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In sun-deprived Washington, the promise of nice spring weather prompted a small private school to give students a day off to enjoy the sunshine.
Friday was a "sun day" of sorts for the 205 students at Bellingham Christian School, a small private nondenominational Christian school in Bellingham.
"SCHOOL CANCELED DUE TO GREAT WEATHER! WAHOOO!" the school's website announced Thursday night. "Yeah! It's a Sun Day today and everyone gets the day off from school."
Principal Bob Sampson said he wanted to give students some time to re-energize and enjoy the weather, adding that he wanted to re-create the excitement snow days get among the kids.
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Sampson began teasing the possibility of giving the day off earlier in the week.
"In a world that's got a lot of hard things going, it's fun to create a moment of joy," he said.
The forecast for Western Washington calls for a weekend of sunshine, with highs hitting the low 80s in some parts of the region on Sunday.
The sun day also was made possible because there weren't any days off because of snow this school year.
"Kids just love the anticipation of sitting around to see if school is canceled when it snows," he said. "You know, we haven't had any snow days, so I thought, 'How fun would it be to create that anticipation for kids when it's nice out?' "
Sampson surveyed parents to make sure the day off wouldn't cause any hardships, and he floated the idea with the School Board before canceling school, he said. The 22 staff members also got the day off, he added.
The principal asked students to take pictures of what they did on their sunny day off. He plans to show the pictures at an assembly Monday.
It's not the first time the school has given students the day off because of sunshine. The last time was two years ago.


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chief town and deepwater harbour of Tobago
island in the
Trinidad and Tobago
group in the southern Caribbean Sea. Formerly called Port Louis, it overlooks Scarborough Harbour, formerly Rockly Bay, and
, southeastern West Indies. It is the administrative centre of Tobago and the main town of St. Andrew parish. Located on Rockly Bay and overlooking Scarborough Harbour, the town
is steeply laid out on the bottom slopes of a hill 8 miles (13 km) from Tobago's southwestern tip.
It succeeded Georgetown, now Mount Saint George, as capital of Tobago in 1796, though it had been destroyed by fire only six years earlier.
On top of the hill is Fort King George (
built by the British in the late 1700s
), with a
and hospital
officer's mess,
a rebuilt Anglican church. The town is in a coconut-growing area; industries include sawmilling and lime-oil production. Pop. (1980) 6,089
many cannons; it also includes a museum of Tobago's history. Scarborough has several structures dating to the early 19th century, including the House of Assembly, a handsomely restored Georgian building. The town has benefited considerably from the growth of tourism in Tobago and has many commercial buildings. Tobago's airport, Crown Point, is about 7 miles (11 km) from Scarborough and handles both domestic and international flights. Pop. (2000) St. Andrew parish, 15,830

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Philippines: Risk of fresh violence puts IDPs in danger
|Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)
|Publication Date
|5 April 2010
|Cite as
|Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), Philippines: Risk of fresh violence puts IDPs in danger, 5 April 2010, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4bc2ccfbc.html [accessed 29 May 2016]
|This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.
MANILA, 5 April 2010 (IRIN) - Muslim separatists waging a bloody insurgency to carve out an independent Muslim state in the southern Philippines are warning of fresh violence after rejecting an offer for limited autonomy from the government.
The warning comes 20 months after fighting forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes on the island of Mindanao.
The leadership of the 12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has filed a complaint with the independent ceasefire monitoring committee - a mechanism established by both sides - about what it claimed was "scores of uncoordinated and unusual movements" by government forces in areas under rebel control.
"I do not want to sound alarmist, but I cannot discount the possibility of hostilities if they continue with the movements. That is the probable consequence because we have people operating in those areas," MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal told IRIN from his base in Mindanao.
"This is an alarming development and what is for certain is that the fresh military movements appear to have the backing of the highest echelons of the armed forces," he said.
Army activity, he said, was monitored shortly after MILF rejected last month's government offer of limited autonomy in exchange for the rebel forces abandoning their insurgency which began in 1978.
MILF deemed the offer unacceptable because it went against its aim of self-rule and self-determination.
Peace process "stalled"
"The peace process has stalled. It is not moving forward," MILF's Iqbal said, as he ruled out the possibility of ever signing a deal with the government of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, who is constitutionally mandated to end her six-year term on 30 June.
"We cannot discount the possibility that there could be resistance similar to 2008."
Large-scale fighting broke out between the two sides in August two years ago, after the Supreme Court in Manila rejected a proposed government-MILF deal that would have given the rebels control over 700 villages and municipalities on Mindanao which they claim to be their "ancestral domain".
The document had been initialled by both sides, but was questioned by nationalist groups and Christian leaders on Mindanao whose areas were included in the deal.
At the height of the fighting, which spread across central Mindanao triggering a humanitarian crisis, over 750,000 people were displaced.
Nearly 400 people have been killed in the conflict, with scores more injured.
Some 11 months later, however, both sides agreed to a ceasefire, and re-opened back door negotiations in a bid to allow the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ruined villages.
In its last update (July 2009) on the number of IDPs, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said over 300,000 people remained in 500-plus evacuation centres on Mindanao, while nearly half a million were staying with relatives or friends.
Those returning now, however, face the risk of fresh clashes, despite "an agreement in principle" from both MILF and the government that combatants from both sides will not be targeted, and that they will refrain from fighting in areas where there is a large concentration of civilians, Iqbal said.
Meanwhile, regional military spokesman Lt-Col Randolph Cabangbang said from his base in the south that additional troops had been sent to the area to help police serve arrest warrants on an armed group wanted for a string of crimes.
He denied troops had intruded into MILF areas or so-called peace zones, but warned that the army will strike back if ambushed.
"Definitely we have forces in those areas conducting patrols," Cabangbang told IRIN. "However, I don't think it's a violation of anything. The ceasefire is still holding for now, as far as we are concerned."
He said tens of thousands of IDPs have returned to their villages since late last year, but could not say how many people were still in the camps, calling figures by aid groups "misleading".
"Many of these so-called IDPs have gone back to their homes, but they return to the camps to take advantage of food and other basic items being handed out," Cabangbang said, noting that the situation was no longer as grim as before.
Cabangbang said the presence of a 60-man Malaysia-led international peacekeeping mission which returned to the south in February was expected to be able to maintain peace in the south.
The mission pulled out at the height of the 2008 fighting, but returned amid fresh hopes that the bloodshed would finally end.


