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The committee's chairman, U.S. Representative Buck McKeon, said some successful efforts were already under way, but the U.S. military acquisition system still faced significant challenges including cost overruns and schedule delays, and those would get worse due to mounting pressure on U.S. budgets.
"The Congress, together with the Department of Defense and industry, must be willing to do the hard work to find root causes, look past Band-Aid fixes and parochial interests, and have the courage to implement meaningful, lasting reform," McKeon said at the start of a hearing on the issue.
McKeon said he had asked Representative Mac Thornberry, a Texas Republican, to lead the long-term effort, aided by Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the committee.
The latest Government Accountability Office report calculates that the Pentagon is slated to spend $1.5 trillion to acquire 85 separate weapons programs in coming years. Those programs are projected to experience $411 billion in cost growth and average scheduled delays of 27 months, the GAO estimates.
Paul Francis, managing director of acquisition and sourcing management for the GAO, told the committee that previous reform efforts had started to slow cost growth, but 39 percent of the weapons programs on the books in fiscal 2012 had experienced cost growth of 25 percent or more.
Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co and other major weapons makers argue that layer upon layer of congressional and Pentagon oversight, coupled with thousands of pages of federal acquisition rules, make the system inefficient and too bureaucratic to function well.
Francis, former Pentagon comptroller Dov Zakheim and other experts presented a number of recommendations, ranging from extending the period of time that Pentagon program managers stay on the job, to creating better incentives for contractors, and streamlining federal acquisition rules.
"The current year of budget constraints renders the need for acquisition reform even more urgent than in the past," Zakheim told the panel. "We can't afford to waste a cent, much less dollars or billions of them."
Zakheim said decades of reform efforts had not made much of a dent in the arcane Pentagon procurement system, and a radical restructuring was needed, but it should involve Congress, the contractors, the Pentagon and the White House.
Pierre Chao, senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the hearing that too many of the past reform efforts had failed because they did not attack the root causes of cost overruns and schedule delays.
He argued against "one size fits all" solutions, and said Congress should revisit the many laws already on the books.
"Many of the problems of the acquisition system are really the result of unintended consequences of a very byzantine and at time outright contradictory set of laws and regulations, rather than outright malice or malfeasance on the part of the people," Chao said.
He also called for a new look at "revolving door" policies that made it difficult for experienced people to move between industry and government jobs, arguing that the current rules made it difficult to bring the best people into the right jobs.
Zakheim said Congress should also set high standards for the job of deputy defense secretary, since that was the person who ultimately oversaw acquisition programs.
The White House is now vetting candidates to replace Ashton Carter, the deputy defense secretary, who announced earlier this month that he will step down in December.
The current comptroller, Bob Hale, and the Pentagon's chief weapons buyer, Frank Kendall, have been named as possible replacements.
"Culture starts at the top. And I think one thing that Congress can do is really tighten up the requirements for who should be deputy secretary of defense," Zakheim said. "The deputy secretary of defense should … ultimately be accountable for the kinds of things we're talking about."


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A highly skilled joiner and cabinetmaker, Hemmings was the youngest son of Elizabeth (Betty) Hemings; his nephew Madison reported that his father was Joseph Neilson, a hired English carpenter. More is known about Hemmings than any other enslaved person at Monticello as he left behind a dozen letters and was often mentioned in family correspondence. A field worker as a child, he later was one of a "gang" of "out-carpenters" felling trees for firewood, fences, and charcoal; hewing logs; and erecting log buildings, including slave dwellings r, s, and t on Mulberry Row. In 1793, he learned joining as an apprentice to hired joiner David Watson, and later from James Dinsmore, the Irish joiner who carried out the construction of Monticello II (1798–1809). Hemmings succeed Dinsmore. Overseer Edmund Bacon remembered him as "a first-rate workman--a very extra workman. He could make anything that was wanted in woodwork." In addition to architectural woodwork in the main house, Hemmings made a carriage, a special writing desk for Ellen Randolph Coolidge, furniture, and Jefferson's coffin. He was given his freedom in Jefferson's will together with the tools of his trade. He and his wife Priscilla, nursemaid to the Randolph children, had no children; Hemmings made the stone marker for her grave.
This account is compiled from Lucia Stanton, "Those Who Labor for My Happiness:" Slavery at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello (University of Virginia Press and Thomas Jefferson Foundation, 2012).

subset: commoncrawl


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If you have livestock or outdoor pets you know how important it is to keep them watered, but also know that sometimes you are not around when the trough runs dry. [Buddy] solves this inconvenience with a trip to the hardware store and some creativity.
The automatic water filler is made from some PVC pipe, brass fittings, a faucet supply and a toilet float valve. The PVC is arranged into a hook shape, a fitting is put on one end for a standard garden hose. On the other end a bit of adapting is needed to convert the PVC into a faucet supply, where the toilet valve is hooked up. Now whenever your thirsty beasts get the water too low, the float lowers and tops off the watering hole with fresh H20. That sure beats running out there every day to make sure, especially with summer just around the bend.


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It gives you a unique durability, extended elegance for several years and also according to the particular type of coating and high quality of fitting is used. It may be utilized in the hardest industrial environments, water proof and opposed to acids and in addition chemical compounds. It's a flawless and non-porous, obstructing the development of bacteria. Epoxy flooring is additionally thought to be an economical one, and also epoxy surfaces are getting the most almost certainly infinite applications.
Coating Floor Georgetown is enormously increasing the recognition and obtained confidence of the people for your household garage floors. Today, garage provide a purpose is not to park the car but in addition useful for turned into much more total area interesting. Some of the garages are changed into playing recreation rooms with ping pong tables as well as with dart boards; whereas other is serving as interest portion or double as children's playroom and furthermore parking the car. The coating offers an enticement, easily guarding the ground which is completely suitable for the garage. In addition, it has advantages of guarding the concrete flood from chemical oil and also other chemical compounds stain that allow to have long lasting untreated ground.
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The epoxy coating is highly applied by creating powder coating on washers, dries, whilst other "white goods" are utilized since it is a long lasting and simple and easy to use. The epoxy coating will work out as being a primer to obstruct corrosion and ensure the adhesion of paints on cars and also ships.
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Foster Hi Tech Floors is the industry leader in highest-quality commercial, industrial, and residential epoxy floor coatings. Proudly serving Austin and the entire state of Texas for 10+ years.


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The family: My name is Gershon Chongloi. I live in Nitzan (I was evacuated from Neve Dekalim, may it be rebuilt soon in our days). I am 27 years old, married with two children. I made aliya in 1995 from northeastern India. I came with my family: my parents and my two younger sisters. The older of the two, Chagit is married, has two sons and is living in Ofra. My younger sister, Michal, is single, living with our parents and studying at Emuna College in Jerusalem.
Background: We are members of the tribe of Menashe. We came on aliya through the assistance of the Amishav Organization headed by Rabbi Eliyahu Avichayil. The organization brought us directly from the airport to Gush Katif, to the community of Neve Dekalim. There I attended the Na'ot Katif school and very successfully finished my studies. After completing elementary school I continued on to yeshiva high school in Dimona. During 11th and 12th grade I was a counselor for the Ariel youth movement in Neve Dekalim. After high school, approximately one year before the expulsion, I started the hesder program at Yeshivat HaKotel in the Old City of Jerusalem.
After the expulsion the state housed us in the Sha'arei Yerushalayim Hotel in Jerusalem. We stayed in the hotel for approximately half a year, at which time we moved with the entire community of Neve Dekalim to Nitzan, which is between Ashkelon (to the south) and Ashdod (to the north). After a year and a half of studying at the hesder yeshiva I enlisted in the IDF combat engineering unit – serving for two years as a soldier and a commander. After completing my army service I married and began learning at Yeshivat Neve Dekalim in Ashdod. Upon finishing the hesder track I started to work at the Assis Nurseries as head of the irrigation system and quality control of crops and spraying. I am still employed there.
Our house – then: The house that we had in Neve Dekalim was small (90 sq. meters) but fun to live in.
Our house – now: We began building our new house in Nitzan only five years after the expulsion, but, thank G-d, the house is bigger (approximately 120 sq. meters) and there's more room for everyone.
What we left behind in Neve Dekalim: The house, of course, and the beautiful, carefully tended garden that we had. It wasn't possible to take the trees we had planted in the garden, because we didn't know how long it would be until we reached a permanent house.
Feelings toward the State:Before I tell you how I feel about the State, I must preface them with this: The main reason why we came to Eretz Yisrael was because we are Jews, and as such have no place to live in the world other than Eretz Yisrael. Concerning the question, my response is thus: My family knew that living in Israel would not be easy and of course our lives would change in every way from the moment we arrived. Therefore, when we were expelled from Gush Katif we knew that everything comes from G-d, and that there is no reason to be angry at the State or at the soldiers that came to expel us from our house. One must always know, that even with all the problems that our State has, in the end it's the only State in the entire world that belongs to us, to Am Yisrael. We must always stand by the State, in times of happiness and in times of sadness. Of course all of what I said does not contradict the issue of attempting to improve and to influence the State so that it will get onto the right path.
The biggest difficulty: The biggest difficulty that I experienced in the expulsion was looking at our soldiers who came to expel us from our home. I always thought that our soldiers fought only our enemies and not, G-d forbid, us.
Have you built a house? Thank G-d, approximately one and a half years ago (2010) we finished building our new house and we are already living in it.
What happened to your community? One of the reasons why we decided to move to the community of Nitzan was because most of the B'nei Menashe community that was in Neve Dekalim, moved there. Among the Bnei Menashe who live here approximately 90% of the families (about 40 families) have not yet begun to build their houses. However, thank G-d, in terms of work and livelihood, everyone has work and is supporting themselves.


