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Results tagged ' Katie Witham '
2013 Indians Season in Review: April
TribeVibe over the coming weeks will look back at the 2013 Indians season by month, with records, stats, top moments and more on which fans can reflect. April, though a slow start record-wise, provided some memorable moments, which you can watch below. All information and stats courtesy of Indians Baseball Information staff, unless otherwise noted. Photos by Dan Mendlik and Kyle Emery.
- Monthly Record: 11-13
- Overall record: 11-13
- Home record: 3-6
- Road record: 8-7
- Weekend record (the Indians were 36-18 on weekends overall): 4-4
- Standings: Fourth place, 3.5 GB
- High-water mark: 2-0
- Carlos Santana: .389 AVG (28-72), 5 HR, 13 RBI, 14 R, 12 BB
- Ryan Raburn: .320 AVG, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 10 R
- Mark Reynolds: .301 AVG, 8 HR, 22 RBI, 17 R, 10 BB
- Michael Bourn: .333 AVG, 4 2B, 7 R
- Chris Perez: 1.13 ERA (1 ER in 8 IP), 3 SV, 9 K, .179 opp. AVG
- Bryan Shaw: 0.87 ERA (1 ER in 10.1 IP), 13 K, .167 opp. AVG
- Nick Hagadone: 2.45 ERA (2 ER in 7.1 IP), 8 K, .091 opp. AVG
- Justin Masterson: 4-2, 3.12 ERA (14 ER in 40.1 IP), 39 K, .231 opp. AVG
- Batting: .265 AVG (222-837), 36 HR, 115 RBI, .333 OBP, .465 SLG
- Pitching: 4.27 ERA (100 ER in 211 IP) 32 HR allowed, 87 BB, 190 K
The Indians notched 11 walk-off wins in 2013, one of which came in April:
- April 12: Nick Swisher drove in Jason Kipnis on a cold Friday night, giving Justin Masterson his first complete game shutout of the season in a 1-0 win. It also inspired many a caption contest due to Swish's reaction.
April 8, Cleveland: On Opening Day at Progressive Field, the Indians invite Mickey Brantley, Sandy Alomar Sr., Steve McAllister, Steve Swisher and Tito Francona to throw ceremonial first pitches to their sons — Michael Brantley, Sandy Alomar Jr., Zach McAllister, Nick Swisher and Terry Francona. (See picture in gallery above.)
April 12, Cleveland: Masterson became only the fifth pitcher in the last 19 seasons with 3 complete game shutouts and 10 wins before the All-Star Game in the Tribe's 1-0 win over Chicago.
The shutout was one of 16 for the Tribe in 2013, tied for second-best in the American League; the Indians also were 30-17 in one-run games, second in MLB. Plus, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Masterson became just the third pitcher in baseball history to record victories against both reigning Cy Young Award winners in the same season (with award winners taking a loss), but the first to do so in consecutive starts. Masterson beat R.A. Dickey in Toronto on April 2 and David Price in Tampa on April 7.
April 21, Houston: New Tribe outfielder Drew Stubbs' first homer as an Indians player was a memorable one, as it landed in landed in some guy's tub of popcorn, showering Houston outfielder Rick Ankiel with said popcorn. (SportsTime Ohio reporter Katie Witham mended fences, buying the gentleman a new tub – in exchange for an interview, of course!)
April 30, Cleveland: In a 14-2 game, this happened – in the eighth inning! And you wonder why everyone loves the big guy?
Did you know?: The club's .798 OPS was second-best in the Majors behind Colorado's .810 and the highest for Cleveland in April since 2009 (.799).
Get to Know Katie Witham
SportsTime Ohio on-field reporter Katie Witham, a native of Alliance, OH, has an older brother and a younger sister. Witham recently took a break from her own reporting and sat down for an interview with TribeVibe.
TribeVibe: Are you married? Do you have a family?
Katie Witham: I got married last September 3, Labor Day weekend. I was back to work on Monday, right here. My husband, Richie, works with Nationwide Financial and is kind of all over. We've been together for 10 years.
TV: How did you meet?
KW: We were college sweethearts. We both played soccer in college [at] Capital University.
TV: What was it like playing soccer in college?
KW: It's funny. I actually had the opportunity to play softball in school, and instead, I ended up going to Capital and playing soccer. I could have gone to [Kent State University] or Wright State to play softball. I was going to go as an outfielder.
I went to Capital, played soccer there. Our head coach was the coach of both the men's and women's teams. Our practices were ending when the other ones were beginning. That's why I ended up meeting Richie on the field there. We dated all through school. Playing soccer there was fun. I was a defender. We had a really good team. We won the OAC my junior year and went into the tournament. We did a lot of growing up.
TV: What was your major at Capital?
KW: I double-majored in radio, television broadcasting and film and communications. I wanted to be a news anchor. Growing up, my mom had me involved in everything. I did sports, I did dance, and I did singing lessons. I grew up with Stefani Schaefer, and when she started working in the broadcasting industry, I was like, 'That's what I wanted to do.' I knew my major and everything as a freshman. Everyone thought I was crazy [for knowing my major]. I interned in news a little bit, and the news business is very serious, kind of negative. I thought, 'I can't do this on a day-to-day basis.'
I was thinking of changing my major, when my head coach was like, 'You should come out and intern with us at the Columbus Crew.' My head coach at the time was also the play-by-play voice ever since they started in 1996. He got me in with an internship there, I ended up meeting our producer for the game, who decided to have me do halftime stuff as the intern. It just kind of developed into doing sideline stuff, in-game stuff. I was hooked. I didn't realize at the time that I could go into broadcasting to do sports stuff. It wasn't really popular yet. I was lucky; I kind of fell into it.
TV: How did you end up with SportsTime Ohio?
KW: I'm just a freelancer, in general, so I kind of work with everybody. I started working with STO back in 2008, doing high school football state championships and basketball state championships. Last year, I got a phone call — not too long before the season started — and they said, 'Hey, did you want to do Indians games by chance?' Last year was my first year. I couldn't pass up that opportunity.
TV: Is baseball your favorite sport to watch?
KW: It definitely is now. I have to say that I am a soccer nut because I was just playing it in college and being around it. I worked with the Columbus Crew for seven years. I was eat, sleep, live soccer. I came to the Jake back in the day with my dad so many times. My older brother played baseball for a year at Wright State. I grew up around baseball, and I do love it very much. The last year and a half, it's become my favorite.
TV: What is the best part of your job?
KW: The best part of my job is getting paid to come watch baseball games. Honestly, you can't beat that. To call this work is hard to do. I'm fortunate because everyone that works at STO, they work incredibly hard, they put out a great product, yet they still know how to have fun and be lighthearted and not take things too seriously. It's an amazing atmosphere.
Then — you know — being with this club, they've got a pretty good group of guys, and it's been hard to call it work.
TV: Who is your favorite Indians player?
KW: I would have to say my favorite on the team since he's come up is Jason Kipnis. He's got the whole package. He's an athletic guy, who will lay it out on the field, give you everything day in, day out. He does it at the plate, on the field. In the clubhouse, he's got that personality that gravitates people towards him. He has that side where, if he had to be a leader and maybe lay into a couple of guys, he can do that, too. He's my favorite because he's fun to interview, fun to be around, and he's fun to watch on the field, too.
TV: Do you have a most intimidating moment over the years?
KW: My first interview that I ever did. I was working for the Columbus Sports Network down in Columbus. My first actual interview, one-on-one, was with Arnold Schwarzenegger. I remember them going, 'Don't screw up, Witham. Don't screw up.' He was my first-ever interview. He was great. He was so down to earth, so nice. I was shocked at how short he was. That was crazy intimidating. That was probably the most nerve-wracking because it was my first and it was him. I remember watching him in The Terminator with my dad when I was younger.
TV: How much do you research prior to interviews?
KW: I do all the research by myself. Sometimes, if there's a specific thing that happened in the game that our producers and our directors want to show the video of, they will tell me, 'Hey, make sure at some point you get this question in. They want to hear about the diving stop that Jack Hannahan made.' I write everything myself. I will take notes during the game of key moments and what I hear [Matt Underwood] and [Rick Manning] talking about. As far as prep work and everything, I make sure to do my homework before I come in. Just going over the previous day's game, if there were any main storylines that came out, and just talking with guys like Jason Stanford and seeing what they've seen.
-Megan Golden, TribeVibe contributor


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Gresham police are looking for a man with fresh bruising on or around his left jaw or eye, the result of a punch by an enraged father.
The father told police he slugged the man when he caught him masturbating in a car near a school bus stop while watching school children.
According to a news release from Gresham Police, the father was walking his two daughters to the bus stop near the 2900 block of Northeast 18th Court Tuesday morning when he saw unfamiliar vehicle parked near the stop.
As he approached, the father noticed the man in a Nissan had his pants down and was masturbating. The father said he confronted the man, who then reportedly giggled at him. The father, whose name was not available, said he then punched the man through the driver's window.
The father said the punch put a halt to both the giggling and masturbating and prompted the man to drive away quickly, northbound on Northeast Kane Road.
The father described the suspect as man as about 180 pounds and said his car as a gray 1990s-era Nissan Sentra. The car had no license plate, but may have had a dealer insert. Anyone with information may call Gresham Police at 503-618-2719.
-- The Oregonian

subset: commoncrawl


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Damn jordan jocking bron colors now smgdh
New Videos
Subscribe to the Sneaker News Youtube Channel
March 6, 2013 BY John Kim / 7
With the 'Floridians' color-combo born from the LeBron category being such a popular one among the fellas, don't you think this upcoming Air Jordan V colorway meant for girls would do well for the adults? Using the black upper and adding in the fresh hits of Fusion Pink and Bright Citrus, these Air Jordan V 'Floridians' are one of the better GS shoes we've seen, and there's no denying that the appeal in the crossover to larger sizes is certainly there. Unfortunately, these won't go beyond a size 7Y, so for our smaller-footed readers who are waiting for a release, check out the new detailed gallery below and we'll hit you with more information as it develops.
Air Jordan V GS
Black/Bright Citrus-Fusion Pink
Filed under: Air Jordan Kids Upcoming Sneakers
Tags: Air Jordan V Air Jordan V GS
Pages: 1 2
Damn jordan jocking bron colors now smgdh
I can't wait for the release date please hit me up my cubs have to have em
I definitely gotta cop these for my little one. When the release date.
I like lookin at these
Subscribe to the Sneaker News Youtube Channel


