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If you've been among the many hoping for rain, you received a brief fulfillment of your wish Tuesday.
However, farmers don't necessarily want rain as they near harvest.
In fact, some of the earlier varieties of almonds have already been harvested and received an unwanted soaking.
Greg Massa grows organic almonds west of the Sacramento River. He shook some of his trees recently and has nuts spread in a flat field for drying.
"Now they are really wet," Massa said.
When the sun returns he'll spend extra time to rake the nuts so they dry on all sides and do not mold.
For Massa, the delay will be costly. He sells directly at farmers markets, and has been sold out of almonds for a month. He's anxious to start selling nuts again, because they are among his biggest sellers.
Massa Organixs (www.Massaorganics.com) also sells organic brown rice and sausage.
The harvest for almonds is in its early stages, explained Dani Lightle, orchard farm adviser for UC Cooperative Extension for Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties.
Rain at harvest is more common for walnuts, as those nuts are harvested later in the summer.
For almonds, the extra time to dry the nuts will add to the growers' production costs. Most conventional farmers will run through the rows of trees with machinery to allow all sides of the nuts to dry.
Overall, the rain is merely "a hiccup" for almond growers, said Franz Niederholzer, orchard farm adviser for Colusa, Sutter and Yuba counties.
Farmers who haven't started harvested are better off because the nuts in the tree will dry more quickly, he said.
Overall, the Northern Sacramento Valley will have a good crop, he noted, and certainly better than farmers in the San Joaquin Valley where more growers did not have a full water supply.
Many growers in the Sacramento Valley scrambled for water, but most were able to buy water at high prices from other farmers, he said.
Prune problems
The rain may also be a problem for some prune and peach growers, but only time will tell, Niederholzer said.
These fruits can develop brown rot, depending on how long it stays wet, he said.
Prune grower Dan Bozzo of Gridley said he'll watch the wind and see how well the trees dry out. For some acreage he may need to spray to prevent brown rot. Rust can also develop under rainy conditions, which makes the leaves fall off, Bozzo said.
"I'm holding off right now."
Bozzo is about a week from starting his harvest, and an outbreak of brown rot would be the last thing he wants to see.
With so little acreage planted in prunes, and some growers with very little water, prunes that makes it to market will receive a slightly higher price this year.
Bozzo grew peaches in the past, but shifted out of that commodity. Prunes have a slightly tougher skin and don't have as many problems as peaches, he explained,
At M&T Ranch west of Chico, manager Lee Heringer is facing the same worries with prunes.
However, the rain was actually good news for his beans.
The beans, sold dry, are planted between rows of trees that are not yet in full production. Warm weather shuts down pod growth. With the cooler weather, Heringer predicted he'll have a heavier bean harvest.
Rain on rice
Most rice will do just fine with a bit of rain at this stage of development, said rice Farm Adviser Luis Espino in Colusa County.
The one worry is rice blast disease, which develops under warm and moist conditions.
The rain came too early to be a concern for kernel cracking, he continued. Rice growers will be hoping the rain has come and gone.
In general, the warm weather this growing season has put the rice harvest ahead about a week, the farm adviser said; He expects harvest in late September.
Contact reporter Heather Hacking at 896-7758.

subset: commoncrawl


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Starring All of the TWD Minimates Released to Date...
The third series of The Walking Dead Minimates hits comic shops and specialty stores on June 12th, and has already been spotted at Toys"R"Us. To commemorate the occasion, Diamond Select Toys and Art Asylum have put together a short film starring all of the TWD Minimates to date, and it's not for the faint of heart!
With photography and editing by Alex Kropinak (Marvel's What the...?!), a voiceover by Chris Ward (the band Acorns to Oaks) and music by Matt Takacs, the film draws on Rick's famous speech from the prison arc of the groundbreaking comic book, setting it to some of the most horrifying Minimates images you have ever seen. Check out the film below, and look for Series 3 in your local store.
To insure your action figure collection, get in touch with Collectibles Insurance, the official insurance company of the Figures.com network. Say "Figures.com" to get 5% off your first term premiums.
To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com, AlterEgoComics.com, PlasmaInfusion.com, Toynk.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, and MonkeyDepot.com.


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Rose McGowan
Rose McGowan has carved out a niche for herself in Hollywood as an offbeat wild-child actress and has attracted the likes of Marilyn Manson and Robert Rodriguez in the process.
AppealRose McGowan has the wild-child personality and the hot body to match it, making her a popular poster girl for many men. In 2007's Planet Terror segment of Grindhouse, she proved that she could be sexy with one leg. Not surprisingly, Maxim, Stuff and FHM have all recognized her on their "Sexiest" and "Hot" lists, with two of her highest rankings being No. 39 for Stuff in 2002 and No. 44 for Maxim in 2007.
Thanks to her natural charms, Rose McGowan has stolen the hearts of more than a few famous men. The most notable was Marilyn Manson, who was Rose's squeeze (and one-time fiance) for three years. Although it provided ample debate as to which of them was wearing the most make-up, their odd coupling did allow Rose McGowan to wear a memorable see-through chain-mail dress at the 1998 MTV Movie Awards. This all goes to show that Rose McGowan looks great, no matter whose arm she's on or what she's wearing.
Since then, Rose McGowan has grown into a charming and alluring woman, often appearing in cleavage-pushing dresses that have tons of class. We'd say that if there were a modern-day Marilyn Monroe, Rose would be it.
SuccessNo one's going to confuse Rose McGowan's acting abilities with those of Meryl Streep, but she has a knack for appearing in films that will keep cult audiences clapping and cheering for more. 2007's Grindhouse is a great example, but Rose has also starred in the horror smash Scream (1996), the dark indie The Doom Generation (1995) and the comedy Jawbreaker (1999). On the small screen, Rose McGowan earned her stripes alongside Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano with a long-term stint on Charmed, which caused many hearts to flutter.
In 2008, Rose McGowan worked on playing another real person, the late B-movie starlet, Susan Cabot in Black Oasis. She followed that up with a role in the thriller Man on the Run. Rose McGowan has also expressed an interest in pursuing music in the future, ultimately to record an album of her own. If she continues in her offbeat ways, Rose McGowan will be an equal delight for many midnight moviegoers for years to follow.
Rose McGowan BiographyYou wouldn't know it from her voice, but Rose McGowan's life began in Florence, Italy. Born to a French-American mother and an Irish father, Rose spent the first 10 years of her life in Florence without learning a word of English. It was only when her parents divorced that she moved to the U.S. and lived with her dad in Seattle.
Interested in show business, she left for Los Angeles to try acting and found her way into 1992's Encino Man with Pauly Shore. This was Rose McGowan's way into Hollywood and, after a meeting with upstart indie director Gregg Araki, Rose was cast in The Doom Generation, a genre favorite that resulted in a nomination for Best Debut Performance at the Independent Spirit Awards in 1996. A role in Scream gave her added mainstream attention, and Rose McGowan had more film auditions than she ever expected.
rose mcgowan joins the cast of charmedFrom 1997 until 2001, Rose McGowan continued in films, including another role for Araki in Nowhere, a turn opposite Donnie Wahlberg in the critically acclaimed Southie and the wrestling comedy Ready to Rumble. Rose McGowan also got a taste of MTV Movie Awards acclaim when she was nominated for Best Villain in the cruel comedy Jawbreaker (1999) opposite Julie Benz and Rebecca Gayheart.
Not having had much exposure on television, Rose McGowan got a break when Charmed star Shannen Doherty was fired from the show and Rose was hired to replace her. She started on the series in 2001 as Paige Matthews and continued on the series until 2006, winning an award for "Favorite Sister" from the Family Television Awards along the way. Rose McGowan also took on occasional movie roles like the Brendan Fraser comedy Monkeybone (2001) and the Golden Globe-winning mini-series Elvis, which cast her as Ann-Margret.
rose mcgowan is named no. 57 in 2008 top 99Rose McGowan's schedule became manic in 2006 when she won roles in The Black Dahlia and both halves of the Robert Rodriguez-Quentin Tarantino double bill Grindhouse. Rose was still contractually obligated to Charmed until the series was canceled, so she had to film her Grindhouse scenes outside of the shooting hours of Charmed. In Tarantino's Death Proof, Rose McGowan had a memorable cameo as Kurt Russell's unfortunate passenger, while Rodriguez cast her as a go-go dancer who becomes a fighting machine in the goofy Planet Terror. It was also reported and confirmed by Zap2It.com in 2007, that Rose and Rodriquez were engaged.
The Grindhouse films didn't set the box office on fire, but it did give Rose McGowan the kick-ass, offbeat and physically demanding roles that she relishes. She also got to do wire work, which she giddily compared to flying. Actress, beauty, thrill-seeker -- no wonder we had a special place for irresistible Rose McGowan on AskMen's Top 99 Most Desirable Women 2008 list.
rose mcgowan in red sonjaSince 2008, Rose McGowan's career has gone slightly downhill. In 2009, she acted in a few episodes of the Golden Globe-winning series Nip/Tuck, and in 2010, she was cast in the box office flop Dead Awake. 2011 may be looking up for the badass bombshell, with her upcoming films Conan the Barbarian and Red Sonja.
Show comments


