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Archive for Thursday, March 11, 2010
Spring Training: Starside Running Club
March 11, 2010
Students at Lexington Trails Middle School and De Soto High School recently began spring sports practices.
And students at Starside aren't being left behind.
Last week, fourth- and fifth-grade students began the spring session of the school's running club.
The club teaches students healthy exercise habits every Tuesday and Thursday before or after school.
Toni Cook, Starside physical education teacher and club leader, said the group began in 2002 and has been meeting each fall and spring since.
"We have close to 80 kids total," she said. "They are pretty consistent in coming. Some can only come one day a week."
Mackenzi Smith, fifth-grader, began participating in the running club last year.
"You get exercise and it makes you healthy," she said.
The group gets together to run outside or in the school's hallways for 45-minutes to an hour at each session.
Grant Eaton, fourth-grader, said the group was a great way to stay active.
"It gives a lot of exercise and it's fun running around," he said. "Some friends are here and I can talk to them."
Mackenzi said she also enjoyed seeing friends at running club.
"I like to talk to my friends that I don't get to talk to during school," she said. "And running outside is fun."
Students begin each session with stretches and simple exercises such as lunges or wall sits. On nice days, the students will run to and around the track by Lexington Trials or run around the perimeter of De Soto High School.
The group sets goals and competes in a 5K race at the end of each season, Cook said.
"Hopefully students will get a love for running," Cook said. "There are kids with all levels of fitness. Some walk and others run. The students can go at their own pace. Some kids will run around the track six times, other will only do two times."
Grant said the running club was great for exercise.
"It gives you exercise and makes you stronger and healthier," he said. "It helps you stay and get in better shape. Plus it's a lot of fun."
Cook said the group also serves as a way for students to be involved, when they might not have the opportunity otherwise.
"It gives a lot of kids an opportunity to be in a group," she said.
This spring the group will take part in the Run for Mercy 5K, but until then the students will run De Soto.
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Youngsters under 12 ski free with a two-night stay at the resort; other family offerings beefed up for the coming season
By Summit Voice
FRISCO — Keystone Resort is stepping up its already strong appeal to families with season-long free skiing for kids under 12 for guests staying at least two nights at a resort property.
The program is aimed at boosting occupancy and also helps Vail Resorts segment its Summit County business, potentially shifting a bit of business from hyper-crowded Breckenridge to its sister resort on the other side of Summit County.
Numerous other resorts also offer special deals to entice kids, but Keystone is differentiating its program by emphasizing the no-strings, no-blackout aspects.
"With the introduction of a Kids Ski Free offer that's really restriction-free, we're letting families travel as their schedule allows," said Keystone VP and general manager John Buhler.
Keystone says it has also enhanced it s Kidtopia program with daily animation and entertainment all winter long, including the third installment of what the resort bills as the world's largest snowfort, street performers in the base area commercial zone, kids' apres gatherings, a weekly Kidtopia parade, on-ice dance parties at the resort's two ice skating rinks, and the new Snowed-In Festival. Continue reading "Colorado: Keystone aims to boost lodging occupancy, destination biz with a kids-ski-free deal for overnight visitors"

subset: commoncrawl


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Artist description:
This is my favorite Christmas drawing I've done. Feel free to critique:)
Java Draw Created Dec 07, 2009 338 x 470px Unless noted Copyright 2009 LarissaH.
We encourage you to submit a comment and let the artist know what you think of this drawing. Please log in or join to post a comment.
Post a comment
this is soo cute 5/5
Award: Great style. Liked: i like this one,is so very sweet :). Tips: maybe a better difference of color tones between the outfit & the background would make it really stand out :)
adorable drawing indeed! :) 5
very nice look good :)
She's adorable with those big, blue eyes. Great composition and color, too :) 5 ♥s
отличный красивый замечательный рисунок 5/5
oooo nice ! very nice!
Cute and pretty :) I like the background and shading :)
very cute.. love those great big cute manga eyes :) Wonderful decorations and draw
OHHHHHHHHH so perfect i adore her delicate little face :) 5♥'s for sure :)


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Jennings excited to be close to home
Jennings excited to be close to home
"It's a strange feeling," Jennings said. "If this was my third or fourth trade somewhere, I'd be used to it, but for me and my family it's my first one. It's definitely exciting to play in Houston."
The Astros couldn't be more excited to have Jennings as their No. 2 starter. The right-hander is one the club had been eyeing for some time, especially Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr.
"We're very very excited about Jason Jennings coming here. He's the no. 2 starter we've been looking for," said McLane, who, like Jennings, is a Baylor University graduate. "Do I need to point out he's a Baylor graduate? He's one of the best players in the history of Baylor baseball. He's also a great hitter."
As a collegian, Jennings won the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur player in America in 1999, and he was named the National Player of the Year in college baseball that season by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and USA Today/Baseball Weekly.
Jennings, who lives in Dallas, will be pitching a lot closer to home.
"It's almost like a breath of fresh air, a whole new beginning for me," he said. "I make my home north of Dallas, so it's pretty close to home. Obviously, I went to school at Baylor, [there are] a lot of Baylor roots there in Houston. It will be good to pitch in front of those fans, and hopefully I'll perform well for them."
The biggest adjustment for Jennings might be the change from pitching in the altitude at Coors Field to the humidity of near-sea level Minute Maid Park.
"It's going to be a different ballpark, not so much the dimensions, [but] as far as the grip and the action on my ball that will be the biggest difference," Jennings said. "Because the thin air in Denver definitely makes a difference when it comes to getting a grip on all your pitches, which is a big deal for me, and also the movement on your pitches.
"There were some nights in Denver you didn't know what kind of movement you were going to get, depending on the weather conditions."
Jennings' 3.78 ERA last season was the 12th best in the league.
"I think it's just I'm a little more mature on the mound," Jennings said of his improvement. "I threw my four-seamer a lot more last year, which opened up a whole new world for me. When I throw it like I need to and I want to, it has a little late cut on it. When you combine that with my sinking fastball, I can have two different fastballs going two different directions, and when I have that going, that was the biggest turning point for me last year."
Jennings was 9-13 with a career-best ERA in 2006, but he was victimized by a lack of run support. The Astros struggled to produce runs at times last season, yet figure to be better offensively in 2007 with Carlos Lee joining a lineup that already included slugger Lance Berkman.
"It will be great," Jennings said. "It was a little bit of a frustrating year last year, as far as the run support goes, so hopefully I can come in and pitch as well as I did last year and win some games and help the team get into the playoffs."
Jennings and Astros general manager Tim Purpura hadn't talked about a contract extension. The 28-year-old is signed through 2007 and will be eligible for free agency after the season.
"This is all so new to me. That's something I haven't really talked to my agent about," Jennings said. "[Agent Casey Close] is pretty well respected around the league, and I trust him when it comes to the business side of my career. I'm getting myself ready to pitch, and that's all I'm focused on right now."
"We barely had time to say, 'Welcome,'" Purpura said. "We haven't talked about it, we haven't thought about it. That's certainly something we'll take a look at a later date."
Jim Molony is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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This recipe I posted today is one that will knock your socks off! Super chocolaty, chewy and minty! These are one of our favorite kinds of cookies to make. EVER.
Now, the reason I'm posting this recipe is because these cookies are going to be part of a silent auction called the Sweet Pea Benefit Boutique. This auction is going to be helping out two families who can't have children and who can't afford in vitro fertilization. As a person who has some of the same problems as these women, I can relate to a lot of what they are going through. So, I offered up just a small item for bidding! The auction starts tomorrow and there are lots of other adorable items you can bid on. Please go take a look and do what you can {aka bid on my cookies! :)} They really are yummy!
Regular posts back to normal on Wednesday!
Chocolate Mint Truffle Cookies
yield: 2 dozen large cookies
Print This Recipe
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups chopped Mint Truffle Hershey Kisses or Peppermint Patties
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, whip butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in egg and vanilla and beat until pale yellow, 2 minutes. Gently stir in all dry ingredients until just incorporated. Scrape sides and mix again. Fold in chopped Mint Truffle Hershey Kisses and drop by the tablespoon full onto a greased cookie sheet. (about 8 cookies per sheet) Bake 8-9 minutes. Remove from oven, cool 3 minutes then transfer cookies to cooling rack.


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Results 11 to 20 of 24
Nov 8, 2013, 06:26 PM #11
Nov 8, 2013, 06:41 PM #13
a true dune ecosystem like as seen in island beach state park or Avalon NJ would decrease tax revenue as the whole beach block would have to be trees and dunes, this would save all the slightly inland houses on the next block in and maybe drive tax revenue up on those homes as the houses would be worth more since they wouldn't be taking a giant reaming every storm.
go to google maps and type in avalon nj (32-58th street)to see what 'real dunes' should look like.....some woods by the beach....
there is a book called the NJ shore by Cunningham, its out of print, but it says wildwood NJ used to be a dense forest filled with giant trees 100 feet high.....and now....uuggghhhhh
Nov 8, 2013, 06:41 PM #14Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2013
- Location
- Singer Island
- Posts
- 4,663
Dune replenishment is not as sexy as a dredge and fill project, and the decision makers ( municipal, state, and federal) have vested interests (Cayman Island bank accounts) in continuing these publicly funded boondoggles.
Nov 8, 2013, 06:50 PM #15
Dude I love the looks of a proper dune setup, complete w/ the scrubby pines mixed in behind the dunes...
Nov 8, 2013, 06:52 PM #16
Nov 8, 2013, 06:53 PM #17
Nov 8, 2013, 07:46 PM #18Senior Member
- Join Date
- Oct 2011
- Location
- Ocean County NJ
- Posts
- 2,301
- Images
- 2
Beach erosion is 100% natural. How NJ deals with it is unnatural.
The cheap and logical solution is to buy out damaged properties, clean up the mess, and never rebuild beyond that damage line. People who own ocean front property should be well aware they can loose their property and receive a determined gov. pay out when and if it happens.
In NJ we are spending billions on these silly push around the sand/fight the ocean projects to coddle an extremely tiny fraction of NJ/NY citizens. I would say about 95% of these homes are vacant 9 months out of the year. I can't be too far off on that. This is mind blowing to me, but what gov moves aren't mind blowing these days.
Nov 8, 2013, 08:07 PM #19
- Join Date
- Aug 2009
- Location
- Southern California
- Posts
- 472
- Images
- 28
Nov 8, 2013, 08:13 PM #20
I agree 100% man, and I honestly get nervous for you Jersey guys when these threads pop up...maybe they should cancel the replenishment and w/ the money saved fix the damn buoys that are down.
***meant to say 'add bulk' in previous post, not 'ass bulk'...


