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Court in 3 days time!(27 Posts)
My application under TOTLA to try and force the sale of the jointly owned ex family home is finally being heard in a few days time. I have been waiting months already, was due to be heard next month but have managed to get it bought forward.
Anyway, I paid a solicitor to file the application but I can't afford to pay one to represent me, so I'm going to represent myself. Any help/advice or tips would be great. Apologies to those who have already heard this..
In short. Ex and I were not married, purchased property together as family home. Both on deeds both on mortgage. He moved out (his choice) and dumped me with full mortgage repayments which I couldn't afford. I was desperate to sell to free myself from the mortgage. He refused to communicate about it, ignored my letters and solicitors communication, refused to mediation to discuss a resolution, refused to pay a penny knowing I was struggling. Eventually (over 18 months later) I had to move out as couldn't afford the repayments. He carried on refusing to pay or discuss any resolution, so it stood empty with no mortgage being paid. Repossession proceedings kicked in and then he decided he wanted to live there. His sister paid a lump sum to clear the mortgage arrears and he has moved in (3 weeks ago ish).
Whilst it was empty I redecorated and did some minor repairs. Had valuations done and it should be about 10k in equity. Not a lot but it's something. He wants to remain living there and I want it sold.
The issue is with have 2 children, shared residency 50/50 exactly and a Shared Residency Order to reflect this. He is claiming to sell the property will make the children homeless (every other week of course, they still have their home with me) and therefore he is using the Children's Act to try and prevent sale until the youngest is 18 - AGES!
He is a financial screw up and always has been. I can see him abandoning the property and some point and dumping me with it again. He had just changed his job and taken a huge pay cut (he told me this) and I don't think he can afford the mortgage long term without hand outs from family. It's interest only and he wouldn't be able to afford repayment form his salary, so nothing will be paid off at all. PLus when interest rates rise (I believe they are due to next year or so) he would struggle.
I don't want to own a property with him, I wants to be free of this financial tie and the constant worry/stress that he will not pay mortgage and the implications it will have for me. He won't buy me out or ask someone to buy me out on his behalf, I think he likes it that it is very worrying for me to be tied to him this way.
Anyone tell me what they think my chances are of forcing sale? The children have another home, he could easily rent someone for the same-ish price of the mortgage, they children have only "lived" there for 3 weeks so not a long term permanent home for them. He'd get approx 5k (1/2 the small equity) so would have money for a deposit and a few months rent on top of moving costs etc.
I have no idea about the legal side of things here, but I would say the most relevant thing is to prove that at some point it would more likely fall at your door again,
So making it clear he did not pay for 18 months for a mortgage he was jointly responsible for
Prove with statements you have been making the payment ( or if no payment was made at all)
If your youngest is 18 are they not classed as adult? The childrens act wouldn't apply (unsure sorry)
You should definitely go in with facts and try not to be defensive or attack. Have all written in front of you.
The other option I suppose is that you ask th court if there is a way of getting you off the mortgage if he so insists in taking over the house? With the track record I am sure they would do something.
Thanks for your post.
I had a brief telephone call with my solicitor today as I felt I needed some legal advice, although couldn't really afford it - even a telephone call will cost a fortune.
Basically, I've been told my chances of selling are really slim. That a Court probably won't care that her personally can't afford the payments and is relying on family help or that he previously ditched me with the mortgage for such a long time. All they will see is that the children are living there (half the time albeit) and therefore to Order sale would be to make them homeless (they have a home with me for the other 50% of the time and he can afford to rent just chooses not to). Bugger.
At court I would focus on the points you make in your last paragraph, he can rent for the proceeds of sale,/ same cost as mortgage, so children will not be without a home, where is the advantage in keeping you out of your share of the property?
It also prevents you from getting another mortgage as although he can indemnify you from the payments (promise to pay them against any claim from mortgage co), your name will be still be there unless he earns enough to get you released
Have you filed all evidence and is this a final hearing or an initial hearing ?
I think court would want to see evidence of
How much rent would he pay to rent somewhere similar, with property particulars
Has he enquired about releasing you from mortgage, what is the answer if so
How much you paid while he was out of property, mortgage and repairs
Correspondence trying to get him to sell
Thanks fuckwittery.
I have gathered as much "evidence" as I can to take with me which includes:
- 5 letters from my solicitor to his solicitor and subsequently him direct when his solicitor stopped acting for him. All attempting to resolve the property, explaining it was in arrears etc. All were ignored. These span 18 months.
-An FM1 form, on advise of my solicitor we attempted to initiate mediation session- but he refused to respond to mediation company. I paid for an appointment and to get this form to prove I had tried.
-Recent-ish valuations showing the property's value (and a print off of an estimate on Zoopla) to show it has increased in value a lot recently and should give us a few thousand each - so he can afford a deposit and months rent in advance.
Rent is expensive in the area but to rent a similar property within say 2-3 miles would be around the same cost as the current mortgage repayments and ground rent/service charge. Mortgage is interest only and when interest rates rise (as I have been told they inevitably will) I have doubts he can afford it. I went onto Right Move earlier and printed off some just to show they are as affordable as the jointly owned property and so a definite option ( not sure if the Court will care though).
I paid for minor repairs, decorating etc, more time than money. However he (sister) has recently paid all the mortgage arrears to stop repossession - the fucker ignored the property and all my attempts to communicate for over 18mths and left it to the very morning of the repossession hearing to clear the arrears in the hope I would panic and pay it off I guess, the shit and stress that put me through was awful
- I would love to buy another property with my new partner in a few years time when I go back to work. It would have to be based on both our salaries though, I guess I wouldn't get another mortgage if I'm held onto the one so ex can live there.
My solicitor seems to think my chances are slim because of our shared residency and the children are both young (primary aged).
Sorry forgot to say - this is the first hearing (months and months of waiting, I filed the application almost 6 months ago!)
I haven't filed any evidence just the application form, but that explained his disappearance for nearly 2 years and that it had been empty for a year. When I applied it was empty and he made no mention of moving back in until about a month or so ago.
My solicitor said he did not respond to or acknowledge the papers he was served, so I'm hopeful (unlikely but hopeful) he won't turn up to the hearing on Wednesday - do you know if this will go in my favour?
Hang on, how old are the children? You say up post youyoungest is 18?
My knowledge of TLATA claims procedure is a bit rusty, but based on schedule 1 knowledge, and family court knowledge, no final order would be made at a first hearing unless you agree I'm afraid. If he doesnt show you need to stress how he hasnt corresponded, participated at all, and ask for directions to be made to formally file evidence and timetable the case to final hearing so at least you are making progress without him. Judge will be v unimpressed that he hasnt turned up to progress his own schedule 1 application, but whether or not any sanctions will be taken or not at this stage I don't know. You'd normally get costs if he didnt turn up, you could give costs of solicitors's communication today, and any travel/time off work costs you've incurred if he didnt show. That is a rather shocking wait for a first appointment!
Thanks again.
Perhaps my first post was a little unclear tinyturtle, the children are primary aged still- I'm worried he won't agree to sale until he has to using the Children's Act to not sell until yougest is 18.
As far as myself and my solicitor are aware, he hasn't filed a response at all, so don't think Schedule 1 application has been made at all. My original application included a request for him to pay my costs to date due to total lack of response for almost 2 years- Im hoping the fact he now lives there just before the hearing doesn't stop costs being awarded to me, as they've obviously been paid out over the last two years regardless of him now living there.
Can I ask your advice? If (when) we get to the final hearing- he will obviously use Schedule 1 Children's Act to try and prevent sale- how strong an argument is it when it hasn't been the children home for over 2 years until the last few weeks/months by then and he could live elsewhere for the same monthly costs (mortgage interest only so not progressing/paying off any debt at all anyway) they wouldn't be homeless. Plus the children have a home with me too (50% residency).
I don't have much hope to be honest I just want to be free of financial ties to him as its dragging me down and a constant worry- shame he's such a financial fuck up!
He needs to make a formal application under schedule 1 if he wants to rely on it, and pay a court fee. I do think the circumstances you have explained sound v strong reasons for sale now, its not a case where the weaker financial party is housed in a property and wont be able to rehouse the children similarly if sale takes place now. You may be greatly disadvantaged by no sale and it seems the only benefit is that the children will live 50% per cent of the time in an owned house rather than a rented property and I find it hard to see the court thinking that benefit (if it is a benefit) for the children should mean you be kept out of your money now. He could of course buy you out. Obviously you have a solicitor so should be asking her these questions, but as this is just a first hearing perhaps save your money for advice until after the hearing.
The other lawyers on here may have perspective to add.
Thanks Fuckwittery. I really do appreciate your advice, I understand it's not your area of law so I know I should really be talking to my solicitor about it but it's just so expensive. Every call / email etc is racking up hundreds of pounds and I think I'm just so worried I will have wasted time money and energy on this only to be told I have no hope.
I will be disadvantaged by no sale, I can't get at the (albeit) small share of equity unless we sell, I have the constant worry of him abandoning it or not being able to afford repayments once the interest rates rise. Plus if it screws me up financially I risk not being able to pay the rent on our home now which the children also live in 50% of the time. He could rent elsewhere & provide a home for the kids, it means them "moving" but they've only stayed there a few weeks so hardly "home" to them.
I am comforted to hear that I may still have a chance, I am going to represent myself tomorrow and then save the money I (don't really) have to pay for my solicitor to attend the final hearing as it seems that would be money best spent then rather than now.
Thank you!
I agree that you may have a chance to force through a sale. However the court can delay a sale on a TOLATA application just as much as a Children Act application.
The fact that he appears to have moved back in to the property may go in your favour, as may the fact that you are both in the same boat in so far as the children's residence is concerned.
Thanks for your message too Collaborate. Again it's nice to hear I do have a chance, however slim.
My solicitor gave me a quick call this evening with a few tips, try and remain calm, look reasonable, make sure the Judge knows the full back story ie that he has only just moved in after refusing to communicate for almost 2 years etc as she also agrees this is my strongest argument, that he is financially unreliable and trying to control me by refusing to sell the property. She also told me to ensure I let the Judge know that I don't want to cause him hardship, he can rent nearby at a similar cost, the children won't be homeless etc.
