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CORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team signed Brianne Trost (Humble, Texas/Atascocita HS) and Savannah Sandoval (Humble,Texas/Tomball HS) to the 2014 signing class, head coach Stephanie Hughes announced today.
"The 2014 graduating class is yet another layer in the foundation we are building here at Texas A&M - Corpus Christi for our softball program," Hughes said. "These two individuals will fit in great with those returning next season and will continue to help our team become as athletic as we possibly can be."
Trost, a right-handed infielder from Humble, Texas is a four-year starter on the varsity team at Atascocita High School. She was named Defensive Player of the Year after recording 47 assists and 39 putouts in 30 games last season. She registered a .851 fielding percentage and will fill the void next year that will be left by seniors Valerie Perez and J.J. Jackson.
"Bree Trost is a middle infielder who has played on two of the top club teams in the state for the past four years," Hughes said. "Her experience playing against top competition will help her come in and make an immediate impact. She is a very smooth infielder with great hands."
Sandoval, a native of Humble, Texas is a three-year starter for Tomball High School under head coach Benita Dunlavy. She was named First Team All-District 22-4A in center field. Sandoval plays for the Texas Peppers Gold club team and holds a .379 career batting average with a .416 on-base percentage.
"Savannah is a left-handed outfielder also from the Houston area," Hughes said. "Her drive and competitive nature is something that instantly drew me to watch her. She is never satisfied and is always trying to improve her game. She will add even more speed to our already fast lineup along with another left-handed bat in our lineup and depth in the outfield."
The Islanders will open the 2014 schedule at the three-day CenturyLink Classic in San Marcos, Texas. The squad will face host Texas State in the season opener on Friday, Feb. 7 at 2:30 p.m.
For the latest information, follow Islanders Softball on Twitter (@IslandersSball) and Facebook (Islanders Softball).


text:
Copyright © Penn State, All rights reserved.
The information in this Web site is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult an attorney. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income tax include federal taxes only. Individual state taxes and/or state law may impact your results.
FREE Estate Planning Kit

subset: commoncrawl


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Robinson Memorial Hospital recognizes that women have special healthcare needs and face unique demands in their lives. From adolescence to menopause and beyond, the hospital offers women's services that are preventive, educational and supportive. The hospital's offerings range from specialty physician practices and the lovely Birth Center at Robinson to the latest mammography technology and numerous educational offerings.
Northeast Ohio OB/GYN
Northeast Ohio OB/GYN provides comprehensive care to women from adolescence through menopause and beyond. The practice offers well-woman care, routine pregnancy care, full nurse midwifery services, complete gynecologic care, and screenings and treatment for common problems.
Birth Center at Robinson
The Birth Center at Robinson features spacious, comfortable rooms outfitted with the latest technology and equipment. The staff has extensive training and certification in labor support, newborn care and the newest innovations to ensure the safety of moms and babies. To take a tour, please call (330) 297-8403.
Childbirth Education Classes
Childbirth education classes help future moms and family members prepare for a newborn. For more information, call (330) 297-8403.
Women's and Family Health
The Women's and Family Health Department at Robinson Memorial Hospital offers a dedicated area for women admitted for post-operative gynecologic care. The quiet, private rooms are staffed by nurses with experience caring for women. Their goal is to restore the woman to optimal health after surgeries common later in life. For more information, please call (330) 297-8208.
Women age 40 and older should have an annual mammogram. Robinson Memorial Hospital offers top-of-the-line digital mammography at the hospital's main campus in Ravenna and at the Robinson Imaging Centers at Kent and Streetsboro. For more information, please call the hospital at (330) 297-2798 or the imaging centers at (330) 677-3434. To schedule, call (330) 297-2338.
Women's Health Education
The Robinson Memorial Hospital Health Education Center offers women's events, classes and support groups throughout the year.


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Women's The North Face Bounce-B-Gone Sports Bra
Buy Online & Pick Up In-Store
The North Face Graphic Bounce-B-Gone Women's Sports Bra has a pretty clear purpose. The stretch fabric offers a compression fit for superior support and a wide elastic hem for added comfort. VaporWick fabric keeps sweat and moisture from your skin so you stay focused. 85% polyester, 15% elastane.
- BODY FABRIC: VaporWick 85% polyester, 15% elastane
- FIT: Stretch compression
- CARE: Machine wash


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Women's Asics Onisuka Tiger Ultimate 81 Casual Shoes
Buy Online & Pick Up In-Store
Since the early 1980s, the Asics Ultimate 81 have been a popular running casual shoe thanks to their style, comfort, and durable construction.
With a rubber outsole that grips pavement and the breathable fabric that consists in the tongue and throughout the shoe, your feet can plan on staying stable and comfortable. They can also plan on great shock-absorption thanks to the three holes in the heel area, resulting in a more frictionless stride.
The infamous Asics side stripes and suede and mesh upper offer a dependable quality that also accompanies their overall vintage look, a look that remains just as loved today for its sporty and motivational stigma as it did over 30 years ago.
- WEIGHT: 8 ounces
- UPPER: Suede and mesh
- OUTSOLE: Rubber


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Liberal Super PAC had secret Bain ties
A top liberal super PAC in the 2012 election had undisclosed financial ties to the private equity firm Bain Capital — something that some people close to the group say interfered with its core mission of attacking Bain veteran Mitt Romney's business record.
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Sept. 16, 2010
MILWAUKEE - Four-packs for the 2010-11 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's basketball season are now on sale, adding to the long list of great deals available for the upcoming campaign.
The four-game Black Pack includes games with Marquette (Nov. 27), Bowling Green (Dec. 18), Butler (Jan. 3) and Valparaiso (Feb. 16). The four-game Gold Pack includes games with Northern Iowa (Nov. 20), Marquette (Nov. 27), Loyola (Jan. 15) and Detroit (Jan. 28). Packages are just $40 for loge-level seats, with upgrades available.
Full season-ticket packages also remain available and start at just $99. This season includes a great slate of games, including the contests with Marquette, Northern Iowa, Butler and Green Bay.
UWM faculty and staff purchasing tickets for the first time can receive two season tickets for the 2010-11 season at a tremendous discount. Two loge tickets for all 15 home games - including the contest with Marquette - are available for just $99, a cost yhat's only a little more than $3 per ticket.
Panther fans can also purchase tickets for a special rate for groups of 20 or more. Group packages are also available for the game against Marquette, with package prices starting at $750.
Single-game tickets for every game aside from the contests with Western Michigan and Marquette will go on sale late October. If available, single-game tickets for the games with Western Michigan and Marquette would go on sale in early November. Single-game tickets are sold through Ticketmaster.
For more information on all UWM ticket packages, contact the UWM Ticket Office at 414-229-5886.


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Firts all my apologies for my bad english.
I have installed on a computer a Windows Home Server. I also have installed the latest version of PS3Mediaserver and run it as a service, and is declared as exception in the rules of the windows firewall (I know it's not the best choice, but for the moment it's all I have).
But, when I turn on this computer, my PS3 doesn't see the ps3mediaserver.
To make it visible on the PS3, I must log in my WHS (I checked, the PS3Mediaserver service is on automatic on started) and disable the windows firewall.
And I also have to launch the PS3Mediaserver manually, and then it appears on my PS3.
Any ideas how I can fix this ?? I have built this computer so that I can have a server, and the purpose of it is not to log in as user but leave it running by itself
Another thing, the CPU is an athlon X2 4850e on a MotherBoard based on a AMD 780G chipset and a radeon HD3200, perfect for the 720P movies, but when I want to see movie in 1080P they are not correctly decoded and I have jerks.
Is it possible to use the videocard to decode and then send it on the network ??
TIA for your answers.
EDIT : My computer
Athlon X2 4850e, Gigabyte 780G with Radeon HD 3200, 2MB, Windows Home Server, PS3Mediaserver 1.10.51, gigabit network, PS3, XBOX 360.


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PARKERSBURG - State lawmakers are considering proposals to require voters to produce photo identification to cast a ballot.
But state and local election officials say current requirements are adequate and they don't feel additional regulations are necessary.
"Nationally different states have adopted different policies, some require a voter to show identification every time they vote compared to West Virginia which only requires it when you first register," said Wood County Clerk Jamie Six. "Some states don't require identification at all. I would not be in favor of that. Those are the states that have problems."
In West Virginia, when a resident registers to vote, the clerk's office requires they show identification. If an individual registers by postcard or other means where they have not actually registered in person, the first time they go to vote they must show identification. After that, they are just asked to sign the pollbook and the pollworkers compare the signatures.
"I think the pollworkers are adequately comparing the signatures. A requirement for further identification would actually slow down the process, and that's a concern," Six said, alluding to possible lines at polls that might be created if pollworkers have to have everyone produce identification.
"We have not had any case in Wood County where someone tried to falsely vote on behalf of someone else," the clerk said. "I think it's crucial everyone understand, it goes from never showing identification in some states vs. West Virginia where you must show to become a registered voter," he said.
West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant said she will fight any law that suppresses voter turnout, makes it more difficult for people in rural areas of the state to vote, increases wait time for voters at the polling place on Election Day or costs a voter money.
"The Republican Party in West Virginia wants to pass oppressive laws that make it harder for an eligible citizen to exercise their right to vote," Tennant said. "They are proposing solutions to fix a problem that doesn't exist. What we should be focusing on is helping election officials maintain voter registration rolls and new technology like electronic poll books that help keep track of those who have already voted. I have been working for years to purge the voter rolls of dead voters and have had no support from the GOP. They have had chances to address a very real problem we have here in West Virginia and have done nothing. Now they want to spend time and money to make it more difficult and costly for legal voters to cast their ballot. It makes no sense."
Tennant said passing voter suppression laws, like requiring an already legally registered voter to produce photo identification, would not have stopped election law violations similar to the absentee voting scheme in Lincoln County in 2010. Tennant's Investigations Unit examined evidence for more than 18 months in that case and brought three elected officials to justice.
There are already requirements for a voter to provide identification when voting. If it is a citizen's first time voting after they registered by mail to vote, they have to produce a document that shows their name and current residence address. That document could be a driver's license, paycheck or utility bill. A voter is verified in the polling place by comparing their signature, which is the same verification process the GOP has proposed, according to Tennant.
"Forcing people who have been voting legally for years to obtain a photo ID would be a hardship if they are elderly with limited mobility. It might be difficult for a woman who was married in another state to obtain a marriage certificate. And if a voter wants to vote and doesn't have an ID, what then? They will have to vote a provisional ballot, and that means poll workers have more paperwork to fill out. The end result is longer lines at the polling place. And then it will be up to a subjective three member Board of Canvassers to decide if that ballot will even be counted. These laws will have far reaching impact on the election process that I believe will keep people who are legally entitled to vote from casting their ballot. We cannot allow that to happen. Our democracy is too important," Tennant said.
Legislation has been introduced which would amend the code to require a voter to present an identifying document which contains their name, address and photograph. As introduced, the legislation states: "if the person desiring to vote is unable to furnish an identifying document which contains the name, address and a photograph, he or she shall be allowed to vote but must cast a provisional ballot." Provisional or challenged ballots here are turned over to the Wood County Commission when it meets as the Board of Canvass, then the board must rule on the challenge. If the challenge is overruled, the vote is allowed, if the challenge is sustained, the vote is not counted.
Thirty states presently have laws in place that will require all voters to show ID at the polls. A total of 33 states have passed voter ID laws. Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin presently have no voter ID requirement in place, even though laws have been enacted in those states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.


