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The e-Town Hall is an annual event designed to connect citizens with the City Council during budget development. The 2014 e-Town Hall was held on July 2, 2013. A video and responses to the questions from the event can be found below.
2014 City Manager's Proposed Budget Presentation
Budget e-Town Hall Event July 2, 2013
1. Submitted via Open Town Hall: I think keeping the streets safe should be the number 1 priority of the Council. What plans does the City have to ensure that our streets are safe and well-maintained?
Maintaining our streets is a top priority. Olathe has experienced significant growth over the last few decades and as a result we've added hundreds of miles of streets which are now aging and must be maintained. The incredibly rapid economic growth we've seen over the years has now slowed. Growth will continue, but we don't expect it to reach that level again in the foreseeable future. Our responsibility is now to maintain what we have appropriately. If we don't adequately maintain them today, it will cost our taxpayers more in the future. We currently lack adequate funding to fully fund street maintenance without impacting other services such as public safety where we have worked hard to avoid making cuts. Safety of citizens and street safety, improvements and maintenance are the top priorities of the City Council. These priorities are reflected in the City's proposed 2014 budget, which allocates 67% of the funds to Public Safety and Transportation needs. The City Council will be holding a special meeting on Tuesday, July 9 to discuss options for transportation funding in the City.
The proposed 2014-2018 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) includes the following street improvement projects, which address safety and capacity needs:
The CIP also includes several projects to maintain our street and bridge infrastructure for the safety of the traveling public.
2. Posted via Open Town Hall: I saw in the City Manager's Budget presentation that the Recreation Fund is increasing nearly 65%. What is causing this, and how can the City afford such a large increase? I would think there are more important things the City could spend its money on.
The Recreation Fund is completely supported by user fees and charges—not by taxes. The increase accounts for the new Olathe Community Center coming on-line in early summer 2014. The Olathe Community Center will not use tax dollars; rather it will operate with funds from fees paid by only those who use it. It will not compete with key projects supported by local tax dollars.
Building the Olathe Community Center honors a promise the City made to voters when they passed the 0.125% Parks Sales Tax. Voters told the City that a Community Center is where they wanted their money invested.
The Recreation Fund's Budget includes the following assumptions:
Another new position funded from the Recreation Fund proposed for 2014 is an Officials Program Specialist, which will enhance the quality of sports programming through the Parks & Recreation Department.
3. Submitted via Open Town Hall: I would like for the Council to concentrate on maintaining our current status. Olathe is a wonderful place to live and work, but money should be spent to keep it that way—not on fancy "streetscapes." When money is tight, upkeep is more important than improvements.
Although the Santa Fe Streetscape project did include improvements to aesthetics, the project also included infrastructure improvements. New pavement surface, curb, and pavement markings were installed on Santa Fe, as well as a section of Cherry. In addition, signals were replaced and a new storm sewer was installed. All of this is maintenance work that needed to be completed due to the age of the infrastructure.
With limited resources, we must continue investing for our future. Projects like the Santa Fe Streetscape are used as economic development tools to encourage significant and sustained development in Downtown Olathe. In addition, if we don't take steps now, areas of the city—like downtown—can easily become an economic drain on our community. This would have to be subsidized for years by our taxpayers and have a negative economic impact throughout the City of Olathe. By investing in projects such as the Streetscape, the railroad grade separation, and the quiet zone, we can make sure the area remains vibrant and has a positive economic impact that benefits our taxpayers.
4. Submitted via Open Town Hall: I'd like to see some sort of bike/walking trail connector between the Indian Creek and Mill Creek Streamways trails. Right now, the only plausible way of jumping over is to go on 127th street, which is, in several stretches, fraught with peril. What has the City been doing to broaden the bike/walking trails in this location and throughout the City?
Although there are currently no off-road connections across I-35 on 127th St, the City is tentatively planning to prepare a Transportation Master Plan. This will include an evaluation of multi-modal transportation throughout the City. The Public Works department will coordinate the Transportation Master Plan efforts and will be looking to engage the community in this effort. This evaluation will include plans to accommodate bicycles on trails and selected streets within the City and will also look at streamway connections to promote connections between recreational areas.
The Park Sales Tax levied by the City of Olathe has built an additional 11.1 miles of trails for our residents. The 2014-2018 Capital Improvement Plan includes $900,000 allocated for trails, which will supplement any grant funding received to build trails as well as be used to address repair work on existing trails. The Parks and Recreation department continues to apply for funding for trails when possible and is working to expand the trail system in the City.
5. Submitted via Open Town Hall: It is clear that Olathe, KS has become one of the safest cities in the State of Kansas to live in, and without question, we must do everything possible to maintain this record. However, economic development is vital to ensure city safety/crime prevention. How is the City actively engaging and taking advantage of economic development opportunities? What kind of impact does the City expect the completed Santa Fe Streetscape to have on economic development?
We have made a number of strategic investments to attract business and jobs for our community. Economic development and economic growth are essential for us to keep taxes low for our residents.
Traffic counts along Santa Fe and I-35 approach 50,000 vehicles per day. The impact of the completed Santa Fe Streetscape project and downtown economic development tools, like the Olathe Neighborhood Revitalization Area benefit, is to encourage significant and sustained development and redevelopment in downtown Olathe.
We have already seen recent substantial redevelopment activity along Santa Fe. Just west of I-35 and Santa Fe, Robert Brogden Auto Plaza and Capital Federal Savings Bank both completed significant modernizations. Further to the west, at 1100 East Santa Fe, a former Conoco is being renovated into a new convenience store. Less than half a mile to the west of the convenience store, at 588 East Santa Fe, Johnson County recently completed their 47,580 sq. ft. judicial annex. Also, there is an $8.4M renovation to the downtown Dillon's.
In terms of existing buildings, new professional businesses—like attorneys Hernandez and Roberson and landscape architectural firm, Landworks Studio—are very recent additions to a growing roster of quality downtown tenants. Just blocks to the west of their office building, website development firm Builder Designs is currently completing a significant renovation to their existing building.
As the economy improves, our vision is the Johnson County government and affiliated private businesses will continue to gravitate towards the growing momentum in downtown Olathe.
6. Submitted by Amanda via Facebook: Are there any plans to repave Ridgeview past 119th street to College? There are only so many times those potholes can be refilled before the street needs to be repaved.
Construction on Ridgeview, from 119th Street to K-10 and 164th Street to 175th Street, will begin in late June 2013 and will be completed by October 2013. This project includes a 2-inch asphalt mill and overlay; spot curb replacement, sidewalk ramp installations, and replacement of pavement markings.
7. Submitted via Facebook: I've been noticing a number of properties throughout Olathe not abiding by city codes (i.e. grass above 8 inches, boarded up windows, damaged siding, peeling paint, piles of junk, etc.). These are terrible eye sores to our neighborhoods and our City, and I am wondering what the City plans to do to address these issues and ensure that all residents are required to abide by our codes and ordinances?
Our Community Enhancement division responds to all citizen concerns by the following business day, after the complaint is filed. The Community Enhancement division projects that they will respond to over 5,000 complaints in 2013. During the summer months, the majority of cases handled by inspectors are from citizen concerns communicated by either calling our hotline, citizen request form online, emailing an inspector, or calling the Community Enhancement office.
In January of 2013, a full-time inspector was added to staff along with taking a ¾ time employee to full-time to address growing complaints and code enforcement issues. In addition, staff is always evaluating new ideas to streamline the process to bring code violations into compliance in a more timely manner.
Painting and other issues pertaining to houses under foreclosure (if they are not a safety hazard) have to be put on hold until the bank/mortgage company sells the property. Grass over the legal limit will be addressed by an inspector after receiving a call. Debris, inoperable vehicles, parking issues, and other code violations are addressed when a citizen notifies the Community Enhancement office. Each type of violation has a different time frame for compliance, per city ordinance. (Weeds: 5 days, Debris or Inoperable Vehicles: 7 days, Painting or Other issues to the House: 60 days).
The City of Olathe welcomes volunteer groups who want to assist property owners in maintaining their properties. Interested groups can contact the city for opportunities by going to www.olatheks.org/volunteers and to fill out an application.
8. Submitted via Open Town Hall: I would like to know if there are any plans in the making to improve the exit ramp on SB I-35 at 135th street (Santa Fe). The improvements that were made at the 119th exit on SB I-35 were wonderful, and it seems something of the same nature would work wonders at the area of 135th that sees daily congestion.
The 119th St. and I-35 improvements were funded by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), and the City will coordinate with KDOT to determine whether there are future funds available for improvements. KDOT determines areas of improvement based on need and availability of funds and the City will continue to work with KDOT for partnerships in needed areas.
9. Submitted via Open Town Hall: Resident Katie talks about the fact that she's disabled and well-educated and would like to be gainfully employed, but transportation is an issue. What do you plan to do for people who must rely on public transportation to get to and from work?
Transit services are primarily provided by Johnson County. Olathe has a long history of also trying to address these needs through the Taxi Coupon Program and other initiatives, but fewer grant dollars are available and services become more and more expensive. It is an ongoing challenge to maintain a transportation program in our community. The City of Olathe coordinates with Johnson County on a regular basis to accommodate and promote transit throughout the City.
The City currently has a work, personal and medical transportation service for program-eligible Olathe citizens (Taxi Coupon Program). The Taxi Coupon Program is provided within the City limits of Olathe only, but there are connections within Olathe to Johnson County public transportation that travels outside Olathe City limits. The cost for this program $3.50 for a one-way trip. Applications for this program are accepted semi-annually, and the next timeframe for accepting applications is July 1st through July 15th. Residents can contact Olathe Housing & Transportation services for more information.
10. Submitted via Open Town Hall: I heard the City maintains a pretty high fund balance/rainy day fund. Why does the City hold onto so much money when it could be used for other things, such as investing in public safety?
Best practices for sound financial management include maintaining an adequate fund balance. This financial management principle is monitored by the bond rating agencies. These results are reflected in lower interest rates, saving the City money that may be used for other services.
The Council's fund balance policy is 15% of annual revenues with a target of 30%. The City achieved the 30% target in 2012. Thirty percent of revenues (the Council's target) provide a savings account to operate the City for approximately 4 months, should the City's revenue stream be impacted. We have seen recent natural disasters that have devastated commercial areas. In addition, the City's General Fund receives 50% of its revenue from sales tax, a volatile source, and maintaining a 30% fund balance provides the City the financial stability to maintain operations in unforeseen circumstances.
11. Submitted via Open Town Hall: I am a long-time Olathe resident. My concern for Olathe is that so many commercial buildings are empty. What incentives could we use to get businesses to move in and rehab the buildings that are already here, rather than constructing new buildings everywhere? Also, there seems to be many brand new buildings that are not occupied. Who owns these buildings, and is there a way to get the people who own older, vacant business properties to charge less rent so that the older shopping centers will be used rather than abandoned? What plans does the City have in place to encourage business and development in the downtown area around the Courthouse? Additionally, my property value has decreased dramatically in the past few years. What plans does the City have to increase those values?
One goal on Olathe's Organizational Scorecard is the retention, expansion and attraction of businesses and development that enhance property values, increase personal income, and make a positive contribution to the quality of life of the citizens of Olathe. The Olathe Economic Development Program is based on a cooperative relationship between the City of Olathe and the Olathe Chamber of Commerce, maintaining strong ties with the Johnson County Workforce Partnership, the Kansas City Area Development Council, and the Kansas Department of Commerce.
The City of Olathe has specific economic development tools that assist property owners contemplating improvements and businesses contemplating acquisitions. An example is the Olathe Neighborhood Revitalization Area (NRA) benefit, which provides owners of residential and commercial real estate located north of Old Highway 56, south of Harold Street, east of K7, and west of I-35 with rebates on incremental tax increases for up to 10 years.
GrowOLATHE is an information-driven economic development tool aimed at assisting all companies located in Olathe and companies looking to move to Olathe. GrowOLATHE aims to identify and utilize every tool available to help companies grow. Whether microloans, scholarships, and incubator space for startups; low interest loan programs and training grants for small and intermediate companies; or abatements and incentives for large companies, GrowOLATHE is focused on keeping Olathe companies in Olathe and helping companies grow in Olathe. For companies outgrowing their current space, the program can provide customized reports with on-market and off-market lease and acquisition opportunities. It can help link companies to bankers, builders and brokers. For those companies looking to increase market share, GrowOLATHE can introduce them to potential partners within the Olathe Chamber of Commerce's network of 1,250 member businesses. GrowOLATHE can provide technical assistance such as database and data mining resources, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), labor referrals, search engine optimization (SEO), social media network mapping and website analysis and development.
There is substantial new construction activity in Olathe as well as substantial rehabilitation activity occurring in Olathe. Just off of I-35 and Santa Fe, Robert Brogden Auto Plaza, Capital Federal Savings Bank, Bud Brown Volkswagon and Olathe Ford have all recently completed or are close to completing significant modernizations. New professional businesses—like attorneys Hernandez and Roberson and landscape architectural firm, Landworks Studio—are very recent additions to a growing roster of quality downtown tenants. Website development firm Builder Designs is currently completing a significant renovation to their existing building a few blocks away. Other examples of recent rehabilitations include the long vacant Gambucci's Building (Strang line near 119th & I-35), which will open this fall as a specialty grocery store after significant improvements are completed. The Comfort Suites at 119th & I-35 was recently updated and reflagged as a Holiday Inn Express. Canyon Stone (1-35 South) is starting a significant rehabilitation of their 82,000 SF facility and ExxonMobile is completing a $6.5M modernization project.
Community Improvement Districts (CID's) have been a successful economic development tool for the City of Olathe to encourage redevelopment of outdated retail space, such as with the Hilton Garden Inn which was built on a previously vacant space (old Machine Shed Restaurant) and met a community need for a business class hotel. The City will explore the possibility of using CID's with owners and developers of commercial property in the future to expedite additional rehabilitation opportunities.
The City of Olathe has similar or lower vacancy rates than the Kansas City metropolitan area. Overall, we have 8% vacancy across 8.2 million sq. ft. of retail space, 7% vacancy across 14 million sq. ft. of industrial space, and 7% vacancy across 3.5 million sq. ft. of office space. The Kansas City metro has 9% vacancy across 114 million sq. ft. of retail space, 7% vacancy across 257 million sq. ft. of industrial space, and 12% vacancy across 114 million sq. ft. of office space.
The City of Olathe does not have the ability to set rental rates for private businesses. However, the City and the Olathe Chamber of Commerce work closely together to provide market data (i.e. rental and wage information) and customized reports (i.e. potential rental and acquisition opportunities) so that owners can make informed decisions about their buildings. Both organizations also work very closely with industry professionals, including architects, bankers, and developers to make sure we are aware of and assist in the relocation and growth of companies already located in Olathe and those seeking to move to Olathe.
12. Submitted via Open Town Hall: Why does the City spend money on a vet clinic, rather than just contracting out with a private business?
Having the vet clinic is actually more economical than contracting out for services, and we are able to provide better veterinary care for all of the shelter animals and city-owned animals. The veterinarian receives an hourly salary, rather than pay per procedure, making her services very affordable and less costly than contracting with a local veterinary office for vet services. In a 4-month comparison of statistics pre-onsite vet clinic versus 4 months of post onsite vet clinic, the Olathe Animal Shelter shows a 16% decrease in animals euthanized due to serious illness/injury and a 6% increase in adoption. Having an onsite vet dedicated to the animals' well-being has reduced illness and resulted in healthier, more adoptable animals.
The veterinarian works up to 20 hours per week at the Olathe Animal Shelter, performing examinations on all of the shelter animals, spaying and/or neutering adoptable animals, vaccinating animals, and performing minor surgical procedures for injured animals. She also provides preventive health care, examinations, vaccinations, and minor emergency care procedures for all of the City's Police K-9, Fire K-9, and the Mahaffie cat. Since the veterinarian provides services for all of the city-owned animals, most of which are expensive, highly-trained bomb, drug, or search dogs, the cost previously paid by the City per visit for vet care at independent veterinary offices or pet hospitals has significantly decreased, and it allows us to consolidate the medical records for these animals all in one location. All of the vaccinations and medications used at the Shelter are either purchased at a low cost in quantity from distributors or are donated to the Olathe Animal Shelter.
In addition to providing better veterinary services, it is the goal of the Olathe Animal Shelter to be revenue neutral or revenue positive. Three times annually, the Shelter hosts clinics to provide low cost vaccination and microchip clinics for Olathe residents and City employees. The benefits include improved animal health in the Olathe community, as well as revenue generated to support expenses related to maintaining a City shelter and providing onsite veterinary services
13. Submitted via Open Town Hall: Why does my water bill go up every year?
Investments in capital infrastructure associated with the Water and Sewer fund are expensive and have long pay back on fixed schedules (debt service). The 2014 budget reflects a $2.3 million increase in debt service to cover investments made to treat and provide potable water on demand as well as collect and treat wastewater, like the expansion at the Cedar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The Water and Sewer Fund is very susceptible to changes in regulation by state (KDHE) and federal agencies (EPA). The Cedar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion that was completed in 2012 required the city to facilitate nitrogen and phosphorous reduction. This unfunded mandate handed down by the EPA added an additional $15-17 million to the cost of the project. An increase in regulated contaminants that must be tested for and monitored has effects on the entire utility, including increasing the amount of staffing time, equipment, maintenance and capital investment required to test and treat the contaminants that were not regulated before.
The rising cost of chemicals, electricity, fuel and other commodities are also driving rates higher. The cost of electricity alone went up $65,000 in 2014, primarily due to a planned increase by the Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L), Olathe's power provider for source and treatment. Other fixed expenses, including pass through payments to Johnson County Wastewater ($276K over 2013) have continued to increase.
In addition, the massive growth of Olathe in the 70s, 80s and 90s is leading to the maturation of large numbers of distribution pipes in the 10s and 20s. In 2012, Olathe had 197 water main breaks, which was the highest number of breaks in at least the last decade. Main break frequency is due to several factors (weather, soil condition, pipe materials, etc.), but the trend of more main breaks is expected to continue as the system ages. The average age of Water Distribution Pipe and Waste Water Collection Pipes in the city are both approximately 25 years old.
The city continues to seek ways to limit the rate of increase in water bills whenever possible. To mitigate costs, staff has utilized different replacement methods, more durable materials and better asset management practices.
14. Submitted via Open Town Hall: How is the City involved in the funding of the new bond issue to build a 5th high school in Olathe?
The City is not involved in funding the new bond issue to build the 5th high school in Olathe. However, the City will collaborate with the school district to ensure that there are adequate streets and infrastructure in place for people to get to and from the school safely.
15. Submitted via Open Town Hall: With the growth on the northwest side of Olathe, east-west connector streets are important for business commerce and work commutes. There are many businesses located along 119th Street in Olathe yet 119th Street does not run continuously to the west to connect the new residential areas. The west side growth is substantial enough that a new high school has been approved to handle the residential growth. When will 119th street be connected from Woodland to S. Nelson Road?
The City is interested in street improvements that relieve congestion on our east-west streets throughout Olathe; however, 119th St, from Woodland to Nelson, is not currently included in our existing or future Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) due to the excessive costs associated with constructing a bridge to cross the railroad tracks and the Mill Creek Streamway. We are planning to evaluate our existing and future street network to prioritize street improvement projects and plan to reevaluate the cost-effectiveness and viability of constructing 119th St. at this location with this evaluation.


