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Well pardon me if I don't trust you're skills at basketball observation. Seems as if you only watched the playoffs and aren't taking into consideration the fact TC was injured.
Here's a good article re Chandler's offensive impact..
Tyson Chandler: Best Center, Best Minimalist
By Ethan Sherwood Strauss, on December 20th, 2012
"I'm a basketball minimalist." Brett Koremenos rocked my psyche with that self identification. The term now haunts so many of my NBA thoughts.
Brett offhandedly used his invented phrase over Gchat, in reference to the inexorably fluid spread pick-and-roll attack. It's an approach that requires four three point shooters, one of whom waits for the pick from a non-shooting big man like Tyson Chandler. The offense conquers because it exists in just too much space for a defense to hug. It's practically a cheat code.
For the offense to be even feasible, the Knicks need Tyson Chandler to compensate for all those defensively-deficient shooters with defense and rebounding. He does that, but he's also about as good an offensive player there is to do it on seven shots per game.
Tyson Chandler can't shoot well, or dribble well, and he's a bit skinny. Though, I sometimes wonder whether he'd be worse for his team were he any more blessed in those categories. His lack of a jump shot has led to a cartoonish 70% field goal mark. His lack of a handle has led to one turnover per game. His lack of bulk means fewer shotclock ticks sacrificed to the altar of dribble-dribble-back-down post-ups. New York's big man enters a game, and only expertly controls a manageable amount of reality.
The reigning assumption is that the best center must be someone who does a lot, especially in the scoring department. Chandler might be changing that notion, if we would only bother to notice what he's doing.
Catch-all player performance statistics are inherently problematic, because the value of taking a shot will always be up for debate. I do like Win Shares on Basketball Reference because the metric rewards volume shooting less than some other stats do. This is not to say that those other metrics are worse–just that, WS provides a nice counter balance to the mainstream line of rewarding heavy involvement. By this measure, Tyson Chandler's current Win Share average would qualify for better than any season in Hakeem Olajuwon's past and all but one Shaq season. Lest you believe it's a fluke, Chandler's WS average last season was better than all but one Hakeem year.
I perhaps should have slowplayed you into that factoid. The idea of a 29 year-old non All Star as the league's best center is already too much for some folks to handle. When you factor in that Chandler was traded for Emeka Okafor in 2009, and gifted to the Mavericks in 2010 for Erick Dampier's contract, the whole case sounds all the more ludicrous.
But it doesn't seem silly if you closely watch Tyson Chandler play, especially in his off-the-ball natural habitat. No center traverses more ground than Chandler, and perhaps no center owns more vertical space. The combination of his horizontal and vertical talent makes for a constant threat to the defense. He races out quickly to set a screen and dives back to the rim just as fast. Not only is he slick about setting sticky screens for driving guards, but Chandler's also adept at spinning off the screen for an alley oop from said guard.
His occasional butt-screens (there is probably a more technical term) make for an amusing, effective tactic. Tyson will put his back and rear into a defender, and bounce off them towards the rim, like a pro wrestler leveraging the ropes. Once he makes a catch off these rim runs, it's usually over. He's too large and moving with too much ever-engulfing speed. The rushing wave will make the hoop splash.
The Minimalist also conveys a sense of moment with a mere one-hand redirecting of the basketball. Chandler has effectively closed out at least two games I've seen this season with a series of backtaps. Near the end of the fourth quarter, defenses tire in the same way an NFL D might start giving up chunks of rushing yardage. When this happens, Tyson is liable to make as little contact with the ball as possible while making as much impact on the game as possible. Then, teams in their final throes suffer the demoralizing death pang of watching Chandler tap out Knick misses again and again.
That's Tyson Chandler, so special a specialist as to make him more valuable than any big man generalist. So maximally minimal as to be great. Nowadays, the center position isn't dead; It's just found a way to be dominant without dominating.
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Idk when that article was written, nor am I gonna google "why tyson chandler is valuable" but that article is true if its 2 years ago. I appreciate the attempt at backing your argument but its just the same thing as what you said. I read what you said and I don't care for a journalism degree-written point(because that doesn't make you a better basketball thespian, you can just articulate your points better) while doing that may impress less intelligent knick fans not me. I don't think you are the only person to share your stance on t.c. neither am I in my stance so I don't need to post someone elses same opinion as mine in a weak attempt at proof...I'm sorry rono but he's not that same enforcer he used to be. If he was then I'd appreciate it but his skills have degenerated.
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Last edited by knicksince 93; Sep 03, 2013 at 15:37.
No, posting researched statistical evidence from last season, including the stat showing clearly that TC was fourth in the league in win shares behind Durant, Paul and Lebron shows that I'm a "better basketball thespian" than you. I don't appreciate you not backing your argument, which has no basis other than a limited sample during which time TC was supposedly still injured and playing with said injury.
We'll see if what you say holds water. I think it's tough to tell whether or not he has lost a step or two, or if he was not the same last season because of the bulging disc in his neck. I'm betting based on his age and past performances that the latter is the case. Again we willl see
My argument is observation therefore I can't back it up until the season. HOWEVER I hope I'm wrong for the sake of our team. If I'm right we're screwed. In response to your win shares post( advanced stats are a big misconception) so he's higher then melo so chandler is more valuable to our wins then melo? I think not. To refute that I'll say he missed time and we had our best winning percentage while he was gone... we'll see but like I've said I don't want to be right here
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You implied that DeAndre was simply just a less experienced TC and I am saying that Tyson is more than DeAndre Jordan with a few extra years....yeah I think it goes without saying who has played in more games.
But if it is years that you are talking about then consider this... more years does not automatically make a player more expereinced which you imply by stating Tyson has been in the league over a decade.
Example being Russell Westbrook vs. Jamal Crawford. Crawford in the league a decade (like Tyson) and Westbrook drafted the same year as Jordan but who would you call more experienced?
So you're wrong however you put it!
Umm...you say Tyson has offensive limitations but in the same breath you praise Noah who is even more offensively inept at scoring.
Tyson shot .633 from the floor to Noah's .488 Tyson does not try to do too much on offense Noah does. Noah turns the ball over nearly twice as much as Tyson...this is all because Tyson plays within his game Noah tries to do more than he is capable of...again I am not bashing Noah, he's got heart and hustle but Tyson is a better Center than Noah and this is only an argument now because of how Tyson played in the playoffs.
Coming into last season Tyson was considered an untouchable by Knick fans now they wanna dump him.
"I'd Rather Melo shoot with 3 men on him than Jefferies shotting wide open"
-Jeff Van Gundy
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knicksince 93 .. I'm curious about ur bigman comments, how do u rate Tim Duncan performance in 2012-13?
ur argument against Tyson Chandler is really a justification for ISO-Melo at PF.
Noah got Boozer & Deng
Hibbert got West & Paul
Perkins got Ibaka & Durant
Gasol got Zach & Prince
Lopez got Evans & AK47
D.Howard got Smith & Parson
All of the above fowards are 6.9 and better ....
How well did 6.9 ISO-Melo & 6.6 JRsmith do in the Paint area in offense/defense to help Tyson?
A) above average
B) average
C) below average
If u selected C below average u are correct...
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School of thought .. Tyson Chandler was a double-double center with 1 block per game in 2012-13 season (63%).
Throughout the 2012-13 season, Tyson Chandler had no bigmen help in paint or in his lineup on offense/defense.
The only PF on our roster Tyson was given steady minutes to GELL with in the lineup was ISO-Melo.
HC Woodson used PF-Rasheed, PF-Amare, and PF-Kenyon Martin as Tyson backup at center.
A Rasheed Wallace gave us 7 pts, 4 rb in 14 minutes (39%).
A Amare Stoudemire gave us 14 pts, 5 rb in 23 minutes (58%).
A Kenyon Martin gave us 7 pts, 5 rb in 23 minutes (60%)
Our 40 minute PF-ISO-Melo gave us 28 pts, 6 rb, 2 ast, on 44% shooting.
All of the above is history .. on what is needed to make our bigmen frontcourt rotation better next season with a 30 minute Tyson Chandler at center.
We added a 7.0 center Bargani to our roster, who career vs top centers & top PF have Bargani shooting below 35% and under 5 rebounds per 30 minutes.
We have 2 decent Star PF in 6.10 Amare and 6.9 Kenyon Martin, who I believe should be working-out in the offseason with Tyson & Bargani on offensive-plays and defensive-plays.
All this individual-work-out in the offseason with personal trainers in different cities each offseason has not help the chemistry of this Knicks team 3 high paid players (Tyson/Amare/Melo) .. the 3 top paid players has not showed any chemistry, or Gellin on offense or defense in two straight seasons.
This upcoming season we added a $10M C-Bargani, a $7M SF-Meta, and a $7M PG-Beno to the roster.
It's Sept, 6th, and all the players I mention in this thread not one has showed up to work-out this offseason at the Knicks practice facility with other Knicks teammates. So Knicks opticism this upcoming season is at a very low for me after HC Woody poor substitution, poor team defense, and 90% isolation offense.
wow, this thread doesn't look pretty for 93, at all.
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But I don't see what that has to do with my post. I was just commenting on how the major players on this site are really putting you to shame in the debate department and all you can do is reply unproductively.
When you start a post with "Go back to school please" then you really need to reconsider your status on this site and how people cringe when you post.
Atleast when I post, I make someone laugh and it's entertaining.
It's just painful to read your post at this point and this thread is evident because you can't go without throwing temper attacks at posters when you can't prove your point. It's unproductive posting. You can't debate, so you throw attacks. Weak.
I don't think this is a place for you, and stop aligning yourself with other forum members. No one here knows you. lol
It also exposed Mike Woodson a bit, I wasn't feeling Melo guarding the likes of Marc Gasol and various NBA centers.
The addition of Kenyon Martin help fill void that Rasheed left us.
We got Martin back, but he's a year older. Can he perform the same way he did last season?
A guy that the Knicks should look at is Renaldo Balkman. He's pretty improve his offensive game and his defense is still steller. He's also one of the best rebounders that doesn't have an NBA contract.
Right now, he's representing Puerto Rico in the FIBA Americas tournament in Caracas, Venezuela. This tournament will qualify a FIBA America team to Spain in 2014.
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20.6 ppg
8.4 rpg
1 asp
in 30 minutes per game.
Balkman, like Alfonso Soriano should have never left his home team.
I think Balkman would be a great 15th man addition to the team.
I don't trust Chandler's, Amare's and Bargnani's health.
Balkman will help Melo and let Melo move to his natural position of SF.
It'll also add a rebounder to make up for Bargnani and Amare.
That's just my little plan, I don't think Knicks will take action.
but at this point, Balkman right now is one of the best players outside the NBA or without an NBA contract.
Balkman is a DEFENSE guy...he'll be great in orange and blue.
most importantly, Balkman has reached his full potential in the pick and roll.
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The first-generation Volkswagen Phaeton didn't achieve the sales VW desired but the carmaker is ready to give it another go. In 2015 VW will unveil its second-gen Phaeton flagship and according to reports it will be a substantially different machine.
The new Phaeton will be developed under the VW631 codename and is expected to use Audi's new MLM Evo platform which should be lighter and offer much improved handling. While the current model is offered in sedan form only, the MLM Evo platform could lend itself to a variety of body styles including an S-Class Coupe rival, a five-door hatch and even a 'shooting brake' variant.
Little is known about what powerplant options VW will offer under the bonnet but it's likely engine offerings will be much smaller than the current V8 and W12 mills. Possible options are four-cylinder units, six-cylinders and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Continue reading "New Volkswagen Phaeton on track for 2015" »

