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I'm back from my live show and weekend in Phoenix, Arizona. I performed for a old friend who I went to College with Bill Kraemer. I went to SUNY Purchase which at the time was mostly an art school. The campus was 85% freaks. Bill and his friend Marcel had a techno act called Technosphere. I remember visiting their room across campus. Marcel was a really skinny tall guy from Belgium with a heavy accent. They had mini studio featuring a Rogue Moog and some ART rack efftect processors. They had dayglow shirts, toys and stickers and were properly ravetarded. In my elephant sized box of cassettes waiting in my mother's basement sit a few Technosphere compilations. Maybe someday someone born a decade later than yours truly will obsess over them as I do with early 80s electronic demo tapes. I had not seen Bill in more than 15 years so I was looking forward to seeing him.
I've been working hard at my day job recently so when I received my Silver Medalian upgrade card from Delta my frown started to relax a bit. You get such a card for racking up a zillion frequent flier miles in a short time. The big deal is with the card I get automatically upgraded to business class. Not only to I get my own armrest but I can use all the fast check-in lanes and in general feel superior to everyone else. On my way to Phoenix I went.
I watched three movies on the flight. First was "Trust" staring Clive Owen. Even though Trust is rated well on Rotten Tomatoes skip it. It's just a kiddie porn fantasy rape movie. Hollywood should be ashamed of producing this kind of thing. Next, I watched Strange Powers the documentary about Stephan Merritt and The Magnetic Fields. If your a regular reader here you know MF is one of my favs so I knew I'd love this film (and I did). Stephan explains his songwriting process which consists of him sitting in gay bars for eight hours listening to bad disco. Dark mood indeed. I was thrilled when they showed his apartment and there in the corner was an Electrocomp-101. These are rare synthesizers and I too am a proud owner of one (serial number 521 to be exact). Lastly, I saw True Grit which I thought didn't live up to the hype with the exception of the end sequence. I won't spoil anything for anyone who hasn't seen it yet but it's properly sad as all movie endings should be.
I land in Phoenix, meet Bill and it's hot. In the sun it's much much hotter than you think. I had to get a few things at CVS so I took a walk. CVS was only a few blocks from my hotel. Somehow I got lost, disoriented and had to ask for help getting back. It's that kind of hot. I realized anyone who lives in Phoenix is surrounded by something that could easily kill them.
I arrived a day early and spent the afternoon in the Hotel's pool. The San Carlos is a famous place built on the site of an early American Indian school house. That's where this hotel's bad karma started. In the 1920s a woman jumped to her death from the roof. Later, Bogart and Marilyn Monroe made the Carlos there home for short stints. It's a properly haunted place and before I even knew the history I was taking photos of it's creepy Kubrikesque hallways.
For dinner Chris Randall was kind to pick me up and take me to the Gallo Blanco Cafe at The Clarendon Hotel. Here I believe I probably had the first good mexican food in my entire life. A simple fish Torte that's still on my mind five days later. If you read this blog you obviously know who Chris is. He creates the Audio Damage plug-ins, makes music and has a blog called Audio Industries. All his efforts are unique and above par interesting. The conversation was good and it's always nice to validate your own life a little by meeting people with similar interests.
Later Friday evening I met with Bill, his friends and Ralph aka Kung Fu grip. Bill's 1987 Toyota Camry looks like it was lost in the dessert a few years. Fully covered in pink dessert dust and full of disorganization. Flyers, containers and well just a bunch of unidentifiable stuff. Bill couldn't drive for what ever reason so his friend Matt took over. Matt was wearing a NY Yankees cap tilted to the side. So here we are four guys in this car and Matt in his hat. Yes of course we get pulled over. Yes of course Bill doesn't have insurance. Let's just leave the rest of this night unspoken about ok?
The next day there was more swimming then the live show. The venue was inappropriately huge but soon after arriving I was able to meet a few new friends who flew from surrounding states to catch me. The show starts and as with every time I perform in a new place I have to work hard to prove I'm there to have fun with the crowd. In a good mood I manage to get everyone from frozen in fear to yes let's dance like we are Germans.
For more info: thehorrorist.com


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Montebello California's Schurr High School can lay claim to being the birthplace of one of lowriding's most long-lasting clubs, the Techniques Car Club. In 1972 at the start of the school year Roland Ortiz, and brothers Aaron and Alonzo Quintana were thinking about joining a car club. After checking out a few clubs, they could not find one that fit the image they were looking for at the time. They all agreed that it would be best to simply start a club on their own. The first order of business was to find a name for the club. The name they would decide on had to have some meaning behind it, something they could base their style upon. After going through several different names, they came up with Techniques. Looking up the definition in Webster's Dictionary confirmed that they have indeed found the right name for the club. The definition of Techniques is "show you how". With that all important first step out of the way, it was time for the boys to build the club.
The club had jackets made before they built any cars, so technically they were first known as a "jacket club". In order for the club to be recognized as a car club, the club not only had to build cars, but they had to come up with a plaque for the club. The first members that built cars agreed on a plaque design, and it was finally time to hit the cruising spots and car shows as a club.
The club had to endure some rough and unfortunately violent times in their early years. Back in the 70's and 80's, car clubs were literally fighting for respect from one another. That period of lowriding is now known as the "club wars". Eventually things would settle down and the clubs, for the most part, would get along.
In the 90's, Techniques held a picnic to bring members together to talk about a re-organization. Members and their families came from all over to Penn Park in Whittier, California to get together and talk about getting the club active again. Most of the members in attendance had not seen each other for years and had lots of catching up to do. Upon hearing that one of the club's most dedicated members, Daniel "Danny Red" Aguirre had passed away without being given a proper headstone at his gravesite, some of the original and current members decided they needed to help a fallen member. The club got together and made a donation to Daniel's family. The club then held a dedication ceremony at the grave site to honor Daniel.
It was after the dedication ceremony that some of the original members got their second wind and got the urge to build another car. Many of the original members had been raising families in and around the Southern California area and had thought that they got lowriding out of their system years ago but they were wrong. The club was about to break out for the second time in its history.
The club now has a total of nine chapters. Eight chapters are in the United States and one chapter is in Japan. In recent years, the Arizona chapter was totally restructured with the true Techniques plaque design and rules. Techniques even have chapters in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and the state of Texas that are primarily made up of members that are in the military. In fact, many of the members of these chapters are on active duty, so it is not uncommon to see the Techniques logo in the Middle East or other parts of the world. Texas is the newest chapter, with members coming from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. The Japan chapter is in its tenth year and is based out of Osaka in the city of Tokushima. It is not uncommon to see "jack stand" quality cars cruising the local streets of each chapter's location.
The club allows both cars and trucks in the club as long as they are built in the traditional lowrider style. You will see everything from the early Bombs, Big Body Cadillac's, 1950's Chevy trucks, Town Cars and various years of the timeless classic Impala. The club's cars have appeared in music videos and movies throughout the years. Peter Cruz's 1947 Fleetline "El Duran" was featured in the cult classic movie "Mi Vida Loca". One of the latest cars to debut is Joey Hernandez's 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V "Family Jewels". The officers and car committee work to ensure the member's cars are built properly and maintain the image within the club's standards.
A lot of Lowrider car clubs these days allow their members to fly club colors while riding their Harley Davidson motorcycles. Some like Techniques have established a motorcycle club within the club. In fact, Techniques can lay claim to having the oldest motorcycle club in lowriding. They started their motorcycle club in 1980, and are stronger than ever today. The club's motorcycles are as custom as their cars. Lot of chrome, paint and money has gone into the building of these two wheel rides just like their four wheeled vcounterparts. Not to be left out, the club also has a bicycle club for its younger members.
In its history, the Techniques have attended both small and large cars shows. In 2001, the club took a trip to the Las Vegas Super Show with a total of thirty one entries. In fact, they had the second most entries for the show, and, even more impressively, the club was awarded trophies for almost every category they entered. The club has sent a few rides out of state for show via car carrier, but many chapters have driven their cars on 13″ wires to the long distance shows. The club has produced an annual car show in Irwindale, California to benefit the organization "Scholarship for Students". In 2008, they held a Bone Marrow Donor Drives to assist the Marrow.org organization with the building of their donor list.
Family and longevity have been the true keys to the success of this club. The Los Angeles chapter, aka the mother chapter of Techniques which is led by Ray Carrillo, still has their monthly meetings and Friday night outings at the "lot" in Baldwin Park. The chapter has been meeting at the "lot" for 29 years, and recently celebrated their remarkable 35 year anniversary. As with other clubs, Techniques makes sure to include the family in club activities at all times, and to hold family outings. The club has proven its longevity, boasting members from different generations of the same family. Thanks to this multi-generational diversity, there is no doubt that the Techniques will be around for many years to come. The members of Techniques live the life of a true Lowrider and believe in the saying "Techniques Forever, Forever Techniques"

