Rome but his results have suffered since. Today Nole was defeated 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 at the Paris Masters today by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, his second consecutive loss to the Frenchie baller after defeating him for the Aussie Open crown. A couple of weeks ago, Nole fell in straight sets to Ivo Karlovic in Madrid's third round and before that lost to Jo-Willy in the Bangkok final.
Last season, the 21-year old won Vienna but fell off in a big way taking a semifinal loss in Madrid, a second round loss in Paris, a went 0-3 in the Masters Cup round robin play. Could it be that he peaks during the first half of the season but lacks the physical fitness to end the season strongly? Or is it something about indoor play that bothers him?? I believe it's the former.
Rafael Nadal used to face similar criticism (and, to some extent, still does) - his grinding style and emphasis on the clay-court season left nothing in the reserves for the fall. Nole is a grinder as well - he plays a good share of defensive tennis, prefers long rallies in long matches, and doesn't possess a "kill" shot to close out points quickly. He's certainly gotten better at playing shorter matches at the start of tourneys, but not consistently enough and it's caught up to him again. Over time, this style takes its toll and it seems to be doing the same to Nole as he even admitted recently.
This week he strangely arrived to his opening match wearing a black mask. It seems Nole may have been hoping he could be anyone else right about now.
(image via Getty)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
THE LOW DOWN: Nole's game continues to falter during the fall - what's the deal?
Labels: Novak Djokovic, Paris Masters, tennis
6 comments:
I read somewhere saying that Nole has been partying too hard lately. He has to be careful or else Murray will be able to catch up really fast.ReplyDelete
hmmm - maybe that's why he was wearing that mask. he was covering the bags under his eyes!ReplyDelete
Well I think it's only a matter of time until Murray will overtake him in the rankings if Nole doesn't change anything.ReplyDelete
I guess the problem is that he stopped evolving. He made such a progress in 2007, but didn't really improve anything since then. This is why he can't really keep up anymore.
Rafa for instance has shown us clearer than ever: if you keep improving, your ranking will improve as well.
I cannot say it better - Nole has stopped improving. Will he be the next A-rod?ReplyDelete
I really cannot get excited about Nole's game. Murray ftw!
yeah - he definitely hasn't improved noticeably in any areas. serve? forehand?? net game???ReplyDelete
he does need to take it to the next level - and drop the attitude. i think his arrogance gets in the way and, ironically, ends up adding more pressure on himself because he thinks he should be beating everyone at any time.
time to get real.
- AnonymousNovember 1, 2008 at 4:35 PM
btw he wears a mask at paris every year...for halloween, lol.ReplyDelete


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WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal judge has denied a request from former D.C. Council chairman Kwame Brown to travel out of state.
Brown had asked to travel to North Carolina next month to attend his nephew's college graduation ceremony. His attorney said Brown wanted to stand in for his brother, Che Brown, who is serving a 90-day prison term for bank fraud.
The request was denied Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon.
Like his brother, Kwame Brown was convicted of bank fraud. He is serving six months of home detention. Brown admitted lying about his income on two loan applications. He used one of the loans to buy a powerboat.
Brown resigned from office last June after agreeing to plead guilty.


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Jonesboro, AR (Sports Network) - Ryan Aplin threw for 334 yards and two
touchdowns and also rushed for a score to lead Arkansas State to a 45-23 win
over Louisiana-Monroe on Thursday.
David Oku carried the ball 22 times for 131 yards and three touchdowns and
J.D. McKissic hauled in 12 passes for 102 yards for the Red Wolves (7-3, 5-1
Sun Belt), who have won five straight and take over sole possession of first
place in the conference.
Taylor Stockemer caught two passes for 86 yards and a touchdown and Julian
Jones also caught a touchdown pass on 81 yards receiving in the win.
Cody Wells completed 37-of-53 passes for 357 yards, two touchdowns and an
interception. Brent Leonard caught 14 passes for 134 yard and Je'Ron Hamm had
nine catches for 102 yards for the Warhawks (6-4, 4-2), who have dropped two
straight on the heels of a five-game winning streak.
The Warhawks scored on their first touch when Wells found Monterrell
Washington for a 27-yard touchdown pass.
The Red Wolves countered with a 35-yard Jones touchdown reception to tie the
game at 7-7.
Arkansas State forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, and Aplin
broke a 38-yard touchdown rush to cap a 10-play, 87-yard march.
The teams traded field goals in the second quarter, and the Red Wolves took a
17-10 spread into the locker room.
The Warhawks scored on the opening possession of the second half when Wells
connected with Rashon Ceaser for a 37-yard touchdown, but Arkansas State would
score three straight touchdowns to take a 38-17 lead.
First, Aplin hooked up with Stockemer for a 70-yard catch-and-run. Wells' pass
on 4th-and-12 at the Arkansas State 36 fell incomplete, and seven plays later
Oku bulled his way in from one yard out.
The Red Wolves then forced a Louisiana-Monroe punt before Aplin orchestrated
an 8-play, 82 yard drive capped off with a 6-yard Oku touchdown.
Washington's 1-yard touchdown run pulled the Warhawks within 38-23 after
Justin Manton's extra point attempt was blocked.
Arkansas State answered right back with a touchdown as Oku ran it in once
again, this time from four yards out, to account for the final margin.
The Sports Network


