text:
provoke the mind but touch the flawed souls in all of us."
—The Boston Globe
"It's hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes."
—The Financial Times
Uh-oh, it looks like your Internet Explorer is out of date.
For a better shopping experience, please upgrade now.
The astonishing new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult about a family torn apart by an accusation of murder.
They tell me I'm lucky to have a son who's so verbal, who is blisteringly intelligent, who can take apart the broken microwave and have it working again an hour later. They think there is no greater hell/b>/b>/i>
The astonishing new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult about a family torn apart by an accusation of murder.
They tell me I'm lucky to have a son who's so verbal, who is blisteringly intelligent, who can take apart the broken microwave and have it working again an hour later. They think there is no greater hell than having a son who is locked in his own world, unaware that there's a wider one to explore. But try having a son who is locked in his own world, and still wants to make a connection. A son who tries to be like everyone else, but truly doesn't know how.
Jacob Hunt is a teenage boy with Asperger's syndrome. He's hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject in his case, forensic analysis. He's always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do...and he's usually right. But then his town is rocked by a terrible murder and, for a change, the police come to Jacob with questions. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger's not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, flat affect can look a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel. Suddenly, Jacob and his family, who only want to fit in, feel the spotlight shining directly on them. For his mother, Emma, it's a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it's another indication of why nothing is normal because of Jacob. And over this small family the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacobcommit murder?
Emotionally powerful from beginning to end, House Rules looks at what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works well for people who communicate a certain way and fails those who don't.
provoke the mind but touch the flawed souls in all of us."
—The Boston Globe
"It's hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes."
—The Financial Times
Everywhere I look, there are signs of a struggle. The mail has been scattered all over the kitchen floor; the stools are overturned. The phone has been knocked off its pedestal, its battery pack hanging loose from an umbilicus of wires. There's one single faint footprint at the threshold of the living room, pointing toward the dead body of my son, Jacob.
He is sprawled like a starfish in front of the fireplace. Blood covers his temple and his hands. For a moment, I can't move, can't breathe.
Suddenly, he sits up. "Mom," Jacob says, "you're not even trying."
This is not real, I remind myself, and I watch him lie back down in the exact same position-on his back, his legs twisted to the left.
"Um, there was a fight," I say.
Jacob's mouth barely moves. "And ...?"
"You were hit in the head." I get down on my knees, like he's told me to do a hundred times, and notice the crystal clock that usually sits on the mantel now peeking out from beneath the couch. I gingerly pick it up and see blood on the corner. With my pinkie, I touch the liquid and then taste it.
"Oh, Jacob, don't tell me you used up all my corn syrup again-"
"Mom! Focus!"
I sink down on the couch, cradling the clock in my hands. "Robbers came in, and you fought them off." Jacob sits up and sighs. The food dye and corn syrup mixture has matted his dark hair; his eyes are shining, even though they won't meet mine. "Do you honestly believe I'd execute the same crime scene twice?"
He unfolds a fist, and for the first time I see a tuft of corn silk hair. Jacob's father is a towhead-or at least he was when he walked out on us fifteen years ago, leaving me with Jacob and Theo, his brand-new, blond baby brother.
"Theo killed you?"
"Seriously, Mom, a kindergartner could have solved this case," Jacob says, jumping to his feet. Fake blood drips down the side of his face, but he doesn't notice; when he is intensely focused on crime scene analysis,
I think a nuclear bomb could detonate beside him and he'd never flinch.
He walks toward the footprint at the edge of the carpet and points. Now, at second glance, I notice the waffle tread of the Vans skateboarding sneakers that Theo saved up to buy for months, and the latter half of the company logo-NS-burned into the rubber sole. "There was a confrontation in the kitchen," Jacob explains. "It ended with the phone being thrown in defense, and me being chased into the living room, where Theo clocked me."
At that, I have to smile a little. "Where did you hear that term?"
"CrimeBusters, episode forty-three."
"Well, just so you know-it means to punch someone. Not hit them with an actual clock."
Jacob blinks at me, expressionless. He lives in a literal world; it's one of the hallmarks of his diagnosis. Years ago, when we were moving to Vermont, he asked what it was like. Lots of green, I said, and rolling hills.
At that, he burst into tears. Won't they hurt us? he said.
"But what's the motive?" I ask, and on cue, Theo thunders down the stairs.
"Where's the freak?" he yells.
"Theo, you will not call your brother-"
"How about I stop calling him a freak when he stops stealing things out of my room?" I have instinctively stepped between him and his brother, although Jacob is a head taller than both of us.
"I didn't steal anything from your room," Jacob says.
"Oh, really? What about my sneakers?"
"They were in the mudroom," Jacob qualifies.
"Retard," Theo says under his breath, and I see a flash of fire in Jacob's eyes.
"I am not retarded," he growls, and he lunges for his brother.
I hold him off with an outstretched arm. "Jacob," I say, "you shouldn't take anything that belongs to Theo without asking for his permission. And Theo, I don't want to hear that word come out of your mouth again, or I'm going to take your sneakers and throw them out with the trash. Do I make myself clear?"
"I'm outta here," Theo mutters, and he stomps toward the mudroom.
A moment later I hear the door slam.
I follow Jacob into the kitchen and watch him back into a corner.
"What we got here," Jacob mutters, his voice a sudden drawl, "is ... failure to communicate." He crouches down, hugging his knees.
When he cannot find the words for how he feels, he borrows someone else's. These come from Cool Hand Luke; Jacob remembers the dialogue from every movie he's ever seen.
I've met so many parents of kids who are on the low end of the autism spectrum, kids who are diametrically opposed to Jacob, with his Asperger's. They tell me I'm lucky to have a son who's so verbal, who is blisteringly intelligent, who can take apart the broken microwave and have it working again an hour later. They think there is no greater hell than having a son who is locked in his own world, unaware that there's a wider one to explore. But try having a son who is locked in his own world and still wants to make a connection. A son who tries to be like everyone else but truly doesn't know how.
I reach out to comfort him but stop myself-a light touch can set Jacob off. He doesn't like handshakes or pats on the back or someone ruffling his hair. "Jacob," I begin, and then I realize that he isn't sulking at all. He holds up the telephone receiver he's been hunched over, so that I can see the smudge of black on the side. "You missed a fingerprint, too," Jacob says cheerfully. "No offense, but you would make a lousy crime scene investigator." He rips a sheet of paper towel off the roll, dampens it in the sink. "Don't worry, I'll clean up all the blood."
"You never did tell me Theo's motive for killing you."
"Oh." Jacob glances over his shoulder, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "I stole his sneakers."
In my mind, Asperger's is a label to describe not the traits Jacob has but rather the ones he lost. It was sometime around two years old when he began to drop words, to stop making eye contact, to avoid connections with people. He couldn't hear us, or he didn't want to. One day I looked at him, lying on the floor beside a Tonka truck. He was spinning its wheels, his face only inches away, and I thought, Where have you gone?
I made excuses for his behavior: the reason he huddled in the bottom of the grocery cart every time we went shopping was that it was cold in the supermarket. The tags I had to cut out of his clothing were unusually scratchy. When he could not seem to connect with any children at his preschool, I organized a no-holds-barred birthday party for him, complete with water balloons and Pin the Tail on the Donkey. About a half hour into the celebration, I suddenly realized that Jacob was missing. I was six months pregnant and hysterical-other parents began to search the yard, the street, the house. I was the one who found him, sitting in the basement, repeatedly inserting and ejecting a VCR tape.
When he was diagnosed, I burst into tears. Remember, this was back in 1995; the only experience I'd had with autism was Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. According to the psychiatrist we first met, Jacob suffered from an impairment in social communication and behavior, without the language deficit that was a hallmark of other forms of autism. It wasn't until years later that we even heard the word Asperger's-it just wasn't on anyone's diagnostic radar yet. But by then, I'd had Theo, and Henry- my ex-had moved out. He was a computer programmer who worked at home and couldn't stand the tantrums Jacob would throw when the slightest thing set him off: a bright light in the bathroom, the sound of the UPS truck coming down the gravel driveway, the texture of his breakfast cereal. By then, I'd completely devoted myself to Jacob's early intervention therapists-a parade of people who would come to our house intent on dragging him out of his own little world. I want my house back, Henry told me. I want you back.
But I had already noticed how, with the behavioral therapy and speech therapy, Jacob had begun to communicate again. I could see the improvement. Given that, there wasn't even a choice to make.
The night Henry left, Jacob and I sat at the kitchen table and played a game. I made a face, and he tried to guess which emotion went with it. I smiled, even though I was crying, and waited for Jacob to tell me I was happy.
Henry lives with his new family in the Silicon Valley. He works for Apple and he rarely speaks to the boys, although he sends a check faithfully every month for child support. But then again, Henry was always good with organization. And numbers. His ability to memorize a New York Times article and quote it verbatim-which had seemed so academically sexy when we were dating-wasn't all that different from the way Jacob could memorize the entire TV schedule by the time he was six. It wasn't until years after Henry was gone that I diagnosed him with a dash of Asperger's, too.
There's a lot of fuss about whether or not Asperger's is on the autism spectrum, but to be honest, it doesn't matter. It's a term we use to get Jacob the accommodations he needs in school, not a label to explain who he is. If you met him now, the first thing you'd notice is that he might have forgotten to change his shirt from yesterday or to brush his hair. If you talk to him, you'll have to be the one to start the conversation. He won't look you in the eye. And if you pause to speak to someone else for a brief moment, you might turn back to find that Jacob's left the room.
Saturdays, Jacob and I go food shopping. It's part of his routine, which means we rarely stray from it. Anything new has to be introduced early on and prepared for-whether that's a dentist appointment or a vacation or a transfer student joining his math class midyear. I knew that he'd have his faux crime scene completely cleaned up before eleven o'clock, because that's when the Free Sample Lady sets up her table in the front of the Townsend Food Co-op. She recognizes Jacob by sight now and usually gives him two mini egg rolls or bruschetta rounds or whatever else she's plying that week.
Theo's not back, so I've left him a note-although he knows the schedule as well as I do. By the time I grab my coat and purse, Jacob is already sitting in the backseat. He likes it there, because he can spread out. He doesn't have a driver's license, although we argue about it regularly, since he's eighteen and was eligible to get his license two years ago. He knows all the mechanical workings of a traffic light, and could probably take one apart and put it back together, but I am not entirely convinced that in a situation where there were several other cars zooming by in different directions, he'd be able to remember whether to stop or go at any given intersection.
"What do you have left for homework?" I ask, as we pull out of the driveway.
"Stupid English."
"English isn't stupid," I say.
