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Look, if some of us want to take the time to develop an expertise on the Duke rape case, we'll post about it. And occasionally some of us may post non-expert comments based on some outside coverage that we found interesting; you'll generally notice that the posts are non-expert posts, and should be taken either as potentially useful pointers to others' work or as light entertainment, as the case may be. But why not appreciate the fact that we tend to post about subjects we know well? Why try to goad us into commenting about subjects that we don't know well?Hardcore goaders can come back with outrage at the failure to be sufficiently interested in the subject to post in the nonexpert style.
Since a blog looks like a series of updates -- one on top of the previous one -- readers develop the illusion that if news happens, it should register on the blog. On a blog that allows comments, I think readers come over because they want to talk, and then they're disappointed that the blogger hasn't opened up a place to talk. You've come to think of the blog as your little coffeehouse, and you look in and see that there is no table.
Sometimes, I'll post just to set up that table. But I'd still want to have a line or two to say that is distinctive and not just a statement that I saw the news today. (Oh, boy.) But then if you do add that distinctive line or two and you're a prominent lawprof blogger, there's a decent chance it will show up quoted in MSM somewhere (with the name of your school). In that new context, people won't be able to tell that it was just an offhand remark in bloggerly style, as opposed to sober expert reflection.
Oh, the travails of a lawprof blogger!


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I think Hoke has clearly established himself (and of course, the program) into the upper ranks of the Big 10. He seems on his way to being a reliable 8 or 9 game minimum winner each year.
The next level up is to be the kind of program that can win the big games on a semi-consistent basis. I'm not sure Hoke and Michigan has quite got to that level yet. Yet. But I suspect that time is coming, and coming relatively soon.
The intangible about Hoke's teams is they seem never to fold. As you point out, there are few blow-out losses.
All the signs are pointing up for the Maize and Blue.

subset: commoncrawl


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PRINCETON — Bureau County residents wanting to help in recovery efforts for the victims of tropical storm Sandy are encouraged to make sure they are going about that assistance in the best way.
On Monday, Bureau County Red Cross Director Lori Compton said financial assistance is what will be needed from this area for this week's expected hit of tropical storm Sandy along the East Coast. The stockpiling and transporting of supplies from the Bureau County area is more difficult and it's much more efficient to collect monetary donations and have the Red Cross handle the purchase of needed supplies through the local neighborhoods where they are needed, Compton said.
In writing checks to the Red Cross, Compton said it's important to write "Disaster Relief" on the memo line of the check, but not to designate the money to any specific relief effort, like the Sandy storm victims, Compton said. All money collected locally will be sent through the proper Red Cross channels and distributed to meet the on-site needs, she said.
The American Red has already opened some emergency shelters along the East Coast and expects to open more shelters as the needs increase, according to Dave Pattengale, regional emergency services director for the Red Cross Midwest River Region. Hundreds of disaster workers are ready with relief supplies and emergency vehicles in place to help, he said.
On Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a warning for East Coast residents that tropical storm Sandy, called a superstorm by meteorologists, is expected to bring high winds, power outages, widespread flooding, torrential rains, and even some snow for the mid-Atlantic and Northeast states.
In his statement, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration environmental-prediction chief Louis Uccellini said the impact of Sandy is expected to be far-reaching.
"We're looking at an impact of greater than 50 to 60 million people," Uccellini said. "As much as one-third of the country could be affected."
Tropical storm Sandy, then designated as Hurricane Sandy, hit the Caribbean area last week, causing extensive damage and injuries, including at least 60 deaths. As Sandy moved north from the Caribbean, it joined with two other winter storms to form a rare hybrid storm, according to meteorologists. The magnitude of the hybrid storm is expected to cause problems for more than 800 miles from the East Coast to the Great Lakes, hitting the United States on Monday.
Rick Knabb, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, said the storm is so big, and the joining of three storms so rare, that "we just can't pinpoint who is going to get the worst of it."
However, according to WQAD meteorologist James Zahara, the superstorm won't be felt too strongly in the Quad Cities and Bureau County areas.
"As expected, Sandy's approach to the New England coast has stopped the progression of weather systems to its west," Zahara said Monday morning. "Fortunately, that has and will put us in this tranquil stage for at least the next several days. What's even better is a surface ridge of high pressure has squeezed its way right across our area providing an ample amount of sunshine in our forecast in the days to follow as well."
Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.


