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This small daytrip got its start after fellow a.netter Eric (airbuseric) mentioned that he was doing some segment running on Lufthansa, including visiting Stockholm Arlanda airport a couple of times. The first date I was already traveling somewhere but the second time, a Saturday in November was free for me. Blue 1 was running another fare sale, and since a perfectly timed HEL-ARN morning flight was available for under 50 EUR I decided to book it to hook up with Eric.
To make this trip more worthwhile I decided to add at least one new route to my log, so I ended up booking ARN-TLL on Estonian Air (operated by Estonian Air Regional) for around 70 EUR. The flight left around one and half hours after Eric's LH flight to MUC, so the schedules worked perfectly.
Finally to get home from TLL I initially planned on booking one of the Finnair flights that by that time should be operated by FlyBE Dashes. Well, that deal never came into effect as AY and FC sorted out their arguments and FC keeps operating these flight for AY. Other flying options were thin on the ground - pretty much the only possibility would be BT via RIX, but I really wanted to avoid the notorious "midnight Fokker" this time so I decided to take a ferry home instead.
There are plenty of fast (and a couple of slower ones as well) ferry connections across the Gulf of Finland, and with intense competition the prices are affordable and you can score some nice deals every now and then. So I did this time, Viking Line (a company more widely known for their ferry services between Finland, Åland and Sweden) was offering a special package for 42 EUR that included the ferry ride, a cabin (just what I'm supposed to do with a cabin on a 2,5 hour trip I'm not sure, but nice nevertheless) and a buffet dinner at the ship's restaurant. As Viking Xpress was the only ship I have yet to try on this route I booked myself on it.
Saturday, 13.11.2010
Well, another Saturday, and once again I'm up far earlier than I'd like to be on a weekend. By bus to the airport, arriving at HEL T1 around 7.50 in the morning. Looks like I timed my arrival just right - the place is completely deserted, the morning rush hour has passed and there's a bit time before the next departure wave hits. Security upstairs has more lanes open than customers so it's a joy to pass, for once.
Gate 20 this morning, again in the official T2 territory, but that's HEL for you nowadays. Today's ride is parked there:
Alpha Joliet "Pyhäselkä", an old friend of mine, this would become my fifth flight with her.
I buy my obligatory bottle of water and sit down at the gate to wait. There's a City Airline crew sitting next to me, apparently deadheading to their home base of GOT. Two pilots and three FAs, so looks like an MD-87 crew to me - they are operating one of those for KF right now since they are a bit short of planes until more 717s arrive.
Boarding commences around quarter past eight. They even do it by rows, now that's something you don't see too often at HEL, hooray! Since I picked the last seat with OLCI, I board among the first pax.
ARJ-85 OH-SAJ "Pyhäselkä"
Seat 18A
8.46 - 8.38
It takes a bit time to get to the last row, lots of not very well seasoned travelers on this flight so simple things like finding your seat or stowing the luggage and clothes to the overhead bins takes a long time for some of them. By the time I reach my row I comment to the FA in the back galley who I remember from my previous flights with KF (well, this is my 89th flight with them...) about it and she just rolls her eyes and agrees with me.
Next to us - LH A321 D-AIRU "Würzburg" - LH has lots of capacity on the HEL-FRA route nowadays, there was an earlier 7.15 flight with an A321 and this one will depart around 9.00:
The last row has only two seats on each side, but legroom feels a bit less than on the rows more towards the front.
There are five rows of Premium class on this flight, half full or thereabouts - economy is almost completely full, I think I see two vacant middle seats and that's about it.
The captain pops in the announce that we are ready to go but we will still need to go through the bane of winter flying at these latitudes: deicing.
The procedure ends up taking quite a long time - at least they do it at the gate instead of having us taxi to a remote deicing position. By the time we finally push back it is already 11 minutes after our scheduled departure time.
Runway 04R is in use today, taxiing there takes seven additional minutes and we take off 18 minutes late.
Not many views as the weather is so yucky this morning. Luckily it always shines above the clouds, here as well:
Service is free tea or coffee, some caffeine is desperately needed:
Half an hour or so after take off we are already descending, the Swedish weather looks just as ugly as the one we left behind. Once we break the clouds I'm a bit surprised to see some snow on the ground:
Landing is on runway 01L 45 minutes after take off.
A couple of minutes later we stop at the usual KF gates at the end of the middle pier of T5.
Stockholm Arlanda Airport
Once out of the plane as the last passenger (yeah, the curse of the last row...) I check the monitors to see where Eric's KLM flight from AMS is arriving. Gate 11 is the first gate of the other pier, so I walk there, stopping at the SAS transfer desk to get a boarding pass for my OV flight (their OLCI is very limited and mainly works ex-TLL only). On the way I spot some planes - I like the livery on this cargo Fokker:
By the time I get to the gate the plane has just arrived, more than twenty minutes early, and a few minutes later Eric emerges among the first passengers from the jetway.
What follows is a couple of hours of interesting chat about all things possible, some coffee at Starbucks (thanks Eric and congrats on the FTL!) and some "slow food" at the Skycity McD. Far too soon it is time to head back for Eric's MUC flight, which today is being operated by D-AIPY:
At the gate we bid goodbyes, I head to do a bit of shopping for a colleague and then to the Menzie's lounge where I park myself in a prime position to watch Eric's plane departing - it ends up being a bit delayed but not too much:
Bye mate, had a blast:
I nibble on some snacks, drink some glasses of beer and use the provided wifi for a while. I like this area that has a view towards the T5 apron between the two older piers:
So only employees in wheelchairs can use this facility:
Soon it is time to go to the gate and once I arrive there boarding is in full swing:
Funny how BT always manages to board their Fokkers (and Dashes) on the spot here, but we have to take a bus ride to the commuter apron:
The bus is quite well packed - mostly Swedish people but there's a large Dutch extended family with a small baby and a couple of Estonians as well. On the way to the plane we pass this Air Sweden A320:
The bus stops in front of ES-ASN, a 21-year old bird and another old friend of mine (well, I've flown many times with both of the Estonian Air Regional Saabs so it's a loosing game for me). Actually this is only my second flight on ES-ASN, but fourth flight on the bird as I flew it twice when it was still SE-KUU and operated by Golden Air for OV in the early days of that operation.
It's actually funny how many people (Eric included!) consider the Saab to be such a rare plane - this is my 32nd flight aboard a S340 - I flew a lot with them when DC still operated domestic routes for FC in Finland...
The Dutch people let out some nervous chuckles and expletives (not that I understand Dutch) after seeing the small plane.
Saab-340 ES-ASN
Seat 9A
13.42 - 15.42
Onboard an almost overwhelmingly friendly and young female FA welcomes me onboard. I like the leather seats on these Saabs:
For the record this one has an onboard lavatory, so the last row has only 3 seats, unlike the Golden Air/Next Jet/FlySmåland Saab I flew a couple of months ago.
Quite a good load on this flight, 90% or so. The Dutch baby just happens to be on the lap of his father across me on the aisle seat, but he (I think it's a he) is a good sport - only cries when we are on the ground and is completely silent throughout the flight, only crying again once we have landed at TLL. I think he is just like me - loves to fly so is completely happy and quiet as long as we are airborne...
Flight time is announced as an hour. Departure is two minutes late, followed by a taxi of five minutes or so to runway 19R (yep, a runway switch took place at some point) and take off to the murky skies. On the way we pass this DC S2000:
A NextJet ATP in this picture - I should be flying on one just three days later:
Another upcoming destination of mine in this picture - the Jumbo hostel:
Service has been downgraded since I last flew with OV Regional, that was ARN-URE on this same plane actually and we got a rather large and nice sandwich. This time it is only a muffin, although a warm one and drinks - the FA is again very friendly. The muffin is nice, but the apple juice in true Estonian style far too sugary for my tastes:
Interesting to note that she served some sort of meal trays to the pilots before starting her rounds throughout the cabin. Cabin view:
The only opening in the clouds during our cruise, showing the Baltic Sea and nothing else:
We start our descent around 45 minutes or so into the flight and soon break the clouds for the first view of Estonian soil:
Unfortunately the fact that we are turning left confirms to me that we are landing towards the west on runway 26, which means that there aren't going to be any nice city views, at least from my side. When landing on 08 one gets some great views of the old town and the highrises of the new town from the A side, but not today.
Gear down:
Landing is exactly an hour after we left our parking position, after a flight time of 55 minutes.
Hmm, what's that Russian Boeing behind the Estonian one, in front of the Estonian Air maintenance hangars - is it some sort of a government plane?
Bye, ES-ASN:
Up the stairs to the jetway, to the terminal where I notice that our plane is going back to ARN in an hour or so and quickly outside. First stop: ATM to get some Krooni (soon to become history as Estonia is joining the Eurozone next year - a remarkable achievement for them during these economically hard times!). Next stop: R-Kiosk to get a bus ticket. Too bad the one I've always used for this purpose is closed, but I found another one in the main check-in hall and for the equivalent of one Euro get my ticket. Ten minutes later I hop in the airport bus, which conveniently goes to the harbor via the city centre. Too bad it also serves some lakes before getting to the airport as there are a couple of old men and women who obviously have been fishing and the whole bus reeks of fish.
20 minutes later I step off in front of the Passenger terminal A. I have some time, but since the weather here is rather bad as well I'm in no mood for going for a walk and go to the terminal instead.
Quick check in at the Viking Line counters and then I go to the bar or a couple of pints while using the provided free wifi (you gotta love Estonia, thank's to their governments "E-stonia" project you have free wifi almost everywhere!). I start having second thoughts about whether this ferry ride on a Saturday night was a good idea after watching the drunken antics of my fellow countrymen in the terminal...
An hour later it is time to get onboard, first upstairs, through the booze store - these 10-packs of vodka are nowadays firm favorites of Finnish travelers:
Then through a sort of a "jetway" to the ship:
I head to my cabin - not much but then again perfectly acceptable apart from the lack of towels - where the heck am I supposed to dry my hands?
The ferry ends up departing five minutes ahead of schedule - pretty impressive actually. A bit later I head to the buffet for my 18.15 table reservation - and with nothing better to do stuff myself silly with the offerings. First round, mainly seafood:
Second round, add some meat:
And the sinfully chocolaty dessert:
At the buffet I notice that the average age of the passengers on this ship is around 60 years or so - and everybody is more or less drunk. After the gluttony of the buffet I head to one of the numerous bars for some beers, but the general drunkenness level not to mention embarrassingly bad karaoke performances start getting to me and I spend the rest of the journey reading in my cabin.
We reach the ferry terminal at Katajanokka in Helsinki perfectly ontime, although getting off from the boat requires quite a lot of queuing. Once outside, I just manage to catch a completely packed tram to the railway station and a commuter train home from there.
Well, time spent with your mate is never time spent wrong, so this was a good trip. A couple of enjoyable flights on top of that plus a quite bad ferry ride (ok, the food was decent but I ate far too much anyway!) with drunken company - in the end I think I came out as a winner anyway!
Next trip is just a couple of days away, as mentioned to log the nowadays very rare BAe ATP doing HEL-ARN-KRF-GEV/LLA-ARN-HEL as a daytrip.
Happy contrails!