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Saturday, November 3, 2012
Augusta, GA-- The Knoxville Ice Bears' Berkley Scott scored 4:15 into overtime to beat the Augusta RiverHawks, 3-2 (OT).
Knoxville was sparked by Scott, who tallied one goal and one assist.
The Ice Bears put up an impenetrable defensive front on the penalty kill and did not allow Augusta to convert on any of its three power plays. The RiverHawks were unable to stop Knoxville from sending pucks towards the net, and the Ice Bears eventually piled up 34 shots on goal.
Augusta put up thirty shots on net during the contest, more than the 22.0 it averages per game.
The RiverHawks were helped by Ian Watters, who added one goal. Watters scored 1:48 into the second period to make the score 1-0 Augusta (Megginson). Drew Baker also found the back of the net for the RiverHawks. In addition, Augusta received assists from Kyle Watson and Matt Puntureri, who each chipped in one.
Connor Toomey made 28 saves for Knoxville on 30 shots. The Ice Bears totaled 13 minutes in penalty time with four minors and one major and went 1-for-6 on the power play. BJ O'Brien turned away 31 shots on goal for Augusta. The RiverHawks ended with 19 minutes in penalty time with seven minors and one major.
(Game recap courtesy of Pointstreak.com)
The RiverHawks will hit the road next week for their only contest of the week as they travel to Knoxville on Friday, November 9. The 'Hawks will return to home ice on November 15 and 16. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the RiverHawks' Front Office, James Brown Arena Box Office, or online at georgialinatix.com. Season tickets and Flex Packs are still available. Additional information on the Team, tickets, and schedule can be found on the RiverHawks' home on the web, www.augustariverhawks.com, or by calling 706-993-2645.


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Harry Potter Gets a Whole New Look
Harry Potter is back, but with an all-new look.
To mark the 15th anniversary of the U.S. publication of J. K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the first book in her seven-book fantasy series Scholastic is re-issuing the novels with reimagined covers.
Artist Mary GrandPré did the original American covers; the new batch were created by Kazu Kibuishi, the cartoonist behind the bestselling "Amulet" graphic novels. Trade paperbacks featuring each of the seven reimagined covers will be issued in September. The GrandPré editions will continue to be used for hardcover and digest paperback (smaller-format, mass market) editions.
According to Scholastic there are more than 150 million Potter books in print in the U.S.
Kibuishi answered some questions about his new Potter covers via email last night.
Why redo the Harry Potter covers?
Anything that brings more people to the series is fantastic, and creating a new set of images is a great way to introduce the fantasy to a new audience. Being the author of a graphic novel series for middle grade readers, I've spent several years working to teach kids to read- to help them understand and enjoy literature – so they could take the next step into reading material like Harry Potter and beyond. So when I have an opportunity to better pave that road- or help open that door – to literature and learning, I'll jump at the chance and put a tremendous amount of effort and thought behind it.
The new generation of readers will likely never have heard of Harry Potter before. I would love for them to see why the series is a classic.
Which classic covers influenced you when you were coming up with your own designs?
When I was creating the first cover, my goal was to try and fuse the high concepts and modern fantasy of Harry Potter with imagery that might remind someone of classic literature. So while painting, I tried to recall A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Of course, everything already created for Harry Potter was also considered and studied. I tried to approach this project like a historian looking back at the series as a perennial classic, and I painted the images accordingly.
What passages in the books did you turn to to inspire your artwork?
The cover for Sorcerer's Stone depicts the moment when Harry and Hagrid go to Diagon Alley to pick up school supplies, and really who could forget that scene? I honestly just worked on this image from memory and fixed minor details when I received notes from Scholastic. I chose this scene because it is the reader's first real step into the world of magic, a prelude to the adventure that is about to begin. It was a fitting portrait for the feeling of the first book, and it provided me with a great composition to work from.
Have you gotten any feedback from Rowling about your work? If so, what did she say?
Yes. I heard she likes them. When I got news of this from Scholastic, I felt a massive sense of relief, and I felt much more comfortable moving forward!
What should people expect from the other six covers in the series?
Hopefully, the readers will feel like they're getting several new windows into the world of Harry Potter through the covers, so they should expect to see some more of their favorite places and characters depicted in the illustrations. And for those that have never read or heard of the stories before, my hope is that they will find the images intriguing both individually and in a sequence, so that they will feel compelled to explore the books.
Follow me on Twitter @cjfarley
[This article has been modified from its original version.]


