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State clearing Merritt Parkway perimeter of unsafe trees
Daytime motorists on the Merritt Parkway between Westport and Greenwich in recent weeks may have noticed state trucks and workers thinning out weather-beaten trees deemed unhealthy from the historic highway's hallmark wooded medians.
The effort, which began in mid-November and is expected to last until the end of the year, is part of the state Department of Transportation's drive to winnow storm-damaged and other unhealthy trees it believes are a safety risk to drivers, according to DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick. The effort will end in Greenwich at the state line.
"If it comes down to aesthetic issues versus personal safety issues, we need to protect the public," Nursick said. "A lot of these trees were beaten up badly in the last three storms we've had."
Mirroring the days after Tropical Storm Irene and the October snowstorm in 2011, the parkway was again closed for two days to clean up fallen trees, spurring a concentrated effort to cull ailing or dead trees along the median of the parkway and eliminate such lengthy shutdowns, Nursick said.
Licensed state arborists are helping diagnose tenuous trees that need to be removed, Nursick said.
Sick trees are then removed with a Feller Buncher, a machine designed for use in logging operations that grasps a tree at the base and chops it down, placing it in a pile to be fed through a chipper by state road maintenance crews. The efficiency of the machine is helping minimize delays that would otherwise occur if the removal was done by men with chainsaws, Nursick said.
"Basically, what we're dealing with is damaged trees, decaying trees, dying trees, and otherwise compromised that are a threat to the users of the Merritt Parkway," Nursick said. "If there is something that is clearly going to cause a problem in short order, like six months from now, we're going to take care of that as well."
A pair of fatal accidents related to trees falling on the Merritt in Fairfield County in recent years and other near-misses have focused attention on safety concerns on the road, which is designated on the National Register of Historic Places because of its unique decorative bridges and canopy of scenic woodland.
A 70-foot tall tree fell on the road in Westport in 2007, crashing through the windshield of a vehicle carrying a Pelham, N.Y., family. Both parents were killed; their young children survived.
The estates of Joseph Stavola and Jeanne Serocke-Stavola filed a lawsuit seeking $15 million in damages for wrongful death and "pre-mortem pain and suffering," contending the DOT failed to clear damaged trees from the parkway.
The suit has yet to get approval from State Claims Commissioner to proceed.
On June 23, 2011, a large tree fell on the parkway's southbound lanes in Stamford, killing Westport, Mass., driver Norman Gamache. One of the other two passengers were in the car, Goldie Gitlin, 84, suffered a broken sternum and was treated at Stamford Hospital.
Nursick said there have also been other near-misses involving falling trees, which along with safety risks, cause delays and detract from the road's status as a main transportation thoroughfare. The work should also help curtail accidents with trees that are close to the roadway, Nursick said.
Between 2007 and 2011, there were 17 fatal crashes on the Merritt Parkway, 10 of them involving a vehicle striking a tree off the roadway, Nursick said.
"Certainly if there is an impact hazard associated with a tree to close to the travel lanes, while we are doing the tree work, we will remove it," he said.
Andrea Sandor, a New Canaan native, questions the removal of so many trees and its impact on the scenic beauty of the highway.
She said the state could better ensure the safety of drivers with the installation of guard rails.
Sandor said she hopes to rally support from Merritt Parkway preservationists to protect the parkway's trees by starting a website in the near future.
"What they're doing looks horrible and soon it's not going to look like the Merritt Parkway," she said. "I'm not trying to advocate unsafe roads, but saying there is a balance and a kind of middle ground rather than what they're doing especially on this road."
Nursick said that while historical preservationists have traditionally sought to protect the parkway's historic bridges, overpasses, wooded canopy, a spike in trees falling into the right of way in recent years reflects that there are too many trees along the 74-year-old thoroughfare.
In 1994, the DOT completed a landscaping master plan to serve as a future guideline to address maintaining a population of native trees, removing vines and other invasive species, along with mowing and other maintenance.
"If we really get down to the historic side of it, there have never been this many trees in close proximity to the highway and obviously they've grown larger over the years," Nursick said. "It is not our intent to go out there and make the place look terrible but make it reasonably safe."
Jill Smyth, executive director of the Merritt Park Conservancy, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the 37.5-mile parkway said she recognizes the need to remove trees that have been beaten up in Tropical Storm Irene, the October snowstorm last year and Superstorm Sandy.
"Right after the storm, I looked at the damage from the hurricane and there was tremendous damage to the trees," Smyth said. "Obviously, safety is first to the traveling public."
The ongoing effort to clean up ailing trees on the Merritt through the end of the year is projected to cost about $200,000, according to Nursick, and the DOT has spent an additional $300,000 in labor and equipment costs cleaning up trees statewide in the wake of Sandy, Nursick said.
The first section of the Merritt Parkway opened in 1938, linking the Hutchinson River Parkway to Connecticut. The parkway and its bridges were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. The road's original 68 bridges were designed by George Dunkelberger, and each features unique concrete adornments in different styles, from Art Deco to French Renaissance Art.
David Bucciarelli, 69, of New Canaan, said he is pleased the state is doing a concerted analysis and removal of trees to improve safety.
Bucciarelli said he believes the state could benefit if most of the wooded median were cleared and paved to add lanes in each direction.
"I'm happy they are doing it and I hope they cut down more," Bucciarelli said. "How many people have been killed or hurt on the parkway in the past three years? I don't understand the environmentalists who come in and complain that they don't want the parkway expanded. The land is already there."


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text: This morning on Today, Meredith Vieira did a segment on Stella McCartney, which ended with Vieira handing out some McCartney-designed knickers to her cohorts, including Matt Lauer. Her attempt to embarrass Lauer with ladies' underwear was only mildly funny, and started a flurry of verbal jabs back and forth. In the end, Meredith tried to take the underwear back, but Matt said, "No, no no, they're mine. Don't be an Indian giver." Apparently the world-traveled journalist is just as ignorant as Kris Jenner and Jessica Simpson, who have also used the phrase, which is not only completely insensitive but trivializes and misrepresents a tragic era in American history. Apology to come?


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It's always a good idea to carry backup power for your Blackberry, and Accessory Geeks stocks backup batteries at incredibly cheap prices for the Blackberry lineup. A spare battery or two means you'll never run out of juice no matter where you are, and you should always have one or two on hand, especially when you're traveling off the grid. Our portable batteries let you recharge your Blackberry device no matter where you are.
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Spring afternoon in the pasture
Several of the Mennonite neighbor's mules were grazing near the fence yesterday, so I stopped and took their picture. My presence on the road didn't disturb them at all. It's spring planting time, and this particular neighbor does not use tractors, so these work-mules have been earning their keep lately. Three more mules and a horse were feeding nearby.
The cool-but-sunny weather yesterday afternoon was very pleasant to me, a human, after temperatures near ninety degrees for several days. These animals seemed to be enjoying the spring day, too.


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Last fall, access to real-time yield monitor data paid off big-time for Indy Family Farms.
Soon after yield data from each harvested field began to roll in via a new wireless communication system, Chester Birch and Dan Moeller had confirmed what they had feared — yields were running lower than expected.
"This year, we knew that yields would be down by the second day of harvest, so we were able to react," recalls Birch, manager of business development for Indy Family Farms.
The two immediately set about analyzing yields field by field, then revising fall fertilizer prescriptions in light of reduced nutrient removal from the smaller crop. Within days, fertilizer rigs were on the job, applying less fertilizer than normal, but appropriate given the short crop, Birch says.
"Timeliness can be critical to make the most of precision ag data in the fall," says Moeller, the farm's technology specialist. Before Moeller joined the farm's staff last year — and before adding Trimble's Connected Farm wireless data transfer system to their combines — importing and analyzing yield data typically took days or weeks, too late to affect fall fertilization.
"In the past, we simply went off our soils prescriptions based on samples taken in the spring, long before yield potential is identified," Birch says. "We weren't able to take advantage of harvest information, whether we had good yields and needed more fertilizer, or poor yields and needed less."
The fifth-generation farm, which has grown 10-fold from the 1,200 acres managed in 1996, operates in five counties southwest of Indianapolis. Some fields are more than 100 miles from the home office, so logistics functions built into Connected Farm have helped streamline field and maintenance operations.
Having access to data immediately also has improved the farm's ability to capture quality data. "We know in real time what kind of data we are getting," Moeller says. "If something isn't going right, we can make adjustments in the field before it is too late."
"When we know in real time there is a problem, we can figure out what it is and fix it rapidly," Birch adds. "It's really expensive to have a combine sitting. But it's also expensive to have bad data."


