text:
The Roman Catholic church is the oldest and largest Christian denomination on the planet. Although its influence in the Western world is declining, it still exercises great power over the lives of millions of people every day. All too often, that power is used in the service of superstition, of perpetuating irrational and dogmatic beliefs about how human liberty should be restricted in order to please God. Whatever charitable and humanitarian work the Catholic church performs must be balanced … [Read more...]
The Catholic Church: An Immoral Organization
Heaven at the Price of Hell
In my essay "Those Old Pearly Gates" on Ebon Musings, I raised what is, to my mind, one of the strongest moral arguments against the traditional monotheist conception of the afterlife:The point is this. How can anyone enjoy Heaven, knowing that while you have eternal bliss there are people experiencing eternal suffering? Unless you belong to an insular religious community or a cult, it's almost certain that you know someone - a friend, a relative, a loved one, an idol who inspires you - whose … [Read more...]
The Witch Children of Nigeria
I've written on several past occasions about how belief in malignant supernatural forces causes real harm to real people. There are examples of this from every region of the world, but some of the most wrenching are from Africa, where Biblical beliefs about demons and evil spirits still run rampant.In January, I wrote about the witch camps of Ghana, where people suspected of using black magic to harm their neighbors are exiled as if they were lepers. In April, there were the Pentecostals of … [Read more...]
Flickers of Conscience
One year ago this month, I posted an essay titled "A Seriously Warped Moral Compass". In it, I highlighted the disturbing tendency of religious beliefs to twist and distort a person's conscience to the point where they accept terrible evils as just acts, and, conversely, elevate harmless actions to the height of wickedness and sin.But I do wonder sometimes if even the most thorough and relentless religious brainwashing can ever completely succeed. Are human beings infinitely malleable, so that … [Read more...]
Emptying the Haunted Air
Almost two hundred years ago, the English Romantic poet John Keats wrote a poem, "Lamia", in which he lamented that the advance of scientific understanding would rob the world of its beauty and wonder. Keats' chief villain, though not named in the poem, was Isaac Newton, whose use of the prism to split white light into its component colors was viewed by Keats as akin to desecration:Do not all charms fly At the mere touch of cold philosophy? There was an awful rainbow once in heaven: We know … [Read more...]
On God's Goodness
It has often been pointed out, by myself and by other atheists, that the traditional monotheistic religions depict God as acting in shockingly violent and cruel ways on numerous occasions. Despite the texts that say this, every week millions of believers attend church where they pray prayers and sing hymns that praise God's infinite love, benevolence, and goodness. Yet when atheists point out that religious texts and tradition attribute actions to God that seem anything but good, these same … [Read more...]
Armor of God
"Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil... Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith..."—Ephesians 6:11-16Among the fundamentalist Christian set, it's a common tenet that faith in Jesus offers the believer some sort of literal supernatural protection against those who … [Read more...]
The Pretense of Superiority
Religion has always been used to sanctify inequality here on Earth, in the present no less than in the past. By teaching their followers that they are God's chosen rulers, religious authorities can accustom the flock to obedience and ascend to positions of power without the consent of the majority. The fundamentally oligarchic and anti-democratic nature of most established religions, in which the church leaders choose their own successors, testifies to this.These anti-democratic beliefs are … [Read more...]
The Thomas Weeks Affair
Since this seems to be a week for tearing down Christian icons, I have another fall from grace to report: Bishop Thomas Weeks, founder of the international Christian ministry Global Destiny, was released on bond last week after turning himself in to face charges of brutally beating his estranged wife Juanita Bynum - herself a nationally renowned Christian evangelist and best-selling gospel singer, and co-founder of that same ministry.The police report of the incident states that, during a … [Read more...]
AU Under Attack!
Despite the serious-sounding title, I'm laughing as I write this post. Yes, Americans United for Separation of Church and State is under attack. Yes, the perpetrators are a group of radical Christian dominionists who want to turn this country into their own vision of theocracy. Yes, their aim is to cause great harm and possibly even death to members of Americans United. So why am I so unconcerned?Because the attack is being waged through prayer.In light of the recent attack from the enemies … [Read more...]


text:
Coventry Road & Euclid Heights Boulevard
Cleveland Heights, Ohio, 44106
Commute to Downtown Cleveland Heights
Most errands can be accomplished on foot.
About your score
Coventry Road & Euclid Heights Boulevard has a Walk Score of 75 out of 100. This location is Very Walkable so most errands can be accomplished on foot.
This location is in Cleveland Heights. Nearby parks include Turtle Park, Cleveland Heights Swimming Pool and Cumberland Park.
Explore how far you can travel by car, bus, bike and foot from Coventry Road & Euclid Heights Boulevard.
Rail lines:
Red Line Heavy Rail
1.1 mi
Bus lines:
7 Monticello - Euclid Hts
0.0 mi
9 Mayfield
0.3 mi
32 Cedar
0.5 mi
Car shares:
View all Cleveland Heights apartments on a map.
Popular apartment searches include hardwood floor, fireplace and single family.
Search for homes in Cleveland Heights or find a Cleveland Heights real estate agent who knows walkable neighborhoods. Links will open on our partner site Redfin.com.
This location is in the city of Cleveland Heights, OH. Cleveland Heights has an average Walk Score of 53 and has 46,121 residents.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
De La Hoya, Trindad & Calzage Elected Into Hall of Fame [Video]
Three modern boxing legends were elected into the The International Boxing Hall of Fame class of 2014 Wednesday.
Each fighter with storied histories and great careers, that are engraved in much of our brains as we grew up watching the sport.
Oscar De La Hoya, Felix "Tito" Trinidad, and Joe Calzage all made the cut.
De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) began his career winning an Olympic gold medal in 1992. He went on to win 10 professional world titles in six weight divisions from 1992 to 2008. Some of his most memorable fights came against Trinidad himself, Hector "Macho" Camacho, Pernell Whitaker, Julio Cesar Chavez and more.
Trinidad (42-3, 35 KOs) is a Puerto Rican legend. He upset De La Hoya in 1999, and has five world titles in three weight divisions. He has also won fights against Camacho, Whitaker, and Fernando Vargas.
Calzaghe (46-0, 32 KOs) fought from 1993-2008, and never lost. The London native unified the super middleweight titles in 2006 and won the lineal light heavyweight championship in 2008. He also has had big fights against some of the greats such as Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones JR., and Jeff Lacy.
The 25th annual induction ceremony will be held June 8 at the Canastota, N.Y.
Take a look at some of the biggest fights from the boxers below.


text:
Every community has an obligation to understand the risks it faces from man-made, natural and technological threats and hazards.Beginning in 2012, the Kansas City region underwent a Threat and Hazard Risk Identification and Assessment (THIRA) process to identify the risks faced in the region and understand, qualify and quantify the potential community impacts from these risks. The THIRA is updated annually in December.
The ten threats and hazards examined were:
By understanding risks and probable resulting impacts, elected officials are able to make informed decisions about how to manage risk and develop needed capabilities. The THIRA is being used as a tool to aid in ascertaining regional gaps in "whole community" planning, organization, equipment, training and exercise.
Contact Justin Sorg for more information»


text:
Police: Teen fires shots at intruders during home break-in
by: Catherine Bilkey Updated:
KANNAPOLIS - Two men are in police custody facing multiple charges after an apparent home invasion. A teenager told Channel 9 he fought the men off, firing shots. It happened around 4:00 a.m. Sunday, on Fisher Street in Kannapolis.
Christopher Ludwick, 19, said two intruders entered his home while he was asleep.
"And I got woken up to the breaking in, and then I got hit in the face a couple of times," Ludwick said.
His home had been broken into just two weeks prior —so his father had given him a gun for protection.
"I grabbed the gun, and I started shooting," Ludwick said.
He says he may have hit one of the men, but that didn't stop them. He says they wrestled the gun from his hands.
"I got hit in the back of the head with the gun, and my head was bleeding really bad," Ludwick said.
After that, the teenager says he ran across the street to his father's home for help while the two men took off with that gun.
"When he came through …the door, he said 'help me, help me, help me,'" Terry Ludwick said.
Christopher's dad says he saw only one thing: "Blood big time."
His father said Christopher had to get four staples in the back of his head.
"I'm just thrilled he's alive," Terry Ludwick said.
Andrew Calamari and Kristopher Welch are both in police custody in connection with the crime. They're facing felony larceny and first-degree burglary charges. Calamari is also facing an assault with a deadly weapon charge.
Police: Teen fires shots at intruders during home break-in
Homicide detectives investigate fatal shooting in west Charlotte
Charlotte motel slaying marks third homicide of holiday weekend
Woman tried to save boy's life in apartment pool drowning
President Trump observes Memorial Day with somber service at Arlington


