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Forestry News
Weekly Forest News Digest from Greg Giuisti
Here's the weekly news digest from Greg Giuisti:
Jewell halts 'Blueways' program, E&E Daily, July 18, 2013
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell this morning said she has stopped a controversial program designed to recognize conservation of valuable watersheds, a move aimed at appeasing Republican critics ahead of a House hearing on the program this afternoon (E&E Daily, July 15). Jewell this morning told the Natural Resources Committee she has ordered a "pause" on the National Blueways program while she briefs herself on the issues. No new blueway designation will occur "until we figure out the future of the program," Jewell said......
Groups file FOIA request over Six Rivers National Forest Service maps, Catherine Wong, Eureak Times-Standard, 07/18/2013
Six Rivers National Forest Service officials said Wednesday that the Humboldt Coalition for Property Rights and multiple recreation groups have filed a Freedom of Information Act request for map data. Forest Service spokeswomen Peggi Lawrence said the office received the request by email on Tuesday from HumCPR, the Blue Ribbon Coalition, Disabled Adventure Outfitters and the Northern California Horsemen's Association. "We're currently looking for the requested material," she said......
Climate change forces US Forest Service to shift its strategy on larger fires,
Molly Peterson, 89.3 KPCC, July 17th, 2013
Climate change is forcing the US Forest Service to rethink how it fights large wildfires. Global warming has increased the intensity of fires, forcing the USFS to spend more and more of its money fighting them. Now the agency has decided that it should be less aggressive in attacking big blazes, so long as they are not threatening property. In 1991, the US Forest Service's spent 13 percent.....
Huge central Oregon timber stand could become carbon offset, Portland auctioneer says, Richard Cockle, The Oregonian, July 16, 2013
PRINEVILLE – Portland real estate agent John Rosenthal leans against the wooden railing of a fire lookout, gazing east toward the lonesome Mill Creek and Bridge Creek wilderness areas. Below the 80-foot structure spreads a rugged, 32,475-acre tapestry of a pine-fir-larch forest that Rosenthal plans to auction July 25 in an unusual timberland sale. Rosenthal believes buyers will be as interested in carbon sequestration and recreational uses as they are in the timber volume of the huge stand belonging to Ochoco Lumber Co......
California Coastal Commission: Bill could give commission teeth to fine violators, Paul Rogers, San Jose Mercury News, 07/15/2013
Facebook billionaire Sean Parker's extravagant wedding last month made international headlines when he agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle violations of California's coastal laws for building rock walls, a stone bridge, a cottage, dance floor and other structures in a sensitive Big Sur forest without permits. But it turns out the case is the exception rather than the rule......
New round of fire fee bills coming, Michael Gardner, San Diego Union Tribune, July 13, 2013
SACRAMENTO — A controversial fire prevention fee charged to Californians who live in rural regions defended by CalFire enters its second year with a new round of bills going out Friday. The fee brought in a little less than $77 million the first year, according to a new state accounting of receipts that go through June 28......
ARB fines nine companies under greenhouse gas law, Capitol Weekly, July 12, 2013
State officials have fined nine companies for violating California's greenhouse gas law, which requires facilities to annually report their emissions. The fines totaled $285,000, with the largest single penalty, $120,000, levied against ExxonMobil, the Air Resources Board announced......
DC Circuit ruling leaves door wide open for EPA to quickly amend greenhouse gas regulations, National Alliance of Forest Owners, July 12, 2013
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (DC Circuit) in Center for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday vacated EPA's three-year deferral of the agency's greenhouse gas regulations (Tailoring Rule) for biomass on strictly technical grounds. Although the Court found that EPA did not adequately justify its deferral decision in the administrative record, the Court left wide open the prospect that EPA can proceed with its amendments to the Tailoring Rule to appropriately account for the carbon benefits of biomass energy. .....
Court rejects EPA rule that deferred carbon standards for biomass industry, Greenwire, July 12, 2013
A three-judge panel scrapped a U.S. EPA rule today that had given biomass-burning facilities a pass on compliance with federal greenhouse gas emission standards. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit panel found EPA failed to justify its 2011 decision that provided a three-year exemption to its greenhouse gas rules for facilities that burn materials ranging from wood and algae to scrap tires......
Firefighter risks grow as development sprawls into woodlands, Greenwire, July 11, 2013
"Be firewise. Create defensible space." About 50 signs carrying that message are found all over the city of Prescott, Ariz., and in surrounding communities, reminding residents that they live in one of the most fire-prone areas of the West. The signs have been in place for about a decade. Yet many homes in the Prescott area still have trees brushing against rooftops, shrubs hugging walls and firewood stacked by the back door -- all of which can help a wildfire jump from forest to house or vice versa......
Home prices rise in May by most in 7 years, Christopher S. Rugaber, USA Today, July 2, 2013
Housing prices experienced their biggest jump in 7 years in the month of May, a sign that the housing recovery is gaining speed. Story Highlights
• Home prices in May were up 12.2% from a year ago
• Prices rose in every state except Delaware and Alabama
• Prices rose 2.6% from April to May.....
Blossoming California Naturalist program generates new stewards of the earth
Before dawn at UC's Sagehen Creek Field Station north of Truckee, wildlife biologist Walter Clevenger sets up almost invisible nets to capture birds rising from their roosts.
After measuring their wings and gently blowing aside the feathers on their tiny pink abdomens to determine gender and general health, Clevenger sets the birds free. All the data is recorded by California Naturalist Jen Cubias.
California Naturalist Kaitlin Backlund of Truckee visits the 450-acre station several times a week. She trains volunteers to monitor plants, animals and insects at the site using the phone app/website iNaturalist.
Both Cubias and Backlund were members of Sagehen's first class of California Naturalists, who were certified in 2012. Another 10-week class is underway at Sagehen this summer and an intensive one-week class was held July 8-14. California Naturalist classes are being offered by University of California Cooperative Extension and collaborating organizations up and down the state, including Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Mendocino, Santa Ana and Pasadena.
The program champions the state's unique ecology and engages volunteers in stewardship and study of California's natural world. A love of nature and a desire to share their passion prompt people to commit time to becoming and serving as California Naturalists.
Forest ecology is a natural for the Sagehen Creek course. The woods of the Sagehen Creek watershed were clear cut in the late 1800s to build the Transcontinental Railroad and shore up mines in Virginia City, said Sagehen director Jeff Brown.
Trees grew back, but the suppression of intermittent fires that under natural circumstances create a diverse forest environment with sugar pine, Jeffrey pine and ponderosa pine instead favors dense stands of white fir and underbrush, which could fuel a catastrophic fire.
"It's time to do something," Brown said.
Brown is working with Scott Conway, vegetation management officer with the U.S. Forest Service Truckee Ranger District, to employ a complex management system in the Sagehen basin that takes into consideration wildlife needs, slope, aspect, ridges and drainages to establish locations for prescribed burning, discontinuous logging and smart planting.
"According to computer models, these treatments will work like speed bumps for fire," Conway said. "We'll also be encouraging a return to Sagehen's natural forest diversity."
Mike Hamilton, a lifelong naturalist and director of UC's Blue Oak Ranch Reserve in Santa Clara County, took Sagehen's aspiring naturalists on a botany tour of the station. With the diversity of plants to view, the group didn't go far.
"A typical botany walk is 100 inches, and then the day is over," Hamilton said.
The sundew is a native carnivorous plant with prickly leaves that emit a sticky liquid, trapping tiny insects for food.
"It's the coolest plant in the Sierra Nevada," Hamilton said.
A session on wildlife included hands-on viewing of preserved wild animals that are found at the station, including bats, shrews, mountain lions, beavers and flying squirrels. During a water monitoring session, naturalists analyzed water samples to determine the dissolved oxygen, nitrate level and alkalinity in Sagehen Creek.
"This valley was here at least 5 million years before Yosemite Valley was formed," Raines said. "But it wasn't 7,000 feet high back then."
During a geology walk, Raines asked the group how a several million-year-old and very large granite boulder could be found on top of the much younger andecite deposit.
"Probably a glacier," he said.
Learning about nature is critical for California Naturalists, but learning to interpret nature is equally important. The program prepares its volunteers by introducing the iNaturalist.org website/app for cataloging observations of plants, insects and wildlife into a database that can be used for scientific research. The aspiring naturalists also learn about interpretation of nature through art – such as storytelling, journaling, photography and drawing.
"Interpretation involves making meaning and forming connections, not just rattling off facts," said Laura Cassidy Rogers, a doctoral student in modern thought and literature at Stanford University. "Let the natural world be your guide. Capitalize on happenstance sightings and zero in on what your constituents find interesting."
All participants conduct a "capstone project" to complete California Naturalist certification. The capstone encourages the naturalists to apply their new skills by taking part in citizen science, offering interpretive opportunities to the public, providing program support to their sponsoring organizations or conducting stewardship work that benefits the California natural environment. To learn more, see the California Naturalist website.
Weekly Forest News Digest from Greg Giuisti
Here's the weekly news digest from Greg Giuisti:
Groups oppose listing of frogs, toads under ESA, Kate Campbell
Ag Alert, July 10, 201
An outpouring of comments on proposed listing under the federal Endangered Species Act of two California frog species and the Yosemite toad has prompted reopening of the public comment period. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said listing the species for protection could include designating about 1.8 million acres in 17 California counties as critical habitat and restrict grazing and recreation activities on public land.....
CA Sierra Club rips energy source that's cut emissions: natural gas, Chris Reed
Cal Watchdog, July 8, 2013
A visit to the California Sierra Club's priorities page illustrates one of the funniest and most ironic public-policy developments of our time. The club's top three priorities are getting California "Beyond Coal," "Beyond Oil" and "Beyond Natural Gas." All fossil fuels are evil, you see. But it is the gigantic boom in natural gas — not the....
Quincy Library Group contemplates its future, Debra Moore, Plumas County News, 7/8/2013
Though Congress has not yet renewed the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery Act, and the prospect seems unlikely, the legislation's influence will be felt for years to come. Many of the timber harvest projects developed under the Quincy Library Group model are in the Forest Service pipeline, but perhaps even more critical is its legacy. .....
California's Market for Hard-to-Verify Carbon Offsets Could Let Industry Pollute as Usual, Maureen Nandini Mitra and Michael Stoll, Earth Island Journal
San Francisco Public Press, Jul 8 2013
Timber, dairy and chemical companies line up to sell credits to biggest emitters
One hot day this spring John Buckley scrambled up a dusty slope of a patch of deforested land in the middle of California's Stanislaus National Forest in the Sierra Nevada, five miles west of Yosemite National Park, and surveyed the bleak landscape: 20 acres of blackened tree stumps and the shriveled remains of undergrowth. On neighboring ridges, similar brown expanses dotted the green forest canopy. .....
'One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire' campaign U.S. Forest Service Sierra Star, July 8, 2013
The U.S. Forest Service and other land management agencies have a new fire safety campaign in California. The 'One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire' campaign is designed to provide constant reminders during this fire season to reduce the numbers of human-caused vehicle and equipment wildfires throughout the state......
Biomass company excited to be headquartered in Sacramento, Mark Glover, Merced Sun Star, July 7, 2013
Situated amid homes in a quiet, leafy section of midtown Sacramento is the headquarters of one of the nation's leading biomass energy firms. "We're probably No. 4 or 5 in the country right now, but we want to be the largest," says Hugh Smith, president and CEO of Greenleaf Power LLC. Given what Greenleaf has done in short order in the comparatively young biomass power industry, Smith's words don't come off as an idle boast......
Wildfire Season So Far: Tragic, Destructive And Below Average, Howard Berkes
Capitol Public Radio, July 3, 2013
So far during the 2013 wildfire season, more than 800 homes and businesses have burned to the ground, nearly 1.6 million acres were scorched and over 23,000 blazes have required suppression. And two dozen firefighters have died. But as dramatic as it's been, the season has yet to kick into high gear. It may seem like wildfire Armageddon out there, given the tragic deaths of 24 wildland firefighters this year, more than 800 homes and businesses burned to the ground, nearly 1.6 million acres scorched and over 23,000 blazes requiring
Weekly Forest News Digest from Greg Giuisti
Here is a weekly digest of California forestry news by Greg Giuisti:
US Forest Service awards nearly $2.5M for renewable energy projects, Federal grants support the development of clean renewable energy, help reduce the risk of wildfire and provide economic opportunities to rural communities, June 20, 2013
U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell today announced the award of nearly $2.5 million in grants to 10 small businesses and community groups for wood-to-energy projects that will help expand regional economies and create new jobs. "These grants help grow new jobs, support clean energy production and improve our local environments, especially in reducing fire threats," said Tidwell. "Communities from Massachusetts to Alaska will benefit from the program this year.".....
House defeats farm bill in surprise move, Paul Kane, Washington Post, June 20, 2013,
A broad five-year farm bill went down to a surprise defeat in the House on Thursday when Republican conservatives revolted against the legislation, arguing that it would cost too much, while Democrats defected, saying it would not spend enough on their priorities. The 234 to 195 vote was the latest rebuke to House GOP leaders, who have struggled to muster enough control of the chamber to pass major legislation......
As fires rage, feds cut funding on prevention, Sacramento Bee, June 19, 2013
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- As the West battles one catastrophic wildfire after another, the federal government is spending less and less on its main program for preventing blazes in the first place. A combination of government austerity and the ballooning cost of battling the ruinous fires has taken a bite out of federal efforts to remove the dead trees and flammable underbrush that clog Western forests. .....
Secretaries Vilsack and Jewell highlight federal preparedness for 2013 Western wildfire season, Forest Business Network, June 12, 2013
During a visit to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell outlined the Federal Government's efforts to ensure collaboration in protecting Americans from wildfire, and urged homeowners and local communities to take steps to reduce their risks during the 2013 fire season. The outlook for the fire season is severe across much of the Western United States......
House boosts funding for prevention, Phil Taylor, Greenwire, Friday, June 7, 2013, (subscription required)
The House yesterday passed a bill boosting funding for projects that reduce the cost and severity of wildfires. The measure was included as an amendment to H.R. 2217, a $38.9 billion bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security that passed the chamber on a mostly party-line vote. The wildfire language by Reps. Scott Tipton (R-Colo.) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.) would provide an additional $7.7 million to the pre-disaster mitigation fund at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provides grants to state, local and tribal governments and to universities to reduce the risks of disasters, including wildfires. Projects could include creation of "defensible space" around homes, the construction or retrofitting of structures with flame-resistant materials or the thinning of hazardous fuels around structures......
Climate expert takes on new Calif. job with adaptation focus, Anne C. Mulkern, ClimateWire, June 18, 2013 (subscription required)
A climate change expert has been named to the California Natural Resources Agency, where she'll work in part on adaptation planning. Gov. Jerry Brown (D) appointed Amber Pairis, 38, assistant secretary for climate change at the department. The La Jolla resident will be supporting the secretary for natural resources on climate-related work.....
Watering the forest for the trees' emerging as priority for forest management, Forest Business Network, June 18, 2013
A new analysis led by the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station encourages resource managers to consider a broadened view of forests as consumers of water. A shift in thinking toward reducing the risk of water stress to vegetation can help forests maintain their resilience and health in a changing climate, according to a paper published online in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment......
Ninth Circuit Holds Cumulative Effects Analysis Not Necessary For Informal Consultation, Ben Rubin, | JDSUPRA Law News, 6/18/2013
In a published opinion (pdf) affirming the denial of preliminary injunctive relief, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that "there is no statutory mandate to consider cumulative effects during informal consultation." Conservation Congress v. U.S. Forest Serv., No. 12-16452 (June 13, 2012). In order to address issues in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service proposed the Mudflow Vegetation Management Project (Project). The Project included a variety of activities, including thinning, sanitation, and
regeneration. Because the Project area included designated critical habitat for the threatened Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), the Forest Service prepared a biological assessment (BA) analyzing the impacts of the Project on the Owl and its critical habitat......
Court agrees to drop Sierra logging case, Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, June 17, 2013
After fighting a government plan to increase logging in Sierra forests throughout California all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, a conservation group concluded it might hurt its cause more than it would help. On Monday, the court granted its request to drop the case. The plan allows logging to more than triple on 11.5 million acres in 11 Sierra forests. The Bush administration adopted the plan in 2004, saying it would reduce fire dangers, and the Obama administration has defended it in court......
Housing starts climb 6.8% in May, Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, June 18, 2013
Home builders ramped up construction in May, providing an economic boost while they sought to take advantage of an improving housing market defined by low inventory. Housing starts increased 6.8% from revised April figures to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 914,000, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. That was 28.6% higher than May 2012.......
TD forecasts lumber prices will rise 30% by end of 2014, John Shmuel
Trading Desk, 13/06/13
Lumber prices have fallen more than 25% since their peak in mid-April, but TD expects prices will rebound by 40% by the end of next year. A new report from TD predicts the recent slump in lumber, which has seen prices drop 25% in the past two months, will reverse course by next year. North American lumber prices reached a nine-and-a-half year high in mid-April, boosted by increasingly more optimistic numbers from U.S. housing. But several factors this year have conspired to wipe away most of the price gains seen in the past 12 months......
Senate panel OKs renewal of timber county funding, JEFF BARNARD, San Francisco Chronicle, June 18, 2013
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — A U. S. Senate committee on Tuesday endorsed legislation to extend federal subsidies for timber counties one more year, and to protect more wilderness and wild rivers in Oregon. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said the two bills are part of his effort to solve the funding crisis for Oregon timber counties, which are struggling to finance law enforcement, and other services, in the wake of expired subsidies and voter reluctance to increase taxes......
New tool determines areas at high risk of forest fire, Tahoe Daily Tribune, June 18, 2013
With California officials predicting the worst fire season in a century, finding areas at high risk of wildfire before the flames start is crucial. That's how a new tool to help forest managers assess regions exposed to multiple threats could save lives and resources. A May study published in the "Journal of Forestry" offers a way to identify areas where wildfire, insects and disease, and
urban development threats intersect. "Rather than looking at these individual threats, they can see where these threats combine," the study's lead author Jeff
Kline said. "It matters where these threats overlap."....
New Study: Adopting a Single Forestry Certification Standard Would Destroy American Jobs, Hurt Regional Economies, PR Newswire, June 17, 2013
ARLINGTON, Va.-- While some activist environmental groups push for a
monopoly, a new study released today found that a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) monopoly on forest certification in the U.S. could destroy tens of thousands of American jobs and hurt forest economies in the South and the Pacific Northwest. The study also found that a FSC monopoly would significantly reduce wood flows in the U.S., resulting in ubstantial economic losses for landowners and job loss for direct employees such as foresters, loggers, and millworkers......
Delimbinator makes its West Coast debut, Debra Moore, Staff Writer
Plumas County News, 6/13/2013
Forest Service personnel and timber industry leaders gathered June 5 just north of Graeagle to get their first look at the "delimbinator" — a device that can delimb a grapple full of logs at one time. According to Greenville logger Randy Pew, this is the first machine of its kind to operate west of the Mississippi and it is pivotal to the success of his family's latest business venture. His son, Jared, has started a new logging company, J&C Enterprises. While the younger Pew is still bidding traditional logging jobs, he is also working with his father on the new venture, which involves the delimbinator......
UC Berkeley Environmental Manager Tom Klatt talks about hillside tree-removal plan
reprinted from Public Affairs, UC Berkeley | May 31, 2013
Public comment to FEMA has been invited through June 17. As the public considers the project, UC Berkeley's Tom Klatt, campus environmental manager and a member of the UC Fire Mitigation Committee, answered the NewsCenter's questions about it.
Q: Why does UC Berkeley want to cut down trees in the hills?
A: In 1973, H.H. Biswell, professor of forestry and conservation at UC Berkeley, made this prophetic statement: "When eucalyptus waste catches fire, an updraft is created and strong winds may blow flaming bark for a great distance. I think the eucalyptus is the worst tree anywhere as far as fire hazard is concerned. If some of that flaming bark should be blown on to shake roofs in the hills we might have a firestorm that would literally suck the roofs off the houses. People might be trapped."
Biswell was absolutely right. Eucalyptus, planted by land speculators, along with equally flammable Monterey pines, have been implicated in several disastrous conflagrations in the East Bay hills, especially the deadly 1991 firestorm that took 25 lives, destroyed more than 3,000 homes and cost $1.5 billion.
Reducing this risk means removing high-risk trees and vegetation.
Tom Klatt, manager of Emergency Services, at work clearing trail and brush in Strawberry Canyon in December 2005. (NewsCenter photo by Jeffery Kahn)
Eucalyptus are a special risk because they drop tons of dead leaves and branches on the forest floor, litter that provides excessive fuel to fires. Their low branches serve as fuel ladders up to their high crowns, and their volatile oils burn hot and fast. When eucalyptus catch fire, flames shoot up to the crowns, which send embers flying. High winds can carry the embers across firebreaks and clearings and into residential areas.
Eucalyptus groves on steep hillsides — like those in the East Bay hills — are extremely flammable when hot Diablo winds of late summer and fall start blowing and make control of a moving flame front impossible until the winds stop.
As a result, CalFIRE (the state firefighting agency) has categorized the East Bay hills, particularly Berkeley and Oakland, as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
Q: Is cutting down trees the only option for reducing the hazard?
A: Australia, where eucalyptus are native, uses prescribed burns to keep fuel loads below six tons per acre in wildland areas and two tons per acre near homes. Mechanical methods can also be used to remove large amounts of vegetation. But the practicability, costs and environmental impacts of doing so — and repeating the removal every five years — remains mind-boggling, especially on steep hillsides.
Reluctance to use prescribed burns in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills starts from the risk that a fire could escape near a residential area. Also, there is a lack of fire crews trained and experienced in the use of this technique near residential areas, and the climate window for prescribed fire on steep hillsides is narrow. Prescribed fire also has an impact on air quality, and carries significant costs.
Furthermore, the blue gum eucalyptus groves in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills are significantly different and apparently more flammable than groves of the same or similar varieties of eucalyptus near cities in Australia, according to recent research.
Q: Will more trees be planted to replace the eucalyptus?
A: Yes. In similar projects over the last 12 years, the university has found that native trees such as bay laurel, coast live oak, buckeye and willow readily colonize areas suitable for tree growth. Some areas will convert to native scrub or grassland, depending upon the slope, aspect and soil conditions. Historically, the hills have not been as heavily forested as we now find them. Rather, grassland and scrubland was much more common, with tree growth following the creeks, riparian zones and north-facing slopes.
Q: Don't oaks and other native trees burn too?
Yes, all vegetation will burn, given the right conditions. However, our native plants produce less litter and live biomass (fuel) and don't have the extreme ember-casting characteristics of the blue gum eucalyptus.
Q: And what about all those wood chips. Why leave them there, and aren't they a fire hazard too?
The wood chips do not pose a fire hazard. Composted wood chips produce only incidental flaming with smoldering as the primary form of combustion, according to research by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Retaining the wood chips also controls erosion, recycles nutrients and suppresses the germination of the millions of eucalyptus seeds that have accumulated beneath the trees. These seeds are viable for up to 10 to 12 years, but covering the heaviest seed accumulations with chips kills these potential trees without the use of herbicide. Lastly, retaining biomass on site avoids thousands of truck trips needed to haul the material 100 miles to a waste-reuse facility and saves substantial taxpayer dollars.
Q: Why is herbicide necessary?
A: The eucalyptus trees on UC land are not killed by felling alone. Virtually all of UC's eucalyptus trees have been cut at least once, many of them twice prior to 2001. It is estimated that more than 95 percent of the trees re-grew from their cut stumps. Had herbicide been used effectively in earlier work, this project would not be needed. However, the eucalyptus trees did re-grow, and instead of a single trunk, they grew as clusters of trunks, a far more hazardous condition from a fire-management perspective.
Q: How will the environment be protected during application of a herbicide?
A: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded that the use of herbicides is not likely to adversely affect either the endangered Alameda whipsnake nor the California red legged frog, and the National Marine Fisheries Services concluded there would be no adverse impact to fish or aquatic life proximate to the project areas. Strict best-management practices, rules and regulations will be followed at all times to ensure the application of herbicide is consistent with the hundreds of rules that regulate their use. These measures are fully outlined in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. (LINK) http://ebheis.cdmims.com
Q: Some people are upset about this. What do you tell them?
A: There should be absolutely no confusion or argument about the serious nature of fire risks in the East Bay hills.
Under normal weather conditions, fires that start in the hills are efficiently controlled by firefighters, and do not usually reach residential areas. During most of the year, temperatures are moderate and vegetation is relatively moist and fire-safe. Summers bring overnight and morning fog along the hills until noon, with moist midday winds blowing westerly in from the coast. Westerly winds can fan flames in a fire almost anytime during the year, but embers, if they are created, will be carried in an easterly direction away from East Bay hills' residential areas.
However, there are a few red-flag days each year when all of the conditions are in place for extreme wildfire, usually during August through November. On these days, vegetation will experience a "perfect firestorm condition" with unusually hot temperatures above 90 degrees, humidity below 10 percent and strong Diablo winds blowing from the east, over the high ridge tops and down leeward slopes into densely populated residential areas. Any eucalyptus grove fire that occurred under these conditions could produce millions of burning embers and firebrands that could blow over fuel breaks and other cleared areas and then drop to ignite homes and landscapes.
Three official reports — the 1995 Hills Emergency Forum Vegetation Management Consortium Plan, the 2010 Park District Fire Mitigation Plan EIR, and the 2013 FEMA East Bay Hills Hazardous Fire Risk Reduction EIS — clearly document the problem and identify eucalyptus and pine groves as contributors to this area's high-risk fire hazard potential.
As a responsible agency, UC is fulfilling its obligation to mitigate this risk on land under its control.
Q: How will the tree-management project affect wildlife?
A: The project should be beneficial to many species of wildlife, resulting in both greater diversity and abundance of native plants and animals. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded that the UC project will remove zero acres of habitat suitable for the endangered whipsnake and will result in over 120 acres of new snake habitat, as well as reversing the ongoing loss of habitat as the eucalyptus groves expand over time.
Q: Has this been done before, and if so, what were the effects?
A: While the earliest UC efforts were not successful in eliminating the eucalyptus, projects undertaken using the FEMA-proposed methodology have resulted in the removal of over 19,000 re-sprouted trees on 185 acres in the UC hill area over the past 12 years. Not only have the eucalyptus and pine been effectively extirpated, native plant and animal communities have grown phenomenally without the competition from the large, tall, invasive trees.
A demonstration forest is growing at the top of Claremont Canyon; the south side of the road was cleared of eucalyptus and pine, while the north side has a dense eucalyptus overstory. The treated side has achieved a substantial biodiversity in just over a decade, and is on the path to becoming a sustainable, native-plant community that is thriving and teeming with life. Of course, these plants can burn, but are expected to burn with far less intensity, with lower frequency and in smaller fire footprints. Most importantly, eucalyptus trees and the potential for their shooting "roman candle" embers has been eliminated, successfully mitigating the fire risk to many thousands of Berkeley and Oakland residents.
More information about the project is available on a UC Berkeley fact sheet and on the the project website.
Written comments may be sent to FEMA before midnight on June 17, 2013 by email at firstname.lastname@example.com, by FAX at (510) 627-7147, or by mail to P.O. Box 72379, Oakland, CA 94612-8579.