subset: commoncrawl


text: Do u ever get annoyed by child nursing. I mean, the past two days I have grimaced as she latched on. okay more Info needed. I hate my nipples touched in general. DH knows better...been this way forever. They are just so sensitive that I hate them touch. i never thought I would breastfeed but her I am 6 1/2 months later strictly nursing and so happy about it. I have started to feel like I don't want her to latch on but I, of course do and fight through it. is this normal. have u All ever feel this way from time to time. Please tell me this is normal. I don't want this to interfere.


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Thousands celebrate Elvis Week, 60 years of rock
Annual festivities include concerts
Like pilgrims to Mecca, they flock here every August for Elvis Week. Fans, from every corner of the globe, come to consecrate the hallowed grounds of Memphis and Graceland.
As the annual commemoration of Elvis Presley's life and death hits its stride — the festivities began Friday and will continue through August 17 — tourists will continue to descend upon the Bluff City, with as many as 30,000, possibly more, expected in the coming days.
"Elvis Week is a little like throwing a party where you don't get any RSVPs," said Kevin Kern, public relations director for Elvis Presley Enterprises. "Our ticket sales are going very well, but it's hard to tell exactly how many people will be here. If we only had a crystal ball."
This year marks the 38th anniversary of Presley's passing. Typically, anniversary years ending in fives or zero generate the biggest traffic and attention. "But we are celebrating 60 years of rock and roll, from when Elvis recorded 'That's Alright' and are marking his part in that with a new exhibit," said Kern. "We're also debuting a new iPad tour of Graceland … and having a groundbreaking for the new [Guest House] hotel. So it's going to be strong year for an 'off' year."
Even in a so-called "off" year, there's enough programming to satisfy every kind of Elvis fan.
"We definitely think of the big picture and program for a variety of fans with a variety of interests," said Kern. "Some are more into the live music, some are into the panels and Q&A sessions we do, and some are hard-core fans of the tribute artists. There are many demographics and levels to this fan base, so we try and cater to all of them."
Among the many official Elvis events this year, two in particular stand out. On Saturday, the Orpheum will screen the 1970 concert documentary "That's The Way It Is." The event coincides with the release of a multi-disc box set of the film by Sony/Legacy.
An eight-CD, two-DVD "That's the Way It Is" collection came out earlier this week. Touted as "the most ambitious Elvis Presley restoration package ever created," it gathers the original live album, "the theatrical and home video versions of the film, six full-length concerts (featuring previously unreleased performances), rehearsal highlights and other rare recordings" in one package. The DVDs include two versions (the 1970 original and 2000 expanded edit) of director Denis Sanders' documentary — shot at the International Hotel in Las Vegas and at a sound stage in Culver City — and a second disc of outtakes from the film.
At the Orpheum, fans will be shown the newly remastered edition of the film, as well as outtakes never-before-seen on a big screen. There will also performances by Elvis' Imperials members Joe Moscheo and Terry Blackwood, along with Darrell Toney and Lynn Royce Taylor.
A major Presley archival release from Sony has become an annual event tied to Elvis Week. "In terms of doing these big releases … what we've tried to do is take deep dives into specific moments in Elvis' career and blow them out with great packages," said John Jackson, VP of A&R and Content Development for Sony/Legacy. "It's really about exploring these different periods of Elvis."
Sony has successfully shed new light on the catalog, with efforts like last year's box set, focusing fascinatingly on Elvis' somewhat overlooked 1973 sessions at Stax Records.
Jackson — who will be in Memphis this week — says "That's the Way It Is" was one project Presley aficionados had been clamoring for. "During [past] Elvis Weeks, the fans had always asked us for that," he said. "We listened to that feedback. It all goes back to the fans; what they want and how they want us to celebrate his career."
Another significant event on the Elvis Week calendar will take place on Wednesday, as Chips Moman and the American Studios band get some long-overdue recognition with the unveiling of a Shelby County Historical Marker, near 827 Thomas.
The address — at Thomas and Chelsea Avenue — is now home to a Family Dollar store, but for a decade was the site of American, a hit factory that produced Elvis Presley's crucial 1969 "comeback" sessions and recorded dozens and dozens (roughly 120, depending on the source) of chart records between 1962 and 1972.
Moman — who was also an integral force in the early history of Stax Records — wooed members of the staff bands at Hi Records and Phillips to form the classic American Studios group: guitarist Reggie Young, drummer Gene Chrisman, pianist Bobby Wood, organist Bobby Emmons and bassists Mike Leech and Tommy Cogbill. That unit — known variously as the 827 Thomas Street Band, the American Group, and, later, "the Memphis Boys" — would help create a succession of hits for artists such as Dusty Springfield ("Son of a Preacher Man"), Neil Diamond ("Sweet Caroline), Merrilee Rush ("Angel of the Morning"), B.J. Thomas ("Hooked on a Feeling"), Joe Tex ("I Gotcha"), Bobby Womack ("Fly Me To The Moon") and, most famously, Presley ("Suspicious Minds").
The studio's critical and continuing connection to Elvis — the Memphis Boys will be performing at Graceland on Wednesday night — is a major part of the marker, a two-sided display which notes both the history of American and its role in Elvis' comeback.
"We modeled the marker after the one at Sun Studios," said Eddie Hankins, one of the organizers behind the American marker initiative. "One side is the general story of the studio, and one side is about Elvis working there. He's obviously, for the average person, the key figure to have recorded there."
Hankins notes that the employees of the Family Dollar have long noticed and been perplexed by groups of people milling outside the store and taking photos.
"They didn't realize it was a historic studio with an Elvis connection," said Hankins. "I suppose Elvis fans are the reason anybody has been going by there. Having the marker will make it easier for Elvis fans to find where he did some of his best work."
The American marker unveiling event will take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Local television personality Dave Brown will serve as emcee, and various guests — including Moman and the band members — are scheduled to attend.
The Elvis Week calendar is filled with numerous activities and celebrations — from George Klein's Elvis Mafia reunion at Alfred's that happened Friday evening to a concluding gospel concert at Graceland next Sunday. Other "unofficial" events are being held.
On Saturday, cult film director Mike McCarthy will host an Presley movie marathon at the Summer Quartet Drive-In, featuring screenings of "Jailhouse Rock," "King Creole," "Viva Las Vegas" and "Elvis on Tour." And, of course, the emotional anchor of the week will be Friday's Candlelight Vigil at Graceland.
"Elvis week really is a special opportunity," said Kevin Kern. "It's a chance for people to enjoy themselves, to celebrate the music, and most of all, remember Elvis."
Say ... Peanut Butter and Banana?
Readers can get into the spirit — and look — of Elvis Week by tweeting their "Elviselfies" to @GoMemphis, with the hashtags #elviselfie and #graceland.


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Vocabulary Instruction and the Common Core
Intended Audience:
6-12th Grade English Teachers, Administrators, District and School Leaders
This workshop was held as part of a Summer Workshop Series facilitated by ISBE during the summer of 2012. This workshop consists of a PowerPoint presentation and handout materials. The workshop is designed to provide participants with not only an overview of effective vocabulary instruction as it is described by the Common Core State Standards, but to provide participants two different methods of academic vocabulary instruction.
Suggested Use for these Documents:
- Professional Development Coordinators may use these materials to inform and familiarize personnel with Academic Vocabulary instruction as it applies to the Common Core State Standards.
- Teachers may use this information to determine the academic vocabulary needed to be taught in their grade as well as strategies to explicitly teach academic vocabulary.
Materials Necessary:
- PowerPoint: "Vocabulary Instruction and the Common Core"
- Slide notes (may be used as a guide for the presenter)
- Handouts One and Two
Send questions and comments to:
Resource Links:
- Facilitator's Guide
- Vocabulary Workshop PowerPoint
- Handout 1: Building an Academic Vocabulary
- Handout 2: Building an Academic Vocabulary
Return to Common Core Professional Learning Series Home Page
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License


