text:
Outside the theater, Gerrity's name is still proudly emblazoned in the production's one-sheet, and inside, a portrait featuring the distinguished member of the local theater milieu striking his signature smile welcomed the 30 or so attendees.
Moments before the maiden performance, Playhouse board president Joyce Blalock took the stage.
"Thank you, theater lovers, for being here—and you do have to be a theater lover to be out tonight," Blalock said. She took the opportunity to commend the also news director at KSFR for his multiple contributions to the performance art scene and cited this version of the seasonal play as one that "he particularly wanted to bring to us."
"Because of his sudden death— which was a blow to everyone— the cast made the decision, with the staff, that they wanted to go forward," Blalock continued.
Playhouse secretary Kelly Huertas also remembered the fallen director and lauded the cast and crew, saying they came together "like none other" to "complete the journey Dan begun and keep his vision intact."
A minimalistic and comedic play-within-a-play, Doris Baizley's adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, Huertas said, harkened back to Gerrity's days at the famed Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles during the late '70s. She called it "a testament to his immense talent and comic timing—but I think the best part is [the play] is a tribute to his favorite time of the year."
Gerrity's partner Thomas Mason completed the eulogy.
"I feel the love here tonight for Dan," Mason said. He then thanked the Santa Fe community for "the great outpouring of love and appreciation for Dan's many gifts."
Mason recalled Gerrity's warm smile and "authoritative voice," making those in the audience who knew him chuckle.
"It's hard to know how many of you saw it, but what resided in Dan all his days was the joy of a playful, naughty, exuberant and sensitive little boy alive with Christmas," Mason said. "In some small measure, tonight's performance of A Christmas Carol contains that spark that lit Dan up for everything theater."
Hearts broken and makeup flaking, the nine-person cast appeared onstage and, adhering to theater lore, the show went on.
Jerry Ferraccio, coordinator at the Santa Fe Shakespeare Society, masterfully breathes life into stone-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge by way of a second role, that of stage manager on a roving production of Carol. "Prop boy" Matthew Montoya doubles up as Tiny Tim, and every other cast member embodies a minimum of two and up to five roles.
A timeless tale of greed and ultimate redemption, the spirited story is illustrated with the help of a lone, oversized and multipurpose Louis Vuitton trunk that provides the staging's main set, and is aided by spot-on performances that carry with them the passion and precision that Gerrity was known for.
Come the play's end, Ferraccio broke down in part because of the role, in part because of the underlying circumstances, and gave new depth to the steadfast character.
"Nearly everyone in the cast has taken at least a line, a movement, a hand bell or a set change that was originally Dan's," the production's program reads. "Ultimately, it takes the entire cast to make up for Dan's energy…in this way, everyone shares his spirit, too."
"He brought it almost all the way there," Playhouse board member Eliot Gray Fisher tells SFR after the performance. "You can see it's very well-timed and choreographed and that's so much a part of who he was—working as hard as you can to get it as tight and good as you can get it. That's what he did every year with Benchwarmers."
Sitting next to him, Huertas, who served with Gerrity on the board for three years, gives credit to the play's ensemble members who took on smaller roles that he was set to play.
"Each one took on an extra hand bell or a piece of blocking and Campbell Martin took on a tremendous amount of the lines," Huertas says. "It works. I'm so impressed with what these guys did; it just blows my mind. You talk about 'community theater,' well that's it, right there."
Email the author: firstname.lastname@example.com
7:30 Thursdays-Saturdays; 4 pm Sundays.
Through Dec. 22. $15-$20.
Santa Fe Playhouse, 142 E De Vargas St.,


text:
First-pitch strikes crucial for McPherson
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- For four innings Monday night, Kyle McPherson had a pretty good hold on a berth in the Pirates' starting rotation. Then the righty lost his grip, and the makeup of that rotation remained a mystery wrapped in suspense.
A strong start by McPherson unraveled into a five-inning, five-run, three-homer stint in the Bucs' 6-2 loss to the Rays.
If general manager Neal Huntington wanted to see something conclusive from McPherson -- good or bad -- before making a decision on Jonathan Sanchez, who has to be either released or added to the roster Tuesday morning, he did not get it.
"The game plan was to go out there, be aggressive, and it was working," McPherson said. "Then I failed to execute a couple of pitches, and things just snowballed."
McPherson started out giving a textbook example of the value of first-pitch strikes, something always being preached but not always practiced by pitchers lacking confidence in their stuff. He started off his first 10 batters with strikes and, not coincidentally, took a two-hitter into the fourth inning.
Until then, his only misstep was a hung breaking pitch on an 0-and-2 count in the second inning to Shelley Duncan, who deposited it on the lawn beyond the left-field fence for a solo homer.
When McPherson started falling behind, though, the Rays started figuring him out. Two-run homers in the fifth by Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria erased his 2-1 lead. Complicit in that undoing was his own defense, which was not erratic, just misfortunate. Zobrist's home run ball actually bounced over the fence off right fielder Jose Tabata's glove, and Longoria's shot followed a hot smash by Matt Joyce which second baseman Neil Walker could only knock down, not field cleanly.
"At this level, you can't fall behind, or give them too much to hit. They make you pay," said McPherson, who conceded having been stunned by Zobrist's go-ahead homer -- twice.
"I was surprised the ball went that far. I thought I got in there pretty good on that pitch. Strong guy," McPherson said. "At first, I thought [Tabata] actually had it and came down with it. But then I saw it rolling on top of the net, and I was like, 'That's not coming back.'"
Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
WHEN Burnley won their first Premier League home game, Martin Tyler drove home to London with the matchwinner's shirt in his car; the sweat from Robbie Blake's back barely dry.
The Sky Sports commentator – the voice of Premier League since its launch in 1992 – knows history cannot repeat itself in that respect.
But second time around he has not discounted the Clarets causing an early upset against Chelsea, just as they did against Manchester United in that unforgettable Turf Moor encounter.
"My memory's always going to be that Manchester United game, then scrabbling around in the kit skips afterwards with the help of Robbie Blake himself trying to dig out his shirt," he smiled.
"I took it home as a souvenir for a very good friend of mine, and a former team-mate of his from Darlington.
"It was almost like a dream. It was a wonderful goal and a great night for Burnley, against a great club. That capped it off.
"I listened to the radio all the way home, with the bulletins telling how Robbie Blake had beaten Manchester United, and I had his shirt on my seat.
"The adventure was so exciting the first time."
But it was to be short-lived, with Burnley relegated after a mid-season change of manager.
Tyler sees a difference in personnel and prospects this time around.
"Burnley entertained a lot, as well as participating in the Premier League, but you do learn the difference of management," he said.
"It does look a different squad in terms of age, this is a much younger group, but the challenge is just the same.
"There are players who will want to prove people wrong, like Tom Heaton.
"Lukas Jutkiewicz was at Everton, Marvin Sordell has had a taste of it elsewhere.
"I think there's a lot of hunger, and you just never know.
"Some players who you expect to do well find it tough, and other players just grow into it.
"Scott Arfield, for example, could be that player. That's why we love it, because nobody knows. Sean Dyche doesn't know; his judgement is put to the test."
But Tyler expects the Clarets boss will thrive in the Premier League spotlight.
"I'm very impressed with him," he said. "As a player he always gave the lot, and as a manager he is doing the same.
"There aren't enough English managers, but as an industry it's very important."
Tyler is optimistic that Burnley can make the grade.
"No-one's expecting European football at the end of it but I think there's a realistic hope they can stay up," he added.
"There's no reason at all why this group of players can't do it. It's about being organised.
"The whole has to be greater than the sum of the individual parts. That's football.
"It will be a huge test psychologically, as well as ability, but the way Sean Dyche manages they won't be short in that department.
"He has a group he can trust."