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This deal has ended.
Toys "R" Us drops the price of the Newcastle 6-Leg Swing Set with Slide bundled with the Fisher-Price Infant To Toddler Swing from $249.99 to $199.99. Even with $93.80 for shipping, it is the lowest price for the swing set alone by $95. This 6-leg swing set features a 6-foot UV-protected wave slide, two super sling swings, deluxe trapeze, air glider, four passenger lawn swing, and more. Sales tax is charged in states with Toys "R" Us retail locations.No longer available


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WARNING: Choking Hazard – small parts. Not for Children under 3 years.
Mother/Daughter: Mothers and daughters share a special bond that's written in the heart
Sister: Sisters are different flowers from the same garden
Believe: Always believe something wonderful is going to happen
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Toolbox set includes:
Set of 3
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Specify up to 3 lines, 12 characters each.
Pages are 8-1/2" x 11" each; book contains 20 pages on quality paper. Recommended for ages 3+.


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|Re: [TowerTalk] TowerTalk Digest, Vol 63, Issue 51
|Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:03:15 EDT
In a message dated 3/22/2008 4:34:22 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, firstname.lastname@example.com writes: firstname.lastname@example.com Subject: [TowerTalk] Arboreal non-wire yagis To: email@example.com Message-ID: <firstname.lastname@example.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Hi... On my 1 acre lot, between the "front yard," the house and driveway, and two towers, I'm kinda outta room for more towers, but I do have lots of "vacant" trees near the property perimeter. Please share your success stories with how to mount a yagi on the trunk of a tree. I'm looking to probably fix these in one direction, so no rotation need be accommodated. The main thing is how to attach the boom of the yagi to the trunk of the tree. If you have any photos, I'd love to see them. If you've got a "tram" type system, well, I'd REALLY like to see that! **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15?ncid=aolhom00030000000001) _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ TowerTalk mailing list email@example.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
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Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, dubbed the "green patriarch" because of his environmental activism, called the recent oil spill in the Gulf Coast a sin against nature and God.
Bartholomew, who is the spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians, said the situation calls for urgent prayers for an effective response to the crisis.
"[W]e also have a responsibility not only to pray, but also to declare that to mistreat the natural environment is to sin against humanity, against all living things, and against our creator God," he wrote in a column posted on The Huffington Post.
After 21 days, BP PLC and its team of experts have still not been able to stop the oil gushing out of the undersea well after the explosion on the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon. Some 210,000 gallons of oil is pouring into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico every day.
The April 20 blast killed 11 workers and has cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and counting, in cleanup efforts, and killed marine life. The uncontained oil spill is creeping towards the U.S. coastline and threatens the coast's active fishing industry.
Various efforts to seal the leaked oil well have thus far proven unsuccessful.
Bartholomew said everyone – individuals, institutions and industries – are responsible for the "man-made disaster."
"[A]ll of us are accountable for ignoring the global consequences of environmental exploitation," said the ecumenical patriarch. "One deepwater pipe will impact millions of lives in several states as well as countless businesses and industries."
President Obama visited the Gulf Coast earlier this month to survey the oil spill and said it threatens to be a "massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster." He also noted the damage it could do to the Gulf Coast fishing industry, which the president called "the heartbeat of the region's economic life."
The White House and some members of Congress have, in recent days, called for more understanding of the environmental impact and responsibility of offshore drilling for oil before beginning such activity. A month earlier, Obama had lifted a decades-long moratorium on offshore oil drilling along U.S. coastlines.
"We support this (more research) approach," said Bartholomew. "For, as confident as interested parties were that a disaster like this could not occur because of watertight controls and fail-safe mechanisms installed, those controls and mechanisms failed, with the horrific results we witness unfolding each day."
The global Christian leader called on people to help stop the oil spill, support the affected region, and make changes to avoid a similar disaster in the future.
Last year, the ecumenical patriarch met with President Obama at the White House to discuss the issue of climate change and ecological responsibility.


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PHILADELPHIA — Police say the 23-year-old suspect in Officer Moses Walker Jr.'s death is currently on probation and has an extensive criminal record, according to a report by the Philadelphia Daily News.
Raphael Jones had been sought as a person of interest in the case before police apprehended him in a Southwest Philadelphia apartment complex on Wednesday afternoon.
For the fully story from The Daily News, visit philly.com.


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In his opening comments to the Hillsboro City Council, Michael Brown wanted to address something about Intel's property tax breaks "head-on": the perception that the agreement is negative to schools.
"Intel has stated clearly that they, if not for the SIP [Strategic Investment Program, the state initiative allowing such deals], would not make these investments," said Brown, the city manager. "So you can't lose what you haven't generated. The schools haven't lost anything. What they've gained is the continued investment by Intel."
Brown's comments were part of a presentation that he, Finance Director Suzanne Linneen and Economic Development Director Mark Clemons gave the council Tuesday evening after the city and Washington County reached an historic 30-year deal with Intel that will allow the company more than $2 billion in potential property tax breaks on $100 billion in investment options.
"The direction I certainly have had since I've been here at the city is that we would do nothing to undermine the school district," Brown said.
Others – such as the advocacy group Tax Fairness Oregon, represented by Jody Wiser at the public meeting – disagree, saying the schools deserve a share of the SIP fees generated by the agreement. For example, city and county officials have said that Intel pays "full freight" on its land and buildings, as the property tax breaks apply to only equipment, but the company actually pays fees in lieu of those taxes, none of which go to schools. Opponents of the deal think that's unfair.
The city and county, however, have chosen to give a portion of their Gain Share money to the schools over the past two years, which has allowed the Hillsboro School District to add back enough days to reach a full calendar. Gain Share is a state program that returns to local jurisdictions a portion of the income taxes generated by companies that receive property tax breaks.
Clemons said keeping Intel in Hillsboro is essential to the local and state economy, trotting out numbers from a study commissioned by the company that suggest a quarter of the personal income in Washington County comes from Intel.
"We need to buck the trend of declining investment in North America," Clemons said, referencing the globalization of the economy. "And that's what we have the opportunity to do here in Oregon and in Hillsboro."
At the council's regular session, several area residents spoke in opposition to the deal. Russ Dondero, a retired Pacific University professor who helped require Intel to increase monitoring of its fluoride emissions, said he hopes Intel stays in the area and recognizes the company's importance. But he was not in favor of tying the region's economic future to one industry and company, remembering the booms and busts of the timber industry.
"Over 30 years, this will impose a higher tax burden on those not included in the deal – renters, homeowners and small businesses," Dondero said.
Wiser cautioned the council to be careful of what they are considering doing.
"The Hillsboro City Council and the Washington County Commission should slow down and give more than 15 days [the deal was announced last week] of consideration to this deal before tying their own and the state's hands for 30 years," she said.
The council will hold a joint meeting with the county commission on Aug. 26, when officials will vote on the deal.
-- Luke Hammill


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Hi everyone!
Been super busy, but I am feeling good lately. I'll just do a quick rundown because soon my family will be home.
FOOD: I've been fixing large vats of primal chili which has become a staple for when I am lazy. I like it with cut fresh peppers, hot and plain green. Yum. We cannot afford grass-fed meat now, but otherwise I think it's very healthy.
I've given up ice cream, but not popcorn or yogurt. I have toned them down a LOT, though.
EXERCISE: I finally got my bike fixed, and I have really enjoyed taking it on short runs around the area after the kids go to sleep. Jen and I also went roller skating. I still got it, and I still love it. We both had a good time. I got plenty of cardio, sprints, and strength-building there. We cannot do it every weekend, because it's an hour away, and because of the kids, but we'll try to go more often than never.
Sleep: Still resent sleep, and don't get enough. But it's better than it had been when last I was whining on the forum.
STUPID MISTAKES: Trying to be much more aware. A few months ago I almost ran over my wife with the car. I now feel very stupid, and am extremely attentive every time I am behind the wheel (as we all should be anyway!)
HOBBY for the MIND: I have realized that I inadvertently started a new hobby: Reading and learning about sociopaths and serial killers. I'm reading my eighth book now. Most of them focused on Ted Bundy, but I also have books on the Green River Killer, Jeff Dahmer, and John Gacy. Very interesting stuff.
I want to read more within the forum, check out other people's threads. Time is one issue, as is inexperience with forums in general. This is the first I've really joined. But I've met some pretty cool people here and would like to know some of you better.
So, there we are. I'm beginning to finally feel like I'm getting this and able to commit to it. I just wish we had more local primal friends. it's amazing how hard it is to find something at restaurants or family gatherings that are not infested with corn syrup or grain products.


