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Despite entering the race as a maiden, the 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Giant's Causeway-Jen's Fashion looked the part of, well, a battle-hardened veteran, surging to the lead near the eighth pole and withstanding a belated run from Pasco Stakes winner Prospective by a length-and-a-quarter.
The winner – who had two seconds in three previous starts, both in two-turn races – was the third betting choice among a crowd of 5,344 in the wide-open race, paying $11.
"He was very professional today," said Leparoux, who was riding Battle Hardened for the first time. "He broke good and put me in the right spot right away. In a big field, I knew we'd be in traffic. When he settled near the inside, he relaxed the way I wanted him to.
"I was inside, inside and then on the second turn, I was able to get out and this horse has a long stride and he kept going," said Leparoux. "Eddie told me to warm him up good and it went well. I knew he was a maiden, of course, but Eddie told me his last race at Gulfstream was kind of like a win because he had a bad post and some bad luck. He ran big today."
Kenneally, who trains Battle Hardened for owners Michael B. Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier, had cross-entered the colt in a maiden race at Gulfstream and did not decide until Friday to take a shot at the Sam F. Davis.
"This was a really good bunch of quality horses, but no stars, and that was one reason we decided to take a shot today," said Kenneally, who won the 2010 Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes with Santiva when he was a maiden. "He's been training brilliantly and we were happy with how he was coming into the race, so we decided to come here and get some of the big money.
"He showed a little more professionalism today. He relaxed nicely in the thick of things. He was in a group of horses in tight and he had plenty of reasons to back out of there if he wanted to, but he showed a little bit of gameness and a little bit of toughness like you want to see going forward to the bigger races down the road.
We'll definitely take a real good look at the Tampa Bay Derby (March 10) and it's very likely," Kenneally added. "We knew when his races started to go longer he was going to be a better horse. Two-turn races are what he wants to do and he is very good at it."
Battle Hardened was bred by Lakeside Farm LLC and purchased by the owners as a July yearling for $170,000. His winner's share of the purse was $120,000.
Mark Casse, who trained Florida Oaks winner Dixie Strike on Saturday and was second with Exclusive Love in the Endeavour Stakes, had mixed feelings about Prospective's effort.
"You know, he ran really funny," Casse said. "I thought turning for home he was through, but (jockey) Luis (Contreras) said as soon as (Battle Hardened) came outside him, he took off again. So if we can get him to try harder, he'll be really good. We might make a few little changes and hopefully come back and try him again (in the Tampa Bay Derby)."
The Sam F. Davis was the centerpiece of Tampa Bay Downs' Festival Preview Day Presented by Lambholm South. In the other graded stakes, the Grade III, $150,000 Endeavour Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf, Martin S. Schwartz's 5-year-old mare Zagora justified her 9-10 odds, rolling to a two-and-a-quarter length victory from Exclusive Love under winning rider Javier Castellano. Keertana rallied for third in the eight-horse field.
Zagora, a French-bred daughter of Green Tune-Zaneton who is trained by Chad Brown, had last raced Sept. 18 at Woodbine in a Grade II stakes. That followed her victory last July in the Grade I Diana at Saratoga, and she was back to that level Saturday, winning in a speedy 1:40.92 for the distance.
"It's the first time I've been up on her since last year but it was like getting back with an old friend," Castellano said. "We really had a perfect trip. I got her to the inside and she relaxed. When we were getting near the stretch, I asked her and she put in a strong run and that was that."
Assistant trainer Jose Hernandez, who accompanied Zagora on the van trip from Palm Meadows on Saturday morning, was ecstatic about her performance.
"She was doing so well and training really good at Palm Meadows (Training Center)," Hernandez said. "Chad didn't tell me anything, only 'Good luck' about a half-hour before the race. It is something amazing to be around a mare like this. Javier had a great hold on her and got great position, the fractions were good and she showed her class."
All-sources handle was approximately $8.2 million, the second-highest total for a Festival Preview Day card.
Live racing resumes Sunday with a first-race post time of 12:25 p.m. Tampa Bay Downs is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits poker action in the Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at the Downs Golf Practice Facility.


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Right-to-know progress: A good week for 'sunshine'EDITORIAL
March 17. 2018 11:57PM
Last week was Sunshine Week, and the New Hampshire Legislature did its part to pull back the curtains a little bit more on government in the Granite State.
The Senate narrowly approved SB 555, which built on the recommendations of a commission studying how to improve New Hampshire's right-to-know law. The bill would set up an ombudsman to help settle disputes when government agencies deny public information requests. Currently, the only option for citizens denied access to public records is to go to court.
SB 555 would set up a cumbersome appeals commission to oversee the ombudsman, which we think is unnecessary. But the bill is a step forward.
Meanwhile, the House passed a pair of right-to-know bills. HB 1788 caps the per-page price for copies requested under the right-to-know law. Some towns had abused the statute by charging more for records than the actual cost of photocopies.
HB 1579 tightened reporting requirements when government bodies go into "non-meetings" exempt from the right-to-know law. The public has a right to know what government is doing behind closed doors, even when the specifics remain confidential.
The House did vote down one key reform, rejecting HB 1789. This would have prevented government agencies from charging for electronic documents. The current statute only requires citizens to pay the actual cost of copying records. It costs nothing to attach an email.
Despite another nor'easter, it was a good week for sunshine in the Granite State.

subset: commoncrawl


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ShuigoIn Shuigo you must connect 2 similar tiles. The line cannot bend more than 3 times.
Sea MahjongEnjoy this Mahjong challenge under the sea! Select two identical mahjong tiles to remove them, match tiles quickly to get a combo!
Fruita CrushFruita Crush is a fruitful match3 game where you have to combine lots of tasty fruits. Jump in fantastic worlds and master over 100 challenging levels. Connect 3 fruits or more, collect as many points as possible and activate all bonus fruits to beat the highest score. Can you master all levels?
Combo CrusaderGo on a Crusade! Destroy monsters to score points and unlock levels. Getting as many monsters adjacent to each gets you the most points, so think ahead and have fun.
Fruit Connect 2Connect 2 of the same fruits in Fruit Connect 2! This fruit connect-2 game has hand drawn graphics and many levels to enjoy.
Duos Tropical Link
Rate this game
Match the cute animals and clear the board before time runs out. Challenge your puzzle solving skills in this cute animal mahjong game!


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Okay, I'm working through Lingua Latina per se Illustrata, and I'm starting chapter 48, about the Second Punic War. I'm having trouble with this sentence: "Odiis etiam prope maioribus certaverunt quam viribus, Romanis indignantibus quod victoribus victi ultro inferrent arma, Poenis quod superbe avareque crederent imperitatum victis esse."
I'm fine up until the last three words. Roughly: "They fought with even more hatred than force, the Romans because they were offended that the conquered took up arms unprovoked against the conquerors, the Carthaginians because they believed proudly and greedily SOMETHING SOMETHING SOMETHING."
I'm reading "imperitatum" as a perfect passive participle--but what does it modify? And "victis" is either a dative or an ablative plural--but why would the Carthaginians think anything was done to them (I suppose I'm supplying a "se") by the conquered when they were in fact the conquered?
Canon Roberts's translation is "The Carthaginians bitterly resented what they regarded as the tyrannical and rapacious conduct of Rome," which is elegant but not particularly helpful as far as grammar goes.
I'm sure it's very obvious and simple, but I'm knocking my head against a wall trying to get there. Can anybody offer a hint or two?


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Locally, the Montevideo School District seems to be embracing technology, and staff there are taking steps to prepare for an ever-increasing use in the classroom.
Locally, the Montevideo School District seems to be embracing technology, and staff there are taking steps to prepare for an ever-increasing use in the classroom.
Last year, thanks to the 10-year technology referendum, kindergarten though fifth grade, and some sixth grade classrooms were fully updated with interactive SMARTboards as well as integrated audio and visual technology. This year, that process will continue through twelfth grade classrooms.
Without the levy, it would have taken the Montevideo School District 25 years to make these upgrades, which have taken the classrooms out of the 1950s, and now a new opportunity is helping the district look even further into the future, and prepare for an even greater increase in technology in schools. A $64,000 K-12 Telecommunications Grant from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for network bandwidth upgrades has given the school district a major head start.
"It's not something that's big and flashy and interesting to a lot of people," said Scott Ripley, technology coordinator for the school district. "But it allows for a lot of possibilities in the future ... we're getting setup for 10 gig speeds."
The $64,000 grant has allowed the school district to upgrade three 20-year-old network switches at the high school, middle school and Ramsey Elementary. It's also allowed the installation of a 10 gigabit redundant cable from the high school to the middle school, which will allow 10 gigabit speeds in both directions. In most homes, 20 megabit speeds are considered desirable, and there are 1,000 megabits in a gigabit. Most businesses don't even use that fast of a connection.
"Those are some supersonic speeds," Ripley summed up.
Along with the upgrade, which is running a wire underground, a second tunnel is being created to allow for any future updates that are necessary. A rope will be put in place to pull through another line whenever it might be required.
For more on this story and others subscribe or pick up a copy of the Montevideo American-News.


