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Posted| Updated
Melbourne Aces forced the Australian Baseball League championship series into a third and deciding game with a dramatic 3-2 win over Perth Heat in a 13-innings marathon at Barbagallo Ballpark.
Topics: baseball, sport, perth-6000
Bulleen consolidated second spot on the WNBL ladder with an easy 81-56 over strugglers West Coast at The Veneto Club.
Topics: wnbl, basketball, sport, australia, bulleen-3105, vic, logan-3475
Western Australia captain Marcus North told Grandstand's Alistair Nicholson the Warriors were playing for pride in their five-run win over Queensland in the one-day cup clash at the Gabba.
Posted| Updated
Police have arrested five employees of the Britain's biggest tabloid, The Sun, as part of an inquiry into corrupt payments made to police and public officials.
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, information-and-communication, england, united-kingdom
Grandstand's Quentin Hull and Ray Phillips wrap up Western Australia's five-run triumph over Queensland in the one-day cup match at the Gabba.
Queensland batsman Nathan Reardon told Grandstand's it was a bittersweet feeling to post a century in the Bulls' five-run loss to Western Australia in the one-day cup match at the Gabba.
Posted| Updated
A magnificent century by Nathan Reardon was not enough to stop Western Australia grabbing a dramatic five-run victory that dented Queensland's chances of making the one-day final.
Topics: sport, cricket, brisbane-4000, qld, australia
The body of a woman reported missing last week has been found in a bushland reserve in Sydney's north-west.
Topics: missing-person, community-and-society, berowra-2081, nsw, australia
Oscar Forman delivered a game-high 29 points to lead the Hawks to an 80-64 win over NBL leaders New Zealand Breakers in Wollongong.
Topics: nbl, basketball, sport, wollongong-2500, nsw, australia, new-zealand
Posted| Updated
Super Rugby champion Queensland kicked off its 2012 preseason campaign with a 27-20 trial victory over a willing Brumbies outfit in Cairns.
Topics: rugby-union, super-rugby, cairns-4870
Posted| Updated
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the Islamic Republic will soon announce "very important" achievements in the nuclear field, state TV reports.
Topics: world-politics, government-and-politics, nuclear-energy, iran-islamic-republic-of
Posted| Updated
Melbourne Rebels showed glimpses of class despite falling to the Blues 31-21 victory in their Super Rugby trial at AAMI Park.
Topics: rugby-union, super-rugby, sport, melbourne-3000
Posted| Updated
Marquee man Brett Emerton has led Sydney FC to only its fourth home win this A-League season, defeating Perth Glory 2-1 at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night.
Topics: sport, soccer, a-league, sydney-2000, nsw, australia
ABC Sport
Posted| Updated
Police have charged a man with attempted murder after a violent rampage on the Gold Coast.
Topics: assault, law-crime-and-justice, crime, animal-welfare, hope-island-4212, qld, australia
Posted| Updated
Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei helped set up a 22-14 win against South Sydney in a busy night for NRL trial matches.
Topics: nrl, rugby-league, sport, coffs-harbour-2450
Martin Guptill continued his rich vein of form against Zimbabwe with 91 not out to help New Zealand beat the visitors by seven wickets at Eden Park in the first of their two Twenty20 internationals.
Topics: twenty20, cricket, sport, new-zealand, zimbabwe
Emily Seebohm laid out the early marker for her London Olympic rivals with a superb performance to win the 100m backstroke final at the NSW swimming championships in Sydney.
Topics: swimming, sport, olympics-summer, sydney-2000, nsw, australia
Posted| Updated
Shane Watson believes he is about a week out from regaining full fitness after returning from a calf injury on Saturday.
Topics: cricket, sport, waverley-2024
Australia all-rounder Shane Watson told Grandstand's Jim Maxwell he was satisfied with his comeback appearance from a calf injury via Sydney grade cricket.
Posted| Updated
Moamar Gaddafi's son Saadi warns of an imminent uprising in Libya, saying he is in regular contact with people in the country who are unhappy since the ousting and killing of his father.
Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, libyan-arab-jamahiriya, niger
Jessica Korda holds a one-shot lead going into the final round of the Women's Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.
Topics: sport, golf, melbourne-3000, vic, australia
Posted| Updated
The Jets strolled to a routine 3-0 win over Melbourne Heart in their A-League clash at Hunter Stadium in Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.
Topics: sport, soccer, a-league, newcastle-2300, nsw, australia
Posted| Updated
With more than 200,000 people attending the National Multicultural Festival, enforcing food rules and disposing of tonnes of waste is becoming more challenging for organisers.
Topics: community-and-multicultural-festivals, recycling-and-waste-management, states-and-territories, canberra-2600
Two proposed coal mines in Queensland have been awarded significant project status by the Queensland coordinator general.
Topics: coal, mining-industry, industry, business-economics-and-finance, company-news, wandoan-4419, taroom-4420, qld


text:
Por ahora SEAT no sufrirá la cancelación de inversiones: Volkswagen mantiene los planes para España
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text:
Skilled Patio Installation Available in Columbia, Severna Park, Annapolis, Ellicott City & Throughout Maryland
Patio installation doesn't have to be a hassle, especially if you live in Annapolis, Columbia, Severna Park, or Pasadena, MD. There's no need to waste your time searching for the right installer when you can simply turn to Diamond Decks for the skilled installation you want and the outstanding customer care you deserve. As reflected by our many satisfied customers and our A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, our skilled patio installation team always strives to meet or exceed expectations.
One of the best advantages of choosing us for your patio installation crew is our lengthy experience creating different types of designs. With our expertise, we can completely customize your new patio, transforming it from a simple paved area into a backyard escape. Here are a few of the design elements we have included for our previous customers:
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Albany, NY (June 17, 2010) -
Labor agency heads from New York and Iowa today joined forces in asking federal lawmakers to improve conditions for both workers and businesses by passing the Employee Misclassification Prevention Act, which was introduced by Senator Sherrod Brown and Rep. Lynn Wolsey in April 2010. Employee misclassification occurs when a business improperly denies a worker the benefits and protections provided to an "employee" as that term is defined by state and federal law. Misclassification hurts workers, deprives the government of tax revenue, and undercuts legitimate employers who classify their workers correctly.
This legislation would prevent millions of American workers from being misclassified as independent contractors, while ensuring that law-abiding businesses are not undercut by cheaters who are gaming the system. New York State Labor Commissioner Colleen C. Gardner is testifying in favor of the legislation on Thursday, June 17 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP).
A number of state governors across the country have issued Executive Orders that establish task forces to combat employee misclassification. Other states have passed laws and introduced sweeping legislation to combat this plague on the American workforce.
The Employee Misclassification Prevention Act will help states expand their work. It requires that offices and divisions within the U.S. Department of Labor share information on misclassification violations and carry out targeted enforcement sweeps. This will have the same positive effects nationally that data-sharing and enforcement coordination have had in other states. In addition, many of the bill's provisions will help states detect and deter business models that use incorrectly classified independent contractors.
"Employee misclassification is an epidemic happening on Main Streets across the country," said New York Labor Commissioner Colleen C. Gardner. "Since the New York Joint Enforcement Task Force on Employee Misclassification began in 2007, 12 other states have established structures similar to ours. Today I implore our lawmakers to take action on this bill immediately."
From its creation in September 2007 through the end of March 2010, New York's efforts have:
"Employers that improperly classify their workers as independent contractors create an unfair playing field by lowering their costs of doing business in comparison to employers who follow the law," stated Iowa Workforce Development Director Elisabeth Buck. "Additionally, misclassified workers are denied access to workers' compensation coverage and unemployment benefits if needed, creating the potential for a greater economic burden to communities."
The State of Iowa, on recommendations from the Governor's Misclassification Task Force, appropriated funding to establish a misclassification unit for the State. In the first year of activities, the unit has discovered:


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It is time to register for the Wilsonville Kiwanis Club Annual Kids Fun Run - happening Saturday July 30, 2011 at Wood Middle School in Wilsonville. This amazing day of health, fitness and fun is quickly becoming a community favorite in Wilsonville. On its 8th year – this non-competitive family-friendly event continues to grow while supporting a wide range of services to local youth.
The Fun Run is coordinated for children ages 3-12 as well as special needs kids that are divided into age-appropriate categories that race at varying times during the event. Registration is free and each child that participates gets a free t-shirt and medal, along with lots of cheers and enthusiasm from the community. In addition, enjoy a free picnic breakfast and lunch provided for the whole familiy all day through a generous sponsorship from Wilsonville Albertson's. When participants aren't running they can visit the many event booths that will provide fun activities and complimentary health screenings for everyone that attends.
All net proceeds from the Kiwanis Kid's Fun Run are used by the Wilsonville Kiwanis Club's Outreach Foundation to provide grants and financial assistance to benefit children in Wilsonville. Over the past 7 years, Wilsonville Kiwanis has provided over $50,000 in grants.
REGISTER at www.kidsfunrun.com
Please consider volunteering as well.
The success of the Kids Fun Run is built on the commitment of our volunteers. We need at least 100 volunteers the day of the event to make this the best possible experience for all of the kids who participate. They need volunteers to:
• Distribute flyers and posters
• Set up tents, tables, chairs and the course at Wood Middle School
• Decorate the course, hang signage & set up the food pavilion
• Help kids register
• Distribute t-shirts
• Serve as crossing guards
• Greet families as they arrive at the track
• Monitor the Inflatables so no one gets hurt
• Hand out medals as runners cross the finish line
• Hand water to runners as they pass by
• Give high-fives to runners as they pass by
• And many other jobs!


