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This AK-style 12 Gauge Is Gaining A Following Among 3-Gun Shooters And Predator Hunters
Morphing rifles into shotguns is a curious business. The classic example was the German conversion of the Mauser 98 into Geha-branded, 16-gauge sporters between-the-wars. The end result was a pretty nice looking bolt-action shotgun if a bolt-action shotgun appealed to you. The action, more than any other element of these designs, make rifle-to-shotgun transformations so intriguing.
Recently, there have been two, rather interesting, contemporary adaptations. The Russian arms factory of Izhmash has developed .410, 20- and 12-gauge models based on the AK-47 action, which go by the name of "Saiga" while Eksen Arms in Istanbul, Turkey, has fielded the AR-15-looking Akdal MKA 1919 in 12 gauge. Both brands speak well for their genealogy with the Saiga being a faithful adaptation of the AK-47 mechanism while the MKA 1919 resembles an AR in cosmetics only.
I've not had an opportunity to work with the new MKA 1919, but the Saiga has been around for a few years, and I've had some experience with it.
The Russian maker, Izhmash, the Izhevsk Machine Engineering Plant, was established in 1807 by the decree of Tsar Alexander I. Izhevsk is located approximately 683 miles east of Moscow. Because it has been the small arms manufacturing center for Russia, the city of Izhevsk was a "closed city" until 1992, when, with the break-up of the USSR, travel restrictions were lifted and Izhmash was transformed into a diversified "Open Joint Stock Company" that also manufactures under the brand name "Baikal." The Izhmash plant still produces 85 percent of Russia's small arms, but the "Open Joint Stock Company" is also now producing automobiles, motorcycles, machinery and variety of consumer products.
In an effort to diversify its small arms business and to appeal to the civilian market, Izhmash developed their AK-47 based "Saiga" line of sporting rifles and shotguns. Naming their new line after the odd-looking, Roman-nosed, endangered antelope of the Russian steppes has always puzzled me, but then again, we tack the names of birds and mammals on American made firearms willy-nilly as well.
The most popular of the Saiga shotguns is the 12-gauge, which handles 2-3/4″ and 3″ shells. It has seen a dramatic rise in popularity with the advent of 3-gun matches and a growing public awareness for self-defense preparedness. It is not only popular because of its AK-47 reputation of rugged reliability, but being fed with box magazines, it's quick to reload as well as having a fast cycling rate. Moreover, it's an affordable semi-automatic, priced today below $600.
On the sporting side of the ledger, the Saiga is a fun gun for informal clay pigeon shoots. While not exactly designed as a handy upland game gun, it does just fine for static types of hunts, such as predator calling and the pursuit of doves, waterfowl, and turkeys, or as a slug gun when hunting from a stand.
The Saiga pictured here is a 12-gauge with a 19″ barrel, a 41″ overall length and, with an empty 5-shot magazine, weighs exactly 7-1/2 pounds on my Sunbeam scale. This popular version is being marketed by Century International Arms.
By Holt Bodinson
>> Click Here << To Read More August 2012 Shotgunner
Order Your Copy Of The GUNS Magazine August 2012 Issue Today!


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Do you have someone in your life who is addicted to cornhole? If so, the chore of gift giving just got a whole lot easier! If you are a fellow cornhole aficionado with friends who aren't fans of the game yet (gasp!), it is surely your duty to introduce them to the fabulous sport. And
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Cornhole for Kids
Cornhole is currently one of the most popular outdoor games among people of all ages. In fact, it's surprising to see how the game has permeated the population of young adults. Considering the simplicity, you'd think it would be more popular with kids! Perhaps the reason cornhole isn't more of a necessity for the younger
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Hosting a Cornhole Tournament: A Genius Fundraising Idea!
Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with a great fundraising idea that's cost-effective and a surefire way to get people to participate. Involving as many people as possible is the best way to raise the maximum amount of funds. It takes a special sort of event to get those sorts of results though.
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Cornhole Game Rules You Didn't Know Exist
Rules are important in any game–and cornhole is no exception. Most people are unaware of the cornhole game rules because the sport seems so simple. While cornhole is a simple game, its versatility allows it to be used in a variety of environments–some of which call for a more streamlined playing process. Even the most novice cornhole
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Tips for Purchasing a Cornhole Game Set
A favorite for tailgating and backyard BBQ's, the game cornhole is popular due to its versatility. Everyone can join in on the fun, and with summer upon us, so is the opportunity to inject a little cornhole fun into our lives. With its recent (and predictable) surge in popularity, there are more choices than ever
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Why Do I Need Regulation Cornhole Boards?
If you've been shopping for cornhole equipment, you probably have a few questions. For example, "Why do I need regulation cornhole boards?" What are Regulation Cornhole Boards? Regulation cornhole boards (or sometimes referred to as official cornhole boards) are part of a cornhole game set that can be used for tournament play. Why Do I
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You Need College Cornhole Boards and Bags!
Football season is right around the corner. Are you ready? If you don't have a set of college cornhole boards and bags, the answer is no! When it comes to NCAA football, the tailgate party is nearly as important as the actual game. And no true tailgate party is complete without a tricked out cornhole
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What are the Best Cornhole Boards?
Are you ready to embrace the cornhole lifestyle? Do you need to upgrade your game set? No matter where you are on the spectrum of cornhole love, everyone wants to know the same thing: what are the best cornhole boards? Defining the Word "Best" Unfortunately, there isn't a simple answer to the question what are
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Buy Cornhole Bean Bags
Want to Buy Cornhole Bags? Here is What You Need to Know. When you make the decision to buy your first set of cornhole bean bags, it can seem like a daunting task. You want to make sure you're buying the best you can, without overpaying, but it's difficult to know what makes one cornhole
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As the bags fly, there is a lot more to observe on the cornhole court than just the final score. Cornhole – while entertaining – is enlightening. It reveals little bits about the competitors they often don't know are exposed. Are the players uptight or laid back? Are they there to socialize or compete? Will
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subset: commoncrawl


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Altered Images: How to verify photos of current events
After eight people died in sectarian clashes in Pakistan a week ago, photos circulated on social media purporting to show the violence. These were soon called into question.
Violence erupted last Friday as Shia Muslims staged a procession marking the religious festival of Ashura in Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad. Dozens were injured and many shops set on fire in clashes between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
Images said to show the violent clashes were shared online. One shared on Facebook was captioned "This is them being oppressed". But it was an Associated Press photograph from 2009, taken in the aftermath of a suicide bombing in Karachi, and featured in a BBC News picture gallery at the time.
Blogger Syed Farrukh Abbas spotted the similarity and tweeted: "Fake Image Exposed #Takfir Supporters Were Spreading This Pic to Blame Shias But this Pic is From #Karachi 2009." Journalist Taha Siddiqui tweeted about a news page on the Pakistani social network Pring sharing "brutal pics from elsewhere in world, claiming them to be from #Rawalpindi".
The government has now ordered a crackdown on those seeking to "propagate sectarianism via social media or mobile phones", the Express Tribune reports.
With smartphone use widespread, images of unfolding events quickly fill social media networks. While many are genuine, it is not uncommon for a picture depicting something else entirely to be passed off as documenting a protest, a natural disaster or other event.
BBC News receives photos every day from people across the world, many purporting to show unfolding events. Trushar Barot, of the BBC's user generated content team, says there are two aspects to verifying whether images are genuine - technical checks and editorial judgement.
"There are several tools we use to help us assess image data, including whether an image is an original or whether it has been manipulated digitally. We'll also look for visual clues that we can cross reference, for example the weather, the location, number plates, signs, language and so on. We do reverse image searches to see if the images appear elsewhere on the web to help us track their origin.
"Editorially, we'll start from a point of scepticism, posing the question 'Is this image too good to be true?' We'll analyse the context of the image and the motives behind why it might have been uploaded on the web at that time. We will also seek to cross-reference what the image purports to show against official or verified sources, such as news agencies or with our own teams on the ground."
Use #NewsfromElsewhere to stay up-to-date with our reports via Twitter.