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Write an iPhone application
Budget ₹37500-75000 INR
I need a free lance android/ios developer to work on my project.
To build an Mobile app which shall connect Students and Subject Matter Experts.
This is a dynamic app where students shall be interacting with the list of registered Subject matter experts in DB.
Students shall start asking questions on Projects /Career according to filter criteria (Industry /Company) and choose the Expert with same criteria and this should trigger the expert as well.
They should respond if available or give slots to students.
30 freelance hanno fatto un'offerta media di ₹90036 per questo lavoro
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text:
Mist Eliminators / Mist Eliminators
DFH Anti icing and anti snow Air intake system
DF Series - Vane-type
- High separation efficiency
- Very low pressure drop leading to lower operating costs
- Corrosion resistant
- Simple installation
- Low maintenance cost due to simple operating principle and long lifetime
- Wide face velocity range
- Tailor made sizes, designs and colours
- Customized colours for aluminium separators
Product description
DFH is a ready-to-install snow and droplet separator for use as an air intake in cold climates. The unit provides protection against all sorts of snow particles and rain, hence it prevents the intake from getting plugged with ice. DFH is typically used in cold climates, with snowfall, hail, drifting snow particles and high relative humidity. DFH separator is available in aluminum and stainless steel alloys and thus fits a wide range of applications. It can be configured to various individual performance and installation situations, providing a cost effective solution. The choice of sensor options allows for the best adaptation to the weather conditions in order to reduce the electrical consumption.
DFH consists of a separator and a control unit. The separator unit accommodates vertical profiles with heating devices. Captured snow and hail particles are either sublimated or melted, once they have coalesced on the heated surface. Melted particles gravitate down and drain the eliminator through a heated exit.
Depending on the application, the control unit can incorporate an integrated FI switch, sensors and additional electrical components. The control unit comes as a separate part and is installed in close proximity to separator. A single unit can control several separators, provided that they are installed in the same location.
- Downloads


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Children and adults were poisoned by eating Food last Friday during the celebration of Children's Day at school
ACAPULCO, April 30. – On Monday, after taking stock of people who were infected with their stomachs after eating food at the child's day celebration at a school John R Escudero in the community of the organs, health officials announced there were 285 children and 14 adults who had symptoms of fever, vomiting and diarrhea.
The health sector pointed out that most of them have already been discharged and only 83 children remain hospitalized for observation, most patients were treated at the hospital Renaissance City, General Hospital Ruiz Cortines, ISSSTE, the health center the bodies, and others in clinics and private practices.
Children and adults were poisoned by eating last Friday during the celebration of Children's Day at school John R Escudero community for the bodies, first poisoned children began to appear from Friday night, then Saturday and Sunday there were more cases to be the figure on Monday afternoon in 299 people affected.
The health secretary Guerrero reiterated that all families pay medical expenses generated by this contingency. It also asked people who were discharged in the event of new symptoms come immediately to public health hospitals.


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SALEM, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon judge ruled Thursday that a 112-year sentence is not cruel and unusual punishment for Kip Kinkel, who was convicted of killing four people and wounding 25 others as a 15-year-old high school student in 1998.
Judge Thomas Hart in Salem rejected an argument from Kinkel's lawyer based on federal court decisions that mandatory life sentences with no possibility of parole are unconstitutional for juveniles, The Oregonian (http://bit.ly/18XJNwG ) reported.
Lawyers for the state argued that Kinkel received a long sentence, not a mandatory life sentence, and the judge exercised discretion and considered Kinkel's age.
Before trial, Kinkel abandoned an insanity defense and accepted a plea deal in the shooting deaths of his parents and two Thurston High School students and the wounding of 25 others.
He turned 31 on Aug. 30 and is being held at the Oregon State Correctional Institution in Salem.
He was thought to have exhausted his appeals in state court, but his attorney, Andy Simrin, filed a petition in March for a new sentencing hearing.
Hart said the circumstances of the cases Simrin cited didn't match Kinkel's.
"None of them are really on point," Hart said after brief oral arguments.
He also rejected an argument that the 87 years Kinkel got on attempted murder counts should be thrown out on the basis of a U.S. Supreme Court decision against a life sentence without parole for juveniles convicted of a non-homicide crime.
Simrin said that ensured Kinkel would be in prison until he was 102.
An assistant attorney general, Samuel Kubernick, countered that the ruling didn't apply to a case in which a juvenile was convicted of multiple offenses with multiple victims.
He said he doesn't think the added time for the attempted murder counts "shocks anyone's conscience."
Hart agreed. He said he was unwilling to consider Kinkel's sentence for his attempted murder charges separate from the four murder convictions.
"I still have four bodies," Hart said. "I'm not going to be the person who's going to carve those facts out."
Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com


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Pharr, TX Pharmacuetical Drug Lawyer
You place special trust and confidence in your physician. When they write a prescription for whatever is ailing you, the only thing you should expect is to be relieved of the symptoms and to begin to feel better. There is no good reason for you to doubt or second guess the nature, purpose, effect, or quality of the drug you put into your body to get well. If you taking prescription drug medication or over-the-counter medicines have caused you pain or increased illness or have even threatened your life, then you should take legal action against the pharmaceutical company that makes it.
Pharmaceutical companies have a very important responsibility to the public. People use their products when they are at the weakest and most vulnerable points in their lives. The government maintains highly stringent standards for the testing of drugs destined for the market. Over the years, however, the drug companies have found ways of rushing their products to retail shelves without understanding their full and long term effects. This leaves consumers like you holding the bag.
Some of the most common and pernicious side effects of under tested and unsafe drugs include:
Heart attack
High blood pressure
Organ damage
If you have suffered from any of these conditions, you have a case against the makers of the drugs that caused them. Reyna Injury Lawyers help people like you, people who have had to bear the ill health effects of pharmaceutical drugs that were not ready for the market. A Pharr, TX pharmacuetical drug lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve. They can help you file suit against the drug company that has made you so ill.
Physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering, tremendous strain on family and friends, loss of income from being out of work, payment for additional medical services and prescriptions for dealing with the pain—these are some of the consequences of taking prescription drugs that are not safe. It is not up to you to determine which drugs can and cannot be consumed. That decision should have been made long before such products were put on sale.
Unfortunately, many drug companies are willing to put people's lives, health, and livelihoods at risk to satiate their greed. It may be the case that they have poured large amounts of money into the development of a new drug that has legitimate uses, that was meant to help treat a specific ailment. But no such drug can be of any use if it harms rather than heals.
You are right to be angry, you are right to be disappointed, and you are right to want to expose the dangers of the drug that has caused you so much distress. A Pharr, TX pharmacuetical drug lawyer of the kind found at Reyna Injury Lawyers can help you turn such raw feelings into action. The lawyers in the firm have extensive knowledge, skill, and experience in doing battle with pharmaceutical companies and they will get you the concrete results needed to help get your life back on track.
Pharmaceutical law can be quite complex. There is not only the matter of the laws and regulations themselves but of the medicine and science they are meant to govern. It is important to have a lawyer who understands the jargon, the technical language and concepts that are often used in such a case. The lawyer you work with should also be familiar enough with the industry to understand how the executives in it think and how they will proceed to defend themselves against your suit.
Taking on a pharmaceutical company is no minor task. They will not make it easy for you to prevail. But the right Pharr, TX pharmacuetical drug lawyer will help you put together a strong and robust case. If the other side can see that the facts are against them, they will at some point want to settle. You should get no less than what you have had to endure entitles you to. The lawyer you work with should see to that.
You have suffered a tremendous wrong, but you can do something about. You should contact Reyna Injury Lawyers today for a free case review.
If You've Been Hurt, You Probably Have Questions
We're here to help
We Respect Your Privacy. Privacy Policy
Schedule A Free Consultation Today
If you or someone you love has been a victim of a personal injury accident, it's important that you speak with an experienced attorney today so that you fully understand what your best legal course of action is. Contact attorney Juan "JR" Reyna today by filling out the form below.


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Public Comment
Statement in Support of a Citywide "No Drone Zone"
Environmentalists Against War is a global coalition of more than 100 environmental, peace, and social justice groups committed to addressing the impacts of war and militarism.
We are opposed to the introduction of police and commercial drones in US cities. We are opposed to the militarization of the commons by private corporations that hope to profit by filling the urban environment with surveillance drones.
The FAA currently has no plans to prevent potential collisions with drones. Despite these unresolved safety concerns, Congress has moved to legalize domestic drones within three years. Government incentives will be used to encourage the country's 18,000 police departments to purchase spy-drones.
By 2030, as many as 30,000 remote-controlled mini-aircraft are projected to fill US skies. Military contractors anticipate the domestic market for drones designed to spy-on-the-fly could become a $30 billion industry by 2015.
Drones are already being used by paparazzi to stalk celebrities on the French Riviera. Drones are already being used in the US. The Pentagon's Reaper drones (the same kind used by the US to kill "targets" in the Middle East and Africa) are currently deployed along the US-Mexican border. Ten years ago, I reported on the existence of the Flybot, a Pentagon drone capable of hovering between buildings and remotely firing grenades and chemical weapons to suppress civil unrest.
In the US, entrepreneurs want to use 100-pound drones to deliver pizzas. Like all machines, drones fail. As Wired magazine editor and former Berkeley resident Chris Anderson has observed, when drones fall from the sky they become "flying lawnmowers." Last September, a US Predator drone suffered an "inexplicable engine failure" over Afghanistan and was intentionally flown into a mountainside. Cost to taxpayers: $3.8 million.
Aerovironment, a major US drone maker, has produced spy drones in the shape of hummingbirds and sparrows able to "perch-and-peep" on unsuspecting civilian targets. Some Pentagon drones are the size of flies. Aerovironment's Switchblade drone—a "robotic kamikaze" the size of a rolled-up magazine—can be quickly weaponized to drop bombs or fire rockets at a human target.
Individuals and groups like Team Blacksheep have already flown spy drones over and around potential terrorist targets — including the Statue of Liberty and the Golden Gate Bridge. Even the most sophisticated drone can be hacked by a potential terrorist. In 2011, Iran famously seized electronic control of a Predator drone—which is now proudly on display in Tehran.
As the conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer has stated: "I'm very concerned we're at the beginning of a revolution in surveillance that will not stop. It's like having a permanent camera over everybody's head, in every street, forever."
For these reasons we support the adoption of the No Drone Zone resolution.