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WASHINGTON (WUSA) -- The vengeance that Derrick Rose promised following Sunday's heartbreaking loss on the road in Miami was signed, sealed and delivered to the Verizon Center Monday evening.
The Bulls held the lead for the entire duration of their 98-88 victory, in front of a large chunk of Chicago fans. Rose finished with 35 points, eight assists and a gaudy 14-of-15 from the charity stripe, vindicating the MVP chants that barreled through the arena off-and-on all night.
The 23-year-old point guard catapulted the Bulls with 13 first quarter points, mainly off of floaters in the middle of the paint. John Wall looked like a young boy stuck on the train tracks as Rose kept pushing his way into the paint. To Wall's credit, Rose would've done this against anyone on Monday. He just had that look in his eye.
There is some good to report for the Wizards. Washington didn't quit when they could've, down 22 in the third quarter. Washington outscored Chicago 29-22 in the fourth quarter with a very effective pressure defense.
Individually, Nick Young caught fire in the fourth, scoring 12 of his 17 total in the period. Trevor Booker continued his positive play from the Charlotte game with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting, upping his total to 83 percent in the last three games.
Quick Thoughts
*Why wasn't Chris Singleton guarding Derrick Rose man-to-man? I realize Singleton's in a slump, but if one of the best players in the league is going off like Rose was, you have to throw a drastically different look at him. Rose's strength off the pick-and-roll will continue to be too much for any Wizard guard to handle. Singleton's length would've made Rose think twice about certain drives, and would've forced him to take more shots.
*The biggest turn of events in the game came in the second quarter. The Wizards trailed 40-34 and had a serious surge of momentum brewing. Off a Carlos Boozer miss, Jordan Crawford grabbed the rebound, dribbled up the court and fired up a wild three in the corner -- just terrible shot selection for the situation. Chicago hurried up the court and found Kyle Korver for three of his 17 points. The Wizards window of opportunity closed from then on out.
*Kyle Korver was a deadly sniper for the Bulls, stroking four of his five triples in the first half. Imagine if John Wall had a specialist to work with like that. The Bulls spacing in the fast break make them as balanced as any team in the NBA, and Korver is a gigantic part of that. If only Rashard Lewis was still Rashard Lewis from the Magic...
*The Wizards didn't necessarily miss Andray Blatche's presence tonight, but it may be felt soon. 13 minutes of Kevin Seraphin a night is not healthy for my basketball-watching eyes.
Notable Quotables
Randy Wittman on the loss: "I have no fault in the effort and play tonight. That's a very good basketball team."
John Wall on how tough it is guarding Derrick Rose: "They did a really great job of getting [Rose] into pick-and-rolls...he got to the foul line 15 times so it was pretty tough."
Randy Wittman on Derrick Rose: "Rose had a helluva game. He made shots...that from a man-to-man standpoint, I don't know what else you can do."
John Wall on the Bulls keying in on him in fourth quarter: "They have a good defensive team in the half court so it's tough. Basically they started trapping me and got the ball out of my hands."
Nick Young on the loss "We fought until the end. Just got to give them credit."
John Wall on if he can become a Derrick Rose in 2-3 years: "It all depends on my development and it depends on how the team gets [me] the ball...They have guys that can make shots. Big men that make the right passes."
Randy Wittman on his full-court press in the fourth: "I said let's go guy, we have one chance here to make this a ball game. And we got it down to eight and I looked at the guys on our bench and I said this is a chance to steal this game."
John Wall on how Derrick Rose makes all the right decisions: "It's not hard when you got guys like Kyle Korver who can make shots and a guy like Carlos Boozer who can pick and pop."
Nick Young on the full-court pressure in the fourth quarter: "It got the ball out of Rose's hand for a little bit. [It forced] Joakim to make plays. It worked out for us. It's something you got to learn from and build of off."


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May 24, 2016
Associated Press Release
West Cote Blanche, LA (AP) -- Coast Guard officials say an oil rig has exploded off the coast of Louisiana, sending four people to hospitals. Two are believed to be missing.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Lally, a spokesman for the Coast Guard, did not immediately have information on the conditions of those taken to hospitals.
The rig, a production platform owned by Black Elk Energy, is about 25 miles southeast of Grand Isle, La.
Lally says two helicopters, an airplane and small boats were sent to the area on Friday. He did not know if the fire caused by the explosion had been put out yet.
The platform is a production platform, unlike the Deepwater Horizon rig, which was drilling an exploratory well in mile-deep water well to the east of Friday's reported explosion.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


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Fellas, get ready to finally shed those heavy winter clothes into some springy layers that transition seamlessly into the warm summer months. In the how-to video below, we break down some key wardrobe updates to pull off the transition easily and with effortless style.
Shop the items featured above by clicking directly on them! Pretty cool, huh?


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Griffin Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table
Please Select:
- White Glove Delivery
- Overview
Our one-of-a-kind coffee table bears the marks of time for a beautiful, authentic look. Heavy wrought iron forms a linear base that looks warm against natural wood.
- Coffee Table: 48" w x 32" d x 19" h
- Grand Coffee Table: 60" w x 42" d x 19" h
- Adjustable levelers add stability to uneven floors.
- Crafted from reclaimed wood. To learn more about our environmental commitment click here.
- The reclaimed wood features variations inherent to salvaged materials such as a rustic distressed finish, visible nailheads, knots, hairline cracks and oil stains, which may result in hue variations, rubbed edges, or other antique-like characteristics.
- Crafted of solid pine with an iron frame.
- Top is finished in Natural Pine.
- View our Furniture Brochure.
- For successful delivery: Furniture Delivery Video.
- Dimensions & Care
- Overall: 48" w x 32" d x 19" h
- Top: 48" w x 32" d x 3" thick
- Clearance Below Top: 16"
- Distance Between Legs: 38.5" at sides; 24.5" at head
- Weight: 99 lb
- Overall: 60" w x 42" d x 19" h
- Top: 60" w x 42" d x 2.75" thick
- Clearance Below Top: 16.25"
- Distance Between Legs: 50.5" at sides; 34.75" at head
- Weight: 139 lb
Coffee Table
Grand Coffee Table
- Shipping & Return Info
This is a general shipping item.
Shipping Information
Return Policy
At Pottery Barn, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction is our priority. We carefully inspect your order prior to shipment. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement. If, within 7 days for Quick Ship upholstery and 30 days for all other products, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, made to order items, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. We also cannot accept returns of final-sale items which are identified by a price which ends in .99.
For returns of items purchased from your Pottery Barn registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later.
You may return merchandise through the mail for a refund or replacement. For detailed procedures for returning items through the mail, please contact Customer Service at 1.888.779.5176, 7 days a week, 5:00am - 9:00pm (PT).
Also in this Collection
Griffin Reclaimed Wood Side Table
Side Table
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Griffin Reclaimed Wood Fixed Dining Table
Dining Table
- White Glove Delivery
- Eco-Friendly


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E2open Case Study - Radisys: Confidence in Customer Commits
December 17, 2013
Radisys faced multiple challenges to ensure orders are fulfilled in a timely manner while minimizing inventory costs.
By partnering with E2open, Radisys was able to optimize profitability through better planning and scenario analysis.
Download this free case study and learn how Radisys was able to automate most of its supply chain within six months, which provided visibility into its manufacturers and helped it to achieve better price and margin information.
More importantly, Radisys can now make better decisions to optimize profitability based on simulations. As a result, it was able to address its global supply chain challenges and enable accelerated response to its customers - and commit with confidence.
Download this free white paper to learn more.
Subscribe to Logistics Management magazine
entire logistics operation. Start your FREE subscription today!