subset: commoncrawl


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New York State reimbursed the Village of the Branch for cleanup costs from previous storms, but village officials do not know whether the state will reimburse its cleanup costs from superstorm Sandy, Mayor Tom Keon said. A story Thursday mischaracterized the mayor's comments.
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Terrence Mann Leads Connecticut Rep's MAN OF LA MANCHA, 6/7-16
Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) launches its 2012 Nutmeg Summer Series with Man of La Mancha, running June 7 – 16 in the intimate Harriett S. Jorgensen Theatre (lower Jorgensen Auditorium) on the UConn campus, Storrs.
Broadway legend and last season's Henry Higgins, Terrence Mann returns to play the unforgettable Don Quixote. Mr. Mann originated the roles of Rum Tum Tugger in Cats, Javert in Les Miserables, and the Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. Mr. Mann will be leading a spectacular cast, which also includes last summer's audience favorite Richard Ruizwho played Alfred Doolittle in My Fair Lady and Alix Paige who played Eliza, also in My Fair Lady. James Barry, recently of Broadway's Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson returns to his hometown and alma mater to play the Padre.
Man of La Mancha tells the story of Miguel de Cervantes who, at the height of the Spanish Inquisition, is imprisoned and uses the story of the knight-errant Don Quixote to defend himself. The story features unforgettable characters such as Sancho Panza, played by UConn alum, Richard Ruiz and Aldonza played by last season's dazzling Eliza, Alix Paige. With its beautiful Latin-tinged score, the original production of Man of La Mancha ran for six years on Broadway, won the Tony for Best Musical and gave us the indelible anthem of hope, "The Impossible Dream."
The production will be directed by CRT Artistic Director Vincent J. Cardinal. Mr. Cardinal said "The great energy and entertainment Terrence Mann, Richard Ruiz, and Alix Paige brought to our stage last summer was so special that we had to reunite them for another classic of the American Musical Theatre! After seeing James Barry on Broadway in Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, I knew we had to bring him back to his home town stage and alma mater this summer season."
Terrence Mann (Henry Higgins) made his Broadway debut in 1982 as Chester Lyman in the Tony Award-winning musical Barnum. However, his breakthrough performance came with the memorable lead role of the "playful" cat Rum Tum Tugger in the original Broadway cast of Cats. Mann's portrayal of Inspector Javert in the original Broadway production of Les Miserables earned him his first Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. His second Tony Award nomination came in 1994 when he played the Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Most recently, he completed a Broadway run as Mal Beineke in The Addams Family. Other stage credits include The Scarlet Pimpernel (Chauvlin), Rags, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Getting Away With Murder, the 2000 Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show, Assassins, Lennon, and The Lost Colony.
His film credits include A Chorus Line, A Circle on the Cross, Eavesdrop, and all four Critters films. TV credits include Smash, 30 ROCK, The Dresden Files, All My Children (Earl Boyd), The Equalizer, The Tick, Law and Order, and an Emmy nominated turn on As The World Turns. Mr. Mann is the Distinguished Chair of Musical Theatre at Western Carolina University. Last summer Mr. Mann portrayed Prof. Henry Higgins in CRT's My Fair Lady.
Alix Paige (Aldonza/Dulcinea) played Eliza Doolittle in last summer's Nutmeg Series' production of My Fair Lady. She also appeared as General Cartwright and a Hot Box Girl in Guys and Dolls at CRT immediately following a run of Jason Robert Brown's Parade in which she starred as Lucille at the Secret Theatre in New York City. National Tours: Irving Berlin's I Love a Piano (Ginger), Cabaret (Sally Bowles u/s). Regional: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Logan), Bat Boy (Meredith), I Love A Piano (Ginger), Sunday in the Park with George (Dot). Film: Transatlantic Coffee (Jazz Singer), Work Out (Marcia), Vanished (Jen).
Richard Ruiz (Sancho Panza) graduated from UConn in 1998 and returns to CRT after playing Alfred Doolittle last season in My Fair Lady. Off Broadway he has appeared in Two Gentlemen of Verona for The Public Theatre. National tours include: Sweet Charity, Urinetown, Man of La Mancha and Jesus Christ Superstar. Regionally he has appeared in Cyrano (Folger Shakespeare, DC), Tis Pity She's a Whore (Baltimore Center Stage), The Mystery of Irma Vep (Intiman Theatre), Guys and Dolls (Long Wharf Theatre), Moby Dick: Rehearsed (Berkshire Theatre Festival), Candide (Arden Theatre, PA), Love's Labour's Lost (Connecticut Repertory Theatre), Treasure Island (People's Light and Theatre, PA), A Midsummer Nights Dream (Two Rivers Theatre, NJ), The Music Man (Lyric Theatre, OK), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Theatre Virginia), and The Winter's Tale (Yale Repertory Theatre).
James Barry (The Padre/Juan) grew up in Mansfield and is a graduate of E.O. Smith High School and UConn. Broadway: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. New York: Sive (Irish Rep, NY), JB (78th St. Theatre Lab, NY). Regional: Wittenberg Chester Theatre Company, The Full Monty (Drury Lane, Chicago), Pump Boys & Dinettes (New Theatre,Kansas City), Bomb-itty of Errors (Syracuse Stage), and several productions with The Berkshire Theatre Festival where credits include Tommy, The Caretaker, The Misanthrope, The Einstein Project, A Dream Play and many others since the 2000 season.
Vincent J. Cardinal (Director) Most recently he served as Director of the Performing Arts Center at Adelphi University. Previously, he was the Artistic Director of the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre in Coral Gables, FL where his musical theatre productions garnered international attention. Mr. Cardinal was the Director of off-Broadway's Circle Repertory Company School of Theater. He was also an Associate Artist with The Circle Repertory Company and a member of its LAB. He graduated in Playwriting from the Yale School of Drama where he was honored with the ASCAP-Cole Porter Award for Best-Collected Work. His play, The Colorado Catechism, premiered at Circle Repertory Company. The Los Angeles production of the play garnered actors TimoThy Daly and Amy Van Nostrand Dramalogue Awards for Best Performances. Cardinal's play King Dusyanta: A Tale from Kalidasa premiered, under his direction, at the Oasis Theater Company. It starred Broadway's André DeShields. Mr. Cardinal directed Eileen Gallindo's Multicultural Disorder for Next Stage, NY, Joe Fox's new play Prism View at New Dramatists, NY and Paul Corrigan's Queens Blvd. in a commercial off-Broadway run. He recently directed Steve Hayes: Hollywood Reunion at Red House in Syracuse, NY. Last summer he directed Guys and Dolls and My Fair Lady for the Nutmeg Series and Spring Awakening at Connecticut Repertory Theatre, April 2012.
Evening performances start at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Matinee performances start at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Single ticket prices range from $10 to $42.
The intimate Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre is located on the campus of the University of Connecticut in Storrs and offers air-conditioned comfort and convenient nearby parking (free parking is in Lot 9 across from the Jorgensen Center, paid parking is available in the North Garage).
Call 860.486.2113 or visit www.crt.uconn.edu for tickets and additional information. Follow the theatre on Twitter and Facebook.
Photo by Gerry Goodstein


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POPUP! Monaro Arts Space has welcomed the small Bungendore boutique store Bungendore Guitars into the heart of Queanbeyan this week, with some beautiful old and new stringed instruments on display.
Bungendore local Adam Easton has been the main port of call in his town for repairs, accessories and new instrument sales since opening on Gibraltar Street in February 2011, and said he was looking forward to talking all things guitar with locals over the coming weeks.
"When I heard about the pop-up I thought it was a great idea. I like that it makes use of vacant space in the CBD for artists and musos to come in and use," he said.
It was a particularly good fit for the part-time, grass roots ethos of Bungendore Guitars, Mr Easton said.
"There's quite a few shops out in Bungendore now that only open on the weekends, and my shop fits into that funky little shop category that the town's becoming renowned for," he said.
There are also some more off-beat instruments on display, such as a 1930s era hybrid banjo/ukulele and a perspex stratocaster.
Mr Easton will also be showcasing a couple of rarer items from his collection, like an Australian-made 1950s acoustic manufactured out of plywood by Wayne guitars (now defunct.)
He's started a collection of vintage Australian instruments along with Canberra Times' journalist and local guitar man Chris Johnson.The two men hope to build a historical catalogue of some of the weird and wonderful guitars produced in Australia during the last century.
So far they've collected around 30 guitars."Everyone knows everything about old Fenders and Gibsons, but not a lot about Australian guitars," Mr Easton said.
"So we're hoping to build a collection of some of these old guitars. It's not about making money; it's about preserving these old guitars. They're part of Australia's cultural heritage," he said.
* You can catch Adam and Rick from Bungendore Guitars at PopUp! On Friday afternoons from 1-5pm and Saturdays from 10am-2pm.


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Mets relieved Lagares OK after diving catch
WASHINGTON -- The Mets' worst fears were averted when Juan Lagares recovered just fine from the dangerous catch he made in Tuesday's win over the Nationals.
With a man on third base in the seventh inning Tuesday, Nationals outfielder Denard Span hit a sinking line drive to center, where Lagares sprinted in and dove to catch it. Though Lagares made the catch, he landed awkwardly, prompting fears of a broken wrist when he remained motionless on the field.
Trainers sprinted out, but Lagares simply had the wind knocked out of him. He remained in the game and was in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Nationals.
"He's fine," manager Terry Collins said. "He just took a jolt to the stomach, so he's all right. Great catch."
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDicomo. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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This is regarding a debate I'm having with my uncle. I need some of youse to settle it for me.
IF IF IF the Pacers traded their #1 pick and Danny Granger for the #1 overall pick in this draft so that they could get Trey Burke, do you think the Pacers would do it? And do you think the opposing team would do it?
I realize this is not possible because this isn't the NFL, so you just have to play along.
Feel free to throw out your personal opinion. I would love to hear it. But keep in mind my question is do you think the Pacers and/or Organization X would do it.