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Scenes from Smorgasburg's Opening Day
The Brooklyn Flea's outdoor food market extravaganza Smorgasburg opened this weekend for the 2012 season. Dozens of food vendors, both new and old, were there, and plenty of hungry stomachs to fill. Check out the slideshow to see a sample of what we found there!
East River Waterfront (between North 6 + 7 Streets; map)
Saturdays, 11 AM to 6 PM, rain or shine


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Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a profile in Facebook, which I check via my cell phone several times a day. It's a great way to stay in touch with family and friends. It's also one of the quickest ways to reach me.
If you're not familiar with Facebook, it's a social network on the Internet. You can sign up for free, and you can e-mail people, add photos, post notes and update your status frequently – your status is however you're feeling or whatever you're doing at any given moment.
I hear it all the time. People, mostly males, bragging on their barbecue. They have secret recipes, secret sauces, secret ways to build a fire and secret wood or charcoal. Wherever the male mystique with the cooking of meats over an open flame came from, it has lasted since lightning set fire to a tree and some unsuspecting animal was cooked.
In March of 1984 Iran accused Iraq of using chemical weapons. I remember thinking, "Who cares?" The only reason I'd ever heard of either place was because back in junior high Miss Velna Gray Paschall made us learn the major food crops of every nation in the world (rye, barley, oats, wheat and corn for both, in case you are interested). That same year, "Terms of Endearment" won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Again, I didn't care. I was pulling for, "The Return of Billy Jack." The Macintosh computer was introduced in 1984.
As I was leaving the paper one evening recently, I met up with a delightful older woman who, after retrieving a paper from our box out front, asked, "What's wrong with this paper?"
She was referring to the size of the paper. If you're a regular reader, you've probably noticed the size of the paper has narrowed a bit. I have written about that before. It's because, as I explained to my new friend that evening, we've changed printers. The move has helped us keep costs low for us and for our readership.
The North Koreans have fired (OK, semi-fired) off a ballistic missile. Iran is bragging loudly to anyone who will listen of their growing nuclear program. Every day it seems some wannabe world power is on the brink of attacking or at least posturing to do harm to anyone it feels led to point a finger at. It can be a little unnerving.
Someone commented around the water cooler this week that it would be nice to live in the "idyllic 1950s where no such threats and innuendos existed and everyone lived in peace and harmo—"
When you have the facts on any subject, you are better armed on how to handle any situation.
On Saturday, from noon to 5 p.m. the Refuge House will host an event to bring attention to sexual assault in the community. While the event will be sprinkled with entertainment, refreshments, games and giveaways, the message is a serious one. Information will be available to victims of sexual assault. It could also be useful to families, friends, spouses or partners of a victim of sexual assault in helping with the recovery process.
How quickly children learn.
I recently received an e-mail from my brother telling me something my niece had done, a la "Gigi" – Gigi is what she calls me.
I know by the calendar and the number of birthdays I have celebrated that I'm becoming a mature woman. It's no surprise and I'm not complaining. I love where I am right now.
I can travel and enjoy the scenery, the sights and the food to my heart's content. By the end of the day, I'm not so tired that all I can do is collapse and fall in bed. I know what I like and don't like because I've already tried it.
Copyright © 2019
The Gadsden County Times is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Gadsden County and Quincy, FL, and the surrounding area.


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In a Tuesday interview with WNST-AM in Baltimore, free-agent offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie said he didn't expect to have any more talks with the Baltimore Ravens until after the draft.
Another tackle-desperate team could be sliding in the back door in the meantime. The San Diego Chargers reached out to McKinnie's agent, leading to a "couple general discussions," U-T San Diego reported Wednesday.
U-T San Diego stresses that no deal is imminent and no visit is planned.
Although McKinnie played well during the Ravens' Super Bowl run, his market has been slow to develop. Soon to be 34 years old, McKinnie brings questions about age and playing weight. Others teams surely noticed, as well, that he sat on the bench all season before slimming down and gaining mobility by January.
McKinnie has expressed a desire to return to Baltimore, but not at a "hometown discount" price. His decision could come down to money. It sounds like neither the Ravens nor the Chargers are ready to meet his asking price just yet.
Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.


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One of Hollywood's most beautiful women, Jessica Biel, has decided to share her workout and beauty secrets, details which have contributed to Jessica's success. Image plays a very important part in the entertainment industry and Jessica's image is flawless. Jessica Biel's natural beauty, a girl-next-door kind of beauty, has helped her become the face of Revlon and her success is undeniable. With a fabulous physique and a gorgeous face, Jessica Biel has enchanted fans all over the world. However, good genes are not the only ones respo... Read More


