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Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (209 votes).
In short: PB, Great course, great atmosphere, great day. ThanksDate of review: March 3, 2014
In short: Absolutely BrilliantIn full: Awesome, and reading some of the picky reviews is about as irritating as reading trip advisor ! This race is massive, and that is what I love about it, so guess what I expect it to take some time to get to the race village (it actually didn't !) and I expect it to take a long time to get away after the race. I don't think there is really any alternative, there were tens of thousands of people there, and with no big city transport infrastructure to get people away it is inevitable it will take a long time. I brought a warm coat and waited an hour in good humour with the vast majority of other reasonable and grateful runners. The kit tent was not great, (I waited 25 mins) but it was no outrage either. I do find it amazing that a few people want all of the big race atmosphere and perks of such a massive race, but don't accept any of the disadvantages. Aside from the expected challenges of getting there and getting home, I thought the race was perfect, better than any I have ever done. The start was well planned, I was in the blue zone, I got there in plenty of time, easily found the right zone amongst all those people, the staggered start seemed to reduce congestion on the course, the crowds were breath taking and the atmosphere through Reading town centre was similar to a 'London' experience. The route is surprisingly scenic (except for the dual carriageway back to the stadium) and aside from the wind the course is fast. The stadium finish is my favourite part, I finished in just over 2 hours but it felt like I'd won the Olympics, and 2 strides after the finish line I received a text telling me my time (how do they do that !) the medal was huge and goody bag great, all in all, absolutely brilliant, worth every penny and more. Will be back. Date of review: March 3, 2014
In short: The race was great, pity about afterwards.In full: The weather in the morning set a great start. The line for the shuttle bus was really long but it moved pretty fast and we got to the stadium in reasonable time. The toilet queues were all pretty short and we were able to drop our bags off with no trouble. The walk to the start was fine and our pen was well managed only letting in people with red race numbers. Not sure why we started five minutes late, but telling us this when we're expecting to start meant we had warmed up too early and had to mentally prepare all over again. Actual race was great. I found the course really enjoyable. The crowd was great. The music was fantastic. I loved the stadium finish (despite having no energy left). And only one small bottleneck. And great medal. Then it all went wrong. I picked up my bag from the women's tent without any queue then lined up with my boyf for 45 mins waiting for his bag. In all my ten years of running races (including larger races) I have never been in a longer bag check line. And then it got worse... We lined up for the bus back to the stadium without actually knowing if it was the correct line (as there was no one around to ask or any signs). The line never seemed to end and what was most frustrating is having no idea how much longer it would take. It was getting very cold and we had been on our feet for over three hours already. When we finally got on a bus (after about one hour) I could not believe that they did not full the buses up. All seats were filled up but there was so much standing space. I am sure the people behind me would have rather got on and stood rather than continue to wait in the cold. Great race but failed miserably post-race and so unfortunately I won't be coming back. Date of review: March 3, 2014
In short: Great atmosphere, good course, great way to start a SundayDate of review: March 3, 2014
In short: Good starters, fantastic main course, shocking dessertIn full: Most of the other reviews say it all. This should be a great race (a PB for me!). The people of Reading around the majority of the course were brilliant - samba bands, jelly babies and even a pub giving out free beers. However, with all their experience, I would have hoped the organisers might have cracked how to get people's baggage back to them without the endless queues in sweaty running clothes, standing in the driving wind and rain. And some better signage for the shuttle buses and prepaid car parks might have made the whole experience less stressful for runners and spectators alike.Date of review: March 2, 2014
In short: Mixed experienceIn full: Getting to the Mad Stad from the railway station was slick and easy. The queue, which looked liked a real monster and stretched for a couple of blocks, moved v quickly. Once there, I was in the orange zone (2.15 finisher) and it felt as though we were waiting for ever. People were dashing in and out of the railings for a pee (myself included) which didn't make for a smooth or relaxed start. When I went into the Orange Zone, I didn't need the loo, but after 15 minutes, began to feel as though I did. If we could have set off after five minutes rather than 15+ minutes, I doubt this would've been an issue.There was a DJ from Heart who was well-intentioned and supposed to be livening us up / providing a distraction and some atmosphere, but honestly! She was loud, shouting and grating. I wished I had a mute button. It really made the long wait even more uncomfortable.Once off, everything smooth and great crowds, but a tight turn through the gate, towards Forbury Gdns / the Magistrates Court. The finish into the Mad Stad was uplifting and memorable.Didn't suffer from baggage collection as the ladies' seemed well organised but really felt for the men waiting in massive queues. It was soooo slow and by this point, very cold.Signs for the shuttle bus could have been clearer. We set off to walk but got very very cold and managed to board one after it had set off. Glad we did, as boyf hadn't taken a foil blanket (lack of experience), didn't have another layer and looked as though hypothermia was setting in! So, the race was great, the women's bag drop was great, transport to the stadium was great, but men's baggage and transport back needed to be improved. Date of review: March 2, 2014
In short: Good run with great local support just don't rely on some elements of organisationIn full: As always the course is good for pb's, especially as they now do a staggered start. The support from the locals immense, the stadium finish always a nice touch and there is a very nice medal and decent goody bag. Last year I was a supporter and refused to take the bus option this time as a result ... there were ridiclously long queues in the cold and very wet last year.. our runner actually got ill due to it. So this year we used the car park (not red) and as such didn't have to use baggage either, so it all went marvellously smoothly. Feel bad for those reviewers who tried to use the facilities and found them lacking ... it seems to be a perennial problem.Was slightly bemused by the queue in some kind of caged rat run to get out of the stadium area which seemed to be there so people with clickers could count our running shoe types ... bizarre and frustrating.Also, I agree with one of the reviewers here in that it makes me feel slightly guilty saying this but the lady on the tannoy at the start really isn't suited to the job. She was loud and screechy and made extremely repetitive comments. She came across as somewhat attention seeking and possibly irritated with the lack of runner feedback. Anyway I'm sure she was doing her best it is clearly just not her thing.Date of review: March 2, 2014
In short: 3rd time----------PBIn full: always enjoy the race. Run in Mizuno shoes so baggage never an issue. Would recommendDate of review: March 2, 2014
In short: Fast course but incompetent organisationIn full: This was my first Reading Half Marathon, and I'm usually not a fan of these big events, but the race fitted in nicely to my marathon training schedule.First the positives. The wave starts were well managed and I only spotted a few muppets who pushed their way to the front to then run 10 minute mile pace - why do they do that? The course itself was very fast. The first 3 miles uphill helped you started steady, and then it felt like mostly downhill apart from a short sharp hill at 7 miles. The stadium finish was a nice touch.Now the big, big negatives. I waited 70 minutes to collect my bag after the race in the cold and rain. They seemed to have allocated the first 5000 numbers to the faster runners. It was then surely no surprise that they all queued up at the same time. One tent for 5000 numbers. Really? In 20 years of attending races I have never waited so long. What added insult to injury was seeing runners who had probably finished the race 30 minutes after me getting their bag straight away as their numbers were > 10,000!When I finally got my bag and started to walk back to the car park I then saw the queue for the buses back to the station. They were even bigger than the baggage queues.Other big races seems to manage the organisation so why did Reading get it so very wrong?Date of review: March 2, 2014
In short: Great support let down by organizationIn full: The course itself is excellent with a good mixture of flat and some mild climbs. The support from the people of Reading was brilliant.They deserve better. The baggage collection was a joke for male runners numbered under 5000 - and nobody had the gumption to change it. Then to top it all, I had to queue over an hour for the bus back into town. If I had known it was anything like that I would have walked the short 2 mile walk into town but there was no indication. The longest I have ever taken to get home from a race and I am local. Won't be doing it again and it will be Bath every time for me from now onDate of review: March 2, 2014
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text:
Here's how RW members rated this race (249 votes).
In short: Run of the millDate of review: March 1, 2008
In short: A challanging course due to steep climb for a mile towards Beachy Head and a number of tight corners and turns in Sovereign Harbour. Not ideal for PB potential. Run along the promanade very scenic (albeit windy); Not many spectators.In full: Challenging course due to steep climb towards Beachy Head at mile 3 to 4 (and then a steep run down hill to the sea front). Run along the sea front very scenic. Organisation could be better: water stations infrequent and difficult to pick up a plastic 'vending machine' cup of water (without spilling most of it); Route not that well sign posted - couple of sharp turns in Sovereign Harbour (over narrow metal bridges) means you could easily get off track; the route is not completely free of traffic, I recall going past a roundabout trying to dodge traffic which would not give way! Poorly supported (and in fact on crossing one of the bridges I had to dodge a couple pedestrians who clearly did not know what was going on). Date of review: March 25, 2007
In short: Suprisingly good funIn full: Decided that I would do this about 8pm the evening before and suprised my mate staying over by going to bed early. Had the long drive down from London and got to the race with a little to spare. Good first half following up hill course with a toughish climb for around 1/2 mile at 4 miles then back down the seafront and off to the new harbour development. Harbour bit great to look at. Far end of estate less so. Hard last mile running round that park but with a strong finish which alowed me to pick off some last runners ahead of me.Date of review: March 14, 2007
In short: Mostly flat, enjoyable route.In full: Potential to do a fast time, as long as it's not too windy. Good mile markers every mile. Simple course up and down the seafront, you know where you are at all times.Date of review: March 8, 2007
In short: Was un Date of review: March 2, 2007
In short: Lovely run along sea front and promIn full: Hill comes at right time with a nice descent immediately afterwards. Shame about the drab housing estate at around 10 miles!Date of review: February 28, 2007
In short: I enjoyed this race. Very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Could have done with more toilets. Also hill was supposed to be between 2 -3 miles when in fact the steepest bit did not start until after 3 mile marker. Date of review: February 28, 2007
In short: I really enjoyed this as my first race and warm up for the London in April. In full: One suggestion I would make is that an extra water stop in between the last two would have been good, or the last one a bit earlier than it actually was as I was really needing water by the time I got to it.Date of review: February 28, 2007
In short: It was very good, but there was a potential for improvements.Changing facility was not a vailable or could not be found,seperation of the running path from that of pedestrians was not complete,participants were not informed on how to find their time Date of review: February 27, 2007
In short: Interseting opening 4 miles, then good open courseDate of review: February 26, 2007
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subset: commoncrawl


