text:
Through the generous support of our friends and partners in the community, our exceptional doctors, nurses and care providers achieve the impossible every day. Our foundation provides you with a guidebook for giving, and ensures careful stewardship of your gift.
How we can make Wisconsin kids the healthiest in the nation
We know that kids need healthy families and strong communities to live well, and that we can't do it all alone.
How does your gift help children? Your investment in Children's Hospital is critical in helping us serve every child and family, and has the potential to impact countless lives. Your support helps fund our programs, from research and critical care for the sickest kids and babies, to community initiatives designed to keep kids healthy. Learn more about the kids you help.
Our foundation is staffed with experts who can guide you though the many ways to support the care we give to kids. We work every day to ensure your wishes are honored.
We are available to talk with you about
Please call our foundation office at (414) 266-6100 to learn more about the support we can offer you as you advocate for children.
For every type of person, there is a way to give. Please call our foundation at (414)-266-6100 to learn more about the various ways you can make a difference for a child.
Our friends and partners support us through:
For our corporate partners, we offer a menu of opportunities tailored for company giving and volunteering programs.
To talk with a member of our foundation team, please call (414)-266-6100.
Our volunteers are an integral part of our organization and become very dear to our hearts. We simply cannot do the work we do without them.
If you are interested in giving your time to Children's, please call our foundation at (414) 266-6100 and a team member will be glad to talk you through the various opportunities, including:
You have probably heard of Briggs and Al's Run and Walk for Children's Hospital and the Miracle Marathon –— they are our highest-profile annual fundraising events, attracting thousands of participants and raising more than $1million every year.
But we have many events throughout the calendar year, and throughout the state. See our event listing page for more details.


text:
Jogging up court at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Saturday, LSU brought a brief glimpse of reality to the philosophy of first-year coach Johnny Jones after Shavon Coleman splashed in a deep 3-pointer from the right corner.
Trailing 50-37 with a little less than 10 minutes left, the Tigers pared into No. 11 Florida's lead with a 9-0 blitz in less than a minute — a full-court-press fueled run that awoke a slumbering crowd of 9,964 — that put LSU in textbook position to slowly chip away as regulation wore down.
Reality proved jarring, though, as Florida's 74-52 victory gave a proper assessment of LSU.
Twenty-nine seconds after LSU's run, Gators senior center Erik Murphy stroked in a 3-pointer from the top of the arc. Two trips later, senior forward Patric Young knocked down a midrange jumper. And senior point guard Kenny Boynton then pilfered the ball from Jalen Courtney and raced down court for a two-handed dunk and a 57-39 lead with 7:21 to go — effectively stomping on any aspirations for a comeback.
Deflating in the moment, the three-minute stretch exists as a side-by-side comparison: what LSU (9-4, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) aspires to emulate in personnel, style and depth laid next to the reality of how far a path it must traverse.
"That group is one of your top-echelon teams that year in and year out, you want to mimic," Jones said. "You want to be one of those programs with the depth the size, the style of play, all of those things. That's what creates winning."
A week into its SEC schedule, the validity of LSU's sterling 9-2 record in nonconference no longer has a pristine patina after a road loss at Auburn and the rout by Florida. The seemingly bleak beginning in the SEC reveals a long-standing issue dating back to August for LSU: depth.
"We were exposed today in size, strength and quickness," Jones said.
Jones' inherited a mere 10 scholarship players in his first season, going so far as to reward three walk-ons with roster spots earlier in the fall to elevate the program's numbers.
Implementing his up-tempo system, Jones envisions a rotation of up to nine bodies, each seeing no more than 28 minutes a game. Over the nonconference season, LSU adhered to that tenet, with only junior college transfer Shavon Coleman seeing 30.1 minutes per game. Yet in two SEC games, Hickey, Andre Stringer, Charles Carmouche and Shavon Coleman average at least 29 minutes a game.
The practical effect is Jones' rotation has been pared down to seven bodies, and center Del Piero saw only three minutes per game last season, while Coleman is a new face. The dearth of fresh legs explains Jones curling his mouth into a wry smile when asked why LSU didn't use the press, which generated four consecutive turnovers, more against Florida.
"We just don't have enough bodies, enough guys when you expend that type of energy that we did getting back into the game against an experienced team," Jones said. "They were able to settle down, and we got a little winded, and they were able to make plays and keep that cushion."
The Gators provided the perfect foil for LSU: a team laden with six upper classmen and with enough depth to withstand a spate of injuries over the nonconference part of its season.
Forward Casey Prather missed time with a concussion. Guard Scottie Wilbekin missed three games with a broken index finger. Murphy played Saturday with a cracked rib he suffered a week ago against Yale. Guard Mike Rosario, who is Florida's second-leading scorer at 12.3 points per game, sat out with a right high-ankle sprain. And Prather missed part of the second half after suffering an ankle sprain of his own.
Against LSU, coach Billy Donovan could really rely on only six players, all but one of which were a junior or senior and seasoned in gutting out tough games played in hostile environments. And it explains why the Tigers' press only briefly got traction.
"Our guards played a lot of minutes, but we showed some resolve," Donovan said. "I thought Murphy's 3 on that run really got some momentum back for our team. Then we did a better job against the press, attacking it and getting some tip-ins and some follow-ups."
LSU's absence of depth showed up in the second half on the boards, where Florida's frontcourt rotation of Young, Murphy and Yeguete battered a tired Del Piero and the Tigers to the tune of a plus-16 rebounding margin and an 11-3 advantage in second-chance points.
"We did a good job getting rebounds off of the bench," said Yeguete, who pulled down 13 of Florida's 53 rebounds. "We did a good job crashing the boards today, The big man (Del Piero),was tired, so we just kept crashing him over and over. We had a couple of easy rebounds, which definitely helped us in the end."
The statistics illustrate what happens with a minor depletion in the LSU rotation. Forward Johnny O'Bryant played only 14 minutes, including a mere two in the second half, as he battles a high-ankle sprain — leaving Del Piero and undersized Coleman at 6-foot-5 to face the brunt of Florida's frontcourt.
"It was tough," Del Piero said. "They had such a deep bench that they had people coming in one after the next, and it really wore you down in the end."
It's clear to the Tigers that O'Bryant, who averages 11.4 points and 7.2 rebounds, isn't the same player projected as a preseason All-SEC second-team pick.
"Johnny ain't all the way (back) 100 (percent), but it gets better every day," Hickey said. "He'll continue to get his treatment. But as for us, we've got to move on and get better. He's just going to keep cheering us on."
However, Jones conceded O'Bryant has been pressed into uniform out of necessity.
"He doesn't have the type of injury that's going to be debilitating or hurt him to that point," Jones said. "We can give him looks, and we're not deep enough that if he's able to go, we have to use him."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
while my girlfriend is extremely excited for the beach this spring, i cannot wait to eat as much bbq as possible. i need some help though, finding the best places. it looks like we'll be driving north and south on i-77 for much of the trip, are there any great bbq places on this strip (or a little out of the way?)
i really appreciate the help,


text:
Ta Chen Chinese Restaurant
Garden Grove, CA 92845
- Sun 3pm-9pm, Tue-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri 11am-10:30pm, Sat 12pm-10pm
- $$
- Kid Friendly, Takeout
- Dinner, Lunch
- Beer/Wine
- Parking Lot Available
- Reservations Accepted
Get the Things to Do Newsletter
Sign up for our weekly guide to events in Orange County, and never be bored again. With suggestions for every day of the week, our recommendations will keep you busy on any budget.
More Chinese Restaurants in Garden Grove
More Chinese Restaurants in Orange County
The dim sum jockeys who patrol China Garden with their carts and filled plates want you to gorge ...Chinese
Seafood World lives up to its name by wheeling out such goodies as fried scallop rolls (large sca...Chinese
A funky little place to eat lunch-traditional Chinese, great dim sum, but we usually go for lunch...Chinese
The tanks at Seafood Paradise contain live denizens of the deep, which are plucked from their tem...Chinese
Like an oasis in the Gobi lies Jamillah Garden, one of the county's two restaurants specializing ...Chinese
Here, they set the standard for more-bowl-for-your-buck. A bowl of rice and one selection from th...Chinese


text:
BREAKING: Chris Brown flips the f-ck out
About 30 minutes ago, Chris Brown basically lost his shit on Twitter over his new album "Graffiti" allegedly being blackballed at major retailers. He fired off two profanity-laced missives before bluntly telling "the industry" to kiss his ass:
- im tired of this shit. major stores r blackballing my cd. not stockin the shelves and lying to costumers. what the fuck do i gotta do…
– WTF… yeah i said it and i aint retracting shit
– im not biting my tongue about shit else… the industry can kiss my ass
Yeah. How dare those industry jerk-offs give you a chance to still make millions of dollars after essentially braining a pop superstar because you have the temper tantrums of a three year old? I mean, Christ, what a bunch of assholes. You should probably punch them in the mouth. — Wait.
Photos: Getty


text:
Could not be happier
Reviewed By David S (Oswego, NY) Reviewed for a 2006 Dodge Ram —2/7/2017 10:07 AM
I have installed the new tip and love the quality, look and feel of this tip. Happy, happy!
Reviewed By Joe D (Los Angeles, CA) —10/8/2015 11:59 PM
good looking tips on my car, lexus rx330. one thing missing to make it better is chrome. also the inletid is 3" and my pipe dia. is 2.75", the tightenig screw could not make it tight; I had to have it welded, which was an additional cost.


