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WOCCU Assesses Tsunami Affected Areas
January 18, 2005
Sri Lanka-Following the deadly tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake off the coast of Indonesia in December, a WOCCU assessment team arrived in Sri Lanka. Normunds Mizis, the WOCCU- Uzbekistan project director, and John Ikeda, project development manager for WOCCU, met with credit union representatives in the capital city of Colombo to survey the level of damage in what has been one of the most destructive natural disasters ever.
The country's credit union federation, SANASA, is one of the organizations helping those who have suffered from the effects of the deadly tsunami, which destroyed over 90% of the island country's coastline. With nationwide presence and nearly a million members, SANASA had branches (primary societies) in virtually every affected area.
SANASA, which serves as a central liquidity facility for the credit unions, acted quickly to provide relief to members. Based on a previously developed disaster mitigation strategy, SANASA immediately mobilized a two-part strategy for relief and reconstruction of affected credit unions.
"We are not jumping into large scale humanitarian relief like the Red Cross," said Dr. P.A. Kiriwandeniya, chairman of the SANASA Development Bank." We have an obligation to our members as fellow human beings." SANASA released 1.5 million rupees (US$15,000) from an emergency fund, as well as other contributions, to purchase relief supplies. A number of credit unions in North America also donated generously toward reconstruction. The largest donations came from the Credit Union Executives Society (CUES) and CUNA Mutual Group, each giving $100,000. Kula Community Federal Credit Union contributed $25,000; Honda Federal Credit Union, Ohio Credit Union League, Washington Credit Union Foundation, and WESCOM Credit Union each gave $10,000, and Arizona Credit Union League and CUNA each gave $5,000. Many other credit union members, credit unions, leagues and corporates have also made donations.
Even more amazing than the rapid response of SANASA was the generosity of Sri Lankan credit union members inland. Members spontaneously collected donations, funding the transport of over 200 truckloads of food, water, clothing and medicine.
The full extent of the tsunami's damage on credit unions in Sri Lanka may not be known for some time. It is estimated that of the 800 damaged, over 200 credit unions have been completely destroyed, with records and many staff and members likely swept out to sea. J.K. Reginold, regional program coordinator for SANASA's credit unions in the remote Northern and Eastern regions of the country says that very little information from that region, partially controlled by the separatist LTTE army, has reached the capital of Colombo yet.
Reginold estimates that over 15 of the 25 credit unions he supervises were completely destroyed, and that as many as 10% of members and staff at these credit unions may have been killed and most of the rest are currently in refugee camps along the eastern coast.
Reginold himself was one of the hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans affected by the tsunami, losing his house and several members of his extended family. "The water came at us, roaring from the sea. It seeped up from the ground and was everywhere," said Reginold. "I ran, and only narrowly escaped with my life."
Individuals or organizations wishing to support the Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund can make a contribution to Worldwide Credit Union Foundation via World Council's website at www.woccu.org/disaster_relief or via the National Credit Union Foundation's website at www.ncuf.coop.
World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.
World Council has implemented 300+ technical assistance programs in 89 countries. Worldwide, 68,882 credit unions in 109 countries serve 235 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.


