text:
In Their Own Words – Stepping into the Light
This "In Their Own Words" essay is written by Molly Keene, the mother of a son who has autism.
I am Molly, and yesterday I found out my son has autism spectrum disorder. The term "found out" is sort of ridiculous, because you go through months of evaluations for this sort of thing. But yesterday I found out, my husband and I said it to each other – "our son has autism" – and so I'm ready to step into the light.
My son has autism. And he's amazing. And it's hard, but it'll be great. And great trumps hard any day in my book.
At the party, the other children surrounded the birthday boy, sweetly singing (and shouting, for the less musically adept) "Happy Birthday."
There was pizza, and cake, and veggies with dip. Soda was in cups. I looked around for my son and found him, hand on a light switch.
Luckily, the lights were connected to nothing noticeable. But his hand caressed it and flicked it up and down, a ritual repeated many times daily. The front of his clothes were soaked from the water table at the children's museum. As we gently moved him away from the lights, he melted down. Logic told us it was past his naptime, but inside of me, something whispered.
– Do you see? He's not like them.
My husband looked over at me and asked what was wrong. I blinked and looked up, anywhere else.
– You're afraid he will never have a party like this.
My eyes blinked back tears, and I stood with the baby and walked over to the window to regain my composure. I watched the wind rustle through the green leaves on the trees, and I grieved for myself. Not for the boy, who was happy as could be doing things his way.
It was me that needed to adjust, not him.
I came in from the garage after a much-needed day of shopping with a friend. A small head popped up over the sofa, and he ran to me, talking as best as he could.
– "Nggah! Raaah! Eye duh. Eye gah. Nuh! Nah! Ennah." (or something like that)
Whatever he had to say, he was quite adamant about it, as he laid his head on my shoulder and gave my other shoulder three pats. He rested there for a minute, about like any young child. We walked into the living room, where Papa sat with the baby. My boy pulled me to the bookshelf, beginning the same thing we did a dozen times a day. I started handing him DVD cases, and he would push them back up until I got to the one he wanted. He would seize it and run off to sit and gaze at it happily. I smiled as the ritual was repeated. I knew that my kitchen cabinet held several DVD cases, and that in there, he would admire them like a photo album.
He was still awake.
I crept up the stairs and opened the door. A little hand pushed an empty bottle into mine. Again, a nightly ritual, as I went down and put a minute amount of milk in it. Back up the stairs I went, and laid down with him on his bed.
First he laid on my legs, using his blankets as a cushion. Then he moved up to lay next to me. I began to sing our nightly songs – "Good Night," "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," and "Ollie is a Child of God."
A small hand went up to my cheek and cupped it. And in that moment, life was perfect. Small fingers snaked into my hair and touched a few, tentatively. He whispered something and cooed at me. I had no idea what he was saying, as usual. But my heart translated for me.
– Mama, I love you. Mama, I know. Mama, I chose you and Papa before I ever came here. Mama, I am happy. Mama, I am perfect, just as I am.
My eyes filled with happy tears – another daily ritual. I finished the last song as on-key as I could, and he softly cheered, "Aaay."
"In Their Own Words" is a series within the Autism Speaks blog which shares the voices of people who have autism, as well as their loved ones. If you have a story you wish to share about your personal experience with autism, please send it to firstname.lastname@example.com. Autism Speaks reserves the right to edit contributions for space, style and content. Because of the volume of submissions, not all can be published on the site.
August 3, 2010 at 9:57 am
Welcome to the world full of light!!! And thank you for sharing your story, reminds me of my own.
August 3, 2010 at 10:23 am
Yes thanks for sharing. :)
August 3, 2010 at 10:24 am
Hi Molly! We have lots in common! Besides our name, we were recently diagnosed with PDD-NOS. Graham loves light switches and would rather be doing that than singing happy birthday… The hardest part about all of this is laying down the dreams you had for your son and picking up new ones. Dreams that seem mundane and remedial to others with typically development kids are HUGE for those of us with kids with ASD. My Graham, at 3.5 years old, just learn to wave bye bye. My heart skips a beat everytime he does it. Crazy isn't it…
Thanks for sharing your story!
August 3, 2010 at 10:36 am
Thank you for sharing yourn story, I also have a son with Autism, and have had similar experiences. My heart and support goes out to all the children and families that are living is the world of ASD Love, support and guid your child, as each day brings a blessing sent from God
August 3, 2010 at 10:39 am
wow this story is amazing and so fimiliar, god bless our children with autism
August 3, 2010 at 10:47 am
So beautifully put. You are such a good mom to get it early and to try step into his world for a moment, to love support and just understand. In their mind, there is perfect order… a highly functioning brain that seeks routine, logic and stimulation. They are truly incredible children and capable of incredible things! People just need to see the world through their eyes for a moment and understand that there is more to life than "normal"…whatever that is! You seek for him a life that is extraordinary, and expect great things to come.
August 3, 2010 at 11:33 am
There is a reason Ollie chose you to come down to, and that reason is you're an amazing mom. Your blog brought tears to my eyes, not because Ollie has autism but because all parents have hopes & dreams for their children. Some are realized and some are not but the journey that we're on is what we must appreciate and cherish, not the 'final product' – if there is such a thing.
August 3, 2010 at 12:22 pm
What a beautiful testimony of a mother's love for her son! You are so right that God created him perfect in His eyes. I look forward to your teaching us many things about autism so that we may be mature in knowledge as you are. I know Ollie will bless your life in many ways, and I look forward to hearing about them. Thanks for sharing. And by the way, you are a fantastic writer!
August 3, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Thank you so much for writing this…my son was just diagnosed, too, and I've really been grieving ever since. I truly believe God inspired you to write this…and now you've inspired me. I think I will read your story every morning when I get up to remember that my former dreams are not as beautiful as the real dream unfolding before me. God bless you and your family.
August 3, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Molly – your story is like so many others – you are not alone – my son is just like yours. Rich is now 7 almost 8. He no longer flicks the light switch obsessively, his speech is much imporoved and heartily celebrates his birthday! As you did, I discovered this is a journey I have the privelege to partcipate in and there have been many times I have cried along the way. But the smiles and happiness far out number any sadness.
I wish you peace and many blessings – remember – you are not alone!
August 3, 2010 at 12:46 pm
It seems only yesterday we started on this path as well, but in actuality it has been a year since our son's diagnosis. We went came to many of the same conclusions, it was not him that was flawed, but instead it was my way of thinking. Our Darius is 3 now and still does not talk. He does not like to have his daily rituals and schedules upset, but he is happy and loving. What more can a parent ask for their child but happiness and to have their undying love returned to them?
August 3, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Welcome to the family Molly!…you could have very easily described my own son as he was at that age. He's 15 now, and he's in a regular high school, knows how to use a computer, enjoys card games, is funny, handsome and healthy. And those are good things! There are struggles, he's got very few friends, I'm still the "social director", he prefers his solitude, and is not a very good winner OR loser when it comes to games. But we're still stepping into the light. Hold on tight…it's gonna be quite a ride.
August 3, 2010 at 12:57 pm
So wonderfully spoken. I felt like I was reading my own story. Thank you for sharing and god bless!
August 3, 2010 at 1:37 pm
I felt like I was reading my own story, I love when Ian takes my face and strokes it softly with his hands….no words are needed because I can feel his words in his touch!
August 3, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Molly, I enjoyed reading your posts about your beautiful boy. I just spent time with my grandson Marty, 3 1/2 (on autistm spectrum) at our cottage. He took the keys and inserted them and then removed them from the lock in the door over and over again. He "snapped" my husband's sandals shut. We would release the mechanism and he snapped them together again to his heart's content. Marty was a joy to observe and to be with.
Your stories bring tears to my eyes. We are all 'you' looking out that window and trying to gain our composure. Trying to figure out the next best steps for our beloved children, grandchildren. Stay strong Molly. I'm rooting for you and your son.
August 3, 2010 at 2:01 pm
This is such a familiar story. My child was also diagnosed this year, and I have felt all the things you mentioned. But what touched me the most was when you said:
"- Mama, I love you. Mama, I know. Mama, I chose you and Papa before I ever came here. Mama, I am happy. Mama, I am perfect, just as I am."
That made me cry as that is exactly how I see Christian :) He is so wonderful and so smart and he teaches me new things every day.
August 3, 2010 at 2:26 pm
This beautiful mom is my niece. What a beautiful child of God you are? The fact that you get it, or are getting it is a beautiful thing to see. In God's eyes there are no comparisons for our children, it's just our earthliness that wants the dream. Growing up with my hand, I continued to search for the "perfect like my friend place" but when I became 18 someone turned the light on for me and I became perfect and knew all was OK. As a social worker I finally learned that the best way to understand someone was to go where they were spiritually and wait until we could walk forward together.
Molly you are a great mom, and niece and what a beautiful family you have. Heart memories made today, Love ya, Cathi
August 3, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Ollie is a wonderful little boy. It is amazing to watch the things that make him smile. I feel blessed to be his aunt and be able to watch him grow. Love you guys.
August 3, 2010 at 5:32 pm
I cam across this a few years ago and absolutely love it. I hope this gives someone comfort like it gave me…
The Special Mother
by Erma Bombeck
Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit.
This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint…give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
"Forrest, Marjorie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia."
"Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew."
Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But has she patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it."
"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make him live in her world and that's not going to be easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect – she has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps – "selfishness? is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'". She will never consider a "step" ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it!"
"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see…ignorance, cruelty, prejudice….and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side".
"And what about her Patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.
God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."
August 3, 2010 at 6:06 pm
I have 2 boys and my youngest (almost 10) was diagnosed at 4 but I already knew in my heart around 18 months-2 yrs old. doctors put him on the low end saying he was almost mentally retarded… they were wrong.. He attends regular school now and is on the A,B honor roll, has been hacking computers since he was 3!, locking up cable boxes (cable guys couldn't fix it but tell Corey to fix it back and with a push of a few buttons tada.. fixed), is very popular with the lil girls (says he has 3 girlfriends) (i'm in for it!). He has the BEST big brother Troy. I couldn't have hand picked better sons or a big brother for Corey. Troy is so kind and understanding and protective. When Corey does have his "meltdowns" and people stare and make comments, Troy is the first to defend… "my bubby has Autism and he is having a bad day", "whats YOUR problem". Troy has even stated many times over the years that after he gets married and their father or I are tooo old to take care of Corey, that he and his wife will move Corey in their home and take care of him (if Corey can't live on his own). All i can say is that I have been blessed by God with these 2 wonderful boys and I wouldn't trade either of them for the world! This may sound weird or wrong to some of you and please don't judge me.. but Autism is what makes Corey (personality, quirks, etc)and if he didn't have Autism, I don't know who he would be.
This is another one I came across a few years back.
** I did not write this or the one above** I'm just sharing what i have enjoyed reading and hope it gives someone comfort or a smile on their faces.
by Emily Perl Kingsley
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability – to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this…….
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip – to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I am supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine, and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around….and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills…and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy…and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away…because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But…if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things….about Holland.
August 3, 2010 at 6:23 pm
I had to start and stop reading this two different times. My emotions were so overwhelming as my husband and I both are going through this exact same thing. Our son just turned two and was given a PDD-NOS diagnosis when he was 16 months. I remember at his second bithday party observing the other children there as they would fight over my son's new gifts and he was off to the side rubbing an air condition vent over and over. I too had a moment of relization. He's diffrent. But he's so wonderful…and i cherish every brief moment of eye contact. Everytime he holds my hand…and know that he loves me, even if he cannot say it.
August 3, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Loved your story! I remember those early days, and they are hard. It is normal and healthy to grieve what you "think" you have lost, that so called "normal expectation" of what you had planned for your son. My son is 16 now and in a few weeks a Junior in High School. Yes, he still has quirks. He's a huge fan of Sonic the Hedgehog, and a few other video games, but he's working hard on his social issues, but is popular with the girls but can't quite figure out the "Guy" stuff. Teen guy language requires an interpreter for someone with normal language skills anyway! He has a wonderful big brother who tries hard to help him navigate this. I would be lying if I said I'm happy he's autistic, simply because of the issues I hate watching him struggle through and am helpless to explain. Like how a facial expression and the sound and tone of a girl's voice indicates that she's trying to end a conversation politely and then the exasperated response she finally emits to say "enough already!" But for the lessons, the richness, laughter, pure joy in his victories and his unique view/observations on life he has taught my family, he is a gift from God. I am blessed. For those reasons, I wouldn't change anything. We still have years of figuring out how to navigate college and life in general, but the grief is gone.
August 4, 2010 at 2:12 am
I have read that Holland story before. It is a beautifully put. I actually read it this past Christmas in dealing with my husband's battle with cancer ( he passed away in Feb.). BUT I was also "talking" to my husband's brother and his wife. The have two kids, 4yrs. and 2yrs. that exhibit a lot of signs of autism. (I took all the classes on ASD at UC Davis & now am 1/1 teacher with these kiddos).
The parents are in total denial. I want to commend all of you, not just the blog, for loving your children for who they are. And for being willing to help them with early intervention. Every minute counts with these children and they all have something wonderful to contribute to society. My heart melts everytime I see my nephew and niece. They cannot communicate well and I can see the frustration in their actions….to me they feel so lost. I know now that my position will never be of one to advice them of anything ( tried to suggest testing & it backfired). My position will be; when they are ready, if ever; to accept and love their children for who they are. That they are just wired differently and to be happy as long as they are happy.
God Bless you and your children!
**My nephew & niece play with latches to gates, doors, & try always to escape. The 4 yr old, nephew, plays only with matchbox cars or ocean animals. Lines them up & carries a bucket of them around. With cars…looks & spins the wheels. sometimes makes car noises. The 2yr old does not have an interest yet. Carries baby dolls but does not feed them etc. Plays with cars too**
August 4, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Molly, your story is beautiful. Thank you for sharing so eloquently.
August 4, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Thank you for your inspiration. my son has not been diagnosed as I am on the whole process of getting him evaluated. It's been a terribly long process and sometimes I feel like I am the only one who knows what's going on. As much as I'd like to believe it's a phase he'll grow out of I just won't give up until I know for sure . As a mother you know your child best and see when something is off, it is so hard to go day by day not knowing for sure, and even worse knowing that I am probably right. I love my son with all my heart regardless, it's just been very hard. Reading your words especially when you said it's not him I need the adjusting helped me… It's bitter sweet to know that I am not alone. Thank you
August 5, 2010 at 5:06 am
Really beautiful Molly – I work with The Larches Community in London – will share this.
August 10, 2010 at 11:14 am
I am a special education teacher. One of my students is doing a therapy called QRI (Quantum Reflex Integration). After three weeks of QRI therapy, he's whole different child. I am amazed at all the changes. He's so much more calmer, present, he's communicating his needs and less tantrums. He made it the whole day through my class without me getting hit, scratched or bit (answer to my prayers too :)!! His sensory needs have lessened. It is tuly an amazing transition and change. I hate to admit it- it brought tears to my eyes!!
Like most parents with children with special needs, these parents have been praying for an answer to find a therapy to help improve the quality of life for their child. A friend of the family had heard about QRI therapy, that helped their friend's child with CP. So, they went to the website, did some research and ordered the program. They are able to do the therapy themself!! They can do it at their convience and not have to pay a therapist or take time off of work for therapy. This is a God send to parents and children with special needs. This prompted me to do more research because I have several parents that can benefit from this. I visited the website and spoke to the founder, a passionate, caring and wonderful lady. Here's the deal, it's a big expense at first but will save lots of money in the long run and from what I've seen with this child- I hate to use the cliche` but it's priceless!! They got everything in the mail and email!! Never had to leave the house!! If you look at the big picture, it's really not that expensive compared to other therapies and what you pay over time not to mention what you are getting. Google QRI and see if this is may be the answer to your prayers as it has for these parents. I want to share this and pray that it will help as many parents and chidren like it has this special student of mine.
August 10, 2010 at 8:46 pm
I hope you will keep writing.
August 11, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Hi, my name is Brian, and my 3 year old sam was recently diagnosed with PDD. I don't know what to do. He is impossible. I feel so guilty… words can't describe the guilt I feel for losing my patience so often. I want to give him the best life possible. I think sharing might me feel better.
August 20, 2010 at 10:01 am
My 3 year-old son was recently diagnosed with PPD-NOS. We have a scheduled appointment for an Autism Center in our area soon. Can somebody give me clues on how they test for Autism? Maybe you can answer some of my questions for me! My child runs from one side of the room to the next sometimes for hours. He has to touch the walls or couch each time he runs. Is there anyone else who child does this? And is there anything i can do to help him get focused on a different routine besides running? I am in deperate need of help and support from anybody that can help> Thank you very much. And may God Bless the children who have special needs.
September 13, 2010 at 12:55 pm
read http://www.wolverinechronicles.blogspot.com/
they tippy toe around they run in circles never want to be hugged don't look at you
every time you talk to him say his name get him to look at you put you hands on his cheeks turn is face to yours saying his name take him out to noisey places so he gets use to it Logan has been going to hockey games since he was a month old now noise doesn't bother him and don't give in to him read Ginny Mccarthy books they are great. Good Luck and God bless you
Email me at firstname.lastname@example.com if you'd like
August 29, 2010 at 1:31 pm
This is my story, too, like so many of you. We just "found out" this past Wednesday and we are still reeling. Grieving for the loss of "normalcy," wondering about things like birthday parties, girlfriends, friends, driving a car, etc. There is just so much unknown out there and it is overwhelming. It is simultaneously validating and heartbreaking to read how many other people share this story. Thank you for sharing it.
September 1, 2010 at 3:35 pm
December 30, 2010 at 3:01 pm
I just read your blog. I tried reading it aloud to the kids, but broke down crying. As a friend and Ollie's speech therapist, I remember those early days and the way you and Steve handled "the news" of Ollie's diagnosis. I am lucky to have you and your family in my life.
March 4, 2011 at 8:06 pm
After taking a "break" from reading as much as I could about autism for a few months I just read your blog. Our oldest son is 11 years old and is living with autism. How I wish Autism Speaks and all of the other amazing resources were around 9 years ago when our son was diagnosed. We were really in the dark back then. These days (after years of hard work, on my son's part) I feel our family is indestructable. We can survive anything together.
My son just hosted an amazing birthday party for his 11th birthday. When he was younger he never went to birthday parties and was never invited to them. This year he invited 19 classmates and 18 friends came. I'll never forget how my son took over and passed out all of the goody bags one by one to his friends. It is a feeling of joy and amazement I will carry with me forever.
Thank you for allowing me to look back onto those terrible early days when I was convinced our family wouldn't or couldn't survive autism. But we did.
My son has been blessed with incredible teachers and now uses assistive technology to write creative stories. It has provided him with a way to communicate his emotions in a way I never thought possible.
I just realized I no longer look back into the "what could have been". Now I look ahead to the "what's next ?"
And yes, I've read "Welcome to Holland" at least once a week for the last 7 years.
Molly S.
March 7, 2011 at 2:17 pm
My heart strings pulled tight when I read about the light switches….my son was also obsessed with turning on lights, fans and garage doors. He also treated trains like monorails as part of an amusement ride and will go on forever, never tiring out! He plots out their routes and monitor details such as colors. He also used to line cars up in color, size and types order. The list goes on. I recently "found" out for sure that he has HFA-Aspergers at 13 yo. He is hearing impaired but speaks very well and is in the gifted program with ADHD challenges. These other conditions masked his awkward social skills and constant and evolving obsessions throughout his childhood. His uniqueness makes him so special to those who love him. I am still learning how to continue to provide him with support and guidance to be socially independent with peers. I have faith that he will succeed no matter what challenges he'll face. Keep on sharing your touching stories so that we know that we are not alone in this.
May 21, 2011 at 9:58 am
Misty Robinson :
I cam across this a few years ago and absolutely love it. I hope this gives someone comfort like it gave me…
The Special Mother
by Erma Bombeck
Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit.
This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint…give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
"Forrest, Marjorie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia."
"Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew."
Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But has she patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it."
"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make him live in her world and that's not going to be easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect – she has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps – "selfishness? is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'". She will never consider a "step" ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it!"
"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see…ignorance, cruelty, prejudice….and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side".
"And what about her Patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.
God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."
October 2, 2011 at 10:40 pm
I just finished reading this touching story, i have a 20 month old grandson who was just recently diagnose with autism spectrum disorder. I love him so much he is the light of my life, he is a wonderful little boy. I just sat here after reading this and cried we are all going through a tough time right now but trying to stay focused for him. He just started therapy at home and we are hoping for the best, so far so go but a very long road in front of my family. Good luck with your son.
November 21, 2011 at 11:25 am
This….I can relate too. My son, age 8 has yet to be diagnosed. I know in my heart, that he has austism. I have been told (two years ago) that he is mentally retarded, for lack of better words, and I can handle that. I wonder daily as I watch him and his highly intelligent 6yr old brother, grow and learn, just how much of life will he miss out on. What will he do for a living when he's grown, will he have a "normal" life? Then he comes and sits on my lap with a John Deere tractor book and tells me all the parts of the tractor and what each one does, and that in the summer, he's going to go to work at the tractor place washing tractors til "I talk one of those guys into teaching me engine work" , and i laugh on the inside, knowing one day soon, he will talk these guys into putting him to work, " do I really have to have two numbers in ;my age first" he asks. I think to myself, who would want a "normal" life when you can have his outlook?