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Injectable Microbubbles in Hydrology and Healthcare
Fanny Griesmer February 1, 2013
Microbubbles filled with oxygen can be injected into contaminated lakes to restore the water quality. Typically, water is purified via water-treatment plants, but this microbubble technique is both inexpensive and more environmentally-friendly in comparison. As seen in a COMSOL News 2011 article, oxygen microbubbles are a researcher's way of copying nature's own self-restoration mechanism for cleaning contaminated lakes.
Microbubble generator. Image courtesy of Dr. Shuya Yoshioka.
Microbubbles in Water Purification
Created through high-speed mechanical agitation of water, the microbubbles contain a gas, oxygen, that will then be used to purify the contaminated water of lakes and dams. The small size of these bubbles (one micrometer) prevents the bubbles from floating to the surface at any rapid pace. In fact, the small buoyancy force acting on the bubbles is so small that the microbubbles are left submersed in the water for minutes or even hours. Another advantage with microbubbles is that a greater air-liquid interface surface area can be achieved for the same amount oxygen in larger bubbles. In short, the microbubble technique proves efficient for dissolving gas into water.
Dr. Shuya Yoshioka of Ritsumeikan University in Japan, tested his microbubbles with experiments at the Sounoseki Dam. In the article "Restoration of Lake Water Environments" in COMSOL News 2011, he explains that injecting oxygen microbubbles into lakes will both oxidize metals, causing them to precipitate, and stimulate microorganism activity to break down and eliminate organic material in the lakes. In the article, he states that "in these trials, it is necessary to predict all the environmental phenomena that might affect the body of water (wind, water flow, temperature, chemical reactions, and diffusion." Because all of the equations governing these need to be solved simultaneously as opposed to sequentially, Dr. Yoshioka turned to COMSOL Multiphysics to find the most effective and cost-efficient way to inject the microbubbles. In simulating the water currents of the dam, the researcher discovered a large-scale recirculation region that he later took advantage of for seeding and diffusing the microbbubles throughout the whole dam. Using COMSOL Multiphysics and the CFD and Chemical Reaction Engineering Modules, he was able to determine where to add the bubbles to the water, and at what depth and rate.
Simulating microbubbles: mass diffusion over a cross-section of the Sounoseki Dam reservoir. Image courtesy of Dr. Shuya Yoshioka.
After deploying his purification system, trial testing of toxin levels in the dam showed that the addition of oxygen microbubbles dramatically decreased the concentration of certain toxic substances (including nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, and manganese).
Trial testing results: concentrations of toxic substances reduced (note: the experiment was suspended during August 7-17). Image courtesy of Dr. Shuya Yoshioka.
Microbubbles in Healthcare
Water purification is not the only scenario where microbubbles can be of help. A relatively recent study indicates that microbubbles could be used to get oxygen into the body of a patient to keep organs from suffocating during a medical emergency. Similar to the ones used for purifying bodies of water, these bubbles would be injected into the human body and then dissolve to release the gas.
Further Reading
- "Restoration of Lake Water Environments" on pg. 54 in COMSOL News 2011
- "Micro Bubbles: A Trump Card for Quick Water Purification"
- "A Breath of Fresh Microbubbles"


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Japanese have lately been marvelling at the precocious dress of elementary schoolers of late, with Hinata and Riria (both 12 or 13) taken to be cases in point.
2ch for its part has been quick to denounce this "bitchification" of the nation's young girls, perhaps smarting to see them not dressed as little sailors instead…
Although some of the girls pictured are obviously models, enough of them look to be normal schoolgirls for some conclusions about contemporary schoolgirl fashion to be drawn.
Those tempted to decry this as "bitchification" might do well to note that the notion that 13-year-olds should look and behave like innocent little dolls is a relatively recent one – in Edo period Japan marriage generally started at 14, and even in the west hyper-puritanical attitudes to adolescents are far from ancient, so from a historical perspective such antics are not particularly shocking.


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HONG KONG (AP) — Pro-democracy lawmakers made a symbolic attempt to impeach Hong Kong's Beijing-backed leader in the latest sign of the widening gulf between the semiautonomous southern Chinese city and its political masters on the mainland.
The motion was unsurprisingly voted down late Wednesday after lengthy debate in the 70-seat Legislative Council, where the 27 pro-democracy legislators are outnumbered by pro-Beijing representatives.
But it was an attempt to "show the deep mistrust against the chief executive," who is suffering from a credibility crisis, said Ma Ngok, a political scientist at Chinese University of Hong Kong.
The motion's supporters sought to charge Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying with serious breaches of law that could have led to his impeachment. They allege Leung misled them about illegal renovations to his mansion.
Leung survived a no-confidence vote in December but was the first Hong Kong leader to face an impeachment attempt since the former British colony came back under China's control in 1997.
Leung has become a lightning rod for growing public discontent since taking office in July. Anger over a wide range of issues stems from the city's fraught relationship with mainland China, whose Communist Party leaders still support him.
On New Year's Day, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets to call for Leung to resign and to press for full democracy. Beijing has pledged that Hong Kong residents can elect their leader by 2017 at the earliest, though no roadmap has been laid out.
Leung was handpicked for the city's top job by an elite group of mostly pro-Beijing tycoons. He won the job after taking advantage of a scandal involving a huge, unauthorized basement in his rival's home. But shortly before taking office, illegal additions were also discovered at Leung's home in the exclusive Victoria Peak neighborhood.
Leung has apologized and removed the structures, which included a trellis and a gate. He said some of them were put in before he bought the house.
Hong Kongers have rights and freedoms not seen on mainland China, and Beijing has granted the territory a high degree of autonomy until 2047. The impeachment bid is yet another sign of how Hong Kongers have become increasingly uneasy over the mainland's growing influence, especially in the form of an influx of visitors coming to shop, buy property and even give birth, putting a strain on the city's limited resources and pushing up prices.
Leung's webpage: http://www.ceo.gov.hk/
Hong Kong legislature: www.legco.gov.hk


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A lucky few young people from Southeast Kansas high schools got a chance today to meet a person with a family tie to a national hero.
The niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr spoke to the students on how to ensure her uncle's dream survives.
Dr. Alveda King continuously tours the country with her uncle's messages of religion, civil rights and how the dream can survive.
"I have children and now grandchildren and I enjoy helping them and helping children across America and the world to just realize they are special, they're precious, and I want to see them succeed," says Dr. King.
Dr. King told the students that the future is now and that she hopes they follow their dreams.
"We help the young people to realize their goals and their dreams, the best potential that they have and the dream will survive if we allow the children to survive," Dr. King says.
Only select students with high GPA's and great attitudes were invited from Southeast Kansas high schools to come hear Dr. King.
Students we spoke with say it's surreal to meet someone with such an important historical tie.
"I was actually kind of astounded," says Courtlynn Rose of Independence High School. "We were like 'really?' There were only a few of us that got to go so we were really happy and glad that we got chosen."
"It's moving how far our country has been and where the students are in high school today and what's going on with different students," says Kenton Blich of Field Kindley High School in Coffeyville.
"I took away that it doesn't matter who you are or what color you are, just keep doing what you're doing and make sure you just try to be successful in life," says Jeremiah Lawrie of Independence High School.
Dr. King says she agreed to talk because it involved what she called the future of the dream, teaching America's children to make smart choices and to never give up on their futures.
For those interested in hearing from Dr. Alveda King firsthand she will be speaking this Saturday at the Municipal Auditorium in Parsons at 11 a.m.