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Top sports of 2010
EL's Eastman Kiwanis Champ
Elk Lake's Jake Eastman was crowned a Tunkhannock Kiwanis Wrestling Tournament champion with a pin of Lackawanna Trail's Eric Laytos at 4:54 in the 215-pound weight class. He also hit the 100-win milestone durting the prelims.
Taylor lives snow dream
Blue Ridge senior Cody Taylor saw his snowboarding dreams come true as he got the chance to snowboard with X Games champion Andreas Wiig at Keystone Resort in Denver, Colo.
Lass hits 1,000 points
Marywood University senior Amanda Lass, a Montrose graduate, notched her 1,000th career college basketball point in a 76-53 victory over Cedar Crest College.
Caines tops 1,000
Elk Lake senior Karley Caines dropped in her 1,000th career point as the Lady Warriors beat Forest City.
Snee enjoys Pro Bowl
Montrose graduate Chris Snee, a right guard for the New York Giants, enjoyed his second straight year of playing in the NFL Pro Bowl.
Koloski signs with Pitt
Montrose Area track and field star Julia Koloski signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Pittsburgh.
Meteors win LL crown
Montrose Area's boys' basketball team survived a four-overtime thriller with Elk Lake to win the Lackawanna League Div. III all-season title, 72-67.
EL ties for Dist. 2 gold
Elk Lake's wrestling team took top honors in the PIAA District 2 wrestling tournament, tying with Western Wayne as each school had a trio of wrestlers bringing home gold.
BR history is made
Blue Ridge wrestler Alex Stanton made school history as he advanced to the PIAA Class AA championships in Hershey where he took fourth place in the state.
EL cheerleader All American
Elk Lake sophomore Brittany Delancey won the All-American Cheerleader Award while cheering with Keystone Extreme All Stars in Washington, D.C.
Kimsey headed to Kutztown
Montrose track and field jumper Sarah Kimsey signed on to attend Kutztown University.
Sisters slug at Cornell
Sisters and Blue Ridge grads Erin Keene, 19, and Dayna Keene, 18, competed for Cornell University's NCAA Div. I softball program.
EL's Darling perfect
Elk Lake softball pitcher Brooke Darling notched a perfect game against Susquehanna, tossing 20 strikeouts over seven innings. She struck out all but one better en route to a 10-0 victory.
Warriors top Jordan
Elk Lake's boys' and girls' track and field teams took top honors at the 55th annual Jordan Relays in Scranton.
County mines D2 gold
At the District II Class AA track and field championships, Susquehanna County tracksters brought home many gold medals. Montrose's Julia Koloski (triple jump, 4×100 relay, high jump), Blue Ridge's Jared Conklin (discus), Zach Kruger (300 hurdles), Kaitchen Dearborn (javelin) and Allison Hall (800) Elk Lake's Maria Trowbridge (1600 and 3200), Caitie Good (200 and 1600 relay), Sean Carney (400), Mike Bedell (1600) and 1600 and 3200 relay team of (Carney, Bedell, Tyler Williams and Bryan Grosvenor) and Susquehanna's Nick Vales (pole vault).
Koloski wins state gold
Montrose senior Julia Koloski finished out her high school track and field career with a gold medal in the triple jump at 39-feet, and finished in the top seven in three other events.
Whipple lifting champion
Montrose's Tyler Whipple topped the 123-pound weight class at the IPF World Lifting Championships in Kileen, Texas.
MV drops wrestling
Amidst an ongoing budget crisis at Mountain View, the school board announced that its wrestling program was no more.
Clifford man triathlete
Chaz Ross of Clifford Twp. grabbed the Great Island Adventure Triathlon near Lock Haven.
Luff, Salva win race
Sam Luff, 23, of Emmaus, won the 'Race for Independence' 10K in Montrose while John Salva, 18, of Conklin, was the 5K winner with a time of 17:15.
Darling named All-State
Elk Lake's Brooke Darling, who pitched a pair of perfect games and multiple no-hitters, bolstered a stifling 0.14 earned run average and amassed 200-plus strikeouts, was awarded second-team honors in Class AA.
Susquehanna AD dies
Denise Reddon, the Susquehanna Community athletic director and a former coach passed away. She served as a girls' basketball coach, a volleyball coach and a cheerleading coach.
Locals in Dream Game
Montrose Area's Dalton Smith, Rob Volk and Bryan Castrogiovanni along with Susquehanna's Chris Kimble helped lead the City team coached by Montrose's Jack Keihl to a victory in the 76th annual Dream Game in Scranton.
EL grad coaches Marywood
Elk Lake grad Megan Bullock, 24, now of Wilkes-Barre, was tabbed as the head coach of Marywood University's field hockey program after the previous coach resigned.
Smith 2nd at Jackman
Montrose Area's Jordan Smith took second place at the 47th annual Jackman Memorial Golf Tournament in Scranton. He shot a 36 and a 38 for a 74 stroke total on the par 72 course.
Demmer champion archer
John Demmer III, 30, of Kingsley, grabbed the World Champion Title in the Traditional Bow category in mid-August at Ellicotville, N.Y.
Novak wins Apple Fest race
David Novak of Tunkhannock took first place in the Pro 1/2/3, 26 mile Montrose Apple Festival Bike race, missing the course record by 10 seconds with a 65:10 finish. He also won the King of the Mountain for the 26 mile race.
MV dedicates field
Mountain View dedicated its new soccer field/ to former coach, teacher and principal Robert W. Klenk at a ceremony held before a Mountain View girls' soccer game.
FC's Thomas gets hole-in-one
Forest City's Seth Thomas notched a hole-in-one on the 265-yard, par 4 second hole at Memorial Links in an 8.5-.5 victory over Susquehanna.
Sabers top Montrose
In an annual local high school football rivalry game, Susquehanna, led by ace quarterback Dan Kempa, took a 35-0 victory over the Meteors at Montrose.
Jr. Warriors take gold
Elk Lake's girls' junior high cross country team took first place overall at the District II Class AA championship at McDade Park as Jenny VanEtten took fist overall at 11:01.
EL hosts D2 meet
Elk Lake hosted the District II cross country championship for the first time as both the boys' and girls' teams took second overall in the team standings while Luke Jones took first overall in Class AA at 16:06, after teammate Mike Bedell collapsed just shy of the finish line.
Warrior XC state champs
Both Elk Lake's boys' and girls' cross country teams took home gold as PIAA Class AA state champions. Maria Trowbridge finished sixth and Mike Bedell bounced back with a seventh place. Varsity coach Will Squier later honored as state 'Coach of the year.'
Sabers grab Div. 3 title
Susquehanna's varsity football team celebrated its first Lackawanna Football Conference Division III title since 1995 as it defeated Old Forge 28-13.
MV soccer makes state run
Mountain View's boys' soccer team stormed through the first round of the PIAA Class A tourney with a victory over Berwick's Bulldogs before falling i to South Williamsport.
Darling goes with Columbia
Elk Lake softball pitcher Brooke Darling committed to attending NCAA Division I Columbia University in New York, playing in the Ivy League.
Scrimmage honors Caines
Elk Lake held an alumni basketball game to honor retiring coach and educator Al Caines for his years of service to the Dimock campus.
Kiehl resigns
Montrose Area school board accepted the resignation of high school football coach Jack Kiehl.
EL grad swims for Lyco
Elk Lake graduate Jehiel Boner, now a sophomore at Lycoming College, in Williamsport, walked onto the school's swim team as a freshman and is now playing a big role for the team as a utility swimmer.
Girls join wrestling teams
Montrose's Heather Traver and Lackawanna Trail's Mackenzie Rosiak are both wrestling for their respective varsity teams.


text:
Apple's iMessage is great when it works, but several recent outages haven't made it a little unreliable. Fortunately your iPhone can send any iMessage as an SMS text message when the service is down. Lifehacker reader Raj Nagra explains:
You can also default to this action when iMessage is down by going to the Settings app, choosing the Messages tab, and choosing "Send as SMS" (as pictured above).
Send as Text Message | Lifehacker Tips Forum


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May 29, 2016
A federal judge has blocked Mississippi from enforcing a new law that bars late term abortions in abortion clinics.
Judge Tom Lee made the decision on Friday. Jackson's Women Health Organization sued to have the law declared unconstitutional.
The new law barred abortion clinics from conducting abortions starting at 13 weeks.
The state contended the law was enacted to move the late term abortions for better equipped facilities. The courts disagreed.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


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Health News Brief: Making a Resolution? Diet Betting May Offer Incentive to Lose Weight, Extra Walking Does Not Improve Muscle Strength, Driving Isnt an Issue for Most People With Diabetes
If you are unable to view this email, please click here.
January 3, 2012
Thousands Ante Up Online for Diet Betting Between the Turkey and the Bubbly
Neil Ylanan eats for a living and travels constantly as a food expert for a company that supplies in-flight meals to airlines. Toss in those sleepless, sluggish early years of fatherhood hes got three young kids and he was dealing with significant weight gain.
Source: Washington Post Read More
Midlife Blood Pressure Predicts Future Heart Risk
Increases and decreases in blood pressure during middle age and even earlier in adulthood can significantly affect heart attack and stroke risk later in life, a new study shows.
Source: WebMD, Chicagos Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Read More
Extra Walking Does Not Improve Muscle Strength
Women who walk at least 10,000 steps a day have no greater muscle strength and perform no better on tests of balance and agility than women who walk fewer than 7,500 steps, according to a new study.
Source: Reuters Read More
Driving Isnt an Issue for Most People With Diabetes
Diabetes neednt prevent someone from driving, and only a doctor should decide if these complications are severe enough to keep an individual off the road, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) says.
Source: American Diabetes Association, Health Day Read More
Exercise Declines from High School to College
Making the transition from adolescence into young adulthood can be challenging, and it could also come with some health risks.
Source: McMaster University, The University of Toronto Read More
Penicillin Allergy? Tips from Mayo Clinic
If your doctor determines that you're allergic to penicillin, it's a good idea to wear a medical alert bracelet that describes your allergy. You might also want to carry an alert card in your wallet or purse. Visit Mayo Clinic for more tips.
Source: Mayo Clinic Read More
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An event beloved by the community, this year's Greek Fest will be bigger and better; expecting over 30,000 attendees and offering 3 days of fun, food and entertainment. There will be over 40 Greek Themed vendors and exciting new additions to the Festival; cooking demonstrations, expanded kids' play area with water slides and youth Olympics, art tours with noted art experts, convenient handicap parking, shuttle service and, back by popular demand, Greek wine tasting.
New food choices include roast lamb dinners, Greek calamari and ouzo snow cones. Entertainment will be provided by the popular Greek band, The Olympians, from Long Beach, along with Greek dancing demonstrations. New Greek backdrops and people dressed in traditional costumes will add flavor for a true Greek experience.
This year there will be five shuttles and one with wheelchair accessibility. We are also adding even more misters to keep everyone cool!
We look forward to seeing you at this much anticipated Greek cultural extravaganza! OPA!


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« Survivor: Philippines Set For 90-Minute Premiere on Sept. 19 | Home | The Bachelorette Men Tell All – What Was The Hardest Part Of The Show For Emily Maynard? »
Bachelor Pad's Kalon McMahon And Lindzi Cox Are Dating!
July 17, 2012 08:00 AM by Melissa Stavarski
WOW! Emily Maynard's very own baggage hater Kalon McMahon is dating Bachelor fan favorite Lindzi Cox! Kalon and Lindzi met on the upcoming season of The Bachelor Pad and, according to several sources, they are quite smitten with each other. Keep reading for the full scoop!
Fans of the Bachelor franchise will remember Lindzi Cox as the (presumed) nice girl and horse lover from Ben Flajnik's turn as The Bachelor. Ben passed up Lindzi for the season's villain Courtney Robertson. With Emily Maynard's season of The Bachelorette still airing, Kalon is fresh in everyone's mind as the one who referred to Emily's daughter Ricki as baggage.
Most definitely, Kalon is probably the last person we thought would come out of The Bachelor Pad in a relationship.
"Kalon didn't expect to find love, especially after all the drama with Emily, but sometimes love comes knocking when you least expect it," a source told Celebuzz. "The romance is still new and they're figuring it out, but they're definitely an item." Sources close to production all agree; it's an unlikely pairing, but the two were acting like they were in love.
Is Kalon just misunderstood? If "nice girl" Lindzi can fall for Kalon, he can't be that bad. Right?
Or, has Kalon met his "player" match in Lindzi? When Lindzi was on The Bachelor, an acquaintance of Lindzi's told Wetpaint Entertainment that she had "a history of hitting on all the wealthy young guys" who would frequent the golf club where she used to work.
Kalon definitely fits that description.
Their developing relationship is one to watch when The Bachelor Pad begins. It premieres July 23rd on ABC!
Want more? Follow our tweets on Twitter and "like" us on Facebook!. Click here for more information about The Bachelor Pad. For other great reality TV news, please feel free to check out SirLinksALot: Bachelor Pad.
Photo credit: ABC
Topics: ABC Reality TV Shows, The Bachelor Pad |
« Survivor: Philippines Set For 90-Minute Premiere on Sept. 19 | Home | The Bachelorette Men Tell All – What Was The Hardest Part Of The Show For Emily Maynard? »
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One Response to "Bachelor Pad's Kalon McMahon And Lindzi Cox Are Dating!"
Lisa Says:
July 18th, 2012 at 12:16 pm
It is all an act when they were on their respective shows, I am sure they are both very nice people, so Kalon is rich, more power to Lindzi, may they both find happiness> YOU GO GIRL


