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CHICAGO — Boeing is talking to Emirates, the world's biggest operator of the Airbus A380 superjumbo, about a potential sale of its rival 747-8, providing a boost for the iconic hump-shaped jet whose sales have faltered.
Emirates' need for better fuel burn on its largest jets has opened a window of opportunity for Boeing, which is pitching the airline the passenger version of an updated 747, known as the -8I or Intercontinental, said John Wojick, senior vice president for sales and marketing at the Chicago-based manufacturer's commercial airplane unit.
The talks give Dubai-based Emirates leverage as it pushes Airbus Group to upgrade its A380 with fuel-efficient engines, said Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst at Teal Group. Boeing would gain momentum for a storied jet with few sales prospects aside from replacing the Air Force One fleet, he said.
"It would keep the -8I going through the decade and deliver an unpleasant blow to the A380 that's long overdue," Aboulafia, a vice-president at the Fairfax, Va.-based consultant, said of a potential Emirates order.
Emirates' possible interest comes as Boeing fights hard to land new customers for the 747-8, even using trade-ins of older models to seal deals. Boeing has landed just 51 orders for the passenger version of the jet, which currently is only operated by Deutsche Lufthansa AG, one of four customers.
Until Emirates surfaced, Boeing's brighter sales prospects included the Pentagon. The U.S. Air Force is planning to upgrade the all-747 Presidential aircraft fleet by 2023 and has also begun studying whether to replace the "Doomsday" fleet, four 747-200 jets hardened against nuclear blasts that provide a mobile military command, Charles Gulick, an Air Force spokesman, said in an e-mail.
Boeing's talks with Emirates are at an early stage, and Wojick didn't say how many aircraft the gulf carrier may want to buy, speaking in an interview in Doha, Qatar, at the annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association.
"We're talking to anybody who has the size and capacity requirement, and obviously Tim is someone" who fits into that category, said Wojick, referring to Tim Clark, the Emirates president. "We'd love to be able to get the airplane into Emirates."
Clark said separately that he's focused on his major order for the Boeing 777X, which he announced last year.
Even with 90 superjumbos still to be delivered, Emirates is prepared to buy additional double-decker jumbos should Airbus commit to adding new engines with better fuel efficiency, Emirates Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori said in a May 20 interview.
"Tim Clark has made it clear he'd like to have a re- engined A380," Airbus Chief Operating Officer John Leahy said in Doha at the meeting. "We take comments from our largest customers seriously but there are no negotiations under way at the present time."
Boeing already offers some benefits through the 747-8, the latest version of the jet that pioneered long-range travel in the 1970s, Wojick said. The Intercontinental made its commercial debut in 2012, five years after the A380 and consumes less fuel and has lower cash operating costs than its Airbus rival.
"The new engines they're pressing Airbus to put on their plane, we've already got four of them," Wojick said "We think we have a good solution."
Aboulafia cautioned against putting too much stock into Emirates' exploration of the 747-8, which is designed to haul 467 passengers to the A380's 525-seat capacity.
"It's really hard to tell what's a general realization that the -8 might be a good plane for them and what might be getting leverage against Airbus to re-engine the A380," he said.
Air China is set to get its first 747-8 this year and Korean Air Lines will get its first next year. Transaero has also ordered the plane. The 747-8 is also produced as a freighter. Last year Boeing sold a total of 17 of the jumbos, against five cancellations, according to Ascend Worldwide data analyzed by Bloomberg Industries.
Boeing had a backlog of 51 jumbo orders at the end of April, less than three years of production at its current output of 1.5 jets per month, according to data posted on its website. The planemaker aims to maintain production output at 18 jets a year, Wojick said, after cutting 747 program rates twice last year amid waning demand.
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text: Boost your gaming experience with PCI-E 2.0 and DirectX 10.1 support! - New Generation Heatsink: Powerful heat dissipation enhancement with V engine design & aluminum alloy- HDCP Compliant- ASUS Splendid Shop Modal header Boost your gaming experience with PCI-E 2.0 and DirectX 10.1 support! ASUS Exclusive Innovations ASUS Features New Generation Heatsink: Powerful heat dissipation enhancement with V engine design & aluminum alloy HDCP Compliant: Allow playback of HD DVD, Blu-Ray Disc and other protected content at full HD resolutions ASUS Splendid: Watching movies on PC is as good as on Top-of-the-line consumer television ASUS Gamer OSD: Real-time overclocking, benchmarking and video capturing in any PC game! ASUS SmartDoctor: Your intelligent hardware protection and overclocking tool. ASUS Video Security Online: Keep an eye on your home at all times no matter where you are. Graphics GPU Features Powered by ATI RADEON® HD3450PRO GPU PCI Express® 2.0 ATI™ Hybrid Graphics: Combine an ATI Radeon™ HD 3400 Series graphics card with a compatible AMD 7-Series Integrated Chipset to improve gaming performance and multi-monitor productivity. (Please download the latest driver for better performance.) Unified Video Decoder (UVD) for Blu-ray™ and HD DVD Built for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Full support for Microsoft DirectX10.1 and Shader Model 4.1 enables stunning and complex special effects OpenGL®2.0 support ATI CrossFireX™ multi-GPU support: Compatible with motherboards that support ATI CrossFireX technology I/O SpecificationsPCI-Express 2.0TV-OutHDTV-outDVI-IVGAHDCP CompliantHDMI (optional) New Generation HeatsinkV Engine means that the pistons are aligned so that they appear to be in a V when viewed along the axis of the crankshaft. The V configuration reduces the overall engine length and weight compared to an equivalent straight engine. Thus phasing in the V Engine concept, the best arranged V-fins can dissipate heats evenly with minimum space required. Aluminum alloy is much lighter compared to other metal alloys such as steel, nickel, brass, and copper. It also has good thermal conductivities and is highly reflective to heat to help heat dissipation. Therefore, made of aluminum alloy, the ASUS EAH3450/HTP/256M allows for solid performance and elegant appearance at the same time. *SYSTEM FAN in chassis is recommended for using the Silent graphics card.*For the best heat dissipating results, please place the PC in a location with good ventilation.

subset: commoncrawl


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The effort to private Telecom Egypt, the country's national telecom company, progressed one step further last week, as Merrill Lynch and Commercial International Bank were provided a mandate to sell a share of the corporation to a strategic partner.
It has been decided to sell between 20-34 percent to the strategic investor, Reuters reported. Quoting the company's investor relations manager, the intent is to find a suitable investor within the next six months, the news agency added.
Telecom Egypt's original intention was to sell the stake in the form through an initial public offering, already in 2000, but that plan was shelved at the end of last year after the dramatic falls that took place on the world's stock exchanges.
IT is now believed that if a stake in the firm is sold to a high-profile strategic investor, an IPO held toward the end of 2001 is more likely to be successful. — (Albawaba-MEBG)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
© 2000 - 2020 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)


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The Yahoo Ad Campaign Creative We'd Like to See
Yahoo introduced its new $100 million marketing and branding campaign in New York today with "It's Y!ou" as the new motto, making use of the Internet giant's famous exclamation point.
Sure, it's clever and all, but BoomTown felt the need to jump in and help Yahoo (YHOO), since our posts have been a little tough when it has come to the Silicon Valley icon's tumultuous ride over the last two years.
So, while CEO Carol Bartz (pictured above as a giant lady on the Nasdaq Jumbotron in Times Square) explained–as reported by MediaMemo's Peter Kafka–that "Yahoo is the only site where you when you wake up in the morning and you want to know what's going on everywhere about everything, you can find it one place," I'd say there's more to the brand that just that!
In fact, there's Bartz herself, a sassy and ofttimes salty exec whose pugnacious utterances have become legend quickly.
Today, for example, when asked about a comparison with its search rival, she noted, "Why not be cynical about fricking Google?"
That was mild in comparison to her cursing me out at the seventh D: All Things Digital conference when she thought I was insinuating she was too old to be an Internet exec (you can see that exchange in the video below).
Thus, please take a gander at our branding effort for Yahoo below.
(While Yahoo has Ogilvy & Mather to do its work, ATD has the very clever Photoshop stylings of Digital Daily's John Paczkowski to work our marketing magic.)
Best of all, you can switch out the picture and moniker to denote any Yahoo foe–Google (GOOG); Microsoft (MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer if he does not behave in the new search-partnership deal; billionaire investor and Yahoo board member Carl Icahn; and more!
Fondly dedicated to Carol–and the rest of the Yahoo crew, especially Judy–here's our ad (click on the image to make it larger):
And here is Bartz in action at D7, cussing me out at 00:57 in the video of the interview:


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Iowa Rep. Steve King Defends Arizona's Anti-Gay Bill
Although Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed the controversial SB 1062 last week -- the bill that would allow business owners to refuse service to LGBT customers in the name of religion -- some Republican lawmakers and conservatives from around the country are still seething that the measure has been nixed.
Right Wing Watch reports that Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King said Sunday that the bill would have improved Arizona's businesses and that homosexuality is "self-professed behavior" and that it can't be "independently verified."
"When you're in the private sector and you're an individual entrepreneur with God-given rights that our founding fathers defined in the Declaration, you should be able to make your own decisions on what you do in that private business," King said on Des Moines TV station WHO.
"Although it's clear in the civil rights section of the code that you can't discriminate against people based upon -- and I'm not sure I have the list right -- race, creed, religion, color of skin," King continued. "There's nothing mentioned in there on self-professed behavior, and that's what they're trying to protect is special rights for self-professed behavior."
When the congressman was asked if being gay is a choice or if someone is born that way he said he doesn't "know whether it's a choice or not," but that gay people exist on "some type of continuum or curve" but doesn't "know what that curve actually looks like."
"I think some's nature and some's nurture, and some might be purely each. But I think a lot of it is a combination of nature and nurture," King said.
He also implied that LGBT people are coming out in order to trick business owners into discriminating against them.
"The one thing that I reference when I say 'self-professed,'" he said, "is how do you know who to discriminate against? They have to tell you. And are they then setting up a case? Is this about bringing a grievance or is it actually about a service that they'd like to have?"
He then said homosexuality cannot be "independently verified" and that it can be "willfully changed."
"If it's not specifically protected in the Constitution," he said about civil rights protections, before adding, "then it's got to be an immutable characteristic, that being a characteristic that can be independently verified and cannot be willfully changed."
He said this is the reason why he does not support hate crime laws.
It should be noted that both the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association stopped classifying homosexuality as a mental disorder in the 70s.
King isn't the only conservative to express his outrage that Arizona's SB 1062 was vetoed last week.
In the wake of Brewer's decision Fox News pundit George Will said Sunday the LGBT community is full of "sore winners."
"It's a funny kind of sore winner in the gay rights movement that would say, 'A photographer doesn't want to photograph my wedding -- I've got lots of other photographers I could go to, but I'm going to use the hammer of government to force them to do this.'... It's not neighborly and it's not nice," Will said. "The gay rights movement is winning. They should be, as I say, not sore winners."
Watch Right Wing Watch's clip of King below:


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This Web site lists Celtic and Old English saints in a calendar format. From the calendar pages, a bit about each saint can be perused by clicking on the link (embedded in the saint's name).
Thanks to
Ambrose Mooney for diligently posting the saints' lives every day on CeltList,
Janet for suggesting a calendar format,
Beth for reminding me to put up 2019/2020, and
John Cardinal for his program On This Day which inspired me to do this site.
If you like the contents of this Web site, you might like these Web sites:
Spirit of the Islands - link misbehaving


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It is ironic that the headline on tampabay.com for John Romano's parent empowerment column was, "Florida House blows past facts to pass parent trigger bill," since he blew past several facts himself.
Romano failed to mention a school must receive consecutive failing grades before any action can be taken. After a school receives its first F, the district has the opportunity to raise the school's grade to a low D. This motivates the district to move staff and resources to the failing school accordingly.
If a school does fail, that district should move heaven and earth to prevent the school from receiving a second F. The bill's ultimate goal is to draw attention to our highest-need schools and motivate districts to eliminate circumstances under which a trigger would be pulled in the first place.
The bill also prevents schools from assigning a child two ineffective teachers in a row. When a child learns from an underperforming teacher year after year, it can be devastating to his or her future, another well-researched fact Romano blew past.
There are three traditional Florida public schools with consecutive failing grades, one being Melrose Elementary in Pinellas County. Last year, superintendent John Stewart expressed frustration with trying to move ineffective teachers out of Melrose and other low-performing schools.
This refusal to accept low-quality teachers is why unions so vehemently oppose the bill. The mythical "mass conversion to charter schools" is a red herring used to protect the job security of their lowest-performing teachers.
As Stewart was quoted as saying in your newspaper previously: "I think it's time to step outside the bargaining agreement and say, 'Cease and desist, these six schools are going to get the kind of attention they need.' " Amen.
Carlos Alfonso, board of directors, Foundation for Florida's Future; past chairman, University of Florida Board of Trustees, Tampa
Two explosions rock race's end | April 16
Boston's proud tradition
I confess that I could not even comprehend the horror of 9/11. Its magnitude was beyond me. But this native Bostonian fully comprehends 4/15.
Having grown up in Boston and adjacent Brookline, I have so many happy memories of Marathon days with my dad and with friends. I lived just blocks from the route, and my dad's drugstore was one block from the course near Kenmore Square and Fenway Park, where the runners drew close to the finish line.
In the 1950s, I remember cheering on Johnny A. "the Elder" Kelley, who'd won the race in 1935 and '45, and Johnny J. "the Younger" Kelley, a Connecticut schoolteacher whose 1957 victory was the only other one by an American until 1968. But Finns, Japanese and leaders of the pack from other lands also drew admiring encouragement and applause.
This now 22-year Florida resident feels that Monday's horrendous deed could not have targeted a more joyous day, a prouder tradition, a more vibrant city.
Ron Bitten, St. Pete Beach
A pressure-cooker bomb | April 17
Part of the problem
You never cease to amaze me with some of the things you print. So we all have to know how to make a pressure-cooker bomb? Seems you are part of the problem when you openly advertise how easy it is to do harm to a great many. Whose side are you on, anyway?
Shirley Lawrence, Spring Hill
Medical consumers shopping around April 15
Professional judgments
As a family doctor who has practiced in St. Petersburg for the past 33 years, I was concerned with the implied recommendation of this article: that injured or sick people should order their own diagnostic tests to save money.
Do they have the training and experience to make a diagnosis? Often times, the causes and best treatments for illnesses and injuries are not intuitive, no matter how smart you are. It takes years of experience to make accurate diagnoses and recommend the best treatments.
At my office (like many in our city), we see many uninsured patients and spend a lot of time finding the cheapest appropriate diagnostic tests and treatments for them. We work hard on behalf of our patients to give them the best value. So when you are sick or injured, consider going to your primary care doctor first for the best care.
Bruce Day, M.D., St. Petersburg
Times' Nickens and Ruth win Pulitzer for editorials | April 16
Holding officials to account
Congratulations to Tim Nickens and Daniel Ruth for winning the Pulitzer Prize. It was well deserved for writing that reached far enough to hold local elected officials accountable at the ballot box. As a mother with a mouth full of metal fillings and children who have cavity-free checkups, I thank you.
Dan is much too modest. He combines hilarity with the courage to expose all the corruption and abuse of power — from celebrities to presidents, governors, U.S. and state legislators, county commissioners and all local elected officials — that other writers value as sources too much to criticize.
His integrity and objectivity was shown to me when he refused my Facebook friend request years ago. Fortunately for me, the rest of my journalist "friends" have access to my political opinions on Facebook every day. But Dan does the right thing, even when it makes getting information more difficult. I respect him for that and look forward to being his friend when one of us retires or loses an election.
Keep up the good work, especially in Hillsborough County, where elected officials are also known to pose threats to the general health, safety and welfare.
Mary Mulhern, Tampa City Council, District 2, Tampa
For science and health
On behalf of the Pew Children's Dental Campaign — a project of the Pew Charitable Trusts — I want to congratulate Tim Nickens and Daniel Ruth on the Pulitzer Prize that the Tampa Bay Times has just received. Dental health advocates in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area kept us informed of developments, and our Pew team regularly read all of the editorials you produced on the fluoridation issue. They were well written and accurately reflected the scientific evidence on oral health and community water fluoridation — two qualities which, of course, distinguish them from the messages of fluoridation opponents.
Your newspaper's efforts over the past two years were commendable — both on the editorial and reporting ends — and they make me pause to think of what might have happened in Pinellas County were it not for the Times' courage and willingness to take on this issue.
Matt Jacob, Washington
Continuing excellence
I moved to Tampa over 50 years ago and immediately subscribed to the local newspaper, the Tampa Tribune. As I aged and my political leanings became more important to me, from time to time I would buy a copy of the St. Petersburg Times and found it to be a voice much more in tune with both my wife and me.
In 2008 I finally gave up on the Tribune. The last straw was when they laid off Dan Ruth, the only shining star in that paper. I then subscribed to the St. Petersburg Times, now the Tampa Bay Times, a name more befitting the area served.
My first communication was to send a letter to the editor suggesting that they try to hire Mr. Ruth, who would be an excellent addition to their staff. I was surprised to see that my wish was fulfilled and it is now a pleasure to congratulate both the Tampa Bay Times on its continuing excellence and the Pulitzer organization for their recent award, aptly bestowed upon Dan Ruth and Tim Nickens for their editorial writing.
James Teske, Tampa
A great honor
I have truly enjoyed reading Daniel Ruth's columns over the years. Although I do not always agree with his opinions, they are always well thought out. Hats off to Daniel for his winning of a prestigious Pulitzer Prize. What a great honor for a great journalist. I am glad that the Tampa Bay Times was wise enough to keep his column alive in the bay area.
Kirk Faryniasz, Riverview
Power of the pen
We are very fortunate to live in an area that receives the best newspaper in the state. Thanks to Tim Nickens and Daniel Ruth for their outstanding work and winning another Pulitzer for the Times. Because of their investigative work, our children now have fluoride back in their water to protect against cavities. They prove, again, the power of the pen!
Thanks Tim and Daniel for your wonderful work.
Margaret Hyde, Clearwater
Rubio's full-court press | April 15
Put Americans first
When I read about Sen. Marco Rubio's amnesty plan for illegals, I couldn't help but wonder who his plan is "fair and compassionate" toward. Is it the 11 million Americans who are out of work? How about the 11 million legal workers whose jobs the illegals are doing? Or how about the American soldiers who are returning home to find they don't have jobs but illegals do?
If he wants to be fair and compassionate, then maybe he should put his own countrymen first.
Frank Pedigo, St. Petersburg


