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As we follow the zig-zaggy quest of me trying to learn to program, I discover the next significant step, "Interest". I started with a goal: to learn to program. Next I came up with a plan: Learn Python by writing a program called PT (period tracker) but I lacked the last bit, interest.
You see, there was very little that period tracker did that a calendar didn't. Spending hours to make a program to do work that I could do in five minutes with a calendar and a pencil seemed like a waste of effort.
Now don't take this the wrong way. I spend lots of time on trivial things. I am an obsessive fan of TV series like "Doctor Who" and "Buffy the Vampire slayer". I write online Biology textbooks for fun, and I sometimes run "top" on my computer and watch as the screen refreshes every three seconds for no good reason. I'm pretty accomplished at wasting time, but I can't abide doing work "for fun" that bores me.
This gets to the heart of free software programming. People don't program just because they want to learn. They don't even program because they have a need. People program because they are interested in getting something done, and they are willing to do it themselves. Learning to program is time consuming and requires effort, but the effort means nothing if you're having fun, just ask anyone playing racquetball. Programming is best when it is play.
So my goal now is to play with programs. I'm trying to pick projects now, and it isn't as easy as you think. My first programs that I wrote were database programs. I wanted to make an address book for my sister. That was ages ago. My program never did work right, and before you know it I left that computer behind; but I still was interested in the problem.
Since then, I have occasionally done database scripting, but never programming, and I have often wondered if I should try to work with databases again. But database theory has changed a lot since I last tried to understand it, Recently I read a web page about database programming and the terms alone scared me.
But then again, most people consider databases beyond boring. The fact that I've been interested in them for decades is probably a quirk of mine that's not going away, so what can I do? How can I find an environment to learn how to program about something that I find interesting without feeling that it's a total waste of my time? Luckily such opportunities are plentiful in the open source community. You just join a project.
I decided to tentatively try my hand at helping with a free database project. How do you do that you ask? The best way is to join an open source project as a tester or developer. I decided to join the Kexi project (http://www.kexi-project.org/).
Kexi is the database bundled in Koffice. I have a copy on my desktop. Do I know how to use it? Almost. I may understand it better when the documentation has been translated from Polish to English. They say that's coming any day now. I looked online and they have a developer's wanted advertisement. It says Requirements C++, Qt development skills, and KDE libs development skills welcome. Do I have those skills? No. plus I was planning on learning python rather than C++, but learning is all about starting from a point of not understanding and doing your best. So I decide to volunteer as a software tester.
The page says that the requirements for a tester are Linux, an email address and KDE 3.3 or newer. Got that nailed, so the plan is this: I join the tester and developer mailing lists and watch how the program gets changed. When I feel courageous enough, I can even take a look at the source code. Then maybe I can copy some of it into a file, get a C++ compiler, and try playing with data myself.
Will this work, or is this a stupid idea? Is the program too big and advanced for me to ever understand? Will I get bored again and put it away? I don't know, but anything worth doing is worth doing badly the first time, so I'll take a chance. Who knows, maybe it will actually do someone some good.
OpenOffice.org or KOffice?
Kexi is part of Koffice, not OpenOffice.org. ;-)
Using the right name
Of course it is. Sorry to all those folks I irritated.
I better be careful what I say when posting on the mailing list.
Databases are not boring
I too have long been in to Databases... probably because that is what got me my first computer. [long story made short] My dad wanted a database so gave me an old 386sx and his DB software so I could 'program' it for him. Since then I have made:
- A database program for building Warhammer Armies
- A CRM program for a local contractor
- A recipe database
- Software database (records software installs and install codes -- track compliance)
- A program for doing weekly student reports at a K-12 institution (using a database ofcourse)
To be honest I can't think of why people think that databases are boring... the proper structure of a database and the ability to present the information in a meaningful way is a skill that escapes a great many programmers I know. [scare tactic] Database Normalization. Boo!
The thing that irritates me about databases...
The thing that irritates me about databases, is the same thing that irritates me about web development -- you have to spend so much time setting up the environment:
Installing server software, making sure to set all the appropriate flags so that it will do anything, because Debian packagers, in their infinite wisdom, have figured out that the most secure package is the one that does absolutely nothing.
Then there's the plowing through tons of security configuration files just so the darned thing will answer you when you call it. And of course, they all have to be written in Apache-ese, which is some bastard-child of config format and XML which doesn't follow the rules of either, and then you have to set directives like "ActuallyDoSomething" and "NoReallyIActuallyWantToUseTheServer".
Usually, by the time I've got all of that working, I've completely run out of time for the project and/or Debian has released a new version and retired the old one, so that the one package I absolutely have to have to do the project requires a complete system upgrade, including the database and web application server, which breaks interoperability between all of the components, due either to massive API redesign or a decision to "reform" the security configuration files so as to make them even more difficult to figure out.
But, yeah, once you get through all of that, databases can be fun.
Kexi != database (+why people program)
Sorry - my pedant mode kicked in...
Kexi is a data[base] management application not a database. A database is a set of data organised into records and possibly tables (a spreadsheet of addresses could be called a database). You use Kexi to create and manage databases, without those it is pretty useless.
You said...
People don't program just because they want to learn. They don't even program because they have a need. People program because they are interested in getting something done, and they are willing to do it themselves.
Am I alone in that I program for all of those reasons? If programming wasn't expanding my horizons (for want of a better term) then I wouldn't be interested in it. I always program to fulfil a need: without a real target I find I soon give up and the project falls by the wayside. Yes I am interested in getting something done and I am willing to do it myself but those are not as high a motivation as the first two.
I thought your original plan (to write an application) was a good one and perhaps you shouldn't be put off because you chose an app you feel is a little needless. Find something that isn't or reassess the method you chose. Also - for me anyway - the fact that somebody else has written a suitable application only precludes my having a go at one if I am pushed for time (or if the application is huge - you won't find me writing my own web server just yet). Often it's the journey and not the destination that counts.
In any case if you are going test Kexi to any length you are going to have to apply it to a real world example. Perhaps you can approach PT again for the purposes of testing Kexi. If a calendar can do what you want then examine the method you use, what could be improved? How could it serve the task better? A Calendar on the wall cannot for example display the day of your cycle or prompt you if you haven't entered the start of a new one. It cannot report over the course of a year the regularity of the cycle and it could not remind you to stock up on chocolate two days before the predicted start of the next one. Being a bloke I have no idea if these are important - it's just what I've picked up from being married - but think bigger than just replicating the calendar and pencil.
good luck
Well, if we're going to nitpick :-)
"Kexi is a data[base] management application not a database."
But for much of the world, "database" is also a abbreviated term for "database management application" -- at least when speaking informally. Call it a metonym.
But even "database management application" is imprecise. Kexi is a frontend for a database management system (which is probably going to be MySQL in Rosalyn's case).
"You said... People don't program just because they want to learn. They don't even program because they have a need. People program because they are interested in getting something done, and they are willing to do it themselves.
Am I alone in that I program for all of those reasons?"
The paragraph above only excludes you if you program only for one of these reasons at a time, I think. It's the "just" that makes this distinction.
Please let me know if we can discuss anything more trivial, though. ;-)
Really, though, people program for all sorts of reasons -- it depends a lot on your temperment. You have to really want to do it, though -- it's easy to start projects, but hard to finish them.
What intrigues me most about Kexi is the CASE tool that it's supposed to have -- apparently you can graphically design a database system using something like an E-R diagram and have Kexi generate the tables for you. I think that sounds pretty cool. I haven't tried this (I've just seen some screenshots), but I look forward to seeing it in action.
pedantry and other "bad habits" :o)
I prefer to think of myself as a pedant rather than a nit-picker ;o)
But even "database management application" is imprecise. Kexi is a frontend for a database management system (which is probably going to be MySQL in Rosalyn's case).
I agree and I was really just being a little naughty pedant (sorry Rosalyn: bad habit). That said, I got the term from Kexi's website where it says: "Kexi is a Free/Libre and Open-Source integrated data management application,".
"You said… People don't program just because they want to learn. They don't even program because they have a need. People program because they are interested in getting something done, and they are willing to do it themselves.
Am I alone in that I program for all of those reasons?"
The paragraph above only excludes you if you program only for one of these reasons at a time, I think. It's the "just" that makes this distinction.
Okay, then I am excluded--c'est la vie. I have written several small applications--many of which never leave my own computer--solely with the aim of learning a new language or technique. Sometimes I rewrite one just to see how I would do it in a different language (but less often since I got married and had kids I must confess).
When Rosalyn says "People program because.." surely the implication is that programmers only or mostly or even generally program for the two reasons she gives. From this I inferred that people don't program for the heck of it or as an extended hobby but my experience is that people do (I am not alone in my methods above). Maybe I've read that wrong though. Maybe I am as sad as I appear :o) Perhaps I am being too pedantic though, perhaps she meant "when people program with the intention of releasing it". Rosalyn care to clarify?
Please let me know if we can discuss anything more trivial, though. ;-)
Oh now, don't get me started, among my friends I have a reputation for trivia (particularly the useless kind). :o)
Seriously though the main point of my comment was to encourage Rosalyn not to give up on her idea simply because something else exists. Much free software--by necessity--as ended up duplicating functionality of other software. I think she should be congratulated because she is engaging with the community and is trying to give back, that's a good thing.
Thanks for the encouragement Ryan Cartwright
My true meaning when I said that thing about why people program is as a good segue into the article.
Obviously I don't really know why people program, because I can't actually get myself to finish one.
Procrastination is not just an affliction, it is an art form.
I consider myself an artist when it comes to procrastinating by not programming.
Many is the time my husband (Terry Hancock is my husband by the way) has suggested the possibility of classes or some other way to help me get started. I usually switch the subject to finances or dinner which usually results in him dropping the idea.
I have a love / hate relationship with programming.
1. I am ambitious. I can think of a dozen reasons to write a program. Programs that will solve a need I have. Programs that may change the world.
2. I start to plan out how to do it.
3. I start to get scared of the time, effort, and pain involved.
4. I remember all of the broken programs that I've ever used.
5. I decide to watch a utube video.
Ok, it isn't always this way. Sometimes I watch videos on TV, but even writing that first line of code is painful.
The other thing is my desire to fix broken programs.
Have you ever had a program that crashes all of the time. Don't say you haven't because you know you have.
I want to fix it!!
But since I have only ever programmed in Apple Basic in the dawn of time, I can't even read the code.
I feel like a child trying to read Don Quixote in Spanish because I really liked the film.
Don Quixote? I wonder if I still have a copy of the film " They might be Giants"
Walks Away from the Computer ...


