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Preshow tunes over the PA were a mixture of Elton John, Star Wars and the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack. I liked it. I also checked out the Beetroots for ~10 min. Pretty eclectic, and not really my style. But I guess if you are into the world music thing you might want to check them out.
Set I
Wedge: I'm pretty sure that this was my first Wedge. I was psyched to hear it, because it is one of my favorite sing along songs in the car. I did restrain myself at the show however. By now I think everyone has picked up on the "LIMESTONE blocks so large" thing, but in case you haven't I guess I'll mention it. This Wedge didn't seem like anything too special, but it was just kind of special to hear it in the first place.
Beauty of my Dreams: A fun little bluegrass ditty, but nothing to write home about. It seems like the vocals in this song aren't as solid as in Ginseng or Uncle Penn, but they haven't been playing it that long.
Dogs Stole Things: I hear the drum beat, I yell with joy, get out my index card that I am writing the setlist on, write down Mound, then cross it off as Trey comes in with the opening guitar riff to DST. DAMN!! Oh well, this is a pretty fun song, and I think the vocals sound good. (Actually, I think the singing in the new songs is better than some of the old songs; maybe they wrote the parts closer to their ranges. Fishman in particular, during Ghost, sounds GREAT.) I would have rather heard mound, but it was good to hear some new stuff live. It is a pretty cheery song, considering the somewhat dark subject, IMO.
Vultures: Where have I heard that opening piano riff before? Oh yeah, Keyboard Kavalry. This was a VERY cool song, with its Irish Jig feel. I can't really compare it to other versions, but I like it a lot, and hope to hear it again. I think there could be a pretty interesting jam out of this song, the way it is set up. We'll see.
Water in the Sky: Okay, it's sappy, cheesy and doesn't have much substance. But I like the countryesque feel to it. I had fun; what more could I want from this one?
Maze: This had a little bit of a space intro, which made me feel for sure that we had a Bowie on our hands. But the Hi-hat turned out to be the Maze version. This was a pretty ripping version of Maze, but not much more so than a regular version. I'd say it was above average, just due to the energy of the show, but nothing to actively seek out.
Bouncin': was Bouncin'. Lots of people signing off-key, like a birthday party where no one has a clue. I just kept my mouth shut and turned around to see thousands of people bouncing up and down. It made it worth it.
Tweezer: Now we're getting somewhere. About 20 min. (thanks, ZZYZX) of pure, unadulterated Phish-style funk (did I see someone call this Type III jamming?). This was most definitely an above-average Tweezer, and beats the Ball Tweezer by a lot. This tweezer showed Ghost who was boss in the funk department. The jam deconstructed into a neat little segue into...
Taste: I was very psyched to hear Taste after some of the reports on the net about the jams coming out of it. The jam at the end had the now-standard Page solo and then went into a great Trey solo before finishing up. I'd definitely recommend this Tweezer>Taste combo as filler, if you aren't into the rest of the set. (And there really isn't that much to get into, BTW)
Carolina: To my disappointment, Fishman didn't sing the Boy Scout Anthem ;-). Before the song, Trey talked about the orchestra and all that. Very soon after they finished up, the orchestra started playing.
Orchestra Set:
I liked last years orchestra set a lot better, and I'm glad that I have the tapes. This year the orchestra was not that good, IMHO. The started off with a Debussy string quartet which was SO LOUD. It was louder than Phish. It was painful. I could not even listen to it without grimacing. They got the sound turned down a bit for the next song which was a very long fable set to music about this soldier who sells his fiddle to the devil and gets tricked yadda yadda yadda he gets his fiddle back and all is well. Trey had introduced this song by giving a short history of it, which was kind of neat, because it showed that the band was really into the orchestra. The guy doing the narration to the story was VERY good, and it was worth listening to just for him. Next came "Claire de Lune" which I know I am spelling wrong. They repeated the glider aerial ballet thing from last year which was beautiful. I hope they do this every year. If you haven't seen it, I feel bad, because it is just that inspiring. The glider got SO low this year, and landed right outside the concert grounds. I hope someone told the pilot just how loud the applause was. The orchestra packed up and it was time to wait for set II.
Set II
[I am going to say once again that this may be the best set of Phish of ALL time. If you can only have one more set of Phish in your life, this should be it. It is everything Phish is meant to be.]
Down With Disease (listening to it right now): I heard the spacey intro and I knew what was coming. Mike slapped the bass riff out and the band got going on DWD. After the lyrics segment, the jam quickly headed off into Type II territory with some GREAT work by Fishman. I could feel him holding the whole thing together. The band was doing some serious listening to one another. Mike lays down a really fat (yes, with an f) bassline and it slows the whole band down into a DEEP groove. Pages switches over to the funk synthesizer and acts as another guitar. Trey takes the lead and throws down a bluesy solo. Then it mellows out and Trey takes a quiet little guitar solo. Then a slow, three note repeated line from Mike with Page soloing in the background on the synth. Trey takes the lead from Page and starts some nice interplay with Page and Mike while Fishman backs it with a swingish beat. This is definitely the coolest part of the jam. Then Fishman and Page get up a Mike and Trey play...
Page and Fishman Painting Jam: This jam consists of Mike and Trey having a sort-of duel (at the same time, not a back and forth thing) while Page and Fish spraypaint on oddly shaped pieces of plywood on easels at the sides of the stage. Page finishes way before Fishman and joins in the background of the jam. Fishman really takes his time with his piece of art, making it look almost as if it is bleeding. He walks back up to the drum kit and Trey strums the opening riff to...
Bathtub Gin: It started off normally. No one knew what was in store with the jam. We are all dancing around, oblivious to what is about to happen. Then the jam starts up and BAM!!! We are hit with the Hose. The Golden Hose. (Again, I don't use this term lightly) This is the type of jam you only dream about. I got IT. I could see that everyone around me got IT as well (I've NEVER seen anyone else get IT). My face hurt from the intense smiling. The tears welled up in my eyes. My friend made a motion of spraying me with a garden hose. I then made a motion of spraying him with a fire hose. This jam hit you THAT hard, folks. It built and built and built and built. Pure transcendence. If I could stop my life at any moment, it would be during that jam. This IS Phish.
Uncle Penn: came out of the Gin jam. Very fun, we all needed a break. Well played, no flubs from anyone.
2001: Started of with a spacey little deal that I thought would lead into Bowie. Then Fish started with the drumbeat to 2001. Mike and Trey then went to the sides of the stage to do their painting.
Mike and Trey Painting Jam: Page REALLY showed his stuff here. He jammed liked crazy over the steady 2001 drum beat supplied by Fish. Page impressed me more during this jam than he ever has. He created an illusion of way more than two people playing up there. Trey and Mike finished up and then we returned to...
2001: They finally played the main theme to the song, and then delved into a funky jam that lasted probably 10 min. before they played the main theme again. This is definitely the best 2001 EVER.
Art Moving Jam: This was right at the end of 2001. Trey explained the whole art thing, which you all have heard about by now. This was a very mellow jam while the audience passed the band art over their heads over to the gigantic sculpture. It sounds a bit Floyd-ish (the mellow parts of Shine on you Crazy Diamond, maybe).
Harry Hood: The Art Moving Jam ends with Fishman giving the opening drum riff to Hood. I always find it hard to describe Hood, and this one is no exception. Trey told Chris to kill the lights so we could look at the stars and the sculpture. It was beautiful. The massive lightstick throwing during the final jam was one of the most amazing things I have seen in my life. There was an unbelievable amount of mutual energy between the band and the fans. I got IT again. The only time I've ever gotten IT twice in one show, let alone twice in one set. It was sheer beauty. And the only way they could have ever finished off the set.
Set III
Buffalo Bill: I was rushing back to my place (with my Tasty Maine Potato) near the tapers section when they started this song up. I couldn't place it at first, but it was cool once I figured it out. Nice to hear something they haven't played in ages, but aside from that it was nothing too special. The was a neat little segue into...
NICU: as much as I like this song, it was pretty standard. It was still a lot of fun, though.
Weigh: Woohoo! I always like to hear this one. A fun time was had by all. Not much else to say here.
Guyute: Oh man, I love this song. It puts the biggest smile on my face. There was only one little flub from Trey. I'd definitely put this version in second place behind the 12/29/94 Providence version. And Trey did the dark ending lyrics which really make the song.
Dirt: This is a very nice new song. Strong imagery. The slow feel let everyone know the weekend was winding down.
SOAMule: Standard until the duel section. Page went off into this jazzy little jam which the whole band then joined in. The did this for a little bit until Trey started on his section. Trey kicked it with the Digital Delay Loop Jam a la 12/29/94. Now is this jam a derivative of Dave's Energy Guide? I've never heard Dave's, so I'd like someone who has to tell me. They finished up Mule without Mike saying the weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll part, which I didn't like, but the jam in the middle was neat enough to make up for it.
Prince Caspian: This was an above average version of this song with a hard-hitting jam at the end. I did hope the set wouldn't end, but I was to be denied.
The 60000+ lighters before the encore were amazing.
Circus Comes To Town: I knew they were going to torch the sculpture with the combination of the lyrics to this song and the gigantic match next to the sculpture. I thought it would be during this song, but then I remembered that there was one more song that had to be played...
Tweezer Reprise: If there is ever a song to light something on fire to, this is it. The fire was HUGE, and the sparks reminded me of that scene in the Right Stuff where those aborigines make those sparks that John Glenn sees orbiting the earth. I don't think it left a bad vibe at all; I think it was a demonstration of the way that Phish starts anew every show. Other people are more eloquent on this subject, so I'll leave it to them. I would have enjoyed one more song, however.
This was unequivocally the best weekend of my life. The music was SO amazing that I still can't believe some of it. Get these shows as soon as you can!
I love Phish!