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Food & Drink
8 great places to unplug
By Matt Haber, Travel + Leisure • Published 29th November 2013
View Gallery
8 Pictures
The phrase "digital detox" was added to the Oxford Dictionaries Online in August 2013 along with, interestingly enough, the term FOMO, or the fear of missing out, often brought on by posts to social media.
It seems that the former is an ideal cure for the latter: a digital detox from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and all the other stimuli that surround us constantly is a perfect way to shake that fear of missing out—and put that energy toward something personally worthwhile.
"Unplugging gives our brains a chance to slow down. Our blood pressure goes down. It gives us a chance to think for ourselves," says Levi Felix, California-based cofounder of The Digital Detox, which leads device-free retreats. "When you're not looking at a screen, sharing something, considering what everyone else is doing in the moment, you get to be who you are."
Hotels from Chile to Canada to the Caribbean now offer similar getaways that encourage travelers to unplug. Often devices are banned, and days are filled with meditation, yoga, nature, and communal activities.
Whether these packages are examples of bandwagon thinking (like "eco-resorts" that simply don't wash towels and linens daily) or a true reflection of travelers' yearning to break their habits is still unclear. But Felix is optimistic. "Hey, if you're staying in a hotel or somewhere where there's less cell phone use and they're promoting massage and yoga, that's an awesome shift in culture," he says. "When you successfully unplug, you'll have more awareness about yourself; you'll be more in touch."
New Camaldoli Hermitage, Big Sur, CA
Generations of travelers have known that Big Sur is a magical place removed from the hubbub of San Francisco to the north and L.A. to the south. And those seeking solitude among the area's beaches and old-growth redwoods need look no further than the New Camaldoli Hermitage, a working Benedictine monastery where guests are invited (but not required) to attend daily prayers. The simple rooms, private houses with gardens, and outdoor spaces offer a lot of calm, but little else. There's no app that can replicate the light as it hits the coast and no Spotify playlist that can beat the gentle sound of the surf as you take in the ocean views.
Remota Hotel, Puerto Natales, Chile
Designed by Chilean architect Germán del Sol, Remota's rooms feature handmade modern furniture, much of it built on-site using recovered wood. The lack of televisions encourages guests to tune in to unobstructed views of the sky, the expansive wild grass--covered Patagonian landscape, and looming glaciers. Nature and isolation are the main lures at this upscale sustainable lodge, with the option to go on guided and unguided hikes, bicycle and horseback excursions, and bird-watching expeditions that are sure to make you forget all about Twitter.
Travel + Leisure: Best secret islands on earth
Arawak Beach Inn, The Valley, Anguilla
The Arawak Beach Inn on Anguilla has devised a seven-day tech-free package called Isolation Vacation. While the rest of the hotel features televisions and Wi-Fi, guests are invited to "unplug and recharge" by handing over their devices and to stay in rooms where televisions have been removed; they're unable to purchase Internet access anywhere on the grounds. Without endless games of Candy Crush at your fingertips, you're freed up to enjoy Anguilla's gorgeous beaches, boating excursions, or a book. (Yes, they still exist.)
Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, AZ
This family-owned dude ranch and spa outside of Tucson plays to its natural strengths of gorgeous scenery and sunny weather. With desert horseback excursions (no cell phones allowed), day camp for the little ones, and spa treatments for the adults, you won't even think about your friends' status updates. Instead, you and the gang can share real-time updates from the day's adventures at communal dinners—then head back outside for stargazing. Rooms don't come equipped with TVs, and guests can unplug further by requesting no Wi-Fi access.
Travel + Leisure: Best affordable island hotels
Rancho La Puerta, Tecate, Mexico
Here's how Rancho La Puerta, a resort and spa in Mexico's western Baja Peninsula, describes its approach to wellness: "You don't need an 'app' to unplug from life's clutter—our Mindfulness/Reflection classes will help you tune in to your own spirit and navigate your inner terrain without the constant bombardment of outside distractions." If that sounds like your speed, you're probably ready to leave your iPhone 5S at home and take a cooking or art class, go for a hike in the 3,000 acres adjoining the property, or learn more about work-life balance during one of the resort's lectures.
Fairmont Kenauk, Montebello, Canada
When people describe this nature resort in rural Quebec as "off the grid," they mean it literally: each of the one- to six-room chalets on the property is completely off the electrical grid and reliant entirely on solar power. There's also no cell phone service in the area, so if you're tempted to check in with work, you'll have to do it using the pay phone at a nearby picnic site. Fishing, hiking, picnicking, golf, and spa access are available either on-site or nearby.
Travel + Leisure: World's greatest dream trips
The Farm at San Benito, Lipa City, Philippines
Ninety minutes from Manila sits this 118-acre oasis of health and wellness complete with a vegan restaurant. Spa packages like the Detox Cleanse promise weight loss and improved heart health, but just unplugging in such a tranquil setting will do wonders for your mental health. Activities include yoga in open-air pavilions, meditation, circuit training, and flower arranging. The Art of Living Course offers lectures on balance, breathing, and stress management that will carry you through even when you get back to civilization.
Camp Grounded, Anderson Valley, CA
Emphasizing wholesome fun and games, this tech-free summer camp for adults is held on the grounds of Camp Navarro, a former Boy Scout camp about three hours north of San Francisco. The summer 2013 inaugural session featured sing-alongs, swimming, archery, color war, and a prom. Campers were asked to hand over phones, tablets, watches, and other technology and partake in a "human search engine" (posting questions on a bulletin board to tap collective knowledge). They wrote letters home on vintage typewriters. There are three sessions planned for June 2014, with a 10 percent "Scout's Honor" discount still available.
See all of the best places to unplug
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HOUMA, La. — Hurricane Isaac's winds paired with recent rains made a rough start for this year's sugar-cane grinding season. But industry officials are optimistic that weather will improve this month, helping the process along.
Jim Simon, general manager of the American Sugar Cane League, said several mills started grinding last week. The remaining mills are scheduled to begin work this week.
Grinding is the process of extracting juices from the sugar cane stalk. It begins in early fall and lasts through late December or early January.
The sugar cane industry has an annual impact of about $1.1 billion in Louisiana, Simon said.
Wallace Ellender, a local farmer and president of the American Sugar Cane League, said it's still too early to tell how this year's harvest will turn out. Industry officials don't usually know how much sugar they'll make until January.
"The first batter's up in the first inning of a nine-inning ball game," Ellender said.
He added that he's cautiously optimistic about the season. The price of sugar dropped this year, but it is not as low as it has been in the past. Fuel and equipment costs are also high, causing problems for farmers. Changing weather conditions could also determine the outcome of the season.
(More: Photos from Isaac | Regional Season Outlooks)
In August, Hurricane Isaac's gusts knocked down local sugar-cane fields. When the cane is lying down, it takes longer for wet fields to dry.
"The cane is down from the hurricane, and it's wet and muddy," said Michael Daigle, CEO of Lula-Westfield sugar mill in Assumption and vice president of the American Sugar Cane League. "Even though harvesters can pick up the cane, it's harder to de-shuck it."
That means a lot of mud and a lot of excess plant material is coming into the mill. In addition, it's taking farmers longer to harvest cane. Both of those issues slow the speed at which the mill can operate.
"The farmers are doing the best they can under the conditions that the good Lord gave them," Daigle said. "The mills have to run slower because of all this mud, and it's harder for the farmers to deliver cane so we're also running slower to help them out. We have to work together to get this cane processed."
Daigle said Lula-Westfield expects to process 2 million tons of cane this year, compared to more than 1.7 million tons last year.
But industry officials remain hopeful that the weather will improve. Typically, October is one of the driest months in Louisiana, Simon said.
"We're hopeful that the season will dry up and allow us to harvest in dry conditions," Simon said. "Wet weather will maximize the problems, and dry weather will minimize them."
The start of harvesting and grinding season also means many sugar-cane trucks are going to be hitting local roads. The huge, slow trucks can sometimes cause headaches for local commuters.
Truck drivers will be hauling an estimated 14 million tons of sugar cane to Louisiana mills along farm to market roads, Simon said.
"Our growers do the best job they can to make sure they can minimize their impact to the driving public," Simon said. "But drivers might want to leave a little early, slow down a bit and exercise some caution and patience."


