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by GEORGE RINGWALD
PORFIRIO BARROSO DIAZ IS A YOUNG MEXICAN FROM THE STATE of Oaxaca, who for the past year has played learner to my tutor under the auspices of the Humboldt Literacy Project.
Nothing has so awakened me to the incredible vagaries of the English language. It is to laugh. And why isn't that spelled laff? The question arises at every one of our twice-a-week study sessions. The other day, for example, we are taking a trip through the 300 most frequently used words, according to the literacy bible called "Tutor," when we come to the word "through." It gives me a slight case of the shudders, wondering how Porfirio is going to get his tongue around that word. What's more, how's he going to take it when, after going over the assorted meanings of "through," I tell him that another word with the same pronunciation is "threw"? If he threw the book at me and said he was through, I couldn't have blamed him.
One day a while back he got up to go outside the small house trailer in which he lives, saying, "I'll be back." I was impressed; hadn't heard him use the expression before. So when he returned I offered some variants on it: I'll be right back. I'll be back in a minute, in an hour or a day. Then he offered "In a year," and we both broke into laughter. Another time I was explaining the similarity at times in the meaning of "invite" and "ask." As an example, I said, "I invite you to my home." Porfirio paused only briefly before asking: "When?" He cracks me up.
In another session, I asked him, "Who is your best friend?" He wasn't sure about "best?" did that mean "favorite?" Good, close enough, I told him. Then he looked up at a picture of Jesus above the door to his trailer home, and said, "He is my best friend." [See photo at below, right.]
(Above the kitchen range is a framed sign: En nuestra casa no se fuma. Gracias. Even with my fractured Spanish, I could make out that.)
Not surprisingly, Porfirio is Catholic and regularly attends St. Joseph Parish in Fortuna, where on occasion he has played on his electronic drum set, along with someone on the guitar and another on a piano.
Porfirio, who has lived about four years in Eureka, comes from a family of four brothers and four sisters. One of the sisters, Guadalupe, is here in Eureka and studies English at the Eureka Adult School. And Porfirio's wife, Anna Maria, also has a tutor from the Humboldt Literacy Project. One of Porfirio's brothers, Bernardo, also lives in Eureka and goes to Eureka Adult School.
Judi Hedgpeth [photo at left], director of the Humboldt Literacy Project, notes that there are 15,000 illiterate adults (16 and over) in Humboldt County, and another 20,000 who are between 5th and 8th grade levels. Any of those 35,000, Hedgpeth says, "will have problems" -- reading prescription labels, say, so they are able to give medicine properly to themselves or their children. "They may not be able to adequately understand manuals given to them at work. So there might be safety problems involved for different companies in the area."
Hedgpeth adds: "Fifteen thousand sounds like a lot of people -- 16 percent of the adult population. But compared to other places we're doing really well. Throughout the United States, it's more like 21 to 23 percent of the adult population."
Hedgpeth, a staff of one, has been in Humboldt County since 1998, making it here from her birthplace in Berkeley with stops along the way in Reno and Los Angeles.
"The first year I was here, I couldn't find a job," she recalls, "so I did bird-watching and crocheting -- much to my family's disappointment at Christmas time."
She landed the literacy project post in July of 1999. She juggles running that office, in a downtown Eureka office building, with teaching two twice-weekly English classes at Sun Valley Floral Farms in Arcata. The workers, primarily Hispanic, number as many as 300 to 400 in the busier seasons. "What the company does," Hedgpeth explains, "it gives people who've been there two or more years the opportunity to take English classes that we provide. Part of it is actually paid by the company."
Tutoring, Hedgpeth notes, "is quite a commitment -- not something you do once a month or so."
She goes on: "We do six (tutor) training sessions a year, and get between 10 and 15 people in each training. Tutors become board members. That's a very typical routine for people to go through. We're lucky that we have an extremely hard-working board of directors. They are deeply involved and take on enormous amounts of work."
One reason the literacy project attracts a majority of Spanish-speaking learners, Hedgpeth believes, is because it's easier to call in and say you want to speak English. "Rather," she adds, "than to come in and say, `I speak English fine. I've been through high school; I need to learn how to read.' I think there's whole lot more embarrassment with this inability to read if you grew up in this country, if you went to school here. There can also be some frustration; some of the people are downright mad. You know, they really wonder, `What the heck happened? How'd everything let this happen to me?'
"I just assessed a gentleman the other day," she continues. "He had a business for about 15 years with a partner. His partner dies, and his business is gone because he didn't know how to bill, couldn't figure out what was owed to them. He was very mad about his situation and the lack of control over this life" This happened in another part of California, but the victim of this turn of events has since moved to Humboldt County to join up with a part of his family, and is now waiting for a tutor from the literacy project.
Operating as a nonprofit entity since 1985, the project is funded primarily by donations -- "the money that keeps this place alive," as Hedgpeth puts it.
"We get a little state money," she adds. "Last year we got $9,000. Because of California's budget problems, it's going to be less this year We're a United Way agency, so we get a little bit of money there -- a bit over $5,000 last year."
As for the project's expenses, Hedgpeth mentions overhead. "We need to have an office where people can come. We need to have telephones. I need to keep records, so I need to get paper products and things like that to keep track of all you guys [tutors like me]. We need a computer, and we like to be able to buy materials new trainer books. I get a little pay. [she is the only paid employee.] You can't run much leaner than that."
Recruiting teachers is no big problem.
"We're still awfully small," Hedgpeth says. "Here's the staff [meaning herself], so there's a limit to how many we can handle I have a list any time of about 80 people who have called up and said they want to be tutors."
The literacy project has lost some of its learner prospects in the Asian community.
"We used to have a lot more when we were involved with citizenship training -- Hmong and Chinese and Thais," Hedgpeth said. But now the Hmong, once the predominant Asian group here, are reportedly leaving the area for places like Fresno and Minneapolis, in search of more job opportunities.
Hedgpeth, however, is enthusiastic about setting up the first tutor training program in Hoopa this year.
"So now we have a group of tutors trained and ready to go. We still need the learners to come out. We know they're there; we just need to get them to give us a call."
A fellow tutor, Tommie Stanley of Eureka, tells me that her learner, Winferd Grissom, once a newspaper deliveryman for the Times-Standard, "couldn't read at all when he was 10. And now, she happily adds, "We're reading `Call of the Wild', and he's really enjoying that."
Lucile Whitehurst is another fellow tutor, as well as a longtime friend from our days in Riverside, where we were fellow workers on the Press-Enterprise newspaper.
"What's the hardest part of tutoring?" I ask Lucile, who has had her learner, John, for nearly two years now.
"I think it's figuring out how to approach the student," she responds. (Lucile, incidentally, was a teacher at one time.) "I think in Spanish (she knows that my learner comes from Mexico) every vowel has the same sound, while in English you have a million different sounds."
Japanese is similar, so while it is said to be one of the hardest languages for the foreigner to learn, at least you know that every vowel is going to have the same sound. So I commiserate with Porfirio when he has to decide how to pronounce words like "hat," "hate," "want," "water" and "after."
"With all my tutoring of John," Lucile tells me, "we still have problems. He will do anything before he reads."
And I wonder if it's all those convoluted vowels that turn him off. I wonder too if it's the same problem for Porfirio, when he tries to read a story in English. As my friend Lucile says, "it's like reading a foreign book."
Judi Hedgpeth notes that there's "a certain percentage" of learners who don't last more than six weeks or two months. "Because, you know, this is going to take a long time. It doesn't happen overnight."
Thinking of that, I figure Porfirio has come a long way. His grasp of English was virtually nil when we started out. He wasn't likely to pick up much English from his compadres in the trailer park where he lives; most are Spanish speakers, like himself.
We were introduced by Theresa Whitehawk, who at the time was working with "Even Start," a program for younger children who need literacy help. Lucky for me, Whitehawk speaks Spanish, so I was able to pick up the lingo. Now I am able to address Porfirio with sentences like Que es este? (What is this?) and Este es un gato (This is a cat). Obviously, important stuff.
We make a lot of use of Porfirio's Spanish-English dictionary, and my notebook is filled with words -- sombrilla for umbrella, puente for bridge, cansado for tired. And sometimes both of us are -- tired, that is. Sometimes muy cansado, very tired. In one of our earlier sessions, he said he hadn't gone to bed until 3 in the morning, and it was all he could do to keep from yawning. I thought maybe I was boring him, and that's when I suggested we knock off early -- at least one new phrase I'd given him.
A stocky man with a ready smile and a good sense of humor, Porfirio had done restaurant work in Carmel for about six months before coming north to Eureka. I was used to seeing his son, William, with him when I came for our sessions, but Willie, as he is dubbed, is 4 now and goes to school in the Head Start program. He's a bright-eyed boy and is imbued with his father's sense of humor.
In one of our lessons, I asked Porfirio: "What do you like about America?"
He grinned, and said, "I like the ladies." Can't knock that.
More seriously, he went on: "I like not much corruption. I don't see the police taking money. In Mexico there is much corruption."
And how about racismo?I ask. He mentions that he has a very good friend, an Anglo he knows at work, and he's no racista. And he helps him with his English. "Hey, man, get out of my way," for example, and "What's up this morning, man?"
Through it all, Porfirio maintains his wit, his sense of humor. One day we were talking, for some reason, about the great tenors of the Metropolitan Opera, and of course the name of Placido Domingo came up. Porfirio smiled and said, "Placido Sunday." We both laughed -- "Domingo" is "Sunday" in Spanish.
And now on to more reading. "Shoot for the moon!" I say, and let's start with War and Peace.
In 1968, as
a reporter for the Riverside Press-Enterprise, George Ringwald
won a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.
Comments? E-mail the Journal: email@example.com
© Copyright 2002, North Coast Journal, Inc.