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Youngsville Area News Briefs
YVFD events
Youngsville VFD Turkey Party will be held Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. Doors open at 6:00 PM, Games start at 7:00 PM Free admission, food and refreshments. Hams, Turkeys, Steaks, Guns. Persons must be 18 years or older to attend this event.
Winter Wonderland Craft Show, Sponsored by Youngsville Fireman's Auxiliary will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2013 at the Youngsville Fire Hall from 10AM-4PM. There will be 107 Tables – Food Available, a Chinese Auction, Free admission. For info call 563-4042.
Senior luncheon
The Youngsville First United Methodist Church will be preparing the regular 4th Monday luncheon at the Rouse Manor on Nov. 28 at noon. The menu this month will be a fall picnic, with hot dogs, homemade baked beans, fruit and dessert. Reservations are appreciated.
Truck load auction
On Sunday, Nov. 3, a truck load auction will take place at the Garland Community Center, 204 Extension Road, Garland. Items that will be available at the auction are special Christmas gift items, wholesale food new merchandise and non-perishable food. Doors open at noon, Auction begins at 1 p.m. Auctioneer Vennie Hotchkiss AU005078 and Apprentice Auctioneer Donald McKuhn AA019338. For more Info call Cheryl @ 563-4374
Headstart Fall Festival
A "Fall Festival" with the children and the children's families were invited to do activities, create and sing. The children and parents made slime, decorated cookies and take home containers. They sang their fall and Halloween songs for the families.
Make & Take Day
On Saturday, at the Rouse Home, a "Make & Take Day" event will be held. The event will be from 8:30 a.m.
Rouse Make & Take Day will feature the expertise of several different area crafters! Each crafter will run a "crafting" station where you will receive instruction and hands-on learning. Once you're finished at a station, pack up your new craft and take it home with you. Crafts will be of a fall and holiday theme. Rouse Make & Take Day will also include a light breakfast, lunch and goodie bags.
Registration for this event is $25. All proceeds benefit the residents, clients and children served by Rouse. This event is limited to 50 participants. Please contact Brenda Dean to register, or with questions. 814-563-6473 or email@example.com . Please bring a non -perishable food item for the Local Food Pantry.
New Community
Mission info
Pastor Rick Nelson invites all interested persons that would like information about the Backpack Food program, please attend this meeting today at 7 p.m. at Evangelical United Methodist Church .
Hessel Valley Lutheran Church will host an "Old Fashioned Beef Stew" Benefit Dinner on today from 4:30 – 7 p.m. Price is donation and take-outs will be available. All proceeds will go to benefit Conrad Walton, infant son of Emma and the late Scott Walton. Conrad has overcome significant health problems and continues to need specialized and expensive care.
YHS Marching Band
Congratulations, to the Youngsville Marching Band. The Youngsville High School marching band will travel to Hershey on Nov. 2 and 3 for the Atlantic Coast Championships.
Trick or Trick hours
Youngsville Trick or Trick hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31. Please stop at homes with porch lights on.
Soup and pie
Saron Lutheran Church will hold a Soup and Pie Lunch on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The soups are potato ham and vegetable beef and various pies. However, no cream pies will be available. The day of the event you can contact 814-563-7226 to schedule a delivery. However, a time cannot be guaranteed. The price is $6. Those interested can pick-up soup at the Church Located at 148 West Main Street, Youngsville, PA
Swiss steak dinner
Swiss steak dinner will be served on Tuesday, Nov. 5, Election Day, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Saron Lutheran Church ,148 West Main Street, Youngsville. Menu is Swiss steak, mashed potato, vegetable, and ice cream for dessert. Price is an $8 donation of which a portion of the proceeds will go to YEMS for Christmas Gift giving. Take outs will be available
Basketball boosters
The Youngsville Basketball Boosters are selling tickets for a Wine Tasting Event to be held on Saturday, November 2nd for $40 per ticket. The Coach Bus will be leaving YHS at 8 a.m. and Bi Lo parking lot at 8:30 a.m. There will be 5 stops throughout the day beginning in DuBois, PA and ending in Wilcox, PA. A lunch stop will be at Denny's Beer Barrel Pub in Clearfield. Winery Certificates will also be raffled off along the way. An approximate arrival time home will be at 8 p.m.
The Youngsville Basketball Boosters are also selling tickets for a Shopping Trip by Coach Bus to the Walden Galleria Mall in Buffalo, NY, on Saturday, November 9th. Tickets are also $40 for this ride. Bus leaves YHS at 8 a.m. and returns at 8 p.m. Shopping Certificates and coupons will be raffled and distributed along the way.
All Proceeds from these trips will benefit both the Girls and Boys Basketball 2013-2014 Seasons. If you would like additional information or to purchase tickets, please call 563-1606.
Hometown Christmas
The Revitalization of Youngsville's annual Hometown Christmas will be held on Dec. 13 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The event will be held on Main Street from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and will include a number of activities such as Santa, horse drawn carriage rides, ornament making at the United Methodist Church, YHS Art Club, and more. At 7:30pm there will be a Christmas Show by the Youth Connection performing Group which is made of Warren County High School Students.
YHS athletes'
sport schedule
09/24/13, Tuesday V Boys/Girls Cross Country, 4 p.m. Home with HC/NE;Home Event
09/24/13, Tuesday, VJ Girls Volleyball at 6 p.m. /Eisenhower High School; Away Game
09/26/13, Thursday JH Girls Basketball at 4 p.m./Tidioute Community Charter School; Away Game
09/26/13, Thursday, JH Boys/Girls Cross Country at 4 p.m. /Postponed to 10/15/2013 Oil City High School; Home Event
09/26/13, Thursday, V Boys/Girls Cross Countryat 4:30p.m. Postponed to 10/15/2013 Oil City High School; Home Event
09/26/13, Thursday, VJ Girls Volleyball at6 p.m./Cambridge Springs High School; Away Game
09/27/13, Friday JH Girls Basketballat4 p.m./Maplewood High School; Away Game
09/27/13, Friday Night Football V Boysat 7 p.m. Mercyhurst Prep High School; Home Game
09/28/13, Saturday, VJ Girls Volleyballat 9 AM Tournament at Sheffield High School; Away Game
09/28/13, Saturday, JV Boys Footballat 11 AM/ Mercyhurst Prep High School Erie Veterans' Memorial Stadium; Away Game


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Stocks Succumb to Late Selloff
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- The major U.S. equity averages finished lower Tuesday as investors piled out of the technology, energy and financial sectors in the final hour of trading.
It was a sour close to a topsy-turvy session. Stocks sank at the start of the day but rallied back into positive territory as strong earnings from Home Depot (HD) stoked optimism about the housing market.
The tech sector was weak throughout the day and the selling accelerated into the close. The broad move lower came against the backdrop of ongoing investor worries about the eurozone's stability and the ability of the U.S. government to address the fiscal cliff by the end of the year.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost nearly 59 points, or 0.46%, to settle at 12,756. The blue-chip index, which ranged from 12,748-12,898 on the day, has now fallen in four of the past five sessions.
Breadth turned negative within the Dow with losers ahead of winners, 24 to 6. The biggest percentage decliners were Caterpillar(CAT) , Hewlett-Packard(HPQ) , Intel(INTC) , and Microsoft(MSFT) .
Microsoft(MSFT) shares finished off 3.3% following news that Steven Sinofsky, formerly president of Windows and Windows Live, has left the software giant. The company didn't provide a reason for Sinofsky's surprise departure, which comes just weeks after Microsoft launched Windows 8.
Cisco(CSCO) shares finished down incrementally ahead of the networking giant's fiscal first-quarter report. The stock was surging nearly 7% in extended trading after the company beat Wall Street's expectations on both the top and bottom lines.
The biggest gainers within the Dow were du Pont (DD) , Home Depot, and Walt Disney (DIS) .
Home Depot shares popped 3.6% after the company posted third-quarter results that beat Wall Street forecasts and hiked its full-year guidance as the home-improvement retailer got a boost from the gradually improving U.S. housing market conditions.
The Atlanta-based company also raised its full-year outlook to sales growth of 5.2% and earnings of $3.03 a share after posting quarterly earnings of 74 cents a share on revenue of $18.13 billion, versus the average analyst expectation of earnings of 70 cents a share on revenue of $17.92 billion.
The S&P 500 slumped nearly 6 points, or 0.40%, to settle at 1374.53, while the Nasdaq dropped more than 20 points, or 0.70%, to finish at 2884.
In addition to tech, energy, and financials, other weak sectors included basic materials, conglomerates and capital goods. Only consumer non-cyclicals and utilities finished in the green.
Stocks got off to a weak start on Tuesday as uncertainties about the timeline of Greece's next tranche of bailout money and a deal on the U.S. fiscal cliff rattled investor confidence.
U.S. lawmakers now have seven weeks to hammer out a budget and avoid the fiscal cliff -- a set of automatic federal tax increases and spending cuts set to occur in January -- a situation that could lead the country back into a recession.


