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Scrum Sevens
Tom Hamilton
November 9, 2011
Former All Blacks flyer Sitiveni Sivivatu will hope to make up for his World Cup heartbreak by producing the goods for Clermont Auvergne © Getty Images
John Afoa Vasily Artemyev Luke Burgess Stephen Donald Maurie Fa'asavalu Kahn Fotuali'i Sitiveni Sivivatu
Australia Bath Rugby Clermont Auvergne Harlequins New Zealand Northampton Saints Ospreys Toulouse Ulster
Europe's premier club tournament returns to centre stage on Friday with the start of this season's Heineken Cup.
With a host of internationals returning to their clubs following the 2011 Rugby World Cup, a host of World Cup winners, Russian flyers and Samoan rugby league converts will be gracing the tournament - it's all here in this week's Scrum Sevens.
John Afoa (Ulster)
The New Zealand prop was part of the All Blacks squad which won their first World Cup title in 24 years last month and in a boost for the Ravenhill-based province he has arrived sooner than previously agreed. With Ulster facing injury worries in their front-row ranks, the 36-cap Kiwi answered an SOS and started against Connacht last weekend. His Heineken Cup baptism of fire is set to come against Clermont Auvergne on Saturday and coach Brian McLaughlin will hope he can nullify the likes of French international Thomas Domingo and Georgia's David Zirakashvili.
Ulster, however, will have to do without the 28-year-old for their second round clash with Leicester at Welford Road as he is to return back to the Antipodes to be best man at fellow World Cup winner Jerome Kaino's wedding. But the Kiwi prop will hope to fill BJ Botha's shoes throughout the campaign as they look to build on last year's quarter-final finish. And with a side possessing Stephen Ferris, Ruan Pienaar and Andrew Trimble, there's no reason why Afoa cannot add to the honours on his mantle piece come May.
Vasily Artemyev (Northampton Saints)
The Russian winger impressed for the national side during the 2011 World Cup and arrived at Franklin's Gardens with a growing reputation as a competent finisher. And he lived up to expectation on his first-team debut scoring a hat-trick against Saracens in the Anglo-Welsh Cup last month. This was followed by a score against the Ospreys a week later and a brace in their clash with the Newcastle Falcons on his Premiership debut.
The winger has turned out for Leinster's youth sides and University College Dublin in the past and sports a bizarre accent that blends both his Irish and Russian roots. He already appears to have found a seamless chemistry with fellow wing Chris Ashton and they look set to terrorise Europe's best starting with Munster on Saturday.
Luke Burgess (Toulouse)
The Australian scrum-half has played in the shadow of Will Genia at international level for the past couple of seasons but on his day can mix it with the best half-backs in the world. The 28-year-old was an injury doubt going into the recent World Cup after suffering a fractured hand but recovered in time to shine for the Wallabies starting against Russia and coming off the bench in their clashes with Italy, USA and their bronze final with Wales.
Toulouse have recruited numerous stars over the close-season with Luke McAlister, Gurthro Steenkamp - who has already quite literally made his impact in the Top 14 and Lionel Beauxis all journeying to the south of France. Burgess' place is by no means a certainty in the side with French international Jean-Marc Doussain, who will miss the clash with Gloucester on Sunday, and Pumas half-back Nicolas Vergallo also vying for the scrum-half spot. But, if given his chance, Burgess looks set to light up the tournament.
Stephen Donald (Bath Rugby)
The much maligned All Blacks fly-half produced the goods on the biggest of stages as he kicked what proved to be the World Cup-winning penalty for the All Blacks in his first game of the tournament. The former Chiefs fly-half was fourth choice going into the tournament but injuries to Dan Carter, Colin Slade and Aaron Cruden saw the 27-year-old get his chance.
He moves to Bath having secured himself a place in All Blacks history and he will look to build a new chapter in his rugby career having been one of the most consistent performers in Super Rugby over the last few years. Vying with Sam Vesty for the fly-half spot and following in the footsteps of fellow World Cup winner Butch James, Donald will be under pressure to ignite a Bath back line that has failed to produce the goods on the European stage in recent years. Though with scrum-half Michael Claassens alongside him and a potential centre partnership of Olly Barkley and Matt Banahan, Donald has a potent arsenal at his disposal if he can get on the front foot in a Pool consisting of Top 14 runners-up Montpellier and reigning Heineken Cup champions Leinster.
Maurie Fa'asavalu (Harlequins)
The Samoan back-rower was one of the standout performers in the World Cup for an Islanders side who came within a whisker of shocking South Africa. The blindside turned out for Samoa in the 2003 World Cup before making the switch to rugby league and St Helens in 2003. However, in 2010 he opted to move back cross-code and joined the Twickenham Stoop side where he excelled under the guidance of Conor O'Shea.