text:
- Home
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Read To A Dog
Saturday, March 16, 2013
10:00am @ Waldo Branch
Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) will visit the Waldo Branch, 201 East 75th St. one Saturday each month from October 2012 through April 2013 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Children may sign up for a 10 minute slot each Saturday. These animals have been trained and evaluated by Intermountain Therapy Animals and the Pet Partners Delta Society. Parents MUST sign a release form before children will be allowed to read with one of the dogs.
Children may choose from an assortment of books on a library cart. They will then have 10 minutes to read to a dog (parents are encouraged not to remain with their child during the session). Children may sit on the floor or in a chair while reading to the dog.
Photos may be taken after but not during the reading session. Parents may take photos only of their own children.
The reading sessions take place on October 13, November 17 and December 15, 2012, and February 16, March 16, and April 20, 2013.
These events are co-sponsored by Intermountain Therapy Animals. Admission to each reading event is free. The events are appropriate for children ages 5 – 12 yrs.
Call the Waldo Branch at 816.701.3486 to sign up or sign up in person at the Waldo circulation desk.

subset: commoncrawl


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INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - We are inching closer to the end of October and so far no flakes have hit the streets of the village. Anyone willing to predict when we will have to have the streets plowed for the first time?
Saturday is the annual Incline Village Nursery School pumpkin patch at Preston Field. Stop and check out the pumpkins, silent auction bake sale and help IVNS.
Also the annual Job Fair at Diamond Peak is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20.
Thursday, Oct. 25, is the community Trail of Treats and Terror. Everyone at the DWR Center, the IVGID Rec. Center, Lake Tahoe School and SNC are very busy decorating and preparing for the community event. Donations of candy and rope lights can be dropped off at the DWR Center before Thursday.
Rhonda at Bar Bar Bar is still holding her coat drive and you can drop the items off next time you pick up your mail. Bar Bar Bar is just across the parking lot.
It's time for a Salaam Designs Truck Show. From 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26, stop and check out all the new items, enjoy refreshments and remember the proceeds help to support our local alpine racer, Lila Lapanja. The event will be at The Sanctuary Studio in Crystal Bay. For information call 775-832-8061.
We still have lovely days on the golf course left. Hole in one congrats to Mary Whalen for her ace on October 10 on the Mountain Course.
Sending out best wishes to Madonna Dunbar for a speedy recovery from her surgery. Look forward to seeing you around the village soon.
Some of our local bowlers are very busy preparing for the State Senior Bowling Tournament the first two weekends in November. This will be at the Carson Lanes and any local bowlers age 50 or more can participate. Call Bowl Incline for details.
Anniversary wishes to Jim and Genevieve Brockelsby. Congratulations!
Special Happy Birthday wishes to Sierra Sun Community Editor Amy Edgett on Sunday, Oct. 21. Other birthdays to celebrate this week: Andrew Mavin and Brittany Vidal on Oct. 20. Connie Nowlin on Oct. 21; Madonna Dunbar on Oct. 23; Tim Bauer and Rafael Olivares-Jimenezon Oct. 24. Happy Birthday all!
For Deals and Steals this week go to Dress the Part(y). This is the Incline Village official headquarters for Halloween. I stopped the other day and found one of our local restaurateurs shopping for his costume. Great Scott what a costume! Now can you guess his name?
As always send in your birthdays, anniversaries and news, along with the best deals and steals you can find, to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Best streaming software I've seen so far. Congrats!
Here's my question:
I'm using the following setup.
MacBookPro (Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.53GHz, 4GB RAM) -> Airport Express (n only, 5 GHz) -> Airport Express (n only, 5 GHz) -> wired connection to PS3
All settings are default. When I'm streaming 720p & 1080p movies the video is very choppy. I thought that 802.11n can handle this... Am I wrong? Should I change something to make the wireless streaming possible without a lot of quality loss in 802.11n?


text:
Designed by Eric Gill. Initially released by Monotype (Series 262) in 1928 with many styles following until Condensed in 1937.
Reissued and expanded in 2015 as Gill Sans Nova.
Virginia Woolf for Penguin2011
- Pentagram
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Londoners by Craig Taylor2011
- Stephen Sorrell
- Damon Murray
- Murray & Sorrell FUEL
Contributed by Stephen Coles
The Specimen: from Type Catalog to Design Meme
- Paula Scher
- Fred Woodward
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The Typography Workshop
- Alan Kitching
- Jon Kielty
- Ross Shaw
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Visual Grammar exhibition posters2012
- Project Projects
- George Hardie
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Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft2013
- Phil Baines
- Natalie Braune
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The Whitsun Weddings, Faber & Faber edition1964
- Berthold Wolpe
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Josua Reichert: Freilich ein Handwerker, kein Derwisch1973
- Josua Reichert
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Kalender der Straße – Die Edition 2014c. 2013
- Fabian Brunken
- Lennart Klein
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Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, first editions1945
- Arthur Hawkins, Jr.
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Church of England Common Worship Prayer Book, 20002000
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"Rambles in …" series, London and North Eastern Railwayc. 1931
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From Asclepius' Workshop book cover1970
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America and Britain: Three Volumes in One1946
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Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid, Penguin Great Ideas2009
- David Pearson
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National Pork Board logos, 1987 & 20051987
- Bozell
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text:
Dartmouth activists bully way into event for incoming freshmen
The group brandished posters with messages such as 'I was called fag in my freshman dorm' and noted the College's adoption of an Indian as its mascot in the first half of the 20th century.
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text:
Marietta High
Age: 18
Class: Senior
Article Photos
JORDAN HOLLAND The Marietta Times
Marietta's Mitchell Grose, right, is considered one of the best long distance runners in the area.
Grade-point average: 3.9
Sports: Cross country and track
College: Undecided
Question: What are your expectations for your final season of track?
Answer: I'm expecting to be a lot better this year than in previous years. I've been able to stay healthy which is huge. I made it to state in cross country, so the expectation is to make it there in track as well. I just have to do the best I can.
Q: What are some moments in your high school athletic career that stand out to you?
A: I would say the (cross country) regional meet senior year. That was the best race I've ever run, because if I would have run that race any differently, I probably wouldn't have made it (to state). I was in shock when it happened just because of how tough Division I is and how everything had to be perfect and go a certain way.
Q: What do you do in the winter between track and cross country?
A: This winter I played basketball with my dad. We played about once a week with some older guys. It actually helped me with running because it wasn't just forward movement for hours. It was a lot of lateral work.
Q: As a cross country runner and a distance runner in track, what is it about running that you enjoy so much?
A: Probably just that it's all me. I get out of it what I put into it. It's not what an official sees. I love to win, and I'm willing to put in a lot of work to achieve it.
Q: What is going to be key this spring as you try to get your name out there for college?
A: I'm definitely banking on this track season. I think it will go well. Hopefully, when all is said and done, my name will be known not just in southeastern Ohio but all throughout the state.
- Jordan Holland


