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Even months before the tour started I was worried about Cortemaggiore. Getting around Europe is so easy, the rail system goes to every major city and the train stations are always centrally located. However, Cortemaggiore is not a major city. Unlike every other stop on the spring tour there is no rail station in Cortemaggiore and it isnt located on any maps available to your average American tourist.
It wasnt until we actually were on tour when we got the details. The closest train station was in Piacenza, about fifteen miles away, and there were buses that went back and forth to Cortemaggiore. However, the show was on a Sunday, and there were rumors that the buses werent going to be running. No problem, many people (including those working for Phish) suggested that the promoter was going to charter some buses to haul all the fans on tour. Other fans were talking about renting a car/van and charging people for rides (a.k.a. Antelope Express).
We decided to wing it as we had been doing all along on tour and went straight to Piacenza by rail. The promoter didnt have buses waiting for us, and the public buses werent running on Sunday, but there were several taxis at the train station that were eager to take us to Cortemaggiore. When we arrived, we discovered that Cortemaggiore was a tiny town of a few thousand with one hotel (seven rooms total), two cafes, one pizzeria, a movie theater (which doubled as the venue), three churches, and two restaurants. One was about thirty feet from the door to the venue, the other was closed on Sunday. You could walk in a circle around the whole town in about fifteen minutes.
We got to the venue just after the band had finished soundcheck. We heard from others who had watched the soundcheck through the open door that the band had performed a long version of a brand-new song that had only had been played once, in the middle of Down with Disease the previous week in Amsterdam. It was later named Carini Had a Lumpy Head at the 2/28/97 Berlin show. Someone mentioned that immediately afterward they saw Trey sitting at the console mixing the soundcheck, which was playing back over the PA, a highly unusual event that we soon forgot about.
After a lazy afternoon playing Frisbee in the park, we went to the restaurant next to the venue to have dinner, along with seemingly every other American on tour. I had the urge to wash my hands, so I went off in search of the bathroom. The restaurant wasnt very large and was completely filled with Americans going to the show. There was a banquet room off to the side connected by a short hallway. The bathrooms were also off the little hallway so on the way to the bathroom I peeked into the banquet room where the whole Phish crew was having dinner. By this point I was frustrated with trying to find the correct bathroom in each country, and this restaurant didnt have the international symbols printed on the doors. One bathroom door was held open so I assumed it was the mens room and besides, I was only washing my hands. So I went in and started washing my hands when someone came out of the one stall. I turned my head around and sure enough, it was Trey. We quickly exchanged the standard automatic greetings (Hows it going Fine and you, etc.) and he left to have his dinner. Immediately afterwards an American woman strolled in and exclaimed What are you doing in the ladies room?
The venue itself was a movie theater, but the chairs had been removed from the floor in front of the stage. The floor was tri-level and Paul Languedocs mix position was at the front of the middle section so anyone standing even with or behind the board was well above the heads of everyone in front of the board. The third tier was a cafe/bar setup with tables from which you could watch the show. There was a balcony hanging over the cafe section but it was closed off. I would estimate somewhere between 750 and 1,000 people were there.
Pre-show all the tapers were buzzing. It appeared that a Walkman-sized DAT recorder was attached to the soundboard and everyone wanted to know who was lucky enough to get a patch from Paul. We soon found out what was really happening. Just before the lights went out, Chris Kuroda went to the tapers' section and said, Now would be a good time to start your decks! Shortly thereafter the lights dimmed, the intermission music faded out, Paul pushed Play on the Walkman DAT hooked up to board, and out of the PA came a portion of the Carini Had a Lumpy Head the band had recorded and mixed down during soundcheck! The band came out on stage and got into position while the soundcheck was playing and on cue launched into a red-hot version of the song using the prerecorded portion as an intro!
The show was amazing and for the second set Fish wore his dress the only time for the whole tour. After the show there was an Italian bootlegger with a table set up right in front of the crews tour bus selling bootleg T-shirts and other items with the Phish logo. He literally had his back against the bus! Needless to say, sales were not brisk that night for him. The band had made arrangements for a bus to take everyone back to Piacenza because the town of Cortemaggiore did not want the Phish-heads hanging out all night waiting for the public shuttle to start again in the morning. All in all, with the size and intimacy of the town, the mood of the other fans, and the intensity of the show, it was one of the best overall Phish concert experiences I think I will ever have!


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One can debate the merits of East Bay leagues holding tournaments in baseball or softball to determine their automatic qualifiers to the North Coast Section playoffs, rather than having it go to the regular season champion.
But there's no question these tournaments will add some drama to the next two days.
The Diablo Valley Athletic League, the Tri-County Athletic League and the West Alameda County Conference are each holding tournaments this week to determine automatic qualifiers for the NCS playoffs, which begin next week. The East Bay Athletic League and Mission Valley Athletic League in baseball will settle things with a number of key regular-season games helping to decide their champions and who get the automatic berth.
Here are the key games in each league.
BVAL: In baseball, Liberty can clinch the league title outright with a win over Freedom on Thursday. If the Lions lose and both second place Heritage and Deer Valley win Thursday, there will be a three-way tie for first and each team will share the title. But Liberty, since it beat both Heritage and Deer Valley in the second half of the league season, gets the automatic berth to NCS.
In softball, Heritage has already clinched first place and the automatic berth.
DFAL: The Campolindo baseball team and the Alhambra softball team have already sewn up league titles and automatic berths.
DVAL: A pair of exciting league tournament championship games are on tap for Thursday, as Clayton Valley Charter plays College Park at Concord High in baseball and Concord faces College Park at Northgate in softball.
College Park won both meetings with Clayton Valley last week, and Thursday's game could feature another excellent pitching matchup between Falcons junior Joe DeMers and Eagles senior Gabe Taylor.
In softball, Concord, the two-time defending NCS Division II champion, faces a College Park team that has won five of its last six. The winner gets to host an opening round NCS game. Concord swept College Park in a home-and-home series in late March.
EBAL: Four baseball teams -- Amador Valley, California, De La Salle and San Ramon Valley -- are tied for first with 8-5 records. California plays at De La Salle on Thursday, and on Friday, Foothill plays at Amador Valley and San Ramon Valley plays at Monte Vista.
If two teams finish tied for first, then the tie is broken first by head-to-head results, then by who finished with the better record in the second half of the league season. If the two teams are still tied, then the automatic qualifier is determined by a lottery, which was held before the season.
A three- or four-way tie is first broken using head-to-head record between the teams tied for first. If two or three teams are still tied, then second-half records are used. If after that two teams are still tied, then the process reverts back to the first tiebreaker.
Amador Valley has already wrapped up the EBAL softball title and the automatic berth.
MVAL: James Logan has clinched the league's automatic berth in softball, but things are more complex in baseball. Newark Memorial and Washington, which split their two regular-season meeting, both have 9-4 records going into the last game of the season.
If those two teams stay tied, the automatic berth goes to the team with the better record against the team that finishes third. If that doesn't solve anything, then it goes to the team with the better record against the fourth-place team, and so on.
TCAL: Salesian beat St. Patrick-St. Vincent in the softball tournament title game for the league's automatic bid to NCS. In baseball, Pinole Valley beat St. Patrick-St. Vincent 9-0 in a league semifinal Wednesday and will take on St. Mary's in the final Friday.
WACC: Foothill and Shoreline Division titles will be settled Thursday in tournament championship games. In baseball, there's a doubleheader at Laney College, with Arroyo facing Bishop O'Dowd in the Foothill title game at 3:30 p.m. and San Leandro facing San Lorenzo in the Shoreline title game at 6 p.m.
In softball, Castro Valley faces Arroyo in the Foothill Division title game at Larry Standley Field in Hayward at 5 p.m.
Online Extra
For details of Kennedy-Fremont's 2-0 win over Newark Memorial on Wednesday, visit www.contracostatimes.com/high-school-sports or www.insidebayarea.com/high-school-sports.

