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Small plane forced to make emergency landing
Dec 29, 2012 - Cecilia Chan - The Republic azcentral.com
Plane in distress, trying to make emergency landing at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway; pilot and three passengers on board
Security-firm president pleads not guilty in theft
Oct 30, 2012 - Peter Corbett - The Republic azcentral.com
The president of a security company has pleaded not guilty to 12 felony counts related to alleged theft and fraud of $250,000 from a state job-creation fund.
Forget the pumpkin-spice lattes, it's fall-ball time in Scottsdale
Oct 12, 2012 - Peter Corbett - The Republic azcentral.com
Take me out to the fall ballgame
Man dies in solo rollover accident in Pima County
Aug 11, 2012 - Cecilia Chan - The Republic azcentral.com
A 71-year-old man died in a solo rollover accident Saturday morning in Three Points, the Pima County Sheriff's Department reported.
Part III: 10 hot servers (round 2) in metro Phoenix 2012
Jul 26, 2012 - Kellie Hwang - The Republic azcentral.com -
Phoenix Hotties
The second round of some of the hottest, outgoing servers for 2012 in Greater Phoenix.
Fatal Mesa stabbing occurred in fight over women, police say
Jul 26, 2012 - Jim Walsh - The Republic azcentral.com
An argument over unwanted advances on a woman ended with one man stabbed in the neck and the other arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder.
Thunderstorms expected to miss Phoenix area
Jul 22, 2012 - Jim Walsh - The Republic azcentral.com
Winds whipped up dust again in the Valley on Sunday evening, but severe thunderstorms spotted in the White Tanks mountains were expected to spare most of the Valley.
APS seeks public input at meeting on new power line
Jul 7, 2012 - Peter Corbett - The Republic azcentral.com
Arizona Public Service Co. is planning a public meeting next week to explain its plans to build a 69-kilovolt power line northeast of Loop 101 and Raintree Drive.
Arizona mining inspector talks about his job, safety
Safety of mines in Ariz. is No. 1 priority for Hart
Jun 30, 2012 - Alex Stuckey - The Republic azcentral.com
Mining has always been a part of Arizona Mining Inspector Joe Hart's life.
Sun, shade provide benefits for city, schools
Green technology helps cut costs, cool parked cars
Jun 26, 2012 - Peter Corbett - The Republic azcentral.com
Green technology shades Scottsdale's solar future. Part One: SUSD's solar savings hit $300,000 yearly |
Forum Index »
GEAR »
Gossamer Gear Air Beam....
Edited by norcalweaver on 02/15/2013 19:24:06 MST.
Thanks Matt! I had started a thread about these kinds of "frames," wondering about their practical use. Good to see some reports coming out.
Do you find this pad to be cooler than your sitlight pad when used as the back frame in your pack? Do the chambers allow more air flow?
Today it was in the low 50s with a real light breeze so really it was ideal hiking weather and kept me from ever getting hot, back or anywhere else. When I was hiking in the hotter weather last year though I do remember getting some warm spots from the sitlight pad, because I never felt like the pad was evenly distributed against my back. It laid heavy on the backs of my shoulder blades and lower back, but squished in so it didn't feel like just the dimples were contacting me, more like a solid piece of warm foam laying across those contact areas. But, as said I haven't hiked with the air frame in comparably hot temperatures, but this frame contacts my whole back very evenly; I don't feel like one spot is being smashed against me any more then another area. So, it feels like it's sitting lighter on the back which I think will cut down on the "warm spots" I was experiencing before. Some of this is speculation though on my part, I'll find out for sure in a couple months with some real world warm weather testing.
Matt,Thank you for the write up. It sounds as if the AB may improve the comfort and load carrying capacity of your GG pack by quite a bit. I just received my Kumo in the mail a few days ago and it'll be interesting to hear how you and others like carrying the AB as opposed to the flimsy CCF pad. I am too interested in the potential for how well it keeps sweat off ones back. Speaking of which, I wonder if Gossamer will come out with an estimated R-Value? ;)
Edited by timdcy on 02/16/2013 08:59:08 MST.
"I wonder if Gossamer will come out with an estimated R-Value?"With no internal insulation, baffles or reflective layers, the pad is simply an air space, which is R-1.0.
Edited by dandydan on 02/17/2013 08:30:11 MST.
So I'll preface this with the disclaimer that I am prejudiced to an air frame, I have a MLD Exodus FS as my primary pack and LOVE it. I've worked hard to get my base weight to rough;y 9.75 lbs for temps down into the high 20's but still prefer the carry of a true suspension, so the Exodus FS was a dream come true for me, the ARC Blast may be next.But anyway, I've been using a 2012 Murmur as a daypack and took it on one very light overnight last year. I love the pack for day trips, but with my full kit, or close to it, it deformed too much for my liking. It didn't sit very well on back and just didn't feel nearly as well placed as the Exodus FS.I just received a medium Air Beam from GG, and all I can say is WOW. It's like a whole new pack, the AB gives the pack a much more rigid structure and it transfers much more weight to my hips. Before, with the SitLight pad the hip belt was more for balance and to keep the pack from bouncing around. With the AB it can actually transfer weight and it doesn't deform with gear in it.I loaded it up with a quilt (for volume) and some crap laying around the basement to get it to ~15 lbs and walked around a bit, it's a whole new pack. If you're on the fence about adding an AB to a GG or any other pack, give it a try, I'm sure glad I just did. Now I just need to get "out there" and give it a real test.
Edited by arttyszka on 03/23/2013 11:22:39 MDT.
Interesting info on airbeam, I may end up trying one out.I would say, though, that the little Sitlight pad that GG ships with their pack is pretty pathetic at adding structure to the pack, and not much better at just being padding. I use my Murmur with the 3-panel GG Nightlite Torso in the external pad pockets and a rolled up 3/16"x72" GG pad inside the pack with main items packed inside that pad's hollow cylinder. Like the Airbeam my pad combination is way better than the puny GG Sitlight, and just the 3-panel GG Nightlight Torso alone would be too. I'm kind of curious how the thicker Nightlight Torso compares to the Airbeam, with or without additional pad tube in main body of pack.
Edited by hes on 03/23/2013 23:58:20 MDT.
And I think I just found my new pillow.Compared to my Exped air pillow.
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Is Kevin Durant the next Kobe Bryant after all? Team USA fans are certainly swaggering today after their guys’ strong showing in upending the defending FIBA world champions, 86-85.
Durant was the alpha dog for the US – a role many including BiE worried about going unfilled a la my least-favorite 2006 team – in scoring.
Tags: Danny Granger, Derrick Rose, Juan Carlos Navarro, Kevin Love, Kobe Bryant, Mike Krzyzewski, Rajon Rondo, Ricky Rubio, Team Spain, Team USA, YouTube
Actually, not bad Spain, not bad at all…. A game between the two favourites ends with 1 point difference… I’d say we’re set for a good and competitive tournament (one can only hope), where there is at least two teams that demonstrated they can beat the US (Lithunia is the other one – Greece will be added on Wed.
).
Greece and US are only remaining undefeated teams. I hope you change the rankings accordingly.
Spain number 3 now, Mika (ironic nod)?
Spain was lucky not to win. Usually in this kind of situation – two equal teams first meet in a friendly, then a bit later in a do-or-die game – team that wins the meaningless game later loses the important one. That has happened a lot of times in sports. To be honest, it is a bit strange to see WC favourites USA, Spain and Greece meeting like this in a situation where they will probably go against each other in World Cup semifinal and/or final.
With Durant playing D like that down the stretch you’d better have a second scoring option if you want to pull one out against the US. What a monster. It’s going to be a fun tournament.
Calderon is out, Scariolo will most likely call Raul Lopez to replace him.
Very entertaining game. Espana came out like zombies in the first quarter, but lessons were learned on both sides, no doubt. Why the odd rotation by Coach K?
I’d agree with rookie, but that wasn’t the case in the Olympics.
USA, except Durant, didn’t look impressive, just barely beating Spain even though their shooting was off. I don’t think they’ll have that margin for error against Greece. I’m really looking forward to that game!
OS what are your thoughts on this? It is certainly raising some eyebrows around Europe. It reminds me of Coach K’s 2006 post game interview after the US-Greece game………
unreal…………
Interview of Russell Westbrook in Athens.
Greek reporter.
Russell you were just 18 y.o. when USA team lost from Greece and lost the ticket for the final game on previous WC in Japan. What do you remember from that game?
Russell Westbrook.
Nothing. I haven’t watch previous WC games of USA. I don’t even know when that happened. What year did you say we lost from Greece?
Well. I just hope that wont happen again.
I don’t get how hard it is for you guys to understand that most American’s don’t really give a damn about the World Championships. It sucks, but why would an 18 year old Russell Westbrook preparing for his first season at UCLA waste his evening watching USA games when he is living out his last days before college starts?
[...] Speaking of alpha’s, Kevin Durant… More from NewsOK. [...]
good good…this post deserves nothing
…hahaha just joking
…nice post |
By Karen Kaplan
5:30 PM EST, December 12, 2012
Go:
“Our modern society is filled with sudden events (sirens, horns, ringing phones, alarms, televisions, etc.) that hijack attention. By contrast, natural environments are associated with a gentle, soft fascination, allowing the executive attentional system to replenish.”
If that sounds like a far-fetched ad for the Sierra Club, consider that studies have found that taking a hike or otherwise spending some time in nature has been shown to help people do better on laboratory tests (like controlling the perceived rotation of a Necker Cube) as well as real-life tasks, like proof reading.
If spending a few hours in nature is a good thing, what about a few days? That was the question psychologists from the University of Kansas and the University of Utah sought to answer.
So the researchers turned to 26 women and 30 men who took Outward Bound wilderness expeditions to Alaska, Colorado, Maine or Washington. Each trip lasted for four to six days, during which time any use of technology was strictly forbidden.
To test creativity, the psychologists used the Remote Associates Test, which asks subjects to find the link between related cues (for instance, “coin,” “quick” and “spoon” all go with the word “silver”). Study participants were asked to solve 10 of these puzzles, and their score was the number they got correct. A total of 24 backpackers took the test before they started their journeys, and 32 people took the test on the morning of their fourth day in.
How did they do?
Those who took the test before they had sojourned with nature answered 4.14 of the “questions” correctly, on average, while those who took the test after three days in the wilderness got an average of 6.08 “questions” right. That may not sound like a big difference, but it’s an increase of 50%, the study authors noted.
The results demonstrate “that higher-order cognitive skills improve with sustained exposure to a natural environment,” the researchers wrote.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean that exposure to nature deserves all of the credit for the creativity boost. Spending time in a natural environment probably does help recharge the brain. But so does taking a break from all of the high-tech gadgets and other attention-grabbing distractions that dominate our lives when we are not communing with nature, they noted.
You can find a link to the study from the PLoS One website.
(And in case you were wondering, I am not related to Stephen Kaplan and Rachel Kaplan of the University of Michigan, who have long studied the psychological benefits of spending time in nature and are credited with developing Attention Restoration Theory.)
Return to the Booster Shots blog.
Follow me on Twitter @LATkarenkaplan |
In a move that will help some 800 Maryland families affected by the effects of Hurricane Sandy, Congress approved $10 billion in emergency funding Friday for the federal flood insurance program.
The hastily scheduled votes came in response to criticism from Republicans — notably New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — who publicly complained that GOP leadership in the House of Representatives was dragging its feet on the aid package.
The House approved the measure, 354-67. The Senate passed the legislation unanimously, without a roll call vote, sending it to President Barack Obama for his signature.
The flood program, created in 1968, is expected to run out of money in coming days, complicating insurance claims for thousands of families in New York, New Jersey and other states that were hit by the storm.
About 800 claims are pending from Maryland, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Eastern Shore, and Somerset County in particular, experienced damaging floods after the storm.
The bill is the first of two Congress will take up to address dwindling disaster relief funds. The House is expected to vote Jan. 15 on a more controversial measure that includes an additional $50 billion in aid. That legislation would guarantee additional aid for Maryland, though the precise amount would be determined later.
Christie, who leveled stinging criticism of his own party over the issue earlier in the week, released a joint statement Friday with New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, calling the insurance bill a "necessary and critical first step" but "just a down payment" toward aiding their states.
The Senate passed a $60.4 billion aid package last month, though the bill faced criticism over proposed spending not directly related to Sandy.
Several lawmakers criticized the decision not to hold a vote on that bill on Jan. 1, after Congress wrapped up work on "fiscal cliff" legislation, raising taxes on high-income households to avert automatic tax increases and spending cuts.
"While it is never too late to do the right thing, it is late that we are doing this thing," Rep. Steny Hoyer of Southern Maryland, the second-highest-ranking Democrat in the House, said of the insurance bill. "We are doing only the bare minimum. … We should have acted almost immediately."
Rep. Andy Harris, who represents the Eastern Shore, was one of 67 Republicans to vote against the proposal. He said Thursday that he will not support the bill unless budget cuts are found to pay for the additional spending. In a statement Friday, he said the current flood program needs to be reformed.
"The bill increased the program's borrowing limit from $20.7 billion to $30 billion with no plan to pay for it, and included no plans to make sure we would not have to bail out the program again in the near future," Harris said.
In the House, all Democrats and 161 Republicans voted for the measure.
Maryland Democrats pounced on Harris' vote, calling it "shameful and outrageous" in a statement.
The flood legislation does not authorize direct spending; rather, it gives the flood insurance program authority to borrow money to pay claims during times of heavy flooding. In the past, those loans have been repaid with premiums property owners pay to carry the insurance.
For decades, the program has repaid the loans, but the fund went deeply into debt following Hurricane Katrina and now is nearly $18 billion in the red, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.
Still, the program is making payments on that debt, including $750 million in the first half of 2011 and $500 million in 2010.
Sandy, a hurricane before the center of the storm made landfall Oct. 29 in New Jersey, caused more than 125 deaths in the United States.
Tribune Newspapers' Washington bureau reporter Richard Simon contributed to this article.
twitter.com/jfritze |
Highlights
A collection of news and information related to Lenox Hill published by this site and its partners.
Displaying items 1-12 of 47 » View baltimoresun.com items only
1 2 3 4: Baltic Region, Diseases and Illnesses, Hospitals and Clinics, Health Organizations, Death
2 cases challenge beliefs on who may get anthraxSun StaffFederal health officials said yesterday that they are investigating the possibility of the anthrax threat spreading to homes, because of disturbing questions raised by infections in a New York hospital worker and a New Jersey accountant. The new...
Tags: U.S. Department of Defense, Forehead, Medical Services, Diseases and Illnesses, Hospitals and Clinics
PIX11 Front And Center At Health and Wellness Expopix11.com | @wpixWhen was the last time you stretched your mind and body? At the Pix 11 Health and Wellness Expo tomorrow you can get into your body with Lastics creator Donna Flagg, who hangs upside down and loves it. "It feels great to stretch your mind and...
Tags: High Blood Pressure, Physical Fitness and Exercise
Heart Health And Sex For Women
For women, more sex may be good for the heart. Sex also can be a life-saver for millions at risk for cardiovascular disease (It’s the #1 “silent” killer, affecting one out of four women). Regular sex is an important part of the...
Tags: Pharmaceuticals, Stroke, Oxytocin (drug), Heart Attack, Chemical Industry
Hospital denies special treatment for Beyonce, Jay-Z babyJay...
Tags: Music, Hospitals and Clinics, New York City, Beyonce, Jay-Z
Rodean lujos y excesos a hija de Beyoncé
MÉXICO, DF.- Blue Ivy Carter no sólo nació en una suite VIP, en el recién remodelado piso del Hospital Lenox Hill que su padre rentó en su totalidad para la ocasión, sino que abandonó el lugar en una camioneta Mercedes Benz acondicionada con baño y...
Tags: Destiny's Child (music group), Hospitals and Clinics, House (tv program), Lady Gaga, Jay-Z
Beyonce baby complaints at NY hospital dismissedNEW YORK (AP) — New York health officials have reviewed and dismissed complaints patients in a hospital neonatal unit were mistreated while Beyonce was giving birth there to her and Jay-Z's daughter. Health department spokesman Jeffrey Gordon...
Tags: Hospitals and Clinics, Beyonce, Manhattan (New York City), Jay-Z, Hospitals and Clinics: CBS Corp., Diseases and Illnesses, Hospitals and Clinics, Lobbying, Bank of America Corp.
Dean's Buzz: Beyonce's baby suite, People's Choice Awards winnersWGN NewsThough...
Tags: Betty White, Angelina Jolie, Hospitals and Clinics, Katy Perry, Jay-Z
Photos: Beyonce's hospital room similar to 5 star hotelWGN NewsT...
Tags: Hospitals and Clinics, WGN, Beyonce, Hospitals and Clinics
New Parents 'Blue' Over Beyonce's Special Hospital TreatmentPIX11.com / @pix11mateoProud parents Beyonce and Jay-Z may be enjoying time with their new baby girl, but one Brooklyn dad says their special hospital treatment has caused problems when trying to visit his newborn twins. Neil Coulon, 38, a contractor from Bedford-Stuyvesant,...
Tags: Sean John Combs, Hospitals and Clinics, Beyonce, WPIX, Jay-Z
Jay-Z Reveals Beyonce's Miscarriage in Song for New DaughterZap2itNEW YORK -- Beyonce and Jay-Z are taking a moment to bask in the joy of becoming new parents. Jay-Z has already released a song about their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, who arrived over the weekend. The song is titled "Glory feat. B.I.C." and it...
Tags: Hospitals and Clinics, Music, Beyonce, Manhattan (New York City), Rihanna
Nov 2, 2001 |Story| Baltimore Sun
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Original site for Lenox Hill topic gallery. |
With its compact, tulip-shaped design, the BeoLab 11 subwoofer combines excellent bass performance with a unique and elegant design that complements any décor.
There is nothing conventional about BeoLab 11. With its compact, tulip-shaped form, BeoLab 11 has both a strong sculptural presence and a discreetness that will integrate perfectly into any interior. The days of hiding your subwoofer behind the sofa or in a darkened corner of the room are gone. You will want to put BeoLab 11 on display.
With its compact, tulip-shaped design, the BeoLab 11 subwoofer combines excellent bass performance with a unique and elegant design that complements any décor. The aluminium outer shell partly conceals the black surfaces of the two drivers facing each other on the inside. The intriguing design of BeoLab 11 will make you want to put it on display, instead of hiding it away like conventional boxy subwoofers.
Questioning the ordinary is what our highly-skilled designers do best. So by creating an elegant, compact subwoofer that produces minimal vibration, our designers were able to create one of the first wall-mountable subwoofers on the market.
Beneath its glossy shell, BeoLab 11 holds true to the Bang & Olufsen tradition of providing breathtaking sound quality in loudspeakers. Able to produce the lowest frequencies with stunning clarity and precision, adding this compact subwoofer to your setup will produce a richer, more complete sound experience that will enrich your favourite music or film.
BeoLab 11 brings a whole new level of detail to your favourite music. Whether it's the thump of the bass drum or rhythmic beat of the bass guitar, you will hear things that you never heard before. It's as though your favourite artists are performing in the same room, just for you.
With its elegant, tulip-shaped form, you could be forgiven for thinking that BeoLab 11 is somewhat of a lightweight as far as subwoofers go. This couldn't be farther from the truth. With its built-in 200W ICEpower amplifier and two 6½-inch drivers, BeoLab 11 delivers deep, enthralling bass that belies its compact design.
As well as being a master class in design, BeoLab 11 is also a showcase of sophisticated advanced technology. Take, for example, the two opposing drivers, which take advantage of the Acoustic Balance Principle – a first for a Bang & Olufsen subwoofer design. This configuration leads to the drivers producing 'in-phase' frequencies, which effectively eliminates almost all unwanted vibrations from the unit.. |
Bangers
Red Bull Flugtag 2012: I Need A Team
Everyone stop what you are doing! My dream is about to come true. Red Bull Flugtag is back! For years all the Joburgers had all the fun. They got to build flying machines and launch them off a runway into the waters of Zoo Lake. Us Capetonians never got to join in, but now’s our time to shine. To tap into our inner inventors and build the ultimate flying machines. Come December Icarus is going to look like a little punk compared to me.
(more)
The thing is, I need a team. Registration is now open, and even though it’s only on 9 December, planning needs to start now. So, who wants to build an awesome flying machine and be crowned Red Bull Flugtag champions of 2012? Let me know. Let’s get a team going.
If you already have one, head on over here to register and get info –.
If you need me, I’ll be sipping on Absinth, getting some ideas going.
Nash…
Out.
Nash I am keen! You should def lookat a bangersandnash team/plane. Would be the sickest vibe ever!
I’m working on it as we speak. This needs to happen.
Done, I’m in, wine bottles don’t float but I have a warehouse where we can build the mother-ship/mustache-ship!
Count me in.
Are we allowed to shoot other planes down?
With fireworks.
I am soooo keen. Either make multiple teams from the people who respond or i will be your mascot/cheerleader/tequila-pourer-in-facer for afterwards.
Super keen
[email protected]
My head just ‘sploded!
I want in!
I’m lighting FIREWORKS!!!!!!
Nash – you need a light wing man – fatness will just be holding you down! I happen to know a 60 kilo dude ready to fly this shit!
Very keen to join in – [email protected]
You need a film crew, to film this from start to finish Nash. & record the history in the making, it seams like it’s going to be legendary…!!! ps : a flying gatsby would be cool, just putting it out there for cpt.
Count me in brother!!!
Howsit Nash,
Id love to be part of your team.
I can contribute wetsuits for the team, my personal elbow-grease (anytime outside of 9-5pm).
Most importantly, i wont leave you hanging.
inbox me if you need a solid wingman.
J
Whats happenign with thsi? Havnt had a email yet :/ also in repsone to GaryCool’s comment. Ive never weighed more than 58kg’s (Pilot Please
)
Sorry dudes, taken a little longer to get some feedback from RB, but things are looking up. Will update asap. |
Eric Soiland, CIMA: In his own words
Eric
Soiland is a Certified Investment Management Analyst who has been
working with pre-retired and retired clients for 20 years; the last
nine of them working for Citi Smith Barney in Walnut Creek, Calif.
Risk
Typically, most people look at risk as the potential for fluctuation
or loss in an investment portfolio. Another risk is running out
of money before they die. That could be due to inflation, health
care costs, long-term care costs or unforeseen events. I try to
get them to picture in their mind the best portfolio we can put
together that will help them maintain their current lifestyle. Over
a 20-, 30- or 40-year retirement you need to have growth to counter
inflation. A lot of individuals automatically think that when they
get near retirement they need to become very conservative. That
may have been true many years ago when people died five or 10 years
after retirement, but it's not the case now.
I don't twist anybody's arm; I just explain the trade-off.
If you want to sleep extremely well now then the trade-off may be
that down the road you won't be sleeping well because your portfolio
hasn't kept up with inflation. If you're willing to take a little
more risk many times you can greatly enhance the odds in your favor.
I try to get the overly conservative investor to see the sense of
a more diversified, more aggressive portfolio.
The zone
What is most important, in my opinion, is the five years before retirement and the five years after retirement. It's a zone, a 10-year window, that's very critical for most retirees.
A lot of planning goes into the five years leading
up to retirement. That's when you want to review your current assets,
estimate anticipated assets, determine your expenses, check your
insurance coverage and work up a plan with your financial adviser
to see if there's a gap that needs to be overcome. Then, if you
can get through the first five years of retirement without any really
negative setbacks to principal, there's a good chance you can maintain
your current lifestyle in retirement if you stick with a prudent
withdrawal plan.
Start early
The sooner people get serious about retirement, the better. If someone has 20 years to go before retirement and they start planning now, they're in a much better position to know what they need to save and to be able to hit that goal than someone who's two years away from retirement and is finding out they haven't done a very good job.
* Mortgage rate may include points. See rate tables
for details. Click
here. * To see the definition of overnight averages click
here.
Bankrate.com ®, |
Q: What opportunities do health savings accounts (HSAs) offer banks?
Doug Marrs, Great Southern Bancorp: Health savings accounts provide an important service for customers with high-deductible healthcare plans. It helps these customers save in a tax-advantaged way to help meet future medical expenses. The need for HSAs is growing as more employers move to high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). We began offering HSAs, first and foremost, as a meaningful service for customers with HDHPs. Offering this product gives our company a competitive advantage in the marketplace and provides an opportunity to attract new deposit relationships and deepen existing customer relationships.
Jim Baron, Huntington Bank: By providing HSAs to business banking customers, we give them the opportunity to lower the cost of providing health insurance to employees, provide an added benefit to employees at no cost and take the administration work out of their benefits department. Customers see HSAs as a financial product, not a healthcare product. They also want to open an HSA with their local bank -- an institution they can trust and with whom they have done business. Additionally, small businesses want to offer HSAs to be more competitive when recruiting employees. The opportunity to grow deposit balances with HSAs is enhanced by employer contributions. More and more employers are funding HSAs on behalf of their employees, a trend which promises to increase average balances even more in the future. In addition, the recent rule change that allows rollovers from an IRA into an HSA has provided a source of added balance growth.
Kirsten Trusko, BearingPoint: This is the first major, new opportunity for banks in decades. By 2012 there will be an estimated 30 million HSAs with $325 billion in deposits contributing to $7 billion in consumer-directed healthcare (CDH) revenue. This money will be dispersed among divisions throughout commercial, retail and investment banks. Because HSAs have tentacles back to commercial and retail customers, these accounts deepen across spending, saving and investing functions, making stickier existing relationships and potentially attracting new clients seeking full-service offerings in health banking.
Dana Gould, Financial Insights: The balances on HSAs are accumulating, but consumers don't do a lot of transactions on them -- they are not very active accounts. And because these accounts are established through employers, banks won't have to do a lot of customer service on them. Banks can make money off the deposits; HSAs offer a good opportunity to gain new customers; and because this type of account is a retirement account as well as a health fund, people will not tend to move these accounts around from place to place, so they're more stable.
Q: What are the technology requirements for banks looking to compete in the HSA space in terms of processing, security, reporting and records management?
Marrs, Great Southern Bancorp: Before launching our HSA product to the marketplace, our software vendor provided in-depth training to our staff to ensure compliance with processing standards, security, reporting and records management. Our goal was to have certain staff members become HSA subject experts from the beginning because we anticipated many questions about the product. Our HSA experts then trained our front-line associates on the product.
Baron, Huntington Bank: Customers are demanding all the usual bells and whistles that come with their other bank accounts, including debit cards, checks, online access to accounts, and ATM and branch access. Banks need to be prepared to service the customer in whatever channel the customer prefers. These accounts are transactional in nature and cannot be serviced like an institutional product, such as a 401(k).
Trusko, BearingPoint: Most regulations have been geared toward making HSAs simpler in order to attract more banks, rather than adding complexity. Security concerns of incremental health data have largely been addressed by banks' compliance officers, confirming they are or are not HIPAA-covered entities (which is largely driven by the degree of integration to the insurance carriers and the data that entails). For noncovered entities, banking security capabilities have been deemed adequate. For covered entities, banks have developed specific manners of addressing this incremental security area. Reporting on HSAs is defined by the IRS and is very similar to [the process for] IRAs/401(k)s. Thus, most banks are leveraging these existing capabilities to fulfill HSA requirements.
Gould, Financial Insights: The best way for banks to meet technology requirements would be to partner with someone already doing HSAs, such as HSA Bank [Sheboygan, Wis.; a division of Webster Bank], for instance, or a technology company. There are plenty of software companies out there to help in the security, processing, records management and reporting. I believe there will be little need for customer-facing technology, since these accounts are typically managed through employers.
Q: What are the success factors for banks competing in the HSA space, specifically in the areas of technology and in meeting regulatory and legal requirements?
Marrs, Great Southern Bancorp: To be successful in the HSA space, banks must understand the product software and the product's legal and regulatory requirements, and stay updated on changes and communicate these changes to customers and front-line associates. End-of-year reporting is a critical piece.
Baron, Huntington Bank: Key to success in the HSA market in terms of technology is designing the customer touchpoints for the account holder and not for the distribution channel, such as a legacy cash management system. Although banks may provide assistance to businesses in using such a cash management system to fund their employees' HSAs, the HSA product itself must be designed for the individual consumer -- for example, with a simple-to-use online enrollment process, online access to accounts and ATM access. Many banks have found that working with an experienced partner can increase time to market on the technology side and also in terms of meeting regulatory/legal requirements, such as tax reporting and transaction coding.
Trusko, BearingPoint: There are two options currently available: outsourcing and building in-house (not licensable software). There are more than 12 vendors that can support HSAs in varying capacities as an outsourced function. This gives speed to market but can present challenges in profitability, differentiation and integration for core banking systems and customer service in the long haul. Banks that are building in-house are finding that trying to use legacy systems not intended to support all facets (deposit, card, investment, loan, carrier interface, etc.) is costly and time-consuming.
Guidance in regulatory and legal requirements is being provided by a number of sources. Those doing this successfully include the ABA's HSA group and a few top law firms that have specialized in this area from the start, which are being retained by many top banks to ease the minds of their compliance and regulatory leaders.
Q: Going forward, will banks be more involved in the health insurance and healthcare market?
Marrs, Great Southern Bancorp: HSAs are an example of how banks can provide helpful interfacing services for customers and their insurance needs. Perhaps more innovative products and services ties with the insurance industry will be developed. But it is unlikely that most banks will become competitors or players in the general insurance space.
Baron, Huntington Bank: Many in the industry believe banks will win in the HSA market, due to the fact that consumers consider HSAs a financial product and prefer their local bank when opening an HSA. And with good reason -- early entries into the HSA market by insurance companies have experienced servicing challenges. Unlike insurance plans, HSAs require expertise in transaction processing and customer service aimed at the individual, rather than the institution. Banks clearly have the advantage in these areas. |
I'll be leading a workshop or teaching a class and someone will ask about the handouts I use.
"You have so many," I'll hear, and "How did you afford to make so many copies?"
And then I smile.
It was in the spring of the year 2000. The church I served at that time needed a new office photocopier machine. We had talked with several companies and finally had it down to two distributors. We had chosen the specific machine that was in our cost range and that we could afford with our budget.
One manager decided to "loan" us a machine so that we could try it out. When I arrived at the office after an early morning meeting I found that he had brought a photocopier machine that was beyond the scope of our expectation.
That's putting it mildly.
This salesman had his technicians bring a professional printing machine, one that covered the entire north wall of the office (about fourteen feet).
"That's not even close to the machine we're looking at," I exclaimed.
"Hey, try it out over the weekend and see if you want to move up to it," he responded. "Make as many copies as you want. No charge."
So I did.
I was finishing my second dissertation and needed ten copies of it. Those were made that weekend. I made one hundred copies of each of my teaching handouts. I made copies of a couple of rare books I owned at the time.
I made copies of District files that we ... might need someday.
I went to a local office store and purchased boxes of paper.
In other words, I got carried away.
The manager returned on Tuesday and we informed him that we still were not interested in this massive machine.
"Fine," he said, "I'll have the techs pick it up this afternoon."
And then he looked at the counter.
"This can't be right," he said. "I brought in a brand new machine but it now lists over seventeen thousand copies."
I just smiled.
Every once in a while the universe will open a door, offer us a gift, and touch us with a blessing. Sometimes these come with great fanfare, but usually they come with little advanced recognition. You have to be willing to see the opportunity and recognize it when it comes.
You have to be willing to act upon it, seize the moment, go for the gold.
Ten years ago I had a salesman "bless me" with one such opportunity that I'm still using today. Over the years there have been several others as well. Eventually this becomes a philosophy about life. It's not that you feel entitled.
However, you're not going to close a door that's opening your way. In fact, you open the door(s) and walk through.
And when you do, you need to smile in that mischievous way that says to the world "isn't it great how things have worked out."
Take a look around you at the people who may be smiling that way today!
Great story! Thanks so much for sharing! :)) |
March 18, 2012
One Expert's Bracket
Sunday's Picks
by Drew Cannon
After doing pretty well for a few days, I got beat up pretty good on Friday, even if we ignore the 2-15 games. Here's to hoping that watching those games helped me figure these teams out.
(11) NC State vs. (3) Georgetown (Sunday: Columbus, 12:15 on CBS)
First instinct: Georgetown
The numbers like: Georgetown (KP - 72%, Silver - 64%, BPI - Georgetown 18, NC State 45)
Thought process: Not only has a lot of Georgetown's success defensively come from an unsustainably low opponent three-point percentage (No. 1 nationally at 27 percent), but NC State ranks near the bottom nationally in proportion of offense coming from three pointers. In other words, Georgetown's probably a little overrated because of their good three-point luck -- and even if they're not, theirs is a strength that's largely wasted on the Wolfpack. That said, the Hoyas are a little bit too big for NC State. The Wolfpack will have a tough time defending Henry Sims, Hollis Thompson, and Otto Porter with their typical lineup. I'm going back and forth on this. I think Georgetown's a bit overrated and NC State is the type of team that can give their excellent defense trouble. I'm also starting to believe that we can drop the fear of implosion with this NC State team. On the other hand, the Wolfpack drew a No. 11 seed for a reason and they will be just asking for Otto Porter to go off.
Final pick: NC State
(9) Saint Louis vs. (1) Michigan State (Sunday: Columbus, 2:45 on CBS)
First instinct: Michigan State
The numbers like: Michigan State (KP - 71%, Silver - 72%, BPI - Michigan State 4, Saint Louis 15)
Thought process: I liked this matchup a lot better for Memphis than Saint Louis. The Spartans were going to have a lot of trouble sticking to Joe Jackson, and, while Kwamain Mitchell is certainly a very good player, he doesn't have the truly blinding speed of Jackson. The Billikens' most consistent scoring option is Brian Conklin, and, while I'd tend to be concerned about his lack of size going up against Draymond Green, Adreian Payne and Derrick Nix, it hasn't seemed to bother him so far. Michigan State could have a pretty tough time scoring against SLU, and Rick Majerus should have received much more National Coach of the Year attention. But I'm just having too much trouble coming up with a reason the Billikens will win.
Final pick: Michigan State
(8) Creighton vs. (1) North Carolina (Sunday: Greensboro, 5:15 on CBS)
First instinct: North Carolina
The numbers like: North Carolina (KP - 67%, Silver - 79%, BPI - North Carolina 5, Creighton 22)
Thought process: Dougie Fresh vs. Harrison Barnes for the pride of Ames, Iowa! North Carolina tends to smother less athletic teams, but John Henson's usually a huge part of that smothering. He'd be a gigantic help against Doug McDermott, who has a legitimate claim to the title of most diverse post game outside Chapel Hill. With Henson, I'd find a Creighton win extremely surprising and, based on the reports I've read, I'm leaning toward him playing. If Henson doesn't play, this upset becomes much more possible. By picking North Carolina here, I'm picking against both of those (weighted) coin flips coming up heads.
Final pick: North Carolina
(15) Norfolk State vs. (7) Florida (Sunday: Omaha, 6:10 on TNT)
First instinct: Florida
The numbers like: Florida (KP - 93%, Silver - 92%, BPI - Florida 16, Norfolk State 180)
Thought process: Kyle O'Quinn is a really good basketball player, but Patric Young makes Ricardo Ratliffe look like a weakling. Norfolk State's big three may put up a few points, but Chris McEachin and Pendarvis Williams would both have to have phenomenal games to make this a real possibility. Lehigh's got a real shot at another win; Norfolk State would have to pull off another big-time upset.
Final pick: Florida
(13) Ohio vs. (12) South Florida (Sunday: Nashville, 7:10 on CBS)
First instinct: South Florida
The numbers like: South Florida (KP - 57%, Silver - 57%, BPI - South Florida 64, Ohio 74)
Thought process: I've consistently cast doubt on both of these teams all season long, and they've consistently made me look stupid. Anthony Collins vs. D.J. Cooper is one of the most fun match ups we'll see in this tournament. Collins has some serious turnover issues, though, and only VCU creates more turnovers than the Bobcats. And it's not just Collins -- five of the Bulls' top nine have turnover percentages above 20. I may not fully understand how either of these teams keep winning, but I understand South Florida less.
Final pick: Ohio
(15) Lehigh vs. (10) Xavier (Sunday: Greensboro, 7:45 on truth)
First instinct: Lehigh
The numbers like: Xavier (KP - 56%, Silver - 65%, BPI - Xavier 53, Lehigh 99)
Thought process: C.J. McCollum may have a tougher time of it with Tu Holloway guarding him than when that job fell to Duke's guards. It's also worth noting that it did take him 24 shots to get his 30 points against the Blue Devils. In the history of the NCAA tournament, three of the four 15-seeds to advance to the Round of 32 were beaten by double digits. The last one, Coppin State in 1997, had a chance to win in the final seconds. Lehigh is currently ranked No. 73 in the Pomeroy ratings, which is comfortably the highest of any 15-seed in the KenPom era. I'm not positive the Mountain Hawks will win, but I'm not sure exactly who can stay with Gabe Knutson, and I'm not sure anyone can stay with McCollum. I'd be surprised if Lehigh doesn't at least keep this game in doubt for a long time. I chickened out on taking the 15-seed in the first round. I'm not chickening out again.
Final pick: Lehigh
(10) Purdue vs. (2) Kansas (Sunday: Omaha, 8:40 on TNT)
First instinct: Kansas
The numbers like: Kansas (KP - 71%, Silver - 76%, BPI - Kansas 6, Purdue 43)
Thought process: What, you think someone on Purdue's roster is stopping Thomas Robinson? For the Boilermakers to win this game, someone unusual will have to go off. Their best chance is the fact that Robinson or Jeff Withey will have to guard D.J. Byrd, and neither of them wants to chase him around the three-point line.
Final pick: Kansas
(6) Cincinnati vs. (3) Florida State
First instinct: Florida State
The numbers like: Florida State (KP - 54%, Silver - 49%, BPI - Florida State 26, Cincinnati 36)
Thought process: Both of these teams looked like they just might crack down the stretch in their first NCAA tournament games, but each staved off upsets, something that has to be termed unusual for a wild Friday. In all likelihood this will be an ugly game, but if nothing else Cincinnati and Florida State know how to win ugly. Bernard James and Michael Snaer are both excellent defenders, but I have a feeling Yancy Gates and Sean Kilpatrick will present them with a lot of problems. Gates is finally putting it all together.
Final pick: Cincinnati |
-
Why we love this brand
New CID Cosmetics are a premium, innovative colour cosmetic range, made to take the confusion out of make-up with wearable shades and easy-to-use application.They provide key products that will allow you to create a wide range of looks, which are also suitable for all different skin tones and complexions. Created by a team of hundreds of working make- up artists, Director and Founder Kelly Colman explains ‘The aim was to create range that simplified make-up application'.
Why they were specially selected
New CID has the aim to simplify make-up application with their innovative application designs and sensational formulations, a mission that Bath & Unwind supports.The range was created in the New ID studios which are situated throughout the country. They are the UK's leading makeover company founded over 8 years ago by Clive and Kelly Colman. After their first makeover and photography studio opened in London's West End they went on to open a further 10 premium studios throughout the country. Over the years Kelly listened to hundreds of New CID make-up artists sharing insights that they have picked up from making up real women in the New ID studios. These women felt that make-up shopping could be overwhelming with too many fashion-led ‘shades which aren't always wearable or easy to apply.
From this information New CID Cosmetics formed and unveiled to fill that gap in the market. Today it is still shaped by the experience of those make-up artists. Bath & Unwind is pleased to add New CID cosmetics to our collection to offer this premium brand to our customers.
Why this brand is best at what they do
New CID is the only range in the world which has a creative team made up of hundreds of working make-up artists. The team are constantly passing on their expert knowledge and insider tips to New CID Head office where they become the basis of their product innovation.
The make-up artists for CID listen to what their clients have to say about changing trends and the skin changes that we encounter as we age and use this information to progress the brand. Loved by celebrities and the press, New CID has the aim to simplify make-up application with their innovative application designs and sensational formulations.
Hero Product
Our New CID hero product was a hard one to pick as there are so many fantastic products to choose from! We chose our best seller, and New CID best seller; I - Prime. This excellent foundation primer not only improves the appearance of the skin but allows foundation to glide on perfectly and stay on all day - even in those tricky areas. I-Prime is a lightweight serum that should be applied after moisturising to instantly add luminosity to the skin, resulting in a silky smooth complexion.
Top TipTo ensure foundation glides on smoothly and creates a long lasting, flawless finish, first moisturise the face then apply I-Prime to the forehead, cheeks, nose and tip of chin. Finish by applying foundation or powder.
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Kids Summer Music Theater Camp SOLD OUT
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
9:30 am to 12:30 pm
ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT!
KIDS SUMMER MUSIC THEATER CAMPS
The Bay Street Theatre KIDS SUMMER MUSIC THEATER CAMPS will take place July 30 - August 3 (SOLD OUT) or August 6-10 (SOLD OUT)! 9:30 am - 12:30 pm daily at Studio 3 in Bridgehampton; led by Susan Galardi and Bethany Dellapolla
This camp is very popular and books up quickly. Each week long session includes classes and games incorporating every aspect of theatre including acting, singing, performance and dance.
Theatre Camp is recommended for children ages 8 to 12 years old. $425 per child or $800 for both weeks. Students are required to dress in comfortable clothes and bring their willingness to learn. Bay Street will provide the rest, including a snack.
Susan Galardi's focus for the camp is working as vocal coach, basic singing instruction, helping shape and write the play the kids will perform, and directing. A graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University and the Manhattan School of Music (Vocal Performance), Susan is a singer/actor/songwriter/playwright and a member of Actor's."
"The sheer fun of improv comedy and acting exercises, or learning a song or developing a short theater piece, engages children in problem solving, creative thinking, and collaboration. Through simple character study, they walk in someone else's shoes and gain insight into themselves and others," says Galardi.
At Bay Street Kids Theatre Camp, Bethany Dellapolla leads improvs and acting exercises, and teaches all dance and choreography. She received her BA in both Theatre Performance and Radio/Television Production from SUNY New Paltz. Currently, she is pursuing her Master's Degree in Childhood Education (Birth - 6), and is set to graduate in May with honors. She is a proud member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Regional and NYC Acting Credits include: FOR NO GOOD REASON (Margie), WORKING (Delores Dante), THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE (Olive Ostrovsky), CABARET (Frenchie/Lady #2), THE LARAMIE PROJECT (Romaine, et al), COMPANY (Jenny), RUTHLESS! (Lita Encore), VAUDVILLE FOLLIES (Dancer), THE NEW WORLD (Featured Vocalist, NYC) and THE MISS FIRECRACKER CONTEST (Popeye, NYC).
Book your kids by calling Jamie now at 631-725-0818!
Photos by Michael Heller
|
NEWS & PRESS RELEASES.
In 2007, Dan ran the New York City Marathon while dribbling a basketball the entire way to raise awareness for the millions of children orphaned by AIDS worldwide. Read about his NYC race here.
Originally from and still residing just outside New York City, in Fairview, NJ, Dan is a 2004 graduate of Baptist Bible College.
His current ministry, Dribble the World is an extension of Ball for Lives, a nonprofit organization that exists to help rescue African orphans and children in need around the world. The organization works to support Bethesda Outreach Ministries, a children's village in South Africa built and supported by Evangelical Baptist Missions.
Read more In the Spotlights here.
Insight Questions
What led you to BBC?
My mother asked me to go to a college fair that I really didn't feel like going to, but I said ok. I saw Coach Show, who I knew from a Defender Sports Camp. After talking with him I saw very clearly the Lord was leading
me to BBC. It was that simple.
What program were you in and why?
Secondary Education English. I had, and still have, a vision for Christians entering public schools with the light of Christ. Literature is probably the easiest subject to use to begin life discussions with students, and being light in darkness naturally leads to long term opportunities to speak of Christ with them outside the school setting. I currently sub and coach in an urban public school.
How did BBC prepare you for your ministry?
God used BBC to place several key people in my life. Dr. (Jim) King's linguistics class challenged me to believe God could use my life to radically change lives around the world. Coaches (Mike) Show, (Jamie) Miller, (Mark) Chapman, and (Dwight) Peterson encouraged me greatly to pursue God and helped me become the man He has made me to be. The relationships I made with many other BBC students are invaluable, several of whom have dribbled races around the country, including Adam Reinking (Indiana, 2008), Josh Waldron (Atlanta, 2008), Nate Logan (Tampa Bay, 2009), Ashley Ten Kate (New York City, 2009), Justin Cook (New Jersey, 2009), and Laurie Plante and Kellyn Lovell (Philadelphia, 2010).
How did Dribble the World start?