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A pair of pharmacists from Whitsett, N.C., were the winners of a special text-to-vote competition to highlight independent pharmacy best practices at the Cardinal Health 2013 Retail Business Conference.
As the healthcare services powerhouse it has grown to become over the decades, Cardinal Health serves a wide range of customers in a variety of channels, from retail pharmacy to hospitals and health systems. But its impact on community pharmacy extends far beyond its role as an integral linchpin in our nation's healthcare supply chain.
Cardinal Health hosted a full-day pharmacy ownership "boot camp" to support Women in Pharmacy in Seattle, Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Cardinal Health 2013 Retail Business Conference, helping to pave the way to independent ownership for a key demographic across pharmacy schools and pharmacy operations — female pharmacists.
Cardinal Health has invited customers to donate to Wounded Warrior Project for a few years now, but this year, its partnership with the organization reached a new milestone.
Chris Geronsin, owner of Beverly Hills Pharmacy in St. Louis, was honored with Cardinal Health's Ken Wurster Community Leadership Award during the closing ceremonies at the Cardinal Health annual Retail Business Conference in Seattle on Friday, Aug. 9, at the Washington State Convention Center.
At its annual Retail Business Conference for independent pharmacies, Cardinal Health presented its special publication Independent Pharmacy Best Practices Guide: Innovating Independents. This report highlights 14 unique programs, implemented by independent pharmacists from across the United States, that improve patient care and drive business results.
Changes in healthcare delivery today are influencing the way community pharmacy serves patients. That was the key message healthcare policy wizard Mark McClellan, M.P.A., M.D., PhD., had for attendees of an Aug. 9 industry general session in Seattle at Cardinal Health's annual Retail Business Conference.
As part of its continued commitment to supporting future pharmacists, Cardinal Health announced that six pharmacy schools across the country will receive more than $625,000 in funding through the Cardinal Health Pharmacy Scholarship Program.
The future is now. Material changes to health care already are impacting how independent pharmacies operate, and Cardinal Health has a host of new products and services to help their independent pharmacy partners capitalize on opportunities within that change. That was a key message for attendees of the standing-room-only opening business session, here, Thursday morning at the Washington State Convention Center, signaling the official start of the annual Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference.
One of the fastest-growing segments in health care today is home health care, which is expected to become even more important over the next decade. To help independent pharmacies take advantage of the market, Cardinal Health is giving its customers access to more than 30,000 medical products through Independence Medical, the company said at its annual Retail Business Conference for independent pharmacy owners.
By now, even a quick look at drug companies' product pipelines and patient demographics should make it clear that specialty drugs are where it's at.
Even before the official start of the Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference, Medicine Shoppe International and Medicap Pharmacy franchisees came together in Seattle Wednesday at the 2013 MSI National Meeting to explore future opportunities — both as franchisees and independent owners — and to learn how Cardinal Health can help their individual pharmacy businesses succeed.
The evening before the official kick off of the Cardinal Health 2013 Retail Business Conference, DSN took an opportunity to sit with Mike Kaufmann, CEO Cardinal Health Pharmaceutical Segment, to discuss what RBC is all about — Cardinal Health's commitment to the independent operator.
As Cardinal Health has grown into the healthcare services powerhouse it is today — No. 19 on the Fortune 500 list, with annual sales topping $108 billion, and an integral linchpin of the nation's healthcare supply chain — the company has maintained a strong focus on serving and expanding its reach among independent pharmacy operators.
Thousands of independent pharmacists will converge upon the Emerald City for Cardinal Health's annual Retail Business Conference from Aug. 7 to 10, and this year's event will showcase the broad array of solutions Cardinal Health provides that help community pharmacies diversify revenue, expand market share, improve their overall business operations and improve patient care.
Cardinal Health has created a special mobile app to help put everything attendees of its annual Retail Business Conference need to know about this year's event in the palm of their hands — and then some.
Attendees of this year's Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference will choose 1-of-3 finalists of a special best practice competition to determine the most innovative independent pharmacy program among Cardinal Health customers.
With the 2013 Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference approaching, Drug Store News sat down with George Barrett, chairman and CEO of Cardinal Health, to discuss the company's commitment to independent pharmacy.
Healthcare policy wizard Mark McClellan, M.P.A., M.D., PhD., will deliver the industry session on Friday, Aug. 9 at Cardinal Health's annual Retail Business Conference. Titled "Driving the Conversation: A Look at the Future of Healthcare in America," the former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, will focus on the crucial role community pharmacy will play in shaping that future.


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I was asked to post a larger picture of my current avatar, so here it is.
This is a fat quarter lap quilt that uses 9 fat quarters, plus a background and solid for leading. It is stipple quilted with stars intermixed from the back of the quilt. I used a variegated thread in the needle and a invisible in the bobbin with Dream Poly batt. Fun to quilt something upside down, but do take lots of care when layering
I designed the pattern a few years back when I was in my jewel tone phase.
Stained Glass Stars - 205


text: Fall For Art in Leelanau October 13, 2013 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm This event has passed. Details Date: October 13, 2013 Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Venue Leelanau County MI United States Organizer Glen Lake Artists Gallery Fall For Art, the annual Leelanau County gallery tour, is Oct. 11-13. This self-guided tour, now in its eighth year, offers participants a chance to sample the arts for which Leelanau County is known. Participant may pick up an entry packet at any of the participating galleries and have it stamped at each gallery visited. Entrants who've completed the tour may participate in a prize drawing and reception Oct. 13, 3 p.m. at Lake Street Studios, 6023 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor. Participating galleries are: The Secret Garden, Sleeping Bear Gallery (Empire); Glen Arbor Art Association, Glen Lake Artists Gallery, Forest Gallery, Synchronicity Gallery (Glen Arbor); Gallery in Cedar (Cedar); Main St. Gallery (Leland); Leelanau Prints, Northport Pottery (Northport); Gallery 22 (Suttons Bay). Hours are: Oct. 11-12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Fall For Art is organized by the Glen Lake Artists Gallery. For more information, please call 231/334-4230. + Google Calendar+ iCal Export Event Comments Event Navigation « Autumn Murder Mystery Weekend at Sojourn Lakeside Resort in Gaylord Fall Festival at Pond Hill Farm in Harbor Springs »


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Racetracks in New York state are being told they might have to shut down June 15 if a budget stalemate at the state capitol is not resolved.
The possible shutdown of state government, unprecedented in New York history, would also possibly affect casino operations at racetracks in the state. The state lottery, officials say, is also poised to be suspended if the shutdown occurs, though some officials believe it could continue for a few days beyond the fiscal doomsday scenario June 15. The lottery agency runs the racetrack casino program in the state.
At issue is a battle in the state Senate over whether to approve the scheduled 11th emergency appropriation bill since the fiscal year began April 1 without an adopted budget in place. One member of the Democratic-controlled Senate is threatening to vote against the emergency bill. It takes 32 votes to pass a bill, and the Democrats have 32 members in the Senate. Republicans, who would have to supply at least one vote if the impasse does occur June 14, have not said how they will vote on the appropriation bill.
"Hopefully, this is not going to happen. The governor is doing everything he can to prevent this from happening,'' said Joseph Mahoney, a spokesman for the state Racing and Wagering Board.
If there is no budget agreement when lawmakers return June 14, Gov. David Paterson has ordered state agencies to close at 12:01 a.m. June 15. Live racing would have to be canceled because the state workers who serve as stewards and perform such services as equine drug testing, would not be at work if the shutdown happens.
It is uncertain if tracks remain open to take bets in their parlors on out-of-state racing. "Our understanding is if tracks want to stay open without racing they can offer simulcasting, but there is still research being done on that issue,'' Mahoney said.
The New York Racing Association has a dark day June 15, but Mahoney said a shutdown that day would immediately affect Yonkers, Finger Lakes, and Monticello racetracks. "We told our staff to monitor the news. This may remain undecided until Monday,'' Mahoney said.
The state's off-track betting corporations would remain open, the racing board said, because those employees are not state workers. New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., the nation's largest OTB, will remain open even though it is owned by the state. The state comptroller, unlike the other agencies affected, does not issue paychecks to NYCOTB employees; the OTB has its own payroll.
A government shutdown would also keep racing regulators from their posts at the state's Indian casinos, but Mahoney said the casinos could remain open. The state police also has a presence at the Indian facilities, though officials have said they would not be affected by a shutdown order.
Officials and lawmakers are mixed about how seriously to take the shutdown threat in what has become a mix of intra- and inter-party squabbling between the Democrats and Republicans. Negotiations are continuing over the weekend in advance of lawmakers returning to the capitol June 14 for the all-important vote.


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Germany passes U.S. in medals
This time, it was all she could do to salvage something following another Olympic flub.
Jacobellis wobbled after landing a jump early in a snowboardcross semifinal, couldn�t regain control and clipped a gate, ending her medal chances.
She threw up her arms helplessly, then dropped her hands onto her helmet in anguish. Once she regained control of her emotions, she charged down the run and finished with a flourish. In Turin, she got a silver medal as a consolation prize. This time, it�ll only be a picture.
�I mean, it�s a bummer,� Jacobellis said. �But then (the fancy finish) came off, and I was like, �Still can have some fun in some way.��
The United States ended up getting shut out of medals Tuesday, falling into second place in the overall chase, stuck at eight while Germany reached nine.
There was some good news for the red, white and blue: the men�s hockey team won its opener, the women�s hockey team dominated again, and there�s a lot to look forward to today, when headliners Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White, Shani Davis and Apolo Anton Ohno all will be in action. Vonn�s shin still hurts, but she got another day off Tuesday as a heavy snowfall closed the course, forcing the men�s super-combined event to be pushed back to Sunday. �I�m definitely getting antsy,� Vonn said. Dry weather is forecast for today, Thursday and Friday. Of the four Alpine races scheduled so far, only the men�s downhill has been held. Canadians were excited Tuesday because their two favorite sports cranked up�hockey and curling. Yet it wasn�t a great day for Vancouver organizers. They had to deal with more weather issues and timing blunders in biathlon. Well, at least the ice-cleaning machines worked Tuesday.
U.S. men�s hockey
Bobby Ryan scored late in the first period, and David Backes and Ryan Malone added goals in the second period. Ryan Miller was solid in the net, although he was forced to put tape over the words �Miller Time� painted on his mask. (However, he was allowed to keep a tribute to a late cousin.) Despite the lack of NHL talent and household names outside of Switzerland, the Swiss club is considered dangerous�largely because of goalie Jonas Hiller.
U.S. women�s hockey
Jenny Potter came to Vancouver with five goals over three previous trips to the Olympics. After just two games in Vancouver, she�s already scored six times. She�s averaging a hat trick, although that probably is more of a reflection on the competition. Her latest three-goal-game came in a 13-0 rout of Russia, clinching a spot in next week�s playoffs.
U.S. men curlers better start sweeping faster. Or slower. They need to do something different after a 7-5 loss to a strong German squad in their first match of the Games. The U.S. women blew a three-point lead and lost 9-7 to Japan.
The ice-cleaners worked! The South Koreans keep cleaning up, too, with Lee Sang-hwa winning the women�s 500 meters. That makes two gold and a silver in four events at the big oval for a nation that had never won a Winter Olympic gold in any sport except short track. Either German world-record-holder Jenny Wolf or China�s Wang Beixing had won the eight World Cup races this season. In the biggest race, though, Wolf got silver, Wang bronze.
Tatjana Huefner gave Germany its ninth women�s singles luge gold in 13 Olympic competitions. With Felix Loch�s winning the men�s event, Germany has swept gold for the sixth time, something no other nation has ever done.
Both events were marred by problems with the officials who were in charge of timing. Three women were sent out late and two men went out too early. �It is embarrassing,� said Norbert Baier, the International Biathlon Union�s technical delegate. �Why do we have this incompetence?� Bjorn Ferry won the men�s 12.5-kilometer pursuit, giving Sweden its first gold medal in biathlon in 50 years. Magdalena Neuner of Germany and Anastazia Kuzmina of Slovakia finished 1-2 in the women�s 10-kilometer pursuit.
Last updated: 12:53 pm Thursday, December 13, 2012


