text: Live Life Fully: A clean slate on which to create By Linda Arnold December 31, 2011 Story Share CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- New Year's Day is my favorite holiday -- 365 brand-new days, 12 delicious months, 52 amazing weeks. It's the ultimate new beginning. The chance to take lessons learned from last year and put them into effect. OK, I'm strapping myself in.In addition to being a new year, 2012 has the special distinction of having prophecies surround it. You've probably heard that the Mayan calendar ends in December -- Dec. 21 to be exact. Whatever that portends is unknown. The planets also will be aligned during that time in a configuration they've not had for 26,000 years. Whether this is of significance is also unknown.There are many theories and predictions, though -- everything from a cataclysmic event to the end of the world. One prophecy foretells that "the light and dark forces will fight until then, and then the light forces will win out." And History Channel just ran "Armageddon Week." Yikes!Prophecies are kind of like statistics -- elements involved in them can be interpreted to show "proof" of a certain theory. It might be a hidden message in the Egyptian pyramids or an interpretation of an ancient hieroglyphic. Maybe it's a passage from the Bible, the Torah or the Quran. A teaching from Gandhi or Buddha -- or a quatrain from Nostradamus.Curiosity-seekers abound among us. And our nation was born out of faith-based pioneers. Sometimes these forces align, and sometimes they conflict. We've sure seen a lot of turmoil, strife, natural disasters and political unrest in the past several years. Is this all leading up to something, or have these occurrences always taken place -- and we're just noticing them more in the 24-hour news cycles?Whatever does or does not happen on a global level in 2012 remains to be seen. All the more reason, in my mind, to live life fully as we go along. (Note to self: Remember, that's how you named this column -- to remind you that this is not a dress rehearsal).So, how will you be living your life these next 364 days? And I don't mean how many resolutions you have or how many goals you want to achieve. That's the way I would have looked at things in the past. Now I'm focusing more on the journey than the destination. What will this year be like? How will I show up in my own life this year? During the holidays, my brother-in-law made the statement that there are pretenders and contenders in life. That stuck with me. I don't think any of us want to end up like Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront," ruminating that "I coulda been a contender."Being aware and being present don't sound like very lofty goals, yet those two characteristics have everything to do with the quality of life we experience. How many times have you sent your "representative" out into the world -- going through the motions -- instead of really showing up yourself? Have you stopped to think how you might have cheated yourself out of a richer experience?Lots of times we have one foot in the past and one foot in the future, and we're missing the present. We're either too busy worrying about something that happened in the past or projecting into the future. While we're doing this, we're missing out on our lives today.I'm not saying we don't need to plan or have goals. Certainly, we need structure. It's just when the process starts to overcome the end result that we may need to take a step back. Hurrying through life really has no purpose -- and is certainly not very fulfilling.Our speed of life has expanded exponentially in the past decade. That doesn't mean, though, that we have to hurtle through space just to keep up. After all, what's the point? If we're always striving, we're never arriving.That's what gives this day such impact. We get to take stock of the year we're saying goodbye to and to welcome the one that's ahead of us. I like to refer to it as "the year in review and the year in preview." A foundation of gratitude helps to set the stage for things seen and not yet seen.Enjoy your clean slate. Anticipate the palette you're bringing to it and the rich tapestry you're weaving. As author Carlos Castenada said, "The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same."Linda Arnold, MBA, is a certified wellness instructor and chairwoman/CEO of The Arnold Agency, a marketing communications company specializing in advertising, public relations, government relations and interactive marketing. Reader comments are welcome and may be directed to Linda Arnold, The Arnold Agency, 117 Summers St., Charleston, WV 25301, or emailed to email@example.com. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Facebook founder visits Cabin Creek Health Systems 2 Teen pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Oakes Field shooting 3 Safety shutoff disabled prior to June coal-mining death, report says 4 Innerviews: Dual-identity surgeon riding high in horse racing world 5 Congressional opioid investigation targets drug wholesaler Miami-Luken Arts Notes: Jan. 1, 2012 Previous Story Beers to You: Belgian beer, part 1: Trappist and abbey beer Next Story


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The international hit show "Menopause The Musical" can be seen at the Akron Civic Theatre for one performance April 13 at 3 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.AkronCivic.com or by calling 330-253-2488.
Set in a department store, where four women with seemingly nothing in common but a black lace bra meet by chance at a lingerie sale. The all-female cast makes fun of their woeful hot flashes, forgetfulness, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and chocolate binges. A sisterhood is created between these diverse women as they realize that menopause is no longer "The Silent Passage." It is a stage in every woman's life that is perfectly normal.
For more information, visit www.menopausethemusical.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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``We're playing with three, four rookies on the back end, and it's going to take a little time for them to get better,'' Sims said recently. ``A lot of things they are seeing for the first time. It's to be expected, and we have to live with it until they hopefully grow and get better and don't make the same mistakes.''
The defensemen's development will likely be the most-important key to this Komets' season. Daniel Maggio, Ryan Hegarty, Dan Nycholat and Scott Kishel are all rookies who play major minutes each game. The hope is they continue to improve month to month.
Partly because Sims was a defenseman and values a strong defensive team, it's been a long time since the Komets were this inexperienced on the blue line. Having patience is hard for everyone – fans, teammates and management. Defensemen seem to be the players who always take the longest to mature.
``I think the hardest transition to make is being a defensemen in pro hockey coming from college or junior hockey because you're not dealing with young men anymore, you're dealing with real men,'' veteran defenseman Tyler Butler said. ``They are smart, they are big, they are looking which way your stick is pointing and which way your feet are moving.''
Forwards are also paid to be aggressive, probing for weaknesses, while defensemen are paid to prevent, and the person being aggressive always has the advantage. Sometimes the only way a young defenseman can learn is by making the mistakes initially.
Also, usually when forwards make mistakes, the puck doesn't end up in their own net. Defensemen aren't often that lucky.
Most young defensemen are also not nearly as aggressive and are always reacting to what their opponent is doing. They usually have to learn to be more aggressive.
``I don't think that's a rookie-veteran thing, I think that's a personal aggressive thing,'' veteran defenseman Brent Henley said. ``I think a guy like Maggio doesn't play like a rookie because he's so aggressive. I don't think that's an age thing or an experience thing. I've played with guys where the light bulb went on in their fourth or fifth year.
``I don't think being a rookie is an excuse for lacking aggression. Being a rookie might be an excuse for lacking position, lacking little bits of the game, how to communicate with your partner, how to play situationally, but it's not an excuse for lack of aggression.''
But almost every player is always better after getting through a rookie season. There are very few players who peak as rookies.
``There are no slugs here,'' Butler said. ``These guys can all play.''
Sometimes it's like playing a rookie quarterback: The only way they can get better is by making mistakes and living through them. There are no shortcuts around the mistakes in the first place.
It's easy to forget that Maggio only played in the playoffs last year after finishing his junior eligibility. Nycholat did the same thing after completing his college career.
That also may mean the Komets will always be looking for more offensive production from the defensemen. A defenseman with offensive skills is the hardest player to find in the minors. Sometimes the best way to find those players is to just develop them.
``We're trying to minimize mistakes and let our forwards be the guys who do the work,'' Butler said. ``You'll see a couple of guys putting up some decent numbers, but as a whole I think you won't see one guy with 50 or 60 points. I don't think that's in our unit, but by committee I think it'll get going in the right way.''
Partly because of serious injuries to Chris Auger and Eric Giosa, the Komets are also not scoring nearly as much as expected this season, putting more pressure on the young defense. That's not an excuse, because the Komets can't afford any. They need these players to perform.
``It's professional hockey, so there's a limited amount of patience,'' Henley said. ``After five games or 10 games, you should be progressing. Who is to judge what patience is? You preach work ethic and decision making, and if players (make) that happen, then that's good. If he's not, then that's not good enough. You hope guys step up. I think that's a caliber of play thing, and a quality thing, not an experience thing.''
More Information
OnlineFor more on the Komets, follow Blake Sebring on Twitter at www.twitter.com/blakesebring and at his blog, www.tailingthekomets.com.
Up next
Komets at Orlando
Faceoff: 7 p.m.
Radio: WOWO, 1190-AM


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WHALES: Giants of the Deep
May 23, 2012
In the fall of 2010, WHALES: Giants of the Deep came to The Field Museum. From their rich history of evolution, to the stories inspired by them; our creative campaign brought whale watching to the streets of Chicago and built excitement around the exhibition, making it the most interactive exhibition they have had to date.
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This game was classified by the community with the following category scores - Violence=3/3, Sex=0/3, Mature Content=2/3. Astralis is a military science fiction shooter. Combat - purge swarms of alien terrors. Exploration - cross a vast landscape, filled with discovery. Judgment - who will you punish? Who will you forgive?
Buy Xbox content on Xbox.com. Your Xbox 360 console will automatically download the content next time you turn it on and connect to Xbox Live.Learn More


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CAMP PENDLETON — A special operations Marine from Camp Pendleton was killed Friday in Helmand province, Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said Saturday.
Sgt. Michael J. Guillory, 28, of Slidell, La., died about 1:45 a.m. in a vehicle accident during a resupply mission, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command said.
Guillory, a critical skills operator with 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, was rushed to a nearby medical facility but could not be revived, Maj. Jeffrey Landis said.
He was supporting Village Stability Operations, a program to cultivate local militias and tribal and political leaders to fight insurgents.
Guillory, a 9-year veteran of the Corps, joined the special operations command in May 2009 after serving as a Marine combat engineer, infantryman and reconnaissance scout.
Gina Guillory told Fox 8 news in New Orleans that her son had served six tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. His sister is also a Marine, she said.
After receiving orders to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, he served as team member and assistant element leader.