During my college years I began developing a passion for acting against world poverty. I specifically remember a chapel message that Paul Jackson, then president of EBM, preached on Galatians 2:1-10. He showed Paul's concern for the accuracy of the Gospel he was preaching and the warning the other apostles gave him after they approved his message: as you go out to the gentiles with the gospel, don't forget the poor.
In 2006, I decided I wanted to do something big with basketball to help rescue African orphans. I heard about the AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa through the ministry of Bethesda Outreach in South Africa. My heart was burdened to do something for the millions of orphans who had lost their parents to AIDS.
One day I was thinking about my dad, who has run many marathons, including the New York City Marathon, twice. Then I thought: "Why not dribble a basketball through one of the biggest marathons in the world to raise funds and awareness for African orphans?" So I did it!
How does it work?
People who are interested in dribbling a running event contact us, and we help them get started. First they need to select which race they want to dribble and a cause they would like to benefit. We still faithfully support Bethesda Outreach, but we have discovered many other solid organizations that are doing great things to save lives. Then we help our runners get started on their training and on raising awareness and funds. Finally, when we can, we bring a group of people with bright green Dribble the World shirts to cheer them on at their races. Our desire is to use these opportunities to talk with people about our motivation, Jesus Christ.
Why Dribble the World?
Because God is glorified seeing His children use their talents for His glory. He loves seeing His people come together to labor for His name. Our God hates injustice and loves rescuing those who are victims of it. Finally, a lost world desperately needs to see the heart of God, the hearts of His children, and the invitation that is open to all to join His family.
What do you hope to accomplish?
I most of all want God to be honored in all the ways I just mentioned. One specific goal I have had since the beginning is to see a Bethesda Outreach started in each of the four countries surrounding South Africa. When we started Dribble the World, I remember reading each one had an AIDS rate of higher than 30%.
What has been your most significant success?
Any success we have had is the work of God done in the lives of our dribblers, the lives of the people who see what we do, and the precious people trapped in poverty that we labor to save.
What else have you been or are you involved in?
I now go into schools (Christian and public), churches, and youth groups with a presentation called "Create the Crossover." I use entertaining dribbling drills and tricks to share what we are doing with Dribble the World, and to inspire people to think about how God could use their talents and abilities to save lives. We also have "The X Fund," a project that promotes sexual purity within the Church by getting believers involved in combating child prostitution globally. These three efforts are the three extensions of Ball for Lives, our nonprofit organization.
What is the favorite thing you do with Dribble the World?
Having people tell me I was crazy for dribbling all those miles and then watching them cross the finish line.
What is your favorite Bible verse?
Psalm 88:11-12 (ESV): For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
How can people get involved with Dribble the World?
1. Help us spread the word about Dribble the World. Go to DribbletheWorld.com and sign up for our email updates.
2. Sign up with us to dribble a race or help us find more runners. You may not dribble or run, but you probably know someone who does. Contact us, and let's help more people Dribble the World.
3. Get behind our runners. Pray for them, email them, and donate towards their efforts.
Contact information:
Websites: DribbletheWorld.com and BallforLives.com.: 5/3/2010 9:29... |
The Fourth (or Second) of July.
The Botanical Gardens are absolutely beautiful, although the stench of the bathrooms can strike from up to 30 feet away. The gardens house a small zoo with goats, a donkey, peacocks (the sound of which reminded me of the evening hours back home in California), deer and two ostriches. Ostriches are big and mean, and I agree with Jess A. that they are the closest thing the modern world has to a velociraptor.
The embassy did a minimal but solid job, providing an open field, barbecue pits, a pleasant mix of American music and a few security guards thrown in, too. It was a loose framework that allowed me to eat a hamburger, drink a few beers, smoke half a cigar, and play wiffle-ball, ultimate frisbee and baseball.
Throwing a baseball has transformed itself into an almost Zen-like centering exercise for me while in this country. Among the trainees, we have three right-handed gloves and one lefty. I bring my glove any place where more than the nine Costesti trainees will be. It's something familiar and American, and something that combines the right amounts of concentration on the task at hand and socializing with the person you're throwing with. At the Fourth of July party, for example, I noticed and gestured toward a stranger with a baseball glove. Without speaking for the first ten minutes, we never got closer to one another than 60 feet. We communicated with the simplest of baseball hand signals: pointing in the sky for a pop-up, tapping ourselves apologetically on the chest after an errant throw and a nod and a smile after a particularly nice catch. Other than that, complete silence. It could have gone on for hours, but I was thirsty for a beer, so I hustled over for a conference, introduced myself, found out that my throwing partner was a missionary living in Chisinau, and then excused myself for a drink.
After a second beer and a few innings pitched of wiffle-ball, I found myself talking with a member of the North Carolina National Guard. He was a sturdy and confident man, aged somewhere in his early-to-mid 30s. He had had several assignments in Moldova, and had recently finished the first month of his current assignment. The U.S. has an interest in having friendly relations with the Moldovan military, and this soldier was doing his part.
"So are y'all doing training exercises with them?" I said, simultaneously throwing in a Southern tinge to my voice and shooting the majority of my military jargon in the first load.
"Well, training's a bit of a dirty word with us," the soldier said. "We call if familiarization. We show them how we do it, and then say, 'Now you have to forget this.'"
For his part, this soldier's exchange was not purely military. He was joined by a slightly-younger lady named Rodica, who was only the first of several military menРҐs Moldovan girlfriends I met throughout the day. I believe that the nine-year-old American-looking boy named Mihai with whom I played wiffle-ball was the product of such a match, and he seemed like a good kid, so I can find no objection to this portion of the cultural exchange.
Speaking of the culture, I did something this weekend that I donРҐt believe I ever would have done in America. I was rather drunk on Saturday night and had been walked home by fellow trainees Evan and Krista. Evan let me borrow his flashlight, and I headed directly to the outhouse in the back. As I stood over the hole and did what I needed to do, I cradled the flashlight between my turned neck and right shoulder. As I was preparing to turn and leave, the outhouse got dark, the load on my shoulder felt lighter, and my eye was drawn to a faint light coming from below the outhouse floor. It took me several seconds to realize that Evan's flashlight was gone and it wasn't coming back. The next morning, I went to the outhouse with latex gloves in my pocket, but I couldn't make visual contact with the flashlight, so I decided it was better not to try. My host family knows that I need to buy Evan a new flashlight in Chisinau on Wednesday, but when they asked me where I lost it, I simply replied, "Nu stiu. Sunt idiot." I don't know. I'm an idiot. |
Applying To Graduate School
arts & sciences programs
Additional Advice
The GRE
Also see Test Prep Resources
FAQ: Applying to Graduate School
Insights from a BC professor
What is Graduate School?
Graduate school is more than simply an extension of undergraduate coursework. Whether a masters or a doctoral program, graduate school is a specialized and demanding study of a field of interest in the arts or the sciences. The pursuit of graduate study within the arts and sciences is most often driven by a love of knowledge for its own sake. Many students who pursue such studies find work in academia as teachers and/or researchers, or pursue work related to their chosen field in the corporate world.
For added perspective, read Phil Agre's Advice for Undergraduates Considering Graduate School. It is a thoughtful essay discussing many considerations and realities associated with graduate school.
The Importance of Research and Relationships
Graduate school is, above all else, driven by research. Whether pursuing a doctorate in history or biology, the bulk of graduate work involves performing intensive research, either in a laboratory or a library. One should consider this reality carefully before pursuing the application process further. Ask yourself if you enjoy doing research, and if the answer is no, you may want to reconsider applying.
The other aspect of graduate school that is important to remember before, during, and after attending a program, is that it is fundamentally a relationship-intensive pursuit, and the development of relationships among other academics and scholars is a key part of the whole experience. A good relationship with a professor as an undergraduate, for example, can lead to a satisfying independent study or thesis, which can be a strong demonstration of interest in and competence for graduate research. Relationships developed with fellow students in graduate school is also critical, as these relationships will form the nucleus of your professional network in academia.
Choosing a School
Often the most valuable sources of advice regarding graduate programs are professors, staff and graduate students in those programs.
- Speak with professors, staff and graduate students here at BC - tell them what your most important criteria are and ask their opinions about the best programs.
- Email those scholars whose work you have read and admired, and ask their opinion about the best programs. You may be surprised by the number of responses you receive.
- Visit the Boston College Career Center. You can speak with a Career Counselor about graduate school and gather more information on specific schools and programs from the Career Center Library.
- Speak with the Arts and Sciences deans.
Information about graduate schools can also be found from a variety of sources, including books that profile graduate schools, prospectus materials from the schools themselves, and web sites.
Grad School Catalogs Online
NOTE: you must be on the BC campus or logged onto the Internet through BC to use this system.
The World-Wide Graduate School Directory is an excellent starting point for graduate school information on the Internet covering over 23,000 graduate programs around the world. Peterson's Education Center also contains information on graduate school and other topics, including Careers and Jobs, Financial Aid, and Testing.
The H-Grad Home Page offers a discussion forum for graduate students as well as a comprehensive listing of graduate school links by topic. Browsing this page can help convey what graduate school is really like by reading about it from the perspective of graduate students themselves.
Admissions
There is no "right" age or length of work experience necessary for applying to an graduate arts and sciences program. Incoming students range in age from 22 to 42. Many graduate students have just completed their undergraduate work. Some take a year off to travel or perform volunteer work before re-entering the academic world. Others work for several years in a variety of career fields before deciding to pursue graduate studies.
Graduate school admissions are based on five basic criteria:
- Undergraduate GPA
- GRE scores
- Recommendations
- Personal Statement
- Work experience and/or prior research projects
Experience is not limited to work history, but also includes relevant personal life experiences, travels, volunteer work, and hobbies. These experiences should be reflected in the personal statement and recommendations.
GPA and GRE scores are important, but experiences outside the classroom also count. Remember that you must convince an admissions committee that your abilities and experiences will make you a valuable addition to that program.
For general information about applying to graduate schools, check out Getting In: An Applicant's Guide to Graduate School Admissions by David Burrell. It is a helpful guide written by a former Kaplan tutor who successfully completed the graduate school application process.
The GRE
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required by most graduate schools. It is a standardized test, similar to the SAT, with two parts: the General Test and the Subject Test.
The General Test includes a variety of multiple choice questions to test verbal, mathematical, and analytical abilities.
The General Test is now administered on computer terminals at test centers throughout North America and can be taken by appointment on any one of several days each month.
The Subject Test is a section with specific questions in an academic discipline. You choose which Subject Test you wish to take, based on the field of graduate study you intend to pursue. Subject Tests are available in the following disciplines:
- Biochemistry: Cell and Molecular Biology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Literature in English
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology
The Subject Tests are administered as paper-based tests only. About half of the Subject Tests are offered on a predetermined date in November; all Subject Tests are offered on fixed dates in December and April. More information on the GRE is available from GRE Online, the official website of the Graduate Record Examinations.
Several test-preparation resources are available. Many different books are published annually with GRE practice questions and test-taking strategies, and are available at any bookstore. It is recommended that you use one of these books to aid you in your preparation. If you find yourself needing further GRE preparation, you may elect to enroll in a course offered by one of several test prep companies. These courses can often cost several hundred dollars, so gauge your progress and preparation needs carefully before choosing a prep course.
While Boston College does not endorse any particular GRE prep course, two well-known test prep companies with content-rich websites are The Princeton Review and Kaplan.
Also see our Test Prep Resources page.
Recommendations
Ask people who know you and your abilities well. If you did outstanding work in class for a professor, or if you undertook a significant research project or thesis with a faculty member, these people are in the best position to write compelling letters of recommendation for you. Generally, graduate schools are looking for recommendations from people who can describe your interests and abilities,; graduate schools prefer to see "blind" recommendations because they feel that blind recommendations can offer a more honest assessment of a person's abilities.
Provide the recommendation writers with some background materials, such as a resume and a copy of your personal statement. These materials can help the writers tailor the recommendations to complement the rest of your application package. For example, if you discuss in an essay a research project of which you are particularly proud, you will want to be sure your professor includes a reference to that project in a recommendation. This background material, including your reasons for applying and your career goals, helps recommendation writers focus on your specific strengths, accomplishments, and interests.
College faculty are pressed for time to complete recommendations along with their regular workload, and would welcome your help. In fact, do not be surprised if a faculty member were to tell you, "Draft a recommendation letter for me, and I will make a few changes and sign it for you." In this instance, use the supplemental material yourself to craft a letter which your recommendation writer can then modify as necessary. Linda Abraham's website Accepted.com offers sound advice for recommendation writing, whether the letters are prepared by you or someone else.
The Personal Statement
Most graduate school applications have a generally worded question asking for a personal statement on a topic of your choosing. This statement may include your reasons for choosing the graduate school and/or field you are pursuing, some related accomplishments in academics or other extracurricular activities, or something unique about you that may not be covered elsewhere in your application. As a rule, this personal statement should be about two typed, double spaced pages in length.
When writing the personal statement, be yourself. Show, rather than tell, what you can offer and why you are a compelling candidate for admission. Find your "voice" and write honestly without forcing a particular style or tone. The most compelling essays have a ring of authenticity to them, whether they are serious, funny, sad, or some combination of the three. Write from personal experience, and write honestly. Review your personal statement carefully and proofread the essay for proper syntax, grammar, and spelling.
Linda Abraham's page Accepted.com contains helpful suggestions for writing graduate school application essays.
Timetable of Key Events
When to Request Applications: Try to get them as soon as they are available, usually late summer/early fall.
When to Take The GRE: Since the GRE is now offered on computer terminals at testing centers every month, there is more flexibility for taking the test. Try scheduling the GRE in the spring; ideally, you could take the paper-based General Test and your chosen Subject Test on the same day at the April administration. If you think you did not do well on the General Test, you can cancel the scoring immediately after the test and take it again. Since official reports arrive at the schools four to six weeks after the test, November is generally the last opportunity to take the General Test and still be sure the schools receive the scores before the first application deadline. Schedule the GRE early because popular days and times book quickly. It is best to take the GRE Personal Statement: Start thinking about the personal statement as soon as you know you will be applying to graduate school. Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm for ideas, and polish the essays. Try to finish the personal statement
- Visit the schools that interest you, if possible.
- Develop an appropriate mix of schools to which you will apply. Select one or two "reach" schools, two or three schools at which your admissions chances are competitive, and one or two schools at which your admissions chances are likely.
- Visit BC's Financial Aid page for links to helpful sources for financing your graduate education.
- FAQ: Applying to Graduate School - Insights from a BC professor
- Use the Career Advisory Network to interview alumni about their graduate school experiences. |
Thor: Reviewed In Limerick
A superhero straight from down under?
From Summer Bay to play the God of Thunder,
But he can’t use his hammer,
To nail Nat Portman’s glamour,
Can Avengers live to the hype? I wonder.
Rating: 3.5/5
I’m a bit late with this one, and I know that three other reviewers have already covered Thor but after all the crap that I’ve seen, I wanted to review a movie that I genuinely liked.
Thor is the latest Marvel comic adaptation, and one of the few remaining back-stories in the lead up to the super superhero-group, The Avengers (with Captain America soon to follow).
It tells the story of Thor (Chris Hemsworth), son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and heir to the throne of mystical land Asgard. After a selfish act risks the safety of his realm, Thor is banished to Earth without his power or treasured weapon Mjolnir (pronounced myol-neer). On Earth, he befriends a team of scientists (including Natalie Portman) and learns the value of selflessness, love and blah, blah, blah. Meanwhile, back at Asgard, things begin to fall apart, with Thor’s brother Loki is causing mischief and threatening to destroy the balance of peace created by their father.
As the God of Thunder, I was curious as to how Marvel were going to tackle the ‘fantasy’ aspect of his back-story, while making it possible to relate to the science-based logic behind Iron Man and The Hulk. Luckily, the script balances it out perfectly.
Director Kenneth Branagh tackles the matter head-on, making an effort to explain the link between science and magic, instead of brushing over it in the hope that it would explain itself later on in the franchise.
The best thing about Thor (in geek terms anyway) was that it made multiple references to other characters within the Marvel Universe and sets up the story for The Avengers, due in 2012.
Most notably, The Hurt Locker’s Jeremy Renner makes his debut as the marksman Clint Barton, a.k.a Hawkeye. While I haven’t heard any plans to develop a spin-off movie for his character, it is interesting that they have him working with S.H.I.E.L.D already (similar to his comic-book love interest Black Widow).
Throughout the film, Stellan Skarsgard’s scientist also speaks about an old-friend who experimented with Gamma Rays and was taken by S.H.I.E.L.D – of course referring to Bruce Banner (The Hulk), and when agents are confronted by a massive, fire-breathing robot, they immediately suspect the involvement of Tony Stark (Iron Man).
The biggest revelation comes long after the credits roll. For those of you who are willing to sit until the end, will get potential clue as to the story behind The Avengers movie. I won’t give it away here, but it basically reveals who the villain is likely to be, and features Samuel Jackson as S.H.I.E.L.D coordinator Nick Fury.
Chris Hemsworth is awesome and carries himself well as a God amongst men, without being too outrageous or conceded. The Aussie accent actually made all the difference in that respect, as an American forcing the same dialogue would have been off-putting.
The support cast here is amazing, with Hopkins playing the admirable king who reveals moments of weakness, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki, who establishes his own motives but is later confronted by new information that influences his decisions.
Natalie Portman just keeps getting hotter and cooler (bit of a contradiction), which makes it perfectly believable that even a God would fall for her. I also thought it was good that Kat Dennings provided most of the comic relief, in a part which is usually handed to nerdy-looking males like Justin Long. I can’t believe Rene Russo went for such a small role, as it was basically a nothing-part (unless it’s a role that carries on with the franchise).
It seems that Marvel Studios is yet to stumble since they started producing their own movies. While failures like Daredevil, Elektra, The Punisher, Fantastic Four and Ghost Rider were helmed by other studios, Marvel has built a credible resume, including both Iron Man films, the reboot of The Incredible Hulk (not that incredible), Thor and the upcoming Captain America.
To be honest, I can’t wait to see how it all comes together with The Avengers. I guess we’ll have to wait an see.
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WIN A TICKET TO PARADISO !!! Stories Over Standards is launching their first event in the heart of where the dream began…The Ave Seattle! Located in the center of UW Campus, Stories over standards & Beatrox are bringing you the biggest Pre-Paradiso Party to hit Seattle! We will be giving away a FREE PARADISO TICKET [...]View Post
PARTYGIRL LIVE AT GREEN 2013 W Crizzly, Figure & Dzeko and Torres
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HOW TO DANCE TO TRAP MUSIC
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Burlesque at The Kit kat club
BEATROX Presents BURLESQUE! “The theme party of your life” A sexy theme party with funky house music all night! *Guys dress your best!!!! *Girls dress burlesque!!!! We are excited to bring you this sexy party at the all new Kit Kat club. Girls dress in you sexiest burlesque outfits and guys dress to [...]View Post #partygirl, Beatrox, beatrox event, Beatrox facebook, Beatrox Records, Burlesque, Club, Dance, dance music, DJ, Dubstep, EDM, Electro, Hiphop, Hot Tracks, House, Nathan Jenkins, Oregon, PDX, Portland, portland edm, portland kit kat, the kit kat club, The kit kat club portland, THEDJTJ |
Top 5 Myth-Busted Beauty Tips
Myth 1: Rubbing lemon on your teeth makes them whiter without damaging them.
FALSE. The citric acid from lemons will make them whiter, but it also wears away the enamel. Don’t make this a habit!
Myth 2: Special shampoos can fix split ends.
FALSE. Special shampoos that rehydrate your hair will only work to prevent damage after you cut your split ends off.
Myth 3: Sunscreen is unnecessary on a cloudy day.
FALSE. Clouds are just made of water droplets. And just like you wouldn’t forget sunscreen coverage for playing in the pool, neither should you for an overcast day. UV rays are the problem-causing light frequency and can easily penetrate any amount of cloud cover. Cover up!
FALSE. As long as you don’t overdo it, chocolate is part of a healthy diet. Diet plays a very distinct role in skin problems. The best way to promote a healthy complexion is to eat a diet rich with anti-oxidants, nutrients, Vitamin E and simple carbohydrates.
Myth 5: Wearing acrylic nails too often will destroy your real nails.
FALSE. They actually do a pretty good job of protecting your real nails. However, you can certainly do damage to your real nails if you try to get acrylic nails off improperly, like picking them off piece by piece. Treat your acrylic nails with the same respect you give your real nails, and everything will be fine.
Got any more beauty tips passed to you that turned out to be bunk? Let us know about them!
Last updated byat .
Tags: acrylic nails, bad hair day, chocolate, face products, facial, hair care, hair trends, healthy nails, healthy skin, nail care, Nails, Shampoo, skin care
December 8th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Good stuff! I’ve tried to tell people about the lemon juice before. Never heard of the split end shampoo but that’s interesting.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:26 am
We (our family) have a member that has chosen beauty school. When a student is
working on customers at the school. Does the student get any of the fee that the customer pays for the students’ services, or, does the school keep all the money and the student has to hope for a tip.
Evia
February 5th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Hi Evia! This is a great question! Though it can vary from school to school, students typically do not get paid when working in the school’s student salon. They are there for experience working with real clients, and the prices are very nominal anyway, so the school keeps the money. And yes, sometimes students get tips! |
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- Me, Myself, and I
- Hi My Names Dave I live in Newtownards in N.Ireland. My Mates ( Who r legends ) Are My best mate David Craig , Gareth Mckibbin , Graham Moore , Andrew Murray , John Taylor and Marc Caughey. We go out and go to all the Wonderous places u can go to in Newtownards..... wait.
Gamertag: DAVYDOCK
- Music
- Coldplay ( X&Y ), Keane, Staind , The Chilli's , Journey , Snow Patrol , Danko Jones , The Darkness , Eighteen Visions , Jack Johnson And Michael Jackson ( I know ) but he is a music Legend. Sevendust , Five For Fighting , Ok Go! , Disturbed , Saliva , The Fratellis and Dragonforce. I dont stick to the same Genre.
- Films
- All The Terminators ( or any other Arnie Film ) Rocky's 1-4 , Green Mile. Any Tom Hanks Film ( WHAT A GUY ) Matrix Trilogy , Sin City , Kill Bill 1 not 2 , Most Marvel films , Saving Private Ryan ( Best War Film ever made ) And the Great Escape. War Of The Worlds , Mission Impossible 1 & 3 , Highlander , Hellboy , Constantine , Speed , I ROBOT , Van Helsing , Scheindler' s list , South Park Movie ( classic ) The First Blood Films, Anger Management, Spaceballs, Blade, Waynes World 1&2 And Universal Soldier
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- Snooker , Pool , Darts , Football , Boxing
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- Going Out With Mates who r all Absolute Legends and very funny. Playin Pool or Snooker. When i cleared the table playing Pool on two separate occasions! ( you know who you are ) lol
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- Steve Coogan ( Alan Partridge ) Lee Evans , Peter Kay , Roy Chubby Brown and Bill Bailey, Chris Farley , Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, Dave Chapelle and Eddie Murphy ( on Stage )
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- Im Alan Partridge, Father Ted, Family Guy, American Dad, Most Haunted, Rab C Nesbett, Fresh Prince, King of the Hill, Everybody loves Raymond, King of queens, Robot Chicken, South Park, Futurama, Dirty Sanchez Garth Meringhi's Dark Place and Only Fools And Horses
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What.David Doherty 0 Replies
You have to check this out
I shall leave you with this final note, that which echoes the words of the great Nietzsche: To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering. Please accept this so-called 'Luv' as a shallow token of my enduring appreciation. Signed, Online Blogger.
To my long time friend Mr David Doherty. Mere words cannot possibly profess the magnitude of feeling I would expect to experience upon recognition of your enduring care, concern and compassion for me. Unfortunately, as I am sure you have deduced from your apparent above-average intellectuality, I am void of emotions bearing positivity. I am bereft, my dear friend, of beatitude and thus cannot claim to comprehend the weight behind your kind words. Forgive me, David, for you know that such emotions are beyond me. I do, however, possess the aptitude for gratitude, (do you take kindly to my use of rhyme - I developed it in isolation and assure you that it was a mere fluke) though I have little cause to do so as life has dealt me the cruelest of hands and henceforth, I appear to digress. Once more, forgive me, David, for I would never wish to burden you.
Hey come chat with me on MSN [email protected]
lol paisley! hows the house? fancy few games of pool again 1 of these nites?
Easter Tuesday then il say to Andy
u wanna c if Graham nd all will com out easter monday or tueday 4 a few pints?
wots valve got in common with coldplay ? absolute geniuses
how r u anyway ? gta add u on live ?
dont worry i always stay on the right side of ppl.lol.
oleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!lol. no more broken thumbs.lol. i gave up the thumb breaking business just like rocky. no havent seen him prob near 2 years now. greths wantin to go for a drink sometime so we gotta meet up again will be good. speak to you soon
spoke to graham other week so gona get a nyt srtd 4 spoons Davy returns in the episode......what
Ryt mate hows it goin dont know why im using bebo lol
lol nah was def his neck m8, bet he gave hm the stunner
lol u hear stone cold broke stallones neck
Fuck ano its pure ballacks lol so wen u gonameet me and andy again?
ye i know lyk WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT TEH FFFFFFFFFFFFFFUCCK
tbh a whil i was tryin it but i left him bhind ^^ then i tried it again =P took me 4 hours
same here m8 totally the best the best ive ever played even had fun puttin the gnome in the rocket ^^ it wasnt that hard tbh like i just want VALVe to create hl2 ep 3
oh man tell me about m8 valve r great =D half life greatest game made =) wot u been up to any ways ?
no its not a peacock!! its a skull n crossbones. the skull is wearing a tophat and alex underneath it. bloody hurts lmao aawww babies are awsome once you get used to the lack of sleep. u all excited for xmas?? xx
well least i know my place!! lol bloody jeremy kyle
not much happenin here. gettin tattoo on friday birthday on sunday and alex is 6 weeks old on wednesday. thats bout the height of it xx |
I wore this very pretty dress on Saturday night for my friend Ash's birthday party. We all had to dress up smart, and I feflt like I was going to a wedding (which I actually am doing this weekend, yay!) the dress is from Tesco last year, and the shoes and belt are from Primark.
Just a quick post while my BOYFRIEND is in the shower. Yeah you heard! :)
Just a quick post while my BOYFRIEND is in the shower. Yeah you heard! :)
36 comments:
Wow, you have such a beautiful view out of your window!
I love your dress !
Love the view, and you look absolutely lovely x
i love your little home, it looks so lovely from your photographs! Very pretty outfit hun! xoxo
I wish I had your view. I miss the sea!
Arianne from A + B in the Sea
God you look so gorgeous! With a gorgeous room with a view to match! Love the dress. Glad you two are enjoying yourselves. xxx
i have this dress but i'm convinced it's too short on me. i'm scared of short dresses. it looks gorgeous on you tho :) xx
What a gorgeous dress! I can't believe it's from Tesco!
xoxo.
What an amazing view! the dress looks so lovely on you, love the print. x
the dress is gorgeous, i would never have thought tesco. your hair is looking lovely lately as well! x
I'm in love with your dress and think its so cool that you've matched such a girly dress with brogues. Very Inspiring!
xxx
you look so lovely and eee boyfriend!! xx
Gorgeous photos! You look so pretty. Your lashes are so long and your fringe looks like pure perfection!
x
You look lovely and that dress is beautiful! x
Wow love this dress! Hard to believe it is from Tescos!
Sophie
x
I love this dress!
x
Lovely view! x
aw you look so adorable :D
The view out of your window is gorgeous!!
Love the dress, so nice you wouldn't believe it was from Tesco!! x
Boyfriend!!! WOOOOP. happy days! You look gorgeous! xxxx
You look so sweet and woo on the boyfriend! With that view I'd find it hard to leave my room!
Totally gorgeous dress, gotta love Tesco!
♥
Love the view and I want your dress!
Georgie
xx
(Blog giveaway coming soon)
Woah, you have such an amazing view from your window!
You look absolutely stunning in the dress too, it looks gorgeous! xo
That view is absolutely beautiful - as is that gorgeous dress!
X
You're so cute with this lovely dress !
xo
cheapthrillls.blogspot.com
That dress is wonderful! And you are absolutely adorable. :)
P.S. Enter my giveaway, if you'd like. :)
The view from your window+your hair/eyeliner application abilities=total awesomeness.
I don't even know where to start on this post! Everything is perfect! So jealous of that view! And that dress is absolutely perfect on you!! You look gorgeous! x
great view!!:o
parenting articles
Auwww he is a lucky boy! :) ♥ agree with all of the above, you have such a beautiful view out that window. Would swap it for my tesco car park ANY DAY! haha. Hope youre well lovely xx
Such a beautiful view. You are so gorgeous. Lucky lucky boyfriend.
Unbelievably jealous of that view. Fab dress, I actually just bought it off eBay!!
I love your dress! It's so lovely!
Your blog is amazing, definitely going to follow! Charli xoxo
I'm happy you found someone who'll accept the difficulties that sometimes come with m.e. I wish all the best for you two :)
i cannot believe that dress is Tesco! Absolutely gorgeous. I may give their stuff a gander in future x |
Wales wing wizard Shane Williams has only a "50-50" chance of being fit to weave his magic against England tomorrow.
That will be music to the ears of England boss Martin Johnson, whose under-performing squad arrived in Cardiff today for the RBS 6 Nations showdown.
Williams is battling to recover from an ankle injury suffered during Wales’ tournament-opening victory over Scotland last weekend.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland hopes to make just one change from that successful Murrayfield mission, having recalled fit-again captain Ryan Jones instead of blindside flanker Dafydd Jones.
But Scarlets wing Mark Jones, who has not played since undergoing appendix surgery last month, is on full alert to replace Williams, while Dafydd Jones could rapidly reappear off the replacements’ bench if number eight Andy Powell is sidelined by a calf muscle strain.
Powell pulled up in training yesterday, although fears about his prospects are considerably less than those for current world player of the year Williams.
Gatland said: "We have given Shane until (today) because he’s a bit of a talisman for us.
"I think he had 20-odd touches against Scotland last weekend, which for a wing is pretty exceptional. He is the biggest concern - he’s probably 50-50. Andy is probably 90-10 in favour of being fit. It’s just a tightness of the calf, and hopefully it will ease up for tomorrow’s captain’s run."
Mark Jones, despite a chronic shortage of rugby since Christmas, will be promoted from outside the match-day 22 to win his 44th cap if Williams is ruled out.
Williams has scored a Welsh record 45 tries in 62 Tests and was last season’s leading Six Nations finisher.
Wales are chasing a hat-trick of Six Nations wins against England for the first time, but their fearsome attacking edge would be blunted to a degree without the mesmeric Ospreys star.
Gatland, who did not consider centre Gavin Henson due to his ongoing recovery from a calf muscle problem, accepts England are currently "quite hard to read".
After a dismal autumn series that produced comprehensive defeats against South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, England at least launched their Six Nations campaign by scoring five tries to beat Italy, even if it proved a painfully laboured display.
Wales have been installed as red-hot favourites to dispatch England at the Millennium Stadium, making it two wins out of two before tackling France in Paris later this month. Gatland though is well aware about the dangers of people writing England off.
"How many times has it happened in the past where people have rocked up to see a Welsh team expecting to win, and they’ve gone away disappointed?" he said.
"If we play to our potential, we’ve got a good chance of winning, but there are two teams involved here.
One team is smarting from a lot of criticism of recent performances and a lot of criticism of the coaching set-up and stuff.
"I think they will come out really looking to put us under pressure.
"Their backs are to the wall, and if they come away from there, then not just us, but everyone, will get the old two fingers up and they can jump on the bus and go away pretty satisfied." |
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Please note that these Terms and Conditions apply only to the consumer
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'goods' means the goods (including any instalment of the goods or any parts for them) which the Supplier is to supply in accordance with these terms and conditions
'Supplier' means Bella Bathroom Ltd, Unit I1, Morton Park Way, Darlington, DL1 4PH
'Website' means
‘Consumer’ means a person who acquires goods and services for his or her own personal needs (i.e. not corporations or businesses) and excludes commercial users.
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2.3 If any goods are priced in error, Bella Bathrooms Ltd will not be bound to honour incorrect prices.
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3.1 To cancel your order please email [email protected], you will receive a confirmation back to you within 4 business hours.
3.2 If the order has already been dispatched from the warehouse you will be charged the actual cost of returning the product back to Bella Bathrooms Ltd. Please note the actual cost can be higher than the original delivery charge.
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4.4 The driver is NOT insured to take the goods inside your property. So therefore if the goods ordered are of a heavy or bulky nature, it is strongly recommended that at least two able bodied persons are available to get the goods inside the property.
4.5 Delivery dates are approximate and no liability whatsoever is accepted in respect of late deliveries. Please do not arrange fitting of the items until they have been delivered and checked for discrepancies/damages. On the day of shipment you will receive an automated email containing your shipment tracking number.
5. DAMAGES & SHORTAGES
5.1 Small items that arrive by courier, you agree to open all boxes, thoroughly check the goods for damage and notify us via email to [email protected] if there is damage/shortage within a reasonable time period (upto 48 hours). If the packaging of the item appears damaged on delivery, please write ‘damaged’ on the delivery note. The courier drivers will not wait whilst you check the product.
5.2. If you have purchased a large number of items, it is advisable that you have another able bodied person to help in checking of the goods.
5.3 If part of an order is damaged on delivery, please refuse the entire order and notify us as soon as possible so that we can arrange delivery of the replacement order.
5.4 If you appoint someone else to receive and sign for the goods on your behalf, you agree to advise them that the goods must be checked and you accept full responsibility for any damage or losses if they sign on your behalf.
5.5 Bella Bathrooms Ltd can not consider any claims for damage or shortages 48 ([email protected]) and you will be issued with a returns number, it is recommended that you download and print a returns form here .
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6.4 Bella.
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Printer Friendly Version
Diane Cipollo
BellaOnline's
Flash and Animation
Editor
Flash Mobile Application Development For Dummies
Jodie O'Rourke's
Flash Mobile Application Development For Dummies
is the first book to supply needed information, not easily found on the web or in other books, about developing apps for Android and iOS .
For the last eight months, I've been researching how to create a storybook app in Flash
R
Professional. I have purchased many books about Flash and AIR
R
but they all seem to give the same information, falling short of supplying the critical information needed to create a performance optimized app in Flash Professional. I was able to find a little information on the Adobe
R
site and a few blogs, but nothing that completely covered this important topic.
Also, most of the Flash-related mobile development books available concentrate on using Flash Builder
R
to develop mobile apps and only touch on Flash Professional. This was very frustrating due to the high visual nature of a storybook application and Flash Builder's limitations in this area. Flash Professional is the best choice for apps that rely heavily on illustration, animation and user interaction.
Jodie O'Rourke's book, released a few days ago, not only concentrates on Flash Professional as the development environment but covers the advanced topics that will help you to optimize your application's performance. You will enjoy Jodie O'Rourke's subtle humor throughout the book as she discusses some very complicated topics in non-technical language with simple step-by-step instructions.
As you would expect, being a
For Dummies
book, the author starts with the basic topics from mobile-related terminology and what makes a good app to an introduction to the Flash Professional tools and workspace. Covering both the Android
R
and iOS
R
platforms, the sample project that you develop throughout the book is an arcade game called SpaceShipZapZap. You can try the game for free from the app stores and also download the source code from the Dummies website. As you build the app, the author shares her experience in app development and discusses how to avoid common pitfalls with good development decisions.
You begin by building a start screen for the game, using the Flash drawing tools. The author explains how she creates filter effects, such as drop shadows, without using those CPU hungry filters and how ActionScript code, such as bottlenecks, can become CPU problematic and how to avoid them in your code.
You use ActionScript to initialize the app and to create your alien fleet. But you can't have a game if the fleet just sits there. O'Rourke teaches animation basics from frame-by-frame animation and tweening to coding your animations with ActionScript and collision detection. She discusses how to create interaction, such as drag and drop, using event listeners and how to avoid performance problems such as event bubbling. She also explains how garbage collection works and discusses other performance aids such as using device fonts, object pooling and bitmap caching.
Of course, she also covers incorporating mobile features into your app, such as geolocation, SMS, calls, maps, multi-touch gestures and the accelerometer. She discusses the development considerations when using embedded audio/video versus the various ways to stream over the internet. She also covers how to collect user information with forms and the mobile keyboard and your storage/retrieval options.
Now that you have built the perfect app, you need to test it on a target device using the Flash testing tools and WiFi. She also covers how to test your app in Device Central and Flash Builder and discusses how to set up your app for Ad Hoc testing with multiple testers. Finally, she covers what is needed to submit your app to both the Android and iOS app store.
Although this book concentrates on Flash Professional, the author includes a chapter on creating and testing an RSS reader app in Flash Builder. The Part of Tens section includes tips on performance optimization, pleasing the app user and app store success.
Jodie O'Rourke is an Adobe Certified Flash and Flex Platform Expert and Adobe Community Professional specializing in Flash, Flex and AIR development.
*I purchased this book with my own funds. |
The oil is made from a wild Rose (Rosa Affines Rubiginosa) that grows high up in the Chilean Andes. South American women have been using the oil for centuries for its rejuvenating and anti-aging skin properties. Rio Rosa Mosqueta Oil is made from oil extracted from the Rose Hips collected from the wild Roses.
The oil is cold pressed to preserve the Essential Fatty Acids. The Rose Hip oil contains more Gamma Linoleic Acid than Evening Primrose oil, Borage oil or Blackcurrant Seed oil. Omega 3 & 6 and a natural form of vitamin A (Trans-Retinoic Acid) are also found in this Rose Hip oil.
The Rose Hip oil is a pale yellow colour. It has no particular odour and it leaves no greasy residue on the skin. Just a small amount is needed to leave the skin feeling soft and hydrated.
I tried this product because the skin creams I had been using were causing irritation of my skin. Everything I tried felt sticky or slimy and my skin would itch and become very dry. Some products caused rashes on my face. So I started looking for natural products with no added chemicals and I came across the Rio Rosa Mosqueta Oil website.
Rio Rosa Mosqueta Oil
The oil is one hundred per cent natural and lays claims to dramatically reducing all visible scars, stretch marks, sun damaged skin and helps reduce the signs of aging. This is too good to be true I thought to myself but I purchased my first bottle none the less.
I have use the oil on my face, neck and hands nearly every day for three months. The first thing I noticed was a change in the texture of my skin, it felt like velvet. After a few weeks of using the oil I noticed that the small brown patches I had on my cheeks were beginning to fade, as were similar patches on the backs of my hands. After three months they have almost disappeared.
I have several small scars on my body as a result of operations and accidents so I thought I would try the oil on these. One particular scar on my leg has definitely faded.
As for the anti-aging claim, I have had comments that my face looks fresher but my frown line is still frowning at me. The tiny lines around my lips and eyes are less noticeable and a male friend commented that I looked the best he had seen me for a long while!
I have requested and received a free sample of the new Rio Rosa Mosqueta Day and Night Cream to try. I was expecting a sachet but the Rio Rosa team sent me a whole pot. It is made of the same frosted glass with the pink embellished logo and contains 50ml of thick, organic, pale yellow cream which has a very slight nutty aroma that fades once applied.
Since applying it my skin feels deliciously soft. I had thought while using the oil that sometimes I just wanted to slap a huge dollop of cream on my face to rehydrate it and this cream does the trick. It is luscious and non-greasy and my face feels supple and hydrated.
Rio Rosa Mosqueta Cream is made from natural essential oils and organic ingredients. It is conserved with Salicylic Acid and Sodium Benzoate.
Rio Rosa Mosqueta Cream
I would recommend this product to anyone who wants to use natural, organic ingredients in their skin care routine. I am never going back to artificial, chemical ridden potions that cost a fortune and do not do what it says on the jar.
Well done Rio Rosa Mosqueta Oil, I think it lives up to its claims and I intend to continue to purchase these Rose Hip oil products. |
A Girl Like Che Guevara shows the hierarchy of being a teenager from a Cuban perspective. The author, Teresa de la Caridad Doval, calls her book, "A little dirty piece of life in Cuba." She's right. At one point I thought the camp should be called Sex-in-the-fields. There's a lot of abuse, via bullying and food rations to go along with the dirt. Like the dirt Lourdes describes while she stitches away her days in the sewing shacks: "a film of dust covered our lips while our stomachs growled with repressed hunger."
Lourdes' job involves sewing the tobacco leaves onto dried sticks. This was considered the women's work while the boys worked in groups picking the leaves and finding the perfect sticks. Hundreds of students were supervised by a few teachers, some reliable and some not so reliable.
The night before leaving for camp Lourdes cuddles her little Russian dolls and wishes she didn't have to go, that she "could preserve for a little longer the rosy illusions of childhood." The transition from child to young woman is not a new theme but to read about it in the confines of post revolution Cuba is. Cuba has suffered a rich history of upheaval and to witness the growth of a little girl into a woman during the harshness of this back drop is endearing and educational. I really had no background on Cuba, Che Guevara or tobacco fields. It was an eye opener. Teresa handles it beautifully, with respect and without attempting to deliver a history lesson. I was lost on some of the political references but it didn't take away from the story.
Racial politics is everywhere. Lourdes came from a mulatto (mixed) mother and a white father. She considers herself "plain, too white to be a genuine black, too dark to be a true white," and fantasizes about being as white as the women in the Russian magazines she reads. Other strong themes are family, loss, friendship, religion, culture and community, as well as sexuality. Homosexuality is frowned upon by the communist party but Lourdes suddenly finds herself in love and yearning for her bed buddy.
I was annoyed by the continued "Fat" Olga descriptions after the initial introduction. Fat Olga this, Fat Olga that. There was more to Olga than being fat. Sometimes I stumbled on the mingled Spanish and English but mostly I enjoyed Teresa's visions, like the contrast of evenings and nights, work and play: "Eternity was no longer an abstract concept for us. The evenings were long carpets of apathy which had to be trod under the lethargic surveillance of wearied teachers. But at night the rhythm changed. Hours flew. Minutes became nanoseconds."
This is an entertaining story and a look into an interesting culture, often ignored. I recommend reading it.
Soho Pres Inc., 2004
Purchase A Girl like Che Guevara from Amazon.com.
Purchase A Girl like Che Guevara from Amazon.ca.
M. E. Wood lives in Eastern Ontario, Canada. If you are going to find this eclectic reader and writer anywhere it is probably at her computer. For more information visit her official website. |
After being the smallest school in Class 2A, in terms of enrollment, for the past two years and one of the smallest for the past six, just about everybody in the city of Blaine - or at least the Blaine High School athletic department - welcomed a move down to Class 1A during the latest reclassification cycle this year.
Everybody, that is, except runner Tom Bradley.
"It's kind of a bummer to lose the competition with the guys we've been running with the past four years," Bradley said in a phone interview. "We won't get a chance to race against those 2A guys that we've built rivalries with over the years. I wanted a little redemption for those guys beating me last year."
By "those guys" Bradley was specifically talking about Sehome seniors Conner Johnsen and Reed Henderson and defending 2A state champion Patrick Gibson.
"Tom loves racing the best," Blaine cross country coach Carey Bacon said. "It's what drives him. He feels he races his best when he's racing the best."
But don't worry too much about Bradley getting lonely in the 1A ranks.
He's still got old rival Dillon Quintana from Mount Baker hot on his heels, and the two of them turned in a another classic battle on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Class 1A Tri-District Meet in Tacoma - a race Bradley won by just 5 seconds.
"It's great having Dillon down here," Bradley said. "He's great competition. He'll keep me from slacking off."
Not that Bradley is the type to slack off - in fact, he's exactly the opposite.
"Tom is getting everything he deserves," Bacon said. "He's earned it all. He's done an enormous amount of work. If you look over his entire high school career, he's invested a lot of time and sweat equity. It's exciting to see it coming around for him."
In addition to winning last week's tri-district title in 16 minutes, 2.1 seconds, Bradley won the Northwest Conference Championship crown in 15:21.93 - a time that still stands as the best at 5 kilometers in the state.
Not only that, Bradley got the pleasure of beating out Gibson in their final high school cross country race together, along with all the other seniors he's grown up racing against.
"That was really neat," Bradley said. "I love running against Patrick and those guys. I think it was good to show how good the 1As are going to be this year, and it's always good to get the last one. Patrick is an amazing competitor, and I think he had the course record, and I broke that, too. To end my high school conference career with a win and a new record, it made me extremely happy."
Perhaps not quite as happy as he was to help Blaine qualify its first team for state last week.
Besides running the top time in the tri-district, Bradley had a huge hand in recruiting enough talented runners - many from Blaine's soccer team - to help the Borderites get through to state with a fifth-place finish.