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Cencom is 'out of room'
"Operations in Cencom are growing cramped as equipment and lines multiply to handle growing volumes of 911 calls. Control panels and wires fill every spare room and desks are wedged into corners. Halls are turned into offices to maximize space. Right now, we're out of room, said Cencom Director Ron McAffee. In 1996, voters rejected a levy to purchase new equipment and move to a new building. McAffee attributed the ballot defeat to fear of an increase in property taxes before Cencom explored other funding options.Since that time, we've been doing everything we can possibly do to maximize our money, he said.After finding alternative funding to enhance existing equipment, Cencom officials hope the public might be more willing to pass a levy for a new building.Cencom would need about $5 million to construct and outfit a new center with enough built-in room for growth. They already own land behind the Bremerton National Guard's Readiness Training Center. It's a perfect site, McAffee said. What we need is ... a funding source, he said.Besides being cramped, Cencom was built prior to current seismic codes. It has a high probability of partial collapse during a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, which would cripple its ability to dispatch emergency crews to other areas of the county.Seismic upgrades are not feasible, McAffee said, because the building sits on a landfill. In an earthquake, that's a dangerous place to be, he said. After the levy failed, Cencom administrators shifted gears from purchasing new, top-of-the-line equipment to simply upgrading existing systems.We've leveraged our resources and lowered our sites to enhancing existing systems, he said.But even that had a cost: We have no future capital funding to fix things that break. We're hoping nothing breaks for awhile, McAffee said.In addition to capital needs and upgrades, Cencom's annual operations costs are rising at a rate of about 6 percent, McAffee said. Cost, unfortunately, is passed on to user agencies because there is no other funding source, he said.Cencom would prefer to pay for a new facility through a one-tenth of 1 percent local option sales tax rather than compelling police and fire agencies to pay more, McAffee said.Cencom received a $6.3 million bond loan from the county to pay for upgrades, including installing five new radio towers and improving existing ones with back-up systems in place.There are a number of areas in the county where coverage is not so good, McAffee said.Upgrades will make the radio transmission system smarter, too: if the system is busy or blocked one way, the transmission will automatically turn around and go the other way. It will enhance coverage and provide for system redundancy, McAffee said. If we lose this tower out here, we lose communication with 65 percent of the county.In addition, Cencom will use part of the $6.3 million to upgrade its emergency 911 system, which automatically displays phone numbers and addresses with each call. The units Cencom currently uses are about 18 years old, McAffee said. They don't make parts for them anymore. We need new ones.In fact, McAfee said, Cencom has found a way to fund just about everything. The only thing we haven't figured out a way to fund without going back to the taxpayer is a new facility, he said."
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text: The Speech Lightfoot Should Have Made Posted on Nov 08, 1998 11/8/98 To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to lose, a time to win, a time to concede, a time to gloat, a time to refrain from gloating. Election night always brings a bit of gloating and bit of conceding, and last Tuesday was no exception. The best candidates refrain from gloating, though all their instincts tell them to lay it on thick, to holler "I told you so!" a thousand different ways, and rub it in, maybe with a little salt to season the victory. Democrat Tom Vilsack, to his credit, didn't do that. Instead, he praised moderate Republicans for their support, thanking Republican opponent Jim Ross Lightfoot, and even commending Terry Branstad for his hard work and many years of service as governor. That was a nice touch, and surely reminded his supporters why they worked so hard for his election. Of course it's not much of a task to summon a bit of graciousness when you've won. The real challenge? Graciousness under fire, when you've lost. Lightfoot, sad to say, didn't conjure graciousness. Instead, he fought off tears, shook his finger at the camera and told his opponent that he had better remember he was elected governor of all the people, not the special interest groups that supported his campaign. Then he took a cheap shot at the Des Moines Register, suggesting that Register editors endorsed Vilsack because they had been on drugs. ("Now I know why the editors don't endorse drug testing," he said, trying to make a joke. Even his supporters didn't laugh.) He also referred bitterly to "Monday morning quarterbacks," meaning commentators who have never run for office, implying that they had no business criticizing him because they can't speak from experience. Of course, he would have had no trouble accepting their praises had he won. Chalk it up to understandable disappointment, which can lead to bitterness and cynicism. In any case, here's the concession speech I would have liked to have heard from Lightfoot: "It's clear now that we have lost. Like anyone in a close race, I wrote two speeches. The first was a victory speech, and I'm going to just give the first line of that one. "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last!' "That's the way I feel, even as an election loser. Either way, I'm on vacation for awhile, thank God. "The second was a concession speech, which I'm also going to throw out, just because my speech writers wrote it, not me, and I don't agree it now. "They blamed the newspapers whose editorial writers came out against us. They blamed my opponent's personality. They blamed special interests, many of whom contributed big bucks to my opponent. And they even blamed the voters for not understanding our superior positions and intelligent stands on the issues. "To which I now say: We have no one to blame but ourselves. Mistakes were made. No, that's wrong. Let me rephrase: I made mistakes. It was my campaign and I take full responsibility. "I could have taken the high road, concentrating on what I have done, and more importantly what I plan to do for Iowa. I could have articulated a vision for Iowa that would have energized and galvanized the state for its march into the next century, concentrating on the environment, education, and the changing agricultural economy. "What did I do? I got lazy and complacent. I saw my big lead in the polls and just coasted. I thought the governorship was mine for the asking, and took the state's support for granted. "I even put out yard signs that proclaimed me as "Governor Lightfoot." That was my mistake, too. " And yes, I have to take responsibility for those silly nude juice bar ads, which I thought might turn voters off Vilsack. I now see that I underestimated voters, and for that I'm sorry. "Iowans may be conservative, but they aren't dumb. "So to all my campaign workers and supporters around the state, I apologize. I ran a lousy campaign, lost a huge lead, and inevitably (as I see now) the election. "And to be frank, I should have lost. In fact, my loss strengthens my faith in the electoral process. I now know that you really can't fool all the people all the time, and I'm thankful to the Vilsack people for reminding me. "Having learned that hard lesson, I will take time off, study the issues, and might return to politics another time, maybe a little sadder, but certainly much wiser." Had Lightfoot managed to make anything like that speech, he'd have supporters lined up to help with his next election. Of course, had he risen to that level of honesty during the campaign, a concession speech wouldn't have been necessary. Go comment! Posted in Politics Cedar Valley Chronicles Personalities {{Title}} Remove Change Death Politics Christmas Education Conservatives/Liberals Crime Movies Humor Mysteries Graduation Aging & Birthdays Predictions alcohol Arts Health Romance/Love Hot Button Issues Battle of Sexes Reviews Travel Censorship Political Limericks satire Cedar Valley Chronicles Satire Meth Reviews Aging and Birthdays Recipes and cooking Religiosity Language & Writing Nostalgia Personalities Death Holidays Recipes and cooking Music Done Heroes: Not all Deserve Title Posted on Oct 31, 1998 10/31/98 NASA announcer Lisa Malone intoned these words last Thursday as the Discovery Shuttle roared off: "We have lift-off of Discovery with a crew of six astronaut heroes and one American legend." It was a fine send-off, but "heroes" seemed a bit overstated. They're six highly trained technicians who love flying, competition and problem solving. They're almost certainly straight-A students, highly motivated, with supportive families. That makes them productive citizens and role models. But not quite heroes, at least yet. A hero is someone who goes above and beyond expectation, who does something for which they weren't well-trained and rehearsed, and who made a large positive difference, though they weren't required to. Even John Glenn might not be a genuine hero given his 1962 three-orbit flight. Yes, he perched on a rocket that wasn't all that reliable and waited to either go up or out. If up, he might never get back. If out, he wouldn't feel much, but that could have meant the end of America's pride in its space program. Yet he had been trained for all that, and did exactly what they expected and hoped. Chuck Yeager, the famous test pilot, derided the whole program at the time. He called the astronauts "Spam in a can," and thought none of it mattered much. Chimps could do the same, because they only had to wait and hold on. Astronauts didn't really have much control over anything, truth be told. Still, back in 1962, computers that guided Glenn couldn't match even the lowliest desk-top these days, and all other systems were equally primitive. In other words, Glenn did, in fact, put his life on the line, and was worshiped as a "hero" at the time—so much so that JFK didn't want him to go up again, and that was the end of Glenn's astronaut career. Still, I maintain he just did his job, and did it well. Naturally Glenn was disappointed, but instead of lapsing into bitterness and spite (a tempting proposition for anyone in his position) he became a U.S. Senator. Now we're talking hero. He did the unexpected and made a positive contribution against the odds. I respected him more for being a good senator than an astronaut. Given Glenn's name recognition and clean-cut good looks, he made a reasonably distinguished career, though not stellar. If he were stellar, he would have been president by now. Then he began lobbying, hard, to become an astronaut again, and NASA finally conceded that sending him up again would have both scientific and PR value. And he was off, and up, and this is where "legend" comes in. Legend means far beyond expectation, breaking ground in ways that no one could imagine before. Hardly any heroes become legends. I'm now 55, and did have a minor musical career in the early '60s. Then I went off to do other things for the last thirty-odd years. Suppose I were to continue teaching and writing for another 20 years or so, until I was 75. If I could still stand up and form sentences, that would make me maybe an icon, or maybe a trail blazer, but not certainly a hero. Now suppose after retiring from teaching at 75, I went into training as a musician, and managed to land a real concert gig. At age 77, in 2020, I'd open to an approving crowd in, say Carnegie Hall. Now we're talking at least a minor legend. That's why Lisa Malone's term really does apply, and why we probably need to stand in awe of such a man. One would hope that because of Glenn, more of us consider alternatives to shuffle board and beachcombing. I'm even starting to wonder what a geezer musician might wear to open Carnegie Hall in 2020. Go comment! Posted in Hot Button Issues Cedar Valley Chronicles {{Title}} Remove Change Death Politics Christmas Education Conservatives/Liberals Crime Movies Humor Mysteries Graduation Aging & Birthdays Predictions alcohol Arts Health Romance/Love Hot Button Issues Battle of Sexes Reviews Travel Censorship Political Limericks satire Cedar Valley Chronicles Satire Meth Reviews Aging and Birthdays Recipes and cooking Religiosity Language & Writing Nostalgia Personalities Death Holidays Recipes and cooking Music Done


