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Feline success story makes home feel good again
Couple's new cat, Luke, came from animal shelter
Published: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 3:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 6:40 p.m.
The day we visited the Spartanburg Humane Society, we were only dropping off food.
Usually, we just leave it outside the door, but on this particular day, we took the food inside. Thank goodness we did, for there in a cage across from where we brought the food was Fuzzy, now known at our house as Luke.
People talk about love at first sight, but when I looked at Fuzzy, I felt like he was just what my husband and I needed to make our home feel good again, as we had recently lost our cat of 14 years.
After asking some questions about Fuzzy, we went to a room to see how we would connect. He was a very inquisitive cat, and very loving and gentle. We couldn't wait to take him home.
On the ride home, he was quiet and well behaved, just looking around and enjoying the ride.
He still goes from room to room looking to see what he can find, kind of like a treasure hunt. He does not like to be alone and will call to us if we leave the room. He loves to snuggle and be cuddled. He has a great appetite and loves cat treats.
He is very playful. He has a fishing pole with a toy at the end that he loves to run and jump and play with, and a toy tunnel that is very noisy and is also one of his favorite things. He still has a toy fish from the shelter that is very special to him.
Brushing him is hilarious, as he loves it but moves around as you brush him. He also loves to be rubbed and petted constantly. He loves to hide and then dash off down the hall like he's chasing something.
People might think we rescued him, but the way we see it, he rescued us from the sadness of the loss we felt after losing our other cat. I guess you could say we rescued each other.
We can't imagine life without Fuzzy, now known as Luke.
Hopefully, everyone will find their four-legged friend at the shelter. I am sure there is a friend there for everyone.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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SANTA CLARA -- If the nation didn't notice earlier, 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman charged Monday night into the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year picture.
Bowman's signature play of his upstart campaign will be his 89-yard interception return for a touchdown that secured a 34-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons, locked up a playoff berth and ignited Candlestick Park's likely farewell celebration.
There is no runaway candidate for the league's top defensive honor, unlike on the offensive side where the Denver Broncos' Peyton Manning seems a lock for his fifth NFL MVP award.
Bowman's case is worthy, noble and, truth be told, probably that of an underdog, even inside the NFC West.
Here who's getting mentioned -- by media members, coaches, teammates and even themselves -- as the potential AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year:
For more on the 49ers, see Cam Inman's Hot Read blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/CamInman.

subset: commoncrawl


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The cast and crew of The Vail Valley Theatre Company's (VVTC) upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim's musical comedy "Company" are busy volunteering their time to create two weekends of highly-entertaining live theater for the Vail Valley community this October. "Company" revolves around Robert, a single man who celebrates his 35th birthday in the show with his best friends, five married couples. Through a series of vignettes, each couple sheds a different light on the pros and cons of marriage. This week, we meet two more of these couples: "Jenny and David" and "Paul and Amy."'Wonderfully unexpected moments'Jenny, played by Franny Gustafson, is sweet and innocent and a bit of a square. David, played by Jason Steinberg, is a good guy who loves his wife unconditionally, but can relate to Robert's desire to stay single. Through the course of a hilariously intoxicating evening, Jenny and David grill Robert as to why he hasn't settled down yet.Gustafson, a Minnesota native, has lived in the valley for a year and a half and works as the children's book specialist at The Bookworm in Edwards. She has been acting since she was a kid, and was last seen in VVTC's "Heroes and Villains" Cabaret performed at Agave in Avon. "I find theater challenging, scary, and inspiring," Gustafson said. "Acting requires you to become vulnerable and to grow in ways you never expect. Every rehearsal and performance is different and full of wonderfully unexpected moments."Jason Steinberg first stepped on the boards his senior year of high school and continued doing shows in college where he studied vocal performance. He has lived in the Vail Valley for four years and currently works at the Ace Hardware in Vail. "In total, I've done about 25 musicals and operas," the Abilene, Texas, native said. "I love singing and performing. I got involved with VVTC about a year ago when I performed in one of their Cabaret shows at The Fitz Lounge in Vail."'I'm not getting married today!'We meet our next couple, "Paul and Amy" on their wedding day when Amy is having a full-blown panic attack, convinced she's not getting married today. Poor Paul is cool as a cucumber attempting to calm her nerves. Robert, the best man, witnesses Amy's neurosis and realizes she shares the same fears he has when it comes to the commitment of marriage. I'm a real estate broker with Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate, and studied theater arts at Stephens College in Columbia, MO, and have lived in Edwards with my husband for seven years. I was last seen in VVTC's production of "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" performed at Montaa's After Dark in Avon. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to play the neurotic bride, Amy. Though I've been happily married to my husband for 10 years, it's so fun to think back on those wedding-day jitters. I'm proud to say I was nothing like Amy on my wedding day.Amy's fianc, Paul, will be played by Oxford, Miss. native, Scott Hopkins, who teaches 5th-8th grade science at the Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy, and also teaches ballroom dancing classes at Battle Mountain High School on Monday nights. Hopkins made his first appearance with VVTC three years ago, and thoroughly enjoys volunteering his free time to perform live theater for the Vail Valley."As a performer, there is an incredible rush that comes from putting yourself out there and witnessing an audience completely enveloped in the story you are telling," he said. "'Company' has so many great moments; the audience will surely relate to many of the thoughts and feelings of the characters we portray in this show."Stay tuned to this weekly column to meet the rest of the cast and crew. Whether you're married, single, in a relationship, engaged, divorced, or any combination of the above, you're sure to enjoy the adventure that is "Company."Didi Doolittle is a Vail Valley Realtor and actor on the side. Email comments about this column to firstname.lastname@example.com.
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September 23, 2012
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text: Skydiving.com is proud to have a skydiving network that services Christian County, IL and the surrouding areas. Have you been dreaming of taking the plunge in Christian County for some time? No worries. Give Skydiving.com a call today at 1-800-617-7948 to inquire about skydiving in Christian County, IL or any other county surrounding Christian County!


text:
- Vive le football libre!
- Currently Unavailable
This season France will work hard to bring confidence, vision and creativity to the field.
This is the jersey in which France will train.
Dri-FIT moisture control and full mesh back and side panels ensure comfort and ventilation.
Screened France team badge and Nike logo at front.
100% lightweight polyester.
Lamentamos que todavia no hay descripción en español para este producto.


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this wiki
Deadwood was a city located in South Dakota on Earth.
With the help of Reginald Barclay, Alexander Rozhenko designed a recreational holoprogram in 2369, which depicted Earth's 19th century "the Ancient West" or better known as the "Wild West".
The program allowed participants to play the town sheriff, his deputy, and Durango, a mysterious stranger. The setting consisted of an old western town with the Gold Strike Saloon, Miss Langford's House of Pleasure, a sheriff's office, and other buildings which were from that period. The objective of the program was to apprehend Eli Hollander, "the Butcher of Bozeman", a known criminal wanted for murder.
Deanna Troi, Worf, and Alexander were running this program when a experiment which Geordi La Forge and Data were conducting went wrong and influenced the program, giving the main characters Data's physical characteristics and removing the holodeck safeguards, making the 19th century firearms deadly. (TNG: "A Fistful of Datas")
External links Edit
- Deadwood at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- Deadwood, South Dakota at Wikipedia


text:
NEW: For a prettier blog interface, see the Wordpress version!
Priorities - A: high, B: medium, C: low; Status - _: unfinished, X: finished, C: cancelled, P: pending, o: in progress, >: delegated. Covey quadrants - Q1 & Q3: urgent, Q1 & Q2: important
|Really fix slides {{Tasks:134}} (E-Mail from Luis F. G. Sarmenta)
|Check if the requested gnus thingy works {{Tasks:131}} (E-Mail from Thomas Gehrlein)
|Switch to a saner versioning system - 2.x.y, where x is a new user-visible feature and y is a bugfix release. {{Tasks:127}} (PlannerModeCompletedTasks)
|Return append to planner plan page {{Tasks:130}} (E-Mail from Yvonne Thomson)
7. Testing hello world : 10:26
Xref: RememberEl#3
6. My .gnus disappeared! : 10:22
Emacs backup files to the rescue. Whew!
5. Gnus pending : 03:24
Xref: EmacsHacks#2
4. Smarter Gnus scoring : 02:53
Xref: EmacsHacks#1
3. Brent Goodrick's calendar improvements : 01:55
Xref: PlannerMode#11
2. Jody Klymak's PlannerMode page : 01:24
Xref: PlannerMode#10
1. Testing again : 00:24
Xref: RememberEl#2
I'd love to hear about any questions, comments, suggestions or links that you might have. Your comments will not be posted on this website immediately, but will be e-mailed to me first. You can use this form to get in touch with me, or e-mail me at [email protected] .


text:
miCoach SPEED_CELL For iPhone/iPod Bundle
- Keep up - F50 with miCoach SPEED_CELL!
- Currently Unavailable
The adizero is one of the lightest, fastest boots to hit the field and it now comes with miCoach SPEED_CELL for iPhone/iPod #42038. NOTE: miCoach is not compatible with iPhone 5.
Full-grain leather upper for excellent comfort and in-boot feel.
Ultralight sockliner is carefully designed to not add bulk. Comes with second pair of comfort sockliners.
Sprint frame outsole for lightweight stability.
TRX TPU outsole has a new stud configuration that improves your balance at top speeds.
F50 adizero WEIGHT: (6.1 oz.). miCoach SPEED_CELL WEIGHT: (0.2 oz.)
miCoach SPEED_CELL:
Whether on field, on court, in a game or in training, your movements are captured.
Easy to use. No wires, just you, your shoes and your new miCoach SPEED_CELL. On-Board Memory stores all measurements during your workout/game (every 5 sec).
Afterwards the file is sent wirelessly to your mobile app or your phone/iPod. Key performance metrics are captured/measured every second in all directions.
Instantly compete and compare your stats. Know how fast you are, brag about it, get rewarded, get status. The miCoach SPEED_CELL and platform allows you to compare your stats vs. your team, your league, your state, the pros. And to easily share the data with your friends, coach, and community.
Time: per session, and cumulative
Distance: per session, in cumulative
Speed: max. speed per session, fastest speed
Number of sprints
Lamentamos que todavia no hay descripción en español para este producto.