text:
For the past three years, I've attended Comic-Con International, one of the largest sci-fi and fantasy conventions on the planet. For one frenzied weekend in July, this candy-colored Babylon of 130,000 descends upon San Diego like an overconfident Bedouin caravan who bartered their camels and waterskins for talking Darth Vader helmets.
PopCultureGeek.com/Wikimedia Commons
"Yeah, we were going to dress up as Mortal Kombat characters, but Steve here broke theme and decided to go as a water bottle."
This week, the San Diego Convention Center takes a break from its usual slate of urology conferences and quilt shows to host everyone from geek Brahmin like Neil Gaiman and Joss Whedon to at least a dozen devoted strangers who -- without any prior coordination among themselves -- all decided to cosplay as Superman from a couple months in 1998 when his skin turned blue (because he used the Internet or something).
(Frame of reference for sports fans: Dressing up like this version of Superman is tantamount to going to an Atlanta Braves game dressed as Deion Sanders circa his "Prime Time" persona, when he was making music videos with Jean-Claude Van Damme.)
The whole affair is an orgy of the senses, sort of like the 1979 movie Caligula, but with more Skeletor costumes and less Helen Mirren taking her top off. The majority of Comic-Con attendees are agreeable, sane individuals, and Comic-Con has afforded me some of my fondest memories of my person-who-writes-swear-words-on-the-Internet career. But jumping Jehoshaphat, am I glad to stay home this year. Why's that? You see ...
4Getting into Comic-Con Is a Clusterfuck
Say you want to go to Comic-Con this week. (You know, to steal a pint of Stan Lee's blood to reverse engineer the immortality serum pumping through his veins.) With 130,000 attendees, there's certainly a spot for you and maybe one or two of your pals, right? (You're going as the three seashells from Demolition Man.)
Bernard Gagnon/Wikimedia Commons
Above: You, doing all those things you love to do in public!
Well, you better hope that the Ford Windstar you're living in is a time machine (because if your house was a time machine, the plumbing would get all fucked up every time you went to the Cretaceous). Most tickets sold out after a mere 93 minutes back in February, and you could only buy them on Comic-Con's buggy and crash-happy website.
Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons
"According to the website, the only people who registered this year were those two guys and that dude in the Kingpin costume."
"That's the Internet for you. No action, all hot gas."
Sure, a smattering of passes went on sale in June, and you could've picked up 2013 tickets at the convention last year (but let's not forget that 2012's tickets sold out in 90 minutes). The point is, you'd have a better chance of getting in by stripping entirely naked and bolting past security, bellowing, "I'M THE INVISIBLE WOMAN FROM THE FANTASTIC FOUR" or "I'M THE INVISIBLE WOMAN FROM A PARALLEL UNIVERSE WHERE THE SELFSAME COSMIC RADIATION THAT GAVE ME AND MY COLLEAGUES A QUARTET OF FANTASTIC POWERS ALSO CAUSED ME TO SPROUT A FANTASTIC DONG."
Seriously, Marvel, you know this issue would've sold 1,000 times better as "What if the Fantastic Four all had really great cocks?"
Let's suppose you beat the odds and nab the premium $175 full-weekend pass. Unless you live in San Diego or have a couch to crash on for four nights, this means booking a hotel room nearby -- which is just as impossible as scoring passes and way more expensive. You could also sidestep the entire mess of sleeping over by driving. Just remember to reserve your parking spot several months in advance!
Finally, if you're desperate and delight in poor life choices, know that Craigslist tends to run a totally dubious tickets-for-skin trade. When else in human history will you be able to rent out your genitals for a chance to attend a retrospective celebrating 40 years of Funky Winkerbean?
The only person to respond to this will be a 7-foot-3-inch German man in a Sailor Moon costume.
I've only attended Comic-Con on a press pass. Compared to the above, signing up for that is a minor bureaucratic headache, but it's an experience not typical of most folks who want to attend. And press pass or not, everybody's in it together once you hit the convention floor, because ...
3Getting Around Comic-Con Is a Clusterfuck
Successfully navigating the gauntlet of Comic-Con registration tends to excite the humors. Upon touching down in San Diego, you immediately want to bark "HODOR HODOR HODOR" Arsenio style at the Game of Thrones panel and interrupt The Walking Dead panel to read your 95 theses delineating why the Season 3 finale was total ass. You're giddy enough to bang Worf without a condom. Well, guess what? So are 130,000 other eager souls. (In Klingon culture, they call this "a silver anniversary.")
You're now trapped in Comic-Con's second gauntlet: the human gauntlet.
PopCultureGeek.com/Wikimedia Commons
It's like The Human Centipede, but less family-friendly.
If you're a fast walker, Comic-Con is a goddamn nightmare, particularly on the convention floor. Some folks don't walk so much as amble, dumbfounded before the spandex sirocco swirling around them. They'll pause mid-footfall to gawp at a fiberglass Predator statue or to soberly appraise a Dark Phoenix cosplayer whose infinite cosmic powers fizzled out when she tried to conjure nipple tape.
Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons
Exception to the rule: Should you encounter it, you are always allowed to luxuriate before Sergio Aragones' legendary mustache for hours.
Of course, this behavior isn't typical of everyone, but the aisles can and will be clogged. All it takes is, like, 1 out of every 20 attendees to idle to cause a traffic jam of 100. A few people pause to photograph a group of steampunk A-Team cosplayers -- "Look, Mr. T's mohawk is a gear!" -- and, boom, you're spending an interminable two minutes homesteading in the armpit of some fellow dressed as the Crow who last took a bath a week ago in a Saladworks dumpster.
BadAss Digest
"My body is brimming with secret, gothic croutons."
But at least there's an ebb and flow to these crowds -- the same can't be said of the panel queues. The most popular presentations -- like those in the 6,000-person Hall H, which this year will furnish first looks at the Thor, Amazing Spider-Man, and Captain America sequels, among many things -- attract lines hours (and occasionally a mile) long. Even panels on the smaller stages, which tend to host more niche offerings like Adventure Time and The Venture Bros., can see burly waits.
And Comic-Con doesn't clear rooms between panels. Convention organizers gradually learned to move any Twilight panels to the morning of the convention's first day to discourage the phalanx of seat-hoarding tweens boasting puffy-painted sweaters of Eddie Murphy in Vampire in Brooklyn. (That was the prequel to Twilight, no? I never read the books.) Tempers unsurprisingly flare, so much so that, back in 2010, a seating dispute prompted one Hall H attendee wearing a Harry Potter shirt to try to jam a pen into another guy's eye. (Hogwarts was an ophthalmology school, right? I skipped a page every time Ron said something.)
"C'mon, officer, I was just re-enacting the scene where Voldemort skull-fucks Uncle Dursley with a wand."
"You know, the scene from my Xanga."
Unless you're one of those total maniacs who goes to Comic-Con solely for comic book panels, expect to spend a good chunk of your hard-earned otaku pilgrimage queuing up. It's an experience not unlike going to the Super Bowl, locking yourself in a porta-john for the first three quarters, emerging to watch a single field goal, and then returning to your bilious vigil until somebody goes to Disneyland. So don't expect to see Saturday's panel on the new Godzilla movie, as it's directly before the panel for The Hunger Games 2: Hungry Like the Wolf. And you know those snazzy toys you can only buy at Comic-Con? Yup, you'll probably have to wait in line for them, too.
One reason I do regret not going: Somebody's selling an action figure depicting purple Jason from the total-piece-of-shit 1989 Friday the 13th Nintendo game.


text:
President Obama is facing questions from world leaders about the scope of once top secret surveillance programs run by the National Security Agency. The president says the programs have helped prevent more than 50 terrorist attacks worldwide since 9/11. Sally Kidd reports from Washington.
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A new gun violence agendaJanuary 21,2013Sparked by the Sandy Hook school shooting, the national and state debate on measures to prevent gun violence is now on center stage. President Obama released his proposals Jan. 16. Vermont state Sen. Philip Baruth, D-Chittenden, the Democratic majority leader, introduced his bill (S.32) a few days before.
Not surprisingly, the centerpiece of both proposals banning possession and transfer of certain semiautomatic firearms and high capacity magazines sharply divides the political world into two hostile camps.
The gun-control faction has long wanted to put government in charge of all privately owned firearms. They are also eager to win a victory over their opposition, embodied in the National Rifle Association
The firearms-rights faction is alarmed with their opponents push toward their ultimate goal of banning the possession of all privately owned firearms, or at a minimum requiring all private owners to obtain licenses, register their firearms, certify their mental health and good intentions, and supply all required information to a government registry.
At this point in the conflict legislators need to take a deep breath and focus on the question: What realistically promises to diminish the likelihood of deadly violence, and at what cost in terms of diminution of rights, invasion of privacy, false positive enforcement, new spending by a government awash in debt, creation of bureaucracies, diversion of resources, and further undermining federalism.
President Obama rightly reaffirmed that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. He then offered four parallel policy thrusts.
He wants to reinstate the 1994-2004 ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines (more than 10 rounds). To put this in perspective, there are approximately 300 million privately owned firearms in the country. Untold millions of them are functionally identical to the assault weapons Obama wants to ban they just arent ugly enough (folding stock, pistol grip, bayonet lug, etc.) to be labeled assault weapons. All of these, including all existing assault weapons, will remain legal. So will millions of existing high-capacity magazines.
The National Research Councils extensive 2006 study found that the 10-year national ban on possession of the same semiautomatic assault weapons had no visible effect on gun violence. So why is this a good idea? Is it only to placate the gun-control lobby?
The president wants to incorporate all potentially dangerous individuals into the national background check system. Thats a good idea to the extent potentially dangerous individuals can be unequivocally identified for instance, by felony convictions and psychiatric commitments. But beyond that? If a social worker or teacher reports someone acting strangely, should that persons name be summarily put on a national blacklist?
The president proposes federal spending on numerous new grant programs for mental health, school safety, school discipline and school resource officers. One would think that such spending would need to be far more than theoretically effective to be launched after four years of trillion-dollar-plus federal deficits.
The president is keen on making sure that young people get the mental health treatment they need. But startlingly absent from his comprehensive program was any recognition that administering increasingly powerful psychiatric medications to combat mental illness may well be a significant factor in gun violence for instance, the Columbine shooters. There is a dark side to combating mental illness.
All of these programs have to operate through somebody social workers, police, doctors, federal agents and many others. Anyone proposing the programs advocated by the president needs to look closely at possibility that government officials, pursuing their own self-interest, might make our problems worse.
Improving the national background check system for acquiring weapons is worth doing. Will the Obama ban on new assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and all his new federal spending programs, diminish gun violence? Almost certainly not. They respond to the political need to do something to prevent another madman from perpetrating another school massacre.
The real solutions, far more complex and imprecise, must focus on reducing the numbers of, or at least deterring and thwarting, potentially dangerous individuals likely to commit violent acts and do it without unduly invading their rights.
John McClaughry is vice president of the Ethan Allen Institute.MORE IN CommentarySure, you can buy your uncle a necktie that he wont wear, or your niece an Amazon certificate... Full StoryA lot of serious long-term national issues simply werent addressed in the recent national election. Full StoryI have written on the anomaly of the separation of the private and public sectors in our society,... Full Story
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Is it Just "One Game" or the Beginning of the End?
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I'm a pretty negative minded guy in general … but I feel good about the ChiSox. The Orioles were invigorated by new management and the Sox just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time for that. Minnesota is overrated but they just got us for 2. I predict we'll take 2 from them in the rematch. Then they'll be square and the Sox will just have to play big and win against all the spoilers. The Sox still have better pitching than Minnesota. That will prevail in the end.
~ Will