text:
NAVAL AIR WEAPONS STATION CHINA LAKE, Calif. – The new publication contract for the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake base newspaper, Rocketeer II, has been awarded to Gatehouse Media, parent of the Daily Independent. The first issue will be published Thursday, March 21.
Under the contract, the publisher assumes all costs for the creation and publication of the biweekly newspaper. Costs are offset by the ads that are printed in the newspaper.
The base newspaper reaches the approximately 6,610 employees working onboard NAWS China Lake."I am ecstatic to see the Rocketeer II back," said NAWS China Lake Commanding Officer Capt. Dennis A. Lazar. "The two-and-a-half month service gap, while putting together another contract, was unfortunate. We are very pleased to have everything ironed out now and get this historic China Lake icon back on track."
Daily Independent Publisher John Watkins expressed his thanks to China Lake for awarding the bid and pledged his commitment to serving the base.
"The Daily Independent is proud to once again serve as the publisher of the Rocketeer II, like we've done before," Watkins said. "I am excited to have the Rocketeer back once again in Kern County and Ridgecrest."
Lazar noted he was especially happy to find out that the new publisher is local.
"NAWS China Lake and the City of Ridgecrest are a team. We should be helping each other to the max extent we can," he said. "The bonus with this new arrangement is the advertising dollars stay right here in the community where they belong."
"Welcome back, Rocketeer II!" he concluded.
Location, ST | website.com