text:
Black's Tires & Auto Services
North Carolina and South Carolina
Whether you are searching for the best quality name brand tires in North Carolina or looking to customize any vehicle with top of the line wheels, look no further than Black's Tire and Auto Service. Serving both North Carolina and South Carolina for over eighty-five years, Black's Tire and Auto Service specializes in providing customers with the best quality parts coupled with unmatchable customer service. No matter how large the repair or small the concern, staff values their customers above all else.
Never compromising to perform at the best of their ability, technicians work tirelessly to ensure the safety of their customers and timeliness of services.
- Featured Savings


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Carthage will send two runners to the Class 4, Sectional 3 cross country race next weekend in Camdenton.
Seniors Ben Southwick and Carter Hensley finished in the top 30 at Saturday's Class 4, District 6 race at Lake Springfield. Southwick posted a time of 17:33.46 to place ninth, and Hensley finished 26th with a time of 18:14.96. The top 30 runners in the field of 73 qualify for the sectional race.
Sophomore Eli Wells placed 46th in 19:05.34, freshman Clay Hensley finished 49th in 19:11.68, sophomore Riley Schmidt was 55th in 19:18.49, junior Jared Golden took 64th in 20:27.68, and junior Adolfo Reyes placed 69th in 21:56.46.
Carthage took ninth in the team standings, with Kickapoo, Joplin, Nixa, Webb City and Ozark earning the top five spots. Joplin senior Matt Riechman-Bennett won the individual title with a time of 16:31.40, and Kickapoo placed three runners in the top 10.
Freshman Grant Miller was Webb City's top runner, placing 20th in 18:10.05.
In the girls' race, Carthage junior Bree Smart finished 39th with a time of 23:22.62, sophomore Kaytin Conness took 41st in 23:40.08, and sophomore Dasha Leonteyva finished 57th in 25:30.05.
Branson freshman Adeline Holder was the top individual, posting a time of 20:35.90, and Webb City senior Natalie Capron finished seventh in 21:08.62.
Branson was tops in the team standings, followed by Nixa, Kickapoo, Ozark, Webb City, Neosho, Republic, Parkview, Joplin and Willard.
Location, ST | website.com


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For most people seeing tornadoes means running for cover.
For Houston County EMA Director, Clark Matthews, the work has just begun.
"You know, we have a lot of weather events here that requires you to come here all through the day and night. You know they don't pick the hour to come and its just long hours," said Clark Matthews, Houston Co. EMA Director.
Matthews has been the director for 7 years, so that means a long list of missed anniversaries and birthdays. Finally, it's time to retire; his last day at the EMA is May 31st. Matthews has been through it all—numerous hurricanes, the North Alabama tornadoes, and drills at the Farley Nuclear Plant. But what comes to Dothan Fire Chief Larry Williams' mind, is the flood of the century.
"We went through a lot of devastation in our city and our county. Of course Clark was there, taking care of every need of everybody that he can. He put in everything he had to try to solve all the problems for the people," said Williams.
So now the search is on, for someone the community knows they can count on.
"An EMA director is a coordinator, their job is to bring together numerous agencies, numerous resources and put us in a room if you will...to solve problems," said Williams.
This means coordinating plans, but also being at the disaster zone.
"You got to see a lot of the people who were directly affected and you got a chance to really be hands on with the people and see outcomes. A lot of times at the EMA you are helping folks but you just don't ever get to see it," said Matthews.
But the most important thing is the desire to help the community.
Matthews said his greatest achievement while being EMA director was getting outdoor tornado sirens installed. When he began at the Houston County EMA there were no outdoor tornado sirens and now there are 37—all to help keep the community safe, when danger strikes.


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Katie Alyssa Brown, Casey Norman Allison
Published: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 11:38 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 11:38 a.m.
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Brown are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Katie Alyssa Brown, to Casey Norman Allison, son of Mr. Norman Allison and the late Debbie Case Allison of Mills River, NC.
Katie is a 2010 graduate of Boiling Springs High School (Boiling Springs, SC) and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Wingate University in May of 2014.
Casey is a 2008 graduate of West Henderson High School and a 2013 graduate of Wingate University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services.
Casey is currently employed with BB&T of Fletcher, North Carolina.
The couple will be married June 7th, 2014 in Boiling Springs, South Carolina at Northbrook Baptist Church.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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NAPA -- Marcel Reece came into training camp with the usual enthusiasm and zeal for all things silver and black.
Yet for anyone who has observed the Raiders fullback over the past few years, something was missing, and it was evident at first glance. Reece has lost about 15 pounds, going from 250 pounds a year ago to around 235.
Why would a two-time Pro Bowl player change anything?
"I change my game in a lot of ways every year," Reece said following practice Monday. "This year it just happened to be physically noticeable. I didn't think it was a big deal until I got here and you guys started talking about it."
Reece was fast enough last season to burst for a career-long 63-yard touchdown run against the New York Jets. He leaked out of the backfield often enough for 32 receptions for 331 yards. He wanted more. He went to running backs coach Skip Peete, offensive coordinator Greg Olson and head coach Dennis Allen and everyone agreed Reece might be more explosive at a lighter weight.
"Everyone focuses on the number, whether it's 255 or 238 or 240," Reece said. "To me, it's not about that. It's about feeling good, feeling leaner, feeling I can do anything on the field without limitations."
The immediate concern among fans is that Reece's blocking could be jeopardized. However, Reece is more valuable as an offensive weapon and matchup problem than he is as a blocker, with Jamize Olawale available for pure power. Blocking isn't always about size, as evidenced by Raiders assistant Justin Griffith, who was an excellent blocking fullback for the Falcons and Raiders while seldom weighing over 230 pounds.
"I think actually it will help my blocking," Reece said. "When you're younger, you think it's all brute strength and size and how big you are. To be honest, blocking is really technical. Of course there's a physical aspect to it, but my strength as gone nowhere. I feel stronger than ever.
"It wasn't about losing weight and slimming down -- a lot of people lose weight. It was about losing body fat, gaining lean muscle."
Allen said he didn't think Reece's blocking would be affected and said, "where it's going to help him is in the passing game. Marcel's been effective for us and we've been able to get Marcel the ball and we're going to continue to get Marcel the ball. He'll be a guy that we're going to count on to help us this year."
Reece's receiving numbers were down overall in 2013 after catching 52 passes for 396 yards in 2012.
-- The Raiders are off Tuesday and resume practice Wednesday at 3 p.m.
For more on the Raiders, visit the Inside the Oakland Raiders blog at ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders. Follow Jerry McDonald on Twitter at twitter.com/Jerrymcd.


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Emergencies & After Hours
Information for Patients
Medical Services
Counseling Services
Health Education
Student Health Advisory Committee
Peer Health Education
Health Care for UMD Employees
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Identity
People discover their sexual orientation in different ways. Some are sure from the time they are very young. Some spend years trying to figure things out. Some feel certain for a long time, then have a period of doubt or change.
It's OK not to know if you're gay or straight. Asking these questions might help:
If you answered "yes" to most of these questions, you have a lot to think about. But there is no test that says for certain that someone is gay. It's important to give yourself the chance to question and explore what's right for you.
Sometimes, it's helpful to discuss your thoughts and feelings with someone you trust. To schedule an appointment with a Health Services counselor, call 218-726-7913.


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Olena Lee Walker was born Aug. 2, 1930, in Prague and departed this life Tuesday, Nov. 13,, 2012, in Shawnee at the age of 82.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 17, at Parks Brothers Funeral Chapel in Prague with Rev. Randall Miller officiating. Interment will follow at the Prague Cemetery.
Services are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague.
A guestbook is available to share your memories online at www.ParksBrothers.net.
Location, ST | website.com


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PhRMA Statement on Medicare Part D Premiums
PhRMA Statement on Medicare Part D Premiums
Washington, D.C. (August 7, 2012) — Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Senior Vice President Matthew Bennett issued the following statement today on the continued success of Medicare Part D:
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $49.5 billion in 2011 in discovering and developing new medicines.
Find PhRMA Online:
- Website – http://www.phrma.org
- facebook – www.facebook.com/PhRMA
- Blog – www.phrma.org/catalyst
- Twitter – www.Twitter.com/PhRMA and www.Twitter.com/PhRMApress
- YouTube – www.youtube.com/PhRMApress
- E-News Alerts – www.phrma.org/updates
For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org
For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: http://www.pparx.org
For information on ensuring the flow of medicines during public health emergencies, visit http://www.rxresponse.org


