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He must be the ******* Lannister as he doesn't have blond hair.This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
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He must be the ******* Lannister as he doesn't have blond hair.
I told him that my grandma thought he was awesome and she loved the Gangnam Style video, and he said, "You tell your grandma I said hello", so I did. She made a Roy fansign that said "Hello, Roy!" on it and had me tweet it, in which he retweeted it and thanked her for being a fan. I mean, he didn't exactly fly me in from down under, but he's still one of the two nicest guys on the team (George Hill), probably the nicest, down to earth guy.
"What you do is so loud, I can't hear what you say" -Andrew LuckJunior at the University of Louisville
"If you turn the other cheek, I'm gonna hit you in the other cheek, too" -Charles Barkley
"Ego is edging greatness out" -Rick Pitino
Greenfield-Central High School Alum '14
Follow me on Twitter @steagles1
1000th post - 4/16/12 2000th post - 6/24/12 3000th post - 3/8/13
The Lannisters are misunderstood. A family full of graciousness and warm in their heart...
Mirror Mirror on the wall, who's the greatest of them all!
Garbage players get 1st round picks, (WTF)! All of the NBA must hate the Pacers! LOL
He went 0 for 4 from the field that night, (but had 10 boards, 6 being offensive). Dude probably thought he had a bad game or wasn't feeling well.
But being self righteous and self absorbed? That goes against literally every interaction I've ever had with the guy. From the Area 55 season 2 audition to the tweet I got back from him when I didn't make season 3 and thanked him for giving me the opportunity to the out of the blue discussion he had with me when he told me he had put in a good word for the Area55ers who were trying out for G2 at the bone marrow drive he did up at Castleton this fall, I've NEVER had any ping that he'd be some self absorbed self righteous jerk.
Hell, he even apologized for the accidental elbow to the head at the airport after the lockout and it really wasn't even his fault it had happened!
Last edited by Sandman21; 01-16-2013 at 11:10 AM.
"Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel
"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "
There is another element of this story: The post game family & friends meet-and-greet.
Through work, I had the opportunity to meet a few of the players on the Spurs. When I was on vacation in New Orleans, the Spurs happened to be in town. One of the players hooked me up with a pair of tickets and passes to the meet-and-greet. I am assuming this was the same thing that the OP attended (in the basement near a loading dock)?
Anyway, the two players I met previously were nice, and we talked for awhile. However, Antonio McDyess barely acknowledged me. More on this in a second.
I was able to do this a second time in a weird way. I went to the Pacers-Knicks game with tickets I bought from a scalper. I ended up sitting right next to David Lee's dad. We talked about basketball all game, and he gave me two passes for the friends & family meet-and-greet after the game. My wife and I went... and it was supremely awkward. David Lee gave us a smile and a handshake, but nothing else. Why? Because we weren't anyone's friends and family.
That is my larger point. These things aren't meant to be public events. They are designed to give the road team who, with shoot-arounds and film sessions and trainer sessions and warm ups and the game itself, don't really have much time to hang out with their friends and family who live/are near a town on the road before they hop on the bus and head to the airport. It is supposed to be a "Hey Mom, love you, good to see you" and a "Charlie! What's going on, my man!" sort of thing, not a "R-R-Roy... Y-you are my biggest - I mean I am your biggest fan!" kind of thing.
Personally, I think it is a bit unfair to judge a player's personality based on that. Back to the McDyess thing... I didn't read much into it. I said hi, he said hi, nothing weird about that. If Antonio was a non-famous stranger, I wouldn't have thought about it twice. If I was a huge fan of him or the Spurs, I might have been hurt. But I wasn't, and I saw it for what it was.
Anyway, I wasn't there for your Roy experience, so I won't tell you that you are right or wrong. I just thought those experiences would shed a bit of context into the situation.
One final thought - I am in Area 55, and Roy Hibbert is the ****. He is super nice, very friendly, and fun to be around. He takes the time to remember everyone's name. Can't say enough about the dude. I would recommend taking that experience, throwing it away as an outlier, and enjoying the awesome, charismatic team leader we are lucky to have right now.
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It is funny you should mention this behavior. I don't know that they are looking at "adoring fans", but I just mentioned to some people last night that many players seem to do everything to not look at the person interviewing them. Can't really figure out why, but I can say this - I would much rather look at Brooke than look off into the stands or wherever they are looking. I mean that respectfully to Brooke, by the way.
Nothing in life worth having comes easy.
That is really great Flavadave. I hadn't thought about it from that perspective, so that is really nice insight. And yes, that is exactly what it was...
Again, I'm not trying to crucify Big Roy. Just trying to get some perspective is all.
We invest money, hours and hair pigment into this team for several hours a night 2-4 nights a week. We get our pre-game and half-time fluff pieces but ,otherwise, no real perspective into who these guys are off-the-court. I am NOT here to say we as "fans" are any more entitled to knowing who they are when they are in their personal element as they are not entitled to knowing about mine. But, they have no interest in walking around with my name on their back, either.
In my opinion, I should have an idea as to the true character of my children's role models before I shell out 120 bucks for a jersey with their name on it. And no, that doesn't make me an overzealous fanboy. If anything it makes me an overprotective parent.
Thank you guys for your input and perspective. I knew that I would get some good responses and I did. No thank you to those making the personal attacks on myself. Not very classy.
Oh, and BTW, if I could have my kids show support for ANYBODY involved with the franchise, a Pacers "Vogel" jersey would be in order. A really cool guy, who obviously brushes his teeth!! Good role model!
If we want to dissect Roy the player, by all means we should do so. But Roy the man has shown himself to be a great man of character.
Remember when Roy was planning on visiting that sick fan of his? I remember hearing how heart broken he was when that sick fan had passed before Roy had a chance to meet him.
He's also done quite a bit to connect with the local fan base (area 55, random Gangnam style dances, video's, taking fans out to the movies, charity, etc)
I am sorry I didn't type that in green. I thought that was obvious sarcasm, with regards to Roy. The place was empty and IDK what he is looking at when he does that.
If anything this thread at least brought to the fore (if that was even needed) how great a person Roy is.
I hope I can add some insight to this post. When Roy was a rookie and first started doing interviews, I noticed that he had slight hesitations or almost a stutter to his speech. As a speech pathologist, I know how difficult it is for some people to talk in public when the words don't flow fluently. If you notice him talking now, he has little fluency problems, but he does look away or talk about something he feels comfortable with when he is in the limelight. In my opinion, he has learned to compensate for his fluency issues. Now I am not saying he has ever been diagnosed with that, but I have been around it enough and worked with people who do have that issue and he is demonstrating coping mechanisms. I give him great credit. Can you imagine having to be in the public and being scrutinized as much as a professional athlete is? Then on top of that, working so hard at NOT letting people know you have fluency issues. It is very difficult to look someone in the eye when that occurs. Again, this is just my two cents worth on my observations! Love Roy Hibbert!
I think there is your problem. You are too worried about their true character, when you should only worry about the myth. If you want to get into true character no parent would approve of any adult to be their child's role model. Sometimes it is better to keep with the myth that he is the best person ever, while his ugly side is hidden away. Because seeing that good side is more important than knowing of the bad side.
Meh, I really don't care who these people are or how they talk to their mothers. It's about one thing, basketball. That's what these guys are, basketball players. I buy a jersey that says Pacers on the front of it, so that's where it stays. It's not their job to kiss my butt and make me feel good about it. Just play ball. Win. Trying to justify why or how they should impact their children's lives should be moot, because the parent is the most important role model of them all. Not some athlete.
The biggest misconception our society has is commercialization = idolization. Get rid of a brand, what do you have left?
When did a kid's jersey ever cost $120?In my opinion, I should have an idea as to the true character of my children's role models before I shell out 120 bucks for a jersey with their name on it. And no, that doesn't make me an overzealous fanboy. If anything it makes me an overprotective parent.
I also believe that there are some GREAT athlete role models, and that is possible to make a mistake, but then mature from it in a very positive and endearing way.
There won't be any DeMarcus Cousins, OJ Simpson or even any Suh jerseys being worn at our place.
And I appreciate your take. Let me say, I never quit on the PACERS after the Auburn Hills incident. But, I know that a chunk of the Hoosier state still struggles to get back to the fieldhouse. However, many of the PDers did quit on many of that era of Pacer players. Professional Athlete idolization will occur, as is a pretty natural part of fandom. I choose to continue to steer my kids toward the more positive ones. Which is ok, i think.
Here is my problem. Just because they can jump high, run fast and catch a ball, why are they considered role models? What are they doing for the greater good of the planet?
Athletes shouldn't be put to that type of standard. Just because you're good at a sport and people post your face on shoe and cereal boxes doesn't mean they should be a role model.
This goes for actors and musicians, too.
People that make a real difference in lives, Nobel Peace Prize winners, esteemed authors... examples like that.
Now you're just trying to derail the thread. Suggest you start a new topic on the main page. Otherwise, this one might go to .... in a handbasket.
Why do the things that we treasure most, slip away in time
Till to the music we grow deaf, to God's beauty blind
Why do the things that connect us slowly pull us apart?
Till we fall away in our own darkness, a stranger to our own hearts
And life itself, rushing over me
Life itself, the wind in black elms,
Life itself in your heart and in your eyes, I can't make it without you
I agree. But, thats just not, "real world".
I'm not going to ask anything unreasonable out of expectations. But many athletes use their fame and money to do amazing things... They should also be celebrated.
Those people aren't in the media spotlight to be seen by kids. The media throws images of athletes, musicians, and actors at kids all day. Kids see that and make them their role model. No one really wants their kids to think of Paris Hilton as a role model, but I remember when I was a senior in high school, one of the freshman classes did something where the students wrote down their role models. The number one role model for the girls was Paris Hilton. There really isn't much you can do about it unless you censor everything your child does, and prohibit them from having friends. The best you can do is steer them towards the good role models that are in the public eye.
Why? When you have normal people volunteering at soup kitchens every Wednesday. Where is their celebration?


