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WASHINGTON -- The House will miss the midnight Monday deadline lawmakers set for voting to avoid the "fiscal cliff."
House Republicans notified lawmakers that the chamber will vote Monday evening on other bills. They say that will be their only votes of the day.
President Barack Obama and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Monday they are near a deal to avoid wide-ranging tax increases and spending cuts - the fiscal cliff - that take effect with the new year.
Both men said they were still bargaining over whether - and how - to avoid $109 billion in cuts to defense and domestic programs that take effect on Wednesday.
It remained unclear whether the Senate would vote Monday.
Congress could pass later legislation retroactively blocking the tax hikes and spending cuts.
WASHINGTON -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says he and the White House have agreed on preventing tax hikes that the "fiscal cliff" will trigger after midnight. And he says they are very close to an overall deal that would also prevent budget-wide spending cuts.
The Kentucky Republican did not provide any details. But he said on the Senate floor that lawmakers should pass legislation averting tax increases that would otherwise take effect at the start of New Year's Day.
McConnell spoke after President Barack Obama said in televised remarks from the White House that a deal was in sight.
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama says a deal to avert across-the-board tax hikes and programs cuts is "within sight, but not done."
The president offered the update during a White House news briefing with a group of middle-income Americans standing with him. He said the last thing people want to hear on New Year's Eve is "another speech," but that he had to "talk about progress being made."
Obama said middle class families, businesses and the nation can't afford the kind of tax hikes that would go into effect tomorrow if there is no agreement. He called that possibility "a pressing concern on people's minds."
People aware of the talks say the potential agreement would extend tax cuts to households earning up to $450,000 but that divisions remain over spending cuts.
The president said the potential agreement would extend unemployment benefits for 2 million people. Obama said the deal would also include the extension of numerous tax credits including those for college tuition, families with children and clean energy.
Obama said he would have preferred "a grand bargain" to solve of the tax and spending problems but is hopeful Congress will approve the proposal being shaped.


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Submission + - What to do with unwanted desktop computers? 2
MarioMax writes: I've recently acquired several (3-5 year old) desktop computers from various family members. They are far from the latest and greatest machines, but they do a good enough job for checking email and playing web-based games. The problem is that I have no personal use for them, and other members of the family have no use for them either. It seems a shame to send them off to a recycling center when they're still perfectly servicable. What should I do with them?

subset: commoncrawl


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GREENVILLE, Ill. -- The men's basketball team gave Webster everything they could handle but ultimately fell short 86-77 on Wednesday night. Tim Daniel was Greenville's leading scorer with 20 points.
Greenville matched Webster shot for shot, hitting 30 field goals, including 10 three-pointers. The Panthers were outshot at the free throw line where Webster's 17-of-22 effort bettered Greenville's 7-of-10 outing.
Among Greenville's leaders, Alex Mumphard posted 19 points and eight assists, and Brian Ehresman chipped in 11 points, four assists, and four steals.
Ron Harris totaled 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Panthers (12-9, 8-6 SLIAC) will look to get back on track Saturday when they host Fontbonne at 3 p.m.


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San Francisco, CAUSA
March 6, 2014
A huge jerk.
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Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace has a young, modern vibe and fresh takes on contemporary Southwestern-style food.
Grill-master Bobby Flay's unique cooking style is loaded with flavor. Even the equipment is impressive, including a 20-foot high rotisserie grill soaring above the dining room.�
The cuisine includes signature items like a blue corn pancake with barbecued duck and haba�ero chile sauce. A roasted pumpkin soup with pumpkin and pomegranate seeds is another popular starter, with creamy pumpkin and crunchy seeds.
A coffee spice-rubbed rotisserie filet mignon is bold in flavor, and is served with wild mushroom-ancho chile sauce and green chile corn pudding. The careful attention to detail and bold flavors will make you want to scrape every morsel off your plate.
Mesa Grill's dessert program is also noteworthy. Consulting Pastry Chef Vicky Wells seasonally updates the pastry menu with delights like apple cider cake and a sinful chocolate espresso layer cake with toffee sauce, Kahlua toffee pieces and rich espresso butter cream.
In addition to the second story rotisserie, Mesa Grill has exciting bold colors like royal blues, reds, ambers and vibrant green. Treated copper lines the top of the walls and large, curvy, undulating wood sculptures bring down the exposed industrial-like ceiling.
Mesa Grill is a fabulous lunch spot, with separate lunch menu. It is also conveniently located close to the Colosseum for pre-show dining.


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A "troll" in social media speak is someone who comments or posts things that have NO relevance to the topic at hand. Since this blog and group of authors are here to help establish a new social media culture, the message is simple: STOP TROLLING!
Scooped by
Khaled El Ahmad


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Fourteen-year-old "Modern Family" star Ariel Winter will continue to live with her adult sister, her family will undergo therapy, and her mother will stay out of her business affairs under an agreement reached Wednesday.
The agreement comes before the scheduled start of what would have been a guardianship trial focused on claims that Winter's mother, Chrisoula Workman, has physically and emotionally abused Winter. Workman has vehemently denied abusing her daughter, who plays Alex Dunphy on the hit ABC comedy.
Under the terms of the agreement, Winter will continue to live with her sister, Shanelle Gray, until at least a March 29 follow-up hearing. Her father, Glenn Workman, has temporary control of his daughter's finances. Both parents, Winter and Gray will undergo counseling separately to explore the possibility of a long-term reunion, and their therapists will communicate through a "mutually agreed upon conjoint therapist," according to the agreement.
The agreement, approved by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael J. Levanas, was reached by representatives for Winter, Gray, and each of their parents.
Levanas said last month that an initial report by child protective services found evidence of emotional abuse, but that the claims of physical abuse were deemed inconclusive, the Associated Press reported.
Gray, an actress who has appeared on "The Bold and the Beautiful," has said through her attorney that she also suffered abuse from her mother and was removed from her mother's home as a teenager, the AP said.
Pamela Chelin contribute to his report.