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Like glitter and spangles shot from a cannon, Season 18 of "Dancing With the Stars" started with a bang Monday night. A high-energy dance routine with all of the pro dancers and singer-songwriter-dancer Jason Derulo performing his hit featuring 2 Chainz "Talk Dirty," the first time a live musical act has opened the show.
While there were new celebrities, new bandleader, Ray Chew, with his band and singers, and new co-host Erin Andrews, some things returned to the way they were in Season 16. First of all, host Tom Bergeron pointed out, "I'm still Tom Bergeron," and then talked about how the judges were seated once more on the side of the dance floor to the left of the stage, and the skybox was reborn as the place where the dancers can watch their competition perform and wait for scores. Last season's odd placement of judges and dancers sitting next to each other on the sidelines was described by host Tom Bergeron as a little experiment.
To be honest, some of the celebrities just screamed out that they would be good from the getgo, but I was pleasantly surprised by almost all of the celebs and how they attacked their routines. Co-host Erin Andrews is a refreshing change with her spontaneous remarks and interview style. In fact, I think the Powers That Be may ask her to dial it back it bit -- but maybe she was just nervous. And she never put her hand on her hip or posed for the camera!
The couples danced contemporary or foxtrot or cha cha cha, and there was really only a couple of lulls in the level of excitement during the night. Here are the 12 couples in the order they performed.
Nene Leakes and Tony Dovolani -- cha cha cha
Nene came out smokin' and had Tony dripping from the exertion of their hot cha cha cha. Head judge Len Goodman, with a big smile, said, "That's the way to get the party started!" Judge Bruno Tonioli agreed, adding that he loved the energy and good footwork, and judge Carrie Ann Inaba also thought she did a great job and wondered why Nene was crying. Tom commented on Nene's moves with, "I haven't seen shaking like that since this morning's quake."
James Maslow and Peta Murgatroyd -- foxtrot
A lot of time was spent on what kind of relationship the pair had prior to being dance partners. It turned out that James had asked Peta out to dinner early in the year, not knowing that they would be paired up, and the cameras recorded Peta's shock when James walked through the door. Their foxtrot was very romantic and they seem to have a real connection. Bruno said, "You put a lot of effort into the dance. As a first effort, it was very good." Carrie Ann, admitting that she has a bit of a crush on James, said they have a natural elegance together. Len got right to the point: "You and I know why we're her -- for a little eye candy for the ladies," and thought James did a good job. Erin pressured the pair to 'fess up to their relationship, but James didn't bite and said, "We met before and I'm just learning to dance." Uh-huh.
Danica McKeller and Val Chmerkovskiy -- foxtrot
It looks like Danica has Val right where she wants him, and he seemed like an angel with her. They were so smooth and just might go all the way to the finals if they can keep it up. Carrie Ann called Danica "so incredible" but advised her to "be careful a tad with your shoulders." Len expanded on that, saying that she had too tight a hold on Val's left shoulder and that affected her shoulders. He added that his first impression was "terrific." Bruno called her a saucy girl after she planted a kiss on the judge at the end of the dance and that she sold the routine well.
Sean Avery and Karina Smirnoff -- contemporary
I'm not sure about the addition of contemporary to ballroom dances, but I'm guessing it's a ploy to gain younger viewers. There is not a lot of dance steps and centers more on lifts and spins. There were a lot of lifts in the routine, but it was done well. Len said it was full of intensity but needs more finesse. Bruno told Sean that he needs to work more on links and transitions, and Carrie Ann said Sean was "fascinating" to watch.
Billy Dee Williams and Emma Slater -- cha cha cha
I'm afraid that this was the low point in the show. Resorting to a "Star Wars" theme with stormtroopers, Wookies and even R2D2 to sell the routine, even Emma in a Princess Leia outfit couldn't disguise that Billy Dee walked his way through it. Bruno said he needed to play it up bigger, Carrie Ann said they needed a "little more from you next week" and Len said he was on time and didn't forget the routine. I think Billy Dee is this season's senior celeb who could go out early.
Meryl Davis and Maksim Chmerkovskiy -- cha cha cha
Meryl is as good on the dance floor as she is on the ice rink, graceful and full of charisma. In fact, the crowd was cheering so long and hard that no one could even hear what Carrie Ann said about her routine, although you could tell it was good news. Len had the winning line: "You are nice on ice and good on wood," and Bruno said Meryl had a combination of precision, sharpness and lyricism of her arms. Erin started the skybox interview with Charlie White, Meryl's Olympic partner, and asking how it was to watch her with Maks. Charlie was gracious and called her "awesome."
Candace Cameron-Burke and Mark Ballas -- contemporary
This routine had a lot of creativity and not just lifts, and Candace was a real surprise. She and Mark may be the "dark horse" that sneaks into the finals. Len commented, " You can dance! Well done!" Bruno called her dynamic and dramatic and that he was torn between ecstasy and torment, that she used the floor so well. Carrie Ann was overwhelmed: "You are such an incredible dancer! I want to work with you. Where did you come from?" In the skybox, Erin brought up that at one time years before, a guy dumped Candace to date Danica. I'll bet he is watching somewhere.
Cody Simpson and Witney Carson -- cha cha cha
The youngest dancers on the floor, this pair had a ton of energy going for them in the cha cha cha. However, Bruno warned Cody to watch his basic technique, Carrie Ann told him that his upper body was great, but his lower body and feet needed work on technique. Len agreed that work was needed on technique but that they pair were full of confidence, attack and energy. Erin called the two good-looking blondes, the "Doublemint Twins" but Cody got a bit tongue-tied when talking about his equally blonde girlfriend in the audience.
Drew Carey and Cheryl Burke -- foxtrot
The crowd loved Drew and Cheryl and he performed well in the foxtrot. Cheryl is a great teacher and this could be a couple on the rise. Carrie Ann said they "just found our crowd-pleaser" and that she loved the classic approach, Len called them "very watchable, good fun," and Bruno said there was a lot of content that could have been better a few times. Drew looked like he was having fun although his smile faded several times during the dance. Nerves.
Amy Purdy and Derek Hough -- cha cha cha
For a double amputee, having Derek as a partner is the answer to a dream. They looked awesome and the crowd went nuts! Len began, "Let's be clear on one thing to start. We can't judge you any different and that's the way you like it. You got a bronze medal at the Paralympics and a gold medal in the cha cha cha!" Bruno called her "beyond belief" as to timing, shapes, performance level. "I'm gobsmacked," he said, and Carrie Ann said, "I'm in shock. You are like a beacon of light in this room ... and that hip action was killer!"
Diana Nyad and Henry Byalikov -- foxtrot
Diana is determined with a capital "D" but she may not have the graceful moves to match. We'll see what happens next week. Bruno called her a million-dollar mermaid but she needed to smooth out her moves. Carrie Ann said Diana got more and more comfortable as the routine went on but she's not feeling her feet yet (Diane never wears heels). Len told her that if determination and the will to get through it has anything to do with it, "you're going to make it." Erin asked which was worse, sharks or Bruno? Diana said, "Maks." Tom observed that she had a dry wit but the judges were all wet.
Charlie White and Sharna Burgess -- contemporary
Charlie, for all of his grace and leadership on ice, lucked out with contemporary so he could use his strength on the lifts and didn't need to remember a lot of dance steps, but he and Sharna did an outstanding job on the routine. With a giggle, Carrie Ann called them "the perfect pair, ying and yang." Len said it was a good dance for him on Week 1, like ice dancing without the ice, but he will like to see what dance Charlie can do next week. Bruno said, "Very simply, Charlie, you're an artist," and that he hoped Charlie continues because the dance was "astonishing." When Erin asked how much advantage Charlie has due to ice dancing, he said they are very different.
After all the scores were tallied, Tom had another surprise for the group. Supposedly, the celebs had requested certain dance styles for next week, although several looked like they had never heard of it. Next week, Sean and James will do the salsa; Candace will do a rumba; Drew and Nene will each do the jive; Meryl and Amy will do swing; Danica will do a samba; Diana will dance a cha cha cha; and Cody, Billy Dee and Charlie will all do a tango with their partners. That certainly ought to shake things up a bit! The scores are below and seem high for Week 1. What do you think?
Celebrities, partners and their scores:
Charlie and Sharna -- Carrie Ann, 9; Len, 9; Bruno, 9 = 27
Candace and Mark -- 9; 8; 8 = 25
Meryl and Maks -- 8; 8; 8 = 24
Danica and Val -- 8; 8; 8 = 24
Amy and Derek -- 8; 8; 8 = 24
Cody and Witney -- 7; 7; 8 = 22
Nene and Tony -- 7; 7; 7 = 21
James and Peta -- 7; 7; 7 = 21
Drew and Cheryl -- 7; 7; 7 = 21
Sean and Karina -- 7; 6; 7 = 20
Diana and Henry -- 6; 6; 6 = 18
Billy Dee and Emma -- 5; 5; 5 = 15
See you next week -- keep dancing!!


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9/11: Ground zero update
POSTED: 04:10 PM CDT May 17, 2011 UPDATED: 02:00 AM CDT Sep 11, 2013
Take a look at the plans for the new World Trade Center.
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SACRAMENTO --- Yet another state game appearance ended in disappointment for the Bishop O'Dowd High boys basketball team.
Seeking its first state championship in more than 30 years, the Dragons fell to Mater Dei-Santa Ana 71-61 in the CIF Open Division state boys basketball championship game on March 29 at Sleep Train Arena.
In a game featuring two of the top players in the nation, Mater Dei's Stanley Johnson outplayed O'Dowd's Ivan Rabb.
The Dragons also couldn't recover from a poor second quarter and 20 turnovers, despite having a 52-26 rebounding edge.
"We thought we were the better team," O'Dowd coach Lou Richie said. "We weren't the better team today. Not with those turnovers, and we couldn't stop Stanley from getting the ball."
Since winning its only state title in 1981, O'Dowd (28-5) has now lost eight consecutive times on the state's biggest stage.
Johnson, the Gatorade State Player of the Year headed to Arizona, guided the Monarchs to their fourth straight state championship and an undefeated season with 25 points, eight assists and three steals. He was especially lethal in transition.
The 6-foot-7 senior guard got off to a slow start before helping the Monarchs (35-0), ranked No. 1 in the nation in most polls, take the lead for good in the second quarter.
"In transition, it's hard to find him when he's ahead of everybody with a steal," Richie said.
Rabb, a 6-10 forward who is considered the top junior in the country, was held to just two points through three quarters against the Monarchs' box-and-one defense. He finished with 10 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks.
"Someone said something's wrong with his ankle. Nothing's wrong with his ankle," Richie said. "They were putting two people on him and other players were making turnovers before we could get the ball to Ivan. He fought valiantly in the fourth quarter."
Paris Austin led Bishop O'Dowd with 23 points, and Juwan Anderson added 11 for the Dragons. M.J. Cage had 16 points for Mater Dei, which won a second straight Open Division title and its 11th overall state championship.
O'Dowd led 13-10 after the first quarter, keeping Johnson scoreless until he hit a jumper just before the horn.
That shot seemed to wake him up. Johnson went on to score the Monarchs' next seven points, with his three-point play giving Mater Dei the lead at 17-16. He had 13 points by halftime.
Mater Dei was able to keep the ball out of Rabb's hands for the most part in the opening half, limiting him to just two points on 1 of 3 shooting. His lone bucket was a transition dunk in the first quarter.
Bishop O'Dowd had bigger problems, though. The Dragons turned the ball over 14 times in the first half and were 2 of 7 from the free-throw line.
Mater Dei took a double digit lead on its first possession of the second half, and O'Dowd was never able to seriously cut into the deficit.