subset: commoncrawl


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- pretty goodThis gun is great it shoots the same as the long barrel . It is very fun and easy to use and packs a killer punch ,you don't want to be shot with this thing. I got this as a gift and I was so excited and it was a lot more intense than I thought. You definitely get your moneys worth this is awesome.
- Great GunI've had this gun for about 6 months and it has been awesome since day one. I play in the woods with my friends maybe once every other week, and it has stood the test of time. I have even dropped it, and everything stayed in tact perfectly. I am very happy with the gun.
- GR8This gun is a steal for its price. I can hit a small doorway (3x2) from 150 feet away and hit a person from even farther!It is made from plastic but a very high quality plastic.
Quality plastic
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Even though the plastic is amazing, plastic is plastic
- GreatThis gun is great ! I got it today and took it out side to target practice and it was really accurate ! It's really sturdy . The only minor thing is that the mag wobbles a bit ! But otherwise awesome ! Get this gun


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KidSpirit Online is a free teen magazine & website for kids created by and for young people to tackle life's big questions together. Teens share online writing, poetry, artwork, volunteer opportunities and examine their spiritual development in a non-affiliated and inclusive forum. Join the conversation!
© Copyright 2016 KidSpirit, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, 77 State Street Brooklyn, NY 11201, firstname.lastname@example.com


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Sheriff: Woman hands over marijuana, cops find cocaine
Published: Monday, January 7, 2013 at 7:05 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, January 7, 2013 at 7:05 p.m.
A 19-year-old Houma woman is accused of intending to deal cocaine.
Chelsea Dehart, 19, 1855 Bayou Blue Road, Houma, was pulled over Saturday in Thibodaux. Deputies smelled marijuana in her car on Talbot Avenue, and Dehart confessed and handed marijuana and synthetic marijuana to deputies, the Lafourche Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies said they found six small bags of cocaine on Dehart during a pat-down search. In all, they found 4.8 grams of suspected cocaine and 2.1 grams of suspected marijuana. The weights include the bags the drugs were in.
Dehart is charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine -- a felony -- and possession of marijuana -- a misdemeanor, the Sheriff's Office said.
She is in the Lafourche Parish jail in lieu of over $25,000 in bonds.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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4 Sided Dice, D4
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NEWARK -- As a crime-plagued motel continues straining limited police resources, city leaders are taking steps to shut it down.
While the motel's co-owner says reports of crime at the E-Z 8 Motel have been overblown, city staffers describe it as a haven for gangsters and other criminals. The Newark Planning Commission has scheduled a special meeting Wednesday to consider putting it out of business.
"The operation of this motel is injurious and detrimental to the public health," City Attorney David Benoun said Friday. "It's in the interest of our citizens that this issue be addressed."
Motel co-owner Jerry Cannon says the city's accusations are untrue and that crime at the Newark motel has dropped significantly since 2010.
"We think it's a safe place to stay," Cannon said in a phone interview. "We have been communicating with the city as recently as Friday afternoon, and we're confident we can reach an agreement before the commission's meeting.
City staffers paint a different picture of the 141-room motel at 5555 Cedar Court, next to Interstate 880 and Cedar Boulevard.
The motel has seen serious crimes, including murder, sexual assault, gang violence, arson, prostitution and vandalism, police said. It also has been a hotbed of illegal street drug use and sales, police said.
Among 10 Newark hotels and motels, E-Z 8 has the least expensive nightly rates ($47 to $51) and the third-fewest rooms, city staffers said.
It has become a "center for criminal activity" that strains police resources as officers there spend a "disproportionate amount of time and energy, compared to other hotels," said police Cmdr. Michael Carroll said in a written statement to the Planning Commission.
From 2009 to 2012, police made 760 arrests at the motel, and took 2,400 calls for police and/or emergency services from it, city leaders said.
Two of Newark police's four SWAT team calls in 2009 were made from the motel. Four months ago, the SWAT team again was called to E-Z 8, where officers arrested a man suspected of robbing a Fremont bank.
As a Newark police employee since 1991, Carroll said he is "personally familiar with the high crime levels at E-Z 8 Motel ... and the strain (it) places on the Newark Police Department."
The Newark department has assigned one officer to deal with problem motels, including E-Z 8, Carroll said.
Police say they have given the motel's leaders a list of security measures to use, including hiring two security guards to patrol at night and upgrading its signs and video surveillance system.
However, "while E-Z 8 has implemented some of the simpler, less costly security measures, such as a 10 p.m. curfew and a parking permit requirement, it has failed to fully implement some of the measures and neglected others entirely," Carroll said in a written statement to the Planning Commission.
The motel's San Diego-based co-owner says "it was a major surprise" to hear that the motel was in danger of closing because "last year, 99.99 percent of our customers" were free of crime.
"We're trying to work out a deal with the city," Cannon said. "We don't like crime at our properties and we don't like to fight with cities who host us."
Contact Chris De Benedetti at 510-353-7011. Follow him at Twitter.com/cdebenedetti.
If you go
The Newark Planning Commission will consider revoking a permit for E-Z 8 Motel, at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Council chamber at City Hall, 37101 Newark Blvd.