Can I ask why you think the fact that he has moved back in there may go in my favour? As I assumed it would only ever go against me.
I meant it's better for you that he moved out first, then left the property empty for a while after you moved out, instead of it being you who moved out on separation. It's as if he's doing it to be awkward. He's already rented somewhere else since separation presumably.
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
Ah I see, thank you.
Originally I agreed to move out. He then said he couldn't afford the mortgage repayments unless I helped him (whilst having to pay for my own home elsewhere) so he movd out. I lived there alone for about a year struggling to afford the repayments trying to communicate to sell it, he ignored all attempts. I moved out after a year as I had no choice I oils by afford it, needed a stable home and it didn't seem as if e would ever communicate. I thought if it were empty and mortgage by being paid he'd reply and agree to sell. He didn't. It stayed empty for almost a year and he moved back in a few days after the repossession hearing. He didn't pay a thing to stop repossession until the hearing was already happening (ie he called up and paid and said he was moving in whilst I was actually sat in Court) the Judge had ordered repossession before he got passed the message that the arrears had literally just been paid! So repossession was cancelled. It's like it's a game to him, upsetting and stressing me
Thanks everyone who gave advice.
I went to the hearing this morning and it was far less daunting than I had expected. My ex did not show up and I was told he had no even filed a response or even acknowledged the papers, despite having been served months ago.
Anyway. It was over in 5 minutes. The Judge asked me to briefly explain the situation and confirm a few key details - who's on the mortgage, who's on the deeds, amount left on mortgage etc. She has given me 3 weeks to file a full statement with evidence (mortgage statements, land registry deeds, valuations and any other documents I feel relevant). I didn't get chance to say much else so have a few questions if anyone knows...
1. Judge said my statement and evidence will be provided to my ex who will then have 4 weeks to prepare his defence statement before the next hearing. Do I get a copy of his defence statement and evidence he is providing before the hearing? Else I feel I will be really put on the spot and I just know he will come up with a pack of lies!
2. MY valuations were done months ago. I believe they will have gone up (checked sale prices for local properties and Zoopla estimates and it appears the market is doing well). I want up to date valuations. I requested a key for the new locks and ex said he wouldn't provide one. I need access to the property for valuations so was going to write a polite letter, giving 14 days notice and asking him to provide a key and a day/time he is happy for me to enter the property for a few hours to have 3 estate agents value it. Am I legally entitled to do this providing I give him plenty of notice (I have only been given 3 weeks so needs to be soonish). Any particular piece of legislation I should quote which covers my right to enter the property as a joint owner for these sorts of things?
3. I believe his pay has taken a significant decrease in the last month or so, but I do not know for certain (his working hours have certainly reduced). Can my solicitor contact his employer asking for clarification of his working hours/salary for me to prove he can't afford the repayments without family pouring money at him. Or is that personal information only to be provided at the request of the Court? (I suspect so)
4. Should my statement be concise and perhaps in bullet points or my full statement with all my relevant arguments explained in full? Ie are they expecting a one page typed document or is it ok for the statement to be pages and pages long?
I think it is illegal for him to change the locks on your property.
You would be within your rights to get a locksmith to letyou in if it is illegal.
Thanks for your post tinyturtle. I know he shouldn't change the locks, I too thought it was "illegal" but it's not. It's a civil matter and the Police will not get involved. However I don't know exactly what legislation covers it as such.
I could get a locksmith to break in for me, but that would cost a pretty penny and I would need to provide him with a set of the new keys as he lives there. Trying to get him to do the hard work without me paying out a fortune would be much better for me
Put everything in your statement. It will do the talking for you, plus then at hearing you get to emphasise the points you want to make and challenge what he has written.
yes, you will get his statement in advance. The order might say he has to 'serve' it, that means send it to you.
I would not worry too much about getting updated valuations within the 3 weeks. Provide what you already have. Say what you have observed from Zoopla, and why you think the value has gone up. Carry on with the request for access for up to date valuation, but focus your effort on making your witness statement as accurate and thorough as you can.
For the valuations I suggest you go back to the last valuer and ask them to do a paper revaluation. they shouldn't need to visit again.
Iheartdusty - I am really going to try and so my best with writing the statement, I thought, as you say, it's an important things and I do hope the Judge will read it all. So I will cover all angles and ensure I provide all the evidence I can.
I am worried about including things that a Judge will feel are petty or irrelevant and that it could l weaken my case.
MY main points are:
1. There is equity in the property and although it appears to be a small amount (perhaps 10k each) it is a huge amount to us and would make a huge difference to me.
2. He previously abandoned the property for nearly 2 years, ignored all communication and refused to discuss resolution.
3. He left it to the very day of the repossession hearing (the very hour) and then his sister paid off the arrears to avoid repossession.
4. The money, time stress and worry this has caused me, he could do it all again!
5. That he could rent in the local area for a very similar price to the mortgage. I have texts from him saying he can't find somewhere as nice and that he refuses to apply for social housing as it's "not good enough for him or his children" hence he NEEDS to live at the jointly owned property. Fake snob!
6. The mortgage is interest only and he has text me saying he can barely afford the repayments now asking me to sign to extend the mortgage. Interest rates will rise inevitably and then how will he afford it?
7. I have strong reason to believe his salary is now only part time, although I can't prove it - can I ask the Judge to order he provides proof of his income? I think his family are paying the mortgage for him, will this be a good reason for the sale and he should have to rent. My argument being HE can't afford it, why should I risk my financial security on his family's ability to pay, if he wants to do that then fine, rent, but I shouldn't be held on a mortgage.
8. Shared residency is 50/50, the kids have 2 homes. If sale is not ordered then in the future it goes to repossession again this could risk the children's home with me. It isn't the children's long term home, they haven't lived there for ages, he's only just thrown them back in there a few weeks ago.
9. From when the property was empty there are huge arrears on the Council Tax and Service Charge fee (monthly) these could be paid off with proceeds of sale.
10. Ultimately, sale would mean we are both free of financial ties, all debts paid off and he's have the money to rent somewhere else. I lose all the worry and stress of being financially tied to someone who is a financial screw up.
11. Oh and he has emailed me saying if we sell he will never be able to get a mortgage on his own and he wants to be a home owner. Yet he KNOWS we me tied onto this mortgage I can never get a mortgage with my current partner.
The Judge has given me dates for when I have to return my statement to them, serve it to ex and when he needs to return his response to them but she didn't mention he had to serve it to me, or perhaps I misheard. I assume now we've had the first hearing we will both get something in the post from the Court confirming the date of the next hearing (I've been told it won't be before mid December) and that will have all the various deadline dates on?
It's reassuring to know I will have his statement in advance of the next hearing so at least I can prepare some notes / take some evidence that he is lying.
I know ex will have weeks to look at it and I was worried he'd have time to prepare a good response (lies!) and then I wouldn't be hit with his response til the day of Court, but it's good to hear that.
Collaborate - Of course! I didn't think of that, I guess they have records of the last valuations and can just amend them a little based on their knowledge of the increase in the market, nothing has changed with the property (except it's now occupied by my awful ex)
Any other advice - can anyone comment on my list above to tell me bluntly what is/isn't reasonable to raise as objections.
I think you need to stick to facts, people of the law are not interested in telling tales if it cannot be proven then don't bring it up.
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Raising utility tax protects our investments
On April 8, 2014 we vote whether to extend the Sierra Madre utility tax.
I don't like paying taxes any more than anyone else, but at the same time I have read both the official argument against the extension and a letter to the editor of the Pasadena Star News and I simply cannot figure out how failing to vote for the extension will leave the city able to fund the present level of modest expenditures. It is a truth we accept when we move here that we do not have the tax bases of other nearby communities and will need to do more for ourselves.
I have lived here since 1989. I can remember when Sierra Madre was so broke that when the city had to replace a police car we had to buy one used that another city was discarding. I can remember when the mechanic who serviced our fire trucks went unpaid for months and appeared before the council begging for his bill to be paid. Things are no longer as desperate as that, but yet only this past year did we finally get our street resurfaced, which had needed it for years, and I look around and see that there are many other streets that equally need to be resurfaced.
Every house in the city is valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In my opinion, that is an investment worth protecting. A modicum of public services, a library that we can be proud of, parks that I am happy to entertain my grandchildren at, streets that look like they are not in a slum, reasonable fire, paramedic and police protection all pay considerable dividends in the value of our property as part of being in a desirable community.
The loss of these expenditures would promptly cost us dearly far beyond any alleged "savings." Think of it as "saving" money by firing your gardener and letting the yard go, and wondering why your property value is down.
— Eric Olson, Sierra Madre
We'll regret weakening school tests
So Mayor Eric Garcetti is upset over the 2 million immigrants he says have been deported during President Obama's term in office because it has divided families and communities.
Did it occur to the mayor to ask the officials he spoke with what they were doing so those 2 million people would not feel compelled to emigrate to America to improve their lot in life?
With $15 billion a year in trade between Mexico and Los Angeles there are signs of life in their business community. If those same officials Mayor Garcetti spoke with need some help to improve their economy and the mayor is in a position to provide it they might find another way of dealing with the same problem.
When people feel they have to leave behind their homes and families to find work that also creates division.
But if the College Board's decision to weaken the SAT and the Department of Education's rollout of a computer-based Smarter Balanced test are signs of where education is going in America we won't be in a position to help anyone because eventually we'll be looking for assistance.
The idea that making the essay portion of the SAT optional will enhance analysis and offer a worthy challenge just doesn't fly. What would it mean to adjust the vocabulary part of the test "in favor of words more commonly used in school and on the job"?
The Smarter Balanced test tells students when their answers are "incomplete"?
Both tests are being adapted to what students are learning now and the little that is offered on what the SAT and STAR tests will look like in the future does not exactly inspire confidence.
— Brandon Pace, Covina