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Touching Base: A Message from the Chief September 1, 2013
Dear Community Members and Department Personnel:
Happy Labor Day! The dog days of summer are upon us. In recent weeks, the weather has been extreme and it is anticipated temperatures will remain high for the next few days. Please ensure you remain hydrated and as cool as possible. We need to be mindful of how vulnerable elders, children, and domestic animals can be when exposed to long periods of heat.
For your Information:
The Pasadena Police Department is proud to announce the launch of its Spanish CPA (Citizens Police Academy) class, which is scheduled for September 26 – October 17. The program will be held on consecutive Thursdays and will include a Class Graduation. The program is tailored to meet the needs of the Pasadena Latino Community and will cover common concerns and questions about how the police department serves the public. If you know of potential applicants, please have them contact PS Hilda Jurado, Officer Ralph Ordonez, or Officer Cristian Allen at (626) 744-7659, or visit the Pasadena Police Department's Webpage at: cityofpasadena.net/Police.
Our Community:
In August, the Pasadena Police Department's Community Services Section met with local community members to share vital information on Neighborhood Watch, home security, and general safety. Members of the section deployed the Mobile Command Post Curbside Coffee & Chat into four neighborhoods. This month we visited with the residents of: the 900 block of Atchison Street; the 500 block of West Hammond Street; the 500 block of Summit Avenue, and the 3200 block of Florecita Drive.
The curbside chats offer residents an opportunity to step out of their homes and gather at the curbside to meet with officers, police specialists, and our core of volunteers in an informal, collaborative setting. These brief meetings serve as an opportunity to share crime trends, offer solutions, and plan strategies to improve the quality of life in our fine city. If you would like to arrange a visit to your neighborhood, business-park, or special event, or for more information on services, please call to make a reservation or email a Team Member: Police Specialist Kathleen "Kitty" Johnson – Service Areas 1 & 4 (626)744-7650 / email@example.com; Police Specialist Hilda Jurado – Service Area 2 (626) 744-7659 / email@example.com; Police Specialist Karla Kauhola – Service Areas 3 & 5 (626) 744-7657 / email@example.com; Officer Ralph Ordonez – Outreach Unit (626) 744-7651 / firstname.lastname@example.com; or Officer Cristian Allen – Outreach Unit (626) 744-7656 / email@example.com.
On August 23, Pasadena Police Lieutenant Vasken Gourdikian stopped by the Lake Avenue Church Chili Cook-Off and Car Show. The event was coordinated by Lake Avenue Church Pastor Bill Mead and was very well attended. Over 100 classic cars rolled into the Lake Avenue Church parking lot and I understand the chili was exceptional this year.
On August 26, more than 80 Pasadena community members, local leaders, and I attended the "Unity Day Concert," which was held at the Walt Disney Concert Hall to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. As part of the celebration, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors honored 6 local community leaders with the "Spirit of the Dream Award." Among the honorees were MYPD (Mentoring & Partnership for Youth Development) Founder and Executive Director, Tecumseh "Shack" Shackelford. MYPD is a noon-time mentoring program for young people on the campus of John Muir High School. Many young men completing the program have gone on to successful and productive lives after high school. The "Unity Day Concert" also featured the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (Photos @PPDChiefSanchez).
On August 26, Pasadena Police Sergeant Beene, Officer Ordonez, CSO Jurado, and Lieutenant Clawson attended the Community Arms neighborhood meeting. District 3 Field Representative Jana West, Regional Manager Mary Ann Oliver, and on-site manager, Eric Nelson also attended the community meeting. Approximately 30 community members attended. Safety issues were among the topics discussed. In that regard, Officers Alba and Magat have fostered a strong relationship with the Community Arms Security Team.
On August 27, several Pasadena Police employees and I, along with several city department representatives, attended a briefing on the Monrovia Fires that occurred in April 2013. The briefing was comprehensive and the audience received information on Incident Command, Social Media, and other vital components of an emergency operation.
On August 28, several Pasadena Police employees and I attended the Ceremonial Bell Ringing ceremony to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, which was held at City Hall. The brief ceremony was initiated by Pasadena Vice Mayor Robinson. City Manager Beck, Assistant City Manager Julie Gutierrez, City Attorney Michele Bagneris, Fire Chief Wells, District 1 Field Representative Williams, and many others who attended the event (Photos @PPDChiefSanchez).
On August 29, I spend time with several John Muir High School young men at the MYPD Noon-Time Mentoring Program. Among other topics, we talked about a career in law enforcement (local, state, and federal). Many of the young men said they would consider becoming a police officer in the future. The program was founded by Tecumseh "Shack" Shackelford, who also serves as the Executive Director.
Pasadena's Finest:
On August 19, the Pasadena Police Department's Traffic Section completed an enforcement program focused on distracted drivers. Motor officers issued more than 100 citations for distracted driving, which included cell phone usage and texting. Officers paid particular attention to the areas around schools and commercial businesses. Pasadena Police Lieutenant Pete Hettema commands the section. The program was funded by California's Office of Traffic Safety.
On August 21, Pasadena Police Lieutenant J. Clawson earned his BA In Criminal Justice Management from Union Institute University. He graduated with a 4.0 GPA, which is impressive under any circumstances. What makes Lieutenant Clawson's achievement extra special is that he completed the course work while maintaining his full-time law enforcement duties.
On August 22, I received a phone call from a local community member commending Pasadena Police Motor Officer Watkins for his professionalism and exceptional service. The caller said, "I really appreciate the radar enforcement Officer Watkins did at Arlington & Orange Grove Blvd…"
On August 22, Pasadena Police HOPE Officer Lee located and arrested a male subject wanted for a parole violation and threats. The suspect was well known to Pasadena Police officers and had recently made verbal threats toward at least one of our local elected officials. Officer Lee observed the suspect in the area of Paseo Colorado and arrested him without incident.
On August 26, I received an email stating that Pasadena Police Officer L. Mercado and her two sisters will participate in the 2013 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. The two day event will cover 39.3 miles starting in San Barbara. Several Pasadena Police employees donated money to support Officer L. Mercado's efforts. The money will help support medical research in the effort to find a cure for breast cancer.
On August 27, I received an email from Sunset Oaks Neighborhood Association commending Pasadena Police Lieutenants Jason Clawson and John Dewar for their presentations at a recent community meeting. The author wrote, "… Thanks for Lieutenant Dewar's presence at our neighbor meeting and … Lieutenant Clawson has graciously called to establish communications with the neighborhood association.
On August 27, I received an email from a community member who credits the police department for sobriety. The author wrote, "… I wanted to thank the entire department! I have 9 years of being clean and sober. I was in the wrong several years ago in the throes of an addiction. I have maintained being clean and sober! With the help of God, and the love from all helpers it has been a journey of victory! Thank you to the police courts and prop 36 I got the help needed. Thank you police for your kindness and diligence! I will continue to make a living amends, as to stay clean and sober. God Bless…"
Critical Incidents:
On August 25, at about 11:58 a.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to the 1600 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue regarding a stabbing victim. On arrival, officers learned the victim (Male Hispanic, Fontana Resident) had been stabbed (4" laceration, left armpit) during a confrontation with a known suspect. The suspect (Male Hispanic Adult) fled prior to the arrival of the police. During the field investigation, PPD officers developed evidence and when the suspect returned to the crime scene, he was arrested without further incident. The suspect was booked at the Pasadena jail for attempted murder.
On August 26 at about 8:40 p.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to a stabbing investigation in the 400 block of North Garfield Avenue. On arrival, officers talked with the victim (Male Black Adult: moderate injuries) who said he was at the apartment complex to visit his sister. The suspect (Male Hispanic Adult) invited the victim into his apartment so he could "preach" to him. The victim declined the invitation and an argument ensued, which escalated into a physical altercation. During the fight, the suspect produced a kitchen knife and stabbed the victim several times on the neck, chest, and arms. PPD arrested the suspect in his apartment without further incident and later booked him for attempted murder at the Pasadena jail. The investigation was supervised by Sergeant V. Alaniz.
On August 26, police detectives assigned to the department's Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and Federal Agents completed a complex narcotics investigation resulting in the arrest of two suspects without incident. During the arrest and investigation, detectives recovered approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine, $9,000 U.S. currency, and other illegal items. This case demonstrates the Pasadena Police Department's collaborative relationship with other local, regional, and federal law enforcement agencies and removed dangerous narcotics from our community.
On August 28 at about 3:10 p.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to a report of a suspicious package and material at 2 North Lake Avenue. On arrival, officers learned an employee received a package and upon opening it, began to experience skin irritation. Although no one was evacuated, the area was cordoned off and Pasadena Fire Department, Burbank Fire Haz-Mat, and the FBI responded. The material turned out capsicum. Our investigation is ongoing. Lieutenant Delgado and Sergeant Villalovos supervised the incident.
On August 28 at about 3:56 p.m., Pasadena Police Officer Klotz responded to the area of Fair Oaks Avenue and Arlington regarding a traffic collision. Upon further investigation, Officer Klotz learned the driver (Male White, 60 years old) intentionally struck the victim (Male Hispanic, 24 years old) breaking his ankle. The suspect was arrested without incident and booked at the Pasadena jail for Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
On August 29 at about 12:31 a.m., Pasadena Police Officer J. Calderon observed a suspicious vehicle and attempted to stop it. The driver, a Female Asian, failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated. The chase ended about 1 minute later when the suspect driver collided with the curb near Green Street and Holliston Avenue. The driver was taken into custody without further incident and later booked at the Pasadena jail for DUI.
Phillip L. SanchezChief of PolicePasadena Police Department207 N. Garfield AvenuePasadena, CA 91101(626) 744-4545Mission First, People Always