subset: commoncrawl


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DOT commissioner: State lacks funds to finish Spaulding project
PORTSMOUTH — N.H. Department of Transportation Commissioner Christopher Clement said Friday the state lacks about $80 million to complete the Little Bay Bridge project to widen the Spaulding Turnpike.
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Novo Nordisk at 90
Novo Nordisk at 90
03.14.13 | By Christian Clymer
Today, we are happy to feature a guest post from Alan Moses, Senior Vice President and Global Chief Medical Officer at Novo Nordisk
Ninety years ago, Novo Nordisk began its journey to change diabetes and over the years also has turned to improve outcomes for other chronic conditions. Our story begins with a Nobel-winning physiologist, August Krogh, whose wife, Marie, was living with type 2 diabetes. Upon hearing of the discovery of insulin, Marie immediately saw the potential to change lives and convinced August to seek permission to produce this life-saving hormone in Denmark. So began a journey of continual innovation and dedication to the patient.
Since 1923, our company has sought to change diabetes through persistence, commitment and a philosophy that puts patients first. That gives us a unique perspective on insulin and diabetes. Our unique focus has driven us to produce multiple generations of insulin, each generation providing clinical advantages over the last. This dedication to research laid the foundation for Novo Nordisk to have the global reach and impact it has today.
Since the beginning, our commitment to fighting diabetes has been personal - and it still is. Many of our 30,000 passionate and highly-skilled employees all over the world have personal connections to the disease -including me. Having a son with type 1 diabetes makes me acutely aware of the challenges patients and their families have with this serious disease.
Today, millions of people with diabetes rely on us for their treatments. While we've done a lot to improve the lives of diabetes patients, there is still more to do. According to the International Diabetes Foundation, more than 550 million worldwide will have diabetes by 2030. Millions of people continue to suffer from diabetes-related complications due to a lack of diabetes awareness, unhealthy lifestyles or inadequate access to health care. The costs to society are staggering and they continue to rise.
The situation is becoming unsustainable. We know that globally, only half of all people with diabetes are diagnosed. (In the U.S., it's better, but not much.) Of those who know they have the disease, only half receive care. Half of the people with access to care achieve treatment targets and just half of this population achieves desired outcomes.
We are determined to change this. In addition to continuing to improve our medicines and devices, this means taking a deeper look into how we can make a difference beyond our medicines.
Increased access to diabetes care is one way we are responding to this challenge. We've committed to a worldwide goal of reaching 40 million patients with medical care by 2020. Our broad portfolio of treatments allows us to continue to provide insulin that is affordable and accessible for those who do not have access to the diabetes treatments. To help these treatments get to the people who need them, we're working with partners in developing markets to establish more reliable distribution channels. Our products, global presence and strong partnerships create an important platform to change diabetes care.
In addition to patient care, increased disease education and awareness continue to be priorities in our fight against diabetes. We are advocates for diabetes screenings to aid in early detection and effective, community-based prevention programs.
We're also responding to the gaps in patient-physician communications that further complicate the unique challenges of diabetes. Throughout the year, we'll report findings from our DAWN2 study on the needs of diabetes patients, their family members and healthcare providers. Our goal is to help find ways to better support and empower patients. These insights can also help physicians communicate more effectively with patients - supporting improved outcomes.
As we reflect on our past 90 years of progress, it's clear to us that while we have much to celebrate, our work is not done. Until we defeat diabetes, we will continue to identify new and more effective ways to support people with diabetes to live fuller, healthier and more productive lives.


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Colin Kaepernick is doing the Super Bowl Week media rounds -- this morning he stopped by KNBR's table and discussed a few interesting things.
Let's zero in on one specific thing: Kaepernick said that he'd like a fair deal in any potential contract extension with the 49ers, but added that there's a balance when you look at the 49ers' hopes of also re-signing players like Anquan Boldin and Donte Whitner.
This is not only a smart PR way to approach the possibility of a new deal, it's the best way to convince 49ers management that...
1) There's plenty of common ground with Kaepernick to try to hammer out a deal, since he's making it clear that he understands they can't just give him every dollar available;
That can only motivate Jed York and Trent Baalke to see what they can do to work out a deal. Harsher words and larger prospective money demands would've definitely cooled the 49ers' desire to sit down and talk with Kaepernick and his representative;
2) Even if Kaepernick is maybe saying these things partly for effect (which is understandable), it's a great, open-minded way to start a negotiation -- and it shows the 49ers that Kaepernick is approaching this with big-picture thoughts.
And you want to invest in big-picture, team-building leadership, especially at the QB position.
Now this doesn't mean a new Kaepernick deal is inevitable this off-season.
This remains a tricky situation -- there's a lot of moving pieces and the 49ers will have to figure out what number works not only for Kaepernick but for Boldin & Whitner (both unrestricted free agents), and several younger players who could get long-term extensions (Aldon Smith, Mike Iupati, Michael Crabtree)...
And Kaepernick has one year left on his current deal, at about $1M.
If he's seeking a monster number -- say, something like the 7-year, $126M deal Jay Cutler signed last year -- then that would be very tough for the 49ers to do if they want to keep most of this roster together for a while.
If the 49ers and Kaepernick can't get to an agreeable number, the 49ers have the leverage of knowing that they have Kaepernick at a very cheap price in 2014, and if there's no extension, they can franchise-tag him for 2015 and 2016 and then can hold him even in 2017 because there are special provisions for QBs.
Going year by year with franchise-tags isn't cheap -- the franchise-tag salary number for QBs will probably exceed $16M in 2015—but it's the going rate for very good QBs and the 49ers can afford it.
At the very least, York and Baalke can afford to keep that option in their pocket heading into the talks with Kaepernick this off-season. They do not have to pay him long-term money yet because Kaepernick isn't at that point in his career or his contract.
If the 49ers throw $18M a year at Kaepernick now, for 7 years... what happens if things go sour in 2014? They're stuck. I'm not saying the 49ers believe it'll go sour, but I'm saying there's no reason for them to avoid protecting themselves against that possibility now.
That means: A shorter-term offer, possibly at a higher price than the 49ers would like but at a number that makes sure Kaepernick is happy and knows he's valued.
What will Kaepernick want, knowing all this?
I think he'd like a high salary figure—he has been a ridiculous bargain for the last two years, and he'd like that changed, I would imagine.
And I think he'd like some security—cash in hand.
What if the 49ers offer three years, $45M? Would Kaepernick take something like that? Maybe four years, $62M?
A deal like that wouldn't put Kaepernick among the top-10 QB average salaries (it'd be 12th or 13th), but it's good money, much of it could be guaranteed (not difficult to do with QBs, you can put that in as roster bonuses) and would allow Kaepernick to...
(I really do believe the Kaepernick and Boldin situations, in particular, are joined in the 49ers' minds—they have X-number of dollars available to pay those two slots and what one of them is paid affects the other.)
This would be semi-comparable to the 6-year, $65M deal Aaron Rodgers signed with the Packers in October 2008—when he was 25 (Kaepernick is 26 now) and as Rodgers was just taking over the starting job.
Green Bay and Rodgers wanted to lock in at one number to provide him some security and to know he was the long-term QB, but also give him a chance to come back later in his career for much larger dollars if he proved he was worth it.
In April of last year, Rodgers signed a five-year, $110M deal (giving him a $22M annual average salary, highest in the NFL).
The 49ers would have similar motivation to do something like that with Kaepernick, though I wouldn't think it would be for as long as six years, and it would be at a higher number.
(I know I recently suggested $8-9M as an average salary for Kaepernick, but I'm adjusting that up after talking to a few people)...
There you go, that's the compromise I see possible for Kaepernick and the 49ers.
Let's see if the two sides see it, too.


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Press Alt + shift + h then Enter to skip to secondary navigation. Mac users press Control + shift + h
Pump and Dump
"Pump-and-dump" schemes involve the touting of a company's stock (typically small, so-called "microcap" companies) through false and misleading statements to the marketplace. These false claims could be made on social media such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as on bulletin boards and chat rooms. Pump-and-dump schemes often occur on the Internet where it is common to see messages posted that urge readers to buy a stock quickly or to sell before the price goes down, or a telemarketer will call using the same sort of pitch. Often the promoters will claim to have "inside" information about an impending development or to use an "infallible" combination of economic and stock market data to pick stocks. In reality, they may be company insiders or paid promoters who stand to gain by selling their shares after the stock price is "pumped" up by the buying frenzy they create. Once these fraudsters "dump" their shares and stop hyping the stock, the price typically falls, and investors lose their money.
Additional Information
Investor Alert—Don't Trade on Pump-And-Dump Stock Emails
Investor Alert: Social Media and Investing – Avoiding Fraud
Pump and Dump Schemes
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Eye Health Center
Eye Diseases Rising at Rapid Rates in U.S.
June 20, 2012 -- Vision problems -- many of them potentially causing severe vision loss or blindness -- are on the rise in the U.S., according to a new report.
Most dramatic is the rise in diabetic retinopathy, says Jeff Todd, chief operating officer of Prevent Blindness America, which issued the report.
Diabetic retinopathy involves damage to the blood vessels in the retina. It can lead to blindness.
In the past 12 years, it has risen an alarming 89%, Todd tells WebMD. Nearly 8 million people ages 40 and above now have it.
"We suspect that is largely due to the spike in diabetes and the diabetes epidemic we are facing as a country, as well as the increase in Hispanic and African-American populations, which tend to have a higher rate of diabetes," he says.
Another vision problem, age-related macular degeneration, is up substantially, with a 25% increase, Todd says. The macula is the part of the eye that provides sharp, central vision.
More than 2 million age 50 and older are affected now.
The report, titled "Vision Problems in the U.S.," was released today by Prevent Blindness America and the National Eye Institute.
Vision Problem Report Details
These reports are issued periodically, using Census data and new research. For the current update, the researchers compared the current number of Americans with vision problems with the numbers from 2000.
Besides the increases in macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, they found:
- A 19% increase in cataracts, with more than 24 million people age 40 and older affected
- A 22% increase in open angle glaucoma, with nearly 3 million people age 40 and older affected
Cataracts, more common with age, are a clouding of the eye's lens.
Glaucoma is an increase in fluid pressure in the eye. It can damage the optic nerve and lead to blindness.
About 1.3 million Americans are blind, the report says.
Another 2.9 million have low vision. This is a loss of eyesight that makes everyday tasks such as reading difficult.
Another 34 million, ages 40 and older, have myopia, or nearsightedness.
Farsightedness, or hyperopia, affects 14 million age 40 and older.
As the number of Americans with vision problems has been increasing, Todd tells WebMD, funding for research and education programs has been slashed. Last year, the CDC saw its research funding dip from about $3.2 million to about $500,000, he says.


