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More than three decades after becoming the youngest supervisor in Monterey County history, Marc Del Piero is seeking another term on the board as an elder statesman of sorts, an accomplished public official who supporters say will be a strong advocate for environmental issues and lend credibility to the effort to navigate the legal morass at the heart of the Peninsula water crisis.
But critics, including incumbent challenger Dave Potter, charge that Del Piero lacks the kind of diplomacy and willingness to cooperate that it takes to find real solutions to complex problems. They say he is known as a divisive figure with a history of using his political weight and professional acumen for his own ends.
They say Del Piero's highly touted public service record doesn't reflect his current positions, especially with regard to environmental interests. And they say the longtime Republican party official, who resigned from a key leadership post earlier this year, is trying to play both sides against the middle by actively tapping local GOP campaign cash sources while also banking on support from LandWatch and the Green Party.
Del Piero, 60, followed up three supervisorial terms with a public service career that stretched from the state Water Resources Control Board to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court system, where he currently serves as a trustee. His career also included a turn as legal counsel and putative head of the Pajaro Sunny Mesa Community Services District, which once was to be a partner on a desalination venture with developer Nader Agha.
The North County native, who lives in Pebble Beach, and his supporters point to his water expertise, public service experience and no-nonsense reputation as exactly what county government needs to deal with problems such as the nagging Peninsula water crisis and the Fort Ord redevelopment debate.
Key supporters, such as LandWatch board chairman Chris Fitz and the Sierra Club's Julie Engell, said they believe Del Piero will be a much stronger champion for pro-environment, slow-growth causes than Potter. They contend the incumbent has become too cozy with development interests and has shown little or no leadership and inclination to fight for the Peninsula's priorities.
Del Piero said he decided to run primarily because of the supervisors' failure to develop a comprehensive water supply solution for the Peninsula during the past 20 years, and because of the "proliferation" of "backroom and secret deals" on the board. He placed a major share of the blame at Potter's feet.
In response to criticism that he has a reputation for being difficult to deal with, Del Piero acknowledged he is known to take strong positions on critical issues. He argued that is what the Peninsula needs.
"I accept, on occasion, when I come to the conclusion that something is good for my district, that I can be very inflexible in giving up what I consider to be best for my constituents," Del Piero said. "I'll never be satisfied with saying that three other members of the board are voting for something that's bad for my district and I can't do anything about it.
"I used to hate losing 3-2 votes and I always prefer being in the majority on the Board of Supervisors. (Potter has) only been able to count to two (votes) on too many issues, and counting to two isn't good enough for the 5th District."
The district encompasses Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach and parts of the Peninsula.
North County beginnings
Del Piero grew up outside Watsonville on a Pajaro farm, the son of first-generation immigrants. He spent time working in the fields with his father, Richard, twin brother Eric and younger brother Kris. He graduated from Watsonville High School in 1971, then attended Santa Clara University, where he earned his bachelor's and law degrees in 1975 and 1978, respectively. He met and married his wife, Tina, in college. They have two sons, Paul and John.
Del Piero began his public service career in 1978, when he was appointed to the Monterey County Planning Commission, serving three years. He also spent two years on the local Republican Party central committee. As a planning commissioner, Del Piero helped develop regulations to protect Elkhorn Slough as part of the North County Local Coastal Plan, and helped draft the Big Sur Local Coastal Plan.
In 1980, Del Piero became the youngest person elected to the Board of Supervisors, at the age of 27. He served three terms, including two stints as chairman.
Del Piero touts his work developing more than a dozen projects, including public water and sewer systems, flood control districts, senior centers and a daycare facility for migrant workers' children in Pajaro.
He helped author the county's general plan, approved in 1982, which would remain in place for nearly three decades.
At the beginning of his second term on the board, Del Piero helped found the Monterey County Agricultural and Historical Land Conservancy, now known as the Ag Land Trust, which is dedicated to preservation of farmland in the Salinas Valley. He still serves on the nonprofit organization's board of directors.
Del Piero was appointed by then-Congressman Leon Panetta to serve on the founding committee of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, helping develop studies aimed at blocking impacts from proposed offshore oil drilling. He also served on the local air pollution control agency board when it adopted rules requiring coordination of growth with emissions.
At the same time, Del Piero voted to approve several major developments, ranging from Las Palmas to Spanish Bay, and backed plans allowing growth at Carmel Valley Ranch and Rancho San Juan.
Del Piero said he worked to downsize developments and only agreed to allow growth when the proper mitigation measures were included, such as construction of the Prunedale bypass for Rancho San Juan north of Salinas.
Environmental activist Julie Engell said Del Piero would be a reliable pro-environment voice on the board and shouldn't be judged by his previous actions because it was a different time and a different board that was more likely to support development.
Rancho San Juan
A sprawling subdivision was proposed for Rancho San Juan by developer Moe Nobari and the HYH Corp., from which Del Piero had accepted campaign contributions in the 1980s. The project was approved after Del Piero left the board. The result was a major legal fight between the county and slow-growth forces.
Opponents of the development, such as the Rancho San Juan opposition coalition, eventually won a settlement with the county that included cash. Now, an offshoot of the coalition known as the North Salinas Valley Fund for Responsible Growth, led by Engell and her husband, Curtis Spitler, have provided major financial backing for Del Piero's campaign to the tune of $95,000, including $50,000 in the most recent campaign finance reporting cycle. Spitler has also contributed $10,000 on his own.
Others, however, have questioned Del Piero's slow-growth credentials by pointing to his endorsement of Plan for the People, a pro-growth, developer-backed county general plan approved by the Board of Supervisors and known as GPO. While Del Piero's name appeared on a campaign piece on behalf of Plan for the People and against the slow-growth alternative known as Measure A, he said he doesn't remember taking an official position on the issue.
Both the supervisor-approved general plan and the alternative fell short of approval in a July 2007 special election. It took the board until 2011 to finally approve a new rural growth blueprint.
While on the board, Del Piero and then-Supervisor Barbara Shipnuck developed a reputation for monumental fights, and critics have accused both of trying to unduly influence county administrators during those years. One knowledgable source said the county board approved rules aimed at preventing direct interference with the county administration shortly after Del Piero left office.
State water board
After his third term as a supervisor, Del Piero was appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson to the five-member State Water Resources Control Board as the attorney member. He spent eight years in Sacramento.
Del Piero served as the hearing officer for the landmark Mono Lake decision that required the city of Los Angeles to return water to the lake and restore it, a marathon proceeding that lasted more than six weeks. It was lauded as a precedent-setting action balancing environmental interests and urban needs.
While serving on the state board, Del Piero was accused in a 1996 Los Angeles Times article of using his influence to smooth the way for Clint Eastwood's Canada Woods golf subdivision. An unnamed state water board official was quoted saying Eastwood was given "special treatment" after Del Piero introduced the actor to staff members who would be working on the project application.
Del Piero said he was never contacted by the Times reporter, who wrote that neither Del Piero nor Eastwood would comment. Del Piero said if he had it to do over, he would handle the situation the same way. He said Eastwood was treated "the same as everyone else."
While on the state board, Del Piero voted for the now-infamous Order 95-10, which directed California American Water to reduce and ultimately halt illegal pumping from the Carmel River. He still expresses support for it, though it has led many years later to the planned cease-and-desist order that could greatly reduce the Peninsula's water supply.
He dismisses the contention from critics that his support for the order equaled support for a new Carmel River dam, which he said he supported despite concerns about the lack of a financing mechanism.
Del Piero said the order was an open invitation for new water projects, but lack of political leadership combined with Cal Am's intransigence caused the opportunity to be wasted.
Aromas Water District
It was during his time on the state water board that Del Piero's family secured a controversial deal with the Aromas Water District in 1996 to deliver water to the gated 147-home luxury Rancho Larios subdivision, well outside the district's boundaries in San Benito County.
The deal eventually landed the Del Pieros and the water district in court over who should pay for millions of dollars in new infrastructure for the project, which then included a golf course proposal. Ultimately, the district was forced into bankruptcy.
When the Del Piero family purchased an option on the project site in 1990, it had tentative approval for a subdivision without a golf course and without a water supply. That's when the Del Pieros negotiated the water deal with the tiny Aromas district to supply 603 acre-feet per year, more than twice what the district was providing its existing customers.
District officials said they were assured the Del Pieros didn't intend to build a golf course. But after selling their option to the housing portion of the project — and getting about $10 million for it from the Larwin Group — the Del Pieros sought approval for a golf course. District officials sued, saying the family refused to help pay for the necessary pipelines, wells and storage tanks. Del Piero said the development deal only involved his father and brothers, that he only attended one meeting with the water district and didn't recall discussing the water deal with district officials.
The Herald reported in 2001 that while Del Piero wasn't technically involved in the legal actions, court documents indicated he was "heavily involved" in various related transactions.
General Manager Vicki Morris said the district was able to avoid paying for additional infrastructure through bankruptcy proceedings, but the experience left officials with a "sour taste." Morris said Del Piero definitely exerted his influence as a state water board member.
Pajaro Sunny Mesa
When Democratic Gov. Gray Davis declined to re-appoint him to the state water board, Del Piero began working in 2000 as lawyer for the Pajaro Sunny Mesa Community Services District, where his family has land interests.
Del Piero had helped form the district when he was a supervisor. He also had appointed the district's first board, which hired original general manager Joe Rosa, who in turn hired Del Piero.
Del Piero was widely accepted as the power behind a largely compliant board and staff, and he led the small district into some controversial directions. It pursued an ill-fated desalination project at Moss Landing in partnership with Peninsula developer Nader Agha. It doggedly challenged the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency in court and alienated top local officials, including former Watsonville Mayor Dennis Osmer. The district actively opposed Supervisor Lou Calcagno's Granite Ridge pipeline.
But Del Piero also repeatedly warned Monterey County officials that the now-defunct regional desalination project lacked water rights. And he was among the first to raise questions about the private consulting firm RMC Water and Environment, which managed the desal project for the county until apparent conflicts of interest ended its involvement.
Del Piero touted his success in helping the Pajaro district add 15 private water systems, finish a multimillion-dollar pipeline project and bring in millions of dollars in grant money. He insisted he had done the right thing in pursuing litigation against the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency over what he called an illegal fee.
His legal contract with the district ended when Supervisor Lou Calcagno appointed new directors who ended the costly litigation with the agency.
Two years later, Del Piero ran for a Superior Court judgeship against embattled incumbent Jose Velasquez. He mounted an aggressive campaign during which he called Velasquez an "embarrassment" to the bench. Del Piero repeatedly linked Velasquez to a campaign supporter — La Esperanza Market owner Javier Vasquez — who was being investigated for money laundering and cocaine trafficking. Del Piero's campaign sent out mailers that included a photo of a pile of white powder and a rolled-up $100 bill next to a wallet bulging with cash and the words "Caught! Drug trafficking and money laundering."
Velasquez later returned a $5,000 contribution from Vasquez after a state ethics commission advised him to do so. Still, he went on to beat Del Piero in the election.
Del Piero, who vowed not to resort to unfair attacks in this year's campaign, defended his criticism of Velasquez and pointed out the judge was kicked off the bench and disbarred.
Split with Calcagno
Del Piero and Calcagno used to have breakfast together most mornings, but Del Piero said they no longer speak to each other. He acknowledged maneuvering to keep the supervisor's name off a Republican slate campaign mailer. He said that was because of Calcagno's role in the failed desal project and the ongoing state Fair Political Practices Commission investigation into it.
Osmer said Del Piero left the Pajaro district under a confidential settlement that was essentially funded by the water management agency as part of a legal settlement with the district. Del Piero and other district officials said they couldn't discuss it.
According to Osmer, there was talk about an official investigation into the district leadership's actions under Del Piero, but nothing ever came of it. He said Del Piero's time with Pajaro Sunny Mesa was characterized by a "complete lack of civility."
"There was no such thing as cooperation," he said. "I never figured out why Pajaro Sunny Mesa was so aggressive under Marc. There was conjecture about controlling the regional water supply, but it always seemed counter-productive to anybody's interests. I think the goal was to put the agency out of business, and they made a hell of a run at it."
Osmer said Del Piero "was just plain mean. He's definitely not a builder. He's far better at breaking things down than building them up. I believe Pajaro Sunny Mesa prospered after he left."
Republicans and Greens
Del Piero has managed to enlist support from a wide range of backers, listing both the local Republican Party and the local Green Party as supporters. His fundraising letters to big-money GOP donors are signed by Jeff Davi, the former Republican state real estate commissioner. Del Piero's letters to left-leaning contributors emphasize his alignment with 4th District Supervisor Jane Parker.
In addition Engell and Fitz, who would serve as Del Piero's top aide if elected, his campaign is being actively backed by Green Party Chairman George Riley, former Republican Party chair Mali Cuda, ex-supervisor Karin Strasser-Kaufman, Carmel Valley activists Amy Anderson and Glenn Robinson, Monterey City Councilwoman Nancy Selfridge, Vince Cardinalli, Larry Bacon, Janet Brennan, Steve Ryter, Skip Keysers and others.
While the county's Green Party has officially endorsed Del Piero, his relationship with the local Republican Party is far more complicated.
Republican official Paul Bruno said he hasn't spoken with Del Piero since he "stormed out" of a party central committee meeting in April, later sending a resignation letter.
Bruno said the party has a policy of supporting all Republican candidates but usually doesn't provide endorsements. Del Piero has not been endorsed by the party, nor is there a get-out-the-vote effort under way on his behalf.
There was controversy over party leadership and central committee membership around the time Del Piero resigned, but he said he left because it wouldn't be appropriate for a nonpartisan officeholder to hold a party position.
Bruno said he's actively fundraising for Democrat Potter.
"There's finally a Republican who can win in the 5th District," Bruno said, "and I can't vote for him."
Jim Johnson can be reached at 753-6753 or email@example.com. Editor's note: After many environmental activists lost faith in Supervisor Dave Potter, they hunted hard for someone to run against him. Former Supervisor Marc Del Piero was not precisely who they had in mind, but an alliance was formed. The result is the oddest and most entertaining campaign to hit the Peninsula in at least a decade. In one corner: Potter, the savvy Democrat winning big support from Republicans, the private contractor with a habit of rubbing up against campaign finance rules while serving on more than a dozen boards and commissions. In the other: Del Piero, the cocky Republican whose comeback is endorsed by the Green Party, the water lawyer who promises to ease our water troubles despite wrinkles on his own record. Today, The Herald's Jim Johnson takes a closer look at the combatants to help voters make sense of a race that could shape Monterey County politics well beyond one term. District 5 includes Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Monterey, Highway 68 and Las Palmas. — Royal Calkins
Editor's note:
After many environmental activists lost faith in Supervisor Dave Potter, they hunted hard for someone to run against him. Former Supervisor Marc Del Piero was not precisely who they had in mind, but an alliance was formed. The result is the oddest and most entertaining campaign to hit the Peninsula in at least a decade.
In one corner: Potter, the savvy Democrat winning big support from Republicans, the private contractor with a habit of rubbing up against campaign finance rules while serving on more than a dozen boards and commissions.
In the other: Del Piero, the cocky Republican whose comeback is endorsed by the Green Party, the water lawyer who promises to ease our water troubles despite wrinkles on his own record.
Today, The Herald's Jim Johnson takes a closer look at the combatants to help voters make sense of a race that could shape Monterey County politics well beyond one term.
District 5 includes Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Monterey, Highway 68 and Las Palmas.
— Royal Calkins