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Won't Be Hoodwinked Again
We surely got the short-term oversold rally Monday, didn't we? While the action did not change any of the overbought intermediate-term indicators that I reviewed in full Sunday, I'll make a few points about the rally.
Despite what seemed like a ball of enthusiasm, many skeptics clearly remained, as the put-call ratio came in above 100%. That tells me market players were hedging their bets just in case the folks in Washington couldn't come up with some Band-Aid solution by the time markets opened in the new year....370 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
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With remarkable candor, John Travolta talks about the highs and lows of his tumultuous and fascinating career—and what he's learned along the way.
(continued from page 2)
"Please," he says, showing his guest to the table. "Make yourself at home. What would you like to drink with dinner? Water? Coke? A glass of wine?"
Peter Evangelatos, the actor's private chef, emerges from the kitchen with a bite of supper: four whole lobsters, fresh from Maine, steamed filets of sea bass, direct from Chile, and a plate of light, savory vegetable ravioli, homemade of course. Should Travolta and his guest choose to be indulgent tonight, an array of obscenely rich chocolate desserts stands at the ready.
"Have a lobster," Travolta says, holding out the platter. "They're very fresh. And Peter steams them just the way they do in Maine. Very simple."
In person, Travolta has a fascinating presence. He's a big guy, standing 6-foot-1, with a thick, powerful trunk. But his voice is soft, his manner is gentle, and the more you get to know him, the more Travolta seems like a big, huggable teddy bear, with a warm, open heart and a delightful touch of whimsy. And without an evil cell in his entire body. Even at the age of 44, there is still a wonderful boyish sweetness about Travolta, as if by some miracle the greed, the manipulations and the pervasive tawdriness of Hollywood life have never touched the inner man.
Travolta, though, is no Peter Pan. In his early years, in the hit TV series "Welcome Back, Kotter," and in the movies that turned him into a teen idol and a Hollywood sensation--Saturday Night Fever, Grease and Urban Cowboy--Travolta had a coltish swagger and charm. But he also had a timorous sensitivity, a look in his eyes of wounded youth and vulnerability. Those are gone now. Travolta, in his maturity as a man, radiates a quiet confidence and inner strength. And he's not just an actor now; he's a businessman who, for a major movie like Primary Colors, commands a reported fee of $18 million and a cut of the profits. Travolta runs his own production company, JTP Films Inc., and he has four houses, four jets, two pilots and a staff of 24. Peter Evangelatos and many of the others who work for Travolta refer to him simply as "The Boss," and they say it with respect.
This degree of wealth and power makes the man now sitting at the table, enjoying his lobster, all the more intriguing. No matter how great his current success, Travolta's manner tonight is modest and shy, almost self-effacing. He seems to enjoy the toys and the trappings of success, but they are not what drive him or fulfill him. At his core, Travolta is an artist, and his real needs and real satisfactions are elsewhere. These are rooted in only one place: The Work.
And Travolta's work is now in full flower. Since his stunning resurgence in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, Travolta has been on an incredible roll: Get Shorty. Broken Arrow. Michael. Phenomenon. Face/Off. Mad City. Primary Colors. And now, A Civil Action. Over the past four years, he's made 12 movies, with barely a pause for a breath. Tonight, here on the lot of Paramount Studios, he's in the closing stages of shooting yet another major film, a military crime thriller called The General's Daughter; after dinner, he'll go back to the set. After this, he has several more big projects ready to roll, starting with Shipping News.
Travolta's private life has also flowered. Seven years ago, at the age of 37, he married the beautiful and talented actress Kelly Preston (Jerry McGuire and Holy Man), and the couple now has an adorable five-year-old son named Jett. Travolta says the marriage is very strong, and you needn't ask how he feels about Jett. In the course of dinner tonight, Jett appears with his nanny and spontaneously crawls up into Daddy's lap, to give him a huge hug around the neck. Travolta's eyes mist and you can see him almost melt with joy.
As Evangelatos freshens drinks and serves another round of lobster, the time has come to get down to serious business. What are the roots of his acting talent? What are the secrets behind his resurgence? What has he learned through all the good times and bad? First, though, there is another matter to discuss, and when you bring up the word "cigar," John Travolta smiles, settles back, and a rush of warm boyhood memories start playing across his face.
"My mother was an actress, she did community theater," he begins. "My father and his brother ran Travolta Tire Exchange, which was a Firestone outlet in Westwood, New Jersey." His mother, Helen, was of Irish descent; his father, Salvatore, had Italian roots. Together, in a big, boisterous household in the suburbs of New Jersey, they raised six children. John was the youngest. And he still remembers the rich, mysterious smells of his boyhood home.
"Cigarettes made everything festive," he recalls. "My mom smoked and my sister smoked. So smoking meant show business and travel. My father smoked cigars his whole life. And cigars meant... safe. Dad was home. Security. Safety. And I can't smell a cigar without thinking of the kind of secure feeling I'd get around Dad. Baseball games on Sunday. Just that ambience of him watching in the living room. Him reading the paper. He used to get every paper. The New York Times. The Daily News. A local New Jersey paper. They'd be all over the living room. His joy was the paper, the games and his cigars. Of course, he smoked, like, White Owls, but it didn't matter. The smell to me was what counted."
Today, both parents have passed away, and on big family occasions John takes on the role of head of the Travolta clan. He's also taken on his father's love of cigars. In his work habits, Travolta is strict and disciplined. He drinks fine wine, but does so sparingly, only a few times a month. Cigars are one of his few indulgences. "I smoke about five cigars a week, but I wouldn't call myself a connoisseur. I like Davidoffs, Dunhills and Montecristos. I like to smoke at the end of the day, usually out on the terrace with a cup of espresso. Kelly will often join me; she enjoys a small cigar."
Travolta's mother was an experienced drama coach, and she groomed John's older sisters, Ellen and Margaret, for careers in acting. That often left John crying for attention. "I was insatiable in wanting to be a performer. Daily, I would perform for Mom and Dad. They'd have a bottle of wine, they'd sit there, Dad would have a cigar, Mom would have a cigarette, and I'd entertain them for a couple of hours. And they'd watch and Dad would say, 'Boy, Helen, he's really somethin' now, isn't he?' And Helen would say, 'Gee, look at that.' I was fed all this support and I went right toward it. When Ellen came home from a show, the first thing she had to do was come right to the basement and watch me do something that I had prepared for her. Every day of my life was performing."
Travolta cultivated another passion that inspired dreams of romance and glory: aviation. The family home was near the flight paths in and out of New York's LaGuardia Airport, and at night he would lie in bed and let his imagination take flight. "I used to lay awake at night because I wasn't a good sleeper and I would hear the rumble of propellers overhead and things like that. With the jet age, there came a transition. But when I was anywhere from five to nine, the big, heavy propeller airliners were lumbering overhead. I'd sit there and think, 'Where are those people going? If the little light over the seat was on, were they reading a book? Are they sleeping? Is it the kind of plane you can sleep on? What time will they get there?' So I'd be right up there with them. In school, too. I'd be sitting in class and I'd look out the window and see this plane lumbering up and I'd think, 'Wow, that's west. Is the plane going to Chicago or Kansas or Las Vegas?' Somewhere out there..."
By the time John was a little older, his sister Ellen was making her way as an actress. As he watched her, and occasionally accompanied her on trips to exotic places like Chicago, his passions for acting and aviation became permanently intertwined. "It's funny, because my sister Ellen always thought that my primary love in life was aviation. But she wasn't around, she was already gone. Only my mother and my father and my other brothers and sisters knew how precocious--and sometimes obnoxious--and how absolutely theatrical I was.
"I wanted to be a child professional actor. At five or six, I wanted to be in the national company of Gypsy, but my sister and my mother wouldn't let me even go up for that kind of thing. I went up for the 'Garry Moore Show' when I was a kid, with the hope and the desire to be a part of this as a child. Then when I was 12, I finally got in my first play, Who'll Save the Ploughboy?. That was exciting; it was an Actor's Studio group in town. And then I started to do summer theater, and it built and built."
School, by contrast, was deadly dull; by the age of 16, Travolta wanted out. "I was making a living in acting. And I went to my dad and said, 'Look, this is what I want to do. And I'm certainly not going to get the kind of grades to pursue a professional life of any sort outside acting. So this is my opportunity. I have an agent and, really, this is the time to let me go.' My mother was all for it. My father said, 'Look, I'll give you a year. But if you don't pull this off, you're going back to school. I said, 'OK, give me a year. And I just made dead sure I got my Actor's Equity card that year. I got my SAG [Screen Actors Guild] card, I was in four commercials. I starred in summer stock and I got leads. I had a little part in a soap opera. I just made sure that that year was chock-full and that I made a good salary."
As always, acting and flying went hand-in-hand. "I started flying when I was 16. Though I was working as an actor, I was also working at a grocery store, and my whole paycheck that year went to my air lessons. Then, finally, I worked full-time as an actor, and what I made as an actor I put toward my air lessons. I got my solo at 19, got my license at 23, got my instruments and jet license at 26. So now I've been flying jets for 18 years."
Flying, he found, was a perfect complement to acting. "Where acting can be introverting, depending on the subject matter, I think flying is extroverting. It turns your attention out. You have to concentrate and you have to look at things, you have to observe. Sometimes with acting, even though it's fun, it's more cerebral. You're dealing with memories, thoughts, concepts. Flying is very A to B. Often I find that to be very therapeutic."
Travolta's first big splash as an actor came in 1975 as Vinnie Barbarino, in the popular high school sitcom "Welcome Back, Kotter." The next year he starred in Carrie, a Brian De Palma thriller. Then, in 1977, lightning struck: Saturday Night Fever. As Tony Manero, a paint store clerk propelled by dreams of dance-floor glory, Travolta took America by storm. Overnight, disco tunes and dancing swept the nation. Saturday Night Fever became a landmark film, an emblem of both a decade and a generation. At the tender age of 23, John Travolta was flying incredibly high. He was a teen idol, a Hollywood sensation, and in some eyes he was even an icon of American popular culture. On a promotional tour in London, wild crowds almost crushed his limo.
For a few short years, Travolta tasted only glory. Grease, the now-classic high school musical starring Travolta and Olivia Newton-John was a huge hit in 1978. Then he donned cowboy duds and scored another success with Urban Cowboy. In 1981, in De Palma's Blow Out, Travolta earned high praise for his portrayal of an obsessive sound man who accidentally records a political assassination. At the box office, though, the film sputtered, and his career began sliding into the hard times of the 1980s, what Travolta now refers to as his "cool" period.
One of his first real lows came in 1978 with Moment by Moment, with Lily Tomlin. The critics savaged it; the film bombed. But Travolta learned a lesson that has served him well ever since. "The critics came down hard on that movie-- and on me. I started to take it personally and then I thought, 'If this is what's going to happen--where I can do no wrong, and then suddenly one movie can make me wrong, well...'
"I'll give you a parallel. When I was 18 years old, I went to Las Vegas for the first time. The first 10 minutes, I felt it was the most glorious place I had ever known in my life. I was so happy. My $10 turned into $20. Well, in the next 20 minutes, my $20 turned into $30--in debt. And I said, 'Wait a minute. If in 20 minutes' time, this was the best place in the world and then suddenly the worst place in the world, then there's something wrong with this place.' When Moment by Moment happened, when I was the most celebrated star to come into movies since Rudolf Valentino, when I could do six projects in a row and do no wrong, and then for one project to put that kind of cast on everything else, I said, 'There's something wrong with this. And because there's something wrong with this, I'm not going to ever take either side too seriously.'
"So I approach it like a business now. I say, 'OK, how are the reviews for the movie? OK, good. Did we get Siskel and Ebert? Good. Did we get The New Yorker? The New York Times? The L.A. Times? Good. OK, what quotes can we use from the articles? OK, use that one. And that one.' And it comes down to this: did we do a good enough product, in a majority of critics' eyes, to use what they say to promote the movie? I always like the reviews to be good. But if they're not, instead of taking them seriously, I just put them on the side and say, 'They're not usable.'" So here is one of Travolta's laws of how to survive Hollywood and its fickle finger of fate: good or bad, never take reviews to heart.
Faced with a series of disappointments in the 1980s, Travolta went into a period of deep introspection. He became a devout follower of Scientology, and he set out to broaden his horizons. "I traveled the world but I based myself in the United States. I was in Santa Barbara for 10 years, and I was in Florida for six years. Within all that time, I traveled." In 1993, with Sylvester Stallone at the director's helm, Travolta did Stayin' Alive, a sequel to Saturday Night Fever. The film lacked the fire and freshness of the original, but it did well at the box office. But not well enough to catapult Travolta back into Hollywood glory.
During these low years, Paris became a welcome anchor for Travolta, both as an artist and as a man. "All my favorite movies are French," he says now, moving on to a bit of sea bass. "A Man and a Woman and Going Places--in French, Les Valseuses--are my two favorite movies. My two favorite American movies? I don't know, they've changed over the years. But I think A Man and a Woman is the most romantic movie ever made. Just because it captured the real feelings of two people falling in love, and it had music that matched those feelings and images that matched those feelings. It was a marriage of all three. To me, every image of that movie looks like a work of art."
Going Places, released in France in 1973, was a raw, biting comedy that needled bourgeois society and launched the careers of two budding French talents, Gérard Depardieu and Patrick Dewaere. Travolta was impressed. So, on his first trip to Paris, in 1978 during a promotion for Saturday Night Fever, he went looking for Depardieu.
"I had seen Going Places in 1974, and I just loved him ever since that movie. So by the time 1978 came around, four years later, I sought him out. I thought, 'I'm in Paris. This is probably where he lives. I've got to find him.' And I found him. He couldn't speak a word of English. And I just basically told him through a translator how crazy I was about him. And we struck up a friendship. He was blown away that someone from that far away would come seek him out. He learned a little English for me, and I learned a little French from him. And we had this very interesting relationship.
"Gérard was very much the kind of man that I responded to. He was affectionate. He was smart. He was artistic. And approachable. Whatever neurosis he may or may not have had was not affecting his relationships. He was spirited and funny and all those great things that I like in a person, but in particular I liked in him as a man. Because it's tough to be a man in the world, I think. I don't think men know how to do it. How do they remain all these things and be effective and all that stuff? I just think that innately Gérard has it, and he isn't afraid of any part of his personality. I really like that."
In his youth, Travolta may have had some confusions about his male identity, but now he's come through that and he counts himself among the lucky: "I'm very comfortable with the kind of man I am. I just notice discomfort in other men with certain behavioral traits. After years and years of observing this, I said, 'You know what? It's tough being a guy.' I think there are very few men who really understand what it's all about. They're so confused by images, by the media, by confusing role models, by how women have changed over the past 25 or 30 years. Finally, after getting frustrated for many years, trying to find men I could be friends with, finally I did find a few."
By the end of the 1980s, after long years of introspection and growth, Travolta emerged stronger, and his career was ready for a turn for the better--and so was his love life. While in Toronto, making a lackluster comedy called The Experts, Travolta met Kelly Preston. According to Preston's account, published in Redbook, the two did not rush into romance; they took it slowly, trying to clear up their lives and trying to get it right. Then, in 1990, at a New Year's Eve party in Gstaad, Switzerland, Travolta, the ultimate romantic, came before the assembled throng, dropped down on one knee and asked Preston to be his bride. They were married in September 1991, in a ceremony in Paris, of course.
Their marriage is strong, Travolta says now, because he and Preston, also a follower of Scientology, are well suited and place enormous importance on quality communication. "It's been a wonderful union," he says. "And I think it's because we're very realistic about relationships and who we are. We already know. I waited late to get married and she had been married before."
When they have problems, they work hard to maintain their balance and perspective. "In marriage, you have to be willing to look at 'the D word,'" Travolta says. "Realistically. Because it's always an option. We have. But we don't want that. We want to actually make it work out. We know that you could choose to move on to someone else, do the Hollywood thing. But then why bother to get married? If we come to a crossroads, we always know the option. But the option is no longer interesting to us. After one year of being together and one year of marriage, we decided, 'Well, what do you do? Just do this again with the next person?' That doesn't solve anything."
Jett, they've found, is always a compelling reason to work through any problems that may arise from trying to mesh two high-powered lives and careers. Travolta says it's an added blessing that Preston is herself a successful actress; she understands the craziness of the movie world and the time, passion and commitment it takes to be a dedicated artist.
"I don't know how you could do it without that, really," Travolta says. "I mean, you could if you were in the situation where one of you had a career and the other devoted their life, as a career, to you. But, short of that, I don't know how you could do it."
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by, 07-03-2013 at 04:42 PM (6310 Views)
Hello all, this will be my personal booking for WM 30 based on storylines that are happening now and potential future storylines. I tried to make it as realistic as possible and tried to include almost the entire roster. I excluded Big Show and Mark Henry from the show because I feel their days are over and they're going to retire shortly.
Preshow: Over the Top Battle Royal (Divas title)
Kickoff divas match that is held off the main show due to time constraints
Natayla last eliminates AJ Lee
The Main Show
1) Singles Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Dolph Ziggler (c) vs Randy Orton
Dolph Ziggler regains the title in late 2013 and retains at the Elimination Chamber PPV against Sheamus. Orton wins the elimination chamber match to determines who faces the champ at mania. Orton is a heel by now and Ziggler remains face. I would place this match as the opener of the show to space out all the high profile matches. Given 15-20 minutes this match could be a show stealer. Dolph wins and retains the title cleanly to establish himself as a top babyface.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
2) Fatal 4 Way Tag Team Match for the Tag Titles: Antonio Cesaro/ Jack Swagger (c) vs Team Rhodes Scholars vs The Wyatt Family (Luke Harper & Erik Rowan) vs Rey Mysterio/ Sin cara
Cesaro and Swagger (w/ Zeb Colter) win the tag titles from the shield at the Royal Rumble and are set to face off in a fatal 4 way at mania. Quick, high flying, fast paced match up in which the Wyatt family picks up the win to becomes the new tag champs.
Winners: The Wyatt Family (Luke Harper and Erik Rowan)
3) Singles Match: Sheamus vs Ryback
Not much of a story here except that these guys don't like each other and need a match at Mania. Give these guys 10 min and this could be a solid matchup. Ryback picks up a much needed win with the shellshock.
Winner: Ryback
4) 8 Man Tag Team Match for the Control of WWE: The Shield and Curtis Axel (w/ Vince McMahon) vs Triple H, Kane, RVD, and Chris Jericho
Vince McMahon is a full fledged heel come Mania and is feuding with his son in law HHH for the power of WWE. Vince assembles a team consisting of the shield, an Curtis Axel who is still Paul heymans client. HHH's team of RVD, kane and Jericho all share a hatred towards both Heyman and the shield. The feud between Axel and HHH is finally put to rest as the biggest show of year when HHH hits the pedigree on Axel for the win. Ultimately the Power struggle all ends at mania when the faces win and HHH gains full control of WWE, leaving Vinny Mac out of the picture for now.
Winners: HHH, RVD, Kane, Chris Jericho
5) Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Title: Christian (c) vs Bray Wyatt vs Alberto Del Rio
Again, not much of a storyline here. Christain wins the IC title from Axel down the road and feuds with Del Rio who is out of the WHC picture. Bray Wyatt gets inserted into this match when he pins Christian in a nontitle match and demands to have a title opportunity at mania. He wins and the Wyatt Family brings home all of the gold.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
6) Singles Match: The Rock vs Brock Lesnar
Lesnar teased the beginning of this feud on raw when he stared down the rock who was on royal rumble poster, so this feud is to be expected. It's the battle of the partimers and being that it's WrestleMania XXX I have no issue with these two squaring off. It starts on raw when the rock cuts a promo about having no one to face at mania and is interrupted by lesnar who gives him the f5. Rock then challenges him to match at mania the next week, in which brock accepts. These guys have put a slobber knocker of a fight that goes 20-25 minutes with each kicking out of each others finishers. Brock winning is a must, seeing that he lost at mania 29 and this could possibly be rocks last mania.
Winner: Brock Lesnar
7) 30 Minute Iron Man Match for the WWE Title: Daniel Bryan (c) vs CM Punk
Bryan wins the wwe title at Summerslam from John Cena and successfully defends it all the way until mania. Punk wins the rumble and challenges Bryan for the title at WM XXX. Bryan declines initially. Bryan makes an offer of his own. He challenges punk to an Iron Man match to which Punk Gladly agrees. These two exchange a handful of awesome promos to hype their mania match. Bryan is a heel while Punk plays the role of the face and ultimately goes over in the match 5-4, making Bryan submit to the anaconda vice as the time winds down. Punk is the new WWE champ. This WILL be match of the night.
Winner: CM Punk
8) Singles Match (Streak is on the line): Undertaker vs John Cena
The Most anticipated match in wrestlemania history will headline the show and be takers last match ever. As far as the build up goes, it's simple. Cena cuts a promo on raw, saying that he's done everything in wwe. He says he beat the rock, brock lesnar, cm punk and is a 13 time world champ. He says the one thing he's never done is defeat the undertaker and he wants to do it on the grandest stage of them all. He makes an outright challenges taker to a 1 on 1 match. Taker's music hits and he makes his way and ominously accepts cena's challenge. At mania these two put everything out there and go damn near 30 minutes and put on an all time classic. In my opinion this is the first match since Taker/HBK at WM 25 where the streak is in jeopardy. Taker gets the win and improves to 22-0 after hitting cena with a third piledriver.
Winner: The undertaker