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This is a reference book for sportsmen and women, their coaches and managers, and anyone who is involved in improving mental aspects of sporting performance. It covers all major problems encountered in sport by detailing techniques, case studies and coaching tips to help you understand how you can improve your mental game. Each of the 'Mental Mastery' techniques has proven effective in the world of elite sport. They are presented in step-by-step detail so they can… (more)
Publisher: BookPOD (January 20, 2012)
Format: EPUB
File size: 18.4 MB
Protection: DRM
Language: English


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My Nonprofit Reviews
Ginny B.
Review for ARTWERKS dba Fremont Abbey, Seattle, WA, USA
The Fremont Abbey gives so much to the community through arts education and creating wonderful multimedia shows. Artists who show and perform here seem right home, and it is obvious the welcoming atmosphere and amazing staff really contributes to that.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Creating partnerships with community groups to best serve their audience and meet their mission
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
What one change could this group make that would improve your volunteer experience?
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
Networking and new experiences.
How did this volunteer experience make you feel?
Like I am helping emerging and established artists to show their work to a welcoming audience
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?


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Perhaps this site should be subtitled "Idiots in the Land of the Gods" along the lines of Dostoevsky's Prince Myshkin and others of that venerable lineage of literary lunatics.
The innocent; the obsessed; the intoxicated; the stoned; the lovers of life; the runners from reality; the addicted; the self-important; the self-styled; the gurus; the shishyas; the chelas; the ticket-less; the visa-less.
The ones who threw their money away every evening so they'd start each day with nothing; the ones who walked barefoot from Europe to India, without passports, detouring around every border post on foot.
Those who hired horses and became Afghan tribesmen for the duration, bought the horse in Kandahar and sold it on the Khyber Pass for a small profit.
The ones who walked from Kathmandu to Thyangboche monastery past the base of Mount Everest and became wood-block printers until the rainy season drove them back.
Barefoot babas; naked nagas; on the ice to Badrinath & Kedarnath shivering intoxicated in rude blankets and chillum smoke.
How to tell their stories; how to listen to them? What will be lost and what should be retained?


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Hi all! It's hard to believe that it's already mid-way through November, yet here we are! It makes Shirley's blog post on the GEM scholars program and getting grad school paid for seem so long ago! Well, the application deadline is quickly approaching! Intel Corporation is one of the top sponsors of GEM scholars and we are selecting student to sponsors in 2011! Being a GEM scholar is an amazing experience—but don't take our word for it, meet one of our GEM scholars for yourself!
Meet Gabriel! He is an Intel Scholar and recipient of an Intel GEM Fellowship. As part of the GEM program, he has completed three paid internships with Intel in Arizona, Oregon, and Hong Kong! Gabriel is currently finishing dual Master's degrees in electrical engineering and international business at the University of Florida, and will be applying to PhD programs in Computer Science and Human-Computer Interaction. We wanted to share what it's like to be a GEM scholar with you, so we recently sat down with Gabriel to hear about his internship experiences with Intel, both in the US and Hong Kong! Here's a glimpse of what our conversation went like…
What did you like best during each of your internships with Intel in the US and HK?
One of the things I enjoyed the most was the interaction with a broad range of people from different backgrounds: Team members, other employees, interns, and the local community. During my first internship in Arizona, I worked with a software QA team and application owners every day. My second job in Oregon was quite different and I worked independently most of the time, researching future technology trends in memory and logic devices. I would interact remotely with my intern buddy and supervisor in Santa Clara, and meet with my manager in Oregon every few days. My last job took me all the way to Hong Kong, while I was completing an MBA exchange program at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, HKUST . I learned about Intel operations outside the U.S. and interacted with Asia Pacific (APAC), Intel Japan Kabushiki Kaisha (IJKK) & People's Republic of China (PRC) employees.
What did you do during your internship with Intel HK?
I was a member of the Greater Asia Region (GAR) Solutions IT team supporting Sales & Marketing. I worked with a team member in Singapore to consolidate an inventory of regional stakeholders' applications and reports aligned with IT strategies. Next, our team worked on Windows7 application readiness and testing for critical regional database systems. I made the most impact on my final project with another team member, analyzing PRC supply chain health indicators. I received an Intel Recognition from the China Business Operations Manager for my risk taking and efforts. I would like to extend special thanks to those who supported me before and during this opportunity at Intel HK. In particular, thank you to my managers Bernard and Liam for believing in me and bringing me on board.
What did you like most about working at Intel?
I think Intel does a great job of welcoming new interns and Intel Scholars! As an Intel Scholar and recipient of the Intel GEM Fellowship, I was invited to the annual Intel Summit to interact with other interns, Intel executives, product group leaders, Intel Fellows and even met former CEO, Dr. Craig Barrett . I attended a fascinating talk by Intel Senior Fellow, Dr. Gene Meieran, during my first internship, and I had many opportunities to learn about Intel's business and operations outside the realm of my internship assignments. I enjoyed the diversity of people and ideas, as well as the freedom to move around between different positions. I went from working as a software engineer to a business analyst to an IT engineer within sales and marketing.
Are you considering going into the Rotation Engineers Program (REP) with Intel? And, if so, where do you see the best fit for you at Intel?
Yes, I've been interested in joining REP since my first internship! I am currently finishing double Master's degrees in electrical engineering and international business at the University of Florida, and I am applying to PhD programs in Computer Science and Human-Computer Interaction. I will keep REP in mind over the next few years while I complete my education. I find the areas of pervasive and mobile computing fascinating, and I know Intel is working hard to lead the way into the future of computing. I would be particularly interested in working at the recently announced "IXR – Interaction and Experience Research" division led by Dr. Genevieve Bell , as well as product groups working on applications to understand how people interact with their devices and loads of information.
Thanks Gabriel for sitting down and talking to us! There you have it, straight from a GEM Scholar! Sound interesting? Go to the GEM website to see if you qualify, and apply soon—the deadline is November 15th!


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6:30pm - 9:00pm
An interactive workshop with Paula Brody at Mayyim Hayyim.
"Together we will study the biblical story of the seven days of creation in the opening verses of Genesis, using the creation story to inspire our God given creativity. We will work individually and together to create collage. No previous art experience or supplies are necessary. Please bring old magazines and colorful papers or fabrics if you have them---National Geographic and travel brochures and magazines are particularly welcome, tissue paper and wrapping papers are also great. Bring an old shirt to wear and an open mind for a fun-filled creative evening!"
About Paula
Paula Brody began creating art over 10 years ago, inspired by the natural world, particularly by water and by gardening. Her pivotal role in the founding of Mayyim Hayyim also informed her work, including her piece, "Immersed." Paula, who lives in Jamaica Plain on Jamaica Pond, on Cape Cod, and in Naples, Florida, is surrounded by water year-round. Her "Reflections in Water" collages are an abstract interpretation of the ever-changing light reflected in the beauty of water. In addition, many of her paintings represent her love of gardening. When discussing her art, Paula says, "I arrange flowers on a canvas when it is too cold to be in my own garden."
Paula creates art through mixed media, including watercolors, inks, acrylics, pastels, fibers, and found objects, such as hand cut flowers and shells. Always vibrant in color, her paintings are not limited by any one style, and all of her work is characterized by a flow of energy and spontaneity. She holds a firm belief that everyone has artistic talents often hidden within them just waiting for expression.
Paula has had recent solo exhibitions in Naples Florida. Her artwork was selected for gallery exhibitions at the von Liebig art Center also in Naples, and is in the permanent collection of the Naples Community Hospital, Lutgert Cancer Center West and in many private collections. Her paintings are sold primarily through the Sweet Art Gallery in Naples, Florida.


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Delightful story of a patchwork doll, who, after being brought to life by a magician, must find a way to break a spell that has turned two victims to marble. Familiar Oz characters and delightful new creatures join in whimsical adventures. Reprinted from original 1913 edition, complete with 130 black-and-white illustrations.
Series: Dover Children's Classics
Audience: Children
For Ages: 9 - 11 years old
For Grades: 4 - 6
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 336
Published: 1st November 1990
Publisher: Dover Publications Inc.
Country of Publication: US
Dimensions (cm): 20.3 x 13.7 x 1.9
Weight (kg): 0.34
Edition Type: New edition


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Email at zombiegirl @ jessepetersen.net (without the spaces)
Or contact me via my agent:
Jesse Petersen
c/o Irene Goodman Literary Agency
27 W. 24 Street
Suite 700B
New York, New York 10010
Also check out the Facebook/Twitter links below by scrolling! I'm very active on my social media and it's a great place to keep up between blogs/updates! And now there's a newsletter I'll be sending out for reminders about events and releases. You'll see the sign up near the social media links. I won't be spammy, I promise.


text: Video News: United Kingdom Scientists announce gravitational waves, hailed greatest discovery of the decade Anytime a scientific discovery is called the greatest of the decade, it's a big deal. Scientists from the group known as LIGO are saying they've found proof of Gravitational Waves, something Einstein predicted 100 years ago but never thought would be detected. Patrick Jones (@Patrick_E_Jones) explains. © DailyMotion - Thursday, February 11, 2016