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The House of Sea and Sun was the setting May 6 for the marriage of Carrie Ann Austin and Adam James Hagan. Betty Crosby, notary, officiated at the 5 p.m. double-ring ceremony.
Brian Sullivan provided the wedding music.
The bride is the daughter of Barbara Austin and Bob Austin, St. Augustine, and the bridegroom is the son of Robert and Christine Hagan, West Palm Beach.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a white strapless layered dress. Her headdress was a crystal and pearl tiara, which secured a chapel-length veil. She carried a bouquet of red roses.
Kim Eichmann was honor attendant, and also attending the bride were Cheryl Governale and Marissa Martinez.
Brad Hagan was best man, and groomsmen were James Peyton, Jason Bittner and Jason Baughman.
A reception, hosted by the bride's parents, followed at the House of Sea and Sun.
The newlyweds are residing in St. Augustine.
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us


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Changes expected at MLB Well-being of college athletes secondary Cartoon: Hoops scrutiny Brooks NBA's chief innovation officer MAC at home in non-Saturday slots Rich Eisen's Top 5 Labor and Agents: Player's NFL lawsuit Lefton: Kaepernick's tough task Legends selling PSLs for Chargers Nomadic's Super Bowl party
SBJ/August 6-12, 2012/People and Pop CulturePrint All
People: Executive transactions
The Arizona Diamondbacks named Travis Rockey business intelligence developer.
The Class A South Atlantic League's Greenville (S.C.) Drive named Levi Palmer manager of ticket operations.
Tod Rosensweig stepped down as vice president of corporate partnerships for the New Orleans Hornets.
The Memphis Grizzlies and FedEx Forum named Toiaya Crawford corporate communications coordinator. Crawford handled event marketing and communications for the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Virginia Commonwealth University hired Ed McLaughlin as athletic director. McLaughlin was athletic director at Niagara.
Jacksonville University named Brad Edwards athletic director. Edwards was athletic director at Newberry College.
Steve Dennis will step down as athletic director of Troy University on Sept. 30.
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course hired Michael Evranian as manager of business development.
The Detriot Lions hired Elizabeth Parkinson as senior vice president of marketing and partnerships. Parkinson was senior vice president of marketing and communications for the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
The Symetra Tour's Symetra Classic named Mike Fresina tournament director.
The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Steve Staios as player development adviser. Staios was a defenseman for the New York Islanders.
IEG Consulting Group named Michael Wright chief growth officer.
NBC Sports Group named Dan Steir senior vice president of production and senior coordinating producer for NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. Steir was senior coordinating producer for ESPN.
Fox Sports hired Eddie George and Joey Harrington as analysts for the Fox college football studio team.
NESN hired Joseph Maar as vice president of programming and production and executive producer.
Feldman O'Sullivan Schulte
Outside Television named Christopher Crowley executive producer.
Multiteam Companies
Palace Sports & Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons hired Bob Feller as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Feller was chief financial officer for Scientific Learning.
The Columbus Crew promoted Tyler Hill to season ticket account executive and
Sporting Goods and Apparel
Running shoe company On named Jonathan Cook, John Jeub, Amy Johnson, Jon Madsen, Cyle Sage and Max Smith to its sales force.
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund named Nora Lynn Finch, ACC associate commissioner for women's basketball operations and senior woman administrator, president and Sherri Coale, Coquese Washington and Carol Stiff to its board of directors, effective Sept. 1.
Tickets.com named Jennifer Zick vice president of business development.
L&S Advisors hired Jonathan Drubner as associate director. Drubner was the head writer and producer for the ESPY Awards and host and producer of "ESPN Road Trip."
People news
To have your personnel announcements included in the People section, please send information and photos to Brandon McClung at 120 W. Morehead St., Suite 310, Charlotte, NC 28202, or email them to email@example.com. Electronic photos must be a jpg or tiff file for Macintosh, 2.25 inches wide at 300 dpi. Color only, please. News items may also be sent via fax to (704) 973-1401. If you have questions, call (704) 973-1425.
Faces and Places
IMG College goes big in Storrs
Announcing the largest local property deal in IMG College history July 26 in Storrs, Conn. (from left): IMG College regional VP Rex Hough, UConn Alumni Association Executive Director Lisa Lewis, Webster Bank President and COO Jerry Plush, and UConn AD Warde Manuel.
Photo by:STEVE SLADE / UCONN ATHLETICS
French on the New York pitch
At the Ligue de Football Championship at Red Bull Arena (from left): Chris Lencheski, Front Row Marketing Services president; Redha Chibani, Ligue de Football Professionnel international development manager; Sébastien Janodet, Ligue De Football marketing director; match consultant Joe Fraga; and John Dato, Front Row Marketing Services project coordinator. Olympique Lyonnais defeated Montpellier Herault in the July 28 game, the traditional beginning of the French soccer season.
Photo by:COMCAST-SPECTACOR
Angels postgame show
The Goo Goo Dolls performed after the Los Angeles Angels' July 28 game in an event produced by Select Artists Associates. SAA production manager Gary Penington hung with Goo Goo Dolls lead singer John Rzeznik at the show.
Photo by:JOE CASTOR / SELECT ARTISTS ASSOCIATES
Glorious donation
The new logo for Glory Foods' "Race to Feeding America" campaign was unveiled at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina in Charlotte, where Glory Foods also donated 43,000 pounds of food July 30 to support child hunger efforts.
From left: Dan Charna, vice president of operations for Glory Foods; Lucio Guerrero, vice president of communications for Feeding America; NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Ragan of Front Row Motorsports; Kay Carter, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina; and NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Gilliland, of Front Row Motorsports.
Photo by:GLORY FOODS
RBI luncheon and Selig's big day
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig (center) celebrated his 78th birthday at the 20th Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) World Series Welcome Luncheon July 31 at Target Field. He was joined by (from left) longtime Twins player Tony Oliva and hall of famers Paul Molitor, Rod Carew and Bert Blyleven.
Photo by:BRUCE KLUCKHOHN / MLB / TWINS PHOTOS
Attendees toast NHRA Sponsor Summit
NHRA hosted its annual Sponsor Summit at Sonoma, Calif., in late July. From left: Al Rondon, senior marketing manager, Coca-Cola North America; Tom Fredrickson, chief administrative officer and GM, Lucas Oil Products; NHRA President Tom Compton; and Ben Reiling, director of motorsports, Coca-Cola North America.
Photo by:NHRA
D.C. United welcomes PSG
At D.C. United's VIP reception ahead of its international friendly with Paris Saint-Germain of France's Ligue 1 on July 28 at RFK Stadium (from left): D.C. United coach Ben Olsen, Paris Saint-Germain manager Carlo Ancelotti, D.C. United managing partner Jason Levien and PSG executive Sebastien Wasels. The teams played to a 1-1 draw.
Photo by:TONY QUINN / D.C. UNITED
Please submit photos for review of industry conferences, parties, product launches and openings showcasing the people and personalities at the event. Include the event date, location, names/titles of those featured along with credit information. The photo specifications are as follows: 300dpi, tiff, jpeg or eps color images. Submit digital photos for review at: firstname.lastname@example.com or send color prints to: Faces & Places, c/o Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal, 120 W. Morehead St., Suite 310, Charlotte, NC 28202.
Images from London
P&G's brands pamper Olympic families
U.S. Olympians' families (including friends and family of swimmer Ryan Lochte, top) got some TLC, plus a chance to watch Games action on the big screen, at the P&G Family Home in London.
Photos by:EAMONN MACCORMACK FOR GETTY IMAGES / P&G
Citi's Every Step of the Way
At the USA House to unveil the "Signature Steps" of Team Citi's 13 athletes (from left): Citi Chief Brand Officer Dermot Boden; swimmer Cullen Jones; USOC CMO Lisa Baird: NBC swimming analyst Rowdy Gaines; and Ed Skyler, Citi EVP of global public affairs.
Photo by:GETTY IMAGES
Ready to work out
At the July 26 opening of the USOC's High Performance Training Center (from left): Water polo athlete Tony Azevedo, U.S. men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, 24 Hour Fitness CMO Bill Quinn, USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo, 24 Hour Fitness President and CEO Carl Liebert, U.S. women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma, beach volleyball athlete Kerri Walsh and USOC CMO Lisa Baird.
Photo by:CHRIS GRAYTHEN / GETTY IMAGES FOR 24 HOUR FITNESS
Seeing Beyond Sport
The annual Beyond Sport Summit brought executives from around the globe to London July 23-25 for panels, work sessions and awards related to sports and social change. Above, a panel on "Mobilizing Millions" featured (from left) Michael Lynch, NASCAR managing director of green innovation; Robin Peterson, CEO of the South African Football Association; celebrity chef Jamey Oliver; Paddy Harverson, spokesperson for Prince Charles; and NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France. Below: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair addresses the audience.
Photos by:BEYOND SPORT
Swinging London
Adidas Golf celebrated the re-entrance of golf into the 2016 Summer Games with an exhibition on the River Thames on July 23. Golfers Dustin Johnson (left) and Sergio Garcia flank TaylorMade-Adidas Golf Co. CEO Mark King.
Photo by:ADIDAS GOLF
Golf royalty
Golfers Michelle Wie and Greg Norman, both brand ambassadors for Swiss watchmaker Omega, provided star power at the Omega House in Soho on July 31.
Photo by:OMEGA
Plugged In: Dermot Boden
Citi Chief Brand Officer Dermot Boden was born in Dublin but moved to London at the age of 4. When he travels around London, he sees the city where he grew up from a different vantage point than most U.S. sponsor executives. He talks about his impressions on how the city is managing the Olympics so far.
Photo by:SHANA WITTENWYLER
What impressed you the most? For the first time in history, the flame left the host country, once it arrived in the country, to go to another. It went to Dublin. That's incredible.
What are you looking forward to? I'm looking forward to seeing Wimbledon. You get so used to the way the whole thing is managed. It will be interesting, the sacred grass on the center court with people in non-white. It will be interesting to see the subtle branding that's there for Rolex and others removed.
On the reinvention of east London as an Olympic Park: I said to someone last night there would be little chance of going out there when I lived here. Everything I hear is that there's a sense they've figured out how to manage [the venues] going forward. I am a West Ham United fan. They may take the ground forward. That would be very impressive. The stadium looks great. It seems like a re-energized area. It's been a tough area. We hope for the best. I hope it isn't the white elephant that we've seen in other cities.
What are you anticipating the legacy to be? The legacy of the Games for Citi is that I hope we have really connected, we've connected our brand in a way that people feel like is genuine in supporting people on their journey from ambition to achievement. The legacy of the Games itself is what Lord [Sebastian] Coe expressed: inspiring a generation. If through this Games we get people more interested in sport and the optimism of the opportunity of having a dream and aspiring to get there and getting there is a very proud legacy.