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Choosing the Best Business to Buy Franchise, business opportunity or going it alone? Weigh the pros and cons of each before making your choice.
Q: I am considering either buying a business or starting my own, so I'm in the process of researching different opportunities. A friend suggested I look into purchasing a franchise. What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying a franchise verses starting a stand-alone business? Wouldn't starting my own business give me more control?
A: In essence, you are facing three different opportunities: 1) buying an existing business, 2) investing in a franchise opportunity or 3) starting a business from scratch. I'll discuss each option individually, and then provide a brief outline of the pros and cons.
Purchasing an existing business: This option can provide a degree of comfort nonexistent in a new venture, as the company will have a tangible operational and financial history that can be evaluated. This history allows an entrepreneur to learn from the past mistakes and successes of the business, eliminating the need for the trial-and-error processes inherent in a start-up. Vendor relationships, employee base, customers and operational processes are all in place.
Sellers are often required to remain with the business during a transition period, which helps in the "training" of a new owner. That being said, significant operational changes may be difficult to instate when procedures are well-entrenched. Finding the right business to purchase can be difficult as well. It is generally wise to leverage your past experience and expertise when purchasing or starting a company, which may limit the number of potential acquisition targets within your geographic region.
- Known quantity/proven formula
- Owner transition/training available
- Full control of strategic direction
- Ability to thoroughly review past records/history
- Integration/ownership transfer issues
- Purchase financing may be difficult to find
- Significant changes may be hard to instate
- Difficult to find the right opportunity
- May have unknown "warts" from previous owner
Buying a franchise: This route provides a nice compromise between starting your own business and purchasing an existing one. Franchisors have established a set business plan for their franchisees, offering cookie-cutter-type guidelines for new business owners. Financing may be available through the franchisor to help you purchase a franchise. Training and operational support are provided, albeit at varying levels, depending upon the franchise.
Franchisors have an incentive to aid their franchisees because they receive a royalty fee based upon the sales or profitability level of the franchisee. Franchisors may provide help-not only in starting a new franchise, but also in the assessment of existing franchises to help promote operational improvement. On the flip side, the formulaic nature of franchises can create boundaries with regard to the ways a franchisee is allowed to run his or her business. The UFOC (Uniform Franchise Offering Circular), when reviewed in detail, will give you a thorough understanding of the franchisee/franchisor relationship.
- Step-by-step guidelines
- Training, professional guidance
- Financing may be available
- Continued "consulting" relationship
- Access to other franchisees for help/ideas
- Operational boundaries (geographic, financial, vendors and so on)
- Limited industry choices-may not be available in specific geographical areas
- Must pay royalty fee
Starting a business from scratch: This option provides the highest level of flexibility to an entrepreneur, as he is able to control every aspect of the business to create a business to his own specifications. The entrepreneur directs every detail, such as product or service positioning, branding, marketing, finding the location, locating vendors and selecting the employee base. This option works best for someone who already has a specific idea for a business.
One of the biggest hurdles faced by a start-up is financing. If the business requires a significant level of initial capital, the entrepreneur will need to solicit sources of funding from angel, venture capital and traditional financing sources to support his investment. Although starting a business generally presents the highest degree of risk of the three options, the rewards for this risk are generally the highest as well.
- Good option if you have a specific business idea
- Control of all decisions
- Higher return
- Financing
- Uncertain formula/idea
- Hardest road for inexperienced entrepreneur
Loraine MacDonald is director of advisory services at USBX, an investment banking firm specializing in the mergers and acquisitions of small to midsized businesses. She has been involved in the valuation and sale of privately-held businesses for over ten years.