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On April 20, 98.7WFMT—Chicago's classical and fine arts radio station—will broadcast a concert by renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine recorded last year in North Central College's acoustically stunning Wentz Concert Hall.
The concert will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Friday, April 20 and may be heard on the radio in the Chicago area at WFMT-FM 98.7 or online anywhere at wfmt.com/streaming.
This is the first full-length broadcast of a performance recorded in North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, which opened in 2008 and has been hailed for its exceptional acoustics designed by Talaske Sound Thinking. Talaske's credits include the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Grant Park and numerous concert halls and venues praised for their sound.
"Broadcasting a concert by Rachel Barton Pine recorded at Wentz Concert Hall is a dream come true, for at least two reasons," says Steve Robinson, General Manager of WFMT and the WFMT Radio Networks. "First, Rachel is one of WFMT's very favorite performers and collaborators who has been on the air and partnered with us on many, many occasions. Second, the acoustics at Wentz Concert Hall are wonderfully clear and warm. Put the two together and it is indeed a dream come true."
Barton Pine is a Chicago-based violinist who has received worldwide acclaim for her virtuosic technical mastery, lustrous tone and perceptive performances. The performance at North Central College was recorded April 30, 2011. The evening's program featured Barton Pine accompanied by pianist Matthew Hagle performing Franz Liszt's "La lugubre Gondola" and "Grand Duo Concertante." The concert included Liszt's "Die drei Zigeuner," "Elegy No. 1" and "Elegy No. 2;" Leos Janacek's "Sonata;" and Maurice Ravel's "Tzigane."
98.7WFMT, Chicago's Classical Experience, provides the best and broadest selection of classical, folk, jazz and contemporary music, and fine arts programming in the country. A broadcasting force now celebrating its 60th year on the air, the station's appeal continues to widen, and is currently serving the largest audience in the station's history. Via WFMT's enhanced streaming service at wfmt.com/streaming, the station's programming is now available to a global audience. More information about 98.7WFMT is available at wfmt.com.
Founded in 1861 and celebrating its Sesquicentennial in 2011-2012, North Central College is an independent, comprehensive college of the liberal arts and sciences that offers more than 55 undergraduate majors and graduate programming in six areas. Located in the Historic District of Naperville, Illinois, North Central College is just 30 minutes from Chicago's Loop. With more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students, North Central College is committed to academic excellence, a climate that emphasizes leadership, ethics, values and service, a curriculum that balances job-related knowledge with a liberal arts foundation and a caring environment with small classes. Visit northcentralcollege.edu to learn more.