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UPDATED 6:27 AM EST Jan 17, 2011
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Beginning in the spring semester, Hagerstown Community College will offer a twice-yearly police academy and former Gaithersburg Chief of Police John King has been hired to serve as the director. HCC has been working with the Hagerstown Police Department and Washington County Sheriff's Office to develop the program. The creation of the police academy is step forward with the proposed Public Safety Training Center that has been discussed with leaders in the community's fire and rescue, emergency services and police/sheriff departments. Under the proposal, a center would be built on the HCC campus for training for each of those areas of public safety.
Location, ST | website.com


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STOCKTON - Pick up trash, eat a taco.
The Friends of the Lower Calaveras River will host its annual Polar Bear Cleanup at 9 a.m. Sunday.
The public is invited.
Meet at Stagg High School. Water, gloves and trash bags will be provided - along with free tacos after the cleanup.
Location, ST | website.com


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Darth Tater has a new contest for the forum
Check it out!
Discussion in 'Football, Baseball, and Hockey' started by roscoe36, Jan 24, 2011.
And Sparky >105....
If you recall, fans complained more about Martin and Sparky than they do about Leyland.
Sparky yes...the complaints rolled in. Martin was a fan favorite. Only people to complain were, Steinbrenner, Campbell, and some random Marshmellow Salesman...
I don't know...he only won 90 or more games 2 times with the Tigers in 18 seasons. Overall...he was only .516 with the team. Thats an average of only 83.5 wins per season. He won a ton in Cincinnati, but managed the BIG RED MACHINE...
So, you're saying it's the players that determine a manager's success?
With that group of players...yes...
I love you "Nems", but Bill wins the internets today. :winner_first_h4h:
Sparky was mailing it in the 4 seasons is was here. A young Captain Hook mighta got 95 wins. Nice blowout of the Twinks.
Great observation. You are a good person (for today, at least).
Tigs catching fire. JL did something correct or the players improved ?
Must have done or said something....won 9 of their last 10, 4th best record in the AL....maybe it was JV's no-no that inspired the rest of the team...
There are 9 of 14 teams playing around .500 ball who are separated by a total of 3 games in the American League standings. Tigers and Yankmes are at the top of that list...
Switching second basemen was big. Getting Victor back was huge. Would like to see BB stay at the #3 spot in the order and let's see what the new kid has to offer batting #6 behind Victor. Get Raburn out of the line up and use him as an emergency player. That would give us a batting order of: #1 AJ #2 Sizemore #3 Boesch #4 Cabby #5 Victor #6 Dirks #7 Avila #8 Perralta #9 Inge Could even swap Dirks and Avila in the order but would like to see this line-up play the next twenty games and see where we end up. Looks great on paper if the kid can continue to hit up here.
Don't know Dirks yet. But if Avila stays hot [.275] leave him behind Cabby.
Avila, Peralta and Inge are all #9 hitters. Right now, Avila and Peralta are playing out of their minds.....and the Tigers are winning. I think they'll come back down to earth eventually, but I hope I'm wrong.
I think you sell short Avila short.... but over rate Inge... was a nice article about a couple decent hitting 3rd basemen in the farm system can only hope one of the pan out and soon.
Something tells me Cabby will hit .350 soon.
I hope Avila continues to grow. It's impossible for me to over-rate Inge, though. I'd trade him and his gazillion strikeouts in a heartbeat.
Coke can't get a break....his best pitching performance of the season and his team mates can't scratch across a single run....even worse, the bullpen blows two great performances in a row from Coke and Scherzer...
I missed the first inning after the rain delay. Wife wanted to catch the season finale of Criminal Minds (a little disappointing for a season finale). I heard Perry came in after the rain delay to get the first two outs. How did he look?? Was pulling him for Schlereth seem like the right move at the time. I know hind-sight and all that but did Perry struggle to get his outs or just blow guys away?
Separate names with a comma.


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LOS ANGELES -- David Beckham plans to play soccer next year. The only questions now are where, when and for how long.
"I still feel that I have something left in me as a player," Beckham said Tuesday, a day after announcing his retirement from the Galaxy. "I still feel like I have one more challenge in me as a player. Even at 37 years old. I still can play at a high level.
"Where that will be yet I haven't decided. I have some exciting opportunities on the table."
What's not on the table is a return to the Galaxy--at least not as a player. Beckham may very well come back as an owner, though. And given the partnership he has forged with Tim Leiweke, president of AEG, the Galaxy's parent company, expect that to happen here in Southern California, where Beckham's successful mission to transform U.S. soccer began more than five years ago.
It was the Galaxy and Leiweke who made the bold move of recruiting Beckham to Major League Soccer in 2007 and he rewarded the team and the league by raising their international stature to levels neither could have dreamed of. But that chapter of the Beckham Experiment will end after the Dec. 1 league championship at the Home Depot Center, which he says will be his last competitive match in an MLS uniform.
After that he'll mull offers from locales reportedly including China, Russia, Australia, Brazil, the Middle East, France and even a possible return to England, a sentimental choice that would give the former captain of the English national team a chance to play the last game of his storied career at home.
"There are options and I'm very lucky at my age to have options," he said. "People have talked about my retirement. And I actually don't feel as if I'm ready to retire yet. So that's not one of my options."
Playing in China--which has already lured former Chelsea teammates Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka--would allow Brand Beckham to expand its international reach deep into the world's most populous country, while the oil-rich owners of France's Paris Saint-Germain and clubs throughout the Middle East will throw wads of money Beckham's way in the hope he can do for their teams and league what he did for the Galaxy and MLS.
Meanwhile, discussions have already begun with teams in Australia, who have expressed interest in having Beckham play at least 10 games in that country's A-League.
Beckham said any decision about where he plays next will have to wait until after the MLS Cup, where he and his teammates will be playing for their second consecutive league title against the Houston Dynamo, the team they beat in last year's final.
"I came to the decision solely because I felt that I had achieved everything that I wanted to achieve with the Galaxy," Beckham said.