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14 DIY Valentine's Day Gifts
Ranking: * * * ½
Price: $200 (tool only) to $295 (kit with one battery)
Weight: 4.6 pounds
Voltage: 18
Battery: Li-ion, 3 amp-hours
3/8 x 4-inch-deep holes: 39
Likes: The Bosch is so light and well balanced that it's a pleasure to use; it's truly a one-handed power tool you can use all day without tiring. Its work light helps you see in dark places, making it perfect to drill pilot holes for concrete screws in a dark basement or a garage.
Dislikes: It bores enough holes for homeowner purposes, but contractors will need a second battery.
Ranking: * * * *
Price: $362 to $370 (kit with two batteries)
Weight: 7.6 pounds
Voltage: 18
Battery: Li-ion, 2.4 amp-hours
3/8 x 4-inch-deep holes: 55
Likes: Although we don't rate a tool's durability, the stocky electro-pneumatic drill mechanism and the overall solid feel lend the DeWalt an air of invincibility. For such a large tool it's easy to handle. We also liked its auxiliary handle, which is simple to turn and lock.
Dislikes: We'd like to see it bore more holes per battery charge.
This Year, Win the Snow Clearing Battle


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Mail: Southern statutes symbolize suppession
Mail: Thanks for helping Aiden
More opinion
Fall: Good time to spray musk thistle in rosette stage
Robertson and Delsing re-elected chair, vice chair of NWB
More Ag News
A drunken driver narrowly missed a child sleeping in her bed on the west side of North Platte in the early hours Sunday.
Beauvais hit Heidi Hart's Dodge pickup parked alongside the curb at 920 So. Buffalo, then made a U turn, swung across the street through a vacant lot and backyard fence, and kept going right into the back of the house at the corner of Philip and Buffalo.
The front of the car went through the brick wall of the house, next to a bed where a two-year-old girl was sleeping, breaking the bedroom window in the process.
Ryan Jones, who owns the house, said noise of the collision around 3:30 a.m. first woke his wife, who grabbed the still-sleeping girl and called police. As Jones awoke, he heard a prolonged horn honk, perhaps from the driver slumped against the horn.
Beauvais backed out of the house and drove off, tearing out the west fence in the backyard as he went.
The car went south on Buffalo Bill Ave. across the South Platte River Bridge and Interstate 80. Police found the car broken down and the driver in a field near Eugene and Buffalo.
Beauvais is held on $10,000 bond, charged with three misdemeanors.
Jones told the Bulletin that the car damaged the air conditioning system of the house, ruined a computer inside and possibly cracked the entire wall.
Police estimated the damage at $10,000.
Jones and his father and father-in-law temporarily patched the back of the house Sunday morning with wood and plastic, pending an evaluation by an insurance company.
Hart's pickup was damaged to the tune of $9,000, according to the police report.
Beauvais served 110 days in the Lincoln County Jail in 2011 for minor in possession and marijuana distribution.
It was the second of two busy nights for the North Platte Police. Around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, a man fired shots in 400 block of S. Chestnut and held police at bay for nearly an hour and a half by threatening his live-in girlfriend. The man, Justin Valentine, 23, finally surrendered.
He is in jail, held on a $100,00 bond, charged with four felonies -- firing a weapon, use of a weapon to commit a felony, terroristic threats and attempted second-degree assault.
This report was updated Monday morning.
Flatrock Publishing, Inc.
1300 E 4th St., Suite F
North Platte, NE 69101


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If you believe copyrighted work is available on the University of Newcastle network in a way that constitutes a copyright infringement, or a breach of an agreed licence or contract, please notify us using the following form.
If you are unable to use the form, please contact the University's Copyright Officer.
Copyright 2017 CRICOS Provider Number 00109J The University of Newcastle, Australia


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Sorry able, but Charlton Heston was great for his time, but pales in comparison to actors of our current generation. I feel like there are literally DOZENS of actors and actresses whose skills far surpass most of the heralded actors of generations past. Not sure if it is just that scripts and the technology of movie making are so much better now, or what, but there aren't many actors (term used for both male and female thespians these days) from yesteryear who impress me.
I thought that The Omega Man, while probably pretty good by 1971 standards, was about as cheesy as it could be. The acting was dismal by most of the actors, and I didn't like the blaxploitation feel of it either. I thought it was probably groundbreaking of Heston to have a black female romantic lead, but it was done poorly. I thought the leader of 'the family' was a better actor than Heston in that movie.
So much less was expected of movies back then, and the movie-going public was a lot easier to convince back then. I'm not saying there weren't quality movies made, but The Omega Man was nowhere near the cream of the crop of it's own year, let alone decade or generation. It wasn't even close to being as good a movie as I Am Legend in any facet of criticism. The plot was better, the character development was better (although I agree with others that Will Smith's character deserved more explanation), the visuals were far more stunning, and the 'believability' was far greater in IAL than in TOM. The 'believability' can be taken as a moot point because most movies, after all, are works of fiction, or at least fantasized a bit for better selling value, but I use the term to mean something a bit more telling. Does the story make sense? Do the characters behave as a real-life person would? Those kinds of questions that can be answered in the affirmative help make a movie better because they help avoid plot holes.
Things that were just pointed out, like the flags flying were in pristine condition (something I hadn't noted before) or that the roads in Vermont looked like they had been maintained, while the roads in NYC were overgrown with vegetation....those are plot holes which suggest laziness or a lack of attention to detail, not poor script writing. Movies of yesteryear were absolutely HORRIBLE at these kinds of things. All that leads back to my feeling that so much more is expected of movies nowadays, and so much more is delivered to the screen in terms of effort and attention to detail.
Will Smith is ten times the actor Charlton Heston ever was, in my opinion. Anyone who can do drama, comedy, action, romantic comedy, etc. and be believable at all of them is a very talented, well-rounded actor. Will Smith is easily that. Charlton Heston is not. Heston was very popular and well thought of for his generation, but again, so much less was expected, it was far easier to be a star and a stud then than it is now. FAR easier.


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It is not intended to serve as a substitute for these manuals.
Keep in mind that your profesor may have some specific requirements and the professor is always
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text:
I think even someone not into computing, perhaps especially so, would be able to pick up on the conflicting messages being emitted about P6. Much of the problem is due to the 'if we ignore it it'll go away' philosophy coupled with those deeply involved with certain integral parts of the project speaking much more openly and candidly in dark corners with trusted listeners. Parrot is the poster child of this problem and it, indeed, raises significant doubts about the p6 project as a whole. Problems that ever
I'd say by working with p5p, we are getting back to the route of expressing the parts of Perl6 that actually solves real-world problems (class introspection, fast method calls, named params, constraints, macros) into Perl5 land, and the surface syntax --


text:
14th and 15th Floor
New York City, New York 10020
United States
|Areas of Practice
|1) Corporate
|Law School
|New York University School of Law
|Pennsylvania State University (B.A., with distinct
|Most recent firm
|Hahn & Hessen LLP
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Corporate Associate
USA-NY-New York City
Corporate Associate The candidate must have JD Degree and 3+ years of relevant experience handling merger and acquisition transactions and working day to day with private and public companies. Prefe...
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Corporate Paralegal - Summer 2017 The candidate will work under the direct supervision of the attorneys and are expected to provide assistance on a vast array of projects and tasks, which include: Par...
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A. Harrison Barnes is a well-known attorney throughout the United States. As a member of the Malibu community, Harrison is committed to serving the needs of Malibu residents and businesses in legal matters.
Alan Singer is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Securities Practice. Mr. Singer advises companies with regard to a diverse range of corporate and securities matters.


text:
About Transcode
Transcode began its life as a software company focused on delivering multimedia software products. The company's customers in the Americas and Europe used the products for multimedia document authorship; also, Transcode products were used for video capture, editing, and transcoding movie content into formats that can be played on any PC or Mac computer.
The Transcode web site contains the legacy content for these software products. More recently, the site hosts content authored by the company's founder, George Drapeau.