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Best U.S. Contractors of 2010
Avi Gabbay's customers say he delivers honest, friendly and speedy service. Photo courtesy of PSeeSolutions
Expert Flooring Solutions | Las Vegas
Member Jeannie Schaeffer had difficulty finding a company willing to install the floor and baseboards she wanted until she called Expert Flooring Solutions.
"He listens to what you want," Schaeffer says.
With more than 35 years of experience, owner Tom Rossi says he's learned the importance of being available to customers.
"I follow up on everything," says Rossi, who holds three different state contracting licenses for carpentry and flooring. "I don't let my customers pay until they're happy."
Expert Flooring Solutions was one of our national Best Contractors in 2009 and received more than 30 nominations from Angie's List members for our Pages of Happiness feature last year.
Rossi's company offers green products like bamboo, as well as flooring made from recycled materials. Rossi sponsors a local Little League team and donates money to the homeless.
Barrett Tree Service East Inc. | Somerville, Mass.
Returning for the second time to the national Best Contractors List, owner Trumbull Barrett continues to impress.
"I enjoy the challenges of tree care in an urban setting," says the certified arborist, who employs seven at Barrett Tree Service East Inc. "Our team is dedicated to providing high quality work and excellent customer service."
Angie's List members have praised the company by nominating it 20 times to our Pages of Happiness feature for their professionalism — even toward pets — and attitude of common courtesy.
"I called them at 9 p.m. because a limb came down during a storm," Chris Nichols says. "No one else would respond but Barrett. They're great to work with."
Barrett says it's important to give back to the community and does so by donating woodchips to nature preserves for walking trails.
PSeeSolutions | Columbus, Ohio
Even before Avi Gabbay started PSeeSolutions in 2006, he was helping friends solve computer problems. Now he wows customers with his down-to-earth approach.
"I try to speak their language when it comes to computers," says Gabbay, who aims to deliver "customer service with an exclamation point!"
He netted more than 30 nominations from members for our Pages of Happiness feature last year; won the Super Service Award in 2007, 2008 and 2009; and was among Columbus' Best Contractors in 2008 and 2009.
New Albany, Ohio, member Pat Howard says Gabbay's integrity is what makes PSee stand out.
"I can't think of another company I've had better service from in any field," Howard says.
Gabbay also recycles and donates refurbished computers to social service organizations in the Columbus area.
East Coast Comfort Inc. | Philadelphia
"From A to Z, they were easy to work with," says Diann Devine after East Coast Comfort installed a heater and A/C. "They delivered everything promised."
Other members agree the contractor, who was nominated by Angie's List members for our Pages of Happiness feature 27 times last year, is one of the best.
"I wish all my dealings were as great!" Joe Toner says.
Co-owners Tony Mongeluzi and Ed McCollum say honesty and respect are key.
"We treat customers the way we'd want to be treated," Mongeluzi says.
The company is registered with the state to perform home improvements and is also certified by the Institute for Green Business Certification. They sponsor a Little League team and a sports league for special needs children.
— by Staci Giordullo and Emily Udell


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Was $139.95 NOW $79.95
These are the lady's running shoes with shock-absorbing springs that relieve the stress and fatigue of running. With two in the forefoot and one in the heel, the shoes' patented stainless steel springs return up to 96% of the energy from each stride that would otherwise be lost to the ground. The downward force deflected and dispersed during each impact is recycled to the wearer as propulsive energy, further reducing the strain on the feet and reducing overall recovery time. Unlike the gels used for cushioning on other athletic shoes, these springs will never break down or degrade. The shoes have injection-molded EVA foam midsoles that work in conjunction with the springs for maximum cushioning and resiliency; removable EVA footbed enables orthotic use. A rigid TPU shank provides midfoot support and stability. Breathable nylon mesh uppers. Black or White. Medium width. Whole and half sizes 6-10; whole sizes 12. (9 3/4 oz.)
Lifetime Guarantee
The Lady's Spring-Loaded Running Shoes come with The Hammacher Schlemmer Lifetime Guarantee at no additional charge. If this product ever disappoints you, for any reason, you may return your Hammacher Schlemmer purchase for exchange, credit, or refund.
Should you have any questions, we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please call 1-800-321-1484 to speak with a product specialist or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com to receive a response within one hour.
Sale item quantities are limited — please order soon.
May we recommend:
(based on 13 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
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of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Best Uses
Feels full size too small
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Feels true to size
85% (11 reviews)
(11 reviews)
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Reviewed by 13 customers
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(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
Glad I made this purchase
By Jackie G
from Denver, CO
I had a foot reconstruction performed in June 2013 which makes finding comfortable and supportive shoes a priority. I distance walk and I'm also a nurse on my feet for many hours during a shift. These shoes are being used for both and are tremendously comfortable in both situations. They provide good support and cushioning, but still are lightweight.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
Wonderful shoes!
By HL
from IL
I am not disappointed that I spent so much for the shoes. They really helped my feet problem, and I have less pain after running.
Works exactly as stated.
By sap
from dc
In the last 2 yrs I broke each foot. These are the 1st gym / running shoes that really work!!
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
I would highly recommend these shoes
By Judy
from Atlantic, IA
It makes jogging so much easier!
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Great Shoes; Poor Service
By Robotr
from Tx
Lightweight stable shoe. I have been though 2 back surgeries and this is the shoe I wear to work. I am a therapist who is on my feet 12 to 18 hours daily.
Great running shoes
By Ret
from Flordia
I got these for my daughter and she really likes them she runs everyday and really loves these shoes She also wears them to work everyday as she says they are very comfortable
GREAT shoe for my 81-year old feet
By Barb
from Hillsboro OR
These shoes are wonderfully comfortable and so far, my knees seem to benefit from the spring action. However, lacing them to a comfortable fit is difficult. The laces stick in the eyelets. I would still recommend these shoes to anyone at any age. I am 81 years old and find these shoes remarkably comfortable and "knee friendly."
i will buy more pairs
By penny
from pa.
i am a dog walker,i do a lot of walking and i love this shoe;enables a long walk w/out fatigue!
Hidden Gem
By Running Better
from Skokie, IL
This is my fourth pair of shoes and I would buy them again.The shoes helped with my running, and I am glad that I found them in your catalog.
I use them to walk and do errands
By Just Suzie
from Hillsboro, Mo
This is the 6th pair I have gotten so must really like them :-)
COPYRIGHT © 2016 HAMMACHER SCHLEMMER & COMPANY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. W105HAMMACHER SCHLEMMER • 147 E. 57th ST • NEW YORK, NY • 10022 • 1-800-_321-1484