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Lyons: Does county owe you money over plumbing inspections?
Published: Monday, December 10, 2012 at 5:55 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, December 10, 2012 at 5:55 p.m.
Sarasota County pays area plumbers to do annual inspections of safety devices that keep contaminated water from reaching faucets in homes.
As far as I know, they may do a good job checking most of the 16,800 Sarasota County homes that have the devices, called backflow preventers.
Of course, if some plumbers were faking the inspections, that would be a health hazard as well as a ripoff. I'd expect fraud charges if a contractor was found to have been running a scam in which people were charged for inspections that never happened.
But what if the county itself is running such a scam?
Though it presumably has been unintentional and maybe unknown — or was at first — that's more or less what has been going on in Sarasota County.
As I wrote just over a week ago, a Turtle Rock resident's questions about his utility bill brought this issue to my attention. He told me about getting a surprise refund of about $118 because his questions led to the discovery that his home's backflow preventer had not been inspected for four years.
A county spokesman said it appears contractors were never given his address as an inspection site.
An isolated event? Not so much, it seems. The same column also reported that other homes could have the same thing going on. Anyone paying that monthly fee could find the last inspection date on a small sticker placed near the home's backflow preventer. It is typically on a pipe that is a foot above the ground, in an inverted-U shape, usually where county waterlines meet private property.
Sure enough, on Monday, eight days after that column appeared, county resident Pauline Swan told me she is getting a $141 credit because she read the column and called.
Her house apparently went more than four years without a supposedly annual backflow inspection.
And a county spokesman, Curt Preisser, told me the public works department got more than 70 calls from utility customers about this issue in the past week, and has identified 28 customers entitled to similar refunds.
The thing is, there could well be far more. Most people don't know to ask, or check. And yet they could be at risk, theoretically, for drinking water contaminated with sewage unless we assume the annual inspections are a bogus requirement and a needless expense, as some prefer to think.
Government can't have it both ways. Since it requires the inspections for health and safety reasons, and charges for them, it is a serious matter if public works administrators know numerous homes must have backflow devices that have not been inspected for years, and know there has been no reliable system for identifying them.
Preisser told me more than a week ago that public works staff was beginning to grapple with some problematic software to try to determine how many such homes there are, and how many are being billed anyway. On Monday he said that process was still proving to be difficult and that he still didn't have so much as a ballpark estimate.
Preisser said County Administrator Randall Reid is also waiting for that number, which could be available in a few more days after much hand-checking of computer data.
I hope Reid will ask his public works administrators a tough question:
Since the county has been getting sporadic calls for two or three years about backflow inspections that were billed but never took place — as Preisser has acknowledged — why did searching the computer files to see who is at risk for drinking sewage only become a priority after a newspaper column about it?
Tom Lyons can be contacted at email@example.com or (941) 361-4964.
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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EDINBURG, Texas – The Texas A&M – Corpus Christi Women's Tennis team earned another win on Tuesday afternoon, taking a 7-0 decision against Texas – Pan American at the Orville Cox Tennis Center on the UTPA campus.
The win keeps the Islanders (6-0) undefeated on the season, and was the second time this year that the team had defeated the Broncs (0-7), winning on Feb. 7 in Corpus Christi by a 6-1 final.
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi started strong in doubles, with Sandra Burges and Chelsea taking an 8-1 final at the No. 2 position. Doris Kuselj and Stefania Nicolae clinched the point for their team with another 8-1 win at No. 1 doubles, while Maider Martin and Mia Matuszak completed the sweep with an 8-4 final at No. 3.
In singles action, Burges picked up another quick victory, taking a 6-0, 6-1 final at No. 3 to make it a 2-0 Islanders lead. Burges has not lost a set this season, and she has not allowed an opponent to win more than three games in any set.
Leanne Mascall pushed her team to the brink with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 6 singles, and Celia Rodriguez clinched the match with her 6-1, 6-0 final at the No. 5 spot.
Nicolae earned a 7-5, 6-1 decision at No. 4 singles, and Maider Martin went to a third set before taking the super tiebreaker in a 6-1, 3-6, 10-7 match.
Kuselj picked up her first win of the season on Tuesday, finishing the match off with a 7-5, 6-3 final in the No. 1 position to complete the 7-0 score.
Next up for the Islanders will be a quick turnaround, as the team travels to St. Mary's in San Antonio on Wednesday in a 2 p.m. match.
For all the latest on Islanders Tennis, like the team on Facebook (IslandersTennis), follow them on Twitter (@IslandersTennis) and visit www.GoIslanders.com.
Tennis Match Results
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi vs Texas-Pan American
Feb 19, 2013 at Edinburg, TX
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 7, Texas-Pan American 0
Singles competition:
1. Doris Kuselj (AMCC) def. Dana Nazarova (UTPA) 7-5, 6-3
2. Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Didi Fatchikova (UTPA) 6-1, 3-6, 10-7
3. Sandra Burges (AMCC) def. Manon Lavrijssen (UTPA) 6-0, 6-1
4. Stefania Nicolae (AMCC) def. Wanda Beguelin (UTPA) 7-5, 6-1
5. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) def. Reegan Greenwood (UTPA) 6-1, 6-0
6. Leanne Mascall (AMCC) def. Julia Perez (UTPA) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition:
1. Doris Kuselj/Stefania Nicolae (AMCC) def. Dana Nazarova/Reegan Greenwood (UTPA) 8-3
2. Chelsea Horan/Sandra Burges (AMCC) def. Wanda Beguelin/Manon Lavrijssen (UTPA) 8-1
3. Maider Martin/Mia Matuszak (AMCC) def. Didi Fatchikova/Julia Perez (UTPA) 8-4
Match Notes:
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 6-0
Texas-Pan American 0-7
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,6,5,4,2,1)


text:
News 12 at 6 o'clock / Monday, Feb. 4, 2013
AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW) -- On Monday night, during the Aiken County Legislative Delegation meeting, select Aiken County Registration and Elections members released their report as to what went wrong during the Nov. 6 election.
"We want to do better planning, better training. Some of our poll clerks were not real comfortable using that laptops this year," said Kay McIver with Registration and Elections.
Also made public Monday night is a report by the South Carolina Election Commission. The state commission identified 34 things that went wrong in Aiken County on Election Day.
News 12 was first to report a number of problems in the November election. Many complained of long lines, incorrect ballots, unprofessional workers, and clogged up phone lines at the office on Election Day. Even some poll managers told News 12 of their frustrations. Aiken County Delegation Roland Smith also demanded answers. Others told News 12 that a new director was needed.
The new plan would require much more training for workers. The office is also requesting 20 new voting machines and a number of laptops too.
Most importantly, a new bill would place the elections office under the authority of the county administrator, rather than the legislative delegation as it is now. Rep. Smith says he doesn't have the proper amount of time to be as involved with the office as the county administrator could be. The office agrees with the change. Board
members believe this change would keep politics out of the process.
"If the county administrator is in charge, she's knows who's in charge, she knows who she has to be responsible to, and I think that's an important change," said Sen. Massey.
The bill to make this change has passed the South Carolina House of Representatives unanimously. Now, it waits on approval of the Senate.
Representative Bill Clyburn added that he thought the election would have been smoother if not for the number of write-in candidates vying for various positions. He also believes that lines were particularly wrong, because it was a presidential year too.
Not everyone was happy with the election office's report.
Sen. Shane Massey said he would have liked to see the office take more personal responsibility, rather than passing the blame to the state and others in some instances.
"This is a business," Massey said. "The public's business."