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First Day on the JobLogic Grid puzzles come with a handy interactive grid that will help you solve the puzzle based on the given clues.
It's your first day on the job. Your team member's introductions went so fast; it's all a blur. There are three males: Alex, Carlos and Edward, and two females: Brenda and Deborah. The other employees are all celebrating a work anniversary this week, for being with the company either 1, 3, 5, 10, or 20 years. Each of them has been using the same form of transportation for their entire career. Try to piece together what each person's role is, how they get to work, and how long they have been with the company.
1. Alex has been at work longer than the engineer but not as long as the bus rider.
2. Because she takes public transit, Brenda can do the crossword on her way to work.
3. Carlos has been on the job exactly twice as long as the manager.
4. Either Deborah or the one who takes the train just received their 10 year service award.
5. Edward's last promotion was 2 years ago when he became a specialist.
6. The developer doesn't always get a seat and sometimes has to stand on the way to work.
7. The architect role requires at least 6 years of on-the-job experience.
8. The engineer can leave whenever she wants, she isn't tied down to a particular transit schedule.
9. The subway was built 8 years ago.
10. The owner of the motorcycle has been using it to come to work for more than 6 years.
11. On the day of the snowstorm last week, only Alex and the Manager arrived on time; everyone who relied on the roads (bus, car, motorcycle) was late.
HintBy clue 1 and 10, the engineer cannot own the motorcycle.
Based on the above and several other clues, Brenda can only take the subway or train. By clue 11, Alex can also only take the subway or train. Therefore, the other three people cannot take the subway or train.
AnswerAlex is the developer; he has taken the subway for 3 years.
Brenda is the manager; she has taken the train for 10 years.
Carlos is the architect; he has taken a motorcycle for 20 years.
Deborah is the engineer; she has taken a car for 1 year.
Edward is the specialist; he has taken the bus for 5 years.
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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Consider how many times you have introduced yourself by saying your name and occupation, or have met someone where a question is asked such as "What do you do for a living?" Regardless of whether a person is an attorney, factory worker, plumber, teacher, homemaker, or nurse, one's occupation becomes inextricably connected to his/her identity. In fact, our occupation tends to influence who we socialize with, the clothing we wear, and even the neighborhood we call home.
For some people, retirement is a chance to enjoy the 'Golden Years', traveling and treating them-selves to the hard earned good life. Many people view retirement as a chance to pursue a job that aligns with personal interests, give back through volunteer work, and enjoy a source of fulfillment. For others, work is a necessity for survival.
Recent headlines in the media talk about 'Encore Careers' and 'The New Retirement'. Call it what you will, many baby boomers and older adults are reinventing the meaning and purpose of their retirement years.
|Even though older adults are known for a strong work ethic, our society tends to bestow higher status and place greater value on people who are employed over those who are unemployed, regardless of their past work.
Wellness through occupation or vocation involves using one's unique skills/talents in work that:
As health care and social services professionals, we can not underestimate the value of an occupation on a person's sense of worth. Older adults who are especially vulnerable to the risks of losses through retirement are those whose self-worth is based on their job or work life. Even though many mature workers look forward to having the time to pursue new opportunities as they retire, the transition from the formal employment role to traditional retirement role often compromises overall wellness.
As professionals working with older adults we understand the challenges and opportunities provided by retirement. It is incumbent on us to:
Risks to Wellness
The gerontology literature is replete with discussions focused on ways that boomers and older adults may choose to engage in productive aging activities that promote health and wellness. Even the National Governors Association reports that many states recognize that "Engaging older adults through meaningful volunteer activities is one way states can promote wellness while also realizing benefits for communities and businesses."3
Renowned gerontologist, Robert Butler, defines productive aging as occurring when older people engage in "voluntary as well as paid contributions to society and, at its most basic, continuing self-care".4 The following are examples of productive aging activities that harness talents and skills:
As we attempt to assist seniors to transition from one work role to different types of work that meet their needs and needs of others, we may wish to have seniors reflect on the words of Winston Churchill: "You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give."
GERO GEMS is a monthly publication of the Center for Aging with Dignity. Compiled by Evelyn Fitzwater, this publication is designed to raise awareness of aging and related issues impacting health care professionals and our society as a whole.
Last Reviewed: Mar 10, 2009
Evelyn L Fitzwater, DSN, RN
Associate Professor Emerita
Associate Director of the
College of Nursing
University of Cincinnati


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Shot selection, quick cool-down, clean conditions the key
PRATT — Deer hunters always enjoy the chase, but the ultimate satisfaction of taking a deer can be when the meat is served to family and friends. No hunter wants to waste weeks of practice, scouting, preparation, and bagged game, so once the deer is down and tagged and photos snapped, the work of caring for the meat begins.
No matter the weather, cooling a deer soon after the kill is critical. When weather is mild, hunters must take special care to ensure their hard-earned deer is pleasing table fare, and when cared for correctly, venison provides lean, healthy, gourmet-quality meat.
A quick, clean kill through the lungs or heart is important, and knowing one's range and equipment combined with careful shot selection are the keys to a good shot. As soon as the deer is recovered, it's also important to field dress the animal so that the carcass can cool quickly. Be careful to keep dirt, hair, and debris away from exposed meat while dressing and when moving the deer to the vehicle. Those who plan to process their own deer should hang the deer in a clean, cool building. It's often best to remove the hide so that meat can continue to cool, particularly if the weather is warmer than usual. Hunters who plan to have the deer processed by commercial butchers should contact them as soon as possible to arrange for delivery.
A cool, clean place is essential for butchering. Many hunters like to age their deer, but a cooler is often needed for this. Aging is not necessary, but for those who prefer this method, venison should be aged at 35-39 degrees. Cooler than this, and the meat may freeze; warmer, and the meat may spoil.
With a little extra effort and time, successful deer hunters will enjoy months of rewarding venison meals. Remember: make a clean shot, field dress the deer quickly, cool the meat, and keep it clean.


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Evolution Hoax
Daniel Celliti, the second son of a Haitian mother and an Italian father, stated that he used to study economics at the university but he left the school after getting acquainted with Islam. Celliti expressed that he wondered about Islam after reading the Gospel together with his friends and told "Before becoming a Muslim I was down in the dumps and I was a drug addict. I could not enjoy anything. By means of the Risale-i Nur Collection, I became a Muslim. After being a Muslim, I recovered consciousness. It changed my viewpoint on life and gave up everything in my life, left my family and my education to start out a journey in order to meet with the Muslims living all over the world."


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A buyer's market for West Mexico vegetables emerged in February as delayed volumes of tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers finally crossed at Nogales, Ariz.
Shippers, meanwhile, were facing slack demand thanks to a series of winter storms in the Midwest and Northeast.
The combination sent tomatoes close to floor prices set by the U.S.-Mexico suspension agreement. Tomatoes in 25-pound cartons — sizes 5x5 to 5x6 — shipped for $8.30-8.95 on Feb. 10, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Johnny McDaniel, sales and operations director for Raleigh, N.C.-based L&M Cos. Inc., said peak supplies of romas were hitting Nogales three weeks later than normal.
"Things are really picking up," Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Nogales-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, said Feb. 6.
"The weather in Mexico is 90 degrees plus and they're having great volumes. But if the main part of the U.S. and Canada continues to be caught up in a perpetual snowdrift we'll continue to see slow movement, which means depressed prices."
Whether tomato volumes stay on pace depends partly on whether white fly becomes a problem. It can produce abnormal coloring on any variety, and usually shows up by March 15.
Chris Ciruli, partner in Nogales-based Ciruli Bros. LLC, expected promotable supplies of Mexican vegetables throughout February — with eggplant joining in March.
"You'll see promotions for eggplant kick up as Lent gets started," Ciruli said. "From Ash Wednesday (March 5) on, we should see pretty decent eggplant movement."
Tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers were all affected to varying extents by fall storms — some hurricane- or tropical storm-force — in Mexico that forced replantings and delayed production.
"We had to replace shadehouses and replant the cucumber deal, and that's why we just started getting the volume a week or two ago," McDaniel said.
"All of December and most of January we didn't have many cucumbers because of the weather at the time of planting."
"Cucumbers have been up and down," Ciruli said. "We've lost a lot of crops in the south, but we've been seeing more cukes come out of the north for a longer period."
Fresno, Calif.-based Crown Jewels Produce started slowly on its Culiacan, Mexico, bell peppers for the same reason.
"It affected some of our hothouse operations," said Atomic Torosian, managing partner.
"We got off to a later start out of that area than we'd like."
Later in the spring, Crown Jewels expects to add production of cucumbers, squash, bell peppers and perhaps some strawberries in Baja California.
The reemergence of bell peppers didn't help sellers on price.
"Demand was very good, the markets remained high and we came into a nice flush of product about the same time Florida got back on their feet," said Mike Aiton, marketing director for Coachella, Calif.-based Prime Time International. "It was a double whammy to the markets."
"There aren't many items in West Mexico where the market prices are very good," Aiton said.
"Last year on hard squash, there were a lot of sales in the $20s due to some weather, but now it's more seasonably correct in the $8-12 range."
Fried DeSchouwer, president of Vero Beach, Fla.-based Greenhouse Produce Co. LLC, retained some optimism for the Nogales season.
"I foresee a good ending of the season in the next two months and I think the market will restore itself," he said Feb. 11. "Once the U.S. storms subside, people will at least be able to go out and shop."
The Giumarra Cos. and Crown Jewels Produce are boosting Mexico watermelon production.
Giumarra, which traditionally had a gap from January to early April, has more than doubled production, said Gil Munguia, Giumarra Nogales division manager. Crown Jewels expects to be up as much as 40% on seedless watermelons and honeydews starting in early April.


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Just out of curiosity, I did a search in YouTube tonight for the term "genealogy" and got 183 hits. Not all of them are something I'm interested in watching, but it certainly is something worth investigating.
How about some other search terms? Use some of your own interests like railroading, logging, gold mining, or wine making. Try locations too!
Have you used YouTube in your family history research? What kinds of things did you find. Was it helpful? Don't forget to leave a comment. 🙂


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Home > Classes & Events > Event Results
Mercy Medical Center - Birthplace & NICU
Your baby is unique ... your birth experience should be, too. Schedule a tour of the Birthplace at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Learn about labor and delivery, relaxation tips, postpartum care and more during this Childbirth Education class from Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, IA.


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HOUSTON (AP) — C. David Burgin, a longtime editor who oversaw the Alameda Newspaper Group for seven years, died Monday at his home in Houston after a lengthy illness. He was 75.
Burgin died of the effects of four serious strokes he had suffered since 1997, said his wife, Judy Burgin.
Burgin had served as editor-in-chief of seven U.S. daily newspapers, starting with New Jersey's Paterson News in 1977.
He hired such young talent as future New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd and sportswriter Ira Berkow. He talked two Washington bartenders, future Boston Globe business writer Chris Reidy and future Chicago Tribune columnist Steve Daley, into trying newspaper work.
After serving as editor-in-chief of the Paterson News, The Tribune Co. hired him a year later to merge two of its San Francisco Bay Area dailies into the Peninsula Times Tribune, then later sent him to improve and expand the Orlando Sentinel.
In 1985, Hearst Newspapers hired Burgin to revive the fading fortunes of its flagship San Francisco Examiner. He was fired seven months later.
After doing consulting work for a year, Burgin took the offer of former Washington Star colleague William Dean Singleton to be editor-in-chief of the Dallas Times Herald. From 1986 to 1990, Burgin worked to try to save two Singleton dailies from extinction, running the Dallas daily for two years before the owner of its crosstown rival, The Dallas Morning News, bought and folded it.
Singleton took the proceeds to buy The Houston Post and hired Burgin as its editor-in-chief.
In 1990, Singleton hired Burgin to run the Alameda Newspaper Group, which included the Oakland Tribune. He oversaw the group until 1997, when he suffered the first of his strokes.


