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The former People in Peril shelter at 701 Main St. will have to get the city's homeless through the winter, because the long-delayed shelter on Queen Street will not open until spring.
In August, a spokesman for the Framingham-based South Middlesex Opportunity Council, which operates the shelter, said the new building would be ready this month. But Wednesday, she estimated it will not be done until April.
The delay is at least the second for the Main Street shelter closing since the City Council voted in 2011 to allow it to temporarily reopen. It had closed Feb. 1, 2011, and was replaced by a temporary triage and assessment center run by Community Healthlink at 12 Queen St., and SMOC began the work to open a new facility. Construction at 25 Queen St. got under way in August.
"The delays were caused by … engineering challenges that were much more involved than originally anticipated," said Jane Lane, a communications consultant who is SMOC's spokesman. "From everything I'm hearing, this construction crew is working diligently trying to make up for lost time."
Wednesday, the site at hilly 25 Queen St. was busy, but the structure was not weather-tight. Eventually, the building will hold 25 dormitory-style beds for people who need emergency shelter and 15 beds in single rooms for people in more stable situations who are closer to permanent housing. For now, however, the structure's plywood and Tyvek shell is missing windows and doors.
SMOC is in charge of both the former PIP shelter at 701 Main St., which is now called the Greater Worcester Housing Connection, and the new facility, which will bear the same name.
The general contractor for the project, Holliston-based Themeli Builders Inc., referred questions about the schedule to SMOC.
The shelter on Main Street has between 40 and 50 people, which appears to be higher than usual because of the recent weather, Ms. Lane said. Earlier in December and more generally, clients usually number in the thirties, she said.
That's a drop from when SMOC was allowed to temporarily resume operating the former PIP shelterdespite neighborhood opposition, on Dec. 1, 2011. That day, there were 60 people there. The lower census is the result of more aggressive efforts to connect people with services and move them toward permanent housing, Ms. Lane said.
While the new facility is under construction, people in need of shelter can simply show up at 701 Main St., she said.
A city spokeswoman did not return a call and email for comment about the delay. Ms. Lane said the city manager's office had been informed.


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Shooting reinforces dangers of police workBy SHAWNE K. WICKHAM
New Hampshire Sunday News
May 17. 2014 11:25PM
As his family and community prepares to bury slain police Officer Stephen Arkell, the effects of last Monday's tragedy in Brentwood are being felt by law enforcement agencies across the state.
Arkell died while responding to a domestic dispute at the duplex where Michael Nolan, 47, lived with his elderly father. Authorities say Nolan shot Arkell four times, fatally wounding him, before a fire and explosion engulfed the Mill Pond Road home.
Earl Sweeney is assistant commissioner of safety and the former head of the state's Police Standards and Training Council. After an officer is killed in the line of duty, he said, the PSTC and police departments will look at their policies and procedures for "lessons learned."
But the real lesson, he said, is that for law enforcement officers in agencies large or small, rural or urban, "The unpredictable and dangerous is always awaiting you at the next call or the next vehicle stop.
"Whenever an incident such as the tragic death of Officer Arkell occurs, all police officers everywhere face up to their own mortality, and their loved ones do as well," Sweeney said.
Enfield Police Chief Richard Crate, incoming president of the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, said in the days after such a tragedy, police chiefs reinforce the training that all officers received in the police academy.
"We have to do our jobs, and we have to go home at night to our families," he said. "And yes, we're going to run to the danger and put our lives at risk, but let's do so safely and remember what we learned in our officer survival skills."
Crate agreed that what happened in Brentwood is a sobering reminder of what all police officers and their families know.
"In New Hampshire, we're one of the safest states in the country," Crate said. "Because we don't deal with these things as often as some other communities, it hits home a little bit more, that there is a danger involved in our jobs and our communities."
Learning and improving
At the Police Standards and Training Council (PSTC) in Concord, training procedures could be updated once a report is issued on the Brentwood shooting.
"It's too early to say exactly what changes will be made, but we absolutely incorporate the findings of investigations into these incidents into our training," said Capt. Mark Bodanza, a bureau commander at PSTC.
"The safety of officers is always a top priority in our training, and we regularly review incidents like this most recent one, not only in New Hampshire but across the U.S., to make sure we are providing the most current training and best practices possible."
PSTC uses computer simulations of scenarios and situations in its training sessions, and Bodanza said information that emerges from the Brentwood shooting could be incorporated into future simulations.
Arkell, 48, a married father of two daughters, was the eighth New Hampshire police officer shot and killed in the line of duty in the past 20 years.
Jane Young, associate attorney general, said Arkell's death was exactly 25 months after Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney was shot to death when a suspected drug dealer opened fire on a team of officers serving a warrant at his house.
Among those who responded to Brentwood last Monday were one of the officers wounded in Greenland that night in 2012, as well as Greenland Police Chief Tara Laurent, Young said.
"It's what makes them . such true heroes," she said. "There they are, ready to lay down their lives again for a fellow officer, for that community."
Support from the ranks
And in the days since, the Greenland officers have been there to support the Brentwood department, she said.
"They are resilient, and they become the strength of the others because they have been through it," she said. "Brentwood can look at Greenland and look at Chief Laurent and her men, and it's what will get them through.
"Painful and dark days lie ahead, but they're there for each other."
Bodanza said officers are trained that when responding to a call for assistance, "The gold standard is always to respond to a call with another officer."
However, he said, "Given geographical constraints, budgetary and personnel restrictions, that isn't always possible. Especially on a call involving possible violence, like a domestic call, officers are trained to assess the lethality of a situation and make a determination on site whether to address the situation alone or wait for additional personnel to arrive."
Crate said most rural police departments in New Hampshire don't have the luxury of waiting for backup in such situations.
"Our job is to protect lives, and we're going to put our lives at risk to save somebody else's," he said. "I do tell my officers in a situation where there could be a dangerous call, we have to go in to prevent somebody else from dying."
Sweeney said there's no such thing as a routine call. "An officer can go from peaceful, friendly contacts with citizens one minute and the next minute find him or herself in a life or death situation."
Situations change quickly
He said Arkell probably expected the call he responded to last Monday to be a matter of sorting out what led to the dispute neighbors overheard between Nolan and his father. Instead, the encounter quickly turned deadly.
But backup might not have prevented Arkell's death, Sweeney said. "Had a second officer been with Officer Arkell at the time, two officers instead of one would likely have been ambushed and killed before they had a chance to access their firearms," he said.
Bodanza said such incidents drive home the danger that comes with wearing a badge. "You always know, in the back of your mind somewhere, how dangerous the job is and each call can be, but this brings all those fears to the surface," he said.
"I would tell everyone in uniform today, and any man or woman thinking about joining us, that this is the most prestigious and rewarding job you can have, but there is danger.
"When an officer is killed, it forces you to realize once again that with that prestige comes a commitment to lay down your life, if necessary, to keep safe the communities you are sworn to protect, and those that live in them."
Col. Robert Quinn, head of New Hampshire State Police, said he didn't change his message to his troopers after last week's shooting. "We all understand the inherent risks," he said.
"Tomorrow's another day, and we've got to worry about each and every shift," he said. "I think that just comes with the job."
Quinn said the most important thing after such a tragedy is to focus on the slain officer's family. That's what New Hampshire has done before, and will do for Steve Arkell's loved ones, he said.
"New Hampshire pulls together, and that's what makes the state special," he said. "And I'm sure that we'll all pull together behind his family."
Sunday News staff reporter Paul Feely contributed to this report.
Crime, law and justice Public Safety Social issues Brentwood Top Section Stories

