text:
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Brain injuries and the Dutch cyclist
Rather than reacting emotionally we have to look at the numbers to make sense of this. The overall risk to Dutch cyclists (it's on page two of the document) of a "head/brain injury" is 153 per billion kilometres ridden. That means that one such injury is one per 6.5 million kilometres ridden.
On average, every Dutch person makes a trip by bicycle 5.6 times per week. This works out as an average across the whole population of 2.5 km cycled every day. That's the highest figure for any population in the world. If we assume that people cycle every day of their lives to the age of 80, and that they cycle that 2.5 km every day of their life, they will ride a bike for a total of 73000 km during their lifetime. Divide it into 6.5 million and you find a figure that a typical Dutch cyclist can expect a "head/brain injury" once every 90 lifetimes.
Note that it doesn't say how serious the injuries have to be in order to be included. However, it does give total numbers of head/brain injuries per year as 550 + 1600 = 2150 which is more than ten times the total deaths of cyclists per year from all types of injuries. For the sake of making the maths easy, let's lazily (and very inaccurately) assume that every death when cycling is due to a head injury. We then find that the risk of death due to head or brain injury when cycling is actually around once per 900 lifetimes.
Also, note that the article points out that cycle helmets can only reduce the rate of deaths due to head injuries by 29%. So, if a helmet is worn by that typical Dutch cyclist, it will save his/her life every 3100 lifetimes or so.
Death occurs once in every lifetime. i.e. Other causes of death are more than 3100 times so significant as deaths due to cycling without a helmet and that applies even in this country where there is more cycling than in any other. It applies even if for the sake of simplifying the calculation we make the horribly inaccurate assumption that cyclists never die of any type of injury. This in a country where 93% of the population rides a bike at least once a week.
To summarize, deaths due to head injuries while cycling are not a major public health issue and should not be treated as such. Helmets are not the answer to cyclist deaths. Good infrastructure is what makes cycling safer.
A contrast with another cause of death:
A couple of days ago I saw some other statistics, about a much more common cause of death and injury. This covered the risk of car crashes to Britain's children. In this post is the alarming statistic that one in 27 children in Britain, more than one in every classroom, can be expected to be killed or injured in a road crash by the time they are 16.
Think about it. If the risk is similar in other age groups, then there is a chance of one in five that you will be injured or killed in a road crash during your lifetime. That's a risk due to motor vehicles which is many times greater than that faced by cyclists in the Netherlands not wearing a helmet.
Britain's roads are actually amongst the safest in the world, for drivers. However the risk of death or serious injury from road crashes elsewhere is higher in every other country than this one, where there are more cyclists than in any other country.
Previously I covered the efforts that car manufacturers have put in to make driving appear safe.
Also... 2.5 km per day may not sound much, but this is the highest average cycling per day per person figure for any country in the world. It's the average distance cycled for absolutely everyone, all age groups, through the entire year, averaged across an entire lifetime. By comparison, English speaking countries all hover around 0.1 km per day by bike per person (look it up if you don't believe me). In all places, keen cyclists of course cycle a lot more than the average. Long distance journeys by bike are also more common in the Netherlands than in any other country.
30 comments:
Hi! Not to forget, also motorists suffer from head injuries. In car crashes, head injuries are the second most common cause of death. This is described in a recent french study, The fatal injuries of car drivers.
Injury codes AIS 4, 5 or 6 (AIS 4+) were deemed possibly responsible for death. [...] For the AIS 4+ injuries, the three most frequent locations (or associations) were the thorax alone (30% of subjects), the head alone (23%) and a combination of the two (18%).
- 19 August 2010 at 08:59
- Mark said...
I cannot crunch numbers like you can David, but your calculations do show even to me why the Dutch (myself included) perceive helmets as something completely unnecessary. The risk is so incredibly low that you can rightfully take it. Especially since we all (have to) take other risks that are much bigger. The 'common sense' factor works the other way around in this country. Since we all cycle so much and for so long (in my case every day for over 40 years now) you know from experience how safe it is. And then there is the question of what good a helmet could do anyway. I do know people get hit by cars. I was in a collision once myself. A right turning car that overlooked me going straight on. (Those were different times in 1980!) My bike was a total loss (frame displaced) so it was quite a severe hit, but I could just not sit for a week because I had landed on my tailbone. A piece of flimsy plastic on my head would not have made any difference there. As it won't in so many other cases.
- 19 August 2010 at 09:26
As ever, the voice of reason.
- 19 August 2010 at 10:59
- Krakonos said...
"Divide it into 6.5 million and you find a figure that a typical Dutch cyclist can expect a "head/brain injury" once every 90 lifetimes."
But this also means that one out of 90 cyclists will suffer from a brain injury. And that is no small number. And this is for the average rider, who rides about 2.5km per day or about 1000km per year. It means for the people riding 5000km per year (I bet those are still very many people) the lifetime risk of a brain injury is 1 in 18! Although I'm also not a strong proponent of helments myself (I usually wear mine in the city where its mostly vehicular cacling but not on tourist bike routs) the numbers you came up with are not exactly an argument against helmets!
- 19 August 2010 at 11:04
- Krakonos said...
Oh, I forgot, don't get me wrong. I know the car is the bull here, which shouldn't be ignored, as the british statistics show. And of course in the end car driving should be made safer to others (less and slower and whatever else it takes). I'm just saying I don't think your numbers are low! Although the other numbers with the british children are of course outrageously high.
- 19 August 2010 at 11:10
- Frits B said...
The concluding sentence of the SWOV report: "All in all, the SWOV has concluded that a bicycle helmet is an effective means of protecting cyclists against head and brain injury."
Yes, of course. It also saves anybody from serious injury when a mugger hits you over the head. I'm going to buy one this instant.
- 19 August 2010 at 11:41
- freewheeler said...
"Britain's roads are actually amongst the safest in the world."
But that is surely only true for those who travel inside motor vehicles. The idea that Britain's roads are safe comes in for severe critical scrutiny from cyclist Bob Davis here.
John Adams has long put forward a
risk compensation hypothesis, basically arguing that making drivers safer (seatbelts, rigid steel safety cages, airbags) results in them taking even greater risks in the knowledge (or the unconscious knowledge) that they are personally protected from the consequences of their risk-taking. Adams argues that the seat-belt legislation transferred risk from those inside cars to those outside them, i.e. pedestrians and cyclists.
- 19 August 2010 at 11:53
My own assessment is that a well fitting cycling helmet will limit grazing to the head if you should fall off. I wear cycling gloves for much the same reason. Friends who have tested this theory also consider it true. My advice would be make your own mind up but clearly if you potter around within a safe environment the risk and outcome of falling off is much less than if you ride fast and take some risks.
I can imagine the Netherlands appearing on charts in the marketing rooms of the helmet producers, a good opportunity to sell a few million euros worth of product but there is nothing wrong in that. I am gratefull for the good choice of cycling attire that we have today. Only when it becomes compulsory does the issue potentially become a threat to casual cycling.
Mark Garrett, Bristol UK
- 19 August 2010 at 12:52
- cmatthei said...
Statistics are a strange thing. You can proof nothing and everything with it. A flood or other natural disasters that should occur once in a century can occur two years in a row without proofing the statistics wrong.
I totally agree that nobody should be forced to wear a helmet. But I had nasty bicycle accidents myself where my helmet helped a lot. Maybe it just have something to do with subjective safety?
But you are right - there are much more important issues and greater risks in the life of a cyclist.
When somebody feels more safe with a helmet and rides more - so be it.
When somebody feels more comfortable without a helmet and rides more - so be it.
- 19 August 2010 at 13:40
- mtnpauls said...
Wow - very interesting post!!! I struggle internally with the helmet issue daily. I believe they are required where I live but the law isn't enforced as far as adults are concerned. I only wear a helmet on long distance rides and in the dark. I thank you for the info!!!
- 19 August 2010 at 17:00
- David Hembrow said...
Krakonos: You said "But this also means that one out of 90 cyclists will suffer from a brain injury."
Actually, that's not quite true. One in 90 will have a "head or brain injury" in their lifetime - but it doesn't say how serious these are. Many will be very minor injuries, and in any case the best protective effect of a helmet in any situation according to the study is just 45%, so you can't reduce this even by half.
I've bumped my head before when I've fallen from a bike, but not (so far as I can tell) caused a brain injury.
And yes, I agree that those who ride more probably have a greater risk. I ride much more than 10000 km per year myself, so I guess I inevitably run a slightly larger risk. The degree of preventable risk should I wear a helmet all the time is still very small compared with other risks in my life.
I also find it interesting that the study shows the greatest risk of head injuries per km travelled is not to children but to pensioners.
- 19 August 2010 at 17:16
"Note that it doesn't say how serious the injuries have to be in order to be included/ Also, note that the article points out that cycle helmets can only reduce the rate of deaths due to head injuries by 29%."
I assume, because it is the usual practice, that the absolute number injury statistics include simple concussion. An injury that the standard bicycle helmet cannot prevent. It is designed to MITIGATE brain injury at the borderline between permanent brain damage and fatal brain damage. Below the severe impact threshold banging your head into the inside of your helmet is much the same thing as banging your bare head into a wooden beam.
I have talked to a number of people who say they wear helmets because their greatest fear is becoming a "vegetable." That they would rather be dead than seriously and permanently brain damaged. But the chance of becoming a vegetable is INCREASED by a helmet, because the people who promote them would rather see you a vegetable than dead; so that's the way they design the helmets.
So bear in mind that a significant percentage of that 29% of (hypothesised)saved lives would be spending the rest of their lives wearing helmets all the time; with attached drool cup.
As far as I am concerned you may wear a helmet or not, as you see fit. I simply believe that you should make that decision on an informed basis; based on real world physics and engineering and not, as is done in the majority case, by adopting a fetish item which you believe is imbued with powerful mojo.
To paraphrase the great philosopher Inigo Montoya; You keep using that item, but I do not think it does what you think it does.
- 19 August 2010 at 17:35
P.S. @ Anon; "My own assessment is that a well fitting cycling helmet will limit grazing to the head if you should fall off. I wear cycling gloves for much the same reason."
And a simple cap made much like your glove will accomplish the same affect; and because it is made to accomplish that particular protective task will do so much BETTER than the standard road helmet. Just because you wish some sort of head protection doesn't mean you have to invoke "helmet." Depending on your particular circumstances and specific desires for protection you might well be better off, in real world terms, wearing a Stetson Boss of the Plains or an Akubra Snowy River.
- 19 August 2010 at 17:47
I've twice come off a bicycle while helmetless and hit my head hard enough to have wished I had been wearing a helmet. I wear a helmet on my bikes and sometimes on my trike.
I don't care whether others wear them or not but I won't be wasting time and energy fighting any proposed helmet law. I don't recall cyclists lobbying against the UK introduction of compulsory helmets for motorcyclists and because of that law, I believe the case against is already lost.
- 19 August 2010 at 20:41
"I've twice come off a bicycle while helmetless and hit my head hard enough to have wished I had been wearing a helmet."
Then why aren't you brain damaged/dead yet? The question is not facitious.
"I don't recall cyclists lobbying against the UK introduction of compulsory helmets for motorcyclists"
Perhaps they have become too pussified to protest in the UK (or perhaps you just weren't paying attention); here in the US the fight has been going on for decades, with regular, organized mass civil disobedience in protest against the laws. There have even been some wins and laws defeated, put into abeyance or repealed.
I've never been surprised at the statistics about the lack of efficacy of bicycle helmets. I understand them too well to be surprised - but what I admit DID surprise me as the statistics started to come in is that they are about the same for motorcycles. Either there is no statistically significant decrease in head injuries, or there has been a small INCREASE.
You have to remember that you can't get something for nothing. The wearing of a helmet to mitigate one risk inherently introduces new risks CAUSED by the helmet. What the statistics suggest is that the risks introduced are equal to or greater than the risks mitigated.
Now where this comes into play in a situation such as your own is how anecdotal evidence can color one's perceptions about risk in a way that does not match the realities of the world.
It is likely that what is happening is that a few lives ARE being saved by helmets; thus people are led to believe that helmets save lives - but at the same time the helmets are also TAKING lives in near equal numbers.
In other words, helmeted or non-helmeted your risk of suffering a fatal head injury is controlled by nothing but - LUCK. Your TOTAL risk is the same either way.
- 19 August 2010 at 21:36
- freewheeler said...
Dexey, it is indisputable that where cycle helmet wearing is made compulsory the rate of cycling declines. Fortunately in the UK there are no plans to introduce legislation.
You say, "I don't recall cyclists lobbying against the UK introduction of compulsory helmets for motorcyclists and because of that law, I believe the case against is already lost."
Your logic seems tortuous. It is not obvious why cyclists, who have quite enough issues to campaign on, would want to involve themselves in legislation affecting bikers, unless it directly impinges on cycling. In any case, motor cycle helmets are quite different to cycle helmets. Cycle helmets are pathetically flimsy, unlike motorcycle helmets. Motorcyclists are far more exposed to risk in so far as they travel at very much higher speeds than cyclists.
- 19 August 2010 at 22:03
kfg said...
"Then why aren't you brain damaged/dead yet? The question is not facitious." It isn't facetious? Ok, then statistically, I'm led to believe, the chance of brain damage is small? The helmet, however, I believe, helps mitigate against the black eyes and broken spectacles that I have suffered.
freewheeler said...
"Your logic seems tortuous. "
What, more tortuous than "I don't want to wear a helmet so I'll ignore the good they can do and promote the alleged harms"?
Seems unlikely, but as I said I don't care if people wear them, or not. However, in the UK the precedent for introduction is already there and I doubt that cyclists are a more effective lobby group than motorcyclists.
- 19 August 2010 at 22:48
Freewheeler is absolutely correct. When helmet laws were introduced here in Australia, that is exactly what happened. Helmet wearing went up to about 95% of cyclists but there has been no discernible reduction in head injuries relative to other injuries since then. Cyclists numbers fell substantially though and have never really recovered.
The indisputable fact for me is that the safest place to cycle is the Netherlands and it has nothing to do with mandatory helmet laws. Those countries with mandatory helmet laws (especially Australia) do almost nothing else to make it safe to journey by bike. There are token white lines in gutters which are called bike lanes and educational campaigns like "a metre matters" and "share the road", none of which has worked.
It reminds me of the National Lampoon film about the European holiday. Eric Idle was a cyclist who seemed to be run over by Chevy Chase in every second scene. He'd get up and say things like "not to worry" and be on his way.
That is the attitude we have to cyclists here. They are forced to share the road with fast moving cars and trucks and use joke bike lanes that send them straight into the path of opening car doors. But it's ok you see because they are wearing a helmet so not to worry.
Mandatory helmet laws are a total cop out and they do not work. Do not believe the marketing.
- 20 August 2010 at 02:22
- Brent said...
"I've twice come off a bicycle while helmetless and hit my head hard enough to have wished I had been wearing a helmet."
It's curious -- I also fell while skiing a couple of years ago, and hit my head so hard that I wish I had been wearing a helmet. Except that, well, I was wearing one!
Hitting the ground head first, helmet or not, is not a pleasant experience. Bicycle helmets (ski helmets are made much the same way) don't seem to cushion to blow. In my case, I remember just being unable to control my head in the way I was used to, and smacked it pretty good. I still wonder whether it wasn't the extra weight of the helmet that made me hit the ground, or whether I was better off with the lid. It may be impossible to know.
- 20 August 2010 at 06:14
"The helmet, however, I believe, helps mitigate against the black eyes and broken spectacles that I have suffered."
Both faith and solipsism have been discredited as a means of protecting your spectacles.
During the Tour de France this year a rider crashed and messed up his face pretty badly. The television commentator made the rather nonsensical observation that, "It was a good thing he was wearing a helmet or his face might have been more badly damaged," or words to that affect, rather than the sensible one, "It's too bad that road helmets don't offer any protection against facial injuries."
There has been ONE fatality caused strictly by a head injury in the entire history of the Tour, which was ridden for nearly a century without helmets (and the medical examiner explicitly stated that a helmet would have done little to nothing to mitigate, the impact was so severe. The rider was traveling downhill at nearly 100 kph). There have been many, many messed up faces; and yet nothing is being done about this. The incidence and severity of messed up faces has not decreased in the years since helmets have become mandatory.
If you wish to protect your spectacles from being broken by direct impacts from the front, I believe you would be better served by selecting an item designed to do that, rather than one designed to protect your brain from indirect fatal accelerations by impacts to the top. These are widely available in any general sporting goods store as there are sports where this is a common occurrence.
If you wish to be protected from "boo boos" such as bruising, you will need to wear something that covers more than your head. Perhaps an Ursus MkVII.
If you think that broken spectacles and "boo boos" such as bruising are a serious public health issue that needs to be dealt with by legislative fiat across entire populations; you're a nutter.
""I don't want to wear a helmet so I'll ignore the good they can do and promote the alleged harms"? "
Ahhhh! You ARE not merely one of the faithful, but are a True Believer(tm).
Go back to the congregation in peace, Brother. Say "hi" to Pascal for me.
- 20 August 2010 at 07:23
- Anneke said...
I was hoping not to enter this discussion, but I can't stand bad logic. So.
""I don't want to wear a helmet so I'll ignore the good they can do and promote the alleged harms"? "
Turn that sentence around and you have the same argument for the other side of the discussion.
""I want to wear a helmet and I'll ignore the bad they can do and promote the alleged profits"? "
Come on. If you can't produce evidence either way, don't make statements that are empty.
If the evidence is that head injuries stay at the same level regardless of helmet wearing, than clearly helmets can either do nothing, or have a negative influence. Seems very clear to me.
And as anecdotal evidence seems to count as real evidence; I have cycled my whole life. I have been in one serious accident, and some minor slips or mini crashes. In none of these accidents, major or minor, have I hit my head. I bhave fallen on my bum, my knee, and my elbow. I never broke anything, or sustained other injuries than a few bruises.
All my friens cycle every day (remeber I live in The Netherlands) and none of them have ever even mentioned having had some kind of head/brain injury. I don't know anyone who has fallen on threir heads while cycling. On the other hand, I know quite a few people who bumped their heads into cupboard doors in the kitchen. So maybe cooking helmets need to be introduced? :P
- 20 August 2010 at 12:15
- Inconvenient Truth said...
Another interesting post, David. The helmet issue always gets the hackles up in Anglo-Saxon land. But more often than not the pro-helmeters argue anecdotally, based on the "I would have had my brain mushed last Thursday if...".
As other posters have suggested, wearing a helmet or not should be a personal choice. More important are interventions by the State, and the State's perceptions of "risk". The UK is awash with "risk assessment" procedures, but as soon as we suggest structural ways of reducing "risk" to cyclists - such as providing separated cycle paths where traffic levels are highest - suddenly the Risk Assessment Consultant Industry goes all shy.
Similarly, in Germany there are certain (though not all) policemen who insist on cyclists using cycle paths on the "correct" side of the road. But as I pointed out recently to one such guy in my pigeon German, I consider the risk of crossing a busy main road twice to be much higher than cycling contra-flow on a separated cycle path.
I consider the helmet a cultural item, in the same way as some cyclists feel naked without their skin-tight shorts and lycra top. Where cycling numbers are low, as in the UK, Australia, US etc, helmet cycling culture is highly prominent anyway, due to the relatively high numbers of cycle racers compared to utilitarians. So the helmet argument comes to the fore. In countries with high cycling numbers, cycling sub-cultures are as varied as humankind. Here in Bremen, punks, pensioners, musicians, judges, plumbers, high-heeled women, rich, poor, young parents with toddlers, schoolkids of all ages, all have their own "way" of cycling. The only regular helmet-wearers I see here are cycle couriers. Culturally, I would argue their helmet is more a statement to other cyclists - "get out of my way!"
And as Freewheeler argues, as far as dealing with "cyclist safety" is concerned, helmets are a cheapskate excuse for governments NOT to build proper cycling infrastructure.
- 20 August 2010 at 12:27
- Daniel Sparing said...
thanks for the excellent number crunching - i can now use this as a powerful argument.
- 20 August 2010 at 16:24
- Phil Lee said...
It should not be forgotten that if you want to avoid brain injuries, the focus should be very much on encouraging a lifestyle which minimises the risk of stroke and heart disease. More brain injury is caused by these than all traumatic injuries combined.
The only proven effect of cycle helmets is to reduce cycling rates, which has been shown to increase the chances of stroke and heart disease - and therefore brain injury.
- 22 August 2010 at 18:12
- Frits B said...
A 71 year old French woman cyclist in Almere near Amsterdam died a few days ago as a dog collided with her, causing her to fall and crack her head.
And a 62 year old woman from Alkmaar died today of brain damage after being thrown off balance by a passing German cyclist.
Makes you think: might they have been better off wearing a helmet? Statistically it would have made no difference, but maybe, just maybe ....
- 22 August 2010 at 20:30
Frits; predicting the past is a bit easier than predicting the future. Reduction of risks is not about protecting individuals who have already come to a now certain harm, but rather it is about mitigating TOTAL and UNCERTAIN risks of all events that MIGHT come to pass.
In other words, you only know what accident you are going to have and thus what steps might be taken to prevent or mitigate injury form that accident AFTER it has already happened.
Certainly if you tell me the injuries that you sustained last week it is a reasonably easy job to create a device that might have some preventative or mitigating effect. It is rather more difficult to do so for the injury you are going sustain NEXT week.
In the case of brain injury though, there are some serious limitations to what can be accomplished. The device I would have designed for these poor and unfortunate people would likely be unlike any helmet that is commonly sold for cyclists; and might well be so offensive to wear that even these people would have refused to wear them with a CERTAINTY that would be required on that particular ride.
And it might well CAUSE injury in an accident that was different in some detail.
- 22 August 2010 at 23:39
- Norma said...
I also read about the accidents and the first thing I thought was that they probably put their saddles so high that their feet couldn`t touch the ground while sitting on the saddle. That`s customary on a ladiesbike because its more comfortable to be able to stretch your legs during cycling. As I know from painful experience you`re also more likely to fall when something unexpected happens in traffic.I feel a lot safer since I put my saddle so low my feet can touch the ground when I`m sitting on the saddle.
- 23 August 2010 at 08:46
- Frits B said...
kfg: The two cases I mentioned were so exceptional that they made the news. Both ladies would just as easily have fallen to their deaths when using a chair to get something from a high kitchen cupboard - which happens a lot more. But you see how convenient it can be to base legislation on incidents.
- 23 August 2010 at 11:35
- marven said...
Excellent analysis, David. This has suddenly become crucially relevant since we Californians were recently blindsided by a mandatory helmet law being introduced in the Legislature. Of course, it puts us advocates in an incredibly tough position to oppose a law that would "save lives", but I keep putting out ghost bikes for helmeted riders who get run down on 50 MPH arterials. For me, insult was added to injury (if you will) because I got the news while firmly in Leeuwarden for the Winter Cycling Congress, so I had to read the incredulous news as I was surrounded by literally the safest biking conditions in the world. But one thing is for sure, this has unfortunately sucked A LOT of political wind out of the California advocacy scene in short order. We're just hoping that the disaster can be contained.
- 19 February 2015 at 22:07
- Jenny Barnes said...
Interesting article, thank you.
There was some research conducted recently which showed that drivers give less space to cyclists wearing helmets than those without helmets (1). Given that you can die from many other injuries than just your head if hit by a motor vehicle, it would seem from this research that it's better not to wear a helmet.
In addition, there is the aforementioned research which has shown that compulsory helmet wearing reduces cyclist numbers. Since there is safety in numbers, this adds to the risk.
I wonder how many years of life are added by cycling (2, 3) compared to years of life lost by being killed whilst cycling?
I wish that people would take all that anger currently being directed at cyclists who aren't wearing helmets, and direct it towards the council transport departments who aren't putting in cycle lanes where we need them.
Start a petition!
Email them!
Join a local cycling organisation!
Just do something other than blowing hot air.
1: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5334208.stm
2: http://www.treehugger.com/walking/your-money-and-your-life-ditching-your-car-gives-you-more-both.html
3: http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/bicycles-are-instantaneous-teleportation-devices-says-science
- 2 June 2016 at 15:23


