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Tuesday's basketball bits
Sorry you're weekly Punt, Pass and Kick got shelved Sunday, just got too busy with World Series stuff followed by that god-awful Michigan State-Indiana football game, then the Big Ten basketball media day.
But we're back and we'll stay on schedule the rest of the year (or, with no bowl game to go to, at least until some of that vacation time kicks in). Tuesday's are basketbal-friendly, so let's stick to the format with some random thoughts from Big Ten basketball media day:
Greg Oden was named preseason all-Big Ten. Oden is the first freshman to secure that honor since records were kept in 1994. Everyone who's seen him play says he's a phenomenal athlete for a 7-footer, with great feet and a good left hand. (His right'll be fine, too, once he's recovered from wrist surgery.) I just believe it'll take Oden some time to find a comfort level in Ohio State's offense (and his teammates to learn exactly how much and when to lean on him), and it'll take him a while to get adjusted to the style of play in the Big Ten. Going against quicker, smaller players, it's not hard for me to see him getting in foul trouble often early. And if he doesn't come back until Jan. 1 as expected, he'll be feeling his way around the start of the conference schedule.
Wisconsin to me remains the favorite in the league. They return four starters, including preseason player of the year Alando Tucker, and, not that you can tell from seeing him in business clothes, but Brian Butch looks like he might be able to contribute 12 and 7 this year. If that happens, the Badgers should be a 1 or 2 seed and play their opening-weekend NCAA games in Chicago.
I don't know exactly what can be done, but this process of hiring friends, family members, former AAU coaches, is a plague to college basketball. Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson scored the most recent coup when he hired Travis Steele as his new video coordinator. Steele's association with high school star Eric Gordon helped sway Gordon into a Hoosiers' uniform. Steele coached an Indianapolis AAU team while he was a graduate assistant at Ohio State, a practice now banned by the NCAA. At one time or another, Gordon and top OSU recruits Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Daequan Cook all played for the team.
You hate to see any coach fired, but the one on the biggest hot seat in the Big Ten is Minnesota's Dan Monson, who needs a good season but has one of the worst teams in the league. I continue to believe that, for the sake of the program, coaches in Monson's position should always be offered some sort of contract extension with a university-friendly buyout that at least makes for appearances, i.e., if a coach has two years left at $1 mil per on his contract after this hot-seat season, give him a two-year extension at $1.2 mil, plus a $2-million buyout. The university makes out if things succeed, the coach gets a bit of a reprieve in the public and recruiting eye, and both parties pay/receive exactly what they originally agreed upon if things don't work out.


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Most video games, even the craziest ones, are about very real things. Driving. Shooting. Flying. And the more you play these games, you more you learn about those things.
I've been playing games for 26 years now, and in that time, have flown countless aircraft, countless spacecraft, fired off millions upon millions of rounds of moderately-realistic ammunition and won more wars than I care to remember.
I like to think that, after those 26 years spent simulating, I've learned a thing or two. What recoil is. How a fighter jet handles. What "Oscar Mike" means.
Being a game played on a screen, and not something I've directly experienced, I of course haven't learned how to completely and competently perform any of the following things. You couldn't drop me behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car and expect me to know what all the buttons did, let alone win a race.
But once you showed me how to get it rolling? I'd like to think I knew enough about the principles behind race car driving to give it a shot.
Or any of these other things, for that matter.
I learned it from: Falcon 4.0
Flight simulators teach you not just the very basics of atmospheric flight, but what the various components of an aircraft do. When to retract the landing gear. What happens when you leave landing gear down while flying. What an aileron is (they're the little flaps at the end of a wing that control the plane when it's rolling!). When a plane stalls. When to engage the flaps, and how to manoeuvre the plane in for a landing.
You don't pick that kind of stuff up on the schoolyard or by watching movies; it's only by flying, crashing and dying 1000 times over in a video game that you can really simulate what it's like to fly a plane. Apart from actually flying one, of course, but then you can usually only crash one of those once...
As a result of this, I have an incredibly unhealthy belief that were the pilot of a plane I was on to have a heart attack, I'd leap into the cockpit, shout something into the radio like "OHSHUTUPIVEPLAYEDSTRIKECOMMANDER" and proceed to kill everyone onboard as I slammed into the ocean.
I learned it from: Gran Turismo, among others
Most people know how to drive. But how many people know how to drive around a race track at top speed? I'd wager the answer would be race drivers, car enthusiasts and people who have played racing games.
No game can simulate the physical effects of downforce, slippery roads or the nudge of a competing car, but they can teach you everything you need to know about the theory of driving; things like a racing line, how to take a corner at speed, when you brake and why it's faster to drive behind somebody for a while and then overtake them.
I learned it from: Full Spectrum Warrior, among others
There are plenty of games on the market that take a fairly realistic approach to the control of infantry in the field: Brothers in Arms, Company of Heroes and Full Spectrum Warrior, to name just a few. And while all three of those games are great, their real educational value (aside from historical) is in teaching you how infantry squads keep themselves alive on the battlefield.
This is one where I'm going to really stress that what a game teaches you and what a real soldier is taught are two very different things, but the fact remains that those games make you learn, then practice, proven concepts like taking cover, flanking an enemy, bounding and suppression.
They're probably the least useful things we'll look at today, since it's an area you'd really need proper training to avoid dying instantly, but hey, at least you're learning some of the fundamentals.
I learned it from: at least one game per week
Ironically, a game can't teach you the very basics of using a firearm: how to pick them up, how to load/reload them and how to operate them safely. But once you're shown those things, games can teach you many of the finer points behind getting a bullet on target.
A gamer will know, for example, not to simply point an automatic weapon at a target and hold the trigger down. A gun will recoil back in that situation, causing your bullets to run upwards and away from their target. This happens in Modern Warfare, Medal of Honor, Crysis, almost every contemporary game that has you fire a weapon. Instead, you use short, controlled bursts of fire, each time checking that your sights remain where they should be.
A gamer will also know that a sniper scope isn't a magic killing device (well, in most games, anyway). The greater the distance between the player and their moving prey, the more "lead" you need to provide so the bullet doesn't end up behind them. Many games, from Hitman to Modern Warfare, have now also taught people that it's only by lying down and keeping your breathing steady that you can be truly effective.
I learned it from: Minecraft
You are washed up on an island. You have no tools. No weapons. No friends. What do you do? You do exactly what you do in Minecraft: you chop down wood, you build tools, you build yourself a shelter, and when the sun comes down, you get inside and you stay there.
After that, you have to scrape and scrounge for everything you want or need, battling not just the impending night but the limitations of your own two hands and the materials available.
Yes, once you start building castles shaped like Bowser its past the stage of teaching you anything useful, but those first hours are as good a refresher on basic human survival as you'll find in a video game.
So, quite a practical list of things! It's also slightly sad that half the things were related to the art of killing other humans, while the other half were about driving fast machines. Other equally important things, like civic management (SimCity), being a rock star (Rock Band), being a lawyer (Phoenix Wright) and healing the sick (Trauma Centre) are simulated to an extent in games, they're just a little too abstract, not providing enough specific teaching to let you feel like you could walk in an actual mayor's or rock star's shoes.
And the game that has taught me how to love? Where is that?
Anyway, that's enough about me. Here's what some of you have learned from the wonderful, educational world of video games:
MtlAngelus: "I learned that birds are, in general, jerks."
MentionedTenderly: "I learned that sometimes you just need to backtrack with newly acquired skills to get exactly where you need to go"

subset: commoncrawl


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The pool of potential jurors to hear a case filed over Michael Jackson's death has grown to 104 people.
Attorneys and a judge concluded their second week of hardship screening on Friday.
In-person questioning of the panel will begin on Monday. It is expected to take multiple days for attorneys to select a panel of 12 jurors and several alternates to hear the case. Jurors must be available for 90 trial days.
The group of 103 has been given a 24-page questionnaire assessing their knowledge about the case.
The lawsuit was filed by Jackson's mother against concert giant AEG Live. The suit claims the promoter of Jackson's planned comeback concerts failed to properly investigate the doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the singer's death.
AEG has denied all wrongdoing.


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About the Commission
Welcome to the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission's (VWC) website.
The Commission is headed by three Commissioners and an Executive Director. The Commissioners are chosen by the General Assembly and serve six-year terms. R. Ferrell Newman, Wesley G. Marshall, and Robert A. Rapaport currently serve as Commissioners. The Commissioners elect a Chairman for a term of three years. Mr. Newman is currently the Chairman and Evelyn McGill is the Executive Director.
Executive Director's Message:
The Commonwealth of Virginia is a wonderful place to live and a great place to work and raise a family. Owning a business in our state also offers various opportunities to develop, grow and prosper as an entrepreneur or business. Whether you are an employee of a business or an owner of a company, VWC is responsible for carrying out the requirements of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act, while administering Virginia's workers' compensation program, meeting legal requirements and providing various protections. Most employers doing business in Virginia and most employees working in Virginia are covered under the requirements of the Act. VWC ensures compliance with the Act and all workers' compensation requirements through its mission and agency operations.
VWC's Mission
To serve injured workers, victims of crimes, employers, and related industries by providing exceptional services, resolving disputes, and faithfully executing the duties entrusted to us by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
VWC's Vision
Lead the nation as the most effective and innovative state agency.
VWC's Core Values
- Innovative - Introducing or using new ideas or methods, in order to better serve our customers
- Respectful - Marked by or showing respect or reverence at all times
- Accountable - Required to explain actions or decisions
- Reliable - Consistently able to be trusted to do or provide what is needed
- Impartial - Treating all people and groups equally
- Integrity - The quality of being honest and objective; conduct that is of the highest moral character
- Effective - Successful in producing a desired or intended result
VWC's Code of Ethics
VWC's Code of Ethics is a foundation for accomplishing the VWC's Mission. It is the purpose of this policy to demonstrate a commitment to maintaining an environment of uncompromising integrity and ethical conduct in upholding the VWC's Core Values. VWC Policy 1.40 - Code of Ethics