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Behind the Scenes of Country Weekly's 2013 Spring Fashion Shoot
Baubles and bangles and bling, oh my! A palette of pretty from Shyanne.
Spring means it's time to freshen things up with some new country music and a new country look.
Night or day, inside or out, looking good and on trend is as easy as a spring breeze when you follow the fashion lead of country's hottest newcomers. And where would these trendsetters hang out to show off their new duds? At one of Nashville's hottest clubs—the multi-level Honky Tonk Central.
To see the finished product from our Spring Fashion shoot pick up the April 1 issue of Country Weekly, on stands now.
Country Weekly Readers Get 10% Off!
Find the majority of the brands featured in our spring fashion pictorial at BootBarn.com.
Plus, save 10% off your next Boot Barn order when you use the coupon code: COUNTRYWEEKLY
*Valid at bootbarn.com only. Excludes sale, UGG Australia, Levi's and Wrangler 13MWZ, 47MWZ, 936DEN. One-time use coupon. Valid until 4/30/2013.


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Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions (Hardcover)
How do we think about money? What caused bankers to lose sight of the economy? What caused individuals to take on mortgages that were not within their means?What irrational forces guided our decisions?And how can we recover from an economic crisis?
In this revised and expanded edition of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Predictably Irrational, Duke University's behavioral economist Dan Ariely explores the hidden forces that shape our decisions, including some of the causes responsible for the current economic crisis. Bringing a much-needed dose of sophisticated psychological study to the realm of public policy, Ariely offers his own insights into the irrationalities of everyday life, the decisions that led us to the financial meltdown of 2008, and the general ways we get ourselves into trouble.
Blending common experiences and clever experiments with groundbreaking analysis, Ariely demonstrates how expectations, emotions, social norms, and other invisible, seemingly illogical forces skew our reasoning abilities. As he explains, our reliance on standard economic theory to design personal, national, and global policies may, in fact, be dangerous. The mistakes that we make as individuals and institutions are not random, and they can aggregate in the market with devastating results. In light of our current economic crisis, the consequences of these systematic and predictable mistakes have never been clearer.
Packed with new studies and thought-provoking responses to readers' questions and comments, this revised and expanded edition of Predictably Irrational will change the way we interact with the world from the small decisions we make in our own lives to the individual and collective choices that shape our economy.
Praise For…
"This is a wonderful, eye-opening book. Deep, readable, and providing refreshing evidence that there are domains and situations in which material incentives work in unexpected ways. We humans are humans, with qualities that can be destroyed by the introduction of economic gains. A must read!"
-Nassim Nicholas Taleb, New York Times bestselling author of The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable
"Sly and lucid. . . . Predictably Irrational is a far more revolutionary book than its unthreatening manner lets on."
-New York Times Book Review
"Surprisingly entertaining. . . . Easy to read. . . . Ariely's book makes economics and the strange happenings of the human mind fun."
-USA Today
"A fascinating romp through the science of decision-making that unmasks the ways that emotions, social norms, expectations, and context lead us astray."
-Time magazine
"In creative ways, author Dan Ariely puts rationality to the test. . . . New experiments and optimistic ideas tumble out of him, like water from a fountain."
-Boston Globe
"An entertaining tour of the many ways people act against their best interests, drawing on Ariely's own ingeniously designed experiments. . . . Personal and accessible."
"Ariely's book addresses some weighty issues . . . with an unexpected dash of humor."
-Entertainment Weekly
"Inventive. . . . An accessible account. . . . Ariely is a more than capable storyteller . . . If only more researchers could write like this, the world would be a better place."
-Financial Times
"Ariely's intelligent, exuberant style and thought-provoking arguments make for a fascinating, eye-opening read."
-Publishers Weekly
"A taxonomy of financial folly."
-The New Yorker
"A marvelous book that is both thought provoking and highly entertaining, ranging from the power of placebos to the pleasures of Pepsi. Ariely unmasks the subtle but powerful tricks that our minds play on us, and shows us how we can prevent being fooled."
-Jerome Groopman, New York Times bestselling author of How Doctors Think
"Dan Ariely is a genius at understanding human behavior: no economist does a better job of uncovering and explaining the hidden reasons for the weird ways we act, in the marketplace and out. PREDICTABLY IRRATIONAL will reshape the way you see the world, and yourself, for good."
-James Surowiecki, author of The Wisdom of Crowds
"PREDICTABLY IRRATIONAL is a charmer-filled with clever experiments, engaging ideas, and delightful anecdotes. Dan Ariely is a wise and amusing guide to the foibles, errors, and bloopers of everyday decision-making."
-Daniel Gilbert, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University and author of Stumbling on Happiness
"The most difficult part of investing is managing your emotions. Dan explains why that is so challenging for all of us, and how recognizing your built-in biases can help you avoid common mistakes."
-Charles Schwab, Chairman and CEO, The Charles Schwab Corporation
"PREDICTABLY IRRATIONAL is wildly original. It shows why—much more often than we usually care to admit—humans make foolish, and sometimes disastrous, mistakes. Ariely not only gives us a great read; he also makes us much wiser."
-George Akerlof, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2001 Koshland Professor of Economics, University of California at Berkeley
"Dan Ariely's ingenious experiments explore deeply how our economic behavior is influenced by irrational forces and social norms. In a charmingly informal style that makes it accessible to a wide audience, PREDICTABLY IRRATIONAL provides a standing criticism to the explanatory power of rational egotistic choice."
-Kenneth Arrow, Nobel Prize in Economics 1972, Professor of Economics Stanford University
"A delightfully brilliant guide to our irrationality—and how to overcome it—in the marketplace and everyplace."
-Geoffrey Moore, author of Crossing the Chasm and Dealing with Darwin
"After reading this book, you will understand the decisions you make in an entirely new way."
-Nicholas Negroponte, founder of MIT's Media Lab and founder and chairman of the One Laptop per Child non-profit association
"PREDICTABLY IRRATIONAL is a scientific but imminently readable and decidedly insightful look into why we do what we do every day...and why, even though we 'know better,' we may never change."
-Wenda Harris Millard, President, Media, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
"Predictably Irrational is an important book. Full of valuable and entertaining insights that will make an impact on your business, professional, and personal life."
-Jack M Greenberg, Chairman, Western Union Company, Retired Chairman and CEO, McDonald's Corporation
"Predictably Irrational is clever, playful,humorous, hard hitting, insightful, and consistently fun and exciting to read."
-Paul Slovic, Founder and President, Decision Research
"Freakonomics held that people respond to incentives, perhaps in undesirable ways, but always rationally. Dan Ariely shows you how people are deeply irrational, and predictably so."
-Chip Heath, Co-Author, Made to Stick, Professor, Stanford Graduate School of Business


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SXSW 2014 has now officially come to a close and after a week in Austin we're ready to give our feet and our ear drums a rest (well.. at least from fully amplified rock bands in tiny bars.)
Smack in the middle of the week, we kicked off the 2014 Bonfire Sessions with our SXSW show case with sets from Kurt Vile, Cloud Nothings, Gardens & Villa, and Natural Child. Check out some of the photos!


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What to Expect From Sony's PlayStation Event Tonight
Sony big "mystery" PlayStation event is tonight in New York — where the company is widely expected to unveil the successor to its last home console, the PlayStation 3.
It will be a significant — and risky — step for the company. However, early signs don't bode well for the console market, with Nintendo slashing its sales outlook in the wake of disappointing holiday demand for the Wii U.
The console makers have taken an unusually long time to update the hardware for their games consoles, with Nintendo's Wii U coming out last year in time for the holiday shopping season.
Given the proliferation of smartphones and other alternative kinds of gaming, Sony has had to ramp up its attack plan with different approaches, like including cloud-based gaming and a controller with touch features, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal's Ian Sherr and Daisuke Wakabayashi.
Digits will be covering the event live starting at 5:45 p.m. ET tonight. In the meantime, here's everything we are expecting to come at the event tonight from previous reports:
- There will be a successor to the PlayStation 3. We don't know if it will be called the "PlayStation 4," but it will be Sony's next-generation console.
- The device will have an optical drive. While digital distribution is becoming increasingly popular, it will still read discs.
- "Cloud gaming" will integrate in some way. Sony purchased Gaikai, a service that would let users play PlayStation games as they are streamed over the Internet instead of downloading them. One possibility is using the service to stream PlayStation 3 games, essentially allowing backwards compatibility.
- It will be heavily integrated into existing social networks. For example, the new PlayStation also will allow players to share achievements on Facebook or Twitter and share footage of game play online through YouTube.
- Cross-platform play is a possibility. Sony's new console may also allow users to compete against others using different hardware, such as smartphones and other portable devices, according to the report.
- Sony has been developing a controller with touch features as well. It's a nod to some of the touch-based gameplay that's arisen thanks to smartphones. OUYA, a startup building an Android-powered console, for example, plans to release a controller with a touchpad built in.
- Sony's new PlayStation is expected to run on chips made by Advanced Micro Devices.