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The Labour leader argues a tougher "public interest test" should be introduced on big business takeovers of this type.
Pfizer's latest offer for AstraZeneca, worth £63bn, was rejected by the British company, which said on Friday the proposal had "substantially undervalued" it.
The US pharmaceutical giant is reported to be considering its next move.
David Cameron said the Government had received "robust" assurances from Pfizer about protection for British jobs and research under the proposed deal, and stressed it was a decision for shareholders.
In his letter to Mr Cameron the Labour leader wrote: "I am strongly of the view that, when it comes to such a strategically important part of UK PLC, we need a more substantive assessment of whether this takeover is in the national economic interest before the UK government allows itself to be seen to be supporting it."
Former Labour trade minister Lord Davies expressed concerns to Sky News that Pfizer's commitment to locate at least 20% of its research and development (R&D) workforce in the UK may be little more than a "chocolate promise".
This was a reference to the hostile takeover of the UK confectioner Cadbury by the US food giant Kraft Foods in 2010, when Labour was in office.
Kraft closed Cadbury's Cheltenham headquarters and went back on a promise to save the Somerdale factory near Bristol, leading to job losses.
Speaking about the Pfizer deal, Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps told Sky's Murnaghan programme: "What is most important is Britain gets to benefit from whatever the deal is - if that can mean more R&D here, more jobs in this country and a great Anglo-American tie-up, that's good."
But shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna told Sky News: "My worry is this is primarily being driven by tax and essentially, Pfizer is looking to use one of the jewels in the crown of British industry as a pawn in some kind of tax planning game.
"We wouldn't, which the Prime Minister and Chancellor have been doing in the last week, ... [be] acting as a cheerleader for this big American company seeking to take over a fantastic, innovative R&D company."
A Downing Street source said: "The Government isn't cheerleading for Pfizer, it is fighting for British jobs and British science.
"By suggesting otherwise, Ed Miliband is putting politics before the national interest and undermining that position. We engaged early with both companies precisely to avoid previous governments' failures in these types of situation."


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LOS ANGELES — The opening pair of Western Conference semifinals matchups couldn't have been more of polar opposites for the beleaguered Los Angeles Clippers, amid the ever-evolving post-Donald-Sterling era.
In Game 1, Chris Paul torched the Oklahoma City Thunder with a career-high eight 3-pointers — collecting 32 points and 10 assists — en route to a road victory marked by 54.9 percent shooting from the Clippers.
Two nights later, newly crowned MVP Kevin Durant and sidekick Russell Westbrook peppered the Clippers with a combined 63 points, 22 rebounds and 19 assists for a victory to even the series.
Friday night, however, deviated from the course.
In a seesaw affair where the lead changed 19 times, the Thunder outlasted the Clippers (57-26), capping the match on a 16-9 run to defeat Los Angeles 118-112 at the Staples Center.
Durant's 22-footer followed by Reggie Jackson's pair of free throws with 22 seconds remaining buried the Clippers.
Oklahoma City leads 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Game 4 is Sunday in Los Angeles.
"Our defense broke down," said Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers.
"They got everything: threes, layups, key second shots. Down the stretch, they made every big play. They were dragging us off pick-n-rolls, which brought us out and now we were out of rotations. That left Caron (Butler) open and allowed for others to get involved."
Durant finished with 36 points, eight rebounds and six assists on 14-of-24 shooting and Westbrook chipped in 23, 13 and eight on 7-of-14 from the field for the Thunder (59-23), who shot 55.7 percent.
"Vintage Russell," said Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks. "He can fill up the stat sheet on any day."
The Clippers received 34 points and eight rebounds from Blake Griffin. He was one of five Clippers in double figures, including Paul, who poured in 21 points, but the Clippers managed only two baskets in the final 2:09.
They shot 45.2 percent.
"Our defensive lapses put too much pressure on our offense to match," Rivers said.
Unlike the previous games, neither the Clippers nor the Thunder wedged much separation. At intermission, the Clippers held a 63-61 lead.
Twelve minutes later, a trio of free throws by Crawford, the NBA's sixth man of the year, cushioned Los Angeles by two possessions.
Then, the Thunder rallied.
"When it's time to score, we get the ball to Kevin and he does what he does," said Westbrook.
Oklahoma City pieced together a 20-11 run to snatch a 106-103 lead with 3:28 remaining in the final period. Ahead, the Thunder never faltered. Durant hit a jumper on the right elbow and completed a three-point play to stretch the lead to six points and ice the game for Oklahoma City, who fended off the Clippers.
"We did a good job of weathering the storms throughout the game and sticking together," Durant said.
Added Brooks: "Our defense reached another level in the fourth quarter."


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Fillers POEM
Useful treatments for fibromyalgia syndromeBMJ 2005; 330 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.330.7485.0-g (Published 27 January 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;330:0-g
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Question What treatment modalities are most effective for fibromyalgia syndrome?
Synopsis The optimal method for treating fibromyalgia syndrome is unclear. For this meta-analysis the investigators thoroughly searched multiple sources (including Medline, Embase, Science Citation Index, and the Cochrane Collaboration) for trials evaluating the effectiveness of treatment for fibromyalgia syndrome. A total of 505 articles were reviewed and …
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text: Though Medicare is getting a tax boost from the wealthiest Americans, overall taxpayers will have a harder time deducting medical expenses. You can only deduct medical expenses if the expenses exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income, up 2.5 percent from last year. But if you're over 65, you're in luck—you can write-off medical expenses that exceed the old rate of 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income.


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*hs-s.com | RaT
19.10.2017 um 21:07 Uhr
08.10.2017 um 07:31 Uhr
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24.06.2017 um 11:30 Uhr
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22.06.2017 um 21:07 Uhr
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|News - Details
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| # 1 - 19.02.2012 um 10:58 Uhr
Gut gemacht! Beim nächsten Mal wirds Platz 2 in der Gruppe!
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| # 2 - 19.02.2012 um 11:06 Uhr
PLatz 3 ist sehr gut! Das kann sich sehen lassen
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| # 3 - 03.04.2013 um 13:59 Uhr
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An Oceanside man who drove recklessly during a fit of anger last summer, wrecking his truck and killing his girlfriend, 22-year-old Shannon Mahoney, pleaded guilty Thursday to gross vehicular manslaughter, Deputy District Attorney Lisa Stark said.
Charles Lemay, 28, entered his plea just as jury selection was about to begin in a Vista courtroom, Stark said.
In exchange for his guilty plea, Lemay will be sentenced to 365 days in jail and three years of probation, she said. He also was sentenced to four years in prison, but it was stayed unless he violates the terms of probation, she said.
Prosecutors also dropped a felony drug sales charge against Lemay in return for his plea, Stark said. He is set to be sentenced Oct. 15.
Mahoney was a longtime Vista resident who had worked for years at the Coyote Cafe there, friends and family said. Six feet tall and willowy, with numerous vibrant tattoos, she attracted the eye, and then the heart, with her gregarious, loyal nature, said her good friend, Kirk Johnson of Vista.
"She was a pleasure to be around, always lifted everyone's spirits," Johnson recalled. "She was the world to a lot of people."
Her mother, Marion Mahoney, a Vista holistic health practitioner, said she was hoping that Lemay would receive a prison sentence. However, she said she was glad to be spared the pain of a trial.
"To go through with the trial would just be very, very difficult," Mahoney said. "I think this was probably the best of all the worlds."
Lemay, a former Marine who Stark said worked at a tavern, and Mahoney had been dating several months when the crash occurred June 6, 2009, Marion Mahoney said.
Stark said the pair were going east on Highway 78 through Oceanside in Lemay's Ford Ranger pickup when Lemay became angry. Near the El Camino Real offramp, he jerked the steering wheel in rage, causing the truck to roll several times off the freeway.
Shannon Mahoney, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the car and killed.
The California Highway Patrol at the time said Lemay was so irrational and angry at the scene, they had to subdue him with a Taser.
He was out on bail in May of this year when he was rearrested for felony marijuana sales in Oceanside, Stark said. That charge was dropped Thursday, she said.
She said prosecutors agreed to a plea deal rather than going to trial primarily because it was a fair resolution, given the evidence against Lemay, and to spare the family a trial.
Neither Lemay nor his attorney could be reached for comment Thursday.
Marion Mahoney said her daughter, at the time of her death, was a budding model who was saving money with the dream of one day opening her own restaurant. Customers at the Coyote Cafe, where she's worked on and off since she was a teen, loved her, her mother recalled.
"She just barely started her life and had everything in front of her," her mother recalled.
Call staff writer Sarah Gordon at 760-740-3517.