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NEW: For a prettier blog interface, see the Wordpress version!
Headlines for Thursday:
- Signed up for a
DemoCamp demo 00:06
- I like someone 02:56
- Speaking of costumes... 10:18
- Secret knocks 10:56
- Enterprise 2.0 definition from Andrew
McAfee 11:05
- IBM CASCON 2006 and conference backchannels 17:08
- IBM CASCON 2006: Social discovery and conferences 17:17
- I heart ultraportables! 19:09
- Planning my week with zones 21:53
- Creative Thursday: Conference commando! 22:20
http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/27/003226&from=rss http://www.myelin.co.nz/post/2006/6/30/#200606302 http://many.corante.com/archives/2006/07/16/twttr.php http://many.corante.com/archives/2006/07/16/dandelife.php http://many.corante.com/archives/2006/03/06/an_adoption_strategy_for_social_software_in_the_enterprise.php http://www.zylstra.org/blog/archives/2006/05/no_man_should_w_3.html http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2006/05/gentlemen_prefer_pdfs.html http://blog.mathemagenic.com/2006/07/24.html#a1805
|Get software suspend to work
|@1300-1500 conference call about social computing workshop : E-Mail from Stephen Perelgut
|@1900-2100 Jazz choir practice at Hart House
|@2100-2300 More writing
Transition to new computer
|Copy my old mail
|Update the hyperlinks in Planner
|Install Flash, check out Bryce's recording of my speech
|Install kimdaba, start photos
|Catch up with Emily Chang's eHub
|Blog about social computing workshop and CASCON
|Blog about social computing in the enterprise
|Catch up on social computing in the enterprise
|Cook lunch
|Sign up for DemoCamp presentation on Emacs
1. Signed up for a
DemoCamp demo: 00:06
David Crow made me promise to give a
2. I like someone: 02:56
I like someone. There, I've said it. I probably shouldn't go into much detail over here, but you can check out my flickr photos.
3. Speaking of costumes...: 10:18
Photo taken by Matthew Burpee
I have no problems turning up at a high-tech geek get-together about Enterprise 2.0 wearing a ruffled blouse and a flowing skirt.
And I got there on a skateboard, too. ;)
On Technorati: clothing
4. Secret knocks: 10:56
Now that's a cool application of technology. Seen on Slashdot: "Knock" Some Sense Into Your Linux Laptop describes how to set up Lenovo Thinkpads to respond to a series of knocks on the computer case. I'm sure someone will turn that into a totally small-scale authentication system ("What's the secret knock?") or maybe a totally hacked up drumming system... ;)
On Technorati: tech
5. Enterprise 2.0 definition from Andrew
McAfee: 11:05
Via Ross Mayfield comes Andrew McAfee's description of Enterprise 2.0: /
- Optional
- Free of up-front workflow
- Egalitarian, or indifferent to formal organizational identities
- Accepting of many types of data
Check out the rest of the post for more insights into Enterprise 2.0.
On Technorati: enterprise2.0
6. IBM CASCON 2006 and conference backchannels: 17:08
I got so carried away making lunch that I nearly missed the planning conference call for IBM CASCON 2006's social computing workshops. I dropped in just in time to hear Stephen Perelgut and Steve Easterbrook talk about real-time collaborative note-taking, and I chimed in with my two cents about how wonderful it is to have backchannels during the conference.
A backchannel is an informal way for participants to talk to each other in the background while the speakers are talking. Backchannel chat is a great way to find out about other interesting sessions and meet other people who are into similar things. We've also used the backchannel to coordinate our attendance at sessions. ("I'm heading over to session A." "If you're blogging that, then I can go to session B...")
If the backchannels are logged, they can be the start of collaborative notetaking. We tried backchannel transcription at one session during Mesh. People were distracted because the backchannel was projected onto the main screen behind the panelists. Most people have a hard time keeping track of two or more streams of information, particularly as they were both verbal. In addition, the IRC channel used for the backchannel chat also included people in other sessions, which made it hard for many people to separate the messages that were related to the current session. Still, it was a good experiment, and that resulted in a number of side-conversations during the session.
I think one of the things that would be great to have for IBM CASCON 2006 is a backchannel that people can get to through IRC and the Web. I'd love to set up one of those, but it needs to be promoted somewhere so that everyone with wireless can hear about it.
An alternative would be to encourage everyone to liveblog it and to use Technorati or a similar web service to aggregate all the posts , say, cascon2006 and the session's tag.
HEY! There's an idea! If we suggest for each session and a tag for the entire conference, then we make it easy for external bloggers to make their posts discoverable. And I can so totally modify the CASCON blog to make it easier for people to "BLOG THIS SESSION" - they can post their content on the session blog and then retrieve it for crossposting onto their blog... That _would_ be totally sweet.
On Technorati: backchannel, conference2.0, web2.0, blogging, cascon, cascon2006
E-Mail from Aaron Kim
7. IBM CASCON 2006: Social discovery and conferences: 17:17
Another thing I want to build for IBM CASCON 2006 is an easy way to create an OPML file for conference registrants and session attendees. Imagine if you could associate your registration with a blog URL and then be able to:
- import an OPML file of all the conference registrants so far
- read an aggregation of all the conference registrants
- do the same for all the people who have registered for a particular session
Certainly, speakers with blogs should have them all listed. Tomorrow I'll ask for permission to get in touch with all of the speakers and ask them for blog URLs. We'll put together a page, export some OPML, throw up an aggregator (maybe even just a public Bloglines), and boom! Happy happy happy.
Even more advanced stuff: imagine a small-scale tech.memeorandum running against the speakers, the conference registrants, or session attendees... Imagine doing that with bookmarks, too! Maybe I can convince Pranam Kolari to do something like that.
In the future, people might even want to associate multiple blog URLs with their profile. For example, if they write topic-focused blogs, they might want their business blog to be aggregated with all the other blogs for a marketing session, while their technical blog might be better for the programming sessions. I don't think we're quite at this point yet, but it should be easy enough to build.
Sounds like a terrific tool. I have one month to build this and all the other nifty things I want to make for IBM CASCON 2006! I wonder if my developer sponsor and my research supervisor mind if I do this...
On Technorati: cascon2006, cascon, opml, rss, conference2.0, blogging
E-Mail from Aaron Kim
8. I heart ultraportables!: 19:09
The power adapter for my Fujitsu Lifebook P1110 gave up two days ago. With the funny way my life works, an inconvenience like that turned into a great opportunity to try out the Sony Vaio U1.
My dad used the Vaio as a wearable computer, strapping it into a customized belt bag during his aerial photo shoots so that he could preview pictures on an 8" screen. When he bought a camera with a better built-in preview, the Vaio languished on a bookshelf. The Japanese version of Microsoft Windows didn't make it easier to use, either. I installed Ubuntu on half of the disk and for a short while toyed with the idea of making it my main computer, but I found the Lifebook's size made it better to typing. Still, my parents felt I'd probably find some interesting way to use the Vaio, so I packed it in my carry-on when I moved to Canada last July.
With the Lifebook out of commission, I needed some other way to compute, and I thought I'd dust it off and try it again. Besides, I'd been meaning to use it as the VPN machine for IBM anyway, as it's the only gadget I have that still runs Microsoft Windows. ;) I spent all of yesterday just getting back up to speed and setting everything up the way I liked it.
The Sony Vaio U1 turns out to be a totally sweet ultraportable that's just perfect for reading blogs in transit and even writing a few entries along the way. My thumbs are just a little bit too short to use the keyboard as a thumbboard, but I can type with one or both hands even while walking around. The scroll wheel is well-placed, too.
It's just transformed the way I think of transit time. Now, transit time is blogging time--and I can even be more productive doing that in transit than sitting at a desk.
Now there's technology for you. =)
9. Planning my week with zones: 21:53
I think IBM's Think!Fridays are a great idea. It's like zoning a day for a particular purpose. I tend to treat my Think!Fridays as mini-Hack Days, using the time to sit down and code something I'd been meaning to write for a while. It's a lot of fun, and it makes me look forward to Fridays. I'm tempted to make it Think!Monday instead so that I have a great way to start the week.
Choosing a theme for the day reminds me to schedule things that help me grow. It's too easy to fall into the rhythm of doing the same old thing. So here's how I want to shape my week:
|New Monday
|The start of the week should fill me with energy and excitement and give me something to look forward to. I'll use Mondays to connect with new people I've met.
|Growth Tuesday
|Toastmasters is about personal development. I can pass by the Chapters bookstore on the way back in order to read a book or two.
|Midweek Meditation
|I might need time to catch my breath midway through the week. Wednesday is a great day for quiet reflection and catching up.
|Creative Thursday
|Jazz choir practice engages my creative side. I'll take advantage of the right-braininess by making Thursday my creative think-out-of-the-box develop-new-facets day.
|Friday with Friends
|Getting together with friends is a great way to close the week and get ready for the weekend. I'll use Friday to reconnect with people I know.
|Saturday Explorations
|Saturday is a great time to explore the city and step outside of my usual interests and activities.
|Sunday Serenity
|Time to reflect on the past week and plan the next one.
These zones are flexible, but I'll try to proactively schedule things for each day. Fun!
On Technorati: life
10. Creative Thursday: Conference commando!: 22:20
On the way to jazz choir practice, I thought about what I like creating and when people have called me creative. One of the things people have complimented me on is the way I hack conferences, from modding conference T-shirts to posting people's tag clouds along the wall in order to spark conversations.
I _love_ going above and beyond the usual ideas of what a conference should be like. That's one of the reasons why I'm really excited about CASCON 2006: as part of the organizing team, I can try out many cool ideas!
I'd love to start a bigger conversation around that, and I'd love to share my thoughts with more people! I think it would make a great blog. I want to share tips and ideas with participants, speakers, and organizers. It'll also be a great place to post my conference reports and pictures of hacked T-shirts! ;)
I already have a name for the blog: Conference Commando. I came across the term "conference commando" in Keith Ferrazzi's book Never Eat Alone. Good stuff, and I think I've got a lot to contribute to this space.
So I'm going to make it happen! Here's what I need to do:
- Make a logo so that it's not just a boring Wordpress install. ;)
- Set up a blog and JUST START BLOGGING! I can probably install Wordpress or something like that on some computer somewhere. Maybe Richi will let me virtualhost conferencecommando.sachachua.com on his computer. I need a MySQL database. Alternatively, I could host it on adphoto.com.ph, which is currently underutilized anyway. Yup, that's also a possibility...
- Extract some of the relevant blog posts from my main blog. For example, my notes about the social computing workshop might be of interest to organizers. A review of the relevant section in Never Eat Alone would be handy for participants, and my blog entry about keynote styles would be good for speakers.
Fun! Hooray for Creative Thursday!
On Technorati: networking, conference, conferencecommando, creativity
E-mail sent
- Richard Plana: MySQL? =)
- [email protected]: Ingrid at Kal's Boutique, August 1, 2006
- Ian Garmaise: Re: Fwd: You're Invited to Club Spin - August 2006
- Jennifer Schachter: Re: Hey! =)
- Alan Hietala: Re: Hey Sacha!
- Rick Mason: Re: Want to come to DemoCamp? =)
- Rick Mason: Re: Want to come to DemoCamp? =)
- Charles Cave: Re: How to Talk to Anyone book
- Greg Wilson: Re: Ack, missed you again!
- Mario Carreon: Girl talk
I'd love to hear about any questions, comments, suggestions or links that you might have. Your comments will not be posted on this website immediately, but will be e-mailed to me first. You can use this form to get in touch with me, or e-mail me at [email protected] .


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About the Book
The final volume in Robin Hobb's popular Rain Wilds fantasy series, Blood of Dragons completes the story of the dragons, their keepers, and their quest to find the lost city of Kelsingra—and the mythical silver wells that the dragons need to survive.
Can Tintaglia and the Elderlings unlock the secrets of the ancient city? Or are they doomed to extinction?
The world of Robin Hobb's Rain Wilds series has been praised by Booklist as "one of the most gripping settings in modern fantasy," and Publishers Weekly called the Rain Wilds books "a meticulously realized fantasy tale" and "a welcome addition to contemporary dragon lore."
Years ago, the magnificent dragon queen Tintaglia forged a bargain with the inhabitants of the treacherous Rain Wilds. In exchange for her protection against enemy invaders, the humans promised to protect an unhatched brood of dragons. But when the dragons emerged as weak and misshapen hatchlings unable to fend for themselves, dragonkind seemed doomed to extinction. When even Tintaglia deserted the crippled young dragons, the Rain Wilders abandoned the burden of caring for the destructive and ravenous creatures. They were banished to a dangerous and grueling journey in search of their ancient dragon homeland, the lost city of Kelsingra, accompanied by a band of young and inexperienced human keepers, also deemed damaged and disposable.
Against all odds they have found the fabled city, yet myriad challenges remain. Sintara, Mercor, Heeby, Relpda, and the rest of the dragons struggle to find their wings—and their independence. Their human escorts, too, must contend with unsettling upheaval: Thymara, Tats, Rapskal, Sedric, and the others are transforming into Elderlings—true dragon companions. As old rules give way to new alliances, secret fears, and adult desires, the keepers must redefine their lives as they attempt to reawaken Kelsingra to its former glory. But gaps in the dragons' memories leave them all struggling to recover the magic that once animated the great city.
As the young Elderlings risk "memory walking" in the city's hidden history, an outside threat is growing. The Duke of Chalced has dispatched his forces to the Rain Wilds with a compelling mission: slaughter the dragons in an attempt to stave off his own demise. The tide of history is about to turn on a life-and-death battle that will ultimately decide the dragons' fate. If they win, the regal serpents will rule the world once more. And if they lose, they will vanish from the world forever.
Educator and Librarian Resources
Critical Praise
"A satisfying story" — The News-Star (Monroe, LA) on DRAGON HAVEN
"A deservedly popular author, an accomplished storyteller with an engaging and readable style." — London Times
"A master fantasist." — Kansas City Star
"[A]n engaging tale with fully realized characters that already feel like friends." — Las Vegas Review Journal on CITY OF DRAGONS
"Real-life resonance gives the story extra depth…Bring on the next installment." — Kirkus Reviews on CITY OF DRAGONS
"Dragons, magic, and intrigue combine to make this book a fascinating read" — Booklist
"Hobb excels at telling big stories and juggling multiple story arcs. Fans of the author and of this series who eagerly await this installment will not be disappointed" — Library Journal (starred review)
"Hobb excels at world building, wonderful prose, and the ability to endow her creatures with humanity...The novel has many threads skillfully interwoven, to create an exciting tale of growth, change, and stubborn survival." — SFRevu on BLOOD OF DRAGONS
Product Details
- Imprint: Harper Voyager
- On Sale: 04/09/2013
- Trimsize: 6 in (w) x 9 in (h) x 1.37 in (d)
- Pages: 448
- List Price: 27.99 USD
- BISAC1: FICTION / Fantasy / Contemporary
- BISAC2: FICTION / Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology
- BISAC3: FICTION / Fantasy / Paranormal