text:
By guest blogger Serena Piper
Journalism major at the University of Oregon. Editor-in-Chief of Her Campus Oregon. Magazine, freelance blogger, future world traveler. In her spare time, she likes to read as many books as she can, go for long drives, and peruse news websites. Hopes to one day write for National Geographic.
Most of the time, if we aren't a parent, we're around little kids because we're babysitting them. We succumb to their every whim, the goal being to satisfy their parent. We play whatever games they want to play, we clean up their messes, and if there's more than one, we keep them from killing each other. They may be younger than us, and therefore seem more inexperienced, but they've already figured out some of the keys to life – and they don't even know it!
1. Forgive and forget.
For little kids, forgiving and forgetting is easier because their long term memory is not quite developed. For us, forgiving doesn't necessarily mean forgetting. But if we were to take a tip from kids, we would learn to let the little things slide. If someone takes that toy from you when you clearly had it first, don't pitch a fit every time. Realize it's not worth the trouble and find something else.
2. Change your mind and change it often.
As we make our way through college, one of our main worries is changing our major. We don't want to feel we've wasted a bunch of time studying the wrong thing. This is where we can really benefit from thinking like a child; Were you coloring and then saw something else that caught your eye? Check it out! Make sure that if there are other options, you explore them before coming back to the one you really liked. Life is not a race – so slow down!
3. Make your own rules.
Roll the dice one extra time? No big deal. Move your token one extra space? Well, it would've moved later in the game anyway. The point is we should treat the 'rules' of life more as (in the words of Captain Jack Sparrow) "guidelines." Throw the rule book out the window and see what happens. Not every rule is applicable to every person. With no rules there are no restrictions, and when there no restrictions, everything and anything goes.
4. If it falls on the floor, pick it up and eat it anyway! (hypothetically, of course)
Kids are some of the most persistent people I know. When something falls apart, or a page they were coloring rips, they don't take it as a sign to give up and walk away. They ask, "How do I fix it?" Bottom line: just because something is a little damaged, that doesn't mean it can't be fixed. Give it another try or another look, and let nothing go to waste.
5. Say what you want to say.
Do you ever hear a kid say, "Man, I should've said…"? Kids say what they want to say when they want to say it – they don't leave a conversation with regrets. We are so busy editing ourselves and filtering what we say that often we are never completely happy with the way we left things. Who wants to live like that?
The next time you're babysitting or hanging out with your niece or nephew, watch them a more closely and you might be surprised at what other life lessons you pick up. Instead of scolding them for being a little devil, treat them as your teacher… However outrageous a suggestion that may be.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Share Photo
An engineer stands in front of a home where sinkhole opened up on Friday, March 1, 2013, in Seffner, Fla. A man screamed for help and disappeared as a large sinkhole opened under the bedroom of the house, his brother said Friday. The brother told rescue crews he heard a loud crash near midnight Thursday, then heard his brother screaming. The brother called police and frantically tried to help. An arriving deputy pulled him from the still-collapsing house. There's been no contact with the man si