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Student Health and Fitness
The Seminary encourages consistent, regular physical activity as a means of attaining one's best level of wellness, and is pleased to offer our students, faculty, staff, and their spouses the Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center at a discounted rate as a means to further attain that wellness.
Each semester, an activity fee is charged to all students enrolled at the Dallas Campus, no matter the amount of hours taken. This allows students of the Seminary restricted usage of Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center on a semester basis (September-January; January-August).
If interested, student spouses must register on CampusNet during the first three weeks of each semester. All fees must be paid through the student's account via credit card or electronic check, or in person at the Cashier's office.
To avoid paying for two memberships, or for a service the student does not wish to use, students who do NOT wish to use Baylor MUST opt out via CampusNet during the first three weeks of the semester. The fee will be credited back to the student's account.
Spouses who DO wish to use Baylor must opt in via CampusNet during the first three weeks of the semester. Those who fail to do so by the deadline will not be eligible to use Baylor until the following semester.
All students and spouses who register for Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center must complete an annual liability waiver form, available at the front desk of the fitness center.
Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center
Special Semester Rate for Students and Spouses
Students registered to use Baylor under this plan must pay attention to the restricted hours posted on the Seminary's website. Membership privileges and rates are discontinued following a student's graduation date. Students with children pay $3 per hour (or pre-purchase discount package rates) for reserved childcare services while using the center (arranged through Baylor).
DMin students have an additional option to enroll for one week only at the cost of $20 per week. Contact the DMin office for more information.
Special Hours
DTS students have special hours. Please make sure to leave by the scheduled time!
- Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Monday-Thursday: 5:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.; 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Thursday: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (in addition to above)
- Friday: 5:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.; 1:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
DTS Access
- Students and spouses must show DTS ID cards at the Baylor Fitness Center front desk.
- Should your spouse elect to participate in usage of the center, he or she will also need to have a photo ID made. ID's are processed by Student Services, Walvoord, 1st floor.
- Unauthorized use of the membership card by persons other than a member is prohibited.
Guest Policy
- All guests must be accompanied by a member at all times and must register at the front desk.
- All guests must complete and sign a waiver before using the facility. Additional fee applies.
- Each guest is limited to (4) total visits per year and no more than (2) visits in one month.
Student Health Insurance
Health insurance is required for all Seminary students. DTS has chosen Academic HealthPlans to provide student insurance. To find information about coverage and claims, please visit Academic Health Plans.
|Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center
|Enrollment Period
Fall 2017: Mon, 8/28 - 9/15
Spring 2018: Mon. 1/15 - Fri, 2/2
Please remember that once the enrollment period closes you will not be able to change your enrollment choice.
411 North Washington Avenue
Dallas, TX 75246
(214) 820-7872
|Student Health Insurance
|Academic Health Plans