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News 12 11 o'clock / Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW) -- Spc. Jemel Robinson wants to send to his friend's daughter a message.
"I want her to know that her dad was a good person, no matter what she hears," Robinson said.
Robinson has served in the U.S. Army for the past five years, and one of those years was spent with Chaz Williams serving in Iraq.
"A very good friend and a very good solider," Robinson said.
The two worked in communications while overseas, but Robinson says that doesn't mean they didn't fear for their lives.
"There's been times when we received indirect fire. There was nothing for us to do other than get in the shelter and pray to God nothing happens," Robinson said.
Robinson and Williams both joined the Army around the same time. Robinson says the main reason they clicked was because Williams enjoyed life.
"He liked to joke. He liked to laugh. He liked to dance ... he loved to dance," Robinson said.
That's why he said it's so hard to believe that Williams could be a threat to anyone.
"He was a good guy. Everything he did was out of the kindness of his heart," Robinson said.
Robinson says people need to stop jumping to conclusions just because of Williams' past legal problems.
"He is not a killer at all. I don't ever remember him being aggressive towards anybody or towards himself," he said.
Robinson says transitioning to life out of a war zone has been difficult for him, and maybe Williams was experiencing the same issues the night he lost his life.
"Certain situations make you feel uncomfortable. It's harder for you to display your emotions and how you are feeling," Robinson said.


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Game of Thrones is a site for the HBO-series based on George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.
New to the series? Read our spoiler-free review of A Game of Thrones.
Read our Privacy Policy.
Rimshot, an extra in North Ireland, had this to say about what he saw during his costuming fitting for his role as a "Stark Servant":
"You will see what I saw soon enough but I will say this. I have worked on loads of films and worn loads of costumes and those I saw yesterday were some of the highest quality I have ever seen (wait till you see the armour!) I can't wait to get my servant's costume back on and to step into the world of GOT."
Sounds like Michele Clapton has pulled out all the stops.
The Westeros network consists of several different sites, including a forum and a wiki, for all your A Song of Ice and Fire needs.


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Thomas K. Zink, MD
Associate Professor, Environmental & Occupational Health
Research Interests: Emergency Responders' Health & Safety; Adult Immunization Policies and Practices; Contagion Movement and Mitigation
Courses: Capstone: Biosecurity & Disaster Preparedness; BSDP- 574 Epidemics & Other Disasters
Education History: MD, University of Missouri at Kansas City
SLU faculty since: 2012 (Served as an Adjunct Instructor prior)
Salus Center, 455
Doctor Zink is an Associate Professor of Environmental & Occupational Health (Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness) in the Institute for Biosecurity at Saint Louis University College for Public Health & Social Justice. Zink is an accomplished clinician, seasoned healthcare management professional, an effective health policy strategist, and an experienced vaccinologist with expertise in viral hepatitis, pertussis, anthrax, and botulinum toxin.
Professor Zink's career highlights include: more than two decades of practicing emergency medicine and health system quality improvement; improving the delivery of preventive services within the Kansas City metropolitan area in a statistically significant manner; advocating and achieving U.S. policy for universal childhood vaccination against hepatitis A; building a global consensus to booster adolescents against pertussis; and assisting in the start-up or Initial Public Offering (IPO) of three healthcare companies - most notably, Express Scripts (ESRX;NASDAQ) and Emergent Biosolutions, Inc. (EBS;NYSE).
Additionally, Zink is the founding director of Project Equal Immunization Policies & Practices (EQUIPP) - the not-for-profit, grassroots initiative with the mission to equip local, civilian emergency responders with the same vaccine protection as provided to critical infrastructure personnel within the U.S. Departments of State, Justice, and Defense and the National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams (WMD-CST).
The vision of the Project is that through scientific research, evidence-based dialogue, smart policy campaigns, coalition-building, and vaccination initiatives, Project EQUIPP can help safeguard those men and women who unselfishly risk their lives every day to protect the U.S home front. Since 2008, Project EQUIPP is credited as the major catalyst in the formulation of new, 2010 U.S. Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommendations supporting pre-event, anthrax vaccination for U.S. civilian emergency responders. And Project EQUIPP advocacy and coalition-building sparked (and continues to encourage and support) a U.S. CDC and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demonstration project to distribute surplus Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) anthrax vaccine to civilian emergency services personnel before the doses expire unused and therefore wasted.
Doctor Zink volunteers as senior medical advisor to the Missouri Office of Homeland Security and physician consultant to the St. Louis City Fire Department CBRNE Monitoring Team which provided the crowd protection activities for the 2009 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game and the 2011 MLB World Series. In addition, Zink leads the Immunization Policies & Practices Committee for the Emergency Services Coalition for Medical Preparedness - the Coalition represents over 3 million professionals from law enforcement, fire & emergency services, emergency management, emergency medical services; and public works.
Professor Zink graduated from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine where he was designated a "University Scholar" and honored as "Most Outstanding in Academic and Clinical Achievement". Doctor Zink is a [retired] diplomate of the American Board of Emergency Medicine, a past Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, and is licensed by the Missouri State Board of Healing Arts as a Physician & Surgeon in "Good Standing


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Art and Karen Hoch, McPherson, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday April 13, 2013, in the social rooms of the Church of the Brethren, McPherson.
Art and the former Karen Crain were married April 13, 1963, in Waka, Texas, after meeting at McPherson College. Art is retired after 28 years of teaching and 12 years as independent living administrator at The Cedars. Karen retired after working at Prairie View in McPherson for 26 years.
Hosts are Scott, Shanna, Skylar, Foster and Thatcher Hoch, Olathe, Kan.; and Mike, Melanie and Isabella Hoch, Toledo, Ohio.
Your presence is your gift.
Location, ST | website.com


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Firefighter memorial set today at Fire College in Tuscaloosa
Published: Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 11, 2013 at 10:06 p.m.
The annual Fallen Firefighter memorial ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. today in Room 117 of the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission building, 2501 Phoenix Drive, in Tuscaloosa.
The ceremony will honor the memory of Beth Childers, a volunteer firefighter from Lauderdale County who died while rescuing her grandchild from a fire in her home. Family members and friends of Childers will attend.
"We welcome all Alabamians to the Fire College today to share in this solemn remembrance of those who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty," said Allan Rice, executive director of the Fire College.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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Newtown families return to Capitol Hill six months after tragedy to demand gun crackdown
A group of Newtown families will mark the six-month anniversary of the shooting of 20 first-graders and six educators by taking a school bus to Washington to confront lawmakers who rejected even the most modest of gun-control reforms.
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Share your comments on 8 Basketball Power Dribbling Drills below back to the article page.
These drills were awesome and they helped me a lot.:-)
okey dokey
This sounds cool.
Great drills, I've already been using a couple already but it should be interesting to see the results I might get from the others.
that was a nice take
gud drills
great play!
startin tomorrow,, didnt kno tha dirt part!!
I do my dribbling private session tomorrow before my team practice, this will help me with basic and advanced stuff.
thnks alot they helpd me become a better PG now im crossn people left nd right thnks again
did the drills where u close ur eyes and do power dribbles, and the drills where u do power dribbles then light dribbles. i did both them with my eyes closed. it was a challenge but i kinda got used to it. ill do them later today. nice drills
really is a good drill and tires your arm a little if you do them all for a good amount of time
Feel for the ball is very important because it makes the ball feel like part of your body. You want the ball to become part of you.
ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators.


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Women's Reebok CrossFit Lightweight Sports Bra
Whether you're tackling the workout of the day in CrossFit or hitting the treadmill, you need the proper support and serious comfort. Get what you need to perform your best in the Reebok CrossFit Lightweight Sports Bra.
You may not have ever heard of peached fabric, but once you experience it, you'll never go back. The Reebok CrossFit Lightweight Sports Bra utilizes this soft, slightly fuzzy (imagine peach skin) fabric. This ultra-light material is perfect for sensitive skin, cutting down on painful irritation and also features antimicrobial properties that keep you smelling fresh. The plush, adjustable elastic straps ensure a perfect fit, while the racerback design allows you to get a full range of motion. The engineered construction offers a natural looking shape and just enough lift, while the full mesh back serves as a built-in air conditioner.
- FABRIC: 80% polyester, 20% Elastane
- FIT: Adjustable skinny racerback straps
- CARE: Machine wash