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CBAY History
In 1988, the commonwealth of Virginia enacted the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (Bay Act). The Bay Act required the 84 Virginia communities, including Fairfax County, which border on the tidal portions of rivers that drain into the Chesapeake Bay (Tidewater jurisdictions) to institute water quality protection measures to improve the declining health of this unique national resource and its tributaries. The goal was to plan for and manage the adverse environmental impacts of growth and development in a manner that balances the objectives of improved water quality and continued growth. The criteria for implementation of the Bay Act are contained in the state's Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Designation and Management Regulations originally adopted in 1989. Here in Fairfax County, we have tried to do our fair share in combating the problem of pollution in the bay. Twelve years ago, the Board of Supervisors enacted a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance (Ordinance) which regulates the kinds of development that can occur in sensitive areas along streams that drain into the Potomac River and eventually the bay. These are known as Resource Protection Areas or RPAs. The remainder of the land in Fairfax County has been designated as a Resource Management Area or RMA. RMAs are comprised of lands that, if improperly used or developed, have a potential for causing significant harm to the water quality or for diminishing the functional value of the RPA. Collectively, RPAs and RMAs are known as Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas.
In 2001, the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Board, a state entity, mandated additional measures that must be enacted by all Tidewater jurisdictions. In order to comply with the state's new directives, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted a revised Ordinance that became effective on Nov. 18, 2003. At the time the revised Ordinance was adopted, the Board separately adopted a policy for the treatment of approved and pending plans of development with respect to the amended Ordinance. The following information is provided to help Fairfax County property owners understand the recent amendments adopted by the Board of Supervisors. The recent amendments will not only help the health of the Chesapeake Bay, but will also safeguard the quality of our own rivers and streams.