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Plantar Fasciitis is a painful foot condition that is a common problem among athletes and individuals who are physically active. It is a condition that occurs in middle-age athletes, but can occur among all age groups. Plantar Fasciitis is often seen in recreational athletes, especially runners. Cases are also seen in individuals who are involved in prolonged physical activities. The plantar fascia is a band of thick connective tissue that stretches from the heel bone to the ball of the foot. This structure functions to maintain the integrity of the arch of the foot. The plantar fascia transmits weight across the foot when a person walks or runs.
Signs and Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
Swelling and point tenderness around the heel bone or along the arch of the foot.
Pain in the affected area may be the most severe when standing on your feet, getting out of bed first thing in the morning.
Pain in the affected area of the heel or arch decreases as the foot "loosens" up after being used, but pain often returns with prolonged standing or walking.
Home Treatment Tips for those experiencing Plantar Fasciitis:
Rest - Avoid the activity that caused the Plantar Fasciitis for a few days. Take a break from running, jogging, or prolonged standing or walking. Try some alternate forms of exercise like swimming or cycling to keep up your conditioning.
Use of Ice or Cold Therapy- The use of ice after activity, or after as acute episode of symptoms, will help in reducing the severity of symptoms. You can use an ice cup to perform an ice massage to the heel and arch of the foot. Take a small styrofoam or paper cup and fill it three-quarters full with water and place it in the freezer. Leave the cup to freeze overnight. When you are ready to perform the ice massage, peel back the edge of the cup to expose the ice, and rub the ice on the affected area using a circular motion. Another technique to ice an inflamed plantar fascia is to roll the affected foot on a frozen water bottle. Freeze a 1 or .5 liter bottle of water and place your foot on the bottle, rolling back and forth while applying pressure. Either technique can be used 15-20 minutes at a time. Be sure to let the area re-warm itself for at least 40 minutes before re-applying ice to the affected area.
Strengthening and Flexibility Exercises- These exercises are designed to help strengthen the muscles of the foot to assist in supporting the arch and withstand the repetitive stress placed upon them during activity. Also, flexibility exercises will help stretch and loosen the plantar fascia.
Toe Curls- Rest your foot on a towel outstretched on the floor. Place your toes at one end of the towel. Curling your toes, bunch the towel beneath your foot. You can place a small object (like a book or a large soup can) at the opposite end of the towel for added resistance.
Pick Up with Your Toes- Pick up objects, such as marbles, dice, nuts and bolts, with your toes and place them in a nearby container.
Single Leg Balance Exercises- Stand and balance with only your affected foot in the floor, and then progress to using an unstable surface. You can use a very firm pillow to create an unstable surface. For an added degree of difficulty, perform the exercise with your eyes closed.
Towel Stretch- Place a towel, or even a stretch band if one is available, around the toes. Pull on the towel towards yourself to slowly bend back the toes. Keep pulling until tension is felt in the arch of the foot.
Standing Calf Stretch- Stand on the edge of a step with the ball of your foot. Let your body weight allow your heels to drop below the level of the step until a stretch is felt in the arch and in your calf muscles as well.
Use of Anti-Inflammatory Medications- Using anti-inflammatory medications, such as NSAIDs, will help reduce inflammation and pain. Over-the-counter medications will work in most cases. Please consult your physician if you choose to pursue available options using prescription medication.
Shoe Inserts, Arch Supports, or Custom Orthotics- These additional supports will address the problem of a lack of arch support seen in standard soles found in shoes. This lack of support may lead to an increase in tension of the plantar fascia, which can lead to inflammation and injury to the area. These supports are important if one has a flat or a high arch. They will often help relieve symptoms and allow one to continue their normal activities with a minimal amount of discomfort.
If you are experiencing symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis, try these home treatment techniques at the first onset of symptoms. Try not to train through the pain, but try and address the problem as it first arises. Heel Spurs can develop as a complication of Plantar Fasciitis that has gone untreated. If symptoms persist or increase, please consult your physician, Podiatrist, or Orthopedic Specialist with experience in Athletic-Related injuries for further evaluation.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Day Ed Koch Gave Me a Preview of His Tombstone
Ed Koch was so proud of his already-prepared tombstone at his burial site in Manhattan that he made sure I had a copy of the inscription when I interviewed him on Jan. 18 at his Midtown Manhattan law office, the day before he was hospitalized. The inscription reads, in part: "He was fiercely proud of his Jewish faith. He fiercely defended the City of New York, and he fiercely loved its people."
The tombstone also included a quote from Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl: "My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish." (Daniel Pearl, 2002, just before he was beheaded by a Muslim terrorist.)
He told me to leave my email address so I can get his movie reviews. I told him I'd follow him on Twitter.
I had been to a screening of Neil Barsky's documentary, "Koch," and wanted his views on the film. Dapper in his suspenders, he sat in his elegant spacious office, the walls lined with portraits from his time as a mayor, his desk filled with photos of his extended family, and books and menorahs lining the window shelf. He looked tired and pale but soon brightened up as he talked about events captured in the film, giving a glimpse of the ebullient and charismatic figure that he was and remained to the end. Koch died early this morning at age 88, the day the documentary about his life opens in New York theaters.
The film was an eye-opener for me. Like many immigrants, I have always wanted to live in New York since my teens, and I had no idea the magical and electrifying city that beckoned in the mid 1980s may partly have been a result of Koch's tenure as mayor. The subway graffiti, rampant crime, the seediness of Times Square and tumultuous times captured in the film during his early years as mayor were barely recognizable from what the city is today.
I didn't have time to get nervous. Koch let me fiddle with my tape recorder, said he was drinking "water, not gin" when I asked what was in his big mug, and said the 14 books he wrote were "almost as many as Churchill, with less of a record on my part, of course."
Koch said during the interview that he liked the film. "It's an honest rendition of me." There is one incident, however, that he wished was included in the film: the night he went to Al Sharpton's birthday celebration in early 2000 at a church in Upper Manhattan attended by about 2,500.
"Al Sharpton introduces me very nicely, very courteously. We worked together even though I had him arrested and we don't agree on a number of things. …. Here I am and I look at the faces and many of them I see are people who had picketed me, who had yelled at me, who didn't like me. Most of them I didn't know but there were people there who fit those categories. And so the first thing I did, I looked at the audience, and this was when Rudy Guiliani was mayor, and I looked and I swerved from left to right, and I said 'Do you miss me?' And they roared. They laughed, because it was Guiliani who was mayor. So they missed me. It was one wonderful moment," he said.
Koch said he wanted to be buried at a "bustling cemetery." His burial site on 155th Street and Amsterdam Avenue has a stone bench and a tree and he said he hopes people will visit.


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SAN JOSE -- San Jose leaders have taken their firmest stance yet on one of the thorniest issues at City Hall, moving to crack down big time on medical marijuana dispensaries following several failed attempts to get tough on pot over the last half-decade.
The San Jose City Council's 7-3 vote Tuesday evening limits existing and new pot shops to a handful of select industrial areas that make up less than 1 percent of the city, which will require the vast majority of the dispensaries to close within a year. Even the ones that survive will have to comply with costly new restrictions.
Dispensary opponents led by some parents, prosecutors, conventional business owners and school officials pointed to research showing kids in San Jose were getting their weed from the pot shops, either through illegal drug deals or by obtaining medical cards. They said the city's roughly 80 weed businesses were also destroying the character of suburban neighborhoods, attracting crime and blight.
"I think we came up with something that protects our residents," Councilman Pete Constant said, while still "providing enough space for dispensaries to operate."
While 60 percent of respondents in a city-commissioned poll earlier this year wanted pot shops regulated, only 16 percent favored an outright ban already adopted by about 200 California cities. But a ban is exactly what will happen, marijuana store owners say, as the new regulations will make it virtually impossible to do business in San Jose.
The requirements force pot shops to grow all weed in or next to Santa Clara County, limit store hours and set up round-the-clock security. What's more, no one under 18 can be allowed inside or to work for dispensaries, the shops can't offer products that imitate candy and customers can't get high in the store.
"Nobody can operate under those environments," said James Anthony, an attorney representing many of the pot shops. "It's a de-facto ban and in kind of a sneaky way."
Pot business owners say they have collected more than enough signatures necessary to put their own dispensary rules -- with looser regulations -- on the ballot, Anthony says. They note the city makes $5.4 million in tax revenue from the pot shops and insist the issues are limited to a few problem shops. They were aiming to place the initiative on the November ballot, but the council could delay it to November 2016.
A similar scenario played out in 2011, when the council followed years of discussion by voting for dispensary limits only to back off them when a referendum qualified for the ballot. Since then, however, a Supreme Court ruling and guidelines issued by the U.S. Attorney General's Office have given cities new authority to regulate pot shops, and the council says it's not backing off this time. Mayor Chuck Reed has even vowed to lead the fundraising campaign against the pot groups' ballot measure.
San Jose has the bulk of Silicon Valley's pot shops thanks in part to its lack of action on regulations. Officials in Gilroy, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill and Sunnyvale have banned pot shops, according to Americans for Safe Access. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors is set to consider a ban in unincorporated areas this summer.
In San Francisco and Oakland, officials have enacted regulations but they are generally not as strict as what San Jose approved Tuesday.
Under San Jose's new rules, the stores must be more than 1,000 feet away from schools, parks and other areas children gather; 1,000 feet from certain major business parks; 150 feet from homes; and 500 feet from substance abuse centers. That leaves about 600 parcels, mostly in North San Jose and the central part of the city just east of Highway 87.
As a result, the one-fourth of the city's dispensaries that are next to homes could be forced to close in the coming months. Most of the others will also find themselves in no-pot zones but will have until summer 2015 before they have to shut down. About five to 10 could potentially stay in their current locations.
During the last five weeks, the council has on four occasions had the final plan up for debate -- totaling more than 10 hours of discussion -- but delayed a decision. Each time, medical pot supporters wearing green cannabis leaf T-shirts flooded the council chambers alongside their opponents. On Tuesday, Councilmen Ash Kalra, Don Rocha and Xavier Campos were opposed, and Kansen Chu was absent.
Contact Mike Rosenberg at 408-920-5705. Follow him at Twitter.com/rosenbergmerc.