text:
Unfilled Fancy Spellbook
From Team Fortress Wiki
The scariest part about these books is that they AREN'T REAL BOOKS AT ALL! They're self-published!
— Spellbooks publicity blurb
The Unfilled Fancy Spellbook is an unlockable item given to players who earn the achievement Hat Out of Hell. It is an empty spellbook with no pages that requires Spellbook Pages in order to be filled. Spellbook pages can be found in haunted Halloween gifts and by earning the achievement The Mann-tastic Four. When three pages have been inserted into the book, it is replaced with the Fancy Spellbook.
Related achievements
| Hat Out of Hell
Get the loot from Skull Island in Hell
Update history
October 29, 2013 Patch (Scream Fortress 2013)
- The Unfilled Fancy Spellbook was added to the game.
- The backpack image for the Unfilled Fancy Spellbook is a screenshot of its model. The texture is also present on the game files.
See also


text:
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"Hi, I would like to convey my deepest appreciation to Askari Bank. I am living in Muscat and operate my account online. Whenever I have sent a mail for any problem that I face the respective staff in Islamabad has been highly cooperative and efficient."
"Highly disappointed with services, tried to call customer services, the guy at 0800, gave me Karachi number +92 21 32630089, which was engaged all the time, tried calling regional office number at Karachi, they gave another number +92 21 2630731, at least ringed and got recorded message, "Please hold for Operator", I listened to a funny music for a while and someone disconnected the call, tried this three times, but no response. This is the service level you guys have for your customer. The customer cannot even reach the customer care, how do you expect to survive in this competition."
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"I like the banking policies of this bank very much."


text:
Warren County officials said Wednesday night they closed admissions at Warren Haven nursing nearly two weeks ago because of a reported spike in employee call-outs.
County officials discussed the issue before a pro-Warren Haven audience during Wednesday's freeholder meeting after White Township resident Robin Jensen asked the board why the county-owned nursing home wasn't accepting admissions.
Freeholder Director Ed Smith said staffing problems at Warren Haven prompted the county to temporarily halt admissions. Smith reported late last month that officials were concerned about a spike in sick days so far this year compared with the same time in 2013.
Freeholder Jason Sarnoski said state regulations require a certain patient-to-staff ratio. And with sick days increasing, in some cases by 20 percent over the previous year, the county closed admissions to ensure patient safety at the recommendation of Warren Haven administrator Laura Decker, he said.
"If you don't have enough nurses to provide the support, you can't take in more patients," Sarnoski said.
Tracy Smith, president of AFSCME Local 3287, withheld comment Thursday on admissions being closed. Smith, whose union represents more than 400 members, about a third of whom work at Warren Haven, said Local 3287 and Council 73 had just received attendance reports requested from the county."I think that the freeholders aren't telling the whole story," she said.
Accounting for snow
Jensen on Wednesday pressed freeholders to explain whether the facility was fully staffed and whether they've taken into account the difficult winter to explain the call-outs.
Smith said the spike in call-outs did take into account snow days. And any administrative decisions to stop accepting admissions were based solely on existing staffing numbers, Sarnoski said.The Warren Haven Advisory Committee has recommended freeholders take steps to sell the facility unless certain measures are taken to cut expenses. Jensen, while stopping short of accusing the county of halting admissions for reasons other than staffing, noted that there have been calls to privatize the nursing home unless officials can figure out how to run Warren Haven at full capacity.
Each freeholder Wednesday reiterated the county's desire to keep Warren Haven in public hands.
County Administrator Steve Marvin said Decker notified him of the call-outs about two weeks ago, and he made the decision to stop admissions, a move he claims was a first in 20 years. Marvin said he could not say whether employees were abusing sick time, only that absenteeism has jumped this year.
He allowed that people have a right to sick time and said they're using it.Considering discipline
As for the occupancy rate, Smith said that number had been hovering around 82 percent before the moratorium on admissions. Marvin warned the county may have to consider incremental layoffs if the call-outs continue. He noted there were 98 disciplinary actions at Warren Haven last year that resulted in 18 firings and about 200 days off.
"So it's not like we don't use disciplinary actions when we have to, but it's self-defeating," Marvin said, noting the county must then fill shifts left by those sent home.
The county routinely hires staff at Warren Haven, but the facility is considered fully staffed, according to Marvin.
Reacting to Marvin's comments about sick time use, Warren Haven employee Tammy Kelson said officials were making broad statements that employees have sick time available, so they're using it.
"I'm not sure the true picture is being painted here," she said.
Employees stayed through snowstorms and suffered through illnesses that spread through patients and staff, Kelson said. Some staff members even ended up in the hospital, she said.
"It's not just a poor attitude or bad work ethic," she said.
Freeholders agreed that any issues with call-outs are not indicative of the entire Warren Haven staff. Smith said he appreciated the employees who were pulling double shifts and "filling the void."
"There are employees up there who have gone the extra mile -- an extra 10 miles -- to make things work up there," he said.


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text: I understand that in an M16, when the selector is switched to automatic, the disconnector is held down by the cam on the selector, but what causes the auto sear to release the hammer? By the way, why is the auto sear necessary? I never understood this. Thanks in advance.


text:
by Jeff Madison RBC I There has been a lot of discussion on the street these days about the effect that government regulations have had on the local economy. The primary focus has been on the assortment of federal agencies which, because of the abundance of federal lands in our county, oversee a high percentage […]
County regulations: fact and myth
Letter to the Editor: Meeker is providing 'Safe Route to School'
Over a year ago, several community leaders all sat together at Town Hall to discuss the idea of getting our kids safely to the new elementary school.
Ninth Dist. judicial review May 26 in Rifle
RBC I The 9th Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance will hold a public hearing Wednesday, May 26 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Garfield County Courthouse in Rifle, 200 West 18th St.
Tax revenue down in May, June
RBC | Local government entities are having to tighten their budgetary belts just like the rest of us, as sales and use tax dollars continue a downward trend compared to last year's highs.


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Girard's ability to fashion balanced, flavorful wines comes through loud and clear in the 2010 Girard Russian River Valley Chardonnay. In this classic Russian River offering, beautiful ripe fruit combines with subtle, complex spice tones reminiscent of sandalwood and clove. Add deft touches of butter and oak as well as a fresh, lingering finish flecked with citrus tones and the 2010 Girard Chardonnay positively sings from the glass. This youthful offering was enough to make the tasting panel sing as well. Even an "anything but Chardonnay crowd" to which we subsequently offered this wine could not get enough of it – an auspicious statement indeed. In their 2010 Russian River Chardonnay, Pat Roney and Glenn Hugo have once again succeeded in fashioning an outstanding California Chardonnay from the world's most renowned white grape variety. Drink this superlative offering moderately chilled (40°-45° F) now and over the next couple of years. We also suggest allowing this Chardonnay a few minutes in the glass to breathe. Like all finely crafted Chardonnays, Girard's Chardonnay blossoms with a bit of aeration.
Given the balanced charm of the 2010 Girard Russian River Valley Chardonnay, it needs nothing but a good, clean wine glass to shine. However, this wine's wonderful flavors and superb balance also complement a wide variety of foods. For starters, why not serve the Girard Chardonnay with smoked salmon or gravlax served on toasted French rounds with cream cheese, red onion, and capers? Champagne and French white Burgundy (of which the latter is all Chardonnay) are considered classic accompaniments to smoked salmon, but the 2010 Girard can more than hold its own with its French cousins, and in our experience outshines many of them with its rich, polished flavors. A lobster roll served on a freshly baked baguette or hoagie roll and a tender chicken breast topped with a morel cream sauce offer additional superb accompaniments to the 2010 Girard Chardonnay. Serving a plate of soft, ripe cheeses with this laudable Chardonnay provides a simple, but tasty accompaniment, too. Brie, Camembert, and Havarti are just a few of the many cheeses one can enjoy with Girard's elegant, flavorful Chardonnay. Enjoy!
Girard came to life in response to the now celebrated 1976 Paris Tasting in which French wine judges in blind tastings awarded top honors to California wines. Since that now famous Paris Tasting, California wines no longer play surrogate to their French cousins and in many ways surpass their Old World counterparts. Girard has taken the decades old challenge even a step further by producing a bevy of knock-out wines from French varietals at prices that don't reach the stratosphere.
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text:
Let's face it. Tuesday's special mayoral race is, um, unusual.
Twenty-one days. Fourteen candidates -- including one who was arrested during the campaign and another who died. All this sound and fury, but nobody really knows what it means.
Not in 21 days.
It's as if the campaigns were shot from rockets. Some fizzled and fell, but others popped in bright blossoms for a moment. It's just hard to know, in this flash, what grabbed Birmingham's attention.
Nobody knows.
I regret I did not get a chance to meet Ernie Dunn, the guy who lived in Hoover but vowed to move to Birmingham if he won. He spoke in a candid way that is rare to our politics. He said he wanted to be mayor because he needed a job. He died of apparent natural causes the night before his quotes hit the press.
It doesn't seem fair.
His name, though, remains on the ballot. Stranger things have happened, here in the you-can't-make-this-stuff-up capital of the world.
But if you listen to those who watch politics for sport or profit, Patrick Cooper is the presumed front-runner. He raised the most cash, ran an organized campaign, and spent big money on TV ads.
If you listen to his true believers, though, he has already been anointed by God -- or maybe even Tim Tebow -- to be the next mayor. Which is not as compelling as they think.
Still, Cooper will likely lead after Tuesday. He will certainly make a runoff, if he does not underestimate the streets -- as William Bell did when he was presumptive leader 10 years ago.
Bell, Emory Anthony and Carole Smitherman will tangle for the second spot in a runoff, although some say Steven Hoyt can't be discounted, especially after his part in the coup that stole Smitherman's interim mayorship and her clout.
A runoff might be tougher fight for Cooper. Some of his foes -- or their less delicate lieutenants -- have already begun to paint him the blue-blood-backed outsider. Or worse.
Cooper's war chest won't help. He raised $245,730, much of it from old money and those with a financial stake in Birmingham. They believe he has the best chance to move the city forward -- which in this campaign is good news and bad.
His expenditures were just as interesting. Cooper spent almost $25,000 with the ad agency of Monty Ballard -- spokesman for Milton McGregor's Birmingham Race Course.
Not exactly refreshing.
Smitherman got 60 percent of her money from Political Action Committees, and spent $36,000 with Joe Perkins' Matrix firm. Almost a third of Hoyt's money came from Donald Watkins' pacs.
What does it all mean in a 21-day race, where typical campaign rules just don't seem to apply?
Nobody knows, I guess. Except they know this: In a short race, with likely low turnout and 14 names on the ballot, every vote is gold.
That's all that matters.
The winner is not the one who sways the most opinions. The winner is the one who gets them to the polls.
John Archibald's column appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Write him at