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WESTON, Fla. - Pictures believed to be of South Florida high school students were found on a pornography website, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.
The pictures believed to be of several Cypress Bay High School students were discovered Thursday.
According to a Broward Sheriff's Office incident report, a student told a school administrator the website had pictures of naked, underage girls and pictures of teenagers involved in sex acts.
The deputy wrote that 10 pictures had the names of girls attached. In all, 16 photos showed six different girls, say police.
A report was then filed to cybertipline.com.
Another student told police she recognized several girls who attended Cypress Bay High School in the photos.
"It's everywhere," said Alicia Jurisic. "The girl was posting on Twitter how she was upset and everything."
BSO stated the pictures appeared to be taken by the girls themselves.
It's unclear if the names and photos are of current students at Cypress Bay or nearby schools, according to BSO.
Copyright 2013 by Local10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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About this item
This 4-pump, Best of Class, 5-Star Rated spa comes standard with an industry-leading warranty.
• 62 Jets
• Seates 5 - 6 adults
• Gray or Capistrano Cabinet
The Ultimate II LX Spa
This 5 - 6 person lounger spa is the perfect addition to any backyard or sunroom. There are 62 adjustable and interchangeable stainless steel faced jets to maximize your therapeutic experience. The jetting system is powered by 2 Ultra-ssage jet pumps. You can increase or decrease the water flow to any particular jet for a more personalized hydrotherapy experience. Also included is a smaller, 24-hour circulation pump to constantly move water through the filters for continuous cleaning, reducing your chemical and electrical costs.
There is a Dreamcollar (reverse neck jet) seat with contouring pillows specifically designed for neck and shoulder massage therapy. A cascading waterfall and contouring pillows add even a more tranquil ambiance. The spa is handmade to your individual specifications. We only use Lucite crosslink acrylic with Microban. Microban is an anti-bacterial compound incorporated into the shell of the spa, preventing bacteria growth. This allows for a non-slip, non-corrosive surface that actually aides in the cleanliness of the spa. This, coupled with our Q-Zone ozonator--a system that oxidizes the water, killing bacteria-- chemical maintenance is drastically reduced, saving you time and money. All of our spas are fully enclosed and fully insulated with closed cell polyurethane foam to guarantee the best heating results possible.
The spa comes in a multitude of colors, ranging from Platinum White (marble finish) to Summer Sapphire (deep blue). The synthetic maintenance-free rock side paneling is available in gray. A locking virgin foam cover matching the side paneling comes standard with purchase. Contact us for a full list of color options. Also included is a complete three-month, all natural Ecoone chemical kit and hose filter attachment. The filter allows for the best possible water when filling the spa and the kit maintains chemical levels without the harsh, abrasive use chlorine.
Sit back and relax in the warm soothing waters of a spa. Throughout the ages, warm water immersion has been proven to restore the mind, body and spirit. Watch as your aches and pains disappear, your sleeping cycles improve, and the tension in your joints, hands and feet vanish with our Ultimate II LX Spa.
Once you have placed your order and Sam's club has processed it, a spa representative will call you to go over the power requirements, shipping and color options. You will also receive a welcome letter, a check list to help insure you are ready for a spa and color options via email. Question on this can also be answered via email or the toll free number listed here.
Let our 30 plus years of building spas work for you!
Electrical Requirements:
All 240 V spas must be permanently connected (hard wired) to the power supply; supplying
power to the spa which is not in accordance with these instructions will void the
manufacturer's warranty
The power supplied to the spa must be a dedicated circuit with no other appliances or lights
sharing the power
Wire size must be appropriate per NEC and/or local codes
Wire size is determined by length of run from breaker box to spa and maximum current
All wiring must be copper to ensure adequate connections
Do not use aluminum wire
The electrical supply for the spa must include a suitably rated switch or circuit breaker to
open all ungrounded supply conductors to comply with Section 422-20 of the National Electric
Code, ANSI/NFPA 70
The disconnecting means must be readily accessible to the spa's occupant, but installed at
least 5 feet (1.5 m) from the spa water
The electrical circuit for the spa must include a suitable ground fault circuit interrupter
(GFCI) as required by NEC Article 680-42
Instructions for wiring the spa are included in the spa pack on delivery 50 amp breaker, 4
copper #6 wires run from circuit breaker box to spa
Conduit can be placed anywhere along the spa kick plate for a clean look and easy
installation - attach/drill a hole for the conduit, run wires through hollow bottom of
Final connections can be found on the control panel side of the spa
Remove side panels to uncover final connections
A licensed electrical contractor is required for installation.
Contact information:
For additional information call us toll free at 1.877.263.8585. For more details and pictures e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com
Shipping Information:
This item ships to the 48 contiguous states only via curbside delivery. Final placement from the curb to the back yard is your responsibility. We recommend you hire a local mover for final placement. Electrical requirements & flat level foundation for placement are the member's responsibility. Estimated delivery time is 4 to 6 weeks. Delivered is by appointment only.
7 Years - Acrylic (Finish)
4 Years - Parts
90 days- Cover (where applicable)
Assembled Country
Assembled Size
Dimensions and Weight:
Dimensions: 84"L × 84"W × 40"H
Weight: 850 lb. dry weight, 4,300 lb. average filled weight
Water Capacity: 475 gallons


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With the clock ticking and its first report due in mid-December, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Thursday finally named members to serve on the new state Public Water System Supply Commission set up as part of legislation passed in the wake of the January chemical spill that contaminated the Elk River.
Tomblin appointed engineer Rick Roberts of the firm E.L. Robinson Engineering, Canaan Valley Institute hydrologist Ed Watson, West Virginia University public health professor Mike McCawley, and former state Department of Environmental Protection environmental advocate Pam Nixon to four open slots on the commission.
The four join Delegate Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha, who was appointed by House Speaker Tim Miley; and Kanawha-Charleston Health Department Director Dr. Rahul Gupta, who was appointed by Senate President Jeff Kessler.
The 12-member commission also includes officials from the state Department of Environmental Protection, the Bureau for Public Health, the Division of Homeland Security, the state Public Service Commission, and representatives of the Municipal League and the Rural Water Association.
In a press release, Tomblin said that he had named Homeland Security Director Jimmy Gianato as chairman of the commission and asked Gianato to organize the panel's first meeting.
Under the law, the commission is supposed to review and assess new source water protection plans being submitted by public water systems, examine the effectiveness of SB 373, and study the extent of funding available for public water systems for projects to create alternative water sources in the event of a chemical spill.
Also, the commission is supposed to review a recommendation from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board for the creation by state and local officials of a local chemical accident prevention program in the Kanawha Valley.
Lawmakers created the Public Water System Supply Commission as part of SB 373, the bill that contains new above-ground chemical storage tank regulatory requirements and forces the state's drinking water systems to write new water protection plans. Tomblin signed the bill on April 1.
The commission's first report is due to be provided to lawmakers by Dec. 15.
Reach Ken Ward Jr. at email@example.com, 304-348-1702 or follow @kenwardjr on Twitter.