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We daytripped Amsterdam en route to Rome. Amsterdamize was our guide. As you'll see and hear, it was "cold, wet, sideways rain with lots of coffee; just like Seattle but with 8 hours of jet lag."
We rented our bikes for the day from Mac Bike – friendly, helpful staff – all Amsterdam. We got to talking and I mentioned Bike Hugger, so they have a look at our blog and what's the first thing they see? Mark's Knog Porn post – nice! We fit right in here in this town.
Amsterdamize was our informative guide and rode with us around the concentric canal streets stopping for coffee twice, through the Red Light District waving at girls in windows and stoners; and then stopped to check the trippy Tuschinski Art-Deco theater.
Later we meetup with the crew at Work Cycles. Work Cycles is the exporter for Bakfiets in the USA via Clever Cycles. The shop owner was preparing for the shop's 5th anniversary. They also sell bikes like this and the furniture mover.
Pictured here is the Redline Conquest Classic, a drop bar bike easily serving as an all-weather commuter. Ironically, though it is named "Classic", it is the first the steel frameset in the Conquest lineage. Yes, steel is back, and disc brakes continue to propagate the entry and mid-level road bikes.
UPDATE: from Andrew - Redline contacted BikeHugger to let us know that this bike will be in the '09 lineup after some tweaks are made. I'm sure we'll have more once it's launched
What many people don't realize about the resurgence of steel bikes is that the almost complete disappearance of steel wasn't just bike companies deciding to force consumers on to aluminium frames. The reality is that many of the Taiwanese and Chinese factories just are not capable of steel bike construction. A factory can't order different tubes one day and switch to steel frame production like you would switch out the milk to make a soy latte. However there have been a number of factories which are now ready to produce steel, working to fill the market demand.
I've been to enough Interbikes to have an authentic weariness and apathetic air when talking about newly introduced bicycle product, but I still laugh a little each year. What makes me laugh? PORN!
Besides having the most groundbreaking advertising campaign since the introduction of the Marzocchi girls, Knog has some seriously fun products. Check out their new inner tube patch kit with their distinctive and almost-NSFW cartoons printed on the patches. A folding tire lever fits with the patches in the matchbox-sized container.
What would they be called? Porn Patches, naturally.
Personally, I'm holding out for the ribbed version.
Purple Pedals Bike – named Yodelicious – at Hugga HQ.
Uploaded by Yodelicious | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.


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White House Seeks to Avoid Another Lost Year
The countdown is on to President Barack Obama's fifth State of the Union address next Tuesday. The White House is still finalizing the policy proposals the address will include, following weeks of soliciting ideas. Look for income inequality, energy, climate change, college affordability and early childhood education as highlights.
But the State of the Union address is about more than just the speech. For a sitting president, it's essentially a fresh start. And, more than any time in his presidency, Mr. Obama needs one of those. The year 2013 was a mostly empty year, with little to no movement on the White House's legislative agenda (The president has rushed in recent weeks to make good on promises from last year's State of the Union address). The year was capped by a botched rollout of Mr. Obama's signature health care law, a self-inflicted wound that handed Republicans a political cudgel.
And he's got just three years left.
In that sense, the White House hopes the speech, which will draw the largest audience Mr. Obama is likely to command all year, will reboot what has been a lethargic and relatively unproductive start to a second term. How Mr. Obama's aides lay the groundwork for his policy announcements, and the White House's subsequent follow-through, are critical.
After three years of battles with a divided Congress, one of the key questions Mr. Obama's aides have wrestled with in packaging next week's State of the Union address is: How does the president speak to a Congress that's repeatedly hostile to his agenda?
A video the White House released Tuesday suggests they've settled on a strategy. In it, the president's chief of staff, Denis McDonough, says: "The State of the Union is not just a conversation with Congress, but a conversation with you, the American people."
The approach is familiar. Since Republicans took control of the House in 2010 and made significant gains in the Senate, Mr. Obama has tried to sell his agenda outside of Washington in attempt to pressure Washington.
With no signs that lawmakers will suddenly warm to his proposals – particularly in an election year – Mr. Obama's team is poised to employ a similar strategy.
"It's an opportunity to refocus," David Axelrod, Mr. Obama's longtime adviser, said in a recent interview.
Mr. Obama indicated in the last week that he's thinking less about pushing an agenda through Congress than he has in the past five years. He's got a pen and a phone, he said, and is prepared to sign executive orders and convene business leaders and others to generate policy changes without Congress.
"When it comes to Congress, there is no such thing as an offer they can't refuse," Mr. Obama said in an interview with the New Yorker that published this week.
The president needs a strategy shift to make good on his White House's promise that 2014 will be a "year of action." Immigration reform is the one major piece of legislation Mr. Obama may accomplish in his second term, and even that is far from guaranteed.
Mr. Obama is staking his broader legacy on issues of economic inequality. The White House video promises Americans an exclusive view of the policies the president puts forward next week with charts, graphics and conversations with administration officials.
Many of the issues in last year's State of the Union address will be repackaged in 2014, including climate change, tax reform and infrastructure spending.
The video spotlights some of those issues, as well as Social Security, trade, climate change, job training, energy, education and military veterans. (It's apparently not a preview of the laundry-list of topics in the president's address).
Mr. McDonough argues that the speech is only the beginning.
Indeed, the president's aides are scrambling to make sure he doesn't have another lost year like 2013. There's a feeling in the West Wing that he can't really afford that, with just three years left in office. After the midterms, the president's chances of accomplishing legislative goals further shrink. Mr. Obama could also see his influence wane in terms of the "convening power" the White House has referred to in recent weeks, as the fight to succeed him heats up. Administration officials are acutely aware of the ticking clock.
"My sense is that they're feeling that there are three years left and that they want to make every day count," Mr. Axelrod said.
–Follow @wsjwashington on Twitter.
Watch the White House video on the State of the Union:


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After hearing positive reviews of a presentation by the social technology consulting firm that SVB hired to educate the Venture Capital CFOs at our annual conference this summer, we felt compelled to learn more about the business. Dave Gowel, a West Point educated Army Ranger who served in Iraq, taught at MIT and then started two companies, is the CEO of Rockefeller Consulting Technology Integration (or RockTech; www.rocktech.com). We had the pleasure of interviewing Dave to learn what it is about social technology that excited so many Venture Capital CFOs at our conference and what advice he has for entrepreneurs in general.
SVB: How does RockTech clarify the "social media noise" that exists in business today?
DG: We actually started this process with my first company, Clearly Creative, a firm that integrates traditional and emerging forms of communications, both online and in the real world. It was there that our team was able to use different technologies for clients in various industries, giving us insights into the best (and worst) practices in social technology use for professionals. We recognized there were greatly misunderstood and underutilized social technologies that needed a combination of training, consulting and software integration for truly effective professional use. The first technology we identified as most useful for our clients is LinkedIn and we commonly help "quiet the noise" with tailored services as simple as an on-site LinkedIn workshop. This "noise" is the result of the hundreds (if not thousands) of social media-like options available to help project your personal and corporate brand, while protecting them as well. The world has seen social technologies come and go, so which one should you (and your company) invest time into figuring out? So far, it's clear to us that LinkedIn is one that is worth the investment.
SVB: Why do you only consult on LinkedIn when there are other sites with many more users such as Facebook and Twitter?
DG: We are an unbiased third party that identifies the best tool for our clients' needs and we tailor our software and services to them. We currently see LinkedIn as being the most misunderstood and underutilized social technology that also provides the most value to our clients, when it's effectively integrated.
SVB: What were the most useful lessons our VC CFOs learned from RockTech?
DG: That was a great group. I'd say the most consistent feedback we received from those sessions included:
1) The understanding of how LinkedIn could be used in a private, secure and time efficient manner to initiate and deepen relationships with LPs.
2) How CFOs could utilize LinkedIn in a passive way to use (not abuse) their own networks in order to help their GPs increase deal flow, assist in due diligence and provide faster access to top talent.
3) How a non-tech savvy and time-constrained executive could comfortably project appropriate, non-harassing messaging to their networks.
4) The understanding that social technologies are not replacing traditional methods of networking, but merely augmenting them. The ability to inspire confidence and trust in a client, partner, or employee through strong real-world interpersonal skills will never be replaced. It is the number of those quality offline interactions that are increased by effective use of social technology.
SVB: What are the key benefits of LinkedIn for your non-VC clients, such as tech, life sciences and wine business leaders)?
DG: Warm lead generation, shortened sales cycles, talent acquisition and expeditious due diligence on clients, partners and prospective employees. Knowing how to use LinkedIn effectively at the individual and collective levels helps businesses in all industries and revenues to use the untapped social capital from their employees' networks in numerous ways.
To bring this to a tangible level, I'll give you a link to perform an advanced search of your target market. Let's assume you are trying to generate warm business development leads for your company. You can click on this link* and try performing this search yourself by putting in relevant information in the fields below (examples included):
Title: CEO
Location: change "Anywhere" to "Located In or near", then input your target zip code.
Industries: place a check mark next to "Computer Software" and "Biotechnology"
Sort By: (at the bottom left) change "Relevance" to "Relationship"
Views: change "Basic" to "Expanded"
Click Search
Find a person in your search results that is of interest to you with a "2" next to their name and click on the "X shared connections" link to see who can introduce you to that target contact.
The results you receive from this search will be strong or weak based on the quality (and quantity) of your connections in your network. A strong network will yield a list of potentially warm leads based on relationships you already have, allowing you to directly stimulate word of mouth to your target market much easier than ever before.
SVB: Many professionals are wary of social media because of concerns about privacy and security of their information and that of their contacts. How do you mitigate those concerns?
DG: We've found privacy and security concerns to be the biggest barrier to entry and effective use of these technologies by successful professionals so that's where we normally start our training. I'll list several key concerns we hear time and again and I will even give you the hyperlinks to change each of these settings in LinkedIn for interested readers:
1) Connections Browse: You can block your connections from being seen by your network, while still allowing LinkedIn to be useful for you and only the people you trust (Click here and select "No, hide my connections" if you want to block your connections).
2) Custom Spam Filtering: You are able to limit harassing sales or marketing "cold call" emails in the form of LinkedIn invitations, InMails and messages (Click here to limit invitations from people you don't know; Click here to limit InMails and other messages from reaching your inbox).
3) Anonymous Browsing: When you view someone else's profile on LinkedIn, they are given some information about you, but you can control what (if anything) is seen by them (Click here and choose the level of visibility you want to share).
*If clicking on these links, you may need to log into LinkedIn upon your first attempt.
For more information on Dave Gowel, you can go to www.linkedin.com/in/davidgowel
For more information on RockTech, you can go to www.rocktech.com; contact at email@example.com or (617) 401-3348The views expressed by the interviewee do not reflect the views of SVB Financial Group, or Silicon Valley Bank, or any of their affiliates. This material, including without limitation the statistical information herein, is provided for informational purposes only. The material is based in part upon information from third-party sources that we believe to be reliable, but which has not been independently verified by us and, as such, we do not represent that the information is accurate or complete. The information should not be viewed as tax, investment, legal or other advice nor is it to be relied on in making an investment or other decisions. You should obtain relevant and specific professional advice before making any investment decision. Nothing relating to the material should be construed as a solicitation or offer, or recommendation, to acquire or dispose of any investment or to engage in any other transaction.
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Simple hair
"Most of the hair has been clean and simple," said Oliver, who has styled models such as Naomi Campbell, Iman, Kate Moss and Linda Evangelista, and worked for designers including Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta and Ralph Lauren. "It's that sleek, clean hair. There were some that had texture, but I can see a lot of flat-iron straight hair."
Andrew Burton, Reuters
Copyright © 2016, CT Now


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Headley, Padres agree to $8.6 million, avoid arbitration
Follow the Padres on Facebook
Have a Facebook account? Follow the U-T's Padres page for links to video, stories and other content, and to interact with other fans. Go to: facebook.com/utpadres
The Padres have avoided arbitration with Chase Headley for the 2013 season.
But the third baseman's long-term status with the Padres remains unchanged.
Headley and the Padres Wednesday night agreed to a one-year contract for 2013 that will pay Headley $8.575 million.
However, there are no discussions yet toward a long-term contract with Headley, who is eligible to become a free agent following the 2014 season.
"That wasn't part of these discussions," said Padres General Manager Josh Byrnes after the compromise for 2013 was completed.
Headley, who finished fifth in the voting for the National League Most Valuable Player award for 2012, had been seeking $10.3 million for 2013 when the player and club exchanged pre-arbitration hearing salary figures last week. The Padres were offering Headley $7.075 million for 2013.
"It's the system," said Byrnes. "He had a great year and he deserves to be rewarded. This is a defendable number. It's a good raise, but he earned it. We're happy it is done."
Headley made $3.475 million for 2012.
Wednesday's agreement makes Headley the second-highest paid Padre for 2013. Left fielder Carlos Quentin will make $9.5 million. The third-highest-paid Padre for 2013 is closer Huston Street at $7 million.
The switch-hitting Headley had a breakout season in 2012 when he hit .286 with 31 homers and a league-leading 115 RBI.
In addition to being the National League Player of the Month for both August and September, Headley won both the league's Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.
Headley set career highs in nearly every offensive category in 2012 including hits (173), runs (95), homers, RBI, walks (86), on-base percentage (.376) and slugging percentage (.498) while falling only three points shy of his career high in batting average. His slugging percentage was a point shy of being 100 points higher than his previous high for a full season.
Coming into the 2012 season, Headley's single-season bests were 12 homers and 64 RBI.
He averaged a homer every 19 1/2 at bats in 2012 and an RBI every 5 ¼ at-bats after averaging a homer every 52.3 at-bats and an RBI every 9 ¼ at-bats during his first four seasons as a Padre.
Headley joined Dave Winfield as only the second Padre ever to win a RBI title.
"Chase had one of the best seasons I've seen by a Padre at Petco Park and he just kept getting better and stronger as the season progressed," Padres manager Bud Black said at the end of the season.
Headley's 23 homers and 73 RBI after the All-Star break were the second-highest, second-half marks in Padres history. And Headley set a franchise record by reaching base via a hit, a walk or a hit by pitcher in 146 games, breaking the mark of 144 games reaching base set by Tony Gwynn in 1987.
Headley's agreement leaves left-handed starting pitcher Clayton Richard as the lone Padre still facing an arbitration hearing. Richard is seeking $5.55 million for 2013. The Padres have offered Richard $4.905 million.


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Roberto Devereux (concert version)
Pictures / Videos
Gaetano Donizetti (1797 – 1848) / at the Philharmonie
Tragedia lirica in three acts; Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano, based on Jacques-François Ancelot's tragedy "Elisabeth d'Angleterre";First performance on 28th October, 1837 in Naples; Premiered at the Berlin Philharmonie am 5th November, 2014
In Italian language with German surtitles
|Pietro Rizzo
|William Spaulding
|Elisabetta I.
|Edita Gruberová
|Duca di Nottingham
|Davide Luciano
|Veronica Simeoni
|Roberto Devereux
|Celso Albelo
|Lord Cecil
|Gideon Poppe
|Sir Gualtiero Raleigh
|Marko Mimica
|Un paggio
|Carlton Ford
|Un famigliare di Nottingham
|Stephen Bronk
|Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin
|Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin
That things do not always run smoothly in the world's royal houses is no figment of the yellow press. History tells us this, poets and tragedians knew it and the great composers of Italian bel canto happily used high-level intrigues as material for their high-flown dramas. Gaetano Donizetti is perhaps the finest exponent in this regard, composing a string of dramas based on royalty – or, more precisely, on queens. His works centred on heroines such as Mary Stuart [MARIA STUARDA], Anne Boleyn, one of Henry VIII's doomed wives [ANNA BOLENA], or Queen Elizabeth I of England [ROBERTO DEVEREUX]. Despite the power vested in them, these are all lonely, suffering women whose yearning for love is destined to be thwarted by the rigid traditions of court and the strictures imposed by reason of state. Moreover, they are all – particularly Elizabeth, who had her lover Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, executed out of jealousy – strong characters whose less dainty sides not only make them more interesting than their passive sisters in adversity but also provide the composer with ample dramatic material.
ROBERTO DEVEREUX recounts the tragedy of a ruler whose love gives way to desperate hatred. In the end, unable to reverse her decision to have her unfaithful lover executed, Elizabeth abdicates. The grand final scene featuring the Queen ranks with the madness aria sung by Lucia di Lammermoor as one of Donizetti's finest creations and is an opportunity for the soprano to show what she is capable of. This is a right royal role for Edita Gruberová, and the supreme prima donna of bel canto triumphs in this signature role from the first note to the last. Celso Albelo sings the hapless Earl of Essex and Veronica Simeoni the Queen's young rival for his affections.