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CURVY Kim
Kardashian fuels wedding rumours as she strikes a pose in an elegant
white gown.
The reality TV star posted the teasing image of her looking over her shoulder
in the figure-hugging scoop-backed dress on her Twitter page along with the
caption 'Late night fitting #pucci'.
With her long hair tied up in a bun, Kim, 31, looked stunning in the design.
Last month boyfriend Kanye West sparked
talk of a union when he enlisted a designer to create a one-of-a-kind
engagement ring for Kim, using his late mother's jewellery collection.
However if Kim is planning to wed Kanye, 35, it is unlikely to be anytime
soon, as she is yet to finalise her divorce
from basketball player Kris Humphries.
The pair are embroiled in a messy battle over their separation, with Kris
claiming Kim – who ended the marriage after 72 days – committed fraud by only
marrying him to increase ratings for Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
Meanwhile a source has told US gossip site Showbiz Spy that Kim is keen to
start a family with Kanye, making getting pregnant her priority as it seems
she won't be getting her dream wedding anytime soon.
The insider said: "Kim and Kanye are serious, they want to get married as soon
as possible. But Kim figures that if Kris is going to drag their divorce on
for as long as possible, then she'll put her wedding plans on hold and
concentrate on starting a family with Kanye first."
And it seems Kim has it all planned out, painting a picture of Kanye as a
perfect dad due to his talent, good looks – and of course his bank balance.
The source added: "The truth is that Kim and Kanye have known each other for a
long time and first met over ten years ago, so it's not a rush decision for
her at all.
"She thinks Kanye has everything; he's incredibly rich, talented, and
"She knows her baby will be taken care of and loves the ideas that they would
be first-time parents together.
"It would mean she had a family, finally after all her heartbreak over the
last year."
Earlier in the day Kim also posted a sexy image of her floating in water with
She said: "Shooting a commercial under water today! Its a lot harder than
it looks!"


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The National Hockey League presents an annual award called the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. According to NHL.com, the Lady Byng is an annual award given to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct.
MMA is not a sport that offers accommodations for congeniality but if there was a Lady Byng Trophy in MMA, undefeated UFC Brazilian middleweight Demian Maia would be a leading contender.
Despite being one of the most skilled jiu-jitsu black belts in the world and being capable of ripping multiple limbs from the human body within seconds, Maia just happens to be one of the sport's true gentlemen.
The classy Maia is set to return to the Octagon this Saturday at the O2 Arena in London, England at UFC 95. His calm temperament will once again be on display in a middleweight matchup against Chael Sonnen that is set to air as a part of Spike TV's telecast in the U.S.
So how does Maia remain so even-keel in a sport that can at times be known for its ruthless aggression?
"I think my mentality comes from my belief in jit-jitsu," Maia began to explain during an exclusive interview with FiveOuncesOfPain.com. "Jiu-jitsu is what I believe in because the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been founded on the mentality to get the victory without hurting yourself by controlling your opponent without hurting him too much.
"It's about getting the submission instead of kicking and punching. For me, it's the nicest way to win. It's nice to win that way in a sport that is as aggressive as MMA. To be able to walk away with a victory without a scratch to me or my opponent, for me, it's priceless."
The 30-year old Sau Paulo native says that one of the reasons why he transitioned from competitive grappling to MMA was so that he could apply the principles of jiu-jitsu in an aggressive style of combat.
"I wanted to prove that you didn't need to be a violent guy to win in an MMA competition," he said. "You can use your technique and if you put on good technique then you can win very clean fights."
But do not let Maia's compassionate temperament fool you. While he may not be a savage warrior, he is a sportsman and a true competitor in every sense of the word. While he may not enjoy smashing an opponent's face, he'll do it if that's what it takes to win.
"Of course I know I'm fighting MMA," he began to answer when asked if his reservations for inflicting pain could come back to haunt him. "I know that I need to punch my opponent as hard as I can. I am fighting MMA and not in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. If I can win without (punching my opponent), I prefer (that). But if I need to do (then I will). This is a sport and I am not here to be a nice guy, I am here to win."
And win he has. Since joining the UFC, Maia is 4-0 with four submissions while competing for an organization he has dreamed of fighting for since watching Royce Gracie's remarkable tournament victory at UFC 1 in 1993.
While Maia says he's not in the UFC to be a nice guy, he's exactly that. Which is why it was somewhat out of character when he called out Michael Bisping following his most recent victory over Nate Quarry at UFC 91 in November.
However, Maia was quick to point out to Five Ounces of Pain that he holds no animosity towards Bisping and was simply looking for a chance to serve opposite him as a head coach on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter.
"The reason why I said I wanted to fight Bisping was because he was one of the guys picked to coach on The Ultimate Fighter," Maia began to explain. "I heard that they needed another coach and that's why I said his name. I actually didn't want to fight him specifically. I just wanted to be a head coach on The Ultimate Fighter."
Maia has accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time. However, there will be no shortage of challenges for him in the UFC's middleweight division. Future clashes with Bisping and Henderson could be on the horizon and according to Maia, the 185 pound class in the UFC is about to get a major upgrade with occasional training partner Wanderlei Silva looking to drop down in weight.
"Yes, we've talked about (his move to middleweight)," Maia said of the legendary Brazilian star. "I think he's just doing it for the experience and he may move back up after he does it. He wants to see how he looks (but) I don't think he's just going to fight at 185. He just wants to try it and see how it goes."
While a fight against Wanderlei Silva unlikely due to their friendship, a fighter that goes by the same namesake could be next for Maia after Saturday.
"My next fight could be for a title shot if I win," Maia responded when asked how soon he felt he might be in line to challenge for the UFC middleweight title that is currently held by Anderson Silva. "I hope so but it doesn't depend on me, it depends on the UFC. But I want to fight for the title if I (defeat Sonnen)."
During a recent interview with the USA Today, Sonnen went on the record to state that Saturday's fight between him and Maia will determine the UFC's best middleweight. When asked how he felt about Sonnen's proclamation, Maia expressed a more diplomatic tone.
"I think both of us could win against Anderson but I don't think we are better than he is. I think he is the best fighter in the world. He's a complete fighter; very good standup (and) good ground. He's very good in all aspects… He's just the best fighter in the world."
As much respect as he has for Silva, Maia isn't willing to concede victory.
"Even though he might be the best, I still think me or Chael can win against him because the type of game that we have. I think our grappling game can make a difference vs. Anderson."