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The nation cannot afford to have the scandals swirling around the Obama administration stagnate an already sluggish Congress. There is no doubt the controversies will make it more difficult for President Obama to find Republican partners to pass bipartisan legislation.
We urge Republican lawmakers to resist the temptation to turn their attention to the 2014 congressional elections and make the political calculation not to hand the wounded president any policy victories in the meantime. Such a strategy might make political sense, but it would not be good for the country.
The economy appears poised to finally take off; what is lacking is confidence in the ability of Washington to function. The Congressional Budget Office projects the deficit is shrinking quicker than anticipated, now expected to settle at $642 billion for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, a vast improvement over the prior year's $1.087 trillion shortfall. The CBO report provides the opportunity for Congress to meet short-term needs that will boost the economy, such as investment in infrastructure, while reaching a compromise with the White House on the tax, Medicare and Social Security reforms necessary to address still ominous long-term deficit projections. This is too important to let political maneuvering get in the way.
It would also be unfortunate, as well, if a compromise on immigration reform, which appears close, becomes a victim of heightened partisanship tied to the scandals.
And they are scandals.
For his part President Obama needs to get a grip. The president has tried to distance himself from the IRS malfeasance by dismissing it as "an independent agency." That's not leadership. IRS falls under the Treasury Department. The president appoints both the treasury secretary and commissioner of the IRS. President Obama said he was as surprised as anyone to learn of the scandal in which conservative groups seeking special tax status were subjected to greater IRS scrutiny and foot-dragging. It was, said the president, outrageous and unacceptable.
If it did indeed come as a surprise to the president, that's a problem. Republican lawmakers had complained that tea party and like-minded groups were being given a hard time. Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, were pressuring the IRS not to let any dubious applications from right-wing groups win approval. Why was there no curiosity from the White House as to how the taxing agency was dealing with this conundrum? When it did become apparent the IRS had improperly targeted conservative groups, no one at the IRS considered it necessary to inform the president?
Rather than run from accountability, President Obama needs to make a Trumanesque declaration that the "buck stops here." The investigation announced by Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. is in order. Investigatory committees in the House and Senate need to get to the truth. The inspector general who uncovered the misconduct could not determine who was involved in creating the criteria for targeting conservative groups. That question needs answering.
The other recent scandal may be more troubling because the administration acknowledges no wrongdoing. Ostensibly to find the source of a security leak to a news agency, the Justice Department culled through the phone records of reporters and editors at The Associated Press in April and May 2012, including its bureau in Hartford. The search targeted more than 20 phone lines in offices in which more than 100 journalists work.
That's a fishing expedition, not a search. When government officials fear Big Brother may be watching, it endangers the ability of journalists to work with sources within government to get at the truth. Perhaps that's the real motivation behind this outrageous intrusion on First Amendment rights.
Congressional committees also need to take a hard look at this apparent abuse of authority.
But while the coming investigations are sure to present a captivating sideshow, Washington needs to keep functioning or, perhaps more accurately, start functioning. The American people deserve answers, but they also deserve a government that can work while it is getting them.
Obama comments on potential civil rights violations at IRS; commissioner resigns
Justice Department secretly obtained AP phone records in probe
Police: Death near Crystal Mall likely result of hit-and-run
Jury hears 911 call, views video of Norwich crime scene as murder trial begins
Stonington doctor fined for inadequate care of cancer patient
New London police make arrest a half-hour after bank robbery
Stonington will not replace mailboxes knocked down by plowed snow next winter
Norwich officials sorry for Kentucky Derby trips, deny ethics violation
Edsall is cleaning up a mess at UConn; let's give him the benefit of the doubt, shall we?
Windsor Locks tobacco field could be leading third-casino site
After recovering from coma, Montville teen joins Coast Guard lacrosse team
State's delegation heading to inauguration, 'ready to start the fight'
Police: Death near Crystal Mall likely result of hit-and-run
State's fishing fleet facing potentially 'disastrous' quota cuts for fluke
Maine governor won't apologize for criticizing US Rep. Lewis


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Ok folks, here we go! I just got the pico contest entry tank up and running!
This is going to be a pest tank filled with everything you hope to never have in your main display tank. I will be calling on many of the local reefers and local fish stores to donate pests to this worthy cause. No livestock will be purchased for this tank. It will be stocked 100% by local donations.
The Gear:
Tank: Fluval Spec 2 gallon
Pump: Mini-Jet 404, rear cover removed and lower half of front cover cut off for clearance.
Heater: Hydor Theo 25 watt
Filtration: Planning to run Chemi-pure in the rear chamber with filter floss and about 2 lbs of infested live rock.
Lighting: BoostLED par 30 bulb on a swing-arm desk lamp.
Nature's Ocean Premium Marine Substrate, Medium-Coarse.
I plugged off the lower orifice in the filter compartment with epoxy to force all of the flow through the filtration media.
Mini-Jet 404 pump installed with the rear cover removed and the bottom half of the front cover cut off. The top half of the cover was retained to insure that the pump inlet remains as far away from the glass as possible.
Substrate and water installed.
Rear chamber with filter floss and heater. No chemical filtration during the cycle.
All set up and running. Lights off for the initial cycling of the tank. I did put in a cap full of Niteout bacteria in the tank to help speed up the cycle. It shouldn't take long.
Once the water clears, I'll start working on the rockscape. My rock already contains some hitchhikers that are going to be part of the main display of the finished tank. Those include Aiptasia, brown majano anemones and some poop-brown palys and zoas. There are also several different kinds of nuisance algae that are there in small numbers. Hopefully they will grow out of control! I will be adding much more starting April 1st.
Stay Tuned!
Edited by Islandoftiki, 05 May 2013 - 10:22 PM.


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About the Author: Abigail Sugrue is an officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
U.S. Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry joined senior Afghan officials, including the Minister of Women's Affairs, the Mayor of Kabul, the Governor of Kabul province, and members of parliament, to celebrate the reopening of the Women's Garden in Kabul on November 3, 2010.
The garden, once a sanctuary, was destroyed during the Afghan civil war. During the paralyzing restrictions of the Taliban era, women and girls were unable to enter the park, and it became a garbage dump.
Now that the historic Women's Garden has reopened its doors, the eight-acre enclosure provides the women of Kabul a safe space to participate in a range of recreational and educational activities. The garden hosts gym and sports classes, vocational training, literacy classes, and serves as a place to socialize. It is also home to the provincial Directorate of Women's Affairs.
The reconstruction project was led and implemented by the Director of Women's Affairs, Ms. Karima Salik, who had played in the garden as a young girl before it was destroyed. The Women's Garden was rehabilitated through USAID's Food Insecurity Response for Urban Populations (FIRUP) and the Local Governance and Community Development (LGCD) programs, with CARE International acting as the implementing partner for FIRUP, and DAI as the implementer for LGCD. Fifty percent of the laborers who rebuilt the garden were women.
In her remarks at the ceremony, Dr. Husnbanu Ghazanfar, Minister of Women's Affairs said, "Over the last 30 years this garden turned into a ruin but with the assistance of the U.S. government and other international donors, the garden has a new life now. More than ever, it is both a place to relax and to learn."
Acknowledging the dedicated work and leadership of Ms. Salik, and the tremendous efforts of Minister Ghazanfar, Governor Zabihullah Mujadadi, Mayor Mohammad Yunus Nawandish, and the entire Provincial Development Committee for their efforts to advance the rights of women, Ambassador Eikenberry noted, "Today marks a new day -- and the hope that Afghan women can again have a garden of their own in Kabul. While this Garden heralds the strength of Afghan women, it is my hope that it will also be seen as a symbol of the United States government's -- and, for that matter, the whole international community's -- support for a lasting friendship and partnership with all Afghans."
Shan in Iraq writes:
it makes me so it is easier for Iraqi women to start rebuilding....gives me hope for my country.
Ozier T. in Germany writes:
During three decades of war in Afghanistan women sufferd a lot, its a great achievment and I am really happy seeing these kind of developments in women section. Ladies first....
I am thankful to USAID and all those people who have been working on this great job. Peace up
Eric in New Mexico writes:
There are ...how should I say? Multifaceted aspects of a nation coming full-circle and becoming whole again.
A kite flying instead of bullets, a tree growing where a blasted stump once lent mute testimony to battles past, or this park revived, speaks much of how huge the "little things" are in this process.
I will suggest this, that in the American's minds eye our press really hasn't shown us this progress, and it's up to folks @ State and USAID to document all this, photograph it, and sue MSNBC and all the other networks on behalf of our public's investment in the future unless they put it all on prime time for everyone to see, so everyone knows both we and Afghans got American taxpayer's money's worth out of nation building.
Along with all the other donors that contributed and still do to the vast effort involved in all of this.
It's not even about "making progress" you do this to force the media to show the whole of the truth, you gotta do this to show the American public we're actually winning this war, because public support is essential to do so.
And while you're at it tell Anderson Cooper where to stuff his tight black tee shirt.
If you don't mind please.
P.S. And I forgot to add, you may want to do a "Crocker" on the Iranians and inform them they are no longer safe anywhere in Afghanistan, as they are trying to pull the same things they did in Iraq in 2006-7.
Check and search every beast of burden crossing that border, every truck , cart and back pack...or just close it down if you can't.
You'll save a lot of innocent lives this way, as well as our troops.
Leo A.M. in Florida writes:
Greetings! I am a Florida Advance Master Gardener since 1980. I am interested in assisting in any way I can.
Good Luck
Ajay K. in Afghanistan writes:
dear sir
iam ajay k in indian pepal iam bee for work in iraq taji in 2004 to 2006 my co.in reedinens manegmant saport LC. my job in heavy diver i am god and hard workar so geev me a van chansh.


