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A-pop! is a column about all things Asian in popular culture
By Ninette Cheng
Northwest Asian Weekly
Welcome back to another month of Asian American entertainment news! This fall, a number of Asian Americans embark on new projects. Margaret Cho followed last season's Asian contestant (and winner), Nicole Scherzinger, on "Dancing with the Stars," and the Black Eyed Peas may be performing at next year's Super Bowl. In scripted television, Asian actors were winners across the board, and a few star on the big screen.
Margaret Cho puts on her dancing shoes, then takes them off
"Dancing with the Stars" kicked off its 11th season on Sept. 20 with 21 million viewers. Contestants included Asian American comedian Margaret Cho. Cho's first dance, which incorporated physical comedy, was not well received by the judges. However, she was safe for two weeks as David Hasselhoff and Michael Bolton were the first two to be eliminated. Sadly, however, Margaret was eliminated this week. So sorry, Margaret.
We wished for more!
The Black Eyed Peas to perform at the Super Bowl?
The Black Eyed Peas have had an incredible year, and 2011 looks to be no different. Rolling Stone reports that the Grammy-winning group is rumored to perform at the Super Bowl XLV this upcoming February. The Black Eyed Peas performed at the event in 2005 as an opening act, but in 2011, they may be the main act.
Fox Sports President David Hill has expressed interest in moving away from the classic rock performances of the past six years. If that's the case, the Black Eyed Peas should be a good choice. I can't wait to hear more about this story!
Television watch
Asian American actors have been performing incredibly well this fall on the small screen.
Maggie Q's "Nikita" debuted on the CW network to record-high ratings. The action-drama brought in a network-high for its hour at 3.3 million viewers. Hopefully, the hype for this show continues to grow!
"Hawaii Five-O," co-starring Grace Kim and Daniel Dae Kim, opened at number one in its time slot on Sept. 21. The remake captured 14.2 million viewers and beat the number two show "Castle," by more than 40 percent. Congratulations to the cast! Could we have a new hit show on our hands?
"Glee" opened its second season with a strong start of 12.3 viewers on Sept. 22. I've mentioned before that Charice would be guest-starring on the musical dramedy this season. The Filipino pop star plays Sunshine Corazon, an exchange student from the Philippines. "Glee" co-stars fellow Asian actors Jenna Ushkowitz and Harry Shum Jr.
Asian actors on the big screen
Brenda Song co-stars in the heavily hyped "The Social Network," which opened to big numbers last weekend.
Freida Pinto co-stars in Woody Allen's latest film "You Will Meet a Tall, Dark Stranger." The film explores the witty tale of a pair of couples whose marriages have gone askew. It reflects Allen's ironic outlook on life and death. Allen has been known to catapult many actresses to stardom in the past, so who knows? Perhaps Pinto is next!
Good luck to both ladies on their new films, and check back next month for more updates! ♦


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Hilltop Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HTH) ("Hilltop"), a Dallas-based financial holding company, will host a live webcast and conference call at 8:00 AM Central (9:00 AM Eastern) on Friday, October 20, 2023. Hilltop President and CEO Jeremy B. Ford and Hilltop CFO William B. Furr will review third quarter 2023 financial results.
Interested parties can access the conference call by dialing 1-888-259-6580 (North America) and then using the access code 31393751. The conference call also will be webcast simultaneously on Hilltop's Investor Relations website (http://ir.hilltop-holdings.com).
About Hilltop Holdings Inc.
Hilltop Holdings is a Dallas-based financial holding company. Its primary line of business is to provide business and consumer banking services from offices located throughout Texas through PlainsCapital Bank. PlainsCapital Bank's wholly owned subsidiary, PrimeLending, provides residential mortgage lending throughout the United States. Hilltop Holdings' broker-dealer subsidiaries, Hilltop Securities Inc. and Momentum Independent Network Inc., provide a full complement of securities brokerage, institutional and investment banking services in addition to clearing services and retail financial advisory. At September 30, 2023, Hilltop employed approximately 3,900 people and operated 336 locations in 48 states. Hilltop Holdings' common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HTH." Find more information at Hilltop-Holdings.com, PlainsCapital.com, PrimeLending.com and Hilltopsecurities.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012457274/en/
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Networking & Wireless | News
The University of Washington (UW) is lending support to an initiative in its home city of Seattle to deliver an ultra high-speed last-mile fiber network to 50,000 homes and businesses in 12 fairly central neighborhoods. The recipients will enjoy gigabit speeds that are up to a thousand times faster than the typical high-speed connection.
The city has struck an agreement with broadband developer Gigabit Squared to develop and operate the network, which will use the city and university's "dark fiber," or excess fiber capacity, under a lease agreement. What's next is for the vendor to begin raising the funds to cover the expense of engineering work to build out a demonstration network.
Besides the neighborhood connectivity, the network, which is called Gigabit Seattle will also provide dedicated gigabit broadband wireless connections to multifamily housing and offices across the city with up to gigabit/second access. To do this, Gigabit Squared will place fiber transmitters on top of 38 buildings to beam fiber Internet to users that have line-of-sight to the transmitters.
The project will also bring mobile wireless Internet to customers in the test neighborhoods.
The company expects to emulate this type of project in five other university communities in the United States as part of a $200 million broadband program developed with the University Community Next Generation Innovation Project (Gig.U).
"The UW, the City of Seattle and Gigabit Squared are working together to make Seattle the most wired and connected city in the nation and to continue its role as a major leader in the innovation economy of the 21st century," said U Washington President Michael Young. "This new level of high-speed connectivity will provide essential infrastructure to help us address some of our biggest problems in the areas of climate, the environment, education, energy, and transportation. It's definitely a game-changer, and we are delighted to be one of the driving forces in making this a reality."
About the Author
Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.
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Search Continues For Missing Nacogdoches Teen
A missing Nacogdoches teenager may be all the way in Kansas, after possibly being taken through Texas toward Lubbock by her abductor.
Detectives have been using cell phone pings to try to locate 15-year old Nomei Velazquez of Nacogdoches, who also goes by "Mimi."
KTRE reports Velazquez was abducted sometime after school on Monday, and she may be with Juan Fabian Arenas Delacruz. Her phone was successfully tracked to Lubbock, and then to an area near Kansas City, Missouri.
The pair may be in a silver 2004 Volkswagen Passat with Texas license plates DF7T507. Anyone who knows anything should contact the Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Office at (936) 560-7777.


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We previously brought you information about three new Honda models featuring a 670cc parallel twin and available Dual Clutch Transmission. One of the models is a scooter/motorcycle hybrid called the Integra, and our announcement of this bike provides much of the detail regarding the engine and transmission shared by all thee models. The other two models include a naked and an adventure-style machine.
Honda announced today that it is bringing the adventure-style bike, known as the NC700X, to the U.S. with a scheduled availability at dealers this summer. U.S. MSRP will start at $6,999 for the manual transmission version, and several accessories (including the luggage shown in two of the photos in this article) will be available to increase its touring/commuting appeal. The DCT and ABS systems add $2,000 to the base price for a total of $8,999.
Honda has gone to great efforts to combine real world performance (high torque in the street rpm range) with outstanding fuel efficiency. Indeed, we expect the NC700X to easily achieve 60 mpg here in the states.
The relatively low price and available second-generation DCT and Combined Antilock braking system are intended to make the bike broadly appealing to both experienced riders and inexperienced riders alike. A reasonably long-travel suspension system should provide some versatility to a machine that is designed primarily for street use.
Here is the list of features and benefits provided to us by Honda.
Check out the 2012 Honda NC700X, and what do you see? An adventure-style bike? An urban assault commuter? A country road explorer? A two-up getaway machine? Or perhaps all of the above? Whatever your personal vision of the NC700X may be, color it fun because this is one bike that offers a perfect blend of style, handling and power for tackling whatever the day's agenda may hold. Credit its long-travel suspension, abundant torque and more, plus a six-speed gearbox or the choice of an automatic Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) with a Combined Antilock Braking System. So whether you're new to the sport, a longtime rider or just getting back into the riding scene, the NC700X offers the comfort, ease of use and practicality of an everyday motorcycle that's also surprisingly affordable.
Features & Benefits
- All-new liquid-cooled eight-valve 670cc parallel-twin engine pumps out plenty of torque in the low-end and midrange for easily accessible power.
- The impressively broad torque curve gives the NC700X an extraordinarily linear and smooth power delivery.
- Purpose-built engine architecture with a relatively long engine stroke (80mm combined with a 73mm bore diameter) and a high-inertia crankshaft add to the NC700X's extremely tractable power characteristics.
- The 62-degree forward lean given to the cylinder assembly facilitates near-vertical mounting of the single 36mm throttle body for superior intake port positioning and shaping. In addition, special shaping to the combustion chambers further enhances engine combustion efficiency for clean burning and optimal power production.
- Engine balancer shaft quells vibration for smooth, comfortable operation.
- Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) continuously monitors numerous variables to ensure the correct fuel mixture for existing riding and atmospheric conditions, thereby delivering optimal performance and remarkably crisp throttle response over a wide range of operating conditions.
- NC700X features manual six-speed transmission.
- NC700X DCT/ABS features a second-generation automatic six-speed Honda Dual Clutch Transmission that uses two hydraulically controlled clutches to deliver quick and smooth gear changes in a choice of three modes: Manual (MT), which allows the rider to shift gears using buttons, and two automatic (AT) modes—S for sport riding and D for everyday use.
- DCT model also features Honda Combined ABS to provide full antilock functionality for powerful and secure braking action.
- Fuel tank located under the seat contributes to mass centralization and a low center of gravity, making the NC700X feel remarkably light.
- Large 21-liter secure internal storage area (positioned where the fuel tank typically rests in other models) accepts a helmet or other gear for added versatility.