text:
Everyday Opportunities
This lesson printed from:
Posted March 24, 2010
Standard: 1
Grades: K-2, 3-5
Author: Stacey Pehosh
Posted: March 24, 2010
In this lesson, students will learn about choices and opportunity costs that occur every day. While this lesson will go on throughout the day, the actual lesson is short.
Choice, Decision Making, Opportunity Cost
- Keep a class list, noting the choices made as a class throughout the day as well as what was given up to make those choices.
- Complete a printable worksheet demonstrating an understanding of opportunity cost.
- Discuss the class chart that was kept until the end of the day.
- Complete the extension activity as homework with parents/guardians (If applicable).
In this lesson, you and your students will take a closer look at the choices that are made in the classroom everyday. At the end of the school day, you will discuss with them that every one of the things your class chose or did not choose has consequences that are either good or bad. Students will get a better idea about why it is important to think before they act and they will also gain a better understanding of why you do some things the way you do. You might even surprise yourself and find some things you could do better in your classroom!
"Choices Matter" Activity: Students can use this activity to aid their understanding of the impact of choices.
"My Choice" Worksheet: Students give an example of a choice that they have made and relate it to the opportunity cost of their decision.
"Choices, Choices!" Worksheet: Students write down there choices at home and bring them to class for discussion.
Begin a discussion about making choices. Ask the students to tell you some of the choices that they made before coming to school. As the students provide examples, make a list of these examples on the board. Then ask that student what they did not choose to do instead and write this example next to their '"choice". Before moving from one student to the next, ask that student if the thing they did not choose was the next best thing that they could have chosen to do. If not, have the student provide an example of what the next best choice would have been. Explain to the students that the next best thing that they didn't choose is their "Opportunity Cost" (Definition: The second-best alternative (or the value of that alternative) that must be given up when scarce resources are used for one purpose instead of another, e.g. If they chose to brush their teeth their opportunity cost might be eating candy.) Discuss with them whether or not the choice they made was good or bad and why. Once the concept of "opportunity cost" is understood, tell the students that you will be spending the day recording decisions that are made.
Using a large piece of poster paper divided into two columns with one column "choice" and the other "opportunity cost." List the choices made during the day. During the day, provide opportunities for the class to vote on things like whether to do math first or do puzzles first. Record the choices and at the end of the day discuss whether they made good decisions. Circle the ones students think should have been made differently and discuss what they should have considered when they were making those choices...
Remember, the list can include academics, activities, or behavior. Try to keep the list relevant to the class as a whole and not individuals.
Give each student a piece of paper (at least 8.5X11) or a copy of the printable worksheet "My Choice". Ask the students to explain and draw a picture of a choice that they made either before or during school on the top half. Tell them you would like to see examples of choices made outside of the classroom. Then have them explain and draw a picture of what the opportunity cost for that choice is on the bottom half. Remind students they may choose to draw a bad choice that they made, but if they do, the "opportunity cost" needs to be a picture of what would have been a better choice.
When the students are finished, you can call on volunteers to share and explain their pictures.
Have the students complete the printable version of the activity called "Choices Matter".
Explain to students that there are choices that need to be made and they have to circle the best choice and put an X on the "opportunity costs."
As a homework assignment, ask the students to solicit the aid of their parents and keep a journal for the remainder of the day about the choices made and what they gave up until bedtime (for younger students, the parents may need to do the recording).
You can have students decide as a class some things to put on a check list that could be used for the remainder of the day. It could include things such as: brushing their teeth or eating candy, staying up ten more minutes or having a bedtime story, etc.
You can use the printable sheet "Choices, Choices!"
Then use these activities for discussion the next morning.


text:
Compiled and edited by Charles J. Kappler. Washington : Government Printing Office, 1904.
|Margin Notes
|Chap. 453
|Fort Smith and Western Railroad Company granted right of way through Choctaw and Creek nations, Indian Territory.
See note to 1898. c. 517, ante, p. 656.
|Chap. 453
|Sec. 2
|Sec. 2
|Additional land for stations.
|Sec. 2
|Sec. 2
|Restricted use, etc.
|Sec. 2
|Sec. 3
|Sec. 3
|Referees, appraisal by.
|Sec. 3
|Proviso. Hearing, etc.
|Sec. 4
|Appeal, etc.
|Sec. 4
|Sec. 4
|Work may begin on depositing double award.
|Sec. 5
|Sec. 6
|Freight charges.
|Sec. 6
|Provisos. Passenger rates.
|Sec. 6
|Sec. 6
|Limit passenger rates.
|Sec. 6
|Sec. 7
|Additional compensation to tribes.
|Sec. 7
|Provisos. Appealed by general councils.
|Sec. 7
|Award to be in lieu of compensation.
|Sec. 7
|Annual rental.
|Sec. 7
|Additional taxes.
|Sec. 7
|Survey, etc.
|Sec. 9
|Employees may reside on right of way.
|Sec. 10
|Sec. 10
|Crossing, etc.
|Sec. 11
|Condition of acceptance.
|Sec. 11
|Proviso. Violation of forfeit.
|Sec. 12
|Record of mortgages.
|Sec. 13
|Sec. 14
|Assignment, etc., of right of way.
{Page 692}
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Fort Smith and Western Railroad Company, a corporation created under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Arkansas, be, and the same is hereby, invested and empowered with the right of locating, constructing, owning, equipping, operating, using, and maintaining a railway and telegraph and telephone line through the Choctaw and Creek nations, in the Indian Territory, beginning at a point to be selected by said company on the western boundary line of the State of Arkansas at or near the city of Fort Smith, in Sebastian County, in said State, and running thence by the most feasible and practicable route in and through that part of the Indian Territory known as the Choctaw Nation in a southwesterly and westerly direction through the counties of Skullyville, San Bois, Gaines,
{Page 693}
and Tobucksy, and crossing the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway, in said Choctaw Nation, at or near South Canadian; continuing thence westerly to the South Canadian River; continuing thence northwesterly and through the Creek Nation, Indian Territory, to a point on the western boundary thereof near the Sac and Fox Agency, said line forming a continuous line of railway with the line of said railway company which continues westward from said boundary line of the Creek Nation, as above set forth, into and through Oklahoma Territory, to Kingfisher, in said Oklahoma Territory, with a switch or spur line from the nearest feasible point on said line in the Choctaw Nation to a connection with the Saint Louis and San Francisco Railroad, at a point between Cedars Station and Backbone Tunnel, of about eight miles in length, with the right to construct, use, and maintain such tracks, turn-outs, and sidings as said company may deem it to their interest to construct along and upon the right of way and depot grounds herein provided for. The railway so constructed shall be of standard gauge, and the railway shall be built as a standard railway and with rails weighing not less than sixty pounds to the yard.
That said corporation is authorized to take and use for all purposes of a railway and telegraph and telephone line, and for no other purpose, a right of way one hundred feet in width through the said Choctaw and Creek nations for the said Fort Smith and Western Railroad Company, the same to be fifty feet in either side of the track of said railway from the center thereof, and, in addition to the above right of way, to take and use a strip of land one hundred feet in width, with a length of two thousand feet, for station purposes to the extent of one station for each ten miles of road, with the right to use such additional grounds where there are heavy cuts or fills as may be necessary for the construction and maintenance of the roadbed and track, not exceeding fifty feet in width on each side of the said right of way, or as much thereof as may be included in said cut or fill: Provided, That no more than said addition of land shall be taken for any one station: Provided further, That no part of the lands herein authorized to be taken shall be leased or sold by the company, and they shall not be used except in such manner and for such purposes only as shall be necessary for the construction and convenient operation of said railroad, telegraph, and telephone lines, and when any portion thereof shall cease to be used, such portion shall revert to the Choctaw Nation or Creek Nation.
That before said railway and telegraph and telephone line shall be constructed through any lands held by individual occupants according to the laws, usages, and custom of the Choctaw Nation or Creek Nation, respectively, or under any law or treaty with the United States, full compensation shall be made to such occupants for all property to be taken or damage done by reason of the construction of such railway and telegraph and telephone line. In case of failure to make amicable settlement with any occupant, such compensation shall be determined by the appraisement of disinterested referees, to be appointedfor the Choctaw Nation, one, who shall act as chairman, by the President; one by the principal chief of the Choctaw Nation, and one by the said railway company; and for the Creek Nation, one, who shall act as chairman, by the President; one by the principal chief of the Creek Nation, and one by said railway company, who, before entering upon the duties of their appointment, shall take and subscribe before a judge or clerk of a United States court or United States commissioner an oath that they will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of their appointment, which oath, duly certified, shall be returned with their award to, and filed with, the Secretary of the Interior within sixty days from the completion thereof; and upon the failure of either
{Page 694}
party to make such appointment within thirty days after the appointment made by the President the vacancy shall be filled by the judge of the United States court for the district of the Indian Territory in which the property sought to be condemned is situated upon the application of the other party. A majority of said referees shall be competent to act in case of the absence of a member, after due notice.The chairman of such board shall appoint the time and place for all hearings: Provided, That the hearings shall be within the county where the property is situated for which compensation is being assessed for the taking thereof or damage thereto, and at a place as convenient as may be for said occupant, unless the said occupant and said railway company agree to have the hearing at another place. Each of said referees shall receive for his services the sum of four dollars per day for each day he is actually engaged in assessing compensation, with mileage of five cents per mile for each mile necessarily traveled in the discharge of his duties. Said board of referees shall have power to call for and examine witnesses under oath, and said witnesses shall receive the usual fees allowed witnesses by the laws of the Choctaw Nation and Creek Nation, respectively. Costs, including compensation of the referees, shall be made a part of the award and be paid by the said railway company. In case the referees can not agree, then any two of them are authorized to make the award.
That either party, being dissatisfied with the findings and award of the referees, shall have the right, within sixty days after the filing of the award as hereinbefore provided, and notice of the same, to appeal by original petition to the United States district court for the district of the Indian Territory sitting at the place nearest and most convenient to the land and property which is sought to be condemned; and said suit shall then proceed for determining the damage done to the property in the same and like manner as other civil actions in the said court. The said court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the subject-matter of said petition, and the same shall be heard and determined by said court in accordance with the laws now in force or hereafter enacted for the government of said court; and the measure of damages in condemning property authorized by this Act shall be that prescribed by the laws of the State of Arkansas, in so far as the same are not inconsistent with the laws now in force or hereafter enacted for the government of the United States courts in said Choctaw and Creek nations in such cases. If the judgment of the court shall be for a larger sum than the award of the referees, the costs of the litigation shall be adjudged against the railway company; and if the judgment of the court shall be for the same as the award of the referees, then the costs shall be adjudged against the appellant. If the judgment of the court shall be for a smaller sum than the award of the referees, then the costs shall be adjudged against the appellee. When proceedings shall have been commenced in court, the railway company shall pay double the amount of the award into court to abide the judgment thereof, and then shall have the right to enter upon the property sought to be condemned and proceed with the construction of the railroad and telegraph and telephone line. If such appeal is not taken as hereinbefore set forth, the award shall be conclusive and final, and shall have the same force and effect as a judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
That said railway company is authorized, and hereby given the right, to connect or cross with its tracks the tracks and railroad of any other company or person owning or operating a railway in the said Choctaw or Creek Nation. In case of failure to make amicable settlement with any such corporation or person for such crossing, such compensation shall be determined in the same manner as hereinbefore provided for determining the compensation for land and other property taken and damaged.
{Page 695}
That said railway company shall not charge the inhabitants of said nations a greater rate of freight than the rate authorized by the laws of the State of Arkansas for services or transportation of the same kind: Provided, That passenger rates on said railway shall not exceed three cents per mile. Congress hereby reserves the right to regulate the charges for freight and passengers on said railway and messages on said telegraph and telephone lines until a State government or governments shall exist in said nations within the limits of which said railway, or a part thereof, shall be located, and then such State government or governments shall be authorized to fix and regulate the cost of transportation of persons and freights within their respective limits of said railway; but Congress expressly reserves the right to fix and regulate at all times the cost of such transportation by said railway or said company whenever such transportation shall extend from one State into another, or shall extend into more than one State: Provided, however, That the rate of such transportation of passengers, local or interstate, shall not exceed the rate above expressed: And provided further, That said railway company shall carry the mail at such prices as Congress may by law provide; and until such rate is fixed by law the Postmaster-General may fix the rate of compensation.
That said railway company shall pay to the Secretary of the Interior, for the benefit of the Choctaw Nation and Creek Nation, respectively, the sum of fifty dollars in addition to the compensation provided for in this Act, for property taken an damages done to individual occupants by the construction of the railway for each mile of railway that it may construct in said nations, said payments to be made in installments of five hundred dollars as each ten miles of road is graded: Provided, That if the general council of either the Choctaw Nation or Creek Nation, within four months after the filing of maps of definite location as hereinafter set forth, dissents from the allowance hereinbefore provided for, and shall certify the same to the Secretary of the Interior, then all compensation to be paid to said nations under the provisions of this Act shall be determined as provided in section three for the determination of the compensation to be paid to the individual occupant of lands, with the right of appeal to the courts upon the same terms, conditions, and requirements as therein provided: Provided further, That the amount awarded or adjudged to be paid by said railway company for said dissenting nation or nations shall be in lieu of the compensation said nation or nations would be entitled to receive under the foregoing provision except the annual tax herein provided for. Said company shall also pay, so long as said territory is owned and occupied by the Choctaw Indians or Creek Indians, respectively, to the Secretary of the Interior, the sum of fifteen dollars per annum for each mile of railway it shall construct in the said nations, respectively. The money paid to the Secretary of the Interior under the provisions of this Act shall be disbursed by him in accordance with the laws and treaties now in force within said nations: Provided, That Congress shall have the right, so long as said lands are occupied and possessed by said nations, to impose such additional taxes upon said railway as it may deem just and proper for the benefit of said nations, and any Territory or State hereafter formed through which said railway shall have been established may exercise the like power as to such part of said railway as may lie within its limits. Said railway company shall have the right to survey and locate its railway immediately after the passage of this Act.
[See substitute for see. 8, in act of 1900, chapter 546, post, page 700.]
That the officers, servants, and employees of said company necessary to the construction and management of said railroad shall be allowed to reside, while so engaged, upon such right of way, but
{Page 696}
subject to the provisions of the Indian intercourse laws and such rules and regulations as may be established by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with said intercourse laws.
That said railway company shall build at least seventy-five miles of its railway in said nations within three years after the passage of this Act and complete the same within three years thereafter, or the rights herein granted shall be forfeited as to that portion not built. That said railway company shall construct and maintain continually all roads and highway crossings and necessary bridges over said railway wherever said roads and highways do now or may hereafter cross said railways right of way or may be by the proper authorities laid out across the same.
That the said Fort Smith and Western Railroad Company shall accept this right of way upon the express condition, binding upon itself, its successors and assigns, that they will neither aid, advise, nor assist any effort looking toward the changing or extinguishing the present tenure of the Choctaw Indians or Creek Indians in their land, and will not attempt to secure from the Choctaw Nation or Creek Nation any further grant of land or its occupancy than is hereinbefore provided: Provided, That any violation of the condition mentioned in this section shall operate as a forfeiture of all the rights and privileges of said railway company under this Act.
That all mortgages, deeds of trust, and other conveyances executed by said railway company, conveying any portion of its railway, telegraph, and telephone lines, with its franchises, that may be constructed in said Choctaw Nation and Creek Nation shall be recorded in the Department of the Interior, and the record thereof shall be evidence and notice of their execution and shall convey all rights and property of said company as therein expressed.
That Congress may at any time amend, add to, alter, or repeal this Act.
That the right of way herein and hereby granted shall not be assigned or transferred in any form whatever prior to the construction and completion of the road except as to mortgages or other liens that may be given or secured thereon to aid in the construction thereof.
Approved, March 3, 1899.