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June 2017 'An Agent Abroad' winner, Golf enthusiast KALLAM CRAIGS from Chaka Travel, says South Africa's Western Cape needs to be seen to be truly appreciated…
Where to start! What a trip, what a country, what a dream! It's an understatement to say the pictures don't do South Africa's Western Cape justice, it needs to be seen to be truly appreciated.
Our trip started in Cape Town, where we enjoyed the first of many fabulous dinners, at the Radisson Blu in the V&A Waterfront area. The V&A Waterfront is the perfect location to start a trip in Cape Town, with a wide range of top quality hotels, bars, restaurants and shops all with stunning views of the harbour and Table Mountain.
The next day we were eased into the 'swing' of things with nine holes at Hermanus Golf Club. It was a blue bird day, not a cloud in sight and about 26 degrees. The stunning backdrop of the Overberg Mountain Range left us gawking on every tee box.
After a delightful nine-holes we headed to Arabella Resort where we would spend the next two nights. Our arrival at the hotel defined African hospitality. We were greeted as we got off the bus by the hotel managers and hosts, around eight staff bearing welcome drinks, snacks, cold towels and most impressively an eight-piece band playing traditional African music on bongos and marimba's.
The hotel more then lived up to the reception, a stunning property built into the side of a cliff meaning you arrive on the top floor and work your way down to the golf course and spa on the bottom floor.
Dinner that evening was as spectacular as the property itself, crispy confit pork belly followed by a perfectly cooked rack of lamb and a baked cheesecake to die for.
The next morning we adventured onto the highly anticipated Arabella Golf Course. We had been warned that she was a cruel mistress, and they certainly weren't lying! The course is an amazing challenge for golfers with its tight fairways and lightning fast greens. It was in spectacular condition, which was amazing as the Cape was experiencing a real drought at the time. My golf was shaky to start but I got things together on the back nine, maybe it was the beer at the halfway house. The 18th hole par five is without a doubt one of the best closing holes in golf that I've ever experienced, it defines the coastal links at Arabella which is a must stop when travelling between the Garden Route and Cape Town.
The dream day continued as I walked off the course and straight into the Arabella spa for my full back and shoulder massage which was ideal after a long round of golf. The Marine Hotel in Hermanus is a beautiful boutique hotel situated right on the coast, the sound of crashing waves and the smell of fresh sea air is almost intoxicating. The seafood dinner we enjoyed was outstanding, a deliciously unique red seafood curry was paired with a wonderfully crisp Sauvignon Blanc.
The following morning we travelled down to Pinnacle Point and the start of the Garden Route. The views became more and more spectacular as we travelled down the coast, huge high cliffs, and rugged coastlines with crashing waves below. It was amazing to look out across the Indian Ocean knowing there was nothing between us and Antarctica but miles and miles of ocean, it felt as if we were looking at the very end of the earth as the ocean and sky became one on the far horizon.
We stayed in the lovely golf villas at Pinnacle Point which all have outstanding views of the Indian Ocean, as well as all the facilities you need to make you feel at home.
The golf facilities at Pinnacle Point are fantastic and we were treated to a guided tour of the course, which was carried out on golf buggies due to the sheer scale of the operation. They whet our appetites by taking us out and showing us a couple of the signature holes on the golf course. I can honestly say I have never been so excited to play a golf course in my life. The tour was followed by a meal in the exceptional clubhouse, which has 360-degree views of the coastline and golf course. The highlight of the evening was the fact that the guys at Pinnacle Point had set up a raised stage and astro turf mat for our group to have a chipping contest from the club house top floor decking onto the 18th green. It was a surreal, and slightly nerve racking experience, and one I will remember very fondly for the rest of my life!
I didn't think Pinnacle Point could get any better, and then we went out and played the course on another perfect blue bird day. To put it simply Pinnacle Point is without a doubt the most aesthetically stunning golf course and area in general I have ever seen.
The course is kept in spectacular condition and I was lucky enough to actually put a good round together of +two on the front nine and +six back nine (the wind picks up as the day goes on making things VERY interesting) giving me a +eight total of 80, and most impressively, I only lost one ball! One of the many stunning holes at Pinnacle Point.
After an amazing time at Pinnacle Point, we travelled on to the beautiful lagoon town of Knysna where we would spend a night in the luxurious Conrad Pezula. The drive in was stunning and it was hard to believe that about an hour ago we were in dry almost arid plains, and now the country had transformed into an almost tropical green oasis.
Knysna is such a fantastic town, the way the two dramatic sea cliffs guard the entrance to the lagoon is staggeringly beautiful. The Conrad Pezula fitted right in with its scenic location, luxurious suites, on site golf and a whole host of other activities from horse back riding and canoeing to their own private beach. We played a round on the beautiful parkland Pezula course which was in great condition and through up a significant challenge once the wind got blowing!
The following day we made the short 40-minute commute back towards George to spend two nights in the legendary Fancourt Golf Estate. Fancourt is a golfing Mecca, a bubble that caters, provides and promotes golf at an exceptional level. It really is the kind of place that you could spend two weeks and still wake up every morning excited with the prospect of new experiences and activities. In the afternoon we went out to play the Montagu Course, a par 72 parkland classic Gary Player design, as always it was in spectacular condition and the greens felt like they were running at about 12 on the stimpmeter!
The next day we had the luxury of a lie in after several days of early morning rises however, the thought of going out to play the number one ranked course in South Africa eliminated any chance of a lie in as I was wide awake by 7.30am and unable to get back to sleep with excitement! The buffet breakfasts at all the resorts throughout our trip had been magnificent and Fancourt was no different with a selection so broad you could spend a week there and not cover half of it!
Straight after breakfast it was onto the putting and chipping greens for a short game clinic, we then made our way up to the separate golf academy practice area which is situated on the Links. Its another Gary Player design and in his own opinion his greatest achievement as a course designer, I never thought a course could lay a glove on my favourite links of all time, Royal County Down back home, but this certainly gave it a run for its money! Its staggering to think that it was the old George Airport and therefore completely flat! Everything you see is man made and sculpted to perfection, so much so that the course has hosted the likes of the Volvo Open, the SA Open and the Presidents Cup.
We were then introduced to our caddy's for the day, having a caddy is mandatory on the Links and trust me when I say it's necessary! Our caddies escorted us down to the range where we hit balls for 40 minutes whilst our caddies watched so as to get to grips with our yardages as well as general ball flight.
It was then onto the first tee and I must admit I was rather nervous as a decent crowd of about 20 had gathered on the first tee, somehow I striped one down the middle and off we went. The undulating, windswept terrain and dune style landscape made me feel right at home, expect for the fact that it was nearly 30 degrees and blue skies all round!
Even the half way house stop after nine holes was just that little bit more special, we had ordered on the first tee box and when we arrived at the halfway house we walked up to the decking to find our food on the table keeping warm under a silver cloche, we had a steak sandwich each that was outstanding!
For me, the back nine was even better then the front, as the sun began to set we walked up the eighteenth with a magical colour in the sky that you only really see in Africa, the surrounding mountains cast long shadows across the undulating fairways and the clubhouse looked spectacular behind the green. As we finished up waiters came out to meet us with refreshing iced juices and we could immediately smell that our braai was under way. For those that don't know, a braai is a traditional African barbecue, and we were lucky enough to have one at the Links Clubhouse after our round.
Sirloin steak, lamb chops and boerewors sausage were grilled and charred to perfection and served with a huge spread of accompaniments. It was a relaxed atmosphere and we were encouraged to get stuck into our lamb chops and corn on the cob with our hands. We had some great fun and some of Ernie Els beautiful 'Big Easy' red blends to accompany all the food.
The following morning we made the short commute of about 10 minutes to Oubaai Golf Resort and Spa. We were staying in their fantastic Regency Suites, which are luxurious, spacious and very well equipped. We headed out for what I can only describe as one of the most 'interesting' rounds of golf I've ever played in my life! Oubaai's course is a classic Ernie Els design, fairly wide and open off the tee, and then everything narrows in towards the hole, there are beautiful views and place is kept in great condition. However, as we were teeing off the wind was blowing so hard that the flag sticks were not just side ways but nearly touching the greens! Huge dark clouds filled with malice were heading straight towards us, huge bolts of lightning sparking the sky to life every couple of minutes followed by the deep roar of thunder. I have to say I honestly found the sight of this impending doom quite beautiful and appropriate with the conditions we were playing in, mother nature at full force. The rain drops began to fall on the second tee box and they felt the size of water balloons, freezing cold as well. Then out of nowhere the dark clouds vanished and the sun came out accompanied by a very warm breeze, quickly the temperature had reached about 30 degrees and the half way house cold beer was well needed!
Somehow the weather had then turned into quite a cool fresh wind on the back nine which was followed by a thick mist reducing visibility to about 15 feet as we finished! Never in my life have I experienced such a range of weather conditions in one round of golf, not even in Northern Ireland!
Our final evening was spent in the wonderful Waterside Grill restaurant at Oubaai, the kitchen and grill is situated right in the middle of the restaurant and it's all open plan so you can see, hear and smell your steaks sizzling on the away. We enjoyed another bottle or two or Ernie's Red with our steaks before getting comfortable in the Regency Suite Lounge to watch the thrilling final day of the Masters. It was an extremely exciting finish and a great result, I cant think of anyone that deserves a major more then Sergio, and I'm certain that Seve was smiling down.
Unfortunately the final day of the trip had arrived and it was time to head home. But not without one last unique experience. My internal flight from the tiny, yet amazingly efficient George Airport to Cape Town was aboard an even tinier plane. There were only about 10 of us on the 30-seater aircraft with a seating arrangement of one on the left and two on the right. The flight was extremely smooth for such a small plane but the conditions were perfect, blue skies and hardly a breath of wind, something pilots refer to as visibility unlimited. And that's how I summed up South Africa as I flew over the Southern Cape with the most breath taking views. Unlimited possibilities, so many different cultures, climates, geographical environments and experiences, it's like eight countries all rolled up into one amazing destination and I can't wait to get back out and explore it further.
What you can be guaranteed wherever you go in South Africa is great golf, delicious food, top quality wine and warm welcoming African hospitality!
Contact Details
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Responding to a recent spike in violence, one San Jose resident referred to it as a "cancer in our neighborhood," according to the San Jose Mercury News.
A man was stabbed at a Safeway on Story Road Tuesday night. Police arrested Michael Howard of San Jose in connection with the murder. (See mug shot below.) They have not released a motive for the crime.
A homeless woman was killed on August 13 at a nearby Walgreens by a man wielding a samurai sword.
Residents are concerned, scared and demanding the city do something about it.
At a recent news conference near that Safeway, two women were introduced by the San Jose Police Officer's Association -- two women bound by their frustration at the problem. The women both shop at these stores and are concerned about doing their shopping.
"This is like a cancer in our neighborhood. I have never seen it like this," Rubie Golart told Mercury News reporter Robert Salonga. She's lived in the area for 52 years.
The city has taken some measures to abate the gang-related violence, communicated to the City Council in a memo from the city manager, Debra Figone. Tactics include police sweeps, a 'Crisis Response Protocol,' and social service agencies.
Overtime funding has been renewed as well, Figone said, to maximize police efforts.
Residents are organizing an anti-violence rally and prayer vigil starting Monday at 6:30 p.m. in front of San Jose City Hall.