- Fuel capacity of 3.7 gallons gives the NC700X a cruising range of nearly 240 miles.
- A rigid and compact diamond-shape steel frame, low center of gravity plus long-travel suspension help make the NC700X delightfully responsive and agile.
- Brawny 41mm front fork provides a full 6.0 inches of travel, while the Pro-Link® single shock rear suspension system delivers an impressive 5.9 inches of wheel travel.
- Open, roomy ergonomics position the rider in a well-balanced seating position for all-day comfort.
- Modern adventure-bike styling gives the NC700X the look of an urban assault commuter as well as a country road explorer.
- Windscreen and bodywork route wind around the rider, adding to comfort and reducing fatigue.
- A large array of available accessories allows owners to add just the right combination of capabilities to suit individual preferences and expand their adventure.
Honda Genuine Accessories†
- 45-Liter Rear Trunk, Rear Trunk Liner, 29-Liter Saddlebags, Saddlebag Liner Set, Saddlebag Panel Kit, Windscreen (High), Rear Carrier, Front Side Cowl Panel, Foot Deflector Kit, Leg Deflector Kit, LED Fog Light Kit, Front Accent Pipe, Heated Grips, 12V DC Socket Kit, Centerstand (Final accessories are TBD and are subject to change without notice)
† WARRANTY: Because we're so confident in the quality of each of our Honda Genuine Accessories, we're pleased to offer one of the best warranties in the industry. One-year warranty begins on the day accessories are purchased by the customer.
Model: NC700X / NC700X with Automatic Dual Clutch Transmission and Combined ABS
Engine Type: 670cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin
Bore and Stroke: 73mm x 80mm
Compression ratio: 10.7:1
Valve Train: SOHC; four valves per cylinder
Induction: PGM-FI with 36mm throttle body
Ignition: Digital transistorized with electronic advance
Transmission: Six-speed / Automatic six-speed with two modes and a manual mode
Final Drive: Chain
Front: 41mm fork; 6.0 inches travel
Rear: Pro-Link® single shock with spring preload adjustability; 5.9 inches travel
Front: Single 320mm disc with two-piston caliper / Single 320mm disc with three-piston caliper
Rear: Single 240mm disc with single-piston caliper / Single 240mm disc with single-piston caliper; Combined ABS
Front: 120/70ZR17 radial
Rear: 160/60ZR17 radial
Wheelbase: 60.6 inches
Rake (Caster angle): 27.0°
Trail: 110.0mm (4.3 inches)
Seat Height: 32.7 inches
Fuel Capacity: 3.7 gallons
Estimated Fuel Economy**: TBD
Color: Light Silver Metallic
Curb Weight*: 472 pounds / 505 pounds
*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride.
**Honda's fuel-economy estimates are based on EPA exhaust emission measurement test procedures and are intended for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you ride; how you maintain your vehicle; weather; road conditions; tire pressure; installation of accessories; cargo, rider and passenger weight; and other factors.
Meets current CARB and EPA standards.
Specifications subject to change without notice.


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Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony No. 8 Symphony of a Thousand (1906)
Manuela Uhl - Soprano I (Magna Peccatrix)
Michaela Kaune - Soprano II (Una Poenitentium)
Marisol Montalvo - Soprano III (Mater Gloriosa)
Lioba Braun - Alto I (Mulier Samaritana)
Janina Baechle - Alto II (Maria Aegyptiaca)
Stefan Vinke - Tenor (Doctor Marianus)
Michael Nagy - Baritone (Pater Ecstaticus)
Albert Dohmen - Bass-baritone (Pater Profundus)
Chor der Bamberger Symphoniker
Czech Philharmonic Choir
Windsbacher Knabenchor
Bamberger Symphoniker/Jonathan Nott
rec. 21-26 July 2010, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal, Konzerthalle Bamberg, Germany
Hybrid SACD, stereo and multi-channel. Reviewed in SACD stereo
Sung texts and translations provided
In the preamble to my recent review of Jonathan Nott's Mahler Sixth I noted that his traversal of these symphonies - only No. 10 and Das Lied von der Erde still to come - has been somewhat erratic. That Sixth was particularly disappointing, although I still maintain that his Bamberg Resurrection (review) deserves a place in the pantheon of great Mahler recordings. Given his patchy record to date can amends be made with the Eighth? He faces stiff competition from the likes of Horenstein (BBC Legends) and Gielen (Sony and Hänssler), and despite irreparable distortion in parts Solti's classic Decca account burns with renewed heat in this high-res download from Linn/Universal (review).
There are several stand-out performances of the Eighth on DVD/Blu-ray: Tennstedt (DVD only), Wit (Blu-ray Audio) and Dudamel's highly theatrical Caracas account (review). On balance I'd say the latter is probably the most satisfying Mahler 8 video available at the moment. It certainly eclipses Chailly's Gewandhaus version (review). Coming back to Nott and his Bambergers, what I want from their Eighth is the same urgency, flair and unerring sense of drama that drives their Resurrection; a tall order perhaps, but a heartfelt one nonetheless.
I'm delighted to report that Hrabanus's great choral invocation at the start has plenty of sweep, and although the organ is rather discreet the overall sound is warm and wide-ranging. Balances are good too, with the soloists spread realistically from left to right. Most welcome, though, is Nott's firm grip on the music; he may not aspire to the febrile intensity of Solti or Horenstein, but he compensates for that with passages of unexpected inwardness and a fine ear for Mahler's distinctive sonorities. Yes, there are some unusual percussion sounds - Wit also has a few - but that hardly matters when everything flows and segues so well. The soloists are pretty decent, and the various choirs are weighty and incisive throughout.
One of the real strengths of Nott's Part I is his attention to the quieter moments, the smaller details of which are often subsumed by this great welter of notes. That, combined with the clarity that distinguishes his Resurrection, makes for an utterly compelling start to this ambitious symphony. Admittedly his spacious reading - some might even say it's sluggish - won't please everyone. I would have preferred greater momentum, but the oases of calm more than make up for that. Those qualities also inform the half-lit world of Part II; Nott invests these landscapes with the same raptness and intimacy of scale, and there's a heightened sense of wonder in the long orchestral introduction that's very impressive indeed.
Listening to this recording for the second time I was slightly less accommodating of Nott's leisurely pace which, remarkably, doesn't compromise the performance nearly as much as you might think. I suppose what really strikes me here is the direct and unambiguous narrative, devoid of unnecessary embellishments or distracting detours. Often graceful but gnarly too, Nott's rendering of this Faustian ramble is always enthralling. As for the Bambergers they respond to his every demand with precision and poise, while the soloists create - and sustain - an air of communion that's profoundly affecting.
Other sets may offer more distinguished singers but I must single out Stefan Vinke, whose Doctor Marianus is sung with a rare blend of passion and intelligence. All the while Nott ensures the pulse never falters, and tempo relationships are deftly managed. The performance is lucidly recorded too; indeed, the chamber-like episodes bloom and breathe in a way they seldom do elsewhere. In that context Mahler is akin to Berlioz, whose large-scale works also conceal so much that is light and lovely. Some may feel that Nott focuses too much on these touches, but I have no problem with that; in fact, I relished the chance to simply stand and stare.
One of the tests of a successful performance of this symphony is how quickly and seamlessly Part II passes. All too often those long spans sag and bulge - Chailly and Boulez come to mind - but Nott remains reassuringly robust throughout. It's all about the work's great beams and supporting buttresses, and this conductor pays due attention to both. Indeed, it's that structural certainty - the edifice has been so meticulously crafted - that gives the closing pages their strength and gratifying shape. No rhetorical flourishes or rude blasts here, just sure and steady progress towards that transcendent finale.
Rivals are more visceral towards the end, Dudamel especially so; true, some may find Nott's unhurried approach somewhat frustrating, but that's his way with this sprawling score. Under his clear-eyed direction the symphony seems remarkably compact and self-contained, and that gives the performance a very human scale and character. Nott's Eighth wouldn't be my first choice - it's not in the same league as his Resurrection - but it has more than enough attractions to warrant a space on your shelves. At the end of my review of that unsuccessful Sixth I wondered whether he'd redeem himself in the Eighth. On balance I think he has.
Notable for its detail and intimacy; refreshingly different.
Dan Morgan
Notable for its detail and intimacy; refreshingly different.
Masterwork Index: Mahler 8
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Amazon recently launched a redesign of its Web Services Management Console, making the user interface that gives developers access to services like EC2, S3, and SQS more organized and easier to use.
The new design offers more customization options so that users can choose which services and shortcuts they want to appear on their navigation based on what they use most often.
Since AWS has been consistently adding new options and services to the Management Console but not all the tools are used by every developer, the redesign allows for a personalized toolbar that can ultimately save time on your projects.
The photo above shows a selection of tools that users can simply drag and drop onto the top toolbar so that the often used ones can be easily accessible without wading through a massive selection of ones you rarely or never use.
Amazon also added a Monitoring View to the Management Console, which allows users to see statistics for different resources like database connections and CPU utilization. You can even view stacked graphs to compare and contrast the different resources. Smaller design changes include larger buttons, collapsible sidebar menus, and endless scrolling.
The AWS Management Console is a tool that is available for developers and other professionals. It offers a set of cloud-based infrastructure tools for building everything from enterprise applications to mobile apps.
Since AWS allows businesses and developers to run most functions from the cloud while giving access to a large variety of tools, it can be a very useful for cutting costs when running applications. And the new redesign simply makes it easier to use.
In addition to the updated interface, the Amazon also released an AWS Management Console app for Android phones, as well as support for tablet devices. Amazon also plans to add support for mobile devices on other operating systems in the near future.


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45% Of Companies Have 500 TB Or More Of Data Under Management, According To New InformationWeek Reports Research
Yet just 22% say data analysis is core to how they do business.