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The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing recently celebrated the graduation of its first class from the Transitioning Military and Veteran Training Program. This initiative provides advanced manufacturing and precision machining training for active duty and veteran soldiers preparing to enter the civilian workforce.
The program was developed through a collaboration among CCAM, the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, Southside Virginia Community College, the Crater Regional Workforce Investment Board, the Virginia Employment Commission, 180 Skills and the Fort Lee Soldier for Life – Transition Assistance Program.
Fort Lee's Soldier for Life program identified a group of transitioning soldiers to participate in the inaugural class. This gave the soldiers the opportunity to receive training, free-of-charge, during the last few months of their enlistment to prepare them to quickly begin a civilian career.
Training took place at SVCC's Emporia Center and included 162 modules of interactive, online learning and 300+ hours of hands-on training. Instructors were provided by SVCC and SVHEC.
The eight graduates received a Machining Skills Certificate from SVCC and five industry credentials, including OSHA 10 and 4 NIMS (National Institute of Metalworking Skills) certifications.
Employers in the region, including Enclos Inc., Jewett Machine Inc., Richmond Tooling Inc., Rolls-Royce, Coesia North America and Kosmo Machine Inc. actively supported the program by participating in the curriculum design and visiting and mentoring students along the way.
All eight graduates have received job offers.
"The motivation of the students and employers made this first class a success," said CCAM Director of Workforce Development Bruce Sobczak. "Driven by feedback from local employers, we're currently looking at expanding the curriculum to include industrial maintenance technician and industrial CAD drafter certifications, as well as adding a location to serve the military workforce in the Hampton Roads region."
To learn more about the Transitioning Military and Veteran Training Program, contact Bruce Sobczak at firstname.lastname@example.com.
More than 18,000 people exit Virginia military bases each year and enter the civilian workplace. This initiative is another shining example of the public-private partnerships that keep Virginia's workforce at the top of their game. To learn more, click here.
The Transitioning Military and Veteran Training Program students celebrate their graduation with CCAM's Bruce Sobczak (center) and their Fort Lee program managers (in uniform). Photo courtesy of CCAM.
McKee Foods recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Stuarts Draft manufacturing facility in Augusta County, Va.
McKee Foods is known for its Little Debbie® line of snack cakes. The family business has grown from a five-person bakery in the 1930's to America's No. 1 brand of snack cakes.
The Stuarts Draft plant is one of the most advanced facilities in the baking industry. The company established the bakery in 1990 to produce oatmeal crème pies, honey buns and other bakery products.
The company's most recent announcement in October 2014 included a $34 million investment and 54 new jobs to expand the facility.
McKee Foods employs more than 1,000 people and is the largest manufacturing employer in Augusta County. The company frequently credits the high productivity of its Virginia workforce as paramount to its success.
"We have found our Virginia workforce to be some of the most loyal and highly-skilled employees in the industry — and about 85 members of our Virginia workforce have been at the plant since it opened," said McKee Foods President and CEO Mike McKee.
In addition to a strong manufacturing workforce, Virginia provides McKee Foods with a strategic location, offering easy access to the company's Northeastern and Canadian customers. Located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the Stuarts Draft location offers McKee employees a high quality of life with close proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachian Trail and numerous national parks.
To learn why more than 580 leading food and beverage companies, like McKee Foods, have chosen to locate in Virginia, click here.
Representatives from McKee Foods, Augusta County and VEDP celebrate the company's 25th anniversary in Stuarts Draft, Va. Photo courtesy of McKee Foods Corp.
The Danville region has added to its precision machining expertise with the recently announced Capstone Integrated Machining Technology program at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.
The program provides a third year of training for students that have completed Danville Community College's popular two-year Precision Machining Technology program.
IALR has announced two grants in February to jumpstart the program — a $1.9 million grant from the Danville Regional Foundation and a $1 million endowment from the Gene Haas Foundation.
The funding will be used to upfit portions of the Hawkins Building at IALR and construct a workflow cell training lab, allowing students to replicate real world manufacturing conditions.
This additional training will enable students to earn nationally-recognized industry credentials, such as Level II and III certifications from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills.
The Capstone program will be ready for students by the fall semester. IALR and DCC estimate 15-20 students will participate in the first class, with the program expanding to 40 students at full capacity.
With the reshoring of manufacturing jobs to America and an aging baby boomer population, Southern Virginia is quickly becoming a go-to location to meet industry needs for a skilled workforce in this sector of advanced manufacturing.
According to DCC President Bruce Scism, "DCC 's Precision Machining Technology program is now the largest in the mid-Atlantic region, and it's the only one that provides as wide a range of certification options."
The Capstone program and partnership between IALR and DCC is another example of the teamwork among Virginia's higher education system and public and private entities to develop the most advanced workforce training solutions. To learn more, click here.
Students in DCC's Precision Machining Technology program receive training on Haas Mini Mill 5 axis machines.
Earlier this month, schools and companies partnered to host 17 events across Virginia as part of the second annual national Manufacturing Day campaign.
One such event included students from Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools for the second year. Students, teachers and guidance counselors were given tours of the manufacturing plants at six local companies, including Anheuser-Busch, Ball Corp., Coresix Precision Glass, Owens-Illinois, Printpack Inc. and Walmart Distribution Center.
Students learned about the diversity of careers in manufacturing, as well the high-tech skills needed to pursue a career in advanced manufacturing.
The students also learned about the various paths available to prepare for this type of career. Representatives from Thomas Nelson Community College were on hand to discuss coursework they offer to prepare students to directly enter the manufacturing workforce or continue on to a four-year degree.
The event was sponsored by WJCC Public Schools, the Association for Manufacturing Excellence and James City County.
A WJCC guidance counselor also attended another Manufacturing Day event nearby at Newport News Shipbuilding. The program allowed 13 area high school guidance counselors to tour the Welding School and The Apprentice School to view hands-on demonstrations of trades training.
Manufacturing Day is a national program that encourages manufacturing companies across the U.S. to open their doors and provide tours for high school students in their communities. The purpose is to dispel misperceptions about the industry and inspire students to pursue careers in manufacturing after seeing the high-tech, rewarding career paths available to them.
The Manufacturing Day events in Virginia illustrate the Commonwealth's leadership in preparing students for advanced manufacturing careers and developing a workforce with the skills to meet industry needs. To learn more, click here.
Virginia students tour the Anheuser-Busch control room and learn about the high-tech nature of today's advanced manufacturing careers. Photo courtesy of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence.
Dream It, Do It – Virginia hosted seven Manufacturing Technology Camps across the Commonwealth this summer. The camps are designed to reach out to high school students who are considering a career in manufacturing.
The three-and-a-half-day camps allow students to experience all levels of production, from raw materials to finished goods. Students also participate in tours, lectures and manufacturing demonstrations where they get to see the latest in automation and robotics from Virginia's leading manufacturers.
Students in the Manufacturing Technology Camps also participate in a competition where they work with a team to complete an assignment that involves designing, building and running a manufacturing system. During the competition, students receive training and mentoring from industry experts. Students on the winning team receive scholarships to pursue STEM education tracks.
This summer, two camps were offered at Southside Virginia Community College in Keysville, two at Lake Country Advanced Knowledge Center in South Hill, and one each at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center in South Boston, at STIHL Inc. in Virginia Beach, and at ITAC in Chester. Halifax County posted a video from their Manufacturing Technology Camp here.
Dream It, Do It – Virginia is part of a national organization that provides access to on-the-job training and certifications to keep the existing manufacturing workforce up-to-date on the latest technology, as well as build awareness among youth about the many options and rewards a manufacturing career can offer.
The manufacturing jobs of today are very different from what manufacturing jobs in the past may have entailed. Virginia's advanced manufacturing takes place in a clean, safe environment and requires high skill and high levels of education. Manual labor has largely been replaced with automation. An advanced manufacturing career today often involves managing the technical process to improve efficiencies and product throughput. The work is interesting and employees are rewarded with a competitive salary.
The Dream It, Do It – Virginia website provides a number of valuable tools for investigating a career in the Commonwealth's advanced manufacturing industry. It allows students to assess their interests and skills to determine an area of focus, as well as view the educational requirements and career track for that specialty. You can also watch the recent Dream It, Do It – Virginia Third Wednesday Webinar by clicking here.
Businesses in the Commonwealth praise the experience and dedication of their Virginia workforce as one of their prime factors for success. Dream It, Do It – Virginia is one example of the many educational groups across the Commonwealth ensuring that Virginia's workforce has the skills and training to match industry demand. To learn more, click here.
Students get hands on experience at one of the Manufacturing Technology Camps at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center in Halifax County, Va. Photo courtesy of Halifax County Industrial Development Authority.
Prince George County, Va., gained recognition as one of eight innovative counties highlighted in the recently-released report Strategies to Bolster Economic Resilience — County Leadership in Action by the National Association of Counties.
In the report, NACo highlighted the strategies, partnerships and initiatives these eight counties pursued in their unique approach towards economic development. Founded in 1935, NACo is the only national organization that represents county governments in the U.S.
Prince George County received recognition for its focus on targeted industries, particularly advanced manufacturing, as the county's partnership with Rolls-Royce was noted. Rolls-Royce's 1,000-acre Crosspointe Campus in Prince George County is the company's largest and most advanced campus in North America. It includes a Rotatives operation and Advanced Airfoil Machining Facility, with room for expansion.
Prince George County and Rolls-Royce were also instrumental in establishing the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing adjacent to the Crosspointe Campus. CCAM celebrated its grand opening in March 2013 and functions as an applied research center, bringing together leading manufacturers and Virginia's top educational institutions to collaborate and quickly turn ideas into real-world technologies.
Homegrown company Service Center Metals was also mentioned in the study. The company recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary in Prince George County and announced plans to add a compact remelt plant. The company expects to add a total of 35 new jobs and invest $35 million through a two-phase expansion.
Through partnerships in the public, private and educational sectors, Prince George County has become a hub of advanced manufacturing innovation, drawing additional corporate partners and investment to the area.
To learn why Virginia has provided an innovative environment, allowing businesses to prosper here for more than 400 years, click here.
A view of CCAM, adjacent to Rolls-Royce's Crosspointe Campus in Prince George County, Va.
The Williamsburg-James City County School system recently celebrated Manufacturing Day with tours of three local manufacturing operations.
Manufacturing Day is a national program that encourages companies across the U.S. to provide tours to local high school students and teachers. The goals are to illustrate the high-tech nature of the industry, encourage students to explore careers in manufacturing and STEM subjects, and build relationships between school systems and the manufacturing community.
A group of students, teachers, guidance counselors and school board members from WJCC were able to witness firsthand the advanced logistical operations of Wal-Mart Import Distribution Center and the high-tech food packaging operations of Ball Corp. and Printpack Inc.
"Our region is known for its strength in the hospitality industry. We wanted to let students know there are opportunities in other fields right here in their own community," said Kate Sipes, one of the event organizers and business development and retention coordinator at James City County Office of Economic Development.
WJCC is also the first public school system in North America to sign up for the Association of Manufacturing Excellence "Adopt a School" initiative. This allows AME to partner with schools and local businesses to share best practices and help design curricula to improve career readiness.
"Manufacturing Day allowed students to see what modern manufacturing is — a sleek, technology-driven industry full of high-paid, fulfilling careers," said Glenn Marshall, chair of AME's Manufacturing as a Desirable Career Path program.
Just down the road, Newport News Shipbuilding also hosted a similar event to educate guidance counselors from the region on the advanced operations and rewarding careers available at the shipyard.
Virginia continues to be a leader in preparing students for advanced manufacturing careers with strong STEM education programs. To learn more, click here.
WJCC students, teachers and school administrators gather for a tour of Printpack Inc. as part of national Manufacturing Day.
On Monday, the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) celebrated the grand opening of its 62,000-square-foot facility during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Governor McDonnell. The facility is located adjacent to the 1,000-acre Rolls-Royce Crosspointe Campus in Prince George County, Va.
CCAM brings together Virginia's leading manufacturing companies and top educational institutions in order to expedite research and turn ideas into real-world technologies and solutions. The research center focuses on two areas—surface engineering and manufacturing systems.
The facility received its full certificate of occupancy in September 2012 and has grown to include 15 manufacturing companies—Canon Virginia Inc., Chromalloy, Newport News Shipbuilding, Rolls-Royce, Sandvik Coromant, Siemens, Sulzer Metco, Aerojet, Hermle Machine Company, Mitutoyo, TurboCombustor Technology Inc., Buehler, Cool Clean Technologies, GF AgieCharmilles, and Blaser Swisslube.
In addition, the three founding universities are Virginia State University, Virginia Tech, and University of Virginia, which collectively have 50 students completing internships at CCAM.
The applied research center includes a 16,000-square-foot high bay area, five machining labs, five computational labs, a 3-D visualization lab, conference rooms, and open and modular workstations. CCAM is currently hiring and expects to have more than 100 employees made up of engineers, scientists and analysts.
According to Governor McDonnell, CCAM is a "one-of-a-kind asset." The collaborative nature of the facility and its ability to bridge the gap between research and commercialization is expected to advance Virginia as a hub of advanced manufacturing.
To learn more about CCAM, visit www.ccam-va.com, and to find out more about Virginia's advanced manufacturing capabilities across the Commonwealth, click here.
Governor McDonnell is joined (left to right) by Dr. Mike Beffel, CCAM Interim President & Executive Director, and Armand Lauzon, CCAM Board Chair, at the CCAM Grand Opening event in Prince George County, Va.
The Center for Coatings Application, Research, and Education (C-CARE) was unveiled this Monday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in South Boston, Va.
C-CARE's mission is to help commercialize solutions in the field of surface engineering and attract advanced manufacturing companies to the region by providing workforce training, R&D, and improved links between educational institutions and industry partners.
The 12,000-square-foot, climate-controlled facility includes a lab equipped with advanced robotics, reciprocating spray equipment, and virtual reality training systems. C-CARE's lab will be used to test new coatings technologies and design solutions that increase product quality and efficiency for applications in the aerospace, automotive, construction, food, manufacturing and wood industries.
This two-year project is the result of collaboration between Halifax Industrial Development Authority, the Riverstone Energy Center, and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center.
The American Wood Finishing Institute (AWFI) will operate and staff the facility. As a leading provider of coatings technology training and consulting, AWFI will offer C-CARE access to subject matter experts with real-world experience applying coatings to metal, wood, plastics and other composite materials.
C-Care augments Virginia's existing strength in the advanced manufacturing sector, as leaders such as the Altria Group, DuPont, Honeywell, MeadWestvaco and Rubbermaid have all established operations in the Commonwealth.
To learn why Virginia is home to more than 6,000 manufacturing establishments, click here.
Virginia Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade for Rural Development Mary Rae Carter (center) joins members of C-CARE, industry partners, and state and local officials at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in South Boston, Va.
Region 2000, representing the 2,000 square miles surrounding Lynchburg, Va., received the Public-Private Partnership award for its work in establishing a collaborative environment between leading businesses and educational institutions to foster regional economic development. The award is part of the Excellence in Virginia Government Awards given by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Region 2000 partners with six organizations to provide economic development, regional planning, workforce training and networking opportunities for the Lynchburg area. One of its newest organizations is the Center for Advanced Engineering and Research (CAER), a R&D center established to provide local companies with access to university research to speed the development of innovative products and technologies.
The Center for Advanced Engineering and Research opened in August 2011 and currently comprises three facilities. First, the CAER Research and Education Facility, located at New London Business and Technology Park in Bedford County, includes a nuclear power plant room simulator, three-dimensional simulation computing capability, research labs and a cognitive radio test room. Second, CAER operates a Wireless Test Facility in conjunction with Liberty University. This Open Area Test Site, originally developed by Ericsson, is designed to conduct Electro Magnetic compatibility testing. Third, the Wireless Sensor Lab operates as a partnership between CAER, the University of Virginia and Central Virginia Community College. This Multiscale Agile Systems Technology Lab supports the research of motes and other miniature electronic devices.
The CAER is a prime example of the many public-private partnerships established across Virginia to expedite innovation in the technology, advanced manufacturing and energy sectors. To learn more about Virginia's key business sectors click here.
Below - Governor L. Douglas Wilder congratulates Region 2000 Economic Development Council Director Bryan David.
The Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program is a long-standing program that has demonstrated Virginia's higher education partnerships for many years. It continues to support the workforce needs of significant advanced manufacturing employers in the Commonwealth. This article is worth the short read.
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The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), a state authority created by the Virginia General Assembly to better serve those seeking a prime business location and increased trade opportunities, provides confidential site selection and international trade services. VEDP's mission: To enhance the quality of life and raise the standard of living for all Virginians, in collaboration with Virginia communities, through aggressive business recruitment, expansion assistance, and trade development, thereby expanding the tax base and creating higher-income employment opportunities.
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The analysis showed a 31 percent increase in the number of cars moved between incidents (leading to higher productivity) since designated corrective actions were implemented. A survey taken by employees suggested that safety culture had improved since C3RS was introduced at the site. Interviews indicated that disciplinary cases decreased by more than 90 percent, thus reducing large amounts of time and paperwork that labor and management needed in order to resolve each case. The report can be viewed here: http://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/downloads/RR_Derailments_Decrease_C3RS_Site_at_Midterm_final.pdf .
In other news, the FRA presented its strategic research agenda during its annual Research and Development Research Review held at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., May 22 -23. The gathering was an opportunity for the FRA's Office of Research and Development to share its priorities and significant recent findings.
Recent R&D project successes include research into crashworthiness that has improved the safety of next-generation passenger rail cars; analysis of vehicle-track interaction that has led to revised rules for track safety standards and vehicle qualification; development of a freight train braking algorithm that allows the safety benefits of positive train control to be achieved without adversely affecting operations and the success of several safety culture improvement pilot programs that have reduced the number of accidents and incidents caused by human error.