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Capt. Jim Roberts gives timely donation to Lewes Historical SocietySociety purchases Cape Henlopen Lighthouse clock
Capt. James S. Roberts recently donated funds to allow The Lewes Historical Society to purchase a rare U.S. Lighthouse Establishment wall clock. What sets the clock apart is its critical local connection. The clock was sent to the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse keeper William Elligood about 1850 when the E. Howard & Co. of Boston, Mass. was awarded a contract to provide clocks to the USLHE.
Elligood served as keeper of Henlopen Light from 1849-1853 and on the inside of the clock door it is inscribed "Wm. Elligood - Henlopen." The regulator-style clock is not as common as Howard's banjo-style clocks which were more readily found at light stations.
The clock is on display on the second floor of the Cannonball House Lewes Maritime Museum and has its original weight and key. Judith Roales contributed funds for transport of the clock to Lewes.
Shown (l-r) with the clock are James Roberts, his sons Steve and Michael and Society Executive Director Mike DiPaolo. The clock was purchased in memory of the late Judith Atkins Roberts, past president of the society.


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Destiny Christian's Shaun Edwards starts to receive recruiting interest
DEL CITY — Shaun Edwards knew this season was his final chance to prove something.
The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Destiny Christian senior hadn't always worked his hardest on the football field, but he changed that before this season.
"Some of the college coaches told me the biggest thing they look for in a lineman is their footwork and their hands," Edwards said. "I knew I'd be pulling a lot this year on our pulling plays, so I knew I was going to have to get quicker and work on my footwork to get faster and get my steps down in my pulls."
Destiny Christian plays the OKC Patriots on Friday in the OCSAA Class 3A state championship at Putnam City West.
Edwards has improved so much that he is starting to receive interest from some of those college coaches, namely ones from Houston and Kansas.
"He's really buckled down and I'm proud of him because last year we had a lot of issues with him knowing when to work and when not to, and he was kind of lazy," Destiny Christian coach Joe Biddle said. "He's finally realized that this is his year to sign a scholarship with someone, and he's really stepped up and taken on that role."
Edwards came to Destiny Christian in the seventh grade after attending St. John's Episcopal School.
At one point, as he started to really grow, he wanted to attend a public school, but his grandmother, Shirley, whom he lives with, said no.
"The private schools he's been in, they've all taken a good interest in him," Shirley Edwards said. "It's just been wonderful."
Shaun Edwards has been living with Shirley since he was 11 months old. His parents divorced and could not decide who would receive custody, so Shirley and her husband Robert adopted him, with his parents being able to see him anytime.
Robert Edwards died in 2007, and Shaun was the person who found him after his heart gave out.
"She's the only thing I've got left," Edwards said about his grandmother. "I still visit my parents every once and awhile, but my grandma's always been there for me.
"She's pretty much my mother because she takes care of me and everything I need."
Now, though, Edwards is nearing the chance to attend a school of his choice, as Shirley Edwards told him long ago he could choose which college attends.
He just still has to earn his chance Friday on the football field.
"I know we're going to win," Edwards said. "That's how confident I am."


text: Hi - I have a set of chorus 10 carbon ultra shift brifters. The left brake blade is cracked and I would like to replace it. Does anyone know where I can find replacements that dont cost an arm and a leg? All I can find on ebay is the newer (post 2009) style and they are generally very expensive.


text:
Images: MCB Hawaii pays tribute to environmental warrior [Image 4 of 7]
Photo by Kristen Wong
Diane Drigot (right), former senior natural resources management specialist with the Environmental Compliance and Protection Department, looks on as Mary Yannell, president of the Kaneohe Outdoor Circle, speaks during an awards presentation at The Officers' Club, April 29, 2011. Marine Corps Base Hawaii received the Spring 2011 Beautification Award from the Kaneohe Outdoor Circle during their biannual luncheon. Drigot passed away Oct. 14, 2013, from complications due to a transplant while being treated for acute myelogenous leukemia. A funeral for Drigot is scheduled for January 2014. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Kristen Wong)
This work, MCB Hawaii pays tribute to environmental warrior [Image 1 of 7], by Kristen Wong, identified by DVIDS, is free of known copyright restrictions under U.S. copyright law.
Date Taken:04.29.2011
Date Posted:11.12.2013 16:46
Photo ID:1050932
Size:2.2 MB
Location:MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, US
Hometown:CHICAGO, IL, US
Hometown:KAILUA, HI, US
Gallery Images
Associated News
MCB Hawaii pays tribute to environmental warrior


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Candy Hwang, a second-year doctoral candidate in chemistry and National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow, has swapped the written page for animation.
Hwang of USC Dornsife entered "Creating the Future," a multimedia competition that challenges NSF fellows to express how their research may shape the future. A 90-second video created by Hwang and her team offers an animated representation of their research on nitrogen.
Charles McKenna, professor of chemistry and vice dean for natural sciences in USC Dornsife, served as faculty adviser.
Calling upon others at USC, Hwang worked with a team that included students from the John C. Hench Division of Animation and Digital Arts at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Despite the invaluable technical help of her team, Hwang faced the obstacle of how best to represent and explain her work.
"It was very difficult to explain my research in understandable terms," she said. In fact, the team spent two months writing and editing the storyboards for the project.
However, the long process and hard work paid off.
"I got to explain science, which is such a difficult thing to do," Hwang said. "Teaching is my favorite thing. This video was an outlet for that."
A panel of NSF judges will select the winner from the 14 finalists, but the public also has an opportunity to vote for a People's Choice Award.
To cast a vote in the competition, visit http://grf2012.skild.com/skild2/grf2012/viewEntryDetail.action?pid=40359
Laura Cechanowicz (editor), Simón Wilches Castro (designer/animator), Louis Morton (designer/animator) and Anna Drubich (music) provided expertise for the video.


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|NASCAR stars Schrader, Wallace headline PC Raceway Monday
|Written by Holyoke Enterprise
It's BST's best against well-known NASCAR racers Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace as they race modifieds at Phillips County Raceway Monday, July 21. Heat races begin at 7 p.m.
Additionally, the evening of races, which leads into Phillips County Fair week, will include sport mods, stocks and hobbies.
Reserved tickets for a hamburger/hot dog meet and greet with Schrader and Wallace are available by calling BST promoter Joe Bellm at 720-404-0400. The event will begin at 5 p.m. in the Biesemeier Room at the Phillips County Event Center.
Harchelroad Motors in Imperial, Neb., and Wauneta, Neb., is the lead sponsor for Monday night's races, and Wallace will be driving a Harchelroad-sponsored car. Other sponsors include S&W Auto Supply/NAPA and Cobblestone Inn & Suites.
This is a return appearance for Schrader, who highlighted the July 4 races at PC Raceway a year ago.
NASCAR racer Kenny Schrader, pictured at left, autographs Evan
Both Schrader and Wallace will be on the tail end of the July 18-21 BST Tour when they race in Holyoke Monday.
Friday, July 18, BST action is scheduled at Lamar Speedway; Saturday, July 19, at El Paso County Speedway in Calhan; and Sunday, July 20, at Thomas County Speedway in Colby, Kan.
Schrader is a second-generation race car driver. He raced in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from 1981-2013.
He races in many divisions and has been successful in any division he has stepped into. During the 1990s and the early part of the 2000s, Schrader was running as many as 100 races among many types of racing, including NASCAR's national and regional touring series, ARCA, short track and dirt track.
Wallace got involved in the industry by looking up to his father, who was a driver on local dirt tracks where they lived. Wallace, as well as two older brothers are all involved in the NASCAR racing industry.
He started as a mechanic for one of his brothers and in 1982 had his first racing battle at Illinois Street Stock Championship, where he won the race.
Subscribe to our e-Edition to get the full story! Call 970-854-2811.


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Polar Mobile to develop 500 new apps for Windows Phone 7
Microsoft seems to be hitting the ground running, swinging and body-checking in all directions. With the spectacular failure of its Windows Mobile and "Kin" marring the company's stock prospects in a recent Goldman Sachs report, the Windows Phone 7 seems to be its renewed attempt to win a share of the coveted smartphone market from rivals Google, Apple and RIM.
Rake in the fact that many smartphone users now pick and choose between operating systems on the basis of the number of apps and content available, and the importance of Microsoft's newly-inked deal with Polar Mobile Inc. becomes a ready reckoning.
Toronto-based Polar Mobile Inc. has been contracted to create 500 new apps for the Windows Phone 7 mobile OS, including all 350 of its current applications designed for the iPhone, Android phones and BlackBerrys. One of the single largest app-development deals in Canadian history, this allows Microsoft to release the Windows Phone 7 this November with a sizeable number of apps for consumers to factor into their buying decision.
With the majority of app developers lovingly hand-crafting apps not unlike the cobblers of old delicately crafting shoes, Polar Mobile stands apart in its use of templated app development, where clients fill in details of apps into standardized forms which are soon used to mechanically churn out large numbers of apps. This scalability ensures that the Polar Mobile-Microsoft partnership fits in the same league as the Microsoft-Facebook partnership - old and new recombine symbiotically to create something entirely new, experimental and possibly disruptive.
While apps for the iPhone and Google Android phones number in the thousands, Microsoft's attempts to clawback long-lost market share coupled with initial positive reviews of its new smartphone stand to give it a fighting chance in a smartphone war that has just gotten more ferocious.
What's your take on this whole affair dear reader? Is this partnership premature or possibly a winner?