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PORTLAND, Ore. ( TheStreet) -- No matter how many twists and turns cars take on commercials filmed along the Pacific Coast Highway, the driving experience of the average person buying that vehicle will be far more mundane.Since the latest recession, it's dawned on more Americans that not only is their typical drive boring, but it's costly as well. When researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute released the results of last year's Urban Mobility Report, they found that the average American commuter wasted $818 in time and gas sitting in traffic in 2011. That's $121 billion total, which is up $1 billion from 2010 but still shy of the $128 billion wasted in pre-recession 2005. The Department of Transportation notes that U.S. drivers, who had been racking up a steadily increasing number of miles since the 1970s, started cutting back in 2008 and never returned fully to the habits of years earlier. Meanwhile, traffic information service Inrix noted that as average gas prices started spiking in 2010, average commute times during peak hours dropped from more than four hours to less than two. A study this spring by the Frontier Group and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund found that the average U.S. driver actually started cutting back well before the recession, peaking around 2004 but dropping 6% by 2011. While the total miles driven in the U.S. rose 3.8% from 1948 to 2004, they've been flat since. There are a lot of factors at play here: rising gas prices, fewer people in the workforce, a 4% drop in vehicle ownership since 2006, a 4 percentage-point drop in licensed drivers since 1992, baby boomer retirement and increased use of public transportation, to name a few. That's enough to sap the joy out of the country's love affair with the car, but it's also had the added effect of reawakening U.S. drivers' admiration for one of the auto industry's mainstays: The midsize sedan. Wooed over the past few decades by SUVs and crossovers, car buyers are coming back to the midsize and its middle ground. This year, the 2.8 million midsize cars sold through September outpace the 2.5 million crossovers sold during the same period and are well ahead of the 1.06 million vehicles sold in all non-crossover SUV categories combined. Roomier than more fuel-efficient small-car models and with better mileage than the light trucks, midsized cars may have seen year-to-date sales flatten out over the past year, but they're still the practical car of choice for practical drivers. They're not exciting, but they get the job done. With help from Kelley Blue Book and the folks at MotorIntelligence, we came up with the best -- if somewhat bland -- midsize cars money can buy. Automakers are trying to make them more interesting by messing with their grills and throwing in a bunch of techy options, but their biggest perks are still efficiency, comfort and reliability:
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subset: commoncrawl


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EU to cut budget for first time in 60 years
BRUSSELS: EU leaders appear ready to cut the bloc's budget for the first time in its six-decade history, with a tentative agreement to trim spending by 3 per cent in absolute terms over the rest of the decade, diplomats say.
As marathon talks entered an 18th hour, a sustained push led by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, for the EU to share in the austerity cuts the 27-member states are implementing won crucial backing from the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.
While France and Italy still fought for funds aimed at trimming record European unemployment, a lowered spending ceiling of €908.4 billion ($1.19 trillion) was put to the leaders on Friday afternoon.
The new figures would mean a first-ever fall in the EU's seven-year budget in absolute terms against the previous term.
Hours of hard bargaining were still expected before leaders agreed on all the details, with one diplomat saying the numbers might still be tweaked.
An absolute ceiling of €960 billion was set for spending ''commitments'' between next year and 2020, down from the €973 billion target that Cameron and allies such as the Netherlands rejected at the previous budget summit in November, which collapsed without any deal.
In the EU, budgeting process commitments refer to the maximum amount that can be allocated to programs during the budget period, while actual spending or ''payments'' is usually lower as projects are delayed or dropped.
Originally, the European Commission wanted a 5 per cent increase in EU commitments to €1.04 trillion - about 1 per cent of its total gross domestic product.
The contours of the deal were thrashed out during multiple mini-meetings, and included €6 billion for a fund to tackle youth unemployment.
Jobless numbers across the EU are more than 26 million, with nearly three out of five people under the age of 25 out of work in Spain and Greece.
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Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu had surgery on Saturday to repair his broken left hand, a process that will keep him out at least four weeks, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
One of Orlando's focal players with Dwight Howard now in Los Angeles, Turkoglu broke the fifth metacarpal in his non-shooting hand in the Magic's season opener on Friday.
Turkoglu's injury is sure to set back an already-thin Magic. Rookie Maurice Harkless was the obvious choice to step in for Turkoglu, but Magic coach Jacque Vaughn wants to give the 19-year-old more time to recover from offseason sports hernia surgery.
MORE EARLY INJURIES: Nash fractures fibula | Anthony Davis suffers concussion
Another option at forward, DeQuan Jones, an undrafted rookie out of Miami, remains day-to-day because of a strained abductor muscle in his hip, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Al Harrington, who came over in the Howard trade, had knee surgery for a torn meniscus and has yet to play with his new team.
That leaves shooting guard Arron Afflalo as the likely replacement for Turkoglu. In six NBA seasons, Afflalo has averaged 8.8 points and 6.0 rebounds primarily at shooting guard. He scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds in the Magic's 102-89 win over the Denver Nuggets.


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Posted 5 years ago
(1 item)
I have my father's Hollander catchers mitt C1016 & I have no interest in selling it so I have no interest in an evaluation. I think that it's about 65 years old and it's in fabulous condition. Does anyone know how old it is? What is the best way to perserve it? What is the best way to display it?


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Photo Gallery: Designers' Style Secrets
Top decorators share their tips!
Facilitate smart-looking design with smart storage.
Toronto designer Brian Gluckstein makes this elegant and modern Georgian home unfussy and livable, thanks to closed cabinets and hidden storage. The kitchen balances style with practicality: panelling on the fridge keeps it discreet while honed granite countertops hide fingerprints. In the bathroom, quiet artwork and serene colours transform the room into a luxury retreat. Towels and toiletries are tucked away, giving the beautiful architectural details the attention they deserve.
For more designer style secrets, see our photo gallery.
Double up on key furniture pieces to create a symmetrical layout.
English bureaus flank the fireplace, corralling clutter in this formal yet cosy space. Timeless silhouettes upholstered in family-friendly fabrics meet the demands of everyday use.
Put personality on display with colours and patterns.
Karen Cole — interior designer for ColeDuron Interior Design — has a bold and eclectic personal style. Her advice for an organized home: "Have dual-functioning pieces so everything has a proper resting place." She also organizes furniture to work with the space's natural lighting, creating cosy reading nooks and welcoming, well-lit entertaining areas.
Watch a video tour of Cole's bohemian-chic house. Plus, get more designer style secrets in our photo gallery.
Use furniture pieces in new ways — cabinets can make wonderful bedside tables.
In designer Karen Cole's bedroom, two mismatched tall found cabinets stand on either side of the bed and act as storage units for socks and delicates. A large kilim-upholstered ottoman, layered atop a graphic Madeline Weinrib area rug, brings the home's exotic feel upstairs.
Find more Designer Style Secrets and Bedside Table Styling Tricks.
Use clear lucite tables and chairs to make narrow rooms look spacious.
Designer Christine Ralphs of Lloyd Ralphs Design is well known for her signature monochromatic colour scheme paired with bold zebra prints. She prefers a streamlined black, white and neutral palette with classic furniture and a few glamorous accent pieces, such as the gold kitchen faucet and an oversized, ornate mirror. Clear side tables maximize space and keep the eye focused on the surrounding artwork.
For more designer style secrets, see our photo gallery. Also, see more trendy interiors by Lloyd Ralphs Design.
Consider white walls and pale wood floors to lighten an airy, open space.
Symmetry is key in the layout of this dining area. A pair of floor lamps sit on either side of a black and white photography display. Two white bird sculptures are perched atop the table, which is surrounded by casual, Eames style chairs. The delicate lines of the glass dining table make the room look even more more spacious.
For more beautiful interiors by Lloyd Ralphs Design, see our photo gallery. Also, see other designer spaces with our Michael Angus gallery.
Choose neutrals to visually expand small, stylish spaces.
Cheryl's modern condo dining room, designed by Allen Chan, Anwar Mukhayesh and Matt Davis of HGTV's Designer Guys, has a touch of country. The designers like to juxtapose old and new. Here, a rustic harvest table made by Cheryl's dad is paired with sleek, modern chairs in two contrasting colours. Three light fixtures — odd numbers always look good — add an unexpected bohemian touch.
For more designer style secrets, see our photo gallery.
Use grey, brown and taupe hues to create a zen vibe.
Toss pillows and a fur throw add a luxurious touch to a modern linen sectional in Cheryl's living room. The Designer Guys chose to keep the seating low, creating the illusion of higher ceilings in the space.
Celebrate a fantastic view with big, floor-to-ceiling windows.
CityLine Design/Build Contractor Ramsin Khachi and his team opened up a 1960's bungalow to create an airy living space. Engineered materials, such as the wide-plank flooring and a travertine kitchen island create a natural look, which contrasts nicely with the modern-industrial space. His motto: "Be creative. Not everything needs to cost a lot."
For more designer style secrets, see our photo gallery. Also, see an Online TV tour of this dramatic bungalow makeover.
Open up adjacent rooms to create a sense of space.
CityLine Design/Build Contractor Ramsin Khachi and his team took down walls that blocked natural light, therefore creating a lovely flow between rooms in this 1960s bungalow. Using a rustic-looking flooring adds richness and warmth to an otherwise industrial space. Mixing and matching natural and industrialized materials is a great trick to keeping a look fresh and chic, as well as under budget.
For more designer style secrets, see our photo gallery. Also, see an Online TV tour of this dramatic bungalow makeover.
Make neutrals bolder with graphic prints.
The Toronto-based designer, and host of shows like HGTV's Sarah's House and Sarah 101,
combines a horizontal stripe wallpaper with similarly striped Olivia chairs. Introducing patterned furniture in a room with patterned walls seems risky, but the neutral colour palette keeps it sleek and simple. A pair of chairs in a pretty colour are a good investment, too. Choose a colour and fabric you absolutely love, as it will not suffer from the same wear and tear as a couch.
For more designer style secrets, see our photo gallery. Also, see more of Sarah's designs in our photo gallery.
Use curved-back chairs to temper an otherwise boxy space.
At night, a mirrored wall in this dining room reflects the city lights. The capiz shell fixture casts a warm glow like the moon in the sky, says designer Sarah Richardson, host of HGTV's Sarah's House and Sarah's Cottage. A Zebrano-wood table base grounds the room.
See more of Sarah's designs in our photo gallery.
What's hot for 2011?
"Brass is the new chrome!" says the Toronto designer, HGTV favourite, and co-host of shows like Sarah's House and Sarah 101. His living room bookshelf is right on trend — vintage and shiny, piled high with his favourite design books. He also predicts fashion hues will show up in interiors — combinations of orange, purple and grey, for example. In his living room, he uses an unconventional mix of patterns to give classic silhouettes contemporary flair, just like designers do on the runway. The abstract leopard print on the chair works with the bold stripes on the rug and throw pillow — an unexpected yet fun combination.
See more trends in our Designers' Top Trends Of 2011 photo gallery.
An all-white backdrop makes art and objets stand out.
Tommy loves mixing modern and vintage. In this living room, he created a lovely mantel display using contemporary art and vintage collectibles. Crisp colours and shapes keep the look fresh.
What's hot for 2011?
Toronto designer Anne Hepfer sees 2011 as a brighter, more colourful year for interiors. She thinks people are experimenting with more whimsical patterns and graphic wallpaper and fabric. This converted den hits all the right notes — a bold suzani, striking red wallpaper, and patterned furniture for a graphic punch.
See more trends in our Designers' Top Trends Of 2011 photo gallery.
Create an old-world atmosphere with patterned bedding, ambient lighting, matching side tables and art in mirrored frames.
To add height and dramatic flair to a bedroom, Anne suggests adding a ceiling mounted canopy made of the same fabric as the bed skirt. For a uniform look, she carried the same shade of green throughout the room.