"Well, my English teacher is." He makes a face. "Mr. Franklin assigned an essay about our favorite subject, and I wanted to write about lunch, but he won't let me."
"Why not?"
"He says lunch isn't a subject."
I glance at him. "It isn't."
"Well," Jacob says, "it's not a predicate, either. Shouldn't he know that?"
I stifle a smile. Jacob's literal reading of the world can be, depending on the circumstances, either very funny or very frustrating. In the rearview mirror, I see him press his thumb against the car window. "It's too cold for fingerprints," I say offhandedly-a fact he's taught me.
"But do you know why?"
"Um." I look at him. "Evidence breaks down when it's below freezing?"
"Cold constricts the sweat pores," Jacob says, "so excretions are reduced, and that means matter won't stick to the surface and leave a latent print on the glass."
"That was my second guess," I joke.
I used to call him my little genius, because even when he was small he'd spew forth an explanation like that one. I remember once, when he was four, he was reading the sign for a doctor's office when the postman walked by. The guy couldn't stop staring, but then again, it's not every day you hear a preschooler pronounce the word gastroenterology, clear as a bell.
I pull into the parking lot. I ignore a perfectly good parking spot because it happens to be next to a shiny orange car, and Jacob doesn't like the color orange. I can feel him draw in his breath and hold it until we drive past. We get out of the car, and Jacob runs for a cart; then we walk inside.
The spot that the Free Sample Lady usually occupies is empty.
"Jacob," I say immediately, "it's not a big deal."
He looks at his watch. "It's eleven-fifteen. She comes at eleven and leaves at twelve."
"Something must have happened."
"Bunion surgery," calls an employee, who is stacking packages of carrots within earshot. "She'll be back in four weeks."
Jacob's hand begins to flap against his leg. I glance around the store, mentally calculating whether it would cause more of a scene to try to get Jacob out of here before the stimming turns into a full-blown breakdown or whether I can talk him through this. "You know how Mrs. Pinham had to leave school for three weeks when she got shingles, and she couldn't tell you beforehand? This is the same thing."
"But it's eleven-fifteen," Jacob says.
"Mrs. Pinham got better, right? And everything went back to normal."
By now, the carrot man is staring at us. And why shouldn't he? Jacob looks like a totally normal young man. He's clearly intelligent. But having his day disrupted probably makes him feel the same way I would if I was suddenly told to bungee off the top of the Sears Tower.
When a low growl rips through Jacob's throat, I know we are past the point of no return. He backs away from me, into a shelf full of pickle jars and relishes. A few bottles fall to the floor, and the breaking glass sends him over the edge. Suddenly Jacob is screaming-one high, keening note that is the soundtrack of my life. He moves blindly, striking out at me when I reach for him.
It is only thirty seconds, but thirty seconds can last forever when you are the center of everyone's scrutiny; when you are wrestling your six-foot-tall son down to the linoleum floor and pinning him with your full body weight, the only kind of pressure that can soothe him. I press my
lips close to his ear. "I shot the sheriff," I sing. "But I didn't shoot no deputy ..."
Since he was little, those Bob Marley lyrics have soothed him. There were times I played that song twenty-four hours a day just to keep him calm; even Theo knew all the verses before he was three. Sure enough, the tension seeps out of Jacob's muscles, and his arms go limp at his sides. A single tear streaks from the corner of his eye. "I shot the sheriff," he whispers, "but I swear it was in self-defense."
I put my hands on either side of his face and force him to meet my eyes. "Okay now?"
He hesitates, as if he is taking a serious inventory. "Yes."
I sit up, inadvertently kneeling in the puddle of pickle juice. Jacob sits up, too, and hugs his knees to his chest.
A crowd has gathered around us. In addition to the carrot man, the manager of the store, several shoppers, and twin girls with matching constellations of freckles on their cheeks are all staring down at Jacob with that curious mix of horror and pity that follows us like a dog nipping at our heels. Jacob wouldn't hurt a fly, literally or figuratively-
I've seen him cup his hands around a spider during a three-hour car ride so that, at our destination, he could set it free outside. But if you are a stranger and you see a tall, muscular man knocking over displays, you don't look at him and assume he's frustrated. You think he's violent.
"He's autistic," I snap. "Do you have any questions?"
I've found that anger works best. It's the electric shock they need to tear their gaze away from the train wreck. As if nothing's happened, the shoppers go back to sifting through the navel oranges and bagging their bell peppers. The two little girls dart down the dairy aisle. The carrot man and the manager do not make eye contact, and that suits me just fine. I know how to handle their morbid curiosity; it's their kindness that might break me.
Jacob shuffles along behind me as I push the cart. His hand is still twitching faintly at his side, but he's holding it together. My biggest hope for Jacob is that moments like this won't happen.
My biggest fear: that they will, and I won't always be there to keep people from thinking the worst of him.
Excerpted from House Rules by Jodi Picoult Copyright © 2010 by Jodi Picoult. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Jodi Picoult received an AB in creative writing from Princeton and a master's degree in education from Harvard. The recipient of the 2003 New England Book Award for her entire body of work, she is the author of twenty-one novels, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers House Rules, Handle With Care, Change of Heart, and My Sister's Keeper, for which she received the American Library Association's Margaret Alexander Edwards Award. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three children. Visit her website at JodiPicoult.com.
Average Review:
See all customer reviews
Jodi Picoult's latest novel is a sensitive and moving insight into the lives of one family affected by Asperger's Syndrome. Jacob is an eighteen year old young man struggling to appear "normal" in a world that is NOT yet prepared to welcome him as he is. While unwittingly involving himself in a serious crime, Picoult manages to share with the reader the deepest feelings of his mother Emma, his younger brother Theo, and Jacob himself as he is forced to do the one thing that children with Asperger's find most impossible to do...to make contact with world; and in Jacob's case have his voice heard in our judicial system. Through Jacob we learn what it is truly like to live daily with the painful social isolation, eccentric behavior,and circumscribed passions of someone who struggles to just "fit in" and connect to others. From the moment you enter Jacob, Emma and Theo's life, Picoult skillfully teaches us about the pain and pleasure of having an Asperer's child in the family in vivid detail and with powerful imagery. Ironically,with this well written and absorbing novel, Picoult achieves the very contact with the reader that you will wish Jacob and others who struggle with this variant of Autism could do on their own.
Jodi Picoult's latest book is redundant of her previous works, with the substitution of Jacob, a young man with Asperger's syndrome, for the character in previous disease (or social ill)-of-the-week plots. It's obvious Picoult's done a lot of research, and she appears to "nail" the character of Jacob. It's worth reading the chapters in his voice to learn about the thought process and behavior of a person with Asperger's. The other characters, however, are hardly more than cardboard cutouts. The mother is especially disappointing. How did this woman of strong educational background, great heart, and earnest endeavor, who has worked tirelessly and successfully to champion her son in the bureaucracy of education, do so without finding allies along the way to aid her when facing the challenge of a new bureaucracy in the court system? And how is it that the skills learned in a school setting were so difficult to transfer to the bureaucracy of a court setting? That just didn't ring true. Also, parents who work so hard through the system on behalf of their special-needs children are generally not taken by surprise when the child turns 18 and is considered an adult by the outside world; they work ahead of time to prepare for that eventuality, especially in this day and age when medical personnel can't even discuss care matters of an 18+-y.o. child without a signed release. My advice: ignore the substandard plot and flat characters of most chapters, and just go for the gold: Jacob's voice. There's much to be learned there from a character worth getting to know.
Emma Hunt has dedicated her life to her son Jacob who suffers with Asperger's syndrome. Her sacrifice has come with personal lost and cost as her career was pushed aside; her ex-husband Henry the computer programmer left as he worked at home and could not concentrate with the tantrums; and her other son Theo three years younger than Jacob is expected to watch over him when mom cannot, but ignored otherwise by her as he cannot even get his permit. She lives to protect Jacob and Theo understands that the prime house rule is take care of your brother. However, her efforts to give her soon a life fall apart when the police charge eighteen years old Jacob with the murder of Jess Ogilvy. His inability to understand non verbal signs and comprehend social nuances puts Jacob at risk. Desperate, she hires Oliver O. Bond as Jacob's lawyer. This is a super look at Asperger's Syndrome, but not just the person suffering from it, but also the impact on family members especially Theo. The murder mystery tales a back seat even in the courtroom to how Henry thinks and reacts to senses overload, which can be simply crinkling of paper. Rotating perspective between family members, the lawyer and others, fans obtain a deep look at the total impact of Asperger's Syndrome. Harriet Klausner
I don't mind at all reading big books if they're engrossing. This one was not. Although the main character of Jacob, who is autistic, was interesting, I found myself getting really annoyed with some of the rest of the people (his mother, his lawyer, the cop). The "mystery" dragged out way too long and then was "solved" within 2 practically throw-away paragraphs on page 526 (of 532), and we don't find out what happens to any of the main characters after the "big reveal." After investing a fair amount of time in reading this book, I found it to be very disappointing.
This book had a great story to tell. I have yet to read a book with this kind of story line from the perspective of someone with Autism. The story line was in fact engaging but where it falls short are the characters. Normally Jodi Picoult's books have so many fascinating characters and with this one I really have to say that only one or maybe two of the characters caught my attention. I even found myself speed reading the chapters of the characters I had no interest in. I will say that she made Jacob very believable. I can only assume because I have personally never had the pleasure of knowing anyone with autism but it did seem very believable to me. Sadly this one not one of her best. Allot of her first books they hold you from page one and you just can't put it down, this one not so much. It is a great thing when your favorite authors become popular because then you get to read more of their books at a faster pace BUT at the same time they start to churn them out so fast and they fall short. In the end I was glad I borrowed it from the library and not paid the money to purchase it.
Emma Hunt, who is almost entirely focused on helping her eighteen-year-old son, Jacob, who has Asperser's syndrome, learn to communicate with his family and peers. Emma's life is complicated by the fact that her husband, Henry, left shortly after their younger son, Theo, was born. Fifteen-year-old Theo deeply resents the amount of time and money that his mother lavishes on his older brother. Jacob possesses so much knowledge on the subject of forensics; he could truly aid the investigators, which gets him into deep trouble However, although Jacob is very intelligent, what he sorely lacks is social skills. To help Jacob, his mother Emma hires, Jess, a pretty grad student to tutor Jacob in developing social skills. This is a compelling, thought-provoking story that grabs you right off the bat and holds your attention throughout.