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October 28, 2010 –The 5.0 version of Caringo's CAStor object storage platform includes a number of new features and enhancements designed for cloud implementations, including named objects, multi-tenancy, dynamic caching and remote data replication, according to an article posted on Enterprise Storage Forum.
Caringo officials note that named objects semantics are consistent with emerging cloud standards, and that named objects can be used in conjunction with Caringo's existing system-assigned Universally Unique IDs (UUIDs).
In addition, user-generated named objects play into multi-tenancy. CAStor 5.0 allows IT organizations to host multiple departments or divisions within one physical private cloud, creating a common infrastructure for all applications, customers and departments.
CAStor 5.0 will be available in mid-November.
For more information on the enhancements in CAStor 5.0 (which is resold by Dell, among others), see "Caringo adds named objects, multi-tenancy to cloud platform" on Enterprise Storage Forum.
Related article: Caringo conserves power with Darkive for CAStor


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The conference shuffle
June 10, 2010 - Steve Murch
Be forewarned, this is very long. My first entry in three months and I'm making it worth the wait (if you like sports and money). So grab a beverage and a snack. Forgive me for it being college football, but that is my passion.
The sports world, specifically collegiate sports, is waiting for the chips to fall with conference realignment. Who's going where, who's left out and who's staying put. ESPN, the worldwide leader in hyperbole, has thrown out words like seismic and tectonic to describe what would/could/should happen. Again, the network loves to add drama where none – or very little – exists. Disney, which owns ESPN, built an empire on self-promotion so it stands to reason that hype would follow because ESPN has an enormous amount of money (and that is a recurring theme) invested in college athletics and more to the point college football.
All the talk centers around football because football is the great revenue producer for the biggest schools in the country. The smaller schools, the ones that don't play Division I football, or more specifically FBS, have more of a reliance of basketball. The big boys really on both, but football is the real breadwinner. So the discussions about what will and won't happen generally begin with football.
The discussions began to heat up when the Big Ten announced it was going to consider expansion. The conference, which has 11 teams, saw that a conference football championship game generated big money for the SEC, Big 12 and ACC. Since it doesn't have enough schools to do that (conferences must have at least 12 schools), the expansion became an issue.
The Big Ten has a love – unrequited love – for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish has spurned the Big Ten's advances before, and barely admits it is being ogled, so the conference is looking elsewhere. The SEC, being the self-proclaimed biggest, baddest conference in all the land (remember, football drives revenue so that's where the chest thumping comes from) said it would consider expansion if the Big Ten expands. Hey, never let the chance to grow stand in the way of a good thing. The SEC just signed a huge TV deal with ESPN last year so maybe renegotiations could take place if it adds more schools and more TV markets, which could lead to more money because more eyes are on the product so more advertisers will want in on the actions, so ... (can some turn up a little Pink Floyd's "Money" right now?).
So the soon-to-be Really Big Ten (depending on how many teams there are) considers Nebraska, Missouri and Rutgers, though it hasn't made an offer (wink, wink). When that happened, someone with ties to the SEC (forgive me for not remembering because it was 2-3 weeks ago and the landscape has changed) said it would go after Clemson, Florida State, Texas and Texas A&M – raiding two other conferences.
Apparently 2-3 weeks is an eternity because the Pac-10 is now interested in six Big 12 schools (of which Nebraska and Missouri are members). That would be eight Big 12 schools gone if it all happens, so that conference is all but dead. The thing is with the Big 12 is some of the teams didn't exactly come together in wedded bliss. Right from the start there were issues, so maybe being dissolved is a good thing.
The way I see it, and I'm clearly just a fan who has an opinion, when the dust settles there might be two fewer original BCS conferences and may be a new one. There may be a new one because the biggest of the big boys really like their money and might not want to share if they find a way to get a larger chunk of the pie.
See, it all comes down to money.
Where does it all end? It might not. It might just take a short respite until the cold hard reality that some of the changes that took place were should have been considered. Who might win from all the changes and who might lose? The problem with trying to pick winners and losers is that nothing, not one single school, has changed (until tomorrow when it's expected that Nebraska will announce its intentions to move to the Big Ten).
However, what sports fan with an opinion has waited for everything to play out?
When the dust settles, and the newlyweds have had their grace period, the only really winner in the whole conference two-step might be the Mountain West Conference. The others will either remain neutral or be losers.
Let's start with the Big Ten. The conference has entertained the thought of adding Nebraska, Missouri and Rutgers. If the SEC and Pac-10 go to 16 teams, 14 teams still will be considered small and, hence, less of a conference – in the eyes of the schools in the other two conferences. Remember, there are 120 schools in D-I FBS, and those two conferences would have 32 between them. A mighty hefty chunk to be able to boast with.
The Big Ten has had googly eyes for Notre Dame forever. It could be holding out hope that Notre Dame would become team 13, 14, 15 or 16, making it Numero Uno in the eyes of college football fans. But would it?
One of the things about Notre Dame that appeals to the Big Ten is Notre Dame's appeal across the country. But wouldn't some, if not most, of it be lost? Suddenly Notre Dame becomes very regional because it is tied to the Big Ten. Can you imagine the outcry by the Notre Dame faithful if the Fighting Irish lost a game to USC and coach Brian Kelly said "while it's a loss, our focus is on winning the conference so we can get that automatic BCS bid"? They'd be calling for his head. And then there are three rivalry games with Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue. Suddenly those games are just another game in conference, and maybe not every year – though truth be told, the best part of some rivalries is when there is a year or two break so the revenge factor grows.
The Fighting Irish pride themselves on playing a national schedule and doing things others don't. Joining a conference would mean no games in Yankee Stadium, no games in Dublin, no games in San Antonio. The conference games are precious and you can't risk losing them so you can be America's college football team. Since Notre Dame doesn't want the Big Ten, the conference should eye others.
So who? Well, if the Big 12 goes down, then Kansas becomes an option. Or there is the possibility of raiding more of the Big East since Rutgers could be coming. Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Syracuse all offer something. Syracuse has been awful in football lately, but has one of the best basketball programs in the country. There are four to choose from right there
The fly in the ointment is the Big Ten schools are all members of the American Association of Universities and the conference wants those schools that are affiliated with the AAU. As irony would have it, there are exceptions to every rule and Notre Dame would have to be an exception since it isn't a member. The only school of the previous four that is a member of the AAU is Pittsburgh.
The AAU has very few Division I football programs that are members. So if you want to include those that have been linked to Big Ten expansion in the past, Texas and Texas A&M are, but the Pac-10 covets them. Iowa State is, but that school is never listed by anyone in expansion. Maryland and Virginia are, but they are long-time members of the ACC so it's unlikely. However, Maryland especially would be appealing because it brings the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., markets. Remember, viewers equal money. The rest are either too far away or don't have the facilities and size (Buffalo) to compete.
The Pac-10 is interesting with its talks of adding six schools. Here's the big problem: too many schools means you don't play each other all the time. The Pac-10 currently plays nine conference games; the only conference that plays everyone. If you keep the nine game conference format (and here comes the money again) that means teams have three games to pursue easier teams for home payouts, or big opponents that TV loves. Now, if you are playing nine conference games, that means you play all seven in your division and then two from the other division. That means you would only see a regular season matchup of Texas and USC every four years. They'd play each other at home every eight years. How long before the alumni cry foul on that one?
The SEC's expansion would face similar issues. The ACC might see itself get raided by schools and have to hunt for schools to be relevant in football. The Big East could an easy target. If too much raiding happens to the Big East, it could become a basketball-only conference again. Would that appeal enough to Notre Dame to stay, since it is a Big East member in everything but football? If not, what happens if the Big Ten is full. The Fighting Irish could be left out in the cold.
The non-BCS conferences could see membership change too. Which brings us to the Mountain West Conference, the only conference that might really be deemed a winner in a game of conference dominoes.
The Mountain West might gain a BCS bid if the Big East disappears as a football conference. It could pick up the pieces of the Big 12, or at least some of them, and add Boise State. The conference has nine schools, so if it added Boise and the two Kansas schools, it would have 12 members and have some decent football programs. Basketball in the MWC would be the biggest winner if it added Kansas.
And Notre Dame could be a winner if it stays independent because when all the fans who are disgruntled because they conference changes didn't live up to all the hype more changes could be in the offing. Then the Fighting Irish can look around and say "see, we knew what we were doing and are the standard bearers for college football."
The biggest losers would be Iowa State, Baylor and college football fans. The two schools would be caught in the shuffle because neither offers the one thing the conferences want most – enough fans to turn on the television. But the real losers could be the fans because with some much emphasis on big bad tough conferences, the schools may wind up scheduling plenty of non-conference games against really weak teams so they can focus on the conference.
Ultimately change is good, but too much change could wreak havoc. When one conference and one independent stand to be the real winners, it's time for everyone else to take a breath and get a grip.
The grass might be greener, but how much mowing is going to be involved.
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Syracuse, N.Y. -- Speakers at a Syracuse Common Council meeting Monday called on the city to ensure public access to the waterfront with any development of the Inner Harbor.
David Mankiewicz, senior vice president of CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity, recommended that the city create a large public park on the west bank of the harbor and allow residential and commercial development to occur around it, but not right up against the waterway.
A large park next to the waterway is the best way to get people to the area, he said.
"If you hand this over to developers, their first instinct is going to be, 'I want to build the biggest condominium project I can right on top of the water because that's how I'm going to maximize my return,'" he said. "But that's not going to maximize return to the city or to the public."
The council's Economic Development, Downtown and Metropolitan Planning Committee held the meeting to seek comments on how the city should develop the harbor, a former state Barge Canal terminal south of Onondaga Lake.
The state Thruway Authority agreed July 18 to transfer 34 acres of land surrounding the harbor to the city. Mayor Stephanie Miner asked the authority to give the land to the city, which she believes can do a better job of redeveloping it into a recreational, commercial and tourist attraction. The Thruway Authority had tried — and failed — three times to find developers for the harbor.
Mankiewicz said Boston made the mistake of allowing developers to build office and residential towers close to its waterfront and now is trying to carve out some public areas.
"Keep the water public," he said. "Keep it accessible."
Syracuse architect Robert Haley said ensuring public access to the waterfront will pay off economically for the city because it will encourage development of the land outside of the public areas.
He said any development should also incorporate plans to complete Onondaga County's pedestrian and bicycle trail around Onondaga Lake. Currently, the trail start along the east shore of the lake in Liverpool and ends almost midway down the west shore.
Ben Walsh, deputy commissioner of the city Office of Neighborhood & Business Development, said public access to the waterfront is a top priority of the city's.
Walsh said transfer of the land to the city could occur within a month. After that, the city will invite developers to make proposals for the land, he said. He said the city's zoning laws would allow a mix of residential and commercial development, as well as tourism-related development.
Councilor-at-Large Kathleen Joy, the committee's chairperson, said she wants to hear from potential developers and others about how to develop the harbor.
"We really do have a clean slate," she said. "It's just a great opportunity that most cities don't have."
Contact Rick Moriarty at email@example.com or (315) 470-3148.