Although he has a host of appearances for Quins under his belt, he is yet to appear in the Heineken Cup having played in the victorious Amlin Challenge Cup campaign last term for O'Shea's side. This is also the same for promising young prop Joe Marler who will also hope to make his impact on Europe's biggest stage in his debut season in the Heineken Cup. With the likes of Chris Robshaw and Nick Easter in the back-row alongside the Samoan international, they will certainly prove to be a test for even the most battle hardened of forward packs.
Kahn Fotuali'i (Ospreys)
The Samoan lit up with the World Cup and was ESPNscrum's choice for scrum-half of the tournament. And Fotuali'i will hope to make a name for himself in the Northern Hemisphere having already excelled in Super Rugby for the Crusaders. The 29-year-old kept All Blacks half-back Andy Ellis out of the starting line-up for much of last season and after a hugely impressive World Cup, looks set to showcase his range of skills on Europe's biggest stage.
The nine-cap Samoan only took his bow for the international side in October 2010 but having been given man-of-the-match on his Ospreys debut in their 9-9 draw with the Scarlets, he has already made his impact at the Liberty Stadium and banished the ghosts of former No.9 Mike Phillips. With Biarritz in Pool Five, Fotuali'i is likely to face French scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili at some stage in the tournament which should be a mouth-watering match-up.
Sitiveni Sivivatu (Clermont Auvergne)
The former All Blacks winger is one of the most potent attacking talents in the world on his day and will be smarting from being left out of what turned out to be a victorious campaign for the Kiwis in the 2011 World Cup. The Fijian-born flyer endured a torrid season last term missing New Zealand's Grand Slam winning tour in the autumn of 2010 but impressed in the 2011 Super Rugby season and looked set for a spot in the final 30-man squad for the showpiece tournament. But Graham Henry had other ideas and left out the much fancied 29-year-old along with fellow speedster Hosea Gear.
And supporters of Clermont will look hope Sivivatu rolls back the years in their famous yellow strip - once his visa issues are sorted - and produces try-scoring form which saw him become a favourite for the Waikato Chiefs. Sivivatu will feature in a back division that also incorporates Welsh fullback Lee Byrne and former Scarlets centre Regan King so expect them to shine if the forward pack provides them with a firm platform.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Tom Hamilton is the Assistant Editor of ESPNscrum.
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The destruction that ravaged the island nation of Haiti has also shut down a music star's efforts to aid his homeland.
Soon after reports of the massive earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday, Grammy-award winner Wyclef Jean established a text-messaging hotline and website based in Miami that would allow people to donate to victims in Haiti.
But no one expected the outpouring of support to be so immense that it shut the website down in a matter of hours. Text messages flooded the server, causing it to crash by mid-afternoon Wednesday, officials said.
U.S. & World
Jean, who often lends a helping hand in Haiti, arrived Wednesday in Haiti and is focusing on his family, his Haitian charity and responding to the disaster. Jean tweeted about his plans to help Tuesday.
Several of the most popular topics on Twitter referred to a tweet from the singer urging people to send a text to the charity,Yele, to donate $5 toward relief. The number is 501501.
The text donation campaign has raised more than $250,000 in donations in less than 12 hours for earthquake sufferers and its goal is $1 million a day.
Hundreds are passing his message on by the minute. The Yele Website is inundated with donations and has crashed under the traffic. A spokeswoman for the charity says the organization is working to fix the problem and increase the site's bandwidth.
Other South Florida celebrities and sports stars have also decided to come to the aid of Haiti. The NFL and Major League Baseball are filled with Haitian and Haitian American players.
Former Carol City High standout and San Francisco 49er defensive end Ricky Jean-Francois is also headed to Haiti to bring food, money and his time to the relief effort.

subset: commoncrawl


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Here are some photos from recent comedy shows around town... Do you produce or perform in a show from which you can send us photos? Email them to email@example.com!
And from Wednesday's East Coast Power Nap...
And because we didn't have anybody reliable to take photographs last night at Free For All, Philly Comedy fashionista Joe Moore reports on what everybody was wearing:
by Ryan P. Carey, D.D.S.
Tomorrow night, stand-up comic frenemies Mike Alloy and Oliver Yu debut their new monthly showcase at Silk City, Head of the Class. Here they are with more info:
WitOut: For people who may not already know you, can you give a brief history of how you got into comedy and how long you've been performing in Philly?