"This year, we've put so much emphasis on the team," Bradley said. "Dropping down to 1A, we knew we would have a chance. 2A is just so competitive in this district, especially with only three teams going through. I think they had six teams ranked in the top 10 in the state. That's just crazy. This last year, I've been recruiting a lot of my friends, too. For my senior project, I held summer practices and helped coach those guys through the summer and get them some mileage."
While Bradley was focusing on increasing the mileage of his teammates to get them ready, the senior that has long been known for running miles and miles each week during the summer, found different ways to prepare for the season - mainly improving his strength in the weight room.
"This year, I've been lifting weights for the first time," Bradley said. "We're starting to do a lot more drills and lifting stuff. It's something I hadn't done before, and it's made a giant difference. Before this year, I was just increasing my mileage, which increases my chances of injury."
Combine Bradley's improved strength with his hard work and determination and add in his race smarts, and it's no wonder Bradley has to be considered one of the favorites to claim the 1A individual title this year.
"His sense of race pace is really, really good," Bacon said. "He knows how fast he is going. His internal clock, in terms of time, is really good. Now that he's stronger, he's not afraid to get out front and push the pace. ... All year long, Tom has been near the front, if he's not leading. That takes mental toughness to do, because you don't want to push it too hard too early. But Tom knows exactly what he's doing."
Bradley is looking forward to making up for what he described as a "difficult" 2A state meet last year, when he finished 47th with a time of 16:51.
If he can, he would like to show that he is capable of doing the same thing Gibson did last year and bring home an individual state title.
"I was looking at that recently," Bradley said. "It's pretty exciting. All of us have a great shot at doing something big. Me individually, Patrick individually and with his team. Those Sehome guys seem to be in great shape for a team title. It could be a really big day for Whatcom County."
Reach David Rasbach at [email protected] or 360-715-2286.
STATE CROSS COUNTRY
When: Saturday, Nov. 3
Site: Sun Willows Golf Course, Pasco
Class 1A girls: 10:30 a.m.
Class 2A girls: 11 a.m.
Class 1A boys: Noon
Class 2A boys: 1:30 p.m.
Class 3A boys: 2 p.m.
COUNTY 1A BOYS' STATE QUALIFIERS
Runner Yr. Qual. Time School
Tom Bradley Sr. 16:02.1 Blaine
Dillon Quintana Sr. 16:07.5 Mt. Baker
Cody Velthuizen Sr. 16:46.6 Lynden Christian
Kelby Todd Sr. 16:48.9 Meridian
Collin Magnusson So. 17:04.5 Meridian
Eddie Fontes Sr. 17:09.5 Blaine
David Anderson Jr. 17:15.7 Meridian
Shelby Miles Jr. 17:16.1 Mt. Baker
Weston Whitener Sr. 17:17.0 Lynden Christian
Hunter Weinert Sr. 17:33.6 Lynden Christian
Jon Wiley So. 17:36.7 Lynden Christian
Davis Phillips Jr. 17:47.6 Meridian
Tyler Reardon Sr. 17:58.2 Lynden Christian
Danny Thorpe Sr. 18:07.8 Blaine
Connor Blok Jr. 18:11.1 Lynden Christian
Rico Martinez Fr. 18:20.3 Meridian
David Shapiro Jr. 18:32.1 Blaine
Parker Morris Fr. 18:32.9 Blaine
Derek Morrow So. 18:35.3 Meridian
Dylan Blok Jr. 18:39.3 Lynden Christian
John Cochran Jr. 18:53.0 Blaine
Jay Crandall Sr. 18:57.9 Meridian
Christian Sharp Jr. 19:18.8 Blaine
NOTE: Lynden Christian, Meridian and Blaine qualified as teams. Lineups subject to change.
Reach DAVID RASBACH at [email protected] or call 715-2271. |
Bemidji HS boys basketball team opens with Green Wave
The Bemidji High boys basketball team makes its season debut tonight, hosting East Grand Forks at 7:30 at the Field House.
The preliminaries begin at 5:45 with the freshman game in the Auxiliary gym and the B Team contest in the main gymnasium.
Bemidji shoots for another winning season this winter after going 16-10 in 2009.
That was the first year above the .500 mark since an identical finish in 2005.
Last year Bemidji put a blue collar team on the court that won through hard work and hustle much of the season.
Jeff Brown begins his eighth season at the helm with a guarded air of confidence.
"We're going to have to play end to end this year to win, play fast break basketball, guard full court and hope for numerous buckets in transition."
To do this, however, will depend on controlling the defensive boards.
And that could cause problems.
Much will depend on the play of senior Grant Richardson, the 6-5 football tackle who played on the JV last winter.
That team ended 15-9 under Steve Thompson.
Only three lettermen are back from 2009, seniors Czar Woods (9.9) and Dan Frost (1.9) and junior scoring leader Ryan Rude (13.4).
Rude was the team's Co-MVP and Woods the defensive MVP lat winter.
Three seniors move up from the JV to challenge for varsity roles, 6-2 forward Josh Kane and 6-1 guard Derres Martell, each in their sixth year in the program, and 6-11 Frank Mays, who took up the sport last winter for the first time and showed promise in limited playing time in 2009. His size could prove a major help if he develops.
Sophomore Carey Woods was the B Team's scoring leader last winter and is likely to be again at the varsity level this year
Other regulars from the B Team are Mitch Brown, Zach DeClusin and Cody Rutledge, Brown and Rutledge only sophs.
Juniors from that team moving up include Harley Kroening, and Ben Hengel.
Starters tonight will be Richardson at center flanked by Rude and Frost on the baseline with the Woods brothers outside with Kroening, Kane, Rutledge and Brown the top reserves.
The Jacks drop to Section 8-3A this year for the first time where their major foes will include Little Falls, Apollo, Sauk Rapids and Rocori along with Thief River and Detroit Lakes.
A complete team preview appeared in yesterday's Winter Sports tab.
Schedule
Dec. 4 East Grand Forks 5:45-7:15
Dec. 12 Park 3:00
Dec. 19 at Red River 4:30
Dec. 22 at Grand Rapids 7:30
Dec.29 vs. DeLaSalle (at GR) 7:00
Dec.30 at Brainerd 7:30
Jan. 5 at Crookston 7:30
Jan. 9 at Moorhead 2:30
Jan. 12 Thief River Falls 5:45-7:15
Jan. 19 Little Falls 5:45-7:15
Jan. 21 Detroit Lakes 5:45-7:15
Jan. 23 at Sauk Rapids 6:00
Jan. 26 Deer River 5:45-7:15
Jan. 28 Cloquet 5:45-7:15
Feb. 4 Moorhead 5:45-7:15
Feb. 6 at Sartell 2:00
Feb. 11 at Duluth East 7:15
Feb. 13 Alexandria 1:00-3:00
Feb. 16 at Detroit Lakes 7:30
Feb. 20 Rocori 1:00-3:00
Feb. 23 G. F. Central 5:45-7:15
Feb. 27 Gr. Rapids (BSU) 1:00-3:00
Mar. 2 at Thief River Falls 7:30
Mar. 5 at Duluth Central 7:30
Mar. 8 Section 8-3A, high seed TBA
Mar. 13 Section 8-3A, SCSU TBA
Mar. 18 Section 8-3A final, SCSU TBA
Mar. 24 State meet TBA
Mar. 25 State meet TBA
Mar. 26 State meet TBA
Mar. 27 State meet TBA |
Election Notebook: Court challengers face uphill climb
ST. PAUL — Challengers to Minnesota Supreme Court justices say their job is tough.
Obstacles challengers point out include restrictions on collecting donations, making campaigns tough to fund against better-known incumbents. Also, the would-be justices say that just already being in office carries several advantages, including “incumbent” printed by their names on the ballot and an easier time raising money as a sitting justice.
“It has been 66 years since an incumbent judge has lost an election,” said Dean Barkley, who has lost races for Congress in the Independence Party and is making his first bid at judicial office against Justice Barry Anderson.
Challengers in all three races say the current system is stacked in favor of incumbents. In most cases, judges and justices retire in the middle of their terms. That leaves it up to the governor to appoint replacements, who as sitting judges may have an advantage when they come up for election.
Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea and Justice Barry Anderson have run before, while Justice David Stras, in office just two years, is in his first campaign.
Stras probably speaks for all the candidates in saying: “I feel like I am working two jobs.”
Tim Tingelstad pointed to a problem he has in working from his Bemidji home, as does Gildea opponent Dan Griffith of International Falls: “It’s a long ways down to the population center.”
While Tingelstad said that many northern Minnesotans may know him, others do not.
Another incumbent advantage is support from fellow lawyers. The Minnesota Bar Association surveys members and this year, like usual in the past, the incumbents drew far more support.
Stras and Anderson received 82 percent and 83 percent support, respectively, while Gildea won 93 percent approval.
There is a disagreement about whether being involved with political parties is allowed, or even is a good thing. While a Minnesota case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court opened judicial campaigns up for more political discussion, just how much of that is allowed remains in dispute.
Challengers such as Tingelstad have sought the Republican Party endorsement. The party’s platform calls for judicial endorsements, but none came this year.
Justice salaries are $145,981 for each of six years in a term.
GOP blamed in Eken race
The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Friday filed a complaint that the Republican Party broke the law by making false statements about a candidate’s voting record.
The DFL says Republicans distributed campaign literature incorrectly saying Rep. Kent Eken, a Democrat running for the state Senate, voted to raise a fee senior citizens pay for nursing home care.
Democrats called on the Office of Administration Hearings to penalize the GOP for making false statements, which is against state campaign laws.
Republicans distributed a new piece of literature when informed the Eken claim was wrong.
“We goofed,” the literature says. “Kent Eken did not vote to raise the fee seniors pay for nursing home care.”
Then the Republican material goes on to say: “Instead, Eken voted to raise the cost we pay for hospital care and health insurance.”
GOP Executive Director Ben Zierke said the party looked into the vote after Eken disputed the original literature during a debate.
“It was an honest mistake on that vote,” Zierke said, and the party sent the “we goofed” piece out as soon as possible after fact-checking the first piece. “There is no question that he did not vote for the tax.”
Democrats probably would not have known about the mistake if Republicans had not send the follow-up flier, Zierke added. “We owned up to it.”
DFL Chairman Ken Martin said the GOP apology does not fix the earlier law violation.
“Their ads were blatantly false, and we filed a complaint today because these dishonest tactics cannot be allowed to go unchecked,” Martin said Friday. “The attacks against Kent Eken amount to a smear campaign. It’s not even a distortion of the truth, it’s an outright lie.”
Eken is running for Senate in a district around Moorhead and Detroit Lakes against former Buffalo Bills star Phil Hansen, a Republican.
Kriesel in commercial
State Rep. John Kriesel’s dramatic speech in the Minnesota House opposing a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage is featured in a television commercial.
The Cottage Grove lawmaker joined Rep. Tim Kelly of Red Wing as the only two Republicans to vote against the amendment, which will be in front of voters Nov. 6. Kriesel is retiring when his term ends in early January.
In the speech, Kriesel recounted when a bomb exploded in Iraq, causing injuries that eventually cost him his legs.
“I was in an incident and I nearly died,” Kriesel said. “I remember laying there, looking down and seeing my legs mangled. I thought about my family.”
He recounted the story of Cpl. Andrew Wilfahrt, a soldier from Rosemount, who was killed in Afghanistan last year.
“He gave his life in Afghanistan protecting our freedoms,” Kriesel said. “He was gay. I cannot look at this picture and say, corporal, you are good enough to fight for your country and give your life, but you are not good enough to marry the person you love.”
After his May 2011 speech, opponents of the amendment greeted Kriesel as a hero when he left the House chambers.
Nov. 6 registration available
Minnesotans who have not registered to vote or updated their addresses, still may do so on election day.
“Minnesotans should use the online voter registration lookup at to see if their registration is current,” Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said. “Voters who are already registered to vote at their address do not need to bring additional documentation with them to their polling place. However, eligible voters who plan to register on Election Day must provide proof of residence.” |
WASHINGTON — victories and losses often are scored based on the overall impressions candidates leave with voters.
In the history books, though, small moments often end up telling the broader story.
Think of 73-year-old Ronald Reagan’s pledge not to exploit his opponent’s youth. Or John McCain’s dismissive reference to Barack Obama as simply “that one."
A look back at some of the best and worst exchanges from presidential debates.
Ronald Reagan
“I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.".’ "
Lloyd Bentsen
“Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy."
George H.W. Bush’s pick for vice president, fresh-faced Sen. Dan Quayle of Indiana, got multiple questions about his preparedness to assume the office during a 1988 debate.
“I want to take you back to the question that I asked you earlier about what would happen if you were to take over in an emergency, and what you would do first and why," moderator Brit Hume told Quayle. “You said you would say a prayer, and you said something about a meeting. What would you do next?"
“I don’t believe that it’s proper for me to get into the specifics of a hypothetical situation like that," Quayle replied.
Moderator Tom Brokaw later pressed Quay."
“Three times that I’ve had this question," a frustrated Quayle said before teeing up a rehearsed answer.
“I have far more experience than many others that sought the office of vice president of this country. I have as much experience in the Congress as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency."
Quayle’s Democratic rival, Texas Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, pounced: “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy."
“That was really uncalled for, Senator," replied Quayle.
“You are the one that was making the comparison, Senator," Bentsen shot back. “And I’m one who knew him well."
Bentsen, running mate to Michael Dukakis, scored the win in that debate, but the Democrats nonetheless lost the election to Bush.
John McCain
“That one."
McCain’s campaign was on the ropes when he faced Obama for a second debate in 2008. He had suspended his campaign the previous month to rush back to Washington and address the Wall Street crisis. But he came off as unprepared to handle the economy, suddenly voters’ top concern. Polls showed McCain was slipping behind. And his on-the-ground operations were badly lagging Obama’s.
So when Brokaw asked McCain about government-funded energy innovation, McCain saw his chance to take a detour and paint Obama as a spend-happy Washington insider.
“By the way, my friends, I know you grow a little weary with this back-and-forth. It was an energy bill on the floor of the Senate loaded down with goodies, billions for the oil companies, and it was sponsored by (President George W. Bush) and (Vice President Dick) Cheney. You know who voted for it? You might never know," McCain said, gesturing to his rival.
“That one."
And that was a turnoff for many voters.
Gerald Ford
“There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe."
During his 1976 debate against Democrat Jimmy Carter, President Ford seemed to ignore the political reach of the Soviet Union, so much so that the debate moderator did a double-take. Republicans and Democrats alike recognized that Eastern Europe was largely under Soviet influence but the United States strongly opposed any efforts that would take the land and put it within their borders.
“There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford administration," Ford said.
“I?" asked Max Frankel of The New York Times.
Carter, who went on to defeat Ford, challenged the president’s views on Eastern Europe.
“I would like to see Mr. Ford convince the Polish-Americans and the Czech-Americans and the Hungarian-Americans in this country, that those countries do not live under the domination and supervision of the Soviet Union behind the Iron Curtain," Carter said.
Body Language
Watches, sighs and eye rolls.
Sometimes, the most memorable moments are wordless.
Take the first President Bush in 1992. The incumbent looked down at his watch as a voter asked a question about the struggling economy during a town hall-style debate, suggesting he was bored with the whole thing.
Bush lost his re-election bid to Clinton.
Vice President Al Gore sent an over-the-top message of impatience during his 2000 debate with then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush with a series of loud, overwrought sighs.
Gore also overdid his incredulity toward some of Bush’s claims during their first debate.
The vice president rolled his eyes, a move that his staff — and America — instantly recognized as problematic. Before the next debate, Gore’s aides made him watch a “Saturday Night Live" skit mocking his performance.
Course correction was not enough. Gore lost to Bush. |
The Ohlone Dog Park sits atop the BART tracks along Hearst Street at Grant. It is about an acre of land fenced off to allow a free run for Berkeley’s canine community. Dog owners – sorry, guardians – get to sit in the park and chat while the pooches run and play and sniff and scratch. Some run and play; others sniff and scratch. This is a putative city-run facility but the users do most of the clean-up and maintenance.
Needless to say, the City has no money for proper seating at the Ohlone Dog Park. There are a couple aging picnic benches with attached seating. When one approached total disintegration due to age and exposure to the weather, one of the regular park users, not the City, provided a new one.
There was still too little seating, but occasionally someone would drop off an old patio chair and, after a while, some eight or ten chairs accumulated. Seeking a more permanent solution, the Ohlone Dog Park Association, an organization of a couple dozen park regulars, recently bought ten sturdy metal chairs for the park. With little help, but no interference from the City, the seating problem at the park was addressed over time by the users themselves — at least until recently.
A few weeks ago, Parks Superintendent Susan Ferrera informed the Association that loose chairs were not allowed and had to go. Under threat of forced confiscation of the chairs by the City, the Association removed the metal chairs. The City apparently confiscated the remaining plastic chairs as they too are now gone.
Sympathetic to the problem, Ms. Ferrera e-mailed that a design process to begin in the fall would address the seating issue. Now literally left standing, the park users will likely have to wait a year to sit down again. At that time, the City will provide some undetermined quantity of seating, firmly anchored to the ground because, supposedly, it is safer that way.
I have lived in Berkeley for almost 50 years and have frequented the Ohlone Dog Park regularly since getting a dog about four years ago. I have seen some pretty silly stuff in Berkeley over the years, but the removal of chairs from the dog park is way up there on the list. The park users are perfectly capable of individually making a decision, without the guidance of City bureaucrats, as to which outdoor furniture they feel provides a reasonable level of personal safety. They do not need or desire City guidance in this matter.. The supposed greater liability is presumptive and the risk assumable at little or no cost.
This silliness is the nanny-state at its worst. The City cannot, or will not, provide chairs at a park where people routinely spend an hour or more and, when the park users dealt with this dearth of seating by buying their own, the all-knowing, all wise bureaucrats literally confiscated the seating leaving park users, many old and some infirm, literally standing around.
The park without chairs is about half as useful as with them. The insufficient seating which remains cannot be oriented to gain or avoid direct sunlight; users cannot join a group discussion by pulling up a chair; nor can one isolate oneself away from others to read a book without distraction.
All the users of the park seemed quite happy with things as they were. I, for one, wish the City of Berkeley would expend their nanny-state energies somewhere else. We do not need their help and guidance in this situation.. |
BBS Rescue Spotlight: The Mia Foundation
BestBullySticks.com had the great opportunity to speak with Sue Rogers, founder of The Mia Foundation. This great organization helps pets with birth defects that no one else will take. Read on to learn about the inspiring Mia the Chihuahua and more amazing pet rescues.
When & Why did you start?
The Mia Foundation was established in April of 2012 after the death of our precious Chihuahua, Mia. This is her story.
My precious Mia was born with a cleft palate. Mia had several surgeries, (all of which had failed.) Although she was taken to the top Universities and to the top Veterinarians, she was given little hope of survival. I was told that euthanasia was best. I refused to give up on her and vowed to fight for her as long as she continued to fight. She was given a chance at life and even though her life was short-lived, she lived it to the fullest. She had to face many medical obstacles on her journey here, but she never let it overpower her love for life. Mia has inspired over 11,000 people from all over the world and continues to create Miracles every day.
Sadly, Mia passed away from pneumonia on April 11th, 2012 two months shy of her 2nd birthday. Her legacy lives on through The Mia Foundation which was created in her honor.
The Mia Foundation was developed to give animals born with birth defects a fighting chance. Mia was given a chance and in return gave so much love, hope and inspiration to people all around the world. I have come to realize that Mia was sent here to help us all in whatever way possible. She was brought to this earth to show us courage and unconditional love, she was here to bring loving, caring people together from all over the world and to teach us all to never give up no matter what obstacles we may face. She taught us to be brave, to be strong, and to smile in the face of adversity. Most importantly, she taught us all how to love unconditionally!!
Since her death, Mia's story has inspired people to adopt animals with birth defects that may have otherwise been overlooked or not given a chance at life and love. Mia has educated thousands of people from all walks of life on how to care for a special needs animal. She has raised awareness as to, "If they are born, they deserve a chance to live!!" Because of her strength, determination, love and will to live, she has enriched the lives of countless individuals. She had a zest for life unlike any I have ever seen. Her tiny paw left a huge imprint on so very many hearts.
Mia has shown us all that miracles really do exist. She changed the world with just one smile!! Read more |
What you need to know about the best digital pocket camera. . .
What is the best digital pocket camera out in the market today? Not all users have the same requirements; in order to choose the right camera, it is important to make your choice based on what you plan to do with it.
First off, set a budget and narrow your search down to a price range that works for you. This will also largely dictate the features you can have along with the camera of your choice. Ask around or do a little research on what setting options you should be looking out for. Meanwhile, here is a list of basic things you should know to help you decide on the best digital pocket camera to match your requirements.
MEGAPIXELS. This is one of the main pitching points for salespeople and camera makers when they want to sell us their products. The greater the megapixel, the higher the resolution. A high resolution simply means that an image is produced at a high level of detail which results in a clearer, sharper and more realistic photograph. If you intend to print out images larger than 8x10, you’ll do well to go for 10 megapixels or higher. However, the everyday user will find the 5-6 megapixel cameras perfectly capable of taking good quality snapshots.
ZOOM CAPABILITY. This is the camera function that causes to magnify or draw the image closer. It enables you to shoot close-up portraits or capture distant sceneries or landscapes. A higher optical zoom number always equates to a better camera. Don’t scrimp on this feature because you can never have too much zoom.
LCD SIZE. A large LCD screen in a pocket size camera is definitely a plus factor. It allows you to properly frame your subject for better composition and a more memorable photo. It also makes it easier to review and edit photos when working with a larger screen. In this regard, I suggest that you go for a camera with a 2.5 inch LCD or higher.
SIZE. You would not have ended up on this page if you were already clear about what you wanted in the first place. So remember, it is possible to bundle both useful and practical features into a compact size. Do your homework and check out different camera brands. Most importantly, small cameras get shots that big cameras don’t. The portability and convenience of a smaller unit enables you to capture that perfect moment – fish it out of your pocket or purse and you’ll easily out-snap the bulky camera owner in the group! And lastly. . .
IT”S YOU, NOT YOUR CAMERA. This is the most important tip to remember. Do not assume that the best and most expensive camera will take the best photographs. Not true. It’s not the camera that takes the pictures but the person behind the lens. Pick up some digital photography tips. Study new techniques. Practice what you learn. Remember, it’s up to you to make yours the best digital pocket camera there is. |
Hey Blake,
I heard it's the 75th anniversary of Huey Long's assassination, but I don't know why he was killed or whether he was a good guy or a bad guy. What do you say?
Confused in Uptown
Dear Confused,
Huey Long was shot 75 years ago this week. As to whether he was good or bad, opinions vary — as is often the case with powerful people.
Huey Pierce Long Jr. was born in Winnfield, La., in 1893. His populist political style won him many admirers among the disadvantaged but made him the scourge of the wealthy. He served as Louisiana governor from 1928 to 1932 and as a U.S. senator from 1932 until he was shot in 1935. He reportedly planned to run for president against Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936.
Nicknamed "The Kingfish" by friends (after a character on the radio show Amos 'n Andy), Long built a formidable political machine and ruled the state with an iron fist. He built his political empire on the idea that government should level the playing field between rich and poor — and that wealth should be redistributed toward that end.
With the country reeling from the Great Depression, Long in 1934 created his "Share Our Wealth" program, which called for the government to confiscate individual wealth in excess of $5 million (or an individual's income in excess of $1 million) and redistribute it to the less fortunate. As governor, he launched massive public works projects for bridges, roads, hospitals (including Charity Hospital in New Orleans) and colleges (most notably expanding LSU and building the LSU Medical School in New Orleans).
Long began his political career at age 25, when he was elected to the Louisiana Railroad Commission, a precursor to the Public Service Commission. He had a flair for politics and for innovation. He was the first Southern politician to use radio addresses and sound trucks while stumping for governor in 1924. He lost that race but was re-elected to the PSC, then ran successfully for governor in 1928 with a campaign slogan, "Every man a king, but no one wears a crown."
As governor, Long required state employees to pay a portion of their salaries directly into his political war chest, nicknamed the "deduct box." During his tenure, he gave schoolchildren free textbooks, instituted night courses that taught 100,000 adults to read, provided cheap natural gas to New Orleans and began his public works programs. He also bullied anyone who stood in his way, sometimes ruthlessly.
He was impeached by the Louisiana Legislature in 1929 but dodged conviction via a now-infamous device known as the round robin. It took two-thirds of the state Senate to convict him, so his allies got more than one third to sign a document pledging not to convict him no matter what the evidence against him might be. He then extended his power over all of state government and several local governments, including New Orleans. In the U.S. Senate, Long's political views (and popularity among the poor) reportedly pushed President Roosevelt farther to the left and inspired many New Deal programs.
Though busy nationally, Long continued to control state government. He was in Baton Rouge on Sept. 8, 1935, to oversee a special legislative session when he allegedly was shot by Dr. Carl Austin Weiss, whose father-in-law, Judge Benjamin Henry Pavy, had been gerrymandered out of his district as payback for opposing Long. Weiss was shot 32 times by Long's bodyguards and died. Long died two days later in a Baton Rouge hospital. He is buried beneath a massive monument that faces the State Capitol, which he built in record time.
Even today, 75 years after his death, Long casts quite a shadow over Louisiana politics — and he continues to spark heated political debates. |
Celebrating Ms. Hill05/17/2013
Best Dressed of the Week: Solange Is Fabulous05/17/2013
BET Awards Style Watch05/16/2013
Rihanna's Denim Obsession05/15/2013
What's Trending: Stripes05/15/2013
Coupled Up: The Hottest Pairs on the Block05/13/2013
Birthday Suit: Racy Magazine Covers05/13/2013
Top 10 Beauty Looks of the Week05/10/2013
Best Dressed of the Week: Ciara Is Perfection05/10/2013
10 Summer Dresses Inspired by Our Favorite Stars05/09/2013
Red Carpet: 2013 Met Gala Costume Institute Ball05/07/2013
Chris Brown's Style Evolution05/06/2013
Top 10 Best Beauty Looks of the Week05/06/2013
Dapper Dons: Men's Style Roundup05/03/2013
Best Dressed of the Week: Zoe Saldana Wows on the Red Carpet05/03/2013
A Look Back at Kris Kross Fashion05/02/2013
Celebrity Summer Beauty Must-Haves05/01/2013
Celebrity Bikini Trends04/30/2013
Mother's Day Gift Guide04/29/2013
Top 10 Beauty Looks of the Week04/29/2013
Graduation Gift Guide04/25/2013
May Cover Girls04/25/2013
A Roundup of Rihanna's Chanel Obsession04/24/2013
Beyoncé’s Best Bodysuits04/23/2013
Top 10 Prom Dresses04/22/2013
Cheap and Chic: Statement Sunglasses Under $5004/22/2013
Top 10 Beauty Looks of the Week04/22/2013
Best Dressed of the Week: Kelly Rowland in Leather and Lace04/19/2013
Child Stars All Grown Up04/18/2013
Looks From Beyoncé’s Mrs. Carter Show World Tour04/17/2013
Neck Candy Inspired by Kelly Rowland04/16/2013
Star Style at Coachella04/15/2013
Top 10 Beauty Looks of the Week04/15/2013
Best Dressed of the Week: Naya Rivera Rocks Red04/13/2013
Halle Berry's Maternity Style04/12/2013 |
Mark your calendars!
In a press release that just went out, we’ve announced the release dates for Brink (May 17th in North America, May 20th in Europe) and Hunted: The Demon’s Forge (June 1st in North America, June 3rd in Europe). The two games complete our Class of 2011 lineup, which also includes join RAGE (September 13th in North America, September 16th in Europe) and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (November 11th worldwide).
For more information, read the full press release below… ‘Lock.
Australian release date??
Australian release date for Brink??
For brink??
For those wondering, the release dates for Australia are the same as Europe.
Hey!
Where is the Macintosh platform?
Not so multi about platforms for which this games was made.
The best news!Now my calendar is officially the best read for 2011!lol
Rock on Beth.I love you people.
I am REALLY looking forward to RAGE, also looking forward to Skyrim.
Liam — it’s the 20th (for the purposes of releases, Australia is classified as a European territory)
Macs most likely have to rely on Steam.
I’m so excited for Brink!
Hey, I noticed you guys posted the PS3 packaging covers on your blog. Where’s the Xbox 360 love? lol Just kidding. I’m glad everyone is having a chance to play your games. You guys are the best!
You delayed the release date 2 times, I don’t know how to say this any way around so I will say it flatly:
Are you guys sure you can actually release the game on your release date this time?
@Boudewijn — we did move the “release window” twice, but this is our first official release date. We feel pretty good about it.
Nice work, Brink releases the same day as L.A. Noire. Tell me how the works out for your sales.
i am displeased with the waiting. Brink is gunna rock.
God bless you. only one day before my B-Day!!! cant wait for brink
Why do America get the release earlier than the UK? are you not a UK company?
why do you keep putting the release dates back. because first late 2010 people then got excited for that and then it was brought back. then march 25th people also then got excited for that, again it does not come. finally may 20th (in europe) it is set for release. if it gets put back again i’m not buying it i will wait for BC3.
Hey, what are the system requirements for BRINK on PC???
No dedicated servers for consoles and america get the release earlier, splitting people with cheap pre-order DLC. I expected more from you beth. Laggy P2P multiplayer with US advantage as per usual, sad choice.
For everyone complaining about release date changes, just think…it’s far better for a product to be pushed back than to release an inferior version of the game. If the developers feel they need more time to make some finishing touches, then they should probably take some more time to finish it up.
All that is needed on this one is for it to freeze up too….JUST LIKE FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS!!!! Bethesda people if you are listening…. fix the freezing on this one PRIOR to releasing it. |
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Is Twitter Losing Its Appeal to Marketers
Has Twitter lost it’s appeal to business owners as a Marketing Platform? I think so and here is my logic.
Twitter has become over saturated with a 1000 followers following another 1000 followers and your messages are becoming diluted if they are even being seen at all. It’s not the amount of people that you have following you but the amount of people that you market to have following them.
Here is the logic:
Let’s say you have 50,000 followers and they follow 1000 others. You send out a tweet and only a small percentage of those 50,000 are online at any given time. Your tweet will show up on a small percentage of those followers radar and even a smaller percentage will engage with the link either re-tweet it or follow the link themselves. As you see the problem is very clear. The more people that are added to the Twitter platform the more diluted your market will become and your tweets will just get lost in the crowd.
About the Author: Craig White
Member Since: 10/27/2009
Company: Atlanta Network Marketing
Industry: Affiliate Marketing
Primary Web Site:
Twitter: Craig_KimWhite
is tweet a twerp?
Craig, I truly agree with you. Even on FB- I will see someone have 4900 friends....and yet not getting closer to no more than 100 or 200.
I posted some positives to The Birdie Machine :...
and yet there is only a positive response when you can actually DIRECT MESSAGE an individual.
I have one friend that has 14,000+ tweeters...she didn't see my DM for a whole week! then bragged that she is building her biz, and and she has 14k followers and it is impossible for her to get back quickly.
Hmmmm, where is the logic in that?
This goes back to the point? Now that you've got my information, what are you going to do with me?...
Thank you for your courage to post this-it may put us on the hot spot, but it will help those who are using this form of marketing.
Much success to you my friend,
~ME~
twerp
Michaela,
I love being in the hot seat. Controversy creates buzz and buzz is what attracts followers. You can't lead from the back of the pack. It's hilarious when you talk about those that have 14k followers and they think they are building their business but their to busy getting followers to get back to a real prospect.
One lesson I learned early about DM's is that you can't delete them with your automated system without looking at each one of them first. I spend an hour each morning replying to re-tweets and DM's of value.
If you like being in the hot seat lets help each other succeed. I will follow your messages and reciprocate.
Hope I spelled that right.
To your success,
Craig |
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by Pastor Steve Wohlberg
An Amazing Fact: (or "containers") and be raptured up to a spacecraft traveling behind the comet that would take them to a higher plane of existence. A message posted on their website stated that "Hale-Bopp's approach is the 'marker' we've been waiting for-the time for the arrival of the spacecraft from the Level Above Human to take us home to 'Their World' in the literal Heavens." They sincerely believed the comet marked their "graduation" from the Human Evolutionary Level. "We are happily prepared to leave 'this world'," wrote cult leader Marshall Applewhite (alias "Do"), who quoted selectively from the Bible and various episodes of Star Trek to support his teachings that they would be raptured to this invisible spacecraft.
All around the world, people are struggling to understand the Bible's end-time prophecies. Christians everywhere sense that Jesus Christ will soon return to planet Earth.
In the 1990s, Bible scholar Tim LaHaye and storyteller Jerry Jenkins teamed up to create a fascinating series of novels designed to make the book of Revelation more real to Christians today. Their first book, published in 1995, was simply called Left Behind. This single book sold so many copies that Barnes & Noble Bookstores voted it "One of the top ten best-selling books of the 20th century." USA Today has labeled it "Wildly popular-and highly controversial."
Because of this incredible response, LaHaye and Jenkins decided to expand their project into a sequence of 12 books. The Indwelling-The Beast Takes Possession, was listed as a New York Times Bestseller. The Mark-The Beast Rules the World, became an immediate runaway hit. Amazingly, the entire project is now being called "The best-selling series of all time." On February 2, 2001, Left Behind: The Movie, produced by Cloud Ten Pictures, is scheduled to open in theaters across America.
A Gripping Saga The story begins with the sudden vanishing of Christians into thin air, which is commonly called the rapture. The rest of mankind, having been left behind, suddenly wake up to the nightmare of a world gone mad. Mass confusion hits as unmanned cars veer out of control, pilotless planes crash, fires erupt, and total hysteria sweeps over the globe. "The disappearances" will usher the world into "a seven-year period called the Tribulation" (Tribulation Force, inside cover). In the midst of this universal panic, a mysterious and yet secretly evil Romanian man named Nicolae Carpathia (the Antichrist) rises to bring order out of chaos. "One of the most powerful and charismatic personalities ever" (Ibid., ix), Carpathia takes control of the United Nations. Discerning his inner wickedness is a brave host of new believers (a.k.a. the Tribulation Force) who are determined to resist his hypnotic power. Finally, this sinister world leader unveils his ultimate test of loyalty: the insertion of a high-tech biochip into the foreheads and hands of all people.
The Left Behind series follows the lives of certain fictitious characters who, having missed the rapture, are forced to struggle against the Antichrist, his global community, and ultimately against the enforcement of the mark of the beast.
Just as millions of Americans daily follow the lives of their favorite soap opera actors, even so millions of Christians are now following the lives of these imaginary Left Behind personalities as the saga continues to unfold. Even young people are being affected through a special version of Left Behind books just for kids, which includes a Tribulation Force Underground Kit.
Underneath the excitement and drama of this incredibly popular story, is it possible that something is just not quite right? Could it be that in the midst of Left Behind's focus on missing people, important Bible truths are also missing? If so, which ones? Paul wrote, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Accepted vs. Accurate The Bible certainly does teach the exciting truth that Jesus Christ will return for His people. Jesus Himself said, "I will come again, and receive you unto myself" (John 14:3). The clearest text in the Bible about the rapture is 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Countless Christians know it by heart, and it is cited in Left Behind: The Movie. Paul wrote that believers in Jesus Christ will someday be "caught up ... in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:17). What we must do is to carefully examine the timing of the rapture, for this is a crucial issue.
According to Left Behind, the return of Jesus Christ actually takes place in two distinct phases. First, Jesus returns silently and secretly to catch away true believers. This begins the "seven-year period called the Tribulation." During the Tribulation, this diabolical man known as the Antichrist rises to enforce the mark of the beast. At the end of the Tribulation, our Lord returns visibly, which is called Christ's "glorious appearing."
Therefore, according to Left Behind, the rapture comes first, and then, seven years later, is the second coming of Jesus Christ at the end of the world. With minor variations, this scenario is now accepted by millions of Bible-believing Christians around the globe as an accurate picture of end-time events.
There are three mighty pillars that stand out in this teaching, and it is safe to say that the entire Left Behind project rests firmly atop each one of them.
We wish to follow Paul's counsel to "Prove all things" by carefully examining these pillars, in the light of Scripture, while watching out for any signs of structural cracks.
Perfect Timing Pillar 1 says that the rapture and the second coming do not occur simultaneously. Paul clearly states in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 that "We which are alive and remain shall be caught up." Although the exact word "rapture" doesn't appear anywhere in the Bible, the idea comes from those two words "caught up." A simple comparison of verse 17 with verse 15, which says, "We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord," makes it very clear that believers will be "caught up" at "the coming of the Lord."
At this point, we must carefully examine what the Bible says about His coming. Will believers be caught up at a silent and invisible coming of the Lord before the Tribulation, as taught in Left Behind? Or will believers be caught up at the deafening "glorious appearing" of Jesus Christ at the end of the world?
Right in between verses 15 and 17, Paul wrote, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump [or trumpet] of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first" (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Left Behind describes this as a silent and secret event, yet doesn't it sound rather loud and noisy? There is a shout, a voice, and a trumpet.
A long time ago, Jeremiah recorded a prophecy regarding the coming of the Lord that clearly parallels 1 Thessalonians 4:16. He).
Both Jeremiah and Paul describe a coming of the Lord during which there is a loud "voice" and "a shout." Jeremiah provides additional information by saying that the Lord will "mightily roar," and then he says that a "noise" shall be heard worldwide. None of this sounds like a silent and secret return of Jesus prior to the Tribulation.
A Thief in the Night Paul said this tremendous "day of the Lord" will finally arrive like "a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Many interpret this to mean that Jesus will come like a silent thief to steal believers out of this world. Then cars will crash, planes will collide, sacked quarterbacks at football games will vanish, and babies will be missing from their cribs. The popular Christian film A Thief in the Night, which is similar to Left Behind: The Movie, also presents this perspective. Yet is this really what Paul is saying?
Again, let's take a closer look at Scripture. Paul wrote: ).
Do you see what Paul is saying? Jesus' coming as a "thief in the night" does not mean He will come quietly and invisibly to steal believers out of this world, as is taught in Left Behind. Rather, it means He will come unexpectedly, bringing "sudden destruction" upon the unsaved. It is not secret, only sudden. Notice again what Paul said: "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness" (verses 4-5). Did you catch that? Jesus does not come as a thief in the night to believers, but only to those who are of the night. Will those who are "of the night"-that is, the unprepared-be given a second chance to be saved? Paul wrote, "They shall not escape" (verse 3).
The apostle Peter also wrote about this same return of Jesus Christ as a thief in the). According to Peter, this coming of Jesus Christ as a thief in the night is definitely not a silent and secret event that precedes a seven-year period of Tribulation. Rather, this day arrives suddenly, with "a great noise" (as also described by Jeremiah), and is clearly associated with the end of the world! A crack is forming in Pillar 1.
What about the rapture taking place "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye"? This is probably the second greatest text in the Bible now being used to support the idea of Christians vanishing prior to the Tribulation.).
Is Paul saying that believers will mysteriously vanish from the earth prior to the Tribulation, while their loved ones blink? Not at all! He is saying that the dead will be raised and their bodies will be changed "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." But when will this "moment" take place? Paul's answer is clear. It will occur "at the last trump," when "the trumpet shall sound," at the end of the world. This is that very same "great sound of a trumpet" Jesus said would be heard at His second coming (Matthew 24:31)!
Pillar 1 is disintegrating.
Waiting Until It's Too Late As previously noted, Pillar 2 supporting the Left Behind project is the theory that those who miss the rapture will have during the Tribulation a second chance to be saved. This idea is dangerous because it leads some people to rationalize that "If the Bible is really true and if the rapture does take place, then I'll know for sure God is real. It may be tough, but I can still join the Tribulation Force during the seven years. Even if that Antichrist guy tries to kill me, I will resist the mark!"
While fostering this foolish attitude is certainly not the intent of the Left Behind authors, nevertheless, the secret rapture theory can easily lead people to adopt a "wait and see" philosophy, and thus put off making a decision to follow Jesus. Paul wrote that all who are not fully on the Lord's side when believers are "caught up" (1 Thessalonians 4:17) "shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:3). As you can see, Pillar 2 has very serious problems.
Left Behind also teaches that the Church will not be here on earth for Armageddon. Is this true?
The word "Armageddon" appears only once in the Bible. It is found in Revelation 16, the great chapter describing the falling of the seven last plagues. Between the sixth and seventh last plagues, Jesus Christ thunders: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon" (Revelation 16:15-16).
Did you catch that? Jesus is talking to the Church! While the seven plagues are falling, and right before the battle of Armageddon, Jesus Christ has not yet come as a thief! Therefore He must come like a thief at Armageddon, and that must be the time when He comes to gather His Church.
Paul used the language of the military when, like a commanding officer, he urged the soldiers of the cross to "Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6:13). How can we stand in "the evil day" if we have previously disappeared? Jesus Christ also said to the believers, "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. … But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24:9, 13, NKJV). Paul also advised the church that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).
Jesus will save His church-not from tribulation, but rather through it! Our Lord loves us and will strengthen us in the final times. That's why He promised: "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). We can trust Him in this.
What About the Seven Years? The Bible text that serves as the foundation for the entire seven-year Tribulation theory is Daniel 9:27, which is the very first verse quoted in Left Behind: The Movie. It says: "He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice ... to cease."
A day in prophecy represents a year (Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6), thus the period of "one week" actually represents seven years. Millions are now applying this to a future seven-year period of Tribulation. "He" is interpreted to be the Antichrist, who will make a covenant with the Jews during the Tribulation.
What many don't realize is that there is a more logical interpretation that has far more biblical support. It has been taught by many credible Bible scholars who have written respected commentaries that are now in the libraries of pastors across America. One example is the world-famous Matthew Henry's Bible commentary. It doesn't apply Daniel 9:27 to the Antichrist at all, nor does it apply the "one week" to a seven-year period of Tribulation after the rapture. Rather, it applies the prophecy to Jesus Christ, who, after three and a half years of loving ministry, died "in the midst of the week," which ultimately caused all animal sacrifices to cease!
Here's the quotation from Matthew Henry's famous commentary: "By offering himself a sacrifice once and for all he [Jesus] shall put an end to all Levitical sacrifices."1 Another excellent Bible commentary written by Adam Clarke says that during the "term of seven years" (Daniel 9:27), Jesus Christ would "confirm or ratify the new covenant with mankind."2 Here's one more from the much-respected Jamieson, Fausset and Brown commentary: "He shall confirm the covenant-Christ. The confirmation of the covenant is assigned to Him."3
Take a careful look at Daniel 9:27 itself. God's Word says, "He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week." Notice that Jesus Christ Himself said, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many" (Matthew 26:28, NKJV). A perfect fit! Both use the words "covenant" and "many."
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the One through whom "the covenant … was confirmed" (Galatians 3:17; see also Romans 15:8, NKJV). In the midst of the week, after three and a half years, Jesus gave His life for us, "causing the sacrifice to cease." He was the final Sacrifice. No more sacrifices are to be offered (Hebrews 10:12). Period.
In my earlier book, Exploding the Israel Deception, Chapter 5 is called "The 70th Week of Daniel Delusion." There I give many more solid reasons why Daniel 9:27 doesn't apply to the Antichrist at all, but to Jesus Christ alone.
The entire Left Behind idea of a seven-year period of Tribulation after the rapture may go down in history as the greatest evangelical misinterpretation of all time. The whole concept is like a gigantic bubble. Once Daniel 9:27 is correctly understood and the pointed pin of truth is inserted, "Pop goes the seven years!"
A Life-or-Death Matter I want to conclude by talking about Pillar 3, which states that true believers today will not have to face the Antichrist and the mark of the beast. It is right here that emotions fly and reason vanishes just as instantaneously as those disappearing Christians in Left Behind: The Movie. That's because the mysterious mark of the beast is a life-or-death matter. It concerns the destiny of the human soul. Admitting that the Church will still be on earth during the final great Tribulation means that Christians must someday face the Antichrist and the mark of the beast-issues over which they could lose their souls. Many people are deeply afraid of this, so they conclude there must be a secret rapture before the Tribulation. There just has to be!
A deep-seated fear of the mark plagues many people, though it need not be so. True Christians can learn a lesson from popular bumper stickers that say "Fear No Evil." We don't need to be afraid. We can trust in Jesus Christ, for He has promised, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). If the fictitious Tribulation Force in the Left Behind novels can overcome the Antichrist and the mark of the beast with God's help, then so can we!
For those who are unwilling to even reasonably consider this issue, no amount of Bible evidence will convince them. Like a triple-bolted door in downtown New York, they are closed to the facts.