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These wonderful American made Christmas cards will deliver your holiday wishes with beautiful style. Each box contains 20 original 5" x 7" cards (decorated on all sides) plus 20 decorated envelopes.
Inside message: Let the holidays take you where your heart most wants to go.
Made in the USA.
- Item #: 1-PR-18304


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We went by the flea market today and spotted a Latina with some car troubles in the parking lot. We stopped to help her out and convinced her to come over the house while the car got towed. This hot Latina was nice and petite with a killer tight body to boot. After some convincing we get her to show off all the goods and show us her other skills. After giving some great head we see how much she loves to ride cock, super hot.
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Le Mars Police To Hold Bike Auction
(Le Mars) -- The Le Mars Police Department will hold a bicycle sale on Thursday, July 26 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. All bikes have been abandoned and will sell for $10 each with a limit of one per person. The sale location will be at the Le Mars Police Department located at 22 2nd Street Northeast. More than 30 bikes of various sizes are to be sold. The bikes have been collected over the past two years.
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What is the allure of aviation? Why is it that you hardly, if ever, will meet a less than crazy-passionate pilot? Have you ever noticed that you can almost always pick out all of the pilots in a group simply by watching to see who looks up when an airplane flies over? These are things I think all aviation enthusiasts have noticed, but have you ever stopped to consider what the rest of the world thinks?
Although I have always been razzed by my family about running out on the deck every time something flew over my parents' house – I never really realized how outright kooky we can be about airplanes until I moved into my house with 3 friends/housemates. This wouldn't be much of a social experiment except for the fact that 3 of us are pilots and one of us is not. With myself, Frank (a Sky West First Officer and lover of anything aviation) and Rob (an enthusiastic general aviation pilot) constantly yammering on about planes and engines and flying it is a wonder that poor Bree puts up with us at all. But through this experience I have learned something much more valuable than pilots are just big aviation nerds – we have something to offer those that are not – passion. I hear people all the time say that they hope they can find something in life to be as passionate about as I am about flying – and I say, why not!?!
Although not everyone may get as excited about metal or fabric taking flight, as pilots we have the ability to share with the world that there is always something to be passionate about and if you love it, do it. Think about the kid who washes airplanes all weekend just to save enough money for an hour flight. Isn't that the same as the kid who flips burgers every day after school to save enough money to buy their own car? How about giving up everything to live in a hangar just to be able to afford to work in aviation and gain experience and time in and around the aircraft you love to fly? Do you have something that would drive you to do something that drastic? I do – and I did, and I don't regret a thing.
What do I propose? I propose that we, as pilots, do our best to not only share our love of flying with as many people as possible – but also just share the secret of being passionate about anything that you love. By reaching out to others, and especially kids, we have the chance to share the idea that if you love something and you set your mind to it, you can make it part of your own life. Whether it be airplanes or cooking, science or sports – having the drive and the passion makes all the difference in the world. Without it life is quite bland but with it the heights you can reach are immeasurable.


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Blowing bubbles into the endless sky will be a breeze with the Pink Star Bubble Necklace! The pink star-shaped necklaces contain bubbles inside. The four items that you will receive can be given out as fun parting gifts after your party is over.
Not yet rated. Be the first to Write a Review


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Book your room at Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile
Get an overview of this hotelGlass tower on Sherbrooke in central Montréal
Mount Royal Park
This downtown hotel on Sherbrooke Street is surrounded by businesses, boutiques, galleries, and restaurants; Bell Centre, the convention center, and Mount Royal Park (Parc du Mont-Royal) are within 5 blocks.
24-hour room service
Gourmet French cuisine is served in the fashionable Renoir restaurant with a seasonal outdoor terrace. The lively bar serves lighter fare, and in-room dining is available 24 hours a day. This downtown hotel offers valet parking with in/out privileges.
Wireless Internet
Guestrooms at Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile feature floor-to-ceiling windows, featherbeds, marble baths with glass-enclosed showers, wireless Internet access, and candles for romantic light.Would you like to give us feedback? Share it! Opens in a new window
Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile1155 Sherbrooke Ouest Montreal QC H3A2N3
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Facing Sherbrooke Street and surrounded by boutiques and restaurants, Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile is within 5 blocks of Bell Center, the convention center, and Mount Royal Park.
Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in the lobby and restaurant. Gourmet French cuisine lures fashionable diners to the popular Renoir restaurant with a seasonal outdoor terrace, while lighter fare and cocktails are served in a lively bar/lounge.
Guests of Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile have access to a 24-hour fitness center with a sauna, and massage services (surcharge) can be arranged in a private room. For a more extensive workout, discounted passes are available to a health club across the street.
- 24-hour front desk
- Bar/lounge
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Business center
- Concierge services
- Coffee/tea in common areas
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Conference space
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Fitness facilities
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Free WiFi
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Spa treatment room(s)
- Meeting rooms
- Multilingual staff
- Number of floors - 17
- Total number of rooms - 258
- Porter/bellhop
- Restaurant
- Conference space size (meters) - 641
- Conference space size (feet) - 6900
- Sauna
- Use of nearby fitness center (discount)
- Wedding services
- Smoke-free property
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Free Wi-Fi
- Refrigerator (on request)
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Room Amenities
- Air conditioning
- Premium bedding
- Phone
- Bathrobes
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Free bottled water
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Designer toiletries
- Desk
- Hair dryer
- Daily housekeeping
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Iron/ironing board
- Free WiFi
- Minibar
- Pay movies
- Refrigerator (on request)
- Slippers
- Turndown service
- Room service (24 hours)
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Digital TV service
- Flat-panel TV
- In-room safe (laptop compatible)
- Down comforter
Where to Eat
Renoir - Contemporary restaurant with white linens, exhibition kitchen, fresh flowers. Offers seasonal dishes along with wines and desserts. Terrace seating in warm weather.
Le Bar - High ceiling with floor-to-ceiling windows, wooden floor, suede barstools, leather lounge chairs. Freshly baked croissants, appetizers, sandwiches, light fare. Morning coffee, afternoon tea, fine wines, champagnes, cocktails. Open from late morning to late evening.
Room service - Available 24 hours.
Nearby Things to Do
The fitness room at Sofitel Montreal Le Carre Dore includes cardio machines, a strength-training machine, free weights, and a sauna. Massages can be arranged (surcharge) in a private treatment room. Discounted passes are provided to a health club across the street that has an indoor pool, sauna, and extensive fitness equipment.
Mount Royal Park, just five blocks from the hotel, offers running paths, hiking/biking trails, cross-country skiing, and ice skating.
The recreational activities listed below are available on site or nearby; fees may apply.
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Up to 3 children 11 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding.