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Fifth-graders Fail National Math Test, Barely Pass Others
The Education Ministry yesterday released the results of last year's fifth-grade national assessment tests, and they are no cause for celebration. The average math score was a failing 56.9. Scores in English, sciences and technology were slightly higher, around 70. On the native-language test, pupils at Jewish schools scored a fair 79 points on the Hebrew test, and pupils at Arab schools scored 60.9 on the Arabic test.
The standardized tests were administered at the end of last school year in 937 schools, to 80,000 pupils in grades 2, 5 and 8. The tests cover the four core-curriculum subjects: native-language skills, mathematics, English, and science and technology. Students also were quizzed about matters relating to student-teacher relations and the "social climate" at school.
Information about eighth-grade tests was withheld because of partial participation due to teacher sanctions.
Unhappy at school
A third of fifth-graders reported dissatisfaction with their school, and 15 percent said their children had been involved in violent incidents.
Scores in all subjects reflected a great disparity between Jewish and Arab schools. On the math test (whole numbers, simple fractions, geometry and measurements), Jewish pupils averaged 61.3 points, compared to 45.9 in Arab schools. On the English test, Jewish pupils averaged 74.2; Arab pupils - 68.6. On the science and technology test, Jewish pupils averaged 72.5; Arab pupils - 60.
Nationally, gender gaps were relatively small, but girls did better than boys at Jewish schools on the Hebrew and English tests, whereas boys did better in math. At Arab schools, girls scored substantially higher than boys in all subjects.
By the numbers
Results in every subject at both Jewish and Arab schools showed a connection between the scholastic ability of fifth-graders and their socioeconomic background. In the most striking example, pupils from poor homes averaged 44.9 on the math test, whereas their peers from wealthier homes averaged 65.8.
Regarding "school climate," two-thirds of fifth-graders said they were very satisfied (a higher rate of satisfaction was registered among fifth- and sixth-graders than seventh- and eighth-graders), but only 46 percent described positive relations with their teachers, meaning feelings of respect, closeness and caring. Specifically, only 43 percent of pupils agreed with the statement: "For the most part, teachers do not behave in an insulting and hurtful manner."
Widespread bullying
Pupils were also asked to report various sorts of violence they had experienced at school during the preceding month. Around 10 percent of pupils cited serious incidents, such as being struck with an object, severely beaten or threatened; 37 percent reported lesser violent acts, such as being shoved; and 10 percent said they had been subjected to "indirect violence," such as shunning or spreading rumors.
The assessments also examined the issue of homework. More than two-thirds of pupils said teachers check assignments in class, but only about half said this was done thoroughly and meticulously. Eighty-four percent of pupils said they devote up to two hours a day to doing homework. Some 40 percent said they also receive private tutoring sessions in one or more of the assessment's core subjects, most frequently English and math.
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The Season 5 premiere of Mad Men was the most-watched episode of the series, up 21% over last season's debut and up 17% in the 25-54 demographic. "A Little Kiss" also sparked big social media chatter. Ad Age notes the show is great art, but not a great ad draw. The Atlantic Wire explains why ratings are a small part of The Mad Men Economy.
Matthew Weiner talks to Alan Sepinwall about "A Little Kiss." He also talks more broadly about S5 with AMC and gives a character-by-character tease to Entertainment Weekly.
The Paley Center shows us a bit of their S5 premiere party. [Apparently, there was no singing. -K] The center's Ron Simon writes about the way MM treats history.
Speaking of singing, much of the coverage of "A Little Kiss" centered on the star turn of Jessica Paré on "Zou Bisou Bisou" (now available via iTunes and on limited edition vinyl). Here's her post-premiere presser, with more about the episode with AMC and Entertainment Weekly. Meanwhile, Vulture has the musical history of the song, with a bit more at The Film Experience.
Vulture also examines "What's Really Happening When Mad Men's Characters Sing."
Jessica Paré talks more broadly about Megan with Alan Sepinwall. At TIME, James Poniewozik writes about Megan as a storytelling device. Megan is just part of a Slate TV Club series on "A Little Kiss" also discussing Joan, Pete and Lane.
"A Little Kiss" began with a scene ripped from the headlines, albeit 1966's headlines.
Elisabeth Moss talks to The Advocate about Peggy, Joyce, Joan, Jane Lynch and more. She talks to the Canberra Times about the men in Peggy's life.
Vincent Kartheiser was in Milford, NH, last Sunday morning at the Good Loaf bakery promoting the Season 5 premiere. VK talks leisure time at the NYT. And he talks Pete Campbell in a Rolling Stone video.
John Slattery talks to Alan Sepinwall about Roger's position in the agency, his reaction to a Joan's return to the office, John's experience directing his third episode this season, and Jon Hamm's experience directing his first.
Kiernan Shipka talks to the HuffPo about Sally Draper, secrecy, comedy and more. The Fug Girls track Kiernan's fashion evolution. Racked National looks at Sally's bedding.
Jon Hamm was once asked to father a child by a friend who was desperate to have a baby. [I'm guessing more than once, including by strangers. -K] Kelly Lynch remembers Jon as a hunky bartender. JH also did the webseries 7 Minutes of Heaven. He also talks around the Season 5 premiere at Zap2it. There's a preview of JH's upcoming interview with Esquire UK at the Daily Mail. Further DigitalSpy has 10 things to know about Jon [Veteran Basketcases likely know them, but we always hope for new readers. -K]
January Jones told The Times of London's Culture magazine that Betty Francis is harshly judged and today's parents are too uptight about raising children. [Xander would look sooo cute in a dry cleaning bag. -K] Also, JJ is eating her placenta.
Janie Bryant judged Fashion Week in N'awlins, and talked about MM's Season 5 fashions at InStyle and at Slate.
MM set decorator Claudette Didul takes the L.A. Times on a tour of the Draper apartment. The NYT has a blurb from production designer Dan Bishop about it, too.
Curbed Los Angeles has a guide to Mad Men filming locations [I'm also adding this to our Links page. –D]
Bids are flying on eBay for a Mad Men walk-on role, which includes a VIP set tour from executive producer Scott Hornbacher. [As I write this, the current bid is $20,000. -K]
The Mad Men Power Rankings return at Grantland, which also ran a piece on MM and the twilight of the Golden Age of Television.
At the Paris Review, Adam Wilson writes Don Draper that It's a Wonderful Life.
Unlikely Words catalogs Everything Don Draper Said in Season 4. Flavorwire catalogs Every Woman Don Draper Hooked Up With in Season 4.
The Gloss is polling Megan vs. Betty. THR pits Jessica vs. January.
Scott Eric Kaufmann frames Sally and Don Draper in "A Little Kiss."
The Atlantic Wire essays The Angry Women of Mad Men. At Forbes, James Polous essays Mad Men and Unhappy Women. Feministe rounds up feminist-blogging on the return of Mad Men.
At Slate, Hanna Rosin looks at Babies on Mad Men.
The Collegian examines how Mad Men sold nostalgia to the iPhone generation. [Jon Hamm had a different take on the show's appeal to the young during the pre-premiere TimesTalk. -K]
MTV mulls 10 lingering mysteries after "A Little Kiss."
Refinery 29 surveys the Real Mad Men of NYC.
The Spectator's Arts Blog has a small and funny complaint about the return of Mad Men.
College Humor gives 10 Reasons The Walking Dead Should Just Kill Carl.
Owen Wilson, Zach Galifianakis are set to star in Matthew Weiner's feature film directorial debut (possibly with Amy Poehler).
Joel Stillerman, AMC's senior vice president of original programming and production, talks to Canada's National Post about The Killing.
AMC has a trailer for The Pitch online. The show officially starts April 30, but there is a sneak preview on April 8, following MM and The Killing. AMC President Charlie Collier spoke about the show at the American Association of Advertising Agencies' annual meeting, held this year in Los Angeles.
Charlie Collier also talked to THR about Mad Men, The Walking Dead, The Killing and more. [I have it on good authority that he is much taller than he looks in his pictures. -K]
Toots Shor's, a Mad Men setting, is the subject of a new book.
Finally: Downton Arby's.
Basket of News is compiled by Deborah and Karl — and Basketcases contributing in the sidebar.
18 Responses to "Basket of News, Mar. 24-30, 2012"
SO much information. Thanks for providing us with a one-stop-link-shop.
And yeah, despite the fact that I'm 48, menopausal, and have 2 grown children, I am desperate for a baby and only Jon Hamm can assist. We'll just leave his girlfriend and my husband out of the loop, ok?
Nice to see that Matt Weiner has a "summer school" project with some heavy hitters. I'll have to pencil "You Are Here" into my busy movie schedule.
Did anyone catch this great column in the Star Tribune: http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/144467135.html?
Points out a problem with Peggy's Catholicism. Check it out.
I've wondered about that, too. Maybe mom is Irish and dad was the Norwegian. They seem totally NY Irish to me as well. Others would know far better than I though.
I'm a grad student at University of Illinois, and helping their Unit for Criticism with blogging every episode of Mad Men this season (like they did season 4), in anticipation of the publication of MAD MEN, MAD WORLD: Sex, Politics, Style, and the 1960s this fall. We'd love your feedback!
Here's what I think about placenta-eating: TMI. I don't care who we're talking about. Just TMI.
Such a huge assortment of links. Love it.
Thanks all. Or is is "You're welcome"? Pete would know…
Atlantic Wire is more than a year out of date. In Britain Sky TV, a Murdoch satellite company operating on the HBO-type subscription model, now licenses and shows Mad Men. If I remember correctly, they pay about 3 or 4 times what BBC paid per episode for the earlier seasons. So even though viewership is way down as a result (98,000 vs. 335,000 on BBC 4, and probably a million if BBC had shown it on BBC 2) AMC is earning far more from Sky than Atlantic is crediting them from BBC.
An interesting sidelight here: the British viewers, who were used to seeing Mad Men on BBC without ads (some of them think we had the same experience, on HBO rather than AMC) greatly feared the move to Sky partly because of ads. (There also seem to be millions of Brits who detest Rupert Murdoch so much that they will never in a million years subscribe t Sky, even though it's pulling most of the American drama series now, not to mention cricket). In the event, they had only ONE commercial break during each hour (or maybe it was only one during the two hour viewing)! And apparently what they saw were 1960-era ads for current products, which they all enjoyed! A far cry from what we have to sit through if we want to watch it live. My recommendation: tape it on your DVR, then start watching 20-25 minutes in, skuip all the adds, and finish at the same time as live action viewers.
BBC used to show Mad Men about 6 months later. Sky is showing it two days later than AMC, on Tuesdays. The Guardian newspaper has a great Mad Men blog, with very intelligent commenters, which is now pretty well current for us, by Tuesday:
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.


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MMC 2.0 Taskpad Controls and Objects
MMC taskpad controls and objects are introduced in MMC 1.1.
MMC has the following ActiveX controls that are used on taskpad HTML pages.
- ListPad control
Displays a list-view control that contains items from an IResultData result list. Used on list view taskpads only.
- MMCCtrl control
Gets the taskpad configuration information (text, graphics, and tasks) from the snap-in and communicates data back to the snap-in.
- SysColorCtrl control
Gets system color settings, used on a taskpad DHTML page, that can be applied to the taskpad. The control also has methods to derive colors based one or more specified colors.
Taskpads also use the following objects (created by methods in the MMCCtrl control).
- MMCDisplayObject object
Specifies the type of image and all the data required to use that image to display a task or the background on a taskpad.
- MMCListPadInfo object
Represents a label and a button for the ListPad control to be added to the taskpad page. Should be used on list view taskpads only.
- MMCTask object
Represents a task to be added to the taskpad.


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Customer Reviews
What You'll Get
Paintings are a window into the artist's thoughts, from Pollock's chaotic canvases to the little frowny faces on each star in Starry Night. Paint it out with this Groupon.
Choose Between Two Options
- $15 for a BYOB painting class for one (a $35 value)
- $29 for a BYOB painting class for two (a $70 value)
Held Tuesday–Sunday, classes invite students to paint subjects such as hibiscus flowers, abstract portraits, and city skylines. All supplies and materials are included. Students can bring along their own snacks, wine, or other beverages to enjoy during class.
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires 120 days after purchase. Amount paid never expires. Limit 1 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Limit 1 per visit. Valid only for option purchased. Registration required. 24hr cancellation notice required. Must use promotional value in 1 visit. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Island Painting Party
If you're going to paint, you might as well have fun doing it. At least, that's what the folks at Island Painting Party believe, where snacks and wine are welcome during classes, and friendly, patient instructors guide novice artists through every step of the process. During adult painting classes—which vary in subject matter throughout the month—students follow along with teachers to complete a chosen work of art, such as a still life, city skyline, or a self-portrait of themself as Hillary Clinton.


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This product is no longer available.
You can try these similar gifts instead.
Crossridge Peak Duet Gift Basket
These two Crossridge Peak wines arrive in a canvas tote along with a wine stopper and sea salt olive oil crackers, asiago cheese spread, roasted garlic onion dip mix, chocolate caramels and cappuccino chocolate chip cookies.


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Florida State Defeats Virginia 34-14 - Recap
Jermaine Thomas ran for 122 yards as Florida State handled Virginia by a score of 34-14 on Saturday at Scott Stadium.
Florida State was the ATS victor, as they covered the 6.5-point spread as a favorite. Over-Under bettors who played UNDER the total of 49.5 were rewarded at the payout window.
Christian Ponder completed 17 of 29 pass attempts for 172 yards for the Seminoles in the win. He did not throw an interception in the game.
Perry Jones rushed for 28 yards for Virginia, while Keith Payne added 22 yards. Marc Verica threw for 211 yards for the Cavaliers, while receivers Kris Burd and Dontrelle Inman had 118 and 40 yards respectively.
Florida State outgained Virginia 428-304 yards in the game, while the battle of first downs was won 26-17 by the Seminoles.
Virginia lost the time of possession battle 31:49/28:11, leaving their defense on the field more than they wanted.
Next game, Florida State takes its act on the road to face Miami looking for another win. For Virginia, they head on the road to face Georgia Tech.


