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France v Australia, November 10
France and Wallabies primed for battle
ESPN Staff
November 8, 2012
Wesley Fofana is named on the wing for France © Getty Images
France and Australia will come face-to-face in the Stade de France on Saturday for the first time since 2010 and both sides will be looking to kick start their autumn Test programme with a victory.
Les Bleus are at the early stages of their journey under Philippe Saint-Andre but with the battle for the top four spots in the International Rugby Board rankings ahead of December's draw for the 2015 World Cup hanging over the autumn Test programme, both sides will be going all out to secure the win. And there is a huge carrot awaiting France as if they beat Australia, then they will go above England in the rankings and into that key top four spot.
Saint-Andre's French side, after a disappointing Six Nations where they finished fourth with just two wins from five, journeyed to Argentina in the summer to play two Tests against the Pumas and returned with one win from two. They took a mix of experience and fresh faces on tour with one notable omission captain and current IRB Player of the Year Thierry Dusautoir. Saint-Andre would have wanted his star flanker fit for the autumn programme but he will miss the entire Test schedule due to injury. Despite this, France still boast a team laden with stars and the French public will be expecting Les Bleus to come out of their three-Test schedule - with further games against Argentina and Samoa coming up - with three wins to their name.
Saint-Andre's opposite number Robbie Deans is a man under-pressure after a mixed Rugby Championship campaign. They recorded three wins from six but will be buoyed by their impressive performance against the All Blacks in Brisbane where they will feel aggrieved at having not come away with the win. But they are still struggling with a lengthy injury list, which includes skipper James Horwill, star back James O'Connor and fly-half Quade Cooper - who also took to Twitter to vent his frustration at the Australian Rugby Union.
Australia will play four games over here - with other Tests against England, Italy and Wales in the pipeline - and the Australian public will expect nothing less than a clean sweep of victories.
France - Player to Watch: Frederic Michalak starts at fly-half for the French despite playing most of his rugby at scrum-half at Toulon. He is mercurial and unpredictable but he will be keen to shine in front of the home support.
France - Team News: Brice Dulin will earn his third cap for Les Bleus at fullback while Wesley Fofana is shifted to the wing alongside Vincent Clerc. In the centres Maxime Mermoz and Florian Fritz are partnered with Michalak and Maxime Machenaud at half-back. The back-row sees Louis Picamoles, Fulgence Ouedraogo and Yannick Nyanga lining up alongside each other while Yoann Maestri and Pascal Pape form the second-row. Yannick Forestier is handed his debut in the front-row and will pack down alongside Nicolas Mas and Dimitri Szarzewski.
Australia - Player to Watch: Michael Hooper has emerged as a real threat to David Pocock for the openside berth. While Pocock will in all likelihood reclaim the No.7 shirt for the British & Irish Lions tour, Hooper is making the right sorts of waves in the pack and will look to increase his stock with a solid performance in the Stade de France.
Australia - Team News: Deans has made three changes from the team that drew with the All Blacks with tight-head prop Sekope Kepu, blindside flanker Dave Dennis and lock Kane Douglas all been handed starting berths. Kepu comes in for James Slipper while Dennis replaces the suspended Scott Higginbotham. Douglas packs down in place of the injured Sitaleki Timani. On the bench, Stephen Moore is named and he will succeed Jeremy Paul as the Wallabies' most-capped hooker if he gets his opportunity. Waratahs prop Paddy Ryan is also included and he will make his debut if he gets the chance.
Nathan Sharpe will captain the Wallabies © Getty Images
Key Battle: Wycliff Palu is up against Louis Picamoles at the back of the scrum and it should be a titanic battle between the two No.8s. Picamoles is arguably the best No.8 in the northern hemisphere while Palu turns in consistently high performances both in Super Rugby and on the international stage.
Trivia: No French player has ever scored a hat-trick against Australia. Five players have scored two tries for France playing against Australia, with fullback Serge Blanco achieving the feat twice.
Stats: This will be Frederic Michalak's first home start in the blue of France since the bronze medal playoff in the 2007 World Cup.
Quote Unquote:
"We will meet the very best in the world after New Zealand. This is a unique challenge that awaits us and the players are relishing it." - France boss Philippe Saint-Andre
"The atmosphere at the Stade de France is always fantastic and the crowd vociferous: it's a great place to play the game, and a magnificent experience that none of the players who are fortunate enough to put on a jersey on the weekend will ever forget." - Wallabies coach Robbie Deans
Prediction: It'll be a tight affair with the match decided by two points either side but we think France will just edge it.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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A new study from the New England Journal of Medicine found that protection against whooping cough drops by 40 percent a year after the fifth and final dose of the vaccine series is administered.
Study author Dr. Nicola Klein, co-director of the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center, told HealthDay,"If we estimate that after the fifth dose of vaccine, protection is at 95 percent, protection would decrease to 71 percent after five years."
PLUS: The Latest on the Pertussis Outbreak
The vaccine for pertussis, called DTaP, is given in a five-dose schedule from infancy to six years of age. A booster during adolescence is recommended, as is one in adulthood, although many people choose not to or don't know to get it.
In 2010, almost 28,000 Americans contracted pertussis, according to the CDC. The disease can be deadly in babies who haven't yet been vaccinated.
Klein said that reformulating the current vaccine or developing a new one is something that should be considered. However, for now in addition to children receiving the shot as typically administered, they should also get a booster vaccine at 11 or 12 years old, once the initial cycle's effectiveness could have faded.
Have you and your children been vaccinated or received a booster shot? Leave a comment.

subset: commoncrawl


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MONTGOMERY | With the construction business struggling to recover from the recession, contractors in Alabama are fighting over legislation that would allow the construction of public buildings without going through the traditional competition with sealed bids.
MONTGOMERY | With the construction business struggling to recover from the recession, contractors in Alabama are fighting over legislation that would allow the construction of public buildings without going through the traditional competition with sealed bids.
A bill awaiting a vote Thursday in the Senate Commerce, Transportation and Utilities Committee would create a new option. A government agency would pick a construction manager and then agree on a maximum price for a project. If the project came in over the maximum price, the construction manager would have to pick up the extra cost, rather than the government entity.
"Contractors on the job have a little more skin in the game, which will give the taxpayer the best value," said Jay Reed of Birmingham, president of Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama, which is backing the legislation.
The bill has become one of the most contentious issues in the 2013 session, pitting large contractors against some medium and small contractors.
The construction industry's economic recovery is going slowly. The state Department of Labor reported 79,100 workers on construction jobs statewide in February. That's down from 80,600 in February 2012 and from 110,602 in February 2007.
Opponents say the legislation will benefit the largest contractors with big marketing budgets and staffs. They also say it opens the door to no-bid deals, like the state warehouse construction project that led to guilty pleas by Montgomery lobbyist Lanny Young and one of Gov. Don Siegelman's top aides, Nick Bailey, in 2003.
"It's basically the same thing. From a taxpayers' standpoint, it's a bad bill," said Brad Norris, secretary-treasurer of Norris Building Co. in Montgomery.
Reed said it's an open process used by many states for projects that are complicated, involve historic preservation or have a short deadline. It would be an alternative to the traditional method of the government entity seeking sealed bids and then awarding the project to the lowest responsible bigger. It would be used on buildings, but not roads and bridges.
Called "construction manager at risk," the bill provides for a public board or agency to prequalify construction management companies. Each one would submit a proposal, and the government entity would pick a winner based on several factors, including experience and personnel. Then the government entity and the top-ranked company would work on building plans together and negotiate a contract. Reed said the legislation limits the amount of the actual work that the construction manager can do on the project, which would allow for plenty of subcontractors, and it requires that all proceedings and records must be public.
Jeff Rogers, a manager of Alabama Associated General Contractors, said the selection process still allows subjectivity. His organization is pushing for a threshold of $25 million that projects would have to exceed before using the construction manager at risk. Rogers said that would allow smaller general contractors to continue to bid for smaller projects, which kept many of them afloat during the recession.
Reed said his group is opposed to a permanent threshold because if the new method is good for a project over $25 million, then it should be as worthwhile for a smaller one.
The sponsor, Republican Sen. Slade Blackwell of Mountain Brook, said he believes the bill will end up with a threshold, and that it will get approved by the Legislature once that happens. He predicts it will be used for complicated projects, like a research building at a university or a sports arena, but not for routine projects, like a parking deck or addition to city hall.
Blackwell has come under criticism from opponents because ABC's political action committee was a major donor in 2010, providing him with $100,000 in the Republican primary, where he upset an incumbent.
Blackwell, who is in the medical real estate business, said his sponsorship is based on the bill's merits. "It's been done in the business world for 30 years. You can save tons of money and time on the length of a project," he said.


text: Our latch was great until about three weeks ago. Now he's not opening wide when we latch on. I'm trying to retrain him to latch on by following good latching practices and by breaking the latch and starting over when it's a poor latch. I avoid waiting until he's really hungry so that he doesn't get too frustrated if he doesn't get to latch right away. The problem is that he only had five heavy diapers yesterday, and I'm getting concerned that he's not getting enough to eat because of the shallow latch. Also, because I'm "retraining" him, he sometimes just falls asleep instead of eating, as though he's bored. He's not starving, but he's not gaining weight very well anymore. I'm looking for some advice on how to solve this problem. Anyone been through something similar?