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The Hill, a newspaper that covers the workings of Congress, looks at the vote of U.S. Rep. Anh "Joseph'' Cao, R-New Orleans, the only Republican member of the House of Representatives to vote in favor of the Democratic health plan. Newsweek magazine also examines the vote.
While Cao was the only Republican to vote for the bill, nearly 40 Democrats voted against it, including the only Democrat in Louisiana's House delegation, Rep. Charlie Melancon of Napoleonville.
Also see earlier Times-Picayune story.


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Boy Scout Troop 360 will hold a huge yard sale Saturday, May 11 from 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Christ the King Church on Ocean Highway in Pawleys Island.
Hundreds of items will be for sale, like electronics, furniture, clothing, toys and household items.
The items being sold were donated by the community, and the money raised helps fund troop activities.
While you're there, you can pick up a BBQ plate for $10, which includes rice/hash, beans and slaw, or a pound of BBQ for $10.
Boy Scout Troop 360 serves the Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island areas.


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Chapter 06 - Efficient Diversification Chapter 06 Efficient Diversification Multiple Choice Questions 1. Risk that can be eliminated through diversification is called ______ risk. A. unique B. firm-specific C. diversifiable D. all of the above 2. The _______ decision should take precedence over the _____ decision. A. asset allocation, stock selection B. bond selection, mutual fund selection C. stock selection, asset allocation D. stock selection, mutual fund selection 3. Many current and retired Enron Corp. employees had their 401k retirement accounts wiped out when Enron collapsed because ___. A. they had to pay huge fines for obstruction of justice B. their 401k accounts were held outside the company C. their 401k accounts were not well diversified D. none of the above 6-1
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Chapter 06 - Efficient Diversification 4. Based on the outcomes in the table below choose which of the statements is/are correct: I. The covariance of Security A and Security B is zero II. The correlation coefficient between Security A and C is negative III. The correlation coefficient between Security B and C is positive A. I only B. I and II only C. II and III only D. I, II and III 5. Asset A has an expected return of 15% and a reward-to-variability ratio of .4. Asset B has an expected return of 20% and a reward-to-variability ratio of .3. A risk-averse investor would prefer a portfolio using the risk-free asset and ______. A. asset A B. asset B C. no risky asset D. can't tell from the data given 6. Adding additional risky assets to the investment opportunity set will generally move the efficient frontier _____ and to the ______. A. up, right B. up, left C. down, right D. down, left 7. An investor's degree of risk aversion will determine his or her ______. A. optimal risky portfolio B. risk-free rate C. optimal mix of the risk-free asset and risky asset D. capital allocation line 6-2
Chapter 06 - Efficient Diversification 8. The ________ is equal to the square root of the systematic variance divided by the total variance. A. covariance B. correlation coefficient C. standard deviation D. reward-to-variability ratio 9. Which of the following statistics cannot be negative? A. Covariance B. Variance C. E[r] D. Correlation coefficient 10. Asset A has an expected return of 20% and a standard deviation of 25%. The risk free rate is 10%. What is the reward-to-variability ratio? A. .40 B. .50 C. .75 D. .80 11. The correlation coefficient between two assets equals to _________. A. their covariance divided by the product of their variances B. the product of their variances divided by their covariance C. the sum of their expected returns divided by their covariance D. their covariance divided by the product of their standard deviations 12. Diversification is most effective when security returns are _________. A. high B. negatively correlated C. positively correlated D. uncorrelated 6-3
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Chapter 06 - Efficient Diversification 13. The expected rate of return of a portfolio of risky securities is _________.
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- Fall '11
- JohnGreenhut
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Walton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) A church in Walton is starting to rebuild after a fire burned it to the ground.
The First Baptist Church broke ground on its new place of worship over the weekend.
"If God calls us to something, he will provide for it," said Rev. Jay O'Connor, pastor of the church.
The lot at the corner of Townsend and Platt Street has been empty for more than three years.
In 2011, flames torched the First Baptist Church in Walton. Investigators said the fire was set intentionally.
"The church was the people and we are still the Church," said O'Connor.
He said the fire may have taken their building, but it didn't take away their faith.
"We went right into a time of seeking God and visioning and asking the questions of why are we here and what are we called to do," said O'Connor.
He said they were called to rebuild the church.
Phase one of the construction calls for a multipurpose room, classrooms, offices and a nursery.
Phase two is the sanctuary.
They have enough money to build phase one of the project, but phase two? That's where faith comes in.
"We don't exactly know where that will come from, but we trust in him that it will happen," said O'Connor.
Construction on the new Church started about two weeks ago and so far the workers have been able to lay down the foundation.
"As phoenix rising from the ashes, we've got a plan, a way ahead to start serving the community and our faith." said Charlie Gregory, a member of the church.
The opening of the new church is planned for late October.
"We believe that the community will be much better served by our congregation because we will have a facility that will enable us to be there for them," said O'Connor.
To come up with enough money to build the sanctuary, the church will be looking for donations.
The church is also applying for grants.


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The Best Laid Ethics Programs...
In Midland, Mich., population 38,000, the downtown is a mere four blocks long. The community boasts a top-rated school district, 58 churches, and two corporate giants: Dow Chemical Co. and Dow Corning Corp. Midland is a law-abiding, God-fearing town, where ethics and values still mean something. That's why allegations that Dow Corning sold faulty breast implants have dominated the talk among early-morning regulars at the Holiday Inn restaurant on Wackerley Road.
What makes the disclosures all the more puzzling is that Dow Corning has long been recognized as a pioneer in corporate ethics. It was among the first to establish an ethics program, which many believe to be the most elaborate in Corporate America. Yet the controversy now swirling around Dow Corning highlights the limitations of such initiatives, and it may serve to remind other companies that even the best plans are no guarantee against lapses.
`SPRAY AND PRAY.' Ethics programs reached nearly faddish proportions in the late 1980s. Business schools added ethics courses. Consultants peddled lectures and seminars. "The rule in ethics was spray and pray," says Mark Pastin, director of the Lincoln Center for Ethics in Tempe, Ariz. Consultants looked for big companies, asked for big fees, "then sprayed some ethics over them and prayed that something happened."
Dow Corning took a different route. "It was more than just: 'Do good and avoid evil,' " says Kenneth Goodpaster, a former professor at Harvard business school who prepared a trio of case studies on the company. "It was thought by everyone to be a brilliant process."
The system got its start in the early 1970s, in the aftermath of Watergate and the reports that Lockheed Corp. spent millions bribing foreign officials. Dow Corning's chairman at the time, John S. Ludington, sought to create a corporate culture that emphasized high ethical standards. In 1976, he launched a Business Conduct Committee, made up of company executives who report directly to a board committee.
SHINING BEACON. From the beginning, it was an ambitious effort (table). The company immediately began a series of audits to monitor compliance and communicate with employees about ethics. These sessions were to take place at every operation once every three years. Two company training programs included segments on the subject, and Dow Corning's semiannual employee opinion surveys had an ethics section.
That extensive commitment to ethics was what attracted the attention of Goodpaster, whose case studies on the Dow Corning program have since been hashed over by thousands of MBAs and managers in executive-education classes. One study showed how an early audit uncovered a major Dow Corning distributor overseas who was bribing customs officials to obtain lower duty rates. Many executives left Harvard hoping to establish similar programs in their own companies, Goodpaster says.
The system that so impressed others, however, seemingly failed to pick up any signs of controversy over the safety of breast implants during four separate audits since 1983. Executives from Dow Corning's conduct committee descended on the Arlington (Tenn.) facility of Dow Corning Wright, the unit that makes silicone implants, for a review in October, 1990. The safety issue didn't crop up during the three-hour audit with nine employees, says Jere D. Marciniak, an area vice-president who is chairman of the conduct committee.
LEAKY NET. Yet as far back as 1976, the same year Dow Corning launched its ethics program, the engineer who sounded an early alarm on the product's safety quit the company in protest. A Dec. 15, 1977, memo from employee Frank Lewis recounted reports by four doctors that 52 of 400 implant procedures had resulted in ruptures. Those and other internal documents suggest that Dow Corning was aware of problems for years and tried to keep the public from learning of them--although the company maintains it has done nothing wrong.
Whatever the ultimate verdict, Goodpaster is incredulous that the ethics program failed to uncover signs of internal dissent. "It's puzzling because those are the kinds of memos and concerns that this audit practice might bring to the surface," says Goodpaster, now a professor at the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.
Why didn't it? For the most part, ethics programs aren't designed to deal directly with complex problems. Instead, they are there only to help cultivate an overall environment of proper conduct. At Dow Corning, issues of product safety or efficacy typically go through normal management channels. In this case, the concerns surfaced before the company's Medical Device Business Board, which decided to conduct further safety studies. "It wouldn't have been necessary to bring up the implants' safety inside a code-of-conduct meeting unless an employee thought the process wasn't working well and wanted to raise the issue," says Marciniak.
MUTED WHISTLES. But some ethicists are now beginning to question whether Dow Corning's program was really as well-designed as they once thought. Boston consultant Barbara Ley Toffler points out that few managers are likely to speak openly about moral issues in a room filled with many employees, including one's boss. "You need small groups of about six people, and even then the reality is that someone inside won't talk freely to someone in-house," she says.
Likewise, you won't get many red flags when top managers believe concerns about safety are unwarranted. Dow Corning still argues that the product does not pose an unreasonable risk, and Keith R. McKennon, who recently succeeded Ludington as chairman, vigorously defends the conduct of the company's managers. "I have a high regard for their sincerity and integrity, and I don't ascribe bad motives to anyone," he says.
What becomes of the implant business now is anyone's guess. In early January, a Food & Drug Administration advisory committee issued a sort of split verdict: Implants may remain on the market in limited use, but clinical trials will test their safety. McKennon says he is thinking of abandoning implants, which represent less than 1% of Dow Corning's $1.8 billion in sales. But there's one part of Dow Corning he has no plans to touch: the ethics program. Although it apparently failed to tip off the company to potentially unethical behavior, says Marciniak, "it still will aid and guide us through this difficult time."
DOW CORNING'S ETHICS SYSTEM -- Six managers serve three-year stints on a Business Conduct Committee. Each member devotes up to six weeks a year -- Two members audit every business operation every three years. The panel reviews up to 35 locations annually -- Three-hour reviews are held with up to 35 employees. Committee members use a code of ethics as the framework and encourage employees to raise ethical issues -- Results of the audits are reported to a three-member Audit & Social Responsibility Committee of the board of directors DATA: BW


