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An easy way out of the Quade Cooper discussion is to just call him "mercurial" or "enigmatic", which is a neat way of saying "we're not sure what's going on either". The roundabout implication of both descriptions is that Cooper has obvious flaws in his game but the beauty generally outweighs the defects.
Cooper is by no means the first footballer whose highs and lows are so excessive they can leave you in roughly the same emotional state. Both involve rubbing of the eyes and overly dramatic hand gestures.
But for better or worse, he is a lightning rod of all things mortal about the current Wallaby squad, hence the intricate deconstruction of his weekend efforts on the Gold Coast.
If you were describing Cooper in a travel brochure, you might say he caters for backpacking and luxury superbly but needs to work on the three-star options, a yawning gap in the market with a 100 per cent vacancy rate against the Pumas on Saturday night.
At Skilled Park, he took the express elevator from the basement to the penthouse and bypassed all of the ho-hum floors in-between. An error-strewn part one was supplemented by a telling part two, in which he helped the Wallabies climb out of a hole to win 23-19 after being on the ropes trailing 19-6.
After the match, Robbie Deans revealed the same inner-conflict many fans have watching Cooper play; that being whether the tantalising possibility of him delivering something miraculous is worth the anguish of watching him run in circles when it all refuses to work.
Deans was sorely tempted to bring out the hook. It's lucky he didn't, as it turns out, because Cooper showed enough persistence to be a factor in the result, throwing the final pass for Pat McCabe after he'd earlier put Nathan Sharpe over, who couldn't get it down. It was a flourish of boundaries after playing and missing all day.
The heights Cooper reached in 2011 have launched expectations to the extent that even a half-decent performance makes people question his worth. Solid? Stoic? Risk-free? You can hire Berrick Barnes for that.
It's not a particularly fair way of assessing the Cooper game but as his club coach loves to say: "Perception is reality".
Cooper's possible demotion is as unwanted for the Wallabies as it is for the ARU, who can count on one hand the number of genuinely marketable stars they have on the books, while the NRL has GIs and JTs falling out of their back pocket.
It could just be that Cooper is in a patch of average form, which is fine and does happen to all professional footballers at some point. Even the great Darren Lockyer, the most celebrated player of his generation, withstood calls for his sacking at stages of his representative career, bouncing back and tweaking his game to cake egg on faces.
Or there may be other factors worth exploring as a catalyst for the dip in Cooper's performances.
The future
Cooper has signed a three-year deal with the Reds, but is yet to come to terms with the ARU. Until that happens, the suggestions that Cooper and his agent, Khoder Nasser, are continuing to keep their options open won't die quietly, regardless of how much truth there is to the column chatter.
Can it make a difference to a player's performance? You only needed to see the way Will Genia's game improved after his flirtation with the Western Force to realise how much of a burden it can be to certain players.
Sonny Bill Williams, Cooper's close friend and co-inhabitant of the Nasser stable, wants Cooper to consider playing rugby league. Williams will return to the NRL with the Roosters in 2013 and there's more than a few pundits who would be happy to see Cooper make the move as well.
Matthew Johns openly endorsed Cooper last week, saying the Brisbane Broncos should make a play for a five-eighth capable of turning a match. Given Brisbane's stubborn insistence to promote from within, that's unlikely, although it doesn't mean Cooper isn't intrigued by the prospect.
If he's feeling unloved by the ARU and under pressure from his own coach, Cooper may not be in the best space to produce his best rugby.
The knee
Don't discount the knee. Returning from a full reconstruction is no walk in the park for any player and it's especially true when you are a playmaker like Cooper, who earns his crust with nimble feet and fast hands.
The post-knee injury Cooper is a more subdued version of the pre-injury entertainer. Cooper is a wonderful passer but was just as dangerous with the ball in hand, having good enough footwork and speed to beat a man one-on-one and set up his outside players. That surge of pace and confidence to change direction in a hurry hasn't been as evident since his return late in the Super Rugby season.
He's made up in other areas. Cooper's front-on defence has been solid and he has regularly put his body on the line when required.
But the memories of a serious knee problem aren't easily erased. I've spoken to players who said it took a full season to fully regain their physical confidence from a major operation. Cooper could well fall into that category, even if he hasn't fully perceived his own hesitations on the field.
The coach
Let's not start a Deans v McKenzie argument but there's one thing that's apparent: McKenzie knows how to get much more out of Cooper than his Wallaby counterpart.
There is the theory that Cooper thrives in Super Rugby because there is a premium on points and open play, while the contracted defence of Test rugby is a lock he is yet to pick. But it's also difficult to see how such a talented player can at times look so lost when surrounded by the best players his country has to offer. Something is being lost in translation.
The Reds play a brand of football that caters to Cooper's ability to see, read and execute. Much like the North Queensland Cowboys are geared to react to the wonderful attacking instincts of Thurston and Matt Bowen, Reds players understand that Cooper can spin it or kick it from anywhere on the field if an opportunity arises.
McKenzie knows that is one of the Queensland's biggest assets and crucially, a massive selling point for fans. As such, he publicly backs Cooper to the hilt, even when things don't go his way. It's arguable Deans hasn't always been as forthcoming with that support, while its clear his systems and Cooper aren't always compatible.
It could be a case of square pegs and round holes and players like Cooper can soar on momentum as easily as they baulk with self-doubt.
An elite athlete from another code told me last week that understanding your role and knowing you have the complete faith of the coaching staff is a huge plus when trying to perform. Whether Cooper takes the field knowing he has the liberty to try – and occasionally fail – is open for debate.
What to do with Quade Cooper? Leave your thoughts below and if you can't think of anything, just say he's an 'enigma'.


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The VestPac JacksonPac Hydration Pack is a basic, do-anything, hydration pack. Two front pockets and a key ring make it ideal for snow, dirt, road, surf and anything in between. Lighter and more comfortable than most other hydration pack on the market. They are so slim, you can wear them under your outer clothing layers and the revolutionary 3-D Airmesh adapts to any climate, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Convenient chest pockets provide ample storage for your valuable electronics and accessories and the low-profile back panel houses a hands-free hydration system. The form-fitting, athletic design guarantees maximum comfort, durability, and style; while heavy duty elastic straps ensure a perfect fit for all sizes.
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subset: commoncrawl


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CHICO >> Topics as divergent as making cheerleading an official sport and hiring a consulting firm to prepare demographic and enrollment studies will be on Wednesday's agenda for the Chico Unified School District board of trustees.
One item going before the trustees is a proposal to renew a contact with Sacramento-based JM King and Associates to conduct a study of enrollment projections and an analysis of physical needs of students in the future.
According to the documents prepared for the trustees, the consulting firm proposes to look at historic enrollment trends, review the kinds of residential facilities that are being built to see how they tend to effect the increase of potential students, review current and anticipated land-use plans to discern how these plans might impact enrollment, and provide a 10-year projection of future enrollments.
The contract the trustees will be asked to sign would cost $18,225, but according to information provided by Julia Kistle, CUSD director of facilities and construction, the cost of the agreement would not come out of the general fund.
The memo she provided for the trustees says the cost of the study will be funded "entirely out of developer fees."
Besides the consultant agreement, the trustees will be asked designate cheerleading as a recognized sport.
The report prepared by Bob Feaster, assistant superintendent for human resources, says that several years ago the CUSD ceased funding cheerleading for economic reasons.
The cheerleading program at Chico High School and Pleasant Valley High School became entirely self-funded activities.
"Interest in competitive cheerleading has grown and the district believes that it should be recognized by the district as a sport ..." says the report.
To be recognized, cheerleading must:
• Compete in at least one sanctioned competition per semester,
• Have a certified coach.
• Be open and available to all students who pass the physical examination.
Also, cheerleaders must not engage in stunts that conflict with district insurance guidelines.
If approved by the board, the head adviser would be paid about $1,700 as a first-year teacher and the assistant adviser would get about $875 as a first-year faculty member.
Contact reporter Roger H. Aylworth at 896-7762.
What: Chico Unified School District board of trustees
When: 6 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Chico City Council Chambers, 421 Main St.


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What's your toddler's personality type?
Knowing this could impact your parenting style more than you realise. more
Newborn acne, or baby acne, is acne on a newborn child, generally on the chin and forehead. This type of acne is caused by the flood of hormones that the baby receives from the mother's body and it usually develops during the first month after birth. Newborn acne is more common in boys than in girls.
Newborn acne is different from the tiny white bumps that many babies are born with, called milia. It can be angry and red looking, especially when the baby cries. Although newborn acne is generally not a cause for concern, it can, in rare instances, be a sign of a hormonal problem. If your infant's acne does not clear up within the first three months, you should ask the doctor for advice, although, if you are diligent about going to each of your baby's well-child check-ups, the doctor will probably already have noticed the acne and discussed it with you.
In general, no treatment is necessary for baby acne. Just be sure to keep your child's skin clean and dry it gently. Don't use oils or harsh cleansers on your baby's skin. If the acne doesn't clear up within a few months, or if it is particularly harsh, the doctor may recommend a topical cream or cleanser for you to use.
Don't use any over-the-counter acne medications unless your doctor recommends them.
Written by Rebecca Stigall for Kidspot, Australia's parenting resource for family health. Sources include Better Health Channel, NSW Health, and Health Insite.
Last revised: Sunday, 18 July 2010
This article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.