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Was the mystery of the Great Eyrie to be solved some day by chances beyond our imagining? That was known only to the future. And was the solution a matter of the first importance? That was beyond doubt, since the safety of the people of western Carolina perhaps depended upon it.
Yet a fortnight after my return to Washington, public attention was wholly distracted from this problem by another very different in nature, but equally astonishing.
Toward the middle of that month of May the newspapers of Pennsylvania informed their readers of some strange occurrences in different parts of the state. On the roads which radiated from Philadelphia, the chief city, there circulated an extraordinary vehicle, of which no one could describe the form, or the nature, or even the size, so rapidly did it rush past. It was an automobile; all were agreed on that. But as to what motor drove it, only imagination could say; and when the popular imagination is aroused, what limit is there to its hypotheses?
At that period the most improved automobiles, whether driven by steam, gasoline, or electricity, could not accomplish much more than sixty miles an hour, a speed that the railroads, with their most rapid expresses, scarce exceed on the best lines of America and Europe. Now, this new automobile which was astonishing the world, traveled at more than double this speed.
It is needless to add that such a rate constituted an extreme danger on the highroads, as much so for vehicles, as for pedestrians. This rushing mass, coming like a thunder-bolt, preceded by a formidable rumbling, caused a whirlwind, which tore the branches from the trees along the road, terrified the animals browsing in adjoining fields, and scattered and killed the birds, which could not resist the suction of the tremendous air currents engendered by its passage.
And, a bizarre detail to which the newspapers drew particular attention, the surface of the roads was scarcely even scratched by the wheels of the apparition, which left behind it no such ruts as are usually made by heavy vehicles. At most there was a light touch, a mere brushing of the dust. It was only the tremendous speed which raised behind the vehicle such whirlwinds of dust.
"It is probable," commented the New Fork Herald, "that the extreme rapidity of motion destroys the weight."
Naturally there were protests from all sides. It was impossible to permit the mad speed of this apparition which threatened to overthrow and destroy everything in its passage, equipages and people. But how could it be stopped? No one knew to whom the vehicle belonged, nor whence it came, nor whither it went. It was seen but for an instant as it darted forward like a bullet in its dizzy flight. How could one seize a cannon-ball in the air, as it leaped from the mouth of the gun?
I repeat, there was no evidence as to the character of the propelling engine. It left behind it no smoke, no steam, no odor of gasoline, or any other oil. It seemed probable, therefore, that the vehicle ran by electricity, and that its accumulators were of an unknown model, using some unknown fluid.
The public imagination, highly excited, readily accepted every sort of rumor about this mysterious automobile. It was said to be a supernatural car. It was driven by a specter, by one of the chauffeurs of hell, a goblin from another world, a monster escaped from some mythological menagerie, in short, the devil in person, who could defy all human intervention, having at his command invisible and infinite satanic powers.
But even Satan himself had no right to run at such speed over the roads of the United States without a special permit, without a number on his car, and without a regular license. And it was certain that not a single municipality had given him permission to go two hundred miles an hour. Public security demanded that some means be found to unmask the secret of this terrible chauffeur.
Moreover, it was not only Pennsylvania that served as the theater of his sportive eccentricities. The police reported his appearance in other states; in Kentucky near Frankfort; in Ohio near Columbus; in Tennessee near Nashville; in Missouri near Jefferson; and finally in Illinois in the neighborhood of Chicago.
The alarm having been given, it became the duty of the authorities to take steps against this public danger. To arrest or even to halt an apparition moving at such speed was scarcely practicable. A better way would be to erect across the roads solid gateways with which the flying machine must come in contact sooner or later, and be smashed into a thousand pieces.
"Nonsense!" declared the incredulous. "This madman would know well how to circle around such obstructions."
"And if necessary," added others," the machine would leap over the barriers."
"And if he is indeed the devil, he has, as a former angel, presumably preserved his wings, and so he will take to flight."
But this last was but the suggestion of foolish old gossips who did not stop to study the matter. For if the King of Hades possessed a pair of wings, why did he obstinately persist in running around on the earth at the risk of crushing his own subjects, when he might more easily have hurled himself through space as free as a bird.
Such was the situation when, in the last week of May, a fresh event occurred, which seemed to show that the United States was indeed helpless in the hands of some unapproachable monster. And after the New World, would not the Old in its turn, be desecrated by the mad career of this remarkable automobilist?
The following occurrence was reported in all the newspapers of the Union, and with what comments and outcries it is easy to imagine.
A race was to be held by the automobile Club of Wisconsin, over the roads of that state of which Madison is the capital. The route laid out formed an excellent track, about two hundred miles in length, starting from Prairie-du-chien on the western frontier, passing by Madison and ending a little above Milwaukee on the borders of Lake Michigan. Except for the Japanese road between Nikko and Namode, bordered by giant cypresses, there is no better track in the world than this of Wisconsin. It runs straight and level as an arrow for sometimes fifty miles at a stretch. Many and noted were the machines entered for this great race. Every kind of motor vehicle was permitted to compete, even motorcycles, as well as automobiles. The machines were of all makes and nationalities. The sum of the different prizes reached fifty thousand dollars, so that the race was sure to be desperately contested. New records were expected to be made.
Calculating on the maximum speed hitherto attained, of perhaps eighty miles an hour, this international contest covering two hundred miles would last about three hours. And, to avoid all danger, the state authorities of Wisconsin had forbidden all other traffic between Prairie-du-chien and Milwaukee during three hours on the morning of the thirtieth of May. Thus, if there were any accidents, those who suffered would be themselves to blame.
There was an enormous crowd; and it was not composed only of the people of Wisconsin. Many thousands gathered from the neighboring states of Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, and even from New York. Among the sportsmen assembled were many foreigners, English, French, Germans and Austrians, each nationality, of course, supporting the chauffeurs of its land. Moreover, as this was the United States, the country of the greatest gamblers of the world, bets were made of every sort and of enormous amounts.
The start was to be made at eight o'clock in the morning; and to avoid crowding and the accidents which must result from it, the automobiles were to follow each other at two minute intervals, along the roads whose borders were black with spectators.
The first ten racers, numbered by lot, were dispatched between eight o'clock and twenty minutes past. Unless there was some disastrous accident, some of these machines would surely arrive at the goal by eleven o'clock. The others followed in order.
An hour and a half had passed. There remained but a single contestant at Prairie-du-chien. Word was sent back and forth by telephone every five minutes as to the order of the racers. Midway between Madison and Milwaukee, the lead was held by a machine of Renault brothers, four cylindered, of twenty horsepower, and with Michelin tires. It was closely followed by a Harvard-Watson car and by a Dion-Bouton. Some accidents had already occurred, other machines were hopelessly behind. Not more than a dozen would contest the finish. Several chauffeurs had been injured, but not seriously. And even had they been killed, the death of men is but a detail, not considered of great importance in that astonishing country of America.
Naturally the excitement became more intense as one approached the finishing line near Milwaukee. There were assembled the most curious, the most interested; and there the passions of the moment were unchained. By ten o'clock it was evident, that the first prize, twenty thousand dollars, lay between five machines, two American, two French, and one English. Imagine, therefore, the fury with which bets were being made under the influence of national pride. The regular book makers could scarcely meet the demands of those who wished to wager. Offers and amounts were hurled from lip to lip with feverish rapidity. "One to three on the Harvard-Watson!"
"One to two on the Dion-Bouton!"
"Even money on the Renault!"
These cries rang along the line of spectators at each new announcement from the telephones.
Suddenly at half-past nine by the town clock of Prairie-du-chien, two miles beyond that town was heard a tremendous noise and rumbling which proceeded from the midst of a flying cloud of dust accompanied by shrieks like those of a naval siren.
Scarcely had the crowds time to draw to one side, to escape a destruction which would have included hundreds of victims. The cloud swept by like a hurricane. No one could distinguish what it was that passed with such speed. There was no exaggeration in saying that its rate was at least one hundred and fifty miles an hour.
The apparition passed and disappeared in an instant, leaving behind it a long train of white dust, as an express locomotive leaves behind a train of smoke. Evidently it was an automobile with a most extraordinary motor. If it maintained this arrow-like speed, it would reach the contestants in the fore-front of the race; it would pass them with this speed double their own; it would arrive first at the goal.
And then from all parts arose an uproar, as soon as the spectators had nothing more to fear.
"It is that infernal machine."
"Yes; the one the police cannot stop."
"But it has not been heard of for a fortnight."
"It was supposed to be done for, destroyed, gone forever."
"It is a devil's car, driven by hellfire, and with Satan driving!"
In truth, if he were not the devil, who could this mysterious chauffeur be, driving with this unbelievable velocity, his no less mysterious machine? At least it was beyond doubt that this was the same machine which had already attracted so much attention. If the police believed that they had frightened it away, that it was never to be, heard of more, well, the police were mistaken which happens in America as elsewhere.
The first stunned moment of surprise having passed, many people rushed to the telephones to warn those further along the route of the danger which menaced, not only the people, but also the automobiles scattered along the road.
When this terrible madman arrived like an avalanche they would be smashed to pieces, ground into powder, annihilated!
And from the collision might not the destroyer himself emerge safe and sound? He must be so adroit, this chauffeur of chauffeurs, he must handle his machine with such perfection of eye and hand, that he knew, no doubt, how to escape from every situation. Fortunately the Wisconsin authorities had taken such precautions that the road would be clear except for contesting automobiles. But what right had this machine among them!
And what said the racers themselves, who, warned by telephone, had to sheer aside from the road in their struggle for the grand prize? By their estimate, this amazing vehicle was going at least one hundred and thirty miles an hour. Fast as was their speed, it shot by them at such a rate that they could hardly make out even the shape of the machine, a sort of lengthened spindle, probably not over thirty feet long. Its wheels spun with such velocity that they could scarce be seen. For the rest, the machine left behind it neither smoke nor scent.
As for the driver, hidden in the interior of his machine, he had been quite invisible. He remained as unknown as when he had first appeared on the various roads throughout the country.
Milwaukee was promptly warned of the coming of this interloper. Fancy the excitement the news caused! The immediate purpose agreed upon was to stop this projectile, to erect across its route an obstacle against which it would smash into a thousand pieces. But was there time? Would not the machine appear at any moment? And what need was there, since the track ended on the edge of Lake Michigan, and so the vehicle would be forced to stop there anyway, unless its supernatural driver could ride the water as well as the land.
Here, also, as all along the route, the most extravagant suggestions were offered. Even those who would not admit that the mysterious chauffeur must be Satan in person allowed that he might be some monster escaped from the fantastic visions of the Apocalypse.
And now there were no longer minutes to wait. Any second might bring the expected apparition.
It was not yet eleven o'clock when a rumbling was heard far down the track, and the dust rose in violent whirlwinds. Harsh whistlings shrieked through the air warning all to give passage to the monster.
It did not slacken speed at the finish. Lake Michigan was not half a mile beyond, and the machine must certainly be hurled into the water! Could it be that the mechanician was no longer master of his mechanism?
There could be little doubt of it. Like a shooting star, the vehicle flashed through Milwaukee. When it had passed the city, would it plunge itself to destruction in the waters of Lake Michigan?
At any rate when it disappeared at a slight bend in the road no trace was to be found of its passage.
Return to the Master of the World Summary Return to the Jules Verne Library


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Selena Gomez Opens 2019 AMAs With Possibly 'Off Key' 'Lose You to Love You' Performance
Selena Gomez delivered the passionate debut performances of her latest singles, "Lose You To Love Me" and "Look At Her Now," during the 2019 American Music Awards on Sunday (Nov. 24).
The 27-year-old began the performance with "Lose You To Love Me," which was shot in black and white, similar to the music video. The stage was bare, with only the projections and Gomez donning an elegant gown. However, tfirst song garnered mixed reactions from viewers, who were convinced the pop star "sang off-key in her chorus," much like the lyric from "Lose You to Love Me."
Gomez then transitioned into a silver mini-dress and rocked out to her upbeat second release, "Look At Her Now," where she danced to choreography alongside background dancers.
In the audience, Halsey and Taylor Swift jammed out to Gomez's performances. Although the reviews for the first song weren't the best, fans believed that she could have been just having an off night after taking a break from music for a few years, or experiencing other audio issues. In any event, it was clear the artist put her heart and soul into the performance.
See some viewer reactions, below.


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Me in my studio: Dead Fader
Me in my studio: Dead Fader
Dead Fader - the hiphop, dubstep and noise-informed project of producer John Cohen - has so far given birth to one full-length album, 2010's Corrupt My Examiner (as a duo with Barry Prendergrast), and three EPs, the latest being the finely crafted, yet highly intense new EP Work It, No.
Here Cohen - who currently resides in Berlin - invites us in to his home studio (and favourite café!) to show us the minimal setup behind his unique, experimental productions.
Work It, No is out now via Robot Elephant. Listen to a stream.
"Working out some ideas in Reason, with the Thor synth, on a tiny keyboard just to jot the ideas down. Reason is the primary software I use, great now that I can record into it, whereas before I used to have to make samples in Ableton live."
Small monitors, big sound
"I have tiny speakers so I can work at really low levels. I find that making loud music is easier when working at low levels, as you tend to pump everything up.
"There's not much bass on these though, so sometimes I reference on friends' speakers, and also use my headphones as a reference."
Controller, laptop, starmix...
"This is usual setup, with the [M-Audio] Trigger Finger I use for beats, and triggering samples and such, and some Haribo there.
"It's a pretty minimal setup, but it's proof that you don't need ultra expensive gear to make music, these days you just need a computer, some speakers, but ultimately just good ideas is the most important thing. Your brain is the most important tool, it's just about tapping into that."
Café culture
"My favourite café, the Pink Umbrella café (that's not its actual name, I can't remember its actual name, it's of no significance though.)
"Working on some ideas in Reason - working in a different environment can give some interesting results, not always good, but can focus you in a way that being in your comfort zone at home can't."
"Working on [Native Instruments] Reaktor with Skrewell, this is a wicked little noise maker. Fun to play about with, get some ideas going. Reaktor has a little tape recorder on it so I can save the sounds and ideas I'm making.
"Very cool as you can see how the visual reacts to the sound, and visa versa, you can make visuals and see how that equates to sound. I'm not sure exactly how it works :)"
Gauging reactions
"Time to play some ideas to Mark, he looks interested in this shot. It's always great to play your stuff to friends and peers, see what there reaction is, I feed off peoples reactions a lot, because most of the time when I'm making tunes, I never know what are the good ideas and the bad ideas. It's very hard to tell when your wrapped up in the process of making music, especially alone."