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Cabrera placed on DL; Conrad called up
SAN DIEGO -- The Padres placed shortstop Everth Cabrera on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring prior to Wednesday's series finale with the Reds.
Padres manager Bud Black had said on Tuesday that the team would wait until Friday to re-evaluate Cabrera, but San Diego decided to make the move now after the soreness became progressively worse since the initial injury occurred late in Monday night's game.
"After talking with Cabby before the game yesterday and last night, we felt that this was going to be at least seven to 10 days, on the short side," Black said. "And legs being a big part of Cabby's game, we felt as though we better make the move here and not play [a man] short."
The Padres purchased the contract of journeyman infielder and San Diego native Brooks Conrad in a corresponding roster move. With Triple-A El Paso this year, Conrad has a slash line of .275/.347/.526 with 18 homers, tied for second most in the Pacific Coast League.
"He's got some thump in his bat, as evident by what he's done in Triple-A so far," Black said. "So he gives us a little bit of bat on the bench when he's not playing, [as a] switch-hitter."
Conrad signed a Minor League deal with San Diego in January after spending 2013 in Japan. He debuted in the Majors with Oakland in 2008, then spent three years in the Braves organization.
Conrad arrived just before the Padres' 3-0 win in the series finale against the Reds. He didn't appear in the game, but he was certainly glad to be back in the big leagues -- and to be back home.
"It's really good to be home," said Conrad, who attended Monte Vista High School in nearby Spring Valley. "This is a dream come true. I grew up watching the Padres my whole life. This has been a special day."
Black is looking forward to seeing what Conrad can bring to the Padres.
"He's sort of an old-school player, there's a toughness to him," Black said. "It gives Brooks an opportunity to come to the Majors and hopefully give us a lift with his bat."
While Cabrera is out, Alexi Amarista will get the majority of playing time at shortstop, with Irving Falu also getting a start now and then.
To make room for Conrad on the 40-man roster, lefty reliever Troy Patton was moved to the 60-day DL. After meeting with Dr. James Andrews this week, Patton was merely prescribed rest and rehab to alleviate his shoulder soreness.
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. Keep track of @FollowThePadres on Twitter. Will Laws is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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As Cubans Increase Cigar Production, the Quality is Starting to Suffer
(continued from page 4)
As always, a man at the front of the room read to the rollers over the loudspeaker the day's news from the official state newspaper, Granma. Everyone was intently listening to the stories of the Pope's mission in one of the world's last bastions of communism, but their focus was mostly on the fresh cigars they were rolling. The month before, they and thousands of other Cuban rollers had reached the nation's 1997 goal of rolling more than 100 million cigars for export. This year the government plans to make a mind-boggling 160 million. Like just about every other cigar factory in Havana, Fernando Perez German (which was known as Partagas until the early 1960s) proudly displayed in its entrance a certificate from the state-run Union of Tobacco Workers that cited the factory for helping make 102 million cigars in 1997.
On a different floor of the factory, cigars were being sorted by wrapper color, fixed with the proper bands and placed in boxes. In one room, thousands of pine and cedar boxes were being dressed with colors and designs of just about every brand conceivable, from Partagas to Hoyo de Monterrey. The boxes carried the appropriate factory code on their underside--"FPG," for Fernando Perez German. The code also indicated when the cigars were placed in their boxes--ONSU--or January 1998.
However, a few thousand boxes in the room seemed slightly different from the rest. Covered with the packaging for the Partagas brand, they carried the code "FP9" instead of the normal "FPG." Was this a new code? Was it a new factory? No. It was a simple yet large-scale printing mistake. All hell broke loose when I pointed out the problem to one of the heads of quality control in the factory. She asked various people to look at the mistake and then told them to correct it. This didn't change the fact that thousands of boxes with "FP9" were still being filled with cigars. "That's just a minor mistake," said one Cuban cigarworker. "We are not going to reject them for something like that."
Minor mistakes, however, may be adding up to a major problem for Cuban cigars. Just about every flaw imaginable can be found in Cuban cigars at the moment, from ugly wrappers to tightly rolled bunches to raw filler tobacco; yet, at the same time, some of the best cigars in years are being produced, perhaps some of the best ever. For instance, the quality of the wrapper tobacco currently used on the cigars is outstanding, with a dark, rich and oily look.
However, it's this outrageous quality versus quantity paradox at the moment that has people's heads spinning. Everyone from the Cubans themselves to serious cigar aficionados are asking if huge production increases set for this year and the future can be accomplished without ruining the quality and image of the Cuban cigar industry. Many say it doesn't look promising.
The Cubans are pushing themselves to the limit to meet massive production quotas set by the Ministry of Agriculture. From new plantations to new factories to new workers, everything possible is being done to increase cigar production to historic levels. If the Cubans reach their production goal of 160 million cigars by the end of the year, it will be the first time that they have surpassed 120 million since the early 1980s. If they reach 300 million by 2000 (a goal they revised from 200 million just a few months ago), it will be the first time in a century that they have attained such stellar production levels--and this is with a massive proportion of completely handmade, large-sized cigars, instead of the small ones that dominated the market until a few decades ago.
Cuba has apparently solved its tobacco-shortage problems of the mid-1990s. Last year's crop suffered a little during the production cycle, but this year's crop, much of which had been harvested by late January, looked fabulous. An early February storm, however, slightly changed the situation. Turbulent winds up to 100 miles per hour and torrential rainstorms ripped through most of the key tobacco growing areas, including the Vuelta Abajo and the Partido, as well as raising havoc in Havana. Although a large part of the crop had already been picked, the remainder was hit hard, especially the wrapper crop growing under the cheesecloth shades, called tapados.
"My crop was not affected very much, maybe five percent," said Alejandro Robaina, the legendary grower of wrapper tobacco near the town of San Luiz in the Vuelta Abajo. "However, it was a different story for those who planted later." News reports on Cuban television showed tapados shredded into bits, as well as leveled fields of tobacco. A quick trip in mid-February out to fields near the towns of Pinar del Río and San Juan y Martinez confirmed these reports; many of the tapados were torn down, tobacco plants were growing slightly askew and new plantings were underway. However, the handful of workers I spoke with said that the damage was minimal.
Though problems may have been averted in the fields, the Cubans still face them in the factories. "I am fed up," said Luigi Fasolini, a retired journalist from Milan and a longtime Cuban cigar lover, as he stood in a cigar shop in Havana in late January. "The quality is just not there all the time. The Cubans are making too many cigars. They have too many new rollers. I buy a box for $300 or $400, and four or five of the cigars are unsmokable because they don't draw. I am not complaining about the blend of tobacco. It's the construction of the cigars that I am worried about. I am going to start smoking more cigars from other countries or I am going to stop smoking altogether. It's just too frustrating."
Cigar merchants are equally anxious. "I don't know what to say," said one Cuban cigar agent based in continental Europe. "I am very concerned with the quality. How can the Cubans maintain quality when they are producing so much?"
A London cigar merchant added, "We have more large-sized and popular-shaped cigars than in years past, but we still receive boxes of cigars that I simply cannot sell because the quality is not there, whether it has bad wrappers or poor construction. What can I do about it?"
Even Cubans in the industry in Havana have their concerns. "I don't want to be quoted," said one cigar shop manager, "but the quality from some factories is very good, but in many others it isn't. When you talk about the quality of cigars, you really have to discuss it on a factory-by-factory basis."
Quality was a hot topic during a daylong mid-February seminar in Havana attended by cigar merchants and consumers from around the world. Speaker after speaker asked how Cuba could maintain the quality of its cigars when production was increasing geometrically.
To give the Cubans some credit, key members of the island's cigar industry are not completely blind to the quality issue. Officials at Habanos S.A., the government's global cigar marketing and distribution arm, said that they were attempting to install better quality control measures. "We have definitely increased the quality control," said Ana Lopez, head of marketing for Habanos. "We have heard from the consumer and clients that they are concerned, and we know that there may be some problems. But we are doing the most we can to fix this. For example, we are now going to the factories and checking the quality of the cigars before they are shipped out. We want to reinforce the quality. It is one of our main points for this year. We must maintain quality."
Still, various sources in Cuba concede that enforcing a high level of quality control is very difficult. For instance, Habanos has been trying to persuade the ministry to integrate the production, distribution and marketing of cigars, but its efforts for the most part have fallen on deaf ears. Interestingly, a similar suggestion was made about three years ago by former Habanos head Francisco Padron, and after he was rebuffed, he resigned in protest. (He now teaches at the University of Havana.)
"Some sectors in the government obviously see cigars as an important source of revenue, and they don't want to lose control of that source," said one cigar man in Havana. "They don't want Habanos in control."
The government is certainly putting production in top gear. Just five years ago, fewer than one dozen factories produced cigars for export. The count now tops 30. Most of the new factories are facilities that had made cigars for the domestic market, but were switched to export poduction. How the factories' production methods are improved for export is unknown. Local-market cigars have always been of lower quality, both in craftsmanship and tobacco, than those for export.
In addition, thousands of new rollers are being introduced to cigar factories. Nearly every factory has a rolling school with 100 or more students learning the craft. Most instructors say it takes nine months for a roller to learn, but they admit that some are put to work after a couple of months if they show promise. Some factory officials say that rollers with just over a year's experience can qualify for rolling the illustrious category-seven sizes, which include such difficult-to-roll cigars as double coronas, torpedos and Churchills. Just three years ago, this would have been unthinkable. The same people say that it used to take up to three or four years to do the same. Are the new students' abilities so much better than before, or do the factories need to increase their production regardless of the rollers' talents?
"I am very impressed with the quality of the young rollers," said Natari Fernandez, head of quality control for the Romeo y Julieta factory. "They do their work with the same skill and love as the older rollers before them. I am sure that the quality is as good or better than before."
The number of machine-made cigars is certainly higher than before. In 1997, machine-made cigars totaled about 13 million, although some say the official figure is much lower than what was actually made. This year, Cubans hope to make about 40 million machine-made cigars, and this doesn't include the hundreds of thousands of handmade cigars with short-leaf filler, or "Cuban sandwich" cigars as some like to call them. "We see a good market for such cigars since they are much less expensive than handmade ones and they have the same quality filler," said one Habanos spokesman.
The fact that specific brands continue to be produced in multiple factories may make it difficult for the Cubans to control the blends and rolling methods of particular brands. In other cigar manufacturing countries, cigar brands are normally made in a specific factory, where the quality of the brand and the blend of tobacco can be more closely monitored. "You can't properly control the quality of a particular cigar brand if you are making it in several factories," said Orlando Padrón, the patriarch of Padrón Cigars, which produces cigars in Nicaragua. "We have tried and it doesn't work."
It is certainly debatable if multiple-factory, single-brand production works in Cuba. For years, Cubans have said "mother factories" systematically send technicians to satellite factories to control the blends and quality of their cigars, but in some cases, it doesn't appear to be true. Smoke a Montecristo made outside Havana--with box codes such as VC or CM--and see for yourself. The quality is not there. Various factory managers outside of Havana admit that they never see technicians from mother factories. They do not even see quality-control people from the Ministry of Agriculture. Moreover, they say that they have to use every bale of tobacco sent to them from the ministry, regardless of its quality.
This isn't to say that some factories do not work extremely well. The highest-quality factories are Havana's El Laguito (EL on the box), José Martí (JM), formerly H. Upmann; Fernando Roig (FR), formerly La Corona; and Briones Montoto (BM), formerly Romeo y Julieta. Buy boxes of cigars from these factories--be sure to check the code on the bottom of the boxes--and you shouldn't have a problem acquiring quality smokes. (Be aware that the codes are expected to be changed sometime this year.)
When we visited them this past winter, the managers and quality control people at these factories were the country's most conscientious about quality. Moreover, handmade cigars being produced in the rolling rooms in these factories looked magnificent, although a large number of tobacco workers recommended aging the cigars for up to a year before smoking to overcome their slightly raw character. All the quality-control people agreed that the pressure from the government to produce and ship cigars was so intense that they could not process or age their tobacco and cigars properly.
Of all the cigar factories, El Laguito is probably the best. The mother factory for Cohiba, it exclusively produces four sizes: Lancero, Corona Especial, Exquisito and Panatela. So if you must have a Cohiba, buy those. The other sizes, such as Esplendidos and Robusto, are made in a number of other factories in Havana, and their quality is less consistent. El Laguito also makes the new Trinidad cigar, which was launched in Havana in February at a gala dinner at the Habana Libre Hotel (see sidebar, page 100). El Laguito manager Emilia Tamayo soon hopes to produce the entire range of Cohiba cigars at her factory when it is enlarged this year, instead of having such sizes as Siglo, Robusto and Esplendidos made in other factories. "I want to be in control of my cigars. It makes sense," Tamayo said, adding emphatically, "I would rather die than produce poor cigars in my factory."
Whether changing the production structure would ever make sense to the Ministry of Agriculture remains to be seen. No one from the agency would comment or meet with Cigar Aficionado to discuss the quality dilemma. The ministry did insist that editors from this magazine as well as anyone else visiting the factories pay an entrance fee: $10 for a tour, $75 for taking photographs and $150 for filming. "The entire thing is out of hand," said one factory manager. "We have to reduce the number of tourists visiting factories since it inhibits workers from doing their jobs, but they seem to see the visitors as a source of income."
Indeed, cigars are an increasingly important source of income for the Cuban economy. This year, Cuban cigar exports will approach US$300 million. The local market for tourists buying Cuban cigars has risen from just a few hundred thousand dollars about five years ago to close to $10 million last year. Factory visits, gala dinners and cigar sales add up to a lot of money in the government's coffers.
But some people are fed up with what they perceive as the government's obsession with hard currency. "I did not go to the Trinidad dinner this year because I felt that the Cubans do not appreciate the work which we have done promoting and selling their cigars," said Edward Sahakian, owner of the Davidoff shop in London. "All they seem interested in at the moment is gaining more money."
It's this perceived obsession that could ruin Cuba's plans for selling 300 million cigars two or three years from now. Printing the wrong code on a few thousand boxes is a mistake that few will take seriously, but making mediocre cigars is another matter. In the April 1998 issue of Cigar Aficionado, a Cuban Partagas received an 80, the worst rating the magazine has ever given to a Cuban cigar.
All of these concerns about quality were thoroughly discussed in a meeting with Francisco Linares, the head of Habanos S.A., and he took serious note of every point. "We are not going to let anything ruin the reputation of Cuban cigars," he declared. "We are extremely concerned with the quality of Habanos, and we will do everything possible to control it." Trumpeting Trinidad Cuba Launches its New Cigar Brand with a Gala Dinner and Auction in Havana
A dozen people were standing at the door of the cigar shop at the Melía Cohiba hotel. It was morning, minutes before the shop opened on February 21, the day after a gala dinner to launch Cuba's newest commercial cigar brand, Trinidad. Cubans had never seen anything like it. Hotel workers and passersby stared at the line in disbelief. As soon as the glass doors opened, cigar smokers piled into the small shop, grabbed their cedar boxes of Trinidad and quickly paid for them at the tiny cash register.
Marco Bacchetta, a Swiss banker and restaurant owner based in London, was the last in line. "It seemed crazy to stand in line to buy some cigars, but I wanted to make sure that I received a few boxes of Trinidads," he said after buying two boxes containing 24 cigars in each. "I came to Cuba for the dinner so I am certainly not going back without the cigars."
With the official send-off behind it, Trinidad is set to be introduced into Mexico and Canada in late spring, and already the legendary marque is receiving great fanfare. Only one size is currently available. Banded with the brand's distinctive gold-and-black label, the Trinidad Fundador measures 7 1/2 inches long by 40 ring gauge, the same length as the well-known Cohiba Lanceros but two millimeters thicker. The cigar is available in boxes of 24 and 50. Trinidad sells for about $330 a box of 24 in Havana, priced between Cohiba Lanceros and Esplendidos.
Originally, Trinidad was the same size as the Cohiba Lanceros, although its darker wrapper made it slightly stronger in flavor. First rolled in the early 1990s in response to Cohiba's soaring popularity, a few hundred Trinidads were made each month, for use almost exclusively as diplomatic gifts from top Cuban government officials. It was first served publicly at a dinner organized by Cigar Aficionado in Paris in 1993.
Trinidad is made at El Laguito--the same factory as most Cohibas. About 1 million Trinidads are expected to be made there this year. Its blend is slightly different from Cohiba, although Emilia Tamayo, El Laguito's manager, says that the same quality of tobacco is used. "All the raw material that we use for Trinidad is ours," said Tamayo, who added that the tobacco for Cohiba and Trinidad is given a third fermentation at the factory before being used. She said that other sizes of Trinidad may be made in the future, but that she hasn't received any orders from Habanos S.A., the Cuban organization in charge of global marketing and distribution of cigars. "Of course, Trinidad is not Cohiba and it will not have the same rigor in wrapper colors. But it will be a very good cigar."
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text: Location The Clew Bay Hotel is located in the centre of Westport town on James's Street . The most central hotel in Westport town! Please enter your start point here. From: To: GPS Coordinates: N: 53.800690 W: 009.524218 Local amenities ATM-Across the street Centra supermarket - next door Chemist - next door Westport Leisure Park - at the end of the hotel car park Westport Cineplex - next door to the Westport Leisure Park Post Office (An Post) - 4 minute walk on the Mall St. Mary's Church (Roman Catholic) - opposite the hotel Holy Trinity (Church of Ireland), Newport Road - 2 min walk Calvary Church, Westport - meet in the Westport Leisure Park Westport Library - 2 min walk Railway station, Ballinrobe Road - 12 mins walk Bus Stop, Mill Street - 3 mins walk


