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Note: This appeared in the print-only TV Guide of the Marshall Independent.
Something happened on June 10, the Man of Steel returned and he�s… the same but different.
�Man of Steel� is of course the latest reboot of Superman, directed by Zach Snyder (�Watchmen,� �300�) and produced by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight trilogy.)
Superman was created in 1933 by two nerdy high school students from Cleveland, writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and first appeared in Action Comics in 1938. Superman may have been the first of the comic book superheros, though preceded into print by their lesser-known creation �Doctor Occult� in 1935.
There are good-sized libraries of books written about the meaning of Superman as modern myth. The whole comic superhero genre was the creation of a handful of artists and writers who were the children of Eastern European Jewish immigrants such as Seigel and Shuster, Bob Kane (Batman), Will Eisner (The Spirit), and Stan Lee (Marvel Comics.)
The 1930s were a bad time for Jews in Europe, and even here they were not yet seen as fully American. Superman is the immigrant in the heartland trying to find his place in America. He�s just from further away than most.
And it doesn�t take a Freudian psychoanalyst to see significance in the murder of Siegel�s father in a robbery the year before he invented a bulletproof champion of truth, justice, and the American Way.
From diverse sources these outsiders created the most American symbol of America since Coca Cola and spawned an industry.
�Man of Steel� takes the basic storyline of the 1978 �Superman� with Christopher Reeve, fills in a lot of backstory, does away with the campy tongue-in-cheek element and makes some significant changes.
They�ve done away with the red jockey shorts over the blue tights, originally based on circus strongman costumes, and made the suit a deep midnight blue. The costume is explained as a kind of Kryptonian uniform. The big red �S� is their sign for �Peace.�
Lois Lane (Amy Adams) knows Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) from the beginning, isn�t fooled by a pair of glasses, and in fact invents the name to go with the �S.�
She�s also a lot more likable character than the original Lois Lane, who was often ruthless, self-centered and cruel to Clark.
Krypton is not a utopia destroyed by natural catastrophe, but a decadent civlization that once explored space but were destroyed by their short-sightedness.
On Krypton children are conceived and decanted from artificial wombs, genetically designed to fulfill a specific function in society. Jor-el (Russell Crowe) and his wife Lara (Ayelet Zurer) conceive Kal-el, the first naturally begotten child on Krypton in centuries, and send him to Earth as Krypton is destroyed in the midst of civil war.
Kal-el becomes the beloved foster child of Jonathan and Martha Kent (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane) in Kansas.
Warned by Johnathan that people fear what they don�t understand, Clark becomes a drifter in his early youth doing an assortment of jobs under assumed names, until he finds an ancient exploration ship from Krypton and the secret of his origin.
Once he activates the ship with his father�s high-tech amulet however, it sends a distress call that brings his Jor-el�s enemy General Zod (Michael Shannon) looking for vengeance – and a chance to build a new Krypton on the ashes of Earth.
Kal-el/Clark Kent/Superman must save the Earth, and make a choice for humanity against enemies who are not villains in their own eyes. General Zod was literally born to protect Krypton and its race, he doesn�t really have a choice.
But Clark has a choice, and his choice is, �Krypton had its chance.�
It�s not news a lot of religious symbolism has been read into Superman. His name contains a Hebrew name of God (�El�), his origin is like Moses� and his powers like the demigods of myth. Snyder is not subtle about showing you this in one scene in church with Superman�s profile shown next to a stained glass image of Christ.
Maybe Superman and his ilk are the heroes and demigods of classical mythology, reimagined to meet the needs of a secular age. You can ponder this over the next several years, because �Man of Steel� is setting box-office records and is rumored to be the first installment of a trilogy.
If you�re the type who�d consider seeing a superhero movie at all, you�ll like it.
Note: After I filed this I found out I was wrong – there are a number of people who like superhero movies that didn't like it. Some Superman fans didn't like the reboot. I was more of a Marvel guy growing up, so messing with the canon didn't bother me, in fact I thought it was an improvement.


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Roundup: Torrington, Naugatuck football roll in NVL
Senior Jason Abbott scored three rushing touchdowns in the second half and rushed for 148 yards to lead Torrington over Kennedy, 67-36, Saturday in NVL action at Municipal Stadium.
It marked the first game that Abbott played running back in his varsity career.
"All week in practice, I was getting repetitions on the scout team by trying to give the first-team defense the best look possible," said Abbott. "Today, I felt real comfortable every time I went on the field. I tried to keep my legs pumping, and get up the field and help my team."
Phil Bresson, Edgar Gonzalez, John Connel, Nick Lorenzo and Rayan Hamzy all scored rushing touchdowns for Torrington.
Kennedy's Nate Andrews scored three touchdowns, on runs of 81, 82 and 28 yards, and teammate Dashaun Abdul-Lateef returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score. Larry Lock scored on a 65-yard TD run for the Eagles (0-8).
Gilbert-Northwestern 37, Granby 0: Tony Ortiz Jr. rushed for 185 yards, including touchdowns of 56 and 5 yards, to lead the Yellowjackets (4-3).
John Lippincott ran for a TD and passed for another one of 28 yards to Tim Casey, and John Ambrozaitis booted a 21-yard field goal. Aiden Tellier ran for a 20-yard score.
Naugatuck 52, Watertown 14: Jerome Love ran for two TDs and returned an interception for a score and Jason Bradley threw for 181 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Greyhounds in Naugatuck.
Bryan Coney and Will Paul had fumble recoveries and Devon Watkins intercepted a pass for Naugatuck (5-3). Mick Pernell caught two TDs and ran for another and set a single-season school record with 25 TDs. The previous mark was 24 set by Pablo Cuovertier in 2001.
Anthony Chacho caught a TD, and Matt Terlizzi ran for a score for Watertown (1-7).
Coventry 36, Housatonic-Wamogo 7: Matt McElhone ran for a 1-yard TD and recorded 12 tackles for the Mountaineers in Falls Village. Tyler Seben had 73 rushing yards for Housy, and Doug Whipple had two interceptions, his fifth and sixth of the season.
Valley Regional 41, Lewis Mills 7: Evan Smith caught three TDs for Valley Regional at Muzzy Field.
Dylan Matusek scored on a 1-yard TD run for the Spartans, set up by Justin Pease's passes of 17 yards to Trevor Watts and 18 yards to Colin Thorn.
Southington 35, Simsbury 14: Stephen Barmore completed 20 of 28 passes for 332 yards and four touchdowns in Simsbury. Anthony Bonefant caught seven passes for 126 yards for Southington (8-0).
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Rajimus123 wrote on Mar 26, 2013 5:51 PM:
" I'd be careful about inviting this guy to play with anywhere. He doesn't seem to know what exactly "rape" is and enjoys shaming the victim. So sad. Would probably be a poor addition and a major LIABILITY to any team. "
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The Education Program
UE's School of Education offers a challenging curriculum in a supportive environment, preparing tomorrow's teachers with the tools they will need to succeed in their own classroom.
The University of Evansville School of Education offers programs that lead to a Bachelor of Science degree and state licensure at all levels, kindergarten through high school. Students may choose from the following teaching areas:
- Elementary education (including kindergarten)
- Senior high/high school and junior high/middle school
- Biology/Life Science
- Chemistry
- English and language arts
- Foreign language (French, German, Spanish)
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Social studies
- Majors available for all grade levels:
- Music
- Special education
- Theatre
- Visual art
Benefits for UE Education Students
Majoring in education at the University of Evansville prepares students to teach the right way – by doing it. Education students experience the following:
- A K-12 classroom placement during their very first semester at UE.
- Intensive internships (250+ hours) during junior year for elementary and secondary students.
- Four full-semester practicums during sophomore and junior years for special education students.
- A full 16 weeks of student teaching.
- 1,000 hours of classroom experience before graduation.
- Opportunities to conduct research with faculty members and participate in community activities, including literacy and reading events and after-school programs.


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Hello, its me again.
1- your computer specs (cpu, memory) and the precise server version you're using
Core 2 Duo 4300 @ 1.80Ghz, 2GB Corsair), iam using the new version 1.11.356
2- the network connection you are using for streaming your files (wifi, homeplugs, ethernet 100Mbits, or gigabit)
10/100Mbits in all devices(xbox, router, pc), ethernet, no wlan
3- detailed infos on what's not working
Any video files who uses subs(and there a lot of those files), regardless if its hardcoded or just an external subtitle are out of sync. And it went more bad the longer the file runs.
It seems that without subtitle its sync! Iam still testing.
4- if you're transcoding some videos, which engine are you using ? (mencoder, avisynth/mencoder, tsmuxer)
Mencoder, mencoder/avisynth now dont crash, but i have no sound when i use this. But i would love to try it, because of the chapter function that i cant use with mencoder only...
5- a debug.log file excerpt, or you can zip the whole file. this file can be found in the application directory, or if you have UAC and Vista activated, likely found in the Windows temp directory
6- if you are streaming to anything other than a PS3, please mention it
Yeah, xbox 360.
Still using these codecs:
Avisynth 2.5.7
Haalli Media Splitter - 184.108.40.206 (Jan-11-2009)
FFDShow - rev3014 (Jun-20-2009)
CoreAVC 1.9.0
Exact those versions. I use CoreAVC for VideoEncoding.
So what can i do with that stupid subtitles? I even dont need them anytime, but most files i dl have hardcoded subs...so i think, this will annoy me in the future with many files....