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Get an overview of this hotel4-star Paris hotel in 18th Arrondissement, near Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris
Collect 200 Nectar points!
Simply enter your Nectar card number when you check out. Your points will be credited 35 days after you return from your trip.*Offers may apply
Located in 18th Arrondissement, this hotel is within 1 mi (2 km) of Place du Tertre and Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris. Moulin Rouge and Galeries Lafayette are also within 2 mi (3 km).
Hotel Features
This smoke-free hotel features a coffee shop/café, coffee/tea in a common area, and a business center. WiFi in public areas is free. Other amenities include a meeting room, dry cleaning, and laundry facilities.
Room Amenities
All rooms are soundproofed and offer free WiFi and free local calls. For a bit of entertainment, flat-screen TVs come with satellite channels, and guests will also find coffee makers and hair dryers.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
Best Western Montmartre Sacre-Coeur
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
The hotel offers a coffee shop/café. A computer station is located on site and high-speed wireless Internet access is complimentary. This 4-star property offers access to a business center and a meeting room. Event facilities measure 183 square feet (17 square meters). This Paris hotel also offers tour/ticket assistance, multilingual staff, and coffee/tea in a common area.
Best Western Montmartre Sacre-Coeur is a smoke-free property.
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Total number of rooms - 49
- 24-hour front desk
- Multilingual staff
- Number of floors - 6
- Elevator/lift
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Business center
- Coffee/tea in common areas
- Coffee shop or café
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Computer station
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free WiFi
- Laundry facilities
- One meeting room
- Luggage storage
- Year Built 1900
- Conference space size (feet) - 183
- Conference space size (meters) - 17
- Smoke-free property
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Television in common areas
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Free Wi-Fi
- Soundproofed rooms
- Laundry facilities
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Room Amenities
- Air conditioning
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Soundproofed rooms
- Phone
- Coffee/tea maker
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Shower only
- Free local calls
- Iron/ironing board
- In-room safe
- Desk
- Satellite TV service
- Flat-panel TV
- Free WiFi
- Blackout drapes/curtains
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
Minimum check-in age is 18
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- No onsite parking is available.
No rollaway/extra beds available
No cribs (infant beds) available
- A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 2.48 per person, per night
Optional extras
- Breakfast fee: EUR 10 per person (approximately)
Hotel Name
- Best Western Montmartre Sacre-Coeur
- Best Western Sacre-Coeur
- Best Western Sacre-Coeur Hotel
- Best Western Sacre-Coeur Hotel Montmartre
- Best Western Paris Montmartre Hotel Paris
- Best Western Montmartre Sacre-Coeur Hotel Paris
- Best Western Montmartre Sacre-Coeur Hotel
- Best Western Montmartre Sacre-Coeur Paris
National Rating
This property has received its official star rating from the French Tourism Development Agency, ATOUT France.


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Weather Forecast Creating Concern In Fight Against Goff Fire
Firefighters continue their effort to strengthen hand lines at the Goff Fire. At latest report, the lightning-caused fire that started August 5th has burned 21,625 acres and is 15 percent contained.
New crews arrived Sunday to strengthen northern lines to keep the fire from crossing into Applegate Creek. There is concern that the weather forecast calling for hot, windy dry weather will create further challenges


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Remind your staff to always practice safety in and out of the workplace with our budget-friendly gifts and incentives. Discover all you need to make safety a team effort and recognize your staff for working safely. With powerful themes such as Be S.A.F.E.: Smart, Alert, Focused, Educated; Safe Work, Smart Work, TEAMWORK and There's Only One Way–The Safe Way, we offer on-the-spot safety recognition gifts, as well as educational tools for successful safety meetings and training sessions and personalized gifts for advertising your company message.
At Positive Promotions, we offer a wide selection of workplace safety products to help educate employees on the importance of maintaining a safe work environment. Custom safety items are an effective way to get your message across. From water bottles to pocket first aid kits, we have a diverse mix of workplace safety items for the unique needs of your organization.
With over a hundred workplace safety products to choose from, we can help you educate and teach your employees about the importance of safety on the job. Our safety-themed banners can be placed in warehouses, while our laminated safety posters are the perfect choice for the office. We also carry lollipops, stickers, lanyards, and magnets with helpful safety reminders.
Workplace safety promotional items make for excellent giveaways at company functions and can make safety education both fun and memorable. Our guides for safe lifting and accident prevention are must-haves for any business or office. Whether you're starting up a new safety program for the workplace or just want to remind your employees of the keys to a safe work environment, we've got the products to get it done.
Workplace safety products from Positive Promotions are an ideal way to get your employees excited and motivated about practicing safe behaviors on a daily basis. Imprint your message or logo on t-shirts, pens, or key chains as a reminder to stay safe at all times. Check out our selection of workplace safety products today!


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News and Events
Graduate Studies News
SCSU Distinguished Thesis Award Recipient
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The School of Graduate Studies is pleased to announce John Anthony Byczynski as the 2011-12 recipient of the St. Cloud State University Distinguished Master's Thesis Award. Mr. Byczynski is a 2011 graduate with an M.A. in Public History. His work, "Claiming the Mines: Power and Class on the Cuyuna Iron Range, 1910-1933", is an insightful, and admirable project, which represents the best of SCSU. The School of Graduate Studies congratulates Mr. Byczynski and his chair, Dr. Mary Wingerd, Professor of History and his committee members, Dr. Robert Galler and Dr. Stephen Philion, on this award.


text: Gait Heads Giveaway: Win A Gait Matter Lacrosse Head Tonight Lacrosse Playground / October 15, 2012 Lacrosse Playground is hosting a giveaway right here tonight! It's easy to win. Enter your email address and be sure to 'Like' us on Facebook using the widget on the other side. Continue Reading Share


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Movie Mondays at 4:00 p.m. - Upcoming Schedule
Printable schedule available below.
Monday, November 18, 2013 at 4:00 pm
The Way Way Back - Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park. (103 mns.)
Monday, November 25, 2013 at 4:00 pm
Behind the Candelabra - Based on the autobiographical novel, the tempestuous 6-year relationship between Liberace and his (much younger) lover, Scott Thorson, is recounted. (118 mns.)
Monday, December 2, 2013 at 4:00 pm
Kings of Summer - Based on the autobiographical novel, the tempestuous 6-year relationship between Liberace and his (much younger) lover, Scott Thorson, is recounted. (95 mns.)
Monday, December 9, 2013 at 4:00 pm
Steve Jobs' ascension from college dropout into one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs. BIOGRAPHY (129 mns.)
Monday, December 16, 2013 at 4:00 pm
Jean Renoir, son of the Impressionist painter, returns home to convalesce after being wounded in World War I. DRAMA (112 mns.)
Monday, December 23, 2013 at 4:00 pm
Bienvenue Chez Les Ch'tis A sweet, comic, fish out of water story in which a post office manager is transferred, against his will, to the far north of France. COMEDY (106 mns.)
Monday, December 30, 2013 at 4:00 pm
A bittersweet comedy about an old man who refuses to grow up. COMEDY (100 mns.)
Monday, Janaury 6, 2014 at 4:00 pm
A film that excavates layers of myth and memory to find the elusive truth at the core of a family of storytellers. DOCUMENTARY (108 mns.)


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You limited your search to:
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Decade: 1910-1919
Year: 1915
Collection: Government Documents A to Z Digitization Project
Corn, milo, and kafir in the southern Great Plains area : relation of cultural methods to production.
Date: 1915
Creator: Chilcott, E. F. (Ellery Franklin), 1885-; Griggs, William David. & Burmeister, Charles A. (Charles Alexander), 1887-
Description: Presents the results of agricultural experiments studying production methods for corn, milo, and kafir. The studies were conducted at field stations in Garden City, Kansas; Dalhart, Texas; and Amarillo, Texas.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Date: 1915
Creator: United States. Dept. of Agriculture.
Description: Describes fleas, their hosts and biting habits, their lifespans and breeding habits, the spreading of diseases, and the methods for combating the pest.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department