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Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed, Jo Beverley's first novel, was published in 1988. A Shocking Delight, her most recent novel was published in 2014. In the first, Beverley gives her heroine a father prone to tedious lectures and very much under his wife's rule and a hero whose father managed to mold his heir in his own image to a degree. In A Shocking Delight, the heroine's father is loving and protective, but also sexist and ignorant, of who his daughter truly is. The hero, through clever maneuverings in an earlier book, has two fathers, each quite scandalous, although for different reasons. In between, Beverley has given readers more than forty novels and novellas in which fathers—loving, abusive and indifferent, wise and foolish, controlling and indulgent, powerful and ineffectual—play their parts. To examine all these fathers would require a dissertation, so I shall limit this discussion to the five novels that contain the characters I find Jo Beverley's most interesting fathers.
Emily and the Dark Angel (1991) is one of my top-ten traditional regencies, and the protagonists' relationships with their fathers are among the reasons it holds that place. Piers Verderan (The Dark Angel) has been shaped in large part into the man he is by the magic of his father's presence and the contrast between his memories of his father and the reality of life under the control of his crazed and cruel grandfather. Fittingly, it is his father's will, along with Piers's own courage and ingenuity, that frees him from that control. Emily Grantwich's father is still among the living, but a foolish duel has left him paralyzed. Emily tries to hold on to the fact that her father "had been a good landowner and a good father. A rough, bluff, old-fashioned squire. . .," but his present flaws make remembering past virtues difficult. In the present, he is a querulous, demanding old man, "all twisted by his misfortune," who finds fault with Emily's administration of the estate, a task she's forced to perform given her father's incapacity and her soldier brother's missing-in-action status. It is actually work at which she is quite skilled, although her father neither understands her gifts nor appreciates her efforts. Piers, on the other hand, not only appreciates what Emily does well but also sees all that she can become. He wants to see her soar.
Beverley's most vividly drawn paternal figure is the Duke of Belcraven, who has a prominent role in the second of the Company of Rogues series, An Unwilling Bride (1992). Belcraven is both the legal father of Lucien de Vaux, Marquess of Arden, the hero, and the biological father of Beth Armitage, the novel's heroine. Lucien has been reared as Belcraven's son, and all his life he has held his father in high esteem: "A dressing down by his father was an indication that he had fallen below the standards of the de Vaux, that his father was ashamed of his son and heir. Arden had frequently wept."
Belcraven is a proud, reserved man, one not given to free expression of his emotions, but he loves his son. He proves that love by the choices he makes over a quarter of a century. But when he learns that he has an illegitimate daughter and sees a way to ensure that the de Vaux blood that has run pure for seven centuries continues, his will is unshakable. "I wish to God you were my son, " he says to Lucien even as he breaks the news that Lucien is the offspring of the duchess's brief and soon-regretted affair with an old love and that Belcraven will take any measures necessary to see that Lucien marries Beth Armitage, who has the bloodline that Lucien lacks.
The Belcraven that readers see in his first scene with Beth is a very different man from the grim, tortured man revealed in the scene with Lucien. His conversation with her is leavened with humor. He gives her a "sweet smile," and he is clearly delighted with her intelligence and spirit. And he is also sensitive to her feelings about him and about the mother who had no affection for her. However, he is no less ruthless with Beth when she opposes his plan for her marriage, threatening her with the mortgages he holds that give him the power to destroy the school of Beth's "aunt" and benefactor.
Once plans for the marriage are set in motion, the focus, quite rightly, moves to the relationship between Beth and Lucien, but Beverley continues to give us glimpses of Belcraven, revealing his vulnerabilities where the duchess is concerned and his hope that Beth and Lucien will learn to deal with one another and find a measure of happiness. As the novel nears its end and all the threads are being tied up, there is a scene that suggests to me that the HEA for this story is large enough to include more than the H/H relationship. Beth, Lucien's former mistress, and three of the Rogues (Lucien, Nicholas Delaney, and Miles Cavanagh) are in disreputable disguises, having just made sure through less than legal methods that evil is defeated and Rogue justice is dispensed. As part of the motley crown celebrating the allied victory over Napoleon, they encounter Belcraven and Lord Liverpool, the Prime Minister, in conversation with two more of the Rogues (Hal Beaumont and Francis, Lord Middlethorpe). Liverpool is indignant and disapproving of the riffraff, but Belcraven, recognizing them, is amused. He calls Beth a "saucy piece."
She responds, "I'm the apple of my father's eye."
"I don't doubt it," the duke said, and his glance encompassed both Beth and Lucien. I don't doubt it at all."
It's a moment I find almost as satisfying as Beth and Lucien's bliss.
Beverley gives readers another book with two living fathers in Hazard (2002), a Rogues spinoff and book #8 in the series. Lady Anne Peckworth, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Arran, has been the next closest thing to jilted by two of the Rogues—Francis, Lord Middlethorpe (Forbidden, 1994) and Con Somerford, Viscount Amleigh (The Dragon's Bride, 2001). The two disappointments coupled with the lameness she has had from birth make Lady Anne's loving family particularly protective of her. Her father is a less forceful character than his duchess, but he proves he is well able to look after Anne's best interests and that he likely understands what her best interests are better than does her ambitious mother. The duke is described as "softheartedly devoted to all his children," and when Anne imagines her family's reaction to her unconventional choice of a husband, she comforts herself that however angry her mother may be, the duke will not cut Anne off from the family.
There is a sweetness in Anne's relationship with her father, but the hero's complicated relationship with his father is more interesting. Race de Vere's father is a rough-edged, self-made man whose wealth earned him a lady wife. He took a more aristocratic name, "deVere," and sent his son to the right schools with the expectation that Race would become "the first true gentleman of his line." Race refused and at seventeen ran away to join the army, with help from his maternal uncle. He and his father maintain a physically and emotionally distant relationship for seven years. Returning home after he leaves military service, Race learns that his father, who remarried and had a second family after the death of Race's mother, has a plan to have his first marriage annulled, purchase a title, and see his younger son become the gentleman his eldest refused to be.
Race agrees with the plan, conceding that "Little Tom will doubtless grow up to be just the sort of son [their father] wants—the sort of aristocrat that England will need. One foot in tradition and the land, and the other in industry and new ideas." Race is not even bothered that the annulment will make him a bastard—at least not until he falls in love with a duke's daughter. When Race and Anne decide to marry against what they know will be her family's furious objections, he decides they should visit his father. Race is not even certain they will be welcome in his father's house.
Anne sees more clearly. She recognizes Mr. de Vere's first look at his son as "part love, part loss, and part exasperated worry." The elder de Vere not only receives them hospitably, but he also admits the mistakes he made with Race and vows to be a wiser father to young Tom. He assures Race, "But whatever the case, you are my son." He insists too that Race accept a fair share of the de Vere fortune, a share that amounts to 5000 a year, enough to make Race slightly more palatable to Anne's family.
From the complicated to the wonderfully simple . . . One of the most loving, supportive relationships between father and son is briefly pictured in The Rogue's Return (2006), book #11 in the series but the homecoming story of the eighth Rogue, Simon St. Bride. Unusual in that the story is set partly in Canada and partly on board ship, the novel has Simon's family appear only in the final section of the novel, after he and his bride have returned to England. Bridewell, Simon's home is presented as an idyllic, beloved spot, filled with a large family devoted to one another. In words and action, the St. Brides demonstrate their love for their son and brother. They welcome him home with enthusiasm and accept his wife with no reservations. There is a rare absence of reserve between Simon and his father. They exchange an embrace in the homecoming scene, and the two men talk openly to one another of their concerns. They understand one another. His father knows Simon will never be content with the peaceful, slow-paced life his father enjoys. Simon admires his father: "My father is a wonderful man . . . and strong in many ways. He doesn't avoid problems." It comes as no surprise then when Simon makes a sacrifice for his father and the rest of the family—not from a sense of duty but as a gift freely given.
As much as I love the Rogues, I can't forget her Mallorens and the character who is arguably Beverley's most famous contribution to romance fiction. The Marquess of Rothgar is introduced in My Lady Notorious (1993), but readers waited seven years as Rothgar saw all his half-siblings happily settled and finally achieved his own HEA with Diana Westmount, Countess of Arradale. Rothgar's dark memories of his mad, murderous mother and his determination to sire no children are threads that run through the series. Only at the end of Devilish (2000) do readers see Rothgar pass a kind of test and decide that he can enjoy being a father.
In A Lady's Secret (2008), which I fondly refer to as Jo Beverley's secret baby book, Rothgar finds that he has been a father for quite some time. After a road trip filled with danger, adventure, laughter, romance, and a scene-stealing Papillon, the heroine, Petra d'Averio, arrives at the home of her father, a titled Englishman who knows nothing of her existence. She looks so much like him that her father recognizes her immediately. This is the Rothgar readers fell in love with more than a decade ago, softened a bit by happiness but with his omniscience undiminished. In one breath, he assures Petra that she need have no fears, that he is fully capable of protecting her from her enemies; in the next, he expresses the hope that she will eventually call him "Father or Papa." He is doubly delighted with his daughter, first because he values her for herself and secondly because her clear-eyed sanity reassures him that the "tainted blood" he has feared passing on is a shadow with no substance. The story ends with Rothgar as father of the bride—and scheduled to become a father for the second time about the time he becomes a first-time grandfather.
Happy Father's Day, Rothgar!
Janga spent decades teaching literature and writing to groups ranging from twelve-year-olds to college students. She is currently a freelance writer, who sometimes writes about romance fiction, and an aspiring writer of contemporary romance, who sometimes thinks of writing an American historical romance. She can be found at her blog Just Janga and tweeting obscure bits about writers as @Janga724.