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See who's on Catholic Mingle:
I'm super random and a bit shy. once I loosen up, you'll find that the randomness adds to my humor. I'm a very unpredictable person. yo...
teamnialler is a 18yr-old single woman in Lawrenceburg, Indiana
I am 61 year old widow, retired and love it. I like mature responsible people that enjoy life. I love to travel, keep busy and enjoy my...
Jan2011 is a 62yr-old single woman in Lawrenceburg, Indiana


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Just thought I'd share this if anyone else is in the same situation since it took me quite some
time to figure out what the problem was.
I'm on a 100/10 LAN connection from my ISP and the ISP has traffic policing on upstream.
The problem is that it can take anywhere from 1 minute to 50+ minutes before packets
start being dumped. So it seemed it could be anything to me since PMS buffer was never
empty when stuttering occurred and CPU was around 50% average load. And I just didn't think
about the traffic policing since it isn't the first thing that comes to mind hehe. But I replaced
switches, NIC, cables, tested all versions of PMS, two different OS, fiddled A LOT with PMS
settings and tcp settings etc etc and still got very uneven results.
So after a lot of testing and analyzing I finally figured out something I should have known
from the start, I had to put a router in between my switch and my ISP's switch to get rid of
the problem. To really segmentate my LAN from the ISP switch LAN.
So if anyone else has issues with stuttering even though buffer and CPU is fine you could check
if the issue stops when you unhook your ISP and run internal IP addresses through your switch.


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So far, east central Mississippi has received 2,500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine in shot form.
"It's slow to produce," said Dr. Rebecca James, district health officer. "So, right now we're getting it out to obstetricians and to pediatricians that have signed up to be dispensers of it. So, that we can get the people that are highest risk by the complications of the novel H1N1."
With more than one million doses of the vaccine in shot form ordered for Mississippi, James says once more doses arrive, free vaccinations will be offered in some schools.
"The parents will be getting letters saying that it's going to be offered in your school next week, and do you want your child to receive the vaccination? So, it's an option," James said.
Health care officials say there are usually three peak periods. Already we've gone through two of those with the swine flu. Dr. James says it's likely that we'll go through at least one more before it ends. That's why she's encouraging people to get vaccinated.
"I'm not afraid of the vaccine. I plan to take it," James said. "There's no reason to think it's any different than the regular flu vaccine as far as risks and that sort of thing. But it will be one of the most closely observed vaccines for risks that's ever been produced because of concerns that people have."


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Audrey Laughter Koon
Published: Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 8:05 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 8:05 a.m.
SPARTANBURG, SC-- Audrey Laughter Koon, 83, of Tuba Street, Chatsworth, CA, died Monday, February 11, 2013, at Kaiser Permanente-Woodland Hills Hospital. Born May 19, 1929, in Campobello, SC, she was the widow of Colie Benjamin Koon and daughter of the late Marion Bryson and Jane Bradley Laughter.
Mrs. Koon was formerly a member of Westgate Baptist Church in Spartanburg, then of Bible Baptist Church in Arleta, CA. In years past, Audrey was a cashier at Wacamaw Pottery.
Survivors include her daughter, Elaine and husband Pastor Michael McCubbins of Chatsworth, CA; a son, Ronnie C. Koon and wife Connie of Levittown, PA; two brothers, Jack and Dean Laughter; two sisters, Barbara Moore and Rita Emory; 6 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 1:00-2:45 PM Tuesday, February 26, 2013, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel. Funeral services will follow at 3:00 PM at the Chapel, conducted by Pastor Michael McCubbins. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.
An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com.
Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel
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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First with the gunny.
Ahhh, that New Congress smell. It smells like….shackles.
House members seem to have been very active filing bills dealing with firearms. By my count, there were eight anti-gun bills and one pro-gun bill filed in the House of Representatives yesterday. None of the bills listed below have the text of legislation available so we'll have to wait a few days to see the details of just how they plan to screw gun owners.
Read the list, you can tell what they're going to try to do. Save the Children* (*Actual results may vary)
Now with the Money.
According to that article low income folks will see proportionately higher taxes. First, good. Decisions should have consequences and we've decided to ignore reality, that should be painful.
But one point I'd like to make that can't be stressed enough, notice that's in a Brit paper. Furriners, doing the journalism Americans refuse to do.
Speaking of Runny, as Egypt gets its dictatorship on, Syria burns, Iran keeps on a nukularizing, Norks make nice noises, China gets frisky in the South China Sea and more, Obama is spending $12 million by running to vacay in Hawaii and Sloe Joe is running to his vacation in the US Virgin Islands.
Now, I understand they're in constant contact, but is it too much to ask for one of them to at least pretend they give a shit about what's happening in the world?
Now, the funny. So Pelosi had a pic of some Democratic Wymyn but it wasn't all of them, so she P-shopped them in.
This guy is a little confused about his profession but he knows he likes to help out our fine political masters so he helped Pelosi out.
I would have put Obama waving in there, but I'm less subtle than he.
Important update: The same guy has an all axes pass for 2013. I love it, but what I really want is to get his bonus points. I don't know if it'll be over the all axes pass or what, but I fully intend to do that.
Now with the honey.
Yeah, I've been on a Kathy Ireland kick lately. I blame it on the plastic, low-rent actresses we have these days.
Case in point
She has everything that should make a woman hot, but she just doesn't really do it for me. Now, don't get me wrong, I'd buy her the crackers to eat in my bed, but for some reason she's less than the sum of her parts.
I'm man enough to admit it, I watch Charmed. In that pic you can see 2 of the four reasons I watch it.
Some content on this page was disabled on August 14, 2016 as a result of a DMCA takedown notice from Kathy Ireland. You can learn more about the DMCA here:


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Our weekly exhaustive list of all the best menswear sales on the web.
We find the opposite of the best denim on the web.
Listen to interviews with the most interesting people in the industry.
All the stories that are fit to link in one concise weekly list.
Fashion styles and history from iconic films.
Breakdowns of the industry news that you can use.
We take you deep into into the culture driving the consumption.
Our industry insider shows how artisanal goods function at a massive scale.


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Remember all those days ago when we first heard the story of Cecil Chao, the Hong Kong billionaire who was offering a $65-million bounty to any man able to woo his daughter away from her wife?
Just over a week later, the story is now being adapted into a comedy with Sacha Baron Cohen. What took so long?
Deadline reports that Baron Cohen will definitely produce the film, tentatively titled The Lesbian. He may also star as the homophobic billionaire — but please, God, not in the style of Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Because this is a Sacha Baron Cohen movie, it will likely be envelope-pushing, which means Baron Cohen's critics will condemn it as racist and homophobic. It's far too early to say whether The Lesbian will fall into either of those categories, but in terms of potentially offensive material for Baron Cohen to adapt, it definitely fits the criteria.
Hopefully Gigi Chao won't be too offended by the negative portrayal of her "loving daddy" Cecil.
[Image via HRC/WENN.com]


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We dug through our database to find the total enrollment of American Indian or Alaskan Native students at each college.
Source: Wintergreen Orchard House.
Want more information on how this list was compiled? Find out more here.
You need to be registered or signed into your CollegeXpress account to view more lists.
Not a member yet?What are you waiting for!
It's fast, easy, and puts you in the running for our $10,000 scholarship!