Oliver Yu: I've been doing stand-up in Philly for a little over 2 years. I started out as an audience member, watching open mic guys of all levels at Helium. The ability to connect with a room full of strangers, even for a few minutes, is something I decided to pursue and make a part of my life.
Mike Alloy: I was actually inspired to start doing stand-up about a year ago after I saw Oliver first perform. Seeing him command the room was really riveting and made me want to try my hand at this craft.
WO: How did you come up with the name for this show?
MA: Originally, I was going to call it Smooth Comedy Showcase because it's being held at SILK city, get it? But then Oliver told me that was stupid. He told me to change it to Head of the Class since we are trying to attract a young adult crowd, many of whom are students, and we are showcasing what we believe to be the best comics in the city. He is truly a brilliant man!
OY: Thanks Mark.
MA: It's Mike.
OY: …Are you sure?
MA: Yeah, but do you think I should change it?
OY: No, Mike Amoy is a fine name.
MA: It's Alloy.
OY: Like the metal composite? You know, a change might not be so bad.
MA: I'll call the clerk's' office after the interview.
WO: In the show's description, you guys describe Silk City as "one of the most popular and best reviewed venues on Yelp in Philadelphia." Was it hard to convince them to let you do a show there?
MA: I tried for a very long time to get the venue to host a comedy show, but to no avail. I showed up unannounced to concerts with my own microphone; in the middle of the set I would hop on stage and start telling joke to unsuspecting patrons. Eventually, Oliver sat me down and we put together a promotion plan with which we approached the management.
OY: Actually, I had Mar—I mean Mike, wait in a car while I spoke with the management. They still don't know he's involved with the show.
MA: He is a genius!
WO: Your publicity for the show also mentions "prize giveaways." How will that work? Are you running some sort of contest throughout the show?
OY: The management at Silk City was kind enough to provide some really cool prizes for us. We came up with a contest that we think will be really entertaining for the audience and the comics as well. You're going have to come out to the show to see what it is.
MA: Yeah we asked every comic to sub—
OY: Shut up, Mark!
MA: I am so sorry!
WO: There are five different comedians on the line-up. Can you explain why you chose each of them, and what makes you think they'll work well together in one cohesive show?
OY: We wanted to put together a show that people who have never really been exposed to Philadelphia comedy will enjoy. We also wanted to give newer comedians a chance to perform in a great room in front of a solid audience. Bobby Lorello and Mikey Garcia are a couple of young guys who already have some really funny material and are comfortable onstage. Omar Scruggs and Jim Ginty are two comics that can always win over a crowd. Last but not least, our headliner, Chris Cotton, is one of the most respected comedians in the Philadelphia scene; we were so excited to book him for this show.
MA: Oliver is so wise.
OY: Hey buddy, do you have ten bucks I can borrow?
MA: All I have is a twenty.
OY: That's fine.
The first 'Head of the Class Comedy Showcase' is this Tuesday, April 9th at Silk City (435 Spring Garden Street). Show starts at 8:30PM. Admission is $10.
by Alison Zeidman


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This is the Story of William Black.
William Black
Second Team Average: 53.05
Age: 20
William Black Signs For Hampshire!
Young Youth Player, William Black has signed for Hampshire Cricket Club. The Club apparently spent $20,000 to lure him away from bigger clubs. Black said he was happy to sign for Hampshire, where he played youth cricket. The 20-year old said that he hoped to get some 1st Team experiance this year. Newly appointed coach, Tom Smith refused to comment.
(Feedback welcome. Note I am not concentrating on Hampshire but on William Black.)


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I am using an update panel in my application which has two dropdownlist boxes in it. The items list for each dropdownlist box is dependent on one another. When I select the item of one dropdrownlist box, the contents of other dropdownlist box is also getting changed. But the page becomes blank for some time and after sometime the contents appear in correct stage. The problem for me is that even though I am using ajax update panel the time taken to refresh is more and flickering occurs. How to remove this flickering from the page? Please provide me help ASAP.
Thanks in advance.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
by Joshua Maloni
In the end, the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours controversy boiled down to one thing and one thing only: a roughly 2,580-square-foot expansion. Despite the objections Monday night of a handful of people who claimed the tourism business is a bad neighbor, the Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees said the only issue members were interested in was the $1 million, two-story addition proposal that sat before them. Finding nothing wrong with the plan, the board approved it by a 4-0 measure.
"We're talking about a development project," Trustee Vic Eydt said. "It's gotten so convoluted."
Mayor Terry Collesano said the project would provide needed bathrooms on the waterfront - a point WJBT President John Kinney hung his hat on when first proposing the expansion.
"The action taken this evening in regards to the expansion of the Water Street Landing building was to help facilitate a more organized and controlled environment from overcrowded and unsightly public restrooms that became objectionable to neighbors, as well as the general public," Collesano said.