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Home > Travel > Malaysia
Saturday, 3 May 2014
by s.shamala
Art-terly delightful: The painting of Marilyn Monroe being chased by local boys spices up the wall behind Bits & Bobs.
The pioneering spirit of Old Town, like the heavenly aroma of its coffee, envelops its nooks and crannies.
ACCORDING to our tour guide, Ipoh pioneered in many areas: the first traffic light was used in the region, also our country's first double-storey car park was built here. In fact, the very first car was driven in Ipoh, therefore the number plates for Perak drivers begin with the letter "A".
Our guide, who is a member of the Kinta Heritage Group, also recalled his very first P. Ramlee concert which was held at the Ipoh Town Hall in the 1970s where the world's first non-European Noble Prize for Literature winner Rabindranath Tagore also gave a speech. A very impressive list of firsts, I must say.
The Ipoh Town Hall was designed by Brigadier General A.B. Hubback. The British architect masterminded a host of other prominent structures throughout the country, including the Ipoh Railway Station and believed to be the first Briton architect to achieve the rank of Brigadier General.
As three curious French and I were taken on a heritage trail, we discovered the past through the present. The St Michael Institution that stood elegantly was established in 1912 and was constructed over a period of 30 years. The Ipoh Royal Club was where the English gentlemen socialised and watched cricket as it overlooked the Ipoh Padang. It was turned into a laundry during the Japanese Occupation, a move intended to humiliate the elite group that
utilised the building.
The thing to do in Old Town: Enjoy a cup of white coffee in the historic surrounds.
When we took a break, the guide made sure that we tasted the white coffee synonymous with Old Town. I opted to try the iced version of the drink to counter the heat that day.
The white coffee did not get its name from the hue as I had thought. Rather, it is from the careful, meticulous roasting process that was devised by the Hainanese who came here during the late Qing dynasty.
OLDTOWN White Coffee is the True White Coffee as it's originated from Old Town, Ipoh and has made white coffee a beverage savoured across the world. OLDTOWN White Coffee has a special blend of three types of premium beans to play
different roles in producing the best white coffee experience: Arabica beans give out the long-lasting aroma of the brew, the Robusta is responsible for the delicious flavour, while the Liberica beans is the reason a delightful aftertaste lingers on. Together they form a wonderful symphony of taste.
I made a mental note to pick up some packs of OLDTOWN White Coffee three-in-one sachets to share the authentic Ipoh white
coffee taste with friends and
family back home.
With its many traditional kopitiams, Old Town is also the place to savour the region's delectable food. Its famous beansprouts feature in Ipoh's most iconic dish, the "beansprouts chicken" (ngah choi kai), a dish of tender poached chicken, and chicken- and ginger-flavoured rice with a side dish of plump, sweet local beansprouts nourished by the excellent well water of the area.
While in Old Town, one must try the Ipoh hor fun, the super-smooth local flat rice noodle that deserves its reputation. The version that comes in a chicken and prawn broth topped with shredded poached chicken and prawns is popular.
Fans of pork satay can also find these tasty charcoal-grilled morsels in the vicinity. For desserts, a few kopitiams serve good caramel custard.
While we were shown the historical buildings of Old Town, I came across living specimens that had interesting tales as well.
Local barber K. Thirunavukarasu, 74, or Uncle Thiru hailed from India. His father brought him to Malaya when he was only 12 and he started helping out at the family salon. The shop had been in operation since 1927. However, it was relocated from its original location to the current one recently.
"Since the new shop is a bit hidden, very few customers come in for haircuts," Uncle Thiru lamented. "I get the sort who comes and asks me to act as if I'm cutting a customer's hair just to snap a few pictures instead," he said.
Next to Uncle Thiru's shop stood the most intriguing souvenir shop ever. The owner of Bits & Bobs and Missing Marbles, among the cool, trendy cafes that had mushroomed in the Old Town, set up this one-stop antiques kiosk for visitors to take back a bit of the past glories.
A unique, olden day lamp shade, an array of old, yellowed publications and old hubcaps for motorheads as well as other bric-a-brac sold there effectively captured the spirit of the bygones. They even offer Ais Kepal, a type of local dessert (and a distant cousin of Ais Kacang) where ice shavings are compressed and drenched with flavourings.
Why Not Elephants for souvenirs? I bought a green, tiny Ganesha and had a small talk with shop owner Leong Chai Yuen as she packed it in a beautiful, pink net pouch.
Armed with memories and goodies, I headed back home, a happy camper. Ipoh Old Town is a testament to the rich cultural heritage that Malaysia owns, which includes the white coffee that continues to delight Malaysians.
5 Top Souvenirs
1. Sachets of three-in-one OLDTOWN White Coffee for that instant taste of the authentic beverage
2. The antique knickknacks offered at the kiosk behind Bits & Bobs
3. The handicraft and accessories by Why Not Elephants?
4. The authentic wild honey sold in a local shop said to be sourced only from Orang Asli; the owner is a former developer who also runs a gallery.
5. Handmade jewellery and dresses by a local designer at Kristy's Collection, located at Lorong Panglima, behind the coffee shops.
Related story:
Tasty secrets of Ipoh Old Town
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Tasty secrets of Ipoh Old Town
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The Real Housewives of Orange County: Alexis Bellino Explains Why Jim Didn't Buy Her The Ring
March 23, 2011 10:00 AM by Veronica Dudo
The Real Housewives of Orange County: on Bravo TV aired a much talked about episode this week. Alexis Bellino talks about her vacation, shares her thought on Tamra's steamy bathtub scene and explains why Jim didn't buy her the Ring in her blog below.
The girls' day of shopping with me, Gretchen, and Peggy was such a fun day. I actually thought it was funny that Gretchen answered the door wearing a tiara! I knew it was her way of saying, "It's over and done with." It looked as though I am frustrated about it, but looking back I truly feel it was funny! I don't take anything like that serious with Gretchen, because we are so close. The funniest part is that she even got a license plate frame that says, "This is What a Princess Looks Like." It shows she has a good sense of humor regarding that whole hiccup between us. Good friends argue, and good friends make up. Arguing can be done without name calling and back-stabbing, believe it or not!
Now we are off to Charlie Palmer's for dinner and girl talk… Wow, that was definitely some girl talk! I remember leaving that night thinking how much fun we all had and how great we all got along! Something important to know is that this date at Charlie Palmer's occurred six months ago, and boy have things changed since then. Peggy was a good friend to me at this dinner, and I still had not seen her true colors. After seeing the last two episodes, it's apparent that Peggy had already written me and our friendship off. (Wonder who her influence was…)
However, it was difficult for me to watch the conversation between the three of us once the topic turned to sex. This was one of those times when my head was ducked under the pillow on my couch as I watched… I used bad judgment and it was in poor taste. (But news alert — married Christian women do have sex with their husbands.)
When it looked as though I was once again competing with Peggy, it was actually my way of relating to her and saying, "I totally get that closet thing…" The one thing Peggy and I have in common is that we both have small toddlers that need a lot of our attention. Peggy needs to chill, I'm not one-upping her, I'm simply relating to the one part of our life that is similar — young kids and sneaking in the closet.
Next you see me and the family getting ready to go to San Diego for our first family vacation. I have to start by saying this was one of my most favorite times thus far being a parent. It's such a bonding experience to get away from the routine of day-to-day life, leave the computers behind, forget about karate and dance classes, stay in a beautiful resort and simply hang out with the family with no schedule. As we all know, Jim and I have different roles in our marriage. When it comes to vacations, Jim makes the plans and reservations and packs the car; and I pack all suitcases and make the lists. This works for us. We never discussed that this is how it would be, it is just how we did it, even way back seven years ago when Jim and I took our first trip together alone with no children. That is why Jim and my relationship is so easy. We don't have to discuss everything, it seems as though we both just start doing our role, and everything gets done with no chaos, questions, or explanations. I think that is what you call a soul mate. The reason we had never taken a family vacation before was simply my insecurity and fears about forgetting diapers, sippie cups, toys, clothes, etc. Now that I did it, I'm so ready to go again! We are planning our second trip now, and this time we are flying somewhere close to see how the girls do in a plane. It should be interesting and fun!
Next we see Jim tell James he cannot ride with him. Because of my obsessive over-packing issue, all of the luggage was in Jim's car, so that is why he could not take James with him. James did get a little upset, but once we were all in the car, James soon forgot about it. Also, when you see Jim speed up as we pull up beside him on the freeway, there is absolutely no way my husband did not wave to us, and absolutely no way he was trying to get away.
Once we arrive at our condo, the first thing mommy must do is baby proof the place, and unpack. I hate being unorganized and forking through suitcases to find things. I'd rather take a half hour and unpack everything and relax after. Jim takes James to fly the kite (which is a big help), and Sandra takes the girls out to watch them so mommy can unpack. It seems to me that everyone is helping here. I don't feel like I was the only one working at this point, do you?
The next morning we all wake up and eat breakfast. We give Sandra mornings to sleep in, so we can have some time alone with the children. We also give Sandra evenings off sometimes so we can be alone with the children. When Jim is praying and I make the comment that Jim praying makes him feel like the head of the household and important, it was taken a little out of context. Jim does pray because he is the head of my household, but we all pray. We take turns every meal, and we all pray. This morning in San Diego, Jim happens to be the one to do it. At first, James said he wanted to pray, but then he chickened out and had a little stage fright, so Jim did it. You have to remember that although this is reality, sometimes children do feel a little intimidated given the circumstances.
Jim and I take a few hours away from the kids and go to downtown La Jolla to walk around. We come across this amazing jewelry store, CJ Charles, and yes, Jim buys two watches. Before you come to any conclusions, there is something you must know about my husband. Ever since we had children, this man buys absolutely nothing for himself! I have to beg him to shop for new shirts, because I'm so tired of seeing his same ones! That's the first thing. Second, Jim surprises me with new jewelry all of the time, so the fact that I didn't get anything doesn't upset me. If I would have told him I loved something there, he would have gotten it for me. I was excited this was a day he was actually spending money on himself instead of me and the kids. The third and most important thing to know is that the heart shaped diamond ring I was trying on was over one million dollars! Who in the world can pay that much for a ring? Certainly not us, and if we could, I'm not sure I'd want to be carrying around that much money on my finger! I was totally joking when I said, "Ugh, I think it's stuck on my finger." Of course that was the most beautiful ring I have ever seen, but contrary to what anyone may think, I am not a gold digger, and I was so thrilled my husband had a shopping spree for himself for once. And regardless of what you saw, I was not disappointed to have walked out of the store with nothing. Two weeks later Jim surprised me with a beautiful watch. I didn't ask for it. He just does that. Even if he didn't do that for me, trust me, I'm a big girl and can take care of myself.
The next day we take the children to the zoo. How much fun was this? I mean, there is nothing better than seeing your kids smile every two minutes, watching their jaws drop at each new animal, and hearing them laugh when they see a monkey poo, etc. This was just so much fun. We did a family video of the kids feeding a giraffe, and unfortunately you do not get to see that, but that was the highlight of the day. They were so tickled to be that close to the giraffe, and have the giraffe take food out of their hands. I have to say it was a little gross, and we definitely disinfected as soon as we got back to the condo, but it was something I will never forget. (It was my first time too!)
I won't spend much time on this, but I want to say one thing. I love my husband. I get my husband's sense of humor, and I think my husband is funny. It's unfortunate that you all do not get to see my true husband, because he is a funny, happy, loving guy. He loves his kids, and laughs with them more than myself. He adores and loves me and treats me like his queen (not materialistically, but emotionally). I laugh when I watch a scene and it looks like Jim is being sarcastic or rude to me because unfortunately you don't see the end of the scene where we are laughing or I am sarcastic back to him.
Now we get to the bathtub scene with the soft core porn, if you will, with Tamra and Eddie. First of all, did you see Eddie gulp an entire glass of red wine before doing this scene? If that doesn't tell you something, then let me tell you instead — he was nervous as heck and probably didn't want to do that! I understand taking a shot or something, but downing a full glass of wine? It just seems to me like the stakes are high for each franchise to keep one-upping the last franchise. We have seen pole dancing, table flipping…and now sex in the bath tub. Now I realize I'm no better talking about my sex life two scenes before this, so all I want to say is this — I'm not judging anyone, I am just truly flabbergasted every time I turn on the TV and see Tamra, and I'm worried for what her children are one day going to see their mother doing, and how their mother has handled friendships, her anger, and now her love life right after divorcing their dad. She claims earlier in that same segment that her children had not met Eddie yet. Well guess what? They have seen Eddie now and probably on a level they really didn't want to know him. This is not acting, none of us are actresses, we are simply real moms doing a reality show.
Just a note, completely aside from everything, In reading my blogs, I realize that sometimes it sounds like I am making excuses for who I am and what I do. I want to be very clear that I make no apologies or excuses for the way I live my life as a wife, mother, or Christian woman. I simply explain my feelings about what has happened the best way I know how. There are times I am going to make mistakes, but the key to my growth is admitting my mistakes and forgiving myself. If you cannot forgive yourself, you will harbor bitterness and never be able to forgive others. I am simply on this journey as is everyone else, and I'm learning as I go.
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs on Bravo TV Sundays at 10pm|9c.
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7 Responses to "The Real Housewives of Orange County: Alexis Bellino Explains Why Jim Didn't Buy Her The Ring"
Just Me Says:
March 24th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
I never blamed Jim for not buying Alexis that ring, yet buying himself a couple of watches. I mean, as women, we will always see things that we think are beautiful in a store window. However, that doesn't mean that we need to receive every pretty thing that we see. Admiration is one thing, but falling head over heels in love with something is another story. If I got every single little thing that I ever wanted, that would only make me appreciate things much less. It's more important for me to have a few items that I really enjoy than to have a whole lot of things that may or may not mean the world to me.
I know that what they show on TV is not the entire story. (By the way, I've been following Real Housewives forever!) Editing is going to make things look one way or another. They're going to show what they want to show, and we cannot judge anyone based on what we see on TV. Of course, the exception to that rule is Danielle of New Jersey. *LOL* She seems like pure evil through and through!!!
k Says:
March 25th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
I love Alexis and Jim. I think they represent the Christian family well. It is unfortunate that people look at a 5 minute clip and judge their entire marriage. Let's be honest Alexis is not missing out on anything. So what if Jim brought himself two watches, he should. He takes care of Alexis and their children daily.
g Says:
March 28th, 2011 at 4:34 pm
Alexis – I was flipping through channels and caught you saying that your church was fasting for you… that's when I started watching. You are a beautiful woman and a self proclaimed Christian Woman and with that proclamation comes great responsibility – You seem to be a New Christian, based on your actions. Honestly, please don't judge Tamara, she is obviously hurting from the past and sometimes we make unwise decisions when we are hurting. You however claim to be a happy, Christian woman, and you said the Lords name in vain in the the limo with Gretchen and your nipples were showing at the gym, and you drink every time there is an opportunity and you and your husband spend money materialistically, your husbands prayer at dinner was spiritually immature and I could go on forever
Give me a break Says:
April 4th, 2011 at 10:07 am
The Christialoonies come out in full-force to ass kiss their own kind, huh? You can hear the echo through the vapid minds that posted before me in this thread lol!
Give me a break Says:
April 4th, 2011 at 10:07 am
The Christialoonies come out in full-force to butt kiss their own kind, huh? You can hear the echo through the vapid minds that posted before me in this thread lol!
Kate Says:
April 17th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Real Christians have no need to announce to the world who or what they are. It is obvious in the things they do, their behavior towards others and the way they life their life on a daily basis. I don't know any of my friends who would talk about how they let their nanny have the morning off and evening off so they could have "alone time" with their children. In fact, the only one with a nanny is the one that works full time. The mothers who stay at home, as you do, have no need of a nanny. They are taking care of their children. If you cannot handle taking care of your children on your own, then please don't have any more.
Your constant mention of your Christianity is making a mockery of real Christians. You should observe them in action, and you won't have to ask them if they are Christian nor will you hear them tell you they are, you will see it in their Christ-like behavior. I've yet to see that in you or your husband with your righteous attitude and materialistic lifestyle.
Godsjewel1984 Says:
June 5th, 2011 at 8:48 pm
Well out of all the wives on The Real Housewives of Orange County I like Alexis and Gretchen the most. I think in some ways they both are quite ignorant. I don't see how there could be any denying of that fact. More often than not they put their foot slam in their mouth. However, I detect a sneaky and less than honest qualities in the other ones. I think Alexis and Gretchen have the best hearts among the OC housewives. I think it's pretty cool that Alexis mentions God and her husband being the head of the family. I think those ideals are good ones. However, there is no denying that Alexis truly needs to work on the inward and not being so transfixed on the outward. We all fall short even when you are a christian or whatever you are and we are all imperfect. Sadly, today it's easier for us all to focus on others flaws because that way we don't have to see our own. I guess that's the reason in many ways that we watch the Real Housewives…..for a hour we are distracted from the drama that we have going on in our lives. I'm not sure if that's a good fact or not, but it's definitely a fact.