text:
What's going on?
On Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, twelve soldiers stationed at Fort Leonard Wood spent the day at S.T.A.F.F. Animal Rescue in Sunrise Beach supplying volunteer labor to complete some labor intensive projects around the shelter facility. "We're so excited. A lot of these projects we've been wanting to do for a long time," said Animal Manager Dawn Ely. S.T.A.F.F. rescue and shelters all types of animals from birds to horses but mainly houses mainly cats and dogs. With 79 cats at the shelter and 68 dogs, they are now fullest they've been in their 12 year existence, Ely said.
What did they do?
The soldiers cleared construction debris at the shelter's new quarantine building, helped tear down an old building in the way of an addition to the S.T.A.F.F. Thrift Shop and cleared the walking trail. They also helped put up a new sign and did some painting. S.T.A.F.F. provided lunch with donations from Pizza Hut, G2M and Porters. Chances "R" donated supper and the Laurie City Park provided camping space at the end of the day.
How did it come about?
The community service project is part of the Advanced Leaders Course - Engineers in the Army's Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, according to Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Marshall. All of the soldiers had ranks of E5 and E6 and were all enlisted. Half of Marshall's class worked at staff and the other half at a project at the old Waynesville Middle School. The class teaches staff sergeant engineers basic leadership skills for their rank level. The groups are evaluated on their communication skills with civilians and learn about linking up with organizations to complete these types of projects. It's also a way for the Army to give back to the community, Marshall said.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
Seven Ashland High girls soccer players, including four sophomores, were voted Southern Oregon Hybrid all-stars by the league's coaches recently.
Eagle Point added four all-star picks in the two-team league, which opted for a single all-star team rather than a first and second team and a list of honorable mentions.
Earning all-star recognition for the Grizzlies were: senior striker Sadie Bailey, senior midfielder Abby Nelson, junior defender Hannah Teixeira, sophomore defender Calysta Susumago, sophomore defender Lilli Patton, sophomore midfielder Ianthe Balbuena and sophomore striker Jessica Harrower.
Eagle Point's all-stars were: senior goalkeeper Ali Nesberg, senior defender Brittany Miller, sophomore defender Krystal Van Dyke and sophomore midfielder Adela Parra.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
October 19, 2006
City gas cards. Your tax money, paying for commissioners to get around.
Some don't use them. Others use them plenty.
This News 12 investigation looks at the rules and who's playing by them when it comes to your cash.
Augusta commissioners are looking to make some big cuts...but the perks in their own budget are not on the list of things to go.
For weeks, News 12's Jonathan Martin has been looking into how the city's budget troubles have commissioners rethinking their policy on gas usage.
Many of you called and emailed us wanting us to look closer at the gas usage policy for city leaders.
We did some digging and found not only is there some confusion about the rules, but despite the tight budget, commissioners are still filling up.
For Augusta city leaders, it's a pretty nice perk: free gas fill ups. Well, not exactly free. You're paying for it.
"I don't think they should get a gas allowance," Augustan William Forensic told News 12. "None of us do, we have to pay our own gas."
Many people feel that way, including some of those who're entitled to the fuel.
"I've never used my gas card myself, and I just think during tight fiscal times, everybody needs to cut back," said Augusta mayor Deke Copenhaver.
The reality is, some commissioners are really pumping this perk, even though the gas is only supposed to be used for city business. Last month we showed you the big bills Marion Williams and Andy Cheek had. Cheek used 136 gallons worth in one month.
Those numbers we revealed prompted Commissioner Joe Bowles to have commissioners review the policy.
Which brought up the question: what is the policy?
The fleet manager told us last month that commissioners were allotted $100 dollars a month. Then the clerk told us it was 125 gallons. So which is right?
"I was incorrect in the $100 a month allocation," fleet manager Ron Crowden told us. "It's actually 125 gallons."
And perhaps there was some confusion about the city's gas policy because it was written back in 1965 when gas was just $0.35 a gallon. Of course, today's prices create an even bigger budget issue.
"So that obviously needs to be updated," Copenhaver said. "As a matter of fact, there was a county physician who was allotted gas based on the policy, and we don't have one of them anymore."
Andy Cheek continues to use the most gas, even though he's missed the most city meetings this year.
So we asked him to tell us what city business is requiring him to fill up so frequently.
"I've got a vehicle, I've put 22,000 miles on it in two years," Cheek said. "I've done very little traveling out of town. On occasion I go with my family. I typically drive all over the city."
But some of his fellow commissioners say it's excessive.
"Do you think a commissioner could use 136 gallons of gas in one month?" we asked.
"I don't see how," said Commissioner Don Grantham. "I really don't."
There's no way for us or the city to track how much traveling is going on, because records show Cheek often enters a random odometer reading when using his Fuelman card.
"If he's overused the allotment, he should reimburse the county for the amount he's overused it," said Commissioner Jerry Brigham.
But there is no payback policy. And while commissioners say they are looking to write some new rules, until they do, the "police yourself" policy remains in place.
"From a fleet manager standpoint, yes I am concerned," Crowden said. "I'm not in a position where I can say it's an excessive amount used."
We're told that in the next few weeks, there will be a new gas policy for commissioners to vote on.
Since our last report, Andy Cheek and Jerry Brigham have both turned in their city phones.
Jimmy Smith
Marion Williams
Andy Cheek
$49.61 (22.8 gallons)
$116.58 (50.8 gallons)
$160.35 (74.2 gallons)
The mayor and other commissioners have not used gas in September.
September 26: Special Assignment: Commissioners Contribute to Budget Deficit
September 19: Commissioner perks add up to $145,000 per year