The board made one change to the design approved last week by the Planning Board. They opted to grant Kinney's request for folding glass doors.
Kinney had asked to replace the canvas and acrylic partitions encasing his open-air expansion in the first proposal with new sliding glass dividers. The Planning Board, on Jan. 10, expressed concern that the project would significantly change with solid doors. Members approved the expansion, but with the original weather barriers.
"We believe this is the more professional way," Kinney told trustees this week.
"We just find that a much better option than the vinyl," added Kinney's architect, Jim Fittante.
The Village Board agreed.
"I think this is the best solution we've seen," Eydt said.
"This is superior, I think," noted Deputy Mayor Bruce Sutherland.
Village Police Commissioner Al Soluri asked trustees if the revision should go back to the Planning Board for a second look.
"You're going to void that (previous decision) and just go over their heads?" he asked.
Eydt said trustees "have the right to make that decision." But more than that, he said, "(The Planning Board was) confused about the verbiage." Once the glass partitions were described in greater detail, "They didn't have a problem with us passing it," Eydt said, noting he spoke to two members.
"Their intent is they want it open," he continued. "I think this is the best you're going to get it."
Kinney said his street-level deck would provide "a great enhancement" for those looking out on the Niagara River. Instead of a grassy slope leading down to the waterfront, he said people would have a new and improved overlook.
Following the board's decision, Kinney said he was "very pleased."
He commended trustees for mentioning his efforts to publicize the proposal and make it available to the public.
"I'm glad that the board recognized the extent to make this (process) as transparent as possible," Kinney said.
He plans to break ground in mid-March and open the new WJBT U.S. headquarters by Memorial Day weekend.
Residents Not Pleased
Though trustees claimed the expansion talks were wide open and public input was welcomed, some people disagreed.
Earlier in the meeting, residents Bob Giannetti and Claudia Marasco protested the board's previous decisions to sell a stretch of property located underneath and directly north of the WJBT's Water Street Landing restaurant to the business for $1.
Trustees said that decision was made to alleviate risk.
"Private ownership of a building sitting on public property creating a liability was also an important factor in this board's decision," Collesano said.
The land transfer enabled the WJBT to procure variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Those amendments paved the way for the Planning Board and Village Board to sign off on the project.
Trustees elected to sell the property after holding a pre-meeting meeting with Kinney last November.
"It was definitely wrong, it was definitely outrageous to sell public land for $1," Giannetti said. He added, "I don't think you ought to be proud of the vote."
Marasco said trustees sold the parcel without public input.
"The residents really got shut out in this whole process," she said. "(That) isn't what we need as a village."
Marasco said the greatest source of information was Lewiston businessman Jerome Williams. The TAM Ceramics owner and Lewiston Management Group principal mailed a letter to residents and held a public meeting at The Village Pub in late November, and then filed an Article 78 lawsuit against the village contesting the land transfer. He has said the expansion is contrary to the municipality's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program.
Williams was not in attendance Monday, but his case will be heard in State Supreme Court next month.
Giannetti asked the board to reveal how much WJBT contributes to the village.
"Let's have it in public; what are the figures?" he asked.
Sutherland answered Giannetti's questions with one of his own.
"How do you quantify something like that?" he asked. Sutherland said sales tax in the village was up 20 percent over the previous year, and said, "I know people (riding the jet boats) come here. They eat in the restaurants; they buy things.
"I think you don't have a number because how do you wrap your hands around it?"
Giannetti asked the board to publicly reveal financial terms of WJBT's 40-year lease with the village.
Sutherland said it's not in the board's best interest to publicly toss around such figures. However, "We can look at the lease some time. Come in (to the clerk's office)."
"You can come into the village hall and check it out," he added.
Giannetti was not satisfied with that answer.
"I think it's only right that that number be published and we see what our board is doing," he said.
"Nobody's hiding anything; it's there," Sutherland said.
In 1996, the Village of Lewiston entered into a lease agreement with WJBT. That contract was modified in 2002. WJBT was to pay a base rent of $10,000 in 2010 (plus 1.25 percent of jet boat sales, up to a maximum of $25,000). That same amount is due in 2011. The rent grows to $15,000 (plus 1.5 percent/up to $32,000) from 2012 through May 1, 2017. The maximum payment expands to $40,000 for years 2018-22. At that point, WJBT can opt out of the lease, or continue through May 1, 2042.
Williams has disputed those numbers.
"There has been a high degree of spirited debate on this matter, of which this board respectfully accepts as your elected officials," Collesano said. "It is our duty to listen, as it is our duty to act when necessary. Knowing the facts before this body and with the advice of our legal counsel, each board member individually and solely voted on this motion.