The result? Truth is left behind.
__________________________ |
For Australian and visiting cyclists from Road to MTB, to Track to Freestyle
by martinjs » Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:37 pm
WarrenH wrote:martinjs wrote:Wagga Wagga, lots of cycling events and have good cycling infrastructure with more in the development stages.I visited the Wagga Wagga region last weekend to check out some of the TSRs and lagoons on the northern floodplains of the Murrumbidgee River as potential places to visit and camp when cycle touring this coming Autumn. Over the last two years I've cycled a fair bit along the Murrumbidgee River visiting the Travelling Stock Routes and Reserves, from the Frost Plains of the Northern Alps, across the Yass Plains and the SW Slopes and now into the Eastern Riverena. The TSRs north of Wagga were some of the most beautiful that I have visited especially at Eunony Lagoon/Broman Lagoon. Using the unformed roads and the traditional campsites on the TSRs is a most underutilized resource for touring cyclists. I have The Long Paddock, the atlas and directory of the TSRs in NSW ... which is a big help to finding these not often visited places.I liked the flat roads on the floodplains which was something I haven't experienced for many years ... and I liked it. I saw many roadies enjoying the back roads north of Wagga Wagga. More riders on a weekend than I would see in Canberra. Warren.
martinjs wrote:Wagga Wagga, lots of cycling events and have good cycling infrastructure with more in the development stages.
by Forum Ads » Tue Feb 28, 2012 1:41 pm
by WarrenH » Tue Feb 28, 2012 1:41 pm
by Farmer Elvis » Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:43 pm
by silkishuge » Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:24 pm
toppity wrote:Warragul in west Gippsland has a great bike culture. I've written about before on BNA. Daily group rides catering for all different levels. Heaps of participation. They have a very good outdoor velodrome. Two very good LBS's and great roads to ride on. Every style of riding is catered for from flat to ultrasteep road riding, MTB trails and Track. Great culture and great people.
by silentbutdeadly » Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:18 pm
Farmer Elvis wrote:The quiet roads around Coonabarabran west through the warrumbungle national park really take some beating
by silkishuge » Thu Mar 08, 2012 6:46 am.
by Farmer Elvis » Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:23 pm
silkishuge wrote.i should give this route a go since it is at my doorstep. thanks matejon
by Parrott » Sun May 27, 2012 10:56 am
by shann » Sun May 27, 2012 4:37 pm
by Aushiker » Wed May 30, 2012 8:51 pm
shann wrote:Karratha has some goodish MTB trails up in the hills behind it, and there is a local group who are building more. It's not much chop for road cycling at the moment though, with all the road works happening.
by WyvernRH » Wed Jul 04, 2012 2:18 pm
by slowrider68 » Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:33 pm
by clackers » Fri Sep 21, 2012 4:44 pm
slowrider68 wrote:The Barossa valley in south australia is becoming really good with new bike paths and lots of wineries and things to look at all in easy riding distances
by WarrenH » Sun Sep 23, 2012 10:10 am
by Aushiker » Fri Sep 28, 2012 6:03 pm
by DrJay » Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:46 pm
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reports Reuters.
Reuters' story is based on a report in Chinese finance magazine Caijing, which quoted government sources as saying the studio would be formed with a consortium of Chinese media companies.
"DreamWorks Animation and the consortium would invest a total of $2 billion in the joint venture, DreamWorks East, over the next five years to produce animation for the Chinese market."
Caijing reported that CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg was in China earlier this month to discuss the plan with government officials there.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
DreamWorks Animation in Talks to Build Shanghai Studio
Labels: DreamWorks, Jeffery Katzenberg
21 comments:
Makes sense, DreamWorks is big around those parts so it'd make sense for them at least to protect their properties as well as make some things for a local audience.
Dreamworks and Communism. What a pair! :D
It's like Pixar Canada, but in a worse country! (Did you know that Pixar Canada isn't too far from where "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" is made?)
You're not cool with Pixar Canada?
@Jordan: Careful what you say!
Mike's from Canada, you know ;-)
@Jordan
Cool! I love 'Friendship is Magic'. I guess now that they have Pixar and Ponies, that makes Canada about 20% cooler!
Mike, I don't think that's what Jordan meant. I don't really have an opinion about Pixar Canada, as they have only made one Mater short so far. (I didn't like any of the Mater films from the Emeryville studio either)...I'll wait for Pixar Canada to make something else. But I can tell you why Pixar went to Vancouver and Dreamworks went to Shanghai.
Pixar loves their employees, so they set up their extra studio in a beautiful city.
Dreamworks wants to produce as much animation as quickly possible, and what a better way to get cheap labor then to offshore to China?! :D
Yeah, people are misunderstanding me. I like Pixar Canada. I know that a lot of great animation and cartoons (mostly for TV) come from Canada. Vancouver and Ontario are where it's at! Pixar Canada's in British Colombia, right? I know that Studio B/DHX Media Vancouver (they changed their name at the start of Season 2 of FiM) is in Vancouver.
And on a related note, the FiM team does outsource some of their animation to Top Draw Animation in the Philippines, where an animator with the initials VDC leaked a "Pinkie Pie Smile" song. (I could go on about that with my theories of how and why, but I won't.)
My thing against China is their problems with free speech, Internet censorship, human rights, and the condition of factories where less-than-stellar pony toys are made.
For Shanghai being Communist they are sure doing well economically like Hong Kong. Are they really Communist or Capitalist? I'd move there if i had a chance.
@Anonymous: I wouldn't be too quick to assume that. Dreamworks offers its employees a better benefits package, and generally better salaries, than Pixar does. Also, Dreamworks has never been investigated for borderline illegal labor practices.
Not that I'm saying that Pixar is in any way a bad place to work. It is, however, for all the brilliant people involved, still a corporation, and it loves its employees only to the degree that they help make the company money.
Kevin, Pixar was investigated for borderline illegal practices? Where's your source, or were you talking about the Disney company in general, which I do know to be true.
There's some truth to the fact that as a corporation, the key end is making money. My thoughts on the company don't come from an insider's perspective, but rather from my general impressions from watching the movies themselves. I have enjoyed more consistently the Pixar films than I have the Dreamworks film. And I think that is due to the artists having more creative freedom.
And creative freedom usually comes from treating your core employees, at the very least, pretty well.
As for the anon comment about Communism, I was taking a jab at China's complete disregard for freedom of speech, and comparing it to the lack of creative control the Dreamworks artists have. :P
There's no doubt that China is about big business, but Jordan's right. Censorship and state control on ideas are bad.
While I'm here, is anyone else who reads this blog a brony like me?
Complete my brohoof:
.../)
(\ Brohoof for Jordan!
I've been reading this blog for years and always enjoyed your comments, but you just got 20% cooler! ; )
Ponies and Pixar forever!!!
@Anonymous:
And I like Pixar films, on average, more than Dreamworks films too. So do most animators, which is why they're willing to work there for a slightly lower salary than they could make somewhere else.
I enjoy FiM, but I'm not an obsessed lunatic like most of the internet.
@Tanner
Same here. I just enjoy the show, I don't really consider myself a 'brony', but I thought, 'eh, what could a little brohoof hurt'?
Dreamworks and China. Both have about the same quality of products.
@ JAY Hosh
Ha, ha, ha ZING!
Take THAT, CRAPworks! Ha, ha, ha!!!
Anyone who likes FiM in some regard should at least check out the Equestria Daily blog.
*Brony girl here sitting back laughing at where this is going.*
LMAO @ Jay Hosh!
Nice one ^_^ |
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Chicago Meeting
#1
Posted 31 May 2007 - 09:52 PM
Locations:
103rd and Cicero Starbucks Map
and/or
106th and Cicero Panera Map
WiFi is available at both spots. We want it to be in the day time on a saturday afternoon.
What do people think?
#2
Posted 31 May 2007 - 10:19 PM
Also, I think it'd be interesting to have a Saturday afternoon time- say second or third sat. of the month so geek time won't take up another Friday night.
The Panera is bigger and it has truly free wifi as opposed to starbucks t-mobile hotspot- so I think Panera's a better pick. There's a nice patio for outside seating as well.
-kn0x
#3
Posted 05 June 2007 - 02:09 AM
#4
Posted 07 June 2007 - 11:02 PM
bump
Double bump. I'm glad you guys took the initiative. Chicago meetings have been brought up on several occasions before, but I just haven't had time to commit. Let me know where they're at, and I'll try to make it out.
#5
Posted 03 July 2007 - 10:24 PM
Damn wireless keyboard.
#6
Posted 16 July 2007 - 01:29 AM.
#7
Posted 16 July 2007 - 03:30 PM
I think we decided to have the spring\summer meetings in the city. In Millennium Park, I'll get the exact details of a spot in a week or so. Maybe we can all meet by the bean for the first meeting and then all agree on a better spot. Anyways I went ahead and created a Yahoo Groups mailing list for the meetings, sign up here ..
once you guys have one or two meetings we can create a subdomain for you at binrevmeetings.com to help you orgainize
#8
Posted 16 July 2007 - 04:54 PM
Edited by kn0x, 16 July 2007 - 04:55 PM.
#9
Posted 16 July 2007 - 08:05 PM
As for the subdomain, do we get control over the software on there as well? I noticed you give us stuff like Wordpress, are we free to add plugins and other stuff?
Edited by thej3w, 16 July 2007 - 08:06 PM.
#10
Posted 22 July 2007 - 12:10 AM
#11
Posted 22 July 2007 - 04:10 AM
I got some sun while I was out there, so bits of me are redder than usual. Which isn't a bad thing, just different.
Edited by thej3w, 22 July 2007 - 04:11 AM.
#12
Posted 23 July 2007 - 01:50 PM
#13
Posted 23 July 2007 - 02:41 PM
#14
Posted 23 July 2007 - 08:59 PM
We still need to decide on a better place to meet in Melenium Park. The bean is pretty crowded.
I was thinking maybe that concert green.
#15
Posted 25 July 2007 - 06:33 PM
Me and kn0x are collecting memberships to our shell server project.
We are asking for $5 per month (3 months for $17 (an extra $2 for Paypal) to (somewhat)cover our initial costs.
We are planning to offer a Secure Jabber Server with PGP-PKI encryption(membership not required) for secure private IM communications for the hacker community.
Shell accounts on our Debian server will include access to our HTTP proxy (via SSH tunneling) irssi, naim, etc. (so you can use your favorite irc/IM networks, email clients, web space, BBS, and more). User directories will be encrypted, and will only be offered to people we can trust who come to the meeting.
We reserve the right to deny you service for any reason including, but not limited to: lack of skill, body odor, being ugly, etc. Obviously there will be no P2P, warez, pr0n, cracking, etc.
PayPal payments are being accepted right now at: [email protected].
P.S. We are also struggling to come up with a name. Email me or kn0x about a name you think is good. If we use your name, we will give you $5 off (one month free) your shell purchase.
#16
Posted 27 July 2007 - 12:13 AM
#17
Posted 27 July 2007 - 02:13 AM
I really need to stop being lazy and get to one of these meetings.
Fuck that.
Next meeting, my house.
#18
Posted 27 July 2007 - 03:09 AM
Fuck that.
Next meeting, my house.
If you live on the south-side, and not in the "hood", you can count me in.
Going into the city sucks.
#19
Posted 27 July 2007 - 03:13 AM
A few of us from Chicago want to start a meeting. We have possible locations, but we need some input on when (day and time).
Locations:
103rd and Cicero Starbucks Map
and/or
106th and Cicero Panera Map
WiFi is available at both spots. We want it to be in the day time on a saturday afternoon.
What do people think?
I'm really thinking that since those locations are painfully close to my house, I'm down.
#20
Posted 27 July 2007 - 11:41 AM
They are on the small side, we had 8 people show up last meet, anymore show up this time and we are taking up way to much room. Everyone would have to buy something or at least some people would, inorder for us to stay there.
It wouldn't really be a "Chicago" BinRev meeting if its outside the city of Chicago.
The WIFI at the places are pay per use, 30 for a month, 10 for a day. Yes, PTunnel worked before, but not everyone would be using it, and it's stealing.
As for BreakDanceJs house, even if we held it there I still don't think he would make it to the meeting.
Miche'le has the right idea, the grass area by the concert in MP would be good. We could do some outdoor WarWalking\Scanning next time. If I can find my pigtail I can bring my cantenna and we can scan for WIFI and point it at tall buildings to see what we find.
I think our problem with the last meeting was that we had one just to have one, we didn't really do much other than "hang out" but I bet if we come up with a schedule and some "hacking" activities that the next meeting would be really well. Also since it will be after Defcon, many of us will have stories of Defcon and other cool stuff. So it should be a lot more intresting.
Edited by thej3w, 27 July 2007 - 11:42 AM.
BinRev is hosted by the great people at Lunarpages! |
Green feature less square footage, alternative energy sources such as solar panels, working with the natural lay of the land, and using natural insulation to decrease the need for energy. Green home building incorporates as many of these ideas as possible in addition to using sustainable construction materials.
There are a wide array of materials and techniques used in green home building. One of the most popular is strawbale building. Straw is a renewable resource and a fantastic insulator. It is easy to build with and costs significantly less than traditional construction materials. It has become so popular that many banks are willing to lend on the technique. In the Southwestern United States, strawbale homes are becoming commonplace. Strawbale home construction uses about 15% less wood than traditional home construction.
In addition to straw, there are many other renewable resources used in green home building. Adobe homes are made from moistened dirt combined with straw or other natural materials and dried in the desired shape. Cob is a technique similar to adobe building. Earth and straw are combined in the same way, but with a higher concentration of long straw fibers. It is extremely labor intensive as it must be applied by hand, but provides a low-cost, low-impact, green home building method. Rammed earth is another form of building using clay and straw. However, the materials must be tamped down, usually by heavy machinery.
Poured earth is a green home building material similar to concrete. It is mixed and formed in the same way as concrete and even uses Portland cement as a binder. However, poured earth does not contain the sand or gravel aggregate used in concrete. Instead, soil is used, resulting in a medium strength concrete that is very easy to maintain. Resistance to the elements is high and maintenance is virtually non-existent once the building is established. The construction costs can be significantly higher, as much as 20%, due to the labor involved in the process.
Earthbags, or sandbags, are another popular material used for green home building. They are inexpensive and can be readily and quickly constructed. Homes built from earthbags are resistant to severe weather, and offer superior strength and durability.
Cordwood building features short pieces of wood, normally about the size of firewood. This technique makes it possible to use wood that might not otherwise be useful for construction. The process is similar to laying bricks and mortar, with the cordwood functioning as the “bricks”. It is an inexpensive and beautiful green home building technique that is gaining in popularity.
Other methods of green home building include using materials such as bamboo, lightweight concrete, and stone. Natural builders use these materials to produce beautiful, functional homes without unneeded stress on the environment and to conserve precious energy, both in the short and long term. |
Genetic variation in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene is likely to be particularly important for phenotypes associated with function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), such as cognition (Dickinson and Elvevag, 2009). Neuroimaging studies confirm that the COMT Val158Met (rs4680) polymorphism affects human prefrontal cortical function, and as such is strongly associated with differences in neural process underlying cognitive output (Dennis et al., 2010; Mier et al., 2009). However, these findings do not necessarily imply any change in cognition. A recent meta-analysis observed no significant effect of the Val158Met single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on frontal cognitive tasks (Barnett et al., 2008). Nevertheless, some studies have indicated that this association might be specific to developmental stage (Barnett et al., 2007; Dumontheil et al., 2011; Raz et al., 2011). Thus further examination of COMT genetic variation is required for a better understanding of its role in a wider range of cognitive functions during development.
Relatively little is known about the role of COMT in cognition in children (Diamond et al., 2004; Dumontheil et al., 2011), and specifically in relation to developmental stages, such as puberty (Barnett et al., 2007). The cognitive effects attributable to COMT activity may depend on developmental stage because structural and functional changes occur in the PFC during adolescence (Casey et al., 2000; De Luca et al., 2003; Rubia et al., 2000; Supekar et al., 2010); cognitive functions performed by the PFC in adults may be governed by different or more diffuse circuits in children. If so, then COMT variation may have little effect on cognitive performance during childhood, but a stronger effect in adolescence. Moreover, increases in the level of reproductive hormones such as estrogen during puberty can down-regulate COMT transcription and lead to a sex difference in COMT activity, and therefore to a different effect of COMT on cognition in boys and girls (Tunbridge, 2010). Among 8-year-old children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort Val158Met polymorphism was reported to have a larger effect on verbal IQ in pubertal children when compared with prepubertal children (Barnett et al., 2007). A recent study of 6–20-year-olds also suggests the role of development in the effect of COMT Val158Met polymorphism on working memory, specifically that visuospatial working memory capacity exhibited an age by genotype interaction, with a benefit of the Met allele (rs4680) emerging after 10 years of age (Dumontheil et al., 2011). However, these studies were cross-sectional in design, so did not investigate the genetic effect on cognition in the same children at different developmental stages.
Despite strong evidence for the biological importance of several COMT SNPs (Nackley et al., 2006) little is known about associations with cognition of any loci other than Val158Met. A functional three-SNP haplotype consists of Val158Met (rs4680) and two synonymous SNPs (rs6269 and rs4818): ValA/ValA, ValA/Met, ValA/ValB or Met/Met, ValB/Met, and ValB/ValB are diplotypes ranked from highest to lowest according to COMT enzyme activity. This haplotype exerts a major influence on the level of COMT expression and enzyme activity (Nackley et al., 2006) and has previously been shown to have a curvilinear association with measures of verbal inhibition and working memory (Barnett et al., 2009). Previous studies have also reported associations between rs165599 (located near the 3′UTR region) (Burdick et al., 2007; Chan et al., 2005), and rs737865 (located in intron 1) (Diaz-Asper et al., 2008; Liao et al., 2009) and cognitive function. These SNPs appear to be functional, with rs737865 G (=C) allele and rs165599 G (=C) allele being associated with lower expression of COMT mRNA in the human brain (Bray et al., 2003).
In the present study we include the Nackley's haplotype (rs6269–rs4818–rs4680) and the two functional SNPs, rs737865 and rs165599, to characterize better the combined effects of variation in the COMT gene on cognitive function. Using data from the British 1946 birth cohort we aimed: (1) to investigate the effect of the five COMT SNPs on cognitive function in the same boys and girls at two time-points (age 8 and 15 year follow-ups); (2) to test whether pubertal stage of cohort members established at the second assessment (age 15 years) modifies any observed associations.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD) (also known as the British 1946 birth cohort) is a socially stratified birth cohort of 5362 individuals (2547 women and 2815 men), who have been followed up since their birth in 1946 with regular data collections (Wadsworth et al., 2003). Blood samples were collected from 2756 members at age 53 years. Every survey member with information on at least one cognitive test (phenotype indicator) at both age 8 and age 15 years and DNA genotyped for COMT SNPs was included in the descriptive analysis (n = 1029 boys and 1048 girls). Survey members with available DNA had higher cognitive scores on all cognitive tests at ages 8 and 15 years than those without genetic information; but were not different with respect to pubertal stage at age 15 years (p = 0.35) or social class of origin (p = 0.52). The results of comparing those with DNA and those without on cognitive tests measures are presented in Supplementary Table 1.
Ethical approval for this research was obtained from the North Thames Multi-Centre Research Ethics Committee, and from relevant local research ethics committees in the survey areas. Informed consent was given by all respondents.
Children were assessed by teachers in a school setting at ages 8 and 15 years using tests devised by the National Foundation for Educational Research (Pigeon and Douglas, 1964; Pigeon et al., 1968). At age 8 years these were: (1) reading comprehension (selecting appropriate words to complete 35 sentences); (2) word reading (ability to read and pronounce 50 words); (3) vocabulary (ability to explain the meaning of the same 50 words); and (4) picture intelligence, consisting of a 60-item non-verbal reasoning test. At age 15 years these were: (1) Alice Heim Group Ability Test (AH4), a 130 item timed test, with separate verbal (analogies, comprehension, and numerical reasoning) and non-verbal (matching, spatial analysis, and non-verbal reasoning sections) tests; (2) The Watts-Vernon Reading Test, a test of reading comprehension requiring the participant to select appropriate words to complete 35 sentences; (3) A 47-item mathematics test, requiring the use of arithmetic, geometry, trigonometry, and algebra.
All scores reported in the results were standardised within the sample included in this analysis to a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1.
At age 15 years, pubertal development in boys was classified at school by a physician based on the development of genitalia, presence of pubic hair, axillary hair and voice broken. Those with infantile genitalia or early adolescent genitalia, but no pubic or axillary hair and voice not broken were classified as prepubescent, all others as pubescent. Age at menarche was used as the marker of pubertal stage for girls, and was obtained from mothers’ reports in 1961. This information was used to construct a binary variable for pubertal status distinguishing between those who had menarche by age 15 (pubescent) and those who did not (prepubescent). The majority of the participants (89% of boys and 90% of girls) had reached pubertal status by age 15.
DNA was extracted and purified from whole blood using the Puregene DNA Isolation Kit (Flowgen, Leicestershire, UK) according to the manufacturer's protocol. The five SNPs, rs737865, rs6269, rs4818, rs4680 and rs165599, were typed by using the KASPar system by KBioscience, UK (). The integrity of the genotyping was checked by genotyping frequency, concordance of duplicates and Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). The call rates for the genotyped SNPs were 97.8–99.2%, with >95% concordance between duplicate samples and there was no evidence of deviation from HWE (p > 0.05).
The programme PLINK v1.07 was used for haplotype analysis (Purcell et al., 2007). The haplotype frequencies (rs6269–rs4818–rs4680) were similar to those reported in the original paper (Nackley et al., 2006): GGG (=ValA)–40.8%, ACA (=Met)–50.8%, ACG (=ValB)–7.8%, all others–0.6%. The survey members were then assigned to one of six possible diplotypes (i.e., the pair of haplotypes) using a ‘phase’ option (Table 1): ValA/ValA, ValA/Met, ValA/ValB or Met/Met, ValB/Met, and ValB/ValB.
Of the five genotyped COMT SNPs, the central three, rs6269, rs4818 and rs4680, were in high linkage disequilibrium (LD): r2 = 0.72 for rs6269–rs4680 and rs4818–rs4680; and r2 = 0.97 for rs6269–rs4818. In contrast, the LD between the three SNPs in the haplotype block and the other two SNPs was low (all r2 < 0.38). We therefore chose to separately test associations between cognitive scores and rs737865 and rs165599 and with the three-SNP haplotype.
First, linear regression was used to test for associations between rs737865, rs165599 genotypes (under an additive model), the three-SNP haplotype and the cognitive measures. In addition, curvilinear regression was used to test for associations between the three-SNP haplotype and the cognitive measures. Analyses were performed separately for boys and girls, and the sex-by-genotype interaction term was fitted to test for sex differences. At age 15 years, analyses were also stratified by pubertal stage, and the puberty-by-genotype interaction term was fitted to test differences between pubertal and pre-pubertal groups.
The effect of COMT genotypes on global cognitive function in a longitudinal context was examined using structural equation modelling (SEM) (Schumacker and Lomax, 2004). Model estimation was performed with Mplus version 6 (Muthen and Muthen, 2007). The model fit was evaluated with recommended fit indices (Hu and Bentler, 1999): the Tucker–Lewis index (TLI), the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), and the comparative fit index (CFI).
A graphical depiction of the model is shown in Fig. 2. The measurement part of the SEM model represents overall cognitive function at ages 8 and 15 years. The structural part includes direct paths from the COMT genotype to cognition at age 8 and age 15. We fitted the model using multiple group analysis (Byrne, 2004). In the final analytic model, the factor loadings of global cognition factors were constrained to be invariant across gender groups, whereas the path coefficients from COMT genotype to cognition were freely estimated.
The item intercepts were freely estimated in both groups because the main parameters of interest are path coefficients, hence invariance of factor loadings are sufficient (see (Gregorich, 2006), for a detailed discussion on level of measurement invariance). We performed the Wald χ2 test of parameter equalities for gender group differences in the structural regression paths.
Since SNPs associations were examined in multiple group SEM with cognition modelled as a latent variable, it was important to examine whether the measures of cognition were comparable across the gender groups (Byrne, 2004; Meredith, 1993). Two confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models with different degrees of measurement parameter restrictions were specified in order to assess the extent to which the validity of the comparison of path coefficients across groups held. The baseline model tested configural invariance where latent global cognition variable had the same number of factor indicators, i.e. same number of items representing specific test domains in male and female groups. In this model, the factor loadings across gender groups were freely estimated. This model was a prerequisite for testing the next step, the metric invariance, where the factor loadings were constrained to be equal across groups. The measurement invariance in factor loadings ensures that the global cognition construct has the same substantive meaning across gender groups, thus warranting valid comparison of regression path coefficients in the SEM model. Then model fit indices of the two models were compared to evaluate the degree of measurement invariance of the loading parameters in the models.
We used the same range of the above-mentioned fit indices to investigate models of measurement invariance. The restrictive model is preferred if the fit indices are not significantly inferior compared to that of the less restrictive model. In terms of the RMSEA, the change should be less than .015 (Chen, 2007). For CFI, the change should be less than .01 in CFI (Chen, 2007; Cheung and Rensvold, 2001). We also presented the TLI and Chi-square as overall tests for goodness of fit (Marsh et al., 1998).
A Bonferroni correction was applied in an attempt to address the issue of multiple testing. The total number of independent tests was 15 (two individual SNPs plus one haplotype in two gender groups at two ages plus three tests [two SNPs and one haplotype] for pubertal status at age 15 in boys only). We did not treat each cognitive test as independent as they were highly inter-correlated (r = 0.6–0.9). This approach to inferences on independent tests required that the conservative α-level of 0.0033 to be used as the significance level for robust inferences.
Descriptive statistics for the phenotype measures and genetic data, by sex, are presented in Table 1. The results of association analysis between the COMT SNPs and cognitive traits at age 8 and 15 years are presented separately for boys and girls in Table 2. There were no associations between rs737865, or rs165599 or diplotype and cognitive measures at age 8 years in either boys or girls. The regression analysis for cognition at age 15 years identified associations between rs737865 and AH4 verbal ability (β = −0.106, SE = 0.049, p = 0.031), and reading comprehension (β = −0.098, SE = 0.049, p = 0.044), but only in boys (Fig. 1). Boys with CC genotype had higher scores than those–carriers of T allele (both p's < 0.05). None of the findings survived p-value correction for multiple testing (α-level = 0.0033).
There were no associations between this SNP and level of cognitive functions in girls. Sex differences were tested by interaction terms but found not to be statistically significant at α-level of 0.0033: p for sex interaction = 0.13 and 0.09 for verbal ability and reading comprehension, respectively. There were no associations between diplotypes and any of the individual cognitive tests at age 15 years using linear (Table 2) or curvilinear (Supplementary Table 2) regression models.
The effect of pubertal stage on the associations between rs737865 and reading comprehension and verbal ability was then tested. In boys, we observed the similar effects of the SNP on verbal ability (β = −0.123, SE = 0.051, p = 0.016) and reading comprehension (β = −0.110, SE = 0.051, p = 0.031) in those who reached puberty by age 15 years. There were no associations between rs737865 and either verbal ability (β = 0.062, SE = 0.124, p = 0.62) or reading comprehension (β = −0.026, SE = 0.127, p = 0.84) in prepubescent boys. There was no statistically significant difference between prepubescent and pubescent groups: p-values for the puberty interaction tests were 0.18 and 0.17 for verbal ability and reading comprehension respectively.
We tested for the longitudinal effect of COMT rs737865, rs165599 and diplotype on cognition using SEM model for boys and girls (Fig. 2 for rs737865). Individual cognitive tests were modelled as components of global cognition at both ages. Results of modelling to test for measurement invariance of global cognitive measures showed that the less restrictive model demonstrated a good fit to the data (chi2 = 512.944, df = 34, CFI = 0.980, TLI = 0.968, RMSEA = 0.080). The second model with more restrictive equal factor loadings across gender groups showed even better fit indices due to model parsimony (chi2 = 560.089, df = 40, CFI = 0.979, TLI = 0.970, RMSEA = 0.076), supporting the invariance of factor loadings across gender groups. This provided a sufficient condition for comparison of the COMT SNP association with global cognitive measures across both genders. A multiple group SEM model was fitted with rs737865 as predictor of the global cognition (TLI = 0.971, CFI = 0.979, RMSEA = 0.065). The results of the SEM estimation suggested the effect of rs737865 on general cognition at age 15 in boys only (Table 3; Fig. 2), although the results of the Wald test for gender group differences in the structural regression paths were non-significant (χ2 = 2.19, p = 0.14).
Stratified analysis showed that the association between rs737865 and global cognition at age 15 was significant in pubescent (β = −0.11, SE = 0.05, p = 0.037), but not in prepubescent (β = −0.01, SE = 0.16, p = 0.96) boys, although the Wald test revealed that the differences by developmental stage were not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.34, p = 0.56).
The results of the SEMs for rs165599 and diplotype provided no evidence for the association with cognitive function at age 8 or 15 years (Table 3).
After correcting for multiple testing, the present study failed to demonstrate a significant effect of the five COMT SNPs on cognition in boys and girls at ages 8 and 15 years, providing little evidence that COMT variation can have an effect on cognitive abilities in childhood and adolescence.
However, several limitations should be taken into account when interpreting the present findings. Losses to follow-up and missing data are unavoidable in long running birth cohort studies such as the NSHD. There were differences in cognitive measures between those with DNA and those without DNA. This potentially could lead to underestimation of the effect of the COMT gene on cognition. However, that would be the case if the association operates differently in those with lower scores of cognitive abilities. We did not formally test for population stratification; however the 1946 birth cohort represents the general population of Britain of the middle of 20th century, which is of white Caucasian origin.
The strength of the study is its representative large sample. Yet, given the small number of prepubescent adolescents, there might still not be enough power to detect the small effect of the COMT individual SNPs or diplotypes in the groups stratified by pubertal status at age 15 years. In light of the possibility of the Type II error, the present results should be interpreted with caution. Indeed, the effect sizes of the original regressions were small (<1% of the common variance), and the results did not withstand correction for multiple testing.
Another strength of the study is the longitudinal analysis of the COMT gene in cognitive function using the SEM approach. The SEM approach allows for greater precision in phenotype measurement due to correction for measurement error in the cognitive outcomes, which may otherwise have reduced the statistical power to detect any robust associations with these genes (van der Sluis et al., 2012)
Before applying Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, only one COMT SNP, rs737865, was associated with verbal cognition in pubescent boys at age 15. Therefore, our finding did not confirm the results in the ALSPAC cohort showing a significant effect of COMT rs4680 on verbal IQ in pubescent boys (Barnett et al., 2007). The results of the analysis of COMT diplotypes on cognitive functions in children were not statistically significant and did not confirm the previous findings of curvilinear association between COMT diplotypes and cognition in ALSPAC cohort (Barnett et al., 2008).
We believe that testing for the effect of the COMT gene on various cognitive abilities is important for several reasons. It has been demonstrated that COMT protein has the strongest effect on the dopamine neurotransmission in the PFC, the brain region that plays an important role in a wide variety of cognitive functions, including cognitive control and IQ (Green et al., 2012). Moreover, performances on diverse tests of cognitive function tend to correlate; this underlying covariance represents general cognitive ability (‘g’). It is therefore logical that COMT could affect general intelligence as well as specific executive tasks (Duncan et al., 2000)
In our study, we were able to test the effect of the COMT gene on cognitive abilities at different developmental stages. It has been reported, that the heritability of general cognitive ability increases significantly and linearly from childhood through young adulthood (Haworth et al., 2010). In line with this observation, a recent study of 6–20-year-olds showed that visuospatial working memory capacity exhibited an age by genotype interaction with a benefit of the Met allele emerges during adolescence (Dumontheil et al., 2011).
The level of a reproductive hormone oestrogen, which down-regulates COMT transcription (Xie et al., 1999), increases during puberty in girls. This suggests that adolescence is an important developmental period, when the sex difference in COMT activity emerges (Xie et al., 1999), and the effect of COMT on cognitive abilities between boys and girls differentiates. Therefore, adolescence can be an important period when the sex difference in COMT activity emerges, and the effect of COMT on cognition between boys and girls differentiates. However, our study was not able to confirm the effect of COMT variation in adolescent girls or boys at age 15. It remains unclear whether the previously reported age-specific effect may be due to puberty. The puberty-by-gene interaction effects were not significant in boys, and there is a lack of power in our study since the group of prepubescent boys is small. On the other hand, many developmental changes may occur between ages 8 and 15 years, and young people are exposed to influences from many environmental factors. Therefore, we cannot exclude possible genotype-environment interaction on cognition. Recently, epigenetic mechanism for the interaction of the COMT with lifetime stress has been discovered: the greater stress led to lower methylation of the Val158 that was related to reduced cortical efficiency during a cognitive task (Ursini et al., 2011). Future studies will need to address these issues by employing longitudinal designs, using repeated measures of cognitive functions, and exploring the effects of specific DNA variants in interaction with environmental factors on trajectory of changes across cognitive development.
In conclusion, the present longitudinal study provides some evidence that COMT variation may affect cognitive function in a sex or developmental stage-specific manner. Further studies are necessary in order to make stronger conclusions.
References
The following are the supplementary data to this article:
(mmc1.docx)
We wish to thank all the survey members for their participation. This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust [to M.R., P.B.J., D.G, and T.J.C.], Medical Research Council [to D.G., M.R.], and the Department of Health (NIHR) [Career Scientist Award to T.J.C.]. Dr. Barnett is an employee of Cambridge Cognition, Ltd.; and she is also a co-inventor on patent PCT/GB2005/003279 (methods for assessing psychotic disorders). Prof. Jones has received research grant support from GlaxoSmithKline; he has received a speaker's honorarium from Eli Lilly; and he is a co-inventor on patent PCT/GB2005/003279 (methods for assessing psychotic disorders). Drs. Gaysina, Xu, Croudace, Wong and Richards report no competing interests.
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Birmingham Conservation Trust
Birmingham Conservation Trust works to find imaginative and sustainable solutions for historic buildings in the City that are threatened with dereliction and decay. With its charitable status, the Trust can draw in funds from Lottery and other charitable trusts to tackle buildings no one else will touch and in the process create attractive places to work, live and play.
The Trust also has an educational remit to promote an understanding and awareness of Birmingham's architectural heritage. It does this through talks, lectures and running open days at relevant properties. In this way it remains close to the local communities, who have an interest in the buildings being restored.
The group is run by a board of trustees with a wide range of skills, who represent interest groups in the City and the City Council Planning Department. Once projects are completed any proceeds are ploughed back into future projects.
In recent years the Trust has:
Saved the last courtyard of Back to Backs in Birmingham.
In 2004 the Trust completed an exciting and ambitious scheme to rescue the last courtyard of Back to Backs in the city and secure their future. The Trust raised over .8 million and undertook a complete programme of repairs.
The buildings were then handed over to the National Trust who has taken on the long term management. The project, which featured in a five-part documentary by Carlton TV, has been an outstanding success, drawing in over 40,000 visitors in the first year, becoming a focus for community links and attracting a number of prestigious awards.
Completed a feasibility study for Perrott Folly, Edgbaston.
This magnificent seven story Grade II* listed 18th century tower had serious structural problems and needed a new use to secure its future maintenance. However, this is not an easy project as the rooms are small and the stairs are steep and difficult. Working with the local community, the Trust has completed a detailed study, which explored all available options. As an immediate result of the study, the Trust undertook emergency repairs.
Developed a scheme to open Newman Brothers Coffin Works to the public.
Newman Brothers is a most unusual survival of a Victorian coffin fittings factory, complete with all its machinery and much of its stock. In its heyday the company exported its goods across the world and their name is a byword for the highest quality coffin handles and shrouds.
Listed Grade II* by English Heritage in 2000, the factory was under serious threat of re-development but following an application from the Trust to Advantage West Midlands, the regional development agency bought the factory and agreed to fund Birmingham Conservation Trust to implement a mixed use scheme, whereby the most interesting parts would be opened to the public and the remaining areas converted into offices to generate income for the public parts. This is now the Trust major priority and is likely to costs approximately £2.5 million.
Improved the capacity of the Trust.
The Trust has continued to increase its capacity to undertake its challenging work. Not only has the Board has been strengthened by the introduction of several new active members with appropriate skills but staffing hours have also been increased.
Thanks to the huge publicity and success of the Back to Back project the Trust has been transformed from a relatively unknown organisation to one is recognised regionally and nationally.
The Trust website contains full information on all aspects of the trust work.
Priorities for the Future
- Continue to develop partnerships with local communities and other organisations in the City to facilitate the repair and renewal of buildings at risk
- Full develop and implement the Newman Brothers Coffin Works scheme
- Continue to raise awareness of the potential of the City buildings for re-use and regeneration
- Encourage access and enjoyment of Birmingham historic buildings by opening them to the public
Last Updated : 5th September 2012 |
Winter Fuel Payments
Debt Advice Team - Birmingham City Council
A Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free payment paid to help with the cost of winter fuel bills. It is paid to people of the qualifying age (in general, anyone aged 60 or over). Winter Fuel Payments do not depend on how cold the weather gets.
WHO CAN GET A WINTER FUEL PAYMENT
People aged 60 or over and who are normally resident in the UK during the qualifying week in September in any year. There are a few circumstances where payment does not apply, for example, you were not resident in the UK during the qualifying week, you were resident in a care home, you were previously in hospital for 52 weeks as an inpatient, or you were subject to immigration control – if you are not sure whether or not you should be getting a Winter Fuel Payment you should consult either the Winter Fuel Payments Helpline or an independent advice agency.
HOW MUCH IS A WINTER FUEL PAYMENT
The rate of the Winter Fuel Payment is usually announced in the summer before the qualifying week in September. The payment is made at various rates between £125 - £400 depending on your circumstances. The payment is normally made either directly into your bank account or by cheque sent to your address.
If you are not sure which rate of Winter Fuel Payment you are entitled to, you should consult an experienced adviser. There are other payments that are only paid when the weather reaches a certain temperature, called Cold Weather Payments. These are made to people on some income related benefits during cold weather. If you think you should have received Cold Weather Payments, you should contact your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus.
HOW TO GET A WINTER FUEL PAYMENT
If you successfully claimed a Winter Fuel Payment in a previous year and your circumstances have not changed, you do not need to make a claim again.
If you think you may be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment you should request an application form from the Winter Fuel Helpline 0845 9151515.
CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES
It's important to tell the office that deals with your payments if:
- you move home
- someone moves into or out of your household
- you change your bank account details
- you stop getting benefits except Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Child Benefit
- there are any other change of circumstances.
This will ensure you continue to get the right payment and you are kept informed of any changes.
HELPLINE
The Winter Fuel Payments helpline is on 0845 9151515. You can use this helpline for any queries you have about Winter Fuel Payments, or to find out what is happening if you are expecting a payment and it is late.
PROBLEMS WITH PAYMENTS
If you have made a claim for a Winter Fuel Payment and do not get one, or get less than you think you should, you can challenge the decision which has been made on your claim. If you have not made a claim, you should get in touch with the Winter Fuel Payments helpline and ask for a formal decision to be made. Once you have a decision, you can ask the office to look at the decision again or you can appeal. If you are not happy with the service provided by the Winter Fuel Payments helpline or the Pension Service because of mistakes or delays or any other issue, you can complain. You can do this whether or not you also want to challenge a decision. You should also consult an independent advisor to assist you with this.
FURTHER INFORMATION and type Winter Fuel Payment in the search box. and search for SB16 A Guide to the Social Fund
If you require advice on the best course of action to take to deal with your debts contact the Debt Advice Line on 0121 303 2087
You can download this information in our Factsheet format here: |
Published on 29th March 2012 by Gareth Halfacree
EVGA's new warranty policy, due for announcement early next month, brings some welcome new extras for customers.
More like this: Custom PC magazine - 3 issues for £1
Originally Posted by mattbaileyMore importantly, if you have family in the USA, you can get a GTX 680 for US$499, send it over and retain the warranty, and US$499 is £314 :D
Originally Posted by mattbaileyship them marked as a gift!
Goods sent as a gift that are over £40 in value are liable to import VAT.
Originally Posted by r3loadedNice, it'll be an EVGA card for me when it's time to upgrade!
Originally Posted by faugusztinGood luck with that. For stuff woth more than 30-40 euros you will pay VAT even if the sender marked it as a gift.
Originally Posted by bdigitalcha-ching!!
Originally Posted by faugusztinQuote:Originally Posted by mattbaileyship them marked as a gift!
Good luck with that. For stuff woth more than 30-40 euros you will pay VAT even if the sender marked it as a gift.
Quote:Goods sent as a gift that are over £40 in value are liable to import VAT.
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cha-ching!!
Now, if only they'd release an overclockable Ivybridge-E chip to go in their SR-X board, I'll be queuing up...
Asus and Gigabyte.... take note!!! This is how you build a loyal customer-base.
I'll be taking a closer look at them next time I go to upgrade.
Good luck with that. For stuff woth more than 30-40 euros you will pay VAT even if the sender marked it as a gift.
I have had a couple of items slip the import VAT net in the past - but not many. Maybe worth the risk as you aren't losing anything - if you do get stung then you are paying the same price as you would over here anyway ;)
Hmmm. Didnt know that! Oh well. Stuck with rip off UK plc prices! When can I emigrate?
I love EVGA! EVGA FTW!
Sorry, just had to get that out of my system having seen that!
Ummm, how come I typed in "F-T-W" (Had to put in the dash otherwise it makes it Cheesecake for some reason LOL) and it came out as Cheesecake?
Thanks Brumgrunt and Bit-Tech for bringing this to my attention!
Yep, that's an awesome way to gain more customers.
Mine will be hand delivered :D
Having a good warranty goes a long way for me.
Yea plus postage and VAT / import duties.
More like WTF :'(
Then value the card less than £40 (who's to say you are wrong, it could be faulty, or presumed faulty). Though if the postman 'loses' it or it's damaged in transit, you won't be covered for more than £40. A risk perhaps worth taking, maybe not, since the warranty won't cover your shipper dropping it.
Also, assuming you have relatives in a place with cheaper stuff, you might visit them once in a while or vice versa. So carry it in the luggage, gift wrap it, and value it <£40 and chance your arm at 'nothing to declare'.
The net of the inland revenue is pretty lose, and you can often dodge it just by trying. I've even bought things from Thailand DDU (duty unpaid) and we've only paid taxes for it once out of a number of times.
If you think of the amount of times you've gone abroad with electronic kit in your bag (potentially expensive), who is to say it isn't brand new, or that you brought it with you to start with? The taxman is ruthless, but he isn't 'that' clever. |
Psychic Guidance by Mystic Rachel the answers I see can bring some light into their world that is all I can hope for, I not only want to illuminate and provide clarity but I want to help and to guide – allow me to unlock the doors to your spiritual self and help clear away any uncertainty in life.
I have been blessed with the gift of spiritual sight and an immense understanding of the metaphysical aspect of life and because of the responsibility of this gift, I have spent the past decade mastering my abilities through extensive daily meditation and ascension, raising my own vibration so that I could reach out to others.
This is my life’s calling and a very treasured blessing that has been very cherished throughout my lineage.
I am a top-rated, reputable psychic – I provide my services with not only integrity but also warmth and compassion and hope to instill truth to my querents.
I am a Gifted Claircognizant Psychic and Empathic Medium. A practiced Divinatory Master, Reiki Practitioner and Lightworker. As well as an experienced advisor. but most of all; a true friend. I am genuine and caring and give my all in my readings – I have helped thousands of people throughout my career and plan to help many more!, and applying various Buddhist methods of achieving a more balanced and enlightened spirit.
I’ve been reading professionally since 2002 and have been aware of my purpose since I was a young girl; Mysticism, Divination, White Magick and Homeopathy were ongoing practices by family throughout my upbringing. indepth that would be a response to in-session Reiki treatments.
I Provide Past-Life Readings and Analysis, this has been very illuminating even in my own life and it can help you reaffirm you own destiny and true purpose in life as well as the state of your spirit.
and I can help guide you to understanding what Elements, Colours, Crystals or Materials to balance your metaphysical self and bring about whatever outcome you desire(Love, Success, Luck, Health etc).
Allow me to help you to remedy your spiritual life and see what a difference it can make in your physical life – We all need help and guidance and it is my calling to assist in all matters of spiritual well-being!