text:
A LONG-serving Burnley vicar who was 'loved by his congregation' has died aged 82.
Tributes have been paid to Rev. Canon Bryan Robinson, who served at St Andrew with St Margaret and St James Church, in Colne Road, for 32 years.
He joined St Andrew's in 1965 and was made an Honorary Canon in 1995, in recognition of his service to the Church of England.
He lived in Simonstone and also served as Rural Dean of Burnley from 1985 to 1991.
Born in Accrington in 1932, Canon Robinson studied history at Cambridge University, after completing national service in the army in Egypt.
He was ordained in 1958 and took up a seven-year curacy in Fleetwood, before moving to East Lancashire.
During his time in Fleetwood, Canon Robinson forged a friendship with the Rev. Brian Tonge, who was the junior curate. They also worked together in Burnley for 29 years, before both retiring in 1997.
Mr Tonge said: "He was a very devoted vicar, always very conscientious and willing to help out. He grew to love his congregation and his congregation loved him."
Canon Robinson will also be remembered for launching a successful 25-year campaign to refurbish the ornate carvings behind the altar at St Andrew's.
In the mid-1980s he started a fund to repair the screen, which dates back 112 years and was created by Charles Eamer Kempe.
The refurb was finally completed in 2010 after a grant from the Heritage Lottery grant helped reach the £32,000 funding target.
Father Peter Hapgood-Strickland, Canon Robinson's successor, said: "He was always very helpful to me, providing background support. He was a lovely gentleman and very faithful to the gospel and to the church. And the parish always came first in his life."
Dozens are expected to pay their respects at his funeral on Tuesday, with a Requiem Mass at St Andrew's at 11am, followed by a cremation at Accrington at 1pm.