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After a thorough comparative analysis, the RHQ team decided to move forward with using Cassandra for metric data storage. We are making heavy use of dynamic column families and wide rows. Consider for example the raw_metrics column family in figure 1,
|Figure 1. raw_metrics column family
The metrics schedule id is the row key. Each data point is stored in a separate column where the metric timestamp is the column name and the metric value is the column value. This design supports fast writes as well as fast reads and works particularly well for the various date range queries in RHQ. This is considered a dynamic column family because the number of columns per row will vary and because column names are not defined up front. I was quick to rule out using CQL due to a couple misconceptions about CQL's support for dynamic column families and wide rows. First, I did not think it was possible to define a dynamic table with wide rows using CQL. Secondly, I did not think it was possible to execute range queries on wide rows.
A couple weeks ago I came across this thread on the cassandra-users mailing list which points out that you can in fact create dynamic tables/column families with wide rows. And conveniently after coming across this thread, I happened to stumble on the same information in the docs. Specifically the DataStax docs state that wide rows are supported using composite column names. The primary key can have multiple components, but there must be at least one column that is not part of the primary key. Using CQL I would then define the raw_metrics column family as follows,
This CREATE TABLE statement is straightforward, and it does allow for wide rows with dynamic columns. The underlying column family representation of the data is slightly different from the one in figure 1 though.
|Figure 2. CQL version of raw_metrics column family
My second misconception about executing range queries is really predicated on the first misconception. It is true that you can only query named columns in CQL; consequently, it is not possible to perform a date range query against the column family in figure 1. It is possible though to execute a date range query against the column family in figure 2.
RHQ supports multiple upgrade paths. This means that in order to upgrade to the latest release (which happens to be 4.5.0 at the time of this writing), I do not have to first upgrade to the previous release (which would be 4.4.0). I can upgrade from 4.2.0 for instance. Supporting multiple upgrade paths requires a tool for managing schema changes. There are plenty of such tools for relational databases, but I am not aware of any for Cassandra. But because we can leverage CQL and because there is a JDBC driver, we can look at using an existing tool instead of writing something from scratch. I have done just that and working on adding support for Cassandra to Liquibase. I will have more on that in future post. Using CQL allows us to reuse existing solutions which in turn is going to save a lot of development and testing effort.
The most compelling reason to use CQL is the familiar, easy to use syntax. I have been nothing short of pleased with Hector. It is well designed, the online documentation is solid, and the community is great. Whenever I post a question on the mailing list, I get responses very quickly. With all that said, contrast the following two, equivalent queries against the raw_metrics column family.
RHQ developers can look at the CQL version and immediately understand it. Using CQL will result in less, easier to maintain code. We can also leverage ad hoc queries with cqlsh during development and testing. The JDBC driver also lends itself nicely to applications that run in an application as RHQ does.
Things are still evolving both with CQL and with the JDBC driver. Collections support is coming in Cassandra 1.2. The JDBC driver does not yet support batch statements. This is due to the lack of support for it the server side. The functionality is there in the Cassandra trunk/master branch, and I expect to see it in the 1.2 release. The driver also currently lacks support for connection pooling. These and other critical features will surely make their way into the driver. With the enhancements and improvements to CQL and to the JDBC driver, adding Cassandra support to Hibernate OGM becomes that much more feasible.
The flexibility, tooling, and ease of use make CQL a very attractive option for working with Cassandra. I doubt the Thrift API is going away any time soon, and we will continue to leverage the Thrift API through Hector in RHQ in various places. But I am ready to make CQL a first class citizen in RHQ and look forward to watching it continue to mature into a great technology.


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Guru may be dead, but the spirit of hip hop lives on in Seattle's Grynch. Here's his ode to the Volvo 240 Wagon. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be impressed by the spot-on description of the chunky a/c controls.
This video prompted Celebrity Cars Blog to ask "What celebs drive a Volvo?" and singled me out as someone who doesn't count as a celeb despite owning a cherry 1986 245.
Cold, guys. Cold.
[via CarDomain]


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I sat down at the keyboard this morning, all set to write up a new post when I found this note that I thought was worth sharing. I've had it on my computer for a while and, to be totally honest, have no idea where I found it, so I can't really give credit where credit is due. My apologies to the original author but I assume that, given the nature in which it was written, they won't mind me sharing it. As I recall, this was printed on a little card that the owner carried in his/her wallet. Every time they went to make a purchase, they were confronted with these questions — all of which spoke to the underlying wish: I want my money to support the environment, not destroy it.
1. Is this purchase something I need?
2. Do I already own something that will serve the same purpose?
3. Can I borrow one instead of buying new?
4. Can I make something that will serve the same purpose?
5. Can I buy a used one?
6. Would someone be willing to split the cost and share this with me?
7. Can I buy or commission one made locally?
8. Can I buy one that was made with environmentally responsible materials?
9. Can I buy one that serves more than one purpose?
10. Can I get something human powered instead of gas or electric?
11. Can I compost or recycle it when I'm done with it?
12. What is the impact on the environment of the full life cycle of it?
13. Does the manufacture or disposal of it damage the environment?
I love this because it's simple, to the point, and a great "thought tree" if you will. I'm actually going to write it up on some used card stock and pop it in my wallet right now.
Many of you may feel that it's a little ridiculous to have to carry something around like this, and indeed it may be. Sort of like having your mom looking over your shoulder shaking her finger at you for something you're about to do.
But consider this: According to Consumer Reports, the average American is exposed to 247 commercial messages every day. If you do a little quick math, that comes out to 7,212,400 commercial messages over an 80-year lifespan. Crazy, isn't it? Of course, if you don't watch TV, you'll cut a lot of those ads out, but even then you're still bombarded.
Look in any magazine, newspaper, Internet site, or on any city street and you'll see ads everywhere. On billboards, vehicles, T-shirts, and in some instances, even people (don't try that at home). And what are all these ads telling us? That we will not be happy, healthy, wealthy, wise, popular, or anything else–unless we buy these products.
So what do we do? We buy. And every time we buy, we create demand, create waste, consume energy, and invariably, in the long run make ourselves less happy. Sure that iPhone rocks, but only until the new one comes out, and then you've got to jump on the train and consume again right?
So do I think that carrying around a little piece of paper is really going to change the world? Of course not. But I do believe that in order to start making things better, to clean up this whole waste/consumption mess, we all need to start thinking a little different. And in order to do that, we need to start asking ourselves some hard questions. Why do we feel that buying things will make us happy? What is fundamentally missing that we are trying to fill with mass produced product? Perhaps a little reminder like this will help us start that process and put us on the path to commercial freedom.
OK, riff over; I don't want to do a redux of last week's post. Write up the little list if you think it'll help and run through those questions at the store the next time you are about to buy something non-essential. Before you know it, you'll be steaming along on the non-consumption train and realize it's really a much better place than you thought it was.
Live sustainably.
More from Care2:
- 10 common lies people tell themselves about clutter
- Never own anything again: Think Thingloop
- 8 things you didn't know you could recycle
- 30 things you should never recycle
- Cheap ways to save 1,000 gallons of water
- 10 first steps to a light-impact lifestyle


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SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Anyone who likes a good scare or things that go bump in the night has plenty of fun things to choose from this weekend. Throughout the area, there is no shortage of activities to help people enjoy the Halloween season. One of the biggest features is the Great Escape theme park's Fright Fest that continues Friday through Sunday. The site's fall foliage alone is quite a spectacle, especially with a bird's-eye view from atop one of the park's tall rides such as the Sasquatch or Giant (Ferris) Wheel. However, visitors will find plenty of spooky entertainment, too. The new Saloon of Darkness, aptly located in Ghost Town, has more than 10 minutes of pitch-dark terror as guests wind their way through screams and frights. There are 16 Halloween-themed shows and attractions. One of this weekend's highlights is Sunday's fourth annual Pumpkin Smackdown. Starting at 1 p.m., contestants will compete by throwing pumpkins off the Bobsled ride deck for the chance to win prizes. Anyone who brings a pumpkin to the park will be admitted at the children's price. Little kids will enjoy taking the "Trick-or-Treat Trail" through a miniature village to get a fresh supply of candy. Other highlights are a Funky Frankenstein musical and both scream and costume contests. The park is geared for family outings during the daytime. After 4 p.m., it transitions to "Fright by Night," not recommended for children younger than 12. For a real out-of-state scare, head over to Wilson's Castle in Proctor, Vt., just west of Rutland. The mid-19th century mansion's spooks, ghosts and goblins are guaranteed to raise your hair and blood pressure with Fright Nights from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Not recommended for children. Beware of costumed characters and special effects. Tickets are $8 per person. For information, call (802) 773-3284 or go towilsoncastle.com
Local Halloween attractions o Halloween Train -- Saratoga & North Creek Railway. All children in costume will receive free coach round-trip or one-way ride when accompanied by a paid adult. Train departs Saratoga Springs station at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. In North Creek, passengers may trick-or-treat at participating local shops along Main Street. All kids aboard the train will receive a reusable trick-or-treating bag, courtesy of Hannaford Supermarkets, while supplies last. Also, visitors may take part in a Halloween scavenger hunt throughout downtown North Creek on Saturday and Sunday. Reservations for free tickets for kids in costume as well as regular ticket purchases can be made by calling 1-877-726-RAIL (7245) or online with the promotional code "COSTUME" at www.sncrr.com. o Masquerade Ball -- 6:30 p.m. Friday at Prime at Saratoga. Benefit for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, New York branch. Keynote speaker is FBI Special Agent David Fallon. The event will have a masquerade theme, silent and live auctions, dining stations and dancing. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Awards will be given to the best couple; most original, scariest and funniest costumes. Tickets are $175 per person or $1,500 for a table of 10, and may be purchased by contacting (518) 587-7771 or firstname.lastname@example.com, or online at www.ncemecnycr.org. o Downtown Fall Festival -- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Saratoga Springs. Radio Disney, trick-or-treating, arts and crafts, magic shows. All activities are free. o Saratoga Scare Fair -- 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Saratoga County Fairgrounds, Ballston Spa. Teen and adult haunted houses, hay mazes. $5. o South Glens Falls -- Haunted House, 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Eagles Club, 80 Main St., South Glens Falls. No admission fee, donations accepted. All proceeds to benefit local resident Alyssa Cook recently underwent a kidney transplant. Call 793-4511. o Gavin Park in Wilton -- Haunted Hayride. All proceeds to benefit Operation Adopt-A-Soldier. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $8 for hayride, $5 under 10. For information call 587-2010 or 232-4526. o Schuylerville -- Field of Screams Haunted Corn Maze. 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Schuyler Farms. Cost, $13. Call (518) 695-5308. o Hall-o-Wine Masquerade -- 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Saratoga Winery, Route 29, Saratoga Springs. Costume contest with wine prizes. Live music, food and beverage. $5 glasses of wine for wearing a costume. Free admission. Trolley transportation. 6 p.m. pickup at the Hampton Inn & Suites to the winery. 10 p.m. pick up at the winery back to the Hampton Inn & Suites. $8 round trip, $5 each way. o Ballston Spa -- Witch Walk, starts 6:30p p.m. Friday at D-Line Pub and ends at Elks Club on Milton Avenue. Hundreds of witches roam the streets downtown. Call (518) 884-9352. o Charlton -- Ellms Family Farm. Corn maze, pumpkin picking, evening haunted hayrides. Call 884-8168 or go to ellmsfarms.com.