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Wind Energy | previous page
Wind Energy Development Landowner Tools
This information has been compiled for South Dakota landowners who are considering developing the wind resource on their property.
Three South Dakota agencies – the Energy Infrastructure Authority, the PUC and the Attorney General's Office – produced the South Dakota Landowner's Wind Power Development Handbook as an information resource.
Developers of commercial wind energy projects from throughout the globe set their sights on South Dakota because of the state's rich wind resource. It's important for landowners to know the profile, background and structure of a wind energy development company or organization they may do business with.
Web site links found throughout www.puc.sd.gov are intended to provide helpful resources. Inclusion of a Web link on this site is not necessarily an endorsement of an organization, product or service.


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Bulls accuse Heat's LeBron James of 'flop' and 'acting' after Game 3 shove
The Bulls didn't bite their tongues in assessing an exchange that saw LeBron James crash to the court after taking a two-handed shove to the chest from Nazr Mohammed during Game 3 on Friday night.
"From my angle, I just saw a guy, basically, flop," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "I'm going to leave it at that."
"You see LeBron in a lot of commercials, a lot of good acting," Bulls guard Nate Robinson added, according to Yahoo! Sports.
With a little more than nine minutes remaining in the second quarter of Miami's 104-94 win, James was fouled hard by Mohammed as pushed the ball up in a pseudo-transition situation. The foul came from James' right side and as he spun to avoid the contact he swung Mohammed to the ground, a move that earned the 2013 MVP a technical foul from Joey Crawford. In response, Mohammed jumped up and immediately shoved James, who was not expecting the contact, in the chest with both of his hands. James appeared to let his body go as fell backwards all the way into the paint.
Mohammed was immediately ejected; the technical foul on James stood.
"We're here to play a basketball game, and try to win a basketball game," James said during a televised halftime interview. "All the extracurricular is not even really needed. But if it's here, we accept the challenge."
Thibodeau and Mohammed both said after the game that they didn't believe the veteran Bulls center should have been tossed.
"I didn't think it warranted an ejection," Thibodeau said. "I understand a flagrant foul. I understand that. But an ejection, no, no, nope."
The Chicago Tribune reported Mohammed's reaction.
"It was a soft foul; it's not like a fouled him hard. It was a stop-the-break foul. I thought it was a cheap shot throwing me down when all I was doing was trying to stop the break."
"I'm disappointed in myself because I let my teammates down," he said. "And I'm also disappointed because my son probably was watching the game and I don't want him to see that type of behavior on the court. I'm also disappointed that it warranted an ejection for a push -- when I got pushed down first."
Mohammed, 35, averaged 2.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in 11 minutes per game in 63 appearances for the Bulls this season. He departed with zero points and one rebound in three minutes on Friday.
Later Friday night, he apologized on Twitter.
"Sorry for my overreaction and being ejected," he wrote. "I blacked out and just reacted after I was pushed down. I'm happy it only resulted with a push. For the kids who were watching ... That not the way to react on the basketball court."
James finished with a game-high 25 points (on six-for-17 shooting), eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals in 44 minutes. He had 12 fourth-quarter points to seal the road win.
"I sat right there and let my teammates help me up," James said. "I mean way too much to my teammates to try to retaliate. It doesn't make no sense. I'm here to play basketball. I'm not here to do nothing else."
This exchange was just one of many that have occurred during this volatile Eastern Conference semifinals series. Bulls center Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson were both ejected from Game 2, with Gibson receiving a fine for directing profane language at an official. Noah also received a technical foul earlier in Game 3 for shoving Chris "The Birdman" Andersen.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra tried to brush off the whole affair.
"I don't think that had an impact on the game," he said. "I think that will probably be more for great theater for the next two days. It really was inconsequential. ... Everybody knows what the deal is. It's going to be about the game. It's going to be decided between the four lines, everything else is to draw interest."
Chris Bosh added 20 points (on eight-for-16 shooting) and 19 rebounds in 42 minutes for the Heat. Chicago was led by 21 points and four rebounds from Carlos Boozer.