text:
On the heels of her Emmy win for best supporting actress in a comedy, not to mention the season premiere of her hit show last night, Modern Family star Julie Bowen has teamed up with pharmaceutical company Mylan to address the increasing number of severe allergy cases. The Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis initiative is geared toward children in grades one through 12 and will focus on educating those communities about anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.
The cause is close to Bowen's heart since her now-five-year-old son had a near-death experience when he was a toddler, before she knew he was allergic to peanuts, walnuts and bee stings. "Fortunately, my son received immediate medical care and recovered quickly," Bowen says, "but it was a wake-up call that anaphylaxis can occur anywhere and at any time, even when you may not think your child is at risk."
You can watch Bowen's PSA at Anaphylaxis101.com and to get more info on Bowen's involvement.


text:
Chateau Mont Royale Chantilly
To find out how Vision Hospitality Asset Management can help improve returns on your investments email email@example.com or visit www.vision-am.com.
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Shoot true and get maximum stability with the Sportster Titan III. Featuring durable cast aluminum and steel construction, this quality three-legged rifle rest gives shooters 2.25 inches of rapid elevation adjustment in a solid, ergonomic configuration.
- Unique industrial design and appearance
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Mickie James is coming to the UK
Coming to tour the UK the 20th~24th come be a part of the fun! Media! Parties! & more! So excited @SiRothstein pic.twitter.com/bbcckcxa8Z
— Mickie James (@MickieJames) July 5, 2013
Here are all the details of @MickieJames' upcoming European Tour – http://t.co/VT87VfZpqM – plus a comp at http://t.co/hutpOcmVfl right NOW!
— Simon Rothstein (@SiRothstein) July 5, 2013
(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)


text:
Science Writing ENGLISH X463.5
Course Description
Get a practical introduction to the diversity of science-writing opportunities, including those for news organizations, magazines, institutions and websites. Learn about finding story ideas and reliable sources, conducting interviews, matching writing style to the target audience and choosing the best structure for the given field. Study the craft of making complex, scientific concepts understandable and exciting to a general audience. In addition to many in-class exercises, you write a weekly science blog and an in-depth science article. A background in science is not required, but an interest in scientific topics is encouraged.
Departmental contact: email@example.com | (510) 643-1110
Applies Toward the Following Certificate(s) and Program(s)
PrerequisitesYou must be proficient in English and have a solid grasp of English grammar.
No sections of this course are available for registration.


text:
Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse third baseman Brandon Laird drove in three runs on three hits and starter Taylor Hill (10-5) shut down the RailRiders bats as the Chiefs took a 4-1 win over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday at NBT Bank Stadium.
Laird homered, singled and doubled for the Chiefs and Hill pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and one earned run and fanning five.
Both Pawtucket and Rochester lost on Tuesday, extending International League North leader Syracuse's lead to two games over the PawSox and 2.5 over the Red Wings.
Laird's two-run blast pushed the Chiefs' lead to 4-1 in the sixth. Emmanuel Burriss opened with a single against RailRiders starter Matt Tracy (1-5) and one-out later Laird crushed a blow over the left-center fence.
Syracuse broke a 1-1 tie with a single tally in the third. Jeff Kobernus led off with a double and he took third on a Burriss groundout. Josh Johnson then plated Kobernus with a single.
Laird produced the first run of the game with a one-out double that scored Burriss from second.
Contact Lindsay Kramer anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-470-2151


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Results tagged ' English '
Dice-K in English
Daisuke Matsuzaka surprised one and all by opening his briefing with Red Sox beat writers — and the NESN camera — in English today. Here is what he said regarding the recent controversy.
And, by the way, his English was very impressive, easy to understand. I can't imagine speaking Japanese like he spoke English. One other thing to note. Matsuzaka looked noticeably leaner then when he last pitched for the Red Sox on June 19.
"I want to clear up a few things," said Matsuzaka. "It was not my intention to make the meeting public or to criticize the Red Sox. The person who wrote the article is my old, old friend. I still trust her and this has never happened before. Training, no problem. No problem with the Red Sox. We will work it all out. I want to thank all my fans for their support and I can't wait to see all of you when I go back to Fenway Park. Thank you."


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Feedback: Another view on flag incident
I am writing to correct bias and errors in your recent front page article entitled, Peace protester assaulted, (WNT April 9). I was a witness some 10 feet from the scene.
First of all, Marshal Marlborough was not the arresting officer. Rather it was officer Durley. Consequently the marshals observations were not completely accurate. The assailant didnt just drive by. He sped around the corner missing me by less than a foot and stopped with one wheel on the curb.
The victim in the case didnt just jump on the hood of the car. She stood in front of the car pleading without avail for the return of her peace flag. The assailant began pushing her backwards with his car. It was then that she jumped on the hood of his car.
Your article was extremely biased in reporting the press release of the assailants lawyer without contacting the victim. Mr. Hawkins report, as cited, was erroneous in several aspects.
First, the assailant was definitely out of control. He was very angry, aggressive, shouting and he pushed the victim aside to get the flag.
Second, there were not several people yelling to pick up the flag. I was perhaps closest to the scene and I heard no such yelling.
Third, the assailant didnt just inch forward with the victim on the hood as you reported. He drove off at considerable speed and turned sharply into the next drive so that I heard his tires squeal not exactly inching forward.
I must, of course, recognize that Mr. Hawkins, whom I consider an honorable man, may well have been mis-quoted by your reporter. This would not have been the first such instance.
Finally, let me ask if it is really necessary for a small town paper to put out such a biased and incorrect report? Cant you do better? Perhaps all reporters, today, are trained this way to be biased and sensational. If so, we need to clean house and start over.
Roland F. Gray
Oak Harbor
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European Indexes End Modestly Higher
Earlier gains faded as traders fretted about a fresh rise in oil prices
Major European stock indexes finished with modest gains in Tuesday's session. Earlier strength ebbed as U.S. stocks turned mixed after a fresh rise in oil prices. West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up over US$1 per barrel as the International Energy Agency forecast demand growth will quicken to 1.75 million barrels per day in 2006, after it lowered demand growth estimates for 2005 to 90,000 bpd.
Germany's Xetra-Dax index ended modestly higher Tuesday. Among German stocks on the move, VW (+0.08%) says it will remain independent from Porsche (-0.4%) in its decision making process, adding that cooperation with third parties is not affected by Porsche's latest stock buying transactions. Munich Re (+2.09%) and Hannover Re (+1.23%) were higher after positive sector comments from JP Morgan. UniCredito's takeover of HVB (+1.58%) will be completed in January, reports Handelsblatt, citing an internal letter to employees. MAN (+0.27%) has sold its MAN Heiztechnik business to the unit's management and Hamburg savings bank Haspa. The business had sales of some €40 million last year.
Postbank (-0.24%) may have its credit rating cut by Moody's on the back of parent company Deutsche Post (+0.3%) looking to buy the UK's Exel. Premiere (-0.48%) plans to acquire sport channel DSF from EM-TV (+4.3%) for as much as €200 million, Rheinische Post reports. EM-TV says nothing is in the works on that front.
In the UK, the FTSE 100 index came dramatically off earlier highs to close just 6.2 points higher, weighed down by another rise in crude oil prices. Marks & Spencer (+3.45%) was among the best performers, following a better than forecast second quarter sales report. The retailer unveiled its first positive sales in 8 quarters and said first half profits would be at the top end of market expectations.
Luxury group Burberry (+0.30%) announced a management reshuffle, with Rosemary Bravo set to take the new post of vice chairman. Home shopping group N Brown (+11.28%) rallied after announcing a 45% increase in interim profits. Airport group BAA (+0.40%) says September passenger figures rose 3% to 13.50 million, in line with analysts' forecasts.
Among commodity outfits, Xstrata (-0.49%) was in focus after news that Falconbridge (FAL ), where the company holds a 19% stake, has agreed to a friendly bid from Inco (N ). Firm copper prices supported Antofagasta (+2.46%).
In France, the CAC40 index ended slightly higher on Tuesday as Wall Street struggled to hold on to opening gains. Breadth was 25-15 positive, with energy and banks propping up the index. Accor (-1.26%) slipped after appointing Serge Weinberg as new chairman and Gilles Pelisson as chief executive in a compromise between feuding factions on the board, the FT writes. BNP (+0.63%) was lifted by news of imminent expansion in China. The bank is said to be looking to take as much as 19.7% of China's Nanjing City Commercial Bank. Valeo (-1.99%) slipped on the back of Delphi's bankruptcy filing in the U.S. Havas (+2.20%) was boosted by reports the CEO of UK's Aegis is open to a partnership with the French ad agency.
Among Tuesday's broker actions, Deutsche Bank lifted it target for Credit Agricole (+1.62%) and BNP reiterated its buy rating. For Credit Agricole, BNP believes consensus estimates will have to rise substantially. UBS downgraded Cap Gemini (+0.32%) to neutral from buy; and upgraded Atos (+0.68%) to buy from neutral. Lehman raised its target for CNP (+0.98%) to €67.0 from €61.0; overweight.
A reweighting of the CAC40 index will take effect at the close of business Tuesday, with Suez's (+0.34%) weight expected to rise to 3.32% from current 3.022%.
Looking ahead, investors will weigh the release of the minutes from the September FOMC meeting, and earnings from Apple (AAPL ) and AMD (AMD ) after the U.S. close Tuesday.