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U.S. Olympic Committee honors Paralympic leaders with 2013 Amazing Awards
Muffy Davis, who made appearances at the Paralympic Winter Games before transitioning to cycling for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, will be awarded the 2013 Paralympic Amazing Mentor award by the United States Olympic Committee.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. ― The United States Olympic Committee announced today the seven recipients of the Paralympic Amazing Awards, which will be awarded April 26-28 at the USOC Paralympic Leadership Conference presented by Deloitte in Colorado Springs, Colo. Created in conjunction with the inaugural Paralympic Leadership Conference in 2008, the Amazing Awards honor those who have made a significant impact on the Paralympic Movement in the United States.
"Developing a 'Gateway to Gold' requires innovation, excellence and results," said USOC Chief of Paralympics Charlie Huebner. "The 2013 winners of our Paralympic Amazing Awards are delivering in the areas of grassroots development, elite high performance, sponsorship and philanthropy and telling the Paralympic story. Their success is making a significant impact on the delivery of high quality programming to persons with physical disabilities throughout the United States."
The 2013 Amazing Award recipients: USA Hockey, Amazing Leader Award; North Jersey Navigators – Paralympic Sport Club New Jersey, Amazing Sport Club Award; Dave and Gail Liniger, RE/MAX, Amazing Investor Award; BP America, Amazing Impact Award; Muffy Davis, U.S. Paralympian, Amazing Mentor Award; and USO, Amazing Salute Award.
The Paralympic Leadership Conference brings together more than 300 community, government and military leaders to help advance the Paralympic Movement across the country. Over the course of the three-day conference, participants will engage with a variety of speakers including three U.S. hopefuls for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games and award recipient Dave Liniger, RE/MAX co-founder and chairman, a long-time Paralympic supporter who spent most of 2012 recovering from a life-threatening infection that has limited his mobility.
Participants will also collaborate in breakout sessions on a variety of topics including athlete classification, creating a high performance pipeline and expanding sport opportunities for athletes with disabilities at NCAA member institutions. London 2012 Paralympic medalists Kelley Crowley (cycling) and Jason Regier (wheelchair rugby) will also present on high performance topics from an athlete's perspective.
Amazing Leader Award
The Amazing Leader Award recognizes an individual or organization whose leadership in the Paralympic Movement has been transformative and who has mobilized and unified athletes, programs and organizations that improve the lives of people with physical and visual disabilities.
USA Hockey is the recipient of the 2013 Amazing Leader Award. As the National Governing Body for both able-bodied and sled hockey, the discipline contested at the Paralympic Winter Games, USA Hockey is a model for building a grassroots program that feeds into a successful high performance pipeline. In addition to programs including an equipment lending program and the Sled Hockey Grant Program, which helps ease the initial financial burden of a new sled hockey program by providing five new sleds to a participating program, USA Hockey has implemented player development camps that can identify athletes for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team.
"We're honored to be recognized by U.S. Paralympics with the Amazing Leader Award. We're an inclusive organization that works extremely hard to support both able-bodied and disabled athletes and this award is really a reflection of the thousands of volunteers across the country that champion those efforts." – Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey
Recipients: USA Hockey (2013); Pamela Redding (2012); Kelly Behlmann, Disabled Athlete Sports Association – Paralympic Sport Club St. Louis (2011); Annie Desalernos, City of Sacramento Access Leisure – Paralympic Sport Club Sacramento; Ann Cody, BlazeSports America, and Dave Poulin, Challenge Alaska – Paralympic Sport Club Alaska (2009); and Kevin Jardine, Challenge Aspen – Paralympic Sport Club Aspen (2008)
Amazing Sport Club Award
The Amazing Sport Club Award is designed to recognize a Paralympic Sport Club that has made amazing contributions to the Paralympic Movement. The Amazing Sport Club is amazing through innovation, amazing through impact and amazing through daily promotion of the Paralympic ideas.
North Jersey Navigators – Paralympic Sport Club New Jersey is the recipient of the 2013 Amazing Sport Club Award. Based in Bayonne, N.J., North Jersey Navigators provides local opportunities in archery, swimming, table tennis and track and field with the goal of getting all athletes to the level needed to compete at the National Junior Disability Championships (NJDC) and/or the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Junior World Championships (IWAS). Last year, the North Jersey Navigators helped 19-year-old Raymond Martin, a wheelchair racer, make the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team. He won a gold medal in each of the four events he competed in at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, earning the distinction of the 2012 USOC Paralympic SportsMan of the Year.
"It's a great honor for the North Jersey Navigators to receive the 2013 Amazing Sport Club Award. While pushing the limits of our junior athletes and having them be the best they can be are important to us, we also have other priorities for them, including the importance of education, gaining confidence and independence. As a volunteer-based organization it's always a challenge to secure the funding required to support our adaptive sports programs. However, the sacrifices, hard work and dedication we have put into making our program a great success hasn't gone unnoticed. 2012 was a great year for us and our accomplishments are a direct result of our volunteer staff's outstanding teamwork, commitment and desire to promote the Paralympic Movement and to take our athletes to the next level of competition." – Jimmy Cuevas, head coach of North Jersey Navigators
Recipients: North Jersey Navigators – Paralympic Sport Club New Jersey (2013); Bridge II Sports – Paralympic Sport Club Durham (2012); Champions Made From Adversity – Paralympic Sport Club Augusta (2011); Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation – Paralympic Sport Club Tampa Bay (2010); City of Las Vegas and Clark County School District – Paralympic Sport Club Las Vegas (2009); and Lakeshore Foundation – Paralympic Sport Club Birmingham (2008)
Amazing Investor Award
The recipient of the Amazing Investor Award is a person or organization that has been instrumental in the creation of resources in support of the Paralympic Movement.
Longtime supporters of the Paralympic Movement, specifically initiatives for wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans, Dave and Gail Liniger are the recipients of the Amazing Investor Award. The Linigers, co-founders of RE/MAX, are as well known for their advancement of the real estate market as their philanthropic efforts on behalf of non-profit organizations. On Tuesday, Dave released his book My Next Step: An Extraordinary Journey of Healing and Hope, a timeless story of challenge and resolve that chronicles his road to recovery from a life-threatening infection last year that still affects his mobility. He will donate his portion of the proceeds to three organizations including U.S. Paralympics.
"We are absolutely delighted to receive this award from the United States Olympic Committee. It is an honor to help world-class athletes display their talent and tremendous courage, and we're truly grateful to everyone who has helped make this effort such an overwhelming success. We have always believed in working hard to be the best you can possibly be, and U.S. Paralympics is a prime example of that attitude in action." – Dave Liniger, co-founder and chairman of RE/MAX
Recipients: Dave and Gail Liniger, RE/MAX (2013); George Puskar, Paralympic Advisory Committee, and Kevin D. White, trustee, United States Olympic Foundation (2012); The Honorable Jim Langevin and The Honorable Dave Reichert, U.S. House of Representatives (2011); Department of Defense (2010); The Hartford (2009); and SkiTAM, cable television industry event (2008)
Amazing Impact Award
The Amazing Impact Award recognizes a person or organization that tells the Paralympic story in an amazing manner – creating awareness and motivating people to action through words, pictures, promotions or film.
USOC sponsor BP America will receive the Amazing Impact Award. In 2012, BP America initiated work with the Paralympic Sport Club network, a group of organizations across the country that provide Paralympic sports programming in their communities. As a part of the effort, BP has provided several clubs with high-tech sports equipment that enables the advancement of programming as well as financial support for Paralympic Experiences, which are one-day clinics that expose individuals with physical and visual impairments to sports. BP and club leadership have also collaborated to create opportunities that enable BP jobbers to become a significant part of their local Paralympic sports community. In the New York/New Jersey market, BP notably created a fundraising campaign for local Paralympic Sport Clubs. Local BP stations sold Paralympic Sport Club window clings for $1 with the proceeds going directly into local Paralympic sport programming.
"BP is honored to see its continuing support of Team USA and the Paraylmpic Movement recognized through this award. From elite athletes to participants at the local Paralympic Sport Clubs, these individuals personify BP's values, most notably excellence, courage, and one team. We are extremely proud of the joint commitment shown by BP and our branded marketers to support athletes, the USOC, and the Paralympic Movement. BP has and will continue to support the USOC's efforts to build Paralympic programming at a local level and beyond." - Doug Sparkman, president of BP's East of Rockies Fuels Value Chain
Recipients: BP America (2013); Deloitte (2012); The Hartford, "Achieve Without Limits" campaign (2011); Procter & Gamble (2010); Visa (2009); and Nike (2008)
Amazing Mentor Award
Mentors are trusted counselors and guides; they're here to help others accomplish their dreams. The Amazing Mentor Award recognizes a Paralympic mentor – someone who has served as a role model and shared their own experiences to motivate, inspire and promote excellence in sport and in life.
Three-time London 2012 Paralympic Games gold medalist Muffy Davis is the recipient of the Amazing Mentor Award. A 1998 and 2002 Paralympic Winter Games medalist in alpine skiing before transitioning to the sport of cycling, Davis has never allowed her physical disability to limit her ability. Davis, who was injured in a skiing accident while on the junior circuit, travels the world to tell her story of adversity and triumph. The Stanford University graduate has brought awareness of the Paralympic Movement to Fortune 500 companies as well as adaptive athletes, young and old. Davis is also a member U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.
"I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive the Paralympic Amazing Mentor Award. I have been so blessed throughout my Paralympic experiences to have had amazing mentors and support, so it's truly an honor to be able to give back and support other athletes within the Movement. Considering the truly fantastic and empowering athletes who have received this award, I am simply humbled. The United States of America has the best athletes in the world; it is an honor to be a part of our amazing team. Thank you to the United States Olympic Committee for this recognition." – Muffy Davis, three-time U.S. Paralympian
Recipients: Muffy Davis, U.S. Paralympian (2013); Anjali Forber-Pratt, U.S. Paralympian (2012); Gabe Diaz de Leon, U.S. Paralympian (2011); Chris Devlin-Young, U.S. Paralympian (2010); Melissa Stockwell, U.S. Paralympian (2009); and April Holmes, U.S. Paralympian (2008)
Amazing Salute Award
The Amazing Salute Award is for an individual or organization that has made amazing contributions to injured military personnel. The Paralympic Movement returns to its roots by recognizing those who are providing amazing services to injured members of our Armed Forces through the promotion of physical activity and healthy lifestyles.
For their dedication to America's forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors and families of the fallen since World War II, the USO will receive the Amazing Salute Award. Since 2010, the USO has collaborated with the U.S. Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the USOC to support the Warrior Games presented by Deloitte. The USO has proudly supported the athletes who compete with their visible and invisible wounds in seven competitive sport events held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Additionally, USO Warrior and Family Care helps present other sports programming for wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans including Ride 2 Recovery and Rivers of Recovery.
"It's an honor for the USO to receive the Amazing Salute Award in recognition of our continuous support of wounded, ill and injured troops and their families through programs and services like the Warrior Games. Being selected for this award by the U.S. Olympic Committee, one of the pioneer organizations to recognize the importance of active and healthy living during recovery is an even greater honor. The USO accepts the Amazing Salute Award on behalf of all of the troops and families who count on us for support during their recovery process and we make the promise today, as we do every day, that we will always be by their side both on and off the battlefield." – John I. Pray, Jr., executive vice president, chief of staff of the USO
Recipients: USO (2013); VA Palo Alto Health Care System (2012); Janis Rosnowski, Operation Comfort (2011); Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund (2010); Disabled Sports USA, Wounded Warrior Project (2009); and Brooke Army Medical Center (2008)
For more information, please contact Jamie Blanchard, U.S. Paralympics, at 719-866-2068 or email@example.com.