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On the September 19 edition of Fox News' Special Report, host Brit Hume claimed that President Clinton, in a recent interview on ABC's This Week, did something that President George H.W. Bush "did not do, and that is criticize the sitting president and his administration." But contrary to Hume's assertion, Bush repeatedly criticized Clinton administration policies while Clinton was in office:
* In an appearance at a San Antonio grade school on October 13, 1993, Bush expressed concern that the humanitarian mission to Somalia that he had launched nearly a year earlier was being "messed up" by the Clinton administration. "If you're going to put somebody else's son or daughter into harm's way, into battle, you've got to know the answer to three questions," Bush told the students. He said the president has to know what the mission is, "how they are going to do it," and "how they're going to get out of there." Several news reports noted that Bush's comments appeared to violate his earlier pledge not to publicly criticize Clinton during his first year in office. [The New York Times, 10/14/93; The Boston Globe, 10/23/93]
* In an interview published in the February 1994 issue of Washingtonian magazine, Bush criticized the Clinton administration's purported lack of a "general strategy" in the foreign policy arena and the "start-and-stop" failures it had exhibited. Bush pointed to the Clinton administration's handling of the situation in Haiti as an example and also criticized Clinton for his policy toward Bosnia:
The specific point of difference I'd make with the current administration, however, is that when you send a US ship loaded with military personnel to go ashore, you don't say, "They're going ashore" unless you mean it. And you don't get turned back by a group of thugs standing on the dock.
What that does -- starting and stopping -- is weaken the image of the United States as a strong, resolute leader. It was devastating, sent a horrible signal, when that troop ship was turned back -- a signal not just to Latin America, but to Europe and elsewhere. Where I find most fault in the Clinton foreign policy, the area where I find room for criticism, is this pattern of start-and-stop, start-and-stop.
The Clinton administration, you'll remember, began by attacking my administration and the Europeans for being weak and rewarding aggression, and they vowed to get tough. But a few months later, they were essentially where we were. They backed away from their bluster, but not without sending the unfortunate impression of a weak and inconsistent US leadership to the world.
* In a March 8, 1994, speech in Indian Wells, California, Bush repeated his criticism of Clinton's actions toward Haiti. According to a Riverside Press Enterprise article published the next day, Bush claimed "he did not want to be a carping critic, but said President Clinton must be more consistent in carrying out foreign policy. Bush criticized the president in particular for sending a shipload of troops to Haiti last year and then ordering them home when 'thugs' threatened them from the shore."
* On April 8, 1994, Bush gave a lecture at Carl Albert State College in Poteau, Oklahoma, during which he criticized Clinton's proposed health care reform legislation. "This may sound partisan," he told the audience, "but I don't believe it will pass and I don't believe it should pass." [Associated Press, 4/8/94]
* During a July 26, 1996, news conference with Bob Dole, then the Republican nominee for president, Bush "criticized Clinton for boasting of current economic stability," according to a Kansas City Star article published the following day. Bush argued that "he handed Clinton an economy that grew at about 5 percent in 1993." "That was not recession," he told reporters.
* While campaigning with Dole days before the 1996 presidential election, Bush suggested that Clinton had compromised the "integrity of the White House. "What matters to me now is the integrity of the White House," he said. "I believe in duty, honor, country," he continued. "I believe in service. I believe in keeping the White House above partisan politics, away from these puny, terrible disputes we're seeing." [Chicago Tribune, 11/1/96]
* In a letter released on April 23, 1998, Bush "criticized the White House and its allies for their continuing public campaign to criticize [independent counsel Kenneth] Starr and undermine his investigation," according to a New York Times article published that day. In the letter, Bush professed to hold Starr -- who at the time was investigating the Monica Lewinsky affair -- "in high regard."
From the September 19 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume:
HUME: Former President Bill Clinton has now done something his predecessor, the first President George Bush, did not do, and that is criticize the sitting president and his administration. As Fox News correspondent Major Garrett reports, political observers have a sense for Clinton: He's back.
Commentary: In David Stockman's book he tells how Reagan asked him to blame Carter for the record deficits his tax cut were creating. Stockman couldn't do that and so Reagan was forced to blame the recession–which was a lie also. It's what republicans have been doing my entire life--blaming others for the failure of their ideology. I hope there are a few people who care about the truth and will ignore Hume and Fox. Will Fox force Hume to tell the truth or apologize? Never!


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NFP Sunday Blitz
So your team has clinched its playoff position but still must play a meaningless regular season game. How should the head coach approach it?
It's a question for which there is no definitive answer. Different teams have had different results with different approaches. Sometimes, approaches might even change from year to year.
Mike Smith of the Falcons will be wrestling with this issue next week, as his team clinched home field throughout the playoff Saturday night. Indications are he plans on resting his key players in the team's regular season finale against the Bucs. Gary Kubiak of the Texans also could be in the same position based on what happens Sunday.
Old school NFL wisdom says rest your starters when possible. Hall of fame coach Marv Levy was a front man for this philosophy when the Bills were on their great run in the late '80s and early '90s. And it worked well for him.
Marv Levy didn't make it to the Hall of Fame by making dumb decisions.
His philosophy was to treat that meaningless regular season game almost like a bye week. "It helps them revitalize, and there is a thought of protecting them from injuries," Levy said. "I like to give them some work, but it varies for each player. It also gives you a chance to look at other players and get them some chances."
Dick Vermeil, who could join Levy in the hall of fame one day, played it similarly during his career with the Eagles, Rams and Chiefs. When his teams had home field clinched, he viewed the last game of the regular season—and the practice week that preceded it--as a time to start preparing for the playoffs.
He thought that gave his teams an edge, but his primary motivator was avoiding a potentially catastrophic injury. "I feel the healthy players you have are the reason you have the opportunity to proceed," he said. "If you get one of them hurt in a game that is not important to win in regard to status in the playoffs, you are hurting the team."
Packers coach Mike McCarthy was of similar mind. At least until last year, that is.
His Packers had wrapped up home field advantage early in 2011, and in the meaningless regular season finale against the Lions he decided to rest Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson, Greg Jennings, Randall Cobb and others. The Packers surrendered 502 passing yards but won a wild game, 45-41. Then two weeks later they were upset by the Giants 37-20 in their first playoff game.
"I don't think the last game particularly helped the confidence of the defense," McCarthy told me. "That was something we probably didn't want to admit to. We sat some guys and it was a damn seven on seven drill. I've never seen so much offense in my life, both sides of the ball."
McCarthy won't say resting his stars was a mistake. But he also won't say he would do it the same way again. It would depend on the situation.
"To me the best team is a healthy team for the playoffs," he said. "The decision would be based on what you do the last two weeks. That's one of the times I talk with [general manager] Ted [Thompson]. It's good to hear his perspective. He's more cautious by nature than I am. We were a little on the fence—do you play them or not? At the time, I felt us being fresh would have been more important."
Football teams get better by playing games. So the risk of stagnating, or losing momentum, is what drives coaches like Bill Belichick to keep fighting even through meaningless games. Levy said he never felt any of his Bills teams lost momentum by taking their foot off the gas late in the year.
"We happened to have a great group of people and leaders who understood what we were doing and why, and we explained it very well to them," he said.
Resting starters in these situations is always the right decision—until your team gets knocked off in the playoffs.
Things I Didn't Used To Know
*Reggie Wayne has been a huge part of the Colts' offense, but he's also been a huge part of the fabric of the team. Bringing Wayne back last offseason was not a foregone conclusion for the new Colts' regime, but clearly it was one of the team's best moves. Wayne has been a leader for the young Colts, not so much with his words but in terms of how he's stepped up and made plays (especially in the team's upset of the Packers) and in terms of how he has showed others how to prepare and maintain consistency. The Colts' young wide receivers follow him and watch him. In OTAs and training camp, no one outworked Wayne. The Colts felt they could not bring back Peyton Manning, but keeping Wayne was like keeping a piece of Manning.
Antonio Gates still can move despite his production dip.
*Antonio Gates is having the most disappointing season of his career from a production standpoint, but the Chargers don't believe it's because the 32-year old is in decline. Gates is averaging a career-low 10.6 yards per catch, and he is on track for 579 receiving yards, which would be his lowest total since his rookie season. His team believes Gates' production dip is more about a dysfunctional offense and the way defenses have concentrated on taking him away. Passes that might have gone to him in the past have gone to wide receiver Danario Alexander and others. They say Gates looks as good physically as he has in a few years.
*The Lions' secondary has been a sore spot ever since Jim Schwarz has been the team's coach, but the reason goes beyond talent. The Lions have had 31 different starting combinations in the defensive backfield in 62 games. Health, or the lack of it, has been a major factor in the Lions' problems. They will be without Jacob Lacey next week. It seems Louis Delmas, the leader of the secondary, has been a question mark every week. He has played is seven games this season and the Lions have a big decision to make about him in the offseason, as his contract is expiring.
My Sunday Best: Executive of the Year Candidates
A number of front office men have done outstanding work this year, but the executive of the year award could come down to the two men who were in on Peyton Manning heading west. Here are my Sunday best candidates for NFL executive of the year.
1. Ryan Grigson, Colts. Drafting Andrew Luck was the easy part. But Grigson completely rebuilt the roster of one of the NFL's worst teams with a shoestring budget. He made additions who stuck that were unrestricted free agents, street free agents, CFL players, Arena League players, United Football League players and Indoor Football League players. He made tough decisions on letting go of long time contributors such as Jeff Saturday, Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon, Gary Brackett and others. And he brought back the right guys for this team, like Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. What's more, he made a fine coaching hire in Chuck Pagano, who made another fine coaching hire in Bruce Arians.
John Elway knew a great quarterback when he saw one.
2. John Elway, Broncos. If drafting Luck was the easy part for Grigson, signing Manning was the easy part for Elway. There was a risk because of Manning's health. But almost every team that needed a quarterback wanted him, which tells you all you need to know. Elway brought in players Manning was familiar with to make him feel comfortable. He bulked up the defense in the draft. He even found a way to get out of the Tim Tebow dilemma with no egg on his face. Elway also consolidated his power, parting ways with former general manager Brian Xanders.
3. John Schneider, Seahawks. He was not responsible for assigning the officials in the Fail Mary game, but he was responsible for drafting Russell Wilson in the third round and pushing him into the starting lineup. That may have been the move of the year. Among his other draftees were middle linebacker Bobby Wagner and defensive end Bruce Irvin, both of whom should make the all rookie team. Schneider gets help from a strong front office that includes Scot McCloughan, Tag Ribary and John Idzik, each of whom could be a candidate for a general manager's position in the offseason.
4. Rick Smith, Texans. He let six starters walk last season, including Mario Williams, because he knew he was prepared for it. Smith's draft and develop plan worked perfectly and has had the Texans looking like the best team in football for much of the season. Smith has drafted so well that he has helped stock a number of teams' rosters in addition to his own.
5. Rick Spielman, Vikings. Getting Matt Kalil and Harrison Smith in one round was outstanding. Both players look like they should be all pros for years. Blair Walsh was another fine pick.
6. Bruce Allen, Redskins. Allen might not get much consideration for this award because Mike Shanahan has more juice in the organization, but the Redskins should get credit. Trading up to acquire RGIII looks like a brilliant move. How about finding Albert Morris in the sixth round? And Kirk Cousins wasn't a bad pick either. Allen also won the George Young NFL executive of the year award in 2002 when he was with the Raiders.
Hot Reads
*The Packers are willing to pay snow shovelers. Bonuses are in play for anyone who can pass block.
*I thought my wife paid a lot for what she wears until I heard about Dashon Goldson.
*Tell me again why the Jets traded for Tim Tebow, because I'll be damned if either I or Rex Ryan or Tony Sparano can figure it out.
*Cheer up, Eric Dickerson and Jerry Rice. At least your names are being mentioned.
Dan Pompei covers pro football for the Chicago Tribune at chicagotribune.com