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Holiday Types
Holiday TypesKE Adventure Travel offer holidays with a difference, with packages to suit everyone from family groups to seasoned explorers. Whether you want to climb Kilimanjaro, trek the iconic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu or cycle across the Tibetan plateau, we can make it happen.
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About UsWith more than three decades of worldwide experience, KE Adventure Travel is one of the world's most respected adventure tour operators. Proudly independent and with a team of some of the most travelled staff in the industry you can always find someone to talk to who has actually been on your chosen trip.
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Holiday Overview
Holiday Overview
- Views of dominating spire of Monte Viso from Pain du Sucre
- The wooden chalets of Fonts de Cervieres
- A tough 6-day trekking holiday in a hidden corner of France
- Fully supported with luggage transferred to gites each evening
Sandwiched between Briancon and the Italian border, the remote Alpine region of Queyras offers exceptional trekking with a distinctly 'off-the-beaten-track' feel. Based very loosely on the Tour of Queyras circuit (GR58), this exciting new trekking holiday has been modified to include the very best hikes in the area. From a succession of charming refuges and gites, we climb around 1000 metres each day to reach the high ground, before continuing to such rocky summits as Rocca Bianca (3059m), Pain du Sucre (3208m) and Grand Glaiza (3293m). Throughout the holiday, there are fantastic views, north to the snow-capped Ecrins and Vanoise massifs and south to the dominating spire of Monte Viso (3841m). Seeking out the quietest areas, we can enjoy our picnic lunches in the company of marmots, chamois and golden eagles. The quality of the hiking in this hidden corner of the French Alps is a revelation!
Is this holiday for you?
This is a superb weeks walking holiday in a hidden corner of the Alps. The trip loosely follows the route of the GR58, the Tour of Queyras long distance walk, which itself has a number of variants. However, we also make every attempt to get away from the main route, to follow rocky ridges and to reach a number of 3000 metre peaks. We follow way-marked footpaths for most of the route, but also find ourselves on unmarked trails, loose scree and easy scrambling terrain. Almost every day we are faced with a considerable ascent (between 1000 and 1500 metres) from a valley base, to reach the upper slopes. This is a tough trek, with 6 long days - expect to be out for 8 to 10 hours per day, including stops.
Brief ItineraryView in full
- A single transfer is provided from Turin Airport to the group hotel in Briancon.
- Drive to Basse-Rua and walk via the Pic d'Escreins (2734m) to Ceillac.
- Walk to the Col des Estronques (2651m) and the Pointe des Marcelettes (2900m). Overnight in Le Chalp.
- Drive, then hike to Rocca Bianca (3059m) and Pic de Caramantran. Descend to the Refuge Agnel.
- Ascend Pain de Sucre (3208m), then descend beside Lac Foreant and continue downvalley to Abries.
- Hike up the Guil Valley to Pic du Malrif and Grand Glaiza (3293m). Descend to the hamlet of Les Fonts.
- Walk via the Col de Chaude-Maison to the top of L'Escalinade (3087m). Descend and return to Briancon.
- Departure day. A single transfer to Turin Airport is provided.
Tour dates and prices
Tour dates and prices
Land Only
|Sun 21 Aug - Sun 28 Aug
|Code QST /02/16/
|Status Departed
More information
|Sun 09 Jul - Sun 16 Jul
|Code QST /01/17/
|Status Available
|Book now
More information
|Sun 20 Aug - Sun 27 Aug
|Code QST /02/17/
|Status 2 more to guarantee
|Book now
More information
|Sun 10 Sep - Sun 17 Sep
|Code QST /03/17/
|Status Available
|Book now
More information
Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the trip is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'.
We have set up the transfers to work with the Ryanair flights from London Stansted. Click on the 'Flights information' link below for further information on booking low cost airlines. Alternatively if you would prefer to book a 'flight inclusive package' using scheduled airlines from the UK please contact our flights department for a quote. Whilst flight prices are likely to be more expensive you will benefit from full financial protection.
BOOK WITH KE CONFIDENCE - No surcharge guarantee
The price of our holidays can change depending on a variety of factors but unlike some other tour operators, KE have undertaken to guarantee the Land Only price of your holiday will not change after you have booked. The price when you book is the price you will pay, whether you are booking for this year or the next. Book early to avoid any tour price increases, get the best flight prices and take advantage of our 'No Surcharge Guarantee'.
KE Adventure Travel is a fully ATOL licensed and bonded tour operator with ABTA and AITO.
Map & Itinerary
Map & Itinerary
The Route
- point
- peaks
- trip direction
- transfer
- trek
Holiday Itinerary
A single transfer is provided from Turin Airport to the group hotel in Briancon.
A single transfer is provided from Turin Airport to the group hotel in Briancon. KE Land Only package services begin with the night's accommodation at the hotel.
Accommodation Hotel
Drive to Basse-Rua and walk via the Pic d'Escreins (2734m) to Ceillac.
After breakfast, we are met by our English-speaking tour guide or 'accompagnateur' and our support vehicles. We then drive south to Guillestre and along an unsurfaced road into the valley of the Rif Bel Stream. We disembark close to the Basse Rua Refuge (1760m) and the few derelict houses and intact chapel of Alta Rua. Our main bags will be transported from here to our next overnight stop at Ceillac. Meanwhile, we set off through pine forest on a marked path, zig-zagging up above the trees and finally to the summit of an open, rocky peak, the Pic d'Escreins (2734m). There are great views to the north-west of the Ecrins peaks - Barre des Ecrins, Pelvoux and Meije. After a leisurely lunch, we have the option of following the rocky Crete de Panestrelle or taking a slightly easier descent route into the small valley of Pelouses, where we find a streamside shepherd's hut and the chance to bathe our feet. We then cross steep, forested slopes on the south side of the Cristillan Valley, traversing around on scant trails and gaining quite a lot of height, before dropping down steeply to the village of Ceillac, with its distinctive church in the middle of a corn field. Overnight in a hotel.
Accommodation Hotel
Ascent 1330m
Distance 14km
gps data View now
Meals bld
Descent 1500m
Time 7 - 8 hrs walking
Walk to the Col des Estronques (2651m) and the Pointe des Marcelettes (2900m). Overnight in Le Chalp.
Our walk today starts out through the village of Ceillac, which has several 'carpenters' crosses' and another distinctive church or bell-tower. We are now following the GR58, as we ascend the upper valley of the Cristillan torrent, which bears signs of avalanche damage, with broken trees and lots of debris in the bed of the stream. We may well see other trekkers, as we make the long and zig-zagging pull up to the Col des Estronques (2651m). From the pass (leaving the GR), we head east along the Crete de la Tete and the Crete de la Blavette to the Pointe des Marcelettes (2909m). Here, is a good place to stop for lunch overlooking the valley of the Aigue Blanche and the village of St. Veran, before dropping down steeply to the Pic Cascavallier (2576m). Traversing beneath this, we reach a grassy ridge (where marmots play) high above the village and then drop down through a forest to finally reach the valley floor. A trail through flower-filled meadows then leads down to the very pleasant gite 'La Baita du Loup' in Le Chalp.
Accommodation Gite / Hostel
Ascent 1100m
Distance 14km
gps data View now
Meals bld
Descent 1000m
Time 7 - 8 hrs walking
Drive, then hike to Rocca Bianca (3059m) and Pic de Caramantran. Descend to the Refuge Agnel.
After breakfast, we use our support vehicles and a local shuttle bus to take us (on a rough track) to the head of the valley. Following the continuation of this track towards a prominent chapel, we turn off beside a stream and make directly for a rocky headwall, below which is situated the Refuge de la Blanche (2499m), a great place to stop for coffee. The headwall above forms the frontier with Italy and the most direct crossing point is at the Col Blanchet. We follow the path towards this pass, then divert across boulders and scree to make an ascent of Rocca Bianca (3059m), a rocky peak north of the pass which involves easy scrambling to reach the summit cross. There are superb views of the impressively spiky Tete des Toillies (3175m) south of the pass. From here, our route traverses across to the Pic de Caramantran (3025m) and then descends to the Col de Chamoussiere (2884m). Great views from the former of Le Pain de Sucre and of Monte Viso. We drop down from the pass and traverse around to the Refuge Agnel (2580m).
Accommodation Mountain Hut / Refuge
Ascent 850m
Distance 11km
gps data View now
Meals bld
Descent 600m
Time 7 hrs walking
Ascend Pain de Sucre (3208m), then descend beside Lac Foreant and continue downvalley to Abries.
Today's route follows the GR58 across the Col Vieux (2806m) and pleasantly down the Bouchouse Stream to L'Echalp. After a steady early hike to the col in an hour, we set out to include the ascent of the very prominent Pain de Sucre (3208m). This is basically a long rocky ridge climb at an angle of about 30 degrees. The approach follows a cairned trail to a summit that overhangs a huge rocky bowl, with Pic d'Asti directly opposite and Monte Viso in the near distance. Look out for bouquetains (wild goats) and climbers on the steep rock walls of Pic Asti. We then descend to the pass and then continue to loose height to Lac Foreant, a good place to have lunch. Fishermen can often be seen here, in pursuit of a species of char. A long descent, through pleasant Alpine scenery, takes us to L'Echalp, where we meet a local transfer bus for the 10 minute journey down the valley to our gite in Abries. Abries is a pleasant mountain village with shops and bars, for those in need of refreshment.
Accommodation Gite / Hostel
Ascent 600m
Distance 14km
gps data View now
Meals bld
Descent 1500m
Time 7 - 8 hrs walking
Hike up the Guil Valley to Pic du Malrif and Grand Glaiza (3293m). Descend to the hamlet of Les Fonts.
There are a couple of options from Abries, the first of which involves transferring to le Roux and hiking up to the Col des Thures (variant of the GR58). Alternatively, we can hike directly from the gite (on the main GR58), traversing high above the Guil Valley and passing the old hamlet of le Malrif (in the process of being rebuilt). Higher, there is a steep zig-zag climb across flower meadows to reach le Grand Laus, the biggest of the Malrif Lakes and an impressive place. A steep 300 metre climb then leads up to the Pic du Malrif (2906m), a great place to stop for lunch with excellent views, including Monte Viso. From here, we take a diversion away from the main trail, heading north-east along the Crete aux Eaux Pendantes to the high point of the trip at Grand Glaiza (3293m). Again, this is on the Italian border and there are views northwards into that country. Descending directly across scree (and possibly snow early in the season) we rejoin the valley trail and follow the Pierre Rouge Stream down to the collection of old (and renovated) wooden houses at Les Fonts (2040m). Our overnight accommodation is in a pleasant gite.