subset: commoncrawl


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Batman: Arkham Origins Review
Batman: Arkham Origins
If you have never played the Batman Arkham games, you are missing out on one of modern gaming's greatest franchises. Batman: Arkham Origins is the third game in the series, but as the name implies, it's a prequel. As such, one can reasonably start with this new game and not be lost. That being said, the first two games are certainly worth playing and are cheaper starting points – especially if you happened to grab the recent Humble WB Games Bundle.
Origins takes place approximately five years prior to the first game, Batman: Arkham Asylum, but this is not the origin story of Batman as the name may lead you to believe. Origins is actually "Year Two" of the Batman universe, with the "origins" moniker referring to two things: the events that lead to the reopening of Arkham Asylum and ultimately the creation of Arkham City, and the first time Batman meets many of the key villains you're probably familiar with, such as The Joker.
The main story behind Origins is basically just an excuse to throw as many villains at Batman as possible, but it works. Batman is still a mystery – many people thinking he's just a myth – but he's slowly gaining notoriety as a vigilante, which puts him on the radar of Black Mask. Black Mask puts a $50 million bounty on Batman's head and invites eight of the world's best assassins to Gotham to compete for the bounty on one night – none other than Christmas Eve. Not only do you have eight assassins to compete with, but also a police force that wants to collect on the bounty as well and several other villains that want to take advantage of the situation, such as Enigma (aka. The Riddler).
Batman: Arkham City was a huge leap forward from Batman: Arkham Asylum, improving almost every facet of the first game – with the story being arguably the only thing better in the first game. It introduced a large, open world, several new gadgets, a slew of optional side missions, and more. If you were expecting another huge leap forward with Batman: Arkham Origins, you'll be sorely disappointed. Origins features a larger world than City, some new bosses and common enemy types, a couple new gadgets, an improved Detective Vision when it comes to reviewing case data, and the biggest addition of all, a multiplayer mode.
Aside from multiplayer, which I'll address later, most of these changes are rather minor – Origins still feels very much like City, but in a blizzard and not as run down. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing is obviously up for debate. For me, it's a good thing, especially considering that Origins was developed by WB Games Montreal instead of the developer of the first two games, Rocksteady. It is to WB Games Montreal's credit that the game feels like a Batman Arkham game should and if you went in not knowing development changed hands, you'd never realize it until the credits rolled.
I did find Origins to be a lot more difficult than the previous two games, but whether that's because I'm rusty or because the game is actually tougher, I cannot say. From what I recall of my play time in the previous two games, I seemed to struggle to maintain Free Flow Combos during combat and I died a lot more frequently. This may be because fights in Origins seem to feature more enemies than the previous two entries, plus tend to mix up the different enemy types quite well to really throw off your game. And this was while playing on Normal, not Hard. That being said, the death screens are pretty cool, so I guess there's a silver lining.
Batman: Arkham Origins, like Arkham City before it, is almost like a 3D, third-person Metroidvania game. It's an open-world game that rewards exploration. While the story missions are fairly linear and must be done sequentially, there are a plethora of side missions and challenges to keep you busy, which you can tackle at almost any time. The reason why I compare it to a Metroidvania game is because you'll have to defeat certain bosses or challenges to acquire the gadgets necessary to proceed and complete other tasks. All the essential gadgets will be acquired during the story missions, but there are some gadgets and upgrades that are unlocked by completing side missions or in-game challenges. For example, to unlock the Sonic Batarang, I had to complete any Predator challenge without being seen. That being said, unless you're going back for Enigma Data Packs (Origins' version of Riddler Trophies from the previous games), you won't be backtracking like you do in Metroidvania games. You theoretically never have to enter the same interior environment twice unless you want to, except one tiny section of sewer.


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CHICAGO (AP) - A suburban Chicago police office has been charged after he allegedly drove the wrong way on Chicago's Lake Shore Drive and caused a crash that killed two people.
Terrell Garrett faces aggravated driving under the influence and reckless homicide. The North Chicago Police Department placed him on administrative leave.
Garrett, who was off-duty at the time, was injured in the crash and is in serious condition at Advocate Illinois Masonic Center. It was immediately unclear if he has an attorney.
Friday's crash shut down the roadway for five hours. Witnesses told police the wrong-way driver was traveling at least 60 mph in a 45-mph zone.
North Chicago Police Chief James Jackson says his department has "no tolerance for officers whose actions fall outside" the laws they are asked to enforce.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can West Nile virus (WNV) cause illness in dogs or cats?
A. A relatively small number of WNV infected dogs (<40) and only 1 WNV infected cat have been reported to CDC during 2003. Experimentally infected dogs* showed no symptoms after infection with WNV. Some infected cats exhibited mild, nonspecific symptoms during the first week after infection--for the most part only showing a slight fever and slight lethargy.
It is unlikely that most pet owners would notice any unusual symptoms or behavior in cats or dogs that become infected with WNV.
Q. Does my dog/cat becoming infected pose a risk to the health of my family or other
A. There is no documented evidence of dog or cat-to-person transmission of West Nile virus. The evidence suggests that dogs do not develop enough virus in their bloodstream to infect more mosquitoes. Cats develop slightly higher levels of virus in their bloodstream, but it is unclear if this would be enough to infect mosquitoes. It is very unlikely that cats would be important in furthering the spread of the virus.
*If your animal becomes infected with WNV, this suggests that there are infected mosquitoes in your area. You should take measures to prevent mosquitoes from biting you (use repellent and wear protective clothing.)
Veterinarians should take normal infection control precautions when caring for any animal (Including birds) suspected to have this or any viral infection.
Q. Can I use insect repellent on my pets?
A. DEET-based repellents, which are recommended for humans, are not approved for veterinary use (largely because animals tend to ingest them by licking.) Talk with your veterinarian for advice about the appropriate product for use on your pet.