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GimmeSound- Free Legal Music Downloads Video
Fellow Block Party organizer and super duper good egg Vickie Van Ness explains the way Gimme Sound works. This is pretty freaking bad ass. It's this simple- you go to the site- http://www.gimmesound.com/ and you download music for free. No gimmicks – no special software to download that's gonna mess up your computer, just great free music. The bands that have their music listed on the site get paid by Gimme Sound through ad revenue.
It's totally legal, totally free and there are great local musicians listed on there such as Dan King, Allen Estes, Henri Smith, Karen Ristuben and Will Hunt. There are many other nationally recognized musicians too. What are you waiting for get some free music!!!!!!!
[blip.tv ?posts_id=2146978&dest=-1]


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock-index futures advanced further Thursday after two economic reports cast an optimistic light on the housing and jobs markets. Government data had weekly jobless claims falling by 37,000 to 335,000 and U.S. construction of new homes jumping just over 12% in December. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average djh3 were up 38 points to 13,475. Futures for the S&P 500 sph3 added 6.4 points to 1,472. Those for the Nasdaq 100 ndh3 climbed 13.25 points to 2,739.25.
Read the full story: Stock futures add to gains on upbeat data


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General Human Development Report Lao PDR 1998
The biggest strength of this report is that it clearly provides a comprehensive profile of the state of human development in the country. Such a profile simply must be of great use for the Lao government and its development partners as a source of information and inspiration for policy dialogue and planning. The report also focuses on the importance of translating economic growth into human development, a vital challenge for Lao PDR. Moreover, it provides a very interesting disaggregated Human Development Index by region, showing a significant difference in the level of human development in the north, south and centre of the country. Finally, the presentation of the social development indicators is very interesting; it was the result of an important collaborative effort with various line ministries.


text: Also need to get rid of Sparano. Bring in Norv. I think the OP is too kind to Sparano, though Sanchez was ****ty as well. The 2 qb system was a failure from the start, yet there were no adjustments - same old same old. Sanchez is best throwing on the run, play action, screens etc but the playcalling was atrocious and predictable. Never want to see that again. Sparano was almost as bad as Shoddy, he can take his fist pump for field goals elsewhere


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Life is full of twists and turns.
Some create opportunity, some create torn ACLs.
South Elgin senior Kara Rodriguez can tell you all about both.
A multitalented and multisport athlete, Rodriguez spent the better part of her teen years to this point dreaming of playing softball in college on scholarship. No one questioned Rodriguez's ability to make that happen. In fact, before I knew her or had ever seen her play, when she played for the Fox Valley Renegades 14U travel team, I remember an umpire friend telling me Rodriguez was one of those "can't miss" prospects to play Division I softball. And that's when she was a catcher. She made the varsity as a freshman at South Elgin and hit .436. Another productive sophomore season had her on the fast track to become a highly recruited player.
But life takes the aforementioned twists and turns sometimes without asking us if we're ready for them, and that's what happened to Rodriguez on Sept. 28, 2011 in the South Elgin gym. A longtime high school and club cheerleader, Rodriguez came down from a routine and slipped on something that shouldn't have been on the mat.
And just like that a torn ACL changed her future.
She not only had to miss the 2011-12 basketball season, where she would have been a starter for the Storm, but she also missed the prime softball recruiting period for high school juniors.
She came back strong, playing for coach Jason Schaal's softball team last spring, Tim Prendergast's basketball team this winter and, of course, returned to cheerleading for South Elgin football as well as with her club team, the All-Star Rebels in Geneva.
But softball interest waned. Not because she was any less of a player after the injury, but because of the timing more than anything. There was enough interest from a Division II school in Colorado that she visited but when it came down to it, that school chose to make offers to other athletes ahead of Rodriguez. Wisconsin-Parkside offered, but here's where this story also becomes one of maturity. As badly as Rodriguez wanted to play softball in college, Parkside didn't offer her academic love -- broadcast communications -- as a major. Her teacher in that department at South Elgin, a guy named Ben Erickson who knows a little about athletes, will be the first to tell you that Rodriguez is every bit as talented in the classroom, and in that specific field, as she is on a softball field, a basketball court or in a cheerleading uniform.
So the final decision was to turn down Parkside's offer.
A couple of visits to the Dallas, Texas area to visit family were intriguing to Rodriguez, the daughter of Kevin and Kim Rodriguez of Elgin. She started looking at schools in the Dallas area and one that had a state-of-the-art broadcast communications program was the University of North Texas in Denton.
I have to admit I had never heard of the school, but quickly learned what great athletic facilities it has when it was showcased as the host for the NCAA men's basketball Midwest Region finals last month.
Last month, Rodriguez made a visit to the North Texas campus with the hopes of the Mean Green (yes, that's the school's nickname) softball team still looking for a 2013 graduate.
It wasn't.
But the cheer team was holding tryouts a few weeks later. And a light came on in Rodriguez's head.
"Once my (softball) options ended I thought why not try a different route," said Rodriguez, a standout student as well who is in Florida this weekend with the All-Star Rebels competing in the world championships. "I wanted to go out-of-state for college but not being involved in something would make it hard to make friends."
Call it an impulse, or call it one of those twists you didn't see coming, but Rodriguez decided to try out for the North Texas cheer team last week. She had already decided to go to school at North Texas so she figured why not try out for the cheer team.
And she made it, selected as one of 30 who will cheer for the Mean Green this fall. And this is no Podunk school. Away football games include trips to Georgia, Rice, Tulane, Southern Mississippi and Tulsa.
"It hasn't settled in yet," said Rodriguez, who plays for the Northern Illinois Lightning 18U travel softball team, earlier this week. "I'm excited about it but it's not real to me yet."
Let's be clear about being a cheerleader for an NCAA Division I school. It's not something you just show up on Saturday to do. According to the North Texas cheerleading website, the time commitment includes 4-6 hours per week for practice as well as numerous appearances at various athletic department functions, Friday night pep rallies and weeknight appearances on home football weeks and travel. On home football days, cheerleaders are required to be at Mean Green Village four hours prior to game time. It's every bit the commitment that many college sports require. Physically, there is no question that on its highest level, which Rodriguez is, cheerleading is as physically demanding as any sport, if not more so.
And to think that during her time off from cheerleading to recover and rehab the ACL, Rodriguez thought she might not go back to a sport she first took up as a 9-year old cheering for the South Elgin Patriots youth football team before beginning to competitively cheer when she was in fourth or fifth grade, joining the All-Star Rebels when she was in the eighth grade.
"I didn't think I'd want to," she said of returning to cheerleading after the injury. "But once I stopped doing it I realized how much I missed it."
Schaal couldn't be happier for his shortstop. Sure, given a choice, Schaal is among those who would have loved to see her earn a softball scholarship. But ... twists and turns.
"It's very impressive for her to land a spot as a Division I cheerleader," Schaal said. "We want to see our kids go to college and succeed. I give Kara credit. She had an offer from Parkside but they didn't have what she wanted to study. She said the most important thing to her was to go to a school that had her major. Not a lot of kids do that and I'm proud of Kara for sticking to her guns.
"She's going to school to study what she wants to study and she's going to be a Division I cheerleader. I wish her the best. She may be one of the most athletically talented girls I've ever coached. She's also an excellent young lady and she's going to do well at everything."
And hopefully, the twists and turns of Rodriguez's future will be injury-free.


