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Black Revolutionary War hero James Robinson will finally be honored with a military f
Black Revolutionary War hero James Robinson will finally be honored with a military funeral
By: JONATHAN M. PITTS | The Baltimore Sun | Published: June 21, 2019
RE: https://www.stripes.com/news/veteran...neral-1.586965
Photo link: https://www.stripes.com/polopoly_fs/..._900/image.jpg
This Friday, May 24, 2019 photo, shows Rev. Pvt. James Robinson's headstone at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit. By: JUNFU HAN/DETROIT FREE PRESS
BALTIMORE (Tribune News Service) He fought with distinction, historians say, in two of this countrys formative wars. He was given a medal for valor by one of the worlds great generals. He met a president and at least one president-to-be.
Yet James Robinson, who was born into slavery in Maryland in the mid-18th century, was denied his liberty for most of his life, and he never got the military honors hed earned.
That is to change this weekend.
Robinson, an Eastern Shore native whose 1868 obituary described him as loved by all and venerated by all, will be given a military funeral Saturday in his adopted hometown of Detroit.
Sponsored by two military legacy organizations, the event at Historic Elmwood Cemetery will include an honor guard, a flag presentation, speeches, a 21-gun salute and the dedication of two bronze emblems representing the conflicts in which he fought: the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
A handful of surviving references to Robinson point to him as a heros hero: the Marquis de Lafayette pinned a gold French military medal of honor on him for his exploits at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, and he was in the thick of the combat that helped Gen. Andrew Jackson rout the British at the Battle of New Orleans in 1814.
But as one of the more than 5,000 black people who fought in the War for Independence, and several thousand who took up arms for the U.S. in the War of 1812, his deeds were mostly lost to history, as records on African American soldiers were spottily kept.
Worse, he fought in both wars on the understanding that afterward, hed be given the opportunity to live as a free American citizen. Instead, he returned home each time only to be sent back into the most grievous bitter bondage slavery in which he spent at least 77 of his 115 years.
One historian who helped unearth Robinsons story says it epitomizes the plight of thousands of black troops who fought for the U.S. in two centuries worth of wars, only to return to a land that denied them the freedoms they had secured for the nation.
What more can you do to serve your country and to secure your rights, to secure equal citizenship, than that man did? asks Maurice Barboza,the founding director of the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C., a nonprofit group that aims to build a monument in Washington to black veterans of the Revolutionary War.
It was two years ago that Barboza met Elijah Shalis, an official with the Michigan Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and the organizer of Saturdays event.
The two have drawn on sources census reports, news items, a Boys Life magazine article, a history of Elmwood, even a newly rediscovered 64-page memoir Robinson narrated in 1858 to construct a portrait of a man who fought bravely, who became embittered at the treatment he received, and who retained a craving for freedom throughout an incredibly long life.
Details about his Maryland origins are sketchy. His narrative says he was owned by a man named Francis de Shields or Francis Shiel, according to a different source a colonel in Gen. George Washingtons Continental Army who brought Robinson into the service with him.
2nd photo link: https://www.stripes.com/polopoly_fs/..._900/image.jpg
In this Friday, May 24, 2019 photo, Elijah Shalis, secretary for the Michigan Society Sons of the American Revolution, poses for a photo next to Rev. Pvt. James Robinson's headstone at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit. By: JUNFU HAN/DETROIT FREE PRESS
Owen Lourie, a historian with the Maryland State Archives, said he could find no mention of Robinson or De Shields in the archives, but the enlistment scenario was plausible.
We know that soldiers brought their slaves with them, and a well-off gentleman would never be seen without his body servant, Lourie said.
A private in a Maryland light infantry regiment, Robinson would have been one of about 755 black soldiers and 95 black Marylanders historians say served in the Continental Army.
His narrative authored with a ghost writer and under the name James Roberts describes Robinson scalping Indians and taking part in skirmishes on the Eastern Shore. Other accounts suggest he fought at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777 and at Yorktown, where the British surrendered in 1781.
At Yorktown, hes said to have charged up a British rampart and killed three men in hand-to-hand combat en route to overtaking the emplacement. The victorious allied leader, Lafayette, pinned on Robinson a gold medal of valor by virtue of his authority as a French nobleman.
That was extraordinary, because very few medals were given for service in the Revolutionary War, Shalis said, adding that the moment showed the French, even then, were more tolerant of minorities.
De Shields had promised he would free Robinson after the war, but he died soon afterward.
His heirs sold the married war veteran to Calvin Smith, whose plantation was either in Louisiana or Mississippi. Robinson described Smiths place as a slaughter-house of human beings and recalled being whipped so badly he could not keep the vermin out of my flesh for weeks at a time.
I will now confess that, could I have foreseen what heart-sickening ills awaited me in the future, I should have been strongly tempted to make my way to Canada, he added.
Robinson was still Smiths property in 1813 when Jackson swept through the area to enlist men of every background slaves, free black men, privateers, Choctaw Indians in advance of the British attack on New Orleans.
In Robinsons words, Jackson came into the field, chose out the ones he wanted, and then addressed us thus: Had you not as soon go into the battle and fight, as to stay here in the cotton-field, dying and never die? If you will go, and the battle is fought and the victory gained on Israels side, you shall be free. This short speech seemed to us like divine revelation, and it filled our souls with buoyant expectations.
Robinson, then 61, went into battle, and he describes losing his left index finger and reacting by taking the heads off six redcoats as part of a victory in which sixty or seventy or more of the colored men were killed.
Afterward, he recalls, he requested his reward from Jackson.
Before a slave of mine should go free, I would put him in a barn and burn him alive, he quoted the future president as saying before returning him to Smith.
Robinson somehow obtained his freedom in the 1830s; the 1840 census lists him as a free man in Ohio. He later became a Methodist minister and married a woman named Curtilda. In Detroit, the couple lived on Lafayette Street. They had two sons, one of whom fought for the Union in the Civil War.
His last known descendant, a granddaughter named Gertrude Robinson, died in Ohio in 1983.
Robinsons memoir also has him traveling to Washington in 1856, at 103, seeking a military pension. According to the narrative, he met with President Franklin Pierce.
He told me that I was nothing but goods and chattels, like a horse or a sheep, Robinson wrote, that my master had got the pension, and was still receiving it, or his heirs. He said it would be a disgrace to take it from the white man and give it to the negro When you fought that battle, you was your masters property.
Lourie advises that the narratives of former slaves, while valuable sources, need to be read cautiously, as the accounts often come filtered through those who arranged for their publication, usually abolitionists with their own points to make.
But to those who might find it hard to believe that a former slave could have met such influential figures, Barboza and Shalis say its likely that Robinson did, in fact, know Lafayette one Robinson obituary says the pair met again in 1824 and that would have opened doors for the veteran.
Shalis assembled much of the timeline of Robinsons life as part of confirming his eligibility for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution and the Michigan Society of the War of 1812, the groups sponsoring Saturdays ceremony.
Doing that research was a bittersweet experience, he says, in that a great American came into view, one who never lost his determination to be free, no matter how cruelly the country he served treated him for most of his life.
Shalis believes that 151 years after Robinsons death, his tale has as much resonance as ever.
If someone like Robinson, as a minority, was able to accomplish all he did in the early days of our country, he says, it shows theres no reason people should ever have been held back by prejudices. Those barriers need to come down.
O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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A Windows device, Windows 7 and up, with Quad-Core i7 processors along with PanaCast 2, PanaCast Vision app, Whiteboard license and (optional) Whiteboard detection indicator.
What components and support are needed to make PanaCast Whiteboard work smoothly? Print
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subset: commoncrawl


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HIV infection results in a variety of immune abnormalities, which are especially pronounced in individuals with high viral titers. B cells are the antibody producing cells of the immune system and are not directly infected by HIV. However, HIV-infected individuals exhibit abnormalities in memory B cell populations and only rarely generate antibodies that effectively target the virus. A new study in JCI Insight identifies deficiencies in the affinity maturation process of memory B cells in HIV-infected individuals that result in an inadequate antibody response. Eric Meffre, Susan Moire, and colleagues at Yale University and the National Institutes of Health evaluated HIV-specific memory B cell populations and the HIV-targeting antibodies produced by these cells from chronically HIV-infected patients. A population of memory B cells, known as tissue-like memory cells, was more abundant than conventional memory B cells in the blood of HIV-infected individuals. The tissue-like memory B cells had a low frequency of somatic hypermutation, and the HIV-neutralizing capacity of monoclonal antibodies from these B cells was low. Together, the results of this study provide important insight into HIV-dependent immune dysfunction.
Maturational characteristics of HIV-specific antibodies in viremic individuals
Eric Meffre
Yale University School of Medicine
E-mail: email@example.com
Susan Moir
National Institutes of Health
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
View this article at: http://insight.
JCI Insight is the newest publication from the American Society of Clinical Investigation, a nonprofit honor organization of physician-scientists. JCI Insight is dedicated to publishing a range of translational biomedical research with an emphasis on rigorous experimental methods and data reporting. All articles published in JCI Insight are freely available at the time of publication. For more information about JCI Insight and all of the latest articles go to http://www.