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|Length Overall
|64' 11''
|Dry Weight
|91,600 lbs.
|58' 4''
|Tested Weight
|20' 2''
|Weight Capacity
|Draft Up
|Person Capacity
|Draft Down
|Fuel Capacity
|1,500 gal.
|Air Draft
|Water Capacity
|475 gal.
|Length on Trailer
|Max Headroom
|Height on Trailer
|Bridge Clearance
|Trailer Weight
|Total Package Weight (Trailer,Boat & Engine)
|Prices, features, designs, and equipment are subject to change. Please see your local dealer or visit the builder's website for the latest information available on this boat model.
|Std. Power
|Not Available
|Tested Power
|Currently no test numbers
|Opt. Power
Not Available
The basic Bravo is 65 feet, without a cockpit, but Cheoy Lee also builds the boat as a 72-foot cockpit motor yacht. Otherwise the boats are the same, at least on paper. In fact, each boat is highly customized to suit its buyer.
Modern Under the Water
Although the Bravo 65/72 is traditional above the waterline, its cutting-edge bottom is as slippery as an eel. Fexas drew the underbody narrow to minimize resistance, and kept the chine above the waterline for the same reason. From tank-testing, he knew that a chine crossing the waterline added a virtual "knuckle" in the hull lines that increased wavemaking and, consequently, drag until the hull was planing and the chine free of the water.
The pilothouse is slightly raised above the saloon, and set up for casual dining as well. Big windows all around provide excellent sight lines.
But Fexas also believed that a hull wasn't truly on-plane until its speed/length ratio reached 4.0 – that would be about 30 knots for the Bravo, faster than the intended speed. By keeping deadrise relatively low (13 degrees) and the chine out of the water, Fexas created a hull that would operate efficiently in the displacement and semi-planing speed ranges with reasonable horsepower. Originally the Bravo 65/72 came with twin 800-hp Caterpillar 406Es, but today standard power is a pair of Cat C18 ACERTS, 1,136-hp each. We haven't tested the boat, so can't report on speeds. Unofficial but reliable sources, though, suggest 24 knots top, around 21 knots cruise – again, don't hold us to these numbers.
We could live here. The galley is behind the TV, on the same level as the pilothouse. There are many options for interior styling.
Fantastic Plastic
Not only was Cheoy Lee one of the first companies to build large production yachts in fiberglass, they also went one step further and used cored laminates extensively. Coring keeps the boats lighter without compromising stiffness, and Fexas insisted on paring weight to the minimum. The Bravo 65/72, designed in 1999, is built with Divinycell coring in its hull, deck and superstructure, sandwiched with high-strength bi- and multi-axial fiberglass fabrics laid in vinylester resin. Below the waterline, Cheoy Lee applies an epoxy barrier coat to forestall osmosis. The company covers the boat with a five-year structural and anti-osmosis warranty.
You'd expect a great galley on a yacht like this. The full-size refrigerator, lots of counter space and all mod cons make it just like home, but better.
Fuel, water and holding tanks are fiberglass, integral with the hull. Integral tanks are more difficult to build, but add security by creating essentially a double bottom under the tanks. Cheoy Lee includes cleaning manholes in the tanks, a nice touch too often omitted. Eventually all tanks need cleaning, and having the manholes makes it easy. The hull is also supported by fiberglass stringers and foam-cored bulkheads; there's no wood in the structure.
The standard layout shows a large master stateroom amidships; one option replaces the walk-in closet with a second head for his-and-hers ablutions. A crew's cabin aft is optional.
You can't beat a full-beam master stateroom. This one has lots of stowage space, a sitting area, a small desk and a large ensuite head with two sinks. Small ports provide minimal natural light, though.
Three Cabins
The Bravo 65/72 standard accommodations plan comprises three staterooms on the lower deck: a full-beam master amidships, VIP double forward and a twin-berthed guest in-between. Each cabin has an ensuite head – the master has a Jacuzzi and two sinks, too. An optional layout replaces a large walk-in closet in the master with a second head. There's also a washer/dryer on this deck.
The living is easy on the Bravo 65/72's main deck, with a nicely integrated pilothouse and dinette, an open-style galley and even a day head. The 65 version loses the cockpit.
The galley is up, on the main deck adjacent to the pilothouse, where there's a dinette for casual meals. The saloon is aft, down a couple of steps, and fitted with settees port and starboard, a wet bar and a day head. Since each boat is highly customized, the standard arrangement plan is only a starting point – details, joinery and décor are left up to the buyer.
We'd expect more lounging space on the flying bridge; quite a bit is taken up by the tender. Some owners extend the deck to cover the cockpit on the 72.
If you're looking for a comfortable cruising yacht with traditional styling, check out the Cheoy Lee Bravo 65/72. We think it's a nice change from Eurostyling, and has all the comforts of home for extended cruising. The company, one of the best builders around, is open to lots of customization, so if you don't see what you like, ask them. Chances are you can have it. Since the boat's been in production for a while, there might be a few on the brokerage market.
As for pricing? Cheoy Lee is hesitant to provide specific numbers because each boat is different. We think they must have a figure written down somewhere as a starting point, but they're not telling us what it is. However, we found a new boat for sale in Australia, listed in local currency at $2,970,700 – that's about 2,062,878 Euros, or $2,713,000 US. It might be worth a flight, if you're a serious buyer. You could cruise Down Under, then ship it home.
|Marine Electronics
|Air Cond./Heat
|Battery Charger/Converter
|Dripless Shaft Seals
|Head: Fixed
|Shore Power
|Washdown: Fresh Water
|Water Heater
|Exterior Features
|Ice Chest
|Outlet: 12-Volt Acc
|Swim Ladder
|Swim Platform
|Wet bar
|Boats More Than 30 Feet
|Bow Thruster
|Glendinning Cablemaster
|Oil Change System
|Trash Compactor
= Standard = Optional
|Warranties change from time to time. While BoatTEST.com has tried to ensure the most up-to-date warranty offered by each builder, it does not guarantee the accuracies of the information presented below. Please check with the boat builder or your local dealer before you buy any boat.
Full Warranty Information on this brand coming soon!
|Pricing Range
|Prices, features, designs, and equipment are subject to change. Please see your local dealer or visit the builder's website for the latest information available on this boat model.


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Transvaginal ultrasound is a method of imaging the genital tract in females. A hand held probe is inserted directly into the vagina. The probe is moved within the vaginal cavity to scan the pelvic structures, while ultrasound pictures are viewed on a monitor. The test can be performed to evaluate women with infertility problems, abnormal bleeding, sources of unexplained pain, congenital malformations of the uterus and ovaries, and possible tumors and infection.
© 2016 CGH Medical Center. All Rights Reserved.


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Letterman, Rock, Silverman coming to Seinfeld's web car series
Jerry Seinfeld may be retired from making a TV sitcom, but the comedian also has an obsession for cars.
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Unless it clears up soon we won't be out today to move more baskets, it will have to wait for me. I'm busy after tonight until next Wednesday so I'm down to move em then if I have help (from someone with a key) unless they get moved sooner.
Hooray for soon to be dead nettles!


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Mountain Dew — excuse me, Mtn Dew — reached out to Internet users for assistance in giving its new green-apple-infused beverage a name by launching a viral contest called "Dub the Dew."
Enter: 4chan.
Happy to help, members of the infamous imageboard descended on the website to contribute suggestions such as "Fapple," "Gushing Granny," and, of course, "Hitler did nothing wrong."
The corporate Powers-That-Be ultimately pulled the plug on the social experiment, but not before the site was hacked to include a fake attribution to 9gag (4chan's mortal enemy), a Rickroll, and a marquee that read "Mtn Dew salutes the Israeli Mossad for demolishing 3 towers on 9/11!"
You can see what the Top 10 leaderboard looked like before "Dub the Dew" was taken offline by clicking here.
UPDATE: The "Dub the Dew" campaign was launched by Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen and not Mountain Dew. In a statement to AdWeek, a Mountain Dew rep said the company was "working diligently with our customer's team to remove all offensive content that was posted and putting measures in place to ensure this doesn't happen again."
[H/T: HyperVocal]


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Day of Caring has been a United Way tradition in Brown County for 15 years. Each year on a Saturday in October, volunteers help their neighbors and residents of Brown County do the kinds of chores that enable them to stay in their home another year.
This year Day of Caring is Saturday, Oct. 13 and we need more help. By lending a hand to help with raking, window washing and general yard work, you know that you have saved a senior from worrying how the job might get done. We also know that helping our seniors stay in their homes another year saves us taxpayer dollars because outside-of-home care is a lot more expensive.
So sign up to help. It will not only feel good to help, it might save money in the long run. Please call the United Way office at 507-354-6512 and let us help you sign up.
Location, ST | website.com


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TAHOE/TRUCKEE - It sounds like a simple concept. There's not too many of us who haven't heard it said before: Count your blessings.
The truth is that most of us are so caught up bemoaning our problems we don't stop long enough to reflect on what those blessings are.
John Kralik, author of "A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning To Say Thank You Changed My Life," was no exception. He titles the opening chapter of his memoir, "The Lowest Day," where he proceeds to engage in a full-scale pity party falling deeper and deeper into despair with each turn of the page. Kralik tells us he was so despondent, "I didn't bother to watch out for traffic when I crossed the street."
His business was failing, he was involved in a legal battle and being sued, his family life was in tatters with two failed marriages behind him and grown sons who barely knew him not to mention that his health was faltering with a 40 pound weight gain and associated aches pains and problems. The one joy in his life that had brought him comfort, the relationship with his girlfriend, Grace, was ending.
John was 52, felt washed up, and as far as he was concerned, a clearly defined failure. But an epiphany of sorts turned his fate around. One simple thank-you note he received from Grace for a Christmas gift he gave her that year in 2007, made all the difference. Learning to say thank you ultimately altered Kralik's course and changed his life.
Kralik, an attorney who ran a legal firm, wasn't happy with his profession nor was he happy at all. Nothing made him feel good anymore. He was bitter, broke and disgusted. After receiving the thank-you note from Grace and realizing how much it meant to him he decided to embark upon an experiment. He would reciprocate. Not only would he write a thank-you note back to Grace but he would also write thank you notes to others who had gifted him that Christmas. After all, his nicely embossed office stationary was about to be tossed out since his business was going under and his lease was expiring. Why not use it?
He had nothing to lose. There were 12 notes in all, the first round. One went to his estranged son who had given him a single cup coffee maker. The feedback from his son and from all of the recipients was more than he could have imagined. He decided then and there to commit to an even loftier project. He would write 365 thank-you notes over the course of a year. It wasn't easy and, yes, he had ups and downs. But in the end he emerged a changed man.
Some might refer to "A Simple Act of Gratitude" as one that females might prefer. With Oprah being the frontrunner with the "gratitude journal," I suppose it's not a leap to arrive at this conclusion. But I don't believe it's true. "A Simple Act of Gratitude" has universal appeal and sends all of us an important and powerful message; a reminder of what really matters.
- Gloria Sinibaldi resides part-time in South Lake Tahoe. Her short story "A Means To Survive"" appears in "Tahoe Blues." She is a job coach, trainer and author. She contributes monthly to the business section of the Tahoe Daily Tribune. Contact her at: firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Sunday, January 6, 2013
The CSRA has a number of baseball players chasing MLB dreams and with Spring Training around the corner, the hunt is nearly here.
Plenty of Minor League rosters are dotted with names we're familiar with, and don't be surprised to see some of those hit the big time in the not so distant future.
Two in particular...Rich Poythress and Brandon Cumpton. Both won state titles at Greenbrier, and now they're making the rounds on the Minor League circuit.
They have their sights set on Triple A in 2013, and at this point the key is to separate themselves mentally in order to take that final step.
Poythress, an outfielder in the Mariners system said, "Everybody can play. There's not a player on the field that is not capable of playing in the Big Leagues. So, it's finding that way to separate yourself. Whether it's your routine or your mental edge before games and in between games, whatever it is that separates each individual."
Cumpton is a rising pitcher in the Pirates organization. Last year, he spent the entire season in Double A Altoona and added, "I feel like making the Double A squad and actually sticking with it all year, because last year I stayed half in low A and half in high A, I feel like playing the whole year taught me to deal with my ups and downs and stay in one place so I didn't really half that change of scenery and stuff."
Those two were in town last week for Greenbrier's kids baseball camp putting in time with the future players before heading to Spring Training next month.