text: This man's Ninja is on fire as a result of free-revving the motor for twenty seconds. Is he an idiot? Is it instant karmic pay-back? Is he just unlucky? Probably all three. Regardless, free-revving a motor is a bad idea. 100+horsepower with nowhere to go wreaks havoc on engine internals. Valves float, cranks vibrate in ways they were never designed to and it's not uncommon to see connecting rods buckle and snap under this kind of abuse. The smoke you see just before the bike is engulfed in flames is oil hitting the red-hot headers.


text: Hey i have been readying Haunted and i love it so far! but i have just been readying the poems and short stories and skipping the other text. is it a story about the workshop or is it just commentary on the storys? PLEASE DONT SPOIL ANYTHING ABOUT IT! i just want to know if i should read it like is it a story? and should i go back and read it before i finish the short stories or should i read it now? (im on the 4th story i think)


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Steve Cooper
Special thanks to Bill for sending me this video…
I can not confirm if this voice belongs to Obama, but it certainly sounds like him to me. The person on this recording mentions how "The powers that BE want Romney instead of Rick" (Santorum).
This is almost word for word what I told people on my Facebook Page back in May 2011.
I said "My research is leading me to believe that Romney will be the 2012 nominee and that it has already been decided. You can vote all you want, because you will have no voice or choice in the matter."
I also said "The powers that BE" many times to my readers. Who are the 'powers that BE'? The Communist Establishment dictates the rules to the GOP Establishment and they must be obeyed. Do I have proof? No, but this is my opinion. I have a very high accuracy rate and that is why I have had so many loyal readers the past 7 years on the Internet.
Obama also states in the video "who could blame them" when he referred to Ron Paul being tossed out of the race as Republican nominee. This is the first time that I agree with Obama.


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Note: This item is more than eight years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references.
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News Release
Media Contact: TPWD News, firstname.lastname@example.com, 512-389-8030
Feb. 13, 2009
Fork Fish Means ShareLunker Season Is NOW
ATHENS, Texas—Bruce Peel of Granbury landed the fifth ShareLunker of the season Thursday, a 13.13-pounder from Lake Fork.
You could almost hear the big bass season kick into high gear.
Lake Fork has produced 240 of the 459 entries in the ShareLunker program, a whopping 52 percent. It doesn't always produce the first fish of the season, and in 2006 Lake Alan Henry actually produced more lunkers.
But when that first fish from Lake Fork does take up residence in the Lunker Bunker at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, it's a sign that the busy season is here.
Game on.
Peel caught his fish in 16 feet of water on the edge of White Oak Creek using a four-inch Big Bite Beaver in watermelon. "It was the second place we tried. We'd been on the water only a couple of hours," said Peel, who was fishing with his wife. "I was looking for grass that might hold some heat." Water temperature at the time was 51.7 degrees.
Peel didn't find the grass before the big bass hit. When he finally wrestled it into the boat, he almost released it immediately. "Then I thought, maybe I ought to have this fish weighed," he said.
That decision wins Peel a fiberglass replica of his fish, ShareLunker clothing, and a trip to Athens for the ShareLunker awards banquet in June.
Lake Fork and other lakes in Texas will be winners, too, if TPWD biologists are successful in spawning this year's crop of lunkers. Offspring are stocked into lakes that produced lunkers.
To enter a fish into the program, call program manager David Campbell at (903) 681-0550 or page him at (888) 784-0600 and leave a number, including area code. Campbell or another TPWD staffer will pick the fish up within 12 hours.
"The ShareLunker Program has done a lot for fishing in Texas," Peel said. "Come to Lake Fork to catch the fish of a lifetime."
You heard the man.
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Game 6: If You're Going to San Francisco, You're Gonna Meet Some Gentle People There
Unfortunately for northward-bound Trojan fans, those 'gentle people' suit up for the USC defense. Can the Trojans outscore Stanford and pull the upset?
The USC Trojans (4-1, 1-1 Pac-10) open make their annual trek to the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday, October 9 to face the Stanford Cardinal (4-1, 1-1) - ranked No. 16 by the Associated Press and No. 18 in the USA Today coaches poll - at 5 p.m. (PDT) in the Palo Alto's Stanford Stadium in front of a regional ABC television audience. It is the 89th meeting between the two schools in USC's oldest rivalry (dating to 1905), with Troy holding a 59-26-3 edge. The Trojans have won six of the past eight meetings, but the Cardinal trounced USC, 55-21, in Los Angeles (the Cardinal's second consecutive win at the Coliseum and the most points ever scored against the Trojans). In its last trip to Palo Alto, the Trojans downed the Cardinal, 45-23, in 2008.
A week ago, the Trojans suffered their second consecutive loss to Washington on a last-minute Erik Folk field goal, as the Huskies pulled off a 32-31 victory. Senior tailback Allen Bradford rushed for 223 yards and two scores, but the Trojans could muster only a field goal in the fourth quarter on two trips to the UW red zone. USC's defense was torched by Husky quarterback Jake Locker, as Washington rolled up more than 500 total yards. Meanwhile, then-No. 9 Stanford rushed to a 21-3 lead at No. 4 Oregon before succumbing to the Ducks' lightning fast offensive attack, 52-31. While Stanford's offense notched an impressive 518 total yards, the Cardinal defense gave up 626 yards to Oregon, including 388 on the ground.
Trojan Coach Lane Kiffin (11-7 career collegiate head coaching record; 4-1 at USC) is in his first season at USC, after serving as the head coach at Tennessee in 2009. He also coached the Oakland Raiders in 2007-08, after spending the preceding six seasons as an assistant at USC. Stanford headman Jim Harbaugh is in his fourth season on the Farm (21-21, 14-15 in Pac-10 games), and he may be the hottest coaching prospect in the country at the end of this season - college or pro. Harbaugh has taken what was a destitute program upon his arrival in 2007 and turned Stanford into a tough, physical, disciplined football program with a 2010 squad that is capable of competing with any team in the nation.
Stanford Offense
Harbaugh and offensive coordinator/RB coach David Shaw spent much of the past three seasons instilling a tough, run-first offensive attitude on the Farm, thanks to bruising running back Toby Gerhart. Now, with sophomore quarterback Andrew Luck as the leader of the offense, Stanford has become much more of a balanced, but high-flying attack. The Cardinal are averaging nearly 470 yards of total offense (255 passing) through the first five games and scoring a breathtaking 44.6 points per game.
And Luck deserves much of the credit. In his third year at Stanford, Luck has become a hot NFL prospect, completing nearly 63 percent of his passes for 1,253 yards, 13 touchdowns and just four interceptions. The 6'4", 235-pounder is also the Cardinal's second-leading rusher, with 202 yards and two scores (he averages more than eight yards per carry). Agile and with a rocket arm, Luck could quickly make Trojan fans forget just how great Locker looked a week ago.
Luck has no shortage of targets, as six Stanford players have at least 10 catches (and a seventh has nine). Two of his favorite targets - big-play junior Chris Owusu and expert possession receiver Ryan Whalen, a senior - are expected back from injuries this week. Owusu was knocked out of the Oregon game with a concussion, while Whalen has missed the past two games with an elbow injury. Senior Doug Baldwin is Stanford's leading receiver with 15 catches, while junior wideout Griff Whalen has chipped in with 12. Tight ends Konrad Reuland (10 catches) and Coby Fleener (nine grabs) have been stellar as blockers and receivers.
Sophomore Stepfan Taylor has proved a credible replacement to Gerhart. He's coming off a pair of 100-yard efforts, and is averaging 75 yards per game at five yards per carry. He also has 14 catches out of the backfield, averaging 13 yards per. Behind him is speedy redshirt freshman Usua Amanam and bulkier sophomore Tyler Gaffney. Locker Senior fullback Owen Marecic is one of Harbaugh's favorites, a tough blocker and also a starter at inside linebacker. A captain, he scored on both sides of the ball at Notre Dame on Sept. 25, with a rushing TD and an interception return for a score.
A huge factor in the Cardinal's success has been an experienced offensive line that plays nasty football - and has allowed just two sacks. LT Jonathan Martin, who as a redshirt sophomore is the relative baby of the group, is already a Lombardi Award candidate. Three fifth-year seniors - left guard Andrew Phillips, center Chase Beeler and right tackle Derek Hall - are very solid, with Beeler an Outland Trophy and Rimington Award candidate. Right guard David DeCastro, a redshirt sophomore, has made 18 straight starts.
Stanford Defense
Harbaugh recruited NFL veteran coach Vic Fangio away from his brother John, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, to become Stanford's defensive coordinator this season. With 24 years of NFL experience (the past four with the Ravens), the hire looked great through four games - until the Cardinal ran into Oregon. Still, Stanford is much improved on defense, allowing just 330 yards per game (167 rushing) and 21 points per game - even with Oregon's stellar effort mixed in.
Playing out of a 3-4 set, the Cardinal have solid experience up front, led by senior nose tackle Sione Fua, a captain. His 10 stops include two sacks. Ends Matt Masifilo, a junior, and Brian Bulcke, a fifth-year senior, have combined for 25 stops. Masifilo has fought back from a series of injuries in 2009 to become a key player this season. Redshirt freshman Josh Mauro has also seen time at end.
With the 3-4 set, Stanford's linebackers have been counted upon to become playmakers, and they haven't disappointed, as the starters have notched eight of the Cardinal's 14 sacks and 12 of the team's 26 tackles for loss. Outside backers Chase Thomas, a redshirt sophomore, and Thomas Keiser, a junior, are converted defensive ends. Thomas is second on the team with 23 stops and leads Stanford with 3.5 sacks, while Keiser has 19 and 2.5 respectively. Inside, the aforementioned Marecic has 22 tackles to go with that pick-six at Notre Dame, while sophomore Shayne Skov has built upon an excellent freshman campaign with 21 stops and two sacks. Three reserves - insiders Max Bergen and Chike Amajoyi and outsider Alex Debniak - have combined for 40 tackles as part of the rotation. Linebacker may be Stanford's deepest position.
Experience is a factor in the secondary, as three juniors and a fifth-year senior start, while a pair of seniors are key reserves. Junior strong safety Delano Howell is Stanford's leading tackler with 27, and he also has an interception and fumble recovery. Junior free safety Michael Thomas, the least experienced of the group, has 20 stops. The safeties are backed up by seniors Austin Yancy and Taylor Skaufel - Skaufel has 21 tackles and appears often in nickel situations. At corner, junior Johnson Bademosi has 19 tackles, but just one pass break-up, while senior Richard Sherman has 15 stops, a pick and five pass break-ups.
Stanford Special Teams
Senior placekicker Nate Whitaker, a former walk-on, is nine-of-nine on field goals this year, making him a Groza Award candidate. He made five field goals at Notre Dame, and also handles kickoffs. Sophomore punter Daniel Zychlinski is a new starter, but is averaging more than 44 yards per attempt. Owusu is a huge threat as a kickoff returner - but it remains to be seen if he'll be used coming off the concussion. If he can't go, Amanam has shown plenty of ability as well. Baldwin handles punt returns, and is averaging about five yards per opportunity.
USC Offensive Gameplan
Amazingly enough, with all of the talk of Stanford's high-powered offense, the Trojan offense is actually averaging more total yards (471), as well as nearly 36 points per game. The issue, however, is consistency. Penalties and - at times - an interesting mix of plays have derailed more than one Trojan drive. This was never more apparent than a week ago, when USC put up 484 total yards, but mustered just 10 second-half points, failing on multiple chances to put the game out of reach before Washington won it at the gun.
Bradford seems to have set himself apart as USC's top tailback with his performances against Minnesota and Washington. Still, the coaching staff opted for a too-quick-hitting pass attempt on third-and-four inside the Washington 25-yard-line in the final minutes last week, leading to a missed field goal and, eventually, defeat. With Stanford struggling against the run last week and featuring just three down linemen, you'd think Bradford would be the physical first choice this week for the Trojan running game. At the same time, with the struggles of USC's kicking game, every situation seems to be a four-down situation once the Trojans get inside the Cardinal 35-yard line. Will USC actually play it this way?
Still, the improved Cardinal defense loves to put pressure on the line of scrimmage and use their outside linebackers as blitzers. Don't be surprised to see Stanford load up the box in an effort to take away USC's running game. This will leave them susceptible against Matt Barkley and the Trojan passing attack. Can USC capitalize on this opportunity? If they do, it will be because of a better mix of plays, fewer penalties and a solid performance from the veteran offensive line.
USC Defensive Gameplan
Last week in this space, I wrote: "On the other hand, this weekend is a clear test for the USC defense." Um, fail? Once again, the Trojan defense looked soft, confused and - as the game went on -- uninspired. I don't need to recap the (horrific) numbers once again, but suffice it to say, Washington's until-then middling offense owned the Trojan defense.
Last week's performance has Monte Kiffin and his group squarely on the hot seat with USC fans and college football pundits alike. People are wondering if the elder Kiffin's style isn't a fit, if he's too old to adjust, and if USC's personnel will ever live up to the multi-star hype many received coming out of high school. Outside of Jurrell Casey, T.J. McDonald and Shareece Wright, no Trojan defender has played consistently well this season.
So, what's the gameplan for Stanford? Well, with a group this beaten down, you have to start with the basics - fly to the ball and hit someone. USC's tackling has been so suspect, there is no reason for even the coaches to get more in-depth. Know your role, get to the football and finish the tackle. The first time the Trojan defense does that consistently for 60 minutes this season will be the first.
The Pick
As Kiffin and Harbaugh - the two most quotable Pac-10 coaches - meet for the first time, the Trojans face a "prove-it" game on defense against one of the hottest offenses in America. Harbaugh, 2-1 against Pete Carroll in the past three years, seems to own a decisive advantage this weekend, as his defense - though rolled up by Oregon - has played reasonably well otherwise.
Don't get me wrong: USC can score enough to compete in this game. Will they? It is imperative for the Trojans to keep up early on. Stanford leads the Pac-10 in time of possession, and it loves to wear teams down. Should USC try to control clock, or should it try to score as much as possible in order to make up for its questionable (to be kind) defense? I, for one, say score as quickly and as often as possible. If the Cardinal jumps out to an early edge, this will be a very long night for the thousands of Trojan fans making the annual Weekender trip.
No matter whether the Trojans hang in early, though, it appears that the Cardinal is simply the stronger team in 2010. Expect Luck to have a big night, and Taylor and the Cardinal rushing attack to finish things off in the second half. USC will put up points - but not nearly enough to make up for the defensive troubles facing the Kiffins and staff.
Stanford 42, USC 26
Tom Haire has been writing for USCFootball.com for 10 years. He is the editor of a monthly trade magazine in the advertising industry. He grew up watching USC dominate the Pac-10 and the Rose Bowl and ended up a Trojan journalism school alum ('94). He's traveled from Honolulu to Palo Alto to South Bend to New York to Miami to watch college football, and has also covered the Pac-10 for both PigskinPost.com and CollegeFootballNews.com. He can be reached at email@example.com.