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Just a year ago, no one could touch the kings of compact cars, the venerable Toyota Corolla and feisty Honda Civic.
Both stood so far above the more prosaic vehicles in the segment that they were automatic choices for most consumers.
But the segment today — reshaped by intense competition, growing fuel economy considerations and a devastating earthquake — looks little like it did in 2010.
Although the Corolla remains the best-selling car in the segment, the all-new Chevrolet Cruze has pushed its way into second place, selling at the rate of 21,000 cars a month and growing. The Civic has dropped to No. 3, according to Automotive News.
"Honda and Toyota's dominance is fading, and both face formidable competition from the domestics and Koreans," said Jesse Toprak, vice president of industry trends at TrueCar.com. "They've never seen that before."
As inventory-limited Japanese brands drop, the all-new Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra are also on the rise. Through August, for instance, the Elantra's sales were up 46.8 percent, according to Automotive News.
Toyota, Honda and Subaru suffered substantial damage to their factories after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March, and all still lack inventory.
Toyota of Lewisville, Texas, for example, is sold out of Corollas and Scions, and may not have a full inventory until sometime this month, said Rene Isip, majority partner of the dealership.
"If the field was level, I'd like to see how all of this plays out," Isip said. "If we still had inventory, Hyundai and the domestics might be up, but not like they are."
Some analysts aren't so sure. Even before the earthquake, the Corolla and Civic looked vulnerable, they say.
The Corolla is several model years old and wasn't considered stylish when it was new. The Civic, while new, has been coolly received, failing for the first time in years to win a "recommended" rating from Consumer Reports.
"Lots of Corollas were going into (rental) fleet sales before the earthquake and tsunami," said Rebecca Lindland, director of research for IHS Automotive in New York. "And when Consumer Reports did not give the Civic a 'recommended,' that was a sea change."
Though most analysts expect Toyota and Honda to fight back hard when they have full supplies of cars, they doubt that either will dominate the segment again.
"This is beyond the tsunami and earthquake," said Jack Nerad, executive editorial director of KBB.com. "The competition is catching up. The Japanese brands are still really good, but the Koreans and domestics are better than ever."
Toyota, meanwhile, believes that the Corolla will re-establish its leadership position once inventories are back to normal this month.
"While other models may make short-term inroads, there is no way they can match Corolla's 40-plus year history of providing high-value, high-quality vehicles," said Mary Legallet, Corolla product manager.
The compact segment is the largest in the new-car industry but typically generates the lowest profit, analysts say. For years, it attracted mostly young buyers with limited income or retirees looking to downsize. Domestic automakers largely ignored it when pickups and SUVs were hot, relying on trucks for most of their revenue.
But now everyone in the industry faces daunting new fuel-economy standards beginning in 2016, and compacts will be crucial to automakers' efforts to meet those rules, which demand an average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.
In addition, consumer preferences are changing, says George Pipas, a veteran sales analyst at Ford Motor Co.
"The days of our spending like drunken sailors will come to an end, and in American households, already have," Pipas said. "We are moving to smaller, more thoughtful consumption — sustainable consumption."
Compact car sales generally go up when gas prices spike and fall when they drop. But each time they drop, the sales base settles at a higher level than in previous quarters.
"Smaller cars have gained larger market share every year since 2004 except 2010 — and we were in a lousy economy then," Pipas said.
To attract a broader array of buyers, new vehicles such as the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Chevy Cruze offer crisp, contemporary styling, well-appointed interiors and European-style platforms.
Although new competitors like the Focus and Cruze have base prices that are higher than those of the Corolla and Civic, they are often better equipped, with six-speed automatics, direct fuel injection and turbochargers.
"The reason Honda and Toyota had success is they had good value," said Thomas Quintana, chief operating officer of Q Chevrolet in Irving, Texas. "Now so does the Cruze."
Quintana, whose dealership has less than a 45-day supply of Cruzes, said he would double his inventory if he could get the cars.
Dealers say Cruze and Focus sales also benefit from extraordinarily high used-car prices. Rather than spend $20,000 on a used car with 30,000 miles on it, some consumers buy a well-equipped Cruze or Focus instead.
The Cruze is "our No. 1 car, outselling the Camaro," said Ray Huffines, chief executive of Plano, Texas-based Huffines Auto Dealerships, which includes Chevrolet stores in Plano and Lewisville.
"I think there is a progression downward with buyers," Huffines said. "We wish we could get more Cruzes to go with it."
The higher level of competition in the segment didn't surprise Toyota or Honda, said Dane Minor, general manager of Freeman Toyota in Hurst, Texas, and Freeman Honda in Dallas.
"We knew our competitors would get into this segment," Minor said. "And they are definitely building better products — and have to. But Toyota and Honda have the experience in this segment, and they have an advantage, I think."
Just a year ago, no one could touch the kings of compact cars, the venerable Toyota Corolla and feisty Honda Civic.


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I decided to start making some things for Christmas and I have been saving these potato chip containers that are kind of like a Pringles container, but they are aren't Pringles. I thought they would make a great container to add long pretzels dipped in chocolate for the holidays. I think they will hold about six with the chocolate on. I thought it would be a nice little gift to send in for a teacher or a nice little surprise to set on a desk for a secretary at school. This is my first one I have made and I thought it turned out super cute.
The container is that royal blue so I had this lovely wrapping paper that I still had a scrap of and used it. I painted the yellow lid pink with some paint and let it dry and then I took some pink tulle and wrapped 3 different layers around the lid to cover it all and just tied knots so I would have a cute plume at the top. I tied some light blue ribbon at the top around the bottom of that plume and then added my tag/sentiment and then the little snowflake on the of my ribbon bow. For the base which was kept simple I just wrapped the paper around the container and then added my punched boarder, my image and then the snow flakes. I colored my image with my Bic Mark-its and then added some Stickles for a little sparkle. I liked how this turned out the only thing I don't like is that I have to buy and eat potato chips to get the containers!


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Resorts across New England gearing up for New Year's Eve
Several resorts offering family-friendly events
From fireworks and dog parades to horse-drawn sleigh rides and bonfires, resorts around New England are gearing up to ring in 2013 in style.
Fresh, new snow has phones ringing from Jay Peak to Sugarloaf, but many say they are still taking reservations and have special holiday packages available.
While many events are casual, outdoors and family-friendly, there are formal and romantic options out there to consider.
One involves taking the Chondola (combination chairlift and gondola ride) through the darkness at Sunday River to a five-course meal at the mid-mountain lodge, with each course paired with a different champagne.
Tickets are $89 per person. At the base area, there will be two free fire shows by the Soviet Bloc Party at 7:45 an 8:15 and then fireworks at the South Ridge Lodge at 8:30.
Sunday River, which is just over the border from Gorham near Bethel Maine, has a lodging package for the period which begins at $139 including slopeside accommodations, lift ticket and free snowboard and ski clinics.
For day trippers who want to stay close, try skiing, snowboarding, tubing at Pat's Peak, or watch a torchlight parade and fireworks at Ragged Mountain.
There will be a bonfire at Smuggler's Notch and horse-drawn wagon rides at Okemo, both in Vermont.
Waterville Valley will be offering kids a neon black light party with crafts and music while also offering a gala dinner and dancing event at the Conference Center for $85.
Gunstock plans to offer skiing and riding and tubing from 4 to 11:30 p.m. with horse-drawn sleigh rides, snow shoe tours, jugglers, s'mores, and face painting, with a culmination of fireworks at midnight. Skiing and riding and tubing costs $49 for adults and $39 for juniors.
The Omni Mount Washington Hotel at Bretton Woods plans fireworks at 5:30 on the front lawn of the grand hotel and three different choices of evening dining. You can opt for a babysitter and the black tie affair using the best pressed linens and silver to a family friendly buffet or a romantic option in Stickney's. The full calendar of events are available at .brettonwoods.com or by calling the Omni Mount Washington Hotel concierge/activities desk at 278-8989.
Mount Sunapee is planning fireworks and a buffet with dancing and live music.
Ragged has a very reasonably priced party planned with a torchlight parade, music by Friday Addiction and fireworks to top off the night at $49.95 for adults and $19.95 for kids 6 to 12.
Granite Gorge in Keene is planning a rail jam that night, under the lights.
After surviving its End of the World Party on Dec. 21, Sugarloaf has recovered and plans a 1980s dance party, featuring Orange Crush. It, too, will have fireworks, sponsored by the Bank of Maine on the Beach at 9:15.
Pat's Peak is offering night skiing, snowboarding and tubing under the lights until 10 and then hosts a Monte Carlo Night, dancing to the McMurphy's, tasting stations, fireworks and a champagne toast for $90/adults and $70 without the snow activities.
Over the river in Vermont, there are plans on tap at Stratton, Sugarbush and Magic Mountain, as well.
Okemo goes on its own time zone New Year's Eve, Monday and midnight arrives early for friends and family enjoying a whole host of activities. That way, everyone can get up early for fresh tracks in the groomed snow on Tuesday.
Following early evening ice skating, snowtubing, snowshoeing, mountain coaster rides, horse-drawn wagon rides, cookie decorating, bingo games and a trivia tournament, families at Okemo can ring in the New Year early with a DJ dance party -- and still get the kids to bed in time for another fun day.
At Smuggler's Notch a family party in the indoor FunZone will be held full of climbing and bouncy inflatables and games. There will also be a bonfire and fireworks, a DJ dance party at the Meeting House.
Stratton's Base Area hosts New Year's celebrations by night with fireworks, a torchlight parade, family activities and late night music.
The torchlight parade and 21 Jump Salute will be at 8:30 with Stratton's ski school leading a line of red fire down Suntanner, holding torches high for the 21 Jump Salute, presented by the Stratton Freestyle Ski Team.
Following that will be fireworks, which will be seen from Grizzly's deck where music of the Lustre Kings will be offered until 1.
Sugarbush is having its 3rd Annual Dog Parade New Year's Eve. You can bark in the New Year with your very best K9 friend. A costume contest will be led by Win Smith and Lili Ruane with their dogs Rumble and Zoe in the Gate House Courtyard at 4. It costs $5 to walk, registration begins in the Gate House at 3.
Sugarbush will also host a Family Italian Dinner with Street Performers. This will feature street-style entertainment from acrobats, jugglers, magicians and the Balloon Man.
Fireworks will be at 7 p.m.
For those who want to dress up and pop the cork on 2013, Sugarbush will also have a gala in Timbers Restaurant at Lincoln Peak. Ring in the New Year with a special $100 meal and Champagne toast (call 802-583-6800 as reservations are required.)
Wherever you go and whatever you do, have a fabulous night and a very happy and snowy New Year!
Paula Tracy writes about the outdoors for WMUR.com and can be reached at email@example.com.