text:
A DETERMINED mum from Chalfont St Peter walked more than 100km to fund research into a rare disease that could help her nine-year-old son.
Louisa Hill admitted she felt like giving up during a walk lasting for more than 24 hours that raised over £5,000 for charity - but kept going after being inspired by son Archie.
The Chalfont St Peter CofE Academy pupil has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a life-limiting condition which causes muscles to weaken and waste over time, leading to increasingly severe disability.
Mum Louisa put on her walking boots along with brother Danny Young and friend Trisha Duffy for the London 2 Brighton challenge, travelling non-stop to the south coast after setting out on foot from Richmond Park.
Together they raised more than £5,000 for the Duchenne Research Breakthrough Fund, set up by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign to develop treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The charity funds groundbreaking research into muscular dystrophy and related conditions and supports the 70,000 families in the UK affected by them.
Mrs Hill, 39, said: "It was tough. We walked continually for 27 hours through torrential rain, wind and mud, in dark and damp conditions. Travelling through woods and across uneven terrain by torchlight was very challenging and tiring.
"We suffered from blisters, aches and exhaustion - you would not want to see me trying to get over stiles after the 50k mark! I've run marathons before, but at 8kK I almost felt like giving up.
"Still, thinking of Archie drove me on. It was worth every step knowing it was raising vital funds to develop treatments that could help my son and other children like him."
The Nortoft Road resident added: "We are delighted to have raised £5,000 - people have been so generous. My husband Gary and I are now planning a golf day that will take place this September. We really need people's support, and if there are any local businesses out there who can help us with auction or raffle prizes, please do get in touch."
Paul Tomlinson, Volunteer Fundraising Manager for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, said: "Louisa and her family's determination to fund research into treatments for Duchenne, to help both Archie and the thousands of other children and young people who are affected, is inspiring. There are promising potential treatments being developed and with the help of people like Louisa, we can do all we can to take them forward."
To add to the fundraising total go to www.justgiving.com/owner-email/pleasesponsor/Louisa-Hill.
For more information about the work of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and how you can help contact Paul Tomlinson on 020 8688 9373 or firstname.lastname@example.com, or visit www.muscular-dystrophy.org.


text:
1,400,000,000 pixels
Pan-STARRS has the world's largest digital cameras.
Read about them here...
The PS1 Prototype
PS1 goes operational and begins science mission
PS1 Science Consortium formed...
PS1SC Blog
PS1 image gallery
Pan-STARRS -- the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System -- is an innovative design for a wide-field imaging facility developed at the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy.
The combination of relatively small mirrors with very large digital cameras results in an economical observing system that can observe the entire available sky several times each month.
The prototype single-mirror telescope PS1 is now operational on Mount Haleakala; its scientific research program is being undertaken by the PS1 Science Consortium - a collaboration between ten research organizations in four countries,
A major goal of Pan-STARRS is to discover and characterize Earth-approaching objects, both asteroids & comets, that might pose a danger to our planet.
Its vast database is also ideal for research in several other astronomical areas, particularly those which involve an aspect of time variability. See PS1SC key projects for examples.
PS1 discovers 19 NEOs in one night
High School students from Texas and Germay join search for asteroids...
...and now Maui students as well
Pan-STARRS movie now online
Gizmowatch names Pan-STARRS-1 one of "20 marvels of modern engineering"
International Astronomical Search Collaboration
Astronomy and Space Sites for Education


text:
I get asked all the time if my boys are indentical or fraternal and then I get asked what the difference is, here is a quick lesson in twin basics. There are other catagories associated with twins but I'll just discuss these for now.
Identical Twins (or more formally known as monozygotic) occur when one egg is fertilized by one sperm and then the egg splits into two embryos. They will have the same blood type, eye color, gender and DNA.
Fraternal Twins (known as dizygotic) occur when two eggs are each fertilized by a different sperm creating two babies. These twins are no more genetically alike than any other brother or sister they just happen to be wombmates
Aside from obvious physical differences -- such as one baby being male and one being female -- it can sometimes be difficult for parents to know if their babies are identical or not. If they look the same, have the same eye color and are the same sex then genetics testing may need to be done to determine if they are identical or not.
I suspected my boys were fraternial but as soon as they were born I knew for sure. Their facial features were different, their heads were shaped differently, their body types were different, even their little baby foot prints were different. Strangers would come up and say -- "they look EXACTLY alike, it's remarkable really." and I would just chuckle to myself because I knew how different they really were Don't get me wrong, they do look like brothers just not like what most people would think of when they hear the word "twins." One of my boys has consistantly always been 2 inches taller than his brother which is confusing to people but as soon as I explain what fraternal twins are they understand