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Awesome Okanagan presents in collaboration with Loyal Hair Therapy "Wild Heart" the 2012 F/W Fashion Show/Fundraiser with heart, raising money for H.O.P.E. Outreach!
The A-OK/LHT teams put together this exciting promotional video for the event. Wild Heart takes place November 16th at 8pm, right after the Jail Bird Art Show 2 launch!


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i saw Nxe3 and saw that black can maybe hold the endgame, it could possibly be lost and didn't calculate it further. Was thinking Nb4 as i unpaused video... good job me.
White Knights of the King's Indian Attack
Maybe in the future.
Will you do an opening series on the King's Indian Attack?
I liked a lot the way you explained plans for both sides from the opening to the endgame. A very instructive game, great work, master Bojkov.
I like the fact that you are humble and don't just show your wins. We can learn alot from these drawing positions
Great game and well done on a draw vs. a super-GM
I was at the Golden State Open, and I saw him.
Nice example of GM thinking from the opening to the endgame. Thanks. Very instruktive.
Li Chao is very strong!
Li Chao won the Golden State Open a few days ago, with Gregory Kaidanov taking second place.
Great game, Dejan! Thank you for sharing, and for the instructive analysis. Even though it ended in a draw, hopefully you're not too upset about having an almost-winning position against an opponent rated close to 2700. Looking forward to your next video!
by GM Dejan Bojkov
Here GM Bojkov faces off against the eventual winner of the tournament in Queenstown, GM Li Chao. An interesting King's Indian Attack leads to a complicated middlegame where Chao's center will either become his biggest asset, or biggest weakness. Dejan calculates a variation to win a pawn, and it shows us that even 2700 Level GMs can miss things. But was it enough for Dejan to take the game home? Watch and find out...
Amazing Games
Players: Bojkov, Dejan
vs. Chao, Li
King's Indian Attack (A07)
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GM Dejan Bojkov
Dejan Bojkov is a Grandmaster, originally from Bulgaria. As a youngster, Dejan was the winner of numerous Youth Championships -- including Boys Under 14 and Boys Under 18 Bulgarian Champion. This translated to success on the international stage, with his most recent victory coming at the Sydney International Open in Australia (2010). As a trainer his work has known little failure, and some of his students include Antoaneta Stefanova-former World Womens Champion.
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By Brandy Holden
The wedding planning has ended, the wedding is almost over and the ceremony has been a huge success. Everything thing that you have ever wanted and dreamed of has now come true. But there is one more feat that must be overcome: your honeymoon. From the perfect destination, to the perfect season to travel, to, finally, the amount of money allotted to spend, you are ready to begin your honeymoon planning. Here are some helpful tips that are sure to make your time a lot easier.
The key to making the most of your honeymoon, is taking the time to prepare for the event. Preparation for planning may seem silly, but it pays off in the long haul. By definition, plan means to devise or project the realization or achievement of something. In order to be effective in devising or projecting anything, you must research. So, while it seems like couples immediately begin planning their wedding ceremony, they don't. Most often, couples research the ideas that they feel are likely possibilities, then they make plans.
Your honeymoon is no different. But, fret not, because you have already taken the first step. In reading this article, you are beginning the researching process; and if you follow the steps provided you would be well on your way to honeymoon bliss!
The next step is to get your budget in order. Of course, this step is a very easy one because you have already budgeted your money for the wedding. If you haven't, simply think about what you and your partner can realistically afford to spend. Greg Strobach with All About Honeymoons says, "What's really popular now are the all inclusive cruises and vacations. The national average for a couple on a honeymoon is 3800." These "all inclusives" cover all fees from transportation and hotel costs, to food and beverages and taxes. Still, if this number seems steep and unattainable, some less expensive options are available to you. According to Mr. Strobach, "A couple on a budget can still have a very pleasurable honeymoon [for minimal costs]." Couples who are on a limited budget may opt to stay in the United States for their honeymooning, instead of leaving the country. Too, they may choose to drive to their destination- since it is in the U.S.- instead of taking a plane, train or bus.
Now we get to the fun stuff…choosing where to go. The best thing to do is know how you want to spend your time. Mr. Strobach says, "We tailor trips for you [the couple] depending on what you want to do. Your wants are what really matters." And he's right. Your wants will determine what is done on the honeymoon, as well as, how enjoyable the honeymoon is. Don't just settle for 'doing something romantic'. Instead, try making a list of things that you individually enjoy and then combine the lists to find the common ground. Once the common ground is reached, you two can better decide on a location to visit. For instance, if the two of you enjoy swimming and animals, think Hawaii. Hawaii designates the waters between Oahu and Maui for a Marine Dolphin Sanctuary. Here you can actually swim with the dolphins! Likewise, you can find things that interest you within your own locality. If you and your hubby to be enjoy sporting and snow, think Colorado. During the winter, Aspen is great for honeymooners. They set up lodges overlooking beautiful snow bluffs and offer skiing packages which often include the lodge, food and ski privileges.
All remaining work towards planning and enjoying a wonderful honeymoon, is implementing what you may already know. For example, hiring a professional agent is not necessary but highly recommended and beneficial. Agents tend to be very diverse in their professional backgrounds, as well as, highly educated in their current field. Professionals also have the luxury of networking. They can get customers a much better deal than what could be procured without their help. Often times, agents are exposed to professionals-only discounts, which can potentially save hundreds of dollars. Likewise, hiring a professional allows you, as the couple, to be worry- free. You bring in your ideas and someone is there to consult with you and help you find the best package for yourselves. It's truly a win-win situation with a professional.
In a like manner, your honeymoon should be booked when it presents the best opportunity for you, the couple. Clay Gibbons with All About Honeymoons says, "The best times to travel are when destinations are not in the popular seasons." This means, Hawaii, the Caribbean Island and Mexico should not be considered during the fall and winter. The fall and winter are the most popular times for these destinations, and thus, will cost much more than a down season time. Keep in mind too that traveling out of season does not equate to traveling into bad weather or a lack of activities. In fact, places like Hawaii and the Caribbean Island are "in season"- as it relates to weather- year round. However, more people visit tropical areas during winter months, thus making them more expensive because they are highly in demand. Lastly, think about taking a cruise. It is an effective and cost efficient way to enjoy your honeymoon. Cruises have many activities on the boat and couples can take advantage of what is offered in the area in which they dock.
Your honeymoon should be special. Take the time to prepare yourselves. Do some research, work out the budget and contact a wonderful and knowledgeable professional. When the honeymoon is over, you will be happy you did. As Greg Strobach jokingly says, "[The only advice left to give]…is to not take your friends."
Your Romantic Get-A-Way
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on April 29, 2011 at 11:59 AM, updated April 29, 2011 at 12:03 PM
By Brandy Holden


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8:30 p.m. Monday
1. Corral Charles.
There are few weapons in Kansas City's offensive arsenal but if you had to pick the most dangerous, it is RB Jamaal Charles. This speedy slasher can take it the distance, especially against what has become an aging Steelers defense. Stop Charles and the run game, and the Chiefs will fold.
2. Keep pounding.
The Steelers were near the bottom of the league in rushing and were 2-3. During the recent three-game winning streak, the O-line has been stout and Todd Haley's offense is averaging 155 ypg. Regardless of who is carrying the rock, the Steelers front should be able to blow KC's paper-mache defense off the ball.
3. Get Mike Wallace touches.
Wallace is a premier receiver in this league, but he has been suffering from a case of butter fingers of late. When the Steelers need to pass — a big if against a bad KC defense — Ben Roethlisberger needs to go to Wallace to help his confidence. The Steelers will need his big-play ability next week against Baltimore.
Skinny: Last week's win over the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants shows that the Steelers are back as division and conference contenders. This is the perfect Mr. Softee game to continue the Steelers' winning trend and prepare them for an AFC North slugfest against the rival Ravens.
The Pick: Steelers (-12.5).
ELLIOTT ON TWITTER: @jelliottpnco