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Suction too high? Breastshield too small?
I have a new PISA. I used to use an old PIS, but I think it was dying. I also used a Symphony for a period of time recently.
I've always used 24mm breastshields.
The only other time I've bled is when I tried the smaller breastshield inserts and pumped for a longer time than usual during that particular session.
It's too bad--I got more than usual from my right side, but bled on my left side.
I'm scared to try larger breastshields. I heard your supply can go down if you use breastshields that are too large. Does anyone know if this is true?


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It can be a long journey with seemingly no end in sight. And eventually, you either make a living or die trying.
Scott Sturgeon has been playing music since he was 12, but the road he's traveled was a winding one, rife with trials and tribulations.
However, he's still going strong. His music has changed drastically over the years, but the musician's blood still courses through his veins, possibly stronger now than ever.
"I was grounded a lot when I was a kid," Sturgeon recalled with a laugh. "And we had a baby grand piano, and I was never allowed to leave the house, so I always levitated to that thing.
"My mom showed me how to play one song, and it was kind of on from there.
"I took one piano lesson and that was it. And I was like, this ain't for me. What you're trying to teach me isn't for me."
So Sturgeon eventually picked up a guitar, but it was the '80s hair metal bands that first offered inspiration to the budding musician.
"One of my brother's best friends was a guitar player, and he was the guy. When I watched him play, I wanted to be like that guy.
"And I blame him for doing it," Sturgeon laughed. "I blame him for me playing guitar."
And that friend taught him the basic B, C, D chords that would set the guitarist off in to the world to hone his skills.
"It's one of those natural evolutions from there, really. I would just listen and figure out more chords and I played for about 10 years like that.
"I never really went out in public. For years I just sat in my room and tried to figure it out.
"I went through a lot of guitars doing that.
But country music still hadn't called on him. It was the thrashing distortion that beckoned him at first and for about three years he played in a heavy metal band called Revolution of Knowledge.
"We toured a little bit in Texas. It just killed my voice so I was kind of done with it."
Revolution of Knowledge recorded a bit and just as their songs were beginning to pick up some traction, Sturgeon left the band.
But it was for more reasons than just his voice growing hoarse.
He was about to be a father to twin boys.
"And that's when I decided I couldn't juggle three things at one time.
"So I quit the heavy metal band and tried to become this average person. Just have a job, take your kids to daycare. I raised them for the first two years of their lives. When I went back to work again, I just wanted to be an average guy."
So Sturgeon got rid of most of his equipment and settled in to full-time fatherhood. He figured he had woken from his dream of making music.
"I kind of just lost the drive. Lost the will to do it. And in that time it softened me up, being a dad. It changed my perspective on a lot of things."
But as any true calling, it always has you on speed dial, so Sturgeon eventually went back to doing one of the only things he felt he knew.
"I started up this little thing called the Six String Mafia back at home. We did that for about three months. We played beer joints here and there.
"Then after I broke that deal up, I went upstairs and I wrote the "East Texas Dirt Road Song."
His first country song.
And though he had been playing for nearly two decades, it was that song that set it all off for the Sturgeon most of us know now.
"I just played beer joints and ALS benefits and stuff like that because it made me feel good."
And during the benefit shows he played, he noticed people were responding and sending him out to new venues to play and broaden his fan base.
And a chance encounter with a fan began to set things in motion for a bigger, badder, more focused Sturgeon.
"He asked to buy a CD and I told him I didn't have a CD and he asked why. I told him because that's a lot of money, and he said, 'I'll buy it for you if you just go record."
So Sturgeon, not really taking the offer seriously, would chat with the man over the next few months who kept insisting Sturgeon get a quote for a recording session. So, to humor the man, he did.
"And it was $5,000 to do five songs. I called him up and asked if he was sitting down and he said 'Yup'. I told him it was $5,000 and he said, 'Who do I make the check out to?'"
"So the five-song EP kind of blew up. I honestly probably wouldn't even be playing today had I not met that guy. I would've already wore myself down and just thought nothing was going to happen."
And now Sturgeon is mere weeks from recording his full length album following his just released EP "Summertime."
He's been writing like a madman and already has 40 songs for his 10-song album, so it may not be long after we get another Sturgeon release.
But for now, he's in a place he finally feels he belongs – touring all over Texas and playing the songs he wrote and gathering new fans along the way.
"My grandpa died in 2001. And his dying words to me as he was lying in bed, out of nowhere, he said, 'You're the music man. Go make your music.'
"And for years I never knew what that meant. For the first couple of years I thought it meant just go and play whatever music I wanted to play.
"I'd go out and play heavy metal. That was music to me, I didn't know any better.
"It all started making sense to me when I came back to writing.
"This is what I think I was supposed to be doing. People ask me about my age and why did I start so late. I didn't just start. It just took me this long to write these songs.
"I couldn't have written any of these songs three years ago. Three years ago I didn't have anything to say.
"Now for some reason the voices won't stop."
Paul Gonzales is the entertainment writer at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 116, or at email@example.com.