text:
Window broken at downtown Spartanburg business
Published: Monday, January 21, 2013 at 9:23 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, January 21, 2013 at 9:23 p.m.
Officers discovered a broken window at a Main Street business on Sunday.
According to an incident report, police found that a window had been broken at Imagination Station about 10:45 a.m. Sunday. A large brick was found near the window. Nothing was taken from the building, an employee told officers.
The employee told police he had been called by the alarm company about 8:30 p.m. Saturday about a motion detector activation but asked the company not to notify police unless there were additional alarms, due to false alarms in the past, the report states.
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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Conserving and caring for wildlife and wild places have been our company's mission and passion for more than 40 years. Our parks support and work with more than 100 environmental organizations worldwide including National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy.
Ranging from local community initiatives to global wildlife research and conservation programs, these partnerships allow the parks to share animal expertise, strengthen on-the-ground efforts to protect wildlife and reach millions of people with conservation success stories.
The SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, a registered non-profit conservation foundation, has granted more than $9 million to wildlife research and conservation projects that protect wildlife and wild places. The Fund commits 100% of donations to on-the-ground wildlife conservation efforts.
If you share our passion for animals and conservation, please visit www.SWBG-ConservationFund.org to learn how you can help.
For more than 40 years, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment – encompassing SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove - have initiated and supported wildlife conservation, research and education at home and around the world. Upon visiting a SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment facility, many guests are inspired to help protect the animals they encounter and get involved with wildlife conservation. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund was, in part, created to fulfill that desire.
Launched in 2003, the Fund was created to provide guests with an easy, direct way to get involved and make a difference. While the Fund itself is relatively new, the parks have been committed to wildlife conservation for decades. The Fund intends to continue this legacy and create an even greater one.
A 501 (c)(3) non-profit private foundation, the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund focuses its resources in four strategic areas: species research, habitat protection, animal rescue and rehabilitation, and conservation education. Since its launch, the Fund has granted more than $10 million to more than 700 projects in countries around the world. The Fund's grantees are diverse, including global conservation organizations, zoological organizations, universities, and grassroots organizations.


text:
Your Hometown News Leader worked hard raising money for sick kids with Children's Miracle Network today.
Just outside the front doors, WDBJ7 set up shop to sale lemonade for one dollar a cup.
Before the stand ever opened, we were able to raise $100 from the HOG rally bikers passing by the station.
All of the money raised will go towards children in Virginia being treated for cancer.
"All the way from premature born babies, to kids with cancers, car accidents and everything in between, we're buying equipment and life saving services to meet the needs of all the kids in our area. We treat from over 36 cities and counties, we're the only children's hospital that's not for profit in this region," Erin Hildreth of Children's Miracle Network said.
All together, WDBJ7 raised close to $725.
12:48 p.m. Friday:
On Friday, June 28th, WDBJ7 will have a lemonade stand at the station from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lemonade will cost $1 and all of the money raised will benefit local kids with Children's Miracle Network.
The address at WDBJ7 is 2807 Hershberger Road NW, Roanoke, VA 24017.


text:
Felipe Diaz
Bogota, Colombia
Company Membership:
Ballet Master, Company Teacher
Felipe Diaz was born in Bogota, Colombia where he began his training with his parents Ana Consuelo Gomez and Jaime Diaz. He then continued his training at the San Francisco Ballet School.
Over a career spanning 22 years, Diaz has danced as a soloist with San Francisco Ballet, The English National Ballet, and The Dutch National Ballet. He has performed numerous lead roles including the Prince in Ashton's Cinderella, Basilio in Ratmansky's Don Quixote, the Cavalier in Christensen/Tomasson's Nutcracker and the Eagling/van Schaik production, James in La Sylphide, Lensky in Cranko's Onegin, Petrouschka in Petrouschka, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, and leading roles in works by renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Harald Lander, Helgi Tomasson, Christopher Wheeldon, Hans van Manen, Alexei Ratmansky, and William Forsythe, among others.
After retiring from the stage, Diaz began working as ballet master for the Dutch National Ballet and has been a guest teacher for several ballet companies in Europe, the United States, and Asia.
Diaz assumed the title of ballet master at San Francisco Ballet in 2013. He returns to the Bay Area with his wife Marisa Lopez—a former SF Ballet School student, SF Ballet corps de ballet member, and Dutch National principal dancer. Diaz and his wife have one son, Gabriel.
Caroline Giese, Artistic Administrator
Alan Takata-Villareal, Logistics Manager
Abby Masters, Assistant to the Artistic Staff
Join Friends of SF Ballet today to support the performances you love and enjoy exclusive benefits that enhance your Ballet experience.
If you are a member, please log in for personalized options.


text:
The 12th-ranked Bulldogs returned to Sanford Stadium for the second consecutive day and Wednesday's practice was more of a dress rehearsal.
Click here for the original story.
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- Apr 19:
- Recovery fund established for Martinez boy injured in Boston Marathon bombings
- Boston bombings: TV networks plan prime-time coverage
- Boston bombings: Television can only 'hurry up and wait'
- Boston bombing suspects: Who are the two brothers?
- Police: Suspect who killed MIT cop is dead; second suspect tied to Boston bombing
- Apr 18:
- Boston Marathon bombings: Martinez boy takes 'huge step forward' in his recovery
- Boston bombing suspect on video sought; Obama at memorial: 'You will run again'
- Apr 17:
- Fremont manufacturer's battery was used in Boston bombings
- Boston Marathon bombing: Martinez boy's surgery a success
- Apr 16:
- Oakland: Vigil, run planned to to honor Boston Marathon victims
- Restaurant manager Krystle Campbell, 29, ID'd as victim in Boston bombing
- Boston bombers will be found and punished
- Boston Marathon bombs were packed into pressure cookers filled with shrapnel
- Apr 15:
- Boston Marathon bombings: Martinez boy, 12, injured by shrapnel, expected to recover
- Purdy: Remember Boston bombing next time in line
- Google helping friends, family locate Boston Marathon runners
- At least one from Bay Area wounded at Boston Marathon
- Boston Marathon explosions: Bay Area marathon runners describe chaotic scene after detonations
- Boston Marathon explosion: Early photos from the scene
- Boston Marathon explosions: BART, San Francisco step up police presence
- Boston Marathon explosion: Other cities beef up security in response to explosions
- Security beefed up worldwide after bombs at Boston Marathon
- Boston Marathon bombing kills 3, injures over 140
- Boston Marathon: Ethiopia's Desisa, Kenya's Jeptoo win in Boston
BOSTON -- Authorities investigating the deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon have recovered a piece of circuit board that they believe was part of one of the explosive devices, and also found the lid of a pressure cooker that apparently was catapulted onto the roof of a nearby building, an official said Wednesday.
A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press that authorities have recovered what they believe are some of the pieces of the explosive devices. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to publicly discuss evidence in the ongoing investigation.
A person close to the investigation previously told AP the bombs consisted of explosives put in 1.6-gallon pressure cookers, one with shards of metal and ball bearings, the other with nails.
Also Wednesday, a doctor at Boston Medical Center said two patients, including a 5-year-old child, remain in critical condition there. Dozens of others have been released from hospitals around Boston.
Law enforcement agencies pleaded Tuesday for the public to come forward with photos, videos or any information that might help them solve the twin bombings that killed three people and wounded more than 170 a day earlier. Investigators circulated information about the bombs, which involved kitchen pressure cookers packed with explosives, nails and other lethal shrapnel -- but the FBI said nobody had claimed responsibility.
"Someone knows who did this," Richard DesLauriers, FBI agent in charge in Boston, said at a news conference where he detailed the type of clues a bomber might have left. "Importantly, the person who did this is someone's friend, neighbor, co-worker or relative."
President Barack Obama branded the attack an act of terrorism but said officials don't know "whether it was planned and executed by a terrorist organization, foreign or domestic, or was the act of a malevolent individual." Obama plans to attend an interfaith service Thursday in the victims' honor in Boston.
Scores of victims of the Boston bombing remained in hospitals, many with grievous injuries. Doctors who treated the wounded corroborated reports that the bombs were packed with shrapnel intended to cause mayhem. In addition to the 5-year-old child, a 9-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy were among 17 victims listed in critical condition.
An intelligence bulletin issued to law enforcement includes a picture of a mangled pressure cooker and a torn black bag that the FBI said were part of a bomb that exploded during the marathon.
DesLauriers said cooperation from the community will play a key role in the investigation. He said the range of suspects remained wide open, but by midday Tuesday more than 2,000 tips had been received.
The bombs exploded 10 or more seconds apart, tearing off victims' limbs and spattering streets with blood. The blasts near the finish line instantly turned the festive race into a hellish scene of confusion, horror and heroics.
The blasts killed 8-year-old Martin Richard, of Boston, and 29-year-old Krystle Campbell, of Medford. The Shenyang Evening News, a state-run Chinese newspaper, identified the third victim as Lu Lingzi. She was a graduate student at Boston University.
Officials found that the bombs in Boston consisted of explosives put in ordinary, 1.6-gallon pressure cookers, one with shards of metal and ball bearings, the other with nails, according to a person close to the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the probe was still going on.
Both bombs were stuffed into black bags and left on the ground, the person said.
At Massachusetts General Hospital, all four amputations performed there were above the knee, with no hope of saving more of the legs, said Dr. George Velmahos, chief of trauma surgery.
"It wasn't a hard decision to make," he said. "We just completed the ugly job that the bomb did."
DesLauriers confirmed that investigators had found pieces of black nylon from a bag or backpack and fragments of BBs and nails, possibly contained in a pressure cooker. He said the items were sent to the FBI laboratory at Quantico, Va., for analysis.
Pressure-cooker explosives have been used in international terrorism, and have been recommended for lone-wolf operatives by al-Qaida's branch in Yemen.
But information on how to make the bombs is readily found online, and U.S. officials said Americans should not rush to judgment in linking the attack to overseas terrorists.
Pressure-cooker explosives have been used in Afghanistan, India, Nepal and Pakistan, according to a July 2010 intelligence report by the FBI and the Homeland Security Department. One of the three devices used in the May 2010 Times Square attempted bombing was a pressure cooker, the report said.
"Placed carefully, such devices provide little or no indication of an impending attack," the report said.
Investigators in the Boston bombing were combing surveillance tapes from businesses around the finish line and asking travelers at Logan Airport to share any photos or video that might help.
"This is probably one of the most photographed areas in the country yesterday," said Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis. He said two security sweeps of the marathon route had been conducted before the blasts.