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Rising to the world's biggest risk-on trade
Mali, Algeria, South Africa and Mozambique. In just a single week, the continent has offered four painful reminders that Africa, whose story of economic potential could be such a blockbuster, is an equally dramatic place to find that growth.
France stepped up its ground offensive in Mali, as President François Hollande explained that inaction would leave the country "entirely conquered" by Islamist militants. Few knew the scale of the hostage siege in neighbouring Algeria.
At the opposite end of the continent, in South Africa, Anglo American Platinum's announcement that it would close mines and cut 14,000 jobs sent shock waves through a country still reeling from violent wildcat strikes by miners in October that left about 50 dead, the country's reputation as a stable market in question and made the renationalisation of the country's mines a distant possibility.
In Mozambique, Rio Tinto, one of the biggest and most experienced mining firms in the world, was forced into an "unacceptable" $3bn writedown when the government blocked its plans to move coal via the Zambezi. Doug Ritchie, who oversaw the transaction, resigned and it was a contributing factor in bringing down Rio's chief executive Tom Albanese.
It is perilous to generalise about Africa. Unlike China or India, to which its growth potential is compared, this is not a country, but a concentration of emerging, frontier and pre-frontier markets. Some are established. Some barely have the rule of law. Some are discovering flourishing industries, some are running out of steam. But its economic story is commonly told in general terms: the richness of natural resources is breathtaking, but fortunes can be found across the board. In the face of dwindling developed-world growth, it is a continent of hyperbolic opportunity.
Booming economies
According to the International Monetary Fund, Africa will host seven of the top 10 fastest-growing economies in the world in the next five years. It already had six of the top 10 fastest-growing economies in the last decade and many African countries have grown at higher rates than those of Asia, according to the IMF.
Renaissance Capital, one of the growth story's loudest cheerleaders, has published a book, The Fastest Billion, in which chief economist Charlie Robertson asserts that Africa now is where India was in 1991, and that by continuing on its current trajectory, by 2050 Africa will produce more gross domestic product than the US and Europe do today, combined. Combined! Along with that, "its basic social, demographic and political realities will be transformed."
To take a quick whistle-stop tour: Angola's economy outpaced China's between 2001 and 2010. Uganda is preparing to refine its own oil. Huge reserves have been found in Ghana. Kenya is exporting the payment technology M-Pesa. The middle class is growing. The continent is home to 60% of the world's uncultivated arable land at a time when world population is growing and food security a real concern.
But behind the glossy growth story is a more complex reality. There is a surplus of international private capital ready to be invested, but there are structural challenges. Business models and governance often fall far short of western standards. A lack of detailed business plans and transparency hampers due diligence. Corruption renders deals in some markets unpalatable. Capital markets – both debt and equity – are insufficiently deep or liquid to support investments or exits. And governments are prone to suddenly changing the rules. These are obstacles, but not dealbreakers.
The far greater challenge is ensuring Africans share in their continent's economic growth with employment and education. In a report published in August, entitled Africa at Work, consultancy McKinsey wrote: "Focusing on GDP growth alone will not be enough to transform Africa's employment landscape… to create better outcomes for workers and economies as a whole, policy makers and business leaders need to work together to accelerate the creation of wage-paying, productive jobs."
When Ghana found itself host to one of the richest and most prolific carbon provinces in West Africa, there was unrest behind the scenes. The fishing industry – much more important than oil to the majority of Ghanaians' livelihoods – was suddenly threatened by the rigs and pipelines. Rumours circulated that tribal leaders invited militants from the Niger Delta to advise on methods to redress the balance. As foreigners moved in, rents doubled, and previously well-paid local professionals were evicted. They had seen it all before: their gold mines generated billions of dollars in profits, of which only a tiny percentage came back into domestic coffers. The curse of the extractive industry is a problem across the continent.
Faltering miracles
Africa keeps reminding us that progress can be undone. Ivory Coast was an economic powerhouse in the 1960s and 1970s. While much of the continent faltered, people spoke of the "Ivorian miracle". But economic stagnation in the 1980s led to a dangerous ethnic polarisation of politics and eventually the country's first coup in 1999. Ivory Coast has yet to recover. Mali, to which the West Africa Stock Exchange moved when Ivory Coast became too hostile, was believed by most in the west to be on a stable democratic path, yet all that has unravelled. Pliny the Elder's famed "ex Africa semper aliquid novi" (There is always something new in Africa) should be heeded in modern times.
One investment banker says contagion of discontent is one of the biggest risks in Africa.
The African Development Bank has already cautioned that in spite of a diversifying business mix, Africa's growth still tends to be concentrated on a limited range of commodities that don't generate employment opportunities. This is in marked contrast to Asia, where the growth of labour-intensive manufacturing has helped lift millions of people out of poverty.
Running the businesses that will generate supersonic growth will require a dedicated effort to share Africa's wealth more widely. Without that, social unrest of the scale seen in South Africa, in the Niger Delta or in Ivory Coast could destabilise investments and set back the continent's economic development.
It will be hard to classify Africa's growth story as a success if that is allowed to happen.


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Nutrition Facts
Serving Size ¼ recipe
Calories 170
Calories from Fat 5
Total Fat 1 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 60 mg
Total Carbohydrate 45 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Sugars 39 g
Proteins 2 g
Vitamin A 4% DV
Vitamin C 110% DV
Calcium 4% DV
Iron 4% DV
Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Servings and Times
Servings 4
Preparation Time 1 hour, 20 minutes
Cups of Fruits and Vegetables Per Person: 1.0
Ingredients and Preparation
Ingredients Measures
Small honeydew melon 1
Seedless red grapes ½ cup
Freshly squeezed lime juice ½ cup
Sugar 3 tablespoons
Sparkling water 2 cups
- Cut melon in half, scoop out seeds, peel, and cut into 1 inch cubes.
- Wash grapes well and remove stems.
- Freeze melon and grapes for one hour.
- Combine frozen melon and grapes with lime juice and sugar in a blender. Puree until smooth, adding water as needed. Serve immediately.


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No. 48 women's tennis ready for Big Ten Championships
With the regular season in the rear view mirror, the Penn State women's tennis team is set to begin postseason play this weekend. The fourth seeded Nittany Lions (12-10) will open the Big Ten Championships against fifth seeded Indiana on Friday, April 24 at 11 a.m. ET.


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Whether by bus, car or MARTA, the city of Atlanta has ample travel solutions for you to get to Turner Field.
Getting to Turner Field has never been easier. If you drive to Turner Field, we have a variety of parking options for you.
The Atlanta Braves offer you complete, up-to-date information on all of your public transit options to travel to Turner Field.
Coming to Turner Field? Don't forget to purchase prepaid parking to the game you're attending.
Stay tuned to braves.com to keep on top of parking and traffic alerts.
All levels of Turner Field offer disabled seating with unobstructed views of the playing field.
Check out our Parking and Directions FAQs for additional information about travel routes and parking accommodations at Turner Field.


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This makes me laugh
The Columbus Dispatch - September 14, 2012 04:47 PM
The Statehouse Museum Shop in the basement of the Ohio Statehouse has some swing-state humor to offer. Check out the top two license plate holders above. I particularly like the one that says "We'll pick your president."
The holders sell for $15.50 each. If you've never been to the Museum Shop -- or for that matter the museum -- it's worth a trip to the Statehouse. Get the details here.


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Apple: More Embarrassed Than Kanye West on 12-12-12
And it's not that I don't like hip-hop and rap. I do. It's just that that wasn't hip-hop and rap. I'm not sure what it was. Kanye ought to stick to what he did toward the end when he actually showed incredible talent and sang. Surprisingly, he does have a beautiful voice, but I digress . . . .
Like West, Apple (AAPL) wakes up the morning after 12-12-12 the butt of America's jokes.
Even a "Product Manager" at Facebook (FB) took a shot Tweeting: Dear iFriends: you no longer have to get lost with a link to the big announcement from Google (GOOG) :
Google Maps is now available for iPhone (via Google's Official blog).
Just when I was starting to think, Gee, Apple Maps isn't so bad after all , Google does this.
I played around with Google Maps on my iPhone this morning and, man, it just works . . . so much better. It's not even fair to compare it to Apple Maps. Google Maps has that smooth flow of an old friend -- it's Billy Joel -- whereas Apple Maps -- like Kanye West -- screams ice pic in forehead.
Late last night, All Things D broke the news. Shortly thereafter, Google Maps popped up in Apple's App Store. When I attempted to download it (during West's performance or shortly thereafter), it returned an error message. I woke up a few hours later, in the middle of the night ( I went walking in my sleep, from the mountains of faith to a river so deep! ), and the download worked.
Last night, Google Maps had zero reviews in the App Store. Now it has over 7,000 and counting. Had I not hit that error, I could have been the first to rave about the return of transit directions and Street View. Yes, suburbanites, there is a difference between driving and walking directions!
Google Maps brings the nuance you have to have with a Maps app. But it's a precision that can only come with time. In that respect, you can't come after Apple too hard for having an inferior product. However, you can take Tim Cook to task for releasing it.
I know. We have been through this before.
And now, Apple has to go through this again. It's not all that often that this company gets embarrassed, but by basically having no choice other than to approve Google Maps for iPhone, that's where we are -- redux -- this morning.