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BSC Students Recognized for Volunteer Work with Youth Literacy Program
In recognition for nearly 1,000 hours of volunteer work, a group of 30 Bluefield State College students majoring in elementary education received special recognition from the West Virginia Reading Association recently. The students took part in a literacy outreach project during which they read aloud to young (grades 1-6) students in the area for two hours each week during the 1996-97 school year. As a result of the students' volunteer work, Bluefield State College received the "Yes! We Read Together" award from the state reading association for "sharing books with children and providing them with a foundation for future reading success." Mitzi Litton, project coordinator at BSC, noted "Many studies confirm that reading aloud to young children helps to stimulate their imagination and their zeal for learning." "Reading .... Yes!" co-chairs Sue Talbott and Sharon Diaz signed the award proclamation, along with '96-'97 West Virginia Reading Association President Frank Mace.


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Ex-UBS prop trader's hedge fund eyes UK launch
Manikay Partners, a $1.7 billion US multi-strategy hedge fund set up in 2008 by a proprietary trader from UBS with backing from Goldman Sachs, is planning to open in the UK.
New York-based Manikay's move into Europe comes after Financial News revealed on Monday that Aurelius Capital Management LP, one of the US hedge funds whose long-running legal battle over bond repayments tipped Argentina back into default last month, is to open an office in the UK capital.
Manikay was founded by ex-UBS trader Shane Finemore and pursues an opportunistic investment strategy based on long-bias global equity and arbitrage and short-term trading. The firm has seen its assets under management grow from around $300 million soon after launch to roughly $1.7 billion now, according to a person familiar with the matter.
As well as its New York headquarters, the firm has an office in Sydney, according to its website, but a UK office would be its first in Europe.
Manikay Partners UK LLP, Manikay Partners Holdings UK Ltd and Manikay Partners UK II Ltd have been registered in the UK, according to filings at Companies House this week, which also show that Finemore, Manikay's managing partner and chief investment officer, is a director of the two limited companies.
Records for the limited liability partnership entity are not yet available, and Manikay declined to comment on the new business.
Finemore spent 18 years at UBS before leaving to set up Manikay in 2008. A source told Financial News at the time that the Australian proprietary trader put in $25 million of his own money into the fund as well as securing backing from Goldman Sachs and from the family office of Frank Lowy, chairman of retail property giant Westfield Group.
Before that, he had run UBS's fundamental investment group, a proprietary multi-strategy arbitrage and investment team in the Americas from 2002, and had previously been head of Australian equities at the Swiss bank.
*Correction: This story has been updated to correct a misspelling of Frank Lowy's surname.


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6-16-09 Progressive Field
I made another trip to Cleveland to attempt to improve upon my four ball showing from yesterday.
I got to the ballpark an hour early to ensure that I would be at the front of the line.
The ball was in a little divit, so it took about 3-5 minutes of jostling the ball around until I finally had ball #7 in my grasp. The ball had "Expect to Win," written on it.
I received my final ball, ball #8, of the day off of the bat of Mat Gamel. He hit a high fly ball to right center that I camped out underneath and made an easy catch. This particular ball had the phrase, "Best Catch Ever," written on it. It made me smile. I was thinking to myself, "Yea, that was a pretty nice catch."
I like how the Brewers write these crazy things on their baseballs. It's unique. It's different.
When the game began, I went over to the Home Run Porch in left field. The closest any ball came was a Ryan Garko foul
ball that traveled about 350 feet. I was about 25 feet away from it and lost a foot race to the spot.
I left about half way through the game.
Today's baseballs:
The sweet spots:
Game: 8 Balls (7 hit, 1 device)
Season: 188 Balls (94 hit, 67 thrown, 27 device)
Games: 36 Games (4 without BP)
Average: 5.22 Balls per Game
Career: 354 Balls
Attendance: 22,986
3 Comments
Nice blog Like the pics
I agree with Hamel. It is stealing and his analogy is spot on. There really isn't any way around it. I am surprised that players don't run over and grab the balls and ask the guy with the trick what the F they're doing.
Great blogs, I dont agree with Hamel, its just bp its not like you are doing the glove trick during the game.


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Memo to Eric Bommensath: Some good ways to manage a bad bank
To: The head of the new non-core unit at Barclays. Re: Your new job
Congratulations on your new job. Managing a bad bank may sound like it is something of a poisoned chalice, not least because the better you do your job, the quicker you will make yourself redundant. But it is not necessarily a career cul-de-sac.
In this regard, it is probably best to concentrate on the example of Citigroup's Mike Corbat. He, as you know, used to run Citi Holdings – set up to wind down the things that the US bank wanted shot of following the credit crunch – and is now the group chief executive.
It is probably best not to think too much about UBS's Carsten Kengeter, who, like you, had been co-head of the investment bank, but was then asked (told?) to run the non-core unit in October 2012 and was gone within six months.
You have probably already started phoning a few of the people who have run bad banks to ask for tips. There's plenty of experience out there.
When you guys over at Barclays decided to shove £115 billion of assets into your "non-core" unit this month, it took the cumulative balance sheet of all the state-backed and privately held bad banks set up in Europe since 2008 through the $2.5 trillion mark, by my calculations. That makes Europe's notional bad bank bigger than JP Morgan, which had a balance sheet of just over $2.4 trillion at the end of last year.
The early movers on this were your UK rivals. Stephen Hester set up a non-core unit that initially housed £258 billion of assets when he took over as chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland in 2008. He would definitely be worth a call (not least because, now that he's running a boring old insurer, he'll probably be keen to trade a few banking war stories).
Lloyds hived off a massive £300 billion non-core portfolio in 2009, much of which it inherited from its hasty purchase of HBOS. Commerzbank, UBS, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and Intesa Sanpaolo have all done similar things. Bad banking is becoming an industry in its own right and there is, in short, loads of knowledge out there for you to tap. To save you a bit of time I've spoken to a few people who've worked at bad banks and jotted down some thoughts.
Staff motivation: This is going to be your biggest challenge bar none. Every single member of staff you move to the non-core bank will be thinking the same thing: "I've been fired."
They will also be thinking how they can turn a bad situation to their advantage. If you have put any whole business units into the bad bank, the staff will be trying to spin themselves out; traders will be trying to curry favour with prospective employers.
You will need to convince your bad bankers (do not call them this) that they are still a part of Barclays and, more importantly, figure out a compensation structure that is (a) sufficiently motivating, but (b) not so good that it annoys the guys still in the core bank and with whom you will have to work very closely.
Change the mindset: Being a banker is simple: you get paid to make money. Being a bad banker is a little more complicated: you are basically getting paid to not lose as much money as the bank might otherwise have lost. That involves treading a fine line between risk-weighted asset reduction and cost.
Normally, a good trade is one that makes your bank money. But not for you. Your good trades will be those that cost you less than the time-weighted cost of capital over the lifetime of the contract you're getting rid of. Get used to spending, not making money.
Risk profile: The immediate temptation will be to dial the risk right back and hedge everything. But that will be very expensive and thus totally impractical. So you will have to decide what your risk tolerance is and monitor it carefully.
Your background in fixed income trading will come in very useful here. But you are going to need to become conversant with the various regulatory rules on capital to a degree you scarcely believed possible – you're basically going to be dreaming about Basel III for the foreseeable future.
Asset disposal: Ideally, you will sell assets. This will free up capital and make you a bit of money on the side (though it is unlikely to be as much as you paid; the good stuff's still in the core bank). This will be relatively easy for cash securities, especially as the markets are in pretty good shape at the moment.
But most of the assets that you are currently looking at as you scratch your head are derivatives, and derivatives have counterparties. This limits your options. You can go to your customers and ask them to unwind the trade. Some will (perhaps for a small consideration). But most either can't or won't.
The second best option will be to hand the contract over to another bank. However, this will mean that, in the words of one banker, you have "two mouths to feed": both the client and the new bank will need to benefit from the trade.
Ultimately, if you are not prepared to spend money, you're not going to be able to get out of trades. You might want to memorise this phrase for future use whenever your chief executive is asking why your non-core unit is still dragging down his bank's return on equity.
The scraps: You should be able to unwind the vast majority of trading book assets in time. But there will be some you can't: the clients might be unwilling to unwind or to change counterparties, the price disparity may be too big, the client may be a trust or special purpose vehicle and, thus, to all intents and purposes, there will be no one with whom you can negotiate.
You will have to hedge these trades and try to minimise the capital held against them as best you can. Then you will have to sit on them until maturity.
Which in some cases could be measured in decades. Maybe your role won't be redundant so soon after all.


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The UK is STEAK's birthplace. In 2005 we started as three search engine pioneers around a desk in somebody else's office, offering PPC and SEO. Today the UK office offers a full range of digital services - strategy, search, social, creative and media - across Europe and as part of Dentsu. The team has grown too – over 20% are non-UK natives speaking a variety of languages fluently.
Our people marry expertise from technical and creative backgrounds with experience from traditional agency backgrounds: we've always known that communication skills and client relationships must go hand-in-hand with the ability to deliver projects and campaigns that meet and exceed objectives. We founded the business using "Rare Medium, Well Done" as a strapline in the UK. As the industry evolved, search stopped being a "rare" medium and now we offer a lot more than search but it still remains core to our business.
Starting out as a search agency embedding a strong performance-led ethos. Today our tagline is "Digital. Well Done." and that encapsulates what we strive to deliver for clients across Europe from the London office - be it in French German, English or any other language, our focus remains what it always has been - delivering ROI to clients across every digital channel.