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Chicago Paid Dues review from Popmatters.com
Paid Dues Fest feat. Sage Francis, Slug, and the Living Legends
25 July 2007: Abbey Pub Chicago, IL
The power and originality of a Paid Dues artist is in both socially-intricate lyrical content and a fresh take on old-school beats.by Chris Catania
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Sweat dripped from my forehead, stinging my eyes. After only a few minutes in the Abbey pub, my t-shirt was plastered to my back. I wondered how a club could turn into a sauna sanctuary so quicklya room that simultaneously grooved with the party aura of live hip-hop while also harboring the borderline inhumane conditions one might encounter in a sweat shop. While the venues no-re-entry rule left us without the ability to take a quick breather, fans stayed it out, undefeated, determined to absorb gobs of under-the-radar hip-hop even if it was through their sweaty pores. They embraced the heat and bounced their limbs freelyall in the name of indie hip-hop.
Most of the acts on the Paid Dues bill have been working the independent grind for several years, developing their name via word of mouth, constant touring, artistic collaborations, or some combination of the three. The brainchild of Nick Carter (aka MURS 3:16), the tour started in San Bernardino, Calif., in 2006 and has since taken to the road. Its currently weaving around the Midwest before eventually merging with the Rock the Bells tour (featuring Mos Def, the Roots, Wu-Tang Clan, and Rage Against the Machine, and others) at the end of August. The multi-talented Carterwho is everything from an MC and Current TV host to producer and A&R manwanted to introduce an underrated talented crop of hip-hop acts to a bigger audience. Inspired by the successful Vans Warped Tour, he gathered some of the best independent, genre-redefining artists around, many of whom are pushing hip-hop forward both lyrically and stylistically.
This year, each tour stop features a different bill anchored around Sage Francis, Felt, and Living Legends. The power and originality of a Paid Dues artist is in both socially-intricate lyrical content and a fresh take on old-school beats. Its a sound colored with witty pop-culture punch lines and mixed with a down-to-earth consciousness free of all the bling and gangster pimping of commercialized rap. Although theres an emphasis on crisp lyrical flow, the choruses typically contain either a catchiness you can rally around or an underlying element of mirror-my-reality poeticismoften both. Tonight, Francis, Brother Ali, and Felt brought the latter to the table on almost every song while the beatsprovided by Ant, the DJ half of Minnesota collective Atmospherewere firmly anchored in classic boom-bap and viciously deft, recontextualized rock samples.
The mercury burst the thermometer, as hip hop/beat poet mastermind Sage Francis took the stage, helping fans forget about the heat with a searing stream of white-hot tracks from his latest gem, Human the Death Dance. Guru of spontaneity that he is, Francis offered a quick and honest solution to the looming heat exhaustion: Just promise the Abbey that you wont go out and buy food, but youll come back and buy their pizzathat way you can cool off, and the Abbey can make their money.
In true Francis fashion, he closed with his infamous live version of Dance Monkey, starting an onstage dance battle with a fan that he schooled (of course), then picked up, cradled, and gently tossed into the mass of flailing appendages at the front of the stage.
In a move of either premeditated empathy or pure insanity, MURS bounced on stage dressed in a NASCAR driver jumpsuit, saying to the sea of glistening faces that, I wanna be hot, just like you! Feltpart MURS and part Slug of Atmospherethen unleashed the whimsical Dirty Girl, and Slug later dipped into his own material, declaring boldly that, yes, God Loves Ugly.
With Sunshine, Slug went right for the heart, explaining the songs origin as a moment of joy after a night of drunkenness that was brightened by sublime revelation. It was a classic moment of spontaneous indie-hip hop, a kind rarely present in mainstream rap, that captured the Paid Dues creedie that one should feel the show is taking place in the basement for a few close friends.
When eight-member, California-based posse the Living Legends scurried on stage, it quickly became clear that they have developed their underground following through a DIY grind and resilient word-of-mouth hustle. The eight-chamber pistol of multiple and distinct cadencesfrom speed rap to heavy-hitting punch lines spread out over trippy soul and funk-based beatsScarub, Eligh, Luckyiam/PSC, The Grouch, Sunspot Jonz, Bizarro/Bicasso, Murs, and Aesop all sped down individual tracks, but merged into one cohesive poetic locomotive, making astute and vivid stops at joy, pain, and anger. The train glided soulfully, uplifting the steamy masses on the strength of proven classics like Fill My Drink Up and the simmering Purple Kush, from 2006s Legendary Music Volume One.
Even though the Living Legends set went a bit longer than needed, it took absolutely nothing away from Paid Dues, a festival that will continue to gather steam before it collides with the larger Rock the Bells tour in San Bernardino at the end of the month. This was an evening to remember, but that daya meeting of nearly every player in American indie-hip hoplooks to be one for the ages.
20 August 2007
Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:14 pm
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Heart Songs offers therapy with horse for grieving teens
Published: Friday, October 4, 2013 at 10:08 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 4, 2013 at 10:08 a.m.
A unique opportunity for grieving teenagers, using the assistance of horses in group therapy, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19 and Saturday, Oct. 26. The camp, hosted at Cantrell Farm in Mills River, is offered by the Heart Songs Program at Four Seasons
Camp expenses are sponsored by Four Seasons. After arrival at camp, the teens will meet their four-legged therapists and begin exploring their individual grief issues through specially planned activities. Horse-riding skills are not required to participate.
During the two days of sharing and learning, through this established form of experiential therapy with horses, the teens will have a unique opportunity to explore their grief experiences without judgment or criticism. Together the teens will learn new coping skills for their grief journeys and gain confidence to deal with their changing worlds.
The sessions are facilitated throughout both days by a trained equine specialist and therapist, and a hospice bereavement counselor.
Teens, ages 13-19, who have experienced the loss of a significant loved one, are eligible and encouraged to apply. Teens must be able to commit to both Saturdays. For more information or an application, please call the Four Seasons Bereavement Department at 692-6178, or go to our website at www.fourseasonscfl.org.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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Minor in Catholic Studies
Offered by the Saint Louis University College of Arts and Sciences
- Minor in Catholic Studies
Overview: Saint Louis University's Catholic Studies program explores the intellectual traditions of the Church from the New Testament to the present. Designed to explore questions that have occupied Christian philosophers and theologians, as well as artists, literary writers, political theorists, historians, and natural and social scientists, the program welcomes students of all religious faiths and all academic majors. This minor can complement a wide range of majors.
Curriculum: In addition to a variety of courses in the Christian intellectual tradition, Catholic Studies offers interested students opportunities to explore the history and mission of the Society of Jesus and the traditions underlying Saint Louis University as a Catholic, Jesuit institution.
Along with course work, the program offers a variety of social and spiritual activities and opportunities for community service in neighborhoods near the University. Co-curricular events include informal movie nights, field trips to local religious sites, weekly prayer and a spring day of reflection.
Faculty: Courses are taught by award-winning faculty who represent a wide array of interests, including philosophy, theology, English, history, art history and biology. Two recipients of the University-wide Nancy McNeir Ring Award teach in the program.
Careers: Students who graduate SLU with a minor in Catholic studies are pursuing careers in teaching, ministry and business. Others have gone on to graduate studies in theology and law. Our goal is to enrich students in every field as they look at their future work not just as a job, but as a vocation.
Internships: Some work study opportunities are available. Service learning provides students with potential contacts in the community.
Visit SLU's Catholic Studies program page for more information.


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9 Reviews
Whoa, dude. Let me get this straight. Two boards, factory rack compatibility, and improved board protection. Whoa. Dude. Whoooooa, duuuuuuuude, I get it.
- Item #THU0103
- Reviews
What do you think about this product?
Have questions about this product?
Decent board carrier
- Familiarity: I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions
Got this to carry a SUP, straps are definitely made for regular surfboards. What I did to make the strap work is by taking a 2'-4' cam strap, you cam the tail of the existing strap, then run the tail of the cam strap through the existing buckle. This actually makes the strap better, because it's easier to get good tension through the cam strap as opposed to the basic buckle on the existing strap. This way you can easily carry 2 SUPs. I do agree with the other reviews, dinging it for the strap issue, but for the price, it's a nice carrier.
i got this but was lukewarm about the idea even at the time of purchase. im still lukewarm. it holds 2 boards fine, although the straps are too short...for two bigger boards it's pretty tight. It's slightly over-engineered vs a yakima or dakine setup where you have a rubber strap witha hole in it, and you just pull over the board and secure over a peg. I would have liked to go with that, but truthfully their websites didnt have my 1985 model car in their vehicle selectors and i needed a rack fast.
MIni Cooper
The Thule Hand Two Surf Carrier doesn't work out of the box for Mini installed clubman racks. It would have taken longer bolts to work. I intstalled in on our Honda Pilot installed racks and they installed fine. After installing and setting the width for a stand up paddle board (these are racks backcountry recommended), the Thule straps are too short. Sort of a bust already and haven't put the board up yet. So if you have a Mini and a 29" width stand up paddle board...these aren't your racks.
Thule hang two surf carrier
Overall I am extremely happy with my Thule Surfrack! I have owned both versions Thule has made, and I would have to say the Hang Two is my favorite by far.
When carrying one of my boards the rack works spectacular (9'0), but straps are a little short for loading up two boards.
Longer straps would be beneficial, but I don't believe this is a problem with smaller boards. (The straps themselves aren't anything special either, and I feel as though I would be able to buy longer straps with the same width and be set.)
Ridiculously short straps
I recently bought these to use for my 10'6", 31" wide SUP board.
First thing I noticed was the the plastic construction seemed a little light, compared to the quality of Yakima products I am more used to.
I mounted these on my Yakima bar rack, which went on easily. But I worry that they would be pretty easy to steal.
I then tried to load the board onto the rack cradles, but they didn't fit the boards rails well. The worse was trying to clip the strap onto the rack and across the board. They advertise the racks as being able to hold 2 boards; I couldn't even get it to cross and hold down my board securely! The strap needs to be at least a foot longer to be useable and be able to be cinched down properly. Also, the plastic clips that attach the strap to the rack seem pretty flimsy.
These might work for shortboards, but don't see how you could be even more then 1 longboard on it.
Returning the racks.
Works Well
When carrying a long board and soft board, I needed to use padding between the boards, I used pipe insulation from the hardware store. Fits easily on the round bars from the Yakima set up on my 04 Camry, does seem to cut into the paint on the bars. There seems to be no additional noise from the mounts.
Review Title
I really like the Thule Hang Two. It's quick, easy and secure. No issues and very confident with two boards on the truck. I set these to the factory racks on my Pathfinder. I was a little bummed when the hardware wasn't long enough. Also, because Thule is metric so the hardware was surprisingly expensive for some screws and washers! Besides that it works great! No issues going forward. Minus one star due to small hardware (haha...story of my life)! Peace.
Works great.
Works awesome for haulin my surfboard. The strap pops in to carry a board and pops out so you can keep it in your trunk when your not carrying and you dont have a strap flapping in the wind. The posts are rubber and hug the side and bottom as well as keep the strap high so you can tighten down with NO pressure dings from the bar or strap!! Very nice. I have a Thule rack and the fit is perfect. Still have room for two bike racks.
Easy and Works Great
I bought this for my 2008 Honda CRV, and it works great on the stock roof rack. It comes with 4 very well made brackets that attach perfectly. I've only used it for one long board, but I'm sure it'll work fine with two. No need for any soft pads, just place the board between the rubber brackets and strap down. Extremely solid, and a piece of cake to use!
Does anyone know how well this works if the board is in a bag?
How is this rack as far as noise?
How is this rack as far as noise?
will this fit 2004 Porsche Cayenne??
will this fit 2004 Porsche Cayenne??
will this fit a jeep grand cherokee 06?
will this fit a jeep grand cherokee 06?
Most likely. Your best bet is to click on the car rack configurator at the top and enter in your vehicle information. From there it will tell you if it will work for your jeep or not.
does the thule hang two surf carrier need...
does the thule hang two surf carrier need a rack to attach to?
I got this for my '02 Pathfinder. I don't have a Thule rack, just my factory racks. My factory racks are really wide. The Hang Two bases fit, however, the hardware wasn't long enough. I went to the local hardware store and got some longer screws, washers and bolts. They worked great. Remember tho, Thule is metric. So if you need longer hardware make sure you get the exact width and thread otherwise you're screwed (no pun intended). Peace.
It WON'T install directly to the factory installed FJ Cruiser rack, just FYI. You have to buy a whole new $300 system just to get these to work. Fail...
I have a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. Will the...
I have a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. Will the Hang Two fit straight on my factory racks? I don't want to buy extensions and all that jazz.
Will this fit a 2004 Lexus Lx470(ie....
Will this fit a 2004 Lexus Lx470(ie. Landcruiser)?
Yes, just as long as you have the cross bars.