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Yale School of Medicine Website Use, Security, and Privacy
For the General Public
The Yale School of Medicine is committed to protecting your online privacy. General user privacy for Yale School of Medicine websites is covered by the Yale University Privacy Policy.
Patient Privacy & Security
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Gary Lawson
Personal Information
California School of Professional Psychology
Teacher Education
San Diego Campus
Professor Emeritus
Alliant International University San Diego
10455 Pomerado Road
San Diego CA 92131
Courses, Research Interests, Publications
Psychotherapeutic Techniques in Chemical Dependency
Sustance Abuse in Diverse Populations
Psychopharmacology for Psychologists
Issues in Chemical Dependency
Clinical Practicum
clinical psychology; marriage and family therapy; chemical dependency
Essential of Chemical Dependency Counseling (3d Ed.)
Adolescent Substance Abuse: Etiology, Prevention and Treatment
Alcoholism and the Family (2d Ed.)
Clinical Psychopharmacology: A Practical Reference for Non-Medical Psychotherapists
Substance Abuse and Special Populations
Psychopharmacology for Psychologists (Book in progress)
Evaluating Drug Treatment through Court System
Diverse Populations and Substance Abuse (Book in progress)
Academic History and Background
PhD, Southern Illinois University, 1975, 1975
PhD, Southern Illinois University, 1975, 1975
Psychologist License in California PSY 9547
Certified Addictions Specialist (CAS, American Academy of Health Care Providers in Addictive Disorders
Member APA
Member AAMFT
Member of Executive Committee (ADAPT) Alcohol and Drug Prevention Task Force
Professional Practice and Community Service
Board Member American Academy of Health Care Providers in Addictive Disorders
Chair of Legislative Committee Cal. AAMFT
Past President of Faculty Senate
An Assessment and Treatment Program for Individuals and Family Systems With Addictions
Selected Screening Insturments Implemented In The Study of The American Indian Population
Depression In College Students: Relationship to Attributional Style and Life Events, And Substance Use
A Theory of Spirituality Related to Chemical Dependency Recovery
A Proposed Counselor's Mannual For Court-Ordered Diversion Programs Treating Hispanic Drug Abusers Under California Penal Code Section 1000
Female Perpetrators of Domestic Violence: A Pilot Study
The Role of Social Skills, Cognitive Distortion, and Substance Abuse as Predictors of Recidivism Among Juvenile Delinquents
The Relationship Between Social Anxiety and the Frequency of Interactions With Primary Social Support In Elderly Persons
The Use of Atypical Antipsychotic Agents in Non-psychotic Children
* Music
* Photography
* Travel


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Embroider an Old-Fashioned Cameo for Mother's Day!
We adore the delicacy and intricacy of vintage cameo carved jewelry. Niamh from the crafty blog Urban Threads made this nifty tutorial on embroidering an old-fashioned cameo silhouette – perfect as a mother's day (or May day) gift, or to sweeten up your boudoir. We'd pair ours with this nifty morning glory festooned picture frame transfer from Gina at the blog, DoeCDoe.


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First day of use. Can't find in the html manual.
1. I draw a line A -> B -> C -> D -> A and one of the corners is off just a hair. I haven't been able to figure out how to tweek the end point by say 1 grid dot.
2. I'd like to set my resolution to 1/4 or .25 inch with grid points to match - will help solve #1 above. I can't get "sg" any better than 1"


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Russia has been in the news on a daily basis these days. But what we're watching on our news networks each night has nothing to do with the news we're sharing with our community here. This fascinating story focuses on Russia taking a stand regarding the food supply of its citizens. And they're up in arms against McDonald's.
Nearly a quarter-century after McDonald's startled and delighted Soviets with their first taste of American fast-food culture, the company's now facing a suit that could ban it from selling some of its signature products.
The Russian consumer protection agency said last Friday it is taking the company to court for selling foods that contain more fats and carbohydrates than are allowed by national regulations.
The suit comes amid especially high tensions between Moscow and Washington over the Ukraine crisis; the United States has slapped an array of sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine for allegedly supporting separatist rebels who are fighting in eastern Ukraine.
There's no demonstrable connection between the McDonald's suit and the tensions, but the consumer protection agency, Rospotrebnadzor, has a history of actions that appear to dovetail Russia's political agenda. As tensions between Russia and Georgia escalated before their 2008 war, Russia banned the import of Georgian wine and mineral water — two of its major export products — for failing to meet sanitary norms. Last year, as tensions heated up over Ukraine's desire to sign a trade pact with the European Union, Russia banned imports of chocolates made by the company of Petro Poroshenko, a tycoon who supported the EU deal and is now Ukraine's president.
Rospotrebnadzor said on its website that it brought the case after inspections of two of the company's restaurants in Novgorod.
According to the statement, some food was found with microbial contamination and several items had caloric values two to three times higher than allowed by national regulations. Products that were mentioned for incorrect nutritional information were cheeseburgers, Royal Cheeseburgers — the local equivalent of the Quarter Pounder — fish sandwiches and several milkshake varieties.
The suits asks that sale of McDonald's products that do not meet the regulations be declared illegal, but it was not clear what penalty the company could face. The two restaurants in Novgorod were to be fined 70,000 rubles ($2,100).
McDonald's prompted the ire of Russian nationalists earlier this year after it closed its outlets in Crimea.
The animosity is a far cry from the fascination that Muscovites had for McDonald's when it opened its first outlet in the Soviet Union in 1990; customers waited in hours-long lines to experience the efficient service and reliable availability of items — rare novelties in the Soviet era.
We do get the idea that the lawsuit is likely spurred by current political tensions. It wouldn't be the first time that politics influenced business — in Russia, or any other country, for that matter. FoodFacts.com does find it interesting, though, that Russia appears to have national regulations regarding fat and carbohydrate content in foods.
While it just can't be that Russia's consumer protection agency never realized that McDonald's was breaking their national rules before, it does make you wonder even more about our own "rules" here in the U.S. T
his is never an easy subject. Land of the free that we are, Americans generally don't like the government sticking its nose in our private lives. Unfortunately for all of us, in the last three decades or so the rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes have skyrocketed "coincidentally" with the proliferation of massive numbers of processed food choices, fast food restaurants and casual fast food eateries around our nation. When you read a story like this one, it does lead you to question if we might not all be better off with better regulations surrounding the foods that are adding to, if not fueling, the health problems that increasingly afflict massive numbers of our citizens every day. It's a complicated question, but it's certainly worth some real discussion.


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Removing viral contaminants from animal cell-culture derived biologicals is a major challenge of downstream purification because it involves laborious and time-consuming techniques that result in increased manufacturing costs. Updated regulatory guidelines demanding higher safety margins and enforcing good manufacturing practices are leading to tighter specifications. This stresses the need to implement robust and efficient orthogonal strategies for virus clearance to meet the requirements of a virus-clearance approach based on risk assessment. Such technologies can involve virus removal by nanofiltration, inactivation by ultraviolet C (UVC), and adsorption by membrane chromatography. Additionally, this three-tier platform should be characterized by using disposables to meet the flexibility and low capital requirements needed in early-stage process development. All of these new paradigms in virus clearance are scalable, economical, orthogonal, and disposable.
Viruses are composed of small amounts of DNA or RNA, encapsulated by a protein coat, and may be enclosed in an envelope made of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Viruses exploit the enzymes and other host-cell machinery to replicate themselves. The viral nucleic acid can be single- or double-strand DNA or RNA. A single virion is a completely developed virus particle made of 1–50% nucleic acid and 50–99% proteins or glycoproteins and lipids. Virions range from about 15 to 450 nm in size.
Regulatory Requirements Regarding Viral Inactivation and Clearance
Viral contamination is a risk to all biotechnology products derived from cell lines of human or animal origin. Contamination of a product with endogenous viruses from cell banks, or adventitious viruses from personnel can have serious clinical implications.3 To ensure maximum viral safety, the ICH Q5A regulatory guideline mandates that manufacturers of therapeutic biological products for human use implement adequate technologies in their manufacturing process and demonstrate the capability of their processes to remove or inactivate known or adventitious contaminants based on a process-specific virus clearance strategy.3 According to the latest draft on regulatory guidance from the European Agency for Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA), potential contaminants may be enveloped or nonenveloped, small or large, DNA or RNA, labile or resistant viruses.4
Viral safety of licensed biological products must be assured by three complementary approaches: (i) thorough testing of the cell line and all raw materials for viral contaminants, (ii) assessing the capacity of downstream processing to clear infectious viruses, and (iii) testing the product at appropriate steps for contaminating viruses.3 The first study is required before Phase 1 clinical trials, in which the process should be evaluated for inactivation or removal of an enveloped and a small nonenveloped virus and at least two orthogonal steps should be used for achieving the same.3–4 A second and more complex study is then conducted before manufacturing Phase 2/3 materials to provide evidence of the effective and adequate clearance of relevant and known viruses, as well as the removal of a range of novel and unpredictable viruses.5 A viral clearance study with at least four viruses for late stage is state-of-the-art and log-reduction values (LRV) of four or higher are perceived as robust and effective safety measures.1 At least one of these clearance steps evaluated in a validation study must be effective against nonenveloped viruses, such as porcine parvovirus (PPV), canine parvovirus (CPV), or minute virus of mice (MVM). As for enveloped retroviruses, although no cases of infection or transmission of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell-related type A and C virus particles have been reported so far, retrovirus-like particles theoretically pose safety concerns to humans because of their morphological and biochemical resemblance to tumorigenic retroviruses, and therefore, have to be completely removed or inactivated.6–9


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Vary from semester to semester.
Doug Faulkner serves Greenville College as dean of the school of professional studies. He also holds appointments as professor of sports management and assistant women's basketball coach. Since returning to Greenville in 1988, Faulkner has coached men's and women's basketball as an assistant coach and head coach of both programs. He graduated from Greenville College in 1986 before earning master's degrees at Bethel College and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He completed a doctorate at Saint Louis University in 2005.
Dean of Professional Studies
Professor of Sport Management
Back to Basketball Coaching Staff