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Our New Zealand Odyssey trip was interesting, educational and lots of fun. We experienced a wide variety of cultural, historical, and geological activities. It was very nice to be in a happy and relaxed country.
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Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Rooms are being held at the arrival hotel in Auckland tonight (Saturday night) for all participants, allowing them to check in to their rooms as soon as they arrive at the hotel after their early-morning arrival into Auckland on the group flight on Sunday morning. Participants arriving in Auckland prior to the day the group flight arrives are welcome to make use of these rooms tonight. Please be aware that you will not be able to check-in prior to the standard 2pm check-in time on Saturday.
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles, paved surfaces, undulating terrain. Upon your arrival in Auckland, you will be given a Road Scholar water bottle to use throughout your program. This is yours to keep.
Morning: Kia ora! Welcome to Auckland. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. This program will be staffed with both a Group Leader and a local Site Coordinator at most study sites providing information and leading field trips. Some meals will be buffets, others will be plated and served; and some we will order in advance. Beverages typically included coffee, tea, water, with other beverages available for purchase depending on location. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, attending performances or other events on your own, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader and local Site Coordinator will always be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local conditions/circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. To conclude our Orientation session, we will have an introduction to Auckland.
Lunch: At the hotel.
Afternoon: Auckland, the "City of Sails," is New Zealand's largest city and over one-third of all New Zealanders live in the greater Auckland area. It has a cosmopolitan population and the high proportion of indigenous Maori and other Polynesian peoples from the Pacific Islands have contributed distinctive elements to its cultural mix. This mix has been heightened by increased immigration from a number of Asian nations throughout the last decade or two. A third of the city's population was born outside New Zealand. The city has a unique setting between two harbours on a narrow isthmus studded with numerous volcanic cones. To the east, the Waitemata Harbour provides New Zealand's busiest Pacific port and a picturesque setting for the central business district and suburbs. Beyond this harbour lie the superb boating waters of the island-studded Hauraki Gulf. To the west, the broad shallows of the Manukau Harbour provide ideal habitat for large flocks of seabirds in the shadow of the rugged rainforest-covered Waitakere Ranges. Beyond these ranges the wild black-sand surf beaches of the west coast are a dramatic contrast to the gentle golden sand of the tree-fringed beaches of the east coast. This afternoon our Group Leader and local Site Coordinator will lead us on a walking field trip in central Auckland, introducing us to New Zealand's largest city. We will learn something of how Auckland interacts with its harbour for both business and pleasure and take a stroll past the art gallery and through the grounds of the university. We will return to our hotel in time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner: At the hotel. We will have "Welcome to New Zealand" wine with dinner tonight.
Evening: At leisure. We have an early night tonight to rest up following our long flight.
Activity note: Walking up to 1.2 miles; flat, paved surfaces.
Breakfast: The breakfast buffet in the hotel's top-floor dining room has stunning views of Auckland Harbour and the central business district.
Morning: We begin today with a well-known local author and journalist who will provide an introduction to New Zealand history. We will then wander walk down to Viaduct Basin for a yacht cruise on Auckland's magnificent Waitemata Harbour giving us stunning views of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, the city and the surrounding volcanic cones. Our Group Leader, Site Coordinator, and skipper(s) will point out the sights of particular significance and interest. As we sail through the channel, those who wish can have a turn at the wheel, helming the yacht, weather conditions permitting. At the conclusion of the cruise, we will board a motorcoach and transfer to Eden Garden, a 5.5 acre, award-winning garden, created an abandoned quarry at the base of Mt Eden.
Lunch: At Eden Garden, we have pre-ordered plated lunches surrounded by delightful gardens. We will have time to explore the gardens briefly on our own prior to or after lunch.
Afternoon: Next, we will ride to Auckland's War Memorial Museum, with an orientation to the layout of the city en route. At the museum, a docent will introduce the permanent exhibitions showing patterns of Polynesian and European settlement. Following our time at the museum, we board our motorcoach and return to our hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking up to 3 miles; undulating terrain, varied surfaces. The order of today's activities may vary depending on tides.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: A local geologist and marine biologist will join us at the hotel for a lecture on the geology of Auckland and its varied coastlines. He will then lead us on a field trip to explore Auckland's northern coastline and give us an understanding of the variety of the city's coastal environment. At North Head, a walk will give us a greater perspective of the Hauraki Gulf and the volcanic islands that litter it.
Lunch: At a local restaurant, we will have a buffet lunch looking out over picturesque Cheltenham Beach and across to the cone of Rangitoto, Auckland's most recognisable volcano and an iconic natural landmark.
Afternoon: Our field trip continues as we visit Lake Pupuke to understand how the volcanic lake and the stunning coast coexist so closely. We will return to our hotel in the late afternoon and have the remainder of the afternoon and evening to ourselves.
Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader and local Site Coordinator will be happy to offer suggestions. The Viaduct Basin, formerly the home of the America's Cup, has a variety of cafés and restaurants a short walk from the hotel. The relatively new development of the Wynyard Quarter is a delightful stroll across the bridge beyond the Viaduct, while the Britomart precinct is located in the streets behind the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for hotel check out and transfer tomorrow.
Activity note: The drive from Auckland to the Waitomo Caves is about 120 miles (190 kilometres), approximately 2.5 hours. The drive from Waitomo Caves to Rotorua is about 90 miles (140 kilometres), approximately 2 hours. At Waitomo Caves, uneven terrain; getting into/out of boats. Photography is not permitted within the caves.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: We will check out of the hotel and depart for Waitomo, travelling through Waikato's rolling green countryside. On our picturesque journey, we will pass pristine farmland and dense forest.
Lunch: At a farm cafe close to Waitomo, we will have a pre-ordered barbecue lunch with buffet salad bar.
Afternoon: We will continue our ride to Waitomo for an expert led walking field trip in the internationally-recognised Waitomo glowworm caves. The glowworm (arachnocampa luminosa) is unique to New Zealand and thousands of these tiny creatures radiate their unmistakable luminescent light as expert guides provide informative commentary on the Caves' historical and geological significance. After our walk through the caves, where we be amazed at the clear natural acoustics of the "cathedral cave," we will enjoy a boat ride out of the cave, under thousands of magical glowworms, emerging into a stunning natural stream setting. Reboarding our motorcoach, we will transfer through to Rotorua where we will stay for the next two nights. Located on the shores of Lake Rotorua and nicknamed "Sulphur City," Rotorua has been sustained by tourism since 1870. It is a thermal wonderland with the most energetic thermal activity in the country including hot springs, geysers and bubbling mud pools. It is also an important centre of Maori culture. In the early 19th century the colonial government attempted to develop it as a European-style spa town. The impressive Tudor-styled Bath House dating from that time is now the Rotorua Museum. The area also has fine trout fishing and scenic wildlife parks. Nearby Mount Tarawera erupted in 1886 resulting in major changes to the landscape and considerable loss of life. The beautiful lakes in the region are part of the legacy of this cataclysm. En route, we will have an introduction to Rotorua before checking in to our hotel.
Dinner: In the hotel restaurant, enjoy a dinner buffet.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: In the morning, walking up to 3 miles; gravel pathways, uneven, steep in parts. In the afternoon, walking up to 1.5 miles; paved surfaces, some steep sections.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: Today we will learn about Rotorua's geothermal background and Maori history and culture. We will travel first to Waimangu Volcanic Valley to learn more about volcanic and geothermal New Zealand. Waimangu Volcanic Valley is the only geothermal system in the world wholly created as the direct result of a volcanic eruption, the Tarawera Eruption of June 10, 1886. We will walk through this amazing volcanic landscape serenaded by the songs of the local native birdlife. At the end of our walk, we will have a cruise on Lake Rotomohana, surrounded by pristine bush and also formed as a result of the 1886 eruption. We will then return to Rotorua.
Lunch: At an historic and lovingly-restored hotel beside Rotorua's Government Gardens, we will have a pre-ordered, plated lunch.
Afternoon: Next, we will take our motorcoach to Te Puia, the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Here we will visit the Kiwi House to meet New Zealand's national symbol, the flightless kiwi, and view the Whakarewarewa thermal area, renowned for its boiling mudpools and the spectacular Pohutu geyser. We will also learn from local experts at the Institute about the role it plays in encouraging young Maori to train in the traditional Maori arts and crafts: carving wood and stone, weaving, traditional building techniques, and the like. After returning to the hotel, the remainder of the afternoon is free.
Dinner: Tonight we experience a hangi, the traditional Maori method of cooking food in the ground.
Evening: Performance. Before, during and after dinner we experience a Maori cultural performance giving us an introduction to Maori culture and tradition. We will be spellbound by songs and dances demonstrated in a rich cultural performance, culminating with a powerful "Haka" or Maori war dance.
Activity note: The flight from Rotorua to Christchurch is a little less than 2 hours (depending on weather). Typically Air New Zealand uses ATR 72 aircraft on this route. Walking up to 1 mile at Riccarton Bush.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: This morning we check out of our hotel and transfer to the National Kiwi Trust at Rainbow Springs. Here we have a lecture introducing us to New Zealand's endangered national bird. We will learn of the vital role the National Kiwi Trust is playing in rearing young kiwi chicks until they are large enough to be released into the wild. After an expert-led visit to this wonderful facility we then board our motorcoach taking us to Rotorua airport.
Lunch: We will pick up a packed lunch at Rotorua airport.
Afternoon: We leave the North Island as we fly to Christchurch, situated on the east coast of the South Island. Christchurch is set close to the sea on a broad plain between the towering Southern Alps and the large extinct volcanic crater that forms Banks Peninsula. It is the largest city in the South Island and the centre of farming, industrial and cultural activities for the province of Canterbury. Because of its excellent transportation facilities, bountiful water supply and abundant hydro-electric power, Christchurch is one of the most important industrial and commercial centres in New Zealand. We will be met at the airport by our local Site Coordinator. We will then board our motorcoach and, en route to our hotel, have a field trip orienting us to the city and explaining the effects of earthquake on a vibrant, modern, first-world city. As well as seeing the effects of the series of earthquakes that occurred between September 2010 and May 2012, we will learn of the innovative, often community-led projects helping to rejuvenate this city the locals are so passionate about. We will then transfer to Riccarton House, one of Christchurch's most significant early homesteads. Here we have a ranger-led walk through Riccarton Bush - a unique native lowland podocarp forest close to the centre of New Zealand's "Garden City". We will also have a lecture on the early-settler family responsible for the existence of both Riccarton House and Riccarton Bush. Through this we will gain an insight into the early settlement of the province of Canterbury.
Dinner: At Riccarton House, we will have a pre-ordered, plated, 2-course dinner.
Evening: After dinner our Te Puna Ora story-teller — playing two characters — will introduce the experience of early immigrants to Canterbury. We will then transfer back to our hotel on our motorcoach.
Activity note: Getting on/off a boat. The drive from the centre of Christchurch over Hilltop to Akaroa is about 50 miles (80 kilometres), approximately 1.5 hours each way.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: We will head to the delightful Banks Peninsula township of Akaroa, a historic French and British settlement nestled in the heart of an ancient volcano. Some of the town's French character is shown by its French street names. En route, we will learn from our Site Coordinator about historical patterns of settlement of the local Maori, French, and other European settler populations. Upon arriving in Akaroa, we will board a boat for a harbour cruise on which we will see sea caves, volcanic formations, high cliffs and myriad nesting sites. Keep an eye out for the delightful Hector's Dolphin, one of the world's rarest and smallest dolphins, as well as blue penguins, fur seals, and abundant bird life.
Lunch: We return to land and are given free time to explore Akaroa on foot, just as the Christchurch visitors do on their day trips. We will get our own lunch at leisure as we explore.
Afternoon: We will regroup at the Akaroa Museum and view a video to learn about life in this small community. We will then board our motorcoach and drive back over Hilltop to Christchurch. Before dinner our local Site Coordinator will lead a walking tour of the centre of Christchurch for those participants interested in learning more about what makes this city tick as it continues its regrowth.
Dinner: At the hotel, we will have pre-ordered, plated meals.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for hotel check out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: The flight from Christchurch to Invercargill is about 1.5 hours. Typically Air New Zealand uses ATR 72 aircraft on this route. The drive from Invercargill to Te Anau is about 125 miles (200 kilometres), approximately 3 hours.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we will transfer to the International Antarctic Centre. Here, we will get as close as possible to experiencing Antarctica without actually going there. We will have a lecture on Christchurch's involvement with Antarctica as the nearest mainland base for US, NZ, and Italian Antarctic research. We will explore the Centre and have an opportunity to get up close to little blue penguins. We will then transfer to the airport for our flight to Invercargill.
Lunch: We will have a packed lunch from the International Antarctic Centre at Christchurch airport before boarding our flight to Invercargill.
Afternoon: Upon our arrival in Invercargill, a local expert and broadcaster will introduce us to New Zealand's southernmost province, Southland. We will learn about its importance to New Zealand's agricultural backbone. We will then drive to the serenely beautiful hamlet of Te Anau, located on Lake Te Anau, the second largest lake in New Zealand and the largest in the South Island. En route, we will have an introduction to the Southern portion of our program. Te Anau is a small country centre providing community support to the widely-dispersed fishing and farming communities of sparsely-populated Fiordland. It is situated at the edge of the World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park and renowned for its alpine scenery and outdoor lifestyle. Checking in to our hotel, we will have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner: At the hotel, we will have a buffet dinner.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for hotel check out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: The drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound is about 75 miles (120 kilometres) a little over 2 hours. The drive from Milford Sound to Queenstown is about 180 miles (290 kilometres), and will take about 4 hours. Stops en route. Walking up to 2 miles.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: We will check out of the hotel, and drive around the side of Lake Te Anau, across some of the scenic splendour of Te Wahipounamu — South West New Zealand, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscape. We will drive through the Homer Tunnel, New Zealand's highest, where we may well encounter a cheeky kea (New Zealand mountain parrot) or two as we wait for our turn to proceed. At Milford Sound, we will board a cruise vessel and glide through the Sound, one of Fiordland's most picturesque fiords, where mountains stand tall right out of the sea and rainforest clings to sheer rock faces. Our skipper will interpret the stunning scenery we are cruising through. Keep an eye out for the resident pods of dolphins as we sail out towards the Tasman Sea.
Lunch: Aboard the vessel, we will have packed lunches.
Afternoon: Disembarking the cruise vessel, we will board our motorcoach and continue to Queenstown. We will travel back through the Homer Tunnel, down the Hollyford Valley past Lake Te Anau, across verdant farmland, and between mountain ranges along Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown is situated on the lake, nestled among the majestic Southern Alps. Its setting is stunning with the surrounding mountain ranges, the Remarkables and the Eyre Mountains, forming a breathtaking backdrop. It has more to offer than just magnificent landscape, however; the town strives to be the "adventure capital of the world". We will check in to our hotel upon arrival and have some time to relax before dinner.
Dinner: In the hotel restaurant looking out over the lake, we'll have pre-ordered plated meals.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a boat.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: Today we will cruise along Lake Wakatipu on board the the Spirit of Queenstown. From this modern, comfortable vessel, we will gain panoramic views up the lake to Glenorchy, Mt Earnslaw and the Southern Alps. We will then join the farm host on a walking tour of this truly authentic high country farm in a stunning mountain setting on the lake edge. We will learn something of the "journey" of high-country merino wool and gain insights into the training and usage of farmers' working dogs, the backbone of New Zealand sheep farming. It is hard not to be amazed watching farmer and dog working together in complete unison. Unless the pesky sheep have other ideas…
Lunch: At the farm, we have a typical farmer's platter "ploughman's" lunch.
Afternoon: Our field trip at the farm continues as we ride up to take in the panoramic vistas back along the lake towards Queenstown and the Remarkables. Then, reboarding the Spirit of Queenstown, we will cruise back across the lake and return to the hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore Queenstown independently. We then transfer to board the gondola that will take us to the top of Bob's Peak. We will have time to take in the spectacular views before dinner.
Dinner: Buffet dinner at the restaurant atop Bob's Peak overlooking Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables.
Evening: After taking in the stunning views over dinner, we will hop a gondola back down the hill and board our motorcoach back to our hotel. Prepare for check out and transfer tomorrow.
Activity note: The drive from Queenstown to Arrowtown takes less than 1/2 hour. The flight from Queenstown is a little less than 2 hours. Typically Air New Zealand uses ATR 72 on this route. Occasionally Airbus A320 aircraft are used. Walking up to 2 miles in Wellington; paved surfaces, predominantly downhill.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: Checking out of the hotel, we will board our motorcoach and head to the historic little former gold-mining settlement of Arrowtown at the head of the Arrow Valley just outside Queenstown. We will have time for personal independent exploration. You might like to check out the museum or the Chinese village. Depending on how you wish to spend your time there, you are likely to walk at least a mile in Arrowtown.
Lunch: You may get lunch in Arrowtown as you explore or at Queenstown airport before you board your flight.
Afternoon: We will fly to Wellington, located at the southern extremity of the North Island, and the capital of New Zealand since 1865. Its magnificent amphitheatre-like harbour, hemmed in by rugged hills, was formed by the flooding of the crater of a very large and long-extinct volcano. It provides a picturesque setting for the city's distinctive wooden houses (many visitors have been known to draw parallels with San Francisco) set precariously on the steep hills. In addition to its role as the seat of government Wellington is a major seaport, rail and ferry centre and a commercial and manufacturing hub. Its compact city centre is immensely walkable and is full of life and interest. It has a vigorous cultural and artistic scene and is the home of many national cultural institutions. Thanks partly to the fact that it is the home town of Sir Peter Jackson ("Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy), Wellington is the focal point of New Zealand's thriving film industry. Upon our arrival in Wellington we have an orientation via motorcoach with our local Site Coordinator. We will then head to our hotel and check in, dropping our bags and regathering for a lecture by a local expert on New Zealand's political system and politics.
Dinner: At the hotel, we will have a buffet dinner. Our lecturer will join us, affording an opportunity to ask any further questions you may have.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles, on our feet most of the morning.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach and ride to New Zealand's parliament buildings — including the aptly-named Beehive — for an expert-led exploration. We will then walk across Lambton Quay to New Zealand's Supreme Court where their resident expert will explain how the highest court in the land operates. You may be surprised at differences between the Supreme Court of NZ and the US.
Lunch: At a restaurant close to Parliament and the Supreme Court, we will have pre-ordered plated lunches.
Afternoon: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader and local Site Coordinator will be happy to offer suggestions. Put on your walking shoes and get amongst it! As the locals like to say, "You can't beat Wellington on a good day!"
Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like, allowing you to sample the many fine restaurants, cafes and bars Wellington has to offer.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking up to 3 miles; paved surfaces, uphill and downhill.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: Our next field trip is to Zealandia, a sanctuary of native forest and lakes, a ride of 10 minutes from the city centre. Here we will learn about some of New Zealand's unique and fascinating birdlife. Expert volunteers will introduce these wonderful birds and explain the challenges of conserving rare and vulnerable species in New Zealand. We will learn the story of how local residents lobbied and volunteered to get this valley sanctuary set aside as a reserve and have it fully enclosed by predator-proof fencing. At the conclusion of our field trip, en route to our hotel, we will transfer to the Wellington Cable Car. From the top of the cable car, we gain excellent views of Wellington Harbour and its hilly backdrop.
Lunch: Hotel buffet.
Afternoon: We will take the short walk across the road to Te Papa Tongarewa: National Museum of New Zealand where docent will introduce the key displays of this magnificent facility. We will then have time to explore the museum on our own and return to our accommodation independently at leisure.
Dinner: At the hotel, we will enjoy a farewell dinner. Share your favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends.
Evening: At leisure. Time to do that final packing and prepare for your last day in New Zealand tomorrow.
Activity note: Field trip combines viewing from motorcoach with short walks. Hotel check out is by 10am. Participants will be at Wellington airport at 2pm.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we will load our bags on to our motorcoach. We will then be joined by an eminent local scientist who will lead our field trip exploring Wellington's fascinating coastline. We will learn how tectonic forces have shaped the rugged environment surrounding the New Zealand capital.
Lunch: At a sheltered scenic spot along the south coast, we will have a boxed lunch.
Afternoon: We will board our motorcoach and ride to Wellington airport where our program concludes. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Our New Zealand Odyssey trip was interesting, educational and lots of fun. We experienced a wide variety of cultural, historical, and geological activities. It was very nice to be in a happy and relaxed country.
I was younger than my fellow travelers so I thought it might be slow paced for me, or that I would get bored occasionally. Not at all!!
We loved our trip to the land of the Kiwi- to "tomorrowland"-to the land where Australia is its western island. So much to learn- its just fun!!
This is a wonderful program that touches on all the highlights of visiting New Zealand. Our program director, George Dibley, was fantastic. I highly recommend this trip if you are looking for learning about New Zealand and its interesting natural features.
My wife and I just completed our first tour of any kind. As a former low-budget, backpack traveler, I was skeptical. So this trip was a total experiment for us, and the outcome was very positive. We had a great time on many levels: beautiful place, great itinerary, great guide and instructors, super easy travel vs own our own, etc. Being the youngest in the group turned out to not diminish from our enjoyment; we felt we bonded with everyone in our group. And seeing people in our group in their 80s and having a great time has taught us that we too have many years of fun, educational travel ahead of us!!
Educationally stimulating for enlarged perspectives of our world and our heirtagage
I had a wonderful experience and highly recommend this adventure. Good people, good presenters and good friends!
A great opportunity to experience New Zealand. Through travel by air, boat, bus and foot we covered many parts of the country. We learned about the native plants and animals and efforts to preserve them for future generations.
It is difficult to discern how much this lovely trip was created by our erudite leader, the beauty of NZ, or the optimism and integration of the Kiwi culture. But who cares, it was a terrific experience
Good Trip! Save those Site Information Manuals. They are the real guide to what we did, have all the names, and are a big help in writing an informed evaluation after the trip
This was a high value experience. Great food, accommodations, and excursions. Speakers were well informed and excellent. Had a wonderful trip. Highly recommend it to others.