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A Prairie Village couple says the secret to a good night's sleep is right in the produce aisle, and it could be the breakthrough so many have been praying for.
The secret is in the pink capsules containing a blend of three fruits, scientifically proven to make people sleep better and feel more refreshed when they wake up.
Adrienne and Gregory Doring are the brains behind the pills.
"It wasn't really inspiration it was desperation for us. We had just had our second child and as with a lot of new parents, sleep deprivation is a reality for us. We were still struggling to get to sleep at night," Gregory Doring said.
According to The National Sleep Foundation, about 70 percent of Americans suffer from insomnia on occasion or every night.
The couple wanted a natural sleep aid. Research led them to combine gogi berries, passion fruit and tart cherry. Supplement users can turn the bottle over see those are the only three ingredients.
According to the sleep-aid developers, the passion fruit helps calm and relax people. Tart cherries help regulate sleep problems and gogi berries help people to wake refreshed.
"It was really surprising to me that all these studies were out there showing that these fruits can help you sleep, and nobody had put them together yet," Gregory Doring said.
So the couple worked with pharmacists and nutritionists to develop a safe and effective combination.
"We had to have capsules made. We tried a few different versions. We had friends and friends of friends trying this and giving us feedback. We had a lot to learn about how you manufacture a dietary supplement. This isn't the business we were in before," Adrienne Doring said.
Their determination led them to BerrySleepy.com where people can buy the pills that were introduced to the world of dietary supplement just two weeks ago.
"It seemed like a really good opportunity, yet we were creating something that would help people and would make people's lives better," Gregory Doring said.
Right now, the product is only available on their website, but if sales are good, they want to sell their product in stores like Whole Foods.
Keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration does not approve dietary supplements.
Doctors were reluctant to comment about this product because they had no studies to consult. However, health officials warn it is best to talk to a medical professional before taking any new product.
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PEORIA — Shaun Livingston arrived at his Pride of Peoria basketball clinic Tuesday at Peoria High School on crutches, his right foot encased in a protective boot.
"Just a sprained big toe," he said. "I'll have this on for three weeks and then be good to go."
The injury limited Livingston's mobility during the second annual clinic, which is up 90 participants to 390 in attendance this year. Since he couldn't go to the kids, they came to him.
When he entered the gym following a press conference, a number of youngsters turned their heads and whispered to each other that Peoria's only active NBA player was in the house.
Eventually, they lined up during breaks and after sessions to shake hands or get a picture with Livingston, who sat in a chair along the baseline. "I asked him how did he go straight from high school to the NBA?" said 13-year-old Javon Howard of Peoria. "He said, 'It just takes lots of practice.' "
These kids with a similar dream are getting plenty of that at the camp this week. Camp directors and former college stars A.J. Guyton, Daniel Ruffin and Marcellus Sommerville — along with other camp coaches — offered some useful instruction on fundamentals and basic skills.
And they're getting that advice for free, compliments of the Shaun Livingston Foundation and a number of local sponsors.
"It's a unique camp," said Guyton, who starred at Peoria High and Indiana before a three-year NBA career. "We've got guys with experience at different levels to not only teach them basketball skills, but to create a relationship with them. We want to let the kids know who we are and that we had the same dreams they have."
Livingston is the living embodiment of that dream for many campers. At 28, he already has nine years in the league (plus one off the court while he was rehabbing his severely injured knee). He has averaged 7.0 points and 3.4 assists for those nine years.
The 2004 Peoria High graduate — and No. 4 pick in the NBA draft that June — recently signed a three-year contract with Golden State for $16 million as a backup point guard. After suiting up for eight different teams in the last six years as he recovered from his knee injury, the deal is a godsend of stability and security.
"Being year-to-year is not a lot of stability," he said. "I've had great opportunities to play in different organizations in great cities. But this (contract) being three years — and getting a chance to settle in with a team — I'm grateful."
Some of the older campers were aware of Shaun's new team. Others said they've seen him play on TV.
"He shares the ball well," said Sommerville's son, 9-year-old Lathan.
Said 12-year-old Daniel Basfield: "He's a good point guard. He sets up his teammates. And he has a good attitude. Whenever he does something wrong, he admits it."
While Golden State won't likely be on television as much as Brooklyn, Livingston's star-studded team last season, the elder Sommerville said the Warriors just earned themselves a bunch of new fans from Peoria.
"He'll be there long enough for a lot of these kids to become Warriors fans for a few years," Sommerville said. "Shaun and the Splash Brothers (young standout guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson)."
Said Livingston: "I know a couple of the guys on the team — Andre Iguodala is from Springfield and I played with Andrew Bogut in Milwaukee. I've always had a good relationship with (new head coach) Steve Kerr. It's a great, first-class organization that's trying to compete for a title this year. I'm excited about the opportunity."
Just as the 390 kids were excited about the opportunity of getting up close and personal with an NBA player from their hometown.
"(Livingston) grew up close by where my parents used to live," Basfield said. "They said he was always dribbling the ball down the street trying to get better. It's cool to get to meet him."
Dave Reynolds can be reachedat 686-3210 or email@example.com him on Twitter @davereynolds2.