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The sitcom adapted from Cameron Diaz's 2011 hit comedy film is picked up for midseason.
"Bad Teacher" is coming to CBS. The network has given a series order to the new single-camera comedy based on the 2011 film of the same title which starred Cameron Diaz as a foul-mouthed teacher.
Taking the role of the titular teacher is "The Sopranos" and "Fringe" alumna Ari Graynor. Her character is described as "an always inappropriate, fearless and unapologetic former trophy wife who masquerades as a teacher in order to find a new man after her wealthy husband leaves her penniless." Kristin Davis and Sara Gilbert are also among the cast.
The new sitcom is slated to premiere in the 2013-14 midseason, joining "Friends with Better Lives" and "Reckless" which are also saved by the network for a later debut in the coming season. Hilary Winston ("Happy Endings", "Community") teams up with Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, who penned the screenplay of the hit comedy film, to executive produce the new sitcom.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Albert Breer @AlbertBreer9h Word is that if Scott Linehan lands in Dallas, Browns could make a run at Bill Callahan to be Mike Pettine's offensive coordinator. Expand Albert Breer @AlbertBreer9h Linehan makes sense for Garrett (the 2 worked together in Miami), but that hire would obviously adversely affect Callahan's job description. Expand


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Britain and Spain, two otherwise relatively harmonious members of the European Union, this week were in loud and angry conflict over the future for Gibraltar, the small British possession that forms one half of the "Pillars of Hercules," marking the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. Madrid has recently imposed stringent border checks on vehicles entering the 2.6-square-mile outpost, leading to five-hour delays.
Although Spanish officials have justified the searches on a significant rise in tobacco smuggling, British Prime Minister David Cameron claims the move is politically motivated and in violation of European law. The free movement of people is a key right conveyed by the European Union and the centerpiece of six decades on economic and political integration.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, however, is battling a weak domestic economy and personal scandals, so cynics have suggested that this Gibraltar campaign is simply an attempt to distract local critics through cheap jingoist publicity. Further crackdowns are also being considered by Madrid, including a 50 euro chare on each person crossing the border and prohibiting flights to and from Gibraltar from entering Spanish air space.
Spain may even be tempted to make common cause with its own former colony Argentina and escalate their respective claims to Gibraltar and the Falklands to the United Nations in order to seek redress. Spain's Foreign Minister José García-Margallo is scheduled to visit Buenos Aires in September. Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has recently renewed her country's claims of sovereignty over the Falklands. Under Margaret Thatcher, Britain famously went to war in 1982 to protect their South Atlantic possessions after Argentinean soldiers attempted to "liberate" them.
Interestingly, four Royal Navy warships were sent this week from their base at Portsmouth in the south of England to Gibraltar for "regularly scheduled" military exercises.
British sovereignty over Gibraltar has been challenged by Spain for many years. Labeling the possession a "colony," Britain's enclave on the tip of the Iberian Peninsula has been a sore spot to Spanish pride for 300 years. The 1713 Treaty of Utrecht forms the basis of the legal justification for Gibraltar's status, but a more important practical and philosophical defense of the status quo also exists.
Simply put, the overwhelming majority of the roughly 30,000 Gibraltarians want to remain British and do not want to become part of Spain. Since self-determination is such a central component of the United Nations' approach to territorial disputes, it seems unlikely that any diplomatic attempt by Madrid to escalate this squabble would gain much serious traction. It could, of course, still be very embarrassing for Britain if the General Assembly entertained a debate on the question or even passed a nonbinding resolution condemning "British colonialism."
Spain, however, is in a slightly awkward position with regards to charges of "colonialism," as the Spanish still control a series of Gibraltar-esque enclaves across North Africa, including Ceuta and Melilla in Morocco.
While Madrid contends these territories are intrinsically Spanish, having been part of the country before anything like the modern nation of Morocco was formed, it seems highly unlikely that any attempt to compel a change in status for Gibraltar would be successful without a similar re-examination of Ceuta and Melilla.
Interestingly, while Morocco has claimed these territories on similar grounds as Spain's claims on Gibraltar, Spain has defended itself using arguments similar to those the British have used against them, including the important points that the people living in these tiny bits of land want very much to remain as they are.
Madrid, therefore, should be very wary of any precedent it attempts to establish at the United Nations or under international law. Spanish officials could soon find their Moroccan counterparts, equally embarrassed by foreign sovereignty over these enclaves and longing for territorial integrity, reading back to them, chapter and verse, the same justifications.
Given the centuries of migration, conflict, war and opportunism that have driven human events around the world, our modern maps are not nearly as cleanly and consistently drawn as they could be. National borders in Africa, for example, are as arbitrarily drawn as could possibly be imagined, having resulted from the European "scramble" to carve up the continent in the 19th century.
Given the realities of history, especially in the lives of the real people who live in areas like Gibraltar, Ceuta and Melilla, self-determination needs to be at the center of any resolution of disputes over sovereignty. And given that, when last asked to vote about their future, in 2002, Gibraltarians backed the status quo, 17,900 to 187, it seems that Spain will need to put in quite a bit more effort in convincing them that a better future lies elsewhere.
Orange County writer and attorney Timothy Spangler hosts "The Bigger Picture with Timothy Spangler," Sundays, 10 p.m.-midnight on KRLA 870/AM.


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11 photos
$1,264,000 316 acres Plain Dealing, LA 71064 - Beauregard Parish
316 acres Plain Dealing, LA
Looking for land in Bossier Parish? These 316 +/- acres are a perfect timberland investment property. With three professionally managed pine plantations that range in age from 4-8 years, you'll be able to watch your investment grow! Or maybe you want to move your hunting club? With an abundance of deer and other small game, this is also an excellent recreational tract that would be ideal for your hunting club. There is a well-maintained dirt road that provides access to the entire property. Located in Plain Dealing, it is just a short drive to town. To schedule a tour, please contact J.J. Keeth at 318.470.0483.
JJ Keeth Mossy Oak Properties


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My Do It Yourself Mom Blog
Hey ladies! I have JUST started my blog. I've been trying to promote myself a little..but also..I want your help! I want to knw what you would like to do and I am willing to figure it out for you! I would like your inut and advice. I have had loved one battle depression or financial issues while being stay at home moms. Its sometimes hard to ask for help. I want to HELP in any way I can.
Right now I have multiple DIY projects, INCLUDING cleaning supplies that (in my opinion) are just as good if not better than the name brand products. And you can make them for pennies on the dollar! I also have home decor and candle making tutorials.
Please, check me out. Leave comments or requests, or ANYTHING like that! Thank you!
Very cool! I bookmarked you so I could go back and look more carefully.
Thank you! I get so confused on where I am at in the forums sometimes!


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Marlins farmhand McGough of Plum gets 1st taste of Triple-A ball
Hard-throwing right-hander Scott McGough walked off the mound and into the dugout last Wednesday night after an inning of relief for the Jacksonville Suns, the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins.
He wasn't quite ready for this changeup.
"I walk in, and my skipper shakes my hand and says, 'Good job tonight. You're going up to Triple-A. You leave in the morning,' " McGough said.
Two nights later, McGough was starting for the New Orleans Zephyrs in the second game of a doubleheader at Oklahoma City.
"It was crazy," said McGough, 23, a Plum native who played college baseball at Oregon. "I was still in game mode here. Things like that sort of catch you off-guard."
So goes on-the-fly life in the minor leagues, where it all can change in a split-second.
But is this really a promotion? Sort of. It's more along the lines of a temporary call-up.
"Happens all the time to a lot of guys," McGough said. "It just happens so fast, you don't hear about it."
Normally a reliever, McGough has been told he'll be a spot-starter for the Zephyrs — think a doctor with a pager by his side — but will return to Double-A in the meantime.
Always laid-back and taking the next step on stride — he still catches with his father when he comes home — McGough is ready for anything.
"It was a nice little vacation," said McGough, who pitched three innings and allowed six hits in a 5-0 loss in his Triple-A debut. "I was able to get my feet wet."
Just before his bump, he was added to the Southern League All-Star Game on Wednesday night in Jacksonville.
McGough (6-foot, 170 pounds) is 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA for the Suns, all out of the bullpen. He has 42 strikeouts and 13 walks.
The start for New Orleans was rare to say the least.
McGough's last start prior to Friday?
"I started three times in my life before that," he said. "One was in 10th grade against Gateway, and the other two were in college against Hawaii and Fresno State.
"It's refreshing (to start). Usually when I come into the game there's runners at second and third and one out.
"At the same time, I took my first breath in when I got out there and thought, 'if I screw this up, it's on me'."
McGough's minor league journey has been somewhat extensive over a short period of time.
He has been with six teams in six leagues since being drafted in the fifth round by the Dodgers in 2011. Initially drafted by the Pirates in the 46th round in 2008, he was traded to Miami a year ago.
More roster alterations, no matter how slight, could mean the Marlins might have plans to move players again. McGough knows he could be one of them.
"It's been a weird journey," McGough said. "It's been a unique one, for sure. I am still a young pup in the minors, but I feel like a seasoned veteran.
"It's been a great experience. It's great to have your name called when they need you. You have to be ready for anything."
Bill Beckner Jr. is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Without feet, walking would be difficult, dancing would be impossible, and counting to 20 would be a two-man job. Take a stand with this Groupon.
The Deal
- $20 for a 60-minute reflexology package ($70 value)
- 30-minute neck, shoulder and foot massage
- 30-minute ion cell detox cleanse foot soak with magnetic waistband therapy
A licensed foot-massage therapist applies pressure to specific areas of the feet, said to correspond to major organ systems. The treatment aims to relieve tension and pain throughout the body. You'll also unwind with a shoulder and neck massage and an ionic foot-detox bath, believed to draw impurities and toxins through the soles of the feet.
Good Foot Spa
Good Foot Spa is a foot-massage and reflexology center staffed by licensed foot-massage therapists. Clients walk their stressed soles into this soothing spa, where they can lie back and relax on cushy, red reclining chairs with white towels as feet are rubbed, calmed, and therapeutically tickled using massage or reflexology techniques.