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Superintendent Jon R. Bales
The 100-square-mile rural and suburban DeForest Area School District, located minutes from Madison, Wis., has an unlikely contributor to its work: the DeForest community at large, which through a series of well-planned conventions has been as active as any board member could be in shaping the district's future goals.
With more than 10,000 new housing units being planned in the area, DeForest is growing and changing. To maintain balance and goals with the school and its surroundings, the district utilizes a policy governance model of operating—and an unconventional convention—that links the district with the community to ensure that the district's actions reflect the community's aspirations for its schools.
"There is a keen interest in engaging all stakeholders in thinking about the schools and the role they play in the community," says Superintendent Jon R. Bales. "That families move to our community specifically because of the reputation of our teachers and programs, and they want that for their children—that's what it is all about."
Community-Involved Conventions
Ten years ago, Bales and the DeForest Area School Board employed Future Search, an interactive planning process model used worldwide to achieve shared goals amid diverse cultures, to organize what the district named its "Framework for Our Future" conference. Through a series of meetings, a cross section of business owners, parents, senior citizens, clergy, and student representatives was asked to consider one concept: "It is Feb. 27, 2009. Describe how the DeForest Area School District is providing leadership in creating a community of learners." The answers created a roadmap for the district based on community input, not just esoteric ideas from a board in a bubble. "It's not very common in public enterprise," says Bales of using the Future Search model in schools. "We built a very deliberate process that engaged nearly 150 people for three days in that conversation, and that has guided our thinking and work for the last 10 years."
From Feb. 26 to 29, 2009, DeForest convened "Framework for Our Future 2.0" to shape the district's next 10 years. For 16 hours over three days, the vast majority of the 130 people who had voluntarily participated a decade earlier returned. Says Bales, "That kind of community input is like gold when it comes to providing stewardship to public schools."
To maintain contact with "Framework" participants, Bales engages the school board, students and the community in monthly "Stakeholders Meetings," where progress is shared about district initiatives. Based on this year's convention, predominant themes for the next decade include becoming a "green" district; increasing distance and virtual learning opportunities for students and staff; building student life skills like financial, health and character development; and placing more emphasis on wellness, health, medical care and the fitness needs of students. "DeForest is very policy-driven, with the end in mind," he says. "If you know where you're going, it's easier to make day-to-day decisions."
Thirty-Seven Themes
In 1999, DeForest's "Framework" conversation highlighted 37 themes grouped into five "Vision Elements" on which the district would focus. The process prompted the district to adopt its "whole child" initiative. "We believe strongly that schools do more than simply emphasize the basic skills," says Bales. Today, DeForest's board and staff are trained in Steven Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Principled Leadership, and DeForest has enhanced its high school to incorporate a daily Personal Development hour that teaches students using Covey's 7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens. "The kids love it," says Bales. DA
Jennifer Chase Esposito is a contributing writer for District Administration.