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October 9, 2012
Out of Left Field
It's a Trap!
Through painstaking research, I have determined that most managers get fired for one or more of the following reasons:
1. Losing
2. Being a jerk.
Reason Two encompasses, in reverse order of importance, not getting along with people, drinking, drugging, being a sociopath, cannibalism, and/or not removing Pedro Martinez from the game when clearly necessary.
The thing about Reason Two, though, is that any and all of those indiscretions, assuming eating other humans can be called an indiscretion, will be universally tolerated as long as some version of Reason One isn't met. Managers have been caught in all manner of bad situations, or have made other off-field mistakes and usually, as long as Reason One isn't met, they're fine. In other words, go ahead and eat people as long as your team wins more games than it loses.
For example, Tony La Russa was (in)famously arrested for drunken driving. It was late March following a Cardinals World Series win, so, hey, whatever! Had he been drunk with multiple bodies in the truck, maybe we'd be talking about a fine. Alternately, Joe Girardi was named 2006 Manager of the Year following his first season with the Marlins. They'd have to mail the award to him, because within days of the season ending he was fired. He was likely guilty of violating some sub-clause of Reason Two*, but that would likely have been overlooked had the Marlins not finished 78-84, in fourth place.
* In Girardi's case, he might have been guilty of violating Corollary One of Rule Two which is Being Perceived to Be An Jerk. Like with most things in life, for Reason Two, perception is reality.
Many managers make what more enlightened fans, much like yourself, would consider "bad" moves during the course of the game. Ron Washington may have cost his Rangers the World Series through his highly questionable decision-making last season. That came after Washington failed a drug test, prompting him to admit he had used cocaine while managing the Rangers. He wasn't fired though. Also the team was coming off a World Series appearance. Coincidence?
Two weeks ago the Cleveland Indians fired manager Manny Acta. There were numerous reasons cited, but Acta was let go in Cleveland (and in his previous managerial stint in Washington) for violating Reason One. On July 31st, the Indians were in third place, six games out of first and three games below .500. One month later the Indians were 22 games below .500 and 17 ½ games out of first place. Five-win months seem to bring out the inner executioner in GMs, and Acta, having clearly violated Reason One, was canned.
Acta was fired twice despite a reputation for analytical thinking and supposed ability to energize young players. Flash back in time 13 years and you'll find a similarly analytically minded and energetic young manager just finishing up a 65-97 campaign. This after not finishing higher than third nor achieving even a .500 record over his first three seasons on the job. At the conclusion of said and having posted a .440 winning percentage over four seasons on the job, he was relieved of his duties. That manager is reportedly replacing Acta in Cleveland. That manager is Terry Francona.
Francona had much success with the Red Sox from 2004 through his firing at the end of last season. The difference between Francona's average Phillies team and Francona's average Red Sox team is 22 wins. While I wouldn't argue if you said Francona was a more effective and smarter manager in Boston than he was in Philadelphia, did those accumulated managing smarts make a 22 game difference? I suppose you can't know with total certainty, but it's worth pointing out that major-league front offices don't think so. If they did, Francona would be paid $20 million a season instead of just taking a job with the lowly Indians.
None of this is to discount the importance of good coaching and good managing, but to note the team-dependent nature of managerial success. When teams win, managers are smart. When they lose, managers are dumb and if the losing keeps up they get dumber and dumber, and eventually reach a level I like to call unemployably dumb. That's what happened to Acta, by all accounts a smart and good baseball man. That's also what happened to Francona in Philadelphia. He was saddled with a young team with mediocre hitting and bad run prevention. Because of that, and not because of him, they never won anything nor came particularly close to doing so. Fairly or not, Francona paid the price for that lack of production on the field.
If there is one thing we know, indeed, if there is one thing Terry Francona should know about managing, it's that managers win with good teams, not through good managing. In Philadelphia he had a sub-par team. They lost. He got fired. In Boston he had some of the best talent in baseball. They won. He got a contract extension.
Yet Francona is casting his lot in with the very franchise whose lack of on-field talent just did in Acta. Looking at the Indians, you can quickly see why Acta was fired. For starters, their only two pitchers with more than one WARP are relievers Chris Perez and Vinnie Pestano. Cleveland finished 27th, 22nd, and 26th in team batter VORP from 2010 through this season. Their pitching staff finished 29th, 14th, and 25th in team pitching VORP during that same time period.
The Indians are not devoid of talent, and the division is a winnable one if the talent level rises to an acceptable level, but it isn't there now and it doesn't seem to be coming next year or in the near future. I asked resident prospect guru Jason Parks about the Indians system. He characterized it as below average, although very young. Meaning, if there are impact players they are years away from contributing. It's not an inspiring picture. And it is unlikely to dramatically improve for the major-league club in the near term.
That all means, unless the Indians invent a new way to acquire talent, they're probably looking at some leaner seasons on the horizon. Those seasons are likely going to be lean whether or not Terry Francona is the manager. That's fine for the Indians, but it makes Cleveland an odd choice for Francona. Maybe he thinks he can coach 'em up, or maybe he's been assured the team is going to buy on the free agent market, or maybe he just wants to work. There's nothing wrong with that, and picking a place he wants to be over one where winning is more easily attainable is admirable. But I'm surprised Francona isn't able to do better. With his experience he should see the Indians job for what it is. In three or four years Francona will probably be back in the same boat he was in when he worked in Philadelphia, which is to say, not working there anymore.
Matthew Kory is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @mattymatty2000
23 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
I keep trying to grasp why a well respected manager who has won two World Series wants to go to Cleveland. Everything else aside this is a small market team with limited resources and no recent history of success. I think you figured it out—he just wants to work!
Oct 09, 2012 05:35 AM
His dad cried at the press conference out of happiness. That's enough reason for Francona, beyond having ties to the Indians organization.
Oct 09, 2012 10:07 AM
If, as you're suggesting, Francona took the Indians job because it would make his dad happy, that's wonderful. But I'm not sure it's much of a recipe for long-term success.
Oct 09, 2012 15:10 PM
If you have already won multiple World Series', what baseball challenge is left. Aha! Cleveland!
Oct 09, 2012 06:42 AM
Become president of the Chicago Cubs? :)
Oct 09, 2012 10:05 AM
So, no one wants to look even 6 inches below the surface on this one?
Oct 09, 2012 07:46 AM
I'm sorry you found it to be a lazy article. Managers with the kind of political capital that Francona had coming out of Boston (and the way that team imploded this year probably made him look even better) can often have their pick of jobs. Familiarity with the front office and a shared vision are both wonderful things, but in the end you can have all the comfort you want and if the team doesn't win then the manager is going to be fired. Francona isn't immune to that. If the Indians can compete in the next few seasons then Francona will likely stick around for a while. But after looking at the roster, the team's history of and ability to spend, and the talent they have on hand in their minor league system, I don't see Cleveland winning much in the near future.
Oct 09, 2012 10:43 AM
I agree with your assessment of both the current talent level and the upper levels of the minor league system. I just expected better than what seemed to be the two main points of the article, which I interpreted as:
Oct 09, 2012 12:59 PM
I'm sure there were disagreements between Acta and the front office, but those disagreements didn't exist when Acta was hired. The arose over time. More to the point, as I said in the article, Acta was fired because the team lost. I'm sure that wasn't the only reason, but I'm equally sure it was the over-riding reason. The team lost because they weren't very good, and now with Francona managing, they're still not very good and their chances for getting better in the near term aren't good either. That's all I'm saying.
Oct 09, 2012 15:09 PM
I'm with Gotribe, and I'm not an Indians fan. Ever since Francona bit the dust in Beantown, the world has said he would only go to a big market team that's always in contention. Why is that necessarily so? And why he he being portrayed as an idiot for taking the Cleveland job? And why decide that you are "surprised that Francona isn't able to do better?" Since when are you inside Francona's mind? And maybe in his mind this is the best possible situation. In which case, no, Francona couldn't have done better.
Oct 09, 2012 08:47 AM
I'm not inside Francona's mind and never claimed to be. I'm talking about outside factors that make a managing job appealing. Cleveland has some, but lacks the biggest factor that makes a manager a success.
Oct 09, 2012 10:46 AM
I have no problem with the gist of the article, and I especially like the sub-title.
Oct 09, 2012 16:03 PM
People were surprised when Buck Showalter took the Orioles' job too. He has succeeded.
Oct 09, 2012 16:04 PM
The correct statement is really that the rosters that Manny Acta has been given have failed to win. Most of the reasons for that are outside Manny Acta's control (and will be outside Terry Francona's control). The fact that Francona may expect to win won't change that.
Oct 10, 2012 03:34 AM
Sigh, I wanted Francona to replace Ron Washington. Oh well.
Oct 09, 2012 09:19 AM
I think you need a reason #3... Crazy ownership, which would put the Marlins and the old version of George Steinbrenner in that category for firing a manager.
Oct 09, 2012 10:05 AM
With a few exceptions, crazy ownership keeps managers who win. I'm sure '70s era George Steinbrenner bucks that trend in some instances, but he's the outlier by a fair margin.
Oct 09, 2012 15:13 PM
Angelos fired Davey Johnson after a winning season as I recall. And I lump the Marlins into the crazy ownership demographic.
Oct 10, 2012 01:26 AM
John Carter
Right. My take is that the only persons who considered Joe Girardi a jerk was his bosses. Charley Finely famously fired Dick Williams after a championship for playing Mike Andrews after Finley asked Williams not to. Whitey Herzog was fired from the Royals after 3 division titles and a 2nd place finish, because Mrs. Kaufmann thought he was crude. As you sort of said, it is really only being a jerk in the minds of the ownership is what counts against you.
Oct 10, 2012 12:15 PM
Ron Washington's cocaine use was revealed in the spring of 2010, before the Rangers appeared in the World Series.
Mar 06, 2013 10:42 AM
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the subject of this disc came up in another thread and i'm still curious.....i read on the Lat64 site that the "Trident is a reliable overstable control driver good for headwinds and hyzer bombs. It fits between Striker and Riot in stability but with less speed."
apparently it was delayed from production.....and then i read on the PDGA boards that they were not able to mold it all and it won't ever come out.....probably lies
regardless i'm still curious about this disc since everyone on here is absolutely orgasmic over the rest of the Lat64 offerings but no word of this particular mold......it sounds like it may be a wiener i mean a winner