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Hello occasional Googlers of my name! I have a new job and some other news. After two years, I've left Canadian Business, which remains a lovely place full of lovely people, for the National Post. I start as a reporter in their Toronto bureau on May 21st.
Other news: My books column at Canadian Business, which I'm very sad to leave behind, was nominated for a National Magazine Award. You can read the nominated columns here, here and here.
Finally, a note on this site. I started it when I was freelancing. I haven't really found a good use for it since I gave that up. I keep it going, though, because I've discovered that, as a reporter, when you ask strangers to talk to you, they often Google your name. I like that they can find a bio and some of my work when they do.
Now here is a picture of some barbecue I ate in Dallas when I was there in March. It was delicious. (I wrote a short piece on the experience for the June issue of CB. You should buy a magazine and read it.)


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Wide Receiver
Scout Rating: ***
Scout Rank: #58 WR
Vitals: 6'4 / 190
Hometown: Detroit (Mich.) Country Day
His Recruiting Story:
Ways picked up football late, but learned quickly. After playing junior varsity as a sophomore, he put together a big varsity debut as a junior. He helped Country Day to the state title game and earned his first offer from Toledo. As schools found out about him more through the Winter, offers would be added from Rutgers and Iowa. He visited Michigan several times before the Wolverines offered in April. He took a week to think about it before making it official that he would don the maize and blue. He would then camp at Michigan that summer and turn in another big season as a senior.
He is a big, physical kid who I thought got more comfortable and confident as his career went on. He was good as a junior, but really good as a senior. He improved in every facet of the game. He's tough to press because he's so strong and he not only got stronger, but played more aggressively, I thought, as a senior. He can go up and get the ball and was surprisingly good after the catch. Relatively new to the game still, I think he just has to refine everything from his routes to his consistency, but his best football is still ahead. – Scout.com national analyst Allen Trieu
"When my family and I met with Coach Hoke, he was just a genuine, nice man; just a nice guy who really cares about his kids outside of football. When we first talked, you asked me what I was looking for in a college and that's what I was looking for was a coach and a college that cares about me, not just as a football player, but as a young man." – Maurice Ways
Michigan has three receivers coming in this year and Ways is the biggest and most physical of the bunch. He has similarities to former Wolverine Adrian Arrington, and although he isn't as polished coming out of high school, we think he can eventually make a similar impact. The work he put in and the strides he made between his junior and senior seasons speak to that.


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When it comes to public relations, Mayor Cory Booker has found a way to recycle, which may be frugal, but sure seems wrong.
First some background:
Early in the administration, the city gave a consulting firm connected to the mayor's campaign manager a contract for $1.5 million to do some image work and develop a municipal website. Eventually another $750,000 was added to that contract, then more consultants were paid to fix bugs in the website. There are still a few glitches. If you click on "Government," then "City Departments," you get a directory that only goes up to the letter "P."
But, just in time for the municipal election campaign, the website is filled with the good acts of the mayor and the council members, all of whom are running with the mayor on the Booker Team for Newark ticket.
Also, last month the council approved an increase of nearly $40,000 for a public relations firm hired to do public relating just for the council. With the increase, the total worth of that contract is a few thousand shy of $500,000.
The council members say they need to get out their message. I always wonder why the public relations team the city is already paying, or the council staff the taxpayers are already paying, can't do the job the city keeps paying consultants to do.
The city team is obviously good because, as someone pointed out to me recently, if you look on CoryBooker.com — the political website for the mayor and the place where you end up if you search for the Booker Team for Newark — there's a whole bunch of press releases that were done by the City Hall team. Most of those releases even list the mayor's press secretary or the city hall press room as contacts for more information.
It is a political website, full of good tidings about the city — and there are a lot of good things going on in Newark. You won't find anything that says, "Vote for me." You will find one word that all politicians love: "Donate." The only mention of election is a sentence that says the state election laws require certain information of all donors. In fact, the site is currently so apolitical looking, I wonder if some might think they are donating to the municipal coffers, not the political ones.
The state election commission says candidates have a lot of leeway about such things until 90 days before the election, which would be Feb. 10. Then the rules get stickier when it comes to possible misuse of public funds for campaigning, or whether the use of municipal employee labor constitutes an "in kind" political contribution by the city.
I asked City Hall about those press releases and got this answer: "The city of Newark's press releases are authored by the city's press information office. Once publicly released, they are available for use and dissemination by anyone."
It seems like such a little thing, doesn't it? After all, community organizations also use city press releases. Some newspapers print them verbatim. But those who hold the keys to the city treasury and benefit from a political website are not just "anyone." Also, the website says those releases were "authored" by the Booker Team.
In the meantime, the same city leaders who can always justify spending taxpayers' money on image and message are sitting on a Booker Team political war chest of about $5 million and counting. That's a lot of money amassed for political contests that most of those on the Team, certainly the mayor, would have to work overtime to lose.
They spare no expense when it comes to spending public money. They would rather recycle than spend their own political funds on their political propaganda?
It may be legal, but it sure doesn't seem right.


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The Personal Power Plant can be customized to maximize the natural resources available at your location. For example locations with strong wind potential, average wind speed in excess of 10 mph, a larger turbine or taller tower can be added to increase output. Total system output is dependent on location.
Like real estate, it's all about location, location, location. A site with a 15 mph average wind speed will generate hundreds of kwh's more per month than a site with a 10 mph average wind speed. The PV array's can also be optimized using PV optimizers or micro inverters. Microinverters only recommended for the lower array in warmer climates. High voltage of these modules in extreme cold may exceed manufacturers specs for these inverters.
As anyone in the industry knows, the effects of shading on even a single module of an array can have enormous effects on the output of an entire string of modules. In some cases, the shading on a single panel can reduce the output of the entire string by as much as 75% to 90% or more.
Our testing has proven that by using PV optimizers or micro-inverters, shading reduces output by 10% to 30%. Granted, 30% can be a large loss, but it may only be for a small part of the day, either in early morning or late evening. We believe it is worth the investment in either solution, as a 10% temporary loss is much more palatable than a 75 to 90% loss.
lower array comes with eight (8) 145W or 150W Nexpower modules, depending on availability, and a 2kW wind turbine. This 4.3kW system will output between 550kwh and 600kwh per month on average in a good sun, fair wind location. Fair wind being 10 mph average annual wind speed. Good sun being the U.S. southwest where we have about 6.3 sun hours per day at our latitude, 35 to 37 degrees here in New Mexico.
In a location with wind speeds of 12 to 15 mph or more, the turbine can output several hundred more kwh's per month. Again, the power in the wind is all about location, and sometimes about season. In our area, there is very little wind in the summer, less than 10 mph, but in the fall, winter and spring, we have very consistent strong
winds sometimes blowing at 15 to 30 mph day and night for weeks at a time. This is a tremendous power harvest in our area.
Our largest system consisting of five (5) 300W Poly modules, eight (8) 150W Amorphous modules, and a 4kW turbine, for a combined 6.7kW system can output in excess of 800 kwh per month in good sun, fair wind locations. 800kwh per month is enough electricity to power most homes in America. The 4kW turbine can generate over 1000kwh alone in strong enough winds.
Use our calculator to estimate the output of your system. The output of any system will vary depending on products and location. Identical PV modules will provide different outputs installed in New York or Florida. Likewise, identical turbines will generate varying outputs in Kansas or Minnesota.
Every location has varying degrees of sun and wind, but just about every location around the world has both. The beauty of our product is the ability to maximize both. It is the ideal generator for off grid applications.
Why choose an alternative energy source like the Personal Power Plant??: More power per square foot of area. Most PV ground or roof mounted arrays generate 12 to 15 watts per sq. ft. depending on the efficiency of the modules and inverter. The Personal Power Plant takes up about 150 sq. ft. of area. Our standard 4.4kw three source Power Plant outputs about 29 watts per sq. ft. of area. Our unit with a 4kw wind turbine, a 6.4kw system can output about 42 watts per sq. ft.. The average 235W PV module measures about 39" x 69", roughly 18 to 19 sq. ft.. At that size, to fill 150 sq. ft. it takes about 8 modules, less than 1900 watts. A 4.4kw PV array using the average 235W module will take up about 342 sq. ft. of area. Our product generates more than twice the power in 150 sq. ft. space than a standard PV array.