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Tickets are now on sale for the Gypsum Daze concert featuring LeAnn Rimes, Collin Raye and IMAJ.The concert starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at Gypsum's Lundgren Theater Park. Tickets cost $15 and are currently available at www.townofgypsum.com. After June 1, tickets will also be available through July 18 at Columbine Market in Gypsum, the Eagle and Gypsum branches of Alpine Bank, and all Active Communications locations. Tickets purchased at the gate on July 20 cost $25.Rimes earned country music fame at age 13 in 1996 and became the youngest person to win a Grammy Award the following year when she won two (Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance). Her career has continued to grow and the singer has become a tabloid sensation.Collin Raye performed in Gypsum last summer and people enjoyed him so much that he's coming back. His heart-felt music has been popular at weddings and funerals since the early 1990s and his pitch-perfect voice continues to produce hits today. If you're familiar with the lyrics, "Every second, every minute, every hour of every day," you've heard Collin Raye, who has been nominated five times as country music's Male Vocalist of the Year.IMAJ is the daughter of "Miami Vice" star Phillip Michael Thomas and the Nashville Artist Management website describes her as a young, aspiring country music singer with a deep appreciation and passion for both traditional and contemporary country music.Gypsum Daze officially starts Thursday, July 18, and the following days are packed with all sorts of entertainment and events for adults and children. For a complete schedule, visit www.townofgypsum.com.
Gypsum Town Council passed an ordinance last week that prohibits the operation of marijuana clubs, cultivation facilities and product manufacturing facilities within town limits.The town has never allowed any marijuana businesses to open there."To get a business license in Gypsum, you have to sign an affidavit that says you comply with all local, state and federal laws - you can't sign it for a marijuana business because it's still illegal with the federal government. So we don't really have to do anything. We didn't even change the format of our business license for this - it's been the same for about 10 years," said Gypsum Town Manager Jeff Shroll.The new ordinance merely "codifies" the town's stance on marijuana businesses more clearly, he said.With member Tim McMichael absent, the council approved the ordinance unanimously. The policy is in response to Amendment 64, which legalizes marijuana for recreational use by people over 21 in Colorado. The drug is still illegal under federal law."I've had several (Gypsum Town Council) members approach me and ask if there was any way we could basically prohibit all marijuana," Shroll said. "The town has successfully denied a half-dozen requests over the years, mostly because of the affidavit. This ordinance makes it very clear that there is a ban on all marijuana establishments."Gypsum's ordinance won't affect people who are permitted to grow up to six plants for personal use. Shroll said municipalities can't outright prohibit all the personal grows, so Gypsum has not attempted to do that. "There are some jurisdictions that may get a little more restrictive but it's recommended that we not do that at this time," he said.
When it came down to it, Oldcastle SW Group/B&B Excavating was not ready last week to take the final step of annexing one of its properties into the town of Gypsum."The applicants are not prepared for final approval," Gypsum Town Planner Lana Gallegos told Gypsum Town Council members March 26, when the final reading of the annexation agreement was scheduled.The first reading was heard and approved in mid-February. Now the process that took place after that must be started all over again."We need to rerun legal ads of the resolution for four more weeks," Gallegos said.The follow-up hearing is now slated for May 28.The 45-acre property is east of Gypsum. B&B has been at the site in unincorporated Eagle County since 1986 and was purchased by Oldcastle in 1999. The company currently trucks material to its other site in Edwards to make concrete.The company wants to consolidate its operations at the property between Eagle and Gypsum. To do that, it will need potable water and the nearest waterline belongs to the town of Gypsum. Jason Burkey and other company representatives asked the town last May if it would be possible to get its water.Burkey emphasized that the company is not adding any kind of use to the property. He said B&B currently imports crushed and washed sand and gravel to make asphalt at the Eagle/Gypsum site. Asphalt and concrete are also recycled there."If we don't have to send material to Edwards to make concrete, that will save a lot of driving and reduce our carbon footprint," he said.B&B is getting water out of the deal and the town of Gypsum is apparently getting a willing partner to help with the ECO Trail and river access at the property."We would commit to easement and some kind of path/river access as part of the annex agreement," Burkey told the council in February.


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|Baltimore, Md.
|Previous College:
|Notre Dame Prep
Played in all 30 games and started 29 … was named Honorable Mention All-Southland after averaging 13.7 points, the sixth-highest total in the league … buried 68 threes on the year, the third-highest total in program history … shot 72.6 percent from the free-throw line … grabbed 89 rebounds and dished out 55 assists to go with 22 steals … scored 14 points in the exhibition game against UIW (11/5) … scored the Islanders' first eight points against Denver (11/14) … scored 14 points, including three crucial free throws in overtime, against Utah State (11/22) … scored a career-high 26 points on 9-of-19 shooting against Texas Tech (12/1) … scored 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting at Houston … hit 4-of-7 threes and scored 17 points against South Alabama (12/15) … scored 20 on 6-of-9 shooting at West Virginia (12/17) … continued his hot streak with 19 while shooting 5-of-10 from distance at Missouri State (12/19) … drilled four threes at UTSA (1/11), including the game winner, and had a game-high six assists … scored 17 points, hitting 5-of-7 threes, against UT Arlington (1/18) … exploded for 33 points on 9-of-18 shooting with a 13-of-14 performance at the line against Texas State (1/25) … had another 9-of-18 night in scoring 20 points against Stephen F. Austin (1/28) … netted 18 points and two steals at Nicholls (2/1) … added 21 points, going 5-of-7 from downtown, at Northwestern State (2/4) … netted 26 points on 7-of-14 shooting beyond the arc against UTSA (2/22) … had a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards against Central Arkansas (3/3).
Played in 31 games and made 19 starts … averaged 8.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in 29.9 minutes … led the team with 80 assists on the season and added 35 steals … had a season-high six rebounds in the opener against Northeastern State (11/13) … set a new career high with 16 points, including 7-for-7 at the stripe, against Texas A&M (11/15) … netted a second straight career best with 18 points at Oklahoma State (11/17), going 5-of-11 from downtown … had 11 points snd two steals at Ohio (11/21) … had nine points and a season-high five assists against Valpo (11/27) … had 16 points, including three triples and a 5-for-5 performance at the line, in the win over Houston (12/18) … matched a career-high with six assists against no turnovers at Memphis (12/20) and added 11 points, including three triples … had five assists off the bench against Montreat (12/30) … had five assists off the bench against UTSA (1/12) … drained three threes and had four assists at Texas State (1/26) … scored 11 points with four assists against Northwestern State (2/5) … had a career-best 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting at Sam Houston State … scored 15 against Stephen F. Austin (2/27) … had one of the finest all-around games of the season with 10 points, 10 assists, six boards and four steals against UT Arlington (3/2) … scored 12 points and had five assists, five rebounds and three steals at Central Arkansas (3/5).
Played in 32 games on the season while starting 25 ... averaged 21.4 minutes per game while scoring 5.8 points per contest ... fourth on the team in scoring during his freshman season ... was second in assists with 2.3 per game and a total of 74 on the season ... shot 31.2 percent from behind the three-point line ... made 68.2 percent of his free throws ... scored a career-high 16 points against St. Edward's (11/21) ... pulled down a career-high seven rebounds at UTSA (1/23) ... played a high of 35 minutes at Texas and had four games of over 30 minutes on the year.
Practiced with the team but did not play.
Spent his senior season at Notre Dame Prep playing for Ryan Huard ... averaged 11.3 points a game with four assists ... went to Notre Dame after being named the team MVP at Lake Clifton the season before ... team was 19-4 as he averaged 17.6 points, seven assists and six rebounds per contest ... named all-city, all-country and all-metro in 2007 ... helped lead Lake Clifton to the region title in each of his last two seasons ... played football at Lake Clifton for one season.
Terence Jones, Jr., was born Oct. 2, 1988 in Baltimore, Md. ... is the son of Curtis Hicks and Taegan Hubbard ... is undecided as to his major.


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Emergency response
Life can change for millions of families in an instant: natural disasters take loved ones and the outbreak of war drives families from their homes. When the unthinkable happens, Mercy Corps delivers rapid, lifesaving aid to hard-hit communities and then teams up with them to build back stronger.
We have responded to almost every global natural disaster in the last 20 years, including the Nepal earthquake, Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the Japan tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa, and the Indian Ocean tsunami.
Our seasoned emergency responders work through conflict in Gaza and are on the ground in Ukraine, Iraq, South Sudan and the Central African Republic distributing critical supplies and protecting families uprooted by ongoing violence.
We're also working to support nearly 4 million people affected by the crisis in Syria, a long-term refugee crisis and humanitarian disaster with no end in sight. Learn more about our ongoing response to the Syrian crisis ▸
All stories about Emergency response
Myanmar: Small animals bring big dreams
Cyclone Nargis, which devastated large swaths of Myanmar (known also as Burma) in 2008, took everything from residents like 59-year-old Daw Hla Kyi — including her livestock.
Same time, next year
It's not often that the entire Global Emergency Operations team finds themselves in the same place at the same time. By design we are scattered across the globe, serving as a standing resource that can be quickly mobilized to augment Mercy Corps' overall ability to respond to an emergency.
Indonesia: Bulasat using community reconstruction kits to rebuild their church
The other day, Mercy Corps and IOM teamed up to show ECHO some of the areas we have been working in. At 10 a.m. we met at KM 8, across the channel between Sikakap and South Pagai. We had two cars, and made our two-hour journey to Bulasat, located at KM 41.
Greetings from Davos, Switzerland
In the past couple of weeks, I've traveled from Haiti to South Sudan to this Swiss mountain village where the World Economic Forum (WEF) holds its annual meeting on the state of the world's economy.
Indonesia: How many times a day do you turn on the water from the faucet?
If you really noticed, how many times would it be?
Pakistan: Strong earthquake jolts southern Pakistan
Mercy Corps is monitoring reports of damage from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Pakistan. The epicenter of the 7.2-magnitude quake was in Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and poorest province.
Haiti: After a year, room to give and learn
I arrived in Haiti two weeks after the earthquake, and have been here ever since. It's hard to imagine that a year has already passed by. I still remember landing in a helicopter in a field of rubble.
Haiti: Today I'm living another way
I've been working with Mercy Corps for four months now on the Moving Forward project. Moving Forward is a sport and play-based psychosocial support program designed for youth affected by the January 12 earthquake here in Haiti.
Haiti: Interviews in the camps, a year later
A few days ago, I went out to the Mojapta displacement camp, where Mercy Corps is providing clean water and sanitation to families, to ask earthquake survivors about their experiences today — and of the last year. Gilberte Jean, 23
Haiti: Losing everything, then finding something
Last year was one of a kind. It changed the lives of many people, including mine.