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Casey at the bat: McMurray walk-off wins it for the Illini 4-3!
Casey McMurray hits a solo shot in the bottom of ninth to win the game…
… and was warmly greeted at the plate by all his teammates.
Casey McMurray's timing was impeccable tonight. With one out in the bottom of the ninth and the score tied, he chose that moment to hit his first homerun of the year. That blast over the left field wall gave Illinois a 4-3 win over Indiana in the first of a three game series.
Kevin Johnson (above) pitched like a winner tonight allowing only two earned runs in 8 2/3 innings. Unfortunately, he didn't get the elusive 'W'. After a hit-by-pitch and later, a walk in the 9th, Coach Hartleb brought in freshman Luke Joyce to get the last out, giving Joyce the win. Knowing Johnson though, he's just as happy with Illinois winning the game.
It was a low scoring game but the fans did get to see some longball. Four homers were hit in tonight's game, three by the Illini. Matt Dittman hit a long shot that landed over the right centerfield wall in the second inning. Later, in the sixth, Brandon Hohl hit a solo homerun.
Matt Dittman rounds third on his homer during the second inning…
…and Brandon Hohl follows suit in the sixth.
Actually, all the homers were solo efforts. No team scored more than one run in an inning. The largest lead was Indiana's two run balance in the 4th. Yes,it was a very tight game.
More photos from today here.
Random Ramblings
I'd like to wish Ron S a speedy recovery from surgery. Many of you who attend Illinois games recognize Ron and his trademark cheering at the games. He has definitely been missed. Rumor has it that he will try to make it to a game this weekend. That's great news!
Next up:
Same time, same team tomorrow. We play Indiana Friday night at 6:05pm at Illinois Field.
Go Illinois!!
Related posts
Filed under: Game Recaps on May 19th, 2011 by: Thomas Nelshoppen


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Makeover Crumb-Topped Chocolate Cake Recipe
This chocolate cake is very sweet, chocolaty, and definitely a special dessert. —Sharon Anderson, Lyons, Illinois
- 1/4 cup plus 5 tablespoons butter, softened, divided
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cake flour
- 1/3 cup baking cocoa
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1-1/4 cups buttermilk
- 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 2 cups reduced-fat whipped topping
- 1. In a large bowl, beat 1/4 cup butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in applesauce and vanilla. Combine the flours, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Transfer to two 9-in. round baking pans coated with cooking spray.
- 2. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, walnuts, chocolate chips and remaining butter. Break into small pieces; sprinkle evenly over batter.
- 3. Bake at 375° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
- 4. Spread whipped topping between layers and over sides of cake, leaving the crumb top exposed. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 16 servings.
Nutritional Facts
1 slice: 253 calories, 11g fat (6g saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 336mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
Reviews for Makeover Crumb-Topped Chocolate Cake
Average Rating
© 2017 RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC


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Raise your glass in a toast with me, for we have all received a most wonderful gift this holiday season: anthropologie.com has kidswear!
While the selection is still limited, you will find the most luxurious knitwear for the darling little girls in your lives.
We are particularly taken by the one-of-a-kind, vintage-inspired pieces of Brooklyn designer Wendi Reed. Her impeccable detail and hand-stitched designs are next to none.
Leave it to anthropologie for discovering this boutique designer and spoon-feeding us this little piece of hand-made heaven. Brace yourself, you will be hooked!


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School Closed for Students on Friday, February 6. There will be no school for students on Friday, February 6, 2015 due to a scheduled Professional Development Day for all teachers.
GMTCC Enrollment Season: Attention high school students! Applications for the 2015-2016 Pre-Tech Program are now available in the Guidance Office. On-line applications for the 2015-2016 school year at GMTCC are now available to students in grades 10 and 11 at gmtcc.info. Students can go to the Guidance Office for additional information and assistance.
Ski and Ride Trip this Week: There is no Ski and Ride trip this week because of the Professional Development Day.
Coffee House: The Hazen Music Department will present a Coffee House on Thursday, February 12, at 6:30 PM in the Auditorium. Students who would like to perform at the Coffee House should sign up outside of the Auditorium. For more information, see Kayla or Krista Hebert or Shania Collins.
Hazen Highlights >


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Durgapur, March 27: Enter: hoardings, exit: graffiti. Thats the Durgapur CPMs campaign strategy this poll season.
The Left party has decided to stay away from writing graffiti in several areas of the steel town in an attempt not to irk voters. It has instead taken some hoardings on rent from the Asansol-Durgapur Development Authority and have put up banners on them to appeal for votes for their candidates.
Such hoardings were seen in several parts of Bidhannagar, where the walls of many houses had graffiti of other parties on them.
People living in posh colonies dont want writings on their walls. They say it creates visual pollution. So, we have decided not to write any poll graffito in Bidhannagar and other areas in the town. We have put up hoardings and banners in authorised locations after paying rent to the ADDA and to the municipal corporation. We will also go for door-to-door campaign. We can thus set an example, said Pankaj Roy Sarkar, the secretary of the CPM local committee in Bidhannagar.
A CPM leader in Durgapur said the initiative was taken for the first time. The Left party today began putting up hoardings in Ward 27.
According to a high court order, political parties have to take a written consent from the owner of the house where they want to write graffiti.
If any political party forcibly writes on someones wall, it will be considered a violation of the model code of conduct. The house owner can go to police or file a suit in a civil court, said a district administration official.
Sources said the CPM decided to stay away from writing graffiti after finding that most people were unwilling to allow political parties to paint the walls in their colours.
In Bidhannagar and its adjoining areas, the population is mostly made of physicians, businessmen, college and schoolteachers, engineers and other prominent professionals.
Residents welcomed the move not to write graffiti. It is a good gesture. I think all political parties should follow this. This will avoid visual pollution, said advocate Sushanta Roy.
College teacher Amitava Mukherjee pointed out that political graffiti not only create visual pollution but also take recourse to unparliamentary language.
The languages and cartoons of some graffiti cross the limit in a civil society. It is good that a political party has decided not to write poll graffiti on the walls of houses in our area. I think everybody should follow this, he said.
Trinamul, which has started writing graffiti on the walls in many private houses in the area, said party workers didnt violate the high court order of taking the house owners assent.
We write poll graffiti only after taking permission from the owners. They allow us to spread our message. What is wrong in it? Our workers will clean the walls after the polls are over, said Apurba Mukherjee, the Durgapur mayor and Trinamul president in the district.


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Mobility Lab and some of our partners like goDCgo, Arlington Transportation Partners, and BikeArlington were very busy tweeting at an excellent event today called Conquering the Commute: Solutions for Washington Transit, held by the Washington Post.
Here is a sampling of the some of the best information we gathered (and tweeted about) from the panel on "Biking, Walking and New Plans for Improving Quality of Life," which featured David Alpert of Greater Greater Washington, Jim Sebastian of the D.C. Department of Transportation, and Harriet Tregoning, D.C.'s Director of Planning.
- Driving data shows downward trends since 2001. More bike trips in 18-29 age group.
- 87,000 bike trips region-wide daily, 37,000 of those are in D.C.! Biking has grown more than 175% since 2004. If you build it, they will come
- Bike lanes and pedestrian paths are very inexpensive and don't need to write much of a check at all.
- Transportation choices – biking, walking, transit – are central to our regional economy – DC Director of Planning Harriet Tregoning
- Harriet Tregoning gives a shout out to Arlington County and DDOT for bringing Bikeshare to the region.
- Harriet Tregoning: Nearly 40% of households in the city don't have an automobile.
- Transportation innovations and choices are key to DC area quality of life.
- Post should write about history of different modes. Horse and buggy riders must have had disagreements – Harriet Tregoning
- Bikes and cars and peds will all slowly learn to coexist in DC region.
- Nationally, there are 7 to 9 parking spaces for every auto. Not quite that unbalanced in DC – Harriet Tregoning
- Resident parking prices are too low – David Alpert of Greater Greater Washington
- Why are we talking about car parking on the bike/pedestrian panel?
- Disappointed that bike/ped session time was cut short, no audience questions, too much time discussing car parking.
- Is biking getting more diverse? How do we help more people feel safe enough to bike?
For the session on rails and buses, click here.
Photo by Michael Schade


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THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bar None, Chefs Pub
119 S. Main St. Send to Phone
901-522-1488 | Make Restaurant Reservations
OpenDinner Tues.-Sat.
Open late
- Dress code: Casual
- Reservations suggested
* Click here for rating key
THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bar None, Chefs Pub Restaurant Review: Bar None, Chefs Pub from chef John Bragg has opened in the former Circa by John Bragg space in downtown Memphis. Expect an array of libations, from beer, house wines and "concoctions" such as the Snakebite (cider and lager). Complement your drink with a bar snack such as the smoked duck sausage roll, a slider, or a main dish such as chicken pie.
Find out which restaurants and chefs top the list of GAYOT's 2016 Annual Restaurant Awards.


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BARNESVILLE The Belmont County Historical Society will host a Red, White and Blue Ohio Bicentennial event at the Gay 90s Mansion Museum on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m.
In addition to a tour of the museum, guests may enjoy a salad luncheon. Admission for the special occasion is $5 for adults; and $1.50 for children under 18.
On display for the occasion, and continuing through July will be old and new flags, including a special old flag that flew over Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1893.
Upcoming museum events include a Family Games Day with Car Show and quilt and needlework display in August. An antique glass display will take place in September; antiques appraisal day in October; and Christmas showing in December.
The museum is located at 532 N. Chestnut St., Barnesville, and is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. and other days by appointment.
For information, call Dorothy Marshall, (740) 968-4673, or Averil Lynn, (740) 782-1029.