subset: commoncrawl


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Just days before the Troy special mayoral election, some residents are trying to piece together FOIA documents to figure out what was happening behind the scenes in the state and city's dispute late last year on holding a special election.
Troy City Councilman Doug Tietz is receiving criticism from residents who say he was working against his city to benefit his own political agenda and has violated council rules because he has a conflict of interest.
According to group "Troy Residents Unified for a Strong Troy," when the city was in the midst of a lawsuit with the Michigan Attorney General, Tietz was contacting members of the media about how he believed the city should hold a special election instead of working with the other councilmembers.
"That's not true, it's true that I spoke with the media, but it's true that I also spoke many times with other city councilmembers ... I spoke with (the other councilmembers) at length ," Tietz said. "... The taxpayers deserved to know what we were up against and is (disputing the attorney general) really what you wanted the city to do?"
Tietz said the things this group is saying are "silly" and they are only attacking the openness of the government.
At 1:56 p.m. on Nov. 29, 2012, Richard Bandstra, chief legal counsel to Michigan Attorney General Bill Scheutte sent a letter to the Troy City Attorney Lori Grigg Bluhm regarding a special election. He restated the position of the attorney general, and he asked Bluhm to reconsider "before litigation is commenced to resolve this matter." A response was due from the city by November 30, 2012 and said if the response wasn't in their favor, they would initiate litigation.
The letter was sent to councilmembers at 2:15 p.m. and Tietz forwarded the letter to current Troy mayoral candidate Marty Knollenberg and members of the media, beginning 33 minutes after it was received.
Tietz previously was also a legislative aid for Knollenberg and also was a communications and external affairs coordinator for former Oakland County Clerk Bill Bullard, according to FOIA documents. He states he is more on the conservative side and a solid Republican.
According to the Troy City Charter, section 3.3, "The members of the council shall be elected on a non-partisan ballot from the city-at-large and shall be subject to recall as provided by law."
Tietz and Gosselin both said just because the city council position is nonpartisan, it does not mean a councilmember cannot have their own personal views on things.
The most recent discovery in the FOIA documents was an email sent by Oakland County Commissioner for the 11th district Bob Gosselin, a Republican, on Dec. 1, requesting a meeting at his home on Dec. 2. The meeting included several others, in addition to Tietz.
The email states, "We need to meet at my house Sunday at 7:30 p.m. to talk thing(s) out for Monday's City Council meeting. Also to bring everyone up-to-date."
Notes in the email include that Dane Slater should not serve as mayor or councilmember and that a special election should be held, as the local charter does not trump state law regarding special elections.
The email has raised questions for the "Troy Residents Unified for a Strong Troy" group of how Tietz was involved with Gosselin at this meeting and if there were any additional meetings.
Gosselin said Tietz is a longtime friend and was a campaign manager for when he ran for state representative.
"There's issues we have talked a number of times," Gosselin said. "... I think someone is trying to make something bigger than it was ... I was Republican and I was on the (Troy) City Council. What is the big deal about being partisan?"
"Do we want city council members (in Troy) that don't talk to their elected officials?" Tietz said. "I talked to all the folks that represent Troy, whether its our state representative, our county commissioner (and others) ... to look out for the citizen's best interests ... My opinion hasn't changed (about the election) and I don't regret talking to all the elected officials."
Gosselin and Tietz both agreed that they do their best to represent everyone because that is their job.
"I represent Republicans and Democrats and anyone else (as county commissioner)," Gosselin said.
"What I told folks is I'll do the best I can and I'll do my best and try to tell them what's going on and try to protect their money," Tietz said.
Contact Megan Semeraz at 248-745-4628 or email firstname.lastname@example.com or follow her on Twitter @MeganSemeraz


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Kentucky coach John Calipari says wayward point guard Ryan Harrow is expected to rejoin the Wildcats on Sunday, practice with the club and start to work his way back into the playing rotation.
Harrow, a sophomore who transferred from NC State, played in only 10 minutes in the season opener because of flu-like symptoms and then missed the next two games because of continued weakness. He then left the team this week to deal with "a family issue," missing two more games.
"We want Ryan back," Calipari told reporters on Friday night after Kentucky's 104-75 win over LIU-Brooklyn. "Again, just at the end of the day, I think he'll be back tomorrow and I think he'll be at practice on Sunday and Monday, and we'll get started.
"But (after) the time away, now he starts down the totem pole. Like last, and he's got to work his way back. ... Then he's got to work his way with time to Jarrod (Polson). Jarrod is playing well right now. He's got to fight, and he understands."
With Harrow absent, Calipari moved freshman shooting guard Archie Goodwin to the point and inserted graduate student Julius Mays into the lineup. And Polson, the former walk-on, also has seen extended playing time.
Goodwin has been a revelation at the point -- with Calipari comparing him to one of his former point guards at Memphis, Tyreke Evans. Goodwin is Kentucky's leading scorer at 19.0 points per game, and he almost recorded a triple-double Friday night (22 points, nine rebounds, nine assists).
Without Harrow, though, Kentucky is very thin. Calipari has been mum about specific worries about Harrow's physical and mental health. There is always tremendous pressure on Kentucky players, and following in the footsteps of the long list of NBA first-rounders who played point guard for Calipari (Derrick Rose, Evans, John Wall, Brandon Knight and Marquis Teague) is a significant task in itself.
"I would hope if it was your son you'd want me to deal with this the way I'm dealing with it," Calipari said. "I'm going to coach him, and if someone's better, he's not playing. If he's better, he'll play in time.
"We need him back. We need another guy, no question. But, look, it's like everything else, you have injuries, you have things that go on as a coach. This is who we are, and I like my team."
No. 8 Kentucky is 4-1 on the season and next plays Thursday night at Notre Dame as part of the SEC/Big East Challenge.


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These three skaters are scheduled to meet each other twice in the Grand Prix, at Skate America and at Trophee Eric Bompard. All of them will be podium favorites in each event, with the chance to knock each other out of the finals.
They have a lot of similarities. All three are gorgeous skaters. All three have achieved some nice victories, mixed in with costly inconsistencies.
Any predictions for 2011-2012?


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NEWBURY are not expecting the weather to disrupt their three-day Sportingbet Winter Festival meeting, culminating in the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday.
The going at the Berkshire venue is currently soft, heavy in places and although some rain is forecast early in the week, drier and cooler weather is expected later on.
Clerk of the course Richard Osgood is pleased with how the track has coped with the wet spell.
"The amount of rain we have taken has gone through us very well," said Osgood.
"We verti-drained towards the end of October, so we've had very little compaction since so most of the water has gone through the holes and away.
"The forecast is for some rain tonight but not nearly as much we have been getting for the last couple of nights, so it shouldn't cause us any problem.
"After Tuesday it does get a bit colder. We may get some light frost, but not heavy frost, towards the weekend.
"I think we will take the precautions of covering the take-offs and landings and see how the forecast develops.
"If we need to do more than that, we will."


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Ashley Cole has retired from international football after being left out of England's World Cup squad - a decision Roy Hodgson admits was one of the hardest of his career.
The fight for the Three Lions' left-back berth has been one of the most interesting in the build-up to Monday's announcement of the 23-man squad heading to Brazil.
With Leighton Baines' place all-but certain, it was seen as a straight fight between 33-year-old Cole and Southampton teenager Luke Shaw - a battle the latter has almost certainly won.
The Chelsea full-back was informed on Sunday evening that he had not made the cut and, after collecting 107 caps, took to Twitter to announce his international retirement with immediate effect.
"I got the call from Roy and agree England team should be about the young players," Cole said via his account, @TheRealAC3. "I think it best I retire from England team now.
"We have a great manager and team and I wish them only success. I will be supporting them like a true fan. Thanks to everyone for everything.
#Baines and #shaw are great players, proved this season, and are the future of this country, it was a pleasure to get #107 caps #eng.
"Like me or not, trust me it's hurt me to stop playing for my country #proud and #honoured."
The timing of the information's leak is unlikely to please Hodgson, who names his 23-man party for South America on Monday at 2pm in Luton.
However, the England boss was quick to make a statement praising Cole and highlighting the difficulty of the decision.
"Among many difficult decisions I've had to make for my squad, not selecting Ashley was one of the hardest," Hodgson told TheFA.com.
"He's been an incredible competitor for England, to amass over a century of caps is a truly staggering achievement and he deserves enormous credit for the desire and brilliance which has shone through over the years he has represented his country.
"There are few players who can be considered among the very best in the world, but Ashley in his prime was the best left-back without question."
He continued: "The most important factor was speaking to Ashley prior to the announcement on Monday, he deserved to hear it directly from me and he took the news with huge grace.
"In two years working with him he has shown nothing but relentless professionalism, and a great hunger to play for England. He is someone I have the utmost respect for and I wished him all the best, he in turn wished the team well this summer.
"Of course I must respect his decision to retire, he has been one of England's finest players, but I want to look to the future. It has been one of the hardest decisions of my career."
That decision shows enormous faith in 18-year-old Shaw, who Hodgson watched in Sunday's 1-1 draw between Southampton and Manchester United.
The Saints academy graduate's fine displays this term saw him voted into the PFA team of the year by his peers and handed his England debut against Denmark two months ago.
Cole - a player Shaw looked up to as a boyhood Chelsea fan - may not be the only big-name player to miss out on the 23-man squad, which is being announced at the home of England sponsor Vauxhall.
The pressure is mounting on Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard, who has 103 caps to his name but could be hit by the emergence of Jordan Henderson and Ross Barkley.
Barkley, Shaw, Henderson and Liverpool teenager Raheem Sterling have breathed fresh optimism into England fans' hopes for Brazil, where Hodgson believes they can make an impact as well as gaining invaluable experience.
The former Fulham manager's defensive selection looks pretty straightforward, having said in March that his four centre-backs for the World Cup would be Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.
Only if Jones is deemed unfit due to a recent shoulder problem will Everton teenager John Stones or Cardiff's Steven Caulker be called up, while Kyle Walker may miss out because of a pelvic problem which has kept him out for two months.
Midfielders Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick are in danger of missing out due to their poor seasons with Manchester United.
Daniel Sturridge, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck look set to be Hodgson's three main strikers.
Hodgson is a fan of Rickie Lambert, who is fighting it out with Andy Carroll for a fourth striker place. Jermain Defoe is sweating on his inclusion after swapping Tottenham for Toronto in March.
Joe Hart and Ben Foster are expected to be first and second-choice goalkeepers. John Ruddy, Fraser Forster and Jack Butland are vying for the third slot.
Hodgson will also name up to seven standby players, who will be drafted in should injuries occur in the warm-up camps in Portugal and Miami.