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Mountain View's Richie Estrada led the Mountain Lions to a 21-7 away victory over Canyon Del Oro High School on Friday night.
The junior running back managed two touchdowns on 23 carries and 178 yards of total offense.
Estrada's first touchdown came about halfway through the first quarter. On a handoff from quarterback Cody Rochon, Estrada pushed his way through the Dorado defense and sped downfield for a 44-yard touchdown to put the Mountain Lions up 7-0.
Rochon and Estrada again teamed up to make another push downfield halfway through the third quarter. On the Dorados' 12-yard line, it was this time Rochon who would find space, running the ball in and bringing the score to 14-0.
Rochon would end the game six of 10 passing for 46 yards with one touchdown carry.
The CDO offense struggled to find an answer for a tough Mountain View defense, which limited the Dorados on the ground as well as in the air.
With nine minutes remaining in the game, Estrada found an opening from the Dorado 21-yard line, and shrugged off several defenders to bring the game to 21-0.
But the Dorados weren't going to allow a shutout.
Led by the offense of running back Isaac Chacon and quarterback Leo Khawam, the Dorados found some big gains to bring the ball to the Mountain View five-yard line on second down and goal, but a penalty was called against the Dorados and a subsequent quarterback sack pushed the Dorados to fourth down and 17.
Chants from the Dorado stands began ringing out. "We want one! We want one!"
In the very next play, the fans would get what they asked for.
Khawam found wide receiver Tommy Sawyer for a 17-yard touchdown pass in the corner end zone to send the crowd into eruption.
But with only four minutes remaining in the game, the Mountain View lead would prove insurmountable, and the game would end 21-7 in favor of the Mountain Lions.
The Dorados fall to 0-2 and will face Chavez at home on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.
The Mountain Lions improve to 2-0 and face Desert View next Friday.


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[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] The five MLS teams in the 2013-14 Concacaf Champions League were drawn into their groups on Monday night. The San Jose Earthquakes
and Montreal Impact will meet in Group 5, while all five MLS clubs were separated from Mexican clubs for the group stage.
Like last season, each of the eight groups consists of three teams playing each other twice for a total of four games over six match dates. Only the group winner will advance to the quarterfinals. In 2012-13, three MLS clubs reached the knockout phase. Two of them, the LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo, return in 2013-14.
The Mexican quarter includes Tijuana, the 2010 Torneo Apertura champion and 2013 Libertadores Cup quarterfinalist whose roster features half a dozen Americans, and Club America, winner of the 2013 Torneo Clausura.
Monterrey, the three-time Concacaf Champions League champion, did not qualify for the 2013-14 edition.
2013-14 Concacaf Champions League group draw:
Group 1: Arabe Unido (Panama), Houston Dynamo, W Connection (Trin. & Tobago).
Group 2: Olimpia (Honduras), Sporting KC, Real Esteli (Nicaragua).
Group 3: Herediano (Costa Rica), Cruz Azul (Mexico), Valencia (Haiti).
Group 4: Club America (Mexico), Alajuelense (Costa Rica), Sporting San Miguelito (Panama)
Group 5: San Jose Earthquakes, Montreal Impact, Guatemala #2.
Group 6: Comunicaciones (Guatemala), Toluca (Mexico), Caledonia FC (Trin. & Tobago).
Group 7: Tijuana (Mexico), Victoria (Nicaragua), San Luis Firpo (E Salvador).
Group 8: LA Galaxy, Isidro Metapan (El Salvador), Cartagines (Costa Rica).
How could the holder not qualify automatically? this has to change.


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William George Cheney died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2001.
A native of Oshkosh, Wis., Mr. Cheney attended the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and worked in the paper industry. He was active in the Southern Paper Trade Association and served as its president. He retired in 1985 after 20 years with Bay West Paper Co. He was a member of Charlotte Bridge Association and was a veteran of World War II who flew 50 missions as a B51 pilot in Europe.
Private services will be held at a later date in Oshkosh.
Survivors include his wife, Rose Cheney; three daughters, Susan Nagel, California, Donna Videan, Indiana, and Bobbie Hudson, Athens; two sons, Lee Cheney, Nevada, and Steve Cheney, California; a brother, Charles Cheney, Wisconsin; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Charlotte, 1420 E. Seventh St., Charlotte, NC 28204.
The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home, Indian Trail, N.C.
Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2001
This article published in the Athens Daily News on Wednesday, February 21, 2001.
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Congress can find some of the most stupid (ignorant, if you will) things to do, while pretending to do the people's business. I'm talking about an amendment to protect the American flag. Don't tamper with the Constitution!
All we need is a Congress with the backbone to stand up to these federal judges who don't know the difference between action and speech, and bring impeachment proceedings against all judges who rule that action is speech.
Here is what The Concise Oxford Dictionary says about the word speech: "1. The faculty of speaking; 2. A usually formal address; discourse delivered to an audience or assembly; 3. A manner of speaking (a man of blunt speech); 4. A remark (after this speech, he was silent); 5. The language of the nation, region, group, etc.; 6. (Music) The act of sounding in an organ pipe, etc."
The average American knows the difference between speech and action! Only the (infertile) mind of some federal judges can equate action with speech. I find speech nowhere in the definition of action!
Wake up, Americans, to what the ACLU domination is doing to some of our judges, and to our judicial system and, ultimately, to our nation.
A.L. HARRIS,Lubbock
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Djurali is the MCA's Youth Art Careers Workshop, aimed at Year 9–12 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) visual arts students.
These workshops are held twice a year – one taking place over four days at the MCA and one that is presented offsite in a modified format over two days in an ATSI community.
Keith Munro, Curator of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Programs works closely with schools to develop Djurali Youth Arts Careers Workshops linking exhibitions involving Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander artists and art practices with the programmed format of Djurali. Each Djurali consists of a series of workshops over a two or four day period.
This insightful experience gives students the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge through professional and personal talks by a range of people with successful careers in the arts. They include contemporary artists, staff from the MCA, university and arts colleges. The onsite workshop also provides important benchmarks and gives students the information and expectations needed to undertake a career in the arts. Students also become familiar with the support mechanisms available to them, important practical information such as how to gain entry into university, the process involved, who to see and talk to, and resources available to them. Djurali participants also visit an Arts College to engage with ATSI staff, current students and where possible lecturers, about what assistance is available to ATSI students on campus. This includes available courses, insight into obtaining a degree and other opportunities.
The focus of both the onsite and modified offsite Djurali programs is flexible and can also include camera, painting, drawing or film based workshops, depending on artist practice and the needs of the school community. We also explore possible ways of linking the types of resources the MCA has available to promote a greater awareness of this program through the use of the web and multimedia.
Book now: email@example.com
(Places limited to 15 students for onsite Djurali program)


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CodePlexProject Hosting for Open Source Software
Is there any way in the data tables to associate a specific survey user to a specific voter response set?
We need to maintain a status list by user of what surveys have been completed and what surveys have not. We see the ContextUserName value in the voter table, however this is populated with a variety of values and not easily searched or filtered on.
Are we missing something obvious?
You can add the "Survey Security Context" to your survey so only voters registered as users in SP can log in to the tool and answer the survey. If they do their registered username will be added to the ContextUserName column in the vts_tbvoter table. Through
the ContextUsername you can link the vts_tbuser table to the vts_tbvoter. Vts_Tbvoter is linked to vts_tbsurvey by the surveyid field.
One other option is to make use of the ASP security context which will also fill the ContextUsername column but this is less clear.
You can also find a database model at the documentation section to check the different relations.
Hope this will help to find the proper solution.
Kind regards
Survey Project Coordinator
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The Lifespan TR 1200i is extensively regarded as one of the most effective luxury folding treadmills on the market place for beneath $1000 with the ideal price presently at Amazon With a lifetime warranty on the frame you can invest in with self-assurance from one of the marketplace leaders in treadmills. One of our most preferred capabilities is our Ideal Treadmill Buys for 2016 section that offers you top rated picks in four different categories. As finest dog treadmill critiques would tell you, this can save you lots of money even in a case of a mechanical problem with your device. SOLE gives a 30-day cash-back guarantee on all their treadmills, so you can attempt it out danger cost-free and return it if you're not happy. Nonetheless, putting with each other a cheap treadmill doesn't look to have been a strain for most people.
We like the Bowflex Series 3 treadmill for its reasonable cost, terrific looks and great features but we advocate you choose 1 with a more strong motor for significant operating. The exception to the common satisfaction amongst shoppers on this front is the console on the Gold's Health club GG480, which users posting critiques at Walmart locate difficult to study, specifically in dim light. The Gold's Gym GG480 likewise wins praise in evaluations on the Walmart website for its ability to deliver a very good workout for various exercisers, runners, and persons close to the 300-pound maximum https://www.myfitnesspal.com/ weight with no getting wobbly or noisy. The Sole F80 is a quite decent treadmill that just like the F63 that runs off a continuous duty HP motor.
Customers posting critiques of the Gold's Health club GG480 at Walmart report some troubles with the belt drifting a bit more than time, but nonetheless price the treadmill extremely. If you attach the security key clip to your clothes and you slip all of a sudden or need to have to cease in a hurry, pulling the key out stops the treadmill instantly. General, having said that, we are really satisfied with our AFG 7.1AT, and would advocate it to other people seeking to acquire a higher-good quality treadmill at a affordable price. Some machines have hill applications, which use incline levels to mimic a series of hills and valleys of varying lengths and gradients. No need to tension about whether or not a treadmill is going to obtainable for you to use when you get to the fitness center. Another amazing feature of this treadmill is that it offers two My Zone" heart rate control programs and two far more that you can customize.
This tough treadmill also capabilities a video screen so you can pick prepared workouts or customize your personal, and it has a shelf to hold a tablet at a level where you can read and access it. Obtaining a fan built in to your treadmill keeps you from overheating and permits you the chance to cool off a bit if issues get as well sweaty. Soft, spongy treadmill operating platforms can result in knee injuries and they are prone to wearing out speedily. Considering the fact that the treadmill was mobile enough soon after folding, it was commonly transported involving rooms in hotels and other establishments. The workout experience We like the ProForm Overall performance 1450 for the reason that it delivers a entertaining and comfy exercise experience.
We like this treadmill mainly because it delivers a wide assortment of exercise programs and ti can even be connected to Google Maps. The automatic speed and incline controls are really handy as you won't have to interrupt your exercise session in order to adjust the treadmill. Going by the greatest treadmill evaluations 2016, these manually powered goods are some of the greatest one particular can opt for in the category. You can study reviews the cover both excellent and bad expertise with home fitness products. The plush running region, which measures 71 inches in length, is the second most amazing function of this treadmill.