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Public Administration & Policy Dual Master's Program in Public Affairs and Policy (M.A.) and Social Work – MACRO Concentration (M.S.W.)
Admissions to program have been suspended effective September 2009.
The Dual Master's Degree Program in Public Affairs and Policy (M.A.) and Social Work (M.S.W.) prepares students with a commitment to humanitarian values, knowledge of U.S. social service delivery systems, and advanced skills to analyze and formulate public policy relevant to social welfare. Because this M.A. in Public Affairs and Policy (MPP) is coupled with the MACRO Concentration of the M.S.W. program, students are given the opportunity to combine a commitment to public social policy with strong analytic skills in formulating and analyzing policy. The dual degree program requires a minimum of 87 graduate credits. Students take the standard MPP program, using social work courses to satisfy the program's requirement for an elected public policy field and a social work field instruction course to satisfy the requirement for an internship. M.S.W. degree program electives are satisfied with MPP courses.
This program is a Council on Social Work Education accredited M.S.W. program under the School of Social Welfare's current accreditation.
Students must be accepted through the admissions process set forth by each program and must be eligible to matriculate in both programs. Admission into one program does not guarantee admission into the other program.
Program of Study – 87 Credits
Social Work Courses (51 credits)
Ssw 600 Social Welfare Policy and Services (3)
Ssw 610 Human Behavior and Social Environment I (3)
Ssw 611 Human Behavior and Social Environment II (3)
Ssw 620 Micro Practice in Social Work I (3)
Ssw 621 Micro Practice in Social Work II (3)
Ssw 630 Macro Practice in Social Work I (3)
Ssw 631 Macro Practice in Social Work II (3)
Ssw 650 Field Instruction I (3)
Ssw 651 Field Instruction II (4)
Ssw 660 Introductory Research Methodology (3)
Ssw 752 Field Instruction III (4)
Ssw 753 Field Instruction IV (4)
Ssw 790 Human Service Organizations or Ssw 792 Community Building (3)
Ssw 791 Managing Systems in Human Service Organizations (3)
Ssw 7xx Advanced MACRO course (3)
Ssw 7xx Advanced Policy course (3)
Public Affairs and Policy (36 credits)
Pub 502 Philosophical and Ethical Issues in Public Policy or Pub 529 Law and Policy (4)
Pub 503 Principles of Public Economics (4)
Pub 504 Data, Models and Decisions I (4)
Pub 505 Data, Models and Decisions II (4)
Pub 506 Implementation and Impact (4)
Pub 507 Professional Applications I (2)
Pub 508 Current Research Topics in Public Policy Analysis (2)
Pub 514 Economic Analysis for Public Affairs II (4)
Pub 522 Politics and Policy (4)
Pub 698 Master's Essay in Public Affairs and Policy (4)


text: SHOREHAM — The 30th annual Apple Blossom Derby Road Race is just around the corner. This long-standing fundraising event takes place in Shoreham on Saturday, May 11, and celebrates the town's spirit and beauty. The all-volunteer coordinated race has become a signature spring event for many participants, some coming from as far as Burlington and New York state. What we've heard from past racers: "I never knew how beautiful it is here," and "This is the best post-race food I have ever eaten — and I run a lot of races."