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Cyber malware attacks targeting alternative news sites such as SGTReport and BeforeItsNews have spread to KWN today, with multiple reports that visiting the KWN website has resulted in the user's system immediately receiving a trojan virus resulting in Blue Screen of Death.
It appears that sites linking into KWN are also being targeted/ black flagged by search engines. We encourage our readers to avoid visiting KWN or linking their site until their systems have been restored.
Has Obama's new Cyber security team been getting to work shutting down the alternative media?
SD reader X, who states he is an IT professional reports that the malware attack is very real:


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Well I don't know about you guys, but I'm finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with all the new improvements in LabVIEW.
1) I find the best method is to attend a seminar presented by a LabVIEW expert/ NI who actually shows you how all the new features work, shortcuts, tips, things to watch out for etc.. I can learn more in a two hour lecture than spending days on trying to learn it myself and because they are free they are very cost effective
2) Training Sessions (NI / Third Party) are also very effective, but they don't seem to cater for the person who has good knowledge of LabVIEW, but is no expert and wants to learn all the tricks for good large scale development software. They also tend to be fairly expensive, but are worth the money in the long term.
3) Some of NI's video tutorial's and web events also give you a good audio/visual description, but they tend to be fairly basic.
4) After that it's basically scouring the Example VI's, Developer Zone, infolabview, Open G and LAVA (not necessarily in that order) to get some idea of how a concept works.
Back Ground first. I started with Labview 3.1 and I am using 6.1 now. I have tried 7.1 and 8. I hate both of them. Quit changing the interface MICROSOFT!!! I have a 21" screen and still don't have enough real estate. Get rid of the giant icons... If you need it that simple(which never works for me) sell it in a different product, leave Labview alone.
I have to agree, the Help is Lame. And when you dig deeper into help you get another lame (short) discription of what a function does. Inverably there won't be an example for it either.
What got me going in the begining in Labview what the example programs. Also, that was the best thing about borland C. If I wan't to know what a function does there is an example I can cut and paste in my code.
So, I would like to see more function and more examples and more discription in the help. CTRL H. Leave the interface alone, I don't want it, and I am not using it. It's only a bunch of Fluff and not much more usable code.
I think you are trying to please the Newbe's over the Oldbe's, Us Oldbe,s just might say screw it and go back to Microsoft.
Ok, I feel better now.
02-28-2006 07:57 AM - edited 02-28-2006 07:57 AM
Message Edited by shoneill on 02-28-2006 02:58 PM
error handling in labview is so easy that a good example seems to fail
Always wire an error in and error out and inside check for error and skip if an error is already present.
You never want to mask the first real error.
If you have parallel error wires use merge error (still looking for a way to gather all errors) but the most important one has to be in error out.
That is all to make error handling work, but the finer details are for chapter 2


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Jill M. Baren, MD, MBE, FACEP, FAAP
As Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine and Chief of Emergency Services of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, I am proud to lead a department that provides the highest quality emergency care in the region and an unparalleled training environment for the next generation of clinicians, scholars, and leaders in the field of emergency medicine. Our commitment to and track record of discovery and innovation are outstanding, and central to our mission.
The Department of Emergency Medicine has excellence at its very roots. We have set and exceeded national benchmarks for academic achievement within the specialty, for many years. At the core of our success is the drive and motivation of some of the most talented faculty nationwide. It is an honor to serve as a leader for such a committed and accomplished group.
Our department is guided by the imperatives to achieve professional excellence in clinical care, research, and education. We thrive within the collegial, intellectually exciting environment of the Perelman School of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania. We uphold the highest standards of the practice of emergency medicine, and strive to disseminate new knowledge. The work of our faculty reaches far and wide, with international recognition for the scope and breadth of our emergency care research.
One of the best things about leading a diligent and creative group of individuals is realizing how much we have to offer to the communities we serve — our patients, students, national and international colleagues, and global health partners. We have long been on a path to pre-eminence and I am deeply and personally committed through all the activities of the department to continue to guide us in that direction.
Jill M. Baren, MD, MBE, FACEP, FAAP
Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine
Chief, Emergency Services, UPHS
Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics
Perelman School of Medicine


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Treasury Wine Estates: Wine and the Hispanic Market
May 5, 2011
Peter Willmert, director, marketing, Beringer Vineyards, Treasury Wine Estates, and Elizabeth Barrutia, founder and president, BARU Advertising, discussed the Beringer brand's unique marketing strategy which utilized a targeted and culturally inclusive multi-platform campaign in order to reach the growing number of Hispanic wine drinkers.
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Philosophy The Present Clear Makeup Reviews
Philosophy Clear Make-UpThis make-up primer is on par with so many others on the market. It's comparable to Smashbox Photo Finish, as well as Prime Time by Bare Minerals. I, personally, found this one to be too messy. It just didn't have the right consistency for my personal preference. However, we all try new products to see what works for us. This one didn't make the cut for me, but I've discovered I'm a bit of a prime...read morer snob. I recommend this to people who are big Philosophy fans and want to give this side of their make-up line a try. — 4 years, 7 months agoMissPoison | 249 reviews
Philosophy The Present Clear Makeup Skin Perfector for Day and NightI read a few reveiws of this, and decided to try it for myself. Philosophy The Present Clear Makeup Skin Perfector for Day and Night worked pretty good for me, and I am really oily, so anything that helps my cosmectics stay in place longer with fewer touch ups is really great for me. I have used it at night as well, it claims to help seal in your skin care treatments, while protecting your skin ...read morefrom enviornmental elements that can affect your skin. It seemed to make my skin less oily, but yet it didn't dry out my skin. When I have break outs, it seemed to make my skin smoother, so my cosmetics applied more smoothly. I only have to use a small amount of product too, it really spreads well, but I am rating it an 8 because it is a little pricey, and there are quite a few other products availiable that perform just as well, but are less expensive. It also doesn't have a sun screen so you have to use one in addition to this to protect your skin from the sun. I am a minimalist, so I would rather have a sunscreen incorporated into my primers as well. — 8 years, 3 months agolesa5363 | 352 reviews
I love this, but others may not.This stuff is called "clear makeup" but the fact is, it doesn't cover anything, or minimize imperfections. But it's a great moisturizer. It can be a little greasy, so I use it at night before bed a lot. If my skin is dry in the morning, then I use it as a moisturizer/primer instead of my usual moisturizer. I love it because it makes my skin super soft, and doesn't break me out. A tad pricey, but I will definitely repurchase. — 8 years, 1 month agoj_orestano | 221 reviews
Fabulous!This is wonderful - Makes your skin look soft/smooth, and it DOES help blur imperfections -- But BE CAREFUL: If you use too much, it cakes up a bit! — 9 years, 3 months ago1955Nurse | 234 reviews
It doesn't work.. :/I bought this after watching youtube. The reviews were awesome. Turns out it's not so great. It's a funny thing bc it covers NOTHING -ZILCH. It works like a normal cream but I wouldn't use it like one. I tried mixing it with my foundation & applied it with the beauty blender, it kind of worked. So anyone is not happy with it can maybe try using it this way too.... — 2 years, 3 months agoVanillaQu | 6 reviews
Love this stuff!Philosophy refers to this as "clear makeup", but I think that is a misnomer. It doesn't cover blemishes or discoloration, so I wouldn't call it makeup. But I love the texture and how soft and silky it feels on my skin, so I use it as a primer and moisturizer. I wear it under mineral makeup during the day and it is so important to wait at least 2 minutes before applying over it. I also use it at ni...read moreght over HIAJ to seal in all my night time treatments. My 1st tube lasted about 2 months and I think it is well worth the cost. — 6 years, 7 months agoTheBlond | 93 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 7 of 7 people said helpful
Incredible PrimerI love "the present" clear makeup primer. It is gorgeous alone as well. Awesome Canvas for makeup. — 6 years, 5 months agoTiffanys_Face | 133 reviews
Great!This is a fantastic primer that really gets the job done. My foundation goes on SO smoothly when I apply the Present!! It's expensive so I don't use it every day but I notice a difference when I do use it! — 6 years, 9 months agoHunnyPots | 36 reviews
Good stuffI love this as a spot treatment type of primer. I only use it in key areas. It helps lock in moisture, especially during the colder months when my skin gets dry. It smooths out my skin texture and masks fine lines. It works so well I only use a tinted moisturizer and haven't used a liquid foundation in 3 years! — 7 years, 10 months agodevil_doll | 5 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 1 of 2 people said helpful
disappointed and an avid philosophy fanI bought this product after I read some positive reviews online. I enjoy using other Philosophy products and I had high expectations for this product. This is a tricky product and does not go well with my liquid foundation that I use. I waited more than 2 minutes to apply my makeup and my makeup was very hard to blend. I'd recommend using a mineral makeup like other reviewers have suggested. I did...read moren't like the smell, it was too strong for me. I also didn't see the results that the product claimed! I'm disappointed in this product and would not buy it again. — 8 years, 3 months agolarkin905 | 12 reviews
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Last Updated: 8/21/2017
12/6/2013The Center for Digital Government (CDG) named the City of Roseville, California one of the top technologically progressive and innovative cities its size in the United States for 2013. This marks the third time in four years Roseville has finished as one of the top five highly ranked cities based on population in the CDG's annual Digital Cities Survey."Roseville is committed to being at the forefront of innovation and citizen engagement. Being a technologically advanced city means a higher quality of life for our residents and important advantages and cost savings for our businesses," said Hong Sae, Chief Information Officer for the City of Roseville. "This award is a great honor and an outstanding achievement for the city.""The top digital cities are leaders in open data and transparency efforts, as well as innovators in deploying mobile applications to citizens while conforming to fiscal standards," said Todd Sander, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Government.The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute for information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. This award program consistently demonstrates and recognizes the public entities for effectively incorporating innovative technologies and leadership practices in the 21st century.Roseville ranked third in the 2013 survey for cities with a population between 75,000 and 124,999. Roseville ranked first in 2011 and ranked fourth in 2010. The City did not participate in the survey in 2012.Cities around the country were judged on their level of citizen engagement; municipal information technology policy and operations; city website content; network security; and data availability and reliability.Among the city's ongoing information technology initiatives are continuous efforts to make it easier for residents and businesses to interact online with city government; maintaining a reliable citywide communications infrastructure; proactive emergency preparedness training; strategic and cost-effective use of new technologies; and regional information technology leadership.