text:
Roadmap for Best Practices in Manufacturing
Aberdeen Study Shows Direct Link between Improved Safety and Productivity
Manufacturing historically has viewed implementation of safety practices as punitive actions or compliance activities. Today, safety represents opportunity to gain a competitive edge.
For best-in-class manufacturers, the combination of global safety standards, advanced safety technologies and innovative design approaches are turning safety into a core function that delivers significant business and economic value. This includes financial returns beyond the benefits of reducing costs associated with incidents and medical expenses.
In fact, best-in-class companies are the safest and most productive. A recent Aberdeen Group study, co-sponsored by Rockwell Automation, measured the relationship between automation safety and productivity and showed the best-in-class companies had 5 percent higher Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), 4 percent less unscheduled downtime, and significantly fewer injuries and repeat accidents compared to peers. OEE is a widely used measurement of how well a manufacturing plant performs relative to its designed production capacity.
These forward-thinking manufacturers understand that a well-designed safety system can help improve their efficiency, productivity, and business and machine performance – ultimately helping reduce costs and differentiate themselves in the marketplace.
So, how do best-in-class manufacturers provide a safer working environment that is compliant with applicable standards and supportive of a productive and competitive operation?
At the core, they comply with safety standards without jeopardizing productivity by combining safety and operational systems through a risk management approach, Aberdeen found. The most successful risk management approaches included a strong safety culture, formalized risk management strategy and technologies that integrate safety systems with the standard automation system.
Defining Best-In-Class
The Aberdeen Group study defines best-in-class manufacturers with four key performance indicators (KPIs) deemed critical to the success of the safety program as well as plant safety. They include the OEE, repeat accident rate, injury frequency rate and unscheduled asset downtime.
Respondents to the study were divided into three categories, best-in-class, industry average and laggards:
- The top 20 percent, or best-in-class, are those with the highest OEE and the lowest accident and injury rates.
- The lowest 30 percent have the lowest OEE and the highest accident and injury rates (see Table 1
Furthermore, best-in-class manufacturers average five percent higher OEE and four percent less unscheduled downtime than industry averages, while having significantly fewer injuries and repeat accidents than their competitors. Just as important, those manufacturers also average significantly fewer injuries (1 in 2000 employees vs. nearly 1 in 100 employees) and repeat accidents (0.2 percent vs. 2.4 percent) than industry average manufacturers. This makes for a much less stressful and more productive work environment – and reduces liabilities.
The bottom 80 percent of manufacturers can follow the best practices of the best-in-class industrial plants and develop a formal, effective risk management strategy, foster a safety culture and invest in advanced technologies, often including systems that integrate standard and safety automation control, to help foster a safer work environment and increase productivity.
Creating a Safety Culture
Creating a workplace that values and embraces safety programs is unfortunately not a commodity to be purchased, but rather an atmosphere to be encouraged by plant managers. Without the buy-in of everyone from upper management down, implementing an effective safety culture is difficult. Managers must develop relationships with the environment, health and safety practitioners in the plant, and help each individual understand the role machine and process safety plays in their plant.
Specifically, companies need four critical components if they are going to be successful in establishing a safety culture – credibility, commitment, accountability and rigor. If employees don't believe it's a credible program, i.e., if they believe it's a marketing ploy or simply nice words, then it will surely fail. What builds that credibility is continual senior management commitment driven and adopted throughout the organization. Most companies have some management commitment in words and deeds, but it must result in action and funding. Without this, a safety program cannot survive.
A safety program also won't survive without accountability and ownership within the organization. In a successful safety culture, everyone is a stakeholder.
Lastly, rigor is key, because it reinforces the credibility of the program, meaning it becomes more "real" because it has a well-defined structure, i.e., documentation, training, milestones in the process, key success metrics, etc.
If a manufacturer has all four components along with buy-in throughout the organization, then safety becomes a core value. Without buy-in throughout the organization, it is difficult to maintain a safety culture and to view employees as critical assets in the organization – no matter how a risk assessment is conducted.
Developing a Formalized Risk Management Strategy
Establishing a formalized risk management strategy to identify, prioritize and mitigate risks is a key factor in addressing top level safety pressures while maintaining and improving productivity. The Aberdeen study found that manufacturers with an effective risk management strategy are more likely to have established procedures than those in the Industry Average or Laggards categories, as shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, best-in-class companies consistently had a significantly higher capability to assess, rank and create processes to mitigate risks.
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Muskingum College undergraduate commencement features address by Barbara Young Morris '67 and baccalaureate sermon by David J. Evans '68
Muskingum College held its undergraduate commencement exercises on May 10, featuring an address by 1967 alumna Barbara Young Morris, a principal with Winston Partners, Incorporated of Chicago, Illinois. The baccalaureate sermon was delivered by 1968 alumnus David J. Evans, a founding partner of RS Investment Management LLC. Both bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees were conferred.
In recognition of her lifetime of achievement, the college bestowed upon Ms. Young Morris an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Evans' professional and personal achievements were recognized with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.
Ms. Morris is recognized for her leadership role in the economic growth of Baxter International, Inc., a global, $11-billion, Fortune-100 health-care products and services enterprise. Offering expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Baxter assists healthcare professionals in the treatment of complex medical conditions. Among Baxter's pioneering contributions to the medical field were the first commercially-manufactured intravenous solutions and the first portable kidney dialysis machine.
During her 17-year career with Baxter, Ms. Morris became the first woman to become a member of the company's senior management team, serving in the roles of corporate vice president and treasurer, senior vice president for human relations, and senior vice president for corporate communications. She was also a member of the Baxter Foundation Board of Directors.
Currently a principal of Winston Partners, Inc. of Chicago, Ms. Morris advises chief executive officers of emerging companies across the nation. She specializes in communications, corporate governance, and finance matters related to initial public offerings.
Ms. Morris donates her time, energy and expertise as a member of the Muskingum College Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors of the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and the Board of Directors of Imagine Chicago, a non-profit organization which enables individuals and community organizations to participate in innovative civic projects designed to connect generations and cultures.
Ms. Morris earned her bachelor of arts in history and sociology from Muskingum and her master of business administration from Harvard University.
In her commencement address, Ms. Young Morris told the graduates, "Now is the time of your life to broaden your horizons. Don't let fear of failure prevent you from achieving that which lies within you. As you embark, remain steadfast, think boldly and embrace risk"
In her remarks to the graduating class, Dr. Steele recounted the many milestones the class had achieved during their time at the college, and told the graduates, "In countless ways you have shaped the Muskingum of tomorrow, just as you will now shape your own future. Thank you for being a part of the Muskingum community."
Craig J. Miller '08 represented the class of 2008. The charges to the class were presented by Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for Teacher Education and Professor of Education Dr. Linda Morrow and Alumnus and Chair of the Board of Trustees Harold W. Burlingame.
The baccalaureate service was held at 10:00 a.m. Evans' sermon, titled "Unintended Consequences," centered on the notion that life's actions often have unintended consequences that are either positive or negative. He told the students, "Even though today is your graduation day, your education has really just begun, and Muskingum has prepared you for a lifetime of learning. My hope is that you have balance in your life and that your unintended consequences are all positive."
Mr. Evans is recognized for his financial leadership and his diverse contributions to our nation's economy through his work with emerging companies and non-profit organizations.
A founding partner of RS Investment Management LLC (RSIM), he retired as its managing director in 2001. During his career, Mr. Evans managed investment portfolios for educational institutions, foundations, hospitals, corporate pension funds and individual investors. He specialized in the analysis of growth opportunities, particularly in the technology sector. Prior to founding RSIM, he led growth fund portfolio management for the San Francisco-based investment bank Robertson Stephens.
Mr. Evans entered the investment field with the Connecticut General life Insurance Company (later CIGNA) as a research analyst for aerospace, defense, technology and electronics industries. Previously, he served as assistant dean and director of admissions and student affairs at the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College and as assistant director of admissions at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Currently a partner with Land and Sea LLC, Mr. Evans is involved in real estate development and renovation of historic homes in Connecticut and Delaware.
He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Mystic River Historical Society, the Mystic-Noank Library and St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, and is an active volunteer with the Dennison Homestead Museum in Mystic, Connecticut.
Mr. Evans earned his bachelor of arts in history from Muskingum in 1968 and his master of business administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Joshua B. Eno '08 read the scripture for baccalaureate and Jessica A. Marshall '08 led the Collect.
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The invention of that fine silke, Tiffanie, Sarcenet, and Cypres, which instead of apparell to cover and hide, shew women naked through them. [Holland's "Pliny," 1601]
The fashionable N.Y. jewelry firm Tiffany & Co. (1895) is named for its founder, goldsmith Charles L. Tiffany (1812-1902) and his son, Louis C. Tiffany (1848-1933), who was the art nouveau decorator noted for his glassware. The surname is attested in English from 1206.