text:
Host a Jack's Big Music Show-themed birthday party with Jack in the starring role.
Watch all your favorite shows every day on Nick Jr
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line the bottom of a 9x13-inch cake pan with wax paper. Prepare the cake mix according to package directions. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Place the cake into the oven and bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack. Let it cool completely.
Place 1/2 cup of the vanilla frosting into a bowl and tint it an electric green with the neon green food coloring. Place 1 cup of the vanilla frosting into a bowl and tint it a light red. Place 1/4 cup of the vanilla frosting into a bowl and tint it a pale yellow. Spoon the yellow frosting into a small resealable bag. Spoon 1 teaspoon of vanilla frosting into a small resealable bag. Place the remaining vanilla frosting into a bowl and tint it bright blue. Place 3 tablespoons of the blue frosting into a separate dish and tint it a darker blue. Spoon it into a small resealable bag. Spoon the dark chocolate frosting into a small resealable bag.
Flatten the green fruit chews and cut them into rectangles, about 1/2-inch wide.
Place the cooled cake on a clean work surface. Place the Jack Cake template on top of the cake and cut out the Jack shape with a small paring knife. Transfer the cut cake to a serving platter. Carefully spread the top and sides of the main part of the cake with a smooth layer of the lighter blue frosting. Spread the green frosting over the top area of cake and on the side. Add the green candies as the hair. Spread the red frosting over the lower part of the cake as his scarf. Snip a small corner from the bag with the yellow frosting. Pipe semi-circles and dots over the red frosting (see photo). Snip very small corners from the bags with the remaining frostings. Pipe the mouth and nose with the chocolate frosting. Lengthen the mouth with the dark blue frosting and pipe ears and a chin line. Add two brown candies as eyes and pipe white dots on top of the candies.
Sprinkle the remaining candies around the cake on the serving platter.
Like magic, these yummy cupcakes will disappear into thin air!
Be like a brave bunny & bake this easy recipe with your little rabbit!
Dora takes the cake. And in this case, she IS the cake!
Surprise party guests with this pair of costume-clad bunnies
What's hiding under that sheet? One fin-tastic treat!
Bake up a perfect party cake for your Peppa fan!
On a mission for an umirrific cake? It's Bot to the rescue!
Bake a cake to look just like your kid's favorite pattern-powered Umi friend!
Shape a cake to look like Geo!
Little guppies will flip for this funny take on dessert!
Bake the cake and top it off with Molly and Gil!
These fetchin' cupcakes will stand out at your little guppy's next party!
Create bakery-worthy cupcakes that look like Max & Ruby
Try this tasty Kai-lan Halloween treat--it will never go extinct!
Turn plain pound cake into bite-sized cake pops that look like Little Fish!
Here's a fresh cake that will take center stage at your next party!
Charm loved ones with Dora's dainty cupcake rings on Valentine's Day!
Roll out the red carpet for the cutest cupcakes around!
Little dragons everywhere will love Rintoo's too cute Halloween cupcake!
Get your party started with Dino Dan & these delicious treats!
Count on your little baker to sort out the candies in this terrific Tolee treat!
Take your little Umizoomi fan for a sweet ride with this easy homemade cake
A simple sheet cake gets the royal treatment with frosting & fruit chews!
A cupcake and a simple ice cream cone turn into an edible microphone!
Bake up Boots with your little kitchen helper!
It's a-Bot time for these yummy cupcakes!
Shape up with these math-minded cupcakes from Geo!
Make way for Milli's mighty good cupcakes!
Make a cake fit for a princess!
Follow these 5 simple steps to make a super sweet treat


text:
A euro logo is seen that reads in Danish: 'The head of the EU', referring to the Danish EU presidency, at the European Council building in Brussels, Tuesday, May 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
STRASBOURG, France (AP) -- The European Commission says an additional (euro) 9 billion ($11.7 billion) is needed to meet all of the EU's commitments in the 2012 budget.
The Commission, the EU's executive arm, adopted an amending budget Tuesday. It must now be approved by the Parliament and the 27 EU national leaders.
The EU says about a third of the money can be raised from anti-trust fines and other penalties. But (euro) 5.9 billion will have to come from member states, some of whom are cutting their budgets because of Europe's financial crisis.
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso says the money is needed to continue funding for international students and poorer regions in the EU.
He said: "These programs are essential to revive growth and create jobs." The 2012 budget is (euro) 147.2 billion ($191.43 billion).


text:
New bill will take care of veterans
Published: Friday, February 22, 2013 at 10:35 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, February 22, 2013 at 10:35 p.m.
The 112th Congress failed to pass a law for Vietnam War veterans. The law would have afforded all U.S. Navy Vietnam vets VA benefits.
New House Bill HR-543, The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, was introduced to the 113th Congress by U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-N.Y. The Bill if passed will afford VA benefits to all U.S. Navy personnel engaged in the Vietnam War who served at sea never having boots on ground for Agent Orange exposure.
In submitting a VA claim for Agent Orange exposure, the veteran must show proof of naval service in the territorial waters of the Republic of Vietnam and medical history for one or more acceptable diseases recognized by the VA for exposure. A copy of the veteran's DD-214 must be submitted with the VA claim.
We veterans need help from the American people. We need public support for action. We ask you to urge your members of Congress to co-sponsor the bill. Without public support, nothing happens.
Additionally, go to www.causes.com in the search box type Agent Orange Act, page down to the title, sign the petition.
John Bury
Media, Pa.
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.


text:
PIKEVILLE, Ky. – A four-time first-team all-conference player will be the head coach of the University of Pikeville lacrosse team when it begins play in March.
Alyson Jost, a native of Abingdon, Md., has been hired as the new coach and was introduced at a Monday morning press conference.
Jost played at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Md., where she was named First-Team All-Northeast Conference all four years. In addition, she was the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year in both 2009 and 2011. During those same seasons, she was named to the conference all-tournament team.
In addition, she served as a team captain for the last two seasons of her Mount St. Mary's career and was her team's 2011 most valuable player.
"Aly has been a decorated player and brings a wealth of knowledge to our program," said Dr. Reginal F. Overton, director of athletics at UPIKE. "We're very excited to bring her to our family at the university and believe she will be a valued member of our athletics department."
She was also a four-year member of the Northeast Conference Distinguished Honor Roll. In 2011, she was a CoSIDA/Capital One Academic At-Large All-District II First Team as well as a winner of the Monsignor John L. Sheridan Award for Athletics and Academic Excellence.
Since graduating Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor of arts in criminal justice and sociology, she has worked for the U.S. Department of Defense in Fort Meade, Md., and in 2012, served as coach of the North East Maryland Select Lacrosse Club (NEMS) in Hickory, Md.


text:
No Detillier column today
Published: Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 11:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 11:58 p.m.
The Courier and Daily Comet's college football expert and NFL analyst Mike Detillier does not have a column in today's paper.
His column is scheduled to return next week.
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.


text:
- From our team to yours.
- Currently Unavailable
We are a family, a family of players, parents, coaches and fans of the game.
We come together on the field and in the stands. There are many in our lacrosse family who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy. In the aftermath of last week's storm, we wanted to do something to help those affected. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this shirt will be donated to the American Red Cross* 2012 Hurricane Relief Effort. Our thoughts lie with all who were affected by this historic and devastating storm.
*The American Red Cross name is used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, individual or political position. For more information about the American Red Cross, please call 1‑800-HELP-NOW or email email@example.com.