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The 2013 incarnation of the San Diego Chargers might have been the biggest surprise in the NFL.
After a 7-9 campaign, and more confounding mediocrity from Philip Rivers, the Bolts cleaned house. Tom Telesco was named general manager and the Chargers hired Mike McCoy, formerly the offensive coordinator of the high-powered Denver Broncos, as the head coach.
The task was McCoy's to finally maximize Rivers' talent and minimize his mistakes. Early on, the job proved daunting as the Chargers began 5-7, but four straight victories, and a little luck, propelled San Diego into the postseason for the first time since 2009.
The Chargers toppled the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in the wild-card round, then came within a touchdown of the Broncos in Denver, no small feat.
This go-around there will no sneaking up on the league. In arguably the toughest division in the AFC, the Chargers will face a more difficult schedule and expectations for postseason improvement.
"I just think we know what to expect now," Rivers said. "You just want to keep fine tuning the details and all the little things, Every little thing matters and it's not relaxing on anything. I think our whole offense, our whole team has that mindset."
Rivers is a gigantic reason why the Chargers not only made the postseason, but also believe a deeper run is possible.
Last season, Rivers finished fifth in passing yards, fourth in touchdown passes and threw only 11 interceptions. The five-time Pro-Bowler improved significantly in all three categories.
The offense is solid, especially with some young skill players emerging last season, or poised to emerge this one.
The defense needed some work.
Injuries hampered several key pieces on the Chargers, but the defensive unit finished in the bottom-third in yards per game and posted the fourth-worst passing yards per game average.
San Diego addressed the need for improved play against the pass with first- round draft pick, Jason Verrett. He is a good cover guy and can play the run. Verrett's only crime is that he stands 5-feet, 10 inches tall, which is small by today's NFL standards.
The Bolts also upgraded the secondary with the signing of Brandon Flowers. It didn't hurt that the Chargers pilfered him from division rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs.
"He really is a true professional," defensive coordinator John Pagano said of the former Pro-Bowl corner. "He comes to work every day and tries to pick everything up with the terminology. He's focused and wants to be the very best at his position, which you love to see."
Flowers has been banged up during training camp, but nothing too serious. In fact, a lot of Chargers' defensive personnel, especially on the line, have been injured this summer. A healthy unit is essential for San Diego's postseason aspirations.
The defense showed improvement as last season played out. Including their two playoff games, the Chargers allowed an average of 17.4 points over their final seven games. Twice, San Diego held the Broncos under 25 points during that span. That is impressive, but this group has to hold up its end for the Bolts to have a legitimate shot at advancing further in the postseason.
The Chargers got into the playoffs the final week of the 2013 season. It was close to the perfect storm. Three teams from the AFC West made the postseason last year. San Diego will have to work hard for a postseason berth. The Chargers don't have the talent of either the Broncos or the Chiefs.
Most playoff teams don't need significant improvement to keep pace. The Chargers may be the exception to that rule.
2013 RECORD: 9-7 (3rd, AFC West)
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE 2013, lost to Denver Broncos in AFC Divisional Playoff
HEAD COACH (RECORD): Mike McCoy (9-7 in one season)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Frank Reich (second season with Chargers, 1st as OC)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: John Pagano (13th season with Chargers, 3rd as DC)
KEY ADDITIONS: CB Brandon Flowers (from Chiefs), CB Jason Verrett (first round, TCU), QB Kellen Clemens (from Rams), RB Donald Brown (from Colts), G Chris Watt (third round, Notre Dame), LB Kavell Conner (from Colts), CB Brandon Ghee (from Bengals)
KEY DEPARTURES: OC Ken Whisenhunt (to Titans), CB Derek Cox (to Vikings), G Stephen Schilling (to Seahawks), NT Cam Thomas (to Steelers), QB Charlie Whitehurst (to Titans), RB Ronnie Brown (to Texans), FB Le'Ron McClain
QB: Rivers returned to the Pro Bowl last year thanks to a career-best completion percentage of 69.5. His 4,478 yards passing was tops since 2011, his 32 scoring passes were his most since 2008 and his 11 interceptions were his lowest mark since 2009. Rivers posted a passer rating of 105.5, which matched his best.
There will be something of an adjustment for Rivers. Offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt left the Chargers to become the head coach of the Tennessee Titans and was replaced by quarterbacks coach Frank Reich. However, McCoy is an offensive-minded coach, so the switch at coordinator might not impact Rivers too greatly.
With this being McCoy's second year at the helm, Rivers still has some learning to do when it comes to the playbook. McCoy indicated Rivers, 32, still has room to improve since the Chargers didn't utilize the full playbook last season.
Rivers is just happy to see himself and his organization return to relevancy.
"Over the last few years you realize you're not going to do this forever and I never have taken it for granted," he said. "You enjoy every element. You enjoy the locker room, enjoy the practice field, enjoy the meetings, you just appreciate what we get to do. We're a bunch of young men that get to be on a team playing football so I think it's just really appreciating that and then fighting like crazy to try to win a championship."
Rivers has a new backup this year with Kellen Clemens coming over from the St. Louis Rams. Charlie Whitehurst bolted for Tennessee with Whisenhunt.
RB: Simple mathematics told us that Ryan Mathews played all 16 games in a season for the first time in his career. Consequently, Mathews rushed for a career-best 1,255 yards and finished seventh in the league.
Mathews answered a lot of questions about his toughness in 2013 as he also battled hamstring and ankle injuries. Durability was an issue for Mathews, but he came in fourth in the NFL in rushing attempts with 285. It's easy to forget about Mathews since he's seen in the trainer's room more frequently than a roll of athletic tape, but he's only starting his fifth season. There isn't a ton of tread on his tires.
Mathews' receiving numbers dipped from years past, but that probably had more to do with Danny Woodhead. The diminutive pass-catcher grabbed 76 balls last year for 605 yards, making him one of the most productive backup running backs in the league.
The Chargers hedged their bet about Mathews' health by signing Donald Brown to a three-year contract in the offseason. Brown is decent enough, but never lived up to his first-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts.
WR: If the Chargers were one of the biggest surprises in the NFL last year, Keenan Allen has to be one of the biggest reasons why. The second-year man finished with 71 catches for 1,046 yards (both franchise rookie records) and eight touchdowns. That's preposterous production for the third-round pick, and expectations won't be tempered in his sophomore season.
Allen is already emerging as a leader in the receiving corps, a position he's embracing.
"I'm just trying to keep building everyday and keep the chemistry strong," Allen said. "Keep it going with the guys and just try to get better."
Malcom Floyd is a name to remember. He missed almost all of last year with a neck injury, but in his two previous healthy seasons, Floyd averaged 49.5 catches, 835 yards and five touchdowns.
Eddie Royal should be back in the slot and Vincent Brown should continue to develop into a capable receiver.
TE: Antonio Gates is most likely headed to Canton.
Are his best days behind him? Of course. Father Time is undefeated and Gates is 34, heading into his 12th season in the league.
Before we kick dirt on Gates' career, examine his numbers from the 2013 campaign. Gates caught 77 passes for 872 yards, both of which represented his highest output since 2009. His touchdown numbers shriveled to four, which was his fewest trips to the end zone since his rookie year in 2003.
However, Gates remains a viable weapon for Rivers, McCoy, Reich and San Diego faithful.
Ladrarius Green enters his third season. He made a mark in his second season with three touchdown receptions. Green seems ready to shoulder a bigger load for the offense.
OL: This group showed serious improvement last year as evidenced by Mathews' rush total, but also by how many times Rivers stayed upright. Rivers was sacked 30 times, which was down from 49 the year prior.
D.J. Fluker, the team's 2013 first-round pick, stabilized the right-tackle position and King Dunlap, who came over as a free agent from the Philadelphia Eagles before last year, did a nice job on the left side.
Nick Hartwick is more dependable than a sunrise in the center spot.
Chad Rinehart should have a stranglehold on the left guard spot. He signed a two-year extension in March after rejuvenating his career in California.
The right guard spot is still in something of limbo. Incumbent Jeromey Clary is on the physically inactive list thanks to hip and ankle surgeries in the offseason. Clary made a wise decision in restructuring his contract down to $1.6 million, which allowed San Diego some financial wiggle room.
Clary hopes to be ready for the season opener on Sept. 8. If he can't be, there has been a battle between rookie third-round pick Chris Watt and Johnnie Troutman for the right guard spot.
DL: This group was banged up during the regular season and has been during the preseason as well.
Corey Liuget is a potential Pro Bowler in waiting, but he's been nursing an ankle injury throughout camp. That comes after offseason shoulder surgery. When Liuget is right, he's a great pass-rusher
Starting tackle Sean Lissemore left the second preseason game with an ankle injury.
Kendall Reyes finished second on the team in sacks, pressures and quarterback hits last year. He's solid and only heading into his third year, so improvement is realistic.
The backups are wounded as much as the starters. Lawrence Guy and Damik Scage didn't play in the second preseason game due to injury while Kwame Geathers was carted off in Week 3 with a knee injury.
Youngsters are getting a chance, but this unit might be in need of a veteran presence
LB: The linebacking crew last year never got a chance to show itself. This core was ravaged by injuries, but when healthy, as expected this year, there is substantial talent.
Outside backer Melvin Ingram returned from offseason ACL surgery in December and never appeared comfortable. His healthy presence instantly improves a Chargers pass rush.
"He's lost weight. He looks phenomenal," fellow linebacker Jarret Johnson told U-T San Diego. "He's moving better than he's ever played, and he's doing it consistently. He's not taking plays off. He understands the defense. It's easy to work with him when he's on the field. Smart player. He's definitely stepping into that (veteran) role."
Johnson will man the other outside spot in his 12th season.
Dwight Freeney should be back and ready to contribute. He played just four games for the Chargers last year before he tore his thigh muscle. Freeney, 34, doesn't have a ton left in the tank, but as a situational rusher, he can still put opposing quarterbacks on the ground occasionally.
The other reserve pass-rushing linebacker is Jeremiah Attaochu. The rookie was taken in the second round from Georgia Tech and if Johnson's skills diminish late in his career, Attaochu could be ready to make an impact immediately.
Donald Butler was re-signed to a seven-year extension in the offseason. The 25-year-old, who will begin his fourth season, finished with 85 tackles in 13 games last year. He earned the starting gig.
Manti Te'o played the early portion of the 2013 schedule with a lingering foot issue. He missed three games, had offseason surgery, but is shelved once again this preseason with a different foot ailment. He may not be ready for the regular season opener.
"It's not the same foot, it's not the same injury - it's something completely different," said McCoy.
Kavell Conner is expected to replace Te'o with the first-teamers.
DB: The defensive backs underwent more change than any group for the Bolts.
Flowers and Verrett are impact guys, although Flowers has been dinged up during the summer. He should be fine and should relish the chance to play his former team twice. Flowers is still only 28 and has been to the Pro Bowl. He could single-handedly turn San Diego's biggest weakness into a plus.
Verrett hasn't seen much action at camp thanks to shoulder issues. He is listed behind Shareece Wright on the Chargers' depth chart. When healthy, Verrett should be fine. Height is an issue considering how gigantic NFL receivers are, but Verrett can play against the run, too.
Wright started 13 games in 2013.
Eric Weddle has played in and started all 16 games five of the last six years. He is the unquestioned leader of the Chargers' secondary and made the Pro Bowl two of the last three years. Weddle only managed two interceptions en route to Honolulu last year, but his 88 tackles were a high since 2008.
Marcus Gilchrist is the strong safety and he has some work to do. Second-year safety Jahleel Addae isn't much of an upgrade.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Veterans Mike Scifres and Nick Novak return as the Chargers' punter and kicker.
Scifres is one of the game's better punters, but his average of 43.2 yards last year was his lowest since 2006.
Novak became rock-solid in 2013, when he converted 35 of 39 field goals. He enjoyed a stretch of 16 consecutive made field goals late last season.
Allen and Royal handled punt-returning duties last year and are listed atop the depth chart again for 2014. Brown is slated to return kicks, but Woodhead could do the job also.
Undrafted rookie Branden Oliver worked some at both return spots during camp.
COACHING: McCoy made the playoffs in his first year as a head coach. He was one of two coaches to turn the trick as rookies to the NFL along with Philly's Chip Kelly.
McCoy's big move this offseason was replacing Whisenhunt and he wasted little time in tabbing Reich. McCoy is the offensive mastermind of this squad and the Chargers offense should be just fine. The defense needs improving, but that's out of his hands, other than motivation and final decision-making.
Pagano may be on a bit of a short leash since someone has to take the blame for this defense under-performing. There's enough talent, so long as it stays on the field and not in an ice bath, to win.
THE SKINNY: The whole key lies with the defense and health. That's an obvious statement when dealing with NFL prognostications, but the simple reality in San Diego is - when fully healthy, this defense can be solid. If injuries linger, especially on that line, and reinforcements aren't added, it could be a long campaign.
Playing in the AFC West does no favors for the Chargers. The Broncos are clearly better than San Diego, but the Bolts should battle the Kansas City Chiefs for second in the division. A runner-up finish in the division should be enough to make the playoffs.
The problem for the Chargers is, last year, they snuck up on people. Full credit, they won a playoff game, but the schedule is much more difficult in 2014.
The ledger gets brutal at the end with final five games against the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens and the final two against San Fran and KC are all on the road.
That's heavy sledding, especially for a group that needed a late burst to make the postseason a year ago.


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Kudos to Professor Theresa Clarke
Marketing Professor Theresa Clarke has recently been recognized by MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching) for the valuable contributions she made as Peer Reviewer last year. Thanks to her dedication to the discipline, excellence in teaching, and experience in the field, Professor Clarke has been invited to continue with MERLOT as a member of the Business Editorial Board.
Open to faculty, staff, and students of higher education from around the world, MERLOT is a cutting edge online community dedicated to generating advancements in education through the collaborative work of its members. MERLOT aims to improve the effectiveness of instruction by increasing the quality and quantity of peer reviewed online learning resources available in higher education.
The College of Business acknowledges Professor Clarke's superior work and congratulates her on this achievement.
Published: Thursday, August 29, 2013
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 8, 2016