Accommodation Gite / Hostel
Ascent 1700m
Distance 19km
gps data View now
Meals bld
Descent 1200m
Time 8 - 9 hrs walking
Walk via the Col de Chaude-Maison to the top of L'Escalinade (3087m). Descend and return to Briancon.
Today, we follow the GR58 for just half an hour, with Pic de Rochebrune (3320m) ahead of us, before turning off westwards on a scant trail towards the Col des Marsailles (2601m). Great views of small and larger (emerald colour) lakes as we traverse around from this col and make a steep ascent to the Col de Chaude Maison (2825m). From here, a ridge-line heads towards Rochebrune and we followe this over the top of Turge de la Suffie (3024m) to l'Escalinade (3087m), with great views now of Rochebrune. Look out for the rare aromatic herb - genepi, used to flavour a strong local spirit. Back to the col, we make a steep descent across scree and Alpine meadow to a bergerie, from where an abandoned forest road takes us down to the Bletonnet Stream. A pleasant hike then leads to Le Laus, where we meet our transport for the 30 minute drive back to Briancon and our hotel.
Accommodation Hotel
Ascent 840m
Distance 13km
gps data View now
Meals bl
Descent 1150m
Time 7 hrs walking
Departure day. A single transfer to Turin Airport is provided.
KE Land Only package services end after breakfast. A single early morning transfer to Turin Airport is provided.
Meals b
Holiday Information
Holiday Information
What's included
- A single group transfer from Turin Airport on Day 1 and back to Turin Airport on Day 8
- An experienced English-speaking local tour leader
- All accommodation as described
- Meals as detailed in the Meal Plan
- All road transport required by the itinerary
- Baggage transfers between each overnight stop
What's not included
- Travel insurance
- Airport transfers other than group transfers
- Some meals as detailed in the Meal Plan
- Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc
Continental breakfasts are provided - cereals, fruit juice, tea and coffee, bread and a variety of spreads including jam, honey and Nutella, for example. Each day at breakfast, the tour leader will lay out the items that will make up the group's packed lunches - bread, cheese, sliced ham, tinned tuna, sausage, salad, fruit. For each day of the trip there will also be a couple of small high-sugar 'energy food' items provided for each group member. At each of the gites and at the mountain refuge, a full 3-course dinner will be served, usually a soup dish, followed by some wholesome local speciality and a desert.
Meal plan
Joining Arrangements & Transfers
It is also possible to travel direct to Briancon on the train from London. Take the Eurostar train from London Saint Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord. Then, take the overnight (sleeper) train from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz to Briancon, which arrives at breakfast time. For information about train travel between the UK and Briancon, check out www.seat61.com
Contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your joining instructions 3 to 4 weeks prior to departure. If you are driving to Briancon we will provide route details and directions to the group hotel.
View the gallery below for images of the style of accommodation used
A Typical Day
After breakfast at our overnight accommodation, we try to get a reasonably early start. We will carry a packed lunch and stop off for a picnic at a scenic spot along the day's route. We will generally walk for around four hours in the morning and for three to four hours in the afternoon. We aim to reach our next stop by late afternoon, giving us time to rest for a couple of hours before dinner is served. The pace of the walking is not too fast, as the French 'accompagnateurs' usually work to a rate of ascent of approximately 300 metres per hour. This allows us plenty of time to stop to admire the views and to take photographs.
Group Leader & Support Staff
Spending Money
150 euros will easily cover all personal expenses including the 2 evening meals in Briancon. There are cash point facilities in Briancon.
Baggage Allowance
We ask you to restrict your luggage to a single trek bag and a small daypack of around 30 - 40 litres. Your main trek bag will be carried between overnight stops in the support vehicles. There is no weight restriction as such other than that imposed by your international carrier.
KE Trek Bag
All KE clients will receive a FREE KE trek bag. These have been specially made to stand up to the rigours of adventure travel. Your KE bag will be posted to you when your trip is guaranteed to run or on receipt of your booking if the trip is already guaranteed. If you have travelled with us before and already have a KE trek bag you can select an alternative free gift in the booking process.
This holiday involves going to moderately high altitude. During the course of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 2500 metres. Most people will have no difficulty with this level of altitude but before coming on the holiday, we recommend you read the advice on trekking at high altitude. You can also talk to one of our trekking experts if you have any concerns about altitude.
Equipment List
The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum.
You must bring the following items:
Hiking boots
Trekking trousers
Lightweight waterproof overtrousers
Thermal Baselayer - leggings
Thermal baselayer shirts (1 short sleeve, 1 long sleeve)
Lightweight trekking shirts (not cotton)
Fleece jacket or warm jumper
Waterproof jacket
Warm fleece gloves or mittens
Warm hat
Ear plugs (especially if you are not the one snoring)
Daypack 30 - 40 litres
Headtorch and spare batteries
Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)
Water bottles 1 litre (x2)
Sheet sleeping bag or sleeping bag liner
Washbag and toiletries
Travel towel
Antibacterial hand wash
Basic First Aid Kit including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).
Small Tupperware or similar container with lid (approx 1 Litre capacity) for lunch salads.
Spoon and penknife
The following items are optional:
Spare laces
Trekking poles
Travel clothes
Small padlock to lock trek bag
Group Size and Holiday Status
For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in 'Dates and Prices' table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.
Passport & Visas
A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit.
Visa Europe
UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa.
Health & Vaccinations
You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations. UK residents should obtain a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is still vital when travelling overseas.
The unit of currency in Europe is the Euro.
Electricity Supply & Plug
We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:
Preparing For Your Trip
It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a trekking trip getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. We would suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime leading up to your trip. Before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in a number of long walks in hilly country.
Know before you go
As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices 'Know before you go' campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas, and we recommend that all KE travellers take a look at the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination on the official FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.
KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.
Generally, the temperatures that we can expect to encounter during the day will be reasonably warm, in the range 18 to 28 degrees centigrade. At night in the valleys we can expect the temperature to drop to between 10 and 15 degrees centigrade. The weather is usually stable at this time of year, but mountainous areas do generate their own weather systems and occasional rain and even stormy weather cannot be ruled out.
Tour of the Queyras. Alan Castle. (Cicerone)
IGN Serie Bleue Topographic Survey 1:25,000 Scale
The French survey's excellent detailed topographic map series. For full coverage of this route you need 3 sheets: Guillestre (sheet. 3537 ET). Mont Viso (sheet. 3637 OT). Briancon (sheet 3536 OT)
Recent Reviews & Blog Posts
Recent Reviews & Blog Posts
Good or bad we publish ALL reviews so you can make an inspired and informed choice.
Why KE?This is a great value alpine adventure! 6 days of guided wallking, with single timed transfers from Turin airport, baggage transfers and all but 2 meals included in the holiday price!
At A glance
- Max group size: 14
- 6 days trekking
- Max. altitude - 3293 metres
- Join in Turin
Accommodation & Meals
- 3 nights Hotel
- 3 nights Gite / Hostel
- 1 night Mountain Hut / Refuge
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners
KE Holiday Gallery
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Driveway Clearance
Below are the guidelines and instructions for how to establish a driveway clearance.
You may paint your own driveway clearance if:
- You paint only the curb returns (including face of returns), wings (including face of wings) and/or the throat. You may not paint outside the curb returns or wings.
- You must use "TRAFFIC LINE YELLOW" paint which may be purchased at traffic supply companies. (See Yellow Pages of Telephone book.)
- The width of the paint must be not more than 8 inches wide as measured from and starting at the curb face.
- You may not paint a driveway clearance if the driveway is located at or within a prohibited parking area such as "No Parking At Any Time," "No Parking In This Block," "Truck Loading Zone All Days, All Hours," etc.
- You may not paint a driveway clearance at a curb cut (driveway) which does not meet the definition of a driveway (see Title 16).
For additional details and explanations, please click here.
You may pay the City to paint your driveway clearance: (please see Sample driveway clearance drawing)
If painting the curb returns or wings is not possible or is perceived as insufficient, you may request that the Bureau of Transportation paint a larger driveway clearance and/or install no-parking signage. The Bureau will individually evaluate each request. Since this service is for the benefit of the requester rather than the general public, the following fees will be charged:
(Upon request)
|Necessary Signs
(Staff determined)
|Each. Generally used in unimproved right-of-way.
To request a special driveway clearance:
Write or e-mail a letter to the Bureau explaining your situation. Please include your name, address, and daytime telephone number. A rough sketch of the problem area would be helpful. A Parking Technicians will contact you to determine the appropriate action and fees. Driveway Clearance Applications will be accepted throughout the year. However, actual paintings will occur during the months of May through October, depending on weather conditions.
Send it to:
Parking Control
Bureau of Transportation System Management
1120 SW 5th Avenue, Room 800
Portland OR 97204-1969
For specific issues click here for email addresses of Parking Technicians and their Districts.
Should you have any questions, please contact the Bureau of Transportation System Management, Parking Control Section, at 503-823-5185.
Illegal driveway paintings are declared to be a public nuisance and are either:
Illegal driveway paintings are declared to be a public nuisance and are either:
Removed by the City at the adjacent property owner's expense, or
Referred to the City Code Hearings Officer, who is empowered to initiate legal action and can levy fines up to $500 a day for code violations.