text:
Dog from SC shelter rescues NC couple
Published: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 7:46 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 7:46 a.m.
INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. (AP) — A 7-month-old dog rescued from a South Carolina animal shelter has rescued his new North Carolina owners from a fire.
Officials say the 68-pound boxer-mastiff mix named Tank woke up his new owners at their home in Union County on Sunday morning to alert them to a fire in the laundry room.
Russell and Krystal Ewing made it out of their home in Indian Trail without injury.
Hemby Bridge assistant fire chief Chris Yates says the fire was confined to the laundry room, which has the washer-dryer, furnace and water heater.
The couple had adopted Tank from the York County, S.C., Animal Shelter just days before he would have been euthanized.
Russell Ewing says the couple has insurance. But they are most thankful for the dog that saved their lives.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
LEGO Shop Home Themes Friends Mia's Magic Tricks
Mia's Magic Tricks
- Item: 41001
- Ages:5-12
- VIP Points: 0
- Pieces:90
- Retired product
Make Mia the best magician in Heartlake City by practicing tricks with the cards and making the bunny disappear into the magic cabinet!
Practice and perform Mia's Magic Tricks for the big show!
Mia's practicing hard for the big Heartlake City magic show. Help her to learn tricks with cards, a magic wand, flowers, her bunny and a top hat. Build her stage for the big performance then stun the crowds with a cute performing bunny that disappears into its own magic cabinet. Amaze the crowds when the bunny disappears! Includes Mia mini-doll figure.
• Includes Mia mini-doll figure and a bunny
• Features a magic cabinet with disappearing function and magician's stage
• Use the magic cabinet's magic function to make the bunny disappear!
• Practice Mia's tricks and perform for Heartlake City!
• LEGO® Friends pieces are fully compatible with all LEGO bricks
• Collect all of the LEGO Friends sets for a whole world of LEGO Friends fun!
• LEGO mini-dolls are LEGO figures made especially for the world of LEGO Friends that can be customized and combined in thousands of ways
• Measures over 2" (7cm) high, 1" (5cm) wide and 3" (10cm) long"
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text:
WAYNESBORO — A reported harassment over a disagreement involving the lending of hair extensions was investigated by Waynesboro police at 2:56 p.m. Jan. 14.
The resident of 54 W. Main St. told police she was being harassed by other juvenile girls via Facebook and telephone messages. All those involved were contacted and told to stop the harassment, according to police.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
Record of the Gutsy Ninja Master and Student
this wiki
|"Record of the Gutsy Ninja Master and Student"
|(ド根性師弟忍風録, Dokonjō Shitei Ninpūroku)
|Episode data
|"Gutsy Master and Student: The Training"
|Naruto: Shippūden #188 (Watch Online)
|"Sasuke's Paw Encyclopaedia"
|Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha
|November 25, 2010
|May 11, 2013
Naruto and Jiraiya become determined to free the village from under Kandachi's rule against Tanishi's will. They soon confront Kandachi who summons the Conch King on a lake. None of the Naruto's techniques work, because Conch King's shell has a good defence and moderate offence. Meanwhile Tanishi is so afraid, he begs for Kandachi to let his mother and villagers go as Kandachi threatens to kill them. Naruto and Jiraiya free the villagers who hang above the water and Jiraiya moves off to take them to shore with the help of Tanishi. Naruto determinately fights Kandachi even though he keeps getting beaten down by the Conch King's tentacles. Jiraiya soon joins the fight and both Jiraiya and Naruto are caught in the Water Release Genjutsu: Mystic Fog Prison, but soon Tanishi uses Chilli Pepper Bombs to free them. In the end, Naruto defeats the Conch King with the Big Ball Rasengan. Continuing on their journey, Jiraiya noted that Naruto had already grown a lot which reminds him of Minato. Getting sentimental, Jiraiya tries to hug Naruto, who is very disturbed by the turn of events.
- When Naruto looks back to the Hokage Rock, Tsunade's face is next to Minato's, even though it wasn't there when they left at the end of Part I.


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DETROIT -- The A's don't have the best record in the Major Leagues because of a soft schedule. And Tuesday's 3-0 loss to the Tigers is perhaps evidence of just how grueling the Oakland first half has been.
The A's have been on the road for 44 of their first 83 games. Only Cleveland, at 45, has been away from home more in the American League. Oakland's series finale in Detroit on Wednesday will bring to a close a fifth consecutive three-city trip.
So while tipping his cap to Tigers starter Rick Porcello, who was simply dazzling with a 95-pitch, no-walk, no-strikeout performance, Oakland manager Bob Melvin said the lineup for Wednesday would reflect the reality of the schedule.
"We're dragging a little bit," Melvin said. "This is what, our fifth three-city road trip in a row? At times we've been a little bit out of gas at the end. We have a lot of guys who have played a lot of innings and so the lineup might look a little different tomorrow."
The A's had just four hits off Porcello, now 11-4 after back-to-back shutouts, the first two of his career. Two of the hits, a double in the second and a single in the seventh, came from Jed Lowrie.
"He did such a good job of keeping guys off balance, mixing pitches, mixing locations and being aggressive,'' Lowrie said. "That was the biggest thing, especially once we got down. He didn't start nibbling. He actually got more aggressive with his fastball. And he got us behind a lot that gave him more freedom to work the other pitches.''
The A's shortstop also saw eye-to-eye with his manager about the difficulty of 10- and 11- day trips the A's have endured.
"Yeah, we're not robots," he said. "When you put as many miles as we have on in the first half, and especially when you are talking about these East Coast three-city road trips, it starts to grind on you a little bit.
"That's the hand we've been dealt. I don't think anybody uses it as an excuse. Today we faced a guy who was pitching with a lot of momentum and a lot of confidence, and he executed."
Lowrie doubled in the second and singled in the seventh. Stephen Vogt singled in the fifth, and Craig Gentry singled in the eighth. Never did the A's get a leadoff man on. Never did they work Porcello for a walk. The right-hander, who shut out Texas on three hits in his previous start and threw six shutout innings the start before that, is in the groove to which all pitchers aspire.
"That's a good ballclub," Porcello said of the A's. "I feel good pitching six innings, three runs against that team. They can swing the bats, they've got speed, they've got some power. That's one of the better offenses we've seen."
And he dominated the A's. Oakland never came close to anything resembling a rally. It was Porcello's doing, to be sure, but it was also the next-to-last day of a long grind. Hence the talk of lineup changes.
Derek Norris, who has missed most of the last week with back issues, is likely to be in Wednesday's finale behind the plate. Yoenis Cespedes, who missed Tuesday because of hamstring tightness, might be the D.H. There's a chance that Nate Freiman, who homered in his only start since being promoted, will get a crack at first base.
The Tigers are starting Jason Verlander, who has had a tough year but who has been the dominant pitcher against the A's in the last two American League Division Series.
So it does not get easier.
For more on the A's, see John Hickey's Inside the A's blog at ibabuzz.com/athletics.
A's (Jesse Chavez 6-4) at Detroit
(Justin Verlander 6-7), 10:08 a.m. CSNCA