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Fabric by the Yard - Twill
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Our Twill fabric is a classic, woven solid in pure cotton. Create your own cushions, pillows, drapes and more using the same high-quality fabrics that we use for ours.
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I recently returned from traveling to Haiti with Compassion. After all the trouble that has been keeping Haiti in the news I wanted to go and see the people, and the devastation, for myself.
I was challenged, amazed, aghast, and humbled — sometimes all in the same moment.
I am not a novice when it comes to visiting foreign cultures. I have been in several countries and done many different things. However, one of the hardest things for me is the way foreign cultures constantly bring out your worst insecurities, and how they seem to underscore the same insecurities again and again.
This will continue until you (1) deal with it, (2) succumb to it, or (3) turn it into strength and move forward.
One day in Cap Hatien we visited the Citadel. It is an impressive 18th-century castle that is, as the name implies, a fortress. It is not meant to be reached easily. Getting there means climbing approximately 3,000 feet in elevation over about 4 kilometers. It is not an easy climb by any stretch of the imagination.
Our group of 30 all rode horses to the top. I may be from Colorado, but I last rode a horse about 20 years ago. My first insecurity was dealing with the fact that I needed to ride a horse and that I really do not like them much.
They are beautiful, but some people simply should not be around horses. I am one of those people.
My second insecurity had to do with the fact that the horses did not appear to be well-fed. They were more the size of donkeys.
Add to this the fact that I am a large individual, and the next problem is even more challenging. What "horse" could possibly take me to the top? It took a while, but we found one.
We all giggled at one another as we got on the horses. I was the last to mount up, and as I planted my foot in the stirrup I realized that the entire village had come out to watch me. "Big Papi!" they chanted, and we were all laughing.
The village was impoverished. I know that God is close to the impoverished, which means that Jesus was laughing at me. I am OK with this. He was having a good time and, when all was said and done, so was I. It just took a while for me to get there.
My infirmity has always been my body. I have dealt with neurological illness, cancer, and other illnesses in recent years and my body has the scars and the stories to prove it. God has been incredibly faithful through it all, and He continues to be. I am reminded of the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 (NIV):
"But he [God] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. …"
As I rode up the mountain on my horse, I realized that my weakness was being magnified so that it could be personified in the love of Jesus Christ. As I thought of that I began to weep, but I also begin to relax.
I realized that I was where I was supposed to be at that time, at that place, and that what we were seeing on the mountain was no less than absolute beauty.
The land was lush and green, and the families we met along the way were friendly. They continued to shout "Big Papi!" as my horse and I stammered and stuttered our way up the hill.
My French is lacking, but I knew I was being teased — and also called out. I was being called out to act like a "Big Papi." What this term means to the Haitians is a man, who is healthy, who has money, and who is kind and loving to those around him.
In a country where food is not plentiful, where disease is rampant and people die from diseases we "eradicated" generations ago, I am king because I have beaten the odds.
I'm sure that I am not the last "Big Papi" to come to town and ride up the mountain. But I think the local village will be talking for days about the day Big Papi came to town and how he not only laughed at himself mounting the horse, but also relaxed in the knowledge that everyone had only good intentions.
I hope they will remember a Papi who came to the mountain, learned something about himself, and had a heart that grew about three sizes that day. Ultimately, I hope they remember the ultimate "Big Papi" who loves them, who came to this earth and beat the odds, and who still listens to their plight and is not mocked in their pain.
I encourage anyone who is considering a trip with Compassion, or any organization for that matter, to press on and go. It is far too easy to look at statistics and listen to the worst-case scenarios and decide such a trip is not for you.
However, when you are ministering to "the least of these," you actually may find that God is ministering to you as well. That's when true growth happens, and we are all called to grow in our relationship with God, with others, and with ourselves.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Carl Holmes works in Sponsor and Donor Relations for Compassion International. He is a pastor, theologian, and father of a rambunctious, red-headed 10 year old. You can read his personal blog at thoughtsofagyrovague.com.


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By Party of Three, but Room for More- blog
from Michigan
Best Uses
Comments about Learning Resources Primary Science Jumbo Eyedroppers with Stand:
Eyedroppers are the perfect tool to add interest to a variety of activities while increasing a child's fine motor skills. Using them requires you isolate the fingers used for writing, so I was super excited when I received Primary Science Jumbo Eyedroppers by Learning Resources. My first thoughts were bring on the science and bring on the fun! These perfectly sized eyedroppers are a great addition to a science center or sensory table. Children can have fun experimenting with cause and effect while building fine motor skills. Thanks Learning Resources.We absolutely love the Jumbo eyedroppers. They are so much fun and there are so many things that you can do with them. They are super durable and definitely made to last. I love that this set comes with 6 droppers and 1 stand
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Great for Science Fun
By 4649miranda
from MN
We really like the Jumbo Eyedroppers In A Stand Set. The kids experimented with water, food coloring, and mixing with their eyedroppers. I love when the kids are learning but having so much fun they don't even realize it. I would recommend this set. It says ages 3+ but our 2 year old had no problems joining in. These are very easy to use.*I received this set in exchange for an honest review.


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Barnes & Noble's Risky Buyout (Update 1)
Updated to include closing share prices and Barnes & Noble comments
NEW YORK (TheStreet) - Barnes & Noble
Riggio's proposed take-private of Barnes & Noble bookstores -- still the lion's share of the company's revenue -- may give support to its stalled share price and help with an eventual spinoff of its Nook unit.
Still, the deal is the exact opposite of Barnes & Noble's proposal to spin-off its Nook business just over a year ago, which many expected could give its shareholders a payout after years of under performance.
Riggio's proposal may raise the prospect of a fire sale of the company's staple bookstore business, just when it is needed as ballast to support Nook or its prospective divestiture.
Given the relatively stable performance of Barnes & Noble bookstores through 2012 and a deterioration in the outlook for the Nook business through this holiday season, investors might want to question the reversal of course, amid a weak track record by chairman Riggio in creating value for investors.
After rising nearly 30% in pre-market trading, Barnes & Noble shares have since faded to gains over 11% to $15.06 in Monday trading, erasing the company's year-to-date share losses.
In January of 2012, Barnes and Noble proposed that the company spin off its Nook tablet unit, in a move that could have unlocked the value of the e-book and tablet business for shareholders, while also helping the company to refocus on the retail bookstores at the heart of its earnings and cash flow.
"We see substantial value in what we've built with our Nook business in only two years, and we believe it's the right time to investigate our options to unlock that value," said CEO William Lynch in January 2012.
In April, Barnes & Noble sold a 17.6% stake in the company's Nook business, called Newco, to Microsoft
Some investors and analysts took the valuation as a sign of the potential Nook value trapped in Barnes & Noble's shares. Meanwhile, with a monetization of Nook, many also felt Barnes & Noble's legacy bookstore businesses would be given more worth by investors.
After Microsoft's Nook stake, a spinoff remained on track. The move also indicated Nook had a strong partner in Microsoft, which itself is in the midst of rolling out its own app store and a new Windows 8 operating system to take advantage of the growing tablet market.
Just days after Christmas, media giant Pearson took a 5% stake in Nook for $89.5 million, in a move that continued to value the overall e-reader and tablet business at about $1.7 billion.
Microsoft's stake in Nook came just ahead of the well-received launch of its Nook HD 7 and 9-inch tablets, which helped to drive shares in the early part of 2012.
Pearson's stake, in contrast, came as a bookend to the holiday season, which showed weaker-than-expected tablet sales amid competition from the likes of Apple
Now, just as Barnes & Noble's guidance indicates a weakening of the prospects of the Nook tablet, the company appears positioned to sell off retail outlets to Leonard Riggio, the company's chairman and its largest single investor.
While Nook eventually may be monetized for shareholders, according to Riggio's plans, it may leave investors who could benefit from stable bookstore sales in a vulnerable position.
"We believe the issue for investors is not whether there is more value than the stock price in Barnes and Noble bookstores, as we believe that is an easy yes. The issue is whether there is positive value in the money-losing, and increasingly poorly positioned, Nook Media division," Gary Balter, an analyst at Credit Suisse wrote in a note to clients on Monday.
"Left alone, even with cash, will that business make it on its own, or is taking out the positive cash flow stream of Retail, at ~4.5x, a death knell for Nook Media," the analyst notes, in what may be a key question for Barnes & Noble's Board of Directors.
Three independent directors, with the advice of Evercore Partners and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, will review Riggio's proposal, Barnes & Noble said in a press release. Barnes & Noble "does not intend to comment further regarding the evaluation of Mr. Riggio's proposal, unless and until definitive agreements for a transaction are entered into," the company said.


text: My LO is almost 8 mos and loving solids, but still has not been able to figure out how to drink from and not play with his sippy cup. he has never had regular bottles and therefore wouldnt take them, which is fine with me except im not sure how to get him to take in enough fluids. we are trying to mostly practice BLW and DS is eating with us at meal times and now nursing for his 2-3 naps per day and before bed/at night so it feels as if he should be getting enough, but he is constipated and often passes pebble like poops. i keep offering a sippy with water and sometimes he chews on it, but never sips. how can i keep him hydrated and continue to introduce more solids?