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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Sister Mary Dolora Luptak, 99, a devoted member of the Daughters of Divine Charity and former teacher at St. Joseph Hill Academy, died Tuesday at Eger Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, Egbertville, where she had resided since 2002.
Born Martha Luptak in Nagy Szalatna, Zolyom, Hungary, she was brought as a child to Manhattan and graduated from Hunter College High School. She entered the novitiate at the St. Joseph Hill Convent in 1931 and took her final vows in 1940.
She earned a bachelor of science degree in education from De Paul University in Chicago, and a master's of arts degree in American history and political science from Villanova (Penn.) University. She garnered two certificates, in 1970 and 1972, from the University of Nairobi by studying African history and contemporary culture in Kenya. Following that, she attended a course in Hong Kong for teachers on the culture, language and history of that region.
After teaching grades five and six at the academy from 1936 to 1938, she served at schools in New Jersey, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Michigan and Ohio before returning to the academy as a social studies teacher at the high school from 1967 to 1990.
Dr. Adrienne Ferretti, now a dentist in Concord and at Eger, studied in Africa for six weeks when she was 14 with a group of academy students led by Sister Dolora.
"I saw a part of the world that I never would have seen without Sister Dolora," Dr. Ferretti said.
"I will always appreciate her for that."
Sister Dolora was an enthusiastic traveler who took a number of trips to East Africa.
"Sister Dolora was an engaging and enthusiastic teacher and a student of history and foreign culture, and her joy for traveling was infectious," Dr. Ferretti said.
"Through her extensive travels, she made the diverse cultures of the world more interesting and accessible to her students."
Dr. Ferretti described Sister Dolora, not quite 5 feet tall, as "a tiny dynamo in the classroom" who "encouraged everyone in her classes to be citizens of the world."
She worked in the academy office from 1990 to 1993.
"Sister Dolora was a teacher who combined academic excellence, genuine concern for her students and a deep love of God," said Patricia Murphy, a former teacher and a current member of the academy's board of trustees.
"It was an honor to have been her colleague and her friend."
Sister Dolora is survived by her sister, Emi Luptak.
The funeral will be tomorrow from the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Eltingville, with a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Hill Convent. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains.


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NEW YORK - The city medical examiner ruled Friday that a police officer's chokehold caused the death of a man whose videotaped arrest and final pleas of "I can't breathe!" sparked outrage and led to the announcement of an overhaul of use-of-force training for the nation's largest police department.
Eric Garner, a black man whose confrontation with a white police officer has prompted calls by the Rev. Al Sharpton for federal prosecution, was killed by neck compressions from the chokehold and "the compression of his chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police," medical examiner's spokeswoman Julie Bolcer said.
Asthma, heart disease and obesity were contributing factors in the death of the 43-year-old Garner, a 6-foot-3, 350-pound father of six, she said.
Article Photos
Doug Brinson sits on a stoop next to a makeshift memorial for Eric Garner, Friday, in the Staten Island borough of New York. Garner died after he was put in a chokehold while being arrested at the site last month for selling untaxed loose cigarettes. On Friday, the medical examiner ruled Garner's death to be a homicide caused by a police chokehold.
The finding increases the likelihood that the case will be presented to a grand jury to determine whether Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who placed Garner in the chokehold, or any other officers involved in the confrontation will face criminal charges. Pantaleo's attorney, Stuart London, declined to comment.
Garner's wife, Esaw Garner, told the Daily News, "Thank God the truth is finally out."
Mayor Bill de Blasio extended his sympathies to Garner's family in a statement and pledged to continue repairing the relationship between minority communities and the New York Police Department.
"I've said that we would make change, and we will," he said.
Partial video of the July 17 confrontation shows an officer placing a chokehold on Garner, who was being arrested on suspicion of selling untaxed, loose cigarettes. Garner then apparently loses consciousness.
Chokeholds are prohibited by the NYPD.
Prosecutors on Staten Island, where the confrontation occurred, are investigating. A spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan said prosecutors were still investigating the death and awaited a full autopsy report and death certificate from the medical examiner. Donovan will have to determine whether to empanel a grand jury and charge officers in Garner's death.


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- Coach: Jimmye Valkema
- Top returners: Juniors Drew Vermeer, Cam Colon, Chris Plekker and Alex Van Soelen and sophomores Christian Frankovich and Cody Woltjer
- Newcomers: Sophomore Tyler Bonnema and freshmen Travis Huyser and Luke Kuperus
- Outlook: Vermeer is the only returning starter from last year's lineup, but Valkema said it's a young team that is excited to compete.
- Coach's comment: "This will be a rebuilding year after losing four starting seniors. Most of these bowlers have been bowling for only two years, and so we are tempering our expectations and focusing on growth in this coming year."
- Coach: Jimmye Valkema
- Top returners Seniors Heather Marks, Erica Zylstra and Andrea Varney and sophomores Rebeccah Ledeboer, Savannah Murin and Ivy Schutte
- Newcomers: Sophomores Karli Potts and Alexa Hoekwater
- Outlook: There are enough seniors to supply leadership, and the returning sophomores and junior fills gaps in the lineup.
- Coach's comment: "We have a lot of new faces on the team, but with my three seniors anchoring our team, we should be very competitive."
- Coach: Paul Knust, first year
- Conference: O-K Conference
- 2008-09: 12-13
- Top returners: Sophomore forward Blake DeVries and Ben Kadau, a senior captain, are among the top players in the division. Defensemen Michael Burkhart, a senior, and junior Calvin VanOpstall also are back
- Newcomer: Junior defender Megan DeVries
- Outlook: It is a veteran team with only three new players among 17 on the roster, but there are seven sophomores.
- Coach's comment: "It will depend on hard work and if we can increase our team speed."
- Key date: Jan. 8 vs. Wayland; Jan. 9 vs. Grand Rapids Christian
BOYS SWIMMING (Co-op with Byron Center, Caledonia)
- Brian Blok, sixth year
- Conference: O-K Green
- 2008-09: Fourth in O-K Green
- Top returners: Junior Justin Gale (Byron Center, distance), senior Taylor Roodvoets (Caledonia, distance) and junior Austin Tenelshof (Caledonia, backstroke/IM)
- Newcomer: Sophomore Jeff Saltzgaber (Byron Center, sprints)
- Outlook: Blok lost a third of his swimmers to graduation and attrition, including possible butterfly specialists, so trying to catch the top O-K Green teams such as Hamilton and Zeeland might be very difficult. Coach's comment: "We have a lot of decent swimmers and new guys returning from last year, but we don't have the butterfly swimmer and that's killing us in terms of depth."Key dates: Jan. 26 vs. Holland Christian; Feb. 9 vs. Hamilton