text:
Whittier Cruise Port
Port of Whittier: An Overview
Where? You're forgiven if you've never before heard of Whittier. Although it's a gateway to the glacier- and wildlife-filled Prince William Sound, most people have had no reason to go there. Except -- and this is a big except -- Whittier has experienced a boon as an alternative embarkation and disembarkation port to ship-crowded Seward. Princess Cruises primarily homeports ships here for the entire Alaska season.
Despite the sound views, quaint it's not -- the feel is very industrial and military. (The town holds a strategic position on the Alaska Railroad and at the head of a deep fjord; during World War II, it was a key port in the defense strategy for the state.) Weather is often nasty, with whipping winds and lots of rain, particularly in the winter.
Still, the tiny city of about 200 residents is a natural benefit for cruise lines sailing Alaska itineraries, actually more than an hour closer to Anchorage than Seward. (It takes about 90 minutes to get to Whittier from the Anchorage airport.) This means hundreds of thousands of cruise passengers are a part of the Whittier scene each summer.
How an increased cruise presence has changed this scene is unclear. What visitors will find today, however, is a really odd-ball place, where nearly all residents live in a single, 14-story concrete apartment building. (Most others live in a second building.) Kids in the apartment building don't even have to go outside to go to school in winter. A tunnel leads to their classrooms. (The average amount of snow on the ground on any given day between December and April is 33.8 inches!)
Getting into town is, however, one of the highlights of a visit: The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is like no other. You enter what looks like a Swiss Chalet structure and ride for 2.5 miles on a railroad track through the narrow pass cut into a mountain. The tunnel is actually shared by rail and vehicle traffic -- when one is inside, the other is not; they switch every half-hour.
If you are planning an overnight stay before or after your cruise, we highly recommend staying in Anchorage because there is much more to see and do in town, and there are more accommodation options. However, with Prince William Sound just steps away, there is plenty for cruisers to do with a few hours to kill in Whittier. Included are a few suggestions for what to do with one day in Whittier if you are feeling a bit adventurous.
Hanging Around
Whittier has more use as a staging ground for getting out on Prince William Sound. The town itself is rather industrial. There is a cruise ship terminal, where you can pick up a guidebook. There are a few restrooms around the Small Boat Harbor.
Don't Miss
Begich Towers: The main residence in town is what you'd expect of a 1940's military structure, including dark, narrow halls. Although you obviously cannot enter residents' apartments, anyone can go inside the building: Everything in town is located there, including the grocery store on the first floor and a medical clinic on the third. This is an unusual setup, even for quirky Alaska. (100 Kenai Street)
Fishing: About 30 charter fishing boats operate out of Whittier. The Whittier Harbormaster keeps a list (call 907-472-2330). You can arrange to have your catch shipped home.
Blackstone via kayak: See Prince William Sound by kayak with Alaska Sea Kayakers (877-472-2534; two locations along the harbor), which offers classes, day trips and overnights in a number of scenic camping locales like Blackstone Bay or Harriman Fjord. Space is available for day trips, but advance planning is recommended for any overnights. Also consider the Prince William Sound Kayak Center if someone in your group is looking to rent paddleboards. (101 Billings Street; 877-472-2452; open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
Prince William Sound Museum: Focusing on Whittier's military history, specifically that of World War II and the construction of the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, this small museum shares space with the Anchor Inn. (100 Whittier Street; 877-472-2354; open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.)
Glacier boat tour: Two operators dominate the boat tour scene in Whittier. Phillips Cruises and Tours (800-544-0529) offers a 4.5-hour, 26-glacier cruise of the sound on a fast, three-deck catamaran, counting the glaciers as they go. They offer a unique no seasickness guarantee. Major Marine Tours (800-764-7300) operates a smaller, 149-passenger vessel that visits 10 glaciers and puts an emphasis on food (for an extra fee) with an all-you-can-eat salmon and prime rib buffet. Both are located on West Camp Road directly next to the cruise terminal.
Glacier Jet Ski Adventures: Relatively new to the Whittier tour operator scene, Glacier Jet Ski Adventures offers adrenaline-junkies the chance to jet around the protected sound with no experience necessary and get this -- heated life vests. (Located in The Triangle; 907-830-4001; Open everyday from May through September, weather permitting)
Getting Around
On Foot: Once in town, there is no need for taxis or shuttles -- everything in town is within walking distance.
By Bus: For people who are coming independently from Anchorage and do not have a cruise line transfer, check out The Magic Bus, which departs from the Anchorage Museum (7th and C streets) at 9:45 a.m. daily, May through September; the trip takes about 90 minutes, includes narration and picture stops, and drops at the Princess dock at noon. For reservations, call 800-208-0200. You can also get there by train: Call the Alaska Railroad at 800-544-0552; the trip takes about 2.5 hours.
By Car: If you're driving to or from Whittier be sure to have the schedule for the historic Anton Anderson Tunnel -- built during WWII, it's the only way in or out. Open to vehicles since 2000, the tunnel is used by the train and cars, but in one direction at a time. Be sure to catch the next opening in your direction or you might be waiting in line for another hour.
The dining scene in Whittier is eclectic, simply because there is not a ton to choose from. You'll find fresh doughnuts, solid Chinese food and heralded fish 'n' chips, but dietary restrictions could prove cumbersome. Head to the waterfront to dine at one of the few but reliable restaurants.
China Sea: Korean-owned and doing Chinese food well for years, China Sea features specials like kung pao halibut. (6 Harbor Road; 907-472-2222; open about 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily).
Varly's Swiftwater Seafood Cafe: Known for its fish 'n' chips, Varly's is a real local spot, known also for its rhubarb crisp, which is on offer for dessert. (Harbor Road, next to China Sea; 907-472-2550; open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on weekends)
Lazy Otter Cafe & Gifts: Lazy Otter is the place for espresso, breakfast, lunch and ice cream. The salmon cream cheese bagel is to die for. Boxed lunches are available for the day (or train trip to Anchorage). (Lot 2; 907-472-3000)
The Donut Depot: As you might expect, you can head here for snacks like fresh doughnuts (duh) and burritos. Cash only. (100 Railyard; 907-529-2516; 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
The Inn at Whittier: The Inn is the premier place to stay in this tiny port town, but it also offers a sun-filled dining room with plenty of windows for views of Prince William Sound. A room is usually set aside for tour groups coming through for lunch, but access to the main dining room is available without reservation (unless you want a table near the windows). Visit for lunch or dinner. (5A Harbor Loop Road; 907-472-3200)
Where You're Docked
The cruise ship terminal, located at the mouth of Whittier Creek, doesn't offer much, other than efficient check-in and disembarkation facilities; a rack offers brochures on tours, eateries and the few existing shops. Passengers disembark in the heart of a tiny business/residential district.
Watch Out For
It rains a lot in Whittier; bring your rain jacket and managed expectations. Even if the tour you're on boasts 26 glaciers, you might only see one or two due to cloud cover (still, the one or two are pretty amazing). Thusly, resign your sightseeing around Prince William Sound to fate.
Currency & Best Way to Get Money
Currency is the U.S. dollar. An ATM is available at the Harbor Store (also the site of the Avis Rental Center) at Lot 8 Small Boat Harbor.
English is spoken.
Best Souvenir
Shopping isn't a major draw in Whittier, but Log Cabin Gifts (907-472-2501) provides some of the most unique handcrafted items we found during our entire Alaska trip. Handmade leather bags, ornaments and other Alaskan mementos are designed and made by Brenda, a resident for more than three decades who also happens to own a pet reindeer.
Perhaps the the most rewarding souvenir is catching a huge sockeye salmon to ship home (or you can pick up some fresh seafood already caught for you, namely PWS' famous spot shrimp at Alaska Seafood. Both are located in The Triangle, an area in the harbor where restaurants and shops are clustered.
For More Information
On the Web: Greater Whittier Chamber of Commerce
Cruise Critic Message Boards: Alaska
IndependentTraveler.com: Alaska Travel Guide
--By Fran Golden, Cruise Critic contributor; updated by Jodi Thompson, Cruise Critic contributor and Brittany Chrusciel, Associate Editor
The Pros and Cons of the Star PrincessSusieq0102My DH and I chose the Star Princess because of the timing of the cruise. This was our first cruise and we wanted a very special one. We were going to renew our vows while in Alaska and splurged all the way, The Star Pro: The Star is warm and ... Read more
Great scenaryWildpoppyWe did the pre tour of Alaska first and joined the ship in Whittier. Princess were well organised on the tour and handled our luggage well. The embarkation process was smooth and quick. Luggage waiting on board and we went straight to lunch ... Read more
We chose to go on the Coral Princess as the ports were what we wanted and the prices better than the other ships leaving the same time. This was our first Princess cruise and with the exception of another (Ruby Princess that followed) will be our ... Read more
We have always wanted to see Alaska, especially the glaciers, so this seemed the perfect opportunity. Our embarkation went smoothie and we found our stateroom easily and we were thrilled with what we found. Unpacking was easy and there was room ... Read more
We actually went on the 13 day excursion, spending the first 6 nights on land. We arrived in Fairbanks and were happy we did land then sea. The rooms and lodge was nice with a shuttle into Fairbanks. We did the included Riverboat and Gold Dredge ... Read more
Another great Princess CruiseretsofmamieSixth cruise with Princess. Did the Southbound Voyage of the Glaciers from Whittier to Vancouver. Top two cruises with Princess. Coral Princess could use a face lift but overall a nice ship with the usual nice shopping areas and restaurants (food ... Read more
Aurora Borealis was the cherry on top: Great CruiseTheMalibuArtistI have cruised 4 times with Princess. Twice on the Grand, once on the Dawn and now the Coral. Although I've never been unhappy with any of the experiences aboard a Princess ship I must say the Coral experience was most certainly the best. I just ... Read more
- Which cruiseline to take to alaska??? easyboy
- Advice please for Juneau excursions? Too many to choose. Coral
- Alaska 2017 gagenie
- Great Packing Information from this Guide! snowmc
- one-way bus ride BACK FROM Mendenhall Glacier mapleleaves
- Pictures... Beach4me
- Alaska, here we come! ski ww
- What happens to the glacier helicopter tour if it rains? Florida_cruisers
- Sitka salmon fishing boat - help Suzanne123
- Tracy Arm Fjord & Glacier Explorer Catamaran Excursion Right off the Ship? xlxo


text:
Again to Mr. Benson
"You want what?"
I explained again.
Mr. Benson looked at me carefully. He looked at me as if his scruity was examining every individual hair and milimetre of skin and then even remembering them.
"I don't think you quite understand Mercy..." Mr. Benson said. "The humble ones are natrually humble. There is no one in charge as such. Yes, I am a leader and leadership can be done humbly however what guides every humble one is the quiet voice within our minds. Forget about music Mercy, there are other things worth listening to. Listen to the truth. Music can drown that truth. I am at peace now, and look where it has brought me. Look where it has brought the world."
"But..." I begin.
"I think that's enough for now. Your young imagination is carrying you away with it. You don't know music. What I showed you was soft. You don't yet know its darker side. I'll walk you to the door. Don't worry you can come back any day and we'll talk about it."
Without meaning to I realise I'd allowed him to escort me out of his office into the waiting room where my new friend was waiting expecting better news than I had to give him.