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Other Uses for Gears
If you want to create a high gear ratio, nothing beats the worm gear. In a worm gear, a threaded shaft engages the teeth on a gear. Each time the shaft spins one revolution, the gear moves one tooth forward. If the gear has 40 teeth, you have a 40:1 gear ratio in a very small package. Here's one example from a windshield wiper.
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A mechanical odometer is another place that uses a lot of worm gears:
Planetary Gears
There are many other ways to use gears. One specialized gear train is called a planetary gear train. Planetary gears solve the following problem. Let's say you want a gear ratio of 6:1 with the input turning in the same direction as the output. One way to create that ratio is with the following three-gear train:
In this train, the blue gear has six times the diameter of the yellow gear (giving a 6:1 ratio). The size of the red gear is not important because it is just there to reverse the direction of rotation so that the blue and yellow gears turn the same way. However, imagine that you want the axis of the output gear to be the same as that of the input gear. A common place where this same-axis capability is needed is in an electric screwdriver. In that case, you can use a planetary gear system, as shown here:
In this gear system, the yellow gear (the sun) engages all three red gears (the planets) simultaneously. All three are attached to a plate (the planet carrier), and they engage the inside of the blue gear (the ring) instead of the outside. Because there are three red gears instead of one, this gear train is extremely rugged. The output shaft is attached to the blue ring gear, and the planet carrier is held stationary -- this gives the same 6:1 gear ratio. You can see a picture of a two-stage planetary gear system on the electric screwdriver page, and a three-stage planetary gear system of the sprinkler page. You also find planetary gear systems inside automatic transmissions.
Another interesting thing about planetary gearsets is that they can produce different gear ratios depending on which gear you use as the input, which gear you use as the output, and which one you hold still. For instance, if the input is the sun gear, and we hold the ring gear stationary and attach the output shaft to the planet carrier, we get a different gear ratio. In this case, the planet carrier and planets orbit the sun gear, so instead of the sun gear having to spin six times for the planet carrier to make it around once, it has to spin seven times. This is because the planet carrier circled the sun gear once in the same direction as it was spinning, subtracting one revolution from the sun gear. So in this case, we get a 7:1 reduction.
You could rearrange things again, and this time hold the sun gear stationary, take the output from the planet carrier and hook the input up to the ring gear. This would give you a 1.17:1 gear reduction. An automatic transmission uses planetary gearsets to create the different gear ratios, using clutches and brake bands to hold different parts of the gearset stationary and change the inputs and outputs.


