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Raleigh's race to the bottom
Published: Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 5:22 p.m.
A strong early childhood education and a healthy environment are, along with a sound economy, the most important legacy we can leave our children and future generations. North Carolinas Republican leadership seems determined to undermine all three in a misguided stab at fiscal austerity.
First, theres Gov. Pat McCrorys proposed 2013-14 state budget. It would halve the number of teacher assistant positions in Henderson County Public Schools by reducing the funding for these positions by $2.27 million.
Under the worst-case scenario, county schools would lose 77 of 165 teacher assistant positions currently funded by the state, Superintendent David Jones told the school board Monday. The majority of those work in the countys 13 elementary schools.
Jones made it clear the governors budget could still be changed by legislators. Its premature to take action until we know exactly what the budget is going to look like, he said.
Perhaps, but its not too early for teachers and parents to start calling the governors office to explain what drastically cutting teacher assistant positions would do to the quality of education in our classrooms.
The governors budget places priority on putting more teachers in the classrooms and gives all districts full funding for teacher assistants in kindergarten and first grade, McCrorys press secretary, Crystal Feldman, said. McCrorys staff has said the budget provides enough flexibility for districts to use other funds for teacher assistants if they choose.
Those claims dont add up, local school officials say. Cutting the current $4.88 million allotment for local teacher assistants by 46 percent would not result in more teachers but would reduce instructional help for students.
Teacher assistants could more accurately be called teaching assistants based on their role in todays classrooms. They are critical to the quality of education in elementary grades, as staff writer Nathaniel Axtell showed in his report on this issue. Assistants work with students in small groups and one-on-one to help bolster teachers lessons. Geneé Dalton, a first-grade teacher at Edneyville Elementary, said she considers her half-time assistant, Marsha Keehan, an invaluable partner.
My test scores are always exceptional, but its because I have exceptional help, Dalton said. We plan together, we teach together. I tell my students, I expect you to treat her the way you treat me. Because were a team.
We hope the governors budget is just the opening salvo in negotiations. North Carolina has made great strides over recent decades to assure that young children get a strong start. Deeply cutting funding for teacher assistants runs completely counter to that goal.
Along with giving kids a nurturing and supportive early childhood education, protecting our environment and quality of life is critical to building the kind of high-tech, information-based economy and clean industry that will assure North Carolinas future success. But a GOP-sponsored bill that passed the N.C. Senate on Thursday would sacrifice locally based environmental protection rules on the bogus argument that doing so will create more jobs.
The bill requires cities, counties and state agencies to repeal or rewrite rules that go beyond federal law. It allows businesses or utilities with decommissioned buildings to dispose of waste on-site rather than transporting the material to a landfill, and it weakens standards to mitigate damage to wetlands.
One of the bills sponsors, Sen. Andrew Brock, R-Davie, says federal environmental laws already account for regional variations, and businesses find themselves forced to navigate a patchwork of laws that are constantly changing. You had laws that were stifling businesses, and therefore stifling job creation, he said.
Brock and other supporters of this misguided measure should back up such assertions with facts and numbers. What jobs are we losing, and how many, by allowing localities to write rules that fit local conditions and needs? A full cost-benefit analysis should include the businesses and industries that choose to locate in our state because of a healthy environment and the high quality of life that comes with it.
Government closest to the governed used to be a guiding principle of conservative philosophy. But todays General Assembly acts as if forcing a top-down approach to minimize regulation will somehow open a floodgate of new economic development. Like cutting funding for teacher assistants in early grades, its a race to be bottom thats likely to bring few short-term benefits but plenty of long-term consequences.
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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EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado - As the rest of the country watched news of the superstorm barreling down on the East Coast, some Eagle County residents were hunkered down in New York City and New Jersey experiencing the storm first-hand.
Scott Stoughton, co-owner of Stand Up Paddle Colorado in State Bridge, is living in Venice, Calif., this winter and watched the news last week of the storm's potential devastation as it neared his hometown on Long Beach Island, N.J.
Stoughton said he quickly got a flight home Saturday to go help his father prepare their house. He said he could feel the tension and anxiety all around the island, a barrier island located north of Atlantic City, when he arrived as people feared the worst.
The island was under a mandatory evacuation, which Stoughton said has happened in the past, but it was when he heard of mandatory evacuations on the mainland that he knew the storm was really serious. Stoughton and his father drove about an hour west to find a hotel and that's where they rode out the storm.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Stoughton still had no idea how the family home held up. He shared news photos on Facebook showing the general devastation of Long Beach Island and hoped his family's home, which he said is about 3-4 feet above sea level and sits about 8 feet high on stilts, wasn't too badly damaged.
"It's going to be close - whether it's flooded or not - my guess is that it is," Stoughton said.
Before he evacuated, he said water was already coming up over the docks and the bay was full of white caps. And because Stoughton said it's harder to predict tides and storm surge on the bayside, which is where his family's home is, they were trying to come up with their own models for determining how bad the flooding may have gotten.
"It's a little unnerving," Stoughton said about not knowing the status of the damage.
While Stoughton made a decision to travel to the storm, some other valley residents didn't plan to get stuck on the East Coast. Pollyanna Forster, owner of Eat + Drink in Edwards, Cathy Cohn of Synergy Fine Wines and former La Tour and Spago sommelier Vanessa Cinti, however, know how to make the best of a bad situation.
The women, who are on a trip together, posted on Facebook that power was out and their cell phones were dead or nearly dead, but that they were all doing fine. The women also appeared to have enjoyed some fine New York City restaurants in the days leading up to the storm.
Pat Peeples, owner of Peeples Ink Public Relations based in Vail, was practically beneath a collapsed crane dangling from a Manhattan sky scraper construction site. She posted a photo on Facebook Monday night: "It is 60 stories up. I am 45 stories below and half a block away. Pray the winds die down."
That crane was all over the New York local and national news Monday as it swayed in the wind from the top of the 80-story building. For Peeples, it was just outside her hotel window.
"Every building to the east side of it was evacuated, and we're just to the west side," Peeples said Tuesday evening. "I just talked to a policeman who said it weighed 90 tons - he said it would take out a whole block."
Peeples feels lucky that her biggest problem right now is finding a flight back to Colorado. Her hotel's power never even went out, and so what if she had to walk around for a couple of hours Tuesday to find an open restaurant for a rescheduled business lunch.
"My problems are insignificant compared to what's going on out there," Peeples said.
Peeples tried to get a flight out before the storm hit, on Sunday, but couldn't. She's been stranded in New York City in a blizzard before, though, and said "it's just one of those things."
"I feel very fortunate," Peeples said.
Assistant Managing Editor Lauren Glendenning can be reached at 970-748-2983 or firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Dan Brown on track to have his third best-selling book of the year
Brown's first hit, The Da Vinci Code, was USA TODAY's No. 1 book in 2004, and again in 2006, after the movie version was released.
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UMMA Collections
American Art
American art of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries is richly represented in the Museum's collections with a wide array of works including a portrait by Rembrandt Peale, Hudson River School landscapes, an exceptional early Whistler seascape, and sculpture by Hiram Powers and Randolph Rogers to Tony Smith. Important works by Helen Frankenthaler, Franz Kline, and Frank Stella represent painting of the twentieth century. The Museum's collections also have important holdings in folk and "Outsider" art, as well as in works on paper. In this latter category, important prints and drawings by artists such as Jim Dine, Sol LeWitt, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol augment the contributions of American artists, while the emerging importance of photography in the twentieth century can be explored through the works of Ansel Adams, Walker Evans, Sally Mann, Alfred Stieglitz, and Paul Strand.


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Commission starts probe into doping in cycling
The members of an independent commission that will probe cycling's doping past since the Lance Armstrong scandal have been named.
The members of an independent commission that will probe cycling's doping past since the Lance Armstrong scandal have been named.
Former head of world cycling Hein Verbruggen has angrily rejected claims from Lance Armstrong that he helped cover up a positive drug test.
Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has said he will testify with "100% transparency and honesty" at any independent enquiry into doping in cycling.
A UK newspaper says it had settled with Lance Armstrong after it was made to pay damages over a report which suggested he had used banned substances.
Disgraced US cyclist Lance Armstrong says that his former team overlooked allegations of doping because of a lucrative sponsorship deal.
Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong says fellow riders have been generally supportive of him during an annual bike ride across the US state of Iowa.
Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, who is banned from most competitive sports for life, will take part in a regional swimming championship in Texas.
China's anti-doping head has said he was "shocked" after an anti-doping agency alleged the country produces large amounts of illegal substances.
Lance Armstrong's admission to Oprah Winfrey that he was a drugs cheat has thrown a sidelight on to the parallel endurance sport of distance running.
The French race's new wonder, Chris Froome begs comparison with Armstrong, but he rides to a different beat.
The saddest story I have ever heard about sport was told to me in November 2010 by a man who cheated to win the Tour de France, writes Paul Kimmage.
Lance Armstrong's confession has pushed South Africa's anti-doping body to retroactively test blood samples from over 50 top cyclists.
Oprah Winfrey believes Lance Armstrong can be a hero again and that people will be willing to forgive him.
A prank note in an Australian library declaring that disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong's books would be moved to the fiction section has gone viral.
David Walsh, the journalist who queried disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong's remarkable comeback from cancer, has accepted the American's apology.
Lance Armstrong has finally admitted to using banned substances in the first part of a candid interview with Oprah Winfrey.
We look at this week's headlines; from the Afcon kick-off to Amplats' plan to axe 14 000 workers and Lance Armstrong's bare-all interview with Oprah.
The International Olympic Committee has stripped American cyclist Lance Armstrong of his Sydney Olympics bronze medal, said officials.