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Hitting a Moving Consumer
Beverage marketers today are faced with the ongoing challenge of finding their way through the ever-growing thicket of media opportunities and getting their ads watched by consumers. Boy, how times have changed since the '70s when Coke tried to teach the world to sing or offered Mean Joe Green some refreshment! Yes, things were relatively easy back then when there were just a handful of channels and no internet.
Actually, beverage brands, at least for now, have been relatively lucky. While many viewers already record their favorite shows and fast-forward through the commercials, they still tend to tune in to live television events, especially sports. And, as we all know, beer and soda go great with that Sunday game.
But advertising against live sporting events can only go so far. So increasingly, beverages have turned to YouTube, video games, smart phones and any number of other emerging media to reach consumers.
But now comes word that many of the major brands have a lot of work to do when it comes to at least one of these powerful new channels—YouTube. According to a study from digital media company Touchstorm, large beverage brands like Coke are trailing smaller brands when it comes to harnessing the powers of YouTube for marketing. In fact, only 74 brands rank among the top 5,000 YouTube publishers in the Touchstorm Video Index: Top Brands Edition. Says Alison Provost, CEO of Touchstorm: "With only 74 brands appearing in the YouTube top 5,000, it's clear there's a significant brand fail on one of the most important platforms today. YouTube has provided a content testing ground where celebrities, users, brands, content producers, retailers, and YouTube stars all have the same tools available to attract audiences. And while brands can afford to buy views and advertise their content, they've made very little progress in the organic viewership ecosystem."
Among the study's key findings:
•Big brands need to study small brands. Blendtec is in the top 10 yet Coke and Pepsi are not; the Mormon Church ranks yet top global brands Apple and Microsoft do not; Ford Models ranks higher than Ford Motors and Little Tykes overwhelms Toys 'R' Us.
Brands need to define the competition broadly. The other 4,926 publishers, which include musicians, teenagers with webcams, and professional content producers, have vastly out-performed brands in finding an audience for their content.
Brands can't spend their way to the top. About one-third of the brands made the list by buying a significant amount of YouTube advertising, but the other two-thirds got there through organic growth.
International brands build audiences. Brand channels from Brazil, Latin America and Japan make the list, beating out tens of thousands of English-language brand channels.
- And finally, there are two routes to the top. Some brands made the list on the backs of a viral video or two; others made it by publishing less spectacular content more regularly.
The list of 74 brands that place inside the top 5000 channels on YouTube is available at Touchstorm.com.


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Campus Recreation
Fitness Registration
Personal Trainer Request Form
Four one-hour sessions for one- or two- person personal training is available at a cost of $50.00 for one and $75.00 for two. Your personal trainer will provide a free Fitness Assessment and a free Introduction to various cardio equipment. Your trainer designs an exercise program especially for you based on your current fitness level, preferences, personal schedule, and fitness goals. A Spencer SRC membership is not required.
Participants are required to fill out a personal health history.


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|CFL Home
|Study Skills
|Writing Center
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|Academic Mentors
|Contact Us
Student Academic Mentor Program
The Student Academic Mentor program supports student learning in targeted 1000 level Common Curriculum classes. Faculty members teaching these courses select student academic mentors, and the program coordinator supports their work by training mentors and offering faculty resources for recruitment, selection, and supervision.
Student academic mentors assist faculty by:
For more information:
Mary Jayne Allen, MS Ed
The Student Academic Mentor Program at SPU began in 2003 with grant funding received from the W.M. Keck Foundation. We are grateful to the Keck Foundation (wmkeck.org) for its imagination as a philanthropic organization and its interest in funding this innovative program at SPU. As of 2007, the program continues as an initiative supported by SPU's Center for Learning and Office of Academic Affairs.


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Ending the straight-ticket vote
March 11, 2013
Old habits die hard, especially among politicians....
Actually, there is nonplace in the Constitution that guarantees the right to vote as it was NEVER considered a right by our Founding Fathers.
Subsequent Amendments have held that voting cannot be denied due to race or gender but they've never established the right to vote.
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Well gerrymandering didn't work for Republicans. You guys going to try something different ?
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You would think our Legislatures would have more important things to do, then to worry about if somebody votes straight-ticket or not. Like how are they going to come up with the funding for our highways and bridges.
5 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Like "neocurmudgeon74" most people have already made up their minds before they go to vote. Does that make them uninformed, lazy, or brainwashed?
5 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
I try to make up my mind on each race before I go to the polling place, denver. It really would hold up the waiting line if I didn't!
4 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
"But if that's what you want to do, go for it!"
3 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
What business is it of anybody how somebody votes and who they vote for. I know of people that already have made up their minds, before they go in the booth to vote. And yes they are informed voter. Why waste their time and all the people behind them going down the list and checking off each and ever one them. But if that's what you went to do, go for it! But don't try and tell me, or anybody else how to vote. Remember the Constitution? It gives you the right to vote, not how to vote!
3 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Nobody is telling you how to vote Denver - you just have to push a few more buttons. If you love your dems so much it shouldn't be too hard.
3 Agrees | 7 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Although Mr. Myer's party preference is obvious, he's not telling people how to vote.
Third parties could be the biggest beneficiaries. Mountain Party & Libertarian Party can't field a full slate so nobody marks straight-ticket for them. Force voters to go through the cafeteria line, 3rd party voting could go way up. Is that what you're afraid of, denver?
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Straight ticket voters are extremely closed minded. No party has a monopoly on integrity, knowledge, or good ideas. Some of these people still think they are voting for FDR. I will never forget the fear of my grandparents when Eisenhower was elected. They were sure there would be another depression if any Republician became president. This was after Democratic leaders had courted Ike to be a Democrat.
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Why is it that republicans like Mike Myer think they have the right to tell people how to vote?
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straight ticket voting should be banned. EXCELLENT IDEA!
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VARESE, Italy – Every day during the Islanders men's basketball team's overseas tour in Italy, GoIslanders.com will bring you Postcards from Italy – a combination of photos from the day's activities and a brief recap on the events from members of the men's basketball team.
In today's installment, we check in with sophomore Jelani Currie to get his thoughts on the team's trip so far.
Today I enjoyed my time in Italy. We started off with a 9:00 breakfast containing croissants, fruit and scrambled eggs. Shortly after, we departed from the hotel for practice.
Our practice was different from the norm. Coach Wilson started it off with a couple of fun drills like dribble tag and dribble knock out. Then we finished practice with some footwork drills to adjust to the European rule changes.
After practice we ate lunch in Varese center again. Brandon Pye and I found this sandwich shop to eat at. We both ordered a smoked salmon sandwich and some fries to go with it. It was delicious. I have really enjoyed the food here. After lunch we went across the street to a gelato shop for some ice cream. After that we looked around in a few stores then it was time to go back to the hotel.
At the hotel we were given some down time until dinner. Most of us spent it catching up on sleep. For dinner, around 7:30, we went to back to the square. This time I found a pizza shop to eat at. I just ordered a regular cheese pizza. It was pretty good.
After dinner we went back to the hotel. At the hotel I hung out with a few of my teammates in the lobby and reflected on the day. So far I have really enjoyed the time we've spent in Italy. The scenery is great and I have never seen any place like it. I would definitely like to come back someday.
-Jelani Currie
A new component of Postcards from Italy is Coach Wilson's rating of the pistachio gelato from various places throughout the country. This came after Maury Hanks, the leader of our trip, told Coach about the quality of the gelato in the town of Bellagio. Every day, we'll have Coach's ratings of the dessert at the end of the postcard.
In today's ratings, Coach decided to step away from his traditional pistachio and give raspberry/blueberry a try.
Day 1 – Milan – 8
Day 1 – Varese (Buosi Gelato) – 8
Day 2 – Varese (Varese center) – 6
Day 3 – Varese center (Blueberry/Raspberry) – 7


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This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.
January 26, 2011
EPA Grants E15 Fuel Waiver for 2001-2006 Model Year Vehicles
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waived on January 21 a limitation on selling fuel that is more than 10% ethanol, allowing up to 15% ethanol for model year 2001 through 2006 cars, SUVs, and light trucks. In October, EPA ruled in favor of E15 for model year 2007 and newer vehicles. This is part of a number of actions that are needed from federal, state, and industry to allow commercialization of so-called E15 gasoline blends, according to EPA. For now, no waiver is being granted this year for E15 use in model year 2000 and older cars or light trucks—or in any motorcycles, heavy-duty vehicles, or non-road engines—because no testing data support such a waiver. Since 1979, up to 10% ethanol or E10 has been used for all conventional cars and light trucks, and for non-road vehicles.
Also, EPA is developing requirements to ensure that E15 is properly labeled at the gas pump. The label will be designed to prevent refueling into vehicles, engines, and equipment not currently approved for the higher ethanol blend. Ethanol is an alcohol that can be mixed with gasoline to result in a cleaner-burning fuel. E15 is a blend of 85% gasoline and 15% ethanol whose primary source is corn, but other grains or biomass sources such as corncobs, cornstalks, and switchgrass can be used. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandated an increase in the overall volume of renewable fuels in the marketplace, reaching a 36 billion gallon total in 2022. See the EPA press release and the EPA E15 Web site.


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Atlanta Teen Shot in Head, Fire Official Says
Published: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 3:19 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 3:19 p.m.
ATLANTA | An Atlanta fire official says a 14-year-old has been shot in the head at a middle school and has been taken to a hospital.
Atlanta Fire Cpt. Marian McDaniel also says a teacher suffered minor cuts and bruises but was treated on the scene at Price Middle School. Earlier, a police spokesman said he was headed to the school about 2 miles south of downtown following reports of a shooting.
TV news helicopters show a swarm of Atlanta police officers at the school.
McDaniel says the shooting victim was taken to Grady Hospital but information on the teen's condition was not immediately available.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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By the time the lifts opened Monday morning, we had over eleven inches of new snow on the mountain at Crested Butte Mountain Resort! And it was eleven inches that skied like eighteen, I thought to myself as I blew through face shots, laying fresh tracks down that virgin blanket of white. It was a really good day on the mountain, to say the least.
Today's first two shots were sent in by Matthew Johnston (thanks Matt!) . . . skiers prepping and discussing their game plan for the day in the Mountaineer Square courtyard and the mob of powder hungry skiers and riders waiting in the Silver Queen maze to be whisked up the mountain to their powder day nirvana.
The storm in came in relatively moist, so wide boards, carrying good speed and heading for the steeps were tickets that paid big grin dividends. In addition to the double-black diamond runs being really fun to ski at Crested Butte, with so many powder hounds fixated on making turns there, it left excellent powder skiing on the rest of the mountain, as well.
The moral of today's last shot (and powder skiing in general) is that even if you can't ski it like a superstar, it's still good!
We're under clear skies this morning, queued up for a sunny day with high temps in the mid thirties. I don't believe all the steeps opened back up yesterday, so I would think that the ropes will be dropping on more untracked runs today. Get out there and get some!
toll free 1-888-712-7999 for great vacation packa ges.