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The Daily Docket: Hostess to Continue Path to Liquidation
Hostess Brands Inc. will continue down the path to a full liquidation after a last-ditch mediation session with its striking bakers' union failed to save the Twinkie maker. Read the Daily Bankruptcy Review article via The Wall Street Journal.
AMF Bowling Worldwide Inc. is seeking to put itself on the auction block in February, with its lenders standing by to take the bowling-alley operator out of Chapter 11 if no bidders step forward. Click here for the DBR article.
(Daily Bankruptcy Review and DBR Small Cap are daily newsletters with comprehensive coverage and analysis of emerging and in-progress insolvencies and turnarounds. For a two-week trial, visit our homepage, scroll to the bottom and click "try for free.")
US Airways Group flight attendants, who are trying to get the airline to finish up with contract negotiations before moving forward with a merger with AMR, voted to strike, Bloomberg reports.
According to the Record, a judge put two cases against the city of Stockton, Calif., on hold because of the city's bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy bonuses are getting harder to collect, WSJ reports.
Boston-based Upper Crust pizza chain has more than 40 possible bidders' interest, the Boston Globe reports.
Write to Melanie Cohen at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MelanieLisa.


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Women's Health
Menopause: Smokers Have More Hot Flashes
May 3, 2012 -- There are countless reasons why women who smoke should kick the habit for their health, but here's one more.
Smoking women have more hot flashes as they transition through menopause, and this is especially true for women who carry certain genes, a new study finds.
Previous research has linked cigarette smoking to earlier menopause and worse symptoms, but the study is among the first to examine the impact of smoking and genes on hot flashes.
Smokers Had More Hot Flashes
As expected, smokers in the study reported more hot flashes than women who did not smoke.
But smokers who also carried specific gene variations linked to estrogen metabolism and susceptibility to environmental toxins had the most hot flashes of all, says researcher and ob-gyn Samantha Butts, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
Butts says knowing that smoking increases the frequency and severity of hot flashes may convince some menopausal women to give up cigarettes once and for all, even if they have tried to quit before.
About 1 in 5 women in the U.S. -- roughly 20 million women -- smokes cigarettes.
"The reason close to 20% of women still smoke is because it is really hard to quit," Butts says. "But if you tell a woman who is having terrible hot flashes that it might be because she smokes, that could make all the difference."
Menopause, Smoking, and Genes
The study included close to 300 women followed for just over a decade as part of a larger menopause study. About half the participants were African-American and half were white.
The women were still menstruating when they entered the study, and they either entered menopause or completed it over 11 years of observation.
During this time, blood samples were taken and the women were questioned about their medical and reproductive histories, as well as their menopausal symptoms and lifestyle.
Women who had one or more of five gene variations linked to the metabolism of estrogen and susceptibility to environmental toxins, like cigarette smoke, had more hot flash symptoms than women without the variants. This was especially true for African-American women, Butts says.
After factoring in the impact of other hot flash risk factors, such as obesity and alcohol consumption, African-American smokers were 84% more likely to experience hot flashes at one point in the study than African-American nonsmokers. White smokers were 56% more likely to have hot flashes than white nonsmokers.
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Aracely Villalpando Brooks
Administrator, UH College of Business Foundation
Aracely Villalpando Brooks serves the C. T. Bauer College of Business as the Foundation Administrator for the University of Houston College of Business Foundation. Aracely joined the University of Houston, C. T. Bauer College of Business in 2006. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Houston-Downtown and completed the Certificate of Accountancy Program at Bauer College. She is a recipient of the Bauer College Staff Scholarship, 2010-2012 UH Staff Scholarship, and the 2010 Dean's Merit Award. In addition, she served as treasurer for the 2009-2010 Bauer College Morale and Training Committee. Prior to joining the Foundation, Aracely served Bauer's External Relations Office as the Development Coordinator. For several years, she was a member of the Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP) and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
Contact Info
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Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance - University of Houston-Downtown
Certificate of Accountancy - C. T. Bauer College of Business


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Both names describe the male's two long black tail feathers, which in flight look like a single pin or twig. These feathers are very distinctive, accounting for a quarter of the total length of the drake when in full plumage.
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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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Photograph by Thomas Abercrombie
From Photography Field Guide: Travel
Keep these tips from photographer Robert Caputo in mind as you're taking photos on your next trip.
- Keep your eyes open and camera ready as you head out into the world. Architecture, colors, and mountains all give us a sense of place.
- Wherever you go, be on the lookout for humor you can incorporate into your photographs.
- The Internet offers a great way to do research. Search for both information and pictures of the place you're going. Good research helps you save precious time on your trip.
- Carry a notebook that fits easily into your camera bag, and take notes about both what you want to photograph and what you already have. When you cover a lot of subjects, it's easy to forget.
- Getting lost is a great way to meet people. Don't be shy about asking for directions.
- When packing gear for a trip, carefully consider each item. When was the last time you used it? Are you really likely to need it? If the answers are "a long time" and "no," leave it behind. You don't want to be overburdened with equipment.
- Be patient and friendly with customs and security inspectors at home and abroad. They have a difficult job, and getting impatient with them usually means it just takes longer.
- Practice and experimentation are the keys to doing anything well. Try different compositional techniques on your family and friends and study the results before you set off on a trip.
- Quite often, foreground elements are low to the ground. You may have to squat or lie down to get them properly placed in the frame.
- Practice motion photography at home before you leave. Go to an amusement park with rides, a race track, or even a nearby highway. You don't want to waste precious time on your trip learning.
- When you are on a trip, make an effort to get ahead of your companions so you can photograph them in the environment. Go in the first raft, on the first bus, or whatever, and shoot back.
- Don't be shy about photographing people. The ways they are dressed and the ways they behave can help your images convey both the look and feeling of different seasons in different places.
- Check the weather forecast in the local media as soon as you arrive somewhere so you can make plans for sunny, cloudy, or rainy days.
- If you are without a tripod but want to shoot with a long shutter speed, set your camera on your camera bag, bundle up your jacket into a pillow, and use that—there is always something you can use for support.
- Use some distinctive feature of the place you are visiting as a silhouette against a rising or setting sun. The sun itself is too hot to photograph unless it is masked by haze or some object.
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LEGO Shop Home Themes Chima™ Wolf Legend Beast
Wolf Legend Beast
- Item: 70127
- Ages:7-14
- VIP Points: 0
- Pieces:111
- Retired product
Sprint to freedom with the LEGO® Legends of Chima™ Wolf Legend Beast with poseable joints, Worris, CHI-powered Derimous sword and a shield.
Speed across the kingdom of Chima to unleash the magical Wolf Legend Beast!
There is conflict in the once peaceful kingdom of Chima and the magical Legend Beasts have been captured in the Outlands. Send Worris on a quest to unleash the Wolf Legend Beast using his CHI-powered Derimous sword and shield to battle past rival tribes. Jump onto the powerful Beast's back and make a rapid escape. Includes Worris minifigure with a weapon and accessory.
- Includes Worris minifigure with a weapon and accessory
- Wolf Legend Beast features a detailed wolf head, huge paws, claws and poseable joints
- Includes a CHI-powered Derimous sword and translucent CHI shield
- Place Worris on the Wolf Legend Beast and disappear into the night
- Pose the Wolf Legend Beast
- Measures over 2" (7cm) high, 5" (15cm) long and 2" (6cm) wide
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OAKLAND -- A woman shot to death Tuesday night outside her East Oakland home has been identified by relatives as Lanedria Grant, 47, who they described as a loving mother and grandmother.
A 31-year-old man also wounded in the shooting was recovering. His name has not been released by police.
Relatives of Grant said she was the mother of five, grandmother of nine and the aunt of Oscar Grant III, fatally shot by former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle at the Fruitvale BART Station on New Year's Day 2009.
Relatives said the good weather on Tuesday night brought many people outside, including children and older residents, when a gunman opened fire about 6:45. p.m. in the 600 block of Douglas Avenue in the Brookfield Village area.
Bertrina Grant-Works, of Oakland, the dead woman's sister, said the family cannot think of a reason why anyone would want to shoot her. She does not know the name of the man wounded or if her sister knew him.
"I really can't explain the loss. Everyone is very hurt," Grant-Works said.
Lanedria Grant's son, Anthony Holly, 28, of Reno, said in a phone call what happened to his mother "is not fair and it's not right. I have two daughters and now my mom is not going to see them grow up."
Grant died at the scene. The gunman apparently fled in a car.
Police have not released a motive or said who they think was the intended target.
Grant-Works said the family is in the process of setting up a fund to pay for funeral expenses.
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $15,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.