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Electrical Questions? Ask an Electrician Online.
Hello.....my name is XXXXX XXXXX I will be happy to assist you with your electrical question. My goal is to exceed your expectations on Just Answer!
1) Yes, you are correct on that it is not recommended to mix the various deep cycle battery elements such as amp-hours, the age and types of batteries.
2) The main areas of concern to not mix are the amp-hours and the battery types, ie, intermixing Deep Cycle with Marine Batteries. The solar industry also recommends to keep the same battery manufacturer as well, but I'm not a firm believer of that.
As long as the amp hours, types and group type are the same, you should not have a problem. You mentioned that yours are 1 year old and I do not see a problem with that. Would be different if you wanted to mix new batteries with 6 yr old batteries.
3) I also have a PV installation at my home and I did some research on this topic a few years ago. The reason being that they recommend to not intermix is that all the batteries should be equal in terms of the battery types, age and amp-hours. If one or more batteries in the existing string or bank has become problematic due to not re-charging fast enough or the battery has reached its maximum life cycle re-charge, is that those faulty batteries can have an immediate negative impact on the new batteries.
The amp hours within the strings should always be equal, this is the most important.
4) As batteries age, their maintenance requirements change. This means longer charging time and/or higher finish rate (higher amperage at the end of the charge). Usually older batteries need to be watered more often. And, their capacity decreases while the self-discharge rate increases.
5) Basically, the rule of thumb is that mixing older batteries with newer batteries, will reduce the life cycle of the new battery as well as the Depth of Charge. Equalization also plays a factor when introducing new batteries into an existing string.
Hope this helps.........If you have any additional questions, let me know and I'll be glad to answer them for you.
Otherwise, don't forget to rate me before you log Off.
The next time you have an electrical question, you can also request for me at: http://www.justanswer.com/home-improvement/expert-your-electrician ..........Thanks..............Kevin!
Hello Dave...... long time no talk. Hope things are going well for you.
Thank you for the positive service rating...........much appreciated!
Take care and have a great evening.............Thanks............Kevin!
Thanks Kevin for even caring, this solar system has been rewarding to a point of going forward with something positive, but very, very depressing being in a 3rd world country with limited resources, as well as not speaking the language and few people that know about solar systems. I have simple questions that would be nice to be answered, like can I hook up a "off grid" battery system to the "grid tie" system so I can run certain lighting systems at night when the sun goes down? I don't have enough batteries to run the refrigerators, etc. but do have enough for lights and fans for the guests if the power goes out.
Hello Dave......is your existing system "grid tied" now or is that something you are thinking about implementing in the future?
I have a new "grid tied" system of 27 panels of 230Watts each. Problem is that Nicaragua does not have "net metering" so I can't get the extra that I generate during the day back at night or during cloudy days.
Power goes off a lot where we live, and I have a small hotel on the beach, and when power goes out, especially at night, we have no backup except now I have a 6 battery system (105A 12V deep celled) that is hooked up to 3 of the 230W panels to charge them. How do I hook up the batteries to the main electric panel when power goes out, the "grid-tie" is useless even during the day if the power company is down. I could at least run lights in rooms and restaurant/bar/patio/bathrooms and a couple of fans with the "off grid" system, obviously not enough for air conditioning or pumps or refrigerators, etc.
If I could flip a switch and separate the grid tie to the main panel and tie in the battery bank to the system, turn off all the heavy load breakers and keep all the lights, etc. on, then I could stay in business.
If I could use both systems, charge the battery system when the grid tie is working and over producing.
If I added a couple more batteries I could do night time every night for lights and the minor stuff.
That is the problem with "grid tie" here in Nicaragua, you throw away all over produced energy and don't get rewarded by adding to the grid, and I only over produce from 10:30:am to 2:00PM anyway, so I'm having to use the corporate power companies energy in early morning and afternoon just to meet my load demands.
If at night I only had to use 30-50 11W bulbs and 5-10 45W fans for the rooms, I could do most of the night with battery power, especially at bed time later when I don't need the bar/restaurant lights on at all, just a few.
So do I need different breaker boxes for each system with switches between the two separating the heavy use loads from the battery use loads when the power goes out and I need alternate power from the batteries? 3000-4000 W would do me great during emergencies that happen weekly, just running the lights and necessities, the guests wouldn't know the difference.
Also was thinking the other day of buying some LED string lights to light up the bar/restaurant area's, hundreds of lights on strings that would also run off the batteries, would use very little power, my 6 batteries should easily handle that on a night to night basis and my 3 230W solar panels would do the charging during the day?
I've probably confused the hell out of you Kevin, but I'm desperate to get the most out of what I have here with little help to figure it out.
Hello Dave.... no you have not confused me, all is good
1) I was going to ask if they allowed "net metering" but you beat me to it. Since you are "grid tied" and you want to take advantage of when you experience the temporary loss of commercial electrical power, you will need either an automatic or a manual transfer switch installed at your main electrical panel. The automatic XFER switch is the preferred since it will automatically close your grid tied solar system out to the grid, thus not causing any back feeding to any electrical workers or linemen in the field. However, you can also do this using a manual switch, but then someone needs to be on premise to activate the switch when you want to transfer inverter power being fed from the battery bank. No additional breaker boxes are required to accomplish this, only the XFER switch is required. The automatic XFER switch is also more costly versus a manual XFER version.
2) The automatic transfer switch is basically a high tech version of a double pole double throw switch with built-in relays that will isolate your PV system from the utility grid. Upon the initial loss of commercial power from the utility grid, the automatic XFER switch will sense that via the built-in relays and will automatically transfer your inverter into your main electrical panel, thus isolating from creating any back feed out to the grid. The XFER switch gets installed in between the main electrical panel and your inverter. Once commercial electrical power is restored, then the XFER switch will automatically switch back over to commercial electrical power and not use your batteries. That is a quick summary of how it works.
3) Your battery bank should not have any problem handling the LED string lights, since those are a low wattage.
4) Since you are unable to take advantage of "net metering", you need to assess the financial and determine if it is worth the cost to install a XFER switch if only being used for the loss of commercial power outages. If this will provide convenience to you and your customers, then yes it is worth the expense over the long term. If the outages are minimal, then possibly not worth investing the additional cost for the XFER switch and related labor expenses, etc.


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BRUSSELS – The President of the European Central Bank is said to show at each meeting of the European Council a graph depicting the evolution of relative wage costs across the eurozone's 16 member countries. This chart shows increasing divergences over the last ten years, with the countries now facing difficulties (Greece, Portugal, and Spain) having lost competitiveness by around 20% relative to Germany. In other words, since 1999, wage costs have increased by about 20% less in Germany than in southern Europe.
The conclusion seems straightforward. The eurozone's southern European members must reduce their wage costs to claw back the competitiveness that they have lost since adopting the common currency.
Concern about such divergences has also reached the task force headed by European Union President Herman Van Rompuy, which is supposed to devise fundamental reforms to the rules for economic policy coordination within the EU. A key proposal from the task force's first meeting was to develop competitiveness indicators, and then force member countries to take "remedial action" should the EU find large divergences.
But this approach risks leading in the wrong direction. Competitiveness, which is usually measured in terms of unit labor costs, is a relative concept. One country's gain is another's loss. Restoring competitiveness in some member countries (Spain, Greece) would require others (Germany in the first instance) to accept deterioration in theirs.


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Heat stayin' alive with win over Griffins
The Abbotsford Heat's 4-2 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday evening can be added to the growing mountain of evidence that Ales Kotalik's impact on this scoring-challenged team is transformative.
The numbers tell the tale.
• In 19 games with Kotalik, the Heat average 2.95 goals per game. In 55 games without him, they score just 2.20 per contest.
• The Heat have mustered four goals or more on 18 occasions this season. Exactly half of those have come with Kotalik in the lineup.
• Over their four previous outings – all losses – the Heat outshot their opponents by double-digit margins in each contest, but only totaled five goals. That Kotalik was in the midst of a six-game stint with the NHL parent Calgary Flames during the scoring drought is hardly a coincidence.
Kotalik was re-assigned to Abbotsford on Thursday afternoon, and he lit the fuse against the Griffins on Friday.
At 14:49 of the first period, on an Abbotsford power play, the 32-year-old forward from the Czech Republic took a lovely cross-ice feed from Carter Bancks and hammered home a one-timed slap shot that tested the tensile strength of the twine.
It was a big-league snipe, befitting a player with a $3-million-per-year contract and four 20-goal NHL campaigns on his resumé, and the Heat were off to the races from there.
Ryan MacMurchy, Quintin Laing and Matt Keith scored in the second period to stake the hosts to a 4-0 lead before 4,175 spectators at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. The Griffins managed a pair of goals in the third period, courtesy Brent Raedeke and Joakim Andersson, but it was far too little, too late.
"Kotalik brought a lot of energy back in our group," Heat head coach Jim Playfair acknowledged. "I think we get confidence when we see Kotes.
"He's an NHL player who's giving us really honest minutes down here."
Kotalik, who registered seven shots on goal, conceded he wasn't thrilled to be sent to the AHL for the second time this season.
"It wasn't an easy situation again for me," he said. "But I'm coming down here to try to be a good player, and help in that (playoff) push."
Friday's victory was a huge one for the Heat, who are battling tooth and nail to stay in the playoff race. Abbotsford (35-29-4-6, 80 points) moved into a tie with Grand Rapids (35-30-2-8) for fifth in the North Division.
Both teams are five points out of the final playoff slot, which is currently occupied by the Peoria Rivermen – the West Division's fifth-place finisher can cross over and claim the North's fourth and final berth.
Defenceman T.J. Brodie also had a big game for the Heat, notching two assists to move into a tie with Keith for the team scoring lead. Both players have 34 points, though Brodie has played seven fewer games. That's heady stuff for a 20-year-old rookie.
"I've been happy with T.J. Brodie for a while now," Playfair said. "He's been our best defenceman for probably five or six games in a row.
"I think he's done a really good job for us."
Heat goalie Leland Irving, returning to action after missing five games with a groin injury, had a relatively easy time of it as his teammates out-shot Grand Rapids 38-20. His counterpart in the Griffins crease, Thomas McCollum, allowed four goals on 22 shots before giving way to backup Jordan Pearce at the start of the third period.
Justin Dowling, who signed an amateur tryout contract with the Heat last week after wrapping up his junior career with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos, picked up his first point as a pro on Friday – an assist on Keith's goal.
The Heat and Griffins renew hostilities on Saturday (7 p.m., AESC).