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Gym Club – Wednesday
Archway School | 5 July 2023 @ 6:00 pm | see event description below ↓
About this event:
Join Allsorts in the Gym – Gym Club
Your child must be aged 14 or above to access Allsorts Gym Club.
Block Booking cost of £35 per member for 7 sessions (7th June – 19th July 2023 inclusive) or £7 per session per member.
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Are you ready to return to Monstropolis and one of the modern animated classics? "Monsters, Inc.," one of Pixar's most beloved and visually imaginative feature films, arrives for the first time on Blu-ray 3D in the "Ultimate Collector's Edition" 5-Disc Combo Pack on February 19, 2013.
In addition to hours of delightful bonus features, the "Monsters, Inc." Blu-ray 3D "Ultimate Collector's Edition" features a sneak peek at the upcoming all-new Disney•Pixar release "Monsters University."
The now-classic Academy Award-winning animated comedy adventure "Monsters, Inc." is set in Monstropolis, a thriving company town where monsters of all shapes and sizes reside. Lovable Sulley (voiced by John Goodman) and his wisecracking best friend Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal) are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the largest scream-processing factory. The main power source in the monster world is the collected screams of human children—and at Monsters, Inc., an elite team of scarers is responsible for gathering those precious natural resources.
Believed by monsters to be toxic, children are strictly forbidden from entering Monstropolis. But when a little girl named Boo (voiced by Mary Gibbs) accidentally follows Sulley back into his world, he finds his career in jeopardy and his life in utter chaos. Assisted by Mike, the two pals plot to rectify the mistake and return Boo to her home. When the trio encounters an unexpected series of complications, they become embroiled in a cover-up catapulting them into a mystery beyond their wildest dreams.
Directed by Oscar®-winner Pete Docter ("Up") and produced by Oscar nominee Darla K. Anderson ("Toy Story 3"), "Monsters, Inc." features a screenplay by Andrew Stanton and Daniel Gerson and music by Randy Newman.
The DVD set isn't available to buy until February 19th. But you can pre-order it today on Amazon.


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Visitor Information
Online Travel Tools
All About England
All of England's regions, along with most major towns and cities, have their own dedicated tourism websites providing information. VisitBritain (www.visitbritain.com), the official visitor website, focuses on information most helpful to England-bound U.S. travelers, from practical information to money-saving deals; you can even find out about movie locations. The London visitor website (www.visitlondon.com) can help you book your accommodations.
The National Gardens Scheme opens exceptional gardens attached to private houses and private garden squares to the public on selected weekends.
National Gardens Scheme. National Gardens Scheme 01483/211535; www.ngs.org.uk.
Historic Sites
The British monarchy has an official website with information about visiting royal homes and more. English Heritage, the National Trust, and VisitBritain all offer discount passes.
The British Monarchy. 0207/930–4832; www.royal.gov.uk.
English Heritage. English Heritage 0870/333–1181; www.english-heritage.org.uk.
National Trust. National Trust 0844/800–1895; www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
Museums and the Arts
The London Theatre Guide, created by the Society of London Theatre, presents what's on and sells tickets. Their half-price ticket booths, tkts, located in London's Leicester Square and Brent Cross Shopping Centre, offer same-day bargains. Culture 24 is a nonprofit site with information about publicly funded museums, art galleries, and historic sights. Theatre Tokens sells gift vouchers for theater tickets.
Culture 24. Culture 24 01273/623266; www.culture24.org.uk.
London Theatre Guide. London Theatre Guide 0207/557–6700; www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk.
Theatre Tokens. Theatre Tokens 0203/011–0755; www.theatretokens.com.
tkts. tkts 0207/557–6700; www.tkts.co.uk.
Visitor Information Offices
In some towns there are local and regional tourist information centers; many have websites. Offices offer services from discounts for local attractions to visitor guides, maps, parking information, and accommodation advice.
London Travel Information Centres. Eight visitor information centers in London can be found at travel hubs like King's Cross-St. Pancras International, Victoria station, Euston, Heathrow, Liverpool Street station, and Piccadilly Circus, plus Greenwich and the City of London. They offer guides, advice, and tickets for tours and attractions, as well as Oyster cards and other public transportation passes. London, 0207/234–5800; www.visitlondon.com.
In the U.S.
VisitBritain. VisitBritain 212/850–0336; www.visitbritain.com.
You can relax with yoga- and spa-based holidays throughout the United Kingdom. Lotus Journeys and Free Spirit Travel offers some good options.
Free Spirit Travel. Free Spirit Travel 01273/564230; www.freespirityoga.co.uk.
Lotus Journeys. Lotus Journeys 0845/170–1747; www.lotusjourneys.com.