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A CHURCH is resurrecting an ancient walking tradition to celebrate its 175th anniversary.
Members of Christ Church Walmsley, in Blackburn Road, will walk the parish boundaries with an event known as Beating the Bounds.
It is an ancient custom, rarely followed now, but has a long history dating back to before the Norman Conquest.
A group of old and young members of the community would walk the boundaries of the parish, usually led by the parish priest and church officials, to share the knowledge of where they lay and to pray for protection and blessings for the land.
It was custom to beat certain markers on the boundary with a stick or a willow and sometimes the boys were bumped on the boundary stones to make them remember.
Ken Holt, who lives in Egerton and has been involved with the church for 30 years, is chairman of the 175 Committee, which is working to organise a number of events throughout the year He said: "As far as I'm aware, the church has never done it — certainly not in living memory. To mark the 175th anniversary, we thought it's a good time to resurrect it.
"It will be a very nice walk indeed. It's surprising how many people don't know where our church is because you can't see it from the main road. We are trying to widen the scope."
They are hoping more than 50 people will join members of the church's regular walking group, Walmsley Wombles, for Beating the Bounds.
The main 14-mile walk is planned for Saturday, May 31, meeting at Dunscar Bridge at 9am for a 9.30am start.
It will take about seven hours and will be followed by refreshments and a presentation of certificates at Dunscar Bridge Brewery at about 4.30pm.
People are also being offered the chance to complete the walk in two stages, the first of them today meeting at Dunscar Bridge at 10am for a 10.30am start.
The first half walkers will then be able to join the main group at Cadshaw Bridge in a fortnight to complete the route. Mr Holt hopes the revival of the age-old tradition of walking the parish boundary, established in 1844, will continue after this month's events.
Members of the church have already held events to mark the milestone year, 175 years since the consecration of the church building, including a quiz and Victorian tea party.
Following on from the Beating the Bounds project will be the Walmsley Family Heritage Day which will take place on July 5 within the grounds of the church and school.
Local charities are being invited to hold a stall at the event. Ring Ken on 01204 595124 or email email@example.com for more information.


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Topic: Any Exp with Folfiri and Cetuximab
Hi , I am posting here for the first time. My husb has the intrahepatic CC with mets. My Sis-il, uid-Jypan has posted about us. This place is a great source of information and feels like family. I hope to add my bit too.
My husb's first line of Trmnt was 4 cycles of gem Ox which kept the primary tumor and LN stable but did not shrink it. This was followed by 2 cycles of gem +Xeloda. he was operated for LN removal and IRE. The biomarker test showed Kras neg. He was treated with 7 cycles of gem and Erbitux. The LNs intially shrunk in the first 4 cycles but later started increasing. So our Dr. at SLoan has changed it Folfiri +Erbitux.
I would like to know if anyone has had experience with Folfiri + Cetuximab combo.


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WINNIPEG — The Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre, a Jewish seniors centre in north Winnipeg and the only Orthodox Union-certified caterer and provider of kosher meals on wheels in Winnipeg, has been given a temporary new lease on life, thanks to the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg.
After several months of negotiations, federation has arrived at a deal with the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (NCJW) – which owns the Gwen Secter building – to provide the Winnipeg centre with $2,000 a month in funding for at least two years. The funding is retroactive to last January.
Under the terms of the agreement, NCJW has extended Gwen Secter's current lease to May 31, 2016. The lease was scheduled to expire as of May 31, 2014. National Council agrees not to sell the building with possession date prior to May 31, 2014, without Gwen Secter's consent. The NCJW may sell the building with a possession date following May 31, 2014, with six months' prior notice to Gwen Sector, and the centre has the first right of refusal.
The agreement is the end phase of a relationship between the NCJW and the Gwen Secter Centre and its predecessor, the Golden Age Club, that goes back 63 years. In 1949, NCJWC, Winnipeg section, started the Golden Age Club, Canada's first senior's drop-in centre. Twenty-five years ago, NCJW purchased the property at 1588 Main St., and the Golden Age Club became the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre at that address. (The centre was named after the late Gwen Secter, a NCJW leader in Winnipeg.)
Gwen Secter is a multi-purpose senior centre that promotes the physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being of older adults, said Marilyn Regiec, the centre's executive director. The main goal of the centre is to foster independent living and participation in community life through social, educational, cultural, fitness, healthy lifestyle and recreational programming, including book clubs, community Internet access, cultural programming, kosher meals on wheels, fitness classes and bingo.
The building also houses the offices of NCJW, Winnipeg section, and Jewish Child and Family Services' north Winnipeg office.
Up until about five years ago, the National Council paid for all of the building's operating costs. In 2009 though, the Winnipeg chapter of NCJW experienced a serious funding shortfall and could no longer support the seniors program. The Gwen Secter centre took on the responsibility for the building's operating costs through a combination of contributions from its 300 or so members, government grants and financial support from the federation. A four-year lease agreement to that effect, between the seniors program and NCJW, was signed as of May 31, 2010.
According to a joint press release by the parties involved in the new agreement, "it is NCJW's intention to sell the building at 1588 Main St. and to use the sales proceeds to fund its 'next big project.' The NCJW board has commenced its strategic planning process and is excited at the prospect of being able to contribute to the community in a new way and to tackle a different area of perceived need."
The Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre board of directors, Regiec said, "is working with the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg regarding the needs and provision of community services to Jewish older adults and suitable placement of same. The future of the Gwen Secter program forms part of these discussions.
"We are all looking forward to a bright future of contributing to the vibrancy of Jewish community life in Winnipeg," she said.


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The Orson Starr House Museum celebrates Bride's Day during its open house from 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Bridal gowns ranging from the 1880s to the 1960s will be on display.
Women are encouraged to bring a photo of their own wedding dress to share memories.
The Orson Starr House is Royal Oak's oldest residence (circa 1845). Starr, a farmer from upstate New York, was the township's first well-known manufacturer.
He and his family made their living by producing both bricks and cowbells. The Starr cowbells are now sought after by collectors of antiques.
The home, at 3123 N. Main St. (one block south of 13 Mile Road), was lived in by descendents of the Starr family until the late 1970s when it was purchased by the City of Royal Oak.
The Orson Starr House is listed in Michigan's State Register of Historic Sites and the Orson Starr House Historic District has received the official project designation of "Save America's Treasures," awarded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Admission to the open house is free, but donations are accepted. Additional free parking is available one block south of the house at the Salvation Army Citadel.


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The Quick Actions — located in the an Event's Quick tips or the full Event Details page — enables you to stay informed and share information about a specific event.
Some of these features may not be enabled depending on the type of event.
Remind Me
Selecting this link will allow you to enter either your email address or your cell phone number and carrier, in order to be added to an event reminder list. You will have the option to select the timeframe prior to the event when you would like to receive your reminder notice
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Selecting this link will allow you to enter your email address in order to be added to an event subscription e-mail list. If there are any changes or updates made to the event, you will be notified via e-mail. If the event is part of a series, there will also be a drop-down menu that allows you to choose one or all events to receive notifications for.
Add to My Calendar
Selecting this link will take you to an informational screen that explains how to easily add this event to your personal calendar.
Email a Friend
Selecting this link will allow you to send an email containing Event Details and a hypertext link that will navigate your "friends" directly to the Event Details for the event. You can add multiple email addresses, separated by commas. You can also enter your email address, your name and a customized message to be sent with the event email link. If desired, check the box to receive a copy of the email notification being sent to your friends.
Selecting this link will allow you to complete an interactive registration request form for the event. Complete the form and clicks SUBMIT to send your registration request to the event administrator. You will receive a follow-up email once your registration request has been processed and the follow-up email will inform you that you have either been approved or denied for the event registration.