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- Details
- Holds 3/5 Cord / 2,2 cubic meters.
- Complete wood storage rack and cover in one.
- Easy assembly, all steel frame rack with black powder coat finish.
- Keeps wood off of the ground eliminating bugs, mold growth, and rotting.
- Open Air Design delivers excellent ventilation, perfect for seasoning firewood.
- Waterproof cover adjusts to fit split wood up to 24" / 61 cm in length.
- Adjustable cover slides up and down to fit height of wood stack.
- Round 1 1/2 in. tube frame
- Black Polyester Cover
- Instruction Manual
- Rack Frame 142.7 in x 46.6 in. x 15.5 in.
- Specs
SKU 72111493 Model 90403 Weight 46.0000 Color No size No Width N/A In Store Only No Price $89.97
- Warranty
Rural King provides a defect or damage warranty within 30 days of receipt. All Manufacturing Return Policies Supersede Rural King's Return Policy.
- Reviews
Customer Reviews
- Works as it should Review by Bob
Price Value Quality
This firewood rack is pretty good. It gets the wood off of the ground. The tubing seems fairly sturdy. The rack bolts together with carriage bolts and regular nuts. If I had the time I would have opted to go to the hardware store and get hex bolts and hard washers in effort to tighten it down more and to help spread the bolt load. However, it did bolt together well and it did seem fairly sturdy. I loaded it about half full and it remained solid. The cover did not fit well. This may be due to the length of my wood. Firewood cut shorter may allow the cover to fit better. I would buy another one if needed. The price is right. Welded units cost roughly 3 times this one and when all said and done it holds firewood.
(Posted on 11/18/2014)
- good quality Review by jr5743
Price Value Quality
good quality, easy assembly, should last a long time quick delivery
(Posted on 3/27/2013)
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Langley mayor's pay too much, city's former mayors say
Langley Mayor Paul Samuelson is overpaid, according to those who have held the post before him.
The Langley City Council approved a new ordinance and revised an old one last week that sets out the mayor's pay and benefits. On a 4-0 vote, the council set Samuelson's annual salary at $53,532. With benefits, Samuelson receives a yearly compensation package that tops $71,000.
Three of the city's most recent mayors — Neil Colburn, Lloyd Furman and Dale Elliott — said the city is paying Samuelson too much.
Furman, who rose from the ranks of the city council to become a two-term mayor from 1996 to 2004, called Samuelson's salary "obscene."
"That job shouldn't be a career job," Furman said, adding that people who run for the mayor's post should be guided by the spirit of public service.
"It should be a job that they're doing because they want to give back to the city of Langley," he said.
Furman, like other previous mayors contacted by the Record, did not blame Samuelson for his pay level. It was a decision made by the council, Furman said, and one that was a mistake.
"I blame the council as much for being naive or unrealistic to pay a small-town mayor that amount of money," he said.
Furman said he never made much as mayor.
"I think it was probably between $1,000 and $1,100 a month. And no benefits," he said.
"I think it's a stretch to be paid $24,000 a year," Furman added.
He said he donated his salary to the cemetery fund because it was "in trouble" during his first two years as mayor.
Much of the debate over Samuelson's pay has revolved around the difference between a mayor who serves as "part time" versus one who serves as a "full- time" mayor.
Langley council members have repeatedly said they wanted to increase Samuelson's pay because of the many hours he was putting in at city hall, and they were afraid that the work would take a toll and lead to burnout. Samuelson was still working as a barber when he became mayor in 2008.
Furman said he never considered the job "part time." He put in the hours needed to get the job done, he said.
"I know I worked more hours than my predecessors. I also worked more hours than the present mayor," Furman said.
"Lloyd was the first one there and the last one home for eight years," recalled Colburn, Langley's last mayor before Samuelson.
Colburn served on the council with Furman, and remembered how he would drive past city hall early in the morning on the way to his restaurant and see a light on and Furman in the window.
"He took his job very, very seriously," Colburn said.
Growing controversy
Internal turmoil over the mayor's pay became public in early July after new reports that Langley City Treasurer Debbie Mahler had asked the county prosecutor to investigate alleged "improper actions" by Samuelson amid her concerns that the mayor was getting paid for vacation time he had not earned.
The controversy grew after reports that Langley had overspent its budget for legal advice by thousands of dollars after Samuelson directed the city's attorneys to review personnel issues at city hall. He also asked the attorneys to contact an employment firm in Bellevue to find potential high-level replacement workers for the city after Mahler confronted the mayor about his pay in mid-December.
Worried that Mahler would be fired, a group of South End residents recently started a legal defense fund on her behalf.
Colburn said he is constantly asked about the mayor's pay.
"Just about every time I go to the store or when I go to work out, or people will mention it to me when I am at work at the restaurant," Colburn said.
"The question I'm asked the most often is, 'How can you justify that amount of pay in this economy?'
"I tell them I don't really understand it," he said.
Colburn also donated his salary back to the city when Langley was facing a tough time financially. He also paid out of his own pocket for a campaign to raise property taxes in the Village by the Sea, a campaign that was led by Samuelson and was approved by voters.
Colburn said he was hesitant to weigh in on the controversy.
"They're partially all friends of mine," he said.
Cuts are rampant
Colburn said cities and counties across the state having been cutting back because of the bad economy — and he pointed to the cuts county commissioners had made to their own compensation packages.
"Here we are, a town of 1,000 where people have been very vocal about how difficult this economy is to function in, and we keep raising the mayor's salary," he said. "I am troubled not so much on Paul's account, but I don't understand where that's coming from on the council level."
The city council has raised the mayor's salary multiple times in the past two years.
In September 2008, the council nearly doubled Samuelson's pay to $31,000 from that earned by Colburn.
In November 2008, the council increased the mayor's pay to $51,513, and more recently, to $53,532.
Samuelson makes more money as mayor than any other mayor in cities and towns in Washington state that have a population two or three times the size of Langley, with Coupeville as the sole exception. Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard has an annual salary of $63,756.
Colburn was assisted by a full-time city administrator, but Samuelson announced before he took office that he would cut that job and instead hire a part-time assistant to help him at city hall. It was a move that Colburn opposed.
Furman and other previous mayors said the job is, at times, a thankless position.
"It's a demanding job, there's no question about that. Ninety-five percent of the people are wonderful to deal with, but there's a few percent that'll give everybody a bad time," he said.
"I was on call full time, 24/7," recalled former mayor Dale Elliott, who served a few terms before Furman.
"It is really wasted money paying a mayor," Elliott said.
Instead, the city should hire a professional manager and institute a council-manager form of government, he said.
Under the council-manager form of government, a mayor is elected from the ranks of the council as the ceremonial head of the city, while a professional manager hired by the council runs the day-to-day business of city hall.
"After 12 years of being in city government, I came away with one strong opinion: I think the city council/mayor-type government is just very unrealistic for a small town.
I feel very strongly about that," Elliott said.
"I think the mayor should be paid nothing. All the money should be put into a good, qualified city manager. It's the best money you can spend.
"Don't go cheap on that either," he added. "The city is now paying by trying to go cheap on paying a city attorney."
The talent pool isn't deep enough to have someone with the professional skills to be mayor. They learn on the job, and that's a costly process, he said.
Elliott recalled that he had been an architect and a city planner, and had earned an advanced degree in urban design before becoming mayor.
"I still was unqualified, and it was on-the-job training," he said. "And on-the-job training is by trial and error."
What's ahead?
Elliott tried years ago, without success, to have Langley switch to a council-manager form of government.
At a council meeting last month, some asked the council to explore the idea of the council-manager form, or to look closely at a compensation package that would apply to any person who becomes the mayor of Langley.
The current pay package is a special deal for Samuelson only, and the pay level will shrink at the end of his current term to the level paid to the prior mayor.
Councilman Robert Gilman said that arrangement provides the city "flexibility" in how the next mayor will service the city.
The next elected mayor may want to work "full time" without an administrator, or the next mayor may want to be "part time" and have an administrator.
Because state law forbids decreasing the pay of someone currently in office, the council will be able to adjust the administration's budget to fit the role that the new mayor has chosen.
Gilman said the job of the mayor has changed with the city over time.
"As the challenges of running any city have grown more complex — more state laws, more requirements, more federal requirements, etc. — the task of being the city's chief executive has also increased," Gilman said.
"The previous mayors are no doubt reflecting on their own experience, which was in a different time," Gilman said. "I'm not saying they didn't have their challenges, but there was a different set of expectations."
Having a higher pay level for the mayor, he said, broadens the pool of candidates for the job.
"It needs to be something that someone can actually live on," he said.
For his part, however, Furman said the city should adopt a pay level for the mayor's position, and not for a particular individual.
"I think there should be a salary schedule, and the voters will be able to vote on who should get that salary," Furman said.
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A $24.6 billion budget that will increase spending on services for the disabled, higher education and public schools received final passage Friday with a vote of the Louisiana House, which agreed to a Senate rewrite of the spending plans.
Unlike some years where debate on the operating budget comes down to the final hours of the legislative session, lawmakers wrapped up their work on the 2014-15 spending roadmap with days to spare before the session must end Monday.
The 75-22 House vote sent the spending plan to Gov. Bobby Jindal, who can strip individual items he doesn't like with his veto pen. But lawmakers gave the Republican governor most of what he sought in his proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
"We appreciate the work of the Legislature on the budget. This budget increases funding for higher education in order to help better prepare our students to fill the thousands of jobs coming to Louisiana. Other of our top priorities, including increased funding for K-12 schools, merit pay increases for state employees, and increased health care funding for individuals with disabilities also made it through the process," Jindal said in a statement.
Lawmakers added dollars to give state troopers higher salaries and more money for services for the disabled and the families who take care of them. They also filled gaps Jindal's budget proposal had left in the public school funding formula and the state's free college tuition program called TOPS.
Using an improved budget forecast, senators stripped House proposals for across-the-board cuts for contracts, overtime pay and vacant positions.
Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Fannin, R-Jonesboro, said the budget was an improvement over previous years when colleges and health care services faced steep cuts.
"It's not perfect. I think it's the best one that I've had in the last three years. I ask your final passage," he said.
More than 1,000 state jobs will be cut, though most are vacant. Next year's budget will drop by $807 million from this year's spending plan, though much of that is because the state is spending down federal hurricane recovery money. State general fund spending will grow by $447 million, according to the Legislative Fiscal Office.
Rep. John Bel Edwards, Democratic leader in the House, raised concerns about maneuvers used to balance the spending plans.
The budget relies on more than $70 million in "efficiencies" recommended by a consulting firm hired by the Jindal administration, along with nearly $1 billion in patchwork financing that isn't expected to reappear a year later.
If the savings don't pan out, "then we've got a problem in the midyear," Edwards said. When lawmakers have to craft the 2015-16 budget, Edwards said: "We're looking at a billion-dollar problem."
The House also voted 97-0 for a $176 million budget for the state's judiciary next year, an $8 million increase, giving the plan final passage.


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Wednesday, May 7, 2014
About 15 years ago, signs started popping up in front of schools that read, If you can read this, thank a teacher. No disagreement here.
Some of my teachers were among the most influential role models in my life.
To that, Id like to add: If you opened your eyes this morning and saw the sunrise, thank the Good Lord and a nurse.
More than likely, even before you learned your ABCs, youd already had several encounters with nurses. Chances are a nurse was waiting to welcome you into this world. And it was probably a nurse who put your first diaper on you.
Remember the nurse who gave you your childhood vaccinations? Or the school nurse who took your temperature and made you feel better by giving you a sympathetic hug? From schools and doctors offices to hospitals and outpatient settings, nurses are an integral part of our communitys health care system.
A nurses very presence can ease the fears of the injured and wounded, soothe a sick child and comfort the grieving. No wonder nursing has topped the list of most trusted professions in Gallups annual survey 14 of the past 15 years.
In recent years, the role of nurses has expanded dramatically. Today, nurses are serving as researchers, policy advisers and community health educators. And even though nurses are among the largest and fastest-growing groups of health care professionals -- with 3.1 million nurses nationwide -- their numbers arent growing fast enough. An aging population and an aging nursing work force have heightened the demand for nurses, making it the nations top field for job growth in the next four years.
Nursing has been called a science and an art. We all know it doesnt take a scientist to recognize suffering and show compassion. Science can, however, spur healing and recovery.
As chairman of the Georgetown Hospital System board of trustees, Ive had the privilege of meeting and seeing many dedicated nurses who practice that delicate balance of art and science every day. I also have learned how rigorous their training is because one of our own employees is pursuing her nursing degree while balancing work and family. Becoming a nurse requires grit. Whether at the bedside, in a physicians office or out in the community, our nurses continually inspire me with their knowledge, their resourcefulness and their advocacy for their patients.
Day and night, they care for us, our family members and our friends and neighbors. Every time I am told by someone, including a stranger, that he or she had the best nursing care at a Georgetown Hospital System hospital or facility, I feel gratitude and a sense of pride.
And our nurses efforts have not gone unnoticed by their peers. For several years, nurses at Georgetown Hospital System have been recognized with the Palmetto Gold Award, the states highest recognition for nursing excellence in patient care.
This week, May 6-12, is National Nurses Week, and we at Georgetown Hospital System are honoring nurses with activities, ceremonies and events. Its a time when we reflect not only on our nurses achievements but also on what their contributions truly mean to patient care.
If theres a special nurse who has made a difference in your life, I encourage you to join me in expressing heartfelt gratitude to our communitys nursing heroes. And remember, tomorrow when you wake up and see the sunrise, say a prayer of thanks for the nurses who care for us all.
H. McRoy Skipper, Jr. is chairman of the Georgetown Hospital System Board of Trustees and a partner in the firm of WebsterRogers LLP, Certified Public Accountants.
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Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski started a golden age of fantasy tight ends a few years ago. The Denver Broncos' Julius Thomas and Cleveland Browns' Jordan Cameron added to it last season. Now, Jordan Reed and Ladarius Green look capable of joining the growing club.
A tight end will get picked in Round 1, perhaps for the first time, in your league. That doesn't mean you have to quickly follow suit.
With the growing supply of viable fantasy tight ends and there still being only 12 starting spots for them in a standard league, the price should go down, not up. You cannot argue with the laws of supply and demand—at least you shouldn't. They are smarter than you.
We will stop insulting our readers' intelligence and provide you with an update on the tight end position, including the latest rankings, a riser and faller, and a review of the sleepers and risks.