subset: commoncrawl


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ATLANTA - Georgia saw again what a healthy Trey Thompkins can mean for the Bulldogs in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament on Thursday.
Thompkins netted his most points in more than two months - since the first game of Southeastern Conference play - scoring 22 and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs to a resounding 69-51 win over Auburn.
"This is the healthiest I've felt in a long time," Thompkins said. "My team needed me, and I needed them. We've always been able to look to each other for support."
If it hasn't been one thing, it's been another for the 6-foot-10 junior this season.
A high ankle sprain on his left leg shelved him for the first three games, then a sore right shin bothered him. An ingrown toenail on his left big toe limited him to six second-half minutes against LSU on March 2.
He said he's had a foot soaked in ice this season "more than I ever have in my life."
For the second straight game, he wore what coach Mark Fox called "a steel cap" over his left toe. Thompkins called it "a black boot over the top of the front of my shoe."
"I'm not going to ask any questions because it works," Thompkins said.
He hit eight of his 15 shots against Auburn, including 3 of 5 on 3-pointers, his most connections from behind the arc this season.
"When Trey's out there hitting 3s, that's how you know it's his night," guard Dustin Ware said.
"He's a great player, can do a lot of different things," guard Dustin Ware said. "Just glad he's back to his old self."
Rematch today
Georgia is 6-1 against SEC West teams this season.
The one blemish is against Alabama, the team the Bulldogs will try to beat today in a quarterfinal game.
Alabama beat Georgia 65-57 just six days ago in Tuscaloosa.
"They have a good team," Fox said. "We have to play better in a lot of areas. We didn't take care of the ball, we didn't rebound it very well, we didn't defend well. They caused a great deal of that, because they have a very good team."
Georgia had 16 turnovers against Alabama, but just seven Thursday against Auburn.
"I was proud of the way we came out from a defensive standpoint," Alabama coach Anthony Grant said of the first game. "Georgia is very good, a very talented team, a very efficient team. I thought our defense won the game for us."
Alabama, which has a weak strength of schedule, could certainly use a victory over Georgia to help its case for an NCAA tournament bid.
"Going 12-4 in the league, I think certainly deserves some attention, but at the same time I do realize there are a lot of very good teams across the country, a lot of competitive play," Grant said. "I think this next week will kind of answer some questions for everybody as we head into Selection Sunday and see where it falls."
Ross contained
Auburn guard Earnest Ross went from feast to famine against Georgia.
After scoring 30 points against the Bulldogs in an overtime loss Feb. 5, Ross was held to just four points on 1 of 10 shooting, including 0-for-5 from 3-point range.
"(It) probably wasn't a lot of fun for our players to watch him score 30 against us on the game film," Fox said. "So today we had a much better approach. He's a very good player and we gave him a little special attention, because he whooped us the first time. And I thought that Travis (Leslie) did a much better job."
Leslie again defended Ross most of the game, except when the Bulldogs employed a zone.
"I had to do something," Leslie said. "At our home, he got 30. I wasn't going to let that happen again. Today, I just came out and tried to play hard."
This and that
Former Georgia coach Dennis Felton, now pro personnel director the San Antonio Spurs, watched the Georgia-Auburn game from a seat behind press row. ... Former Georgia guard Walter Daniels was honored as an "SEC legend" at halftime. Daniels was a three-time All-SEC pick who played for the Bulldogs from 1976-79 and was a captain for Hugh Durham as a senior. He averaged 21.9 points per game in 1979.
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Has anybody had a squirrel that is a "choker"? My Charlie is about 6 (7?) weeks old.. doing great on formula, gaining weight, just super in every way.. He has rodent block available, but he just noses it around, doesn't eat it. He shredded an apple slice the other day, but also didn't eat that. SO- Today, after his morning formula feed, I gave him a cheerio.. more to see if he could stand up and hold it than as a food.. He chomped it into little bits in about 2 seconds- and then stated choking! I picked him up and looked in his mouth.. it was full of cheerio bits!! I picked some out for him, and he spit out most of the rest. He continued to spit out little pieces (spitting out- NOT coughing up) until he had no more in there. I gave him a chance to drink a little formula from a syringe to clear him out, and he did fine with that. But WOW how traumatic (for both of us!!) He doesn't seem to have any residual problems from it so far, but I will watch for aspiration symptoms..
So how do I introduce solid foods to a choking squirrel? Now I am scared to just give him things to try and walk away.. He doesn't seem to chew peices off his rodent food, so I will leave that in his cage. But he doesn't act like he even knows it is food LOL. ..
All advice would be welcome at this point...


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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- What every National Hockey League governor heard yesterday was great news.
What the Maple Leafs' representatives heard was fantastic news.
The league is doing so well financially that the $39-million US salary cap will be raised next year, probably to somewhere in the $42.5-million range.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said yesterday that, based on the projections presented to the board, he expects the cap to be "anywhere from $41 million to $43 or $44 million. It varies. I don't like to get pinned down on a number because we're only dealing with estimates."
But Bettman did say that league-wide revenues will be in excess of $2 billion. Again, he didn't want to be too precise, but when asked about the final number, he conceded: "I think it looks pretty clear that it's going to start with a 2."
If that's the case, then using the formula established in the collective bargaining agreement, the salary cap has to be at least $41.6 million.
If league revenues should reach $2.1 billion, which is not at all inconceivable, then teams would be granted a $43.4-million salary cap.
Although every team is pleased by the resurgence of the business, to many teams, the prospect of an increased cap level is irrelevant. They keep their payrolls well below the maximum and don't intend to change that strategy.
But for the Leafs, it means an opportunity to get back to the formula of old -- trying to win by outspending the competition. And in this era of tight budgets, it might work.
As Richard Peddie, the CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., put it: "Hopefully, it will restore a little more of the competitive advantage we had on the financing side which will be nice."
Translation: Any high-priced free agent should check with us before signing elsewhere.
Not only will the Leafs enjoy the increased cap room that will accrue to all teams, they will be absolved of the Jason Allison encumbrance. Because of bonus clauses in Allison's contract, $4.5 million in cap space has to be kept open to cover the unlikely eventuality that he cashes those bonuses.
As a result, general manager John Ferguson easily could have more than $8 million in new money to play with next season, even if he were to re-sign all the other current players -- which he won't.
Peddie sees no reason why Ferguson shouldn't make the most of the opportunity.
"If the cap goes up," Peddie said, "and John thinks he should spend that money, which I'm sure he will, then the vote will be unanimous.
"If you study it, Pat (Quinn) and John and Ken (Dryden) have never been turned down when they went to the board."
"It does provide a different landscape," Ferguson said. "We negotiated some deals last summer and stayed out of some, frankly, because of that uncertainty.
"It doesn't sound like it's going up a whole lot if it ends up on the lower end. But if it ends up on the higher end, we'd have a little more room to spend, providing our budget would permit us to go to that number. And I think it's safe to say we'd be approaching it."
The increased cap is also good news for the players, not only because there will be more demand for their services, but because it means a decrease in the escrow amounts that the league has been withholding from their paychecks.
To this point, the players have lost 12% of their salaries, but at league revenues of $2 billion, that figure drops to 1.9%.
"It's conceivable that if we come in high enough, that there wouldn't be a need for any money to come back," Bettman said.
That's good news for the players. They're almost as happy as the Maple Leafs.