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The sensationalism against George Zimmerman for the shooting of Trayvon Martin, clouds the real reason this tragedy occurred in the first place.
The pundits, the community organizers, the pot stirrers, are all trying to find a scapegoat and the convenient one to blame is George Zimmerman. George Zimmerman is but the symptom of a government failing in its prime function: To provide protection and security for its citizens. If government does not provide protection for its citizens, then the citizens will provide it for themselves...and what the citizens provide will not be as professional and polished as a trained police force.
The gated community that George Zimmerman is a resident, has been the repeated target of crime. Zimmerman himself had made repeated phone calls to the local police to report suspicious behavior/crime as had been requested by that department. Other members of the community had made calls as well. As far as the cops were concerned, that wasn't excessive in a neighborhood fighting petty crime.
The neighborhood was on edge, particularly since they had suffered 8 burglaries in the past 14 months. Including the terrifying experience of resident Olivia Bertalan:
21 year old Bertalan was home alone with her infant son one morning last August when a man came to her door, knocked, and rang the bell. She peered out the window and didn't recognize the man. But then called police when another man came to her back door.
She ran upstairs clutching her son and locked herself in a bedroom as the second man entered her home. Terrified, both she and her son cried as the man tried to enter through the locked door of the bedroom. Both men ran when police arrived, but not before stealing a laptop and digital camera.
After the crime she was afraid to come home. She and her husband got a dog, as advised by police. "It was terrible," said Bertalan, who moved from the neighborhood last month because of this and other burglaries.
"There was definitely a sense of fear in the neighborhood after all of this started happening, and it just kept on happening. It wasn't just a one time thing. It was every week," she said. "Our next-door neighbor actually said if someone came into his yard or house he would shoot him. Everyone felt afraid and scared."
For years, Twin Lakes has been beset by crime which finally lead them to start a neighborhood-watch organization last September. The burglary of Olivia Bertalan's home in August seems to have been a catalyst
There was a large sign post at the entrance of this gated community saying it had neighborhood watch and suspicious people would be reported to 911. This should give someone new in the neighborhood fair warning as to why they may be followed or watched and should invoke a sense of cooperation and understanding from those visiting.
Read more:
Brave mom protects her infant and shoots intruder
Americans want the 2nd Amendment under their Christmas tree
As state and local governments drown in debt, they are cutting back. The California town of Vallejo went bankrupt due to spiraling costs. As a result city managers asked for concessions from public employee unions to help get the city back on sound fiscal footing. The unions wouldn't give up benefits or wages, as a result the town had to lay off police and fire forces and is now skeleton staffed with less, but more expensive personnel.
Oakland California, a financial basket case, did not have enough police officers last fall to respond to a violent beating which resulted in a death of one of its citizens in their own front yard. Police forces were busy patrolling the Occupy Oakland gathering.
These stories will be repeated around the country as budgets get tightened. Critical numbers of law enforcement will be reduced and response times to crimes will be lengthened. Some jurisdictions will no longer respond to certain types of crime because they just can't afford to hire enough police to respond. Revenue enhancement policing will be increased as municipalities struggle to bring in more money to their coffers. Speed traps are on the increase and traffic violations are watched for with an eagle eye as they bring in fines.


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Aug 11, 2011
CORPUS CHRISTI - The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi baseball team will hold walk-on tryouts on Thursday, Sept. 1, head coach Scott Malone announced today.
The tryouts, which will be held at Chapman Field, are open to any student enrolled full-time at the University. Interested participants must pick up a walk-on packet at the baseball office (second floor of Dugan Wellness Center) and return the completed packet no later than Thursday, Aug. 25.
The Islanders are coming off their most successful season in school history, having won a school-record 37 games and finishing third in the Southland Conference.


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Molded Skin technology reduces weight and further improves flexibility. HeatGear liner moves sweat away from the skin and lets it quickly evaporate.
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By BookRenter Briana
The cold weather is coming! As much as we are going to miss the warm summer it's time to pack in our shorts, dresses and tank tops and swap them warm scarves, coats and boots. But more clothes mean more fashion! Just because we have to wear more doesn't mean that we can't find cute winter wear that won't hurt your budget.
Jackets– This is one item that you can feel good about splurging on. Every girl needs a cute winter coat that you can wear every day. My tip for you, try holding off buying a nice coat until after Christmas. This is when they are extremely cheap. If not try places like Macy's, they have a wide range of coat selections and they normally always have great sales.
Boots– These are both functional and fashionable. They keep you warm and they come in very different styles and types. My favorite place to buy boots is Overstock.com. They have great prices and shipping is very inexpensive.
Scarves – The nice thing about these are that one size fits all! You can also swap or exchange them with your roommates plus they make for a great accessory! You can try Etsy.com which is a great site to find unique handmade clothes. I just got a cute purple scarf while browsing for good buys!
We wanted to give another Etsy shop a shout out- Susan Williams Designs – one of our amazing Facebook Fans. Thank you, Susan for the lovely necklaces and earrings!
Here are a few more places to check out;
Hercampus.com – Wrap it Up, has included there style tips on how to wear scarves.
Collegefashion.com is a great site to check the latest fashion tips and has helpful ideas for winter.
HowToLookGood.com – has a great site that helps you find clothes that fit your particular body type.
"Project Runway" judge Nina Garcia shares five fashion secrets. Nina Garcia from Project Runway shares here fashion tips with a video from ABC
So what's your favorite winter wear?


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In some years, the snow flies for the Swift Skedaddle Snowshoe Adventure Race, making racers look ghostly as they pass through the flurries.
Last year, the Silverthorne race - which for several years has been a qualifying race for the U.S. Snowshoe Association National Championships - was held in much-needed snowfall, as racers pounded their peds over flakes that didn't come close to covering the grasses underneath.
Given the spell of dry weather hovering over Summit County lately, it's hard to believe this year's race should again be snowy. Again, it's much-needed, though luckily for race organizers and contestants, not as badly as last year.
"Compared to last year, the course is 100 percent better. ... Last year, we had some exposed areas still," said Caleb Kehrwald, general manager of The Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks.
The course starts at the clubhouse, where racers begin at 10:30 a.m. They head from there toward the north end of the golf property and exit onto national forest land, winding through the forest a bit before making their way through the Three Peaks development. Racers then descend onto the fairway of Hole 9.
"The finish looks really cool," Kehrwald said.
It's also tough, as racers face more than 680 feet of elevation gain across a mostly singletrack course.
Snowshoers can opt for the 5k shorter course, with 10k racers mostly being those wanting to contend for national championship berth. That field is typically less than 15 percent of total racers, Kehrwald said.
"There is going to be a wide range of skill levels that will be here," the golf course manager said, adding that those seeking slots will "have tennis shoes strapped to snowshoes and they will run the course."
Others will be out for the exercise, camaraderie and to get familiar with a growing sport.
"There are people who look forward to it year after year. They think, 'I did it last year, I'm going to prove I'm in as good of shape if not better shape than last year,'" Kehrwald said.
Kehrwald, who has been helping with the race for four years, said 144 people were registered as of Tuesday afternoon, with the field maxing out at 150.
"I've watched how the numbers have grown over the past few years," Kehrwald said. "From an exposure standpoint for the Nordic trail and for the golf course, it's beneficial. I think the word is starting to spread about the Nordic center here at the golf course. ... We're seeing more traffic through our parking lot of people coming to use the trails."
For more information, call the Silverthorne Recreation Center at (970) 262-7370.
Jan. 19 - Colorado State Snowshoe Championships/Pedal Power Snowshoe Adventure Series at Tennessee Pass
Jan. 26 - Kahtoola Bigfoot Snowshoe Festival in Midway, Utah
Feb. 3 - Beaver Creek Snowshoe Series at Beaver Creek
Feb. 9 - Powerbar Big Easy Snowshoe Race/Colorado High School Championship in Frisco
Feb. 9 - Winter Warrior Snowshoe Race in Durango
Get more information on races, find contact information and more online at www.snowshoeracing.com.


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Is anyone doin' a new Dune? Commenter Nameloi thinks it's about time we revisited the sands of Arrakis once more as the video game players of Dune in today's Speak Up on Kotaku.
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
Watching the 1984 Dune movie based on Frank Herbert's novel I suddenly felt like there hasn't been a proper game for this amazing work of science fiction.
Yes we can count on Westwood's Dune RTS games, but they focused more on open warfare between the houses rather than invest their time telling the story of Paul Atreides, the main character in the novel.
There also was a PC game that did focus more on the novel's story in 2001, but it was a commercial failure and likely most people didn't know about its release.
So in a post-Mass Effect era, could there ever be a well-done Dune game?
I think it's time we get one.


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News 12 First at Five / Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013
Donnie Watson and his fellow GRU Classmates are in a battle zone.
"You have no idea who has it," Watson said.
A grim reality when it comes to sexually-transmitted diseases.
"It's something no one really thinks about, guess that's why it's something that's never talked about," Watson said.
Richmond and Columbia counties are both in the red.
In 2011 alone, there were over 2,700 STD cases for both counties combined. Experts expect those numbers to increase.
"People don't realize how prevalent STDs are, especially in Georgia, but in Augusta," said Katrina Barry, a nurse at Augusta's Georgia Department of Public Health.
She has seen many cases come through her office, many that think they are immune to the disease.
"They're here in Augusta and just because maybe you have been fortunate to not contract one now doesn't mean that you won't in the future," Barry said.
A message she is trying to inform everyone, especially those between the ages of 18 and 24.
"I think people are afraid, they're afraid to get tested because they don't really wanna know if they have something," Barry said.
Barry says fear won't stop the spread of STDs.
She has a lot of people who say, "I didn't think this would happen to me."
Her response is, "Anyone who is sexually active can get an STD."
But for Watson, he wants people to spread the word, not the disease.
"I feel like there should be more awareness about it, people need to know how dangerous and scary this is," Watson said.


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Boston Herald: Message to Scott Brown - Give N.H. a shot
While Democrats swept the major offices in 2012, more than 70 percent of New Hampshire voters are independents or Republicans, while only 28 percent are registered Democrats. Brown�s fiscally conservative, socially moderate message � and that rugged pickup truck � could make election lightning strike twice.
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Obamacare: Health insurers fear young people will opt out
College student Francois Louis, 20, poses for a photo in Davie, Fla. Louis can't remember the last time he went to the doctor and gets by on over the counter medication or health remedies whenever he's sick. He'd love to be able to the doctor and have a check-up, but says it's just too expensive on his salary of less than $15,000 a year. For millions of unemployed and underemployed twenty-somethings, many who are still living at home in the wake of a recession, health care has been out of reach. Now sweeping federal health laws are promising make coverage more affordable, but the big question remains, will it be affordable enough? (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) by Kelli KennedyAssociated Press Writer MIAMI (AP) — Dan Lopez rarely gets sick and hasn't been to a doctor in 10 years, so buying health insurance feels like a waste of money. Even after the federal health overhaul takes full effect next year, the 24-year-old said he will probably decide to pay the $100 penalty for those who skirt the law's requirement that all Americans purchase coverage.