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Samantha Andre">
News 12 First at Five, September 15, 2009
AUGUSTA---If you're looking for something to do this weekend, there's a lot going on in our area. The second annual Westobou Festival starts Thursday.
At the Zimmerman Gallery, it's pretty much the most wonderful time of the year.
"It's like Christmas, opening all the boxes that artists send from all over the country," said gallery owner Lou Ann Zimmerman. She's gearing up for the Westobou Festival's ten days of arts and entertainment.
If this year is anything like last, Zimmerman will be more than pleased.
"We saw a big impact in the traffic we got through, especially out of town traffic," she said. "A lot of even locals that had never been downtown before ventured downtown. That was a wonderful thing."
Attendance in 2008 reached more than 100,000 people, with organizers advertising over 150-mile radius.
Now they're hoping new events will bring out even more. This year, Westobou signs won't just appear in Augusta. North Augusta is joining in as well.
Executive director Kathi Dimmock and her team are getting ready for the big day. Dimmock says you won't see the same thing twice from year to year.
"Every year the festival will be different, so hopefully people from outside the area will be excited," she said. "When they leave this year they'll be wanting to know, 'What'll you be doing for 2010?'"
"We're getting calls now asking when it's going to open, and that's a really good thing," Zimmerman said. "That means people are anticipating it, looking forward to it."
And slumping economy or not, this business owner and so many others have high hopes.
The Westobou Festival runs ten days, from this Thursday through the 26th. For a full list of events, click here.


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Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain had some harsh words for Cincinnati's most famous delicacy.
During a live chat Tuesday on Gawker, author and television host was asked by a reader to weigh in on Cincinnati chili.
"Please tell my friends that Cincinnati chili is good food," reader DreadJamboree asked.
But Bourdain, a native New Yorker, demurred.
"It's not," Bourdain said. "It can be enjoyable when stoned. But seriously. Chili? With cinnamon? On overcooked pasta?"
Cincinnati-style chili originated with Greek immigrants who opened restaurants in the city about 90 years ago and is usually served over hot dogs or spaghetti.
Its distinctive taste comes from cinnamon, cloves, chocolate and other spices.


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AIA's Marion Blakey Accepts the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO Marion Blakey accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge today from Capt. Lee Moak of the Air Line Pilots Association and made a personal donation of $1,000 to further support the effort to end ALS.
Her challenge went out to Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson and their head of government relations Andrea Newman, along with Club for Growth's president Chris Chocola, and the Export-Import Bank's chairman and president Fred Hochberg - you have 24 hours.


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Friday, March 20, 2009
San Marzano Tomato Soup
Many of the chefs on television are known for recommending the use of fresh ingredients over their jarred and bottled counterparts. ReaLemon, jarlic, and the ever popular green shaker parmesan are no-nos in a real chef's kitchen, sayeth the powers that be over at the Food Network. I do try to follow their recommendations for the most part, so when I kept seeing recipes that called for San Marzano tomatoes, I began searching for them at my local grocery stores. I erroneously thought that San Marzano was a brand name however, like Campbells or Hunts, and I was unsuccessful at finding them. After researching these canned tomatoes on the internet, I discovered that San Marzano tomatoes are a specific variety of plum tomato grown in Italy. The volcanic soil surrounding Mount Vesuvius is supposedly conducive to the growing of these sweeter and less acidic tomatoes. Now that I knew what I was looking for, I started searching in earnest, and I finally located them at a Meijer store in Indianapolis. Once I got past the sticker shock (a 28 oz can cost me over $5.00!) I brought the treasured can home and started thinking about how I was going to use them. Obviously I wanted to use them in a recipe where tomatoes were the star ingredient and that's how this tomato soup recipe came to be.
San Marzano Tomato Soup
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 stalks celery (with leaves) diced
1 carrot, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
salt and pepper
1 (28 oz) can of whole, peeled San Marzano tomatoes
2 (14 1/2 oz) cans of Muir Glen crushed fire roasted tomatoes
3 cups chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup whole grain brown rice
6 oz. 2% Velveeta cheese, cubed
2 cups half and half (I used fat-free)
In soup pot saute onion, celery, carrot and garlic (seasoned with salt and pepper) in olive oil until onion is softened, approximately 5 minutes. Add in tomatoes, chicken broth and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for around 30 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool a bit. Remove bay leaf. Working in batches, transfer soup to a blender and puree to a smooth consistency. Return soup to pot, bring back to a boil and add rice. Reduce heat, cover and cook until rice is tender (per the directions of whatever type of rice you're using.) Remove from heat and add in cheese cubes. Stir until cheese is melted completely and soup is smooth. Stir in half and half.
8 comments:
- noble pig said...
I do believe the brand of crushed tomatoes to make a real difference in the recipe. I buy Muir Glen Organic and they are about $4.69 for 28 oz. But they are so good.
This soup looks wonderful.
- March 21, 2009 at 9:50 PM
- Mags said...
Thanks for stopping by noble pig! (I just LOVE your blog, btw)
- March 22, 2009 at 4:53 PM
- biz319 said...
While I hate sliced tomatoes, I love tomato soup!
Thanks for sharing!
- March 26, 2009 at 9:44 PM
- Mags said...
You're welcome biz319. And thank you for commenting!
- March 26, 2009 at 11:24 PM
- Propagatrix said...
San Marzanos are easy and very rewarding to grow. Last year I put in four plants. This year I'm putting in twelve. Wonderful for soup, sauces, and pizza.
- May 12, 2009 at 3:45 PM
- Mags said...
Propagatrix, I was always under the assumption that true San Marzanos had to be grown in that one special place in Italy. I know that there are many San Marzano "style" tomatoes out there as well, and if I ever come across those plants, I'm going to buy the heck out of them. Could you send me pictures of yours when they're ripe this summer?
Thanks for commenting!
- May 12, 2009 at 6:56 PM
i liked the way that this recipe was going until i read "velveeta cheese." why spend $5 a can on tomatoes and then use processed cheese?
- October 16, 2009 at 3:56 PM
- Mags said...
Liz: I know that some people will have nothing to do with Velveeta, but when it comes to melting properties, I still find it the best. To each their own?
- October 16, 2009 at 4:09 PM


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A man is dead after a grass fire on the border of McDuffie and Columbia counties spreads to his home.
It happened at 320 County Line Road just after three o'clock Monday afternoon.
Neighbors tell News 12 the man was burning yard waste when the fire got out of control.
Rescue teams found 63-year-old Douglas M. Johnson's body lying just outside his home.
The fire re-kindled again near the home Monday night, a few hours after fire trucks left the scene.
All the wind and dry conditions really helped this fire along. It started Monday afternoon.
Flames scorched the house...and neighbor Henrietta Nowill remembers waving hello to her neighbor shortly before it all happened.
"30 minutes before the house caught fire, he was out burning the yard," Nowill says.
The fire was the next thing she saw.
"We were trying to find him, we couldn't find him," Nowill says. "We looked around and yelled for him, but couldn't hear him."
Her screams got the attention of a hero.
Former firefighter Gerald Baker says, "These people over here were yelling, 'There's a man in the house!!'"
Baker was just passing by when he saw the smoldering house. He fought his way through the thick smoke, searching for survivors.
He could only make it inside the front door where he found a little dog.
"I grabbed her and by the time I got out, the house was completely engulfed in flames," Baker says.
A home engulfed in flames is exactly what emergency crews saw when they got to the scene at around three o'clock.
"The damage...it's a total loss to the house," says Rusha Mac, Aiken County coroner and firefighter.
The tiny survivor is all that made it out.
"I'm gonna call him lucky I guess," Baker says.
The dog and the neighbors stood by, watching as the crews slowly pulled away and the ashes began to settle.
The man's body has been sent off for an autopsy. His mother was notified Monday evening.