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The story behind this collection is nearly as intriguing as the collection itself. The late Gavell was the managing editor of Psychiatry magazine and wrote stories, all unpublished, in her spare time. When she died at the age of 47 in 1967, the magazine published one of her stories—"The Rotifer"—as a tribute. The story was chosen for 1968's Best American Short Stories and then tabbed last year by John Updike for the Best American Short Stories of the Century, standing alongside those of Cather, Fitzgerald, Bellow, Carver and others. The 16 short fictions collected here prove that "The Rotifer" was no fluke; its easy complexity and sudden punch may remind readers of Alice Munro. Gavell's territory is that quintessential 1960s phenomenon, the nuclear family. With straightforward, cutting prose she unveils lives of elegant despair, much like Lorrie Moore, if Moore's characters were housewives who made appearances at the American Legion Hall. In "The Swing," an elderly woman is patiently sharing a house with an ailing husband. Their only son, emotionally reserved and uncommunicative, lives on the other side of town. One evening he walks into her backyard—except that it's her son of 30 years earlier, a warm, enthusiastic seven-year-old boy. The denouement is a gentle surprise. Gavell demonstrates her range in "Sober, Exper., Work Guar.," in which she inhabits the unconsciously funny voice of a working-class plasterer plying his trade in an upper-class home. If anything dates these stories, it's that they feature neat endings, but many readers may find comfort in that now-rare style of short-story writing. Anthony Gavell's tribute to his mother and an introduction by Kaye Gibbons illuminate Gavell's qualities as a writer and as a woman of her times. Agent, David McCormick. (Aug. 21)
Release date: 08/01/2001