text: The geography of Afghanistan is dominated by a collection of craggy peaks. Here the highest peak is a mountain known as Noshaq, which has been measured to 7,492 meters. Consequently, the soldiers on duty in this mountainous terrain must often ascend to great heights as part of their duty. However, quick climbs without adapting to altitude can lead to a condition called acute mountain sickness (AMS), marked by headache, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress, nausea, and insomnia. Conventional knowledge suggests that to avoid AMS, climbers need to "stage," or set up camp, at a lower altitude for four days when summiting peaks as high as 4300 meters. However, with this being impractical in a combat environment, military researchers set out to test whether this goal could be accomplished more quicklyin half the time. In a new study by Beth A. Beidleman, Charles S. Fulco, Robert W. Kenefick, Allen Cymerman, Janet E. Staab, and Stephen R. Muza, all of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, researchers tested whether two days of staging at a moderate altitude is enough to avoid AMS before ascent to 4300 meters. Their findings show that this significant shortcut is about as effective as utilizing twice the time to stage, providing evidence that soldiers can ascend safely much quicker than previously thought. The team will discuss the abstract of their study entitled, "Two Days of Staging at Moderate Altitude Reduces Acute Mountain Sickness Upon Further Ascent to 4300 m in Unacclimatized Lowlanders," during a poster presentation at the Experimental Biology 2013 meeting, being held April 20-24, 2013 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, Mass. The presentation is sponsored by the American Physiological Society (APS), a co-sponsor of the event. As the findings are being presented at a scientific conference, they should be considered preliminary, as they have not undergone the peer review process that is conducted prior to the data being published in a scientific journal. At the Peak Study leader Beidleman explains that the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine's stated mission is to improve health and performance of the Warfighter when exposed to extreme environments. That includes heat and cold, as well as extreme altitude, Beidleman's own area of expertise. Years ago, researchers showed that staging for four days cut the prevalence of AMS by about half. However, Beidleman says, researchers had never studied whether this time could be trimmed down even further. To investigate, she and her colleagues studied male soldiers ascending Pike's Peak in Colorado, the summit of which stands at 4,302 meters above sea level. They assigned 12 of these soldiers to stage for two days at 2500 meters. Another seven soldiers staged for two days at 3000 meters. Seven more ascended directly to the peak. Trimming AMS by Half Their findings showed that about 73 percent of soldiers who took a direct route to the peak showed symptoms of AMS. However, only 30 to 40 percent of those who staged for two days ended up with this condition, regardless of their staging height. "These results suggest that you don't have to stay at a moderate altitude for four days. You can stay there for two days and reap the same benefits," Beidleman says. She explains that two days is enough time for the body to begin affecting the biological changes necessary to live comfortably at a higher altitude. Within hours to days, she says, climbers begin to breathe faster and reduce blood plasma volume which helps the body bring more oxygen to cells, she says. These immediate changes help cells survive until the body implements more long-term changes, such as increasing the number of red blood cells and other metabolic changes. "The military is always looking for faster, more effective solutions to problems," she says. "Now we know that our soldiers can climb quicker with less risk of serious problems." Beidleman notes that future studies will investigate the effects of shorter staging at higher altitudes and in female soldiers. Source: Eurekalert << Trojan Horse Strategy and Treatment of Breast Cancer Hope of New Tailor-Made Anti-Cancer Agents Triggered by New... >> Recommended Reading Insomnia Difficulty in initiating and maintaining sleep is known as insomnia. It is a symptom that occurs due to other disorders and can cause daytime sleepiness. READ MORE Sleep Disorder Sleep disorders can either be having difficulty in getting sleep or dozing off at inappropriate time. READ MORE Sleep Disturbances In Women The physical, emotional and hormonal changes that occur in women during puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can cause Sleep Disturbances READ MORE Most Popular on Medindia Calculate Ideal Weight for Infants Turmeric Powder - Health Benefits, Uses & Side Effects Find a Hospital


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Rhythmic Gymnastics is the perfect combination of sport and art, linking expressive dance steps with skilful manipulations of the ball, rope, ribbon, hoop or clubs: throw, spin, spiral, roll and catch.
Rhythmic gymnastics is for women and girls of all ages. Experience Rhythmic Gymnastics and watch your confidence and creative skills grow in leaps and bounds. Once you've found a club and learnt the basics, you can develop your skills for fun and fitness or challenge yourself further through competitions from local to national, right through to international level.
Rhythmic Gymnastics can be performed individually or in groups of up to 5 gymnasts. The skill and variety of apparatus exchanges between gymnasts in group performances adds to beautiful spectacle of this Gymsport.
The following apparatus are used in competitive Rhythmic Gymnastics:
Rope - Light and supple, in hemp or synthetic material; use the rope to leap over or skip then add in swings, throws, circles, rotations and figures of eight.
Hoop - made of plastic or wood; rotate the hoop around the hand or body then add rolls, swings, circles, figures of eight, throws, passes through and over the hoop.
Ball - made of rubber or synthetic material, 18 - 20 cms in diameter; rest the ball in the hand then add throws, bounces or rolls.
Clubs - made of wood or synthetic material; use the clubs for rhythmical tapping then add mills and small circles, asymmetric movements, throws and catches.
Ribbon - 6 metres long and probably the most popular event for the spectators; use the ribbon for large, smooth flowing movements to make spirals and circles then add swings, circles and serpents.
Freehand - performances without apparatus; instead the emphasis is on style, technique and execution of dance skills. Freehand is most often seen in lower levels.
If you would like to take your Rhythmic Gymnastics career further, find out more about specific judging and coaching courses.
Rhythmic Gymnastics is governed internationally by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG).


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Land and Poverty in Reforming East Asia »
Source: Finance & Development, September 2008
Volume/Issue: 45/3
Series: Finance & Development
Author(s): International Monetary Fund. External Relations Dept.
Publisher: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
Publication Date: 12 August 2008
Keywords: low-income countries, international monetary fund, emerging markets, financial markets, monetary policy
The September 2008 issue examines key issues facing low-income countries, including how they should respond to high oil and food prices. Some African economies are now successfully attracting international investor...


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LUXE INTERIORS + DESIGN MAGAZINE, San Francisco, Launch PartyJune 25th, 2014
Sarah Maloof, show more of Sarah Maloof photos or correct name Ashley Tudor show more of Ashley Tudor photos or correct name
Perfect for printing with no watermark up to 8x12. If you need something larger, we can usually do a custom print.
Perfect for screen and social, but not great to print. There is a small watermark in the lower right corner (you can crop it out).
For a commercial or editorial license, please email email@example.com.


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Instron offers a variety of Materials Testing newsletters to aid our customers in getting the most from their Instron Testing Equipment.
These material-specific newsletters provide you with materials testing knowledge and resources for your applications. Receive news & trends for applications, as well as testing tips, updates, and technical papers.
Details about how we store and use your data can be found in our Privacy Policy.


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Auto Body Repairs
Team Ford boasts an assortment of services that allow us to provide you with a one stop, full service solution. This includes collision body repair, dent removal, lease return repairs, hail damage, glass replacement, scratch/paint repair, fleet repair solutions and claims assistance.
We have repaired tens of thousands of vehicles to date. With our highly trained accredited technicians, claims processing specialists, and customer service representatives your choice is crystal clear. All of our work is backed up by a written, lifetime guarantee and all of our customers benefit from the Team Ford 5-star level of customer service.
Collision Repair
Dent Removal
Lease Return
Hail Damage
Glass Replacement
Scratch Repair
Paint Repair
Fleet Repair
Our Auto Body Services
Collision Repair
When you bring your vehicle in to our auto body centre, your repairs will be completed by our highly experienced, accredited technicians and backed by our written lifetime guarantee.
Your vehicle will be restored to factory condition down to the smallest detail. This includes things that many wouldn't even notice during daily use such as crumple zones and frame damage. Our technicians are qualified and accredited to perform OEM repairs on any make or model of vehicle.
Dent Demoval
Dent removal is a process which includes specialized tools and considerable experience to ensure that your vehicle is restored to it's original, seamless, factory condition.
Our technicians are experienced in removing dents and dings without damaging the finish of your vehicle with our Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) procedure. This process is a fast, efficient and relatively inexpensive solution for typical dent removal. Our Edmonton auto body shop is also equipped to repair hail damage.
Edmonton Lease Return Body Repairs
Returning your leased vehicle in pristine condition can be an absolute nightmare. Fees for seemingly minor damages can end up costing you thousands of dollars when you return your vehicle. Many of these damages can be a simple oversight if you don't know what to look for.
The good news? Our trained auto body technicians know what they are looking for and more importantly, what the dealership will be looking for when your vehicle is returned.
Hail Damage
One unfortunate downside to living in Western and Northern Canada is that the weather is unpredictable at best. In the hailstorm of July 11, 2004, hundreds of millions of dollars in damages was caused to vehicles and property in the Edmonton area alone in less than an hour.
It is because of storms just like this that Team Ford's auto body shop is fully equipped to repair hail damage without hammering, filling and repainting your vehicle. With our paint less dent removal system (PDR), small dents from hail damage can be repaired in a cost effective and timely manner without disturbing the vehicles original paint.
Alternatively, if the hail damage is too severe to use PDR, traditional methods may be used to restore your vehicle to its original condition.
Glass Replacement
For full window replacement your choice is crystal clear. Team Ford's body shop excels in glass replacement. We utilize the highest quality of equipment, sealant and glass available to ensure your vehicle's safety is never compromised.
If you require a full windshield replacement, our technicians are able to provide high quality, original manufacturer replacement glass. This ensures that the windshield fits properly, conforms to safety standards and continues to work properly with features such as heated windshields and rain sensors where applicable.
Scratch Repair
Driving in Edmonton can almost guarantee that your vehicle will. at one point or another. be scratched by rocks and debris kicked up from the road or other drivers who may brush up against your vehicle in parking lots. Nobody likes to see scratches on their vehicle and if these scratches are repaired quickly, the cost is minimal. However if a scratch is left to oxidize, the sheet metal itself may begin to rust and rot (leading to extensive and costly repairs).
The friendly, knowledgeable technicians at Team Ford's body shop are ready and able to repair any scratches on your vehicle's sheet metal, fiberglass or plastic trim. Book a service appointment today!
Paint Repair
Over time, rain, hail, scratches and paint chipping will degrade the quality of your vehicle's paint. Worse yet, your vehicle may fall victim to accidents or vandalism. This effects the resale value and lifespan of the vehicle as it makes the sheet metal more susceptible to rusting. This also decreases the enjoyment you get from driving your vehicle.
If you want to keep your vehicle looking good for years to come, paint repairs may need to be performed from time to time.
Team Ford's body shop technicians will work with you and your insurance company to find the most effective, longest lasting and highest quality solution available
Fleet Repair
Team Ford also provides fleet repair services for Edmonton businesses. We offer competitive pricing, superior quality repairs and quick turnaround times. We have more dedicated and accredited technicians on staff than any auto body shop in Edmonton. For details or a quote, contact just contact us!
Your One Stop Solution
Your one stop solution for mechanical
repairs, parts and auto body repairs.
Our services don't just start and stop with mechanical and auto body repairs. We also provide a host of other services. These services include towing to our repair centre, car rentals while your vehicle is being repaired, shuttle services to and from the dealership if a rental car is not used, and complimentary auto detailing for collision repairs.