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Ireland, 2007, 124 Minute Running Time
Additional Countries: UK
Genre/Subjects: Biopic, Documentary, MusicLanguage: English
As the front man of The Clash from 1977 onwards, Joe Strummer changed people's lives forever. Four years after his death, his influence continues to reach out around the world. In director Julien Temple's new documentary, Strummer is revealed not just as a legend or a musician, but as a true communicator of our times. Drawing on both a shared punk history and their close personal friendship, Temple's film is a celebration of Strummer before, during and after The Clash. Includes appearances by Bono, Terry Chimes, John Cusack, Johnny Depp, Matt Dillon, Topper Headon, Jim Jarmusch, Mick Jones and more. From the director of The Filth and the Fury and The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle.
DIRECTOR: Julien Temple
Principal Cast: Joe Strummer (archive footage), Bono, Steve Buscemi, Terry Chimes, John Cusack, Johnny Depp, Matt Dillon, Dick Evans, Alasdair Gillis, Ian Gillis, Topper Headon, Jim Jarmusch, Mick Jones, Steve Jones, Anthony Kiedis, Don Letts, Bernie RhodesUS Distributor: IFC First Take
Official Film Website
CLICK IMAGE for the Member Newsletter
CLICK IMAGE to submit to the Denver Film Festival. Withoutabox logos are trademarks of Withoutabox, a DBA of IMDb.com Inc. or its affiliates.
CLICK IMAGE to Renew or JoinMembership Updates and Sign Up
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Celebrities With Secretly Hot Brothers
There are two major types of performance anxiety: One comes from having unrealistic beliefs and expectations about sex (thanks, Internet porn); the other comes from an overwhelming desire to please you which basically psyches him out.
You can't tackle his performance anxiety without first working on his overall confidence, so just focus on your relationship. Tell him how happy he makes you and how hot his butt looks in his jeans. Trust us, those little boosts will pay off bigtime in the bedroom.
Male Kegel Exercises—They're Real


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This study is investigating why some people who are healthy and have normal immune function become infected with cryptococcosis. Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection that typically affects people with HIV, cancer, or other conditions that weaken the body's immune system. The infection can progress to pneumonia and meningitis, which may cause serious symptoms of lung, brain, and spinal cord disease, such as headaches, fever, cough, shortness of breath, confusion, and weakness. People who recover from cryptococcal meningitis often need long-term treatment with medication to prevent the infection from coming back. This study may help NIH researchers in Bethesda, Maryland, learn why some previously healthy individuals get infected with Cryptococcus—information that may help develop better treatment and prevention strategies for patients in the future.
You may be eligible to participate if you
Study participants will receive free, expert medical care from an experienced team of healthcare professionals. Participants will visit the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center for the initial appointment and then at least twice a year to monitor their health and to receive medical evaluations. Medical evaluations and procedures will vary based on a patient's disease course and may include blood draws, lumbar puncture, and genetic testing.
The study is being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The NIH campus is accessible by car and public transportation.
There is no charge to participate in this research study. All study-related medical care, including clinic visits, procedures and medications, are provided free of charge.
No, you will not be compensated for your participation in the study. Transportation and other expenses may be covered.
NIH Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison OfficeToll Free: 1-800-411-1222TTY: 1-866-411-1010Se habla español.Email: email@example.com
To learn more about this study of patients with cryptococcosis (trial ID: NCT00001352), visit ClinicalTrials.gov.
Last Updated December 20, 2011


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I know people always say you'll get faster, and I have even heard people say that time is too slow. I don't listen to anyone but my own body. I have been running for a year now. I started not being able to run for a few minutes without being exhausted. I used the couch to 5k program and a year later I'm ready to run a 1/2 marathon in a month. I have already gotten up to 11 miles and know I can go farther. That is a huge accomplishment! But at the same time I have NEVER gotten faster. I have averaged about a 12:30 mile since the very beginning. I know I'm not fast and I will never win the races I compete in, but for me its never been about speed but just doing it. I will say on short runs (like 5k) I am naturally a little bit faster without having ever tried to be that way. But in my opinion its not about that. I say good job to you for even being a runner!
"No matter how slow you go, you're still lapping everyone on the couch." - Unknown.
Run your pace. Who cares how fast or slow it is, run your pace.
5k - 24:26
5k Trail - 24:57
5 Mile - 39:52
10k - 51:19
10k Trail - 53:15
I'm a beginner like you. Don't worry, you will find that on race day you will run much faster than you do every day. The adrenaline, the competition, the excitement all make you run faster (at least for a 5k). Because of that, a word of caution: don't start too fast. Run your 13 minute pace for the first mile, then pick it up if you feel okay. The best way not to finish is to run way too fast at the start. Remember, for the first 2 years, finishing a race is a win!!!!
Distance first, then speed....my first 5k was over 37 minutes, so its nothing to worrk about. That being said and if you still feel speed is important, just remember it's not how you run the first mile, it's how you run the last mile. Have fun!!!
No, you're not the slowest penguin ever. I'm pretty slow myself. I just started running about 3 months ago. I did my first 5K after about 2 months, and I ran it in 44 minutes, and it wasn't even a real 5K. The signage fell down so people started turning around before they were supposed to. The race ended up being about 2.6 miles and THAT took me 44 minutes! It was about a 17-minute mile. My second 5K there were only about 25 registered for and they were all seasoned runners who left me in the dust after the first 5 yards! I ran hard because I wanted to see if I could keep up with them. I finished in 37 minutes, but I was dead last. I was just so happy to run it in under 40 minutes that I didn't care that I was in dead last. The rest of the runner were already home enjoying their coffee when I finished! There was a woman in the race who was strolling along talking on her cell phone, and SHE beat me!! It's humbling to be running and get passed by somebody walking. I've learned that endurance is the most important. Get your endurance up where you can comfortably run 5 miles no matter how slowly, then worry about speed. But you don't even really need to worry about speed. You're naturally get faster as you get in better shape. Weight training helps I think because the stronger your legs are, the faster they'll carry you.
I started running in July for a 5K in October. My fastest 3.1 at home was 50 minutes when I first started and I was walking a lot. The last 3.1 I ran last Sunday was 42:37. So speed does come with time. I run 2 miles to work on speed and I have gone from 40 minutes to 26:05 as of today. My breathing has gotten better and I feel stronger and I have never liked to run. So stick with the program and don't rush things. Everything will come together in time and you will have a great 10K in April. Happy Running!
Keith E. Schumacher
you are not the slowest ever! i have been 'running' on and off for the last 3 and a half years, and i 'run' about 13 min mile. on my home treadmill i do a 5k in about 40 mins, about 45 mins on the road, and can get it down to 37mins in the gym (super new shiny treadmills that dont require as much effort to run). i always feel inadequate, but then i think "well, its better than sitting on my butt all day"!
i did a 5k race this summer (my second ever) and broke all expectations and ran it in 34 mins, even though i walked a bit (hilly grassy terrain). i was so proud i practically jumped up and down!
quickly got knocked off my high by a friend who is a new runner and can do 5k in 30mins easily but then i though, no, i still did well, so forget them!
it doesnt matter how fast others go, i know its disheartening (a friend of mine has never run and is doing a marathon next year, she has just started and can do a 5k no trouble, whereas it took me 4 months to train), but everyone is built differently, and the fact that you're doing something that is hard proves you have both mental and physical strength, so plod on!!!
as for slogans - i love my tshirt i got in freshers week at uni (totally not running related merchandise) that says "i'm busy, you're ugly, have a nice day"