text: Steven Arntson Young Adult Book Review: 'The Wrap-Up List' by Steven Arntson By Renee McGrath • Jul 2, 2013 The Wrap-Up List by Steven Arntson Houghton Mifflin, 2103 Steven Arntson had me from the get-go with The Wrap-Up List, which begins as follows, Some people die from heart attacks, and some from falling off ladders. Some are killed in car accidents. Some drown. Some, like my grandfather Gonzalo, die in war.


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Popular Shows
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All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, March 25th, 2014
Liam learns of Wyatt's idea, Wyatt holds his meeting, and Donna questions Brooke.
B&B logo (CBS)
In the Forrester boardroom, Wyatt tells Ally that he's looking out for the best interests of the company. He points out that she's not a company leader and doesn't need to be there. Hope arrives, and says she's a little nervous. Ally wonders why. Liam greets Pam in the corridor. He assures her he's not there for Wyatt's meeting. Pam tells him there's a life-size cardboard cutout of Hope and a rack of lingerie in there. Liam quickly deduces they're re-doing the bedroom line with Hope. Meanwhile, the meeting gets underway with everyone but Ridge in attendance. Wyatt reveals the cardboard cutout of Hope in lingerie. Pam listens from outside and tells Liam that Wyatt is showing slides. Liam says Hope won't go for being a lingerie model. "I know this." Pam isn't so sure. Pam talks about girls growing into their sexuality. She thinks sometimes people need a little push to become who they want to be. Inside, Wyatt says being sexy doesn't have to be cheap. Maya agrees. When Wyatt suggests it's time for Hope For The Future to take the next step, Ally yells, "No!" Eric says they'll let Wyatt finish. Outside, Liam is amused when Pam tells him Ally took Wyatt on. Pam says she can be her own worst enemy. They talk about Darla's death. He assumes the hit-and-run driver went to jail. Pam says he should ask Steffy. Talk turns back to Hope. Liam doesn't think she'd model lingerie when it came right down to it. In the boardroom, as Wyatt talks, Ally hears Darla telling her she has a responsibility to save the family from shame. Ally asks Hope if she's okay with undressing for the world. Hope admits she had reservations, but thinks Wyatt's right, it could be great. Ally says Grandmother wouldn't stand for this. Rick smirks that Stephanie didn't always get her way. Ally pleads with Hope not to do this. Wyatt asks for Ally to be removed.
At Brooke's house, RJ calls out for Ridge. Brooke says he's not there; he's probably still at work. RJ figures he'll play with him when he gets home. Brooke tells RJ that things turned out differently than they wanted. Later, Donna arrives and questions Brooke as she pours a vodka. Brooke says she's having a crisis. Donna thinks she's sounding uncharacteristically cynical. They discuss RJ. Donna says he seems okay; like a happy kid. Brooke says Hope was the same way - it was an act so as not to upset Mommy. Brooke admits she has a terrible ache inside. "I don't even want to be with me."
Spoilers for Tomorrow on The Bold and the Beautiful:
Wyatt and Liam do battle over Hope.
Hope faces an important business decision.
Please respect the Guidelines when posting and Contact a moderator if one is required to handle comments issues.
Check out our other "B&B" sections for The Bold and the Beautiful News, Comings and Goings, and Spoilers! Screen shots may not be used without express permission from Soaps.com.
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Previous in Recaps B&B Recap: Get Rid Of The Filth.
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Leading the new unit will be three long-time professionals with over 75 years combined experience in the bulk solid material handling and processing equipment field: W. "H" Wilson, former executive vice president/COO of Walton/Stout Inc.; Deborah Ellington, former national sales manager of Walton/Stout; and Patrick Jones, former CAD design manager at Walton/Stout.
"Combining the proven talents of three well-known pneumatic conveying experts with Sly's long presence in many industrial fields and manufacturing experience gives us a very strong offering for customers," said Ted Kurz, CEO of Sly Inc. and Sly Process Systems LLC. "We expect many firms will appreciate the stability and expertise we have to offer."
Sly Process Systems will design, manufacture, and provide rail car unloaders, storage silos, pneumatic conveying systems, weighing and blending equipment, bag/box/drum unloading and filling systems, and other bulk material handling related components. The newly formed unit will provide complete turnkey systems and/or individual components.
Sly Inc. manufactures a full range of wet, dry, and combination wet/dry collection industrial dust collector systems designed to meet any air pollution code. A system can be configured employing a variety of technologies to meet any specific requirements. Customized dust collection equipment and/or bulk material handling systems can be engineered to service unique applications.
For more information, visit www.slyinc.com.