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Syracuse, NY --Transferring students from failing city schools to suburban districts is one of the few choices open to New York parents seeking the best public education for their children.
After a four-hour meeting Monday, Buffalo's school board approved a plan that would transfer some students to schools in willing suburban districts, private and parochial schools. The district also plans to open two new schools, and to close and then reopen two others under new governance, according to the Buffalo News.
If the state approves Buffalo's plans it could impact parents and students in Central New York by opening the door to greater school choice here.
New York allows parents seeking a better education for their children to transfer to schools within a district or even to another district, according to the Heritage Foundation. Buffalo has received 2,200 requests for transfers within its system, and will only be able to accommodate 300 to 500 of them.
The state doesn't allow public money to pay for private or religious school tuition. To help parents, Buffalo educators are seeking scholarships that would allow students to transfer to religious schools.
Tuesday's story about Buffalo's plans sparked a lively debate on Syracuse.com about transferring city students to suburban districts. What are your thoughts on school choice? Post a comment below or email Charley Hannagan at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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For all high school players, the ultimate goal of the season is winning the state championship. Galena Park's Gahn McGaffie said although they didn't win the title, he wasn't going to let the over...
McGaffie excited for San Antonio
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Baltimore County is holding its first jobs fair aimed at adding more diversity to its teacher workforce.
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MCG Capital (NASDAQ:MCGC), one of the oldest and most troubled Business Development companies ("BDC") announced today the resignation of its chief executive officer. The press release says Steve Tunney Sr. has been replaced in the top management spot by Board Chairman Richard Neu. Moreover, Hagen Saville, currently the company's executive vice president of Business Development, has been appointed to the position of president and CEO.
As you'd expect, the press release does not begin to tell the whole story. Much of the announcement is taken up with thank-yous back and forth between the company and Tunney. The chairman/ new CEO does not suggest a new strategy at this point for the company:
"... Mr. Neu stated that "Hagen and I are truly excited to have the opportunity presented to us by our stockholders and the MCG Board of Directors to further our strategy to maximize shareholder value. We expect that this value will be created through the payment of a competitive dividend, a tax efficient staple of the BDC business model, and continued efforts to close the gap between our stock price and net asset value."...
However, the preliminary results presented in the same press release suggests there are very serious challenges ahead for the company. Distributable Net Operating Income ("DNOI") is down on the quarter to 9 cents a share, hurt by $5mn in previously announced in restructuring costs brought on by MCGC's struggle to fit its organization to the size of capital available.
More worrying is the continued deterioration in the value of the MCGC portfolio. For the quarter, the "Net Investment Loss" (which means Realized and Unrealized Losses) was $31.1mn. Existing investors will not be surprised that the biggest contributor to the loss was another write-down of the company's largest investment: Broadview Network Holdings, down $24.7mn. After that hit, the $159mn invested in Broadview is valued just under $29mn.
The number we pay most attention to is the asset coverage ratio. For a BDC to continue to pay dividends the ratio has to be above 200%. The latest ratio is 230%, marginally down from 232% in the June quarter. That does not sound much of a drop, but it suggests that MCGC has been maintaining this metric by continuing to shrink the size of its investment portfolio. The press release is not comprehensive in supplying September data, but we'd guess that total assets at cost have dropped materially since the last reporting period, and so have borrowings. This is not unexpected because MCGC has been in loan run-off for some time as it has been unable to find new sources of debt or equity capital.
The company's principal source of financing is its off balance sheet Commercial Loan Trust 2006-1 ("CLO") which began its automatic repayment period in July. That means that any of the $372mn of loan assets pledged to that facility which get repaid for any reason will be applied to paying off the $317mn in borrowings outstanding. The CLO has a nominal maturity date of 2018, but we'd expect to see borrowings below $200mn by year end and down to near zero by the end of next year.
Then there's the $150 warehouse financing arranged by Sun Trust. That facility was renewed at the beginning of the year until January 2013. We worry that the warehouse line won't get renewed if MCGC is not able to fix the continuing write-down of its investment portfolio. Sun Trust has a covenant requiring the company to maintain a minimum net worth of $450mn. With the latest write-offs MCGC's net worth must be around $500mn. That's not a huge margin for maneuver. If the facility is not renewed all proceeds for a twelve month period will go to the pay-down of the outstandings, with a bullet at the end. Given that the collateral in the warehouse line consists of senior loans we're not too worried that MCGC will be able to pay off the debt.
However the prospective non-renewal of the Sun Trust financing would leave MCGC's only material additional borrowing capacity $6mn of undrawn capacity under its SBIC license. Yes, the company could increase its borrowing capacity with the SBIC by investing further capital therein, but that would add only $41mn in additional debt capacity from June's levels. Moreover the SBIC has already declined MCGC's request for a second SBIC license, which could have added $75mn in long term financing to MCGC's books.
In a worst case situation MCGC in 18 months or less could be a much smaller entity whose asset base would consist of a disproportionately high number of equity investments and non-performing loans and whose only source of external debt capital would be $100-$150mn of SBIC funding. It's hard to believe that the company's earnings and dividend could possibly remain anywhere near current levels if such a drastic downsizing should occur.
MCGC continues to be able to continue to pay its dividend (which was announced in the same press release at an unchanged 17 cents a share) but the company is de-leveraging fast without any clear strategy from management old and new as to where this is going to end up. The good news is that Mr. Neu and the rest of the team still have time to affect a turnaround here, but the room for maneuver is narrowing.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.


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Tuning SQL Server 2012 for SharePoint 2013: (04) SQL Server and SharePoint Availability
- Posted: Mar 20, 2013 at 7:30PM
This video is part of a free online course from Microsoft Virtual Academy, click here to view the full course and take advantage of many additional features such as assessments, slides, learning plans and more.
Right click "Save as…"
This module will show you how to avoid ginormous T-Logs by performing regular T-Log backups, how to have multiple copies of your backups, how to configure AlwaysOn for high availability and verify integrity of SQL Server databases. Lastly the instructors will cover SQL Server for SharePoint best practices.
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Vincent Russo, 83, of Oakwood, a retired carpenter who had a green thumb, died Wednesday in Silver Lake Specialized Care Center, in Brighton Heights.
Born in Naples, Italy, he served in the Italian navy before immigrating to Brooklyn. He settled in Oakwood 40 years ago. He entered Silver Lake almost a year ago.
Mr. Russo worked as a carpenter for much of his life, first in Italy and later as a union carpenter at job sites citywide. He retired in in 1988.
"He was a family man, a very good husband and father and son. He was a very good person," said his wife, the former Theresa Canino.
Mr. Russo loved spending time with his grandchildren and growing amazing tomatoes in the garden he planted each summer.
He also was a hockey fan and had attended all of his son's hockey games.
Mr. Russo was a parishioner of St. Charles R.C. Church, Oakwood.
Surviving, along with his wife, Theresa, are his son, Frank Russo; his daughter, Annamarie Brunk; four sisters in Italy, and three grandchildren.
The funeral will be Monday from the Hanley Funeral Home, New Dorp, with a mass at 10:15 a.m. in St. Charles Church. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, West Brighton.