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Member Lou Mallory was honored with special recognition for her work with Wood County history at a recent Wood County Commissioners Court meeting.
Lou received the Commissioners Court distinguished Service Award for outstanding preservation work during the previous year. Husband and also member Gene Mallory was present when she received the plaque from the county. Lou is Chairman of the Wood County Historical Commission.
Filed under: Members Tagged: | Mallory, Wood County Historical Commission


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Philippines International Autism Conference – Day 3
Last night, all of the conference speakers were treated to a tour of the Mall of Asia, run by SM (Super Malls) in Manila. It is the second largest mall in the country and is absolutely enormous. We were greeted by mall staff who shared a story about their unprecedented disability policy. Several years back, a teenage boy with autism was separated from his mother and became lost in an SM mall (did we mention the malls are enormous?). Upon hearing from the boy's mother after the incident, it was clear that the situation could have been handled much better by mall staff. The management reached out to the Autism Society Phillipines to find a way to change their policies in a way that would improve the mall and the response of its staff, not only in situations of lost children, but for the mall-going experience of all individuals with disabilities. With the help of the several PWD advocacy groups, the newly-developed SM Committee on Disability Affairs created a video featuring Filipino PWDs, which is now used as a training tool for all mall employees. Their willingness to recognize the need to accommodate not only the physically disabled, but also those with developmental disabilities has made them trailblazers in addressing the needs of the Filipino autism community. The Mall of Asia and other SM Malls have since been named the "Most Disabled-Friendly Malls" in the Philippines.
One of the local advocacy groups that worked with SM to improve mall conditions for individuals with autism was the Autism Society of the Philippines (ASP). Today, we met the three-time past president and current Chairman Emeritus of ASP, Dang Uh Koe. She is the mother of a 16-year-old boy with autism. Over the years, Dang and her son have been through extensive therapies and continue to have home aides to assist and work with them on daily activities. Based on her and her son's experiences during a time when so many in the community were searching for answers to their children's service needs, Dang joined ASP, which was started by 11 mothers 21 years ago. Today they are one of the most recognized autism advocacy groups in the country and like Autism Speaks, are proud sponsors of the International Autism Conference. Dang is an amazing woman who, through ASP, is truly making a difference in the Filipino autism community.
The conference begins today – so stay tuned here and to Twitter for updates!
By Dana Marnane, National Director Communications and Marketing, Autism Speaks and Michael Rosanoff, MPH, Assistant Director, Public Health and Scientific Review.


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NHPR Audio: DOE collecting info without a complete Northern Pass route not unusual, says law prof
Some North Country landowners are surprised that Department of Energy contractors are gathering environmental information on the Northern Pass project even though the route isn�t complete.
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NFC Times Exclusive Insight – Apple's boast this week that its mobile payments service accounts for three out of four contactless payments in the U.S. says little about the number of contactless transactions it is recording stateside, but does indicate that Apple has maintained its lead over rival NFC-enabled wallets.
The MCX merchant consortium, which is gearing up to launch a mobile-wallet platform and bar-code based mobile-payment services in the U.S. has named the former head of mobile commerce for Barclaycard US as CEO, following a long search.
The MCX consortium, the group of major U.S. merchants planning to roll out their own mobile wallet, will primarily use bar codes and cloud-based technologies to start off with, not NFC.
As Google readies the launch of the next version of its wallet, expected to feature the addition of a physical payment card, other mobile-commerce players, including Google Wallet partner Sprint, are gearing up with their own offers.
Retail giants Wal-Mart Stores and Target Corp. are part of a group of merchants looking at developing its own mobile wallet or payment service, though few details are available, The Wall Street Journal reported today.
NFC Times Exclusive Insight – Adding mobile payments capabilities to flagship smartphones appears to be a must-have feature as OEMs fight for market share in China's hotly contested phone market.
NFC Times Exclusive Insight – Contactless reader and NFC vendor On Track Innovations reported lower expenses and says it has positioned itself to earn more revenue from services in addition to its reader sales and possible NFC patent income–all in hopes of making the company profitable for the first time in its history. The question of when that will happen remains unanswered, however, and OTI doesn't provide guidance.
NFC Times Exclusive Insight – Apple has responded to a request to regulators by four major Australian banks to jointly negotiate terms for their adoption of Apple Pay and to boycott participation during the negotiations with a strongly worded letter, branding the group's proposed action worthy of a "cartel" that would "harm consumers, lead to less competition and less innovation and set a troubling precedent."
NFC Times Exclusive – Fourteen banks in Taiwan launched mobile payments using host card emulation late last week or plan to do so in coming weeks, but none of the cards that the banks' customers can load into their new Android wallet apps will sport the Visa logo–one of the two main bank card brands in Taiwan.
NFC Times Exclusive Insight – Credible reports say that Chinese smartphone manufacturer ZTE plans to join the "OEM Pay" club, and that the company has signed an agreement with payments network China UnionPay to deploy an NFC-enabled mobile payments service in China.
NFC Times Exclusive Insight – Chip maker STMicroelectronics is hoping its $77.8 million-plus acquisition of the NFC assets of Austria-based ams AG will help it accelerate its move into the Internet of Things market, especially for wearables.
NFC Times Exclusive Insight – More than a dozen Taiwanese banks and their mobile payments joint venture along with Mastercard plan to announce Thursday the launch of mobile payments using host card emulation, with more banks to follow.
NFC Times Exclusive Insight – NXP Semiconductors reported growth in its Secure Connected Devices unit, which includes its NFC chips and secure elements, as the Netherlands-based chip maker is benefitting from the rollout of mobile payments services by smartphone OEMs and renewed interest in NFC transit ticketing in China.
NFC Times Exclusive – A few days ahead of the official launch of Apple Pay in Switzerland earlier this month, Swiss consumer protection group Konsumentenschutz SKS filed a complaint with the Swiss competition officials, contending that Apple's policy of locking down the embedded chips in its NFC devices is "monopolistic" and is a violation of the country's antitrust laws. The regulator, however, has declined to launch a formal investigation, deciding to continue to observe the market for now, NFC Times has learned.
NFC Times Exclusive Insight – In an unprecedented move, four major Australian banks, including three of the country's big four financial institutions, have asked the
NFC Times Exclusive – Mastercard's planned acquisition of UK payments company VocaLink may offer the final boost needed for VocaLink's Zapp unit to launch its long overdue mobile payments service, the Pay by Bank app.


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figleaves.com - Designer Lingerie, Bras, Briefs, Underwear, Swimwear
Create a fun and flirtatious knicker drawer with a pair of our seductive French knickers. We've got lots of styles ranging from hot pants to briefs and shorts, and you'll find some big names in here too like Calvin Klein and DKNY. Whether you like simple black lace or if you feel like going for bold colours and frilly French accents, we've got it all.
We now accept the following payment types: Maestro, Solo, Mastercard, Visa, Visa Electron, American Express, Paypal, JCB, Laser, Carte Bancaire and Carte Bleue


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SNOWMASS VILLAGE - Aspen Camp for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing is celebrating 45 years in the Roaring Fork Valley with a reunion of its previous and current board members and national council members scheduled for this month. The nonprofit is based in Old Snowmass. Previous board members or national council members interested in attending can call 970-923-2511 or visit www.AspenCamp.org.
Back to: News
October 9, 2012
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-State Rep. Frank Farina, D-Lackawanna/Wayne, said he wanted to remind his constituents that he continues to represent the district that voted for him in November.
Earlier this week, the state Supreme Court gave a final OK to new district boundaries, which will move the 115th District to the east.
The redistricting, along with congressional reapportionment, is a requirement after every U.S. Census.
The new districts will not take effect until after the November 2014 elections.
"You will be hearing more about the district changes in the next weeks and months, but the most important thing to remember for now is that the new boundaries are will not change until after the next House elections, at the end of 2014," Farina said. "I will continue to be your representative for the 115th District in Harrisburg, and my office is and will remain ready to assist you in any and all state or other governmental issues you may be dealing with."
For more information on the redistricting, or help with any government issues, call Farina's office at 876-1111. His office at 423 Main St., Eynon, is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Location, ST | website.com