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Previous | Session 112 | Next
C.C. Petersen (Loch Ness Productions)
The planetarium theater has evolved over the years from a star projector in the center of a round room to a complex, immersive experience. Planetarium presentations can range from live lectures to fully produced multimedia products that use well-written scripts, music, art, astrophotography, animations, and the human voice to create effective and approachable stories.
This poster presentation discusses the ways that the arts and music combine with science and good writing to give audiences a better appreciation of the beauty of astronomy and astrophysics.
More information about specific planetarium presentations and show production best practices can be found at our website.
If you would like more information about this abstract, please follow the link to http://www.lochness.com/index2.html. This link was provided by the author. When you follow it, you will leave the Web site for this meeting; to return, you should use the Back comand on your browser.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: email@example.com
Previous | Session 112 | Next
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 5
© 2004. The American Astronomical Society.


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"When people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago," she said.
She also responded indirectly to Republican attacks that her husband has failed.
"He reminds me that we are playing a long game here, and that change is hard, and change is slow, and it never happens all at once," she told delegates, party leaders and a national television audience.
Obama's political strategists see the hard-and-soft strategy as the most potent way to defeat Republican claims that Americans are worse off today than when Obama became president.
The thinking was on display from the first moments of the first official day of the convention, capped by the First Lady, who sketched her courtship and early years with the future president.
"We were so young, so in love, and so in debt," she said, creating a portrait of a young family with student debt and doubts about the future, an experience that she said shaped Obama into the president he is today.
"And he believes that when you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you," she said, challenging a Republican theme that small government is the best government. "You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed."
Other speakers touched on core party beliefs -- gay rights, health care, immigration reform -- and went after Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
"Now in Texas, we believe in the rugged individual," said San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, a fast-rising star in the party. "But we also recognize there are some things we can't do alone. We have to come together and invest in opportunity today for prosperity tomorrow."
Then the direct attack: The budget written by Romney's running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., he said, "doesn't just pummel the middle class -- it dismantles it."
Ryan naturally took a different view. In an interview on ABC's Good Morning America Tuesday, he said, "I'd really ask the 23 million people … who are struggling to find work in America today, if we're better off than we were four years ago."
We're not, he answered. "Look at all the statistics."
There was the call to political arms -- most directly from Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.
"I will not stand by and let (Obama) be bullied out of office--and neither should you, and neither should you, and neither should you," he said to a roaring crowd.
There were attempts to exploit the political registration gender gap between Democrats and Republicans.
Women who are members of Congress, including Rep. Suzanne Bonamici of Portland, gathered en masse on the convention stage. (In Congress, Democratic women outnumber Republican women by more than two to one.)
"...When Democrats acted to strengthen the Violence Against Women Act, Republicans in the House moved to weaken it," said Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wisc. "In other legislation, they have even tried to change the definition of rape."
And there was family. Craig Robinson, Oregon State University's basketball coach and Michelle Obama's brother, appeared with Maya Soetoro-Ng, Barack Obama's half-sister.
On it went as the speakers and delegates set the tone for the next two nights.
The campaign's hard-fighting strategy came into view at the Oregon delegates' breakfast early Tuesday with Sen. Ron Wyden and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean in rousing back-to-back speeches.
"The truth is, you can't trust Republicans with your money," Dean said. "Borrow and spend. Borrow and spend. Borrow and spend. You can't even trust them to tell the truth.... They forgot there was a guy named Bush in the White House who sent all those kids to die in Iraq. Then they made up a story that got us there."
The normally reserved Wyden was nearly as animated, listing five "specific ways we are better off" under Obama, sketching through advances on energy policy, education, gay rights, health care and technology.
Wyden reminded delegates to deliver a positive message.
"That's our job," he said. "That's where we come in."


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I'd sort of wandered away from here for a while - not quite sure I like the tone of the posts in some of the forums, honestly. But, I did want to try and actually ease my way into being primal and get back on track since things went off the rails with the semester from hell at school. I'm tracking calories and percentages of fat/carbs/protein over at Sparkpeople, just so I have a better idea of what I'm eating and what I need to work on.
This morning, I had my lift heavy things workout. I did 20 wall pushups and 20 pushups on the stairs, as I'm slowly walking myself down to knee pushups. I did a dead hang for 10 seconds from my pullup bar, and then followed that with 20 chair-assisted pullups. I did a 90 second plank and two 30 second side planks, followed by 50 squats. I've got squats down, I am the squatting champ! That makes me feel a bit better since my upper body is basically a noodle. I also did 20 calf raises and 20 of these funky looking wall bridge things that work the lower abs, hips, and glutes that I saw in Prevention magazine. Did those for the first time - wanted to do 50. Could barely eke out 20 - kicked my ass literally.
Was running super late for work this morning and ended up eating four pieces of bacon for breakfast in the car, since chopping up all the stuff for my salad took longer than expected. It's 10 AM and I'm starving. Think I'll grab some nuts - I really don't have any good primal snacks here at the office.


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LIVINGSTON -- It turns out that the best candidate for the would-be vacant Livingston superintendent of schools post was its incumbent.
In August, Superintendent Brad Draeger announced he would step down at the conclusion of this school year, and the board hired a search firm to replace him. After the search firm suggested he reconsider, Draeger said, he decided to stay.
Today, he is to sign a new, four-year contract with the school board, which will keep him with the district through 2014.
"Over the last three months, I realized that the work is not done and I really have enjoyed the work we have done," Draeger said yesterday. "I'm thrilled about it."
Draeger said his change of mind began taking shape about a month ago, after the search firm hired to find his successor broached the possibility. The firm's surveys of community stakeholders indicated that Draeger's tenure in the district had been exceedingly positive.
Draeger, who has headed the roughly 5,600-student district since April 2006, formulated its first-ever strategic plan, which tightened up the district's business practices and revamped its curriculum. It also includes a student code of conduct and a new grading policy.
He helped navigate a $51.5 million renovation and expansion project at the high school completed last year, and shaped two successful bond referendum questions last fall that will parlay state funds into facilities improvements at the district's eight other schools.
The school board's president, Chuck Granata, said the search firm's determination that Draeger, a 34-year educator who was raised in Parsippany, was his own best replacement was no surprise.
"The overwhelming response to their questions about what everyone wanted in a superintendent was that they wanted another Brad Draeger," Granata said. "We knew that would be the case."
In August, Draeger, 56, declined the school board's offer to extend his tenure. Granata said
Draeger's new contract is the same as that offered to the superintendent last year. Accordingly, Draeger's base pay will stay at $233,000 through September, after which he will receive annual raises of between 3 and 4 percent, depending on fluctuations in the consumer price index and at the board's discretion.
"It was literally the same deal," Granata said. "We did not dangle any carrot and he made no demands."
The school board allocated about $22,000 for Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to conduct a superintendent search. But since the process was much shorter than anticipated – the board was not scheduled to interview candidates until the end of the month, for instance – Granata and the district's business administrator, Steve Robinson, said that, pending negotiations, that amount could be cut substantially, particularly since the search did not involve transportation costs