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Could Your "Healthy" New Diet Be Hurting You?
Extend your girls night out to the next morning, and sign up for this maze of mud, foam, and rough terrain. Organize a team of your quirkiest, wildest, and naughtiest pals, and laugh your way through the 5K obstacle course while dressed in your craziest homemade costumes—past hits have included fairy princesses, farmers, superheroes, and there's even a special race designed exclusively for men dressed in drag. Forget athleticism—this race is all about attitude.
Denver, Salt Lake City, and others at kissmedirty.com.
Test your strength and your sweet tooth in a race that challenges both the healthiest and the hungriest athletes. Participants run two-and-a-half miles to a designated Krispy Kreme location, consume one dozen original glazed donuts, then push through the bellyache and run another two-and-a-half miles back.
February 2014 in Raleigh, NC. Learn more at krispykremechallenge.com.
11 Mindfulness Tricks to Get Eating Under Control


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Editors' Note: The download button opens the iTunes App Store, where you may continue the download process. You must have iTunes installed with an active iTunes account in order to download and install the software. This download may not be available in some countries.
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From Foca Development: Download the best app for your favorite team ! ONE Team, YOUR Team !Get the latest information on the team you like: schedule, standings, scores, league results, cup results, news, official twitter, records over the years. You cansee the most current events and scores and also browse our extensive archive going back to the beginning of the century !Why waste time and filter through tens or hundreds of teams to find what you are looking for ? Our apps help you to have the information you want in a matter seconds ! Everything you want is just one touch away !FEATURES:- LIVE Scores ! ALL the games from your country, not only the ones of your favorite team ! All current and updated in a matter of minutes !- LIVE European Cups scores. ALL scores for ALL european cups.- LIVE Details for each game ! You will always know who scored or who was eliminated as soon as it happens !- LATEST RESULTS: see latest League results or Cup results for your team.- LEAGUE STATS: check your team Stats.- STANDINGS: see where your team is in the League.- SCHEDULE: follow your team schedule so you will never miss a match and know all the scores !- NEWS: latest news for your favorite team.- TWITTER: easily follow your team's official Twitter channel.- RECORDS: see a detailed list of records over the years of your team- NATIONAL TEAM: see the schedule of your country's national team !- Wikipedia and Youtube for the team.- EXTENSIVE ARCHIVE going back to the beginning of the century !This application is developed by football fans like you and is not affiliated with Borussia Dortmund football club nor is it the official application of this team.FROM fans TO fans !
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Despite ongoing federal deficits of more than $1 trillion a year, many liberals are calling for more government spending to "create jobs." At the same time, liberals are opposing budget cuts because that would supposedly hurt the economic recovery. And then there is the perennial problem of Democrats and Republicans defending spending on their particular favored programs.
Downsizing Blog
Federal Government and Financial Literacy
Almost 600 pages into the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is a provision directing the Government Accountability Office to assess the feasibility of the federal government certifying organizations that provide financial literacy. The GAO released its report this week and concluded that "While a federal process for certifying financial literacy providers appears to be feasible, doing so would pose challenges."
$2 Trillion in Cuts in Perspective
Congressional Republicans have said that spending cuts must be at least as large as an increase in the debt ceiling. Negotiations over lifting the debt ceiling are ongoing, but the "magic number," so-to-speak, would be around $2 trillion in spending cuts.
Chained CPI: A Stealth Tax Increase
As we close in on congressional votes to increase the federal debt limit, negotiators are coming up with all kinds of ideas to hike taxes. (Suspiciously, they haven't revealed very many spending cut ideas so far).
$1 Trillion in Phony Spending Cuts?
In the Washington Post Friday, Ezra Klein partly confirmed what I fear the Republican strategy is for the debt-limit bill—get to the $2 trillion in cuts promised through accounting gimmicks. As I have also noted, Klein says that there is about $1 trillion in budget "savings" ($1.4 trillion with interest) to be found simply in the inflated Congressional Budget Office baseline for Iraq and Afghanistan. Klein says, "I'm told that a big chunk of these savings were included in the debt-ceiling deal" that Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Sen. Jon Kyl (D-AZ) are negotiating with the Democrats.
Time to Ax Federal Jobs Programs
With the nation's unemployment rate still above 9 percent and a steady stream of worrisome labor news (the latest statistic: 429,000 new unemployment claims last week), federal policymakers are facing pressure to do something about joblessness. The giant 2009 stimulus bill was supposed to cut unemployment to less than 7 percent by now — but that clearly hasn't worked as planned.
Sen. Brown, the SBA, and Discrimination
I recently testified before the Senate Small Business Committee on the topic of the Small Business Administration. GovExec.com mentioned that there was a "bit of drama as the hearing ended" when Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) "upbraided" me for comments I had made in an exchange with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). Having watched a recording of the hearing, I think I should comment.
CBO Report Reveals Spending Disaster
New projections from the Congressional Budget Office show that without reforms rising federal spending will fundamental reshape America's economy, and not in a good way. Under the CBO's "alternative fiscal scenario," the federal government will consume an 86 percent greater share of the economy in 2035 than it did a decade ago (33.9 percent of GDP compared to 18.2 percent).
CBO's Long-Term Budget Outlook
The Congressional Budget Office released the latest edition of its annual forecast of where the federal government's budget is headed. The numbers are new but the message is the same: the budget is on an unsustainable path. According to the CBO's more politically-realistic "alternative scenario," federal debt as a share of GDP will hit 109 percent in 2021 and would approach 190 percent in 2035.
Oberstar Comes to the EDA's Defense
When Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN) lost his bid for reelection in November, it brought to an end a congressional career that spanned nearly a half century. As a former chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Oberstar's faith in the ability of the federal government to turn taxpayer water into wine was typical for a politician ensconced in the Washington Beltway bubble.


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Billy Farrell/PatrickMcMullan/Sipa
While all eyes were on the glamorous gowns on the red carpet outside of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday night, inside the Costume Institute Gala, it was all about Lady Gaga who stole the show in sheer crystal catsuit. Skipping the red carpet so she could prepare for her mini-concert, Gaga performed four songs in front of a New York City-themed backdrop–while clad in a crystal-encrusted catsuit by Giorgio Armani (who notably designed her Grammys ensembles). The ensemble and the show had the star-studded audience tweeting away: "GaGa singing beautifully at Met Ball. (she's not the lamp post – underneath on the piano)," joked Jimmy Fallon, while Cash Warren, there with wife Jessica Alba raved about her performance. "Jess and I are front row center. Insane! She's amazing," Warren Tweeted, adding, "haven't heard a voice that wonderful in person in a long time." Katy Perry joined in on the Gaga lovefest, Tweeting, "I love @ladygaga She's still cool." Meanwhile, a Michael Kors-clad Brooke Shields told PEOPLE that the performance was one of the highlights of the night, "I love whenever I can see Lady Gaga." —Cara Lynn Shultz


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Fair Trade USA Announces New Winners of Cooperative Small Grants Program
Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative in Honduras Receives Funding to Invest in Sustainable Soil Regeneration and Water Initiatives
We're proud to announce the winner of our Cooperative Small Grants Program's second round, which offers Fair Trade Certified™ cooperatives access to funding for specific capacity-building projects. The winner, COMSA from Honduras, was awarded $ 19,990 to improve their environmental sustainability efforts and their organic program.
This Grant Program is part of our Co-op Link initiative, which connects and supports organizations throughout the supply chain to maximize the benefits of Fair Trade for small-scale farmers around the world.
"We are deeply proud to announce COMSA as a winner of our Grants Program," said Jennifer Gallegos, Director of Coffee for Fair Trade USA. "Honduras is one of the fastest growing Fair Trade coffee origins; it holds tremendous potential to become a leader in sustainable coffee. We are honored to support COMSA on their Fair Trade journey, and believe that access to short term investments in quality and productivity will help them unlock this potential."
About the Grant Winner
COMSA, Honduras
Café Orgánico Marcala S.A. de C.V. (COMSA), is a Honduran coffee cooperative located high in the Comayagua Mountains of La Paz. COMSA was founded in 2001 with support from the Rural Business Development Foundation (FUNDER). It began with a group of 69 small Honduran producers interested in selling their high quality coffee to markets for a fair price. Today, COMSA's 614 members, 27% of which are women, are pioneers in Honduran organic coffee cultivation.
COMSA was awarded $ 19,990 for its winning project titled "Generando vida a los suelos, producimos con responsabilidad," or "Generating life to our soils, we produce with responsibility." As the name suggests, this project aims to regenerate and reduce contamination in producers' land, minimize production costs, and increase the quality of their specialty coffee. Specific projects include:
- Offering extensive training for cooperative members on sustainable practices
- Improving on old and implementing new organic biotechnologies in their production
- Implementing a system to better collect and manage fresh water supplies
- Hiring a technician to implement and maintain the water project
- Reusing coffee byproducts for natural low-cost soil nutrition
"We are very happy to hear this news. We've faced many challenges this harvest including plant disease and difficulties finding financing opportunities, which have incremented our costs of production," said Sonia Vasquez, Organic Production and Certification Coordinator of COMSA. "This project will directly help more of our cooperative members produce in a more low cost and environmentally sustainable way. We are thrilled to receive these funds and we will work diligently in the implementation of this project."
Sonia Vasquez also explained how they self-identified the need for these funds for the long-term development of their organic program. The project resulted from experiments COMSA began two years ago by select producers seeking to improve their soil nutrition. They purchased containers to collect fresh water and reused the byproducts of their coffee mixed with other natural materials such as mineral-rich rocks. Sonia explained, "Once we saw the positive results and started training and educating producers, we understood there would be great potential if we had the resources. This is what we will do with the funds from Fair Trade USA."
The project is set to impact 80 small coffee farmers directly, 15 of which are women, all owning between 1 and 10 hectares of land from 27 municipalities of Marcala, Honduras. On a larger scale, COMSA hopes their organic practices and environmental stewardship will help spread awareness and influence others on the benefits of organic production, creating an even larger impact on their community and environment.
Click here to learn about two winners of the first round, APROCASSI from Peru, and ASOPROKAN from Colombia, who used their funds to invest in crop productivity and quality management. To read more about the goals of our Cooperative Small Grants Program and the Grant Selection Process please click here.