Nov 29, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- UBM Tech's InformationWeek Reports, a service provider for peer-based IT research and analysis, announced the release of its latest research report. 6 Big Data Lies encompasses analysis of results from InformationWeek's recent Big Data Survey shares with readers best practices and pitfalls when collecting and analyzing data. Two-hundred and fifty-seven respondents participated in the survey.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121129/SF20332-INFO)
Research Summary:
The ability to collect and analyze data is a core IT value proposition and there's no question there's more data available than ever, especially information from the Web and the new wave of smart mobile devices. The issue, though, is that most businesses aren't good at using the data they have now. What are the odds companies will get better with more being piled on? More data doesn't fix bad analysis.
- 45% of respondents plan to grow analytics tools capabilities over the next 12 months.
- 35% include CRM in their integrated data analysis and reporting programs, but only 29% include email and just 22% include Web analytics.
- Only 20% plan to increase their dedicated analytics staff over the next year.
- Just 9% say their organizations are very effective at identifying critical data and using it to make decisions.
The report author, Michael Healey, is the president of Yeoman Technology Group, an engineering and research firm focusing on maximizing technology investments for organizations, and an award-winning InformationWeek Reports contributor.
For full access to the research data, members can download now: http://reports.informationweek.com/abstract/81/9081/Business-Intelligence-and-Information-Management/research-big-data-smart-data.html?cid=rpt_press_rls
"Companies have been doing an adequate job in building the infrastructure needed for data analysis," says Lorna Garey, content director of InformationWeek Reports. "However, our research shows there are major gaps in data analysis, even for the most common pieces of information that have been in use for years, such as transactional data, system logs, email, CRM, even Web analytics."
For more information:
Art Wittmann
VP & Managing Director, InformationWeek Reports
About UBM Tech
UBM Tech is a global media business that provides information, events, training, data services, and marketing solutions for the technology industry. Its media brands and information services inform and inspire decision makers across the entire technology market— engineers and design professionals, software and game developers, solutions providers and integrators, networking and communications executives, and business technology professionals. UBM Tech's industry-leading media brands include EE Times, Interop, Black Hat, InformationWeek, Game Developer Conference, CRN, and DesignCon. The company's information products include research, education, training, and data services that accelerate decision making for technology buyers. UBM Tech also offers a full range of marketing services based on its content and technology market expertise, including custom events, content marketing solutions, community development and demand generation programs. UBM Tech is a part of UBM (UBM.L), a global provider of media and information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.
SOURCE UBM Tech


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You may remember our recent coverage of the Mediafly service that syncs media content — specifically podcasts for now — to a wide range of devices. Well, Mediafly is wasting no time. Their goal is to launch on multiple smartphones throughout 2009, and then hit even more home stereo/video equipment in 2010 so you can have your media content synced and shared on just about any consumer device out there. The fact that Mediafly is device-agnostic is exciting in that your content goes with you, regardless of what device you may use or decide to uopgrade to in the future.
Now Mediafly has released mobile applications for two popular smartphone platforms — a brand new beta for BlackBerry, and an upgrade to their iPhone application that gives you a faster channel refresh and improved user interface. Without further adieu, let's jump right in and take a look at what BlackBerry and iPhone users can look forward to with Mediafly.
First, if you are not currently using Mediafly what are you waiting for? The service is free! All you need to do is head over to the Mediafly website and set up your profile to select what type of channel content you want (news, sports, culture, travel, technology, etc). You add what device(s) you want to have your channels synced up to. The beauty of it is once you set up your selection and install the client application on your iPhone and/or BlackBerry, all of your Mediafly content will be available on both devices. No need to plug either up to your computer and manually load up your podcasts. You can also add podcasts with Mediafly, just in case one of your favorites is not listed.
Let's start with the new beta for BlackBerry devices. You can download the open BlackBerry beta straight from your BB Browser from Mediafly. Once installed, if you already have a Mediafly account you can choose to link your BlackBerry so all of your favorite channels will be loaded onto your device. You can opt not to link the device if you prefer to search or view a selection of popular channels.
Using the BlackBerry app, you can easily search through different podcast topics to select or add to your preferences. Mediafly will make additional recommendations over time based on the content you choose. The user interface is simple and intuitive, so there is no worry about having to search the internet for a "how-to" or ever need a manual to show you how to work the application. The application did not "hose" the device memory or put the BlackBerry in a loop (aka repeated "hourglass" mode) or force me to reboot the device.
The application was completely stable and worked flawlessly on my Bold. CrackBerry's Bla1ze has noted that users may need to ensure their APN is set correctly to play podcasts on their BlackBerry, but I didn't experience any first-hand problems while using the application.
Channel listing on the Mediafly BlackBerry Beta
Playing the MacBreak Weekly Podcast on my BlackBerry
Verdict for the BlackBerry Beta: Highly recommended. Get it at Mediafly from your BlackBerry Browser.
If you regularly listen to podcasts, this application will make it easy to keep up with your favorites. While I wish this version did utilize video content (vodcasts) like the iPhone counterpart — hopefully we will see that feature in Mediafly's next BlackBerry app release — I understand why it was excluded. Videos look great on the newer BlackBerry devices — Bold, Storm, Curve 8900, Tour, etc.; but video delivery to BlackBerry devices through apps hasn't really "made" it quite yet. Most video apps for the BlackBerry platform require the user to access content through a separate browser link that must be played through the BlackBerry's standard Roxio media player — and the quality may vary by actual cellular data/WiFi connection.
Now, onto Mediafly's updated iPhone application.
OK, it is no secret that media is where the iPhone/iPod Touch shines. Mediafly's update to their iPhone application has made some nice improvements. The app itself is faster, transitioning between menu items and refreshing channel content much more smoothly than the initial release. The user interface is also much improved, catering to the first-time user with a helpful splash screen and menu items that will walk you through the features.
The iPhone/iPod Touch application really takes advantage of being able to listen to audio podcasts and video. If your selected channels have video content available, just click on the Video tab in the application and you're off to the races. While the travel podcast I had synced to my iPhone had no video, I expect to see more video-centric podcast content as News, Sports, and Entertainment providers begin to further utilize mobile video for shorter "newscasts" outside of the internet.
While I can easily go to mobile Safari on the iPhone and pull specific websites up, it's going to be easier to automatically get a wider range of content from a podcast service like Mediafly. I see a service like this growing to be a full audio/video RSS-like content provider, with much more content coming in the near future as people continue to grab-and-go with their news and updates coming directly to their mobile device, and not from the TV/Radio, manually hitting specific websites, or RSS feeds that are merely links from my desktop PC or mobile.
Some shots from CNet's video podcast running from Mediafly, below:
Sure, you can load up on podcasts on your iPhone/iPod Touch through iTunes. The feature that Mediafly brings to the table is that your podcasts are wirelessly synced to stay up to date between multiple devices. This means you are not dependent on iTunes or Apple to deliver the podcasts. If you ever switch devices, use more than one brand of device, or if you want to view / listen to the content on TV, you are not tied solely to Apple's product line. This is a key factor for consumers who may not want — or have the money — to upgrade entirely to Apple-centric devices, like AppleTV, to access and view media content on the big screen.
MSRP: The BlackBerry Beta and the iPhone audio-only versions are Free. The Video+Audio for the iPhone/iPod Touch sells for $0.99.
What I Like: The service itself is device-agnostic, meaning you can access your selected content from a wide range of devices; The BlackBerry beta handles audio podcasts flawlessly and provides an intuitive user interface; I was able to access the same channel content through both the BlackBerry and iPhone without any cumbersome setup or having to "plugin" and connect to a computer; The iPhone application has been updated to be faster, with a smoother UI. Mediafly leverages the iPhone/iPod Touch video playback with their selection of video podcasts
What Needs Improvement: Very little. I am hopeful that Mediafly's channel content will continue to grow, as that will attract and retain more users; I would love to see a future release to support video podcasts on the BlackBerry (right now it is Audio Only for BlackBerry devices); I can't think of any suggestions for the iPhone version.
Get It: The BlackBerry Beta is Open. You can download the application from your BlackBerry Browser by going here. The iPhoneiPod Touch app can be downloaded from Apple's App Store. Here are direct links to the free Audio Version as well as the $0.99 Audio+Video Version.


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(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved. Contact us for information about using this image.
The Upper Suspension Bridge, or "Red Suspension Bridge," connected Turners Falls with the town of Gill, located across the Connecticut River. The bridge was built in 1878 on the upstream edge of Turners Falls and was complemented by the Lower Suspension Bridge, constructed in 1872 on the downstream side of Turners Falls. The bridge was 550 feet long and stood 20 feet above the water level. It survived the great flood of 1936, which wiped out many other bridges on the Connecticut River in Franklin County, but after the completion of the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge in 1938 it was closed to all but bicycle and foot traffic. As a part of the World War II salvage movement, the bridge was dismantled in September, 1942.
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See Also...
Lower Suspension Bridge, Turners Falls, Mass.
Canal Construction
"Turners Falls"
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TRAVEL: Inspired by Tauck's Rhineland recipe
I've always fancied a Rhine cruise from the Netherlands to Switzerland and, with our 45th wedding anniversary fast approaching, I checked out several options and tried to weigh up the pros and cons.
However, unlike some of the better publicised tour operators, by booking with Tauck (who for 2015 have branched out into the UK market), I found that everything was paid up front and that meant there would be no hidden surprises when it came to taking excursions or paying for evening drinks and gratuities.
Now I must confess that until last October I had never actually heard of Tauck but I soon learned that they are a family-owned US-based travel company who this year will celebrate a milestone 90th anniversary.