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The training was about the ways of creating a modern campaign. It was taught by two Italian experts Elisa Tachis and Manrico Benelli. They participated from WRF and they are in partnership with the project of Nature Iraq.
Throughout the course, various workshops as well as campaigns were done in the training hall. The participants were taught and familiarized with various ways of creating a campaign by showing short videos, presenting presentations and workshops on various environmental topics. The third day of the training course was dedicated to holding a specific campaign on various environmental issues such as (Water, air, and land pollution, increase in the number of cars, lack of green areas, increase in the number of factories, hunting, increasing in the amount of plastic etc.) The actual practical campaigning for the Sulaimani group (participants) was held in front of the Public Park in Sulaimani. For the Erbil group (participants), the actual practical campaigning was held at Cihan University in Sulaimani.
On the third day of each group, the trainers had some remarks that it is hugely important for the NGOs to work cooperatively dealing with environmental issues. NGOs should have an effective role mediating the relationship between the government, the people and the environment though campaigning on local and international environmental issues. On the same day, the participants were given the certificate of participation and completion of the course.


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I love these glosses because they actually do have quite great colour payoff, but they're still incredibly shiny. These Color Sensational High Shine Glosses have a doe foot applicator which dispenses product easily and evenly. This formula is 100% wax free, and the gloss isn't sticky at all. I've never been able to find a red gloss that I didn't have to pair over top of a red lipstick, but Gleaming Grenadine doesn't need a base.
Gleaming Grenadine is a very wearable red shade. This shade has slight pink undertones, which I think makes it more wearable with my skin tone. This shade is nice and glossy and vibrant, but it isn't too in your face or bold. If you wanted a bolder look, you could pair Gleaming Grenadine over another red lipstick. This Color Sensational High Shine Gloss from Maybelline lasts on my lips for about four hours before I have to reapply. They won't last through eating or drinking, but they don't claim to be a stain.
Maybelline's Color Sensational High Shine Gloss range consists of 12 shades, and I personally have my eyes on Electric Shock and Raspberry Reflections. I would love it if you left me a comment letting me know your favourite shades! Have you been rocking a red lip lately?


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A secure portal allowing our customers and vendors 24/7 access to their operational and financial information.
Posted on 13/01/2020
MSC is pleased to be a sponsor of the 8th Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, 9-10 March 2020.
This Africa CEO Forum is a significant platform for leaders from across the world to discuss the future of African economies and the ways in which private and public partners can work together to foster economic and social progress.
More than 1600 attendees from over 70 countries are expected at the event in Abidjan.
MSC and its logistics and terminal entities will be represented by a delegation comprises of senior leadership from headquarters in Geneva and across Africa, where the company has offices in some 40 countries.
About MSC in Africa
MSC has been investing in the continent's infrastructure and people since 1971.
Today MSC employs 8,000 people in Africa and operates 50 weekly ocean services calling at 60 ports, connecting Africa to the rest of the world and catalysing intraregional trade.
MSC has port terminal investments in Togo, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Morocco and a growing network of land-based intermodal and logistics services such as warehousing and trucking through its subsidiary company MEDLOG.
Any statements and/or information provided in this section or in any press release published into it, is solely for general information purposes. Specifically statements and/or information provided are not meant as and cannot be construed to contain any legally binding offer by or on behalf of MSC that is open for acceptance.
Watch the full keynote and Q&A session recording
The container ship MSC PARIS, operating on MSC's Indus Express service, offloaded boxes of cargo in Israel's Haifa Port this week
With MSC and CMA CGM sharing information, data on nearly half of the world's ocean container cargo is now available on a single blockchain-based data platform
Come and meet our coffee experts at stand 5-6 from 12-14 February 2020
Come and meet our experts at stand 14-16, from 12-14 February 2020
Visit our booth #20 et 21 from 28 September to 2 October.
Nicola del Vecchio, Managing Director of MSC Mozambique, explains how the company and its employees responded to an emergency situation.
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Ring Toss
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In our ring toss game, players throw rings over wooden dowels.
Delivery is free to the first 15 miles from zip code 98683. For deliveries over 15 miles we charge a small delivery fee of 50 cents per mile to cover the high cost of fuel. To determine what the delivery fee will be to your location, go through the checkout process or use the calculator on our web site.
For more information on our equipment, please visit our web site at www.PartiesInc.com


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One of the best ways to increase your sales and services is by having a website set up based entirely on it. Apart from offline businesses that are now focusing on the online market, there are plenty of young entrepreneurs who are completely focused online. For them ranking high on the search engines is of utmost importance.
But, there are plenty of companies that are using the internet to post their services and sell their goods and therefore, for you to enter an already booming market could be a really hard challenge. As we all know, when a person searches for something online they're usually just going to check out the first page results and therefore, your main goal would be to rank as high as possible.
However, if at all you want to achieve this, you would need to make sure that the Off-site SEO techniques that you adopt are the best. But, for this to work, your on-site SEO needs to be really good as well.
What is Offsite SEO?
Basically, off site SEO is focusing on higher traffic through higher rankings.Quality backlinks are the best way to do this and whenever you focus on this aspect, you would need to make sure that you're using the best techniques; else all your attempts will be futile and may have negative effects due to the Penguin updates.
Backlinks are one of the best ways to get you traffic as well as a boost in the SERP's. There are plenty of ways as to how you could gain backlinks and some of them include: Social bookmarking, blogs, comments, guest posting, article submission and the most important of them all – Organic backlinks!
Whenever search engines decide where you need to rank on their pages, they consider the number of backlinks as well as the quality of the links. The better the sites PR, the higher the link counts. Therefore, getting quality backlinks is surely the best way to ensure that you're getting a good boost on the rankings.
But, not all links sent back to your website help you with your ranking. There are plenty of times wherein site owners wish to add a rel-no follow tag in the HTML coding and these links are known as no-follow links.
Such links are mainly used on the comments section and at times even in the text as the owners of these particular sites don't wish to let the search engines know that you're site is good. By using this tag, they tell the search engines that they're not raising your credibility.
Benefit of No-follow links
Even though they may not give you link juice, these links are really important if you want to increase your traffic from related websites. Hence, you shouldn't worry if you're getting a no-follow link as long as the site linking to you has high traffic which belongs to your niche.
Arthur Ergen is an online marketing consultant at Online Portal Service AG, helping companies build scalable businesses online in Switzerland.