text:
- 1[transitive] fuel something to supply something with material that can be burnt to produce heat or power Uranium is used to fuel nuclear plants. oil-fuelled power stations
- 2[transitive, intransitive] fuel (something) (up) to put petrol/gas into a vehicle The helicopter was already fuelled (up) and ready to go.
- 3[transitive] fuel something to increase something; to make something stronger synonym stoke to fuel speculation/rumours/fears Higher salaries helped to fuel inflation. More Like This Consonant-doubling verbs bob, club, dub, grab, rub, sob, throb kid, nod, pad, plod, prod, shred, skid, thud beg, blog, bug, drag, drug, flag, hug, jog, log, mug, nag, plug bar, confer, infer, occur, prefer, refer, star, stir, transfer acquit, admit, allot, chat, clot, commit, jut, knit, pat, regret, rot, spot, submit (in British English:) appal, cancel, channel, control, counsel, enrol, equal, excel, fuel, fulfil, label, level, marvel, model, pedal, quarrel, signal, travelSee worksheet. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French fouaille, based on Latin focus 'hearth' (in late Latin 'fire').Extra examples Crime is soaring fuelled by an influx of drugs. Higher oil prices helped to fuel inflation. His absence has fuelled rumours of a split within the party. The consumer boom had been fuelled by a credit-led economy. Yesterday's meeting is likely to fuel further speculation about a takeover.
BrE BrE//ˈfjuːəl//; NAmE NAmE//ˈfjuːəl//Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they fuel
BrE BrE//ˈfjuːəl//; NAmE NAmE//ˈfjuːəl//he / she / it fuels
BrE BrE//ˈfjuːəlz//; NAmE NAmE//ˈfjuːəlz//past simple fuelled
BrE BrE//ˈfjuːəld//; NAmE NAmE//ˈfjuːəld//past participle fuelled
BrE BrE//ˈfjuːəld//; NAmE NAmE//ˈfjuːəld//(US English) past simple fueled
BrE BrE//ˈfjuːəld//; NAmE NAmE//ˈfjuːəld//(US English) past participle fueled
BrE BrE//ˈfjuːəld//; NAmE NAmE//ˈfjuːəld//-ing form fuelling
BrE BrE//ˈfjuːəlɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈfjuːəlɪŋ//(US English) -ing form fueling
BrE BrE//ˈfjuːəlɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈfjuːəlɪŋ//
Check pronunciation: fuel


text:
Barrington's Voight will play for state title; team advances to semis
Barrington High School tennis players Jason Scanlon and Cam Voight played well in the Rhode Island Individual Tennis Tournament last weekend.
Cam Voight won three straight matches and will play against Smithfield's Matt Kuhar, the top-seeded player in the state, in the finals. Voight opened the tournament with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Daniel Simonds of Mt. Hope. He defeated East Providence's Troy Derrick, 6-1, 6-0 in the second round and later defeated LaSalle's Marco Amendola, 6-2, 6-0 in the semis.
Voight will face off against Kuhar on Sunday, May 26 at noon at Slater Park.
Scanlon, a freshman, knocked off Prout's Brandon Hazelton, 6-0, 6-0 in the first round and then defeated PCD's Joe DiOrio, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. He was eliminated after losing to a LaSalle netter, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
The doubles team of Aiden and Christian Egglin defeated Danish Azam-Nick Lowinger of Wheeler to qualify for the tournament and won 6-1, 6-0 over a Chariho team in the first round.
The Barrington High School tennis team knocked off East Greenwich, 7-0, in the first round of the playoffs on Tuesday afternoon. Voight rallied after losing the first set, winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. Barrington's other singles players, Scanlon, Malcolm Kraus, and Will Hemingway all won in straight sets.
The Eagles will play one of their biggest matches of the year on Thursday, squaring off Smithfield in the Division I semifinals. The match will be played at Slater Park at 3 p.m. The team match will also serve as a preview of the RI Individual Tennis Tournament finals, which will pit Voight against Smithfield's Matt Kuhar.


text:
The team manager has throw an untried back division together for Saturday's opening autumn international against the Pacific Islanders at Twickenham.
There will be Test debuts for centre Riki Flutey (Wasps), fullback Delon Armitage (London Irish) and wing Ugo Monye (Harlequins) and Johnson has also opted for a rookie half-back pairing of Danny Cipriani and Danny Care.
In total, 10 of the team are from the capital with another three London players on the bench.
"There are lots of new caps and new faces around but there is also some experience," said Johnson.
"We are happy with the guys we have picked. Monye and Armitage have been very impressive all season and in camp over the last 10 days.
"There are some new caps in there and it is exciting. These guys are bursting to get out on the field. It is an exciting back line.
"It is important to hit the ground running. It will be very fast and furious in the first 25 minutes so we need to control that as much as we can. I want to see us win. That is what we are there for."
London Irish lock Nick Kennedy, arguably the best line-out forward in the country, will make his debut alongside captain Steve Borthwick of Saracens.
Of the back division, only Paul Sackey and Jamie Noon boast a cap-total in double figures.
England: D Armitage (L Irish); P Sackey (Wasps),
J Noon (Newcastle), R Flutey (Wasps), U Monye (Quins); D Cipriani (Wasps), D Care (Quins); A Sheridan (Sale), L Mears (Bath), M Stevens (Bath),N Kennedy (L Irish), S Borthwick (Saracens,capt), T Croft (Leicester), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Quins). Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), P Vickery (Wasps), T Palmer (Wasps), J Haskell (Wasps), M Lipman
- More about:
- Danny Cipriani
- Guinness Premiership
- Harlequin FC
- Harlequins (rugby)
- London Irish (rugby)


text:
5,629pages onAdd New Page
this wiki
this wiki
- Angel: "How is your Aratuscan?"
- Harry: "Rusty, considering it's a dead demonic language."
- — Angel and Harriet Doyle[src]
Aratuscan was the language spoken by Ano-Movic Demons before the species adopted human culture. By 1999 it was considered a dead language.


text:
Mount View Care Center funding failure goes deeper than money
Tuesday, a measure to issue bonds for the $13.5 million remodeling of Mount View Care Center failed at the Marathon County Board by a vote of 24 in favor to 10 opposed with four members absent. While most members voted in support of the bonding, a three-quarters vote of the members-elect of the Board is required under Wisconsin law to issue bonds or promissory notes, (Sec. 67.045 Wis. Stats.)
I strongly supported the project and since I'm now in my 14th term of public office, I also understand that you win some and you lose some. But the manner in which this particular bonding issue failed should give everyone in Marathon County serious cause for pause because it comes off like an act of bad faith on the part of some board members who either don't understand the significance of acting with consistency or simply didn't think it was important enough to do that.
This project has been under discussion for years and this past January, the county board passed an "Intent Resolution Regarding Issuance of General Obligation Bonds or Promissory Notes for Nursing Home Project." By that resolution, the board officially declared its intent to issue bonds for the project and also stated that "At subsequent meetings, the County Board of Supervisors shall take further action to authorize the issuance of the Bonds, approve the details of the Bonds and authorize for the sale of the Bonds." Barring some incredibly important new factors being introduced, the vote for the bonding should have been perfunctory. A sufficient number of board members had declared policy and their intent to follow through with this project.
There was a full discussion and full understanding that while that initial resolution only required a majority vote, the bonding would require a three quarters vote. It passed with 29 votes in favor, four votes against and five members absent – a three-quarters majority. It may not sound like there was any margin for the upcoming vote on issuing the bonds, but unless we believed that the five missing members were all hard "no" votes and we lost a "yes" along the way, the ice was plenty thick enough to walk on and everyone should have known what they were doing. Here's some coverage after the January vote. Done deal, right?
Based on the January vote, the project went out for bids. The proposals arrived on time and within the budget. The planning and execution required to reach that point on something of this magnitude is no small thing; the costs were estimated at $668,000.
But then something else came into play, by way of some grievances that some county board members had with the management of North Central Health Care Facilities over the way certain mental health services were being delivered for the jail and perhaps other matters. None of these things had anything to do with the Mount View project. That didn't matter, because some members had decided that withholding approval of the Mount View bonds would give them greater leverage in the unrelated discussions. These were issues that had been around for a while. And while they certainly didn't require hundreds of thousands of dollars in unrelated wasted money to support the debate over them, that is what it could cost county taxpayers to place that particular arrow in their quiver.
Health and Human Services Committee Chair John Robinson was concerned about the possibility of the bonding vote failing and he offered an action to delay the vote in an effort to give wavering members time to resolve their issues with NCHC. I did not support the delay because it was clear that this process would take months. The bids on the project would expire and I wasn't certain that a delay would produce new votes in favor or that a long delay would leave us in a substantially better position than a loss on the bonding measure would anyway. More importantly, I felt that it would be capitulating to a tactic that would set a bad precedent for the board going forward: the inherent claim that it is okay to renege on prior commitments for comparatively weak reasoning. Based on the people we had in the room, it would be necessary for some to act contrary to their vote in January – to not keep their word – in order for the bonding to fail.
And that is exactly what happened.
It doesn't bother me that several members who opposed the project continued to oppose it, because those negative votes were already baked in. It doesn't bother me that several members who missed the January meeting voted in opposition, since they hadn't established a prior position on the matter that should have been tantamount to approving the bonds. What bothers me greatly is that five members – Lee Peek, Matt Bootz, Richard Gumz, Jacob Langenhahn and Alan Christensen – thought it was okay to flip their positions from the January vote and oppose the bonding that they had already agreed to authorize. Some of them felt comfortable enough with it to speak against the project that they had voted to proceed with a few months earlier. The bottom line is that these five votes provided the exact margin of failure and it is fair to place the responsibility for the outcome directly on the people who cast them. In the now infamous words of John Kerry, they were literally 'for it before they were against it' — and it is costing time and money.
The Marathon County Board needs to act in good faith and keep its word when it goes out for bids. Members can have their different views, but they should be consistent with them when it comes to asking people to bid major projects and to do business with the county. Instead, some members were perfectly willing to be Lucy, holding the football out for Charlie Brown to try to kick before pulling it away at the last possible moment.
At this point, there are a lot of losers and no apparent winners. Even if the unrelated issues with NCHC end up being resolved — as they almost certainly will — there is no particular reason to believe that it couldn't have happened without blowing up the Mount View bonding measure on Tuesday. There's a contractor that should have been given a multi-million job, after complying with the terms of the bidding and submitting the "winning" bid. There are the employees and future residents in what would have been some badly-needed renovated space at Mount View. There are the taxpayers of Marathon County, who would have seen 70 percent of the money for the renovations come back through increased reimbursements for care and who may have also lost the opportunity for the lowest possible interest rates on financing, plus the hundreds of thousands invested already. There are some plumbers, carpenters, electricians, masons, managers and others who would have had jobs doing the work and our community that would have seen some of that money recirculated. We can hope that the project's financing is eventually approved and the losses from current fiasco won't be all that large, though it's risky business.
But the biggest loser is the Marathon County Board, because it lost some serious credibility in a way that should never have happened. It will be a little more difficult to rely on some people going forward and to take them at their word. People can rationalize it any way they want to, but it should take a whole lot more for people of good will and good intentions to abandon important commitments than it did this week at the Marathon County Board.