subset: commoncrawl


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Molson Coors Canada has launched Mad Jack Apple Lager, a new alternative for beer and cider lovers that's the first of its kind in the brand's portfolio.
Billed as having a blend of sweetness and apple flavour, the lager will be available June 9 in Quebec beer and liquor stores and at Beer Store locations across Ontario.
Mad Jack Apple Lager is aimed at consumers who don't like the bitterness of traditional beers, said Paul Weaver, manager of innovation at Molson Coors.
"They're looking for a sweeter taste, something that's different than the standard lager and different than what's in the market for traditional coolers and ciders and wines."
The idea to create the product was born from in-house research highlighting the evolution of Canadian beer palates, Weaver said.
A campaign to support Mad Jack Apple Lager called "Crazy Good" is set to launch in both Quebec and Ontario at the end of June and run throughout the summer. Elements will include out-of-home, social media, and in-store sampling. Creative – developed by Monk Williams – will focus on building consumer awareness.
"We're trying to be very explicit and direct in our initial launch. People don't know what an apple lager is, they don't know what to expect when they buy the product. All of our communication is built around communicating that this product is new, premium, has a deliciously crisp apple taste, is very refreshing, and above all very accessible," Weaver said.
MEC is doing the media buy for "Crazy Good" and Harbinger is handling PR.