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Monthly Archives: August 2013
As NFL teams across the country are busy at work trimming their rosters down to 53 men, it's time to take a quick look back at what has transpired this preseason. Some questions about the team were answered, while others remain a mystery. We've had a chance to see how NFL-ready the team's rookies are, as well as how the rest of the Free Agent pickups have performed and adapted to the new McCoy/Whisenhunt/Pagano ideology of Chargers football.
Let's start with what we know. Given the anemic offensive performance by the Chargers in 2012, it was obviously a big concern in the front office to bring in a new strategy of attack.
The Running Game
Much to the pleasure of the Chargers' faithful, the early glimpses of the 2013 ground attack have been impressive. Coach Mike McCoy, being known for his adaptability in using different strategies based on different personnel strengths, knew coming in that in order to help (or "fix", according to many national pundits) Philip Rivers, he would have to get opposing teams to once again respect the Chargers' ground attack.
The addition of D.J. Fluker to the Right Tackle position on the offensive line has already shown dividends in terms of the power and attitude. Standing at 6'5″ and weighing in at 339 lbs, Fluker certainly has the size and power to be an effective run-blocker. Often being described as "nasty" when he is fighting in the trenches, this monolith of a man has shown the ability to blast through defenders, effectively opening running lanes for Ryan Mathews and the rest of the stable of Running Backs on the team.
Ryan Mathews, always a popular subject of conversation in Charger-land, flashed signs of dominance in his preseason appearances. Leading up to the 2012 NFL season, Mathews spent quite a bit of time bulking up. Former Chargers Fullback Jacob Hester had described Ryan as "looking like Arnold did in the old days". This year, however, the point of emphasis has been on trimming down and becoming more flexible with the hope of making him less susceptible to injury. While Mathews has struggled to stay on the field in his professional career, hopes are that by focusing more on speed and agility as opposed to brute strength, the young back will be able to (finally) live up to some of the team's lofty expectations for him. Mathews has at times been criticized for his decision-making when following his blocks, though his patience to wait for the correct lane or block seems to have matured somewhat this preseason. This is also a contract year for Mathews, and his performance and ability to stay focused and contribute will be put under great scrutiny.
A fan-favorite among free agent signings this off-season, Running Back Danny Woodhead is expected to be a nice change-of-pace back as well as a viable third down option. However, due to some lingering injuries sustained during training camp, he has not been able to get very involved in the offense as of yet. Fozzy Whittaker, a fan favorite this preseason, has shown he can contribute, though the drop off in talent from Mathews to any of the other backs is still quite significant.
Ronnie Brown is still a valuable asset as a pass-catcher and pass-blocker, though it is presumed he will not be getting many actual carries as a runner. The Fullback position looks to be shored up by veteran Le'Ron McClain. The role of the Fullback in the McCoy/Whisenhunt offense is still somewhat of a mystery that will unfold as the regular season progresses.
The Passing Game
It's no secret that the Chargers have paid the butcher's bill this preseason in terms of injuries to its stock of Wide Receivers. What began as one of the deepest position groups on the team has become a hobbled group of hopeful contributors. When healthy, the top three Wide Receivers can be very effective. Unfortunately, the entire group seems to be prone to injury.
Last year's "golden boy" and incumbent No.1 receiver Danario Alexander suffered a tragic season-ending torn ACL during training camp. Alexander is a bit of lightning in a bottle when healthy, but the young receiver has earned a reputation of having knees made of glass. With Alexander out, long-time Charger Malcom Floyd will be charged with the No.1 receiver duties. The team is still expecting big things from youthful receivers Vincent Brown and Keenan Allen, though once again, these players have been known to be bitten by injuries in the not-so-distant past.
On the positive side, Tight End seems to be a position of strength this preseason. Antonio Gates has looked great, and is fully healthy going into the regular season. John Phillips, a pickup from the Cowboys, has been solid and should also be a factor in the running game due to his size and blocking ability. Ladarius Green has had a great preseason showing and looks ready to become a meaningful contributor to the aerial campaign this year.
Though the true nature of the 2013 Chargers passing game has yet to be revealed, we have seen a couple of new ripples. With the horrible protection Rivers had to deal with in 2012, the popular thought has been to use fewer five and seven-step drops, with receivers running routes that develop more quickly than the deep patterns that Norv Turner was so fond of during his time in San Diego. This should almost certainly help Rivers' completion percentage and, hopefully, put an end to the epidemic of turnovers that have plagued this offense over the past year.
Of course, the most important piece of the passing game is Quarterback Philip Rivers. Rivers' struggles of late have been well-documented. From what we have seen this preseason, it is still hard to say if the passing game will be able to balance the running game. Aside from Rivers learning a new offense and occasionally wearing a glove on his left hand (Has anyone figured this out yet?), there isn't a lot that will be different about Rivers' game; he will still have a strange release, he'll still be perhaps the most awkward running quarterback in the NFL, but most importantly, he'll still provide leadership and a great knowledge of the game.
One notable difference with Rivers has been with the integration of a fast-paced, hurry-up type offense. This looks like something to get excited about. Rivers has long been heralded as a great student of the game, growing up the son of a coach and a film room guru. Under Norv Turner, Rivers wasn't given the freedom to run an offense from the line of scrimmage. This preseason, however, we have on occasion seen Rivers hurry the team to the line, force the defense to set and adapt the plan of attack at the line. It should be interesting to see Philip match his wits against defenses in this manner.
What have we learned?
From the limited playing time we have seen from the Chargers' starters this preseason, we can start to form an idea of what the overall offensive strategy and personnel will look like. Fixing the running game is of huge importance to the overall potency of the offense, and so far, so good. The newly minted offensive line seems to be better suited to running the ball and getting a push off of the line of scrimmage than it is at providing Rivers with a clean pocket.
While Max Starks has shown us he cannot be depended on at Left Tackle (Update: Max Starks has been cut by Chargers, 8/30/13), King Dunlap has been surprisingly effective. The rest of the line continues to gel as Jeromey Clary gets more comfortable at his new spot at Right Guard. Though we didn't see much of Danny Woodhead, expect to see him play a key role in screen passes and as an overall safety valve for Rivers. On the downside, if the Wide Receivers fail to get healthy and stay healthy, this could be a difficult year to watch Rivers throw the ball. Ryan Mathews is perhaps the most exciting aspect of the offense we have seen so far, as he is looking explosive, hungry, and healthy.
Perhaps more than anything, this preseason has raised new questions about the direction of the 2013 Chargers offense. Reality should unfold very rapidly as fans eagerly await the team's first real test: Wade Phillips' Houston Texans defense.
Kyle Pardue
Some teams are beginning to report their cuts and there will no doubt be a few names the Chargers should be looking to add depth to this team. The key positions are: OL, DL, WR, OLB, anyone who can play Special Teams and perhaps CB if Patricks' injury is serious. I don't know if any of the below players will be cut. I'm just going off roster projections, performance and a few guys who may fit in with the team and playing couch GM. I'll leave it to the real guys to make the decisions.
Dontay Moch – Cincinatti Bengals
He is listed as a DE but could transition to OLB in the 3-4 as he's listed at 6'3″ and 255 lbs. Mochs' name has been floated in a potential trade this morning. He's a former 3rd round pick and perhaps most importantly, his special teams play in the preseason has been in the top 10 according to Pro Football Focus.
Nathan Stupar – San Francisco 49ers
The Chargers saw this guy in person last night and he was all over the field on special teams and on defense. He racked up 7 tackles last night and is in the top 20 on special teams this preseason. He just happens to find himself on a team that's very very deep. Not sure he's better than Bird or DJ Smith, but a good player all around.
Ramses Barden – New York Giants
Barden has the size that Rivers loves. He's listed at 6'6″ and 224lbs, also a 3rd round pick out of Cal Poly. He's been buried on the Giants depth chart that has had Nicks, Cruz, Manningham and now Randle throughout the years. He has 29 career receptions but for a healthy average of 13.6 yards per reception. Could be a nice fit with his speed and size to be coached up.
Kassim Osgood – San Francisco 49ers
Yes…Reunited. Osgood is still one of the best special teamers in the game. He's not going to be an offensive threat, but his special teams ability is very good. Another player the Chargers saw up close last night.
Jake Scott – Detroit Lions
Was a starter for the Titans in 2011 and ranked as the 7th best guard in the NFL that year on over 1000 snaps. Last year, was limited to playing only 7 games and signed a 1 year deal with the Lions. Could be on his way out, but in the preseason has played both left and right guard and done really well in the running game. At 32, is a veteran that should have some left in the tank.
Tim Lelito – New Orleans Saints
He's an undrafted rookie, but he's had a great preseason. Coaches speak highly of him, but may come down to a numbers game. Could be the 54th guy. Not big on bringing in an unproven rookie, but he's had a good camp and is one of the top guards in the NFL this preseason.
Daniel Muir – Houston Texans
This one seems like a no brainer. He has a history with Tom Telesco (played for the Colts) and he plays for the Chargers first opponent currently. It was reported he was getting his hand looked at after the 4th preseason game, but seems like he would be a great fit if he's cut.
Ricardo Mathews or Lawrence Guy – Indianapolis Colts
Both these guys are on the cusp of the 53 man roster and both have ties to Tom Telesco. Mathews has had the better preseason of the two, but both would be a potential upgrade along the DLine.
In the third preseason game, the San Diego Chargers traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to face the Arizona Cardinals. This is the game where the starters get the most exercise as the first team played into the third quarter. The Chargers soundly defeated the Cardinals 24-7, but how did the team that takes the field on Monday Night against Houston look? In a word? Fantastic!
Ryan Mathews has continued his phenomenal job of running the ball this preseason. Mathews rushed 14 times for 57 yards and a touchdown. The lone and biggest slight against him is a fumble he had trying to go over the top of the pile at the goal line. Mathews was hit, fumbled, and in a wacky chain of events the Cardinals gained then lost the ball trying to lateral. The Chargers regained the ball as John Phillips plucked the ball out of midair and scored the touchdown.
Mathews has run with power and speed, swift and decisive in his cuts and hitting the hole. Fumbling, especially in the red zone, has been one of many knocks on Mathews and until that play we were beginning to forget it. Does the pressure get to Mathews in big situations like goal line? The Chargers got lucky in regaining the ball and scoring in spite of Mathews fumble. It won't go the same way in the regular season. Regardless, Mathews has looked great all preseason and even for me, who is not a Mathews fan after watching him fail year after year, I am encouraged by what I have seen from him so far if he can duplicate his preseason production in the regular season.
Philip Rivers was in rhythm and looked great passing the ball, going 10-18 for 71 yards. Rivers did have an interception but that was the result of Rivers getting hit on the arm and the altered pass landing in the hands of the Cardinals defender. Rivers was not sacked and pressure only leaked through a couple of times, including that play. Rivers led a beautiful 12-play, 92 yard drive in the first quarter that chewed 7 minutes of the clock in the first quarter. The drive was a great mix of runs and short passes as Rivers spread the ball around to Antonio Gates, Danny Woodhead, Seyi Ajirotutu and Keenan Allen. The Chargers offensive line blew back the Cardinals front line down the field the entire half and Rivers continually found open receivers amidst the Cardinals highly touted secondary. Very encouraging.
With the Chargers afflicted by injuries at the wide receiver position, the Chargers started Ajirotutu, Allen, Mike Willie and Vincent Brown with Gates at tight end. The unit was solid and just proves that with protection, Rivers can turn whoever is receiving into Pro Bowl worthy studs. The opener will have a different lineup as Willie has gone to IR with a knee injury. Malcolm Floyd will be back in the lineup and Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal still have opportunity to crack the starting lineup with impressive performances in the finale against San Francisco on Thursday.
Rivers drew three pass interference penalties on the same Cardinals defender. Rivers found the weak line (no, it wasn't Antoine Cason) and exploited the matchup brilliantly, gaining the Chargers easy yardage by identifying the best matchup and getting the ball there accurately enough to draw the penalty. Rivers is a master at this and when he has time to throw, we'll see more of the same.
D.J. Fluker showed his athleticism by running down Cardinals defensive back Patrick Petersen as he returned the interception after the ball was pitched to him. Petersen has sub 4.4 speed and returned multiple punts for touchdown last season! D.J. Fluker ran from his spot on the right side and caught Petersen as he raced by. For a man who's 350-plus, no way not to love that! Most linemen would not even try to catch someone that fast and Fluker ran a good 10-15 yards to catch Petersen on the sideline. He will only get better folks…
The Chargers were over 50% on third down (8 for 15). Great play calling and execution by Rivers and Whitehurst. The Chargers also had 14 first downs in the first half, 22 for the game.
Dwight Freeney looked amazing as he turned Cardinals starting left tackle Levi Brown into a turnstile. I counted four times Freeney got to the quarterback, flushing him from the pocket, getting a hand on him or getting a big sack, as he did on the last play of the first half. Freeney drew double teams and when he was left alone, he dominated the Cardinals tackles.
Larry English has an impressive open field tackle of Patrick Petersen, who was in the game on offense. English prevented a short pass that could have turned into a big gain if he secure Petersen with a textbook form tackle.
Shareece Wright was also good in run defense as he had a beautiful open field tackle on Cardinals running back Alphonso Smith who had made it through the first level and gaining speed.
Safety Brandon Taylor made his return to the lineup and had a bone jarring hit which forced a fumble. Linebacker Andrew Gachkar had a batted ball and an interception in the second half.
The Chargers prevented the Cardinals to 25% on third down, 3 for 12.
The special teams looked brilliant! Cornerback Darrell Stuckey blocked a punt. Nose tackle Kwame Geathers blocked a field goal, both in the first half against the Cardinals first team. Keenan Allen caught each kick that came to him flawlessly and showed when he has room to run, he will gain big yardage. Allen showed excellent speed and nice moves as he weaved through defenders for a 20-plus yard return. Richard Goodman secured his head to the chopping block by fumbling another kick. Goodman did recover the fumble but for the second week in a row he fumbled a kick and has yet to show he can gain good return yardage in any game this preseason.
In summary, this game was a curb stomping by the Chargers first team against the Cardinals first team. The offensive line pushed the Cardinals around at will and the defense did the same to the Cardinals offensive line. The Chargers offensive line looked better than it has all preseason and considering this is the game that would tell the most about what we will see in September, you can't help but feel hopeful. If the Chargers can stay healthy, and that's an if of monumental proportions, the Chargers will be very dangerous. The Chargers problem is depth and it will remain so until the players of the future come off of injured reserve. This will be a team to watch!
The Greg One
The position battle at Left Tackle appears to be all over but the crying. Unbeknownst to some, not this blogger, the Max Starks experiment is turning out to be the acquisition of a backup linemen. Depth is necessary all over this roster. Please don't mistake that I find it crucial to have guys that can come in when the team suffers injuries with guys being poor signings. I've just never been a fan of Starks.
To put it quite simply, the performance of King Dunlap has been head and shoulders above that of the ex-Steeler Starks. I'm not sure that is saying much and, perhaps, shows that San Diego might not have properly addressed the Left Tackle position during this offseason.
Truth be told, the team did not have sufficient money to sign a big-name free agent to protect the blindside of Philip Rivers. The fact that the top 3 Offensive tackles went in the first 4 picks of the 2013 draft forced the team to forego addressing the spot with a rookie to man it.
Dunlap has performed well throughout training camp and the preseason. He is not going to be confused for being an All-Pro Tackle but as long as the only time you hear his name is during the starting lineup then he is doing his job well.
I should add that Mike McCoy has yet to name a starter at Left Tackle but it has seemed as though it is a foregone conclusion for the past few weeks.
Just for fun, I found a few tweets of mine that I sent out the day that Starks was signed. According to many, the top tweet was breaking news although I was solely checking Starks' Twitter account due to the release of Kevin Haslam.
BoogaP Went to check Max Starks TL and he has a Charger lightning bolt and logo…. well… sigh.21 May from Twitter for Android
BoogaP @LightningReign I'm not a fan of either guy but I guess Starks, of the two, would be my preference.#ThrowsUpInMouth 21 May from Twitter for Android
BoogaP Releasing Haslam could mean Chargers are pulling the trigger on Starks or Justice. Maybe not but…21 May from Twitter for AndroidBooga Peters