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211 Service: Allows a caller to be directly connected to human service agencies by dialing 2-1-1. This service is available statewide in Indiana.
711 Service: Allows a caller to be directly connected to the deaf and hearing impaired telephone relay service (TDD/TTY) simply by dialing 7-1-1.
811 Service: The free "Call Before You Dig" hotline now available in Indiana and throughout the nation. State law requires property owners to call the Indiana Underground Plant Protection Service at least 48 hours in advance of any digging, to help ensure that underground utility lines are not damaged. The call to 8-1-1 and service are free.
911 Service: Allows a caller to be directly connected to a local fire or police dispatcher simply by dialing 9-1-1.
Access Line: The circuit connecting a telephone consumer to the company's central office.
Area Code: The three-digit code preceding a seven-digit telephone number. In the past, area codes represented unique geographic areas. However, with the implementation of "overlay" solutions to address the need for new phone numbers (see "Area Code Relief") a specific geographic area may now have more than one area code.
Area Code Relief: The practice of providing a new telephone area code to a territory in order to address the problem of not having enough available numbers. (See "Geographic Split," "Number Depletion," and "Overlay.")
Baseload: The minimum amount of a commodity (such as water or electric power) delivered or required at a steady rate over a given time period.
Bill Insert: Information sent by utilities to their customers on separate sheets of paper enclosed in monthly bills.
Broadband: A high speed Internet connection that works much faster than a traditional dial-up connection.
Capacity: The maximum amount of a commodity that a utility system can deliver.
Case-in-chief: A party's direct testimony before the IURC or a court.
Cause Number: The number assigned to a case by the IURC and used to track the case. Also called a docket number. Cause numbers typically contain 5 digits, but may include extensions in certain types of cases.
Central Office: A local exchange carrier switch where telephone lines interconnect.
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN): Authorization from the IURC allowing a company to render public utility service in a given territory, or to construct a new power plant. (In power plant cases, this is commonly referred to as a Certificate of Need.)
Certificate of Franchise Authority (CFA): Authorization from the IURC for a company to render cable/video service on a statewide basis. CFA processes were authorized under House Enrolled Act 1279, signed into law in March 2006.
Certificate of Territorial Authority (CTA): Authorization from the IURC allowing a company to render telecommunications, electric, gas or sewage disposal service, usually specifying a specific geographic area and other conditions of service.
Circuit: A wire or system of wires carrying electricity and/or telecommunications service.
Cloning: A type of fraud that occurs when someone illegally monitors another person's wireless telephone transmissions and then reprograms a phone so that it can make calls that are billed to the victim. The wireless industry continues efforts to curtail cloning.
Coal Gasification: The process of converting coal to a synthetic gas, typically with fewer emissions.
Commodity Charge: The portion of a utility rate that varies with the quantity of natural gas, water or electricity used by a customer. Also referred to as a bill's "volumetric portion."
Conference: Weekly public meeting of the IURC (usually on Wednesdays) at which the Commission votes on orders and other matters. This is the only setting in which rate changes may be approved.
Cost-Based Service: A pricing concept that attempts to assign utility costs and revenues with the various customer classes that cause those costs, and charge the different classes accordingly.
Cost of Service Study: A study of total costs incurred by a utility in providing service to its customers broken down by customer class & types of service. (Classes include residential, business and industrial consumers.) Cost of service studies are performed to determine if customer class or service base rates are cost-based, or if any customer class or service is subsidizing another class or service.
Cramming: The placing of charges on a consumer's utility bill for services that he or she has not authorized. Cramming, which most commonly involves telephone service, violates state and federal laws.
Customer Charge: A fixed charge on a utility bill to cover the costs incurred by a utility in providing service regardless of whether the customer has used any commodity. (Costs of providing and maintaining service lines, wires, pipes, and poles; providing and reading a meter, printing a bill, etc.) Also known as a service charge, facilities charge or a meter charge.
Debt: The amount of money a utility has borrowed, usually through the issuance of debt securities such as bonds, debentures or promissory notes.
Decoupling: A rate structure that "unlinks" a utility's revenues from the amount of the commodity it sells.
Demand: The amount of utility service that is needed by the various customer classes of a utility that has to be provided at any point in time through the utility's facilities. Examples: the electric power (in megawatts) that must be generated by the power plants of an electric utility to meet its customers' needs, the gas volumes that must be distributed through pipelines, or the telecommunications traffic that must be handled by a telephone utility's central office.
Depreciation: The recovery of capital used to construct or acquire utility assets. The amount of this expense is determined by the decline of the service value of utility assets over time due to wear, tear, deterioration or technological advances.
Deregulation: A term used to describe the process of moving to the use of market forces in place of government regulatory authority to ensure the fair and proper delivery & pricing of utility services. (See "Restructuring.")
Direct Load Control (DLC): A voluntary program in which an electric utility installs switches on residential central air conditioning units, so those units may be "cycled" on peak demand days to help ensure the utility has enough power to meet its needs. Many Indiana electric utilities offer DLC programs, with many offering bill credits to customers who participate.
Disconnection: The practice of shutting off a consumer's utility service for non-payment or other reasons. Regulated Indiana utilities are required to provide written notice a set number of days before disconnecting service in most cases, but may disconnect without notice under certain circumstances (including public safety reasons, fraudulent use of service, etc.).
Energizing Indiana: The statewide initiative responsible for implementing five "core programs" required by the IURC in its 2009 energy efficiency investigation order. The programs, standardized among the state's investor-owned utilities and offered from 2012 through 2014, were aimed at helping utilities meet annual requirements for increased energy efficiency.
Energy Assistance Program (EAP): The federally funded program providing winter energy bill assistance to income-eligible households. EAP funding is administered at the state level by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and distributed locally by Community Action Agencies.
Energy Policy Act of 1992: The federal law that, among other things, initiated the creation of the competitive wholesale power market.
Enhanced 911 Service: Automatically sends the name and address associated with the calling number directly to a 911 dispatcher in order to speed the response by appropriate police, fire or ambulance services.
Energy Policy Act of 2005: Federal legislation signed into law on August 8, 2005, with the goal of creating a comprehensive, long-term energy policy for the nation. Among other things, the law provides for mandatory electric reliability standards and creates tax incentives for specific energy efficiency improvements made to homes and businesses in 2006 and 2007.
Evidentiary Hearing: A public hearing before the IURC at which witnesses that have pre-filed written testimony are cross-examined by opposing counsel (and in some cases, by the Commission). Participation is typically limited to the formal parties to the proceeding.
Extensions and Replacements (E & R): Improvements necessary to provide service to new customers (extensions) and replace older or defective utility plants (replacements).
Federal Communications Commission (FCC): The federal agency that regulates interstate communications, including telephone service.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): An independent agency within the United States Department of Energy that regulates the wholesale electric and natural gas industries on the interstate level.
Feed-In Tariff: A tariff that incents renewable energy development by allowing the owner of windmills, a solar farm, etc. to enter into a long-term contract with an electric utility.
Fixed Costs: Costs incurred by a utility in providing services that are constant, regardless of the amount of service provided.
Fuel Adjustment Clause (FAC): The periodic adjustment of retail electric rates to account for changes in fuel and other costs as specified by law. Typically occurs quarterly.
Gas Cost Adjustment (GCA): The periodic adjustment of retail natural gas rates to account for changes in the wholesale price of gas purchased by utilities. May occur monthly or quarterly.
Geographic Split: A form of telephone area code relief in which the existing area code territory is divided into two or more regions. One region keeps the pre-existing area code, while the other(s) will be assigned a new area code or codes. In this form of relief, consumers in the new area code territory are required to change their phone number(s) to reflect the new area code. This form of relief does not affect a consumer's seven-digit number (XXX-XXXX), local calling area, local rates or long distance rates.
Green Power: Electricity generated from wind, landfill methane, solar, geothermal and other environmentally friendly resources.
Grid: The system of wires designed to transport electricity from its source of generation to its source of consumption.
House Enrolled Act 1279 (HEA 1279): A state law deregulating most aspects of telecommunications in Indiana, signed into law on March 14, 2006. Among other things, HEA 1279 creates a system under which the IURC provides statewide franchises for video/cable television service, removes state jurisdiction over telephone rates and charges, and creates a state-funded Lifeline/Link-Up assistance program for low-income consumers (augmenting the existing federal program).
Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC): A telephone utility that has traditionally provided local service as a regulated monopoly within an assigned geographic area, and that was providing local exchange service before implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Indiana Administrative Code (IAC): The body of law that contains administrative rules and regulations that have been promulgated by state agencies such as the IURC.
Indiana Code (IC): The body of laws of the State of Indiana. It contains the statutes that have been enacted into law by the Indiana General Assembly.
Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC): The state agency established to represent the interests of all Indiana utility consumers and the general public. The OUCC participates in all proceedings before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and is also active in court and federal regulatory proceedings and in public policy matters.
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC): The state agency that regulates most Indiana utilities. (Formerly the Public Service Commission of Indiana or PSCI.)
Inter-Exchange Carrier (IXC): A utility licensed by the IURC to provide long distance telephone service in the state of Indiana.
Internet Service Provider (ISP): A consumer's chosen provider for Internet access.
Jeopardy Situation: A situation in which the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) has determined that the finite supply of phone numbers provided for under a particular area code is running out.
Kilowatt hour (kWh): The unit of measure for the amount of electricity a customer uses. The amount of electricity needed to run a normal 60-watt light bulb for 16 hours, 40 minutes.
Lifeline: A federal subsidy program that assists low-income consumers with monthly local telephone bills.
Line Protection Plan: A warranty of sorts aimed at covering the costs of broken or damaged utility lines. These may be offered by a utility or a third party.
Load: The total demand for service on a utility system at any given time.
Local Exchange Carrier (LEC): A telephone utility providing local exchange service.
Local Number Portability (LNP): Allows a consumer to keep his/her phone number when changing carriers or changing locations within a local area. LNP is required by federal law and includes both landline and wireless services.
Meter: The device used to measure the amount of utility commodity used by a customer.
Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (Midwest ISO): A regional transmission operator (RTO) based in Carmel, Ind. that manages electric power flows over a region including most of Indiana, all or parts of 14 additional states, and a portion of western Canada. Four of Indiana's five investor-owned electric utilities are Midwest ISO members.
Modem Hijacking: A high-tech form of telephone "cramming" in which a computer using a dial-up modem is disconnected from the Internet and connected to an expensive long distance number (either an international or "900" number). Cramming is a violation of Indiana law.
Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 (NGPA): The federal law updating the Natural Gas Act of 1938 and deregulating the interstate natural gas industry.
Net Metering: A consumer's ability to generate his or her own wind or solar energy, and to sell some of the power back to the utility. All Indiana investor-owned electric utilities offer net metering options to homeowners and schools, but it is critical that anyone considering net metering review and follow specific rules.
North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA): The neutral, third party administrator assigned by the FCC to oversee the assignment of area codes and the distribution of blocks of telephone numbers to telecommunications providers. NANPA also works with the telecommunications industry to develop area code relief plans that are presented to state utility regulatory commissions for review and approval.
Number Depletion: A situation in which the finite supply of phone numbers available for distribution to telecommunications providers is diminishing. Number depletion started occurred rapidly in much of the United States in the 1990s, due to the proliferation of fax machines, pagers, cellular phones, the Internet and other factors.
Overlay: A form of area code relief in which a new area code is applied to an existing area code territory. In most cases, numbers for pre-existing telephones, pagers, fax machines, etc. keep the pre-existing area code, while the new area code is assigned to new numbers. This form of relief does not affect a consumer's local calling area, local rates or long distance rates, but does require the use of ten-digit dialing (area code + seven digit number) to make local calls.
Peak Demand: The maximum amount of gas, water, or electricity consumed by a utility's customers during a specific time period (such as a day, month or year).
PIC Freeze: A free service offered by a local phone company that helps to prevent the unauthorized switching of a consumer's presubscribed interexchange carrier (PIC) or long distance provider (see "Slamming"). A PIC Freeze requires the explicit approval of a consumer prior to changing the consumer's PIC. A PIC Freeze prevents a long distance company from ordering the local phone company to switch a consumer's service without the consumer's knowledge or consent.
PJM Interconnection: One of two regional transmission operators (RTOs) that manage electric power flows across portions of Indiana, as well as all or parts of 12 additional states and the District of Columbia. Indiana-Michigan Power is a member of PJM, while the state's four other investor-owned electric utilities are members of the Midwest ISO.
Presubscribed Interexhange Carrier (PIC): The interexchange carrier (IXC) designated by a consumer to be his or her preferred long distance telephone service provider (i.e., the company that carries long distance calls made when dialing 1 + area code + number). A consumer may designate separate PICs for intra-LATA and inter-LATA toll calls if he or she chooses.
Public Field Hearing: A hearing, held in a utility's service territory, at which consumers can submit sworn oral or written comments directly to the IURC on the utility's proposal, service and any other relevant issue.
Rate Base: The total assets of a utility upon which it may earn a return.
Rate Class Subsidization: When one class of utility customers pays more than a utility's cost to serve it, while another class pays less than its cost of service. The result is that the overpaying class subsidizes the underpaying class.
Rate of Return: The percentage figure that is applied to the rate base to determine the net operating income that a utility is allowed to earn.
Regional Transmission Operator (RTO): A non-profit organization responsible for managing electric power flows over large geographic areas. (See also "Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator" and "PJM Interconnection."
Restructuring: A term used to describe the realignment of the utility industry to allow for more competition and less regulation. (See also "Deregulation.")
Return on Common Equity: Usually refers to the income that the Commission allows an investor-owned utility to make available to common stockholders after servicing existing debt and preferred stock. (Also called "authorized return on equity.")
Revenue Requirement: The amount of money a utility must collect to pay expenses and, where appropriate, provide a fair return to investors.
Settlement Agreement: An agreement reached by two or more parties to a proceeding that resolves some or all issues. Most public utility settlement agreements must be filed with and approved by the IURC.
Service Area (Territory): The geographic area that the IURC allows a utility to serve.
Slamming: The transfer of a consumer from one utility company (typically telephone service) to another without the consumer's knowledge or consent. Telephone slamming violates state and federal laws.
Splashing: The "re-routing" of a long distance call, placed from a pay telephone, which results in higher long distance rates than expected. Splashing may violate FCC rules.
Tariff: A document that a utility must file with the IURC, listing all services, rates and charges, along with applicable utility rules and regulations.
Telecommunications Act of 1996 (TA-96): The first comprehensive overhaul of Federal telecommunications law since 1934. Congress approved this law with the intent of promoting competition and reducing regulation, while reducing prices, increasing available service options, improving service quality and encouraging the use of new technologies. TA-96 covers nearly all aspects of the telecommunications industry, including efforts to create a competitive marketplace for local telephone service.
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf/Teletypewriter (TDD/TTY): Typewriter-like instruments and/or human operators that allow hearing- and speech-impaired consumers to use telephone service.
Therm: A measure of heat content of natural gas. One therm equals 100,000 British Thermal Units (Btu).
Tracker: A mechanism allowing a utility to make periodic rate adjustments for specific purposes without undergoing full rate case proceedings. Examples include purchased power trackers and environmental compliance riders for certain electric utilities and wholesale water purchase trackers for certain water utilities. Rate adjustments through trackers require OUCC review and IURC approval.
Universal Service Fund (USF): A state or federal fund that helps provide affordable phone service to certain rural and low-income customers. The federal USF also provides discounts on telephone services and Internet access for eligible schools, libraries and rural health care providers.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP): A service that allows a caller to place telephone calls via the Internet.
Wide Area Telecommunications Service (WATS): Toll-free numbers reached by dialing the 800, 888, 877, 866, or 855 area codes.
Winter Disconnection Moratorium: The Indiana law prohibiting electric and natural gas utilities from disconnecting a customer for non-payment from December 1 through March 15, provided that the customer either participates in the federally funded Energy Assistance Program or qualifies and has applied.
Wireless Enhanced 911 Service: Automatically sends the name associated with the calling wireless phone number and the general location from which the wireless call is being made directly to a 911 dispatcher in order to speed the response by appropriate police, fire or ambulance services.
Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Toll-free: 1-888-441-2494
Voice/TDD: (317) 232-2494
Fax: (317) 232-5923
Website: www.IN.gov/OUCC
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Fan celebrations taking center court this season
Credit: The Associated Press
With so many upsets in college basketball, there seems to be daily highlights of fans storming the court to celebrate.
No team has separated itself from the pack and there have been 15 instances when top-five teams in the Associated Press Top 25 poll lost to unranked squads on the road, according to STATS LLC.
That's led to a lot of postgame mayhem — and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said it's not all fun and games when it happens.
He would know. His third-ranked Blue Devils have lost on the road to start court-storming celebrations four times this year, including Thursday when his team had to battle through the surge at Virginia. The coach said afterward that fans should celebrate, but the focus should be getting the visiting team off the court first.
"Put yourself in a position with one of our players or coaches," Krzyzewski said. "I'm not saying anybody did this but the potential is there all the time for a fan to come up to you and say, 'Coach, you're a ... ." Or push you or hit you. What do you do? What if you did something? That would be the story, right? So we deserve that type of protection."
There had been only seven instances in each of the past two seasons in which AP top-five teams lost to unranked teams on the road. But the past week has shown just how wild this season has been by comparison.
First No. 5 Miami — ranked No. 2 at the time — lost at Wake Forest last weekend. Then top-ranked Indiana lost at Minnesota on Tuesday. The next night, No. 4 Michigan fell to a Penn State team that was 0-14 in Big Ten play.
And in each of those cases, fans gathered around the edges of the court to count off the final seconds before charging in to celebrate at the sound of the horn.
While BCS conferences typically leave it to host schools to manage postgame celebrations, the Southeastern Conference fines its members when fans storm the court. The fines range from $5,000 for the first offense, $25,000 for the second and $50,000 for a third.
Karl Hicks, the ACC's senior associate commissioner for men's basketball, said his league doesn't allow unauthorized personnel on the court before, during or after the game as a general rule. But the ACC doesn't have a policy in place to fine or sanction a school if its fans rush the court.
In those moments, the first challenge for the host school is getting the officials and visiting team off the court safely and as quickly as possible.
"We do share best practices between and amongst schools, and advise where appropriate," Hicks wrote in an email Friday.
Hicks also said he hadn't received any complaints from Duke on Friday regarding the Virginia postgame rush, which created a bottleneck and stalled the Blue Devils as they tried to get to the tunnel and into the locker room as Cavaliers fans ran in.
Jon Jackson, an associate athletic director for media relations and public affairs at Duke, wrote in an email that the university's position is that "the safety of the players and coaches should be paramount at any venue."
He declined to comment when asked whether Duke would file a complaint to the league about anything that happened at Virginia or bring up court storming for discussion at offseason ACC meetings.
As the horn sounded, Virginia security staff wearing yellow jackets formed a line where the teams were shaking hands, while other security staff escorted the Blue Devils to the tunnel on the way to the locker room where the brief delay occurred.
Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage said Friday it took about a minute from those handshakes until Duke arrived in its locker room. Littlepage said he felt arena staff "did a very good job" of managing the situation Thursday night, down to an announcement discouraging fans from rushing the court.
"I know having been in that situation as a player and as a coach, you feel an urgency to want to get to the locker room," Littlepage said. "I understand that, but the key is to make sure that you get to the locker room safely so there are decisions made to ensure the safety and to make sure that there are no interactions that could lead to somebody being hassled verbally, physically hassled, that sort of thing."
At Penn State on Wednesday night, an arena official had ushers go down to the floor to be ready and make sure Michigan coaches and players were able to leave without incident. The school said the potential of fans rushing the court is monitored and discussed, especially before games of note, and that the safety of visiting coaches and players is a priority.
North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried has been on both sides this year.
His team had to make its way off the court after losses at Maryland and Wake Forest. N.C. State also savored a home win against then-No. 1 Duke in January with its own court storming fans — though that celebration led to a fan in a wheelchair being knocked to the floor and Wolfpack junior C.J. Leslie having to get him back in his wheelchair amid the chaos.
Gottfried said Friday he hopes the ACC "never, ever bans storming the court" as was done in the SEC, where Gottfried coached at Alabama.
"Yeah, I think it can be times (where) you might run into a tricky situation," Gottfried said. "I think that's possible. But I think when you turn on the television around the country and you see fans storm the court if a top team or a No. 1 team in the country gets beat or a good team, I think it adds to the college game — the atmosphere, being a student.
"So I'm hopeful that our league never adopts what the SEC did."
Apparently no one in the ACC does, but there seems to be momentum building for some sort of compromise.