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Demand for commodities of all kinds is ramping up at breakneck speed. And despite fears of a slowdown in China's economic growth, Dr. Copper is leading the rise in commodities prices.
Copper earned that nickname because it's thought to be a bellwether on the health of the global economy, thanks to its numerous economic uses.
Prices slumped after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao cut China's economic growth target to 7.5%, the lowest since 2004. China is the world's largest copper buyer, snapping up 40% of annual supplies.
However, predictions for weak copper demand were muted last Monday, as the Asian giant reported a stream of new orders pushed factory activity to an 11-month high in March. Growth in the US manufacturing sector also picked up in March, more evidence that the world's largest economy is gaining momentum. The red metal jumped on the manufacturing data and is up 13.8% year-to-date (YTD).
The news has analysts predicting demand for copper is likely to pick up steam. "The US is an important market, and with the economic outlook there brightening, demand is also likely to surprise to the upside," Commerzbank AG (PINK: CRZBY) analyst Eugen Weinberg told Reuters. But Dr. Copper is just part of the story. Just take a look at what's happening in other commodity markets...
Commodities Prices are On the Rise
If you're looking for action, look no further than the explosive commodities markets. Most of the industrial metals have been on a tear in 2012, paced by tin, which has surged to a 20.5% gain. Zinc has risen 8.8%, while aluminum is up 6%.
Food costs rose to an all-time high in February 2011, setting off riots in northern Africa and the Middle East. Corn futures climbed to a record $7.9975 in June, as US stockpiles slid to a 16-year low.
Now, US farmers are set to plant their fields with nearly 96 million acres of corn seed, the largest amount in 75 years, as corn supplies have fallen 8% year-over-year. Energy costs have followed suit. West Texas Intermediate crude oil has surged roughly 34% to $105.23 a barrel since October as tensions mount over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
In fact, almost every sector of the commodities markets has made major moves in the last 24 months, including the grains (corn, wheat, soybeans), the energies (crude oil, heating oil and gasoline), and the metals (gold and silver).
To give you an idea, since May 2010 corn is up over 100%, coffee is up 45%, crude oil is up 56% and silver has posted a whopping 86% gain.
All told, the International Monetary Fund's commodity index has risen 34% since 2010 and more than doubled since bottoming during the financial crisis in December 2008.
And it looks like there's more to come.


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A 20-year-old woman who, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, admitted breaking the leg of a 2-month-old girl, was arrested.
A 20-year-old woman who, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, admitted breaking the leg of a 2-month-old girl was charged Thursday with child abuse.
Stephanie M. Spisak was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.
Authorities said they received a report Sept. 12 that a baby girl was brought to Munroe Regional Medical Center for treatment and after it was determined the child had a broken leg, she was transferred to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville.
Detective Mark Peavy interviewed the child's father, who said he went to a friend's home and spent the night. He said Spisak later picked him up and told him they had to go to the hospital because the child had a broken leg, according to reports.
Authorities did not reveal the relationship between the man and Spisak, or the child and Spisak.
The detective interviewed Spisak, who said several friends were at her residence. She said a female friend held the child and that she heard a scream coming from the child's bassinet when the woman left. She said when she went to check on the child, though, everything was fine. During the interview, Spisak told Peavy that if anyone should get in trouble for harming the child, it should be her because she was the only one there when the child screamed. She could not say how the child's leg was broken, according to reports.
Spisak then agreed to a polygraph examination. During the session, she confessed to breaking the child's leg.
She was again interviewed by Peavy and told him she was very frustrated on the night the incident occurred because the girl would not stop crying and kept moving all over the bed as she was trying to put pajamas on her. Spisak said she picked up the baby by her right arm and right leg and twisted her right leg, according to the report.
Spisak was then arrested.
Court records show she recently finished a one-year probation for a charge of battery domestic violence.
Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or email@example.com.


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Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Geodetic Survey (NGS), Remote Sensing Division, 20110630, 2011 NOAA Ortho-rectified Mosaic of Matagorda Ship Channel, Texas (NODC Accession 0105604(: NOAA's Ocean Service, National Geodetic Survey (NGS), Silver Spring, MD.
Online Links:
- https://data.nodc.noaa.gov/accession/0105604
- <http://www.csc.noaa.gov/digitalcoast>
This is a Raster data set.
Planar coordinates are encoded using row and column
Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.50000000
Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.50000000
Planar coordinates are specified in meters
The horizontal datum used is North American Datum 1983.
The ellipsoid used is GRS80.
The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222101.
This data set was developed by NOAA.
301-713-2663 (voice)
Ortho-rectified mosaic tiles are an ancillary product of NOAA's Coastal Mapping Program (CMP), created through a wider Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping initiative to increase support for multiple uses of the data.
The horizontal positional accuracy and the assurance of that accuracy are dependent upon the accuracy of the data inputs to the rectification process. These data inputs include the digital elevation model (DEM), accuracy of control, and methodology used to georeference the imagery that meet NOAA's Coastal Mapping Program standards.
The extent of image coverage is limited to the acquired flight lines which were planned to map the shoreline and therefore may not include all areas within the bounding coordinates.
All rectified images were loaded in Global Mapper to view the entire project area for tone differences, complete coverage, warping/smearing imagery due to inaccurate DEM, and any other obvious problems. All final tiles are reviewed for artifacts, unblended seam-lines and warps or smears and then corrected using Photoshop.
Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
- Access_Constraints: None
- Use_Constraints:
- Data set is not for use in litigation. While efforts have been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the state of the art, NOAA, cannot assume liability for any damages, or misrepresentations, caused by any inaccuracies in the data, or as a result of the data to be used on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. We do request that you credit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) when you use these photos in a report, publication, or presentation.
(843)740-1210 (voice)
Downloadable Data
Users must assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. These photographs were obtained for use by NGS during the course of its development of potential final products to fulfill its statutory mission. Although NGS is making these photographs available to others who may find the photographs of value, NGS does not warrant, endorse, or recommend the use of these photographs for any given purpose. NGS is providing these photographs "as is," and NGS disclaims any and all warranties, whether expressed or implied, including (without limitation) any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will NGS be liable to you or any third party for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or exemplary damages or lost profits resulting from any use or misuse of these data.
|Data format:
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301-713-2663 (voice)


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West Pullman saw two homicides in two days last week, a RedEye analysis of preliminary police data found.
A 38-year-old man was shot to death Friday in the 600 block of West 117th Street, police said. Two days earlier, a 31-year-old man was fatally shot in the 11800 block of South Harvard Avenue, according to officials.
West Pullman has logged four homicides so far this year. The South Side community area recorded 13 homicides last year, according to RedEye data.
Citywide, gunshot homicides were logged in the last week in Hyde Park, the Near West Side, North Lawndale, South Shore and West Town, RedEye determined.
April ended Tuesday with 24 homicides, down from 41 homicides in April 2012, RedEye determined.
Two homicides have been logged so far in May. Fifty-one homicides were recorded in May 2012, RedEye data shows.


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Feng Qi Cang LanSun,Aug 19,2018
Feng Qi Cang Lan chapter 35 5
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Feng Qi Cang Lan manga summary: When playing a virtual reality game called Cang Lan, Xiao Wan gets pushed off a cliff. She ends up in another game world. What will happen to Xiao Wan?