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I say yes to Melo so long as we don't have to give up anything for him. We're already a quarter way through the season. If he actually does want to come here, he can wait and we'll sign him for next season.
If he doesn't want to be here, then fine. Cos I'm sick of the Knicks being used as contract bait.
Carmelo Anthony is not the right fit for all the reasons you mentioned,
not to mention the fact that he wants
22 million dollars per year, on top of Amare's 20 million which would cripple the Knicks in a hard cap world with
2 pretty similar players.
The Knicks spacing would go from all world to god awful.
Carmelo can ball, but he is not the right fit for this team at all.
I dont understand why people are shooting down getting the third beat pure scorer in the game.
His post game is deadly, mid range deadly, and it gives us another option to run the offense through when Stat sits. Plus, he does not need to dominate the ball to score. Even if he comes at the end of the season, Wilson will still want more than we can afford to pay him, of we sign Melo.
This man plays well with teammates, he will fit the offense fine. What cant he do that Chandler is? Imagine how motivated he will be to prove he was worth it? Look what Stat is doing... Think Melo will bring anything less?
If we lost Chandler, Fields/Randolph Curry, and '13 1st, does that really hurt us?
Fields is more than replaceable. Melo is flat out waaaaay better than Chandler. When is Chandler hanging 40 Lebron? He played team ball just fine when surounded by good talent in college and when Den first got Billups. And honestly, this team is already better than that one.
Do remember D'antoni goy phx to 2 conf finals with less talent than stat, felt and Melo....... In the west.
Getting a center and developing the players now is most important. Wait for Melo in the off-season.
Sig made by Sons of Thunder
Im sorry but if we keep this team as is we are no better than the Magic. Yea they made it to the Finals but the beat a Celtic team with out Garnett. Garnett came back Magic gets eliminated in the 2nd rd in 2010.
That is why we need Melo.
Lakers, Celtics did not win with home grown talent. We need players. STAT is option number one. Melo is number 2. Felton is a good pg he will keep them both pleased.
Who on this team is a great defender. Yet many of you feel this team is fine as is. Look we beat some bad teams thats it. And we will beat some good teams this year to.
But in the playoff you are facing a good team every single night and that team studies you 10x more than in the regular season. So they will figure us out. Talent will win out.
Amar'e is 28. the time to win is now. I dont think we need Chris Paul or DWill cuz of Felton.
I would sign him next year. Or get him for nothing, but DOnnie's working it out.
I honestly don't think the people that are saying no realize if it's in the offseason, then who cares. He'd pretty much be taking eddy curry's money and we'd be letting will go, what's wrong with that? If there's still a mle use that on a big then. All you who think this team with Marc gasol or glen Davis are going to make a finals really need to wake up from "caught in the moment land". Yes they've won 11 of 12 and amare's beasting, but the only team they beat that has a chance not 2 be in the lottery was the hornets who aren't a very good team tbh. I understand it's been a long time since the knicks were this successful and it's fun and exciting , but you have to remember you're still having discussions about this can be a 6 seed at highest! With melo you become elite I undestand there's difficulties w/ new players comming to new teams but that's why they have training camp and preseason. D'ant is smart enough to let melo get a few iso's in a game, just like Amare gets. And the sharing the spotlight stuff is bull, those type of players don't exist anymore and even if they do they understand it takes a dynamic duo or trio to win.Kobe learned,lebron,Wade,shaq,mj,wilt,Kareem,magic,bird ,drexler,David Robinson,Duncan they all did.
I just can't understand how someone can say they want to pass an probably the best scorer in the game, when he actually wants to be here, for a team full of roll players behind Amare. Hell even stat knows that's why he wants him here. All it's going to take is next weeks games not being Close for these same people to retract these statements and that's a shame. Amare and melo are different players they wouldn't be Wade and James Those two play the same way that's why they sucked so hard for that long but now they're getting it.
Sorry about the rant.lol
Last edited by la2ny; Dec 10, 2010 at 02:05.
Melo is pure scorer and creator with an outside shot who can play off the ball, can pass, and is a SF who has the versatility to fill in some PF and really at the 2 spot, also.
A guy who can create as well as Melo is almost form-fit for our team, since the team is structured through an SSOL game theory and philosophy; which Melo's skills and game are form-fit for. You make sure to work something like this into the team, because it is such a deadly fit, even if you need to re-structure other pieces some.
I don't have a sexual thing for the guy, and have argued for NOT getting him -- I'd love to get M.Gasol, and a guy like Big Baby to sign along w/ Chandler. But it really doesn't have much to do w/ STAT, not fitting the team, or him being overpaid, IMHO.
We only do it if he walks here, though, which seems the most likely route anyways at this point.
6th Fields
6th Gallo
I mean, that's a team that's got talent in the starting 5 and enough depth at critical positions to really go far in the playoffs...
From a historical perspective (although the analogy isn't exact) getting Melo would remind me--I'm old enough to remember--of the Knicks getting Debusshere. The difference that made a good team a champion.


text:
Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.
Hyperion offers both CDs, and downloads in a number of formats. The site is also available in several languages.
Please use the dropdown buttons to set your preferred options, or use the checkbox to accept the defaults.
from notes by Andrew Green © 2001
extrait des notes rédigées par Andrew Green © 2001
aus dem Begleittext von Andrew Green © 2001
|Christmas through the ages
'Other than to assure you that it works for me, need I say more?' (Fanfare, USA)» More
|Rutter: Music for Christmas
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Dordt College News
Blades Travel To Illinois To Take On Aurora
November 7, 2013
The games…the Dordt Blades hope to end a seven game losing skid when they travel to Geneva, Illinois this week to take on the Aurora University Spartans. Both games will be played in the Fox Valley Ice Arena with the Friday, November 8 game beginning at 7:00 pm and the Saturday, November 9 game starts at 6:00 pm.
The Opponent…Aurora University is 12-1-0 on the year and are currently enjoying an eleven game winning streak. The Spartans are a perfect 4-0 on their home ice this season. The lone loss for the Spartans came at the hands of Robert Morris (Illinois) way back on September 27 as Aurora fell 4-2. The Spartans have won six games by seven or more goals this season and have posted two shut-outs.
The Spartans have 94 goals on the season while giving up just 27, for an average score of 7.2 to 2.
Ryan Devlantes has 40 points on the season with 15 goals and 25 assists. Devlantes sits in second place in ACHA Division 3 in both points and assists and is in the top 20 in goals scored. Kevin Salinas has 26 points on the year and Joseph Jablonski has 25.
The Spartans have used three different netminders with Kyle Weiner playing in six games, Gavin Carlson in five and Paul Favaro has been between the pipes for two outings. Carlson has the best goals against average among the three with a 1.80 while Favaro sits at 2.00 and Weiner at 2.33. Carlson and Weiner both have one shut-out this season.
The Blades…are 2-7 on the year and 0-4 in conference play and have lost their last seven outings.
Nic Enerson leads the Blades with nine points with a team high seven goals to go along with two assists. Dylan Van Dyk has eight points on three goals and a team-high five assists. Eric Huitsing and David Prins both have six points and Kevin Vermeer and Lucas Koomans each have five.
Riley Braun is 1-6 in goal for the Blades and has a 5.24goals against average with a save percentage of .860. The senior netminder has made 251 saves in his seven outings.
History…the Spartans and the Blades have never played each other prior to these contests.
Last time out…the Blades played a pair of games against the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on November 1 and 2, losing 6-2 in the first contest. In the second game, the Pioneers got two goals from freshman Sam Dvorak and beat Dordt 5-1 on Saturday. Dordt College hung tight with last year's division champion in the first period, but surrendered a late goal to Abe Liebel that gave Platteville a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.
The second period was all Platteville as the Pioneers used two power-play goals and a short-handed tally to take a commanding 4-0 lead.
The power play goals both came off the stick of Dvorak, who beat senior keeper Riley Braun twice on shots from the point. Platteville finished the game 2-for-7 on the man-advantage.
The Blades looked to score on their own power play late in the second, but had the puck stolen behind their own net by Alex Walczak, who found Matt DeGrave for a one-time shot. DeGrave's short-handed goal made it 4-0 after two stanzas.
Platteville's Richard Ronan converted a shot from a tough angle early on in the third period to score the Pioneers' final goal. However, the Blades avoided the shutout when senior Dylan Van Dyk buried his third goal of the year off a feed from junior Nic Enerson.
Dordt was outshot 47-30 for the game. Platteville keeper Andrew Hornick made 29 saves to record the victory.
The Spartans' last two outings resulted in a pair of wins against Robert Morris by scores of 7-2 and 3-1.
Video of the game will be available by follow this link.
Conference affiliation…the Dordt Blades have joined the Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) which has schools in two separate divisions (Gold and Silver) and Dordt College will be a part of the Silver Division. Western Conference schools include: Iowa, Iowa State, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Missouri State (D3), Nebraska and Dordt.
The top two teams from the North, Central and West will make the playoffs, plus 2 wild card spots determined by winning percentage.
The Coaches…John Langeraap begins his first year as Head Coach of the Blades after serving for four years as an assistant. Langeraap helped the Blades to their third straight American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) D3 National Tournament in 2010 and has been involved with hockey for more than 40 years. Langeraap was
involved with the Sioux Center Hockey Association (SCHA) at its inception in 2003, and he has served as the association's board president while also coaching at multiple levels in the SCHA prior to becoming an assistant for the Dordt Blades.
Langeraap will be assisted by Jon Gesink.
Follow The Blades…All Dordt Blades home games will be webcast on www.dordt.edu/athletics this season. Check the Blades website http://www.dordt.edu/athletics/hockey/ for the planned schedule. You will also be able access game recaps, including box scores, from this page along with other news items.
Media Access: Download Word Version | High Resolution Image: 1