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Item description: This Purifiers Air Purifier product is by Alen - We love our pets, and we recognize that our animal friends come with unique challenges when it comes to creating the healthiest environment for everyone in the family.Dog owners enjoy the loyal companionship of their best friends, and dogs love to follow their owners everywhere from room to room, into the family car, even onto the sofa or bed.That means your dogs smell gets everywhere, too, and it can be a struggle trying to remove your pets odor from all the places in your house that your dog likes to go.The Alen BreatheSmart is the only air purifier in its class customized for the needs of you and your pet, including interchangeable HEPA filters, automatic smart sensors, quiet operation, personalizable designer panels and the best and only lifetime warranty in the industry.How It WorksAlens customized air purifying solutions destroy heavy pet odors at a molecular level to keep your home smelling fresh, eliminating pet odor and dander as well as other airborne allergens like mold spores and dust so you can breathe better, anywhere. The HEPA-OdorCell filter is uniquely designed to combat a wide range of airborne pet allergens and odors.Thoughtfully DesignedThe Alen BreatheSmart is a thoughtfully designed and highly effective air purifying solution, perfect for using in bedrooms or the average-size living room wherever your dog chooses to roam. Compact and portable, you could easily move it wherever you need it. Yet the Alen BreatheSmart is powerful enough to cover up to 1100square feet, so you can depend on it to clean even more of your indoor air environment, no matter where you choose to use it. Plus, its designer panels come in a range of colors and textures, so you can complement your homes look now and into the future.Intelligent Performance, Quiet OperationThe Alen BreatheSmart comes with automatic mode, which intelligently adjusts its cleaning power to achieve the best air quality while maximizing filter life saving energy and money. And even when the air purifier is working hard, the Alen BreatheSmart keeps it quiet with precise tuning and aerodynamics to keep the volume down.Take control of your indoor air environment and live your best with your pets with a Fur Family Smart Bundle.We recommend: Replacing your filter once every four months, or whenever you begin to notice strong pet odors starting to return Rinsing or lightly vacuuming the removable, black pre-filter as soon as it develops a layer of visible particles; allow it to dry completel... Learn More
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Tick tracer. Glow meter. Sniffer. They go by many names, but capacitive voltage sensors are all designed to do one thing: detect the presence of voltage in a wire or piece of equipment without actually making direct contact with the conductor or energized part. These test tools are popular because they're inexpensive, easy to use, and small enough to fit in a shirt pocket.
Recently, however, more and more end-users have raised questions about the principles behind the devices' design, their correct application, and appropriate safety precautions associated with their use. How does this thing work anyway? How can it detect voltage without making metallic contact? Can it detect live conductors inside a grounded metal conduit?
As with all pieces of test equipment, it's a good idea to first understand the basic principles of operation of a device before you go out and try to use it. This way you'll keep yourself out of harm's way and know exactly when and where it will and won't work. And the following FAQ should give you a good head start toward that goal.
Q. What is the principle of operation behind this test instrument?
A. The test instrument works on the principle of capacitive coupling. To understand this, let's return momentarily to electrical circuit theory and recall how a capacitor works. A capacitor has two conductors, or "plates," that are separated by a non-conductor called a dielectric. If we connect an AC voltage across the two conductors, an AC current will flow as the electrons are alternately attracted or repelled by the voltage on the opposite plate. In other words, there's a complete AC circuit even though there's no "hard-wired" circuit connection. The electrical field inside the capacitor, between the two plates, is what completes the AC circuit.
Capacitors are often thought of as individual circuit components, but in reality the world is full of small stray capacitors you might not normally think about. For instance, suppose you're standing on a carpeted concrete floor directly under a 120V light fixture and the light is on. Your body is conducting a very small AC current because it's part of a circuit consisting of two capacitors in series. The two conductors or plates of one capacitor are the live element in the light bulb and your body. The dielectric is the air between them. The two conductors for the second capacitor are your body and the concrete floor. The dielectric for the second capacitor is the carpet, plus your shoes and socks. This second capacitor is much larger than the first. Understanding how the voltage divides between these two capacitors in series is critical to understanding how the capacitive voltage sensor works.
Let's return to the electrical circuit theory again. In a series circuit, the largest voltage will develop across the largest impedance (Ohm's Law). With capacitors, the smaller the capacitor, the larger the impedance, which is known as capacitive reactance. Thus, when two capacitors are in series, the largest voltage will develop across the smallest capacitor.
In the above example, only a few volts will develop between your feet and the floor (the large capacitor) while the remainder of the 120V will be between your head and the light bulb (the small capacitor). Now if you hold the barrel of a capacitive voltage sensor in your hand and place it near the conductors of the light fixture, you're basically inserting a high impedance-sensing element into a capacitively coupled series circuit. Your hand, arm, body, and feet form a relatively large capacitor coupled to the floor. The sensor tip is a small capacitor coupled to the live conductor. As a result, the sensing circuit in the tester detects voltage and signals to you via a lamp, tone, ticking noise, or buzzer that voltage is present. Thus the nicknames: glow meter, tick tracer, and sniffer.
Q. Will the sensor still work as designed if I'm not holding it? What if I'm standing on a wooden ladder?
A. The simple answer is no. The reason for this is that you've opened the capacitively coupled circuit by removing your hand from the sensor or sufficiently isolated yourself from ground. And as noted above, capacitively coupled circuits have to be closed (complete) for current to flow. Whenever the dielectric between two conductors is increased so much so that the field between the two conductors is diminished to the point of ineffectiveness, the circuit opens.
Another way to conceive of this is to think of the effective capacitance at that point in the circuit as becoming smaller and smaller because of the increase in dielectric. Capacitive reactance (Xc) increases as capacitance decreases and continues to grow to the point where virtually all the voltage drop occurs across this now open element of the circuit. Any remaining voltage drop in the capacitive sensor portion of the circuit is now too small to activate the test instrument.
In practice, this means that the capacitive sensor must have a sufficient ground connection — typically via the operator — for the tester to operate as intended.
Q. Will the tester work on a shielded cable or through a metal enclosure?
A. No. The tester won't work if the capacitive sensing path is interrupted by a metal shield, such as a metallic conduit or a metal enclosure (assuming that both of these are effectively grounded). It can't detect voltage inside a metal enclosure, grounded metal conduit, or shielded cable. On the other hand, if the sensor does activate on a metal conduit or a metal enclosure, this indicates that those surfaces are not effectively grounded and pose a shock hazard.
Q. Can I use the sensor to detect faulty grounds?
A. Yes, an open ground will cause the sensor to indicate live voltage. An ungrounded enclosure or conduit will "pick up" the voltage field of any live conductors. The sensor is an inherently high-input impedance device that allows it to detect voltages that a low-input impedance tester, such as a solenoid tester, won't. The solenoid tester would just "draw down" the coupled voltage of the enclosure.
It's possible to simulate this with a simple lab exercise. Get a desk lamp that has a two-prong plug. Plug it into a live socket; it isn't necessary to turn the lamp on. The sensor will indicate live voltage when brought into contact with metal portions of the lamp, which are the equivalent of the floated metal enclosure.
The tester can also be used to check ground connections at the receptacle. Normally, when testing a wall outlet, the sensor detects voltage in the hot (black wire) socket and doesn't detect voltage in the neutral (white wire) or ground (green wire) socket. However, if the ground wire in a receptacle is floating (i.e., not continuous to the grounding point), the sensor will indicate live voltage in the ground socket. Also, if the neutral is open (not connected to the transformer neutral) or floating (ungrounded due to open neutral-ground bond), the sensor will also signal the presence of voltage.
For situations where the ground has high impedance, but isn't actually open, the capacitive sensor may or may not indicate the presence of voltage. In these cases a loop impedance tester is required to measure the actual ground loop impedance.
Q. Can I use this type of tester to detect an open neutral in a branch circuit?
A. Yes. Let's assume the circuit you're testing is a 120V wall outlet. When you plug in a load, nothing happens. A quick check of the panel shows the circuit breaker is on and your multimeter measures 120V between the hot and ground at the outlet. Next, you take out your sensor, insert the tip into the hot side of the outlet, and it indicates live voltage. Then, you insert the tip into the neutral side of the outlet with the same results: a live voltage indication. How can this be? If the neutral were in contact with the hot conductor, wouldn't you have a short circuit? Wouldn't the breaker trip?
If you think carefully about capacitive coupling, the answer is obvious. The hot and neutral conductors are lying side by side for the complete distance from the outlet back to the panel. In other words, they're capacitively coupled. Each wire is one plate of the capacitor, and the conductor insulation is the dielectric. If the neutral is open at the panel, and therefore not grounded, the neutral conductor will float up to nearly the same voltage as the hot conductor. This is why the voltage sensor indicates live voltage on the neutral.
Q. Can I use the tester in hazardous areas?
A. Because these devices are essentially non-contact and low-energy (high impedance), they should, in theory, be suitable for use in this type of environment. However, don't use one in a hazardous area unless it's formally endorsed by the manufacturer for such a purpose.
Smith is a product specialist with Fluke Corp. in Everett, Wash.
Sidebar: Safety First
The main advantages of the capacitive voltage tester are its speed, convenience, and ease of use. In these categories, it's hard to beat. But that doesn't mean standard safety precautions don't apply. It's crucial that you follow these recommendations when using the device.
Always test the sensor on a known live voltage before proceeding with your test. This will confirm the battery is good and the sensor is operating properly. There should be no exceptions to this rule. In fact, good practice recommends you first verify the unit is working on a known live source, then make your test, and then recheck the tester against a known live source.
Use the sensor to check AC circuits only.
Be aware that live voltage won't be sensed inside any effectively grounded enclosure or conduit. The converse of this statement is that a metal enclosure that should be grounded but isn't will activate the sensor.
Use a minimum IEC 1010-1, CAT III-600V rated device when taking measurements around 3-phase circuits. Some newer models have CAT IV-1,000V ratings.
Be aware of the minimum sensing threshold of the device. Some sensors state clearly on the packaging and the device itself that its range is 90V to 600V. Since OSHA defines hazardous voltage as greater than 30V, it's possible those hazardous voltages in the 30V to 90V range won't be detected. Fortunately, voltages in this range are unlikely, as no nominal voltages exist in this range. One reason for the 90V threshold is that de-sensitizing the device tends to prolong battery life. Also, a lower voltage threshold would cause too many "nuisance" indications.
Make sure you're reasonably well grounded and isolated from the cable or piece of equipment you're testing. With no difference in potential between you and the object you're testing, there's no chance the tester will work as designed.
In some cases, the tester may falsely indicate live voltage on a low-voltage conductor due to the proximity of a nearby high-voltage conductor such as an overhead line. When in doubt, use a different test method on the low-voltage circuit.
Sidebar: Thoughts From the Field
Results from a recent online survey on the Mike Holt Enterprises Web site revealed some interesting thoughts on the use and application of "tick tracers." These candid comments show what a few working electricians think about these simple, inexpensive devices.
"To the trained professional, it is a useful tool."
"Tick tracers are very useful and help to speed up the troubleshooting process."
"At my company the rule is that we only use the non-contact voltage tester. Of course you must verify the tick tracer first on a known live circuit, then check the circuit in question, then recheck the tick tracer against the known live circuit again."
"A volt-tic is a good screening tool, but always use a contact (conductive) tester in addition to verify that a conductor or other object is dead before touching it."


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09/11/2013 02:22 PMPosted by KiperyI hope it can breathe some life into Earthen Ring. =)
We're not entirely dead! :)
Looking at the two realms above though it seems they're both fairly (3:1) Horde dominated. My data may well be out of date though. Is faction balance not an important consideration for PvP servers?
Only request I have on this feature is that RP servers get merged with other RP servers.
We wanted to update everyone on the next steps for the implementation of Connected Realms. We plan to begin the rollout of this feature with just a couple of realms, and have determined that the first realms that will be connected will be Boulderfist and Bloodscalp—we'll provide another update once we've finalized the date. Beyond that, we are in the process of determining a complete realm-connection schedule, and will be releasing more details as we progress.
For more information on Connected Realms, please read the preview blog post here.
Hey Nethaera i have a question.... along with the type of server being matched together, will evening out horde to alliance ratios be another goal of connected realms? so a realm with that is horde favored be matched with another alliance favored server to bring the two together?
09/11/2013 02:49 PMPosted by KiperyHey Nethaera i have a question.... along with the type of server being matched together, will evening out horde to alliance ratios be another goal of connected realms? so a realm with that is horde favored be matched with another alliance favored server to bring the two together?
I know I'm not a candle but ...Q. Which realms will be connected as Connected Realms?
A. We haven't decided yet which realms will be made part of a Connected Realm, or which other realms they'll be connected to, though realms will only be connected to other realms of the same type (e.g. PvE to PvE, PvP to PvP, RP to RP). In the end, we're considering a number of factors, including Battlegroup, population, and faction balance.
quote]is from the FAQ linked by Neth.
Faction balance is a factor but how important is it? Another consideration is are there any that fit in the same server cluster (I'm assuming this is the #1 consideration) where a merge would balance them out?
Elaborating on that a little if you had a (5:1) Horde dominated server would linking a (4:3) Alliance lead server actually help anyone? The Horde would now dominate the former competitive server. Alliance on the second server would feel put out and might leave in droves. The Horde on the second server would see far fewer "play mates" running around. The first server wouldn't see any real change.
Soo, any eta when we are going to get a list of those realms already connected? When the restart started this morning, I got 2 messages as of the 5 minute mark: Connected realm restart in ?? and Realm restart in ??
Does that mean Lightbringer is now connected to another server?