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marty67 wrote:Defintly boning your mom and sister after you fall asleep watching TOP DESIGN after only one glass of chardonnay. Update you Chucking avatar you dork. who the Chuck is dave chappelle anyway? you must be like 60 years old. still watch those 3 episodes over and over and over like its still funny??? you prolly still answer the fone "this is rick james bitch" , :::::::: on topic::::::: Is this park still there ?? anyone know at all, last time they were putting some buildings there so id like to know b4 i drive there. TIA
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Following the defeat of a statewide ballot issue that would have remade the way the state draws its legislative and Congressional district lines, lawmakers representing the area agree the process needs changed.
Ohio Rep. Andy Thompson, R-Marietta, points to the district he was just elected to represent, which includes only a quarter of the city in which he lives. It encompasses three counties and parts of two more, giving him a lot of ground to cover.
"My preference would be not to have a two-hour-long district (to drive across)," Thompson said. "But I've won this district; I'm going to do my best for this district."
State Sen. Lou Gentile, D-Steubenville, uses Ohio's Congressional delegation to make his case.
"Twelve (Republicans) to four (Democrats) does not accurately reflect this state. This state is a 50-50 state. Certainly we saw that in the presidential election," he said.
State Issue 2 would have established a 12-member commission split evenly among Democrats, Republicans and individuals not affiliated with either party to redraw legislative district maps every 10 years following the completion of the U.S. Census. Currently, whichever party is in power at the state level has the final say on the map, and members of both parties agree that over the years that power has been abused. The result has been oddly shaped districts that usually favor one party or another.
Critics raised several issues with the proposed constitutional amendment, including that voters would have no recourse against the unelected commission. Involving the judiciary by having judges appoint members to the commission was another feature many found troublesome.
While more than 63 percent of voters opposed the issue, a statement on the website of Voters First, the coalition that backed it, says the election nevertheless demonstrated the need for reform. Only two of the 133 Congressional and General Assembly races decided on Election Day were won by candidates in districts where their party wasn't favored, according to the statement from Voters First Chairwoman Catherine Turcer.
"Opponents to Issue 2 picked apart our proposal, but no one defended the current system," Turcer said. "Now we need to reach out to policy-makers and organizations that opposed Issue 2 and work together on developing a consensus on reform."
The statement says the Constitutional Modernization Committee is one possible avenue, but there is a chance the General Assembly may take action without a recommendation from that group.
Republican Secretary of State John Husted introduced redistricting reform measures when he was in the Ohio Senate and has indicated in published reports he still supports making changes to the system.
State Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-Albany, whose new district covers a larger portion of Washington County than her previous one, including the rest of Marietta, said she's optimistic the matter will be taken up in the 2013 legislative session. But she added that whether lawmakers would be able to agree on a measure to put before voters is another story.
It's a complicated, politically loaded issue, and even with Issue 2 supported by groups like the nonpartisan League of Women Voters, "it was still controversial," she said.
Thompson attributes some of the problem to population loss in Cuyahoga County, forcing district shifts to the south.
"There's an unfair burden borne in some of the new districts, especially the one I'm in," he said. "Almost all of the competitive districts have been on this side of the state."
Phillips said the result of reform should be better government.
"I think when districts are competitive, people end up with more responsive lawmakers, whether they're Democrat or Republican," she said. "If the real fight in the election happens in the primary, then people tend to run to the extremes of their party."
Phillips and Gentile also expressed a desire to see more strength given to existing provisions against dividing existing political subdivisions when possible.
"It's spelled out for us, but it's all open to interpretation," Gentile said, adding that it's very difficult to legally challenge the districts once they're drawn.
Thompson said the argument could be made that his district is at least unified demographically, even if the geography is problematic. He agreed it makes sense to not divide counties and cities, but said that will be a part of the overall discussion.
"I don't get to make that decision myself," he said.
A compromise solution could not be reached prior to the latest redrawing of lines, but Thompson said he thinks another attempted overhaul won't be delayed until the next Census.
"I suspect there'll be an attempt to head off any future conflicts," he said.


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Sewing Kit
- Overview
On the mend. From sewing a loose button to shortening a hem, this Sewing Kit includes everything you need to make repairs on-the-go.
- 2.9"w x 5.25" x 1.75"h.
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- Set includes: 8 spools of thread, scissors, mini tweezers, measuring tape, thimble, needles and safety pins.
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If there's one thing to celebrate at the 19th Annual East Bay International Jewish Film Festival, it's pain-free travel.
Ensconced in Pleasant Hill's cushy Century 16 Theatres, or sipping Concannon cabernet at the Vine Cinema & Alehouse in Livermore, or marveling at the Art Deco wonder of the Orinda Theatre, film buffs will visit Jerusalem's serpentine streets, the Ukraine (70 feet underground) and San Francisco of 1848 through early 20th century, among other locales.
Presented by The Jewish Federation and The Jewish Community Foundation of the East Bay, this year's films arrive from nine different countries. A groundswell of cinematic energy -- partially due to the ease of accomplishment offered by rapidly improving digital technology -- means the Israeli submissions are particularly notable, according to festival Director Riva Gambert.
"Indeed there is a film for everyone's taste and sensibility," she writes in the program notes.
A season pass provides access to more than 40 feature-length films, audience talk-backs and -- new this year -- "Short Bites," scheduled between morning and afternoon films. The short features, mostly 5 to 15 minutes in length, are complete miniature snapshots made by seasoned filmmakers and up-and-coming mavericks. Festival-goers who prefer real bites may use the time to visit nearby restaurants and local attractions (the festival website provides links to websites listing both). As always, individual tickets can be ordered online, or purchased (with a $1 surcharge) at the door. A visit to http://eastbayjewishfilm.org/14/lineup.html makes perusing the lineup simple and (especially for film-goers planning to bring their children) the perfect way to prescreen the offerings.
Although the festival was set to begin Friday, March 7 (the Sabbath, with no films after sunset), the official kickoff begins Saturday, the 8th, with the opening night's Bay Area Premiere of director Avi Nesher's "The Wonders." Underwritten by the family of Carole Chaiken, an avid film lover who passed away in 2013, the memorial screening will be far from a somber affair. With jocular jousting between a graffiti-tagging bartender and a moody, menacing detective -- slapsticked against international hip-hop group HaDag Nachash's score -- film-induced laughter will pay tribute to Chaiken's life.
The film noir's edgy-cheerful charm, reminiscent of Coen Brothers or Woody Allen films, will also address festival-goers' appetite for more comedies. "We have three documentaries this year which tell the story of 'ha ha' men, and several dramas with a light touch," Gambert said. "Cupcakes," a film screening twice during the festival, she called, "a frothy cinematic treat." Another treat, "When Comedy Went to School," features humorous answers to the question, "Why are so many comedians Jewish?" Jerry Lewis, Sid Caesar, Larry King, Jerry Stiller and others provide the laughs and lingering reminiscences.
But there's also meat in the festival's muscle, with investigations into societal pressures within the Jewish community. "Fill the Void," loaded with seven Israeli Oscars and a Venice Film Festival "Best Actress" award for Hadas Yaron, tells the searing story of an Orthodox Hassidic family in Tel Aviv. A death during childbirth has presented a young woman with an (at first) unspoken ultimatum: disregard her mother's pressure to wed her brother-in-law, or flee to pursue her dreams.
Ken Blady, an author and lecturer on faculty at a number of Bay Area colleges, will appear as guest speaker for the screenings of "Fill the Void" and another film, "Lone Samaritan." A leading expert on Jewish themes, Blady will unpack the arguably explosive elements distinguishing Samaritans from ultraorthodox Jews and speak to local Jewish history.
Balanced between lighter fare and bold explorations of controversial subjects, are films like a documentary screened in honor of longtime film festival volunteer Barney Sherman. "Glickman" follows the fascinating life of sports broadcaster Marty Glickman.
From Olympic track star to his career as the HBO announcer who coined the terms "the lane" and "swish," his story travels from drama on a global scale (World War II and Hitler) to compelling action on America's professional sports courts and fields.
"People request the dates of our festival a year in advance," Gambert said. Perhaps that is because the festival's broad sweep offers painless escape, education and entertainment to all.