Professional Counseling > Relationships
Spirituality & Religion > Psychic Medium & Healing
Languages: English
Media: Audio Call,
Twitter name: MysticRachel
Local Time: (GMT-05:00) May 18, 2013, 06:22AM
Location: USA (Find on Google Maps)
Last seen: about 4 hours ago
396 Reviews: 394 Excellent 2 Satisfactory 0 Unsatisfactory
meh really general
Advisor's response: In-depth as I could be with what I saw - Call back for a free clarification reading. :) |
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Exclusive Interviews
Exclusive | BJ Penn Transcript Part 4 | Rematching Tri-Star A Priority, "At The Time I Didn't Want Those Other Fights, I Wanted GSP After UFC 94" | UFC NEWS
Fans look forward to UFC 152 where Rory MacDonald faces the future Hall of Famer BJ Penn. They participate on Just Scrap Radio Episode 8 to ask the everlasting question on BJ Penn’s cardio. BJ explains the cardio issue can get complicated with over training and taking fights on short notice.
BJ Penn fan wrote on facebook: “Please ask BJ what he’s doing with his cardiovascular training? I’m a huge BJ Penn fan it’s hard to watch BJ in a lot of his fights because he can gas the 2nd round. His cardio was Couture like when he trained with Marinovich. Is there any chance he will go back to Marinovich training?”
BJ Penn:
“There has been some fights I’ve taken on short notice. I’ve come in there and I haven’t been in shape but a lot of the times – and no one is gonna buy this – the mistake I made is that I’ve worked out too much and I use all my energy by the time I get to the fight – I’m so burnt out from listening to 10 different coaches and listening to 10 different coaches argue with each other. The training camp starts and I can spar, I can go 10 rounds a couple of weeks before the fight I can’t even go the 1st round. That’s just different mistakes that everybody collectively as a team. It’s tough with a person from the outside to gauge what that guy is doing but if your fighter ends up going to a fight with an injury or over trained or whatever it maybe. A lot of coaches don’t want to take the blame but I would have to think that’s the coach’s fault.
You almost want to tell a guy when you hire them, because a lot of people they walk up to you all the time and they say ‘c’mon I can do this, this, this and I can make you so great and I can do this and that’ and I want to tell them ‘And if you don’t? And if you don’t and we fail – can you pay me? Can you give me the money that I’m going to lose?’ you know what I mean ‘why don’t we put your money as deposit? That’s how I feel about different coaches that come up to me and say ‘I can help you this and that’ I just want to tell em ‘If it doesn’t go as you say – you pay me whatever money that we lose – if something goes wrong. ’ I don’t know how many coaches will put their money on the line for that.
On another note talking about Marinovich, Marinovich is a great coach, great trainer. He knows how to train a lot of different sports and I definitely learned a lot from Marinovich over the time. A lot of people talk about those fights the Kenny Florian and Diego fights. And people ask different things, to tell you the truth that Kenny Florian fight was after the GSP fight and I was so embarrassed by the way everything went. One day I’m beating Sean Sherk and I’m the best fighter on the planet and I got a bad fight with GSP and everybody’s saying ‘ah, you’re making excuses. You aint good’ I was just so motivated coming out of the gates for that. I wanted to fight Kenny Florian, fight Diego. Dana White was taking to me about putting on another fight with GSP after the Diego fight. To tell you the truth I never wanted to fight Frankie Edgar, Matt Hughes, Jon Fitch and Nick Diaz. I wanted my revenge for UFC 94 when that all went down because that was big news at the time. I didn’t even want to fight those other fights. Those were just fights I was doing. I don’t even know why I was doing those fights. I was just fighting because I just hate to sit at home and sit on the couch but that’s just everything that happened. I’m not sitting here just obsessing about the whole thing with whatever controversy happened at the 94. Like I said that’s the past. I got nothing to say on that – all that is done at this point.
I got a lot of offers with other guys to fight but when I got the offer from Rory. I’m thinking ‘Good, I get to fight that brain of Tri-Star gym. ‘a lot of it is Faraz. They got a good thing going up there. They got a good team. They’re making a lot of waves. They’ve got St Pierre who’s going to go down as the greatest welterweight in history. They got another guy who they say ‘This is him. This is who’s going to be the champion.’ I don’t know – Like I said ‘I’m not thinking about any belts but I’m pretty good myself. I want to show them. I want to show the world that you’re not just gonna walking in and kick my butt for 4 rounds – no ways! You’re going to the hospital too. If I go to the hospital – you’re going to the hospital too.”
You hear fellow UFC Champion Jens Pulver in the background proudly saying “My boy, my boy” as BJ Penn finishes his sentence.
BJ Penn has more to say just<<
thanks for setting the record straight for all the critics
I don’t buy BJ’s reasoning for only winning 1 of his last 5 fights. If BJ wanted to avenge his loss to GSP, I don’t understand why BJ would be unmotivated to fight Fitch or Diaz. Cause if he wins against those two guys, he is next in line to fight GSP. So by that logic, why would BJ be motivated now to fight Rory? I just don’t believe it. Something else was and is going on. This makes no sense to me.
If I may, I’d like to give my take on all this. You see until UFC94, BJ had never been dominated like he was by GSP. Then GSP and Faraz came out afterwards and gloated about how they broke down BJ’s game and came up with a gameplan to beat him, including all the greasegate stuff and all. Just a bunch of poor sportsmanship in rubbing his nose in it and patting themselves on the back. Bullshit character moves. Now BJ being a warrior first and a fighter second, did not like what happened and wanted to rectify the mistakes made in his preparation for that fight. But there was no way White was going to allow BJ another GSP fight soon so he decided to beat up the 55ers for awhile and look to ww later.
Now he fights Edgar, how could anybody get up to fight Edgar at that time??? So then he takes a break and sees his chance to get back to the ww but White tells him he has to fight a few top guys. But he is in the later part of his career and wants GSP. I believe that he told us the truth and he wastn’t motivated to work hard to beat them. Let;s face it he was beating everyone of them until late rounds.
Now Rory challenges him and Rory is a big heir apparent to GSP. So it gives him a chance to beat not only Rory, but Faraz and GSP. He also knows that when he beats Rory, he is Condit, Kampmann away from GSP.
anyways that’s what I think….
It’s Firas not Faraz.
So he went to Welterweight, and knew that if he beat the contenders put before him who could get a shot at GSP but couldn’t get worked up to do it… But that if he beats Rory he is two fights away from another fight so that will motivate him? That makes as much sense as a healthy deep fried Mars Bar. It is illogical.
And for the record, at no stage in the Diaz fight was he winning that fight.
dude, he won the first round, go and watch the fight, he took Diaz to the ground and took his back! what are you talking about?
+1 |
By Aiyana Ma’at
One of the best things I’ve learned to do to get my feelings out (especially when I’m feeling a whole lot) when I’m upset with Ayize is this: Write A Love Letter. It may seem counterintuitive. I mean when you’re mad or disappointed who feels like writing a Love Letter, right? I certainly don’t…but it works so I do it anyway. So, just how does it work and what does it do? Well, it does 3 things.
#1 It helps me to release (and stop holding onto) all of the feelings I’m having.
If you’re anything like me you can hold a grudge like nobody’s business. When I’m mad…I’m not kinda mad. I’m UPSET and I can run through whatever happened, how wrong my husband is, and why i’m so upset a million times in my head…over and over. It’s not helpful and it sure ain’t healthy but it has become a habit (a bad one) and so to interrupt the vicious cycle of “I’m mad, I have a right to be mad, and let me tell you why” playing like a broken record in my head I write so that I can just put my feelings down on paper, get them out, and see them in front of me. There’s something about seeing your pain on paper that helps to bring perspective to whether or not a feeling is what I say it is or whether or not it goes deeper than that (meaning Ayize has kicked up something in me but the feeling really goes deeper than what he said or did.
#2 It allows my husband to really get into my heart and mind and understand my perception of the situation and where I’m coming from.
He usually can do that much easier when I write a Love Letter letter because he doesn’t have to deal with my tone of voice (which may not be the best and ultimately doesn’t help him understand me) or having to answer me right away. He can sit with what I’ve written for a little while so that he can give his best response instead of responding defensively or critically.
#3 It always and I mean always helps me to get beyond my anger and move to where and why I’m hurt.
It never fails I usually begin my letter with the feelings that are easier for me to identify: “I’m mad because…” I’m upset because…” but it’s not long before I begin to tap into the deeper places in my heart and my pen begins to write : ” I love you so much because…” or “I’m hurt because… ” or “I need you because…”
Plain and simple writing a Love Letter when you’re mad as hell is the way out of that hell of emotions and back into the love and peace that you really want and need. To find our loving feelings, many times we need to first feel all our negative feelings. Writing Love Letters automatically lessens the intensity of our negative feelings and allows us to more fully experience our positive feelings. Here are some guidelines for writing your Love Letter.
- Address the letter to your partner. Pretend that he or she is listening to you with love and understanding.
- Include all of the feelings you are feeling…anger, sadness, fear, regret, and then love.
- After each section, pause and notice the next feeling coming up. Write about that feeling.
- DO NOT stop your letter until you get to the love. Be patient and wait for the love to come out.
- Sign your name at the end. Take a few minutes to think about what you need or want. Write it in a P.S. For example, P.S. I need to know that you still enjoy being my friend and being with me like when we first got together. I want to spend more time together starting with a date this weekend.
Nothing happens on accident. If you’re reading this then you very likely need to get to writing!
And, don’t forget to write until you get to the L-O-V-E! Stop Playing Start Pushing.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Beauty sometimes have nothing to do with relation. The city of seance and the capacity of the brain is the matter. Be wise in your choice.
My hubby and I don’t happen to live in the same place right now. Was wondering if I could email my love thoughts wen am upset instead of writing it out and sending it in d mail.
I agree… I've always practiced this…when my feelings begin to overwhelm and I feel that my true feelings cannot be relayed verbally I always write letters… I've done it when in confrontations with friends and my significant other and it definitely helps me to gain perspective… but now with my next relationship I'll make sure to get to the L-O-V-E … thanks again… I just love the energy and advice you too bring… Much love and keep pushing
Baby that was beautiful. Almost as beautiful as you. Although you weren't writing this to or for me……while reading it I felt like I was sitting inside of your heart experience the simple things that make you and our love magic. I love you Queen. |
With investigations of Tennessee, Auburn, Ohio State, and Oregon taking center stage, college football fans have been given many opportunities to comment on the NCAA and its enforcement procedures. Here on Black Shoe Diaries, we've covered the Buckeye compliance issues at great length.
Despite our best efforts, we know that we aren't experts in the field - at least not yet. To help us understand the complex business of compliance and enforcement, we reached out to a person who has extensive experience in the topic - John Infante.
John Infante is the assistant director of compliance at Colorado State University. While performing the same job at
Towson University Loyola Marymount, John anonymously ran Bylaw Blog, an unofficial/opinionated guide to NCAA compliance issues. John discontinued the blog after his identity was revealed, but the site was so highly regarded that the NCAA encouraged him to continue. Now, the NCAA hosts it on its own website.
John was gracious enough to let me pick his brain on a variety of topics - the role of a compliance department, the effect of social media on college athletics, the rise of 7-on-7 club teams, and "cost of attendance" scholarship reform. And for those of you who are (or have become) serious soccer fans, there's a special bonus question for you at the end.
Like conference expansion last season, compliance has been this off-season's hot topic, even though most people know very little about it. As a compliance officer, can you elaborate a bit on what a school's compliance office actually does and how big the staff normally is?
The job of the compliance office is two-fold. First, it must maintain institutional control over and monitor the school's athletic departments. Second, like every other part of athletics administration, it must support the programs to reach their goals. So in addition to the monitoring, educating, and penalizing that gets compliance in the news, there's also an aspect of advocacy where the compliance office fights for favorable interpretations and waivers. At the BCS level, typically the staff is 3-4 people, although there are departments with 8-12. Below that, two or three is normal, with some smaller schools still having only one full-time compliance officer.
How far does a school's compliance responsibility go? When does the NCAA step in and take a larger investigative role?
When an investigation goes beyond the standard look into a potential secondary violation, there's really three ways it can go. The first is that the institution largely does the investigative work in-house. This is relatively rare at this point, and oddly enough is seen only at the largest schools with the biggest offices. Running a major infractions investigation essentially doubles a compliance office's work. So most BCS schools choose the second option, which is to hire outside counsel.
The third option is to simply throw open the doors and allow the NCAA to come in and control the investigation. This is normally not required though because of the principle of institutional control. Ultimately the institution is responsible, so it's up to the institution to do a thorough investigation if it chooses to. The NCAA's enforcement staff and the Committee on Infractions decide what a thorough investigation is though. Even if the school does the legwork, the enforcement staff will still make sure it gets what it needs from the institution.
In recent history, we've seen investigations against power programs like USC, Tennessee, Auburn, Ohio State, Georgia Tech, and even newcomers like Boise State. Is the NCAA expanding their staff and the scope of their investigations? Or is this a particularly turbulent time in college sports?
I think it's less about the expansion of the staff as it is a philosophy change. The method of focusing on areas like agents or basketball or football clearly works. It allows the NCAA staff members to build the relationships, the sources, and the leads that ultimately lead to exposing programs and people that aren't following the rules.
But there are a lot of factors outside of the NCAA's office in Indianapolis that are helping to increase the number of schools facing investigation. Members of the media, most notably Dan Wetzel and Charles Robinson have their own relationships and their own sources. Social media has made it harder to keep anything beyond the smallest violations quiet. It all adds up to more leads and tips for the enforcement staff to follow.
How great of an impact has the rise of social media had on the NCAA rulebook? Are we regulating something that's nearly impossible to control?
It's changed the traditional definitions of how coaches contact recruits. It's harder to differentiate between a phone call, a text message, and a letter. The other problem is that change comes much quicker. When Facebook changed their messaging system, it didn't need to spread slowly. Every teenager adopted it immediately.
So regulating how coaches get in touch with recruits is getting impossible. You can still regulate when coaches speak to recruits, especially when they start, and that's the direction the recruiting bylaws will have to go in the future.
Does the compliance model we've laid out actually work? The NCAA is a fairly small operation, at least compared to the larger member schools like Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, and Florida. If it doesn't have subpoena power, aren't we really just counting on schools to act in good faith?
One recent trend is the adoption of a more defensive stance by some member schools facing allegations. Until a few years ago, it was difficult for a school to put up a vigorous fight against major infractions allegations. The reason was that once you had to investigate a major infractions allegation, you could either stonewall or you could actually do the investigation. No school had the resources to do both.
Now with the growth of compliance staffs and the rise of outside counsel, it is possible for a school to comply with its obligation as an NCAA member to cooperate but still put up a strong defense against the charges. It has become the classic case of the private sector having more firepower than their regulators.
Simply expanding the NCAA's enforcement staff isn't necessarily the answer, because the enforcement model is based on institutional control. To really change the enforcement model, you would need to drop or deemphasize the idea of institutional control, and change the relationship between the members and the institutions. That would be long road, but it's one that at least deserves a look at this point.
When you talk about changing the relationship between member institutions and the NCAA, what do you mean? If we mean making the process more adversarial, how much are we at risk of the power conference members throwing up their hands and withdrawing in order to start their own league?
Just because the process wouldn't be based on institutional control doesn't mean there wouldn't be cooperation. A prosecutor and a defense attorney can still work together. All the NCAA members, especially those in the power conferences, want a more consistent enforcement process. If that requires it to be more adversarial, to define roles more clearly, that's what it will take.
How can we reform the system to make enforcement more effective? Is expanding the enforcement staff the answer? Or would it be better to consider rewriting the rulebook to focus exclusively on major violations?
Just expanding the enforcement staff is not the entire answer. That said, I don't think you'll find a single person in college athletics who says the NCAA has too many or even enough people on the enforcement staff. Expanding enforcement, both in numbers and in tactics, is one part of the puzzle. And the NCAA is doing so, with new positions being hired and more staff members out in the field.
The Division I Manual is certainly overdue for an overhaul. 99% of the college sports world can agree on some core concepts. There should be some academic requirement. There should be some limit on what the institution can pay players. There should be a way for recruits to not have their lives taken over by coaches. And there should be some limit on how much coaches are allowed to ask of athletes in terms of practice.
The trouble is that when you wipe out the existing rules and try to start from just those principles, getting almost 350 very different and fiercely independent schools to agree is very hard. So hard that it might not happen. So major changes in the rulebook are less about what those changes will be and more about which schools and sports will be in the highest level of college athletics when you're done.
You were recently a guest on a podcast with CBS Sports' Mike Norlander where the two of you discussed the loosely regulated AAU model. We've previously spoken here on BSD about the rise of 7-on-7 club teams. Do these teams and tournaments really pose the same kind of problems for football recruiting that they do for basketball recruiting, or are we making a mountain out of a molehill?
Long-term, I'm of the belief that 7-on-7 poses a greater threat for problems in its current state than AAU basketball. In the short term though there's one major limiting factor: it's not real football. AAU is not just real basketball, in some ways it is superior to high schools basketball since top players regularly play with and against other top players. Right now 7-on-7 is just another place where "third parties" might latch onto a recruit. But it's far from the only place that can happen.
What troubles me about 7-on-7 is that it represents the first step toward real club football. Having figured out how to get football players playing and visible during the offseason, the next step is to have them playing the real thing. The problem is the physical toll of football is too much to have both high school and club football. So while AAU basketball exists alongside high school basketball, I'm confident that club football will eventually replace high school football. And if that happens with no regulation or structure in place, it will be the Wild West.
With the 7-on-7 model still in its formative stages, is it possible for the NCAA (maybe in partnership with the NFL) to be the regulating body for club football?
That would be difficult. The NCAA isn't a youth sports organization, so it's not part of the NCAA's expertise to run a national youth or high school-aged football league. It's not in the NFL's wheelhouse either, unfortunately. And there's less chance of club football teams producing players that can jump to the NFL. The NFL and NCAA will need to be partners for a real national club football structure to exist, but their role is more to favor that structure in how they scout and select players rather than to actually run it.
You've spoken a bit about competitive equity, which is obviously a concern for programs in non-BCS leagues. In a related topic, several conferences have begun discussing increasing scholarship amounts to cover "cost of attendance." What kind of impact would this proposal have on teams in smaller leagues, or even smaller schools in the BCS conferences themselves?
The greatest impact is likely to be felt in Division I's "middle class," that is the schools you mentioned plus the FCS. The reason is that any proposal would be targeted at football, and a school that does not sponsor football doesn't have to come up with a quarter million dollars for one team. So non-football schools are well positioned to weather or even profit from these proposals.
It's hard to say what the impact will be without seeing a full proposal. There are five or six different ways to have cost-of-attendance scholarships, and the price tag varies wildly. That said, the impact on competitive equity is likely to be felt more in nonrevenue sports than in football or basketball. Schools will come up with the money for football, men's basketball, and any Title IX obligation that results. But whether they can find the money for baseball, soccer, and hockey is another story.
One look at Bylaw Blog's Twitter account and you know how passionate you are about soccer. Jurgen Klinsmann - best possible hire for the Men's National Team?
Absolutely, especially at this time. Klinsmann was always something of a dream hire because he has a European pedigree but understands the current American system and the American player. He's a not a miracle worker or a sure thing, but as US Soccer transitions to a more European development system with the US Soccer Development Academy league and the MLS academies, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who understands both and has senior national team management experience.
Thanks to John for all of his insight. He's full of information and a pleasure to speak with. Make sure you visit the Bylaw Blog () and follow him on Twitter (@BylawBlog).
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TweetWorks Focuses Twitter on The Conversations
Tweetworks is another service that works on top of Twitter to try and make it just a little more useful for you. If you’ve ever tried to have a conversation with a group of people on Twitter, you may already know how hard it can be. There is a reply feature on Twitter, but you can only reply to one person. I’m sure you’ve seen tweets with seventeen different names included as “@” replies:
@aroundharlem @sistory @iluvblackwomen @soulpwr Check out my #blk group on Tweetworks!
You may even do this yourself. The problem is that everyone after @aroundharlem in the above example is not going to get the message under normal circumstances.
Groups and Threaded Conversations
This is where Tweetworks comes in. You can create and join groups around the topics that interest you. I created a #blk group that you can join as an example.
When you send a message to a group or reply to a message in a group, the message can also be sent out to Twitter as usual. It will include a link back to the original conversation. This allows anyone following you to click the link and join the discussion on Tweetworks. The conversations in Tweetworks are threaded, so it’s simple to follow what’s going on even when multiple people are involved.
In addition to posting to groups, you can also post public messages to Tweetworks to take advantage of it’s threading feature. You also have the option to moderate comments and give props by clicking the “BINGO!” star next to each comment.
Make Twitter Manageable
My mom recently informed me that she didn’t see the point of Twitter. The fact that the conversations had no context made it useless for her. Nobody was talking about anything interesting. Tweetworks makes Twitter more useful for those of us that are sometimes overwhelmed by things we don’t care about, AKA the noise. Just browse the groups, join one you like, and tweet away. You’re still participating on Twitter, but you’re only seeing what you want to see, having the discussions you want to have.Category: Social Networking, Trends, web 2.0 | Tags: #blck, tweetworks, twitter
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thanks for the info. I see twitter tools all the time, but not sure which ones work. I'll give this one a run.
WB
Rahsheen, you dear brothalove are a consistent techie life saver. Now I know what this tool is all about. Thank you for helping me organize my content and Twitter for 2009. I just joined TweetWorks and set up discussion groups for my two social networking sites and radio shows. Peace and Joy, Ananda
I appreciate your hard work Rahsheen thanks i have a huge plan to market the group believe me it will be used! A lot of stuff will be focused around Black History Month 09 |
Real Scenes – New York
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Decibel Festival 2013 Lineup has seen it’s first wave of artists. For 2013 Decibel Festival will be celebrating 10 years taking place September 25-29, 2013, Seattle, WA. They will be breaking the artist announcements up into three equal parts. The second announcement will be on June 4th and the third and final announcement will be on August 6th. The majority of the headliners will be coming on the second or third announcements.
Filed under: Music,Music EventsTags: Decibel Festival 2013, Electronic Music, Techno. Comments (0) Saturday Schedule
Movement 2013 Sunday Schedule
Movement 2013 Monday Schedule
Filed under: Movement-DEMF,Music,Music EventsTags: DEMF 2013, Electronic Music, Movement 2013, Music Festivals, Techno. Comments leave your opinion on the Movement 2013 After Parties selection, Please Leave a Comment.
Filed under: Movement-DEMF,Music,Music EventsTags: DEMF 2013, Electronic Music, House, Movement 2013, Music Festivals, Techno. Comments (6).
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Sandwell District is Dead. I knew something was up when the former record label/collective tumblr site started a random string of posts on February 4th, 6th, 9th and the final on the 27th with the above photo. Each post was blank with a reduction in the name of the site name WhereNext? until ending in just ? Each building the anticipation for what was happening next? Maybe the label was being re-instated since Sandwell District called it quits on December 31st, 2011. That was their official ending of regular audio communications from the label. But still promised a few performances from Sandwell District Live (Regis + Function).
Since then there have been a few Sandwell District Live performances and the tumblr site has released semi-regular communications in the form of mix tapes, past interviews and audio clips, releases on Downwards, announcements of live performances and releases from SD members including some from Regis, Silent Servent, Function and the return of British Murder Boys (Regis + Surgeon), and of course the occasional photographic art.
So what does DEAD mean? Sandwell District was once dead before, a long time ago before it involved anyone besides Regis. It was reborn and became a prolific addition to the modern era of techno. Given the way the label has been go genius-ly loosely handled… who the fuck knows… and that’s what makes it great. Till next time Sandwell District.
MUTEK 2013 Montreal will take place May 29th – June 2nd, 2013 and will include the lineup below.
The MUTEK 2013 Lineup has seen it’s first wave of headliners. Announced a little early this year for the festival of digital creativity and electronic music’s 14th edition. MUTEK 2013 Montreal dates are from May 29 to June 2, 2013, taking place over 5 days. The presale of passports and weekend passes – available at reduced rates and in limited quantities – has also began. The MUTEK PASSPORT will give access to the festival’s entire line-up and the WEEKEND PASS will give access to all events from Friday, May 31st to Sunday, June 2nd inclusively. The discounted rates only last until March 31st. Many more names will be added to this list in the weeks to come, most notably the crop of selected local and Canadian artists. Please leave comments on the MUTEK Montreal 2013 Lineup.
[Update] - Pantha du Prince & The Bell Laboratory and Borderland (Juan Atkins and Moritz von Oswald) added to the lineup.
[Update] – MUTEK 2013 Schedule starts to take shape (below).
Friday, May 31:
Saturday, June 1:
Sunday, June 2:
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DEMF 2013 Lineup – Movement 2013 Lineup Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 have all been announced from Paxahau. The dates for Movement 2013, Detroit’s Electronic Music Festival, were announced back in September, again taking place in Hart Plaza, Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27, 2013 and now it’s time for the DEMF 2013 lineup. This years 2013 Movement Lineup looks amazing. There seems to be a few changes from the Movement 2012 Lineup with more of a focus on true techno in 2013.
Bringing back Ben Klock and Marcel Dettmann for a back to back set as in 2011, UK involvement with legendary Luke Slater as Planetary Assault Systems (Live) and Dave Clarke, Tommy Four Seven, Mike Parker, lots of west coast techno with both Silent Servant and Rrose from Sandwell District, Drumcell, Truncate, mid-west representation from DVS1, Carl Craig and the return of Richie Hawtin, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson to headline the electronic music festival.
Notable additions to the Movement 2013 Phase 3 lineup include: Lucy, Dubfire, Squarepusher – Live, MOBY – Dj Set, Deadbeat, Magda, Reference – Live, Annie Hall and Cajmere. The full alphabetical lineup is below.
More information on Movement 2013 Pre Parties and DEMF 2013 After Parties. Please leave us your comments on Movement 2013.
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Here’s our Best Music Podcast 2012 Part 2, focusing only on the second half of the year. Check out the Best Music Podcasts Part 1 for the first six months of 2012. To define our focus we like to concentrate on podcast series, not just one off mixes. Though as in part 1 we’ve added a new section at the bottom that includes free promotional dj mixes not available on a podcast series. We also ensure these are lasting mixes, ones that not only impress us on the first listen, but every listen throughout the year. We also will admit to possibly not listening to every music podcast from 2012, so if have some suggestions on sets that did not make it on the list, please – leave us a comment. These podcasts are ordered according to release date and podcast series.
This mix from Donato Dozzy, along with mixes from Svreca, Morphosis, Bill Kouligas and Peter Van Hoesen marked the end of a legacy. These were the final mixes from the MNML SSGS mix series as well as the blog itself, which found it’s way as a respected electronic music blog with a number of loyal readers over the years. Upon starting this mix I was expecting to hear the deep, beautiful, atmospheric techno the Italian producer is known for. What I found was delightfully unexpected and much more than I anticipated. This best music podcast 2012 is a mix of strictly hand drums vocals – and I’m a sucker for well crafted hand drum sets.
Untold is now known as one of the UK’s most vital DJs, producers and label managers. This made it onto the best music podcasts for 2012 because it’s a stellar mix with loads of outstanding recent techno cuts: none shining more than that of his own tracks, most notably ‘Motion The Dance’ and ‘Luminous’ from the Change In A Dynamic Environment series on his own Hemlock Recordings label.
Sit back and take a journey with this best music podcast of 2012. When you awake confused and disoriented and your recent memories seem like distant dreams you’ll know you’ve entered the mind of Vessel and seen just where this new project is headed musically.
Before hearing this live set from Decibel Festival 2012 I’d never heard of wndfrm, the experimental/ambient/minimalist sound from Portland’s Tim Wescott, yet I’ve been in awe of it ever since. It’s airy, atmospheric sound blended into dub techno is a perfect fit for Seattle’s annual festival of electronic music, performance, visual art and new media. Also check out the Headphone Commute – Decibel 2012 Showcase for a sample of more brilliant sounds from the festival this year.
Marcel Fengler may be my current top techno Dj. Which is saying quite a lot given he shares a residency at the legendary Berghain club with the likes of Marcel Dettmann and Ben Klock just to name a few. It really just comes down to Fengler’s taste in music. Every set I hear he’s playing the same techno and electronica tracks I just bought and even in this age of digital djing, syncing, auto beatmatching and midi controllers, it still is really just about the basics – what makes a good Dj is his passion, track selection and connect with the listener.
This mix from Ian Lehman on the podcast series from my good friends at Blank Code is a dangerous and diverse blend while staying true to techno purists. It made it to the best music podcast 2012 list simply because I connected with it more than any other on Blank Code’s dedicated weekly podcast. Speaking of dangerous and pure check out Blank Code’s latest release BCR003 Mutate – Circle 2 EP, probably their most soulful release as of yet.
I don’t need to say much about Adam X or the Electric Deluxe Podcast as I’ve written plenty about both throughout this blog and his Electric Deluxe Podcast from last year as ADMX-71 landed on our Best Music Podcasts 2011. I just love his taste and roots in industrial music as they mirror mine so closely.
As EPM perfectly stated “The Fear Ratio (AKA James Ruskin & Mark Broom) deliver a mix of twisted electronic genius.” This mix made it on the Best Music Podcasts 2012 because simply put, it’s a history lesson in electronic music - containing not only present day heavyweights such as Shed, Rob Hood and The Fear Ratio themselves but lots of gems from the Warp and Ninja Tune labels such as Aphex Twin, Autechre and Squarepusher. Mixing a generation of electronica and techno as well as hip hop from Gang Starr might prove to be a nightmare for a lesser experienced duo, but they pull it off beautifully making this an extremely memorable set.
I suspect Xhin let it all hang out whist playing for this hometown crowd in Singapore. This live Dj Mix can only be described as a new-age, digital speed garage as he blends segments of Depeche Mode and even Whitney Houston over a slew of electronic music genre’s while also tossing in the signature style of techno he has become known for. This mix is quite different from any I’ve heard from Xhin before and is eerily reminiscent of an early Dj Dan mix tape – with, of course, new sounds and flavors.
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We’ve again compiled a short list for the Best Music Podcasts 2012. This being the first edition for 2012, focusing only on the best music podcasts in the first half of 2012. As with last year’s best music podcasts 2011, there are lots a great music podcast to choose. To define our focus we like to concentrate on podcast series, not just one off mixes. Though for 2012 we’ve added a new section at the bottom that includes free promotional dj mixes not available on a podcast series. We also ensure these are lasting mixes, ones that not only impress us on the first listen, but every listen throughout the year. That being said there are probably some great, bangin’ mixes out there from djs with loads of turntable skills. Sets that would sound amazing if we were seeing them live. But that’s not always what we’re going for here. These are dj mixes that we enjoy listening to, time and time again, at the office, on road trips and hanging out with friends. Hopefully this will give you a chance to discover you own hidden gems you may have missed in the first half of 2012. We also will not admit to listening to every music podcast from 2012, so if have some suggestions on sets that did not make it on the list, please – leave us a comment. These podcasts are ordered according to release date. Check out our Best Music Podcast 2012 Part 2.
Sawf is a local on the Perc Trax label and known for his stripped-down techno with punchy kicks and pounding bass. Check out his remix of Forward Strategy Group ‘Mandate‘ off the Labour Division EP2. You can see where he gets his aggressive style by listening to this podcast. I’m completely drawn to this mix and placed it on the Best Music Podcasts 2012 list because it takes me back to my electronic music roots. Sawf serves up dark industrial and EBM with the likes of Ministry and Nitzer Ebb. Plus he tosses in one of my favorite tracks of all time the Aphex Twin – Nine Inch Nails remix/rework ‘At The Heart Of It All’ – a beautiful fucking track. This is also one of my favorite podcast series because you never know what to expect. You hardly ever hear a set the dj would play live and the tracks always seem to mirror their early influences.
This Resident Advisor Podcast was the first I’d heard of Developer, a techno producer from L.A. and owner of the Modularz label, although he’s been a dj for 20 years. Yes he has been rocking the L.A. techno scene on and off for 2 decades but it wasn’t until last year when he created his own label and productions that he started receiving international attention. This mix is deeper techno, something that wouldn’t be uncommon from fellow L.A. techno icon and Sandwell District cohort Silent Servant, which is probably what caught my ear and landed this on the Best Music Podcats 2012 list. Developer does admit this is an unusual set for him and though he’d like to “do something different than my usual pounding 40 tracks per hour aggressive techno style.” Though the style does reflect that of his own productions and I believe he tossed in some of his unreleased material at the time.
This Resident Advisor Podcast also happened to be the first I’d heard of this artist. Airhead is a new talent from the UK, good friend and collaborator of James Blake and signed to the R&S label. This mix landed on the Best Podcasts 2012 list simply for it’s variety and freshness. It’s a fun mix to listen to. Airhead describes, “It’s a collection of some of my favorite music as well as some of my own work, roughly divided into three sections. I spent a fair amount of time trying to strike a balance between the more dance floor-oriented tracks and quieter moments.” I agree and you’ve done a nice job with that.
Dadub is a live techno act and sole mixing engineers for Lucy’s Stroboscopic Artifacts label. One of my absolute top labels currently. I love Dadub’s dubby, inventive and atmospheric approach to techno production and their unique signature found on all Stroboscopic Artifacts releases. Check out the Way to Moksha release for some of the most brilliant and thought provoking techno of 2012. This particular mix is not one of their live sets but it is definitely dubby and atmospheric and much more soothing and airy. I spent many sunny summer afternoon’s kicking it with his mix in the backyard which is why I think it is one of the best music podcasts of 2012.
ASC has been known as a drum n bass producer from the UK but in the last few years he has been pushing out perfected IDM styled techno. I think every ASC mix I hear is outstanding and this one is no exception. I listened to his RA.233 podcast from the end of 2010 for all of 2011. Every track in this set is an original except just one. This mix definitely pushes into much darker and harder territory then I’ve heard from ASC in the past.
This podcast came out just before Movement 2012, giving listeners an insightful preview to their scheduled performance at the Detroit electronic music festival. Project 313 is a duo of Detroit natives who have been putting in work djing and promoting across the Motor City for years and their production team has taken shape nicely. I’ve heard a few other Project 313 sets prior, but this one set me back and got me real excited for their set on Memorial Day. This mix starts out deep and atmospheric and builds to an energetic experience with several waves in between, just as any good set should. I felt their inspiration pouring out of this podcast and it spilled right over into their set at Movement which is how it landed on our Best Music Podcasts 2012. The duo behind this live production team also founded the Blank Code record label and run some of the best events currently in the mid-west. Their Scene parties have been bringing in some phenomenal international talent into Detroit and the Scene-Interface afterparty was one of the highlights of this years Movement festival.
Modifyer is great concept – an experimental collection that serves as a platform for artists. I like podcasts series that surprise me and that’s exactly why I love this one. This mix from Amir Alexander could have been chosen at random and given me the same satisfaction as toiling through each and every process part. This mix made the Best Music Podcasts 2012 because I can hardly stand hip hop these days. In fact I avoid it like overweight chicks in a gym class kickball team. This mix however is not that hip hop. This shit is classic. Plenty of old Outkast, Wu Tang, East Coast, West Coast, R&B and turntable skills.
I’ve not going to say much about this one. No need. Just listen and be prepared. O/V/R Live in one of the most infamous clubs in Berlin. If you don’t know, now you know.
This is a great live performance from Redshape and it exemplifies his music and style perfectly.
Filed under: Best Podcasts,MusicTags: Best Music Podcasts, Best Music Podcasts 2012, dj mixes, Electronic Music, Techno. Comments (2) |
With the end of Spring rapidly approaching, the Cubs are going to have to make a couple roster moves to get the 40-man roster in line, with the expected additions of guys like Blake DeWitt, Joe Mather, Rodrigo Lopez, and possibly another reliever. Look for some things to happen in the next couple days.
- The baseball world went extension crazy over the last few days, with the two big ones being Giants starter Matt Cain (5 years, $112.5 million) and Reds first baseman Joey Votto (10 years, $225 million). Both deals, at first glance, look huge, particularly for extensions. But I think we’re seeing the combined impact of the new CBA’s obvious efforts to funnel more money to the big league payroll side, and of new/improved sources of revenue (e.g., TV deals). These deals, at this price level, is probably the new normal. Adjust expectations accordingly. As for the particular deals, the impacts are at once obvious (Votto stays in the division for a long time, Cain isn’t available for teams like the Cubs to bid on after this season), and hard to predict (does Cain being locked up make Matt Garza more expensive in trade? or less expensive, because he’s going to cost a whole lot to sign long term? are the Reds going to regret such a long, huge commitment to Votto? or was it necessary because of the Reds’ efforts to get a new TV deal and to keep fans happy?). By the way, that beautiful picture comes courtesy of The Father-in-Law on our Spring Training trip. Best guess? Votto was telling Rolen about his new contract.
- Carlos Marmol has changed the grip on his fastball, which is allowing him to get some sink. The velocity on his fastball isn’t what it once was, so the more movement Marmol can get on it – and the more he can command it – the better. That way, he isn’t always relying exclusively on his slider (which will make his slider all the more devastating). Marmol had a rough early Spring, but has been better of late. I don’t really read too much into either half of the Spring – instead, I see a guy who lost some movement on his slider last year, lost velocity on his fastball last year, and lost confidence in his ability to throw the fastball for a strike without getting blasted last year. I need to see those things change, and I can only see that when the regular season rolls around.
- Ian Stewart and Steve Clevenger will become tremendously less valuable assets on Thursday. They turn 27 and 26, respectively, that day. Too old. Dump ‘em while they still have value. Today or tomorrow.
- Dale Sveum isn’t into huge pump-up speeches, so he’s not really expecting to give one to the Cubs this week.
- Marlon Byrd says there’s nothing like being a Chicago Cub. I still like that guy.
- Kerry Wood says the Cubs are itching to get the season started. I still like that guy.
- Baseball Nation previews the 2012 Cubs, and it sounds like many previews you’ve heard before.
- 25 years ago today, the Cubs dumped seemingly washed up pitcher Dennis Eckersley on the A’s. Oops.
- You have another day to win a pair of free tickets to the Cubs’ April 12 game against the Brewers (hopefully a nice crew of BN’ers will be there). Details here.
49 responses to “It’s an Extension Explosion and Other Bullets”
“25 years ago today, the Cubs dumped seemingly washed up pitcher Dennis Eckersley on the A’s. Oops.”
I believe they did in response to Al Campanis’ comments on Night Line the night before…
I thought it was the same day?
Votto’s extension starts in two years after his contract is up? Or is it 8years added to his current contract? Either way, he’ll be 38years old at the least at contracts end ..no thanks
in 10 years, I think $22.5 a year for a 1st baseman is going to be Carlos Pena money. Either way, he becomes the Chipper Jones of the Reds – lots of value behind that.
The guys on MLB Network this morning were talking about how overpaid Cain is – in the past 5ish years Cain is 4 games under .500 while Lincecum is 26ish over. And that, my friends, is about the only time that wins and losses matter for a starting pitcher these days, when you can compare them to a teammate over a stretch of time.
If the Giants extend Timmy in the next to years they might just have to field a AAA since I’m sure Lincecum will expect to be the highest pitchers ever.
I wonder if they’re going to let Timmy walk, and extend bumgrarner instead.
It’s certainly possible. Timmy isn’t anywhere near the pitcher he once was, with a 91-92 fastball now instead of 94-95. And he’s already facing concerns over the longterm health of his arm, cause he said yesterday that he’s scrapping his slider because it puts too much stress on his arm. His frame just isn’t built to sustain a long pitching career, and I’m sure the giants have similar concerns
“And that, my friends, is about the only time that wins and losses matter for a starting pitcher these days, when you can compare them to a teammate over a stretch of time.”
-
I still don’t think they matter. If you go to only 3 years it’s Lincecum 13 over and Cain 9 over.
And neither pitcher is the same guy they were back in 2007 and 2008. Cain is definitely better now, and Lincecum is the same but I bet you can make an argument he’s declined a tad.
But I agree with him being overpaid. (Votto too).
And that is why you do your own research before you blabber everywhere. Cain has been pretty good, 2.97 ERA over the past 3 years.
I don’t think Votto is overpaid. 30 homers, .300/.400/.500 every year – those are solid numbers. That is certainly no worse than Fielder, although Fielder will give you better power numbers but a worse glove.
Votto is not overpaid now, and won’t be for a few years. The problem is that he’s a firstbaseman, and he cannot “age down” to some other position. And, good a hitter as he is now, he (probably) will not be this good a hitter towards the end of the contract. (If the NL has DHs by then, it will be less of an issue, obviously: he still [probably] will be above average.)
This might be one advantage of signing good-hitting SS, 2B and CFers to long term contracts: they can “age down” to other positions. However, you then have to make sure that they are good hitters relative to league average, not CF or middle-infield average!
These signings are pointing to the payrolls skyrocketing in the next few years. Soon a team will have 100M a year committed to 4/5 players. By next year Soriano will look like a steal
Or he’ll think he deserves MORE money!!!
We should probably lock up Castro for 10 years/100m ASAP.
nah, go whole hog and do 20/200
I think $40M or less locks up Castro for 5-7yrs (now, before he adds 20 homers to another. 300 hitting season)
Castro’s not dumb, he knows that he’ll be worth a ton when he hits free agency, and he’ll be what like 25-27. no way he signs an extension until at least a couple years into arbitration. any extension he signs will be minimum 100 mil guaranteed and that would probably still be a steal.
He’ll barely be 28/29 on a 6 year extension. He has 4 arbitration years (maybe 3) after this 2012 season, he’s not thinking about free agency. An extension now will guarantee him $20M-$30M for his arb years at the price of losing $10M or so on a couple free agent/club option years, that he can get back when he signs the blockbuster deal at age 28/29
I think you need to look at the Justin Upton and Andrew McCutchen type contracts to see what Castro should get…
Cameron Maybin and Elvis Andrus, too. I agree.
Andrus yes, but not Maybin’s contract (he’s not as good as Castro)
& the 6yrs $51M for McCutchen&Upton is too much for Castro imo. McCutchen played a full 3yrs as a power&rbi guy before signing ..Upton did sign his extension after only 2 seasons but he also had 41 homers & easy projectable 30 homer power
The number to lock up Castro now before he adds another AllStar type season to his resume is somewhere in between Andrus’ 3yrs/$14M but much lower than $51M over six years
I think it will be much closer to the $51M than you let on there. McCutchen is 3 years older than Castro and as such, his power should be there. I could see a 6 year $42M deal getting it done but probably closer to 6/48
Castro giving up a few dollars but also potentially becoming a free agent in the middle of his peak years.
The Al Campanis Nightline appearance came a few days later. It was on April 6, 1987.
For the kids at home that do not what this about:
And here’s a great piece from ESPN OTL (the only thing worth watching on ESPN)
The Adrian Gonzales contract has always looked awesome, but as more and more of these get signed….it’s starting to look amazing.
ya, he has to be pretty ticked off he left $75M on the table
and hes the best of the bunch in my opinion. (obvioulsy pujols is amazing, but his at his age, the deal is inexplicable)
Ian and Steve’s birthdays are tomorrow (4/5) so the are not baseball old yet
AHH! Correction imminent!
Like everyone here, part of me will always wish that I could have been a big leaguer. However, at 39, people describe Chipper Jones as if he’s a wizened old man. When I was 39, I got an award for being an outstanding *young* researcher. I think that I like my “middle age” coming in my late 40′s rather than my late 20′s, thanks!
Believe me, I want to punch myself in the face every time I refer to a player in his late 20s as “older.”
(The Stewart/Clevenger bit was obviously tongue-in-cheek.)
Haha Brett, you said you like guys…
Will see if Boston goes back to Oakland and asks for more compensation?
Bam.
Reading the constant convenient and even “relished” predictions be baseball people about the Cubs I wonder if a Gomer Pyle; SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE might be in order, maybe served with some special baseball “mustard”. I recalled that SD, SF and AZ had similar prognostications and then September rolled around suddenly the world said HOW?
Maybe it just is I have competed in my youth and know how much difference great coaching and preparation has when previous your coaching corps simply sucked. It is like a pin ball machine as players come prepared and compete in preparation instead of mailing it in. Reading the article quoting Woody about defense and then seeing what Borzy is doing with the catching corps and how McKay is taking on the Cubs piss poor baserunning and defense positioning only good things will result. The other big deal was Sveum a former SS protege taking Castro under his personal project and working on his defense and overall approach to the game. Finally yesterday’s revelation about using technology and statistics regarding situational hitting….
Now the team must stay healthy and actually perform but I think this might be a surprising year. Can this all be served with a tomato, pickle and some onions as well?