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Is it Safer to Compete in Sports
This week the Cal Ripken Sr Foundation came together with NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) to discuss Safe to Compete and address sexual abuse in Sports.
What did we learn that would make sports a better place and a safe and positive environment for all athletes?
The highlight of the conference was that there seems to be a general consensus in the room; to unify background checks. There is a need to the fill the gaps to expose the abuser that continually beats the system and fall through the cracks because of inconsistencies across agencies that maintain felony files. Another issue that was raised is the ability to flag coaches/volunteers that had a sexual abuse charge dismissed that pertained to a minor. If a system can be put in place to install a more meaningful database that all people can draw from so we have a better chance of identifying abusers who have left organizations before suspension, termination or completion of investigations.
Another highlight was data around gender equity in sports leadership. In sports where the board of directors is 50/50 there is significantly less sexual abuse.
The low lights of the conference were the lack of knowledge about and sensitivity to sexual abuse in competitive sports. There seems to have been a misconception about the number of unprotected athletes that we are talking about-- there are 60 million young athletes in open amateur sport community-based multisport organizations.
What wasn't touched on or insufficiently addressed is the multiple levels of abuse that an athlete experiences, many of which are often justified in the guise of "sport" – abuse like physical punishment and verbal and emotional abuse. The problem became bigger as we realized that we don't understand why these commonly acceptable sport behaviors constitute abuse. With the growing number of women now in sports, this demographic is even more susceptible to all aspects of abuse especially sexual abuse and harassment. A study that came out of Japanese Olympic Committee found that 12% of Judo athlete complained about some sort of abuse or sexual harassment according to the BBC Sports. This number doesn't account for those don't feel safe to speak up or ones that don't know want abuse is.
In closing, on another low light is the imbalance of women in leadership roles as sports coaches as well as on the boards of leagues and associations.
We can make a difference today by adopting effective and thorough policies already available atSafe4Athletes.org/4-clubs . We need to know that the culture of abuse in sports will not be addressed through the court system which will handle only the most egregious cases. Each of us at the local program level must be protectors. This means we must educate our coaches, athletes and parents and we must adopt and enforce policies. We cannot wait for someone else to act.
USA Swimming Safe Sport Handbook
USA Swimming Safe Sport Handbook
There are a lot of great reasons to swim – at any level. As a life‐long activity, people often swim to have fun and spend time with friends. Swimming also encourages a healthy lifestyle and builds self‐confidence. Swimmers even benefit from the sport out of the water. They learn goal‐setting, teamwork and time management skills. Unfortunately, sports, including swimming, can also be a high‐risk environment for misconduct, including physical and sexual abuse. All forms of misconduct are intolerable and in direct conflict with the values of USA Swimming. Misconduct may damage an athlete's psychological well‐being. Athletes who have been mistreated experience social embarrassment, emotional turmoil, psychological scars, loss of self‐esteem and negative impacts on their relationships with family, friends and the sport. Misconduct often hurts an athlete's competitive performance and may cause him or her to drop out of our sport entirely. USA Swimming is committed to fostering a fun, healthy and safe sport enviornment for all its members. We all must recognize that the safety of swimmers lies with all those involved in the sport and is not the sole responsibility of any one person at the club, LSC, or national level.
Complete Handbook available for download
Breaking Down Sexual Abuse in Sports
Since the Sandusky case we have all been made aware that sexual abuse of a young child by a coach is possible. Yet, more attention to the subject and types of sexual abuse in sports needs to be committed to addressing this topic and to developing an infrastructure that supports the needs of the athletes for a safe and positive environment in sports.
The world of sports is complex in regards to the coach-athlete relationship. Although a large proportion of US children participate in youth sport (40 Million), we do not give appropriate attention to analysis of the four differing types of sexual abuse in sports; pedophilia, sexual harassment, sexual abuse and athlete domestic violence.
$60 Million Later and We're Still Vulnerable
By Katherine Starr
The NCAA levied a $60 million sanction against Penn State University after reviewing the outcome of the Freeh report which identified the failures of the institution to protect the victims and putting the institution's needs above the law. Penn State was obligated to comply with child welfare laws and Title IX; it failed. Laws were in place. In the case of Title IX, the institution had required policies and procedures in place. The institution did all of the things it was supposed to do on paper and ultimately, but ultimately this was no more than "lip service" to its legal and ethical obligations. The lesson to be learned from Penn State is a pretty simple one. The organization reflects the values and ethics of its leadership. When a law like Title IX gets passed, whether it is the sexual harassment provisions of the law or its athletics participation requirements, if the institution does not embraces its purpose, educate its staff and make certain that all employees clearly understand their obligations – then Sandusky happens. No one in the formal leadership – presidents and senior administrators – or in the informal power club – Paterno, made it clear that compliance with the law was an expected zero tolerance obligation.
Safe4Athletes Appeal for Change
by Katherine Starr
Unlike athletes and students in schools and colleges who are protected by Title IX's sexual harassment and abuse provisions, athletes in open amateur sports are currently unprotected from coach or sport leader misconduct except by criminal law. While the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has promulgated recommended policies, it does not require its national sport governing bodies (NGBs) nor the local organizations and coaches who are members of these championship conducting entities, to have such protections in place. Thus, children and adult participants in non-school youth sports programs nationwide are vulnerable to pedophiles and unethical coaches who use parent and athlete respect for their positions to manipulate their athletes to engage in inappropriate relationships and sexual exploitation.
Why a Policy on Relationships with Student-Athletes?
Sexual relationships between coaches and student-athletes have become a serious problem. NCAA member
institutions must unambiguously and effectively prohibit such relationships to ensure that sport programs offer
a safe and empowering experience for all student-athletes.
This NCAA resource is designed to educate member institutions and their student-athletes about why sexual
or romantic relationships between athletics department staff and student-athletes are inappropriate, how to
avoid those relationships, and what to do if they occur. When adopted and enforced by institutions of higher
learning, this model policy will help create a safe, healthy environment on college campuses. Although most of
the examples offered herein refer to coaches, the policy is intended to provide clear guidance for all members
of the athletics department (including coaches, administrators, athletics trainers, and other staff), as well as
student-athletes and parents.
Full Text Hereor read more
Revised Sept 2013
Schools and colleges that are recipients of federal funds are obligated to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and its specific obligations related to sexual harassment and gender equity. Athletics directors should consult with the institution's Title IX coordinator and legal counsel to ensure that all adopted policies and procedures conform to these laws.
Keep Our Child Athletes Safe
The Olympics are fast approaching. Who doesn't love watching these glorious athletes defy the laws of gravity, overcome adversity, and battle staunch competition to soar beyond our imaginations? Who isn't swept up watching Shawn Johnson win the gold medal on balance beam, or Usain Bolt dash across the finish line, or Michael Phelps cut through the water to break every record many times over? We love our athletes. They inspire us, they make us believe the impossible is possible, and, truthfully, they ignite our belief in our own humanity. That's a tall order, but these athletes, many of them children, do this for us time and time again.
Are Safe4Athletes Model Policy program right for School and Colleges? I see this as a real solution for troubled schools and teams.
Coach/Employee Conduct Policies for School and College Athletics Departments
Every educational institution that is a recipient of federal funds must comply with a federal law, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which includes a prohibition against sexual harassment and include the obligation to have a Title IX Coordinator and widely distributed sexual harassment policies and procedures. This is an area in which the athletics department cannot see itself as operating in isolation. If anyone in the athletics department becomes aware of sexual harassment, sexual abuse or sexual violence of any kind, the case should be reported to the institution and handled according to established Title IX policy and procedures.
Safe4Athletes Handbook
Safe4Athletes Handbook revised March 2013
The purpose of this publication is to provide any local sports club with a turnkey program containing the basic policies, procedures, forms, guidelines and educational materials that will enable the club to immediately install a management system that advances athlete safety and welfare. Each document contained in this Handbook is available as a free download in Word format on the Safe4Athletes.org Web site, so it can be customized with the name of the club and appropriate club staff and contact information.


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But that doesn't mean that the financial services sector will be moribund when it comes to dealmaking, with more small bank consolidation still on the horizon. Plus, despite widespread retrenchments among Wall Street banks, opportunistic acquisitions in wealth management remain attractive, according to Eric Lohmeier a co-founder of midmarket investment bank NCP Inc. Morgan Stanley is finishing its $4.7 billion acquisition of the remaining 35% of its wealth management venture with Citigroup Inc. after winning Federal Reserve approval, and Lohmeier said healthy margins and an aging demographic made the sector attractive. "Banks are looking for stability in their revenues and wealth management has fairly decent profit margins," Lohmeier said. The banking sector has seen sparse merger activity since the credit crisis, with only nine deals since 2010 with a deal value greater than $1 billion according to Deutsche Bank AG. Among those deals were Capital One Financial Corp.'s 2011 acquisition of ING Direct USA for $9 billion and PNC Financial Services Group Inc.'s acquisition of RBC Bank for $3.45 billion that same year. Jeff Davis, the head of financial institutions group at consultancy Mercer LLC, said there was the distinct possibility of Wall Street banks breaking up their operations. "We've got an environment with a lot of pressure on margins and returns on equity with reduced trading volumes, where banks are handicapped by the Volcker Rule and management are taking a hard look at their operations," he said. "
Davis said plausible scenarios included Chase Bank being spun out of JPMorgan Chase & Co., a hive-off of the JPMorgan's credit card portfolio or a Citigroup breakup of its commercial banking from its global bank and markets operations.