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25 years ago
The Parkersburg Actors Guild will perform "Evita" on March 11, 12, 13, 18 and 19.
A man was shot in the arm after a police chase that started in Parkersburg ended at Summers Motor Sales, Inc. on the Newport Pike in Marietta. The chase started after police questioned the suspect about filing a phony prescription and ended with the suspect getting into a shootout with police.
100 years ago
The general store of William P. Doan, of Stanleyville, was robbed of several knives and stogies.
A considerable number of Marietta men are planning on going to Pittsburgh with the party that will inspect streets and buildings that have been raised to higher levels to help stop flooding.
Compiled by Amanda Nicholson, Marietta College Special Collections.


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Euro Pound Sterling US Dollar Australia Dollar Bahraini Dinar Botswana pula Cambodian Riel Canadian Dollar China Yuan Denmark Kroner East Caribbean Dollar Egypt Pounds Fijian Dollar Iceland Kronur Indian Rupee Japan Yen Kenya Shiling Kuwaiti Dinar Malaysian Ringgit Myanma kyat Netherlands Antillean Guilder New Zealand Dollar Norway Kroner Philippine Peso Russia Ruble Singapore Dollar South Africa Rand Sweden Kronor Switzerland Franc Thai Baht Ukraine Hryvnia Vietnamese Dong
Customer Ratings
8.8/10 110 reviews
Premier Inn Dublin Airport has a mix of double and twin rooms. All twin rooms have two double beds ( max 2 adults and 2 children). Children under the age of 16 eat breakfast free when staying with a paying adult.
Formerly the Tulip Inn this modern purpose built hotel is located 1.5km from Dublin Airport.
Shuttle service available between the Hotel and the Airport from 4.15am every 30min until 10.45pm (Mon-Sun), please note no service at 9.15am and 6.45pm.
Shuttle from the Airport to the Hotel starts at 4.30am every 30min until 11pm (Mon-Sun), please note no service available at 9.30am and 7pm. Shuttle is not wheelchair accessible.
Charge €1 each way with children travelling free of charge.
Car park is free of charge for overnight stay only. For long term parking and Park & Fly packages please contact hotel directly.


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Honoring The Flag on Flag Day
Greetings from General Sarge HQ! Here I am checking in once again for another great patriotic day on the calendar.
Did you know Thursday, June 14th is Flag Day?
While Flag Day isn't an official federal holiday, it's been celebrated on June 14th for a long time. Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which took place by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress way back in 1777!
That's 235 years ago!
In honor of the day I gathered a couple of my furry-friend recruits waiting for deployment to help fold the flag. You will also notice a certificate in this picture too. There's a New York State flag neatly folded in that package which New York State Senator Michael Nozzolio recently presented to my human-owners' parents! The flag was flown at the Albany, New York State Legislature building. We're going to send it to my human-owner PFC Ben in Afghanistan so he can fly it there and remember his home state.
In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation officially establishing June 14 as Flag Day and then in August of 1949 National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. One of the longest running Flag Day parades is held every year in Quincy, Massachusetts. Their parade started in 1959. But the largest Flag Day parade is held annually right near me in Troy, New York! This year it's on Sunday, June 10 and officials say it draws an estimated crowd of 50,000 people!
Since I'm an Army bear I have to mention June 14 is not only Flag Day but it's also the day we celebrate the birthday of the Army. Congress adopted the American Continental Army on June 14 back in 1775.
Flag Etiquette
Since it's Flag Day I thought it would also be a good idea to talk about some flag etiquette. Before listing a few flag etiquette points I do want to point out that the flag on my Army uniform from Build-A-Bear Workshop is flying properly. From time to time I've heard people saying they think our flag is backwards on our uniform but it's really not. All of our Build-A-Bear Workshop designers worked hard to make sure the details on the Army uniform are correct. The stars are of course in the up position – and that's very important. The stars are facing forward because it represents the U.S. Army's motto of "Always forward. We never retreat".
The stars are moving forward
just as our soldiers are always moving forward.
Some good things to remember about flag etiquette:
- The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing.
- It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
- The flag should not be used as a drapery or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on top.
- The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose.
- It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use.
- The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
- The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure or drawing of any kind.
- The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying or delivering anything.
- When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object. It should be received by waiting hands and arms.
- To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
- The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
What to do with a worn flag no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country?
It should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner. Many American Legion Posts conduct flag burning ceremonies – often on Flag Day. Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops and Girl Scout Troops also often retire flags. Find a place near you that retires flags by searching for "flag deposit boxes near me for flag retirement" or "scout or legion posts near me that retire flags."
Displaying the Flag Outside
- When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony or a building, the stars should be at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff.
- When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag – of a state, community, society or other organization – the flag of the United States must always be at the top. Except, a church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for Navy personnel when conducted by a Naval Chaplin on a ship at sea.
- When displayed with multiple flags on separate flagpoles the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor – on its own right. The other flags may be smaller, but none may be larger. No other flag should ever be placed above it. The flag of the United States is always the first to be raised and the last to be lowered.
- When the flag is displayed over a street it should be hung vertically with the stars to the north or east. If the flag is suspended over a sidewalk, the flag's stars should be farthest from the building.
Displaying the Flag Indoors
- The United States flag is always given the place of honor, always positioned to the its own right. Place it to the right of the speaker or stating area or sanctuary. Other flags should be to the left.
- When displaying the flag against a wall, vertically or horizontally, the flag's stars should be at the top, to the flag's own right and to the observer's left.
The Salute
- Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute. Citizens not in uniform salute by placing their right hand over the heart and men wearing hats should remove them and hold it to their left should, with their hand over their heart.
I know there's a lot of information here. But as a General Bear in the Army I'm honored that I was asked to point out some these very important things to remember on Flag Day.
Two paws up!
General Sarge
General Sarge is a Build-A-Bear Workshop Teddy who's human-owner – PFC Benjamin Jeffrey – is currently serving in Afghanistan with the Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. Our vision, mission and purpose – "Comforting Military Families One Furry Friend at a Time".
For more information visit the General Sarge website.
Dr. Rus Jeffrey – General Sarge's handler – is proud to be included as a blogger for Behind the Seams. Find out more about Dr. Rus, General Sarge and how they "Comfort Military Families One Furry Friend At A Time."


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POSITION: Defenseman
SHOOTS: Left
BIRTHPLACE: Topolcany, SVK
DRAFTED: LAK: 2000-118 overall
|NHL All-Rookie Team (2001) NHL Second All-Star Team (2011) Played in NHL All-Star Game (2007) Signed as a free agent by Bratislava (Slovakia), September 27, 2004. Traded to Edmonton by Los Angeles for Jarret Stoll and Matt Greene, June 29, 2008. Traded to Anaheim by Edmonton for Ryan Whitney and Anaheim's 6th round pick (Brandon Davidson) in 2010 NHL Draft, March 3, 2010. Traded to NY Islanders by Anaheim for NY Islanders' 2nd round pick (Nick Sorensen) in 2013 NHL Draft, June 22, 2012. Signed as a free agent by Bratislava (KHL), September 15, 2012. Missed majority of 2013-14 due to head inury vs. Carolina, October 19, 2013. Officially announced his retirement, February 28, 2016.
|2010-11: Appeared in his 10th NHL season, his first full season with Anaheim…scored a career-high 18-50=58 points in 81 contests with a +18 rating (also career best) and 24 PIM…led all NHL defensemen in scoring, assists and points-per-game (.84)…also ranked second among defensemen in goals, tied for second in OT goals (2) and third in GWG (4)…became the second player in club history to lead all NHL defensemen in scoring…his 68 points were one point shy of Scott Niedermayer's franchise record for points by a defenseman in a single campaign…completed the 2010-11 season with points in six of his last seven games (3-4=7), nine of 11 (4-7=11, +9) and 13 of 16 (6-11=17, +13)...with an assist on Apr. 9 @ LA, established a career high four points in a season (scored 17-50=67 in 2005-06 w/LA)…appeared in his 700th NHL contest, Apr. 3 vs. DAL…had a career-high three-game goal streak (3-1=4), Mar. 30-Apr. 3…set a club record for goals by a defenseman in a single season with his 17th, Apr. 2 @ SJ…earned 7-11=18 points with a +13 rating in March, leading all NHL defensemen in goals and points…also co-led all NHL players in plus/minus…became the first defenseman in Ducks history to score a hat trick, Mar. 4 vs. DAL...also scored the OT goal with 3.8 seconds left in the extra frame in the 4-3 win…his 3-1=4 points that night were a career high and his hat trick marked the second of his career…set a career high and tied club record with a +5 rating (2-1=3 points) in a 5-2 Ducks win, Mar. 9 vs. NYR…had five goals over three games (5-2=7, +6 rating) from Mar. 4-9, becoming the first Ducks defenseman all-time to accomplish the feat…earned his 300th NHL assist, Mar. 2 vs. DET…collected his 400th career NHL point (goal), Feb. 16 vs. WSH…scored his 99th and 100th career NHL goals, Dec. 31 vs. PHI…finished the month of November ranking tied for second among NHL blueliners in scoring (2-10=12) and tied for first in assists…missed one contest due to back spasms, Nov. 27 @ PHX…scored the second OT-winning goal of his career, Nov. 9 @ SJ…PLAYOFFS: Made his third career postseason appearance (first with Ducks) and first since 2002, playing in all six of Anaheim's CQF games vs. NSH, earning three assists.
PERSONAL: Resides in Corona del Mar during the season…married his wife, Katarina, last summer…the couple has one son, Max, and is expecting their first daughter this December…spends his offseason in his hometown of Bratislava, Slovakia…this past summer, he enjoyed taking part in the process of building his own home in Bratislava and enjoyed spending time with his two-year-old child…has one older brother who also played hockey…lists his favorite player growing up as Paul Coffey…was a member of the Slovakian military before joining the NHL…enjoys many different genres of music depending on his mood, ranging from disco to country and rock…lists D.J. Tiesto and Bryan Adams as his favorite artists.