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For the past few months I have been running 50-55 mpw, with 4 hard workout days, 2 days easy, 1 day off. I'm a freshman girl in high school and I have heard a lot about "saving gas in the tank" for college.
I recently developed an ankle injury, which sucks. Once I'm healed, if I go back to 45-50 mwp with 3 hard days, will my times drop? I don't want to get hurt again and I want to have something left for the future.
Basically, do I have to keep ADDING stuff to get better? I know if someone went from 35-45 miles they would obviously get better, does that mean going from 55-45 will cause detraining?
I would say 4 hard days in a week is to much, I am not a coach. 3 days with recovery runs and a long run (which should be counted as a hard day should be fine). When do you have some down time after Cross Country before track or do you run Winter track? Summer miles are important for Cross Country but most miles thru early summer are just base miles with not a lot of speed work. Bottom line your body need to heal/recovery some part of the year with reduced miles/speed work. Good luck don't burn out.
The mileage you're at, quality assumes increasing importance. What you're doing on those hard days and how you arrange recovery/easy days matters. (It also helps reduce the chances of injury.) Like BOSNPM, I'm not a coach. If you don't have access to someone you trust as a coach, you can find a lot of info online at places like mcmillanrunning.com and halhigdon.com and books like "Daniels Running Formula" (Jack Daniels) or "Advanced Marathoning" (Pete Pfitzinger). I know you're not a marathoner but there's a lot of stuff about periodization and planning workouts in the Pfitzinger book. Periodization basically means your training runs in cycles throughout the year and during each cycle you concentrate on a particular phase: base-building, strength, speed, endurance, etc. The goal being to peak for your racing season toward the end of the cycle.
Like the others I'm not a coach, but I think we need some more information. What type of running are you doing (speed ,distance interval)? How is your milage spread out (10,10,10,20 or 5,5,5,5,30)? Upping milage does not mean getting better speeds. If you change how you train you might be able to drop your milage and boost your times. Short 5-7 speed training runs a couple of times a week, hitting the gym a couple of times for stregth, and one long run a week could droop your milage down to 30-40 miles a week, but since you are training smarter your times could pcik up.
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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NEW: For a prettier blog interface, see the Wordpress version!
Headlines for Friday:
|Work on reading paper
|Bake cookies
|Work on reading paper some more
|Merienda with Steve
|Dinner with Mike and Alice Mc
|Work on reading paper some more
|Play with Rails
1. Girl!: 00:43
Build one webapp to keep track of what's in my fridge, and another webapp to keep track of what's in my closet.
I'm going to do it in _pink_, too... ;)
On Technorati: rails, ruby, girl
Random Japanese sentence: 猫は鳥めがけて飛び跳ねた。 The cat sprang at the bird.
2. Thank you: 00:57
In darkness, distant lights shine clearly.
On Technorati: friends
Random Japanese sentence: じゃあ、ネコの世話は誰がするの。 Who will take care of your cat then?
3. Imagining my future: 01:08
Happiness is knowing that I am in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.
When the fear of goodbyes clouds my vision of the future, friends, remind me that I don't have to know where I will be decades from now. All I have to know is that at each step, I am following my heart, my mind, and my conscience. Remind me not to feel guilty about my home nor to be afraid of becoming part of the brain drain. If I live for something greater than myself, then I belong to the world and not just to my country.
If my path leads back to the Philippines, I will strive to do my best there. If my path keeps me here in Canada for a while, then I will be fully here, not anxiously awaiting my return. Life will take me where I need to be.
I am here to learn as much as I can and to do whatever I can. If I am to live here, even just for a while, I want to live for something greater than myself. I want to be part of my community, wherever that may be. I want to make a difference.
And even in this country, there are things I can do...
On Technorati: reflection, purpose
Random Japanese sentence: 強盗は屋根からあの邸宅に入ったに違いない。 The cat burglar must have entered the mansion from the roof.
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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Pedestrian killed on La. 1
Published: Sunday, July 20, 2014 at 11:56 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, July 20, 2014 at 11:56 a.m.
A Raceland man was killed Saturday night after he walked into the path of a pickup on La. 1 near Ochsner St. Anne Hospital, police said.
David Bergeron, 29, walked into the path of a 1997 Ford travelling south on La. 1 about 10 p.m. The truck was driven by Billy Duet, 51, of Raceland, State Police Troop C said.
Bergeron was pronounced dead at the scene. Duet, who was uninjured, submitted to a breath test and was cleared of any alcohol involvement. Routine toxicology tests are pending on Bergeron.
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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PLEASANTON -- Welcoming families to his Pleasanton home, "Santa Bob" Stanley stands on his front porch, passing out candy canes and glowsticks to children enchanted by the flashing lights and animatronic residents of "Bob's World."
Across town, retired software engineer Bob Widmer greets a line of bundled-up visitors to his brightly illuminated backyard. They walk the pathways though the production -- formerly known as "Bob's World Too" -- and are awed by its intricately detailed winter scenes, inflatable Santas and elves and miniature golf course.
Two Bobs; two popular Pleasanton Christmas displays. Separately, they've come to be known as the top must-see holiday attractions in town.
Bob Stanley says he's been the caretaker of "Bob's World" for about 30 years. After his kids had grown, Stanley needed something to fill his time and put out a few plywood decorations. It turned into a friendly competition with a neighbor.
"He gave up, and I kept going," Stanley said with a laugh.
Over time, Stanley added animatronic characters, miniature snow scenes, a nativity and more than 50 wire-frame light-up pieces to his collection. The white-bearded Stanley also began dressing up as Saint Nick for neighborhood children. Today, his home is a holiday destination.
"Bob's World has become a city gathering place," Stanley said. "We get a lot of kids here."
Around the time "Bob's World" was taking off, Bob Widmer started hanging wood cutouts. Over time, he fashioned 20 unique scenes, opening his entire backyard up for guests to view them. Widmer and his family worked on this year's display since August, racking up hundreds of hours installing the lights, model trains and miniature villages. There's a scavenger hunt to find hidden items in the displays, and the garage opens up for portraits with Santa Claus on weekends.
"It's not like we're Christmas nuts or anything," Widmer said. "We just kind of got into this thing by default. We just started building and never stopped."
Widmer's display was nameless at first, but then he started calling it "Bob's World Too," a reference to, but not to be confused with, the other popular Pleasanton home.
"Because I'm Bob and he's Bob, it's kind of strange," Widmer said with a laugh. "People thought we were brothers ... We'd see each other once a year to see what we could steal from each other."
When he found out there was a second "Bob's World," Stanley said he wasn't bothered.
"We don't try to compete with each other at all," Stanley said. "There are no trade secrets in this business."
To avoid further confusion, Widmer changed the name of his display to "Widmer World." He doesn't charge admission, but does accept donations to pay for his electric bill, and for charity. He estimates he draws 6,000 to 8,000 visitors annually.
Both men said they've received more traffic since being featured on CaliforniaChristmasLights.com, a website ranking light displays throughout the state run by Livermore resident Alex Dourov. Dourov said the two Bobs have a had a "friendly game of one-upmanship" going on, contributing to their popularity.
Proud of his annual production, Widmer said he's asked PG&E for a bigger transformer but was denied, and says he's "run out of land and power."
With a corner house, Stanley is restricted from further expansion. Nearing 67, Stanley said that, though climbing the trees isn't as easy as it once was, he'll keep going as long as he has his health.
"I enjoy all the smiles and making people happy; you don't have anyone coming by in tears." Stanley said. "That's why we do it."
Contact Jeremy Thomas at 925-847-2184 or follow him at twitter.com/jet_bang.
BOB'S WORLD, 2612 Calle Reynoso Road in Pleasanton, is open from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 28. See a video at http://bit.ly/SlqbQS.
WIDMER'S WORLD, (also known as Bob's World Too), is at 671 Chelsea Court in Pleasanton. It is open 6 to 9 p.m. daily through Dec. 31. For details, visit http://www.widmer-world.com.