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I need to do a little deep breathing. And then I need to put away all the groceries in the world, that are currently waiting for me on the kitchen floor (lamb! asparagus! dozens of eggs! heavy cream!). Happy Spring, everyone.
Thursday, April 05, 2012
I have to confess: I've been giddily over-shopping for Cleo's Easter basket. There are multiple bunnies, many grams of high-fructose corn syrup, and shreds of blue excelsior that are destined to live forever in the fibers of our dining room rug. There are also two new dresses, and even a matching dress for Baby Cousin who we're not seeing until May. Even after a mild winter, there's something that happens in my brain when spring comes and Easter gets close: "Eeeeeee! Little girls in white tights! Colored eggs! Those insanely cute mini daffodils!"
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In Batman's 75th anniversary year, the 1966-68 TV camp classic "Batman" is having a BOFF!-o 48th.
The beloved (and sometimes bemoaned) show has an ongoing "Batman '66" comic book series, will enjoy its first home video release later this year, and is the subject of the above limited-edition, Comic-Con-exclusive, 21-color, hand-pulled silk-screen serigraph by Shag.
The Southern California-based artist, a.k.a. Josh Agle, born in 1962, is of the first generation that saw Adam West's Batman and Burt Ward's Robin SMASH! and POW! the likes of Cesar Romero's Joker and Frank Gorshin's Riddler.
His artwork, "Batman Battle Royale," also includes the less-well-known villains King Tut, played in the series by Victor Buono, and Egghead, who was brought to life by Vincent Price. Shag has had work exhibited in museums including the Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach, the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, and the Naples Museum of Contemporary Art in Italy.
PHOTOS: 75 enduring images of Batman
Late producer Lorenzo Semple Jr.'s TV series was a pop-culture phenomenon in its day and has thrived with reruns in syndication, but has also weathered periods in which its lighter take on the Dark Knight fell out of favor and more shadowy iterations flourished.
At a Batman 75 panel at Anaheim's WonderCon in April, filmmaker and "Fatman on Batman" podcast host Kevin Smith, cowriter with Ralph Garman of "Batman '66 Meets the Green Hornet," stood up for the show.
Recalling how dark representations of the character became prominent beginning with Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" in 1986 and with Tim Burton's Oscar-winning, big-screen blockbuster "Batman" in 1989, Smith said to laughter, "There was this general sentiment that if you grew up with the Adam West Batman, you kind of turned your back on it — the way like Peter denied Christ." He added that he fell into that trap before having his mind changed by comics writer Matt Wagner. "From that point forward … [when other people] would bag on 'Batman,' I'd be like, 'You know what, man? You're a poser. You should honor that Batman.' "
And so Shag honors that Batman with Midcentury Modern flair. The 150 signed-and-numbered serigraphs will be available through the Northridge-based toy, accessory and fine art print maker Huckleberry at its booth, No. 3449, at Comic-Con International, which runs July 24-27 at the San Diego Convention Center. The 21-by-36-inch image on 24-by-40-inch paper is priced at $500 before tax.
— Blake Hennon | @BlakeHennon | @LATHeroComplex
Batman: DC reveals 'Detective Comics' 27 cover, hero timeline
'Gotham' creator talks bringing in big players early
'Batman: Zero Year' 31: Scott Snyder on Riddler, Alfred, Frank Miller
'Gotham' trailer: Jim Gordon meets Bruce Wayne
Batman first look: Ben Affleck poses with Batmobile
Batman 75: Jim Lee, Bruce Timm, Kevin Smith salute
Batman 75: Len Wein says Bruce Wayne isn't psychotic
Batman 75: Jim Lee, Kevin Conroy, Ralph Garman's days with Bruce Wayne


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Gifts & Apparel » Gifts Under $250
Give the Gift of Boatbuilding!
A perfect gift for the boatbuilder in your family! Don't worry about picking the perfect boat design, plans, tools, accessories, or boatbuilding supplies. Just select an amount in the pull-down window for a gift certificate that's guaranteed to satisfy.


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Choosing the Right Law School / SLU or KU?« on: May 06, 2013, 04:56:52 PM »
similar scholarship offers. Biochemistry BS, interested in pursuing IP. KU ranked higher but STL area is more prominent in biotech. If i pick SLU I'm aware I'll be competing with WUSTL grads. Are the difference in rankings large enough to be a significant factor in my decision? Thoughts/ other factors I should consider? Thanks guys


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Visit JoinBain to learn about a rewarding career at Bain.
From banking and insurance to wealth management and securities distribution, Bain has dedicated financial services teams serving all major areas of the financial services industry. Our work draws on more than 40 years of experience in the field and the expertise of Bain's 5,700 professionals in the world's most important financial centers.
Financial services players will need to harness better business models to overcome shortcomings of the past and current challenges. Bain draws on deep experience across industries to help financial services institutions in every region find innovative ways to optimize processes, reduce back office costs, align IT, manage risks, capture the economic benefits of building loyal customers, and plan for evolving competitive and regulatory landscapes.
We work with leading institutions in the banking and insurance sectors in all major areas, including:
Bain has deep expertise in financial services, but we also look beyond the industry and draw upon our capabilities experience. We tailor these offerings to the needs of our financial services clients to help them solve problems or pursue opportunities in many areas, including:
We work with our financial services clients as partners. Together we develop clear, practical action plans, and support or run the implementation of those plans to ensure real and sustainable performance improvement. We have worked with leading financial services companies in many strategic and operational areas, such as:
Customer orientation to drive organic growth. We have worked with banks and insurance companies around the world to strengthen their customer focus in all their operations. We have redesigned the customer experience at all touch points with the organization and installed feedback loops to ensure the voice of the customer is heard and acted on. Bain developed the Net Promoter® system—a tool that focuses companies on developing levels of customer loyalty that lead to growth—and pioneered its application in the financial services industry.
Reducing costs and complexity to improve performance. Financial services firms that consistently marry greater efficiency with higher productivity in serving customers generate the highest shareholder returns. Bain works with leading services firms to strip complexity out of products and processes, and reduce costs as a way of bolstering or rebuilding margins.
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Net Promoter® and NPS® are registered trademarks of Bain & Company, Inc., Fred Reichheld and Satmetrix Systems, Inc.
We work as an integrated part of your team, from frontline to C-suite, to deliver true results and make the changes stick.
We have a core group of senior financial services-focused experts that we deploy across the globe.
Our team
To discuss how our team can help your business achieve true results, please
From day one, we focus on predicting, measuring and managing risk associated with change
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We are the nation's leading resource and advocacy organization for crime victims and those who serve them. Please join us as we forge a national commitment to help victims of crime rebuild their lives.
For interviews and comments, please contact:
Christa Andersen
202 467 8778 email@example.com
For statistics, reports and experts on crime and victimization, please contact:
Juan Tirado
Digital Communications Specialist
202.467.8747 email@example.com
All news
HBO's screening of a courageous new documentary on child abuse within the Catholic Church—Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God—highlights the need to reform the civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse.
For Immediate Release
February 04, 2013 Contact: Liz Joyce (202) 467-8729
Washington, DC--Tonight HBO will debut a documentary by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney about the shocking two-decades-long sexual abuse of 200 boys at St. John's School for the deaf in St. Francis, Wisconsin.
Mea Maxima Culpa tells the story of the four courageous men who, when they grew up, were among the first to seek justice from the Church that protected their abuser.
Their story highlights the need for legislators to reform the statute of limitations for child sex abuse so that victims who are now adults are not barred from seeking justice and holding institutions accountable.
The screening of Mea Maxima Culpa comes just after the court-ordered release this week of internal personnel files from the Los Angeles diocese of the Catholic Church.
These documents detail decades of abuse and show that warnings from parents were ignored by Church leaders, who intentionally misrepresented to parishioners the nature and extent of the sexual abuse crisis. The documents further show that Church leaders strategically used the statute of limitations (in this case by removing an abuser from the state until the statute of limitations had expired) to protect the Church and deny victims access to justice. A November 1989 memo (attached) from Monsignor Curry to Archbishop Mahony reads: "The young boy involved is now about eighteen, so [Rev.] Kevin [Barmasse] should certainly not return for another two years by which time the period for filing law suits will have passed."
The only reason these files are now being released is that California temporarily suspended the civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse cases in 2003. A civil lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles filed during that "civil window" was settled in 2007. Although this settlement resolved the case, the Catholic Church then spent millions of dollars and more than five years fighting the public release of these documents. That these documents were discovered only because the statute of limitations was suspended shows the importance of eliminating statutes of limitation for child sexual abuse.
The National Center for Victims of Crime is working in many states, including Minnesota, California, New York, and Pennsylvania to eliminate the civil statute of limitations to protect children in order to provide a means to obtain justice for adult survivors, and to expose the secret documents that protect the identity of abusers, whether those documents are held by religious groups, youth organizations or any other institution.
More information on this important reform effort can be found from the National Center for Victims of Crime and at Reform the Statute of Limitations on Child Sex Abuse.
Screening times and more information on HBO's Mea Maxima Culpa.
The National Center for Victims of Crime, established in 1985, is the nation's leading resource and advocacy organization for crime victims and those who serve them. For more than 25 years, the National Center has led this nation's struggle to provide crime victims with the rights, protections, and services they need to rebuild their lives. Visit www.victimsofcrime.org for more information.
2012 © National Center for Victims of Crime. All Rights Reserved.
2000 M Street NW, Suite 480, Washington, DC 20036
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Return to the National Center


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Hugh Dancy Presents 'Hannibal' At PaleyFest After Tao Okamoto Joins Cast
Hugh Dancy steps out looking handsome as he attends the Hannibal Paleyfest NY Panel held at Paley Center For Media on Saturday (October 18) in New York City.
The 39-year-old actor was joined by his co-stars Laurence Fishburne, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, and executive producer Bryan Fuller.
According to Deadline, The Wolverine actress Tao Okamoto has been cast as the "dark and mysterious" Lady Murasaki, a woman who has "an alluring and classical beauty with a dark secret."
15+ pictures inside of Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne, and others at the panel…


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Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has said that AC Milan are still one of the best sides in Europe ahead of their Champions League clash on Wednesday.
The former Blaugrana goalkeeper feels that while Massimiliano Allegri's side do not have the household names of old, their history and prestige make them a tough opponent.
"They're a team with a great history who know how to compete in the big games and which are always going to make things difficult for you," he told reporters.
"[Milan] will always have good players, irrespective of how famous they are. It will certainly be a difficult tie.
"The big clubs know how to compete. They know how to hold out for a result and the pressure doesn't get to them. Milan, Barca, the greats – they know when they are on the big stage and I'm sure Milan are going to prove that to us."
The former goalkeeper went on to say that neither side can be classed as favourites ahead of the San Siro clash on Wednesday.
"This is a Champions League tie, with everything that's at stake, and when you're playing against a team like Milan, the idea of being the favourite or not is something which generally doesn't exist in the world of football.
"There are no favourites."
The former Spain international also vowed that Barca would remain true to their philosophy during the tie.
"It's a style of play – keeping possession and such things. You have to read the game, we are a team which will go all out for victory and attack the opponent's goal. That's our style."