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Oregon bill seeks to curb underage drinking deaths
SALEM, Ore. (AP) An Oregon bill aimed at reducing underage drinking deaths moves a step closer to a vote Monday when a state House committee meets to work on the measure.
The law would provide limited amnesty for those younger than 21 who seek medical aid for themselves or others for drinking too much. It would give protection from an alcohol possession citation if the evidence came as a result of their seeking help.
Opponents say it would hamper efforts to combat underage drinking and could even encourage heavier drinking among teens.
Rep. Margaret Doherty, D-Tigard, sponsored the bill. She said a minor-in-possession citation is about as serious as a speeding ticket, but that it seems like "a much bigger deal" to teens and young adults. She said fear of legal trouble for themselves or their friends can keep underage drinkers from seeking medical help that could prevent alcohol-related deaths.
Speaking on behalf of the Oregon Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, Katy King told lawmakers at a House Judiciary Committee hearing earlier this week that alcohol poisoning can cause "loss of consciousness, low blood pressure and body temperature, coma, respiratory depression or death."
A North Dakota State University study in 2009 found that more than half of underage students surveyed had helped another student with alcohol poisoning symptoms but did not seek outside help. Of those who sought outside help, more than half went to a student or a parent. Only 7.5 percent went to a hospital or emergency room, and fewer than 2 percent sought help from the police.
Doherty's bill aims to encourage "kids to do the right thing" and call emergency medical services or law enforcement for timely medical help without fear of a citation stemming from that call, she said.
"The whole idea is to save lives," Doherty said.
The law is narrowly focused so that it only protects against the minor-in-possession citation, but not other offenses that could be related, such as drunken driving or providing alcohol to a minor. She said it is modeled on similar legislation passed in Washington last year.
David Amesbury, a Benton County deputy district attorney, said the Oregon District Attorneys Association was concerned that the bill would make it harder to attack the root problem by helping some heavy-drinking teens avoid the juvenile court system where they could be ordered into treatment programs. He said the organization also wanted some of the bill's language clarified, such as changing references to "alcohol poisoning," which is not defined in the bill.
Monday's work session will consider changes worked out in response to Amesbury's comments and could send the bill to the state House floor for a vote.
Similar laws have been enacted in 17 states and the District of Columbia.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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money 21 wrote:i picked one of these up the other day and honestly i am not sure what i think of it. the one i got is 174 gray center red rim. the glide sucks but the accurracy is good. in other words it holds the line you put is on but only seem to get putter like distances. i really like it for up shots ine the 150'-200' distances. going to spend more time with the disc as i don't have any tourneys for a while.
Thanks for actually posting about how it flies! So, a glideless neutral (=prefectly stable) disc? Indeed, probably quite good for upshots, ranging, etc.. Actually, it may have better glide in Japan legal weights, if I see one around I'll buy it and throw it.


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Caregivers: Go give Dr. Taylor a listen!
I was browsing through some of the Alzheimer's webcasts the other day (always time well spent) and listened to the interview of Dr. Richard Taylor about what life with Alzheimer's disease is like. Wow. Every caregiver needs to hear this interview. Go to the Alzheimer's program page and click on the September 12 program "Alzheimer's: Active, Involved and Alert."
Dr. Taylor, a former psychologist who suffers from dementia thought to be Alzheimer's, is the author of the book, "Alzheimer's from the Inside Out," which he said he wrote to keep tabs on the progress of his disease. I haven't read Dr. Taylor's book yet, but judging from the interview, Dr. Taylor has ideas "some quite surprising" that any caregiver would benefit from hearing.
By coincidence, I listened to this program right after I blogged about my 90-year-old father's inability to keep track of important papers. I was wondering if I should just ask to him turn over all of his personal business to me so he wouldn't have to deal with it. Dr. Taylor would say no – emphatically. Some excerpts from his interview are below:
Dr. Taylor on "disabling" the people you care for:
"Look for ways (to) enable people to do as much as they can do, rather than disable them. If they're having trouble with some particular function or activity in their life, try to figure out a way you can help that person continue to do that activity with support from you, rather than immediately say, well, for your own safety and because I'm not going to spend the time standing next to you, you can't do it any more."
Dr. Taylor on the popular notion that you should engage people with Alzheimer's by reminiscing about their past:
"Well, I think (reminiscing) conditions people to believe that my best shot at happiness is living in the past. But you don't live in the past. You still have to figure out what's going to happen tomorrow morning and why are they doing this and when am I doing that. So I think the best way you stay engaged with people is in the here and now. . . . And you tell them about the world, and you keep them updated about the family. And instead of bringing in pictures that are 50 years old bring in pictures that are five days old."
Dr. Taylor on caregiver responsibility:
"I met another lady who was in a nursing home because she wandered. Now, here is a person who had a very vibrant mind, but she wandered. Boy, what a penalty to pay for wandering, to be put into a nursing home. I just wondered if her family had exhausted every single possibility they could think of before they did that. Because she was not ready to be in a nursing home. She didn't need any of the other services of a nursing home other than a locked door."
Dr. Taylor on paranoia and Alzheimer's:
"If somebody says to you, you can't drive, and you think you've been a pretty good driver, and they say, well the doctor says you can't drive. The kids all said you can't drive. They're all coming over here for a meeting to tell you you can't drive. Would you feel a little paranoid about how your family is acting?"
Dr. Taylor on keeping a purpose in life:
"I've discovered that it really isn't a function of you have to have more activity, it's a function of you have to have a purpose. You know, when you retire, your purpose is to act retired. When you teach, your purpose is to be a teacher. But when you have Alzheimer's, and you can't drive anymore, and you can't get out of your house, and people don't talk to you as much as they used to, and you're losing your self-esteem, you begin to lose your purpose."
When you think about it, many of Dr. Taylor's ideas could apply to caregiving for people with many diseases, not just Alzheimer's. Give a listen, and see if your eyes aren't opened to a new way of thinking about caregiving. Mine were.
Take care of yourself,


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Bassmaster Elite Series pro Ott DeFoe got the monkey off his back by finally winning a major tournament on his home waters.
The Knoxville, Tenn. resident clinched his first victory at Douglas Lake by catching the biggest limit of the tournament – a 24-01 bag – to finish with a three-day total weight of 62-05 at the first Northern Open of 2014. This was the fifth major tournament – four Bassmaster events and a PAA tourney — that DeFoe has fished on his home lake.
Moving farther up the lake each day, DeFoe hit the jackpot on Saturday by catching 37 bass from his spots on the upper reaches of Douglas.
"It was really all about changing," he said. "I caught all of my fish deep the first day, and I caught them off of a couple of different places primarily cranking a Rapala DT16 crankbait in Caribbean shad. I also caught some on a Terminator football jig."
On Friday, DeFoe went to the same places, but when he couldn't get bit there, he moved farther up the lake and eventually caught another heavy limit.
"I changed a little bit again today and fished some different areas," he said. "Then we got into one place, and we just hammered them."
Full details of his winning pattern will be published soon.
Fellow Elite Series pro David Mullins finished in the runner-up spot again on his home waters with 52-11. The Mount Carmel, Tenn. angler also took second place in the Bass Pro Shops Southern Open held on Douglas Lake in April 2013. Mullins also went up the river for two days to get away from the crowds on the lower end of the lake.
Here are the final totals for the Top 12:
1. Ott DeFoe: 62-05
2. David Mullins: 52-11
3. Derrick Snavely: 50-09
4. Luke Clausen: 48-13
5. Brent Ehrler: 48-12
6. Michael Neal: 48-00
7. David Walker: 47-08
8. Ricky Shepherd: 47-04
9. Jacob Wheeler: 47-03
10. Todd Schmitz: 42-13
11. Dewayne Wilson: 42-11
12. Craig Workman: 35-06