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Best local Indian Restaurant in Essex 2014
One of the finest Indian restaurants in Essex Caraway Indian Brasserie, in Gants Hill, has won the prestigious Best Local Indian Restaurant Award in the Restaurant Guides
The Hart Brothers
The Hart Brothers, who have made Quo Vadis and Fino into such success stories
In an age when Italian-style fast food means having a quick plate of pizza or pasta, Vapiano takes things one step further and makes things fun and well, practically interactive....
Thank you for deciding to register with Restaurant Guides! Registration only takes a few moments and when registered you'll have access to registered-user only services, such as favourites and online booking.
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Post-baccalaureate status is for students who have received a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and are pursuing an additional undergraduate degree. Post-baccalaureate students must apply directly to a major with all program prerequisites and requirements completed. Post-baccalaureate students cannot be considered for undeclared/pre-major admission.
Students are not eligible to earn a second bachelor's degree in the same field of study as their earned bachelor's degree(s).
The Core Subject Requirements (Intermediate Algebra and World Languages) are not required for post-baccalaureate applicants.
For detailed information about major prerequisites, please visit the major webpage or schedule an appointment with an admissions advisor.
Earn a K-8 teaching certificate in as little as one year. We prepare teachers who are thoughtful about their own learning, as well as the learning of their students. We have an outstanding commitment to teaching and learning. To learn more about the program and how to apply, please visit the K-8 Teacher Certification page.


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Community Sports
Causin Chaos compete at tournaments
- Details
- Category: Community Sports
- Published on 17 September 2012
- Written by Mount Vernon Optic-Herald
The Causin' Chaos 14U softball team played in two tournaments in the past month and placed second and third.
They have several tournaments scheduled for coming months. For more information, see the Sept. 13 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald.


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TimberTech's capped composite and traditional composite decking is more durable and long-lasting than traditional wood, so you can be confident the color and texture of your deck will last for years with no need to seal or stain your deck.
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TimberTech® capped wood composite and aluminum railing is as strong as our decks�and as stunning.


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Color: 6051 Vanilla-Brown Sandstone
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Summer Camp At Island Kids Is Over - Parent Reports It Was A Great Experience For Roosevelt Island Children
Roosevelt Island resident JPH reports on his child's experience this summer at the Island Kids Summer Day Camp which ended August 26.
I have enjoyed reading the blog posts about the great programs for kids on Roosevelt Island and wanted to mention one more: Island Kids. Our son started Island Kids this past summer for the first time and he had a terrific experience.Mr. Farance adds:
The camp program was excellent and varied. Our son especially enjoyed the sports activities, which took place on Capobianco Field.
Image of playing at Capobianco Park From Frank Farance
Every week at camp included swimming, sports, arts,
Image of Art Class Activity From Frank Farance
Image of Acting Activity From Frank Farance
and reading. Wednesday's were Field Trip Day, and the kids have been all over the city, including to a nature preserve, a working farm in Queens, and the Victorian Gardens amusement park in Central Park.
The camp also took advantage of the many great facilities on the Island.
Image of Trip To Southpoint Park Opening Day From Frank Farance
In addition to using Capobianco Field, the kids swam at Westview and used the playground down behind Blackwell House. Best of all the main camp facility was in the basement of the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, exposing the kids every day to this wonderful landmark.
We can't say enough about the counselors, who were upbeat, dedicated and really in tune with the kids.
Image of Science Class Activity From Frank Farance
The camp had a great ratio of counselors to kids so there was good coverage and supervision.
Image of Island Kids Camp Counselors From Frank Farance
Island Kids Summer Day Camp was not free, but very reasonably priced. We looked at other city camps and most were double or more the cost of Island Kids. Nikki Leopold, the camp director, has established a well-run program and we are happy our son had such a great resource available to him this summer.
Image of End Of Summer Island Kids Picnic From Frank Farance
Just like JPH, I have been very happy with Island Kids: the camp has the right mix of activities (sports, cognitive, freeplay, etc.). This is their fourth year, Emilia and David have made new friends and have enjoyed the familiarity of old friends. After camp, many of the kids hang around and play in the plaza. Regardless of the shift in venue and the plaza work, this was really a great summer at Island Kids ... the kids loved it!More information on Island Kids and their year round programs available here.


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Bridgeway Center�s Crisis Stabilization Unit will close its doors in March, affecting numerous agencies in Okaloosa and Walton counties.
FORT WALTON BEACH �Bridgeway Center�s Crisis Stabilization Unit will close its doors in March, affecting numerous agencies in Okaloosa and Walton counties.
The closing is expected no later than March 31.
View photos of the crisis unit >>
According to a news release from Bridgeway, Florida�s reimbursement rate is $293.24 per bed. The actual cost to Bridgeway is estimated at $516.58 per bed.
�The differential between rates and costs leaves a daily operational deficit for (Bridgeway)�s 16 inpatient beds of approximately $3,573.44 per day,� Daniel Cobbs, Bridgeway�s CEO, said Wednesday.
Cobbs said health care facilities� budgets have not adjusted for inflation since 1993, causing operational costs to far exceed the dollars available.
�It�s not just us who are affected; it�s statewide with the legislative priorities right now,� Cobbs said. �If there had been an adjustment we wouldn�t be in this predicament. That is the root cause behind all this.�
Florida ranks 49th among states in the percentage of uninsured people with incomes below the federal poverty level, It also is 49th in the nation for state funding per capita for mental health funding, according to the news release.
�The Legislature has prioritized hard services in prior budget years over some of the mental health services that have been provided,� said state Rep. Matt Gaetz. �We don�t want to have more counseling at the expense of providing food and medicine to people in nursing homes.�
Gaetz said recent events such as the shooting in Newton, Conn., in December could change the budget priorities and put more focus on �soft services� in coming years.
�That will not be without some pain in the budget to someone else,� Gaetz added. �That�s the process we work through in putting together a budget.�
In addition to the Crisis Stabilization Unit, Bridgeway�s Detoxification Unit, Emergency Services and Food Services will close, according to the news release. The closures will affect 41 full- and part-time employees and contractors. Twelve employees will be transferred to other positions at Bridgeway
The nonprofit agency has served the area since 1991. Itserves local law enforcement agencies and contracts with the Florida Department of Children and Families.
�It�s a horrible situation for us,� Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley said. �That Crisis Stabilization Unit screens 220 to 225 folks a month, and they admit about 100 of those. Those 2,200 to 3,000 people are now going to be at the emergency room or jail. This drives up costs for everyone.
�The poor people that can�t afford this mental health care end up in our jails and hospitals, which creates an issue for us and they won�t get the treatment they need.�
Ashley said he anticipates the closings will add to calls for service, given the increase in Baker Act patients and suicide attempts the last few years. He said immediate plans on how best to handle the situation are being discussed.
Fort Walton Beach Medical Center is the only other local health facility that offers crisis stabilization and detoxification services.
�As with everything, we�re taking a step back and assessing the situation,� said Mark Steinbauer, director of psychiatric services at the hospital. �We do expect increased traffic in our emergency department, but I don�t think we�re very concerned.
�We look at everything in terms of opportunity. It is our mission to provide optimal health for everyone. We will be supplying those services in the future in any way that we are able and need to. We�re excited about the possibilities.�
Bridgeway�s inpatient services treats 10 clients a day. Cobbs said some new payment plans would change the procedure to make it so that the agency only would be paid for beds occupied. That would mean even less money for the already-strapped healthcare agency.
For now, Cobbs said officials are disusing how to work with the void Bridgeway�s inpatient services will leave.
�We�ve been talking with our community partners to see what we can come up with to make this as smooth as possible,� Cobbs said. �We�re making lemonade out of lemons. This is going to have a significant impact on the community and we�re just going to have to work closely with our partners to see what alternatives we have to make this less of a problem.�
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or email@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.


