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Nearly two dozen people died on the Island alone, hundreds of houses were destroyed and small, mom-and-pop businesses were left in ruins. For far too many people on Staten Island, life will never be the same.
But the storm's effects weren't just felt on the Island. In fact, nature's wrath touched people across the country, among them, all those folks who used to call the Island home, moved away, but still have a special place in their hearts for the borough.
Helen Cavallo -- who currently resides in Los Angeles and is the host of a cooking show on the Disney Junior cable TV channel called "That's Fresh" -- is one of those people who will never forget where she came from.
She grew up just a block from the beach in New Dorp, but moved away decades ago after both of her parents died. She has many fond memories of her childhood home, as well as the neighbors who helped and nurtured her and her sister during excruciatingly tough times.
"Our hearts, our home, will always be 45 Wavecrest St.," she says with both pride and conviction.
Ms. Cavallo was on Staten Island Saturday with her sister, Grace, and their Aunt Antoinette, on a pilgrimage of sorts, paying back in their own way many of the people who were so caring, so generous to them decades ago.
After finding out just how bad the damage was to her old neighborhood following the Oct. 29 storm, Ms. Cavallo was understandably upset. And as each new photo of the devastation to Staten Island flashed across her TV screen, she knew she had to do something to help.
So she teamed with her sister to start a fundraising campaign in an effort to give back to the community they remember with such fondness.
The sisters set a goal of raising $5,000 through the site www.giveforward.com/helpnewdorprebuild. By Thursday, when the fund closed, they had totaled $5,250 in donations.
Saturday, they were back in the old neighborhood to present the donations to their old friends and to offer assistance in any way they could to those who suffered so much on and near Wavecrest Street.
Understandably, they were moved to tears during their visit.
"I still have a childhood friend on Staten Island -- Michele [Polizzotto Roloph]," Ms. Cavallo said. "We hadn't spoken in many, many years, but the minute she heard my voice, she started crying."
The two had an emotional reunion Saturday.
"She reminded me of all the places we rode our bikes as kids and then went on to say it isn't there anymore. That's hard to imagine ... hard to imagine that a neighborhood that holds so many memories is destroyed. People losing homes and loved ones -- that's harder to imagine.
"All I know was I am compelled to help" many of the families from their beloved neighborhood who years ago were there without hesitation to help them.
"When our parents passed away," Ms. Cavallo said, "we had to move to Long Island, but when people ask us where we come from, we always answer: 'Staten Island.'"
"My friends make fun of me out in L.A.," she added. "They say, 'Oh my god, you're so Staten Island.' And I say, 'Thank you.'"
Thank you, in large part, because of the love, kindness and unselfish assistance they received as youngsters. When their mother, Marina, died in 1980, just a year and a half after their father, Joseph, passed away, Helen was 9, Grace just 6.
Ms. Cavallo remembers being "buoyed by the love of our neighbors and oftentimes, complete strangers. Money was raised for us as we prepared for the next chapter of our lives. It was this generosity and kindness that we both remember being touched by.
"It is a sentiment that has stayed with us always -- it doesn't matter who it is, you help when you can. Period."
Which is why they were in the old neighborhood Saturday, helping the people who once helped them.
"Our donation was warmly received," Ms. Cavallo said.
After returning to her aunt's house on Roosevelt Island Saturday night, "it hit me that for the people of New Dorp, that feeling of coming home doesn't exist anymore ... if their house was left standing, it's a shell of a house, everything ripped out, all exposed beams. Then there are the houses that were splintered and left in a pile ...
"These great people of New Dorp are an exceptional example of what perseverance is," Ms. Cavallo added. "I know it, I saw it with my own eyes and I feel it in my heart. I hope that more people help out because it's the RIGHT thing to do."
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Tahoe South Blog
Learn to Ski and Snowboard in Tahoe South
January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, and there's no time like the present to get out and try something new. As someone who learned to snowboard for her 30th birthday, I can appreciate the challenges that come with being the new kid on the slopes. Although it's been a few (cough, cough) years since that first bruising of my behind (and ego), I can easily remember my first time.
My first morning on the hill was refereed by a young gentlemen who though that "become one with your board," meant something useful to me. Now, to be fair, the skater kid in my group got it right away, so this method of instruction works for some.
Not really for me, though, so my first outing was a bit disappointing. And painful. My boyfriend, who was looking forward to long, blissful weekends at snug retreats with his snow-bunny girlfriend, instead received a barrage of expletives and angry tears as I wondered what I had done to deserve such punishment.
I'm not one to give up, though, and I agreed to give snowboarding another shot.
My second lesson was with Joe, an "over-30 specialist" who took the time to really explain the mechanics of snowboarding. He was everything you look for in an educator – patient, knowledgeable, kind, affinity for small words – and he honestly tried to not laugh out loud when I proceeded to fall every 30 seconds. But a funny thing happened over the course of our morning together – I actually got better. I began falling every minute, and then only every two minutes. And even better, when I fell, I started to figure out why I fell, and I was able to make adjustments and stay upright even longer. I didn't have it all wired in one day, but I was hungry for more.
Since that day, I have considered myself a "snowboarder." I've spent winters where I've been on the mountain every weekend we had snow. My husband and I postponed our honeymoon to take a snowboard trip during a better snow cycle. I moved to Lake Tahoe, for Pete's sake.
And to this day, I take at least one lesson or clinic each season. Resorts in Tahoe South will offer special programs for children and adults who want to learn a snow sport. Programs vary in make-up and cost, but a typical learning package consists of a lift ticket, equipment rentals and lessons from a professional instructor (generally at a reduced cost).
Sierra-at-Tahoe, Heavenly Mountain Resort, and Kirkwood Mountain Resort all offer lessons from professional instructors, and in my opinion, you're never too cool to learn something new. I always learn something, and usually make a few friends in the process.
Speaking of friends, a new program called Bring a Friend encourages current skiers and snowboarders to bring friends or family members to a local resort and help them sign up for lessons from professional instructors. The national Bring a Friend Challenge offers incentives, including product prizes and trips, for both current participants and newcomers. The national Challenge starts in December and runs until March 17, 2013. Details are available at Bring a Friend.
Also kicking off in January is the new "Why I Love to Ski or Ride" Video Contest. Beginning on January 1 amateur videographers can enter to win great prizes from The North Face, skis.com, Warren Miller Entertainment, SKI and Transworld Snowboarding. Your entry will be posted on the LSSM special Facebook page and your friends and others will be able to "vote" on your work. The contest runs through February 15, 2013.
Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month and Bring a Friend are supporters of the Let's Move initiative and the President's Challenge, two programs designed to encourage activity and good nutritional practices – particularly among youth.
Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month and Bring a Friend are national initiatives that are dedicated to helping children and adults learn a snow sport by taking lessons from professional instructors and other trained personnel. They are developed and supported by national, regional and local organizations and businesses in the snow sports industry in partnership with non-industry organizations that encourage active lifestyles.
To learn more about the wide world of snow sports, check out Ski and Snowboard Month.
Additional information for this blog provided by The Western Division of Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA-W) and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI-W). You can find out more information about certified snowsport instructors at PSIA-W or ask for one when you take your next lesson!

subset: commoncrawl


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Ralph Thompson
Mr. Ralph J. Thompson, 78, of Brandywine, passed away Sunday, May 5, 2013, at Grant Memorial Hospital in Petersburg.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 9, 2013, at Kimble Funeral Home Chapel in Franklin. Burial will be at Cherry Hill Cemetery at Upper Tract. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.