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HintUnconventional thinking will help you out.
AnswerYou would get 123 and 456. You would take 123,456 (one hundred twenty-three thousand four hundred and fifty-six) and literally break the number in half instead of finding out half of that number!
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Sugar Creek Trail picture in header graphic used with permission by photographer Ryan Afflerbaugh


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The recent events on the CU-Boulder campus surrounding the "Deviance in U.S. Society" course have generated a great deal of discussion amongst faculty members on a number of critical issues related to academic freedom, Rights and Responsibilities of Faculty and Chairs, and administrative procedures amongst others. Many requests have come to the Boulder Faculty Assembly to address these issues as the representative body of the CU-Boulder faculty. As such, the BFA Executive Committee has spent a considerable amount of time over the last month discussing the appropriate action to take to address these issues. The result of these discussions has been the approval of two ad-hoc committees that will be formed immediately.
The first ad-hoc committee will focus on the issues directly surrounding the case of Professor Adler and the "Deviance in U.S. Society" course. The committee is charged with "Reviewing whether established University policies and procedures were followed in the Professor Adler case." The committee will be comprised of five Full or Associate Professors from the elected BFA representatives, an appointed representative from the Arts and Sciences Council of commensurate rank, and committee chair Professor Mike Klymkowsky, BFA Vice-Chair. The committee is charged with submitting a report of its findings to the assembly by May 1, 2014.
Faculty also have questions about the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH). The second ad-hoc committee is being convened as an education and review committee. Specifically, the committee is charged with, "Reviewing established Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) procedures related to administrative and faculty processes, with the purpose of addressing faculty concerns, recommending, where needed, improvements to such procedures. The committee is also charged with developing materials to assist the faculty in understanding ODH policy and procedures." The committee will be comprised of eleven faculty members, including both tenure/tenure-track faculty and instructors, from within the ranks of the elected BFA representatives. The committee will be chaired by a member of the BFA Executive Committee.
The BFA looks forward to working collaboratively with all members of the University community in this effort and to having a productive and positive process. Open sessions will be announced to all faculty. Any questions regarding this effort can be directed to the BFA Chair, Paul Chinowsky, at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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As much as you'd like to think that no one's gonna really care, you'll prolly hear it all over the place. It's the main reason I don't really go "all out" with promoting my dye work. Or even for all the tournament donations I give away.
People are quick to WANT something cool and sweet looking, but there's always someone who's gonna wah wah about copy written images and crap.
It's retarded but you should be weary just in case. I see Grateful Dead skulls and dancing bears on ebay nonstop... Pink Floyd, Punisher... All that crap goes on ebay all the time. I did a Tapout dye once just to feel out how well a dye would sell. BAM, got a notice to take it down. Pissed me off since I see ppl getting away with crap ALL the time and little old me can't slip under the radar.
So anywho. Do your thing, just don't go showcasing in the wrong places.


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