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By Jennifer Grimes
Triplicate staff writer
Prolific Del Norte County land owners Hector and Eileen Brown are building yet another hotel on the south end of town.
The Crescent City City Council discussed the project Monday evening. Councilman Jack Burlake used the discussion to push land developers to beautify the city as they build.
If were ever going to beautify the community with trees, think of having some and how it would attract people to youre establishment, Burlake said to the Browns during the council meeting.
The issue came up when the Browns requested use of city rights-of-way as part of their new hotel project. It is planned for the lot on Highway 101 between Northwoods Inn and the Super 8 motel.
Burlake suggested that in exchange for certain rights to the citys undeveloped roads around the lot, the Browns would plant many trees around the property. Especially since the undeveloped roads there have been slated as part of a future scenic bike trail.
Trees for the property are in Browns plans, he said. Specifically, he said Chinese Maples and purple plum trees were recommended as most appropriate for the oceanside climate there.
But, Burlake said he felt the project plan showed too few trees and that the variety Brown has chosen arent big enough to make the impression that Crescent City is a tree city.
Whats wrong with putting real trees in a tree city, Mr. Brown? Burlake said.
Mayor C. Ray Smith jumped to the Browns defense noting the many cosmetic improvements theyve made to their properties like the Bay View Inn, Apple Peddler and Ocean World.
But, Jack does have a valid point about with the trees and knowing the Browns, Im sure they will consider it, Smith said.
The Browns were not reachable for comment yesterday, but Hector Brown indicated in the meeting Monday night he would make every consideration to add trees to the projects landscaping.
One result of the councils discussion was a direction to City Manager Dave Wells to draft a tree and landscaping ordinance for such projects.
Wells said as the city implements the new 20-year general plan, certain zoning ordinances and municipal codes could be modified to include tree and landscaping requirements.
Were going to try to get that on the June 18 agenda to discuss landscaping and tree ordinances and ask the council to give us some idea of what direction they want to go in, Wells said.
The Browns hotel will be privately owned rather than part of a franchise. It will have 63 rooms and be three-stories tall, according to City Planner Diane Mutchie.