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Was advised in relation to a query in advance of the intensive retreat tomorrow that coffee is considered a food because it is made from a bean, even though that bean is not edible. Even black tea is considered a food.
By that logic just about anything which is made from something solid is considered a food, leaving only water and honey. Anyone come across this before?


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" Enabling the user to connect their Xbox 360 wirelessly to the internet, Mincrosoft's Network Adapter is both reliable and easy to set up. Prices can be high though, and later models have the feature built in. "
* Prices may differ from that shown
So! Back in 2006 I decided to pick up an Xbox 360, and over the years it has done me proud. Avoiding the red rings of death and lending me hours upon hours of enjoyment.
As any gamer can attest, playing over Xbox live with friends is especially fun, and allows you to keep in touch and play socially, when it would otherwise be inconvenient. For this, naturally, you require an internet connection but often that is easier said than done.
To hook your Xbox up to the internet, you have two options. Firstly - you can plug in the internet wire (ethernet) into the back of the xbox, and job's a goodun'. Unfortunately for this approach, you require the xbox to be in the room with the main router, to have a telephone wire in the room with the xbox, or to have reaaaaaaaalllly long wires, and a household who accept that wires trailing across their halls is part of family life.
If none of the above are options (like for me in all previous houses) you must resort to the wireless adaptor. The adaptor cost me £56 at the time of purchase (it has since came down in price drastically, and received several updates in the bargain). For me it was a necessity, living with my sister and neices at the time, trying to play the Xbox in the family room with the internet router would have been like fighting the tide. Instead, I resigned myself to the £56 tax, in order to play it in the peace of my own room.
Ease of use
The adaptor is easy to set up as a peice of hardware - it simply requires you to clip it on to the rear of your xbox 360, and plug in the Usb. Easy peasy. Setting it up to the features of your Xbox and internet, may be a little more difficult (as I found out). It took hours, and a lot of stress and swearing, but I managed to get it sorted.
Fortunately, after that initial set-up, every time we have since moved rooms or houses it has gotten significantly easier, which is a plus (I think Microsoft picked up on how hard it was to set up initially, and provided updates to allow for easier usage).
This is where it falls down... From one or two rooms away, the device picks up signal just fine. From one or two floors away - less so. In one of my houses, I lived in the attic. The wireless transmitter was on the ground floor. Whilst my laptop picked up our bars (out of a possible five) of signal, my Xbox could only pick up one bar, rendering any hope of playing online fruitless. Similarly, in my last home, an apartment, merely having the Xbox at the opposite end of the flat resulted in one bar of signal. In the end I resigned myself to wiring up the xbox to the router.
It provides good convenience and allows you to access Xbox live where family or housing constraints would otherwise deny you. Or at least it would in theory...
This model just isn't very good. It was the first one released, and whilst there have been huuuuuuge leaps forward since, (and the newer models of Xbox even have their own mounted inside the console) this item just doesn't quite cut it.
Would I recommend?
In a word - No. I would recommend the newer device as a significant leap forward in design and function over this one, even if it does cost a little bit more.
I have an older xbox 360 that I have happily been using offline and not connected to Xbox Live. That was until the lads at work pestered me to sign up so that they could play FIFA against me!!! And so I took the plunge and managed to find one of these online for £34.99. On looking further, it would seem you can pick a second-hand one of these up for around £20.
Installation is very easy. Simply plug the USB cable attached to the device into one of the free USB ports on the front of the Xbox. My wireless network was already set up beforehand, so it was a matter of following the on screen instructions to set up the connection to my wireless network.
Despite being a good 15 metres away from my router, this wireless adapter performs well, rarely loosing signal. Granted, it's not as fast as an ethernet connection, but it is wireless and so this is to be expected.
This is a cheap and easy way to get your Xbox connected to Xbox live without wires and with minimal fuss.
Th reason this item is not very good is because its very flimsy and wireless iternet still needs alot of work before it can become the norm, reason is there are lots of invisible waves all around us which can interfere with the wireless connection for example microwaves and sound waves from radios and big vehicles going past your house making it vibrate a personal experience of mine.
Xbox live is not good enough to support wireless im on wired and i get disconnected from games and partys because of live my internet on the pc works flawlessly so i know in my mind that its not my internet connection.
Also the price of this item is not very cheap either it retails at £39.99 and is not worth it since you will most likely have a router in your home for your computer you can buy a cat5 ethernet cable for about £6 depending on the length of cable you want also depends on the price. overall this isnt worth buying it is a waste of money just stick with wired internet it is more reliable than wireless always will be.
If you have an older model Xbox i thoroughly recommend you purchase one of these wireless adapters as it will allow you to gain access to online play. It is very reliable and only requires one purchase even if you use a different console at some point (once at a time). From my experience i would say that it is a very good piece of equipment that any gamer should purchase if they can, it is relatively small meaning that it doesn't take up any room (attaches to the 360), it provides good connection most of the time as long as you have good internet connection.
However there are a few negatives. It is in my opinion, extremely overpriced for what it is and you would think since the release of the new model they would have made it a lot cheaper than it currently is, but as far as I'm aware this isn't the case. I don't know about other people's experiences but i have a good internet connection with multiple devices connected and sometimes for an unknown reason i just couldn't connect when these other devices could (which is very frustrating if you want to play online with your friends).
If you were looking into getting one, as i said i would suggest that you do as it is a very essential piece of technology for good online gaming. However suggest a better alternative by getting a new model if you can (trade in old one or something) as it has a built in one and doesn't require a separate purchase.
If you decide to buy one, just make sure you shop around as you can maybe save yourself some money.
Because my Xbox360 is quite a distance from my phone socket, when I wanted to go LIVE and play against people all across the world, a Wireless Network adapter was my only option.
This simple looking device costs around £35-£40 and plugs into one of the sockets at the front of your Xbox360 console. This then puts you in touch with Xbox players worldwide and puts the Xbox Live universe completely at your disposal. Well, after you have paid for a yearly subscription to the Gold service that is.....but if you don't want to pay any more, there is still the more limited Silver service that allows you to download but not to play with others....
Setting up is fairly simple if you already have a Wireless Network already in place like we did. The instructions that accompany this on-screen, reached through your Xbox Dashboard, are easy to follow and take you through each bit of the process step-by-step. Even if you are a bit of a technological novice like myself, this system provides plenty of help through trouble-shooting screens that help push you towards possible solutions if anything goes wrong.
I have had only a few issues with this during the time I have been using it. Very occassionally I turn on my Xbox to find I am disconnected from Xbox Live and cannot reconnect but getting past this is easy. All I do is unplug the Wireless LAN from my console and reattattach it and everything is fine again. Whether this is a problem with the router or Xbox Live I don't know but iut has only happened a few times and not for quite a while now.
Oher than that, this device is priceless and my key, along with my Gold subscription, to a whole new world of gaming and an increased Xbox Live experience that includes access to Twitter, Facebook and other Social Media as well as everything else Xbox Live has to offer.....
@ About @
I have had this network adaptor for 3 years now, and it still works like new. This is the really good thing with this, because once you buy one, you won't buy anther one, unlike the consoles when they get red ring. This does not have errors and overheating, although it does get quite hot to touch. It does put up with a lot of strain, being at the back of the console near the fans, and after a while gets incredibly warm back there, but still works without mechanical fault.
@Signal @
I live in a house where the hub is at the back of the house, and the console at the front, which means the signal has to travel through walls and various other obstacles to get to the console. For any other network adapter I've owned this would not be a problem, with little interference. This one though, very rarely gets above 2 bars, and occasionally dips to 1 (out of a possible 3) so the majority of the time it's getting half the signal it should, which causes lag.
Online gameplay tends to lag out quite a lot as the ping rises. Sending messages takes a couple seconds longer while the connection thinks about it for a while on a loading screen, and if you are trying to download a very large file, it takes hours for a couple gig worth of game demos. It really isn't great quality, and the connectivity isn't good either.
Setting up is really easy where you can just plug and play because the console automatically recognises the adapter, and under "My Xbox" performs a scan of local networks automatically. The network adapter tells the Xbox what wireless networks are in range and can be set to automatically join, or manually ask which network to join each time.
@ Overall @
This seems like a lot of money for a rubbish network adapter. I would recommend the Ethernet alternative for Xbox 360 consoles because they are faster, don't cost the earth and signal quality isn't a problem anymore since you're already connected to the hub directly.
I paid £59.99 for this adapter and it feels like an absolute rip off, but you have to buy it because Microsoft won't let the console accept anything else, so they can charge the earth for it and you will have to buy it. Wrong, you don't have to buy it, get a cheap £4.99 Ethernet cable, save money and have considerably better results.
I recently bought my partner a new Xbox 360 slimline (MW3 Edition) and as the biggest TV in our house is in the front room, he decided that this new console was to go in the front room in place of the old Xbox 360 we already owned.
I decided to put the older console in the bedroom, so that I could play it whilst my partner was on his console in the front room, but to be able to play online I would need to get a wireless adapter as the older consoles do not have a built in wireless capability like the new ones do. It was either that or get the worlds longest ethernet cable to be able to plug the console into the modem!!
I had a look in Game for a wireless adapter, but I was unprepared to pay the amount they were asking for either a new or a second hand one, and so I went online. Strangely enough I found a preowned one of the Game website for just £20 - £15 cheaper than the preowned ones in store!! I ordered this and waited for it to arrive, as I was in no rush to get the Xbox online again.
The item actually arrived rather quickly and I went straight to work at connecting the Xbox online, just incase there was a problem with the item and it needed to be returned. I was not too sure how to connect one of these adapters, as there was no instructions with the item, being second hand, but it was all pretty simple.
The adapter connects through USB and there is two ports on the front of my Xbox and one on the back. The one on the back is the better one to use though as there is a clip on the adapter which locks onto the back of the Xbox, so it is connected and away tidily with no wires or messy eyesores. There is a small aerial on the top of the adapter which you unfold and point up so it can recieve the wireless signal from your Wifi.
The adapter is powered through the USB port of the Xbox so there is no need to worry about plugging it into the mains. When you first plug the adapter into the Xbox and turn the console on, a notification will pop up on the screen asking you to configure the adapter. Just press yes and this will do the process automatically and it was actually quite quick to do this. Once this has finished, a screen will show up which tells you what Wifi signals has been picked up and you just scroll through and select the network you wish to join.