Once more Jodi Picoult has given us an outstanding novel which not only entertains, but also clearly brings to light the dilemmas which families who have children with a behavioral disability have to live with every day. I couldn't wait to read this book and had a hard time putting it down when there were other things that needed to be done. It gave me insight into autism and specifically Aspergers Syndrome. The characters were so real. Emma, the mother of Jacob, was a very real person who had to change her whole life to help her son live in his world with minimal conflicts. I am a great admirer of Picoult's and can't begin to understand how she is able to do all of the research which her novels frequently demand. This book kept me on the edge throughout and I couldn't wait to see how it was going to end, but when I finished it I missed not being able to read any more!! I admit to being a fan of Jodi Picoult's but she has written several I wasn't wild about, however, this was really tops them all. I heartily recommend this to book clubs and everyone else.
I was thoroughly engaged in this book - even thought I had the ending figured out. And then --- are you sure there aren't pages missing from my book? That's it? Very disappointing ending - I guess Jodi had an appointment to get to or something!
Sometimes this author is hit and miss but this book was phenomenal. I could not put it down and read it in a few days. You fall right in love with the main characters and really feel like you are in the story.
I love Jodi Picoult but though the premise is interesting and the factual information enlightening, the whole story is contrived and hard to follow. The ending is not Jodi's usual shock, but again just frustrating. Do not buy this book and if you are a Picoult fan wait until you can borrow it. Also, I agree with the other commetns about the ebook price - hard to believe that you can get paper and book binding for little more than this price.
This novel illustrates how being different can cause tremendous hardship and can disrupt ordinary family life; it is a tale of how dysfunction affects each member of the family in a different way; it is a tale about how hard it is to attempt to function in a normal world when everything about you and your world is not the norm. The story is told in the voices of the five main characters. 1-Jacob is the main character. The author gets inside his head and really shows what it is like to have Asperger's, to be locked out of the normal world and to live in a space where all outside stimuli are larger than life. She has captured what it feels like to be an outsider, always looking in, trying to belong but never being accepted because the necessary skills are absent. Jacob's inability to function normally in the world has had devastating effects on the life of his entire family. He cannot read the clues people send out and he often misinterprets behavior and makes inappropriate responses. The family is preoccupied with preventing an outburst from too much sensory stimulation. He is an exceptionally bright senior in high school. His hobby is forensics and he uses a police scanner to learn about crime scenes, offering advice to the trained detectives. 2-Emma, Jacob's mom, is very devoted to him, often leaving her other son to fend for himself. She works from home writing an advice column, which is ironic since she has a hard time dealing with her own problems, let alone those of strangers. Money is always tight because Jacob needs an enormous amount of intervention in order to be mainstreamed so he can function somewhat, in the real world. Her marriage has ended in divorce because Henry cannot cope with Jacob and his effect on their daily and married life. Emma is often preoccupied with Jacob and neglects, of necessity, everyone else. Although Henry supports them financially, he is emotionally and physically absent from the family. 3-Theo is Jacob's brother. Because of Jacob's bizarre abnormal reactions to normal situations, Theo's needs are often ignored. Although Theo is not autistic, he also exhibits some anti-social behavior as a result of his loneliness and feelings of neglect. He wants a normal home life. While Jacob has no friends because his mental problems keep people away from him, Theo has no friends because when his brother appears on the scene, they shun him too. The stain of his brother's Asperger's colors him as well. 4- Jess is Jacob's social skills tutor who is writing a paper on Autism. She has helped him when it comes to interacting in the world in ordinary social situations. He really relates well to her and likes being with her because she makes him feel comfortable. When she is found murdered, Jacob is accused and arrested. His arrest sets the story in motion. 5-Oliver is the lawyer who represents Jacob in the murder trial. He relates well to Jacob and is helpful to Emma. The relationship that develops between them makes the story a bit contrived. It seems convenient and not very plausible. He is 28 and she is the mother of an 18 year old. Once you become drawn into the story, however, the harder it becomes to put the book down. It is upsetting because of the injustice of the way society treats people who march to a different drummer, but it is also very exciting and keeps you guessing as to the ultimate outcome.
House Rules was a very well-written, informative and entertaining book. While I loved the character of Jacob, my heart went out to Theo. I learned alot about Asperger's Syndrome and felt the author did a great job getting the reader inside the head of Jacob. However, I was disappointed by the ending. I don't always expect a happy ending, but it would have been good to have a few of the loose ends tied up.
This is a story about Jacob Hunt who has Asperger's syndrome. He just wants to fit in as does his family but suddenly they are cast into the spotlight when Jacob's social skills tutor is found dead. This is a compelling story about how an entire family has to deal with Asperger's syndrome; not just the person who has the syndrome. Very compelling and compassionate; that we shouldn't judge a person from their cover (or book! :) ). Picoult is known for twists in her stories and this is no different. Wonderful story and writing; another story to make us all stop and think!
Jacob Hunt is a teenage boy with Asperger's syndrome. But then when a terrible murder happens, the police come to Jacob with questions. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger's - not looking someone in the eye, can look a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel. Suddenly, Jacob and his family, who only want to fit in, feel the spotlight shining directly on them. I's a very moving reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding of others.
I wanted to read this book because my son has AS and I wanted to read about a character like him. I wanted to like the book and the author and tried to separate my feelings on autism (blaming it on vaccines? Really?) from the plot and characters. In the end I was disappointed in the entire plot, characters, and ending. I couldn't believe the contrivances that were so neatly thrown together in the last few pages, and was disappointed in the abrupt ending and stereotypical characters. In contrast, "Nineteen Minutes" wove a real story and led up to a painful ending and had closure (for lack of a better word)for the main characters. Here, Jacb's mother is supposed to understand him and how he processes information beter thanevery other character, but even she gets caught up in the misunderstanding? The trial was a trial to read, when it should have been the most interesting part of the book. (On a personal note, my son doesn't take 3 dozen supplements, he gets a Flintstone vitamin, he eats what we all eat, there are no Blue Fridays. Emma as a mom of a son with AS was not believable to me, because she and Theo were slaves to Jacob's routine, no exceptions, instead of helping him cope with the world, she enabled him to never have to do those things and expected everyone else to do the same.)
Fantastic novel that I couldn't put down! Get it!
I read this book at 13 and thought it was very well written. Living with a special needs younger brother, this gave me some insight into what gos through his mind as things occur througout the day. The book was very moving and at times brought me to tears, wanting wat was best for Jacob, but also seeing justice done. I would HIGHLY reccommend this book to annyone, especialy if you know someone with special needs.
Good enough to keep me reading but, predictable like many Piccoult books. They're like Lifetime movies...watchable but predictable.
My reading of this book was horrifically interrupted when I neglected to bring it back with me from Maine last weekend. Ok, maybe not horrifically, but I was at a really good part, and I didn't realize I left it until I was 1/2 way back to Massachusetts. I was this close to taking the next exit and going back for it. Fortunately my mother was kind enough to offer to send it through the mail and I could finally find out what happens. My brother has never officially been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, but there's a good chance that he has it. Reading from the point of view of an "Aspie" gave me such insight into their thought process and lack of empathy, I almost feel that if I had known this when we were growing up we may not have fought so often. My brother's not quite as fanatic (we didn't have Blue Days and Yellow Days), but he definitely has some traits. I understood Theo quite often because that's often how I felt about my own relationship. Jodi weaves her characters so well that they jump off the page. She can write as a 40-year-old single mother as well as she can write as a 15-year-old teenager. Her seamless ability to hop between the minds of the different characters adds to the flavor of the story. It's almost like you get more than one story because it's told from all those different viewpoints. Jodi is one of few authors who are able to go from character to character without getting confusing or annoying. One thing I found interestingly odd was that Emma and Oliver and the psychiatrists kept saying how literal Jacob is and that he doesn't understand normal idioms used in everyday languages, yet no one asks him directly whether or not he killed Jess. One question could have saved everyone a lot of trouble! I very much enjoyed how everyone skirted around the question because "I don't want to know" (Oliver, the lawyer), but if they had, the trial would have gone a lot differently. As usual, Jodi has written a wonderful story about an unique family and their struggle just to survive. You can't help but feel sympathy for all of the characters no matter what their situation. In "House Rules" she takes a family that could live next door or even be your own and shows how they stick together to make it through the tough times. One of the "house rules" in the book is to take care of your brother, no matter what, because he's the only one you've got, and that is the underlying theme through it all.
As a mom with a aspie child, I had a problem with how Jacob talked about himself in the first Jacob chapter. Most aspie kids write in logical format and cannot describe why they are feeling a certain way, they just know that they do, therefore, they react. They have a problem with being insightful and I could not get past the first person of Jacob to get through the rest of the book. I am sure the author did much research on the traits of the child, as the "mom" describes the behaviors to a T - it's the Jacob part that I had a problem with - just too chatty vs logical straight forward thinking.
this was a very enjoyable read. Highly recommend.
I know a lot of people say that Jodi Picoult's books can be repetitive and depressing, but I cannot get enough of her. I love how she chooses current controversial issues as topics. Even though I'm always expecting it, the twist ending always keeps me captivated right up until the end. This book in particular gives the reader insight into the world of a family with an autistic son and the difficulties that they endure every day. I love how in all of Picoult's books, the perspective changes in each chapter, allowing the reader to see the story from each character's point of view. I can't wait for her next book!
I have read everything Jodi Picoult has written. I love her style of telling the story from each character's perspective. This story was interesting to read and as always her characters were well developed. The ending was easy to figure out early on in the book. You wonder how the characters could be so obtuse and then when the truth is revealed the book just ends.
I really enjoy Picoult's books; I have not read them all, but what I have read have been so thought provoking. After reading Picoult's books they stay with me for a long time. The subject matter is always so sobering and relevant. This one did not disappoint. Although I agree with some of the other posts, not all the characters were as well developed in this one as in her other books. I could not put the book down and was surprised by the ending. It left me a little bit unsatisfied, but yet it leaves room for the reader to come to their own conclusion on how it all works out.
This was my first Picoult book (and won't be my last), and I enjoyed learning about Asperger's syndrome as the story unfolded. I was intrigued by the writing style and couldn't wait to get back to the book after putting it down. The ending left me empty, however. What occurred after we learned what happened? In fact, I got a bit angry that the story seemed incomplete.