text:
Gone on Monday and FridayRiddles are little poems or phrases that pose a question that needs answering. Riddles frequently rhyme, but this is not a requirement.
Saturday and Sunday, I am big.
Tuesday through Thursday, I am small.
Monday and Friday, I am non-existent.
What am I?
AnswerThe letter "S."
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See another brain teaser just like this one...
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text:
Comparison of Ferrisat vs Placebo in Anemia Associated to Inflammatory Bowel Disease During Anti-TNF Therapy (FER)
This study has been terminated.
(Lack of enrollment)
Groupe d'Etude Therapeutique des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Groupe d'Etude Therapeutique des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: August 30, 2011
Last updated: June 21, 2015
Last verified: June 2015
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Anemia is the the most frequently extradigestive symptom for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. This is due to iron deficiency and inflammation.
Most of treatments aim to control inflammation using anti-TNF alpha therapy which should theorically reduce anemia.
The aim of the study is to show that perfusion of iron associated to anti-TNF therapy should reduce anemia and improve quality of life of patients.
|Inflammatory Bowel Disease
|Drug: FERRISAT Drug: PLACEBO
|Phase 3
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|A Controlled, Randomised, Double-blind, Multicenter Study, Comparing Ferrisat Versus Placebo in Anemia Associated to Inflammatory Bowel Disease During Anti-TNF Therapy
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: AnemiaU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Groupe d'Etude Therapeutique des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Level of hemoglobin [ Time Frame: 6 weeks after inclusion ]Efficacy of one-shot perfusion of Ferrisat (Iron supplementation)
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Tolerance of Ferrisat [ Time Frame: At Inclusion ]
- Improvement of quality of life [ Time Frame: 6 weeks after perfusion ]
|Study Start Date:
|January 2011
|Study Completion Date:
|December 2014
|Primary Completion Date:
|December 2014 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Active Comparator: Ferrisat
Infusion of Ferrisat (50mg/ml) at inclusion under usual practices
Drug: FERRISAT
A single infusion of 50 mg/ml of Ferrisat during inclusion visit.
Other Name: ACTIVE FERRISAT
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Infusion of placebo at inclusion visit
Drug: PLACEBO
A single infusion of Glucose 5% solution during inclusion visit
Other Name: GLUCOSE 5%
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age greater than 18 years
- Crohn's disease or Ulcerative Colitis defined according to the usual endoscopic, histological, and radiological criteria
- Under anti-TNF therapy or indication for starting an anti-TNF therapy
- Anemia defined according to World Health Organization (Hemoglobin under 13g/dl for man and Hemoglobin under 12g/dl for woman)
- Iron deficiency anemia defined as:
- Ferritinemia under 100 if C-Reactive Protein under normal value OR - Ferritinemia between 30 and 100 if C-Reactive Protein above normal value
Exclusion Criteria:
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01428843
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01428843
|Chu Amiens
|Amiens, France, 80054
|Caen, France, 14033
|Chu Clermont-Ferrand
|Clermont-ferrand, France, 63003
|Hopital Beaujon
|Clichy, France, 92110
|Hopital Bicetre
|Le Kremlin Bicetre, France, 94275
|CHRU Lille
|Lille, France
|Chu Marseille - Hopital Nord
|Marseille, France, 13915
|Chu Nantes
|Nantes, France, 44093
|Hopital Saint Louis
|Paris, France, 75010
|Hopital St Antoine
|Paris, France, 75012
|Hopital Cochin
|Paris, France, 75014
|CHU Bordeaux - Pessac
|Pessac, France, 33700
|Pierre Benite, France, 69495
|Chu Rennes
|Rennes, France, 35033
|Chu Rouen
|Rouen, France, 76031
|Chu Saint Etienne
|St Etienne, France, 42270
|Chu Toulouse
|Toulouse, France, 31403
|Chu Tours
|Tours, France, 37044
Sponsors and Collaborators
Groupe d'Etude Therapeutique des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives
|Principal Investigator:
|Guillaume SAVOYE, PhD
|Groupe d'Etude Therapeutique des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives
|Study Director:
|Jean-Frédéric COLOMBEL, PhD
|Groupe d'Etude Therapeutique des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives
More Information
Keywords provided by Groupe d'Etude Therapeutique des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
Wilson A, Reyes E, Ofman J. Prevalence and outcomes of anemia in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review of the literature. Am J Med. 2004 Apr 5;116 Suppl 7A:44S-49S. Review.
Gasche C, Berstad A, Befrits R, Beglinger C, Dignass A, Erichsen K, Gomollon F, Hjortswang H, Koutroubakis I, Kulnigg S, Oldenburg B, Rampton D, Schroeder O, Stein J, Travis S, Van Assche G. Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of iron deficiency and anemia in inflammatory bowel diseases. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2007 Dec;13(12):1545-53.
Gisbert JP, Gomollón F. Common misconceptions in the diagnosis and management of anemia in inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2008 May;103(5):1299-307. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2008.01846.x. Review.
Oldenburg B, Koningsberger JC, Van Berge Henegouwen GP, Van Asbeck BS, Marx JJ. Iron and inflammatory bowel disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2001 Apr;15(4):429-38. Review.
Vijverman A, Piront P, Belaiche J, Louis E. Evolution of the prevalence and characteristics of anemia in inflammatory bowel diseases between 1993 and 2003. Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 2006 Jan-Mar;69(1):1-4.
|Responsible Party:
|Groupe d'Etude Therapeutique des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01428843 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
2009-011316-38 ( EudraCT Number )
|Study First Received:
|August 30, 2011
|Last Updated:
|June 21, 2015
Keywords provided by Groupe d'Etude Therapeutique des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Anti-TNF alpha theray
Ferrisat perfusion
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Intestinal Diseases
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Hematologic Diseases
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Digestive System Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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SWINDON captain Liam Tucker has branded the West of England Premier League Glos/Wilts Division as a "ridiculously difficult league" in 2014.
Swindon, whose team won promotion from the Wiltshire Division last term, face Biddestone in their opening fixture tomorrow and Tucker stressed that a year of consolidation would not be considered unacceptable at the County Ground, particularly given the strength of some of the teams he and his players will come up against in the next four months.
"You always start the season with that as your aim but we understand we've come up from a lower league so actually a consolidation year might be reasonable as well. You start the year wanting to win every game but it's a ridiculously difficult league this year - more difficult than it has been in previous years," he said.
"We know full well that two years ago that we got relegated out of the league, so we know how difficult it's going to be.
"There's not an easy game in the league. Tewkesbury have come up with an impeccable record, you've got Lechlade, Biddestone and Rockhampton who were all there or thereabouts last year and then Glos City and Warminster coming down from Prem Two.
"Everyone has been in the league for a few years, come up with good records or come down as big clubs. That's what you play for. We want to be playing at a good standard and this year will be a competitive league.
"We've obviously had pre-season and unbelievably we've had three weeks of it. The lads are keen to get going. They've all looked pretty decent. All the batters have had a bit of a bat and all the bowlers have got some overs in their legs."
The visit of Biddestone to the County Ground tomorrow, weather permitting, is a tough start to a tough campaign for Swindon - with familiar foes in the shape of dynamic batsman Dwaine Perry and swing master Naeem Khan aiming to haunt Tucker's men.
"It's the first game of the season and you never quite know what you're going to come up against and who they've signed. I presume they'll have an overseas," said the Swindon captain.
"Dwaine was leading runscorer in the league last year, or there or thereabouts. Naeem Khan is always there or thereabouts with the wickets and they've got a good set of young lads behind them backing them up with bat and ball.
"They'll be top two or three, they are every single year, so we know how difficult a start it is for us."
Jake Goodwin misses the match as he is with Hampshire Academy, while Swindon are still waiting to complete a deal for an overseas player. Scott Edmed is not available to Tucker as he is sitting his pilot exams.


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Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.
Natural Standard® Patient Monograph, Copyright © 2017 (www.naturalstandard.com). All Rights Reserved. Commercial distribution prohibited. This monograph is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. You should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.
Cocoa and chocolate come from the cacao bean. Cacao is native to South America and has been grown in the tropics for at least 3,000 years. The African country Ivory Coast is the one of the largest suppliers of raw cocoa.
Cocoa products have been considered delicacies by many cultures. Cocoa contains flavonoids, which are compounds with antioxidant effects, blood thinning properties, and possibly other health benefits. For this reason, and because it is so popular, chocolate is widely researched.
Chocolate has been studied for heart disease, skin conditions, constipation, and various other conditions. The strongest evidence exists for cocoa's ability to decrease blood pressure.
Portions of this document last updated: Nov. 01, 2013
This evidence-based monograph was prepared by The Natural Standard Research Collaboration
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City Running Tours - Times Square Running Tour
TKTS Booth
Sun 07/28/2013
5 mile, 5K
100 Participants
The running tour begins and ends at the TKTS Discount Ticket Booth Steps in Father Duffy Sqyuare on 47th and Broadway. The meeting time is 7:45 and the run will begin at 8 am.There is no coat or bag check on this run. Water will be provided. For more information contact [email protected] By subway: 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S to Times Square.
- Address:Father Duffy Square on Broadway and 47th Street.
New York, NY 10011


text:
Posted 6 years ago
(4 items)
I cannot seem to find any information about this old lithograph. It does not look like any of the reprints I have found searching online. It is printed on a glossy thick cardboard.
Can anyone tell me anymore info?
anyone know any authenticators around the Los angeles, ca area who I could take it too?


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The Clark County coroner's office said she died of multiple stab wounds.
Jade was last seen Dec. 21 with family friend Brenda Stokes Wilson, who picked her up to go Christmas shopping.
Wilson, 50, returned the car she had borrowed for the outing to a friend two hours later. Jade never came back. Investigators later found blood on the driver's door and steering wheel of the 2007 Saab sedan.
Later that night, Wilson was wrestled to the ground with razors in each hand after allegedly slashing the face of a female co-worker at the Bellagio casino.
Police said she offered no help in the search for the missing girl. Murder and kidnapping charges could get her life in prison without parole or the death penalty.PORTLAND, Maine – Arriving in a limo, Donna Galluzzo and Lisa Gorney had all the trappings of a traditional wedding: rings, flowers, wedding vows, an entourage and a friend to officiate.
With tears in their eyes, they were among the first gay couples to exchange wedding vows early this morning after Maine's same-sex marriage law went into effect at midnight.
"We're paving the way for people to go after us. I think it's just amazing. It's freeing. It's what's right," an emotionally drained Gorney said after their ceremony in front of City Hall.
After waiting years and seeing marriage rights nearly awarded and then retracted, gay couples in Maine's largest city didn't have to wait a moment longer than necessary to wed, with licenses issued at the stroke of midnight as the law went into effect.NEW YORK – Dockworkers along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico agreed Friday to extend their contract for more than a month, averting a weekend strike that could have crippled major ports from Boston to Houston and bottled up billions of dollars' worth of cargo.
Talks aimed at reaching a new contract covering the 14,500 longshoremen will continue during the extension, which runs through Feb. 6.
The dockworkers' union and an alliance of port operators and shipping lines agreed to the extension after resolving one of the stickier points in their negotiations, involving royalty payments to longshoremen for each container they unload. Details were not disclosed.
A walkout would have crippled the loading and unloading of a vast number of products, including electronics and clothing, and made it more difficult for U.S. manufacturers to get parts and raw materials at a time when the economy is in shaky condition. The ports involved handle about 40 percent of all U.S. container cargo.NEW DELHI – Indian police charged six men with murder today, hours after a woman who was gang-raped and beaten on a bus in New Delhi nearly two weeks ago died in a Singapore hospital.
New Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said the six face the death penalty if convicted, in a case that has triggered protests across India for greater protection for women from sexual violence and raised questions about lax attitudes by police toward sexual crimes.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was aware of the emotions the attack has stirred, adding it was up to all Indians to ensure that the young woman's death will not have been in vain.
The victim "passed away peacefully" early today at Mount Elizabeth hospital in Singapore with her family and officials of the Indian Embassy by her side, Dr. Kevin Loh, the chief executive of the hospital, said in a statement.
After 10 days at a hospital in New Delhi, the Indian capital, the woman was brought Thursday to Mount Elizabeth, which specializes in multi-organ transplants. Loh said the woman had been in extremely critical condition since Thursday, and by late Friday her condition had taken a turn for the worse, with her vital signs deteriorating.
The woman and a male friend, who have not been identified, were on a bus in New Delhi after watching a film on the evening of Dec. 16 when they were attacked by six men who raped her. The men beat the couple and inserted an iron rod into the woman's body, resulting in severe organ damage. Both were then stripped and thrown off the bus, according to police.LONDON – Stella McCartney, who designed the uniforms worn by Britain's record-smashing Olympic team, and Scottish physicist Peter Higgs, who gave his name to the so-called "God particle," are among the hundreds being honored by Queen Elizabeth II this New Year.
The list is particularly heavy with Britain's Olympic heroes, but it also includes "Star Wars" actor Ewan McGregor, eccentric English singer Kate Bush, Roald Dahl illustrator Quentin Blake and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the royal aide who helped organize the watched-around-the-world wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton.
McCartney was honored with the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire, or OBE, in part for her work creating the skintight, red-white-and-blue uniforms worn by British athletes as they grabbed 65 medals during the 2012 games hosted by London.
Higgs' achievements, which made him a Companion of Honor, touch on the nature and the origins of the universe. The 83-year-old researcher said it was while walking through the Scottish mountains that he hit upon the concept of what would later become known as the Higgs boson, an elusive subatomic particle that gives objects mass and combines with gravity to give them weight.MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine president has signed a law that will promote contraception, sexual education and family planning programs vigorously opposed by the country's Roman Catholic Church.
President Benigno Aquino III signed the law Dec. 21 and his administration announced it only today because of the "sensitivity" of the issue, said deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte.
Valte said the passage of the law "closes a highly divisive chapter of our history" and "opens the possibility of cooperation and reconciliation" among those who oppose and support the "Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012."
Under the law, the government will hire more village health workers who will distribute contraceptives, especially to the poor, and provide instructions on natural family planning methods that the Church approves.
The government will also train teachers who will provide age- and development-appropriate reproductive health education to adolescents — youth age 10 to 19 years old. This will include information on protection against discrimination and sexual abuse and violence against women and children, teen pregnancy, and women's and children's rights.MOSCOW – The United Nations envoy for Syria warned today that the country's civil war could plunge the entire region in chaos by sending an unbearable stream of refugees into neighboring countries, but his talks in Moscow brought no sign of progress toward settling the crisis.
Lakhdar Brahimi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov both said after their meeting that the 21-month Syrian crisis can only be settled through talks, while admitting that the parties to the conflict have shown no desire for compromise.
Neither has hinted at a solution that would persuade the government and the opposition to agree to a ceasefire and sit down for talks on political transition.
Brahimi, who arrived in Moscow on one-day trip after his talks in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar Assad earlier this week, voiced concern about the escalation of the conflict, which he said is becoming "more and more sectarian."