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That was a typical Pacers game -- waaaay too close! But I'm VERY happy we won this one!
Goat of the game has to be Tins tonight. Last four possessions: two turnovers, two missed shots (one layup, one tip), and losing the ball out of bounds in what would have been the clincher. :


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The Chicago White Sox are for real.
Frank Thomas hit a two-run homer and Ray Durham had three RBI Monday as first-place Chicago opened a three-game lead in the division over Cleveland with an 8-7 win over the Indians.
"I don't think we're getting cocky," said White Sox pitcher Cal Eldred. "I think we go home at night realizing that this team has the ability to win."
Chicago has won 10 of 12 and Monday began a stretch of 14 games where it will play the five-time defending Central champion Indians seven times, and the World Series champion New York Yankees seven more.
If anyone needed more proof the White Sox are legitimate, Monday's game was the clincher. And if a season can turn on a game in mid-June, this might be the one.
Chicago outhit, outpitched, outplayed and outlasted the Indians, who haven't been in second place this late in the year since 1994.
"We need to keep pushing," said White Sox manager Jerry Manuel. "If people don't believe, fine. But we have to stay driven if we're going to have a chance and stay competitive for the long haul."
Russell Branyan homered twice, and Travis Fryman, Kenny Lofton and Jim Thome connected for the Indians, who have been in first place just 17 days this season after being there for 360 of a possible 362 days the past two years.
"Three games back is not a whole lot," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. "But we want to keep the margin close."
Trailing 8-3 in the seventh, the Indians closed to 8-7 in the ninth on Thome's home run, but Keith Foulke got Sandy Alomar Jr. to hit into a game-ending double play.
The Indians, who left 14 runners on base Sunday, stranded seven more in the final three innings and went 1-for-9 with men in scoring position.
"We hit five home runs and all we needed was one single to win the game," Charlie Manuel said.
Eldred (7-2) pitched six effective innings for the White Sox, who hadn't been in first place during a visit to Jacobs Field since July 21, 1994. And the way Chicago is playing, it seems the White Sox are enjoying the view from atop the standings.
"On this team everybody steps up," said Eldred, 5-0 in his last six starts. "It's not the same guys every night. ... The good thing is that I see guys saying it's one win, it's in June and we've got a lot of work to do."
Eldred said it was tough watching Foulke work out of the ninth.
"It's worse when you're not playing," he said. "Your gut starts hurting."
Rookie starter Paul Rigdon (1-1) took the loss, and with their pitching staff in shambles because of injury, the Indians had to use Kane Davis in relief.
Davis' major league debut came in the middle of the Indians' biggest game to date this year.
Trailing 8-3, the Indians scored twice in the seventh and had runners at second and third with none out.
But reliever Bob Howry struck out David Justice and Thome before getting Fryman on a tapper in front of the plate.
Fryman argued that catcher Brook Fordyce fielded the ball in foul territory and was ejected by plate umpire Chuck Meriwether.
"The ball checked back like a golf ball," Fryman said. "The way I saw it, it hit fair, came back in the batter's box and the catcher caught it. Chuck Meriwether didn't see it that way."
Branyan's second homer _ and sixth in 19 at-bats this season _ brought the Indians within 8-6 in the eighth, and again Cleveland had runners in scoring position.
But Howry retired Omar Vizquel on a fly to right and struck out Roberto Alomar with runners at second and third.
Notes: The Sox have won eight of their last nine road games and 12 of 16. ... Thomas' homer in the second helped the White Sox tie a club record (1987) by homering in their 16th straight game. It also tied Thomas with Hall of Famer George Brett with 317 career homers, 76th on the career list. ... Thomas is batting .500 (8-for-16) with three homers and nine RBI vs. Cleveland this season. ... Roberto Alomar's fiancee, French Open champion Mary Pierce, just back from winning her title Saturday in Paris, attended the game.