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Friday, September 27, 2013
Super Saturday is too much of a good thing
Saturday's racing on both coasts is spectacular. Ten Grade 1 races are scheduled, more than on either of the Breeders' Cup days. This could be too much of a good thing. Fall racing would be more exciting if these races were spread out over September and October, as they used to be.
There should be 11. The Kelso, a Grade 2, is worthy of a bump up.
What a great day. What a shame.
These races each deserve their own place in the sun, a day when it's all about them. At most they should share a bill with one other major stakes.
It's insulting that the first confrontation between Eclipse champion Royal Delta and streaking 3-year-old filly leader Princess of Sylmar is buried as the fifth race on an 11-race Belmont card. We all know why. Even with casino money cascading in beyond the most wildly optimistic expectations, it's more important to build a big Pick 6 pool than to give a proper platform to one of the most anticipated showdowns of the year.
It used to be when the horses returned from Saratoga that the fall session at Belmont was known as the "championship meet," because so many divisional titles were decided in stakes spaced out during September and October. Now it's more like the "championship day." Make it two days, since the meeting's other three Grade 1 stakes will be lumped together next Saturday. Once upon a time horses could start in more than one of these championship events, such as the Futurity and Champagne, Matron and Frizette.
No more. The Futurity will be run Sunday, the Champagne six days later. Same for the Matron and Frizette. It's not inconceivable that a horse could double up in six days but with Richard Dutrow out of the picture, it's beyond highly unlikely.
The culprits for the compacting of the best of racing are the Breeders' Cup the first weekend in November and the new school of training. Social Security checks go out more frequently than most thoroughbreds.
There's probably no remedy for the latter unless some free-thinking young trainer starts to win races in bunches with horses who race every couple or three weeks like in the old days. Racing is as much a copycat business as my old beat of television.
The Breeders' Cup is another story. I've advocated several times that the self-anointed World Championships move back on the calendar to Thanksgiving weekend. Black Friday is an unofficial national holiday. More people are off work than any other Friday of the year and a lot of people are looking for something to do or watch while their spouses go nuts at the mall.
One drawback is the late date comes with the threat of miserable weather and early nightfall in most of the United States. However, it's become increasingly evident that Breeders' Cup is hell bent on anchoring itself in Southern California. Santa Anita is in the midst of a three-year run as host track and Del Mar isn't spending millions to widen its turf course without at least a wink-wink deal that it's getting into the Breeders' Cup rotation. So neither of the potential negatives are an issue.
There are myriad reasons why not maintaining the Breeders' Cup as a movable feast would be bad for racing, and ultimately the Breeders' Cup. However, as long as it seems inevitable, we might as well look for positives. A big one would be the opportunity for Belmont, Santa Anita and Keeneland to space their most prestigious stakes throughout the fall and still leave time for what is considered to be the proper layoff prior to the Breeders' Cup.
I'll be as chomping at the bit to bet Saturday's cavalcade of super stakes. But I would enjoy it just as much, probably more, if the marquee races were spaced so that I could be betting the best horses in the world all during the fall. As it is, we're looking at full cards of second-tier and state-bred stakes on both coasts by the second half of October.
One other bitch about this Saturday. With all the Grade 1's and the time difference between coasts, you would think NYRA and Santa Anita could have found a way to tie together some of them in a crossover multiple wager bet. The final two Grade 1's at Belmont, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, have scheduled post times of 5:17 and 5:49 respectively. The first two Grade 1's at Santa Anita, the Chandelier for 2-year-olds and the Rodeo Drive for fillies and mares on the turf, go at 6 p.m. (Eastern) and 6:34.
It took NYRA years to come up with a less inviting multiple race wager than the Grand Slam, which a lot of simulcast sites don't even handle. It finally managed to bottom itself with the Thursday Pick 4, combining the last two in New York with the first two at Penn National, a track that might as well be Assiniboia Downs to Big Apple players.
Yet with an opportunity to link four championship caliber races on the biggest day of the fall outside the Breeders' Cup, NYRA and Santa Anita did nothing. Why?
Written by Tom Jicha


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Cirque du Soleil ofrece dosieres de prensa de sus distintos espectáculos e información sobre la empresa.
Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo have contributed their choreography and directing talents to every genre of the entertainment industry. They have been featured choreographers for multiple seasons on the hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance, for which they received an Emmy nomination. They were the Supervising Choreographers of America's Best Dance Crew on MTV for multiple seasons and directed the live US tour. Their work can also be seen on American Idol, the FOX show Mobbed, as well as the feature film Cobu. Other credits include Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics Tour, Céline Dion's Taking Chances Tour, as well as the 2009 Emmy Awards and the season premiere of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. They have also worked with such artists as Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and Carrie Underwood. The Dumos travel the globe as master teacher for the dance conventions, Monsters of Hip Hop, Shock and Coastal Dance Rage, teaching and inspiring the next generation of dancers. They are contributing choreographers for Cirque du Soleil's Viva Elvis and have been invited back for Michael Jackson - THE IMMORTAL World Tour.


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The Value Of Free As Analyzed By The Pizza Industry
from the is-there-a-pizzster? dept
A few weeks back, reader Josh sent in this analysis from someone in the pizza industry about why "free" makes a lot of sense as a piece of a larger marketing strategy. What struck me is how similar the discussion is to the discussions we have here. There are people who complain that giving away free food "devalues" the food. You have people complaining that the "cost" of free food is too high. But, in the end, the guy makes a good case for why free is a great system, for bringing in new customers, who can turn into loyal paying customers:
Many times I hear, "Giving away free food diminishes the value of my brand." My response is usually laughter, followed by a question: "Are you kidding me?" The goal with free food is to drive qualified prospective customers into your establishment to try your food, service and experience.Of course, the economics with food is quite a bit different than with content. With food, each "free sample" has a direct cost in that the same items cannot be sold. With content, the argument in favor of using "free" is even stronger, because you are just giving away copies -- and each copy is free to make and distribute, even if the original copy cost money.


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In the past couple of weeks, folks in St. Elmo have chatted about a wandering peahen, a desire for empty Quaker Oats boxes, whether anyone has heard gunshots and a dresser and toaster oven offered first-come, first-served.
In Ridgeside, residents have discussed what to do with two stray cats, whether the city will powerwash slippery sidewalks, and the fact the new city ordinances and resolutions are posted on its website.
None of these conversations have been face-to-face.
While you can't borrow a cup of sugar through a Facebook chat, social networking, email groups and other technologies have become primary tools for 21st-century neighborhood communication.
Local neighborhood leaders say technology probably hasn't supplanted the proverbial chat over the back fence, but it does have advantages for advertising meetings, letting residents know about crime in their neighborhoods, finding lost pets, keeping tabs on vacant properties, and promoting social activities such as yard sales and giveaways.
And yes, even a certain amount of gossip also takes place.
"It's been huge," Rebekah Marr, a former president of the St. Elmo Neighborhood Association, says of her neighborhood's email list.
The 1,200-home neighborhood has an email list of some 800 names and a moderated list-serve that has been in use for longer than the six years Marr has lived there. Lost and found pets, event announcements and -- especially -- the exchange of names for home repairs are among other topics on the email flow, she says.
"We're all fixing our houses," Marr says.
A St. Elmo Facebook page is newer and used mostly for neighborhood news, she says.
On Missionary Ridge, with technology such as email and Facebook buzzing, there are "multiple points of contact" for residents, says Chuck Elmes, who recently rotated off a three-year membership on the board of directors of the Missionary Ridge Neighborhood Association.
In many local neighborhoods, including Missionary Ridge, senior citizens aren't as tech-savvy as younger people, though, so block leaders -- the go-to person on a street for information -- automated calling systems, newsletters and neighbor-to-neighbor communication still are important, residents say.
Many of the seniors on Missionary Ridge prefer to be called with information by their block captain "in order not to be left out," Elmes says.
Candice Poole, mayor of Ridgeside, a small, incorporated community on the east side of Missionary Ridge and surrounded by the city of Chattanooga, says there may even be such a thing as too much communication through technology.
"As an elected official," she says, "I find it cumbersome to have so many avenues of communication to cover all these bases. It's a lot. It's made it a more complicated world."
Yet, Poole says, the good outweighs the bad. Ridgeside, she says, maintains a website, a Facebook page and a Google Group. She says she primarily uses Facebook and the Google Group for communication with city residents.
"It's good to get out mass communication fast," Poole says. "It's [also] very effective for a neighborhood watch."
On the other hand, she says, "I might say something to you at midnight [through social media] that I would never say face to face. We don't filter ourselves sufficiently. Sometimes, we say things that we might regret."
Back in the summer, for instance, some Ridgeside residents got into a back-and-forth spat about an old, blind dog pooping in someone's yard and the messages, at times, became testy.
Charlotte Freeman, co-president of the Stuart Heights Neighborhood Association, says her community's Facebook site has more than 110 friends, about one-fifth of the people who live in the hilly streets bordered by Hixson Pike, Lupton Drive and Folts Circle.
"If we get 550 households on [the site,] it would be a wonderful communications [tool]," she says. "It's mostly used by younger people. But as more and more people use smartphones, we'll pick up some more."
The combination of shrubbery, weeds, woods and steep driveways over the relatively large Stuart Heights geographic area "is not conducive to a lot of back-and-forth" visiting, she says.
Stuart Heights, says Freeman, also uses a voluntary email list and hand-delivered newsletters, the latter "much to the consternation of the post office."
The combination of methods has improved communication, she says, but has not replaced the interaction among neighbors or "not yet anyway."
"You know the people around you," Freeman says, "but not the whole neighborhood."
When Elmes was a board member of the Missionary Ridge Neighborhood Association, he also operated its Facebook page, website and automated calling system, RidgePhone. The calling system, he says, was designed to be a security notification system but is often used for announcements.
Missionary Ridge and Glenwood also both use block programs, in which block captains or leaders keep an eye on the homes and neighbors on their block.
In Glenwood, says block leader Thomas Diller, one of his jobs is to be the "go-to person for the block." The information flows in both directions -- from the block leader to the 1,100 neighborhood residents and from residents back to the block leaders.
"If something's happening, if a house is abandoned, if they need help with XYZ, it helps us keep tabs and monitor things. It helps makes sure our neighborhood stays healthy," he says.
Block leaders come together on occasion for lunch and informational programs on such topics as recycling or neighborhood safety. After those meetings, they pass on information to the residents on their blocks.
In addition, he says, every year Glenwood block leaders send out flyers to residents, asking ask if they need help with their house or yard. Often, he says, churches, organizations and other community service programs offer to help with residents who can't help themselves, and the block captains are able to pass on the names.
"It helps make an impact," he says. "It's getting things to the people that actual need them."
Websites, neighborhood leaders say, tend to be less direct communication documents and more information repositories.
Poole says the town's charter, ordinances and an annual calendar are Ridgeside website staples, while Diller says Glenwood's website "tends to be kind of like an online brochure for the city at large."
While the future may provide even more technological advances in neighborhood communication, it's not likely to eliminate face-to-face interaction.
"It may have [reduced it] some," Poole says, "but our [community] swimming pool is such a magnet. And so many of our folks walk and have their regular walking routine."
There are also community club meetings, dinners among neighbors and women's gatherings, she says.
"We're active socially," Poole says, "and we care enough about our neighbors that we're engaging them."