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Bobby Thomson hits the "shot heard 'round the world," Woody Guthrie passes away, Germany comes together, and O.J. Simpson is found not guilty, all on this day.
1967: Singer-songwriter and folk musician Woody Guthrie, whose best known song is "This Land is Your Land," dies from complications of Huntington's disease, a progressive genetic neurological disorder, at the age of 55. Such songwriters as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Pete Seeger and Joe Strummer have acknowledged Guthrie as a major influence.


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|This package installs the Storage driver to enable the following SATA Storage Controller on the system board:
- Intel 82801GBM SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel ICH8M-E/ICH9M-E/M SATA RAID Controller
Supported ThinkPad systems:
- Reserve Edition
- R60, R60e, R60i, R61, R61e, R61i
- T60, T60p, T61, T61p
- T400, T400s(*1), T500
- W500, W700(*1), W700ds(*1)
- X60, X60s, X60 Tablet, X61, X61s, X61 Tablet
- X200, X200s, X200 Tablet(*1), X300, X301
- Z61e, Z61m, Z61p, Z61t
Supported Operating Systems:
- Windows 7 32-bit (*1)
- Windows Vista 32-bit
- Windows XP Home Edition or Professional
- Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005
- *1: ThinkPad W700, W700ds do not support the 32-bit version of Windows 7.
- *1: ThinkPad T400s multi-touch models and X200 Tablet do not support Windows 7 Home Basic edition.
- This program is language independent and can be used with any language system.
|Additional information
For Windows 2000, download the following package.
Version 126.96.36.1992
Version 126.96.36.1999
Version 18.104.22.1684
Version 126.96.36.1997
Version 22.214.171.1245
Version 18.104.22.1681
Version 18.104.22.1682
Version 22.214.171.1240
Version 18.104.22.1683
Version 188.8.131.525
A Blue Screen error will come up on the Windows preload when these models boot with "Compatible" mode instead of "AHCI" that is modified from the BIOS Setup/ Config/Serial SATA menu. This is caused by an absence of a compatible driver on the Windows preload. Stay "AHCI" mode when you boot Windows preload.
Note: If your computer runs satisfactorily now, it may not be necessary to update the software. To determine if you should update the software, refer to the Version Information section.
This section assumes to use Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer.
[Downloading file]
[Extracting file]
[Installing files]
Before installing the operating system, install Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver, as follows:
If you do not have a floppy disk drive, you can install Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver by the following alternative procedure (applicable to other SATA settings except RAID):
NOTE: If you select AHCI for Serial ATA (SATA) in the BIOS Setup Utility before installing Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver, your computer will not respond; it will only display a blue screen.
[Windows 7 (32-bit) or Windows Vista (32-bit)]
[Windows XP]


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North Country Honors Veterans
The north country joined the rest of the nation Monday in paying tribute to military veterans.
In Watertown, the crisp November air was filled gunfire and taps.
Wreaths were laid in front of VFW Post 1400 to honor the many sacrifices of service men and women.
Despite the fall chill, attendance was strong, representing old and new generations of warriors.
"Patriotism is a resurging wave in this country," said Jerry Tighe, VFW Post 1400 commander.
"Honoring veterans is a continuous process much like the wars we're fighting are a continuous process," said Lieutenant Colonel Michael Oeschger of the 10th Mountain Division.
Veterans Day has its roots in the Armistice that ended World War I.
Major hostilities in that war came to an end at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.


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Tips for how to start running
Published On: Apr 10 2012 02:23:11 PM CDT Updated On: Jun 06 2013 08:40:26 AM CDT
Do you want to start running this summer? Click here for tips.
The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to our Terms of Use.


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We fight like we train. There is nothing more true. When was the last time you conducted dry-fire practice? If you did so, did you draw from the holster, settle the sights on target, focus on the front sight, holding it steady through the trigger press?What's wrong with that scenario?You didn't verbalize. You didn't command your subject to stop, drop the weapon, show hands. In most cases that is part of the sequence of events that needs to be followed. If you don't verbalize, some witness is going to say, "I was over that and all of a sudden this dude just shot'em. He didn't say nothing. He just shot'em" I would much rather have a witness saying, "That guy in the black coat, he shouted 'Stop! Drop the gun!' I guess the other guy didn't stop and didn't drop the gun. So the guy in the black coat, he shot'em." Remember to use all your skills, all your instruction when you train. You may win the shootout, but the investigation that's sure to follow is just as serious.Stay safe.
One thought on "Dry fire practice is essential"
dennis j kucharzak
you DO as you were trained. just like the dead police found with the empty cartridges in their pockets not on the ground–just as was drilled into them at the shooting range !!↓
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I am a 33yo sahm who is trying with all of her heart and soul to have a successful breastfeeding experience with her baby.
This is my 8th baby. Just a brief history (if you can call a history of 8 babies brief) My oldest is 14 years old and breastfeeding help was not offered to me. I could never get him to latch on and was laughed at by my OB (literally) when I pumped for 6 weeks and ended up with mastitis. I quit and gave him formula. My 2nd baby also never latched on correctly and it was too painful so I quit after 2 weeks. Again, no help was offered. With my 3rd, I stuck it out and dealt with overactive letdown and lots of watery stools until she weaned at 10 months. My 4th nursed for 6 weeks and then had frequent green stools and traces of blood. I was told to quit so I did but I went on the elimination diet because I was told it was allergies and exclusively pumped for 9 months. She was fine when I did that. My 5th had the same problems ( I went on the elimintaion diet as soon as he was born) but the blood was very visible which scared me and I was told to quit, so I did. He was put on Nutramigen at 10 weeks because "he was allergic to my milk". My 6th had a very high palate and we had latch on trouble. To make things easier, I exclusively pumped for 9 months. I might add that I have an obnoxious milk supply and would pump 65 oz. a day. This gave me enough storage to continue feeding them for a year after I quit pumping. My 7th was a very sleepy eater and I was a very tired mama. I had no confidence at all that breastfeeding would work and I just couldn't muster up what it would take to pump again so I quit after 2 weeks. I have had mastitis 1-4 times with all of them, I have hired 3 LC to come to my house, I have visited a lactation clinic more times that I can count, and I contacted LLL. I have been through you know what and back only to fail. No one can blame me for not trying, that's for sure.
Now, here we are with our 8th baby who is 11 weeks old. We made it to 3 weeks when she started having those icky poops that are so familiar to me. They are slightly green, no texture, frequent and then mucousy. With my 5th, I read about hindmilk/foreilk imbalance but no one that I mentioned it too (Dr's LC's) had heard of it so it was blown off. I am here to say that I would bet $1,000,000 that this is our problem. I went on the elimination diet as soon as she was born at 35 weeks (healthy with no problems) just to be armed with that for security. I started out feeding from one side only. When her poops turned green I started pumping a bit off before she would nurse and feeding her from one side for 2 feedings in a row. Wouldn't you know it, her poops turned back to that beautiful yellow cottage cheese like texture. This took a few weeks but it worked. She has gained weight beautifully (6.14 at birth and 11.6 last week).
We have all the signs of hindmilk/foremilk imbalance. I have way too much milk and a very forceful letdown. I get 2 oz. within the first minute of pumping. She gained a lot of weight which I read can be from all the sugary foremilk. When I started pumping off a bit, her weight slowed down. She has the frequent green poops which are sometimes foamy.
This whole long post is bringing me to today. For the last week I have noticed her really gulping down the milk and not nursing as long. I figured maybe she was just getting more efficient. Then I noticed her poops starting to change again. Then, suddenly this morning, I change a diaper that was completely green watery with mucus and blood. Now I am second guessing that what I am doing is wrong and that maybe everyone that told me to quit before was right. Am I hurting her by trying so hard to breastfeed her? Should I just quit and switch her some nasty predigested formula? I have a feeling the Dr will tell me to do so. They always have. But, everything I read says that breastmilk is best.
I cannot tell you how heartbreaking this is to come so far and convince myself that I was finally doing it all right only to see blood in my precious baby's diaper. It looked just like my 5th's diaper when the Dr's told me it was my milk and to put him on Nutramigen. It is red and streaked in the mucus. (I wasn't feeding him one side. He would nurse maybe 3 minutes on one and then I'd switch him to wake him up. I am now convinced that the whole hindmilk/foremilk imbalance was the problem with him, too)
What I need to know is, is it really the best thing to keep giving my milk when it obviously is not agreeing with her? I will do whatever it is I need to do to fix it if it can be fixed. Maybe I need to pump at each feeding vs. just in the morning when I was so full. Oh, she has also started sleeping longer at night so I am much fuller in the mornings. This also started about a week ago.
There is not much more I can add other than I am sorry this is so long. But, if you cannot tell, I really want this to work. Breastfeeding has just been one brick wall after another and the fact that I have failed so many times has really done a number on my maternal ego. But, I am well aware that this is not al about me but, instead, all about my baby who I only want the best for. My instincts tell me that breastfeeding is what is best and maybe that is why I have tried so hard with my others. Even with my first, when I was only 19 years old and the nurse in the hospital just stood and stared at me when I asked her to show me how to nurse my baby. Her reply was a shrug of the shoulders and a "Just shove it in."
I can't tell you how much I appreciate the time and effort you put forth in order to help those of us who so desperately need it. Thank you!