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Take the stuff you need to take with you in style. The Dakine Groomer Case in Black Stripes is not too busy and totally practical. Something every guy should have, from hitting the gym to taking a trip. A durable, quality product from Dakine. Dakine detailing throughout.
- Multiple organization pockets
- Nylon lining for easy cleaning
- Size: 10 x 5 x 4" [ 25 x 13 x 10cm ]
- 600D Polyester
- 400D Nylon Dobby


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Everybody, a very merry and happy to all. Some updates:
Right now, I've got a bunch of stuff out:
J. J. Adams' Anthology BRAVE NEW WORLDS received a starred review from PW, and is getting universally praised. It includes my stories "Independence Day" along with some seriously amazing fiction. You can buy it in stores, online at Amazon or B&N, as an e-book, or from the publisher.
Harison How's Anthology DARKNESS ON THE EDGE: STORIES INSPIRED BY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, which originally published "Independence Day" is also out now, and available from PS Publishing. Big thanks to Howe and PS editor Peter Crowther for allowing the reprint, and commissioning the story to begin with.
The first season of Tales From Beyond the Pale is still going strong. Do yourself a favor and buy the whole season. I wrote "Is This Seat Taken." The hubby's story is "Johnny Boy" starring Boardwalk Empire's own Shea Whigham.
My story "Hindsight" is part of the October issue of "Lightspeed Magazine." You can read it online, or purchase the e-issue.
My story "Are You Trying To Tell Me This is Heaven?" is collected in John Joseph Adams' anthology LIVING DEAD 2. Starred PW Review.
Paul Tremblay's awesome collection IN THE MEAN TIME is out in audio. Each story is read by a fellow writer, and there are some pretty cool names attached. Low down on the cool level, you'll find me, reading "The Two Headed Girl."
Thrillers: 100 Must Reads is out from Oceanview Publishing. A prettwide-ranging collection. My personal essay is on Robert Louis Stevenson, whom I learned to admire while researching his life. Buy it here.
Mark Morris' CINEMA FUTURA, published by PS is also now out. I's comprised of 60 essays written by genre writers on their favorite sci-fi movies. I picked "Donnie Darko," because "Donnie Darko" is awesome. You can buy it here.
I'm updating my website, and will be offering a bunch of old published stories for free. My novels are still available. If they're not in your local bookstore, throw some hands.
Other stuff: Still working on the fourth novel, the YA, and the screenplay. Progress continues, so hold on to your hats and other assorted parts.
This year I'll be out and about.
January 14, 7pm. Bookcourt Bookstore in Brooklyn. I'll be reading for the Brooklyn Writers Space, along with Luke Langfeldt, Lucy Neave, and Joshua Wolf Shenk.
February 18-20th. Boskone in Boston, MA! I'll be there. Perhaps, so will you.
April 28-May 1. World Horror Convention in Austin, TX. I'll be a guest of honor. Be there or stink.
June 16-19. Bram Stoker Weekend, on Long Island.
July ? Necon 31– Bristol, RI. I'm a guest of honor, and will be there, though I ought to figure out exactly when it's happening.
July 14-17, ReaderCon in Boston, MA.
October 27-30th. World Fantasy Convention, San Diego, CA.
Thanks for reading. You can find me on facebook and twitter. Have a wonderful 2011, and don't let anybody give you any baloney.
Yours sincerely,
Sarah Langan


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|Gamma RZR 98 T Scores
Our playtesters found it easy to generate heavy spin and power with the RZR 98T. The racquet encouraged aggressive play with lots of pace, but our playtesters had mixed results. It didn't matter which area of the court a shot was hit from, or which shot was hit, there seemed to be at least one tester who struggled with control. While they enjoyed a lot of spin, the inconsistent response often had groundstrokes flying long. When serving with the RZR 98T, almost everyone produced great pace and impressive spin. Volleying proved to be a mixed bag, with some playtesters enjoying the response and others struggling to find confidence. If there's ever been a racquet that should be demoed before buying, it's this one, as it had a definite love/hate effect on our team.
Providing plenty of spin and power, the Gamma RZR 98T allowed our testers to hit aggressively despite some inconsistencies. It took Troy a while to get used to the hefty swingweight. He said, "I felt that I had to prepare for my shots a little sooner because the racquet felt a bit too hefty. Once I felt comfortable with my timing the racquet felt very stable and possessed a lot of plow through. I was able to find easy depth on my shots, and I was surprised at how lively the stringbed felt compared to the dense 18x20 string pattern I typically prefer. There were times that I felt the stringbed caused the ball to fly a little long, but I was much more dialed in with this stick than the Gamma RZR 100T. Slice was easy to generate, as the ball skidded low off the bounce. This racquet felt stiffer than the 62 RA would suggest, which may be due to its RZR aerodynamic beam shape. I liked how the mass carried the ball deep, but it was just a bit uncontrollable at times."
Chris enjoyed the pace and spin, but was disappointed with the consistency. He said, "On paper, I thought this would be my favorite of the Gamma RZR 98 racquets, as the weight is more to my liking. However, that simply did not ring true on the court. I found it very hard to be consistent with this racquet. It felt stiffer and more jarring than the standard 98, and the added power from the heavier weight simply compounded my inconsistency -- especially when it came to depth. I found it more comfortable than the RZR 100T, but brassier than pretty much anything else out there. On the plus side, I could hit with pace and spin. It doesn't have quite the plow-through power of the RZR 100T, but it was up there. I hit some very hard groundstrokes with this racquet, but keeping them in the court proved to be the hard part. Consistency was so frustrating with this racquet that I simply used it the bare minimum to get this test done. I started out a match with this racquet, went down 1-4, put it down and won the next 11 games. Another time I picked it up for a second set, went down 2-4, put it back down and won the set 6-4. No one likes losing, and I just don't like trying to win points very much with this racquet."
"At first glance the racquet seems to be a beast," said Jose. "Because the static weight and the swingweight are both at the extreme high end, I was really surprised how maneuverable the racquet really was. Having a swingweight in the mid-350s is my bread and butter. The combination of the racquet's weight and the fast racquet head speed I could generate made it really fun to go for passing shots and put-away shots. When you play with a racquet that has a lot of mass, it's easy to stay aggressive without doing too much."
Liking the weight but struggling with feel was Carol. She said, "The weight of this racquet is very similar to my current frame (Wilson BLX Six.One 95), so I was not intimidated by the strung weight of 12.1 ounces. This racquet provided a lot of plow through, which I really enjoy in a racquet due to my style of strokes. I believe the extra added swingweight really allowed for this. It did not feel precise, though. During my entire playtest I felt that the ball was sailing deep on me a lot, especially on the forehand stroke. Adding spin did not remedy this problem, either. The feel provided another drawback for me. I definitely felt every shot, but not always in a good way. On many shots I would feel a shock in my right arm at ball contact. This would leave my arm (already irritable as it is) in pain. The racquet also vibrated on contact, which really affected the feel I had on court. I had little confidence in this racquet when I wanted to step in and be offensive. I was worried my control and precision would be lacking."
The results were mixed at net. Carol found comfort lacking. She said, "Like groundstrokes, I felt every volley with this racquet, both good and bad. My arm was definitely strained from the constant shock that came from hitting volleys. I felt much more controlled with this shot, however. This racquet displayed a lot more precision and maneuverability than I was expecting at net."
Volleys with this racquet came easy for Troy. He said, "As long as I had the racquet in the correct position it was as solid as a wall. I could get good depth by letting the mass of this racquet do the work. When moving forward and closing at the net it was easy to put the ball away. The times that I had trouble were when I had to hit a reaction volley and during quick exchanges in doubles. The maneuverability was an issue that bothered me when I was the net man in doubles. The racquet felt a bit stiff and I wasn't dialed into my touch volleys initially, but I developed them the more I played with this stick. I definitely felt more connected to my volleys than I did with the Gamma RZR 100T."
Struggling at net was Chris. who said, "The one plus side of volleying with this racquet was that it made me feel better about hitting groundstrokes with it. There were times when I thought I had simply forgotten how to volley. The ball just wasn't going where I intended enough of the time. I tried hitting this racquet with a full poly stringbed, a full multi and even a hybrid. Comfort improved with both the multi and the hybrid, but, unfortunately, feel and control remained frustrating. I enjoyed the power and stability when punching a volley, but then got immediately frustrated at missing my target."
Finding the racquet better at net was Jose, saying, "As long as I didn't get a ball hit at my body, the racquet was amazing for volleys. But with a 4 points headlight balance, the specs were outside of my comfort zone. I was still able to maneuver the racquet, but it took some extra effort."
Some playtesters enjoyed the pace and spin created on serves, while others had issues with racquet speed. A fan of the Gamma RZR 98T on serve, Carol said, "This was my favorite shot with the racquet. The extra swingweight really added power to my serve. I found myself landing farther inside the baseline because of the pull this racquet provided. I was able to add spin without losing control, as well. The shock and vibrations I felt on the groundstrokes were not an issue with my serve."
Chris found the Gamma 98T to perform better here than in other areas. He said, "I served decently with this racquet. I was able to get very good pace and spin. My targeting was acceptable, and I felt like I had some good weight on my serves. The stringbed offered plenty of bite to generate spin, and the racquet pushed through the ball well to help generate pace."
The heft of this racquet forced Troy to work harder than usual to generate power. He said, "I was having a hard time getting any added spin and kick with wrist snap due to the lack of maneuverability. I found consistency with my slice serve, but I didn't feel comfortable going for a flat serve or a kicker. I was disappointed that this racquet was a bit too hefty for me to generate any added power."
Jose said, "Having a high swingweight and a close to even balance didn't help my kick serve. On the other hand, I was able to crush my flat serve."
Power and stability were key factors on returns, although control issues popped up for some players. Troy liked the Gamma RZR 98T's ability to hold up on big serves. He said, "Just as I noticed on groundstrokes, I got a lot of stability and I could get good depth on my returns. I struggled at times when I was stretched out or if I had to maneuver the racquet to block back a body serve. I found the slice backhand return to work well; I could get it to penetrate with decent depth. Anything that was hit in my forehand zone I could easily take a rip at, but when I was forced to maneuver the racquet with my wrist it was tough to do anything."
Chris blocked the ball back with good pace. He reported, "I liked that the racquet felt solid on returns. Again, I struggled with control. My struggles were especially evident during doubles play, where the target window can be vary narrow. The racquet felt uncomfortable if I wasn't spot on with my returns, even though stability was good."
Carol found the same issues that she had from the baseline. She said, "Like on my groundstrokes, the ball was sailing long on me. The racquet provided power, but definitely with the loss of control."
Finding good consistency on his serve returns was Jose. He said, "Because of the racquet's mass it was easy to be offensive, even on serve returns. As long as I got a racquet on the ball I felt like I could return every ball."
Chris - "I liked the power and stability."
Troy - "A very stable racquet that provides a ton of plow through for big hitters. Much better control than the Gamma RZR 100T."
Carol - "This racquet provides a lot of power. I felt very comfortable with the weight of the racquet, and I thought the cosmetics were sharp. I really enjoyed serving with this racquet, which allowed me to take the offensive a great deal more on my service games."
Jose - "It's really easy to be offensive with a frame that has such a high swingweight. My favorite shots were the groundstrokes. As long as I hit the ball on the sweetspot it was easy to control and crush my shots."
Chris - "I didn't like the feeling of not knowing where the ball was going. Comfort needs to be improved. The string spacing seems random, and perhaps is an influence on the inconsistent response. Groundstrokes were bad, volleys were worse."
Troy - "Lack of maneuverability, especially on my serve. The stringbed was a bit lively at times."
Carol - "I felt that my ball (especially on the forehand) was sailing long a lot. I also found my right hand and arm (dominant hand) to be very irritated from the shock and vibration at contact. This racquet is a hand surgeon's dream. I would recommend a handle system/technology to be added to this racquet to reduce the frame vibration."
Jose - "The feel would be one downside. I didn't get too much comfort out of the racquet. At 4 points head light the racquet was not too maneuverable, so I wish it would have been closer to 6 points head light."
Chris - "I was disappointed with this playtest. I liked the frame design aesthetically, but in the end the playability simply wasn't there for me. The power and stiff feel on off-center shots reminded me of the original Aero racquets from Babolat (predating the AeroPro Drive series). Like this racquet, those were very stiff and lacked feel, but at least the stringbed had a consistent feel. If you don't remember those early Aero racquets, it's probably a good thing."
Troy - "I'd say that this racquet is pretty unique, and there's not much out there that compares to this. The closest racquets to my memory would be the Babolat Aero Storm Tour GT, and strictly based on the mass, I would say the Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 Tour."
Carol - "I have no comparisons to previous Gamma racquets, so I'll compare it to my current frame, the Wilson BLX Six.One 95. I think if Gamma added more feel to this racquet, like I get with my Wilson, the racquet would perform much better. I really felt that the feel was harsh and very straining on the arm. The Gamma RZR 98T did provide more power than the Wilson BLX, and both are geared toward high level players. I think I'll stick with my frame."
Jose "The best comparison I have would be to a Dunlop Biomemtic 200 Tour. Both racquets are really similar in style and in feel. If you're a big fan of the 200 Tour you might like the Gamma RZR 98T. There was not much adjustment I had to make between the two racquets."
(Scores are determined by averaging individual play test scores)
|Chris's Scores
|Troy's Scores
|Carol's Scores
|Jose's Scores
Chris: 5.0 all court player currently using the HEAD Youtek IG Prestige Midplus. Chris uses a full-western forehand grip, has a fast swing style and hits a one-handed backhand.
Troy: 5.0 lefty all-court player with a full Western Forehand and a two handed backhand. Troy currently plays with a customized Wilson KBlade 98.
Carol: Open level baseliner currently using a Wilson BLX Six.One 95 (16x18). Carol is an aggressive player who uses an eastern forehand grip and a two handed backhand.
Jose: 5.0 baseliner with a semi-western forehand with a 2 handed backhand. Currently using the Prince EXO3 Tour 18x20.
Review date: April 2012. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us.
All content copyright 2012 Tennis Warehouse.