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From MLB.com. Quite surprising.
Hargrove resigns as Mariners skipper
By Jim Street / MLB.com
SEATTLE -- Mike Hargrove resigned Sunday as manager of the Seattle Mariners and was replaced by bench coach John McLaren.
The stunning announcement came prior to the Mariners' series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays at Safeco Field.
In a prepared statement released by the organization, Hargrove said he was stepping aside because his "passion has begun to fade" and it would not be "fair to myself or the team" to continue.
Making his decision even more surprising was the fact the Mariners won their seventh consecutive game Saturday night and have closed to within four games of the AL West-leading Angels.
Hargrove will manage the team on Sunday and McLaren takes over on a full-time basis Monday night when the team opens a three-game series in Kansas City against the Royals.


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With Pinterest expanding its features for businesses, Instagram launching a Web version and Facebook continually expanding its advertising options, now is as good a time as ever to bolster your social media presence for the future.
Before doing so, it's important to understand the data behind each social channel to gain insights into what works and what doesn't with your audience.
Here are 100 of the most fascinating social media statistics and figures from 2012 that can help you better understand Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google Plus for the coming year.
Via myriam


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Difference between revisions of "Tunis"
Revision as of 14:21, 14 January 2012
Tunis (تونس) is the capital of Tunisia.
Located on the Mediterranean coast but lacking much in the way of beaches, Tunis has been spared the onslaught of package tourism in the resorts to the north and south. With a population of less than 700,000, the entire city feels small and compact. There isn't much in the way of must-see attractions, but Carthage is easily accessed from here and the souq is one of the most authentic and hassle-free in North Africa.
Tunis is divided into the old city, known as the medina, and the new city, or ville nouvelle in French.
Get in
By plane
Tunis-Carthage Airport (TUN), 8 km away from the centre, is small and in reasonable shape with all standard facilities. Tunisian law requires all currency to be exchanged within the country. It's illegal to bring Tunisian currency with you outside the country or inside, though it can be done at most travel desks if you sign a waiver. The major western carriers who service Tunis-Carthage are Air France and Lufthansa, from Paris or Frankfurt. You can exchange money at the airport or at your hotel. A taxi into the city centre — insist on the meter — should cost around 3 dinars during the day and 5 dinars at night. Alternatively, buses depart fairly regularly during the day (but not at night) and charge a fraction of the price.
Beware of the taxi drivers. At night they will ask up to 40 TD depending on where you are going. In a struggling economy business has become even more competitive. An unspoken rule is the first taxi driver who grabs your luggage and places it in the trunk of his car makes the contract for your transportation. It's not uncommon to be barraged with over ten taxi drivers at once as you walk outside the terminal. They can reach for your bag aggressively--not to steal it, but to make an attempt at winning your business. Some meters can be tampered with. If you don't trust the taxi's meter, then negotiate a price to where you going before you leave the front of the terminal. It may be advisable to ask for an average taxi rate from your hotel front desk before leaving.
Some people have suggested taking the escalator up one floor and waiving down a taxi that's just dropped someone off for a departing flight at the arrivals platform. This is more difficult to accomplish at night time, but the advantages are finding a more professional driver.
By train
Tunis Central Station is near Place de Barcelone for easy interchange onto the light metro. Trains are generally cheap and comfortable, but if you want to ride first class during peak season, do reserve your seat in advance. Trains are run by SNCFT.
By car
It is not highly recommended to drive in Tunisia, due to poor quality of roads, driving habits, and poor signage. It is also more dangerous to drive at night, and outside of the city and major tourist areas.
By bus
Tunisia has over 70 bus lines, with Tunis at the hub. There are two bus stations in town, with Gare Bab el Fellah serving southern destinations and Gare Bab Saadoun serving those to the north. Buses are run by SNTRI at both stations.
By boat
Ferries connect Tunis to a number of international destinations including Trapani, Palermo, Naples, Civitavecchia, Livorno,Malta Genoa and Marseille. The main ferry terminal is at La Goulette, but check your departure terminal carefully as there are also other ports. Operators include GNV[8], Cotunav, Grimaldi Lines, Sncm.
Get around
Free maps of Tunis and Tunisia are available at the National Tourism Office, who also speak many languages, to the north-east of the clock tower (directly east of the main Medina gate).
Tunis is well-served by a convenient four-line light metro system run by Société des Transports de Tunis [9] (French/Arabic only). The interchange hub for all lines is in the centre of town at Place de la République/Place de Barcelone. Single trips cost 0,410 TD.
The TGM suburban train line, starting at Tunis Marine station on Lines 1-4, connects to La Goulette (ferries), Sidi Bou Saïd, Carthage and the beaches of Marsa. Tickets cost 680 millimes each way.
Taxis are also a good option if you need to go a bit farther than the metro, though cabs picking up in front of nice hotels will charge much higher rates.
Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT) is the domestic train company for long distance travel between Tunis and other cities. Visit http://www.sncft.com.tn for more details on schedules and fares. The Tunis train station is in Place Barcelone.
Societe Nationale de Transport Interurbain (SNTI) is the domestic bus line. Although schedules are more flexible and also reach more locations than by train, rices are usually similar. Visit http://www.sntri.com.tn for more on schedules and fares. There are two bus station, North and South. The North is in the Bab Saadoun neighborhood; the South is located in Bab Alioua, south of Place Barcelone.
Otherwise, louages (shared taxis) are the most flexible of all options. The minivans with 8 passenger seats take off when they are full and therefore run on no particular schedule. Prices tend to be a little bit higher than buses, but the difference is usually negligible. The North louage station is in the parking lot of the North bus station. The South louage station is across the street from the South bus station.
There is an American school in Tunis, the American Cooperative School of Tunis. It is a private, non-profit day school. If you would like to study Arabic or French while in Tunis, there are a few options, including The Language Academy [[11]], or private tutors.
There are little stores near every hotel in Tunis, where you can buy everything you need, but it's difficult to call their prices loyal. So it's better to go shopping to other parts of the city. Aproximate 90% of presented in Tunis goods are of local origin. There are networks of state supermarkets Monoprix and General in the capital.
Most hotels include breakfast, and some include dinner. There are countless coffee shops with delicious drinks and French pastries to enjoy, as well as sandwich shops. Count yourself lucky if you find a dish that does not include canned tuna!
Ladies, try to bring a man out with you, and be careful about what bars you frequent, because many are frequented only by men and prostitutes, and can get a bit rowdy.
Most tourists will be interested in accommodation in either the Medina or in Ville Nouvelle. The medina includes the youth hostel and several other budget accomdations, and the high end Dar El Jed. The Ville Nouvelle offers a large number of budget and mid-range accomodation, many grouped within a few blocks of each other north of Place Barcelone. Some places expect couples to present some sort of proof of marriage in order to rent a two person room.
Stay safe
Touts and unofficial "guides" hang around near tourist spots. Shoo them off if they start to launch into a spiel on the architectural wonders of this or that, or they will expect to some baksheesh for their unwanted efforts.
One thing that can get really annoying in Tunis is the number of "friends" a tourist will attract. There is a decent number of men who hang out on avenue Bourguiba, the main drag in Tunis. They work individually. They approach tourists and start talking to them. The tourist may think that this person is just being friendly but don't buy it. Also beware of teens approaching you on or around Av. Habib Bourguiba. They often "prey" on male tourists and try to talk you into joining them to the cinema. Later on your new "friend" will ask you for 10 Dinars or a pack of Marlborros or this or that. It is best to just avoid these people or to shoo them off. They also have different techniques to get your attention. They include: asking for a cigarette, asking for the time, asking for a lighter, bumping into you on the street. The most common one seems to be when they ask you for a cigarette or a lighter. It is wise to get rid of anyone who tries to just bluntly start a conversation with you on the street. Chances are that there are no good intentions involved whatsoever. Tunisian people are nice and curious towards strangers but avoid the ones who seem too friendly - a good phrase to use could be the French "Monsieur, je connais Tunis bien," (Monsieur, I know Tunis well.)
Get out
By TGM
This is the metropolitan train service, Métro Léger de Tunis. Tickets are less than one dinar and service is frequent, but busy during rush hour. The station is located a few hundred metres to the east of the clock tower and the raised Trans-African Highway No. 1 directly east from the main drag (Avenue Habib Bourgouiba; the one with the main Medina gate - just keep walking away from the Medina). The station is impossible to miss - it's a large building parallel to the road on the south side. Note that if you're heading out this way, there is also a national tourism office on the north-east side of the clock tower (that effectively demarcates the edge of Tunis' larger buildings before the highway), and they provide free maps and advice regarding Tunis and Tunisia.
Unsure how to reach