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In 1930 the Boy Scouts of America launched a home- and neighborhood-centered program for boys 9 to 11 years of age. A key element of the program is an emphasis on caring, nurturing relationships between boys and their parents, adult leaders, and friends. Currently, Cub Scouting is the largest of the BSA's three membership divisions. (The others are Boy Scouting and Venturing.)
Cub Scouting has program components for boys in the first through fifth grades (or ages 7, 8, 9, or 10). Members join a Cub Scout pack and are assigned to a den, usually a neighborhood group of six to eight boys. First-grade boys (Tiger Cubs) meet twice a month, while Wolf Cub Scouts (second graders), Bear Cub Scouts (third graders), and Webelos (fourth and fifth graders) meet weekly.
Once a month, all of the dens and family members gather for a pack meeting under the direction of a Cubmaster and pack committee. The committee includes parents of boys in the pack and members of the chartered organization.
Cub Scouting has nine purposes, to:
I, (name), promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack.
The Cub Scout Motto
Do Your Best.
The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill.
The Cub Scout colors are blue and gold. The blue stands for truth and spirituality, steadfast loyalty, and the sky above. The gold stands for warm sunlight, good cheer, and happiness. Together, they symbolize what Cub Scouting is all about.
Lord Robert Baden-Powell began Scouting in Great Britain in 1907 and was immediately successful in attracting boys and adult leaders to its adventurous and fun outdoor program. In addition to teaching boys outdoor skills and teamwork, boys learned responsibility, character, and the need to do good for others. Several years later, in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated to provide a program for community organizations that offers effective character, citizenship and personnel fitness training for youth. Over 100 years later, Scouting is one of the largest youth organizations in the world.
The Boy Scout program is for boys ages 11-17. Members join a Boy Scout Troop and are assigned to a patrol, usually a neighborhood group of six to eight boys, similar to a Cub Scout Den. Troops and their patrols meet weekly, practicing skills, playing games, and learning to plan and manage for themselves as the boys help organize outings, such as hikes, campouts, and outdoor trips, and other activities.
The role of the Scoutmaster and his staff of adult leaders is to coach the boys in developing leadership skills, thinking through problems and tasks, and learning how to work and play together as a team. The Troop Committee includes parents of boys in the Troop and members of the chartered organization.
Specifically, the BSA endeavors to help boys develop into American citizens who:
As Boy Scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. The Good Turn concept is a major part of the personal growth method of Boy Scouting. Boys grow as they participate in community service projects and do Good Turns for others. Probably no device is as successful in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily Good Turn. The religious emblems program also is a large part of the personal growth method. Frequent personal conferences with his Scoutmaster help each Boy Scout to determine his growth toward Scouting's aims.
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
And to obey the Scout Law,
To help other people at all times
To keep myself physically strong,
Mentally awake, and morally straight
Be Prepared
A Scout is:
and Reverent
Long after a young man matures and grows into adulthood, the imprint of Scouting and what he learned and experienced in the program will stay with him. There are tons of stories about how Eagle Scouts frequently can be found in positions of leadership in their communities, churches, companies, and even in military service. But the fact of the matter is that even if a boy only gets as far as Tenderfoot, years later he will more than likely remember the Scout oath and the words "On my honor...", remember the name of the summer camp he went to, and the names of his patrol mates - even when he can't remember the date of his own wedding anniversary. Scouting soaks into the very core of the people who get involved in it because it gives meaning to Honor, Friendship, Trust, Faith, and all the other things that form us and sustain us as individuals. So even when a man stands hunched over his cane and his knurled fingers have to be willed to form the Scout sign, it's no surprise that many will say with a choked voice of pride packed with memories, "I remember...". And we're all better for it.
Venturing in Northeastern Pennsylvania
Venturing is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth, adult leaders, and organizations in their communities. Local community organizations establish a Venturing crew by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result is a program of exciting and meaningful activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, to grow, to develop leadership skills, and to become good citizens.
Venturing crews can specialize in a variety of avocation or hobby interests. Venturing programs are developed around six experience areas of emphasis: Citizenship; Leadership; Fitness; Social; Outdoor; Service.
Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age.
Venturing's purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.
Young adults involved in Venturing will:
The methods of Venturing have been carefully chosen to meet the needs of young adults and help them grow into adulthood with confidence and fully developed interpersonal skills that can help them throughout their lifetime. These methods are:
As a Venturer,
I promise to do my duty to God
and help strengthen America,
to help others, and to seek truth, fairness,
and adventure in our world.
As a Venturer, I believe that America's strength lies in our trust in God and in the courage, strength, and traditions of our people. I will, therefore, be faithful in my religious duties and will maintain a personal sense of honor in my own life. I will treasure my American heritage and will do all I can to preserve and enrich it. I will recognize the dignity and worth of all humanity and will use fair play and goodwill in my daily life.; I will acquire the Venturing attitude that seeks truth in all things and adventure on the frontiers of our changing world.
As an American, I will do my best to -
Learning for Life and Exploring in Northeastern Pennsylvania
Learning for Life offers classroom-based programs that provide an action-learning process with grade-specific lesson plans for grades K through 12, plus a complete supplement for special-needs students.
Learning for Life helps youth develop social and life skills, assist in character development, and helps them formulate positive personal values.
Exploring is a worksite-based program that gives youth an opportunity to visit community organizations and explore the dynamics of various careers.
Exploring's purpose is to provide experiences that help young people mature and to help them to become responsible and caring adults.
Click here to learn more about the Learning for Life and Exploring programs
08/30/2016 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Lion Scout Leader Training
09/07/2016 6:45 pm - 8:30 pm
TM - Cub Scout Roundtable
Popcorn Show & Sell Orders Due
6:00 pm 09/09/2016 - 5:00 pm 09/11/2016
Leave No Trace Trainer Course
09/13/2016 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Merit Badge Counselor Training


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Published: Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, January 14, 2013 at 3:07 a.m.
Two people were arrested Friday, accused of sexually battering and beating a woman Jan. 2 near downtown Lakeland, police said.
Jason C. Sullivan, 42, of Lakeland, and Jennifer Matheny, 22, of Lakeland, each were charged with sexual battery.
Both remained in the Polk County Jail without bail Sunday.
The woman told police that she was drinking in the area in near Peoples Lane with Sullivan, Matheny and other people. As she was going to sleep in a tent, Sullivan asked her to have sex with him, according to an arrest affidavit.
The woman refused, and that is when Sullivan and Matheny began beating her and sexually battered her, according to the arrest affidavit. The woman was able to escape and flagged down a motorist on a nearby street.
She was treated at Lakeland Regional Medical Center for bruises to her face. Her eyes were swollen shut, according to the affidavit.
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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As you might guess, Google's (GOOG) Vint Cerf is watching the unfolding international debate over Internet regulation with more than a passing interest.
Think about it: The guy invented the Internet. OK, ever since Al Gore, we know it's not quite so simple. But Cerf, along most notably with Bob Kahn and Leonard Kleinrock, is widely acknowledged to be one of the fathers of the Internet for his early work on the earth-shattering innovation.
And now his baby is in peril. Next week representatives of the world's countries will meet in Dubai to debate treaty proposals that many Internet experts say could do serious harm to the open and free Internet. At the World Conference on International Telecommunications representatives of 193 countries are likely to debate ideas that could lead to increased censorship and surveillance and seriously slow innovation on the Web.
"This is simply another battle, but it is not the last," said Cerf, who is a vice president at Google, but they call him chief Internet evangelist.
He has been out there, to say the least, on the issue of whether the International Telecommunications Union, an obscure agency of the United Nations, should be given unprecedented power over the Internet we all know and love. He's written impassioned arguments that have appeared in The New York Times and elsewhere. He's testified before Congress. He's leading Google's own public relations campaign (#freeandopen) and he's called those who seek to shackle the Internet and those who use it as "dinosaurs" with "pea-sized brains," according to Reuters.
In fairness, Cerf was trying to explain how someone could come up with such backward thoughts about one of the world's most progressive inventions -- "These persistent attempts are just evidence that this breed of dinosaurs, with their pea-sized brains, hasn't figured out that they are dead yet, because the signal hasn't traveled up their long necks,"
I asked Cerf whether his deep passion about the issues had anything to do with his crucial role in developing the Internet. Did he feel some special responsibility for looking after what he had created, or helped create?
"The answer is yes," he told me. "That's why Google's campaign has my name on it. Because I'm willing to stand up and say we ought to fight for this and I feel that way. I've invested my entire career and so have millions of others, literally."
Cerf's deep concern about the latest international dust-up over the Internet doesn't stem from some vainglorious pride. It's bigger than that.
Some of the most pernicious proposals, he points out, threaten human rights, as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
"There is potential for a massive expansion of the scope," he said. "This would actually give some counties the ability to reference an international treaty and begin to suppress speech and then claim, 'I'm only doing this because the international treaty obligates me to do it."
Proposals that would essentially charge Internet content providers for digitally shipping their content to other countries would strangle innovation on the Web.
"Nobody will ever build a new app on the Net because they can't afford it," he says. "It destroys incentive for innovation. It does all kinds of bad things."
And the proposals would seriously disrupt the efficient, but informal agreements among network operators that move traffic from place to place and allow the Web to be world wide.
"The fact that it is such a loosely coupled arrangement is exactly why it works," he says.
Despite all the potential for grave harm to the Internet, Cerf says it isn't clear that the coming world conference will end in disaster. He says he believes that it will take some sort of consensus among the many delegates to grant more power to the International Telecommunication Union. But then again, he adds, it's not exactly clear how it's determined whether there is consensus and precisely who it is who makes that determination.
Beyond that, this one father of the Internet says, you can be sure that the December conference is not the end of the debate. This are all issues we will all hear about again, no matter what comes out of Dubai.
Contact Mike Cassidy at email@example.com or 408-920-5536. Follow him at Twitter.com/mikecassidy.