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BOSTON -- The questions are often the same: What do the Boston Red Sox have to do with the Boston Marathon bombing?
On the whole, they're fair questions. Why does a baseball team assume responsibility for helping a city heal over a monumental tragedy? Can a baseball team even do that? How long will this last?
The answers were written on the faces of the family members of victims who carried the rings from the Green Monster on Friday afternoon and walked slowly across the Fenway Park field before the Boston Red Sox opened their home schedule at 2 p.m.
These people weren't crying. They were smiling. They were waving. Each person carried a box of rings and delivered it to a table near first base. They shook the hands of Red Sox owner John Henry and the players in the dugout.
These people appeared generally happy, if only for a moment.
"It was one of those feelings where you're saddened, but you feel good about the people and the families that overcame that," said outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. "It's very special times. It is a good thing. Just letting the city know that we support them too and we support us. That's the mindset. We're all in this together."
Baseball provided the stage, and the Red Sox made it an electric one.
"You go through something like that and it happens so fast," said second baseman Dustin Pedroia. "You try to slow it down and take it all in, but all of it was so awesome. At the end, we're shaking everyone's hand, that was my favorite part."
Martin Richard, the 8-year-old boy who died in the bombings, was honored with his family on hand. Richard Donohue, the transit police officer who was injured in the hunt for the suspects, was also on hand.
It won't be easy to forget what happened last April 15, just like it won't be easy to forget the ways Boston celebrates Marathon Monday. The running is half of it. The baseball game is the other half.
"I don't think it'll fade," said outfielder Jonny Gomes. "It's a historical moment and a historical day."
It wouldn't be right to let a celebratory moment go by without celebrating the lives of heroes. Firefighters from Engine 33 and Ladder 15, where Edward Walsh and Michael Kennedy worked and eventually died in the Back Bay fire last week, were honored on the field. They helped David Ortiz pull the American Flag to half mast.
Ortiz felt his heart stop.
"I tell you what, man, there was one point where everything went from happiness to sadness, just seeing those firefighters last week losing their life trying to save the others," he said. "I got to meet their family. It was kind of sad to see people going away like that just trying to do good things. All you can do is just pray for the family and support them."
"It was definitely an emotional roller coaster and something that jumps right to the top of most exciting days as a baseball player," Gomes said.
Red Sox starter Jake Peavy could hardly contain himself while warming up in the bullpen.
"There were some nerves, excitement, but I"ve done it long enough to where you can channel that, harness it all in the right direction," he said.
Everyone channeled their emotions on Friday.
The baseball game helped. There's the connection.


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An 11-year-old Michigan boy has touched the hearts of many by simply reacting to the news he's going to be a big brother.
Logan Fairbanks read a list of things he is going to do in the next year in a video shot by his father.
"This year I will get to do many great things," Logan read.
After listing a number of things, the final event on the list left him speechless.
"I'm going to be a big brother," he said to his own surprise.
Logan's heartwarming reaction sent the video viral.
"He was hugging and kind of sobbing as he was holding her for a good 90 seconds," Josh Fairbanks, 29, told GoodMorningAmerica.com. "He's still pretty floored."
Logan, according to TODAY, is known for his giving nature. The report tells a story of a couple of years ago he tried giving his iPod to a friend. When his parents asked him why, he said, "Because they don't have one and giving it to them would make me happier than having it."
Check out the videos below.
This 11 year old gets some big news and his reaction is wonderful. from J Payne on Vimeo.


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The following is a letter to the editor that was sent to the Kalamazoo Gazette.
SHEREE GRAVELY/Portage
Sadly, Tim Skubick's March 31 reporting is absolutely wrong when he compares Fox to MSNBC, since MSNBC is almost entirely opinion reporting.
The recent PEW report on media bias shows Fox and CNN present balanced news/opinion coverage, almost 50/50 for both channels while MSNBC is far out of line, with 85 percent of its coverage being opinion, and almost all of that reflecting liberal bias.
If readers don't understand a writer's slant, even in news reporting, and especially when one side is so overwhelming, they can be easily misled, as Tim attempted to do.
For more Kalamazoo Gazette opinion pieces and letters visit http://www.mlive.com/opinion/kalamazoo/.


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Tegaderm consists of a thin film backing with a non-latex, hypoallergenic adhesive.The dressing is breathable, allowing good oxygen and moisture vapor exchange. It is waterproof and impermeable to liquids and bacteria. An intact dressing protects the site from outside contamination.Tegaderm transparent dressings can be used to cover and protect catheter sites and wounds, to maintain a moist environment for wound healing, as a secondary dressing, as a protective cover over at-risk skin, to secure devices to skin and as a protective eye covering.
Orders over $50 ship for FREE!
Due to the nature of this product and our adherence to strict safety precautions, this product is NOT returnable unless it is unopened and has not been tampered with in any way. View Return Policy.
This item will typically ship via USPS when shipped alone.
While we cannot administer medical advice, our Customer Service Team members are available to assist you with the ordering of your medical supplies. Our toll-free number is 1-866-774-9513 - Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm CST (7:00 am to 3:00 PST / 10:00 am to 6:00 pm EST). If you prefer to correspond by email, our address is email@example.com.


text:
Generac makes it easy to configure a standby backup power system for your home or business needs. The 60kW liquid-cooled generator is capable of providing standby backup protection for large homes and commercial applications, designed specifically for high demand power generation needs. Low speed, automotive style liquid-cooled engine runs at 3600 rpm during a power outage for a substantially quieter generator, greater fuel efficiency, and longer engine and alternator life. Super quiet, super efficient, patented Quiet-Test mode for a weekly test mode that's quieter than other brands, consumes less fuel and helps make your Generac generator the most environmentally friendly on the market. Standard aluminum, all-weather enclosure provides the ultimate protection from the elements. Aluminum's natural corrosion resistance prolongs the life of your generator and is recommended for salt-air, coastal locations. Generac has created a controller for liquid-cooled models with an improved user interface for easier monitoring and management of the generator functions.
Features of the New Nexus Controller:
• LCD Display
• Remote Maintenance LED's
• Time & Date
• Alarm Log
• Run Log
• Set Exercise via Display
• Engine Hour Display
• RPM Display & Sensor Loss Alarm
• Frequency
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• Trilingual Display
• Underspeed/fail to Transfer Alarm
• High Engine Temperature Alarm
• Low Oil Pressure Alarm
• Overcrank Alarm
• Overspeed Alarm
• Maintenance Scheduling
• Not For Sale in California or Massachusetts.


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Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College linebacker Martrell Spaight was on campus since last Wednesday evening partaking in his official Rutgers visit. He also got the opportunity to be in attendance for Rutgers' Big East championship-deciding duel against Louisville. Spaight reached out to NJ.com to share the details about his exciting trek to the banks.
"The academic side of everything was most impressive coming from a junior college where football players are just thought of as football players," said Spaight. "And what Rutgers showed me was that teachers are willing to work with you so that you'll be able to get a good comprehension of things."
Rutgers' fan support and the defensive scheme they employ also played a huge role in Spaight enjoying his Rutgers trek.
"I really enjoyed it," he said. "We came up there early at 8 a.m. (ET) in the morning, and you had the tailgaters already out there. You can tell they have some real diehard fans, it was excellent.
"From a football standpoint, I really enjoyed how the guys played. Their defense reminds me of the college I am at now. I could see myself fitting into their program," he continued. "Even through all the controversy, they still stayed as a family and kept fighting. Unfortunately, the game didn't come out the way they wanted it to, but I was more excited by the way they played the whole game."
Spaight was hosted by redshirt freshman Quentin Gause while on his visit. He shared with NJ.com why he thought he bonded well with his host.
"Quentin and I pretty much have the same background; good, strong religious parents," he said. "And we just want to do the right thing, so we just had that connection. That's what really just bonded us both."
The two-some as well as other Rutgers representatives went on a trip to the Big Apple, showing Spaight what lies right around the corner if he were to decide for the Scarlet Knights.
"We took a trip to New York City, and went to Dave and Busters," said Spaight. "I really enjoyed myself there. I haven't had that much fun in a long while. Coming from a little small town, I was just enjoying life."
Spaight received some one-on-one time with Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood before he boarded his plane back to Kansas.
"I had my last meal with coach Flood," Spaight said. "We talked about why he got into the coaching business and how they feel about me as a player and a student, and he told me how I would succeed at Rutgers University."
Spaight compared his Rutgers visit to the visit he took to Ohio State the weekend before.
"They both have their similarities; great education from a business standpoint. And they both made it a point to tell me how the teachers would work with me to ensure I am successful.
"From a football standpoint, they both played pretty hard," he continued. "Ohio State won their game and Rutgers didn't, but I liked how they both played as a team. I really enjoyed Rutgers and Ohio State, too."
However, after two consecutive visits, combined with the fact that Ohio State has yet to offer, Rutgers is currently Spaight's favorite potential collegiate destination.
"Rutgers is up there, they've been there from day one. They are on the top of my list, and I would have to say Ohio State is up there behind Rutgers.
Spaight plans to make his final decision sometime before Dec. 19 when he finishes up at Coffeyville Community College. There is a chance he could take an official visit to Kansas State before that time, but it is still up in the air.
NJ.com will keep you posted as to his final collegiate selection.
Follow me on Twitter @TodderickHunt
Tune in weekly to Verizon Fios1 Sports (either channel 1 or 501 in central NJ) for the Star Ledger Game of the Week.