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It's been five years since Patti Smith declared New York dead to the demimonde, so in a high-rent district in Manhattan it is surprising to run across a store with grotesquely ugly things that one couldn't possibly imagine even the mistress of the most thuggish Russian mafiosi buying. Yet there they were, row upon row of vomitous carved ivory Buddhas, horses, castles, and, of course, elephants, some labeled mammoth teeth (not) on 57th between 5th and 6th.
I stopped, stunned by both their ugliness and obvious illegality. Except for antiquities, the sale of ivory has been banned in the U.S. for years, and this kitsch was clearly contraband scraped from the poaching that is threatening to make Africa's forest elephants extinct within the next decade. Yet there they were, magnificent animals turned into cheap tourist crap that can be hawked with impunity until stricter regulations from the Obama administration kick in later this year.
There's rarely good news on the environment: tidal waves threaten to engulf half the planet, the other half is turning to desert, summer bee stings and honey are soon to be quaint memories along with human life itself, according to the latest news on the Sixth Great Extinction. But last Friday, a dozen blocks away in Times Square, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ran a ton of confiscated ivory through a rock crusher and it was good. Yes, it was a "media event" but I truly believe, cynic though I am after covering the environment through the grimness of the past decades, that the authorities have learned a few things and they are – finally – doing it right.
The question of elephants is as complex as extinction itself, involving global trade, war, peace, government corruption, poverty, overpopulation. Despite this rat's nest of human failings, governments and conservationists, through trial and grievous error, have found an approach that may actually work: 1. stop the demand with a slick, energetic PR campaign using celebrities to make killing endangered animals uncool in China, 2. stop trafficking by stepping up enforcement in East Africa ports, and 3. stop the killing on the ground.
Stopping the killing on the ground was the old way of doing things. You could call it going medieval on the poacher's asses – but "going colonial" would be more accurate. Twenty-five years ago, the Kenyan conservationist Richard Leakey temporarily halted poaching by turning his country's wildlife agency into a paramilitary force. A lot of poachers died; one every four days, by most estimates.
It was a Band-Aid, as outdated as the mortifying Do-They-Know-It's-Christmas song that has become a bad joke among hip Africans, and it fell off. Going after poor black guys with guns is like picking off the drug dealer on the corner in The Wire; the real players are international. The market for ivory is the fourth-largest illicit trade in the world, after drugs, human trafficking, and arms. And the long-term threat is both mundane and unmanageable: population growth. There are just too many people living in the bush where elephants used to roam free. Too many people all over the world, in fact.
But even twenty-five years ago, there were ways to make it work. While Kenya was shooting poachers, countries like Namibia and South Africa were building a thriving trade in wildlife products, gaining support in local communities for wild animals that had formerly been considered threats or nuisances. Even today, with poaching at record levels, elephants in those countries are faring better.
To be fair, Leakey didn't have much choice: under pressure from Western animal rights groups Kenya had banned hunting in the 1970s, along with any trade whatsoever in products made from wild animals. This made it impossible to earn enough money from wildlife for community conservation, plus it alienated native Kenyans whose traditions included hunting. When it came to saving elephants, Kenya became an aid junkie – and the results were about what you'd expect. The animals disappeared. They just went.
Richard Leakey, recently appointed chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service, his third stint with the agency, has stepped up his game. So have other people in Kenya. The Northern Rangelands Trust is working with communities in high-poaching areas, convincing elders to crack down on young men seduced by the cash they make by killing animals.
It's a start. But the real chokehold has to be the global market. Unfortunately, American politicians have injected politics into a cause that should be valued on its own merits. In the U.S., politicians and conservationists, including Hillary Clinton, are selling elephant protection as part of the war on terror, claiming that groups like Somalia's Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram in Nigeria are funded by the illegal ivory trade. But people in Africa say that the real movers in the trade are the criminal gangs, a dozen or more, who dominate the ivory trade worldwide.
The opportunism of the American foreign policy establishment is cynical and unfortunate, but it doesn't have to be fatal. A change is gonna come, or it sure looks that way, and the forces are bigger than any one politician, whether it's Hillary or Kenya's Leakey. As China becomes an industrial power, minds are changing. Three-quarters of people polled in Hong Kong, a major entrepôt for the ivory trade, want to outlaw the sale of ivory. More than half support an outright ban.
It's important that we get it right this time. It may be our last chance. But the debate over ivory has always been complicated. The usual chorus of free market contrarians say events like last Friday's ivory crush will raise the price of ivory as speculators stock up, anticipating a shortage. These arguments, plausible decades ago, sound worn and dated. Ivory isn't like dope. Ivory doesn't get you high: money does.
If there's no demand, the elephants will stop dying. Or at least, they'll stop dying quite so fast. Who knows? There might still be hope that elephants will survive as a species just long enough to outlive the inevitable crash of civilization itself.
Culture changes. The days of CBGB are gone. The grotesque shop on 57th Street will close, or be closed by the authorities. Bad taste is timeless – now that's a law of nature – but if we are lucky and smart and very, very quick, the ivory trade will be strangled by history. It's a reminder that human progress, while it may pale in comparison to our follies, isn't entirely mythical.
'Tis the Season of Our Nostalgia for Old Money
This time of year I feel the urge to watch old black and white movies, preferably starring Jimmy Stewart. This year, It's a Wonderful Life is too painful, a reminder of what we used to be but aren't anymore. I prefer screwball comedies like The Philadelphia Story, with its sympathy for alcoholics and philanderers, and schizophrenic alternation between class rage and craven worship of old money.
Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn play an upper crust couple who, though divorced, still love one another. Hepburn almost, but not quite, falls for Jimmy Stewart, a writer from a modest background. Every time Hepburn waxes nostalgic about the sailboat Grant designed for their honeymoon, the True Love, she murmurs, in that wonderful Connecticut lockjaw, "My, she was yare." This means, in boat language, fast, agile, and resilient. When she says this, my own eyes brim with tears along with hers.
Christmas is the season when we take stock of our collective disillusionment. The season lost its innocence in the 1970s, around the same time we did. In my Manhattan barrio, children spent the holidays being passed back and forth between divorced parents, teenage girls devoured Vogue articles about Christmas in St. Bart's and Mustique (Mick Jagger and Princess Margaret sightings obligatory), and parents engaged in the holiday standbys of drunkenness and depression.
In the 1980s, Mom and Dad settled into corporate harness, the stock market boomed, greed was good. We agonized about the commercialization of Christmas, but it didn't stop us from buying things.
In retrospect, even these stirrings of disquiet seem like relics of a more innocent time. In the 2000s, "the season of giving" just adds to the overload of marketing. I'm beginning to wonder if forking over cash on "Giving Tuesday" actually makes things worse. The perfect example is a tweet I got from Rocco DiSpirito, presumably yet another celebrity chef. After announcing that 50 million Americans suffer from food insecurity, Rocco urged me to click through to a website for food donations that Bank of America will match dollar for dollar.
The number of ways this is wrong is so staggering that it is difficult to know where to begin. It goes without saying that I am not a subscriber to Chef Rocco's twitter feed. More importantly, the real beneficiary of my largesse would be Bank of America. Sure, a few people might get fed, but the real benefit is to BofA's brand, in poor repair and deservedly so: the bank is one of the worst offenders in the economic meltdown. Before the crash, Bank of America acquired Countrywide, the country's highest-profile purveyor of subprime mortgages, as well as the venerable stock firm Merrill Lynch. The federal government sued the bank for allegedly engaging in a practice known as "the hustle," churning out mortgages at a feverish clip without proper checks on wrongdoing. Another lawsuit alleged that the bank's top managers lied about Merrill Lynch's troubled financial state while in the midst of closing the deal to buy the firm.
The bottom line? This is the same bank that cut 30,000 jobs in 2011 and the following year rewarded CEO Brian Moynihan by quadrupling his annual pay to $8.1 million.
This is not Jimmy Stewart's bank. Ironically, it started off that way: Frank Capra modeled George Bailey, the good-hearted smalltown banker played by Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life on Bank of America founder A.P. Giannini, the self-made millionaire who was the first to offer loans to the working stiffs of America, people he believed to be generally honest.
I wrote back to Rocco, telling him if Bank of America's management really cared, they would stop laying people off. In reality, it's not Moynihan's job, or yours, or mine, to (fill in the blanks): feed the hungry, buy textbooks for public schools, keep hospitals open, bankroll local arts councils, or even put up money for animal shelters.
We're OK with Bon Jovi and Bruce rocking for hurricane relief, but buying into the fiction that corporations should be playing the role of government will not end well. Foundations shouldn't be the fount of good works, either. It's not Bill Gates's job, or Warren Buffett's, to decide which diseases to cure, or what kind of equipment should be in schools and libraries. Good works on a broad scale should not subject to the whims of private individuals and certainly not to the self-interest of corporate CEOs, former or otherwise.
Call me a grinch, but even dropping a dollar in a bucket so little Brittney can have a new kidney is a capitulation. Our good works mean there is less pressure on insurance companies to do the right thing, and on government to force them to do it – or for the government to provide health care directly to citizens, which is what Obamacare would have looked like in a sane America.
It wasn't always this way. In 1988, Americans bought into the President George Bush's exhortation, written by Craig Smith and the vile Peggy Noonan, to become volunteers, one of the "thousand points of light in a broad and peaceful sky." Bush's maudlin call for volunteers was the logical next step after Ronald Reagan's deregulation of corporate America, attacks on labor unions, and cutbacks in social programs.
We stepped up. What else could we do? Helping others made us feel good so we kept doing it. We donated to heart disease research. We ran for the cure.
People kept giving, but Americans kept getting poorer. By 2011, a record number had slipped below the poverty line; 15.9 percent, totaling 48.5 million people. That's not even counting the millions above the poverty line – $23,050 for a family of four — who are, by anyone's standards, in deep economic trouble. As Paul Krugman recently wrote, none of the economic remedies being proposed on either side of the aisle will solve America's real problem: mass unemployment.
Mitt Romney was right when he complained about the 47 percent of Americans who are dependent on government aid, even though he got the reasons wrong. Staggering under the escalating cost of living – higher college tuition, rising rents driven by the housing bust that made bankers rich — we are becoming aid junkies, just like our cousins in Africa. We have no choice. We don't have jobs, or if we do, they don't pay us enough for a decent life. At the same time, our defunded government is externalizing its costs, like bankrupt airlines charging $25 for a piece of luggage.
Reaganomics was bigger than us, and bigger than President Obama, too. He may be willing to look over the fiscal cliff, but in the name of pragmatism, he appears to have given up on passing another economic stimulus bill to create jobs.
I try to be a realist, too, but the culture of giving feels demeaning and hopeless. As I prepared for my first Christmas in New York for more than a decade, I found myself remembering when giving a few bucks felt real. As a girl living in Manhattan, I could tell the Christmas season was off and running when I saw a neediest case article in The New York Times. These were heartbreaking stories of people who lived beside us, but whose hardships we rarely knew about. Now, of course, those people are us.
The paper's Neediest Cases Fund celebrates its centennial this year. The Fund started on Christmas Day, 1911, when publisher Adolph Ochs encountered a shabbily dressed man on the street. The man struck Ochs as a respectable fellow who was simply down on his luck. Ochs gave him a few dollars and a business card.
"If you're looking for a job, come see me tomorrow," Ochs said.
If that sounds like a scene from a Jimmy Stewart movie, it played out pretty much that way. The Neediest Cases articles began the following year. The Fund, which is still in existence, has raised $250 million.
But it's the story of Ochs and the homeless man that makes me swallow hard this Christmas. The old story is new again, as profound as one of those Jimmy Stewart movies. Because Ochs didn't just give the man a handout. He gave him a job.
My, we were yare. Weren't we?
August 2017 S M T W T F S « Jun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31


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Malia Song
|Types of Modeling
|fashion shows, magazines (american curves, fhm, playboy) all non nude
I'm a local girl born and raised in Hawaii; I have an impressive array of accomplishments. You may know me as one of the two hula girls in the 2002 Pro-Bowl commercial or the poster girl for Corona.
I love the modeling profession because of the constant excitement and challenges of each new and thrilling job. I adore meeting new people and have an excellent repoire with others.
In my free time, I enjoy traveling and experiencing new cultures. I have traveled throughout the US, to the orient and have dreams of going to Europe one day.
Dancing, going to the gym and sunbathing at the beach are just a few of my favorite pastings. I also have the most fun spending time with my family, friends & my dog Duke.
|Some of my pictures 8 / 47
|Comments 0/0
Member since: 06 Mar 2004; Page Views: 57631
Jun-20 New Job Supplier TimB from Atlanta, GA. Check him out. (auto post)
Jun-14 New Photographer mediapro from Texas. Check him out. (auto post)
Jun-12 Sorry - for security reasons we had to remove all flash content. Its not working on many modern devices anyways.
Apr-17 New Photographer Scoutcat4 from Lake Elsinore, California. Check him out. (auto post)
Oct-7 You can now connect to our side via secured connection. Just use https: instead of http: and your connection will be encrypted. Soon we are going to enforce SSL (correctly TLS) and disable normal http connection. Sorry - if you are using long outdate...
Sep-28 Check out our mobile website mobile.modelgraphy.com. Its still Beta and has less features than the Desktop version. It might have a few bugs. It also looks great on Desktop. You can find a smartphone icon link, if cross links are available, under the...
Jul-27 New Model CharlieMW from Dallas, TX. Check her out. (auto post)
Jul-18 New Model Saldavo from Oahu. Check him out. (auto post)
Jun-27 New Photographer JWTinSoCal from Southern California. Check him out. (auto post)
Jun-23 New Model nicoled from sacramento. Check her out. (auto post)
Apr-4 New Photographer BDFoto from Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Check him out. (auto post)
Mar-27 New Photographer bgt1911 from fort worth,texas. Check him out. (auto post)
Mar-26 New Photographer Richard Kitchen from Bellflower, Calif. Check him out. (auto post)
Dec-20 New Model Megan Danielle from Houston. Check her out. (auto post)
Dec-10 New Photographer Muze Shotz from Ohio. Check him out. (auto post)
Feb-26 ECM MAGAZINE COVERGILZ NEEDED
Jan-6 2014 Official Oklahoneys Calendar
Jun-13 Not Public
Jul-15 Not Public
Jun-8 Not Public
Feb-1 Muscular women needed for photo/video shoot
Jun-20 Shout Outs and Short Announcements
Sep-28 Mobile website available
Oct-30 I would like participate in a casting or take professional p
Aug-28 School of Photography - Back to School
Aug-28 Now Casting: The Gotham Girls Challenge
Jul-15 NEW: QR code generator
Mar-1 mobile access
Feb-1 We have made many changes
Feb-1 Muscular woman needed for photo/video shoot
Jan-19 Asia Diva DVD and Calendar Shoot
Jan-19 Calendar & DVD shoot for AsiaDiva.com
Nov-15 Bill payment canceled
Nov-15 spammers
Nov-15 IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR FUND US$10 M ONLY VIA ATM VISA CAR


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The world economy is increasingly threatened by volatile market reactions to global imbalances at a time when the IMF has largely lost its original raison d'être as the world's central monetary institution. These two developments should stimulate the Fund to claim a new purpose as the world's reserve manager.
In the 1960's, the IMF managed the problems of all the major economies, and in the 1980's and 1990's, it developed as a crisis manager for emerging markets. But that job is much harder now, because of the size of some of the big emerging economies. And, in any case, the focus of financial nervousness is shifting back to the world economy's core countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, which are funding large current account deficits with surpluses from much poorer countries.
These surpluses reflect high savings rates, both in the private and the public sector, in oil-producing and emerging Asian economies, which have resulted in their rapid accumulation of foreign reserves. But this is hardly a blessing for these countries. Their reserves have become so large that even the announcement of a small shift in assets – say, from euros to dollars – can move markets and cause disruptions and panics. Like past reserve regimes that offered a choice of assets (for example, the dollar, the pound, and gold in the interwar period), instability is inherent.
The new surplus countries' attempts to find alternative reserve assets have been problematic. Most of the attention has been fixed on China's $1 trillion in reserves, and its efforts to maintain the value of those assets. Diversification from US Treasury bills by investing some $3 billion in the Blackstone private equity fund this summer was swiftly followed by an embarrassing collapse in value.