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Verizon Wireless' Integration Of Alltel Operations Continues On Track In Ashland, Kentucky
ASHLAND, KY — Verizon Wireless, the wireless company with the highest customer loyalty, announced today that its integration of Alltel's billing system and retail operations is progressing as planned and that Alltel customers, who have already begun benefiting from changes implemented since the January merger, will soon see additional results of the integration.
"Our goal is to offer all Verizon Wireless customers the best possible customer experience on the nation's largest and most reliable wireless network," said Roger Tang, president Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia region, Verizon Wireless. "That means transitioning Alltel customers to Verizon Wireless handsets and pricing plans as soon as they are eligible to upgrade their handsets so they can enjoy the benefits of our 3G broadband wireless network, advanced device portfolio and industry-leading data services."
Alltel customers can keep their existing service plans and their phones even after the integration is complete. In fact, Alltel customers are already experiencing some of the benefits of joining with Verizon Wireless. For example, since the merger was announced in mid-January, Alltel customers have been added to the Verizon Wireless Mobile to Mobile Calling family and may now call any of the company's more than 80 million customers without using their plan minutes.
Beginning in early June, the Alltel-branded store at 925 Winchester Avenue in Ashland will begin featuring Verizon Wireless merchandising and handsets. With this change, eligible area customers who want to transition to Verizon Wireless now will be able to activate new handsets and pricing plans at this store. Other Alltel customers who do not wish to transition at this time to Verizon Wireless will continue to receive sales and service support on their existing accounts. Additionally, Verizon Wireless customers can now be served at this new location.
"This dual point-of-sale operation gives Verizon Wireless additional stores in the Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia region," Tang said, "and will help us ease the transition of existing Alltel customers to Verizon Wireless ahead of our brand and billing conversion."
As announced in January, the company is continuing to use the Alltel brand until it completes the branding and billing system integration. This work is well under way and is projected to be completed in the fourth quarter.
In the meantime, Alltel customers who have questions about how the merger may affect them, can visit www.alltel.com to find answers to many questions including the most frequently asked, some of which are also listed below:
Will Alltel customers' wireless devices still work once the company is fully integrated with Verizon Wireless? Most Alltel customers' wireless devices will work on the Verizon Wireless network after conversion.
Based on our wireless device testing, fewer than 1 percent of Alltel customers may need to replace their wireless devices for use on the Verizon Wireless network after the conversion. These are older devices that do not contain the chipset required to receive over-the-air software changes to enable them to work on the Verizon Wireless network. Also, customers who want to sign up for a Verizon Wireless price plan, take advantage of Verizon Wireless data services (such as VZ Navigator(SM), V CAST and others), or those who choose to migrate early to Verizon Wireless, will need to purchase a Verizon Wireless device.
If an Alltel customer's current device cannot receive over-the-air software changes, does the customer have to pay for a new device? If a device cannot receive over-the air software (More) changes to enable it to work on the Verizon Wireless network after conversion, the phone will be replaced with a like device at no cost to the customer, or the customer will receive a credit toward the purchase of a higher-priced device.
Once the companies are fully integrated, can an Alltel customer continue to benefit from Alltel's My Circle? My Circle will continue to be available to Alltel customers while they are on Alltel price plans.
Also, if an Alltel customer changes to a Verizon Wireless device and a qualifying price plan, he/she can benefit from the company's Friends & Family® feature at no additional cost. The customer can choose up to five or 10 Friends & Family numbers (including friends on other networks, office numbers or home numbers) and enjoy unlimited calling with them anywhere within Verizon Wireless' Nationwide Coverage Area.
Do Alltel customers in contract who choose to port their numbers to Verizon Wireless before the integration have to pay an early termination fee (ETF)? Eligible Alltel customers within four months of their contract end dates will not have to pay an ETF.
About Verizon WirelessVerizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 86.6 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 86,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.####


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by Joseph Klesney & Michael B. Barkey
Inner-city parents and church pastors have joined together with residents of rural areas and homeschoolers in demanding greater educational freedom. Education vouchers, tuition tax credits, charter schools, and other forms of school choice have garnered the support of a diverse coalition of parents in search of a common end: educational excellence. Public education bureaucrats and many teachers unions remain vigorously opposed to greater educational freedom and the competition and accountability it brings. They would see their monopoly power vastly diminished by reform–in favor of parents and children.
Christians know that God bestowed upon parents the responsibility to be the first and foremost educators of their children. As Pope John Paul II observes in Familiaris Consortio, "Those in society who are in charge of schools must never forget that the parents have been appointed by God himself as the first and principle educators of their children and that their right is completely inalienable." It is the responsibility of parents, then, to decide how their children are educated and to what end. Under our current system, a government-imposed monopoly dictates where and how children are educated. This monopoly usurps the fundamental responsibility of parents for their child's educational needs.
The ideal form of education is one that is freely chosen by parents in accordance with their values that best meets their child's intellectual, physical, and spiritual needs. Religious and private, non-sectarian schools can play an important role here, as a free market in education allows a wide variety of school concepts to take hold. The most efficient system of education would be one that resembles the free market, as is the case for other goods and services, with many providers to meet the diversity in needs.
Through school choice parents learn to become more actively involved in the decisions surrounding their children's education. They are no longer forced to remain passive figures in the lives of their children with government bureaucrats left to call the shots. Instead, parents are called upon to "shop around" for the best available education to meet their own child's needs. Parents exemplify responsibility in taking such an active part in their own children's education. This is something that would have been next to impossible for many parents–especially for poor parents whose children are most in need of a sound education in order to realize their full human potential later in life–without a school-choice regime.
Some argue that school choice would imperil genuine educational freedom by opening the schoolhouse door to government regulators. Instead they argue for the complete separation of school and state–with no public dollars flowing to education.
Of course, with every influx of government dollars must come caution. And past efforts by government to fund educational decisions, such as the G.I. Bill and Pell Grant program, should help guide our public policy. But in today's debate surrounding school choice, we must ask ourselves some important questions about the choice concepts available, and let the evidence speak for itself.
Are the freedoms of charter schools dramatically imposed upon by bureaucratic restrictions, or are these publicly funded schools superior to the present system of government schooling? Do educational vouchers permit government to regulate the religious activity in schools, or simply enable parents to purchase an education at the school of their choice? Do tuition tax credits allow social engineers to encourage one form of educational experience over another, or simply enable parents to better afford the education deemed by them most appropriate for a child?
These are real concerns that must be examined as the evidence on school choice continues to pour in. A school-choice regime that only entrenches government in education, instead of freeing parents from bureaucratic control, is self-defeating and sows the seeds of its own demise. Marshall Fritz, president of the Separation of School and State Alliance, describes why such school-choice options should be approached with caution:
Hobbling today's private schools with state controls is too high a price to pay for "choice." While [school choice options] will provide a flurry of competition and change, real improvement would be delayed for decades until [they] prove that they, too, cannot repair a tax-funded, i.e., government schooling system.
That is one reason why numerous, competing experiments at increasing educational freedom are so important.
But, as Joseph Bast and David Harmer point out in a recent forum sponsored by the Cato Institute, by "decrying mere improvement as the enemy of the ideal, [separationists] do more to thwart the separation of school and state than to advance it." ( http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-269.html)
[S]eparationists criticize the first step in the right direction because it does not immediately take us to the ultimate destination… [W]hatever its merits ideologically, complete separation [of school and state] is currently a political fantasy. [School choice concepts] offer a halfway house to wean the public from their addiction to government provision of education.
In a world with no education taxes, responsible parents would directly pay the full costs of educating their children at the school of their choice; the state would not be involved, and the poor would receive funds for education from private philanthropists like Ted Forstmann of the Washington Scholarship Fund, thus fulfilling the Christian principle of subsidiarity. School choice moves us closer toward this ideal, though not fully.
Advocating school choice is a way to achieve greater liberty and parental responsibility in education. Very rarely can great reforms toward liberty be accomplished overnight, as the late Russell Kirk pointed out. Such reforms require the cultivation of habits and the development of institutions in civil society to help order that liberty to the good. School choice, in all of its many forms, is a prudent step in the right direction–toward restoring the fundamental role of parents in providing an education for their children.