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Pre-employment Screening; The New Player That Every Office Needs on Their Team.
From mega staffing firms to big time industries, from companies of communications and technologies to the small town restaurant owner simply searching for a few good servers; every business is faced with the same fears and problems of hiring that new employee. Pre-employment Screening can help bring some answers to these problems.
Most of us have worked in a time where a reference from a potential employee actually meant something. Remember when a resume filled with diplomas, past jobs, and community services truly displayed the character and essence of a person? Unfortunately, the days of a sturdy handshake sealing the deal have simply slipped away.
With the dawning of a new era, we have adapted and conformed to reality. We still hire new employees and expect a trustworthy relationship, accepting them into our circle. Now, we use a new team player which is at our fingertips to help us.
Pre-employment Screening is the strategic opportunity which gives the employer the potential to avoid hiring a harmful or even inappropriate employee. Pre-employment Screening is that new player. It is very accessible to anyone looking for that help. The choices of avenue are numerous. So, like that coach who seeks out that perfect player for his team, an employer must also find the right Pre-employment Screening Company which fits, best with his team members.
There are many Pre-employment Screening companies who adhere strictly to the internet. All exchange simply consists of emails. They remind us of the companies out there who have a computer generated phone system. The allusive customer service representative is never to be found. This type of Pre-employment Screening Company is not totally off basis. In our fast paced society, this is the perfect solution for companies who find human contact an interference and obstacle in trying to meet their daily deadlines. To be honest, that screening company fits perfect with many employers and their members. They are the perfect team player.
Let's swing to the other side of the spectrum. What about the other employers who enjoy service, and want a personal touch? There is a choice for you also. Pre-employment Screening does not have to simply be only an email away. Look for that Screening Company who has a healthy balance. They are out there also and will have that person to talk you through your problems until you find your answer. They are found to be efficient and personal at the same time.
No matter which way your company swings in the scenario, your Pre-employment Screening team member is out there. It is crucial you find the right fit for you and your team members.
While Pre-employment Screening has the potential of being this year's MVP, it is facing some game changers and issues which have come about. Yes, Pre-employment Screening might enhance the safety of you and your fellow workers or save financial loss, it might simply help an employer save face; but it is a subject which is growing and facing its own difficulties. This "new team player" or "rookie" is arousing a lot of attention and not all of it is good. It looks like Pre-employment Screening will have to play by some rules.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act governs background checks under federal law, but now there are a number of state issues that must be measured when selecting applicants for employment. With all 50 states being involved, to specify every state mandate, restriction, compliance, imposing and limitation would be too numerous and tedious to describe. The Associated Press, Washington, published April 25, 2012; announced "New gov't guidance on employee background checks". Trends are showing that while Pre-employment Screening will be regulated more and more by states and government, they will still multiply and that will lead to mutual escalations in effectiveness but also in difficulties. It seems, just like every game played by a team, the Refs have come out with new ways to enforce rules and change the way the game is played. Like every good player, Pre-employment Screening is too valuable to lose. It is here to stay and will adapt and learn to conform in every situation.
Now getting back to your team, be sure you are making a team effort in the hiring of an employee. Utilize the skills of others around you. Only you and your coworkers can decide "how a person fits into your company", or "will they meet the qualifications that are necessary for this role?", "do they possess the skills needed for this precise position?"
Now it's time to bring in your "new player". Let him finish up the process by closing some vital questions. "Has this person been honest on his facts presented in his resume?" and "do they have any history of violence which may concern the safety of your staff and company?" Lastly "is this person trustworthy and reliable for this position?"
Remember, superstars alone don't win championships. A Pre-employment Search alone will not find the valued employee and answers you and your team is looking for, but solid united teams do! Utilize all of your team members in this team effort. Pre-employment Screening will be an amazing addition, and by reforming your efforts, you will recruit the person who fits impeccably with your office team.
That team will be the one who will lead you all the way to the end zone!
About the author:
Dawn Chalupnik is an Accounts Marketing Manager/Writer at Express Services. Express Services offers Pre-Employment and Background Information reports. The company's website is: www.ExpressVerify.com


text: Beginning January 2010, per Chapter 434-662 WAC, the Washington State Archives, Digital Archives will begin capturing and preserving annual snapshots of internet websites of public agencies. For more information please review Chapter 434-662 WAC Preservation Of Electronic Public Records. The Digital Archives offers the following guidelines regarding the website capture and preservation project:


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Tennis champion and activist Billie Jean King spoke Tuesday night at Kent State at Stark about the role relationships and personal education play in a person's success.
Twenty-time Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King said a person's inner and outer success depends on three things: relationships, a willingness to keep learning and the ability to solve problems.
"I think that's where we go wrong, is when we don't have the inner and the outer matching up," she said Tuesday.
King, who won 39 Grand Slam titles during her tennis career, spoke Tuesday evening as part of the Featured Speakers Series at Kent State University at Stark. The series will feature experts in politics, activism, education, literature and arts during the 2013-14 school year.
Cynthia Williams, coordinator of public relations, said the university distributed about 650 event tickets and none remained.
King shared lessons learned since her start in tennis at an early age. She learned about the sport from a friend, saved enough money to buy a racquet and took free lessons at a public park before having an "epiphany" at age 12.
Reflecting on the predominantly white tennis apparel, equipment and players, King asked herself why the sport wasn't more diverse and became determined to make it so.
"I knew then, if I could be number one in the world, then I might have an opportunity to change the world," she said.
Most known for defeating Bobby Riggs in the 1973 "Battle of Sexes," King credited the match for giving her a platform.
"That was about social change," she said. "That wasn't about tennis."
King also successfully fought for equal prize money for women and founded the Women's Tennis Association in 1970. She said Title IX, legislation passed in 1972 designed to end sex-based discrimination in schools that receive federal funding, was one of the most important laws for civil rights in the 20th century.
Still, King said there is work to be done when it comes to the number of women in positions of power or pay inequality in the workforce.
"Woman are still so far behind," she said.
The best way to change that, King said, is to encourage dialogue. Only then might groups, be it government body or athletic team, reflect society.
She said every person has the ability to make a positive difference in the world.
"I think people should really think about themselves," King said. "And think about that each one of them's an influence."
Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or
On Twitter: @kbyerREP


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Archive for the tag "strip"
Jean Giraud (Moebius) dies march 10, 2012
Jean Giraud, better known as Moebius, died yesterday at the age of 73, after he lost a long battle against cancer. Moebius developed a unique art style, known by many people although not everybody will realize this. When I was a kid, I read his Blueberry comics in the weekly magazine I was subscribed to. […]
Posted: 11 March, 2012 in Art, Me.
Tags: comic, moebius, strip
Comments: 5


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MORRIS – Immaculate Conception School will celebrate Catholic Schools Week beginning Saturday and continuing through Jan. 31.
Catholic Schools Week is held each year during the last week of January. Its purpose is to emphasize the uniqueness of Catholic schools. This year's theme is "Catholic Schools – Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service."
The events of the week will begin with an open house from 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday. School and parish families, as well as nonparishioners wishing to learn more about the school, are invited. Student work from all grades and in all academic areas will be on display.
Monday of Catholic Schools Week will begin with a prayer service in the Dr. Connor Gym led by the kindergarten class. Monday is designated as spirit day. Students will dress in the school colors, blue and gold. There will be a pep rally at 2 p.m. in the gym, as well. The student council will hold a three-on-three basketball tournament after school at 3 p.m.
Parents are invited to join their children at school Tuesday. They may begin their visit by participating in a prayer service led by the preschool students in the Dr. Connor Gym at 8:05 a.m. The prayer service will be followed by visits to the classrooms until 9:50 a.m.
On Wednesday, student council members will host a breakfast for staff members. Parents of four-year-old preschool students are invited to visit their child's class from 7:55 to 10:00 a.m. Wednesday also is designated as "We Care Wednesday." Students are asked to help with the good works of We Care of Grundy County by contributing to the Souper Bowl of Caring. Students will have the opportunity to take part in several educational games from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., as well.
On Thursday, there also will be a teacher appreciation lunch sponsored by the I.C.S. Parents Club. Several reading stations will be set up for story times between 2 and 2:30 p.m.
The highlight of the week is the school Mass on Friday at 8:15 a.m. I.C.S. parents are invited to participate at Mass with the students and teachers. There also will be a Family Night on Friday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Families are invited for an evening of bingo, prizes and entertainment. There is no charge for participating in Family Night. The student council is raffling a motor scooter and the drawing will be at 8 p.m. that evening. Family Night of Catholic Schools Week is always very well attended. Last year, more than 200 people participated in Family Night.
I.C.S. is a caring community that emphasizes the importance of faith and family. I.C.S. holds its students to the highest standards in mind, body and soul.
The curriculum is designed to challenge students to seek excellence in every phase of their lives. The school emphasizes the importance of giving a lifetime of service to others.


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Monarchs with redder wings fly further
Red goes faster Monarch butterflies with dark orange wings fly further than those with light orange wings, new research has found.
Animal ecologist Dr Andrew Davis, of the University of Georgia, and colleagues, report their findings today in the journal PLoS One.
"Up to now there's been a lot of research done comparing one species of butterfly to another in terms of their wing colour, but very few people have actually looked at individuals within the same species," says Davis.
"I hope that this paper will pave the way for a new line of inquiry."
Davis says there are subtle differences in the orange colour between monarch butterflies, even though they are raised on the same type of host plant.
"I was interested in knowing what the biological significance of all of those different shade was," he says.
North American monarch butterflies breed in summer and some generations later migrate thousands of kilometres south to Mexico for the winter.
A couple of years ago Davis had been catching migrating butterflies and with his "eye for colour" noticed their wings had a much darker colour orange than he was used to.
He systematically compared the colour of the wings of individuals captured during the summer breeding season with those of individuals captured during the autumn migration.
"The monarch captured in the fall [autumn] were statistically darker than those captured in the summer," says Davis.
The colour effect
In his most recent study, Davis set up an experiment to explicitly test if wing colour was linked to migration.
"Maybe dark wings mean better flight performance," he wondered.
Davis and colleagues set up a "flight mill" where the butterflies flew around in circles while their flight duration was measured over a two hour period.
The researchers first glued a tiny wire to the backs of test butterflies, between their wings, and then connected this to a light carbon rod attached to a frictionless pivot on a pedestal.
On the other end of the rod was a counterbalance and a small flag that passed through a 'photogate', allowing each lap completed by the monarch to be monitored by computer.
From that, the researchers were able to calculate the number of laps per minute flown by each butterfly, their flight time and distance covered.
Davis says he tested 121 butterflies and made sure the mill set up did not impede the flight of the monarchs he tested.
"After they were done with the flight mills we then simply matched up the two pieces of information: how far did they fly and what colour orange were they," he says.
The researchers found that the average flight time was about an hour, but that those butterfiles with dark wings flew longer.
"That's when we determined that the monarchs that were redder flew further on average than those who were more yellow," says Davis.
These results were consistent with Davis' previous comparisons of breeding and migrating butterflies.
"We still don't know why there is this link between colour and flight performance," he says. "For us and for a lot of other scientists I think this is going to be new territory."


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Reacting Flows in Industrial Duct-burners of a Heat Recovery Steam GeneratorG. Petrone[1], G. Cammarata[1], S. Caggia[2], and M. Anastasi[2]
[1]Department of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
[2]Engineering Maintenance - ISAB Energy Services, Priolo Gargallo, Italy
In this study, COMSOL Multiphysics is applied in order to simulate reacting flows for duct burner systems arranged in the post-firing section of a Heat Recovery Steam Generator of a combined cycle power plant.
Two- and three-dimensional simulations are carried out in order to investigate on operative conditions mainly responsible of duct burners overheating.
The results are obtained for several chemical compositions of the supplied fuel and for several values of the fuel mass flow rate incoming inside the control volume.
- Petrone_pres.pdf - 5.96MB
- Petrone.pdf - 1.74MB


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No. 14 Butler uses defense to beat Richmond 62-47
- Article by: MICHAEL MAROT
- Associated Press
- January 16, 2013 - 9:40 PM
INDIANAPOLIS - Richmond watched in frustration as shot after shot bounced off the rim and into Butler's hands Wednesday night.
There was nothing they could do about it.
On a night the Spiders finished with a season-low point total and a season-worst shooting percentage, that wasn't even the most embarrassing part of a 62-47 loss. They got outrebounded 53-20 overall, 20-14 on the defensive end.
"They're a very physical team and I think that physicality shows up in a couple of different ways," Richmond coach Chris Mooney said. "That's one of them."
No, the Spiders (11-7, 1-2 Atlantic 10) are not themselves right now.
Forward Derrick Williams, their second-leading scorer and one of the few frontcourt veterans on Richmond's roster, missed his fourth straight game with a sprained ankle. He's not expected back for another four weeks.
The loss of Williams has taken a big toll on a team with the third-highest conference victory total (52) over the last six seasons.
But the Spiders looked nothing like that in their first trip to Hinkle Fieldhouse. Darien Brothers was the only player to reach double figures, finishing with 12 points. Cedrick Lindsay made two 3-pointers and had nine points. Nobody else scored more than six points on a night that Richmond shot just 32.7 percent from the field. The Spiders have lost two straight A-10 games, both on the road, and five of seven overall.
"They're a good defensive team, but I did think we had looks we could make," Mooney said. "But scoring now is really heavily weighted to us shooting the ball well because we're not getting any inside baskets."
Butler, meanwhile, seemingly had it all figured out — even with leading scorer Rotnei Clarke sitting out because of a severely sprained neck.
Andrew Smith led the Bulldogs with 15 points and Kellen Dunham added 11 as the Bulldogs dug down defensively in their first Atlantic 10 home game.
"Our whole team was focused and you could tell just by the way we came out tonight," Butler coach Brad Stevens said. "We had to focus on the game, and I didn't have any question that we would do that. Sometimes when you lose a guy, it heightens your focus a little bit."
Whatever the impact, losing Clarke to a severely sprained neck didn't slow down the Bulldogs (15-2, 3-0) one bit.
They will take a 12-game winning streak into Saturday's home showdown against No. 8 Gonzaga — with a chance to become the first team in school history to beat three Top 10 teams in one season. The Bulldogs have already beaten Indiana and North Carolina and may face an even tougher challenge without having Clarke available Saturday.
But of all the different ways the Bulldogs have won this season, from last-second shots to impressive blowouts, Wednesday night's performance may go down as the most rewarding victory for Stevens, who told reporters Tuesday that the Bulldogs would make up for Clarke's missing 16.3 points with both familiar and unfamiliar names. He was right.
Roosevelt Jones continued his impressive play, finishing with 10 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Dunham, who started in place of Clarke, scored 11 points despite going 2 of 11 from the field. Kameron Woods had eight points and seven rebounds. Alex Barlow finished with five points, double his scoring average, and Andrew Smeathers, who scored six points all season, had five against Richmond.
"Without Rotnei we lose one of our shooters, so we were focused on going inside a little bit more," Smith said. "But it doesn't really change what we did a whole lot."
For Richmond, it was a night-long struggle.
It opened the game just 4 of 22 from the field. The percentage improved to 28.6 percent at halftime with a late scoring flurry and steadily increased throughout the second half.
Butler made it look easy.
The Bulldogs took control with first-half runs of 7-0 and 8-0 to take a 23-11 lead with 5:26 left in the first half. After Deion Taylor's second 3 got Richmond within 25-17, the Bulldogs closed the half on an 8-4 spurt that ended with Barlow's 3 to make it 33-21.
Things didn't change much in the second half.
Butler made two baskets in the first 1:49.
Richmond needed more than 4 minutes to match that total and another 5 minutes before Lindsay delivered Richmond's third basket, a 3 with 11:33 to go that cut the Bulldogs' lead to 46-29. The Spiders did make one late push, using a 9-0 run to close to 50-41 with 8:23 left.
But the Bulldogs thwarted the rally, expanded the lead to as much as 15 and then shut the Spiders on defense again.
"That is a great win," Stevens said. "That's a hard team to play against, a hard team to prepare for because they do something that is really unique in college basketball, they switch everything. But our guys stayed the course in a game you almost have to play their way."
© 2018 Star Tribune