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Guns and Youth - School Shootings
student harris students columbine
Between July 1, 1992, and June 30, 1999, there were 358 school-associated violent deaths in the United States, including 255 deaths of school-aged children, or about 51 such violent deaths each year. For the single year July 1, 1998, through June 30, 1999, there were forty-seven school-associated violent deaths in the United States. Thirty-eight were homicides, six were suicides, two involved suspects killed by a law enforcement officer in the line of duty, and one was unintentional.
Americans were shocked by the rash of school shootings in the 1990s and some parents were afraid to send their children to school. The Bi-Partisan Working Group on Youth Violence of the 106th Congress explored the issue and in February 2000 released its final report. It stated: "While it is important to carefully review the circumstances surrounding these horrifying incidents so that we may learn from them, we must also be cautious about inappropriately creating a cloud of fear over every student in every classroom across the country. In the case of youth violence, it is important to note that, statistically speaking, schools are among the safest places for children to be." The following section describes some of the most serious school incidents.
Springfield, Oregon
On May 21, 1998, fifteen-year-old Kip Kinkel walked into the crowded cafeteria at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon, and opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle. Students Mikael Nickolauson and Ben Walker were killed, and twenty-two of their classmates were injured. Kinkel's parents were later found shot to death at their home. The year before, Kinkel's father had bought his son a Ruger .22 semiautomatic rifle under the condition that he would use it only under adult supervision.
On September 24, 1999, as part of a plea agreement, Kip Kinkel pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and twenty-six counts of attempted murder. On November 2, 1999, after a six-day sentencing hearing that included victim's statements and the testimony of psychiatrists and psychologists, Kip Kinkel, by then age seventeen, was sentenced to 111 years in prison without the possibility of parole.
Prompted by growing concerns over a rock-throwing incident that Kip had participated in and other behavioral problems, Faith Kinkel had taken her son to see a psychologist in January 1997, just over a year before the shootings. In this meeting, the psychologist concluded that Kinkel was depressed, had difficulty managing anger, and had expressed some angry acting out.
Littleton, Colorado
On April 20, 1999, at 11:10 A.M., eighteen-year-old senior Eric Harris arrived alone in the student parking lot at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. His seventeen-year-old classmate Dylan Klebold drove in a short time later in his 1982 black BMW. Together, they walked to the school cafeteria carrying two large duffel bags, each concealing a twenty-pound propane bomb set to detonate at exactly 11:17 A.M. After placing the duffel bags inconspicuously among hundreds of other backpacks and bags, Harris and Klebold went back out to the parking lot to wait for the bombs to explode. As they waited, pipe bombs they had planted earlier three miles southwest of the high school exploded, resulting in a grass fire intended to divert the resources of the Littleton Fire Department and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Minutes later, Harris and Klebold returned to Columbine High School, this time to the west exterior steps, the highest point on campus with a view of the student parking lots and the cafeteria's entrances and exits. Both were wearing black trench coats that concealed 9mm semiautomatic weapons. They pulled out shotguns from a duffel bag and opened fire toward the west doors of the school, killing seventeen-year-old Rachel Scott. After entering the school, they killed twelve other victims, including a teacher, before finally killing themselves. Twenty-three persons were injured.
Within days, authorities had learned that three of the guns used in the massacre were purchased the year before by Dylan Klebold's girlfriend shortly after her eighteenth birthday. On May 3, felony charges were filed against twenty-two-year-old Mark E. Manes for admittedly selling to Eric Harris the TEC-DC9 semiautomatic handgun he used in the shooting. On August 18, Manes pleaded guilty to the charge. The facts of this case as outlined came from The Columbine High School Shootings: Jefferson County Sheriff Department's Investigation Report (released May 15, 2000, by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office).
THE COLUMBINE SHOOTERS. More than a year before the Columbine shootings, Harris and Klebold were arrested for breaking into a vehicle. In April 1998 both were placed in a juvenile diversion program and required to pay fines, attend anger management classes, and perform community service. Harris and Klebold successfully completed the diversion program and were released from the program on February 9, 1999, with their juvenile records cleared.
In March 1998 the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office responded to a suspicious incident report from Randy Brown. In the report, Brown alleged that his son, Brooks, had received death threats from Harris on the Internet. Brown alleged that on the same Web pages, Harris wrote about making and detonating pipe bombs and using them against people. The information was reviewed by the sheriff's investigators, but they could not gain access to Harris's Web site, and they were unable to substantiate reports of the pipe-bomb writings.
In the spring of 1998 Harris began a diary, later recovered by authorities. In it he wrote of his desire to kill. In the only entry for 1999, Harris wrote of his and Klebold's preparations for what would become the Columbine massacre, including a detailed accounting of weapons and bombs they intended to use.
After the Columbine shootings, Klebold's father, Tom Klebold, reported to investigators that his son never showed any fascination with guns. The Klebolds told authorities that their son had been accepted at the University of Arizona, where he planned to major in computer science. Investigators who interviewed friends and teachers of Kle-bold heard him described as a nice, normal teenager.
Harris and Klebold left behind three videotapes documenting their plans and philosophies. The third tape contained eight sessions taped from early April 1999 to the morning of the Columbine shootings on April 20, and showed some of their weapons and bombs, as well as recordings they had made of each other rehearsing for the shootings.
COLUMBINE LAWSUITS. In response to the Columbine shootings, five wrongful death lawsuits were filed in Jefferson County against the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, alleging that the department did not respond appropriately on the day of the shootings and that it did not fully investigate Eric Harris's Web site. Additional actions were filed in federal court in Denver, some naming other defendants such as the parents of killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold and those who helped supply guns to them. One lawsuit filed by the family of slain teacher Dave Sanders and on behalf of other Columbine victims alleged that the makers and distributors of certain movies and video games (including "Doom") should have known their products could have led the gunmen to carry out the massacre.
On June 1, 2000, U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Babcock consolidated all Columbine-related lawsuits in federal court. He dismissed the case against the movie/video game makers, stating that there was no way the defendants could have foreseen that their products would cause the shooting at Columbine or any other violent acts. In May 2001 five homeowners insurers agreed to settle negligence claims related to the Columbine shooting case for $2.5 million.
In 2002 Mark Taylor, one of the students who was wounded at Columbine, filed suit against the maker of the antidepressant that Eric Harris had been prescribed and was taking at the time of the shooting. Taylor told Insight on the News: "I'm suing … because I believe that Eric Harris did what he did because of this drug" (September 23, 2002).
The FBI Looks at School Shooters
In 1999, after two years of research, the FBI issued a report on school shooters (Mary Ellen O'Toole, The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective). The report contended that there is no such thing as a "profile" of a school shooter, nor is it possible to compile a checklist of the danger signs pointing to the next school shooter. The report was intended to assist in assessing a threat and to keep it from being carried out. It lays out a four-pronged approach in assessing "the totality of the circumstances" known about a student in four major areas: personality of the student, family dynamics, school dynamics, and social dynamics.
"If an act of violence occurs at a school," the report stated, "the school becomes the scene of the crime. As in any violent crime, it is necessary to understand what it is about the school which might have influenced the student's decision to offend there rather than someplace else." The FBI set forth the following factors in making that determination:
- The student's attachment to school: The student appears to be "detached" from school, including other students, teachers, and school activities.
- Tolerance for disrespectful behavior: The school does little to prevent or punish disrespectful behavior between individual students or groups of students.
- Inequitable discipline: Discipline is inequitably applied (or has the perception of being inequitably applied) by students and/or staff.
- Inflexible culture: The school's culture is static, unyielding, and insensitive to changes in society and the changing needs of newer students and staff.
- Pecking order among students: Certain groups of students are officially or unofficially given more prestige and respect than others.
- Code of silence: Few feel they can safely tell teachers or administrators if they are concerned about another student's behavior or attitudes. Little trust exists between students and staff.
- Unsupervised computer access.
The report contended that news coverage creates a number of wrong or unverified impressions of school shooters. Among them are:
- All school shooters are alike.
- The school shooter is always a loner.
- School shootings are exclusively revenge motivated.
- Easy access to weapons is the most significant risk factor.
A Timeline of School Shootings
February 2, 2004: At Ballou Senior High in Washington, D.C., eighteen-year-old Thomas J. Boykin shot and killed seventeen-year-old James Richardson after an argument.
September 24, 2003: A fifteen-year-old student, John Jason McLaughlin, killed one student and wounded another at Rocori High School in Cold Spring, Minnesota.
October 28, 2002: A forty-one-year-old Gulf War veteran, a failing student at the University of Arizona nursing school, shot dead three of his professors before killing himself.
August 28, 2002: A professor and a graduate student who had been taking classes for ten years were shot to death at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in an apparent murder-suicide. A briefcase found near the bodies held ninety rounds of ammunition and a letter telling the student he had been expelled from the graduate program.
January 26, 2002: A forty-three-year-old law student who had twice flunked out of the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia, opened fire with a handgun and killed the dean, a professor, and a student.
May 26, 2000: A thirteen-year-old honors student in Lake Worth, Florida, returned to school and fatally shot a teacher after being sent home on the last day of classes by another teacher for throwing water balloons.
February 29, 2000: A six-year-old Flint, Michigan, boy used a gun taken from his uncle's home to kill a six-year-old girl in her classroom in front of a teacher and twenty-two classmates.
December 6, 1999: A thirteen-year-old student in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, arrived at school and opened fire with his father's 9mm semiautomatic handgun, injuring four classmates.
November 19, 1999: A twelve-year-old boy shot and killed a female classmate at the end of lunch hour outside a middle school in Deming, New Mexico. The boy was wearing a camouflage jacket when he fired the single shot from a .22-caliber handgun.
May 20, 1999: A fifteen-year-old student walked into Heritage High School in Conyers, Georgia, and fired into a crowd of his classmates, injuring six.
April 20, 1999: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold opened fire in a suburban high school in Littleton, Colorado. Fifteen people were killed, including the two gunmen, and twenty-three were injured.
June 15, 1998: A male teacher and a female guidance counselor were shot in a hallway at a Richmond, Virginia, high school. The teacher suffered an injury to the abdomen, and the guidance counselor was grazed.
May 21, 1998: Fifteen-year-old Kip Kinkel of Springfield, Oregon, opened fire in the school cafeteria. Two students were killed. The suspect's parents were later found shot dead in their home.
May 21, 1998: A fifteen-year-old boy died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in Onalaska, Washington. Earlier in the day, the boy boarded a high school bus with a gun in hand, ordered his girlfriend off the bus, and took her to his home, where he shot himself.
May 21, 1998: A fifteen-year-old girl was shot and wounded at a suburban Houston high school when a gun in the backpack of a seventeen-year-old classmate went off in a biology class. The boy was charged with a third-degree felony for taking a gun to school.
May 19, 1998: Three days before his graduation, an eighteen-year-old honors student opened fire in a parking lot at Lincoln County High School in Fayetteville, Tennessee, killing a classmate who was dating his ex-girlfriend.
April 28, 1998: Two teenage boys were shot to death and a third was wounded as they played basketball at a Pomona, California, elementary school hours after classes had ended. A fourteen-year-old boy was charged in the shooting, which was blamed on rivalry between two groups of youths.
April 24, 1998: A forty-eight-year-old science teacher was shot to death in front of students at a graduation dance in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. A fourteen-year-old student at James W. Parker Middle School was charged.
March 24, 1998: Four girls and a teacher were shot to death and ten others were wounded during a false fire alarm at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas, when two boys, ages eleven and thirteen, opened fire from the woods. Both were convicted in juvenile court of murder.
December 1, 1997: Three students were killed and five others were wounded while they took part in a prayer circle in a hallway at Heath High School in West Paducah, Kentucky. A fourteen-year-old student pleaded guilty to murder but was found mentally ill and is serving life in prison. One of the wounded girls was left paralyzed.
October 1, 1997: A sixteen-year-old in Pearl, Mississippi, killed his mother then went to Pearl High School and shot nine students. Two of them died, including the killer's ex-girlfriend. The boy was sentenced to life in prison.
February 19, 1997: Evan Ramsey, age sixteen, opened fire with a shotgun in a common area at a Bethel, Alaska, high school, killing the principal and a student. Two other students were wounded. Ramsey was sentenced to two terms of ninety-nine years each.
February 2, 1996: A fourteen-year-old boy in Moses Lake, Washington, walked into a junior high school algebra class with a hunting rifle and allegedly opened fire, killing the teacher and two students. A third student was injured.