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Louisville 7:00 - Adam Pettyjohn
Chattanooga 8:05 - James Avery
Sarasota 6:05 - Daniel Guerrero
Dayton 7:00 - Luis Montano
Louisville 7:00 - Adam Pettyjohn
Chattanooga 8:05 - James Avery
Sarasota 6:05 - Daniel Guerrero
Dayton 7:00 - Luis Montano
I really hope Dayton doesn't get rained out. I am heading up in a little bit and it would suck if I got up there and had no game to watch.
Benzinger backing and calling! And the 1990 world championship series belongs to the Cincinnati Reds!
Weathers is scheduled to throw in relief for the Dragons tonight too.
Daniel Guerrero is one of my deep sleepers. He started really badly but has had a couple good starts in a row. I'll be interested to see how he does tonight.
Valaika hit a 2-run homerun and now has 7 homeruns and 31 RBIs.
12-game hitting streak for Valaika.
Valaika needs to be moved immediately. There's no excuse not to do it.
Frazier: 2-for-3 double
Waring: 1-for-1 two HBP
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it."
Bruce is in a slump. I ain't worried.
Bruce has to be the disappointment of the minor league season so far. I wonder if the pressure to make the Reds is to much for him. Everybody wants him to hit 350 with 11 walks right now. It simply isn't happening.
Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.


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Oblivion to Launch With PS3[ps3] [psp]
Today, developer Bethesda Softworks confirmed yesterday's reports that the acclaimed The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, released earlier this year for PC and Xbox 360, will also be heading to PlayStation 3. Furthermore, the company announced that the game will be a launch title for PlayStation 3 when the machine goes on sale this November in North America, and next March in Europe.
Bethesda also confirmed The Elder Scrolls Travels: Oblivion, a separate PSP game set for release next spring in North America and Europe. "The Elder Scrolls Travels" is the branding Bethesda has previously used for its Elder Scrolls games on mobile devices and N-Gage.
Buena Vista Picks Up Climax Racing[ps2] [xbox] [xbox360] [psp]
Disney subsidiary Buena Vista Games, which is recently been gaining more and more visibility in the video game publishing world, today announced its intention to buy the Climax Racing studio from UK developer Climax Group. Climax is the developer of the THQ-owned MotoGP franchise and the Sony-owned ATV Offroad Fury franchise. BVG also owns the recently formed Propaganda Games, working on Turok (working title) (PS3, X360), as well as veteran developer Avalanche Software, responsible for the Tak series. It is inclear how the upcoming Climax Racing acquisition will affect the future of the MotoGP and ATV Offroad Fury franchises.
"The acquisition of Climax Racing aligns perfectly with our strategic and geographic goals by allowing us to both reach into new genres and new markets for creative talent," said BVG senior VP and GM Graham Hopper. "Adding Climax Racing to our creative family will provide an additional catalyst for our continued growth in the video games market." Terms of the deal, which is expected to close next month, were not disclosed.
Blitz Not Quite Blitzing to Wii Launch[nintendo]
When Midway first announced that it would be bringing Blitz: The League, its non-NFL successor to NFL Blitz, to Wii, the game was an expected launch title for the console. However, ever since that announcement, very little has been heard about the title, prompting some to speculate that it had been cancelled. However, speaking to IGN, the company confirmed that the game is still in the works but, as was becoming more and more obvious, will not be a Wii launch title. No new release period was given.
SmackDown! Comes Home[xbox360]
Today, Microsoft released a playable demo of the Xbox 360 version of Yuke's' WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007 on Xbox Live Marketplace. The free download comes in at a staggering 1.06GB. Marketplace has also been updated with trailers for Neversoft's Tony Hawk's Project 8, Midway & Tigon's The Wheelman, Kaos Studios' Frontlines: Fuel of War, and Pivotal Games' Crossfire.
Madden and NFS Race to Wii Launch[nintendo]
Electronic Arts today confirmed expectations that EA Tiburon and EA Canada's Madden NFL 07 and EA Black Box's Need for Speed Carbon will be launching alongside Nintendo's Wii console when launches on November 19, 2006. "Both Madden NFL 07 and Need For Speed Carbon were able to really bring out the innovation in the new FreeMotion Controller on the Wii and will attract a whole new sector of gamers," said EA Canada senior VP and GM John Schappert. "We are honored to be a part of the launch of this new exciting platform and are inspired by the new creative ideas it will let us explore."
Misc. Q&As/Features
X06 coverage is up from GameSpot, IGN, Game Informer, 1UP,
Misc. Media/Previews
IGN checks up on Rockstar Vancouver's Bully (PS2).
Screenshots: Doom (X360) (screens: single-player, multiplayer).
IGN checks out EA Canada's Wii version of Madden NFL 07 (Wii, also PS2, Xbox, GCN, PS3, X360, NDS, PSP, GBA, PC). Pro-G has a preview of Sonic Team's Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii).
Box art: Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz (Wii).
Screenshots: SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighters DS (NDS). Activision Hits Remixed (PSP). Sonic Rivals (PSP).
Screenshots: Armored Core 4 (PS3, X360).
Movies: Army of Two (PS3, X360). The Darkness (PS3, X360). Shrek the Third.
Console Game Of The Evening [Submit Yours!]
Anticipation for the NES. "I still have fun with this game from time to time. Up to four players can play this board game/pictionary." (submitted by famine101)