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But, our users have let us know that our current saving and sharing options aren't enough: they want more! So, due to popular demand, we're excited to announce three new sharing/saving options: Read It Later, LinkedIn and Evernote. Here's how each new feature works:
- Read It Later: It's been called a "DVR for the Web." Use Read It Later to save all of the great articles you find in Zite to read at another time or on another device. Additionally, if you are a Read It Later user, you'll be able to jump-start your Zite personalization using articles you've saved.
- LinkedIn: Share articles with your professional network via LinkedIn.You can update your network, post to groups within LinkedIn, or even send an article to someone in your LinkedIn network.
- Evernote: Add a web clip of an article to your Evernote archive.
- E-mail is still the clear winner among Zite users at 37 percent
- Instapaper and Twitter are tied for second with 24 percent
- Facebook holds its own at around 10 percent
- Delicious is in the last spot at 4 percent


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ROME (AP) - Black smoke poured from a chimney at the Vatican's Sistine Chapel late Tuesday, signaling that a new pope was not elected in the first round of voting by a conclave of cardinals.
The 115 cardinals will reconvene Wednesday and are scheduled to hold four votes each day until two-thirds of their ballots bear the name of the same man.
No new pope was no surprise -- a pope has not been elected on the first ballot in centuries.
After each vote, the Vatican will release smoke from a chapel chimney. Black smoke means no two-thirds majority, so no new pope. White smoke means we have a winner. If you are not hanging around St. Peter's Square when the vote comes down, follow @PopeAlarm on Twitter for the results.
Earlier Tuesday, the chanting cardinals, after entering the chapel, took their individual oaths of secrecy in Latin. Then came the traditional order of "Extra Omnes" - "Everyone out" - that instructs support staff to leave and signals the official beginning of the conclave.
The cardinals vote in prayerful silence. Although many use social media to connect with the faithful, everything about this historic exercise is old school. Each will receive a card with the heading "Eligo In Summum Pontifem," meaning simply "I Elect as Pope." Beneath, they handwrite their choice.
In contrast to the 2005 election that selected Pope Benedict, which came on the heels of a massively attended funeral for John Paul II, the crowds outside were sparse during the day. But St. Peter's Square began to fill as night fell.
Standing closest to the St. Peter's balcony where the new pope will meet the masses was the Herrera family from Queretaro, Mexico. In contrast to the throngs of vacationers, they made the trip to Rome solely to see the new pope elected.
"We are Catholics, and this moment means a lot to us," said Monica Herrera, flanked by her husband Ernesto and young daughter Regina. Behind them hung a Mexican flag. They plan to stake out this prime spot for as long as the conclave lasts in order to be front row when history is made.
"John Paul had a lot of charisma and Benedict was very scholarly, so the next pope has big shoes to fill," she said. "He'll have to be modern, and have the strength to confront the church's many issues. We are in a moment of crisis now."
As to who might ascend to the throne of St. Peter, Herrera's bet is "on an Italian," she said with a smile. "I think after a German and a Polish pope, they want it back."
Before entering the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals charged with making that decision on behalf of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics attended a special Mass in St Peter's Basilica. In his homily, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, referred to the "beloved and venerated" Benedict XVI and his "brilliant" pontificate.
The first day "establishes the spiritual aspects of the conclave," said Matthew Bunson, a religious scholar and author of We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI. "That happens through the procession into the Sistine Chapel and the constant prayers asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit."
But perhaps more significantly, it clues cardinals in to who's trending.
"They learn from that first vote who the leading contenders are and what level of backing they have," said Bunson, noting that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's strong support at the outset of 2005's conclave led to him becoming Pope Benedict in just four ballots.
"If someone gets lots of votes on the first ballot, the momentum could take hold and this could be over quickly," said Thomas Reese, analyst for the National Catholic Reporter, adding that the winner will need two-thirds -- or 77 -- of the 115 votes. "On the other hand, if someone gets to 60 fast, but then stalls, that could require a lot of negotiations to see who's going to compromise on their candidate."
Reese said what partly paved the way for John Paul II's revolutionary election as a Polish pope was that votes were split between the two leading Italian cardinals, resulting in a winning third path. Although presently Milanese Cardinal Angelo Scola is often mentioned as among the leading "papabili," U.S. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York also received his share of press of late.
But whenever the new pope is elected, spokesman Lombardi warned that it may take a while before the throngs of faithful and tourists waiting in St. Peter's Square see the new pontiff. That's because the next man to sit on the throne of St. Peter plans to stop in the Pauline Chapel to pray before alighting on the balcony to face the masses.
"It could take longer than last time," when it was almost an hour before Pope Benedict appeared, Lombardi said. "Especially if the new pope immerses himself in prayer."
Monday morning workers readied that famous balcony for its big moment, putting up massive red velvet curtains with a crane while bystanders snapped photos.
Meanwhile, deep inside the labyrinthine recesses of the powerful but troubled city-state, the nearly 100 people who will assist in the conclave - from priests to drivers - swore an oath of secrecy.
That vow echoes the elaborate technological measures being taken to prevent digital information from entering or leaving the Sistine Chapel, perhaps the world's most historic and valuable polling station. Those include the installation of cell jamming devices and even raising the floor of the 15th-century building.
What politicking does occur between balloting sessions will be contained to walks, dinners and late-night chats at the Casa Santa Marta, a five-story building inside the Vatican's imposing walls that houses all of the red-robed electorate. But when there finally is a majority vote, the world will know thanks to smoke signals.
Out of the thinnest of capped chimneys, mounted specifically for the conclave, black or white smoke will pour. Two stoves actually were installed in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave. One is for burning the ballots - previously, wet straw was added to create a blacker smoke, but the method was found lacking - and the other is for burning a special mix of chemicals that should definitively create the right color.
Far from the bustle and tourism of the Basilica, retired bus driver Pietro Boccamazzi, 77, goes to church ever day at Rome's St. Anastasia Church. "I love whoever is pope," he said, but added that an Italian pope would be best. "No disrespect disrespect to other nations. But the church is here (in Italy) for a reason."
In 2005, Benedict's winning ballot took far longer to convey than anticipated. To begin with, the white smoke looked gray. And the Vatican bells that traditionally ring in the election of a new pope stayed silent because the bell-ringer was waiting for clearance from a high-ranking official. Let the drama begin.


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Robert Kennedy Jr. says that some right-wing broadcast hosts are driving the hatred behind this year's rise in hate crimes.
In Jackson for a memorial for slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, Kennedy said Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck are among those who have drummed up anger against abortion doctors and others.
He linked that to an increase in killings such Wednesday's fatal shooting of a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington and the killing of abortion provider Dr. George Tiller in Wichita, Kan.
Kennedy was Friday night's keynote speaker for annual memorial to Evers, the Mississippi NAACP leader who was killed in Jackson on June 12, 1963.
Kennedy said Evers was as much a hero as any soldier who died in the Revolutionary War.


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AG again? Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., says there is no truth to a news report that President Obama will nominate him for U.S. attorney general when Eric H. Holder eventually steps down. "I have no plans to be attorney general of the United States. I'm happy in the job I have now. I'm gratified and grateful that the people of Connecticut have elected me to serve them," Sen. Blumenthal told Hearst Newspapers. This is curious. In his role as one of the most junior senators, Sen. Blumenthal hasn't received the copious publicity he reveled in while Connecticut's attorney general for 20 years. He has resorted to goofy stunts, such as last year's infamous "Elmo news conference," to keep his face on TV and in newspapers. For what other position will Sen. Blumenthal declare his lack of interest: Supreme Court justice? Director of National Intelligence? Pope?
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jacmo wrote on Nov 27, 2012 6:42 AM:
" Rather that a tingle up my leg the thought of him as AG or any other national position sends shivers of dread down my spine. "
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