text:
The rich color saturation will delight you! Crafted from 18K yellow gold embraced™ over sterling silver and palladium, this lovely pendant features one oval shaped 14 x 10mm sleeping beauty stabilized turquoise cabochon in a fancy setting. You will find two square princess cut 3mm London blur topaz stones and two round cut 1.5mm sapphires in ornate bezel settings.
The pendant includes an 18" rolo chain that secures with a spring ring clasp. The total turquoise weight is 4.90ct, the total topaz weight is 0.30ct and the total sapphire weight is 0.04ct (all approximate). The pendant measures 1-1/4"L x 3/4"W.
Complete the look with the matching ring 129-847.
Includes one year vendor warranty from date of purchase. Also includes a gemstone romance card with purchase.
Part of the Gems en Vogue Collection. Made in China. All weights pertaining to gemstones, including diamonds, are minimum weights. Additionally, please note that many gemstones are treated to enhance their beauty. Click here for important information about gemstone enhancements and special care requirements.
Vermeil Plating:
Pronounced "vermay," vermeil is an electroplating process in which 14K gold or higher is coated over sterling silver. Officially designated by the jewelry industry, items may only be sold as vermeil if they have a minimum thickness of 100 millionths of an inch (2.5 microns) of gold over the silver. Regular gold plating is less than 2.5 microns.
The "vermeil" technique of plating sterling silver with gold originated in France in the 1750s. It differs from "gold filled" or "gold plated" in terms of the thickness or thinness of the microns over sterling silver. "Gold filled" pieces have a much thicker layer, between 15 and 45 microns, which is mechanically bonded to the base metal with heat and pressure. Vermeil is a more expensive version of "gold plated". It does not wear off as quickly as gold plating does. However, over time, vermeil wears off and therefore will require re-plating.
Gold/Platinum Embraced Silver or Bronze:
Our platinum and gold embraced collections feature layers of platinum or gold over sterling silver or bronze for a lustrous, radiant finish everywhere you look and touch.
To care for your plated jewelry items:
An ancient Persian legend states the Earth rests on a gigantic sapphire that gives its blue reflection to the sky. The most popular colors for sapphires range from light blue to a blue that appears black. Hence, the name was derived from the Latin form of the Greek word for blue, "sapphirus." Bright daylight makes most sapphires shine more vividly than the somewhat muted artificial light. So the most highly cherished color for blue sapphires is not the darkest blue, but a deep and satiated blue, which even in dim, artificial light remains to appear blue.
While sapphires are best known for being velvety blue, it was decided long ago to consider all gemstones of the mineral family corundum to be sapphires. Non-blue sapphires are termed "fancy" and can be nearly any color, including yellow, green, white/colorless, pink, orange, brown, purple, golden and even black. Red corundum is the exception, however, and was given the special name of "ruby." Since pink is really just a light red, the International Colored Gemstone Association has resolved to consider light shades of the red hue to be included in the category ruby, as it is too difficult to legislate where red ends and pink begins. In practice, however, pink shades of corundum are known as either pink ruby or pink sapphire. All sapphires rank a 9.0 on the Mohs Scale, second only to diamonds in hardness.
There are a great number of varieties of sapphire, many of which are quite rare and highly sought-after in the gemstone market. A rare orange-pink variety, known as padparadscha, can be even more valuable than blue sapphire. Pronounced PAD-PA-RAD-SHAH, the name comes from the Sinhalese word for lotus blossom. Endowed with both pink and orange color components, its hues range from pastels to fiery shades. Padparadscha sapphires are usually heat treated to improve and intensify their color, while the color of untreated stones will fade over time. An untreated padparadscha sapphire that has faded will return to its original pinkish-orange color, however, if exposed to sunlight for about an hour.
Another rare variety of sapphire is known as the color-changing sapphire. This stone exhibits different colors in different light. In natural light, color-changing sapphire is blue, but in artificial light, it is violet.
For experts and connoisseurs, the Kashmir-color is considered the most beautiful and valuable shade. It features a pure and intensive blue, which is enhanced by a fine, silky gloss. Its color does not change in artificial light, but remains intense with a deep, velvety sheen. Setting the standard for the color of top-quality sapphires, Kashmir sapphires were found in 1880 after an avalanche. They were intensely mined for only eight years until the source was depleted. The Burma-color is also considered especially valuable, ranging from rich royal blue to deep cornflower blue. Ceylon sapphires are prized as well for the luminosity and brilliance of their light to medium blue color.
There is a translucent variety of sapphire, called star sapphire, which displays a six-point star when cut into a smooth domed cabochon. The mineral rutile is embedded in an asterisk-shape within the stone, causing light to reflect in a phenomenon called "asterism." Six- or twelve-ray stars appear to magically glide across the surface of the stones as they are moved. Star sapphires and rubies are expensive rarities and should always display the stars exactly in the center of the gem. Value is influenced by the intensity of the body color and the strength and sharpness of the star. The star stone is said to be the home of each person's angel, who lives there in contentment with the sapphire's spirit.
The stone is mined in many parts of the world. The oldest sapphire mines are situated in Ceylon, today called Sri Lanka, where gemstones were mined in ancient times. Most blue sapphires today come from Thailand or Australia, but sapphires from Kashmir and Myanmar (formerly Burma) are considered the most rare and highly prized. Sapphires are readily available in sizes of up to 2.00ct, but gems weighing 5.00-10.00ct are not unusual. The cushion-cut Logan Sapphire from Sri Lanka weighs an astounding 423.00ct and can be seen at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. There is also a 258.00ct stone set in the Russian crown, which is kept in the Diamond Fund in Moscow.
Because the gem has long symbolized sincere love and enduring faithfulness, blue sapphires are often given in engagement rings to express commitment and loyalty. Many women throughout the world decide on the blue stone for their engagement rings, as the gem also represents truth, friendship, harmony and consistency. Sapphire blue has become a color related to anything permanent and reliable, making it an ideal stone to symbolize the promise of marriage.
Often referred to as "Gem of the Heavens," sapphire also symbolizes a noble soul. It is September's birthstone and is traditionally given as 5th and 45th wedding anniversary gifts. Star sapphires are given for the 65th anniversary. The color sapphire-blue is known for representing clarity and competence. In fact, the first computer to ever declare victory over a chess grandmaster and world champion was named "Deep Blue."
Sapphires have been associated with magical powers throughout the ages. The Greeks identified white sapphires with Apollo and the oracles at Delphi used them to tap into the subconscious and super conscious. During the Middle Ages, sapphires symbolized the tranquility of the heavens and wearing them was thought to bring peace, happiness and purity of the soul. The color blue became the symbol of the union between a priest and the heavens, so sapphires came to be adorned on the rings of bishops. Soldiers wore them to prevent capture by enemies and kings wore the gemstone to defend against harm and put themselves in divine favor. This supposed "divine favor" is why sapphires were often the gemstone of choice for high priests and royalty throughout history. In fact, the British Crown Jewels contain a number of notable sapphires.
Today, sapphires are still believed to hold special powers. The stone is said to provide healing properties for mental illness and depression. It can be considered an aid to psycho kinesis, telepathy and clairvoyance, while providing spiritual enlightenment and inner peace. White sapphires, like diamonds, are considered the guardians of love, enhancing it and ensuring fidelity in marriage. The most powerful type of the gem is said to be the star sapphire. They are believed to protect against negative energy and have a calming effect that allows the mind to experience tranquility, joy and clear thinking.
A symbol of strength and intelligence, topaz derives its name from Topazios, an island in the Red Sea that is known today as Zabargad. The Greek word "topazios" means "to seek," since the island was covered with a thick fog and difficult to find. Gemstones found on the island were called topaz, although the stones were eventually found to actually be peridot. The real gem of topaz is found throughout the world, with different occurrences producing specific colors.
Brown, yellow, orange and red topaz are found in Brazil, Sri Lanka and Siberia. Most brownish topaz is heated to produce a permanent and glamorous pink color. Following the discovery of pink topaz in Russia during the 19th century, Imperial topaz was found. Featuring a sherry red, deep pink or reddish-orange color, the gem was so coveted that its ownership was restricted to the Czar, his family and those who received it as a royal gift. Today, Imperial shades are the most rare and, therefore, the most valuable.
Blue topaz is rarely found in nature and is most often created through a combination of heat treatment and irradiation. It is found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and China. Topaz is often colorless, too, and can be found in the United States, Mexico, Russia and Pakistan. In 1998, a new type of enhanced topaz made its appearance with a greenish-blue or emerald green color. All colors of topaz rank an 8.0 on the Mohs Scale of hardness.
Yellow topaz is November's birthstone and blue topaz is December's birthstone. Blue topaz is also the traditional gift for 4th and 19th wedding anniversaries, while Imperial topaz is celebrated as a 23rd anniversary gift. Perhaps the most famous topaz is a large, colorless stone known as the Braganza. It was discovered in Brazil in 1740 and was originally thought to be a priceless diamond. Today, the giant 1,680.00ct stone is set in the Portuguese Crown.
The mystery and allure of topaz goes back thousands of years. To the ancients, it was a symbol of love and affection and was thought to ward off sudden death. The Romans associated topaz with Jupiter, the god of the sun. The Greeks called it the Stone of Strength, believing it had the power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible in times of emergency. The Egyptians said the gem was colored with the golden glow of the sun god, Ra, making topaz a powerful amulet that protected its wearer against harm.
Topaz's mystical curative powers were believed to wax and wane with the phases of the moon. The gem was said to change color in the presence of poisoned food or drink and falcons were carved on the stones to help earn the goodwill of kings and magnates. During the spread of the Bubonic plague in 1347-1400, the clergy touched topaz to people's sores. Also in medieval times, the gem was thought to prevent death and heal physical and mental disorders. The stones were ground into powder and added to wine to prevent asthma and insomnia.
Today, topaz is said to be the gem that has the widest range of curative powers. It is believed to dispel enchantment, improve eyesight and protect against negative emotions such as depression, anger, fear, greed and envy. Its properties are supposedly enhanced when the gem is mounted in gold. Because of this association with gold, topaz is used to bring or enhance the wearer's money-gathering abilities and has long been used in money and wealth rituals.
Wearing topaz is said to improve and deepen relationships, promote patience, ensure fidelity and enhance the ability to love. The gem is also believed to bring friendship, intelligence, long life, beauty and a pleasant disposition.
One of the oldest known gems, turquoise has been prized for thousands of years. The Egyptians believed it had powerful mystical properties, and turquoise jewelry has been found interred with 7,500-year-old mummies. Ancient manuscripts from Persia, India, Afghanistan and Arabia say that the health of a person wearing turquoise could be assessed by variations in the color of the stone. Montezuma's treasure, now displayed in the British Museum, includes a carved serpent covered by a mosaic of turquoise.
Turquoise was especially revered by the Native American culture, an association that dates back to the Aztec empire more than 700 years ago. For the Aztecs, turquoise was reserved for the gods and mere mortals were forbidden to wear it. They believed it to be a gem of good fortune and a commodity more valuable than gold. Native Americans believed turquoise protected people from demons and they even placed turquoise in tombs to guard the dead. The stone's colors were thought to be symbolically blue for the heavens and green for the earth. Often warriors tied turquoise to their bows to ensure accurate shots.
Today, turquoise is still believed to provide protection and bring luck. It is said to also promote prosperity, love, healing, courage and friendship. The stone is thought to relax the mind and ease mental tension.
The gem's opaque turquoise color varies from shades of greenish blue to deep cobalt to sky blue. Some varieties display white or brown matrixes, which are streaks of the mother stone from which they came, while others have veins of color called "spiderwebs" running through them. Generally, the bluer the blue, the more highly valued the stone. A clear, even texture without mottling or veins is also preferred. The most rare and valuable color is an intense azure, but the most common is the mild to medium sky blue. Sometimes imitated by minerals such as chrysocolla, turquoise stones are often dyed or colored with coatings of various resins.
In the 13th century, turquoise was mistakenly believed to have come from the country of Turkey. Hence, its name came from the French word for Turkey, "Turquie." The stone was actually brought to Europe from Persia (now Iran), via Turkey. It is a mineral usually found in association with copper deposits and is sometimes mined as a by-product of copper mining.
Although turquoise is found in desert regions worldwide, the finest and most valuable comes from Iran. Iranian turquoise is a pure robin's egg blue that is free of green overtones, matrix or black veins. Perhaps the most famous turquoise today, however, comes from the southwestern United States. The occurrence in Arizona and New Mexico produces greener shades of the stone with matrix streaks of various colors.
While only ranking between 5.0 and 6.0 on the Mohs Scale of hardness, turquoise remains quite popular for jewelry. In Europe, turquoise rings are given as forget-me-not gifts, while in the United States, the stone is given as traditional 5th and 11th wedding anniversary gifts. It has even become a modern consideration for the December birthstone. When wearing turquoise over the years, the stone will absorb oil from a person's skin, causing a slight change to the color of turquoise.
Turquoise is commonly treated in various fashions to ensure its durability and visual appeal, especially when set in jewelry. If a stone has been treated, the type of process will be noted. Stabilized turquoise is enhanced through a process of coating the genuine gemstone with colorless acrylics or resin to fill porous gaps, harden the stone and maintain the stone's color. Reconstituted turquoise is enhanced through a process in which genuine gemstone fragments are powdered and bonded with resin to reinforce the stone. Impregnated turquoise is enhanced through a process in which the genuine gemstone is infused with oil, wax or resin to reinforce the stone.
A selection of our jewelry is made of sterling palladium alloy. Palladium is a member of the platinum group of precious metals. By replacing a portion of the copper content used in standard sterling silver with palladium, this proprietary formula renders a precious metal with superior performance attributes. Sterling palladium is five times more tarnish-resistant than standard sterling silver and has strength similar to that of 14K gold.
Palladium has been used as a precious metal in jewelry since 1939, originally as an alternative to platinum for making white gold. Its naturally white color requires no rhodium plating. Additionally, palladium is proportionally much lighter than platinum and is ideal for use in heavier gemstone jewelry. It is a more expensive alloy than nickel, but it seldom causes the allergic reactions that nickel alloy can.
To care for your plated jewelry items:


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treble 1
1Consisting of three parts; threefold: the fish were caught with large treble hooks
More example sentences
- Few students are in a position to have superstars like Kate Moss model their creations for their graduation show and attract a treble A-list audience to the occasion.
- The company said it also is seeking treble damages under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act, bringing its total claim to more than $1.25 bn.
- That one bonus point adds to the two he collects for being deemed the Knights' second-best player on the day by the Evening Press, and his treble haul takes him back to joint-top of the standings alongside Scott Rhodes.
1.1Multiplied or occurring three times: she turned back to make a double and treble check
More example sentences
- There is also another parallel stream of procedure relating to proceedings brought privately, for example, proceedings to recover multiple damages, treble damages, perhaps.
- 'The students come in and have a treble vodka with a dash of Corky's and a dash of coke, for £3.50,' said Arthur.
- Her second round of 55 was achieved despite a treble bogey at the downhill 16th courtesy of twos at the second, fifth, twelfth, thirteenth and seventeenth.
1.2(Of a number) occurring three times in succession: call Kate on 0500 403 treble zero
Three times as much or as many: the tip was at least treble what she would normally have given
More example sentences
- The share of one-room dwellings is urban areas is treble the share in rural areas.
- It has offered security guards treble time but they have still got insufficient numbers.
- Becoming a parent can be a daunting experience, but she and her husband had treble the shock when they learned they were expecting triplets.
1British Three sporting victories or championships in the same season, event, etc. the victory completed a treble for the horse's trainer
More example sentences
- Swinton coach Phil Veivers was delighted with his side's performance as they completed a memorable treble of victories against Whitehaven.
- In contrast, Arsenal are steaming towards a treble as they bid to become the first team to go through a Premiership season unbeaten.
- With the exception of AC Milan, all those clubs are also chasing their domestic league titles with Leverkusen still in the hunt for a mouth-watering treble including the German Cup.
2 Darts A hit on the narrow ring enclosed by the two middle circles of a dartboard, scoring treble.
Example sentences
- Dart and Target was played on a board of numbered coloured circles, on which doubles and trebles did not feature, the highest score being the bullseye and lowest at the edge.
- During a visit to England in 1977, Ali played an exhibition match at a pub in the North-east, against Welsh champion Alan Evans, who was only allowed to score on trebles, to keep the match competitive.
- Shanghai is the given name for hitting a single, double and treble of the same score and this game is a step up from round the clock.
3British A type of bet in which three selections are made, with any winnings from the first being transferred to the second and then (if successful) to the third.
Example sentences
- I do not know what the second and third legs of the treble are likely to be, but I do pose the question: why is the Government involved in racing at all?
- A trebles bet means three must win and a roll-up means they all have to win.
- Off-course layers will always keep hot-pots, his in particular, tight because of doubles and trebles and other multiple bets.
4A threefold quantity or thing, in particular:
4.1(In showjumping) a fence consisting of three elements: the mare failed to tuck her hind feet up quite high enough at the last bar of the treble
A number or amount which is three times as large as a contrasting or usual number or amount: by paying treble, he had a double room to himself
Make or become three times as large or numerous: [with object]: rents were doubled and probably trebled [no object]: his salary has trebled in a couple of years
More example sentences
- But without an effective rural medical network, fighting rural epidemics would probably need double or treble the effort.
- And he is probably calculating his salary will double or treble at a stroke.
- Electricity costs will probably treble, according to that representative.
Middle English: via Old French from Latin triplus (see triple).
Words that rhyme with treblepebble, rebel
For editors and proofreaders
Line breaks: treble
Definition of treble in:
treble 2
1A high-pitched voice, especially a boy's singing voice: the boy replied in a shrill treble [as modifier]: the children's treble voices
More example sentences
- The eerie sound of the air passing through wing feathers differs with each bird, from a low treble, to a high whistle, to one sirenlike whine.
1.1A boy (or girl) with a high-pitched singing voice: we had sung together as trebles in the choir
More example sentences
- We've always had a choir made up of boy and girl trebles, together with male altos, tenors and basses.
- This strongly implies that even in the Durham version the verse material, as in the original consort song, was meant to be sung by a treble.
- Five years earlier, in 1735 as a treble, he had sung the role of Oberto in Alcina.
1.2A part written for a high voice or an instrument of a high pitch: we have studied the treatment of melodic lines in treble and bass separately
More example sentences
- The piece requires the player to shift the focus of the melody line from the treble to the bass.
- The Prelude no.15 itself begins as an idyllic stroll full of anticipation and becomes more emphatic as the bass line takes over the melody and the treble assumes the role of harmony.
- Top 40 hits sounded excellent too, with thumping bass notes and nice trebles.
2 [as modifier] Denoting a relatively high-pitched member of a family of similar instruments: a treble viol
More example sentences
- The 17th and 18th-century trio sonata was a favourite chamber ensemble, using two treble instruments and one bass, with a keyboard or lute continuo to fill in the harmony.
- There are three main sizes of modern oboe: the normal treble, the alto oboe d' amore, and the tenor cor anglais or English horn.
- The purchase of a full chest of instruments (usually two each of trebles, tenors, and basses) would encourage the training of family members to play them.
2.1 (also treble bell) The smallest and highest-pitched bell of a ring or set.
Example sentences
- Thus the final instalment in the story was the casting and installing of the two treble bells of ten.
- And most crucially, the treble bells could be replaced with new ones better matched to the bass bells.
- The ring of bells at St Bene't's was completed in 1663 when the treble bell of the six was hung.
3 [mass noun] The high-frequency output of a radio, or audio system, corresponding to the treble in music.
Example sentences
- Apart from good sound, you will find controls for bass, treble and sound balance that is not common in PDAs.
- To the right, the Presence control adds treble by reducing the amount of high frequencies in the feedback loop.
- Instead, it sounds like some of the upper range treble was simple repeated out of the rear channels - so you get a slight echo off Marley's voice and the cymbals.
Late Middle English: from treble1, because it was the highest part in a three-part contrapuntal composition.
For editors and proofreaders
Line breaks: treble
Definition of treble in:
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Wake Forest University has approved a 3.5 percent tuition in the 2013-2014 school year.
The board of trustees approved the increase at its winter meeting on Friday.
Undergraduate tuition will go from $42,700 to $44,200, WFU officials said. Adding in changes in room, board and fees, the overall cost increase is expected to be about 3.4 percent.
WFU said the following about the increase in a statement:
"The decision reflects a determined effort to keep tuition increases low. For the third year in a row, the university has kept the rate of cost increases below 4 percent."