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Topic: Mary's Recent Diagnosis of Cholangiocarcinoma
My wife, Mary, experienced all the classic symptoms of Cholangiocarcinoma the week of January 7th. At first the thought was a blocked bile duct so an endoscopy was performed to remove the blockage. During this procedure, the tumor was discovered. A biopsy confirmed the tumor as being Cholangiocarcinoma. A PET Scan was performed indicating a 7cm tumor high in the liver pretty much shutting the bile ducts down and spreading into about 25% of her liver. Her local team concluded it was inoperable. An external drain tube was inserted to provide temporary relief.
2nd opinion was conducted through Tampa FL Moffitt Cancer Center with same conclusions. Her local team (St. Petersburg FL) in concert with Moffitt defined a treatment protocol of radiation and Chemo. Subsequent to these consultations, she had a permanent metal stent placed which was a big improvement over the external drain. However, she just underwent emergency surgery for an abdominal abscess (removed over a liter of pus) probably caused by the stent procedure. As this was major abdominal surgery, it will delay the start of radiation for some unknown amount of time. This is a major concern to me as the tumor was significant in size 8 weeks ago


text: SecondTeacher is designed and developed by Math teachers to offer students a friendly 24/7 tutor to help with their Math homework. We have video lessons for every chapter in the students text book and we are constantly creating more content. We offer a simple to use friendly service using language the students understand. SecondTeacher offers this service FREE to teachers. We also offer free video content in every text book so anyone can try us out. We'd love you to come visit and tell us what you think, Math Homework Just Got Easy at SecondTeacher.com


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Can't help myself today, am seeing so many trade proposals that I feel I need to have some rationale brought to all of this and see if TPTB on this board have opinions on it all.
Trade speculations are always wild and often so far off-track that should be a major reason to not read the gm boards among others.
Nonetheless I understand the "trade Ron" threads, hope rests among those that feel that Ron should be gone, no matter how outlandish the hope.
Not that he will not be "on the block", I'm sure he will be in part, but in all reason, very few will want to give you "fair value" for Ron and that (in a business) is one of the things the Pacers are looking for, face it, even in business, (and now with an insurance in place) it is often better to take the risk and ride it then to dump and see someone else get rich of your doubts.
But as I said, I understand those, stay out of it for the most part and move on, in the case of Ron I'm definitely in "we'll see what happens" mode.
Then there were/are the "trade JO" threads, not for KG, TD or TMac, no.. for Bosh and filler and some such proposals.
Well if I'm sure of anything then it's fact to me that if the P's would ever propose that to Toronto they would be saying yes so fast you wouldn't even be able to breath in between.
An established perennial All Star, Franchise Player, Pillar of society and community for an as yet unproven talent, if you consider that the former is 26 and still has to reach his peak, you are somewhat reaching there.
(yes you guessed right, I'm going over the roster and the trades proposed or their "value" in a trade IF)
Let's see, next trade Jamaal Tinsley: He's a "streetballer" he's bad, he's always injured, need I go on?
OK if he's that bad, then we do need to replace him, but help me wonder, if he's that bad how would we stand a chance of getting a "decent" PG back for him? Or do we expect all other GM's to be raving lunatics?
Few things on Jamaal, yes he was injured in both late-seasons, though under "normal" circumstances he would probably not have played in the Detroit series, yet he came and played, injury and all. In the previous year, he had a legit injury as well, now I still rank this as "freak" and not as a pattern, the one this year was misdiagnosed and that is far more a reason as to why it was so long then anything else.
As for the games he missed the previous year, people seem to forget he only got his starting place back round the All Star break.
He has shown a constant improvement in all fields, pre-season conditioning, in season conditioning, calm, shooting, less and less "wild" passes, and better and better on defense.
He's 27 years old, has had his first 4 years in the legue not completely without his personal problems, and is becoming on of the top PG's in the league. This is a guy Larry Bird said in public of somewhere this season that he expects him to be the next Pacer to make the All Star game.
He is also a player who is not a favorite of Rick Carlisle, so much is clear, however he is a favorite among the team (JO: JT is the engine of this team, without him it all gets a lot more difficult) and management (read LB).
Now in trades we are getting no other PG back, no we are making do with AJ (God forbid) or a "talented youngster"
Now besides the question of why someone would want to give us a 1- 2 yr experienced PG with all the talent to be of at least eqaul class as JT is beyond me, and getting an aging PG that doesn't work on other teams is not something I see as reasonable, so barring miracles I do not see JT traded.
And no not even when we would get Saras, let's be fair, no matter how good he did in Europe, this is the NBA and a whole different kettle of fish.
Finally you all seem to forget that JT is BYC this year.
So to me, those 3 have a "not very high" percentage chance of being traded.
In fact I think there's about 0.01% chance for those 3.
The rest of the team "could" be dealt, however.......
Harrisson, seen many a time as a filler in a trade, strange seeing as what he did in his first year and the possible "upside" he brings and the price he cost.
This guy is not going anywhere, if anything but the starting line-up.
Big guys are so rare that; NY drafted one that most teams would not have, LA signed one that will probably see his first minutes in 2009 and Detroit drafted one at 2 years ago that only sees mop-up time.
In fact we went through the roof with happiness when we could pick up DD for next to nothing last season and he moved straight into the starting spot because "Big Guys" are "dime a dozen"?
We were willing (on this board) last year to sell our stamp collections to get Dampier, we are still *****ing about losing Brad Miller, while we have Foster and Pollard, yet you guys make a 22 year old rookie a "filler" on a trade..
Any idea how many teams would jump on that offer?
Then we have the "untradeables" the ones that indeed are either completeley untradeable for whatever reason or at best are fillers.
Cro, the contract says it all, henceforth my theory is that he will be waived under the amnesty clause.
Bender, injured so often they are considering naming an injury after him.
(though admittedly, only 24 years old)
Do I put Ron Artest on again here?
Then the players with "value" in any sense:
AJ, has shown last year that he is a decent backup but would be "OTT" if we signed Saras, which is someone that the world believes the Pacers have the inside edge on and LB is high on, AJ has a reasonable contract and is a good soldier, has the value his contract demands.
Fred Jones, lots of upside, young, and most likely without a spot on this roster, has certain values so is a commodity.
Eddie Gill, never more then a filler, though will be in a final year, be it likekly for the leagues minimum.
Jeff Foster; the one that does most of the rebounding for us, decent contract has great value, but would leave us somewhat exposed, therefore only in the case of a "big" deal and then most likely in combination with re-signing DD and trading;
Jackson; I am not convinced that management is happy with this choice, quite sure that his teammates and the coaching staff are non to happy with his "out of offense" play at times and as an added concern is a hot-head that might trigger other nastyness on our team.
Pretty sure if they can make a deal for a decent SG he will be on the block, the better the quality SG the more likely it will also involve Fred and Jeff.
That leaves Pollard, who's value will be highest at the trade deadline, for his expiring contract, though if Foster is gone I expect us to keep him for the year as insurance, unless something special pops up.
Now if we discussed possbible trades on those premises then I could understand them, participate and be hopeful, but to say differently would be rather "opposed" to what are facts and only result in pipedreams for the tradejunks.
On the other front, JJ will be re-signed, every publication from the Pacers reeks of that, yet they are nowhere near a deal with DD, which I conclude from the same publications.
The latter part will rule some of the trade-options we may have.
Summer league this year will not only be fun, it will also be important to see what the progress is on some and as such influence our "trade behaviour".


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howdy.installed the latest version of ruby.the command prompt
ruby -v
gives me
ruby 2.0.0p247 <2013-06-27> [i386-mingw32]
I then go & type
gem install sass
and nothing happens. I type sass and it is not recognized as an external or internal command etc...What am I doing wrong please?
That's weird.
Sass is compatible with Ruby 2 as of version 3.1.18, so that shouldn't be an issue.
I just tried installing it on my Win 8 box which is running 1.9.3:
C:\\Users\\Pullo>ruby -v
ruby 1.9.3p429 (2013-05-15) [i386-mingw32]
C:\\Users\\Pullo>gem install sass
Fetching: sass-3.2.10.gem (100%)
Successfully installed sass-3.2.10
Installing ri documentation for sass-3.2.10
1 gem installed
What is the exact error message you are getting when you try to install the gem?
possible firewall prob?"could not find a valid gem 'sass' <>=0>, here is why: unable to download data from https://rubygems.org/-errono:etimedout...etc...
You're not running Norton Internet Security (or similar) are you?
Also, it would be helpful to know what came after the "etc", as that was the interesting bit of the error message.
rats... a connection attempt failed because the connected party did not properly resond after a period of time, or established connection failed because connected host has failed to respond - connect <2> <https://rubygems.org/latest_specs.4.3.gz>
My guess would be that it is a network issue and that your computer is behind a proxy/firewall that is blocking downloads from rubygems.org.Do you have any security software installed?Do you have a rule for the ruby interpreter in the Windows firewall?Are you using a proxy?
Hi Pullo, this is actually my work laptop. So i am betting on a solid firewall, and securities...so might just go to IT dept & ask them to help out. will try it later on my home laptop. as it is i think there were no probs w/less. as they seem to be the same give or take I 'll just start picking up less instead.thxD
No probs
My money would be on some kind of firewall, too.
If the IT dept. won't comply, maybe Less is a better bet for you, as it is written in JS and can be run on the client-side (where JS is present by default).
Had the same problem, I went to rubygems.org, downloaded that. CD into the unzipped folder and in the command line ran 'rub setup.rb'.
Then reran the Sass installer and it worked fine.
Hope this helps.
Wow...that was a long time back. Thanks JonnoW but actually i gave up on sass for now. figure i'd focus on css3/html5 & js instead.Take careD
You should give it another shot. SASS/SCSS is pretty great. But of course, it's just a CSS processor so you should have a fairly strong understanding of CSS before using it.
But, I had to do the same thing @JonnoW mentioned and it worked well.
Hello Mawburn. Actually i might have to go back and get acquainted w/less first. it seems one of the vendors we work w/ is using it. So more experience and a better understanding of that would be good.So far our lead css/web person is not too happy they are doing that. Adding extra files & allD