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Ballot boxing
Campaign 2012 | Opponents of Voter ID laws say advocates want to depress minority turnout to defeat President Obama. But supporters say the laws are a common-sense way to block an obvious avenue of election fraud
"Ballot boxing" Continued...
For Mississippi inmate Lessadolla Sowers, a personal downfall hinged on a common activity: licking envelopes.
Envelope-licking didn't directly lead to Sowers' conviction during her 2011 trial in Tunica County, Miss., but a jury found Sowers guilty for what prosecutors said she placed inside envelopes during the weeks before the 2007 Democratic primaries: fraudulent absentee ballots.
Forensic scientist Bo Scales testified last April that he found Sowers' DNA on the inside seal of five envelopes containing ballots. Ultimately, a jury convicted Sowers of 10 counts of voter fraud for submitting absentee ballots in the names of 10 different people, including four who were dead. (The living victims testified that they didn't know Sowers or ask her to cast ballots for them.)
Circuit Court Judge Charles Webster sentenced Sowers to a five-year prison term for each of the 10 counts, but ruled that she could serve the sentences concurrently. He wasn't as lenient in his personal assessment, according to a report in The Tunica Times: "This crime cuts against the fabric of our free society."
Advocates for tougher voting laws cite Sowers' case as an example of the kind of fraud that demands stricter standards for casting ballots. They say razor-thin elections prove that even a handful of votes could make an enormous difference: In the highest-profile case in recent history, George W. Bush won the 2000 presidential election after carrying Florida by some 500 votes.
Earlier this year, GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum defeated opponent Mitt Romney in the Iowa caucuses by some 34 votes. With this year's presidential election less than seven months away, some states already look poised to feature tight contests that could yield thin margins. In a process that always demands vigilance to ensure fair elections, the stakes are high.
That presents an obvious question: How can election officials prevent voter fraud? Though there's more than one answer, one of the highest-profile-and most controversial-efforts involves Voter ID laws that require voters to present identification when casting ballots at the polls.
The controversy has become even more heated since the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently blocked new Voter ID laws in Texas and South Carolina, saying the legislation could disenfranchise minority voters. (The Voting Rights Act of 1965 requires nine Southern states to gain pre-clearance from DOJ before implementing changes in voting laws.) Both states are fighting the ruling.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at least 31 states require voters to present some form of identification before voting at the polls. Sixteen of those states allow some forms of non-photo identification, including utility bills or bank statements. The other 15 states require photo identification. (States vary in what forms of photo ID they allow.)
Supporters of photo ID say the laws are a common-sense way to verify a voter's identity. Opponents charge that the laws discriminate against minority voters, who are less likely to have photo IDs. Sometimes the argument gets ugly: Julian Bond, former chairman of the NAACP, called the laws "racist in intent." Rickey Hill, professor of black politics and theory at Mississippi Valley State University, told The Huffington Post that advocates of such laws in Southern states are "trying to reclaim the South as the bastion of white domination."
But in Sowers' case, arguments about Voter ID don't matter. Though Mississippi passed a photo ID law in 2007, the rule didn't include absentee ballots. Indeed, most states with photo ID laws don't apply the requirement to absentee voting. That means the photo ID law in Mississippi-and many other states-wouldn't have caught Sowers' scheme.
It's a conundrum at the heart of the debate over Voter ID laws: The kind of voter impersonation that photo ID requirements could catch at the polls is rare compared to cases of fraud involving absentee ballots that don't require photo identification at all. This doesn't mean voter impersonation doesn't happen or that Voter ID laws couldn't prevent it. It does mean that thwarting voter fraud is more complicated than simply requiring a photo ID.
Indeed, a closer look at South Carolina, one of the states battling for a Voter ID law, reveals a nationwide reality: a complicated electoral system with complicated problems that could produce vulnerabilities in the voting process.
Meanwhile, addressing the problems is a complicated task that involves cutting through dynamics of race and politics and searching for solutions that can help people facing problems inside and outside the voting booth.
Ask Chris Whitmire about voter fraud in South Carolina, and the spokesman for the state's election commission answers: "It is a fact that we have no documented cases of voter fraud in recent history."
That's significant in a state that passed a Voter ID law in 2011 aimed at preventing voter fraud. (The South Carolina law requires voters to present a state-issued photo ID when voting at the polls.) Opponents of the law have seized on Whitmire's comments, saying they prove the law is unnecessary.
But Whitmire-whose office is neutral on the Voter ID law-offers an important caveat: "It could be going on and we don't know about it. ... Those are facts, too."
The facts about voter fraud are hard to pin down. Some call it a myth. Others say it's widespread. The Brennan Center for Justice-a group opposed to Voter ID laws-says it's statistically more likely for an American to get hit by lightning than to cast knowingly a fraudulent ballot. Indeed, cases of voter impersonation at the polls are rare.
But a study by the Republican National Lawyers Association-a group in favor of Voter ID laws-reported that officials in 46 states have pursued prosecutions or won convictions related to voter fraud in the last decade. The report listed a handful of cases in most states, though Indiana included nearly 50 cases. The charges included absentee fraud, non-citizens voting, and voters casting ballots in the wrong precincts.
Meanwhile, cases of voter fraud keep popping up: In November, Madison County, Fla., officials arrested nine people for voter fraud in connection with absentee ballots in a local election. In December, two city officials and two Democratic operatives in Troy, N.Y., pleaded guilty to forging absentee ballots and casting fraudulent ballots in a 2009 primary.
In February, an Indiana judge sentenced former Secretary of State Charlie White to a year of home detention for six felony convictions related to voter fraud, perjury, and theft. The Republican was the state's top election official.
So is voter fraud a serious problem? The answer to that question partly hinges on the definition of voter fraud. Opponents of Voter ID laws tend to define it narrowly as a voter succeeding in casting a fraudulent ballot.
Others define it more broadly as any form of fraud connected to the electoral system, including the kind of fraudulent registrations that made ACORN infamous during the last presidential election. Workers for the activist organization submitted some 400,000 bogus voter registrations in 2008.
Proponents of the broader definition say fraudulent registrations don't equal fraudulent votes, but that they could facilitate fraud by corrupting the voter rolls. Some experts say that messy voter rolls could be the system's biggest vulnerability of all.
Back in South Carolina, Attorney General Alan Wilson is focused on Voter ID laws. He says the rule requiring photo identification is a logical step in a country that requires photo identification for everything from cashing checks to buying cold medicine: "Shouldn't there be a basic protection for the integrity of the [voting] process?"
In one landmark case, the U.S. Supreme Court has said yes. The court upheld Indiana's Voter ID law in 2008, ruling that the law is "amply justified by the valid interest and reliability of the electoral process." In a 6-3 ruling, the justices rebuffed arguments by civil-rights groups that the law would disenfranchise minority voters, saying, "The statute does not impose an excessively burdensome requirement on any class of voters."
In South Carolina's case, the DOJ disagrees. Attorneys for the Obama administration say that since as many as 200,000 citizens-including a large number of minorities-over age 18 don't have photo IDs, the law could disenfranchise those voters. Both sides claim political motives, noting that most states that have passed Voter ID laws have Republican-controlled legislatures, and that most governors that veto the laws are Democrats.
In January, members of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus charged that Voter ID laws aim to suppress minority vote and thwart the reelection of President Barack Obama. During a speech on the House floor, Rep. Donna Christensen, D-Virgin Islands, said the laws are "a specific attempt to derail what surely would be and ought to be the reelection of Barack Obama."
Some supporters of the law claim the opposite. Ken Blackwell-former Ohio Secretary of State and a fellow with the conservative Family Research Council-says the DOJ's efforts stir up minority support for Obama by "painting a picture of racial conflict" and making Obama and the DOJ their champion. (Blackwell is black and a life member of the NAACP, a group that opposes Voter ID laws.)
Beyond political arguments, it's helpful to look at specific cases: After a Georgia Voter ID law went into effect in 2007, African-American voter turnout rose 42 percent, according to the Heritage Foundation. In 2008, the same year the Supreme Court upheld Indiana's law, Obama narrowly won the typically Republican state in the presidential elections.