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Deus Ex: Human Revolution, the anticipated prequel to the cult-classic Deus Ex franchise, is just a few short weeks away.
Though my recent preview discussed some of the subtleties of the franchise, the latest trailer for the game explores the game's "bigger picture." Learn about the world, the game's hero Adam Jensen, his plethora of choices, and the abilities he will have at his disposal in his upcoming battle.
BOOM video 9942
Deus Ex: Human Revolution launches for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 on August 23 in North America.


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Events for January 31, 2018
Day Navigation
10:30 am
Bosom Buddies Breastfeeding Support Group
The Bosom Buddies Support Group meets every Wednesday from 10:30-12. This is a free group designed to give support to our mamas as they transition into the intimate relationship of breastfeeding with their new baby. A new topic is introduced weekly, followed by group discussion with tea and snacks. Bigger children are welcome with mama!Find out more »
6:00 pm
Calm Birth Series (Wednesdays)
During this thorough 5-week class, we focus on strengthening your understanding of how the body works during labor. We teach how to work with the body so labor will flow more smoothly and expecting families will have more confidence and joy. This 5-week course takes place on Wednesdays (6-8 PM) or Saturdays (9-11 AM) andFind out more »


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view a plan
This lesson on measuring curvy objects asks, "How Long or How Short"
Title – How Long or How Short
By – Karyn Rogers
Primary Subject – Math
Grade Level – K-1
By – Karyn Rogers
Primary Subject – Math
Grade Level – K-1
- Measurement
- Students will learn how to measure curvy objects.
- Students will be able to identify length by using words such as shorter and longer.
Learning Resources and Materials:
- poster board
- 5 pipe cleaners (each a different color)
- 5 markers (same colors used for pipe cleaners)
- 12 inch string with knot on end
- How Long or How Wide: A Measuring Guide ISBN: 978082266946
Development of Lesson:
- Introduction:
- The lesson will start by introducing the students to the above book.
- The definition of measurement will be explained to students again after reading the book.
- Students will be asked the definitions of measurement, longer and shorter.
- Methods/Procedures:
- Take each pipe cleaner and bend them each in a different curvy shape.
- Have students guess what pipe cleaner is the shortest and which is the longest.
- Hold string at end that contains knot and measure pipe cleaner.
- As each pipe cleaner is measured, use the marker that matches pipe cleaner to mark the string.
- Determine the lengths of each pipe cleaner from shortest to longest.
- Record findings and compare with guesses.
E-Mail Karyn Rogers !


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From sensible to stylish to seriously high-tech, here's some luxurious gifts for the most important woman in your life. The compliments she'll get from them will get her glowing into the new year.
Paddywax scents
Ever wonder what great writers smell like? Paddywax pays homage to literary greats with its line of candles, travel candles and home diffusers. Walt Whitman is predictably all grass and thyme, while Jane Austen is reminiscent of gardenia, tuberose and jasmine. An intoxicating blend of tangerine, juniper and cloves in honour of Charles Dickens is available for the holidays. $10 travel tin, $20 candle, and $25 diffuser. Chapters.
Jo Malone cologne
For the lady who likes to layer, the Jo Malone cologne collection lets her mix-and-match scents to suit the occasion and comes in a beautifully-packed gift box. Captivating scents include lime basil and mandarin and the darkly seductive pomegranate noir. $110. Holt Renfrew.
Heather Johnston prints
Gorgeous black-and-white photographs of iconic Vancouver landmarks on canvas by Vancouver artist Heather Johnston. The images will look great on her wall or desk. $125 for 12 x 12 inch canvas print, $15 for a calendar.
Tory Burch case
Give your iPhone a strong dose of glam with Tory Burch's new Saffiano media sleeve. It'll protect your gadget while making a strong fashion statement. $75 US. Pre-order at toryburch.com
Samsung Galaxy Tablet
Will the highly anticipated Samsung tablet make a dent in Apple's iPad dominance? The techie mom will have to find out. The Android-operating tablet has a slightly smaller than the iPad but is also half a pound lighter. $650.
Currently only available in Canada through Bell Mobility. bell.ca
Vancouver Province


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There have been a number of complaints from users who have a broken system after upgrading. Sorry guys but stop blaming Sabayon and take responsibility for messing up your own system. Stop treating your production box like a test box! The Sabayon Developers cannot possibly test all software configurations and they don't have your hardware.
If you do things the Windoze way you can expect to get Windoze results. Windoze is designed for ease of use and there is always a conflict between ease of use and stability/security. Updating Windoze frequently causes problems that are not easy to fix.
If you are running a stable production box and you want to keep it that way, use some common sense.
1. Don't upgrade anything without testing it first.
2. Don't make wholesale upgrades, upgrade one thing at a time.
3. Keep a log of all changes you make.
4. Do not upgrade the kernel unless absolutely necessary because it can break many things.
Let me tell you how I manage my production boxes. This is not the only way but it is simple and has worked very well for me for years.
I start with a fresh install. I add my extra programs and configure the system. Between official releases I just like to do security/bug fixes. Do I add/upgrade individual programs? Yes, as long as I test them first. When a new release is made, I thoroughly test it, back up /etc, /home, /usr/local, freshly install the new release, copy /home back, and install the programs that were in /usr/local. That usually works without having to do any thing else. I rarely need to use /etc but it has all the global configuration files which can be handy if something doesn't work right.
Sabayon makes new releases every 6-8 month. That is not too long to wait for major upgrades.


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The Museum of Fine Arts reprieves its "To Boston With Love Community Day" Monday from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
The Museum of Fine Arts reprieves its "To Boston With Love Community Day" Monday from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. It's the institution's response to the Boston Marathon bombing. The free open house features the "To Boston With Love" installation, which includes more than 1,700 hand-sewn flags created and sent to Boston from quilters around the world and displayed at the museum last year. In keeping with the theme, the museum's most recent new exhibit is "Quilts and Color: The Pilgrim/Roy Collection." 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 617-267-9300, www.mfa.org.
- The Adams National Historical Park opens for the season Saturday. Guided, full-park tours include the birthplaces in Braintree and the Old House in Quincy, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tours begin at the visitors center, 1250 Hancock St., Quincy. Admission is $5 for adults, and free for children 16 and younger. 617-770-1175, www.nps.gov/adam.
- Take a spin on the Paragon Carousel, which opens for business from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Word has it the Easter Bunny will be lurking about, and the Easter Egg Dash will be held Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. Rides are $2.50 each. 205 Nantasket Ave., Hull. 781-925-0472, www.paragoncarousel.com.
At the JFK Library, a new exhibit called "Superman's Mission for President Kennedy" is a display of drawings by Superman comic book artist Al Plastino. The drawings were created in 1963 and depict a story to promote the President's Council on Physical Fitness, JFK's initiative on public health.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, $9 for children 13-17, and free for children 12 and younger. Columbia Point, Dorchester. 617-514-1600, www.jfklibrary.org.
- Old Ship Church Coffeehouse off the Square presents Bill Staines at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15. 107 Main St., Hingham. 781-749-1767, www.bostoncoffeehouses.org/OffTheSquare.
- David Mallet plays the Rose Garden Coffeehouse, also at 8 p.m. Saturday, at the Congregational Church, 17 West St., Mansfield. Tickets are $18. 508-699-8122, www.rosegardenfolk.com.