"It sometimes becomes very difficult, if not confusing, when asked to vote on the merits of a proposal when so many unrelated matters are brought into the equation. This, however, did not slow down the process. With due diligence, each member has now voted their conscience on the merits.
"In time we shall know the answer to our vote. Until then, however, we will not slow down the business of this village. We will move forward."
Collesano and trustees Sutherland, Eydt and Therese Mudd voted in favor of the expansion. Trustee Ernie Krell was excused from the board meeting.


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Rico King is a man of many talents; Model, Actor, Singer, Songwriter, Rapper, Producer, and Hip Hop Dancer. Former lead vocalist of Capuchino Swang and vocalist of Koda, he was born and raised in the Kentuckiana, and now resides in Jersey City, NJ. He has opened for 50 Cent, Nappy Roots, and Too Short. Rico was a smi finalist in the WB's Missy Elliot Road to Stardom, and his music is featured on the soundtrack of the indie-horror hit "Camp Daze."
Aside from his music career Rico has also done some modeling. Walking in New York Fashion week he explains, "It was a great experience. You can feel the electricity throughout the city during this time. Participating in the shows goes quick and its absolute chaos backstage." To him fashion is a way of expressing nonverbally, and making a statement without actually speaking. It's a big part of his life, especially when he's dressing for a particular role. "Fashion makes my character more believable."
Though Rico has many talents, right now he is focusing on his acting career. He has been on shows for VH1, MTV, OWN, NBC, and TVONE. One of his favorite roles that he has played is "Angel" from Bobby Ashleys film "Positive."
In a "Sitdown With Smuggz" interview in the Mile High Lights, Rico answered questions about when he left home to pursue his dream, and his ultimate goal.
Q: When you left home to pursue your dream, is this what you envisioned?
A: lol...no. I knew I wanted to perform on stage, but I always connected it with music. I didn't know I would also be modeling and acting. If you use me as an example of God blessing a person with what they ask for, It's definitely safe to say I've been abundantly blessed.
Q: What would it take to reach your ultimate goal in this industry?
A: A culmination of hard work, discipline, ambition, and faith driven by a purpose to reach that goal.
Follow Rico King on Facebook, and see more of his videos on Youtube.


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Family Music Bingo at Responders Grill & Bar!
Name: Family Music Bingo at Responders Grill & Bar!
Date: November 27, 2019
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM CST
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Event Description:
Looking forward to a great night of fun music bingo on Wednesday at Responders Grill & Bar! Free to play with fabulous prizes, delicious home style food, and a family friendly atmosphere. What more could you want? You can also put a team together and play in the tournament for a chance to win $300! First game starts promptly at 6pm! See you Wednesday!


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Treasury, United States Department of the
United States Department of the Treasury, federal executive department established in 1789. It is charged with advising the president on fiscal policy and acting as fiscal agent for the federal government. Under the Articles of Confederation the limited financial administration of the United States was taken care of by a superintendent of finance, who was replaced in 1784 by a treasury board. One of the first necessities, after the new government was set up in 1789 under the Constitution of the United States, was machinery for the collection of taxes, the custody of federal funds, and the keeping of accounts. To this end the Dept. of the Treasury was created and its head, the secretary of the treasury, became the second-ranking cabinet member (after the secretary of state). Alexander Hamilton was the first secretary. The office of U.S. Treasurer was also created in 1789 to receive and pay out money for the federal government.
Divisions that were added over the years include the U.S. Mint (1792), the U.S. Secret Service (1865, transferred to the Dept. of Homeland Security in 2003), the Internal Revenue Service (1862), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (1863), the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (1877), the U.S. Customs Service (1927, functions transferred to bureaus in the Dept. of Homeland Security in 2003), the Bureau of the Public Debt (1940), the U.S. Savings Bonds Division (1945, transferred to the Bureau of the Public Debt in 1994), the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (1970, transferred to the Dept. of Homeland Security in 2003), the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (1972 as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; law enforcement functions transferred to the Dept. of Justice in 2003 as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives), the Financial Management Service (formerly the Bureau of Government Financial Operations, 1974), the Office of Thrift Supervision (1989, functions transferred to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in 2011), the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (1990), and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (1994).
Until 1829 the department supervised the U.S. Postal Service and until 1849 the General Land Office; before 1903 the department was also charged with many duties pertaining to commerce. The law enforcement functions formerly carried out by the department were transferred to other departments in 2003.
See also Bank of the United States; Federal Reserve System; Independent Treasury System; subtreasury.