This was initially written on August 14th.
A little bird flew by my window the other day and informed me that Byron Jerideau has suffered a torn rotator cuff. It is not a complete tear, but it is a tear nonetheless.
Although the odds of him making the 53-man roster were somewhere between slim and none, it would not have been unreasonable to believe the he would be selected to the practice squad.
Jerideau is a former collegiate teammate of Chargers Outside Linebacker Melvin Ingram. It appears as though their second stint as co-workers could be coming to an abrupt halt. There is always the possibility that the team opts for an injury settlement with the undrafted free agent which would then make him an ex-Charger.
The Bolts have had a serious case of the injury bug in recent years. It seems as though the 2013 season is no different and perhaps might be approaching new heights by the time the regular season rolls around.
UPDATE: Today, Byron Jerdieau was placed on the injured reserve. Nice to know that I have a solid, inside source.
Booga Peters
Chargers got their first win in the preseason, let's look how they answered some of the key questions below.
Coaching and GM
- This should be the week we see a little more game planning as it could be seen as the dress rehearsal for the regular season. I don't know about you, but I liked the WR screens and Danny Woohead wheel routes that I saw. Definitely looked like they were trying some things out with the first unit. The quick inside handoffs for Mathews were really effective too.
- Depth continues to be a big question mark for this team. Injuries have really emphasized that lack of depth. Will Richard Marshall see the field as the latest addition to replace Steve Williams. Marshall didn't see the field, but the DBs got another injury when Patrick went down with a concussion (his 2nd in 2 weeks). Chargers will need him healthy moving forward. Overall, depth looked better last night with some decent performances from the 2nd and 3rd string.
- While Mike McCoy has said that they aren't playing the starters on special teams, the unit has been a nightmare. Well that philosophy changed and we saw guys like Weddle and Stuckey making plays on special teams. Stuckey was a man on a mission. Kwame Geathers is a big man and that was an amazing field goal block.
- The first unit was again very impressive with Liuget on the field. This group needs to prove it can be dominant without him. Cam Thomas and Freeney looked really good. Reyes played a decent game, but there were some holes in the run defense early that need to be shored up. Larry English made an incredible read and tackle on a sweep with Patrick Peterson.
- It looks like Te'o may not be back until the regular season, Bront Bird and DJ Smith appear to be separating themselves from the rest. Bront Bird is active but looks lost at times. DJ Smith had a nice assist on the Gachkar interception.
- Cox has started to make some plays in practice, hoping to see this translate to the field tonight. Fitzgerald will prove to be another challenge for this unit after facing Marshall last week. Not a bad job by Wright and Cox. Fitzgerald had some catches, but Cox was physical without getting penalized. The TD catch by Floyd looked to be on the safety. I'll have to re-watch but it looked like Gatson had looked back and asked for help over the top.
- Gilchrist was somewhat invisible last week, which was both good and bad. Would love to see him make a couple plays. He looked good in run support, but Taylor was flying around the field making plays. I would imagine Gilchrist doesn't hold the spot down for long, especially if Patrick is down for any length of time.
- We saw two sacks on the first 3 plays last week, would love to see more consistent pressure throughout the game. Dwight. Freeney. Man was a beast. He was a step away for most of the night and in and around Palmer on a lot of plays. Finaly put Brown through the spin cycle and knocked him backwards before getting the sack.
- No Alexander, Floyd or Royal. We may be looking at Allen and Brown as the starters. Thought the play calling was great, getting Allen involved early. Brown drew a couple of penalties on Powers and looked impressive with the routes.
- The wide receivers didn't catch a pass until the 2nd quarter last week, need to get them involved earlier in the game. See above. Group was much more active early. Still would like to see more receptions from the group as the starters only combined for 3.
- Where's Woodhead? We thought we might see him last week, hoping he's a go this week. What could've been on that wheel route to Woodhead. Man this guy is so quick. I can't wait to see what variation they run off that wheel. Could run a V route or something similar to play off of it.
- Keenan Allen has been a trusted target of Rivers, seems to be getting stronger every week. Can he continue that trend? Had two catches on a similar play. But still was a target Rivers trusted.
- Rivers bailed out Starks on 1090 this week about the sack saying he went too deep in the pocket, Dunlap still seems to be the more consistent option. Does that trend continue? A collective gasp when Dunlap went down. He returned and all was right in the world. Dunlap, appears to be the starter.
- The protection last week wasn't very good. Needs to be much better and provide Rivers more time. Fluker looked really good in the running game. Excited to see if he can improve week to week in the passing game. Decent pockets at times for Rivers, others forcing him to step up with pressure in his face. But not a bad night for the group.
- Ryan Mathews…so good so far I took him in my fantasy league. He's running hard and looking very strong. Another great game for Mathews up until that fumble. Has to know that the defense is going to be looking for that after he attempted it a few times.
- How busy is Mike Scifres? Hopefully the offense finds consistency and establishes a nice rhythm early. 4 punts between both guys. Not bad and the offense had a 13 play nearly 7 minute drive on their second possession that ended in a touchdown. Good rhythm.
- Ladarius Green has been a bright spot catching touchdowns from both backups. Does he get some time with Rivers this week? He's going to force his way onto the field. Another great catch and run.
- Mike Willie had a great week, consistency is key for him to ensure he makes this team. Just one catch tonight and not a lot of production out of the WRs overall.
- Robert Meachem – even with the injuries, he's still a question mark. Had 1 catch last week late. Pretty sure Meachem will be cut as he is seeing limited playing time. Although, he looked pretty good last night.
- Second string O-Line – Troutman may not make this team. Will be interested to see who takes snaps at center and guard. Troutman was back in with the 2's and seemed to fair better this time around. Will be interesting to see what decisions are made for backups.
Special Teams
- If this is the dress rehearsal, do we see some of the potential starters play on this unit. Richard Marshall may be one of those guys. We did and they responded. While Marshall didn't play, quite a few others did and they played well. Good to see coaching come into play here to correct what had been a mistake prone unit.
Look forward to recapping the game on Sunday.
Go Bolts!
Justin Holmerud
Game 3.
Widely viewed as the dress rehearsal and the game in which the starters play the longest. With a new coach, we don't really know. How long will the starters play? Can they generate some consistency on offense and create turnovers on defense? More story lines developing this week as we head towards some critical roster decisions. Roster will drop down to 75 players this week. Here's what to watch for tonight.
Coaching and GM
- This should be the week we see a little more game planning as it could be seen as the dress rehearsal for the regular season
- Depth continues to be a big question mark for this team. Injuries have really emphasized that lack of depth. Will Richard Marshall see the field as the latest addition to replace Steve Williams
- While Mike McCoy has said that they aren't playing the starters on special teams, the unit has been a nightmare
- The first unit was again very impressive with Liuget on the field. This group needs to prove it can be dominant without him
- It looks like Te'o may not be back until the regular season, Bront Bird and DJ Smith appear to be separating themselves from the rest
- Cox has started to make some plays in practice, hoping to see this translate to the field tonight. Fitzgerald will prove to be another challenge for this unit after facing Marshall last year.
- Gilchrist was somewhat invisible last week, which was both good and bad. Would love to see him make a couple plays.
- We saw two sacks on the first 3 plays last week, would love to see more consistent pressure throughout the game.
- No Alexander, Floyd or Royal. We may be looking at Allen and Brown as the starters.
- The wide receivers didn't catch a pass until the 2nd quarter last week, need to get them involved earlier in the game.
- Where's Woodhead? We thought we might see him last week, hoping he's a go this week.
- Keenan Allen has been a trusted target of Rivers, seems to be getting stronger every week. Can he continue that trend?
- Rivers bailed out Starks on 1090 this week about the sack saying he went too deep in the pocket, Dunlap still seems to be the more consistent option. Does that trend continue?
- The protection last week wasn't very good. Needs to be much better and provide Rivers more time. Fluker looked really good in the running game. Excited to see if he can improve this week-to-week in the passing game.
- Ryan Mathews…so good so far I took him in my fantasy league. He's running hard and looking very strong.
- How busy is Mike Scifres? Hopefully the offense finds consistency and establishes a nice rhythm early.
- Ladarius Green has been a bright spot catching touchdowns from both backups. Does he get some time with Rivers this week?
- Mike Willie had a great week, consistency is key for him to ensure he makes this team.
- Robert Meachem – even with the injuries, he's still a question mark. Had 1 catch last week late.
- Second string O-Line – Troutman may not make this team. Will be interested to see who takes snaps at center and guard.
Special Teams
- If this is the dress rehearsal, do we see some of the potential starters play on this unit.
Look forward to recapping the game on Sunday.
Go Bolts!
Justin Holmerud
The Chargers head into the third preseason game on Saturday at the Arizona Cardinals. The team has shown good and bad over the first two games but that's the point of preseason games, separate the bad from the good. Last week against the Bears there was plenty of good and bad. Here's what I saw:
The most important part of the Chargers equation is the offensive line. Fluker, Starks and Clary all let their man get by them for a sack. Of course, this being the Thursday Night 'Monday Night Football' game, there were copious replays of them getting beaten badly by the Bears linemen. However, that was their one hiccup and the line held for the most part. Fluker and Starks maintained their sides admirably and Rivers had time to throw, most of the time.
Ryan Mathews continued to look impressive. In the first two games, Mathews has been decisive when hitting the hole instead of dancing in the backfield and losing yards or being stuffed at the line. Mathews has been running downhill, has shown great burst and has made it two games without getting injured. Excuse me while I look for wood to knock on…hard.
Fozzy Whittaker has looked great on the field. He has shown ability to pass block and catch passes as well as run with speed and power. Whitaker could be a hidden gem, gift wrapped by new Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt who saw Whittaker daily on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. Whitaker has not played a down in a live game until now but you would never know by looking at him.
Antonio Gates is running, cutting and getting open as well as he has in years. Very encouraging.
Edwin 'Rock' Baker looked good running the ball but against the Bears third unit, its hard to gauge how much stock to put into it.
Mike Willie did a great job of recovering from the vicious, CLEAN hit levied on him by Jon Bostic. Any player could have called it a day after taking a shot like that but Willie dusted himself off, and scored two touchdowns after that hit. Gotta admire the effort and perseverance after knowing he made the wrong end of the Sportscenter highlight.
Charlie Whitehurst played well in leading a touchdown pass and making good passes. He looked bad by throwing interceptions, getting sacked and not being able to separate himself from the third string quarterback. Speaking of whom…
Seventh round draft pick Brad Sorensen has looked very impressive in both games. Sorensen throws a tight, accurate ball. He reads the defense and makes quick decisions and moves fluidly in the pocket. There is ten times more upside in Sorensen than there is with Whitehurst. Considering they're both on equal footing having to learn a new offense, Sorensen is playing better than Whitehurst in my opinion.
The defense didn't camp in the backfield like they did last week against Seattle but they did get good push up the middle and Dwight Freeney looks like he hasn't lost a step.
The first team secondary gave up big plays, partly because of the line not being able to get consistent pressure. The Bears receivers got open repeatedly and Forte got loose on multiple plays. This should be a better than average defense but part of this is going to be being able to stifle top running backs. Forte had a field day against the first unit.
Atrocious. The Bears got free on kick returns, punt returns and they stayed on short fields as a result of it.
Richard Goodman was terrible. When he wasn't fumbling the kickoff and losing sight of it on the turf, he couldn't find the hole and gained very little yardage if any at all. You will see his name on the chopping block.
Keenan Allen didn't fare much better in the return game. Allen also fumbled a ball, trying to run before the catch. The ball actually hit Allen in the helmet but at least it wasn't a Raiders helmet he was wearing.
The most impressive and encouraging part of the game was none of the above things. The roster is undergoing a massive overhaul and the team has gotten considerable younger. The team taking the field will be one of the youngest in the league. This is a boom or bust team but you can't help but enjoy the infusion of youth and talent from our draft picks like Mantei Te'o and Keenan Allen to unknowns like Willie and Whitaker.
Already the team speed has improved significantly. Starting corner Shareece Wright fell early on a play, got up and caught Matt Forte from behind as Forte had burst through the line, scooted to the left sideline and was running full speed, untouched toward the end zone. Had that been Quentin Jammer or Antoine Cason, there is no doubt in my mind Forte would have scored. Wright didn't give up on the play and showed blazing speed in catching Forte, who had a ten yard head start.
On another play, undrafted free agent Marcus Cromartie showed his great speed as he caught a Bears kick returner from behind as the returner had made it into the open field and had nothing but grass and the kicker in front of him. Cromartie came from out of view of the camera to run down the returner just yards short of the end zone.
The new guys are funneling renewed energy, unseen speed and more 'want to' than previous editions of this team. That should be as encouraging as anything we've seen of this team so far. No one is giving up easy scores. Mistakes might be made but they are fundamental mistakes, mistakes that can be fixed. These mistakes are not because the player is too old and can't hang with the competition, as has been the case with the team the last few seasons. As a lifelong Chargers fan, I am as encouraged to see this team hit the field as I have been to see the team since the LT days. You should be too.
Bolt Up
The Greg One
For all of you football fans/Charger fans (or part time Charger fans) that question our man under center, here's some food for thought. Philip Rivers is the one of the most successful quarterbacks in Charger's history. How does he compare to other Charger's quarterbacks? I'm glad you asked.
John Hadl played for the Chargers for 10 seasons (1962-1972) and had 114 starts. Hadle threw for over 33,000 yards and ended his career with only a 67.4 QB rating but from 1966-1969 he threw for over 3000 yards and averaged 23 touchdowns per season. (14 game seasons back then).
Dan Fouts was the most illustrious and longest tenured quarterback in Charger's history. He played for San Diego for 15 seasons (1973-1987) and had 171 starts. Fouts threw for over 43,000 yards and ended up with an 80.2 QB rating.
Stan Humphries played for the Chargers for 6 seasons and is the only quarterback to lead the Chargers to a Superbowl appearance. Humphries threw for over 17,000 and ended with a QB rating of 75.8.
Drew Brees only played four years for San Diego but being one of the best quarterbacks in the league, I couldn't leave him off this list. During his four years in San Diego, Brees' career was quite productive with the 2003 campaign being his worst. That year he lost the starting role to Doug Flutie. The 2005 season, Brees QB rating was a respectable 89.2 which was 10th best in the league.
At the end of the 2005 season, Brees tore his labrum, an injury most athletes rarely come back from if at all. By this time, Philip Rivers is on the roster getting paid big bucks. It was an easy decision for A.J. Smith. Schottenheimer wanted to keep him but Smith said no. Wonder what he would have done had Brees stayed healthy. We all know how his career turned out since then already having won a Superbowl and surpassing Dan Marino's single season passing record for one of only two teams that was willing to take a chance on him.
Philip Rivers has been on the Charger's roster now for going on 10 seasons. During the 7 years behind center, Rivers has started every single game. That's 112 straight starts. Incredible. During those 7 years, Rivers has amassed 27,891 passing yards, a 63.6 completion percentage and a 94.5 QB rating, the best in Chargers history and # 6 on the NFL career all time passing list. In comparison, Joe Montana ended his career with a 92.3 QB rating and a 63.2 completion percentage.
How can anyone argue those numbers?
I'll take Rivers as my QB any day.
Randy Mainwaring
I am working on an article that will state my opinion regarding the topic in the title. That piece will be posted either tonight or tomorrow. But I am leaving the question to you.
Could the 2013 campaign be the best yet for former first round pick Ryan Mathews? Although we have only had a limited sample size thus far in the preseason, there seems to be a few things that are different about the fourth year running back.
It certainly doesn't hurt his chances that it appears as though the Offensive line has improved from last year. This year's group can't really be any worse than what was put on the field in 2012.
As mentioned above, I'll be breaking down Mathews' chances of having a career year in a post in the very near future.
You all know the drill. Place you vote below and tell me why you voted the way you did in the comment section.
Thanks a lot for reading and voting.
Booga Peters