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The biggest surge in five years of applicants for America's temporary H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers began this week just as U.S. senators are finishing work on an immigration overhaul that could reshape the high technology workforce.
Thousands of visa applications submitted over the weekend arrived at U.S. immigration agency offices on Monday, the first day of the year that companies can sponsor foreign workers for a 3-year stay.
U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services expects that for the first time since 2008 it might have to run a random lottery to award the 85,000 visas available each year. And tech heavyweights said the demand shows why Congress must increase the number of those visas in upcoming legislation.
Around the world, applicants were nervously anticipating their chances of winning permission to work here beginning in October.
With a job offer from Google, James Smith was among thousands of foreign students and professional workers who have a cubicle waiting in a U.S. workplace if they can win the competition for visas.
"Fingers crossed," tweeted Smith, a doctoral student in computer science at Scotland's University of St Andrews, after his application was filed Friday.
Immigration officials did not reveal Monday how many applications they had received, but said in March that based on feedback from stakeholders, they expected enough by the end of this week to hit the cap.
The flood of applicants is partly a signal of an improving tech economy, one expert said.
"Demand for H-1Bs reflects economic and political conditions," said researcher Neil Ruiz of the Brookings Institution, a nonpartisan think-tank in Washington, D.C. "The only times it declined were in the dot-com bubble, Sept. 11 and the Great Recession."
The surge also shows Silicon Valley's high demand for foreign workers and could influence members of Congress who are in final talks on a comprehensive immigration bill that will determine the future of high-skilled immigration.
Some lawmakers have proposed doubling or tripling the annual visa allotments, citing industry needs.
"When we can't find enough qualified U.S. workers, we have to look for foreign-born workers to fill those slots," said Intel spokesman Peter Muller.
The spike in demand "shows there really aren't enough H-1B visas to go around," he said. "We think it's important to raise the cap."
But U.S. engineers and some lawmakers in both parties say the program needs a makeover, not an expansion.
Too many of the biggest users of H-1B visas are hurting U.S. engineers by underpaying the foreign workers they sponsor, said U.S. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, a leading negotiator for a bipartisan immigration bill in the House.
The current regulations allow companies to pay their temporary foreign workers wages that are "way lower than what the American sitting next to them in the workplace is being paid," Lofgren said.
Lofgren also wants to curb "massive H-1B hiring and offshoring" that allows overseas IT consulting companies that dominate the program to "underbid on jobs here, underpay their employees and then, after working on the technology," take the workers and the technical knowledge back to the home country and company.
Lofgren would prefer to offer additional permanent residency visas, known as green cards.
"The H-1B program serves a function, but needs reform," she said. "If there is a demonstrated need for talent to come to America from outside the United States, we are way better off if that talent comes as permanent residents."
A bipartisan group of eight senators is preparing to unveil a comprehensive immigration bill next week, and the House could follow with its own version later in the month, but lawmakers have not revealed how those bills will address the H-1B visas.
Intel's Muller said he expects a Senate bill will expand the number of H-1B visas, though probably not as much as companies have asked for, while adding stricter regulations demanded by labor groups.
"It's a little harder to know where the House wants to be on this," Muller said.
Although Lofgren said she would prefer to fix, not expand, the H-1B program, she declined to say if she and other members of the House have reached a consensus.
This year's high demand reflects not just a brighter tech economy, but also a federal crackdown on another temporary visa for executives and managers in foreign branches of U.S.-based companies, said Ruiz of the Brookings Institution.
Recent federal scrutiny of that program is pushing more midlevel professional workers to apply instead for the H-1B, adding to the competition, he said.


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The students accused of dry-humping and harassing other students at Lakeside Middle school appeared in court on Wednesday. (WRDW-TV / Feb. 29, 2012)
News 12 First at Five / Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012
EVANS, Ga. -- A Columbia County judge laid down the law on two Columbia County middle schoolers who are accused of attacking and simulating sexual acts on fellow students.
Lakeside Middle School parents took their concerns to the school board Tuesday night. They're concerned about the group of five boys who call themselves the "Charlie Rape Gang."
The boys are accused in several incidents of grabbing fellow students, pushing them and then simulating sexual acts on them. The school punished all five students with suspensions, but on Wednesday, those teenagers were in court facing criminal charges.
The five members of the "Charlie Rape Gang" stood as the judge read off the misdemeanor simple battery charges.
"You three have a seat ... the other two stand up," directed Juvenile Court Judge Doug Flanagan.
Each of the boys is accused of grabbing students, pushing them and then simulating sexual acts on them or the air around them.
"I have concerns when people knock people down or push them down and take advantage of them. That's a form of bullying. We don't have that in the school system and this court will not allow it to happen in this school system," Flanagan told the boys.
Investigators testified the boys called it a joke and said the four victims that have come forward appeared to be targeted at random.
Parents of each of the 12-and-13-year-olds stood and addressed the judge.
"This has kinda shaken all of us. We never thought [our son] would be in a courtroom," one parent said.
Another parent said they believe in discipline.
"He has been extremely disciplined from this. We're embarrassed. We hope that he feels the same," the parent said.
Another parent called it a "very immature and stupid choice."
While Flanagan released all five teenagers to go home with their parents, two will not be going back to Lakeside Middle School because they had been in trouble before.
"Not allowed back in this school while the investigation continues. He's got a history with the school, he's lost the privilege to be in that school," Flanagan said.
Flanagan says he hopes other students learn bullying has serious consequences as schools get new tools to fight it.
"I can tell you Lakeside Middle School will be receiving six cameras from juvenile court from the funds we have available to try and make the schools safer," he said.
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is still investigating this case. Right now, they say the incidents were not sexual in nature because intimate areas were not touched.
Wednesday's hearing was only a detention hearing. The five students will answer to the charges at a later date. Ironically, the judge is speaking Thursday at Evans Middle School on bullying.


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Heatons to Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary
Published: Sunday, August 19, 2012 at 4:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, August 17, 2012 at 3:05 p.m.
Arnold and Janelle Heaton celebrated their 50th Anniversary August 18, 2012. Arnold was the owner of Fifth Avenue Shell for 35 years. Janelle is a homemaker. Theyhavefivechildren:WayneHeatonofMontana,Kay Heaton Orr of Zirconia, JR Heaton of Hendersonville, Donnie Heaton of Hendersonville and Wanda Heaton Staton of Hendersonville, 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.
There will be a drop-in reception held in their honor on August 25, 2012at the Nazarene Fellowship Hall, 111 Washington Street Hendersonville from 2-4pm. All are invited to come join in for their 50th Celebration.
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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NEW: For a prettier blog interface, see the Wordpress version!
6. Wonderful day today!
Had a very lazy Saturday afternoon with Diane. Wonderful. =D
5. RSS feed now available!
Please complain loudly if this doesn't seem to work, as it's alpha.
4. Bookmarking
<sachac> forcer: If I run across an interesting URL, I file it right away with some context clues. <sachac> forcer: If I need to refer to it again, I use a small elisp function that searches my notes. <sachac> forcer: It's a bit more context-sensitive than bookmarks, and it allows me to share the data with other people. <forcer> ah <sachac> forcer: If I feel diligent, I put it into my BBDB. Then I can hippie-expand from it in my mail and in chat. <sachac> forcer: For example, tldpM-/ is <forcer> so to say, you have a list of URLs and associated text :) <sachac> forcer: The Linux Documentation Project (http://www.tldp.org) is an excellent resource for newbies and experienced users alike. Check out its HOWTOs and guides for tons of information. There's a Linux Cookbook in there too, I think... <forcer> :) <sachac> forcer: Not really. I have random blog notes which occasionally have URLs. I can search on that and on the text around it. <sachac> forcer: I can also figure out when I visited a site... <forcer> ah <sachac> forcer: ... and since planner.el captures all sorts of annotations, I can usually even tell you how I found out about the page - it gets linked to an e-mail or to another planner page... <sachac> forcer: The e-mail links take me directly to the article, if it hasn't been expired yet. <sachac> forcer: If not, well, it's a message ID and it has the author's name, so I guess I can just search. <laugh> <sachac> forcer: Pretty useful system, a bit more flexible than bookmarks (at least for me.)
3. Hey, RSS blogging seems to work!
And it still validates, which is always a very good thing...
2. Blogging to RDF
http://feedvalidator.org/check.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsacha.sachachua.com%2Fnotebook%2Fwiki%2Fblog.rdf says that my feed validates fine now. I hope that this blogs correctly!
This entry by Sacha Chua.
1. RSS export
Categories: PlannerMode#19 -- Permalink
A really hairy hack promises to let me do RSS export of blogged entries. It's in rss.el right now. Warning - it's absurdly nasty.
I'd love to hear about any questions, comments, suggestions or links that you might have. Your comments will not be posted on this website immediately, but will be e-mailed to me first. You can use this form to get in touch with me, or e-mail me at [email protected] .