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Undergraduate Degrees, Majors and Concentrations
SOCI3240 - Women In Society
Summer 2018
This course presents a comprehensive sociological analysis of women. While particular emphasis will be placed on contemporary American society, some cross-cultural and historical data will be presented. Economic, occupational, health and language issues will be examined. The social contributions of women will also be explored.
Prerequisite: SOCI1010 or SOCI1020
3 Credits
Schedule Book for All Active and Available Future Terms, Course starting with SOCI3240
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This park-natural area stretches for 12 miles along the wild and scenic Cossatot River, Arkansas's premier whitewater experience renowned as the best whitewater float stream in mid-America. Located in southwest Arkansas south of Mena, the Cossatot forms Cossatot Falls, a rugged and rocky canyon that challenges the most experienced canoeists and kayakers with its Class IV and V rapids. When the water is high, the paddlers are here. This National Wild and Scenic River is a watershed basin with flow levels dependent on rainfall. After significant precipitation, the river level rises, allowing experienced paddlers the opportunity to test their skills in challenging whitewater. In the river's Cossatot Falls area with its distinct ledges, the river drops 33 feet in elevation within 1/3 of a mile. Floatable river levels are usually limited to late-fall, winter and spring. Late winter to early spring is peak whitewater paddling season here. Class III-V whitewater is for experts only. For river stage information (in feet) from the Ark. 246 access, call 870-387-3141, or visit the U.S. Geological Survey website for Cossatot River real time data at: waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07340300.
Since flow levels are dependent upon rainfall, no floater services are provided on the Cossatot River.
When the water level is normal, the river's rapids are usually considered Class II-III whitewater. Outdoor enthusiasts can swim, fish and float through riffles and small rapids, from pool to pool, as they relax and enjoy the Cossatot.
The park's Brushy Creek Recreation Area at the Highway 246 bridge offers day-use facilities including picnic sites, a nature trail, restrooms, and river access. A walkway high above the river provides barrier-free access on the west side.
Tent sites (no hookups) are at the Cossatot Falls Area (seven sites), the Sandbar Area (14 sites), and the Ed Banks Area (one site). All of these sites are self-pay and first come, first serve. Undeveloped camping space is available at the U.S. 278 Area. Primitive group camping (tents only) is available at the park's River Ridge Group Camp ($75). Call us to make a reservation.
For hiking enthusiasts, the park features the 14-mile River Corridor Trail and the 3.5-mile Harris Creek Trail.
The park includes a 15,000-square-foot visitor information/education center on U.S. 278 east of Wickes where the highway crosses the Cossatot. The $2.7 million facility was funded by Amendment 75, Arkansas's Conservation Amendment. The center features a large exhibit gallery, two classroom/lab rooms, a wildlife viewing area, gift shop, and park administrative offices. Explore the interpretive exhibits that share the story of "The Cossatot: A River for All Seasons" and focus is on the river's ecology. Three information kiosks provide information about the Cossatot River, the park-natural area, and other parks and museums in Arkansas's state park system.
Interpretive programs and workshops are offered in the park throughout the year. These tell of the geology, flora, and fauna here in this remote and protected river corridor. Special interpretive programs include guided kayak tours and snorkeling tours.
Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area's 5,401 acres emphasize outdoor recreation, river preservation, and environmental education. The park is managed by Arkansas State Parks and the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.
Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area is south of Mena. The northern route to the park is via Ark. 246 between Vandervoort and Athens. The southern route is via U.S. 278 between Wickes and Umpire. Weyerhaeuser Company roads provide river access.
The U.S. Geological Survey offers river flow and level information at their Cossatot River site.
Free stream maps and information are available by calling 501-682-7777 or visiting www.Arkansas.com.
Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area
with our helpful maps and brochures! Just click on an icon to view, or right-click on your mouse to save a copy to your computer.
From trails to historic events, tours and fun family activities...Never miss out on an Arkansas State Parks Adventure again!


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ATLANTA (AP) — As Southern states cracked down on so-called pill mills, Georgia's lax regulation made it a magnet for clinics known for prescribing powerful painkillers to drug dealers and addicts for an illicit high.
The dozens of pain clinics across Georgia that authorities believe are illegally prescribing or dispensing the drugs often have parking lots full of out-of-state license plates, evidence that people are coming from hundreds of miles to seize on an unregulated industry, authorities say. The rapid spread of the clinics led state senators to pass legislation Thursday to try to get rid of illegitimate businesses.
"We're one of the few states in the Southeast that hasn't touched it, so we're the place that all these out-of-towners come," said Attorney General Sam Olens. "It's a huge problem that's killing our kids, and we need to be going after the bad actors and protecting the professionals."
The bill would license and regulate pain management clinics, and require the owner to be a doctor. The law would stop short of requiring doctors or pharmacists to use a state registry to track how much of a painkiller a person is receiving, which some neighboring states have done. The bill, which already passed the House, now goes to Republican Gov. Nathan Deal. A spokesman declined to say whether the governor would sign it.
Because some pain clinics are legitimate, prosecuting those that aren't can be difficult, said Barbara Heath, the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration's diversion program in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. If the prescriber is a doctor — and not someone forging prescriptions — prosecutors must prove the pills aren't for a medical need.
Red flags include clinics with a large percentage of out-of-state patients, patients receiving the same large amount of the same drug and clinics with a bouncer at the door.
Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi have all recently passed laws targeting such pain clinics, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The DEA is prosecuting pain clinic operators who used to do business in Florida and picked up and moved to Georgia immediately after Florida passed tougher restrictions in 2011. But it's hard to tell exactly how many pill mills exist in Georgia.
According to estimates from the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency, there were fewer than 10 pill mills in the state in 2010, while the number has exploded since then, fluctuating between 90 and 140 over the last year.
The most common pills dealers and addicts want are oxycodone and hydrocodone, which are highly addictive. Some shop around the state, gathering prescriptions from numerous clinics before returning home to sell the drugs.
Georgia passed legislation in 2011 to create a program to track prescription drugs dispensed here, but it isn't expected to start operating until May, in part because of a delay in funding.
"If someone were to ask me what would be the best first step to really trying to curtail this problem, I would say get the (program) up and going because that's the information tool that's going to tell you who's prescribing what and who's receiving what pills," said Sherry Green, CEO of the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws.
DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James, who has made prosecuting rogue pain clinics a priority, said the easy access in Georgia also leads more people in this state to become addicted.
He said a person with a knee injury can get a legitimate prescription for painkillers, and once it's gone, they can just go to a pain clinic to get more.
A pain clinic is defined in the bill as a medical enterprise where at least half of the patient population is being treated for chronic pain. Affected businesses would have to get a state license beginning in July. Licenses would have to be renewed every two years.
The proposal would also require new pain clinics to be owned by physicians licensed in Georgia. Existing clinics where non-physicians have ownership with doctors would be allowed to remain open.
Green, of the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws, said requiring owners to be doctors is an important step because their livelihood is at stake.
"So the thought is you've got to have somebody with that level of accountability with a pain clinic because you're giving out substances that are the most potentially addictive substances we have," she said.


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Nationwide Auto Insurance in Matthews, North Carolina From Ken Austin Agency Inc
The Ken Austin Agency Inc is ready to take the headaches out of your auto insurance policy shopping. If you have concerns about the right claim limits for your policy, if you're not sure which policy discounts you qualify for, or if you just want to check in with one of our experts before buying a policy, don't hesitate to contact us.
Our agents have worked hard to understand the risks that local motorists face. We also take the time to understand your personal priorities in choosing auto coverage. In fact, many Matthews residents may be looking for a policy that covers more than just the everyday vehicle. If you own a motorcycle, RV, boat, or some other specialty vehicle, we offer coverage.
To deliver the best products and services to Matthews motorists, the Ken Austin Agency Inc has partnered with Nationwide. From exclusive coverage programs, and a wide range of policy discounts, to the AutoWatch program that allows you to monitor car repairs, the decision is an easy one. Give us a call at (704) 536-9800 to discuss your coverage or to schedule a visit with our office, located at 15040 Idlewild Rd, Matthews, North Carolina, 28104.
The Ken Austin Agency Inc also offers products in South Carolina. Please call for information on products in those states.