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Cigar box guitars
Friday, February 15, 2013 5:56 PM
Inappropriate photo? Alert us.
Kalamazoo musician Tommy Fuller makes guitars out of cigar boxes and sells them online. He builds them in his garage in Kalamazoo.
Related articles
- Cigar box guitars: Veteran Kalamazoo musician building instruments, selling them online February 22, 2013, 8:00 AM


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Results tagged ' carl crawford '
July 18 Late Night Roundup
- USA Today's Bob Nightengale provided the splashiest rumor of the day, reporting that the Marlins had informed the Red Sox of their willingness to deal third baseman Hanley Ramirez and closer Heath Bell, in exchange for left fielder Carl Crawford and a prospect. But ESPN's Buster Olney later shot down that idea, tweeting that the proposal "immediately died."
- According to our own Joe Frisaro, the Marlins are more likely to explore trading Ramirez during the offseason. Miami, scuffling below the .500 mark, still could look to move the likes of starting pitchers Anibal Sanchez and Josh Johnson or infielder Omar Infante below July 31.
- Three different scenarios remain in play for Brewers ace Zack Greinke, Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal reported at FOXSports.com. The 28-year-old could walk away as a free agent after the season. He could sign a long-term contract to remain in Milwaukee, although the report stated there is "no evidence," that a formal offer has been made. Greinke also could be traded before the deadline, although he will start only twice more before then, following an extended break.
- Greinke, along with the Phillies' Cole Hamels, is a prime deadline target for the Rangers, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Texas also could consider bringing back Philadelphia's Cliff Lee.
- Several teams have looked into acquiring third baseman Chase Headley or outfielder Carlos Quentin from the Padres, but San Diego's asking price for both has been "exorbitant," reported CBSSports.com's Scott Miller. The club also might attempt to re-sign Quentin this winter.
— Andrew Simon
Red Sox in on Beimel, kicked tires on Bautista
Roundup: 1B locked up in Windy City
Day 3 of the Winter Meetings saw a couple of slugging first
basemen land in Chicago, as the White Sox resigned
their captain, Paul Konerko, and the Cubs took
a chance on Carlos Pena.
The Konerko deal was somewhat surprising, considering talks between the two
sides seemed to be on life support just a day ago. But even after signing Adam
Dunn, Chicago was able to give Konerko a three-year, $37.5 million to form what looks like one of the best lineups in baseball for 2011.
With the Cubs, Pena is reunited with his old esteemed hitting coach, Rudy
Jaramillo, and receives what super-agent Scott Boras referred to as
a "pillow contract" — because, as Boras said, it's comfortable for both
sides. That deal is for one year and $10 million, as Pena will try to rebuild
his worth after hitting 28 homers but batting below .200 in 2010.
Here's more from around the league on Wednesday …
* No more fooling around for the Yankees. They're ready to make ballyhooed
free-agent starter Cliff Lee a
preliminary offer of six years and between $140 and $150 million, MLB.com's
Bryan Hoch confirmed. Will that be enough, considering reports of mystery teams
offering seven years?
* The Rangers met with Carl Crawford's agent, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.
* Adrian Beltre is still open to signing with the Athletics, according
to Boras. Boras also said negotiations for his third-base client are moving
quickly, and that the Angels are a very possible suitor.
* There had been several reports that the Red Sox would be interested in
trading for Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran. But Boras, who represents
him, says Beltran plans
to be a Met in 2011. That's significant, considering he has a no-trade clause.
* Five teams are seriously pursuing Zack Greinke while another three are
"on the periphery," according to FOXSports.com. It still seems like
he'd be tough
to move, however. The Royals are specific with what they want: pitching and
up-the-middle help.
* The Red Sox, according to CBS Sports, are zeroing in on Magglio Ordonez
to fill their outfield void, which would not be good news for Crawford. The Tigers are also checking.
* The Twins continue their
interest in resigning Carl Pavano, but they have competition. The
Brewers, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, have
also met with Pavano. The Nationals are another club known to have
* In less-heralded one-year deals on Wednesday, the Mariners signed
non-tendered designated hitter Jack Cust; the Royals brought
in outfielder Jeff Francoeur; the D-backs were reportedly on the verge of signing catcher Henry
Blanco and veteran lefty Mike Hampton (Minor League deal); the
Braves acquired non-tendered lefty reliever George Sherrill; and the Dodgers were close to bringing back Russell Martin.
— Alden Gonzalez
Padres ready to make moves?
Aside from trading for Marlins CF Cameron Maybin last month, it's been a quiet winter for the Padres.
Well, aside from watching free agents Jon Garland, Miguel Tejada and Yorvit Torrealba sign elsewhere.
It looks like the Padres have reached a deal with right-handed pitcher Aaron Harang, who is a San Diego native and said Thursday that he would love to pitch at PETCO Park. I imagine it's going to be a one-year deal, maybe with a mutual option.
Harang, effectively, would take the spot left by the departure of Garland.
So what's next for the Padres? How about dealing first baseman Adrian Gonzalez? It could happen, as an online report Friday stated the Padres are talking to the Red Sox.
It's a forgone conclusion that Gonzalez, a free agent after the season, won't finish the 2011 season with the Padres. Until recently, it looked as though the team was prepared to take him into the regular season.
Perhaps that has changed. If so, the Padres, who won't likely have a payroll exceeding more than $40 million or so, would be asking for a handful of prospects. The Red Sox have plenty and Padres GM Jed Hoyer — who used to be the assistant GM in Boston — knows the farm system well.
We figured to hear a lot about Cliff Lee, Carl Pavano and Carl Crawford at the Winter Meetings next week in Florida. Could we hear more about Gonzalez?
— Corey Brock, MLB.com
Soriano reportedly on Angels' radar
The Angels apparently have let bygones be bygones and are meeting with agent Scott Boras, who numbers among his stable of clients Adrian Beltre, Rafael Soriano and Jayson Werth. Boras and the club reportedly had a falling out over the Mark Teixeira negotiations two winters ago, but the agent said he has met with general manager Tony Reagins and other club officials this winter, according to ESPNLos Angeles.com
Reagins confirmed that there have been discussions in the report by Mark Saxon, who suggests that Soriano is the Angels' top target among the Boras clients to fill the void left by the trade of closer Brian Fuentes to the Twins. The Angels' primary target continues to be outfielder Carl Crawford, but they could expand their payroll to add Soriano as well. — Lyle Spencer
Tigers might not be done shopping
The Tigers found the hitter who can protect Miguel Cabrera in the lineup
with their Victor Martinez signing. But just because Martinez can fill
the job, doesn't mean that he will.
Jim Leyland said Friday afternoon that he's up in the air whether to bat
Martinez third or fifth. The reason for the indecisiveness is that the
offseason moves are potentially incomplete.
"It depends on what our team looks like by the time we get to Spring
Training," Leyland said by phone. "He's either going to hit right in
front of [Cabrera] or right behind him."
Asked if the fact that Martinez is a switch-hitter will play into the decision, Leyland came up with the line of the day.
"No, the fact that he's a great hitter," Leyland said.
Dave Dombrowski didn't give a firm answer either way when asked if they
have the wiggle room for one more signing — which pretty much should mean
they have room. If they knew they were up against it on payroll, there
would be no reason to play coy. Whether they have the realistic potential to
compete on another big free agent, such as Carl Crawford or Jayson
Werth, is another question. So is the potential for bringing back
Magglio Ordonez, which Dombrowski didn't want to address Friday.
He did indicate that the one area where they have the opening for an addition is in the corner outfield.
"We've actually made four signings this wintertime, so I think what
we'll probably do next week is sit back [and analyze]," Dombrowski said.
— Jason Beck
'Serious' Angels-Crawford talks reported
According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, an unnamed Major League source says the Angels have engaged in "serious talks" with free agent left fielder Carl Crawford, who is expected to command a deal in the five-year, $100 million range. Crawford is close with Torii Hunter, who has made no secret of his desire to have Crawford join him in the Angels' outfield.
The Angels have a club policy of not commenting on specific free agents and have neither confirmed nor denied interest in Crawford, who would provide Gold Glove defense, consistent offense and the blazing speed they lost in the top third of their batting order when Chone Figgins left for Seattle.– Lyle Spencer
Magglio's return to Tigers far from certain
The Tigers have interest in Magglio Ordonez, and Ordonez has interest in staying with the Tigers. Starting Sunday, other teams and other free-agent outfielders will get to enter the mix and negotiate with each other. And the talk won't just be on the Tigers side.
While the Tigers hit the free-agent market in search of a run producer for the middle of their order, Ordonez's agent, Scott Boras, expects to gather interest in his client from several teams. So if an Ordonez return to Detroit is going to happen, it isn't likely to happen quickly.
"We've gotten a lot of early calls," Boras said. "I think with this marketplace, the right-handed hitters of that ilk, like Magglio, there's going to be a very strong demand for them."
How much of an impact Ordonez's ankle makes on his offseason remains to be seen. He'll turn 37 at the end of January, and Tigers fans witnessed Scott Sizemore's slow recovery from ankle surgery this past season. Boras, however, echoed comments Ordonez made to Venezuelan reporter Augusto Cardenas last month, that his ankle is at 90 percent and strengthening.
"I think a lot is being made of a standard fracture, what a lot orthopedic surgerons say a minor fracture," Boras said. "There's no issue with flexibility, weight bearing, anything like that. It was really just a very simple fracture. It simply took some time to heal. This was not a complicated event. There really will not be any time frame where teams will wait and see if he has any trouble performing."
There's a huge advantage for Ordonez in this market if he's viewed as a full-time outfielder. The outfield market drops off significantly beyond top free agents Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth, unless there are teams that see Adam Dunn, Vladimir Guerrero and Hideki Matsui as full-time outfielders. Ordonez was an everyday right fielder at the time of his injury, and while his short strides towards fly balls looked uncertain at times, his routes were generally true. The one question would be the ankle, and Boras doesn't expect it to be an issue.
He's strong enough about it that he doesn't expect Ordonez to play winter ball — not that he can't, but that he shouldn't.
— Jason Beck
Yankees not chasing Crawford, Werth
Roundup: Blue Jays, Braves swap shortstops
In a rather surprising All-Star break move, the Blue Jays in essence acquired young shortstop Yunel Escobar from the Braves in exchange for veteran shortstop Alex Gonzalez. Left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes also is going to Toronto, with Minor League lefty Tim Collins and Minor League infielder Tyler Pastornicky migrating to Atlanta's organization.