text:
Quotes of the day
posted at 10:41 pm on July 10, 2013 by Allahpundit
House Republicans huddled behind closed doors Wednesday in a long-awaited "special conference" to discuss tactics, air grievances and plot the way forward – or out of – the national debate over comprehensive immigration reform…
At the beginning of the meeting, House Speaker John Boehner reiterated that the House will not take up the "flawed" Senate-passed bill but urged some type of action. And Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the high-profile former vice presidential nominee who supports the reform effort, presented an economic argument for immigration legislation and noted the nation's declining birthrate without the influx of new residents, sources in the room said…
In a statement after the meeting, House Republican leaders said "this administration cannot be trusted to deliver on its promises to secure the border and enforce laws as part of a single, massive bill like the one passed by the Senate."…
One type of immigration action could take the form of legislation to address those who were brought to the country illegally as children – or DREAMers – who have been among the most organized and sympathetic advocates for reform.
Boehner "said we'd be in a much weaker position if we didn't act," according to Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.). "He clearly wants to act, thinks something needs to get done. Frankly, our principles are probably closer to where the American people are, but it's incumbent upon us to act."…
"The Speaker said that we're going to have a majority of the conference for anything that goes over [to the Senate] or comes back [from conference]," a lawmaker at the meeting said.
"People were asking, 'Well, can you guarantee me what's going to come back from conference won't be the Senate bill-light?'"
"[Boehner] said, 'I can't guarantee what's going to come back from conference because it hasn't happened yet, but I can guarantee that we're going to have something a majority of the conference accepts,'" a lawmaker in the room told The Hill.
A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows that only 39 percent of Americans want an immigration bill that cuts illegal immigration by only 50 percent from current levels as the Senate's recently-passed "Gang of Eight" bill would do.
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Senate bill would only reduce illegal immigration by a maximum of 50 percent. "The immigration reform plan passed by the Senate would give legal status to those who have entered the country illegally and reduce future illegal immigration by 50%. Do you favor or oppose that plan?" survey respondents were asked. Only 39 percent of 1,000 likely voters sampled responded that they favored such a plan…
When asked three weeks ago whether they support giving legal status to America's illegal aliens if the border were secured and laws were enforced, 60 percent of likely voters responded in the affirmative. Now, though, only 50 percent support such an idea.
As we noted yesterday morning, if immigration reform has a pulse, it's very weak. Shortly afterward, it became undetectable. The key moment came when Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — the leading Democratic author of the Senate's immigration bill — laid things out for House Speaker John Boehner.
"Without a path to citizenship, there is not going to be a bill," he said. "There can't be a bill."…
Even if the House GOP pulls off the unthinkable and puts a bill on the floor that includes a citizenship component — even one that's "triggered" — conservatives will recognize it as a feint. They'll be convinced, perhaps correctly, that the Senate position will win the day in conference, and that they'll be faced with a take-it-or-leave-it proposition once the bill is really, truly finalized.
So they'll withhold support for that reason. And suddenly the bill will no longer be Hastert rule compliant.
Jon Ward of the Huffington Post lays out how this needle could theoretically be threaded. It would involve replacing the Path to Citizenship which so alarms many House Republicans with something less, along the lines of Sen. Rand Paul's "No New Path To Citizenship" proposal.
You can call it a Pathway to Legalization—unauthorized immigrants would get the right to stay in the country legally and could pursue citizenship if they become eligible through existing legal channels, but would not get a separately established right to apply for Permanent Resident status after 10 years…
A path to legalization without citizenship would satisfy the needs of Republican-aligned business interests, which just want to be able to hire immigrant workers. And it could calm worries among Republicans wary of granting citizenship to members of a likely Democratic voting block…
If House Republicans pass a bill with no path to citizenship, they'll be able to accurately tell business interests that they passed legislation addressing their priorities, Hispanics that they voted for a bill that changes immigration in a way that substantially betters the lives of immigrants, and conservatives that they didn't just roll over to Democratic priorities. The politics are drastically better than not passing anything at all.
Conservative Latino leaders are starting to pick up this chorus as well, suggesting that there is a move afoot to coordinate support for it.
"What if they were to propose to legalize people under a guest worker program that doesn't close the door to citizenship," said Alfonso Aguilar, executive director of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles. "You could say, there's still a path to citizenship, it's just the normal path."
"That could get the majority of the majority," he added.
Strikingly, wages are lower today than in 1999. Median household income has declined 8 percent. One in seven recent college graduates is unemployed. One in three Americans without a high-school diploma can't find work. The Senate immigration bill — written by the White House, Democrat leadership and supported by the entire Democrat conference — sacrifices the economic interests of these Americans in deference to the politicians and business interest who want lower-cost labor.
If there is any lesson for the GOP to learn from 2012, it's that we must do a better job fighting for and connecting with working Americans of all backgrounds — immigrant and native-born alike — whose wages have fallen and whose employment opportunities have increasingly diminished.
In pushing for this bill, the Left has abandoned and taken for granted the struggling worker. By doing the right thing on immigration, the GOP can distance our party from the corporate titans who believe the immigration policy for our entire country should be modeled to pad their bottom line.
[I]t makes much more sense for the G.O.P. to think about its political problems in terms of class and economics rather than ethnicity, and for the party's leaders to first attack its economic vulnerabilities — particularly the perception, often earned, that the party has nothing to offer wage-earning Americans — rather than starting with an issue, immigration, that has the potential to just highlight the G.O.P.'s disconnect from voter priorities, and confirm the impression that the party's Wall Street wing calls all the shots. The core of the Lowry-Kristol thesis isn't that the G.O.P. should necessarily resign itself to a Romney-esque performance among Hispanics in 2016 and beyond; it's that a conservative party with an appealing, populist-inflected economic agenda will ultimately probably win more white votes and more Hispanic votes (and, for that matter, black votes and Asian votes) than a conservative party whose idea of rebranding is just a headlong rush to put President Obama's signature on an immigration bill…
[M]uch of the energy in the immigration fight comes from factions within the Republican tent that regard the Rubio-Schumer bill as a brilliant-and-easy way to avoid any kind of broader rethinking on economics, and that are pressing immigration reform on their co-partisans as the only conceivable alternative to swift political extinction. This is the argument Lowry and Kristol are mostly pushing back against: No, they're saying, there are other paths the party could take. And they're right.
"If you're pandering, it's going to be the side that panders the most that's going to get the result," Labrador continued. "We're never going to out-pander the Democratic Party."
Related Posts:
Breaking on Hot Air
Rep. Adam Schiff is terribly disappointed in Rep. Nunes…again
Dem Intel Committee member Adam Schiff: We now have more than circumstantial evidence of collusion between Russia and Trump staffers
Trump: I feel "somewhat" vindicated knowing that members of my transition team were incidentally surveilled
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2