It's a company that has won over 100 awards for quality, innovation and leadership, including being named the 'World's Best Tour Operator' by a number of consumer and trade publications over the last two decades. And this year alone it has already picked up awards for 'Best Luxury River Cruise, 'Best Excursions' and the 'Best Alternate Dining', that award going to the team aboard MS Inspire.
Established in 1915 when its salesman founder Arthur Taulk Snr took six people on a 1,100 mile, all-inclusive trip that cost each one $69 for six days. Using a rented Studebaker car, the group toured New England, visiting Connecticut, Massachusetts,Vermont, New York and Canada, more than 900 miles of the trip being on dirt roads … but the passengers didn't seem to mind!
That bold venture led to Arthur finally purchasing several buses while the rest as they say is history and today Tauck operates in more than 70 countries across all seven continents.
Catching the 9.20am easyJet flight to Amsterdam from London-Luton, we were personally met at Schiphol Airport and transferred to what is basically a floating five star hotel in a chauffeur driver Mercedes limousine and that immediately registered that Tauck is a rather special holiday company.
Then as we boarded MS Inspire docked on the IJ River close to Amsterdam's Centraal Railway Station, at 135 metres (443 feet) long and 11.45 metres wide, the ship is truly magnificent. Brought into service in 2014, the only restriction to its size is the fact that it has to negotiate a series of 12 metre wide locks on both the Rhine and Moselle rivers!
Along with its identical sister ship MS Savor, Inspire's steel hull was built in Serbia's capital Belgrade before being floated down the Danube and Rhine to Rotterdam where all the luxury fixtures and fittings were added in a Netherlands dockyard.
Scylla is a Dutch company based in Switzerland which actually own the ships while Tauck leases them fully crewed on an eight month basis each year. In fact Tauck currently leases seven ships from Scylla for its European river cruise programme while for 2016 two more brand new vessels will be added to the fleet.
Featuring three decks – Diamond, Ruby and Emerald plus a spacious sun deck complete with hot tub and four-hole putting green. There's also a fully equipped 24-hour gym, a hairdressers, massage plus a sauna and steam room.
Registered at Valletta in Malta, MS Inspire can carry up to 130 passengers in 67 beautifully appointed cabins but as we had just 84 guests on board for the 13-day 1,060 kilometre cruise between Amsterdam and Basel.
With a truly international crew of 35 under the watchful eye of jovial Dutch skipper Captain Henrik Liemberg, they couldn't have been more attentive while the overall service surpassed anything that I could have ever imagined.
With most Rhine cruise companies having just one tour director for up to 190 passengers, Tauck ensure that every one of their cruises has at least four. And as Tauck's personal touch is paramount the four tour directors – Carlos Campos from Spain, Romanian Yener Ismail, Glorija Lane from Serbia and Switzerland's Daniel Huerlimann – ensured everything ran like a precision Swiss watch.
There were also three 52-seater coaches following the ship all the way from the Netherlands down to Switzerland to take us on daily excisions … but first we had to chose which one we wished to travel on by tossing a coloured poker chip into a champagne bucket!
But it was the food that often took centre stage, cruise director Carlos joking that "People come on as guests but leave as cargo!"
While a buffet-style breakfast and luncheon could be taken in the Compass Rose restaurant, there was always an alternative at Arthur's which also offered steaks, burgers, etc at the rear of the ship. Meanwhile for evening dinners there was always a magnificent five course choice all superbly presented along with a fabulous selection of wines from the five countries which we were to pass through on the trip.
Under Dutch head chef Fenna, there were five other chefs helping her prepare dishes of such quality and presentation that I was expecting to see MasterChef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace making an appearance!
And as Fenna was always available to have a chat, when she asked me if there was anything that I fancied for lunch one day, she went off and prepared a stunning Dutch kibbeling (fried cod nuggets with a special mayonnaise dipping sauce) which she had cooked to absolute perfection.
The ship's Dutch hotel manager Marina van Oevelan is from Hoorn, a small town just north of Amsterdam while Captain Liemberg also lives there. Marina showed me around four different style cabins, the quaint lofts (which are strangely below the water level on the Emerald deck) have an upstairs while all categories have large flat screen televisions and plenty of cupboard and wardrobe space.
"Tauck have always listened to their guest," she said. "If they make a suggestion, then if possible its usually acted upon. One thing that came up before this boat was built was that the bathrooms were too small, so that was rectified and today they are often as big as those in our passenger's houses."
Seven category cabins are on offer and we were in a 225 square foot category six which had a large bathroom and huge shower cubical plus a sumptuous bed. In fact it was so comfortable that it was often hard to guess if the ship was moving or not. And no expense had been spared when it came to quality; the sheets, duvets, pillows, toiletries and fitments were all superb.
With cabin keys cards exchanged for shore passes, we spent the first and second days in Amsterdam, the MS Inspire being moored just a stone's throw from the old town where we paid a visit to the wonderful Rijksmuseum which finally reopened in 2013 after being closed for more than a decade as it underwent a complete renovation.
Pride of place in the massive cathedral-like museum is Holland's most revered artist, Rembrandt van Rijn. His magnificent masterpiece 'The Night Watch' is found at the end of a special gallery which leaves you breathless, our expert guide bringing to life the work of the many Dutch masters.
Then a guided tour around Amsterdam's 400-year-old canal ring by river boat gave everyone a taste of the city from a lower level. Passing below its low arched bridges, we arrived back at the museum quarter close to Rijksmuseum where the Van Gogh Museum and Royal Concertgebouw can also be found.
With mainly American guests on board – some having travelled more than 30 times with Tauck such was their loyalty – we sailed all night. Leaving Amsterdam and passing by Utrecht, the starting point for the 2015 Tour de France, while we arrived in Nijmegen during the early hours.
There was a choice of excursions on offer at the 2000-year-old Roman town of Nijmegen … and one was a trip to the impressive Kroller-Muller Museum in the De Hoge Veluwe National Park. It's the biggest nature reserve in Holland and it houses more than 200 painting by Vincent Van Gogh along with others by the likes of Piet Mondrian, Paul Gauguin and Pablo Picasso while there is also a huge sculpture garden with works by Henry Moore, Auguste Rodin and Fritz Wotruba on display.
I had actually visited the Kroller-Mullerm before and it really is a paradise for art lovers. It's the work of Helene and Anton Kroller-Muller who between 1907 and 1922 collected around 11,500 works of art, making it one of the biggest private collections anywhere in the world.
However we chose the alternative trip to the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek close to the Dutch town of Arnhem where 'Operation Market Garden' took place during the Second World War – remember the film 'A Bridge Too Far'? That action alone cost the lives of thousands of men from both sides as the Allies tried to cross the Rhine and Waal rivers.
Housed in Hartenstein Villa, the Airborne Museum tells the story of the conflict in the words of the local people while there is a good selection of authentic weaponry and documents along with dramatic footage and photographs from the time. Then as you go underground there's a real airborne experience as it puts you right in the centre of the action. We also visited the nearby Allies cemetery which is looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
We ate Dutch 'Stroopwafels' (wafer biscuits with a caramel centre) aboard our coach as we returned to the ship which had moved upstream to Rees in Germany … then it moved off once again to dock in Dusseldorf.
Chatting to Captain Liemberg in the wheelhouse, he told me that there is a charge of €1,000 every time you dock on the Rhine and Moselle. The Inspire's twin engines use around 40 litres of diesel ever hour when running against the current and he said that the ship carries enough fuel for around five weeks running time.
"We usually cruise at around 8kph when we're going upstream," he said, "while it's half as much again on the return journey."
The MS Inspire also has a 250,000 freshwater tank while its toilets are the aircraft type with an instant suction flush, thus saving precious water.
When I asked him about low bridges and high water (in April the Rhine was still in partial flood), the captain said: "We flood the ballast tanks to lower ourselves in the water and then I drop the wheelhouse and all the sun deck railing. And if it's still too tight, I can always pop my head through the special skylight hatch to see where we're going," he laughed.
This section of the Rhine was not really that attractive for there is so much heavy industry along its banks. The river is more like a giant highway with constant ships and coal barges making their way up and down. In fact the coal barges are the result of Germany opting to close most of its nuclear power stations following the promises made by its Christian Democrat Chancellor Angela Merkel back in 2005.
Passing Linz the scenery becomes more interesting and after leaving the city of Dusseldorf on day four we arrived in Remagen, site of the famous Ludendorff Bridge which was captured by the Americans just months before the end of the war.
There is now an interesting peace museum housed in one of the remaining towers but we were soon on the move again to reach what is known as 'German Corner' and the town of Koblenz, the meeting place of two mighty rivers, the Rhine and Moselle.
Prior to reaching Koblenz we passed by Cologne's magnificent Gothic cathedral and the former German capital city of Bonn, birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven. We also saw the Rheinhotel at Dreesen near Konigswinter where in 1938 British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain first met Adolf Hitler.
Later that same year they met again at Hitler's hideaway at the infamous Berchtesgaden to discuss the Czechoslovakian situation and that's where Chamberlain receive that famous 'Peace in our Time' slip of paper.
Taking a stroll through the town after dark and passing the mighty Wilhelm 1st statute, Koblenz was really busy with the bars overflowing out into the street, the mild weather attracting many customers.
It was late into the evening when the ship sailed on and we were soon in th pretty town of Cochem whose vineyards are so steep as they cling to the hillsides that it's amazing that the grape harvest can ever be safely gathered in.
A tour of the town with our 'Voxes' (personal walkie talkies) gave us a good insight into life in this part of Germany while we also visited the imposing Reichsburg Castle. However it was at the Schlagkamp Winery that it really got interesting! Run by the same family since 1602, Andreas Schlagkamp is the 11th generation winemaker and his talk was accompanied by plenty of excellent Riesling wine!
Arriving at Bernkastel – our next destination on day six – just before breakfast, it proved to be another busy morning. We made the short drive to The Grand Dutchy of Luxembourg where we enjoyed a superb guided waking tour around one of the European Union's most beautiful cities starting in Constitution Square.