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Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935) is an American rock and roll and country music singer and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, his career faltered after Lewis married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a transition to country music.
Lewis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and his pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 2008 He was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him number 24 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. In 2003, they listed his box set All Killer, No Filler: The Anthology number 242 on their list of "500 greatest albums of all time".
Lewis was born to the poor family of Elmo and Mamie Lewis in Ferriday in Concordia Parish in eastern Louisiana, and began playing piano in his youth with two cousins, Mickey Gilley and Jimmy Swaggart. His parents mortgaged their farm to buy him a piano. Influenced by a piano-playing older cousin, Carl McVoy (who later recorded with Bill Black 's Combo), the radio, and the sounds from the black juke joint across the tracks, Haney's Big House, Lewis created his style from black artists who were unable to play to white audiences, mixing rhythm and blues, boogie-woogie, gospel, and country music, as well as ideas from established "country boogie" pianists like recording artists Moon Mullican and Merrill Moore. Soon he was playing professionally.


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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partners. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood and energy. It can also make it hard for someone to carry out day-to-day tasks, such as going to school or hanging out with friends. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time. They can result in damaged relationships, poor school performance, and even suicide. But bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives. Bipolar disorder oft (More)
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text: Executives at the helm of companies from small firms to large enterprises spend much of their time thinking about how to drive growth. But putting those thoughts into action can challenge even the most seasoned leader. Often executives focus on the "what" of strategy at the expense of the "how" — neglecting the "how" makes success a long shot.


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Graduate Regulations
Study Group Logs
Instructors may require study group logs in some programs. Study group activities take place outside of the regular classroom setting.
In addition, if the need arises within a group to "fire" a non-performing member of the study group, group study logs may be necessary to facilitate this process. Current university policy states that learners may be removed from an accelerated program if their behavior is deemed disruptive to the learning process. Please contact the University Graduate Education or Graduate Business Offices directly if you require additional information regarding removal of an individual from a study group for non-performance.
Revised: 06/27/2012


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Greetings everyone, I have been hacking at this freebsd install for over 3 weeks now. Got everything working perfectly but sound. Been playing with it for awhile and have tried all of the config options i could imagine. Now gateway doesnt shed to much light on the soundcard/chipset thats in this system.
it does tell me these two bits of info. Chipset: Via VN800 Audio: AC '97 2.3 Compliant Audio Built-in Speakers So i tried native drivers, but no go. So i then downloaded and got OSS installed ( latest version from the website) it does see my sound card as VIA VT8233/8235/8237. But when I go to play sound eaither ussing osstest or an application like xmms the system thinks it's playing to the sound out, but i get no sound from the speakers. Adjusted volume using ossxmix, but to no avail. Anyone ever ran into anyhting like this or is using this same system? Any help would be much appreciated. _______________________________________________ firstname.lastname@example.com mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"


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From one photography collector to another: a venue for thoughtful discussion of vintage and contemporary photography via reviews of recent museum exhibitions, gallery shows, photography auctions, photo books, art fairs and other items of interest to photography collectors large and small.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The Reason for the Intermittent Posts
In my normal life, writing for this site is carefully wedged between family and work time, with not much slack in the overall system. In the past few weeks, various doctor/specialist visits, physical therapy and the like have intruded into this tight schedule, effectively pushing my writing down a rung or two. Something had to give, and the volume of posts here is the victim.
That said, I do have plenty of shows backed up to write about, as well as an overdue response to collector and friend Joe Baio's recent thoughtful dissection of my auction results posts (found in the comments of the last Yann Le Mouel report). They'll just come a little more intermittently until my arm/back is in better shape, hopefully a couple per week, but not likely every work day for the time being. As soon as the body is willing, I'll ramp back up to my usual pace, so please bear with me during this more quiet summer interlude.
7 comments:
- atuh said...
Get well soon! The 'people' need you back in the field of duty ^_^
- July 29, 2011 at 12:20 AM
- gphoto said...
Agreed. Feel better and keep stretching!
- July 29, 2011 at 12:43 PM
- Anonymous said...
I'm one of your dependent regulars. My doctor prescribed me anti-anxiety medication for your back problem, and I'm holding up well considering your condition.
Please get well soon, before your condition leads to my prescription drug addiction.
Thinking mostly of you, Rudy
- July 30, 2011 at 4:54 PM
- Sam Boetti said...
Feel better, sir!
- July 30, 2011 at 7:06 PM
- John Armstrong said...
Bummer! I'm sure you'll be back to 100% very soon.
- August 1, 2011 at 6:53 PM
- Decorno said...
Get well soon.
- August 13, 2011 at 4:49 PM
- Federico said...
I will echo previous remarks. Your posts are missed. Hope you get well in the nearest future.
- August 24, 2011 at 9:23 AM