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Close ShaveScience brain teasers require understanding of the physical or biological world and the laws that govern it.
Homer had suffered a bizarre accident that affected his eyesight. The doctor said it would be temporary, but for the next 4 weeks, he had to adjust how he did some things. The accident had affected his focal length. He was only able to focus on objects that were 6 or more feet away from him, anything closer than 6 feet was just a blur.
Homer was used to shaving up close in front of his bathroom mirror. Now after the accident, how close could Homer get to the mirror to see his face clearly enough to shave?
Answer3 feet
Your focal length in a mirror is your distance away from the mirror, plus the distance of the object away from the mirror. When you look at an object in a mirror, you are seeing a virtual image the exact distance it is away from the mirror. So, if you are standing 3 feet away from a mirror, and focus on your face, you are actually focusing at 6 feet.
To try this out, put a piece of tape on a mirror, about eye level. Standing in front of the mirror, focus your eyes on the tape, now your face is out of focus. Focus now on your face, and the tape is out of focus.
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A 102-YEAR-OLD working men's club will close its doors for the final time at the end of the month.
Furthergate WMC, in Blackburn, will shut on Friday, February 28, with the committee citing a drop in member-ship as one of a numb-er of reasons.
The Cherry Street club, which has been on the current site since 1925, had its glory days in the 1970s and 80s, and used to attract star acts, including the original Searchers, The Ivy League, and Gerry and the Pacemakers.
The committee said a lack of membership, high rent and bills, and the change in drinking culture over the past 20 years were to blame.
Jimmy Dempsie, 71, a member for 37 years, said: "It will be an incredibly sad day when it goes because this has been a massive part of my life.
"I come here every day and it's a huge shame that it's going to be lost to us.
"There are a lot of people who love this club, but we just don't have the same number as we used to do."
Mr Dempsie, the club's secretary, said it had been a weekly struggle for the past five years.
He said although there were 212 members on the books last year, most did not attend reg- ularly, and a typical Saturday night could see around 10 people at the bar.
He said: "We used to get a lot of custom from the dog race track where Tesco is now, but when that went, and the smoking ban was enforced, the club was in serious trouble and it was downhill from there. We want to sell off as much as we can, inc-luding the snooker and pool tables, to help pay the debts. The rest will be donated to charity."
Eddie Haworth, 67, a member for 32 years, said: "Almost 150 people used to queue around the block on Christ-mas Eve and New Year's Eve, and they were such big nights.
"The star nights were the best, and we used to have about 400 people here having a great time.
"All of that started to fade, and now none of that is left.
"There is still a core of members who come all of the time, but it's not enough to keep it going."


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A Surprising Lack of Fear
The market has been falling apart at the seams recently, but traders are not showing enough fear or bearish sentiment to signal that a capitulation stage has been reached. We have enough experience to know that the odds favor a continued decline until traders grow fearful and capitulate. We would consider a capitulation to be a spike in fear, as measured by a surge in the CBOE S&P 500 Volatility Index (VIX), in conjunction with an oversold condition in our indicators. The market has not reached this point yet, but we believe it is coming.VIX -- Daily Source: MetaStock View Chart » View in New Window »
For signals on spiking fear and extremes in sentiment that can be traded, we look for relative extreme moves in the VIX and in the CBOE Nasdaq-100 Volatility Index (VXN). If we see move in the VIX and VXN out past the 2-standard deviation band, that signals an extreme level of fear. We also confirm the move by looking at the seven-day rate-of-change indicator for the VIX and the VXN. Should we see the seven-day ROC move out past the 21 level, typically this means the VIX and VXN have moved to quickly to the upside. It should also signal short-term exhaustion in the volatility index....224 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
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A Fair Harvest with Worthwhile Wine
Tom Lynch of Worthwhile Wine spent part of his South African vacation volunteering, living in a mud hut, and working side by side with the people of a remote Zulu village. He was determined to change his life after the experience. Worthwhile Wine Company is the product of Tom's commitment to people and the environment, and, of course, to great wine.
Worthwhile Wine imports award-winning, organic South African wines that have been produced under socially, environmentally, and economically just conditions. Last March the company joined up with Fair Trade USA to launch its first Fair Trade Certified wine. Their project, Partnership Vineyards, gives ownership of several acres of vineyard to each farmer and cellar worker. Their ultimate goal is to put 80 percent of the shareholding back into the hands of farmers and workers to begin to correct exploitation of years past.
Reflecting on his work, Tom writes, "I love the feeling of working hard for a purpose that is bigger than just profit. I love knowing that, because of the wineries we choose to import, every bottle of wine sold is making someone's life just a little bit better."
Fair Trade USA and Worthwhile Wine are again teaming up – this time to celebrate "A Fair Harvest" on Sunday, October 24th in Mill Valley, California. The event, hosted by Savory Thymes, is a celebration of Fair Trade communities around the world and a fundraising benefit for nonprofit organization Fair Trade USA. Like to join us for an early supper of flavorful gourmet dishes paired with Fair Trade certified Worthwhile Wine? Follow this link to purchase your tickets.
For those that can't make the event on October 24th, you can purchase Partnership Vineyards' wines from Worthwhile Wine's online store and receive free shipping on orders of four bottles or more during Fair Trade Month in October. Ten percent of every Fair Trade purchase made during Fair Trade Month in October will be donated back to Fair Trade USA.
You can also join Tom and Partnership Vineyards' winemaker for a virtual wine tasting on October 27th. Visit http://www.worthwhilewine.com/events for more details.