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Here's a great freebie for all of you with little ones! You can download the entire CD for FREE! These are great songs to soothe your baby and play for them when going down for a nap or tummy time.
Just head on over to Munchkin.com and download the whole album to your PC or Mac, you can then upload it to your MP3 player if you wish.
You can check out more baby freebies here.
Be sure to check out the latest freebies and printable coupons!
Have you joined the Sea of Savers on Facebook? Join over 11,500 others, make friends and share deals you find!


text:
Academic and General Software
Software installed on CIS computing services
- Software installed on the Networked PC Service (NPCS)
- Software installed on the Managed Desktop Service (MDS)
- Software installed on the Unix service
- Software installed on the Linux service
Software support pages
These are series of pages which provide information and advice concerning a number of supported software packages. Software support pages
How to get a copy of an item of software
Software downloads
Many items of software which are either free of charge or under site license may be downloaded from external web sites, or locally from the CIS web site. Software purchasing
Software licences
Before acquiring any software from CIS, please read the note on software licences .


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Tip: 8PM Court: Toyota Center Watch it: CSN Hear it: WEEI
Referees: Tom Washington, David Jones and Haywoode Workman
Get your tickets here: Boston Celtics Tickets
The Matchup
Last time
The Celtics beat the Rockets, 97-92, back in March. According to my recap, they resembled the Walking Dead and the game was the ugliest overtime thriller imaginable.
This time
Get it to: Rajon Rondo
Houston is allowing a league worst 104 ppg. Opposing teams shoot 46% and 38% from three. Give the keys to Rajon Rondo and get the hell out of the way.
Gotta stop: James Harden
Harden remains the Rockets best offensive player and the focal point of the league's 3rd highest scoring offense. He's averaging 15 more ppg than any other Houston starter. Harden's shooting percentage is back to a respectable level (45%) after plummeting (41%) in November. This is a real tough match-up for Jason Terry. Expect the Celtics to continue trapping defensively.
The Wild Card: Omir Asik
The 7-footer is averaging a double-double and nearly 4 offensive rebounds per game. I can see him killing the Celtics. He's also a fantastic pick-and-roll defender. How the Celtics bigs handle him – on both ends of the court – could determine this game.
How we see it goin' down
This game could get nuts. Houston isn't really interested in playing defense and they love to push the pace. While I'm deathly afraid of the Celtics committing 22 turnovers, I like their chances – on the break on on the perimeter.
I'm also not worried about heavy legs. Doc can go deep into the bench for this one. Guys like Courtney Lee, Leandro Barbosa and Chris Wilcox should thrive in a fast paced game.
Celtics 107
Rockets 94


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NEW BRUNSWICK — A former Woodbridge police officer was convicted today of sexually assaulting a teenage boy over a three-year period in the 1990s.
It marks the third time Douglas Karlson, 52, of Old Bridge, was convicted of the same charges.
Jurors in Superior Court in New Brunswick found Karlson guilty of aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said in a statement.
Kaplan said the jury deliberated for about three hours before reaching the verdict. Judge Bradley Ferencz revoked Karlson's $250,000 bail and ordered him held in the county jail in North Brunswick. Karlson faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison when sentenced Dec. 10.
Karlson had been found guilty of the charges in 2006 and 2009, but each conviction was overturned on appeal.
Prosecutors charged Karlson with assaulting the boy, between June 1994, when he was 14, and June 1998. Karlson was suspended from the Woodbridge police force after his arrest in May 2005.
One month after his conviction in 2009, Karlson pleaded guilty to official misconduct and child endangerment charges for taking semi-nude photos of a 15-year-old girl he had met on duty. However, after the conviction was overturned, he was released on bail pending the latest trial.
Related coverage:


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(WBNG Binghamton) Ithaca Police Department Acting Chief John R. Barber and Tompkins County Sheriff Ken Lansing are pleased to announce a joint initiative to offer free gun locks to residents of Tompkins County.
According to a news release:
The gun locks are available to all residents of Tompkins County. There is no limit to the number of gun locks that a person can request and no ID will be required.
The gun locks will be available for pickup Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Ithaca Police Department and the Tompkins County Sheriff's Department.
Chief Barber and Sheriff Lansing request that City of Ithaca residents pick up the gun locks only at the Ithaca Police Department and all other county residents pick up gun locks at the Sheriff's Department.


text:
By DONNIE MOORHOUSE
Chris Scanlon said the first time he heard one of his songs on the radio, he almost drove off the road. If things go well for the local singer / songwriter and his new album "u-turn," he might want to consider switching to an AM talk station as a safety precaution.
Scanlon will celebrate the release of his new work on Sept. 13 with a show at the Performing Arts Center of Easthampton (P.A.C.E.). Along with hearing some of his music on local radio, Scanlon has a formidable list of career highlights.
"I played a singer-songwriter conference in New Jersey this spring that featured Jeffrey Gaines," he said. "It was very exciting. I got to meet the late great Michael Hedges back stage once and he kindly explained one of his complicated tunings to me. But I think my favorite was having my 4 year old daughter walk up to me during a show to tell me I'm a rock star."
Scanlon comes to Northampton via New Jersey and has assimilated into the local rock scene with local acts like Plump and Carrie Ferguson.
"I moved to Northampton in the early '90s as part of the great New Jersey Diaspora," said Scanlon. "I'm 39 and have been playing music since my early teens."
Scanlon says the seed was planted for him at show at the LA Coliseum.
"I saw The Who, The Clash, and T-Bone Burnett with 100,000 screaming fans," he said. "My future was sealed / ruined from then on."
Despite being from the Garden State and citing Bruce Springsteen as a primary influence, he says you won't necessarily hear Springsteen in his music.
"Pete Townshend is also a big influence, as well as the late Michael Hedges, Bruce Cockburn, and Joni Mitchell," he said. "Lately I have the music of artists like Joseph Arthur, the Wrens, Damien Rice, and Kathleen Edwards playing in my iPod when I'm looking for inspiration."
Scanlon recorded his CD at Sow's Ear Studio in Easthampton with producer Scott Coar who has worked with Angry Johnny and the Killbillies and Thrillpillow. Locals like Tony Vacca, Bruce Todd, Carrie Ferguson, Maggie Nowinski, and Emily Breines all pitched in with cameos.
His goals for the project are simple.
"I'd like to make a name for myself in the Pioneer Valley for starters," he said. "From there I'd like to hit the road."
Chris Scanlon and his band play P.A.C.E. on Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available through www.pioneerarts.org.
Pearl Street will rock out with Sevendust and Taproot on Oct. 12. The bands will play the upstairs Ballroom. Tickets are $22.50 in advance and available through iheg.com or by calling the Northampton Box Office at (413) 586-8686.
California band Hello Echo will play the Basement in Northampton on Saturday night. Locals Fancy Trash will open and the show begins at 10 p.m.
Buzz band The Hold Steady will join forces with Drive By Truckers for a fall tour that comes to the Orpheum in Boston on Nov. 9.
Bill Gaither brings his Homecoming Tour to the XL Center in Hartford on Sept. 25. Tickets are $39.50, $29.50, and $19.50 and are on sale now through Ticketmaster outlets including Ticketmaster.com and by phone at (413) 733-2500.
Martina McBride wraps up the summer season at the New England Dodge Music Center with a show on Sept. 19. Jack Ingram opens. Tickets are available through livenation.com.
After playing the Comcast Center in Mansfield for the annual Farm Aid performance on Sept. 20, Neil Young will mount a tour that eventually wends its way to the DCU Center in Worcester on Dec. 15.
Tickets for the Nov. 2 Rascal Flatts show at Mohegan Sun Arena are on sale now through Ticketmaster outlets and locations. Tickets range in price from $115 down to $75. Taylor Swift opens the show.
Comedian Katt Williams plays the MGM Grand at Foxwoods on Nov. 8. Tickets are $69 and $39 and available online through mgmatfoxwoods.com. Country star Dolly Parton plays the Grand on Nov. 2. Those tickets range from $95 down to $35.
Don Rickles brings his legendary stand-up routine to the Fox Theater at Foxwoods on Nov. 15. Top ticket price is $55. Tickets are available at foxwoods.com. The Doo Wop Hall of Fame will be featured at the Fox Theater on Nov. 22. The show includes performances by The Contours, Johnnie and Joe, The Persuasions, The Royal Teens, and The Diablos.
Send music news and notes to Donnie Moorhouse via e-mail at email@example.com