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We are the nation's leading resource and advocacy organization for crime victims and those who serve them. Please join us as we forge a national commitment to help victims of crime rebuild their lives.
Deidre Watford
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer [email protected]
Reporting on child sexual abuse (CSA) presents a number of challenges. The victims—children from birth to 17 years of age—are often traumatized by the experience and afraid to come forward. CSA may cause a wide variety of emotional and behavioral problems that make it difficult even for adult survivors to discuss their victimization because of the trauma, shame, and grief associated with the crime. Reporters should be aware of these issues and understand that child victims' accounts may be less cohesive and polished than those of adults. Despite such challenges, victims' perspectives should be included in stories about CSA, so that the public learns about the complex issues involved and the important impact of these crimes on society.
The Basics: Important Context for Reporting on CSA
The child is a victim. The child's involvement with an adult offender should never be considered consensual or consenting.
The power imbalance between the adult abuser and child victim presents a number of complexities in reporting on the crime:
When the victim is the only witness to the abuse, adults may question the child's testimony.
Because perpetrators are often known to the victim and his or her family, it may be difficult for the child to come forward and painful for the family to hear or believe the victim's account of the crime.
Victims who disclose the abuse may face anger, disagreement, and even rejection within the family and community which increase their guilt and shame.
Child CSA victims are often vulnerable and frightened. Their stories may appear inconsistent, and may emerge in bits and pieces. This pattern is normal for a child who has experienced this kind of trauma and attempts to recount it for an adult;
Adult CSA survivors may face misunderstanding and misjudgments when they finally confront and disclose their abuse. Listeners may forget that although the survivor is now an adult, he or she was a child (with a child's status and capacities) at the time of the abuse.
News stories that report on these issues may cause the victim to be re-victimized by reading or hearing about the case.
CSA is often referred to as a "silent crime" because victims have difficulty coming forward. Non-offending adults are often complicit in not reporting the abuse, and perpetrators—who are often trusted by the child or known in the community—can manipulate situations so that they can continue the abuse. In addition, the abuse is often not physically apparent; rather, the evidence of abuse may manifest itself in behavioral and psychological changes that can be misidentified as moodiness or disobedience.
For victims, the act of coming forward takes great strength and courage. Child welfare experts agree that false accusations of CSA are rare. When a child does disclose abuse, we should begin by believing.
2011© National Center for Victims of Crime. All Rights Reserved.
P.O. Box 101207, Arlington, VA 22210
p.202-467-8700 | f.202-467-8701 | [email protected]
Return to the National Center


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Chelsea and Milan agree Torres loan
Fernando Torres' frustrating and underwhelming time as a Chelsea player looks to be nearly over after AC Milan struck a deal to take him on a two-year loan.
Much was expected from the 30-year-old when he arrived from Liverpool in January 2011 for what was a British record deal.
However, Torres fell well short of living up to his £50million price tag and, after a frustrating three and a half years at Stamford Bridge, appears to have played his last match for the club.
Spain's Fernando Torres has endured a frustrating time with Chelsea
On Friday evening - just hours after manager Jose Mourinho downplayed speculation he would leave - Chelsea confirmed that the Spain striker would be joining Milan on loan until the expiration of his contract in 2016, subject to a medical.
"Chelsea Football Club and AC Milan have agreed terms for the two-year loan deal of Fernando Torres to the Italian club," read a statement on the club's official website, www.chelseafc.com.
"The move is now subject to Fernando agreeing personal terms with AC Milan and passing a medical examination."
Press Association Sport understands Chelsea will not be picking up any of Torres' wages during his loan spell.
Although the Spain international only showed glimpses of his ability during his time in west London, Mourinho spoke highly of him as a player and a person on Friday afternoon.
At a press conference previewing Saturday's trip to Everton, the Portuguese said the "situation hasn't arisen yet" and was not one they were planning for, given he felt they need three strikers to fight on all fronts this season - admitting the Blues would be in trouble if Torres departed given no Plan B is in place.
"Well, if that happens in the last hour of the market, we are in trouble," said Mourinho, who has been linked with a move for Roma's Mattia Destro.
"We are not prepared. It's something new. We have our ideas, we have our contacts.
"Obviously we have to react if that situation happens. The market for us is closed. But because the market is 'open', it's never completely closed.
"If Nando opens that market, we have to open it.
"In this moment we are doing nothing because our belief is that the market is closed for us.
"I've believed for a long time that the squad is closed. We have our squad. We like our squad. It's not the perfect one, because no squad is perfect, but it's one we like."
Torres became the butt of many a joke during his time at Stamford Bridge but it was not without its successes, given he won the Champions League, Europa League and an FA Cup.
The much-criticised front man won the Golden Boot on the way to Spain's Euro 2012 triumph during his time with Chelsea and, while he went to the World Cup, his lack of form and playing time saw him miss out on the latest squad for the upcoming matches against France and Macedonia.
Perhaps that lack of recognition fuelled his desire to move to the San Siro - a move Mourinho, speaking before the deal was confirmed, could understand.
"If he wants to leave, in the case he wants to, it's because he wants to try a new life, a new club, probably a new league," the Portuguese said.
"So if he wants to leave, which until this moment I have not one single word about, I believe that is to try to be happier than he was in the last couple of years.
"This is a very human club in the way the club approaches this kind of situation. If he comes to us in these last couple of days, any possibility would be analysed by us as a club and the best decision for him."
It has been widely speculated that Chelsea would look to bring in Destro as Torres' replacement.
The Italy international's burgeoning reputation has grown at Roma and is a player Mourinho knows well from his time at the Inter Milan helm.
"Mattia was a kid when I was at Inter," he said. "I think he was like 18.
"He was playing the Primavera team, our under-21s, training with us so many times.
"Everyone knew at the club that his potential was there to be a top striker. He was unlucky because we had (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic and Adriano, then (Samuel) Eto'o, (Diego) Milito, so it was not easy for him to come into the first team.
"The ones that got the chance but Mattia didn't have that chance because we were full of top strikers."
Mourinho refused to speak outright about any interest in Destro - "I don't speak about these possibilities now" - but admitted any replacement for Torres would almost certainly be foreign.
"If we have to react to Fernando's departure, we'll react by buying a foreign striker because I don't see an English striker in the market that would come to us, or where his club would let him come to us," he said.
"If we lose a foreign striker, we need another foreign striker."
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If you have never experienced water damage in your home, it can seem like a devastating experience. It is hard to imagine your home ever returning to its original state after a water loss.
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Leading experts in-home services and property restoration since 1999, we have more experience than many of our competitors. The last thing you need is to hire an inexperienced company. Choose the best the first time, and call us at 855-669-6274 any time of the day or night. We have dispatchers on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to take your call.
Flood Damage in Clifton VA
Not only can today's extreme climate conditions cause flooding; whether from a broken or leaky pipe, damage from frozen pipes, a sewer line break, a sink or toilet overflow, basement water damage, or a malfunctioning appliance like a water heater, washing machine, dishwasher or refrigerator in your home, our flood damage technicians are equipped to handle any problem of any size 24 hours, day or night. When flooding occurs in your home, the faster the response, the higher the probability we will have to restore your property quickly.
When experiencing a flood in Clifton, it is normal to worry about how your home will be restored to its pre-damage condition. When you initially see the damage, it is hard to realize how the massive amounts of damage could be fixed. Regardless of the type of water cleanup you need, we have the expertise to get the job done right the first time. Below are the most common reasons flooding will happen.
Failed Water Lines: Faulty water line due to aging or because of a sudden burst of cold weather can occur any moment without notice. To prevent you from acquiring costly damage repair, keep your pipes insulated and well-maintained through regular inspections.
Amateur Home Renovations: A home renovation project can actually incur huge cost if you manage it yourself rather than hire a professional to do the job. Make sure that you are knowledgeable enough before doing anything and keep in mind that even the slightest error can result to costly repairs in the future.
Sump pump: Sump pumps can cause flooding due to certain conditions such as frozen pipes, losing power, or when they get overworked. The best way to prevent sump pumps from malfunctioning is to insulate the pipes regularly and always keep the heat at the recommended level. Another effective way to avoid experiencing costly damage due to a major breakdown is to have your sump pump regularly inspected to prevent a major breakdown
Roof Damage: Damages to your roof can cause leakage which can be also a serious problem that can result to flood damage. For instance, snow and ice that eventually cause damages to roof structures. The existing roof damages will result in massive amounts of water saturating ceilings and walls and end up flooding the affected area.
The Margaaa Water Damage Process
There is nothing worse than to experience water damage in your home and unaware of what to expect. When you call Margaaa Restoration services, we will not only arrive on-site in a short period of time but will discuss the different steps of water damage restoration so that you understand the process.
Analysis: When our technicians arrive, the first thing we will do is assess the cause of water damage. We will arrive fully equipped with the tools, meters, and equipment to take an accurate reading of the existing damage.
Our technicians will identify the perimeter of the damage, as well as address the severity. Once the full scope of the damage is understood, our technicians will pull together a drying plan, and share that plan with you in order to keep lines of communication open.
Extraction: Once the analysis has been completed, and a proper drying plan communicated to you, we will begin the water removal process. Extraction is a very important part of the mitigation process, because the more water we are able to address during this stage, the faster the drying process overall.
Dry: Depending on the process, the drying process can take anywhere between 3 and 7 days. Through the use of dehumidifiers, air movers, heat systems and air filtration devices, we are able to properly dry your space in a short period of time. Our technicians are all IICRC certified and understand advanced techniques to get the drying done right. We will only replace if absolutely necessary. Once materials are fully saturated, materials must be replaced which can become quite costly.
Restore & Repair: In the event that drying cannot occur, we have the capabilities to tear out damaged materials and replace. As a one-stop shop service, we are licensed, bonded and insured. This means we can rebuild any damaged areas that cannot be restored.
Sign Off & Complete: The final step is the sign-off process. This is when we discuss with you all of our documentation that proves your affected areas are dry. We will share with you the techniques we have used, and ensure you are satisfied with our work. Once we receive a sign-off from you, we will submit our final numbers to the insurance company along with any supporting drying documentation.
Exacting Your Basement Water Damage
When water infiltrates into your basement, you need to have it addressed quickly. All of our technicians have the knowledge to quickly extract the standing water in your home. The reason why we place such a sense of urgency on removing the water in your basement is that over time, stagnant water can become more contaminated. In as little as 24 hours, water that would normally be classified as clean could turn to what the IICRC deems "grey water". When this occurs, our job gets a little more complex, and different techniques are required to be used.
However, when you do place a call to Margaaa Restoration services, we will follow a standard approach to extract the water in your basement that has been refined and perfected over the countless restoration projects we have completed.
Sewage Damage Cleanup & Removal Throughout Clifton VA
The failure of a sewage line doesn't always follow your work or home life schedule, and we know that. That's why at Margaaa Restoration, our dispatchers are always available to match you with the right technician for your job. That means sending someone to your property right away to complete the initial evaluation, analyze the area, and create a detailed plan for sewage removal of the area. We always arrive prepared to work, and we keep our trucks fully equipped with every tool and supply we'll need to immediately start working on your line.
At Margaaa Restoration, we have been handling sewage cleanup since 1999. We have unfortunately seen the damaging effects of unaddressed sewage damage or remediation projects that have not been completed accurately. When sewage damage is not cleaned up properly, your property can experience black mold, hazards to your occupants or exposure to other harmful contaminants.
Certified by the IICRC in sewage damage remediation, as well as licensed, bonded and insured, Margaaa Restoration in Clifton has the expertise required to restore your property to its original condition. We are committed to getting you up and running at a price point that favors your budget. When you choose Margaaa Restoration, you are not only choosing someone to get your property back in great condition but help you get paid at a faster rate.
Choosing Margaaa Restoration as Your Water Damage Company
When water damage strikes, you do not have time to lose. Every second can result in thousands of dollars in water damage. However, when you choose a professional water damage company, you can be assured that the job will be done quickly in order to allow you to get back to your daily life.
Margaaa Restoration is a full-service restoration company who can handle the emergency water damage in your home with ease. We are also ready to help you with commercial water damage. We work closely with your insurance company in order to ensure all of the details of your claim are covered.
We know that flood damage can happen anytime in your home, and are prepared to be fully available for water damage repairs 24 hours a day.
We provide services throughout Clifton VA, including 20124.