A visit to the impressive Gothic cathedral was followed by a stroll past several government buildings, the Grand Duke's Palace and Place d'Armes and as we didn't return to the ship for lunch, Tauck gave everyone €20 to spend locally in this unique UNESCO Heritage city.
During the afternoon we made a trip to the American Memorial Cemetery at nearby Hamm. It's the burial place of General George S Patton and 5,070 United States troops, the Tauck reps having thoughtfully provided everyone with a special memorial rose to lay on one of the graves.
Back on board, we stayed in Bernkastel for the night and enjoyed an interesting tour around the pretty timber-framed houses. We also made the short coach trip to Trier, one of Germany's oldest towns with its Roman ruins. Having tasted even more wine and schnapps before returning to the ship for a 3.30pm sailing, we then headed towards Boppard.
There are 14 locks on the Moselle (four in France and 10 in Germany) and we sailed past some even steeper hillside vineyards while the evening's on board entertain was provided by La Strada, a classical trio who played pieces by the likes of Gioacchino Rossini and Aram Khachaturian plus several Hungarian Gypsy melodies.
Sailing all night and passing Koblenz again on day eight, we arrived back on the Rhine and the popular 'shopping town' of Boppard. Buying a traditional decoration for our tree at the Christmas Shop, we then took the chairlift to the 1,000 metre summit of Hirschkoft with its magnificent views over the town.
Amazingly the Rhine turns almost 360 degrees in a huge horseshoe bend at this point while at a certain spot you can see what looks like four separate lakes … but really it's just the river!
Having enjoyed a typical German lunch of sausage and sauerkraut (plus beer) in the Gedeonseek Restaurant, once back on board during the afternoon we passed the famous Lorelie (or Loreley) rock. It's the narrowest section of the Middle Rhine Valley while a tiny statue of a mermaid-like siren is reputed to have enchanted olden day sailors, her singing causing them to maroon their boats on the rocks.
That evening we visited the fascinating Reichenstein Castle were thousands of hunting trophies adorned the walls. Meeting the owner, we enjoyed yet another excellent dinner while we were royally entertained by Reinhardt Reissner (DJ Reinhardt to his friends!) whose oompah band-style music had everyone's feet tapping while some even got up to dance!
We docked at the towns of Gernsheim, Mannheim and Speyer the following day with a tour of Heidelberg Castle and Speyer's 985-year-old Dom Catherdral, one of the largest in Christendom. Then on day ten we arrived in Plittersdorf and a trip to the spa town of Baden-Baden in the shadow of the Black Forest hills.
A favourite with the likes of Bill Clinton plus a host of other celebrities down the years, Baden-Baden (Bath-Bath) with its hot water springs and magnificent Louis XIV-style Casino have made it one of Germany's most expensive places to live. There are more millionaires in the town than you can shake a stick at and while I didn't bother playing the roulette wheel or the Black Jack tables, at least I didn't lose any money!
Nude mixed bathing still takes place four days a week in the 17-room Friedrichsbad Spa which was opened in 1877 – it's called the 'Temple of Wellbeing' – while at the new spa just along the road, the Caraellla, it's a little more discreet with bathers expected to wear swimming costumes.
During the afternoon I borrowed one of the ship's bicycles and rode around 25 kilometres in a circular route around Plittersdorf, passing through a huge nature reserve and spotting several storks, a cuckoo, a kingfisher plus many other species of nesting water fowl. Incidentally, the Dutch style bike had no brake levers, you simply back peddled to stop!
That evening the MS Inspire's crew put on an excellent after dinner show with all manner of comedy routines plus a clever bottle juggling turn. But they were soon back on duty as we sailed for Kehl and the onward trip to our fourth country, France and home to the European Union Parliament, Strasbourg.
The old town is really lovely but as it was the only afternoon that it rained heavily, I didn't get to see all that I wanted and I took shelter in the huge cathedral where they were preparing for a concert to commemorate 1000 years of the building's history.
And so to our fifth and final country on day 12 as the MS Inspire docked at Basel in Switzerland. Choosing to visit the historic city of Lucerne and its famous lake seemed a better option as we would be able to spend the 13th and final day in Basel itself due to our late afternoon flight home.
It was certainly the best choice as we walked over the famous wooden 200 metre 'Chapel Bridge' before climbing up to see the twin needle spires of the Hofkirche (Hof Church). We also saw the famous 'Dying Lion of Lucerne' sculpture which was hewn out of the solid rock in 1821 by artist Lukas Ahorn.
Lucerne is a vibrant city. There's the chance of taking an hour long boat ride on its lake with its panoramic views of the nearby Swiss Alps or alternatively there is another one hour train ride which takes in all the top tourist attractions in the wonderful medieval city.
Basel too is very nice – especially on a Sunday when all the shops are shut! Its fabulous mural-covered Rathuis (town hall) has just been totally renovated while the fast flowing river dissects the town in half. There is also a massive modern exhibition centre which stands close to one of the three railway stations … one for travel to France, another for Germany and the other for the Swiss locals.
After leaving the MS Inspire and saying our goodbyes at 9.15am on the Sunday morning, we were taken by coach to the five-star Swissotel in Basel where we were able to leave our luggage until it was time to be collected by another luxury Mercedes limousine some two-and-a-half hours before our return to Luton from Basel's Mulhouse-Freiburg Airport.
It was a cruising holiday that will live long in our memory with Tauck's amazing organisation delivering on ever possible front, its motto 'How You See The World Matters' being perfectly true on this occasion.
Alan Wooding's 13-day Tauck Rhine and Moselle River Cruise was taken between 7-19 April with prices starting at £3,265 per person for a Category 1 cabin rising to £5,325 for a Category 7 suite. The price you pay includes absolutely everything: full board, all drinks and snacks, porterage, airport and hotel transfers by private limousine, plus all tips/gratuities.
However the price did not include the easyJet airfare from London-Luton Airport to Amsterdam's Schiphol and the return trip from Basel's Mulhouse-Freiburg Airport which added another £151 per person. However for 2016 Tauck has already promised to include all UK airfares in its brochure prices.
Special thanks to trip organiser Anja Eckervogt and David Tarsh of Tarsh Consulting, 12 Stoner Street, London W14 8RZ (www.tarsh.com), to everyone aboard MS Inspire and to Tauck (www.tauck.co.uk) for the experience. Call 0800 810 8020 or log onto their website to order a brochure.


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- Home
- Government
- Departments G - Z
- Public Works
- Flood Information
- Neighborhood River Monitoring Groups
Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Property owners along the Sheyenne River have also taken the initiative to form neighborhood watch groups to monitor the river berms. Please consider working with your neighbors to organize again. The City of West Fargo can provide training.
If you would like to join or captain a neighborhood watch group, please fill out the Neighborhood Spring Flood Watch Group Volunteer form.
Additional details regarding neighborhood watch groups will be available in the future on this site.


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Jack Dunigan has spent more than 30 years in the non-profit sector. During that time, he guided more than 2 dozen groups through the process of becoming tax-exempt non-profit organizations. His experience and skill in the development of charities, faith-based organizations, and educational institutions make him the go-to guy for advice and guidance. He's a valuable resource for understanding the dynamics of making an impact on society through non-profit ventures.
Dennis Zink: Jack, let's start with what is the difference between a non-profit and a business.
Jack Dunigan: This is probably one of the most often received questions that I get. Having worked with organizations for 30 years, a lot of organizations that are non-profit organizations, after 30 years, really are bankrupt. They seem to have the idea that, in order to be a non-profit organization, they don't have to actually make any money. Non-profit organizations, like any business, have to make money. They have to be able to meet budgets. They have to meet payroll. They have to pay for the objectives and the activities of their mission. The problem is that, if you think that you don't have to make any money, it begins to affect your planning.
The difference between a non-profit organization and a business is that, if I own a business, quarterly, semiannually, or annually, if there's money left over, I, as the owner, can take some of that money. In a non-profit organization, I cannot do that. That money belongs to the organization. The IRS, in its regulations, is very specific that there can be no inurement to the benefit of an individual, which means I can't take that money. I can get paid for the work that I do, but the money always belongs to an organization.
I was talking to a client maybe 2 weeks ago who was concerned about that, that if she decided to close her organization after a couple of years, then what happens to the money. I said, "Well, you don't get it. That money has to be given to another non-profit." Non-profits are permanent and they are never allowed to distribute the funds or any of their assets to any of the members of that. It all has to remain in the non-profit sector. Other than that, they do have to make money in the sense that their revenues have to exceed their expenditures, or they soon will fail in their mission.
Dennis Zink: You hear the numbers and letter 501(c)(3). Can you explain what that means or where that comes from?
Jack Dunigan: It comes from the IRS regulations. 501(c)(3) is the most prevalent type of non-profit organization recognized as a tax-exempt organization by the Internal Revenue Service. There are 501(c)(4) organizations, but most organization are 501(c)(3), which is usually religious, charitable, or educational organizations.
One of the problems that many people have with tax-exempt organizations is just where do they qualify as a tax-exempt organization. There's one sort of guiding factor, and that is the intent to spend a major portion of your money influencing legislation. 501(c)(3) organizations are expressly prohibited from spending a major portion of their revenues for influencing legislation. The IRS is rather reluctant in defining what "major" means. It's usually around 10%. If you exceed 10%, you may be in danger of losing your tax exemption. The 501(c)(3) is the IRS number for those tax-exempt organizations of religious, charitable, and educational institutions.
Dennis Zink: What if you lose your status? What happens then?