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The orphan master's son : a novel
by Adam Johnson.
Publishers Weekly Johnson's novel accomplishes the seemingly impossible: an American writer has masterfully rendered the mysterious world of North Korea with the soul and savvy of a native, from its orphanages and its fishing boats to the kitchens of its high-ranking commanders. While oppressive propaganda echoes throughout, the tone never slides into caricature; if anything, the story unfolds with astounding empathy for those living in constant fear of imprisonment-or worse-but who manage to maintain their humanity against all odds. The book traces the journey of Jun Do, who for years lives according to the violent dictates of the state, as a tunnel expert who can fight in the dark, a kidnapper, radio operator, tenuous hero, and foreign dignitary before eventually taking his fate into his own hands. In one of the book's most poignant moments, a government interrogator, who tortures innocent citizens on a daily basis, remembers his own childhood and the way in which his father explained the inexplicable: "...we must act alone on the outside, while on the inside, we would be holding hands." In this moment and a thousand others like it, Johnson (Parasites Like Us) juxtaposes the vicious atrocities of the regime with the tenderness of beauty, love, and hope. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Library Journal Imagine a society in which the official political story tells only of happiness and prosperity, yet personal experience reveals the opposite. Imagine the resulting internal dissonance and the ways in which people might reconcile such opposing forces. This is the experience offered by Johnson (Parasites Like Us) in his novel of modern-day North Korea. Following the path of the hero's journey, young Pak Jun Do moves from an orphanage into a life of espionage, kidnapping, and torture, only to be given a new identity as the husband of the Dear Leader's favorite actress. With references to the classic American film Casablanca, Johnson's narrative portrays his hero as he makes his way through a minefield of corruption and violence, eventually giving his all so that his loved ones might have a better life. VERDICT Readers who enjoy a fast-paced political thriller will welcome this wild ride through the amazingly conflicted world that exists within the heavily guarded confines of North Korea. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, 8/15/11.]-Susanne Wells, M.L.S., Indianapolis (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Book list *Starred Review* Pak Jun Do lives with his father at a North Korean work camp for orphans. In a nation in which every citizen serves the state, orphans routinely get the most dangerous jobs. So it is for Jun Do, who becomes a tunnel soldier, trained to fight in complete darkness in the tunnels beneath the DMZ. But he is reassigned as a kidnapper, snatching Japanese citizens with special skills, such as a particular opera singer or sushi chef. Failure as a kidnapper could lead directly to the prison mines. But in Johnson's fantastical, careening tale, Jun Do manages to impersonate Commander Ga, the country's greatest military hero, rival of Dear Leader Kim Jong Il and husband of Sun Moon, North Korea's only movie star. Informed by extensive research and travel to perhaps the most secretive nation on earth, Johnson has created a remarkable novel that encourages the willing suspension of disbelief. As Jun Do, speaking as Ga, puts it, people have been trained to accept any reality presented to them. Johnson winningly employs different voices, with the propagandizing national radio station serving as a mad Greek chorus. Descriptions of everyday privations and barbarities are matter of fact, and Jun Do's love for Sun Moon reads like a fairy tale. Part adventure, part coming-of-age tale, and part romance, The Orphan Master's Son is a triumph on every level.--Gaughan, Thomas Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.


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SISD on the ball with budget shortfalls
The Sweetwater Independent School District (SISD) Board of Trustees met for its monthly meeting on Wednesday evening, July 20, 2011, at the Administration Building.Several issues regarding the upcoming school year were discussed which will affect both students and employees of the district. One such matter was the school lunch program, in which approval was given to raise prices ten more cents at each campus. With food costs continually on the rise and though prices were raised last year, the issue needed to be addressed once again. But instead of a major push, the recommendation was to raise the cost at slow increments. A majority of students will be affected by the dime addition, but numbers show that each child would pay around $18 more per year.Also affecting students will be some changes and clarifications in the Student Code of Conduct for 2011-2012. While social media will be further discussed at next month's meeting, the continuing evolution of technology in the schools was among the changes.Online impersonation and expulsion regarding technology — such as hacking and computer security breaches and its consequences were laid out in the code, as well as coursework within the DAEP (Discipline Alternative Education Program). Bullying, aggravated robbery and corporal punishment were also highlighted and clarified.In addition, classroom disruptions, fights and disorderly conduct were discussed, in that citations will no longer be issued for students in the sixth grade or below. Alternative consequences are still to be determined, and the amendments and additions were approved.On the other hand, employees will also be impacted by changes and additions made in the 2011-2012 Employee Handbook, which were also approved by the board. Each employee will be presented with the newly updated handbook, in which they must adhere to its standards. Matters dealing with teacher certifications and licenses — in which the teacher is held responsible for, and technology resources such as electronic media were included in the discussions.Also, the maltreatment — defined as "abuse or neglect" in the handbook — of children was talked about, in which moral character and the reporting of child abuse fell into the category. Another issue was on charitable donations, which are encouraged yet not mandated by the district.Furthermore, topics which will affect local policies were dealt with by the board, such as Policy Update 90 which includes a variety of matters. An abridged version was offered for the board to peruse with one hot topic being STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness) testing, the new state standardized test.The end of course exam will now count as 15% of a student's final grade, but further discussion will clarify such concerns on how it will be credited, retests — which would possibly impact a students grade point average (GPA), and testing requirements for all students, including special education students.Technology issues also arose with this policy, including student-owned technology that is confiscated from improper use, digital signatures and the use of district technology outside the school. Even the potential use of YouTube for teachers was evaluated.More topics in the policy were in regard to specifications in disability discrimination toward participation in extracurricular events and service animals. Employee issues — several which coincide with the Employee Handbook — were also noted, like conduct and termination. Board members were also included in the policy updates with issues like access to records, training and meetings.The board approved the changes and updates to Policy Update 90, which will now appear on an electronic copy, as well as a hard copy which is available for viewing.In addition, some clarifications and amendments were made on an issue that was presented at a previous meeting regarding probationary, term and other contracts for employees. The three aspects were reevaluated and approved the updated changes.Also, in the discussion of delinquent tax lot bids, one bid was received which did not meet the minimum requirement. However, as the property proves to be a special situation, an exception was made in which the board accepted and approved the offer.Approval was also given for the consent agenda, which includes the minutes of the June 20 meeting, the financial statements and bills for the month of June and the investment statement. One such matter which no action was made was in the first of several budget workshops regarding the budget shortfall as a result of lower state funding. Revenue changes show losses of about $870,000 and some grants toward summer school and tutorials along with technology were lost. Some of the stimulus money, including for special education, will be used entirely by the end of August.A list was presented to the board showing savings made by the district, who made changes all around in an effort to not compromise programs. The consolidation of Hobbs to the Colorado City location, the new grade leveling set up within the elementary schools, and reductions and merging of staff and faculty to absorb costs were among the major changes, which result in a savings of a bit over $1 million.Other financial increases made within the district will have an impact, and while the modifications will be tight they will be possible. Nevertheless, the board found some relief in that compared to projections earlier in the year, the district will fare better than expected. Two resignations and one reassignment was listed in professional personnel changes, and one resignation and one new hire was noted for paraprofessionals in the Superintendent's Report. Tax collections were also reported at $6,703,645.45, equaling 101.32% and standing well over the 96% average goal.The preliminary report was given on the FIRST Rating, a financial report card on the district citing 22 indicators to be met. One such indicator which was lower than usual led the district to earn the second-highest ranking, whereas the district has consistently gained the top honor. They will appeal in order to obtain the highest rating.A brief redistricting update was also given, in that the process is continuing and information is still being gathered. Early indicators might prompt a change in date for school board elections, but the hope is to have the entire process completed before the fall season.