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Woodland police are investigating a stabbing that injured three men over the weekend near Tony's Bar.
At around 12:05 a.m. Sunday, Woodland police officers were dispatched to Woodland Memorial Hospital where emergency room staff reported three stabbing victims arrived for treatment, according to Sgt. Brett Hancock Tuesday.
Upon arrival, officers found three Woodland men being treated for stab wounds. Each of the victims received multiple wounds about their bodies. Hancock reported that two of the victims were later transported to Sacramento area trauma centers as their injuries had the potential to become life threatening.
According to the victims, they were attacked by a group of seven to eight men while standing next to their vehicle on Alice Street and adjacent to Tony's Bar. At this time officers do not have suspect descriptions or a motive for the attack.
Anybody with information is encouraged to notify the Woodland Police Department at 661-7800.
Follow The Democrat at twitter.com/woodlandnews


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Fort Mill, SC – The Best In The Desert (BITD) Series travels to Parker, Arizona this week where Team GT driver Justin Lofton will lead a convoy of drivers on General tires into a two day affair. In a unique format, Lofton and his Team GT teammates will complete 150-miles across two days with the ability to make adjustments to their vehicles following the first day. While moving between paved ovals and the demanding desert terrain is no easy task, Lofton makes it look effortless.
Usually found gracing the pavement of a NASCAR track in the Camping World Truck Series where he's currently vying for a championship with one win, four top-five and 11 top-10 finishes under his belt, Lofton will spend this weekend in the deserts of the southwest. Lofton returns to his roots at an off-road course considered by many to be his "hometown track" (he hails from just outside Blythe, AZ right down the road). And with notable landmarks like The Matterhorn, The Snake Pit, The Haunted House, and The Bunny Jump, the Blue Water Desert Challenge course is sure to challenge the patience and endurance of every driver, including Lofton.


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Praise the effort, not the child, Temple study suggests
Love that picture your child drew for you? Before you say, "you're such a good artist," consider this new research on praise from Temple University.
Temple psychology professor Elizabeth Gunderson observed parents and their kids at home, when the kids were 1, 2 and 3 years old. She studied and analyzed how praise was doled out. When the kids were about 8, she asked them questions about learning, intelligence and challenges. She found that the style of praise parents gave had a significant impact on kids.
"When you praise kids by saying something like 'good job' or 'you worked hard,' you praise the process, that tends to lead to more beneficial outcomes than praising the person, by saying something like 'you're smart' or 'you're good at that.'"
Gunderson says the children who received process-related praise were more likely to believe that they could improve their own abilities with hard work, and were more likely to be willing to try challenging tasks.
She says this kind of attitude is important for persistence and academic achievement as well as more social aspects of children's development.
"To have this mindset that your ability is something that you can always improve, if you work hard, and one way to foster that mindset is to praise the process and to really praise children for their effort," said Gunderson.
The researcher added that this long-term study done in people's homes validates previous lab studies that also found that how parents praise matters.
Support provided by


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The Income Tax process
- Do I need to file Income Tax returns?
- What are the new tax laws?
- Which filing status should I use?
- What credits and deductions do I qualify for?
- Which form should I use?
- Can I file online?
- Can I get an extension?
- What happens after I file?
- What if I forgot to file?
- What are my payment options?
- How can I adjust my wage withholding (DE-4, W-4)?
More Income Tax Information
- Individuals
- Frequently Asked Questions
- City Business Tax Program - Data Exchange - Identifies individuals and businesses with certain filing requirements. (posted 08/23/10)
Important Dates
Small Business Assistance Center
The Small Business Assistance Center provides links to agencies and organizations that will help you start, run, and close your business.


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Get an overview of this hotelFamily-friendly Bruges hotel in Historical Center Bruges, walk to Groeningemuseum
Collecting Nectar Points
Special Offer: Book by 2 August 2017 and collect double Nectar points!
Simply enter your Nectar card number when you check out. Your points will be credited 35 days after you return from your trip.
*Terms and conditions apply.
Popular property highlights
This family-friendly Bruges hotel is located on the riverwalk, steps from Absolute Art Gallery, Groeningemuseum, and Basilica of the Holy Blood. Bruges Belfry and Bruges Market Square are also within 5 minutes.
Hotel Features
Along with a bar/lounge, this smoke-free hotel has 24-hour room service and a business center. WiFi in public areas is free. Other amenities include self parking, concierge services, and dry cleaning.
Room Amenities
All 20 individually decorated rooms feature free WiFi and 24-hour room service. For a bit of entertainment, guests will find flat-screen TVs with digital channels, and other amenities include minibars and espresso makers.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
Romantik Hotel de Orangerie
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Public areas are equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access. This 4-star property offers access to a business center. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. This luxury hotel also offers a terrace, tour/ticket assistance, and multilingual staff. Concierge services and wedding services can be provided. Limited onsite parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis (surcharge).
Romantik Hotel de Orangerie is a smoke-free property.
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Multilingual staff
- Shopping on site
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Laundry facilities
- Babysitting or childcare
- Elevator/lift
- Bar/lounge
- Business center
- Concierge services
- Fireplace in lobby
- Front desk (limited hours)
- Total number of rooms - 20
- Parking (limited spaces)
- Terrace
- Luggage storage
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Offsite parking reservations required
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Wedding services
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free WiFi
- Smoke-free property
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Self parking (surcharge), Parking (limited spaces), Offsite parking reservations required
Room Amenities
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Minibar
- Daily housekeeping
- Designer toiletries
- Hair dryer
- In-room childcare (surcharge)
- In-room safe
- Free bottled water
- Digital TV service
- Flat-panel TV
- Free toiletries
- Individually furnished
- Individually decorated
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
- Espresso maker
- Desk
- Iron/ironing board (on request)
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Free WiFi
- Room service (24 hours)
Where to Eat
Buffet breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 8 AM and 10:30 AM.
24-hour room service is available.
Nearby Things to Do
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Water skiing nearby
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Scooter/moped rentals nearby
- Mountain biking nearby
- Segway rental/tour nearby
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
Hotel Policies
Check-in time ends at 2 AM
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is 11 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! One child 3 years old or younger stays free when using existing bedding.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available for EUR 60.00.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
- Pets allowed for an extra charge of EUR 20.00 per pet, per night
- Dogs only
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
- A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 2.12 per person, per night
Optional extras
- Fee for buffet breakfast: EUR 25.00 for adults and EUR 15 for children (approximately)
- Self parking fee: EUR 24.00 per night
- Pet fee: EUR 20.00 per pet, per night
- Rollaway beds are available for an additional fee
Hotel Name
- De Orangerie
- De Orangerie Bruges
- Romantik Hotel Orangerie Bruges
- Hotel De Orangerie Bruges
- Hotel Orangerie
- Martins Orangerie Bruges
- Martins Orangerie Hotel Bruges
- Hotel Orangerie Bruges
- Orangerie Bruges
- Romantik Hotel Orangerie
- Romantik Orangerie Bruges
- Romantik Orangerie
We should mention
One child 3 years old or younger stays free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding.
Awards & Affiliations
- The property is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.


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Governor, director defend DHS after judge assails it
PORTLAND, Ore. - Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber says he thinks caseworkers at the state's Department of Human Services are well trained despite some criticism that workers in the agency are overworked and inexperienced.
"I appreciate the criticisms out there. I also think it's a broad generalization, because there're lots of really experienced, well trained people in the child welfare system," he said.
The governor's comments came after the state's decision to remove two children from the Portland foster parents who wanted to adopt them.
One of the primary criticisms of DHS is that it didn't explain its actions in the case.
State child welfare workers for DHS pulled the children from Brenda Lincoln's and Willie Norman's home in October where they had lived for two and a half years.
The move outraged the children's biological family and Multnomah County Judge Susan Svetkey.
The judge said "the timing of all of this is concerning and suspicious."
She also lectured DHS saying, "What happened to them (the children) is exactly what the therapists have told us is the worst thing."
Additionally, the judge said in court she's frustrated the Legislature didn't give judges the power to tell DHS what to do.
DHS wouldn't and didn't have to explain its move to the judge. Erinn Kelley-Siel, DHS director, said the agency is being as transparent as allowed by law.
"I know it's very frustrating for the media and for the public, and it's hard for us as well, because sometimes we have a story to tell and we can't in the interest of protecting the privacy of the children and families that we're serving," she said.
Regarding the Lincoln and Norman case, Kelley-Siel said "that is one of those open cases that we'd be happy to talk more with you about within the constraints that we have. And we certainly understand that we're not perfect all the time. We make mistakes, and it's a human system."
Pamela Butler with Children First for Oregon said her organization gets a lot of calls from foster parents.
"(They) don't understand decisions that are being made, and they're not involved and valued and honored in the process. And the same thing with kids in the system," she said.
Butler and Children First for Oregon are behind a proposed Foster Children's Bill of Rights (Senate Bill 123) to allow Oregon foster children more protection and voice in their fate.
"You've got cases where, like we've seen recently, a judge feels one way, a lawyer feels another and a caseworker feels another way, and they don't sit down to hash out why they feel those ways and to bring all the information to light that each of them has," Butler said. "A lot of times there's the asymmetry of information between all the key players and at the end of the day who gets hurt by that? It's the kids."
During a news conference Tuesday at the Capitol, Kitzhaber and Kelley-Siel celebrated a new way of doing business and pledged millions of dollars to a program where child welfare workers try to keep kids with their families by helping moms and dads improve their parenting skills. The state hopes to avoid charging them with neglect.
Budget cuts mean DHS is working with only two-thirds the staffing it should have. Critics also say DHS caseworkers are often inexperienced and ill trained.
As for whether the state should be putting money toward DHS, Kitzhaber said, "Some of it is going to beef up the staff. It's hiring more workers. But it's also being investing in training as well. Again, I'm going to push back and say there's a lot of staff that doesn't need re-training and doing a really good job day in and day out."
Oregon is always high on the list for the number of kids put into foster care. The latest data shows more than 4,000 kids entered foster care in Oregon in 2011. That's the lowest number of kids in the previous five years.
Several lawmakers have been looking into the Lincoln and Norman case and the foster care system. But it's too soon to propose anything.