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North Syracuse, NY -- Family, friends and co-workers remembered Amanda Anna this morning as a woman of joy and faith, a caring friend and a dedicated state trooper.
More than 1,400 people, including law enforcement officers from across the Northeast and as far as California and Texas, gathered in North Syracuse Baptist Church to honor Anna, who died Saturday following a car accident while on patrol in Hastings.
"Amanda found joy in everything, big and small," her fiance and fellow trooper, Andrew Lodge, told the congregation. "She brought that joy to us every day."
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico joined Lodge; Anna's son, Ethan; her parents, Florence and Frank Wallace, and other loved ones for the funeral service.
Anna, 31, grew up in Fair Haven and was a basketball star at Hannibal High School and Houghton College.
She became a teacher in the Fulton district, but left that profession and joined the state police in 2006. She was stationed at the Hastings barracks.
Investigators have said they believe Anna may have been pursuing a violator late Friday when her state police Tahoe went off county Route 37 and rolled over. She died several hours later at Upstate University Hospital.
Anna's body, escorted by motorcycle police, arrived from Foster Funeral Home in Fulton about 9:50 a.m. The New York State Troopers Pipes & Drum band played "Going Home" as troopers from her home barracks, serving as pall bearers, brought the flag-draped casket into the church lobby.
Family members followed into the church's Worship Center precisely at 10 a.m. For the next 23 minutes, troopers, deputies and police officers filed in, hats over hearts. The hymns being played on the church organ and the rustle of their uniforms were the only sounds as the officers filled the auditorium and its balcony.
For the next 90 minutes, speakers including Lodge, D'Amico, other colleagues and pastors remembered Anna and urged the gathering to take hope in the faith they said assured that Anna was in heaven.
Many said Anna squeezed the most out of life every day.
"Whether it was catching crayfish with the kids or chasing down violators to make the roads safer, Amanda didn't do things halfway. She always gave it her all," D'Amico said.
Trooper Jeff Cicora, one of her training officers, said Anna learned quickly and well, especially his two cardinal rules -- always be safe, no matter what, and have fun.
He described how, as a rookie, Anna sternly got a belligerent, drunken participant in a domestic dispute to behave, putting a finger in his face and using a few choice words.
"By the end of the call he was asking permission to use his own bathroom," Cicora said.
Anna won more respect by smiling and listening to people, her colleagues said.
Becoming a trooper "offered her another avenue to help people and make a difference," said Trooper Paul Darmody-Latham, a coworker at Hastings. Professional, caring, tough and courageous, Anna could stand up to any call she was sent to, he said.
"Compassion was Amanda's watch word," said another Hastings colleague, Trooper Eric Osborne. "She would gladly offer to take a deposition, or my kids for the weekend."
She also had a great sense of humor with a contagious laugh so hearty she would hold her stomach and slap her knee, Osborne said.
"I didn't think people did that except in Little Rascals films," he said, drawing laughter himself.
Anna had a thirst for life, Osborne said.
"Amanda wanted to experience new things, she wanted to meet new people and go to new places. And she wanted to bring everybody with her," he said.
Anna tended her family well, always making her son and his three children know how special they were, helping all of them in their endeavors and giving them strength, Lodge said.
"Amanda had a word she used more than any other word. It describes her life, our life and what she was to everyone she touched: 'Amazing,' " Lodge said.
Anna could have worked anywhere in the state but never sought a transfer, staying committed instead to the community near the place she was raised, D'Amico said.
"Amanda lost her life patrolling the back roads and highways of this area. That's what police officers do. They protect our roads, our communities, our neighborhoods, so that the rest of us can be safe in our homes," D'Amico said. "Amanda personified that commitment."


text: Mr. Marino is currently a Executive Vice President in the Chicago Office of CBRE Capital Markets where he has been involved with debt and equity originations since 1999. Within various roles of the team, he has underwritten and closed $5.5 billion. Mr. Marino is an integral part of the Chicago Office through his underwriting, structuring and originating debt and equity transactions. In addition to arranging traditional mortgage loans, his experience includes analyzing and structuring equity joint ventures, mezzanine debt and single tenant financings. His transaction history includes financings for office, industrial, retail, multifamily, condominium and technology related real estate.


text:
Oh. Good. The first Harris Interactive Poll has been released.
Onward ...
Yet again, we must give the Trail Blazers credit. They were on the cutting edge of bankruptcy and foreclosure. They lost the Rose Garden before losing your home was the trendy thing to do. And now they're perfectly positioned for a new economy.
Ever wonder what gym class is like these days?
What's in? Hiking and geocaching (an outdoor treasure hunt using navigation tools) to build practical skills such as walking on uneven terrain and using a compass. Multiple games of sports such as softball and basketball played at the same time so no child feels singled out. Unusual sports such as juggling, table tennis and cup-stacking to give kids an opportunity to excel at more things.
I don't have a kid. But if I ever do, and if he or she comes home and I say, "What'd you learn today?" and they say, "Cup-stacking." I'm going to be ticked off.
Seattle ... The Huskies are 0-4. Jake Locker is out for probably six weeks with a broken thumb. He broke his thumb blocking on a reverse. It's hard for a situation to get much worse without a quarantine and a team of scientists in hazmat suits trying to contain the problem. And this sentence, from Bob Condotta's Seattle Times story this morning won't cheer Tyrone Willingham up: "Washington athletic director Scott Woodward said at his introductory news conference two weeks ago that he didn't favor in-season coaching changes as a general rule."
As often happens with truly bad teams, the Mariners can't even win right.
Bay Area ... Some historical perspective on the last weekend's college football wildin'.
The Raiders have a bye week. Maybe now Al Davis gets around to firing Lane Kiffin?
Semi-off topic: Chris Rock, whose new stand-up special Kill the Messenger is all over HBO: "Every time I see a photo of Sarah Palin with a moose I think, 'Why the (lawyers!) is Michael Vick in prison?' "
Los Angeles ... Chris Dufresne at the LA Times: "Can Brigham Young, a member of the Mountain West Conference, win the national championship this season?" The answer, in as much as there is one at this time, is here.
Arizona ... Again, the NFL is a brutal, brutal business.
Denver ... How do you lose to the Chiefs?
Dallas ... Washington hits the road and beats the Cowboys. Interesting.
Chicago ... The Cubs ready for the Dodgers while the White Sox continue with their regular season. Win today against Detroit, and the Sox get a game tomorrow with the Twins. Lose, and Ozzie Guillen loses his (lawyers!).
Fun fact: "The Cubs and Dodgers have played each other 2,024 times since their first game in Brooklyn in 1890, splitting the all-time series 1,012-1,012." (Chicago Tribune)
Joisey ... Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will play the Super Bowl. I have mixed feelings on this. But there is a rumored new record already in the can, and if this means it's going to get released, and it might mean that, cool.
Cleveland ... Derek Anderson should breathe a little easier this week.
Atlanta ... Five things we learned about football down South last weekend, courtesy of Tony Barnhart.
New York ... The Mets said goodbye to Shea the only way they know how. They lost.
Finally ... Florida International beat Toledo on Saturday. Early Sunday morning, nearly 200 people were waiting for FIU's plane at the airport. A hero's welcome. For beating Toledo. How fun is that?


text:
Why You'll Never Be Able to Stop Thinking About Sex – If You Try
Spot a couple hotties at (your disgusting) gym spinning class, then go home to your partner and find it impossible to forget the way that Lycra shaped so perfectly shaped their asses? Science knows why!
Science Daily clues us in to a new study about why it's so difficult to stop thinking something.
Mathematicians at Case Western Reserve University … found that just as thinking burns energy, stopping a thought burns energy — like stopping a truck on a downhill slope. "Maybe this explains why it is so tiring to relax and think about nothing," said Daniela Calvetti, professor of mathematics, and one of the authors of a new brain study. Their work is published in an advanced online publication of Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism.
[…] To stop a thought, the brain uses inhibitory neurons to prevent excitatory neurons from passing information from one to another. "The inhibitory neurons are like a priest saying, 'Don't do it,'" Calvetti said. The "priest neurons" block information by releasing gamma aminobutyric acid, commonly called GABA, which counteracts the effect of the neurotransmitter glutamate by excitatory neurons.
And it's like: Of course there's a freakin' priest metaphor in the very article I've turned into a post about sex.
That makes me feel better about my utter failure to meditate. Everytime I try meditation, I end up thinking, "Don't think about anything… don't think about anything… oh crap, that's a thought. STOP THINKING! Dammit, that was a thought too!"
Well, I guess my brain is on automatic pilot when it comes to sex and hot guys. That's all I think about most of the day. Personally I don't mind.
@Samwise: I find mantras are the best way to get into meditation if your mind won't shut up.
Even a brief state of no-mind is one of the most inexplicably joyous feelings.
Just because it takes energy doesn't mean it's impossible!
Meditation isn't necessarily just a matter of "not thinking," — it's more about watching the thoughts arise and not getting tangled up in them. It's a state where the focus on the breath–in and out– remains primary. The "discipline" involved comes from realizing that in the gap between thoughts, there is some wide open space which is relaxing, refreshing, AND gets easier to reach through practice.
There must be hundreds of ways to meditate but just a session or two of 10-15 minutes a day leaves you calmer, less stressed, and somehow boosts energy & focused.
No theology involved, no need to sign up or take vows or anything like that.
A good teacher can be of great help, but really anyone can do it. Lots of good books/articles available online.
For someone like me with ADD & who's chronic worrier, it helps a lot. It's not unlike the two minutes after the big O, and I don't mean Oprah, when youre calm, relaxed and intensely aware of your surroundings. But you won't feel the need to fall asleep or get up and fix omelettes for you & your mate !!
i thinks that human behavior to thinks about sex.for young guy that not possible to stop from such thinking.That;s also a age effect.
Go for a run or keep doing pushups and lift weights, this will stop thoughts pretty well. I'd never do meditation, it just seems like a waste of time (and growing flabby ass during that wasted time meditating while u could be working out).
@Samwise: Lol why are u trying meditation even? Think about some hot guys, then do a set of pushups… then think about guys again, do a set of pullups, etc.. LOL u'll be pretty happy at the end
@Samwise: I totally know what you're saying about the "Stop thinking!" problem…
I find the best way is, instead of thinking about stopping thinking (like you say, that itself is a thought), use this observational technique on every thought that passes through your mind: acknowledge the thought and let it go. Don't judge it, don't analyze it, and don't beat yourself up for having it. Just observe.
"That is a thought about thinking…. that is a thought about not thinking… that is a thought about ice cream… that is a thought about dust… " Just observe and let the thoughts come: don't engage them, but don't fight them either. After about 5-10 minutes, your mind will slow down and get more silent. With practice, you get better at it. As we're all so used to the inner monologue in our minds, a silent mind is really quite a surprise when you first achieve it.