text:
Home →
February 28, 2013
Mitzvah Play Date with Exceptional Young Adults - JCC Rockland
February 28, 2013 - West Nyack
Local teens are invited to help host a play date for their peers who have special needs. Come shoot pool, play games, bake cookies, or do other activities with young adults from various agencies throughout the community. Host teens can get community service credit for their participation.
PreSchool Storytime - Haverstraw King's Daughters Public Library
February 28, 2013 - Garnerville
Children ages 3-5 can come in for stories, songs, puppets, and more. Pre-registration is required. Thursdays through May 16.
Bouncing Babies - Haverstraw King's Daughters Public Library
February 28, 2013 - Garnerville
Non-walkers and their parent, grandparent, or caregiver are invited for rhymes, songs, and fingerplays. Pre-registration is required. Thursdays through May 16.
Stories in Spanish & English - Haverstraw King's Daughters Public Library
February 28, 2013 - Garnerville
Children ages 3-6 can hear stories in Spanish and English. Pre-registration is required. Thursdays through May 16.
Yoga for Children - Congregation Sons of Israel
February 28, 2013 - Upper Nyack
Children ages 2-6 are invited to participate in this playful approach to yoga. Pre-registration is requested.
Open House and History Fair - Cornerstone Christian School
February 28, 2013 - New City
Rockland County's only Christian elementary school invites prospective parents and their families to this open house event. History-related projects by students will be on display and guests can meet with teachers at the school.
Striving to Live with Dignity: Photography of the African Diaspora - SUNY Rockland Community College
Through March 01, 2013 - Suffern
SUNY Rockland hosts this photographic journey of the African Diaspora that documents blacks in a variety of situations as they: cope with uncertainty, celebrate their joy, and struggle to live a dignified life in difficult circumstances. The exhibit features images by RCC Campus Photographer Collette V. Fournier and captions by David Lucinda.
37th Annual Miniature, Dollhouse & Art Exhibition: Memories - Historical Society of Rockland County
Through March 03, 2013 - New City
The Historical Society once again presents this delightful winter exhibit featuring little creations that can be appreciated by visitors of all ages. The exhibition showcases the work of miniature artists, fine artists, quilters, dollhouse collectors, and creators.
'In the Heights' - Westchester Broadway Theatre
Through March 17, 2013 - Elmsford
The 2008 Tony Award winning musical weaves a tale about three days in the life of Washington Heights, a vibrant and tight-knit community at the top of the island of Manhattan. It's a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. The unique and exhilarating score is a dazzling array of hip-hop, salsa, pop, soul, reggae, cha-cha, and mambo, including, "When You're Home," "It Won't Be Long Now," and "In The Heights." Show runs through March 17, 2013. Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday matinees including lunch; Thursday, Friday Saturday, and Sunday Evenings including dinner.
Salsa Sundays - Gagliardi Studio & Gallery
Through March 24, 2013 - Nyack
The dance studio hosts a weekly introduction to Salsa with music and dance. There will be an informal beginners Afro-Cuban style salsa lesson and participants are welcome to bring their own refreshments. If there are no children in attendance, the studio will host a full 1 1/2 hour class for a fee of $20. Pre-registration is suggested.
Magnificent Trees of The New York Botanical Garden - New York Botanical Garden
Through April 14, 2013 - Bronx
Larry Lederman, landscape photographer and member of NYBG's Board of Advisors, has spent years walking the garden grounds to observe and photograph trees and vistas in all seasons and at all times of day. Lush images featuring their diversity and visual impact are on view in the gallery space.
The New York Botanical Garden is home to more than 30,000 trees, some in woodland, some in groves, and some standing in solitary majesty. Magnificent Trees is lavishly illustrated with photographs by Larry Lederman and accompanied by descriptions by Todd A. Forrest, Arthur Ross vice president for horticulture and living collections at the garden. An authority on the diverse species present across the 250-acre landscape, Forrest details their fascinating histories -- from their vital role in Native American life and culture to their function in neutral territory during the Revolutionary War. Lederman captures their grandeur in hundreds of stunning images and portrays their diversity with photographs that reveal the trees in myriad fascinating perspectives: in landscape views that convey the garden's genius loci; portraits illustrating the architecture and profound visual impact of select trees; remarkable details of flowers, fruit, leaves, and bark; and impressionistic images, abstract in character yet beautiful in composition.
Nyack Winter Farmer's Market - Nyack Center
Through May 02, 2013 - Nyack
Farm market fans have no fear, the Nyack market is moving indoors for the winter. Familiar vendors from the summer market will be on hand each Thursday through May 2 selling locally-produced food, wine, baked goods, and more.
Preschool Playgroup - Kirkbride Hall
Through May 14, 2013 - Stony Point
Parents with pre-schoolers are invited to this weekly playgroup, which meets most Tuesdays (skips March 26) through May 14. Kirkbride Hall is a gymnasium with plenty of space for kids to run, jump, dance or otherwise have fun.
Preschool Playgroup - Kirkbride Hall
Through May 15, 2013 - Stony Point
Parents with pre-schoolers are invited to this weekly playgroup, which meets most Wednesdays (skips March 27) through May 15. Kirkbride Hall is a gymnasium with plenty of space for kids to run, jump, dance or otherwise have fun.
The Panoramic River: the Hudson and the Thames - Hudson River Museum
Through May 19, 2013 - Yonkers
In the late 18th century, British artists developed the large-scale panorama, which became a popular form of entertainment in Europe and the United States. The Hudson River Museum's exhibition, "The Panoramic River: the Hudson and the Thames," explores the panoramic vista as the ideal expression for a new, all-embracing way of seeing the landscape that influenced how the public and artists perceived it as well. By the early 19th century, painters such as Robert Havell Jr. worked to express this panoramic perspective in their choice and depiction of vistas. Havell and other artists in the exhibition such as Thomas Cole, Jasper Cropsey, and John Kensett, favored the chain of cities, suburbs, and countryside along these two rivers, where horizontal planes and historical associations gave form to both artistic and cultural expression.
"The Panoramic River" features loans from museums, galleries, and private collections. Museums lending paintings include: Baltimore Museum of Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Fenimore Art Museum, The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College; Maryland State Archives; Metropolitan Museum of Art; The New-York Historical Society; and Princeton University Art Museum.
"The Panoramic River" is organized by Hudson River Museum co-curators Bartholomew Bland, Director of Curatorial Affairs, and Laura Vookles, Chief Curator of Collections. The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue with additional essays by Pat Hardy, Curator of Paintings, Prints and Drawings, Museum of London, and Geoff Snell, Doctoral Student, University of Sussex and the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England.
The exhibition and the accompanying catalogue have been made possible by a generous grant from the Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Horowitz Foundation for the Arts, Inc. On view through May 19, 2013.
Jake Talks - Rockland World Radio
Through May 20, 2013 - Nyack
The JCC is seeking local teens for its weekly internet radio show, Jake Talks. Students will cover news and "hot topics" while having fun and learning the ins and outs of radio broadcasting. The show airs live each Monday at 5pm. Hear the show at rocklandworldradio.com. Listeners can call in to share their views by dialing 845-353-2910. Interested participants should contact Cathie Izen at email@example.com, 845-362-4400 extension 103. Each Monday through May 20.
Manolo Valdes Monumental Sculptures - The New York Botanical Garden
Through May 26, 2013 - Bronx
Drawing inspiration from the natural landscape of the Botanical Garden, seven towering sculptures by acclaimed Spanish artist Manolo Valdes showcase the relationship between art and nature.
Milk & Cookies Playgroup (Mommy & Me) - The Gerrard Berman Day School - Solomon Schechter of North Jersey
Through June 05, 2013 - Oakland
The school invites mothers and their pre-schoolers to this weekly playgroup with music & movement, arts & crafts, celebrations of the Jewish holidays, and Hebrew stories. Group meets each Wednesday through June 5.
Home Ecologists - Tenafly Nature Center
Through June 06, 2013 - Tenafly
Home schooled children ages 5-12 will discover ecological and biological principles and gain an appreciation and understanding of the natural world at this monthly program, held the first Thursday of each month. Each two-hour program will consist of indoor and outdoor hands-on learning and close observations on a 380-acre living museum. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Parents can sign up for the series or just a single session. Through June 6.
Junior Congregation - New City Jewish Center
Through June 15, 2013 - New City
Kids review highlights of the synagogue's weekly Shabbat service, discuss the weekly Torah portion, play games, then lead the congregation in prayers. Saturdays through June 15.
Junior Junior Congregation - New City Jewish Center
Through June 15, 2013 - New City
kids pre-school through second grade can sing Shabbat songs, talk about the Torah portion of the week, have a snack, then return to the main sanctuary to lead the congregation in Adon Olam. Saturdays through June 15.
Salsa Sundays - Gagliardi Studio & Gallery
Through October 28, 2013 - Nyack
Children and their parents are invited to enjoy Salsa music while dancing with each other. There will be an informal beginners and Afro Cuban style dance lesson. Pre-registration is requested.
Family Friendly Friday Night Service - Congregation Sons of Israel
Through December 06, 2013 - Upper Nyack
Families with young children are invited to this special service featuring singing, dancing, a puppet show, challah, and grape juice.
African Dance Workshop - Spring Valley Youth Bureau
Through December 26, 2013 - Spring Valley
Harambee Dance Company, fabulous performers of African dance and music, teach this weekly workshop. Pre-registration is requested.
Tot Shabbat - Congregation Sons of Israel
Through December 28, 2013 - Upper Nyack
Families with young children are invited to celebrate Shabbat each Saturday morning with lessons, stories, and games.
Meet the Editor: Whitney C. Harris
The New York City Fair Is Coming to Belmont Park
2017 Cover Contest Winners and Finalists Announced
The Museum at Eldridge Street Celebrates Dual Anniversary
Party Planning
After-School Activities
Camp Guide
Sports for Kids
Child Care Options
Education Resources
Family Health Guide
Special Needs Guide
Aug 23, 2017
Aug 22, 2017
Aug 18, 2017
Aug 17, 2017
Jul 07, 2017
Aug 09, 2017
Jun 26, 2017
Kidfund is an app that makes putting money into your child's savings account as easy as tipping the barista.
Some women have difficulty conceiving after their first child. This is called secondary infertility. Paul Gindoff, M.D., shares the causes and treatments of secondary infertility.
| All Rights
Reserved | Davler Media
| Privacy Policy
Want the best Rockland kids' events and activities in your inbox?
Sign up to get our editors' picks each week.
Get Newsletter
Get NYMetroParents via Email


text:
You won't be able to dismiss this by usual means (escape or click button), but you can close it programatically based on user choices or actions.
"This card matched our Kentucky Champagne theme beautifully for our lovely bachelorette! The quality, colors, gold envelopes and delivery were perfect. Highly recommend."
"As a fan of Victoria's Secret, this design was absolutely perfect! It fit with the bridal shower and bachelorette party! Paper is good quality (thick and not flimsy). Color is on point and the shades of pink are the same as on the sample."
"I love this card style because it's fancy and fun! Also, you can add text to the back and I put the itinerary for the weekend there. Seriously, the best card and Wedding Paper Divas has the best customer service!"
"I ordered these cards for my sister's bachelorette/lingerie party - we were going with a 1920s theme. They arrived and looked exactly like I had imagined. Very Great-Gatsby. The paper and look is matte, so there are no real sparkles, but they turned out beautiful. I ordered them on a Friday and they arrived that next Wednesday. Great experience overall."
"Loved this invitation for my best friend's bachelorette party. The quality of the card was great and the delivery was fast! Thanks!"


text: img src: WAVE 3 News [ Bogus Begging – Big Business? By chrisk May 30, 2014 Here's a story that'll get your mind turning the next time you're approached by someone on the street. Read More Category: What's New Tags: 3, beggar, begging, bogus, business, Chris Koyle, chrisk, Gary Thompson, Louisville, news, WAVE Send to a friend! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr!


text:
Beauty Road Test: NCLA's Summer of '69 Nail Polish Collection
Celebrate the final weeks of summer with rockin' nails from NCLA's Summer of '69 polish collection!
-Lucia Peters
Summer is a time for driving with the windows rolled down and classic rock blaring from the radio—so what better way to embrace it than with bright, eye-popping nail colors with rock-inspired names?
NCLA's Summer of '69 nail polish collection ($16 each, shopcnla.com) ended up in our mailbox a little while ago, and after a beauty road test, we can safely say that these are the perfect polishes to brighten up the last weeks of summer. The collection, of course, is named for the Bryan Adams song "Summer of '69," and we can't think of a more fitting moniker.
I tried out 8 Days A Week, a lovely blue lavender cream shade, though if blue isn't your thing, no worries—the line also features I'm With the Band, a bright coral cream color, and Hello, I Love You!, a gorgeous fuchsia (this one has my favorite name, but that might just be because I sort of love the Doors). The best part? All of NCLA's polishes are 5-free: That is, they don't contain any DBP, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, or toluene, and they don't test on animals to boot. Way to make toxic nail polishes a thing of the past!
Read Beauty Road Test: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream
Anyway, like a lot of natural nail polishes, this one goes on a little thicker than usual; but the resulting color is so gorgeous, glossy, and kick-you-in-the-pants that we're willing to overlook the need for a steady hand when it comes to application. Best of all, it lasted for an entire week before it even started chipping (and I'm pretty tough on my nails—usually I only manage to make it about two days before I've lost gigantic chunks of nail color). Long-lasting, beautiful, and 5-free: What's not to love?
Though I only tried out a solo color, these three rockin' three shades would be great combined for a colorblock manicure. Oh, and in case you want something even easier to deal with than polish, NCLA has you covered; there are also three Summer of '69 nail wraps ($16, shopncla.com) with far-out names like Mixtape: Rewind. Groovy!
NCLA's Summer of '69 collection is available at over 200 retailers worldwide, as well as at shopncla.com. As a bonus, click over to the next page for your NCLA Summer of '69 Playlist. Rock out!