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NOAA Ship Conducts Hydrographic Reconnaissance in the Arctic
Mission to update measurements dating to the 18th century
NOAA Ship Fairweather begins a 30-day survey mission in the Arctic this week, scheduled to check a sparsely measured 1,500-nautical mile coastal corridor from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, north through the Bering Strait and east to the Canadian border.
The mission will collect needed information to determine NOAA's future charting survey projects in the Arctic and will cover sea lanes that were last measured by Captain James Cook in 1778.
"Much of Alaska's coastal area has never had full bottom surveys to measure water depths," said Cmdr. James Crocker, commanding officer of Fairweather, and chief scientist of the party. "A tanker, carrying millions of gallons of oil, should not be asked to rely on measurements gathered in the 19th century. Unfortunately, that's exactly what navigators have to do, in too many cases. NOAA is changing that."
NOAA has made it a priority to update the nautical charts needed by commercial shippers, tankers, passenger vessels, and fishing fleets transiting the Alaskan coastline in ever-greater numbers. In June 2011, Coast Survey issued the Arctic Nautical Charting Plan, a major effort to update Arctic nautical charts for the shipping lanes, approaches, and ports along the Alaskan coast.
NOAA Ship Fairweather will take sample depth measurements along the trackline corridor (pictured in green) to validate earlier data collected by non-NOAA ships. The new measurements will guide charting decisions as to what earlier data can be used to update charts and where NOAA should conduct new hydrographic surveys.
"We expect more increases of Arctic maritime traffic due to melting sea ice, which will require accurate and precise navigational data," said Kathryn Ries, acting director of NOAA's Office of Coast Survey. "The sheer size of the task -- the coast length of 921 nautical miles is really 2,191 miles of low tidal shoreline once you figure in the bays and inlets --- requires that NOAA increase its charting efforts."
Before NOAA cartographers can update the charts, however, they need the depth measurements and other data gathered by NOAA's survey vessels like Fairweather.
Many of today's Alaskan coastal nautical charts, created by NOAA's Office of Coast Survey, use sporadic depth readings reported by private vessels, some decades or centuries old. Those vessels lacked the ability to report their exact positions to enable them to gather data accurate enough to ensure quality measurements.
NOAA's Office of Coast Survey is the nation's chartmaker. Continuing a heritage of service to the maritime transportation system, Coast Survey has been America's trusted source of navigational charts, data, and services for two centuries.
NOAA Ship Fairweather is part of the NOAA fleet of ships and aircraft operated, managed and maintained by NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, which includes both civilians and the commissioned officers of the NOAA Corps, one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The ship is homeported in Ketchikan, Alaska.
(Photo Credits: NOAA)
NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels.