text:
4.1-5 Invalidity of Past Consideration
Revised to January 1, 2008
The defendant claims that
the contract is not enforceable because it is based on past
consideration. Past consideration is not valid consideration. The
plaintiff's promise to do something which (he/she/it) was already
bound by (his/her/its) prior contract to do is past consideration.
Past consideration is not sufficient to support an additional
promise by the defendant. If you find that the plaintiff was
already bound by (his/her/its) prior contract with the defendant to
do <describe obligation>, then there can be no consideration
for the contract at issue because the defendant would receive
nothing more than that to which (he/she/it) is already entitled and
the plaintiff has given nothing that (he/she/it) was not already
under legal obligation to give.
Marcus v. DuPerry, 223 Conn. 484,
487 (1992); Blakeslee v. Board of Water Commissioners, 106
Conn. 642, 652 (1927); 3 S. Williston, Contracts (4th Ed. 1992) §
7:36, p. 569.
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Criminal Jury
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State of Connecticut Judicial Branch


text:
I've been using PMS for a little while now and before I was using it to stream HD .mkv files to the PS3 (normally in 720p) with a Linksys WRT54G router. CPU wired to the router, wired to the PS3. The WRT54G clearly doesn't have gigabit ethernet and that was the reason, I assumed, why a recent attempt to stream an .mkv of the movie Moon in 1080p was met with all sorts of stuttering issues when the bitrate jumped above 100 Mbps.
So I ordered a new Netgear Wireless-N router with the intent of being able to not only stream this with a wired connection, but maybe even, with a max of 300 Mbps, wirelessly as well. I tried to wire it up first, fired up Moon and everything is good until about 30 seconds in to the opening of the movie when the bitrate simply hits 60 Mbps and the stuttering begins. I try with another .mkv, this time the movie The Fall, and the opening credits get into the 130s (again, intense stuttering). This is from a gigabit ethernet enabled CPU, to a gigabit ethernet enabled router, to a gigabit ethernet enabled PS3. It stutters to the point that it's unwatchable.
I've searched around the forum for troubleshooting options and found people mentioning increasing the transcode buffer size (I bumped it up to 600: nothing.), messing with the max bandwidth (put it to 15: nothing.), checking the "enhanced multicore" box (tried that: didn't help.).
My system has a Core2Duo E6300 processor @ 1.82 GHz, 4 gigs of DDR2 RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE video card with 128 MB of dedicated video memory (not too great, I know), 1Tb external from which I stream these files. 720p videos work fine. Is my CPU just not fast enough to handle transcoding 1080p on the fly?
One thing that I noticed though was that when I first used the "enhanced multicore" option, I played Moon with a wired connection on the PS3 and the bitrate never even came close to 100 Mbps and everything was fine. I stopped the movie right there and tried to do it wirelessly and the bitrate was right back to the 90-110 range and the stuttering was rampant. I switch back to the wired connection and the stuttering won't stop.
Are there any other avenues that I could take to getting this fixed. If it's not my cpu then I don't get why with a theoretical max of 1000 Mbps I still get stuttering issues. I even changed the number of audio channels to 2 and the AC3 bitrate to 384 because I don't have surround sound and the stuttering was still present.


text:
Version: 2.38 || Release Date: 2011-03-29 || License: GPL
App Owner: generaldisarray
A frontend for LaTeX (gwTeX or teTeX installed with Fink).
Required OS: not specified
Tags: latex , typesetting , scientific , frontend
4 Opinions
It´s a shame that tabbed interface for the source files is missing.
Very efficient, easy to use.
I use it with TeXlive distribution
Best TeX environment I've used - great software. I installed teTeX using the i-installer.
by ig0774, 9 years and 258 days ago (score: 1)
Plain and simple, but quite simply the best TeX editor for Mac


text:
That would be awesome!!!
I recently got a decent Intel Xeon Tower for work... but my Home Computer is my old work computer a dual 2.0 G5... which is a decent computer... and I would love to be able to use this with my PS3 at home! Thanx so much!!!


text:
TENNESSEE PASS, Colorado - Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the Continental Divide at Tennessee Pass is a quick getaway for those seeking quiet touring in the national forest. Drive 10 miles north of Leadville or 23 miles south of Minturn on U.S. Highway 24, a National Scenic Highway, to Tennessee Pass.
A Forest Service trailhead parking lot is located on the west side of the highway directly across from the entrance to Ski Cooper. Out of this trailhead, marked "trails" lead you through the forest. From the parking lot, there are two trailheads, and you are on the Continental Divide.
There are three trails: Treeline Loop (2 miles), Powderhound Loop (2.5 miles) and the Mitchell Creek Loop (7.5 miles). The San Isabel National Forest maintains these trails, and blue diamonds on the trees mark the trails. The trails, which are beginner and intermediate, straddle the Continental Divide and meander through forest and meadows with views of Mount Elbert, Mount Massive and Galena and Homestake peaks. Elevations of the trails range from 10,450 to 10,650 feet.
Timberline, the shorter loop, passing over the Continental Divide, requires a gentle climb, which is rewarded by views of the Sawatch Range. Access Timberline from the parking lot's south trailhead. Powderhound, on the north-facing slopes, holds good snow and traverses the Continental Divide, providing great views of surrounding mountains. Access the trail from the parking lot's north trailhead.
Mitchell Creek Loop, accessed from the parking lot's north trailhead, initially follows the 1880s narrow-gauge railroad run past kilns where coke was made from local timber to fuel the trains going from Red Cliff to Leadville. On a lucky day, you may even view moose feeding in the Mitchell Creek wetlands. This trail follows the gentle railroad grade for 2.5 miles, a nice out and back tour, or continue for the complete 7.5-mile loop.
You also may choose the easier clockwise loop from the trailhead at the south end of the parking lot. Maps are available at the Leadville and Minturn forest ranger stations.
If some in your group choose to alpine ski or snowboard, just drop them off at Ski Cooper, www.ski
cooper.com" target="_blank">class="NormalParagraphStyle">cooper.com, the training area for the 10th Mountain Division soldiers. The 10th Mountain Division War Memorial is also located at the top of Tennessee Pass.
Lunch and dinner are available at the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse, as well as overnight yurts (go to www.tennesseepass.com for more information). Skiing and snowshoeing from this trailhead provide easy access to four of the 10th Mountain Division Huts (www.huts.org), including Vance's Cabin, Point Breeze and Continental Divide Cabins (less than one mile) and the 10th Mountain Division Memorial Hut.


text:
Summer is the time for the outdoors, sun, family, fresh food, flea markets and of course, style!
Follow Monica's exciting week through Instagram @botkier.
1. Showroom series! Botkier's got the blues…
2. Botkier Street Style! We caught this Botkier Babe in style carrying the #classic #Sasha in Soho, NYC.
3. Flea market fashion. This past weekend Monica went to Amagansett where her friend and amazing stylist @AlexWhiteEdits had an incredible yard sale and part of the proceeds went to The IDEAL School of Manhattan – a school for kids with special needs in Manhattan.
4. Every girl needs a little pampering. Monica enjoyed a matching mani+pedi and chose Essie color "Nice is Nice".
5. Monica snagged this classic Louis Vuitton Dress and Louboutin wedges at @AlexWhiteEdits Amagansett yard sale. There's nothing like shopping for a good cause!
6. Home is where the heart is.
7. Had a delicious summer dinner at Acme.
8. Lovely lunch at The Smile NYC. http://thesmilenyc.com/
9. Monica's bus stop pose with new arrival #Carter crossbody and her favorite new Rebecca Taylor jacket.
10. We love our @bigbangnyc skull necklace!
11. Pool house in Brooklyn! Monica enjoyed some fun in the sun with her family.
12. Baby Daddy love.


text:
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants might have been salivating at the thought of facing Hyun-Jin Ryu on Thursday, having knocked him around for eight runs in two innings in their first meeting this season.
Instead, the Giants faced the Ryu who has been virtually flawless on the road this season, and they suffered a similar fate.
Ryu limited the Giants to four hits and one walk in seven shutout innings before he turned over the ball to the Los Angeles bullpen in a 2-1 Dodgers victory at AT&T Park before a sun-drenched, sellout crowd.
Ryu's masterful performance served as a marked contrast to his outing against the Giants in the Dodgers' home opener April 4.
That game marked the shortest outing in Ryu's brief major league career and the most runs he allowed in a game.
In Ryu's four other starts, all away from Dodger Stadium, he has not allowed a run in 26 innings.
"We hit some balls decent, but Ryu was pretty good today, too, though," Giants catcher Buster Posey said. "He did a good job of pitching off his heater, and everything kind of came out looking the same way."
The Giants' only real threats came in the eighth and ninth innings, when they got two runners aboard in each.
They did so in the eighth against former Giants closer Brian Wilson with only one out. However, Wilson struck out Pablo Sandoval and got Posey on a fly ball to center.
In the ninth, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen allowed a two-out, bloop single to Ehire Adrianza, which scored Brandon Belt. Jansen saved the game when he got pinch-hitter Brandon Crawford on a fly to left.
"We had them on the ropes there in the eighth and the ninth," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. " ... We had the right guys up there. That's all you can ask for. It didn't quite happen today."
That about summed up Giants starter Madison Bumgarner's outlook, too. He labored through 41/3 innings on a day when he felt as if his pitching wasn't commensurate with the results.
Bochy removed Bumgarner after a run-scoring single in the fifth extended the Dodgers' lead to 2-0 and Bumgarner's pitch count to 99.
Time and again, Bumgarner felt as if he hit his spot. Too often, batters fouled off those pitches or home plate umpire Seth Buckminster called them balls.
"I feel like I made some pretty good pitches there ... in some big situations," Bumgarner said. "Things just didn't work out in our favor today."
Things keep working against Sandoval on an almost daily basis.
Less than 24 hours after he delivered the game-deciding run, Sandoval went hitless in four at-bats Thursday and saw his average dip to .175.
He swears that he isn't affected by injury, lack of confidence or stalled contract negotiations.
"You got good games, you got bad games, so you have to keep humble and keep your head up," Sandoval said. "Try to do the best that you can out there, try to do all the things you can do, keep working hard. Good things are going to come."
Sandoval batted third Thursday, as he has done in 15 of the first 16 games this season. Bochy said it's obvious that Sandoval is pressing and that a change might do him some good.
"Maybe I'll drop him down in the order and try to take some pressure off him," Bochy said. "He's a good hitter."
Sandoval said he's amenable to hitting anywhere in the order, even ninth. He remains confident that the hits are about to flow freely.
"What a great day he had, and that goes unnoticed when you lose a game like this," Bochy said. " ... That should do a lot for his confidence."
The 15 straight games tied for the third-longest streak in the Giants' era in San Francisco. The record is 18 straight games, from July 5-28, 2012.
Giants (Matt Cain 0-2) at San Diego
(Tyson Ross 1-2), 7:10 p.m. CSNBA