Jack Dunigan: It's a very unfortunate situation. If you lose your status, first of all, you cannot give tax-deductible receipts to any of the donors. Any of the revenues that you receive will be treated as income rather than revenues and it will be taxable at any normal corporate or business rate that might be applicable, depending on where you are in the United States. It varies from state to state. You would owe federal taxes and you would also owe local taxes.
Copyright © 2024 SCORE Association, SCORE.org
Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.


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The Rotters' Club
By Jonathan Coe
By Jonathan Coe
By Jonathan Coe
By Jonathan Coe
Part of Vintage Contemporaries
Part of Vintage Contemporaries
Category: Literary Fiction
Category: Literary Fiction
Paperback $16.95
Feb 04, 2003 | ISBN 9780375713125
Lionel Asbo
All That Is
High Fidelity
The Lost Weekend
The House of Mirth
Good Faith
Tepper Isn't Going Out
The Shakespeare Requirement
"Reflective and compelling, satirical and tender, wildly imaginative and painstakingly realistic." –Chris Lehmann, The Washington Post Book World
"The gritty, cross-pond equivalent to Look Homeward, Angel. . . . The pangs of embarrassment, the anguish of uncertainty, the awkwardness of success [are] vividly present here." – Mike Francis, The Oregonian
"Funny and astute . . . The strength of The Rotters' Club lies in its comic humanity." – Stephen Amidon, The Atlantic Monthly
"Please, God . . . if there's a next life, let me write as well as Jonathan Coe. The Rotters' Club offers a thick slice of seventies Birmingham–sharp, acerbic, and menacingly true; a sad, funny, thoroughly engaging look at compromise, complicity, and change in a decade many of us would choose to forget." –Anthony Bourdain, author of Kitchen Confidential and A Cook's Tour
"Its tinder-dry combustion of comic, indignant and elegiac suggests an Evelyn Waugh of the left." –Richard Eder, The New York Times Book Review
"A thrillingly traitorous work. It hums along for a hundred pages of wise comedy about teenage love's mortifications, then cold cocks us with an honest surprise as cruel as it is earned." –David Kipen, San Francisco Chronicle
"Jonathan Coe is a mesmerizing writer. . . . The Rotters' Club is a wonderfully gripping novel, by turns funny, heartbreaking and terrifying." –The Seattle Times
"The novel's many intricate parts manage to mesh and turn with the startling harmony you find in Robert Altman's movies." –Todd Pruzan, The Village Voice
"If there's a contemporary novelist who combines sharp and sometimes savage social commentary with the classic, full-blooded pleasures novels are supposed to give readers as well as Jonathan Coe does, I must have missed him." –Charles Taylor, Salon.com
and from the UK . . .
"A must-read for anyone who cares about contemporary literature." –Katie Owen, The Telegraph
"Filled with characters whose destinies we care about, whose welfare moves us. This is the simplest but highest calling of literature." –William Sutcliffe, The Independent on Sunday
"As always with Jonathan Coe, the sheer intelligent good nature that suffuses his work makes it a pleasure to read." –Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
"As a study of adolescence, it is hard to beat. The aching naivety and intensity of the main characters made me think of Salinger." –John de Falbe, The Spectator
"Coe handles his complex approach to a complex era effortlessly, and the end product is a compulsive and gripping read." –Paul Connolly, The Times
"At once uproariously entertaining and deadly serious–a comedy of manners and mores, but also a conscientious and politically charged reminder of an age quite easily forgotten, yet not far removed from our own." –Henry Hitchings, Times Literary Supplement
"Like all of Coe's novels, The Rotters' Club is brilliant, funny, apposite, informed and unflaggingly truth-seeking." –Rachel Cusk, The Evening Standard
"Superior entertainment. The pages seem to turn themselves." –Hugo Barnacle, The New Statesman
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OPM Wants to Untie Agencies' HR Knots
The government's human resources shop is trying to improve federal hiring and retention partly by catering to individual agencies' needs.
The Office of Personnel Management is pursuing various strategies that focus on the individual needs of agencies, as well as human resources challenges common across government, to improve federal hiring and employee retention, OPM Director Katherine Archuleta said on Monday.
"We are drilling down in agencies to find the knots in the hiring process, and to untie them," Archuleta said during a speech to federal workers at Government Executive's annual Excellence in Government conference in Washington. Archuleta said she has been meeting with Cabinet secretaries and other agency leaders to help them develop "individualized, personalized toolkits" to tackle their HR problems and needs. "I know that hiring is not a one-size-fits-all process," she said. Because of tight budgets and hiring limits, "it is more critical than ever that agencies find the best talent," Archuleta said, adding that OPM is committed to providing agencies with the flexibilities they need to find, cultivate and nurture that talent.
OPM is helping at least one federal agency right now with its internal management challenges. An April 28 email to staff at the International Broadcasting Bureau, which is part of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, said the agency is working with OPM to perform a comprehensive and "necessary" workforce analysis to review IBB's organizational structure, work processes and staffing levels, and to ensure the agency is prepared for potential layoffs. IBB faces a smaller overall budget in fiscal 2015 that "may require significant staff reductions within the IBB," the email said.
While OPM is trying to help individual agencies like the IBB work through their specific problems, it is also promoting governmentwide initiatives, like its new GovConnect, designed to "foster a one government environment of collaboration and knowledge-sharing," Archuleta said. The project is aimed at cultivating innovation and creativity, allowing employees to "try out skills and expertise on a new project – something that is not in their current comfort zone," Archuleta said. At the Housing and Urban Development Department, for instance, employees can use a program called "innovation time" that gives workers the opportunity to spend up to four hours a week on a project they are passionate about. Some employees used the opportunity to create an app that helps people find affordable housing, Archuleta said. Another project Gov U, modeled on HR University, aims to provide education and training resources governmentwide to federal HR professionals to improve employee recruitment and retention.
Archuleta has been traveling a lot during the past few months, she said, listening to what federal workers like – and don't like – about their jobs. Better training and "a clearer career path," are among the things employees are clamoring for, the OPM director said. She urged the Excellence in Government audience to encourage their colleagues and those they manage to complete the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, which the agency emailed to the federal workforce about two weeks ago. "The success of this survey depends on how many employees participate," she said. "And I believe that depends on all of us convincing federal employees what we know to be true -- that we take their comments seriously, that we use their feedback to effect change, and that their opinions matter."


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A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
Tired? Your Dog Is Yawning Right Along With You
Yawn contagion is a sign of animal empathy, study finds, except for youngest puppies
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
But this isn't the case with puppies of 7 months or younger, who may not have developed empathy yet. (And they're far too busy chewing up shoes or jumping on the furniture.)
Researchers in Sweden explained that dogs, like humans, gradually become susceptible to yawns as they get older. They noted that contagious yawning is a sign of empathy, as well as a response to being tired or bored.
The researchers, led by Elainie Alenkaer Madsen and Tomas Persson at Lund University, observed the response of 35 dogs between 4 and 14 months old during play and cuddling when a human repeatedly yawned, gaped or did neither.
The final analysis only included 32 dogs. "Three dogs were excluded from analyses, due to, respectively, distractions, over-excitedness and poor owner yawning," the researchers wrote.
Dogs older than 7 months showed signs of contagious yawning. The study also showed that roughly half the dogs became tired themselves, so much so that some dogs needed to be prevented from falling asleep. The researchers concluded that empathy slowly develops over the first year of a dog's life.
Children also typically start to yawn contagiously at the age of 4 years, when their ability to accurately identify other people's emotions is more developed. Unlike humans and other primates, however, adult dogs do not respond differently to strangers and are just as likely to catch yawns from people they don't know very well.
The study was published online Oct. 17 in the journal Animal Cognition.
Copyright (c) 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


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New Site Rules Governing User Accountsby vroom (His Eminence) |
on Jul 06, 2002 at 03:11 UTC ( [id://179790] : monkdiscuss . print w/replies, xml ) | Need Help?? |
The monastery for the most part has been a place without a lot of hard and fast rules. Some abuses of the voting/experience system have resulted in us having to set down some hard and fast rules regarding multiple accounts.
Update:You can /msg me with your multi-account info. We are concerned with active accounts. If you currently login with more than one user/ or plan to in the future we want that information.
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The Bürkert Code of Conduct
We act and live upon these values
As an international family-owned company based in Germany, the Bürkert Group is active in the development, production and sales of 'Fluid Control Systems'. Our entrepreneurial success, which stands for the effective employment of our highly qualified and responsible staff, is mainly based on customer orientation, technical know-how, efficient production and consistent delegation of responsibilities within a process-oriented, flat hierarchy structure. In order to implement the aforesaid an ongoing organizational and personnel development is necessary, both on a national and on an international level. To safeguard the success of our company, we have some basic values that guide the cooperation both inside and outside our company. These values are very important to the shareholders, the advisory board and the executive board of the Bürkert Group:
- Mutual respect, fairness and honesty
- Equal treatment, regardless of sex, race and religion
- Showing respect for other cultures
- Observing the existent countries' laws
- Taking social and ecological responsibility into the operating work process
We act and live upon these values via our leadership principles, the worldwide process organization and our Bürkert culture. Outside our company, they define our way of doing business with both our customers and our suppliers. All in all, they embody our conduct with the aim to solve technical, organizational and interpersonal problems.


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The rail terminal here is a relic from a different era, old enough to have seen the Jazz Age and the Great Depression, survive two World Wars and withstand the encroachment of the automobile.
It almost met its match in Hurricane Sandy.
More than a month after the superstorm forced the Hudson River over its banks and cascading onto underground platforms and tracks, service on the Port Authority Trans-Hudson line out of Hoboken remains suspended, even as other portions of the system have been restored.
It will be weeks before trains run again, PATH's acting director said Tuesday.
Age and geography combine to make this one of the New York area's more vulnerable pieces of infrastructure, as the hulking building squats mere yards from the river at the bottom of a gentle downslope.