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News Release
Please note: As of January 20, 2017, information in some news releases may be out of date or not reflect current policies.
ILAB News Release: [08/09/2011]
Contact Name: Gloria Della or Joshua Lamont
Phone Number: (202) 693-8666 or x4661
Release Number: 11-1206-NAT
Statement by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on labor rights enforcement case against Guatemala
WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the decision to request an arbitral panel in a dispute over labor rights enforcement by Guatemala:
"I applaud U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk's decision today to request the establishment of an arbitral panel under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement in a dispute regarding the government of Guatemala's failure to effectively enforce its labor laws.
"This unprecedented step demonstrates the Obama administration's determination to enforce the labor obligations that form an integral part of the United States' free trade agreements. This is the first labor case brought to dispute settlement by the United States under a free trade agreement. We are committed to ensuring that U.S. businesses and workers compete on a level playing field.
"Guatemala's persistent failure to address the systemic problems with its labor law enforcement has left the United States with no choice other than to pursue this enforcement action."
Editor's note: More information on this issue is available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2011/august/us-trade-representative-ron-kirk-announces-next-ste.
- Read this news release en Español.


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MIke Wallace and the Dolphins have agreed to a five-year contract that will pay him between $60 and $65 million if he meets all its incentives.
The contract includes a substantial amount of guaranteed money. Although that figure is not yet known, it will be approximately $30 million.
Wallace will be the third-highest paid wide receiver in the NFL behind Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The contract is not yet signed. Indeed, the Dolphins are privately denying that it is done. But Wallace is in South Florida and taking a physical and could sign the deal if he passes, as expected. He will sign the deal this evening.
The Dolphins have been making press conference plans but that will likely happen Wednesday.
Wallace is the deep-threat receiver the Dolphins have lacked since Jeff Ireland became the general manager. Frankly, the Dolphins haven't had a similar deep-threat weapon since Irving Fryar played for the team in the mid 1990s.
The Dolphins are not finished revamping their offense, and specifically their passing game.
The club is deep into negotiation for bringing former Tennessee tight end Jared Cook to the team. Cook is the seam-threat player the team wanted but could get from Michael Egnew and Charles Clay.
Cook, however, is also negotiating with the St. Louis Rams.
Interestingly, Rams free agent wide receiver Brandon Gibson remains an option in Miami, particularly if Cook does not sign. The Herald's Adam Beasley is reporting Gibson will visit the New York Jets.


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Submission + - 10-Year Gary McKinnon Case To End This Year (techweekeurope.co.uk)
judgecorp writes: "The ten-year legal quagmire surrounding Gary McKinnon, who hacked into US military and NASA computers in 2001 and 2002, must end this year, a British High Court Judge has ordered. McKinnon has been appealing against extradition to the US, and two medical experts must report in 28 days on hist mental state, ruling whether he would be a suicide risk if deported. This ruling could short-circuit an extradition appeal hearing ni July."