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Robert L. Mears Appointed Director of Retirement Administration Agency
Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director of Public Affairs
703-324-3187, TTY 711, Fax 703-324-2010
Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
March 31, 2008
Robert L. Mears Appointed Director of Fairfax County Retirement Administration Agency
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed Robert L. Mears as director of the Retirement Administration Agency, effective May 5.
The Retirement Administration Agency manages three separate defined benefit retirement systems: county employees, police officers and uniformed.
Mears has served as the director of the Fairfax County Department of Finance since 1999. He is also treasurer and Investment Committee chairman of the Fairfax County Employees' Retirement System; treasurer of the Fairfax County Police Officers Retirement System; and treasurer of the Uniformed Retirement System. In 2002, Mears was the recipient of Fairfax County's Managerial Excellence Award.
From 1989 to 1999, Mears served as the director of finance of the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). During his tenure with FCPS, Mears served as vice chairman and Investment Committee chairman of the Fairfax County Employees' Retirement System and treasurer of the Educational Employees' Supplementary Retirement System. He joined the FCPS staff in 1986 as budget coordinator following five years of service with Fairfax County government as a management analyst.
Mears is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of Northern Colorado.
Mears will receive an annual salary of $175,000.
For more information on the Retirement Administration Agency, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/retbrd.


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Mary Bullwinkel
Beacon Correspondent
The impact of Humboldt County's marijuana industry was the topic of discussion at a recent gathering of the Buckeye group at the Elks Lodge in Eureka.
Humboldt County Sheriff Mike Downey told the group he is "sickened at what is happening here," referring to the negative impacts of marijuana, not just on the natural resources but on the community as a whole. He described the amount of black plastic pipe found at marijuana grow sites as "staggering," saying his department has found thousands of miles of piping. He also talked about the damage caused by illegal stream diversions to provide a source of water for the grow sites.
Of more concern, according to Downey, is the amount of poison and toxic substances being found at grow sites.
"It's getting to the point where deputies will have to suit up before going out," Downey said. "The poisons are getting into the soil and into the watersheds, and they are also killing animals."
He said many of the insecticides and rodenticides being used are outlawed in the United States.
The sheriff said the current growers' level of sophistication far exceeds the original back-to-the-land growers of the 60s, 70s, or 80s.
Downey said his main focus is on the large commercial growers, and voiced his frustration over a lack of both state and federal support for marijuana eradication efforts in Humboldt County -- saying he hoped for more coordination between all levels of government.
Buckeye board member and rancher Elizabeth Marshall-Maybee of the Marshall Ranch near Bridgeville noted that when smaller parcels of old-time ranches come up for sale, the only interested buyers are pot growers. She also said there were problems finding young people to work as ranch hands, when they can make much more money growing pot.
The Buckeye group was established in 2000 as the Buckeye Conservancy, and is a group of family farm, ranch, and forest landowners in the North Coast region of California, dedicated to the promotion of those ideals and policies that support the ecological and economic sustainability of natural resources and open space.