text:
Sad Christmas memories for Kim Kardashian!
The reality star, 30, tells JustJared about her best, yet most heartbreaking, holiday present ever: a puppy she got "when I was really little."
"Valentina was its name, but then she died two weeks later," Kardashian says, explaining that the puppy died of "snail poisoning."
Snail poisoning?!
"You know when snails leave a little trail? [Valentina] got super excited and ate it and died," she says.
But Kim was "super excited and emotional" when she met Valentina for the first time -- unlike her big sister Kourtney, now 31.
"Kourtney would come down [Christmas morning] and wouldn't care, and she didn't really care that it was Christmas, while I was like, 'Oh my God! I got a puppy!' We were so different!"
"Kourtney never just cared" about the holiday, she added. "But I love Christmas, it's our family's favorite holiday."


text:
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text:
Welcome to Experts at Laurier, a one-stop media resource featuring a broad database of experts who have agreed to make themselves available for media interviews. Contact them directly or call a media relations officer at 519-884-0710, ext. 3067 or 3070.
To search for a topic containing multiple words, please enclose the term in quotation marks, for example, "Canadian history"
Search Results
Your search returned the following Experts.
Click on the person's name for more information.
Professor, Kinesiology & Physical Education, Graduate Coordinator
Areas of Expertise: Health; Aging; Fall prevention for seniors; Risk factors for falling; Parents of children with cancer; Living with gastrointestinal disorders (Irritable Bowel Syndrome/ Inflammatory Bowel Disease)
Biography: Dr. Fletchers research interests are diverse in nature and are linked by the common thread of risk, or more specifically, risk reduction. Her research program broadly deals with health and well-being. The overall goal of this research is to…
519.884.0710 ext.4159


text:
The year is 2000 and it's Soapdom's very first interview with Galen Gering
There is nothing better than having the hum drum of the daily office routine interrupted by a surprise phone call. Well, maybe there is, but not when the surprise caller is Galen Gering (Luis, Passions)! We exchanged the requisite pleasantries, and he tells me about his new website, galengering.com. Then, we talk about how he won the role of Harmony's favorite Deputy Sheriff.
"To be honest with you, getting the part was really difficult and really easy," he said. "The most difficult aspect was that I was actually enrolled in the university at the time when the auditioning was taking place. I was in my last semester, and was really focused on what I was doing in school."
Which was studying to become a filmmaker. "Writing and directing. Behind the camera stuff," notes Gering. His going out for the role of Luis came together unexpectedly. He almost didn't audition.
"My agent sort of pushed it on me," said Gering. "It just came together. It was really strange the way it happened, because it was a little hard for me to take seriously at first. I thought I had a lot of other opportunities behind the camera building for me, and I was working very hard to make those happen."
Which turned out to be a blessing. The fact that Gering wasn't obsessing over getting the role probably assisted in his landing it. Lucky for us! "I wasn't really stressed out or nervous about the part," he said. "Or about getting it or not getting it. Because I had my other goals. But when I finally decided to go for it, the first and second screen tests were right in the middle of my finals!"
Not that big a deal, I suppose. It is very possible to study and take finals and audition at the same time. Even when there's about 3000 or so miles in between doing each thing! Passions auditioned its actors here in Los Angeles. Gering was in school at the University of Miami!
"I was flying back and forth," said Gering with a laugh, "taking the red-eye, staying up all night on the airplane, arriving in Miami. (Then I) would sit at my computer for three hours, write a report, go in and take two finals, drop off the report, go back home, study for a test the next day, take that test, fly back out to LA – it was pretty crazy!"
Give this guy a lot of credit! Not only did he get the part of Luis, he aced his finals and graduated in the top of his class! "It all worked out pretty well, " he said.
Gering had some previous acting experience, but believes that being in a front-burner story on soaps is like a boot camp for actors.
"I did some acting before this. Not a whole lot. So I am learning a lot as we go along," said Gering. "What I had done, if I'd done something, it wasn't nearly this amount (of material). In daytime, if your character is in a major storyline, you're just working a lot. A lot! You're working every day, five days a week. And that's great practice. And if you're focused, it's a wonderful opportunity, not only to get exposure, but to get practice, and to make a living."
As we know, Gering is definitely in a major storyline right now. It's keeping him pretty busy. "I have today off, and I had yesterday off," he said. "But that's only because I shot 13 episodes last week!"
Gering doesn't mind working so hard, especially since he gets to work with co-star, McKenzie Westmore (Sheridan). "It's great! She's wonderful," said Gering. "She comes from great roots working in this business. She understands how it works and she is not an affected person. She's not jaded in any way. Everything is still sort of new to her, I think, and that's great -- especially in this business -- to be working with someone like that. And she's funny! We have a really good time."
Of course, there is the matter of taping those "sizzle alert" love scenes. "The love scenes are fun to shoot," said Gering. "They're funny! We haven't really had love scenes outside of the fantasy ones yet, and those are kind of silly. But the ones where we really connect is the most fun, because we have these little moments and it makes you want to laugh because you've created this sense of being a teenager in high school again, meeting that girl you really dig, and that is really fun."
For the sexy, steamy, passion-filled tango scenes, both Gering and Westmore put in extra effort. "The tango stuff takes a little work," said Gering. "We get lessons, and then everything is choreographed for the cameras," which takes a lot of time and focus.
One thing's for sure. All that hard work is paying off. Sheridan and Luis are definitely the super couple of Y2K. I'll never forget the very first scene of the very first episode of Passions last July. It was Luis and Miguel driving past the Crane Mansion. It was easy to predict, even from first glance, that Gering would become a star.
As we were wrapping up, I asked Gering if he was picking up any pointers on filmmaking being an actor on a soap. "Yes," he said. "But I have to admit, I was probably learning more when I was studying, and making my own films. Just because that's a different focus. But yes! Absolutely. Especially because the way we shoot is totally different from the way I would shoot. Passions really can't afford the luxury of creative shots or really setting up a shot. They have to get coverage. They have so much to cover. They shoot an hour (show) a day! I'd spend three months making a 10-minute film," he said with a laugh. "It's a totally different process here (on Passions)."
Even from this brief first encounter with Harmony's die-hard deputy, it's easy to see that Gering has a wonderful future in the entertainment industry, whether he continues with acting, or returns at some point to his original dream of writing and directing. We wish him all the best.
Oh. One last thing. About the headline for this article. TRO does not succumb to blatant drooling, or exploiting the looks and finely-sculpted physiques of the stars of daytime in any way. Galen Gering is charming, intelligent, has focus, and ambition. Him a hunk? Nah. Nope. Sorry. That doesn't begin to describe him. He is out and out, make no mistake about it, drop-dead gorgeous! But the alliteration was just too darn good to pass up. ;o)
Related Features
- Passions @ Soapdom
- Galen Gering Bio
- Passions/Days of our Lives Softball Game
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text: Speaking as a newbie, I find the "import scipy (which?)" ambiguity confusing enough to be annoying. I can't think of any advantage of overlapping the namespaces. I nominate sciarray or numsci as potential replacements. Brendan -- Brendan Simons, Project Engineering Stern Laboratories, Hamilton Ontario On 31-Dec-05, at 7:08 PM, Travis wrote: > > > I would like to hear some more opinions about this. The one that is > most convincing to me is that > you can't tell if something comes from full scipy or scipy_core > just by > looking at the import statement. > > That's an interesting concern. I know, this would require quite a bit > of re-factoring. So, I'm not sure it is worth it. > It might help with the image of scipy_core. > > We could call the scipy_core package scicore, or numcore, if that > is the > only concern. The biggest concern is that right now, a lot of the > sub-package management system is builtin to scipy_core from the get- > go. > That would have to be re-factored. I'm not sure how easy that > would be. > > I'm ambivalent at this point, and mostly concerned with "moving > forward" > and having people view scipy_core as relatively stable.... > > -Travis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://projects.scipy.org/pipermail/scipy-dev/attachments/20060101/5a82d96c/attachment.html