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Eve's Bright Balcony
Name: Eve
Location: Schaghticoke, New York
Eve's whole family loves their sunny, second-story deck. With some lucky deals and some DIY, she made it colorful, fun and party-perfect.
From Eve:
We bit the bullet and built a pergola. We had considered buying a gazebo from a store but they're more expensive than the lumber. Once the pergola was built, we ordered reed fencing online to lay over the top as a roof for some additional shade/filtered sunlight. We also rigged up the space with some string lighting for evening entertaining.
The rest of the items are a mix of online deals and items we repurposed. The adirondack chairs and the chiminea both got a few coats of spray paint. The rug is from World Market (and actually made from a pair to get the right size). The pillow textiles are all Trina Turk - I love her patterns, and I splurged on a few pre-made pillows and some remnants of fabric to finish out the set.
Thanks, Eve!
(Images: submitted by Eve Trombley)
• Interested in sharing your outdoor style with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our Outdoor Space or Project Submission Form.


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Product Description
The 2014 Retro Classic Radio, with Am/Fm Tuner and rear-mounted auxiliary input was created to meet the needs of classic car enthusiasts for a radio that maintains the classic in-dash look of the vehicle while offering modern playback capabilities from today's digital music sources. This is a breakthrough classic car radio offering flexible mounting options with RetroSound's patented "InfiniMount" adjustable shaft/bracket system. There's even a rear-mounted auxiliary input so you can connect your iPod®, satellite receiver, or any device that has a headphone jack on it! Modern Sound for your Classic Car!
* AM/FM tuner with 30 presets
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* Inputs: one rear auxiliary input
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* Separate power antenna and amplifier turn-on lead(s)
Owner's manual download: http://goo.gl/A6eXSa
Note: Faceplates and Knobs sold separately.


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Read and find out..
Cabin 13
- by GabbyC:
- Rating:
- Published: 3 Mar 2014
- Updated: 17 Apr 2015
- Status: In Progress
Rayne Jones is about to go leave to her first real summer camp ever. She is tired of everyday boring life! All the least she wants to do, is meet people and just chill by a lake or campfire.. but what happen when a mysterious boy named Blake walks into her life? Along with Hilarious evil twins. Will she be prepared for betrayal? This summer is more than a campfire now. Mystery and thrills. Romance and humor and maybe a murder or two?
Read now. you wont regret it!!
Read now. you wont regret it!!
Join MovellasFind out what all the buzz is about. Join now to start sharing your creativity and passion
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Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Time of Poss.
MEADVILLE, Pa. – Carnegie Mellon exacted revenge on Allegheny after the Gators thrashed the Tartans last season in Pittsburgh. On Saturday and in front of nearly 3,000 fans, Carnegie Mellon dominated Allegheny on both sides of the ball en route to a 37-7 victory at Frank B. Fuhrer Stadium.
Featured on Fox College Sports as well as ESPN3, the Gators (1-1) lost all of their momentum from an exciting comeback victory at Wooster as Carnegie Mellon (2-0) delivered a near-flawless performance on the road. The Tartans outgained the Gators, 461-207, while averaging 7.7 yards per play. One week after orchestrating a superb defensive stand that ignited a terrific rally, Allegheny's defense surrendered its most yards against in a single game in three years.
CMU's Rob Kalkstein threw for a career-high 200 yards and two touchdowns on 9-of-12 passing. Tim Kitka highlighted the aerial assault with four catches for 158 yards and two scores. The Tartans also pounded out 261 yards on the ground, with 10 players adding to the rushing totals.
Trailing 3-0, Allegheny grabbed its only lead of the day after piecing together a 13-play, 77-yard drive on its first possession of the game. Senior Taylor O'Brien set the tone early with several nice runs, while Ben Perko's 16-yard scamper set the Gators up inside the CMU one-yard line. O'Brien punched it in on the next play to give the Blue and Gold its short-lived lead.
The Tartans held the ball for nearly 10 minutes in the second quarter, while wearing down the Gators' defense with a pair of long drives. Patrick Blanks scored on a rush from nine yards out midway through the quarter to give the lead back to the visitors, while CMU extended its advantage to 10 as Kalkstein hooked up with Kitka on a 39-yard pitch and catch with less than two minutes remaining before halftime.
As far as momentum goes, one of the defining plays of the afternoon occurred on the ensuing kickoff. Taking the ball from the two-yard line, sophomore Derrick Emigh raced 98 yards down the far sideline for what appeared to be Allegheny's second touchdown of the game. However, a pair of holding penalties wiped out the play, and the Gators were never able to recover their swagger.
Allegheny was absolutely sensational in the second half last week against the Fighting Scots, although the Tartans emphatically erased any thoughts of a repeat performance as Kitka scored on an 82-yard touchdown reception early in the third quarter. The Tartans went 44 yards on four plays on their next possession to stretch the lead to 30-7, while taking the capacity crowd completely out of the game.
Both teams emptied their benches in the fourth quarter as Allegheny showcased a lot of it younger talent late in the action.
Joe Dawida finished 10-of-21 for 75 yards in his first career start. He was sacked four times and was unsuccessful in moving the Allegheny offense after a strong opening series.
O'Brien led the Gators with 28 yards rushing, while four other players also rushed for at least 20 yards. Emigh and Andrew Nicklaus each had three catches for 30 yards to pace the receiving corps.
Allegheny enters into its bye week and will be in action next at nationally-ranked Wabash on Sept. 22.


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Basix are ideal for any project with a smooth surface for seamless stitch gliding and no snagging! The slightly blunt tips paired with the lightness of birch and the strength of natural wood make these a great choice for beginners and experts alike. All of the sizes in the Basix Double Pointed Needles are 8 in length.You can also view all Knitter's Pride Basix Double Point Needles.
We provide endless possibilities for you including yarn, knitting gifts, needles, kits, sale yarn, free knitting patterns, and more!Jimmy Beans Wool is Your Local Yarn Store... Online!