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In the minor-league baseball movie "Bull Durham," young pitcher "Nuke" LaLoosh wanted to announce his presence with authority.
He did so with his erratic fastball.
Mountain Pointe senior sprinter Ben Trotter might not have a fastball, but that doesn't mean he can't bring the heat.
Trotter definitely announced his presence with authority before the track and field season even started when he went out to The Great Southwest Classic in New Mexico and came back champion in two events — the 60-yard and 200-meter dashes — and took third in the long jump.
"I wanted to do good to set up my senior year," he said. "It's my last time to shine and I wanted to be ready to go from the start."
While it took Trotter's confidence to a new level, it also put a target on his back to start the year. When opponents are toeing the line next to him they are thinking about knocking off the Great Southwest champion.
"Every coach has a top 10 list somewhere. They tell their kids if you want to be the best you have to beat these guys," Pride coach Jeff Griffin said. "He's on that list now."
Turns out, the competition doesn't have to come from a different school as Trotter is already being challenged by Pride junior KeJavon Moore, who won the 100-meter dash at the Aztec Invite on March 4, with Trotter second.
They were separated by 0.02 of a second as Moore won it with a time of 11.04 seconds.
"There's some trash talking between us, but it is going to make both of us better," Moore said. "We push each other."
Trotter finished 13th in the highly-competitive 200-meter dash with a time of 24.4 and won the long jump with a leap of 22 feet and 5 inches.
"It was a good start to things," said Trotter, who finished sixth in the 100 and 14th in the long jump at state last year. "I wanted to see where I was at compared to everyone else, and now people know what I can do."
Trotter also helped the Pride to a great day in the relays as the boys won the 4x100 and 4x400, while the girls won the 4x100 and finished second to Desert Vista in the 4x400.
"I was most pleased with the relays. Considering it was the first (invitational) and they were passing the batons with confidence, they couldn't have done much better," Griffin said. "It gives us something to build off of the rest of the way."
The boys relay team was Trotter, Moore, Garettt Craig and DeJon Edwards, while the girls teams consisted of Whitley Doss, Madison Duecker, Kevina Godfrey and Katelin Warren.
Moore and Godfrey were the real standouts as Moore finished second in the 400 (50.46) in addition to the win in the 100, while Godfrey won the girls 100 (12.45) and 200 (25.3) to help the Pride to a third-place finish in the girls standings. The boys finished fourth as Desert Vista won both events at the Aztec Invite.
"Kevina had a great day," Griffin said. "She really showed she is going to be tough to beat this season."
Godfrey finished ninth in the 100 and eighth in the 200 at the state meet last season, and the junior is expected to make a push for the top five this year.
Moore didn't compete in the individual events at state last year, but the junior stopped playing football this fall to concentrate on track and has already knocked a full second off his times with more expected to come.
"I started (participating in) track to get faster for football, but now I am just doing track," he said. "I've been training and working hard to make sure this is the year I really put it together."
Trotter, whose family, including sisters and cousins, has long been part of the Pride program, knows it is early but he is expecting great things this year for the Mountain Pointe sprinters.
"I am just doing my part to help the team," he said. "I did some good things, but it is so early. We just have to keep getting better and we can use (the good start) as a motivator to do even better."
Contact writer: (480) 898-7915 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @JSkodaAFN.