I agree, Ivy Walls. I’ve been saying it on here quite a bit. I don’t expect them to make the playoffs, but I expect them to exceed current expectations. Why? For the same reasons you stated above. The management of this team is different from years past, and I think that’s worth at least 5 wins above what people are expecting. I also think we have guys like Barney and LaHair, who people write off, who could make a major impact on the team. Plus if Soriano, Soto, and Stewart have better than average seasons, our lineup is not as woeful as people expect. But most importantly, I think we have a solid pitching staff (recognizing question marks in the bullpen). I’ll say it again: 75-80 wins.
A related side question: if you *knew* the Cubs, trying their hardest and performing their best, could win only 80 games this year, would you rather they did that, or would you rather they won, like, 50 games, and were a nightmarish pile of awful?
If they win 80 games at least you know there is something to build around. But, if they were the Astros, and only won 50 games, do you really want to build around any part of a team like that? I think I know where your going with your premise though. You would be drafting number one and have more money available in the new CBA for signing the drafted players.
Brett,
Here is the catch on that question.
It is easy to say that a 50 win team is actually a better outcome than an 80 win team with the improved drafting position. That is true.
That said, for the Cubs to win 80 or more games will require that a number of players who have really not performed in the past will break out. Guys like Samardzja, Stewart, and Volstad are the prime candidates. Other guys like LaHair, Soto, Barney, Soriano, Byrd, Marmol (well, I guess everyone really) would certainly improve their value with big season, whether of the break out or bounce back variety.
So, if the Cubs win 81 games this year, I am pretty sure that we will be feeling pretty good about a handful of positions that we have some pretty big question marks at this point.
In other words, a 50 win team would be fine in that it would bring a nice draft pick, possibly a real future superstar. That said, I will take some certainty from guys like Shark, Volstad, Stewart, etc heading into 2013.
I think that’s an excellent point (and, for what it’s worth, I have no preconceived answer to the question – I merely wanted to ask…).
I don’t think I’d ever enjoy seeing them be nightmarishly awful. I understand there are collateral benefits to placing at the bottom, but I think we have the money and resources to rebuild without that kind of embarrassment. I’d prefer to see a culture of winning institutionalized regardless of the talent limitations. I think that’s better for the long-term health of the organization. If they lose, and lose bad, how many guys with potential lose faith? How does it affect a rising star like Castro? Does he start thinking he’s better off somewhere else? Maybe he requests to be traded from the laughingstock of a team. Hope goes a lot further than hopelessness. I don’t like the idea of shooting for the bottom for some draft positions and money.
I would be interested to see what Theo & Jed would do with early draft picks. However, that could be accomplished with 70 wins!
You always try to win as many games as possible. If you aren’t trying every single day, you should get out of the league.
Nuts, as I said a HOF coach told me simply, “the ONLY thing a team learns from losing is how to lose.” Winning is infectious as is losing. Plus in MLB winning breeds value, how much is Garza, LaHair, Soto and possibly (hope against hope) Soriano if the team is surprisingly competitive than if they plummet to Astroland? Forget the draft choice positions, how many players make to the ML’s who were not number one draft picks—-show me development and show me capability and I will show you a good team.
Well said.
“I’ll say it again: 75-80 wins.”
On that note, ESPN summarized their 30 “over/under” polls, where people voted on whether Arizona … Washington would finish with more or fewer wins than ZIPs projects. For 25 of 30 teams, the fans said that ZIPs underestimated the wins! (The Cubs were one of 5 for whom the majority said “fewer,” with a projection of 71.5 wins) Of course, approximately half the teams will win more games and approximately half will win fewer.
It will be interesting to see if the “pessimist” fans (Cubs, Mets, Astros, O’s and Rockies) are actually “realist” fans, or whether fans basically are right about half the time.
“25 years ago today, the Cubs dumped seemingly washed up pitcher Dennis Eckersley on the A’s. Oops.”
It wasn’t that he was washed up, he needed to dry out. He probably wasn’t going to do it unless something drastic happened like getting traded for a non-prospect outfielder. The Cubs did themselves and him a huge favor.
Votto is a great player but that extension is just stupid, not as bad as the Prince contract but close. Why not have him motivated thru next year and if he leaves so what, as he’ll be 30…
On Opening Day we get Bill Murray throwing out the first pitch (not a bad choice) and Wayne Messmer signing the National Anthem. Wayne Messmer?
Come on Cubs, you can’t do better than Wayne Messmer, who we have to endure during most of the regular season as it is? How much you wanna bet he brings his wife along and they sing a duet?
Even a local American Idol contestant would have been more entertaining to help fuel the Opening Day festivities! How about Jim Cornelison for a day?
Wayne Messmer? I mean come on. Geez !
I must disagree with you. Messmer does a great rendition of the National Anthem. |
1. Social media gives you the opportunity to be the best YOU possible. This applies to you and your brand.
2. There is no “one-size fits all” social media strategy.
3. Diving into social media without a strategy is like being on whitewater raft without a paddle. It’s probably not going to end well.
4. Crises happen everyday. Expect it will happen to you and your brand. Plan accordingly.
5. Social media doesn’t clock in at 9 a.m. and clock out at 5 p.m. It’s a 24/7 affair.
6. Social media success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a lot of hard work, time and effort before you see any real noticeable gains.
7. Anyone who tells you that managing a social media account is going to be easy is lying. Run as far away from them as possible.
8. Yes, you can calculate the ROI of your social media efforts. Yes, you need to.
9. Numbers matter. Anyone, who tells you otherwise, just hasn’t found the right ones to measure yet.
10. There’s only so much you can learn from case studies. At some point, you just have to take the plunge and start applying what you learn.
11. Creativity is what separates the good social media pros from the bad ones.
12. Avoid the social media shiny object syndrome. New sites are created everyday. You don’t need to be on every site. Focus on the ones that add value for either you or your brand.
13. Social media burnout is real. Make sure to unplug every now and then. (such as when you are on vacation).
14. The best social media work is usually done in a team setting. Don’t try and be a one-man or one-woman show.
15. Social media is NOT a popularity contest. Being popular just means that you have lots of friends.
16. Instead, strive to be influential. Influence means you can persuade people to do something. That’s hundred times more meaningful than being popular.
17. There’s a big difference between being authentic and personable and being personal on social media sites. Know the difference.
18. Be true to yourself and/or your brand. You can’t fake an authentic dialogue.
19. Every post, tweet, status update, video, etc, should add some sort of value or contribute to your overall goals. If they don’t, it is time to rethink you strategy.
20. Just because it’s on Twitter trending topics, doesn’t mean it’s true. I’ve lost count of the number of celebrities that have allegedly died on Twitter that are still alive and thriving.
21. It’s crucial to think two steps ahead. Are you building a strong enough presence from the get-go? Would you lose everything if Facebook were to disappear tomorrow?
21 Social Media Truths
1. Social media gives you the opportunity to be the best YOU possible. This applies to you and your brand. |
This morning it's eight degrees and snowing -- and the Mystery Woman just left with her 89-year-old mother for a check-up.
Roads are slick.
And they prefer I stay home with the dog. It seems I scream a lot in the car.
Yesterday, we had to drive across town to visit a different clinic. For the first time, I got to see the industrial strength of winter. Parking lots look like ice rinks or pools of toxic waste. Arthritis comes easy. True story: A TV reporter strapped on skates and played in the street.
We ate lunch at Chili's, which was decorated with Chilympiad stuff. Naturally, I tried to get a discount from the waitress, claiming to be the their only customer who had actually gotten drunk in Terlingua. "Nice try, old timer," she said.
In this order, we’ve had snow, snow, snow, rain, a little sleet, more snow, even more. The wind chill is serious. Minus 30 tonight. That plays hell with clean up. Ice becomes iron and is forged to the minor streets and major sidewalks. Major thoroughfares, however, are mostly clear.
This morning, I read a neat thing in the paper. They say if you toss a pan of hot water in the air, it will freeze before it hits the ground. (Didn't work.) In Texas summers, we reverse the ritual by frying eggs on sidewalks. (That doesn't work, either.)
Dog trainers advise against buying a winter puppy from the Midwest. They claim the dogs will never again go outside to answer nature’s call.
True story.
But still, I kinda like it. Locals nod knowingly and whisper to each other something about my attitude next March.
It could be worse. I could have voted for Dick Cheney.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
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4 comments:
It's going to get up to 20 degrees by Monday. It'll feel like the orange groves of Florida.
Frumpfan
Throwing a cup of water or coffee in the air to freeze does work, but it needs to be colder...way below zero. Watch Jonathan on KARE11 weather...he likes to do that trick in the backyard. He might also demonstrate the banana-hammer by driving a nail with a banana that has frozen outside.
I'll tell you what could be worse, George...you could BE Dick Cheney. Of course, you two do share the possession of bionically regenerated tickers. But given that you have a conscience and a decent soul you'd have a hard time living with yourself, cold weather or hot.
Years ago, during the midst of a really hot Texas summer, my sons and I decided to see if an egg really would fry on the sidewalk. It wasn't immediate, but within two hours, the egg did cook all the way through. We moms of boys know these things... Denise |
Grading the Coaching Hires: Mark Stoops and Kentucky
If I’ve learned one thing in my years covering college football, it’s that every coaching hire has to be evaluated differently. What might be a home-run selection at one school could be a dud at another; a guy who might be a perfect fit at one place could be a disaster somewhere else. Every coach, and- most importantly- every job is fundamentally different, and they need to be treated as such when evaluating these coaching hires.
And in essence, what I was really trying to say with that very long-winded opening paragraph was as follows: I like the Mark Stoops hire at Kentucky. A lot.
No, he might not have the huge name or sparkling resume of some of the other SEC hires this off-season, but at a school that is simply looking for hope and a reason to show up at the stadium, Stoops is exactly what Kentucky needed. He is young and energetic and will pump life into a football program that desperately needs it.
Of course while hope and energy are good in the short-term, in the long-term the question now becomes this: Will Stoops be able to win enough football games at one of the toughest places to do so in college football?
Let’s take a look.
Why We Like The Hire:
Simply put, Stoops resume speaks for itself. As most everyone knows by now, Stoops has spent time as an assistant at Miami and as defensive coordinator at Arizona and Florida State, with the one common denominator in all his stops being that his defenses have flourished.
And to his credit, Stoops’ defenses have only gotten better of late. In 2011 Florida State ranked No. 4 in total defense and this past season only Alabama gave up fewer yards than the Seminoles did. And before anyone says that it had little to do with Stoops and everything to do with the talent in Tallahassee, remember this: Florida State ranked 108th nationally the year prior to his arrival.
Even talented players need to developed, and Stoops seems capable of that.
Beyond that, what particularly appealed to me about this hire is that Stoops actually knows the area he’ll be coaching in. Kentucky isn’t an easy place to recruit and the SEC isn’t an easy place to coach, which is why I was never really a fan of bringing someone from outside the Southeast (mainly Gary Andersen or Mike MacIntyre) to try and tackle this job.
Well instead of taking either of those guys or anyone else, they instead a guy Midwest roots (the Stoops family is from Ohio) but Southeast ties, making him the best of both worlds from a coaching and recruiting standpoint. More importantly with so many coaching stops around college football, Stoops can and has put together a staff that is as competitive as any in this conference.
Remember when I mentioned this hire above? Yeah, I wasn’t lying.
Why We Don’t Like the Hire:
What it all boils down to is what you already know: Stoops has never been a head coach. Anywhere. That’s a scary proposition no matter who you hire, and regardless of what school you’re hiring him to. But to do it at one of the toughest jobs, in college football’s toughest conference makes it that much tougher.
So really, the questions now with Stoops are more abstract than anything tangible. We know who Stoops has hired as his assistants, we know (relatively) what kind of offenses and defense Kentucky will run and we know what his recruiting plan is too. What we don’t know is how he’ll handle the responsibilities off the field, not to mention the split-second decisions on the field which could be the difference between victory and defeat.
As much as I like the hire, there are still plenty of questions which surround Stoops and Kentucky.
What Kind of Talent Does He Inherit?
Hmm, the short answer is “not much.” Talent is something Kentucky has never had a bounty of at any point in their football history, and it was in especially short demand in 2012 when they finished last in the SEC in scoring (just 17.9 per game) and gave up the second most points on defense in the conference as well (31 per game). It also doesn’t help that the Wildcats will also lose their best overall playmaker (wide receiver La’Rod King) and only player to make either the All-SEC first or second team (offensive lineman Larry Warford) to graduation this off-season as well.
Still, of the few players who did make an impact on the field in 2012, most do return. The Wildcats return four of their top five leading tacklers on defense (including all three starting linebackers) and plenty of guys who got touches at wide receiver and running back.
Of all the players who return to Lexington though, what’ll be most interesting to see is how Stoops handles the quarterback derby. Maxwell Smith, Jalen Whitlow and Patrick Towles all took at least 40 snaps this past season, and all three return in 2013.
There’s an old saying that goes “If you have two quarterbacks, you have none at all.” So what happens if you’ve got three?
It’s something Stoops will need to address right away.
Yeah, But Can He Recruit?
The short answer here is that I’m a little more dubious than most. Stoops was known as an avid recruiter at Florida State, except, relatively speaking, what does that mean? After all, it isn’t all that hard to recruit to Florida State; the tradition speaks for itself, the school has more resources than any in the ACC and Jimbo Fisher himself is a monster recruiter in his own right. So was Stoops really that good a recruiter? Or was his success just a byproduct of where he was recruiting to?
Of course while I am dubious about Stoops’ recruiting ability, what I will give him credit for is this: Whether he can actually get players or not, only time will tell. But at the very least, he does have a plan to be successful.
For one, that plan starts in Ohio where there’s a ton of high school talent, but is also a place that former head coach Joker Phillips and his staff never seemed to emphasize in their recruiting efforts. Well to his credit, the Stoops name still carries a lot of weight in Ohio (Stoops’ father is a legendary high school coach there) and from Day 1, Mark has taken advantage of that. Kentucky has already offered a number of the state’s top players, including a handful of elite juniors.
More importantly, Stoops has loaded up his staff with guys who can recruit too. New defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot comes with Stoops from Tallahassee, where he was known as a monster recruiter, but was also the point-person in the recruitment of last year’s No. 1 overall high school player Mario Edwards Jr.
Also, the was one other assistant coaching hire which caught my eye as well: New defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh is coming to Kentucky straight from a Mississippi junior college.
That seems like a bizarre move... unless Stoops plans on hitting the junior college ranks hard to find talent.
Final Thoughts:
Admittedly, when Stoops was hired by Kentucky, my biggest concern was that he would essentially try to turn the program into “Florida State Light.” That he would take the blueprint which made Florida State successful in his time at Tallahassee, and try to follow it to a tee in Lexington.
And it would’ve been a disaster. Kentucky isn’t, nor ever will be Florida State, and should never be treated as such.
That’s also why it’s been so refreshing to see Stoops come to Lexington with a plan completely unique to this particular school and this particular job. We all know what he and Eliot will do on defense, and Stoops also brought in Neil Brown from Texas Tech to run a fun and exciting offense as well. In recruiting, the emphasis seems to be exactly where it should be: Stocking the roster from Ohio high schools, and filling in the blanks via the junior college ranks.
Factor it all in, and I think this was a grand-slam hire for Kentucky.
Stoops might not have been a great fit at every school, but relative to what Kentucky wanted and what Kentucky needed, he was just about perfect for them.
Final Grade: A-
For all his opinion, analysis and insight on college football and beyond, please follow Aaron on Twitter @Aaron_Torres. |
I have to admit, I'm torn about this question. I absolutely couldn't stand Katy Perry when she first came out. It really bothered me that someone who was a former Christian singer did what I considered "selling out" just to get famous. Her song "I Kissed A Girl" really put her on the map, and I just couldn't understand why people were embracing the song so much. I haven't really been a big fan of hers since then, but am finding some of her songs really good and I have to admit she's a very good singer. Not only that, but the girl is gorgeous, and therefore I will give credit where credit is due, even though I'm still on the fence about her. I'm curious what your thoughts are about her? Here are some gorgeous shots of her and her newest video, which I love...such a great song..."The One That Got Away."
All images courtesy of Pinterest
14 comments:
I feel the same about her as you Kori.
I'm just the opposite - I used to like her but now I'm finding I like her less. She's absolutely horrible live and just seems to be trying to hard now in my opinion
I too have mixed feelings on Katy. I love love love her last album (it's a great one to plug in a bop around to) and I think that she is stunningly gorgeous (when she doesn't dye her hair wacky colors). But there's just something about her that doesn't sit quite right.
Chelsea ()
I think she is pretty and some of her songs are catchy, but her music will never be on my ipod. I think shes overrated! Beautiful and a beautiful studio voice, but I don't love her.
i actually love katy perry and all of her songs. great blog. follow?
I like her. I understand what you say about selling out, but she's so extremely talented, and just gorgeous as can be. It's really hard not to like her, and her catchy tunes.
Her songs are always super catchy!! I can't help but like her! :)
I love her. She is stunning and different and just great.
I love her! I've been a fan from the beginning.
I wasn't a fan of hers at first because I couldn't stand her first song. I've loved all of her songs after that one though!
This girl is gorgeous...hands down. Not liking her funky hair phase though but all in all I like her. The singing...she's got a great voice just sometimes uses it not to her advantage...though, I have to say I'm listening to her music ever since it came out...just because it's catchy and I can work out easier. Haha!
i love katy perry. however I think she started her career the way she did in a way to rebel the way she was brought up. but i feel like she has toned down a bit. however i'm not a big fan of "the one that got away"
I’m torn about her too, but I like her less now than I used to. There are so many good songs from her first album and the songs from her second album lack the heart her earlier songs had (besides I Kissed A Girl, of course). She just makes mindless music to sell records now. I think she’s pretty and talented, but her over the top antics drive me crazy. Take a note from Adele’s playbook and focus on the talent, ladies!
I'm so over her! I'm not into any of her songs. She's right up there with Taylor Swift when it comes to annoying the heck outta me! Over them. |
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Rights and Duties of Directors Eigth Edition
Social Security and State Benefits: A Practical Guide Fifth Edition
Solicitors’ Negligence and Liability
Sport - Law and Practice, 2nd edition
Tax Aspects of the Purchase and Sale of a Private Company's Shares 14/ed
Taxation of Company Reorganisations
Tax Essentials: Trusts and Estates 2005-06
Tax Planning for Family and Owner-Managed Companies 2005/06
Tax Planning for Farm and Land Diversification Second Edition
Taxation in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man 2005-06
Taxation of Corporate Debt, Foreign Exchange and Derivative Contracts Seventh Edition
Taxation of Offshore Trusts and Funds Fourth Edition
The ADR Practice Guide - Commercial Dispute Resolution, Third Edition
The Ernst and Young Tax Savers Guide 2005-06
The Law of Compulsory Purchase
The Law Relating to Receivers, Managers and Administrators, 4th edition
Core Tax Annual: Trusts and Estates 2006-07
Core Tax Annual: Value Added Tax 2006-07
VAT Issues and Solutions
Wheatley's Road Traffic Law in Scotland, 4th edition
Youth Court Guide Second Edition |
I love a party. People, food, drink, celebrations, music, something new to see, old friends to greet, new friends to make -- there’s just nothing better than a party.
Give me a party in May, after months of cold, boring winter and soggy, iffy March and April, and there is just nothing better than a party in May.
Unfortunately, I rarely have time to throw parties. Most of my friends don’t have time to throw them either. Before you feel sorry for my party-less state, let me tell you that every single month -- including soggy April and wonderful May -- Maryville throws a party for me.
So don’t despair that you or I must be in a party-less state. It’s time again for the Maryville Arts Coalition Last Friday Art Walk.
Art Walk happens every month, but there is always something special about the spring and pre-summer months. Folks are in such good moods. Everyone is so happy to be out of the house and walking around in clothes that are faux-fur lined and zipped against the wind. At April’s Art Walk last month, there was just such a feeling of release in the air, such a great feeling of “Man, it’s good to be out again.”
And I only got to three places on the map! There was so much hugging going on, so much catching up with folks I hadn’t seen in a while, plus a Find the Art in Arthritis Scavenger Hunt to promote, that I didn’t get very far down Broadway.
My mission for May is to visit as many of the Art Walk participants as I can squeeze into the 5 to 9 p.m. time frame.
I wonder if we are beginning to take for granted the talent we see every month at the MAC First Friday Art Walk. I’ve been to some of those gallery crawls and walks in nearby cities, and I’m telling you that the variety and the talent level of what these businesses and MAC are bringing in to downtown Maryville is top-notch. I could spend my whole paycheck and greatly expand my cultural knowledge just talking to the artists and soaking in their offerings each month.
May’s Art Walk is certainly no exception. Some of the featured artists are new names to me -- which isn’t hard as I’m not the most cultured person in town. Some, however, I am beginning to recognize from previous Art Walk experiences, and I am excited to see what they are offering this month.
Plus, there are two new businesses on the walk for May, in addition to the exhibits at the Clayton Center for the Arts, which was added a few months ago. Little Nifties, 300 E. Church Ave., is under Dandy Lions, where Lyda Plemons gallery used to be. I’m as anxious to see the store as I am featured artist Linda Sharp’s mixed media gourds.
Morgan Place Spa, 206 High Street, stretches Art Walk almost to Lamar Alexander Parkway and gives another place to stop on the way to-or-from the Clayton Center. Katie Kinney will have an exhibit there that she has titled “Soul Searching.”
Other features this month include Fine Arts Blount ArtSpace Gallery at 106 E. Broadway Ave., hosting Sallie Macy and Olga Radar who will feature an exhibit entitled “A Leg at Every Corner.” On the second floor, Maryville High School student work will be on display. I’ve seen some of the talented work by MHS students, so trust me when I tell you not to skip the second floor. It could be some of your favorite work this month.
In Ta Dye 4 Ink at 113 W. Harper Ave., the sounds of the band Cup O Jazz will entertain folks in the store for Last Friday Art Walk. Ta Dye 4 Ink is adding some variety to Art Walk, so I’m anxious to hear the band.
At The Village Tinker at 417 W. Broadway Ave., which is one of the most eclectic and interesting stores you will find anywhere in East Tennessee, artisan Jean Terry will be featured with her jewelry.
Professional Hair Design, tucked away at 120 E. Broadway Ave., will show silk work by Debbie Harrington. I’m not sure what silk work is, but I’m sure going to find out.
Tomato Head Restaurant at 211 W. Broadway Ave. has a photography exhibit entitled “Discover Life in America.” At Broadway Gallery at Preservation Plaza, oil paintings by Gail Kornoupakis and Norma Riegle will be on display.
Clay sculptor Leanne Moe will feature her work at Studio 212. The business is located at 212 E. Harper Ave.
Boyd Thomas Clothing at 227 W. Broadway Ave., will feature paintings by Tammy Schlosser. Tammy is a member of Fine Arts Blount, and the works of hers I have seen are primarily in oils and have that Old Masters look and feel, so it is sure to be a great exhibit.
The Capitol Theatre promises to keep the party going even after Art Walk officially ends with the Streamliners Big Band sound, so you will have plenty of excuses to make a night of it.
Come on out Friday night. You will see everyone you know and a bunch of folks you need to know. Just strolling around downtown will make you smile and lift your spirits, I promise. As they sang in Camelot -- “It’s May, it’s May, the lusty month of May. The lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray…”
Last Friday Art Walk is the perfect place to celebrate the last few days of this great month!
Following are photos we took last month as folks enjoy the April Last Friday Art Walk.
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Welcome to Bluffscape Amish Tours in beautiful Lanesboro, Minnesota. We are excited that you have found us and hope that you take the time to explore the Southeastern Minnesota culture we have to offer you. Here is our story.
The Beginning
2005, Dave & Joan Ruen began their new business venture in Lanesboro. Joan taught high school business part-time and wanted to start a small business. Dave works full time in agribusiness, but fully supports Joan in the operation.
We both were interested in framing and decided that custom framing and a small art gallery would be a great fit for the Lanesboro community as it is known as one of 100 Best Small Art Towns in America by author John Villani.
Almost a year into the business we decided to add instant digital photo processing as a service to the community. The photo kiosk saved people a trip out of town for quick and easy photo service.
A New Addition
November 4, 2007, we purchased Flaby's Amish Tour business. Gerry had wonderful tours with the Amish, and we thought it would be fun to carry on Flaby's professional Amish tours. Vern, Eric, Rory, and Joan are our excellent, knowledgeable, and friendly hosts that guide the tours. Dave is great with people and looks forward to a few Saturdays for his turn as the tour guide.
After much thought and with mixed emotions, January 31, 2010, we closed the art gallery and gift shop, but continue with the Amish tours. Thank you to our gallery artists and customers, we had fun serving you!
The Ruen Family
David, Joan, Meredith, Kirsten, and the late Andrew Ruen make up the Ruen Family.
David is a native of Lanesboro. He is employed in the agribusiness industry and you may see him guiding a tour occasionally on Saturdays. Dave has lived in various places in the midwest due to his career and is now settled back in his hometown.
Joan was raised in northwestern Minnesota. Joan moved from the flat Red River Valley to the rolling hills of the Bluff Country. She appreciates the beauty of both the open prairies of NW MN and the bluffs of SE MN! Joan enjoys guiding the Amish tours and getting to know the Amish families and the guests on the tour.
Our Reservation Specialists
The friendly staff at Stone Mill Hotel & Suites in the red Feed Mill building in Lanesboro will be taking your reservations for Bluffscape Amish Tours. They are glad to take your reservations and answer questions you may have about our tours.
To contact us for a Bluffscape Amish Tour please call (507) 467-3070
BluffScape Amish Tours
102 Beacon St. E., Lanesboro, MN 55949
[email protected]
Mailing Address:
26047 Gladiola Lane, Lanesboro, MN 55949
Phone: 507-467-3070 |
Plassnik on Iran: "No reason for relief or cries of triumph"
06.12.2007
Foreign Minister at "question hour" in the National Council
Vienna, 6 December 2007 - "It is without any doubt a demanding mission for both domestic and foreign policy, which we have prepared with the corresponding care and precision," said Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik during today's "question hour" in the National Council on Austria’s mission in Chad. "This EU Bridging Mission is designed to help the people in the region, not France," said Plassnik, pointing out to the clear dividing line between France's military presence and the EU mission. "There are no doubts as to the non-partisan and impartial approach of the EU. I did not make myself very popular with our French partners during the negotiations on the mandate. I persistently demanded that there is a clear political framework for the mission. This includes the mission’s strict independence, clear time limits, and close links to the United Nations."
The Minister pointed out to the "multidimensional international presence" in Chad, which was established by UN Security Council resolution 1778 (2007) and consists of the following components: the UN Mission (MINURCAT) aimed at improving the security of the civilian population and guaranteeing international human rights standards, which will train the Chadian police force to protect the refugee camps, and the EU Bridging Operation, which will create a secure environment for the return of the refugees and internally displaced persons and for the implementation of the UN Mission.
"The new EU Reform Treaty will not change our neutrality," reiterated Plassnik, answering repeated questions with regard to the future Treaty of Lisbon. "Even in the future, Austria cannot be forced to participate in an EU military campaign. Both the commitment to a common foreign policy in solidarity within the European Union and neutrality equally form part of our Federal Constitution. And this will not change."
According to Plassnik, the same applies to the area of water supply and water resource management, an issue of great importance to Austria. "Unanimity is still required in this respect. No changes can or will be made here against our will." The Minister also stressed the additional protection provided by the EU Reform Treaty, which clearly states the responsibility of national states for services of general interest, including, for instance, communal water supply.
"I do not want to imagine a European Union without Carinthia, and I cannot imagine Carinthia without the European Union," said Plassnik on a question concerning the signature campaign against the EU Reform Treaty organized by the BZÖ in Carinthia. The Minister reminded that especially Carinthia, according to the words of Provincial Government Member Josef Martinz is a "European champion in collecting EU subsidies" and has received approx. 1.9 billion Euros worth of direct aid from the EU since accession. "Popular support for the signature campaign is not convincing. In any case, I will continue to patiently and persistently inform the people of Carinthia on the EU and the new Reform Treaty. I am convinced that it will be perceived accordingly."
The Minister emphasized the continued international concern over the nature of the Iranian nuclear programme. "The latest report by the US Intelligence Services is not a reason for relief or for cries of triumph. It is now important for all sides to pull themselves together to finally establish a climate for negotiations. A parallel moratorium - stop of uranium enrichment and suspension of sanctions - could pave the way for negotiations."
When asked about developments in the Middle East, the Minister pointed out the "energy boost" given to the peace efforts by the Middle East conference in Annapolis: "There is now a chance for concrete progress. A peace roadmap containing all core issues is already on the table. But the political will must ultimately come from this region." There is a risk, however, that extremist forces will attempt to undermine such progress, said Plassnik. Therefore, it is now particularly important to remain engaged and convince public opinion in the region. "I particularly supported this approach in Annapolis. It is also important to involve the women and the youth in the region in this process. We need a broad and sustainable alliance of all moderate forces."
In this context, Plassnik also referred to the follow-up to the Women's Conference on the Middle East that she organized in the spring: "We will organize a media seminar with female journalists from the region in Vienna in late January, we support concrete women’s projects in the Palestinian territories as part of development cooperation, for instance in the area of health, and my Greek colleague Dora Bakoyannis will organize a follow-up conference in the spring of 2008."
Federal Ministry for
European and International Affairs
Press Department
Tel.: ++43 (0) 50 1150-3262, 4549, 4550
abti3(at)bmeia.gv.at |
Solar manufacturers squeezed between rising silicon costs and falling cell prices
Details
The price of solar-grade silicon has jumped to its highest in almost two years, while module prices have declined
London and New York – Makers of solar cells are under severe pressure with the spot price of cells at an all-time low at the same time as prices for solar-grade polysilicon and wafers have been increasing.
The prices charged for solar-grade polysilicon and wafers continued to increase in March 2011. Cuts in subsidy support on 1 January across major European markets, in the form of lower feed-in tariffs for solar electricity, are putting downward pressure on the prices of finished photovoltaic modules. Because of limited supply, the price of silicon is not falling - in fact it is rising.
The latest Bloomberg New Energy Finance Solar Value Chain Index, just published, the average spot price of polysilicon reached $79/kg in March 2011, the highest since May 2009 when the Index began. The price of polysilicon in China is higher than in the rest of the world, due to import restrictions and limited domestic supply.
The price of wafers also increased, with 6" multicrystalline silicon wafer prices reported at $3.62/piece on average in March, up 3% from February. Multi-crystalline silicon cell prices however were on average at $1.25 per Watt in March 2011, down 9.4% from December 2010.
The dollar price of modules (or panels) has dropped by almost 7% since December 2010, despite the strengthening euro, the currency of the world’s largest photovoltaic markets. The March results of the Bloomberg New Energy Finance Module Price Index show an average factory gate price across all markets for immediate delivery of $1.88/W for crystalline silicon modules. Although this is down since December, it is above the market’s previous expectations.
"The global demand for PV modules continues to be very strong, mainly driven by anticipation of further tariff cuts in Italy, Germany, Slovakia and the rest of the European PV markets," says Martin Simonek, analyst with Bloomberg New Energy Finance. "The first half of 2011 will see relatively small declines in module prices, despite the pressure from developers, because of supply bottlenecks upstream."
The data for Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s Solar Value Chain Index and Module Price Index are collected between second and eighth day of each month through a questionnaire sent out to over 120 companies that buy, sell or trade polysilicon, wafers, cells and modules. The monthly results for both surveys are sent to all participating companies on the tenth day of each month. The Solar Value Chain Index started in May 2009 and the Module Price Index was launched in November 2010. Participation is free of charge for manufacturers across the solar value chain, and in case of the Module Price Index also for traders and developers. For further information on the Index, please contact [email protected]
Contact on this press release:
Sarah Feinberg
Bloomberg LP
+1 202-654-4360
[email protected]. |
On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 17:01:24 +1000 Mark Constable wrote: > On Saturday 11 June 2005 10:33, Chris Fortune wrote: > > > I'm using MIME::QuotedPrint. The only drawback is that now the email is > > > being altered beyond simply inserting the tokens. Should I re-encode > > > them before quitting? > > > > that would be sensible IMHO > > Looking forward to trying a new version. > > I'm not sure if others get empty messages but every now > and then I get something like this... > > X-Bogosity: Unsure, tests=bogofilter, spamicity=0.520000, version=0.94.13 > Content-Type: > X-UID: 5829 > X-Length: 77 > > and nothing much else (mild variations). It just seems to > me that stripsearch might be a good place to look for these > and to insert something in the body that will then become > a spam marker for bogofiltering. > > --markc H'lo Mark, What version of bogofilter are you using? Looking at my messages for this month, I have 18 with neither Subject: line nor message body. Bogofilter scored them between 0.831999 and 0.920263, which makes them spam. Running bogofilter -vvv shows that the following tokens contributed to the scoring: "rcvd:unknown" 86809 0.108868 0.500432 0.821323 + "to:undisclosed-recipients" 1319 0.000809 0.008100 0.909205 + "url:211" 4665 0.000255 0.030176 0.991625 + "from:x8478" 1 0.000000 0.000007 0.994183 + "rtrn:x8478" 1 0.000000 0.000007 0.994183 + "url:211.197.27" 1 0.000000 0.000007 0.994183 + "url:211.197.27.1" 1 0.000000 0.000007 0.994183 + "from:altavista.com" 13 0.000000 0.000085 0.999548 + "rtrn:altavista.com" 15 0.000000 0.000098 0.999609 + Conclusion: message headers provide quite a bit of info for scoring messages -- even when there's no body. HTH, David P.S. The posting delay for you message was caused by using a non- subscribed address, rather than your subscribed address. |
JAB TAK HAI JAAN song Challa: Shahrukh Khan meets Katrina Kaif
Watch the melodious new song from Yash Chopra’s new musical are written by Gulzar in Punjabi and will therefore take a while to sink in, but for starters the hook line means ‘What are you searching for, oh bohemian?’. Just as with translations of the poem in the posters, we hope this song will be morphed into Hindi so that everyone can understand it better. Talking about this song Yashji said, “Challa from JTHJ is my fav song & it is the song of the film, it is the soul of the film.”
The video captures the beauty of London. Shahrukh is seen wandering through the streets, strumming his guitar and singing the hummable song with all the body language only he can convey. King Khan does odd jobs – washing cars, busking, hauling crates of fish – like he did in My Name Is Khan when he desperately wanted to make money. We wonder what he is looking for in JTHJ…Does he find it when he sees Katrina Kaif as she drops a coin into his hat? Wonder where the story goes from here…
Challa is sung by Rabbi Shergill and is a breath of fresh air in the usually cliched filmi soundtrack we hear these days. Dear Bollywoodlifer, did you like the song?
ALSO READ: JAB TAK HAI JAAN theatrical trailer: Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif & Anushka Sharma look fab!
First Published: 12.56 PM IST 10.01.2012
rahul
Posted at 9:14 PM on October 1, 2012
bapok
challa
Posted at 8:57 PM on October 1, 2012
mind blowing!
A FAN
Posted at 7:25 PM on October 1, 2012
it was awesome……………….mindblowing………….mindblasting………….superb……………….this song rocks man
umra
Posted at 7:13 PM on October 1, 2012
srk rocks nice song
Tanishka
Posted at 6:31 PM on October 1, 2012
Yck… the song is so out of tune and weird. The singer sounds terrible and doesnot add any romance or energy to the film. Yck Yck Yck
kamini
Posted at 11:24 AM on October 8, 2012
tanishka darling, chumma dogi?????
Saurabh
Posted at 6:01 PM on October 1, 2012
Best Song Of The Year
SRK Rokzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
SabiLuvSrk
Posted at 5:35 PM on October 1, 2012
Awsome,,,,,…… Love this song nd Srk is looking so fresh nd charismatic …. drooling over him….Mwahhhhhhh<3<3<3
asha
Posted at 5:25 PM on October 1, 2012
sorry not as expected,voice not suited to srk
i hope this should be in Hindi bt srk u rock <3
rohan
Posted at 4:41 PM on October 1, 2012
this is very good song
sunil verma
Posted at 4:00 PM on October 1, 2012
fadu songg woooow srk u rokzzzzzz
Urboshee khan
Posted at 3:49 PM on October 1, 2012
Ddlj 2 is coming on this diwali……Challa ki labda phire….Cant stop singing it…….Challa rockzzz…Srk rockzzzzz
Urboshee khan
Posted at 3:46 PM on October 1, 2012
Oasm song….Srk looking soooooooooo cuuuuuuuttttttteeeeeeee……..
arjun
Posted at 3:31 PM on October 1, 2012
song of the century…seriously wht a beautiful beautiful song…wht a beautiful tune,though i didn’t get d lyrics,but after listening to it twice,i got addicted so much tht i actually heard it like 50 times..now i’m humming these tuneLOLZZZ,JTHJ historical blockbuster
Tz
Posted at 3:29 PM on October 1, 2012
Sorry to say very disappointed with this song and voice it does not suit srk…nd yrf..banner.. They could have come up with some good work.. Because its not a punjabi film but love nd romance just like yash raj past films..
suresh
Posted at 3:16 PM on October 1, 2012
nice song but hope it was in hindi:(
nilesh srkian
Posted at 3:16 PM on October 1, 2012
Ha ha ha salmaan fan has srk phobia……jealousy ha ha ha….. Is kahani main khuda ho use meta sakata hai kaun
baadshah
Posted at 3:10 PM on October 1, 2012
srk is rocks ,very very lovely song …
dj
Posted at 3:02 PM on October 1, 2012
not as gud as expected………..itz nt xciting
tanzeel
Posted at 3:01 PM on October 1, 2012
nice song and srk look is cool………….
sj
Posted at 2:59 PM on October 1, 2012
sorry not as expected,voice not suited to srk…waste.. singing like bhikari on the streets..even katrina thought he is bhikari look closely in song..
rashid
Posted at 12:34 PM on October 2, 2012
jab kisi baat ka pata na ho to bola nahi karty ok
sj
Posted at 2:56 PM on October 1, 2012
sorry not as expected,voice not suited to srk…waste
Pankaj
Posted at 2:19 PM on October 1, 2012
Just saw this song…. Can’t breath now
What a song.. Just listen nd listen many times,
Incredible lyrics, amazing song….
That’s called … KING Always Remain as a KING
Yaseen Afridi
Posted at 3:12 PM on October 1, 2012
YUp !!! I aGree….nice sOng…And KIng is Alwazs king…No 1 can deFeat him….salman etc bakwas…..gona b a blokbaster,,,….
haider
Posted at 2:18 PM on October 1, 2012
nice n beautiful song
SRK
Posted at 2:15 PM on October 1, 2012
Wow…. Amazing song, awesome music
KING Khan Rocksssssss
nahid
Posted at 2:32 PM on October 1, 2012
cool
mr WAli
Posted at 2:08 PM on October 1, 2012
soryy but..the singer`s voice didnt match with shahrukh khan :(
haider
Posted at 2:19 PM on October 1, 2012
this is a nice song dear
Pawan
Posted at 4:16 PM on October 1, 2012
Which site we can download
the king khan
Posted at 2:23 PM on October 1, 2012
yes u r ri8 wali…. but overall srk rocks
noman ahmad
Posted at 6:39 PM on October 1, 2012
nice song and king alwayz rockzzzzzzzzzzzz |
Food Specials:
If you're craving cold beer, hot crabs smothered in Old Bay seasoning and a wooden mallet (you have had a rough week after all, couldn't hurt to crack a few crabs), head to Bar Pilar. For $60 you get a dinner for two consisting of 10 steamed crabs and two side dishes. I'm a fan of Justin Bittner's potato salad as well as their roasted potatoes with aioli. While it's not included with the crab dinner, definitely get the slow-roasted pork shoulder on toasted, crusty bread. Slow roasted pork. Carmelized outer coating. Need I say more?
While Café Saint-Ex is undergoing a kitchen expansion, you can still head to 14th street for their "pop-up patio picnics" featuring burgers, sausages, classic picnic sides of potato salad and grilled vegetables, as well as "poptails," aka boozy cocktail popsicles. The kitchen's expansion is said to be completed in four weeks.
You're tired of the Georgetown scene in the summertime, clogged with tourists waiting to shove cupcakes they've seen on TV in their faces. Frankly, I don't blame you. But here are two reasons why you should check out G-town this month:
1. "Dog Days of Summer" at Bourbon Steak - Pay homage to some local DC food and order a Red Apron Butchery hot dog and a DC Brau American pale ale for $7. The dogs aren't on the menu, so consider yourself in the know now, you hip city-dweller, you.
2. 1789 Summer Special - One of my favorite restaurants in the city. Think it's just reserved for a special night out or when Obama feels like taking a foreign dignitary out for dinner? Think again. From now until September 15 on Sundays through Thursdays, you can get a three-course dinner for $40. You can request a coupon online or mention the deal to your server.
Food Events:
Pig out literally at Bourbon Steak's second annual pig roast on August 14 from 12-3 PM. Chill on the restaurant's patio while you eat homemade bratwursts, sausages, carnitas and more. The restaurant will have a taco stand and their pastry chef Brenton Balika is carrying the pork theme through dessert with ice creams and pies with "pork-filled garnishes." Tickets are $35 for just food or $50 for food and drinks, and you can order them by calling 202-944-2026. They'll have you wee-ing and wah-ing all the way home.
Oyamel is hosting its 4th annual squash blossom festival until August 14. Don't miss their light summer squash soup with corn, tomatoes, squash blossoms and mexican cream, as well as their squash blossoms stuffed with goat cheese. And if you're looking for an unusual cocktail, try their "Maria Bruja" which is a blend of zucchini, avocado juice, milagro blanco and mezcal served with a squash blossom chip in a salt-rimmed glass.
Take a bite:.
I am such a food buff so I'll definitely try all those food events that you suggested. I also would be trying cooking vacations soon so that I'll learn how to cook as well. |
Hand: A player’s hand is the combination of cards he holds. Play: A single game, from one shuffle to the next is called a play. Pot: The pot is the accumulated pool of money bet by players over the course of a game. A round of poker is a battle for the pot, and the winner of any round wins it as a prize.
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Hand Tie or Split Pot: If two players have the same hand then they divide the pot equally between them. When the pool is not exactly divisible then the left over amount goes to the player who called the highest bet. Ante: An enforced bet that must be made by all players before any cards are dealt. An ante encourages action in a game. Rake: A commission charged by a poker room for every hand played. The rake is usually taken as a percentage of the pot in a given hand. For example, if the rake is 10%, and a pot reaches a final of $10, the rake will be $1. Poker rooms generally use rake as their sole source of revenue. Showdown: After the last round of betting in a round of poker, a showdown occurs- players must turn over their cards, and compare their five-card poker hands.
Call: A player may call a bet by putting an amount of money exactly equal to the bet into the pot. For example, if Jim bets $2, and Brian wants to call Jim’s bet, Brian must put $2 into the pot. Fold: A player may fold his hand by laying down his cards, and forfeiting further play in a round of poker. For example, if Jim bets $2 and Brian wishes to fold, Brian must surrender his cards to the dealer, and will remain inactive for the rest of the round. Raise: A may raise a previous bet by putting an amount greater than the bet into the pot. A raise must be at least double the size of the previous bet. For example, if Jim bets $2, and Brian wants to raise Jim’s bet, Brian may put $4 or more into the pot. Check: A player may pass his turn in a round of poker without taking any betting action, only if there are no previous bets in the round. This is known as a check. For instance, if Brian is first to act on the flop in a hand, he has the option of checking his hand, which will put the action on the next player. Also pay attention to the difference in betting structures in limit, no limit and pot limit forms of poker.
Know the order of cards, from low to high- 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack (J), Queen (Q), King (K) and Ace (A). The ace (A) can usually double as the lowest ranked card as well as the highest. Card suits do not affect ranking- for example, the king of hearts and the king of spades are equal. Final hands in poker are always based on the total rank of five cards.
Familiarize yourself with the definitions of different hands, and with the value of each type. The different categories of five-card poker hands are as follows, from weakest to highest: One Pair, Two pair, Three of a kind, Straight, Flush, Full house, Four of a kind, Straight flush and Royal flush. A given hand beats all hands listed before it.
One pair consists of two cards out of a five-card hand with the same numerical rank. For example: A-A-K-7-6 (a pair of aces), or J-J-8-5-3 (a pair of jacks). If two players show down one pair hands of the same rank, they must compare their next highest card (the kicker) to determine the winner. If the two hands have equal kickers, then the next highest card must be compared- and so on. For example, A-A-7-6-5 (a pair of aces, 6 kicker) beats A-A-7-3-2 (a pair of aces, 3 kicker), since the 6 is a higher ranked card than the 3.