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January 24, 2011 | Add a Comment
If it seems like there were more coupons available in 2010, that's because there were.
According to a report released Friday by NCH Marketing, retailers and manufacturers once again distributed more coupons for consumer-packaged goods (CPG) in 2010 than in the previous year. "The grand total of 332 billion coupons was the largest single-year amount ever recorded in the U.S., eclipsing the 2009 record by 6.8 percent, or 21 billion coupons."
Herewith are details drawn from the study:
1. All those coupons equaled great deals for consumers. The total savings of $3.7 billion in 2010 was an increase of $200 million from 2009.
2. The availability of online coupons continued to grow last year, as marketers and users alike became more comfortable with this high-tech distribution method. NCH tracked a 37-percent increase in total digital coupon offers, the largest increase across all varieties of coupons. Merchant willingness played a large role in this change, as an ever-increasing number of stores accept printable and paperless coupons, also known as IP (Internet Printable) coupons.
3. Consumer frugality also rose, with one-third of respondents saying they used more coupons in 2010 than the prior year. In fact, 78.3 percent of consumers said they regularly used coupons, up 14.7 share points from the start of the recession.
4. The vast majority of coupons -- 87.7 percent -- were still distributed via newspaper inserts and direct mail. The second-largest share of coupon distribution was through in-store handouts, amounting to 5.2 percent of the 2010 total. This classification includes coupons available in on-shelf distribution systems as well as those you receive with your receipt at checkout (known as Catalina coupons).
5. CPG marketers also estimated coupons were worth more than before. The face value of coupons they distributed increased by an average of $1.46 each. To balance out the books, marketers reduced expiration by generally a week and a half, for an average expiration period of roughly nine weeks.
6. Nearly 75 percent of 2010 coupons required shoppers purchase one item and 26 percent required consumers purchase two or more items to receive the discount.
NCH Marketing is a promotional-marketing-services provider of coupon processing and marketing solutions retailers and manufacturers. All details are drawn from their report.
"I've tried over 30 different coupon apps and finally found the one I've been looking for. It's the best."
-JJ Smart