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Allison Wise joined 40/29 News in December 2011 as an Associate
Producer. After being promoted to Digital Editor, Allison was again promoted Digital Executive Producer. She manages content for
4029tv.com and all digital and social media platforms. Allison works
with the 40/29 news team covering breaking news, weather and community
events in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.
Prior to joining 40/29 News, she received a bachelor's degree in communication and political science from Tulane University in 2008 and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas where she worked as a graduate assistant for the Office of Media and University Relations.
A native of Louisiana, Allison moved to Arkansas from Washington, D.C., where she worked in Special Events at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art with the Smithsonian.
After college, she interned at Time Inc. Lifestyle Group in Birmingham. Allison worked with the digital marketing and editorial departments for MyRecipes.com and MyHomeIdeas.com, two websites affiliated with Southern Living and Cooking Light magazines.


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September 21, 2009 WIC Update
SUBJECT 1: Help Desk Coverage on Columbus Day and Veterans Day
SUBJECT 2: Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Training
SUBJECT 3: Caseload Participation in Crystal
SUBJECT 4: Updated WIC Supply and Resource Request Form (WIC 8)
SUBJECT 5: Update on WIC Resource Shipment
SUBJECT 6: Recycling MICR Ink Cartridges
SUBJECT 7: New WIC-38 Form
- Help Desk Coverage on Columbus Day and Veterans Day: There will be coverage on the WIC Help Desk from 8:00-5:00 on October 12, 2009 for Columbus Day and November 11, 2009 for Veterans Day. However, the State WIC Office will be closed on these days as they are state holidays. If you have questions, contact Mark Davis at firstname.lastname@example.com or 573-526-5323 or 800-392-8209.
- Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Training: The 2-day training, "Loving Support through Peer Counseling", has been scheduled this fall in different areas throughout the state. This is a highly interactive training on the basics of breastfeeding and how to counsel mothers. A few openings are left, if an agency would like to send a CPA or nutritionist to this training. Please see the attached registration form with dates and training sites. Also keep in mind that additional breastfeeding training opportunities will be available later in the fiscal year (2010). Email Kathy Mertzlufft at firstname.lastname@example.com or call her at 573-526-4792 if you have any questions.
- Caseload Participation in Crystal: WIC local agency caseload participation for August 2009 is now available in Crystal Reports. The combined HANDS and MOWINS caseload participation is available on Crystal in both Excel and PDF format.
How do I access the new caseload participation count for my WIC local agency? Log on to Crystal reports and click on the plus sign (+) next to the Public Folders. Click on the plus sign (+) next to the WIC Reports – Local Agency. Next, click on the (+) sign in front of the Caseload Management line, then click on the HWIAC425-01 Reports (MOWINS & HANDS) line, and finally click on 11-August'09 FY09 HWIAC425-01+MOWINS for either Excel or PDF Reports. The formatting will look similar to the old HANDS 425 report. It is actually combined HANDS and MOWINS data.
Please Note:
- July caseload participation has been updated with those participants who had a recertification date in the month before they returned to the agency. MOWINS credits the original recertification month with the caseload participation and assigns a partial food package.
- Fully breastfeeding infants are included in this caseload count.
If you have questions, please contact your District TA Staff person.
- Attached is the new WIC Resource Request Form: WIC Supply and Resource Request Form – Local WIC Providers (WIC 8)
Please begin using the new form effective October 1, 2009. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Takako Tagami at email@example.com.
- Update on WIC Resource Shipment: The following are updates on WIC resource shipments:
- Medical Documentation Form (WIC 27)
The State office shipped the WIC 27 form to all local WIC providers on September 16 and 17, 2009 via UPS. If your agency needs additional forms, please order from the warehouse using the updated WIC Resource Request Form (WIC 8).
- New Nutrition Handouts
"WIC Foods for Moms-To-Be and Children (#1067)" and "Get Cookin' with Beans (# 1272)" are being printed. The State office will ship the new handouts to all local WIC providers. Please do not order these handouts until your agency gets a shipment from the State office. Local WIC providers will be notified when it is shipped through the WIC Update.
- National WIC Association 2010 Calendars (English Version)
The calendars were shipped to all local WIC providers on September 18, 2009 via UPS. Please begin providing a calendar to your participants.
- National WIC Association 2010 Calendars (Spanish Version) – The Spanish calendars had to be destroyed due to a printing error at NWA. When they are available, we will ship them to the LWPS. If you received any of the Spanish calendars, please destroy them. Do not give the Spanish calendars to your participants until we send you the corrected version.
- WIC Approved New Food Poster (20" x 30")
The state office plans to ship the poster by the middle of October, 2009. We will notify local WIC providers through the WIC Update.
- Eat A Rainbow Every Day Poster (English & Spanish)
The State office plans to mail a couple of posters to all local WIC providers during the month of October, 2009.
Please share the information above with your staff. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Takako Tagami at firstname.lastname@example.com.
- Medical Documentation Form (WIC 27)
- Recycling MICR Ink Cartridges: If you want to recycle used ST-9512 and ST-9530 MICR ink cartridges, there is a free and easy way to do so. See the attached return label with instructions. You can print off the label and make copies as needed. The postage has already been paid. Also, we have attached the instructions for changing the ink cartridges for the ST-9512 and the ST-9530 MICR printers.
If you have questions, you may contact Larry Rutledge at firstname.lastname@example.com or 573-526-0226 or 800-392-8209.
- New WIC-38 Form: We have revised the WIC-38 form. Here is a brief description of the sections you will need to fill out on the new form. If you have a change to the demographic tab in MOWINS or/and the common area in HANDS you will need to fill out Sections 1, 2, and 3. If you have a duplicate DCN in HANDS and/or a duplicate SWID in MOWINS you will need to fill out Sections 1, 2, 4 and 5. Please start using the revised version of the WIC 38 form (attached) right away and destroy the previous version. This form can be found at MOWINS under Help Desk Information. You can email completed forms to the WIC Help Desk at firstname.lastname@example.com or fax forms to 573-526-1470. If you have questions about this form you may contact Jayna Slade at the WIC Help Desk 800-554-2544.
WIC-Resource Request Form 8 combined
Using Loving Support To Manage PC Registration
Printer 9512
Printer 9530
Return Label for Ink Cartridges