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Canadian Training School in Shorncliffe
The Film
Running Time
01 min 32 s
Canadian War Records Office
This footage was shot at the Canadian Training Camp in Shorncliffe, Kent, on the southeast coast of England. The first segment, shot during the winter, shows soldiers in battle dress engaged in fencing and battle training. This is followed by scenes, filmed during summer months, of men doing target practice.
Canadian troops moved to Shorncliffe in the spring in 1915. The first Canadian contingent had spent the cold and wet winter housed in tents on Salisbury Plain, an issue that the Canadian government raised with the British War Office before the members of the 2nd Canadian Division left for England. The accommodations at Shorncliffe would have been a welcome improvement.
The scenes of bayonet training may have been filmed in March 1917, when Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden visited the camp. Although bayonet practice was an important part of training, there are few accounts of soldiers actually using bayonets on First World War battlefields. Artillery fire was by far the leading cause of casualties, with bullet fire a distant second. Bayonet wounds were rare.
Shorncliffe was first established during the Napoleonic Wars for training riflemen – the latest military elite at the time – and the site included large rifle ranges. The system of targets – or butts, as they are known – is handled by a butt party. Hidden from sight in trenches, the members of the butt party indicate hits and misses with signalling disks. Once practice is complete, they remove the target screens and record the number of bulls-eyes, near misses and total misses to calculate the firer's score. They then patch the targets for future use.
A first-class shot would be awarded a marksman badge – a small insignia of crossed rifles, worn on the lower right-hand sleeve. This qualification entitled men to an extra allowance, which was welcome for poorly paid soldiers. Marksmanship qualifications had to be re-earned every year.
Pieces of History
Overseas Training in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Andrew Iarocci
the sole object of training is to prepare our forces for war, success in battle being constantly held as the ultimate aim... It is the function of training to develop the mental, moral, and physical qualities as highly as possible in each individual, and also to inculcate by theory and practice the methods of employing the various arms in co-operation to the best advantage...1
As this passage demonstrates, military instruction consisted of two fundamental aspects: training of the individual soldier and training of formations. When new recruits joined the service, they first needed to learn the basic skills of soldiering—marching, drill and marksmanship. Once these were mastered, the soldier would continue to train for his specialized trade, whether it be infantry, artillery, engineering, signals, medical or supply. Then the individual would join a formation based on his trade, and training continued at the unit level on a regular basis. The ultimate objective was for each component of the army to function cooperatively as part of the whole; this was achieved through exercises at the battalion, brigade and divisional levels.
The first overseas contingent of Canadian troops was formed at Valcartier, Quebec, during August-September 1914. Much of the time at Valcartier was occupied with administrative details, and limited training was accomplished before the contingent—soon to be known as 1st Canadian Division—embarked for England in October. Upon arrival, the division was posted to Salisbury Plain, a large British training area, where it remained until February 1915.
The weather that winter was especially wet, and until recently, scholars have agreed that relatively little training was completed before the division moved to France. Recent research suggests, however, that despite inclement weather and other distractions, most elements of the division engaged in productive training on Salisbury Plain. The infantry learned to manoeuvre in conjunction with artillery and machine guns. Other divisional elements, such as engineers, artillery and signals, as well as mounted and transport troops carried out their own specialized programs. The engineers, for example, learned how to construct field fortifications, while the artillery brigades rehearsed their gun drills. The divisional transport and ammunition columns, meanwhile, discovered the intricacies of moving supplies around the battle zone.
The training of 1st Division did not cease after it crossed the English Channel in February 1915. Upon arrival at the front lines near the Franco-Belgian border, the Canadians were matched up with experienced British troops for orientation tours. The evidence suggests that this formative experience was overwhelmingly positive. As one soldier later recalled, "nothing could surpass the patience of" his British teachers "or their brotherly kindness to us as comrades in arms."2 The Canadians also learned about the costs of war, as they suffered their first casualties and witnessed the damage inflicted on the landscape.
In the summer of 1915, the 2nd Canadian Division arrived in England and began to train at Shorncliffe Camp. The open ground was ideal for company and battalion manoeuvres, and much of the instruction revolved around the challenges of trench warfare. Some of the officers attended British courses, while others went to France for short combat tours with 1st Division.3 With the expansion of the Canadian Corps to four divisions during 1915-16, additional training space was required for the new arrivals in England. A camp was opened at Bramshott in late 1915, and additional camps were added in 1916, including Crowborough, Hastings, New Shoreham, Seaford and Witley.4
As the war progressed, a broad selection of specialized schools was established—both in England and in France—covering everything from hand grenade training to field sanitation. Instructional programs were gradually standardized, while the British Army Printing and Stationery Depot produced a vast selection of training literature on every conceivable subject.
New technology appeared on the battlefield throughout the war and was reflected in training programs. In April 1915, for example, the German Army introduced chemical weapons to the Western Front. All soldiers were issued with respirators for the duration of the conflict and gas drill became an important component of basic training. Later in 1915, the .303 calibre Lewis gun, a portable automatic rifle, was issued to British and Dominion forces. Here again was a new piece of equipment to be mastered. In common with other types of military training, the correct procedure was subdivided into a simple series of component tasks.
Not all military instruction revolved around weapons systems and tactics. Sport and physical exercise were also important; peak fitness was vital if soldiers were to function under the strain of battle. As the British Army Manual of Physical Training explained:
a soldier should be well disciplined, a good marcher, intelligent, smart, active and quick, able to surmount obstacles in the field and capable of withstanding all the strains and hardships of active service...5
Fitness was achieved through physical drills, "Swedish" exercises and regular sporting events. Organized games and competitions not only fostered physical fitness, but also improved morale and encouraged teamwork. During the summer months, battalions, brigades and divisions organized their own sporting events in rear areas. After the war a veteran fondly recalled a sports day from the summer of 1918:
Who lives that does not remember the day of brigade sports at Izel-les-Hameaux? There were races and jumps and hurdles, something for everyone, a ring to box and wrestle in, baseball and football championships. The day was fine... everybody was there. It was a gay scene, the boys of four battalions and the airmen who joined us for the fun, all rollicking together...6
By late 1916 the Canadian Corps was a veteran formation, and had suffered heavy casualties in a series of costly battles, including Second Ypres, Festubert, St. Eloi Craters, Mount Sorrel and the Somme. In addition to formal training routines, this practical and bloody battle experience shaped the capabilities of the Corps. At the same time, the high casualty rates meant that large numbers of new recruits were constantly arriving in France and Belgium. Some Canadian commanders were dissatisfied with the level of basic training displayed by these reinforcements, and decided to establish their own courses at the battalion, brigade or divisional levels. These short refresher courses helped to ensure that new arrivals were familiar with the basics of soldiering before being thrust into the unforgiving front lines.
Training was an ongoing process throughout the First World War, as Canadian units were created, consumed in combat, reformed, and once again committed to battle. Under the challenging tactical and operational circumstances of 1914-18, nothing could have prevented high casualties, but effective training improved the chances that soldiers would succeed on the battlefield.
1Training and Manoeuvre Regulations, 1913. London: General Staff, War Office, 1913, p. 10-11.
2George Drillie Scott Fonds, LAC, MG 30, E 28.
3G.W.L. Nicholson. Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1914-1919. Ottawa: Queen's Printer, 1962, p. 113.
4David W. Love. "A Call to Arms": The Organization and Administration of Canada's Military in World War One. Winnipeg: Bunker to Bunker Books, 1999, p. 91.
5Manual of Physical Training, 1908. Rev. ed. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1914, p. 7-8.
6James H. Pedley. Only This: A War Retrospect, 1917-1918. Ottawa: CEF Books, 1999, p. 175-176.
Canadian Small Arms of the First World War
Phil White
Although the carnage of the First World War was unprecedented, there was nothing truly new about the small arms used during the fighting. The story behind these weapons and their terrible efficiency stem from the tremendous advances in science and technology made throughout the late 19th century.
By 1850, arms factories in Europe and the United States were making the most of advances in metallurgy and mass production, and were capable of manufacturing hundreds of rifles daily. Repeating rifles, which could fire several shots before being re-loaded, were used extensively during the American Civil War (1861-65), as were the first simple multi-barrelled machine guns. More powerful ammunition was available in the 1870s. The American inventor Hiram Maxim introduced the first true machine gun, capable of firing 450 rounds per minute, in 1884. The water-cooled barrel gave Maxim's machine gun the ability to fire for hours without stopping. By the turn of the century, most European and North American soldiers carried high-powered rifles that could fire 15 shots per minute at an effective range of 800 metres. The days of reloading a single-shot rifle, in the open, five or six times a minute, were long gone. The stage was set for the killing fields that were to come.
Two Rifles
Two late-19th-century inventions, the Lee-Enfield rifle and the Ross rifle, the first Canadian-made military rifle, are central to this story.
In the late 1870s, the British Army accepted Scottish-born Canadian James Paris Lee's rifle design for trials, ultimately resulting in the adoption of the Lee-Metford rifle, then later the Lee Enfield Mk 1 rifle. It was purchased by Canada and used in the South African War.
Sir Charles Ross designed his straight-pull bolt-action rifle and patented the design in 1897. The bolt mechanism, based on the Austrian Mannlicher rifle, also included Ross's own innovations. In theory, this type of bolt-action was very easy to use and could be reloaded very quickly. The more quickly a rifle can be re-loaded, the more firepower it provides. Its drawback was a complicated manufacturing process and its fragile loading mechanism. Ross revised his design, introducing it as the Model 1900, then later with an improved bolt mechanism in 1901, both of which were submitted to American trials as a potential service rifle.
After the South African War, Sir Fredrick Borden, Canada's Minister of Militia and Defence, lobbied unsuccessfully to have the Lee-Enfield rifle built by a British firm in Canada. When the British turned down Borden's request, the Canadian government turned to Ross and his rifle. After a series of modifications, Canada accepted the design, Ross built a factory at the Citadel in Quebec, and the rifle went into production. In 1904, the Royal North West Mounted Police received 1,000 rifles, the Department of Marine and Fisheries another 500. In the coming years, the rifle underwent continual modifications and developments to suit various requirements, including target shooting by the Canadian team at Bisley, where the Ross excelled. In August 1905, the militia received its first order of 1,000 Ross Mk 2 rifles. By 1911, the Mk 3 had been accepted and was being manufactured for the militia.
Britain tested the Ross rifle between 1900 and 1912, rejecting it because of problems with the design, including a propensity to jam.
The British Army continued to use the Lee-Enfield and in 1903, introduced the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (S.M.L.E.) into service. The S.M.L.E., a shortened version of the Lee-Enfield Mk I, had been developed as a result of experience gained during the South African War. The design and construction were simple, if not crude, but also robust, functioning under less than ideal conditions.
Ross continued to develop and fine-tune his design, resulting in dozens of variations. Between 1903 and 1915, 419,130 Ross rifles were manufactured, with most going to Canadian troops, and some to Newfoundland and Britain.
The Canadian forces entered the First World War with the Ross rifle, Mk 2, Mk 3, and its subsequent variations. Almost immediately, its shortcomings became evident.
On March 10, 1915 the 1st Canadian Division went into battle at Neuve Chapelle, France. The Canadians were heavily engaged and, to the horror of the soldiers, their Ross rifles began to jam. The reasons for this were numerous: the ammunition provided was often inconsistent in size; muddy conditions allowed dirt to build up in the complicated loading mechanism, and the heat generated by rapid-firing caused the closely machined parts to expand and seize. A design flaw also made the bolt difficult to lock, if it had been assembled improperly, and some bolts were said to have blown back into the user's face. Canadian soldiers soon began discarding the Ross in favour of the British S.M.L.E. Mk 3*, when they could find them in the field. General E.A.H. Alderson, commander of the 1st Canadian Division, was forced to issue an order banning the use of the S.M.L.E by Canadian troops.
When the Canadians fought at the Second Battle of Ypres, in late April 1915, the Ross failed again. Outnumbered and facing the first gas attack of the war, the Canadians found their rifles jamming. Some reports had them "Clubbing furiously at their seized bolts with trenching tools and boot heels." By the end of the battle, hundreds had discarded their Ross rifles in favour of the trusted S.M.L.E.
By June 1915, British Field Marshal Sir John French ordered the Canadians under his command to be re-armed with the S.M.L.E. However, the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions that soon arrived in Europe still carried the Ross.
In May 1916, a study into the Ross's problems confirmed the jamming and recommended modifications to the rifle's bolt-stops. Earlier tests had reported the Ross worked well with Canadian ammunition made at Dominion Arsenals in Quebec, but this ammunition was in short supply. New, poorly fitted stocks made from improperly seasoned birch were also causing problems as the wood warped and pressed against the metal frames. In light of the report, a few rifles were re-built with 26-inch barrels, trimmed stocks and larger bolt-stops. Although the rifles were reported to have worked "superbly," soldiers had lost all confidence in them. In mid July, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re-armed Canadians with the S.M.L.E. and the Ross was officially withdrawn from front line service by the end of that year.
By this time Sir Charles Ross was running into other problems. Skilled labourers were finding better work in the United States, machinery ordered in 1914 had yet to arrive, and supplies were increasingly difficult to secure. Ross won a $22,500,000 contract to make one million rifles for Russia, but had to let it go to the United States due to inability to meet his deadline. A second order from Russia was cancelled after the Mk 3 was withdrawn from Canadian service. On March 28, 1917, the Canadian Government expropriated the Ross Rifle Company. Canada's first and only national rifle had failed as a battlefield weapon.
The Machine Gun
In 1912, the British Army adopted the water-cooled Vickers Mk 1machine gun, an improvement over the 1884 Maxim design, as its standard machine gun. The slightly lighter Vickers, like the Maxim, made use of an ammunition belt, and could fire 450 rounds per minute. Its water-cooled barrel could sustain this fire over very long periods of time, often for hours. Classified as a medium machine gun, the Vickers Mk 1 was used primarily on a tripod from defensive positions. It could be fired directly at a visible target, or indirectly, like artillery, at targets or positions at long range or behind obstacles.
In response to the need to provide quick-moving infantry with machine gun support, light machine guns appeared on the battlefield in 1914. The Lewis, the first light machine gun used by the British and Canadian forces, had been introduced into service with the Belgian army in 1913. It weighed about 18 kg and could be carried "over the top" like a rifle, to give advancing troops added firepower.
Due to a shortage of light machine guns, the British and Canadians also adopted the Hotchkiss machine gun in 1916. The Hotchkiss was based on the French medium machine gun the Mitrailleur Mle. 09, modified for use as a light machine gun. Although lighter than the Lewis, the Hotchkiss was more complicated and was used mainly by the cavalry. The Hotckhkiss remained in service for training and home guard use after the First World War and was not declared obsolete until 1946.
The decisions regarding when and how to deploy, or advance against small arms fire relate to the concept of the 'beaten zone' or 'killing zone' that existed between the lines, and the time-versus-lead equations; the idea that a storm of bullets and/or artillery shells poured into a given area made the task of 'advancing to contact' extremely difficult, if not impossible. This led to obvious challenges: crossing the zone more quickly (tanks) or by stealth (surprise attack, often without pre-shelling); better tactics to bypass resistance (storm troops, combined arms warfare); and heavier bombardments to keep enemy heads down, destroy obstacles, etc; and in the meantime, drove troops into the ground (trenches) to escape slaughter.
Close Combat
Most of the casualties during the war were inflicted by artillery or small arms fire coming from a distance. However, there was still some close and brutal fighting, often as part of larger operations, but particularly during trench raids.
All rifles were fitted with bayonets, which took the form of a long knife or spike that could be attached to the muzzle of the rifle, effectively forming a spear. By the First World War, British, and Canadian soldiers had been training to use bayonets for 200 years and were very efficient in its use. The bayonet also had an enormous psychological impact. Hundreds or thousands of enemy troops running towards you firing their rifles, screaming and brandishing long blades or spikes, was a terrifying and demoralizing sight. Despite the psychological advantage, many officers considered the bayonet perfectly useless, even in the 19th century. Firepower and broken terrain could keep cavalry at bay from c1860 onwards in most battles, thereby removing the bayonet's one real advantage – warding off cavalry. When fighting in the confined spaces of the trenches, the length of a bayonet fixed to the muzzle of a rifle could be a great disadvantage. To this end, many soldiers equipped themselves with other weapons, both standard and non-standard issue. These weapons were especially important for trench raids.
Usually conducted at night, trench raiding was extremely brutal, tending to resemble medieval warfare. Soldiers made use of pistols, grenades, clubs, axes, morning stars, knives and even sharpened shovels. As a defensive measure, body armour was brought back into use and worn openly by infantry for the first time since the 17th century.
Pistols were issued officially to officers and NCOs exclusively, but they were also occasionally picked up or traded by soldiers and used for close fighting.
At the beginning of the First World War, Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia and Defence, ordered 5,000 semi-automatic .45 ACP calibre Colt model 1911 (Government Model) pistols through one of his "Honorary Colonels," causing a short-lived political scandal. The pistols were issued to non-commissioned officers and made available to officers for purchase, along with some older Colt revolvers left over from the South African War. Canadian officers serving with the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, or other units assigned to British formations, were issued with Webley revolvers of various marks.
With the forces rapid expansion, the military needed more pistols by mid 1915. Due to shortcomings found with the Colt Model 1911, the government purchased 1,500 Smith & Wesson .455 Hand Ejector Second Model revolvers on August 21, with later orders for 13,000 between 1915 and 1917. Revolvers were considered more reliable in harsh conditions.
Immediately after the ceasefire of November 11, 1918, many First World War small arms developments were shelved. Advances had been made in designing lighter, more efficient machine guns and submachine guns, but, in the debt-ridden postwar years the last thing most governments wanted to spend money on was small arms.
The Department of Militia and Defence was now faced with the disposal of the unwanted Ross rifles. Some 120,000 Mk 2 and Mk 3 rifles were taken overseas and turned over to the British, and 20,000 were sold to the United States for training. Of the rifles sent overseas, 9,334 were later returned to Canada. The Ross continued in use as a sniper rifle throughout the war, and well into the Second World War, making use of its initial design as a sporting and target rifle. Many Ross rifles were also re-issued during the Second World War for training and Home Guard use and eventually made their way into the hands of the armies of China, Chile, the Baltic states, Spain, New Zealand, Holland, India, Indonesia and the Soviet Union.
The S.M.L.E. remained in service well into the Second World War and was replaced in 1942 by the Lee-Enfield No. 4. James Paris Lee's basic rifle design is still in limited service with the Canadian Forces in the 21st century with the Canadian Rangers and Cadets.
The machine gun continues to be a vital part of the arsenals of all armies. The Vickers machine gun was used in the Second World War, the Korean War, and was not officially declared obsolete until the 1960s. The Lewis gun saw limited service in the Canadian Army during the Second World War, notably at Hong Kong.
The bayonet is stilled issued and used as a standard attachment to most military rifles worldwide.
The small arms designs that were rooted in the late 19th century and used during the First World War evolved very little throughout the first half of the 20th century. Although infantry tactics evolved considerably and the casualty figures of the First World War seem incomprehensible today, killing over open sights remains the foot soldier's basic role.
Selected Bibliography
Edgecombe, David W. Defending the Dominion, Canadian Military Rifles 1855-1955. Ottawa: Service Publications, 2003.
---. Small Arms of the World: A Basic Manual of Small Arms. 12th rev. ed. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1983.
Ezell, Edward C. Handguns of the World: Military Revolvers and Self-Loaders from 1870-1945. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1981.
Hogg, Ian V. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Firearms. London: New Burlington Books, 1978.
---. Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th ed. Iola: Krause Publications, 2000.
Law, Clive M. Canadian Military Handguns, 1855-1985. Bloomfield, ON: Museum Restoration Services, 1994.
---. Without Warning: Canadian Sniper Equipment in the 20th Century. Ottawa: Service Publications, 2004.
Maze, Robert J. Howdah to High Power: A Century of British Breechloading Service Pistols (1867-1967). Tucson: Excalibur Publications, 2002.
Meek, John F. Over the Top: The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, ON: John F. Meek, 1971.
Morton, Desmond. A Military History of Canada. Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1985
Nelson, Thomas B. The World's Submachine Guns. Cologne, Germany: International Small Arms Publishers, 1963.
Phillips, Roger. The Ross Rifle Story. Sydney, NS: John A. Chadwick, 1984.
Rawling, Bill. Surviving Trench Warfare: Technology and the Canadian Corps 1914-1918. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1992.
Saunders, Anthony. Weapons of the Trench War, 1914-1918. Phoenix Mill: Alan Sutton, 1999
Skennerton, Ian D. The British Service Lee, Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield Rifles and Carbines 1880-1980. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1982.
---. The Lee-Enfield Story. Piqua: I.D.S.A. Books, 1993.
Other Materials
The Ross Rifle and other Small Arms in World War I
Sir Sam Hughes, the future minister of militia and member of the 1901 militia committee, was a supporter of the Ross rifle. The Mark 1 Ross rifle was not delivered until 1905 and 1000 units were supplied to the RNWMP but various problems plagued this model of rifle and it was eventually recalled in 1906. Changes were made to the production model until 1910 when the various models of the Mark 2 were produced. Great Britain at that time was strongly urging Canada to adopt the Lee-Enfield rifle for its armed forces so as to have consistency within the Empire regarding weaponry, and because Canada refused to halt production of the Ross rifle, strains developed over imperial defence. The Mark 2 rifle was adopted by the Canadian armed forces in 1911, and in that year work was begun on the Mark 3, although few were produced before 1914. In the first years of WWI the Ross rifle received a bad reputation. It was seen as unsuitable for the "trench-and-charge" tactics employed during that war because of its weight, 9 lbs 14 ozs (c 4.5 kg), its overall length, 60˝ inches (c 1.5 m) with bayonet fixed, and the continual jamming problem plus the occasional "blowback." The cause of the jamming was eventually corrected but came too late for the rifle to maintain its use. In the summer of 1916 the rifle was withdrawn from service and by mid-Sept Canadian troops had been rearmed with the British-made Lee-Enfield. The Canadian government expropriated the Ross Rifle Co in March 1917 after paying Ross $2 million. The total production of the Ross rifle was approximately 420,000 with 342,040 units being purchased by the British. During WWII, the Mark 3 Ross rifle was given to the Royal Canadian Navy, the Veteran's Guard of Canada, coastal units, training depôts, the British Home Guard and the Soviets.
Reproduced with permission from The Canadian Encyclopaedia, Historica Foundation of Canada
Teaching Materials
Conscription Debate: A Country Divided
Grade Level: Secondary 9-12
Time Allowance: 45 minutes
Films: Canadian Training School in Shorncliffe, Canadian Training School in Bexhill and Borden in Ottawa
Summary: Students debate conscription, focusing on how the issue divided the country.
The debate over conscription during World War I was one of the bitterest disputes in Canadian history. English Canadians tended to support conscription; French Canadians, along with farmers and recent immigrants to Canada, strongly opposed it.
Your Task:
It is 1917. Debate the following with your classmates: "Be it resolved that the Canadian government conscript into battle young men between 18 and 45 years of age." Prepare for the debate by watching the films Canadian Training School in Shorncliffe, Canadian Training School in Bexhill, Borden in Ottawa and researching the lines of argument below. Develop some additional lines of argument to use in the debate.
For the resolution:
1. The majority of Canadians support conscription. We must abide by the democratic decision of the majority.
2. Enacting conscription will upset some Canadians; not enacting conscription will upset others. It is impossible to please everybody. However, all Canadians will benefit if we fight with Britain and protect our economic and political interests.
Against the resolution:
1. Canada was the creation of two founding peoples, the English and the French. That spirit of partnership is being lost as English-speaking Canadians force conscription on French-speaking Canadians. French Canadians should not be forced to fight in a war against their will.
2. We do not treat some of our own men as full citizens. How can we expect men from groups which face discrimination in Canada to shoulder the full responsibilities of citizenship, when they are restricted from sharing all its privileges?
Conscription Debates: Canada on the World Stage
Grade Level: Secondary 9-12
Time Allowance: 45 minutes
Films: Canadian Training School in Shorncliffe. Canadian Training School in Bexhill and Borden in Ottawa
Summary: Students debate conscription, focusing on how it affected Canada's standing in the world.
The debate over conscription during World War I was one of the bitterest disputes in Canadian history.
Your Task:
It is 1917. Debate the following with your classmates: "Be it resolved that the Canadian government conscript into battle young men between 18 and 45 years of age." Prepare for the debate by watching the films Canadian Training School in Shorncliffe, Canadian Training School in Bexhill, Borden in Ottawa and researching the lines of argument below. Develop some additional lines of argument to use in the debate.
For the resolution:
1. Canada is an equal participant in a just war. We have a responsibility to contribute. It is wrong to stay out of this fight against tyranny.
2. Canada's per capita contribution of men to World War I is below that of Britain, as well as other members of the British Empire such as Australia and New Zealand. The Canadian government should conscript men so that our per capita contribution reaches the level of the other colonies.
3. Canada is fighting for its own interests. Our biggest trading partner, Britain, is battling for its survival. If the Germans defeat Britain, the economic consequences for Canada will be horrendous.
Against the resolution:
1. Canada is in this war because Britain is in the war. This is a European civil war and we are not a part of Europe. We are part of the new world. We should not be drawn into Europe's disputes.
2. Canada has a long history of joining Britain's imperialistic adventures, and this must come to an end. Canada must act as an independent nation, not as Britain's servant.