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ALL SHORES -- There aren't many things from the 1940s that can stand the test of time, but perhaps there is one bowling league that proves it is an exception.
The Richmond County American Legion Bowling League recently capped its 61st season by holding its year-end awards dinner at the Staaten in West Brighton.
The league, which was formed in 1946, completed another 36-week season on Thursday nights at Rab's Country Lanes in Dongan Hills with good times and loads of competition.
"We've lost some veterans, but the ones that remain, stay and they don't leave. We set up the league so that even though their bowling skills may have declined a little bit we're 100 percent handicap," said league president and Castleton Corners resident Jim Episcopia. "We have two halves. The winner of the first half plays the winner of the second half. We have playoffs. It's competitive."
"The older Legionnaires are just as competitive as the young kids that come in. We find that it works," said the 64-year-old, who served in the U.S Air Force from 1966-1970 and served in Vietnam from Dec. 1968 to Dec. 1969.
When the league was first formed, the group consisted solely ofveterans. As time has marched on, and some of veterans have passed away or have become unable to bowl, the league decided to allow non-veterans to join.
The Huttner-Pasqualini Post of Dongan Hills and the New Brighton-based Granito-Smith Post (three squads) are the only American Legion posts that sponsored teams this past season. However, Episcopia said the league — which features 12 teams with five bowlers on each squad plus subs — is still comprised of about 50 percent Legionnaires.
"I've been bowling with the same fellas here for 35 years now," said Great Kills' Randy Viscuso, who has been in the league for 20 years and bowled sparingly this year for the Granito-Smith C team because of a knee replacement.
"We're all retired firemen. We all worked together, too. We have this special bond," he added.
The 69-year-old who served stateside in the U.S. Navy from 1960-1963 has seen the changes over the years, but agrees with the notion that it continues to work well.
"We have some young fellas now and it's great. Everybody gets along. It's more of a fun league than competitive so everybody enjoys it," he added.
One of the veterans of the veteran league is Fred Cipoletti. The West Brighton resident has been a member of the bowling loop for 40 years.
"I bowled with my father and brothers who were all Vietnam veterans. We all bowled in the same league together when I first started out," said the former U.S. Navy man who served in Vietnam from 1965-67. "It was pretty interesting and fun to bowl with my family."
When the 65-year-old was asked why he still participates in the league for all these years, there was no hesitation.
"These are people that I've bowled with for years. It's fun to come back and see them every once in a while," Cipoletti said. "There's nice camaraderie between everyone."
Ralph Gonzalez is an outsider. He is one of the league bowlers who is not a veteran and he has only bowled in the league for two years. Yet, the South Beach resident feels extremely comfortable.
"I thought it would be very good to be bowling with anybody from the American Legion and veterans so obviously that's a good thing," said the 51-year-old. "I had come out of semi-retirement because I hadn't bowled in about 15 years so I started bowling again. The people that I bowl with are very good people. It makes it really enjoyable to bowl with them.
"Actually, they're an inspiration to me because these people are older than me and I look at them and I say, 'You know what? When I get to their age, I'm hoping I'm showing up every Thursday to bowl just like they are,'" Gonzalez added. "And they're excellent bowlers so I'm hoping I keep bowling at a high level like they do."
In addition to the fact all members simply enjoy bowling, the American Legion League also is special for other reasons.
"We all have that common interest. Sometimes we trade a couple of war stories here and there and there's a lot of kidding around, especially with the Legionnaires and the young kids that don't know what we're talking about," laughed Episcopia.
"When other leagues cancel because of snowstorms, Legionnaires never cancel. Listen, if you were in a fox hole during World War II, a little snow ain't gonna stop you from bowling," added the league president. "They're here every week. They don't miss. It's great to have them. I hope we keep them for a long time."


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Brad Bierman, who has covered Syracuse University sports for 30 years, suffered a heart attack on Wednesday night. He is recovering in a Philadelphia area hospital.
Bierman was making plans to attend Syracuse's game against Georgetown when he started feeling chest pains while driving. He pulled into a fire station where he received aid before being taken by ambulance to a hospital.
He is said to be doing well. He even convinced nurses in the intensive care unit to let him watch the SU-Georgetown game on television.
Bierman, a graduate of Syracuse University's prestigious Newhouse School of Public Communications, covered SU sports for WSYR-AM for 10 years. In recent years, he has been a contributing writer for The Juice.


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From Mother Jones
Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda and the mastermind of the September 11th attacks, was killed on Sunday in Pakistan. Here's what we know so far.
Where was Bin Laden killed? He was killed in a "compound near Abbottabad," which is a relatively wealthy city of about one million people about 150 km north of Pakistan's capital of Islamabad.
How did he die? The operation was a "surgical strike" by a small US team that entered by helicopter. The team was in the compound for under 40 minutes. Bin Laden was killed in a firefight and US forces took his body with them when they left. Early reports suggested that Bin Laden was shot in the head, but the White House has not confirmed that detail. NBC has reported that he was shot in the left eye. According to ABC, he was shot a second time to make sure he was dead.
Who killed him? In a background briefing, senior administration officials declined to say whether the operation was military or non-military (e.g., CIA). But the buzz elsewhere is that this was a military operation executed by the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG or DEVGRU), once known as SEAL Team Six. It's the special counterterror operations group of the naval special operations community. The SEALS were reportedly under the command of the Joint Special Operations Command and carried out the operation with the help of the CIA.
Eyewitnesses? The National newspaper reports that witnesses in Abbottabad awoke around 12:45 am local time on Sunday to the sounds of explosions coming from a house in the suburb of Bilal Town, and saw three helicopters firing on the bin Laden compound. The shooting ended around 2:00 am. "We watched as one of the helicopters was shot down and exploded when it hit the ground," said Ehtesham-ul-Haq, 30, a businessman who watched from his home.
The National also reports that top members of Al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban currently hiding out in Pakistan are preparing to flee the country, according to a Karachi-based militant source. "Right now, the priority is safety. All leading figures will be constantly on the move, not staying at one location for more than 15 minutes," said the source, who added that they will eventually return to Afghanistan.
How did we find him? The US began tracking some suspected Bin Laden couriers over four years ago. Eventually, US officials became aware of the compound in Abottabad. The compound was eight times the size of the surrounding houses, and it had huge walls that were so high that people on the third floor still had seven-foot walls shielding them from outside view. The occupants burned all their trash (not a common local practice) and didn't have any phone or internet access. There were signs that a family matching the size of the Bin Laden clan was living there in secret. The courier who was living there with his brother had no discernible source of income, another tip-off for US intelligence.
Did Bin Laden fight back? Senior administration officials said Bin Laden "resisted" but would not say if he used any weapon in doing so. According to ABC, "Bin Laden himself fired his weapon during the fight" and "was asked to surrender but did not."
How long was he hiding in the compound? The compound was custom-built about five years ago to hide "someone of significance," according to a senior administration official. Its exact location is unclear—a spot in central Abbottabad identified as "Osama bin Laden's compound" on Google Maps appears to be inaccurate. The compound was reportedly a few hundred meters or less from the Pakistani Miltary Academy, "Pakistan's West Point," whose graduates include former President Pervez Musharraf. Here's video of the compound burning:
And here's video from ABC News taken inside the compound:
Who knew the raid was coming? The intelligence about the compound was not shared with any other country, including Pakistan. Only a very small number of people within the US government knew of the raid.
Was anyone else killed in the raid? No Americans were killed. Three adult males besides Bin Laden were killed in the raid, reportedly including one of Bin Laden's sons. One woman was killed when she was used as a human shield and another woman was injured. One helicopter was lost to mechanical failure and destroyed on the spot, according to the White House. Given that, this story from the Pakistani newspaper Dawn seems super-interesting. One resident who heard the commotion of the raid tweeted, "A huge window shaking bang here…I hope its [sic] not the start of something nasty."
Where is Bin Laden's body? A US official says Bin Laden's body has been buried at sea,reports the Associated Press. Senior administration officials had promised that his body would be handled according to Islamic practice, which requires a quick burial. "Finding a country willing to accept the remains of the world's most wanted terrorist would have been difficult, the official said. So the US decided to bury him at sea." The official did not immediately say where that occurred.
How do we know it was him? Multiple reports say that the US has DNA confirmation.
Wait, we had Bin Laden's DNA? Actually, according to ABC's Brian Ross, the US had DNA from Bin Laden's sister, who died of brain cancer in Boston several years ago.
Is there a picture of the body? Maybe. Bloomberg reports that several Pakistani television stations broadcast what they said was a still photograph of Bin Laden's body (caution: it's graphic), with his face smeared with blood and his left eye mutilated. Update: the picture isn't real.
How long has this been planned? President Obama reportedly asked for a plan to take out bin Laden back in June 2009. In August 2010, US intelligence learned about the location of the compound. The attack has been planned for months and the special forces involved practiced extensively. National Journal's Yochi Dreazen says that SEALS "built a full-scale mockup of bin Ladin's compound and spent weeks practicing the raid and learning layout."Josh Rogin at Foreign Policy and Aamer Madhani at National Journal have each posted a rundown of what was known about the operation as of Sunday night. According to Rogin, the meetings Obama convened with his national security team concerning the operation were held on March 14, March 29, April 12, April 19, and April 28. And Rogin breaks down the the chain of events from over the weekend that led to the final go-ahead:
The final decision to go forward with the operation was made at 8:20 AM on Friday, April 29 in the White House's Diplomatic Room. In the room at the time were [national security adviser Tom] Donilon, his deputy Denis McDonough, and counterterrorism advisor John Brennan. Donilon prepared the formal orders.
On Sunday, Obama went to play golf in the morning at Andrews Air Force Base. He played 9 holes in chilly, rainy weather and spent a little time on the driving range, as well. Meanwhile, the principals were assembling in the situation room at the White House. They were there from 1:00 PM and stayed put for the rest of the day.
At 2:00, Obama met with the principals back at the White House. At 3:32 he went to the situation room for another briefing. At 3:50 he was told that bin Laden was "tentatively identified." At 7:01 Obama was told there was a "high probability" the high value target at the compound was bin Laden. At 8:30 Obama got the final briefing.
Before speaking to the nation, Obama called former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Who's Bin Laden's successor? The short answer is: no one. Bin Laden's number two is Ayman al-Zawahiri, but he does not command the same following or loyalty as the late Al Qaeda leader. According to the New Yorker's Lawrence Wright, author of the definitive history of Al Qaeda, Zawahiri "has few of the qualities that would make for a successful leader. He's anti-charismatic. He ran his own Egyptian terror organization, al-Jihad, into the ground." Also on the shortlist is Anwar al-Awlaki, the U.S.-born cleric who's now in hiding in Yemen (and who apparently inspired the Underwear bomber and the Fort Hood shooter). But compared to Bin Laden, as Al Qaeda expert Peter Bergen put it on CNN, al-Awlaki's a "dwarf."
Are we worried about potential retaliation? U.S. military bases around the world are on high alert in case of retaliation. The government has been preparing for this eventuality for a long time. The US has not heard of any specific retaliation threats against any specific targets. In a statement to agency employees, outgoing CIA director Leon Panetta said: "The terrorists almost certainly will attempt to avenge him, and we must—and will—remain vigilant and resolute."
What are Islamists/conservatives/active-duty soldiers saying about Bin Laden's death? Check in with all of them here.
What does former President George W. Bush think? Here's his statement.