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Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. WARNER). Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina. I ask unanimous consent I be allowed to offer the TRICARE amendment, and I send it to the desk at this time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from South Carolina [Mr. GRAHAM], for himself and Mr. Daschle, proposes an amendment numbered 3258.
Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina. I ask unanimous consent the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.
Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina. Mr. President, before we get started discussing the substance of the amendment, I think it is important that I make a comment about how the amendment came about, and that this is the Daschle-Graham amendment. Senator Daschle has been gracious enough to let me offer the amendment, but the truth is, without his support it would never have happened.
I have enjoyed tremendously working with him and others to try to find some common ground in terms of helping our Guard and Reserve communities facing unprecedented problems from the war on terrorism. They are doing a terrific job, just as are our active-duty troops. This has been a bipartisan effort. We worked on this last year. Senator Daschle offered the amendment last year. We made some progress. There was a compromise reached for the uninsured Guard and Reserve members to have $400 million to allow them to have full-time health care through the military health care system. That program was not implemented to my satisfaction. I doubt if Senator Daschle was pleased, but at least we did make some progress.
Chairman Warner has been very gracious in allowing us to offer this amendment and has tried to work with us at every turn. Senator Clinton was one of the original cosponsors, along with Senator DeWine. I could make a fairly lengthy list of Republicans and Democrats who tried to find some common ground when it comes to the Guard and Reserve community and their participation in the war on terrorism. What we have before the Senate today is a result of that bipartisan effort.
I listened to Senator Daschle talk about his visit to South Dakota. I had a similar visit in South Carolina when people kind of urged us to get our act together and do more in common, find some common ground up here. I think we found that today.
Guard and Reserve members, most Americans would assume, are covered in terms of military health care, but they are not. I think most Americans find it surprising that if you join the Guard or Reserve you are not entitled to military health care unless you are activated. The truth is, if you are a Guard or Reserve member, you have to work at least one weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. But the big joke among the Guard and Reserve is, "What a heck of a one weekend a month, 2 weeks a year job" because so many of them have been called to active duty for extended periods.
By the end of this year, 40 percent of the people serving in Iraq and Afghanistan will be members of the Guard and Reserve, called to active duty for probably a year or more. The reason that is so is because the Guard and Reserve community possesses unique skills that are essential to winning the war on terror. Mr. President, 75 percent of the people flying the C-130 in Afghanistan and Iraq come from the Guard and Reserve community. These air crews come from Air Guard units and Air Reserve units.
The C-130 is an indispensable asset in the war on terrorism. It is a four-engine prop plane. It was not the leading edge weapons system in the cold war. But when it comes to the war on terrorism, it can land in short spaces and take off in short spaces and haul people and cargo under some pretty adverse conditions. When I toured Iraq last year with fellow Senators, we had nine C-130 flights going in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan. All nine flights were manned by Reserve crews.
Ninety percent of the people in the civil affairs component of the military are Reserve or Guard members. What do the civil affairs folks do? They are the ones who go around to Afghanistan and Iraq and teach democracy. They help local government organize at the equivalent of a city or a county level. They are helping judicial systems start. They are civilian lawyers and judges and administrators who leave small towns and big towns and they offer their service to the military. That service is being offered in Afghanistan and Iraq and is completely indispensable. We will never win the war on terror unless we get some democratic principles in the Mideast, and the civil affairs units are the leading edge folks providing that service.
Another group that is highly valuable that is heavily laden in terms of Guard and Reserve participation is military police. I know our Presiding Officer is a former member of the Reserve component, legal officer. He probably has a lot of MPs from Alabama who have been called from active duty to go to Afghanistan and Iraq and Bosnia and perform that function.
The military police force has a way to go. Major combat operations are over, but we know from our PC screens, what we read and hear from what is reported from our troops, Iraq and Afghanistan are very dangerous places. What we are trying to do is create order out of chaos. The military police are not only trained in combat skills but policing skills. High numbers of the military police units that are being activated to thwart the war on terrorism come from the Guard and Reserve communities. Most of them have civilian connection to law enforcement. They come from small towns all over America-from Alabama, South Dakota, and South Carolina. They are two of the five cops deployed because they are military police Reserve or Guard units.
The point of this discussion is to try to inform the body that the reason the Guard and Reserve community is so heavily utilized is because it has unique assets and skills which are essential to win the war on terror. The commitment from this group will continue to grow probably over time-not less.
It is now time for the Senate, the House, and the administration to work together to upgrade the benefits of the Guard and Reserve community.
One of the big problems we find from the war on terror is about 25 percent of the people called to active duty from the Guard and Reserve community are unable to go on active duty because of health care problems. That percent of the people in the Guard and Reserve do not have health care insurance in the private sector.
In my State, our adjutant general, Stan Speers, who has done a wonderful job leading our National Guard, says about 50 percent of the people in the National Guard in South Carolina have no health care in the private sector. What happens when you are called up? You have rigorous military standards in terms of being activated and sent off to war. The leading disqualifier for going onto active duty after being called from the Guard and Reserve is dental problems.
When you think about it, a lot of private health care plans have very limited dental coverage.
What we have been working on for well over a year is to provide full-time access to Guard and Reserve members and their families to military health care called TRICARE. If you are called to active duty from the Guard or Reserve, or if you join the Active-Duty services, you will became a member of TRICARE. Our chairman, Senator Warner, is the father of TRICARE. It was through his initiative that we created this large network of hospitals and doctors that go beyond the limits of the base. We signed up doctors and hospitals all over the country and the world to provide health care to our military members and their families. TRICARE is getting better every year. It is a free benefit.
But for those who serve in the military, you earn what you are getting because nothing is really free. You are risking your life for our freedom. But there is no contribution required of Active-Duty personnel.
What Senator Daschle, myself, and others have tried to do is cover this problem for the Guard and Reserve community in a creative fashion. Let us allow them to enroll in TRICARE. What would be the benefit of that for their country?
Number one, our Guard and Reserve would have continuity of health care. They would be in a health care system that is providing quality health care. It would be a great recruiting tool. If you join the Guard or Reserve, you and your family would be eligible for military health care. That would be a good attraction to get new people to come in. It would be a great retention incentive for people to stay in who have already signed up because they could get their health care through the military. It would be a great relief to employers.
The unsung hero of this whole operation in terms of the Reserve community is employers. If you go without your employer for a year or greater, many employers pay the difference between active and civilian pay.
More times than not, when a person is called to active duty, they get a cut in pay. Their military pay is less than their civilian pay. Their families suffer because the military members stand in harm's way. The support network for the Guard and Reserve is not nearly what it is for Active-Duty people. They get a cut in pay.
We are trying to lessen the effects on hardships on families. We are trying to make it an incentive for Guard and Reserve participation.
Here is how the program would work. If you join the Guard or Reserve, you and your family would be eligible to enroll in TRICARE, if you chose to. You would be asked to pay a premium. Unlike your Active-Duty counterparts who receive this without any cost sharing, you would be asked to pay a premium. I think that is fair. The premiums we set up, mirror what Federal employees have to pay in terms of their match for their health care. It is a good deal for the Guard and Reserve members and their families. It lessens the cost. It would be a shared responsibility, for the member would have to contribute and the Government would have to contribute.
I didn't know this until I got into this debate. If part-time Federal employees work 16 hours a week for the Federal Government, they are eligible for full-time participation in our health care plan. If you are a temporary employee, after a year you are eligible for full-time participation without a Government match. I think that is a good idea. I think this is fair and balanced for part-time Federal employees.
I think it would be a shame for a part-time citizen soldier not to at least have that benefit. We are not talking about a normal job. Everyone who serves this country by working for the Government is doing a good thing. People in the Guard and Reserve are not only serving their country in a positive way, but they are literally risking their lives. They take a cut in pay. They go from home into harm's way. Last month, the casualty rate among the Guard and Reserve community had a tremendous bite because there are more and more Guard and Reserve people in Iraq and Afghanistan. That is going to stay the same or get worse over time because we can't win the war without these people.
This amendment would allow, if the members chose, a chance to join TRICARE for themselves and their families. They would pay a premium, and the Government would pick up the match.
The committee markup allows the Guard member to join and pay a premium. It requires the employer to pay the remaining amount of the TRICARE premium.
I appreciate that effort, but the reason I think that misses the mark is because a lot of Guard and Reserve members don't have a private health care plan with which to cost share. You are going to have a very convoluted system. And at the end of the day, I feel very strongly we should not outsource the health care needs of the Guard and Reserve family-to be shared by the military member and the private sector alone.
I think it is very important for us in the Senate and in the House to say this is a government responsibility also, that it is fair to ask the Guard and Reserve family and member to contribute. But I think it is incumbent upon us to also have the Government contribute.
I have yet to find a taxpayer who is upset with the idea that we are going to pick up some of the health care costs for our Guard and Reserve members and their families for protecting our freedom.
The cost of the program: It depends on who you ask. But the latest CBO estimate is about $5.4 billion over a 5-year period. I think there are ways to lessen that cost, and I will be very openminded to that. But we are talking about a $2.2 trillion budget, and a defense budget approaching $400 billion.
My question to the body is, Is that $1 billion a year a wise expense of money? The question is, Can we afford not to? This is about two-tenths of 1 percent of the entire military budget; 300,000 families would be affected. These families are being called upon to do more as Guard and Reserve members than at any other time in the history of the Nation. They don't have health care provided to them by the Government, even though they are fighting to make sure we are all free. That is an inequity we need to fix. A cost-sharing arrangement between the Government and the military member is the way to go. It would help our employers greatly.
If you hire a Guard or Reserve member, and if they can sign up for military health care, it is less expensive for you to hire them and they became a more valuable employee. The employer community has suffered greatly in this war. They have gone without key employees for well over a year's time. They have been paying the bills as if the person were still there, and they need some relief.
I hope we can, in a bipartisan fashion, pass this amendment that Senator Daschle, myself, and others have worked on for well over a year. This amendment, simply stated, would allow Guard and Reserve members and their families access to full-time military health care, so when they are called they will be fit to fight, that they will have the security that continuous health care provides families, and they will not be bouncing around from one group to the next.
This is what often happens. If you are in a health care plan in civilian work, you are called to active duty, you leave that health care plan to go into TRICARE. On one of the C-130 crews I was flying with, there were two first-time dads on the crew. One of them had a private plan with Southwestern Bell that continued health care for the family voluntarily. They do not have to do that. The other was a realtor who had private health insurance. When he was called to active duty, his wife had to change doctors and hospitals. That was very traumatic.
We can lessen that trauma. We can give an option to the military member and their family, the Guard and Reserve military member, to have the same set of doctors and hospitals year round. They do not have to bounce from one group to another. When they are called off active duty, they lose their TRICARE eligibility within less than 6 months and have to change doctors and hospitals twice. It creates a serious disruption. Twenty-five percent have no health care in the private sector. This would solve that problem.
In terms of the money, it is the best deal you will ever find to defend America. It will save money. If 25 percent of the people called to active duty cannot be utilized because of health care problems, a small investment in their health care makes good sense from a business equation.
If necessary, we will find offsets.
I hope the Senate today, in a bipartisan fashion, will extend TRICARE health care benefits to every Guard and Reserve member who chooses to sign up in a cost-sharing fashion to make sure those people are ready to go to war when called, that their families are better taken care of, and that the concerns of continuity of health care will finally be addressed forever.
This is affordable. It is the right thing to do. Our Guard and Reserve families and members have earned it. They have earned this benefit.
I yield for my colleague, Senator Daschle.


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Machine vision technologies for photovoltaic soldering
A photovoltaic assembly soldering machine uses machine vision to improve quality and throughput. Machine vision technologies include Cognex In-Sight 5100 intelligent vision system to optimize the process of soldering the cross-links between photovoltaic modules. See related application article.
A photovoltaic assembly soldering machine uses machine vision to improve quality and throughput. Machine vision technologies include a Cognex In-Sight 5100 intelligent vision system to optimize the process of soldering the cross-links between photovoltaic modules.
In-Sight 5100 sets the precise positioning of the soldered joints.
On each side, two induction soldering heads equipped with the In-Sight 5100 intelligent vision system move over the work areas. With machine vision, Mondragon Assembly achieved cycle times of 80 seconds for cells with three busbars and modules with six strings, much faster than manual production.
In addition to the rapid functioning as a stand-alone system, the easy handling of the compact In-Sight 5100 image processing system speeds up the use of the equipment.
Complex applications are solved by powerful vision tools. A wide range of development, management, and monitoring tools is offered by the graphical development platform In-Sight Explorer. Based on the familiar Microsoft Windows environment, it provides for shorter development cycles for vision applications, increased functional reliability, and high system flexibility.
Cognex also offers Mondragon Assembly, a seamlessly integrated global service and logistics network. Cognex's In-Sight Explorer is easy to use so even less well-trained employees can operate the equipment without knowledge in the field of image processing systems.
In-Sight vision systems can operate as a stand-alone solution, without central control.
See related application article and another photo, "Machine vision cuts PV module assembly time." The link follows below.
- John Lewis is market development manager, Cognex Corp. Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager, CFE Media, Control Engineering.
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Annual Salary Survey
Before the calendar turned, 2016 already had the makings of a pivotal year for manufacturing, and for the world.
There were the big events for the year, including the United States as Partner Country at Hannover Messe in April and the 2016 International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago in September. There's also the matter of the U.S. presidential elections in November, which promise to shape policy in manufacturing for years to come.
But the year started with global economic turmoil, as a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing triggered a worldwide stock hiccup that sent values plummeting. The continued plunge in world oil prices has resulted in a slowdown in exploration and, by extension, the manufacture of exploration equipment.
Read more: 2015 Salary Survey


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Activision has formally announced the next game in their series of Spider-Man titles. Coming this September, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions allows players to travel across four different worlds as different versions of Spider-Man.
Activision has only announced two versions of Spider-Man so far, which are the Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man Noir. As the Amazing Spider-Man, players get that classic web combat experience they would normally get when playing as Spider-Man. As Spider-Man Noir, the visuals change to a black and white cinematic environment where Spider-Man uses his cunning and stealth to take down enemies.
"Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions delivers an original storyline that bridges four unique worlds," said Rob Kostich, Head of Marketing, Activision Publishing, Inc. "Each action-packed universe will have its own detailed art design and thrilling missions, challenging gamers to use new skill sets to defeat enemies as they unlock powerful new moves and progress through the game."
The first set of screenshots, featuring the two announced Spider-Man variations, can be seen at the gallery. The debut trailer can be seen below.


text: The ninth edition has been revised to reflect the latest author's expertise in women's history, social history, and the history of the Later Middle Ages; the text integrates more stories of ordinary people into the narrative, expands coverage of what has been called the "formation of a persecuting society" in the Central Middle Ages, and fills out coverage of later years. Co-author Hollister, who died in 1997, was associated with the U. of California, Santa Barbara; Bennett teaches at the U. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)


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Police have released the names of the three people who died in fiery collision between a school bus and a car in Inver Grove Heights.
The victims, residents of Inver Grove Heights, include the car's driver, Elaine Clausen, 70, and two passengers, Laela Shawel, 11, and Gion Clausen-Young, 4.
The head-on crash Friday destroyed the car and tore apart the school bus. The bus, which served Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools, was not carrying any passengers and the driver was not injured, police said. Both vehicles were on fire when police arrived at the site on a short residential street, off Highway 55, shortly before 4 p.m. Friday.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.