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Midwest Dairy Challenge is Feb. 5-7
Fox Valley Technical College will host dairy students from 18 schools in 10 states at the Midwest Dairy Challenge, Feb. 5-7, in Appleton, Wis.
At Dairy Challenge, each team of students puts textbook knowledge to the ultimate test – providing solutions for a dairy. Teams inspect an operating dairy, analyze farm data and interview farm owners. Then each team develops recommendations for nutrition, reproduction, milking procedures, animal health and housing to help the farm optimize performance and profitability.
Teams will present their recommendations to farm owners – while being evaluated by a panel of five judges including dairy producers, veterinarians, farm finance specialists and industry personnel. In addition to this consulting competition, students have ample opportunity for networking and education.
Educational seminars are also planned:
• What Does a Financial Consultant Look For? by Gary Sipiorski, Vita Plus
• Analyzing Reproductive Performance by Molly Sloan, Alta Genetics
• Farm Financial Analysis from a Banker's Perspective, by Dan Gitter, Greenstone Farm Credit
• Finding Opportunities and Eliminating Bottlenecks, by Dr. David LaCount, Purina Animal Nutrition
• Team Building: Group Management of a Dairy Farm, by Dale Beaty, Wisconsin Farm Bureau
• Effective Leadership through Active Listening, by Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin
The Midwest event is one of four regional contests sponsored each year by North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC). These regional contests – plus a national event for about 300 dairy collegiates – are funded through support by 130 agribusinesses and dairy producers.
The 2014 national event will be April 3-5 in Fort Wayne, Ind., hosted by Michigan State University, Ohio State University and Purdue University. VIsit www.dairychallenge.org.
2014 IDP regional dairy meeting continue
The 2014 Indiana Dairy Producers (IDP) Regional Dairy Meetings continue Feb. 4-5 & 11-13.
Each of these meetings will include Dr. Ray Nebel, speaking on the economics of heifer AI; Dr. Judy Loven, on starling and nuisance bird control; and Dr. Bret Marsh, on new animal ID rules and other biosecurity challenges.
Dates and locations include:
• Feb. 4 – Columbus, Bartholomew County Fairgrounds
• Feb. 5 – Warrenton, The Log Inn
• Feb. 11 – Shipshewana, Farmstead Inn
• Feb. 12 – Goshen, Elkhart County Fairgrounds
• Feb. 13 – Decatur, Back 40 Junction Restaurant
Download a meeting brochure here. Call or email Dr. Mike Schutz to register at 765-494-9478 or email@example.com.
Indiana Dairy Producer of the Year nominees sought
The Indiana Dairy Producers are seeking nominations for the Dairy Producer of the Year and Young Dairy Producer of the Year awards.
Dairy producers can self-nominate or nominate a worthy fellow dairy farmer. Dairy industry representatives are also encouraged to submit nominations. Nominations are due by Feb. 21.
Nomination forms can be downloaded here. Please submit completed nominations to Dr. Mike Schutz, Purdue University, 125 South Russell Street West Lafayette, IN 47907, firstname.lastname@example.com, Fax: 765-494-9347.
IDP, PDMP members to meet at Fair Oaks
The Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania (PDMP) are planning a dairy tour to Indiana, joining members of the Indiana Dairy Producers at Fair Oaks, March 25.
The plans include a tour of the Dairy Adventure, Pig Adventure, a meeting with Mike McCloskey and lunch. The group will travel to Hidden View Dairy, a farm featuring tunnel ventilation, a 72-cow rotary, and a "hybrid" methane digester.
The dinner program will feature Kevin Jones, Ghost Hollow Consulting, discussing the "six elements of dairy profitability."
Cost is $50 per person, with participation limited to 55. Call Doug Leman at 317-695-8228 to register.
Ohio: Buckeye Dairy News posted
The January 2014 Issue of the Buckeye Dairy News has been posted at: http://dairy.osu.edu, then click on Buckeye Dairy News. This month's articles include: U.S. Dairy Update: Exports and Policy Top the List, Dr. Cameron S. Thraen, Associate Professor and OSUE State Dairy Markets and Policy Specialist, Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics, The Ohio State University It's Game Time. Are You In It?, Dianne Shoemaker, Field Specialist, Dairy Production Economics, The Ohio State University Extension Youth Dairy Program Updates, Ms. Bonnie Ayars, Dairy Judging Teams Coach and Extension Youth Specialist, Ohio State University
Wisconsin: Cow care and compromised cattle meeting
Although all farmers strive to take excellent care of their animals, there are times when animals are sick or injured and are not able to stand on their own. There are various circumstances that require special attention to the animal's condition or situation.
University and industry experts will share information about the proper and appropriate care of animals that are compromised at three Wisconsin meetings in February.
Dates, locations and registration contacts include in the month of February:
Feb. 14 – Tundra Lodge, Green Bay. Jamie Patton (715) 526‐4871 or Aerica Bjurstrom (920) 388‐7138
Feb. 17 – Sauk County UW-Extension, Baraboo. Katie Pfeiffer (608) 355-3257
Feb. 25 – Marshfield Agriculture Research Station, Marshfield. Heather Schlesser (715) 261-1230
The program addresses these topics:
• Assessing Risk – Ensuring Animal Welfare on Farms
• Preventing Drug Residue in Cull Cows
• Minimizing the Risk of Down Cows and Guidelines for Down Cow Welfare
• Safely Moving Down Cows.
Heartland ag land sales remain strong
Land sales finished strong in 2013, spurred by good farmer demand for additional land, according to Farmers National Company, a farm and ranch real estate company. Farmers National Company recorded real estate sales of $750 million for 2013, compared to $640 million in 2012.
Activity during the first half of 2013 slowed slightly because of a surge in sales at the end of 2012 prompted by tax law changes. However, sales levels turned upward to round out the year and finished strong, according to Randy Dickhut, AFM, vice president of real estate operations. He notes that trends indicate an active pace will continue through the first half of 2014 for most regions.
There has been continued widespread auction activity at year-end. Farmers National Company real estate agents worked 45 auctions during November alone. Out of 829 properties sold by Farmers National Company in 2013, over 40% sold at auction.
While land prices have stabilized compared to the double-digit price increases seen in recent years, levels are at historical highs. Prices per acre for high quality land range nationwide from $3,500 to as high as $12,000 to $13,000 per acre in areas of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. Values in the Upper Midwest are also very strong, with sales reaching $10,000 per acre.
"Farms remained profitable in 2013 despite lower commodity prices, in part due to reductions in fertilizer expenses of nearly 30%," said Dickhut. "This is prompting farm owners to continue buying premium land to expand their operations. Interest in average to medium quality land has waned, slowing activity for such property."
Prices for pasture land have increased in places like Nebraska, as Texas livestock producers transplanted herds due to recent drought. As regions in Texas continue to recover from the drought, land values there are forecast to rise 5%-7%, according to Dickhut.
A price drop of 40% for sugar beets has impacted land values in the Northern Region (North Dakota/South Dakota/western Minnesota). Income reduction of nearly $350 per acre in some cases is taking some land buyers out of the market. Despite this pressure, values are fairly stable in this area, Dickhut said.
Farmers continue to be the primary land buyers. Dickhut reports that investor interest in land has been more guarded as many are not willing to pay high prices without a guaranteed strong return. Recent success in the stock market is generating interest in alternative investments, pushing outside investors to choices besides land.
"The market for farmland overall remains strong, particularly for quality land even though buyers are getting more cautious," said Dickhut. "The impact of changes in commodity prices, expenses and interest rates will all play into year-end results."
Visit www.FarmersNational.com.
Missouri Dairy Business Update
The January 2014 Missouri Dairy Business Update, a monthly web publication presenting information on current dairy issues to people interested in the Missouri dairy industry, has been posted.
• • Milk Prices
• 2014 Farm Bill Legislative Update -Courtesy of DFA
• Dairy Profit Seminars - Dr. Mike Hutjens - keynote speaker
◦ Sedalia - Feb. 24 - Pork Palace, State Fair Grounds
◦ Springfield - Feb. 25, Springfield Livestock Auction
◦ Mountain Grove - Feb. 26, Fruit Station
◦ Cape Girardeau - Feb. 27, Extension Center
◦ Union, Friday, Feb. 28, Hagie's Restaurant
• MU offers Risk Management Webinars
• Missouri Heifer Prices - Norwood or Springfield
• Missouri Dairy Business Opportunities
• Missouri Dairy Calendar of Events - Click in the Calendar for Event Programs
• Missouri Dairy Resource Guide
Contact Joe Horner for further information.
Wisconsin: 'Returning to the Farm' workshop rescheduled
The University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Profitability, University of Wisconsin-Extension and University of Wisconsin-River Falls are offering a workshop to help farm families plan for a son, daughter or partner to return to the farm and eventually take over the farm business. The four-day workshop will be offered at the River Falls Public Library on March 7-8 and April 4-5.
The registration fee for this four-day program is $325 per farming unit (up to four people per farm). This includes materials, meeting room costs, refreshment breaks and lunches. The registration deadline is February 28, 2014. If you have more than four people in your farming unit attending the workshop, $80 will be charged for each additional participant. click here