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Serving Bicycle Accident Victims in Santa Clara County California
The experienced Santa Clara County Bicycle Accident Attorneys at Needham Kepner & Fish LLP regularly represent cyclists and scooter riders who have been hit by cars, trucks or motorcycles. We are avid bike riders ourselves, so we understand the unique challenges of cycling and how to investigate bicycle accidents.
The unprotected nature of bicycles makes riders especially susceptible to accidents resulting in serious injuries and wrongful death, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones. After a bike accident, the police report is often incomplete, and sometimes incorrectly blames the bicyclist for the collision. By performing a thorough investigation, our attorneys uncover the real causes of the accident so you get the recovery you deserve.
Motorist errors cause bicycle accidents
Negligent drivers cause many bicycle accidents. The negligence can include failing to yield, misjudging the distance between the car and the bicycle, failing to signal before changing lanes, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Although motorists often blame the cyclist, our investigation will reveal the actual cause or causes of the accident. For more information on bike accidents in the Santa Clara County, visit our page on frequently asked questions about bicycle accidents.
Dangerous road conditions threaten cyclists
Dangerous road conditions such as potholes, oil spills, poorly maintained roads, and inadequate or obstructed signage pose a greater danger to bikes than other vehicles. Even if the police report fails to mention any dangerous road conditions, we will investigate the scene to uncover anything that might have contributed to the accident.
Defective parts often cause wrecks
Our Santa Clara County bike accident lawyers know from experience that defective parts, such as a gear, brake or wheel, cause bicycle accidents. After an accident, it is important to keep as many of the parts of the bicycle as possible. Because we are cyclists ourselves and understand how bikes are engineered, we can inspect parts and spot defects. If our investigation reveals that the defective part caused the accident, we then draw on our extensive products liability experience to seek compensation from the manufacturer of the bicycle or the defective part.
Experienced bike accident lawyers in Santa Clara County, California
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a bicycle accident, scooter accident or motorcycle accident, consult our experienced Bay Area personal injury attorneys as soon as possible so we can begin investigating the accident, contacting witnesses and preserving evidence. To schedule a free consultation, contact Needham Kepner & Fish LLP today at 1-408-956-6949. Our lawyers are available for weekend and evening meetings. We handle injury cases on a contingent fee basis, which means that you pay us nothing unless you recover compensation.


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Coming off its second-best year ever for revenue, operating income, net income, and earnings per share, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is positioned well for growth, and "the future looks good," CEO Wick Moorman tells stockholders in the 2012 annual report, posted today on the company's website at www.nscorp.com.
"Despite significant challenges in our coal business, we delivered solid results for our shareholders," Moorman says. "From an operations perspective, the railroad ran extremely well, setting all-time highs for most of our service and velocity metrics. We also continued our strong record of reinvesting in the company, with more than $2.2 billion in capital spending, including completion of some key projects to drive future growth.
"Looking at 2013 and beyond," Moorman said, "I continue to have a very positive outlook for our business. Our railroad is running well, and we have demonstrated resilience in the face of a slow economic recovery. While the coal business will continue to be a wild card for the immediate future, it traditionally has been a mainstay for Norfolk Southern, and we continue to believe in it long-term."
Additionally, Moorman said, "We see exciting opportunities in emerging energy markets, such as transporting crude oil by rail, and sand, pipe, and other materials for shale gas production. We are positioned equally well for growth in many of our other businesses, supported by our continuing focus on operating efficiency and productivity."
Norfolk Southern paid tribute to its heritage in 2012 - the company's 30th anniversary - by painting 20 new locomotives in the color schemes of some of its predecessor companies.
"The management teams of our predecessor companies could not have imagined the scope of change that has culminated in today's Norfolk Southern, and I'm confident that the best years of our company are still ahead," Moorman said.
The annual report is distributed to stockholders, the financial community, news media, and libraries. To request a copy, call 800-531-6757, email email@example.com, or write to Norfolk Southern Corp., Corporate Communications Department, Three Commercial Place, Norfolk, Va. 23510-9217.
Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial products.
Norfolk Southern contacts:
Rick Harris
Michael Hostutler