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Los Angeles area elected officials and immigrant rights groups today denounced the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to let stand a provision in an Arizona law they say allows racial profiling. SB 1070, enacted in 2010, made it a misdemeanor to be an undocumented immigrant in Arizona and spawned copycat laws in other states.
Critics say SB1070 is one of the "ugliest anti-immigrant laws" in the country and that it encourages racial profiling and anti-immigrant sentiment. The Obama Administration, seeking to overturn the controversial law, told the Supreme Court that immigration enforcement and policy is a federal responsibility, and states, like Arizona, cannot usurp that responsibility by writing their own immigration laws.
Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy stated, "the state may not pursue policies that undermine federal law."
In a 5 to 3 vote, the Court allowed Provision 2(B) to stand, while striking down Provisions 3, 5, and 6.
Immigrant rights groups, however, say the Supreme Court has now upheld the so-called "show me your papers" provision that will allow police officers to stop people on the sole basis of suspecting they are in the country illegally. While the Court did say that a person cannot be stopped solely on the suspicion that they are in the country illegally, and that there must be another valid legal reason for the detaining the person in the first place, the circumstances under which a person can be stopped are so broad and can be as minor as jaywalking or littering, they clarification is essentially meaningless.
Section 2(B) requiring state and local police to attempt to determine the immigration status of any person lawfully stopped, detained, or arrested if there is a "reasonable suspicion" that the person is unlawfully present, according to the National Council of La Raza, NCLR.
"We remain deeply troubled, though, that the Supreme Court allowed the heart of the problem in SB 1070—legitimizing racial profiling—to stand, and failed to decisively remove the bull's eye from the backs of Arizona's Latinos, leaving it to future lawsuits to address. We fear this part of the decision will open the floodgates to the harassment, abuse, and intimidation of our community in what is already the most hostile place for Hispanics in the country, " said NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía, in a written statement.
Locally, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, CHIRLA, said in a statement: "The High Court's ruling to invalidate Provisions 3, 5, and 6 but allow Provision 2(B) to go forward for now makes it possible for Arizona to codify racial profiling by allowing the 'show me your papers' provision to be implemented.
"Thousands upon thousands of people will fall prey to fishing expeditions by anti-immigrant forces led by (Maricopa County) Sheriff Joe Arpaio and inflict suffering, prejudice, and even exile on people based on the color of skin, language, dress code, or ethnicity even if a person was born in the United States."
The overturning of three of the provisions, however, blocks Arizona from making it a crime for immigrants to be undocumented, to work or seek work, and allowing police to arrest people without warrants if they suspect they have committed a crime that makes them deportable.
The Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Federal Government has the sole responsibility to enforce immigration.
In a written statement, Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-32), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), said the Supreme Court has reiterated that the Federal Government has "broad" and "irrefutable power" over immigration under the Constitution. Chu applauded the provisions struck down, but said so-called "show me your papers" provision will "harm us as a nation by promoting racial profiling."
"I remain concerned about the precedent that this sets for our nation – a nation of immigrants – as we see race-based law enforcement codified into state law. Asian Pacific Americans are the fastest growing demographic in Arizona and will be profoundly impacted by this provision. Lawsuits challenging the provision on racial profiling grounds are moving through the courts and I am hopeful that this discriminatory provision will ultimately be invalidated. The Supreme Court's decision today is yet another reminder that Congress must act immediately to ensure our nation has a clear and robust federal immigration policy that works for families, employers and immigrants and citizens alike," Chu wrote.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also issued a statement today saying he was "heartened" that the Supreme Court upheld "the bedrock constitutional principle that the federal government alone has the power to regulate immigration" and that the Obama Administration and Department of Justice were right to challenge this law.
However, he called the ruling "only a partial victory" because the Supreme Court has allowed the implementation of the most harmful provision of the law.
"By requiring police officers to demand documents of anyone they suspect of being in the country without authorization, Arizona risks creating a culture of fear and suspicion. Implementation of the law will undermine the trust between the police and the public, driving a wedge between police officers and the community they serve. The 'papers please' provision opens the door for racial profiling, and I believe it will be impossible to implement this law without discrimination. This will just invite further litigation," Villaraigosa said.
He also called for a comprehensive immigration reform and called on Congress to pass the DREAM ACT.
President Obama said the ruling shows that the need for Congress to quickly take up immigration reform legislation.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach, hailed the court's ruling as "balanced and positive," saying it clarified that state and local law
enforcement can assist the federal government in enforcing immigration law. "This is a significant victory for those on a state level who are
trying to gain control of the massive flow of illegal immigrants into our country," Rohrabacher said. "It is clear the problem will never be solved without cooperation from the very top of the federal government and the very bottom of local jurisdictions. The Supreme Court decided that cooperation is constitutionally proper."
He said the ruling "highlights the long-overdue necessity for statutory change to the status quo of lax immigration enforcement, half-hearted border security measures and the elimination of the economic incentives and public
benefits that encourage the massive flow of illegal immigration into this country."
Republican Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon of Santa Clarita echoed that sentiment, saying the ruling "highlights the need for serious solutions to our nation's overall immigration policy, as well as the severe lack of leadership we have seen from the president."
CHIRLA, called the ruling "disgraceful" and urged communities to organize against the institutionalization of racial profiling by the Supreme Court.
CHIRLA Executive Director Angelica Salas in a written statement said the ruling "marks a dark day for justice in the history" of the country.
"The history of our country is riddled with injustices made possible through an extreme minority's justification of discriminatory, divisive, and callous decrees. The codification of segregation, exclusion from voting, Trail of Tears, encampment of ethnic minorities, and exile of whole class of workers, to give but a few examples, was made federal statute because the courts allowed it without remorse," she said.
Salas noted the irony that on the same week the US Congress apologized for the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, a racist law against Chinese immigrants, the highest US court has taken a shameful swerve "to the edge of a similar abyss."
Salas called on the immigrant community and its allies to take a stand and "to change history."
"We are on the right side of history and winning respect, dignity, and equal treatment under the law is a matter of 'when' not 'if'", she said.
Salas said more lawsuits will follow because "we are certain racial profiling is unconstitutional."
Moving forward, Salas said states should erect firewall laws to racial profiling, like the TRUST Act (AB1081) in California. Among her suggestions to the White House, Salas said civil rights monitors should be sent to states that "legalize discrimination," and the federal government should "aggressively" enforce civil rights laws across the country.
Vigils and rallies are expected to take place today and tomorrow.
Information from City News Services used in this report.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Thomas the Tank Engine to visit May 10-12, 17-19
Bring your preschoolers to take the ride of their lives. Thomas the Tank Engine is pulling into the station for a larger than life experience at Medina Railroad Museum for "Day Out With Thomas: The Go Go Thomas Tour 2013."
This fun-filled event offers little engineers and their families the opportunity to take a ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, star of the popular "Thomas & Friends" series. In addition, children will meet Sir Topham Hatt, controller of the railway, and enjoy a day of Thomas-themed activities including arts and crafts, storytelling and more. The tour, now in its 18th year, will make stops in more than 45 U.S. cities and is expected to welcome nearly 1 million passengers in 2013. "Day Out With Thomas: The Go Go Thomas Tour 2013" is presented by HIT Entertainment, a worldwide leader in children's entertainment; and sponsored by MEGA Brands, a leading toy company; and all inclusive Hard Rock Hotels.
WHO:Thomas the Tank Engine
A 25-minute (approximate) ride with Thomas the Tank Engine
Meet Sir Topham Hatt,controller of the railway
A "Thomas & Friends Imagination Station," featuring stamps, temporary tattoos, hands-on arts and crafts, train tables and coloring sheets.
Storytelling, video viewing, live music, maze, huge model train layout and museum
WHEN: May 10-12 and 17-19
TIME: 8:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: 530 West Ave., Medina
Tickets for "Day Out with Thomas: The Go Go Thomas Tour 2013" are on sale now and available by calling TicketWeb toll-free at 866-468-7630, or by visiting www.ticketweb.com/thomas.html or www.railroadmuseum.net. Ticket prices are $18 for ages 2 and up (service charges and fee may apply).
For more information and directions, contact the Medina Railroad Museum at 585-798-6106 or www.railroadmuseum.net. For information on Thomas & Friends, visit www.thomasandfriends.com/dowt.
Follow Thomas & Friends on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thomasandfriends and Twitter @TrueBlueEngine.


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We encourage everyone who would like to show support for the global deployment of IPv6 to download and use the World IPv6 Launch badges.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that are permanently deploying IPv6 are encouraged to register as World IPv6 Launch participants. Participating access networks around the world have enabled IPv6 by default for new subscribers and enough of their existing subscriber base so that 1% of the subscribers on their networks now use IPv6 to reach IPv6-enabled websites. "Enabled by default" means the service will not require any IPv6-specific configuration by an end-user in order for the ISP to be able to provide IPv6 Internet service to the home network (in addition to existing IPv4 service).
If you plan to do the same on your network please join the list of participating networks by using the form below to register.
Registrations now only open for Network Operators


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RadarOnline is reporting today that Simon Barney was arrested for domestic violence early Tuesday morning. The victim? His estranged wife Tamra Barney.
According to Radar, the Real Housewives of Orange County star was arrested by the Orange County, California Sheriff's department at 12:30 am and taken into custody on $10,000 bail.
As for what led to the violent altercation, Radar reveals the argument had to do with Tamra planning a birthday party for one of their kids at her house. Despite inviting Simon to the party, he apparently felt she should have chosen a more neutral location.
The altercation took place Monday night as Simon was returning their small dog back to Tamra's house (the two share custody of the dog). A source tells Radar that Simon "was angry and threw the leash at her and hit her with it." The source adds that "their kids were in the house and started crying. It was a bad scene."
Tamra, who has been dating Eddie Judge for months now, felt that Simon went too far. "The leash hit Tamra. She wasn't sure what to do," says the source. "But she knew she couldn't tolerate the violence. She called the cops."
Simon is scheduled to be arraigned today. He is expected to enter a plea to the charge. TMZ is also reporting that Simon is still in police custody. His mugshot is below. The sixth season of the Real Housewives of OC is currently filming, though Simon will no longer be a part of the show.


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5 U.S. Code § 8479 - Exculpatory provisions; insurance
§ 8479.
Exculpatory provisions; insurance
Any provision in an agreement or instrument which purports to relieve a fiduciary from responsibility or liability for any responsibility, obligation, or duty under this subchapter shall be void.
The Executive Director may require employing agencies to contribute an amount not to exceed 1 percent of the amount such agencies are required to contribute in accordance with section 8432(c) of this title to the Thrift Savings Fund.
The sums credited to the Thrift Savings Fund under paragraph (1) shall be available and may be used at the discretion of the Executive Director to purchase insurance to cover potential liability of persons who serve in a fiduciary capacity with respect to the Thrift Savings Fund, without regard to whether a policy of insurance permits recourse by the insurer against the fiduciary in the case of a breach of a fiduciary obligation.
(Added Pub. L. 99–335, title I, § 101(a), June 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 588.)
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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$ 4.00
This 10 piece pack of papers are printable at 8.5" x 11" at 300 ppi. This lovely Cocoa and Candy color collection features a variety of textured dot, chevron, damask and floral patterns in browns and pinks. They are high quality images in .jpg format at 300 ppi. Please be aware that these are not seamless tiles. They can be printed out or used as a background in a design project, or even as a photo overlay. Instant download after purchase.
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*I apologize for the inconvenience, but digital graphic download files here at Avalon Rose Design are available to customers in every country of the world except for members of the EU due to the VAT tax restrictions. However, all other products, including website themes and additional services ARE available for citizens living in the EU. If you are a member of the EU and wish to purchase some of my digital graphics, you can find them available to you in my Creative Market store.
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Introducing Shadow of the Wing, a collection of 24 bird silhouette graphics. Birds in flight, on branches, and in groups. Perfect for so many different art projects from wall decor, logos,...
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Introducing Mystic Floral Collection. Includes individual vintage flower and leaf clip art with dark and moody styling in lilac, orange, rust, yellow, cream, mustard and burgundy colors. Wonderful for creating moody...