text:
LATHROP - Deputies arrested three people on a variety of charges at noon Thursday after responding to a report of a suspicious person in the 1600 block of Derby Lane, authorities said.
A man matching the description of the suspicious person fled on foot when deputies tried to approach him. He was found hiding in a parked car with two other occupants, authorities said. Inside the vehicle, deputies found a loaded handgun, a glass methamphetamine pipe and a fake California driver's license, authorities said.
Daniel Escobedo Jr., 29, was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm and possession of a loaded firearm, authorities said.
Nina Gordon, 26, was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed firearm and possession of a loaded firearm, police said.
Casey Carpenter, 21, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a deceptive identification document and possession of drug paraphernalia, authorities said.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
- Home
- News
- Sports
- Opinion
- Obituaries
- Features
- Special Sections
- Classifieds
- Public Notices
Forgot Password? | Not a User? Sign up
Dr. Galen Weiss with Taylor Regional Orthopedic Group will present a joint replacement program on Monday, April 16, at the Taylor County Extension Office.
There will be informational booths and refreshments beginning at 6 p.m. and Weiss will speak at 7. The program is free.
For more information, call 789-5814.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the KY News Journal, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
If you are new to the award winning KY News Journal and wish to get a subscription or simply gain access to our online content then please enter your ZIP code below and continue to setup your account.
|ZIP Code:


text:
L'elisir d'amore[The Elixir of Love]
Gaetano Donizetti (1797 – 1848)
Melodramma giocoso in two acts;
Libretto by Felice Romani, based on Eugène Scribes "Le Philtre"; First performance on 12. May, 1832 at the Teatro della Canobbiana in Milan; Premiered at the Deutsche Oper Berlin on 25 April, 2014
In Italian with German and English surtitles
|Roberto Rizzi Brignoli
|Irina Brook
|Set Design
|Noëlle Ginefri
|Costume Design
|Sylvie Martin-Hyszka
|Light Design
|Arnaud Jung
|Chorus Master
|Thomas Richter
|Martin Buczkó
|Jörg Königsdorf
|Nicola Alaimo
|Simon Pauly
|Dimitri Pittas
|Heidi Stober
|Alexandra Hutton
|Geoffrey Carey
|Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin
|Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Gaetano Donizetti himself described his ELIXIR OF LOVE, which premiered in 1832, as an "opera buffa", yet there is little to laugh about in this supposedly comic opera. No different from his DON PASQUALE, composed a decade later, ELIXIR OF LOVE is a work whose mirth is rooted in gentle melancholy. Despite the happy end, the chance that things might have taken a turn for the worse is ever-present, as is the threat that the misunderstandings and coincidences that pepper the narrative of ELIXIR OF LOVE do not always turn out all right in real life.
The story recounted by Donizetti and his librettist Felice Romani is a simple one: Adina and Nemorino are in love, yet neither can pluck up the courage to confess their love for the other person. Not until he recalls a single tear in Adina's eye, the famous "furtiva lagrima", does Nemorino realise that his love is requited, triggering one of the most famous tenor arias in the history of opera.
This production of ELIXIR OF LOVE at the Deutsche Oper Berlin is in the capable hands of a director who has repeatedly served notice of her proficiency in mounting operatic and theatrical works based on more lightweight material. Irina Brook has staged works such as Rossini's LA CENERENTOLA and Händel's GIULIO CESARE for the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris and was recently contracted for the Salzburg Festival with a new production of Ibsen's "Peer Gynt" and Shakespeare's "The Tempest".
Presented by kulturradio vom rbb
Accompanying Programme
Accompanying Programme
Pre-performance lecture (in German): 45 minutes prior to each performance


text:
There are plenty of things Duke hasn't done in a while, and the Blue Devils can take care of one of them this week by beating Memphis.
Duke (1-0) hasn't started a season with two straight wins since 1998.
Over the past couple of years, the Blue Devils have taken care of several of those firsts-in-a-while.
Last year's team reached its first bowl game since 1994. These Blue Devils opened the season by blanking North Carolina Central 45-0 for the program's first shutout since the Steve Spurrier era in 1989.
Tight end Braxton Deaver said Tuesday that "little things like that are just showing how Coach Cut has changed this program" and that "the system is working right now."


text:
Acclaimed conductor Carl St. Clair of Orange County's Pacific Symphony to guest conduct and hold master classes at the School of Music next week
The 2014 Sixth Ithaca International Conducting Master Class, run jointly by conductors Jeffery Meyer (Ithaca College) and Chris Younghoon Kim (Cornell University) will feature Carl St. Clair, Music Director of the Pacific Symphony in Orange County, California. The masterclass is comprised of five days of classes, rehearsals and discussions culminating in a final concert conducted by the eight masterclass participants.
Young conductors participating in the class will come from across the nation to work with Mr. St. Clair and the Ithaca and Cornell Orchestras. The final concert will feature Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony in B minor, Op. 74 ('Pathetique'). Mr. St. Clair will also conduct works of Mozart and Beethoven in Concert with the Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra.
In 2013-14, Carl St. Clair celebrates his 24th season as Music Director of the Pacific Symphony and the orchestra's milestone 35th anniversary. During his tenure, St. Clair has become widely recognized for his musically distinguished performances, his commitment to building outstanding educational programs and his innovative approaches to programming. And in 2013-14, under his leadership, the Symphony launched the new music festival, Wavelength, blending contemporary music and Symphony musicians in unique collaborations.
In 2014, St. Clair assumes the position as music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Costa Rica. His international career also has him conducting abroad several months a year, and he has appeared with orchestras throughout the world. He was the principal guest conductor of the Radio Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart from 1998 to 2004, where he completed a three–year recording project of the Villa–Lobos symphonies. He has also appeared with orchestras in Israel, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South America, and summer festivals worldwide.
In North America, St. Clair has led the Boston Symphony Orchestra (where he served as assistant conductor for several years), New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic and the San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, Atlanta, Houston, Indianapolis, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver symphonies, among many others.
Schedule of Events (in military time)
Day 1, Monday, 4/28
19:00 – 21:00 Introductory meeting and score study session (Husa Gallery, IC)
Day 2, Tuesday, 4/29
10:00 – 12:00 2 piano session on Prokofiev (Presser Hall, IC)
15:00 – 17:00 2 piano & string quintet session on Tchaikovsky (Presser Hall, IC)
17:15 – 19:00 St. Clair conducts ICCO rehearsal (Presser Hall, IC)
Program: Mozart, Die Zauberflöte Overture; Beethoven, Symphony Nr. 7
Day 3, Wednesday, 4/30
10:30 – 12:30 2 piano session on Prokofiev (B20 of Lincoln Hall, CU)
14:00 – 15:50 rehearsal with orchestra – ICSO/Tchakovsky (Ford Hall, IC)
16:45 – 18:45 rehearsal with orchestra - CSO/Prokofiev (Bailey Hall, CU)
19:30 – 20:30 Fireside chat with St.Clair: Innovations Whispers (Alice Cook House, CU)
Day 4, Thursday, 5/1
12:30 – 14:30 2 piano & string quintet session on Tchaikovsky (Barnes Hall, CU)
16:15 – 18:00 St.Clair conducts ICCO rehearsal (Ford Hall, IC)
Day 5, Friday, 5/2
11:00 – 13:00 2 piano session on Prokofiev (Nabenhauer, IC)
14:00 – 15:50 rehearsal with orchestra – ICSO/Tchaikovsky (Presser Hall, IC)
20:15 ICCO performance with Carl St.Clair (Ford Hall, IC)
Day 6, Saturday, 5/3
13:30 – 15:30 Dress Rehearsal with ICSO/Tchaikovsky (Presser Hall, IC)
16:00 Concert in Ford Hall with ICSO (Tchaikovsky only)
All are invited to attend the Final Concert with each of the eight participants of the class conducting.
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact the School of Music at 607-274-3717. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.
Originally published in Intercom: Acclaimed conductor Carl St. Clair of Orange County's Pacific Symphony to guest conduct and hold master classes at the School of Music next week.


text:
In her novel "Room," Emma Donoghue let us see the world from the vantage point of a little boy in an 11-by-11-foot room. In the stories collected in the new "Astray," Donoghue returns to her roots in historical fiction. Her fellow travelers are voyagers who, between 1639 and 1968, left the world they knew for undiscovered countries, then never returned.
In the book's first section, each flight involves an escape from a confinement that, while less dramatic than the one in "Room," has narrowed the protagonist's choices. In the first, an elephant and his keeper leave London's zoo for adventures in America. In another, a Jewish woman in 18th-century New York confronts her alienation in a culture that doesn't understand her. In "Last Supper at Brown's," a slave and his master's wife contemplate a new life. In "Onward," a young woman longs for a chance to start over -- away from the hypocritical world of Victorian England, in which she was forced into prostitution.
Each of these stories confirms Donoghue's observation (in an afterword) that migrants are often strangers in the land they leave as well as the one they seek. Not all of Donoghue's characters can handle the freedom their adventures make possible. In the middle and final sections of "Astray," men and women trying on new identities often retreat in fear upon seeing what they find.
Little, Brown
$25.99, 288 pages


text:
CrossFit for REAL people.
143 West Maple AvenueMonrovia, CA 91016626-487-3582
September 14, 2010 by Filed under WOD Photo Home page
Leave a Comment
Name (required)
Mail (will not be published) (required)
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Copyright © 2016 ·
All Rights Reserved · Crossfit Monrovia
Site by KABAM.net ·
Log in