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WALTHAM — The Boston Celtics' Jared Sullinger stood stone-faced and wearing handcuffs in the dock of Waltham District Court on Tuesday as prosecutors said the 6-foot-9-inch, 260-pound power forward pinned his girlfriend to a bed and to the floor of their townhouse last weekend and then snatched and smashed her cellphone when she tried to call police.
"During this heated argument in the bedroom, Jared pushed her down onto the bed and got on top of her," Waltham police wrote in their report of the confrontation. Sullinger's girlfriend said "she tried several times to get up, but he kept pinning her down and would not let her up.''
The 21-year-old, who joined the Celtics last season, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery, intimidation of a witness, and destruction of personal property. He was released on $5,000 cash bail and ordered to contact his girlfriend only by telephone or with a third person present. Sullinger's girlfriend had accused him of infidelity before their fight Saturday.
In a statement released by the Celtics after he left the courthouse, Sullinger described his arrest as "humbling and embarrassing."
"I know that this situation has brought both sorrow and embarrassment to my girlfriend, my family, the Boston Celtics organization, my teammates, and my fans," he said. "To all of you, I apologize from the bottom of my heart."
He added: "My lawyers have advised me not to discuss the case at this time. But I wanted to immediately and publicly apologize to everyone affected by this situation."
His girlfriend, Deann Smith, who allegedly had red marks on her chest after the fight, did not seek a restraining order against Sullinger, even though prosecutors said he had previously pushed Smith and threatened her.
Smith, who spoke to the judge in a sidebar during the arraignment, declined to comment afterward.
Sullinger's defense lawyer, Charles Rankin, said in court that Sullinger and Smith were "longtime sweethearts'' who met while attending Ohio State University, where Sullinger was a renowned basketball player. Rankin told Judge Gregory C. Flynn that Smith waited 10 hours before calling Waltham police for help Saturday.
He also said Sullinger flew home to Columbus, Ohio, for a previously planned visit with his parents shortly after the alleged fight.
Once he learned from Waltham police that they had a warrant for his arrest, Rankin said, Sullinger voluntarily returned to Waltham, where he went to the police station with his lawyer early Monday and surrendered.
During the arraignment, Rankin urged the judge to not draw a connection between Sullinger's case and that of Jared Remy, accused of killing his girlfriend, Jennifer Martel, last month. The day before the slaying, Remy was released on personal recognizance from the same courthouse after an allegation of domestic violence.
An official in the Middlesex district attorney's office said prosecutors sought to have bail imposed in Sullinger's case for several reasons, including the visible injuries, the history of escalating tension reported by Smith, Sullinger's initial refusal to provide a return date, and his demonstrated ability to travel.
Waltham Detective Sergeant Joseph Guigno said he was not aware of prior criminal complaints against Sullinger.
Neither officials at Ohio State University nor Columbus Police Department returned calls.
A longtime neighbor of his family in Columbus said she was shocked to hear the charges against Sullinger.
"I've known him as a good person, as a great kid growing up," Tracy Brihm said in a phone interview. "I've never seen him in any trouble."
In a statement, the Celtics said they were "disappointed to learn of the allegations against Jared and are currently gathering more information on the situation, which we are taking very seriously."
In a report filed in court, Waltham police said they were called to the couple's townhouse about 8 p.m. Saturday. Smith told them she confronted Sullinger after allegedly finding evidence on his cellphone that he was cheating on her. The two argued and the confrontation intensified when Smith started packing her belongings, according to the report.
Smith told police Sullinger threw her off the bed and onto the floor. "He then got on top of her again and would not let her up,'' police wrote.
Smith said she grabbed her phone and told Sullinger she was calling police. He allegedly grabbed it out of her hand and then, after pushing her to the ground again, went to the garage and drove away.
She told police she knew Sullinger was scheduled to fly to Ohio. She said she waited until 8 p.m. to call police because it was only by then that she was certain he was out of the state.
Smith's phone was "shattered on both sides" but still operable, police said.
In court, Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Sarah Ellis said Smith told investigators that in the past Sullinger had pushed her and that she felt threatened by him, but that she never called for help from law enforcement until Saturday.
Ellis asked that Sullinger, due back in court Sept. 19, undergo a mental health evaluation, a request Flynn refused, saying it was too soon in the criminal justice process to require Sullinger to undergo such an examination. Prosecutors said they believed such an evaluation was necessary given the circumstances of the case and Sullinger's history with Smith.
Domestic violence is a persistent problem in Massachusetts. This year, 10 people have died as a result of domestic violence, among 266 deaths over the past decade.
Annie Lewis O'Connor, a specialist in domestic violence treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said she was "deeply saddened" about the allegations against Sullinger.
"While we grieve for the latest victims of domestic violence, we must also remember that these senseless and tragic deaths are preventable," she said.
David Abel can be reached at email@example.com.


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Survival of the Sheep
Published in Brain Teasers
There is an island filled with grass and trees and plants. The only inhabitants are 100 lions and 1 sheep. The lions are special:
1) They are infinitely logical, smart, and completely aware of their surroundings.
2) They can survive by just eating grass (and there is an infinite amount of grass on the island).
3) They prefer, of course, to eat sheep.
4) Their only food options are grass or sheep.
Now, here's the kicker:
5) If a lion eats a sheep he TURNS into a sheep (and could then be eaten by other lions).
6) A lion would rather eat grass all his life than be eaten by another lion (after he turned into a sheep).
1) Assume that one lion is closest to the sheep and will get to it before all others. Assume that there is never an issue with who gets to the sheep first. The issue is whether the first lion will get eaten by other lions afterwards or not.
2) The sheep cannot get away from the lion if the lion decides to eat it.
3) Do not assume anything that hasn't been stated above.
So now the question:
Will that one sheep get eaten or not and why?
The sheep would remain untouched.
In fact, the sheep would remain untouched if there is an even number of lions on the island, and would be eaten immediately if there is an odd number of lions on the island.
Here's the reasoning: Consider a scenario with just one lion and one sheep: The lion will eat the sheep. Why? Because after he eats it and turns into a sheep himself, there aren't any lions on the island to eat him, so he is happy.
Now look at a scenario with 2 lions and 1 sheep. Here the sheep would remain unharmed. Why? Because if any one of them eats it, and turns into a sheep himself, he knows that he awaits certain death because he will then be a sheep and the other lion will be the only lion on the island and nothing will stop him from eating the sheep.
So now we know for a fact 1 lion and 1 sheep - sheep gets eaten. 2 lions and 1 sheep - sheep doesn't get eaten. We can now make a conclusion about 3 lions and 1 sheep: the sheep will definitely be eaten, because the lion that eats it will know that by eating he leaves behind 2 lions and 1 sheep (himself). And as we already know 2 lions and 1 sheep is a situation where the sheep survives.
You can use the same logic to go on to 4 lions and 1 sheep, and then all the way to 100 or 1000, but it will always be true that with an odd number of lions the sheep gets eaten and with an even number the sheep doesn't.
Today's brain teaser courtesy of Braingle.com.