text:
Bart Starr Award
Bart Starr Award
Recent Articles
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- Railbird Central Podcast: Down to 75 Players
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text:
via Personal Recipe 1765125:
Tré, you're very nice and awesome! And I love you!
Are you prepared for your next concert? I know your answer: YES!!
Yeah, epic!!!!!! Seize the, few hours!!!!!!!!???? :D (I really dont get it sometimes what u *type* with the hash-tags, the ones with the one word)
Lol he needs to shave ^^ Still Cute though! (And i bet on the app/Net he already has like, over 19 Comments XD)


text:
PHOENIX -- Why isn't there competition for the center field job in Oakland?
Many believe there should be between incumbent Coco Crisp and newcomer Chris Young. They both cover plenty of ground and have good offensive skills, although their offensive skills are not identical.
But there is Crisp's lack of arm strength that serves as a clear dividing line.
"Coco Crisp is going to be our opening day center fielder," manager Bob Melvin says.
Young will be asked to play left, right and center and spend time as the designated hitter.
Melvin's decision goes opposite of the prime defensive metric of the 21st century -- UZR (ultimate zone rating), which assesses how many runs a defender takes away. It gives a clear edge to Young, but Melvin and general manager Billy Beane have no problem turning a blind eye to the UZR.
"We have our own proprietary defensive ratings metrics," Melvin said. "It's the best I've ever seen, better than any of the others. And it tells us that we have two elite center fielders."
Said Beane, "There's a reason it's proprietary. It's an ongoing process to improve our analysis. More than that, I'm not willing to say."
Beane and Melvin believe there isn't as much difference in the two outfielders as systems such as UZR show.
As important as a big arm can be for an outfielder, it's not the only issue. Just ask another weak-throwing outfielder, Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson.
"Coco doesn't have the greatest arm; I didn't have the greatest arm, either," Henderson said Friday on his first day of work in the A's big league camp. "There are ways you get around that.
"You get a good jump on the ball, that's the first thing. Coco's got very good range and a real good first step to the ball. Then when you get the ball, you get rid of it quickly. You have to have good vision to be able to know where the cutoff man is and get the ball to him as quickly as possible."
The cutoff man is going to be an important factor in Oakland this season. For most of last year, Cliff Pennington was the starting shortstop. When Stephen Drew came aboard, Pennington moved to second base.
Pennington, who is now with the Arizona Diamondbacks, owns a great arm. Drew, who signed a free-agent contract with the Boston Red Sox, has a good one. When A's outfielders hit the shortstop as the cutoff man in 2012, there were many chances for good things to happen.
With the two shortstop candidates this year, Hiroyuki Nakajima and Jed Lowrie, the cutoff men's arm strength won't be the same. That will increase the need for the center fielder to get the ball off quickly and accurately.
"When you watch Coco, you'll see him get his feet in position to get off a good throw to the cutoff man," Henderson said. "You don't need a strong arm to do that. I know when I was running the bases, I was concerned more with how quickly the outfielder got rid of the ball than with how strong his arm is."
There's more than just defense to the A's desire to have Crisp in center. He's the club's leadoff hitter, and he performs better offensively when he's in center.
At this time last year, the A's were playing Yoenis Cespedes in center and Crisp in left. Crisp hit .194 and had a .260 on-base percentage until a Cespedes wrist injury led to the two of them switching places.
From that point on in late May, Crisp hit .271 with a .326 on-base percentage and 11 homers. That production was crucial in the A's rallying from 13 games out of first place in the American League West to win the division on the last day of the season.
Young is a one-time All-Star with more power -- he's averaged 20 homers over the last three seasons -- but he doesn't hit for a high average. The A's believe he can adapt to a utility role in the outfield.
"Chris can play anywhere," Melvin said. "You see that more every time he's out there in left and right. But the fact is we have two above average center fielders."
One is an incumbent on a team that won the division last year, one who generates a lot more offense when he's playing center.
"Coco is an important part of what makes us go," Melvin said.
That's something the A's don't want to tinker with.
Asked if it was time for Scott Sizemore, the starter at third two years ago who is in the competition for the second base job in 2013, to get some work at third base, Melvin said no.
"Donaldson's average isn't good," the manager said. "But he's hitting the ball hard, and had a couple of home runs taken away in that rainout we had (in Peoria) with the Mariners (last Friday).''
Colon has had a tough spring, allowing 22 hits in 11 innings (six in four innings Friday), but Melvin said he's not worried and that the veteran will come around.
online extra
Melvin tunes up for season by arguing play at plate, avoids ejection.


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Playing a role in "The Nutcracker" is nothing new for local young ballet star Ashley Mendoza. She's performed a role or two in other productions of the holiday favorite. The difference is this year is she will be sharing the experience with her older sister Emily.
Emily, 14, had been wrapped up in gymnastics for many years before she gave ballet a try, while Ashley, 10, has been dancing since she was 3.
"I never really paid attention to Ashley's dancing until one day I thought, that could be fun," Emily said.
Over the last few months the sisters have been practicing for their upcoming roles in the Black Diamond Ballet Theatre's production of "The Nutcracker." The three-day event, which returns after a three-year absence due to renovations at the Creative Arts Building in Pittsburg, will take place on Dec. 7, 8 and 9.
"I'm really excited to be playing the role of Fritz, the little brother of Claire," Ashley said.
Ashley is no stranger to playing in front of an audience. She's even held a role in the "The Nutcracker" in the Oakland Children's' Ballet. She has also performed in "Tinker Bell," "Peter Pan, "The Little Match Girl" and "Pinocchio." Ashley has worked on two other productions with her sister as well.
"Every time you dance in a play it is always different," Ashley said. "Each dance company adds their own little touch to it. I hope people will like it."
In this production, Emily has been given a chance to work closely with the professionals involved in the ballet. Emily has been dancing for four years and has become more serious about the possibility of becoming a professional herself.
She is taking on a few different roles throughout "The Nutcracker" production, including that a snowflake, flower and one of the Russian dancers.
"I'm really having fun working with Ashley," Emily said. "It gives us something to do together."
"The Nutcracker" has long been a favorite ballet for the holidays. The story features a young German girl who dreams about a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads.
This Black Diamond Ballet Theater production of "The Nutcracker" will be presented under the artistic direction of Sharon Sobel Idul and includes professional and student dancers from throughout East Contra Costa County.
Professional dancers are Savannah Leigh Drew of Antioch (Snow, Waltz of the Flowers, French Miriltons); Sarah Hernandez of Concord (Sugar Plum); Andrea Herrera of Antioch (Snow, Waltz of the Flowers, and Spanish Chocolate); Jennifer Kauer of Elk Grove (Snow, Waltz of the Flowers, and French Miriltons); Alexandra Lengyel of Brentwood (Rose Queen and Arabian); Ricky Navarro of Antioch (Sugar Plum Caviler); and Mary Wilson of Canoga Park (Snow Queen).
Tickets are available online through www.blackdiamondballet.org.
What: Black Diamond Ballet Theatre's 'The Nutcracker'
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, 8; 2 p.m. Dec. 9
Where: Creative Arts Building, 250 School St., Pittsburg
Info: 925-7540-9833 or online at www.blackdiamondballet.org
Cost: $15 children (12 and under) and seniors; $20 adults