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"Your accent is SO cute!"
This is the first thing that I've heard from all 49 girls when I first meet them. Since Louisiana isn't the only Southern state, I figured that there would be someone else that shares my Southern accent. Sadly, though, I have the strongest country accent here, and mine isn't even very thick!
Where I live in West Monroe, La., I have a mild accent compared to most who live there. Apparently, though, it sounds like a complete Southern belle to the other girls who aren't used to hearing it! Of course there are other girls here with various different accents, but mine definitely stands out from the rest.
Grits are customary to the South; however, I do not particularly care for them. At Bellingrath Gardens, we were served a breakfast buffet. One of our choices was grits. Since I'm not very fond of them, I passed right by them.
For the rest of the morning, when someone looked at my plate, their first response was, "You're from the South and don't eat grits?" Yes, I am a Louisiana girl who doesn't like grits; I definitely don't fit the Southern stereotype. I ate everything they had to offer, except grits.
Also since I'm from Louisiana, most girls assumed that I go line dancing on the weekends for fun. While we were dancing at the USS Alabama, everyone was saying to me, "Oh so you know all of these dances already, right?" Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, and I were all asked this! None of us had done the dances before, just like everyone else.
I knew being Southern had its common misconceptions, but I figured the way I stumbled over my cowboy boots gave away the extent of my "line dancing skills."
Hopefully I will show the other 49 girls that not all of us Southern girls fit the stereotype. Of course I obviously have the Southern accent, but I think that's as far as my "Southern girl" goes.


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Citing procedural roadblocks in federal law, a federal appeals court panel has ruled it can have no say on whether a man serving life in prison for raping a girl in Jefferson Parish should get a new trial since the victim recanted her claims that the man sexually abused her in the 1990s.
John Kinsel, 42, a Texas native who lived on the West Bank, was convicted in September 1999 of aggravated rape of a child under age 12 based almost solely on the girl's testimony, despite her mother's testimony that her daughter told lies, and other testimony expressing doubt that Kinsel abused her.
Kinsel also denied it, testifying it was impossible based on his work schedule and living arrangement. A Jefferson Parish jury convicted him in a 10-2 vote.
A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals appeared sympathetic to Kinsel but said in an opinion released Tuesday that it could do nothing.
"It is beyond regrettable that a possibly innocent man will not receive a new trial in the face of the preposterously unreliable testimony of the victim and sole eyewitness to the crime for which he was convicted," Judge Jacques Wiener wrote for the panel comprising himself and Judges Priscilla Owen and Jerry Smith.
"But, our hands are tied by the (Anti-Terrorism Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996), preventing our review of Kinsel's attack on his Louisiana postconviction proceedings, so we dutifully dismiss his claim," Wiener wrote.
Kinsel's conviction was upheld by state and federal courts before the girl recanted, meaning Kinsel had "to jump through some really big hoops" to be heard by the federal courts again, his attorney Autumn Town said. The Anti-Terrorism Effective Death Penalty Act, enacted in the wake of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, made it tougher for state convicts to have their cases heard in federal courts two or more times, regardless of recantations, she said.
"His accuser has come forward and said none of this happened, and he's still sitting in jail," Town said. "If you take away her testimony, you're left with nothing else."
The Jefferson Parish district attorney's office stood by the conviction.
"We respectfully but strongly disagree with the court's comments that the defendant was convicted with unreliable testimony," First Assistant District Attorney Steve Wimberly said. "This office thoroughly reviewed the recantation, which was made over nine years after the victims's initial statement to the police, and determined that the recantation was completely unreliable."
The victim, now 24, is not being identified by Times-Picayune. Town said the woman recanted because she had become an adult "and wants to set things right."
She initially recanted in 2005, claiming she lied when she accused Kinsel of sexually abusing her beginning when she was 6 years old in 1992 and continuing until 1995. A Jefferson Parish grand jury indicted Kinsel in February 1997.
She testified during the 1999 trial that Kinsel, who was her mother's friend, repeatedly molested her starting when they lived in Monroe and continuing when they lived on the West Bank. But she said in a June 2006 affidavit that a man she didn't know twice molested her in her home. She said she later blamed it on Kinsel because she hated him, court records show.
She said she was hesitant to testify during the trial and said so before the trial. But she claimed that a prosecutor, Donnie Rowan, "pretty much said that he had put too much time into the trial," and "pretty much he yelled at me and told me that I had to go forward with it." But she said she never told the prosecutors at the time she was falsely accusing Kinsel.
She also said that in 2005 she went to the Jefferson Parish district attorney's office and told an investigator, who in turn told her she could be charged with perjury. She clammed up, according to court records.
However, her claims won Kinsel a hearing before then-Judge Charles Cusimano of the 24th Judicial District Court, who granted a new trial.
A state 5th Circuit Court of Appeal panel in 2007 overturned Cusimano in a 2-1 opinion, finding he abused his discretion and that Kinsel did not establish a constitutional violation during the trial.
The state Supreme Court, which previously upheld the conviction, affirmed the ruling, leading Kinsel's attorneys to take the conviction to the federal courts again. U.S. District Judge A.J. McNamara found last year that Kinsel was not entitled to a review by the federal courts, leading to an appeal to the 5th U.S. Circuit.
Paul Purpura can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 504.826.3791.