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Smulkstys, Julius J.
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Smulkstys, Julius J.
Categories: People
Dr. Smulkstys came to the Indiana University center in 1959 and retired in 1995 as associate professor emeritus of political science. He received degrees from University of Illinois (A.B., 1953; A.M., 1955) and Indiana University (Ph.D., 1963). He served as Dean of Arts and Letters from 1981-1988 and the Acting Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences from 1988-1989 when he was succeded by David J. Cox. His area of research interest included Marxist theory and practice, totalitarian systems with an emphasis on eastern European countries.
Photo & article: I.U. Student, November 1959, p.1.; Intercom, June 1981, p.1.


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Interior Secretary Salazar announces 'targeted leasing' in Arctic
A five-year offshore leasing plan will include targeted Arctic waters off Alaska's northern coast, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said June 26.
Future Arctic lease sales will focus on areas that have high petroleum potential but low conflict with environmental resources or Alaska Native village subsistence users, Salazar said. Speaking from Trondheim, Norway, Salazar said by teleconference that the federal government will shift from a one-size-fits-all approach to strategic planning with the hope of reducing drilling delays and litigation.
"You can call this targeted leasing," he said. "It means we are aggregating what we know and identifying areas best suited for exploration and development based on the latest information."
Drilling in Arctic waters is bitterly opposed by environmental groups and some Alaska Natives. Their lawsuits and permit appeals have prevented Shell Oil from drilling in the Chukchi Sea, where the oil giant spent $2.1 billion on leases in 2008. Shell also holds older leases in the Beaufort Sea and hopes to drill exploratory wells this summer in both locations.
Salazar confirmed that in Puget Sound, Wash., on June 25, Shell successfully tested a capping stack that could be lowered to stop a spill from a well blowout in Arctic waters. If Shell clears other thresholds, he expects the company to drill during the 2012 open water season under standards developed by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement after the Deepwater Horizon blowout two years ago.
"I anticipate those permits will be granted if Shell can meet the final conditions that are set forth by BSEE in their requirements," he said. "If Shell meets our standards and passes our inspections, exploration activities will be conducted under the closest oversight and most rigorous safety standards ever implemented in the history of the United States."
The five-year offshore leasing plan will include potential lease sales in the Chukchi Sea in 2016 and the Beaufort Sea in 2017, he said. Until then, federal regulators will accumulate additional information to balance energy potential with safety and environmental considerations, Salazar said.
"Our goal is to maximize the availability of oil and gas resources in those areas that we are making available for leasing while minimizing conflict with potentially environmentally sensitive areas and Native Alaska communities that rely on the ocean for subsistence use."
The lease plans also will set aside areas important for wildlife or native subsistence, including a 25-mile-wide buffer along the Chukchi Sea coast because of its importance to subsistence hunters.
Marilyn Heiman, Arctic program director for Pew Environment Group, said her group is disappointed that Arctic waters will be included in the lease plan, but she's encouraged that there will be a time lag to collect information from affected communities.
She also applauded setting aside sensitive areas. One, she said, might be Hanna Shoal northwest of Barrow, which diverts warm water flowing north from the Bering Sea and leaves a pocket of colder water into the summer season. Sea ice stays in the area late in the summer, she said, providing a platform for ice-dependent wildlife such as walrus.
Mike LeVine, an attorney for Oceana, said the Interior Department continues to take small steps forward but bigger ones backward. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management should be congratulated for allowing time to gather science and develop targeted lease sales, he said, and for identifying and protecting important ecological areas. That progress, he said, does not excuse the poor decision to affirm earlier lease sales or approve exploratory drilling.
"We lack the basic science to make good decisions in the Arctic," he said. "There is no reason to schedule lease sales in the Beaufort and the Chukchi and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management should not have done that."
Likewise, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement should not have approved Shell's response plan, he said.
"There has been no demonstration that the response technologies that Shell proposes might work in Arctic conditions, especially in the presence of ice," he said.
Shell's approved response plan calls for more than a dozen vessels accompanying two drilling ships. Besides the capping stack, skimmers and boom would be on board other vessels and the flotilla would include a tanker to hold captured crude oil.