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Neymar admits he dreams of playing for likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid or Chelsea
Brazil ace Neymar has admitted he dreams of playing in Europe for Barcelona, Real Madrid or Chelsea.
By Paulo Freitas
Last Updated: 18/03/13 12:03pm
The Santos star has been widely tipped to make the move to Europe for some time with a host of top clubs chasing his signature.
Santos are thought to be readying a new deal in a bid to keep Neymar, but the playmaker admits he would consider moving to Barcelona, Real Madrid or Chelsea if they came calling.
"I dream of playing Europe, for a big club like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea," Neymar told Esporte Espetacular.
"Who wouldn't dream about playing alongside [Lionel] Messi, Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta? They're all great players.
"[But] there's no point in speculating when I'll leave Santos. I'll leave when I want to.
"I don't know where I would fit in if I joined Barca but I know my place is at Santos right now."


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Summer Hours Begin: Central Library will close at 6 pm on Thursdays and will be closed Sundays until September. Enjoy your summer!
Log in
Most every day, week, and month has some designation. September 8 is International Literacy Day, a designation with particular relevance to libraries and to Kalamazoo.
Of course libraries care deeply about literacy – that's a given. Our community does too with the recent announcement of The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo, as well as The Kalamazoo Promise, Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo, The Kalamazoo Literacy Council, and the emphasis this year in the Kalamazoo Public Schools on reading and writing.
International Literacy Day has been designated by the United Nations to raise awareness of and concern for literacy issues in the world with particular emphasis on the importance of literacy for a healthy society. The UN estimates that one in five adults worldwide cannot read and two-thirds are women.
September 8 will be a good day to pause and appreciate that you can read, but also to consider how you can get involved and truly make a difference. Communities in Schools and Kalamazoo Literacy Council both are in need of volunteer tutors.
Posted by Ann Rohrbaugh at 09/06/2011 07:53:44 AM |
Books for: Kids, Teens & Tweens


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Immigration regulations require all individuals in F status (including dependents) to report changes in their address – both home address and local address within 10 days of the move.
You may inform ISFO of any changes or corrections to your addresses by going on-line at http://www.niu.edu/myniu/
Permanent Address. It is preferred you enter your address outside the US in this field. Please check with registration and records to make sure information is not mailed to this address during the summer.
Local address. This is where you live in the United States and should be where you sleep. ISS is also required by law to report your local address to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through SEVIS.
Once you leave NIU
How can I update my address?
How can I change my status to F-1?
Curricular Practical Training
How can I extend my I-20?
Optional Practical Training
How can I receive a Social Security Number?
DeKalb, Illinois 60115 | Regional Sites | Contact Us Emergency Information | Employment | Maps | Accessibility
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Former world No. 1 golfer David Duval has taken a liking to Twitter lately. Since joining the twittersphere several weeks ago, Duval has already fired off over 1,000 tweets and has picked up over 8,000 followers at last check.
Before being "verified" by Twitter with that little, blue, check mark, a follower asked Duval how we all knew it was the real Duval and not some imposter. Duval responded by tweeting out a photo of his trophy case, which included a Claret Jug from his victory at the 2001 Open Championship -- his lone major title. Well played.
During his heyday in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Duval was a dominating figure on the course, but very reserved when it came to all other aspects. That's why it's refreshing to see the man behind the wraparound Oakley shades loosening up a bit on Twitter.
However, Duval may have sent out a tweet on Monday night that he'd like to take a mulligan on. It's been a struggle for Duval since winning the '01 Open, which was also his last victory. Over the years since his five-year exemption for winning that Open ran out, Duval has had to rely on a lot of sponsor's exemptions.
He was hoping to get one for next week's Humana Challenge (formerly the Bob Hope Classic, where he had a 10-year exemption for his 1999 win). Duval won the event in stunning fashion in 1999, firing an amazing 59 in the final round.
A disappointed Duval tweeted Monday night: "So it's official. I will not get a spot at the Humana."
It's the follow up tweet, though, that is getting some attention.
Here's what Duval wrote: "I guess having the defining moment in the history of the event doesn't matter."
It was a shot at Humana, but also a point well taken. Not only is Duval a former No. 1 player, but -- aside from the Open in 2001 -- the defining moment of his career happened in that event.
John Cook, also a former Hope winner (1997), wondered on Twitter if he could, "give Duval my lifetime exemption."
All winners of the Hope prior to 1999 -- the year Duval won -- received a lifetime exemption into the event. Since 1999, winners receive a 10-year exemption into the event.
Duval probably deserves a spot based on his place in the tournament's history. But, his angry tweet probably didn't help his cause for the years ahead.
You can follow T.J. Auclair on Twitter @tj_auclair [3].


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T O P I C R E V I E WdatkatzFrom the McDonnell Aircraft Corp archives, twelve artist conception photos of a Gemini mission, start to finish: Launch, Ascent, Staging, Separation, On Orbit, Agena, Rendevous, Docking, Retrofire, Reentry, Under Rogollo Wing, Landing. Photos are 8 1/2 x 11, on heavy photo stock (diagonally imprinted "A Kodak Paper"), and in mint condition. The reverse of each bears a McDonnell stamp.datkatzPrice reduced! $100
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I read a recent Clarion article regarding the state of Washington, D.C., titled "Analysis" from the AP. Upon finishing, my first thought was, where is the analysis? The correct title should have been, "Redudant Recycled Liberal Hack Job." The first half of the article got the mandatory asinine Democratic talking points plastered in it. The first "analysis" was how spiteful the "mean ol' Republicans" were. The Republicans proposed withholding the Senate's salary until they pass a budget. The "analysis" proclaimed this petty and mean spirited. However, I saw no mention of the simple fact the Senate has not passed a budget in almost four years. Four years!
Maybe, just maybe, a lack of a budget has contributed to the additional 6.5 trillion dollars of debt the USA has added in those four years.
Next, the article chastised those mean ol' Republicans for voting down the 50 billion dollar Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill. How dare they? This affects children! Once again no mention of the fact, half of the money in the bill was not for hurricane relief. It was for pork projects. Analysis indeed.
I am certainly no fan of the establishment Republicans either, but enough is enough. Quit being in the tank for the Democratic Party.
There is great irony in this "analysis" though. Continue promoting and cheerleading these failed policies. See what happens. Jobs are being lost. Newsweek magazine is gone. Time magazine, AP, New York Times, and others will be gone in a couple of years. GE is trying to get rid of NBC. Who will be left? You are signing your own pink slip.


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Home » Accessories » Hardware Connectivity » Connector Cables » HDHD18INPROBLU
Comprehensive Cable HD-HD-18INPROBLU 1.5ft Hdmi Cable W Progrip Bluecabl Pro...
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Comprehensive Pro AV/IT Series HDMI cables are the industries only true professional commercial grade HDMI cables with professional features not found anywhere else.
Comprehensive's exclusive ProGrip connector tightly secures the connection with up to 16lbs of retention force to prevent cables from being unintentionally disconnected. Other exclusive features are Comprehensive SureLength cable length indicators that clearly indicate the length of each cable on the connector mold as well as multiple color availability for easy cable identification. Length markers and an assortment of colors are huge time savers for installers who are constantly sorting out lengths preparing for jobs and rack building.
Comprehensive Pro AV/IT cables are constructed using a true professional grade 99.9% High Purity copper 26 awg center conductor that is significantly more robust and durable than traditional HDMI cables. This along with a premium low capacitance dielectric translates to up to 15Gbps @ 3 Meters which is up to 50% higher and faster than traditional HDMI cables at that length.
Pro AV/IT Series HDMI cables support all the latest in HDMI technology including 3D, Ethernet Capability for networking, Deep Color, Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master audio, audio return channel, and support for beyond 1080p 2K x 4K resolution. Triple professional grade shielding with 2x 100% coverage and an additional premium 85% Tinned Copper braid provide superior rejection of EM and RF interference. Comprehensive's extra flexible jacket with UL/CL3 ratings makes this cable perfect for any commercial or residential installation. Molded strain relief provides unsurpassed durability. Lifetime Warranty.
Environmentally Friendly: Yes
Environmental Certification: RoHS
|General Information
|Comprehensive Cable and Connectivity Company
|Manufacturer Part Number
|Manufacturer Website Address
|Brand Name
|Product Line
|Pro AV/IT
|Product Name
|Pro AV/IT High Speed HDMI Cable with ProGrip, SureLength, CL3- Cool Blue 1.5ft
|Marketing Information
Comprehensive Pro AV/IT Series HDMI cables are the industries only true professional commercial grade HDMI cables with professional features not found anywhere else.
|Product Type
|A/V Cable
|Technical Information
|Cable Type
|Cable Length
|1.50 ft
|Connector on First End
|1 x HDMI Male Digital Audio/Video
|Connector on Second End
|1 x HDMI Male Digital Audio/Video
|Connector Plating
|Jacket Type
|Device Supported
|Network Device
|Physical Characteristics
|Cool Blue
|Tinned Copper
|Weight (Approximate)
|9.60 oz
|Comprehensive Pro AV/IT High Speed HDMI Cable with ProGrip, SureLength, CL3- Cool Blue 1.5ft - HDMI for Network Device - 1.50 ft - 1 x HDMI Male Digital Audio/Video - 1 x HDMI Male Digital Audio/Video - Gold Plated Connector - Shielding
Warranty Information
|Limited Warranty
|Beach Audio Warranty
This product was added to our catalog on Sunday, May 27, 2018.