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Abyssinian's Ethiopian Visit
[Africa News Update]
After nearly 200 years Abyssinia returned to Ethiopia.
A delegation of 150 members of the renowned New York City-based Abyssinia Baptist church, trailed by a Fox News television crew and others recently visited Ethiopia.
The two-week trip was a pilgrimage to the spiritual motherland of the church, but it was also a way to launch Abyssinia's bicentennial.
In November 2008 the church will be 200 years old, and a lot is planned to celebrate the event. The church was founded nearly two centuries ago when Ethiopian merchants, denied access to a white downtown church in New York, founded their own house of worship. It is now one of the best known churches in the United States and political office aspirants pay calls of respect every election season and in between.
During their recent journey in Ethiopia, many of the church members had quite an experience. The first week all members went up north, which is one of Ethiopia's historical sites.
They went to the rock hewn churches of Lalibella, built somewhere around the 11th -12th centuries. They visited the castle of Gondar, or what is left of it, built some six centuries ago. They also visited the medical school there. Then it was off to Bahir Dar, a city known for being close to the birthplace of the Blue Nile which goes to Sudan and then later in Egypt. It also hosts several monasteries that hold some very old religious artifacts.
The church members also went to Axum and Mekelle. Axum was the place of an ancient kingdom that left traces visible up until today with its obelisks. Mekelle is the capital of the Tigray region, this where all the top leaders in Ethiopia come from. It is a shame that the delegation didn't see the South, nor the East or the centre for that matter. They likely visited only where their hosts invited them to.
At the Holy Trinity cathedral, during a special celebration hosted by the Abouna Paulos, the patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox church, members of the delegation offered an impression of their trip here. C. Virginia Fields, the former Manhattan borough president was a member of the visiting delegation—she has been a member of the church for 25 years. "As we go back, we are now in a better position collectively to make recommendations to the church, to the African-American community throughout New York City and beyond," she said, of the trip, whose purpose was to learn and assess.
"This is an absolutely beautiful country as we traveled throughout the countryside," she added. "The people are some of the gracious, some of the most respectful people I have ever met, and I have traveled through other parts. There is a spirit."
Vi Lilly, another member for 24 years, was also struck by the journey:
"We've been talking about it for years and years and we've never been able to consummate it. Everyone has embraced us like sisters and brothers. It's been an extraordinary experience. It's the highlight of my life."
Lauren Green, Fox News religion correspondent, also took part in this project. The channel is preparing a documentary on Abyssinia. Her journey was a bit of a shock, she said. "It is an odd combination. I have never seen so much poverty; that's why I am a little confused. Is this poverty or is this just working poor? I am also struck by the progress here. Ethiopia is in transition," she said.
Green agreed that the experience was spiritual for her too: "What is surprising to a lot of us was that Ethiopia is mainly Christian. There's a large Muslim population as well but Christianity came so soon. I don't think many people in America even knew that."
The reverend Calvin O. Butts III, pastor of Abyssinian, knew a lot more about the History of the Ethiopian church, which is celebrating almost two thousand years of existence. Ethiopia converted to Christianity way before Europeans did. The introduction of this monotheist religion goes back to the 4th century AD, and it wasn't through war nor colonization that it happened.
Listening to Butts' commanding voice it was easy to see how pastors, back in the days of Civil Rights Movement, managed to rally such huge crowds. It is a skill that very few people have. Butts seems to have enjoyed his trip, which for health reasons had been postponed twice before.
"Since our arrival here on September 16th we have experienced life altering events, challenging to reach new levels of spirituality," Butts told media here. "Our journey with Ethiopia is just beginning," he added, explaining this Abyssinia Baptist Church pilgrimage, will not be their last.
The church delegation also met with U.S ambassador to Ethiopia, Donal Yamamoto and with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and with officials from Addis Ababa University.
One wonders as to the level of openness accorded the group. The University is extremely divided ethnically—especially with Tigreans and Oromos. Police in the past have targeted and arrested students. The belief is that there some students who keep tabs on others on behalf of state security agents.
The university president, Indrias Eshete, is unpopular and students talk about deteriorating education conditions. Even though the trip was billed primarily as a spiritual, cultural and historical journey, prominent Americans can't come to Ethiopia and completely avoid the political minefields. Although Butts tried to stay clear of politics, there were many unanswered questions.
Despite some undeniable achievements in this country, like infrastructure and the industry sector growth, there is still a lot do as far as human rights are concerned. Independent groups such as Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) have done a brave job documenting conditions, including in Oromiya. Some staff were even detained for four months, then released.
An urbane and well informed pastor, he must be aware of the political situation here. One might wonder why, given the clear need for more outside pressure, the reverend would be against the Congressional Bill that calls for democratization, leveling the playing field for the opposition and even a visa ban for officials suspected of human rights abuse.
On a positive note, let's hope the trip will bring a better bondage between both African and African-American communities, often divided because of stereotypes and misinformation.
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Download Daughter of Fortune Study Guide
(Critical Survey of Literature for Students)
A baby in a wicker basket is left on the doorstep of the British Import and Export Company in Valparaiso, Chile, on March 15, 1832. Rose Sommers—an unmarried sibling of Jeremy Sommers, a prominent member of the company—decides to adopt the baby, whom she finds irresistible. With the consent and support of her brother, Rose names the baby Eliza and raises her in the austere British tradition, with all the privileges and strict discipline common to a nineteenth century, upper-class British family.
As part of her Victorian upbringing, Eliza is taught the English language and learns to play the piano, two skills that will benefit her greatly in the future. Eliza's upbringing is also very much influenced by Mama Fresia, the Native Chilean servant and cook in the Sommers household. Mama Fresia teaches Eliza the native art of cooking and exposes her to the traditions and practices of the Mapuche tribe, thereby allowing Eliza to experience both worlds and both cultures. This bicultural upbringing is advantageous to her as she grows from childhood to adolescence and as she begins her travels to a different world.
Blessed from birth with an almost photographic memory and a keen sense of smell, Eliza becomes an accomplished cook, skillfully blending the gastronomic practices of the Indian and British cultures. Eliza's memory is prolific and almost magical: She is able to remember, with utmost clarity, lying as a baby inside the discarded box of Marseilles soap that served as her first crib. She remembers Miss Rose bending over her cradle and even recalls the color of the dress that Miss Rose was wearing at the time.
Eliza's adolescent years are punctuated by ambivalence toward the circumstances of her birth: On one hand, Miss Rose tells her that she must have been left by wealthy British colonists because the basket in which she was found was constructed of the finest wicker and adorned by a mink coverlet, both outward signs of lavishness theretofore unimaginable in Chile. On the other hand, Mama Fresia informs her that she was found in a crate, wrapped in a man's sweater and without a diaper. She further tells the child that had Eliza not been blessed with blond hair at her birth, Miss Rose and her brother Jeremy would not have adopted her. Eliza quickly realizes that the topic of her birth is not to be discussed in the Sommers household, and she rapidly becomes accustomed to the almost mystical and mythical nature of her origin.
As Eliza matures, her acute sense of smell is sharpened, as is her extraordinary ability to remember even the most obscure items and occurrences in her life. Eliza's life is uncomplicated and normal, and she enjoys the process of maturation and growth, although even at this early stage her independent personality and character become apparent. At the age of sixteen, she falls desperately in love with Joaquin Andieta, a modest clerk who works for Jeremy in the British Import and Export Company. Andieta lives with his mother in abject poverty and expresses anxiety for her well-being. Eliza's family is shocked by Eliza's love for Andieta, whom they consider uncouth and unsuitable for her. Her independent streak is demonstrated when she has an affair with Andieta and becomes pregnant by him.
In 1849, news of the discovery of gold in California reaches South America, prompting many Chileans to migrate to California to seek their fortune. Andieta decides to join the California gold rush, hoping to make his fortune and to free himself and his mother from the cycle of poverty. A few months after his departure, Eliza, who is very much in love with him, decides to follow him to California so they can be together. She stows away on a ship and is helped in this adventurous and difficult voyage by a Chinese doctor named Tao Chi'en who befriends her and is sympathetic to her plight. For the duration of the very arduous voyage, Eliza lives hidden in the bowels of the ship and, as a consequence of this hardship,...
(The entire section is 1,445 words.)


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Four years after news agency IRIN released its award-winning documentary film "Slum Survivors", its makers returned to the Kenyan slum of Kibera to see what had happened to the main characters.
One of the most striking sequences of the film showed Patrick Mburu emptying pit latrine toilets in the dead of night. He did not much care for the job but the money was good and as he put it at the time, "I'll carry as much shit as it takes to keep my kid in school."
Four years later Patrick is still emptying toilets and his kid is still in school – and doing quite well by all accounts.
See below the section of "Slum Survivors" that follows Patrick at work at night emptying shared latrines [segment starts at 1.50].
Al Jazeera has broadcast Slum Survivors several times, and viewers have contributed more than US$ 100,000 to support characters from the film and their work. Inspired by the film, the BBC sent four UK celebrities to live and work in the Kibera slum for a week as part of the 2011 annual BBC Comic Relief charity telethon. One the celebrities, BBC Radio One DJ Reggie Yates
bags himself one of the highest paid jobs in the slums – emptying raw sewage from the public pit latrines.
In 2007 the World Bank produced a longer portrait of Patrick Muburu in the 10-minute video "Kibera Kenya – Understanding Small Scale Service Providers"
Kibera gained international fame in 2005 when it featured in the hit film "The Constant Gardener", based on the 2001 novel of the same name by John le Carré. Since then it has become an obligatory stop, not only for foreign dignitaries but also for tourists who can sign up for a wide range of Kibera Slum tours.
Related web sites:
- IRIN – Slum Survivors – full documentary film – full transcript
- YouTube / OneWorldTV – Slum Survivors (in 5 parts) – Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 – Part 5
- Red Nose Day – Famous, Rich & in the Slums
Source: IRIN, 16 Mar 2011 ; Comic Relief / Red Nose Day, 03 Mar 2011


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Home > Fitness & Health > Health Library > Quick Tips: Healthy Eating on a Budget
There are ways to make healthy eating fit your budget. You'll be surprised by how spending just a little extra time can save you money. And the more time you spend—in planning, shopping, and cooking—the more money you'll save.
Current as of: August 22, 2019
Author: Healthwise StaffMedical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family MedicineMartin J. Gabica, MD - Family MedicineKathleen Romito, MD - Family MedicineRhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator
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Fox Personalities Lecture Civil Rights Leaders On What They Should Have Said During March On Washington
Fox News personalities criticized speeches given by civil rights leaders at the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, attacking the speakers for not addressing issues they deemed more important and complaining about "grievance-mongering."
Obama, Civil Rights Leaders Speak During 50th Anniversary Of March on Washington
Rep. John Lewis: "We Must Never, Ever Give Up. We Must, Never Give In. We Must Keep The Faith And Keep Our Eyes On The Prize." On August 28, Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), the only surviving speaker from the 1963 March on Washington, addressed issues that African-Americans and all Americans still face in the 50 years since the original march:
The scars and stains of racism still remain deeply embedded in American society, whether it is stop and frisk in New York or injustice in Trayvon Martin case in Florida, the mass incarceration of millions of Americans, immigrants hiding in fear in the shadow of our society, unemployment, homelessness, poverty, hunger or the renewed struggle for voting rights.
So I say to each of us today, we must never, ever give up. We must, ever give in. We must keep the faith and keep our eyes on the prize. (Cheers, applause.)
We did go to jail, but we got the Civil Rights Act. We got the Voting Rights Act. We got the Fair Housing Act. But we must continue to push. We must continue to work, as the late A. Philip Randolph said to organizers for the march in 1963.
And the dean of the civil rights movement once said, we may have come here on different ships, but we all are in the same boat now. So it doesn't matter whether they're black or white, Latino, Asian- American or Native American, whether we or gay or straight -- we are one people, we are one family, we are all living in the same house -- not just the American house, but the world house. [Rep. John Lewis, 8/28/13, via The Washington Post]
Obama: "The March On Washington Teaches Us That We Are Not Trapped By The Mistakes Of History, That We Are Masters Of Our Fate." President Obama addressed the March on Washington commemoration by urging the audience to "reignite the embers of empathy and fellow feeling, the coalition of conscience that found expression in this place 50 years ago" :
The March on Washington teaches us that we are not trapped by the mistakes of history, that we are masters of our fate.
But it also teaches us that the promise of this nation will only be kept when we work together. We'll have to reignite the embers of empathy and fellow feeling, the coalition of conscience that found expression in this place 50 years ago.
And I believe that spirit is there, that true force inside each of us. I see it when a white mother recognizes her own daughter in the face of a poor black child. I see it when the black youth thinks of his own grandfather in the dignified steps of an elderly white man. It's there when the native born recognizing that striving spirit of a new immigrant, when the interracial couple connects the pain of a gay couple who were discriminated against and understands it as their own. That's where courage comes from, when we turn not from each other or on each other but towards one another, and we find that we do not walk alone. That's where courage comes from. (Applause.)
And with that courage, we can stand together for good jobs and just wages. With that courage, we can stand together for the right to health care in the richest nation on earth for every person. (Applause.) With that courage, we can stand together for the right of every child, from the corners of Anacostia to the hills of Appalachia, to get an education that stirs the mind and captures the spirit and prepares them for the world that awaits them. (Applause.) With that courage, we can feed the hungry and house the homeless and transform bleak wastelands of poverty into fields of commerce and promise.
America, I know the road will be long, but I know we can get there. Yes, we will stumble, but I know we'll get back up. That's how a movement happens. That's how history bends. That's how, when somebody is faint of heart, somebody else brings them along and says, come on, we're marching. [President Obama,8/28/13, via The Washington Post]
Fox Personalities Criticize Speeches Given During The Anniversary
Fox's O'Reilly On Marc Morial's Speech: "That Kind Of Grievance-Mongering Does The Cause Of Civil Rights No Good At All." On the August 28 edition of his Fox News show, O'Reilly acknowledged that many of the speeches commemorating the March on Washington "were uplifting and respectful to America, but not all." After playing a clip of the National Urban League chairman Marc Morial's speech, O'Reilly criticized him commenting, "That kind of grievance-mongering does the cause of civil rights no good at all." [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor,8/28/13]
Fox's Bolling: Lewis Missed An Opportunity "To Address The Issues" Of Marriage And Education. On the August 28 edition of The Five, co-host Eric Bolling opened up a discussion on the March on Washington commemoration by criticizing Lewis' speech for including comments on stop-and-frisk laws and the death of Trayvon Martin instead of commenting on marriage and education. His co-host Andrea Tantaros agreed with Bolling, adding: "all of the problems in the black community, John Lewis didn't include." [Fox News, The Five, 8/28/13]
Fox's Tantaros: Obama "Misses Opportunities Time And Again" To Address Black Family Issues. The Five co-host Andrea Tantaros claimed that Obama "misses opportunities" to talk about family issues she said are important to African-Americans. After commenting that "President Obama, whether you like him or not, is seemingly a good father" whose "pants are pulled up," she explained that "he just misses opportunities time and again" to address African-American family issues. [Fox News, The Five, 8/28/13]
Fox's Krauthammer Complains Speakers Are "Living Fifty Years Ago" And Not Addressing "Social Issues." On the August 28 edition of Fox's Special Report, Fox contributor Charles Krauthammer criticized some civil rights leaders for "living fifty years ago," alluding to comments made by Morial. Krauthammer added that "The real challenge is the social issues. ... The breakup of the family. It is the terrible education that young people in the ghetto are subjected to." [Fox News, Special Report with Bret Baier, 8/28/13]