Another key case: Rhode Island-a state with a Democratic legislature and governor-voted to enact a Voter ID law last year. (The law goes into effect in 2014 and allows for a range of photo IDs-including medical IDs and student IDs issued by universities.) State Rep. Jon Brien sponsored the House version of the bill and noted that key minority legislators actively supported it because of cases of voter fraud in the state.
Doug Chapin, an elections expert at the University of Minnesota, told Governing magazine that Rhode Island's legislation could change perceptions of Voter ID laws: "What was once a predictable partisan divide might be more fluid-and more than a little surprising in the months to come."
For now, Voter ID remains a tense issue in South Carolina. Though South Carolina officials have offered free photo IDs (and free rides to the Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain them), some voters still find ID a major hurdle: If they don't have a valid birth certificate, they can't get a state-issued ID. And if they don't have a state-issued ID, they usually can't get a birth certificate.
That's a circle Brenda Williams has been traveling for months. The physician in a low-income neighborhood in Sumter, S.C., has been promoting voter registration among her patients for years. Now she's helping some of those same patients obtain IDs to vote.
Some patients have never had birth certificates, especially some elderly citizens delivered at home decades ago by midwives who never registered their births. Others have birth certificates with misspelled names-another problem when trying to obtain a photo ID.
An online service called VitalCheck can help some citizens obtain a birth certificate if they don't have a photo ID. (The fees are at least $50.) But if they don't have a birth certificate at all, they often need an attorney, a prohibitively expensive prospect for poorer voters.
That includes Junior Glover, a 74-year-old Sumter resident with no birth certificate and no photo ID. Glover finished first grade and then worked decades on a farm. Though he doesn't read or write, he's been voting with assistance for years. During a late afternoon visit at his rental home, Glover described what he thought when he heard he might need a photo ID to vote at the polls: "I guess they don't want me to vote."
But Glover's problems go beyond voting. His daughter-in-law, Maryjane Glover, says she's been trying to help him get a photo ID for years: Without an ID, Glover says she can't cash his Social Security check at a bank, and she can't deposit it for him. Glover goes to a local check-cashing business that charges $20, a sizeable chunk of two checks that amount to $521 and $197 each month.
In a housing project near Glover's home, Donna DuBose smiles and flashes a photo ID that took years for her to obtain. DuBose met Williams after seeing a flier about photo IDs and voting. She had been trying to get an ID for years to cash checks, order medicine, and help manage her husband's financial affairs. (Her husband is disabled and doesn't have a birth certificate or photo ID.)
DuBose had a birth certificate, but it listed her name as "Baby Girl Kennedy"-a designation given by a midwife. Until she obtained a birth certificate with a corrected name, she couldn't get an ID. Finally, Williams convinced a local attorney to take her case. Now DuBose is thrilled: "I don't know how I made it through life without this."
South Carolina officials say they're sympathetic to such cases, but point to a key provision in the law: If DOJ approves the law, state officials will issue free photo registration ID cards that require only oral verification of a Social Security number. (Unregistered voters will have to show a utility bill, Social Security check, or other document.) Voters would have to travel to their county registration office, but they wouldn't need a birth certificate.
Still, Williams thinks the law presents too many obstacles to voting. She's convinced the law targets minorities since most of the citizens she helps are black. She also believes the law aims to thwart the president.
With a photo of Obama hanging prominently in the waiting room of her doctor's office, Williams acknowledges that she's an "avid" supporter of the president, but says she tells others to vote their conscience: "I don't care if you vote for Barack Obama or Little Sally Walker. ... Just vote."
Attorney General Wilson resents charges that the law has a racist intent and notes an important breakdown: A DOJ analysis showed that 10 percent of non-white voters in South Carolina don't have a state-issued photo ID. The number of whites without one: 8.4 percent.
These days, South Carolina election officials are dealing with another issue: reports of more than 900 "dead voters." State DMV director Kevin Shwedo compared voter rolls from the state election commission (showing when someone last voted) to death records from the Social Security Administration and the state's vital statistics office. The results: Shwedo says he found 956 names listed as voting after their dates of death.
Whitmire-spokesman for the election commission-says the office investigated 207 of those votes and found no cases of voter fraud. Most involved clerical errors by poll managers. (For example, when John Doe Jr. showed up to vote, poll workers marked John Doe Sr., who was dead.)
But if the errors were clerical, they were also instructive about the challenges of keeping accurate voting rolls: Whitmire says the DMV identified some 30,000 deceased people on the state election commission voter rolls. He says that's because the DMV has access to more information, including Social Security records that the commission can't access. He says his office plans to push for legislation that would give it access to the same data.
In the meantime, other states face challenges with bloated or errant voting rolls. Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gesslar reported last March that his department found nearly 12,000 non-citizens registered to vote in the state. Nearly 5,000 of those voted in the 2010 general elections, he said.
The National Voter Registration Act calls for states to clean voting rolls and purge dead or ineligible voters. But former DOJ attorney J. Christian Adams testified in 2010 that Deputy Assistant Attorney General Julie Fernandes advised attorneys in the civil-rights division that they wouldn't be enforcing the statutes, saying it wouldn't help with "increasing voter turnout." (Adams resigned from DOJ, protesting the department's policies.)
John Fund-author of Stealing Elections: How Voter Fraud Threatens Our Democracy-says that messy voter rolls open the potential for fraud. He advocates Voter ID laws as a protection against fraud, but also notes that absentee ballots-like the ones that Sowers from Mississippi used-represent a major vulnerability.
Since most states don't require photo ID for absentee ballots, the weakness remains in the system. Fund says that since Republican lawmakers have constituencies that often favor absentee ballots, they often downplay serious abuses of mail-in ballots.
And there's another vulnerability in the system: Couldn't voters beat Voter ID laws by producing fake IDs? Since voter impersonation at polls is rare, it seems unlikely that a large group of voters would undertake a concerted effort to cheat at the polls.
But security expert Steve Williams says it's not impossible. The CEO of Intellicheck Mobilisa-a Washington-based security firm that specializes in identity and wireless security systems-says "millions" of fake IDs float around the United States already. "With today's technology, you can go to Walmart, buy a printer, download a program, and make a pretty good fake ID," he said. With Photoshop and heavy cardstock, he adds: "You can probably make a driver's license in about 30 seconds."
Many states-including South Carolina-don't have plans to use scanners to spot fake IDs. Williams thinks that's a mistake: "Without technology, I would gamble that you would be defeated."
Reasonable protection
By La Shawn Barber
Blacks after the Civil War tended to vote for Republicans, the party that had freed slaves and pushed civil-rights laws. Democrats in South Carolina discouraged black voting through devices like the eight-box ballot system, an indirect literacy test that required separate boxes for separate offices, with boxes periodically shuffled. If the voter inserted his ballot for senator in the governor ballot box, for example, the vote for senator was thrown out.
Such a system was confusing to illiterate and undereducated post-slavery blacks (and poor whites). Lawmakers also disenfranchised voters with polls taxes, direct literacy tests, and intimidation of various kinds. Voters had to read (and sometimes write) a section of the state Constitution, or to understand it to the satisfaction of the election official. When other discouragements failed, violence came into play.
Now to present-day South Carolina, where any citizen qualified to vote may vote. The State Election Commission reported that close to 240,000 active and inactive voters lacked a photo ID, but a DMV analysis of the data revealed that 207,000 of those voters no longer lived in the state, had allowed their IDs to expire, likely had IDs that didn't match voter records, or were dead.
The real percentage of voters who would need to get a new ID: 1.2 percent. A person who is poor in the true sense of the word can still obtain a state-issued photo ID at no cost. Some have complications of the kind Jamie Dean reports, but even residents without such ID can cast provisional ballots and confirm their identity at a later date before the results are certified.
Two points worth remembering: First, although it's been only 50 years or so since some states required blacks to enter through the back door and sit at the back of the bus, those times might as well be ancient history, given the astounding racial progress America has made. We've come a long, long way. The most pressing problem facing blacks in America isn't racism, institutional or otherwise. It's family instability.
Second, let's examine the insinuation that minorities, the poor, or the elderly are too lazy, stupid, or afraid to obey a common-sense, nondiscriminatory law that applies to everyone. That is an insult to the memory of people once faced with real intimidation.
-La Shawn Barber is a journalist best known for her blog, La Shawn Barber's Corner