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BOSTON - A state audit on Tuesday found thousands of questionable and possibly medically-unnecessary claims for dental services through the state's Medicaid program.
State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump said many of the claims are not allowed and cost MassHealth about $1.3 million. The audit covered dental claims from January 2008 through June 2011 that stemmed from services to eligible low- and moderate-income recipients.
It was Bump's fifth audit since 2010 on the MassHealth dental system. In all, she has found $7.5 million in questionable billings by dentists.
Bump put most of the fault on officials at MassHealth for failing to detect the questionable billing. She called on MassHealth to take steps to end problems in its system for processing dental claims.
"I acknowledge the challenge of advancing quality dental care to underserviced populations, but audit after audit has shown that MassHealth needs to improve its screening of claims for payments from dental providers," Bump said in a statement.
In response to the audit, a spokeswoman for the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services, said program integrity is one of MassHealth's top priorities.
"We have already implemented recommendations from the auditor's report," the spokeswoman said in a statement. "We are taking necessary action to recover funds for taxpayers to ensure that these important dental benefits are reserved for those who truly need them."
During the period of the audit, about 2,000 dentists were taking part in the state's dental program. During a recent fiscal year, the state paid $266.9 million in dental claims.
The audit, which included a sample of 10 dental providers, focused on 19,274 claims for "detailed oral screenings," which are only for MassHealth members having radiation treatment, chemotherapy or an organ transplant. Reimbursements for the claims totalled $1.241 million -- all for members who were not receiving treatment for cancer or an organ transplant, the audit said.
The audit calls for MassHealth officials to review the $1.241 million of billings for detailed oral screenings and recover whatever portion might be appropriate.
Bump's office also found that two providers received $37,687 for 972 photo images that were not allowed under MassHealth regulations, $15,803 of oral evaluations that were excessive and not allowed and $14,280 paid to two providers for fluoride treatments that exceeded recommendeed levels and were not allowed.
The audit included one provider in the Pioneer Valley -- Facial Cosmetic & Maxillofacial Surgery, an East Longmeadow dental provider. Facial Cosmetic performed 4,529 detailed oral screenings with total payments of $309,666.
But Christopher J. Thompson, a spokesman for Bump, said the East Longmeadow provider includes oral surgeons and may have simply billed MassHealth under the wrong code.
According to the audit, Facial Cosmetic should have billed under a medical service code established for dentists specializing in oral surgery. Those codes allow payments for evaluations and exams for MassHealth members, the audit said.
In a response included in the audit, Facial Cosmetic said there was no intent to commit fraud.
Facial Cosmetic said it is now using the correct code for billing MassHealth. Facial Cosmetic said it was following billing guidelines set by the American Dental Association and that MassHealth had "a unique definition" for the code that the provider used for the claims that were flagged in the audit.
Facial Cosmetic offered to pay restitution to cover a nominal difference in the aggregate amounts of the claims under the two codes.


text: ThinkGeek : Star Trek Inflatable Captain's Chair Flag this deal What's the matter? Choose a reason Dead deal Duplicate Bad link Spam Inaccurate No value Alive again Edit deal krmills1 Apr 02, 2012 Pretty cool looking chair! I bet it will hold more than 120 pounds. Reply anothersn Apr 02, 2012 i doubt it will hold your average adult male too be honest... Reply krmills1 Apr 02, 2012 http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/additional/large/e9ce_star_trek_inflatable_captains_chair_adult.jpg Reply ReturninVideoTps Apr 02, 2012 These inflatable chairs can be surprisingly comfortable! if you don't mind blowing it up a few times Reply anothersn Apr 02, 2012 only problem is this one is rated for 120 pounds. only small women and children need apply. :-( Reply Load More Comments


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Town of Union, NY (WBNG Binghamton) Broome County Sheriff's Office arrested an Endwell man after he produced child pornography and had sexual contact with a young girl.
Deputies arrested Nicholas Restino on a warrant out of Fairfax, Virginia.
Sheriff's Detectives and Detectives from Fairfax said they found the 24-year old at his Town of Union home where they seized evidence relating to the Virginia case.
Restino is charged in the Commonwealth with producing child pornography and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
He is accused of traveling from New York to Virginia to have sex with a girl younger than 18 and recording the acts on a digital camera.
Restino was arraigned in Town of Union Court and taken to Broome County Jail where he remains without bail pending extradition hearings.
- Production of Child Pornography, two counts
- Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, two counts


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RELAX 12v AUTOMATIC AWNING
You are just a touch away from comfort with the new Zip Dee Relax 12v Automatic Awning. The first automatic awning that will work on a Contour or Flat sided coach. The Relax Awning is carefully handcrafted with the same great quality and durability you've come to expect with Zip Dee awnings.
The Relax lets you customize your shade. With an automatic tilt feature, and the ability to fully function as an awning in a partially open position, you can set or change your awning position with the touch of a button.When you are ready to place your order, ask about the optional remote and wind sensor that are available with the Relax Automatic Awning.
Already have a Manual Zip Dee Patio Awning? Well you too are just a touch away from comfort with our Relax 12v Automatic Awning Retrofit Kit. By keeping the same roller, case and fabric you already have, and changing only the hardware on your vehicle, you can convert your Manual Zip Dee awning into a Relax 12v Automatic awning.
See the new Relax Awning in Action (video courtesy of Colonial Airstream)


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In 2010, Oktoberfest — the world's largest fair held annually in Germany — celebrated it's 200th year. That's TWO HUNDRED YEARS of beer, yummy food, and general merriment. What started as a wedding celebration in 1810 has evolved into a 16-day festival attended by more than 6 million people. Not too shabby!
A globetrotting friend of mine went to Oktoberfest a couple of years ago and posted pictures on Facebook of her and a friend looking super cute in their festival dirndls. You may not be able to work the traditional German dress into your regular wardrobe rotation (if you can, I'd really like to see pictures!), but Oktoberfest actually brings a lot of very wearable and accessible style to the table.
With Oktoberfest ending this Sunday, October 6, don't miss out on your chance to add some Oktoberfest-inspired pieces to your wardrobe!
Oktoberfest Style 1 of 20
Fun Octoberfest fact: Over the past 200 years, Oktoberfest has been canceled 24 times due to cholera epidemics and war. Fortunately, it's been a while since they've had to cancel it! Okay, enough of the random trivia. Click through for style inspiration we can steal from Oktoberfest goers...
Vests 2 of 20
Vests are a regular sight at Oktoberfest. Both men and women rock them! This cold weather trend is an easy one to integrate into your own wardrobe. Just throw one over your regular tees and tops for a little extra warmth AND style!
Plaid Vest 3 of 20
This plaid vest is very office-friendly but can just as easily be dressed down with a graphic tee and jeans.
Get it at Macy's, $69
Leather and Fur Vest 4 of 20
I think this (faux) leather and fur vest option is so gorgeous. It's perfect for Oktoberfest or simply staying warm this fall!
Get this BB Dakota vest from Revolve Clothing, $66
Double-Breasted Vest 5 of 20
A slim, shrunken vest is easy to throw on with your favorite casual dress to add a little Oktoberfest style to anything!
Get it from Express, $79.90
Fedoras 6 of 20
Oktoberfest is full of be-hatted people rocking traditional alpine hats and fedoras, which are probably one of the few things you can wear that is simultaneously Oktoberfest-appropriate as well as old Hollywood glamorous. Multi-tasking! Also, how darling is that girl in her hat?? I love this guy in his red fedora, too.
Photo credit: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati 2012, © 2012 Walt Benn, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license
Felt Fedora 7 of 20
This felt fedora in a deep red is both stylish AND perfect for keeping your head warm this winter. It's a win-win.
Get it at Nordstrom, $38
Wide-Brim Fedora 8 of 20
A wider brim offers the same style factor with a little more sun protection, which is important if you're outside for 16 days of Oktoberfest (or whenever else you're in the sun).
Get it at Zappos, $46
Patterned Fedora 9 of 20
Interested in trying out the tribal trend but not daring enough to rock those leggings you've been eyeing? This fun patterned fedora is just your ticket.
Get it from BCBG, $48
Suspenders 10 of 20
You can count on seeing LOTS of suspenders at Oktoberfest — particularly on the men. However, that doesn't mean you can't pull them off! Suspenders are one of my fave things to steal from the men's department. (I found mine for less than $7 at Wal-Mart!)
Photo credit: Oktoberfest Festival 2011 | 111002-2712-jikatu, © 2011 Jimmy Baikovicius, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license
Skater Skirt with Suspenders 11 of 20
This skater skirt is Oktoberfest-approved but more wearable than a dirndl!
Get it at ASOS, $33.75
Crochet Suspenders 12 of 20
This crochet set of suspenders is a little different but still super stylish.
Get them from Free People, $34
Leather Suspenders 13 of 20
Leather suspenders are a bit more traditional, but still allow you to add a bit of edge to your look. Check out this pair of skinny jeans with button-on suspenders! Classic.
Get them at Urban Outfitters, $99
Corsets & Knee-High Socks 14 of 20
Corsets are pretty much a requirement for women at Oktoberfest! They may be uncomfortable, but there's no denying that they do major favors for just about any figure. You'll also see lots of knee-high socks, which pair wonderfully well with fall skirts.
Photo credit: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati 2012, © 2012 Walt Benn, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license
Corset Belt 15 of 20
You don't have to go full-on lace-up corset in order to get the figure-flattering benefits. Try a corset belt instead!
Get it from Ann Taylor, $68
Corset Dress 16 of 20
A corset dress gives the look of a corset with a little more breathing room. Throw a leather jacket over it for fall or add some sandals and a light cardigan if you still have a few warm days left this year!
Get it from American Eagle, $44.99 (on sale)
Striped Corset 17 of 20
OR you can skip the belt and dress and just commit to a corset. The stripes on this one are fabulous! I'd love to see it with skinny jeans and a moto jacket.
Get it from Ralph Lauren, $39.99 (on sale)
Sheer Knee-Highs 18 of 20
Sheer knee-highs are super sexy when paired with skirts and Mary Janes or booties!
Get them at Nordstrom, $12
Argyle Knee-Highs 19 of 20
Release your inner schoolgirl with these argyle knee-highs!
Get them at Ralph Lauren, $13
Zebra Knee-Highs 20 of 20
Get a little wild with these over-the-knee zebra print socks!
Get them at Bloomingdales, $14
Read more of Kayla's writing at Freckles in April OR catch all her Babble posts by subscribing to her once-weekly email!
You can also find Kayla on Twitter and Facebook!