subset: commoncrawl


text:
There is some speculation that Google will make a run at Spotify. With 10 million subscribers and a valuation of $4 billion, Spotify is set to go public this fall. But with its stock priced at $553 a share, Google has a high-priced currency that it can use to purchase Spotify before the company's stock trades. If Google waits until Spotify's IPO to make a move on the company, the potential price could be much higher and more than Google is willing to pay.
Another big name in the streaming music business that might be easier for Google to purchase would be Pandora. Already a public company, Pandora currently has a market capitalization of $5.1 billion. Figure a 25% to 40% premium for Pandora stockholders, and a purchase of the music streamer would certainly be a manageable transaction for Google.
source: NYPost


text:
Concentration Capsules
14,875pages onAdd New Page
this wiki
this wiki
Concentration Capsules are pharmaceutical drugs used to enhance one's concentration skills. The Wizarding Examinations Authority advised examinees who had difficulty in the Grade 2 Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test to take some of these.[1]
- J. K. Rowling's Official Site (First mentioned)


text:
Users Online Now:
Who's On?
Visitors Today:
Pageviews Today:
Threads Today:
Posts Today:
Donate To GLP
Adv. Search
Back to Forum
Back to Thread
DEVELOPING: BEIRUT (AP) - Two US-based Internet-monitoring companies say Syria has shut off the Internet nationwide!!!
User Name
Font color:
Dark Red
Dark Blue
Ms Sans Serif
In accordance with industry accepted best practices we ask that users limit their copy / paste of copyrighted material to the relevant portions of the article you wish to discuss and no more than 50% of the source material, provide a link back to the original article and provide your original comments / criticism in your post with the article.
[quote:Anonymous Coward 8625642:MV8yMDY2MTM2XzM0NzY1NTE5X0QzRDE4QTY5] [quote:asV 8438481:MV8yMDY2MTM2XzM0NzY1Mzk4XzY4ODI0QzQ1] [quote:Anonymous Coward 8625642:MV8yMDY2MTM2XzM0NzY1MDMxX0U5RjdBMjMy] [quote:asV 8438481:MV8yMDY2MTM2XzM0NzY0ODc3X0QyNTdGNERF] [quote:Prostetnik:MV8yMDY2MTM2XzM0NzYzNTExX0Y4NjE1RDg3] [quote:bvndy:MV8yMDY2MTM2XzM0NzYyODQ5XzNCQTlENUM2] [quote:Anonymous Coward 13728447:MV8yMDY2MTM2XzM0NzYyNzIxXzY4NzRCRDRG] What could this mean ? [/quote] Its means that a bunch of muslimtards are doing exactly what they said they would do, mainly put the country they rule back in the 14th century. The internet is hated by Muslims, they say its because of the "filth" but its really the freedom. The internet represents technology, easier living, and most importantly, freedom. Anathema to a bunch of bloodthirsty religious fanaticd that kill young girls for having the nerve to get raped [/quote] It may surprise you to learn that in the cities of countries like Syria, under the dictatorship, that people became quite secular and focused on all of the things that people who live in western cities focus on. Sure they have Islam as a pert of the background noise. Just like the west has Christianity as a part of the background. And even a few fundamentalists who make Christianity look really bad. They are not all zealous demonstrators of the fervour of their faith. The dictators like the Shah of Iran were forces for modernization, westward looking. Maybe you do not remember that Beirut was once a cosmopolitan city and compared to Paris. Young people used to go as tourists to Afghanistan. Even Tehran was a desired exotic destination. There are lots of people in the Islamic world who would be just like you and me if they had the chance. [/quote] Well, you can thank your liberal "useful idiots" in Canada, as well as Socialist Francois Mitterand of France, Jimmy Carter in the US and a few other "enlightened" elites in the West who undermined Shah of Iran and FORBADE him to use strong-man tactics against a brewing revolt when it could have been squashed relatively painlessly/blood-lessly. Then Ayatollah co-opted, well hijacked the revolution & the government -----> and got the Islamo-Fascist ball (slowly) rolling. Exporting terror & promulgating Islamic radicalism all over the world ever since. And the Saudis and Qataris didn't want to be out-done by the "heretical Shia", so they got in the game of erecting mosques & radical Madrassa schools that would raise a new generation of Islamic psychos.... So it was only a matter of time until Muslim Bastardhood sprung out from all the holes and crevices in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and so on. So, um, old timers who obliviously, impotently sat by and let it happen... thanks for all that. We're gonna have to clean up this messs with a World War 3, it looks like. Thanks again :) [/quote] Are you fucking serious? If the US and Britain had not meddled in a democratic country's (which Iran was before the Shah was installed) affairs in the first place the Shah would have never been in power. The only "Mess" over there is because the US has meddled for years because of geopolitical reasons - to control resources. All the the hatred toward the US is BLOWBACK for our own hegemonic policies. [/quote] Oh good lord, please don't waste my time with your PC revisionist history nonsense. Maybe try to impress your UC Berkeley or Columbia U "neo-Marxist" wannabe professor so he can change your grade from C- to C+.... but that sh!t don't work on me. The old "Apcacalyptic Twelveer Mullahs only hate us because of our meddling" fallacy.... ` As for Mossadegh...you see, this is how it works in a JUST and FAIR world: West has spent time, money and resources looking, discovering, extracting, refining, transporing and providing huge consumer demand-market for the "black oil" ----> without which the life in the Middle East would be literal HELL on Earth right about now. So as "thanks" for all that countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait have rightfully continued to have somewhat productive relationships with the West and Western corporate intersts --- without whom, again, their lives would be horrific as their population swelled up to present size. Hell, even WITH oil, M.E. countries lives are full of misery and turmoil, imagine all that but WITHOUT those 100 of BILLIONS of dollars of easy revenue.....Mercy! Well, anyway, there was this Marxist wannabe, Mossadegh. He thought he was a WISE guy. He thought that after the West had spent enormous amount of time, expertise and hard work developing Iraninan infrastructure & energy capacity -----> thus benefitting both the East and the West needs, much like American capitalism and free-market ideas & credits have literally taken 500 MILLION out of crushing poverty in China and India in the last 30 years.... Well, Mossadegh said "thanks for all THAT, by the way... but now that we no longer need you, get the fuck out!" Mossadegh certainly wasn't going to equitably and fairly COMPENSATE the Western companies for all their decades of hard work and investments. Not under any kind of reputable arbitrage system, anyway. At most, he offered some pitiable scraps. And then CIA, MI-6 said, "Whoa, buddy, not so fucking fast. You still OWE use a ton both in back-owned and in future-revenue generating that you so unceremoniously decided to take away from us.." Enter Shah of Iran. The man provided stability and modernity to Iran, without breaking commitments to Western partners. He was friend with Israel because unlike most people in M.E. he didn't HATE the Jews with passion of 10,000 raped goats...... It is said that during Shah's regime women's skirts in Teheran were SHORTER than [b]men's [/b]skirts in Paris :) In short, Iran messed with Texas. And they will get a real fucking blow-back in fairly short order, my friend. Just watch and weep. [/quote] There is some truth to what you are saying, but only to the extent that most of out conflicts have the tendency of paving the way for our multinational corporations to profit. However, I think "history" is subjectively written by the "victor" and therefore we likely provoked the response you suggest by being over-controlling and demanding too much, a la the tactics set forth in Economic Hit Man. [/quote]
Original Message
ABC7 News@abc7newsBayArea
DEVELOPING: BEIRUT (AP) - Two US-based Internet-monitoring companies say Syria has shut off the Internet nationwide.
Pictures (click to insert)
Potentially Offensive
Big Round Smilies
Aliens and Space
Friendship & Love
Misc Small Smilies
View All Categories
Next Page >>
Disclaimer / Copyright Info
Privacy Policy
Terms Of Use
with questions or comments about this site.
"Godlike Productions" & "GLP" are registered trademarks of Zero Point Ltd. Godlike™
Website Design Copyright © 1999 - 2017 Godlikeproductions.com
Page generated in 0.005s (5 queries)


text:
Receptionist / Production Company
ConfidentialLos Angeles, CA
This was removed by the employer on 11/1/2016 10:40:00 AM PST
Not to worry we have a lot of other jobs on the site;
Browse all jobs
Browse the Assistant and Entry Level Category
Search for Receptionist / Production Company jobs in Los Angeles-CA
Search all Receptionist / Production Company postings
Full Time Job
Please only serious applicants apply / we want someone that is out of college and looking for a career in the production world
Receptionist Job Duties :
Welcomes visitors by greeting them, in person or on the telephone; answering or referring inquiries.
Directs visitors by maintaining employee and department directories; giving instructions.
Maintains security by following procedures; monitoring logbook; issuing parking passes per company.
Maintains telecommunication system by following manufacturer's instructions for security console operation.
Maintains safe and clean reception area by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
Responsibilities Include:
-Answering phones, taking messages, and creating call logs
-Greeting callers and visitors in a courteous and professional manner
-Managing deliveries & outgoing mail, and maintaining a messenger log
-Ordering groceries and various office supplies as needed
-Ordering staff lunches on occasion
-Maintaining a clean and organized front office area
-Purchasing reference material or in-house photo-shoot props as needed
-Coordinating parking lot rentals
-Typing up notes/briefs and other memoranda
-Coordinating with various office vendors
-Performing general administrative support for account executives
-Researching trade news and compiling a weekly digest of potential future projects
-Managing staff birthdays (stocking birthday cards and gift cards)
-Planning annual company parties, holiday dinners, etc.
-Booking travel as needed
-College degree
-Previous reception/office experience (specifically answering phones)
-Strong computer skills
-Excellent communication skills
-Friendly, personable, and professional demeanor
-Highly organized and able to multitask
-Attention to detail
-Responsible, reliable, and trustworthy
-Able to maintain confidentiality of highly sensitive documents and information
-Able to work overtime on occasion
Hours are 9:30am to 6:30pm Monday through Friday, but should be flexible to work after hours on occasion.