text:
By Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A longtime theologian and author, Portuguese Cardinal Jose da Cruz Policarpo of Lisbon is seen as an outside candidate for pope -- a possible bridge candidate between Europe and Latin America, where Portuguese and Spanish are the two main languages.
For most of his priesthood the 69-year-old cardinal has been associated with seminary formation and with the Portuguese Catholic University, where he taught and later was rector.
Even after becoming patriarch of Lisbon in 1998, his close ties with the university continued because the office automatically makes him grand chancellor of the university.
He is one of only three Latin-rite bishops in Europe with the title of patriarch and the only one outside Italy. The other two are the patriarch of Venice and, when a new one is elected, the pope -- whose titles include "patriarch of the West."
Cardinal Policarpo has written several books, including "St. Bernard and Marian Theology" and "An Ethical Order for Peace," and is the author of numerous articles in theological journals. His writings cover a range of issues from Marian spirituality -- reflecting the Portuguese devotion to Our Lady of Fatima -- to the moral and spiritual challenges of modern society and the role of the church in civil society and culture.
His interest in contemporary questions of faith was evident even in the late 1960s when, as a young priest doing graduate studies at Rome's Gregorian University, he defended a thesis on the theology of non-Christian religions and a subordinate paper on "The Signs of the Times."
As head of the Portuguese bishops' conference since 1999, he has been outspoken in the defense of democracy and respect for human rights in the former Portuguese colonies of East Timor and Mozambique.
Born Feb. 26, 1936, in Alvorninha, Portugal, Jose da Cruz Policarpo has been a priest since 1961 and a bishop since 1978. He became patriarch of Lisbon in 1998 and a cardinal in 2001.
He studied for the priesthood at the minor seminaries of Santarem and Almada and completed his theological studies at Christ the King Seminary in Olivais.
Following ordination he was sent to Rome for further studies at Gregorian University, where he earned his licentiate in dogmatic theology in 1968.
From 1963 to 1968 he also taught and served as vice rector at the minor seminary in Penafirme, Portugal.
In 1970 he began teaching at the Portuguese Catholic University and simultaneously serving as rector of the Olivais seminary.
He was made an auxiliary bishop of Lisbon in 1978, during his first term as director of the university's theology faculty, 1974-80. He served a second term as head of the theology faculty, from 1985 until 1988, when he was made rector of the university, a post he held for the next eight years.
From 1985 to 1987 he headed a commission that oversaw the establishment of a new regional branch of the university in Porto.
In March 1997 he was named coadjutor archbishop of the Lisbon Patriarchate with the right of succession. He became patriarch almost exactly a year later and was installed in the College of Cardinals in February 2001.
Cardinal Policarpo is a member of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for Culture.
In mid-April 2005 he concludes a second three-year term as president of the Portuguese bishops' conference. He has served on the conference's permanent council and on its commissions for doctrine, the apostolate of the laity, Christian education and the cultural goods of the church.
He has also served as the Portuguese bishops' representative on the Council of European Bishops' Conferences and the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community.
In September 2000 Cardinal Policarpo hosted an annual interreligious gathering for peace sponsored by the Rome-based Community of Sant'Egidio.
During the meeting, the cardinal issued a brief but direct apology to the region's Jewish community, which over the centuries had suffered exile, attempts at forced conversion and disrespect at the hands of Catholics.
"This historical center of Lisbon, where today we embrace in friendship, has in the past been the stage for intolerable acts of violence against the Jewish people," he said.
"The Catholic Church recognizes that her memory is deeply stained by these words and deeds, so often carried out in her name, which are unworthy of human dignity and of the Gospel she proclaims," he added.
During the conference, Cardinal Policarpo told the participants from dozens of religious traditions: "Every true religious faith can contribute to peace. There does not exist a true God and other false gods. Those which are false do not exist, and there is only one true God in whom we all believe, whose face we all search for that light which radiates harmony and peace."
Religious faith brings with it a broad vision of life and of history; it aims to foster a relationship between God and individuals, and it recognizes that God, the source of all life, continues to act in the world, he said.
At the most recent world Synod of Bishops, held in Rome in 2001 on the role of bishops in the church, Cardinal Policarpo spoke about the necessity and nature of dialogue in the church.
He said today's Catholics expect an openness to dialogue among the bishops, but the church cannot follow "a merely cultural and sociological notion of dialogue. The concessions and tolerance marking dialogue for social harmony cannot be transferred wholesale to the church, which preaches the truth about human life and eternal salvation, he said.
He said that for the church dialogue starts with faith in Jesus and the Gospel. It listens to others after listening to the word of God, he said, and it responds to questions and challenges by living the faith more deeply and completely.
Earlier this year Cardinal Policarpo preached the homily at the funeral Mass for Carmelite Sister Lucia dos Santos, the last of the three Portuguese children who saw visions of Mary at Fatima in 1917. In the decades since then, Fatima has become the site of one of the world's most famous Marian shrines and pilgrimage destinations.
The cardinal said Sister Lucia's "extraordinary" gift as recipient of apparitions of Mary would have no meaning if she had not listened to and lived Mary's call to conversion and Christian discipleship.
"God calls us and trusts us to fulfill our mission. ... Lucia was always faithful to her mission to spread the message of Fatima, which challenges people to penance, conversion and contemplation," he said.


text:
Turtle tears? A prime source of salt, and many butterfly species have adapted by perching on their face and sipping from the source. Although this is generally a common sight along the river, this image taken by our photo tour guide Jeff Cremer is the most adorably smothered I have seen, yet.
If you want to join us and experience the incredible sights of the Amazon, check out our tours.


text:
December 7, 2005
The former PTA president at Glenn Hills Middle School remains in jail Wednesday night charged with theft by taking, a felony. It's an investigation that spans back a year ago when money went missing from the association's pot, money that was supposed to go towards equipment and other expenses for the school.
Monica King, former Glenn Hills Middle PTA President accused of stealing more than $10,000 from the fund.
"It's more than $10,000 and we suspect it will be as much as $16,000 that's missing," said Major Ken Autry, Richmond County Sheriff's Office.
Richmond County investigators began looking into the matter a year ago.
"We were contacted by some PTA officials concerning an accusation that Ms. King had stolen some money from the PTA," Autry said.
MaeDella Perry is president of the Richmond-Columbia County Council of PTA's. She called for an audit last year when the current treasurer found things not adding up in the books.
"That's really how this came to light when we insisted that the books needed to be audited," Perry said.
Perry says what they found some checks being cashed with one signature, and others with a forged second signature.
"All of the checks needed to be signed by two people, by the president with the treasurer and/or secretary," Perry said.
Investigators were still trying to put the missing money case together when on Tuesday, Ms. King reported her purse was stolen at the Augusta Mall. While filing a report at the sheriff's office, investigators realized Ms. King was being investigated on the missing money case.
"She came down to view some mug shots of potential suspects and after she finished that of course they arrested her," Autry said.
Perry says parents should still have faith in school PTA's, especially now that more safeguards are in place.
"We want parents to know that we have, but the safeguards in place that we are working with our officers so that they will know how to protect the money that comes in," Perry said.
Monica King remains behind bars at the Law Enforcement Center.


text:
$util.date("MMMM d, yyyy",$topLevel.timeZone)
Everett High School was briefly locked down this morning after reports of three suspicious people in the area with a gun. Lansing police took the three into custody. One person did have an airgun. No one was hurt.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
No comments posted. |E-mail|Print | Text Size | Bookmark
Senior scores 1st TD as Wolcott cruises
WATERBURY — Wolcott High senior Matt Cyr hadn't played football since his freshman year.
When he rejoined the team Saturday, he was welcomed back with his first career touchdown.
Cyr caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mike Nicol in the third quarter, his only reception of the game, to help Wolcott to a 34-0 win over Kennedy at Municipal Stadium.
"There's nothing better than scoring a touchdown," said Cyr, a baseball player for the Eagles. "I scored nine or 10 touchdowns on the freshman team, but this is better. Mike threw a perfect ball, despite the windy day. It was in the right spot for me to make a play."
Wolcott coach Jason Pace is glad to have Cyr back in the fold.
"Matt is playing with a lot of confidence," said Pace. "It's nice. We have a lot of depth at wide receiver. We are rotating a lot of guys in and out."
Nicol, a senior, coming off a strong junior year, rushed for three touchdowns on runs of 1, 9 and 10 yards and also tossed two TDs, including a 2-yard pass to junior Adam Santopietro, all in the first half.
"Nicol looked very sharp," said Kennedy coach Chris Sarlo. "He has great field presence."
Santopietro, who rushed for 84 yards on only six carries, nearly had a punt return for a touchdown in the closing minutes. But after his 35-yard return, he was taken down at the Kennedy 5.
"I was pretty close to scoring," said Santopietro, who scored only three TDs a year ago. "I had some great blocking on the runback. Offensively, the line stepped up and did a great job. Everyone did a great job."
"Adam is a tough player," said Pace. "When he steps on the field, he gives it everything that he has and I am very proud of him for that."
With his 11-month baby girl, Marisa, in his arms, Pace was happy to get the first win of the season and build from there.
"In the preseason, we had struggled converting third-down situations, but today we were able to keep drives going," said Pace.
On a fourth-down play, Nicol hit Brandon Walker over the middle for a 28-yard gain, putting the ball at the Kennedy 29. A few plays later, Nicol scored his second TD for a 13-0 edge.
Wolcott next plays host to Torrington, a team that beat the Eagles by 40 points last year.
Kennedy allowed only one touchdown in the second half and it had a 10-play drive in the third quarter, which made Sarlo feel they could build off that.
Kennedy meets Wilby (0-1) next Saturday at 11 a.m. at Municipal Stadium.
Reader Comments
The following are comments from online readers like you. In no way do they represent the view of The Republican-American.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog.
Please be civil and respectful.
Registered users comments will be posted automatically.
All other comments will be reviewed by our staff before appearing on the Web site.
If you're witty, to the point and quotable, your reader comments may also be included on the Around the Towns page of The Sunday Republican.
Redzone News
Redzone Videos
Redzone Blog
XML_Parser: undefined entity at XML input line 8:18
Photo Galleries


text:
I never played Mario Kart 64 until the second OHIONARP. The SNES original and Double Dash on the GCN are the only two that matter.
Still though, CTR was pretty damned great. Dingodile was my go-to dude.
I never played Mario Kart 64 until the second OHIONARP. The SNES original and Double Dash on the GCN are the only two that matter.
Still though, CTR was pretty damned great. Dingodile was my go-to dude.
Keyboards aren't for any kind of movement. WASD sucks compared to analog stick movement. Mouse aim is the best for cameras though.
I generally agree with that, though character movement with a keyboard does not render a game unplayable. There's really no way to make something like a Helicopter control in a comfortable and logical way using one.
CTR was the shit.
That's all.
I'm out.
- - - Updated - - -
I'mma double post because I'm awful and can't be arsed to edit.
I thought flying with WSAD+Numpad worked great. When it comes it aiming and shooting while flying it does get complicated, but not any more complicated than it is with a controller (I've beaten IV on both PC and PS3 and Episodes on PS3)
Double post fail.
I've played Vice City and San Andreas on PC, and having a control for a variable that is simply full strength or none simply does not match up. It's analogue versus digital up in this bitch.
Yeah I did not know about that feature.
- - - Updated - - -
It's why I'm King of Bad Forums.
- - - Updated - - -
Hey, how about triple posting?
- - - Updated - - -
Oh shit this is awesome.
Your crown, rightfully worn.
Argentina. Huh.
You may have seen it on a map.
We will probably fight to the death one day.
Isn't Steam working on a new piece of hardware that bridges the gap of the keyboard's many buttons and mouse's precision with controller's analog movement and ergonomic button placements? I will build a kickass HTPC the second that's released so I can play PC games on my living room TV from the comfort of my couch.
Don't most PC games support controllers now? (except for strategy and stuff like that)
Missing the point of the mouse being better for aiming but the stick better for movement there, Vicky.
Waggle waggle.
Oh, right. Yeah. That. But aiming never bothered me in GTA.
Yeah, aiming doesn't really bother me that much either. I play console games exclusively on my living room HDTV now since I don't have a small and powerful enough computer to hook up there; I'm used to traditional controllers. That said, if Steam can successfully create that controller type, I hope it becomes a new standard for all games, regardless of the platform. I'd love to be able to play shooters from my couch with mouse-like aiming precision... but without a mouse... and still keep all the controller ergonomics and movement precision.
The aiming bit was more of a general statement unrelated to GTA. Besides GTA aiming is mainly lock on trash anyway so of course no one has a problem with it.
That lock on bullshit pissed me off. Good thing you can switch it off.