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The pirate site plans to ignore the lawsuits from Elsevier and the American Chemical Society.
Speaking of Science
March 1, 2014|
March 2014's selection of notable quotes
March 1, 2014|
March 2014's selection of notable quotes
February 14, 2014|
First Ancient North American genome; cannabinoids connect hunger with olfaction and eating; biotechs explore crowdfunding; confronting creationism
February 7, 2014|
Five reasons why scientists should stay out of debates over evolution.
February 7, 2014|
Federal stem cell regulations vary; Salmonella exploit host immune system; microglia help maintain synaptic connections; prosthesis re-creates feeling of touch
February 6, 2014|
Salmonella enterica can exploit a standard immune response in mice to promote its own growth.
February 2, 2014|
Without microglia to pluck off unwanted synapses in early life, mouse brains develop with weaker connections, leading to altered social behavior.
February 1, 2014|
Developing nonaddictive drugs to combat pain
February 1, 2014|
In Chapter 1, "A Science Sutra," author David Barash describes how the ancient philosophy might form the perfect link between science and religion.
February 1, 2014|
A 50,000-generation-long experiment shows that bacteria keep getting fitter.
January 27, 2014|
DNA sequencing study reveals a new river dolphin species in South America.


text:
Career Development Group
- When:
- Location:
- The Career Center - Student Center
- Room:
- Description:
EXTENDED! Now from Feb. 19-March 12
Tuesdays, Feb. 12 through March 5
11 a.m.-noon
Not sure which direction to take with your career? Join our group as we walk through a process of finding your direction by identifying your knowledge, skills, abilities and values.
If interested, contact Career Counselor Diana Buck, LGPC at 410.837.5463.
- Contact Name:
- Diana Buck
- Contact Email:
- email@example.com
- Contact Phone:
- 410.837.5463
If you need accommodations to participate in this event, please contact the person listed above at least 10 days prior to the event.


text:
The U.S. Open is the most watched of the major Tennis tournaments that air on the Tennis Channel and RCN is pleased to be able to offer this added value to all of our digital TV customers.
(PRWEB) September 06, 2013
RCN is currently offering complimentary access to the Tennis Channel for the entirety of the U.S. Open Championship Series to all of its cable subscribers. The free preview began Wednesday, Aug. 28th and will be available through Monday, Sept. 9th. RCN customers can enjoy all of the prime time matches offered on the Tennis Channel now through the end of the preview.
"This free preview is a fantastic way for RCN to demonstrate our continued commitment to providing the very best in entertainment," said Chris Fenger, Chief Operating Officer at RCN. "The U.S. Open is the most watched of the major Tennis tournaments that air on the Tennis Channel and we are pleased to be able to offer this added value to all of our digital TV customers."
The Tennis Channel is available in both standard and high-definition from RCN. Customers can simply tune to HD channel 692 in major markets including New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC and Philadelphia. In Lehigh Valley PA, customers can tune to HD channel 1461. After the Free Preview, Tennis Channel will be available to RCN customers who subscribe to their Premiere Sports or Premiere Total Tier.
Tennis Channel will broadcast almost 240 hours of U.S. Open coverage. There also will be daily preview and highlight shows on the channel. Although the highest-profile matches in the U.S. Open can be found on CBS, all of them are rebroadcast later the same day or the next day on Tennis Channel. A schedule of events and TV listings is also available at the tournament's official site http://www.usopen.org.
About RCN: RCN Telecom Services, LLC (http://www.rcn.com) provides industry-leading High-Speed Internet, all-Digital TV and Phone services for residential, small/medium and Enterprise business customers. PC Magazine recently released its annual Readers' Choice Awards and named RCN one of the winners for best cable broadband ISPs in 2013 – rated highest in satisfaction for reliability. RCN's affordably-priced advanced digital services are delivered through their proprietary, state-of-the-art fiber-rich network and supported by 100% U.S.-based customer service. RCN's primary service areas include Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley (PA), New York City, Boston and Chicago.


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Forages typically vary in chemical composition due to many factors, including physiological maturity at harvest, harvest methods, plant variety, soil fertility, storage conditions and weather conditions. Because of this variability, it is important to analyze forages for chemical composition prior to formulating diets, say Ed DePeters and Jennifer Heguy with the University of California. DePeters is with the Department of Animal Science and Heguy is with the University of California Cooperative Extension in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.
In an article in the March 2013 California Dairy Newsletter, DePeters and Heguy take a close look at the fiber component of a forage analysis, specifically fiber digestibility. They discuss:
- Measures of fiber: NDF and ADF
- Predicting forage quality from fiber
- What NDFd is, how it's measured and why it's important
Read more in "The ABC's of Forage Analysis – Fiber & Digestibility" in the March 2013 California Dairy Newsletter.


text:
1. I called Barack Obama the winner hours before the U.S. television networks did. I know, I know — that's like beating up a triple amputee. Not something a decent person would ever do and certainly wouldn't brag about. (So I'm not bragging, just stating facts.) The U.S. networks were hamstrung by their screwups during 2008 election night coverage when they jumped the gun and made some very wrong early calls one way or another. This time they held back so long that most TV viewers fell asleep before the major nets made their most important calls. But all the TV anchors were like kids sworn to keep a secret they couldn't keep: From 8:35 p.m. EST on, the TV anchors were squirming in their seats, desperate to tell America — and the world — that Obama was re-elected.
2. The Democrats claimed victory — not verbally but effectively — shortly after 10 p.m. EST when Obama's mustachioed terrier David Axelrod was set loose to talk to the TV networks.
3. I've been watching U.S. elections on TV — one way or another — since John F. Kennedy kicked Richard Nixon's ass in 1960. This was the first one I ever watched on computer. I missed nothing. I got more.
4. But a lot of what I was watching on my laptop was TV network coverage. What happens when advertising abandons network television like it is/has abandoning/ed print media? Who pays the piper then? I don't actually think advertising will abandon TV — yet — but there is a major metamorphosis going on here. Soon everything goes through one pipeline to a variety of receptors. God help us then — we'll be paying through the nose forever. I'm going to start an analogue 400-watt radio station — just so something is still on the airwaves after the apocalypse. Is anybody listening? I didn't think so.
5. Just like the U.S. electorate, the U.S. media is deeply split. Fox is a joke but most of the mainstream network journalists were so firmly in the Democratic camp that they were a joke too. Sad, but at least it's all well and truly out there now. The pretence of impartiality is absurd but at least a lot of the TV pros tried to give real information too.
6. Best overall coverage was NBC News.
7. Worst (computer) sound quality was Fox News.
8. Obama has his second presidency and four years of job experience now: So get on with it. The world survived eight years of George W. Bush. Surely it can survive eight years of Barack Obama. So get on with it. Don't wus around. Be the man.
9. Based solely on what I was hearing on network TV news coverage, I would dearly love to be a Latino in the U.S. over the next four years. It sounds like it's going to be one big love shower. Hey, where's my gift bag?
10. This was not an election of stark choices. The world has not ended and the heavens have not opened. In fact, both candidates managed to avoid talking about most of the really important issues the president of the United States will face over the next four years. I wish us all good luck with an adequate president stumbling through the debris of his last four years.
(Bonus track: Big Bird thanks you, America.)
Categories: News