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Saturday's letters: Parking debate
Published: Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, August 2, 2013 at 4:42 p.m.
To the editor: The Times-News article about parking downtown made it clear that Hendersonville doesnt have a parking problem, it has a people problem. Reading the commentaries from so many about how they cant find a spot right in front of the place they want to patronize how absurd! I have never had a problem finding a place downtown. As a last resort, I simply park on Washington Street and walk the two blocks to Main.
As for parking garages/decks, theyre fine for big cities, but can we believe that the same people who wont pay a meter are going to pay to park at one of those cold, dank facilities? What about all those former gas stations on Church Street? Couldnt they be made into facilities on the park-like model of the Dogwood?
For some downtown business owners, a lack of parking is a way to rationalize the fact that they are attempting to purvey things that no one wants. If youve got the goods, customers will find you. (Business 101.)
I hope the public hearing on this issue doesnt turn into a whining session full of the same kind of complaints quoted in the article. Lets hear some common-sense solutions.
Theodore Etherington
Flat Rock
Call it socialism
To the editor: My head hurts from beating it against the wall reading recent letters on how the GOP is starving children, hurting education and reducing public servants by favoring their rich constituents. Lets start with the basic problem. You cant spend money you dont have.
The U.S. debt nears $17 trillion ($53,000 per taxpayer) and the administration wants to spend more. The rich (top 20 percent) pay 86 percent of federal income taxes, the bottom 47 percent (the poor?) pay zero. Something must be done or our nation will soon look like Detroit.
Most on the left think the rich should pay even more. The rich dont just sit on their money in a vault. They invest it in businesses, resulting in jobs (ever been hired by a poor person?) and more tax income. The largest contributors to charities are rich. Taking their money means less investment and fewer jobs.
The left paints itself as innocent of being influenced by the rich, but regularly grants political favors to unions and favored corporations/donors; see the more than 1,400 Obamacare exemptions. What gives government authority to decide who is rich and what is fair? The term is socialism.
Barry Coombs
Lack of decency
To the editor: For nearly two decades, Bele Chere, the annual downtown outdoor festival in Asheville, has been a magnet and a destination for out-of-towners and locals.
However, Bele Chere has crossed the decency line with women baring their breasts.
Bele Chere is no longer a family-friendly event. The unattractive show has truly put Asheville on the map.
How sad.
Sandy Goble
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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SAN FRANCISCO -- A Santa Clara man with a stockpile of guns and explosives threatened to "assassinate" state Sen. Leland Yee over his proposals to tighten California's gun laws, the lawmaker said Thursday.
The threat came by email about four weeks ago and detailed exactly how the suspect, now behind bars, planned to carry out the killing. Though authorities declined to discuss the details, they said its explicit nature made it credible.
"The author stated that if I did not cease efforts to deal with gun violence then he would assassinate me in or around the Capitol," Yee, D-San Mateo, said during a press conference at the Hiram W. Johnson state building.
As he spoke police continued to search suspect 45-year-old Everett Basham's Santa Clara home. On Thursday morning police carried off "completed destructive devices," which were to be detonated elsewhere, said the CHP, which protects legislators.
So far authorities have found guns, explosives and chemicals to make explosives, said Scott MacGregor, chief of the CHP's protective services division. MacGregor declined to elaborate. Nor would he say whether Basham identified himself in the email.
The CHP investigation into the threats culminated Tuesday with Basham's arrest at a Sunnyvale home and the start of the search at his Santa Clara house. Since then he's been held without bail at Santa Clara County jail on a range of charges including threatening a public official, attempting to ignite an explosive device with intent to commit murder and possessing a manufactured explosive.
Basham is due in Santa Clara County Superior Court Friday for arraignment.
Basham worked briefly for Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who called him a "brilliant" engineer. He urged people to withhold judgment about Basham.
State legislators occasionally receive threats, but this is the fifth time where Yee has drawn intimidation. In one case he criticized conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh for a controversial parody of the Chinese president. He also saw threats after his campaign to force officials to reveal how much they paid one-time Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin to speak at a California State University.
Yee said the threats have had no impact on his resolve to take on gun issues. But he noted the latest threat had a different and chilling tone.
They're not "racist ranting or deriding my culture and my heritage. Instead it was a rather deliberate and specific," he said.
It appears Yee's proposed law AB47, which would close a loophole in California gun law, is at the center of the these most recent threat against him. Yee's Chief of Staff Adam Keigwin said the gist of the threat was: "If you take my AR-15 (rifle) there will be consequences."
Yee's bill targets the "bullet button" loophole in the state's assault weapons ban, which allows manufacturers to sell weapons with magazines that can be replaced quickly using a simple button. It's slated for a hearing in front of the Senate Public Safety Committee in the coming weeks.
Thursday, members of the San Jose Police Department bomb unit used a special trailer that is capable of withstanding an explosion while in transit to move the handful of completed destructive device from Basham's home on Humbolt Avenue near Kiely Boulevard to a police facility for detonation. Other technicians continued to search the home.
A bomb squad on Tuesday buried devices found at the home, covered them with sandbags in the front lawn and detonated them.
Contact Joshua Melvin at 650-348-4335. Follow him at Twitter.com/melvinreport.


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DALLAS -- Ryane Clowe could be suspended for as many as 10 games if the NHL determines he left the bench in the last minute of Friday night's loss to the Chicago Blackhawks to avenge a dangerous hit on Joe Pavelski.
Clowe was suspended pending a disciplinary hearing Monday after he took on Chicago forward Andrew Shaw with nine seconds remaining in the game. NHL rules call for a player to miss 10 games if he jumps off the bench to start an altercation.
Shaw was whistled for boarding Pavelski, and Clowe quickly went after Shaw, receiving a minor penalty for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct.
If the NHL determines that Clowe was part of a line change at the time, supplementary discipline is still possible, but it likely would be far fewer than 10 games. Clowe was "not available" for Saturday night's game, according to Sharks coach Todd McLellan.
Pavelski said he hasn't gone back to look at replays of Shaw's hit, but "I got a few texts and different things saying, 'Are you all right? and 'It looked bad.' I escaped barely healthy from it and I guess that's all you can ask for in a situation like that."


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Quick updates (Help me spread the word):
1. If you are bringing a basket, try to be there between 7:30 and 8:00. If you are not, we are pushing the registration back about 30 minutes to accommodate golf course staff and minimize wait if there is any frost.
2. The awards and raffle held at Fireside Grille after the 2nd round and ACE throw off (if needed) will have an added bonus we haven't had in the 5 previous years of the event. Grant (ProFlight Discs) will be set up in the party room while we are out in the main area. This will keep people from having to run in and out to shop their payout and it will keep Grant from having to stand outside in the cool dark air while we are inside winning stuff, drinking a cold one, and eating some really good food .
3. Please -- no checks tomorrow unless it is an emergency. Everything works better if all of the event funds are in cash.
The people at the course and Fireside are looking forward to it as I hope you are too.


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815 Wheeler Avenue Huntsville, Alabama 35801
Lewis Morris
Chief of Police
(256) 427-7001
|Dr. Harry Hobbs
Communications Relations Officer
(256) 427-7043
Huntsville Police Prepare for Santa's Arrival
WAAY 31 Christmas Parade
Huntsville, Alabama (November 28, 2012) On Saturday, December 1, 2012, preparations will begin for the annual WAAY 31 Christmas Parade through downtown Huntsville. MERGEFIELD Location The Christmas Parade will stage in Lot "K" at the intersection of Clinton and Woodson, enter Clinton Avenue eastbound, turn left on Monroe Street continue onto Lincoln Street, turn right onto Holmes Avenue, turn left on Jefferson Street, turn left on Williams Street, turn right on Adams Street and disband at Townsend Avenue.
Huntsville Police said all drivers should use extreme caution due to the large number of children anticipated in the downtown area. All traffic laws will be strictly enforced and expect some delays in getting around downtown from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM when the parade concludes.
The westbound lanes of Clinton Avenue from Church Street and the northbound lanes of Monroe Street from Clinton Avenue will be closed at 11:00 AM. This will allow WAAY-TV 31 to set up their equipment for the telecast of the parade. All other roads will remain open downtown until shortly before the parade begins at 12:00. Roadways will be closed in stages as the parade nears the intersections. Access to businesses downtown will be kept open with minor delays expected.