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GM Anatoly Karpov asserted his dominance in the blitz portion of the match to secure the victory.By WGM Jennifer Shahade
SAINT LOUIS, June 14, 2012 -- Former World Champion Anatoly Karpov defeated four-time U.S. Champion Yasser Seirawan in a match held from June 10-13 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.
In the first three days of play, two classical and two rapid games were drawn, increasing the tension as the players headed into a 10-game blitz match held on June 13. Karpov drew the first blood in game one when he prevailed in a razor-sharp pawn endgame. Yasser played 45...Kf8 which lost, while 45...Kg8 would have won.
But the match was far from over, as the two traded victories. Seirawan won a particularly nice game in round five, highlighting the weakness of Karpov's second rank with 34...Rd2!!
But after a half-time break, Karpov came back sharp and hungry, and he won three games in a row to clinch the match victory and $10,000 first prize. The final score of the blitz match was 6-4 in Karpov's favor while the overall match score (one point for each of the four draws in the classical and rapid) was 10-8.
At the post-game press conference both players spoke highly of the overall quality of the blitz match and the playing conditions. The tournament concuded with a cocktail party and tandem chess exhibition at the World Chess Hall of Fame. Karpov was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame in 2004, while Seirawan was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame in 2006.
The blitz games with commentary by GM Ben Finegold and WGM Jennifer Shahade can be replayed at http://saintlouischessclub.org/2012-karpov-vs-seirawan-videos
About The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint LouisThe Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures. Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.
I saw Karpov last night and today!! He is at the National Open in Las Vegas. Last night he played 25 simul games. His score, 23 wins and 2 draws. The draws were with Jim Green, rated 1980 (USCF) and Jose Ramirez, rated 1900. This morning, before the opening game of the National Open, he spoke a few words. Then it was off and playing (Karpov doesn't play in the actual National Open). First round went off at 11:00AM, and he second at 6:00PM. I'm off to a good start with two wins after two games. I'm only a 1534 USCF rated player, but hope to work myself up into the next class at this tournament. Therev are a little over 600 players this year. I played in 2002 whem Karpov was there, and there were 1106 players. That may have been a record??
I feel like crap with a nasty cold, but I didn't pay to fly here from Hawaii and pay the hotel, eating, etc, etc to NOT play in this tournament.
Karpov was searching for prey and found Seirawan. What a look the old fellow has. Great and mean player:)
That remind us the Karpov of the seventies...
never seen karpov look so mean he was hungry for a win
Yes, you can just see the old Soviet machine cog wheels going around in Karpov's head....
by DanielRensch - 26 hours ago
by PeterDoggers - 34 hours ago
by RLH2 - 2 days ago
by PeterDoggers - 2 days ago
by PeterDoggers - 4 days ago
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MUSKEGON, MI -- There's a slight chance of snow this morning, Jan. 2, in the Muskegon area, with a wind chill expected to be around -5 degrees.
According to the National Weather Service, there's s 30 percent chance of snow before 1 p.m. with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 17 degrees.
Snow is likely tonight with mostly cloudy skies with a low of around 3 degrees.
Driving today could be dangerous as highways to and from the Muskegon area, including I-96 and U.S. 31, are snow-covered, wet, icy, slushy with blowing snow expected, according to the Michigan State Police Winter Travel Advisory.
There's a 50 percent chance of snow on Friday, with mostly cloudy skies with a high near 21 degrees. Wind chill values are expected to be as low as -5 degrees.
Friday night will be mostly cloudy with a low of around 19 degrees.
Saturday will likely see snow as well, with a 50 percent chance of snow during the day and snow showers likely in the evening.
It's expected to be cloudy with a high near 32 degrees.
There's a 40 percent chance of snow on Sunday with a high near 23 degrees.
Snow showers on Monday are expected with blowing snow and a high near 7 degrees.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Brownie Sundae Cheesecake
Patsy Fowler
this is a quick and easy recipe to fix its great anytime
- 1 box
- brownie mixed and baked according to directions
- 1 1/2 c
- crushed vanilla wafers (about 45 cookies)
- 6 Tbsp
- powdered sugar
- 6 Tbsp
- cocoa powder
- 1 stick
- butter, melted
- 4 pkg
- (8 oz each) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 c
- sugar
- 4 medium
- eggs
- 1 bottle
- chocolate sundae syrup in a bottle, or any kind
- 1 tsp
- pure vanilla extract
Directions Step-By-Step
1make brownies and allow to cool.
2preheat oven to 350. mix crust ingredients, spray pan with cooking spray, press mixture into a 9 inch spring form pan. bake 8 minutes and allow to cool slightly.
3beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. gradually add eggs one at a time. pour batter into crust.
4cube up about half the pan of brownies, sprinkle the pieces into the batter and push them down. drizzle chocolate sundae syrup on top with a butter knife swirl gently to give it the marble effect.
5bake 50-55 minutes. loosen from pan after cooled. cover and refrigerate. better served cold.
About this Recipe
Course/Dish: Cakes
Other Tag: Quick & Easy


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— From "Adventures in Jewish Cooking" by Jeffrey Nathan. Makes 6 servings
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (6-pound) whole beef brisket, outer fat trimmed
3 large onions, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced into half moons
3 cups apple cider, as needed
1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or small roasting pan over medium-high heat. Add the brisket and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add the onions to the same pot and cook, stirring occasionally, just until softened, about 5 minutes. Place the brisket on top of the onions, add the cider and molasses, and sprinkle the meat and onions with the garlic, rosemary and thyme. If necessary, add more cider (or even water) to almost cover the brisket. Bring to a simmer, then cover tightly. Place in the oven and bake until the brisket is fork-tender, about 3 hours.
4. Uncover and let the brisket cool in the pot. Cover and refrigerate until the next day.
5. Scrape off and discard any hardened fat on the surface of the cooking liquid. Transfer the brisket to a carving board and slice thinly against the grain.
6. Meanwhile, bring the cooking liquid to a boil over high heat. Taste, and if the flavor need concentrating, simmer for a few minutes to evaporate excess liquid. Season with salt and pepper. Return the sliced brisket to the liquid, reduce the heat to medium-low; simmer until heated through. Serve hot with the onions.
Nutrition information Per 12-ounce serving: 800 calories; 460 calories from fat; 63g protein; 21g carbs; 17g sugar; 51g total fat; 18g saturated fat; 215mg cholesterol; 1g dietary fiber; 180mg sodium; 6% Daily Values calcium; 35% Daily Values iron