text:
Marine Iguana
Photograph by Gina Martin, National Geographic
Scales help protect this lizard from harsh weather and predators. The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is unique to the Galápagos Islands. Despite its scaly shield, the species is still considered vulnerable to extinction because of non-native rats, feral cats, and dogs that feed on iguana eggs and young.
Victoria Crowned Pigeon Feathers
Photograph by Tim Laman, National Geographic
The crest of a Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) creates a bouquet of gray and white. Found in tropical regions and related to the Dodo (Raphus cucullatus), the Victoria crowned pigeon features a crest fringed in white. The males display their feathery headdresses to attract a mate.
Parrotfish Scales
Photograph by Tim Laman, National Geographic
Snapped off the coast of Borneo, these iridescent green scales armor a parrotfish (Scarus sp.). The evolutionary link between feathers and scales is evident on developing bird embryos, which are scattered with disks of cells called placodes. Some of these cells grow into scales, such as the ones that cover a chicken's legs, while others turn into feathers.
Wandering Albatross Wings
Photograph by John Eastcott and Yva Momatiuk, National Geoggraphic
A wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) contracts its wings during a mating ritual on South Georgia Island, Antarctica. This arduous traveler has one of the greatest known wingspans of any bird, measuring up to 11.5 feet (3.5 meters), and has been recorded flying 500 miles (805 kilometers) in a single day.
Lake Baikal Fish
Photograph by Bill Curtsinger, National Geographic
Orange spots mark the fin of fish photographed in Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia.
Argus Pheasant Feathers
Photograph by Tim Laman, National Geographic
Found in Southeast Asia, the male great argus pheasant (Argusianus argus) displays these dots on its feathers during courtship. Its plumage radiates around its head, like a peacock's. Beyond attracting a mate, feathers are used for insulation, flight, and, in some cases, to help a bird hunt and evade predators.
Wedge-Tailed Eagle
Photograph by Jason Edwards, National Geographic
The feathers of a wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) form a gauzy screen in Alice Springs Desert Park in Australia's Northern Territory. From a central feather vane sprout hundreds of filaments called barbs. The barbs in turn sprout other, smaller filaments, some with grooves and some with hooks that clasp the barbs together like Velcro, allowing the bird to fly.
Black-Chinned Sparrow Feathers
Photograph by Tom Murphy, National Geographic
A fan of black-chinned sparrow (Spizella atrogularis) feathers captures the light. When birds pull their feathers apart to clean them, the barb filaments simply zip back together by themselves.
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text:
SNOWMASS VILLAGE - The Snowmass Village Town Council on Monday voted to approve the revised 2012 and 2013 budgets for the Elected Officials Transportation Committee.
However, the officials voted that an added expense of $200,000 for planning of improvements to the Rubey Park Transit Center, which the Aspen City Council requested to come out of the committee's capital pool, come out of a lock box set aside to improve the city's entrance.
The EOTC is comprised of Aspen, Snowmass and Pitkin County officials. The committee had approved the 2013 budget at its Oct. 18 joint meeting, but Aspen made the request following a work session Oct. 30. After approval by the EOTC, each jurisdiction must pass its own resolution ratifying approval of the budget.
The EOTC also approved the 2012 budget at its last meeting, but with the condition that an itemized list of what comprised the increase would be provided. The Snowmass officials on Monday approved the 2012 revised budget as presented, which increases the budget for the design and engineering of the Aspen Business Center pedestrian crossing by $125,000.
The council took the vote before swearing in its newest member, Chris Jacobson. Councilman John Wilkinson participated in that part of the meeting.


text:
A North Dakota man is accused of punching his sister in the face with brass knuckles.
Christopher Rainbow, of Fort Yates, is charged in federal court with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
A witness told police that the assault knocked the victim unconscious. She suffered bruises to her face and required stitches to close a cut on her ear.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday in Bismarck.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
Award Winning
Three travel seats for the price of one…you'll get so much use out of our one-of-a-kind baby seat! It not only attaches to nearly any chair, anywhere, it attaches to YOU, securing baby on your lap hands-free. The perfect flight vest for airplanes, because baby is safely anchored to you. Works in shopping carts, too. Soft and comfortable, with a non-slip bottom. Super portable; rolls into its own self-pouch (fits easily in diaper bags). For ages 5 months and up, up to 37 lbs. Machine wash. Imported.For more information, click here.
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text:
Escape the everyday with a great book. Whether it's a historical epic, a far off fantasy world, or the science of sport , you can find exactly what you need when you shop our wealth of books at Rakuten.co.uk. With new and used books available, we have an array of books to delve into and get lost in.
With our trusted merchants selling everything from autobiographies and history books to children's stories and 'how to' craft books, you can find the perfect gift for Christmas or birthdays, or just the book to treat yourself with us. Take a look at what's on offer and find the perfect read.


text: I have a file with the following name: JCVD.avi. Two files came with it: JCVD.idx and JCVD.sub. On my PS3 I can see the file show up with [MEncoder] {External Subtitles}. However, when I play the file, I don't get subtitles and my audio is out of sync. Any help with this would be appreciated since I don't really know a lot about how the subtitles work with the various codecs.


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Irving Flaa, 93, died Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, at Madison Lutheran Home. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Baxter with the Rev. Willie Rosin officiating. Burial was at the church cemetery.
Hanson and Dahl Funeral Home, of Dawson, was in charge of the funeral arrangements.
Location, ST | website.com


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Barack Obama's Colorado re-election team announced the addition of a new field office in Silverthorne this week to join the president's arsenal of 20 campaign centers across the state.
The new office is yet another indication that both Obama and Republican presidential hopeful Gov. Mitt Romney will make the Western Slope a key arena in a battleground state this year.
"It shows the importance that Summit County and the region play within the national political framework right now," Summit County Commissioner and former state Sen. Dan Gibbs said. "No matter if you're Republican or Democrat, you're going to see both sides spend some money in Summit County."
Both sides are already spending money and time in rural Colorado.
Romney is attending a town hall at Central High School in Grand Junction - a GOP stronghold - today. It's his third visit to Colorado in as many months, although so far Denver hasn't made the list for public appearances.
Romney spoke to coal miners in Craig in May and was also in Fort Lupton in May.
Obama has been a bit more consistent about hitting the population centers on the Front Range on his visits to Colorado but is clearly making the rural regions a priority, as well.
The announcement of the new field office in Silverthorne comes just weeks after the president's top policy aides for Colorado visited Summit County to tour a forest-restoration project site with local Democrats.
"Lead policy people in the state want to come to Summit to learn," Gibbs, a Democrat, said of the visit. "They are doing their homework, and they have a strong ground game. I expect the same from the Romney campaign. Every vote counts in this election cycle."
Obama's Colorado spokesperson said the local field office - set to open its doors at 285 Summit Place in Silverthorne on Wednesday - will be a place for the community to gather with friends and neighbors to organize and rally support for Obama.
"Here in Colorado, we've been busy setting up shop in neighborhoods from Grand Junction to Aurora and everywhere in between," Dylan Roberts, of the Obama campaign, told the Summit Daily in an email. "We're focusing on building the strongest grassroots organization politics has ever seen because that's what we know it's going to take to compete with the other side's massive spending, plain and simple."
The Romney campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Gibbs speculated having a local campaign center would benefit Democrats all the way down the ticket in the November election.
Summit County Dems. Millie Hamner and Emily Tracy are vying for seats in the state House and Senate, while Democrat Karn Stiegelmeier will attempt to hold on to her seat on the Summit Board of County Commissioners this year.
Local Republicans Scott Turner and Debra Irvine are making bids for the 5th Judicial District Attorney's office and the state House District 61, respectively, and Republican Kevin Mastin is challenging Stiegelmeier for commissioner.
The Associated Press contributed to the reporting of this story.


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ILNA quoted an unnamed official as saying the daughters, Zahra and Narges Mousavi, had been summoned to give "explanations." It did not elaborate.
An earlier report by opposition website Kaleme.com said the two were taken into custody after security agents searched their homes. The two women have campaigned to free their parents, who are both under house arrest, urging authorities to release them in an open letter in January.
The incident comes just days before the second anniversary of massive protests against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which falls on Wednesday.
Mir Hossein Mousavi was the leader of the Green Movement in the 2009 presidential race against Ahmadinejad. Amid allegations of vote rigging after Ahmadinejad won, he led massive opposition protests.
Mousavi, his wife Zahra Rahnavard and another Ahmadinejad challenger, Mahdi Karroubi, have been under house arrest since February 2011. No formal charges have been made against them.


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West Alabama men's tennis team loses Gulf South final
Published: Monday, April 22, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 11:21 p.m.
MONTGOMERY | Third-ranked West Florida won its second consecutive Gulf South Conference championship in men's tennis, defeating the University of West Alabama 5-1 on Sunday at Lagoon Park.
The third seed, UWA lost for the first time since Feb. 24 and saw its winning streak snapped at 17 matches. The Tigers are 23-3, with two of those losses coming to the Argonauts. West Florida (23-1) has won 18 straight matches.
Both teams are expected to advance to NCAA Division II South Regional play. The selection show is Tuesday night.
No. 1 Kevin Ducros/Bruno Savi, UWF def. Anton Ivanov/Adam Drysdale, UWA, 8-1
No. 2 Tony Rajaobelina/Domenico Sano, UWF def. Nestor Vargas/Kike Ruiz, UWA, 8-6
No. 3 Honorio Fernandez/Manuel Grossmann, UWA def. Elio Latela/Felipe Frattini, UWF, 8-6
No. 1Kevin Ducros, UWF def. Nestor Vargas, UWA, 6-1, 6-2
No. 2Bruno Savi, UWF def. Anton Ivanov, UWA, 6-1, 6-0
No. 3 Tony Rajaobelina, UWF def. Honorio Fernandez, UWA, 6-3, 6-2
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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Brad Merry survived a heart attack and stroke at the age of 34. His wife, Martha, was by his side help him along the way. (WRDW-TV)
News 12 at 6 o'clock / Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW) -- While many couples spend their anniversary night at dinner or the movies, the Merrys spent theirs at University Hospital. And while the past year has been anything but easy, this couple proves that love does prevail.
For eight years, Brad and Martha Merry had been living a fairy tale: Boy meets girl, boy falls in love, rings, wedding dresses, diapers. But on the night of their seventh anniversary, their world turned upside down.
"Middle of the night, got up to the bathroom and fell out ... and as I laid on the floor, Martha cut on the light and said, 'You've had a stroke,'" Brad said.
That night of July 2012, Brad was taken to the ER at University Hospital. Doctors told him not only did he have a stroke, but he also had a heart attack two to three days prior -- the clot moved from the heart to his brain, causing the stroke. And all of this was caused by kidney disease that he didn't know he had.
"The doctor says he's kind of a conundrum ... it was the perfect storm that needed to happen to get to the bottom of everything," Martha said. "You don't take it for granted ... one day you're there and it can all be taken a way in a moment's notice and that's the scary part."
Over the past seven months, Brad has regained most of his mobility, but he still can't use his left arm.
"Very humbling, very humbling ... when you have to get your kids to zip up your coat because it's cold outside ... not able to drive right now, you depend on friends and family to get you coming and going," he said.
And the woman who he's depended on the most is his beautiful bride.
"I wouldn't be here without her ... I couldn't keep pressing on without her," he said.
Martha says while you never plan for something like this, it's easy to change your routine for the one you love.
"I've seen how strong he is, he never asked a question, he never said, 'Why did this happen to me?' and he just said, 'OK, this is it. What do we do to fix it?' and which I think is a great lesson to teach our children," she said.
The doctors are expecting 100 percent recovery, and for the Merrys, they know even when life gets stressful, not much can break their bond.
"You can't let this beat you down, you have to get up and press on every day," Brad said. "You just have to get up and make the effort to lead a normal day every day and know it's going to happen -- just not tomorrow."
Brad is currently working with University Hospital and Walton Rehab to get his arm back to 100 percent mobility, they do expect him to fully recover.
Brad's message for you is to always listen to your body and trust yourself when something doesn't feel right.