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The Shelby County Commission seemingly dealt a death blow last Wednesday to a proposal for converting The Pyramid into a casino. But did it? In all likelihood, the casino scenario, first advanced by Commissioner John Willingham, will surface for another vote in mid-April that could well reverse the verdict of Wednesday's special session.
That session was made necessary by an objection at last week's regular Monday commission meeting by Commissioner Marilyn Loeffel that the proposal had not been properly added to the body's agenda at an earlier committee meeting.
That created enough confusion that commissioners agreed to defer a vote on the matter until the specially called session two days later. And Loeffel, by her own account as well as Willingham's, used the extra time to organize a pressure campaign on commissioners to reject the proposal.
"I'll give her her due. She's very powerful in terms of her constituency," said Willingham after two casino-related votes had fallen short by two votes at the Wednesday meeting. He identified that constituency as one symbolized by -- but not limited to -- the Bellevue Baptist Church congregation and that church's pastor, the Rev. Adrian Rogers. Willingham added that pressure -- presumably independent of Loeffel -- had also come from sources close to Tunica gambling interests.
Loeffel acknowledged that she made efforts to see that her fellow commissioners heard from citizens objecting to votes that would have authorized the Tennessee General Assembly to pass casino-friendly legislation. One bill would begin a constitutional-amendment process legalizing a casino at the single site of The Pyramid. Another would legalize "games of skill" throughout the state.
"It was a combination of hard work and God dust," a beaming Loeffel said of the outcome, which saw the proposals turned back by votes of 5-7-1 (Cleo Kirk abstaining in the constitutional-amendment vote) and 5-8.
Voting no on both votes were Commissioners Linda Rendtorff, Walter Bailey, Joyce Avery, David Lillard, Tom Moss, Bruce Thompson, and Chairwoman Loeffel. Yes votes came from Willingham, Julian Bolton, Deidre Malone, Michael Hooks, and Joe Ford.
The votes almost didn't come off. After the commission had unanimously approved the other proposal on last Wednesday's special agenda for a reorganization of county school board district lines, Moss moved to defer action on the casino votes until the commission's regular meeting of April 12th. He was seconded by Lillard.
For a while, that seemed to be that, but Willingham pressed for a roll-call vote on the deferral, which was defeated.
After the two nay votes on the casino proposal, Thompson pointedly crossed over to Willingham's side of the commission table, whispered in his ear, and shook his hand -- an action inviting speculation from Loeffel and others that a move to reconsider the votes might be in the offing for April 12th.
If it did, the most likely converts would be Thompson and Kirk -- the former of whom did acknowledge later the eloquence of remarks made Monday by Hooks to the effect that Memphis and Shelby County "already" had casino gambling -- meaning the complex in nearby Tunica -- without benefiting from accompanying tax revenues.
Hooks also noted that the county's taxpayers were still on the line for $32 million worth of outstanding bonds and additional annual maintenance costs for The Pyramid, which would shortly "go dark" now that the University of Memphis basketball Tigers have completed plans to move to the new FedExForum.
"We've got a bone, but we don't even have a dog in the yard," Willingham said about nonexistent prospects for occupancy of The Pyramid, other than his proposal, in tandem with the Lakes Corporation of Minnesota, for developing it as a casino/hotel complex.
Among what seems to be a growing number of prominent Memphians advocating consideration of the idea is Convention & Visitors Bureau head Kevin Kane, who volunteered favorable testimony to a meeting of Willingham's Tourism and Public Works committee last week.
Opponents of a casino at The Pyramid and some media sources cite Governor Phil Bredesen as also being opposed to the idea, but the governor has debunked that notion, telling local officials who have contacted him, as well as the Flyer, that while he is "not at all sure" that the idea is good for Memphis and Shelby County, he intends to be responsive to local business, political, and civic leaders on the point.
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text:
Sid has been with us at Ace Progress for 3 years. He is unfailingly positive and upbeat all the time. Customers know him as someone who can help with absolutely any home project. Co-workers know him as the big, strong guy always willing to share his knowledge and offer assistance. He is a tremendous asset for Ace.
Sid came to us with a career of experience in the beer industry, building materials, and trucking. Believe it or not, he was also involved in the movie industry and has a listing on IMDb for his work with Jerry Reed productions.
Stop and say hello the next time you're in and see if he will share a story about one of the custom hot rods he's built. I think you'll agree that Sid is a really special Ace associate; happy, helpful, and accomplished.