You then type in your WIFI password, should one be required, and the connection is complete. The Xbox will remember this WIFI connection every time you wish to sign into Xbox live, and you ca leave the adapter plugged into the Xbox all the time, as it turns off when you turn off the console and turns on when you turn on the console. There is no need to do anything else with it, you will soon probably forget it is there and just carry on with your gaming.
I am actually really pleased with this purchase and I am glad I bought it. It is definatley worth the money I paid for it, and I am glad that I did not pay the higher prices, as brand new these cost £50!! If you are able to get one cheaper, even a preowned one, I would recommend this, as I do not think it is worth £50 to be able to play games online, especially if you will only be doing so once in a while.
All in all, this was a good buy and I am glad I got it. It is simple to set up, simple to use and so far has given me no problems *touch wood*. I could not ask for better, as it does the exact job I want it to do, and I did not have have to pay a fortune for it. Even if it only lasts me a year or two, it is totally worth the £20 I paid for it.
You can buy these preowned and brand new in Game, on the Game website and in places like Gamestation and selected Blockbusters too. You can also buy them online on sites such as Amazon and eBay, but it is always best to have a look around for the best price, as it is not worth paying out too much for these.
I give this Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter a 5 out of 5 stars, as it is perfect for the job. Totally recommended.
*This review is also on Ciao under the user name of Hailee*
With more and more people heading online to play their favourite games, online capability on consoles is only becoming more and more popular. With this in mind, on the Xbox 360, you have 2 options, the first is to connect an ethernet cable to your wireless router and your console, which does the job perfectly, but leaves you with loads of wires going all round your house, making the place look horrid and untidy, which is not fun for anyone. The other option is to buy this wireless adapter, which simply plugs in to the back of the Xbox USB port, and will connect wirelessly to your broadband router in your home. Thus, this is the easy, wire free solution to all your online connectivity needs.
Setting up the device
You might think that this would be a tricky issue, and something reserved for techy types only, but I can assure you that I am not that, and am pretty much a novice in these areas, and found it really easy. Obviously you already need wireless connectivity in your house, and Xbox Live membership, but after that you can just plug this into the back of the device, into the USB port and you are away and running - it really is simple.
The adapter
As you can see, the adapter is pretty small, making it nice and light so it is easy to lug around or move about. It also means you can store it on top of your console without too much of an issue. The only downside is that it is about £49.99 to purchase, which is the price of a game, so you may consider that a better investment, but it does cut down on the amount of wires you need in the house so it is pretty good, and worthwhile, in my opinion.
I have never had any issues with the adapter itself, occasionally my internet goes offline, in which case you have to reset the adapter, which is annoying, but it isn't the fault of the product, as this happened before I bought it, and is just a problem with internet connectivity in general. The adapter is a good distance from my router and it works both quickly and efficiently, so a big thumbs up from me.
Basically, if you do not want the trouble of wires all over your house, and you have a bit of money to spend, then consider this - it is a worthwhile investment.
I purchased my network adapter a few years after I brought my Xbox, I got it so I could play online anywhere that had a TV and a wireless signal. The wireless adapter is very easy to use, you clip it onto the back of the Xbox and connect it by USB. Then you have to go onto the Xbox dashboard and go to network setting. From there you will be able to see your wireless network (if it's open) and then click on the network and enter that pass key if one is needed. Then you're all ready to play the Xbox anywhere. The adapter has a light on the back of it that shows whether you're connected to the internet or not. It shines red when you're not connected, and green when you are.
There are problems with this adapter when it comes to connection quality and speed, but there is a new adapter which does allow faster and more stable connections. But for most cases, the original adapter is more than capable of allowing you to play online with a relatively reliable connection speed.
I was late getting an Xbox 360, but clearly I was just a little too early. Only 6 months after I fork over £100 for an Xbox is the new one released, boasting integrated wireless! I was loath to part with the excessive amount of money Microsoft are charging for an accessory that adds basic functionality, but with my Xbox and router seperated by a flight of stairs and 2 rooms, I had little choice. I looked into getting a cheaper option, but many seemed to require some sort of setup, so I ultimately decided to just go for the Microsoft original. To be honest, I think I made the right choice. It worked right from the word go, with no setup needed, and hasn't failed once. It picks up the signal better than my laptop does at times! I'm not sure that the clip on the back is supposed to attach to, which is annoying, but I can live with such minor grievances. While the price is excessive, it's the best of a bad bunch.
For a while I used my trusty xbox 360 with an Ethernet cable plugged in so I could go online and make use of the wonderful Xbox Live. In my humble opinion modern day gamers are missing out on a considerable lot if they ignore online gaming and thus I wanted to be in on the action. However, it soon became apparent that by having to stretch cables to the computer downstairs, cut offs and the wire being a tripping hazrd in a busy house I needed something to take them away and sure enough the Wireless Adaptor does the trick.
The thing that was putting me off here when initially buying was the price. At £49.99 I felt a game was a better buy and held off until I had to.
But since buying the product I must admit that I have been more than impressed and it has worked a wonder living well up to the price tag and making for easier, more reliable and more effective gaming online. Of course before reading this it is obvious you require a wireless router and an xbox 360 to use this with either a Gold or silver xbox live membership and this device will only work on the console and cannot be used a general adapter.
Anyway, the device is easy to set up, far easier than doing it via a cable. Within minute even a novice will have this up and running and connected to xbox. The device plugs via usb into the back of the console. One problem with this though is the wire is under 15cm long so you have to find somewhere to put it. I don't like the idea of it dangling as that will surely put unnecessary strain on the string and thus its best balancing it on top of the box.
As you can see from the image the device itself is very small and this light making it easily storable and transportable but I tend to leave it in always. The little aerial at the top picks up the signal and the light display goes Green when connected and red to tell you if there is an issue.
In terms of performance I have used this I a number of places and find it works a treat with all locations a routers. First off I used it with a Sky Router two floors up from where the router was and it worked solidly and connected fine, being reliable and quick. Then I sued it within 2 meter of a BT router and again it worked a treat so if you have either of those then you have no worries.
In my time using it rarely looses connection of its own accord. If the internet is connected and working fine then this little device will do the same.
An essential for xbox 360 owners wanting to play on line. Solid, reliable and lasts!
Also on ciao
When I had to relocate for my job I ended up lodging at someones house. They had wireless setup at their house and the equipment was situated downstairs. I had my XBOX setup in my room up stairs so the only solution to this problem was for me to get a wireless adapter. When I got one about 3 - 5 years ago I remember them being quite pricey.. maybe around £60.. I think they have come down alot in price as the years have gone on.
The equipment is just a wireless device that plugs into one of the USB sockets on the X BOX. This then allows you to connect to a wireless network and play games with other people around the world. I have never had any problems with mine and would easily recommend the product to other people. Its simple to use... you just plug it in however if you have multiple devices on your home network you may need to manually configure an IP address. Other than that it is pretty much just plug and play. It seems as fast as a wired connection and I have never had any problems with speed or lag which is highly important when competing online.
A great solution to a common problem.
Im a big fan of this wireless network adaptor although I do believe the xbox 360 should have had this function built in the console and that Microsoft should not have needed an updated console to do such a thing. The adaptor does everything it says it does it offers wireless internet creating ease of use without the need of a long wire in my situaion running through the house just to play xbox live. Its certainly a handy gadget to have for any xbox 360 although it seems quite costly for such a small product its really worth it in my opinion. One slight problem with the adaptor though is the loss of speed in the connection yet this can only be expected from wireless devices. Certainly worth picking up for the right price although if your router is close to your xbox then I would suggest avoiding buying this product.
If you own an xbox 360 you pretty much have to own this aswell to get the most out of the console.
I could not imagine myself having an xbox without online capabilities, it makes the whole experience more enjoyable and prolongs the life of the games that have been released.
It suits the overall look of the xbox, it feels well made and it also sits nicely on the back of the xbox tucked away out of sight.
Its had plenty of knocks and has still operated fine.
I bought mine the day i got my xbox, this came to about £45 for it new, although game often do a "£25 when bought with anything else instore" and it can be bought with a cheap £1 toy and the offer is still valid, i would reccomend doing this or just buying the new N type with two ariels.
- Gives you the ability to talk online with millions of other people.
- Play games against many other players, helps you to increase your skill.
- Ability to have your xbox in a different room to your router without a long cable.
- Fits nicely onto the back of the xbox.
- States that its plug and play, sometimes sets itself up.
- The further away you get from your router the weaker the signal gets
- Ive found the ariel to be directional, it needs to be in line with my router.
- It should have no more then one wall or two doors inbetween the router or the adater.
- An extra 3 foot away from my door means a loss of 2 bars of signal strength.
- Also gives you the ability to hear annoyingly high pitched teenage boys/girls.
- Can be complicated to set up correctly and can involve port forwarding.
- High price, much cheaper alternatives out there.
Perhaps the strength of the new generation of games consoles was that they were no longer limited to just playing games. They have evolved into fully functional media centres. Of course the gaming element is its primary function, but then came dvd and bluray playing options, music and of course internet connection. Now while the soon to be released upgrade of the Xbox 360 does have an internal wirelss adapter, the originals do not. To get online you will need the Wireless Networking Adapter.
Available from Amazon.co.uk for a reduced price of £40.99, (usually £59.99) it allows you to connect to the Xbox Live facility. From there you can transfer music, games and films to your Xbox 360 without the messy wiring previously required. It is compatible with both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz wireless networks.
It is a tiny device measuring 19cm x 12.2cm x 4cm and weighs only 150g. You plug it into the rear of your Xbox 360 but not before loading the installation softward disc. It is similar to setting up your PC, so veterans of that task will have no problems. Install software, plug the adapter in, configure and scan. Done.
Of course this will only give you access to the basoc Xbox live, which is limited to just the basics. If you have designs on playing online, then be prepared to for a membership. A 12 month gold card membership costs £39.99. The silver membership is free, and with that you can still download stuff, including add-ons for the games you play. You can also spend your hard earned points in the marketplace.
A lot of people have complained about the cost of the device in the past, and they have a point as initially it retailed closer to £70. My advice to you is to wait until the new version of the Xbox 360 is released. As this has the adapter built in, it should see demand for this reduce and the price will follow suit.
As to its usefulness, I can have no complaints. It works every time. The set up and installation was simple and painless. It is constructed from the same external material as the console itself, so even if it where on display, it would not look out of place. It definitely takes the console to a better level which can only extend its lifespan.