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From Syracuse University-themed weddings to children named Carmelo, Syracuse basketball fans around the world show their love for the Orange in extreme ways.
Syracuse.com asked Syracuse basketball fans to share their stories of why they bleed orange and dozens of fans from Central New York to South Korea responded.
Stephine Stoltz showed her Orange pride on her wedding day. Her bridesmaids wore orange and blue.
Dan Tortorici's head speaks for itself. He had "Cuse" shaved into his hair at Eastwood Hair Design.
Tori Shires brought her son home from the hospital in SU gear and dressed him up as Baby Boeheim for Halloween.
Some fanatics expressed their love for the team with music.
Joe Simiele wrote a rap song about his love for Syracuse basketball.
The Murad cousins perform a Final Four version of the 'Cup Song' and the YouTube video drew thousands of views.
To share your story and photos, email Sarah Moses at firstname.lastname@example.com.
» Read all of the Orange Fanatic stories
Syracuse will take on Michigan in the Final Four at 8:49 p.m. tonight in Atlanta.
Contact Sarah Moses at email@example.com or 470-2298. Follow @SarahMoses315


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Frequent Warmth and Bouts of Severe Weather Punctuated April of 2006
Severe weather was a seemingly common occurrence across central
April was only two days old when the first outbreak of severe weather occurred. A fast moving thunderstorm complex, known as a derecho, developed and raced across Central Indiana. Damage from this system was widespread, ranging from trees and powerlines down all the way to severe structural damage to several homes. This outbreak will be best remembered for its still visible damage that it caused to the Regents Bank Building in downtown Indianapolis, when winds in excess of 80 miles and hour ripped through the city streets.
Area residents had but a few days to clean up and get back to normal before another round of damaging thunderstorms came to visit on April 7th. This time the weapon of choice for the storms was hail, with dozens of reports across the area ranging from quarter sized all the way to golfball sized. As damaging as this storm was, it seems to have been little more than just a warm-up for the storms that would come to pass a week later.
April 14th marked the final widespread severe weather outbreak of the month. This was characterized by two massive supercell thunderstorms that tracked directly over the city of Indianapolis. Areas around the city received both wind and hail damage in these storms. Some of the most extreme hail damage was reported in the city itself, as residents dodged hail larger than golfballs, which produced extensive damage to cars and homes. Wind gusts as high as 85 mph were recorded at the Indianapolis International Airport, and pockets of damage were recorded from this wind on the west side of the city.
While many areas in Indiana received monthly rainfall well above normal, official totals at the airport were closer to average. 3.63 inches of rainfall was recorded, which is above normal by 0.02 inches. Nearly half of the entire month's rainfall came on April 14th with the supercells that tracked over the city. In fact, a daily rainfall record was set as 1.55 inches was recorded, besting the previous record from 1922 of 1.43 inches.
Temperatures for the month were well above normal, largely due to a two week stretch during mid April where the high temperature was over 70 degrees every day except for two, including an almost summer-like high temperature of 82 degrees on the 13th. The month finished with an average temperature of 57.1 degrees, above normal by 4.9 degrees. This was enough to tie April 2006 as the 11th warmest of all time, along with Aprils of 1955, 1977, and 1985. It was also the warmest April in 5 years.
2006 has already gotten off to an extremely mild start. With April closing up warmer than normal, three of this year's four months have registered average temperatures above normal.
Through the end of April, the average temperature has been 42.8 degrees. This is above normal by 4.8 degrees, a fact that is largely due to the 2nd warmest January ever, and now the 11th warmest April ever. This means that 2006 is now off to the 6th warmest start of any year ever.
Rainfall has been above normal as well. By the end of April, the yearly total stood at 15.61 inches, a figure that is above normal by 3.67 inches.
Current monthly outlooks for May indicate an enhanced likelihood of cooler than normal temperatures during the first third of the month, followed by an enhanced likelihood of warmer than normal temperatures by mid-month.
Temperature & Precipitation records at Indianapolis cover the period 1871-2006


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Hello VegitoGotenks13, greetings and welcome to the Narutopedia! Thanks for your edit to the File:Hatake Sharingan Pixel.gif page.
We do hope that you will stay for a long time. Enjoy your stay as we work to become the best Naruto info site out there. BELIEVE IT!
If you're looking for something to do why not look over the Forums or more specifically Narutopedia Collaboration for a list of projects we're working on. And the Community portal has a lot of recent discussions and places to go listed on it.
Please leave a message on my talk page if I can help with anything! -- Jacce (Talk) 00:00, June 26, 2012
Image deletion: Hatake Sharingan Pixel.gif
VegitoGotenks13, the image Hatake Sharingan Pixel.gif which you uploaded has been deleted. We suggest you look over our image policy before you upload another image to make sure you aren't breaking any part of the policy. Jacce | Talk | Contributions 03:34, June 26, 2012 (UTC)
Sorry, i didn't know that amination pixels shouldnt be put on, don't worry, i checked the policy, and next time Ill follow the policy. ~TemariHatake (talk) 01:36, June 30, 2012 (UTC)


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View This Report »
Get Industry Insights. Simply.
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"The white box server market expected to grow at a significant rate between 2016 and 2022" The white box server market was valued at USD 4.59 billion in 2015and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.6% ...
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Jefferson Parish Council member Ben Zahn says he won't be apologizing to Walt Bennetti, president of Citizens for a Better Kenner, who sent an email demanding an apology from Zahn, Kenner Mayor Mike Yenni and Police Chief Steve Caraway for what Bennetti called defamatory statements about his organization.
The three politicos had sent an email defending the actions of a Kenner couple who emailed neighbors -- copying the three politicians -- about plans to erect campaign signs for Mary-Sharon Howland. She is seeking Zahn's former seat on the City Council, and Zahn, Yenni and Caraway are backing her.
The sign message caused a flap in the council race, with some members of Citizens for a Better Kenner speaking out against what they called "voter intimidation." The three politicians fired back by referencing "disgruntled political operatives who deceptively cloak themselves under the cape of 'Citizens for a Better Kenner.'"
Bennetti said his group would seek legal counsel without a retraction. He originally said group members might talk with an attorney if they didn't receive a response by Feb. 17. But Wednesday he said that because of Mardi Gras, group members had not yet met with their attorney though they have had some "preliminary conversations."
In an emailed statement Wednesday, Zahn reiterated that he thinks the citizens group, despite Bennetti's denials, is a "disgruntled politicos" on a "mission...to attack Mayor Yenni and his administration."
Zahn, with Yenni and Caraway's backing, easily defeated Bennetti and a third candidate for the 4th Parish Council District seat last year. Said Zahn: "Mr. Bennetti and his very small group of so called 'good government' activists are still trying to pass themselves off as political powerbrokers. He obviously hasn't learned anything from his shameful performance as a candidate in the Jefferson Parish Council race."
State Rep. Tony Ligi, R-Metairie, who also was copied on the original email about the signs, called it "unfortunate" that the City Council election, "rather than focusing on issues, has taken a turn toward ridiculous and desperate attempts to discredit Mrs. Howland."
He said the original sign email was "a well-intentioned, but admittedly poorly worded attempt to obtain support" for Howland without her knowledge. "It certainly wasn't an attempt to intimidate anyone."
The Louisiana secretary of state's office investigated but found that the original email about the signs didn't break any laws.
Bennetti said Wednesday: "By continuing to defend their indefensible attack on private citizens and a citizens group that has worked hard to improve Kenner and save Kenner residents and business owners money, Mayor Yenni, Chief Caraway and Mr. Zahn provide Kenner residents with additional insight into their true character."


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Remember a couple weeks back, you know, when Kevin Garnett was "washed up." Out-of-town reporters made it sound like the Celtics had given up on doctors, and hired auto mechanics to work on his legs. His jump shot was so far off, Garnett said that even he wouldn't guard himself.
The NBA named Garnett Player of the Week in the East. Carlos Boozer won it out West.
Where's your old and slow now, haters?
Associated Press photo


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Most Amtrak passenger train service to and from New Orleans is being restored following Hurricane Isaac, officials said Friday. However, Amtrak service between Chicago and New Orleans via Memphis will remain suspended through at least Monday.
The three-days-weekly Sunset Limited service will resume with the departure of eastbound Train 2 from Los Angeles on Sunday and the departure of the westbound Train 1 from New Orleans on Wednesday.
The daily Crescent service will resume with the departure of southbound Train 19 from New York on Saturday and the departure of northbound Train 20 from New Orleans on Sunday.
The scheduled daily City of New Orleans service to and from Chicago will terminate at Memphis, Tenn., until the tracks in Mississippi and Louisiana are restored.
CN owns and maintains the segment of the City of New Orleans route in the affected states. "Amtrak is working closely with CN regarding repairs now being made and reopening of the tracks for freight and Amtrak trains on a date to be announced," Amtrak said.
Passengers who have paid for tickets but choose not to travel due to this service disruption can receive a refund or a voucher for future travel. Some reservations booked online can be modified or canceled on Amtrak.com or by using the free Amtrak mobile app.
Passengers can call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com/alerts for service alerts and passenger notices. Schedule information and train status updates are available at the Amtrak.com home page.