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With the expansion of the industry and increased investment, PV solar energy has made great strides in the last five years as panels have become more efficient and costs of production have decreased. According to the Department of Energy's Solar America Initiative, they hope that with continued research and more companies entering the market, PV solar power will become a competitive source of commercial electricity by 2015.[2] PV prices have declined by 4% per annum over the past fifteen years, due to improved conversion efficiencies and declines in manufacturing costs.[3]
With the continued volatility of oil prices and the fact that the average citizen has become more aware of their environment, there has been a strong push for the development of renewable energy. The push for clean energy will benefit solar companies as demand increases for solar and other renewables. The need for companies to appear eco-friendly has resulted in large scale ad campaigns from energy giants like BP and General Electric, highlighting their investments in renewable sources of energy. Not only are the energy giants investing more in renewable energy, but the rising cost of natural gas and oil have forced electric prices higher and made "eco-friendly" energy sources such as solar, an economic alternative. Demand for solar energy has grown at 30% per annum over the past 15 years. In 2009, photovoltaic (PV) installations grew by 20 percent, compared to 2008, with over 7.3GW of PV installations globally. Revenues in 2009 for the PV industry also increased, reaching $38.5 billion.[1]
The appeal of solar energy is obvious. It is a virtually limitless resource. It's free of greenhouse gas emissions, widely thought to contribute to global climate change. In developed countries using lots of air conditioners, it generates more electricity exactly when you need it-- at times of peak electricity usage (e.g, you run your air conditioners more during the hottest, sunniest days of the summer time). Once installed, solar systems can function for 30 or more years with little maintenance or oversight. Solar comes with limitations, however, most notably the poor efficiency of PV modules, which is further reduced by the need to convert DC from solar cells into AC current. Moreover, solar is weather dependent and intermittent, requiring storage or back-up systems to supplement during times of weak generation.
Historically, and for the foreseeable future, solar power represents a tiny fraction of total global electricity generation and energy demand (less than 1%). However, growth has been rapid, and governments around the world have also encouraged solar energy through tax incentives. In 2009 Europe accounted for 5.60GW, 77% of global demand. German, Italy and the Czech Republic accounted for 4.07 GW as a group. Germany is the largest market in the world, followed by Italy.[1] However Germany is in the process of cutting back tax incentives on solar energy. In June of 2008, Germany approved a law cutting its solar subsidies by 10%. Further, under the law subsidies will fall another 8%-10% each year for the next three years.[5]
What is the real cause of global wanimrg? The sun is getting hotter! If you don't believe me you can look it up. There is more where that came from. Check out my blog Barry's Amazing Ideas on your same blog host Blogger for even more shocking ideas. Tell me what you think and leave a comment.
Applied Materials, the much beleaguered and recently resurgent semiconductor company, might fear the inevitable price increases in silicon, let alone supply shortages in wafers, that can result from continued rapid growth in solar. As the second-place player in semiconductors, the company is more likely than Intel to face pressure from its suppliers. It should be noted, however, that the company has made a bold move into solar, shifting massive amounts of production into making solar cells-- thus a competitive threat becomes a business opportunity.
Ironically, the economies of scale inherent in solar suggest that first-movers can be penalized for taking the leap into solar too soon, locking them into electricity costs that are higher than their competitors, who are buying next generation technology (think of the U.S. mobile phone market, which was to some extent hampered by getting to mobile phones too soon and locking in to the wrong technologies, thereby surrendering technical superiority to other markets such as Japan, South Korea, and the EU). Watch out for the first major corporation to announce 10% of energy to be procured from solar sources-- this might be a good company to watch for negative exposure to the rise of solar.
== well as government and an overview over the government incentives and their success in different countries.[6]
Technological advancement in solar power is coming at a rapid fire pace. All along the value chain, manufacturers and suppliers are pushing to squeeze more solar energy out of every dollar invested in solar equipment. Innovation has focused thus far on incremental improvements to the crystalline silicon manufacturing process for the typical PV cell. Advancements have included increasing cell energy efficiency, utilizing thinner wafers, and increasing generating power in low-light. In June 2008, for example, National Semiconductor announced a new technology called "SolarMagic" that can reduce the generating loss from partial light (caused by, say, a cloudy day) by 40%.[7] Going forward, however, the advancement of string-ribbon technology and thin-film technology, two new manufacturing processes designed to drastically reduce the silicon required to make PV cells, could dramatically decrease the cost of new PV cells.
A new nanotechnology based approach using Tetrapod Quantum Dots (TQ-Dots) is under development by companies such as Solterra Renewable Technologies. TQ-Dots are poised to become an economical alternative and replace silicon wafer-based solar cells with flexible TQ-Dot solar cells. The cells will not need an external cooling source to keep from overheating. TQ-Dot solar cells convert the sun light into useable electricity from multiple excitons instead of heat and have the advantage of generating electricity from UV and infrared wavelengths, allowing generation 24/7. From an investors perspective, TQ-Dots have the added advantage of potentially generating substantial revenue from not only the solar apps, but from apps in the: medical diagnostics-therapeutics, multi-function semi-conductor, advanced laser, MEMS, photo-reactive paints, RFID, anti-counterfeiting/knock-offs, optics and flexible displays sectors as well. These ancillary apps (& more) will be served by Solterra's parent company, Quantum Materials Corp. (QTMM) [8]
Regular updates on the trends in the PV markets are published on the website of the IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme. [9]
The solar industry is faced with a huge oversupply of solar panels planned for production in 2008. However, shares in many solar companies such as Evergreen Solar (ESLR) , First Solar (FSLR), SunPower (SPWR), and Suntech Power Holdings (STP) have surged with the booming solar market.
In the past few years, we have witnessed a stampede of startups entering the solar cell market using thin film technology because of a shortage of polysilicon material used to make crystalline cells. At the same time, existing thin film solar suppliers have announced large expansions as a means of reducing production costs and gain a competitive edge. This has resulted in thin film solar panels reaching 9.4% of the 3.8 gigawatts [GW] of power generated worldwide in 2007, up from 7.6% of 2.5 GW produced in 2006. In 2008, worldwide solar power generation will grow 50% to 5.6 GW, but thin films as a percentage of panels will grow to 14.4%
At the same time, polysilicon suppliers have also initiated competitive capacity expansion plans. 2008 will be the turning point when polysilicon capacity actually exceeds demand by a mere 4,700 metric tons using a calculation that thin film panels at 14.4% of the market. If thin film solar continues at its same growth rate, in 2009 thin film will make up 17.8% of all solar power generation. That would leave a capacity of polysilicon exceeding demand by 17,000 metric tons, based on capacity expansions announced by the polysilicon manufacturers.
Traditional monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar panels with efficiencies between 15% and 22% compare to thin film amorphous silicon of 6% to 7%, which will possibility increase to 10% efficiencies in 2009 using bilayer micromorph structures. CdTe (cadmium telluride) technology, led by First Solar, is already achieving 10% efficiency. Thus, amorphous silicon is two years behind CdTe. Moreover, its estimated that in 2008, the production of polysilicon would be such that even if all the upcoming solar panels were made of polysilicon, 5000 metric tons would still be in excess.
Plus, the high equipment costs to make an amorphous silicon thin film panel. Up the food chain, solar thin film equipment suppliers such as Applied Materials (AMAT) of the U.S. and Oerlikon of Switzerland are selling amorphous silicon technology. Equipment costs in the neighborhood of $200 million to make 60 MW of panels. Add to that the costs of consumables. Cost to manufacture panels of amorphous silicon is about $1.70 per watt, depending of the size of the factory (First Solar, which uses cadmium telluride, has reduced its cost to $1.20 per watt). The profit for a panel selling for $2.50 per watt would be $0.80 per watt or $50 million per year. But with the equipment costing $200 million, it would in reality take 4 years just to recoup the equipment costs. And as more capacity is added, competitive pressures will drop the selling price further, not to mention Chinese manufacturers selling their product at under $2 per watt.
The overcapacity should impact equipment and materials sales in the amorphous silicon thin film area. As the shortage of polysilicon dissipates, due to ramped production and a semiconductor slowdown, prices of mono and polycrystalline silicon solar panels will drop and become even more economically competitive with thin film technology, further exasperating thin film equipment sales and the thin film solar market. With the industry having twice the capacity as it needs, expect some rethinking on the part of investors