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The University of Colorado Law Review is a journal of legal scholarship managed and edited by students and published four times a year. The student members of the Law Review conduct independent legal research, prepare notes and comments for publication, edit the works of their fellow students, as well as articles submitted by faculty members and other distinguished legal scholars.
New members are selected by the student Board of Editors based in part on class standing and the quality of student essays submitted in a writing competition. Students may receive academic credit for work on the Law Review that meets prescribed standards set by a faculty advisory committee.
For more information, email the Law Review.


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Alison Sweeney will leave "Days of Our Lives" at the end of the season after 21 years on the NBC soap opera.
Sweeney, who plays Sami Brady, announced her decision on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," which airs Wednesday. "I'm celebrating my 21st year," she told DeGeneres, "and I decided that it's going to be my last year with the show. I have worked so much, and my daughter just turned 5 and my son is 9, and I just want to be with them."
Here's five reasons "Days" -- and its fans -- will miss the actress:


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Cargo Pit Tape (Flame Retardant Duct)
Fluorescent / Neon Duct Tape
Prints & Designer Duct Tape
Specialty Duct Tape (Hazard, Low Gloss, Camo, Etc)
Standard Silver & Colored Duct Tape
Wide Width Duct Tape Patch
Single Roll (1-17 Rolls)
1 - 2 Cases (18-53 Rolls)
3 - 4 Cases (54-89 Rolls)
5+ Cases (>= 90 Rolls)
Tape rolls are cut to standard tape industry metric widths of approx. 24mm per 1-inch of nominal width ordered. As a result ACTUAL tape widths are normally 5% narrower than the NOMINAL width shown in inches. Examples:
Note that tape rolls are NOT guaranteed to be splice-free.
Duck Brand College Logo Duct Tape is an excellent polyethylene-coated printed cloth duct tape used for football tailgating, basketball games, repairs and other fun craft projects. Shows support for your favorite college team. It has high performance strength and adhesion characteristics. Also tears easily by hand without curling and conforms to uneven surfaces. NCAA licensed.
Please note that tape rolls are NOT guaranteed to be splice- free. Tape rolls are typically cut to standard tape industry metric-cut sizes - or approx 5% narrower than the nominal size (i.e. 24mm per 1-inch of nominal width ordered).
Please contact us to inquire about pricing for full-cut widths (e.g. a 6 inch roll cut to exactly 152mm instead of 144mm).


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UEFI and Windows 8: is this bad news for GNU/Linux?
There are times when I think that there is a special, darkened room at Microsoft peopled by a bunch of guys who seem to have nothing better to do than sit and think up some new wheeze to nobble the opposition. The rap sheet is an inditment in itself: trusted computing, internet driving licenses, DRM, bullying hardware vendors and attempting to strong arm sovereign nation states. You wouldn't think the list could get any bigger. It just has; but then, recidivism in incurable.


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Featured Java Articles
Getting Started with Java Generics
WaveMaker Brings RAD to the Cloud with One-Click Deployment
WaveMaker's development platform combines rapid application development and deployment using a PaaS model that employs Docker Containers.
Start Using Java Lambda Expressions
Constantin Marian Alin explores the power of Lambda expressions and streams, from simple to complex examples.
Best Java interview questions
A number of questions are asked in interviews. Here is a resource of a list of questions you might be asked.
What Is Spring Roo?
Spring Roo is a Java RAD tool for developing applications based on the Spring framework.
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SAAJ allows Java developers to make Java API calls that generate SOAP-compliant XML messages.
The Step Builder Pattern
An evolution of the builder design pattern.
6 Tips to Improve Java Exception Handling
A clear policy on how to code Java exceptions will save you time diagnosing, reproducing, and correcting issues. Here are several tips to improve your exception handling.
Latest Java Tutorials
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- Mes Que Un Club!
- Currently Unavailable
A young player on a metoric rise, Brazilian forward Neymar is one of the most remarkable athletes in the world. Known for his energy, explosive speed, creative dribbling and ruthless finishing, Neymar came to Barcelona in June 2013 from Santos FC (Brazil). Neymar is a classic Brazilian player, equipped with deceptive dribbling and fearlessness.
This is Barca's new home jersey for the 13/14 season.
Lamentamos que todavia no hay descripción en español para este producto.


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- Tea Pouches
- Loose Tea
- Iced Tea
- Teaware
- Gifts
- Sale
- Why Mighty Leaf?
Organic Spring Jasmine 3 Pack Saver (3-15 pouch boxes)
Organic Spring Jasmine green tea is made of smooth Chinese loose leaf green tea leaves naturally scented by layers of Arabian jasmine buds. With an intoxicating aroma and a piquant yet rounded cup, Organic Spring Jasmine green tea in a silken tea pouch is our twist on a Chinese classic jasmine tea in a gourmet teabag.
Pack of 3 (15 Count Tea Pouch Boxes)
Subscribe and save 5% with Regular Tea Rituals, our Auto-Delivery Program. Details


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Some of the hyperlinks provided are to sites of organizations or other entities that are not subject to the Official Languages Act. The material found there is therefore in the language(s) used by the sites in question.
Help on accessing alternative formats, such as Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (PPT) files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.
Cat. No. H164-156/1-2012E-PDF
HC Pub.: 120118
Allergic reactions are severe adverse reactions that occur when the body's immune system overreacts to a particular allergen. These reactions may be caused by food, insect stings, latex, medications and other substances. In Canada, the ten priority food allergens are peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachio nuts and walnuts), sesame seeds, milk, eggs, seafood (fish, crustaceans and shellfish), soy, wheat, sulphites (a food additive) and mustard.
When someone comes in contact with an allergen, the symptoms of a reaction may develop quickly and rapidly progress from mild to severe. The most severe form of an allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. Symptoms can include breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure or shock, which may result in loss of consciousness and even death. A person experiencing an allergic reaction may have any of the following symptoms:
Currently there is no cure for food allergies. The only option for managing the risk is to completely avoid the specific allergen. Appropriate emergency treatment for anaphylaxis (a severe food allergy reaction) includes an injection of epinephrine, which is available in an auto-injector device. Epinephrine must be administered as soon as symptoms of a severe allergic reaction appear. The injection must be followed by further treatment and observation in a hospital emergency room. If your allergist has diagnosed you with a food allergy and prescribed Epinephrine, carry it with you all the time and know how to use it. Follow your allergist's advice on how to use an auto-injector device.
Avoid all food and products that contain peanut or peanut derivatives which contain peanut protein. These include any product whose ingredient list warns it "may contain" or "may contain traces of" peanut.
It was once thought that all peanut allergies were lifelong. However, some studies have shown that certain children may outgrow their peanut allergy. Consult your allergist before reintroducing peanut products.
Always read the ingredient list carefully.
If peanuts are part of the product formulation, they must be declared in the list of ingredients or in a separate "contains:" statement immediately following the list of ingredients.
If you have a peanut allergy, do not eat or use the product. Get ingredient information from the manufacturer.
Product size does not affect the likelihood of a reaction; however, the same brand of product may be safe to consume for one product size but not another. This is because product formulation may vary between different product sizes of the same product.
It was once thought that peanut allergies were lifelong. However, some studies have shown certain children may outgrow their peanut allergy.
Make sure you read product labels carefully to avoid products that contain peanut and peanut derivatives. Avoid food and products that do not have an ingredient list and read labels every time you shop. Manufacturers may occasionally change their recipes or use different ingredients for varieties of the same brand.
In the past, some products have used other names for peanut on their labels. These names are not permitted based on the enhanced labelling requirements for food allergens, gluten sources and added sulphites, however, if you have a peanut allergy and see one of the following in the list of ingredients on a product you should not eat it.
Avoid food and products that do not have an ingredient list and read labels every time you shop.
Note: These lists are not complete and may change. Food and food products purchased from other countries, through mail-order or the Internet, are not always produced using the same manufacturing and labelling standards as in Canada.
See an allergist and educate yourself about food allergies. Contact your local allergy association for further information.
If you or anyone you know has food allergies or would like to receive information about food being recalled, sign up for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) free e-mail "Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts" notification service. When you sign up you will automatically receive food recall public warnings.
Allergists recommend that if you do not have your auto-injector device with you that you do not eat. If the label indicates that a product "contains:" or "may contain:" peanut or peanut derivatives, do not eat it. If you do not recognize an ingredient or there is no ingredient list available, avoid the product.
Cross contamination is the transfer of an ingredient (food allergen) to a product that does not normally have that ingredient in it. Through cross contamination, a food that should not contain the allergen could become dangerous to eat for those who are allergic.
Cross contamination can happen:
The Government of Canada is committed to providing safe food to all Canadians. The CFIA and Health Canada work closely with municipal, provincial and territorial partners and industry to meet this goal.
The CFIA enforces Canada's labelling laws and works with associations, distributors, food manufacturers and importers to ensure complete and appropriate labelling of all foods. The CFIA recommends that food companies establish effective allergen controls to prevent the occurrence of undeclared allergens and cross-contamination. The CFIA has developed guidelines and tools to aid them in developing these controls. When the CFIA becomes aware of a potential serious hazard associated with a food, such as undeclared allergens, the food product is recalled from the marketplace and a public warning is issued. The CFIA has also published several advisories to industry and consumers regarding allergens in food.
Health Canada has worked with the medical community, consumer associations, and the food industry to enhance labelling regulations for priority allergens, gluten sources and sulphites in pre-packaged food sold in Canada. Health Canada has amended the Food and Drug Regulations to require that the most common food and food ingredients that cause life-threatening or severe allergic reactions are always identified by their common names on food labels, allowing consumers to easily recognize them.
More information on the regulations to enhance the "labelling of food allergens", gluten sources and added sulphites can be found on the Health Canada website.
If you come across a food that you think is improperly labelled, contact the CFIA and provide information about the product.
Report a food safety or labelling concern.
For more information on:
visit the CFIA Website or call 1-800-442-2342/TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).
For information on this and other Government of Canada programs and services call
Below are some of the organizations that can provide additional allergy information:
Developed in consultation with Allergy/Asthma Information Association, Anaphylaxis Canada, Association québécoise des allergies alimentaires, Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Health Canada.