text:
Like last week's photo, this one was also found among the things of my maternal grandfather, Charles Peter Guokas Jr. (1903-1967) after he passed away. I am guessing that he is probably the baby in this photograph, but it could be any one of his five siblings, who were born between 1901 and 1917. The woman is his mother, Elizabeth Banavich/Bonewitz/Bovits (I've seen it spelled all three ways) Guokas (1875-1929).
Elizabeth came to the United States in 1900 from Russia (Lithuania), according to the 1910 census. She married Charles Peter Guokas Sr. (1863-1939) on January 19, 1900, in Harris County, Texas. In the Texas Marriages Index available on Family Search, her last name is shown as Bovits, and it appears as Bouits in a listing of marriage licenses in the Houston Daily Post on January 21, 1900. Interestingly, Charles' brother Joseph P. Guokas (1869-1933) married Paulina/Pauline/Policina Cuniowskuna (in Texas Marriages Index)/ Cinnowskima (in the newspaper), (1878-1953), the same day. Makes me wonder if Paulina and Elizabeth traveled together, as the 1920 census also indicates that Paulina arrived in 1900 from Lithuania.
I love my great-grandmother's lacy blouse and fancy hat! I definitely see the family resemblance - my grandfather, mother, and I all have the same facial structure.
© Amanda Pape - 2010


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As promised, Valve has released the first test release of SteamOS. From the FAQ:
SteamOS is a fork (derivative) of Debian GNU/Linux. The first version (SteamOS 1.0) is called 'alchemist' and it is based on the Debian 'wheezy' (stable 7.1) distribution.
The major changes made in SteamOS are:
- Backported eglibc 2.17 from Debian testing
- Added various third-party drivers and updated graphics stack (Intel and AMD graphics support still being worked on)
- Updated kernel tracking the 3.10 longterm branch (currently 3.10.11)
- Custom graphics compositor designed to provide a seamless transition between Steam, its games and the SteamOS system overlay
- Configured to auto-update from the Valve SteamOS repositories
You need to have an NVIDIA card for it to work, since Intel and AMD graphics are currently not yet supported (work is underway).
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That seems like a narrow-minded philosophy to me.
Corporations are just groups of people and trusting corporations is approximately the same as trusting people. You may give them the benefit of the doubt or you may be skeptical in the beginning, but over time you begin to learn who is trustworthy and who isn't. If you trust the wrong ones or trust any of them to an unreasonable degree, you get burned and you need to re-evaluate your own judgement. It really isn't complicated.
The problem most people have is they place unrealistic expectations on corporations (and people) to act and behave a certain way and are burned when their expectations aren't met. They feel like their trust has been betrayed when, in reality, their trust was misplaced or unreasonable to begin with.
Edited 2013-12-16 17:07 UTC
Not quite. With most large corporations the stockholders are the people in charge and stockholders generally buy the damn stocks only for one purpose -- to make money. That makes them an untrustworthy bunch from the get-go.
Now, contrast the above with privately-owned companies like e.g. Valve; there's a single person or only a few who are at charge and who can steer the ship any direction they want. They don't need to steer the ship solely with profit-generation in mind if they don't wish to and can instead pursue things based on their own, personal morals, ethics and goals in mind. Gabe Newell is an idealist, he still refuses to list his company, he insists on holding the reins and doing what he deems right, and that's quite a different path for the whole company to operate on.
You say that, but IMHO this only makes them easier to understand. Stockholders are people too. They're only untrustworthy if you're trusting them to do something that is inconsistent with their primary motivation of making money. Someone may have an aversion to profit-centric organizations, but this is different from being untrustworthy. Their expectations just need to be adjusted accordingly.
Edited 2013-12-16 21:13 UTC
Is there a good reason to? I find it difficult to understand why so many companies are listed? Seems to me it is only handy to get a lot of money in a short time so you can expand. But if you already have a billion...


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I've been reading with horror about the millions lost by investors in Ross Asset Management, a seemingly solid and well-established firm.
What's to stop something similar happening to a KiwiSaver scheme?
How can investors be assured they aren't tipping their money into some elaborate Ponzi scheme?
KiwiSaver schemes have significantly more regulatory compliance requirements than the discretionary management service offered by Ross Asset Management.
KiwiSaver schemes are governed by KiwiSaver legislation, are required to have a custodian and trustee along with the investment manager and have to provide an investment statement, prospectus and audited financial accounts. By using independent sources to value and verify the investments held, the funds that are managed are under a wider scrutiny, which prevents false reporting to investors.
So a very simple message for investors is to invest in investment vehicles such as KiwiSaver funds with an independent custodian, independent pricing and with annual accounts and investment statements and prospectuses published and available.
Also check the fund and investment firm are audited by a reputable auditor.
The PIE and KiwiSaver regime provides all these checks and balances, meaning an investor then only has to worry about the underlying investment risk - which of course should be the main issue for any investment.
•Anthony Quirk, Milford Asset Management managing director.
Q: My son has been in KiwiSaver since its inception.
We are looking to cut off a section of our 8ha block for him to purchase a house and land package.
We are not able to subdivide for two years and plan to have this legally drawn up to settle on once title is through.
Our son is obtaining a bank mortgage in his own name, therefore we regard this as his first home, first mortgage.
Although the property won't legally be in his name at this point, do you see any issues in him having his KiwiSaver and first home government assistance paid out?
The purchase of a house or a bare piece of land has to be in the name of the KiwiSaver member.
It may be in joint names or in a trust's name but one of the jointly named persons or trustees would have to be the member withdrawing the funds for a first home.
In terms of bare land there also has to be a clear intention to build within 12 months.
The situation is complicated as while the mortgage is in the son's name, the land title is not and therefore it would be difficult to see how the son had purchased the land until such time as his name appeared on the title.
•Sean Butler, Fidelity Life Assurance investment specialist.
Emma Harding, Chapman Tripp senior solicitor adds: The KiwiSaver Scheme Rules allow the manager of a KiwiSaver scheme to require from the member's solicitor (before the payment of a first home withdrawal) certain undertakings and a copy of the sale and purchase agreement showing the member as purchaser.
It has become standard practice for the manager to require such undertakings and a copy of the sale and purchase agreement.
One of the undertakings is that the agreement is unconditional at the time the manager requests the undertaking.
Given the situation, it would appear that the member (at the time of application) would not be able to provide a copy of a sale and purchase agreement showing him as a purchaser and that even if he could do that, the agreement would not be able to be conditional on the subdivision being legally drawn up once title is through.
I too find it difficult to see how the son has purchased the land without his name appearing on the title.
Q: I turn 65 in March 2013 and as I will no longer be able to claim the tax credit after that I will withdraw my funds although I intend to keep working, possibly only part-time, for a while.
Will I receive the full tax credit for the financial year or will I need to continue contributing until June 30, 2013 to get my full tax credit for that final year?
When you turn 65 in March 2013, if you have been in the scheme for five years you will be able to withdraw your funds.
Your member tax credits are calculated pro rata according to your own contributions and eligibility during the member tax credit period July 1 to June 30 each year.
As long as you are eligible for a KiwiSaver retirement withdrawal in March 2013, you will not be eligible for further member tax credits after that date.
You will receive a prorated amount of member tax credits for the period July 1, 2012 to your KiwiSaver retirement withdrawal eligibility date in March 2013.
This works out at $10 a week until the March date, provided you make contributions averaging out at $20 a week over that same period.
•David Boyle, ANZ Wealth general manager of funds management.
Disclaimer: Information provided is stated accurately to the best of the respondent's knowledge at the time of publication. It is general in nature and should not be construed, or relied on, as a recommendation to invest in a particular financial product or class of financial product. Readers should seek independent financial advice specific to their situation before making an investment decision.
To have your KiwiSaver questions answered by the Herald's panel of industry players email Helen Twose, firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The reason to drink those 8 glasses a day
And if you missed it, check out this SNL clip about the situation...
7 comments:
- Out of Conference said...
Great photoshop skils Benny!
Vick in tribal relics shop: You, is this an Aquafina water bottle?
Rob Schneider as Hippie Shopkeeper: Oh, that's a symbol of neo-Americana consumerism and imperialism. Only the fortunate priveledged use this, and it's usually a symbol of conspicuous consumption.
Vick: What's it for?
Shopkeeper: Oh, you put your weed in it!
- January 22, 2007 10:20 AM
- Tim said...
I was actually impressed with how amusing Seth & Amy actually were. SNL hasn't been too funny in awhile so I had stopped watching it completely, but that was pretty damn funny.
- January 22, 2007 1:29 PM
- TitleIX said...
SNL has gotten much better
(witness--Justin's "Dick in a Box" skit)
And now for something COMPLETELY different...
anyone else see the irony in MARLON JACKSON for crissakes intercepting TOM BRADY on NE's last drive yesterday??
Be true to your school, man---drop the freakin' ball!
oh wait...
loyalty vs. trip to the SuperBowl?
SuperBowl vs. Michigan Thing????
I dunno....that's a toss in my book!
- January 22, 2007 8:37 PM
- Out of Conference said...
Dick in a box - I still crack up at that video.
To keep with T9's off topic Super Bowl info - here's something to piss you off (thank goodness Gator1377 or LSUloserUSC aren't here anymore), Rex vs. Manning is an SEC matchup of QBs instead of what could have been a Big Ten QB matchup Brady-Brees. File that in the who-gives-a-shit circular file.
- January 22, 2007 9:10 PM
- 2 TE's and a balanced line said...
It felt really weird to see Brady on the losing end, I was hoping he would lead another last second drive as a UM fan living in Colts territory. Colts fan are extremely arrogant about Manning, even though he's accomplished little.
- January 22, 2007 9:20 PM
- Andy said...
I have not watched SNL in a long time...
But Amy just may bring me back. mmmmmmm
and... oh yeah... Brady to Marlin Jackson was pretty ironic. The Colts do have 2 Michigan players (Jackson & Cato June) that contribute a lot on defense.
- January 22, 2007 9:57 PM
- Go Blue Gabe said...
I heard that Michael Vick was acquitted yesterday.........REALLY?
- January 24, 2007 11:34 AM