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Sarasota High band director under investigation
Published: Friday, March 1, 2013 at 2:04 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, March 1, 2013 at 3:35 p.m.
SARASOTA COUNTY - Sarasota High School's popular band director is the subject of a criminal investigation and has been placed on paid leave.
John Roseboom, who has worked at Sarasota County schools since Aug. 1, 2006, was placed on leave Thursday morning while sheriff's detectives conduct a criminal investigation, according to district officials and Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Wendy Rose.
Rose said she could not disclose the nature of the allegations.
"The school placed Roseboom on admin leave, so we did not escort him out. They handled that portion of it," she said. "The investigation does not include a location that is in the city."
Roseboom, who did not return calls seeking comment, has no arrest history in Florida, according to a records search by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
He has received two citations in Sarasota County: one for running a red light and another for not displaying his vehicle registration.
School district spokesman Scott Ferguson said Roseboom is considered innocent until proven guilty while the investigation is being conducted. Ferguson declined to comment further because of the pending investigation.
Roseboom, 32, is paid $47,390 annually.
He also is the musical adviser for Sailor Circus' creative staff — a youth training program for students in grades 4 through 12.
An official at Sailor Circus declined to comment.
Roseboom has led a prestigious high school band that has traveled to Atlanta and Washington, D.C., according to the school's website.
Before he was hired by Sarasota High, Roseboom was director of bands at both Belleview High and Belleview Middle School in Marion County, home to Ocala.
Roseboom, according to parents, is respected and well-liked by students and staff. The charismatic teacher is known for a larger-than-life personality.
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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UPDATE: North Korea Complains About Lights After All
UPDATE: We wrote too soon.
It seemed that that North Korea's heavily-publicized-in-South-Korea complaints about the Christmas tree-ish lights that are placed on a radio tower every year had been watered down by the North's state media this year into a rehash of what worrywarts in the South were saying about it.
But on Monday night, when most South Koreans were well into their Christmas Eve dinners, parties and church services, Korea Central News Agency kicked out a dispatch saying that the lighting of the light tower amounted to "an open challenge and an unpardonable provocation" to North Korea. It went on to accuse the South Korean Defense Ministry of engaging in psychological warfare.
Then on Tuesday, KCNA released another dispatch citing similar criticism in Rodong Shinmun, North Korea's biggest newspaper. It ramped up the accusatory language by roping in President Lee Myung-bak.
"Facts clearly prove that Lee is a wicked traitor to the nation and warmonger blinded by confrontation with compatriots till he meets his miserable end," the newspaper said. "What the Lee regime is doing is, in fact, nothing but lunatic acts which can be committed only by those keen on armed clashes and a war between the north and the south."
Whew. We will never again doubt the ability for Christmas lights to give offense to North Korea.
During the Lee Myung-bak administration, one of the controversies that emerged each year at the end-of-year holidays is whether a Christmas tree-shaped light tower should be lit up near the demilitarized zone, where it is visible from North Korea.
The lighting of the, well, lights (since it's not actually a tree) happened on Sunday after a particularly protracted back-and-forth among the South Korean Defense Ministry, churches, peace activists from the Gimpo area and, of course, the South Korean media.
The previous president, Roh Moo-hyun, refused to allow the churches that put up the lights to turn them on.
At issue is the notion that North Korea will be offended by the display of lights on a 100-foot tower that roughly forms the shape of a triangle – and would be visible in the North mainly via binoculars from more than a mile across the river that separates the two countries.
Opinion in South Korea divides roughly on political lines, with conservatives all for going through with the symbolic act of lighting the lights and liberals believing that doing so is just antagonizing North Korea for little or no reason.
Since the Defense Ministry has to approve construction and other actions near the border, it gets pulled into the "tree lighting" discussion every year.
Some South Korean media said that the Defense Ministry believed that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Eun had ordered a military strike on the "tree."
But judging from the official state media, North Korea seems not to care very much. On Monday, South Korean newspapers cited a North Korean statement that came out over the weekend as saying that it may lead to a "a military conflict."
However, the North Korean state media's statement was cleverly written. Its first sentence: "Over 30 organizations in south Korea held a press conference in Seoul Friday in denunciation of the military's psychological warfare against the DPRK." (That's the abbreviation for the full name of North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.)
It went on, "At the conference speakers said the Defense Ministry again plans to light the lamp atop of a tower on Aegibong in Kagum-ri of Hasong-myon, Kimpho City from Dec. 22 this year to January 2 next year. If this happens, it will lead to an acute situation in which a military conflict with the north may occur, they warned."
Indeed, each sentence of item's five sentences was attributed to things that people in South Korea said were reasons not to light the lights.
North Korean state media, rather than wade into a fray about a fake Christmas tree that can barely be seen by anyone in North Korea, just added to the echo chamber of South Koreans arguing among themselves.


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EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado - When former pro cyclist Lance Armstrong recently admitted he'd used blood doping and other methods to dominate the Tour de France, it wasn't much of a surprise. And local cycling enthusiasts say they don't expect Armstrong's revelations to have much, if any, impact when the USA Pro Challenge returns to the Vail Valley in August.
"I'm hopeful that the vast majority of riders are clean," Avon Mayor Rich Carroll said.
The pro cycling tour in August will come through Avon on its way to a tour stage finale in Beaver Creek Village. Carroll, who counts himself as a fan of the races, said he expects people to come out the way they did during the event's first two years. Both those events drew big crowds just about everywhere the racers went, even to the top of Cottonwood Pass between Crested Butte and Buena Vista.
Vail Town Council member Greg Moffet is also a cycling enthusiast. He said doping is "old news" to fans with a more-than-casual interest in the sport, likening the period to the "steroid era" in Major League Baseball, when the superhuman became almost normal.
There was a time when "riders with the best pharmacists" dominated the sport, Moffet said. Today, winners again are molded from hard work and training, he said.
The USA Pro Challenge and other cycling events are just what the valley needs to pursue in order to put people into hotels and restaurants, Moffet said, which is why he said the event is worthy of support with town funds.
"This is right in our sweet spot," Moffet said.
The Vail Valley Foundation has been the primary force behind bringing the cycling tour's stages to the Vail Valley. John Dakin, the foundation's vice president of communications said he hasn't heard any complaints about the event, before or after Armstrong's recent revelations to Oprah Winfrey - Armstrong was stripped of his Tour de France titles last year.
"There's been no fallout of any kind," Dakin said. "You have to wonder if the majority of people weren't over the whole thing (before Armstrong talked to Winfrey)."
Part of the reason could be the excitement of the races, Dakin said - "Whether it's the time trials up Vail Pass or a finish stage in Beaver Creek, it's a spectator-friendly sport."
That was true last year in downtown Minturn, when many people waiting for the peloton to streak through town followed the racers' progress on their laptops - the race was streamed live on the Internet.
The scene in Minturn is typical of bike racing in general, Moffet said.
"Sure, people are there to see the riders, but they're also there to be part of the happening," he said.
The first two cycling challenges drew hundreds to the top of Independence Pass between Aspen and Leadville, where people camped out to see the riders pass. Local hotels mostly filled up during the 2011 and 2012 challenges, and thousands of people turned out in Vail to watch the Vail Pass time trial.
Jim Popeck, owner of the Mountain Pedaler in Minturn, said he actually expects a bigger turnout for the 2013 event.
"It's bringing more attention to cycling," Popeck said.
There's a new wave of young riders who haven't been tainted by doping scandals, Popeck said, and people could be interested in those riders' stories.
Dakin said a lot of those spectators have ridden Vail Pass themselves. That's what gives bike racing "its own special brand of energy," he said.
And the ability to draw people to a place that depends on tourist dollars makes the USA Pro Challenge a prime candidate for public money, Moffet said.
"It's no different than cities that have used public money to support baseball or football teams," he said.


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Even though the Pulaski County Salvation Army has raised approximately $54,000 so far this holiday season, the organization is still behind in reaching its fundraising goal.
"We're running way behind our fundraising at this point last year," Pulaski County Salvation Army co-chairperson Gary Porter said. "Due to a week less for bell-ringing and weather concerns, we are considerably behind in our goal of $75,000."
At the meeting following the campaign's Tree of Lights Kick-Off event, Porter told board members that he thinks more people in the county will need the help of the Salvation Army this year, considering the August flood, sequestration, and the government shutdown plaguing the local economy.
"We have committed to providing Christmas baskets for 1,000 families this year, so we are considering extending the fundraising to the end of the month," Porter said.
Last year, Pulaski County Salvation Army raised more than $80,000 and distributed 944 Christmas baskets for Good Samaritan Resource Center. The local Salvation Army provided more than $13,948 in food purchases locally, which fed more than 2,700 people.
Porter encourages the community to help the Salvation Army this year.
"We raised over $80,000 last year, but we had run out of funds to help people by July," Porter said. "Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated."
Location, ST | website.com


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i like cats
i like cats
No word to describe it...
It's too good.
Phweeeeee yayyyy
I love the onslaught of Mike on this <3!!!
@ tae: haha yes, IT'S A BIT OBVIOUS THAT I HAVE A CRUSH ON MIKE
hehehe #3 is spot on.
And I luv your style its so adorable <3
I love seeing more Mike, ah it's refreshing. Even though we know that number 10 will never occur.
Only Tae e Suit know it
I love the end part so cute!
oh my godddd
you are beautiful asdlfkjsldkjflsdjf
marry me
Awwwww is sooo cute X3
It is so CUTE! <3