I'm so glad I found y'all! I used to be able to run fast (20 years ago), but now I am grateful to run at all.
Does anyone belong to a running club? I want to join one, but I don't want to be finishing a half hour after everyone else. Any thoughts?
This is refreshing reading but if some of you are going at a snail's pace, I must be a slug. I KNOW I can walk faster than I can run but I hope that will change in the coming months.
My training run/walks have me at 19:00 - 19:30/min mile. I was going a tiny bit faster but have started running with an eye on my heart rate. I must be more out of shape than I thought. I'm doing a 5K next saturday and hope to finish under 50 mins (under 40 would be too awesome for words!). I'm trying not to think about the 10k I'm slated to do in November - must have been feeling ambitious when I signed up for that one.
Keep on moving!
NHL All-STAR 5k, Raleigh, NC, 1/2011 - ~60 min.
Run the Quay 5k, Fuquay-Varina, NC, 6/4/11 - 58:18
Run with Heart 5k, Morrisville, NC, 8/13/11 - 53:14
18th Annual Women's Distance Festival 5k, Raleigh, NC, 9/24/11 - 53:32
Old Reliable Run 10k, Raleigh, NC, 11/6/11 - 149:09
Some runners aren't built for speed. Be happy you can get out there and do what you can do. If you want to run faster.... Run faster... Simple.
It makes me happy to see I have such good penguin company. I run for fitness but I save my grueling workouts for my other love (boxing). I like to enjoy the scenery and the fresh air while I'm running. While I keep a good workout pace (for me), I get to enjoy the outdoors even longer by being a penguin runner.
I stopped trying to be faster a while ago. I run for fitness along with other types of cardio. I never enjoyed running, and I almost despised having to go run 2-3 miles because I wondered why I couldn't even get below an 11 minute pace.
One day I said, I'm going to totally disregard my time and run at a slow pace. So I did. If my breath started getting heavy, I slowed it down until it was comfortable and I just put one foot in front of the other. Seven miles later, I stopped in front of my house and determined that was the most enjoyable run I'd ever had. And I was still sweaty, got a good workout, but this time I was actually smiling, not just out of breath and relieved it was over. I ran a half marathon worried about pace the whole time, worried about being last, and I was pretty miserable the whole time and totally spent and sick afterward.
So I decided that's how I'm going to do every run. I don't care any more. Sometimes I see friends who run and push it and get PR's all the time. But you know, I'm still running, exercising and I feel pretty good. I sign up for a fun run or every now and then just to keep me running and for the social aspect, but I'm in it to feel good about myself. If some speed comes from somewhere, that's great. But my next half marathon in the spring will be comfortable and low stress and just about the accomplishment.
Runner since 2009.
I used to run to get faster, but got tired of pushing it, panting and feeling disappointed.
Now I run to relax and enjoy, around a 12:30 - 13:00 average pace.
Starting to get into trail running - way slower, but highly enjoyable.
Try to run 15-20mi per week and spin 4-7 times per week.
Best race paces:
1 mile - 10:12
4mi - 11:32
Half Marathon - 13:20
I wear New Balance running gear (they have many choices in XXL, size 18).
I wear Moving Comfort heavy duty bras.
I wear New Balance 769/760/860 for stability and cushion.
I wear New Balance 904 for trails.
i can't thank you guys enough for this thread. even if no one is reading it anymore. i sure hope there are some penguins out there reading this though, because I am smiling. I just did a walk/run of a 5k today and managed 55:36. but in that 55 minutes i ran 7 minutes. Of course I am using the term RAN very loosely. thanks for making my day. and even though it seems i really am the slowest of the slow, at least i am off the couch.
I'm reading this tread! You guys are my motovation! I just started really training a week ago. My best friend (hardcore marathon runner) convinced me to sign up for the Pittsburgh half marathon. So I thought 'OK I have 7mos to train' so I signed up. I have a 4 mos old & a 3 yr old who keep me active, but after starting my training I now realize how slow I am!! I did my 1st mile in 17mins, 2 days later in 16mins, but my endorance is at a zero. I'm only 4'11 so I keep making that my excuse, which needs to stop. I signed up for a 5k at Thanksgiving to hopfully give me motovation. I just want to finish the half under 3 hours, which seems impossible at this point. Just keep up the hard work penguins & keep on truckin'.
You are not the only one reading this thread. It is a nice reminder that we are not alone and that there are plenty of other penquins who enjoy running.
I have a look at this thread and other "penguin" threads when I need some additional motivation to keep on moving in spite of my slow pace.
February 17, 2012 Abu Dhabi Terry Fox Run (8.5K) (Abu Dhabi, UAE) - 48.24
September 3, 2011: 5K Race Against the Reds (Fredericton,Canada) – 33.51
August 1, 2011: NB Day 5K (Chipman, Canada) – 36.58
Blog – http://ruralrouterunner.wordpress.com/
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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In the early 1950's a new kind of music called rock 'n' roll was taking over the airwaves. Girls in poodle skirts and guys in wing-tipped shoes danced to songs by Frankie Avalon and Elvis Presley. And for the next decade, a locally produced TV show called Hi Fi Hop captured the change in American culture.
Click here to see Hi Fi Hop photos.
"Music was in transition," said Hi Fi Hop host Bill Brooks. "You had pop artists of the day. Suddenly you had artists like Elvis Presley show up and take over with top hits."
Most people remember Hi Fi Hop as a local hour-long teenage dance program. The live show aired daily starting in the late 1950's. The show originally started on a Wichita TV station called KEDD, Channel 16. KEDD closed down a few years later and a new TV station, KTVH Channel 12, today known as KWCH, picked up the show.
1950's rock 'n' roll was tame compared to today's music. But back then, the swinging rhythms of rock and R & B singers like Frankie Avalon, Tommy Edwards, and Jackie Wilson drove both parents and teenagers crazy.
"Adults were not that excited about the music but [the show] was a chance for teenagers to be on camera and dance. They loved it," said Hi Fi Hop director Faye Graves.
The show was aimed at young people and viewers across Kansas tuned in to see how their peers dressed and danced. Pepsi and Stay Crisp Potato Chips, a local chip company, were some of the big sponsors. Early on, there was a waiting list to be one of the 50 dancers that appeared live on the show each day.
Click here to see dancers on Hi Fi Hop.
Nick Mendoza, a dancer on Hi Fi Hop, says he remembers learning to dance by watching the show on a black and white television. When he was 14, he took his girlfriend Wanda Price to the show where they won the daily dance contest.
"It was being part of the new sensation of rock 'n' roll," said Mendoza. "The kids got to dance up close. It was kind of risqué in a sense."
As the daily dance contest winners, Mendoza was given a tie clip that had a gold record with the words Hi Fi Hop made by a local jeweler Quinten Lynch. Wanda won a necklace with the same logo. Daily winners went on to compete in the monthly contest. The station took the 12 monthly winners to an annual Hi Fi Hop contest with famous guests artists. Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins were the first performers that sang for the thousands that attended the annual dance off.
Click here to see celebrities who performed on Hi Fi Hop.
Big names also headlined the daily shows. Patsy Cline, Frankie Avalon and Ike Cole, brother of Nat King Cole, were some of the many artists that stopped by the Channel 12 studios as they toured the Midwest.
Bill Brooks says Hi FI Hop was also successful because it was easy to produce and filled a large amount of air-time.
"Stations had immense amounts of time they had to fill locally," said Brooks. "Networks only programmed prime time in the evenings. You could do a dance show very economically."
But the success of Hi Fi Hop took the station by surprise. The show received huge ratings in the 5 p.m. time slot. The show won enough attention that some of the dance contest winners were flown to Kansas City where TV Guide took them to lunch.
"The show had more impact and reach than we even realized at the time," said Brooks. "The station didn't get out of it what they might have had they understood at the time. They had the tiger by the tail."
The show's popularity began to wind down by the time Brooks left to become a news anchor in Denver in 1966. He says the show's success was a combination of the birth of rock 'n' roll and the opportunity to dance on television.
"Music was really what the program was all about and the kids dancing created the local flavor," said Brooks.