text: New library slowed but not stopped September 14, 2012 Story Share So, what is up with the Kanawha County Public Library's plan to build a new main branch downtown? It seems like it has been taking an awful long time.It has been six years since the library launched a campaign to raise $37 million for a new main branch, specifically built for all the human and electronic accommodations people expect from libraries these days.The library has raised about $250,000 this year, bringing the total to $18.4 million, said Library Director Alan Engelbert."The private fundraising has slowed," Engelbert acknowledges. The difficult economy is a drag. So is the Kanawha County Board of Education's lawsuit, an effort by the school board to get control of much of the library's day-to-day operating money."It is 40 percent of our budget. People are honestly concerned about that," Engelbert said.Public contributions have also stalled. The Kanawha County Commission pledged $1 million, and U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito secured $237,000 in federal money. But the city of Charleston and the state have not pledged any help.There is no reason to give up, Engelbert said. It is, however, time to rethink, again.Plans for the building were first drawn in 2002. That includes projections for how people will use the space and what we will need. The building was scaled down once, both to reduce cost and to make more efficient use of land as it became available on Leon Sullivan Way near the Clay Center.But the other part of the plan, what's on the inside -- "that's a decade old," Engelbert said. The way people use libraries continues to change. So next month, the library board may ask an architect to re-evaluate. The 2002 plan already includes a lot of space for people to retrieve and share information electronically. It includes more flexible spaces that could be used for meetings or other gatherings. But since then, mobile technology has changed our habits again. People download and listen to and watch more materials than ever. So maybe there are obvious accommodations that weren't so obvious in 2002, and projections that weren't apparent back then."The bigger story here is, 'What should the library of the future look like?'" Engelbert said."I think we're going to have book stacks for a long, long time, but it is good to look at how much we'll actually need," he said. The current library, in a rehabbed federal courthouse, was designed for maximum book storage.Libraries still circulate books, but library users also come in looking for Internet access, programs to attend, electronic books and other materials subject to license agreements, and places to collaborate with others.Some libraries are looking at more "maker spaces," where people actually come together to work with technology to produce something, even objects, not just media, he said."Whatever those spaces are, we need them to be as flexible as they possibly can be, so as the nature of the library changes, the space can be flexed as well without taking out a bunch of load-bearing walls and rerouting electrical service," he said. He expects most of the current plan is still valid, but after 10 years, it's worth going over again.Engelbert has no doubt people need the library. The Elk Valley Branch is a perfect example. A year ago it moved from its small building that was not handicap accessible to one at the Crossings Mall in Elkview. The library is very visible, in a high traffic area, close to the Interstate, all on one level and has plenty of free parking.A year later, circulation is up 39 percent, business in the Reference Department is up 45 percent and computer use is up 88 percent.Miller, the Gazette's editorial page editor, can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 WVU pulls away from Kansas for 56-34 win 2 New company planning $73M synthetic fuel plant in Greenbrier County 3 'Heroin(e)' spotlights women helping combat Huntington's drug crisis 4 Philanthropist Betty Schoenbaum of Shoney's fortune turns 100 5 Getting deep on WVU's penchant for getting deep A little TLC for college students Previous Story Not your granddaddy's GOP Next Story