text:
Did you know?
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve has been managed and run by
Expect great indigenous forest trees, uncommon forest birds and small mammals such as the ubiquitous bushbuck when you go deep into the Western Cape's Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve.
If you're really lucky you might even spot the endangered flat-bodied Cape ghost frog (Heleophryne purcelli) clinging to a rock in a fast-flowing stream, or the unique forest emperor butterfly (Charaxes etesipe tavetensis).
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, a World Heritage Site, lies approximately 22km northwest of the lovely little town of Heidelburg, the western gateway to the Garden Route.
You can stay on the edge of the reserve in the comfortable self-catering Scolopia cabin belonging to Cape Nature, or in a friendly neighbouring B&B, then prepare to explore.
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve includes a 250ha strip of pristine indigenous forest – the most important in the southwestern Cape – home to ancient yellowwood, stinkwood, red alder and ironwood trees. Walk along one of 3 easy-to-moderate day trails or pedal along one of many mountain bike routes.
The Bosbok Trail takes you through thick vegetation and across the Duiwenhoks River. On a hot day, take a dip in the pool where the trail meets the main tributary.
On the Fonteintjiesbos Trail you'll encounter a waterfall, and on the Grysbok Trail you'll hike through fynbos in the foothills of the Langeberg Mountains and get great views of the surrounding countryside.
Birders can roost in two different blinds and start ticking off up to 200 species, including endemics such as the Knysna woodpecker, Knysna and Victorin's warblers, the forest canary and Cape siskin. Not endemics, but still mega-ticks, are the majestic Crowned eagle and South Africa's only trogon – the colourful Narina trogon.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Cape Nature
Tel: +27 (0)861 227 362/ (0)21 483 0190
How to get here
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve is situated on the R322 northwest of Heidelburg, which is around three hours' drive from Cape Town. The nearest airport is in George, less than an hour's drive away.
Around the area
Heidelburg is the western gateway to the Garden Route, one of South Africa's most spectacular tourism regions.
Get around
On foot or mountain bike.
What to pack
Binoculars, camera, sunscreen, hat, comfortable walking shoes or boots.
Where to stay
There are several comfortable B&Bs in the area. For a closer option, try Scolopia cabin on the reserve's outskirts.


text:
Rihanna: Drunken Queen of Barbados
While most of us woke up and went to work this morning, Rihanna got up, slid into this a pile of ruby fishnets and started downing rum out of a cup she found lying next to a chicken coop. From there, it was only another a matter of more rum until she thought simulating doggy style sex on a parade float would be an awesome idea. And when isn't it? Anyway, all this is to celebrate Kadooment Day in Barbados which I'm just going to assume is some sort of ritual to declare a new queen of da island. Later, a bunch of nerds will use "Google" and tell me it's about the sugar cane harvest then question how I even got this job. Which, funny enough, also involved rum, fishnets and this. Whatever this is.
UPDATE: Added more pics starting here, in case anyone wanted to see Rihanna do a shit-faced spread eagle over an entire Barbadian town thus pleasing the harvest spirits.
UPDATE: And now here's another gallery because there's no way this wasn't going to be an all day drunk butt fest.
Photo: Splash News


text:
This article is an excerpt from Chapter four in my new book The Chicken Little Agenda – Debunking Experts' Lies. This is the third of nine parts for Chapter four that will be presented here sequentially. Read part two here.
Breeder Reactors
In our earlier discussion about how fissile Uranium-235 drives a reactor, we also learned that Uranium-238 participates in the process by transforming into Plutonium-239 which is fissile like Uranium-235. In fact, this isotope of plutonium produces significantly more energy than Uranium-235. And the process continues to produce Plutonium-240 and 241. This raises an interesting question.
Can we take these fuel rods that contain all this plutonium, separate out the plutonium and whatever uranium was not used, and make more fuel rods? You bet. In fact, we actually end up with more fuel after the process than what we started with.
So do we do this? No - at least not in the United States.
So why not, since it seems like a pretty good way to get more fuel?
The answer is pretty dumb. A substantial part of the new fuel is lutonium, as a mixture of the four isotopes 239, 240, 241, and 242. But collectively it is plutonium. Plutonium is used in atomic bombs. The fact that pure Plutonium-239 is what makes an atomic bomb work apparently doesn't matter, because in 1977 President Carter signed a policy that banned the reprocessing of nuclear fuel in the United States. The explanation was that the plutonium could possibly be stolen, and terrorists might be able to use it to make atomic bombs. Never mind that in the real world, it is virtually impossible to separate out the Plutonium-239 from the other isotopes in sufficient purity to use it for bomb making. The process involves using high-precision centrifuges to separate out the various isotopes by weight. The Brits tried it; the Russians tried it; the French tried it; we tried it; but nobody did it very efficiently, even though we had the best scientists and all the money in the world to throw at it. This is why we use an entirely different method for generating the plutonium we use in our nuclear weapons. And if you try to make a bomb with a mixture of plutonium isotopes – forget about it; it won't work, ever. We're talking about the laws of physics here again, folks.
Chicken Little and Greenpeace notwithstanding, unless you have pure Plutonium-239, your bomb will fizzle. So throwing away all that valuable nuclear fuel to prevent terrorists from making a bomb that they can't make anyway is just plain dumb.
So how do we get the Plutonium-239 for our atomic bombs? We built reactors fueled with Uranium-238, whose only job is to create Plutonium-239. These systems are some of the best-guarded plants in the world. Our weapons-grade plutonium is safe. And we use the stuff over and over and over, as necessary, to keep our supply of weapons-grade plutonium up to date and available.
So can we do the same thing to produce nuclear fuel?
The answer is a resounding yes!
This type of reactor, called a Breeder Reactor, actually produces more fuel than it consumes. A reactor designed to use a mixed plutonium fuel is basically the same as the uranium reactor we have already discussed. However, the neutrons that sustain the reaction contain more energy - they are fast neutrons. In order to regulate the internal neutron flux, the primary coolant typically used is one of the light metals, like sodium. Since Uranium-238 is one of the more abundant elements in the Earth's crust, Breeder Reactors make it possible to have an essentially unlimited source of fuel for nuclear reactors - which means an unlimited supply of electricity.
If I don't have your undivided attention yet, try this on for size. At its best, the Breeder system produces no nuclear waste whatsoever; literally everything eventually gets used. In the real world, there actually may be some residual material that could be considered waste, but its half-life - the period of time it takes for half the substance to change into something else - is on the order of thirty to forty years. By contrast, the half-life for the stuff we currently consider nuclear waste is over twenty-five thousand years!
Imagine, no nuclear waste problem. No power shortages. Inexpensive, safe electricity that never runs low. France has constructed and used Breeder Reactors like this for many years. The British use Breeders; so do the Japanese. We invented the technology. It was in our grasp . . . so what happened?
I hesitate to bring up acorns again, but you get the idea. (Part 4 of 9 follows)
Click here to read more book excerpts and hear radio interviews with the author.
© 2006 – Robert G. Williscroft


text:
Texas woman killed after crash on I-80
She was airlifted to Good Samaritan
A 67-year-old woman from Irving, TX, died following a crash near the Gothenburg I-80 interchange Thursday night.
Nebraska State Patrol officials said Carol Ann Leonetti was eastbound in a van in the passing lane about 8 p.m. when the vehicle stopped and was struck from behind by a semi-tractor trailer that was in the same lane.
The semi, driven by 60-year-old Kevin Claussen of Spencer, then traveled into the median, and crossed the westbound lane before stopping in the north ditch, officials in the North Platte office said.
Officials said Leonetti was not wearing a seat belt and was transported to Gothenburg Memorial Hospital by the Gothenburg rescue squad. She was then life-flighted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Gothenburg rescue captain Jason Wagner said Leonetti died at Good Samaritan.
State patrol officials didn't know if Claussen, who was wearing a seat belt, was injured and treated although GMH officials said he wasn't a patient there.
Wagner said the accident occurred just past the eastbound off-ramp into Gothenburg.
The Gothenburg Police Department gave assistance following the accident.