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Scott Griggs says District 3 Councilman Dave Neumann doesn't have the neighborhood's interests as a top priority
DAVID TAFFET | Staff Writer
In campaigns, gas drilling is usually a state vs. federal government concern. In Dallas, it could be a deciding factor in a single council district race since challenger Scott Griggs has raised the issue in his race for city council against District 3 incumbent Dave Neumann.
The massive Dallas City Council District 3 covers more than 50 square miles — an area larger than the city of San Francisco.
Potential drilling sites include Red Bird Airport and Mountain Creek, an area that is closer to Highway 360 in Arlington than it is to Downtown Dallas or even to Bishop Arts in Oak Cliff.
A controversial technique called "fracking" — slang for "hydraulic fracturing" — would be used to extract gas from underlying shale. Opponents have warned fracking could be responsible for recent earthquakes in North Texas and that chemicals used in the process may pollute the ground water.
Runoff from this area feeds Mountain Creek Lake, a source of drinking water for the southern sector.
At the Sept. 22, 2010 council meeting, Neumann called the Barnett Shale drilling proposals "a sweetheart deal" and "a great deal for the taxpayers of Dallas."
Many in his district, including Griggs, disagree.
"He's ignoring the effects on property values, quality of life, our air, our water, our health," Griggs said. "I've been asking for a moratorium."
Griggs said he would like more study to see what the effects would actually be.
Neumann has delayed a vote on the issue until October, allegedly to prevent drilling from becoming an issue in the May election.
Griggs describes District 3 as the donut that surrounds Delia Jasso's compact District 1 donut hole.
Jasso represents much of north Oak Cliff. Neumann represents an area that includes the heavily LGBT-populated neighborhoods of Stevens Park in North Oak Cliff and the Keist Park neighborhoods further south.
Griggs has been active with the Fort Worth Avenue Development Group and the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce and served as Ed Oakley's appointee to the Board of Adjustment.
He believes in development but criticizes the way Dallas often goes for big projects only. While new overpasses across the Trinity River would help Oak Cliff, Griggs said he worries about the cost of maintaining the faux suspension bridge being built.
In contrast to the way Dallas usually builds, Griggs said he prefers small projects and points to Jack's Backyard as an example of how one person can help transform a neighborhood.
Kathy Jack, owner of Jack's, said, "I couldn't have gotten my business open without him."
The city was preventing Jack from opening the restaurant without a paved parking lot.
Griggs explained that the area has flooding problems and no storm sewers. Paving the lot would have made flooding worse.
Jack finished the lot with gravel over a green product called Gravelpave that allows water to absorb into the ground.
"I went to the city of Dallas and they gave me 10 reasons why we couldn't open," Jack said. "He went to the city of Dallas with me and they approved my parking lot."
"We always think that the biggest and sexiest development is best," Griggs said. "But if you look at what happened with Bishop Arts, the city went in and invested $2.6 million."
The city added parking, trees, wider sidewalks, crosswalks and enhanced pavement, he said, which made pedestrians feel welcome.
"Property values immediately adjacent to the improvements — 10 years ago the property was worth $1.7 million," he said. "Now it's worth $6.2 million. We've had 13 percent increase steady through two recessions."
The city makes more money in Bishop Arts now on a Saturday night from taxes on alcohol sales than they did before with a year of property taxes, Griggs said.
He said that the success of the area is not being copied anywhere else in the city.
"Those are the types of revenue solutions we need to look at in these tough times," he said. "Something Dallas has never looked at — small investments. We don't do little. We're all big and sexy.
"We think it's an accident," Griggs said of the success in Bishop Arts. "We think it's quaint and it's cute. It's just an old streetcar neighborhood and we have those throughout the area."
But, he said, the area's success can be replicated.
Griggs mentioned that adding bike racks has brought additional traffic to Bishop Arts. He said he supports the plan to add bike lanes to streets and is a supporter of Bike Friendly Oak Cliff, a neighborhood group that encourages bike riding.
He also supports the extension of the trolley line across the Houston Street Viaduct and across Davis Street. Grants for the extension were obtained despite Neumann's refusal to sign onto the project, Griggs said.
He charges Neumann with blocking other development in the area by moving money out of designated funds into the general fund, including rebuilding the pergola at Kiest Park and cleaning up the Hensley Field Naval Air Station, also within the district.
Griggs is married but counts the LGBT community as part of the base of his support.
Joseph Hernandez ran against Neumann in 2007. He served on the Landmark Commission and has known Griggs through their work at the city for eight years.
"The gay community is very tight knit and engaged and we know who our supporters are," Hernandez said. "I believe he's an advocate for us and would be very inclusive."
Susan Melnick, who lives in District 3, said, "He and his wife are very progressive and he thinks outside the box."
She called him thoughtful.
"Scott's not going to just jump on the bandwagon," she said. "He's going to do his homework. "
Melnick said she believes Griggs would always be very inclusive of the LGBT community.
"He's always had gay and straight friends," she said. "He's very low-key. No ego there. I just adore him."
Former Dallas Independent School Board member Jose Plata lives in the District and said he hasn't been pleased with the representation of the incumbent and so is backing Griggs.
"Scott has a strong mind about strong neighborhoods," Plata said. "Scott understands issues and would be a good spokesperson for the gay community."
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition Jan. 28, 2011.


text: CHICAGOLAND TOYOTA DEALERS TO GIVE AWAY 2010 PRIUS January 28, 2010 12:00 AM CHICAGOLAND TOYOTA DEALERS TO GIVE AWAY 2010 PRIUS AT UPCOMING CHICAGO AUTO SHOW Local Residents Must Access Special Facebook Page To Enter Sweepstakes The 30 dealers who comprise the Chicagoland Toyota Dealers are offering one lucky person the opportunity to win an all-new 2010 Toyota Prius at the upcoming Chicago Auto Show. "The 2010 Chicago Auto Show Prius Giveaway" is being conducted on a newly-launched Facebook page – www.facebook.com/chicagolandtoyotadealers. Entry information and contest rules are available on this special web page. Entrants must be a member of Facebook in order to become a "fan" of the Fan Page and eligible for the sweepstakes. Between now and February 18, 10 semi-finalists will be selected with the chance to win a Prius on the final day of the Chicago Auto Show, on February 21. That day, all semi-finalists will meet at the Toyota exhibit and be provided identical envelopes. The envelope containing a picture of the Prius will be named the grand prize winner. The sweepstakes is open to all legal residents, 18 years of age and older, in the states of Illinois (residing only in the counties of Cook, Dupage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendal, Lake (IL), LaSalle, McHenry and Will) and Indiana (residing only in the counties of Jasper, La Porte, Lake (IN), Newton and Porter). Back to News


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Posted 7 years ago
(2 items)
My boyfriend picked this up last week at a local store where we live. I have looked all over the internet and can not find anything about this at all. It's a fairly large sign and I beleive it's metal on wood but not 100% sure. In the lower left of the sign it appears dirty but it's only paper I have not removed yet because there were 3 others and they had paper between them probably so they wouldn't get scratched up. I would love to know a little history about it I know who the maker of the sign is as shown in the 2nd photo. I would also like to know what it's worth so we can know if we did good or not on our purchase. Thank You.


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Illustrations copyright 2002 by Nucleus
Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
The mitral valve is one of four valves in the heart. It regulates
blood flow from the upper left chamber (left atrium) into the lower left
chamber (left ventricle), the heart's main pumping chamber.
A normal mitral valve has two flaps, or leaflets. When the heart
pumps, blood forces the flaps open, and blood flows from the left atrium to the
left ventricle. Between heartbeats, the leaflets close tightly so that blood
does not leak backwards through the valve.
ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerRakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, ElectrophysiologySpecialist Medical ReviewerJohn A. McPherson, MD, FACC, FSCAI - Cardiology
Current as ofJanuary 27, 2016
Current as of:
January 27, 2016
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Rakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology & John A. McPherson, MD, FACC, FSCAI - Cardiology
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Jackie & Producer Steve Taste Test The New Lays Chips
You may recall the other day we posted about the three all new flavors that Lays Potato Chips have came out with! Chicken and Waffles, Cheesy Garlic Breaksticks, and Sriracha . I bought two of the three. I am sorry, sriracha ? It sounds like Sir-crotch-a... and I'm not comfortable eating chips named after crotch!


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New rules for ag water metering are on the way, but agricultural leaders say the rules won't save water and will end up costing a lot of money to keep the status quo.
The measurement plans for water districts of 25,000 acres and larger are due soon and metering begins in 2015.
"I can tell you how much water the system uses, how much all our crops consume. We do all those calculations," said Thad Bettner, manager of Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District.
The district has 140,000 acres of land and growers already pay for the amount of water they use, he said.
The district has about 2,500 turnouts for more than 1,000 growers, Bettner said. Metering each spot of water delivery could cost several thousand dollars, he continued.
Also there is silt in the water and weeds, which provide maintenance problems, he said.
Other districts in Northern California that need to comply are Biggs West Gridley, Reclamation District 108, Richvale Irrigation District, Western Canal Water District, and Sutter Mutual Water Company.
Water suppliers for land between 10,000-25,000 acres will convert to measurement if funding is provided, the Department of Water Resources said.
Ag districts that don't comply will not be eligible for state grants or loans.
When state legislators cast their votes, the language in the bill called for measuring water "with sufficient accuracy," Bettner said.
The definition of "sufficient accuracy" was turned over to the Department of Water Resources, which came up with "a nine-page document to explain what sufficient accuracy means," he said.
This includes accuracy within 5 percent for new metering systems, and within 12 percent for existing systems. Only Western Canal Water District has an existing system.
Costs to growers was not a consideration, Bettner said.
He said this is disappointing because money could be spent on more water storage or re-operation of existing storage to improve the overall water picture.
Also, in the Sacramento Valley, water will be used more than once. For example, rice fields are flooded, but as the needs of the fields change, water is released and used again.
Bettner said the regulations also overlook that water used for agriculture in Northern California helps to recharge the groundwater system, and returns to waterways when fields drain.
Manucher Alemi, a spokesperson for the Department of Water Resources, said there were some special considerations made for rice farmers, including allowing just one measuring point if multiple growers receive water from the same turnout.
But they must show they are charging customers based on water quantity. The intent is to use water more efficiently, Alemi explained.
Lewis Bair, manager of Reclamation District 108, said his growers, which primarily grow rice, are disappointed.
"Rice is unique," he said, and the water needs to be consistent. So there's not a benefit to measure with the goal of using less.
"The requirements won't return new water to the state" and it "won't improve the way these guys are farming their rice."
Some crops might benefit from more exact measurements, Bair said, such as key times when stress will be harmful, or produce a better crop.
But the legislators who passed the rules aren't well-versed in agriculture, he said.
"They made the jump that if you measure water, it will be more efficient and if it's expensive, you will use less," Bair said.
"But the economics (of water) in the north state are not driving what crops people plant."
People in Northern California grow rice and tree crops because the land is suitable and there is a good market, he said.
Measuring water might save water in San Diego, where growers pay thousands to cover one acre with one foot of water.
Gene Massa is manager of Biggs-West Gridley Irrigation District, which uses surface water on 32,000 acres of land.
The hardware and improvements for a new system will cost more than $2 million, he said, plus unknown additional staffing.
"So why are we doing this? There must be something more to this," Massa said.
"Folks have not been happy," Bair said.
He tells disgruntled growers that its something they need to do to prove growers are responsible users of water."
Reach Heather Hacking at 896-7758, firstname.lastname@example.com, or on Twitter @HeatherHacking