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Dice singles, including individual 4-sided dice, 6-sided dice, 8-sided dice, 10-sided dice, 12-sided dice, 20-sided dice, and more. Everything from polyhedral dice standard spotted dice, to alphabet and astrology dice.
Transparent Orchid and White 8 Sided Dice$0.75This transparent 8 sided dice has white numbers on an orchid dice. These look great in the light and shine even brighter when held up to the sun. A set of these are a must for any serious game player. Learn More


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Gunter Baars (Designer)
Klaus die Maus entdeckt des Jahr (Announced) When is the strawberry crop? When is the best time to fly a kite? Playfully, the children move through the year and try to assign all of these events months. Whoever succeeds the best has not only won, but also learned a lot. Oh yes, one's own birthday...


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The move is considered highly controversial in the Czech Republic, and the left-wing opposition has asked the country's highest legal authority, the Constitutional Court, to stop it.
After the signing, Prime Minister Petr Necas called the deals to pay 59 billion koruna ($3.1 billion) in financial compensation over the next 30 years "an act of justice."
The payment is part of a religious restitution plan approved by Parliament last year. Under it, the 16 religious groups—including Catholics, Protestants and Jews—also will get back 56 percent of their former property now held by the state—valued at 75 billion koruna ($3.9 billion).
The Catholic Church will receive most of the money and property in the deal, which also includes a provision that the state will gradually stop covering priests' salaries and other church expenses over the next 17 years.
Necas said Friday the compensation plan has "laid new, modern ground" for the relations between the state and religious groups.
The story harks back to 1948, when the Communists seized power in what was then Czechoslovakia, a mostly Christian country.
At least 65 Catholic priests, monks and nuns were executed or killed in prisons, while others were driven to suicide by the harsh conditions, historians say.
Many religious groups were persecuted across eastern Europe under communist regimes, but the Czech Republic was the last country in the former Soviet bloc to deal with the religious restitution, the government said.
After the 1989 Velvet Revolution brought in democracy, some churches, monasteries and synagogues were returned, but the churches have since sought to get back other assets such as farms, woodlands and buildings.
The opposition Social Democrats said earlier this month that the financial compensation does not appear to be in line with the Constitution because it is unclear how the government reached the 59 billion koruna ($3.1 billion) compensation total. The party also said some of the properties used by the churches in the past didn't belong to them.
It is not clear when the Constitutional Court will issue its verdict.
The Social Democrats' opposition appears to reflect public opinion in a country with one of Europe's highest concentrations of atheists.
Necas dismissed the complaints Friday, calling the deal "a compromise" that was reached through a "maximally transparent" process.


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This weekend, if you were a celebrity who'd split from a single egg in your mother's womb, you were probably talking to a lawyer. 7th Heaven star (and twin) Jeremy London was taken into custody and released on bail after rubbernecking motorists saw him arguing with his girlfriend on the 5 freeway. Brother Jason, meanwhile, can't get arrested.
On the other (successful) side of the celebrity twin matrix, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (more adorably and commonly packaged as the Olsen Twins), apparently enjoying a free minute between counting stacks of hundred dollar bills, are suing software company Acclaim Entertainment for failing in its obligation to develop video games starring them. According to the suit, Acclaim has run the brand "into the ground" and failed to pay the twins the royalties they're due. Maybe they can take some of that money and sport the London boy some bail and a cup of coffee?
- '7th Heaven' actor Jeremy London arrested [AP via CNN.com]
- Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Sue Acclaim For Bungled Marketing [Adrants]


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Breath tests
Challenges cast doubt on new machines used locally
February 12, 2013
The Marietta Police Department and the Marietta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol have stopped use of the Intoxilyzer 8000, a new breathalyzer machine issued to them free of charge by the Ohio......
cont:The trooper observed him and went over to the patrol car, opened the door asking the drunk what he thought he was doing. The drunk replied, you might as well take my b u t t to jail, cause there ain't no way I can pass that test.
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Old Joke: A Virginia State trooper pulled a car over on I-64 about 2 miles south of the Virginia/ West Virginia Stateline. When the trooper asked the driver why he was speeding, the driver said he was a Magician and Juggler and was on his way to Beckley WV to do a show at the Shrine Circus. He didn't want to be late. The trooper told the driver he was fascinated by juggling and said if the driver would do a little juggling for him then he wouldn't give him a ticket. He told the trooper he had sent his equipment ahead and didn't have anything to juggle. The trooper said he had some flares in the trunk and asked if he could juggle them. The juggler said he could, so the trooper got 5 flares, lit them and handed them to him. While the man was juggling, a car pulled in behind the patrol car. A drunken good old boy from West Virginia got out, watched the performance, then went over to the patrol car, opened the rear door and got in. The trooper observed him and went over to the patrol c
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Does anyone else find it questionable that the police chief says they used it on maybe one occasion, and of course the one time they used it the guy was found to be drunk (per the fact that Marietta has one DUI case to try associated with the device)?
2 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Not a problem, don't use the machine at all. Use the police officer's portable breathalyzer, if it shows over the limit, off to the hospital to draw blood you go. If your blood alcohol level is at or above allowable, you pay the hospital charges, if it is lower, the state, city or county police pay for it and you are sent on your way.
5 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
don't drink and drive= no need to worry if they are accurate machines or not. idiots drink and drive. if you can't go anywhere without alcohol in your system...then you have a major problem and i do not desire for your problem to become mine or anyone elses. be a considerate drinker and DON'T DRIVE!
8 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
What are the facts? Does the machine accurately measure BAC? How does it compare to blood samples. Are the police using it properly? Seems to be a lot of attorneys trying to get their clients off by questioning the validity of the measurement. Good for them. That can be proven with science.
2 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
I thought a visiting judge was hearing these cases due to a 'conflict".
3 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
First of all, mattelliott, no judge likes to be overturned on appeal. Obviously there is some question as to the validity of the machine. Judge Welch combined the cases for a reason--the evidence is questionable. I would bet the cases get dismissed. Second of all, when a case comes before her, Judge Welch doesn't look at it as a cash cow. If all she were concerned with was money, she could have bankrupted the city over the new court facilities. But she didn't. She worked hard to find an alternative viable solution and did it well. I'm sure she has her faults, but I don't believe that money groveling is one of them.
8 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Since the I8000 appears to generate more revenue for the "system", you can be assured it will be approved for use.
2 Agrees | 8 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
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text:
BEST ENTRANCE: South Mall Entrance on US 41
LOCATION IN MALL: West side of Fashion Dr. & Via Venezia St.
(239) 495-2403 | Driving Directions | Chico's Website |
View Deals | Mall Map
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Read More
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LOS ANGELES -- The 99th edition of the Rose Bowl marks the fourth appearance for "The Godfather."
Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez, affectionately dubbed "The Godfather" by his players, will coach in his fourth Rose Bowl on Tuesday -- but his first since retiring from coaching after the 2005 season.
Alvarez is Wisconsin's full-time athletic director but agreed to lead the Badgers in Pasadena after coach Bret Bielema took the Arkansas job in early December.
"When he told me he was stepping down, he said, 'Why don't you take it?' " Alvarez recalled. "I didn't feel it was proper to name myself the head coach.
"But later that day, when the players called, when the captains called and asked if I would do it, I felt an obligation."
A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Alvarez went 3-0 in the Rose Bowl during his coaching career.
With a victory over Stanford, he would tie Ohio State's Woody Hayes for the most Rose Bowl wins by a Big Ten coach.
Asked what he thinks of the nickname given to him by the players, Alvarez laughed:
"I've heard that before. I take that as a compliment, but the Godfather was Italian. I'm Spanish."
Gary Andersen, who led the turnaround at Utah State, will take over the Wisconsin program after the Rose Bowl.
Skov played one of the best games of his career (12 tackles) in the Orange Bowl win over Virginia Tech two years ago.
Watching the Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State last January wasn't easy.
"Anytime you're doing something and it's a group effort and you're no longer able to actively participate, it's incredibly difficult," he said. "It was a lot easier when we were beating teams."
Place-kicker Jordan Williamson, who missed two critical field goals in the Fiesta Bowl, is oozing confidence after making six of his last nine attempts, including the game-winner at Oregon.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin's Kyle French hasn't connected since Nov. 10, missing attempts in the Badgers' final three games.


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It's a known fact that in any economy the government has always considered an unemployment rate of 4 percent to be full employment and this has nothing to do with what party is in the White House.
The reason is simply because some people don't need to work, don't want to work or can't work and that represents about 4 percent of the population. If we understand this and subtract 4 percent from the current 7.9 percent unemployment rate we have a 3.9 percent unemployment rate.
So are we to believe that the sky is falling with a 3.9 percent unemployment rate which occurred during one of the worse recessions since the great depression? Beware of listening to the "Chicken Littles" in the game of politics who want to convince you that the sky is falling, the end is near and it's the fault of that guy in the White House.