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Museums offering free admission Saturday
Many museums nationwide are offering free admission Saturday, Sept. 28, for Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day Live.
The Milwaukee Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Adler Planetarium in Chicago are among the participating locations. »Read Full Blog Post
Twin Lakes native Megan Ruger advances on 'The Voice'
Twin Lakes native Megan Ruger has made it through the Battles round on "The Voice."
The Nashville-based rock singer, a member of coach and mentor Blake Shelton's team, performed a duet of Avril Lavigne's "My Happy Ending" with fellow Team Blake contestant Ria Eaton. »Read Full Article
Brewers fans line up for Hank the dog's Miller Park debut
Lizzie and Sydney Kaiser of Bayside had a homemade poster in hand to meet Hank the Brewers dog at Miller Park on Tuesday. They also may have had sleep in their eyes. The sun wasn't up yet.
About 250 people lined up at the Miller Park Hot Corner in hopes of getting a photo taken with the ballpark pup inside the Team Store by Majestic. »Read Full Article(59)
Hank's Day Out: Photoshop the ballpark pup into your own photos
Hank the dog is now a cross-country traveler and media icon for the Milwaukee Brewers. So we started to wonder: What's Hank's next big adventure? We took the ballpark pup's publicity photo (pup-licity photo?) and Photoshopped him in to various scenes. Where will he go next?
Download our pre-made Hank cutouts and add them to your own images. Submit them here or send them to firstname.lastname@example.com and we will post them in this gallery. »Read Full Article(1)
Aloe Blacc; Foster the People; the Pretty Reckless; Jo Dee Messina; the Black Lips; Luther Dickinson
Aloe Blacc »Read Full Article
Hank the dog — Milwaukee's new favorite pastime
Where else, Linda Scherr wondered aloud, would people get up at 4:30 in the morning, drive to Miller Park and stand in line to see a stray dog?
"No place but Milwaukee," the northwest side woman answered. »Read Full Article(39)
Aprahamian nominated for James Beard award
Justin Aprahamian, the chef and owner of Sanford restaurant, is a finalist for a James Beard award for best chef Midwest, the sole nominee from Wisconsin.
Finalists were announced this morning in Chicago. »Read Full Blog Post
Milwaukee's Tillman directs Sparks novel; Madison's Webb says no more 'Spider-Man'
It has been reported that writer-director and Milwaukee native George Tillman Jr., will direct "The Longest Ride," based on the novel by romance writer Nicholas Sparks.
Tillman's previous films included "Soul Food," which was inspired by his growing up here, and "Men of Honor." »Read Full Blog Post
Marcus Theatres to spend $50 million on upgrades
Milwaukee-based Marcus Theatres is investing $50 million by the end of May in new seats, screens and restaurant operations at its cinemas throughout the Midwest, the company announced Tuesday.
The company is adding new wide screens, bringing a total of 11 UltraScreen DLX screens and nine traditional UltraScreens, as well as new DreamLounger recliner seats. »Read Full Article(1)
Former A.V. Club editor Matt Wild launches Milwaukee Record
Matt Wild, the former city editor of the A.V. Club Milwaukee, and Tyler Maas, a writer for that now bygone site, are starting their own venture, an arts and entertainment web site called the Milwaukee Record.
The new site, scheduled to launch on April 7, will cover local music, dining, film, art and sports in a "smart, opinionated and irreverent" way, the two announced in a statement Tuesday morning. »Read Full Article
Countdown to Spring: 2 days!!!
You did it, people! Well, you almost did it. You made it through one of the worst winters ever.
Why not get started with the celebration early. You can find the cure for cabin fever at...the Cure for Cabin Fever, at the Italian Community Center's Festa Ballroom, 631 E. Chicago St., at 6:30 p.m. tonight. »Read Full Blog Post(2)