text: 30 Days Of Night (2007) DvDRip-aXXo Horror | Thriller That is the story of an remoted Alaskan city that is plunged into darkness for a month every 12 months when the solar sinks beneath the horizon. because the final rays of sunshine fade, the city is attacked by a bloodthirsty gang of vampires bent on an uninterrupted orgy of destruction. solely the small town's husband-and-wife Sheriff workforce stand between the survivors and sure destruction. Code: http://shareflare.net/download/17869.13c72f6490a83b12333d7ade1914/30.Days.Of.Night.2007.DvDRipaXXo.avi.html


text:
Unlocking Voices Of The "Locked In"
FLORIDA - BACKGROUND: There are over 2 million people in the U.S. with some level of functional LIS. (Source: www.ohsu.edu/xd/research) Locked-In Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by paralysis of voluntary muscles in all parts of the body except for the muscles that control eye movement. The disease will leave the person completely paralyzed and mute. Communication is possible through blinking of the eyes. Patients are able to reason and are conscious; they just cannot move or speak. It could be a result from traumatic brain injury, diseases that destroy the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells, diseases of the circulatory system, or medication overdose. There are three classifications of Locked-In Syndrome: complete LIS (quadriplegia), classic LIS (preserved vertical eye movement), and Incomplete LIS (recovery of some voluntary movements). (Source: www.ninds.nih.gov)
CAUSES: Locked-In Syndrome is most commonly caused by any condition that affects an area of the brain called the ventral pons. This part of the brain is where all of the nerve tracts that are responsible for voluntary movement pass through. The area of the brain that is responsible for consciousness is preserved above the ventral pons; therefore, allowing the person to be able to think. Diagnosis for a conscious individual with no muscle functioning means they respond to questions by blinking. Doctors will diagnose further by CT or MRI scans to reveal if there is a presence of stroke or aneurysm that could have caused the condition. (Source: www.ninds.nih.gov)
TREATMENT: Unfortunately, there is no cure or a standard treatment plan. A therapy called functional neuromuscular stimulation, which uses electrodes to stimulate muscle reflexes, might help to activate paralyzed muscles. There are also several devices to help with communication. The most important goal of rehabilitation is finding devices to assist the patient with communicating. (Source: www.ninds.nih.gov)
NEW TECHNOLOGY: A new device called noninvasive brain-computer interface (BCI) can allow people who are locked-in to communicate by operating a computer cursor. This type of technology was invented originally to be assistive technology and now it can be used for controlling video games, automating sailboats, robotics, and military tasks. Early studies of the BCI involved implantable sensors. Now the new BCI system can detect the brain's activities through the scalp, from the surface of the brain, and then it can be processed by a computer to extract certain patterns. Patterns are then translated into commands for a device. Technology substitutes for the loss of typical neuromuscular outputs so that people can interact with their environments through brain signals rather than through muscle. (Source: www.ohsu.edu/xd/research)


text:
from £35 / night help Price for guests, Nights
Bansko Royal Towers – Home 95995 Apartment
- 1 bedroom
- 4 sleeps
- 3 nights min stay
Bansko Royal Towers – Home 95995
- Apartment
- 1 bedroom
- sleeps 4
- 3 nights min stay
Top Review
Apartment / 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom / sleeps 4
Key Info
- Swimming pool
- Ski
- Child friendly
- Car not necessary
- No pets allowed
Description from owner
It's all about the location! That's the main criteria when skiing and you can combine this with luxury and exceptionally good value with this 1 bed (sleeps 4) apartment in the prestigous Bansko Royal Towers complex. This family apartment has unrivalled accommodation, on site facilities , and price make it an ideal,exceptional value skiing holiday.
This apartment is spacious ( 64 sqm ) and is in block 2 opposite the footbridge for a quick walk to the main lift! It offers fantastic views of the mountains from the large balcony. We have spent many evenings watching the sun set over the Pirin mountains from there.
Bansko Royal Towers enjoys a fantastic reputation in the resort especially being 100m from the main gondola lift. This is an accurate distance, unlike many you may be given . It also boasts great facilities for the summer such as a lovely outdoor pool, gardens and sun terrace overlooking the mountain views.
Further details indoors
We have
It's all about the location! That's the main criteria when skiing and you can combine this with luxury and exceptionally good value with this 1 bed (sleeps 4) apartment in the prestigous Bansko Royal Towers complex. This family apartment has unrivalled accommodation, on site facilities , and price make it an ideal,exceptional value skiing holiday.
This apartment is spacious ( 64 sqm ) and is in block 2 opposite the footbridge for a quick walk to the main lift! It offers fantastic views of the mountains from the large balcony. We have spent many evenings watching the sun set over the Pirin mountains from there.
Bansko Royal Towers enjoys a fantastic reputation in the resort especially being 100m from the main gondola lift. This is an accurate distance, unlike many you may be given . It also boasts great facilities for the summer such as a lovely outdoor pool, gardens and sun terrace overlooking the mountain views.
Further details indoors
We have added luxurious touches such as Italian furnishings, very much in keeping with the considerable expectations of such a complex. Our apartment has all you would expect from a 4 star development and it sleeps 4 comfortably. It has a large double bed in a separate bedroom, a large double sofa bed and another sofa. We also have table and chairs in the balcony that overlooks the beautiful Pirin mountains.
The Bansko Royal Towers complex offers fantastic facilities such as jacuzzis, steam rooms ,saunas, swimming pools, both indoor any outdoor and a very well equipped gym. Our family really enjoy the leisure facilities that are provided with this complex. After a "tough day on the slopes" we love to sit in the sauna,steam rooms or the jacuzzi, while the kids use the pool, and there is a very well equipped gym in the leisure area.The perfect end to the perfect day.
Further details outdoors
Due to the close proximity to the lifts, everything is on your doorstep. 2 minutes from leaving the door you will be at the main lift! No need to worry about buses or long walks in ski boots.
The complex has bars, restaurants, a great spa for massage, etc and a lovely indoor pool with steam rooms and jacuzzis. In fact, you don't really have to leave the complex!!
Apres ski is on your door step.The best bar in Bansko is beside the gondola,only 100m from our apartment and there there is an excellent bar in the Bansko Royal Towers complex, where everyone meets after a great day in the mountain. The unique old town is only 5 minutes walk to the centre so you can enjoy all of Bansko just minutes away!
Try our apartment in this fabulous complex in this fantastic resort and you won't be disappointed! We love it!
Location description from owner
The Blagoevgrad Province region
The Pirin Mountain has a predominantly Alpine character with three peaks towering above 2900m. However, the slopes offer runs and tracks for all types of skiers, from novice to the experts, while the ski runs are maintained in excellent condition. For most visitors Bansko is just a synonym for having a good time - and it really has a lot to offer: its location and its people. Situated at the foot of the Pirin mountain range on the southern edge of a circular plain that is surrounded on all sides by mountains - Pirin, Rila and the Rhodopes - Bansko offers some spectacular views and is an ideal starting point for all kinds of excursions in summer and for skiing in winter. The Bansko taverns, with unique charm and style offer local Cuisine and good selection of Bulgarian wines. Live music is available at some places. Discos and night clubs work without time limit, and usually close early in the morning.
Visitors to this mountain town have always left captivated and charmed by the spirit of the Banskalii (Bansko residents) wishing they could once again return to the 'Heart of Pirin'; to one with nature is something everyone craves for, in their hurried everyday lives. Various souvenir shops offer the creations of the local artists and smiths.
Bansko has it all: from your dream ski vacation to a walk around its Bulgarian heritage. As the above mentioned facts prove, Bansko is among the most interesting places and best resorts in Bulgaria. So, if you have the opportunity, seize the moment and experience what thousands of foreign tourists boast about on their return home: great value for money, perfect conditions, and rich culture. However you look at it, you will have an enchanting new experience!
Much of Bansko's enduring charm comes from the fact that it never started out as a purpose-built ski resort. Back in the nineteenth century it was one of Bulgaria's richest market towns, as the maze of fortress-like stone houses at its centre still attests. Surrounded by timber-rich forests and pasture-perfect grazing land, Bansko still remains a working agricultural community. The aroma of horse and goat droppings brings a pungent freshness to the mountain air, reminding today's visitors that Bansko is one place where modern tourism and age-old traditions happily co-exist.
Come and enjoy its beautiful nature and spend an unforgettable vacation in Bansko. Today, Bansko is certainly one of the jewels in Bulgaria's tourism crown. This charming, historic town is located in the broad Mesta River plain, which is bordered by three mountain groups: the Rila, Rhodopes and Pirin. Bansko provides an interesting combination between the virgin nature of Pirin Mountain and the atmosphere of the ancient Bulgarian small town. It has a very rich and unique culture that you cannot find anywhere else in Bulgaria. Even though the town of Bansko is relatively small, it has a great spirit that the people have preserved over the centuries.
If you require more information regarding the area please visit:
www.banskoski.com - (for the ski zone)
www.banskobg.org - (for area activities, sightseeing trips and excursions)
Bansko is the largest ski resort in Eastern Europe and Bulgaria's No.1 ski resort, having the best and most modern ski centre of all Bulgarian ski resorts. During the recent years a multi-million euros investment in a brand new skiing area has been made by Yulen. Bansko has the best snow record and the longest ski season (15 Dec - 15 May) of all Bulgarian ski resorts. A brand new resort area with super luxury hotels and holiday apartments is being developed just opposite the Gondola lift, which also makes Bansko the resort with the best hotels.
At the hub of this strategic locale of premium complexes sits Bansko Royal Towers, with its trademark 'Clock Tower' commanding in appearance. Architecturally, its character blends perfectly into Bansko town's old-world persona. Yet behind its nostalgic façade an array of luxury amenities and services awaits your arrival………be our guest!
The town of Bansko is situated nearby the river Glazne, in the north-eastern foot of the Pirin Mountains, right below the highest and most beautiful mountain. Its name comes from the old Bulgarian word "ban", which means "master". Bansko has developed into a favourite ski & snowboard destination, thanks to the excellent ski facilities combined with its unique architecture and history. The town of Bansko is located 925 m. above sea level, and its skiing area is 2000-2600 m.
Whilst in Bansko you will be drawn by the blend of antique Revival-time architecture and up-to-date amenities, specific to the town which suggests individual past and authenticity in culture, ethnography and customs. The atmosphere of mystery and remoteness is created by the meandering cobblestone streets, houses-castles with high gateways and long eaves made of black twig. Small and lively pubs, restaurants (atmospheric Mehanas, their windows aglow with crackling fires in winter and the sound of lilting traditional songs wafting out along with the delicious aroma), discos and cafes in the old town will make your going-to-bed early virtually impossible. The sports events and the long list of cultural happenings in Bansko ensure pleasant experiences for the guests of the town throughout the year. Bansko has an extremely rich catalogue of cultural events. A part of them have preserved the traditions in folklore, customs, woodcarving, painting and are of regional importance.
For more information on Bansko and Bansko Royal Towers please visit:
More Less
- Great for children of all ages
- No pets allowed
Bed & bathroom
- 1 Double Bed, 1 Sofa Bed
- 1 Family bathroom
- Wi-Fi available
- Shared outdoor pool (heated)
- Shared indoor pool
- Jacuzzi or hot tub
- Climbing frame
- Balcony or terrace
- Internet access
- Central heating
- Sauna
- Games room
- Cooker
- Fridge
- Freezer
- Microwave
- Toaster
- Kettle
- Iron
- Satellite TV
- DVD player
- Linen provided
- Towels provided
More Less
- Not suitable for wheelchair users
- Payment
- This rental can only be paid for online through Holiday Lettings using your credit/debit card or PayPal (never by bank or wire transfer).
- Smoking
- No smoking at this property
- Cancellation policy
View Policy
About the owner
Julian S.
- Response rate:
- 75%
- Calendar updated::
- 05 Dec 2016
- Years listed:
- 7
- Based in:
- Bulgaria
- Overall rating:
Languages spoken: English
This Apartment has 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom and sleeps 4. It's been listed on Holiday Lettings since 03 Aug 2009. Located in Bansko, it has 2 reviews with an overall rating of 4.5. The average weekly rate varies from £150 to £175.
The Owner has a response rate of 75% and the property's calendar was last updated on 05 Dec 2016.
Map and how to get there
Guest reviews
– based on 2 reviews
Very Good
2 reviews
- Excellent
- 1
- Very Good
- 1
- Average
- 0
- Poor
- 0
- Terrible
- 0
We had a week in mid january. The location of the apartment in ideal for access to the gondola, especially at the end of the day when you are tired! also there are a number of bars and restaurants that are very close. The apartment is ideal, very warm and comfy, the complex is ideal to having the pool, sauna, steam and jacuzi only a few minutes walk away. The skiing is great, was my first ski for far to many years, the instructor was great and soon had you confident on the slopes. The people in bulgaria are very friendly, and never felt awkward as can happen. Obviously one of the great things about the place is the cost, it is so well priced when you go out.
"Bansko Royal Towers"
Having always spent ski holidays in the Alps at hotels, like most people needed to budget a bit more this year. I have to say I whished I had done it years ago and saved a fortune, the apartment and complex is as good as any hotel I have stayed in at a fraction of the price especially given the location literally across the car park from the lift. Julian and his wife were great communicators which made the whole experience seamless, he can also give you some good pointers for transfers and flights. Bansko itself was as equally surprising with the best lift system I have seen, no buttons, brilliant. The piste were always well groomed, all the runs were open and I believe the word cup was there a few weeks earlier . The town itself is a mixture of modern bars and restraints but step of the main street and you can find yourself going back to how it used to be, almost as though time stopped still. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is sick of the overpriced Alps but still wants a good holiday with quality skiing and great accommodation.
Owner's reply: Thanks Colin, we look forward to seeing you again! I knew you'd love the location, especially the large balcony to put your feet up and view the mountains!
Build your perfect trip, with Holiday Lettings & TripAdvisor
Book with confidence
Pay online to be covered by Payment Protection
Real opinions, real reviews
Genuine guest feedback from 100,000+ reviews
Safe, simple, secure
When you pay online with PayPal or by credit/debit card
Quick response times
Know where you're staying within 24 hours
Also consider
Europe Holidays
443489 properties
Burgas Province
715 properties
Blagoevgrad Province
355 properties
325 properties
Sofia Region
266 properties
Varna Province
255 properties
Dobrich Province
133 properties
Smolyan Province
70 properties
Plovdiv Province
53 properties
Veliko Tarnovo Province
21 properties
Lovech Province
16 properties
Gabrovo Province
15 properties
12 properties
Haskovo Province
9 properties
Stara Zagora Province
7 properties
Ruse Province
7 properties
Pazardzhik Province
7 properties
Targovishte Province
7 properties
6 properties
Shumen Province
6 properties
This advert is created and maintained by the advertiser; we can only publish adverts in good faith as we don't own, manage or inspect any of the properties. We advise you to familiarise yourself with our terms of use.