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The Sexy Latinas of the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
"Lightly dusting bronzer all over your face gives you a natural-looking glow that makes the whites of your teeth instantly pop," says Schlip.
Try Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Baked Bronzer, $14, physiciansformula.com.
This combo makes your mouth healthy because it helps prevents plaque from building up. "And plaque, over time, can cause discoloration," says Rosen.
Try Reach Design Full Head Toothbrush Soft, $4.05, amazon.com or an electronic version, like Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Sonic Toothbrush, $190, drugstore.com, and Supersmile Dental Floss, $7, drugstore.com.
10 Faux and Real Fur Coats You Need In Your Closet


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Today (Sunday) is the start of Frisco's Wassel daz....... What is the true wassel? I've heard that prepped properly it can be quite enjoyable with hints of apple cider and spices. Now I do understand that the season ends within a week. Now do you enjoy your Wassel with Tuaca or with a slight smoky flavor prepared over a slow heat? Now the race of the Santas was OK but I think his helpers were incredible with their preparing of Wassail. Now this is the season of Wasseling to prepaid us for the Awesome year ahead! Come on and enjoy this week in Frisco Wasseling, TuWasseling or just having fun!
Back to: News
December 9, 2012
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NEW: For a prettier blog interface, see the Wordpress version!
Headlines for Saturday:
- Setting priorities (314 words)
- Happiness evangelist (52 words)
- How to make a complete map of every thought you think (68 words)
- Notes from Mentors: Technology evangelism (406 words)
- Weekly review (392 words)
- LEGO (210 words)
|@10:00 Young Drivers co-driver education, 36 Eglinton Ave West, Suite 705A
1. Setting priorities: 00:20
For once, my random Emacs symbol is strangely apropos. There will never be enough time in the day, and it's easier for me to say no to low-value tasks if I have other things to do. Here are my best-value tasks over the next few days:
- Prepare for the start of my new job by reflecting on what's worked for me before and what hasn't, and figure out what I want. If I can help my manager learn about my strengths and weaknesses, then he'll be able to manage me more effectively.
- Work on my book. I should be able to complete the Org section if I just sit down and write. The Planner section can follow a similar structure. It pays to complete a rough draft of the chapter as early as possible, because I can get more feedback from beta readers. I need to give myself permission to skip the parts that I _really_ want to include but for which the code needs to be written practically from scratch. My job is to show people interesting hacks, not fill in all the holes or fix all the bugs.
- Connect with my family and catch up on stuff from last week.
- Braindump what I learned from my chat with Ian Irving. Plenty of nuggets there, and sharing is the best way of thanking him for his time.
- Do my weekly review. I feel uncomfortable if I don't have time to reflect and share.
- Build in some quiet time and some relationship time. I don't want that to get lost in a long list of TODOs clamoring for my attention.
These are my essentials for this weekend. It's like the way you manage money: plan for the important stuff first before you spend on luxuries. =)
Random Emacs symbol: schedule-day-remainder - Variable: The number of seconds remaining today.
2. Happiness evangelist: 08:49
Michael Nielsen pointed me to The Happiness Project, a terrific blog/project by Gretchen Rubin. Last August, Gretchen realized that she wasn't just doing the Happiness Project; she was a happiness evangelist. Isn't that the best title ever? =)
Random Emacs symbol: url-gateway-method - Variable: *The type of gateway support to use.
3. How to make a complete map of every thought you think: 08:53
Michael Nielsen is also responsible for telling me about How to Make a Complete Map of Every Thought you Think, a book about the clarity that comes when you record everything you think. That's way more than I'm doing right now. Fascinating, though! More about this after I read the book. Random Emacs symbol: apropos-sort-by-scores - Variable: *Non-nil means sort matches by scores; best match is shown first.
4. Notes from Mentors: Technology evangelism: 10:37
Here are notes from a conversation I had with Ian Irving on technology evangelism.
Ian Irving had plenty of stories to tell about the time that he was helping companies adopt Lotus Notes. As a technology evangelist, his job was to not only show people how to set up their e-mail infrastructure, but also to help them adjust to the cultural changes facilitated by these technologies. He told me how he would switch to a new, unfamiliar office every week with the mandate to find the key influencers and help them adopt e-mail. He also told me how different companies had different cultures that either helped or hindered this adoption, and had similar problems that motivated the exploration of possible solutions. Although companies believe their business problems to be unique, a consultant with a wide variety of experiences can create much value by seeing patterns.
One of the key things he did as a consultant was to translate the technology into human terms. "I was a talker to suits," Ian explained. Technologists have a tendency to focus on the software or tool, and to try to give as much information as possible. Ian consciously developed the ability to talk to business people who had other priorities and perhaps less technical backgrounds. It was important to realize that they didn't need to know all the technical details, and that overwhelming them with data would be counterproductive. Recognizing his tendency to over-communicate, he adopted the habit of asking people what level of information they needed, and frequently checking if he'd said enough.
His experiences helped me remember that with all the fuss about Web 2.0 and the next generation workplace, it's easy to forget that similar widespread changes have happened before. While e-mail and intranet instant messaging are now entrenched in company culture, they weren't always that way. Stephen Perelgut told me how he once conducted a workshop for people learning how to use Lotus Sametime, IBM's enterprise instant messaging system. Like other technologies such as the telephone, these things were once new and disruptive.
The conversation with Ian Irving helped me learn more about one of my favorite professions. I'm glad he shared those insights with me. And to think that that conversation came about just because I wished him a happy birthday the other day... People are amazingly helpful! =)
Try sitting down for coffee with one of your role models. You'll learn a lot, too!
5. Weekly review: 11:03
I had *awesome* conversations again this week. I greatly enjoyed meeting Jennifer Dodd, Jamie McQuay, and Hartwell Fong at Farcoast last Wednesday. We talked about so much: science outreach, Second Life, quantum computing... Then there's yesterday's conversation with Ian Irving about tech evangelism and consulting. This is amazing stuff. I want more people to enjoy these great conversations! =)
I've been getting ready for my job at IBM, which starts on Monday. I checked the public transit route to 3600 Steeles, and Stephen Perelgut is right: it's not complicated. I'm getting used to wearing grownup clothes, too! ;) Yesterday, W- complimented my pairing of a gray cashmere turtleneck with a gray dress. I'm finding myself drawn to neutral bases (white and gray for the most part, with a bit of black), and I'm now looking for a few accessories to add color and whats-it.
I made more progress on my book. I spent some time learning how to use Org, and feel comfortable enough with it to write the section on planning my day. I think I understand it now. I'm also comfortable with planner-appt, and I'm going to recommend that over the little hack I put together before.
This has also been a great week for exercise. I went to trapeze classes twice thanks to W-'s encouragement, and have successfully been able to hook my knees over the bar or hold my legs extended over my head without assistance. Whee!
My goals for next week are:
- Finish the raw text for the first chapter in my book.
- Get on board smoothly: find out my manager's expectations, help him figure out a great way to use and develop me, finish the onboarding paperwork, and set up direct deposit
- Make it smoothly onto the bar in trapeze classes
- Attend the Toronto Public Library board meeting to see if I'll make it my primary charity this year
- Contact the U of T Career Centre; also, see if I can access the contact directory
- Connect with Mohan and see what I can do to help, or what holes there are in my Web 2.0 network
- And if there's time, I want to figure out how to blog using Org, too.
On Technorati: weekly
Random Emacs symbol: backward-delete-char - Command: Delete the previous N characters (following if N is negative).
I had a lot of fun at the rtlToronto LEGO contest today. All these grown-ups (and one kid) had built robots that could swing from two ropes suspended from a beam. The banter and the stories were hilarious. Most robots were built around the same concept: motors and gears swung a weight back and forth, similar to the way children swing their legs in order to amplify their motion.
What made it even more fun was that I had suggested the swing challenge to Wayne when he was brainstorming an idea for the LEGO Challenge, so it was great seeing all these people make a crazy idea of mine happen. <grin>
One of the club members told me that when the idea was raised over an rtlToronto dinner, people laughed and said that it was going to be so easy. Then a week before the contest, people started panicking. Trips to the playground, physics tutorials on the Net, and sheer trial and error helped these LEGO fans learn more about pendulums than they did in high school. Just goes to show you that some things that kids can do aren't that easy!
Good stuff.
Random Emacs symbol: term-input-ring-file-name - Variable: *If non-nil, name of the file to read/write input history.
- E-mail to
- E-mail to Ian Garmaise, Joe Anandarajah, Gabriel Mansour, Tania Samsonova, Wendy Koslow, Joey de Villa, Ian Irving, Simon Rowland
- E-mail to Paul Huff
- Reply to Mama - sent today
- E-mail to Mama 1. E-mail to Gino LV. Ledesma
- E-mail to Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo
Inbox items: 18 as of 22:06
I'd love to hear about any questions, comments, suggestions or links that you might have. Your comments will not be posted on this website immediately, but will be e-mailed to me first. You can use this form to get in touch with me, or e-mail me at [email protected] .


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- Feb 7:
- Bay Area flu 'detectives' are on the case in Richmond
- Jan 16:
- Bay Area flu-related death toll rises to 20
- Jan 15:
- Two more swine flu deaths reported in Bay Area
- Jan 14:
- Swine flu cases at Milpitas jail spur additional lockdown and health-safety measures
- Jan 13:
- Family angry after Northern California man, 23, dies of swine flu
- Jan 10:
- Bay Area hospitals, pharmacies running short on flu vaccines
- 49ers tips for beating the flu
- Flu fight: 49ers' playoff run counts on vitamin C to dodge swine flu
- San Francisco health officials report first flu-related death
- Health officials: At least 7 swine-flu deaths now reported in Bay Area
- Jan 9:
- Swine flu suspected in death of 2 Marin residents
- Two Santa Cruz County deaths attributed to flu
- Jan 8:
- Contra Costa Times editorial: Let's resolve to be smart about this strain of flu
- Jan 7:
- Swine flu is back in California -- and it's starting to kill again
- Jan 3:
- Swine flu kills Santa Clara County woman, 41
- Swine flu vaccinations urged after California death
Four more swine flu deaths were reported in the Bay Area Monday, two in the South Bay, one on the Peninsula and one in the North Bay, renewing calls from state health officials urging people to get vaccinated as the flu season's peak approaches.
The recent deaths in Santa Clara, San Mateo and Sonoma counties come as pharmacies and Bay Area hospitals were receiving additional doses of flu vaccine to keep up with high demand that caused shortages in some locations last week. Officials in multiple counties, however, have said there is enough supply to go around.
"Our message is the same," said Sherri Willis, a spokeswoman for the Alameda County Public Health Department. "There's still plenty of time, and in most communities, there's plenty of vaccine. It takes two weeks to gain full immunity from the vaccine. As soon as you can get a shot, the better."
Santa Clara County officials confirmed two more deaths on Monday, a 61-year-old and a 62-year-old, bringing the county's total number of H1N1-related fatalities to four, the highest for any Bay Area county. San Mateo County also reported its second death on Monday. In addition, ABC7 reported just after 6 p.m. Monday that Sonoma County officials confirmed that a 54-year-old with underlying conditions had died from the flu.
In all, the nine Bay Area counties and Santa Cruz County have reported 16 flu-related deaths. Alameda County reported three deaths, Marin County reported two, and San Francisco and Contra Costa counties have each reported one death. There have been no deaths reported in Solano and Napa counties, officials said.
Santa Cruz county officials initially reported two deaths last week, but on Monday said only one, the death of a 50-year-old man, had been confirmed as being caused by swine flu. Two others in the county are so far only suspected to be flu-related deaths.
Because the state requires reporting of influenza deaths only in people younger than 65, the number of flu-related deaths could actually be higher. That age requirement began after the swine flu pandemic of 2009-10, when 203,000 people died worldwide, including more than 600 Californians.
As of Jan. 4, only seven deaths were confirmed by the state, while an additional 28 are being investigated. The seven confirmed fatalities up until then, the last time the state released numbers, were in Alameda, Contra Costa, Lassen, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco and Stanislaus counties, according to the California Department of Public Health.
H1N1 appears to be the predominant strain this flu season, causing concern because unlike other strains it can result in deadly pneumonia even in young, healthy people. Sonoma County officials said a 23-year-old man who had no underlying health problems died of the H1N1 virus, and a 54-year-old with underlying conditions had also died.
After reporting a temporary shortage of adult flu vaccines at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Oakland, hospital officials on Monday said Kaiser received 20,000 additional doses from suppliers and expected to receive more than 40,000 additional doses this week. Since flu clinics opened in September, Kaiser has administered more than 1.2 million doses of flu vaccine throughout its hospitals in Northern California, according to a hospital statement.
A corporate spokesman for both CVS and Walgreens has said that some stores had run out of the vaccine and encouraged people to call in advance to check on availability.
Most of Marin County's pharmacies on Monday reported that they were temporarily out of the vaccine following several days of heavy demand.
"What we're seeing is that they're having trouble keeping up with the demand," said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County's public health officer. "There was a lot of interest in the vaccine over the last few days."
Bay Area News Group staff writers Rick Hurd and Tracy Seipel, Marin Independent-Journal writer Richard Halstead, and ABC7 contributed to this report. Contact David DeBolt in Richmond at 510-262-2728. Follow him at Twitter.com/daviddebolt.
In all, the nine Bay Area counties and Santa Cruz County have reported 16 flu-related deaths this season as of Jan. 13, 2014:
Alameda County: 3
Contra Costa County: 1
Marin County: 2
Napa County: none
San Francisco County: 1
San Mateo County: 2
Santa Clara County: 4
* Santa Cruz County: 1
Solano County: none
Sonoma County: 2
* Santa Cruz County isn't included in the official designation of nine Bay Area counties.