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SANTA CLARA -- City leaders leaped at the chance to dance with a developer on plans for a large-scale project near the new stadium, in what some called a risk-free way to flirt with seeing a longtime vision for Santa Clara come to fruition.
That vision, of an entertainment complex near the stadium and convention center that would draw outsiders and give residents a destination spot to eat and be entertained without leaving town, is in its most nascent stages but Tuesday night the City Council approved an exclusive negotiating agreement that got the ball rolling.
If all goes well, the new 49ers stadium will have what supporters call a "first-class destination" as a neighbor, with shops, restaurants, entertainment and housing in a development that some see as akin to a supersized Santana Row.
Developer Bill Witte said it's too early to call it that, but stressed that his company is interested in finding out what's wanted and needed in the area.
"We try to approach every opportunity by looking at what the situation calls for," said Witte, president of Related California. "We try to learn as much as we can from both the market point of view and the local needs point of view then try to respond with a plan that meets those needs."
Public speakers overwhelmingly supported the plan, with a common lamentation that there is a dearth of activities in Santa Clara that forces residents to seek entertainment elsewhere.
"When we'd walk the precincts we heard the same things," said former councilman Kevin Moore. "'We want more entertainment, more restaurants, more things to do here. We don't want to drive 15 or 20 miles to do it.'
Related California is an affiliate of Related Companies, a major developer that has done previous projects including the Time Warner Center in New York and CityPlace in West Palm Beach, Florida. City council members spoke highly of the company, as did Rob Mezzetti, an attorney representing Joe Montana. Montana is involved in another development near the stadium that would bring in an upscale restaurant, luxury hotel and sports bar.
"We can really vouch for these guys," Mezzetti said. "We broke bread with them, they're real people and we fully support the project."
Mezzetti added that it would be a great boon to the city and its residents, saying that "if getting the stadium built was a home run, this would be a grand slam."
The city-owned properties in question sit on 230 acres -- five times the size of San Jose's Santana Row and 10 times larger than the new stadium site.
The proposal is aligned with the city's strategic plan adopted last month, which identified "promotion and enhancement of economic and housing development" as one of four goals. A city report states that it "will further the city's goals of providing an economic stimulus for the businesses in the city's entertainment district and bring much needed tax revenue to the city."
The agreement means the developer will put down a $200,000 deposit to enter into 18 months of negotiations with the city, with options to extend it for another year. During that time, Related California will analyze the physical condition of the property, access and utility needs as well as address what kind of lease will be considered for each parcel.
Key issues include whether parts of the property can be built up, as portions sit on a former garbage dump. The developer also will look into relocating existing recreational uses at the site, namely the Santa Clara Golf & Tennis Club and a BMX track, and agreed to set aside $25,000 for city consultants to analyze such options.
The developer would also be responsible for completing an environmental review of impacts from the project, and would need to come back to the city with details on the scope of the plan within 180 days.
"This is the type of developer we want to work with," said Councilwoman Lisa Gillmor. "They're asking us what we want to see there. To have such a massive amount of property in the center of Silicon Valley is very rare -- to be able to look at it and master plan it for what we want to see for our citizens is really a dream come true."
Councilman Jerry Marsalli also called it a dream, but one that goes back 40 years. He said that the creation of the golf course at the site was a "stopgap" measure -- not necessarily meant to be a permanent fixture.
"The golf course has reached the end of its time, and now it's time for the next phase of Santa Clara's growth to take place," he said.
The idea that a developer is willing to come in and pay for analysis and planning of the site and not ask for public subsidies -- particularly in the post redevelopment age -- appealed to the council.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for Santa Clara to dream at no cost with some of the finest developers in the nation," said Mayor Jamie Matthews.
Contact Eric Kurhi at 408-920-5852. Follow him at Twitter.com/erickurhi.


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Mississippi legislators have voted to abolish the state's three-day waiting period and blood tests which were required prior to a marriage license being issued.
The Mississippi Circuit Clerks Association and state tourism officials strongly support the change.
Each year, more than two million couples tie the knot in the United States. In coming months, there could be an increase in the number of those couples who choose to get married in Mississippi.
That's because, by an 84 to 37 vote the Mississippi Senate has approved Senate Bill 2851, which eliminates some of the red tape.
"It's laws that were antiquated and we were really one of only four other states that had the syphilis tests which were the blood tests," said Circuit Clerk Donna Jill Johnson. "The three day waiting period was initially set up so people would cool off, think about it, parents could talk you out of it and again I think we were the only state that had the three day waiting period. So, we're glad those laws were updated."
"I know that we were not competitive with some other states," said Lauderdale County tourism director Suzy Johnson. "That was one of the reasons we were pushing for it."
In Mississippi tourism is about the 6th largest service industry, providing thousands of jobs. According to them, for every $1 the state invest in tourism, there is about a $5 to $6 return.
While the new law is expected to especially benefit wedding destinations in Mississippi like Natchez and the Gulf Coast, local tourism officials say this could also lead to some benefits here.
The bill has now been sent to the governor to be signed. If approved, the changes could take effect July 1.


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News 12 This Morning / Friday, Nov. 11, 2011
Even though we're News 12, I had to list 11 deals and freebies. After all, today is 11-11-11.
1. Chili's
Participating Chili's are offering past and present members of the military a choice of one of six free meals from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Veterans Day. Drinks and gratuity are not included. You must show proof of military service. Click here for the menu.
2. Denny's
Participating Denny's restaurants are offering a free Grand Slam breakfast (beverage not included) to all those with a valid military ID card from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 11-11-11. The deal features two eggs, two bacon strips, two sausage links and two fluffy buttermilk pancakes. Click here to visit their website.
4. Applebee's
Applebee's is offering veterans one of their free signature entrees Friday. You'll be able to choose a meal from a limited menu that includes steak, cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, salad, pasta, chicken and shrimp. This deal is dine-in only and beverages and gratuity are not included. You'll need to bring in one proof of military service such as a U.S. Uniform Service ID card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired ID card, current Leave and Earnings statement, photograph in uniform, be wearing your uniform, a veterans organization card such as American Legion or VFW, or a DD214. You can see the complete menu here.
5. Hooters
Hooters is serving up free wings to local military all day on Veterans Day. The offer is good for all veterans and active duty military personnel. At participating restaurants, they will receive a free 10-piece order of wings with a drink purchase. Bring your military ID. Click here to visit their website.
6. The Olive Garden
Veterans and active military can chose from a special veterans menu at participating Olive Garden restaurants. Each entree is served with garlic bread sticks and a choice of soup or salad. Your drink is not included. Be sure to bring proof of your service to take advantage of the deal. Click here for more information.
7. Krispy Kreme
On 11-11-11, Krispy Kremes are offering free doughnuts to veterans. According to company leaders, all you need to do to is show a military base ID or simply tell the cashier that they are a veteran. They say that is enough to receive a doughnut of your choice. Click here to visit their website.
8. Lowe's
Lowe's offers all active, reserve, honorably discharged, retired military personnel and their immediate family members a 10 percent discount on in-store purchases made during the Veterans Day holiday. The discount is available on in-stock and special order purchases up to $5,000. You have to show a valid military ID or other proof of service. Lowes offers this discount daily to active duty military members but not to veterans. However, they extend the offer to military veterans on military holidays. Click to visit their website.
9. Home Depot
Home Depot is offering all active duty personnel, reservists, retired military, veterans and their families a 10 percent discount off their purchases in honor of Veterans Day. The offer is valid on purchases of up to $2,000 for a maximum of $200. The 10 percent discount is available every day for active duty and retirees, but not all veterans. Home Depot makes this offer available to all veterans on most military holidays. Click to visit their website.
10. Dollar General
Dollar General is honoring men and women who have served our country in the military with a special Veterans Day discount. On Friday, all veterans, active duty military, National Guard and Reserve and their immediate families will receive a 10 percent discount at Dollar General stores. Online shoppers will also be eligible to receive 10 percent off their purchase Nov. 11 through Nov. 13 using the code VETERANSDAY at checkout. Click here to visit their website.
11. Golden Corral
Golden Corral restaurants are providing free meals for Veterans on Monday. According to the company's website, it isn't held on the actual holiday because Golden Corral "does not want to interfere with a veteran's parade, memorial services or commemorative ceremonies or other scheduled events by our partners, the Disabled American Veterans organization." There are no rain checks and there is no required proof of service. Click here for more information.


text:
Hi, I want to insert a photo (.jpg) but qcad doesn't show it. I don't know why.
There should be menue-items like 'put behind' or 'put in front'.
I don't have them (should appear under 'Modify' - Menue)
I am using qcad 184.108.40.206
I don't want to go to version 3.0.
I do have a computer, where it works?
I have no idea, why?