In the wake of Sandy, officials from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said all existing infrastructure is being reviewed for possible flood mitigation. But there was the sense that even greater protective measures might not have been enough here.
"This was something that was larger than anybody ever expected," PATH acting director Stephen Kingsberry said Tuesday. "We're in Hoboken, where a lot of the above-ground parts were flooded. This station is underground. That's the problem of the day. I don't think any of the areas of Hoboken were able to escape this amount of water."
Surveillance videos released recently by the Port Authority show water gushing down stairways and onto platforms, submerging turnstiles and ticket machines. Some tracks took on eight feet of water. Overall, the PATH system that serves Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken and lower Manhattan suffered $300 million in damage, Kingsberry said.
During a tour of the station and tracks on Tuesday, two workers were cleaning off a circuit box that is used to de-energize the third rail in one of the tunnels; farther down the tunnel another crew was working on two 12,000-pound pumps and other workers were busy reconnecting circuits in a nerve center that controls track switches. The nerve center filled with more than five feet of water, complete with floating rats, employees said.
The pumps interspersed along the tracks can pump out water at 700 gallons per minute, according to John Burkhard, an assistant superintendent in the way and structures division. Additional measures were taken as well, he said, but they were no match for the huge volume of water.
The actions of one employee may have lessened some of the damage.
Pump operator Tom O'Neill, who spent 10 days on-site even as his family's house on the New Jersey shore was without power from the storm, submerged himself in the murky water to open a pump that was clogged. Kingsberry called him "our hero."
"I know where the valves are at; I could feel them with my feet," O'Neill said. "It was cold. You're at that point where your adrenaline is flowing and you need to get that pump flowing. It is dangerous, and it might not have been the right thing to do, but the first defense was to get the water out. Then everybody else can do their job."
It took about a week to get all the water out of the tracks and platforms. Then came the task of replacing and repairing equipment, some of which is 80 years old. Cables and other equipment have to be tested to make sure they can handle the amount of electricity coursing through the system.
Kingsberry said walls and stairways leading down to the station's platforms are being shored up, and the nerve center's walls will be reinforced and a water-tight door will be installed. Beyond that, the Port Authority said it is considering a host of additional measures.
"We are assessing existing PATH infrastructure to see what can be modified now to have greater resiliency," the agency said in an email. "All capital projects going forward for PATH will incorporate storm surge and other mitigation including consideration of floodgates, balloons in tunnels and higher location for electrical, switching and communications equipment."
The New York City's massive subway system was also ravaged by Sandy. But within a week, 80 percent of service had been restored.
In the wake of Sandy, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is calling for improvement to old infrastructure and systems.
"We have an old infrastructure and we have old systems, and that is not a good combination," Cuomo said days after the storm. "And that's one of the lessons I'm going to take from this, personally."
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GE Energy Financial Services, Other Investors Fund SustainX
Jun 22, 2011 | Business Wire
New Hampshire-based company SustainX has received $14.4 million from GE Energy Financial Services, a unit of GE (NYSE: GE), and other investors to continue developing its technology for energy storage using compressed air. Through the GE Ecomagination Challenge's "Powering the Grid" program, in which SustainX is a partner, GE Energy Financial Services joins Cadent Energy Partners and prior investors Polaris Ventures and Rockport Capital in the new round of venture financing. The GE Ecomagination Challenge demonstrates GE's global commitment to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative power-grid technologies through open collaboration, while providing financial support to develop and commercialize innovative technologies.
Details of the financing were not disclosed. A total of $5.4 million in earlier financing for SustainX came from the Small Business Innovation Research program of the National Science Foundation and from the Energy Storage Program of the US Department of Energy. AES Energy Storage, LLC is working with SustainX to demonstrate a full-size system in the field, capable of storing enough energy to power 1,000 typical US homes.
GE Energy Financial Services' investment in SustainX reflects its commitment to enabling technology innovation by providing not only capital but technology evaluation and potential commercial opportunities with GE, particularly to develop a smarter power grid. The investment is based partly on GE Global Research's evaluation of SustainX's technology. ... SustainX was founded in 2007 by engineers at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College.
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text: Health officials around the world hailed the decision by Australia's high court, which stubbed out claims by tobacco companies that the packaging of cigarettes without branding was unconstitutional. The Australian decision raises the hopes of anti-tobacco forces of similar moves in other nations. "We are elated with this victory," said Bungon Ritthiphakdee, director of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance. "We also draw inspiration from the Australian government for standing up against the challenges from the tobacco industry and all its artillery for trying to block this move – and winning. This win for Australia prepares the path for the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)." Opinion: Australian tobacco packaging laws misguided "With Australia's victory, public health enters a brave new world of tobacco control," said Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization. "Plain packaging is a highly effective way to counter industry's ruthless marketing tactics." Tobacco products in Australia must be in plain packaging without logos and have graphic health warnings as of December 1. It's the latest move in a global trend toward packing that shows diseased organs, dying patients, skin lesions or other medical maladies caused by smoking. Australia: Ruling shows 'big tobacco can be taken on and beaten' Canada was the first nation to pass legislation requiring a graphic health warning in 2001 – 41 nations have since followed suit. Canada and 18 other nations require at least 50% of the packaging to contain health warnings. Until the Australian decision, the nation that required the most prominent warning was Uruguay, where 80% of packages contain graphic health advisories. Tobacco companies said the Australian ruling – which would eliminate iconic branding from appearing on the package – would raise the amount of counterfeit products on the market, eroding government taxes collected on tobacco. More: Should smoking trigger an R rating? Last year the United States unveiled nine graphic health warning labels that must cover half the area of cigarette packages by this September.


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Good carry-over, habitat, nesting conditions indicate good season ahead
PRATT -- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has good news for upland bird hunters. The prospects for the upcoming seasons are very encouraging. Good cover and bird numbers combined with more than one million acres of Walk-In Hunting Areas (WIHA) and more than 500,000 acres of public wildlife areas make Kansas one of the premier destinations for pheasant, quail, and prairie chicken hunters. In addition, Kansas offers long seasons and liberal bag limits.
Pheasant numbers appear to be up considerably in the western half of the state. East of Highway 281, substantial rains the first two weeks of June may have hurt chick survival, but statewide, summer brood counts show good numbers of broods.
Quail numbers appear to be significantly up in the west, as well as most of the southcentral part of the state. In most of the state, weather during nesting season was good to ideal.
Kansas is home to both the greater and lesser prairie chicken. Lesser prairie chickens are found in the southwest part of the state. Populations of both species appear stable across the major portion of their ranges and provide unique hunting opportunities. An early season for greater prairie chickens east of Highway 281 runs Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, the best opportunities being in the Flint Hills. The regular prairie chicken season will run Nov. 19 through Jan. 31 in the east and northwest units of Kansas. In the southwest, the season will run Nov. 19 through Dec. 31.
Region 1 (northwest and northcentral)
Nesting and brood-rearing habitat was good throughout most of Region 1. Extremely hot, dry weather during July and heavy rains in the northeast portions of the region probably impaired brood survival to some extent. However, an early hatch in many areas, with some re-nesting in others, appears to have offset those losses, and good numbers of birds should be available this fall.
In addition to more than 72,000 acres of state and federal ground, more than 420,000 acres of WIHA will be open in Region 1. Hunters should concentrate on areas that provide good cover near grain fields.
Overall, pheasant densities for 2005 appear to be similar or improved over 2004 throughout most of Region 1, with the highest densities occurring in the eastern half of the region. However, look for improvements in the west, especially in the northern counties.
Although not the best area of the state for quail, quail numbers appear to be continuing an upward trend in Region 1. Quail densities appear moderately higher than last year throughout most of the traditional quail habitat in this area, especially in the east. Also, hunters should find increased numbers of birds in pockets of the central portion of Region 1.
Prairie chicken populations appear to be expanding in both numbers and range within the region. The better hunting opportunities will be found in the eastern and central portions. Production appeared to be good this year, with many small flocks occupying the larger blocks of native rangeland.
Region 2 (northeast)
Although habitat is good to excellent throughout the region, the pheasant population in Region 2 remains below the long-term average. It appears that pheasant numbers will be fair to poor in most of the region with numbers up slightly in the northwestern counties. Even here, the outlook will probably be only fair.
Quail numbers appear to be below average in Region 2 despite late-summer heavy rains that may have created good to excellent habitat in many areas. Early reports from landowners indicated a slight increase in quail numbers, but few broods are being seen this fall. The hunting projection for quail in the region will be poor to fair with some spotty areas of better conditions.
Region 2 has 101,684 acres enrolled in the WIHA program this fall.
Region 3 (southwest)
Overall, Region 3 will provide a good to excellent upland bird season this year. Last season was good in most areas of the southwest, and good numbers of adult birds carried over this spring. Production has been very good in most counties with the best reports for pheasant and quail being from Garden City east. Hail in some counties along the Kansas-Colorado line may have hurt local bird numbers. Much of the southwest has heavy cover going into the fall hunting season.
Reports for the Cimarron National Grassland indicate pheasant and quail numbers may be down some from last year, but hunting should still be fair to good. Lesser prairie chicken hunters should be able to find good numbers of birds on this area.
More than 407,000 acres of WIHA are available in Region 3.
Region 4 (southcentral)
Cover in all of Region 4 is excellent because of abundant summer rainfall. Late June rains delayed a portion of the wheat harvest, which may have helped pheasant brood survival. July storms brought isolated heavy hail in portions of southern Reno and Kingman counties, and hail also hit parts of Rice, McPherson, and Marion counties. Heavy August rains in much of the region flooded low-lying fields and may have prevented late nesting in these areas.
Still, pheasant carry-over in the Region 4 pheasant range was excellent. Production this year appears to be about average in much of the region, which will mean a higher percentage of adult birds in the population when the season opens. Good reports have come from areas in Marion, McPherson, Rice, and Reno counties.