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LONDON: This time last year, it was all about soon-to-be quarter-finalist Bernard Tomic. Twelve months on, 1987 champion Pat Cash has joined the chorus of those questioning the teenager's commitment - a list that includes Tomic himself.
''This time last year the Australian tennis public were also getting very excited about Bernard Tomic becoming the youngest player since Boris Becker in 1985 to reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon,'' Cash said.
''Surely that should have been a platform from which he could propel himself, but I was so disheartened by his attitude at last year's US Open and the French Open just a couple of weeks ago when it seemed he didn't want to be there.''
Cash endorsed the words of the other Pat - Rafter, the Davis Cup captain - who said last week that Tomic's inadequate preparation had nobbled his Wimbledon campaign, which consisted of a four-set first-round loss to Belgian David Goffin. Simply: if Tomic puts in the work, he will get results, if he doesn't, he won't.
Tomic's frustration boiled over last Tuesday after his loss to Goffin, when he smashed his racquet and damaged the court as he walked to the net to shake hands. He had earlier broken another racquet on losing the first set.
The uncharacteristic tantrum earned him a reproach from officials and a fine of $2500.
Writing in his British newspaper column, Cash also lamented the decline of Australian tennis, recalling that the nation's innate competitiveness extends to every sporting endeavour, ''but back in my boyhood tennis came out top of everything because we'd had the best [players] and us youngsters yearned to follow in their footsteps''.
''So being somebody who never felt prouder than [when] representing my country, there's a real hollow feeling inside after Australian men's tennis suffered the worst Wimbledon since 1938 with not a single player managing to reach the second round. Then to make things even worse, Samantha Stosur, the reigning US Open champion, was made to look very ordinary as she also got beaten.
''How did I feel at the greatest tennis nation in the world descending to the depths of being less than ordinary? Not angry, not ashamed but extremely disappointed. But can I say I'm hugely surprised? The honest answer to that question would have to be 'not really'.''


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Richard O'Brien, of Baton Rouge, had a request for legislators Friday on the breakdown of the federal health care system for military veterans: Fix it.
O'Brien, an official with the Military Purple Heart of Louisiana, is diabetic and suffers from blood pressure problems. Long waits for care and a mix-up in the VA pharmacy recently left him unable to get out of bed.
"My health care team is not a health care team. It's a kill care team. They're going to kill me," an angry O'Brien told legislators Friday.
Legislators gathered at the State Capitol on Friday to tackle what is apparently a rampant problem nationwide. Veterans are experiencing long wait times for health care. A whistleblower in Shreveport claimed Overton Brooks VA Medical Center put hundreds of people onto a secret waiting list that was whisked from public view.
Newly appointed state Veterans Affairs Secretary David LaCerte said the fix needs to come from the federal level.
LaCerte said he was disappointed — although not surprised — that federal veterans affairs officials in Louisiana declined to attend Friday's hearing.
He urged legislators to subpoena federal officials. "For them not to come out and address the people they serve, I think is woefully inadequate," LaCerte said.
Members of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs agreed to work on issuing subpoenas.
"If they're not going to come voluntarily, then we can do something about that," state Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Bossier City, said.
Exactly who will receive the subpoenas and whether they will be complied with remains to be seen. Subpoena power is a murky issue at the State Capitol. Legislators have the authority to issue subpoenas, but they generally don't lock up people for ignoring them.
The controversy swirling around veterans' health care started with allegations that workers were doctoring records to hide the long waits for medical attention. The criticism intensified after a whistleblower in Arizona claimed that some veterans died because they couldn't get medical care quickly enough.
Federal Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki eventually resigned. Congress now is looking at the issue.
In Louisiana, veterans' health care centers in Baton Rouge and New Orleans have been flagged for further review. Veterans can receive care at three medical centers and 14 clinics across the state.
"Maybe our country's too quick to create warriors and too slow to care for those warriors once they come home," said state Rep. John Bel Edwards, D-Amite.
LaCerte said he's had anecdotal evidence of problems within the veterans' health care system for years. He said he never had quantifiable evidence.
Veteran Douglas Ducote said he's tired of health care workers losing paperwork, pushing paperwork to the side and arguing with him. He said workers should be terminated after accumulating a certain number of complaints.
"Down in New Orleans, it is horrible. Baton Rouge isn't as bad although I had experiences in Baton Rouge," he said.
O'Brien said he ran out of blood pressure medicine last November and couldn't get a response on requests for a refill. He said his blood pressure got so high that he was bedridden. Finally, he said, his wife helped him to the car and they drove to a Veterans Affairs' center, where the pharmacist improperly filled the prescription. O'Brien found himself back in bed on the verge of suffering a stroke.
Because he suffers from diabetes, O'Brien also must have regular eye exams to protect his eyesight. He recently got a letter reminding him to set up an eye exam appointment. He called the number, dialed an extension, reached a person who told him to call another person and followed a maze that resulted in him leaving his name and number. Nine days later, he's still waiting for a callback on setting up an appointment that probably will be 90 days away.
O'Brien admitted that he is an excitable person, but he said anyone would get excitable about the possibility of losing their eyesight because they can't see a doctor.
"My wife gave me instructions today to be very quiet with you guys. I put my hearing aids in so I could hear myself because usually I scream at everybody. But the truth of the matter is I'm not going to calm down, and I'm not going to let it be. Because I'm telling you about me but this is what is taking place with every dang veteran in this state," he said.
Follow Michelle Millhollon on Twitter @mmillhollon. For more coverage of Louisiana government and politics, follow our Politics Blog at http://blogs.theadvocate.com/politicsblog/


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About the Book
The Other Brother is a film about the genetics of art and sibling estrangement. One brother is an art-world insider, and one lived alone in a world of art. There are remarkable similarities in their art; there are also clear differences. This story explores their very different lives and the visual thread that connects them.
The younger brother, Tom Flowers (who is now 85), received his undergraduate degree from Furman University and his MFA from the University of Iowa. The older brother, Jesse Flowers, joined the service right after dropping out of high school and became a recluse soon after serving as a medic during the end of WWII. He lived in a dirt-floor shack without plumbing.
Tom and Jesse each took a different path in life to get past the harshness of growing up and the distance between them. This book contains a small sample of the large body of art they created over their lifetimes.
Features & Details
- Category Arts & Photography
Small Square, 7×7 in, 18×18 cm
22 Pages
- Publish Date Nov 16, 2013
- Language English
- Tags visual art, outsider art, visionary art, art, brothers, drawing, painting, sculpture, family, estrangement
About the Creator
Her short documentary, Flag Day, received a juror's honorable mention this June at the 2005 AFI/Discovery Channel SILVERDOCS Documentary Conference and Filmfest held in Silver Spring, Md; and a Jury's Citation at the 25th Black Maria Film and Video Festival in Jersey City, NJ 2006.W.W. Norton chose Flag Day, for inclusion on a Norton Sociology textbook DVD. Her short documentary, Bowl Digger, received a Director's Choice award at the 2007 Black Maria Film Festival and a Best Documentary award at the 2007 Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City, Nevada. It was juried into the 3-month long Make it New exhibition at the Asheville Art Museum, Asheville, NC, during the summer of 2007 and toured with the 2007-2008 Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival Sponsored by the Southern Arts Federation.
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Friday, February 12, 2010
THQ Deal With Syfy Takes de Blob to Screen
Agoura Hills-based video game developer THQ and television channel Syfy said Thursday they will be jointly creating new concepts and intellectual property based on THQ's video games. According to the firms, the first move by Syfy will be the use THQ's de Blob franchise as the foundation of a new, Syfy Kids effort, focused on the youth market of 2-17 year olds. The two companies said that Syfy will create and publish original concent based on de Blob and THQ's other gaming franchises, as well as new intellectual property. Financial details of the effort were not disclosed. THQ introduced de Blob in 2008. The firms said the development of THQ's properties will be headed by Alan Seiffert, Senior Vice President of Syfy Ventures.