text:
Royal Ascot will have an extra Group One race from next year, it was announced on Wednesday, as part of a general move to strengthen the sprinting programme for three-year-olds. The decision has been made by the European Pattern Committee and involves changes to 10 races in Britain, Ireland, France and Germany as well as creation of the new race.
Ascot is the major beneficiary of the development since it also stages the British Champions Sprint each October and that race is now to be promoted to Group One status, giving the Queen's track two additional top-class races. The changes have apparently been six months in the planning but the new race was not widely foreseen.
Charles Barnett, the chief executive for whom Ascot appears unable to find a replacement, said he hoped the new race, over six furlongs, "will now become a significant new option for three-year-old sprinters . . . before they go on to compete against their elders" in the July Cup and later races. "It is remarkable to think that in 2001, there were just four Group One races at Royal Ascot, none of which were sprint races, and we now have eight Group Ones," he added.
The upgrading of the October race means that British Champions' Day will have four Group Ones from next year, having started with two in 2011.
Explaining the impetus behind the moves, Ruth Quinn, racing director at the British Horseracing Authority, said: "The opening months of the European season do not currently provide sufficient opportunities for young sprint horses to develop and progress to the best of their ability." They had tended to have their stamina stretched in mile races, she said, or find themselves pitched in against older horses at an inappropriately early age. Sometimes, she said, they had been retired to stud at the end of their two-year-old season because of a lack of opportunity for them the following year.
"We did something similar 10 years ago when we created a much stronger programme for older fillies which served to encourage high-class fillies and mares to stay in training," Quinn said. "That project has worked well and I am confident that the changes to the sprint programme will do likewise."
As with all Pattern races the new Group Ones will be at risk of downgrading if it becomes clear, over time, that the ratings of the winners and placed horses do not justify top-class status. Some concern was expressed on social media that there would not be enough quality three-year-old sprinters to sustain a Group One as early in the season as June.
Countering that, the bloodstock agent David Redvers tweeted that the point of the new June race was identifying the best of each generation, just as the Derby does at a longer distance. "We sold Frederick Engels because there was no programme and nearly sold Extortionist and Hot Streak too," he said. "This will help no end."
Hootenanny, a juvenile winner at Royal Ascot, will miss York's Gimcrack next week in favour of Deauville's Prix Morny the following Sunday, according to his American trainer, Wesley Ward. "We can get a direct flight to Paris for the Morny and to run at York would have added another 10 hours on to his journey," Ward said. "He would have had to get off the plane and pretty much go straight into the paddock."


text:
Having already touched on the 100Hz nature of this TV, I may as well cover that next. It's worth noting that the first TV with 100Hz processing to ever make it into the TrustedReviews lab was from Toshiba. About a year ago I reviewed the Toshiba 32WLT68, which was the first LCD TV I'd seen to incorporate 100Hz processing and it definitely made its presence felt, pretty much eliminating motion smear. Now however, 100Hz processing is common place in LCD TVs, so can Toshiba's Active Vision M100 HD processing still keep up?
When it comes to smooth motion, the 42Z3030D definitely excels, and the common loss of resolution when objects are moving across the screen on LCD screens simply isn't there on this TV. In fact, when you're watching a clean HD source, it's staggering how much detail this Toshiba manages to resolve, no matter how much movement and action there is. But superb as the 100Hz processing is when watching HD content, it brings with it a few side effects when watching an SD source.
If you're watching an SD source, such as the built-in digital tuner, the 100Hz processing does some rather unpleasant things to the picture. First and foremost are some horrible shimmering effects around edges, especially around peoples' faces on close-ups. There's also an exacerbation of the shimmering that affects parallel lines on an image, like blinds or fences. Turning off the 100Hz when watching standard definition definitely improves matters, but strangely the image quality from the integrated tuner on the 42Z3030D just doesn't seem to be as good as that seen on the lower-end 42X3030D.
Unfortunately it's not just the built-in tuner that highlights the 42Z3030D's weakness with SD content. As a side by side comparison, I fired up The Bourne Identity on both HD DVD and on standard DVD - obviously the HD DVD version looked superbly sharp, but the DVD version looked worse than I had expected it to. I found myself having to make a choice - if I left 100Hz processing on, I got far better resolution of moving subjects, especially in fast moving scenes like the awesome car chase, but I also ended up with terrible shimmering effects around edges. The other choice was to turn 100Hz off to dispel most of the shimmering, but then put up with slightly blurred moving images.
So surprised was I by the poor SD performance on the 42Z3030D that I requested another sample from Toshiba, fearing that there was actually a problem with my original TV. Firing up the new model instantly confirmed my suspicions, with SD looking far cleaner, both with and without 100Hz processing enabled. The replacement 42Z3030D even managed to produce decent images from the integrated Freeview tuner, which is notoriously difficult for any TV with a Full HD panel. Put simply, when viewing the replacement unit, all of the above issues simply weren't there.
If anyone is still reading this and is tempted to get the 37" model, please don't.
Black is something that starts and ends with the surrounding plastic, which looks quite nice at least.
Any dark scenes in the TV show, film or game you are playing will be lost in a grey nothingness.
Second, treat your phone with care. Be gentle with the phone and don't toss it around or let it drop too many times. These actions take a toll on any cell phone. This is just common sense, but it needs to be stressed. Think about all the small parts that are inside the cell phone and how a mere toss can move those parts around. Generally you are going to be alright when tossing it or dropping it every once in awhile. The phone is built to withstand that. However, repetitive improper handling will cause cracks in the screen. Once that happens, you can try to use the phone but it will be made much more difficult. Not until you get a replacement LCD for the iPhone will you be able to see everything you need to fully enjoy the phone.
More information -
Trusted Reviews is part of the Time Inc. (UK) Ltd Technology Network
Get TrustedReviews' award-winning reviews and advice delivered to your inbox for free!