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BRIAN KELLY: Had our first bowl practice. Liked the energy out there. Got some good work in today, about an hour and a half worth. We're off and running. We'll take some time off. We'll go back out Friday and Saturday, which is also our awards banquet. We'll have a number of recruits up. We'll have a pretty good weekend for our recruits here where we'll have our awards banquet, practice, get a couple of days -- Friday and Saturday -- with our team as well.
Good day today. Good to get them back out there. Got some good work, 11‑on‑11, good action today. I was pleased with today's practice.
QUESTION: Pinstripe Bowl, initial reaction?
BK: It's been a great place for us. I remember us being at Yankee Stadium, the way we were treated there. New York is certainly a great place for Notre Dame. We have great support in that area, subway alums. It's a home away from home. Chicago, New York, the West Coast has been great.
We'll be well‑received there. The Pinstripe Bowl has been terrific to work with. They've done everything to make it a great event for our players. So I'm really pleased with how they have really initiated and have followed up with making this a great event for our players.
Excited about the opportunity for our team.
Q: What do you hope to get out of this bowl experience? Sometimes it's getting a jump on 2014. Sometimes it's a reward.
BK: Well, we want to win the football game first. I want to send out our football team and build momentum into 2014 with a win. In particular, our seniors going out with a win, I think that's very important. They've meant so much to the program. I think that's first and foremost, getting a win for our seniors, and the momentum it builds going into 2014.
It's not a catapult into an undefeated season by any means. I don't want to overstate that. But it does leave a good feeling going into the off‑season when you win that football game.
Secondly, like today, I was able to work I think in the 11‑on‑11 today, which is our ones and twos working. I was able to get 20 reps of really good work with (freshman quarterback) Malik Zaire today. The young guys get a lot of work. (Freshman receiver) Torii Hunter and Malik working together today. (Freshman safety) Max Redfield played virtually all of 7‑on‑7. Those kind of guys getting out there today. That would probably be equally as important.
Q: How would you respond to those who say you have everything to lose and nothing to gain in this matchup?
BK: I don't see how that's the case. They're a BCS team. They beat Arkansas this year. They played Louisville, Fresno tough. They're going in the Big Ten. This team is going to be in the Big Ten this year. If we don't play well, they'll beat us. We have everything to lose. We want to win the football game.
I don't know what goes into that kind of thinking. I'm a football coach, so I don't think in those terms. We have to prepare our football team. We want to win for our program to get to nine wins. We want to win for our seniors.
In that preparation, if we can get some of our younger players some work during this bowl practice, this is a worthwhile time for us and very helpful for our program.
Q: I don't know if you were joking about a warm‑weather site initially, then some of the players talked about that. How did you get to a consensus on New York?
BK: There were three or four bowls that were certainly vying for Notre Dame as we were going through this process. The Poinsettia Bowl was certainly one those we were interested in. One of the things is we were going to be tied into some of these bowls, particularly the Pinstripe, once we entered into our new agreement. We were trying to look to getting into a bowl that we wouldn't have any alliances moving forward. SanDiego, being in the west, let's take a shot at that one. Once Northern Illinois lost that football game, that kind of evaporated any opportunity for us in that game.
The other one was the Hawaii Bowl. But because of our exam schedule, which took us through the 20th, we would have had to have gone out there on 21, 22, 23. It would have been practice, practice, practice, play the game. Then they don't hold the hotel rooms after the game for you. You have to leave or find other accommodations.
It would have been the guys go for three days, practice, play the game, then, all right, you got to go home. It just didn't make a lot of sense to go there three days, practice, play the game. If we could have stayed for two, three days after, have some things organized, maybe we could have done something with the Hawaii Bowl. It just didn't make a whole lot of sense for us to do that.
Q: When will you meet as a team in New York City?
BK: I think we're planning on Monday, the 23rd.
Q: Players go on break after the bowl or will you send them home?
BK: They'll stay here. We'll all go down together. They'll stay here. They'll finish up on the 20th with their exams. We'll stay here right through, then head out together, be in New York beginning on the 23rd.
Q: Will they have a chance to go home after the bowl?
BK: Oh, certainly. What we do is we fly them home, then it's on them to get back to Notre Dame.
Q: With kind of a condensed schedule, with finals and everything, how many practices can you get in?
BK: Total practices, we'll get 10 total practices in.
Q: Almost the allotment you were looking for?
BK: Yeah. It's not too bad. Works out okay.
Q: Will (senior defensive tackle) Louis (Nix) be going?
BK: No. Louis has signed with an agent, so he's not allowed to be part of the bowl in terms of bowl gifts, bowl travel, all of those things.
Q: Was there a conversation there about possibly delaying that so he could join you?
BK: I was not involved in that conversation.
Q: Any update with (junior defensive end) Stephon Tuitt?
BK: He's going to class, doing the deal. All we've done is put in his paperwork to get an evaluation from the NFL. I've had some preliminary conversations about his academic work. He still has some work to do academically. We haven't really delved into the depth of that yet.
Q: What do you think about Stephon? If he asked your opinion, what would you tell him?
BK: I think you have to measure out a lot of things in this process. My personal opinion is one that he'll have to ask for.
I think you come to Notre Dame to get a degree. I think getting your degree is very important in this whole process. But I think you look at Michael Floyd, Manti Te'o, Tyler Eifert, all those guys came back, got their degrees, went on and are having great careers in the NFL.
Louis has his degree, so I think his situation is a little bit different.
I personally think you come to Notre Dame, you want to get your degree. That wouldn't just be for Stephon Tuitt. That would be for anybody, coming to Notre Dame.
Q: Do you think Louis made the right choice?
BK: There's a lot of factors that are involved there. I think the most important choice he made was coming to Notre Dame and getting his degree. The rest of those, you know what I mean, they're splitting hairs.
We'll find out, right? You're taking a gamble no matter what.
But the most important decisions he had to make, I thought he got them right. That was coming to Notre Dame, getting his degree. I think he hit a home run on those.
Q: Even if Louis delayed the decision, would he have been able to be on the sidelines, given his knee?
BK: Oh, absolutely. He's at the point now where he can move around. He's able to do that.
Q: Were you expecting to have conversations with him about the NFL?
BK: We've had conversations about it. I didn't know about the signing with the agent until it was too late to inform him that by doing so, you know, you don't get your bowl hat, and you can't fly with us to New York.
Louis in New York would be cool, especially around Christmastime, so that was unfortunate. I'm sure he'll be fine.
Q: Where are you with (senior offensive lineman Chris) Watt and (senior defensive lineman) Kona (Schwenke), some of the other guys?
BK: Well, those guys have got opportunities that will present themselves --
Q: I meant injury‑wise.
BK: Watt is out. He's not going to need surgery, but he's not going to be able to play in the bowl game with the MCL. It's a two, three on a grade. It's going to require immobilization. He's immobilized right now. He won't be able to play.
Kona practiced today.
Q: Everybody else in pretty good shape?
BK: Quiz me on guys and I can help you.
Q: (Junior linebacker) Ishaq (Williams)?
BK: He practiced today. He looked pretty good.
In terms of the game itself, we had an ankle with (freshman receiver) Corey Robinson. He was a little ginger today. I think he's going to be fine.
I think guys that won't play that are significant would be Chris Watt was significant, and I think that's it from the game.
Q: How about (sophomore safety Elijah) Shumate and (junior safety Eilar) Hardy? Are they fully reinstated?
BK: Yes, they're reinstated.
Q: How is the mechanics of play‑calling going to work in the bowl game? Does that revert back to you? Do you want Mike to take the reins there?
BK: I'm going to coach the quarterbacks. Mike will coordinate the offense. He'll take lead in terms of the organization of our practices. But I'll be very involved in things. Haven't really made a decision on how the plays will come in yet. Still kind of thinking about that.
Q: You're going to put off hiring another coach, whether it be a coordinator --
BK: Yeah. It will be after the bowl game, but I don't know what direction I'm going to go yet. I could elevate somebody from within certainly or hire somebody as a coordinator, hire a quarterback coach, hire a position coach. All those are on the table for me right now.
Q: Were you surprised that Chuck (Martin) left? Did you expect that decision?
BK: No. I think the opportunity was a great opportunity at Miami of Ohio. I think it's a great program that can be quickly elevated back to its tradition‑rich successes that it's had. 0-12 last year.
I just think the timing was really right. I don't think Chuck was walking around here looking for a job. Our guys don't do that. But if presented with an opportunity like that, to run a program that has such great tradition like Miami of Ohio, I thought it was the right decision and I endorsed it.
Q: Chuck said he was out of a job when you hired him at Grand Valley. What do you remember initially hiring him in that process?
BK: He just had gotten fired at Eastern Michigan. He was on the staff at Eastern. I knew his football acumen. He's a very smart football coach. Just remember having a conversation with him, very short conversation, and knowing that he was going to be somebody that I wanted to hire. It didn't take me very long to know that he was a very good fit for me and what I was looking for. He'll do a great job at Miami. I think they made a great hire.
Q: Any advice you gave him when you were outgoing at Grand Valley?
BK: No. He was pretty sharp. You saw what he did. He kind of just continued to do a lot of the things that were in place. His personality came out. But ran the same systems. Really didn't try to reinvent the wheel. But his personality came out. He's a pretty sharp guy. He didn't need a lot of advice from me.
Q: Do you think beyond him, the rest of your staff will remain intact?
BK: You never know. I know that my coaches won't leave for lateral moves. They'll have to be leadership positions. So I'm certain of that. But if there's a head job out there that makes sense for one of the assistant coaches, I'd look at them. I have really good football coaches.
You never know. But, as I said, my guys aren't out sending résumés looking for jobs. If the right situation comes along, all these guys, especially the ones that have been with me a long time, they know what it looks like. They'd be great at running programs.
Q: The Pinstripe was great about making this event great for your players. What are some of the specific things they're willing to do?
BK: When you're dealing with our guys, it's bowl packages, right? It's just been a very attractive bowl package for our guys. I don't want to get into the details because I think we'd like to probably keep that amongst ourselves.
But when I was standing here in front of this big screen, I put up the powerpoint, I went from talking about the Pinstripe Bowl, had my guys' attention to they came out of their chairs when I showed them the bowl package. I didn't get that popular in a very short period of time. I can tell you they were very excited about the things they were going to get from the bowl package.
And it's New York. It's New York at Christmastime. Just the ability to do a lot of things. A lot of these guys haven't been to New York at that time. They were pretty excited about it.
Q: Did the bowl actively recruit Notre Dame? Would you characterize it that way?
BK: I would say that. John Mosley would not leave me alone. Quite honestly, I think I told him to get out of my office a couple of times. He was here for the weekend against BYU. I know John very well. My relationship goes back to Culver Academy with him. John is a great guy. They were here, and he wouldn't leave. He wouldn't take no for an answer.
We're excited about it. It's fresh in our memory about how we were treated by the Yankees, and they're going to make sure that happens again.
Q: You've talked previously about Everett (Golson) practicing before a bowl. Will he practice?
BK: No. We're not going to practice on the 21st. He won't get here. He's going up to New York to see his girlfriend. We're just not going to have the time and place to get him in to practice.
He may join us in New York for a few days, but we're not going to have a chance to get him in here to practice, assuming he's readmitted into school.
Q: He can't go with the team, but he can go to New York on his own, right?
BK: Yeah, we'll make sure we get that vetted through our compliance before I'm quoted as saying without question. We're assuming that he's readmitted. He can't do anything until the semester ends, which it ends on the 20th. So once exams end, now he's free to be part of what we do.
Q: So it would be the 21st?
BK: Exactly, but we're gone so soon, it didn't make any sense to do anything. He's heading up to New York. He had plans. I'm going to go down and see him on Monday. I'll have a lot more information in terms of his plans. I'm going to shoot down to Myrtle Beach on Monday.
Q: How do you feel he's handled that whole process from start to finish being away from the team?
BK: Well, I thought he initially handled it very well. His comments were right on, in my estimation. I think he took full responsibility for his actions, didn't back away from them.
I think his follow‑up -- which I had no idea he was going to be doing an interview with Sports Illustrated, I think that's who it was with -- I thought his comments were forthright. Quite frankly, I thought maybe a little bit too revealing. He talked about some things that I probably wouldn't have talked about.
But I think he took it straight on and never backed away from coming back to Notre Dame, wanting to be back here. I think he's been a stand‑up guy in this whole process.
Q: Do you feel like you will get a better quarterback than when he left, given his time with George Whitfield, or do you not know what you're getting?
BK: No, I think we're going to get a young man that is going to be a better quarterback, not because of necessarily what George did, though certainly George is very accomplished. I don't want to diminish what he can do, how he can help. I think we're going to get a better person and somebody that's even more committed. He's going to be so much more committed to being a better student, more committed to everything that he does.
I think that's going to be a better quarterback at Notre Dame. I can't see a scenario for him not being better at the quarterback position because of that.
Q: Have you been able to have more conversations on the fifth‑year status of some guys, especially with (cornerback) Lo (Wood) and (tight end) Alex (Welch)?
BK: Yeah. You guys know the situation quicker than I do most of the time. Lo, we gave him a release. Now, these guys will practice and play for me through the bowl game. That's their responsibility. They have to do that. So they'll be here through the bowl game. That's Lo and Alex right now.
Q: Anybody else who has looked for options fifth‑year?
BK: There's some other guys that I'll have to sit down with, but I don't want to get into that right now.
Q: Quarterback‑wise, would you have a preference of having four on scholarship for next season or do you think you can get by with three? I'm specifically asking, do you bring back an Andrew Hendirx or Luke Massa for that emergency option, or does somebody like (freshman) Rashad (Kinlaw) serve in that capacity?
BK: I think four quarterbacks on scholarship is heavy. But circumstances sometimes put you in that position, and the circumstances might be that you've inherited quarterbacks that have scholarships already. But if you're working through a natural progression, three and a preferred walk‑on would suit me just fine.
Q: Do you plan on keeping Rashad at quarterback or is he going to be a cornerback?
BK: No, he's going to play defense.
Q: (Interim offensive coordinator) Mike Denbrock was your offensive coordinator at Grand Valley at one point, right?
BK: Defensive coordinator.
Q: He hasn't coordinated the offense?
BK: Not that I remember. Could have. It's been a long time ago.
Q: Does his longevity with you help his ability to call plays and jump right into that role and perhaps hold onto that role?
BK: In terms of play calling itself? No, it doesn't cause me a concern relative to the game itself because he's called plays before, whether you're calling on offense or defense. I'm not that concerned about it. You have to have a feel and flow for the game. You have to be organized. You have to know down-and-distance on situations. He's been on offense long enough with this system, I wouldn't be that concerned.
He's got a long period of being in this offense and he's got a great deal of experience being around it. I would not hesitate to have him call plays in it at all.