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In my opinion, voter suppression is an insult to every American who believes the Constitution has set guidelines to avert such activities. Once again the GOP usurps the same Constitution they claim to "love".
Huffington Post
Patch.com reported that Charles Shultz, a Democrat who lives in the 10th Senate District, received an absentee ballot application form last week from AFP that contained incorrect information on it. The form instructed him to mail it back to the wrong location by Aug. 11 — two days after the recall election in his district between Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R) and Shelly Moore (D) is set to take place, on Aug. 9.
Politico obtained a copy of the AFP mailer, which was also distributed to voters in the 2nd District.
The Wisconsin Democratic Party filed a formal complaint Tuesday with the state's Government Accountability Board over the issue, accusing AFP of "falsely representing the time frame" for the upcoming August 9 recall election. Shultz filed his own complaint with the GAB on Saturday.
AFP may also be getting involved in the increasingly heated ad wars that have been leading up to the recall elections. According to One Wisconsin Now, AFP has reportedly purchased over $150,000 in television ad time in the Green Bay, Madison and Milwaukee areas.
A spokesperson for Americans for Prosperity did not respond when asked for comment on the purchase, but One Wisconsin Now, a non-profit statewide progressive communications network, says the ad buy appears to be an effort to help the six Republican state Senators who were challenged by recall elections after supporting Governor Scott Walker's anti-collective bargaining legislation in early 2011.
Scot Ross, the Executive Director of One Wisconsin Now, said at least one of the AFP-backed ads will air in support of two Republicans, Sen. Luther Olsen (District 14) and Sen. Robert Cowles (District 2). The group has also confirmed a $90,000 AFP ad buy in District 12, currently represented by Sen. Jim Holperin, a Democrat who is being recalled.
Continue reading here…
Related articles
- Wisconsin Democratic voters targeted with Koch-funded absentee ballot notices advising them to vote 2 days after the recall election (boingboing.net)
- A whiff of Koch-backed foul play in Wisconsin recalls (salon.com)
- Democratic State Sen. Dave Hansen Wins First Wisconsin Recall Election (thefifthcolumn2.wordpress.com)
- Wisconsin recall: Conservatives sending Dems absentee ballots with instructions to return them late (dailykos.com)


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By Matthew Rayback, StorageCraft
I think most business owners would agree in theory that disaster recovery is important. In practice, however, it's a little too easy to cut corners. There are so many options, it's easy to settle on something simple and cheap. But if you haven't taken the time to understand the kind of disaster recovery solution your business needs, you could be missing something big and paying for a solution that will let you down in the end.
I asked six managed service providers what, in their experience, was the most overlooked aspect of any disaster recovery solution, because they'd know. Between them, they work with hundreds of businesses, all of whom are in various stages of denial about just how much disaster recovery they need.
To be honest, I was a little surprised by their answers. I spend a lot of time looking at statistics that try to predict the future of the IT industry and that makes it easy to forget that in the middle of the cloud, complex virtualization platforms, RMMs, and XaaS, a lot of people are still just trying to figure out the basics.
So what are you overlooking in your disaster recovery solution? Let's see what the experts have to say.
Please log in or register below to read the full article.


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is there a slide function in plain Javascript?
I have to slide an element from one point to another.... and it has to slide in exactly 0.24 secs. from one pt to another... ;-o )
but I'll be happy if I just get it to slide for now...;-)
thank you...
Hi Maya,
There isn't a slide() function in Pain JavaScript, although obviously you can program your own. Is there any reason you don't want to use jQuery for this?Animation is one area where jQuery excels and makes a developper's life much easier. You can also build a custom version of jQuery and just pull in the animation functionality if it is size you are worried about.
hi Pullo,
it's for a test.. they insist on plain JS... (sigh...)
but well, there was a time constraint, I had to hand in already.. but that's ok... if I can I want to figure out if I can do it over the weekend, and maybe just send it to the guy again anyway...
and of course you're right, I'm sure in real life no one in their right mind would do stuff like this with with JS...
the JS issue is slowly getting frustrating for job-seekers... a few years ago we all had to learn at least jQuery, and some other libraries (I only know jQuery....) they were all the rage, and you had to know them...
now they're going back to, oh but well, you do need to know how to do all this complicated with plain JS too, of course... it's getting ridiculous... and some job descriptions contain a mind-boggling amount of JS libraries, some weird ones I've never even heard of..... (and they do know they will never find someone who knows all of them...)
in my particular experience, every single place where I have worked in the last 4 years or so, they have used nothing but jQuery, absolutely nothing else...
thank you for your response... have a good weekend....
I'm off to bed now, so sorry for the short reply. I found this: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3795481/javascript-slidedown-without-jqueryMaybe it it'll help.
Let us know how you get on.
on the contrary, Pullo.... thank you for your response.... I will look @ url you posted.....
gute Nacht.... schlaf gut....:-)
actually in case you're curious, here are the JS instructions:
a) When I click on the "Swap Vertical" button, the two buttons swap vertical positions in 0.24 seconds. (i.e., the bottom button moves up and the top button moves down, but both buttons retain their horizontal position.)
b) When I click on the "Swap Horizontal" button, the two buttons swap horizontal positions in 0.24 seconds.
c) The button animations should accelerate at the beginning, and should not decelerate at the end.
"accelerate"??? man, I had never even heard of "accelerating" elements with JS.....;-o(accelerate "at the beginning".... only at the beginning... and yeah, I'll make sure I don't "decelerate" at the end....;-) man, anyone would think they write computer games or something, but they don't, they just do corporate websites...;-)
thanks again....
Of course they would - they'd usually have a library of functions for providing all the common parts of the processing though for example a collection of JavaScript functions such as JQuery.
JQuery is not a separate language, it is just a few functions written in JavaScript that can make writing compex JavaScript easier. It is actually way overkill for a simple process such as slide() as you would only be using a small fraction of the library code.
I have a series of tutorials on making elements move about the page that starts at http://javascriptexample.net/anim11.php - it makes use of a much smaller set of common functions that just provide the functionality needed for this type of script.
thank you very much, felgal...
yes I know jQuery is not a separate language... I know exactly what it is.....;-) and when I try to do hard stuff in plain JS I realize how much goes on "behind the scenes" in jQuery (& other libraries too, I suppose.....)
thank you very much for the url you posted.... I can't now, but I will it check it tomorrow for sure....
thank you... have a good day....
Is it really that bad? :lol: [/ot]
If you've used to jQuery, you would have heard of accelerating and decelerating As the term "easing".
There's a good suite of easing demos over at http://jqueryui.com/effect/#easing
hi Paul.....:-)
yes of course I have used "easing" in jQuery (mosly in conjunction with cycle plugin (there's an "easing" plugin with all sorts of transition effects...)
thank you!!
Sure is! I would use jQuery to brush my teeth if I could. Everything else is just pain and agony. :)[/ot]
Back on topic: how did you get on, Maya?
@felgall ; your demo didn't work for me in the latest Chrome.The text just sits there, when I'm guessing it should move.
There are a series of tutorials there that show step by step how to build an animation script. The element in the first tutorial doesn't move - that tutorial is just showing how to build an independent element that can be made to move.
Oh ok. Sorry!
I just looked at the source, saw this:
(function() {
var anim = new $O('myobj');
and thought I had missed something.