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PopTech Blog
This week on Oct. 24-26 our annual showcase of world-changing people, projects and ideas takes place in Camden, Maine. Whether you're joining us in Camden or watching the livestream at home, here are a few ways to maximize your PopTech 2013 experience.
- Once again this year, we are streaming the PopTech conference live online. And thanks to our friends at Livestream, we're able to do so free of charge. Check out the conference schedule, mark your calendar, and don't forget to tune in.
- Download the PopTech 2013 app for up-to-the-minute conference information on speakers, Fellows, schedules and maps.
- We've compiled PopTech 2013 speakers, performers, session leaders and 2013 Fellows Twitter lists so you can follow along with conversations on the ground and add your thoughts.
- Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr, LinkedIn and the PopTech blog to stay up-to-date- on conference related-news.
- The official hashtag for this year's conference is #poptech.
- Coordinate carpooling to PopTech 2013 on Twitter by using #PopTechCarpool or by visiting the PopTech Connect Facebook group.
- Be sure to stop by the Camden Village Green Oct. 24-26 (across the street from the Camden Opera House) to check out "parkSPARKS," an interactive art installation from By Design involving hammocks, reclaimed float rope, mesh and local lumber from a Maine barn.
- On Saturday, Oct. 26, speaker and skateboarding legend Rodney Mullen will be at the Camden Skate Park, located just uphill from the Opera House at 10 Knowlton Street. Be sure to stop by and say hello to the man who invented numerous skateboarding tricks, including the flatground ollie, kickflip, heelflip, impossible, and 360-flip. The park will open at 2:00pm and Rodney will stop by at 2:30pm. Please note that children 10 years old and under who will be skateboarding need to have a parent or guardian present. Additionally, anyone under 18 who will be skateboarding needs to have a parent or guardian sign a release form at the skate park.
Image: Peter Durand
Friday Flashback: PopTech playlist
We're thrilled that HEM will be performing at PopTech 2013 in just two weeks! To celebrate, we put together a playlist of a few hits from HEM, Olivia Chaney, and other artists who have graced the PopTech stage over the years. From Rodrigo y Gabriela, OK Go, John Legend, to Blitz the Ambassador - enjoy this eclectic mix of sounds and genres.
PopTech 2013 schedule, band, new Immersions
In just two weeks, many of you will be gathering in the Camden Opera House at PopTech's "Sparks of Brilliance." We have exciting updates to share and a few peeks into what you can expect to see and do while you're in Camden. As usual, we have a few surprises up our sleeves as well. Care to join us? There's still time.
Schedule: Our schedule of daily sessions is live! Find out when speakers and Fellows will be taking the stage.
Music for your listening pleasure: Get ready to tap your feet! Brooklyn-based band HEM will be performing.
PopTech Immersions - your pick: After two days of stage talks, presentations and performances, you may be ready for an adventure with fellow attendees or you may crave additional structured discussions. It's your lucky PopTech - we're offering both on Saturday, Oct. 26!
Carefully designed excursions such as sailing, a photo workshop, a farm tour and a cooking class are available for registation. We're also offering smaller structured discussions focused on issues shaping the future, such as Hacking the City and The Meaning of Making, for you to atend. In addition, attendees can soon sign up for a drawing workshop with artists Shantell Martin and Zach Lieberman, which will investigate the space where drawing, electricity and computation meet.
Demonstrations: The PopTech experience goes far beyond the stage. In and around the Camden Opera House you'll encounter 3-D printing with MakerBot, a crash course on music production and coding with the team behind EarSketch, speaker and artist Shantell Martin bringing her illustrations to life, and much more.
See you soon!
Photo: Dan Austin
PopTech 2013 - Less than one month away!
The one month countdown has begun! We're finalizing logistics and designs, putting final touches on the program, and counting the days until "Sparks of Brilliance" officially kicks off on Oct. 24.
If you haven't already, now is the time to secure your seat for next month's convening in Camden, Maine. Here are a few reasons why:
1. Meet and learn from creative leaders
"Sparks of Brilliance" promises to be a fascinating discussion, as creativity crosses industries, personalities and cultures. Where does creativity come from? How is it expressed and maintained? You'll leave Camden informed and inspired by our amazing roster of speakers, including designers, psychologists, artists, gamers, NASA scientists, comedians and many more.
2. World-changing projects and research
Our newly announced 2013 PopTech Social Innovation Fellows and Science Fellows will take the stage to present their work. How can statistical machine learning help to personalize disease treatments? In what ways do art and design impact how we engage with and practice science? How are marginalized communities empowered with technology to defend their rights? How can the U.S. manufacturing process be simplified for small businesses and makers? They'll explain how.
3. You asked and we listened
This year we modified the schedule to allow more time for networking opportunities with fellow attendees, speakers and Fellows. In addition, you can continue to count on randomly assigned lunches and evening soirees. You'll meet new connections and enjoy quality time with old friends. We've also lowered our ticket price to make the PopTech experience more accessible.
4. When in Maine…
PopTech Immersions are exciting additions to the 2013 program. These carefully designed excursions bring you into the heart of beautiful Maine and provide a unique opportunity to bond with fellow attendees. Named one of "America's Prettiest Towns" by Forbes, see for yourself what makes the Camden area so extraordinary by sailing on the Appledore, touring a sustainable farm on North Haven Island, or making a traditional Maine meal of chowder and bread. More Immersions to be posted soon.
There's still time to join us but only a limited number of tickets remain – register today!
The potential of human ingenuity and creativity: Part II
The PopTech Fellows network consists of 116 alumni, with 22 new Fellows soon to join their ranks. In just a few short weeks, you'll be able to hear the new Fellows present their work at the PopTech conference. Secure your ticket to attend or tune in on the PopTech site via Livestream.
Each of the Fellows is a living example of impact that can be created from a commitment to positively affecting the world. Below you'll find another 20-minute dose of inspiration that brings to life the potential of human ingenuity and creativity.
Uncovering new uses for robotic systems
Katherine J. Kuchenbecker – 2011 Science Fellow
Katherine J. Kuchenbecker researches the design, control, and performance of robotic systems that enable a user to touch virtual objects and distant environments as though they were real and within reach. These haptic interfaces combine electromechanical sensors and actuators with high-speed computer control to fool the human sense of touch. By studying applications such as robot-assisted surgery, stroke rehabilitation, educational computer games, and assistance for the blind, Kuchenbecker seeks to improve our understanding of haptic feedback and uncover new opportunities for its use in interactions between humans, computers, and machines.
Turning agricultural waste products into sustainable packaging
Eben Bayer – 2009 Social Innovation Fellow
Eben Bayer is the cofounder and CEO of Ecovative Design. He is a key leader in the biomaterial industry, and is spearheading efforts to create products that are both sustainable and affordable. Bayer co-invented Mycobond, which uses a growing organism to turn low-value agricultural waste products into strong, natural composites. Compared to environmentally damaging materials like Styrofoam, Bayer's innovative technology requires one tenth of the energy to create, and can be composted. In 2009, the company won the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Clean Energy Venture Award and the OG25 Award, and in 2010 was featured in the National Design Triennial exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.
Understanding key ecological processes in the ocean
Kelly Benoit-Bird – 2012 Science Fellow
Kelly Benoit-Bird is an oceanographer at Oregon State University, where she applies acoustics to the study of ecosystems in the open ocean. She has helped develop several new optical and acoustical instruments and has made fundamental acoustical measurements of species ranging from zooplankton to fish, squid, and marine mammals. Through her research into how predators target their prey, Benoit-Bird is creating a new understanding of key ecological processes in the ocean.
Harnessing the power of big data
Sean Gourley – 2010 Social Innovation Fellow
Sean Gourley is a San Francisco-based researcher splitting his time between mathematical research and his venture-backed startup Quid. Gourley's varied research spans the fields of nanotechnology to complex systems and the mathematics of war and terrorism. With his work in advanced network visualizations and the computer modeling of complex systems, Gourley has acted as a political advisor to the Iraqi Government, briefed the U.S. military's Central Command, addressed the United Nations in Vienna and dodged military checkpoints in Iraq.
The potential of human ingenuity and creativity: Part I
Last week we had the pleasure of announcing the 2013 classes of PopTech Social Innovation Fellows and Science Fellows. From clean energy to understanding human well-being, to cultural preservation and disaster response – these 2013 Fellows underscore the program's commitment to harnessing the power of human creativity and ingenuity, and how perseverance and an innovative spirit have the power to change the lives of many.
In just a few weeks, the new Fellows will head to Maine for an intensive training retreat, followed by the presentation of their work at the PopTech conference. Interested in hearing them? Secure your ticket to attend or tune in on the PopTech site via Livestream.
Soon these 22 new Fellows will join the network of 116 PopTech Fellows alumni. We'll spend the next few days highlighting Fellows from past years who have continued to make a huge impact on the world around them.
Helping Kenyan farmers through mobile technology
Jamila Abass – 2012 Social Innovation Fellow
As CEO of MFarm, Jamila Abass uses mobile technology to help Kenyan farmers increase their incomes. MFarm provides farmers in Kenya with real-time market price information and a group selling platform where they can connect with other farmers to jointly market their crops in greater volumes. By giving rural farmers more direct and powerful access to buyers, MFarm is positioned to improve hundreds of thousands - and potentially millions - of lives.
Increasing access to work and healthcare with virtual mobile phone services
Nigel Waller – 2009 Social Innovation Fellow
Nigel Waller launched Movirtu in 2008 to provide virtual mobile phone services for people earning less than two dollars a day. Movirtu designed a virtual mobile phone system which enables anyone to make and receive phone calls, text messages and mobile payments utilizing other people's phones. By granting access to mobile communications even to those without their own phone, Movirtu enables people to find work, build micro-enterprises, access healthcare and better support themselves and their families.
Studying the mechanisms and effects of natural selection
Pardis Sabeti – 2011 Science Fellow
Using genomes as an archeological record, Pardis Sabeti studies the patterns of natural selection. She works to understand the mechanisms of evolutionary adaptation in humans and pathogens. What makes some people able to resist Lassa fever? How does malaria manage to evade efforts to fight it? Sabeti pursues the answers through computational analysis, investigating the mechanisms and effects of natural selection on human and other genomes.
Constructing buildings that heal
Michael Murphy – 2011 Social Innovation Fellow
Michael Murphy co-founded MASS Design Group in 2007 to provide design services for underserved populations in the most resource-constrained settings. Through projects in Rwanda, Liberia, Burundi, and Haiti, MASS is combining low-cost, locally available construction materials with innovative and appropriate design. MASS's projects reduce the in-hospital transmission of airborne diseases, improve learning opportunities for construction trades, and serve as an engine for economic growth, leveraging the design and building process to create both well-built environments and social change.
Introducing the 2013 PopTech Fellows
PopTech's Fellows programs aim to accelerate the impact of emerging innovators and scientists, who are working to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges.
The 2013 classes of Social Innovation Fellows and Science Fellows provide another big dose of inspiration. From human rights to clean energy, financial inclusion to data security, and from health care analysis and empowerment to soft robotics, they are tackling big questions and goals that can make a major positive difference to society and the planet.
Check out the cutting-edge work of the new PopTech Social Innovation Fellows and PopTech Science Fellows.
Both classes of Fellows head to Maine in October for an intensive training program with expert faculty in order to concentrate on areas of importance to their endeavors. The Social Innovation Fellows focus on scaling their work by gaining new skills and visibility while the Science Fellows focus on becoming more effective communicators, collaborators and leaders both within and beyond academia. Both classes of Fellows form extensive networks of ongoing mutual support and mentorship that provide long-term benefits after their retreat.
Join us to hear them present at PopTech 2013: "Sparks of Brilliance," Oct. 24 to 26 in Camden, Maine.
The Social Innovation Fellows and Science Fellows programs are generously supported by the Rita Allen Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Omidyar Network, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and National Geographic.
We look forward to seeing exciting collaborations and major results from these amazing new classes of PopTech Fellows!
Front page photo credit: Peter Durand
PopTech's 'Better Banked' salon explores U.S. financial inclusion
Around 40 financial experts, researchers, anti-poverty activists and social innovators gathered on Tuesday for PopTech's "Toward the Better Banked," a daylong salon designed to advance discussion about how to improve the financial lives of unbanked, under-banked and unhappily banked Americans.
The diverse set of experts gathered for the event at Yale's Maurice R. Greenberg Conference Center which was made possible with the support of Serve from American Express and Innovations for Poverty Action. The challenge that was under the microscope at the salon is daunting. Around 1 in 12 American households don't have an account with an insured, traditional bank, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Financial stratification between affluent and financially challenged Americans continues to grow. Consumer debt has ballooned. Meanwhile, some of the novel financial service innovations that are widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia, such as mobile-phone-based payments, haven't taken root and propagated the same way in the United States.
"Toward the Better Banked" was not designed to come up with solutions to these problems during the single day of presentations, brainstorming sessions, group breakout discussions and informal chats. But it set out to bring together a diverse set of experts who might not otherwise interact in order to pose some provocative questions, move the discussion forward and at least begin to shed some light on potential breakthroughs and solutions.
Some of the discussion focused on the need to gather hard, reliable data on income and spending behavior in American households that might benefit from the innovative banking tools under discussion. Timothy Ogden, managing director of the Financial Access Initiative at New York University, is currently gathering rafts of that data as part of an in-depth study of 250 families. Early analysis of the data shows that a great deal of the problem facing many Americans is not just low income, but highly volatile income and expenses that are hard to predict and manage. "That is a different problem than just low income," he said. "What are the tools that people are using to meet these questions of volatility?" he asked. "What does that mean about poverty?"
Other questions focused on what lessons from overseas might apply in the United States. Billy Jack, associate professor in the Economics Department at Georgetown University, researches alternative methods of carrying out financial transactions in Kenya, where the mobile phone has become a leading tool for exchanging value. "Do we have to use mobile banking for financial inclusion?" he asked the gathering.
Some of the presentations began to probe innovative products and ideas that might help solve some of the problems facing under-banked Americans. As part of her research, Lisa Servon, associate director of the Community Development Research Center at The New School, spent four months working at a check-cashing operation in the Bronx that served mostly lower-income people. Servon noticed how the check-cashing operation cultivated fierce loyalty among its customers through personalized, forgiving, friendly service. "Whatever direction we go, the point I want to drive home is we are all here talking about people," she said. "And relationships matter."
Unconventional partnerships might be another path forward. Justine Zinkin, CEO of Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners, and Dean Karlan, president of Innovations for Poverty Action, discussed a joint project to issue what Zinkin described as an "un-credit card." The card is designed to consolidate a consumer's debt, fix monthly payments, close other credit cards and ultimately reduce a consumer's debt.
Another branch of discussion explored how the banking challenge among Americans poses some opportunities for innovative ideas and products. Jonathan Zinman, an economics professor at Dartmouth, discussed potentially huge business opportunities lurking in the $13 trillion in consumer debt. He suspects that fee-for-service liability management could be big business. "That is money that is sitting on the table — people are paying more than they need to for their loans," he said. "If you can help consumers access this money, you, in turn, can get a slice of that money."
Some presenters have already created products to serve under-banked Americans or leverage technology to lubricate global transactions for individuals or businesses of any size. Francisco Cervera, CEO and co-founder of eMoneyPool, a private microfinance company, is in the business of establishing virtual "money pools" — savings clubs where ad-hoc groups of individuals take turns borrowing from a common fund. And Chris Larson, CEO and co-founder of OpenCoin, discussed Ripple, a lightning fast way to trade value anywhere in the world across currencies.
The discussion will continue. Dan Schulman, group president, Enterprise Growth at American Express, said some of the best minds had come together at the salon for an exploration that had to start with some provocative questions. "How can you create change and a difference on a scale that is not millions but is tens of millions or perhaps hundreds of millions?" he asked. "How do you drive that kind of difference in the world?"
Who's who at PopTech 2013
Creativity takes many shapes. It's artwork and skateboard tricks. It's using technology in playful ways and improvisational comedy. It's space exploration and new ways of embracing mindfulness. Next month in Camden we're bringing together imaginative individuals to share valuable insights on the nature of creativity. Joining them on stage will be our new PopTech Social Innovation Fellows and Science Fellows, set to be announced next week - stay tuned!
We're also thrilled to announce that Joe Palca from NPR will be in Camden this October to lead a discussion on the role creativity plays in scientific discovery.
NPR's Joe Palca
See who else will be in Camden this year:
Marian Bantjes: A designer, typographer, writer and illustrator well known for her detailed and precise vector art, her obsessive handwork, her patterning and ornamentation.
Olivia Chaney: A spellbinding songwriter who plays the Indian harmonium and has taken the stage at festivals like SXSW and Glastonbury.
Anab Jain: Founder and director of London-and-India-based design studio, Superflux, which produces inventive and critical work exploring the limits of emerging technologies and their implications on society and culture.
Ellen Langer: An artist and Harvard psychology professor whose research has demonstrated that by actively noticing new things — the essence of mindfulness — health, well-being, and competence follow.
Zach Lieberman: "Nerd artist research hacker" who creates visual interpretations of sound and speech.
Helen Marriage: Co-founder of Artichoke, which executes the staging of sweeping, city-scale events and installations.
Shantell Martin: An artist who has rocked the art world using only 'simple black and white.' She was also cast as herself in the TV show "Gossip Girl" and her hand-illustrated bedroom walls were featured on the cover of the New York Times home section.
Rodney Mullen: One of the world's most influential skateboarders, credited with inventing numerous skateboarding tricks, he is the "Godfather of Streetskating" and a truly remarkable inspirational speaker.
Joe Palca: Joe Palca is a science correspondent for NPR. Since joining NPR in 1992, Palca has covered a range of science topics — everything from biomedical research to astronomy. In addition to his reporting for NPR's magazine shows "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered," Palca is a guest host on "Science Friday."
Esther Perel: A psychologist who is recognized as one of the world's most original and insightful voices on couples and sexuality across cultures.
Todd Reichert and Cameron Robertson: The duo who designed the world's first human-powered flapping-wing aircraft.
Kevin Slavin: A gamer who has pioneered the use of location technology and cross-platform gaming.
Adam Steltzner: The engineer who navigated Mars Rover Curiosity's "7 Minutes of Terror" descent to the red planet.
Charlie Todd: Founder of Improv Everywhere, a "prank collective that causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places."
Lisa Witter: Partner and chief change officer of Fenton, where she heads up the firm's work in innovation and co-leads the practices in women's issues, health, philanthropy and global affairs.
There's still time to join us but tickets are going fast. Register today!
PopTech 2013 tickets are going fast — here's why!
The end of summer marks the beginning of our favorite season at PopTech, as we prepare for another unmissable gathering this October 24-26 in Camden, Maine.
Sparks of Brilliance will be a deep dive into the creative instinct with a diverse array of category-defying makers, explorers and creators — from an erotic intelligence expert to a skating legend, a top NASA scientist to one of the world's foremost game designers. It's going to be visionary, actionable and most of all, fun! We know you'll love it.
Our 2013 schedule has been redesigned to allow even more opportunities to connect with friends and colleagues, including a host of immersive experiences in and around what Forbes calls one of "America's Prettiest Towns." Go sailing on the Appledore (a time-honored PopTech tradition), explore a sustainable farm on beautiful North Haven Island, make a traditional Maine meal of bread and chowder with award-winning chef Annemarie Ahearn, or join in-depth conversations with edge innovators about the future of data and hackable cities.
As always, you can count on meeting truly remarkable people in the down-to-earth, welcoming setting that's made PopTech one of the world's most beloved thought-leadership convenings.
To make the PopTech experience even more accessible, we've lowered this year's ticket price — which means tickets are going fast. Check out the roster of amazing speakers (more are being added all the time) and register today!