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Bulma Briefs - Dragon Ball
|Long Term Project.
On the theme of uploading costumes I have in my to-do folder on my computer, I've always wanted to do a Dragon Ball costume and Bulma is one of my favourite girls from the series. Other than being a little crazy (in the fun way!) at times, she does come with a plethora of awesome gadgets that would be fun to make. There are several variants of her that I would love to do, but initially it will probably be the classic pink dress. Someday I'd love to do her yellow and black outfit too.
No comments received.


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NHL Draft: Brett Pesce's hard work about to pay off
In preparation for the 2013 NHL Draft on June 30, Brett Pesce has done his fair share of traveling from team workouts to the NHL Combine. And it's been during these trips when he fully recognizes who is responsible for putting him in this position.
"I thank my parents for hauling me around all these years," Pesce said while on a recent drive from New Hampshire to New York. "I didn't realize how much they really did for me when I was younger. Letting me play travel [hockey] and letting me do what I wanted -- it's pretty remarkable. This drive, a four-hour trip, it's nothing for them. It's what they did every weekend, so I'm really appreciative and thankful for everything they did."
Though he has his parents to thank for giving him a chance to succeed, the 6-foot, 170-pound University of New Hampshire defenseman has himself to thank for capitalizing on those opportunities.
A highly touted prospect, Pesce worked hard from the moment he stepped on campus, and earned himself a spot in the rotation almost immediately. He was so good that he forced New Hampshire coach Dick Umile to give him significant minutes, something he rarely does with freshmen.
"From day one, he stepped in and played the position for us, and he's played it very well," Umile said. "He's very mature, and obviously, a very talented hockey player. He's developed into one of the better defensive freshmen in college hockey."
The Tarrytown product has skyrocketed up the draft board since the beginning of the year, and ranks in the top 40 for all North American prospects for the 2013 draft. He is the top-ranked collegiate hockey player and second highest defenseman available in the draft. Though he only registered one goal and six points in 38 games for New Hampshire this past season, it's easy for Umile to see why many NHL teams covet him.
"He handles himself extremely well in one-on-one situations," Umile said. "He wins those battles. Defensively, he's as good as anyone."
There are facets of Pesce's game that need to be improved, and he'll be the first to tell you. He's going to spend all summer refining his shot and has plans to take skating lessons to work on lengthening his strides in order to get faster in the open ice.
Though he is projected as a second- or third-round selection, Pesce is grounded about his situation and has plans to return to school to grow and develop as a player.
"Getting drafted is nice, but ultimately, it's not my main goal," Pesce said. "My main goal is to play in the National Hockey League and this is just kind of like a stepping-stone. It's one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me and it's a nice accomplishment, but in the long run, it doesn't mean anything."


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I hope you all have enjoyed the past few weeks of festivities with your friends, coven and families. As 2012 comes to a close, I wish you all a new year full of good health, success, love, and magick.
Here is a spell of mine that was first published in the Spell-a-day Almanac in 2007 for New Years eve. I thought you would all enjoy it!
December 31st (New Years Eve)At midnight on New Years Eve stand at your threshold and repeat this spell to welcome in the year. This New Year's Eve spell calls for prosperity, health and happiness. It also reaffirms your vows as a Witch to "Harm none." A few minutes before midnight, light a white candle, to symbolize the new year. Then set it in a prominent place and move to your front door. Open the door wide and repeat the spell as the new year is born.
*As the clock strikes twelve, so begins a new calendar year,
Now ring in prosperity, health, happiness, and good cheer.
I welcome this magickal year with hope and open arms,
May I keep my vows to help, to heal, and to cause no harm.
By the powers of hearth and home this spell is spun,As I will it so shall it be, and let it harm none.
*Copyrighted material- This spell was written by Ellen Dugan and may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from author.
Have an Enchanting New Year!
Blessed be, Ellen


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Kookaburra Swing Master BallCB1691SRW4 9313131125667
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Help master your swing with the Kookaburra Swing Master Ball, which helps you focus on your swing and become accustomed to the feel of it.
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If you feel your product has failed a Consumer Guarantee (as defined by Australian Consumer Law) then don't worry you can easily return it to your local Harvey Norman store. We'll even pay for the postage if you live in an area where there is no store. Our returns policy covers any purchased item (conditions apply).
Either complete the details below or chat to a staff member online.
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Do you have the wow factor?
The Lubbock Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority is looking for the area's most talented singers, dancers, step teams, bands and poets to audition for this year's Black History Month Talent Showcase Extravaganza.
Individuals and groups of all ages are welcome.
Auditions are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday at Parkway Community Center, 406 Martin Luther King Blvd.
The talent show is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 13.
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us


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Help us to be there for older people in Wales
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Published on 29 November 2011 03:30 PM
In response to the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, Graeme Francis, Head of Policy for Age Cymru said:
"The decision to speed up the timetable to increase the State Pension Age to 67 will come as a bitter blow to many people fast approaching retirement especially those in ill-health, caring for relatives and those out of work.
"Age Cymru recognises that as life expectancy increases it is reasonable to consider increases to State Pension age and longer working lives, however this decision has been based on no published detailed analysis. Average life expectancy must not be the only factor that is considered as at the moment the huge disparities in healthy life expectancy across the UK means that the poorest socio-economic groups will be required to sacrifice proportionately more of their retirement. This is a particular issue in parts of Wales.
"Age Cymru is calling for an Independent Pensions Advisory Commission to be set up to ensure pensions decisions are based on all the relevant factors including inequalities in life expectancy, employment opportunities, trends in private provision and prospects for older workers. This week the UK Government has announced an increase in State Pension age and a delay in auto-enrolment for some people rather than looking at retirement provision in the whole. Any changes in State Pension age should be made in the context of a strategy to improve health inequalities, a timetable for the reduction and abolition of pensioner poverty and a strategy for achieving this, a firm commitment to private pension reform and improvement to state pensions."
"We welcome the UK Government's decision to maintain its commitment to increase the basic state pension by the triple guarantee so that it will rise by 5.2% in line with September's CPI. This will mean an extra £5.30 a week in pensioners' pockets which will help towards meeting the rising costs of living. "We also welcome the Government's decision to increase the standard amount of Pension Credit by the same amount. However this cost will be met through reductions in savings credit provided to pensioners with slightly higher incomes."
"We will be examining the review very carefully to ensure that the overall package does not allow employers to force older workers out of the workplace or be used as a backdoor way to reintroduce forced retirement which the government has only just abolished as discriminatory."
For all media enquiries: 029 2043 1555, 07739 894 923.
Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/agecymru
Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/agecymru
For more information:
Call Age Cymru Advice:
08000 223 444


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What's the new law?
Assembly Bill 354 takes effect July 1. It requires students entering grades 7-12 to show proof they've received a pertussis booster. Beginning July 1, 2012, seventh graders must show proof of the booster before the start of every school year.
What's the vaccine?
It's called the Tdap booster. Approved in 2005 for people age 10 and older, Tdap combines vaccines for tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis.
What about young children?
Yes, health officials recommend a five-dose series. Called the DTaP vaccine, it is given at ages 2, 4 and 6 months; 15-18 months; and 4-6 years.
Where do I get a Tdap?
It's available from your doctor and from public health clinics.
Where do I get information?
For information about pertussis or to get clinic locations and hours, call 211 or visit www.sdiz.org.>
"No proof, no school."
That's the slogan county schools and public health officials are using in their campaign reminding the public that a new state law requires students entering grades 7-12 to show they've gotten a whooping cough booster vaccination or they won't be able to attend class.
The law takes effect July 1.
"In San Diego County, 236,000 students need to provide that proof," said county Superintendent of Schools Randy Ward at a news conference Wednesday. "We estimate 50 percent of those students have not received the vaccine. We've got a lot of work to do."
State legislators passed the law last year as California faced its worst whooping cough, or pertussis, epidemic since 1947. In 2010, a total of 9,477 cases were reported statewide, including the tragic deaths of 10 infants. San Diego County had 1,144 cases, including two babies who died.
State law already requires students entering kindergarten to show proof of vaccination for several diseases, including pertussis. But for the first time, older students must get a pertussis booster.
"The bottom line is, the more children with immunizations," said county public health officer Dr. Wilma Wooten, "the fewer sick children."Copyright © 2017, The San Diego Union-Tribune


text: I fitted coilovers to my car and ****ing hate them. Stiff and clunky. Sick to death of hearin rattles that nobody knows what its caused by. So after buyin normal lowering springs to stick back on instead of them. Are they stiff? Is it like driving a boat? Do the make strange clunks and rattle appear for no reason? Cheers...... (dont wamt it slammed i like a finger between my tyre and arch)