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By FRAN SYPEK
Will the Falcons be better this year?"
That's a question your faithful correspondent has been asked all summer from not only fans in Greater Springfield, but also from points all over New England.
It's a fair question because the Falcons have not been very good for a long time. But it is encouraging to hear the question because it can only mean one thing:
People still care.
They care so much that so far 610 new season ticket packages have been added. The Falcons are well on their way to achieving their goal of adding an additional 700 season tickets by the start of the season to bring their total to a respectable 2,000.
As for that often-asked question: The answer is they should be.
Of course, nothing can be assured in sports. Each teams starts from scratch and every new season brings optimism.
Most of the 10 players signed by the Falcons/Oilers to AHL contracts are not household names. Many will begin in the ECHL with the Oilers affiliate, the Stockton Thunder.
Among the depth guys signed are forwards Justin Chwedoruk, Toby Lafrance and defenseman Robbie Bina, who inked standard American Hockey League two-way contracts.
Next month, the Falcons will hold the biggest training camp in franchise history. Some 40 players will be in camp.
Competition for the precious few spots on the AHL team will be fierce. Those who survive will do so knowing they are only one step away from the NHL.
Stocking Stockton is a priority. Edmonton lost more man games because of injuries in franchise history last season and both their minor league affiliates suffered.
If it happens again this year, the Oilers are prepared. That's why the Falcon faithful can be cautiously optimistic that better days lie ahead.
The top offseason acquisition is Carl Corazzini, who signed a two-way contract by the Oilers. Corazzini will battle for a spot with the big club, but he signed the deal knowing that he is probably destined to start the season in Springfield.
For the former Providence Bruins, who used to torment the Falcons when he wore the spoked P, it's an opportunity to play close to his Framingham home and a chance to get another shot at the NHL in the event of injuries up top.
Corazzini enters his eighth season of pro hockey after spending last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he collected 24 goals, 36 assists, 60 points and 14 penalty minutes in 80 games played. He led the Griffins last season in goals, assists, points and games played.
He should be a good replacement for Rob Schremp, who should finally get his long-awaited shot at making the NHL out of training camp.
For the second straight season, the Falcons will have a goalie, Devan Dubnyk, who is a third-year pro getting a shot at No. 1 for the first time. Last year, that worked out quite well with Jeff Deslauriers, who is expected to stick with the Oilers.
The Oilers want to win, not only up top, but below as well. They are a good NHL partner.
They are trying, which is all people in Springfield can ask.
CHANGES IN EDMONTON: Following 17 seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, Steve Tambellini will succeed Kevin Lowe as general manager of the Oilers. Lowe assumes the role as president of hockey operations and Kevin Prendergast has been named assistant general manager.
Both Lowe and Prendergast were frequent visitors to Springfield last season. Expect Tambellini to do the same.
NEW COACHES: Two of the AHL's three Illinois teams named new head coaches last week. Don Granato takes over for the Chicago Wolves and Bill Peters has been named to the Rockford IceHogs head job.
Granato succeeds John Anderson, who was hired by the Atlanta Thrashers after guiding the Wolves to the Calder Cup. Peters replaces Mike Haviland, who was named assistant coach of the parent Chicago Blackhawks last month.
The 43-year-old joins the IceHogs after serving the past three years as coach of the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, where he led the Chiefs to the 2008 Memorial Cup championship.
TAYLOR MADE: The Hartford Wolf Pack have agreed to terms on an AHL contract with forward Mike Taylor.
Taylor got a taste of pro hockey with the Wolf Pack at the end of this past season, suiting up for eight AHL contests at the conclusion of his senior season at Harvard University.
THE EX-FILES: The New York Rangers agreed to terms with former Falcon restricted free agent forward Fredrik Sjostrom.
Sjostrom, 25, appeared in 69 games with the Phoenix Coyotes and Rangers this past season, registering 12 goals and nine assists for 21 points, along with 22 penalty minutes. He established a career-high in goals (12), including his first career hat trick on Oct. 11 at Nashville, and collected a career high three assists on Dec. 8 at Los Angeles.
ADMIRALS BUSY: If the Tampa Bay Lightning had signed as many quality players in their three years in Springfield as they have done during this busy offseason, they still might be affiliated with the Falcons.
The Admirals have signed center Pete Zingoni and goalie Mike McKenna to AHL contracts. Both should help what's expected to be an improved Norfolk club.


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Combat Jacket
Buy Now
What sets the Combat Jacket apart from other softshells is the lightweight fabric. Tweave® Durastretch® has remarkable resilience, making it hard wearing in the most abrasive and difficult environments. Non-insulated, this combat shirt alternative is our lightest weight softshell that dries quickly and breathes well during exertion. A solid choice for mixed weather conditions and environments.
- Tweave® Durastretch® stretch woven fabric has mobility, breathes during exertion, dries quickly and is highly durable
- Articulation in the shoulders and elbows provide freedom of motion
- Pit zippers ventilate heat
- Die cut Velcro® cuff tabs won't catch or tear off
- Two large hand pockets
- Two zippered sleeve pockets
- 4x4 Velcro® and IFF
- Tweave® Durastretch®
Full Feature List
- Moisture-resistant outer face fabric
- Highly breathable—maintains comfort during aerobic activity
- Durable
- Wind resistant
- Versatile—ideal for multi-climate usage
- Stretchy fabric provides freedom of movement
- One-hand adjustable drawcords
- Designed as a high-performance, technical BDU alternative
- Gusseted underarms
- Soft brushed-lined collar
- Pit zippers for easy venting
- Full front zip with wind flap
- Corded zipper-pulls reduce noise and are easy to grab
- Laminated die-cut Velcro® cuff adjusters reduce bulk, and won't catch or tear off
- Adjustable hem drawcord
- Two sleeve pockets
- Two hand pockets with zippers
- Velcro® patch on sleeves for rank identifier and IFF
- Tweave® Durastretch®
- Machine wash in cold water.
- Hang to dry.
- Do not use fabric softener.
- Do not iron.