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As prepared
Thank you, Elaine. I'm delighted to be here. As some of you may know, I have a longstanding association with the Kokkalis Program, and I have a great deal of respect for the work the program does here at Harvard. In fact, one of the core goals of the program, the integration of Southeastern Europe into Europe as a whole, is precisely what I want to talk about today. This is a region that is vital to Europe's future and for that reason it is the focus of continued and intensive engagement by the Obama Administration.
Obviously, Southeastern Europe is not an issue that dominates the headlines the way Afghanistan or Iran does – or indeed as it did in the 1990s when the Balkans were beset by war. But I want to be absolutely clear that the ongoing stabilization and integration into Europe of the area from the Adriatic to the Black Sea is an important focus of this Administration's foreign policy agenda. And I want to begin my remarks by explaining how and why Southeastern Europe fits into our broader conception of European security.
Secretary Clinton gave a speech last month in Paris in which she laid out the principles that animate the Administration's approach to European security. One of the core themes she emphasized was our commitment to the indivisibility of security – the view that there cannot be security for part of Europe without there being security for all of Europe. This is a clear lesson from history. She also made clear that, contrary to speculation in some quarters that the United States is preoccupied with other regions, Europe is an essential partner of the United States and our own security and well-being requires a strong and secure Europe.
As we consider this Administration's strategic objectives with respect to Europe, we are pursuing three main goals. First, we seek to work with Europe on the whole range of global challenges that we face together. And on issues as diverse and important as Afghanistan, Iran, and restoring the global economy, we have shown that we are working together closely and productively.
Second, we have sought to restore more constructive relations with Russia. That means we want to cooperate where our interests converge, while still being honest and firm about issues where we disagree. We are proud of the progress we have made together in the last year in negotiating a follow-on to the START Treaty, working to help stabilize Afghanistan, establishing a binational Presidential Commission, and dealing with the nuclear challenges posed by Iran and North Korea.
Finally, we seek to complete the historic work of building a democratic, prosperous, unified, and secure Europe. The last two decades have witnessed extraordinary success as the newly free nations of Central and Eastern Europe have joined the European project. But it is a project that is not yet finished. To fully achieve European – and therefore American – security, it must extend to all countries across the continent.
Which brings me to this Administration's specific approach to engagement with Southeastern Europe. We have a vision of a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous region and we believe the path to achieving this vision for Southeastern Europe is through integration into Europe's political and economic institutions.
Perhaps the best way to understand the logic of this approach is to briefly consider the troubled history of this part of Europe. Think about what Southeastern Europe looked like at both the beginning and end of the twentieth century. The Balkan wars preceding World War I and those of the 1990s saw the region racked by ethnic rivalry, hyper-nationalism, and bloody interstate war. These conflicts demonstrate the stakes of politics in the region – for the citizens who live there and for outside powers that were inevitably drawn in. Though the experience of the 1990s differs in many ways from that of pre-World War I Europe, I think it is fair to say that the fundamental problem that lay behind this history of conflict was the mismatch between geopolitical and ethnic boundaries and the absence of adequate political mechanisms to deal with this mismatch. What this difficult history teaches us is that attempts to resolve this contradiction through force are doomed to foster only further conflict and violence.
Other parts of Europe have faced these same challenges, and the experience of Western Europe after World War II and Eastern Europe after the Cold War demonstrates that there is another and better way: the path of political and economic integration. The solution lies in transnational cooperation and institutions that guarantee the rights of citizens, promote economic freedom, ensure the inviolability of borders, and provide a reliable forum for the peaceful resolution of disputes. Moreover, the opportunity for political engagement that crosses national borders reduces the salience and pressure of ethnic and regional disputes within nations. That is the promise of the project of European integration: the peaceful resolution of disputes through a common political enterprise and shared wealth and opportunity through a common market. The lesson of the 1990s is that significant portions of Southeastern Europe did not share in this experience and we saw the tragic human consequences. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, our work is not yet done: we want to extend this vision to Southeastern Europe and fully integrate it into the zone of democracy, stability, and prosperity on the continent.
The progress we've seen in Europe over the last six decades owes to the hard work of generations of Europeans bolstered by the sustained engagement of the United States. Two institutions, above all, have acted as the twin pillars of European freedom and prosperity: NATO and the European Union. They have offered security and economic opportunity to the nations of Europe, underpinned by a commitment to democracy. They began as essentially Western European clubs and eventually enlarged to encompass almost the whole of the continent. The United States wants to work with our European partners to bring Southeastern Europe fully into these institutions. But the responsibility for bringing that outcome about does not lie with the United States. European countries and institutions of course have an essential role to play in engaging with the region in a strategic and sustained manner. But the responsibility ultimately lies with the countries of the region themselves who must do the hard political work of reform and reconciliation.
When we look at Southeastern Europe today, many of the same challenges that have bedeviled the region throughout the last century still exist: finding ways to protect minority rights and to create stable, multiethnic politics. But there has been tremendous progress as well. The Balkans are a case in point. When I was last in government, in the late 1990s during the Clinton administration, war in Bosnia was still a fresh memory and Kosovo was consumed by violence and ethnic "cleansing." Today, following a decade of hard work, we have witnessed dramatic political and social transitions. With Montenegro's peaceful separation from Serbia in 2006 and Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008, the final chapter in the breakup of the former Yugoslavia was closed. Now the nations of the Balkans are on the path toward integration into Europe's community of political and economic freedom. Nearly every country in the Balkans has taken steps toward EU membership. Croatia has moved forward in its EU accession negotiations, Macedonia is a candidate, and Serbia and Albania have submitted membership applications. The European Union has an indispensable role to play in encouraging these countries' commitment to reform by speaking with one voice on enlargement and by providing a clear path to membership. The countries of the region are also well on their way to integration with NATO. Croatia and Albania became members of NATO in 2009. Macedonia is on NATO's doorstep and will receive an invitation to join as soon as the dispute with Greece over its name is resolved. At the end of last year, Montenegro embarked on a Membership Action Plan and Bosnia will do the same when it completes the necessary reforms.
The dramatic changes in the U.S. relationship with Serbia in the last decade are another example of the progress we have made. Just over ten years ago, the United States was bombing targets in Serbia. Last year, Vice President Biden traveled to Belgrade and delivered the message that the United States was ready to turn the page on this troubled recent past and wants to be a partner with Serbia. Serbia, in turn, is now led by the most democratic and pro-European government it has ever had. We support Serbia's EU candidacy and the door to NATO membership for Serbia is open, if and when it is ready. While we have agreed to disagree on Kosovo, we should work together to improve the lives of Serbs and other minorities, and Serbia needs to do its part to ensure stability in Kosovo as a responsible EU aspirant. I sincerely believe that, with good will on both sides, U.S.-Serbian relations could be a model of productive partnership by the end of this Administration's first term.
This record of change in the Balkans demonstrates what is possible but also what remains to be done. So let me turn to some of the remaining challenges in the Balkans, as well as what Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey can do to contribute to the full integration of all of Southeastern Europe into the institutions of Euro-Atlantic unity.
Beginning with Bosnia, the progress that we have seen since the mid-1990s has slowed recently and we must not allow it to stop. For the better part of the last three years Bosnia's political leaders have not demonstrated the political will necessary to advance the reforms that their country needs. They have been stuck in a vicious cycle where narrow ethnic and short-term personal political interests have trumped long-term objectives that would benefit all of Bosnia's communities. In an effort to break this corrosive dynamic, last October the United States and the EU started intensive consultations with political party leaders in Bosnia to encourage them to take the steps necessary to move Bosnia forward. These talks, led by Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg, became known as the Butmir process, named for the base near Sarajevo where the talks took place. The goal of this initiative was to reach consensus among the parties to improve the functioning of the Bosnian state so as to position Bosnia for EU candidacy and the NATO membership process. It was not an attempt to radically change the structures created by the Dayton Accords, to create a centralized state, or to alter Bosnia's two-entity structure. Unfortunately, the parties so far have not been willing to agree on how to proceed. The United States remains engaged and willing to help Bosnia move forward. We also look forward to working closely with the EU and High Representative Ashton, who is in the region this week. The EU and the United States have not always been on the same page with respect to the Balkans but the intensive joint diplomacy of recent months have shown how closely our visions are aligned, something which is essential for progress in the region. Ultimately, however, the burden of achieving Bosnia's aspirations rests on Bosnia's political leaders, and their willingness to compromise for the greater good. If they fail to do so, it is they who will have to explain to their voters why Bosnia's neighbors are moving ahead with visa-free travel to Europe, EU candidacy, and NATO integration, while Bosnia is left behind.
Kosovo provides a hopeful example of how much can be achieved in a short time by cooperative and committed political leadership. Kosovo is in fact celebrating the second anniversary of its independence today. The country has made tremendous progress in solidifying its democracy, promoting reconciliation, and playing a constructive role in regional and international economic cooperation. Sixty-five countries from all around the world have now recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. It is now a member of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Although the International Court of Justice has yet to render its advisory opinion on Kosovo's declaration of independence, the United States will remain committed to Kosovo's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Kosovo's independence is irreversible. Kosovo's young democracy is also growing with recent successful elections. In the period leading up to the vote, the government of Kosovo made an important effort to ensure Kosovo Serb participation, which contributed crucially to the positive nature of the process.
There is, however, still a lot of work to do. The important task of decentralizing government must continue – there must be ongoing outreach to Kosovo's Serb communities, particularly in northern Kosovo, and protection of Serb cultural and religious sites. Municipalities need support as they exercise new functions and provide services to citizens. Getting decentralization right will ensure people have access to government services throughout the country and that Kosovo provides a prosperous future for all of its citizens. On the economic front, the government must implement the reforms necessary for the private sector to grow. We are working closely with the Kosovo government, the EU, and other international partners to implement these reforms, fight corruption and organized crime, and move forward on privatization projects. Finally, the rule of law is a high priority for international assistance to Kosovo – because it is the key to success in other areas. Kosovo will need to pass and implement a series of critical laws that will modernize Kosovo's judicial process and update its legal codes. With these reforms in place, Kosovo can continue its steady progress toward fulfilling its promise as Europe's newest country.
There is a role for regional powers, in particular Greece and Turkey, to play as well in the development and political integration of Southeastern Europe. The Balkans are Greece's immediate neighborhood and Athens has played an important leadership role in the region commensurate with its influence as one of the region's largest investors. The 2003 Thessaloniki Summit, which took place under Greece's EU Presidency, provided a historic boost to the EU aspirations of the Balkan countries and provided a roadmap for the region's integration into Europe. We applaud the effective role Greece played during 2009 as the OSCE's Chair-in-Office and welcome the role Greece is continuing to play in integrating the Balkans. The Greek vision of achieving the full integration of the Balkans into Europe by 2014, one hundred years after the start of World War I, is an admirable goal. A remaining challenge is the dispute between Greece and Macedonia over the latter's name, which is an obstacle to Macedonia's EU and NATO integration. We understand that this is a difficult issue but now is the time for courageous political leadership that will resolve this issue and promote the political stability and economic prospects of Southeastern Europe.
Cyprus is another example of an issue where regional leadership is necessary for progress. Though not strictly a matter of Greek-Turkish bilateral relations, both Greece and Turkey can play important and constructive roles in urging the Cypriot parties toward a lasting solution to their differences. The United States continues to support the Cypriot-led negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. Both sides have put considerable effort into these negotiations and Cypriot leaders should seize the opportunity these talks offer for a just and lasting settlement that reunifies Cyprus into a bi-zonal and bi-communal federation. The notable progress that Greece and Turkey have made in their own bilateral relations in the last decade, and especially the reinvigorated dialogue in recent months between Prime Ministers Papandreou and Erdogan, provides a hopeful and instructive example of the power of personal diplomacy and we look forward to supporting both countries as they continue to strengthen their relationship.
Turkey itself is an example of the case for the further integration of Southeastern Europe into Europe's institutions. It is of course a very different situation than that of the Balkans: Turkey has been a valued and active member of NATO for decades and its candidacy for EU membership is already in the negotiation phase. While we recognize that the decision is not ours, we continue to strongly support Turkey's accession to the European Union and urge Turkey to continue progress on the democratic and political reforms necessary for membership. These reforms not only further Turkey's EU accession bid, but they also democratize and modernize Turkey. Important gestures like reopening the Halki Seminary and further movement on Turkey's "democratic opening" to the Kurds, as well as progress on Cyprus, will also propel Turkey's EU prospects forward.
As President Obama has said, these reforms, and Turkey's eventual accession, are good for Turkey and good for the EU. They will cement Turkey's place in Europe and ensure the continued vitality and strength of the EU itself. To achieve these goals, Turkey and the EU should in our view jump-start the accession process by working closely together to meet the remaining requirements of EU membership. The EU for its part can ensure that this forward momentum continues by making clear that it is fully committed to engaging Turkey's bid for membership as the country meets reform goals.
Let me close by saying that I think this discussion of the challenges remaining in Southeastern Europe today reveals two things. First, some of the same fault lines of ethnicity, language, and religion that have caused so much strife in the region over centuries still exist. We are fortunate that they do not burn as intensely today as they have in the past. But they are still there. The second lesson is that there is a clear solution for meeting and overcoming these historic obstacles: the path of economic and political integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions.
The United States is committed to the progress and prosperity of Southeastern Europe and the nations of the region have an engaged and interested partner in the Obama Administration. The EU plays an essential role in the region's development and clear and consistent political engagement from the organization could make the difference between success and failure. After all, the stability of Southeastern Europe is first and foremost a European interest. But the ultimate responsibility lies with national leaders – in the Balkans, in Cyprus, in Greece, and in Turkey – who must make the bold political choices that will produce real change. We will stand with them. The choices are hard. But the goal is worth the effort: an ever more democratic, peaceful, and prosperous region, fully integrated into Europe and the Euro-Atlantic community.