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Fostering Friendly Competition
Recently I wrote about how our community could benefit from good spaces and third rooms and how startup weekends and the ideas and products they create could help our economy. Today let's talk about the "geek effect". Geeks love bragging rights. More than monetary reward, really smart folks relish accomplishing something others thought couldn't be done or devising a more elegant solution to a problem than currently exists. As a community, we can leverage that with some friendly competition.
An example of what I'm talking about is a recent Node.js Knockout competition that a few local residents participated in. Without getting into all the details, the idea behind the competition was to develop a web-based program using a specific technology, in this case, node.js. (If you are interested in all the details, the rules of the contest are posted here: http://nodeknockout.com/rules.)
Like startup weekends, participants in the contest had 48 hours to develop their application. But unlike startup weekend, there was no central location hosting this particular competition and teams from around the world competed.
Rochester.js, our local team comprised of Dan Curran, Nathan Henderson, Adam Lindsay and David Moffitt, submitted a game called ACROnode which won first place in the Design category. Because of the contest, in a single weekend, a small group of people created an addictive word play game that not only won first place in an International competition (and them a bunch of cool prizes) but the application itself can also now generate revenue for them in a variety of ways.
The Node.js contest courted teams from around the world but to foster collaboration in our own community, participation should be limited to local and regional residents. Contests of this type can be sponsored by local companies or universities. RIT already has something like a startup weekend called RIT48 but other universities should follow suit and show the community what their students can do.
If you own a company, why not sponsor a contest among your customers to reward the most creative use of your product? You probably already have the resources you need, office space and internet, sitting idle on the weekends anyway. For the cost of some pizzas, snacks and drinks you can get people talking about your company and products, create some goodwill with your customers (they get to show themselves off too) and help the community.
This idea isn't just limited to technology either. Rick DeVos is kickstarting Western Michigan's economy with an idea called ArtPrize. ArtPrize awarded over $450,000 to 10 local artists whose work was picked by the community and then installed through the city of Grand Rapids. Over 2,000 artists participated last year and it's estimated that the three week event associated with ArtPrize was attended by nearly half a million visitors and residents. Imagine what something like that could do for our community and economy.


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Nominee Cornell denied
MAYVILLE – For the first time in 31 years, a resolution to fill a Chautauqua County Legislature vacancy has failed.
Ten legislators voted against Democratic Com-mittee nominee Chuck Cornell, D-Jamestown, to fill Fred Larson's District 12 seat at Wednesday night's legislature meeting.
District 12 consists of portions of Jamestown's north side, which has been without a county representative since Larson took his position as Jamestown's second city court judge in April.
Terry Niebel, R-Sheridan, was the only legislator to speak prior to the vote, which would have required a simple majority of 10 votes in Cornell's favor.
"In the 150-year proud history of this legislature, there has only been one instance where this body has turned down a recommendation of the local committee, and that was in 1983," Niebel said. "Not since then has there been any recommendation of a district committee that has been turned down and there have been dozens and dozens, if not hundreds. I would urge my Republican colleagues to do the right thing and that would be to seat Mr. Cornell."
After the resolution failed, Keith Ahlstrom, D-Dunkirk, who voted against the resolution, said his reasoning involved a letter to the editor from Cornell, which was posted on Nov. 17 in the OBSERVER. The letter is available in its entirety at the end of this article.
Norm Green, Democratic election commissioner, said he was surprised and shocked at the outcome of Wednesday night's vote.
"I had no idea that we had legislators that are that small, not to accept someone who has a resume like Chuck Cornell has," Green said. "It epitomizes all the bad things we hear about in Washington, and all the bad things we hear about in Albany and now these things come to Mayville."
Green went on to say that the political discourse belongs in election season.
"At this particular point in time, it's not right at all," he said. "The people of legislative District 12 obviously are not going to be represented for at least 30 more days, possibly until the end of the year, and that certainly isn't fair to the people of Jamestown. I'm highly disappointed."
Now, the Democratic Committee must name another nominee, who could once again be Cornell. Until another Democratic Party member is chosen and approved by the legislature, the District 12 seat will remain empty.
A general election will take place in November to fill the seat for the second part of a two-year term.
Mark Tarbrake, R-Jamestown, was one of eight Republican legislators who voted against Cornell's nomination.
"I felt it was the right thing to do," he said. "At this time, we can move forward and look to the future for the next person the Democratic Committee chooses."
Legislators who voted in favor of the resolution to seat Cornell included Paula DeJoy, D-Jamestown; Dave Himelein, R-Findley Lake; Janet Keefe, D-Fredonia; Chuck Nazzaro, D-Jamestown; Terry Niebel, R-Sheridan; Dave Wilfong, R-Jamestown; and Jay Gould, R-Ashville.
Legislators who voted against the resolution besides Ahlstrom and Tarbrake included George Borrello, R-Irving; Pierre Chagnon, R-Bemus Point; Shaun Heenan, D-Dunkirk; John Hemmer, R-Westfield; Ron Lemon, R-Frewsburg; John Runkle, R-Stockton; Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia; Lisa Vanstrom, R-West Ellicott.
Editor's Note: The following letter written by Chuck Cornell, which Keith Ahlstrom referred to earlier in this article, appeared in the OBSERVER on Nov. 17.
The sweeping Republican victory in obtaining 13 of 19 Legislature seats has been depicted as a "tsunami" based on the fact that voters were "paying attention."
However, this victory could have been predicted, give or take a seat or two, given the fact that the Legislature lines that were adopted were not those developed by an independent, non-partisan commission, but instead largely by a partisan Albany-based consultant hired by the Republican caucus to draw the lines. Minda Rae Amiran of the League of Women Voters and member of the Independent Redistricting Commission cautioned legislators right before the partisan plan was ultimately adopted to be careful about the "message you are sending to the public both about your commitment to a transparent and non-partisan process and about your willingness to waste the time of serious and committed citizens."
The Republican legislators, plus legislators Keith Ahlstrom and Shaun Heenan voted against the independent, non-partisan plan. Then a partisan plan was adopted.
Both Legislators Heenan and Ahlstrom did not draw Republican opponents in this year's election. Much like the "bipartisan gerrymandering" in Albany has helped to keep the New York State Senate with a Republican Majority and the New York State Assembly with a Democratic Majority, the people of Chautauqua County have partisan gerrymandered legislature districts that limits choices and competition for legislature seats. So while other valid conclusions can be drawn about the 2013 election, including the dramatically low voter turnout, it's clear that the legislature lines that were deliberately drawn to favor one political party worked as they were designed.
Political scientist Gerald Benjamin once concluded that Albany gerrymandering has resulted in "diminished competitiveness and accountability" and "cemented divided partisan control" and provides state legislators with "insulation from the public will."
It's possible for the same conclusion to be drawn in Chautauqua County. Voter participation and competitive legislature seats may decline even further until new lines are drawn that are "transparent and non-partisan" and put communities and civic participation above party politics.
Chuck Cornell is a Jamestown resident.


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According to the New York Times, a report by the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University finds that college students and recent graduates rank job security above other major life goals.
Well, yes. But when asked about the job attributes that were most important to them, working adults ranked the following above or alongside job security: work/life balance, positive work environment/culture, good compensation, and having interesting work to do. Undergraduate and graduate students gave similar rankings, except that they ranked compensation just below job security. (The exact rankings vary according to your reading of the data; if you look at "essential" job attributes, the ranking comes out one way; if you look at "essential or very important" attributes, it rearranges a little, but not much.)
Now, as for life goals, it doesn't appear that work/life balance, positive work environment, or intesting work were even offered as options. One could argue that the first two aren't life goals.But the third could be. Given that both students and adults ranked it so high among job attributes, it's likely they would have ranked it high among life goals as well. Having a job "with impact on causes important to me" was listed among the life goal options, but that's not the same as having an interesting job.
So, while the New York Times doesn't exactly misstate what's in the report, it draws skewed conclusions from it. Yes, when given a limited set of options for life goals, college students and adults ranked job security highest. Yet when it came to job attributes, the quality and substance of the job mattered at least as much to them as job security. Also, what can one draw from the fact that of all the job attributes listed, work/life balance ranks highest?
Of course this report isn't the final word on what people want from jobs. Polls have limitations to begin with, and this one may have caveats that I haven't noticed. But what it says is intriguing.


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Blowback: consequences that resulted when an intelligence agency participated in foreign media manipulation
From the Daily Kos:
On Friday, September 26, the end of a week in which thousands of copies of Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West — the fear-mongering, anti-Muslim documentary being distributed by the millions in swing states via DVDs inserted in major newspapers and through the U.S. mail — were distributed by mail in Ohio, a "chemical irritant" was sprayed through a window of the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton, where 300 people were gathered for a Ramadan prayer service. The room that the chemical was sprayed into was the room where babies and children were being kept while their mothers were engaged in prayers. This, apparently, is what the scare tactic political campaigning of John McCain's supporters has led to — Americans perpetrating a terrorist attack against innocent children on American soil.
This is the stuff that drives me crazy and is the direct blowback from the Clarion Fund's mass distribution of "Obsession" to Swing states less then 40 days away from an election.
Instead of someone going to the Mosque and being really honest and asking for opinions from Muslims about how they feel the movie portrays them. Some one buys into the fear and besides that all Muslims must be radical.
I haven't mentioned either that I have now received 2 "Obsession" movies. One in my Sunday paper, and then a week later another one in a direct mail piece.