text:
Picture a room full of people cheering with excitement as a live band comes on stage to play a benefit concert. Or imagine community members participating in a festive bike-a-thon, enjoying the camaraderie and feel-good vibes of supporting an important charitable cause. These are the types of memorable events you should utilize to augment your online crowdfunding campaign.
Hosting an offline fundraising event can help boost your donation pool and raise awareness for your cause. It is also a chance for people to talk to you about why you are raising funds and what meaningful impacts you plan on making.
Executing your event well is crucial, and being organized, punctual, and creative every step of the way will help to ensure your success. Successful fundraising ideas make things happen.
Six Tips for Planning a Fundraising Event
1. Organize Your Plan of Action
Your event's success will stem from your initial planning. First, determine the date, time and location. Securing a location is important to do months ahead of your fundraising event, so make sure to be proactive. After you have secured a date, time and location create a unique invitation that you can send out via mail, email and social media. Capitalize on every available online and offline channel to get the word out about your event. Consider using online event sites such as Eventbrite. Also, coming up with a hashtag for your audience will help document the event.
2. Pick a Theme
To make an ordinary event feel extraordinary choose a theme for your fundraising event. Oftentimes, you can pick a theme that is both relevant to your cause and fun for the audience. One option would be to focus your fundraising event on art by hosting an event such as a gallery opening where the art showcased reflects the cause. Another potential focus is sports. With this theme you could host a fundraising event such as a jog-a-thon, a bicycle race, a color run or even a training day. Food-themed events are also popular, including cooking competitions, bake sales, pancake breakfasts or even cake decorating classes.
3. Host a Raffle or Auction
Raffles and auctions are fundraising event staples. There are many auction options, including silent, 50/50, live and reverse. The most important step is securing great items to raffle or auction off. Enlist the help of friends who can reach out to their contacts for potential gift items. It is also beneficial to ask local businesses to contribute items for your cause, such as merchandise and gift cards. When you approach businesses to ask for donations, be sure to highlight the importance of your cause and try to pose it as an advertising opportunity. Also, always keep the audience in mind. For example, if you are putting on a fundraising event that will mainly attract women, you may consider approaching a company such as Benefit and ask them to donate makeovers for your auction.
4. Increase Attendance
You want your event to be dynamic and exciting for your audience. Entice people with options such as entertainment. Approach a local band or consider asking an expert speaker or local celebrity to participate. Meanwhile, the best way to get people interested in your fundraising event is to promote it on your social networks online, as well as within your social circles offline. Another beneficial way to boost attendance is to reach out to local media to see if they will feature your story. You can even offer discounts on ticket prices for individuals who register early for your event.
5. Boost Donations
One of the main reasons you are throwing a fundraising event is to draw more donations. Make sure to offer multiple ways to donate to your cause, whether that is purchasing a ticket to your fundraising event, participating in a raffle, contributing to your crowdfunding campaign via a laptop at the event or volunteering time directly to the cause.
6. Document and Follow Up
There are a number of things you should do during and after your fundraising event. Take photos and videos during the event to document it and to post on social media with a custom hashtag. Encourage participants to do the same. Have a sign-in sheet at the event to secure participants' email addresses. Remember to post an update to your YouCaring page highlighting how successful the event was, and post event photos and videos to your campaign gallery. After the event, write thank you letters to those who helped and those who participated, and if you send them via email, attach a few of the best photos you took.
Successful Fundraising Events on YouCaring
Swimming to Help
Each year, Ronin Aquatic in Asbury Park, N.J., hosts the "100 x 100 Swimming Event" to augment its online YouCaring campaign, Swimming to Help. The campaign was started to make a difference in the community by giving local children and adults the opportunity to learn to swim without imposing financial hardships. The campaign has raised enough funds to start learn-to-swim programs, purchase equipment and make ongoing repairs to its aging facility, including renovating its pool. During the annual swimming event, lanes are set up based on ability, and $25 raffle tickets are sold for a chance to win a grand prize.
Chronic Lyme Disease: Tragedy for Family of Four
When all four members of the Tiessen family of British Columbia, Canada, were hit with the diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease, they sought out ways to pay for the expensive treatments for each family member. The family discovered the Sponaugle Wellness Institute in Oldsmar, Fla., which was successfully treating others with the disease, and decided to take action. They started a YouCaring crowdfunding campaign as a way to raise the necessary funds for transportation, lodging and treatment. Their campaign has raised more than $275,000 to date, and much of that money is from various fundraising events. One of their notable events was a family fun day with music, food, art and a silent auction, and they have also hosted benefit concerts, luncheons and barbeques.
For more great campaign strategies, see our Fundraising Ideas page.
Is there a cause that's close to your heart? Start a free YouCaring fundraiser today.


text:
Beach Pool
CocoLaPalm's beach pool is an excellent choice for adults who would like to relax by a pool with other adults. Catch some rays, have a little lunch, or a couple of Red Stripe's while taking in the beautiful sunsets. This pool is available for private parties along with the 3rd floor patio overlooking the pool.


text:
I've written a lot about this subject (see http://www.datarevelations.com/the-likert-question-question.html and http://www.datarevelations.com/a-little-more-on-likert-scale-questions.html) but some recent discussions with friends / colleagues Joe Mako and Naomi Robbins (along with some long plane rides to and from the Midwest) encouraged me to see how difficult it would be to create a "staggered" Likert scale chart like the one shown below.
Actually, I came up with this approach several months ago but there were some "uglies" that I needed to work around. Let's look under the hood and see how this works and how to hide the "uglies".
I've already addressed how to display the Likert score circles (which I love now more than ever) in a previous post so we'll just focus on how to get the colored bars with emphasis on how to get the positive attributes to the right of the zero, the negative attributes to the left, and how to split the neutrals.
Measure Names
Formula for Dark Blue and Dark Orange Bars
Here's the underlying formula for determining the number of responses that were Excellent.
This is pretty straightforward; just take the number of records where the score was 5 (Excellent) and divide by the total number of responses.
Here's the formula for determining the number of responses that were Poor.
Same idea as before, but this time we add up all the "Poor" responses and make them negative.
Splitting the Neutrals
I've always preferred even-numbered Likert scale questions as you force people to take a stand as respondents cannot take the exact middle ground.
Not so with odd-numbered Likert scale questions, so we need to take all the neutrals and make half of them positive and half of them negative, as we do here:
It's the same concept as with the Excellent / Poor responses but we divide by twice as many total responses to split the difference.
Dealing with the "Uglies"
There are at least three things that would prevent me from publishing this in its current form.
1) Too many items in the legend.
(The "neutrals" are broken up into two groups.)
2) Weird ordering of the legend. To get the bars to stack properly I had to order the items in the legend as shown above. Ugly.
3) Color highlighting does not display amounts the way I would like.
This is the results of clicking S_Percent_Average_Neg in the color legend. I only see half the neutrals and I see negative numbers.
The Hack (I mean "Solution")
So, how can I display the values for each color bar and have a legend that does what I need it to do?
I "cheated" with the legend and am just using a static graphic, specifically, a screen shot of how I would like the legend to appear. Go ahead and wrap your knuckles in it – It's hollow.
As for allowing people to see the underlying values, I just applied "Cotgreavean" tool tip bars, as shown here.
So, I do wish I could just select all the neutrals and see their values, but I'm satisfied with this approach and like that the offsets help convey the positive / negative sentiment.
Please download and if you come up with a nicer way to handle the legend, I'd love to see it.
11 Responses to "Likert Scale Nirvana"
I'll be showing another way to produce these charts in Tableau at the tips and tricks session of the Tableau Customer Conference. I call them diverging stacked bar charts. I think I showed it to you at the NY Tableau Users Group. I don't include the means since I'm not sure that they have any meaning. The distance in a Likert scale between "strongly agree" and "agree" need not be the same as the distance between "agree" and "neutral." Also, one person's agree might represent stronger agreement than another person's "strongly agree." Some people avoid endpoints on a scale like this while others speak in superlatives. Therefore, I think that the quantity of interest is the total percent who are positive and the total percent who are negative. By the way, the legend is no problem with my approach.
To resolve your "Uglies", all you need is a custom table calc and a Gantt bar instead of all your individual calculated fields.
see http://public.tableausoftware.com/views/DataRevelations_StaggeredLikert_wScoresganttbars/StaggeredBarsLikertValuesCombo for my edits
I did not add back in the "Cotgreavean" tool tip bars
I much prefer less calculated fields and less pills.
Joe's suggestion sounds similar to what I'm presenting. I didn't give details since I was saving it for our tips and tricks session. I'll be happy to give you a link or a copy of the workbook at the conference. I'd really rather use my time to talk about why I prefer diverging stacked bar charts (staggered bar charts) to other methods of showing these data but Tableau preferred the "how to" rather than the "why to."
I like both the "how to" and the "why to".
Brinton used these charts in his 1939 book "Graphic Presentation", calling them bilateral bar charts. His examples are not of Likert scales. Brinton's examples come from other sources so this was not the first use of these charts. Thanks to Nick Cox for sharing some of the early uses of diverging stacked bar charts.
My objection to the examples in the link you provided is that the space between the positives and the negatives make the "no opinions" look like two groups. They are not. There is one "no opinion group." Therefore, it is important that there is no space splitting that group and that any reference line at zero go behind the bars.
Then I need more time


text:
Product code: 18399
Despatched in 1-3 days.
To order, please email to email@example.com or phone us on +44(0)1923 296 780.
Bee Lovely Hand Wash
Gently cleanses hands and helps Save the bees
This natural Bee Lovely Hand Wash is infused with moisturising organic honey and fragrant, uplifting organic orange and mandarin essential oils, to gently cleanse and subtly scent the grubbiest of hands.
Gentle enough for the whole hive, including children aged 3 years and over.Benefits:
• Gentle effective cleansing
• Enriched with moisturising organic honey
• Natural uplifting scent of orange and mandarin
• Helps raise money for bee lovely charities and projects.
Aqua (Water), Potassium sunflowerate*, Potassium cocoate*, Coco-glucoside, Glycerin*, Alcohol denat.*, Citrus sinensis (Orange) peel oil expressed*, Mel (Honey)*, Citrus nobilis (Mandarin) peel oil expressed*, Potassium chloride, Potassium citrate, Styrax tonkinensis (Benzoin) resin extract* Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.
*Organically produced ingredient. Natural constituent of essential oils listed. Made with 91% organic ingredients.
Massage in to wet hands, avoiding contact with eyes. Rinse thoroughly. Towel dry.
Sign up for the latest news, offers and ideas.
eChemist.co.uk © 2017. All rights reserved.