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Preparing Students for Collegiate Success and Beyond
The Path to Higher Education
Upward Bound is a pre-college program designed to prepare high school students attending Cincinnati Public schools, for university success by providing them with essential skills in the areas of academic enrichment, personal development, career exploration, and cultural exposure. For Mount St. Joseph University's Upward Bound Program is a federal TRIO program funded by the U.S.. Department of Education and the Mount. The program receives 95 percent of its funding from the U.S.. Department of Education and five percent from Mount St. Joseph University.
Who is eligible to participate in Upward Bound Program?
The Mount's Upward Bound program serves students in grades 9-12 living in the Cincinnati Public School District. Students possessing a minimum set grade point average may enter the program during their freshman or sophomore year, and continue their membership throughout high school. The program requires students to commit to participating both during the academic year as well as the Summer Academy.
Upward Bound's target population encompasses those students who are least likely to take advantage of higher education due to economic and information barriers. Two-thirds of Upward Bound members are from low income families and/or families whose heads of household do not possess a baccalaureate degree (first generation university student).
Application Process
All students and their parents/guardians must complete an application, submit a copy of their most recent transcript and include appropriate documentation for income verification (e.g.. 1040 Tax Form, Food Stamp eligibility). Once a student is determined to be eligible for the program, an interview is conducted with the child and his/her guardian/parent if there is an opening in the program. All students must have a demonstrated need for the resources provided by the program. Academic potential coupled with a desire to improve academically and attend university are the primary criteria for acceptance into the program.
What does Upward Bound offer?
Upward Bound provides academic and interpersonal support to participants throughout their high school career. Upward Bound offers a 35-week Academic year and a six-week residential summer component (Summer Academy). During the summer component rising seniors (pre-12th grade students) participate in a career/service internship, while graduating seniors enroll in up to two 3-credit university course at the Mount which is transferable to any post-secondary institution they choose to attend. Additional information on both the academic and summer components of Upward Bound can be viewed by clicking on one of the links listed below.
For more information, contact:
Phone: (513) 244-4214
Becoming an MSJ Upward Bound Achiever
Student Participant Eligibility:
Prospective MSJ Upward Bound students must meet the following criteria:
- First-Generation University Student (neither of your parents have a baccalaureate degree)- Or
- Low-Income (as defined by the federal government according to your parent's taxable income)- Or
- First-Generation and Low income
- Possess a minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale (9th grade, 10th-11th incoming students must possess a higher GPA)
- Possess the desire to attend university and improve current academic skills
Mentors - Counselors
Program Objectives
Upward Bound is a federally funded educational opportunity program designed to assist identified high school students with academic potential to complete secondary school and to enroll in a program of higher education. During the school year, Upward Bound staff visits the students at their high schools once a month/quarterly. The students meet on campus 1-2 Saturdays a month for academic, career explorations, university preparation, and social development activities.
The Summer Academy is a six-week residential component designed to simulate the university experience. During this component, the students live on campus in residence halls. They take classes to improve their skills in science, math and language arts; they also enroll in a variety of elective type course work and computers. Social and cultural events, as well as group living, round out the total summer experience.
If you are hired as a Summer Academy mentor, you will be required to aid in reaching the objectives of this program.
- To instill in Upward Bound students a positive attitude toward learning and postsecondary education.
- To increase students' ability to relate to their peer group by development of a sense of personal worth.
- To expose the students to new academic, social and cultural learning experiences.
- To provide remedial help to individual students when necessary.
- To help the students increase their understanding of and ability to cope with their environment.
Job Description
- Establish rapport with each student assigned to you (approximately 8-10 students will be assigned to you).
- Participate in all activities during Summer Academy.
- Supervise students on trips.
- Identify students' problem areas and refer them to UB Staff.
- Enforce Residence Hall and program rules consistently.
- Know where your students are at all times and be accessible to them.
- Attend all Mentor general meetings with the head resident or director.
- Report any serious infraction (drugs, alcohol, or sexual conduct) so an Upward Bound staff member may begin working with the student(s) involved.
- Wake your students in the morning for classes.
- Conduct a bed check each night and enforce the "lights out" rule.
- Work with several UB instructors as tutors for their students.
As with any job, certain restrictions apply.
- You may not date Upward Bound students or other program staff.
- You may not leave campus without arranging for adequate coverage of your students.
- You may not bring friends or dates to Upward Bound activities.
The Academic Component
During the academic school year, Upward Bound provides bi-weekly academic assistance (tutoring) for all participants at The Hamilton County Main Branch library. On designated Saturdays every month, students participate in Saturday Academy sessions to attend workshops on such topics as:
- ACT/SAT test preparation
- Math/English skills
- University admissions process
- Financial Aid
- Career Exploration
- Study Skills
In addition to workshops and cultural events, Upward Bound students receive opportunities to visit college/university campuses throughout Greater Cincinnati, and in other parts of the region. Students who successfully attend these activities will receive a monthly stipend for their participation.
Summer Academy
Summer Academy is a six-week university immersion experience taking place on the campus of Mount St. Joseph University. During Summer Academy, Upward Bound students live in campus housing and attend academic classes in the areas of math, composition, foreign language, and science designed to reinforce their current skills and prepare them for the next academic year's curriculum. Additionally, rising seniors (pre-12th grade students) may participate in a career/service internship, while graduating seniors enroll in up to two 3-credit university courses at the Mount which are transferable to any post-secondary school they choose to attend. Students return home on the weekends and receive a weekly stipend for successful completion of the weekly activities offered.
Students also participate in a variety of workshops emphasizing such topics as academic skill enhancement, study skills development and career exploration and university preparation. Additionally, rising seniors receive an opportunity to participate in paid career-exploration (work-study) internships.
Summer Academy's primary objectives are to develop the academic, study, community engagement, and self-discipline skills within students which are necessary for successful scholarship at both the high school and university levels. Upward Bound achieves these goals by creating a summer program centered on academic rigor, intellectual stimulation and student empowerment which in turns, fosters a solid peer community of support. Beyond attaining these goals, students also participate in many off-campus, recreational field trips and university tours in the Greater Cincinnati area and the region. The culmination of the Summer Academy component is a university exploration/educational trip involving travel outside of the Greater Cincinnati area for approximately 3-5 days.


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Posted 5 years ago
(179 items)
This is a 1930s Regal vendor which I picked up on Ebay a couple weeks ago. I stripped it down and restored it inside and out. What a great little machine! It works great with a penny. The mechanism is really smooth, it always amazes me that items this old can still work so well after all these years. The last photo shows it in the condition it was in when I got it, overall was pretty good already and some may say I shouldnt have messed with the original paint, but I like the way it came out. My kids will love the skittles too!


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Rod Stewart
About the Author
ROD STEWART is a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and a Grammy Living Legend. In a career spanning five decades, he has sold more than 150 million records and continues to be one of the top-grossing and most beloved live performers in the world. In 2007, the Queen of England bestowed him the prestigious CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for his contributions to music. He lives with his wife, Penny Lancaster, and children in Beverly Hills, California and Epping, Essex.
From the Hardcover edition.


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Prize Recipient
Stephan Johnson
Dartmouth College
Stephan Johnson is graduating from Benjamin Banneker Academy in Brooklyn. He is known by all as an outstanding student with a 3.7 GPA. Stephan has been described as an intelligent, highly motivated and dedicated student with a strong personal work ethic that will ensure his success in college and a future career.
This young man is a natural leader, not only in his high school, but also in various programs including NYU's Science and Technology Entry program. Stephan is highly regarded by his fellow students, not only for his academic achievements, but for his unique ability to blaze his own path, not following the paths of others. His maturity level and diligence mold his character, and permit him to undertake challenges with humbleness, ask for help when necessary, and relate to individuals from varied backgrounds.
Even though Stephan is steadfast in his ambitions, he is dedicated to serving the community. With over 1000 hours of service he is an active and invaluable member of our community, and is always ready to lend a hand and give of himself selflessly. Stephan helps in communities besides his own, he has traveled with the Banneker
Rebuilds New Orleans Club to help residents of that city rebuild.