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|Me on Vacation
Thanks Readers - Keep the Questions coming!
|Me on Vacation
Hi Jade! Thanks for the explanation of why and when to use non-stick vs. regular pans. And that tip for not disturbing the meat while it's browning makes perfect sense, too.
Next question: why does my pumkin pie need to be baked at 450 for 10 minutes, then at 350 for 30 more minutes (or so...)? I'm sure there's a good reason and you probably know it!
Cindy T.
Thanks for the question!
Custard pies (like pumpkin) require special handling so that the bottom crust and the filling are both cooked perfectly at the same time.
The hot start temp is intended to heat the bottom crust up quickly, then the temp is dropped as heat begins to penetrate into the pie.
Most baked goods are put in the middle of the oven, but you can put pumpkin pie on the bottom shelf to put it closer to the heating element to help the process along.
Good luck! Let me know how the pie works out for you!
Good read. Allowing the meat to be cooked properly seems to help avoid sticking. How long should you have one side cooking before you flip it? Thanks for the tips.ReplyDelete
Thanks for reading! The time depends the meat and the starting temperature.
I pretty much always bring the meat up to room temperature first, so it can be as little as 2-3 minutes for a thin steak.
So Check beef around two minutes. I poke at it about first to see if the texture has changed from raw to cooked. With time you will be able to "feel" how cooked the meat is by gauging the resistance.
For boneless skinless chicken breast at a grocery store regular size of 3 per pound is usually about 4 minutes per side.
Obviously, if the meat is cold from the fridge or even still frozen in the middle it takes longer to bring up to cooking temperature because the meat has to warm up THEN cook.
In short: if the oil is hot enough to shimmer but not smoking, check in 2 minutes. Thanks for the question!