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Meeting PPA and TAT Targets with Innovus Implementation System
Contact Information
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.2655 Seely Avenue
San Jose, CA, 95134
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fax: 408.943.0513
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Guide to EDA tools, semiconductor technologies and services
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2BWjrGP_10&feature=youtu.be[/youtube] [company]
John Blyler talks with Sean O'Kane at Arm Techcon 2017 about the IOT security manifest, Cadence opt for Arm servers, NXP R2D2 with Raspberry Pie, and more from the show floor.
Mike Mackey from CENTRI Technology, explains key IOT hardware-software security issues from TPM and PUFF to SSH and authentication (IOT Devcon)
Mentor's Warren Kurisu explains how edge embedded and cloud connections (via Microsoft Azure) enables quick IOT development then demos a bio-metric game.
This video series explains how to run applications on ARMv8 model using the ARM DS-5 Development Studio.
ASIC Prototyping with FPGAs faces global development challenges in the hardware-software IoT and automotive markets.
IOT Devcon interview with Vivek Mohan at Silicon Labs examines standards vs. proprietary IOT connectivity.
John/Sean Travelogue for March 2016 - Highlights include Si-based molecular scanners; cyber-security; automotive standard ISO 26262; SPIE Photonics; DVCon.
Colt McAnlis, Developer Advocate at Google, warned against data and power taxation of IoT users at ARM TechCon 2015.
Highlights from ARM's CTO, Mike Muller's keynote at ARM TechCon 2015, including announcement of ARM Cortex-A35, ARM TrustZone for ARMv8-M, Cryptocell, and mbed connector.
Dec 1, 2015: To celebrate the 25th anniversary of ARM's foundation we worked with the curators of the Science Museum in London to pick 25 people or objects from their Information Age gallery that were pivotal to the creation of modern technology.
Daryn Lau, VP and GM of Hardware System Verification Group at Cadence, introduces the Palladium Z1 enterprise emulation platform. With more than five times the emulation throughput,
In this week's Whiteboard Wednesday video, Dennis Crespo highlights the performance and power features of the new Tensilica Vision P5 DSP architecture for mobile, automotive, and security applications.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLdxu2twagY[/youtube] [company]
Getting the Pebble Watch to Market. A conversation with Eric Migicovsky, Pebble founder and CEO
Saygus V² (V Squared), winner of the CES 2015 Innovation Award, has 320 GB of storage, ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, 21 MP camera, dual-boot capable, 2.5GHz quad-core processor, runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat....and more.
Power-efficient ARM technology is everywhere you are, expanding your connected life.
Embedded editor Chris A. Ciufo chats with Ian Drew, CMO, ARM. In part 2, the guys discuss: ARM's mbed/mbed OS and Cortex-M7; the easy path to the IoT is made easy by ARM's new mbed
Embedded editor Chris Ciufo chats with Ian Drew, CMO, ARM. ARM's move into 64-bit servers with HP's recent âMoonshotâ announcement; how the IoT grows from the enterprise and handsets; and ARM partners' complete infrastructure for servers.
See the industry's first platform-to-platform 10G USB 3.1 technology demonstration. In this video, Eric Huang runs two HAPS-70 FPGA-based prototyping platforms with 10G USB 3.1 device and host IP. The platforms are connected with a standard USB 3.0 cable running at 10G USB 3.1 speeds of up to 915 MBps.
Join USB-IFâs Jeff Ravencraft and Synopsysâ Eric Huang in a discussion about new USB 3.1 features, including 10 Gbps data rates and USB Type-C Connectors, at IDF 2014.
See how Synopsys HAPS-70 FPGA-based prototyping platforms helped to accelerate Synopsys' development of 10G USB 3.1 IP. HAPS offers a flexible, off-the-shelf platform that enabled the R&D team to quickly develop and test RTL models, perform hardware validation, and ensure hardware/software interoperability.
Streamed live on Oct 24, 2014 Learn about the changing dynamics of hardware and software intellectual property (IP) management. Panelists include: Warren Savage, CEO, IPextreme
Cristian Amitroaie, CEO of Amiq, talks with John Blyler about Specador, a automated HTML documentation tool for chip design and verification engineers. This tool generates meaningful documentation even from poorly documented source code, as it actually compiles the code and can generate cross-link class inheritance trees, design hierarchies, and diagrams. The need for this functionality lead to an interesting discussion about the software programming process and why programmers rarely document their own work.
Intellitech's CEO CJ Clark explains why the latest JTAG update brings much needed capabilities to IP providers and IC developers alike.
Motion sensing applications with mm wave technology at Imec is the topic of this interview between Liesbet Van der Perre, Imec Program Director of Wireless Communication, and John Blyler, VP and CCO at Extension Media.
Wally Rhines, Chairman and CEO of Mentor Graphics, talks about Moore's Law in light of the Learning Curve; 28nm as the golden node; critical need for IoT innovations; and why systems engineering often fails.
In our third interview at the Design Automation Conference in Austin, Texas, John Blyler of Chip Design Magazine talks with Dennis Bibeau of Infotech about the importance of collaboration across all disciplines in achieving innovative chip design.
Chip Design's John Blyler interviews Cristian Amitroaie, CEO of AMIQ (http://www.amiq.ro) on the importance of code integration and the Eclipse platform At the Design Automation Conference in Austin, Texas.


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Alex is your normal popular high school party boy....
Dangerous Hearts (Kellic)
- by RaisedByMusicc
- Rating:
- Published: 30 Dec 2013
- Updated: 20 Jun 2014
- Status: In Progress
After calling the wrong prostitution agency, Kelin meets a young prostitute name Vic. But not everyone is exactly who they seem when feelings start to form and an old ex trying to make their life a living hell. (Warnings: Boyxboy smut almost every chapter. Some sexual assault. I do let you know before hand.)
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A New Life
My version of Breaking Dawn, attempting to stay very close to what the REAL Breaking Dawn will be like. No crazy random plots and made up characters!!!!!! :] UPDATE- the chapters have titles!
1. Chapter 1- Ready?
Rating 4.5/5 Word Count 1040 Review this Chapter
I stood in front of the full length mirror, shocked. I couldn't stop staring. Only Alice could succeed in making me look so, well, elegant. The crème dress was intricate beautiful lace and soft silk fabric with a long train in the back. It fell straight and hung loosely around my thin frame. My hair was swept up gracefully, courtesy of Rosalie, who had surprised us all by wanting to help Alice beautify me. I lifted the one layered skirt to look once again at my heels. Even though they were only a half inch tall, I was sure I'd trip down the aisle.
I sighed. Here was the day I'd been dreading for months, but I couldn't pretend like I wasn't happy when it came. What girl hasn't thought about the day she'd walk down the aisle with her father? But I'd never been able to imagine anyone as perfect as Edward waiting for me.
"Bella!" Alice rushed into the room and sat down next to me on Edward's couch, her giant wedding planner in hand. The wedding was being set up downstairs, in the Cullen's backyard. My parents hadn't been too excited about the idea of us getting married in back of their house, but Carlisle had won over them quickly. After Charlie nearly had a heart attack when we broke the news to him, he'd warmed up a bit to the idea of walking me down the aisle. As long as he wasn't going to run after Edward with a knife, I was happy.
Alice ripped open the black binder and started flipping through pages. "I know I put the menu in here, and the waiters need it downstairs!" I cringed. Alice's menu had been ridiculous; there was really no need to import pasta from Italy and éclairs from France! Her face went blank as she looked into the future, and I knew I had been foiled.
"Bella, did you really think putting it behind the ice statue would deter me?" I scowled. The fact that we had and ice statue was still frustrating me. That had been a long argument.
"It's always worth a try," I muttered, and went back to looking at myself in the mirror. "Remind me, how in the world did you pull this off?"
"Bella, you really need to give yourself more credit. The dress is nothing without you inside of it." Alice giggled and kept bustling around, but she really had nothing else to do, being a vampire with a photographic memory and such. I knew she just wanted to admire her beautiful work, and I really couldn't blame her. Still, I felt like I needed to be alone. It was my wedding day after all, and I just wanted to think.
Finally I couldn't take her anymore. "Alice, can I just have a few minutes alone?" I cringed as her face fell.
"Oh— Of course Bella! I need to go make sure Emmett's not unplugging the ice statue anyways. He thinks it would be hilarious…" she rolled her eyes, "Just don't forget to practice walking in those heels. We really don't need any catastrophes." She smiled and zipped past me and out the door.
I sat down where Alice had just been on Edward's couch and looked out the south window wall that covered the whole back of the house. The view was spectacular; rolling hills and dark, green forests. I would miss this when we went to Alaska. From red to green to white, I mused with a sigh.
My thoughts strayed to Jacob. It hadn't been easy, cutting him out of my life. I was sure he still didn't want to see me, which is why I hadn't sent him an invitation. But part of me still dreamed that he might show up, just to see me. I wanted to share these special moments of my life with him, even if he wasn't the groom. Of course, that could never happen. I'd already caused enough damage being selfish. Now I just wanted what was best for Jake, and I knew he wouldn't be able to handle being here.
Time had passed quickly; I could hear bustling of guests arriving downstairs. It felt weird, sitting in Edward's room for my last few hours of being an unmarried woman. Woman. The word sounded unfamiliar, but I realized that's what I was. I'd grown up without even realizing it, and now I was getting married.
I smiled when I thought about my groom. Edward hadn't been allowed to see me today, which I had put up quite a fuss about. I didn't want to leave him, and we really didn't need to go to that extreme. I ended up losing on that front too, and Edward stayed safely away while I was dressed by Alice and Renee.
I sat there longer, staring out the window into the dazzling sunlight. Here was the day that would change everything, the beginning of a whole new chapter in my life; death, but so much more than that. I sat there and watched the sun get lower, lower and lower on this chapter of my life and closer and closer to the end of it.
Finally Renee poked her head in the door. She had already gushed over how lovely I looked earlier that day, but she still stopped and smiled when she saw me.
"Sweetheart, it's time."I'd never seen her look so motherly before. She was on the verge of tears as I stood up and walked awkwardly towards her. So much for practicing. I took one last look out the giant window into the twilight. Then I took my mother's hand and followed her into the hallway and down the stairs. Everyone had filed out into the backyard. Now the only thing left to do was to open the door and walk down the aisle.
Charlie was already by the door. He too was looking especially proud. My mother kissed my cheek and then went into the kitchen to sneak out the side door into her place as a bridesmaid. I slipped my arm through my dad's, and he opened the double doors to lead me forward into my new life.
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- Evellyn Rose
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- 05 Feb 08
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- 31 Jul 08
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Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Foreign Minister Bob Carr today announced the end of Australia's security operations in Timor-Leste.
The Australian-led International Stabilisation Force (ISF) will cease its security operations on 22 November and commence withdrawal from Timor-Leste. The ISF has supported peace and stability in Timor Leste since 2006.
We congratulate the Timor-Leste Government on establishing Timor-Leste as an independent nation.
Timor-Leste has seen its economy grow and institutions strengthen, culminating this year in three successful rounds of national elections, celebrations for Timor-Leste's 10th anniversary of independence, and the formation of a new government.
Timorese security services have risen to the challenge and served their nation well throughout these events.
The UN peacekeeping mission, UNMIT, also made an important contribution during Timor-Leste's transition. UNMIT will end its operation in Timor-Leste at the end of the year. ISF support to UNMIT is an excellent example of Australian forces working alongside regional partners in support of UN efforts to build peace and stability.
Australian Defence Force personnel who served in Timor-Leste have shown great courage and dedication, and built strong personal relationships with Timor-Leste that will last long after the withdrawal of our security forces.
We also extend our thanks and appreciation to our ISF partner, New Zealand, who participated in the ISF from the outset.
ISF withdrawal will continue through to April 2013 as we repatriate equipment, close bases, and return property and buildings to the Government of Timor-Leste.
Australia's defence and police engagement with Timor-Leste will continue through our Defence Cooperation Program and Australian Federal Police support to Timor-Leste's police forces.
Through our aid program, Australia is strongly committed to its partnership with Timor-Leste to provide ongoing assistance to support the Government of Timor-Leste to achieve greater prosperity. We look forward to a positive and enduring relationship between our two countries that will only grow in strength.
Media contacts:
The Office of Stephen Smith: Sacha Fenton (02) 6277 7800 or 0467 784 528
The Office of Senator Bob Carr: (02) 6277 7500