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I have just aquired a Wista SP. I have an Epson 4990 scanner but feel the 700/750 is quite a bit better. I'm not fanatical about quality but I will want to enlarge pictures to a maximum of 100cm x 70cm. Are either of these scanners able to scan 5x4 to achieve
that size (with acceptable quality) ??
thanks. Neil


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Ready for Cookies?
GO DATE is Saturday, February 8
Here's One Thing To Do Right Now:
CoCo is an online 'business center' just for Girl Scouts. It's where girls set goals, track progress and (starting February 8) send ecards to tell family and friends about her cookie sale.
IMPORTANT Activate the CoCo account now and be eligible to win prizes in daily drawings Monday-Friday starting February 3. See the prize list here including Build-a-Bear's all new Caramel deLite Girl Scout!
Who's Eligible? All Badgerland Girl Scouts with an active CoCo account.
When are the Drawings? We'll do two random drawings Monday-Friday for a total of ten fun prizes!
What if she doesn't activate her account until later? No worries. We're pulling fresh CoCo activation lists for each drawing. So, for instance, if your Girl Scout activates her account at 1pm Thursday she'll be entered to win the Thursday afternoon drawing and both drawings on Friday!
How will I know if she wins? Winners will be instantly announced on Badgerland's Facebook page by first name and troop number. Like us now! We'll also call each winner and make arrangements to get your prize to you.


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text: Over the next little while I am going to let you know where you will see Te Papa's collection items on display at other places. Today I am going to let you know where to see some of the items in our history collection in the South Island. If you visit the Maritime Gallery at… Read more »


text:
1976: Ada gets Gil to admit that Mac walked out on Rachel.
1976: Ada visits a depressed Rachel.
1979: Ada lectures Rachel about motherhood.
1980: Rachel tells Ada that Mitch is the father of her baby.
1981: Ada and Rachel argue about how to deal with Jamie.
1984: Ada is nervous at the Mac/Rachel and Sandy/Blaine double wedding.
1986: Ada has a heart attack while arguing with Nancy.
1986: Ada celebrates Christmas with her family.
1989: Ada helps Rachel deal with the death of Mac.
1993: Family and friends gather to celebrate the life of Ada.
- Here's a clip (around 19:00) of ALL IN THE FAMILY star Jean Stapleton talking about working with Constance Ford on WOMAN WITH A PAST (she played Ford's secretary).


text:
To the Editor:
The tagline for the cover story of today's Wheaton Leader, "Wheaton Brew Fest Returns" is slightly inaccurate.
Last year was the first year there was a beer festival in downtown Wheaton. It was called "Wheaton Ale Fest" and was organized and run by Brewfest Partners. My understanding is that the Wheaton Park District watched closely, took the idea, kicked out Brewfest Partners and changed the name slightly. Looks like it worked. I doubt that very many people noticed.
As far as the names of the festivals, it's a beer festival, not a brew festival (there's no brewing going on, not even coffee), though the beverages being sold are considered "brews". "Ale fest" isn't much better. That name suggests the exclusion of lagers and ciders (among other types of beverage), which were present at both festivals.
Regardless, both events were fun, and I hope they continue. Beer brewing at the event next year would be a great idea.
Thanks for reading,
Evan Barker


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And so, once again, the fillies shall lead them.
It was only a week ago that we posited here how this might be the fourth consecutive year in which the Horse of the Year title when to a horse of the distaff persuasion.
Perhaps racing events this past week might not have furthered the cause of fillies or mares that would be recognized as best in show, but the ladies sure dominated events on the racetrack, the only place it matters.
On Thursday, the remarkable undefeated 2-year-old filly champion of 2010, Awesome Feather, made her first start since winning Florida's Sunshine Millions Distaff in January.
Not only did she not disappoint but once again she dominated her rivals in fast time. Indeed, Big Sandy was on the quick side, but 1:33.47 is really rolling at any track not named Turf Paradise.
Besides, hard-hitting older allowance/optional claiming males raced the same distance in 1:34.10.
Dealing with tendon issues is extremely tricky, of course, requiring considerable patience and expert care. Credit principal owner Frank Stronach and trainer Chad Brown here.
The day after, when it was known that she came out of the race well, the owner told Brown to continue taking care of the filly, and if that means skipping the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic, so be it.
And you know that as the master of Santa Anita Park, Stronach would love nothing better than to show his filly off to the world. Because of his responsible attitude, Stronach is an upperdog whose horses are easy to root for.
As if dealing with extensive tendon issues weren't enough, Brown has had to manage the expectations that come with training an undefeated race horse, a streak that now has reached 10.
Subsequent to the result, Brown said his wish is to get to the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic for a showdown that many people would like to see.
Saturday at Philadelphia Park, er, Parx, that showdown became at least a three-filly affair—and not to forget this excludes the older defending distaff champion, Royal Delta, and her very unlucky rival, It's Tricky.
Showdown might not be a big enough word.
Much was made of the fact that Pennsylvania's only Grade 1 stakes, the $1 million Cotillion for 3-year-olds, only drew four competitors.
For those critics, this question: What if you were the owner of any 3-year-old filly in the land not named Questing or My Miss Aurelia, would you be knocking down the racing office door to get into the fray?
And, remember, please, there is more pressure than ever to "do the right thing by the horse."
The obvious overmatching of race horses for the purpose of earning minute shares of a big purse does not serve the best interests of the Thoroughbred.
And these were female giants that were on display in the Cotillion, make no mistake. Steve Asmussen has won well over 6,000 races; he knows how to do this.
The face that he ran an undefeated champion off a single sprint win against the most celebrated horse of either sex at Saratoga was no accident. Clearly, only the barn knew how good this filly, even as an undefeated champion, truly is.
Indeed, My Miss Aurelia's horizons might still be limitless. Yes, the rail and the surface at Parx was dead on Saturday--an inept, unmitigated disgrace—and she raced outside Questing, who was setting the pace at least 3 paths out from the rail.
And you cannot make an excuse for a horse of Questing's obvious quality that gets to set early split of :25 and :50. Further, she benefitted from old-pro handling by young Irad Ortiz Jr., who herding My Miss Aurelia and Corey Nakatani for all they were worth, perhaps taking advantage of Questing's propensity to drift in the stretch.
(The dry surface and dead inside did Pennsylvania Derby favorite Alpha no favors, and neither did the recurrence of his obstreperous gate antics. Ortiz later returned to win the Pa. Derby with a clever rating performance aboard 20-1 Handsome Mike, a race that was inscrutable to comprehend from flag-fall to finish).
So, in the tradition of Meadow Star and Lite Light, with a lot more physicality, these two fillies put on a million-dollar exhibition down the stretch and, while the final margin was wider on the line, the issue was in doubt until the final strides.
So, hopefully, these fillies, Awesome Feather, and next week's Personal Ensign fillies, Royal Delta and It's Tricky all make it into the Santa Anita starting gate on the first weekend in November.
Whether or not a Horse of the Year title is in question remains a backstory for now. At this point in time, the Ladies Classic is the marquee event of Breeders' Cup XXVIII.


text:
Maybe a 3% chance of happening and I'm being generous. The Texans stink, they proved that tonight
Texans D will show up. ... JJ Watt all over Brady. ...
I can't wait.
Texans 28
Pats 17
Maybe a 3% chance of happening and I'm being generous. The Texans stink, they proved that tonight
This took longer than I expected.
New England by 14-17.
Houston is the 2nd weakest team in the Afc playoffs behind the bengals
Schaub is terrible, but it should be a good game.
I could see Schaub choke in this one.
Kubiak is just way too conservative. Graham with 4 fgs today and the huge Foster numbers every game are evidence of this. He's just scared to death to take a chance and put his foot on the neck of the opponent. New England big. (Unfortunately.)
2012 Bengals = 2010 Jets ... play-off team but ultimately undone by a lack of offense (limitations at QB especially).
Reliving that heady wonderful glorious day of beating a team in the playoffs that you have not beaten since? Hoping that some other team can do what your team could not.
Take a minute and think about what that sounds like. What you should do it bet on the Texans. If they win, a double win for you - money and those dastardly people 100 miles north get what is coming to them for being a good team.
The Texans the worst AFC playoff team other than the Bengals? What season have you guys been watching?
They've been struggling recently, nut this is a 12-4 team that mopped the floor with the Broncos (in Denver) and Ravens.
IMO in the AFC it's the Pats and Broncos and then everyone else (Brady/Manning AFCCG is inevitable) but the Texans are easily the third best team.
I think this is one of those rare occasions where you can look at the AFC playoff seedings and pretty much agree it's a perfect ordering of team strength. If the Texans win this game then the Pats have some serious clutch problems. The Pats have every reason to expect a victory, apart from the usual "any given Sunday, playoffs are different, etc." cliches.
the pig is ripe
(Tell me what JJ Watt did the last time these two teams played)
That said, New England absolutely torches Houston and sends them back where they belong, home for the rest of the playoffs. Brady goes off and the Pats win 35-10.
Arian will get yards against Pats. Brady will get TD's against Houston.
Pats by 10-17 points.