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Summer's Garden Themed Party
Party Recap
For her 10th birthday Summer wanted a Garden themed party in the park using the colours of blue, green and yellow. It was a lot of fun to design this Sweets table and Lemonade stand for Summer and all the kids had a great time.
Party Highlights
What People Ate
Sweet treats included cupcakes and lollies, as well as personalised chocolate bars that were given out as favours.
What People Drank
Homemade Lemonade
Party Favors
Custom wrapped chocolate bars
1 comment
Momma Smurph V wrote:
I loveeee it! Where did you get those cute pickett fences & matching water can???
To leave a comment Log in -or- Join the party


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Cheers to Friday! What are you up to this long weekend? We're planning to stay low, relax and unwind. You? Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing next three days and I'll see you back here on Tuesday morning, but before you go, how would you fancy diving into some awesome reads? Enjoy!
8 ways you can survive and thrive in midlife.
15 simple ways to handle stress.
Mastering the mask.
Have you ever confused life with a dream?
Le sigh...
The best British shows you should be watching. (I can't get enough of Fleabag - so witty!).
Fancy a 30-day fall wardrobe challenge?
So ready for Halloween. You?
Your brain has a 'delete button'. Here is how to use it.
Those two live in a vintage airstream...
Ha! Here is something for all those of us who wear glasses.
The ultimate basics...
This one word will change your outlook on life.
How to overcome perfectionism.
Manage your energy, not your time.
6 tips for keeping hormones in check.
A mindful day in three simple steps.
And fancy a blast from the past?
- One year ago today.
P.S: How about a bit of chit-chat? Join me on Instagram, Facebook and even Pinterest.
(Photo via Breathing Classy)


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First day of my three day weekend with mum! We did a spot of belated birthday present shopping for me which was fun, I got a lovely new lipstick, purse and pair of summer shoes!
We've walked nearly ten miles today in the busy London streets. It's been really fun touristing around the place, love a good excuse to wander around the city!


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Health standards for school lunch meat far lower than for fast food joints
As a Dad with a daughter in public school, I was more than a little alarmed to read that the meat/bacteria regulations for fast food restaurants are 10 times more strict than the standards set by the USDA for school lunches, according to a report by USA Today.
Underscoring how truly alarming this is requires some history. Back in 1993, Jack in the Box fast food restaurants were responsible for the deaths of several children due to E. coli O157:H7 food poisoning. Four kids died of hemolytic uremic syndrome and 600 residents of Washington state were sickened or hospitalized with bloody diarrhea stemming from bacteria-tainted hamburgers, derived from meat produced by Von Companies of California.
In all, 73 Jack in the Box locations throughout the West and Midwest were found to be distributing meat tainted with E. coli O157:H7.
Since then, tighter rules have been applied to fast food restaurants and how they prepare their meat. Of course, most of the regulations end there and the actual sources of E. coli O157:H7 tainted meat -- meat packing plants and factory farms -- are still in full operation, cranking out new cases of food poisoning all the time.
In other words, school beef and poultry is less safe than fast food meat -- despite fast food's notorious history with E. coli O157:H7, salmonella and other types of food poisoning. Jack in the Box is safer than the burgers at school.
It gets crazier, though. USA Today reported that USDA rules for supermarket beef are even less stringent than the standards for school meat.
So fast food beef, for all of its infamy, is safer than school beef, and school beef is safer than supermarket beef. Would it be too much to ask for meat that's at least safer than fast food standards? Can we at least set the bar a little higher than Jack in the Box?
This is clearly one circumstance in which it's safer to eat fast food than to cook at home. And fast food is generally terrible.


text: Red, orange and green low-compression balls don't bounce as high as a yellow ball, making them easier for children to hit. Watch the below animations to find out why the red, orange and green balls are perfect for developing players. You can also find our more info on the Hot Shots Website.