Two pair consists of two different pairs of cards and one other card in a five-card hand. Examples of two pair hands are A-A-K-K-5 (two pair, aces and kings, 5 kicker), and J-J-10-10-7 (jacks and tens, 7 kicker). If two players both show down two pair hands with equal top pairs, the lower pairs are compared, and the highest wins. For example A-A-K-K-5 (aces and kings) beats A-A-J-J-3 (aces and jacks). If both pairs are the same, the kickers are compared. For example, A-A-10-10-5 (aces and tens, 5 kicker) beats A-A-10-10-4 (aces and tens, 4 kicker).
Three of a kind consists of three cards of the same numerical rank in a five-card poker hand. Examples of three of a kind would be A-A-A-3-2 (three of a kind aces), and 5-5-5-K-J (three of a kind fives). If two or more players show down three of a kind hands of equal rank, then the players must compare their kickers. As with pair hands, the hand with the highest kicker wins. For example, K-K-K-A-10 (three of a kind kings, ace and 10 kicker) beats K-K-K-A-9 (three of a kind kings, ace and 9 kicker), since 10 is higher in rank than 9.
Flush consists of five cards in non-sequential order, all of the same suit. For example, A-9-7-5-2 of hearts is an ace high heart flush. K-J-8-6-3 all of spades is a king high spade flush. If two players both show down flushes, then they must compare their top cards to determine a winner. The highest ranked card wins. If these are equal, then they must compare their second highest cards, and the highest wins. If those are equal, then the third highest cards must be compared- and so on. For example, J-9-7-5-2 of hearts beats J-9-7-4-3 of hearts, since the 5 is of higher rank than the 4.
Full House consists of three cards of the same numerical value, as well as a pair. It is useful to think of a full house as containing both three of a kind and a pair. For example, A-A-A-5-5 is a full house, aces full of 5’s. 6-6-6-2-2 is a full house, sixes full of 2’s. If two players show down full houses with three of a kinds of equal rank, the hand with the highest ranked pair would win the pot. For example, K-K-K-8-8 would beat K-K-K-2-2.
Four of a kind consists of four cards of the same numerical rank, and any other card. An example of four of a kind would be, A-A-A-A-3 (four of a kind, aces).
Straight Flush consists of five cards in sequential order, all of the same suit. For example, 7-6-5-4-3 of hearts is a 7-high straight flush.
Royal Flush consists of A-K-Q-J-10, all of the same suit. A royal flush is simply the highest possible straight flush- however because of its very high value, it is given a separate name. The suit of the royal flush does not matter- all of them are equal.
Any five-card poker hand that does not fit into one of the above categories is simply known as a high-card hand. When comparing two such hands, the one with the better highest card wins. If the highest cards are equal the second highest cards are compared. If those are equal, the third highest cards are compared, and so on. For example, A-J-9-5-3 (ace high, jack kicker) beats A-10-9-6-4 (ace high, 10 kicker), since the J is higher ranked than the 10. |
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A USA Today Bestselling Author
Part-time sleuth and full-time owner of the needlework shop Crewel World, Betsy Devonshire often has a hand in anything crafty. Then, at this year's needlework convention in Nashville, Milwaukee shop owner Belle Hammermill tumbles nine stories to her untimely death. At first, Betsy thinks the fall was an unfortunate accident. The trouble is, Belle's unsavory reputation causes suspicions to flare. [via]
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Kathy Reichs. Kathy Reichs divides her time between Charlotte and Montreal. [via]
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The first Sin City volume of the Frank Miller library is an exceedingly handsome compilation of the first four books in Miller's gritty pulp-comic series: The Hard Goodbye, A Dame to Kill For, The Big Fat Kill, and That Yellow Bastard. These four stories--Marv's attempt to track down the killer of a perfect woman, Dwight's encounter with his ex-lover, Dwight's ill-fated attempt to teach a lesson to a brutal thug, and Hartigan's attempt to protect a young girl years after he saved her the first time--have the hallmarks that convinced Robert Rodriguez to turn three of them into the Sin City feature film: brutal violence, dangerous femmes fatale, mob leaders and dirty cops, and stark black-and-white art punctuated by the occasional splash of color. They all look great in these four oversized and heavyweight volumes of glossy paper. Also included are many of the color covers from the original Dark Horse comic books, though there's no supplemental art or creator commentary. Regardless, the presentation alone makes this a collection to savor. --David Horiuchi [via]
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Introduction. [via]
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One of the worlds most beloved novels, Jane Eyre is a startlingly modern blend of passion, romance, mystery, and suspense.
Susan Ostrov Weisser is a Professor of English at Adelphi University, where she specializes in nineteenth-century literature and womens studies. Her research centers on women and romantic love in nineteenth-century literature, as well as on contemporary popular culture. Weisser also wrote the introduction to the Barnes & Noble Classics edition of Persuasion.
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American forensic pathologist Nora Gavin has been called to an archaeological site in the bleak midlands west of Dublin to assist at an excavation where a well-preserved Iron Age body has been found in a peat bog. The body is academically intriguing, but of much more urgent interest is the second body found nearby, of a man wearing a wristwatch - hardly an Iron Age accessory.
Available only in Wheeler Hardcover 6. [via]
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A New York Times bestseller
When police officer Robicheaux learns that an old friend, Father Jimmie Dolan, has been the victim of a. [via]
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Book. Enter the vampires, who graciously suck the poison from her veins. But they saved her life, so when one of the bloodsuckers asks for a favor, Sookie complies - and soon she's in Dallas using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. [via]
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One reviewer wrote: The original Pet Shop of Horrors series is a certified classic, with interesting characters and a continuing plotline involving a hot-tempered American Cop trying to book a mysteriously pet shop owner. It has humor, beautiful art by Matsuri Akino, and is pretty accessible to Americans not familiar with the manga format. Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo is the sequel series to the original, with the new setting being a Chinese district in Japan instead of San Francisco. [via]
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"I was born an outcast in the world, in which I was destined to act so conspicuous a part. My mother was a burning and a shining light. But she was married to a man all over spotted with the leprosy of sin. She fled from his embraces the first night after their marriage. . . ." James Hogg wrote about the supernatural powerfully and convincingly, especially in his best-known novel, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, published in 1824; it has been called "the greatest of all Scottish novels." [via]
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Jenny Davidson is Assistant Professor of eighteenth-century literature and culture in the Department of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. Her novel Heredity appeared from Soft Skull Press in 2003.
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Right gallantly and well he fought
Hand to hand with as brave a foe,
Their faces hid by the nodding plumes,
And the dense clouds hanging low.
Did they think, these hot-blooded captains,
That Death was so close by their side,
When Howard has fallen, the bravest—
Rung out on the air far and wide.
“Howard?” His foeman kneels by his side,
And raises his head to his knee—
Oh, God! that brothers should part in youth,
And thus should their meeting be.
Unheard is the deafening battle roar,
Unseen is that dying look;
He hears but the sound of a childish laugh,
And the song of a Northern brook.
He sees two white forms kneeling
In the twilight sweet and dim,
One low couch angel-guarded,
By a mother’s evening hymn.
The Angel of Death came down with the night,
Came down with the gathering gloom;
God pity the little dark-eyed girl,
Alone in the lonely room.
But still by his side his brother kneels,
Chill horror has frozen his veins;
He heeds not the glancing shower of shells,
That with red fire glitters and rains.
And he heeds not the fiery cavalry charge,
That sweeps like a billow on
To death, oh, the bravest and saddest sight,
That man ever gazed upon!
The last shot! What is one life
To the battle’s gory gain?
But, alas, for the little blue-eyed maid
Away on the hills of Maine!.
“My house is thatched with violet leaves
And paved with daisies fine,
Scarlet berries droop over its eaves,
Tall grasses round it shine;
With softest down I have lined my nest,
Securely now will I sit and rest.
“When their wings break from their silvery shell,
Touched by my tender care,
Here shall my little ones safely dwell,
Little ones soft and fair;
Some summer morn they shall try their wings
While their father sits by my side and sings.”
Hard by, just over the streamlet’s edge
A great rock towered in might,
High up, half hidden in moss and sedge,
Were safe little nooks and bright;
Ah well for the bird with her tender breast,
Had she flown to the rock to build her nest!
Poor bird, she built her nest too low;
Alas! for the bird, alas!
That she chose that spot to her woe
In the low dewy grass;
For the reaper came with his gleaming blade.
Alas for love in the violet shade! |
He had begun little by little to pick up the course of his life once more, and on a certain Wednesday morning was looking listlessly through the morning paper as he sat in his window-seat. The room was delightful, flooded with the morning sun, the Assyrian bas-reliefs just touched with a ruddy light, the Renaissance portraits looking down at him through a fine golden haze; a little fire, just enough to blunt the keenness of the early morning air, snapping in the famous tiled and flamboyant stove. All about the room was a pleasant fragrance of coffee and good tobacco.
Vandover caught sight of the announcement of the suit with a sudden sharp intake of breath that was half gasp, half cry, starting up from the window-seat, reading it over again and again with staring eyes.
It was a very short paragraph, not more than a dozen lines, lost at the bottom of a column, among the cheap advertisements. It made no allusion to any former stage of the affair; from its tone Ida might have killed herself only the day before. It seemed hardly more than a notice that some enterprising reporter, burrowing in the records at the City Hall, had unearthed and brought to light with the idea that it might be of possible interest to a few readers of the paper. But there was his name staring back at him from out the gray blur of the type, like some reflection of himself seen in a mirror. Insignificant as the paragraph was, it seemed to Vandover as though it was the only item in the whole paper. One might as well have trumpeted his crime through the streets.
“But twenty-five thousand dollars!” exclaimed Vandover, terrified. “Where will I find twenty-five thousand dollars?” And at once he fell to wondering as to whether or no in default of payment he could be sent to the penitentiary. The idea of winning the suit did not enter his mind an instant; he did not even dream of fighting it.
For the moment it was like fire driving out fire. He forgot the loss of his art, his mind filled only with the sense of the last disaster. What could he do? Twenty-five thousand dollars! It would ruin him. A cry of exasperation, of rage at his own folly, escaped him. “Ah, what a fool I’ve been!”
For an hour he raged to and fro in the delightful sunlit room, pacing back and forth in its longest dimension between the bamboo tea-table and the low bookcase, a thousand different plans and projects coming and going in his head. As his wits steadied themselves he began to see that he must consult at once with some lawyer—Field, of course—perhaps something could be done; a clever lawyer might make out a case for him after all. But all at once he became convinced that Field would not undertake his defence; he knew he had no case; so what could Field do for him? He would have to tell him the truth, and he saw with absolute clearness that the lawyer would refuse to try to defend him. The thing could not honourably be done. But, then, what should he do? He must have legal advice from some quarter. |
The Hope Vendetta
Review
The Hope Vendetta
He turned from the window and walked across to the low table. He put down his empty glass and reached out for the pistol. He picked it up and weighed the heavy steel in his hand. He stared at the weapon a long moment as the moonlight glimmered down its length. He clicked off the safety. The desolation that Benedict Hope felt at that moment was complete and all encompassing. He had lost his will to live, and nothing seemed to be able to pull him out of the morass that engulfed him. Yet, somewhere in the depths of his being, strengthened by his years of experience as a Secret Agent and buoyed by his faith, he decided to meet the challenges that faced him. He would leave the SAS and return to Oxford to complete his theological studies. Somehow, he would learn to live without his beloved wife.
"If you love a good adventure mystery with a bit of Biblical history thrown in, THE HOPE VENDETTA will not disappoint."
Vowing to get some peace and tranquility in his life, Ben is not eager to assist Professor Bradbury when he asks for help to find his missing daughter. Zoe Bradbury is not a child but a grown woman and professional archaeologist, despite the fact that she has an overactive libido and an addiction to the wild side of life. Nevertheless, her parents are worried about her and turn to Ben for help. Ben engages his former colleague, Charlie Palmer, to take on the task, but Charlie soon runs into a snag and insists that Ben join in to lend a hand. There on the Greek Island of Corfu, the simple missing person case turns into a heart-stopping case of Biblical proportions.
As Ben begins to investigate the people and places involved in Zoe's life prior to her disappearance, he finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy that will risk the lives of millions of people if it is not uncovered and exposed. This is not an easy task when the conspirators are part of the power structure and famous for their ability to hide in plain sight. What becomes apparent is that Zoe has discovered an important artifact during her last expedition that promises to throw the Christian community into spiritual chaos and the Middle East into flames.
While Ben is an extremely capable investigator, his findings can sometimes lead him to false conclusions, as in the case of televangelist Clayton Cleaver. Certain that he is behind Zoe's disappearance, Ben goes to Savannah, Georgia to confront the man. Cleaver's claim to fame was writing a book that revealed how John the Revelator had appeared to him and verified all the information that is contained in the book of Revelation. He admitted to Ben, under some duress, that this was not true, but he could not afford to have evidence come forth that would prove anything new about the book of Revelation or it would blow his gig.
Upon further investigation, Ben uncovers a plot much more sinister than a greedy televangelist's schemes. While it does not seem possible that people would go to such extremes to secure their evil goals, we need only look at the headlines for proof that they do. In this case, they are willing to start a war between Iran and Israel to prove that the prophecies in Revelation are correct. Of course, they fail to realize that those outcomes are not meant to be in the hands of man but in the hands of God.
If you love a good adventure mystery with a bit of Biblical history thrown in, THE HOPE VENDETTA will not disappoint.
Reviewed by Maggie Harding on March 15, 2012
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Book Synopsis:.
Author Interview:
Describe your book in five words or less.
Unique plot, never before published
How did the ideas for your books come to you?
When doing yard work, I have lots of time to think about many things. Sometimes, a creative idea comes to mind and I am able to develop it into a story.
What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
The hardest part is making sure that the dialog is natural sounding. Sometimes, it is difficult for the characters to have a detailed conversation without sounding artificial. The easiest part is beginning a new chapter because at this time, I usually have a very clear idea as to where I want to go with the story. It’s then a matter of taking it there.
What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?
I have completed a second novel titled, Dead in the Water. I am working on the rough draft of a third novel, still untitled, that is probably about 50% completed.
Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
I have a very conservative personality. When I write a suspense thriller, I am able to use my imagination and reach far beyond myself to write about situations that I will never experience in my own personal life.
What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?
It’s unbelievably flattering. It makes me want to write the best story possible so as not to disappoint whomever might eventually be reading it.
What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
Why did I wait so long to begin writing? My answer is that I really don’t know and I now regret that I did. So much time was wasted. I try to accept the old adage that it’s better late than never.
What was your road to publications like?
It had its share of disappointments. I sent out a number of queries that included a short letter and the first 30 pages of the book. Most publishers never responded but a couple requested that I send them the remainder of the book. This indicated to me that my story was generating some interest and this gave me the encouragement that I needed.
Author Bio:
Ralph was born in Chicago and grew up in the suburban Riverside. He is a graduate of Saint Joseph High School and the University of Central Florida where he attained a BA of Science in Business Administration.
Since college, he has worked in marketing and sales positions within the electronics industry, primarily for German manufactures. Today, he is the managing partner in his own business, and travels to Germany on a regular basis.
He is married and has one daughter, a college student. Ralph and his family have resided in the Chicago area for the past twenty three years..
Giveaway
1. Please leave a comment on this post in appreciation of the author.
2. Please fill out the form below.
It is interesting that your ideas come to you while doing yardwork. Even though I enjoy it, it does seem neverending.
I would love to read the book, it sounds really good.
Thanks you for the giveaway.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
Well thanks a lot Hans. I'm gonna be suspicious every time I see a made bed now! lol It sounds like such a good book and I can't wait to read it.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
Great interview!
mk261274 at gmail dot com
Sounds like a very interesting book! |
By Ross Kerber, Globe Staff | March 1, 2007
As stock markets plunged on Tuesday, some online brokerage companies couldn't keep up with their customers' clicks.
Companies including Vanguard Group Inc. in Pennsylvania, Boston's Fidelity Investments, and Bank of America Corp.'s brokerage unit experienced significant increases in the time it took their computer networks to serve up Web pages for customers to log in and arrange stock trades, according to a survey by Gomez Inc., a Lexington consulting company.
Theoretically the time lags could cost millions of dollars for shareholders trying to rapidly liquidate stocks as they fell -- or, conversely benefit them if they were trying to buy as the price was falling. For Vanguard, the worst performer, response time to provide a series of six Web pages for do-it-yourself stock traders fell from 11.5 seconds on Monday afternoon from 3 to 4 p.m., a typical period, to almost 3 1/2 minutes during the same hour on Tuesday, Gomez said.
Fidelity's response time fell from 19.4 seconds to a minute and 36 seconds during the same periods, Gomez said.
"When we see a site that doesn't perform well, either they haven't taken the time to study their customers or made the investments" in equipment, said Gomez vice president Matt Poepsel.
Vanguard blamed ill-timed system maintenance for Tuesday's performance but said all customer transactions on Tuesday went through.
A Fidelity spokeswoman, Anne Crowley, noted stock exchanges also reported slow transactions on Tuesday and said the company is still studying yesterday's transactions, when it had twice as much retail trading as usual. Customers could also access its phone system and branch network, she said. "There was an extraordinary volume yesterday and all firms were dealing with it," she said.
Reaction by Banc of America Investment Services grew from about 16 seconds to about 81 seconds. A Bank of America spokesman, Jon Goldstein, said it is "assessing the situation and ensuring our customers' needs are met."
Online brokerage houses were just one piece of the world's computerized financial system that was stressed on Tuesday, when the Dow Jones industrial average fell about 200 points around 3 p.m. as investors reacted to worries about Chinese stocks and the US economic outlook.
Another problem was a computer glitch at Dow Jones & Co. that prevented it from updating the index in real time , making the 200-point drop appear to happen in minutes rather than over a longer period.
Giving consumers real-time access to market systems has been a central promise of the online brokerage industry, which had 11.4 million visitors -- mostly users -- in January, according to comScore Networks Inc. in Chicago.
A competing company that also studies online brokers , Keynote Systems Inc. in San Mateo, Calif., said it measured similar lag times on Tuesday. It said that slow responses could drive away customers.
"This cost the brokerage traders a lot in brand equity," said Abelardo Gonzalez, Keynote web performance manager. "These are the days that count. A business is judged by how it performs on the critical days, not on a day-to-day basis," he said.
Gomez found younger companies like ETrade Financial Corp. in New York and TD AmeriTrade Inc. performed fastest Tuesday. ETrade, for instance, had a response time of 4.9 seconds during Tuesday's toughest hour, Gomez reported, just off its time on Monday of 4.6 seconds.
To test the brokerages, Gomez and Keynote have set up networks of their own computers that automatically log into brokerage accounts throughout the trading day. For Gomez's test, Poepsel said it uses computers in 10 cities that contact the brokerages over commercial Internet connections that yield speeds much higher than the typical consumer would experience.
These computers then perform a series of six tasks automatically, including calling up the brokerages' home page, logging into an account, checking a portfolio, ordering, and then confirming a trade. The computers do not execute the trade, but that's less important than getting to that final step, Poepsel said.
"If you have a problem, there won't be an execution," he said.
Ross Kerber can be reached at [email protected]. |
By Raja Mishra and James Vaznis, Globe Staff | March 14, 2007.
Meehan emerged from an initial field of nearly 80 candidates, dominated by out-of-state academics, by promising university leaders that he would devote much of his time to raising money, particularly to fund teaching and scholarship on nanotechnology, biomanufacturing, and several other new sciences that are the focus of UMass-Lowell's development plans, according to university and local officials.
"Obviously, over a period of time, I've become one of the more prolific fund-raisers in Congress," said Meehan, whose campaign chest is one of the richest in Congress. "The ability to meet with people, to get them enthusiastic, the ability to identify people who would be willing to contribute -- these are all things I bring."
Officials in the Merrimack Valley, which has struggled with a steady loss of manufacturing jobs, said they hoped a galvanized UMass-Lowell would translate into economic benefits for the region by attracting high-tech businesses.
"The fact that he sees the university's role as, certainly, educating students, but also as developing programs that are going to put the university -- and by default the entire region -- at the forefront of this technology, is promising," said Lowell's mayor, William F. Martin Jr., who was on the 21-member search committee that selected Meehan as one of three finalists last month.
Jack M. Wilson, UMass president, called Meehan yesterday morning to inform him that he had been selected for the post. The university's board of trustees is expected to ratify Wilson's choice at a meeting scheduled for today. Meehan, born and raised in Lowell, plans to leave his position on Capitol Hill in July, ending a career that spawned historic legislation on campaign finance reform and tobacco control.
"The decision to leave the House has been the most difficult professional decision of my life," the seven-term congressman said. "But I believe ultimately that education and a technology-driven, highly literate workforce will determine the fate of my region, the region where I grew up."
Wilson said that throughout the selection process, he repeatedly asked Meehan whether he was sure he wanted to give up his political career for the chancellorship.
"He has never been more passionate about the university than now," Wilson said. "We are very fortunate to have someone with Marty Meehan's talents and expertise and that he is an alum."
Meehan will leave behind a new Democratic majority in Congress, where he recently took over as leader of a key House Armed Services subcommittee.
Before heading to Washington, Meehan, 50, served in the Middlesex district attorney's office and as a deputy secretary of state. He and his wife, Ellen T. Murphy, have two sons.
Salary and benefits still have to be negotiated, but Wilson said Meehan would probably earn slightly more than the previous chancellor, William T. Hogan. Hogan's salary was $235,800, and he also received a $28,000 housing allowance. As a representative, Meehan earns $165,200 a year.
Meehan's interest in the job initially drew skepticism from some professors and members of the search committee, who were concerned that a politician might not have the necessary skills to lead the 11,000-student university. Meehan graduated from UMass-Lowell in 1978; he also has a master's degree in public policy and a law degree from Suffolk University,
"Like most academics, one is always worried that someone coming from a political background will not understand the academic needs of a university," said Julie Chen, a professor of mechanical engineering and a member of the search committee. "But I think he can turn this into a top-tier education and research institution."
The two other finalists for the position were David C. Chang, chancellor of Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, and Nabil A. Ibrahim, vice chancellor of academic affairs at Purdue University's campus in Calumet, Ind.
According to search committee members, Meehan converted skeptics during interviews and in a meeting with faculty, staff, and students on campus last week, when he shared his personal story as a son of working-class parents who earned a degree at Lowell and later secured millions of dollars in federal grants for his alma mater.
"He has been a real champion for this campus in Washington, and losing him there will be one downside," said Stephen McCarthy, director of the university's Biodegradable Polymer Research Center, " but I think he will be able to do more on campus."
During his campus visit last week, Meehan said he intends to spend half his time fund raising. In the past four years, budget cuts have shrunk the university's fund-raising operation from 22 full-time employees to 15. Despite the cuts, the university has met or slightly exceeded its goals for the three previous years and has raised $5.4 million, or 60 percent of its target goal, this fiscal year.
"We've been doing pretty good, fund-raising-wise," said John Davis, vice chancellor for university advancement, "but what we really need is a chancellor who will push us over the finish line."
The university has set an ambitious goal of doubling its endowment to $40 million by 2009; with Meehan's fund-raising prowess, Davis said he believes the goal can be raised even higher.
Meehan was well known on Capitol Hill for his tenacious fund-raising. As of Dec. 31, Meehan had $5.1 million left in his political coffers. Federal laws require him to spend the money on his political operation or give it to political parties or charities.
Since Meehan won office in 1993, UMass-Lowell has received more than $200 million in federal funds, much of it for scientific programs championed by the congressman.
Meehan will arrive just as the fruits of his legislative efforts are becoming apparent on campus. The university is planning the construction of an $80 million bio- and nanotechnology research center, part of a broader $266 million initiative to renovate dozens of buildings, classrooms, and laboratories.
Education specialists said the timing is optimal for UMass-Lowell to sharpen its focus on engineering and technology, given the demand for well-trained workers in those fields.
"We haven't done a good job preparing our students for those fields, and other countries have," said Paul Lingenfelter, president of State Higher Education Executive Officers, an association based in Colorado that represents public higher education systems. "We can't rely on foreign engineering talent."
Chris Anderson, president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council, said it would be smart for UMass-Lowell to expand its role in the region's technology sector. He said he believes the university should produce more engineers and more research that leads to local start-up firms. The university has a business incubator program that has produced a few strong companies in the region, but local officials said they hoped its booster effect would be far greater under Meehan.
"Marty's awareness of the strategies to foster university-based research and emerging technologies will position UMass-Lowell to be a leader" in the state's economic fortunes, said Anderson, who is also chairman of the state Board of Education.
The Merrimack Valley's textile-manufacturing base all but disappeared in the latter half of the 20th century. Major employers like Wang and Digital either left the area or went under in the 1990s, leaving parts of the region with high unemployment and declining incomes. Lowell has begun reinventing itself as a low-cost housing alternative for Boston-area workers, and technology start-ups have begun locating in the region; however, local officials say the economy is far from robust.
Martin, the mayor of Lowell, said a Meehan-led renaissance at UMass-Lowell could be the catalyst that the Merrimack Valley has needed: "This could replace the manufacturing jobs we've lost."
A small sample of students and faculty interviewed yesterday had few reservations about having a political figure run the university.
"If he can increase the value of a UMass-Lowell degree, that's what matters to me," said Alos Diallo, 25, a senior biology and philosophy major. "Do we need a PhD to run the university? Probably not."
Charles Thompson, a professor of electrical engineering for the past 20 years, said he was not concerned that Meehan has spent most of his professional life in the rough and tumble political world of Washington, D.C.
"Maybe that makes him more qualified," Thompson said with a chuckle.
Globe correspondent Charles Russo contributed to this report. |
Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon—America's Lothario and America's Sweetheart—are an oddly apt pairing in Seth Gordon's middleweight comedy about a supposedly rock-solid couple undermined by a day with their families. As the biggest romantic comedy debut in months, Four Christmases is poised to rake in the lets-take-grandma-to-the-movies holiday cash, and its appealing trailer has guys secretly hoping their women will drag them along.
Witherspoon stands 5'2"; she barely reaches Vaughn's elbow. But in their first scene she sets her Tracy Flick jaw and tears a too-hesitant Vaughn into bite-sized pieces. It's a seduction game, but the intent is to prove the giant and the pixie are equally matched. Which is ideal in the first act when they're charging through life together like two headstrong bulls. Vaughn and Witherspoon are that smug city couple who knows everyone else is doing it wrong. An engaged couple in their ballroom dance class find themselves on the receiving end of their chirpy argument against the responsible breeder route of marriage and babies. That couple must hate them—we would, a little—if it weren’t for the way Vaughn lovingly, unknowingly plays with Witherspoon's ponytail. (Even worse for everyone else's romantic self-esteem, they're taking the class simply because they love doing everything together.)
Flying to Fiji for Christmas instead of clocking time with their four sets of estranged parents (instead of volunteering in Burma, their given excuse), the couple is ratted out by network TV when all flights are canceled. We've enjoyed their cocky selfishness; just as much, we bask in schadenfreude when they get guilted into making the familial trail of tears. But too soon, Matt Allen, Caleb Wilson, Jon Lucas and Matt Moore's script pressures us to be with them, not against them. Sympathy sucks the poisonous fun from the comedy's redemptive last stretch. The early visits have a wicked glimmer—their first visit with Vaughn's dad (Robert Duvall) is a riot. Jon Favreau and Tim McGraw play Vaughn's short, powerhouse brothers Denver and Dallas—bottom tier UFC fighters—and without question the best gag in the flick is when Favreau pins Vaughn, dry humps his armpit, then derisively throws him a crumpled dollar bill.
Reese Witherspoon, like most females in comedy, falls victim to more jokes than she gets to crack. Kristen Chenowith has a little more fun playing her fertile, femme fatale sister—a stroke of perfect casting as her sister as she's the only actress shorter, blonder, and squeakier than her co-star. But Witherspoon is allowed a nasty, gleeful smirk when she accidentally knocks a baby's head into a door. The screenwriters have tied her characters arc to a station wagon's-worth of infants. Having revealed her ignorance of all things Pampers, Witherspoon is then prodded to undergo a maternal awakening so that she'll pivot and run contrary to Vince's responsibility-phobic eternal youth, and these two stubborn beasts will draw and quarter their relationship. That they Frankenstein-stitch back together their monster perfection is never in doubt, and to the film's credit, the rift is mended with moderate realism. Such truthiness, however, belongs in a kinder, gentler movie instead of a fanged comedy that voluntarily sacrifices its bite.
Distributor:
New Line Cinema
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, John Voight, Sissy Spacek, Kristen Chenowith John Favreau and Robert Duvall
Director: Seth Gordon
Screenwriters: Matt Allen, Caleb Wilson, Jon Lucas and Matt Moore
Producers: Roger Birnbaum, Jonathan Glickman, Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG-13 for some sexual humor and language.
Running time: 82 min.
Release date: November 26, 2009 |
Grosses
$13.5 Million Start for 'Star Trek Into Darkness'May 17, 2013 11:51 AM
Paramount's Star Trek Into Darkness started out its domestic run with an opening day take of $13.54 million on Thursday (an estimated $2.0 million from Wednesday night IMAX showings are included within the reported figure). While Star Trek Into Darkness led the daily box office comfortably on Thursday, the film's opening day performance left a lot to be desired for a highly anticipated sequel of its size. With that said, it is extremely likely that the last minute release date change to Thursday took a toll on the film's box office potential yesterday, though to exactly what degree remains to be seen until Friday's performance plays out. In comparison, Thursday's performance for Star Trek Into Darkness was 46 percent softer than the $25.04 million opening Thursday take of 2008's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and 1 percent stronger than the $13.37 million opening Thursday gross of 2009's Terminator Salvation.
Check back throughout the weekend for further updates on the box office progress of Star Trek Into Darkness.
In other box office news, Warner's The Great Gatsby continued its stronger than expected box office run on Thursday with a second place take of $3.43 million. The Baz Luhrmann directed film starring Leonardo DiCaprio was down 12 percent from Wednesday, which represented one of Thursday's stronger daily holds among wide releases. A bit surprisingly, The Great Gatsby has now topped Iron Man 3 at the daily box office for two consecutive days. However, Iron Man 3 should move back ahead in the rankings over the weekend due to the greater appeal of Iron Man 3 with family audiences. The Great Gatsby placed in second for the week with a seven-day start of $66.74 million. That places the film 75 percent ahead of the $38.14 million one-week start of last year's Dark Shadows.
Disney's Iron Man 3 placed in third with $3.297 million. In the process, Marvel's blockbuster superhero sequel surpassed the $300 million mark yesterday. Iron Man 3 reached the milestone on its fourteenth day of release (which ties it with 2009's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen as the fourth fastest film ever to reach the $300 million mark). In addition, Iron Man 3 has now surpassed the $1 billion mark at the global box office with a current global haul of $1.0008 billion (current domestic and overseas totals stand at $301.89 million and $698.9 million respectively). Iron Man 3 was the week's top film with $89.47 million for the frame. That represented a 58 percent decline from the film's opening week performance. |
Stories is such a great chapter in Mitten Strings for God - so much imagination and insight. Stories are a HUGE part of our family thanks to Will... but I'll fill you in on that in a later post! Here's a few excerpts from the author, Katrina Kenison, for us to think about for this week's Simple and Slow Friday.
...I didn't have the nerve to tell stories to my children. I felt I lacked the spontaneity, imagination, and wisdom necessary to make up stores off the cuff, and I was sure I didn't have the time to sit down and work out a full-blown narrative in advance...
Several months later, I joined a storytelling class taught by a therapist and former Waldorf teacher named Nancy Mellon. Each of us, it turned out, was there for the same reason - we yearned to cast magic spells, to spin tales of wonder, to enchant our children with stories - and yet none of us felt quite up to the challenge. (p. 70)
According to Nancy, our first task as storytellers is to become good listeners and good watchers. And so, at her suggestion, I began to look upon the world itself as the raw materials for stories. Suddenly, the moon, the stars, even the raindrops sliding down the windowpanes, all became imbued with life.
Years ago, parents told stories to children both to entertain them and to teach them about the world's complexities. But we lost the art of storytelling when we lost that sort of open-ended time with our children, the reflecting, wondering, watching time that gives rise to stories. (p. 71)
Where do our children hear most of their stories today? More often than not, they receive their stories from the media, from huge international corporations who need to make a profit, and who do so by "entertaining" us. These mass-produced commercial stories may capture our children's attention, but they will not stir their sense or open their hearts.
The stories we mothers can tell are different. They are food for the soul, and they nourish us, the storytellers, as well as the listeners. Telling a story is really a way of breathing deeply with our children. (p. 72)Someplace deep within me, I carry every story I have ever heard, every story I have ever lived, every story I will ever need.
(p. 77)
How do stories play a part in your lives? I'd love to know! I'll have Mr. Linky up next Friday for your thoughts (and maybe even a story?) (Click here for the posts on Stories)
Click here to be directed to Wants and Needs. (yes, I'm a week behind...)
2 comments:
i have had anything but slow and simple anydays...which, is totally grating against my skin (the wrong way) pray for me...hope y'all are healthy and content!
Does this mean I'm a week ahead? I tagged you...come by the site and see what bits of information you're only slightly obligated to reveal about yourself. :)
p.s. Justice put you on his list of "cool people I know" at school |
A to homeowners whose properties are tainted with the corrosive material.
The settlement covers 2,000 to 3,000 homes in Florida, after a class action lawsuit claimed that Banner misled consumers about the product’s safety.
“This is a substantial development in Chinese drywall litigation,” said Ervin Gonzalez, a Miami attorney representing the plaintiffs in the case, in a statement. “It enables Florida homeowners to get some relief from their ongoing Chinese drywall issues.”
Chinese drywall was imported into the United States in large batches after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, in response to a need for the reconstruction of homes. In areas in South Florida like Homestead, Miami and Kendall, new single-family homes were being built, occasionally with drywall from China.
That drywall was later discovered to contain toxins that corroded pipes and electrical wiring, emitted foul odors and allegedly caused headaches and breathing problems.
The discovery led to thousands of lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors and installers of Chinese drywall, including Banner.
Banner claims that it bought the drywall from a German-based manufacturer that lied about the quality of the product. “We are settling this matter to bring a resolution for our customers and to allow the homeowners to fix their homes,” said Michael Peterson, Banner’s counsel, in a statement.
Because Banner Supply Co. provided most of the drywall used in Florida construction, it’s likely that many Manatee County residents will be affected by the preliminary settlement reached today, said Jordan Chaikin, a partner with one of the dozen law firms representing plaintiffs in the class action suit.
“Unfortunately, Manatee County and all the way down to where we are, in Lee County, are the epicenter of the Chinese drywall epidemic,” said Chaikin, a partner with the law firm Parker, Waichman, Alonso LLP, which is based in New York City but has a Florida office in Bonita Springs.
That’s because Southwest Florida had one of the highest appreciating real estate markets between 2004 and 2006, and was also hard-hit by a string of destructive hurricanes. generating lots of construction, Those two factors meant lots of construction -- and lots of contaminated drywall installed in new and renovated homes, Chaikin said. “Domestic manufacturers didn’t have the capability to keep up with demand,” he said.
The Parker law firm represents more than 1,000 Florida plaintiffs in the class-action suit, which will likely involve more than 10,000 people nationwide. A process for distributing proceeds of the $55 million settlement is still in negotiation, Chaikin said.
“If somebody suspects or has confirmed through their builder that they have Chinese drywall and have not retained an attorney to represent them, it’s imperative that they do that immediately,” Chaikin said.
Banner expressed plans to seek damages against manufacturers that sold defective drywall, the company said.
The $54.5 million settlement will be paid out by Banner’s insurers, and it equals the total amount available to the company for drywall related insurance claims, Tuesday’s court filing said.
Those eligible for the most recent settlement will be notified by mail and in various media outlets within 35 days if the settlement is approved by a federal judge in New Orleans.
-- Bradenton Herald reporter Chris Hawes contributed to this report. |
ECWCS GENERATION III: LEVEL IV
WINDSHIRT “Very Unique”
New Technology:The army issued wind jacket is a very unique clothing item that doesn’t compare to any other product the military has used in the past. You can compare the Generation III silk weight items against the “old school” sleeping shirt. You can compare the level II grid fleece shirts & trousers against the previous military issued thermal underwear. You can also compare the level VI Gore-Tex system against various wet weather garments, but what can you compare a wind shirt against? As far as I’m aware there is no comparison. The wind Jacket is the first of its kind. The wind jacket is loose, airy and very comfortable. Personally, I wouldn’t describe it as a wind breaker because it looks more like a shirt. This explains why it is commonly called the “wind shirt” by soldiers. When I think of the Extended Climate Warfighter Clothing System or ECWCS, I tend to think of extreme cold weather clothing items, but the wind jacket is an odd fit in this package. When I visualize myself using this product I can see me wearing it on a blistering hot day at Ft. Hood Texas or Ft. Sill Oklahoma. It would be ideal in a hot dry setting where the winds were flowing across the plains. Other than an additional layer of clothing, I don’t know how this product fits into a cold weather clothing system. Since I’m somewhat confused by this product I will provide the following information that I found on an official web site: “The GEN III Wind Jacket is designed to act as a low volume shell layer that optimizes the moisture wicking properties of other GEN III insulating and next-to-skin levels. It is also designed to be worn under body armor.”
G.I. Generation III Level IV Wind Shirt:Purchase Windshirt Here - $49.95
• Constructed with MILLIKEN® nylon spandex material with a water resistant finish • Optimizes moisture wicking properties of other GEN III layers • Designed for wear under body armor and with the ACU • Increased wind and sand protection • Extreme low weight and bulk • Angled chest pockets with mesh lining for ventilation • Velcro closure sleeve pockets • Elasticized cuffs • Velcro fasteners for rank and name plates • Color: Universal Camouflage
Why you should have one:Since my days as a soldier are long behind me, I tend to look at the wind jacket for use in many civilian applications. I often wear it camping during the summer or when I’m chopping wood at my friend’s hunting camp in early fall. Its loose airy feel is ideal when I’m overly active. It helps me stay cool and dry, and I simply love the way it feels. Comprised of 100% nylon and made by prestigious companies such as Patagonia, it is obvious this product is well constructed and built to last. Once again, I use this product as a shirt rather than a jacket. When the wind jacket was first introduced it was one of my better selling items. This is especially true for Bradley’s mail order operations. Over the years it has produced excellent customer feedback, and I have recommended it to many customers including soldiers and survivalists. Today demand for the wind shirt has declined, and I don’t know why. It is a good product with reasonable price. For the most part, Bradley’s sells wind jackets to soldiers that lost the item and need to clear the Central Issuing Facility or CIF. I don’t sell many wind shirts to civilians these days. Perhaps it has lost its new exciting image, but I wouldn’t read into this statement. The wind jacket is an outstanding piece of military clothing, and there are many practical applications for it in civilian settings. Overall, I would rate the wind jacket highly. I wish I was able to use it during my years in the Army, and I would recommend it to any soldier. Its loose light fit is very comfortable, and it is money well spent. If you are an elite soldier or rugged survivalist I encourage you to try this product. I’m confident you will like it. For more information about the wind shirt or any other ECWCS Generation III items visit:
G.I. Generation III Level IV Wind Shirt:Purchase Windshirt Here - $49.95
|
And I'm not talking about just any old ham, people. I'm talking about the best ham you've ever tasted--and it could be yours! I am giving away a Petit Jean HIckory Smoked Spiral Cut Ham, just in time for Easter festivities. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
If you don't know, Petit Jean Meats in an Arkansas based company with great tasting products like bacon, ham, sausages and hot dogs. You can find their meats in grocery stores all over the state, or you can order online direct from .
I am trying to decide if I want to cook my spiral cut ham for Easter dinner (share), or cook it another weekend just for us at home (or not share). Either way, I have a delicious plan for this baby. Stay tuned for a follow up post and I'll share my recipe that I'm so excited about trying. Hint: I got it from my friend Trisha Yearwood! Well, ok. She's not really my friend but I kinda know her, and I adore her, and the woman can cook.
You know it's a special occasion when Petit Jean is on the table! Well, in my house it is for sure.
I'm so excited about this great opportunity for one of my readers to win a ham. I mean, we all have to eat, right? If you want to enter the drawing to win, follow these steps:
+ Go to THIS LINK to sign up for the Petit Jean Meats e-newsletter. You will receive occasional e-mails about product news, special offers and other useful information. You must sign up for the newsletter to be included in the drawing.
+ Leave a comment under this post! Let me know that you did sign up for the e-newsletter, and tell me what side dish would go great with this ham. Also, make sure you leave me your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.
+ Deadline to enter is Thursday, March 14th at 8:00 p.m. Central time. A winner will be announced within a few days. giveaway, so that I could also give away a spiral sliced ham on my blog.
GREAT giveaway! I signed up for the Newsletter (what's one more newsletter?........and I may get some great ideas, recipes or coupons from it). I hope you decide to SHARE! I'd have some baked beans and maybe some potato salad and deviled eggs with mine. Save the ham bone for a yummy pot of beans on another day!
I signed up for their newsletter. I'd have it with Granny Smith apples in a Dijon mustard glaze with scalloped potatoes. Yummy!
I signed up for their newsletter! Our absolute favorite side dish for ANY holiday meal is cheesy hashbrown casserole...there's NEVER any leftovers! - Dotti Barrow
I signed up for the newsletter! I would make my homemade baked beans, creamy mustard potato salad & my famous deviled eggs. Dang, now I'm hungry.
Lana Harris - [email protected]
Signed up for Petit Jean's newsletter. I love hashbrown casserole, green bean casserole, deviled eggs and fruit salad with ham.
I signed up. I would probably make potato salad and/or a cheesy broccoli casserole to go with it.
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I signed up (I actually I already was, but what the heck!). I lovelovelove ham. Love ham. I LOVE HAM! I'd do some sort of fruit glaze, and make some creamy mashed potatoes to go with that baby. Please let me win!
I signed up~ I would make my Mom's Scalloped Potatoes recipe!
[email protected]
signed up. Day old mashed potatoes and green beans would go well! yummy!
I signed up for the newsletter. I would make a hot pineapple side dish...it's so yummy that it doesn't even need a real name. I'll even share it with you for your next ham!
[email protected]
I signed up for the newsletter. The girls LOVE ham, especially Heidi, it is her absolute favorite. Just to be different, I'll say fried rice. We make the best @ our house and my girls love that too!! But all those other sound awesome, and now I'm starving for them all. [email protected] |
Blogs
Feb 7, 2013 It's the Final Last Chance Kitchen & Save a Chef!
Watch the last duo compete and then cast your vote one last time!Read Blog
Feb 6, 2013 Dale Talde's New Spot Up for 'Time Out NY' Award
His no-frills hotspot Pork Slope earns a "Best New Neighborhood Joint" nod.Read Blog
Nov 14, 2012 Caption This: Bro Talk
Enter your caption for a chance to be featured in our weekly newsletter!Read Blog
Feb 6, 2013 A Baby Boy in Teresa Giudice's Future?
If Joe has his way, there could be another Giudice baby coming soon.Read Blog
Feb 6, 2013 Brandi Glanville Cheated? Not So Fast, She Says
The RHOBH star says "#WISHIHAD" about the latest round of tabloid rumors.Read Blog
Feb 5, 2013 Hear Scheana Marie's Single 'What I Like'
The 'Vanderpump Rules' beauty joins the ranks of Bravo pop stars.Read Blog
Feb 5, 2013 Beyonce Says She Was 'Gone With the Wind Fabulous'
Minds. Exploded. Did she really just namecheck Kenya Moore? Yep, she did.Read Blog
Feb 4, 2013 What Makes Kim Richards 'Cry-Smile'?
The Beverly Hills 'Wife opens up about her recovery and inspiration.Read Blog
Feb 4, 2013 Announcing our Very First @Bravoholic Winner
Ladies and gentlemen: Meet one of the biggest Bravo fans out there.Read Blog
Feb 4, 2013 Kenya Moore Reviews Beyonce's Super Bowl Show
What did our very own Beyonce think of Bey's insane halftime performance?Read Blog
Feb 4, 2013 'Vanderpump' Gets Interactive With Play Live
Vote, react and be a part of the Jax and Stassi drama with our new feature.Read Blog
Feb 3, 2013 Dina Manzo Splits From Husband
The ex-RHONJ star and her husband of seven years call it quits.Read Blog
Feb 1, 2013 Bravo IQ: Shirtless and Stones
How closely were you watching Bravo this week?Read Blog
Feb 1, 2013 Cook Up Some Super Bowl Eats, Richard Blais Style
Exclusive: The 'Top Chef' champ shares his twists on wings and a monster burger.Read Blog
Feb 1, 2013 Khloe Kardashian Loves Her Some 'Housewives'
"All of them" have a spot on Khloe's DVR, because in her words, they're "perfection."Read Blog
Feb 1, 2013 Help Andy Cohen Get to 1M Twitter Followers!