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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe confirms that the Red Sox are recalling prospect third baseman Will Middlebrooks from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald reports that Koji Uehara is close to signing with the Cubs.
Red Sox signed 1B Mitch Moreland to a one-year, $5.5 million contract.
SB Nation's Chris Cotillo reports that the Angels showed interest in Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong at the Winter Meetings.
According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Rockies "remain deeply involved in talks for free agent Mark Trumbo."
According to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro, free agent Neftali Feliz is a "candidate" for the Marlins.
Jake Arrieta's agent Scott Boras said he plans to discuss a contract extension with the Cubs in January.
MASN's Mark Zuckerman reports that the Nationals have discussed David Robertson with the White Sox.
Padres acquired RHP Miguel Diaz from the Twins for RHP Justin Haley and a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Mike Puma of the New York Post says there is a "limited market" at the moment for Jay Bruce.
Cardinals GM John Mozeliak indicated Wednesday that he will not trade Alex Reyes.
FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports the Nationals are "making a push" for Kenley Jansen.


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Step 1: Did you actually find a bug, and is it new?Believe it or not, people often don't check on this. It's important to know if you're dealing with a known issue, a code problem, or something that really belongs in BYOND Help or in a specific game's forum.
If you discovered something while working on your own code, there's a good chance the problem is in your code. The first thing you should do is do everything you can to resolve it in the Code Problems forum. Post relevant snippets of your code there, and work with the community to figure out if something incorrect is happening. Don't forget to check the reference, either; if it's an interface issue, check the skin reference too. What you're seeing could be intended behavior.
If you ran across the issue in a game, be sure it actually isn't a bug in the game. BYOND bugs tend to stand out more because they usually appear in multiple games, not just one. A bug may also be in play if you see different behavior for the same game but in different BYOND versions. When in doubt, it doesn't hurt to ask around; try the game's forums.
Finally, before reporting a bug make sure it hasn't been reported already. We're not asking anyone to do an exhaustive search, but do a search. (Check out the help forum as well, just in case!) If you do find a matching bug, add a reply to pitch in your new information. If it turns out not to be the same issue, you can always post a separate bug report later; in that case we may ask you to do so.
Step 2: Tell us everything!There is one word I use more than any other when responding to a bug report: details. We need them. It is crucial, vital, and critical to provide as much information as you possibly can about the bug. We even provided a handy-dandy template for you to fill in.
First pick a subject line that describes the bug simply, like "/image icon does not appear when using override", or "Output text doesn't appear in popup", or something like that. You don't need a full paragraph here, just something to describe it in brief.
Now, the BYOND version: If it's a software bug, enter your version number. If it's the website, we have a choice for that. You can find your software version in the About... box found in Dream Seeker, Dream Daemon, Dream Maker, and the pager. Usually we only need the major build number, e.g. 481, not the minor build number that comes after it, and the choice should be in the list. This part is important: Under no circumstances should you write in "don't know", "latest", or "all". Always put in the version number you saw this with. If it happens in multiple versions, put in the most recent one you tried, and in the full text of the report you can tell us what other versions you tested.
In the template, you'll see us ask for a detailed description. The same thing applies here as on the code help forums: Take your time and write out a description as clearly as you can, giving us as much info as you can, and even a step-by-step analysis of the things you tried or observed. You won't be held to account for grammar or punctuation, but just keep in mind that the clearer you can be and the easier it is for developers to read the issue, the more likely it is we can fix it. By the way, any text you put in should go after the </b> tag, so we can read it. Screenshots can often be helpful here, too; they say a picture is worth a thousand words.
There will also be a place to put in numbered steps to reproduce the problem. Don't skip this if at all possible. We need this because if we can reproduce the issue, we have a much better chance of seeing it ourselves and fixing it. Be as detailed as you can, and break it down into as many steps as you have to. Here's a good example of helpful steps:
- Join (link to game's hub entry).
- Create a new character. [If the type matters, and for some bugs it does, please say which kind. We hate going through these screens, so please give us the info to get past them as quickly as possible.]
- Walk south to the fountain.
- Right-click the weaponsmith and choose "Talk".
- An armor overlay should appear on you when he is finished, but it does not do this in version X.
There will also be questions about other things you can try, like trying a different game or using a different computer. It also helps us to know if the problem always occurs if you follow the same steps, or if it's intermittent. Some bugs are OS-sensitive and will be different on different operating systems; website bugs can be different on different browsers, too. Fill in the questions as best you can, and you'll be doing us a huge favor if you test the ones you can test. Remember, the more info we have up front, the faster we can solve the problem.
For software bugs, we also ask if they happen in older BYOND builds, because it helps to know when a bug appeared--we can often pinpoint the cause much better by knowing when it began. You can help a lot by testing this. Old builds can be found at http://www.byond.com/download/build. Say you're testing 480. Download the zip file for the 480 build. Create a new directory like, say, byond480, and unzip the files into that. If you close down the regular BYOND pager, you can open up the pager from that build and then any games you join should be in build 480. (Always check the About... box to be sure you have the right version running.) Obviously this won't always be possible, but being able to pinpoint exactly where a bug began is a really huge deal.
Step 3: Be availableIf you post a bug report, the worst thing you can do is ignore any followup replies. When I investigate a bug, I'll often ask for more information that the original poster forgot to include, or ask questions to try to narrow down the issue. In some rare cases, we have also hooked up users with test builds when we couldn't be sure of reproducing a bug on our end but thought we had a fix. If you're around to respond to questions, it's really helpful.
Step 4: Be patientI know, this is the worst step of all. Bug reports take time to fix, and some get fixed quickly while others take longer. Keep in mind we have a very small development staff, and we're often focused on one issue at a time. If we're working on software, website bugs may have to wait, and vice-versa. Some bugs are hard, or even impossible, for us to reproduce reliably. Some may have no good or quick solutions, and may be deferred for later review.
If you don't hear back from us on a bug, it doesn't mean it's been forgotten; it may just not be high priority at the moment.