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WORCESTER — AAA Southern New England said Thursday it has permanently terminated its two-decade relationship with Pat's Towing & Service Center.
The 3.5 million member auto club said the decision was made three or four days after the Aug. 14 arraignment of owner Patsy Santa Maria Sr. He was charged with intimidation of a witness, attempting to suborn perjury and two counts of conspiracy.
'We elected to permanently terminate AAA's relationship with Pat's Towing, effective about two weeks ago,' Lloyd P. Albert, senior vice president of public and government affairs said Thursday.
'These charges were serious enough to take this action to ensure the safety and well-being of tens of thousands of AAA members,' Mr. Albert said.
Mr. Santa Maria Sr. allegedly tried to bribe a witness by offering up to $25,000 to alter his testimony at the trial of his son, Patsy Santa Maria Jr. Mr. Santa Maria Sr. was released after posting $10,000 bail.
Mr. Santa Maria was one of several towing operators used by AAA in the Worcester-Shrewsbury area. Mr. Albert said other vendors are being used as well as a fleet of company- owned tow trucks.
He said there has been no interruption in service and no impact on response time.
City Manager Michael V. O'Brien this week terminated the city's contract with Pat's Towing, effective Sept. 12. Mr. O'Brien cited the recent actions and judgments against employees of the company, allegations against Mr. Santa Maria Sr. and numerous police calls to the 5 Shrewsbury St. facility over the past five years.
Mr. Santa Maria Sr. had no comment Thursday.


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Anita Huffington intends her classical-inspired sculptures of human torsos (primarily nude females) as totem objects that celebrate the quotidian. By reducing the figures based on Greek marbles to simple, almost primitive forms, Huffington strives to reveal the natural "organic energy and essential beauty, a power that has the force of a religious experience," she says. Sandstone, her material of choice owing to its "rude nature" (although she also works in alabaster and bronze), further evokes the archaic and prehistoric periods that inspire her work beneath the surface. Modernist influences are also evident, however, in works such as Bacchante (2010), an elongated, semi-abstract bronze female torso.
American, b. 1934, Baltimore, Maryland, based in Arkansas


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Oil prices inched further above $92 a barrel after a key pipeline transporting crude from Canada to the U.S. Midwest was shut down for repairs.
By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark crude for November delivery was up 36 cents to $92.46 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract lost 2 cents to finish at $92.10 a barrel on the Nymex on Thursday.
Brent crude, which many U.S. refiners use to make gasoline, was up 40 cents to $112.82 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.
TransCanada Corp. had to temporarily shut down its 2,100-mile (3,380-kilometer) Keystone pipeline after tests showed possible safety issues, a federal agency said Thursday. Grady Semmens, spokesman for the Calgary-based company, said the pipeline was shut down Wednesday evening as a precaution and was expected to restart Saturday.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which oversees pipelines in the U.S., has said no leaks were detected on the line, which moves on average about 500,000 barrels of crude a day from Alberta, Canada, down through several states to facilities in Illinois and Oklahoma.
"For now, the expectation is that the Keystone pipeline ... will only be shut for three days while a team is being sent to investigate a `small anomaly,' said analyst Olivier Jakob of Petromatrix in Switzerland. "However, if a team is being sent to investigate it is because nobody is exactly sure about the anomaly and the weekend will therefore include a risk that we come back on Monday to a worse-than-expected situation."
Developments in Europe concerning the creation of a banking supervisor for the 17 countries using the euro currency, a step seen as vital toward stabilizing scores of troubled banks and helping to resolve the region's debt crisis, had little impact.
In other energy trading in New York:
_ Heating oil rose 2.8 cents to $3.1949 per gallon.
_ Wholesale gasoline advances 2.9 cent to $2.7559 per gallon.
_ Natural gas added 4.6 cents to $3.633 per 1,000 cubic feet.
Pamela Sampson in Bangkok and Maria Fisher in Kansas City, Missouri, contributed to this report.


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INGLIS email@example.com_current.manitoulin_expositor 2000-12-20 published
REID James Herbert
In loving memory of James Herbert REID September 9 1922 - December 15 2000. A resident of Manitowaning passed away at the Manitoulin Health Centre, Little Current on Friday, December 15 2000 at the age of 78 years. He was born in Georgetown, son of the late William and Margaret {INGLIS} REID. Herb was a veteran of WW2 serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He farmed for 45 years, sold farm machinery, and was a member of the Assiginack Historical Board and Museum Board. He also served the community as councillor for 15 years and reeve for three years. Herb was an avid reader and enjoyed hunting as well visiting with family and Friends. Beloved husband of Leona {MOGGY} REID of Manitowaning. Dear father of William and wife Heather of Sarnia, Walter and wife Brenda, Brenda GIBBONS and husband Michael both of Manitowaning and Barbara PLAT and husband Orville of Dresden.
Loving grandfather of Patrick, Shawn and Janet GIBBONS and Christopher, Amy, Matthew, Joseph and Rebecca REID. Great grandfather of Brandon and Austin REID. Dear brother of Craig and wife Peggy of Burlington and Agnes and husband Bill LONG of Windsor. Predeceased by two brothers Bruce and Weir REID. A memorial service was held at the Knox United Church on Monday December 18 2000 with Pastor Margaret WOOD and Elder Bill REID officiating. Cremation. Interment will be held this spring at Hilly Grove Cemetery. If so desired, memorial donations to the Assiginack Museum Building Fund would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to Manitowaning Chapel Funeral Home.
I... Names IN... Names ING... Names Welcome Home
INGLIS - All Categories in OGSPI


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TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — More than 3,000 Tunisians, led by the father of an assassinated opposition figure, joined a protest that started as a demonstration against what they described as a "slow" investigation into the death.
The protest, organized on social networks in the country that launched the Arab Spring, quickly turned into a rallying cry against the ruling Islamist party and the country's economic troubles.
Chokri Belaid was shot four times outside his home on Feb. 6, throwing the country into political turmoil as many Tunisians held the government responsible for his death. The prime minister resigned, and the ruling Islamist Ennahadha named an interior minister to take his place.
Belaid's father, Salah, led Saturday's protest. On Thursday, the interior minister announced several arrests in the death, without providing details.


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Transition to Employment
PAN Employment Project
PAN is currently compiling content for a website to be dedicated to best practices in transitioning to employment for individuals with ASD. There will also be a section on choosing careers. To submit information for consideration for inclusion on this site, please send an email to Deirdre Wright.
JAN Guide for Employers: Employees with Asperger Syndrome
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) Accommodation and Compliance Series is designed to help employers determine
effective accommodations and comply with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). Each publication in the series addresses a specific medical condition and
provides information about the condition, ADA information, accommodation ideas, and
resources for additional information.
The Accommodation and Compliance Series is a starting point in the accommodation process and may not address every situation. Accommodations should be made on a case by case basis, considering each employee's individual limitations and accommodation needs. Employers are encouraged to contact JAN to discuss specific situations in more detail.
For information on assistive technology and other accommodation ideas, visit JAN's
Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR).
To download JAN's Guide for Employers, click here.


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NSU research center
Nova Southeastern University Research Assistant D. Abigail Renegar, M.S. takes out one of the staghorn corals they are growing at the new land base coral nursery at the new Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Ecosystems Research at NSU¿s Oceanographic Center at John U. Lloyd Beach State Park Friday. The center will host a grand opening ceremony for America¿s largest coral reef research center on Sept. 27.
Taimy Alvarez, Sun Sentinel
Copyright © 2018, Sun Sentinel