text:
AMD Gaming Evolved Client 4.0 Releasedby Ryan Smith on 7/28/2014 9:00 AM EST
- Posted in
- Radeon
- GPUs
- AMD Gaming Evolved Client
12 Comments
Back to Article
ialbulushi - Monday, July 28, 2014 - linkWonder if they have crossfire compatibility now for GVR. That's the major piece that's missing for me. Reply
Captain Praggot - Monday, July 28, 2014 - linkThe mod on their forum said that this was addressed in the upcoming update(4.0). Reply
hurrakan - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link"Otherwise our other 11 games were detected just fine. And indeed the Raptr team is claiming that they now support 5000 games, versus 175 for NVIDIA's GeForce Experience."
Just to clarify, a game does not need to be "detected" by Nvidia's Gefore Experience in order to be recorded with Nvidia Shadowplay. Shadowplay can record any game (e.g. via desktop capture). Reply
teflon6678 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - linkThe main thing for me is that the whole GEC client feels like bloat compared to a custom set up. I tried this out after the update that added the game DVR functionality, but it didn't seem to work all that well.
It instead helped me to discover the openencodevfw plug in that I could use with Dxtory (there's also a fork of OBS that uses it), wherein I was able to fiddle with settings and test the limits of the 7970/280X chipset. It turns out that there's a hard resolution limit of 1920x1080, which is disappointing when I game at 1920x1200, but setting Dxtory to clip the recorded image works means that it works almost universally for me. On top of this, a bit rate of ~18-20Mbps with low quality lets me record at 1080p60, but any higher than that and it will dip. So there's some rather hard limits to what the system seems to be capable of, compared to what I've heard about Nvidia's kit.
On top of being able to set up my own recording solution, the whole GEC client just feels like bloat, with the handful of times I've tried to use the optimised settings just not working too well and often suggesting settings quite a distance from what I would choose.
There's a long way to go on this before I'd be interested in trying it again. Reply
Captain Praggot - Monday, July 28, 2014 - linkAMD hired the Radeon Pro developer to work on the Gaming Evolved client, so it's only going to get better. Reply
tuxfool - Monday, July 28, 2014 - linkNot quite right. Raptr hired the Radeon Pro developer. They're separate entities and he was originally working to put this functionality into radeon pro. Alas, he is now working on this bloated monstrosity instead of Radeon Pro. Reply
Captain Praggot - Monday, July 28, 2014 - linkMy mistake. Thanks for the correct.
Yeah, it's disappointing we won't see an update Radeon Pro. Reply
TreeDude62 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - linkI am hoping the Twitch streaming is fixed. Both me and a friend had the same issue with our video streams being garbled. Reply
lorribot - Monday, July 28, 2014 - linkI have a 7850 and apparently that is not supported for screen capture and GVR according to the app.
Not a great loss to me as I have enough problems worrying about what button to press to kill things without worry about which ones I need to use to record it. However what is annoying is that the link to show compatible cards takes you to an AMD page about VCE and doesn't actually tell you anything useful like "this is the list of cards you can use and anything else isn't so tough". The list of main uses does not include GVR either.
Apparently my card supports VCE 1 not sure if that is good or bad or if that means it should work on not but atleast I know. Reply
Jiai - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - linkStrange, I use a R7 250X (basically a 7770 renamed), with VCE 1 as far as i know, and the recording works very well. Reply
hahmed330 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - linkConsidering I used my spankingly new GTX 750ti to use desktop capture, while using dolphin emulator to play Jack and Daxter. Surprisingly it worked perfectly considering how buggy are emulators. Nvidia software is rock solid... kudos to them... Reply
jabber - Friday, August 01, 2014 - linkHmmm something else I now have to remember to untick when I install new drivers.
Pesterware! Reply


text:
Barnes' double sends Astros to walk-off in 12th
Outfielder comes off bench as pinch-runner before game-winning hit
HOUSTON -- Brandon Barnes sat on the Astros' bench for about four hours Monday afternoon, watching and waiting for his opportunity as a baseball game grew into a marathon. And when he finally got a chance with the bat in his hands, he made the most of it.
Barnes shot a ground-rule double into the right-field corner with two outs in the 12th inning to score Ronny Cedeno from second base and send the Astros to a 3-2 win over the Rockies in the series opener at Minute Maid Park.
The walk-off win was the first for the Astros since Aug. 11 of last year, and it snapped a three-game losing streak.
"Brandon did a tremendous job," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "We were sitting there, [bench coach] Eduardo [Perez] and I, and we were saying, 'Isn't it about time we win one of these?'"
Barnes, who entered the game as a pinch-runner an inning earlier, lofted a pitch from Wilton Lopez with two outs and sent it down the right-field line. Michael Cuddyer made a long run toward the line but couldn't make the catch, setting off a celebration on the middle of the diamond.
"I knew when I got it, I hit it well enough to get it down the line and I knew it was slicing a little bit," Barnes said. "It was a matter of staying fair."
Astros starter Bud Norris escaped several jams by getting some key outs with men on base and managed to work seven innings, allowing two runs and eight hits without getting a decision. He hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any of his seven starts at home this year (2.03 ERA).
Hector Ambriz, Jose Veras, Travis Blackley and Paul Clemens followed Norris with five scoreless innings in relief to set the stage for the Astros to win in the 12th.
"It was a good day, because the team won," Norris said. "That's the No. 1 key. The bullpen picked me up, and to have five innings after me to shut them down is huge. That offense can definitely swing the bats. Barnes had the big hit at the end, so this was definitely a team win from top to bottom."
The Rockies were 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position and stranded 15 men on base as Astros pitchers escaped numerous jams.
"A lot of times, you get into those situations and pitchers have a tendency to go faster," Porter said. "What I liked today is all of our guys kind of took a step back, took a deep breath and they made quality pitch after quality pitch. It started with Bud early in the game, and it continued throughout the rest of the game with the guys that came out of the bullpen, as well."
Colorado fell to 3-5 in extra-inning games.
"We have to find a way to win a game like that, so it's frustrating," manager Walt Weiss said. "[Barnes] just hit a ball that couldn't be placed better, right inside the line. It wasn't anything wrong with Lopez in. They hit a few on him, but he was throwing fine."
Blackley threw two scoreless innings, stranding a pair of runners in the 10th and one in the 11th.
"They managed to knuckle down and pitch well when it was all on the line," Blackley said. "We've had a fair bit of practice at it with a lot of close games, and today everyone was in sync. And I think and it's good to have one where you don't feel you've thrown a good one out there early only to have it slip away from us at the end. It was good. We needed that win."
The Astros, who left the bases loaded in the 11th, rallied against Lopez when Matt Dominguez led off the 12th with a single. Cedeno ran for him at first base and went to second on a Marwin Gonzalez bunt, putting him in position to score easily on Barnes' game-winner.
"I think these kinds of wins are definitely something that can catapult you forward from an energy standpoint," Porter said. "Fighting the way we fought as a team and to come out on top, that momentum can carry over."
The Astros didn't get a baserunner off Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin until Jose Altuve singled with one out in the fourth inning. Jason Castro followed with a walk, and both came home on a two-out double by Carlos Pena that tied the game at 2.
Gonzalez saved at least one run in the fifth inning when he went deep into the hole at shortstop and threw out Jordan Pacheco for the final out, stranding runners at second and third. An enthusiastic Norris turned to acknowledge Gonzalez as he came off the field.
"That was a special play," Norris said. "The game was really close today, and if that squeaks through, it's 4-2 and it changes the outcome of the game completely. We played 12 innings to go out there and win the game."
Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Tag's Lines. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Your Cart Contains:
0 item(s)
Sub Total: £0.00
Finance is available but the minimum total spend is £499.00.
You would need to add a further £451.01 of goods to your basket to be able to apply for online finance.
More information about finance
Sub-surface printed on durable, high gloss quality 15-mil vinyl
Die cut to shape for easy installation
© 2016 DirtBikeBitz.
Wheels Wings & Water Ltd.
All Rights Reserved.


text:
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Alabama boy held hostage in an underground bunker may be soon making a trip to Disney World, thanks to an online fundraiser.
"It's all about him, this is all for him," said Carrie Kreps of Alabama.
Kreps set up a fundraiser, "Send Ethan to Disney World," on "Gofundme.com" and in one day, strangers donated more than $7,000.
"One of the earliest people that donated was from London, that was pretty cool," she said.
Kreps says she reached out to Ethan's mom, who was accepting of the idea.
"She accepted our offer, so once we got word that she was accepting of what we wanted to do for them, we knew we could run with it, and that's what we did," she said.
After hearing about the fundraiser, managers at the Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort have offered a week long stay to Ethan and his family.
The city had planned a vigil at Napier Field Town Hall Tuesday night, which turned into a celebration for Ethan's 6th birthday on Wednesday.
He was freed Monday after being hostage underground for six days. Two bombs were discovered Tuesday inside that bunker where an FBI team rescued the 5-year-old boy from his kidnaper, Jimmy Lee Dykes, authorities said.
Copyright 2013 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Enter PepperMystery teasers are little stories where you need to figure out what happened based on the given clues.
In the city of Extremum, capital and largest city of the Mauve Empire, there lives a man named Pythagoras Euclid Pepper. "Doctor" Pepper, as his friends called him, was a bit eccentric and absent-minded, but his eclectic knowledge of a wide array of minutiae paired with his apparent complete lack of common sense seemed to give off an aura of delight that caused many with whom he had spoken to have felt a keen interest in the unique way his mind operates. Pepper did not have a terminal degree from any university in the Mauve Empire, but the people who knew him best insisted upon calling him "doctor" nevertheless. As will hopefully be shown, he was not, however, completely ignorant in terms of practical judgment.
One day when Dr. Pepper was walking to the Extremum Public Library, he noticed a team of firefighters and paramedics outside the door of what appeared to be a rather well-fortified residence. As far as Pythagoras could see, there were no windows, and only one door, which was made of solid steel.
"What's going on here?" Dr. Pepper asked a fire/rescue lieutenant who was standing on the sidewalk in front of the house. Their conversation is as follows:
Lieutenant: "We got a call from this address about a man who has fallen and broken his leg," the lieutenant said. "But he keeps his door securely locked most of the time, and he can't get to the door to let us in!"
Dr. Pepper: "If he needs medical attention, can't you just kick the door in?"
Lt.: "That's what we'd ordinarily do, but this door swings outward. We can't use axes to break the door in, either, due to its strength. We're going to have to call for some special equipment to get in there. I don't think we have anything powerful enough to get us in there in our regular equipment engines."
Dr.: "Actually, if my suspicions are correct, I have a feeling that you do have everything you need to get into that building, and it won't require destroying the whole house in the process!"
What is Pepper's idea?
AnswerDr. Pepper took a quick glance at the door, and turned back to the lieutenant.
"That's what I thought. Look! The hinges are on the outside of the door. If you have something in your truck that can function as a wedge, you should be able to pry the hinges apart and take the whole door off."
"Right, I knew that," the Lieutenant said as he ran back to the fire truck and got a screwdriver out of a toolbox. Just then, the Mauve Police Department arrived at the scene.
"We're ready with the explosives," an officer said as he exited his car.
"That won't be necessary," the lieutenant said as he removed the door and ran in to check on the victim.
Incidentally, Dr. Pepper is not a physician, but the victim thought he was just the man he wanted around the next time he should need emergency medical care.
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
Back to Top


text:
I bought a rotisserie for New Years eve dinner.
Tonight I have 4 cornish game hens going. Am also making the garlic cheese bread recipe I found on here.
Daughter is going back to school tomorrow so am making her favorite cheesy hashbrowns too. And ham steak for her because she doesn't like the idea of eating "baby chickens".
Can't wait to see how I did.


text:
"Game changer" is a term you hear often when people talk about how technology has changed their industry.
Economic downturns have occurred before; and during every economic downturn there are examples of sales organizations that rise against the challenge successfully. Similar to finding loose change between the cushions of your couch, there are revenue enhancing opportunities that can be uncovered during a difficult economy.