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Kovacs GKTH1212-084 Brushed Nickel 50W Cylinder Style Spot Head with 12" Stem from the GK LIGHTRAIL® Series
Offer Ends
Technical Specs
|Bulb Base
|Bi Pin
|Bulb Type
|Light Direction
|Up / Down Lighting
|Number of Bulbs
|Product Weight
|Suggested Room Fit
|Living Room
|Watts Per Bulb
This product has additional required/recommended options. To configure, add to your cart.
Connector Required
Pendant Canopy Required
Track Head Shades Required
50W Cylinder Style Series 1 Series 1 Spot Head with 12" Stem
Welcome to the new world of George Kovacs® lighting. GK LIGHTRAIL® systems represent a fresh approach to the concept of rail lighting systems. Our improved design offers all the options with a simple philosophy; make it easy. Let your imagination run wild as you invent new ways to light your home.
GK LIGHTRAIL® are low voltage systems that offers you a complete line of components allowing you to create a lighting plan for any room in your home. It consists of flexible rail, a wide array of fixtures and glass, and a variety of transformers that will adapt to all lighting needs. A complete line of accessories are offered to allow your vision to come to light.
The GK LIGHTRAIL® offers many different types of fixtures; pendants, flexible and fixtures that are available in various lengths offering many options. Choose the style and type that best fit your lighting needs.
- The standard fixtures come in four different lengths; 3", 6", 9" and 12" stems
- The pendant fixtures come standard with 72" lead wire that is field adjustable
- The flexible fixture is a standard 18"
- Measurements do not include shades
- Shades are sold separately
Additional Kovacs Links
- View Manufacturer Warranty
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Our SKU: GK TH1212
This product is listed under the following manufacturer number(s):
- Brushed Nickel
- Sable Bronze Patina
*Denotes a finish or option that has been discontinued
Kovacs GK Lightrail Collection
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Kovacs GK CX
X-Connector Rail Connector from the GK LIGHTRAIL® Series$16.00-$17.00
Kovacs GK CT
T-Connector Rail Connector from the GK LIGHTRAIL® Series$14.00-$16.00
Kovacs GK CI
In-Line Rail Connector for the GK LIGHTRAIL® Series$7.00-$7.50
Kovacs GK CE
Dead-End Rail Connector for the GK LIGHTRAIL® Series$11.90-$13.90
Kovacs GK TH1401
2" Diameter LED Pendant Fixture from the GK LIGHT...$31.60-$39.50
Warranty Info
All products are warranted to be free of defects in material and workmanship for one (1) year from date of purchase. This warranty is limited to the correction of any such defect, or the replacement of any such defective item(s), provided that: (a) we are properly notified and consent to the return of the item(s) in question: (b) the item(s) is / are returned with proof of purchase date; and (c) it is found upon inspection by us that the item(s) is / are defective as noted above. This warranty does not cover labor costs, consequential damages, nor does it apply to any item(s) that have been improperly installed, overloaded, altered, or otherwise abused by the customer, its agent(s) or employee(s). Finishes are specifically excluded from the terms of this warranty since they are subject to environmental maintenance dames beyond our control. Other than the described obligation, we assume no further liability with respect to the sale or use of our products. We make no warranty, express or implied, and disclaim any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.


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Top Definition
A Wawa half gallon ice tea. Derives from the popularity of these drinks amongst construction workers who happen to be black. Hense, Big Nig.
I'm going to Wawa, I need a big Nig.
by P Dittle September 23, 2005
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
A "big nig" is a large black person. This only includes African-Americans and straight up thug life goons such as some Haitians. Most "big nigs" are very dark skinned and actually black. They are also very muscular while some are obese.
Yo, that niggas a big nig.
I was watching boxing, and it was mostly big nigs beating the shit out of each other.
I was watching boxing, and it was mostly big nigs beating the shit out of each other.
by mynamesbrandon June 21, 2009
A large african american male.
Jermaine: Damon is a 6 foot 6 inch, 500 lbs, brotha.
Regginald: That Damon is one BIG NIG.
Regginald: That Damon is one BIG NIG.
by sunnyDxxDs May 15, 2009
A large person typicaly of the negro race.
"Wow thats one bignig!"
by Nigkiller March 23, 2003
A Big Baller; a non-pussy
A Big-Nig is NOT a little bitch!
by MOCO & P-Phat May 28, 2011
A black man with huge lips. Big enough to climb walls, consume buses and average size children
"Oh man where did my car radio go?"
"Big Nigs"
"Yeah that makes sense"
"Big Nigs"
"Yeah that makes sense"
by Ghetto Booty69 September 01, 2011
big niggers or other form of minorities such as hispanics or arabs ; never to be used with asian fools b/c they can never be black
the big nigs robbed de bakery wit jamal and ackmed
by fysta cuffs May 07, 2005


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Deputies arrest driver on drug charges
Published: Monday, December 31, 2012 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, December 31, 2012 at 12:08 a.m.
Early Sunday morning, Tuscaloosa County sheriff's deputies stopped a silver Dodge Charger matching the description of a vehicle used in a suspected kidnapping in Moundville. The stop was made in the 4000 Block of Virginia Drive.
Although the vehicle was not related to the suspected kidnapping incident, the driver of the truck, Shadrick Darvell Wren, 33, was found to be in possession of 336 grams of marijuana, crack cocaine and cash. Agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force responded and assisted with the arrest.
Wren was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of a controlled substance and was taken to the Tuscaloosa County Jail.
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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Time to Officially Stick a Fork in That 1929 Chart
The spooky 1929 chart that swept across trading desks several months ago doesn't look so frightening anymore.
The chart offered a "scary parallel" between the stock market prior to the crash of 1929 and the markets earlier this year. Their trajectories appeared to track one another, although critics noted the construction of the chart was deeply flawed.
Now, the comparison is officially dead.
In a research note, Birinyi Associates relayed an updated version of the chart. As the image below shows, the parallels between 1929 and today no longer exist.
Here's a look at the original chart:
It's almost comical that this chart previously garnered so much attention. "I have been in this business for over 43 years, yet I do not ever recall getting as slammed with the same email as many times as I have about the attendant 1929 comparison chart," Jeffrey Saut, chief investment strategist at Raymond James, said in February.
But now, it's officially time to stick a fork in it. Market watchers appear to be ready to move on.
"My take is the same now as it was four months ago," investor Ryan Detrick wrote earlier this month. "Basing your outlook for today's market purely on a chart from the '20s is irresponsible and ridiculous. There are so many other factors at play, those that used the charts simply created undue fear and once again caused the masses to miss higher prices."
Nevertheless, the chart drew a fair amount of attention, with one market watcher saying he had never seen so much attention focused on one chart in his more than 40 years in the business.


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Gene Chizik: From Title to Toast
It's tempting to try to find or draw a parallel, but you shouldn't. The Southeastern Conference is not like anything else—not like big business, not like politics, not like anything else in college and professional sports. It's stranger and more particular to itself and, by its own specific morals, probably more meritocratic than the rest of the non-SEC world. In the rest of the world, a coach who led his program to an undefeated season and a national championship would probably not find himself unemployed less than two years later. In the SEC, coach Gene Chizik won that title at Auburn in 2010 and was still fired on Sunday after a 3-9 season. In the short time since, Chizik's program came apart, was plagued by controversy and—perhaps most importantly—didn't win the way it had previously. Anywhere else, this would've been given a bit more time to play out. In the SEC … well, here we are, and now Gene Chizik has been fired more quickly after winning a national championship than any coach in college football history.
"Less than two years after Chizik hoisted the Waterford crystal football in Glendale, Ariz., and spoke of his affection for the All In Auburn Family, he and his assistants are jobless," Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples writes. "Back in the good old days, when Gus Malzahn called the plays and Cam Newton ran them, Chizik loved the Family and it loved him right back. But as this season spiraled further out of control and it became apparent Auburn had become the laughingstock of the SEC, members of the Family began to rip the man they defended so staunchly only two years earlier." This being the SEC, the reckoning was not long in coming.
If Chizik's firing seems overreactive, it's worth noting that the team had reportedly been plagued by discipline problems—the kind that occasions NCAA investigations and warrants jail sentences and the kind that lose football games—in recent years. (In a Sunday news conference, Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs declined comment on the NCAA investigation.) "That's how you go from 14-0 to 3-9 in two seasons, from winning all nine SEC games in 2010 to losing 10 straight games in the conference between 2011 and 2012, including all eight this season," Kevin Scarbinsky writes in the Birmingham News. "That's how you spiral from winning the national championship to losing your job in record time. One player at a time. One standard compromised after another." It's harsh, and it's awfully fast. But it's also college football, and it's the SEC.
* * *
Ohio State won't play in the postseason this year, a result of NCAA sanctions levied against the regime of previous coach Jim Tressel. But after beating Michigan on Saturday to cap an unbeaten season in Coach Urban Meyer's first year at the school, Ohio State fans have reason to be as excited, excitable and extremely demanding as, well, Ohio State fans usually are.
"Ohio State has one of the best coaches in America, a result-oriented, game-changing talent who might be able to do for the Big Ten what confused expansion plans likely won't—return the league to national relevance," Yahoo's Dan Wetzel writes. "If Meyer can walk into the league and roll it like he just did with a team that isn't great, well, what's going to happen when he has one that is?"
It's a question that has a compelling real-time answer with a similarly spotless record in South Bend, Ind., where top-ranked Notre Dame capped its own perfect (so far) season with a characteristically tough win over USC, and so wrapped up a long wander in the wilderness with a likely spot in the BCS championship game. "Notre Dame, facing what appeared this preseason to be a preposterously difficult schedule, earned its championship berth thanks to a formula very familiar to the two teams playing in the SEC title game next weekend," Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel writes. "The Irish run the ball and they stuff the run—just like every recent SEC national champion." This is all much easier said than done, naturally. But Notre Dame and Ohio State both continue to serve proof that such turnarounds are possible, even for plucky underdog programs like them.
* * *
The most important thing to know about the budding quarterback controversy in San Francisco is that the 49ers still have an awfully good defense. Former first overall pick Alex Smith has evolved from a quasi-bust to an efficient and effective quarterback in the last two seasons, and erstwhile backup Colin Kaepernick—who led the Niners to a second straight win against the Saints on Sunday—has looked like a star in the making over the past two weeks. Both players look a lot better thanks to the defense backing them up.
But there's a controversy brewing here all the same after Kaepernick looked steady at the helm of an expanded and ultra-aggressive version of the Niners offense. In the San Jose Mercury News, Mark Purdy goes so far as to invoke New England's Drew Bledsoe/Tom Brady controversy, with Kaepernick in the Brady role. While it's unusual for one of the NFL's best teams to find itself at the center of a self-created quarterback controversy, there's also the chance that Kaepernick is an unusual, uncommon talent. "If a guy's ready, a guy's ready," the San Francisco Chronicle's Scott Ostler. "It's too early to make this comparison, but here goes, anyway: What if Kaepernick is the 49ers' Buster Posey?" As problems go, this seems like a good one to have.
* * *
Last year's UCLA basketball team was one of the NCAA's hottest messes, riven by scandal and a sludgy, stodgy presence on the court. This year's UCLA team, powered by a highly touted recruiting class and ace freshman playmaker Shabazz Muhammad, was supposed to mark a turnaround for the program. That may still happen, but when the Bruins blew an 18-point second half lead, at home, against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Sunday night, the whole clumsy spectacle—right down to a late-game brain-cramp by sophomore Norman Powell, which handed Cal Poly two game-sealing free throws—looked eerily familiar.
There are extenuating circumstances, of course, from Cal Poly's strange slowed-down offense to the announcement, before the game, that junior guard Tyler Lamb was transferring. After the game, Bruins coach Ben Howland acknowledged his team's lack of focus. "[But] it was a lack of nearly everything that broke UCLA down in the final ten minutes, sending the Bruins reeling with only tougher competition ahead," the Orange County Register's Ryan Kartje writes. "It was nothing Muhammad had ever imagined when he signed to play in Westwood." It's early yet, of course. But it's not good.
Found a good column from the world of sports? Don't keep it to yourself — write to us at firstname.lastname@example.com and we'll consider your find for inclusion in the Daily Fix. You can email David at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act into law.
First duck stamp, designed by Pulitzer-prize winning editorial cartoonist, Jay N. "Ding" Darling, issued.
Prairie drought peaks.