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Victory Gardens Presents THE BOYS ROOM, 1/21-2/20
Victory Gardens continues its 2010/11 Season with the world premiere of The Boys Room by Ensemble Playwright Joel Drake Johnson, directed by Associate Artistic Director Sandy Shinner. The Boys Room marks Shinner and Johnson's sixth collaboration-A Guide For The Perplexed, Four Places, The End of the Tour, Before My Eyes, all at Victory Gardens, and Tranquillity Woods for Steppenwolf's First Look series. The production runs January 21 - February 20, 2011 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park. The Press Opening is Monday, January 31, 2011, at 7:30 pm.
When the going gets tough, just move in with mom! Middle-aged brothers Ron and Tim are running. One is running away from his marriage, and the other is simply tired of running after the American dream. They return to the empty nest and set up a sanctuary in their boyhood bedroom. On the other side of the door, the women in their lives urge them to grow up.
"Joel heard the very first draft of The Boys Room in a reading at VG in the fall of 2008. This early support helped him explore explosive relationships in this new play. In the First Look reading at Steppenwolf, the post play discussion was electric as the audience talked about the humor and immediate relevance of this play about lost jobs, dashed dreams, and the power of a parent's love," says Sandy Shinner. "The cast is stellar. Joel wrote the play for Mary Ann Thebus and she is joined by rising star Allison Torem and Chicago favorites Steve Key and Joe Dempsey."
Victory Gardens world premiere of The Boys Room features Joe Dempsey (Court's The Illusion and Art at Steppenwolf), Steve Key (national tour of August: Osage County), Allison Torem (Trust at Lookingglass, Kid Sister at Profiles) and Mary Ann Thebus (The Piano Teacher at Next, at Victory Gardens and Richard III at Chicago Shakespeare).
The designers are Jeff Bauer (set), Todd Hensley (lights), Carol Blanchard (costumes), and Andre Pluess (sound). The stage manager is Tina Jach.
Joel Drake Johnson (Playwright) is one of the newest members of Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater Playwrights Ensemble. The critically acclaimed, Jeff nominated Four Places was produced by Victory Gardens in the spring of 2008. It recently played an extended run in LA where it received unanimous praise from the critics. His earlier works at VG, Before My Eyes and The End of the Tour, were also Jeff-nominated for Best New Play and all three plays were directed by Sandy Shinner, Victory Gardens Associate Artistic Director. Johnson has won three Illinois Arts Council grants including one for A Blue Moon, which was first produced at Chicago Dramatists and also Jeff nominated for Best New Work. He got his start as a writer at Chicago's critically acclaimed Econo-Art Theater, which (under the leadership of Lynn Baber, Barb Reeder and Marc Silvia) produced such plays as Beautiful Dreamer. His other plays include As the Beaver, first produced by Zebra Crossing, and The Fall to Earth (Rick Snyder, dir.) which premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre and featured Tony Award winner Rondi Reed. It was subsequently produced at The Penguin Rep, directed by Joe Brancato and featuring Tony Award winner, Michelle Pawk. Steppenwolf later produced A Blameless Life (Anna Shapiro, dir.) and Tranquillity Woods (Sandy Shinner, dir.) as part of their 2005 and 2007 First Look Repertory. He has taught playwriting at Northwestern University, DePaul University and Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. He lives in Chicago and New Buffalo, Michigan where he is working on two new plays: The First Grade, which was produced by the Aurora Theatre Company in the winter of 2010. Johnson is a member of The Dramatists Guild and PEN America.
Sandy Shinner (Director, Associate Artistic Director) has been with Victory Gardens for more than 30 years and, with Dennis Zacek and Marcelle McVay, was honored to accept the 2001 Tony Award® for Outstanding Regional Theatre on behalf of the theater. This world premiere marks her sixth collaboration with Joel: A Guide For The Perplexed, Four Places, The End of the Tour, Before My Eyes, all at Victory Gardens, and Tranquillity Woods for Steppenwolf's First Look series. She is the producer of VG's Ignition which, in 2008, launched The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity by Kristoffer Diaz and Year Zero by Michael Golamco, and continued this past summer showcasing six exciting new plays. Her recent directing credits include Aditi Brennan Kapil's Love Person for VGT, a showcase production of Jeffrey Sweet's Flyovers at New York's 78th Street Theatre Lab and co-directed (with Jessica Thebus) the revival of Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl. Other recent directing projects include the world premieres of I Sailed with Magellan adapted by Claudia Allen from Stuart Dybek's novel, Memory House by Kathleen Tolan (Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival and VGT) and Trying by Joanna McClelland Glass, which transferred from Victory Gardens to off-Broadway's Promenade Theatre. She directed the world premiere of Jeffrey Sweet's Bluff here as well as at the 78th Street Theatre Lab in NewYork and Phoenix Theatre. Ms. Shinner is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and was a finalist for the Joe A. Callaway Director's Award for the New York production of Trying. She is an editor of Victory Gardens Presents: Seven Plays from the Playwrights Ensemble, which was published by Northwestern University Press. She is an adjunct professor at DePaul University.
Joe Dempsey (Ron) Recent plays include The Illusion at Court Theatre, Art at Steppenwolf and Strange Interlude (Neo-Futurists in the Goodman's O'Neill Festival) and regionally he appeared at Kansas City Rep and Centerstage, Baltimore in Around the World in 80 Days which he originated at Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago. Other Chicago work includes shows at Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, Northlight, Victory Gardens, About Face, The Second City and many others, as well as regional work at St. Louis Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, City Theatre (Pittsburgh), Milwaukee Rep and Madison Rep. TV/film credits include Early Edition, What About Joan?, Turks, Fiona's Fortune, Tenfold and Counting Backwards. Joe is a graduate of the theatre program at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Steve Key (Tim) Chicago theater credits include A Red Orchid, About Face, American Blues, Famous Door, Goodman, Lookingglass, Next, Northlight, Remy Bumpo, Steppenwolf and Victory Gardens. He has also worked with The Town Hall Theatre in Galway, Ireland, The Tectonic Theatre Project, The GeVa Theatre and The Public Theatre in NY. Most recently he played Little Charles Aikens in the original national Broadway tour of Tracy Lett's Tony Award winning, Pulitzer Prize winning August: Osage County (including extended stints at the Ahmanson Theatre in LA and the Kennedy Center in DC). Steve has received 5 Jeff Awards and 5 nominations for principal and supporting actor and ensemble (equity and non-equity). His film credits include 1,000 Acres, Blackmail, Public Enemies, Salvaging, and Three Days, and TV credits include Ride Along (a mid-season replacement which will air on FOX TV in Jan of 2011), Law & Order - SVU and Family Practice. Steve became a member of Chicago's Shattered Globe Theatre (SGT) in 1991 while performing in their formative Talk Radio, for which he received a non-equity Jeff for actor in a supporting role. The following decade provided Steve with opportunities to wear various artistic and administrative hats at SGT, including Co-Artistic Director, Artistic Advisory Panel member, designer, director of marketing and PR, and actor. In addition to Talk Radio Steve has performed in 15 SGT productions including: A View From the Bridge, God's Country, All My Sons, In A Pig's Valise and Coyote On a Fence. Steve has appeared in world premieres by writers such as Frank Galati, Larry Gelbart, Rebecca Gillman, Noah Haidle, Moises Kaufman, Jim McDermott, Heidi Stillman, Jeffery Sweet, and Craig Wright.
Allison Torem (Roann) makes her Victory Gardens debut in The Boys Room. Allison is the newest member of Profiles Theatre, where she made her professional acting debut as Jennifer in Neil LaBute's In A Dark Dark House and later appeared as the Young Woman in their midwest premiere of Great Falls. Allison can currently be seen as Demi in Profiles' world premiere of Kid Sister by Will Kern. Prior to that, she appeared in Trust at Lookingglass Theatre, for which she was nominated for a Jeff Award for Actress in a Principal Role. Allison recently finished filming the independent film The Wise Kids in South Carolina. She was a member of the Second City Youth Ensemble for two years. Later this season, Allison will be seen in Steppenwolf Theatre's production of Hot L Baltimore.
Mary Ann Thebus (Susan) is returning to Victory Gardens for the tenth time having first performed here in Close Ties in 1980. This is Thebus' fourth time working with Sandy Shinner and Joel Drake Johnson; her performance in Four Places earned her a Jeff nomination. She has been seen on most Chicago stages and has been performing in the Chicagoland area for 20 years. She is the recipient of numerous Jeff nominations and the 2002 After Dark award for her work in The Organic's Painting Churches. She was recently seen in Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Richard lll and on stage at The Next Theatre in The Piano Teacher. She is a teacher of Acting both privately and at The Artistic Home.
Full performance schedulePreviews of The Boys Room are January 21-30, 2010: Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm; and Sunday at 3 pm. Previews are $20-$40. The Press opening is Monday, January 31, at 7:30 pm. Regular performances run through February 20, 2011: Tuesday through Friday at 7:30 pm; Saturday at 4 pm and 7:30 pm; Sunday at 3 pm. There will be a matinee on Wednesday, February 9 at 2:00 pm. There are no performances Tuesday, March 1, 8 or 22, 2011. Regular performances are $20-$50.
Performances are at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. For tickets and information, call the Victory Gardens Box Office, 773.871.3000 (tty: 773.871.0682), email firstname.lastname@example.com, or visit www.victorygardens.org. Ask the Box Office about student, senior, Access, 20 for $20, and rush discounts. For group discounts, call 773.549.5788


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More than 6,200 followers of Sage Fruit and the Pear Bureau Northwest are at the top of the guest list, but anyone can attend a Twitter party set for Oct. 10.
The digital event is set for 9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PDT and is scheduled to last about 45 minutes, according to a news release from Sage Fruit, Yakima, Wash.
Uses for pears from Sage as well as the USA Pears brand promoted by the pear bureau are the topic, but some attendees will also be eligible for one of four prize packs that will be given away during the Twitter party. Those who are Twitter followers of both @SageFruit and @USAPears will be eligible for the prize packs.
To join the event, use the hashtag #PickAPear.
"We will be encouraging conversation that ranges from how to pick a perfect pear in the grocery store, to how to cook with them," Sage Fruit social media director Kaci Komstadius said in the news release.