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Destroyer Foosball Table
Regular price $1,299.00
The Destroyer foosball table will provide plenty of fun and entertainment! This table features counter balanced men for improved play, 4mm seamless tube rods and oversized split bushings. All this to ensure smooth, quiet, heart pounding speed! Its durable double sided high pressure laminate playfield will take all the abuse you can dish out. And it even includes built in drink holders for your favorite beverage!
- Includes basic accessories
- Delivery + Installation not included
- Manufactured by Legacy Billiards
- Traditional 1 man goalie
- Seamless 4mm tube rods
- Dual side ball return
- Convenient cup holders
- Counter balanced men
- Easy adjust leg levelers
Ordering Process
To provide the best online shopping experience, here's a quick overview of how our ordering process works! If you run into any hiccups along the way, contact us at (972) 247-3001 or swing by one of our local showrooms to shop in person!
Create Your Cart:
Browse our curated selection of amazing pool tables, shuffleboards, and more. As you find things you love, add them to your cart. You may also add any notes or special instructions for our team to consider.
Online Checkout:
Checkout is really as simple as a few clicks. We require some basic information about you so that our team can best address your needs and reach out to you should there be any concerns.
Order Review:
Once we've got your order, our experienced sales team will review it and make any adjustments necessary. Within 24 hours a team member will reach out to go over any notes or special considerations.
Payment Arranged:
After all questions have been answered and any issues resolved, our sales team will work with you to collect payment either over the phone or in person. We accept cash, check, and all major credit cards.
Delivery & Installation:
Our game room services department will schedule a convenient time to deliver and install your new game room products. Once you're on the schedule, you can expect to get a reminder call the day prior to delivery, and again when we are 30 minutes away. Feel free to check out our Installation Guide if you want to know more!
Helpful Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Universal Billiards outsource their game room services?
Our deliveries, installations, and commercial game room services are performed by our own in-house team of trained, professional, and licensed game room mechanics. Proper installation technique is pivotal to enjoying your new games, which is why we only feel comfortable sending our employees to set up and maintain your new game room furniture.
Are delivery and installation included in the price?
Delivery and installation are not included in the price. Submit your order online or contact us directly to get a quote on this service. We will need to know the full delivery address and information about stairs and/or elevators, if applicable. For more info, check out our installation guide.
How long will delivery and installation take?
We ballpark about 1-3 hours per each large game room item. For example, a pool table and shuffleboard install might take 2-6 hours total. Things like stairs and elevators can also slow things down. We do work as efficiently as possible but we won't sacrifice quality or safety to rush a job that needs time.
Who do I contact if I experience an issue?
If you've got any issues with your recent (or not so recent) purchase, please contact us. If you feel the issue is related to a product defect or warranty claim, click here for more information.
How big of a room do I need for a pool table?
This question comes up enough that we created a game room Sizing Guide to help you find the answers you seek!
What is the most common color in billiard cloth?
Design trends are always changing but over time the most popular colors are neutrals, burgundy, and traditional green hues. For more information on the subject, check out our Pool Table Cloth Guide to see the full array of color options.
How long of a wall do I need for a Shuffleboard?
Finding space for any type of game room furniture can be tricky. That's why we created a game room Sizing Guide to simplify the process!
Can I move my pool table around myself?
Pool tables are heavy, and we don't want you to get hurt. Also, moving a pool table yourself risks popping slate seams, breaking level, and possibly voiding your warranty! Leave the heavy lifting to our services department so you can rest easy and enjoy your game room.
Can a pool table or shuffleboard be installed upstairs?
Let's start by saying that over half of our installations are upstairs, so it's usually not an issue. Don't fret, our install team has you covered! When installing a pool table or shuffleboard upstairs, let's examine the next two questions on our FAQ (see below).
Can Universal Billiards get the table into the room?
Yes! But upstairs installs do take more time since we have to carry tools and components up. Also, some stairs are very narrow and/or enclosed by walls which require tricky maneuvers. Luckily, pool tables can be broken down completely so we can almost always make them fit. Shuffleboards have long playfields that sometimes require going through windows. Unsure how your stairs stack up? Contact us for a consultation.
Will my floor hold the weight of such heavy furniture?
Most likely. Our pool tables do weigh anywhere from 600 to 1,200 pounds, so we understand if you have some concern. However, if it's a properly built room, it will be fine. The size and support of floor joists need to be up to code to ensure the room can hold a pool table. If unsure, we suggest you consult a professional like your home builder or hiring a structural engineer.
What is a regulation-sized pool table?
In billiards, the term "Regulation" refers to the geometry of the play field: the table should be exactly twice and long as it is wide. This means that a regulation 8 foot pool table should be 88 inches long and 44 inches wide. Any size table can be considered "Regulation" so long as the table length to width ratio is consistent with these measurements. There are commonly 7 foot, 8 foot, 8 foot over-sized, and 9 foot varieties of regulation pool tables.
What comes with a pool table?
All of our new pool tables include your choice of cloth color. For more info, check our our Pool Table Cloth Guide! Although the accessories can differ slightly depending on what kind of pool table you purchase, all new pool tables include the basic accessories to get you started: a few cues, a set of billiard balls, 8 ball triangle, chalk to match your cloth color, and more.
Do I need a table cover?
Your new pool table is a fine piece of furniture, and we are big fans of a simple clean and care routine that prolongs the life of the wood, pockets, and cloth. A pool table cover will prevent undue wear and tear on your cloth from sun exposure, kitty cats, spills, and more.
Do I need a pool table light with my table?
You do not need a pool table light to enjoy your new game room. However, pool table lights do ensure that the table is well illuminated for optimal play and also provides a nostalgic feel as well. If you plan to move your pool table around, you will also have to hire an electrician to move the light to the new location each time. If your table is in a more permanent spot, a billiard light can be a great option!
At what height should a billiard light be hung?
According to the Billiard Congress of America, the height of a pool table light should be 40 inches above the playfield. In our experience, anywhere between 40 to 50 inches above the bed of your table works best.
Do I have room for seating with my table?
Seating is an important part of any enjoyable game room. Plan your space accordingly. Dedicate some extra space in the room for seating, a cue rack, and possibly a pub table or even other games. Need help planning your ideal game room? Check out our room guide or schedule a consultation with one of our team members today!
What is a standard size and weight for a pool cue?
Standard cue lengths are 57 inches for one-piece house cues. Standard two-piece cues are 58 inches long with the butt and shaft an equal 29 inches. Junior cues are available today in 48" and 52" lengths. These cues are also a good choice in areas where you have space limitations. When it comes to weight, there is a range from 17-21 ounces to fit any play style. The most popular weights are 19oz. and 20oz. and they seem to fit best for our customers. From our experience, only the most experienced players can tell a difference!
What is meant by "Solid Wood" construction?
In solid wood furniture, all exposed parts are made of the same species of all-natural wood; the exposed pieces will not contain plywood or particle board. Solid wood furniture is durable and easy to repair. Scratches? Dents? Water marks? Stains? It's all repairable with solid wood. However, due to shifts in temperature and humidity, it may expand or contract leading to splits along the grain of the wood. Avoid exposing solid wood furniture to strong sunlight or direct heat sources. Solid wood is also more expensive for manufacturers to source and process. Unfortunately, that usually means solid wood furniture is more expensive than other options.
What is meant by "Veneer" construction?
Veneer furniture is constructed by gluing thin layers of wood veneers together with the grain at right angles over a thick core. With this crisscross design, the chances of splitting or cracking is reduced. The glue used in the process is the same strong, waterproof adhesive used in aircraft and marine construction, so the end result creates a product that is actually stronger than that of solid wood. Since veneer is so thin and is glued to a stable substrate, it allows designs and arrangements of the wood that would not be possible with solid wood. Because it is so easy to source and work with, manufactures pass those savings on to you leading to less expensive products. However, due to its thin nature, if you sand through a layer of veneer, it is impossible to repair. This means that scratches, dings, and nicks will require replacing entire components versus just sanding and repairing. Also, over time, there is a risk that the veneer can blister, delaminate or peel back at the edges.
Is there really a difference in types of billiard balls?
Aramith specializes in phenolic resin balls, which is the best material solution discovered since celluoid. Phenolic resins are mainly used in the production of circuit boards but are better known for the production of molded pool balls which last up to five times longer than other balls made from polymers or polyester. Aramith phenolic balls are still perfectly playable even after 400,000 hits! Billiard balls can also be made from other plastics and resins but many in the industry argue that while these materials are acceptable for billiard ball construction, they do not have the balance and longevity of phenolic resin. It's important to note that just as important as the material is the quality control in the plant. Since plastics, other resins, polyester, and acrylic are seen as inferior materials, these materials are often used to create very cheap and affordable ball sets. This sometimes means the factory controls are lacking, as well.
What is a regulation length shuffleboard table?
Regulation competition level shuffleboard tables should feature a 22 foot long cradle with a 20 inch wide playfield. However, shuffleboard tables today are found in many homes and may not have the length available to handle regulation length. As a result, there is a market for much shorter tables. Of these, the most common size for residential use are 9 foot, 12 foot, and 14 foot in length with either a 16 inch or 20 inch wide playfield.
Still have questions?
If you need clarity on any of these topics or if you have a question that wasn't addressed, just contact us and we'll help you find the answers you seek!


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Email the Tax Assessor's Office or call 940-627-3523.
Show All Answers
Wise County does not require general building permits. If you are with an incorporated city or ETJ, contact the City Hall for information. Septic Permits are required, however; contact Public Works at 940-627-9332.
All tax exemptions go through the Wise Appraisal District. They can be contacted at 940-627-3081.
All changes to your address or information should go through the Wise Appraisal District. They can be contacted at 940-627-3081. To determine who owns the rights, contact the County Clerk at 940-627-3351. You will need to perform a Title Search (they will be able to give you information on how to perform the search).
Probate cases are filed with the Court department of the County Clerk's Office. Email the County Clerk or call 940-627-3351.
Unfortunately, we do not have specific tax or filed information available online at this time. We expect to have civil and criminal case filings online by summer 2011.
Yes, go to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Registration Site.
Contact Animal Services at 940-627-7577 for specific questions or visit the Animal Services page.
County Deed records are maintained at the County Clerk's Office. Email the County Clerk or call 940-627-3351. Unfortunately, they are not yet available online.
For County Roads, contact the Commissioner of the Precinct where you live (visit the Directory). The county does not maintain Private Roads.
Contact the Texas Railroad Commission.
As long as it is done safely, there are no firearm ordinances or restrictions in the county. City ordinances may vary.
Email the County Clerk's Office or call 940-627-3351.


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Synergy Telecoms specialise in providing IP based business phone systems and solutions, remote working low cost calls and low cost line rental. Business mobile communications also make up a large part of our day to day business keeping our clients in touch with the office wherever they happen to be.
We work with clients in the north east as well as throughout the UK installing phone systems as small as 2 or 3 handsets up to multi site phone systems into hundreds of extensions. We have installed business telephone systems for businesses in almost every field as well as phone systems for charities, schools and other non profit making bodies.
We partner with world leading system providers such as NEC, Mitel, Cisco, Microsoft and Panasonic to deliver feature rich, cost effective business phone systems and telecommunication solutions, these telephone systems include full IP Phone systems and well as digital PBX and Hybrid Phone Systems. Our team of experienced support engineers have voice/communications experience within the company dating back as far as 1989 and collectively offer over 100 years combined experience, as a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner we are also ideally placed to help with the integration of your voice and data networks.
We are also one of the only telecommunications companies in the UK trained in installation and support of NEC's Univerge 3C unified communications platform. Unlike many communication providers, every member of our NEC 3Cinstallation and support team are also Microsoft Certified IT Professionals all of them holding the Enterprise Server Administrator and Enterprise Messaging Administrator certifications. As Unified Communications become ever more embedded in your IT network it has never been more important to make sure your partnering with a company that can understand your network.
Our approach is very simple to both traditional voice and emerging technologies. We spend time working with you to identify ways to make your team more effective at communicating with your clients. This could mean a unified communications solution such as our Univerge 3c or Microsoft Lync solutions, or a well constructed voice-mail system or it could easily mean the right call groups in your system to make sure your clients reach a human being in the most efficient and client friendly manner possible. We build a telephone system solution to match these immediate needs but also allow you as a company or organisation to easily grow and expand without any nasty surprises in the future.


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Tim Padgett is WLRN-Miami Herald News' Americas correspondent covering Latin America and the Caribbean from Miami. He has covered Latin America for almost 25 years, for Newsweek as its Mexico City bureau chief from 1990 to 1996, and for Time as its Latin America bureau chief, first in Mexico from 1996 to 1999 and then in Miami, where he also covered Florida and the U.S. Southeast, from 1999 to 2013.
Padgett has interviewed more than 20 heads of state, including former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and current Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, and he was one of the few U.S. correspondents to sit down with the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez during his 14-year rule. He has reported on, and written cover articles about, every major Latin American and Caribbean story from NAFTA, the Cuban economic collapse and Colombian civil war of the 1990s to the Brazilian boom, Venezuelan revolution and Mexican drug-war carnage of the 2000s. In 2005, Padgett received Columbia University's Maria Moors Cabot Prize, the oldest international award in journalism, for his body of work from the region. His 1993 Newsweek cover, "Cocaine Comes Home," won the Inter-American Press Association's drug-war coverage award.
A U.S. native from Indiana, Padgett received his bachelor's degree in 1984 from Wabash College as an English major. He was an intern reporter at Newsday in 1982 and 1983. In 1985 Padgett received a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School before studying in Caracas, Venezuela, at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. He started his professional journalism career in 1985 at the Chicago Sun-Times, where he led the newspaper's coverage of the 1986 immigration reform. In 1988 he joined Newsweek in its Chicago bureau. Padgett has also written for publications such as The New Republic and America, and he has been a frequent analyst on CNN, Fox and NPR, as well as Spanish-language networks such as Univision.
Padgett has been an adult literacy volunteer since 1989. He currently lives in Miami with his wife and two children.
The USNS Comfort served thousands of desperate Venezuelan refugees in Colombia who've fled their country's life-threatening food and medical scarcities. The ship anchored off Riohacha, Colombia as part of a three-month, four-nation Latin American tour, helping with everything from hernia operations to eye cataract removals.