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May 31, 2016
The Mississippi State Department of Health says someone who had earlier been infected with West Nile virus in Madison County has died, bringing the state's 2012 death total to five.
The state also reported 14 new cases Monday, pushing the year's total to 200.
That's the largest number of cases ever confirmed by laboratories. In 2011, Mississippi had 52 cases and five deaths.
Dr. Thomas Dobbs, the state epidemiologist, says a warm winter, followed by wet spells, has created perfect breeding conditions for mosquitoes that carry the virus. That's especially true in central and southern parts of the state.
Metropolitan Jackson counties of Hinds, Madison and Rankin have reported 43 percent of cases statewide, though they only have 16 percent of the population.
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FILE - This May 29, 2011 file photo shows Colombia's singer Shakira performing with FC Barcelona soccer player Gerard Pique during The Sun Comes Out World Tour concert in Barcelona, Spain. UNICEF is hosting an online baby shower on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 in honor of Shakira and Pique's first baby. Shakira, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and Pique are inviting people to donate to poor children worldwide through the online event. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)


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RACE CAR DRIVER VERENA MEI, WHO LED THE FIRST ALL-FEMALE TEAM TO EVER WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE HISTORY OF RALLY AMERICA, IS CURRENTLY COMPETING FOR HER SECOND TITLE. Story by Ada Tseng, photo by Pinky Yoshimoto, pinkyphotography.com.
Growing up in Hawaii, Verena Mei says her mother always told her that as long as she worked hard, she could accomplish anything.
Mei laughs. "But I know she wasn't talking about racing."
Raised in a family of engineers, Mei did not know anything about race car driving until she started modeling for Toyo Tires after graduating college. After attending races consistently for three years, she grew such a passion for motor sports that she was dying to see what it was like behind the wheel.
"I just knew that I could do it," says Mei, who is ethnically Chinese. "I always had that attitude. I would see something and think, 'I could do that!' In my head, there was no doubt."
In 2002, she was referred to a stunt driving school by Indy- Car legend Bobby Unser Jr., and only a month later, she earned her pro competition drag racing license, making her the fastest Asian American woman in the United States.
She then trained to be a race car driver at the Bob Bon- durant School of High Performance Driving, and it was there that she found her passion for drifting, a racing technique that began in Japan that involves the driver intentionally over-steer- ing and sliding around corners.
"Even back in 2000, they were calling me 'Drift Girl,'" says Mei. "They'd say, 'I could see the fire in your eyes.' [Two- thousand-four] was the year that drifting came to the U.S. as a professional series, and it was the start of something huge." The discipline crossed into the mainstream with Justin Lin's Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, the 2006 film in which Mei has a cameo.
After competing in Formula Drift for five years and becoming the first female to win a championship in the Redline Time Attack auto racing series, Mei decided to pursue rally racing. Rallying takes place on real roads through all types of surfaces and weather conditions, and events can last for multiple days.
In 2012, Mei and her co-driver, Leanna Junnila, were the track's only all-female driving team that was going for the na- tional championship in Rally America, which has been oper- ating since 2005.
"[Junnila] leads me, so I can drive with my ears instead of my eyes," Mei explains. "We're going so fast, the roads are so narrow, and you can't see all the turns, so she gives me notes, and I have to visualize it in my head. It takes a huge amount of trust in each other."
When they won the Rally America B-Spec National Championship in their first year of competition, they made history as the first all-female team to ever win a national title in the history of Rally America.
"She's created so many milestones for women in racing," says Julianna Barker, a representative for tokidoki, the Japanese- inspired pop culture brand created by Italian artist Simone Legno that sponsors Mei's #335 True Car/Star Girl Racing rally team. In addition to a custom tokidoki helmet and a Porcino vinyl toy she keeps in her car for good luck, Legno has created a new cartoon character based on Mei called "Star Girl," inspired by Mei's passion for racing.
"I can totally relate to what tokidoki, [which means 'some- times' in Japanese] is all about," says Mei. "Sometimes … dreams come true. And for me, I'm living the hugest dream. Throughout my whole racing career, I've always wanted to rally."
Seeing that rallying is often considered the most dangerous motor sport, Mei knows that her worried mother waits for the day she stops racing. But her parents have their own way of supporting their record-breaking daughter.
"It's funny, my dad will say 'Be careful! Drive slow!" says Mei. She reacts in mock horror. "Drive slow?!"
Looks like Mei will not be slowing down any time soon.
"I had just earned my pro drag racing license and was tirelessly (no pun intended) searching for sponsors, but no one took me seriously. It was only at the end of that year that I met Greg Fresquez from the Bondurant High Performance Driving School who believed in me and gave me a chance. It was a life changing moment. I took the opportunity and ran with it and never stopped." — Verena Mei
This story was originally published in Audrey's Summer 2013 issue. Buy the issue here.