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So says the Wall Street Journal, upon having conversations with their best friends, People Familiar With The Matter. That's going to be my next band name. We'll always get great coverage in the Journal.
AT&T and Verizon are the only carriers that sell the wireless enabled iPad now and it looks like they'll continue to sell the new model, widely expected to debut next month. Whether Sprint picks it up also is unclear, no one's holding their breath for poor T-Mobile, whose headquarters are now located in an plywood shack out by the abandoned railyard.
And the new pad will be on the two big guys' 4G LTE wireless network. Expect to hear A LOT about that when this thing finally drops. There will be commercials deeply dedicated to telling you that you need to be on this super fast network and sign up for a data plan for your iPad. And maybe you do, maybe you don't, but in order to thrive, AT&T and Verizon need to be constantly growing, always swimming, always feeding, never sleeping, sharks of the wireless industry. And we are fish or Long Island swimmers.
That need for growth is because the companies have sunk a TON of money into building out these networks. They need your monthly payment to pay the thing off.


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12 Sneaky Ways That Big Retailers Track Your Every Move
Flickr/dave416Retailers are watching you.
In the age of smartphones, online shopping and data, it has become easier than ever for companies to monitor the consumers who give them business.
Retailers employ all sorts of clever tactics from using facial recognition devices to devising customer loyalty programs and cell phone signal trackers.
Then they use the collected data to determine where to place products in the store and how and where to advertise.
While many consumers are unassuming and unaware, a variety of groups are protesting the data collection as an invasion of privacy.
Click here to see how they're watching > »
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Diocese of Fort Worth Website
Take 5 with Father: building community from ballpark to monastery
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Fort Worth faithful remember warmth, spirituality of Father Gerald Gordon, TOR
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Lt. Reichard's WWII Diary Project and Recap: On January 1, 2009, WorthPoint began a three year project following the life of a WWII soldier through the daily pages of his diary. To read about the inception of this project, or to add your own comments, click here.
January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard's sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.
February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven't any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise. Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent. February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.
[voxant 3642900]
Transcript of Diary Entry March 4, 1943
Thursday, March 4, 1943
Gowen Fieid, Boise, Idaho
This morning I took some shoes up to be half-soled. The men can't get it done because they are not supposed to wear oxfords so I take them up and say they are mine. I also checked on that W. D. Memorandum, Lt. Buckley told me to look up regarding O.C.S. candidates from an alerted outfit. It states that any man selected by a board for a school must have the approval of the Commanding General of the Port of Embarkation before he can be released. That is practicaly an impossibility so Sgt. W __________'s chances of going to school look slim. I sent a teletype to Ogden to get the final say and should hear tomorrow. I haven't told him anything about it yet. It looks like we are going to have to move in with the [ink blotch] whether we like it or not. We move Monday and it sure is going to be a crowded move. There really isn't room for the two outfits and it means double decking the bunks. This is a hell of a mess. I threw my rank a little and claimed the upstairs because that is where the rooms are. Tonight we played the Finance Dpt in softball and beat them. It was a tie until the last half of the last inning so it was a pretty tight game. Tonight I am staying in to get some writing done. It's about time.
Good Night
To view previous diary entries, click here.
The Day That Was: March 4, 1943
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded an Oscar (Short Subjects, Cartoons) to Walt Disney for the Donald Duck film, "Der Fuehrer's Face." Others to earn Oscars that night in the Ambassador Hotel's Coconut Grove were "Mrs. Miniver" (Outstanding Motion Picture category), James Cagney ("Yankee Doodle Dandy," Best Actor), Greer Garson ("Mrs. Miniver," Best Actress), Van Heflin ("Johnny Eager," Best Supporting Actor), Teresa Wright ("Mrs. Miniver," Best Supporting Actress), William Wyler ("Mrs. Miniver," Best Director). (http://www.popculturemadness.com/Trivia/Oscars/Top-1942-O.html)
Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long
Diary photos: Claudia Forbes
Video production: Alison Harder
Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department
Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Sean McGill – voice of Lt. Reichard


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|Product Update
A designer and manufacturer of custom and standard magnetic components and assemblies for medical device applications has launched four new technologies within the company's family of high-current inductors. Available in four standard sizes as well as in a variety of custom formats, the new high-current inductors feature a flat-wire, ferritecore construction that generates both real estate and cost savings while reducing power losses. The new high-current inductors can be used as a standard part drop-in replacement or as part of a custom technology design. These inductors also work with power management integrated circuits (ICs) made by major IC manufacturers such as International Rectifier, Microchip, and Texas Instruments. The technology can be integrated into key power conversion applications for medical devices. The high-density construction of the high-current inductors features a flat-wire, edge-wound copper coil that generates efficiency gains and space savings compared with alternative round-wire or Litz wire technologies.