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From mid-July 2010 Southern will be introducing changes to payment options at the car park at Brighton Station, by introducing ground-breaking Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, and smarter, more convenient ways to pay.
At the moment, paying for parking is controlled by a barrier system, but in July the barriers will be removed and car registration numbers will be recorded on entry and exit by an ANPR system. Occasional parking will be cheaper and more convenient, by introducing hourly parking for £1 and a full day's parking reduced from £11 to £10.
Southern's Business Development Manager, Matt Bunn said: "We are introducing the new technology at Brighton as it's one of our busiest car parks and it's a great opportunity for people to pay for their parking in a more convenient way.
Southern's car park team will be available in the kiosk if car park users need any help or advice. They will also be able to take payment if users don't want to use the new payment methods. The team will be on hand to help between 0500 and 2300 Monday to Saturday and between 09.00 and 17.00 on Sundays.
To ensure that we are getting it right, we will be surveying registered users for their views on the new system.
Leaflets explaining the new system are available at the station and from staff at the car park kiosk.
There will be four methods of paying for parking:
• Using a mobile phone by credit/debit card (hourly and day tickets only). This method will allow extra time to be purchased remotely should a customer know they are going to overstay the initial period of time they have paid for. Once registered, this can be done by text.
• Via a website customers will be able to purchase e-tickets (day, monthly and quarterly tickets only). This will allow customers to pre-book tickets before parking or on the day they park, as long as they purchase a ticket before midnight on the day they park. To purchase tickets via the web, customers need to log on to: southernrailwayparking.com
• Should customers not wish to use the other methods, tickets will also be available from the staffed kiosk in the car park using cash or card. Customers should pay as soon as they have parked their vehicle and state the period of time they wish to park for (hourly and day tickets only).
• Monthly, quarterly and annual season tickets will continue to be available at the ticket office and annual tickets must be purchased in this way. Monthly and quarterly season tickets will be available on the web.
There will no requirement to display anything in the customer's windscreen to show they have paid to park.


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Tyler Hansbrough checked out fine Wednesday night in North Carolina's 88-78 victory against visiting Nicholls State. It was the rest of the Tar Heels who appeared to be the ones shaking out the cobwebs. It definitely felt more like a loss than a win," Tar Heels guard Wayne Ellington said. (Burlington Times News)
Related: Basketball | Wayne Ellington | Tyler Hansbrough
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Recent Basketball News:
Candid Coaches: Will the NCAA take titles away from UNC or Louisville?Wednesday August 23, 2017


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Peter Thomas Roth Uber Dry Sunscreen SPF 30
- 3 reviews See the Breakdown
- Product Info | Add Your Review
Peter Thomas Roth Uber Dry Sunscreen SPF 30 Reviews
Better alternative to most sunscreensPeter Thomas Roth is one of my favorite skin care lines (along with Ole Henriksen). Sun protection is SUPER important (no brainer), but even more so because I live in Arizona. Because we get such vicious sun rays, I make sure to be extra vigilant with sun protection products, but more specifically what's in it. I LOVE that this has a lower level of Oxybenzone in it (at 3,5 percent) as opposed to t...read morehe typical 6 percent level most sunscreens have. Oxybenzone is a chemical sunscreen that can cause a large production of free radicals in the skin which an cause premature aging (as if you have enough to worry about already with skin cancer risks!) So even though it would be ideal withOUT the Oxybenzone, I do like that it's much less strength. I do really love how this feels on your skin. It is very sheer and lightweight, but most importantly it absorbs into the skin like a dream. You do not have to worry about it leaving a white film on your skin. Like the name mentions, it does not make your skin feel greasy, in fact it actually makes it feel quite soft! The price is 26 dollars for a 4 ounce bottle which is a bit much unless you're hardcore devoted. Especially so when you should actually be using an entire ounce for your entire body. Therefore if you followed the FDA recommended amount of sunscreen to achieve getting the level of protection described (spf 30 in this case), and you wore the sunscreen EVERY day, then you would run out after four days (assuming you don't reapply--although you should if you're out for longer and then you run out faster). Peter Thomas Roth comes out with amazing products, but this one is a little bittersweet because of how bad it burns your wallet. — 5 years, 1 month agovolta | 566 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 0 of 0 people said helpful
Oily skinI have super oily skin and high spf is always difficult for oily skin but this product is great. It absorbs quickly. At 1st it is a little shiny but that goes away quick It has not caused any breakouts and does not leave that pale pasty look other high spfs do. I am extremely fair skinned and plan on keeping it that way with the help of this. — 6 years, 5 months agoelena62 | 169 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 0 of 0 people said helpful
Amaizing sunscreenI am 32 year old woman, have mildly oily skin, no acne problem, very regular skin care routine. i used this product couple of months ago and my o my I just love it. Thought I dont have very oily skin but still what ever sunscreen I put on makes my face really shiny. Doesn't matter even if it is oil free. I bought this product from skin store when they send me a $20 birthday coupon. it was still de...read moreal. The product is oil free it blends to your skin very easily and dont leave any white residue. It made my skin slightly shiny but a little application of face powder took care of it. This is so far the best sunscreen I have ever used. It is very difficult to find it on sale. if I see it on sale I am definitely buying it . Slightly pricey, I used it everyday in the morning and when ever I went out at the end. The 4 oz bottle lasted for about two moths. If you use liberally all over then it wont last more than a month. But highly recommended. 9 star is for the price — 8 years, 2 months agonashams | 115 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 0 of 2 people said helpful
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My Reasons for Reporting This


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It seems every February the fishing tends to slow down, especially for walleyes and northern pike, but thankfully February is prime time for chasing coyotes and fox here in central Minnesota.
These predators have adapted to our terrain and have successfully become the most efficient and prolific critters in the field.
I spend a lot of time searching for these predators during February by hitting the road and using prime quality optics to spot and stalk these amazing animals.
You are matching wits with some very intelligent creatures that know how the game is played and have terrific instincts for avoiding their human counter parts.
Below are some thoughts on sharpening your coyote and fox skills.
The secret to spotting coyotes and fox in the wild is to know where to look, in places like sun-drenched snowbanks.
This is the first thing I look for as these predators will use these higher areas for security and visibility. They are almost always facing a southerly direction as the sun in the afternoon is at its peak.
By using top quality binoculars or spotting scopes, I scan the likely looking snowbanks and higher terrain.
Using budget-brand optics only frustrates the scanning.
You need to be able to tell if that is an old farm tractor tire in the field about 1,000 yards away or a sleeping fox.
I spent a lot of time over the years crawling up on old tires and pieces of wood thinking I as sneaking up on a critter.
Once you fail at this a few times, you will see the need for quality optics.
dictates success
As with anything in the outdoors, the weather is a major factor in determining your success.
The best days are very sunny with light winds.
Windy days or overcast days keep the fox and coyotes denned up and inactive. When you see the perfect weather conditions the day before, the next day will be the day to head into the field.
The cold temperatures don't seem to deter their movement.
I have hunted in temperatures as cold as 26 below zero and the predators are still active.
Cold doesn't seem to bother them.
I like to have a wingman along just for safety reasons but also so I can have a buddy tote a 12 gauge shotgun in reserve.
I prefer a centerfire rifle in .223 caliber most of the time but oftentimes you end up being within 50-70 yards away when a shotgun is the perfect solution. Number 4 buckshot is the perfect shotgun load for this type of hunting.
The most common ranges for this type of spotting and stalking is around 150-250 yards the majority of the time.
I like to sight in my rifle at the 200-yard mark which will be sufficient for anything around 100-250 yards.
You want to make sure you practice at these prime ranges so when the time comes in the field you are in automatic mode.
Most of the time you have very little time to think as your shots will be quick and fleeting.
Lots of pre-hunting practice will make the shot in the field much easier to make.
Steve Carney is a contributing writer to the Outdoors page.


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There's a lot of information on the web about Reiki - what it is and what you can use it for. There isn't much information, though, on how to turn Reiki into a business. That's why I decided to put this site together.
It's a blog, but I've set it up more like a regular website. This was deliberate. I like blogging, because blogs are easy to set up (especially here on Blogger), easy to post to, and generally more "user-friendly" than many regular sites. But the posts - "articles" - here won't be dated, because they really don't have a chronological order. That's also why there's no "Archive" section here. As I add articles I'll put links to them in the sidebar - just as on a regular site.
So feel free to look around and leave a question or comment (I've left that feature in) if you like. I'll try to keep this as easy to read as possible - in spite of the nature of the subject!


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House Blend Brewed Coffee Verismo® Pods
It's deceptively simple. A blend of fine Latin American beans roasted to a glistening, dark chestnut color. Loaded with flavor, balancing tastes of nut and cocoa, just a touch of sweetness from the roast. This coffee is our beginning, the very first blend we ever created for you back in 1971. And this one blend set the course for the way our master blenders and roasters work even today. A true reflection of us and a delicious cup of coffee, period. It all starts from here.
For use exclusively with the Verismo® System, these brewed coffee and espresso pods are made from Starbucks® coffee perfectly ground and proportioned to deliver the flavors you love from our cafés.
Pods are for single use only. Never reuse. Use coffee pod only with coffee brew cycle. Misuse of pods can damage machine.


text: WATSONVILLE, Calif., March 15, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- West Marine, Inc. (Nasdaq:WMAR) the largest specialty retailer of boating supplies and accessories today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a new share repurchase program through which West Marine, from time to time, may repurchase of its common stock in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions in an amount up to $10 million, with the amount and timing of repurchases to be determined by the company's management. This new program is being implemented primarily to mitigate the dilutive impact of shares issued under the company's omnibus equity incentive plan and its employee stock purchase plans. West Marine currently plans to implement the repurchase program after the release of results for the second fiscal quarter of 2013. Commenting on the new program, West Marine Chief Executive Officer Matthew Hyde said, "Our strong cash flow and solid financial position enable us to carry out this repurchase program, on a measured basis, without limiting our ability to invest capital in our key growth strategies." West Marine has no obligation to repurchase shares under the Board's authorization, and the timing, actual number and price of shares that are purchased will depend on a number of factors, including the market value of West Marine's common stock. West Marine may suspend or discontinue this repurchase program at any time. About West Marine West Marine, the largest specialty retailer of boating supplies and accessories, has 299 company-operated stores located in 38 states, Puerto Rico and Canada and five franchised stores in Turkey. Our Direct-to-Consumer operations, which comprises our call center, direct mail and e-commerce channels, offers customers over 75,000 products plus the convenience of exchanging catalog and e-commerce purchases at our store locations. Our Port Supply division is one of the largest wholesale distributors of marine equipment, serving boat manufacturers, marine services, commercial vessel operators and government agencies. For more information on West Marine's products and store locations, or to start shopping, visit westmarine.com or call 1-800-BOATING (1-800-262-8464).