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Maybe we used up all our bile last weekend, but no one is more shocked then we are to find ourselves actually looking forward to the movies this weekend. Maybe we're getting old...It can't be Hollywood's getting better, can it?
The Story: A Texas teen (Ellen Page) gives up a life of beauty pageants to fight it out in the roller derby rink.
The Pitch: Fight Club meets Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants
Who It's For: Grrrl power wolf packs.
Cause for Hope: Precious as it may be, it's hard not to get excited for roller derby; buzz has been good for Drew Barrymore's directorial debut.
Cause for Concern: The project leaves huge room for the Drew nose-scrunching, head-bobbing cutesy factor to rear its pig-tailed head.
Gawker Enthusio-Meter: 7
The Story: The world is overrun by zombies. Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg fight back.
The Pitch: Shaun of the Dead meets Red Dawn
Who It's For: Nerds
Cause for Hope: Hilarious trailer; movies success will propel Eisenberg to the Hoodie Hearththrob crown.
Cause for Concern: Cruising around with Woody 'n kilin' some zombies is a fantastic joke, but it still is just one joke and 90 minutes is a long time.
Gawker Enthusio-Meter: 8
The Story: The Coen Brothers portrait of Jewish life in the '60s suburban Midwest.
The Pitch: Yentl meets Blue Velvet
Who It's For: College administrators
Cause for Hope: The ever aloof Coen brothers portraying the world of their own youth promises the "laughing at the hicks" quotient might fall slightly.
Cause for Concern: They've still got plenty of snideness to spare.
Gawker Enthusio-Meter: 7
The Story: In a land where people speak only the truth, one man (Ricky Gervais) learns how to bend the world through the magic of false speaking.
The Pitch: Bruce Almighty meets Withnail and I
Who It's For: Gervais TV die hards
Cause for Hope: Despite gimmicky concept and Gervais' spotty non-BBC track record, hope springs eternal for the sometimes genius.
Cause for Concern: Formulaic concept promises depressing anti-lying message.
Gawker Enthusio-Meter: 6
TOY STORY and TOY STORY 2 in 3D
The Story: The rip roarin' Buzz Lightyear and friends have adventures in a little kid's bedroom. No Polanski jokes here.
The Pitch: Westworld meets Pinocchio in 3D
Who It's For: Citizens under seven, their parents and film nerds who don't feel weird about sitting alone in a theater filled with children.
Cause for Hope: It is the Citizen Kane of animation after all.
Cause for Concern: America comes one step closer to falling under the mass hypnosis that 3D creates an entirely new level of cinematic experience, worth paying more than ten dollars for.
Gawker Enthusio-Meter: 8


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With the music of the "Imperial March" blaring from loudspeakers, Stormtroopers, lightsaber-wielding Jedi Knights and even Darth Vader faced off in front of the Tech Museum on Thursday morning, while actor Billy Dee Williams -- aka Lando Calrissian, the coolest cat in the galaxy -- sat on a nearby stage.
This seriously had to be the trippiest event of San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed's tenure, especially when Jedi Master/emcee "Obi-Shawn" Crosby introduced him as the mayor of San Diego. "We've got a high degree of tolerance for visitors from other galaxies," joked Reed, who some days probably wishes he was mayor of San Diego.
All the hoopla, of course, was to announce "Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination," a traveling exhibition that's coming to the Tech on Oct. 19. San Jose will be the final stop for the show, which has been on tour since 2005 and features props and costumes from the blockbuster series including the Yoda, C-3PO and R2-D2. It also covers real-world topics like space travel, robotics and mechanical prosthesis. Tickets for the show, which runs through Feb. 23, 2014, are now on sale at www.thetech.org.
The crowd at the Tech politely listened to Reed, Lucasfilm rep Pablo Hidalgo and Chris DiGiorgio of Accenture (whom "Obi-Shawn" referred to as the Yoda of the Tech's board of directors), but it was Williams everyone came to see.
"Anytime an actor can be successful in creating a character that people remember, it gives that actor longevity," said Williams, who played Lando in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi." He may be 75 now and carries a cane instead of a can of Colt 45, the malt liquor he was once spokesman for, but he's still got that Billy Dee Williams charm.
Even Reed confessed to being a fan of the movie series, going back to when he and his wife, Paula, took their daughter, Kim, to see "Star Wars" at the drive-in when she was 2. The future Air Force fighter pilot slept through most of it the first time around. "I know 'Star Wars' played a part in getting her interested in the science and technology of space," Reed said.
BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS: Things just keep getting bigger and better for Project Cornerstone, which held its 10th Asset Champions breakfast Thursday at the Santa Clara Convention Center's Mission City Ballroom. About 1,200 people attended the breakfast, which honored individuals, schools and community organizations for their efforts to create positive relationships with Santa Clara County youth.
Steve Young, the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame quarterback, served as emcee for the breakfast. Project Cornerstone, which is a program of the YMCA of Silicon Valley, honored the Mountain View/Los Altos Challenge Team with its special SPARK Award for more than 25 years of bringing together leaders from school districts, government organizations, churches and nonprofits that serve youth.
Contact Sal Pizarro at email@example.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/spizarro.


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This doesn't change a lot. But there are some additions and subtractions to the cart.
2 Nuke OS. one 165 gram and one max that's most overstable disc in bag
1 Z Nuke
3 Force..Overstable..straight..understable
1 Z Pred
2 Z Avengers
2 Players Cup Trackers
1 FLX Drone
2 Hornet one is Z and other is ESP(not as stable but better than buzzz stable)
4 Buzzz
2 Zone. Overstable and other is beat and straight stable
4 Challengers. 2 are throwers and 2 I putt with


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It was a dog fight to the top of the podium of the freeski big air contest Thursday night with athletes one-upping each other in their three runs at the finals event.
New Zealand's Josiah Wells, Telluride's Gus Kenworthy, Tom Wallisch (Pittsburgh, Penn.), Switzerland's Kai Mahler and Sweden's Henrik Harlaut landed spots among 12 contestants in the envied finals heat. There, they battled it out for the win in the winter Dew Tour's inaugural freeski big air event, with victory going to the skier with the best score of three final runs. Kai Mahler landed an undisputed 97.00 with a switch double misty double japan grab and gaining huge air, much to the crowd's delight.
"It was the first time I ever did that trick," the Swiss skier said. "It was a super cool jump, one of the best I have ever jumped in my life."
Mahler took the lead early with a 93.25 on a jump with amplitude, depth and rotation. Everyone else started with scores in the 80s in the first heat. Wells landed a 69.75 in the first round and never really stepped it up to finish.
Meanwhile, in round 2, Kenworthy cleaned up with huge height, adding a tail grab and sneaking ahead to first place with a 94.50. But then Henrik took his smile and pink helmet down the ramp to boot into his butter takeoff and a 94.75 score.
Heading into the third round, Kenworthy bested himself for the third time in three runs for a 95.75 and another first-place spot, only to be bested by Mahler's final run, which wowed the crowd both with its style and score. Harlaut wasn't able to throw a trick that impressed the judges as much as his second round, and he finished with a 91.50 on the third run.
1. Kai Mahler - 97.00
2. Gus Kenworthy - 95.75
3. Henrik Harlaut - 94.75
4. Josiah Wells - 87.75
5. Tom Wallisch - 87.50


text:
- Mes Que Un Club!
- Currently Unavailable
A product of FC Barcelona's youth system, Xavi Hernandez has spent his entire career with the club. The inspirational playmaker made his senior debut in 1998 and in the seasons since appeared in over 600 games and, of course, helped the club win numerous trophies.
This is bold new jersey for the 12/13 season is orange and yellow with a blended pattern. This bright color celebrates the boldness of Barcelona's play and style while honoring the city's cultures, art and architecture.
"Mes que un club" is screened on the inside of the collar. Taping in Barca's traditional red and blue run down the sides.
Includes embroidered Barcelona team badge and Nike logo with screened Qatar Foundation logo. UNICEF is screened on the back.
Advanced Dri-FIT for moisture control. 100% recycled polyester. Imported.
Lamentamos que todavia no hay descripción en español para este producto.