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The Dockers have launched the Fremantle Dockers Foundation, in association with the ASF, to raise funds for the club's new headquarters.
The City of Cockburn is contributing $72.8 million to the facility, which will also be a community aquatic and recreational centre. A further $22.4 million has been committed in Government grants, $1m by Curtin University and the remainder will be generated by the club.
The club is hopeful business operators, high net-worth individuals and club supporters will make financial contributions to the Foundation via the ASF. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
"There's no limit on the funding we'll look to generate this year and in future years because the more funding we raise, the more resources we can put into our broader community and development programs," said Dockers CEO, Steve Rosich.
Former club champion Peter Bell has agreed to become a Foundation ambassador alongside star midfielder Stephen Hill.
A full-time fundraising manager has been hired to drive special fundraising projects.
The Dockers new base will include a state-of-the-art training facility and will boast indoor and outdoor pools, hydrotherapy facilities, an adaptable AFL-sized oval, and a sport and retail shop.
Special projects, such as community engagement activities and education classes for school groups, will also be included.
Bell said the new facility will help attract top players to the Dockers and assist them fulfil their playing potential.
"There's no doubt with the technology, science and the education facilities that will be at this training centre that it will give the players a fillip," he said.
Dockers General Manager of Strategic Projects, Brad Paatsch, who has responsibility for the Foundation, said the ASF provided great assistance with the fundraising project.
"The fundraising advice and strategic direction provided by the ASF has allowed us to successfully launch the project. We have received strong immediate support from our members and supporters with up to 50 donations received within the first few days of going public," he said.
ASF CEO Patrick Walker congratulated the Dockers on the multi-functional project.
"This is a great example of an AFL club working with its partners, members and fans to build an exciting new facility which will provide widespread community benefits," he said.
"While the facilities' primary focus is on the Dockers to remain one of the leading clubs in the AFL competition, its broad community plans will ensure AFL participation continues to thrive at a grassroots level and pathways to excellence exists for talented players."
"It is yet another fine example how AFL clubs are setting the benchmark when it comes to partnering with the ASF to raise funds for specific programs.
Construction works for the Dockers new facility is expected to start next month.
It is planned for the club to move to the new site in time for the start of the 2017 AFL season.
Visit the Fremantle Dockers Foundation project page to find out more.


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Rat carcass is the plat du jour for the well-to-do expectant ladies, according to a new experiment observing pregnant green bottle flies.
Scientists gave pregnant green bottle flies two menu options: dead rat or dog feces.
While dog poop and rat bodies were both equally appetizing for hungry pregnant flies, the study in the Journal of Chemical Ecology, revealed that well-fed pregnant flies were significantly more likely to choose the rat carcass.
Why? Well, researchers believe well-fed pregnant flies were more likely to pick rat carcass because the dead flesh provided "the perfect place to lay eggs," writes Discover Magazine.


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Friday is Steak Night!
Friday Night is Steak Night at the Gateway Hotel in Swinford. This is an extremely popular evening with our guests and locals alike. Enjoy a choice of steaks cooked to your liking with a complimentary glass of house wine. Have a look at our menu.
Evening & Dining Room Menu
Evening Menu: Our Flying Doc Bar & Lounge Evening A La Carte Menu is available 7 days a week from 4 pm (5 pm on Sundays) to 9 pm. We offer a variety of traditional and delicious dishes for you to choose from.
Dining Room: Our intimate dining room is open for bookings every Friday & Saturday from 6 pm to 9 pm. Enjoy a fine choice of delicious dishes in our comfortable and cosy restaurant. Our Dining room is also available anytime for private bookings. We would be delighted to assist you in any way to organise that special occasion.
Sunday Lunch
Sunday lunch, at the Gateway Hotel, Swinford is a very popular day. We offer a set menu and a Sunday lunch carvery. Have a look at our menu.
By the way...
In our hotel
- Friday night is steak night
- enjoy premium coffee at The Front
- we offer free WiFi
- guests enjoy free parking
- we are the closest hotel to Ireland West Aiport Knock


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Here's another small project I did with my Cameo cutting machine.
Once again I used an image from the Silhouette store. I added the letter M to the car.
Here are the quick steps:
Paint the canvas your background colour.. I used acrylic paint and a sponge brush
Cut the image on contact paper. I used the default setting when choosing "Vinyl" under the cut settings.
|Dontcha love my "table"
Cut the contact paper so you have a few inches of contact paper around it. Place on canvas. Don't forget to add all your details that fall off.. ie the M and my windows which I forgot initially.
Using a card, burnish the contact paper.
Paint another coat of your background paint over the contact paper.
(it was at this point I realized that I forgot my windows, so I added them in and redid this step).Once that is dry, paint again with the colour you want for your image..
I needed to do several coats of the orange to it even.
When try, slowly peal off teh contact paper. Use a pin to pull of the small pieces.
I had to touch up the M a bit as I wasn't as careful as I should have been pulling of the contact paper.
That's it.. cute, simple for kids room.. I'll be do a few more of these. Maybe getting more complicated.


text: Aerosmith's Blue Army Tour Kicks Off 07/01/2015 See All News Aerosmith's Blue Army Tour kicked off last week at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. Brad rockin' in Evansville! #BlueArmyTour is in full swing! Don't miss out: http://t.co/flR4aoiZfX Photo: @zwhitford pic.twitter.com/lKWRqNqF8f — Aerosmith (@Aerosmith) June 27, 2015 The tour includes 14 stops before concluding at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's first-ever Concert for Legends on Friday, Aug. 7 at 8 p.m. ET. Based off the video clips below, fans attending the concert in Canton can expect a high-energy show featuring many of the band's top hits. The Hall just released a limited number of VIP Gold Circle Seats, some next to the concert stage, available now for purchase. Tickets are expected to sell fast so get yours now! Get Concert Tickets>>> Fans can also enhance their concert experience with the Official Aerosmith Pre-Concert Party ticket. Go behind the velvet rope and enjoy great food, cold beer, and entertainment alongside some of Aerosmith's biggest fans! Get Party Tickets>>> Back to news


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6-speed manual transmission
The 718 models are equipped with a smooth-shifting 6-speed manual transmission optimally matched to the respective engine map. The shift throws are sporty and short, and shift effort is low. This means short shift times for an engaging driving experience. The drive becomes even more dynamic in conjunction with the optional Sport Chrono Package: in SPORT and SPORT PLUS mode, the dynamic throttle-blip function ensures the optimum engine speed for every downshift, a more emotional driving experience and an impressive sound.


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Europe's first Space Exploration Masters competition, based around space exploration activities, welcomed new players to boost business and innovation in the space industry. The event was held at the NewSpace Europe conference on 16 November 2017 in Luxembourg.
Prizes worth more than €500 000 were awarded to winners with disruptive ideas to connect space and non-space areas with new approaches, solutions and services.
For further information visit: http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Business_with_ESA/Business_Opportunities/Space_exploration_open_for_business


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Waiting list for competing in 2008 Madrid BG Triathlon World Cup
By ITU Admin on 30/04/08 at 12:00 am
25 days before the 2008 Madrid BG Triathlon World Cup, a waiting list of 46 triathletes (19 women and 27 men) all over the world has been created to participate in the capital of Spain next 25 May. According to the ITU rules, 75 men and women can compete in each World Cup event… and now there are 196 athletes who want to be in Madrid, the last World Cup race to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The criteria for competing in a World Cup event is the next one: the place in the 2007 ITU World Cup Ranking and the place in the ITU Points Ranking. Moreover, there are some booked vacancies for the organizing country in each World Cup event, in this case for the Spanish Triathlon Federation.
By the way, if any of the waiting list athletes hope to participate in Madrid, there should be a vacant and it is difficult to happen except for an injury or an illness of any of the athletes of the Start List.
The warm weather in Madrid and the nice show created including the presence of lots of fans all along the circuit make this event the favourite one for many triathletes all over the world.
Find more details about this event - 2008 Madrid BG Triathlon World Cup


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Built To Suit Office
Trueseed is passionate about conceiving & creating workspaces for their corporate clients, which are an intelligent mix of art, and science hence improving productivity & return on investment. We like to call ourselves office scientist who creates "soul up liftment spaces" for all involved.
Trueseed is a common name across corporate landscape in Gurugram for turnkey projects i.e. right from design to implementation, bare shell to a fully plug & play office space that reflects the corporate's vision.
Again simply put, bare shell spaces are converted into a ready, plug & play office, which ideates our client's ideology and vision.
How does discussion over Brazilian coffee sounds? GOOD….


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Add a finishing touch to your ethnic look wearing this attractive maroon & green colored necklace set from Anuradha Art Jewellery. Perfectly styled with pearls, beads & studded with American diamonds & maroon colored stone, this set will look equally good with suits and sarees. Made from 40% silver & Victorian polished copper. It has a fabulous finish and is safe for your sensitive skin as well.
[Note:- Avoid keeping it in a velvet box, avoid contact with perfumes and water.]
Product Rating
Very Good
Featured Products
Stunning Mina Work…
$21.93 $24.36
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Fancy Design With…
$59.85 $66.5


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As you know at Two Mile Ash School we are committed to the well-being of your child/children. Therefore, I would like to introduce myself and provide you with some useful information regarding your child's health.
My name is Mrs Cathie Stone and I have been Matron at Two Mile Ash School for 9 years now. The Medical Room is staffed between 08.30 and 16.30 Monday to Friday. If you have any medical or other relevant concerns regarding your child/children, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If your child/children require medication throughout the day such as antibiotics, inhalers, eye drops etc. please send them into school for matron's attention. The medication must be clearly labelled with your child's name and class, stating the dose, frequency and the time required for each school day by completing an authorisation form. You can collect one of these from reception or Matron or you can send in an accompanied letter granting matron permission to administer the medication.
Please be aware that matron is unable to administer any medication to a child without written permission.
If your child has an ongoing medical condition with daily medical needs, you will be required to complete a Healthcare Plan which you will be able to collect from Matron. The Healthcare Plan can be tailored to your child's particular needs and agreed by the school and the parent/carer. If you require further assistance in completing the health care plan, please feel free to contact matron at any time to discuss this.
Sickness and Diarrhoea
If your child has had sickness/diarrhoea, please do not return your child to school until at least 48 hours has elapsed from your child being ill.
If your child has been prescribed an asthma inhaler, please could you make sure your child has their inhaler in school at all times. This must be clearly labelled with their name and class and kept in their tray or bag during class. A spare inhaler may be kept in the Medical Room.
Please remember to check your child's hair regularly for head lice. This is a good habit to get into as these unwelcome visitors are passed on quickly and it could be your child/children next!
If you require any information regarding these pesky creatures, please do not hesitate to contact me.
May we take this opportunity to remind you that it is school policy to ask for children to be taken home for treatment when live insects are seen in their hair.
Contact Details
It is extremely important to keep the school informed of any changes to your address and/or contact details, this avoids unnecessary distress for your child when we are unable to contact you in times of illness, injury or emergency. There is a form available from reception that must be completed for any change in telephone numbers etc.
Again, if there is anything that is of concern to you, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your co-operation in these matters, and let's hope your child has a happy, healthy time at TMA!