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It's just after eight a.m. on the last day of summer camp, the kids are off to the mountain, and Tim Windell is leaning on the deck rail, surveying his kingdom. There's still departure day for campers and a giant headache of concerns, questions, and loose ends to be dealt with before he leaves on a two-week fishing vacation in Alaska, but Windell probably can't help being proud right now.
Windell's Snowboard Camp has just come off its biggest summer yet: 60-70 new people per session, so around 200 people on site during the peak months. That's a lot of hormones a raging, even with more than 70 employees. And besides the lodge getting toilet papered, and the townies who wanted to throw gas on the end-of-the-season bonfire, Windell has managed to pull it off again. Yet, here he stands at the crossroads.
He has been a shop owner, rider representative, and of course, a successful World Cup Pro racer and freestyler. Now he's come into his own as one of the most authentic purveyors of a true action sports lifestyle. That term is tossed about a lot, but you need only visit Windell's Shamrock Motel "campus" to really feel it¿a huge skateboarding facility, BMX track, mountain biking trails, stocked demo and pro shops¿it's sideways heaven in Hood's shadow.
And it's all built on a model Windell had in mind as a pro in his 1989 TransWorld SNOWboarding interview, "That's what I try to teach in my camps: Fun professionalism. It all goes together, snowboarders teaching snowboarders," he said.
That was then, and now he says, "I guess initially, it started when Craig Kelly and I went to José Fernandez's camp in Stubai, Austria and ran a freestyle segment back when it was primarily Alpiners racing gates. The main thing was there were no halfpipes anywhere. So we got a lot of the Europeans to come over and train with us. It started off in 1989 as the 'Sims Summer Shred Session.' My first year at Hood I had seventeen campers, a good amount of them were pros, like Bertrand Denervaud, Reto Lamm¿a whole bunch of guys who were hot at that point in time.
"When Sims got in trouble. That's when I started looking at it, going, 'I need to have a life after being a professional snowboarder,'" Windell continues. "I started concentrating on it more and thought it would be a wise marketing decision to call it 'Windell's.' It was 'Windell's Shred The World' there for about four years. Then "shred" wasn't cool anymore so in '94 I just called it, 'Windell's.' And so it be today," He chuckles.
From there, he says the camp became a full-time job, "Pretty much right off the bat." To make the chaos run without a hitch takes an enormous amount of planning, preparation, and now, a staff of seven working year-round. In addition, Windell has winter camps and adult-only sessions, then things really kicked into overdrive.
"It was kind of a fluke," Windell says. "Three years ago we were in the process of building a lodge at the Ark motel where the coaches now live where we have 25 acres of land. It's a perfect property¿flat, lakes¿all kinds of potential. But sometime in December our motel business just started exploding. Finally I asked a customer who was checking in, he was like, 'Shamrock Motel down the road is in bankruptcy court.' So I ran down there, found out who was selling it, put in an offer. Next thing you know, four or five months later we picked it up with a month-and-a-half to get it ready. It was kind of … good karma!"
Having a centralized location apart from Government Camp has enabled Windell's camp to evolve his own brand of snow/skate culture. They've built world-class skateboarding facilities and are now building an indoor recreational facility. Too, the common snow/skate language helps Windell select a staff that can genuinely maximize the campers' freestyle potential. "It's pretty cool to watch the camaraderie between snowboarders and skateboarders alike," he says, "Everybody's out there being possitive and pushing each other."
Maybe it was his competitor High Cascades selling to Vans last year, but Windell has always seemed restless, always poised for growth and scanning the next horizon. He is at that crossroads now¿looking for investors or an outright buyer to enable his camp and its prospects to go even bigger.
Always willing to take chances in pursuit of his instincts, Windell did the unthinkable this summer¿having seen the "freeskiing" boom and all the Alpine race campers drooling over his giant kickers and halfpipes, Windell invited skiers to snowboarding's party of the summer. "When we announced that we were actually going to do a ski camp, we had kids writing us who were signed up for camp saying, 'You sell out! Can't believe you did that.'" he laughs. "We just canceled those kids out of the camp, and brought the skiers on anyway. Out of the two sessions that we had, we had the best freeskiers in the world out here. The snowboarder kids were stoked! It was just an added energy up there."
No matter what tool is used, the energy remains the same, and that helps Windell retain his stoke, season in and out. "It's rewarding when you have parents and kids who have gone through the program doing so well," he smiles. "Shaun White came to my camp when he was six years old, came back for six years, now he's pro, placing in the top sixteen, and he's thirteen years old. Then we've got these junior national champions and their parents are patting me on the back saying good job and just being really psyched. Parents drop kids off at our campus and go, 'This place is cool. It's the place to be for a kid.' It definitely makes it all worthwhile.
"You get to talk to people and build a lot of friendships," he concludes. "Having staff members like Sandy and Nordie and John and Harper and E-Tree, and so many others, it would be hard to mention them all. There's a lot of loyalty. It's like college all over again. Hanging out, Groundhog Day every day. It's a big family. I love it. I don't know what I'd be doing¿except for fishing."


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With successes in improv, sketch, and stand-up, actor Stephen Guarino is a rare comedy triple threat. The Big Gay Sketch Show veteran fills his dance card with cameos on ABC's Happy Endings, stand-up appearances, and directing his own big gay productions.
Guarino dishes to The Advocate on why he doesn't need a script and how to land a role by being the most insane person at the audition.
The Advocate: On Happy Endings you play an insanely flamboyant gay bestie. You're doing that stereotype better than anyone out there right now.
Stephen Guarino: I've cornered the market on that. What's good about that show is that if you catch the first episode, Casey Wilson's character is bored because she's friends with a boring gay guy, who is Adam Pally's character. So the show is smart because they set me up as the gay that you would hate, like the '90s gay, who is really out of fashion right now. I think that's really smart. Then, ironically, it ended up working, and they liked it, which is why I now recur on the show. It was a nice social comment at first, but it kind of turned the myth true that the bad gay is the fun gay.
Derek is so hyper. How do you amp yourself up to play him?
I don't eat and then I have a lot of Red Bull and coffee and I just make sure that the writers are OK with me doing whatever I want because my entrances are all fucking insane. There's so much improv on the show. I don't think in the first two episodes that I said a word that was on the page.
The line "Slut, come help me out of this split!" makes me pee a little.
The whole reason that came up was because in the audition I was against six or seven of my friends for the role, and my default when I'm nervous is to eat everyone alive. If you're a receptionist in a casting office, I'm going to be warming up with you. You are part of my show. When I went in to audition, I was so crazed — knocking chairs over — and I ended up doing a split on the boardroom table in front of all of the writers to punctuate the end of my audition. Then I just started screaming — "Booked it! Booked it!" — like an asshole and then ran out of the room. I didn't even wait to say goodbye. I just left. And it worked. Then I got to the set on the first day, the split was the first thing we shot.
Do you get a lot of straight women asking you to hold their ta-tas? Not a bad gig, in my opinion.
Ha. Yeah I get a lot of people who recognize me from the show now, which is nice, and it's always girls. Never gay guys. I don't know if gay guys are watching Happy Endings.
You've found success from almost all outlets for comedy: improv, sketch, stand-up, acting. All that's left is a reality show based on your life. What would that look like?
Oh, my God, It would be terrible because I'm so fucking boring in real life. I think I save it all up for these parts. I live in the servants' quarters of Orson Welles's old house. I don't even have a microwave. All I have are a couple of DVDs of old Robert Altman movies from the '70s.
You had a lot of great characters on The Big Gay Sketch Show. What was the writing process like? Did you come to the table with character ideas or did the writers play to your strengths?
Basically at the beginning of each season, we all come in and pitch for a few hours. I probably pitched 12 different sketches and maybe six or seven of them were characters that I do. Writers will gravitate to ones they are attracted to. They'll present their version of it and then you give your input. It was the best show that no one watched, just like 7th Heaven.
Do you think there's room for another gay-themed comedy show on television?
Maybe if it cost $5. I mean, ours was so expensive. RuPaul's show is a one-camera setup, one person being paid while everyone else is being hired as a local. Our show cost half a million an episode. It just wasn't sustainable on that channel.
You've been out since you were 15, which surprised me because we're about the same age and both from Florida. I wore a softball uniform under my blouses, and even the boy who dressed like Madonna wasn't out. How did you manage it?
I think I just lucked out with a small window of time between '90 and '93 when it was suddenly fashionable to be alternative. Grunge was on the scene, so anything different was hip. It was popular for jocks to have boyfriends, which sounds insane. We had a group called the Lake Mary Fags and it consisted of skaters who took pride in being bisexual. They'd have boyfriends to impress their girlfriends. It was very in vogue.
This is a magical place in Florida that I never discovered.
It was totally outrageous. We had a lot of gay kids who were very popular. It also didn't hurt that my best friend Tanya was super popular. She looked like Mariah Carey and was really fashionable. She was my prom date, so we lucked out. I had no childhood problems at all. My parents are overeducated, Waspy, bored Bostonians. They didn't blink an eye.
You just finished shooting Bear City 2. Can you give us a spoiler?
More high jinks, a lot of new characters, a major cameo by Kathy Najimy as my mother, and just a really thoughtful, interesting twist at the end. The movie has been just a huge success. It's the first gay independent film I've done. I had been asked to do a couple and waited, but I thought this one really worked. It's such a niche subject that they hit on the head. It'll hit the festivals in Outfest in summer of 2012.
Have you gotten a lot more offers now from the bear community?
Absolutely. I have about 4,000 Facebook requests from bears.
Then I'll be sure to mention that we did this interview shirtless.
What's next for you?
I'm currently assistant-directing the new CBS Diversity Showcase. They take 14 of the hottest black, Latino, Asian, and gay comics and put them in front of the industry. I don't know if you know this, but gay is now considered a color. They just added that to their diversity package: white, gay people. I did the showcase in January and won the prize of getting a six-month deal with CBS to develop my own show. They are trying to diversify and get more gay characters on the air. I didn't get the show, but it started a good relationship with them, and I am directing the new showcase. I also directed a stage production of the movie Showgirls in L.A., but in drag. You can go to ShowgirlsInDrag.com to find out when to see it.