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Friday…drinks with a dear friend at Grandma's.
Vodka, cran and spiritual connectedness through conversation!
Saturday…baking (a bitch had to prepare a Red Velvet cake with cream cheese icing for the evenings festivities) then soul food at my play-cousin's crib!
Red beans & rice, collards, corn bread, spicy chicken followed by blood red cake. Add to the mix several goblets of Grape Kool-Aid and vodka and a bitch as blissed! The evening concluded with some additional bonding at Grandma's.
Sunday...As if a bitch hadn't had enough socialization, I took my sister to see the Sugarwater Festival at the UMB Bank Pavilion last night! Slap me and call me satisfied! Jill Scott was magnificato! Voice like a fucking Queen! Speaking of Queens, Latifah/Dana was divine. Erykah…a bitch adores your ass! After sitting in traffic for too long then hiking up to the hinterland that is the UMB Bank Pavilion, this bitch has declared that it will take another festival of this caliber to get my black ass anywhere near that venue again. Jesus! And a bitch's allergies are on crack now, too! Shit. It was worth it! I give it 4 out of 4 bitchslaps!
Needless to say a bitch is exhausted and, therefore, incapable of bullshit.
A key player in my screenplay, All the President's Minions, has just gotten paid off. As Dickie C. would say…Big Time! This bitch is neither surprised nor all that agitated. My ass is actually pleased that Scooter has appointed someone so abrasive that none of his off the wall crazy assed based completely on lies and built on a foundation of donkey crap plans will reach fruition. Trust me, Bolton is not a closer.
A bitch would like to examine Bolton of the Red Faced Stalker of Employees Boltons. Now, my ass does not have anything against red faced public servants. For all we know, Bolton of the Anger Management Deficient Boltons could have that skin thing that makes one's face red.
What am I saying?
Fuck that! Bolton looks like he is one bad call away from blowing the ref. away with an Uzi at his son's little league game! This dude is fucking crazy! Look at him! A bitch feels sorry for the poor country sitting next to his ass at the round table of unitedtude.
Really, this recess appointment is a tragedy of monumental proportions! To appoint someone so evil and nasty and over the top psycho that he will most likely not be able to accomplish anything at the United Nations now is just cruel! Where was this fiend during the pre-war negotiations?
Just imagine our world if Bolton of the BTKesque Bolton's had been at the United Nations in 2002…
Bolton, the very image of Richard the III and spewing venom "I don't give a rats ass if you dispute the evidence or not! Give me my war or the wrath of John shall be upon you. Remember, I kill puppies to kick off my day!"
Kofi (close, but a bitch is a wee bit bitter that my ass missed out on the whole Oil for Food corruption payoff…could have funded my cult…err…church!), looking stunned and speaking softly "It would seem that you have a bit of a God complex. We are not in a position to…oh my Gawd…get him off of me…Jesus! Security! Security! Oh…oh, the pain...make him stop! Please, make him stop!"
Bolton, his huge hands circling Kofi's thin neck, ends the discussion.
"God complex?" he asks, licking the blood from his fingers. "I don't think I'm God…I am God!"
The room evacuates as Bolton of the Puppy Killing BTKesque Bolton's fiendish laughter fills the room.
Either way, this power move is proof that we need some serious education reform in this country! A bitch is serious! This is what happens when your President gets diplomacy and tyranny confused…


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jkuster necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 69 diseños de 17 diseñadores freelance.
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We serve the growing population of independent adults living at home. Our unique, corner of the market are healthy, aging adults living alone with internet access.
Our target audiences include both seniors living independently, and the family/friends that leverage our value-add services provided by the site to stay connected with the loved ones.
We are looking for a logo to best represent our business. Our core design values are simple, easy to read with a bit of humor.
Since our target audience is older adults, color, font and overall appearance is important. Easy to read fonts and contrasting colors are required. If they can't see or understand the logo, they may not use our services.
The final logo designs will provide color and font requirements for subsequent home page design and all other promotional/graphic work
While not a requirement, the tag line we are considering is "Today is a Good Day". We're not sure whether the logo should contact the phrase but are open to incorporating it into the logo.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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I'm currently having trouble getting into my strip through FTP. BJ worked some sort of computer magic to get the strip updated, and I'm now trying to figure out why the rest of the page didn't update. Until then, here's the skinny on the new story, since it just kind of drops you in...
Darron and Liza have somehow managed to go on their first official date. How this was managed between Darron being a chicken and Liza wanting to play the stupid game of "I'll let him make the first move", I don't know. But, never mind that. Here they are. Darron seems to think the point of a date is to get to know each other, while Liza isn't all too pleased with that idea. And at that, here's where the story begins.
A quick rehash of where everyone stands, in case you don't feel like going through the entire gallery again...
Darron--really thinks Liza is the cat's pajamas. He's to get a very rude awakening very soon.
Liza--thinks Darron is the cat's pajamas, until he starts asking pesky questions about her, the nerve of him. She'll quickly rediscover her repressed love of firearms.
Julie--is still bothered about this large man claiming to be "Betty Masters'" husband, and isn't all too pleased about the fact that Liza seems to be stringing Darron along. She'll have plenty of chances to ask Liza about this little tidbit.
Damien--just wants to spend alone time with his woman to atone for the lack of attention he's been paying her lately. That, and beat all her scores on "Guitar Hero" while she goes out on errands. He'll be quite excited, then confused, then angry when Julie starts spending more time with Liza than with him.
Tonja--after being inspired by Grand Theft Auto, she has decided to start a lucrative business with Mindy. It'll also be discovered that Tonja is very learned in fields that will come in handy for Darron in this story.
Mindy--continues to follow Tonja around and be cute, mostly wearing outfits she shouldn't, and carrying around giant props.
So, there you have it. Everybody's here, ready to get shot at, called names, lied to, and whatnot.


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Just the other day we got a phone call from someone who wanted to really WOW his girlfriend. He told us this was his first time ever doing something like this and he had an idea in his head, but not all the details. Basically what he wanted was a giant cupcake and then he wanted to incorporate the colors that are important to his girlfriend.
I wanted the cake to still look like a giant cupcake, since that was in fact what he wanted. I didn't like the way the white cake board looked underneath the colorful cupcake and so I decided to cover it with red chocolate. I think it looks fantastic! After that I added some ribbon roses in the colors he requested and a banner wishing her a happy birthday. I topped it off with a hand modeled "kiss". The cake turned out really colorful and fun, which I think was what he wanted. When he picked the cake up from me he was thrilled. I can only hope she was as thrilled as he was when he gave it to her!
-The Baker


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The poll closed last night and it's easy to see how hard of a choice forum members faced, as all of these were only a few votes apart. Without further ado...
In 1st place with 39 votes is Sparkart's ATST:
As the top winner he will receive Battle of Hoth game set, Planet Series 1 set, and three polybag ships. Our runners up will be receiving the same three polybags (MTT, Star Destroyer, and TIE):
In 2nd with 36 votes is Flynn's Millenium Falcon:
In 3rd with 32 votes, Roarsack's ATTE:
4th, with 29 votes, Trooper10's TIE Fighter:
And finally in 5th place with 25 votes is Blackninjatom's Y-Wing:
Congratulations to all of our winners (You will be contacted by Ace after we're back from Toy Fair) and once again thanks to everyone who built and voted. You guys are the ones who make these contests awesome and you never disappoint.
Permalink: http://www.fbtb.net/2013/02/08/palpatines-shrink-o-matic-ray-contest-winners/