 The Phoenix Effect

 Looking back at the previous economic downturn can shed some light on our opportunities during the current economic crisis. When the dot com bubble burst a few years ago, two companies weathered the resulting economic storm much better than could have been predicted.

 Cisco Systems was at the heart of the Internet economy. Being the leading provider of networking equipment not only put them in the heart of the internet growth cycle; it also put them at the higher end of the risk spectrum when the cycle retracted. After the dust settled, however, Cisco only had a 15% drop in revenue from 2001 to 2002; better than most of the internet dependent market. This feat of leadership could easily go unappreciated until it's compared to the competition: 3Com and Nortel both suffered revenue drops of over 40% during the same time period.

 In a parallel story, Dell Computers also rode the internet growth cycle with impressive results. However, when the rug was pulled out, they too recognized a slowing demand for their products; personal computers. But their retraction and subsequent growth profile looks even more favorable. Dell's revenue dropped 2% year to year during the retraction, but rebounded over 13% in 2003. In contrast, Compaq experienced a 21% decline.

 So the question is what did Cisco and Dell do to avoid the significant calamities that other companies suffered? To answer this question, let's start with what we didn't see.

 Sales Weaknesses Revealed

 Then the economy is healthy, and demand is up for new business solutions, a variety of sales skills usually suffer from neglect. This is not a critique on any particular organization; it's simply a matter of which effort brings the highest return. In Cisco's case, during the run up of the Internet market surge, demand was so strong for their products that their sales teams rarely engaged customer stakeholders outside of the customer's IT organization. Related to this, they also rarely took the time to gain an understanding of the customer's business challenges or help the customer contact justify the purchase with return on investment discussions. Their time was best spent educating their customers on the latest products, negotiating contractual commitments, and managing the quarter end closing drill to higher and higher levels. Dell was no exception to the lack of sales discipline across the board during the internet run up. The "1-800" business model which created a multi-billion dollar enterprise developed strength in marketing advertising, catalog distribution and custom product configuration and fulfillment. The demographic of their sales force was largely recent college grads that entered a culture dominated by a clock, visible in all call centers, displaying the time a customer was placed on hold while waiting to order. Responsiveness was valued most of all.

 Like the first example, skills like gaining access to key stakeholders, developing financial justifications, or creating need for complimentary products were not highly valued skills at Dell during the run up. Nor were they necessarily needed.

 Leadership

 When the market retracted, both organizations recognized that passively riding out the storm was not an option.

 Without delay, Cisco implemented a leadership driven campaign to adjust their sales behavior in light of the slowing market conditions. When they engaged my services, they were well versed in their strengths and weaknesses.

 They knew they needed to break their dependency on the I.T. sponsor and gain access to the business unit "real" customer to overcome the general spending freeze that a large number of their best clients imposed.

 They also cited the lack of skill in selling other products and services outside of the main switch and router product lines. In other words, they felt that they were leaving money on the table by not selling other products that might be applicable to the customer's situation.

 But now they had the motivation to take action on the situation.

 With the help of many senior executives in the company, we jointly created an initiative to sell internet business solutions directly to the business unit management of their customer targets. The rationale was that even during spending freezes, a company still spends money. They simply do a more diligent job of prioritizing where they spend their money. Cisco's job was to create need for their solutions with the business unit decision makers that were in the best position to prioritize a purchase of networking solutions.

 The initiative was very successful. The early wins included a 300% increase in the post meltdown pipeline. And they cited many examples of large opportunities that came out of the ashes of spending lockdowns.

 On Dell's side, they were also equally adept at describing the skills that were not valued during the good times. They realized that their culture created a very responsive organization that was lax in need creation skills.

 One of the key results of the campaign was a dramatic increase in the "attach metric;" a measurement used to track the sales of servers, storage and services. Currently, these other products now account for over $14 Billion in additional revenue, contributing over 23% of the total $61 billion in 2008 revenue. Not a bad payoff for an initiative born out of crisis.

 The Devil is in the Details

 The summaries of the leadership success of Cisco and Dell in their rebound efforts following the popping internet bubble may sound like it was easy, but both cases required a significant amount of leadership to produce a return on their respective initiatives.

 Here's a high level list of the types of leadership steps they implemented to produce a major change in sales behaviors.

 Develop the Vision: Although it seems like a simple task to diagnose the situation and communicate a solution, there are several opportunities for the process to get off on the wrong foot. Most important is to ensure that enough of the senior management is bought into the initiative to support the transition. According to sales people, one of the key reasons they resist a change in behavior is when they detect their superiors don't walk the talk.

 An effective visioning process should include a group effort with the entire senior sales leadership contributing to the definition of the objective, problem statement and solution strategy. It's very common for an initiative to die for lack of buy in from the same leaders that would be responsible for overseeing the execution of such an initiative.

 Another critical aspect of the visioning step is to communicate the vision in terms that represent the company as well as the individuals who will be called on to make changes in their daily behavior. If the sales person on the street does not understand why they should change, they will find ways to passively or actively resist the campaign.

 Lastly, it's all too easy to under communicate a leadership initiative. In his ground breaking
 book, "Leading Change," John Kotter estimates that failed leadership initiatives under communicate by factors of 10, 100 or 1000. One memo is not enough to support the communication requirements of a behavior changing initiative.

 Brand the Initiative: There is a significant value in branding the initiative with a catchy phrase, icon or other simple labeling option like an easy to remember acronym. If the branding is effective, it will conjure up the entire vision statement each time it's used so that the participants are regularly reminded about the objective, the problem and the solution without having to reiterate the details.

 Train the Troops: Behavior change begins with awareness, but the recipe also requires a skill development component. Where ever possible, use training that not only conveys the concept, but allows the participants to develop the new skills with relevant exercises. When using outside resources, it's important to ascertain their ability to customize the skill development exercises to your products, your customer situations and your sales skill challenges.

 Early Wins and Communicate Success: If the objective for the initiative is something that will take some time to achieve, it's critical to define some early wins that indicate your team is on the road to success. For instance, if your objective is to increase revenue growth by 15%, the results may not show for a quarter or more. Pick a set of early wins that indicate you're on the road to success; perhaps a pipeline increase or forecasted orders for a new product for example. Select something that can be achieved sooner than the overall goal, but is truly a stepping stone on the way to success.

 Then take the time to acknowledge, communicate and celebrate the success.

 Realign the Environment: When a company matures over the course of many years, the systems, processes, and cultural norms form to support expected behaviors. If new behaviors are identified as crucial, the environment should be analyzed for realignment opportunities. Examples might include forecasting terminology or milestones, marketing messaging topics, communication formats, meeting agendas, previously acceptable cultural norms and more.

 Remove Obstacles: Although the topic above is a form of obstacle identification and removal, this section refers to people obstacles. Every significant transformation of behavior will have its fair share of detractors; people who don't want to change, and will passively or actively resist the change. In some cases, they form coalitions, groups of people resisting the change and working together to undermine the initiative. The critical action for the leader of the initiative is to identify the detractors, attempt to neutralize their stance, win them over, or remove them. Sales people are very adept at "waiting out" leadership initiatives. Nothing short of a direct focus on this issue will provide any relief.

 Upgrade the Team: There are two facets to this concept. The first is to communicate expectations for required skill levels, provide development opportunity, measure, and deliver feedback. In other words, upgrade the skills of the team. The second facet incorporates the process of replacing members who are incapable or unwilling to improve their own skills.

 Skills and Leadership

 In both the Cisco and Dell situations, the skills that were not valued during a growing economy, but became especially critical during the retracting economy included:

 • Creating need for other products.

 • Accessing influential stakeholders outside of the infrastructure group.

 • Uncovering impact to help the customer justify and prioritize the purchase in economic terms. Sometimes referred to as ROI selling skills.

 • Preparing proposals that speak for themselves. A price quote might suffice in a growing economy, but a persuasive business proposal is required to pass the muster of a penny pinching sign off authority.

 But skill development alone is not enough to change behavior. Consider all of the forces that work against the individual who needs to change:

 • Customers push the seller to present product capabilities, limit access to decision makers, and may not understand the impact enough to create their own justification.

 • Many company's have product training that does just that, providing training on product features, not customer usage situations that would benefit the seller in creating need, building justification and establishing executive level credibility.

 • The sellers own comfort zone is an impediment to change, especially if has worked for him or her enough to make their quota goals in the past.

 • If your Website and key marketing collateral are hyping product capabilities, but you want your sales teams to call on executives, there is an opposing force in play.

 The list is actually longer, but the point is that leadership is the critical ingredient in causing sales behavior to change. More specifically, leadership is required to help the team overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of changing behavior. Creating and communicating the vision, role modeling expected behaviors, defining early wins, removing obstacles, navigating resistance and revamping the team are all leadership skills. Skill training is less than 10% of the requirement to cause behavior change. When contrasted with the other leadership activities require to bring about change, the actual training event is a small portion of the overall pie.