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Fighting Your Own Bias
Objectivity requires taking subjectivity into account. -- Lorraine Code
Is it possible for active traders to be totally objective about the market? I write quite a bit about how we should let the price action guide our decisions, but in the back of my head I keep rooting for a pullback -- because I think it would provide better trading opportunities than one-way action with no ebb and flow....550 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
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Los Angeles, CA
JAH JAH PRODUCTIONS is a full service Architectural Services Provider. We provide surveys, planning, codes research, project management, shop drawings, construction documents, top notch designing, AutoCAD drafting services, CAD management and 3D renderings, Consulting, Computer Training, etc. We can put together a design/build team that will build out the creation you desire. With top designers, architects, drafters and construction tradesmen working together, JAH JAH PRODUCTIONS is able to provide "the best in Architecture" to any who desires. With a professional staff that is always growing JAH JAH PRODUCTIONS can perform any task necessary to get a project completed well and on-time. We have a team of consultants that can perform field surveys, produce CAD drawings that accurately reflect the space and its usage, or train you and your associates to use the programs and computers that are already in your office. Located in the heart of Hollywood, California, Jah Jah Productions has been in business since 2005. All of the contributing members of the team have great expertise. And though we are a young company our professional, corporate, public works and private sector experience is not.
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SMC Judges Issue Memorandum Opinion Affecting DUI Cases Heard at Seattle Municipal Court
Click here for the opinion in pdf format.
New Policy and Procedures Regarding Reports and Evaluations From Treatment Agencies
Effective August 1, 2006, regional courts adopted new policies and procedures regarding chemical dependency evaluations and compliance reports from drug and alcohol treatment agencies. Click here for details in PDF format.
View All City of Seattle News Releases


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Afraid he won't be around for Little A's upcoming sixth birthday, JR suggests they celebrate early. Little A thinks he needs a more grown up name now and everyone decides to start calling him AJ. JR asks Tad to always play a role in AJ's life the same way he did for him when he was growing up. Tad catches JR when he collapses. Tad tells Adam he tracked down Sonia Reyes' son, Miguel, who's agreed to have his DNA sent from California to be tested.Meanwhile Angie realizes that Frankie deliberately didn't give her the message about the patient who could have been saved because he didn't want to interrupt her time alone with Jesse. Frankie insists on taking full responsibility for the incident but Angie puts her foot down, saying she'll handle it her way. Frustrated, Frankie slams his fist into a wall, reinjuring his hand.
Annie suggests that Adam name her the new Editor-in-Chief at Tempo and he agrees to think about it. Annie's surprised when Brooke arrives at the mansion.
Erica's confident she has David right where she wants him when she orchestrates it so that he dismisses Gayle as meaning nothing to him while a hidden Gayle listens. Gayle wants to make David pay for what he's done and Erica promises they'll do just that. Erica lays it out for David, telling him she wants him to marry Greenlee, get her out of town and away from Fusion or else.
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The pacers are good, don't get me wrong, but I don't think they could win a championship with Austin Croshere and James Jones being key bench players. So here's is what I think they should do:
Trade JO - Iknow I'm going ot get alot of grief for this, but JO is NOT a leader. As someone else said, Garnett would be a lot better, of course
Attain a better PG - Tinsley will win you games, but when it's all on the line he reverts to his NY roots, and maybe that'll not be a problem next year.
Get rid of players who don't contribute - I do'nt see why we keep players like Croshere and Bender around (granted I think Bender could still show us something).
That's pretty much it, keep the core, Ron. Ron is our heart and soul, if we could somhow get KG we'd be tuff ...although we'd be up to our eye balls in head cases...KG, RA, Jax...oh my, that'd be crazy. I personally don't see the LA deal going through, I mean, getting Slava and George doesn't really help unless Bird and Walsh are planning on throwing the season??
btw I was thinking to myself and thought how awesome the Suns would be to watch if they had Bender... just thinking...


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By UIUC RBML Staff
Title: David Erdman Papers (Erdman 2), 1906-2001
Primary Creator: Erdman, David V.
Extent: 45.0 Cubic Feet
Languages: English
The collected papers of Romantic Period scholar, writer, and editor, David V. Erdman. David Erdman received critical acclaim for his work on Romantic Period writers, most notably William Blake. However, despite his scholarly accomplishments, David Erdman would face difficulties in the academic world due to his communist political beliefs.
The collection consists of his correspondence, manuscripts, and publications along with writings sent to him on the Romantic period and other materials he collected over his academic career.
Repository: Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Access Restrictions: Open to researchers.
Use Restrictions:
The RBML reproductions policies can be found here:
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials.
Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study scholarship or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement.
This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgement, fulfillment of the order would damage materials or involve violation of copyright law.


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Artist description:
Oh dear, this took so effin long D: Ahwell, I'm happy that I'm done nao =W= I know, I overdid the background but it's just so much fun to play around with the effects XDD Btw that's Kurusu Shou from Uta no Prince-sama =W= He's osm =W=
Java Draw Created Aug 04, 2011 460 x 640px Unless noted Copyright 2011 Crazy_Girl_xD.
We encourage you to submit a comment and let the artist know what you think of this drawing. Please log in or join to post a comment.
Post a comment
OMG JAW DROPPING TALENT RIGHT HERE! I posted a forum in the request a drawing. I think you should go over there and check it out. I would be grateful.
great coloring love the lines and the clothes. awesome bg:) u r super talented, i love ur draws:D
Great drawing!! I really loved watching this anime (;
amazing, this is print quality, very talented
amazing effect! looks like ptsai great lineart! :D
very pretty :D i love the way you color, and the smoothness of the lineart is amazing! the boy's expression is cute and i love his clothes ^.^ 5/5
very neat and excellent draw!!!! love it! 5/5 fav!
omg i LOVE this! i dont much see fanart of kurusu or anyone from uta no prince-sama maji 1000% :P great job :)
very cool! :) 5.5 and faves! Love the coloring and the clothes design X3
Goes to faves!!!! It's really amazing and it has so many details!!5/5 :)


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Have you ever wanted to make your own sentry gun that is based off the Nerf N-Strike Vulcan EBF-25 Blaster? Instructables user BrittLiv, has built such a device with a NERF Vulcan gun, stand, motor and a laptop. Using recognition software, the laptop's camera can track someone walking in front of it, the gun moving to follow the person's movements. The best part of this build is that she posted up how to build it! The one thing the guide doesn't mention is the cost of the build. The Nerf Vulcan alone runs around $210 plus shipping, so this would be an expensive build.
The video below shows the Nerf Sentry gun in action!
Comments are closed.


text: well the other thread got closed but im assuming cuz its in french... so heres one in english. [Broken External Image]:http://bombingscience.com/icone/ecole-ban.gif its basicly 4 classes 20$CAN each or 65$ for the whole package... class1 by monk-e is on can control class2 by back145 on characters class3 by ware on 3D class 4 by zek on oldskool styles so ya what do you think about going to 'school' to learn graff? id sign up for theese but i cant because of the dates they are being given at but oh well.. i find its kinda cool, a way to learn faster stuff that might take a few years to pick up on youre own, get some feedback from really dope writers and stuff


text: Stitched-edge belt Item 16137 Color: DARK CARAMEL Size: All sizes are US sizes. 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 Size Charts Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prices do not include taxes. Add to Bag Wishlist Add to Bag Add To Wishlist share: size & fit Width: 1 3/16". For the best fit, we recommend ordering one size up from your pant size. Product Details Crafted right here in the USA, our classic leather belt boasts a fine grain, a rich burnish and a stitched edge—touches of distinction that pull everything together. Italian leather. Nickel buckle. Made in the USA. Item 16137.