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The ninth book in a series of fifteen books/the first book in a mid-series trilogy, and a great book with a clever plot. Author: Kathryn Lasky Reveiwer: Keithen
I have read several books by Kathryn Lasky but had never heard of this series until Keithen turned in this review. (I guess librarians just don't know everything!) If there are fifteen books in the series kids must like these books! The main characters are owls. Interesting! Here is a description of the series from the publisher:
"Out of the darkness, heroes will rise…Soren, Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger are an unlikely band of heroes. They have come together from different kingdoms to fight a fiecrce, mysterious enemy. Together, the four friends have traveled to the Grat Ga'Hoole Tree to train with a mythic community of owls who rise nightly to perform noble deeds. Soon they will have the wisdom and bravery required to destroy the evil that lurks in their midst."
Friends, danger, heroes, destroying evil…sounds really, good, I'm going to put this one on hold.
- Amazon Look Inside The First Collier
- Scholastic Guardians of Ga-Hoole Official Website


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NEW YORK ( TheStreet --Debra Borchardt: A judge has dismissed anti-trust claims against the banks with regards to Libor. Jim, this effects 16 some odd banks saying that Libor does not harm competition. It's a cooperative endeavor and can't be viewed as competitive. So, this is clearly a positive for the banks because that was a little bit scary that anyone under the sun could sue them for Libor. Jim Cramer: Well, they've won one. Now the banks have spent over a hundred billion dollars in fines, gigantic line item is how much they are spending on lawyers. Debra Borchardt: The lawyers are at least 500 dollars an hour if not 600 dollars an hour. Jim Cramer: Oh yeah. Some of them a thousand dollars and there is what I regard as just the cloud continues. Like if you try to figure out why Bank of America ( BAC) had a really good year last year, why Bank of America seems to be stalled at 12, they're not done. They still have a lot of lawsuits. Debra Borchardt: You bring up a good point because I was looking at the chart for the financial ETF, the XLF. It's on a continuous up trend. Jim Cramer: Right. But it's one foot forward on bad loans going away, one foot backward, or let's say three-quarters-of-step-backward on litigation and then another step forward on the idea that the economy might be growing, and then another step backward on the idea that the yield curve is not that good. So it's been a very difficult group to invest in. We like very much SunTrust ( STI), which hasn't kept pace and that's because they failed the initial test and we like Key ( KEY), which a lot of people don't like because they just don't think it has any forward momentum. I think both of them are real buys here. Debra Borchardt: And those are the smaller banks, the more regional ones. Jim Cramer: Yeah. Huntington Bank ( HBAN) is very, very good. Regions ( RF), which I haven't liked for a long time I think is a very strong situation. I think that all of these have commercial real estate just about to occur. First Horizon ( FHN) had been a stock that was eight, nine. Suddenly, it's at 11 dollars. That's a terrific one, too. That's where you should be looking.
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A moviegoer in Norwalk was arrested over the weekend when he allegedly began shouting about a gun and Colorado during a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises," officials said Monday.
The incident occurred at 5:15 p.m. Sunday at the AMC Norwalk 20 theater. A theater security officer saw the 52-year-old suspect had a backpack and was on his knees in the second row of seats, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.
Clark Tabor was arrested. No weapons were found during a search of the suspect or in the theater and surrounding area.
Witnesses said a man started shouting before the movie began, allegedly holding his cellphone in the air and yelling, "Does anyone have a gun?" and "I should go off like in Colorado."
No guns were found during a search of the suspect's home either.
Tabor was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats, a felony. He is being held in the Men's Central Jail on $50,000 bail plus unrelated warrants. His next scheduled court date is Tuesday in Bellflower court.


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HEBRON ESTATES - After the starting the season with six wins in the first eight games, the North Bullitt Eagles hit a few bumps in the road last week competing in the Baptist Northeast Henry County Invitational.
Playing four games in three days, the Eagles posted a 1-3 mark, winning only the last game finish in seventh-place in the 8-team pool play event.
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Post-partum, post-injury or post-winter, the Philadelphia area is filled with fitness options for people of all ages and abilities.
Want to look as fabulous as Jane Fonda does at age 74? Envious of those celebrity moms who look red carpet-ready six weeks after they give birth? Inspired by Bob Harper's sculpted 46-year-old body or those he creates on "The Biggest Loser"? Looking to interest kids and grandkids in fitness? Post-partum, post-injury or post-winter, the Philadelphia area is filled with fitness options for people of all ages and abilities.
One thing Philadelphia doesn't have: Soul Cycle, the Zumba-meets-meets-spinning classes that are sweeping New York. In its place is Body Cycle, which opened 15 months ago in the Rittenhouse Square area and is the only studio in the city dedicated to indoor cycling. People of all ages and fitness levels can do Body Cycle's high-cardio, low-impact, heart-thumping, sweat-inducing spinning. The music, the lighting, the vibe: it's a great workout that burns 400 to 800 calories in one, 50-minute class. Bikes can be modified for beginners and to accommodate lower back issues. "It's fun and addictive the way that Zumba is," says Judy Cohen, a 57-year-old who has become a Body Cycle enthusiast. "It's very high energy, so it holds your attention and it really works your entire body. I go home sore, but happy."
Another great option: Piloxing, a combination of Pilates and boxing set to high-energy dance music. Basically, Piloxing is Pilates with cardio intervals. While Pilates classes are largely attended by women, Piloxing has man appeal because of its boxing moves. Men and women are attending Piloxing classes at Newtown Athletic Club, Philadelphia Dance Fitness in Center City, Ploome in Northern Liberties, Aquatic and Fitness Center in Bala Cynwyd and Intoxx Fitness in Manayunk. No Pilates, boxing or dancing experience is required, and workouts can be done in low-impact fashion, making them safe for joints and backs.
Based on its name alone, the Dragon Boat Workout might seem a bit scary. But Mary Hackett, director of Main Line Health & Fitness in Bryn Mawr, says this new exercise discipline is perfect for beginners. "We've had amputees, people who are hearing-impaired or blind, teenagers, senior citizens and people of all fitness abilities do the class," she says. "We are the only fitness center in the entire United States to offer this class. People love how unique it is and the workout it gives them."
The Dragon Boat Workout takes place in, yes, a dragon boat that is affixed to a block of cement in MLHF's four-foot-deep pool. The boat holds 24 people and one instructor who leads the hourlong class. "We do stretching and a lot of core work and get the legs involved," Hackett says. "It's different from a rowing machine and even different from row tanks, because dragon boat paddling is done two-handed, but on one side of the body at a time. It's low-impact, but a real challenge."
Here's another challenge: finding time to exercise while taking care of young children. Luckily, there are plenty of things that fitness-minded parents and grandparents can do with their toddlers. The Philadelphia Gymnastics Center in West Conshohocken offers a You & Me class. "It used to be 'Mommy & Me,' but now the kids come with daddies, nannies, grandparents and even a few aunts, so we changed it to 'You & Me,' " says Jacquelyn Bier, the owner and director of the center.
The 40-minute class is for girls and boys aged 21 months to 2.5 years. "It's an instructional movement class that incorporates running, jumping, basic tumbling and other motor skills," Bier explains. "Under the supervision of both a parent and a member of my staff, the kids use specially oriented gymnastics equipment. For example, we have balance beams that are four inches wide and on the floor. Kids walk on them, turn, jump — in doing that, they are learning balance, coordination and gaining leg, core and arm strength. Are they young? Sure. Can they do this? Absolutely. They love it. They like the challenge of trying to control their bodies. The kids get a real sense of accomplishment. And, it's adorable to watch."
Adorable is great. Inner peace might be even better. Wes Tudor, owner of Rittenhouse Square's new Raja Yoga, introduced a twist on traditional Mommy & Me classes. Raja's class is for kids ages 1 to 4 and the adults who want to bond with them through yoga. "Some classes focus on incorporating the child into the adult's yoga practice," Tudor says. "This is tailored more toward the children. It's a creative playtime with a yoga theme. We don't even use mats. The kids and their adults get in a circle and do animal poses, fun songs and stretches. Then, we'll do special things like the adults making a downward dog tunnel and the kids crawling or running under it."
Tudor says that parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles bring toddlers to the classes, which are a bit more high-action than typical yoga classes. Tudor's instructors are trained by Karma Kids, the New York studio which holds yoga classes for parents and kids of all ages. "It's different than signing your kid up for soccer or baseball and watching them do the sport," Tudor says. "With this, parents and kids do the activity together."
Family yoga classes for adults and young children are also held at Young Garden in Narberth, Studio 34 in University City, Yoga Child on South Street and Yogawood in Collingswood.
Another new option: Red Hot Dance. Created by Philadelphian Christine Gallagher and debuted at the end of 2011, Red Hot Dance is Zumba-esque dance done to American pop tunes instead of Latin music. It's a little bit sexier than Zumba. And a little harder. Experienced dancers can do Gallagher's advanced moves while newbies master the basic steps. Like Zumba, Red Hot Dance is approved for people of all ages and fitness levels. It is taught periodically at the West Chester YMCA and Main Line Health & Fitness.
For Zumba-philes looking for a real challenge, there's Master Jay's Roller Skate Dance Class. Held at two locations in Center City, Master Jay's classes are pretty much what they sound like: dancing on roller skates. Salsa, merengue and other dance steps are made more difficult by adding the challenge of stabilizing the body while on roller skates. The hourlong classes are set to fun, uptempo music and are fine for folks of all fitness levels.
And, finally, the best thing to do while getting back into shape: save money. Groupon, Living Social, Google Offers and other social media sites often offer coupons for discounts on fitness classes so you can get a deal while you get in shape.
Melissa Jacobs is the senior editor of Special Sections.