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Ola Faye Pike
Ola passed away on November 10, 2012 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, she was 86 years old. She passed away peacefully after a 10 year battle with Alzheimer's.
Ola was preceded in death by her husband Alvin (former owner of the Richvale Repair Shop) and son Bruce.
Ola is survived by daughter Janis Stephenson; son Gary Pike; siblings Ann Gean, Janie Engel, Monroe Ming and Tot Nicholas; four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Ola was born in Paris, Arkansas on January 31, 1926. Alvin and Ola were long time residents of Gridley, California. For many years Ola and Alvin spent their winters in Cabo San Lucas and their summers touring the United States. After Alvin's death in 2000 Ola never left Cabo San Lucas. Ola enjoyed all Cabo San Lucas had to offer. She had many friends and enjoyed playing cards with her bridge group. Ola was very committed to her husband and children and will be dearly missed.
A memorial service will be held at the Gridley-Biggs Cemetery mid 2013.
Location, ST | website.com


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Girls basketball: Naugy, Crosby, HC pull out wins
Steph Lima scored 10 points, including one of two free throws with six seconds left in the game, to give the Naugatuck girls basketball team a 35-34 win over St. Paul in Bristol on Wednesday night.
Angelina Piccirillo led Naugatuck (6-9) with 13 points, while Amy Dietz added 11. Kelly McMahon scored a team-high 10 points for the Falcons (7-7).
Crosby 43, Wolcott 37: Za'Nayia Love poured in a game-high 17 points as the Bulldogs held on to defeat the Eagles at Wolcott. Ndidi Nolisa scored 10 points while Shayla Perez added six points for Crosby (7-7).
Amber Gianni scored 12 points and Kayla Briere finished with six for Wolcott (8-6).
Holy Cross 47, Ansonia 45: Kiera O'Donnell had a team-high 18 points for the Crusaders, who rallied from a third-period deficit by outscoring the visitors, 13-8, in the final period to pull out the win.
Chelsea Houlihan added 13 for Holy Cross (10-4). Melissa Tirella scored a team-high 18 points and Tierney Lawlor added 15 for the Chargers (9-5).
Torrington 59, Derby 29: Caroline Teti netted a game-high 19 points to lead Torrington. Nicole Kozlak scored 13 points while Paige Middleton contributed nine points for Torrington (10-4).
Shelby Mendillo scored nine points while Rebecca Adanti finished with seven points for Derby (1-13).
Seymour 60, Wilby 36: Cindy Farrell recorded a career-high 27 points to go with seven rebounds and three steals for the Wildcats in Waterbury.
Kaitie Dow added 16 points, six rebounds and three steals for Seymour (5-10), while Tierra Harvey had six points and eight rebounds. Cristina Tacinelli dished out three assists.
Chandrea Griffin and Jackie Legree had 14 and 11 points, respectively, for Wilby (1-14).
Taft 58, Loomis Chaffee 53: Morgan Manz poured in a career-high 24 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as Taft rallied to take down Loomis Chaffee at Watertown.
With Taft down 48-38 and nine minutes remaining, Manz sparked a 14-0 Big Red run with 10 points. Dominique Moise and Chelsea Robinson both finished with 13 points for Taft (3-7).
Stephanie Jones had 21 points for Loomis (8-5).
Kent 62, Westover 25: Daneesha Provo scored a game-high 24 points for Kent as it defeated Westover in Middlebury. Brianna Santiago also had 15 points for the Lions (6-5).
Marissa Littman led the Wildcats (2-9) with six points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Paige Cunningham added four points, 13 rebounds and two steals.
Windham Tech 37, Wolcott Tech 23: Felicia Figueroa scored a team-high 13 point for Windham Tech in Torrington.
Kimmie Stack and Jen Hislop each had six points and 10 rebounds for Wolcott Tech (4-11).
Master's 59, Canterbury 29: Abby Jones scored a team-high 12 points for Canterbury in New Milford. Rachel Gaglio added five points for the Saints (4-6).
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Men's Nike Zoom Hyperchaos Basketball Shoes
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The Nike Zoom Hyperchaos Men's Basketball Shoes feature a Hyperfuse upper for lightweight protection and durability. High-wrapping rubber cupsole provides increased durability and protection, especially when you're showing off on the court. Responsive Nike Zoom cushioning in the forefoot offers support from tip off to the final buzzer. Solid rubber outsole with flex grooves gives you superior flexibility and durability.


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The Day: Intricacies of drug making and the law
Some of the most important decisions that could influence the future of drug discovery are happening not in laboratories, or even corporate board rooms, but instead in courtrooms both in the United States and globally.
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Protect Your Back: Zip Up Your Core
Mindfulness is an invaluable tool when it comes to protecting and preserving the health of our backs. The best way to be "mindful" in our workouts is to have impeccable form. Impeccable form starts in your belly — yes, in your core.
When we do a biceps curl, a heavy squat or even a plyometric burst, the first part of the body we should engage is the core. But what does that mean, exactly?
Your core is 360 degrees around your mid-section. It is comprised of your rectus abdominis muscle in the front, as well as your internal and external obliques on the sides, which form your waist. In the back are your quadratus lumborum muscles, which extend from your bottom ribs to the tops of your hips, and your erector spinae muscles, which run along your spine. Deep inside your belly are your intrinsic core muscles, the muscles that curl around your spine and that give stability to every move you make. The transverse abdominis is one of these muscles.
Flaunt your form
Form — we talk about it often. Shift your weight into your heels, flatten your back, and never let your knees shoot past your toes. All of this is important. But the best place to start good form is in your belly, from the center of your being. Before your next workout, stand with your feet hip-width apart. Point your tailbone toward the ground and then roll your shoulders back and away from your ears. Now lengthen your spine. See it happen in your mind. What happens? Your belly engages. This is our starting point for everything from a lunge to a jumping jack.
Engaging your core and gathering your intrinsic muscles around your spine creates both protection and stability for your low back. From a strong center, you won't over-flex or over-extend your back, which could leave your discs vulnerable.
Keep your abdominals and obliques strong with classic crunches and twists, but be sure your workout routine includes some balance work that forces your deep internal muscles to engage. Add some work for the erector muscles of your low back with some "Superman" or Locust Pose work from yoga. Doing this on a regular basis will provide 360 degrees of stability and protection to your back. From here you will be well on your way to excellent form when doing other exercises as well.
Work out at home with The FIRM videos on GaiamTV.com.


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Published: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 6:18 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 6:18 p.m.
The charges against Byron McClendon were dismissed, and Judge Mark E. Powell ordered his record expunged in June 2014.
Original report
A Hendersonville man was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree rape after police say he "forcibly held" a woman against her will.
The victim was able to escape and call for help, according to a news release from the Henderson County Sheriff's Office.
Byron Aleem McClendon, 29, of 639 Maple St., is being held in the Henderson County Detention Center in lieu of $80,000 bond.
Officers responded to the call and found the victim, who was taken to Pardee Hospital. She was "treated and released for injuries that occurred during the assault," according to the release.
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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You haven't missed your period yet, but something seems different. Are there other clues that you're pregnant?
Some women notice changes in their energy level, mood, or breasts -- a lot like having PMS. Other signs might take you by surprise, like fainting, a shift in your sense of smell, or more bathroom visits.
Your changing hormones kick into gear, even before you take that pregnancy test.
Tender Breasts
One of the first signs is often achy, tender breasts. They may feel fuller and heavier. You might even notice the area around your nipple getting bigger and darker.
Most early pregnancy symptoms, including tender breasts, are related to rising levels of the hormone progesterone, says Treesa McLean, a licensed midwife. Another reason your breasts swell is that your body keeps more water during pregnancy, which can make you feel bloated, too.
"Wear a good supportive bra, especially when exercising," McLean says.
"Women who have never been able to nap before often suddenly start needing naps during the first trimester," says Jeanne A. Conry, MD, PhD. At this point, it's the extra progesterone that's making you feel wiped out.
You can look forward to a bit of an energy boost in your second trimester, but expect the exhaustion to creep back as you enter the home stretch, she says. The best thing to do is go with it: Head to bed earlier, and steal the chance to snooze when you can.
Mood Swings
Those hormone changes that make you emotional during your monthly cycle stick around for early pregnancy, too.
And once you know you're pregnant, you might get stressed out about the idea of becoming a parent. "Even if it's planned, there can be a lot of fear," Conry says. "We see the positive pregnancy test and have the baby's life -- and the rest of our lives -- planned in a moment."
Fatigue and hunger can make mood swings worse, McLean says, so try to find time to rest and eat small snacks throughout the day.
You're likely to feel better by 14 to 16 weeks, Conry says. If you don't, bring it up with your OB or midwife. She can recommend someone to provide support through the pregnancy and after.


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Pope Francis on Saturday honored the Ugandan Christians who were burnt alive rather than renounce their faith a century ago, urging today's Catholics to follow in their missionary zeal and spread the faith at home and abroad.
Highlights from the weekly AP photo report, a gallery featuring a mix of front-page photography, the odd image you might have missed and lasting moments our editors think you should see.
PHOENIX (AP) " The Golden State Warriors rained 3s in the desert and pushed their NBA-record start to 17-0.
WASHINGTON (AP) " The Paris attacks have renewed debate on the U.S. government's post-Sept. 11 domestic surveillance laws, leading to efforts to revive the issue on Capitol Hill and handing Marco Rubio an opening against Ted Cruz in the Republican...
WASHINGTON (AP) " Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is in the Middle East this weekend to meet with Syrian refugees.
MIAMI (AP) " Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig sustained a swollen eye and facial bruises during a fight with a bouncer.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) " Heavy rain and icy conditions are likely to stick around through most of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in parts of the central U.S. due to a slow-moving, complex weather system that's being blamed for at least 3...
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) " The latest on Pope Francis' first trip to Africa. (All times local.)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) " A gunman burst into a Planned Parenthood clinic and opened fire, launching several gunbattles and an hourslong standoff with police as patients and staff took cover under furniture and inside locked rooms.
BEIJING (AP) " Air pollution in Beijing reached hazardous levels on Saturday as smog engulfed large parts of the country despite efforts to clean up the foul air.
The latest on severe weather hitting Texas and other parts of the central U.S. (all times local):
Rockford Directory
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Location, ST | website.com