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- WiFi
- Car park
- Air conditioning
- Transfer service
- Accessible
- Business
Choose your room
With a stay at Hotel Sun in Cluj-Napoca, you'll be on a river and convenient to Dr. Constantin Radulescu Stadium and Unirii Square. This 4-star hotel is within close proximity of National History Museum of Transylvania and Matthias Corvinus House. Pamper yourself with onsite massages or enjoy recreation amenities such as bicycles to rent. Additional features include complimentary wireless Internet access, wedding services, and a television in the lobby. Featured amenities include complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access, a business center, and express check-in. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available on request). Make yourself at home in one of the 25 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars and LED televisions. Rooms have private balconies. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available to keep you connected. Private bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.
Useful information:Other names for Hotel River Park:
Sun On The River
River Park
Sun Hotel
Hotel Sun


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Is it just your clients who missed the huge stock market rally?
Apparently not, judging from a fund research round table that included top Morningstar analysts Scott Burns, Russel Kinnel, Laura Lutton and John Rekenthaler.
In a free-flowing discussion that is a highlight of each year's Morningstar Investment Conference, the Chicago-based research firm's top analysts answered questions from PBS business journalist Consuelo Mack.
Self-defeating behavior on the part of investors was a theme that came up early and often on the late Wednesday panel.
Burns (left) called it "confounding" that a huge segment of investors have not participated in the stock market rally, describing the heavy flow into fixed income as a "retroactive fix" of a bad asset allocation that overweighted stocks prior to the financial crisis.
Rekenthaler's formulation packed more pain:
"You don't get too many chances to get over 100% gain without inflation after only four years," he said, adding that huge numbers of investors compounded the woe of missing the rally by heading for the exits after locking in portfolio losses in 2008 and 2009.
Conversely, Lutton worried about latecomers to the rally, saying "investors chasing performance doesn't end well historically. Those who see bonds as safe investment are going to be unhappy."
And Kinnel noted the danger in the investor quest for yield.
"Whether you're looking at funds, bonds or stocks…the highest yielding areas…are a little scary right now."
Missing the rally and coming to it late, with all the dangers that entails, made investment strategy another dominant theme in the discussion.
"This fall it will be five years since [the collapse of] Lehman Brothers," Burns noted, "but people talk about it as if it were five weeks ago. The scars are still so deep."
For that reason, he said financial advisors should give serious consideration to strategies that might not be optimal from a return perspective, such as target-date or low-volatility funds.
"If at the end of the day they make the investor behave better, they're better off [with these strategies]. So many did the wrong thing after 2008-09," he said.
"The two surest ways to not reach your goals are to not save and leave it all in cash," he added. For advisors, therefore, the challenge is to "keep in the game but in a way that the client can tolerate."
For Kinnel's part, "cost and stewardship are the biggest factors FAs should consider in investing clients' dollars."
Stewardship, which looks at things such as the culture of the fund firm and whether managers invest in their own fund, was also emphasized by Lutton.
"Is this fund firm a good caretaker of your capital?" she said. "Studies have shown a relationship between these softer [factors] and performance."
In that regard, Kinnel noted that "some of the big publicly traded fund firms are less careful" stewards of shareholder capital, but he said boutique firms could be found on either extreme, noting that the boutique firm Strong Funds got caught in scandal whereas Vanguard got to where it is through its fund stewardship.
And Burns steered away from large vs. small, saying [bond giant] "PIMCO, at end of the day, is one big boutique—they're not all things to all people."
When asked by Mack to name names, Kinnel cited FPA Capital, Primecap and TFS as excellent fund companies.
Check out complete coverage of the Morningstar Investment Conference at AdvisorOne.


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Gotham Dream Cars
Talking Fast Cars with Pete & Chris - Pete's Basement Extras!
In an excerpt from Season 10, episode 42, Pete and Chris are talking sports cars, hot women and what makes them hotter, and speed...limits?? More like speed "suggestions."
Submitted by Pete on Wed, 12/06/2017 - 22:27


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New Jersey Nets owner and Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov plans to challenge Vladimir Putin for the presidency of his homeland.
The colorful Prokhorov, Russia's third-richest man with a net worth estimated at $18 billion, said he was emboldened by the sudden vulnerability of Putin, who has been the target of growing demonstrations throughout the nation.
"This is the most important decision of my life," Prokhorov told reporters in Moscow.
Prokhorov quit as leader of the Pravoye Delo, or Right Cause, party on Sept. 15, accusing President Dmitry Medvedev's administration of blocking his party's preparations for parliamentary elections in December, according to Bloomberg News.
Protesters decry the elections that saw the party of Putin and his protege Medvedev maintain a slim majority in parliament. Accusations of ballot stuffing and voter suppression have led Russians, including former Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev, to call for new elections.
The presidency, which Putin plans to reclaim from Medvedev in a possible job swap, is on the ballot in March.
Prokhorov will need two million signatures to get on the ballot. He told reporters he isn't afraid of taking on Putin, even though other oligarchs who have run afoul of the onetime KGB agent have not fared well, including currently jailed former oil baron Mikhail Khodorkovsky. But some critics have suggested Prokhorov's work in the Right Cause Party was orchestrated by the Kremlin as a means of controlling opposition to Putin.
Prokhorov said the very reason he quit the party was that it had become a "puppet party."
Prokhorov, who is 46 and stands 6 feet 8 inches tall, made his fortune in investments and precious metals. He bought the New Jersey Nets in 2010 for a reported price of $200 million.
New York University Professor Mark Galeotti, of the school's Center for Global Affairs, said the jury is still out about whether Prokhorov is a serious rival to Putin or a means of "fragmenting the opposition." If he is serious about running, he has the money and name recognition to mount a serious campaign, Galeotti said.
"There is a real opportunity for Prokhorov," Galeotti said. "People are waiting to see, is he just coming up again as a Kremlin stooge or is he serious?"


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Well at medieval events over here in eastern Canada I seem to be the firewood guy. Most medieval reenactors over here fall into some pretty tight categories. The geek and intellectual sort who use keyboards for a living and are not so great at manual labour. The army guys who just like to fight and hit one another, and are too sore and injured for manual labour, and the artisan types who say things like; "Damnit Jim, I'm a lute maker not a lumberjack…" who just refuse to do manual labour unless it is for lute making. Then there is me and my Forester friends who for some reason like that sort of thing…
So at far too many of these medieval reenactment events I get tasked with doing the firewood and I end up taking out my Silkie Big Boy saw complete with blaze orange handle and cutting up the firewood in a non-medieval way. Well at least with a non-medieval tool; it is not like I used a chainsaw or anything.
I decided I needed a medieval saw that was more appropriate and so started the research. Come to find out they have been around for ever and according to the manuscripts they look pretty much like a tensioned buck saw. Well that is a pretty easy build so I may as well make an adventure of it. I wanted my saw to look like the medieval equivalent of the saw owned by the guy that found a used blade abandoned after the black death and not the exquisite wood working tool owned by that master lute maker that will not help me do fire wood.
Medieval frame saws from period illustrations
I was not interested in making a blade for scratch. Medieval saw blades had the common or "M" tooth pattern so are easy to make with a triangular file, but it would cost way more and take vast amounts of time to make one. I just picked up a 24 inch buck saw blade made by Stanley Tools. It was $6Cdn and will work far better on firewood and will never be used for lute making.
So let the adventure begin and lets try to do what medieval guys would do and it does not involve a trip to the Home Depot. I went to the woods to look for a dead standing white ash tree.
Found some interesting things on my way into the hardwood stand
I found my dead standing Ash tree. It was tucked in behind a living ash tree that was considerably larger.
Hunter is pretty happy to be out on an adventure although less interested in doing any work.
Some days it would be nice to have a pack horse but on the positive side I can hike the few miles out and get rid of some winter fat. The 4-5 logs do not weigh much anyway and the extras will become tool handles. There may be a longbow in one of them at some point though.
So cut down to manageable lengths, the axe work begins.
All the free hand axe work is done by eye and low spots for curves are left until last when a flat surface sort of emerges from the wood.
After a bit of time, the wood begins to look like something approaching a piece of kiln dried store bough timber. A thickness plainer at this point would be a real bonus but I do not have one.
Bar clamped to the rail on the back deck I cleaned up the roughed out wood with a draw knife and then made some finer cuts and curves with a farrier's knife. I quite like them for debarking and using them as a scraper.
I cheated and used a power drill to pilot the holes for my joints (my auger is too big and is for making barns) and carved them out with a small carving set. They need to be loose or the tension will wreak havoc upon them. I also neglected to take photos of the process as it is tedious and not very enjoyable to me.
However after it was all carved out and the blade pinned in, I used a piece of sisal rope and back braided loops onto each end. The two loops go over one end and this gives two pieces of rope to slide the twirly stick through.
It is not the prettiest buck saw in the world. This guarantees it will not be stolen by medieval lute makers. But it has lots of extra height in the handles to allow for solid tensioning and the whole build cost $6Cdn and got me out for a walk. Now I can cut up the firewood at the medieval camp out without looking out of place. I sure wish I could find a manuscript with a blaze orange Silkie saw in it though…