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While Colsaerts followed his opening career-best 62 with a level par 70, the 28 year old from India moved to eight under par at Hilversumsche Golf Club after a round of three birdies and a solitary bogey.
"I hit the ball quite well - I suppose you could always have a couple of shots better," he reflected. "It would have been nice to birdie the 18th but overall I am happy.
"The conditions are getting tough now so I should be near the lead by the end of the day and a good round tomorrow will keep me up there."
Colsaerts, the longest driver on The European Tour this season, lost a ball in the heather at the 476 yard sixth - his 16th - which cost the 27 year old a double bogey six.
"We had to wait a while on the tee and I didn't have the same rhythm but at the end of the day I just didn't hit a good drive and it went left into the long stuff," he explained.
"But I did well to make a par with the second ball because it is a tough hole so a double with losing a ball was as good as I could do. I could easily have dropped another shot and then you are in trouble."
He birdied the next but again relinquished his lead on the eighth - his last - when he chipped ten feet past the hole and missed the return putt.
American Todd Hamilton's decision to join The European Tour could bring him a first victory since the 2004 Open Championship this weekend.
The 44 year old, now down at 545th in the Official World Golf Ranking and with only two cuts made in his last 19 events, is just a stroke behind along with Swede Christian Nilsson and France's Jean-François Lucquin.
Hamilton, seven under par after rounds of 66 and 67, said: "I don't have full status on the US Tour any more, so I looked at the schedule and thought I'd come to places I've never been to.
"I had never been to Switzerland and it was great, never been here and its great and then we have Austria and France in the next two weeks which are another two places I have never been.
"I will then play Singapore and Hong Kong towards the end of the year to make up my 12 events.
"I didn't hit a lot of fairways, but it seemed like I always had a good angle to the flag and everything worked out."
Former Saint Omer Open winner Nilsson's 65 included an eagle at the 484 yard par five 12th.
"I'm very happy, I've been struggling quite alot the last couple of weeks so it felt really nice to have a good round," he said.
Lucquin has been on a miserable run of form this year and is only 198th in The Race to Dubai, so the former Omega European Masters champion was delighted to rediscover his game.
He said: "Finally I am going to play the weekend! I haven't made a cut for three months so this is a great relief for me let me tell you.
"It is very discouraging when you go through a period like that but I tried to do my job, work on the range and hopefully it had turned around for me and I can have a good weekend."
German Martin Kaymer, who in his first tournament since winning the US PGA Championship title has started with two 67s to be just two behind.
He said: "67 was a reasonable score today - it wasn't the score that I was hoping for because I had the good conditions on the greens this morning but the score is okay.
"I am playing well - I just need to the putts to drop. The same thing happened in the PGA Championship actually, I didn't make a lot of putts for the first couple of days but I tried to be patient and collect my pars and keep giving myself chances for birdies which I did and then they started to drop over the weekend."
|Player name
|KAYMER, Martin
|NILSSON, Christian
|ZANOTTI, Fabrizio
|LARA, José Manuel
|OOSTHUIZEN, Louis
|HORSEY, David


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Home theater: Robert Pattinson makes ladies swoon in 'Bel Ami'
This week, 24 Frames introduces a feature new to the blog, highlighting some of the most interesting titles available on Video on Demand or on DVD and Blu-ray. Look for the column on Tuesdays.
'Bel Ami'
Available on VOD beginning May 4
Guy de Maupassant's novel has been adapted for the screen before (most memorably in 1947, with George Sanders and Angela Lansbury), but for their new version, directors Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod take advantage of some of the freedoms of modern moviemaking, making sure that De Maupassant's tale of a social-climbing rake has plenty of sex and straight talk. Robert Pattinson plays the rake in question, who takes a job as a newspaper columnist in 1890s France and advances in his career thanks to his relationships with three aristocratic women (played by Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas and Christina Ricci). The film isn't as artful and sophisticated as the similar "Dangerous Liaisons" -- and it's better at light drawing-room machinations than heavier political and romantic drama -- but this new "Bel Ami" is remarkably assured as it depicts how a man with no discernible skills works his way up from whorehouses to elegant estates simply because he's handsome. (The film opens in Los Angeles theaters June 8.)
'George Harrison: Living in the Material World'
Hip-O/Universal, $24.98; Blu-ray, $24.98/$99.99
What keeps Martin Scorsese's "Living in the Material World" from being just another Beatles-championing documentary is that it focuses specifically on guitarist George Harrison's warring impulses: He was a spiritual, caring person who tried to make other people feel loved, and he was a brutally honest, self-centered man who succumbed to his carnal desires and hoarded money. (Harrison did write "Taxman," after all.) "Living in the Material World" is divided in two, with the first half dedicated to Harrison's stint with the Beatles, and the second half covering his explorations into religion as a solo artist. But both halves are really the same story: about a man who strove to be humble, while also grumbling that he was under-appreciated. The documentary is available on DVD and Blu-ray, and in a deluxe set that includes a book of photographs and a CD containing early takes of 10 Harrison favorites.
Lionsgate, $29.95; Blu-ray, $39.99
Director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Lem Dobbs return to the fast-paced, existential revenge-thriller mode of their 1999 film "The Limey" with "Haywire," which stars real-life mixed martial arts specialist Gina Carano as a black-ops secret agent trying to track down and assassinate her handlers before they do the same to her. "Haywire" jumps back and forth in time and location and is packed with appearances by such actors as Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Channing Tatum and Ewan McGregor. But the story feels like an afterthought, and Soderbergh's guerrilla filmmaking style at times makes "Haywire" resemble cheap, straight-to-video product. Still, Dobbs' snappy dialogue and Soderbergh's eye for the unusual go a long way. Some will appreciate that "Haywire" is a "pure" action flick: all kicks, little waste. The DVD and Blu-ray add two short featurettes. Available on VOD on May 1.
Starz/Anchor Bay, $29.98; Blu-ray, $39.99
Say this for Madonna: She doesn't lack for ambition. For her second film as a director (after the very strange "Filth and Wisdom"), the multi-platinum pop singer and her co-screenwriter, Alek Keshishian, attempt to tell the story of King Edward VIII's choice to abdicate the throne to pursue a love affair with American divorcée Wallis Simpson. Madonna and Keshishian employ a framing device that has a modern-day woman (Abbie Cornish) discovering that the reality of the renowned romance doesn't match up with her fantasy version. But Madonna fails to convey her own fascination with Edward and Wallis, outside of some vague personal connection to the details of worldwide fame and pervasive dissatisfaction. Mostly, she seems to have made a movie that has a lot on its mind and no coherent way to express it. The DVD and Blu-ray come with a making-of featurette. Available on VOD on May 1
Dev Patel brings dash of youth to 'Marigold Hotel' [clip]
Mikhail Gorbachev says DVD can help cool U.S.-Russia relations
-- Noel Murray
Photo: Uma Thurman and Robert Pattinson in "Bel Ami." Credit: Magnolia Pictures.