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Featured Flashbacks
- Replace your broken bathroom fan timer switch.
- Build this simple table topper and seat up to 12 at your holiday feast!
- How to keep holiday cookies fresh for up to 10 months!
- Get do-it-yourself help. See Stan's home improvement videos!
Editor's note: Columnist Stan Harrison is off this week. This is a repeat of one of his favorite columns.


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Animation has always been the cornerstone of the Walt Disney Company. As Walt himself was fond of saying, "it all started with a mouse" ... or at least a pencil sketch of a mouse.
In a very real sense, The Art of Disney gallery in Downtown Disney's Marketplace is a logical extension of that animation pedigree, carrying on a tradition that began in the 1920s with hand-drawn black-and-white cartoons.
On display throughout The Art of Disney are many classic works of fine art, ranging from oil paintings and watercolors to cells and giclees, which is a term meaning any high quality ink-jet print — all with a decidedly Disney flare.
It's a great place to spend some leisurely time looking at how a broad spectrum of artists have interpreted just about everything in Disney's vast world, from characters to resorts to theme parks.
The Art of Disney also is a place where you can watch as one of the talented animators in residence creates a stunning piece of artwork right before your eyes. There's even a projection screen on the wall showing each stroke of the artist's skilled hand.
Paul Banwer is one of those gifted animators at The Art of Disney and it's a treat to watch him create magic on a piece of paper in just a few minutes.
Starting with a few broad strokes on a blank sheet, he quickly brings a cherished Disney character to life as he shapes the head, eyes, nose and mouth before adding a few splashes of color to accentuate the work.
The end result is a beautiful work of art, comparable to and worthy of the great Disney animators of the past.
After watching Paul at work during a recent visit, we stopped by and chatted with David E. Doss, who has gained a well-deserved reputation for his stunning Disney watercolors. He was at The Art of Disney to show many of his Disney prints and we had the opportunity to chat with him.
"I started with one watercolor of pails with the four parks on them and I presented it to Disney for their consideration," Doss said in explaining his association with Disney.
Obviously, the powers that be liked what they saw and Doss' partnership with Disney was launched.
That relationship has flourished. His more popular Disney-themed works include renditions of several resorts on Disney property, as well as stylized works featuring anything Disney.
The beauty of Doss' work is his ability to take a relatively simple scene — four pails on a deck near the beach, for instance — and turn it into an elaborately detailed piece rich in substance.
One of his most sought-after works featured Disney Vacation Club's first resort, Old Key West, with its signature red and white lighthouse prominently displayed. It was originally distributed to DVC members, but over the years, it's become somewhat of a collector's item. "I still get inquiries about that one," Doss said.
Doss' creative process is simple. He'll go to a specific site with drawing pad in hand and spend time making sketches of his subject. He'll also take color photos of the scene to give him as much material to work with as possible.
"After I make my sketches and take the photos, it's a matter of finding the time in my studio (in his native North Carolina) to work on it. It usually takes about four to five days to complete."
His most popular image on property is "Wish You Were Here," which shows Mickey and Minnie in Adirondack chairs on the beach at the Polynesian Resort looking at Cinderella Castle.
"Are We There Yet?" perhaps best represents Doss' incredible attention to detail. At first blush, the work is inviting. There's an old-style suitcase with Mickey and Minnie Mouse dolls propped on top.
But on closer inspection, there's a awful lot going on, so much so that you can't help but be drawn into the nostalgic, poignant scene.
There are a number of vintage Walt Disney World stickers on the suitcase. As you get deeper into the work, you notice an old Disney postcard, bumper stickers and a WDW pennant. Tacked to the wall, there's a photo of the monorail as it exits from the Contemporary Resort and — my favorite touch — a Magic Kingdom ticket book (circa 1971) with A, B, C, D and E tickets displayed.
Doss' work also is featured on the Disney Cruise Line. In fact, he recently completed an exclusive piece on Castaway Cay, DCL's private island in the Bahamas.
If you're in Walt Disney World this spring or summer, make it a point to drop by and take a look at Doss' work for yourself.
Doss will be at The Art of Disney in Epcot May 8-11 and at The Art of Disney in Downtown Disney May 17-June 7 and July 1-10.
You can visit his Website at www.davidedoss.com.


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GLASSBORO -- The five top student teams will compete head-to-head in the 5th Annual Rohrer Business Plan Competition at Rowan University on April 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Center 's Eynon Ballroom. This year the competition started out with more than 50 competitors and has been narrowed down to the top five, who will present their business concepts at the event.
The competition encourages the pursuit of entrepreneurial ventures and provides a forum in which students can present their ideas and win cash prizes to bring their dreams to fruition. More than $9,500 in prize money will be awarded, with a cash prize of $5,000 for the winner.
Finalists include:
· Haiti Biofuels, by Vladimir De Delva, chemical engineering major of Pétion-Ville, Haiti. Haiti Biofuels will produce biodiesel in Haiti from non-edible vegetable oil obtained from Jatropha Curcas seeds. More than 600 jobs will be created in the rural area of Morne à Cabris, Haiti. Biodiesel, an alternative fuel to petroleum-based diesel, will be sold for 50 cents a gallon cheaper than petroleum-based diesel.
· Macroscape Development, by Clifford Kaelin, electrical and computer engineering major of Malaga; Alycia Link, electrical and computer engineering major of West Deptford; Steven Beaudoin, electrical and computer engineering major of Frederick, MD; Christopher Moreno, electrical and computer engineering major of Carteret. The main function of this business would be to develop 3D representations of cities overlaid with numerous data sets as specified by the customer.
· Promise Gardens, by Hollie Butler, accounting and entrepreneurship major of Williamstown. This proposal is for a family-oriented visitor attraction in the Pocono Mountains that offers aesthetically appealing fruit and vegetable gardens and interactive, educational activities for all ages.
· Sammons Motorsports, by Davey Sammons, entrepreneurship major of Bordentown. This plan is for a service-oriented business in New Jersey rebuilding racing shocks for Pro-Formance Shocks customers. The ability to rebuild Pro-Formance Racing Shocks quickly and with a personal experience for customers in the tri-state area will be an advantage.
· txt2Text, by George Toso, entrepreneurship major of Millville. txt2Text is a business starting up in the technology field to provide users with a new way to replace their keyboard and mouse.
The finalists will present before a live audience and panel of distinguished judges. The presentations are free and open to the public. Those interested in attending should visit www.rowan.edu/colleges/business/cie/bpfinalreg.html to register.


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exactly, i always replay ruby because i never get tired of it. and thnx for the link.
Yeah it's a pirated game, but now Nintendo's coming out w/ there own diamond version, SO HA!
All very good questions and observationsOriginally Posted by MetroidZ
I agree, i'm glad the night/day is returning(it's not new, it was in Gold & Silver as well)the snow feature will be fun to because guess what...new enviroment means new POKEMON!!!
How's this for screenshots(all *NEW* might I add)?>>>>Pokemon D/P Screenshots
I agree, even if they make it easier to get to lvl 100 they should make it really hard to get to 200...that would be sweet. Plus the more lvl's there are the more moves there It would feel like it would take even longer than it already does to really beat the game(for all u guys that have played Pokemon, u know the replay value is eternity )
exactly, i always replay ruby because i never get tired of it. and thnx for the link.
Are these the 3 pokemon that you have to choose one from to start the game. Cuz in every pokemon game you either choose a water, leaf, or fire pokemon.
then your rival chooses the strongest against ur pokemon i.e. if u choose fire he will choose waterOriginally Posted by Supermariomp3
btw, does anyone know if diamond and pearl have the same story for e.g. pokemon ruby and saphire??
Wowww... thats quite cool lol still dunno if ill get it or not thoughOriginally Posted by nic7
if u like RPG's then u should definatly get pokemon, im not a big RPG fan but i always like the pokemon games
but you end up beating your rival anyway.Originally Posted by MetroidZ
at the begining yeh, but later fights are tougher when they start learning they type of pokemon moves (fire, water, grass moves)
meh, rival battles are easy everytime, can't wait till i get my hands on this game, i myself haven't owned a (official) game since pokemon red.
edit: When is the japanese version coming out?
comes out september 28, 2006


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Patrice R.
Care Companion in Alameda, CA 94501.
Looking for part-time work as a care companion.
Enhanced Background Check not run.
Enhanced Background Check(Not Run)
Basic Background Check not run.
Basic Background Check(Not Run)
Motor Vehicle Records Check not run.
Motor Vehicle Records Check(Not Run)
First Aid Training
First Aid Training
CPR Training
CPR Training
Alameda, CA
- Age 62
- 1 year paid experience
- Female
Last signed in: More than 6 months
Home Care Rates
$15 per hour
$50 per half day
$100 per full day
Patrice's Bio
I love working in an environment where I am needed to assist, clean and cook for someone who needs assistance. I am responsible, reliable and organized. I am a good listener who loves hearing about one's lifetime of memories to share. I have a lot of patience and am loving and caring of others.
I am available for live-in if needed. I would prefer the position to be long term.
Age Specific Experience
1 year paid experience with:
- 65 to 74 years old
Experience with providing basic care services:
- Conversation and companionship
- Meal preparation
Availability & Job Preferences
Availability Duration
Prefers to work as a live in care provider
- Permanent (1 to 2 years)
Job Duration
- Will consider a part time position
- Start date is flexible
My availability is valid through 3/31/15
- Weekday Afternoons
- Weekday Evenings
Skills & Abilities
Languages Spoken
- Spanish