text:
Appearing on CBS News yesterday, Asia Society Executive Vice President Jamie Metzl previewed what could be on the agenda when Vice President Joe Biden visits China today.
©2017 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | About AsiaSociety.org | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact
Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government. All views expressed in its publications and on its website are the sole responsibility of the author or authors.


text:
19 fun car road trip activities
Turn an ordinary drive into a world of fun adventures and possibilities. more
A wound may be infected if:
Some infections are blood-borne and can be passed from one person to another if blood from the first person:
Ways to stop blood-borne germs being spread include:
This article was written by Ella Walsh for Kidspot - Australia's parenting resource for newborns and baby.Sources include SA Government's Parenting and Child Health.
Last revised: Thursday, 19 June 2008
This article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.


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Published on March 20th, 2011 | by Julie Finn2
The Best Must-Read Soapmaking Resources
Soapmaking is a craft that you definitely want to do a little research on before you begin. The first time I tried to make cold-process soap on my own, I had already read every library book and every website that I could find on the subject, and I had taken a basic soapmaking class, and still found myself running to the computer halfway through to find out why my lye solution had just solidified and frozen to my mixing bowl (I had measured my water by weight, not volume–oops!).
Even after you're comfortable with a particular cold-process or hot-process soap recipe, it's still good to keep up with the resources. For instance, the tutorial on tie-dyed soap using six different colors of soap dyes that I skipped over for the longest time because it was simply above my level of expertise? Last night I read it all the way through, going "Hmmmm…..". I sense a new technique coming my way!
Below are my favorite books, sites, and forums on soapmaking, and my go-to lye calculator. If you're a soapmaker, then pretty please add your own favorites in the Comments section to this post. If you're not yet a soapmaker, then I just dare you to read any of these resources and NOT immediately run to your kitchen and start mixing up a batch of soap.
Good books are essential to good soapmaking. The Soapmaker's Companion is the basic soapmaking text used by…well, almost everybody, I would imagine.
You'll love The Soapmaker's Companion because of its chemistry. It will teach you how soapmaking actually works, what different oils do and why we like them, what colorants and scents do and don't do, and why temperature is so important.
I don't personally use the recipes in this book, because I've found my own go-to soapmaking recipes in other places, and I also create my own recipes, but the explanatory material here is invaluable.
Next >>
2 Responses to The Best Must-Read Soapmaking Resources
As an lover of handmade soap I bought this book and it is really terrific. Making soap can be intimidating, but after the first few times it gets easier.
I made soap last year and LOVED it! I gave some away as Christmas presents and kept the rest. It lasts SUCH a long time and is far better than any soap I've ever bought. Funny to see both of the books I have in my library here. I'll definitely check out the other references. Thanks!


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Posted 6 years ago
(28 items)
Here is an old snuff box with a gold band around the edge and a portrait in the center of the lid. I purchased this at a local estate auction over the weekend and was glad to win it. It has some damage to the base but is not noticeable just sitting around. Not sure if the piece is made of Bakelite or other material. Over all just a nice piece.


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Philip Rivers is still Philip Rivers, just not as often, and that's not his fault.
That's how Norv Turner framed the quarterback's season on Wednesday.
"In games where we've protected him and gotten people open, I think he's shown that he's capable of doing all of the same things he's done," Turner said.
Backyard flavor
Rivers is eager to play the Jets because, well, it's football. He likened it to a backyard match as a boy. "You played like crazy when nobody was watching and nobody cared – but you cared," he said.
Rivers said both the Chargers (5-9) and Jets (6-8) are "sick that they've just been eliminated" from playoff contention.
Nuts 'n' Bolts
• Brandon Taylor's first NFL start is to come Sunday. He was at strong safety for 16 snaps last week. Taylor a third-round choice from LSU, said he'll be "anxious to make a play" if he indeed starts. "I've just got to calm down, play my assignments and react to my keys, and I'll be in the right situation to make a play."
• Turner said he'd be interested in working as an offensive coordinator next year (with another team). "I think I, in the right situation, could help somebody, but that's a long ways in the future," he said.
• Ronnie Brown (hamstring) returned to practice and said he "absolutely" will play against the Jets. Brown, who sustained his career after foot and knee surgeries, chatted with Ryan Mathews after Monday's surgery to repair a broken collarbone. He told Mathews it's a "minor setback" to be followed by a "major comeback."
• Donald Butler practiced for the first time since injuring a groin Nov. 25. "He moved around all right, and he didn't have a setback," Turner said. "It'd be nice if he could play. It'd be nice for him because he was in the middle of having a great year."
Others to return were Tyronne Green and Jeromey Clary, who both exited the Dec. 2nd game. Absent were Takeo Spikes (hamstring) and Aubrayo Franklin (knee).
• Turner said Robert Meachem, a replacement to Malcom Floyd, will see extensive playing time against the Jets.
• Four months to the day of his ankle surgery, Vincent Brown practiced for the first time since a Cowboys third-stringer fell on the left ankle in the end zone. Brown, who won't play this season, made a one-handed catch in individual drills. "I let 'em know I've still got the hands," he said.
Brown, a San Diego State alum, said the Aztecs will beat BYU in the Poinsettia Bowl on Thursday, 27-14.
• Though Jets quarterback Greg McElroy will be making his first NFL start and second regular-season appearance, the Chargers won't easily outsmart him. McElroy was a Rhodes scholar finalist at Alabama and told San Diego reporters he's a "nerd," recalling that he got an A+ in his college statistics class. The Chargers' Jarret Johnson, also a Bama man, said McElroy knows the whole playbook. "He's an unbelievably smart kid and super competitive," he said.


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MISSING Blackburn teenager Cameron Stanger has been found safe and well in the Shadsworth area and has now returned home to his family.
Cameron Stanger, of Cabin End Road, Knuzden, didn't return to his home after leaving Our Lady and St John Catholic College.
Police launched an appeal for information into the whereabouts of the 16-year-old after growing concerned for his welfare.


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A VILLAGE cricket club which has been at the heart of its community for more than half a century is fighting for survival.
Founded in 1950, Thixendale CC is on the brink of folding unless it recruits more players.
It has been a member of the HPH York Vale League since 1986 and is also a member of the Foss Evening League.
It won the second division of the Vale League last year but resigned midway through this season because it had been unable to put a side out on many occasions.
The league took the decision to suspend its membership to give the club the chance to regroup and apply for re-election at the league AGM in November.
Paul Scothern, who has been a member of the club for 20 years, said: "In terms of financial stability and facilities, the club has never been in a better position but it is difficult getting players to commit to playing every week.
"Also very few locals are involved with the team and it is hard to attract new players to a club located in such a remote village which is some distance away from reasonable centres of population."
Thixendale is 10 miles from Stamford Bridge, 12 miles from Malton, 13 miles from Driffield and 15 miles from Pocklington.
Paul said: "Resigning from the Vale League was a difficult decision to make but with a dwindling number of players we could not guarantee fulfilling our fixtures for the remainder of the season. We are, however, grateful to the league for giving us one last chance to keep the club alive by attempting to recruit more players for next season."
The picturesque cricket field is owned by Thixendale farmer Charles Brader, whose brother Adrian has played for the club for more than 50 years, and it nestles in a valley on a perfectly flat enclosed area. In 2009 a caravan used for changing on the boundary edge was replaced by a £64,000 timber pavilion
Adrian, who is also the groundsman, said: "The cricket club has been an important part of village life and it would be so sad to see it go. I used to go along to matches when my dad played for the team and I made my debut while still at primary school."
A meeting has been arranged for Monday September 1 in the village hall at Thixendale where past, present and prospective members are invited to attend. Anyone interested in playing for the club next season and who is unable to attend the meeting should phone Paul Scothern on 01377 288181 or email email@example.com
Thixendale CC started as members of the St Quintin Cricket League comprising such teams as Bossall, Acklam, Birdsall, Settrington, Rillington and Wintringham. It joined the Vale League in 1986 when the St Quintin League folded.