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D'oh!This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
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We don't even know if we can afford Danny. We gonna pay 3 max contracts?
Granger will come back stronger then ever.
West will resign a front loaded contract for 3 years.
Granger will sign a back loaded contract for 4 years.
Paul will sign a max contract cause of making the All-Stars.
Pacers are going to make the big 3 break up after kicking their butts in the playoffs.
Eric Gordon will be requesting a trade (while sporting his suit from the bench) to the Suns cause that's where his heart is.
Garbage players get 1st round picks, (WTF)! All of the NBA must hate the Pacers! LOL
I'd do it if Gordon's deal was shorter. It's not just the injuries that scare me, but the fact that he's locked up for three more years after this one. That's a long-term investment that could turn very ugly in a hurry.
2 of 4 are the last two games.....Granger isn't injury...
And Gordon is 4, 20, 26, 57.....
btw Gordon is 24 years old, and DG is 29....
Someone please delete this thread.
Lance is finally home. Whether he becomes our starting PG or he's 6th man, he's getting big minutes and he's here to stay. #llortontnia
This is started by a Hornets Fan, simply asking our thoughts...don't be rude to our guest, gosh!
Garbage players get 1st round picks, (WTF)! All of the NBA must hate the Pacers! LOL
If games are won and lost on a calculator and piece of paper, then why do we bother to play them?
Both being healthy, you do it.
The irony here is that it's Granger, not Gordon, who is currently injured.
I see I guys obviously have already went over this MANY times lol. I was just trying to get u guys perspective on this trade because we were discussing it over there on our board. If u dont feel like responding then thats your prerogative no big deal. Doesn't mean it needs to be deleted tho. Thanks to all u other guys who gave your input it is much appreciated.
should be 119 hours
The poster "pacertom" since this forum began (and before!). I changed my name here to "Slick Pinkham" in honor of the imaginary player That Bobby "Slick" Leonard picked late in the 1971 ABA draft (true story!).
Terrible deal for chemistry and finances, the two chief factors in any deal we are likely to make in the next couple of years.
The tough part is the injury part. I'm sure if he magically stayed healthy your side would do it, and our side wouldn't.
About 119 days before he was drafted.
I do find one thing amusing. All we ever hear is how our players aren't worth that much around the NBA, and now Danny is going to get a max contract, and so is West, and probably Paul too and we won't be able to pay them all because of their market value. Cracks my **** up.
West isnt going to get a max year, max money contract, he might get one or the other but not both. Paul George at this pace will no doubt be a max player.
Danny will probably have to go if they want to keep the basic core of players at the moment. I'd try and get Lance locked into a fairly cheap long contract if possible. I don't see Tyler back with the team when his contract is up, I can see the Pacers just plugging in Plumblee in his place.
"It's just unfortunate that we've been penalized so much this year and nothing has happened to the Pistons, the Palace or the city of Detroit," he said. "It's almost like it's always our fault. The league knows it. They should be ashamed of themselves to let the security be as lax as it is around here."
----------------- Reggie Miller
Nice try, man. Sell high, buy low. We on Pacersdigest are smarter than that.
It is written in the stars Gordon is going to get injured again for a long time and Granger absolutely not. The age difference is neglectable as Danny has an old man's game and Eric a flashy, more athletic one. And don't tell me he is a better player, when he has yet to play a game in the playoffs.
For the first time in a very long time Gordon is healthy again and closing out a couple of games and you expect us to fall for that? No way we would do that trade. Combe back when Gordon is injured again and Granger is playing. At least it would make some sense for a Hornets fan then.
At this point, it looks like George is bound to get the max. Two years from now someone like LA or Dallas is going to miss out on LeBron, Melo and Bosh, and it's going to happen. Maybe he takes a cheaper extension this summer, but I doubt it.
So considering this, is it really smart for a small market team to tie itself to 3 max contracts in George, Hibbert and Gordon? I don't think so. I think the better plan is to stick with 2 max contracts and surround them with a deep team of slightly cheaper vets. If that 3rd max guy is a legit superstar, then it's obviously another topic. But Gordon isn't that.
Last edited by hackashaq; 01-10-2013 at 07:12 AM.
No Granger is actually good
Smothered Chicken!
I'd rather we trade Danny for a player who can actually physically play more than a few games a season.
To me I would say no, the biggest factor to me is his contract, would rather trade Danny for someone like Klay who is still on a rookie contract and who we should be able to afford in the future.
Why so SERIOUS


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Lofts du Vieux-Port
- 97 de la Commune Street East, Montreal, QC H2Y 1J1
Best Online Rate
Due to high demand, this hotel is not available for your selected travel dates.
Please use the search above to select new dates.
Sorry, but this hotel is unable to accommodate 2 guests per room.
Search for other great hotels in Montreal or call us at (855) I-STAYFUL (855-478-2938) for personal assistance. We'd love to help.


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WEST Mercia Police's deputy commissioner has hit out at business crime.
Barrie Sheldon says too many retailers are suffering from theft, making their survival hopes tougher.
It follows figures showing how business crime cost the UK £511 million in 2013.
Mr Sheldon said: "Businesses are at the heart of our communities, providing jobs and boosting the economy.
"But crime can have a major effect, reducing profitability, increasing the fear of crime and in extreme cases, threatening the livelihood of the businesses and their staff.
"Last year the direct cost of retail crime was £511 million nationally.
"We are committed to do all we can to help local businesses thrive and I am pleased that we are well down the line of developing a strategy, in conjunction with businesses to address the extent and impact of it."


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Ohio rep. returns donations caught up in FBI probe
WADSWORTH, Ohio—An Ohio congressman has returned $100,000 in campaign contributions amid an FBI inquiry into the source of the donations.
The FBI has previously questioned employees of Canton-based Suarez Corporation Industries about combined donations to freshman U.S. Rep. James Renacci (reh-NAY'-see) and state treasurer and U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel -- both Republicans.
Renacci said in a statement Monday that he is returning 20 checks for $5,000 each.
Renacci faces a challenge from Democratic Rep. Betty Sutton, whose district was reconfigured as a result of redistricting.
Mandel returned $105,000 in questioned contributions in May.
The government had been seeking donor records for retail marketing executive Benjamin Suarez, his family members and employees to either the congressman or Mandel.


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Product Summary
PDF Converter 7 is the world's most accurate and best-selling tool for turning existing PDF or XPS files into fully-formatted Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint,Core,WordPerfect,or RTF documents. Designed to take full advantage of Microsoft Office 2010 and Windows 7 capabilities, it's Nuance's most productive and intuitive PDF conversion software ever.
General Information
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|Nuance Communications, Inc
|Product Name
|PDF Converter v.7.0
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Product Information
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|Software Name
|PDF Converter v.7
|Software Sub Type
|PDF Conversion/Viewing
|Software Main Type
|Productivity Application
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License Information
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|Federal Government
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|License Quantity
|1 User
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The brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi have taken it to a whole new level!
Check out this Creed themed probate teaser the Fountain City Nupes made to announce their Spring 2k16 line. For the video the brothers used a mix of footage from the blockbuster movie as well as their own footage shot in a boxing gym.
This is a must watch!
Share with a Kappa and make his day!
Directed by: Alvin Cade, Jr. "Alvin the Director" (Kappa Alpha Psi)
This Is How the Kappas Reveal New Initiates at Tennessee State University
The Kappas at Tennessee State University revealed a line that will go down in history!
The brothers of the Alpha Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi at Tennessee State University introduced their Spring 17 initiates to campus and these brothers put on a show!
Check out their video below and show these brothers some love if you think they HELD IT DOWN!
Shot by @cbd_jonesy 🎥
Share this on Facebook if you think this deserves to go VIRAL!
Kaepernick Just Donated $25,000 to Help Immigrant Youth Affected By Trump's Repeal of DACA
San Fransisco 49er's quarterback Colin Kaepernick has decided to use his own money and the money he has made from his jersey sales to help the people of the Chicago area by supportingthe largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation to deal with Trump's removal of DACA.
The 28-year -old member of Kappa Alpha Psi, who refused to stand during the national anthem during NFL games last year said he would donate the first $1 million he made from last season to organizations assisting communities affected by racial injustice and police brutality.
"I've been very blessed to be in this position and be able to make the kind of money I do," Kaepernick said. "I have to help these communities. It's not right that they're not put in the position to succeed or given those opportunities to succeed," he said last year.
"I will donate one million dollars plus all the proceeds of my jersey sales from the 2016 season to organizations working in oppressed communities, 100k a month for 10 months," he said on his website.
One of these communities just so happens to be immigrant children who are currently being threatened by the repeal of DACA.
For his recent pledge, which was announced yesterday, Colin donated $25,000 to United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation.
"We organize and advocate for the dignity and fair treatment of immigrant youth and families, regardless of immigration status," the about section on United We Dream's website states.
According to Kaepernick's website, the $25,000 will go toward the following:
- Addressing the inequities and obstacles faced by immigrant youth. Over 100,000 members. Current focus: Organize and work for immigrant children to keep DACA in force.
- 10k for upcoming travel. Air, hotel, lodging, and ground transportation. United We Dream recently held event in Washington DC and sent 300 dreamers to lobby to keep DACA. This budget will pay for 75-100 attendees for a similar rally upcoming.
- 10k for series of upcoming local gatherings in NY, CT, TX, FL, NM. Facilities rent and security, transportation, food, technology
- 5k for text service for the network of over 100,000 members.
Along with this $25,000 donation, Kaepernick has donated to DREAM (Formerly RBI Harlem) a baseball program in Harlem, Coalition For The Homeless, and War on Children.
The Brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi in Houston Just Published This List of Things You Can Do to Help Hurricane Survivors
The Houston (TX) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. just released the following "Disaster Response Update" regarding Hurricane Harvey and the work that the members of the fraternity are doing to help survivors in the city. The message, which was penned by the alumni chapter's Polemarch Ronald J. Lockett, II, covers FEMA, volunteer opportunities and ways that people can donate.
Read the full letter below
The Houston (TX) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is working with the other area alumni chapters, the Kappa Disaster Response & Recovery Team, FEMA, the Red Cross, and the City of Houston. We have offered the Houston Alumni Kappa House as a POD (Point of Distribution) related to the flood recovery effort. There are truckloads of resources that are already moving into position to service the area. This will allow us to play a vital role in the response and the ongoing long-term recovery efforts. At this time, the Kappa House (3349 Southmore Blvd, Houston, TX 77004) has not been activated as an official FEMA Point of Distribution, but we will begin accepting supplies from those able to donate starting Thursday, August 31, 2017 at 11:00am – 4:00pm and continuing daily (*Suggested supply list attached)
There are many immediate volunteer opportunities at shelters in Houston and the surrounding communities where our assistance is greatly needed. If you are safely able to leave your home to serve our fellow neighbors at a shelter, please do. We encourage you to wear Kappa Alpha Psi paraphernalia. (Thank you to those who were able to volunteer over the past few days)
Monetary donations can be made directly to the Houston (TX) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi to purchase supplies, water, clothing, food for displaced members & their families along with the citizens of Houston communities: www.houkappa.com/donate
We have recently spoken to the Polemarchs of the Beaumont & Port (TX) Arthur Alumni Chapters and they are dealing with the storm as well. They have several brothers who are currently waiting to be evacuated from their flooded homes while the rain is still pouring down. Please keep them and their families in your prayers as well as those in the Lake Charles, LA area.
We encourage affected individuals to immediately register with FEMA. Registering online at: www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov is the quickest way to register for FEMA assistance. Those who do not have access to the internet may register by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Those interested in becoming a part of FEMA's standing disaster workforce should visit: https://careers.fema.gov/reservists-program
Please stay safe and heed the guidance and warnings of local authorities. Keep the Faith and remember your life is more important than any material possessions.
Yours in the Bond,
Ronald J. Lockett, II
Polemarch, Houston (TX) Alumni Chapter
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
"Brotherhood, Achievement, Service & Social"
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The majority of our journal access is online and now we offer a fast way for you to find the latest issues: When you see a yellow card on the shelves, scan the QR code and view the journal on your smart phone or other mobile device.
The QR code labels are being placed in the print journal stacks where a print journal subscription ends and the online subscription begins. The QR code is linked directly to the online version of the journal, taking you directly to a list of issues available for viewing. If your smart phone is using a data plan, the QR code link will first take you to the library's login page and you will need to login before using the online journal. If your smart phone or tablet device is connected to the Health Science Center's wireless network, you will be connected automatically to the journal's mobile website without the need to log in.
For the time being, only current journals with mobile sites are labeled. As more and more of these sites are integrated to mobile standards, we will incorporate codes for easy access from the stacks. QR code readers such as ScanLife are available through the App Store.
Have any questions or comments? Contact Dana Whitmire, Electronic Resources/Serials Librarian, email@example.com.