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fun stuff : build a cubby
posted on: Friday, July 30, 2010
If you're down Sydney-way then you'll know that it's been way colder and rainier than usual. Actually I don't know if this is technically true but it feels true. And as our city is geared towards outdoorsy stuff all this rain can leave a Sydney mum a bit bereft when it comes to kid-friendly weekend activities. I know I would happily sit in my favourite bookstore cafe drinking chai and pouring over second-hand books all weekend but the rest of my family doesn't seem to be able to sit still for that long. Kids! So today is the first of the new Friday fun stuff posts. Every week I'll post about a weekend activity that might inspire you, or maybe (as this blog is not just for mums!) bring back memories of fun things you used to do as a kid. One of my favourite games was making cubbies. Here I am, aged around five, serving tea to my doll. And using a flying saucer as a plate.
Have a lovely weekend!
20 comments:
how fun would this be!ReplyDelete
Love it! What a great idea! Cannot wait to see more!ReplyDelete
Hmm.. drinking chai in a bookstore cafe does sound lovely! ;)ReplyDelete
I loved doing that too when I was younger! We had stiff sofa cushions and we'd make a fort out of them. Look how adorable you are! What a sweet photo...ReplyDelete
that is too adorable : ) when I was a kid I used to LOVE to turn our beds into tents and then play make-believe all night. lovely as always!ReplyDelete
Awww... how adorable are you!? We must be kindred spirits - chai and a stack of books sound perfect on this rainy day. To keep our sanity in the wet weather we often take our little man to Bunnings. They have an indoor play area right next to the cafe... and we get to poke around for supplies for the next DIY adventure.ReplyDelete
"ooooh isn't she cute, just having tea with her dolls, i could do that when i am older like bron" AmailaReplyDelete
this is soooo cute! I love it xReplyDelete
I used to do this when I was a kid too! I loved it. Thank you for bringing back some great memories for me :)ReplyDelete
That looks like a fun idea and you were an adorable looking child! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love all your fun baby/child related content. Therefore, i'm now following:-0. Happy Monday!ReplyDelete
Aren't you adorable! I used to love doing this as a kid, thanks for the memories! XO!ReplyDelete
My daughter loves buiding tents! I did too as a kid and well still do.:) Great post!ReplyDelete
Looks so very magically....I want a grown-up version :)ReplyDelete
aww, so fun! this looks like something kids would LOVE :)ReplyDelete
I used to love making cubbys with blankets too when I was little. These pictures bring back many happy memories. Thank you for visting my blog, so glad you did now I have discovered this pretty place to be!ReplyDelete
how fun! what a lovely blog you have too.ReplyDelete
I love that pic of you under the umbrella! I agree! This is a beautiful blog!ReplyDelete
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"We got the win, and that's honestly all that matters," said Kuechly, who also intercepted a pass. "You ask me or Thomas, and winning is all that matters."
The Saints weren't as fortunate when it came to Panthers linebackers
The duo was relentless.
"You'd be hard-pressed to find guys that had higher production than we had today," Davis said. "We talked about it as a unit before the game that if it was going to happen, we were going to make it happen as a unit. We went out with that belief and played well."
Davis snared a key interception and piled up 14 tackles in Carolina's 17-13 triumph. That left him 10 tackles shy of Kuechly, whose 24 tackles tied for the most since the NFL began tracking tackles as a press box stat in 1994.
Davis, Kuechly and defensive end
"Greg Hardy had an outstanding game," head coach Ron Rivera said. "I'm partial, but I think Thomas and Luke are one of the best one-two tandems in the league."
Even with a combined 38 tackles that thwarted many a Saints drive, the linebackers' most impactful play was Davis' interception.
With the Panthers trailing 6-0 late in the first half and the offense struggling, Davis leaped high to spear a Brees pass out of the air and give Carolina possession on the Saints' 43-yard line.
On the next play, running back
"That was a spark," Rivera said. "It was a good call by (defensive coordinator) Sean (McDermott). I thought the execution was outstanding.
"I don't think Drew saw Thomas, and it worked to our benefit."
Brees also didn't appear to see Kuechly on his interception. On a third-and-10 play late in the third quarter, with the Panthers ahead 10-6, Kuechly made a sliding interception in front of Saints tight end Jimmy Graham near midfield.
"It all goes back to the defensive line pushing the pocket and getting in his face. It starts with those guys up front," Kuechly said. "I was like, 'I'm going to roll back and see what happens.' And then it was like, 'Oh, there's the ball.' My hands were kind of wet and the ball was slick, but I just kind of corralled it and held onto it."
Davis got his interception before the skies opened.
"Raining the way it did took away some of the things the Saints can do," Davis said. "It took away from their passing game, and it made a difference."
Kuechly agreed but offered a different reason as well. In addition to crediting the defensive line, McDermott and linebackers coach Al Holcomb for what he and Davis accomplished, Kuechly also credited the Panthers' fired-up, bundled-up fans.
"The rain got the crowd juiced up. They were excited for it," Kuechly said. "And when it's raining like that, it's tough to throw the ball. We were really able to play downhill."


text: Being that the weather here as been chilly I have been going to a touchless car at least weekly if not twice a week. The wash option is one where I get some type of wax and protecting stuff. Been doing this since I got the car in late Dec. Will this be an issue? Once the weather stays above 40 or so will be doing my own washing. But till then touchless it is. My next question is when doing a weekly hand wash, is it better to use two mitts (one for the top half and another for the bottom) or a good boar's hair brush? Many thanks


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May 21, 2008
Throw-in shows he also can throw
Bats' 5-6 Herrera truly a short reliever, but he might not be long for Louisville
By C.L. Brown
firstname.lastname@example.com Courier-Journal
Danny Herrera is used to being the "short guy," so being the "other guy" in a major trade wasn't new.
The Louisville Bats reliever was the unknown factor the Cincinnati Reds acquired in their December trade with Texas. The Reds sent outfielder Josh Hamilton to the Rangers for starting pitcher Edinson Volquez and Herrera, a 5-foot-6 southpaw reliever.
Hamilton has thrived in Texas, leading all of major league baseball with 50 RBIs going into last night's action. Volquez (7-1) has been a runaway success for the Reds and leads the National League with a 1.33 ERA.
And Herrera?
"He was the other player," Bats manager Rick Sweet said. "Obviously, the main guy (Volquez) is doing great, but Herrera is doing great down here. He keeps moving up the ladder, and we may very well see him at the next level before the year is out."
Promoted from Double-A Chattanooga on April 24, Herrera had two saves and a 0.66 ERA going into last night's game at Indianapolis. He's quietly making a name for himself the same way he always has.
"It wasn't a big deal that I wasn't really mentioned in the trade," he said. "I was a minor league guy just thrown in the mix. I like being kind of behind the scenes to do my own thing."
It's always been that way. Herrera, 23, is the only Bats pitcher under 6 feet tall. The team lists him at 5-8, but he says he's really 5-6.
He almost always has been the shortest pitcher on his team. And usually he's been underestimated.
Herrera is from Odessa, Texas, and went to Permian High School of "Friday Night Lights" fame. When he arrived at the University of New Mexico, pitching coach Ryan Brewer told him he didn't think he had major league potential.
"At the time he was right," Herrera said. "I was an 18-year-old kid with not a lot of stuff. You don't see very many guys with not very much velocity and a small stature make it up there."
As a starter in his final year at New Mexico, Herrera led the team in nearly every major stat, including wins (10-0), ERA (2.24) and strikeouts (104), and was named a third-team All-American by Baseball America.
He said Brewer admitted he was wrong. Herrera credits his former pitching coach for helping him develop the array of pitches he has needed to be effective.
Herrera doesn't overpower hitters but throws several pitches well. Most relievers stick to a fastball and one or two offspeed pitches. Herrera throws what he calls "seven different kinds of smoke."
The best of them is his screwball that, as the name suggests, is quirky and uncommon and leaves most hitters flabbergasted. It also keeps them off-balance and makes his mid-80s fastball more effective.
"His stuff makes him unique," Bats pitching coach Ted Power said. "He knows how to use it against all hitters -- righties, lefties, singles hitters, power hitters. He knows how to mix it up.
"We're not afraid to put him in there at any time."
Most hitters aren't exactly scared to see him coming to the mound, but that's exactly how Herrera likes it.
"I hope they don't think much of me when I first face them," he said. "They know what kind of pitches I throw, but they don't know me. It gives me somewhat of an edge."
Herrera gave up just eight hits and two walks over 132/3 innings in his first 10 appearances with the Bats. It might be hard for him to keep a low profile much longer if he continues to stand tall on the mound.
"If I motivate any other small people to play ball on a higher level, then that's great," he said. "But I keep a simple frame of mind with a simple goal: to make it to the big leagues."
C.L. Brown can be reached at (502) 582-4044.