text:
The Connecticut Huskies won't play in the NCAA Tournament this season. They won't compete in the Big East championship. With the team ineligible for both events because of academic sanctions, what they have to play for is pride, and they had to leave Friday night's 66-62 victory over Big Ten power Michigan State with nearly enough to last the season.
Playing in front of an appreciative audience of military personnel at the Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, UConn held off a strong rally from the Spartans and won the game on an enormous 3-pointer from guard Ryan Boatright and four clutch free throws from veteran point guard Shabazz Napier.
It was the season opener for both teams and also was the first game for Kevin Ollie as UConn head coach. At the buzzer, Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun, working as part of the Connecticut radio crew, flashed a huge smile at the Huskies' success.
Though the game was played well past midnight local time, most of the military members in the audience were on their feet in the final minutes as the Huskies held Michigan State at bay, mostly by rebounding the open shots the Spartans missed down the stretch.
Since the sanctions were imposed against UConn, the program lost two essential players: Center Alex Oriakhi transferred to Missouri, and forward Roscoe Smith to UNLV. But the Huskies still have their electric backcourt, and Napier led the team with 25 points while Boatright contributed 13.
"It's all about these players, because they believed," Ollie told ESPN. They didn't go nowhere. They stayed loyal to the program. We're going to continue to do this. We're going to keep building."
Asked what the flight home to the U.S. would be like, Ollie said, "It's going to be good. We're going to sleep a little bit, but it's going to be good."
Michigan State began this season the way it ended the last one, handling the basketball as if it were made of thorns.
The Spartans turned over the ball 15 times and made only 14 field goals in their NCAA Tournament loss to Louisville last March, and even though they traveled more than 4,000 miles to play UConn it appeared they could not escape that horrific defeat.
MSU committed eight turnovers in the first 13 minutes, which was the biggest reason it fell behind UConn, 36-21. Coach Tom Izzo told ESPN during a first-half timeout that the Spartans had to calm down, and eventually they did.
The Spartans did not give up the ball in the final seven minutes of the first half and outscored the Huskies 15-6 going into the break. What looked as though it might become a blowout, an intercontinental bore, it became a mesmerizing game in the final 20 minutes.
Two huge plays appeared to give UConn control just after the final media timeout. Veteran point guard Keith Appling lost Boatright on defense, trying to pass off the assignment to a teammate just as Boatright was in the process of nailing a 3-pointer from the right wing to make it 62-58. The Spartans then lost their next possession when freshman guard Denzel Valentine lost his dribble directly in front of his team's bench and saw it bounce over the sideline and out of bounds.
The Huskies were unable to score on their next two possessions, however, and Michigan State had a chance to tie the game out of a timeout inside the last two minutes. Valentine ignored the opportunity to feed the ball to big man Derrick Nix after he sealed his man in the low post, then dribbled to the center of the lane and tried a jumphook that came up short.
A solid defensive possession from MSU forced UConn into calling time with three seconds on the shot clock, and the Huskies' only option was a forced jumper by center Tyler Olander. The rebound rolled out of bounds and the ball was awarded to the Spartans, who called time with 29.5 seconds left and a two-point deficit.
Appling tried a runner in the lane that missed, and UConn's DeAndre Daniels rebounded.
PHOTOS: Images from opening night


text:
I'm quite stumped, i have two different users with clients assigned to them. One has 17 leads two of which are 'confirmed' and the other has 2 clients, both 'confirmed'. But the results of this are the first user has 19 leads apparently and the second has 0 clients except some how got 4 'confirmations'.
If someone could point out if i've made any obvious mistakes that would cause this, that'd be a great help, my knowledge of advanced SQL is abit gappy.
SELECT user.id
, user.prefix
, user.forename
, user.surname
, clients.clients
, confirmed.confirmed
, paid.paid
, deposit.deposit
, case_value.case_value as 'case'
, discard.count as discard
, callback.count as callback
FROM user_csb as csb
JOIN users as user
ON user.id = csb.id
SELECT count(sub1_client.id) as clients
, sub1_client.assigned_id
FROM conveyancing_clients as sub1_client
JOIN conveyancing_quotes as sub1_quote
ON sub1_client.id = sub1_quote.id
WHERE sub1_client.created > 1265846400 AND sub1_client.created < 1266537599
) AS clients
ON clients.assigned_id = csb.id
SELECT count(sub2_client.id) as confirmed
, sub2_client.assigned_id
FROM conveyancing_clients as sub2_client
JOIN conveyancing_quotes as sub2_quote
ON sub2_client.id = sub2_quote.id
WHERE sub2_quote.confirm_time > 1265846400 AND sub2_quote.confirm_time < 1266537599
) AS confirmed
ON confirmed.assigned_id = csb.id
SELECT count(sub3_client.id) as paid
, sub3_client.assigned_id
FROM conveyancing_clients as sub3_client
JOIN conveyancing_quotes as sub3_quote
ON sub3_client.id = sub3_quote.id
WHERE sub3_quote.payment_time > 1265846400 AND sub3_quote.payment_time < 1266537599
) AS paid
ON paid.assigned_id = csb.id
SELECT sum(sub4_quote.payment_amount) as deposit
, sub4_client.assigned_id
FROM conveyancing_clients as sub4_client
JOIN conveyancing_quotes as sub4_quote
ON sub4_client.id = sub4_quote.id
WHERE sub4_quote.payment_time > 1265846400 AND sub4_quote.payment_time < 1266537599
) AS deposit
ON deposit.assigned_id = csb.id
SELECT sum(sub5_quote.legal_fee) as case_value
, sub5_client.assigned_id
FROM conveyancing_clients as sub5_client
JOIN conveyancing_quotes as sub5_quote
ON sub5_client.id = sub5_quote.id
WHERE sub5_quote.payment_time > 1265846400 AND sub5_quote.payment_time < 1266537599
) AS case_value
ON case_value.assigned_id = csb.id
* Status
/* Discard */
SELECT count(discard_sub.id) as count
, discard_sub.assigned_id
FROM conveyancing_clients as discard_sub
JOIN conveyancing_quotes as discard_sub_quote
ON discard_sub.id = discard_sub_quote.id
WHERE (discard_sub.status = 7 OR discard_sub.status = 8 OR discard_sub.status = 9) AND discard_sub.updated > 1265846400 AND discard_sub.updated < 1266537599
) AS discard
ON discard.assigned_id = csb.id
/* Callback */
SELECT count(callback_sub.id) as count
, callback_sub.assigned_id
FROM conveyancing_clients as callback_sub
JOIN conveyancing_quotes as callback_sub_quote
ON callback_sub.id = callback_sub_quote.id
WHERE (callback_sub.status = 4 OR callback_sub.status = 5 OR callback_sub.status = 6) AND callback_sub.updated > 1265846400 AND callback_sub.updated < 1266537599
) AS callback
ON callback.assigned_id = csb.id
WHERE csb.level >= 30 AND csb.level <= 50
ORDER BY paid.paid DESC
The two main tables
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `conveyancing_clients` (
`id` int(13) unsigned auto_increment NOT NULL,
`sale_company` smallint(3) default 0 NOT NULL,
`campaign` smallint(5) default 0 NOT NULL,
`assigned_id` smallint(5) unsigned default 0,
`matter_company` smallint(3) default 0 NOT NULL,
`stream_id` int(11) unsigned default 0 NOT NULL,
`last_note` int(15) unsigned default 0 NOT NULL,
`email` varchar(320) NOT NULL,
`session_id` varchar(40) default '' NOT NULL,
`password` varchar(16) NOT NULL,
`api_key` char(16) NOT NULL,
`prefix` varchar(5) default '' NOT NULL,
`forename` varchar(50) NOT NULL,
`middlename` varchar(200) default '',
`surname` varchar(50) NOT NULL,
`main_contact` varchar(15) default '' NOT NULL,
`second_contact` varchar(15) default '',
`third_contact` varchar(15) default '',
`street` varchar(255) default '',
`locality` varchar(50) default '',
`region` varchar(50) default '',
`postcode` varchar(10) default '',
`status` tinyint(2) default 1 NOT NULL,
`source` tinyint(1) default 1 NOT NULL,
`source_extra` varchar(100) default '',
`created` int(10) default 0 NOT NULL,
`updated` int(10) default 0 NOT NULL,
`active` int(10) default 0 NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (`id`),
FULLTEXT INDEX `allname` (`prefix`, `forename`, `middlename`, `surname`),
FULLTEXT INDEX `fullname` (`forename`, `middlename`, `surname`),
FULLTEXT INDEX `name` (`forename`, `surname`),
FULLTEXT INDEX `residence` (`street`, `locality`, `region`, `postcode`),
INDEX `email` (`email`),
INDEX `api_key` (`api_key`),
INDEX `client_api` (`email`, `api_key`),
INDEX `client_email_login` (`email`, `password`),
INDEX `client_id_login` (`id`, `password`),
INDEX `sale_company` (`sale_company`),
INDEX `matter_company` (`matter_company`),
INDEX `campaign` (`campaign`),
INDEX `assigned` (`assigned_id`),
INDEX `created` (`created`),
INDEX `updated` (`updated`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1 AUTO_INCREMENT=32680 ;
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `conveyancing_quotes` (
`id` int(13) unsigned NOT NULL,
`quote_type` tinyint(1) unsigned NOT NULL,
`hidden` decimal (6, 2) unsigned default 0 NOT NULL,
`discount` decimal(6, 2) unsigned default 0 NOT NULL,
`speed` tinyint(1) default 1 NOT NULL,
`legal_fee` decimal (9, 2) unsigned default 0,
`legal_vat` decimal (9, 2) unsigned default 0,
`disbursement_fee` decimal (9, 2) unsigned default 0,
`confirm_time` int(10) unsigned default 0 NOT NULL,
`payment_time` int(10) unsigned default 0 NOT NULL,
`payment_contact` varchar(50) default '' NOT NULL,
`payment_description` text,
`payment_method` tinyint(2) unsigned default 1 NOT NULL,
`payment_ref` varchar(20) default '' NOT NULL,
`payment_amount` decimal(9, 2) default 0 NOT NULL,
`payment_vat` decimal(9, 2) default 0 NOT NULL,
`sale` int(10) unsigned default 0,
`remortgage` int(10) unsigned default 0,
`purchase` int(10) unsigned default 0,
`hips` int(10) unsigned default 0,
`transfer` int(10) unsigned default 0,
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;
Just any insight as to why it might be going wrong ? Should i post more data for if people want to test ?
this seems way too complex for someone just to be able to glance at it and figure out your error, especially without actual data
here's a suggestion: run each subquery separately, and inspect the results
only you can track down the actual data
ahh i figured it'd be something like last time when i'd be using joins but no subqueries and multie 'counts' and they'd interfer with each other. With the data being returned giving me the total of all but not in the correct place of who it's assigned to, i figured there was another mistake like before 'cause of something i didn't know about.
I'm not sure if i have time to spent taking it apart and trying it all :S i may have to do one query to get the users and then one big query for each user and combine it in php. Performance down the drain lol ;/
how's that old saying?
i don't have time to do it right, but i have lots of time to do it over?
I'm afraid my none-technical manager wouldn't and doesn't understand. It's one of the least important things on my list atm anyway. I'd like to get it working though.
when you're ready, run each of the subqueries separately, that should tell you where the trouble lies
Also one small thing to note CASE is a reserved word, you shouldn't use it as an alias as you have.
Even note in the code you posted above the name gets highlighted in red.
Aye, hence why i put it in quote marks
shouldn't they be backticks??
(Genuine question - I am not sure).
It's ok for an alias in the select listhttp://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/identifiers.html