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Aldente Italian
615 Warm Sands Drive,
Palm Springs, CA 92264
..:: 800.342.7635 or 760.320.5650 ::..
The Desert Paradise Resort Hotel has won the same award every year -- 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009! Along with the Prestigious 5 PALM AWARD for Excellence in GAY Hospitality.
Our Palm Springs gay resort hotel has been honored for outstanding achievements in gay travel with the Out & About Annual Editor's Choice Award for gay travelers. The award recipients are chosen on the basis of excellence, innovations and solid gay-family travel values.
They are places Out & About editors travel to and ones they personally recommend to their friends.


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All prices excludes any optional dealer added items ($995 Maintenance for Life, $399 Tint, $299 Pinstripe), tax, title, license and $399 doc fee. Final pricing is after Dealer discounts with no eligibility restrictions.
701 W Auto Mall Dr
Directions Tucson, AZ 85705
All prices excludes any optional dealer added items ($995 Maintenance for Life, $399 Tint, $299 Pinstripe), tax, title, license and $399 doc fee. Final pricing is after Dealer discounts with no eligibility restrictions.
Sorry, no items matching your request were found.
If you're looking for a new car in Tucson, Jim Click Chrysler Jeep is your destination. We offer the complete line-up of new Chrysler and Jeep models to drivers in the greater Casas Adobes, Catalina Foothills, Oro Valley, and Marana areas. Find popular models like the Chrysler 200, Jeep Patriot, Grand Cherokee, and Wrangler Unlimited in our always up-to-date inventory. Stop by our new Chrysler and Jeep dealership during regular business hours for a test drive.
In addition to being new and used Chrysler and Jeep experts, the Jim Click Chrysler Jeep team also takes the time to get to know each and every person who walks through our door. So while drivers turn to Jim Click Chrysler Jeep for our cars and SUVs - they return to us for our distinct sense of service.
Finding a new 2016-2017 Chrysler or Jeep that fits your lifestyle and budget is simple. Visit Jim Click Chrysler Jeep in Tucson, Arizona today. Our friendly team of Jeep and Chrysler experts are happy to provide specs on the models you're interested in, compare models like the new Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300, Chrysler Town & Country, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Patriot and arrange test drives.
* MSRP is the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the vehicle. It does not include any taxes, fees or other charges. Pricing and availability may vary based on a variety of factors, including options, dealer, specials, fees, and financing qualifications. Consult your dealer for actual price and complete details. Vehicles shown may have optional equipment at additional cost.
* The estimated selling price that appears after calculating dealer offers is for informational purposes, only. You may not qualify for the offers, incentives, discounts, or financing. Offers, incentives, discounts, or financing are subject to expiration and other restrictions. See dealer for qualifications and complete details.
* Images, prices, and options shown, including vehicle color, trim, options, pricing and other specifications are subject to availability, incentive offerings, current pricing and credit worthiness.
* In transit means that vehicles have been built, but have not yet arrived at your dealer. Images shown may not necessarily represent identical vehicles in transit to your dealership. See your dealer for actual price, payments and complete details.


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Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, whose Saudi Arabia-based Kingdom Holding Company has sizable investments in Apple, Citigroup, Four Seasons Hotels and even Twitter, is ranked No. 29 on Forbes magazine's 2012 list of billionaires and No. 1 in Saudi Arabia. Although his vast wealth means he can dine wherever he'd like, speaking from behind his desk in the regally appointed 66th-floor office of his sleekKingdom Centre skyscraper in Riyadh, he admitted his family has a fondness ...
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CCC celebrated at Promised Land State Park; New GPS tour launched, featuring CCC sites
August 28, 2012 —
Three hearty seniors, whose sense of humor hasn't diminished with time, recently attended the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Festival at Promised Land State Park (PLSP) in Greentown. The former "CCC boys" wasted no time in being useful once again as they grabbed shovels and got to work planting a commemorative serviceberry tree near the Masker Museum, which houses an interesting display of CCC artifacts and historical information.
With 13 million people out of work due to the Great Depression, the CCC was created in 1933 partly for "the relief of unemployment through the performance of useful public work." Young men between the ages of 17 and 25 were recruited to join the "peacetime army." Nearly 3,000,000 young men participated. Each received a cash allowance of $30, of which $25 was allotted to the family and five given to the CCC boy.
PLSP environmental education specialist Carissa Longo introduced CCC boys Frank Kutash, Dr. William Dewar and John Stopka to the crowd. "Not many people know what the CCC did for us as a nation," she said. "In Pike County alone, they planted more than a million trees. They were very influential."
Stopka spoke first. "I had just graduated from high school and we were in the midst of the Depression," he said. "There were very few jobs, so I volunteered to go into the CCC. Most of my education that prepared me for life I learned in the CCC. It was a wonderful experience and also prepared me for my military service in the Air Force."
Kutash served in the CCC in 1937. "Things were tough," he said. "It wasn't much money. But you could get a pint of whiskey for 85 cents." Despite being thrown from a tractor, Kutash wasn't injured and called his time in the CCC "a great experience."
"We learned an awful lot," added Dewar, who credits his CCC experience with enabling him to find a job and attend medical school. During his service, Dewar was unexpectedly assigned to the kitchen. "My real thrill was layer cakes," he said. "The mixing bowl was 30 inches across and as deep as my forearm, filled with 10 pounds of flour and two pounds of shortening.
You'd stir, and the sweat would drip in, so you didn't have to add salt," he joked. "We'd make 64 layer cakes, and some of the edges got burned. So, we just cut that off and put icing over it."


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go-pear.php wants to install pear to my home directory, which I hardly believe is where it should go... however I'm having a heck of a time figuring out where it does belong. I tried my php directory, but it came out php/PEAR/PEAR.... I'm getting fairly confused.
If somebody could let me know where to install PEAR in relation to the php install directory that would be great.
Pear installation
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Lawmakers gear up for rough rideBy PETER HIRSCHFELD
Vermont Press Bureau | March 17,2013MONTPELIER — Legislators buckled down for a bumpy ride last week in the Statehouse, where revenue proposals seemed to crop up in one committee, only to be cut down by the next.
And while the fiscal landscape is anything but settled, the past few days featured some key decisions about what next year's spending plan will look like.
Even away from the budget and taxes, action was fierce as committees in the House and Senate sought to beat a Friday deadline by which they needed to cast votes on non-money bills in order for them to have any chance at passage in 2013.
The so-called crossover deadline, which marks the unofficial halfway point of the session, saw the preliminary approval of bills dealing with campaign finance, energy regulation, home weatherization, substance abuse treatment, equal pay for women and unionization rights for home care workers.
Two of the session's higher-profile bills, meanwhile, haven't won many headlines of late. But legislation dealing with end-of-life choices and marijuana decriminalization are generating plenty of talk behind the scenes as advocates gear up for the fight.
Despite the slew of revenue proposals advanced by elected officials so far this year, the House Committee on Ways and Means begins its search for revenue next week almost from scratch.
Gov. Peter Shumlin's two marquee revenue generators, a $17 million reduction in the earned income tax credit, and a $17 million tax on "break-open" tickets, are off the table in the House. And while House Speaker Shap Smith has finally decided how much money he wants to raise for new programs — $20 million — it's unclear precisely where the money will come from.
The Ways and Means Committee looks poised to get about $6 million by removing a 6 percent sales tax exemption on soda and candy. It ratchets down considerably the penny-per-ounce excise tax on sugared beverages approved by the House Committee on Health Care earlier this year, a surcharge that would have raised an estimated $24 million per year.
While the revocation of the sales tax exemption on soda will begin to solve the revenue dilemma, it has alienated the anti-obesity advocates who were pushing this year for the higher tax. They say the 6 percent sales tax won't provide the deterrent effect needed to curb consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among the children and lower-income residents who suffer from higher rates of obesity.
Rep. Janet Ancel, chairwoman of Ways and Means, said her committee will consider a laundry list of other revenue options next week. By Friday, when Ancel said she aims to cast a vote on a bill, they will have whittled down a list that includes higher taxes, or the elimination of exemptions, on things like clothes, dietary supplements and bottled water.
Ancel said the committee will also consider revisions to the tax code that might result in higher tax bills for rich people. One possibility: capping the dollar value of the home-mortgage interest deduction at $10,000 or $15,000.
"Some amount where you're not going to bring in any normal houses," Ancel said. "There are ways of adjusting the income tax that might fall on higher income taxpayers but not necessarily target them."
Money generated in Ancel's committee will be split between a host of new spending initiatives, including thermal efficiency, home weatherization and renewable energy subsidies. Also competing for money is a low-income heating assistance program to which Shumlin had appropriated $6 million.
As the House busied itself with money issues, lawmakers in the Senate have worked on a host of policy bills. In the Senate Committee on Government Operations, lawmakers put the final touches on a campaign finance bill that, in an earlier iteration, would have increased — in some cases by enormous amounts — the amount of money that candidates are permitted to accept from donors.
The bill now features only modest increases in allowable contribution limits. It also imposes heightened disclosure requirements on candidates, parties and super PACs, which will now have to unveil with greater frequency the sources of their funding.
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources drew heavy criticism from renewable-energy advocates last Tuesday when it voted out a bill that would intensify the permitting process for new generation projects. The legislation would change the criteria used to judge the merits of many solar, wind and hydro projects, and eliminate the "public good" standard that asks regulators to weigh in their decision-making process whether Vermonters on the whole will benefit from the new energy.
Opponents call the bill a "de facto ban" on renewables. Supporters say it offers Vermonters a louder voice in projects slated for their communities.
Home-care workers moved a step closer to winning collective bargaining rights when the Senate gave almost unanimous approval on the floor last week to legislation that would allow them to form a union.
A pension-forfeiture bill that would allow the state to dock the retirement plans of public officials convicted of embezzling public funds is on track to make it to the governor's desk.
Efforts to bolster the number of Vermont students who are able to earn college credits for academic work performed during their senior year in high school is through committee.
The "fair share" or "agency fee" bill — it would require workers who are protected by union contracts to pay dues to the labor organization representing them — has already moved from the Senate to the House.
And a bill that would allow firefighters to collect workers' compensation benefits for lung disease and other respiratory conditions related to their work is also through the Senate.
One bill that hasn't gotten a second of testimony this year but will soon take over the building is marijuana decriminalization. Smith and Senate President John Campbell cut a deal exempting the bill from the crossover deadline. And the House Judiciary Committee will soon begin holding hearings on legislation that would replace criminal sanctions with civil fines for possession of small amounts of marijuana.
A bill that would allow doctors to prescribe lethal doses of medication to terminally ill patients has been on the back burner since a version of the legislation passed the Senate last month.
The original bill codified a process by which patients with less than six months to live could acquire from their doctors a deadly dose of medicine. Last-minute changes on the Senate floor, however, replaced the 27-page bill with a few-sentence amendment that basically indemnifies physicians who prescribe a lethal dose to their suffering patients.
Smith said he's uncomfortable with the bill in its current form, as it lacks the kinds of safeguards that ought to be involved when the state sanctions the hastening of citizens' deaths.
The House will likely take up the end-of-life bill early next month, after it's done with floor debates on the budget and tax bills. Tentatively at least, the original version of the "death with dignity" bill looks at have at least 80 "yes" votes in the House.
Smith said he hopes to add the necessary safeguards to the bill in a way that will be amenable to the Senate lawmakers responsible for amending the bill from its original form.MORE IN This Just InMONTPELIER A new report from a commission that studied the cost, availability and quality of... Full StoryVermont fish hatchery changes focus, looks inland
BETHEL, Vt. Full StoryHONOLULU (AP) A group of Hawaii musicians and a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant provided... Full Story
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All trails lead somewhere. Be prepared with the proper hiking clothing, durable footwear, water bottles and first aid kits.
DenaliOutdoor.com features all the best outdoor gear Denali and Trailblazer stores have to offer. Located in Connecticut and Rhode Island and open 7 days a week, you will find a huge selection of The North Face, Patagonia, Merrell, UGG, Marmot, New Balance, Nike and more. Visit our locations page to find the Denali or Trailblazer near you!
866-451-3795 - Customer Service Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-3pm EST or email email@example.com