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GateHouse News Service National Budget
Contacts: Lisa Glowinski, (217) 816-3343, firstname.lastname@example.com
Michael Toeset, (630) 835-8870, firstname.lastname@example.com
On GHNewsroom.com
WAKE UP CALL!: Getting teens' sleep habits back on track
HURRICANE IRENE: 5 cool ways GateHouse covered it
9/11 SITE LAUNCHED: What to know about The Day America Changed project
FALL CAR CARE GUIDE AND 2012 NEW CAR PREVIEW: A look at 28 new-model cars, safe and eco-friendly vehicles, what to include in a winter emergency kit
KIDZBUZZ: Write about your summer vacation
PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY NFL PREVIEW SECTION: Six-page broadsheet with rankings of all teams, fantasy tidbits and a full schedule
FALL HOME & GARDEN: Learn about eco-roofs, ideas for bold and cozy kitchens, new shower doors a simple bathroom upgrade
LABOR DAY PAGE: Industries that are hiring now
GADDAFI: Libyan rebels are almost certain that Muammar Gaddafi's son Khamis was killed during fighting while the Gaddafi's wife and other children escape to Algeria. Source: Reuters
Embed code:
DWTS: Chaz Bono, Nancy Grace and David Arquette are among the new lineup set to tango and quickstep for the 13th season of "Dancing with the Stars." Source: Associated Press
Embed code:
IRENE: New York officials warn of scams during storm cleanup -- As residents of New York begin to clean up damage left by Tropical Storm Irene, state officials are warning them to be mindful of the risks of scams. Benjamin M. Lawsky, superintendent of the Department of Financial Services, said New Yorkers should protect themselves. Observer-Dispatch (N.Y.)
9/11 MORNING MINUTES: The Morning Minutes file for Sept. 11 includes a GateHouse 9/11 website as the Website of the Day. It is highly recommended that you localize this URL so your newspaper gets the clicks. To do this in Zope, follow the instructions listed here: http://www.ghnewsroom.com/how%20to/x1704355650/How-to-edit-content-syndicated-to-your-carousel-from-GHNS. The file is slugged "Morning Minutes: Sept. 11."
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Good snacking -- weekly Food for Thought with items on healthy snacking, "Artisan Cheese Making at Home: Techniques & Recipes for Mastering World-Class Cheeses" by Mary Karlin and more. By GHNS
TRADING POST: Microwaved Peach Crisp and Summer Strawberry Delight -- "This is one of my favorite summer dessert recipes using fresh peaches," she writes. "I cut it out of a magazine about 15 years ago and have made it every year since. It's easy, and I love that it's a microwave recipe. No need to heat up the house using the oven." Kathryn Rem/ State Journal-Register (Ill.)
FAMILY TIME: The best back-to-school foods to give kids a boost - Weekly family rail, with school nutrition tips, a review of the latest "Spy Kids" movie and more.
* Localization tip: Any of the first three items can be localized – ask a local family counselor to provide a tip of the week, ask movie-going parents to give reviews of movies or ask youngsters to send in book reviews.
LORETTA LAROCHE: Don't look back just to place blame - Discovering how to use our pasts to guide and empower us can be tricky. Our culture has evolved into one that spends time looking for who is to blame for our inadequacies. People often spend years in therapy or going to workshops to try to discover who or what has made them unhappy. By Loretta LaRoche, The Patriot Ledger.
GARY BROWN: Are purchases encouraged by a penny? -- When did the price for almost everything become 99 cents? We've all seen things priced at $9.99. I'm sure, as those who are displaying or advertising those prices must believe, we've told ourselves, "At $10 they're robbing me, but at $9.99, I've got myself a real steal." Canton (Ohio) Repository
DR. JEFF HERSH: What is Hashimoto's disease? -- Q: What is Hashimoto's disease, how is it treated and will treatment help to reverse the weight gain I had from it? MetroWest Daily News (Mass.)
DR. MURRAY FEINGOLD: Hating veggies may be genetic -- Two common types of genes are involved in tasting PTC: a tasting gene and a non-tasting gene. These genes bind to the taste receptors or taste buds located on the tongue. They apparently bind in different ways. Although it is possible to have two non-tasting genes, most people have at least one tasting gene. MetroWest Daily News (Mass.)
DAVID ROBSON: Healing a summer-stressed lawn -- Next week is Labor Day, which means it's time to take care of your lawn. Summer 2011 has been tough on yards because of excessive heat and a lack of rain. If that wasn't enough, some diseases have crept in, whether you watered or not. The only thing that seems to thrive is crabgrass and quackgrass. State Journal-Register (Ill.)
YARDSMART: Rose fruit yields a natural medicine -- The first step to becoming a gatherer is to find these wild or naturalized roses in your own neighborhood, in nearby wild places and abandoned home sites. They will be easy to spot this time of year because they bear bright red fruits called hips. The color is nature's signpost. Ripe hips will be soft, astringent but somewhat sweet. Maureen Gilmer/ Scripps Howard News Service
ASK THE PLUMBER: Installing a magazine-cover kitchen on your own -- I want my sink area to look beautiful, like the ones you see in magazines. I'm not using a decorator, so are there any tips that you can give me on how I can create that professional look on my own? Ed Del Grande/ Scripps Howard News Service
HOME STYLE: A fresh take on fall decorating - One of the things I like best about living in the Midwest is enjoying the changing of the seasons. While I truly love each season, I confess that fall is my absolute favorite because of the rich color palette Mother Nature gives us to decorate with this time of year: amber, ruby, chestnut, sage, persimmon, burgundy, eggplant, chocolate and so many more luxurious hues. By Mary Carol Garrity, Scripps.
101 IDEAS: Low-budget decorating with high-style results - Transform your home with these smart shopping tips and money-saving ideas. By Kahi Lee, HGTV/Scripps Howard.
GRANLUND CARTOON: Hurricane 'victims.' By Dave Granlund, GHNS cartoonist.
KENT BUSH: Fans who drink should utilize self-restraint - Our men's group at church got to spend some time together Friday night, and we went to a Kansas City Chiefs' preseason football game against the St. Louis Rams. We had a great time, but it could have been a lot better if people utilized any self-restraint at all. For some people, attending a football game is a great opportunity to drink all the alcohol their bodies can withstand so that they can behave as inappropriately as possible without feeling shame. After all, they won't remember a thing about that night. By Kent Bush, Augusta, Kan.
National budget 8.30.11
GateHouse News Service National Budget


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We've known about Randy Johnson's side hustle as a concert photographer for some time now, but pictures of the giant, floppy-haired man trying to find just the right angle will always be funny to us.
Reader Nathan sends along some pictures of Johnson that he took at a recent ZZ Top concert. Here he is in the photographer's pit, doing his best to stay out of the way:
And here is lining up a perfect shot:
Unfortunately, Johnson wasn't allowed to snap as many pictures as he probably wanted to. Nathan tells us that Johnson was asked to move by security about half way through the show. We assume this is a picture of that scene unfolding:
Poor Randy Johnson. All he wanted to do was enjoy some killer tunes and snap a few quality pics, man.


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Server migration! Pardon any downtime.
Author: @SebastianWolff
Melolune Theme
Here's a pretty song by Laura Shigihara! I got the chance to play through her game Melolune a while ago, and with its fantastic music, I simply couldn't resist arranging this. Download it on Sheethost!
Rakuen (Wolf's Rain)
I've seen this one requested for a while - since my original Shiro, Long Tails arrangement back in 2006. Here is some sheet music I arranged for Rakuen, from Wolf's Rain. Downloads available on Sheethost.
If You Leave (Fate/Zero)
A beautiful song from Fate/Zero, composed by Yuki Kajiura (梶浦 由記). Download it on Sheethost
Dear Esther sheet music
I played Dear Esther a while ago, and recently replayed it again. I was a bit more prepared (emotionally) for the ending the second time around. Here is some sheet music I arranged from the soundtrack, composed by thechineseroom's Jessica Curry. All files for download on SheetHost! Dear Esther Remember Twenty One The Bones of … Continue reading Dear Esther sheet music
Civilization V – Field of Poppies
A random request I stumbled across on r/sheetmusic: Field of Poppies from Civilization V. Considering I just started playing the game, arranging the song seemed timely and appropriate. Below is a quick performance and some sheet music. Enjoy! Composed by Michael Curran and Geoff Knorr. © 2010 2K Games. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUzpIefzb9w Sheet music Download on SheetHost: … Continue reading Civilization V – Field of Poppies
Bynn the Breaker – Bastion sheet music
I played through Supergiant Games's Bastion a while ago, and fell in love with Darren Korb's awesome soundtrack. Here's some sheet music for Bynn the Breaker. Download it on Sheet Host!


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Boat Trailer Brakes
When trailering your boat to and from the dock or marina, the trailer's braking system must be performing optimally to avoid serious issues. Wholesale Marine recommends checking your boat trailer's brakes before every trip. Many states and local municipalities have regulations regarding brakes and additional equipment requirements. Be sure to check these requirements and ensure that your boat trailer brakes are compliant. Should you need any part of the brake system, know that we'll have it in stock and will ship it out to you promptly. Wholesale Marine can quickly fulfill your trailer braking needs with drum brakes, brake actuators, drum to disk conversion kits, replacement parts and disc brakes from Titan Dico Brakes and Tie Down Engineering.
If you have questions as to what parts you may require, we'll be glad to assist you. Just ask one of our knowledgeable customer service representatives. We know, for example, that there are two different styles of backing plates, free backing and uni-servo. Free backing drum brakes don't require a lock out solenoid on the brake actuator whereas the uni-servo do. We offer both versions for boat, utility, ATV, UTV, PWC, and lawn trailers.
When Your Boat Trailer Brakes Need Replacement Parts Call Wholesale Marine!
Both systems work by the "surge" or "push" of the trailer toward the tow vehicle during deceleration which automatically synchronizes the trailer brakes with the tow vehicle brakes. As the trailer pushes against the vehicle, the actuator telescopes together and applies force to its master cylinder, supplying hydraulic pressure to the trailer brakes. Give us a call and our representatives will ask you a few questions, and we'll be shipping just the part(s) your trailer brake system requires right away.
Wholesale Marine values our customers. That's why we stock an extensive selection of every component boaters require to enjoy, repair or maintain their craft at very competitive prices. Order today and you'll receive same day flat rate shipping. Want to save even more? Be sure to ask your representative aboutour Captain's Loyalty Program for additional discounts every time you shop at Wholesale Marine.
Providing great customer service is very important to us. Should you have a question about our selection of boat trailer brakes or wish to place an order,just call us Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM at (877) 388-2628.