In the Flint Hills counties, quail numbers appear to be somewhat improved over several years ago. In the northern Flint Hills, populations are still somewhat depressed when compared to the 10-year average. In the southern Flint Hills, ranchers report seeing more quail than they have in several years. Quail numbers in the southern and western portions of Region 4 range from fair to good.
Range habitat has improved significantly in the northern Flint Hills, so prairie chicken hunting should be fair.
The region has 25,255 acres of WIHA this fall.
Region 5 (southeast)
Overall, quail numbers in Region 5 continue to be below the long-term average. However, the eastern portion of the region should be improved. Severe weather through the summer probably affected quail populations in some areas.
Prairie chicken production was poor this spring and summer. A combination of extensive spring burning and severe weather are the primary reasons for the poor production year with a population that is struggling. Most landowners are reporting a few small broods.
More than 44,000 acres of WIHA are available in Region 5 this fall.


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BEEMER, SARA GALBRAITH (Calder), philanthropist; b. 19 Aug. 1846 in Hamilton, Upper Canada, daughter of Levi Beemer, a jeweller and watchmaker, and Ann Eliza Gage; m. 22 Dec. 1869 John Calder (d. 1901) in Buffalo, N.Y., and they had seven sons and two daughters; d. 16 March 1914 in Hamilton.
Educated in Hamilton, Sara Beemer married John Calder, a clothier, whose prominence helped give her the opportunity to become involved in the organized movements and philanthropies of her Anglo-Canadian culture. She was a granddaughter of James Gage*, the War of 1812 veteran who owned the homestead at Stoney Creek that had been occupied by the Americans in a major battle on 6 June 1813, and she had grown up under the influence of the heroic view of loyalism. A founding member of the Wentworth Historical Society in 1889, she opposed the recommendation of an all-male committee that the battle be commemorated by the erection of a monument on Smith's Knoll, where the British had successfully stormed the Americans' artillery. The knoll, situated across the road from the Gage property, lacked the prominence of the hill to the rear of the homestead. Mrs Calder envisioned building on this hill a monument whose size and visibility would awaken the Canadian historical consciousness and communicate the aspirations of the imperial ideal.
As first president of the society's ladies' committee, formed in May 1895, Calder proved her administrative capacity in November when she organized a week-long exhibition which raised over $1,000 for a history museum in Hamilton. This profit became the committee's ace in the dispute over the location of the memorial. Calder and some of her associates, convinced that the men were short-sighted in their choice of sites for both the monument and the museum, took control of the money. Their action caused such friction that the ladies' committee, at Calder's urging, dissociated from the parent society and incorporated itself in May 1899 as the Women's Wentworth Historical Society. Calder had previously purchased four acres of the Gage farm, paying $900 down and assuming a mortgage for $1,000. She then offered the government of Canada, on behalf of the women's society, land for a monument. Through the influence of her friend and ally in the House of Commons, Andrew Trew Wood*, whose first wife was also a granddaughter of James Gage, the minister of militia and defence, Frederick William Borden, accepted the offer. Calder subsequently placed the property in trust for the women's society until the government required the land.
The Wentworth Historical Society protested that a "great historical mistake" would be made should the government erect a monument on a site that was not linked with the turning-point in the engagement. As a result, deputy minister Louis-Félix Pinault ordered an investigation to determine "the centre of the battlefield." Calder reacted to this distressing news by rallying her supporters to convert the property into a park and restore the homestead. On 21 Oct. 1899 Lady Aberdeen [Marjoribanks*] opened Stoney Creek Battlefield to the public. The Women's Wentworth Historical Society was the first historical society in Canada to purchase and turn over to the public a national heritage. The following year Borden visited the park and subsequently he encouraged Calder in the belief that his department would carry out its original decision.
Over the next several years Calder's dynamic leadership propelled the society, which had no revenue except membership fees and a small grant from the Ontario government, into a series of successful fund-raising ventures to free the property from encumbrance. By October 1907 it had paid off the mortgage. The following July Borden announced a grant of $5,000 to the WWHS.
The award fanned the smouldering antagonism between the men's and women's societies. Consequently Borden decided not to release the money until both sides had reached an understanding. The men, who were still planning a monument for Smith's Knoll, agreed to cooperate but Calder rebuffed them until she was compelled to come to the table by deputy minister Eugène Fiset*. The two sides met on 6 Jan. 1909. In the end Calder got what she wanted on the understanding that the men's monument would be erected first and that the women would assist them in raising $1,500 towards its cost.
Assured that the federal grant would be revoted, she invited Lady Grey, wife of Governor General Lord Grey, to turn the first sod on her society's site in May. In February 1910 Calder purchased an additional 13 acres of the original Gage patent, adding them to the park. By November 1911 the $5,000 had been spent and work on the monument there ceased. When Calder requested another grant, the militia department, which had already erected monuments on the battlefields of Châteauguay, Crysler's Farm, and Lundy's Lane, decided to complete the work as a government project. Title to the monument, however, remained with the WWHS. On 6 June 1913, the centenary of Stoney Creek, a magnificent stone tower was unveiled before an estimated crowd of 8,000 people. The ideological impact of the tower was reinforced by the inscription on the monument, which claimed the battle had been "the decisive engagement" of the war and the turning-point in the defence of "British liberty of which Canada is the inheritor."
Calder's interest in Canada's historical tradition found an outlet in other projects. She was, for instance, an active member of the Hamilton branch of the Quebec battlefields commission, formed in 1908. Upon the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, she had instituted a committee which led to the erection of a statue to her memory in Hamilton. In 1910 she started a movement for a statue of the recently deceased King Edward VII, but the public favoured a more practical demonstration of admiration and endorsed a proposal for a children's hospital.
Besides her historical and imperial commemorative projects, Calder was vice-president of the Boys' Home in Hamilton and for 32 years a member of its committee of management, vice-president of the Local Council of Women, a member of the women's auxiliary of the Hamilton branch of the Victorian Order of Nurses, and a member of the auxiliary board of the Hamilton Health Association. At Central Presbyterian Church she served as a Sunday-school teacher and vice-president of the Home Mission Society. In 1894 she organized the local branch of the Women's Art Association of Canada. Calder died in 1914 and was survived by a daughter and a son.
A woman of strong resolution, Sara Calder acted with decision and opposed with firmness. Her strength of character won her many male allies, among them Sir John Morison Gibson* and John Strathearn Hendrie*, whose wives were vice-presidents of the WWHS. Though she rejected the female tradition of deferring to men, she was not an advocate of women's rights. Her defiance of the male-dominated Wentworth Historical Society is a perfect example of how the bounds which circumscribed women's lives were undergoing transformation as Canada changed from a rural to an urban society.
AO, RG 22-205, no.8816. HPL, Scrapbooks, H. F. Gardiner, vols.113, 206; Times, vol.1, pt.2; Victorian Hamilton, vol.14; Women's Wentworth Hist. Soc. NA, RG 2, P.C. 1055, 21 May 1910; P.C. 2557, 12 Sept. 1912; RG 22, 904, file 357-2, pt.2; RG 24, 6559, file HQ 899-11, pts.1–2. Wentworth Land Registry Office (Hamilton, Ont.), Abstract index to deeds, Saltfleet Township, concession 4, lot 26. Hamilton Herald, 16, 19 March 1914. Hamilton Spectator, 25 Dec. 1869, 1899–1913, 16 March 1914. Buffalo city directory (Buffalo, N.Y.), 1868–70. Can., House of Commons, Debates, 1907/8: 13177; Parl., Sessional papers, 1910, no.5a; 1912, no.4. Genealogical and historical records of the Mills and Gage families, 1776–1926, 150 years, comp. Stanley Mills (Hamilton, 1926). "History of Women's Art Association," Art-i-fact (Hamilton), 2 (1974), no.1: 4 (copy in HPL). Gerald Killan, Preserving Ontario's heritage: a history of the Ontario Historical Society (Ottawa, 1976). [Elizabeth Lyle], Hamilton Local Council of Women, 1893–1919, a record of twenty-six years of activity (Hamilton, 1920; copy in HPL). "Military fête" and "Monument sites, with correspondence and papers relating thereto," ed. J. A. Griffin, in Wentworth Hist. Soc., Journal and Trans. (Hamilton), 2 (1899): 155–59 and 3 (1902): 91–101, respectively. Ont., Statutes, 1899, c.108, sect.10. Ontario Hist. Soc., Annual report (Toronto), 1899: 54–55. RSC, Trans., 2nd ser., 6 (1900), proc., app.C: xlviii–l; 7 (1901), proc., app.B: xliii–xliv. C. J. Taylor, Negotiating the past: the making of Canada's national historic parks and sites (Montreal and Kingston, Ont., 1990). Wentworth Hist. Soc., Ladies' committee, Souvenir book and programme for military encampment, November, 1895, ed. M. J. Nisbet, assisted by F. L. Davis (Hamilton, [1895]). Women's Wentworth Hist. Soc., Ye pioneers of one hundred years ago . . . , ed. M. J. Nisbet ([Hamilton, 1900]).
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Cite This Article
Peter Hanlon, "BEEMER, SARA GALBRAITH," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 14, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed March 4, 2024, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beemer_sara_galbraith_14E.html.
The citation above shows the format for footnotes and endnotes according to the Chicago manual of style (16th edition). Information to be used in other citation formats:
Permalink: | http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beemer_sara_galbraith_14E.html |
Author of Article: | Peter Hanlon |
Title of Article: | BEEMER, SARA GALBRAITH |
Publication Name: | Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 14 |
Publisher: | University of Toronto/Université Laval |
Year of publication: | 1998 |
Year of revision: | 1998 |
Access Date: | March 4, 2024 |