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Last Ride of Howard Stark
Howard Stark reflects on his life while driving home from a party.
Male-bonding, self-loathing and despair ahoy.
Frank Garret
Filed Under: "
Fan Fic
California, 1991, 11:53 p.m.
The leather on the steering wheel costs several months rent for most people. The engine, which he designed himself ten years ago, gives a satisfying deep rumble. The car is one of only three ever made by StarkAuto. It handles like a dream as it coasts down long, winding stretches of California road in the early hours of morning.
Maria is quiet as she sits in the passenger seat, resting her head against the glass. Howard doesn't bother asking her what's wrong. She's asking herself questions about the two of them, the way he is and why does he have to be that. Questions he can't answer, or only knows answers she won't like, so he doesn't say anything at all. He just keeps his hands on the wheel and feels the bitter resentment simmer within his heart.
Anger is the easy alternative to what he really is feeling, but it is one he can't sustain. In truth, Howard isn't really angry, at least not at Maria or anyone in particular, he is instead scared, disappointed, and alone.
He shouldn't be any of those things No one else would dare entertain the notion that Howard Stark was anything but on top of things. Around the world and across the ages, men thought of the hand life had dealt him and wish they'd been born as someone else, someone better, far away perhaps, for their stars to have been different. Howard didn't, he could ask for no other hand, he played it for all it was worth, and he won.
He took his father's modest oil rig business and blew it up into an arms and aviation powerhouse. He'd made the guns that killed the Nazis and the bombs that put down the Japanese empire, a success he parlayed into building his own empire after the war. Automobiles, movies, home appliances, real-estate; his business stormed in every direction, and it hadn't stopped yet.
Kings and President deemed him a force to be reckoned with. He'd made and broke destinies. The sixties saw him get involved in the spy-trade, founding one of the most covert intelligence agencies the world hadn't quite "seen", that had brought the unknowing world back from the brink of oblivion numerous times and did its bit in the battle that ended with the downfall of the Soviets.
He could, and did, get everything he wanted. Women, government contracts, technology; it didn't matter. Howard would use his charm to lure it, his money to buy it, contacts to procure it or sheer drive to win to see that it was his. He was Howard Stark, one of the richest men on the face of the Earth, and the world was his goddamned
And it isn't enough. Even with all he'd amassed and all he'd achieved, he feels like failure. He'd done it all his way, but all that really did was build impenetrable walls around himself that he could no longer touch anyone, not his beautiful wife that worshipped the ground he walked on, not his amazing son he had that taken after him in more ways than one, not a single one of his powerful and renowned friends and allies.
Ten minutes of bitter silence had passed with them in the car. Maria is stifling sobs, and doing a grand job of hiding it, but he still notices, he just pretends not to. He expects that in a few hours, when Maria's asleep, he'll sit out on the balcony with his oldest Bourbon and shed a few tears himself.
Then he thinks about stopping the car and holding her, saying he's sorry for the way he is. He could feel like less of a dogshit, he could be less of a bastard. In the end he doesn't. He's well over seventy years old, and he thinks it's far too late to be good, or happy.
He'd forgotten how to be those things over the years, anyway. For a moment, he wonder what he could've done to have been different, or who could've put a stop to him.
He thinks about Maria. She's beautiful and amazing. When he met her twenty years ago, she was an actress, a fairly good one, too. She was on the cusp of being a star, but she chose to devote herself to him instead. Whatever he did, however bad he got, she loved him. She'd allowed him to be the way he is. He shouldn't resent her, but he does, and he hates himself all the more. It doesn't stop him, and he wonder what he might've been like had he ended up with someone else.
Someone like Peggy, perhaps. He'd always thought she was a handsome woman, and they should've been lovers, but their personalities got in the way. She was into valiant and heroic soldier types, and he wasn't nearly done reaping tail through Tinseltown. When he'd decided to settle down, she'd already been happily married for twenty years.
He knows it wouldn't have worked, but it would've been different. Right now he could settle for just talking to her, have her set him straight, but she and Falsworth died four years ago, surrounded by the people they loved.
He misses her.
He misses Steve Rogers.
He misses the SSR. He even misses Colonel Phillips. He misses being young and righteous.
It dawns on him that the last time, possibly the only time in his life that he was happy, was during the war, outfitting Captain Rogers' Howling Commandos and examining the warped genius of Hydra from confiscated intelligence and captured weaponry.
Such a realization comes the second before a pickup truck with its headlights off quite comes accelerating toward him.
London, 1943, 1000 Hours
Captain Rogers' squad, who has been informed would be referred to as "Howling Commandos" –thought he'd voted they be called Rogers' Ramblers, but it turns out he doesn't get a vote-, had got back to London after a month of training at the Army Ranger school in Carrickfergus, Ireland. They'd be on their way out again pretty soon to destroy a weapon station Hydra was running, on which Howard had to brief them on in the morning, as well as to acquaint them with what weapons, equipment and body armor his team had fashioned for their use.
But there was something he couldn't wait to discuss with Rogers, so he went to the Captain's room at the Epting Hotel where the men were being quartered. He'd knocked on the door and someone said from inside the room,
"Door's open."
He entered. It was a decent enough room, but below his own tastes. At the moment the lone occupant was a barefooted soldier out of his jacket, sitting on a bed, shinning his shoes. The soldier looked up at him, his eyes widening slightly with surprised recognition as he stared at him for a moment, but made no further sign of being star struck. He nodded in greeting and said,
"Mr. Stark."
Though he couldn't put a name to the face, he recognized him as the man he'd flown Rogers into Austria in order to rescue.
"Good evening, Corporal."
The soldier smiled faintly and turned his arm to show the three-bar chevron on his sleeve.
The soldier, who he now remembered was called Barnes, raised his eyebrows in mild bewilderment.
"I'm a Sergeant."
"Oh. My mistake."
"What can I do for you, Mr. Stark?" Barnes said as he continued to shine his shoes, "And could you close the door?"
Howard did as Barnes requested, and then leaned against the table, his hands in his pockets, careful not to wrinkle his suit.
"I was hoping to find Captain Rogers. I need to discuss matter of some urgency."
"Well, he isn't here. He left a couple of hours ago."
"Any idea where he went?"
"Well he told me, but I wasn't really listening. Some kind of ball, or gala. What's the difference between those two?"
"A ball's a dance. Gala's a swanky party."
"How come you didn't go?"
"Officers only. Falsworth went with him."
"Any idea when they'll be back?"
"I don't know, but it shouldn't be too long; balls and galas aren't Steve's thing. I'd say he'll be here soon enough."
"Well, alright."
"You can wait here if you like."
"Thank you."
Rogers knew how to pick 'em, Howard thought. He didn't think of himself as an elitist, but Howard had come to expect hostility from men of similar background to Rogers and Barnes, born of resentment and being intimidated.
"Have you known Captain Rogers long?"
"Since we were twelve. We grew up in an orphanage together."
"Oh. Sorry."
"It's alright, it wasn't that bad." Barnes said with as he stopped and examined his work, checking for any smudge or blob or show-polish "You know me and Steve saw you at the World Expo of Tomorrow at the start of the year."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Yeah." Barnes smiled, "Be real. A flying car?"
"Well, it's possible, but it's mostly razzle-dazzle, I'm afraid. A little show to get the backing. The technology isn't finished, and when it is perfected, chances are it'll be better utilized for something else. And breaking is a problem."
"Huh." Barnes said with a touch of disappointment, "Sure would be neat, though."
"It would, wouldn't it?" Howard said with a smirk, "So what was your training like?"
"Three months of the hardest training course condensed into one." Barnes said as he put his shoes on,
"Pretty brutal. Still, we got to be real hard men to win bastard, right?"
"Of course."
Now ready, Barnes stood up and put on his jacket.
"Listen, Stark, I wanted to thank you."
"For what?"
"For helping Steve rescue me and the guys. And even before that, for giving him what he needed to get where he had to. You know, Steve's always had heart and guts, but never could back it up. Now he can. You couldn't have picked a better man to be Captain America."
The earnestness with which the soldier spoke greatly interested Howard; touched him, even. He straightened up as he said,
"I can't take credit for the last one; it was Dr. Erskine who picked him and done most of the work."
"Well, all the same, I was wondering if I could buy you a drink at the bar downstairs. You shouldn't worry about missing Steve; he'll spot us if we're at the bar."
Howard considered it for a moment before saying,
"I'd be honored, Sergeant. What's your poison?"
"Bourbon." Barnes said as he opened the door and stepped out.
"Good man." Howard said as he followed.
London, 1943, 1119 Hours
"I… I tell ya what," slurred Barnes as he hunched over the bar, "I'd be happy ta get captured by Hydra again…. Just fer a night with Betts Grabble."
"I'll… I'lll introduce you. When we get home." Howard said, who was a little more sober, but not by much.
"…Or Lizabeth Scott."
"I'll put it this way; If… If you was a dog, you're barkin' uppa wrong tree."
"She's a lesb
… She's-"
"Hello, boys." Said Falsworth, arriving alongside Rogers, "Having a good night, are we?"
"Rogers!" Howard said giddily, "I'd like ya ta meet my new best bud… Buck Barnes!"
"Is that so?" Rogers said with am amused smile.
"Yeah," Bucky said with a dumb grin, "He'll get me in with Betty Grabbull."
"Uh-huh." Rogers said, then turned to his Lieutenant and said, "I'll take Bucky, you take Stark."
"Take him where?"
"He's quartered across town, and we won't find a car to take him. He'll take my bunk."
Bucky offered little resistance as Rogers picked up his arm and placed it around his shoulders before dragging him off to the stairs. Howard resisted at first, but then relented as Falsworth dragged him the same way.
"Do you really know Betty Grabble?" asked Falsworth.
"You bet. Hey, how come you Brits have nicer hats than our boys, hm?"
California, 1991, 12:04 a.m.
He doesn't feel much of anything. It's the shock. There's blood in his right eye, he knows that much. The car is a wreck, and he can't move too well, just enough to look at Maria and see what the collision had done to her. She's dead. He doesn't feel anything. It's the shock.
He looks the other way, outside his own window which had been shattered. Someone approaches, seemingly having emerged out of the truck that hit him. The figure is dressed in black, and holds something gleaming in its right hand.
The man in black leans over by the window, and even with the shock and only one good eye, Howard could see the man's face clearly.
"Barnes?" Howard said weakly.
The man doesn't react one bit, he just reaches through the window with his right hand, which Howard notices is made out of iron; a robotic prosthesis. Any other time and he'd be intrigued. Right now, he isn't anything at all. It's the shock.
The man touches Howard with his iron hand and an electric shock knocks Howard right out. The man places his good hand over Howard's mouth and nose, holding it there for a few minutes until he's sure the man's stopped breathing. He doesn't need to check in on the woman to see she's dead, but he does anyway.
After that he gets back to the truck and pulls out the safety modifications that allowed him to survive. He then drags the drunkard's body with the fabricated wounds to coincide with the collision out of the trunk and places him behind the wheel.
He bundles the modification together and then makes his way off the side of the road. He finds the car that'd been stashed for him, gets in and drives for an hour, sticking to the back roads. Eventually he finds a dumpster where he disposes of the scraps of metal he took out of the truck. He gets back in the car and drives for a short while longer until he finds a payphone. He drops the dime and dials the number.
"It is done."
Hearing the dial tone after that, he hangs the receiver and walks away, leaving the car behind.
The wreckage would have already been discovered. There'll be an investigation and theories of foul play, but they'll never be able to find evidence to lend credence to them. They'll officially rule it a tragic accident within a few weeks if not days, and only the most paranoid will believe it anything but.
By then, the Winter Soldier would be back in Moscow, waiting for his next assignment.
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Michael Symon's Grilled Pork Chop with Potato Salad
Pork Chops
- Ingredients
- step-by-step directions
Michael Symon's Grilled Pork Chop with Potato Salad
- For the Potato Salad:
- 2 pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes (skin on; sliced 1/2-inch thick pieces)
- splash Beer
- 4 cloves Garlic (2 skin-on; 2 sliced)
- 2 sprigs Rosemary
- 1/2 pound thick cut Bacon (chopped)
- 1/2 cup Yellow Onion (small diced)
- 1 teaspoons Caraway Seeds
- 1/3 cup Malt Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Whole Grain Mustard
- 2 tablespoons Parsley
- 1 small bunch Scallions (sliced)
- Salt and freshly cracked Black Pepper
For the Pork Chops:
- 4 Pork Chops (1/2-inch thick)
- Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground Ginger
- 1 teaspoon toasted ground Coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted ground Cumin
- 4 tablespoons Olive Oil
- Preheat your grill to medium high heat.
- For the Potato Salad: Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, mustard, scallions and parsley. Season the vinaigrette with salt and freshly ground black pepper then set aside.
- Cook the bacon in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Once crisp, place on a plate and crumble into small pieces and add to the vinaigrette. Reserve the rendered fat.
- Combine the potatoes, a splash of water, beer, skin-on garlic, rosemary and a pinch of salt in a foil packet. Add a few tablespoons of rendered bacon fat in the packet and pinch to seal. Place on the grill and cook until potatoes are fork tender. Set aside.
- Turn the heat to medium and add a few tablespoons of rendered fat and the onion. Cook until translucent and just beginning to brown, about 4 to 5 minutes then add the caraway seeds and garlic, cooking for an additional 30 seconds.
- Add the cooked potatoes to the vinaigrette and toss to coat. Serve warm.
- For the Pork Chops: In the meantime, season your pork chops with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix together the paprika, ginger, coriander, and cumin and season the pork on both sides, drizzle with olive oil rubbing the spices in to the meat. Place the seasoned meat on the grill. Cook the chops till medium, about 4 minutes per side. Remove the pork from the grill and let it rest up to 10 minutes.
Similar categories: Dinner Courses & Meals
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Linfield star McAllister expects goals to flow
Mark McAllister doesn't mind who scores the goals for Linfield — as long as they keep winning.
The striker got the Blues off to a flying start with the first two goals in their 8-1 mauling of Crusaders at Windsor Park on Monday evening, doubling his tally in the Carling Premiership in the process.
"As long as I am playing well and creating chances, I don't really mind who scores," he says.
"A hat-trick would have been brilliant, but I'll settle for the two."
Crusaders had no answer to Linfield's speed and power as they were simply blown off the park.
McAllister had them two goals to the good after just 18 minutes, leading 5-1 at the interval with further strikes by Jim Ervin, Curtis Allen and Peter Thompson. Goals from Aaron Burns, Allen and Jamie Mulgrew completed the rout in the second half.
The Blues have scored 12 in the past two matches, after taking over at the top of the Carling Premiership with a 4-0 win over Newry last Friday and they are now four points clear at the top.
And Northern Ireland under-21 international McAllister reckons the way they have been playing, someone was going to be in for a hiding sooner or later.
"We've been threatening to do that for a few weeks now," he added.
"This was one of those games where we took all our chances.
"But it's still only three points and we have to move on. It's funny what a couple of weeks can change. We were struggling to score and under a wee bit of pressure but we were always confident it would come.
"Peter (Thompson) has been scoring a lot of goals and against the Crues it wasn't just him, they were coming from throughout the whole team, even the fullbacks.
"People are getting forward and we are creating a lot of chances."
McAllister says the 4-3-3 formation manager David Jeffrey came up with for the Champions League tie against Rosenborg was now paying dividends at home.
"Against Rosenborg we did very well as an attacking unit with myself, Peter and Curtis Allen," he explained.
"It's different in the Irish League because we are expected to go out and attack. And in the last few weeks since the Glenavon game we have been playing very well."
Belfast Telegraph