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Clint Eastwood was his usual candid self when speaking with Extra TV about his now-infamous "empty chair" speech at the Republican National Convention.
"If somebody's dumb enough to ask me to go to a political convention and say something, they're gonna have to take what they get," the veteran actor told an Extra correspondent during a one-on-one interview about his upcoming film Trouble with the Curve (skip to 2:15 in the video below).
Asked if Mitt Romney was that "somebody," Eastwood initially said "yeah," before adding, "actually, he had some of his people ask."
In another interview on today's episode of Ellen, Eastwood poked some more fun at his rambling diatribe, saying "the Democrats who were watching thought I was going senile, and the Republicans knew I was."
[photo via AP]


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Hundreds of aspiring dancers will line up outside Radio City Music Hall awaiting their chance to fulfill their dreams and audition to become a Rockette and star in the upcoming 2013 production of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, running from November 8 - December 30, 2013. Tickets go on sale May 21.
There is no better place to be this holiday season than at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. This year, in a breathtaking new number, the Rockettes shine like never before as they transform the Great Stage into a glistening winter wonderland. Fan favorites such as the Nutcracker and the awe-inspiring Living Nativity remain a key part of this one-of-a-kind, memorable holiday celebration that families cherish.
The open audition invites all female dancers experienced in tap, jazz, ballet and modern dance to audition for the opportunity to achieve one of the coveted spots on the Rockettes dance line. Dancers will be taken into the Large Rehearsal Hall where they will learn a brief dance routine taught by a Rockettes choreographer. After the brief dance instruction, Rockettes hopefuls will be called upon three at a time to perform the recently learned dance routine in front of a panel of the creative team, including Linda Haberman, the Director and Choreographer of the Christmas Spectacular.
Additionally, one Rockettes hopeful, Paige Melanson from Las Vegas, Nevada, was named the winner of the "Jump the Line" contest, which ran on the Rockettes Facebook page, and was awarded the opportunity to jump to the front of the line and choose her audition time. Melanson also received a roundtrip flight and hotel accommodations in New York City along with gift cards from Chase, La Duca and MAC. Rockettes Facebook fans voted on their favorite video submission from a selection of the top ten finalists and Melanson won the opportunity to travel to New York City to audition to become a Rockette and fulfill her dreams of joining the legendary line.


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Do you recognize these men?
Published: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 7:34 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 7:34 p.m.
The Lafourche Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help to identify two suspects who allegedly stole items from the Raceland Walmart earlier this month.
At around 8 p.m. April 1, two men arrived at Walmart in Raceland in a white SUV. They stole several items in the store and drove away in the SUV, deputies said. Surveillance cameras captured images of them.
You could receive a reward if you are the first person to give information that leads to their arrest. You can remain anonymous.
Contact Crime Stoppers in one of the following ways: Call 1-800-743-7433, texting "GIVEATIP" plus your message to 274637, use the TipSubmit phone app, submit it at www.crimestoppersbr.org, or via the "Submit a Tip" tab on the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office Facebook Page.
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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If you are looking for a unique and easy fundraiser than look no more. We at Eko Custom Sandals USA,brand your team name on sandals and this way your team name is advertised and your sponsors have a great keepstake. No matter your location, If you want to start raising money right away please visit our website at www.fundraisingva.com or call Cheree Owens (757) 358-3131
Eko Custom Sandals
ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators.