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We're in the full swing of conference season, and one of the aspects that can make a writer gnaw their fingers down to the second joint is pitching. I've only done it once, so I'm no expert, but I also didn't throw up on myself, or stare and blubber and wipe drool off myself while staring at the agent or any other combination of blowing it. I've heard/read horror stories of writers first experiences at this and they aren't made up. So I thought I'd share what I did in case it helps even one other writer.
Okay, I think there's two kinds of nerves that come into play while doing this:
- The Oh Shit I Have No Idea What I'm Doing nerves
- The Pre-Flight Jitters
I'll share how I handled both.
The Oh Shit I Have No Idea What I'm Doing nerves
Starting about a week before my first conference, I felt like I had a big ole lead ball in my stomach and it only got worse. I had the The Oh Shit I Have No Idea What I'm Doing nerves. When I get in that state, my left brain kicks in and I go into research mode. This is natural to me and so I was surprised when I met other conference goers who'd done no preparation or even research. One hadn't even written her book, so if she'd done research, she'd obviously missed that admonishment to never, ever do that. For others that naturally research, I probably won't be sharing anything new, but for the others, seriously, research. What do you need to research?
- Look up blog posts on pitching at conferences. You'll get a feel for how other writers have experienced it, what they wore, their horror stories, etc. I even got nervous about what to wear (others obviously didn't and went in looking like slobs) and brought 5 different outfits. Best advice I saw on this was to wear what you'd wear to your first book signing. Appearance does matter, but you don't want to over dress. You want to look sharp and capable.
- Look up what and how to pitch. You'll feel more comfortable going in knowing the format and with a well-honed pitch. If you're interested in the links I found, see my pre-conference post. Remember, this is marketing. You are not giving a book report. You want to intrigue them enough about your premise, that they HAVE to see your story.
- Research your agents! I got seriously left-brain anal and made dossiers. Got out my label printer and made a folder for each and inside I put my one page cheat sheet. The sheet had a photo of the agent I scraped off the interwebs, their name big and bold, their agency, and then a bulleted list of facts I'd found out about them that were relevant to my project, or that I had in common with them (favorite book, etc). This was a great ice breaker when I went up to each. I'd lead in with whatever it was I had in common with them, or if I liked one of their clients, etc., and then we were rolling!
I found that once I had done these three things (which was about 2-3 days before I left for the conference) and had written my pitch, that lead ball had dissolved. I think it was knowing that I had done all that I could do to prepare myself.
One last thing I did to help with this was practice my pitch. I said it out loud to any friend or co-worker who was willing to indulge me. And I also just stood and said it out loud over and over. You can't do it in your head or even whisper it. I did that at first to get it memorized. But when I used my full voice for the first time, it was a completely different experience. I stumbled. I said 'uh" too many times. So out loud, folks. Full-voice out loud. On the car ride to the conference, I also said it out loud over and over.
Note: I've seen posts that say you shouldn't memorize. I did, but I tried to make the lines sound casual.
Pre-Flight Jitters
Okay, so I was as prepared as I could be and had a pitch I believed in. Now I just had to do it. I did get nervous again, but each time I felt its fingers curling around my stomach I slapped it away. I would NOT let it take hold. I reminded myself that I was prepared, etc.
I have a trick I always do, dating back to high school exams, which is to envision a mental gear shift and switch it up right before I need to perform (for an exam, job interview, pitch session), I can literally feel my brain shift to a calmer, sharper state. I also remind myself that I cannot die doing this.
Another thing I did, which I found out isn't too common (at least in the sample I took at the conference), was play my theme song in my head. Whenever I started getting the jitters, I mentally blasted the line from Adele's song "I Set Fire to the Rain" in my head. Seriously, this works. Maybe not this song for you, but come up with some song that signifies power and confidence to you and gets your blood pumping. Then just play that little snippet mentally in your head. I found this extremely useful when my name was called to walk into the pitch room. I closed my dossier on the agent where I reviewed the bulleted list, straightened and blasted that song in my head during the whole walk to the agent's table.
I Won't Lie
The first agent I pitched to was over Skype and thank God, with no visual. I opened with my thing I had in common and she was extremely nice and then she said, okay so what's your book about? My body spurted adrenaline into my system and I suddenly got nervous. But what saved me was the memorized pitch. It was like I was on auto-pilot, but not sounding like a drone about it. It was like my body was detached and I could hear myself talk. I was animated from the adrenaline and it came out sounding a tad nervous but natural. I think. Anyway, the point is, you WILL still be nervous, but if you've prepared yourself, you'll get through it just fine. The agents EXPECT you to be nervous. They are nice people and they WANT to find someone at this conference to represent, so they want you to succeed. She asked for a partial and I'd forgotten to have my notebook handy and so I made a mad dash and scrambled for it (another reason I was glad there was no visual). My hands were shaking so badly I could barely read my handwriting.
I pitched to four agents that day and each asked for either a partial or a full. It got easier as each pitch happened. Thankfully my hands weren't shaking with the others, since it was in person.
Bottom Line
Prepare yourself and then just remember: relax, the agents aren't your enemy.
Have you pitched at a conference? How did it go? Do you have any tips on how you got through it?


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Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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NEW YORK (AP) - Stephen Sondheim and Paul Simon, two longtime New Yorkers and giants of American song, embody two very different musical traditions.
Simon, 72, and a charter member of the rock `n' roll generation, hated the bland ballads he had to sit through on "Make Believe Ballroom," a longtime radio program that preceded the Yankees games he listened to on the porch of his childhood home in Queens. One night, the announcer introduced a record he called "the worst thing I've ever heard," Simon recalled Tuesday night during a joint stage appearance with Sondheim.
"And he plays a record called Gee,' by the Crows, and this is the first time I ever heard R&B and I thought to myself,
This is the first thing on the show that I actually liked.' And that was the beginning of my becoming interested in music."
"You were responding to styles," responded Sondheim, 83, and heir to Jerome Kern, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and other composers for the stage and screen. "And that's what got you. All these different styles dazzled you, and that's great. What got me into music were characters and stories and costumes and scenery."
Their one-hour conversation was held at a small auditorium in downtown Manhattan and sponsored by the MacDowell artist colony. Sondheim and Simon, dressed casually in jackets and slacks, bantered affectionately like old siblings: Sondheim the elder with his warm growl and teasing manner, and Simon the younger with a nasal drawl and meticulous speaking style. Their mutual admiration was obvious, and so were their common traits: a wry, sophisticated sense of humor, a love for words and a reverence for the past.
They even share a link to "Make Believe Ballroom." A family friend of Sondheim's created the show, which Sondheim said was designed to be dull and soothing.
"It's like an Orwell idea, keep the masses quiet," he said. "The idea was to give you the background sound to keep you really happy, and that's what you (Simon) were rebelling against."
Michael Chabon, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and chair of MacDowell's board of directors, moderated the discussion and found himself occasionally challenged by his two very sharp subjects. Simon disputed Chabon's suggestion that his musical tastes were shaped by New York, citing the wide range of music he was exposed to, from gospel to the latest sounds out of Louisiana.
"So in a certain sense, without anybody saying anything, I was listening to world music," Simon explained.
Sondheim, whose credits include "West Side Story," "A Little Night Music" and many other classics, referred to himself as a "nice Jewish boy from the West Side who took piano lessons" and "wanted to please everybody, and succeeded." He noted the importance of simplicity, that while Simon's fans have the chance to listen to his songs repeatedly, Sondheim needs to win over a stage audience the first time.
"That's the unfortunate thing, so you have to say, `Oh, what a beautiful morning. Oh, what a beautiful day,'" said Sondheim, quoting from the Rodgers and Hammerstein standard from "Oklahoma."
"But that melody ..." Simon added.
"That will get you," Sondheim agreed.
Both spoke of early songs they had distanced themselves from. Sondheim said he was embarrassed by his lyrics to "Maria," the love ballad from "West Side Story," blaming Leonard Bernstein for pushing him into what he considers "purple prose." Simon was equally critical of his first major hit for Simon and Garfunkel, "The Sounds of Silence."
"I really had no idea what I was talking about. It was really kind of pretentious," Simon said. "But in some way, I don't know really how, that song seemed really appropriate on the 10th anniversary of 9-11 and I sang that song (at a ceremony at Ground Zero).
"The song matured into something else."
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)