text:
Italy has assumed the EU presidency, taking the reins from Greece, whose presidency ended June 30.
The revolving presidency will belong to Italy for the next sixth months. Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi has promised to use his term to push for a "United States of Europe," which will be particularly challenging with the recent rise of Euro-skeptic parties in European elections.
Renzi recently launched an appeal to convince European leaders that a unified continent is in all European countries' best interest.
"A stronger and more cohesive Europe is the only solution to solve the problems of our time," Renzi said during a speech in Florence. "For my children's future, I dream, think, and work for the United States of Europe." Meghan DeMaria
If your art collection has outgrown your wall space, closet those canvases and install the Depict Frame ($899), a 49-inch screen fashioned like a framed painting. Though it's not the first digital canvas — Samsung's Frame TV also displays art — the image here is superior. Color-calibrated and coated with a matte finish, the 4K UHD screen is optimized for displaying fine art in sharp detail. Using an app, you can cycle through images in Depict's collection, to which new pieces are added each month. For $20 a month, you can upload your own works, and that subscription also grants access to a curated collection of thousands of paintings.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) friendship won't be ending over a difference of opinion on the Graham-Cassidy health-care bill. Shortly after McCain announced Friday that he would vote against Graham's effort to repeal and replace ObamaCare, Graham tweeted that he respected McCain's opinion, though he disagrees with it:
My friendship with @SenJohnMcCain is not based on how he votes but respect for how he's lived his life and the person he is.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 22, 2017
I respectfully disagree with @SenJohnMcCain position not to proceed forward on Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 22, 2017
Graham proceeded to lay out his case for the bill, which he's angling for Republicans to vote on next week:
I know Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson is the best chance to repeal and replace Obamacare.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 22, 2017
Obamacare is collapsing in Arizona, South Carolina and across the nation -
driving up premiums and reducing choices.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 22, 2017
I feel an obligation to fix this disaster and intend to push forward for state-centric health care vs Washington-knows-best health care.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 22, 2017
Taking money/power out of Washington & returning it to states to administer HC is the best way to replace a collapsing Obamacare system.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 22, 2017
He ended his series of tweets with a vow to "press on."
Three 'no' votes would kill the bill, and McCain is the second Republican, following Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), to oppose it. Republicans have until Sept. 30 to pass the bill by a simple majority vote. Becca Stanek
On any given day, Washington, D.C.'s utility company, Pepco, spends its time concerned about things like power outages and power lines — certainly not domesticated rodents. All that changed when 8-year-old Serenity wrote the company with a "firm, straightforward request" for a hamster, NBC Washington reports.
Serenity had made the understandable mistake of mixing up Pepco with Petco, the pet supply company. She promised in her letter to work extra hard at school and around the house if she could get the pet. "Lest her point be missed, at the bottom of the letter, she drew a hamster that took up half the page," NBC Washington writes.
Despite not exactly being in the hamster business, Pepco decided to surprise Serenity on Friday. Take a look at the photos below. Jeva Lange
This furry guy not only has a new home, but also some new friends. #PepcoHamster #PepcoCares pic.twitter.com/JCBEFmI2cX
— Pepco (@PepcoConnect) September 22, 2017
Puerto Rico reports 'extremely dangerous situation' as failing dam threatens to flood towns after Hurricane Maria
The National Weather Service of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is reporting an "extremely dangerous situation" due to a dam failure that threatens Isabela Municipality and Quebradillas Municipality in the territory's northwest. "Buses [are] currently evacuating people from the area as quickly as they can," the agency reported, adding: "Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life."
215PM FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for A Dam Failure in Isabela Municipality y Quebradillas Municipality in Puerto Rico... #prwx pic.twitter.com/L3utOjxspR
— NWS San Juan (@NWSSanJuan) September 22, 2017
The flooding follows Hurricane Maria's thrashing of the Caribbean; Puerto Rico remains completely without power, and it's expected to get as much as 35 inches of rain in some areas by Friday. Now a Category 3, Maria was packing winds of up to 125 miles per hour as it slammed the southeastern Bahamas on Friday. Jeva Lange
Former President Bill Clinton's forthcoming political thriller, which he co-authored with bestselling author James Patterson, is headed to the small screen, Variety reported Friday. Showtime has acquired the television rights for The President Is Missing, which won't even be published until 2018.
"Bringing The President Is Missing to Showtime is a coup of the highest order," Showtime president and CEO David Nevins told Variety. "The pairing of President Clinton with fiction's most gripping storyteller promises a kinetic experience, one that the book world has salivated over for months and that now will dovetail perfectly into a politically relevant, character-based action series for our network."
The President Is Missing "will offer readers a unique amalgam of intrigue, suspense, and behind-the-scenes global drama from the highest corridors of power," according to the press release. "It will be informed by insider details that only a president can know." Learn more about the forthcoming TV show at Variety. Jeva Lange
Mere minutes after Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced he was a "no" on the Graham-Cassidy bill, late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel was tweeting his thanks. Kimmel's rapid response solidified just how invested he is in stopping the GOP health-care bill, which he has been tenaciously criticizing all week.
Thank you @SenJohnMcCain for being a hero again and again and now AGAIN
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) September 22, 2017
Though McCain hasn't technically completely killed Republicans' latest attempt to repeal and replace ObamaCare, as he did in July when he cast the deciding vote, his opposition nudges the Graham-Cassidy bill that much closer to its demise. Already, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has announced his opposition, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Friday she's "leaning against" voting in favor of the bill.
Three "no" votes would kill the bill, and make Kimmel's day. Becca Stanek
Tom Price took a $50,420 private flight to a conference where he ranted about wasteful government spending
In the words of one confused White House official to Politico, "no one is quite sure what [Tom Price] is doing." Trump's health and human services secretary has reportedly exceeded $300,000 in chartered flights since last May, including one befuddling charge of $25,000 for a 135-mile flight from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., on a private jet.
Notably, President Trump campaigned as an enemy of wasteful government spending, even signing an order in March that required "a thorough examination of every executive department and agency, to see where money is being wasted, how services can be improved, and whether programs are truly serving American citizens," in the words of one White House official to the Washington Examiner.
Even more bewildering, Price himself has been an outspoken opponent of wasteful spending, as Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) pointed out Friday:
Tom Price spent $50,420 in taxpayer funds on charter flights to get to a conference where he promised to cut wasteful government spending https://t.co/gDSXAFRxFj
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) September 21, 2017
HHS spokesperson Charmaine Yoest defended Price's flights as necessary. "He has used charter aircraft for official business in order to accommodate his demanding schedule," she told Politico, characterizing his flights on Learjets as evidence of his focus "on hearing from Americans across the country." Jeva Lange