text:
Popular property highlights
Ramada Plaza Prince George places you within a mile (2 km) of Fort George Park and Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre. This 3.5-star hotel has 200 rooms and welcomes guests with a restaurant, an indoor pool, and free in-room WiFi. Also nearby are Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum and Cottonwood Island Park.
Enjoy a leisurely bite to eat at Cornerstone Kitchen, the hotel's onsite restaurant. Savor a meal from the privacy of your room with room service, or get a pick-me-up at the coffee shop/café. For your convenience, a cooked-to-order breakfast is available for a fee.
Ramada Plaza Prince George's 200 rooms are air-conditioned and provide coffee makers, free local calls, and free bottled water. Guests can expect free WiFi and 42-inch TVs with cable channels. Bathrooms have hair dryers and free toiletries. Other amenities include safes, ironing boards, and desks.
Property features
Guests of Ramada Plaza Prince George have access to an indoor pool, a fitness center, and a spa tub. Free valet and self parking are available—or if you're not driving, take the airport shuttle (available on request) for CAD 15.00 per person roundtrip. Multilingual staff at the 24-hour front desk can assist with dry cleaning/laundry, concierge services, and luggage storage. Additional amenities include free WiFi in public areas, 10 meeting rooms, and a business center.
- Free WiFi in rooms and public areas
- Free valet and self parking
- Onsite dining
- Indoor pool
Ramada Plaza Prince George
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
In addition to an indoor pool, Ramada Plaza Prince George provides a spa tub and a fitness center. The hotel offers a restaurant and a coffee shop/café. Business-related amenities at this 3.5-star property consist of a business center and meeting rooms.
Public areas are equipped with complimentary wired and wireless Internet access. Event facilities measure 8500 square feet (790 square meters). This eco-friendly hotel also offers multilingual staff, gift shops/newsstands, and concierge services. For a surcharge, a roundtrip airport shuttle (available on request) is offered to guests. Onsite self parking and valet parking are complimentary.
Ramada Plaza Prince George is a smoke-free property.
- 24-hour front desk
- Airport transportation (surcharge)
- Total number of rooms - 200
- ATM/banking
- Number of floors - 6
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Business center
- Coffee shop or café
- Newspapers in lobby (surcharge)
- Concierge services
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Fitness facilities
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Free WiFi
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- Luggage storage
- Shopping on site
- Meeting rooms 10
- Multilingual staff
- Free valet parking
- Porter/bellhop
- Restaurant
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Year Built 1981
- Conference space size (feet) - 8500
- Conference space size (meters) - 790
- Free self parking
- Smoke-free property
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Spa tub
- Indoor pool
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Indoor pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi , Free wired high-speed Internet
Free self parking, Free valet parking
Room Amenities
Ramada Plaza Prince George offers 200 air-conditioned accommodations with safes and complimentary bottled water. Televisions come with premium cable channels. Bathrooms include complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.
Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks along with free local calls (restrictions may apply). Additionally, rooms include coffee/tea makers and irons/ironing boards. Housekeeping is provided daily.
- Premium TV channels
- Air conditioning
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Free local calls
- Coffee/tea maker
- Free bottled water
- Daily housekeeping
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Iron/ironing board
- Desk
- Television
- Free WiFi
- In-room safe
- Room service (limited hours)
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Cable TV service
Where to Eat
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available for a surcharge.
Cornerstone Kitchen - This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. Happy hour is offered.
Nearby Things to Do
An indoor pool and a spa tub are on site. Other recreational amenities include a fitness center.
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
Hotel Policies
Minimum check-in age is 18
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! Up to 2 children 18 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
- 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 or cash deposit 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 rollaway/extra beds available
Optional extras
- Breakfast fee: between CAD 7.99 and CAD 17.99 per person (approximately)
- Airport shuttle fee: CAD 15.00 per person (roundtrip)
Hotel Name
- Ramada Hotel Prince George
- Ramada Prince George
- Prince George Ramada
- Ramada Plaza Prince George Hotel
- Ramada Plaza Prince George
We should mention
This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply). Guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Up to 2 children 18 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.


text:
It appears to fall right in the competitive sweet spot Hyundai says it's gunning for. At 4,485 millimeters the i30 wagon is 50 millimeters longer than the Volkswagen Golf Estate and 35 millimeters shorter than the seven-seat Ford Grand C-Max. The Golf Estate advertises cargo capacity of 505 liters with the rear seats up, and the best the Grand C-Max can muster is 475 liters if you opt for the tire-repair kit instead of the mini spare. The i30 splits the cargo room of the VW and the Ford with the rear seats down, but beats the five-seat C-Max.
The i30 wagon will offer three direct-injection gas engines and three diesels when it goes on sale later this year. Exact specs haven't been divulged, but outputs will range from 93 to 132 horsepower. A press release with more details is available after the jump.
- New wagon marries spacious interior with stylish exterior
- Load-carrying capacity increased by longer wheelbase and bigger trunk
- Designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe, for Europe
Offenbach, 23rd February 2012 -- Ahead of its world debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, the New Generation i30 wagon has today broken cover. It is the second member of the New Generation i30 family, and joins the five-door hatchback to broaden the appeal of Hyundai's C-segment range.
The stylish wagon shares engines and running gear with the well-received New Generation i30 five-door, but has a longer body to create a significant increase in trunk space without compromising the model's dynamic styling.
The i30 wagon's overall length is increased by 185 mm to 4485 mm over its five-door sibling, making it one of the most accommodating vehicles in the European C-segment, and 10 mm longer than the original i30 wagon.
Compared with the five-door, the wagon expands trunk space from 378-litres to a best-in-class 528-litres – and with the rear passenger seats folded down, cargo volume increases more than three-fold, to 1,642-litres.
Like its hatchback sibling, the New Generation i30 wagon was designed and engineered specifically for European customers at Hyundai's European R&D Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany. It was developed alongside the hatchback form from the earliest stages, enabling the stylists to fashion a coherent design that bears a strong family resemblance inspired by Hyundai's fluidic sculpture form language.
As with the five-door variant, the front is distinguished by Hyundai's hexagon-shaped grille and jewel-like headlamps, but from the B-pillar backwards the wagon differs significantly. The roofline extends rearwards over the flexible passenger/cargo area, sloping to add dynamism to the car's stance in keeping with the fluidic sculpture ethos of a stationary car appearing to be in motion.
Further enhancing the wagon's dynamic appearance, a pronounced swage line runs horizontally along the sides of the body and rises all the way to the rear lights. The rear windscreen wraps around the D-pillars, increasing interior luminosity and benefiting visibility. The deep tailgate gives the car a clean look and opens to bumper-level for easy loading.
The New Generation i30 wagon will be available across Europe with the same three petrol direct injection engines and three diesel engines as the five-door, producing 95 to 135 ps. The full UK specification will be confirmed at a later date.
Buyers of the New Generation i30 wagon will benefit from Five Year Triple Care, comprising a five-year unlimited warranty, five years' roadside assistance, and five years of vehicle health checks.
Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Motor Europe, said: "The New Generation i30 has been widely praised for its style, quality, and value. Our new wagon offers all of those attributes plus even greater load-carrying capacity. We expect it to appeal strongly to those looking for stylish and flexible practicality, especially active families."
The New Generation i30 wagon will be unveiled alongside Hyundai's other newcomers during the company's press conference in Hall 1 at 09:45 (CET) on Tuesday 6th March 2012.
About Hyundai
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Co. has grown into the Hyundai Motor Group, which has ranked as the world's fifth-largest automaker since 2007 and includes over two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and affiliates. Employing over 75,000 people worldwide, Hyundai Motor sold approximately 3.6 million vehicles globally in 2010. Hyundai vehicles are sold in 186 countries through some 5,300 dealerships and showrooms. Hyundai Motor UK Ltd has been named Best Car Manufacturer 2011 by Which? magazine and Car Franchise of the Year by Motor Trader in 2010 and 2011. All passenger cars now come with Hyundai's industry-leading 5 year Triple Care package. Further information about Hyundai and its products is available at http://www.hyundai.co.uk


text:
« Local Home
Ratings and Reviews
Le Beastro [view the full listing]
San Francisco, CA 94133
Dog Boutique
This is my favfurite store fur cocker spaniel "stuff." They have breed-specific gift items from jewelry to figurines to stationery, and they are the ONLY store that always has a variety of chocolate cockerabelia. They also have unique doggie accessories, and some of the best treats in the City.
Beauty & the Beasts [view the full listing]
San Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 681-6346
Beauty and the Beasts
This is where I go evfurry 6 weeks to get a bath and groom. I LOVE it here. Michelle knows exactly what a cocker spaniel is supposed to look like. It took my mommy a long time to find her. And when she's not working on me I don't have to go into a cage, I just run around with all the other doggies and play!