text:
A Taft man arrested in November 2013 on child molestation charges will be sentenced on June 3 after he pleaded no contest to one count of committing lewd acts with a minor just before he was scheduled to go on trial.
Emmanuel Diaz Martines, 21, had been scheduled to go on trial on Monday but entered the plea and a second lewd conduct charge was dismissed.
Martines will be sentenced on June 3.
He is being held on $75,000 bond in the Kern County Sheriff's Lerdo pretrial facility.
Martines was arrested by Kern County Sheriff's deputies on Nov. 12 after a Taft Police school resource officer found a 12-year-old Taft girl was the victim of child molestation.
Martines met the girl through social media on the internet, Sheriff's investigators said.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
You need to install Adobe Flash Player to play DecaJump. Download the Flash Player now.Download the Adobe Flash Player
You need to install updated version of Adobe Flash Player to play DecaJump. Download the Flash Player now.
Shoot food and enemies, upgrade your abilities fast, before the bullets strike! Now on mobile! Get it NOW!
There are 12 awards in DecaJump. View All Awards
Jump through time with some of Miniclip's most popular game characters. Use the Time Machines to change character and jump as high as you can by collecting the balloons. Don't forget to pick up as many coins and bonuses as possible on the way up!Add DecaJump to Your Website Help


text:
2014 CMT Music Awards (8 p.m., CMT): Because there just aren't enough trophy fests for the nation's deprived country singers, we've got this one airing tonight. Performers include Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert.
"D-Day Sacrifice" (9 p.m., National Geographic): This is one of many prime time programs marking the 70th anniversary of the battle at Normandy. It recalls the 100 days between the beach landings and the liberation of Paris.
"Jennifer Falls" (10:30 p.m., TV Land): On the new sitcom "Jennifer Falls," a former big-shot executive (Jaime Pressly) loses her job and is forced to move back in with her mom (Jessica Walter). Maybe they can bond over "Arrested Development" and "My Name Is Earl" reruns.
Also on Wednesday:
Contact Chuck Barney at Facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.ChuckBarney, or Twitter.com/chuckbarney


text:
Proposed Ingles to replace Spartanburg Highway store
Published: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 12:49 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 12:49 p.m.
The Hendersonville Planning Department has received a preliminary site plan for a proposed 77,427-square-foot Ingles store with an eight-pump "Gas Express" to replace the existing Ingles at 625 Spartanburg Highway, said Planning Director Sue Anderson.
The current store is 46,379 square feet. It would be demolished, and the new store would be constructed on the same site.
A neighborhood compatibility meeting will be scheduled as part of the special-use permit process, as well as a planning board review and recommendation and a public hearing before Hendersonville City Council.
Property owners within 400 feet of the store will be notified of the neighborhood compatibility meeting and the public hearing.
Meanwhile, the new Ingles store in Mills River, at the intersection of N.C. 280 and North Mills River Road, is set to open sometime in April.
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.


text:
Wells Fargo quietly sends refunds to some FHA mortgage customers
Thousands of Wells Fargo & Co. home loan customers recently received a surprise in the mail: refund checks from the big bank, along with letters saying they had paid unnecessary fees for their mortgages.
The unsolicited offers of thousands of dollars arrived with a catch — if the borrowers cash the checks, they can't later sue the No. 1 U.S. home lender. The San Francisco bank said in the letters that borrowers were put into more expensive loans when they could have qualified for cheaper ones.
Read more of this story and more!
7-Day Subscribers have FREE access to everything on rep-am.com and our E-Edition.
CLICK HERE to register and activate your access,.
Not a subscriber?
You can purchase a single-day subscription for only $0.75 to read this and access all of our content and our E-Edition.
CLICK HERE purchase a single day subscription.
Become an electronic subscriber to the Republican-American for only $8 a month. CLICK HERE.
Follow Us
Post a reader commentWe encourage your feedback and dialog.
Please be civil and respectful.
If you're witty, to the point and quotable, your reader comments may also be included on the Around the Towns page of The Sunday Republican.
Readers must be registered and logged in to post comments on the site. Registration is free. Click Here to register.
A Subscription is not required to post comments only a Registration.
Log In
|Register / Forgotten Password?
More stories from Business
- Web scammers home in on job-seeking college students
- Post students to receive scholarships at Business Women's Forum
- Salisbury Bank 3Q earnings up 26.5%
- Consumer spending rose 0.8 percent in September
- Wells Fargo quietly sends refunds to some FHA mortgage customers
- For travelers, Sandy's aggravation spans globe
- Home prices rise at faster pace in August
- Nardelli's to open 8th location
- Fed: Banks still cautious on mortgage lending
- U.S. stock market reopens after a two-day shutdown


text: I had an interesting discussion with an engineer about science fiction and real world science and technology. In fiction, reality is gutted out and rearranged to fit the needs of the story of fiction. That is also true in other genres of fiction. The story rules above all else. The purpose, in most cases, is to develop the characters with storytelling devices.


text:
The new generation of consumers has come to expect a great customer experience when they interact with brands. Through closed-loop marketing and integrated analytics, Oracle RightNow Engage enhances the customer experience by leveraging a business toolset that delivers proactive, highly personalized communications, while providing businesses with real-time actionable insights into building loyalty and driving revenue.
Contact Sales for Product pricing and licensing questions.
View Top Support Answers or Get Help.


text:
San Diego's 10 top beaches
A guide to the county's most beloved seaside spots for surfing, sunning, playing or just quiet reading
Most iconic: Mission Beach
This centrally located spot is the epitome of a Southern California beach, thanks to its busy boardwalk and iconic wooden Giant Dipper roller coaster.
Most underrated: Imperial Beach
This spot is forgotten by many people living north of state Route 94. But there's plenty of charm to be found here, starting with its wooden pier.
Most local: Pacific Beach
While tourists and teens congregate at Mission Beach, many of the city's longtime surfers hang out at Pacific Beach, specifically at Tourmaline.
Most beloved: Coronado
Voted America's best beach for 2012 by Stephen "Dr. Beach" Leatherman, Coronado Municipal Beach is adored by locals and tourists equally.
Best for families: Moonlight Beach
Moonlight is like an all-inclusive cruise — it has parking, restrooms, showers, grassy picnic areas, fire pits, a playground, volleyball courts and even a snack shop, all in one defined area
Most diverse: Oceanside
From military wives sunbathing to large families picnicking, Oceanside is as culturally diverse as a Benetton ad.
Most (proudly) gritty: Ocean Beach
"Keep O.B. weird" is the unofficial motto for this spot, where you can find drum circles and nightly sunset gatherings.
Best for water sports: La Jolla Shores
Thanks to the gentle waves, this is where tourists and locals alike learn to surf, scuba dive and kayak.
Most relaxing: Del Mar
If you're not careful, you can drive right by the Del Mar beaches, which is one reason why so many locals love it.
Best for staying clean: Fletcher Cove
Those who like to look at the ocean without having to deal with the sand will be happy at this Solana Beach spot.
The whole story
If you're looking for more information, like where to park, what restaurants are near each spot, sand cleanliness and other random facts, check out our complete story. How did local beaches fare in the annual water quality report card?


text:
College baseball roundup: Arkansas sweeps USC
Published: Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 3:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 12:56 a.m.
Staff reports
In Columbia, fifth-ranked South Carolina rallied from a pair of runs down to tie the game in the seventh inning, but 17th-ranked Arkansas used a two-out two-run single from Matt Vinson in the top of the 11th inning to defeat the Gamecocks 5-3 on Sunday afternoon.
The Razorbacks completed the three-game series sweep and improved to 17-7 and 4-2 in SEC play. The Gamecocks dropped to 18-6 and 2-4 in conference play.
Down 3-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Gamecocks fought back as Grayson Greiner drew a one-out walk and Connor Bright reached base with two outs on a fielding error by Razorback shortstop Brian Anderson.
With runners on first and second, Erik Payne roped a single into the gap in right-center field that scored Greiner to cut the deficit to one. After a walk to Sean Sullivan loaded the bases, Tanner English worked a 3-2 count against Arkansas reliever Brandon Moore and then drew a walk scoring Bright to tie the game.
Joey Pankake, the only Gamecock to record more than one hit, went 2-for-6 from the plate.
Tyler Webb (0-1) suffered the loss in relief, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Jacksonville 6-7, USC Upstate 4-19: In Jacksonville, Fla., after scoring just four runs in the first two games of the weekend, the USC Upstate baseball team broke out Sunday evening, scoring 19 runs on as many hits to cruise past Jacksonville University in Game 2 of a doubleheader.
The Spartans (13-9, 2-4 A-Sun) salvaged the weekend finale and won their first road game of the season, while the Dolphins (9-15, 2-1 A-Sun) came up short in a bid for their first three-game sweep.
The Spartans got things rolling in the first two innings, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs in each frame to take a commanding 8-2 lead.
The offense was just getting going, as the Spartans came out in the third inning and recorded five hits and scored seven more runs to jump on top 15-2. Brandon Patterson fueled the outburst with a two-run single, while Brody Greer added a two-run double.
Patterson ended the game with four hits and six RBIs, while Tyler Lesch added four hits and scored four runs.
In Game 1, the Spartans surrendered five early runs in the loss.
The Dolphins broke out the bats early, scoring a run in the first frame and adding four more in the second to take a commanding 5-0 lead.
USC Upstate bounced back in the third inning and put two on the board when Gaither Bumgardner singled home Greer and Lesch followed with a ground out to plate Jordan Stampler.
Spartans' David Roseboom (4-1) suffered his first loss of the year, allowing six earned runs on nine hits ins six innings.
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.