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" Manufacturer: Fever Tree / Type: Soft Drink "
I've recently tried the Fever-Tree Ginger Beer, and I have to say, I am hooked! :-))
I love ginger beer but so many of them are made with artificial ingredients and additives coming out of their ears, which I prefer to avoid. This one is different.
Spring water
Cane Sugar
Ginger Root
Natural flavour
Ascorbic acid
It comes in a 500ml glass bottle, shaped with a neck and has a metal cap. The label on the front declares 'Natural Fever-Tree premium Ginger Beer'. It says it is 'Delicious, clean, refreshing and natural. Brewed with natural gingers to enhance the enjoyment of great spirits. No artificial sweeteners, flavourings, colours or preservatives'. The label on the back says it is 'A naturally brewed product that contains a unique blend of the finest gingers, subtle botanical flavours and spring water. Not too sweet on the palate, and with a deep long lasting ginger character. Perfect in a Dark & Stormy, Moscow Mule or non-alcoholic Gunner. Equally delicious as a long drink on its own.'
Well, I can't comment on whether it enhances great spirits or not, since I don't drink spirits, but I can say I really enjoy drinking this stuff on its own! To me it does taste pretty sweet, but then I haven't got a particularly sweet tooth, so any amount of sugar tends to taste quite sweet to me. It certainly does leave a warm gingery taste in your mouth for quite a long time after you drink it - carry on enjoying the flavour long after you have swallowed it :-)
Nutrition per 100ml:
44kcal, 10g carbs, 10g sugars and trace sodium.
Whilst fever tree produces a number of mixers I'm concentrating on the tonic waters and the ginger ale
Tonic Waters
Like many people I enjoy a good gin and tonic (or vodka and tonic) now and again. I am, however, intolerant to aspartame which is used as a sweetener in most tonic waters (I only discovered my intolerance few years ago). Aspartame also gives tonic water a rather horrible chemical aftertaste. Companies use both sugar and sweeteners mainly because this reduces cost. Saccharine, for example is about 4000 times 'sweeter' than sugar. Hence you need 4000 times less of it for the same effect hence it will cost less.
There is no way artificial sweetener loaded mixers are going anywhere near my gin and thankfully I have found a tonic which has no artificial sweeteners in it. Fever tree is 100% natural and still contains the natural quinine which is in all tonics. It is the quinine, one the only treatment for malaria, which is responsible for the slight bitter taste. Whilst this is not the cheapest tonic water it is in my opinion the best. It also won a San Sebastian Gourmet Award in 2006.
The tonic water is available in 200ml and 500ml bottles but it is not the easiest brand to find. I have only seen it in Waitrose, larger Sainsburies and specialist drinks stores. You can also buy it online from some drinks companies. Whilst Waitrose and Sainsbury sell them in 4x200ml (for about £2.90) and the 500ml (sorry don't know the price). Online you can get packs of 24x200ml bottles which does make it cheaper (£14.95 - price at www.thedrinkshop.com)
Looking at the tonic it is perfectly clear, as a good tonic should be and the aroma is slightly citrusy. The taste is not the overpowering chemical taste you get with the best known brand but much softer with a citrus edge. The slight bitterness of the quinine is there but it is not overpowering. One good thing is that it does not go flat the moment you pour it into your glass nor does it overpower the spirit it is added to. The fizz stays long enough for you to enjoy your Gin and tonic on the long summer evening.
The company also produce a low calorie tonic water. When I hear 'low calorie' the alarm bells of sweeteners and saccharine start ringing and the big red 'avoid like the plague' lights flash. This is different. There is no artificial muck in this low calorie tonic. The number of calories is reduced by using natural fruit sugars. This gives it 45% fewer calories than their normal tonic water. To me it tastes virtually indistinguishable from the normal tonic just perhaps slightly heavier on the citrus side. There is also none of the cloying feel remaining on your palette as most 'low calorie' tonics give and no saccharine after taste.
Ginger Ale
This is available in the same size bottles from the same places and at the same price as the tonic water. Again whilst there are cheaper and better known ones on the market this is one of the few I will buy.
The ginger ale is, despite being a mixer, one of those things which I would be happy to drink on its own. It has a clear golden colour and the aroma is one of ginger with an undertone of citrus fruits mainly lemon. The taste of it on its own is a clean fresh taste. It has a strong ginger punch but it is not so strong that it catches the back of your throat. It does leave a clean ginger after taste for quite a while after you have finished it. This mixer goes well with a good whiskey, after all if you don't want to ruin a good spirit with a poor mixer why ruin a good mixer with a bad spirit? (or am I just being a spirits snob?). Ginger is supposed to be good for digestion so it could be good to take a small amount of ginger ale before a meal.
The tonics and ginger ale also contain no artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives. The lack of preservatives does reduce its shelf life but then again if bought in small amounts at a time this should not be a problem
Fever tree also produces the following mixers but as yet I haven't tried them as yet. They are all also made with 100% natural ingredients and are the same price:
Ginger beer
Bitter lemon
Soda water
One thing I have always wanted to know is what is the difference between the ginger beer and ginger ale? I always thought they were the same thing.


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Read the BoxRebus brain teasers use words or letters in interesting orientations to represent common phrases.
These are cereals and "serial", too. What's the rebus?
01. 447-30586FF (Cap'n Crunch)
02. 0032-X-43333-66M (Wheat Toasties)
03. 00-0K-4389-SR11F (Corn Crunchies)
HintThe title is a hint.
Also: Most products (such as foods) have UPC (Universal Product Code) numbers. What OTHER "number" on products are we familiar with?
AnswerSerial Numbers ("Cereal Numbers").
While the numbers, AND the cereal names are "made up", they well represent names of real breakfast grain-cereals as well as representations of serial numbers.
The title in the hint is "Read the Box", where such numbers would be found.
There is also a HUGE hint in the body; wherein is mentioned the "serial" nature of the numbers. While the numbers (themselves) are not sequential, the 01, 02 and 03 enumeration is (serial). "Serial" means items following one-to-another.
The phrase "Serial Number" is a common expression used to denote the unique identification number given a wide variety of consumer goods. In the mass-consumption market (such as foods and clothing), the UPC (see above) is used in place of a serial number although each item, such as each box of cereal, or each carrot, or each sock is not uniquely identified.
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.
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text:
Please dont hold back. This is a vid of me driving ~300 ft. Wasnt going for all out distance(my consistent golf D is around 330, I want it to be 400), wanted to get a shot of a 'normal' drive. Sorry for the subpar video. Disc is a teebird.
I notice that I might not be dropping my shoulder enough, and may not be getting enough late acceleration. My back leg should probably be doing something different, I am trying to move away from toe-dragging.
Thanks for any comments!