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The first full month of baseball has come and gone. There's always lots of talk about how early in the season it is. But once May comes, a few things usually start to become apparent.
For instance, there is probably nothing too flukey about Miguel Cabrera and his league-leading .385 batting average.
Clay Buchholz might not win the Cy Young award, but he certainly looks like he's on his way to having a solid season.
Meanwhile, a bunch of American League teams that have been pretty good in recent seasons, are looking pretty good this season as well.
The Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers and New York Yankees have represented the American League in the last four World Series'. Maybe we shouldn't be all that shocked that they're among the league's best teams as the first week of May baseball comes to an end.
The Boston Red Sox are off to a great start as well, but they're not at the top of the American League Power Rankings anymore.
Number 1, Texas Rangers (20-11): First Place, A.L. West. Last week, No. 2.
The Rangers are tied with the Red Sox for the league's best record, but they're coming off a three-game sweep of those very same Red Sox. The records might be identical, but it would be tough to argue that the Rangers aren't the better team right now.
Talk all you want about who the Rangers lost last offseason. Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli and Michael Young are among the more prominent names.
The most important name on the Rangers is a guy who the team acquired two offseasons ago: Yu Darvish. Darvish is on a tear right now. He's struck out 72 batters in just 45.2 innings pitched. Sunday he mowed down 14 Red Sox.
In 1999, Pedro Martinez struck out 313 batters, no A.L. pitcher since then has had more than 300 K's.
Darvish is on a pace to match or exceed that mark. He's also got the Rangers at the top of their division, and the top of the power rankings.
Number 2, Boston Red Sox (20-11): First Place, A.L. East. Last week, No.1
It wasn't a big secret that the Red Sox have really struggled against the Rangers in recent seasons.
Fans of the Red Sox probably hoped that, with all the positive changes the 2013 squad had already shown, a successful trip to Arlington Texas might be possible.
Think again.
Not only did the Red Sox get swept for the first time all season, but two of the three games weren't really that close. Texas outscored Boston 16-4, and the final game of the series was a discouraging game in which Boston jumped out to a 3-0 lead but eventually lost 4-3 on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning
Seven home games this week against the Twins and Blue Jays, and two starts from ace Clay Buchholz could be just what the team needs to resume their winning ways.
Number 3, Detroit Tigers (19-11): First Place A.L. Central. Last week, No. 6.
Each passing week, the Tigers move up in the power rankings. Right now, they're the hottest team in the league, winners of nine of their last 10, and owners of a four-game winning streak.
Miguel Cabrera is hitting like an MVP. Justin Verlander is pitching like a Cy Young winner.
Detroit is playing great baseball. They'll look to continue that trend against the Nationals and Indians this coming week.
Number 4, Kansas City Royals (17-10): Second Place, A.L. Central. Last week, No. 4.
The Royals continue to play great baseball. They've fallen into second place mainly because the Tigers are on a tear. The Royals are still on a nice pace as well.
Alex Gordon is leading the offense, but it has been the pitching of Ervin Santana and Jeremy Guthrie that has really keyed the Royals resurgence.
Monday, Kansas City plays a make-up game against the White Sox. From there, the week gets a lot more challenging with three games in Baltimore and then three at home against the Yankees.
Number 5, New York Yankees (18-12): Second Place (tie), A.L. East. Last week, No. 3.
With each passing week the Yankees' injured players get a little healthier, and thus a little closer to returning from injury.
The fact that the patchwork roster assembled by Yankees GM Brian Cashman has managed to play .600 baseball is reason for the team to celebrate.
The bats of Travis Hafner, Robinson Cano and Vernon Wells continue to produce.
On the mound, C.C. Sabathia looks like his old self, and Phil Hughes is in as good a groove as he's ever been in.
Mariano Rivera? To the surprise of absolutely no one, Rivera is tied for the league lead in saves with 11.
With six road games against the surprisingly good Colorado Rockies and the second place Kansas City Royals, the coming week could be tough for the Yankees.
Number 6, Baltimore Orioles (19-13): Second Place (tie), A.L. East. Last week, No. 5.
The Orioles continue to play good baseball, but not good enough to overtake either the Yankees or Red Sox.
They're hanging right with their division rivals. Baltimore is in a tie for second with the Yankees and is only 1.5 games back from division leading Boston.
Three home games against the upstart Royals could be a test for the O's this coming week.
Baltimore got some great news last week when they learned that slugger Chris Davis, who had left Friday Night's game with a knee injury would not require a trip to the disabled list.
Add in the Orioles winning three of four against the slumping Los Angeles Angels, and Buck Showalter and the O's can count this past week as a good one.
Number 7, Oakland A's (18-14): Second Place, A.L. West. Last week, No. 7.
The A's started red hot, then they dropped eight of 10. But it appears they've steadied the ship.
Oakland spent last week taking two of three from both the Angels and the Yankees. The A's provided everyone with a memorable game last Monday when they beat the Angels in the 19th inning on a Brandon Moss walk-off home run.
This coming week, the A's play seven road games, four in Cleveland and three in Seattle. Neither opponent sports a great overall record, but both teams have been playing better as of late.
It looks like an easy week, but it isn't as easy as it would have been a few weeks ago.
Number 8, Cleveland Indians (14-14): Third Place, A.L. Central. Last week, No. 11.
Cleveland has won six of seven. Four of those six wins came against central division rivals, the Twins and the Royals.
That's why the Indians are back at .500 and inching their way up the central division standings.
The real question is whether or not the Indians' resurgence will be short-lived. This week, Cleveland plays four home games against Oakland and then travels to Detroit for three games against the first place Tigers .
If Cleveland is at or above .500 at the end of this coming week, they'll be in good shape.
Number 9, Seattle Mariners (15-18): Third Place, A.L. West. Last week, No. 12.
There are plenty of teams with better records, but the Mariners have all of a sudden gotten hot.
It shouldn't surprise anyone that Felix Hernandez has been the most pivotal player for a team that's won seven of its last 10. What should be a bit of a shock is just how positive an impact outfielder Michael Saunders has had since returning from the disabled list. Saunders is 7-for-22 with three home runs and six RBI since returning to the lineup.
The Mariners have watched promising young hitters such as Justin Smoak and Jesus Montero struggle. That makes Saunders' emergence even more important.
The coming week will be short, but challenging. Seattle travels to Pittsburgh for a pair of games, and then returns home to face division rival Oakland.
Number 10, Tampa Bay Rays (14-16): Fourth Place, A.L. East. Last week, No. 9.
David Price is struggling. So is former Rookie of the Year Jeremy Hellickson. Tampa was expected to have dominant pitching, but so far, it hasn't been as good as anticipated.
The offense may as well be called "The Evan Longoria Show." Longoria leads the team in batting average, home runs, hits and on-base-percentage.
The Rays lineup got a little boost this past week when Luke Scott returned from a stint on the disabled list.
The coming week could be just what the doctor ordered.
Tampa plays seven home games against the Blue Jays and Padres. The two teams sport a combined record of 24-39. If the Rays can't gain some momentum this week, then they've got to start to ask some questions.
Number 11, Minnesota Twins (13-14): Fourth Place, A.L. Central. Last week, No. 8.
The Twins were supposed to be really bad this year, then they got off to a nice start. Now, they're coming back down to earth, or rather moving down the A.L. Central standings.
Last week was particularly rough, as the Twins dropped two of three to the Tigers and then two of three to the Indians.
This week could be tough as well. Minnesota travels to Boston for a four-game series and then returns home to face the Orioles, who are also among the league's best teams.
Joe Mauer is slumping, the pitching is nothing more than mediocre and the schedule is getting harder. May could be a long month for the Twins.
Number 12, Chicago White Sox (12-17): Last Place, A.L. Central. Last week, No. 10.
It isn't getting better in Chicago. The team's best pitcher, Jake Peavy, could be headed to the disabled list.
Losing Peavy for a prolonged period of time would not only make the White Sox a worse team, it could also hurt Peavy's trade value.
The White Sox have all the looks of a team headed for a mid-season fire sale.
The team sports one of the league's weakest active rosters, and they've got a very weak minor league system as well.
Chicago's upcoming schedule may provide a bit of a cushion. A couple of interleague showdowns with the struggling New York Mets, and a three-game home set against the Los Angeles Angels may give the White Sox a chance to gain some momentum going forward.
Number 13, Los Angeles Angels (11-20): Fourth Place, A.L. West. Last week, No. 13.
One has to wonder: How long this can continue?
At some point, isn't someone going to get a little angry about just how poor this team is playing? The Angels have a payroll of almost $140 million. As of now, the return on their investment is nothing short of pitiful.
It was another terrible week for the Halos. They dropped two of three to division rival Oakland and then returned home where they lost three of four to the Orioles. In the process, they lost their leadoff hitter Peter Bourjos to a pulled hamstring.
Mike Trout is hitting and so is Albert Pujols. Josh Hamilton? He's working on becoming a massive bust. Hamilton is hitting .208 with two home runs and nine RBIs.
If the Angels are going to make a push, then this coming week would seem to be the week to do so. Three road games against the Astros and then three road games against the White Sox could give the Angels a chance to win some games and gain some momentum. After all, they can't lose more than one game to the Astros, can they?
Number 14, Toronto Blue Jays (11-21): Last Place, A.L. East. Last week, No. 14.
This has moved beyond just a slow start. The Blue Jays look flat-out bad. Bad teams lose games at home, and last week the Jays managed to lose two of three to the Red Sox and then to the Mariners. All the games were played in The Rogers Centre, but it didn't matter.
This coming week the Jays will hit the road for four in Tampa and three in Boston. Toronto has to win some of these divisional games this week or risk getting buried in the A.L. East standings.
Number 15, Houston Astros (8-24): Last Place, A.L. West. Last week, No. 15.
In a league that has its fair share of bad teams, the Astros really stand out.
They've lost six in a row and 10 of their last 11. The Astros -75 run differential is the worst in all of baseball by a whopping 28 runs.
Who is Houston playing this coming week? More importantly, does it matter?
The Astros play the Angels, who are playing terrible baseball. Then again, the Astros seem to do a really good job of fixing what ails struggling baseball teams. Of course, Houston follows up the series against the Angels with three games against the first place Rangers.
Don't expect another team at the bottom of the power rankings for quite some time.


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Join us for a Panel on "Putting Students First"
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Join us for the next event in the "see tomorrow." Speaker Series, which will focus on key issues related to the student population at UK.
The panel discussion titled, "Putting Students First" will take place on Thursday, April 17 at 4 p.m. in the UK Athletics Auditorium in the William T. Young Library.
Panelists include Robert Mock, Vice President for Student Affairs; Jake Karnes, Director, Disability Resource Center; Dana Walton-Macaulay, Director, Student Responsibility and Community Advocacy; and Melanie Matson, Director, Violence Intervention and Prevention Center.
The "see tomorrow." Speaker Series is an ongoing effort to engage with the campus community about the Strategic Plan. Experts, both from UK and from other organizations in higher education, will speak on topics related to the process both leading up to and after President Capilouto presents the plan to the Board of Trustees in June.
Learn more about the Strategic Plan and view draft portions of the goals at www.uky.edu/strategic-plan.


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Maui to host Fed Cup matches in February
Individual tax reform simple
One of the few things President Barack Obama and Republican leaders agree about is the need for reform of the income tax code.
Thousands of pages of tax code contain special breaks for people and corporations. The simplest individual tax forms are multipage nightmares that nobody understands.
So what should be in a new, simplified tax code? For individuals, we think there are very few basics needed on a tax form:
* There should be a standard deduction for each person covered by the form (number of people in the family times the standard deduction).
* Charitable donations should be deductible (charities and nonprofits provide many social services cheaper and more efficiently than government).
* Home mortgage interest on a primary residence should be deductible (part of the American Dream is homeownership; eliminating this deduction would put that dream out of reach for many and permanently depress the housing market).
* College loan interest should be deductible (education is so expensive – and so necessary – that this deduction should be maintained).
And that's all. Gross income minus standard deductions minus charitable donations minus mortgage interest minus college loan interest equals taxable income.
All income should be treated equally, whether earned through wages, salary or investments. There should be very few tax categories – ranging from 0 percent for low-income families to around 25 percent for higher incomes.
Such a system would do two things immediately:
1. It would make the income tax so simple almost all of us could understand it.
2. It would forever do away with complaints of tax inequity. You make this much, this is what you pay.
It is probably too simple for Congress to ever consider it. Plus, with a system like this, you couldn't do political favors for your friends through the tax code.
(A version of this editorial has appeared previously in The Maui News.)
* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.