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Single from the beginning:Most lonely after babe
I gave birth to my healthy, beautiful boy this Nov 3. The first week was a whirlwind. I couldn't keep up with texts, phone calls and Facebook posts. And then it got quiet again.
I felt loneliness after I went through the ordeal with him, but put my energy into healing the first month. I then focused all my energy on my pregnancy, getting ready for baby, and birth.
After the first week after birth, I started to feel extreme loneliness. I compare it to extreme homesickness as a child. My parents and sister live in town, and I've cried and talked to them. They have been very helpful and great to me, but it's the quiet nights when it really hits me. I love my baby and feel good otherwise. I'm just extremely overwhelmed.
I don't have any desire to be in a relationship, but I really need some comfort. I'll be going back to work soon, hopefully that helps some.
I'm looking for comfort, advice, or just an ear.
Thank you
it does get better..you just need to try and focus on taking care of you and your baby!! hang in there! and accept help when it gets offered to ya!
Congrats on your new son!
Do you have a friend or family member who can come and stay with you while you adjust to being a new mommy?
Whenever you go back for your next doctor appointment, ask them about post-partum depression. I am by no means diagnosing you, or saying you have that, but it is worth checking into. Hope you feel better! :)
Quoting amonkeymom:
Congrats on your new son!
Do you have a friend or family member who can come and stay with you while you adjust to being a new mommy?
Quoting KRIZZ25:
u just had a baby ...give yourself a brake..u dont need a man to complete u ..ur hormones are all over the place to ..just relax and injoy ur bbay and this time wth him


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Love, life and lies in the suburbs
Ashley Judd. [More Ashley Judd]
The United States has been called the first suburban nation. Europeans love to live in cities, but Americans prefer their own big house on a plot of land. They're happy if they never have to visit cities, which are seen as noisy, dirty, and crime-ridden.
Americans prefer to be around people just like themselves in homes just like theirs, writes our French correspondent Claude Miller.
I am French. I love the great European cities such as Paris, London, Madrid, Lisbon, and Rome. These are fantastic places to live and work. History and culture are all around. There's a diversity of people and opinions. You learn tolerance in big beautiful cities.
My first stop in the United States was New York, a huge, pulsating city as exciting as any other city in the world. It's up there among my top three world cities. It's a great, albeit expensive, place to live and work. But it's not typical of America.
Suburban life
If you want to taste American life in a way Americans like to live it, you have to move to the suburbs with their detached stick-built homes, double garages, manicured lawns, acres of shopping malls, parking lots, and drive-thru fast food joints.
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To a European accustomed to city living, the American suburbs are lifeless, soul-destroying, lacking in culture and history, and so dependent on car ownership that moving from A to B without a car is a huge pain in the a-s.
Car ownership is a big part of the American freedom project, as is owning your own home on its own plot of land. Perhaps it's a last vestige of pioneering spirit, which drove people west in covered wagons to claim their piece of paradise.
Europeans in their millions fled to America to escape poverty, urban squalor, religious persecution, and oppressive government.
It's not surprising that they wanted to build something new. They did not want to repeat old mistakes. They no longer wanted to be reliant on arthritic, state-run religion which cared little for the individual. They didn't want government stealing their money in the form of taxes to fund colonial expansion and war.
Those moving in their millions to America sensed that if only they could shake off the shackles of old Europe, their energy and effort would result in a good life, where their own effort would give them all they needed. They didn't need government telling them what to do, and they didn't need state religion telling them what to think. They wanted to be free.
Desire for freedom
This wonderful human project based on the desire for freedom and built on the notion that the individual can provide for him- or herself has turned into its exact opposite in the American suburbs.
Where once individualism and freedom were praised and loved, today they are hated. Conformity is the king and ruler in the American suburbs.
If this sounds extreme, try converting your suburban front lawn into a vegetable garden. Chances are you will be stopped before you have planted your first row of lettuce.
Invite friends round for a party in your backyard. Enjoy yourselves just a little too much, play your music just a little too loudly and it won't be a neighbor politely asking you to be quiet, it'll be the cops pushing you up against a wall.
Milwaukee suburb
When I moved to the a middle class suburb ofMilwaukee, Wisconsin, in order to finish my PhD on suburban living, I was questioned by local police on five different occasions for totally unremarkable and innocent behavior.
I have fairly long hair and a beard. One week after moving into my home, the police came round to question me because a neighbor was worried that an Arab had moved in next door. The neighbor had complained I had been speaking Arabic in a threatening way on the phone.
In fact, I was speaking French to my sister in Calais on a very bad cellphone connection. I was speaking loudly so she could hear me.
No beer please
The second time I was questioned was because I walked from my house to my mailbox, a distance of 20 yards across the street, with a bottle of Heineken in my hand. A neighbor called the cops to complain of my public drinking.
The cops informed me public drinking was not allowed in their burb, so I was cautioned and told not to do it again. Asking who had ratted on me, I was told it was
confidential information. Informants have a right to privacy, unlike the man walking to his mail box with a bottle of beer.
Third time unlucky
The third time I was questioned, the police were almost apologetic. A university colleague had just returned from a trip to Marrakesh, Morocco where she had been studying businesses run by women. She gave me a gift of a small rug made by a team of women in a Moroccan village.
The rug made me sneeze, so I hung it on the clothesline to air. A neighbor, obviously spying with binoculars, spotted the camels depicted on the rug and called the police to say I was flying
an anti-American flag from the Middle East.
Retired marine
This time the cops told me who had made the complaint. It was a retired U.S. marine living in a house whose family room faced my kitchen window and veranda. It seems he had been watching me for a while.
I decided to go talk to him to calm, and possibly eliminate, his fears.
I knocked on his front door, no anwer. I walked to his back door only to be attacked by his dog and hear the guy screaming,
You are trespassing on my property. Remove yourself from my land.
Number 4
That led to my fourth questioning. This time the police wanted to know why I was trespassing on my neighbor's property. I told them I just wanted to talk to the guy to explain I was a doctoral student at the university. The police told me I had no right to enter the man's backyard uninvited.
I asked the cops:
Why is my neighbor allowed to spy on me with binoculars while I am not allowed to go ask him why he is invading my privacy with his spying? The cops told me the man was allowed to do whatever he wanted in his own house.
I asked them,
Am I allowed to walk naked around my own house? The cops said that was a very strange question to ask. I was
not allowed to do anything that would offend people in the neighborhood.
By now I was beginning to feel persecuted, forced to participate in a game that was rigged against me. Not matter what I said or did, it was going to be interpreted as though I was a troublemaker.
Right to privacy
I was also beginning to question the Americans commitment to freedom, tolerance, and individualism. I was not being accorded a right to privacy. My freedom was not being respected. And my individualism was being abused.
The fifth time
The fifth time the police questioned me was the most ridiculous.
I had cooked myself a breakfast of bacon and eggs, placed the plate on the table in my backyard, went to fetch a book to read, and came back to find my neighbor's dog eating my breakfast.
I shouted at the dog, which started barking and growling at me. This made the retired marine come rushing to my fence, screaming at me,
Give my dog back you Arab motherf-cker. You have poisoned my dog!
I told the man as calmy as I could,
Please come and get your dog, sir.
The man went into his house, and five minutes later the cops arrived and arrested me.
The remains of my breakfast were seized and sent off for lab tests, the dog was rushed to a vet, and I was told I would be responsible for the bill.
Richard Rorty
My neighbor told the cops he had seen me placing food on my table which I had then left, obviously with no intention to eat it. Actually, I was inside the house looking for my copy of Richard Rorty's
Philosophy and Social Hope.
The story ended sort of ok. The lab tests revealed that my bacon and egg were just that. The dog suffered no traumatic effects. And my neighbor was told nothing could be done about my
suspicious behavior.
Bye, bye burbs
After that event, my patience had run out. I sold my house, gave the burbs a short goodbye, and moved back to the city, where my beard is tolerated and folks don't call the police when I am eating sushi or any other foreign food.
By Claude Miller
Dutch delights
The cool beauty of Dutch women. Stunning stars of India, liberated women of Sweden, & glamour of Italy
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Build your perfect body and choose the right training shoe for you. It is never too late to get in shape for life.
Concerts, sports: Cheap event tickets! & Theater ticket deals


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The body of a woman found last year in a wooded area of Pemberton Township has been identified as a resident of the Levittown section of Falls Township, Pa., according to Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi and Pemberton Township Police Chief David H. Jantas.
The woman, identified as Molly Lynch, was reported missing to the Falls Township Police Department in April 2012. At that time, she was 22 years of age.
Her remains were found off of Quail Run Trail in Pemberton Township, N.J. by two people riding all terrain vehicles on June 17, 2012.
Molly was identified through information received after the case was publicized. The investigation into her death is continuing, and law enforcement officials are now asking the public to provide information to help determine how she died.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office Tip Line at 609- 267-8300.
The investigation is being conducted by the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office, the Pemberton Township Police Department and the Falls Township, Pa. Police Department, with the assistance of the New Jersey State Police.