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Carlie Brucia, 11, is shown in this undated photo released by the Sarasota County Sheriff's office. The body of Brucia, the 11-year-old girl whose abduction was captured by a surveillance camera, was found in a church parking lot in Florida, Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, and a mechanic has been charged with her murder, according to officials.
AP Photo SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) -- A tattooed mechanic with a long rap sheet was charged with murder Friday after authorities found the body of an 11-year-old girl whose kidnapping was captured on a carwash surveillance camera.
Police said Joseph P. Smith told a witness that he had kidnapped and killed Carlie Brucia, and authorities used that information to find the sixth-grader's body in a church parking lot a few miles from the carwash.
Investigators refused to say how the girl was killed or whether she had been raped.
"He will pay the ultimate price for what he did to her," sheriff's Capt. Jeff Bell said. Investigators would not give details on the witness who helped them.
Smith, 37, is believed to be the man seen on the surveillance video in a mechanic's shirt with a name patch, leading Carlie away by the arm Sunday as she walked home from a slumber party. Investigators said the man on the tape had tattoos on both forearms; Smith has many tattoos on his arms.
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This is a photo of Joseph P. Smith released by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office during a news conference Wednesday night, Feb. 4, 2004 in Sarasota. Smith is in custody on unrelated charges and is being questioned regarding the apparent abduction of 11-year-old Carlie Brucia who has been missing since Sunday.
The kidnapping set off a frantic search for the former Girl Scout, and the tape was beamed across the nation as Carlie's family and authorities pleaded for her safe return.
Investigators were led to Smith after a tipster identified him as the man in the video. Authorities said he had a Buick station wagon that was seen in the surveillance footage shortly before the kidnapping.
Investigators had called on NASA to sharpen and enlarge images of the abduction, but they said the quality wasn't much better than what they already had.
Smith was charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping, and could face the death penalty if convicted. His public defender, Adam Tebrugge, did not immediately return calls for comment.
Carlie's body was found beneath thick underbrush near the Central Church of Christ. While investigators in white coveralls searched the area for evidence, Carlie's friends and family gathered outside the church. Her stepfather, Steven Kansler, and some friends knelt in a prayer circle.
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Click on the image above to see an overview of the abduction.
AP Graphic
"She's in a better place. She got there in a horrific manner, but now she's watching me all the time," said her father, Joe Brucia.
Smith has been arrested at least 13 times in Florida since 1993.
He served 17 months in prison in 2001 and 2002 for heroin possession and prescription drug fraud. Eight days after he got out, he was arrested for cocaine possession and placed on probation for three years. He also got probation for aggravated battery in 1993 and heroin charges in 1999.
A state correction official, Joe Papy, said that a probation officer had asked a judge on Dec. 30 to declare Smith in violation of his probation because he had not paid all his fines and court costs.
Papy said Circuit Judge Harry Rapkin declined to find Smith in violation, which could have returned him to jail. The judge defended his decision Friday, saying the probation officer never sent him the evidence he requested that Smith had willfully refused to pay.
Carlie's family questioned why Smith was allowed to be free.
"In my opinion he should have never been out on the street," Carlie's father said.
Neighbors said Smith and his wife had separated recently and he had moved out of the house.
Linda Thompson, who lives next door to the Smith family, described Smith as a good father to his three daughters. She remembered him playing with them in the yard, buying them a puppy and building a goldfish pond for them in the front of the house.
"That's the Joe we saw, so when this started it was hard to believe that there's a different side," Thompson said.
A small group of supporters kept up a vigil outside the Carlie's ranch-style house, which is decorated with banners and posters reading, "We love you, Carlie."
Carlie's friends said the blond, blue-eyed girl idolized Jennifer Lopez and enjoyed going to the mall and hanging out with friends. She had a cat named Charlie and a 6-year-old half brother and a 10-year-old stepbrother.
"She was loving and caring. She doesn't like to see other people hurt. She'd be really crying if this was one of us or someone else she knows," said Tiffany Meeks, a friend at school who placed flowers along a memorial at the car wash. "It's just hard to talk about."
On the Net:
Center for Missing and Exploited Children: www.missingkids.com
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office: www.sarasotasheriff.org
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ThyssenKrupp AG will open its books to remaining prospective bidders for its U.S and Brazilian steel mills and ask them to make binding offers for the money-losing plants, the company said on Monday.
ThyssenKrupp said in May it was considering all options for the mills, including a partnership or a sale, to halt losses there and concentrate on its European business.
The plants were supposed to give it a foothold in the Americas but have struggled with rising costs and weak demand.
"In the second phase that has now been started, selected bidders will be given the opportunity to analyze the plants in a so-called 'due diligence' and to make binding offers," the German steel and technology group said in a statement.
It reaffirmed that the two steel mills which comprise its Steel Americas unit could be sold in a bundle or separately.
Two people close to the process told Reuters last week that second-round offers were due last week and the field of bidders for the mills was down to around half a dozen.
They said at the time that U.S. Steel Corp. and rival Nucor Corp. were still in the running, as were Japanese groups JFE Steel Corp. and Nippon Steel Corp., and Brazil's CSN. Final bids were due next month, the sources said.
South Korea's Posco, China's Baosteel Corp. and Brazilian iron ore miner Vale SA, which owns just over a quarter of ThyssenKrupp's Brazilian plant, are not bidding. It was not clear whether ArcelorMittal, the world's biggest steel maker, was still in the running.
ThyssenKrupp chief executive Heinrich Hiesinger has said he would want to sell the mills separately for at least their combined book value of €7-billion ($9-billion U.S.), a target that analysts have viewed with skepticism.
Sources told Reuters last month that ThyssenKrupp asked bidders to resubmit their offers because it deemed the initial bids too low.
U.S.-based AK Steel Holding Corp. has also said it might be interested in the two steel mills.
Steel Americas, the division that includes both sites, posted an adjusted loss before interest and tax of €778-million for the nine months to the end of June and is reportedly heading for a full-year loss of more than €1-billion.


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Jenelle Evans Calls 'Time Out' From Marriage, Needs Time to 'Figure This Out'
Jenelle Evans has reportedly taken some time away from husband Courtland Rogers in order to figure out if she wants to remain married. The two have had relationship issues from the very beginning and it's not the first time divorce has been mentioned by the couple.
"Jenelle said I need to straighten out and not drink and not go out and not do dumb stuff anymore. She said she doesn't want to be with someone who is messing up all the time," Rogers told Radar Online.
Evans seemed to confirm the decision for a trial separation by posting a cryptic message on Twitter.
"I have to figure this out," she posted. It's not unusual for Evans to use Twitter to explain what she's thinking or going through. In fact, she often seems to be on Twitter all the time, for better or for worse.
Evans and Rogers have exchanged messages via Twitter, detailing what went wrong in their relationship and allowing for commentary by those not directly involved in their relationship. However, Rogers is also speaking to Radar Online in order to express his feelings and tell his side of the story.
"I'm not perfect and what Jenelle wants is for me to show her that I love her and improve myself, so I have to figure out how to do that. I love her and I want her to work this out with me," Rogers said.
"I can't wait to meet this baby and I want to be a great dad. I've learned how to be a dad from not being a dad to my other child all these months and I want to show Jenelle and everyone else that I can be a good dad," Rogers added.
He and Evans are expecting their first child together sometime this month. They each have their own child that they no longer have custody of. Evans' son lives with her mother, while Rogers' daughter lives with his ex-girlfriend.
Since getting married in December, Rogers and Evans have had their share of highs and lows. The first report of trouble was one suggesting that they were headed for divorce after only 26 days of marriage.


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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The regular season is well underway but the overhaul of the New England Revolution continued on Wednesday morning as Swedish forward Bjorn Runstrom became the club's 14th addition since Jay Heaps was named head coach in mid-November.
Runstrom trained with the Revs for a portion of their stay in Tucson, Ariz., this preseason and was on the club's roster for the Desert Diamond Cup, scoring the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake on Feb. 29. The 28-year-old striker impressed with his range of abilities and Heaps is looking forward to adding another piece to his attacking puzzle.
"He's another guy that was with us in camp and it gives us another option up top," said Heaps. "He can also play wide; very versatile attacking player for us."
A product of the Hammarby IF youth system in his native Sweden, Runstrom has since plied his trade in various locales across Europe. Before eventually returning to Hammarby for a second time, Runstrom had spells in Italy, England, Germany, Denmark and Norway.
Now Runstrom makes the leap across the Atlantic Ocean for the first time and Heaps is confident the club and the player are the right fit.
"He's had a good career so far, but I think he's looking for that next step," said Heaps. "I spent a lot of time with him while we were in Arizona and I feel good about his intentions for being here. That was one huge component to getting him here was how he feels he can fit into our team."
The Revs are hoping Runstrom arrives "as soon as possible" – he's currently waiting on both his U.S. P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate – and when he does they believe he'll represent another key addition to the Revolution's evolving attack.
"We're getting there," said Heaps. "We've got guys who can play. You want to be dynamic in your attack and so we have a lot of different angles to come at you. We've got some strength, we've got some speed and now we have some versatility."


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Signatures verified, recall election could happen soon
WINSTON, Ore. -- The Douglas County Clerks Office has verified enough signatures for the Winston-Dillard Fire Board recall election to happen.
Citizens gathered over 500 signatures to recall Stan Keeler, Lyle Jeffries and Dale Stutzman, but only needed 385.
County Clerk Patty Hitt told KPIC News Monday morning that the three men targeted in the recall will now have five days to respond to the recall petitions. They can either resign, or submit a 'Statement of Justification,' stating why they should not be recalled.
Hitt says if the three do not resign, the special recall election would happen within 40 days.
If they choose to write the statement of justification, that will go on the ballot along with the petitioner's statement on why they believe the board members should be recalled.
The special election will take place within 35 days after the 5 days are up.