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Palatine Park District renaming athletic fields after former leader
Palatine Park District officials generally try to avoid naming facilities after people, preferring instead to highlight native plants and animals.
But some people, they agree, warrant an exception.
The park district board this month voted to rename the baseball and soccer fields at Hamilton Reservoir after Ron Gbur, who served as executive director from 2002 until his retirement last year.
"One key thing during Ron's tenure was the development and lighting of the sports fields there," said Executive Director Mike Clark, Gbur's successor. "He was instrumental in working with neighbors on it and making sure their voices were heard."
An announcement renaming the complex the Ron Gbur Sports Fields at Hamilton Reservoir will be made at the park district's annual volunteer banquet Saturday. A ceremony unveiling new signage will take place later this spring.
Since joining the Palatine Park District in 1981 as the sports/aquatic coordinator, Gbur held the position of facility/aquatic coordinator, golf course manager, superintendent of revenue facilities, superintendent of recreation and deputy director.
During his 10-year run as executive director, Gbur led the park district's effort to build Falcon Park Recreation Center, a 49,000-square-foot facility that won the 2010 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award at the Illinois Association of Park District's annual conference.
Under his tenure, the park district also renovated the Community Center Fitness Center, remodeled Birchwood Pool and installed both the Community Park skate park and the disc golf course at Margreth Riemer Reservoir.
Clark said the board at a future date will consider crafting a more formal policy on what criteria is needed to recognize people whose efforts have impacted the park district.
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A catholic monastery devoted to the teachings of St. Benedict
The Benedictine tradition came to the Midwest in the 1850s, when
the Swiss Abbey of Einsiedeln sent two monks to Indiana to start a
new foundation. Today, we are a thriving community of monks
who pray, work and live together.
Visitors are always welcome. Join us for prayer or Mass in the
Archabbey Church or tour our historic buildings and peaceful
Prayer is our primary mission - our most important work. Let us
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Two incumbents and a seasoned City Council member should be returned or sent to the state Assembly from districts covering San Joaquin County.
Two incumbents and a seasoned City Council member should be returned or sent to the state Assembly from districts covering San Joaquin County.
Stockton Councilwoman Susan Eggman, the Democratic candidate in the 13th district, along with Republican Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen in the 12th district and Democrat Richard Pan in the 9th district deserve support.
(The district generally covers western San Joaquin County, including Tracy and Stockton.)
Eggman has proven herself a calm, intelligent and effective elected official during her five years on the Stockton council, years that have been anything but calm in this city.
The meltdown in city finances caused by the collapse of the housing market as well as overspending and too-generous labor contracts approved before she joined the council, is behind her support of economic growth.
"If we can't put people to work, nothing else happens," she told The Record's editorial board. "Jobs will be my focus."
She supports a "through-Delta" plan and levee repair work, but wants to aggressively push this region's water interests while looking for more desalinization options to quench the state's water needs. She notes that the high-speed rail proposal "has left the station" but she questions the business model upon which it is based.
Her opponent, Republican K. Jeffrey Jafri, a farmer and engineer who uses only his middle name in his campaign ads, has unsuccessfully run for county supervisor, Stockton mayor and Congress.
His thinking on the area's major issues - water, economic development and crime, for example - seems less developed than Eggman's.
In the June primary, Jafri won about 22 percent of the vote in the five-way race while Eggman finished with about 40 percent.
(The district generally includes south Sacramento County but dips into San Joaquin County to include Lodi.)
Democrat Richard Pan is seeking his second term in the lower chamber, having been displaced from his current district by redistricting.
Jobs, education and health care - not surprising given that he is a pediatrician - are his top concerns, although he voiced "significant concerns" about Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to tunnel under the Delta to send more water south.
He does support the high-speed rail project, calling it a "very important transportation infrastructure."
His Republican opponent, Tony Amador, complains that Pan calls himself a doctor and that he just moved into the district so he could run for office.
These are hardly credible arguments.
Pan is a physician and he continues to practice one day a week at a clinic for low-income patients while serving in the Assembly. And with new district maps being used for the first time, a lot of incumbents and candidates have moved so they can run for office.
Amador also complains about prison realignment, but he offered no alternative.
In the June primary, Pan received 40 percent of the vote in the five-way race and Amador received 16 percent.
(The district generally stretches from Turlock to the Sacramento County line along the eastern side of San Joaquin County, but also including Lathrop, Manteca, Ripon and Escalon.)
Republican Kristin Olsen is a "huge believer in field trips," which seems a rather odd statement for a person seeking a second term in the Assembly. It's not.
Olsen, a onetime Modesto councilwoman, said she brings Assembly colleagues hailing from more urban areas to the Delta so they have a ground-level view of the region's needs.
She is a conservative but not an ideologue who said she wants to focus on jobs, housing and water issues. She believes in prioritizing state spending because "if we make them a priority there is plenty of money."
We don't know the views of her opponent, Christopher Mateo, who scheduled a meeting with The Record editorial board but didn't show up. Luckily, Olsen should have no trouble returning to the Assembly. She beat her only primary opponent, Mateo, with nearly two-thirds of the vote in June.


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Trinity High grad Dylan Clark's Elon squad wins at NCAA baseball
June 02. 2013 8:01PM
Dylan Clark's team stayed alive in the NCAA Division I baseball tournament.
With Clark pitching five innings on Sunday, Elon University of North Carolina beat North Carolina-Wilmington, 6-4, in an elimination game in Charlottesville, Va. The victory enabled Elon to improve to 2-1 in the double-elimination regional and move on to a Sunday night matchup with host Virginia.
Clark, a Manchester resident and Trinity High graduate, did not figure in the decision. He started, allowing six hits and four runs (three earned) over the five innings. He walked three and fanned none, coming out after 82 pitches.
Elon rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to forge ahead and move into the night game against the 2-0 Cavaliers.
UConn bounced
After winning its opener in the Blacksburg, Va., regional, the University of Connecticut dropped two straight. The Huskies suffered a heartbreaking 5-3, 12-inning loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, then fell to host Virginia Tech, 3-1, on Sunday.
Nashua's Billy Ferriter, an outfielder, went 0-for-3 with a walk for the Huskies on Sunday. Another former Nashua South Purple Panther, Dan Feehan, hurled 2 2/3 innings of relief on Sunday, allowing one run on one hit. He fanned two and didn't figure in the decision.


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Thor Motor Coach
Thor Motor Coach is the #1 Motorhome manufacturer in North America* The shear volume of products allows Thor Motor Coach to offer you higher quality, lower prices, and extensive features. When it comes to giving you more for your money, no other brand can compare.
Thor Motor Coach was formed when Damon Motor Coach and Four Winds International strategically merged in late 2010. For over 29 years Damon RV and Four Winds RV have been building many of the most recognized brands of motorized Recreational Vehicles in the world.
Thor Motor Coach was formed when Damon Motor Coach and Four Winds International strategically merged in late 2010. For over 29 years Damon RV and Four Winds RV have been building many of the most recognized brands of motorized Recreational Vehicles in the world.
Thor continually strives to be a leader in innovation and have research and development departments working with Suppliers and Sales and Service departments to bring fresh products that ensure you are getting exactly what you are looking for.
Thor Motor Coach has put in place some programs to help ensure customer happiness which includes: 24/7 Factory Direct Support (no one should expect that you only drive from 9 to 5), Gold Star Inspection (every coach driven off the Thor Motor Coach lot needs to pass a detailed 200+ point inspection and road test, no spot checking here!), Rapid Response and Concierge Connection. The Rapid Response is in place to keep you on the road enjoying your Motorhome for years. Rapid Response is committed to stocking the necessary parts to get you back on the road quickly if ever you need something. And, rather than assume that everyone is happy, Concierge Connection was started so that every customer that purchases a Thor Motor Coach receives a personal phone call immediately following their purchase and again after 90 days.
With Thor Motor Coach you can be assured of finding just the right coach to fit your family, and your budget!
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- Stock #: 38147
- Location: New Oxford, PA
- List Price: $79,995
Motor Home Super C - Diesel
- Stock #: 38753
- Length: 36 ft 2 in
- Location: Thurmont, MD
- Sleeps up to 7
- List Price: $129,995
Beckleys RVs is not responsible for any misprints, typos, or errors found in our website pages. Any price listed excludes sales tax, registration tags, and delivery fees. All prices may not include Beckley's Camping Center's 145 point pre-delivery inspection. Manufacturer-provided pictures, specifications and features may be used as needed. Inventory shown may be only a partial listing of the entire inventory. Please contact us at 800-615-6171 for availability as our inventory changes rapidly. All calculated payments are an estimate only and do not constitute a commitment that financing or a specific interest rate or term is available.


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A Family Promise holding talent search for fall fundraiser
SALEM — The staff at A Family Promise, a charity tackling childhood homelessness in the region, is seeking a few talented men and women to assist with its fall fundraising event.
The first Evening of Thanks & Giving gala and auction will take place Nov. 9 at the Atkinson Country Club.
From now through late July, the search is on for talented, local performers to entertain crowds at the fall event, according to Joan Tavares, chair of the organization's fundraising committee.
Eligible performers should be between the ages of 5-18 and live in one of the towns that are served by Family Promise of Greater Rockingham County: Atkinson, Auburn, Chester, Danville, Derry, Fremont, Hampstead, Kingston, Londonderry, Newton, Pelham, Plaistow, Raymond, Salem, Sandown or Windham.
Talented hopefuls are asked to send a two-minute audition video to firstname.lastname@example.com, or to Family Promise Greater Rockingham County, Attn: Talent search committee, 145 Hampstead Road, Derry, NH 03038.
Submissions should include name, address, phone number, date of birth, and the name of one legal guardian who is available to attend the event with the performer.
The deadline for all submissions is July 30.
For more information or to purchase event tickets visit www.familypromisegrc.org.