text:
This property has been removed by the agent. It may be let or temporarily removed from the market
3 bedroom flat to rentWhittingehame, EH41
£2,850 pcm| £658 pw
Property Description
Letting information:
|Added on Rightmove:
|02 August 2012 (1875 days ago)
Key features
- Burglar Alarm
- Carpet flooring
- Central heating
- Dish washer
- Double Glazing
- Fridge freezer
- Garden access
- Microwave
- Off Street Parking
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Full description
Apartment 3 in Whittinghame House is arguably East Lothian's most impressive apartment. Extending to almost 6000 square feet, this vast and extremely impressive property is finished to the highest standard throughout.Clive Christian fitted the kitchen, library furniture, and the fitted furniture in the master bedroom and its en suite bathroom and dressing room. There are superb cornices in many of the rooms and wonderful views over the surrounding parkland.The master bedroom benefits from an extensive bathroom suite and dressing room, all with stunning views across the open countryside. There are 2 further bedrooms and 2 further bathrooms also.The property further benefits from many excellent reception rooms including a magnificent library with private terrace, a drawing room, a large dining room and a great kitchen kitchen stretching almost 30 feet.Externally there are 16 acres owned by the principal apartment on Whittinghame House, however all of the properties have access to these grounds. There is also parking for several cars.
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By Charles Konopa
May 20, 2006
|While waiting for Hollow Man to open up, we set up a toprope on this climb since we didn't have any trad gear, and we weren't up to the R rating. If I were to trad climb this route I'd bring a double set of micro nuts.
By Nathan Fisher
May 30, 2006
rating: 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a PG13
|Not as runout as the Ruckman guide lead me to believe, but they probably didn't have the plethora of micro-cams that I did. Excellent route, magnificent exposure, and solid climbing. Go lead this one. A bit of brass up high, and nothing larger than a #2 Camalot. There are a lot of cracks and features that take gear that don't appear until you are right there. Oh and do it without clipping the anchor to Wrecking Ball that is right there.
By Shaun Greene
From: www.UtahShaun.com
Aug 12, 2006
|This climb should see more action. It is a great climb! It actually protects very well, you just have to look a little harder for the placements and use some longer runners. Mostly small cams and nuts (RP size) only one set of nuts is necessary. Small (thin crack) placements but all are bomber. Dont let the R rating scare you away.
By Rockwood
From: West Jordan
Jun 16, 2010
|I enjoyed this climb way more than Hollow Man. The stemming start and underclings below the roof, plus the sweet view up the canyon you get looking over the top of the buttress when you pull up to the anchors...it all remind me of the reasons I love climbing. Don't pass this one up.
By Gabriel Tallent
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Jun 20, 2014
rating: 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R
|Perhaps this is an inappropriate venue for questions? Does anyone remember how much gear they were able to place? I am having trouble figuring out exactly where the climb goes and how runout it is. I'd like to give the line a try, but I'm not sure if it's just difficult gear placements and can be stitched up by a patient leader with a a rack of C3s, peanuts, and astro nuts, or if there really is very little gear and the climb is unprotected? Because, from the comments, it sounds like the climb might protect better than it appears.
By ddriver
From: SLC
Jun 25, 2014
|Traverse left under the roof, go up the dihedral, work straight and up finish left. Protects moderately well using small tcu's to mid-sized cams, nothing special needed. You don't "need" wires.
By Gabriel Tallent
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Jul 28, 2014
rating: 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R
Fantastic climb. Interesting up through the dihedral, traverse left and gain another dihedral, and than big, hero-sized moves on buckets and ledges up to the top. This should be done more often.
Can be top roped by climbing Broken Thumb, Tuff Enough, On a Whim, Nuth'n Tuff, anything that tops out, and walking to chains. Be careful with your rope. However, it is well worth the lead. The exposed section up top is thrilling.
By Stan Pitcher
From: SLC, UT
Aug 27, 2014
rating: 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
|I don't think this climb is R you can get quite a bit of gear all along it except for maybe the start. I usually traverse into the corner from the left and sometimes back-clean my first piece. Single set of cams to 3 camalot, nuts, and a few long slings should suffice.
By Mark Kadlec
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Jul 2, 2016
rating: 5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a R
What an exciting climb! The first lead was done by avoiding the runout top section and instead going up and right with some awesome mantling moves, I'm glad we did it, but then ended up top roping and doing the upper section and there are some fantastic jugs that also make this a great pitch.
In summary...worth doing twice!