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For women trying to conceive, our free ovulation calendar is an interactive chart that tracks your menstrual cycle to identify ovulation and fertile days. Many women with irregular cycles, as well as some women with regular cycles, have a difficult time determining their ovulation day. Significantly increase your chances of conception by tracking your ovulation symptoms: Basal Body Temperature (BBT), menses, and cervical mucous. For women with regular cycles, an ovulation calculator can help determine when you are most likely to ovulate based on the date and length of your menstrual cycles. You can quickly calculate this value and add it to your ovulation calendar.
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Our students are the most talented – and happiest – anywhere.
With a strong grounding in the liberal arts, a down-to-earth approach to living and learning, and the support of meaningful relationships with faculty and peers, Whitman is a place where you will pursue your passions and start effecting meaningful change in the world -- and you won't have to wait four years to do it.
As you discover Whitman, you will learn about a wide range of academic opportunities, an engaging community, state-of-the-art facilities, and a beautiful setting in the Pacific Northwest -- all of which will inspire you to continue on your path to success.
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At the recent meeting of the Frewsburg Lions Club, Jon Anderson, program chair for the evening, introduced Torie Swanson of Frewsburg.
Swanson was invited to talk about an organization known as "Butterfly Moms," a group of mothers who have experienced the tragic loss of a child. Swanson talked about her own experience with initial grief, her ultimate connections with mothers suffering a similar loss, and her initiative to organize this unique support group.
The group meets at Zion Lutheran Church on the third Saturday of each month at 10 a.m.
Torie Swanson spoke at a recent Frewsburg Lions meeting about the group "Butterfly Moms" which is for mothers who have experienced the loss of a child. Welcoming her were Jon Anderson, program chair, left, and Gary Wells, Lions president.
Following Swanson's talk, Lion President Gary Wells gave a brief overview of Lions commitment to community service. Jon Anderson then presented Swanson with a certificate of appreciation for her service to the community and also a candle centerpiece as a remembrance of her example of community service embraced by Lions Clubs international.
In the business meeting, Mike Wells announced that tickets for the upcoming spaghetti supper will be available at the next meeting. The supper will be on April 27. Pat Harvey reported that he has submitted more can tabs to the Kidney Dialysis Unit at WCA Hospital. The total that the club has collected is now 990 pounds. The Leo Club and the Lions Club are taking part in the Pennies for Paws campaign for the Humane Society.
Members voted to approve three delegates to the state convention in Buffalo. They are Don Dove, Danielle O'Connor and Gary Wells. Jerry Eklund gave an update on construction developments at The Relief Zone, which the Lions have supported.
Past President Tom Swanson read the proposed slate of officers for 2013-14. Members voted unanimously to elect the following officers: President – Robin Schroeder; first vice president – Danielle O'Connor; second vice president – Robert Anderson; secretary – Robert Sandberg; treasurer – Norma Eklund; membership chair – Robert Sandberg; financial secretary – Dennis Williams, tail twister – Wendell Berg; Lion tamer – Jerry Eklund; Directors: one year – John Gatgen and Randy Sherrick, two years – Thomas Holland and Dave Miller.
The next meeting will be Monday in the Frewsburg Central School community room.


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WASHINGTON, DC — More than half of Americans say they are trying to lose weight, and a majority of them say they are trying to improve the healthfulness of their diet and increase their level of physical activity. However, nine out of 10 Americans do not know how many calories they should consume in a day.
The conflicting findings on calories represent just one of six consumer "diet disconnects" found in the second annual Food & Health Survey conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation. The survey of 1,000 American adults was conducted over three weeks in February and March.
"This survey is an important snapshot highlighting the gap between Americans' desire to have a more healthful diet and the reality of converting this desire into day-to-day behavior," says Susan Borra, IFIC Foundation president.
For more details on the study, visit www.ific.org.


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4 easy miles with options for additional mileage; early Spring wildflowers
Meet: 9:30 a.m.
Hike: 9:45 a.m.
Duration: approximately 3–4 hours
How to confirm your attendance: Simply add a comment at the bottom of this post.*
Picchetti Ranch & Winery
13100 Montebello Road
Cupertino, CA
(650) 691-1200
After a short drive up a winding mountain road, Picchetti Winery appears as a little slice of heaven. Picchetti wines are produced at one of the oldest wineries in California, and are well-made, with attention devoted to producing consistently good wines every year. Plus, it is one of the rare few California wineries that offers a hiking trail right outside the tasting room! If you haven't yet tried the 2007 Leslie's Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Picchetti Winery, this event is your opportunity to try a world-class winner.
The hike is an easy and enjoyable walk. We'll journey through a classic local mix of cool woodlands and sunny chaparral, with views of Fremont-Older Open Space Preserve and Stevens Creek Reservoir. From the trail, we'll see an assortment of plant communities ranging from lush chaparral brush and oak woodland to picturesque madrone and bay forests. We'll even see a stand of nutmeg trees! And if we're lucky, we'll see several species of wildflowers blooming along the Zinfandel Trail.
After the hike, let's enjoy a potluck lunch on the Picchetti picnic grounds, pool a few pesos, and taste those fabulous Picchetti wines.
Here's a Google map showing the route from San Francisco to Picchetti Ranch that includes driving directions. As you get close, the following tips may prove helpful:
Once you reach Cupertino and are traveling southwest on Foothill Blvd. (with Highway 280 behind you), be aware that when you cross the Stevens Creek Blvd. intersection at the signal light, Foothill Blvd. will change its name to Stevens Canyon Road.
- As you continue through a residential section, Stevens Canyon Road will begin to climb and wind and you will pass lower Stevens Creek County Park, then Stevens Creek Dam and Reservoir, all on your left.
- Around a bend to the right and immediately after passing the entrance to the quarry (on your right), the road will make a horseshoe turn to the left and the steep entrance to Montebello Road will appear pretty quickly on your right. A good place to gear down!
- Wind your way carefully up Montebello Road about 0.6 mi. and enter Picchetti Ranch on your left. Take the immediate right fork and park in the upper (dirt) parking lot, and look for my black Dodge Dakota pickup and camper shell. It's likely you'll see me sitting on the tailgate lacing my boots.
If you're coming from the South Bay, I'll see you when you arrive at Picchetti Winery. For those of you arriving from The City or elsewhere, please contact others near you to arrange carpooling.
Parking at Picchetti Ranch is free. Drive time from downtown San Jose may take 20-25 minutes; from SF, perhaps 20-30 minutes longer. Please allow adequate time to arrive by 9:30; our hike will begin promptly at 9:45.
Parking should be adequate at Picchetti; nevertheless, I urge hikers to please carpool if possible (see above). Dogs are not allowed on this hike.
For our post-hike potluck lunch, I recommend preparing picnic items that you will enjoy sharing with your fellow hikers. You won't have to bring your potluck items on the trail; instead, pack them into a cooler that you'll keep in your car during the hike.
Nevertheless, be sure to bring plenty of snacks and water for the trail. I highly recommend bringing an extra pair of shoes – even clothing – to change into after the hike. Please allow plenty of time to arrive, and watch for cyclists during your drive.
Also, wear sturdy shoes for this hike – we may be hiking over rough terrain in places, and sections of muddy trail may present themselves.
The phone number above is for the Midpeninsula Open Space District.
Meet 9:30 a.m., hike 9:45 sharp. See you at the trailhead!
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Would you like to attend this hike?
If so, let me know you're coming: simply reply in the Comments box below.
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*Your comment on this post is your RSVP. Consider also checking the box labeled "Notify me of follow-up comments via email" so that I can share my cell phone number with you a few days prior to this hike – just in case you need to contact me on your way to the trailhead.
This event is listed on my 2013 Schedule of Hikes.


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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that Tehran would "never" abandon its nuclear plans. In an NBC-TV interview, the Iranian leader did not offer a direct response when asked whether there were any conditions under which Iran would develop a nuclear weapon.
"We don't need nuclear weapons," Ahmadinejad said, according to Reuters. "We do not see any need for such weapons. And the conditions around the world are moving to favor our ideas," Ahmadinejad stated.
According to Ahmadinejad, Iran will "never" halt work on its nuclear program to mollify Western skeptics.
Iran is set to attend talks on Oct. 1 with major powers. "We have always believed in talking, in negotiating, that's our logic. "Nothing has changed," Ahmadinejad said, speaking through an interpreter.
"If you are talking about the enrichment of uranium for peaceful purposes, this will never be closed down here in Iran," he said.