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UNIX, an operating system developed by Bell Labs, is still regarded as one of the most powerful, versatile, and flexible operating systems in the world -- now over three decades after its birth. Its popularity and success are due to many factors, including its ability to run on a wide variety of machines, and its portability. UNIX is best described as simple, powerful, and elegant.
UNIX has many basic commands that let you modify and create files by using various system commands. These commands are entered at a prompt. The prompt looks something like this:
Webmonkey hosts a great UNIX reference page. You should take a look around to get familiar with basic UNIX commands:
Webmonkey UNIX Guide
The ONID shell server is shell.onid.oregonstate.edu
For more information, visit SSH (Secure Shell).
Once you remotely connect to the server using SSH, you encounter the world of UNIX. The following information is meant to help you develop a background in UNIX and become familiar with its capabilities.


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Early last year I bought a Toshiba NB200 notebook. It was just what I wanted. I bumped up the RAM to 2GB and installed Dropbox, and I never looked back. I could take my work with me and have it synchronise with my main laptop at home.
About a month ago it became unreliable as to starting up. Now it won't start up at all. Not happy.
I've checked forums and so on. If I press F2 or F12 while it's trying to boot up – nothing happens.
If I press 0 (zero) while it's booting up to restore it to its factory condition – nothing happens.
If I do nothing when it's trying to boot up, I either get a black screen or the Toshiba splash screen, and there it stays.
The forums also say to use my system restore disk. I have no system restore disk, and I don't have a portable disk drive to run it on, so to buy these things will cost more money. I thought that's what the space being taken up on the hard disk by the factory system restore was for.
I know we're supposed to be replacing our netbooks with iPads or other tablets these days, but I use mine to work. I need a keyboard all the time. I don't want to have to mess with a virtual keyboard, and I don't want to have to carry a portable keyboard around and have to connect everything up when I get to the place where I am researching. I just want to open up my netbook and go.
I can't afford to buy a new netbook every year and then upgrade the memory, and then spend the time loading everything back on it that I need. I would pay more for a netbook with a longer guarantee, but it seems that netbooks are on the way out, in favour of tablets.
OK, I've had my rant, thank you for your attention!
By the way, if you are interested in Dropbox, and I can't recommend it highly enough, you will do me a favour if you sign up using my recommendation. That way I get more space, and when you are as hooked as I am you can recommend it to your friends and get more space above the first free 2GB.


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John Tortorella's last stand with 'stale' Canucks? (with video)
Embattled coach says his team needs to get younger
Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella pauses while responding to questions during an end-of-season media availability at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Monday, April 14, 2014. The Canucks missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in six years.
Photograph by: DARRYL DYCK, THE CANADIAN PRESS
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VANCOUVER — John Tortorella had his say. God knows he earned that, at least.
Just as everyone feared when he was hired last summer, Tortorella began what could be his final press conference in Vancouver by calling a television reporter an a-hole.
Then everyone laughed because the reporter had called him "Mike."
No, that was fired general manager Mike Gillis. Technically, Tortorella was still employed as head coach, although it was relatively early Monday when he was the unexpected feature speaker on the Vancouver Canucks' cleanup day.
Typically, the day after season-end is for players to talk to the media. But Tortorella had a couple of things to get off his chest, and he did so with the unguarded ease of someone comfortable with himself and the knowledge he's probably a goner after the Canucks missed the National Hockey League playoffs for the first time since 2008.
His honest and inconvenient message should resonate for years: The 2011 Stanley Cup is over, the Canucks are no longer the team that went to the finals, and if they ever hope to be that team again management better get started on a major lineup renovation before it's too late.
Not exactly the message you'd expect from a coach who was supposed to be arguing to save his own neck during a meeting later in the day with new Canucks president of hockey operations Trevor Linden.
"I don't coach to keep my job, and I'm not going to go into any meeting to try to save my job," Tortorella said. "I just don't do it. I'm going to tell him what I think."
This is what he thinks (and if you're holding an inky, papery thing, you should clip this out for your fridge because it's one of the truest and most important things anyone in the Canucks has publicly admitted): "I'm not going to sit up here and pretend. You have to understand the team is trending, it's getting older. It does need to be revitalized. You have to stop thinking about 2011. That's not an excuse from me; I could get gassed out of here today. It's the truth of what's going on.
"For us — and I do hope I'm part of it — for us to … get back to being competitive for a long time, you may have to slide sideways and find your way as far as a little bit of a rebuild. You have to. It's just the nature of the game."
During an enthralling 25-minute press conference in which he said he was too easy on Canucks players during this winter's injury epidemic and that he had wanted to throttle Calgary Flames coach Bob Hartley on Jan. 18, Tortorella also said this of his team: "It's stale. And that's not their fault. This a group that's been together for a long time. It's stale. It needs youth. It needs a change. I felt that from Day 1. We have to stop talking about 2011. The team needs to be re-tooled. And that's what change is. It is a young man's game.
"We need to surround (core players) with some enthusiasm. If I'm here, I want to play four lines. But you guys have to understand when you're on a bench … I did the things I needed to do to try to win games. Because sometimes I looked down there and guys just weren't ready, some guys in our lineup. We lacked depth and that's where we're at. That isn't being critical; it's the truth."
And, yes, he clarified later, change should include at least some of the core that drove the Canucks to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final only three years ago.
It is what many of us have been saying since 2011.
Tortorella's odds at surviving this regime change are about the same as the 17-to-1 chance the Canucks have Tuesday of winning the NHL draft lottery.
The Canucks finished 25th this season. They were eighth a year ago — with a first-round playoff exit — under former coach Alain Vigneault.
Tortorella will probably pay for that, especially since he installed a system that looked ill-suited to many of his players. But he was coaching with half of a deck most of the season. Gillis did so little to improve the team the last two summers, the Canucks already lacked forward depth before their worst injury crisis in six years struck in January.
It probably wouldn't have mattered who coached what system, the Canucks were going nowhere this season. And even with better health, they're going nowhere next season — nowhere beyond the playoffs' opening round, anyway — unless Tortorella's warnings about the aging roster are heeded.
Daniel and Henrik Sedin, as well as linemate Alex Burrows, are 33 years old. Defenceman Kevin Bieksa is 32, blueliner Dan Hamhuis 31. Centre Ryan Kesler turns 30 in August, winger Chris Higgins is 31 in June and defenceman Jason Garrison 30 next November. All these players are on long-term contracts that include no-trade clauses, as are defenceman Alex Edler, 28, and soon winger Jannik Hansen, 28.
The NTC on Hansen's four-year, $10-million US extension activates on July 1.
Can you see the current crisis mushrooming?
"You're still thinking about 2011," Tortorella chided. "But things change, teams change, personnel changes. I don't want to speak out of turn here (because) that's a decision management has to make. I'm just giving you my thoughts as far as coaching the team and what I had in the locker room. I think we've got a really good core here, but I think we need to surround it with some enthusiasm and youth and build that way.
"It's not for me because I may not be here. But for the team … you can't say: 'OK, we're old, we're going to get younger, but we're going to win the Stanley Cup.' It doesn't happen that way."
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun


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WEST MONROE, LA (KSLA) - Back in November of last year, KSLA News 12 introduced us to "the clean shaven brother you don't see on Duck Dynasty."
Now, there's word you will see the beardless fourth brother, beginning in August.
According to the NY Post, Alan Robertson will join the camo-clad cast of the popular A&E reality show in its 4th season.
Alan is the oldest of the four Robertson boys. He likes to call himself the original. He started out in the family business, helping to sell the family's duck calls. He left when he answered the call to ministry and has spent the past 22 years as a pastor at the Whites Ferry Road Church of Christ in West Monroe.
He rejoined the family business last fall, at least behind the scenes, by helping to schedule appearances.
The shows network, A&E, was reportedly leery about adding a brother who does not have a beard because it could take away from some of the mystery. Apparently, those concerns weren't enough to stop them from bringing Alan on board after all.
He tells the NY Post that joining the cast was a difficult decision, citing concerns about privacy and the potential impact of so much exposure on his daughters and granddaughters. The 47-year-old minister of a West Monroe church says they prayed about it, and ultimately decided to take advantage of the opportunity to share his faith with a larger audience.
"What I do for our church — you see, it's a pretty good-sized church — impacts a lot of people, but because of my association with the show, I'll get to minister to a lot more people," Alan told the NY Post.
He and Lisa, his wife of 29 years, are already working on a book about marriage before they make their TV debut.
One thing that has apparently not changed is his clean-shaven face. Recent photos show Alan remains stubble-free.
As he told us in November, he really never got into the whole beard thing. "It's like a Sasquatch in reverse. It's a sighting. But instead of a hairy sighting I'm the clean sighting. Everybody's like, I heard there's another one, a mystical creature."
Now, those sightings are likely to become slightly less mystical, as a loyal and large Duck Dynasty audience gets to know the clean shaven brother.
The 4th season premieres on A&E on August 14.
Copyright 2013 KSLA. All rights reserved.