text:
Our Price
$39.99 While Quantities Last
Reg. $99.99
Includes one case. Second case shown for front/back comparison. Phone not included.
- Slim Design easily fits in your pocket while protecting your phone.
- Comes packaged with the signature ShootR pole and the TrueLUX™ Wide Lens.
- Includes the lens keychain, silicone lens cap, tripod tiltr and lanyard.
- Low-profiled and lightweight, perfect for capturing any moment on the fly.
- 104° Diagonal FOV in photo mode.
- 1 year exchange warranty.
HITCASE SNAP for iPhone 6/6s is your everyday adventure companion. It provides premium shock protection for your iPhone, is mountable, and has our quick change lens system.
Compact Design
SNAP has a slim, sleek, practical form. Low-profiled and lightweight, making it perfect for capturing any moment on the fly.
Mountable Versatility
SNAP comes packaged with our signature ShootR pole. It also features our Railslide® Mounting System that is compatible with our entire range of mounting accessories.
Lens Convenience
Store and protect your lens with our included keychain, which doubles as a bottle opener for celebrating life's adventures.
Redefine Mobile Photography
SNAP is equipped with the HITCASE TrueLUX Wide angle lens. Get creative, switch it out with the Superwide or Macro Lens to capture your adventures through new eyes.
Brand Description
Compatible Mobile Devices
iPhone 6
1 Year Exchange Warranty


text:
Douse the Wauwatosa firefighters in water for a good cause during Tosafest in the Village this weekend.
Members of the local firefighters union will take turns in the dunk tank and ask people to fill their boots with dollars for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday in the 1400 block of Underwood Avenue.
Since Saturday is the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, a firefighter memorial will be set up and a brief ceremony will be held to honor emergency professionals who lost their lives that day.
Check back at WauwatosaNOW.com for the time and location of the ceremony.
More from News and Features
- Anodyne Coffee plans to open location in Wauwatosa Village
- Wauwatosa Meetings: Aug. 4
- Video: Wauwatosa girl's curbside ice cream stand raises money for the hungry
- Wauwatosa News and Notes: Hands-only CPR training offered; Firefly Art Fair is Aug. 6-7
- Wauwatosa Ask Now: Why are there barriers and fencing along the North Avenue bridges over the Menomonee River?
- Mystery Photo Contest: July 28
- Wauwatosa gears up for National Night Out event, this year at the zoo
- Election 2016: Wisconsin's 4th District candidates weigh in
- Wauwatosa's Luther Manor residents share smiles through flower delivery
- Wauwatosa Police Report: July 17-23


text:
Search Our Site
Recent Posts
- Notes From The Field: A Week In The Life Of A Pure Earth Staffer In The Philippines May 18, 2017
- Pollution Warrior Profile: Umed in Tajikistan Saves Families From Toxic Landowner May 18, 2017
- Mothers In Some Of The World's Worst Polluted Places (Photos) May 9, 2017
- Training Toxic Site Investigators In Senegal May 3, 2017
- Thank You For Supporting Our Heavy Metal Benefit Bash (Photos) April 27, 2017
- See The Pure Earth Auction Collection, As Featured In Vogue April 11, 2017
- Why Women Hold The Key To Fighting Pollution March 7, 2017
- Database of World's Polluted Sites Is Now Online February 22, 2017
- Here's How We Fought Pollution With Your Support, And Helped To Save Lives In 2016 January 25, 2017
- Report from Colombia: Investigating Toxic Sites January 17, 2017
- A Mountain Of Success in Agbogbloshie December 28, 2016
- Introducing Molly Bair: Superstar Model, Pollution Fighter! December 16, 2016
- Getting Lead Out Of Sovetskoe (Kan), Kyrgyzstan December 5, 2016
Global Team Profile:
Budi Susilorini in Indonesia November 15, 2016
- Protecting Children By Cleaning Up Lead-Contaminated Yards in Kabwe November 7, 2016
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
* These fields are required.
Search By Category:
About Us
The Pure Earth Pollution blog puts the spotlight on one of the biggest, yet most underreported, global problems – toxic pollution. Over 100 million people are at risk in some of the world's worst polluted places. - Read More
Tag Archives: world's worst polluted places
Innovations and Collaborations this September
I am glad to report that the Rockefeller Foundation has invited us back to the Bellagio Center in Italy this September to reconvene the next international meeting about the Health and Pollution Fund (HPF) – the planned $500 million public … Continue reading
Posted in Projects/Solutions, Uncategorized Tagged Bellagio, Bellagio Center, developing countries, Health and Pollution Fund, HPF, pollution solutions, Pollution Stories, Rockefeller Foundation, world's worst polluted places Comments Off on Innovations and Collaborations this September
Pollution and Vaccines
An interesting new perspective has opened up on the dangers of pollution. While most people know that pollution poisons, it now seems that the immune system is especially affected by contaminants. Pollution appears to skew the body away from making … Continue reading


text:
Three ways to get your blog noticed
So, you have a blog, you've put in a lot of time coming up with great ideas and typing them all out, but now what? The fact is, there are currently literally billions of blog posts on the Internet, and everyone feels like their blog is important. So how do you get noticed in such an insanely crowded field? While it might seem like a daunting task at first, getting your blog noticed isn't as hard as it may seem. Below are 3 TIPS to help you draw in readers, keep them there, and encourage sharing of your content:
1. Provide solid, valuable information
No matter what type of blog you run, make sure it provides value to the reader, especially if you're concerned about your blog's search engine ranking. In the past, search engines worked like a popularity contest, and the criteria to be popular accounted for the amount of links you had pointing to your blog. After people abused the system by creating link farms, search engines tweaked their algorithms to weed out those unfavorable techniques. I recommend that instead, you focus on real, relevant, and valuable content. When you create a blog article or post, make sure that it is well-written, substantive, and provides actual value to the reader. This will not only help with search engine ranking and SEO, but also with building reader loyalty.
2. Solicit guest posts
If you're having a hard time attracting readers, contact bloggers who have slightly larger audiences than you and see if they would be willing to let you write a guest post. As you gain readership and notoriety, continue contacting bloggers who are next up in the food chain. One way to help convince another blogger to allow you a guest post is to offer a trade as this helps the other blogger while helping you.
3. Get the word out
Writing a blog article or post and then expecting people to come looking for it is foolish, even if you're a well-known blogger. Given the power of social media, it would be silly not to promote your posts each time you publish.
While it's important to promote your posts on popular social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, keep in mind that there are plenty of niche sites out there as well. If you write about a very specific topic, look for social media sites, forums, and other niche places to promote your content. While you're there, encourage sharing by including linked icons that allow readers to easily click and spread the word.
Finally, don't forget to "get the word out" by repurposing your blog's articles and content into an e-newsletter or even an e-book.
How to be a recognized blogger?
By taking the time to engage your readers with valuable content, partnering with others to take advantage of their blogging power, and getting the word out, there's no reason your blog should go unnoticed.
The process may take some time. Have a blog strategy, remain consistent in your blogging, and develop strong blogging practices and you too will be a recognized blogger.
Ruwena Healy is CEO of Marketing 24/7 Inc. Reach her at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Inspiring action through
innovative & interactive design.
Communicating your message is our purpose. As designers, communicators and activists, we exist to help you inspire positive social change.Download our fact sheet
Our work
The people we work with are all committed to making change in some way. We love handling any kind of design and production for all on and offline media.See our work on Instagram


text:
The Essence Of The Colour, The Colour Is Yellow
A primrose in the spring,
And a canary's wing,
A little curl of butter
Gorse bushes, all a-flutter.
How toddlers paint the sun
And stars, when having fun.
Bananas on the tree,
And lemon curd for tea.
Some Cornish clotted cream
(With scones and jam, a dream)
A grapefuit, cut in half,
And Rupert's patterned scarf.
I hold beneath your chin
A buttercup; your skin
Reflects its yellow hue.
Do you like butter, too?
A slice of cheddar cheese,
And buzzy bumblebees.
A vase of daffodils
Or otherwise, jonquils.
Yes, lots of yellow here
This colour, full of cheer
Can't fail to make me smile,
At least, just for a while.


text:
In January 2016, Behind Range 15 premiered this sneak preview at the Sundance Film Festival.
Behind Range 15 is a feature length documentary that takes you from the scriptwriters' table to the directors' chair and everywhere in between. The writers, director, and producers of Range 15 talk candidly about the often rocky but always entertaining path to creating this first of its kind film. Hollywood actors and Medal of Honor recipients alike open up about why being a part of Range 15 was about so much more than zombies and gore. This is a film whose backstory includes a lot of heart and a lot of heroes.
Directed by Tim O'Donnell. Produced by Tim O'Donnell, Ranger Up, Article 15. Featuring Interviews with Marcus Luttrell, William Shatner, Keith David, and more.
Images courtesy of Pixela Pictura
We'll have information about how you can watch Behind Range 15 in theaters this Fall.
The estimated theatrical release date for Behind Range 15 is Fall 2016. After it's screened in theaters, we'll have information for you about how you can rent or buy the film and watch it in the comfort of your own home...or post-zombie apocalypse bunker...wherever you're most comfortable.
The Range 15 Trailer is Finally Here and It's Awesome - ARTICLE - Task & Purpose
New zombie film 'Range 15' hires vets for cast and crew - VIDEO - Fox News


text:
A Knox man accused of felony attempted child seduction and child solicitation is scheduled to appear in Starke Circuit Court today for an initial hearing.
Luther Nies, 25, was arrested on a warrant Wednesday morning on the charges that stem from alleged actions in Feb. 2013. According to court documents, Nies attempted to molest a five-year-old child. Knox City Police Department officers placed Nies into custody without incident and he remains in the Starke County Jail on a $35,000 surety bond.
Nies' initial hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m.