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The TopLink Event app provides you with event content such as programmes and participant booklets in a native mobile format and even when offline. Other event services such as session sign-up, TopLink messaging and personal event agendas are also available in the app depending on available network connectivity.
The TopLink Event app is available for Android 4+, iOS 7+, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8+
Once the app is installed on your mobile device, you will need to log in one time only with your TopLink username (network connectivity required). The app will automatically connect you to TopLink content for your latest registered event. Please turn on push notifications to enable the latest updates about programme and sessions.
For other devices please note that toplink.weforum.org features a mobile-responsive design which functions in all modern mobile browsers.
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15 September 2012
Photo: Florian EiseleChris Guccione, Lleyton Hewitt and captain Patrick Rafter (AUS)
HAMBURG, GERMANY: The Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group play-off between Germany and Australia began the day hanging in the balance at one point apiece, but finished with the visitors requiring a solidarity win in Sunday's reverse singles to take the tie, having won the doubles rubber 63 62 26 76(4).
Playing in cool, but otherwise ideal conditions, the Australian twosome of Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione came out full of enthusiasm. Hewitt, who experienced a torrid time in his straight sets loss to the German team's No.1 Florian Mayer on Friday, was clearly full of energy, bouncing round the court and revving up a small, but vocal, crowd of Australian supporters with his trademark "C'monnnn!" The two metre tall Guccione had his own point to prove, coming into this crucial match with a 100 percent record in Davis Cup doubles, having won his last six rubbers.
At the other end of the court, Benjamin Becker was playing in his first Davis Cup doubles match and was finding the going difficult, struggling early on with his serve. Three double faults in the fourth game of the first set handed Australia two break points and although Becker's partner, world doubles No. 36 Philipp Petzschner, was able to save the second with a superb reaction volley at the net, it was not enough and the Aussies went on to win the game and then the set 6-3.
The second set quickly went the same way as the first, Becker broken in the fourth game and Petzschner in the fifth, the Australians marching on to take it 6-2.
Two sets down after just over an hour of play, the Germans were in trouble. Confident play by Petzschner at the net again coupled with an improvement in Becker's serve, however, saw the German team steady. They were still having difficulty mastering Guccione's serve – he finished the match without being broken – but were getting more change out of Hewitt, breaking him twice to take the set 6-2 and put themselves back into the rubber.
The fourth set began with Becker's serve hitting the skids again, and he was broken early to put the Aussies ahead 2-1. The writing appeared to be on the wall for the German pair at 4-2 down and with Hewitt serving to extend it to five. If Becker was finding it tough to win his service games, then so was the 31-year-old Australian and the hosts were able to break him and keep themselves in the match. From there, both teams held serve to take the game to a tiebreak, which was decided 7-4 in favour of the Aussies.
Australian captain Pat Rafter spoke of the performance of Hewitt and Guccione as being "pivotal" to the success of his team in the tie, particularly given the strong form of Mayer, who swept past Hewitt in straight sets on Friday and now plays Bernard Tomic in the first of the reverse singles rubbers tomorrow.
German team captain Patrik Kuhnen also made reference to the strong performance of Mayer, noting: "If he can win, it's two all [in the tie] and then the heat's going to come up."
Hewitt, who could well feature in that match, potentially against Petzschner after a less than convincing display by Cedrik-Marcel Stebe yesterday, reckoned he was up for the challenge. "I'd love Bernie to finish it off, but if I'm called up, I'm ready," he said.
Follow this tie as it happens: Live scores or Watch Live
Captain Patrick Rafter (AUS) - 15/09/2012
Chris Guccione and Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) - 15/09/2012
Captain Patrik Kuhnen (GER) - 15/09/2012
13 Sep 2012
Lleyton Hewitt is set to overtake Todd Woodbridge's long-standing record for the most Davis Cup appearances for Australia
14 Sep 2012
Day one finishes all square in Hamburg after Australia's Bernard Tomic and Germany's Florian Mayer seal victories to keep both nations firmly in the tie
14 Sep 2012 - 16 Sep 2012
View details
Florian MAYER (GER)
Bernard TOMIC (AUS)
Benjamin BECKER (GER)
Matthew EBDEN (AUS)
Cedrik-Marcel STEBE (GER)
Lleyton HEWITT (AUS)
Philipp PETZSCHNER (GER)
Chris GUCCIONE (AUS)
Rothenbaum Stadium, Hamburg, Germany
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Awarding Companies for Engaging Candidates
It's one of the most common questions from job seekers today, particularly because so much of the application process happens online: Why has my application fallen into a black hole?
The Talent Board, a San Francisco-based not-for-profit founded by talent management experts to improve the job candidate experience, wanted to analyze that question. In 2011, the TalentBoard released its first set of Candidate Experience Awards, recognizing companies with model recruiting programs, and the board is in the process of selecting a second set of winners for 2012.
Elaine Orler, a co-founder of the Talent Board who is also president of Talent Function Group, a San Diego-based software advisory company, has helped implement recruitment software for large corporations since 1993. While she sees the many benefits of the software, she also worries that many companies aren't using the systems properly, thus tossing out or turning off a large group of qualified candidates.
By evaluating how employers engage with candidates during the employment application process, the Talent Board hopes to provide a road map for companies looking to make important changes. Nearly 60 companies participated in the first round of research, with 24 agreeing to have their job candidates surveyed by the Talent Board.
After more than 11,000 candidate surveys, what was the most glaring problem identified? One-third of responding companies did not communicate to unqualified candidates as a standard practice. In fact, only 10 percent of firms said they responded to every candidate.
"Candidates' No. 1 complaint in over 8,500 comments in the 2011 survey was the lack of communication on their status," the Talent Board reported in a white paper releasing its survey results. "They desired to be told early and often whether or not they were being considered."
Among the candidate responses was this comment from an anonymous job seeker: "This process was terrible. I had to follow up numerous times before anyone even called back. And when I finally did get someone, no one would explain to me if I was accepted for the position. I now have a major senior role with a company that knows how to treat their employees, and you can be sure that every graduate I speak with knows about my terrible experience with the other company."
Companies that recognize the impact of such a negative process on the company's reputation are clearly a step ahead in the search for the best employees, Orler says.
One of the model companies identified by the Talent Board was Sage Software Inc., an Irvine, California-based company that publishes a candidate commitment on its career pages. "At Sage, we believe our employees are our most valuable asset. That's why our candidate commitment is designed to provide an experience that stands apart while meeting our guiding principles of simplicity, agility, innovation, trust and integrity."
The company has an online application that takes less than two minutes to complete, recognizing that candidates "hate long, involved applications that feel like they are designed to weed out," the Talent Board reports. The company also commits to a screening process of 20 days and allows candidates to check their application status online.
Another Talent Board award winner, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, based in Richland, Washington, has a pledge to applicants, which promises candidates a user-friendly system to apply for jobs, a quick response to questions about the position and a timely decision-making process. In essence, the pledge treats the applicant like a customer, which is a smart business practice, the Talent Board reports.
Gerry Crispin, a human resources consultant who co-founded the Talent Board with Orler and oversees the Candidate Experience Awards, says timely notifications to job candidates are critical. Companies that allow their recruitment software programs to collect thousands of résumés without ever informing candidates of their status in the process are sorely misguided, he says.
"When people use software poorly and don't take the time and energy to use it well, suddenly they wake up and say, 'Look at all these people we've ticked off,' " Crispin says. "Those people will no longer come back to the company over and over and apply for other positions."
Meg McSherry Breslin is a writer based in the Chicago area. Comment below or email email@example.com.
Workforce Management, October 2012, p. 34 -- Subscribe Now!


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Ghostbusters: Sanctum Of Slime DLC Now Available For XBLA, PC
By William Usher 5 years ago comments
If youve been enjoying the arcade-style Ghostbusters game for the Xbox Live Arcade and PC, then youll probably also be pleased to know that some additional downloadable content has become available for the shooter, today.
The all new challenge pack comes equipped with two brand new game modes called Lonely Hero and Arcade Challenge, which puts players skills to the ultimate ghost hunting test. You and a few friends can enjoy some brand new levels, new ghosts to capture and even some brand new bosses to face off against.
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Stricter DUI Penalties in Kansas
The Fort Leavenworth Lamp reports that penalties for DUI in Kansas increased on July 1st. A first DUI offender with a blood alcohol level (BAC) below 0.15%, will have his or her license suspended fort 30 days, with a work and school license only, for an additional 330 days.
A second, third, or fourth time DUI offender will suffer a one year license suspension. For a fifth DUI conviction, a driver will have his or her license permanently revoked.
A driver under 21 years of age will have her license suspended for a year for the first DUI offense.
A DUI driver, with a BAC of at least 0.15%, will have her license suspended for a year for his or her first conviction. Following the suspension, he or she will be restricted to another year of driving with an ignition interlock.
Additional 0.15 percent DUI offenses will increase the length of a driver's license suspension. On a fifth offense, the driver's license will be permanently revoked.
In Kansas, a third DUI conviction has been and continues to be a felony DUI.


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Sunday Dec 13 2009
Placer's Cox places third at tourney
By: Journal Sports Staff
Placer High's Steven Cox went 4-1 and pinned two opponents over the weekend, wrestling his way to third place in the 160-pound weight class at Madera South High School's Chukchansi Invitational. Dalton Richardson and Mitchell Maddox each went 3-2 and finished fourth in their respective weight classes. Maddox recorded two pins at 135 pounds, while Richardson had one pin at 125. Zach Uvalle posted a 3-3 mark and finished sixth at 112 pounds for the Hillmen. Andrew Naleway came in eighth at 119 pounds, going 2-3 with both of his wins coming by pin.


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BERKELEY, California, November 6. THE annual Tri-Distance meet between Stanford and California produced more top times between the two Bay Area rivals, as the Golden Bears boasted a win in four of the six event categories.
The unscored meet put swimmers into one of six stroke categories: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, sprint freestyle, distance freestyle and individual medley. In the first four categories, each swimmer races 50, 100 and 200 yards of their stroke, while the IMers compete in the 100-, 200- and 400-yard individual medley. The distance freestylers race in distances of 200, 500 and 1000 yards. The swimmer with the fastest combined time after three races wins the category.
California won the breaststroke, sprint free, distance free and IM categories, as Stanford won the butterfly and backstroke sections.
In posting the fastest time of the day in the 100 fly with a 49.55 and a 1:47.64 in the 200 fly, Tom Kremer did enough to win the butterfly category. He posted the third-fastest 50 fly of the day with a 22.45 behind Cal's Long Gutierrez (22.17) and Marcin Tarczynski (22.18). Kremer's combined time of 2:59.64 was the only sub-3:00 butterfly time of the day.
Ryan Murphy would have easily won the backstroke section and given Cal a fifth victory, if not for a disqualification in the 50 backstroke. He swam a 47.52 in the 100 backstroke and 1:43.49 in the 200 back, which was light years ahead of winner David Nolan of Stanford. Nolan won the 50 back officially with a 22.60, was second behind teammate Ryan Arata's 50.22 in the 100 back with a 50.26 and touched out Arata by two tenths of a second in the 200 back, 1:49.29 to 1:49.49. Notably, Murphy's times in the 100 and 200 backstrokes are just a few tenths off his best of the season that sit at the top of the collegiate rankings, showing remarkable consistency for the freshman phenom.
Cal would easily win the remaining categories. In the breaststroke events, Ryan Studebaker won two of the three breaststroke races, posting a 26.04 in the 50 breast and 2:04.30 in the 200 breast. His 57.09 in the 100 breast was second to the 57.05 posted by Stanford's Christian Brown.
Tyler Messerschmidt, like Ryan Murphy, showed consistency in posting some quick sprint freestyle times to win that category. His 20.21 in the 50 free tied with teammate Seth Stubblefield as the best splash-and-dash swims of the day, while Messerschmidt got the upper hand in the 100 free with a 44.15 that is just a tenth slower than his fourth-ranked time. Messerschmidt closed out competition with a 1:38.67 in the 200 free, two tenths faster than Stubblefield. Messerschmidt would win the category by .78 over Stubblefield.
Jeremy Bagshaw, the current national leader in the 1000 free with a 9:02.45, won the distance freestyle category today. He started with a 1:40.48 in the 200 free, then posted a 4:28.65 in the 500 free. He concluded with a 9:08.01 to cruise through the 1000 free, which would still put him in the top five nationally.
In the IM group, Josh Prenot reigned in a close race with Stanford's Max Williamson. After posting a 51.36 in the 100 IM to beat Williamson by nine tenths of a second, Prenot's journey to the IM category win was not going to be easy. He beat Williamson in the 200 IM by just one tenth of a second, 1:49.99 to 1:50.09, and by two hundredths of a second in the 400 IM, 3:51.58 to 3:51.60.