Mr. Watch What Happens Live' is thisclose to hitting the milli mark.Read Blog
Jan 31, 2013 Honoring '30 Rock' With Its Best Bravo References
While we're mourning the loss of the stellar comedy, we remember their odes to us.Read Blog
Jan 31, 2013 The 'Shahs' Strip Down for 'In Touch'
MJ, Mike and the crew open up about their insane spending habits.Read Blog
Jan 31, 2013 Stefan: 'I Did Not Deserve to Go Home'
Who does the foul-mouthed chef think will win it all?Read Blog
Jan 30, 2013 Who's Josie Malave's Biggest Supporter?
Hint: He's a millionaire and one of the most famous faces (and hairdos) in sports.Read Blog
Nov 14, 2012 Caption This: Kathy and the City
Enter your caption for a chance to be featured in our weekly newsletter!Read Blog
Jan 30, 2013 Bethenny Frankel Blasts Divorce Book Rumors
Ms. Skinnygirl has some words for "bottom-feeder journalists."Read Blog
Jan 30, 2013 Patti Stanger's Dating Rehab for Taylor Swift
"I'd kick her a--," the 'Millionaire Matchmaker' says of the relationship-challenged music star.Read Blog
Jan 30, 2013 Whoopi's a Farter? That's How She Got Her Name
Hear the comedienne's funny (and windy) story about how she came to be known as "Whoopi."Read Blog
Jan 29, 2013 Rosie Pope's a Closet Rap Music Fan?
The 'Pregnant in Heels' mommy shares her surprising taste in tunes.Read Blog
Jan 29, 2013 Kristen Kish Talks 'Chef' Controversy, Josie
Exclusive: The ousted favorite on regrets, her legacy and how she almost got hit by a car.Read Blog
Jan 29, 2013 Melissa Gorga Gives Brandi Glanville Kudos
Mel sends some NJ love to Beverly Hills over Brandi's new.' |
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The Lord's forgiveness
Opening Hymn: Jesus you are bread for us - Walker (from Calling the Children p10)
Penitential Rite: spoken
Gloria: no Gloria
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 50 vv1-3 Walker Laudate 195
Response: Give me a new heart O God
Gospel Acclamation: Praise to you O Christ, King of eternal glory
Verse: If a man serves me, says the Lord, He must follow me.
Wherever I am, My servant will be there too.
Creed: spoken
Offertory Hymn: Within the reign of God (Come now the table's spread) - Marty Haugen Laudate 641
Sanctus Acclamation: Eucharistic Acclamations - Farrell MMII 203A
Memorial Acclamation: Eucharistic Acclamations - Farrell MMII 203B
Great Amen: Eucharistic Acclamations - Farrell MMII 203D
Agnus Dei: Bread of Life (General verses 1-3) - Farrell Laudate 78
Communion Motet: I received the living God - Proulx Laudate 636
Communion Hymn: Unless a grain of wheat shall fall - Bernadette Farrell MMI 117
Recessional Hymn: I am the bread of life - Toolan Laudate 629
Organ - Stephen King; Animator - Angela Harris
Entrance Hymn: Keep we the fast that men of old (HON 291/Tune: NEH 44)
Penitential Rite: Missa Vidi Speciosam - Victoria (Rite 1)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 50 - O'Carroll (RPS p41/VI)
Response: A pure heart create for me, O God.
Gospel Acclamation: Lenten Gospel Acclamation - Wright
Verse: If a man serves me, says the Lord, he must follow me;
Wherever I am, my servant will be there too.
Offertory: Call to Remembrance - Farrant
Eucharistic Acclamations: Second English Mass - Hill
Agnus Dei: Missa Vidi Speciosam - Victoria
Communion Motet: O Sacrum Convivium - Tallis
Communion Hymn: Godhead here in hiding (HON 176/separate sheet)
Final Hymn: Now the green blade riseth (HON 376/NEH 115)
Organ Voluntary: Chorale Prelude on "Herzlich thut Mich verlangen" - Brahms
Mgr William Nix - Cathedral Dean; Mr Andrew Wright - Master of Music
Home | Previous | Next | Music Lists Index |
International Arms Race: The Result
03.09.2012
..
- James,
I have a bottle of the BrewDog IRA in hand. On one side it says "made with barley, hops, yeast, water," however on the other side it says "'Zero IUB IPA' is an IPA beer using no hops. The hops are replaced with berries, herbs, and roots" Labling fail? I loved the BrewDog version, sadly my wife loved the Flying Dog version...Christopsy03.09.2012
- James
Where about on the label is the full list of ingredients on the label text on the bottle ?concerned03.09.2012
- I really enjoyed the concept, and thanks for putting it on. Hope you do more in future. Unfortunately I didn't like either beer, both pretty gross, but the no hop idea was worth a shot.PeterG03.09.2012
- Epic events, cool people and killer beers.
thanks for bringing all the cool flying dog stuff
Adrian M03.09.2012
- All the wee doggies leaping to the defense of there master.....Ahhhhhhhhhhneepheed03.09.2012
- enjoyed both beers in glasgow, i would certainly buy both again \m/ \m/
James, quick question, whats the chances of "hello, my name is ingrid" being brewed soon as i miss that cheeky wee beer : )9double903.09.2012
- the format of the event in Camden was just so much find. Blind tasting, customers voting, brewers going head to head on the bar top.
just a brilliant night - thanks to all who helped put it together
Mad Max03.09.2012
- The event at Glasgow was amazing - wicked music and sooo cool to meet the Flying Dog guys. Loved Pearl Necklace.Amy K03.09.2012
- Loved them both. Especially the brewdog one! It is also the favourite beer of my wife. Just bought 24 bottles online - making sure to stock up before it is all gone!
Craft Beer Junkie03.09.2012
- The full list of ingredients was in the label text on the bottle.James, BrewDog03.09.2012
- A full list of ingredients in beer is not a legal requirement in the UK. It should be, but that's a different story. I thought they were both decent, without such a vital ingredient they were both very interesting. @concerned - Just to be safe I suggest you never eat or drink again.Wee Jimmy03.09.2012
- Which one was which? I voted for no. 2 in MancBreakbeat03.09.2012
- You'd have though an accurate list of ingredients a legal requirement.... a little concerned.concerned03.09.2012
- James
You did not bother to put a list of ingredients on your label, unless you only used water, yeast and barley. I wonder how many of your customers will buy these again, time will tell.
Brewdog bars too far away and expensive for me im afraid.hellboy03.09.2012
- Thought the brewdog one was excellent, very tasty. Liked the flying dog but not nearly as goodMarcRitchie03.09.2012
- @hellboy - we did not cheat and put hops in it - we just forgot to remove hops from our standard ingredient list on the label.
Sorry if the beers were not for you. We (and load of our customers) loved them and loved the whole process behind them.
If you visit one of our bars, our team will be happy to give you some tasters, talk about our beers to you and find something more suited to your tastes.
James, BrewDog03.09.2012
- What was the overall opinion of these beers, I though they were awful. Would never buy again.
and brewdog cheated, they put hops in theirs.hellboy03.09.2012
- I don't know how flying dog won that as their beer was mince prepared to the Brewdog one. Backhanders me thinks.Bebop198003.09.2012 |
Move on…
I wasn’t going to post anything because I’ve tried to avoid the whole Lance/Oprah thing as much as possible. I’m not really going to talk about it. I just wanted to rant a little (surprise surprise) about the whole “sensation” stirred up on news and social media.
I don’t want to watch anyone’s downfall. I can’t relish in it. No matter how “bad” a person is, I’m not happy to see anyone fail, get thrown under a bus, be executed (figuratively or literally- talking all levels of bad here), or fall from any sort of grace. It doesn’t make me happy to see Lance Armstrong get any sort of comeuppance for actions or lies of his past. I feel uncomfortable when I see/hear people celebrating societal and/or physical revenge on someone.
Right now, I’m more concerned with the war on little black ants in my kitchen that’s now spilling over to my computer desk (before you say anything, yes, I feel bad when ants die, too, but I feel worse when I find one crawling on my arm while I’m typing). I’m more concerned with finding a suitable partner for PMBAR and Double Dare so I can enter the series for a chance to vie for the title of Queen of Pisgah. I am concerned with the two more days of hard training I need to complete before my WCCX taper starts- both a relief, because I’m exhausted, and a stress, because after Sunday, I’ve built what I can, and I can’t build any more. I have way too many things to keep me busy to mess with celebrating a confession that was pointlessly obvious in the first place.
Hey, everyone, I’m real sorry to have to tell you this, but I have a mohawk and more than one tattoo. I tried to cover it up forever, but I’m ready to come clean and admit my propensity towards bad hairstyles and permanent body art.
If you want to quit re-hashing the past and talk about something current, follow @lauren1717 on Twitter. She’s posted a lot of great links to articles about the current plight of women’s pro cycling.
As long as you didn’t trying and destroy anybody’s life while hiding the hair and tattoo things, we can forgive you and move on.
Comment by Tom K — January 19, 2013 @ 8:20 am
Andrea destroys the lives of others everytime you blows up a Strava record on a recovery ride, when she passes “hardcore mountain bikers” on the trail on her cx bike, when she passes roadies on the road on her mountain bike. The list goes on. Sorry Tom K but Andrea crushes souls like Nicki Minaj crushes ear drums.
Comment by BeanPoleMatt — January 19, 2013 @ 9:21 am
Come to Pisgah! I traveled from Oxford and Memphis for multiple PMBARs and a Double Dare when living in the “mid-south.” Eric’s events are too much fun. Don’t avoid these great events and even better trails if a “perfect” partner doesn’t surface. Ill be out there again this year and can’t wait.
Comment by Chris — January 19, 2013 @ 6:15 pm |
Other council grants
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Other Brighton & Hove City Council Grants
As well as grants delivered by the council's Communities Team, the council administers a number of other grants to community groups and local residents. Listed below is a selection of these grants. If the grant you require is not listed, please search our a-z of services.
The following information is also available to download as a file entitled 'Granted' [PDF 109KB].
Grants for the Voluntary and Community Sector
A selection of other Brighton & Hove City Council Grants
- Grants to Local Business
- Charitable Trusts Funds
- Carers Grant - Spot Purchase Budget
- Student Support
- Home Energy Efficiency
- Private Sector Housing and Independent Living
- Housing Revenue Account
- City Sports and Physical Activity Grant
International
Information & advice on funding to support local projects and work with organisations across Europe and internationally, to address mutual problems and common themes of interest. Most of the funding that can be accessed is EU funding. Key bidding opportunities include Interreg IVa (joint projects with French, Belgian and/or Dutch partners) and ESF Community Grants (up to £12,000).The Interreg IVa programme area is much larger than previously with an increased budget but also more potential competition for grants. There are deadlines for other EU funding programmes throughout the year in areas such as vocational training, adult education, youth, culture environment and community safety. Grants can vary from paying travel and accommodation costs for an initial meeting, to much larger sums depending on the project and grants scheme.
For further information contact the International Team on (01273) 292622.
City Early Years and Childcare
City, Early Years and Childcare (CEYC) are part of the Brighton and Hove Children and Families Service. Its role is to ensure that all children and young people in the city have the best possible start in life, so that everyone has the opportunity to fulfill their potential whatever that might be. City Early Years and Childcare works with providers across the city to ensure that there is sufficient childcare for parents to work or train. It provides support to childcare providers, including advice around sustainability. There are some grants available for eligible providers who meet established criteria.
For more information, please contact the Childcare Business Development Manager on (01273) 294260.
Some funding is also available for qualification courses for childcare staff in eligible non maintained Ofsted-registered childcare settings in Brighton & Hove.
For more information, please contact the CEYC Childcare Workforce Development Team on (01273) 294263
Discretionary Rate Relief
Charities and not-for-profit organisations that are liable to pay business rates may apply for discretionary rate relief. Please note that due to limited funds awards may be capped. For further information please contact the Business Rates Team on (01273) 291981.
Grants to Local Business
For information on current grant schemes for businesses and general advice on finance contact Business Link on 0845 600 9006.
Charitable Trusts Funds
EducationSmall awards made to residents of Brighton & Hove (normally living in the city for at least two years) under the age of 25 to assist with certain costs such as books, instruments, travel and clothing relating to study. Meetings are held in April and October each year and any applications should be received by the end of March and September respectively. Further information is available from Children's Services Finance on (01273) 293690.
Gorham's Gift
A legacy trust fund that generates approximately £45,000 per year towards the upkeep of certain properties in Telscombe Village. Contact the Senior Finance Officer on (01273) 291259.
Libraries and Museums Trusts
A total of seven small trust funds that generate a total income of approximately £3,000 towards the development of collections held in local libraries and museums. Contact the Senior Finance Officer on (01273) 291259.
Brighton Fund
Supports individual residents of the old Brighton Borough 'in need, hardship or distress' with small 'one-off' grants. Seventy per cent of the fund must be awarded to residents aged 60 or over. In exceptional circumstances, the trustees may assist residents of the new unitary authority area. Contact Democratic Services on (01273) 291067.
Carers Grant - Spot Purchase Budget
Funding may be available towards breaks and services for carers of adults who are eligible for community care services following a carer's needs assessment. This could include short-term residential or nursing care or a sitting service, domestic services such as housework or laundry; transport costs and leisure or education classes. For young carers aged under 18 there is support to take part in activities such as school trips, playschemes or sport and leisure activities.
For further information and advice, please contact the Adult Social Care Access Point on (01273) 295555.
Student Support
- Higher Education: first degree & equivalent
Loans and/or grants for full-time and part-time undergraduate students are now dealt with by Student Finance England (SFE). Disabled students' allowances for full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students are also dealt with by SFE. Their website is at and their helpline is 0845 0738 892.
- Further Education from age 16: A levels GCSE's, BTEC National Diploma
If you are aged between 16 and 19 years and think you might struggle with the costs for full-time education or training you may be eligible for a bursary. You should speak to your school, college, Academy or training provider about how to apply for a bursary.
Home Energy Efficiency
Private Sector Housing Grants:
- Warm-Homes Scheme, discount or grants for supply and installation of home cavity wall and /or loft insulation
- Grants for supply and installation of central heating/broken down boilers and/or cavity wall and loft installation
All grants and discounts are subject to funding and a free no obligation survey to ascertain suitability of the property for grant/discount measures applied for.
For further information, visit our energy efficiency pages or contact the Home Energy Efficiency Officer on (01273) 293144.
Private Sector Housing & Independent living
- Owner occupiers' Decent Homes Loans and Assistance
- Leaseholder-occupiers' Common Parts Loans and Assistance
- Occupier's Minor Grants for repairs, adaptations, insulation, heating, security
- Landlord's Major Work Assistance
- Landlord's Minor Grants for insulation, heating
- Landlord's Empty Property Assistance
All loans and grants are subject to availability and a survey to ascertain suitability of the property for the assistance applied for.
For further information, call the Housing Grants/Loans Enquiry line on (01273) 293164 or email [email protected]
Adaptations Team
- Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants
For further information call (01273) 292420 or (01273) 293293 (minicom)
- Adaptations for council tenants
For further information call (01273) 293365 or (01273) 293293 (minicom)
Housing Revenue Account
- Communal Council Property Improvements
A portion of monies in the council's maintenance budget is set aside as the Estate Development Budget and is awarded to resident associations or groups representing residents living in council housing. Funding is allocated towards improvements to the built environment, such as decorating a recreation area or improving surrounding green space.
- Tenant and Resident Association Grants
Provided to resident associations or groups representing residents living in council housing that are recognised by the council. Grants cover administration of the associations and costs incurred in taking part in consultation with the council and in telling local people what the organisation is doing including telephone calls, transport to council meetings, stationery, child care and carer's costs.
Please contact the Community Participation Officer, area based across the city
- North (01273) 292365
- East (01273) 293171
- Central (01273) 293265
- West (01273) 293374
City Sports and Physical Activity Grant
The council recognises that the sports clubs in the city play a very important part in helping athletes compete at the highest levels and they encourage people of all ages to get active, keep fit and have fun. A grant may be used to help an individual move up to the next level in their chosen sport, or help them on the road to achieving their full potential. A grant to a club could fund much needed equipment, a new initiative to provide better facilities for current members, it may be able to help increase participation and encourage new members into the club. Applications for the grant are received from mid October to early December, with payments being made in the New Year.
For further information please contact the 2012 Co-ordinator on (01273) 293312 or visit City Sports and Physical Activity Grant Scheme |
Biology Current Events | Biology News
Biology current events and Biology news stories from Brightsurf. Find the latest Biology research, discoveries and most popular current news and events.
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New EMBO/NPG journal - A first in systems biology publishing
Molecular Systems Biology, a new electronic journal from the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and Nature Publishing Group (NPG), is now live at.
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(2005-04-15)
Building an Olympiad
The recent New Year Honours list featured a remarkable woman, who provided the driving force needed to enter Britain into international competition. Norma Broadbridge, MBE FIBiol provided the energy and sheer hard work that was required to establish the UK in a previously untried arena. Science olympiads have almost 50 years' experience of encouraging and rewarding excellence and initiating...
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(2002-01-04)
The European Molecular Biology Organization announces the first international practical workshop for biology teachers
Following in the footsteps of last year`s very successful EMBO workshop for German biology teachers, the EMBO initiative goes international on 5 - 6 July 2002 at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany. Attracting secondary school biology teachers from across Europe, the workshop comprises scientific lectures from leading researchers, practical experiments, an...
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(2002-06-25)
Government funding for synthetic biology on the rise
A new analysis by the Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center found that the U.S. government has spent around $430 million on research related to synthetic biology since 2005, with the Department of Energy funding a majority of the research.
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(2010-06-09)
Brains of Britain
Two young people are set to represent Britain in, not one school science Olympiad, but two! This is equivalent to an international athlete running in the hundred metres and then throwing the javelin. Erica Thompson, from the Douglas Academy in Glasgow and David Wyatt from Winchester College are representing their country at the International Olympiads in both physics and biology. They form part...
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(2002-05-08)
First steps to EMBO research awards agreed by the EMBC
At the summer meeting of the European Molecular Biology Conference (the EMBC), it was decided to initiate the process of launching an EMBO Research Award Programme. This would be a major expansion of the EMBO activities that are predominantly funded by the EMBC. As such, it requires the establishment of a special project, a process that was used with success when the EMBC established the European...
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(2003-07-01)
Gold for the jubilee year
The Queen's Golden Jubilee year has been suitably marked by two British students, who were awarded gold medals at the International Biology Olympiad, held in Latvia.
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(2002-07-16)
Professor Eero Vuorio to chair the EMBL Council
Professor Eero Vuorio has been elected to chair the Council of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in 2003. His predecessor Professor Peter Gruss has assumed office as President of the Max-Planck Society. Professor Vuorio is Professor in Molecular Biology at the University of Turku, Finland, and Chair of the Research Council for Health at the Academy of Finland. Professor Vuorio is...
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(2002-11-29)
'Invisible' bacteria dupe the human immune system
Scientists at the University of York have characterised an important new step in the mechanism used by bacteria to evade our immune system.
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(2008-02-20)
CNRS Use F1000 Biology To Evaluate Researchers
Top French scientists will use Faculty of 1000 Biology as a tool to assess the research it funds, it was announced today. Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the main French government-funded research organization, has given its lab heads access to Faculty of 1000 Biology as part of a package of evaluation tools. A literature evaluation service for the biological sciences, Faculty...
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(2003-07-30)
Joint research into an enzyme that causes genetic diseases).
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(2009-08-06)
British students win international medals
Four British students have won medals from this year’s International Biology Olympiad, competing against 148 others from around the world. Thirty-eight countries took part in the competition, which was held this year in Turkey. The British representatives – all winners of the British Biology Olympiad – received a silver medal (Rupert Griffiths from Bicester, a pupil at...
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(2000-07-20)
Portuguese school teachers and scientists meet for a made to measure workshop
"Inspiring Science" is the name of the workshop for school teachers, to be held at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia (IGC), Portugal, from 13-15th April 2004. This innovative workshop, aimed at secondary school science teachers, is being co-organised by the IGC, the Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM), Portugal, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Germany. The main...
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(2004-04-12)
Hat Trick for University of Leicester Plant Biologist
A University of Leicester scientist has recently received the EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organisation) Young Investigator Award, the first UK plant biologist to be awarded this prestigious international prize.
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(2004-10-29)
Most comprehensive collection of fungal cell biology movies ever published
A recent special edition of the journal Fungal Biology Reviews, published by Elsevier, on behalf of the British Mycological Society, features a total of 76 videos which together comprise the most comprehensive collection of fungal cell biology movies ever published.
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(2011-03-17)
Study shows value of sexual reproduction versus.
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(2010-01-22)
New report: The reach and impact of mathematical sciences
The Mathematical Sciences in 2025, a new report from the National Research Council, finds that the mathematical sciences are an increasingly integral component of many disciplines -- including biology, medicine, the social sciences, business, advanced design, and climate studies.
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(2013-01-11)
Fernström Prizes To Swedish Researchers In Medicine
On November 3 the Erik K. Fernström Foundation will confer prizes on seven researchers in medical science. The Fernström Foundation is one of the largest foundations of its kind in Sweden. The Nordic Prize, worth the sum of SEK 1 million, is awarded this year to Professor Lennart Philipson. He has done important work in cell and molecular biology research, both in Sweden and abroad, and...
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(2003-10-31)
Amanda Fisher receives EMBO Gold Medal
Amanda Fisher, group head at the MRC Clinical Science Centre, London (U.K.), is this year`s winner of the EMBO Gold Medal. This prestigious prize is awarded by EMBO in recognition of Amanda Fisher`s outstanding work on nuclear organization and gene expression as well as for her research on the molecular characterisation of the AIDS virus (HIV). Amanda Fisher will receive the award at the EMBO...
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(2002-10-08)
Teachers Fear Biology Fieldwork is Heading for Extinction
Biology fieldwork could be heading for extinction says a report to be published on Friday 18th October by the Field Studies Council and the British Ecological Society. This loss of opportunity will rob young people of the personal benefits of out of school experiences, as well as the educational value of such trips. Dr Susan Barker, Lecturer at the University of Warwick, and co-author of the...
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(2002-10-17)
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LaRue Across America: Postcards From the Vacation
Book Source: Review copy from publisher
"Dear Mrs. Hibbins,
My ship has sailed, and with it all hopes of a pleasant resolution to this unhappy saga. Traveling instead by car, we have left the coast far behind. I see now why the ship's captain, in his wisdom, refused to accept cats. The creatures simply do not travel well!"
With a name like LaRue, you're bound to hit the road on a cross-country adventure at least one or twice in your life. In LaRue Across America, the hilarious letter-writing pup, Ike LaRue is all ready for the perfect summer vacation -- a cruise to Mexico with his owner, Mrs. LaRue. Unfortunately, the neighbor lady ends up in the hospital and kindhearted Mrs. LaRue offers to take care of her two cats until she recovers.
The cats aren't allowed on the cruise ship, so Mrs. LaRue decides that a cross-country vacation across America is a nice alternative. Ike, not at all excited about the car trip with two cats, writes a series of desperate letters to Mrs. Hibbins during the trip, urging her to "end the fiasco" and take her cats back. The group departs from Snort City, N.Y., and they stop in several states (New York, Connecticut, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Arizona) before reaching Death Valley, California, an unfortunate place to visit in the middle of July. LaRue nearly gives up hope for a happy end to a "terrible journey."
Everyone that has endured a trip with bickering family members will be able to sympathize with Ike and the cats. The canine and felines fight over beds, cause disruptions at landmarks, and cheat at road games. Ike even pulls the "my side, your side" stunt by dividing the back seat with masking tape to mark territory. It's a classic cats versus dogs storyline, paired with some great illustrations by the talented Teague. All the images of the cats taunting Ike are super funny!
I printed off a blank map of America for my daughter to color in as we read the book together. In total, Ike stops in 12 states. The book provided her with a fun way to explore our country and learn about the location of various states.
Scholastic has graciously offered to give away (2) copies of LaRue Across America to two different readers.
To enter this contest, leave a comment relevant to this post. Dog or cat fan?.)
64 comments:
I would have to say dog. We have a Great Pyrenese and a miniature weenie dog. Thanks for the chance to win
bamagv at aol dot com
I follow you on Twitter (@TheJohnsFamily) and I tweeted the giveaway
bamagv at aol dot com
I'm a dog fan :-)
khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com
I'm a follower through GFC.
khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Dog fan.
smccar1 at hotmail dot com
I am a GFC follower - Stephanie M
smccar1 at hotmail dot com
I follow you =) I was JUST (like literally minutes ago) looking at Beckett's book order form and there is a LaRue book on it! He would love a dog---he says it would help him find the things he loses! Because just being careful is not enough....
dog fan, I love the first book in the series.
I follow you :)
I am dog fan.
jdrombo AT yahoo DOT com
I love cats!
Sorry forgot my email...
natatheangel at yahoo dot com
We'd love this for our school library! So funny! I follow you already with RSS feed. Thanks!
Mary Ann
[email protected]
Tweeted you (I follow your tweets as my alter ego).
I follow your feed.
I just wrote about LaRue's Detective book and we would love to read this one, too!
Definitely a dog fan. THis would be a great book to use for this year's summer reading program (One World, Many Stories).
bridgetwilson4765(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow your blog through google reader.
bridgetwilson4765(at)gmail(dot)com
thanks for the chance to win
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
We have both...but I'm a dog person!
Thanks for the chance to win! I definitely prefer the puppies! If I won this book,I would read it to my preschool classroom.
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I subscribe via email! Thanks for the chance to win!
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I have and enjoy both :)
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I have to confess- neither. But, my 3 boys are all big dog fans. I am, however, a big fan of Ike LaRue.
Great giveaway.
mom7_06(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'd love both a dog and a cat, my husband is strictly a dog person, but my boys are pretty enamored with cats, so for now, we have neither! Love the postcard book though!
I follow via RSS!
dog fan
I have two dogs and a cat, but the cat just hangs out here. She doesn't really have much to do with the rest of us. I'm certainly a dog fan (and hedgehogs are nice, too.)
bevarcher (at) me (dot) com
I follow via GFC! Thanks for the chance to win. My students would love this book.
bevarcher (at) me (dot) com
I follow on twitter and I retweeted about the contest.
bevarcher (at) me (dot) com
Mentioned it on my elementary blog and posted to my FB profile. Thanks again! Love your blog. I've added several titles to consider purchasing for our library.
bevarcher (at) me (dot) com
I'm a dog fan! Thanks for sharing this great book. My little man loves looking at maps and I'll have to check this book out for him!
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In real life I'm not a fan of either dogs or cats, but I think dogs are cute in books
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
rss subscriber
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
We are definately dog fans in this house. Froggy will tell you "cats make Mommy cough and sneeze" Poodles are the best.
I'm definitely a cat person, but we love the other LaRue books! This one sounds like it's a great story as well!
mommastaci33 at yahoo dot com
I subscribe to your RSS.
mommastaci33 at yahoo dot com
I am a dog fan.
[email protected]
[email protected]
I'm a fan of both. In my younger years I had dogs and now I have cats. I love all animals equally I think.
Thanks for the entries!
bookcat1010 at gmail dot com
bookcat1010 at gmail dot com
Fan of Mrs. Larue books - this looks great!!!
I follow via RSS
I'm definitely more of a dog fan!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow your blog publicly with google friend connect
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow you on Twitter, I'm @AmberGoo, and tweeted about the contest:
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
dogs! we all love a certain german shorthair
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i follow as mverno via gfc
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im a dog and cat fan, but im allergic to cats lol
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BOTH! I have some of each.
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I have a overly rambunctious Golden Lab/Retriever named Lucy! Every day is an adventure with her and I wouldn't trade it for anything!
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
Follower
Nickolay
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
A dog fan.
pkildow at gmail dot com
Cat person by a whisker
tmyoung at rochester dot rr dot com
Twitter follower - tmy56 7 & tweeted
GFC follower
tmyoung at rochester dot rr dot com
I like them both but the animal dog would be my preference!
[email protected]
What a great idea to keep the little ones occupied! I am definitely a cat fan.
BornajhawkATaolDOTcom
Already follow on Twitter and tweeted giveaway:
BornajhawkATaolDOTcom
Already follow via GFC (Bornajhawk) and subscribe by e-mail.
BornajhawkATaolDOTcom
I used to be more of a cat person, but now I kind of am not a big fan of any animal. I live around lots of street dogs. Gross!
Dog Fan [email protected]
I follow your blog thanks [email protected]
I'm more of a cat fan I think. |
British Go Journal No. 19. January 1973. Page 9.
Sakakibara, 8d
This series is aimed at players of l0-kyu to 5-kyu strength. It consists of examples and hints which cover many fundamental situations.
The meaning of this proverb will become apparent later. Dia 1 shows a basic corner position. White has just played 1. How do you play now?
Black 2 in Dia 2 is a perfect example of a horribly bad move, which is often played by beginners. It is a tsuki-atari (it bangs into Whites position). You should notice that white 1 and 3 and the stone already there form the hane at the head of two stones in a row - c.f. Go Proverbs by Segoe.
Let us consider the position after black 6. White has at least 10 points of territory and considerable influence along the side. Black has played the same number of stones and has only six points of territory and no influence. Furthermore a white approach to A would put Blacks position under attack. Blacks troubles stem from 2, a very bad move.
In Dia 3 Black plays 2, a tsuki-atari towards the edge and the sequence up to 4 is the start of the nadare joseki, as you probably know.
In Dia 4. when White attacks to the outside, Blacks tsuki-atari 2 is the correct way to play.
In conclusion we see the tsuki-atari of Dias 3 and 4 are the correct way to play. The direction of both these moves is towards the edge. In Dia 2 the tsuki-atari is in the opposite direction, towards the centre, and is a poor move. Blacks resultant position is inefficient.
The kake-tsugi is a diagonal connection, e.g. black 2 and 4 of Dia 5. In Dia 5 black 4 is an example of bad play. White has played an outer attach, 1, and a drawback, 3 (tsuke-hiki). Black 4, a kake-tsugi, is played into the corner, but is in the wrong direction.
Compare this with Dia 6. White 1 is an inner attach and finally Black plays 4, a kake-tsugi, towards the side. In Dia 6, black is promised possibilities of growth, by playing at A or B - his direction for further play is along the side. In Dia 5, black has little potential - he is bottled up in the corner.
In fact, Black should have played as in Dia 7. White will cut, either on the inside or the outside, but this is quite alright for black.
This example will to grasp the new which we have just studied.
Dia 8 shows a common position in handicap Go. White plays the attachment 1 and black 2 is a tsuke-atari towards the centre (a bad move). Black hasnt secured all his territory on the left side, and has managed to strengthen white. There is of course no need to play the tsuke-atari. Black 1 in Dia 9 is good and black 3 is much better than the result of Dia 8. |
Eridu visit and photos - Page 2
Tell Abu Shahrain (Eridu)
Visited 11.00-13.07, 5 June, 2008
The seven mounds of Eridu lie about 24 km south-west of Ur.
Download full Iraq report (pdf 71Kb)
Show Eridu section of the report
Tell Abu Shahrain (Eridu)
Visited 11.00-13.07, 5 June, 2008
The seven mounds of Eridu lie about 24 km south-west of Ur.
Excavations were conducted by a number of early explorers (J. E. Taylor 1855; R. Campbell Thompson 1918; H. R. Hall 1919) with a major investigation led by Fuad Safar between 1946 and 1949 on behalf of the Iraqi Directorate General of Antiquities.
J. E. Taylor, “Notes on Abu Shahrein and Tell el Lahm”, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 15 (1855), pp. 404-15; J. Oates, “Ur and Eridu: The Prehistory”, Iraq 22 (1960), pp. 32-50; S. Lloyd, “Abu Shahrein: A Memorandum”, Iraq 36 (1974), pp. 129-38; F. Safar, M. A. Mustafa and S. Lloyd, Eridu (Baghdad 1981).
In Sumerian literature Eridu is claimed as one of the most ancient cities in Mesopotamia, said to antedate the mythical Flood and to be the first city to hold kingship. Eighteen successive levels of mud brick temple architecture, dating from the Early Ubaid to the Late Uruk periods, were exposed during the 1940s excavations on Mound 1; the painted pottery recovered provided the basis for the fourfold division of the Ubaid period. An extensive Ubaid period cemetery was also excavated. The remains of a ziggurat of the Ur III period dominate the centre of the mound. Early Dynastic palaces were excavated on mound 2.
The helicopter landed to the north-east of Mound 1. The visit began at a watchtower presumed to have been erected by the Italians in late 2003. The team climbed to the top of the mound; there is evidence of erosion across the site, especially in two deep gulleys which has revealed inscribed bricks. The inspection proceeded to the remains of the dig-house located on the eastern side of the mound. The lower walls of the dig-house, built from ancient baked bricks, could be traced although no examples of inscribed bricks, visible within the structure in 2003, could be seen. Related to these findings is the report, made by Professor Stefano Seminaria, at an event in the Italian Cultural Institute in London on 29 March 2006 announcing the inauguration of the Baghdad Virtual Museum. He related that, on 20 or 21 March 2006, Professor Giovanni Pettinato and Professor Silvia Chiodi had discovered at Eridu a tablet covered with bitumen. They had looked further and found 500 tablets “disturbed by an explosion”. The tablets were said to be literary, historical and lexical. The historical tablets dated from the time of Eannatum, and the latest tablets were from the time of Amar-Suen. This information, or variations of it, was also circulated on various Italian and international websites. Following these revelations, Dr Donny George, then Chairman of the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, sent inspectors to Eridu, who reported back that there were no tablets on the surface of the site, but only fragments of stamped bricks from the site of Eridu itself and from sites surrounding Eridu such as Ur. On 19 July 2006, at the 52ène Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale in Münster, Professor Pettinato reported that he had actually only found some 70 stamped bricks at Eridu. It seems, then, that what Pettinato and Chiodi actually found were stamped bricks used to build the modern Eridu dig-house 1.
There is no evidence of looting or of recent visits to the site – car tracks were visible near a neighbouring canal and the site fence, which was not visited; from the air, it was possible to see the posts of the fence. Surface scraping close to the fence is presumably the result of field irrigation. Two site guards, who were not present during the inspection, are based at a village some distance from the mound.
1. In his memoirs (The Interval – A Life in Near eastern Archaeology, Oxford 1986, p. 113), Seton Lloyd wrote of “the almost total lack of building material” for “setting up base” at Eridu. “To solve this we [Lloyd and Safar] felt justified in looting the ruins of Woolley’s old expedition-house at Ur, ten miles away, and bringing in lorry-loads of baked bricks – many of them stamped with royal names, but beautifully intact”. |
A large yacht is welcomed into port by local dignitaries.
A Yacht travelling through a choppy sea
Footage of yacht race in progress.
Land yacht racing over flat sands in France.
Yacht racing off the coast of Heligoland.
Two yachts racing at sea.
Women sailing regatta in Spezia, Italy.
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Ice yachts skid at high speed across the ice in Toronto.
"Britannia", the King's yacht, sails on the Clyde in Scotland.
The King's yacht, "Britannia", competes during the Clyde fortnight.
Yachts racing.
Footage of sand yachts speeding across beach in race.
Short sequence showing passenger boats and yachts.
Yachts racing in open sea and in harbour.
Various shots of people enjoying themselves on board yachts in harbour.
Out takes ( rushes, cuts...
The huge sails of the red boats race in close formation in Devon.
Yachts sailing on the sea in the Torbay Royal Regatta.
Various shots of people yachting on the Thames at Bourne End.
Yachts race on the River at Burnham-on-Crouch.
Large yachts compete in racing competition of Brixham coast, Devon.
Yacht race off the coast of Martlehead.
Traditional red yachts sailing off coast of Devon.
The royal yacht arrives at Portsmouth harbour, Hampshire.
Massive schooner yacht "Carita" is built in shipyard in...
A new kind of mooring buoy is demonstrated at Brussels Yacht...
Shots of London's docklands area - showing new developments and traditional docks.
Footage of yacht racing at the Cowes Regatta. Isle of White.
Oxford and Cambridge teams in yachting race...
Footage of yachting regatta of the coats of Torquay.
Footage of the royal yacht arriving in dock.
Yacht racing scenes from Harwich.
Boys in Dorset compete with their toy...
Southend on Sea sees the opening of the Yachting season.
Naval floral fete carnival in Villefranche in the South of...
The camera is onboard one of the yachts in the Royal Temple Yacht Club race,...
A novel winter sport - ice boat yachting across a frozen lake in...
Novel winter sport: ice skaters strap sails to their backs.
The King's yacht Britannia competes in Southend Regatta.
Sailing yachts at the Swansea Regatta.
Material relating to newsreel story "Special -...
People watch from the beaches and sea front as the Royal...
HMS 'Warspite' aground at Prussia Cove, Cornwall.
Yachts under way with sails flapping, 2 women manning yacht,...
Queen Elizabeth II decorating service officer and...
King George V attends a naval review in the Royal Yacht.
Children in yachts, people on bank watching, yacht capsizes and boy...
Hong Kong from the sea.
Contestants racing during the 80th international Kiel Sailing Week.
Ferry at port, a building demolished and yachting. |
Five Brookfield East athletes sign letters of intent
Two football players, two tracksters, one kicker sign with Midwestern schools
Nine Brookfield athletes - including five from Brookfield East - signed letters of intent with five different colleges Feb. 6, the official signing day.
Here is a closer look at each one and their accomplishments.
Trenton Daniels was a four-year letter winner in track and field and a key contributor to East's 2011 and 2012 state track and field championships. He signed his national letter of intent to compete at the University of Minnesota.
Daniels placed fifth in 2011 and fourth in 2012 in the 400-meter dash at the state meet. He also was a state place-winner in both the 1600 and 3200 relays at the 2012 state meet. Daniels ran a personal-best time last year of 1 minute, 53.59 seconds in the 800.
Alec James, a talented defensive end, signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at Wisconsin. James is one of the most decorated athletes in Brookfield East history and helped football to its greatest three-year run of success ever, including an undefeated Conference Championship last fall.
Some of his awards include being All-Conference, All-Region, All-Suburban and All-Waukesha County. He was the Greater Metro Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year twice; Player of the Year for the Journal Sentinel, Waukesha Freeman and Now Community Newspapers; All State two years in a row and was selected the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association State Defensive Player of the Year.
James was also elected MVP and Captain by his teammates, played in the U.S. Marine National All Star Game in Los Angeles and will play in the WFCA All Star Game this summer.
Brad Johnson was a four-year letter winner and key contributor to 2011 and 2012 state championship track and field teams. Johnson signed a national letter of intent to compete in track and field at the University of Minnesota.
Johnson is the reigning state champion in the 800 run and was also a state place winner last year in both the 1600 and 3200 relays. His time of 1:51.43 in the 800 currently stands as the fourth best all-time in Wisconsin history.
Brian Smith will be attending the University of Minnesota to play football after an outstanding career, playing an integral part of an undefeated Conference Champion and three straight playoff teams. Smith achieved many honors including All-Conference, All-Region, All-Suburban and All-Waukesha County.
He was selected Defensive Back of the Year by the Greater Metro Conference coaches and was a first-team All-State player at Defensive Back. Smith will also play in the WFCA All-Star Game this summer. Smith was a rare two-way starter that will be sorely missed on both sides of the ball.
Jackie Wandt, a senior midfielder, signed her letter of intent to play soccer at Northern Illinois University next year. A four-year starter on a team that has qualified for the sectional finals in two of the last three years, Wandt followed her Honorable Mention freshman season with second-team all-conference recognition her sophomore year. She was injured for much of her junior. |
Film – 9Thursday, 3rd December, 2009 | 2 Comments »
This visually stunning animated movie runs with the post-apocalyptic cliché of man-overrun-by-machines. After a war that ends all biological life all that’s left is a handful of numbered, sentient rag-dolls and a brutal prowling villain. We follow the titular character 9 on his adventure to the film’s unsatisfactory conclusion.
9
Director Shane Acker
Starring Christopher Plummer, Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly
In the most literal sense, Shane Acker’s 9 is worth seeing. Beautifully animated, the film never lacks in the eye-candy department, stunning us with its gorgeous visuals throughout. And while at times it comes off as intelligent and emotionally honest, this after-the-Armageddon study of human nature quickly collapses under its own garbled ideas and rushed ending.
Running with the post-apocalyptic cliché of man-overrun-by-machines (those bloody machines…), after a war that ends all biological life, all that’s left is a handful of numbered, sentient rag-dolls and a brutal prowling villain. We follow the titular character (Wood) as he falls into being and turns out to be a rebel hellbent on seeking truth and adventure. While his fellow, uh, countrydolls would prefer the secure sanctuary of a beautifully-rendered cathedral, 9 risks their existence to find very meaning behind it.
Developed from an animated short, the original spin on a cliché undoubtedly made for a great mini-movie. But in its expanded form, 9 picks up some rot that fades its solid story and cohesive message out of transmission. Through its end-of-the-world fog and charred-everything smog, the tone changes so often that we’re unsure as to whether we’re watching the philosophical explorations of an adult sci-fi feature, or the basic black-and-white themes of an animated kids flick.
On the one hand, we have the clear-cut dolls: lovable and hateable, the characters are a joy to watch, dividing that line between believably wholesome and suitably sinister. On the other, it’s when the reason behind their simplistic nature is revealed (in the film’s only master stroke) that things take a turn for the PG-13-worse – the smattering of death involved is dealt with in such a frank and brutal manner that if Acker had made a decision either way, it would be all the better for it.
But if confusion was already riding high, it all comes crashing to a complete letdown in its rushed, all-singing, all-dancing ending. With an equal measure of mixed ideology and lack of explanation, the conclusion comes off more like a tacked-on video-game cinematic than anything the film had resembled for the past 75 minutes. You left wondering what exactly you’ve watched: every scene looked amazing and the story was so full of promise, but there’s a hole in its soul that leaves a nagging sense of disappointment.
Cool review. I plan to see this definitely. Would look better on the big screen *hint*
Ah shame, it looked so full of promise but I may give this one a miss (at the cinema anyways, could still be an option for rainy day film, complete with duvet and a hot cuppa) |
BSAC Professional Underwater Videographer Course:
Broaden your diving horizons and learn how to capture the amazing underwater world on film! Oceans Below who is a BSAC Underwater Videography Centre offers a 2 week Pro BSAC Underwater Videography course, plus a 2 week internship in either student filming or documentary filming.
The Pro Underwater Videography course is unlike any other in the world whereas by completing the course you are awarded a recognized BSAC Pro Certification card.
The course mainly consists of 12 dives where you will be equipped with a Sony HD camera & Aquatica HD Wave Housing, where you learn a multitude of skills needed in enabling you to become a Pro Underwater Videographer. These include entry & exit techniques with a camera, use of white balance, competent fining & position in water, macro filming, composition & correct use of light whilst still adhering to safe diving practices.
In addition to this you are allocated at least 50 hours in the editing suit assisted by a fully qualified Underwater Videography Instructor at all times. The staff at Oceans Below have a vast knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro and will teach you everything you need to turn your raw footage into professional high quality films.
These skills include shot selection, colour correction, cutting footage appropriately to music & titles. By the end of the course you will be able to export your finished film in full HD and also smaller sized files which you can instantly upload to the internet and show your family & friends your creation!
In addition to filming underwater & learning how to edit your footage into a professional looking piece we also teach correct camera & housing maintenance. This is an invaluable part of the course as we find many trainees get hooked, purchase their own equipment and embark on their underwater filming adventure!
To further your creative skills, become more proficient in the editing suit & introduce yourself to on land camera work, we allocate two days in which you create a land based project of your choice. This gives you an opportunity to explore a concept, storyboard, scriptwriting, shot list, filming & editing your final production. Students find this highly rewarding and often surprise themselves with what they produce.
For the internship program there are two possible choices. The first of which is the tourist souvenir video internship where you will learn the art of video production & sales which can lead to job opportunities and a return on your investment. The second available internship is documentary film making. This is where you get a chance to make a short documentary on a subject of your choosing and take it through from the initial idea to final piece.
The Pro Underwater Videography course requires minimum certification level of BSAC Sports Diver or equivalent with no less than 50 logged dives. If you want every day to be an adventure, want to capture the true beauty of the underwater world on film and want to embark on a passion that is truly addictive then this is the course for you!
Please contact Oceans Below for prices and any other information you may require
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