text:
What is the difference between small blocks and normal blocks?
Well, speaking about the html, The small block has an extra class called "small" and in its top div it does not allow an unordered list with links in it.
The biggest difference is actually in the design. The small block is designed to be secondary, it is designed to be the "side-kick" of the "normal block".


text:
Sports Range Rover Kids 12V Power Ride On Car for Kids with Parental Remote - PINK|View Details
Sports Range Rover 12-Volt Power Children's Ride On Car Battery Powered with Parental Remote, Leather Seat, Rubber Tires, LED Headlights, 2 Speeds
- Suitable for Boys or Girls 3-6 Years Old (Or Younger, Under Supervision of Adult) with Maximum Rider Weight of 66 lb
- 12V Battery, 2 Motors, 2 Speeds (3 Speeds controlled by Parental Remote), Maximum speed 3-5 Mph
- Forward / Park / Reverse switch, Long Range 2.4Ghz Parental Remote Control with Remote STOP
- NEW ! Soft Start and Electric Brake System for Gradual Acceleration and Reliable Braking
- NEW ! Electric Power Assisted Steering System
- NEW ! 2 Way Adjustable Soft PU Leather Sport Bucket seat with 5 Point Safety Harness (Similar to Stroller Seat Belt)
- NEW ! One Button Wheel Assembly System
- Realistic Working Imitation LED Headlights / Tail Lights
- NEW ! Attractive Color LED Wheels, Openable Doors
- NEW ! Integrated MP3 Player with FM Radio and AUX MP3 Audio Input, Plays files from Micro SD card, USB Flash Drive or external devices like iPod, iPad, iPhone or Android Phones
- Horn Sound Buttons on the Steering Wheel, On-screen Digital Battery Voltage Indicator
- NEW ! Integrated Folding Handlebar (Under front bumper) and Folding Rear Caster Wheels (Under rear bumper) to transport toy car Without Battery Power
- Extremely Easy to Assemble, Requires Less Than 15 min
- Shipping Weight: 64 lb.


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Music Review: Wanda Jackson - The Best of the Classic Capitol Singles
Published 5:21 am, Saturday, February 9, 2013
Wanda Jackson presented a quandary for Capitol Records when she started recording for them in the 1950s. Even though she was not even old enough to drive, she could sing honky-tonk country as well as any "girl singer" out there, including Kitty Wells and Patsy Cline. But she could also rock as well as the male singers could, including Elvis Presley. They really didn't know what to do with her. And that is the reason that we get the wild and wonderful collection that is The Best of the Classic Capitol Singles.
The first song on the CD is the strangest and illustrates perfectly Capitol's dilemma. "I Gotta Know" is a weird hybrid of rock and country, with a go-go-stop style that is unique. There is no way this song should work, and the listener's first reaction will probably be stunned disbelief. But it grows on you.
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What Capitol did for a long time was to put a rock song on the A-side of a single, and a country song on the B-side. So you would flip over a single like "Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad" and get a song like "Silver Threads and Golden Needles." That particular pairing was one of the few where the country song was definitely the stronger.
While many of the country songs were not particularly memorable, Jackson also does a great job on "Right or Wrong" and "In the Middle of a Heartache," which are still country music standards.
The rockers here definitely are the most consistant and one of them is, in this reviewer's opinion, the best rockabilly song ever recorded. "Let's Have a Party" is a rave-up of a song, still guaranteed to get you "movin' and a groovin'."
"Mean, Mean Man" proves Jackson could hold her own with any rocker of the day. "Fujiyama Mama," which today is so blatently politically incorrect, is an all out blast of sound that was a huge hit in Japan when it was released!
One of the best rockabilly numbers on this CD is the distaff version of "Riot in Cell Block Number 9," with its lyrics, "Pass the dynamite, Molly!" The song was actually the B-side of a sweet but innocuous number titled "Little Charm Bracelet," which proved that Jackson could sing a sweet rock ballad just as Skeeter Davis could, but otherwise breaks no new ground.
Not all of the 29 songs here are gems. To most modern ears, the honky-tonk sagas "Half as Good a Girl," "No Wedding Bells for Joe," and "Just a Queen for a Day" are going to sound way too melodramatic to take seriously. The novelty song "Don'A Wan'A" does not hold up well for today's listeners either and some may even find it offensive.
But there are so many gems among both the songs that have become classics and the lesser-known songs like "You Bug Me Bad," and "Rock Your Baby" that a few less-than-stellar numbers don't really detract from the value of the collection. Once you get over the whiplash from the rapidly changing, drastically different styles, you can appreciate the immense talent and versatility of Jackson, who is still wildly popular in rockabilly circles today.
It would, in fact, have been worth it just for "Let's Have a Party," "Mean, Mean Man," and "Riot in Cell Block Number 9."