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In 2010, I entered the Cooke County Courthouse in Gainesville, Texas, armed with multiple boxes of exhibits and evidence, a briefcase, dozens of highlighters, pens, yellow legal pads and an iPad. In my mind, I was on the cutting edge of technology, blazing a trail into the unknown by using my new tool in court. Little did I know that others were blazing the same trail. It turns out that attorneys were quick to embrace the ease and versatility of the iPad. However, court systems were not immediately prepared for the influx of the new technology and the way it mushroomed in courtrooms across the country.
As managing partner, I'm always looking for new ways to make my firm better. When I bought my first iPad, I decided that the best way to experiment and see if it was as versatile as it seemed to be was to use it in a high-profile case. The Cooke County case was an experiment. I intended to see if the court would allow me to play a few videos on the iPad through the VLC app while questioning a witness. With the iPad, I could quickly pause the video, replay an exact point and further emphasize what I wanted without the awkward television on a cart and a temperamental DVD player. I could control everything from the palm of my hand—if the court would allow it. The experiment worked. The court did allow me to use my iPad, and the videos and the iPad supplied the dramatic moment in a long custody trial that I ultimately won.
–Patrick Wright
It is obvious that much has changed since the first iPad debuted three years ago. Apple has redeveloped the device multiple times, Microsoft has joined in with the Surface tablet, and other companies are entering the game. As tablet technology has become more sophisticated, attorneys across the country have continued to embrace these advances—and the courts have accepted and adapted.
Some attorneys rely almost exclusively on their iPads in court. At the Law Practice editorial board's request, we sat down with two of them, Erin Hendricks and Rick Robertson, to discuss how they have transitioned to an iPad-centered practice. Hendricks is a criminal defense lawyer at Erin Hendricks Law in Dallas. She has been using an iPad in court since 2012. After nearly 10 years as a prosecutor in the Dallas District Attorney's Office, Hendricks opened her own solo criminal defense practice. She has built her practice around her iPad and the versatility it provides her in court.
Robertson is a highly successful family law attorney in the Plano, Texas office of KoonsFuller. He has used an iPad in court since 2010. Robertson has represented numerous high-profile clients, including former Dallas Cowboy Deion Sanders. Sanders' 2013 divorce included a jury custody trial and was the center of attention for most media and television across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Robertson's iPad was a vital tool throughout that trial.
Law Practice (LP): Why did you start using an iPad?
Erin Hendricks (EH): In starting my solo practice, I knew I didn't want bulky paper files for each client. Post-it notes and legal pad scribblings just don't work when trying to manage a volume of cases on the go, especially without a legal assistant to help me keep up with my work. I wanted to start paperless from the beginning.
Rick Robertson (RR): I bought my first iPad a few months after they were introduced in 2010. Calendar, email and contacts were a simple extension of what I was doing already with my iPhone, so of course I carried it with me to court, depositions, mediations, etc. I also discovered the beauty of Dropbox and its integration with apps like GoodReader, thereby recognizing the ability to use my iPad as my trial notebook, regardless of whether it could connect to the court's display system for PowerPoint presentations or exhibits.
LP: What has your experience and use been so far?
EH: I use my iPad 2 in every aspect of my practice. My client files are organized on the iPad, and I rely on the iCloud and Dropbox for backup. Within each client file on the iPad, I have the pleadings, correspondence, evidence, discovery, my notes and any additional information broken down into internal folders. My iPad is organized and structured like paper files or a desktop file management system. In conjunction with the iPad, I sync with my iPhone and iMac on a regular basis. This means continuity and efficiency are right at my fingertips.
Having an iPad in court allows for a more consolidated practice. I am able to stay in constant communication with the courts and my clients. I can quickly access court records, the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as use Fastcase while walking between courts.
The only problem I have encountered is the lack of a CD/DVD drive. I often receive discovery tendered on discs and cannot review it until I get back to my desktop. To date, PlayerXtreme is the best media player I've come across for the iPad and iPhone.
I rely on Scanner Pro by Readdle to capture and drop documents and screenshots to GoodReader and Dropbox (and import them to a client's file). These apps help ensure my practice stays paperless when I'm on the move. GoodReader is central to my practice. I use it for client file management, and it uploads directly to Dropbox (though in terms of iCloud backup reliability, it's spotty, which leaves something to be improved upon in the future). I have started to explore Prezi, a cloud-based presentation software, relatively similar to Keynote and PowerPoint. The main difference with Prezi is that it is more of an interactive experience than a slideshow. I can zoom in, rotate and highlight on the go, which allows for more interaction with the court, the witnesses and the jurors.
RR: The first iPad had many limitations. Connecting the VGA adapter didn't allow "mirroring" as it would with a normal laptop, and only a few apps, like Keynote and GoodReader, would display. I bought an iPad 2 shortly after it came out. It was a significant improvement, allowing mirroring when connected with a VGA or HDMI adapter, along with being lighter and faster. I still used email, calendaring and contacts all the time but had the added benefit of built-in cameras for FaceTime and Skype. I tried taking notes on the iPad with a variety of styluses but never found that satisfactory. I downloaded Fastcase and eventually Texas Legal for legal research and was pleased to have access to codes, rules, statutes and case law while in the courtroom.
With the iPad 2, I started creating PowerPoint presentations in Apple's Keynote app and Excel spreadsheets in Apple's Numbers app. Using Dropbox and GoodReader, I had electronic copies of my exhibits and was able to display them in the courtroom. Other PDF apps, such as PDF Expert, became available and provided flexible methods of highlighting and marking exhibits. But most apps only mirrored what was on the iPad, making it difficult to pull up and think about my next exhibit while one was in use on the display screen.
At some point, I bought a Bluetooth keyboard, which greatly expanded the usefulness of the iPad. Instead of taking notes on a legal pad or laptop during a client conference, I took them on the iPad using the Bluetooth keyboard. The iPad is low-profile enough that it doesn't create the barrier that exists between a client and me when using my laptop. With my iPad, I can use apps such as Elements for Dropbox, so my notes are instantly stored and available to my staff. They are also easy to retrieve when talking to my client or opposing counsel at a later date.
I store articles, Web pages and other information in Instapaper, which is accessible from my desktop, laptop, iPad or smartphone, and it doesn't matter whether the device is PC, Mac, Android or Windows.
I started using TrialPad in 2012 and found it to be an excellent courtroom tool. TrialPad allows the user to freeze or close what is displayed on monitors and screens while working on another exhibit. It also has features like call-outs, whiteboard and highlighting, along with the ability to show video, play audio, and display JPEGs, PDFs, etc. You can create and display annotated exhibits and then save them as important documents.
I bought an iPad 3 shortly after it was released but was disappointed with the extra weight and different feel. By now I was using my iPad for most courtroom work: witness notes; exhibits (even if they weren't being projected); access to complete client files, including pleadings, correspondence, depositions, discovery, etc.; and on-the-fly legal research. The search and bookmark features in GoodReader and other PDF apps allowed me to summarize and annotate depositions and transcripts faster and easier, and to view annotations created on a desktop or laptop with Adobe Acrobat.
LP: Has a court disallowed your iPad?
EH: I found it best to notify the court that I may need to reference my client notes or file during a plea so as to avoid any question or concern of wrongdoing. As I mainly practice in Dallas County, many of the judges are now aware that I may reference my iPad but I make sure to notify the court each time, before the action commences. I was initially nervous about using my iPad in federal court since they are generally stricter about electronics in the courtroom than state courts are. However, I have not encountered a problem.
RR: I have never had a judge object to or disallow the use of my iPad in trial, but I commonly mention beforehand that I'll be using it during the course of trial. I do email and text when in the courtroom—when I know the bench will not object.
LP: When have you used your iPad in a case?
EH: I use it in every case, every client meeting and every court appearance.
RR: Because I use an iPad in virtually all my cases, I have obviously relied upon it in several large cases, including all my trial work in Deion Sanders' divorce, both in a custody jury trial and in an arbitration regarding the validity of the prenuptial agreement. The latter was document-intensive and involved experts testifying from many exhibits to analyze Ms. Sanders' handwriting. In the jury trial, I used Keynote for opening and closing statements, and controlled the iPad from my iPhone using Keynote Remote. I displayed all manner of exhibits, including videos, all with my iPad, again with no problems.
Legal practice has adapted and continues to embrace new technology. The iPad is here to stay as a tool in a mobile office, and it is likely to become a necessity for litigators. As firms and counties move to paperless practice, a tablet makes more sense each day. Apple is expected to release a new iPad with at least an 11.4-inch screen this spring. As the iPad and other tablets become more popular in court, one wonders what the next technological advance will be that will turn attorneys' heads. Whatever it is, you can be sure that these Texas attorneys will be ready to test it in court.


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Beautiful and Creative Examples of Stop Motion Animation
Stop Motion Animation is one of simplest and traditional form of animation technique used for animating inanimate things. Just like a cartoon animation, a physical object is moved in small amounts between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when a series of images played in a continuous sequence on a video playback system. It may sound very easy, but this process is always time consuming and the final result will not be as fluid as a captured video. But there are areas in which you can or have to use stop motion technique. This simple technique has inspired many to produce lovely creative animation videos.


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The age of eye-tracking technology is here. Although we aren't completely certain what kind of eye-tracking the next big thing from Samsung will feature, LG has confirmed that several eye-tracking features will be rolling out to the Optimus G. On top of these two manufacturers, now an Israeli-based startup by the name of uMoove is showing off their own software-based tracking solution.
While LG and Samsung's eye-tracking efforts are aimed at specific handsets, uMoove hopes for something less restrictive. According to the company's CEO Moti Krispil, the eye-tracking toolkit will intially work for iOS and Android devices, though other platforms might eventually get support.
So what makes uMoove special? The software was originally developed as a way to help assist disabled individuals through the use of both eye and head tracking. Although helping those with disabilities still remains part of the plan, the company also hopes to utilize it for other types of users as well.
Some of the things that their software tool kit is capable of includes the ability to control games, books, web scrolling and even pausing of videos.
It isn't just about working with a wide range of software platforms, they want to be able to reach out to a wide range of hardware, too. To do this, uMoove is confirmed to work with even very low-resolution front-facing cameras.
As for when it is coming, uMoove hopes to have the tool kit out within a few months and has already opened up registration for those interested in getting their hands on it.
Due to nondisclosure agreements, uMoove can't reveal any manufacturers or even developers they are working with right now, but says that they have been working with several large device manufacturers.
Is there any way that Samsung or even LG could be one of these partners? It is hard to say, though we will likely know more about Samsung's possible involvement later tonight when the Galaxy S4 is officially unveiled.