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This giveaway is hosted by Dixieland Mom Product and Travel Reviews and SoCal Coupon Mommy and co-hosted by Simply Southern Couponers, Making of a Mom, Crazy for a Deal, Frugal Diva Frenzy, Growing up Bilingual and Swank Savings.
**Please note: winner must be 21 or older due to sailing restrictions for thoseunder the age of 21. **
The Grand Prize:
1- 7 Day Cruise for a family of 4 to the Caribbean on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, sailing from winners choice of 3 ports:
Miami, FL.
Tampa, FL
New Orleans, LA.
Approximate Retail Value: $2000.00
**Cruise must be booked for travel from Oct. 2013-Dec. 2013 or January 2014-April 2014. Holiday dates are excluded for travel during holiday dates.**
Prize includes: Cruise fare only. Winner is responsible for transportation to/from the port of choice, all gratuities, all onboard expenses, all onboard and port expenses/purchases, shore excursion purchases,casino gambling, bingo cards, photographs purchased from shipboard photographers, etc, taxes and fees.
What is included in cruise fare: all meals at regular venues, (specialty restaurants are optional and do charge an additional fee.), a stateroom to include: one queen or 2 twin size beds, and 2 additional sleeping areas in same stateroom, for 2 add'l. passengers, entertainment and free shipboard activities
First Prize:
One set of the Pack It Specter Cube System from Eagle Creek. Arv- $38.00
The winner will receive one set of the Pack It Specter Cube System from Eagle Creek. The set consists of:
1- Pack It Specter Cube
1- Pack It Specter Half Cube
1- Pack It Specter Quarter Cube.
These are fantastic for saving much needed space in your suitcase, especially if you have to fly to your port! Watch for the review in our Pre Cruise prep post!
How to enter:
Entry is simple, just follow the instructions on the Giveaway Tool below. Good luck to all!
Disclaimer: This giveaway is not sponsored by, hosted by, or in association with, in any way, shape or form with Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn or any other social site. Giveaway is open worldwide, to persons aged 21 years of age or older, other than where prohibited. Winner is solely responsible for any associated taxes or fees. Winner is responsible for travel expenses incurred to get to port of choice, and all shipboard expenses over and above the actual cruise fare for a stateroom. These charges may include, gratuities, onboard purchases, shore excursions, any purchases, gambling to include casino and bingo, any alcoholic drink purchases, soda cards, and any other expense not included in the average cruise fare. No other expenses are included. This Mama Loves is not responsible for sending this prize.


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Big Time Rush to play Riverside Aug. 11
Big Time Rush, the tween pop stars who seem to have outgrown their Nickelodeon roots, are coming back to town for a 7:30 p.m. show Aug. 11 at the Riverside Theater, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave.
The group, who headlined at Summerfest last year and the Wisconsin State Fair the summer before that, are on the road this summer as part of their Summer Break Tour; some dates on the tour also include Nickelodeon popster Victoria Justice, but she's not part of the Riverside gig. »Read Full Article(2)
Singles Scorecard: Hear Garth Brooks' 'People Loving People,' his first new song in seven years
Garth Brooks drops his highly-anticipated comeback single. Rapper Hoodie Allen's life is like a "Movie." And Bob Dylan lyrics shelved for nearly 50 years are used in a new song featuring Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford, Jim James and others.
Listen to these new songs below and read our reviews. »Read Full Blog Post
Calamity Janes of Fratney St. put spin on Americana
Elizabeth Altman used to "sing alone to my house plants, wishing I could be on stage." »Read Full Article(2)
Butch Vig sharing lessons, stories at Yellow Phone
Grammy-winning producer and Garbage drummer Butch Vig doesn't do music conferences.
The Viroqua native, 59, isn't one to write speeches, and he doesn't have a lot of time. This year he's been jumping around the country, producing the Foo Fighters' highly anticipated "Sonic Highways," (out Nov. 10) recorded in eight cities, with documentary cameras trailing his every move for an upcoming HBO series premiering Oct. 17. »Read Full Article(1)
12 acts to see at the Yellow Phone Music Conference in Milwaukee
The fourth annual Yellow Phone Music Conference is offering about 60 free performances Friday and Saturday in the Third Ward, more than ever before. Here are 12 acts to check out: six from Milwaukee and six from out of town. For band and show location information, visit yellowphonemke.com.
Local acts
1.Calliope: Doors-swinging psychedelic blues. 10:15 p.m. Saturday, Irish Pub. »Read Full Article
Indian Summer Festival's 'Horse Nation Celebration' salutes a trusted ally
With its "Horse Nation Celebration," this year's Indian SummerFestival at Maier Festival Park is paying homage to the equines that became central to the life of many tribal communities.
Northern Cheyenne horse trainer Phillip Whiteman Jr. will demonstrate the "medicine wheel model of natural horsemanship." In the Horse Nation Arena, festival visitors will be able to see 10 different breeds, including palomino, Appaloosa and the American paint horse. Therapy horses from Stepping Stones Farms in Franksville, which work with children with autism and disabilities, will be showcased. »Read Full Article
Sophie Tucker doc, topical films on tap at Milwaukee Jewish Film Festival
'Tis the season for film festivals.
The latest to enter the fray is the Milwaukee Jewish Film Festival, Oct. 19 to 23. »Read Full Blog Post
John McGivern plans 'Shear Madness' run at Potawatomi
Before he was famous around here for being ubiquitous, John McGivern was renowned, first in Chicago and then in Milwaukee, for playing an outrageous hairdresser in long runs of "Shear Madness." Now he's returning to his signature role in a new production of the interactive comedy-murder mystery.
It will run from Oct. 9 through Nov. 15 at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino's Northern Lights Theater, 1721 W. Canal St. Tickets go on sale at noon Sept. 3 for $40, $45 and $49. Call (414) 847-7922 or visit www.paysbig.com. »Read Full Article
Poem commemorates slain journalist, MU alum James Foley
As part of its syndicated Poem-a-Day project, the Academy of American Poets has published a long poem about James Foley, the journalist and Marquette University graduate who was murdered last month by Islamic jihadists.
"In the Absence of Sparrows," posted online Wednesday, comes from Daniel Johnson, a Boston poet who became Foley's friend years ago when they trained together in the Teach for America program. Foley stood up in Johnson's wedding and was the godfather of Johnson's son. »Read Full Article
'Easter' (1978)
"Easter," Patti Smith's third album, features both her biggest hit and possibly her most problematic song. While it includes nine other tracks (and the CD reissue adds a tenth), I want to focus on the two biggies.
After months of physical therapy for the neck and other injuries she sustained after falling off a stage in early 1977, Smith returned to the recording studio later that year. »Read Full Article
On Tap Today: Sam Llanas, Al White and Journey
Summer may have ended, symbolically at least, with Labor Day, but we deserve a bonus round of summer, do we not? With that in mind, we're happy to share that River Rhythms, the downtown music festival, will have Sam Llanas, formerly of the BoDeans, on stage this evening. It's a rain date concert! He'll be at Pere Marquette Park on Old World Third St. between State and Kilbourn, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. For that matter, Journey will play the Summerfest grounds and Al White will take the stage at Potawatomi, a little something for every musical taste.
May we also recommend a bird walk, a garden walk or a few places to sit still in these waning days of warm weather? »Read Full Blog Post