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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Less than a week after a last-call brawl left a man dead from a bullet in the back, a downtown nightclub has been closed.
Signs that read, "Closed Lost Our Lease" are posted on the doors and windows of Lounge 75, on West Second Street north of Rockwell Avenue in the 75 Public Square building.
Cleveland City Councilman Joseph Cimperman, who noted that three men were shot and wounded outside the previous club in that location two years ago, said landlord Dan Dzina canceled the club's lease.
"We were preparing to go after the liquor license, which was the nuclear option," Cimperman said on Saturday. "I think it's good the landlord saw the writing on the wall and, more importantly, closed it before someone else would get hurt.
"I think he realized he didn't want to go through a lengthy legal battle that he would lose."
Police said a large fight broke out at closing time in Lounge 75, after 2 a.m. on June 22, and that the fight and the crowd moved onto the street. Several shots were fired during the fight, police said.
Demario Warren, 23, of Cleveland was killed when he was shot in the back near the parking lot on West Third Street and Frankfort after leaving the club. A 21-year-old woman was shot in the ankle.
On June 3, 2011, three men were shot in the same parking lot after they left the Club Allure, which previously occupied the Lounge 75 space under different owners. All were seriously wounded, but survived.
Cimperman, the downtown councilman, had been trying to have Club Allure's liquor license revoked because of frequent violence at or around it. He was successful in closing the club.
"It will be something the city considers long and hard before we let another place with a liquor license open there," he said Saturday. "We have zero tolerance for this kind of nonsense."
Dzina, who could not be reached for comment, earlier told WKYC-TV that the club may not have been directly responsible for the shooting, but was drawing a trouble-making crowd.


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CLARKSTON, MI - Depeche Mode's return to Metro Detroit on Thursday night for its first show in eight years was certainly worth the wait at DTE Energy Music Theatre.
Frontman Dave Gahan and pal Martin Gore delivered with a electro/synthpop party that sent fans back to the late 80s and early 90s when these English trailblazers owned the pop charts.
Check out above photos from the show - Depeche Mode's first on its North American tour - and the 21-song setlist below it used during its energetic and highly creative two-hour show.
Gahan, 51, set the tone right as he twirled around the stage to a variety of light displays; he even appeared to use the mic stand at one point as some kind of martial arts weapon.
"Oh c'mon now, you can do better than that," yelled Gahan, as the song "Personal Jesus" began to wind down. "One more!"
Depeche Mode clearly has more to give its fans in an era of music that seems to live up to the cliche that "what's old is new again."
The types of hypnotic rhythms this group created decades ago seemed to have popped up again in a variety of genres - even rap and hip hop.
Gahan and Gore clearly enjoy staying relevant and working together.
They along with keyboardist Andy Fletcher constantly gave each other encouragement in the form of warm embraces and high fives.
As expected, the classic songs like "Policy of Truth," "Enjoy the Silence," "Personal Jesus" and "Just Can't Get Enough" drew the most praise.
But newer tunes like "Soothe My Soul" and "Should Be Higher," fresh off Depeche Mode's new Delta Machine album, also earned plenty of respect from primarily middle-aged crowd.
Gahan seemed to enjoy taking the Depeche Mode faithful back in time.
"Do you know this song?," Gahan screamed as he kicked off "Just Can't Get Enough." "Do you know all the words?"
Most of the crowd certainly appeared to. It sure felt refreshing to see some legends reinvigorate our memories and create so many more.
There's no telling what Depeche Mode is capable of doing next.
Gahan, Gore and Fletcher spearhead a diverse, eclectic and constantly evolving creative effort that's still relevant and should stay that way for a long, long time.
Depeche Mode's setlist at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston:
Welcome to My World
Walking in My Shoes
Black Celebration
Policy of Truth
Should Be Higher
Barrel of a Gun
Higher Love
But Not Tonight
Soothe My Soul
A Pain That I'm Used To
A Question of TIme
Enjoy the Silence
Personal Jesus
Just Can't Get Enough
I Feel You
Never Let Me Down
A few notable songs left out of the show:
Master and Servant
People are People


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As we reported earlier this week, the village of Hollyoaks is going to be the new home of former EastEnder Gillian Taylforth and her five sons, and now producer Bryan Kirkwood has labelled them the male version of the McQueens!
Gillian Taylforth, who is best known for her long stint as Kathy Mitchell (Beale) in the award-winning soap was announced earlier this as joining the cast of Hollyoaks as mum-of-five, Sandy Roscoe.
Sandy and her five sons are expected to stir quite a lot of attention from the rest of the village when they burst on to our screens, with local girls due to swoon over the five handsome newcomers. But, like any good Hollyoaks family, they are also set to stir quite a lot of trouble too!
Taylforth commented: "I am really looking forward to joining Hollyoaks, which is going from strength to strength under Bryan Kirkwood at the moment.
"My real family are excited to move up to Liverpool – a fantastic city – and I'm eager to meet my new family, five hunky Hollyoaks sons who I'm sure will all be saints!"
And it seems Bryan Kirkwood is just as enthusiastic about Gillian's new family, who are due to make their screen debut this spring, and has even predicted them being as big as current leading family, the McQueens!
Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood said: "I'm very excited about this family. Think a male version of the McQueens!
"With five brothers there will be something for everyone – from the younger one who could be in One Direction to the eldest who is a true soap hunk.
"They are all seriously hot, and will be shirtless for a lot of the time!"
Keeping rather tight-lipped about the families upcoming storylines, he did hint that one of the brothers in particular will have a link to a current, popular Hollyoaks resident.
This news comes at the same time as it was announced that Gemma Bissix is also returning to Hollyoaks to reprise her role as super-vixen, Clare Devine.
A show insider told the Daily Star newspaper: "A handful of hot men, a soap legend and one of Hollyoaks' best bitches. What more can a fan want?"
Watch Clare's previous return to Hollyoaks in the clip below:


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Published on June 14, 2013
Architect Philip Pratt's rendition of what a new hotel on top of Atlantic Place parking garage in downtown St. John's would look like if the proposal goes ahead. A public meeting on the development has been scheduled for July 4. Atlantic Place is on the left, and the garage is on the right with the three-storey proposed hotel sketched in.
The main entrance is between the two buildings. — Image courtesy of Philip Pratt
Published on June 14, 2013
Atlantic Place as it appeared Thursday, viewed from Harbour Drive. — Photo by Keith Gosse/The Telegram
Published on June 14, 2013
Architect Philip Pratt's rendition of what a new hotel on top of Atlantic Place parking garage in downtown St. John's would look like if the proposal goes ahead. — Image courtesy of Philip Pratt
St. John's Deputy Mayor Shannie Duff may not get her wish that the Atlantic Place parking garage would one day implode, but she will get to see its transformation.
The Department of Municipal Affairs has given the city permission to amend its regulations that will allow the construction of a three-storey hotel on top of the existing eight-storey parking garage at 1 Clift's-Baird's Cove between Harbour Drive and Water Street next to Atlantic Place.
The city must now host a meeting, scheduled for July 4 at 7 p.m., to give the public a chance to have its say on the project and the proposed changes to city regulations.
Dubbed the APP Hotel, Duff said recently she was impressed with the design — created by architect Philip Pratt on behalf of Sonco Group Inc.
"I used to hope that one day I'd be wheeled down there in a wheelchair and see it imploded because it is such an ugly building," she said.
"But I was actually quite amazed and pleased to see what they brought in with the proposal for the hotel. It is very creative," Duff said.
Documentation provided to the city says the boutique hotel will have up to 150 rooms, a main entrance on Harbour Drive and a two-level atrium to the Water Street level.
"On balance, we believe that this is a good project for the owner and the city," reads Sonco's proposal, entitled Hidden in Plain View.
"It adds value for both, improves the overall image of the garage in its context, animates the area with more activity, protects the parking and, as an infill, there is very little extra stress on infrastructure."
All are reasons why St. John's Coun. Tom Hann supports the project.
"It's a solution to cleaning up the look of the Atlantic Place parking garage. It is a nice-looking, three-storey hotel on top of the building — on top of the parking garage — which will bring it up to the same height as Atlantic Place and it will not affect any views," said the chairman of the planning and housing standing committee.
The proposal says the parking garage will be covered with mesh screening, which "will give colour and texture to the building and improve its overall look."
There is also special lighting proposed to make the building more esthetically appealing.
"Once they get that done I think it will improve the look of the building significantly," said Hann.
The one concern the deputy mayor has, which has nothing to do with the hotel proposal, goes back to when the garage was built more than four decades ago to complement the commercial development at Atlantic Place.
"One of the issues for me has always been with Harbour Drive. The sidewalks on that side are very narrow and it's actually dangerous, and one thing about livable cities is they have to be walkable cities," Duff said.
Hann said the developer has also considered that and is proposing to put recessed brick on the ground floor so the sidewalk will be wider.
Duff, who sits on the committee with Hann, said the committee has asked city staff if it's possible to narrow the traffic lanes in order to provide more space for pedestrians.
"So cars will have to sacrifice a little bit of space to people, which I think will be great," she said.
Parking spaces
According to the documentation, 50 parking spaces of the 720 now available in the garage will be lost to the development.
The project was largely in response to a process initiated by the city in 2011 to make changes to its regulations so it could restrict the use of the parking garage.
"We wanted to confirm that site would remain a parking garage," said Hann. "We were saying leave the bottom alone. What they do on top is up to them, within the discretion of the city."
A planning memo says Sonco's objective "is to balance the needs of the city with those of the property owner by securing a large number of parking spaces for public rental while allowing for the opportunity to generate additional income for the owner."
The application may be viewed at the city's department of planning, development and engineering.
Anyone wishing to make a submission to the public meeting must provide a signed written statement to the city clerk's department either by mail (P.O. Box 908, St. John's, NL A1C 5M2), fax (709-576-8474) or email (firstname.lastname@example.com).


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10 May – 13 Sep: TuesdayDuration
Approx. 7-8 Hours (Depends upon pick up location)Start time
From Limone: 0605h (06:05am)
From Riva del Garda: 0630h (06:30am)
From Torbole: 0640h (06:40am)
From Malcesine: 0700h (07:00am)
From Garda: 0730h (07:30am)
Duration: Approx. 7-8 Hours (Depends upon pick up location)
Hotel pick-up not included. The starting point of the tour varies, depending on the location as follows:
Limone: Limone Bus Station
Riva del Garda: Riva del Garda Bus Station
Torbole: Parking lot in Torbole in front hotel la Vela
Malcesine: Malcesine Bus Station
Garda: Garda Bus Station
Please report at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start time. This is mandatory to allow time for pre-departure briefing.
The tour ends at the starting point
Enjoy a beautiful drive through the lush Padana Plain and arrive in Florence, where the wisdom of the ancients seems to rise from the streets and radiate from the buildings.
Be humbled by the cloud-piercing bell tower of Giotto and walk in awe around the mystical Bapistry.
The L-shaped Piazza della Signoria embraces an ancient square filled with some of Italy's most stunning sculptural masterpieces.
Spend free time looking for keepsakes along the arched bridge of Ponte Vecchio, where merchants sell their wares overlooking the Arno River.
This tour operates between 12 May to 29 September. In case the tickets are not available on your chosen date, we offer an alternative tour which operates throughout the year. Click here for more details>>
You will be picked up by coach from the starting point of the tour (depending on your location) and whisked across the fertile Padana Plain to kick off this Florence sightseeing tour. A bilingual guide (English and German-speaking) will accompany you on this tour.
The drive to Florence is almost as memorable as the city itself, with breathtaking views of the Apennines Mountains, which enclose the silver rivers and lush wetlands of the Padana Plain.
Arrive in Florence and embark on a two-hour sightseeing tour with a local guide who knows the city inside out.
Visit the Church of Santa Maria del Fiore, a 13th century marvel whose marble exterior gives off hues of pink and green.
Gaze up at Giotto's Bell Tower, a showpiece of the Florentine Gothic style that stands pre-eminent above the modest red roofs of the cityscape.
Behold the Florence Baptistery, believed to be the oldest building in the city. The Bapistery is distinguished by its octagonal shape and three magnificent brass doors that seem like gates to another world.
The resplendent air and statue-filled square of the Piazza della Signoria evokes the artistic and political greatness of the Florentine Republic.
Enjoy free time for shopping in the Ponte Vecchio, where jewelers, art dealers, and souvenir sellers display their wares along an ancient arched bridge.
Your tour will conclude where it began.
Please call the activity operator at least 24 hours prior to start of the tour for reconfirming departure details
Children under 2 are free but without own seat


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Two men who are facing separate shooting charges were picked up by police during a two-day sweep in Jersey City that led to 22-arrests, city officials announced.
Jersey City residents Myron Williams,19, and Ty-wan Troy, 20, have each been charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose after they were arrested by investigators with the Jersey City Police Department's newly formed Shooting Response Team during a sweep conducted Thursday night into Friday morning, officials said.
Troy was charged for a shooting that erupted early Friday morning shortly after police responded to a report of multiple shots fired around 1:30 a.m. near the intersection of Union Street and Arlington Avenue, officials said.
Witnesses on the scene told police Troy got into a verbal altercation with another unidentified man which led to a gun fight, officials said, adding that evidence collected by investigators led to a house on Randolph Avenue where Troy was found with gunshot wounds to his back and was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center.
Moments before Troy's arrest, police nabbed Williams as he was leaving the same Randolph Avenue home, officials said. Williams was sought by investigators for the August 22 shooting on Union Street and Arlington Avenue.
This latest police sweep is part of on-going street operations that have resulted in more than 203 arrests to date, officials said.
Approximately 70 uniformed and plain-clothed officers from the Jersey City Police
Department and the Hudson County Sheriff's Office fanned out in known crime areas
after a roll call addressed by Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, officials said.
"We are taking an aggressive approach to the historic problems that have been facing our communities as it relates to public safety," said Fulop in an announcement. "We are using tactics that are yielding results, and we will continue to apply pressure on those individuals who seek to disrupt the safety and well-being of our neighborhoods."
During the course of the sweep, the police department's Alcoholic Beverage Control Unit also issued two summonses after inspecting 13 liquor establishments –
bars and liquor stores – that have been a source of ongoing complaints, officials said
Police also issued summonses for violations of city ordinances, including public drinking, loud music, blocking entry or passage and curfew violations, as well as motor vehicle violations, officials said.
In addition to Williams and Troy, arrests included:
Jeremy Rennick, 22, possessions of CDS
Malik Wiggins, 19, possession of CDS
Darius Thomas, 19, possession of CDS with intent to distribute and open warrants
George T. Smith, 40, possession of CDS, open warrants
Herby Antoine-Fils, 50, possession of CDS and open warrants
Khalid McClenton, 23, possession of CDS
Tamika A Haig, 24, possession of CDS
Jason Hardy, 21, possession of CDS, open warrants.
Fabian Metover, 43, possession of CDS, open warrants
Crystal Rivera, 30, hindering and assault on a police officer
Rahsaan Jackson, 22, hindering apprehension, open warrants
Megan Wisniewski, 23, tampering with evidence
Anitha A. Elliot, 26, open warrants
Gerome Crutcher, 19, open warrant
Vincent Baker, 30, open warrants
Michael Simeus, 19, open warrants
Cary Donawa, 20, open warrants
Darrin Carnery, 20, open warrants
Two additional suspects were processed by the Hudson County Sheriff's Department.