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Moderators: Timko, Fritz, Solty, Booter, Blake_T, Frank Delicious
Denver Discer wrote:Did you ever get a medius??? It is a turd So I have one for cheap if you want to check it out Pretty understable right out of the box......
Thatdirtykid wrote:Ive been working on my S element S trying to get it broken in (its the only mid ive thrown for a couple weeks, lots of knife hyzers and such) and its still pretty darn overstable for a mid. Has anyone broken one of these in?
Really what I want to know is do they ever get the amount of glide a seasoned roc has?
And for the record I will never complain that S plastic is too durable I think its the overall best plastic out there.
Thatdirtykid wrote:thats what I expected and wanted to hear. Once one of mine is finally broken in I can take the E element out of my bag.
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There are many important dates when we proudly fly the American flag.
Of course, it can be flown 365 days a year and 24-7 if the proper guidelines are followed.
The splendor of the red, white and blue was very evident as we recently observed Memorial Day.
A special day is nearing when the American flag will again be flown by many in this country. It's called National Flag Day, Thursday, June 14.
Let's go to usflag.org and read about the history of celebrating the American flag on June 14 of each year:
The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the flag is believed to have first originated in 1885.
BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wis., Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as "Flag Birthday."
In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as "Flag Birthday" or "Flag Day."
On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York.
On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day.
Following the suggestion of Col. J. Granville Leach (at the time historian of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution), the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America on April 25, 1893 adopted a resolution requesting the mayor of Philadelphia and all others in authority and all private citizens to display the flag on June 14.
Leach went on to recommend that thereafter the day be known as "Flag Day" and on that day, school children be assembled for appropriate exercises, with each child being given a small flag.
Two weeks later on May 8, the board of managers of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution unanimously endorsed the action of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames.
As a result of the resolution, Dr. Edward Brooks, then superintendent of public schools of Philadelphia, directed that Flag Day exercises be held on June 14, 1893 in Independence Square.
School children were assembled, each carrying a small flag, and patriotic songs were sung and addresses delivered.
In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the flag be displayed on all public buildings.
With BJ Cigrand and Leroy Van Horn as the moving spirits, the Illinois organization, known as the American Flag Day Association, was organized for the purpose of promoting the holding of Flag Day exercises.
On June 14th, 1894, under the auspices of this association, the first general public school children's celebration of Flag Day in Chicago was held in Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln and Washington Parks, with more than 300,000 children participating.
Adults, too, participated in patriotic programs.
Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, delivered a 1914 Flag Day address in which he repeated words he said the flag had spoken to him that morning: "I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself."
Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day – the anniversary of the flag resolution of 1777 – was officially established by the proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916.
While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until Aug. 3, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.
Staying on the usflag.org website, we find out more about the evolution of the United States flag.
No one knows with absolute certainty who designed the first stars and stripes or who made it.
Congressman Francis Hopkinson seems most likely to have designed it, and few historians believe that Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, made the first one.
Until the executive order of June 24, 1912, neither the order of the stars nor the proportions of the flag was prescribed.
Consequently, flags dating before this period sometimes show unusual arrangements of the stars and odd proportions, these features being left to the discretion of the flag maker.
In general, however, straight rows of stars and proportions similar to those later adopted officially were used.
The principal acts affecting the flag of the United States are the following:
• On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: "Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."
• Act of Jan. 13, 1794 – provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795.
• Act of April 4, 1818 – provided for 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state, signed by President Monroe.
• Executive order of President Taft dated June 24, 1912 – established proportions of the flag and provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each, a single point of each star to be upward.
• Executive order of President Eisenhower dated Jan. 3, 1959 – provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically.
Executive order of President Eisenhower dated Aug. 21, 1959 – provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizontally and 11 rows of stars staggered vertically.
Showing respect for the United States flag is most important and we can easily learn about flag etiquette by going to http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html
Check out the National Flag Day Foundation at http://www.nationalflagday.com/default.asp
Mission of the National Flag Day Foundation is to carry on the tradition of the first flag day observance.
On June 14, 1885, Bernard J. Cigrand, a 19-year-old teacher at Stony Hill School, placed a 10-inch, 38- star flag in a bottle on his desk then assigned essays on the flag and its significance.
Editor's note: Howard Lestrud is ECM online managing editor.


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Bellevue, Wash. Costco plans to open its first store in Australia in 2009.
At its annual shareholders meeting in Bellevue, Wash., on Jan. 29, Costco chairman of the board Jeffrey Brotman said the company plans to "open in Australia sometime next year," when asked about the chain's plans for international expansion.
Costco executive VP and CFO Richard Galanti later confirmed that Costco is searching for sites in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
During his presentation, CEO Jim Sinegal said Costco increased the number of stores powered by solar energy to 13 and that the company is considering solar panels for 25 more locations.
Sinegal also confirmed the 531-store chain plans to open 29 new locations this year and estimates Costco could eventually open 1,025 stores worldwide with more than 700 warehouses in the United States.


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The New School
Inside the Business of Design: Mark Ferguson
Inside the Business of Design is series of one-hour live interviews between accomplished design professionals and Keith Granet, author of The Business of Design, Balancing Creativity and Profitability, with the goal of enlightening the audience with the way each of these leaders created their successful design firms.
Mark Ferguson is a partner at Ferguson & Shamamian Architects, LLP, a firm widely recognized for residential design in traditional styles, particularly those with classical origins. Mark's early work on renovations to houses in Tuxedo Park and Croton-on-Hudson introduced him to traditional architecture. He apprenticed at firms in Pittsburgh, Boston and Princeton before moving to New York City in 1982. The experience led him to a position at Parish-Hadley Associates where he collaborated with interior decorators and artisans in the creation of new residences guided by traditional design principles. While at Parish-Hadley, he joined forces with Oscar Shamamian, and in 1988, they established the firm known today as Ferguson & Shamamian Architects, LLP.
Inside the Business of Design 2012/2013 season guests include Bjarke Ingels, Robert A.M. Stern, Charlotte Moss, and Bunny Williams.
Tishman Auditorium, Alvin Johnson/J. M. Kaplan Hall, 66 West 12th Street
Tickets are $50 or $12.00 with current student ID. A limited number of
free tickets are available to New School students. For more information,
contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
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