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Up to four inches of new snowfall is expected at elevations 2,000 feet and above today in Jackson County, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a winter weather advisory until 10 a.m.
NWS officials reported one to four inches of new snow is expected to fall at that elevation today. Additional accumulation is expected above 3,000 feet. Total accumulations — from Sunday afternoon through this morning — of up to six inches are possible.
Snow is expected to decrease in intensity later today, but light snowfall is expected to continue at higher elevations through early Tuesday morning.
"They'll probably be some breaks here and there throughout the day today," said NWS meteorologist Mike Ottenweller.
A winter weather advisory is issued whenever snowfall will cause travel difficulties for motorists. Snowfall is being reported on spots along Highway 140, Highway 66 and Interstate 5 at the Siskiyou Summit, according to www.tripcheck.com. Snow could also create hazardous driving conditions along other regional highways like 62 and 138.
Drivers should carry chains in their vehicles, along with water, snacks, blankets and a fully-charged cell phone in case of emergency.
The Mt. Ashland Ski Area has seen four inches of new snowfall in the last 24 hours, according to their snow report. The park is open today, their website shows.
— Ryan Pfeil
Location, ST | website.com


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Trey Anastasio Band,
Thursday, 05/06/1999
Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL
Set 1: Back on the Train[1], Farmhouse[1], The Inlaw Josie Wales[1], Sample in a Jar[2], Driver[1], Snowflakes in the Sand[1], Brian and Robert[1], When the Circus Comes[2], Mountains in the Mist[1], Punch You In the Eye[3] > Runaway Jim[2]
Set 2: First Tube, Will It Go Round in Circles?, Gotta Jibboo, Heavy Things, Tops Off > I Can See Clearly Now, Sand, Aqui Como Alla, O-o-h Child, Somantin, Windora Bug, Come On (Part One)
Encore: Silicone Fairy
[1] Trey solo acoustic.
[2] Trey solo acoustic; TAB debut.
[3] Trey solo acoustic; TAB debut. Trey whistled the guitar lines in the "Landlady" segment.
Notes: First set Trey solo acoustic, second set electric TAB. During "PYITE," Trey whistled the lead guitar lines for the "Landlady" segment. "Sample," "When the Circus Comes," "PYITE" and "Runaway Jim" were TAB debuts.
Musicians: Trey Anastasio, Russ Lawton, Tony Markellis


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Think we're a cordless society? Hah! Don't make me laugh or I'll suck a rhino into my lungs. There are always wires SOMEwhere, people. Have you ever seen cable or phone company workers making a repair, opening up one of those concrete boxes embedded in the sidewalk? I walked by one the other day as a technician was knee-deep in such a hole. It's like a spaghetti dinner down there. I mentioned this, but he didn't seem to think it was funny.
Anyway, I am armed with a flashlight and a magnifying glass, and my (cordless) phone receiver is tucked under my chin with a very nice Comcast representative on the line, helping me troubleshoot my ailing modem. I had discovered this mechanical malaise shortly before, after brewing my coffee, settling in to work and finding my laptop itself working fine -- my screen background of cute English bulldogs greetings me cheerily as usual -- but unable to find a Wi-Fi connection.
My first thought was to shout out a reflexive, "Ramsey!" -- Ramsey being our fabulously capable if often cranky IT guy at the Oakland Tribune. But alas, he was not in my kitchen at my beck and call with his typically sardonic, "OK, what did you do now?"
Indeed, while working from home can be awesome, if you have tech problems and you're not a tech nerd (which I've recently been told is called a "terd"), you're up a creek without a Ramsey.
So here I am, eagerly poised to absorb the high-tech advice from the sage service rep on the phone ...
Service rep with high-tech advice: Do you have a paper clip or a pin?
Me: Um, I guess I could find one, but what for?
Service rep: There's a reset button on the back of your modem. You may need a paper clip or a pin to push into the hole and hold the button down for five seconds.
Me: (Stunned silence.) Um, a paper clip? You're kidding, right? This is the "Minority Report" universe we live in?
Service rep: (Tolerant silence.)
I realize these brilliant "terds" have to dumb things down for people like me, but, at the same time, for people like me, couldn't they make this hole a little bigger than a grain of kosher salt? Maybe I should just smack the thing with a hammer like my dad used to do when the vertical control on our RCA console TV went haywire and made "Happy Days" look really sad.
A paper clip? Seriously? Also, I realized, since I'm not at the office, I don't actually have a paper clip. I am, however, under my sewing table, so I do have a pin and with that I manage to perform the requested function. Nothing happens. Official determination: R.I.P., modem.
The rep gives me options. I can go to the Comcast/Xfinity store and get a new one, but I cannot buy one there, I can only lease a newfangled combo modem/router for $7 a month. They can ship one, but that will take three days and it's now 10:32 a.m. and I need it now! If I want to buy one, I can go to Best Buy or wherever and ask for a DOCSIS 3, which is explained as "Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification" and blah blah blah "cable" blah blah blah "computer" blah blah blah "have a fire extinguisher handy." None of the options involve anyone coming out and just doing this for me, dagnabbit, so I go with option one.
Though dusty, I drive over to the Comcast store in Oakland and fairly quickly obtain my new, leased blah blah blah modem/router, and soon I am back under the sewing table, calling the activation number, having it still not connect, calling another very nice service rep to help me troubleshoot the new device and together we go through a series of activities involving more high-tech techniques such as unplugging and replugging various wires so I can eventually return to my wireless life.
Finally, after a total of three hours and 24 minutes, which includes my trip to Comcast and a stop at Peet's on the way back to bolster my resolve with a medium mocha freddo, I am back online. I finish my story, then take the opportunity to dust.
Life Story is a rotating column by features writers and editors for the Bay Area News Group. Follow Angela Hill on Twitter @GiveEmHill.


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A Lakeshore Drive man was charged with first-degree sexual abuse. According to Ontario County Sheriff's deputies, Stephen M. Nicosia, 56, of 4341 Lakeshore Drive, Apt. 1108, Hopewell, was charged Aug. 1 after he inappropriately touched an 8-year-old female on Lakeshore Drive on Aug. 1.
Nicosia was sent to Ontario County Jail in lieu of cash bail. Deputies said he is to answer the charge at a later date.
Location, ST | website.com


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When the Boston Celtics drafted Avery Bradley with the 19th pick of the 2010 draft, they acquired a developmental 19-year-old guard with more question marks than answers. Bradley had played point guard at Texas, but his inability to run an offense or be an impact scorer meant that his position amongst his professional piers was unclear.
After being drafted, Bradley spent much of his first season in the D-League refining his talent. His first season in Boston amounted to just 31 games on the active roster, with 5.2 minutes, .5 rebounds, .4 assists, .3 steals and 1.7 points per game. He was never really involved unless the game had already been decided and was not part of the regular rotation. As a rookie, he simply wasn't ready to be effective at this level and the Celtics didn't have a place for him to play.
An off-season that saw the league's players locked out threatened to quell any development that Bradley had established in his first season. Being that he was only one year in the league at that stage, Bradley had no choice but to look for work during the lockout and landed in Jerusalem. In just three games with the team, he scored 13.7 points per game before the NBA eventually reached an agreement with the Players' Union to pick up where they had left off.
The Celtics had essentially no pre-season before the regular season started in late December. Bradley was a part of the active roster, but his playing time was determined by how he initially did in games. He managed just 22 minutes total during the team's first four games of the year and didn't score a single point with just two rebounds and one assist. The then 21 year old was hesitant and lacked the composure/confidence to play at this level. That wasn't a real knock on him, because he was still a developing player who was only finding his way forward in a league that demanded much more of him than he had ever achieved.
Bradley played in spurts over the next month. A high of 23 minutes against the New Jersey Nets when he scored 23 points put Bradley on the map in early January, but that display was followed by just 35 minutes combined in the team's next five games.
The player who was labelled a combo-guard, but realistically still hadn't found any kind of comfort level at either spot, was both hurt and helped by the shortened NBA season. With a roster of veterans, the Celtics couldn't continually rely on their starters throughout the whole season. That meant, there were times when Bradley was going to get opportunities to play significant minutes in lieu of getting that invaluable practice time of previous seasons.
On January 20th, Bradley's first chance came.
Rajon Rondo's sprained right wrist meant that the Celtics needed a starting point guard against the Phoenix Suns. Bradley couldn't replace Rondo and wouldn't be able to on the offensive side. The Celtics had no other options however. No veteran guards were on the roster and of the youngsters the Celtics had, Bradley was the most experienced. The Celtics would lose the game, but they would also finally get the first extended look at what their young guard promised for the future. In 33 minutes, he only scored 10 points, but did so on 5-9 shooting. He didn't run the offense, so only had one assist, but forced three turnovers and limited Steve Nash to 11 points and nine assists. Relatively low numbers for a player of his caliber at the time.
Just two nights later, Bradley would continue in Rondo's place as the starting point guard. However, this time the struggles of youth would rear their heads. Bradley played a team-high 41 points and had seven assists with six rebounds, but he also shot 1-8(1-4 free throws) and had six turnovers. Bradley helped the Celtics to a win over the lowly Wizards with a +11 rating, but his offensive game appeared to not have improved at all since his college days at Texas.
His potential as a basketball player was there, but his limitations offensively would likely limit him to a role player on an average team if they didn't drastically improve.
As Rondo recovered from his injury and slowly brought himself back to 100 percent, Bradley's minutes would continually decline until the 9th of February when he wouldn't feature at all against the Los Angeles Lakers. Bradley was back to being a bit-part player fighting for minutes based on his early impact in games. The Celtics' struggles as a team weren't pushing head coach Doc Rivers in his direction at the time either.
The signing of Keyon Dooling, a veteran combo-guard, relegated Bradley even further down the pecking order. Yet, another Rajon Rondo suspension vaulted him back into the starting lineup against the Dallas Mavericks in late March again. This time Bradley's offensive output was respectable and his overall performance was relatively impressive with Rondo sitting out for two games, the second against the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, the Celtics lost both games convincingly.