text: Cold War (3) tv-pg Play video Select your TV provider to log in to have full access to videos Select your TV provider See all providers Don't see your TV provider? Learn more You can access this video on the free HISTORY® app. *You must verify your TV provider towatch this video on the App Your Parental Control settings do not allow you to view this content. Cold War (3 min) tv-pg The Cold War is over, but what it left behind may surprise you.


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What's in a name?
I wonder sometimes at people who say I've researched my family history. Have they really? A comment I received recently said ' my surname's blah', so I must be connected to your tree! I don't think so. How would you know if you aren't prepared to do the hard work? Other's find information and think that what they find is gospel and correct. Sometimes it is, sometimes it's not. Recently I found a photo of a house on someone's tree on Ancestry that apparently was the house of one of my ancestors. I contacted them to ask where the house was, the name of it and what evidence did they have to say it belonged to this said couple. This person has not bothered to reply so I can't help but wonder, is it correct, did they find it on someone else's tree and just copied over without thinking? Why bother uploading something and not be prepared to show the evidence.
Way back when I first started doing my family history (where talking 1988 here by the way), the only way to research was go to the library and then spend weeks waiting for that certificate or other piece of information to be snail mailed to you. These days, it's quite easy to find information on the internet somewhere but what if that piece of information you found is 'wrong'?
Back in the old days, I spent a great deal of time at the local library, basically because that's where you went to do your research and then when you found something, weeks would go by before you had that little piece of evidence that either proved it right or wrong.
When I first started researching my beloved grandmother's family history many years ago, it was without the advantages (or maybe disadvantages) of today's technology. My grandmother had the details of her parents, she had their birth, death and marriage certificates, which back then was a gold mine, considering that they were married and born in South Australia. Living in NSW, it's a little hard to do family history research in another state, though it is a little easier now. Their marriage certificate showed that my great grandmother's father was George Honney Harris. Her birth certificate showed her parents as George Honey Harris and Rose Ann Harris. With this information I was able to look up the SA BDM index's and find the marriage. After obtaining the marriage certificate, it showed that George's father was Peter George Harris and Rose's father was Frederick John Hurst.
So armed with the fact that George's father was 'Peter George Harris', I went searching. I found a book, which I think was the South Australian Biographical register (can't remember the name but I still have the photo copy of the page) and found the following entries.
This showed the family of George Honey Harris and Rose Ann Hurst, along with the names of their children, parents etc. It does have one glaring mistake, the name of Daisy Beecham. This I guess the contributor believed Daisy married someone with the surname of Beecham. I knew this to be wrong as I had both her birth and marriage certificates, which proved otherwise. By the way, I have not been able to find a marriage between a Harris and Beecham in the SA indexes.
This entry also shows that George's father was George Peter Harris. Now yes, it's possible the first and second names were swapped around on the marriage certificate, so maybe it's the right piece of information. The next entry that is of interest is further below, which has the details of George Peter Harris and his apparent two marriages.
So without much further to go on, I believed that the information, contained here was correct, though I did keep digging every so often to find more information. It wasn't until late 2010, when I realised that the information in the book was incorrect. Everyone believes that the George Peter Harris (co-founder of Harris Scarfe) was the father of George Honey Harris.
With access to Ancestry, Trove and a contact with a cousin I was able to discover that there were two George Peter Harris's living in South Australia around the same time. There was a George Peter Harris and then there is Peter George Harris. I can see where people might get confused and think one is the other, but they are not.
The above entry indicated that 'George Peter Harris' had arrived in SA by 1854. Research tells us that yes, he did, but in fact he arrived in February 1849 and co-founded the 'Harris Scarfe' store. Yes, he did marry Caroline Fischer and had two children. This was his only marriage. He also died in London on 1873.
Peter George Harris' arrived in 1854 along with his family. They are listed in the 1851 census at Guernsey Channel Islands and this showed George Honey's birth to be closer to 1844 not 1849. His actual birth registration is:
George-Honey Harris
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 06 Jun 1844
Birthplace: Guernsey, Channel Islands
Father's Name: Peter-Geo. Harris
Mother's Name: Adelina Bienvenu
Even though I don't have Peter G's death certificate I do have a photo of his grave, which has his birth to be the 24th May 1805. The George Peter Harris was born around 1823 in I believe London. My Great Great Grandfather, Peter was also known as Pierre George.
I'm a little miffed at the moment, that despite all the evidence that we now have, many still believe that our family are related to the G P Harris of Harris Scarfe. We are not. The evidence proves it.
So in summary, you need to put in the effort and obtain the birth, marriage & death certificates of people so that you can then ensure that you are tracing the right tree. Someone might have something in a book or on the internet but how do you know for sure it's correct without obtaining the evidence?
- Posted in: Harris
- Tagged: George Honey Harris, Pierre George Harris


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A Fitchburg man has been sentenced for illegally possessing firearms.
Juan M. Gonzalez-Ruiz, 36, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 37 months in prison, without parole, for possessing firearms as a felon.
Gonzalez-Ruiz pleaded guilty to this charge on Aug. 7, 2012.
On Oct. 19, 2011, Gonzalez-Ruiz was stopped in Fitchburg for driving on a suspended license. After issuing Gonzalez-Ruiz a citation, the officer was given consent to search the vehicle. During the search, the officer found two loaded firearms under the driver's seat.
Gonzalez-Ruiz has prior convictions for aggravated assault in Puerto Rico, possession of a sawed-off shotgun and conspiracy to commit armed robbery in Massachusetts, and first-degree reckless injury and aggravated battery in Wisconsin.
Felons are prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.


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News Detail
Harvard Business Review Featuring Faculty Article
Dr. Hemant Sashittal, Professor and Chair of the Department of Management/Marketing, has had an article selected by the Harvard Business Review for purchase on the publication's website.
Sashittal's article, "Strategies of Effective New Product Team Leaders," co-written by Dr. Avan Jassawalla, Professor of Management, SUNY Geneseo, is the second article written by him that has been chosen by the publication in less than a month.
The article talks about a company's new product team, the problems they confront, and the changes that must occur before cross-functional teamwork can accelerate new product development processes. According to the pair's research and analysis, only a select few teams consistently act on cross-functional thinking, collaborative decision-making, and organization of new product workflow to make meaningful changes. Sashittal and Jassawalla also discuss the differences between more and less effective leaders.


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The lionfish is a popular aquarium fish around the world, although the lionfish is better kept in tanks with lots of space and few other fish. The lionfish can live to around 16 years in the wild and lionfish often live longer if looked after well in captivity.
There are around 8 different recognised species of lionfish that are found in the Pacific Ocean. The lionfish is natively found in coastal waters around rocky crevices and coral reefs where there are lots of smaller fish for the lionfish to eat and also places for the lionfish to hide.
The lionfish catches it's prey by hiding in a crevice in the rock or coral and then ambushing it as it swims past.The lionfish then corners it's prey with it's large fins before swallowing it whole.
Although the lionfish is a solitary animal and they only really come together to mate, a few lionfish inhabit a certain area of the reef. The lionfish group usually contains one male lionfish and a few female lionfish that he mates with. The male lionfish is highly territorial and protects the area in which by himself and his females live.
The female lionfish releases between 2,000 and 15,000 eggs into the water which are fertilised by the male lionfish. The lionfish pair then quickly hide so that their eggs can float into the ocean before being spotted by predators that eat the eggs. The lionfish eggs hatch in just 2 days and the tiny lionfish fry remain near the surface of the water until they are bigger. When the lionfish fry reach nearly an inch in length, they swim down into the ocean to join the reef community.
The Lionfish is also an invasive species, originally from the Indian and Western Pacific oceans. It was brought into Florida as an aquarium fish, and after a hurricane broke some of the aquariums containing the fish, they started to appear around the lower coast of Florida. They have now spread all the way up to Long Island, New York.
When scientists do dives to study the lionfish, sometimes they kill one, and trace it's DNA. The odd thing lately, is that all the fish trace back to an original six or seven Lionfish from the ocean in which they came.