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Cruz not worried about foot
Receiver, on crutches, calls bruised left heel "just a short setback"
East Rutherford, N.J.
The New York Giants are giving wide receiver Victor Cruz's bruised left heel a little extra medical attention.
The team's leading receiver the past two seasons, Cruz walked to a podium Tuesday using crutches and with his foot in a boot. It raised some immediate concerns about the severity of his injury.
"Why does everyone look so sad," Cruz quipped after looking at reporters.
The reality is the Giants are just being cautious with the regular-season opener at Dallas less than three weeks away. Cruz did not practice on Tuesday, and it seems unlikely that he will be a target for Eli Manning in the annual bragging rights preseason game at the Jets on Saturday night. He might not even play in the preseason finale against New England on Aug. 29 if Tom Coughlin wants to be very careful.
"It's all about just getting better at this point," said Cruz, who recently signed a $43 million contract extension. "I think I have a firm understanding of the offense, and me and Eli have an understanding of how he likes to hit me and things we do out there on the field. So I'm not too concerned about it. Obviously I'm a guy that loves to practice, loves to be out there. Just a short setback. And a time where — you never want to have one — but if there's a time to have one, it's now. So it's not bad."
Cruz bruised the heel Sunday night trying to catch a long pass from Manning on the opening series. It was a jump ball type of play, and one of the defenders came down on his foot. It immediately went numb.
The Giants have told him his status is day to day, but it looked more week to week with crutches and a boot.
The 26-year-old hopes to shed the crutches soon. He is being treated with ice and medication to reduce the swelling. He doesn't think the injury will linger all season.
"Once the swelling goes down, I think I'll be OK," Cruz said. "I just want to be smart."
Cruz didn't think his injury was serious when it happened because he did not hear anything pop.
An MRI showed some blood in the heel. There was no muscle tear and no broken bones, Cruz said, adding he expects to play in the opener.
"I do see myself, envision myself out here on the practice field, getting ready for that Cowboys game, getting ready to go down to Texas to play those guys," he said.


text: One of the sacrifices some of us make when moving from Windows to Linux is losing some of the functionality of our Internet keyboards because they were made to work with Windows drivers. But the LinEak Project is working to correct that. At their page you can download a tool that may allow you to regain some of the functionality of your internet keyboard. If your keyboard isn't yet supported you can supply them with information so they can start working on it. Here's the link: http://lineak.sourceforge.net/ .


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The Color Run Austin
Race Information
Also known as the Happiest 5k on the Planet, The Color Run is a unique paint race that celebrates healthiness, happiness, individuality and giving back to the community.
There are two rules for the Color Run:
1. Wear white at the starting line.
2. Finish plastered in color!
The fun continues after the Color Runners complete the race with a fun Finish Festival. This party includes music, dancing and massive color throws. Trust us, this is the best post-5k party on the planet!


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How Buildings Respond to Earthquakes
Ground Acceleration and Building Damage
Comparatively speaking, the absolute movement of the ground and buildings during an earthquake is not actually all that large, even during a major earthquake. That is, they do not usually undergo displacements that are large relative to the building's own dimensions. So, it is not the distance that a building moves which alone causes damage.
Rather, it is because a building is suddenly forced to move very quickly that it suffers damage during an earthquake. Think of someone pulling a rug from beneath you. If they pull it quickly (i.e., accelerate it a great deal), then they needn't pull it very far to throw you off balance. On the other hand, if they pull the rug slowly and only gradually increase the speed of the rug, they can move (displace) it a great distance without that same unfortunate result.
figure 1: Accelerogram
In other words, the damage that a building suffers primarily depends not upon its displacement, but upon acceleration. Whereas displacement is the actual distance the ground and the building may move during an earthquake, acceleration is a measure of how quickly they change speed as they move. During an earthquake, the speed at which both the ground and building are moving will reach some maximum. The more quickly they reach this maximum, the greater their acceleration.
It's worthwhile mentioning here that in order to study the earthquake responses of buildings, many buildings in earthquake-prone regions of the world have been equipped with strong motion accelerometers. These are special instruments which are capable of recording the accelerations of either the ground or building, depending upon their placement.
The recording of the motion itself is known as an accelerogram. Figure 1 shows an accelerogram recorded in a hospital building parking lot during the Northridge, California earthquake of January 17, 1994.
In addition to providing valuable information about the characteristics of the particular earthquake recorded or the building where the accelerogram was recorded, accelerograms recorded in the past are also often used in the earthquake response analysis and earthquake design of buildings yet to be constructed.
Newton's Law
Acceleration has this important influence on damage, because, as an object in movement, the building obeys Newton' famous Second Law of Dynamics. The simplest form of the equation which expresses the Second Law of Motion is F = MA.
This states the Force acting on the building is equal to the Mass of the building times the Acceleration. So, as the acceleration of the ground, and in turn, of the building, increase, so does the force which affects the building, since the mass of the building doesn't change.
Of course, the greater the force affecting a building, the more damage it will suffer; decreasing F is an important goal of earthquake resistant design. When designing a new building, for example, it is desirable to make it as light as possible, which means, of course, that M, and in turn, F will be lessened. As we've seen in the discussion of Advanced Earthquake Resistant Techniques, various techniques are now also available for reducing A.
Inertial Forces
figure 2: Acceleration, Inertial Forces
It is important to note that F is actually what's known as an inertial force, that is, the force is created by the building's tendency to remain at rest, and in its original position, even though the ground beneath it is moving. This is in accordance with another important physical law known as D'Alembert's Principle, which states that a mass acted upon by an acceleration tends to oppose that acceleration in an opposite direction and proportionally to the magnitude of the acceleration (See Figure 2.)
This inertial force F imposes strains upon the building's structural elements. These structural elements primarily include the building's beams, columns, load-bearing walls, floors, as well as the connecting elements that tie these various structural elements together. If these strains are large enough, the building's structural elements suffer damage of various kinds.
figure 3: Simple Rigid Block
To illustrate the process of inertia generated strains within a structure, we can consider the simplest kind of structure imaginable--a simple, perfectly rigid block of stone. (See Figure 3.) During an earthquake, if this block is simply sitting on the ground without any attachment to it, the block will move freely in a direction opposite to that of the ground motion, and with a force proportional to the mass and acceleration of the block.
If the same block, however, is solidly founded in the ground and no longer able to move freely, it must in some way absorb the inertial force internally. In Figure 3, this internal uptake of force is shown to result in cracking near the base of the block.
Of course, real buildings do not respond as simply as described above. There are a number of important characteristics common to all buildings which further affect and complicate a building's response in terms of the accelerations it undergoes, and the deformations and damages that it suffers.
Building Frequency and Period
To begin with, as we discussed in the How Earthquakes Affect Buildings, the magnitude of the building response – that is, the accelerations which it undergoes – depends primarily upon the frequencies of the input ground motion and the building's natural frequency. When these are near or equal to one another, the building's response reaches a peak level.
In some circumstances, this dynamic amplification effect can increase the building acceleration to a value two times or more that of the ground acceleration at the base of the building. Generally, buildings with higher natural frequencies, and a short natural period, tend to suffer higher accelerations but smaller displacement. In the case of buildings with lower natural frequencies, and a long natural period, this is reversed as the buildings will experience lower accelerations but larger displacements.
Building Stiffness
The taller a building, the longer its natural period tends to be. But the height of a building is also related to another important structural characteristic: the building flexibility. Taller buildings tend to be more flexible than short buildings. (Only consider a thin metal rod. If it is very short, it is difficulty to bend it in your hand.
If the rod is somewhat longer, and of the same diameter, it becomes much easier to bend. Buildings behave similarly.) We say that a short building is stiff, while a taller building is flexible. (Obviously, flexibility and stiffness are really just the two sides of the same coin. If something is stiff, it isn't flexible and vice-versa.)
Stiffness greatly affects the building's uptake of earthquake generated force. Reconsider our first example above, of the rigid stone block deeply founded in the soil. The rigid block of stone is very stiff; as a result it responds in a simple, dramatic manner. Real buildings, of course, are more inherently flexible, being composed of many different parts.
Furthermore, not only is the block stiff, it is brittle; and because of this, it cracks during the earthquake. This leads us to the next important structural characteristic affecting a building's earthquake response and performance— ductility.
figure 4: Metal Rod Ductility
Ductility is the ability to undergo distortion or deformation – bending, for example – without resulting in complete breakage or failure. To take once again the example of the rigid block in Figure 3, the block is an example of a structure with extremely low ductility. To see how ductility can improve a building's performance during an earthquake, consider Figure 4.
For the block, we have substituted a combination of a metal rod and a weight. In response to the ground motion, the rod bends but does not break. (Of course, metals in general are more ductile than materials such as stone, brick and concrete.) Obviously, it is far more desirable for a building to sustain a limited amount of deformation than for it to suffer a complete breakage failure.
The ductility of a structure is in fact one of the most important factors affecting its earthquake performance. One of the primary tasks of an engineer designing a building to be earthquake resistant is to ensure that the building will possess enough ductility to withstand the size and types of earthquakes it is likely to experience during its lifetime.
The last of the important structural characteristics, or parameters, which we'll discuss here is damping. As we noted earlier, ground and building motion during an earthquake has a complex, vibratory nature. Rather than undergoing a single "yank" in one direction, the building actually moves back and forth in many different horizontal directions.
All vibrating objects, including buildings, tend to eventually stop vibrating as time goes on. More precisely, the amplitude of vibration decays with time. Without damping, a vibrating object would never stop vibrating, once it had been set in motion. Obviously, different objects possess differing degrees of damping. A bean bag, for example, has high damping; a trampoline has low damping.
In a building undergoing an earthquake, damping – the decay of the amplitude of a building's vibrations – is due to internal friction and the absorption of energy by the building's structural and nonstructural elements. All buildings possess some intrinsic damping.
The more damping a building possesses, the sooner it will stop vibrating--which of course is highly desirable from the standpoint of earthquake performance. Today, some of the more advanced techniques of earthquake resistant design and construction employ added damping devices like shock absorbers to increase artificially the intrinsic damping of a building and so improve its earthquake performance.