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Les Elgart (trumpet) and his brother Larry (alto/soprano sax) led one of the more popular swing orchestras of the '50s. Their smooth, tightly arranged sound helped keep the declining big-band style alive on the charts for a little while longer, and their later reunions often produced stylistic detours into contemporary easy listening trends. Les Elgart was born August 3, 1918, in New Haven, CT, while Larry was born March 20, 1922, in nearby New London. Their parents both played the piano, and the brothers took up music in their early teens; they were already performing professionally by the time each turned 20. During the early '40s, they sometimes wound up in the same groups, and formed their own orchestra in 1945, hiring top-notch arrangers like Nelson Riddle, Ralph Flanagan, and Bill Finegan. However, a number of factors conspired against them: the Musicians' Union recording strike, the declining popularity of live swing music, conflicts over leadership, and the end of World War II. They wound up disbanding in 1946, and Les and Larry went their separate ways, making a living as freelancers in whatever orchestras could pay them.
The Elgart brothers reunited in 1952, with arranger Charles Albertine -- a Larry Elgart discovery -- in tow. Taking advantage of new recording technology, they crafted a more nuanced, subtle sound that was lighter in tone and rhythm; it relied on tight brass and saxophone sections, and eliminated the piano and nearly all soloing. The 1953 LP Sophisticated Swing established this new blueprint, and a subsequent series of albums on Columbia over the next few years proved quite successful. Their biggest sellers were 1956's The Elgart Touch and the following year's For Dancers Also, both of which reached the Top 15 on the LP charts; they weren't as successful on the singles side, although they did have a minor hit with their theme to "The Man With the Golden Arm," and their original "Bandstand Boogie" was adopted by Dick Clark as the theme song for American Bandstand. Co-bandleader Les spent more and more time handling the business side of things, and eventually stopped performing altogether in the late '50s; he left the band and moved to California, and Larry officially took over the musical direction (he'd pretty much taken charge already). He moved the band to RCA and then MGM, and to keep up with the times, he began to move more into the easy listening market, crafting hi-fi lounge albums with touches of swing, exotica, and space age bachelor pad music.
Les reunited with Larry once again in 1963, by which time Larry had begun to add elements of rock and pop to the musical mix. Charles Albertine returned as arranger early on, but soon left to work in the TV/film industry, and was replaced by Bobby Scott. Released in 1964, Command Performance! was their last charting album, but a number of other albums from this era later became popular with lounge collectors, particularly 1967's Girl Watchers. That was one of the brothers' final recordings together, as Les retired to Texas and performed only occasionally. Larry soldiered on, and eventually found surprising commercial success in the early '80s as mastermind of the popular Hooked on Swing albums. Elgart and his New Manhattan Swing Band ran through medleys of popular jazz tunes set to a steady beat, in a format like that of the companion Hooked on Classics series. Larry Elgart continued to lead bands on whatever circuits he could find; Les Elgart passed away in Dallas on July 29, 1995, of heart failure. ~ Steve Huey~ Rovi


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MALIBU — Eight months after her Malibu mansion was destroyed in the Woolsey fire, Miley Cyrus has filed paperwork to begin building a new home, RadarOnline.com reported Wednesday.
Radar obtained the permit Cyrus, 26, filed in the city of Malibu on July 2, requesting permission to begin excavating a plot of land where her $2.5 million mansion once stood. The paperwork reflects that Cyrus paid $412.33 for the permit for the excavation and drilling to take place at her former home.
Cyrus' now-husband Liam Hemsworth posted an image of the property on Instagram after the home burned in November 2018:
View this post on Instagram
It's been a heartbreaking few days. This is what's left of my house. Love. Many people in Malibu and surrounding areas in California have lost their homes also and my heart goes out to everyone who was affected by these fires. I spent the day in Malibu yesterday and it was amazing to see the community pulling together to help each other out in any way they can. Malibu is a strong community and this event is only going to make it stronger. Thankful for the all the great local guys that helped keep smaller fires out around my property. I love u guys. I love you Malibu. Thank you to all the hero firefighters around California. It's going to be a journey to rebuild. Stay strong all. To help/donate visit @malibufoundation and @happyhippiefdn


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The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Thin Difference article, "Pushing Past the Fear of Looking Stupid" by Eric Torrence.


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The WorldSkills UK Productivity Lab
Using international insights to drive UK productivity
WorldSkills UK has been benchmarking internationally and honing our training methods for many years. To ensure our work adds value to the whole UK Further Education (FE) sector, we have created the WorldSkills UK Productivity Lab – helping us mainstream world-class skills excellence across the UK.
Through the Productivity Lab, we will be conducting research and sharing best practice from our outstanding partners across the worlds of business, government and education.
We will develop and share our methodology for becoming world-class, while delivering insights into how other countries in the WorldSkills global network are developing their skills systems to meet their economic needs and boost their competitiveness.


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Book review: A Hologram For The King by Dave Eggers
AFTER achieving early fame with autobiography, Dave Eggers's subsequent books largely seem inspired less by his own life than by a desire to tell the stories of others.
Zeitoun, his last major publication for adults, was about a New Orleans man who survived Hurricane Katrina; his latest novel, A Hologram For The King, was sparked off by a conversation with his brother-in-law about his trip to a Saudi Arabian city with a multi-national corporation.
The book's protagonist, Alan Clay, an unsuccessful business consultant and a man without a soul, is deliberately dull, seemingly chosen to represent an out-of-touch American culture more interested in money than anything else.
Clay's task is to convince an 85-year-old Saudi Arabian king to invest in his IT company, the biggest in America and, as the title indicates, part of the presentation will involve a hologram of a physically absent partner. If he fails, he will go bankrupt; if he succeeds, he will have enough money to retire.
However, he is kept waiting by the king, distracted with elaborately produced promotional films and questions about his business failures and left ignored in a cold tent by the sea where his colleagues worry about the lack of wi-fi signal.
We are in Waiting For Godot territory (a Beckett epigraph makes the link explicit) as Alan sits in his room and worries that a boil on his shoulder might be something more serious.
Eggers's early prose was largely inspired by the late David Foster Wallace, although Eggers has always been far less afraid of sentiment. His writing has become much simpler over the years. The prose is perhaps a little too Janet and John in places though this is clearly a conscious decision designed to make a complex book accessible.
Eggers's early prose was largely inspired by the late David Foster Wallace, although Eggers has always been far less afraid of sentiment
Eggers has kept Clay as an archetype who, unable to perform sexually with a woman who finds him attractive, meditates on the similarities between humans and robots.
The supporting cast are deliberately even less substantial, there to deliver broad points about the American public, suggesting we are at the end of an era of American dominance. Eggers works hard to make the reader relax about the fact that the king remains absent while Alan melts down, but in the final chapter the meeting finally takes place.
The outcome is not for me to reveal but it does open the book out beyond its previous claustrophobia. The "hologram" of the title turns out not just to be the complicated software Alan's company is hawking but also Alan himself and even the book, which viewed from the right angle seems utterly dazzling but from another, curiously flat.
Hamish Hamilton, £18.99
Verdict: 3/5


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Newspapers to Congress: Please Don't Give Us a Bailout
The newspaper bailout proposal you may have heard about over the last few months? The newspapers want no part of it, says an industry spokesman.
That said, the industry wouldn't turn down some help from Congress, says John Sturm, CEO of the Newspaper Association of America.
Testifying at a House hearing this morning, Sturm says his group does like proposals that would let newspapers–and other businesses–change some of their accounting practices related to tax refunds (via net operating-loss provisions) and pension plans. Oh, and he's in favor of a proposed law that would let papers operate as nonprofits while still generating advertising revenue.
The complete text of Sturm's opening statement is embedded at the bottom of this post, and if you want to watch the hearing, organized by Congress's Joint Economic Committee, it was streamed live (albeit choppily) here.
My political handicapping skills are nonexistent, but that said, I think there's no chance of Congress passing a bill that singles out newspapers for aid. Local papers are still vitally important to local lawmakers, but many of those lawmakers' constituents hate their papers, for all manner of offenses, real and imagined. I just can't imagine what they'd do if they were told their tax dollars were going to support their local rag.
Still, I wouldn't rule out some politically motivated pressure being applied to bogeymen like Craigslist and Google (GOOG), in the form of antitrust scrutiny or other arm-twisting.