text: How in the world do your finals end that late in December is what I wanna know. I have never seen a college end the fall semester with less that a week til Christmas. On top of that, when does your spring semester start up if the fall ends that late?


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Botanical prints, bold color, and more.
Mix and Match 101
Transform your home with colorful paint color, botanical wallpaper, and more fresh decorating ideas.More
To bring a feeling of nature into a New York living room, designer Fawn Galli used a custom minty green. "Green is my favorite color because it's of the earth, the trees, the grass," she says. Pal+Smith chairs, Paley sofa from Profiles, and Fiona Curran Palette carpet for The Rug Company. Painting by Anne Siems.
In her Los Angeles dining room, designer Ruthie Sommers used bold pastels. "Outside the window there's an allée of jacaranda and plum trees that blossoms in spring like a pink cotton-candy wonderland," she says. "Inside it's always spring." The trees inspired the vibrant pink Penny Morrison fabric on the front of the chairs and the Claremont floral on the back. Rug from Melrose carpet.
Readers' Real Home Makeover Ideas


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For as long as I can remember, "on verra l'annee prochaine" (we'll see what happens next year) has been my Canadian relatives' mantra whenever there was talk about planning a destination family reunion. One morning I woke up to the realization that unless the sibling endowed with the strongest "take-charge" genes didn't step up, the elusive family getaway would surely fade out of our future along with our youth and vitality.
My strategy was simple, transparent, a tad dramatic but effective. Reminding my brothers that any of us could be incapacitated or dead by next year finally trumped the familiar fiscal concern excuse.
When I began to think about an affordable memorable experience for six people with different personalities, interests and stamina, not to mention "language," two words came to mind — cruise ship.
Less than six months later, two of my brothers and their spouses flew from Montreal to rendezvous with David and me in Fort Lauderdale. We set sail on the Caribbean Princess toward the palm-wreathed turquoise shores of Princess Cays southward to Curaao and Aruba. Our 3,600-passenger floating village delivered 112,000 tons of lively entertainment, shipboard activities, room to roam and excellent food in a myriad of dining venues with gracious service by warm, attentive crew and staff.
After an orientation of their 19-deck, 950-foot long grand-size ship, our party of first-time and veteran cruisers surrendered to the stress-free coddling pace of a vacation at sea. Days and evenings were loosely structured, giving us the guiltless freedom to choose sleeping-in over morning spin classes or watching stage shows over grooving in the disco.
Caribbean Princess was our bubble of bonding where distractions were an option, not an intrusion. I could always count on crossing paths with my French coffee-loving brothers sipping on a morning cappuccino at the Piazza's International Café. The Sanctuary's stimulation-free zone for lounging in the ocean breeze was everyone's favorite afternoon oasis. I made a habit of stopping for a sister-in-law chat over canapés or a fix of brotherly love with a hug and a heart-to-heart talk on the way to a sunset swim or a deck promenade.
Apart from sampling Italian fare or succulent grilled specialties in the two intimate restaurants, we enjoyed the elegant pageantry of the traditional Palm dining room, enhanced by our waiter's Mediterranean warmth and attention to detail. Our animated round table conversation bounced between French and English with a flurry of hand gestures and facial expressions in cadence with the translation pauses needed to sweep everyone along the laughs and family babble.
Our first shore day was Princess Cays' beach bliss paradise. The cruise line's idyllic 30-acre Bahamian playground was complete with bungalows, palm-shaded lounge chaises, water toys, souvenir shops, live music, a bar and beach barbecue lunch. Lise and Russell eased into calypso tempo with a book between refreshing dips in the surf, while David introduced Dani and Doris to Hobie cat sailing as I zigzagged on a stand-up paddle board.
Our next port of call was multicultural Curaao and the largest of the former Netherlands Antilles. We docked in the capital of Willemstad, known for its colorful waterfront red tile gabled-roof townhouses with cafés and tourist shops across the picturesque Queen Emma swinging pontoon bridge.
When the Christoffel National Park hike excursion was canceled because of our later-than-expected arrival, David and I spent the afternoon combing the alleyways stitching Willemstad's UNESCO downtown, fort and natural harbor while checking-off the anthropological museum, floating market with Venezuelan schooners bloated with tropical produce and the Western Hemisphere's oldest synagogue in continuous use since 1732.
We topped the day with a sunset plunge at Seaquarium Beach.
The next morning we docked in Aruba's gleaming Oranjestad. Our plan was to locate bicycles for a ride to Eagle Beach, hailed as one of the world's most beautiful beaches. David and I set off with Dani, my youngest and most adventuresome sibling on our bike shop quest. After two miles on foot and a few more by cab, we bumped our nose against one shop's "closed" sign. Sensing our determination to experience Aruba on two wheels, a helpful cab driver drove us to a bike shop outside the Arikok National Wildlife Park. The three of us pedaled off across the hilly cacti landscape. Although we missed the caves, petroglyphs and Ostrich Farm by a couple of wrong turns, the scenic open space on the outskirts of the park and the exercise were worth the journey.
We returned to the ship for a snack and midday family powwow. Russell and Lise opted for some Sanctuary time between strolls into town, while David and I piled into a cab with Dani and Doris eager to sink our toes into Eagle Beach's talcum sands and bob around beneath the Caribbean's dazzling skies.
We returned to the dock with plenty of time to savor the pastel capital's yacht and designer store-dotted waterfront enchanted by Aruba's Dutch roots and pristine beaches. The most intriguing factoid was a cab driver's claim that Aruba was a crime-free society in part due to the astounding population ratio of fifteen to one females to males.
Our last two days at sea were highlighted by exclusive back scene tours of the ship's $4million dollar galley and the high-tech navigation bridge.
We ended the week with four birthday celebrations, Kodak moments and a collective appreciation for the treat of togetherness.
What we didn't expect was that a seven-day cruise would dissolve 30 years of language and cultural barriers between my French Canadian family and my American husband, allowing mutual respect to flourish into the gift of genuine affection and admiration fueling the desire to renew this bond with future family vacations.
Linda B. Mullally, a Carmel resident and husband David, a local attorney, share their passion for travel, outdoor recreation and dogs through articles, books, photography and as cruise hosts. More Caribbean cruising info at lindabmullally.com.


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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
I am already neutered, up to date with shots, good with kids, good with dogs, and good with cats.
If interested in meeting Presley, send an email to email@example.com for an application. $50.00 adoption fee covers spay/neuter, vaccinations, wormers and preventatives
You can help save a life by fostering an animal from JCAS. If interested in fostering, contact Kelly at firstname.lastname@example.com
If you would like to donate to help us help the foster parents with food, medications and preventatives you can paypal us at firstname.lastname@example.com
WE ARE NOW 501(c)3, nonprofit and all of your donations are tax deductible!!
Presley, a Ocean Springs American Shorthair cat was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a American Shorthair for sale in Ocean Springs, or seeking a American Shorthair cat from a breeder in Ocean Springs.


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1991 Gulf Coast Boats Values, Specs and Prices
Select a 1991 Gulf Coast Boats Model
(2015 - 1991)
A Texas-based builder of powerboats, Gulf Coast Boats specializes in shallow water fishing craft. Building fiberglass vessels, products involved under the Gulf Coast Boats brand includes one with a catamaran hull and others with a center console cockpit. Starting boat manufacturing in 1989, Gulf Coast Boats has adopted an understanding for what sport anglers expect from their watercrafts. Gulf Coast Boats are protected by a 10-year transferable structural hull warranty.