text:
Police Blotter - November 21
Breezy Point Police Department
SHOOTING COMPLAINT: Report Nov. 13 from a woman saying her vehicle was hit by a bullet that morning, reporting windshield and roof damage. The officer assessed the damage and found a bird, not a bullet, damaged the vehicle.
Nisswa Police Department
BURGLARY: Report Nov. 12 of burglary of a storage unit on the 20000 block of Highway 371 in Nisswa.
Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department
ACCIDENTS: Report Nov. 15 of a property damage vehicle accident at County Road 16 and Forest Knolls Road.
Report Nov. 11 of a property damage accident at Fletcher Road and Darsnek Road in Emily.
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY: Report Nov. 16 of a resident on Sunset Valley Road, Pequot Lakes, reporting multiple recent break-ins.
Crosslake Police Department
DOMESTIC: Report Nov. 17 of a domestic dispute. One man was arrested, and on the way to jail got his handcuffed hands from behind him to in front of him, removed his seatbelt and kicked out the rear passenger-side window. He was charged with damage to property, among other charges, police chief Robert Hartman said.
Pequot Lakes Police Department
WARNINGS: Several parking warnings were issued Nov. 12 on Government Drive and Pequot Boulevard, which have new winter parking ordinances.
BURGLARY: Report of an attempted burglary Nov. 11 on Second Street in Jenkins.
ACCIDENT: Report Nov. 15 of a vehicle off the road at Pederson Road and County Road 11, Pequot Lakes.


text:
About Soffront
Learn more about our story
Request More Info
Request more information
Get Assessment
Get expert advice on CRM
See a Demo
See Soffront in action
Get a Free Trial
Try it before buying it
Award winning products since 1992
Soffront CRM and marketing automation software has been honored with a number of industry awards since 1992.
Loved by thousands of businesses
Our customers love Soffront. Over the years we have helped thousands of businesses succeed in their business.
Unlimited technical support and expert training
We guarantee your success with unlimited phone and email support and free online training by Soffront experts.
Our Story
Soffront Software was founded in 1992 by Manu Das and is a pioneer in the CRM software industry. We introduced our customer service software in 1993 – one of the first of its kind. Over the years, Soffront has developed a complete CRM solution for sales, marketing, customer service, IT and engineering.
We introduced many technologies that were unique at that time, including drag-and-drop screen and workflow designers, many-to-many relations, unique reporting, and flexible dashboards.
During the early 2000s, when the cloud was becoming popular, we introduced one of the first cloud CRM solutions, which has been successfully adopted by hundreds of mid-size and enterprise users.
We have Helped Thousands of Businesses Since 1992
Our Awards
Some of the awards we have won over the years
10 fastest growing digital marketing companies in 2016
20 Most Promising Digital Marketing Solution Providers in 2015
2015 Communications Solutions Product of the Year Award
2015/16 Top 15 CRM Small & Medium Business Software Award
Top 10 CRM Companies to Work for in 2014
CRM Excellence Award 2013
CRM Excellence Award 2011
Unified Communications Product of the Year Award 2008
TMC Labs Innovation Award 2008
CRM Excellence Award 2007
Customer Interaction Solutions Product of the Year Award 2006
Frost & Sullivan 2005 Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Award
2003 CRM Magazine Who's Who
Global HQ
Global HQ
6431 West Sahara Ave, Suite 250, Las Vegas, NV 89146, USA
Phone 1-800-Soffront
Email firstname.lastname@example.com
APAC Office
APAC Office
Indo Japan Building, Plot J – 1/12, Block – EP&GP, Sector V, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700091, India
Phone +91 33 2367-3407


text:
Monday, April 23, 2012
Past Event
Baldwin City Breakdown: Round Two
- Friday, April 27, 2012, 7 p.m.
- Mabee Hall, Sixth Street, Baldwin City
- All ages / Free
Baker University student radio station KNBU-FM will host a free music concert, Baldwin City Breakdown: Round Two, at 7 p.m. Friday in Mabee Gym.
The concert will include three performances. Freshman Greg Bradford will perform with his band Flight. Dubulaye, a performer from Atchison, will rap. Another group of Baker University students, The Uninvited Guests, consists of Jordan Honore, Shawn Wright and Terren Craddock-Moore.
Any student or outside guest attending the concert can vote for a favorite performer by bringing a canned good. The performer with the most canned goods brought for them will be named the winner of the Baldwin City Breakdown and all proceeds will go to the Baldwin City Food Pantry.
"We have done a concert like this in the past and actually won an award for it," KNBU-FM Station Manager Brad Barnes said. "So, we decided to bring it back, continue on another year, to help spread the word about the radio station and to help raise funds for the Baldwin City Food Pantry."
The winner will receive $100, courtesy of Moni's Seafood and Barbecue.
"I really am looking forward to a big turnout for the concert and with having different genres than last time, I think we will have some great performances," Barnes said.
More like this story
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.


text:
Snow Plow Smashes Reporter
Yesterday morning, a reporter named Steve Keeley was standing on the side of the road in New Jersey talking about the driving conditions in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
In the middle of the report he gets smashed by a wall of snow pushed his way by the very plows he was reporting on.
The best part of the video is the woman back in the studio that screams in horror as the snow hits him. He gets smacked :47 into the video.
He is just fine, by the way.


text:
Bihar cadre IPS officer Ranjit Sinha made CBI chief
Ranjit Sinha will take over from AP Singh, who belonged to the IPS 1974 Jharkhand cadre.
New Delhi: Bihar cadre Indian Police Service Officer Ranjit Sinha has been appointed as the new Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Sinha, who joined the IPS in 1974, was the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) chief.
Sinha will take over from AP Singh, who belonged to the IPS 1974 Jharkhand cadre. Sinha has already worked in the CBI. He was on deputation as DIG, CBI, Patna and also served as Joint Director (Anti-corruption), Delhi and Joint Director (Admn) in CBI, HO. In course of his tenure in CBI, he supervised a number of important cases.
He joined CRPF and was posted as IG (Ops), Srinagar, during which period, the security of Srinagar city was taken over by CRPF from BSF. He has also served as IG (Pers) in CRPF. Sinha also headed RPF as DG and made significant contribution in implementing integrated security scheme at various railway stations in the wake of terrorist attack at CST Railway Station, Mumbai in November 2008.
He has been awarded Indian Police Medal of Meritorious Service in 1991 and President Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 1997 as well as DG's commendation discs in CRPF and ITBP Force.
Recommended For You
- Virat Kohli Unhappy With Head Coach Anil Kumble?
- Kangana-Ketan Battle: Another Filmmaker Accuses The Latter Of Hijacking His Film
- GST Effect: Ford Figo, Aspire, EcoSport Get Discounts Of Up To Rs 30,000
- Nuzhat Fought Taboos to Play Cricket, Picked for ICC World Cup
- War Machine Review: Brad Pitt Is Disappointing In This Satire Gone Wrong


text:
Recreational Water Viruses: What's Going Around for the Week of May 16
Stay out of the pool when you're sick. That's just one thing local doctors are talking about when looking at "What's Going Around" the area where you live.
- The warmer weather may have people out doing more athletic activities, because Dr. Michael Jardula treated several patients in Palm Springs for various orthopedic injuries. He urges people to get into activities more cautiously, and make sure to stretch and warm up first.
- The stomach bug known as viral gastroenteritis continues to go around La Quinta. But Dr. Efren Wu reports that the majority of cases are viral and should pass within 48 to 72 hours. Those in the 20-to 40-year-old age range seem to be affected most, but this is really non-discriminatory. Stay well-hydrated in the meantime. Patients are also coming in suffering with allergic rhinitis. Wu suggests using over-the-counter antihistamines unless something stronger is needed.
- Spending time in the pool, hot tub, or other bodies of water can be refreshing this time of year, but Dr. Randolph Gibbs warns people to be on the lookout for recreational water viruses. These usually involve gastrointestinal or respiratory tract issues, skin, or eye problems. If sick, he recommends staying out of the water so others aren't infected.
- Several cases of gout have come through Dr. Frank Arian's office, and are common this time of year. He says as Palm Springs starts to warm up, many people haven't adjusted their water intake. That, along with plenty of barbeques with beer and cocktails flowing, creates the perfect environment for gout. If you're susceptible, decrease your intake of alcohol, red meat, aged wines and cheeses. You should also be drinking 16 eight-ounce glasses of water every day. Arian continues to see the antibiotic resistant infection MRSA. He says it is spread by contact, so keep cuts and sores covered and wash hands well. It's also important to boost the immune system by staying hydrated, eating nutritious foods, getting plenty of sleep, and keeping stress levels low. Finally, retiring tennies when it's time can help prevent the spread of an ugly toenail fungus that is more prevalent this time of year. Because curing this can be tough and expensive, the best cure is prevention. Wear flip-flops in public showers, and don't share nail clippers or scissors.
Watch "What's Going Around" Tuesday evenings at 5:30 and Wednesday mornings on CBS Local 2 News.