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Former Chicago resident John Lehr has another season to tame the Wild West in Hulu's original series "Quick Draw." The online service Monday announced it has renewed the comedy for a 10-episode second season.
"Quick Draw" premiered this summer, becoming one of Hulu's top performers and consistently remaining in the Top 10 most-watched shows on the site each week.
Lehr, who created the show with his "10 Items or Less" and "Jailbait" writing partner Nancy Hower, is a Northwestern grad who trained at Second City in Chicago and lived on Wrightwood and Racine. Read my interview with him here.
In "Quick Draw" he plays Harvard-educated Sheriff John Henry Hoyle, who uses forensics to try to solve crimes in a small Kansas town in 1875. The townspeople remain a bit skeptical of his new style of policing, and his abilities in general.
Familiar characters such as Deputy Eli (Nick Brown), saloon owner Honey Shaw (Allison Dunbar), outlaw Pearl Starr (Alexia Dox) and undertaker Vernon Shaw (Robert Clendenin) will be back for Season 2, Hulu said in a release.
Hopefully they'll continue the behind-the-scenes bits, blooper reels and "Qucik Draw Mixology" videos, too.
"The second season of ''Quick Draw' will continue to crack up current fans and win new ones," said Charlotte Koh, head of development, Hulu Originals. "We're really excited to see more of John Lehr and Nancy Hower's comedic re-imagining of life in the Wild West in 1875."
Hower and Lehr will executive produce the second season of "Quick Draw," and Keith Raskin ("Key & Peele," "The League") will co-executive produce.The show is slated to premiere on Hulu and Hulu Plus in 2014.
Season 2 of "Quick Draw" will be part of Hulu's 2014 slate of originals that includes a second season of "The Awesomes" from Seth Meyers and Mike Shoemaker and the new show "Deadbeat," a co-production with Lionsgate that stars Cat Deeley, Tyler Labine, Brandon T. Jackson and Lucy DeVito.
Want more? Discuss this article and others on Show Patrol's Facebook page.


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17 Spring Cakes
Usher in springtime with these easy-to-make recipes for birthday and Easter cakes for kids
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- Kenneth Chen
Bunny Face Cupcakes
Babies + bunnies = we can't take this much cute! These bunny cupcakes will be a sure hit, especially for a spring-themed gathering.
Check out more birthday cakes for all seasons!
- Kenneth Chen
Bird's Nest Cupcakes
Sweet, chirping baby birds are a sign of spring and new beginnings. Plus, there's no messy cake-cutting here; just pile on toasted coconut to create a nest, add a dollop of frosting for the baby bird and serve them individually.
- Kenneth Chen
Umbrella Cake
Spring showers bring flowers! This bright and bold cake would be super-fun for a rainy day.
- Kenneth Chen
Lamb Cake
This sweet little lamb cake will have everyone "ooh"-ing and "ahh"-ing. While it looks impressive, all it takes is a store-bought pound cake, some canned frosting and marshmallows!
- Kenneth Chen
Flower Bouquet Cake
This elegant cake can rival the best blooms in the garden. Marshmallow halves rolled in colored sugar make brightly-colored petals pop.
- Kenneth Chen
Hot Air Balloon Cake
Your adventurous kiddo will dream of circling the world in 80 days with this hot air balloon cake.
- Kenneth Chen
Bunny Birthday Cake
Make your kid's next birthday a "hoppy" one with this sweet pink bunny cake.
- Kenneth Chen
Frog Cupcakes
Go green—literally—for your kids' next birthday with these fun frog cupcakes.
- Kenneth Chen
Birdhouse Cake
Your little bird-watcher-in-training will sing for this "tweet" cake.
- Kenneth Chen
Golf Course Cake
Your pint-sized putter will love this easy cake -- par none.
- Kenneth Chen
Baseball Mitt Cake
Score a home run for your baseball fan with this catcher's mitt cake.
- Kenneth Chen
Butterfly Birthday Cake
This gumdrop-topped butterfly will set little hearts aflutter.
- Kenneth Chen
Ladybug Cupcakes
Cupcake ladybugs bring just as much good luck as the kind you find in the garden.
- Kenneth Chen
- Kenneth Chen
Pretty Sunflower Cupcake Bouquet
This pretty sunflower cupcake bouquet will amaze your guests and are a yummy Spring treat.
- Kenneth Chen
Sunny Summer Cupcakes
These sunny summer cupcakes of yummy vanilla cake mix and colorful gumdrops are perfect for summer parties.
- Kenneth Chen
Somewhere Over the Rainbow Cupcakes
Yummy, colorful cupcakes that are the perfect treat for your child's next birthday party.


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As we move closer to Super Bowl 50, the Orlando Sentinel is taking a look back at the history of football's biggest game.
Today, we review the third decade of Super Bowl showdowns.
Super Bowl XXI
New York Giants 39, Denver Broncos 20
Jan. 25, 1987 at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
Coaches: NYG: Bill Parcells (Colgate); DEN: Dan Reeves (South Carolina)
MVP: New York QB Phil Simms (Morehead State) – 22 of 25 passing for 268 yards, 3 TDs
How it played out: Giants trailed 10-9 at halftime before scoring 24 in a row to take...


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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say four adults and three children were injured when a car crashed into a Los Angeles pizza shop, including a 5-year-old boy who has serious head trauma.
City fire spokesman Brian Humphrey says seven people ranging in ages from 1 month to 59 years were taken to hospitals after the crash shortly before 6 p.m. Monday, but all but the 5-year-old boy had only minor injuries.
Television news footage showed the white compact SUV halfway inside the Little Caesars in Pacoima surrounded by glass.
Humphrey says three people appeared to have been hit directly by the SUV, the other three hit with flying glass and debris.
Humphrey says paramedics examined three others who declined help.
The cause of the crash and the identity of the driver were not immediately clear.