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Re: Ninja of Mist
Please see the userpage policy. Your userpage was irrelevant to the wiki, and you haven't contributed anything to the wiki so it was deleted. We've had lots of trouble in the past with people creating fan profiles and abusing the wiki as a fansite and causing the actual contributors trouble so we have strict policies on things like userpages. ~NOTASTAFF Daniel Friesen (DanTMan, Nadir Seen Fire) (talk) Apr 15, 2009 @ 18:23 (UTC)
O.O Congratulations! You've just now officially packed my bags for me, Dantman! The only other wikia as strict and not so laid back as this is the Smash Wiki. Let me guess, you don't allow talkbubbles A.K.A Talk Templates. Or, you don't allow colored signatures. Oh? And you also don't allow personal profiles? Harsh much? I see why there's so few...ah, articles in this umm...Wikia? Ok, I'm finished now. XD You people are robots! Shame on you! It was a first time thing and you prevented me from editing my page because I said Handsome Beast? LOLOLOL!.....Cheerio! Happy Editing with...whatever those things are you edit!!! Ninja of Mist (talk) 18:34, 15 April 2009 (UTC)
I also take it that I am to be banned for stating my opinion in the right? Keep in mind that I have not harrassed, ranted, trolled, nor vandalized anything. Hhhhhrrrrmmmm?? o.o Ninja of Mist (talk) 18:38, 15 April 2009 (UTC)
- You were prevented from editing you page because it was irrelevant to you being an editor on the wiki, and you never even bothered to make a single improvement to the wiki. You're being quite presumptuous already, but no, not banned. The expectation is that you simply follow the policies which the community has defined.
- We've got plenty of reason for the policies. Especially centered around the fact that at the time when we did allow those kind of things we had a large group of people who never contributed anything to the content on the wiki, used it as a fansite, and verbally harassed the users who were actually contributing to the wiki.
- Your hot headed response does nothing but contribute to the idea that we shouldn't be allowing that kind of stuff.
- In contrast you'll notice that a large percentage of the users who have contributed a huge pile of quality work to the wiki have never even bothered to create a userpage, while nearly everyone who created a userpage first never really contributed much of good quality. This is a trend I've seen here on the wiki for over 2 years, even before the community created these policies. ~NOTASTAFF Daniel Friesen (DanTMan, Nadir Seen Fire) (talk) Apr 15, 2009 @ 19:11 (UTC)
I have a 2 problems with that statement. One, I have not one ounce of hot headedness nor does my comment, hamshanks. Two, just because the editors don't add things to the userpage, doesn't mean everyone else has to follow. =.= You know what? Why bother anymore? Good day to you and your policies? BTW, from an outside perspective looking in, you "know it alls" sure do know how to be rude to people. I was looking at talk pages and you were just bashing on some guy because he uploaded "poor quality" images from a game(Ultimate Ninja Storm). I actually have that game and the quality looks great on the computer =.=....I've also noticed that this wikia has absolutely no personality, but if thats your mardhu, then good for you guys. ANYWAY, Goodbye to this Wikia...Maybe I will try that Fanon. Ninja of Mist (talk) 17:53, 16 April 2009 (UTC)
- You broke into a rant and mentioned "You people are robots!", I missed the "XD" and from my perspective it looked like you were attempting to insult the community. So I took the comment as hotheaded.
- The issue with userpages isn't trying to make others follow suit, the issue is that the wiki has had a bad history of people abusing userpages as fan profiles.
- As with any wiki all the policies are open for discussions. Our ultimate goal with the deletion of userpages is trying to keep the wiki clean of fan profiles (obviously irrelevant to the wiki such as describing a fan character, or made by someone who has never shown an intent to contribute to the wiki). If you have suggestions on how to loosen the policies but try to keep the goal, then feel free to suggest them.
- Which user do you say was being bashed? I can't fix any issue like that or explain and misunderstandings if you don't point me to it. ~NOTASTAFF Daniel Friesen (DanTMan, Nadir Seen Fire) (talk) Apr 16, 2009 @ 18:50 (UTC)
Some guy named " Emperor"....I think. I see a lot of other wikias that have editors with userpage profiles and still contribute like crazy, and they're Admins. and mods too! I myself am an editor at another wikia. I admit, I might spend a little more time on my page than others but I still help with page editing and fixing links. There's one guy that has OVER 30'000 EDITS!!! and his userpage has "irrelevant" things in it. I say you're robots because I haven't seen a single person here that talks like I am. Maybe I'll keep looking....and maybe those things were a little uncalled for. FF wikia, for example, has popularity contests, polls, forums, talk templates, subpages, Fan art, a community that communicates with each other, and, users who have their own Fanon stories. They've also recently reached the 10'000th article mark. Look, I'm not trying to tell you to be like FF wikia or Smash wikia, I 'm just saying, Try to Loosen Up With Your Personality. If you don't, that's ok. I've stated my opinion. Ninja of Mist (talk) 00:00, 17 April 2009 (UTC) BTW whats NOTASTAFF?
- Oh, Emperor of Water. The poor quality images mentioned were Image:85.jpg and Image:180px-Sticky Gold.jpg. If that first one was any smaller it would have been an icon. The images are so small that they are even smaller than any thumbnail MediaWiki would be generating. Even worse than that they were put in places where they would become infobox pics and the smallest version of those was 2 or 3 times larger than the ones that were uploaded. He had been uploading a lot of images in the past that were not tagged with any fair use information in the past and at that point seamed to be ignoring the warnings, that was the issue, not specifically the quality. All the recent stuff he's been uploading recently has been properly tagged. I had to deal with another issue that day on the wiki that lead me to find those two images, they weren't tagged with the deletion notes so they looked like new images. I found out later that they were actually old images.
- For userpages I'm considering splitting up the userpage policy into "Causes for immediate deletion", and "Causes for pending deletion" the later being special notice tags indicating possible future deletion. The issue with deletion tags as always though, is we've had a bad track record here with deletion tags. Either it's deleted right when seen, or it's never deleted, so we tend to try to delete things asap before we forget about it.
- Wiki communities evolve in their own ways, and there are a wide range of results. Those kind of fun stuff have worked out for all those wiki, but in contrast we used to have those kind of stuff here, and it resulted in far to much trouble.
- Here we actually basically go for a fact/fan split. There is a counterpart to the wiki, the Naruto Fanon Wiki. Basically instead of one one wiki we have two and keep a strong split of one for fan content, the other for strait fact. Any fan material put up here can be moved over to the fan wiki. For fan forums we direct people to actual fan forums. Despite that the community actually does communicate. Talkpages are filled with relevant topics (occasionally and irrelevant one shortly), users use their own talkpages to communicate as well, and we have the forums for relevant discussion.
- The thing about comparison with wiki like the FF Wikia is it's not exactly a very good comparison. The FF wiki has existed for 4 or 5 years, while the Narutopedia has only existed for 2 or 3, and when initially created it was soon after abandoned by it's founder and turned into a dead wiki. I found the wiki at that point, and adopted it. Two years later, and we're already past the 1000 article mark, as far as we know we have articles on every single character (and with the size of the Naruto universe that's really saying something), and almost every Jutsu as well, and we have more episode articles than I ever thought we'd have by this point.
- The other issue is that it's not really a proper comparison that could ever be made. A good wiki isn't marked by how many articles it has, but by how well it covers the information that is available. While yes the FF Wiki is past the 10,000 article mark, the FF series has at least a dozen games, piles of characters, items, and creatures in each, movies, and so on. They have enough content to create 10,000 pages. While on the other hand, in comparison Naruto itself is fairly small. We don't have that many characters, there are only two anime series, the manga, and a handful of games. Even if we documented every last piece, I doubt there is enough information in the Naruto universe to get even past the 5000 article mark of full content articles. Even with the Jutsu, there aren't that many jutsu that can be made much more than what the system would consider stubs. To be honest, if you include all the Jutsu articles that are being marked as stubs we're actually passed the 6000 article mark.
- Oh as for the NOTASTAFF thing. Awhile back I was fairly in tune with a lot of backend Wikia stuff. I talked allot to the staff, I knew some of the techs (Wikia's head tech even considered hiring me back when I was a teenager), I frequented IRC, and participated in a lot of the hefty discussions in the Central Wikia forums. A lot of the time since I had a better grasp of the story and with my own knowledge of business logic, programming, and experience I often defended some things against a lot of comments people made in the forums. Especially with the tone that I used in debates like those there were a number of cases where users thought I was a Wikia staff member, one case a fairly regular Wikian actually mistook me for staff. So I got tired of it and threw the NOTASTAFF into my sig. I'm just to lazy to get around to cleaning up my signature, it is synced across Wikia actually, and with a fairly complicated setup. To be frank, my userpage is almost a year out of date. I think it still mentions me trying to get into the Game industry and getting into post-secondary. I dropped out of post-secondary more than 6 months ago, got a job, and now I have a full-time career in the Web Development industry.
- Oh heh, if you haven't guessed... I also have a bad habit of trying to get all the details out and as a result write to much sometimes. ~NOTASTAFF Daniel Friesen (DanTMan, Nadir Seen Fire) (talk) Apr 17, 2009 @ 03:34 (UTC)
I see! Im sorry if I meant any disrespect towards the Naruto wikia. In my opinion on the Naruto Fanon Wikia though! That's a whole nother story! They're too Fannish.....I have one joker on that Wikia that says that his naruto page is his property. It also turned out that he's an admin. as well. I can't even navigate in their because I can't tell fact from fanon. Ninja of Mist (talk) 17:33, 17 April 2009 (UTC)
- Hmmm, well I never particularly liked the way the narutofanon wiki was setup anyways, haven't bothered to look at it in awhile. Though, Wikia has loosened the way new wiki are created, if the way one fanon wiki does something is to troublesome a different one could always be created. We've got no real favoring of any specific fanon wiki. ~NOTASTAFF Daniel Friesen (DanTMan, Nadir Seen Fire) (talk) Apr 20, 2009 @ 16:13 (UTC)