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Hi, as a long ago member of CoolRunning I drifted away when CR seemd to"die" about 5 yrs ago. Just discovered the site still exists. A quick bio: Soon to be 69, quit smoking back in late 1975, started logging my runs in April, 1976. Currently at 75,718 miles. Have run in over 450 races from 1 mile to ultra marathons over the years and have coached a lot of neighborhood class runners. My motto has always been "start of easy, then back off". I am willing to offer some insights into having Newbies become lifetime runners. By making running fun, making it play instead of trying to do too much, too fast, too soon you can become lifetime runners. My coaching goal would be to keep you from joining the world's largest running club: I Use to Run, But.......Club.
A couple tidbits: Slow down, you will get faster. It is OK to walk. A guy name Tom Osler had the run/walk concept decades before Jeff Galloway. Water is a great hydrator, it has worked for thousands of years.
Hope to get some questions. My newest goal is to complete a February, 2113 marathon, which will give me having run a marathon or ultra in the last 5 decades (70's,80's,90's,2000's and 2013).I will admit it took me to 2008 to qualify for Boston (3:57) at age 64 1/2.
I have been very fortunate. Rarely been injured and honestly appreciate and love running more with each mile. Thanks for letting me exercise my ego. Again, I am willing to help make lifetime runners out of you Newbies. Nick
Thanks for the offer, Nick
One of the questions I mull over is how optimal training may be different for older runners. I recognize that we may be more prone to injury (I say "may" because we may be a little less reckless, a little less driven than younger runners.)
I am 61 years old, female, and started running a little over four years ago. Currently I run five days a week; five miles Sat/Mon/Tues/Thurs, and a long run of 9.6 to 11.1 miles on Sunday. Occasionally I miss a day or run an extra day, or tack on another mile and a half, but that's the basics. In the winter, when it gets too icy to run safely on the roads I get a gym membership and work on the elliptical, but mostly I run through the winter. I have done core exercises daily for decades, not long or intensely, but consistently. My prs (both this year) are 25:37 for 5K and 2:11:26 for 13.1 miles.
The recommendations for runners in general would be to do track/interval work, and increase weekly mileage, in order to run faster/farther, but I also think that doing that would increase my risk of injury and/or burnout. I'd like to think that there would also be improvement, if slow, but just maintaining this schedule and increasing strength. I also know that in the near future increases in fitness will be balanced by age-related decrease in performance.
I would appreciate your thoughts and comments.
Robin from Maine
Welcome back Nick & thanks for the offer! I'm like Robin, one of my biggest questions/concerns is optimal training for older runners. I'm 61 years old and started running in October of '09. I've had my share of injuries: stress fracture to hip, retrocalcneal bursitis, plantar fasciitus. I've got high stiff arches and supinate. AND I LOVE to RUN!!!
My injuries tend to come after doing the old "too much, too soon, too fast".
I'm currently training for my first marathon, actually planning to do the Goofy Challenge (half marathon on Saturday, and the full on Sunday) at Disney World in January. I'm using the Galloway plan for "experienced" runners to hopefully get me there and across both finish lines. I'd love to be like Robin and run 5 days a week but am afraid to do more than 3 or 4, at the risk of injury.
I'm not fast, but want to improve speed, but running long and running healthy are more important. Currently I do one run per week that total 4-5 miles with 4-6 hill repeats, one 4-5 miler that focuses on speed with either cadence or what Galloway calls acceleration drills , the third run of the week is a long slow distance run. When I can, I like to do just an enjoyable easy run that is 3-5 miles for my 4th day.
I too would appreciate your thoughts, comments and suggestions.
Marie from Tennessee
Training for Disney 2013 Goofy Challenge.....Yes, I'm certifiably CRAZY!
61 year olds must be out of their minds to run a half marathon followed by a full the next day!
Disney Half Marathon 1/7/2012 2:37:59
Bear Hunt 5K 9/24/11 28:28 pb
Trojan Trek Trail 5K 8/6/11 31:45
Expo 10K 5/28/11 1:01:28,
Expo 10K 5/26/12 1:05:39
Eastman 10K 9/8/2012 1:01:11 pb
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1
Hi Robin, if you are in for running the rest of your life, please relax. This may sound trite,but if you can stay consistent and do the vast of amount of your running at 65-70% of your max heart rate, you can improve. I tell folks it gets easier as you get older. Aging can present some interesting challenges. For me, slow but sure most of the time has resulted in me still running. Even as a newbie I began to figure out if I slowed down it was more fun. I know the formula worked for me.
I have observed a lot of runners can improve their race times over a period of 10 years from almost whatever age they were when they started. Being consistent, varying mileage and intensity(with no more than 5-10% of weekly mileage venturing into 85-95% max hr). If you want to be running 10 years from now relax, slow down, walk some, smile a lot, don't take your running or yourself too seriously and smile when you run(don't worry about bug stains on your teeth, they rarely stain).
I find that my recovery time after a long effort has increased and if I sit for a couple hours I usually am the last one out of a movie theater. Hope this helps. Nick
Way Marie, wasn't that a song? YIKES, a 1/2 marathon followed by a full marathon after only a couple of years of running. I will verify you are nuts!!
I strongly recommend you reconsider your plan. Why not focus on bettering your time for the 1/2 marathon? Based on your injury hx you are a prime candidate to join the world's largest running club. I also truly love to run, as as I mentioned my goal is to run the rest of my life. I hope that is the goal you have on your frige. If you were 21, I would recommend not putting your body through a 1/2 followed by a full marathon. Tell you what, go out and try just walking 13 miles, then get up the next day and walk 26. Let me know how that works for you. Actually that would be a neat way to train for the Goofy Challenge.
How about this for a goal, aside from running for the rest of your life, train over the next few years to run a sub 4 hour marathon?
I can tell you the reason you don't see many runners compiling over 75,000 miles of consistent running over periods like 36 years is they normally end up running too much, too soon, too fast. Please reconsider the Goofy goal and work on getting your 10k time down to the low 50's and running injury free and having it be joyful. Actually if you can just go run/walk because you love the feeling you may reach 75,000 miles yourself. Nick
I am a true newbie. I did a 5k in July ( with very little training) and fell in love with the idea. So, I started the c25k and am running/ walking 3 times a week. I usually end up doing like 2 miles when I'm out. So i have a few questions...
OK, let me get this straight. You ran a 5K after just running a little, then decided to do the c25k. You are experiencing some hamstring issues and a sore knee?
I guess I have been gone too long to recall what c25 k is/ means.
My suggestion: Stop running, for awhile. Say what? Relax, instead of running just walk, not hard race walking, just gentle walking. Do this 4-5x per week. Gradually build up the time walking(don't measure time and distance, focus just on the amount of time you are walking, remember, a gentle pace.) Do this for at least one month and let your body get used to being on the move for an hour or a little longer. You are probably thinking, hey I can already do that. Trust me, there is a method to my madness. By getting out and walking gently for periods varying between 15-20 minutes and building to an hour or more a couple things may start happening. Your hamstring will start to heal, and your knee will appreciate a break from the pounding of running. Again, to become a long distance runner, or a runner who wants to run for decades, PATIENCE is a virtue. I already sound like a broken record, please heed my advice. I know, I know, "smart people don't need advice, and dumb people don't heed advice", if you promise to do this I will promise to get you back running, hopefully, injury free running, life long running.
If you want to be a flash in the pan, continue to do what you have been doing and more than likely, sooner vs later you will join the I use to run but...club.
Oh, stride analysis. Wait on that, OK? Nick
Ok, c25k is a training program called couch to 5k. It alternates jogging and walking through the course of 9 weeks to help you get from being a couch potato to a 5k It makes it very simple to follow and slowly increases the amount of time you run.
I'll be honest...I don't want to stop running because it will feel like I'm taking a step backwards, but I REALLY don't want to screw up my knee! Looks like I will start walking for a bit! Thanks!
Nick-good to actually be able to communicate with you. I've been trying to read through the old Basebuilding, low heart rate training via Maffetone et al thread and have seen you on there many times. I appreciate any wisdom and suggestions as I'm just getting started with the low heart rate training over the last 2-3 weeks or so, and heart rate monitor working only last 10 days or so.
Anyway, I'm 58 nearing 59, so I've used 122 as the top HR for my runs, trying to stay 112-122 >98% of the time. I've been running for 18 months, so I did not add +5 to the equation as I felt it would be best to be on the low side. I had a mild case of Achilles tendonitis about 10 months or more ago and have been fortunate to be injury free since then.
Some of the races I've done appear below; I ran a similar # in 2011 and have made slow progress in improving my times. (first 5K was about 36 min) I want to run longer distances and had been doing my longer runs at a much slower pace than my other runs since early July, but did not have HR monitor and had not read the Maffetone thread or his web site at that time. My longest run is 18 miles, run on 8/11, with average pace of about 14:09. usually run 1 minute and walk 1 minute, but by the last 6 miles it was more like 30sec of each to keep HR down.
I plan on using the low heart rate training exclusively for at least the next 6 months except for a few races planned for the fall. And those are races in name only; I plan to use them as organized training runs to see where I'm at. On 9/15 there is a local HM that I will run at or near my current training pace, perhaps picking it up a little on the heart rate the last 3 miles if I'm feeling OK. My primary goal is to finish (nor race or run) a local FM on 10/21. (My wife and I have had a large number of losses in our family in the last year, and I want to do the marathon in honor of our loved ones). So the goal is to finish, nothing more.
After that it will be back to just LHR training, tentatively planning only 4-6 races in 2013, from 5K to marathon.
Any thoughts, suggestions, critiques would be welcome. Thanks for taking your time to share your wisdom.
Dan-started running 1/29/2011 at age 57
notable 2012 runs:
Crazylegs Classic-Madison-8K--4/28/2012--00:52:14
Roxbury Rural Run--5K--5/5/2012-- 29:32-PR
Haslanger Classic--10K--8/4/2012--1:06:19 PR
WO-ZHA-WA Run--HM--9/15/2012--2:37:45
Honky Tonk Marathon- Wisconsin Dells- 10/21/2012-5:39:09
2013 runs:
Fleet Feet New Year's Day Dash-8K-1/1/2013--54:23
Door County HM- 5/4/2013
Fox Cities HM- 9/22/2013 (60thBD!)
Ok Dan, hr stuff first. Have you determined YOUR max hr? Not by formula but by actually running hard up a hill and maybe a repeat up the hill after warming up. WARNING, don't do this w/o getting an ok from your doctor. Maybe he can do a stress test and run you to almost exhaustion. I have found the hr formulas to be off. Mine by formula would be about 40 beats less than what I have measured over the yrs.
That aside, and that is a big aside, because if your max is a lot higher you may be running a little too slow. WOW, did I just write that? The good news is by running slow-base building, you will get faster with the same effort. It takes time and PATIENCE. Running injury free means you are doing something right. Work on listening and getting to know your body. If the pace feels too quick, regardless of hr, slow down. Not every run will be superpower. If they were, we would probably get tired of running. I rate my runs from 1-5. I have had a few 4.9's--never a 5, and all in between. The more experience you gain running the easier it will become to recognize doing too much, or even maybe too little.
Make your running fun, play. Run/walk is great. Vary distance and pace. Relax, hydrate, smile a lot and please don't take your running, or yourself too seriously. You sound like you are in for the long run, so to speak, enjoy being able to move. Hopefully this helps. Big thing, get fiigured out what your real max hr is then we will have a baseline to work from. Mick
I didn't change my name, it is Nick not Mick. (:
Remember, 1 step back, in time 3 forward. Patience please, it will work for you. If you are serious about being a lifetime runner and want to gradually improve think long term, not a race 2-3 months from now. Get healthy, take a look at a plan for next year. Be grateful you can walk and are healthy enough to get out and do it.
Oh, you never mentioned age, weight, prior athletic experience. These are factors that would give me a better picture. Thanks. Nick
I'm a 27 year old female. I weigh about 165 lbs (I'm 5'7" so I'm over weight). In my teens I played basketball and cheered. I was diagnosed with osgood schlatters disease and started to become less active. As an adult, I haven't been consistently active until recently.
I was worried that maybe my knee hurts because of the osgood schlatters, but that had to do with my bones growing...Once I stopped growing, the pain stopped to so I don't think that has anything to do with it
Nick- I had a stress test in April (normal) with MHR of 164. Tuesday I ran my slow 4 miles, and near the end I charged hard up a steep hill. when I had to stop MHR was 162. Today I ran slow for just over 3, then began speeding up about 600 yards before the hill so my HR was already over 150 by the time I started up the hill. I got MHR to 171 with that.
My resting heart rate is not very low, probably in part to some medication I take daily that can raise the heart rate. My doctor agreed to reduce the dose, but I'm not able to go off it completely. I hope that helps. Thanks again.
Dan-started running 1/29/2011 at age 57
notable 2012 runs:
Crazylegs Classic-Madison-8K--4/28/2012--00:52:14
Roxbury Rural Run--5K--5/5/2012-- 29:32-PR
Haslanger Classic--10K--8/4/2012--1:06:19 PR
WO-ZHA-WA Run--HM--9/15/2012--2:37:45
Honky Tonk Marathon- Wisconsin Dells- 10/21/2012-5:39:09
2013 runs:
Fleet Feet New Year's Day Dash-8K-1/1/2013--54:23
Door County HM- 5/4/2013
Fox Cities HM- 9/22/2013 (60thBD!)
Hi Dan,
I am glad you know YOUR max hr. To me, that is the number to work from. Running between 65 and70% of your max should benefit you. We can sometimes make running more complicated than it really is. With experience, you feel and know you are not overdoing it. Just relax, have fun as you run and you will improve. If you are giving some thought to being a lifetime runner it will ease the pressure to accomplish distances like the marathon in a few months. If you can wrap your mind around a concept like running marathons when you are 65 and 70+, then there is no need to hurry. The folks who are consistent with their running over the decades and don't attempt to do too much, too soon, too fast is the best proof that strategy like that works. The sad thing is there are not a whole lot of runners who have been running for 3/4/5+decades. Gee, I sound like a broken record. Nick
ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators.


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Kirkby Stephen Cottages
Just show me Kirkby Stephen Cottages
Enjoy a tranquil get-away in a Kirkby Stephen cottage, nestling
in and around this historic town in Cumbria's Upper Eden
Follow the Town Trail and find cobbled corners, old buildings,
Market Square, the bull ring, Frank's Bridge, old cloisters and
a fine church known as the 'Cathedral of the Dales'.
Discover underground passages once used as refuge during Scottish
raids. Stumble upon lots of places to eat and a range of
interesting shops including antiques and curios.
Myths and legends near your Kirkby Stephen cottage
Rural pastures and wild uplands surround the town, dotted with
prehistoric settlements, impressive Norman castles and Roman forts.
Look out for the castles of Croglam (the biggest prehistoric
earthwork in the area), Brougham, Lammerside, Brough and Pendragon
(of King Arthur fame) situated in the spectacular Mallerstang
Valley. Learn more about the region's intriguing heritage along
the Lady Anne Clifford Westmoreland Heritage Trail.
For lovers of outdoor pursuits, choose from eleven long-distance
trails and cycle-ways, including Wainwright's Coast to Coast
path. The town is proud of its 'Walkers are Welcome'
status. Riding is equally popular, with pony trekking and trail
riding along a network of bridleways. Or do something different and
go paragliding - the fells around your Kirkby Stephen cottage offer
some of the best sites in the UK. There are also four nature
reserves such as Ewbank Scar (accessible by footpath from town) and
Smardale Gill.
What else? Interesting restored sheepfolds, a Poetry Path,
pottery, farmers' markets - all kinds of things in store when
you book a Kirkby Stephen cottage!