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Beckhams make Facebook announcement about baby no.4
The Beckhams marked their return to Britain by announcing that Victoria is pregnant with their fourth child and due this summer.
David and Victoria shared the news with the world via Facebook . 'I've got some great news to tell you all,' wrote the footballer, who is set to join Tottenham Hotspur FC for a month.
'Victoria and I are expecting our fourth child this summer. The boys are very excited about the arrival of a new brother or sister.'
The former Spice Girl, 36, is due to give birth in the summer but spokeswoman Jo Milloy refused to reveal further details.
Both families were 'naturally delighted' with the announcement of a fourth child, she added.
Only last week, former Spice Girl Beckham spoke about how the superstar couple had not ruled out a new baby – although she doubted the chances of ever having a girl.
'Maybe one day another baby but at this stage I think the chances of a girl are quite slim,' she told the February edition of Vogue magazine.
Celebrity pals lined up to congratulate the pair, who have three sons – Brooklyn, 11, Romeo, eight, and five-year-old Cruz.
'WOW…Congratulations to @victoriabeckham and David…fourth child on the way!!!' tweeted Kylie Minogue.
And Amanda Holden added: 'Great News that the Beckham's are expecting their 4th child! Hope they get a pink one!'
Meanwhile, Spurs announced that LA Galaxy star Beckham, 35, will arrive at their Essex training ground today to meet medical staff, before returning tomorrow to train with the first team for a month.
Video: Beckhams expecting fourth child


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A couple of champion cyclists turned up to help out quite a few corporate types don the Lycra and seek glory on the road n Geelong yesterday for The Australian Financial Review's inaugural Corporate Cycling Challenge.
Reigning Tour de France champion
Cadel Evans was among the stars who turned out Corporate Cycling Challenge, the first Australian cycling event to offer corporate teams the chance to compete against the cream of Australia's cycling and other sporting talent.
Also on hand was three-time world time-trial champion
Competition was intense on the course, the same as the one used for the world road race championships in 2010, but alas even if Rogers and Evans had competed in that race their knowledge wasn't enough for their teams. Instead it was a team with some local knowledge, the Geelong property firm Gartland Real Estate, that won the day. We're sure they knew the 14-kilometre track pretty well, but the team's very impressive times showed that boss and cycling enthusiast
Even more impressively, there were no accidents from the race to report, going to show that the cycling abilities of the folks competing was pretty high.
Among those who turned up for the event were former AFL footballer
The Australian Financial Review


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1/4" FNPT Stainless Steel Pneumatic Ball Valve Inline
DYNAQUIP CONTROLS| Zoro #: G0603346| Mfr #: PVS21AJD01A
Zoro #: G0603346Mfr. Part #: PVS21AJD01A
$301.00 /ea
This item ships free. DetailsStandard ground shipping
Technical Specifications
|Zoro #: G0603346 Mfr #: PVS21AJD01A
|Valve Basic Body Material: Stainless Steel
|Ball Material: 316 stainless steel
|Required Pressure: 80 psi
|Max. Inlet Pressure: 120 psi
|Ball Valve Product Group: Actuated
|Standards: NEMA 4X
|Stem Material: 316 stainless steel
|Item: Pneumatic Actuated Ball Valve
|Connection Type: FNPT
|Body Material: Stainless steel
|Seat Material: RTFE
|Mount: Direct
|Body Seal Material: RPTFE
|Valve Structure: 3-Piece
|Max. Steam Pressure: 150 psi WSP
|Max. Pressure: 1000 psi CWP
|Port: Full
|Pipe Size: 1/4"
|Operation: Double Acting
|Body Style: Inline
|Temp. Range: -4 Degrees to 176 Degrees F
|Country of Origin (subject to change): China
Product Description
Shut off your fear of leaks and turn on superior control with this pneumatic actuated ball valve from DynaQuip Controls. This top-of-the-line pneumatic actuated ball valve is equipped with a 3-piece valve structure. It also has an inline body style and a FNPT connection. The temperature range is from -4 degrees to 176 degrees F. The seat is made of RTFE material. It fits a pipe size of 1/4". The ball is made of 316 Stainless Steel. It has a 316 Stainless Steel stem. It includes a full port. The body is made of stainless steel material. The pneumatic actuated ball valve has a maximum pressure of 1000 psi CWP.
Restrictions and Compliance
- This product has been certified by a third party to be compliant with the "Safe Drinking Water Act" requirements for low lead in potable (human consumption - drinking and cooking) and non-potable water applications (non-human consumption).


text: I didn't watch the 4th quarter. WR - Grade=C+. Why is it that Sage seems to use his receivers better than any other QB we have had? Dropped too many passes today. Why, when we throw deep it is to Kevin Walter almost every time? It seems to me that we should have attempted to throw deep to Jacoby Jones some today. TE - Grade=B. Daniels dropped a pass but, overall he, Putzier, and Driessen did okay. Why are we carrying so many TE on the roster and only 2 RB's? Oline - Grade=C. Not bad today, although too many blitzers came thru untouched and may not have been the fault of the oline totally. I saw White in the game at C late in the 3rd. QB - Grade = D. Too many turnovers. Sage deserves to start with his performances and Schaub is starting to feel the effects of the lack of talent in front and back of him so he could use a rest, anyway. (Repeat from last week) Sage appears to have better command of the game and utilizes his receivers better than Schaub. Sage appears to have a better presence once the ball is snapped. Schaub appears to be suffering some of Carr's disease... I knew he should have chosen a different number. RB - Grade=C-. Echenxxx looks like a keeper and Dayne actually got some positive yards today. FB - Grade=C. Good blocking, dropped a pass. DLine - Grade=D-. Outclassed by Charger oline all day. MLB - Grade=C-. Not having as good a year as last but, I attribute much of that to poor schemes and lack of talent around him. OLB - Grade=D. They are what they are ... bottom of the league. (Repeat from last week) CB - Grade=B-. Robinson had another good game and Bennett is coming on. S - Grade=F-. Let's see, the Chargers biggest receiving weapon is their all-pro TE and we can't seem to get coverage within 15 yards of him ...... ??? ST - Grade=D-. 4 of 5 KO returns I saw barely got past the 15 yard line! Pittman's high snap ..... I just don't see the value in using a roster spot on a long snapper. Coaching - Grade=C. A little more agressive on both sides of the ball. Why do other teams blitz schemes seem to work well and ours don't seem to have any effect at all? Looking at our schedule, I can now see us going 5-11 or 6-10 but, still a better team than last year. Okay that's my take on it, what's yours?


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Has anyone done a pull apart cupcake cake in the shape of the number 70? I'm stumped on a cake due this weekend -I have full control over what I do, so I thought this may work, but I have never even done a cupcake pull apart cake. Should I just scratch this idea?
No I wouldn't give up. Here's my idea. I would take a cake board and wrap it with pretty paper and you could either draw the # 70 straight on there or just position your cupcakes until they look like the # 70. Then put a dab of buttercream down under each cuppie so they don't slide and ice like it was a cake shaped liked 70. Hope this makes sense. I can see it in my head but I've never done one either. Maybe a pro can tell you. HTH
I did this: http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1226457
for our Pastor's little girl. I agree with Meemawfish. I think that is probably your best bet. I've TRIED pull apart cupcake cakes....uhhhh, not my best, shall we say? LOL
Oh that is very pretty Beth and I bet she loved it. My grandaughter loves that show.
Thanks! It really was easy because I worked on Charlie and Lola way ahead. Mia did love it!
could also just pack them together so that when iced they look like a standard sheet cake and then deco on top any ol' way you want.
there's templates in the template gallery to help w/ this -- choose the one that has circles to match the size of your cupcakes.
Yeah, I tried that....I think I'm "Cupcake Challenged" LOL