text:
|Length Overall
|23' 0''
7.0 m
|Dry Weight
3,595 lbs.
1,631 kg
8' 6''
2.59 m
|Tested Weight
89 cm
|Weight Capacity
|Draft Up
|Person Capacity
|Draft Down
|Fuel Capacity
32 gal.
|Air Draft
|Water Capacity
|Length on Trailer
|Max Headroom
|Height on Trailer
|Bridge Clearance
|Trailer Weight
|Total Package Weight (Trailer,Boat & Engine)
|Prices, features, designs, and equipment are subject to change. Please see your local dealer or visit the builder's website for the latest information available on this boat model.
|Std. Power
|Tested Power
|Currently no test numbers
|Opt. Power
11 single Mercury engines up to 430-hp
The all new Larson All American 23 has a LOA of 23' (7 m) and a beam of 8'6" (2.6 m) and has classic -- and classy -- styling such as her rounded stern quarters and centerline walkover.
Mission Statement
The Larson All American 23 is designed as a celebration of Larson's 100th anniversary making boats. She successfully combines the newest technology with a mix of old school charm. When going through her features it's hard not to be convinced that one should be dressed in period clothes that reflect the mood of the moment. But where she departs from other boats from two or three brands in this genre, is that she has been designed with higher freeboard in order to actually be used for towing sports and not just to simply look cool in advertisements.
Four important things hit us in this bird's eye view of the Larson All American 23: 1) We like the cream and dark tan two-tone upholstery colors because they look so classy; 2) The standard extended swim platform reaches beyond the lower unit when it is down, 3) There is a flip-up centerline armrest on the aft bench seat; 4) The optional port and starboard seat inserts in the bow can be removed so both sides can handle forward sitting while underway, not just forward lounging.
Distinguishing Features
Swooping Sheer Line. This gives the 23 an distinctive look that we haven't seen in years, if not decades, in sportboats. It harks back to the 1960s, if not before.
Power Choices. She comes with a standard 220-hp MerCruiser 4.3 MPI but that's really a builder "must-have" from a competitive price-point perspective. Upgrades include a 260-hp 5.0L engine but the sweet spot will likely be found in the 300-hp V-8 350 MAG.
Faux Teak Mat Decking. This standard adds a touch of old school charm with new, low-maintenance tech to both the integral and standard extended swim platform, as well as on the centerline walk-over on the engine box.
Colored Hull Standard. Larson makes a choice of either dark blue (we swoon) or tan available as standard hull colors. (Regular readers know how much we like colored hulls as they raise the eye-appeal of any boat 100% in our opinion.)
Standard Trailer. Most builders in class do not package the trailer as standard in sportboats at this price point.
Do you remember the wraparound automobile windshields of the late 1950s? They inspired Larson's treatment of the 23's windshield. Note its polished stainless steel header.
Forward-Facing Bow Seating. Larson has designed its bow seating with optional port and starboard inserts that can be removed, converting lounge seating to forward-facing seating. Some enclosed storage is given up for this amenity, but carry-on bags with gear can be stuffed under the inserts if storage is needed.
Extended Swim Platform Clears Lower Unit. When down the lower unit is tucked under the extended swim platform so swimmers can slide into the water and not have to worry about where.
VEC Hull Lamination. Larson's VEC process is not just boat-builder hype. It actually produces incredibly precise hulls using a closed-molded composite lamination process used for expensive steel molds and fabrication tooling. The result is a one-piece hull with an integrated composite stringer and transom system that is stronger and lighter.
5-To-Life Warranty. The hull has a lifetime warranty which can be transferred to a second owner. The engine and trailer have their own -- shorter --warranties. The "5" part of the warranty covers "virtually all of the boat's components," according to the Larson spokesperson.
The All American 23 comes in two standard, two-tone colors -- blue and tan plus cream. Note that the extended swim platform extends beyond the lower unit.
Features Inspection
In the bow, Larson went with a seating arrangement that's a bit of a departure from what we regularly see. Instead of the usual lounge seats, here we have separate seats formed with wraparound backrests just ahead of the consoles. This still allows facing forward or towards the center and an optional table ($447) creates an inviting atmosphere coupled with a third seat forward. Optional filler cushions ($429) create a full sun pad.
Cockpit depth to the caprails is 33" (84 cm) and this is generous for this size and style of boat. We like the pop-up cleat on the centerline of the bow for an anchor line, but there is no dedicated anchor locker under the bow deck. An anchor -- which all boats should have -- will have to be stowed under one of the seats. An optional anchor windlass is available.
Three separate bow seats offer a change from the usual seating we typically see. The table is an option.
An optional table can be moved to the bow or stern and really completes the comfort level.
The cockpit features sport seating with standard high-back, reclining dual bucket seats with self-leveling arm rests and a bench seat aft. The bucket seats slide fore and aft, swivel, and have optional flip-up bolsters. The cockpit depth is a safe 34.5" (87 cm). Optional reclining helm and companion seats ($286 each) with flip-up armrests and high backs are offered and should be considered, given the class value this boat presents, in our opinion.
We love the look of the thin faux wood steering wheel. The premium stereo and moving map seem out of place and time, but provide a comfortable mix of old and new. Perhaps playing some Benny Goodman MP3s will do the trick.
Multi-function analog gauges reduce clutter and barrel mounts add to the old charm. The light color serves to knock down glare. We like the simulated burl wood facing.
Obviously the folks at Larson felt that having a depth sounder was an important bit of modern technology to add as standard to the instrument panel. We like how the builder has tried hard to make this digital device look as retro as possible. Note the depth gauge's on-off switch at lower left so that the unsightly digital display can be eliminated.
More Retro. The thin, wood grained steering wheel is one item that solidly speaks of the olden days. It's got a look that's fresh out of a 57 Chevy and looks well placed in this boat's surroundings. But it's also connected to standard power-assist steering and mounted to a tilt base.
Stereo sound did not come out until the late 1950s for homes, and appeared much, much later in sportboats. Nevertheless, these days even the most retro bowrider would not be complete with the de rigueur AM/FM stereo with four speakers and MP3/iPod ports, and the All American 23 has them all. The boat shown on this page has the optional Lowrance HDS5 ($993) moving map display, which we think is not only out of place on this boat, but also unneeded in most cases.
The upholstery has a comfortable look of pleats, lots of well-executed stitching and multiple tones. We like the rounded corners which are hard to build and upholster but look delightfully retro and classy to us.
Storage to the Rescue. Larson also did a good job with storage on the All American 23 in spite of eliminating some in the bow. There are a lot of cushions to be dealt with between the walkthrough fillers and the forward playpen. Drawers under the aft bench seats and dedicated storage spots in the engine compartment take care of all items in short order. Under the port side of the aft seat is a ski locker behind a flip-down door.
Here is a boat being removed from the VEC Technology cell. From here, it goes right to the final assembly line, rather than having to sit waiting to cure.
VEC Tech
This 23 footer (7.01 m) is the largest boat that Larson produces with its proprietary VEC technology. VEC stands for Virtual Engineered Composites, and it basically replaces the time-honored method of having a team of guys spraying fiberglass chop strand into a mold and then painstakingly rolling out any air bubbles or imperfections to try and get a uniformed layered hull.
With the VEC system, water is used to support the form (remember high school physics, you can't compress a liquid) that contains the specially-formulated fiberglass cloth and compost materials. Under pressure, proprietary resins are injected into the two-part mold and the result is a hull from one to the next with near surgical precision. And the boats pop out of the mold at the rate of roughly one every 45-60 minutes! It can be done by just a few guys and the whole process is computer controlled by people monitoring the (over 400) variables.
The advantage for consumers of the VEC system is a light-weight, very strong hull with stringers molded in at the same time -- with the same continuous resin flow -- as the hull so there is no stringer-to-hull bond -- it is all one piece. Because it's computer-controlled, that means we don't have to worry about a boat being built on a Monday or Friday anymore. They all come out uniformly perfect.
The All American 23 has a VEC SofRide hull which is both efficient and stable. She has a 16-degree deadrise at the transom which we think is a good compromise for a boat that will be used mostly on rivers and lakes.
The base price of the All American 23 is $52,206 powered by a 4.3 L MPI 220-hp MerCruiser engine. That is probably the most economical power plant for people wanting to cruise the lake in a boat that will turn heads wherever she goes, but she will not break any speed records.
For those wanting to load the boat up to her maximum carrying capacity of 10 people and that want to tow tubby wakeboarders, then we would suggest upgrading to a 260-hp or 300-hp engine option. The most powerful package offered is the MerCruiser 300-hp 350 MAG with Bravo III drive which has an MSRP of $61,779.
We think for people who appreciate the retro look and the era it represents who also want a boat that has been designed for modern-day watersports including wakeboarding, then this boat should be seriously considered. It may have taken 100 years to get there, but Larson has done a fine job of creating a pleasant mix of sporty, old school charm, and new world tech all combined into one boat that is the All American 23.
|Marine Electronics
|Battery Charger/Converter
|Exterior Features
|Carpet: Cockpit
|Outlet: 12-Volt Acc
|Swim Ladder
|Swim Platform
|Tower: Watersports
|Transom Door
|Transom Shower
|Bimini Top
|Cockpit Cover
= Standard = Optional
|Warranties change from time to time. While BoatTEST.com has tried to ensure the most up-to-date warranty offered by each builder, it does not guarantee the accuracies of the information presented below. Please check with the boat builder or your local dealer before you buy any boat.
|Hull Warranty
|5 to life limited
|Pricing Range
|Prices, features, designs, and equipment are subject to change. Please see your local dealer or visit the builder's website for the latest information available on this boat model.


text:
Michael De Pippo Muppet Concert Posters
Category: Designers/Studios, Illustration,
Posted by: Maz
Posted: Sep 26th 2011
No. of comments: 0
Posted: Sep 26th 2011
No. of comments: 0
I absolutely love this Dr Teeth and The Electric Mayhem poster series by designer/illustrator Michael De Pippo. Simple, colourful...and a perfect tribute to the late, great Jim Henson who would have been 75 last weekend.