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I just want to say a huge 'thank you' to Raj at I2K2 Systems. By using his custom IMail migration tool, we automated 95% of what would have been a gruesome and very long migration period for our 2500 email accounts, address books, filters, forwarders and more. He's very active on these forums, gives generously of his time and knowledge, and deserves much recognition.
Thanks again!
Mike Bristol
UpLync Technologies, Inc.


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January 19, 2011
Lindsey is probably one of the sweetest people I've ever met, so it's no surprise to me that Josh would travel from England to the U.S. to see her pretty blue eyes. Josh is a pretty swell bloke too, of course. :)
All in all, I had so much fun documenting the fun these two cuties had during the portrait session. Between snow fights, hot chocolate and the Ritz's awesome holiday decor, it was a blast.
Having dated long-distance myself, I hope the time apart speeds by quickly. Thank goodness for Skype! :)
Heather says:
This is such a fun photo set Laurie!(01.20.11 @ 08:08 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Cross-Atlantic Romance: Lindsey + Josh . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://lauriepeacock.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/207
January 14, 2011
I've been trying to catch up with e-mails and phone calls since my return from Panama. Like a freezing kick in the arse, Chicago welcomed me back with open arms.
In an effort to warm things up, here's a little sneak peek of the fun chemistry between Lindsey and Josh.
Nicole Thomas says:
I love that red door! It compliments these photos perfectly!(01.18.11 @ 10:51 AM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: I'm b-b-b-back (and it's cold) . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://lauriepeacock.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/206