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Tune in to "The Think Tank" for independent, intelligent discussions with experts on matters of news, politics, science and much more!
Weekdays 10am-1pm
Twitter: @garlandWWL
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Facebook may have been deliberately suppressing conservative news. If true, is it legal? Can Facebook be forced to change?
My first reaction was "So what?" There's virtually nothing in today's media that isn't biased one way or the other. But in reading about this, I stumbled upon a work by Scott Allan Morrison, a veteran Silicon Valley journalist and author of new book, "Terms of Use," a thriller about the dark side of social media that speculates how a large social media company might try to swing an election. I invited him on the Think Tank this morning to see where the truth lies.
Could the fictional story in Morrison's book become a reality?
"I spent ten years covering the big internet companies, and the short answer is, they are amassing huge amounts of our data, data we don't even appreciate we're giving out," he said. "They are much more granular in the information they collect about us than we can even imagine... if they can manipulate our emotions, they can certainly manipulate our opinions. They story you referenced, that they are suppressing conservative views, is a disturbing one."
"Really what happened here is that some low level contractors were injecting their bias, conscious or unconsciously, into the stories they were putting up... and it could very well have just been the opposite, where conservative leaning employees might have done the same thing... regardless of whether they're suppressing liberal or conservative views, the fact that this is even possible highlights Facebook's ability to set the agenda and possible impact public opinion," he continued.
"We think of Facebook as a neutral platform, and it sells itself as one. So we have to be very careful about what comes out on Facebook."
Dr. Robert Hogan, LSU Professor of Political Science, joined me after the news to explain the story from his point of view.
"Social media sites have come to play a large role in Presidential campaigns in recent years... it's a major force in American politics today, so when you hear a story like this, that gives you some pause. i think people may not be fully aware of how FB works and how news gets to them. It raises serious questions," he said.
Could it be enough of a concern to where the government intervenes and puts in some sort of regulation there?
"What we're finding out is that the things that are on the "Trending" list is not simply put there by a mathematical algorithm, but is actually made in almost an editorial sense. And to the extent that humans are involved in that, it'll be subject to their biases... there have been calls to regulate old style media and there may be calls to regulate here but, it sounds to me like the nature and direction of that is coming from conservatives, who generally don't like government regulation, so I doubt you see much government intervention here.
To listen to the full interviews with Morrison and Dr. Hogan, click the link below.
FULL AUDIO: Garland talks Facebook and the news
Why are Jefferson Parish residents so much happier with their quality of life than New Orleanians?
A new UNO poll says people who live in Jefferson Parish are 94% satisfied, while residents in NOLA are only 66% satisfied - and that's an eight-point drop from 2013, while results from Jefferson remained pretty much unchanged.
READ MORE: Full results of UNO quality of life survey
I invited UNO Political Science professor Dr. Ed Chervenak into "The Think Tank" this morning to see if he could help explain these findings. "Historically, people are more satisifed in JP because it is a suburban parish. Its a much more prosperous parish, has a much stronger tax base, and government is able to deliver services much more efficiently. Whereas in Orleans Parish, its a relatively weak base, but given its population, it requires a lot of services and so the needs outstrip the resources, and I think that's why you see a bit more negativity," he said.
I kept thinking, aside form the bliions of dollars flowing into New Orleans after Katrina, everything you read says people are starting to abandon the suburbs for the city - is that trend reflected in the study?
"We havent seen that in our poll - certainly we have had an influx of peo ple from outside New Orleans since Katrina. I don't know if we've 'bucked the trend' we're seeing in the rest of the country, where elderly people in particular are moving back to cities for public tanspotiation and access to health care. We just went through a different situation as a results of having to recover from that disaster."
I also asked Ryan Berni to chime in - he's a Senior Adviser to Mayor Landrieu. What does he think about the report?
"I think we take the long view on these kinds of things - these are just a snapshot in one period in time. I think people have reason to be more optimistic about the city, especially when you take the longer view. There was a lot of polling done with the tenth anniversary of Katrina last year, and a lot of that research showed that 70, 80% of the public was optimistic about our future and where we had come from."
To hear the entire conversation, just click on the link below.
FULL AUDIO: Garland discusses UNO quality of life poll
Arizona has virtually eliminated illegal aliens from their state. Are results good or bad? Can Louisiana do the same?
Arizona passed some laws a few years back that meant that undocumented workers in that state, about 85% of them from Mexico, are barred from receiving government benefits, including non-emergency hospital care, punitive damages in civil suits, drivers licenses, are not eligible for in-state tuition and more.
To better understand all this, I invited Steve Camarota, Director of Research at the Center for Immigration Studies, onto the program to explain the effects of these new laws, and how exactly Arizona chased off illegal immigrants, and how that effected their state's economy. Is Arizona better off? Or worse?
"Immigrants overall make the US economy at least 1.7 trillion dollars bigger," Camarota said. "Illegal immigrants add 300-400 billion dollars. But in all the research, the consensus is 98% of that economic activity goes to the immigrants themselves in the form of wages and benefits, which it should, since they're the ones doing the work.
"So in a town of 100 people, when 50 people move in, you can say, look our town's economy is 50% bigger, but it doesn't answer the fundamental question - is the original population of the town better off? It just means the economy is bigger. In the same way that Bangladesh has a bigger economy than Norway, that doesn't mean Bangladesh is richer than Norway, because what matters is per capita income... per person.
"The other thing is, because immigrants are so poor, when you count them and look at per capita, that income becomes lower. But that again doesn't tell you whether or not the native born population is better off."
To hear the rest of the conversation, click the link below.
FULL AUDIO: Garland talks illegal immigration and the economy with Steve Camarota
This photo of a Georgia sheriff is going viral. What do you think about the sign? https://t.co/8bb07j3w8m pic.twitter.com/6DOPgwnaJb
— WSMV-TV, Nashville (@WSMV) November 25, 2015
This photo of a Georgia sheriff is going viral. What do you think about the sign? https://t.co/8bb07j3w8m pic.twitter.com/6DOPgwnaJb


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MARIETTA - The Washington County Career Center Adult Technical Training program provides training for careers in the chemical industry.
The program offers training for operator, mechanical and electrical maintenance and lab technician training for individuals seeking employment and to upgrade skills for employees.
Last year, the Career Center received an Ohio Skills Bank grant to work with several chemical companies to create an Industrial Lab Technician training program in the Chemical Technician program.
A local company has made the program mandatory for employment as a lab technician. More than 40 percent of the students in the class are from local chemical companies.
At the beginning of 2012, the Career Center received a $1.1 million grant to provide on-the-job training, classroom training and internships for the chemical industry. The grant, administered by the Ohio Board of Regents, provides services to the chemical companies at a rapid pace. Since March 1, 32 people and six chemical companies have received grant training funds.
Jobs in the chemical industry require in-depth training. The jobs are complicated and require problem solving and troubleshooting skills.
The grants off-set the training costs incurred by chemical companies. Funds also help individuals train for new careers in the industry.
Josh Clegg recently completed the Chemical Operator program in Sardis, Ohio. Clegg was willing to relocate and accepted a position with Ashland Specialty Ingredients in Columbus.
"This class really changed my life," Clegg said. "The instructors know what they are teaching because they are from the industry."
The in-house training program at Ashland will continue for about five years and Clegg, if successful, will earn $32 per hour.
"The training I get on-the-job is very in-depth and when I complete my training, I will be making great wages I even got a raise after four months on the job," Clegg said.
Ashland Specialty Ingredients also is pleased with the level of skills and quality of education Adult Technical Training graduates receive.
"The cooperation between Ashland and the Career Center continues to be a very good one," Phil Popovec, site director at Ashland Specialty Ingredients, said. "The candidates who graduate from the class are well prepared to handle the complexity of our operation. There are rewarding career opportunities in the high tech field of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing."
Another recent graduate, Kyle Thompson has secured a chemical operator position at Kraton Polymers in Belpre.
"This course and the instructors are really something. All of the instructors are from industry so you learn what you need to know to do the work. With instruction in operations, maintenance and industrial lab technician, I know more about the functions of an operator," Thompson said.
Kraton Polymers also has a detailed, long-term training plan for all new hires. The progression to top rate takes a while at most chemical companies, but the life-long income potential is significant.
"My job is awesome and I feel very lucky to have this opportunity, the class helped change my life and I don't think I would have got this job without it," Thompson said.
The instructors for the operator, lab technician and mechanical and electrical maintenance are all "been there, done that" folks. The instructors have a wealth of knowledge, experience and skills in their subject areas.
Instructors are employees from local companies including the Dupont Washington Works, Momentive Performance Products in Friendly, W.Va., SABIC in Washington, W.Va. and Degussa/Orion in Belpre.
Tom Callihan retired from the Washington Works plant and is one of the Chemical Operator program instructors. He worked at Dupont for 30 years and 11 of the years were in supervision where he helped train operators on the job.
Callihan's experience has evolved as industry changes with more computerized and technical production processes and enjoys passing on his knowledge to the students so they can be successful operators.
"All of the Chemical Operator instructors are the hands-on guys, we have done the work and we have trained people on the job. We know what students need to learn to be good at their jobs," Callihan said.
Darrell Veyon is the Training Coordinator at Momentive Performance Products and also teaches a class in the Chemical Operator program.
"A company who hires a graduate of the Career Center Adult Technical Training's Chemical Operator program will have an employee with a strong foundation. Their site specific training typically reduces the cost of long training programs and places operators in the workforce more quickly," Veyon said.
In the mechanical and electrical maintenance area, companies struggle to find appropriate candidates for open positions. The larger chemical companies hire employees who have worked in maintenance in the smaller companies.
The wages in the larger companies are more than $30 per hour and the wage at the smaller companies is $15 to $20 per hour. The smaller companies struggle to find skilled workers for their jobs when the current employees are accepting jobs with the larger companies.
Brian McFarland is completing the Instrumentation and Electricity program and Maintenance Mechanic Millwright program. McFarland is working at Magnum Magnetics in Caldwell as a paid maintenance intern.
The Career Center pays the wages during the training period and, upon successful completion, McFarland's salary will be covered by a grant contract for on-the-job training at Magnum Magnetics. When skilled, he will be hired as a full-time employee.
McFarland chose to take the classes after completing high school to learn a skill that could provide life-long employment.
"The folks at the Career Center Adult Technical Training office told me and my family everything I would need to do to be successful before I even started the classes. Since I had no related experience, I need to pay attention and learn on-the- job as part of completing my training," McFarland said.
In 2010, several Instrumentation and Electricity and Maintenance Mechanic Millwright graduates tested, qualified and were hired as Level 3 technicians at one of the larger area chemical companies. With no related work experience, the individuals tested on the same levels as those with from five to 15 years of experience.
The courses were designed by experts from local companies and the individuals continually work with staff to change the courses as technology dictates. The Instrumentation and Electricity and Maintenance Mechanic Millwright labs have more than $2 million worth of hands-on training equipment selected or donated by local industry.
For more information, contact Jim Siegfried at 1-800-648-3695.