 A majority of failed sales transformation efforts can be traced back to underestimating the scope of the leadership contribution required. Just remember that behavior change is 90% leadership!

 Kevin Temple has engineered successful sales transformations while leading his own sales teams in both crisis and non-crisis situations and has consulted on sales transformations with some of the world's most respected companies. His personal clients have included Cisco, Cadence Design Systems, Dell, Epicor, Imprivata, Interwoven, Mercury Interactive, StreamServe, SendMail, Wind River Systems and others.


text:
Welcome to Mungo and Maud, Dog Accessories and Cat Accessories for the contemporary home.
Introducing Mungo & Maud's brand new collection of dog accessories and cat accessories. The design approach is stylish, considered, with a timeless quality. Our dog and cat products are minimalist yet tactile with a strong use of natural materials such as cotton, wool, leather and linen.
The fabulous new product range is the ultimate in comfort, style and innovation. The bolster dog Leads, available in four different sizes, is specifically designed to offer comfort and support. They are each made with Mungo & Maud's own cotton fabrics and are available in four different colours. The new Mungo & Maud woven cat basket is made with cotton fabric available in three prints including pink, blue and natural. The Mungo & Maud made to order cat litter tray takes innovation to the max, made with stainless steel and white acrylic with a flip down lid for modernist living.
More an experience than a store, Mungo & Maud's inviting boutique has been specially designed to encourage browsing through row upon row of exquisitely crafted dog accessories in chic packaging. The desirable selection ranges from hand-stitched dog collars and dog leads to vintage dog bowls, embroidered dog beds, dog blankets and dog clothing and organic dog biscuits and treats made to Mungo & Maud's own recipe.
Mungo & Maud sell dog accessories and beautiful cat products that that are stylish, considered and timeless with a strong use of natural materials such as cotton, wool, leather and linen.
Through the Mungo and Maud dog accessories and cat products online shop, we would like to introduce you to an extensive range of minimalist yet tactile dog accessories including luxury dog beds, hand stitched leather dog collars, a great range of dapper dog clothing, cashmere dog coats and dog harnesses. We also stock a huge range of cat products including natural woven cat beds, hand knitted cat toys and a dapper selection of suede cat collars. We have many stylish pet accessories that will complement your contemporary home.
Luxury dog accessories including Dog Clothes, our exclusive designer Dog Fragrance, Dog Blankets, Dog Treats, Dog Leads, Dog Bowls.
So wherever you are this summer you can still buy your dog and cat a lovely present without even having to leave the house. Our dog accessory and cat accessory online shop can supply you with all the essentials that you could need this summer at www.mungoandmaud.com and we now ship to the United Kingdom and Europe.
© Mungo & Maud 2017


text:
Dog-friendly La Bussiere-sur-Ouche, 1 People & Garden Or Patio
Set within 15-acres of beautiful parkland, this enchanting world of history, serenity and elegance will take your breath away. Previously a spiritual retreat founded in 1131, the Abbaye has been transformed into a stunning country house hotel in the heart of Burgundy between Beaune and Dijon.
- 1


text:
The league announced on Friday that New York Giants defensive tackle Linval Joseph was fined $7,875 for his part in an on-field altercation Monday night against the Washington Redskins.
Following a fumble by Redskins running back Alfred Morris, a pile began to develop when offensive lineman Will Montgomery dove in rather violently and unnecessarily. As the whistle blew and officials attempted to determine who recovered the ball, Joseph grabbed the leg of Montgomery and started pulling him away from the pile – as you often see players do.
Montgomery took exception to what Joseph was doing and promptly kicked him, cleats up, in the leg. Angrily, Joseph lifted his leg as if he was going to retaliate, but decided against it.
"It took me everything not to hit him back because I didn't want to hurt the team," Joseph said Monday.
In addition to the $7,875 fine levied against Joseph, the NFL fined Montgomery $10,000 for his part in the skirmish. He plans to appeal.
"I think I have to protect myself," Montgomery said. "If the guy is dragging me across the ground and potentially twisting my ankle or whatever else, I'm not going to let the guy drag me across the ground. And I can't push him, obviously, because I'm on the ground, so I used my leg to get him off me."
If you're doing the math at home, kicking someone with your cleats out is only $2,125 more expensive than simply pulling someone off of a pile. Makes sense … right?
Meanwhile, neither Michael Boley nor Chris Canty were fined for their brutal hits on Robert Griffin III. Additionally, Rocky Bernard was not fined for his involvement in separate on-field skirmish.
Photo Credit: Mike Gannon
- Be sure to like Giants 101 on Facebook, follow Giants 101 on Twitter & +1 Giants 101 on Google+


text:
PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania field hockey team scored just 1:01 into the game, added a second goal at the 5:08 mark, and never looked back in downing Saint Joseph's, 5-2, on Wednesday afternoon at the Hawks' Ellen Ryan Field.
With the win, Penn improved to 2-0 on the season. Saint Joseph's fell to 0-5.
Freshman Jasmine Cole led the Quakers' offense, scoring three goals. Emily Corcoran and Elise Tilton also scored for Penn.
Corcoran put Penn on the board just 1:01 into the contest, getting a breakaway from 25 yards out and beating Saint Joseph's goalkeeper Rachel Barnett. Just four minutes later, Cole netted her first of the day, finishing a pass from Julie Tahan off a corner. That goal chased Barnett, as SJU put Amelia Deibler between the pipes.
That did not immediately change the game's momentum. Instead, less than five minutes later Cole notched her second when she finished her own rebound.
Saint Joseph's got two goals back in a span of 3:12 midway through the period. Jordan Martin got the Hawks on the board, with an assist from Nicole Gerdes, and then Shannon McNeill scored unassisted. Just like that, the score was 3-2.
Penn responded. Off a corner, Tahan fed Tilton and she scored to double the Quakers' lead to 4-2.
The second half was relatively mild by comparison, as only goal was scored. It came amdist a scramble from Cole, completing her first collegiate hat trick in just her second collegiate game.
Carly Sokach was in goal for Penn, she had seven saves in the game. The Quakers outshot the Hawks, 17-14, and forced Deibler to make seven stops.
Penn is back in action on Sunday, traveling to Bucknell to face the Bison at 1 p.m.
Download: SJU-Penn FH 091313 Box.pdf


text:
YORK'S Labour party has announced its candidates for next year's local elections in the Micklegate ward.
Two sitting councillors will stand again in the ward - the current Deputy Lord Mayor Julie Gunnell and cabinet member for environmental services, planning and sustainability Dave Merrett.
The third sitting councillor, Sandy Fraser, announced his retirement earlier this month and will be replaced on the ballot by current University of York student and co-chairman of York Young Labour, Nick Button.
Cllr Fraser said that he was confident in the three candidates.
He added: "I look forward to supporting Nick, Julie and Dave in the campaign to win Micklegate for Labour in May next year".


text:
The Scarpa Men's SL Activ Boot is a leather hiking boot for long backpacking trips along rough terrain. The SL Active was born out of the classic SL M3 boot, created to provide plenty of support while remaining light. The dual density PU midsole provides cushioning underneath as you take on uneven and rocky trail. The inside of the boot is lined with memory foam for cushion, and a mesh Cocona fabric lining to wick moisture and provide odor control. Less stink for your feet. Secure the boot via the micro-pulley hardware while traction and grip is provided by a Vibram Biometric outsole.
So sorry, but only 4 items are allowed for comparison, so we're comparing the first 4. I blame the gnomes and so should you.
Would you like to compare the products you have selected now?


text:
Tokyo 2020: "Hugely impressed" or lost in translation?
TOKYO — There is no question, absolutely none, that Tokyo could put on the Summer Games in 2020.
They have the technical know-how. They proved that here, again, this week. They're certain to get a good write-up when the International Olympic Committee's Evaluation Commission releases its formal report, in July.


text:
A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a senior Pakistani politician.
Police raided an address in Waltham Forest today, almost four years after Dr Imran Farooq was attacked with a brick and stabbed to death on his way home from work.
The 50-year-old was attacked outside his home in Green Lane, Edgware, on September 16 2010,
He died as a result of multiple stab wounds and blunt trauma to the head.
A five-and-a-half inch kitchen knife and a house brick used in the attack were recovered at the scene.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Service's Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) believe Dr Farooq was under surveillance in the weeks before his murder.
Detectives investigating Dr Farooq's murder today raided an address in a unspecified area of Waltham Forest and arrested the man on suspicion of being concerned in the murder.
The suspect remains in custody in a central London police station.
Police have previously said they wish to speak to another two men who are believed to be in Pakistan over the murder.
Pakistani nationals Moshin Ali Syed, 29, and Muhammad Kashif Khan Kamran, 35, both in the UK until 2010 are wanted by police.
A 52-year-old man arrested at heathrow airport in June 2013 on suspicion of conspiracy to murder remains on police bail.
Anyone who can assist should call the police incident room on +44 (0)20 7230 2717 or contact the police by email at email@example.com.