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Ranbaxy Launches Absoricatm (Isotretinoin) Capsules in the U.S. Healthcare Market
Gurgaon, India, November 26, 2012
Ranbaxy Laboratories, Inc. (RLI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL), today announced the sales and promotion launch of Absorica (Isotretinoin) Capsules, a product that is licensed from Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Mississauga, Ontario. Absorica is indicated for the treatment of severe recalcitrant nodular acne in patients 12 years of age and older.
Due to its high lipophilicity, oral absorption of isotretinoin is enhanced when given with a high-fat meal, however, Absorica, which is formulated using patented Lidose® technology, can be given without regards to meals. The fasted AUC0-t of Absorica is approximately 83% greater than that of Accutane, while both products are bioequivalent under fed conditions. Absorica is therefore not interchangeable and not substitutable with generic products of Accutane®. Absorica, NDA, was approved based on a large pivotal clinical trial enrolling 925 patients.
Senior Director, Ranbaxy Laboratories Inc. Dr. Ashish Anvekar said, "We are most pleased to make Absorica available as a valuable option for dermatologists and a subset of patients who suffer from severe recalcitrant nodular acne. Absorica will be the flagship brand of the Ranbaxy dermatology product portfolio in the U.S."
Please refer to the Absorica package insert for full prescribing and dispensing instructions at http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov.
Isotretinoin must not be used by female patients who are or may become pregnant. There is an extremely high risk that severe birth defects will result if pregnancy occurs while taking isotretinoin in any amount, even for a short period of time. Potentially any fetus exposed during pregnancy can be affected. There are no accurate means of determining whether an exposed fetus has been affected. Because of this toxicity, isotretinoin can only be marketed under a special restricted distribution program. This program is called iPLEDGE™. Under this program, prescribers must be registered and activated with the iPLEDGE program and can prescribe isotretinoin only to registered patients who meet all the requirements of iPLEDGE. Isotretinoin can be dispensed only by a pharmacy registered and activated with iPLEDGE. Registered and activated pharmacies can only receive isotretinoin from wholesalers registered with iPLEDGE.
Patients on isotretinoin have been known to become depressed or to develop other serious mental health problems. Some people have had thoughts of hurting themselves or putting an end to their own lives. Some people tried to end their own lives and some have ended their own lives. There have been reports that people on isotretinoin were aggressive or violent. No one knows if isotretinoin caused these problems or behaviors or if they would have happened even if the person did not take isotretinoin.
Isotretinoin use has been associated with pseudotumor cerebri, a condition caused by increased pressure on the brain. This condition may occur more often in patients also taking tetracycline. Patients should be aware of other serious side effects, including problems with the skin, pancreas, liver, stomach, bones, muscles, hearing, vision, lipids, allergic reactions, blood sugar, or red and white blood cells. The most common, less serious adverse events include dry skin, chapped lips, dry eyes, and dry nose that may lead to nosebleeds. Patients should be advised about these adverse events and routinely monitored by a doctor during treatment with isotretinoin.
Isotretinoin has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease (including regional ileitis) in patients without a prior history of intestinal disorders. In some instances, symptoms have been reported to persist after isotretinoin treatment has been stopped.
About Ranbaxy Laboratories Inc.
Ranbaxy Laboratories Inc. (RLI) based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL), India's largest pharmaceutical company. RLI is engaged in the sale and distribution of branded prescription products in the U.S. healthcare system.
About Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited
Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL), India's largest pharmaceutical company, is an integrated, research based, international pharmaceutical company producing a wide range of quality, affordable generic medicines, trusted by healthcare professionals and patients across geographies. Ranbaxy's continued focus on R&D has resulted in several approvals, in developed and emerging markets many of which incorporate proprietary Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) and technologies, developed at its own labs. The company has further strengthened its focus on generics research and is increasingly working on more complex and specialty areas. Ranbaxy serves its customers in over 125 countries and has an expanding international portfolio of affiliates, joint ventures and alliances, ground operations in 43 countries and manufacturing operations in 8 countries. Ranbaxy is a member of the Daiichi Sankyo Group. Through strategic in-licensing opportunities and its hybrid business model with Daiichi Sankyo, a leading global pharma innovator headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Ranbaxy is introducing many innovator products in markets around the world, where it has a strong presence. This is in line with the company's commitment to increase penetration and improve access to medicines, across the globe. For more information, please visit www.ranbaxy.com.
About Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Cipher Pharmaceuticals (TSX: DND) (OTC: CPHMF) is a growing specialty pharmaceutical company that commercializes novel formulations of successful, currently marketed molecules. Cipher's strategy is to in-license clearly differentiated products, advance them through the clinical development and regulatory approval stages, and out-license to international marketing partners. For more information, please visit www.cipherpharma.com.
Absorica is a trademark of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited.
Lidose is a registered trademark of SMB Laboratories.
Accutane is a registered trademark of Hoffman-La Roche.
Posted: November 2012


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Members of the Tama-Toledo Chamber of Commerce were on hand to greet and welcome Eddy and Ivy Su, owners of the new A9 Chinese Restaurant in Toledo on opening day, Tuesday, Sept. 3. (L-R) Nancy Sund, Tama-Grundy Publishing, Lee Su (Eddy's father) Meagan Leonard, Tama-Grundy Publishing, Mom Su (Eddy's mother) holding grandson Dalan, Pam Wood, Pam's School of Dance, Sunny (A9 employee), Matt Zmolek, Independent Insurance, Cassie Sokol, Chamber of Commerce coordinator, Brian Sokol, Tama County Investment Services, Eddy Su, Karen Musgrave, Bumblebee's, Ivy Su, Mark Wesely, Pioneer Hibred, Byron Witt, Appraisal and Real Estate Services of Iowa and Christopher Musgrave, TLC Lawn Care.
Article Photos
Chronicle/John Speer


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Teenagers should be put in charge of lessons to encourage them to train as teachers, MPs said on Tuesday.
"Teaching taster classes" should be offered to sixth-formers and undergraduates to show them the benefits of a career in the profession, according to the Commons Education Select Committee.
It also called for would-be teachers to be observed in the classroom before they are offered a training place to check their suitability for the job.
In a new report, the influential committee examined the best ways of recruiting and retaining the best teachers.
Evidence has shown that very good teachers boost pupils' grades and make a significant difference to their students' future earnings, it said.
The report says that allowing young people to try out teaching could improve the quality of applicants and lead to a lower drop-out rate.
The government should consider developing a formal "internship" system, similar to one run in Singapore, to allow youngsters to experience the "content, benefits and career potential" of teaching before committing to it.
These "taster sessions" should include actual teaching, rather than just observing lessons, the committee said, with students given feedback afterwards.
"Applying to do teacher training is a 'high stakes' decision and the purpose of these sessions is to give people a chance to try out their own aptitude before committing," the report said.
"We believe this approach could help both deter some people who are not best suited to teaching and persuade others to consider it."
The committee also called for all teacher trainers to observe potential recruits in lessons before offering them a training place.
"Our evidence was clear that teacher quality cannot be fully established without observing a candidate actually teach," the report says.
The MPs backed ministers' plans to toughen up the literacy and numeracy tests taken by trainee teachers but suggested caution over the introduction of a test of candidates' personal skills.
The committee said it welcomed the idea but called for the Department for Education to publish details of what the test might include and keep it under close review.
It raised concerns about the government's move to use a potential teacher's degree class to determine whether or not they get a bursary to train.
Under the government's plans, anyone with a third-class degree will not be eligible for funding. But the committee said that the bursary scheme alone will not attract more people into teaching.
"Whilst bursaries will help to attract people with strong academic records, greater effort is also needed to identify which subset of these also possess the additional personal qualities that will make them well-suited to teaching," the report says.
It also backed ministers' plans to create "teaching schools" to train teachers.
While it acknowledged that these schools will be expected to work with universities, the committee warned against any reduction of universities' role in teacher training which would bring "considerable demerits".
The report suggests the creation of a National Teacher Sabbatical Scholarship scheme to allow outstanding teachers to take time out of the classroom to work in a different school, undertake research or refresh their subject knowledge.
It echoes a suggestion made by Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw, who said in November that good teachers who suffer "burnout" should be given time off.
It also called for the government to develop plans for a new "College of Teaching", a professional body modelled along the lines of Royal College or chartered institutes seen in other professions.
Committee chairman Graham Stuart said: "It's crucial that we have an educational system which celebrates great teachers, keeps more of them in the classroom, supports their development and gives them greater status and reward."


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VIDEO: Nowitzki passes Havlicek
Welcome to Throwback Thursday here on the All Ball Blog. Each week, we'll delve into the NBA's photo archives and uncover a topic and some great images from way back when. Hit us up here if you have suggestions for a future TBT on All Ball. Suggestions are always welcome!
Today's TBT topic: Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki passed Boston Celtics legend and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee John Havlicek for 12th on the all-time scoring list last night after he scored 31 points against the Utah Jazz.
Nowitzki now has 26,426 points in his career and trails Moses Malone by only 983 points for seventh on the all-time list, which would move him past Dominique Wilkins, Oscar Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon and Elvin Hayes.
This Throwback Thursday, we look back at the incredible career of Dirk Nowitzki:
(NOTE: Click the "caption" icon below the photo for details about each moment.)
Gallery: Throwback Thursday: Dirk Nowitzki
What's your favorite Dirk Nowitzki moment? Leave your comments below!