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The Simpsons Are Moving Down To A Smaller Scale
The Simpsons are one of the longest running TV Shows the world. I have watched many of the episodes. New episodes air every Sunday on Fox. The Family has been through a lot in the many seasons it has been on air. One thing they haven't done is that they haven't been brought down to a small scale. Lego Size!


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In defeating Mitt Romney, the president carried Colorado, Iowa, Ohio, New Hampshire, Virginia and Wisconsin, a near sweep of the battleground states, and was holding a narrow advantage in Florida. The path to victory for Romney narrowed as the night wore along, with Obama winning at least 303 electoral votes.
A cheer of jubilation sounded at the Obama campaign headquarters in Chicago when the television networks began projecting him as the winner at 11:20 p.m., even as the ballots were still being counted in many states where voters had waited in line well into the night. The victory was narrower than his historic election four years ago, but it was no less dramatic.
"Tonight in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back," Obama told his supporters early Wednesday. "We know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come."
Obama's re-election extended his place in history, carrying the tenure of the nation's first black president into a second term. His path followed a pattern that has been an arc to his political career: faltering when he seemed to be at his strongest - the period before his first debate with Romney - before he redoubled his efforts to lift himself and his supporters to victory.
The evening was not without the drama that has come to mark so many recent elections: For more than 90 minutes after the networks projected Obama as the winner, Romney held off calling him to concede. And as the president waited to declare victory in Chicago, Romney's aides were prepared to head to the airport, suitcases packed, potentially to contest several close results.
But as it became increasingly clear that no amount of contesting would bring him victory, he called Obama to concede shortly before 1 a.m.
"I wish all of them well, but particularly the president, the first lady and their daughters," Romney told his supporters in Boston. "This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation."
Hispanics made up an important part of Obama's winning coalition, preliminary exit poll data showed. And before the night was through there were already recriminations from Republican moderates who said Romney had gone too far during the primaries in his statements against those here illegally, including his promise that his get-tough policies would cause some to "self deport."
Obama, 51, faces governing in a deeply divided country and a partisan-rich capital, where Republicans retained their majority in the House of Representatives and Democrats kept their control of the Senate. His re-election offers him and Vice President Joe Biden another opportunity that will quickly be tested, given the rapidly escalating fiscal showdown.
For Obama, the result brings a ratification of his sweeping health care act, which Romney had vowed to repeal. The law will now continue on course toward nearly full implementation in 2014, promising to significantly change the way medical services are administrated nationwide.
Confident that the economy is finally on a true path toward stability, Obama and his aides have hinted that he would seek to tackle some of the grand but unrealized promises of his first campaign, including the sort of immigration overhaul that has eluded presidents of both parties for decades.
But he will be venturing back into a congressional environment similar to that of his first term, with the Senate under the control of Democrats and the House under the control of Republicans, whose leaders have hinted that they will be no less likely to challenge him than they were during the last four years.
The state-by-state pursuit of 270 electoral votes was being closely tracked by both campaigns, with Romney winning North Carolina and Indiana, which Obama carried four years ago. But Obama won Michigan, the state where Romney was born, and Minnesota and Pennsylvania, three states that Republican groups had spent millions of dollars trying to make competitive.
Americans delivered a final judgment on a long and bitter campaign that drew so many people to the polls that several key states extended voting for hours. In Virginia and Florida, long lines stretched from polling places, with the Obama campaign sending text messages to supporters in those areas, saying: "You can still vote."
Neither party could predict how the outcome would affect the direction of the Republican Party. Moderates were hopeful it would lead the rank and file to realize that the party's grass-roots conservatism that Romney pledged himself to during the primaries doomed him in the general election. Tea Party adherents have indicated that they will argue that he was damaged because of his move to middle ground during the general election.
As he delivered his brief concession speech early Wednesday, Romney did not directly address the challenges facing Republicans. His advisers said that his second failed quest for the White House would be his last, with his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, standing as one of the leaders of the party.
"We have given our all to this campaign," said Romney, stoic and gracious in his remarks. "I so wish that I had ... been able to fulfill your hopes to lead this country in a different direction."
The results were more a matter of voters giving Obama more time than a second chance. Through most of the year slight majorities of voters had told pollsters that they believed his policies would improve the economy if they could stay in place into the future.
Obama's campaign team built its coalition the hard way, finding and motivating supporters who had lost the ardor of four years ago and, Obama's strategists feared, might not find their way to polls if left to their own devices.
Up against real enthusiasm for Romney - or, just as important, against Obama - among Republicans and many independents, their strategy of spending vast sums of money on their get-out-the-vote operation seemed vindicated on Tuesday.
As opinion surveys that followed the first debate between Romney and Obama showed a tightening race, Obama's team had insisted that its coalition was coming together as it hoped it would. In the end, it was not a bluff.
Even with Obama pulling off a new sweep of the highly-contested battlegrounds from Nevada to New Hampshire, the result in each of the states was very narrow.
The top issue on the minds of voters was the economy, according to interviews, with three-quarters saying that economic conditions were not good or poor. But only 3 in 10 said things were getting worse and 4 in 10 said the economy was improving.
Romney, who campaigned aggressively on his ability to turn around the deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression, was given a narrow edge when voters were asked which candidate was better equipped to handle the economy, the interviews found.
The electorate was split along partisan lines over a question that has driven much of the campaign debate, whether it was Obama or his predecessor, former President George W. Bush, who bore the most responsibility for the nation's continued economic challenges. But about half of independent voters said that Bush should be held responsible.
The president built a muscular campaign organization and used a strong financial advantage to hold off an array of forces that opposed his candidacy. The margin of his victory was smaller than in 2008 - he held an advantage of about 700,000 in the popular vote early Wednesday - but a strategic firewall in several battleground states protected his Electoral College majority.
"Whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you. I have learned from you, and you made me a better president," Obama said in accepting victory. "I return to the White House more determined and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do and the future that lies ahead."
As Romney gained steam and stature in the final weeks of the campaign, the Obama campaign put its hopes in one thing perhaps above all others: that the rebound in the auto industry after the president's bailout package of 2009 would give him the winning edge in Ohio, a linchpin of his road to re-election.
Early interviews with voters showed that nearly 6 in 10 Ohio voters approved of the bailout, a result that was balanced by a less encouraging sign for the president: Almost 4 in 10 said they or someone in their household had lost a job over the last four years.
The strong early-voting program was central to Obama's performance in Ohio. He defeated Romney 52 per cent to 47 per cent in Hamilton County, home to Cincinnati, but only because of the amount of votes he banked in the month leading up to Election Day.
Obama won despite losing some of his 2008 margins among his key constituencies, including among younger voters, blacks and Jewish voters, yet he appeared to increase his share among Hispanics and Asians. Early poll results showed Latinos representing about 1 in 10 voters nationwide and voting for Obama in greater numbers than four years ago, making a difference in several states, including Colorado and Florida. He held on to female voters, according to preliminary exit polls conducted by Edison Research, but he struggled even more among white men than he did four years ago.
Romney's coalition included disproportionate support from whites, men, older people, high-income voters, evangelicals, those from suburban and rural counties, and those who call themselves adherents of the Tea Party - a group that had resisted Romney through the primaries but had fully embraced him by Election Day.
The Republican Party seemed destined for a new round of self-reflection over how it approaches Hispanics going forward, a fast-growing portion of the voting population that senior party strategists had sought to woo before a strain of intense anti-illegal immigration activism took hold within the Republican grassroots.
It was the first presidential election since the 2010 Supreme Court decision loosening restrictions on political spending, and the first in which both major party candidates opted out of the campaign matching system that imposes spending limits in return for federal financing. And the overall cost of the campaign rose accordingly, with all candidates for federal office, their parties and their supportive "super PACs" spending more than $6 billion combined.
The results Tuesday were certain to be parsed for days to determine just what effect the spending had, and who would be more irate at the answer - the donors who spent literally millions of dollars of their own money for a certain outcome, or those who found a barrage of negative advertising to be major factors in their defeats.
While the campaign often seemed small and petty, with Romney and Obama intensely quarrelling and bickering, the contest was actually rooted in big and consequential decisions, with the role of the federal government squarely at the centre of the debate.
In Chicago, as crowds waited for Obama to deliver his speech, his supporters erupted into a roar of relief and elation. Car horns honked from the street as people chanted the president's name.
"I feel like it's a repudiation of everything the Republicans said in the campaign," said Jasmyne Walker, 31, who jumped up and down on the edge of a stone planter in a downtown plaza. "Everybody said that if he lost it would be buyer's remorse - that we were high on hope in 2008. This says we're on the right track. I feel like this confirms that."
Michael Cooper contributed reporting.
© 2012, The New York Times News Service