text: oxycontin Kentucky Judge May Unseal Secret OxyContin Testimony This Week By Matt Markgraf & Associated Press • May 8, 2016 Creative Commons A Kentucky Judge says he will decide this week whether to unseal the secret testimony from a former president of the company that markets the addictive painkiller OxyContin. Health website Statnews.com says Pike County Circuit Judge Steven Combs made the comment Friday. The website is seeking to unseal some 17 million pages of Kentucky's lawsuit against Purdue Pharma. Chief among them is a deposition by Richard Sackler, a former company president and a member of the family that controls the company. Kentucky sued Purdue Pharma in 2007, accusing the company of lying about the addictiveness of the drug. They settled the case in December for $24 million. Purdue Pharma attorney Trevor Wells says the documents should stay hidden because they were never used as the basis for a court decision. Judge: Oxycontin Trial to Remain in Pikeville By Associated Press • Oct 1, 2013 A judge has ruled that a civil trial involving the maker of OxyContin should remain in Pikeville. The lawsuit filed by Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway against OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma alleges that the company misled health care providers, consumers and government officials regarding the risk of addiction associated with OxyContin. Conway is seeking reimbursement of money spent on law enforcement, drug treatment programs and Medicaid prescriptions. Purdue Pharma had requested that the trial be moved, saying an impartial jury couldn't be seated in Pike County. Prosecutors objected. The Lexington Herald Leader reports Conway said in a statement that Circuit Judge Steven Combs issued an order denying the request. Purdue Pharma spokesman James Heins said in a statement that the company disagrees and is "assessing our options." Judge Asked to Move Oxycontin Case Away from Eastern Kentucky Town By Associated Press • Sep 18, 2013 Creative Commons A judge is considering whether a civil trial involving the maker of OxyContin should be moved away from Pikeville. The lawsuit filed by Kentucky Attorney General against OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma alleges that the company misled health care providers, consumers and government officials regarding the risk of addiction associated with OxyContin. Conway is seeking reimbursement of money spent on law enforcement, drug treatment programs and Medicaid prescriptions. The Appalachian News Express reports Circuit Judge Steve Combs heard arguments during a hearing in Pikeville last week over whether the trial should be moved. Attorneys for Purdue Pharma said it would be impossible to seat an impartial jury there and asked that the proceedings be moved to central Kentucky. The attorney general's office said the trial should remain in Pikeville. Lawsuit Filed by Kentucky County Against Oxycontin Maker Settled By Associated Press • Jun 7, 2013 An eastern Kentucky official has announced a settlement in a lawsuit over the drug OxyContin. The Appalachian News-Express cited a statement from Pike Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford in reporting that drug maker Purdue Pharma agreed to pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit over abuse of the narcotic. Rutherford said he couldn't give further details about the settlement due to terms of the agreement. The county initially filed the lawsuit in 2007 and asked for damages the community suffered after the company marketed OxyContin as a safer alternative to other pain medicine. The drug became so pervasive in eastern Kentucky, it was dubbed "hillbilly heroin." Rutherford indicated in the statement that he was pleased with terms of the settlement. "Finally, Pike County Government will have the funds to make a difference in drug addiction," Rutherford said. "We can now establish the Pike County Re-Entry Partnership for people convicted of drug violations. It has taken years to get done. Our attorney, Gary C. Johnson, was passionate and brought this about." The goal of the Pike County Re-Entry Partnership would be to rehabilitate people who are addicted to drugs.


text: Top 10 coaches in NBA history foxsports Oct 20, 2016 at 4:59p ET Doing a tough job well In all, more than 300 men have been head coaches in the NBA. Most haven't lasted long. In a league that churns through coaches like Elizabeth Taylor through husbands, a select few have enjoyed successful careers spanning more than a decade. FOXSports.com NBA editor John Galinsky lists his top 10 with a number of criteria in mind — wins, winning percentage, championships and impact on the game. Honorable mention: Rick Adelman, Billy Cunningham, Red Holzman, George Karl, Doc Rivers, Rudy Tomjanovich. Lenny Wilkens (1,332-1,155, 53.6%) It's easy to dismiss his NBA record for coaching wins (since surpassed by Don Nelson) as the result of mere longevity. After all, he only had one title to show for his 32 seasons with six teams, and he had 11 losing seasons — or 11 more than Phil Jackson. It's also hard to think of any coaching innovation or particular style that defined his coaching career. Still, it's unfair to devalue longevity in a pressure-cooker profession that has burned through (and burned out) many capable men. Indeed, it was Wilkens' calm and unflappable demeanor that made him such a successful coach for the long term. Just as he kept his cool on the court as a nine-time All-Star, he did the same on the sideline. That's why he's one of three men to make the Hall of Fame as a player and as a coach. (John Wooden and Bill Sharman are the others.) Don Nelson (1,335-1,063, 55.7%) Nelson, who was pushed out the door by Golden State's new owners, is probably done coaching at the age of 70. He never won a title in 31 seasons, but he didn't have the luxury of coaching any Bill Russells either. Instead, he did a remarkable job with small lineups — most notably his Run-TMC trio of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin in Golden State — and he was an innovator. In Milwaukee, he created the "point forward" concept that many teams use today, and he was the first to embrace "Hack-a-Shaq". Not everyone is a fan of "Nellie Ball," of course, but his teams usually won — he's No. 1 on the all-time victories list — and were always been fun to watch. That should count for something. Jerry Sloan (1,221-803, 60.3%) There's a reason "NBA job security" is an oxymoron for coaches. Many reasons, in fact. Impatient owners and fans. The tendency of players to tune out coaches after a while. Even for successful coaches, there's the lure of other jobs and, given the stress of the profession, the temptation to call it quits. But Sloan stayed in Salt Lake City longer than most NBA owners. During those 22-plus years, he had exactly one losing season and never changed his hard-edged, no-nonsense style. His teams always played hard. They never tuned him out. And they won, which is why Sloan had the same job security as a Supreme Court justice until finally resigning last season. John Kundla (423-302, 58.3%) Kundla (far right) directed the NBA's first dynasty, leading the Minneapolis Lakers to five championships in six years from 1949-55. Of course, that team was loaded with six future Hall of Famers, including big men Clyde Lovellette (34) and George Mikan (99). But hey, Red Auerbach and Phil Jackson needed great players to produce their dynasties too. There's something to be said for not screwing up a good thing. Chuck Daly (638-437, 59.3%) In his first stint as a head coach, Daly went 9-32 with the Cavaliers before getting fired midway through the 1981-82 season. Despite that inauspicious start, the Pistons put him in charge two years later, and Daly never had another losing record in 13 seasons in Detroit, New Jersey and Orlando. He won titles with the Pistons in 1989 and 1990, revelling in the team's "Bad Boys" image, and his firm stewardship helped the 1992 Dream Team avoid any of the ego problems that plagued later versions. Larry Brown (1,098-904, 54.8%) Despite being one of the biggest winners in basketball history, with nearly 1,500 victories as a college, ABA and NBA head coach, Brown seems permanently displeased. He frowns. He frets. He complains. Why? The man's a perfectionist. Given his exacting standards for how the game should be played, few of his many teams (nine pro, two college) made him happy, but all improved under his guidance. (With the notable exception of the 2005-06 Knicks, who were a lost cause.) The only coach to win an NCAA and NBA title, with the 1988 Kansas Jayhawks and 2004 Detroit Pistons, respectively, he'll be remembered as perhaps the game's greatest teacher and team builder once he decides to retire for good. Gregg Popovich (797-383, 67.5%) As general manager of the Spurs in 1996, Popovich was heavily criticized for firing Bob Hill and hiring someone with no experience as an NBA head coach — himself. No one in San Antonio is complaining now. Tim Duncan's arrival the next season ended up creating a perfect pairing of star player and coach. Even more than Russell and Auerbach in Boston, or Jordan and Jackson in Chicago, Duncan and Pop have been soulmates in terms of their temperaments and approach to the game. No flash, all substance — a quiet excellence that has resulted in four championships so far. Pat Riley (1,210-694, 63.6%) With his Armani suits, slicked-back hair and year-round tan, Riley's always been known for his style as much as his substance. But nothing should overshadow this fact: The guy could flat-out coach. He won with finesse (the Showtime Lakers), then won with power (Pat Ewing's Knicks and Alonzo Mourning's Heat). His fifth championship, with Dwyane Wade and Shaq in 2006, was a mix of the two styles. If anything, his flashy persona enhanced his coaching career. It helped him get the attention and earn the respect of his star players. And when you work in Los Angeles, New York and Miami, looking good never hurts. Red Auerbach (823-426, 65.9%) There are those who try to diminish Auerbach's coaching legacy by saying he rode Bill Russell's coattails to nine championships in 11 years, much as Phil Jackson is said to have benefited from the likes of Michael, Shaq and Kobe. That's nonsense, for it was Red who — in an age of offensive basketball — best understood the importance of defense and thus orchestrated a pre-draft trade for Russell, still the greatest defensive center in league history. He also stressed conditioning more than his contemporaries and instilled a team-first dynamic that never wavered, regardless of personnel. If you include his four decades in Boston's front office as an expert talent evaluator, Red tops any list of the most influential non-players in the history of the game. But on a list strictly based on coaching achievements, he's No. 2. Phil Jackson (1,155-485, 70.4%) Jackson retired with 11 championships, two more than Red Auerbach, but it's not only those rings that separate him from the other 300-plus coaches in NBA history. Sure, he coached enormous talent, but he also managed enormous egos and earned ultimate respect from his players — the toughest part of being a coach in the modern era. His motivational techniques were as effective as they were unorthodox, and his tactical abilities (especially the adjustments he made during playoff series) were far underrated. Combine his Zen Master persona with his unmatched success, and you have a coach who's truly one of a kind. Next Gallery 19 NBA draft photos Start Gallery »