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For 25 years, Kentuckians have been bleeding blue and saving lives during Big Blue Crush. This year, the annual blood battle between Kentucky and Tennessee football fans is Nov. 12-16 and fans are urged to donate and continue the winning tradition.
"It's not about a game. It's about life," said William Reed, President and CEO of Kentucky Blood Center (KBC). "Blood collected during Crush in both Kentucky and Tennessee will ensure we have enough blood on our shelves during the holidays for all the hospitals and patients that both of our blood centers serve.
"We know Kentucky donors love their Wildcats, and this is a great opportunity for them to prove it – and beating Tennessee in the blood battle is always a nice bonus," said Reed.
Donors will receive a short-sleeve, black, commemorative Big Blue Crush T-shirt, a coupon for a free McDonald's McCafe' beverage, a Bleed Blue wristband and a chance to win daily prizes.
KBC has donor centers in Lexington, Pikeville and Somerset, and the city leaders in all three communities have proclaimed Nov. 12-16 as Big Blue Crush Week.
Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) donors have claimed the Crush trophy the past two years, but Tennessee leads the competition 12 to 11 with 1 tie. Last year more than 3,200 Kentucky donors gave blood. This year, KBC officials hope to see 3,500.
To schedule a donation or to find a donation location, visit kybloodcenter.org or call 800.775.2522.
Blood donors must have a photo I.D., be 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.


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I am eager to endorse and support the Barbour County Schools excess levy and bond in the upcoming general election. This will determine the future of our school system. I am confident in the pledge to improve the educational experiences of the youth of Barbour County. The Barbour County Chamber Board of Directors has also voted unanimously in support of both the excess levy and the bond.
At Alderson-Broaddus College, we strive to provide the highest quality education to our students. The young generation of our community is the future; we must prepare them for lifelong learning. As president of this institution in your community, I urge you to look toward the future. If you wish to see success and advancement in your community, you must commit your support to the educational system.
The college has embarked on a promising adventure with the largest freshmen enrollment in our history. We are expanding our facilities and revolutionizing our campus experience. The opportunity to make similar changes at Philip Barbour High School and the entire school district is here; we must join forces and rally behind this excess levy and bond. Together we can build the future for our community and its students.
On Nov. 6, voters in the Barbour County public school district should seize the opportunity to vote yes for the passage of an excess school levy and bond order. This levy will support instruction, technology, libraries, maintenance, staffing and child nutrition programs. The bond order will cover renovations and new construction for outside athletic facilities at Philip Barbour High School Complex.
Barbour County currently ranks 48th out of the 55 counties in West Virginia on the amount of money spent on pupil expenses, while voters in 44 counties have approved excess school levies to improve the education of their youth. We are proud to embrace the culture of our small town in West Virginia, but should we allow our children to be at an educational and experiential disadvantage? If we don't support their education, we hinder them from reaching their potential!
The election calls for a rate of only 63 percent of the allowable maximum, which will generate more than $2 million per year for five years. The Barbour County Board of Education approved this minimum rate and it is our privilege and responsibility to support it. For a slight increase in property taxes, you will be investing in the education and dreams of our children, our grandchildren and generations to come.
This is not about politics and parties, this is about our students. This is about our pride and our willingness to get behind a vital cause. You must ask yourself what you are willing to do to play a role in the forward progress of your community. The increase in tax comes down to only about $5 per week for the average household. Could you give up one soda a day? One latte a week? For smokers, one pack of cigarettes a week? For a trivial sacrifice, you can be a part of a cause that will have huge results. What are our kids worth to you?
Let's not prohibit our youth from having the brightest possible future. If we do not vote yes to this excess levy and bond, we are saying no to the future of our community. This is a vote for the kids and for the future of Barbour County. Please join me in voting yes for the excess levy and bond on Nov. 6.
Rick Creehan
Alderson-Broaddus College


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|Neil Byrne and Ryan Kelly.
Celtic Thunder has been thrilling audiences for the past six years. They've racked up a string of successful albums connected to big production tours.
The juggernaut sees no sign of slowing down, with a Celtic Thunder cruise, another record-breaking tour, Mythology, booked through June of 2014, and a Christmas CD on the way.
Say what you will about the glitzy production — it has done an enormous amount of good for Irish culture by shining a much-needed spotlight on great songwriters and producers like Paul Brady, Phil Coulter and Christy Moore. It has also launched the careers of some great Irish artists, including Glee star Damian McGinty and Paul Byrom.
Cast members Ryan Kelly from Moy, Co. Tyrone and Neil Byrne from Bray, Co. Wicklow began performing a live show together called "Acoustic by Candlelight" during the nights off from the Celtic Thunder tour, and that has now developed into an album titled Acoustically Irish.
"We wanted to give us our own signature. We wanted the listeners to have this organic feel to it," Kelly explains.
"Celtic Thunder has a full orchestra; it is very lush. We wanted to have a more intimate setting. Fans that came out to see us said they wanted an album from the candlelight shows, so the decision to put out an album came from that."
Fans of traditional Irish music will love their takes on songs like "On Raglan Road," "Back Home in Derry," "The Fields of Athenry," "The Rose of Allendale" and "The Water Is Wide."
The lads also offer a bluegrass reading of Hothouse Flowers' "Don't Go," a coffee house-cozy rendition of Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" and a heart-tugging run at Paddy Casey's gorgeous "Saints and Sinners."
The album is a welcome, organic departure from the glitzy Broadway feel of the Celtic Thunder franchise.
The fans seem to be eating it up, catapulting this heart-throbbing duo to the top position on Billboard's World Album chart and the top spot on iTunes World Album downloads in the U.S., Canada and Australia.
They borrowed Celtic Thunder bandmates Nicole Hudson on violin and viola, Declan O'Donoghue on percussion and Barry Kerr on tin whistle to create a zesty Irish backdrop to their shimmering harmonies.
I spoke to the guys about this new venture and the future of Celtic Thunder. Here's how it went:
How did you decide to work together?
Ryan: Neil and myself were often doing these PBS things on tour and the six of us were often split up. Neil and I did an East Coast PBS tour. We have common ground on what we like, and we thought, wouldn't it be great to break off on our own. We wanted to bring it back to where we began — the smaller gigs in pubs.
You play characters in this Celtic Thunder showcase: Ryan plays the rogue, Neil the clean-cut lad. I would imagine being yourselves onstage is pretty liberating?
Neil: It's great to be able to have both. The side interest in Acoustically Irish is great. As you said, we have these characters. Our true personalities come out more in these gigs. We get to choose what we wear, what we play and everything else. So, yes, that is liberating.
How did you pick the tunes?
Ryan: The likes of "Raglan Road" and "Fields of Athenry" are things we grew up singing. They are great stories. "Don't Go" by Hothouse Flowers and "Saints and Sinners" from Paddy Casey reflect the more modern, eclectic tastes that Neil and I have.
Neil: We thought putting more of our favorite songs by these artists might be interesting. "Captured" is Brian Kennedy's song. He should be a household name. It's like we're bringing a new song out because unfortunately people haven't heard these songs before. We are hoping to fix that.
Have any of the artists given you feedback on what they thought of your rendition?
Ryan: A while ago we sent Brian Kennedy a demo of "Captured" and he really liked it. He put up a nice comment about it on Twitter. "No Man's Land" was written by Art Bogle; he wrote "The Green Field of France" and "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda." Just a great, unsung songwriter, and he was really supportive of us doing his songs.