text:
DeLAND, Fla. - Up to 12 Volusia County middle school students on Thursday consumed marijuana-laced brownies that were taken to school by two boys, deputies said.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said the boys, ages 12 and 14, who took the pan of brownies to Southwestern Middle School in DeLand face narcotic-related charges.
Deputies also said one of the boys hid a bag containing less than 20 grams of marijuana on campus. The bag was later found by a deputy.
One student who consumed a brownie was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
"They said he was hyperventilating because he was crying," said student Rashonda Matthews, who said the boy appeared to be unconscious.
Matthews said she took a bite of one of the brownies, not knowing it was laced with pot.
"I tasted it and I spit it out by the cafeteria. I didn't know what was inside of it until they actually said it," she said. "I was scared."
The school contacted all the students' parents, but it's not known how many had their children examined at a health facility.
"You wonder about what's going on at your kids school. I mean we have really thought about pulling them out of school," a concerned parent said.
Volusia deputies said the boys admitted to taking the pot-laced brownies to school as a prank.
Watch Local 6 News and stay with ClickOrlando.com for more on this story.
Copyright 2013 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
WATCH: New Mexico family talks about why marriage matters in new TV ad
Postedon Jan 07, 2014 at 11:00 am
This morning, a coalition of state and national organizations in New Mexico launched a new statewide television spot featuring The Sandoval Family, headed by Daniel and Theresa Sandoval, who have been married for 51 years in Albuquerque, NM.
Williams Institute report tracks Latino LGBT adults and families in the U.S.
Postedon Oct 04, 2013 at 11:45 am
A new report from The Williams Institute crunches the numbers behind the 2010 Census and tracks the impact and scope of LGBT Latinos living in the United States. 29.1% of same-sex Latino couples are raising children, the report also finds.
WATCH: Dolores Huerta discusses the importance of unity in Latino community
Postedon Jul 01, 2013 at 11:00 am
Today, Familia es Familia, the national campaign that aims to increase support for LGBT members of the Latino community through partnership with nationally recognized Latino-based organizations, released a new public education video featuring civil rights leader Dolores Huerta.
WATCH: PSA from 'Familia es Familia' highlights importance of the freedom to marry
Postedon Jun 10, 2013 at 09:45 am
Today, Familia es Familia, released a new public education video featuring civil rights leader Dolores Huerta that highlights the importance of the freedom to marry for same-sex couples.
Sergio Lopez says 'Ya Es Hora' for family acceptance
Postedon Apr 02, 2013 at 01:15 pm
Latinos overwhelming support the freedom to marry but they won't talk to their families about it. It's time we change that.
Analysis demonstrates increased and diverse support, isolated opposition for marriage
Postedon Mar 07, 2013 at 12:00 pm
A new analysis of national polling data and trends on the freedom to marry by two top Democratic and Republican pollsters indicates that the majority national support for marriage for same-sex couples is broadening and diversifying while resistance is diminishing and becoming isolated to just a few narrow demographic groups.
Freedom to Marry welcomes Sergio Lopez as director of Latino programming
Postedon Feb 15, 2013 at 01:41 pm
Today Freedom to Marry announced that Sergio Lopez, a seasoned campaign organizer, Latino media strategist, and marriage advocate has joined as the newest member of its team, and will serve as director of Latino programming.
New survey shows that a firm majority of Latinos support the freedom to marry
Postedon Oct 03, 2012 at 11:00 am
A new poll from NBC Latino/IBOPE Zogby indicates that a solid majority of Latinos in the United States support the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. 60 percent of Latinos surveyed in the poll said they "strongly agree" that same-sex couples should be able to marry.
200 leaders representing communities of color endorse marriage in Washington
Postedon Sep 20, 2012 at 12:33 pm
This week, Washington United for Marriage, the broad coalition of organizations and advocates working to uphold the freedom to marry in Washington, announced that nearly 200 organizations and leaders representing communities of color in the state are voicing their fervent support for marriage for same-sex couples.
National Latino organizations urge passage of the Uniting American Families Act
Postedon Aug 24, 2012 at 11:00 am
This week, over thiry prominent Latino organizations signed onto a group filing that encourages Congress to pass immigration reform legislation, including legislation that would eliminate immigration discrimination for same-sex couples.


text:
Hi. It's Carp. Sort of.
I'm not really here. I'm writing this on Sunday to appear on Thursday, because I'm not supposed to post anything this week. So, as I write this, I don't know how the Rangers did in Detroit.
Of course, as you read this, I know what the Rangers did in Detroit, and I know everything that's transpired since then. But I can't write about it because it's Sunday, even though it's Thursday.
Who's on first?
Confused enough.
Talk amongst yourselves. I'll be back soon.


text:
Gareth Featured On The Daily Habit todayGarethStehr.com will be featured On The Daily Habit Friday(today) June 20, 2008. Airing Friday, June 20 at 9:00 pm Eastern Time (6:00 pm Pacific Time) and telecast three additional times. On Saturday you can check him out at the Go Skateboarding Day event in San Diego...or maybe he'll show up at one of these locations?
Posted June 20th, 2008


text:
Not a member? Join now
Added by Steve1975 26 Jan 2013
projctdrew268 is James's child
He is my father. Lived in Big Springs, TX (near Odessa) before his death.
Added by projctdrew268 09 Sep 2009
Connect me or another page to James Hagans?
There are no stories about James. Add a story
Add a photo or record for James Hagans
Search through millions of records to find out more. Find more records
My Great Grandfather.
Anyone can contribute to this page. Please sign in or sign up—it's free.
Added by Steve1975 26 Jan 2013
Added by projctdrew268 09 Sep 2009


text:
Topic: mets to the omentum
My husband, Anthony, has been suffering from a lot of pain in the last few weeks - in his stomach and down his right leg. A ct scan has revealed mets to the omentum. We just got this news today and were too upset and shocked to ask questions but he is in hospital at the moment (King's College, London) so we can ask tomorrow. Does any one have any experience of these mets? They said it's part of the abdominal wall. We have never heard of the omentum before and are not sure if it's the same as the peritoneum. They did explain but we didn't take it in.
Any response/ advice would be appreciated,


text:
- News
- Sports
- Entertainment
- Business
- Lifestyles
- Opinion
- About Us
- Classifieds
- Legal Notices
Connect with Us
State DNR fined $172,900 following investigation into diver's death
The state Department of Natural Resources has been fined $172,900 for 16 safety violations in the death of a DNR diver off the southern coast of Bainbridge Island.
David Scheinost, a 24-year-old from Puyallup, died July 24 while diving as part of a four-man dive team from the DNR's Aquatic Resources Division that was sampling for paralytic shellfish poisoning on the Restoration Point geoduck tract.
The state Department of Labor and Industries notified DNR officials Friday of the results of the department's safety and health inspection that was launched after Scheinost's death.
The notice included an extensive list of the DNR's violations, which included two "willful" violations, eight "serious" violations, and six "general" violations.
"Commercial diving involves risks that unfortunately lead too often to tragedies like this incident," said Anne Soiza, assistant director of L&I's Division of Occupational Safety and Health. "These significant risk factors require advance planning, properly maintained equipment and strict adherence to procedures to ensure the protection of workers' lives on each and every dive."
The two "willful" violations carried a penalty totaling $135,000.
The citation notes that the DNR should have made sure its divers carried a reserve supply of breathing supply. In its review, the Division of Occupational Safety & Health inspectors found that in the six months before the inspection, nine divers made 370 dives without a reserve breathing supply.
That violation carried a $70,000 penalty.
In the diving incident that led to Scheinost's death, the state faulted the DNR for not having a "designated person in charge" on the surface of the water or in the vessel from where the diving operation was launched.
In the July 24 dive, the state noted that the person in charge of the dive was in the water for three of the dives that took place, which created a safety hazard for four other divers/DNR employees.
The DNR was fined $65,000 for the violation.
The serious violations noted a number of problems with the DNR's diving program.
The state said a diving equipment maintenance program had not been designed and implemented; diving equipment was not being maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations; a dive equipment technician did not have current training; and high pressure air cylinders for divers were not tested at the required five-year intervals.
The investigation also found that the DNR divers had been exposed to safety hazards because their Diving Safe Practices Manual was not effective in almost a dozen areas of concern, including requirements for standby divers, equipment inspections, and other issues related to diving procedures. Investigators also found that one of the nine divers from the state's Tumwater dive team had not met the basic qualification standards for open water diving skills.
Many of the violations stemmed from the fatal dive on July 24.
The investigation fund that the divers did not maintain continuous visual contact with one another, and that the dive support vessel was not equipped with a life ring with 90 feet of retrieval line.
The DNR was also faulted for the lack of a pre-dive planning meeting before the fatal dive, and said a pre-dive safety briefing was also not conducted.
The investigation also found DNR divers using damaged or inoperable equipment, including hoses, breathing gas cylinders, and buoyancy devices.
DNR will have 15 working days to appeal the citation.


text:
Flames NewsFlames Home > Women's Basketball Home > News
Liberty Finishes No. 16 in Mid-Major Top 25
CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25
After going 27-7 and making its 15th NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship appearance, the Liberty women's basketball team is ranked No. 16 in the final CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top 25 poll of the 2012-13 season.
This is the second straight season Liberty has been listed in the Mid-Major Top 25 year-end poll, after earning a No. 20 ranking in 2011-12.
Delaware was a unanimous choice at No. 1, after going 32-4 and reaching the NCAA Sweet 16. Green Bay, Gonzaga, Creighton and Princeton rounded out the top five.
The women's Mid-Major Top 25, in its third year of existence, is comprised of teams from the America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Great West, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt and West Coast Conferences.
The Lady Flames went 16-2 in conference play, winning their 14th Big South regular-season title and equaling the conference record for victories. Liberty then captured its 15th Big South Championship crown in the last 17 years with tournament victories over Gardner-Webb, Campbell and Longwood.