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Super Mario Sunshine
Review by ShadowGuardian9
"Mario's Time to Shine"
It's extremely difficult, nearly impossible to be a gamer and not know about Mario. Nintendo's main man for decades, Mario has grown to be one of the most recognizable faces in gaming history. Upon the release of the Nintendo 64, Mario moved from the 2-D side-scroller to the 3-D platformer, a feat that was not one to scoff at. Super Mario 64 was Mario's mighty leap into the third dimension. After its release, the world took notice at Super Mario 64's huge levels, amazing controls, many challenges, and incredible quality. Super Mario 64 was a groundbreaking title. After the Gamecube was released, fans quickly desired another Mario adventure. Super Mario 64 was a tough act to follow, but Nintendo brought Super Mario Sunshine to the Gamecube in 2002. With such a pedigree, did it have the same quality as its legendary predecessor?
Super Mario Sunshine starts off with Nintendo's legendary plumber taking a vacation with Princess Peach and her crew of Toads on local vacation spot, Isle Delfino. Mario is eager to arrive; besides, doesn't every hero need a vacation? Upon landing, however, Mario encounters graffiti all over the airstrip. After exploring the mess, Mario discovers FLUDD, a water pack that Mario uses to clean up the mess. Shortly after saving the airstrip, Mario is arrested by the local police. Apparently, someone who looks exactly like Mario was the one who's been making a mess of Isle Delfino. Additionally, the beacons of shine that Isle Delfino possesses, the Shine Sprites, have been taken from their resting place at the Shine Gate, leaving Isle Delfino in a haunting shadow. Mario, after losing his court trial, is punished by being forced to clean up the mess and is unable to leave the island until his duty is complete. The game's story does have a few twists and turns, but really isn't anything too complex.
Controlling Mario is surprisingly simple, even with the addition of FLUDD capabilities. From the start, even before equipping FLUDD, all of Mario's moves from Super Mario 64 are available. Jumping, spin jumping, ground-pounding, triple jumping, Mario is equipped from square one. The basic controls are still responsive and accessible; jumping about the town square is incredibly fluid and easy to accomplish. However, upon finding FLUDD, Mario can not only spray water with R, but he can also hover in mid-air by switching to a special nozzle, a very helpful ability throughout the course of the game. FLUDD, as a water cannon, also runs on water. Mario runs out of water, no spraying, no hovering. To refill FLUDD, Mario must simply press and hold R in a pool or other water source until the tank is full. But the game constantly demonstrates FLUDD's uses by throwing a handful of challenges for Mario to complete.
Mario's goal on Isle Delfino is a very simple one; clean up the mess, while trying to find out more about the mysterious Mario imposter, dubbed Shadow Mario. From the start, Mario is thrown into one of the many levels throughout the game. The levels follow the objective-based gameplay of Super Mario 64; Mario is assigned a scenario and must complete it to earn a Shine Sprite. More Shine Sprites allow for more levels to be unlocked. Some of the mission objectives are pretty cool, like facing down the giant Piranha Plant, Petey Piranha, or riding Blooper squids in a racing minigame. Most of the platforming-based objectives are very well done. The levels are usually tremendous and require some fast reflexes and quick movements to be completed. It's here that Super Mario Sunshine really...well...shines. The rock-solid platforming is one of the game's greatest strengths, showing how good 3-D platformers can truly be.
However, the platforming (sadly) isn't always great. Many a time Mario is sent into portals located in secret areas of levels. Upon traveling to these levels, Shadow Mario sneaks in and steals FLUDD, leaving Mario to rely on his classic Super Mario 64 move set. While this may seem like a brilliant piece of reminiscence, the levels are purely linear and suffer from some frustrating design. Some will be ridiculously easy, others excruciatingly difficult. The main cause of the difficulty lies in the almost erratic camera, which has a tendency to hide critical structures, or at worst, cost you a life. Considering the levels' simple design, there really isn't a reason the camera should be so frustrating. Costing a life in the levels is always frustrating. But, at their best, they are challenging and even fun pieces of nostalgic 3-D platforming worth at least a little merit.
However, the camera doesn't only appear in the special challenges. Sometimes it will appear in the main levels. As with the secret levels, such a clumsy camera isn't welcome. Walls and pillars will appear, hindering view and gameplay. To its credit, the camera isn't completely horrible. It's responsive and generally functional, but there are moments where it just goes crazy. Such a problem could be easily remedied by slightly better level design, but sadly, that's not the case.
Super Mario Sunshine does its best to bring back old objectives from Super Mario 64. One of which is collecting coins. Gold coins are used for health, blue coins can be collected to trade in for Shine Sprites. The classic Red Coins objective in levels is still good, although tedious after repeated completions. One new addition is the inclusion of Mario's old friend Yoshi, whom Mario can ride for the first time in 3-D. Yoshi's controls are very similar to Mario's. Yoshi spits juice instead of water, and is fueled by fruits instead of water. Yoshi's controls included his trademark Flutter Kick and he can always use his tongue in a pinch. The controls are pretty easy, but they suffer from many of the same problems Mario's controls suffer from. An unreliable camera and annoying level design don't destroy Yoshi's gameplay, but can make it less than ideal.
Some level objectives prove quite inventive. Mario won't always have to run and jump from Point A to Point B. Sometimes some creative puzzles will appear. Running a slot machine or exploring a creepy hotel do prove pretty creative and are welcome additions, as they break up some of the stale objectives. Along with the puzzles, some entertaining boss fights do show off the craziness of the Mario world, thanks to clever boss designs and unique battles. Another objective is the Shadow Mario chase, which each level has. Mario must chase Shadow Mario throughout the level and constantly damage him with water while following him and not falling behind. It's challenging and surprisingly intricate considering some of the levels, but it can get frustrating. Shadow Mario isn't afraid to use a spin jump and make a crazy leap from one platform to another, and some of the level designs don't make the chase any easier. Super Mario Sunshine has some fun objectives, many of which introduce creative situations or are pure examples of excellent platforming, but not all of them make use of such inventiveness, which is a shame.
Super Mario Sunshine's replay value is actually pretty good. There's over 100 Shine Sprites to find, including Blue Coins. The levels are pretty fun to explore multiple times, but more objectives would've been even better. With that, the main story doesn't require all the Shine Sprites and the final boss can be defeated pretty quickly through the game. Some of the objectives, like the Red Coins and Shadow Mario Chase, are reused far too much. They seem to be there only to include another reason to go through the same level, as they don't have the creativity that some of the other objectives have. Replaying objectives is fun, especially the really good ones, but Super Mario Sunshine doesn't pack on the innovation that its predecessor had. Regardless, it's still a solid platformer with plenty of running, jumping, and exploring to do.
Graphically, the game is truly second to none. Super Mario Sunshine has some of the most vibrant, colorful, and brilliant graphics ever to hit the Gamecube. Shining hues paint the world with a truly beautiful color palette. There's rarely a moment where bright colors, amazing lighting effects, or elaborate textures populate the screen. However, and while this should be expected considering the game's scenario, the levels lack the overall variety of Super Mario 64. While Super Mario 64 had sand, snow, sun, and all the rest, you'll surely become at least a little irritated at Super Mario Sunshine's almost bland choice of tropical areas to explore. They look beautiful, but by the end of the game, you'll surely feel like there could've been at least a little more variety in each of the amazing looking levels. The tropics can only be interesting for so long, and Super Mario Sunshine shows it.
Audio-wise, there's some catchy themes throughout. Some, like Bianco Hills, will get stuck in your head. Classic Mario themes make some appearances, and although some more classic music would've been amazing, you can't blame Nintendo for trying some new music instead of reusing the same themes over and over. Voice-acting is pretty mediocre, though functional, but Mario has his classic quips. On the whole, however, audio is pretty middle-ground. Not too much new, but it still has the classic Mario charm.
+ Absolutely amazing graphics
+ Rock-solid platformer gameplay
+ Nice worlds
+ New concepts pan out okay
+ Interesting objectives
- Worlds lack Super Mario 64's variety and awe
- Some objectives are overused
- Camera isn't perfect
- Main story is pretty short
Super Mario Sunshine, regardless of its quality, had a tough act to follow. As the sequel to one of the most groundbreaking games in history, Super Mario Sunshine had a lot to fall back on, but simultaneously had a great game come before it. After consideration, Super Mario Sunshine is classic Mario platforming in beautiful worlds with solid objectives and the fun of simply running and jumping as everyone's favorite Nintendo plumber. However, Super Mario Sunshine doesn't break the ground that Super Mario 64 did. While the levels and graphics in Super Mario Sunshine are stunning, there isn't the awe factor of Super Mario 64, mostly caused by a static tropical theme. There just isn't as much variety. The camera still isn't flawless and the objectives aren't as clever as those in the game's predecessor. But if you can overlook such flaws, Super Mario Sunshine is a grand reminder of how great Mario games are. It doesn't pack on its predecessor's innovation, but Super Mario Sunshine is a beautiful, clever, and fun platformer for the Gamecube and definitely worth checking out.
Reviewer's Rating: 4.0 - Great
Originally Posted: 11/14/06
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The powder and the glory
Helen Schettini is shredding her way into the mainstream backcountry snowboarding scene.
Her big break came in the fall of 2011, when YES. Snowboards — a company sponsoring Schettini— released a film featuring elite-level backcountry boarders, including the 28-year-old Kamloops product who cut her teeth at Sun Peaks Resort.
"They were making a movie and said they might bring me out a few times," Schettini told KTW. "They said they might put me in and they might not."
Turns out she did make the film — and her life has been a whirlwind ever since.
"I feel very blessed," said the powder-seeking rider who grew up in Rayleigh. "I worked my ass off for it, so it's not something I feel lucky for, but I feel very fortunate to be in this position."
The appearance showcased her fearless approach to riding and the snowboarding world has taken notice.
Schettini is on the cover of, and featured inside, the recently released 2013 women's annual edition of Snowboard Canada.
It's on newsstands now.
The former member of Kamloops-based West Tech Snowboarding Club is also featured inside the November issue of Snowboard Magazine, a Colorado-based publication.
"I'm definitely getting a lot more known now in the U.S., which is the market you need to be known in if you want to be successful in the sport," Schettini said.
The marketable thrill-seeker is sponsored by YES., Adidas, Billabong and VIVO Headwear, to name a few — and, yes, her buddies do accept leftover swag.
"I always give my friends free stuff," Schettini said.
"It's like promoting me, too, because there are signature products."
Up until this year, Schettini, who moved to Whistler when she was 17, had been working at an Italian restaurant in the off-season and chasing powder when the white stuff arrived.
Last summer, however, she was able to ditch the restaurant gig in favour of travelling across the globe with sponsors and friends.
"I haven't had to work a normal day job in a little over a year now," she said. "It's been amazing to be able to do what I love for a job."
She augmented three trips to California this summer with a photo shoot in Chile and a three-week venture through Europe.
Living her dream would not be possible without her upbringing in Kamloops and the time she spent at Sun Peaks, Schettini said.
She remembers her roots and credits West Tech — and her brother, who introduced her to snowboarding when she was 14 — for much of her success.
"That was a big part of it because it got me right into competing the first year," Schettini said.
"I got really serious right away. I almost didn't even have that recreational level of snowboarding, which is a good thing, I think."
Backcountry snowboarding was not her first love.
Schettini competed in a variety of disciplines — including boardercross and half-pipe — before she found a home among the trees and feather-light flakes.
"It got to a point where I wasn't enjoying myself anymore and I was getting injured a lot," she said.
"And, just being in Whistler, the powder is everywhere and it's so good. It was just a natural progression.
"I stopped competing after a while, got a snowmobile and got into backcountry more."
The life span of a backcountry snowboarder tends to be longer than that of competitive rider.
"It's more about experience and knowledge," Schettini said.
"If you stay in shape and healthy, you can go to almost 35 or 40. On the contest scene, you're usually on your last legs at 28 or 29."
Whistler is Schettini's favourite mountain and the city itself will likely want to claim her as its own, but the Tournament Capital and Sun Peaks will have something to say about that.
"There's always going to be a place in my heart with Sun Peaks," she said.
"Every Christmas, I go home and I shred the mountain and it's unbelievable there. It's fun going back to see what it is and what it's become."


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Phillip and Christin Kruis of Mantua announce the arrival of their son, Trenten James. He was born Feb. 5 at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna and weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces. Older siblings are Corey, 9, and Parker, 2.
Trentens grandparents are Victor McClain of Warren, and Teresia Godley and William and Susan Kruis, all of Mantua.