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Are you good at scoring?
Tips for reducing the time-to-model and improving the result
By Anders Langgaard, Business Advisor, SAS
Credit scoring is the foundation for evaluating clients who apply for a loan (or other types of exposure for the bank). Building a credit scoring model is an exercise in statistics typically involving big (or even huge) amounts of historical data. In many banks it is not unusual for it to take up to 12 months from the moment you decide to build a new model until the model is applied in the production environment.
And all the while the model is losing precision; the world continues to change and the significance of the model parameters changes with it. And lower model precision, in turn, leads to erroneous ratings of particular clients, which can cause the bank to take on risky or non-profitable loans.
A (business) case of shorter time-to-model
SAS ran a business case with a small American bank that had total assets of US $1 billion. The bank had average credit losses of $25 million per year. Using credit scoring tools that enabled higher performance in the scoring process – not least in the model development phase – meant that the bank was able to reduce the modelling cycle from 4 months to 2 months. The effect was that the bank was able to reduce losses by 5 percent – just by being able to use better score cards sooner.
But how can you shorten the model lifecycle? First, here are the steps of the lifecycle:
- Formulate a hypothesis.
- Prepare the data to build the model on.
- Explore the data to ensure that the quality is sufficient and that it contains the needed information.
- Transform the data (It is likely that some of the data will need to be transformed into useful variables)
- Build the model using statistical tools.
- Validate the model (ensure that the model still performs on another set of data that the set it was built on).
- Deploy the model in production – perform the scoring of the clients.
- Evaluate and monitor performance of the model.
Be aware that there are many potential time thieves in the model lifecycle. For instance, in many financial institutions the analyst (the model developer) must ask the IT department for the needed data. The IT department then gathers the data from a number of sources and delivers it to the analyst – this can take 2-4 weeks. If the analyst finds out that something is missing in the data, the process starts over. A good starting point for achieving a leaner process is to enable the analyst to directly build her own data set.
You should also give the analyst tools that make it easy and quick to test hypotheses. Examples include data visualization techniques and in-memory processing, both running on Hadoop. In combination, you get that easy view into the data. You also reduce the time it takes to provide answers because the analysis can be done inside Hadoop with high performance analytics – lightning fast.
Automate and integrate
The final time snatcher that I will mention this time around is the steps that need to be taken from the moment you have a validated model until you can take it into production. In a large number of financial institutions there is no link between the development environment and the production environment where scoring needs to be done. This means that the model is often (manually!) carried from the analyst back to IT, where the model is recoded to another programming language so that it can finally be implemented in production. This, of course, gives rise to a number of operational risks – including the risk of model coding errors. Additionally it makes model validation and performance measurement difficult to carry out.
It's easy to see that streamlining the model development process will reduce losses and increase earnings. And it will also reduce the operational risk of the institution. The combination of these effects will help validate the business case for investing in the improvements.
For more inspiration, have a look at "How can we develop and deploy credit risk models faster?"
Read More
For more inspiration, have a look at "How can we develop and deploy credit risk models faster?"
Get More Insights
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* Data updated every 30 minutes
1 Euro(s) exchanged to Moroccan Dirham(s) will result in: 10.893 MAD. You currently converted Euro(s) to Moroccan Dirham(s) with the help of the following international currency exchange rate: 10.893. This exchange rate has been provided to you via Euro-rates.eu. Please note that the exchange rate of Euro and Moroccan Dirham can fluctuate over time. For example if you have traded 1 Euro(s) for Moroccan Dirham(s) 1 year ago on 2019-12-05 than you would get 10.659 instead.
This accounts for a -2.145 % change for the negative. Changing 1 Euro(s) now to Moroccan Dirham(s) would be a better deal right now, but this doesn't guarantee future profits.The monthly volatility is 1.173 % or 0.128 Euro. This shows us a general picture of the risk associated with trading this market.
Our converter features the most popular currencies including Dollar, Yen, Pound and lots more.
Here is a live view to some of the exchange rates for Euro if you wanted to trade it into a different currency:
|Exchange rate for USD is: 1.212.
|This has changed by -3.242% in the past month for the favor of MAD.
|Exchange rate for JPY is: 126.273.
|This has changed by -2.97% in the past month for the favor of MAD.
|Exchange rate for GBP is: 0.902.
|This has changed by 0.327% in the past month for the favor of GBP.
|Exchange rate for AUD is: 1.633.
|This has changed by 0.064% in the past month for the favor of AUD.
|Exchange rate for CAD is: 1.55.
|This has changed by -0.665% in the past month for the favor of CAD.


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1 (4 to 5-pound) roasting chicken
1 large yellow onion, sliced
Good olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 lemons, quartered
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
6 cups (3/4-inch) bread cubes (1 baguette or round boule)
Roast for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh. Baste the chicken with the pan juices every 25 - 30 minutes while roasting. If the chicken begins to brown too quickly toward the end of cooking, cover with aluminum foil.
Once the chicken is done roasting, cover with foil and allow to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. (The onions may burn, but the flavor is good.)
10 minutes. Add more olive oil, as needed, and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place the croutons on a serving platter. Slice the chicken and place it, plus all the pan juices, over the croutons. Sprinkle with salt and serve warm.


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College Football News – Guilford's Satiir Stevenson Named AFCA All-American
WACO, Texas – Guilford College's Satiir Stevenson (Roselle, N.J./Abraham Clark) earned NCAA Division III All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Monday. Stevenson joins Chris Barnette '07 and Bryan Garland '95 as the lone Quakers so honored and is Guilford's first AFCA All-American since Barnette in 2006.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and honors students in all five college football divisions (FCS, FBS, Division II, Division III, NAIA). AFCA teams feature just one team (25 students) of All-Americans and are elected exclusively by the coaches themselves.
Stevenson earned First Team All-South honors from D3football.com last week and his second straight First Team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) award last month. The junior safety led the league with four interceptions and ranks 59th in NCAA Division III with 0.4 thefts per game. He also paced the Quakers with a career-high 81 tackles (47 solo), the league's eighth-best figure. Stevenson broke up five passes, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. He had two 10-tackle efforts, including a career-high 16 at Catholic University. His 11 takedowns helped the Quakers to their first win at Bridgewater College since 1998. Stevenson made a career-high two interceptions in Guilford's victory over Shenandoah University. After three seasons, the team captain ranks seventh in school history with 10 career interceptions and is a three-time All-ODAC honoree.
Stevenson also returned punts for Guilford, averaging 8.2 yards per return, which stood second in the ODAC. He fielded 18 punts and compiled 147 return yards with a long return of 25 yards. His 8.2 yards-per-return average stands 66th among this week's NCAA Division III leaders and ninth in school history.
Stevenson helped coach Chris Rusiewicz's Quakers post the program's first winning record (6-4) since 2007. Guilford finished second in the ODAC with a school-record 5-2 mark. The Quakers could return as many as 18 starters in 2014, including Stevenson.


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Welcome to till.com,
home of Don Tillman's various writings
since 1994.
|Electronic Music Articles
|Original articles about electronics, audio, and business. Includes Don's ARP, Moog and Mellotron patent reviews, guitar pickup analysis, original synthesizer circuits and other good stuff.
|The very first regional Progressive Rock web site, BayProg packs in an awful lot of resources for San Francisco Bay Area prog musicians and fans, including the BayProg email list. Updated every week or so.
|Don's Resume
|What Don does for a living; software engineering, electrical engineering.
|Don's Blog
|Don's Blog is on hold for a little while, so this is the archived material. Sometime in the near future I'll update the platform and get back to it.
|Don plays guitar, bass, keys, writes, arranges, produces, but not much recently due to a hectic schedule. This links to Tesseract, Don's progressive rock band, currently on ice.


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2 win National High School Musical Theater Awards
One brought leading man grace. One brought a little raunch. Together they left New York with the top National High School Musical Theater Awards.
Sarah Lynn Marion, from Fullerton, Calif., was named best actress and Taylor Varga from Newtown, Conn., won the best actor crown at the fifth annual "Glee"-like competition for musical teenagers, nicknamed the Jimmy Awards after theater owner James Nederlander.
Both top winners receive a $10,000 scholarship award, capping a months-long winnowing process that began with 50,000 students from 1,000 schools and ended at the Minskoff Theatre, the long-term home of "The Lion King." This year's contestants came from 20 states.
Marion, a senior at Huntington Beach High School for the Performing Arts, had sung a segment from "Hello, Dolly" earlier in the night and then absolutely nailed the "110 in the Shade" song "Raunchy," a sexy, needy tune with the appropriate lyric, "Gonna make them other gals turn green."
In her acceptance speech, she thanked her teachers, her parents, her four siblings, her friends and all fellow contestants. "And my first grade teacher who gave me my first role as Jack's mother in `Jack and the Beanstalk,'" she said. In the past few years, she's also had roles in school productions of "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Damn Yankees" and "Xanadu."
Varga, who attends Newtown High School, was one of two J. Pierrepont Finches from "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and delivered a touching "Santa Fe" from "Newsies" for his solo. "I'm a little lost for words," he said, before thanking his family and friends who made the trip from Connecticut.
The 62 teens who made it to New York - 31 girls and 31 boys - got a five-day theatrical boot camp at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, complete with scrambling to learn an opening and closing group number, intense advice on their solo songs, plus a field trip to watch "Annie" on Broadway and dinner at famed theater-district hangout Sardi's.
All 62 performed snippets of the songs that they had sung at regional competitions as part of seven large medleys and then seven finalists - three boys and four girls - were asked to sing solos. The final winners were picked from the last seven.
All had to switch from black dresses for the ladies and dark suits for the men into their character costumes for their medleys and then back again. Their performances were backed by a nine-piece orchestra.
The five runners-up, who each receive $2,500, were: Martha Hellerman from Madison, Wis.; Eva Maria Noblezada from Charlotte, N.C.; Jillian Caillouette from Norwich, Conn.; Michael Burrell from Mission Viejo, Calif.; and Austin Crute from Atlanta.
There was a fair amount of overlapping of roles, with two Belles from "Beauty and the Beast," two Miss Adelaides from "Guys and Dolls" and a memorable set of five Bakers from "Into the Woods," who all thrown on stage to duke it out together.
The irreverent show "Avenue Q" had two representatives, complete with puppets, and there was a tap dancing Billy Crocker from "Anything Goes" and a gun-toting Annie Oakley in "Annie Get Your Gun." Shows ranged from "Chicago" to "Sweeney Todd" to "Les Miserables" and "In the Heights."
Cheers were saved for the director, Van Kaplan, and choreographer, Kiesha Lalama, who managed to makes transitions between characters seamless. At one point, Tevye from "Fiddler on the Roof" sang "If I Were a Rich Man" and then handed it over to the money-grubbing J. Pierrepont Finches.
During their New York visit, the teens were tutored one-on-one by theater pros Leslie Odom Jr., Liz Callaway, Michael McElroy and Telly Leung. The judges Monday night included Tony-winning director Scott Ellis, Tony nominee Montego Glover and casting professional Bernie Telsey. One judge was overheard summing up the behind-door-process process with one word: "brutal." The hosts were Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana, who co-star in "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella."
Mark Kennedy can be reached at https://twitter.com/KennedyTwits