text:
Local grocery stores prepare for holiday crowd and weather
BRISTOL, Va. - The chance of snow and ice has local grocery stores packed, especially with the Thanksgiving holiday just a few days away.
Many people are heading to the grocery stores on a mission with a list in their hands to making sure they get everything for their Thanksgiving dinner.
Marla Edwards is out shopping for Thanksgiving dinner. She tells us she comes to the Food City on Euclid Avenue every Monday morning around 10:00, but this Monday was a little different than usual. "This is a lot more crowded, and I think it has to do with two things -- Thanksgiving coming and this weather change that's headed our way," says Edwards.
On top of the holiday right around the corner, there is also a chance of snow and ice this week, which is causing people to come out and stock up on the essentials like bread and milk. "Of course it's not suppose to be much, but people want to have their groceries in the house there," adds Edwards.
Food City store manager Raymond Stockard tells us they have an emergency plan in place in case we do get a lot of snow or ice. "We already have set orders in place that we can release so that we will automatically get that product without us having to order. That on top of being prepared for holidays, we're already prepared for bare shelves," says Stockard.
Stockard tells us they have been preparing for months for the holiday season. "We've planned for this week and we're full of product and ready for our customers," adds Stockard.
We saw several shopping carts full of things to make Thanksgiving dinners and shoppers like Edwards making sure they have all the needs for the holiday dinners.
Stockard tells us they have a plan in place to make sure workers are here to make sure the Thanksgiving dinners people ordered are ready. "People who have 4-wheel drive vehicles, you know, maybe they're not scheduled that day but they know if they wake up and the weather is on the ground they'll wake up and come in without us even calling them," says Stockard.
Edwards has advice to anyone who still has to shop for their Thanksgiving dinner or the essentials in case of snow. "I think early mornings is a good time to come. That's generally what time I try to get here," adds Edwards.
Stoackard tells us when it snows the store will sell more than 1,000 pounds of ice melt.


text:
Article Preview
Bridge: 1969 North American Team Will Be Strong and Young
By ALAN TRUSCOTT ();
November 05, 1968,
, Section , Page 44, Column , words
THE team to represent North America in the 1969 world championship in Brazil will be a strong one and a young one, with only one player over the age of 40.
November 05, 1968
Thank you for visiting The New York Times archive.
New York Times subscribers* enjoy full access to TimesMachine—view 129 years of New York Times journalism, as it originally appeared. 99¢ for your first 4 weeks.
Or, purchase this article individually for $3.95 and download a high-resolution PDF.
* Does not include NYT Now or Premium Crosswords subscribers.
Already a subscriber? Log in to view this article »


text:
Robert Gibbs', President Obama's spokesman, complained to The Hill that the far left of the Democratic Party has been unfair in its criticism.
MPR News Reflections and observations on the news
Archives for August 10, 2010
Here's something you don't hear about every day: A government solution to a problem appears to have worked.
Everything that's wrong with the 'get it first' attitude of news organizations is on display in the Ted Stevens plane crash.
Times change at the giant motorcycle rally.
On primary election day, the Court of Appeals today rejected KSTP's request that rejected absentee ballots in the Al Franken-Norm Coleman recount be made public.
Who hasn't wanted to be Steve Slater, the Ground Zero sacred ground nobody cares about, voting the Dark Ages way, Winona's 12-year-old drunk driver, and reconsidering horseshoes.


text:
CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Friday, February 28, 2003
The Imago Dance Theatre will present Frogz at Hudson Valley Community College on March 5. One of the feature events of Hudson Valley's cultural affairs' series "Alive: A Celebration of the Arts and Humanities," Frogz will be performed in the Maureen Stapleton Theatre at 7 p.m. Admission to the show is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and high school students, and free for Hudson Valley students.
Frogz, the company's premier piece, is considered a delightful experimentation of dance, theater and masque. The viewer will see escaped penguins, spooky crocodiles, mischievous strings, lots of paper, and of course, frogs. The show opened in 2000 at the New Victory Theater on Broadway in New York City and returned to Broadway in 2002.
The Imago Dance Theatre tours internationally while also producing a season at its home base in Portland, Oregon. The New York Times called its production of the Frogz "a mastery of mime, dance, and acrobatics."
Hudson Valley Community College, located in Troy, offers more than 50 degree and certificate programs in four academic divisions: Business; Engineering and Industrial Technologies; Health Science; and Liberal Arts and Sciences; and an Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training. One of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, it has an enrollment of more than 11,000 students each year, and is known as a leader in distance learning.


text:
Mixed Reaction to President's Corporate Tax Plan
WASHINGTON (AP) - Reaction among Republicans is mixed, after a proposal today from President Barack Obama for a lower corporate tax rate and an end to dozens of loopholes that Obama says have helped companies move jobs and profits overseas.
Obama's plan would set a new 28-percent corporate tax rate, down from the current 35 percent but still higher than the 25 percent rate sought by Republicans.
The Republican head of the House Ways and Means Committee, Dave Camp, says Obama should be offering an overhaul of the entire tax system. He called it a "good step by the administration" but urged the president to "keep going" -- echoing Obama's own words to Congress yesterday on the economy.
But Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah is dismissing Obama's plan as "a set of bullet points designed more for the campaign trail."
Under the framework proposed by the administration, the rate cuts and closed loopholes would result in no increase to the deficit. That means that many businesses that currently slip through loopholes or somehow pay an effective tax rate that is substantially less than the 35 percent corporate tax could end up paying more. Others would pay less, while some would simply benefit from a more simplified system.
Related Stories
- Reactions to President Obama's Immigration Order
- President Calls for Corporate Tax Cuts
- Bill Lowering Student Loan Rates Moves to President's Desk
- Romney Says Obama is Distorting GOP Budget Plan
- NCF Veterans skeptical about President Obama's ISIS plan
- Democrats Block Senate Vote on Obama Tax Plan
- President Obama Talks Easy Pleasey Lemon Squeezy With TV 20's David Snyder
- Obama Campaign: Romney Can't Buy the Presidency
- Transcript of President Obama's Speech on Budget Deal
- Neighbors Say Hello to New UF President's Mansion and Goodbye to Trees


text:
If preparation counts for anything, Mexico will be streets ahead on Thursday at the Azteca Stadium.
While the All Whites have had a piecemeal fractured build-up - much of which in the last few months has been hurriedly put together - El Tri have had plenty of time to prepare, plan and analyse.
Heading into tomorrow's game, the New Zealand side have had just four training sessions together; their opponents have spent 17 of the last 23 days together in camp and have played three friendly matches, including a 4-2 win over Finland.
It's feels a bit like the Anzac League test - the Kiwis get two or three days together, while the Kangaroos have built combinations over the six weeks of State of Origin.
Almost all of the Mexican squad, which is drawn from the local 18 team professional league, has been granted permission to miss two of the last three rounds of club matches, as they focus on preparations for the matches against New Zealand.
This tie is big business so club owners are not going to stand in their way.
It's invaluable, precious time. The All Whites have worked hard on strategies to combat the expected Mexican onslaught. They will consume video footage and take in as much as they can. But time constraints mean it is rushed - whereas the Mexicans have had as many as 20 or 25 sessions together as a team since new coach Miguel Herrera was announced.
The thoroughness is not just limited to the team. Mexican media have been studying New Zealand football since September. One television network even sent a crew to New Zealand, where among other things, they watched a New Zealand `A' side take on the Phoenix in Rotorua.


text:
Legendary Northland sailing coach Derry Godbert and Olympic sailors Blair Tuke and Andrew Murdoch are among the Northlanders in the running for Yachting New Zealand's top award.
Yachting NZ announced its 2012 performance, service, emerging talent and cruising award winners this week as well as a short list of finalists for the Young Sailor of the Year and Coach/Official of the Year.
The supreme award, Sailor of the Year, will be decided by a panel of judges and can go to any category. The winner will be announced at the 2012 Yacht Excellence Awards on November 23.
Among those to win performance awards were Tuke of Kerikeri and his sailing partner, Peter Burling, of Tauranga, who won silver in the 49er event at the London Olympics; Murdoch, also from Kerikeri, who finished fifth in the Laser class at the Olympics; and Andy Maloney, who won bronze at the 2012 Laser Standard Senior Men's World Championships. Although now living in Auckland, Maloney cut his teeth with the Kerikeri Cruising Club and Kerikeri High School's sailing team.
The short list for the Yachting NZ Service Awards includes Godbert of Waipapa, a former teacher who was instrumental in setting up learn to sail programmes at Kerikeri High School and the Kerikeri Cruising Club and who inspired many a young sailor.
Tuke and Murdoch are among his proteges.
Marcus Hansen of Whangarei, who finished sixth at the 2012 49er World Championships with his teammate, Josh Porebski, is a finalist for the Young Sailor of the Year award.
Jez Fanstone, who coached Tuke and Burling in the lead-up to the Olympics, is in the running for a Coach/Official of the Year award and Kerry Farrand, of the Kerikeri Cruising Club, won the cruising award for a five-year trip around the world in his 15m Beneteau Irene.
The awards night will be held at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron headquarters in Auckland.


text:
When you can't afford to be spotted 5.11 Multicam TDU Pants will keep you hidden with 5.11's signature Multicam camouflage pattern that reduces visibility in both regular and infrared light spectrums. 5.11 Multicam Pants utilize 7 oz. poly/cotton ripstop textile with Teflon coating that stands up to dirt, stains, and excess moisture. Every 5.11 Multicam TDU also sports Backup Belt System compliance so you can customize your tactical gear to the specifications you need. Pick up a pair of Multicam Pants at a superb low price direct from Webyshops, and keep an eye on the cart total to ensure you quality for free ground shipping. Receive FREE Ground Shipping on all orders over $39.99.
Webyshops.com is an Authorized Dealer of 5.11 Tactical.
Subscribe to WEBYBLAST supersavings notification newsletter.
View sample newsletter. Click here (will open a new window)
We respect your privacy. Your personal info is never sold, shared or shown to anyone outside Webyworld. Never. Ever. Read our Privacy Policy Here Click here (will open a new window)