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The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) announced today the commissioning of two secure radiological transportation vehicles as part of a broader cooperative effort to help combat nuclear and radiological terrorism in the Philippines and around the world. The two vehicles are standard cargo vehicles, customized with extra security features specifically designed in coordination with PNRI to provide a more secure means of transporting radiological material within the Philippines.
"Working with our partners in the Philippines and around the world to eliminate, remove and protect vulnerable nuclear and radiological materials is critical to our shared efforts to prevent nuclear and radiological terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear weapons," said NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Anne Harrington. "By better securing materials during transportation and preventing terrorists from acquiring dangerous nuclear and radiological material, we are working to implement President Obama's unprecedented nuclear security agenda while promoting peace and security around the world. Joint efforts like this allow our countries to combine resources and expand our progress toward strengthening radiological security and countering the threat of radiological terrorism."
Today, during a ceremony at PNRI headquarters in Manila, PNRI director Dr. Alumanda M. Dela Rosa highlighted the deployment of these new vehicles as an example of the continued cooperation between the United States and the Philippines to prevent nuclear and radiological terrorism.
"The Philippines is firmly committed to advance the shared global goal of securing nuclear and other radioactive materials that are used for peaceful purposes and preventing the illicit trafficking of such materials," said Dela Rosa. "In this regard, the Philippines values the opportunities to partner with like-minded States and international organizations. Through such partnerships, we are overcoming the challenges of the availability of scientific expertise and resources needed to put in place effective and appropriate national systems for nuclear security, safeguards and safety."
The procurement of the secure transportation vehicles is part of an ongoing effort by PNRI and the NNSA's Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI). NNSA has previously cooperated with the Philippines to upgrade the security at 15 medical and research buildings that maintain radiological sources, to convert the research reactor at PNRI from highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU) and to remove all remaining HEU in the Philippines.
NNSA works to reduce and protect vulnerable nuclear and radiological material located at civilian sites worldwide. GTRI achieves permanent threat reduction through converting research reactors and isotope production facilities from highly enriched uranium to low enriched uranium, removing and disposing of excess nuclear and radiological materials, and protecting high priority nuclear and radiological materials from theft and sabotage.
This mission is one important component of NNSA's layered approach to nuclear and radiological security cooperation with the Philippines. For example, NNSA's Office of Nonproliferation and International Security collaborates with PNRI on a broad spectrum of projects to strengthen the Philippines' implementation of the Additional Protocol to their comprehensive safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as to enhance PNRI's capabilities on the physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities. Additionally, NNSA's Second Line of Defense (SLD) Program cooperates with major seaports in the Philippines to scan containerized cargo at the ports of Manila and Cebu for illicitly trafficked radiological and nuclear materials. As PNRI is the reach back agency for responding to detections of significance using SLD's radiation detection systems, GTRI's transportation vehicles will ensure increased security for transporting interdicted materials between the ports and secure storage facilities.
Source: NNSA


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Faculty and staff of St. Viator High School gathered for a rare announcement on Wednesday: The leader of the Viatorian Community, Fr. Thomas von Behren, C.S.V., named Fr. Corey Brost, C.S.V., as the school's newest president, effective July 1, for a term of at least three years.
Fr. Brost, who has served as vice president of mission effectiveness for the last two years at the school, replaces Fr. Robert M. Egan, C.S.V., who has been president for eight years.
Fr. von Behren, provincial and president of the high school's board of governors, stressed how important it is to continue having a Viatorian lead the school.
"I am proud to say that St. Viator High School is one of the few Catholic high schools in the Chicago area that can point to having 11 of their community members on the faculty of their own school," Fr. von Behren said. "The Viatorians are committed to St. Viator High School today and for decades to come."
Fr. Brost first met Fr. von Behren when von Behren was his religion teacher in Springfield, IL. Fr. Brost earned his undergraduate degree in journalism and a law degree from the University of Illinois before starting his career at St. Viator High School in 1987 as a religion teacher. It was the first year St. Viator had coed students, and Fr. Brost helped merge the Sacred Heart and Saint Viator newspapers as moderator.
Fr. Brost entered the Viatorian Community as a religious brother. For more than 25 years, he worked as a youth educator and campus minister for Viatorian schools and parishes throughout the country.
In 2006, Fr. Brost was ordained a priest, after earning master's degrees in pastoral studies at Loyola University and in divinity from Catholic Theological Union.
"When I came back here six years ago, I thought I was going to be teaching freshmen religion," Fr. Brost told the faculty. "But day after day, I am inspired, challenged and in awe of you. I see miracles happen every day at this school."
Fr. von Behren said Fr. Egan leaves the school on solid ground.
"He has brought new life to the mission of the school," Fr. von Behren said, "and leaves with nothing but great possibilities before it."
Fr. Egan brought a unique perspective to his role, having attended the school himself, graduating in 1969. He went on to teach at the school, head the Clerics of St. Viator as provincial, serve as pastor at St. Viator Parish in Chicago, and ultimately lead the Arlington Heights high school starting in 2005.
Among his achievements at St. Viator:
• Instituted drug testing.
• Doubled tuition assistance from $670,000 in 2005 to $1.3 million (so far) this year.
• Made it a requirement for students to complete 100 hours of community service in order to graduate.
• Shepherded the $10 million "Shaping the Future with Faith" capital campaign, which will add classrooms, a new cafeteria, student commons area and fine arts studios and rehearsal space.
"He has certainly modeled the Viatorian motto, 'Bring the children to me,'" said Eileen Manno, principal of St. Viator. "He always put the students first."
In late summer, Fr. Egan will join the staff at St. Thomas More Catholic Community in Henderson, Nev., a suburb of Las Vegas.
Fr. Brost, C.S.V., has continued to serve as chairman of the religion department and head of the vocation office for the Viatorians while serving in the high school's administration.
This summer, however, he will devote himself full time to leading the school.
Among his achievements:
• Designed the decade-old Bridges Retreat while serving at a Springfield parish. Students from both St. Viator and Waukegan's St. Martin de Porres meet over two days to discuss racial tension.
• Founded the Children of Abraham Coalition, which brings suburban teens and adults of Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths together through a shared lineage. Group members exchange their stories and work together on service projects for organizations such as Arlington Heights PADS program.
"I am confident that Corey will bring great leadership, passion and vision to the school, while maintaining the traditions and mission that makes St. Viator such a great school and community," said Fr. von Behren.
For updates on all activities related to St. Viator High School, visit www.saintviator.com, follow the school on Facebook or @saintviatorhs on Twitter.


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Customers are still very excited about receiving high-quality publications that cover subjects that they are interested in, even in these tough economic times...a great sign for the print industry itself.
Austin, TX (PRWEB) January 22, 2013
The year 2012 didn't bring about the end of the world, and it certainly didn't bring about the end of print either. In fact, Shweiki Media Printing Company saw a 20 percent growth in total revenue, stemming from more clients and more print jobs. And this growth in clients and jobs represents a growth that the clients themselves are seeing with their publications. What the company has witnessed and heard from their clients, according to owner Gal Shweiki, is that the clients' customers are still very excited about receiving high-quality publications that cover subjects that they are interested in, even in these tough economic times. All of this simultaneously represents the value of niche publications and the markets they serve, and a great sign for the print industry itself.
And this growth in revenue, stemming from the original, continuing desire for high-quality publications, will continue to fuel itself as profits from 2012 allow Shweiki to become even more efficient and proficient at producing high-quality publications and offering their clients the most quality service available. The growth has allowed the company to increase their customer service department and add additional support in the pre-press department, which has specifically helped assist with the free online magazines Shweiki's clients receive with each order. The company has also grown to three full shifts on the press, allowing 24-hour production, five days a week.
And it's not just an increase in personnel. Shweiki has also invested in more equipment and technology. Over the past few years, the company has purchased the most state of the art equipment in the industry, including the Mitsubishi MD 16 full web press, which is the newest commercial web press sold in the country and anchors Shweiki's plant, helping them provide their clients with the highest-quality magazine production available in the world. With the growth seen in 2012, Shweiki will now be investing this month in a top-of-the-line saddle-stitcher, which will allow them to handle more and larger print jobs. Pre-press software has also been upgraded to the latest version of Kodak Insite for an even simpler and more hassle-free upload process for clients.
According to Vice President of Sales and Marketing, David Reimherr, Shweiki Media will also be rolling out some new offerings early this year that will make print more dynamic and interactive than ever. Free custom mobile websites and a free Facebook tab builder will be available for clients, as well as the ability for the magazine clients to offer these add-ons to their own advertising clients and sell them as a bundle. Shweiki will also be debuting Shweiki MediAR, which enables clients to use the company's augmented reality software to spruce up their clients' ads and the pages of the actual magazine, giving life to print like it's never been done before.
In summary, this 2012 growth in revenue—stemming from, originally, a continuing interest in excellent publications and Shweiki's ability to provide them—will allow Shweiki to continue doing in 2013 what they do best: provide high-quality, hassle-free printing for their clients with an on-time guarantee.
Shweiki Media's mission has always been to help publishers improve by providing the most profitable, hassle-free printing experience possible--whether this is the printing of flyers, catalogs, magazines or postcards.
As a printer and publisher, Shweiki Media guarantees the highest quality product, exceptional customer service and on-time delivery. Shweiki also believes that this hassle-free experience includes making their clients better. That is why, by utilizing relationships with industry experts, Shweiki Media strives to educate clients and help them thrive in the exciting world of publishing--while having lots of fun along the way!
For more great info from and about Shweiki Media, please check out shweiki.com, follow us @ShweikiMedia and "like" us at Facebook.com/shweikimedia.