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Red Sox roll over A's thanks to Napoli's heroics
BOSTON -- The reason the Red Sox coveted Mike Napoli over the winter -- even after discovering the hip condition that reduced his original three-year agreement to one year -- is that they were pretty sure he would fall in love with Fenway Park.
Three weeks into the season, it has already happened. Napoli banged a grand slam over the Green Monster on Monday night to lead Boston to a 9-6 romp over the Athletics.
When Napoli stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth, it was still a close game, at 4-3. But that changed with one swing by Napoli, who leads the Major League in RBIs, with 25.
This is exactly what the Red Sox envisioned, right?
"He's a very good hitter," said manager John Farrell. "He's got a long track record of extra-base and RBI production, but what he's done in this ballpark over the course of his career, those things are beacons when you look to select a player, and he's a very good fit here."
Napoli is thriving in his new environment, taking aim at all areas of Fenway. Last Monday he banged a walk-off double off the Monster. This time he cleared it for his fourth career slam.
"It was an exciting moment," Napoli said. "I was down, 0-1. I was just trying to drive something, get a sac fly, just put a ball in the air out there. I just got a pitch to drive, and I hit a grand slam."
Earlier in the contest, he smashed an RBI double down the line in right.
"The last 10 games, his swing has become much more compact," said Farrell. "With David [Ortiz] hitting in front of him now ... I'm not going to say that makes opposing pitchers pitch differently to him, but he feels very comfortable in this ballpark. That's proven over time. And the fact we're here 19 games into the season and he's got 25 RBIs, he's doing exactly what we had hoped he would do, and it's great to see that production in the middle of the order."
It's a good thing the Red Sox eventually stretched the lead to six runs, because the A's came back to make a game of it in the eighth, scoring three runs against Clayton Mortensen.
That inning could have been worse if not for a fine running catch in right field by Shane Victorino to rob pinch-hitter Eric Sogard of a two-run double.
"It was a great catch," said catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. "That was a game-changer."
Though it was a bitterly cold night, the Red Sox looked comfortable at the plate. Will Middlebrooks also cleared the Monster, belting a three-run homer that signified he might be ready to break out of a prolonged slump.
"I felt good, I hit the ball solid. I'm still not where I want to be, but I felt like I put some better swings on balls today and stuck to my approach throughout the game," said Middlebrooks.
Perhaps it was Middlebrooks' fresh haircut that helped change his fortunes.
"Absolutely," he said. "Wore different shoes, ate different. Anything you could think, I tried to flip-flop it. It worked."
With all that offense at his back, Felix Doubront went 6 2/3 innings for the win, his second of the season. The lefty gave up three hits and three runs. He walked five and struck out eight, throwing 113 pitches.
"I feel good. I was throwing the ball real good. My arm feels a lot easier throwing the ball," said Doubront.
The A's actually jumped out first. After a double by Josh Donaldson put runners on second and third with one out in the second, Jed Lowrie scored on a wild pitch. Josh Reddick followed with an RBI single up the middle to make it 2-0.
In the bottom of the second, Boston came out swinging. Ortiz led off with a double off the Monster. Then it was Napoli's turn, and he belted a double to left that cut Oakland's lead to one run.
"He's hot right now," said Middlebrooks. "He's the guy we want at the plate with guys on base, and it seems like he's always coming through for us."
It was a night to forget for Athletics right-hander A.J. Griffin, who got himself into trouble in the fourth when he hit Napoli with the bases empty and two outs.
"It got me, like, in the inside of my bicep," said Napoli. "It was weird, I never got hit there before. And my arm went numb, so I was kind of freaking out a little bit. I got the feeling back. It's sore, but I was able to keep going."
Daniel Nava came up next and belted a double. Up stepped Middlebrooks, who unloaded for a three-run homer into the Monster seats. That one swing turned a one-run deficit into a two-run lead.
"I didn't feel like I made bad pitches," Griffin said. "The worst one, I thought, was the one to Middlebrooks, a hanging cutter. I was just trying to get back into the count, and he tagged that one pretty good."
Doubront had an ugly fifth inning, walking three, but he minimized the damage, giving up just a run.
And in the fifth, the Sox erupted. Victorino, returning after missing two games with a strained back, got things rolling with a leadoff single. Boston then got a break when Dustin Pedroia hit a grounder to third and second baseman Andy Parrino dropped the throw for an error. Following a walk to Ortiz, Napoli took the swing that changed the entire complexion of the game.
The Red Sox expect there will be many more moments of that sort this summer.
"[Napoli's] incredible," said Saltalamacchia. "Strong as can be. He hits things with one hand. It's nice to have him in our lineup. He's got a great idea at the plate. There's pitches that look like they are going to be balls, and he still hits them. That's a tough guy to pitch around. I know -- we tried for years."
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Golf Trip
Posted: Mar 8, 2010 9:50am ET
You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief around the stone coffee table on the outdoor patio, the palm fronds brushing against each other in the light breeze and the stars—especially the Orion constellation—shining in the clear, nighttime sky. We were sitting there in shirt sleeves, a glass of Brugal rum on the rocks with a slice of lime, and the magazine's Cigar of the Year, a Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro in our hands. It was our second night at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, but the first night, after a three a.m. wake-up call for a six a.m. flight, the cigar and glass of rum hadn't been quite as relaxed, more a defiant declaration that we were on vacation than a laid back moment before collapsing into bed—and the golf hadn't even started yet.
We were at the Caribbean golf resort for a three-day binge of golf—36 holes a day which, trust me, is more golf than four guys in their late 50s should even dream about playing. Golf trips can be a bit problematic, the search for the right mix of personalities and desires potentially subject to miscalculations of intentions and incompatibilities. But the four guys—Chuck, Mory, Matt and yours truly—around the patio epitomized the synergy of the perfect combination. Three of us went to the same college, so even though we weren't close friends 35 years ago, the shared history has smoothed the way to an adult friendship that can be rare to find as you get older. The fourth had known one of the college group for 25 years through a business association and the other two for more than 10 years through the same country club. We represented the medical, publishing, and business sectors, often with intertwined connections between each of those worlds.
We played straight up without handicaps for three days, the same pairs each day, and at the end of the six rounds, we had split 3-3 and there wasn't much more than a two-hole difference between total holes won and lost. Each of us had at least one good round—not bad after a multi-month winter layoff—although we all had nine-hole stretches with excellent scores. Trash-talking? You bet. Laughter? More than you can imagine, including on the last hole of the weekend, when one of us (he shall mercifully remain anonymous) chili-dipped his drive off the tee, and we nearly all fell down laughing—no mercy in this group either.
But one other bond tied us together—cigars. We started our trip with a tour of the Tabacalera de Garcia factory in La Romana, one of the largest hand-rolled cigar factories in the world, overseen by José Seijas. Seijas is not only one of most capable tobacco men in the cigar business, he is also one of the nicest. My friends had never been inside a cigar factory, and it was a tour of discovery, learning about the tobaccos from around the world that go into cigars, the intricate and precise aging and processing of tobacco leaves, the careful selection of color and then the skilled creation of the bunch and the final application of the wrapper. Without a doubt, each man said they had learned more than they knew there was to know about cigar making and they walked away with a greater appreciation of what they would be smoking.
Golf. Cigars. Hard to ask for more. We began each day by 8 a.m. standing on a tee box. We ended each night around a table at our house with a cigar in hand, talking about politics, medicine, publishing, golf, the Third World, our lives and our futures. We're already plotting next year's trip.
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WASHINGTON - Since he began his new job in January, Rep. Eric Swalwell, a freshman Democrat from Pleasanton, has commuted roughly 250,000 miles between California and Washington.
That's equivalent to flying around the planet 10 times - and it's not an unusual commute for Californian representatives.
Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, didn't mind the three-hour drive from Fresno to Sacramento when he served in the Assembly. But add a six-hour flight across country, and the commute begins to take a serious toll. Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, calls the repeated trips the hardest part of his job.
The long commute inspired Swalwell to introduce a measure that would let members vote remotely on noncontroversial bills.
Under HR287, which Swalwell introduced in late June, representatives could vote on low-priority issues via secure computers on the road or from home. They would also be able to use video conferencing to join committee hearings.
It's one thing to fly coast-to-coast for a major piece of legislation. It's another to cast a vote for a routine amendment or a measure to name a post office.
"If I've learned anything from traveling about 2,500 miles each trip, members from all over the country put in a lot of air miles for this job, and there's a lot of work we can do remotely," he said in an interview.
Only a few dozen members from Alaska, Hawaii or the upper Northwest have longer ones than the 39-member California delegation.
"We spend so much time in Congress voting on bills that pass with 400-plus votes for lower priority issues - naming post offices and letting people use Capitol grounds for XYZ," Swalwell said. "This would let us spend more time in the House doing the substantial, meaty stuff that our constituents want us to do."
Remote voting and video conferencing would be the House's biggest voting change since 1970, when it replaced voice votes with an electronic system that shows votes on a giant screen above the gallery. "We're already on our iPads and iPhones," Swalwell said. "Let's start using them to perform these perfunctory tasks."
Co-sponsored by Lowenthal and two Western state Republicans, the resolution would amend House rules to allow remote votes on noncontroversial measures passed under a procedure known as "suspension of the rules."
Two-thirds of the members present must agree to suspend the rules, allowing for speedy approval of routine matters.
No opponents to the resolution have surfaced.
Swalwell calls the bill MOBILE: Members Operating to Be Innovative and Link Everyone Resolution.
"One of my goals here in Congress, being the youngest member of the California delegation, is to really try and get the institution to upgrade the way it communicates with its constituents," said Swalwell, 32.
In an era of partisan divide, the desire to be home is something that representatives from both parties agree on.
"If you don't do what's best for your district, you won't be here for very long," said Rep. David Valadao, R-Fresno.
"It's six hours just flying time," he said.
"From door to door, the best-case scenario is nine hours. It usually runs closer to 10," Valadao said before yawning.
But not everyone minds the commute.
It can be valuable, said Rep. John Garamendi, D-Fairfield. "Quiet time and five hours with no phone calls - you learn to appreciate it," he said.
That could soon change, however, if airlines allow passengers to chatter away on cellphones in flight.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who has logged well over a million miles between coasts, often uses the time to answer constituent mail. Former Rep. Ellen Tauscher from Contra Costa County married the pilot she met on her flights.
Swalwell, who has been active on Twitter and recently posted videos of a vote on Vine, represents a new generation in Congress comfortable with technology and social media.
He said that the proposal was not an attempt to limit working hours or do away with a full-time Congress, as has been proposed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
"It's not one of those ... let's-go-to-a-part-time legislature ideas," he said.
Instead, he added, it's a matter of taking lessons from the high-tech companies in his own district and applying them to the ways of Washington.
"I've seen how they communicate," Swalwell said, "and we could learn a thing or two from the private sector."
- The California News Service-Washington is a journalism project of the University of California's Washington Center and UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism. Contact the CNS at email@example.com


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Justin Bieber was often harassed by the photographer who was killed by a speeding car while taking pictures of the singer's car on New Year's Day, and he lied about Bieber smoking pot, sources supposedly connected with Bieber told TMZ.
Jeez, talk about kicking a dead guy when he's down.
Bieber sources said photographer Chris Guerra frequently followed Bieber and lied when he called a friend shortly before he was killed, saying he saw Bieber smoking pot in a pipe while driving his Ferrari earlier that day.
OMG ... people can be so stereotypical when talking about Ferrari drivers. I mean, like, how did he know it wasn't, like, parsley or something?
The sources -- which should really be the name of a band -- said multiple witnesses can verify the only time Bieber left the Four Seasons on New Year's Day was to go to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in Hollywood for lunch, and there was never a pipe in sight.
Sources connected to Bieber and his girlfriend Selena Gomez said the photographer was lying when he told a friend he saw a car belonging to Selena Gomez on the Four Seasons property. The sources supposedly told TMZ Bieber and Gomez flew to Mexico last weekeend but had an argument on Dec. 30 and broke up. Gomez left the same day, while Bieber went back to L.A. on Dec. 31 (he performed that night on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve celebration). Bieber and Gomez haven't seen each other since and she was never at the Four Seasons on New Year's Day.
I somehow keep wondering why anyone wants to know any of this.
The sources said Bieber had "very little respect" for Guerra, but was trying not to say anything out of respect for the family, but the photographer made it "very difficult by telling this guy (his friend) lies about Justin."