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BEIJING (Caixin Online) — Every time I come to Japan to attend a conference, I am reminded of what a depression looks like in the 21st century.
This time is no different: shops are not busy, restaurant owners wait anxiously outside for customers and are usually disappointed, empty taxi cabs roam the streets. Two decades after its property bubble began to deflate, Japan remains mired in deflation and contraction.
The economic statistics tell the horror story best. Japan's nominal gross domestic product in 2011 was 9% lower than in 2007 and 2.5% lower than in 1992! In 1992, the national debt was only 20% of GDP. It is now 230%. Essentially, 200% of GDP in fiscal stimulus hasn't turned the economy around.
Caixin is a Beijing-based media group dedicated to providing high-quality and authoritative financial and business news and information through periodicals, online and TV/video programs.
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The depression dynamic begins with declining incomes. People then spend less to cope. Shops and restaurants become emptier. The weak demand depresses business profitability and investment. The former depresses the stock market, and the latter labor income. Both pressure people to spend even less.
Few people pay attention to Japan's problems nowadays. Financial markets pay a lot of attention to the United States' economic problems. But its nominal GDP rose 7% between 2007 and 2011 and is likely to rise another 4% in 2012.
Japan could at best achieve zero growth in nominal GDP in 2012. The performance gap between the United States and Japan is 20% in nominal GDP since 2007.
America's national debt has doubled since 2007 and reached 100% of GDP in 2012. Its trend isn't sustainable either. But Japan's debt problem is more advanced in depth. Its debt crisis should occur before the United States'.
Japan's problem doesn't get much attention because it has funded its debt with domestic savings. The home bias in Japan's national savings is very strong. Hence, the thinking goes that if the Japanese government isn't viable in the long run, the country is.
Japan has been experiencing deflation. It doesn't need to be concerned about inflation. Increasing money supply in a deflationary environment is the right thing to do. The resulting currency weakness offsets some of the competitive pressure from Japan's neighbors and gives the economy more breathing room. The logic is too easy for Japan not to understand.
One could assume that Japan can reshuffle its balance sheet and ask its savers to take a big haircut in their savings one day to solve the problem.
Another alleviating factor is Japan's egalitarian economic structure. The economic depression hasn't turned into an employment crisis. The unemployment rate is relatively low.
It's just that everyone is getting less pay. A recent survey shows that the Japanese salary earner's pocket spending money from their wives has declined to the level three decades ago, showing the severity in income decline. Japan just spreads the pain evenly to avoid wreaking havoc on part of the population. This is why Japan doesn't look like it is in depression on the surface.
The causes
The story of Japan's burst bubble is well known. Its stock market peaked in 1989 and land prices in 1992. The Nikkei NIK, -1.18% today is one-fifth the level in 1989. Land prices in top cities are down over 80%. Asset deflation, reflecting the huge size of its bubble in the 1980s, is an important factor in Japan's depression.
Aging and losing competitiveness are important factors too. As Japan's asset prices are quite low today, its continuing depression should be attributed to the late two factors.
Aging is a common phenomenon accompanying economic development. As people become richer and more educated, they live longer and have fewer children. This process is more pronounced in Japan than almost anywhere else.
Declining economic prospects are disincentivizing people from having children. A declining population reinforces the depression dynamic. Aging can be a self-reinforcing downward spiral.
It is no secret that Japan's neighbors have been chipping away at its industries. Its electronics industry once dominated the world, but it is losing billions of dollars every year. Most of the country's well-known electronics companies may go bankrupt within three years.
Its auto industry is still large and profitable. The whole Japanese economy depends on its performance, but it is losing competitiveness to its German or South Korean competitors. If nothing is done to change the trend, Japan's auto industry will shrink in the coming years, which would accelerate the decline of the country's economy.
The competitive challenges will catch up with Japan's other still successful industries. Japan has advantages in the manufacturing of some sophisticated components for the machinery and electronics industries. Long institutional memories, a strong suit of the Japanese companies, are critical in such industries. But China and South Korea are catching up.
In another ten to twenty years, it is hard to see Japan still holding a strong edge in these industries.
The wrong policy
When an economy faces rising challenges to its competitiveness, it is wrong to pursue policies strengthening the currency. That is exactly what Japan has done over the past two decades.
At the peak of the Japan bubble, the yen USDJPY, -0.08% was trading at around 140 against the dollar. It is now at 80. Ten years ago the yen was at around 160 against the euro. It is now at 100. It is essentially suicide for a deflating economy with declining competitiveness to have a strong currency.
Japanese policy-makers often argue that they cannot control the exchange rate. From time to time the Japanese government intervenes in the currency market to stop the yen's rise temporarily. Such interventions only give speculators opportunities to profit from the yen's rise, as their speculative positions are subsidized by the interventions. Such intervention failures create the perception that the Japanese government can't affect the yen's value.
That perception is absolutely wrong. A central bank can always decide its currency value. It can supply an unlimited amount of money, literally causing the currency value to go to zero. But its power is limited by inflation.
Japan has been experiencing deflation. It doesn't need to be concerned about inflation. Increasing money supply in a deflationary environment is the right thing to do. The resulting currency weakness offsets some of the competitive pressure from Japan's neighbors and gives the economy more breathing room. The logic is too easy for Japan not to understand. We have to assume that the strong yen is a deliberate policy. I suspect two reasons.
When China surpassed Japan to become the second-largest economy in the world, it caused a lot of anxiety in Japan.
So the relative size, not just growth, is a major concern in Japanese policy-making. If yen loses half of its value, the Japanese economy drops below $3 trillion. Japan would be considered like France or Italy, not an independent economic force at the world's bargaining table anymore.
This concern only makes sense if the size brings enough benefits to offset the consequences of depression, which I seriously doubt.
The second reason is the strong yen benefiting old people. As the yen increases in purchasing power, pensioners can increase their living standards at the expense of the working population. Japan's political parties are quite dependent on pensioners for political support. Hence, a strong yen may be a political winner.
The strong yen would have crushed the economy completely if it were not for the fiscal support. The 200% of GDP in the increase of national debt is a consequence of keeping the economy afloat with the strong yen, amplifying all the other challenges. This game lasts as long as Japan can find enough money to plug its fiscal deficit, now 40% of the expenditure.
The perfect storm
The only sensible market argument for strong yen in the past is that Japan could keep all its problems inside. Maybe it's the wrong policy. But Japanese like it and other people can't do anything about it. That argument no longer holds true.
Japan's recent trade deficit is the beginning of a trend. Its savings rate has been declining with an aging population. If the fiscal deficit doesn't decline, there isn't enough money at home to fund it. The emergence of a trade deficit now and current account deficit soon reflect a savings shortage in Japan.
What foreign investors think of Japan will begin to matter to its bond market. Foreign investors are unlikely to buy into Japan's crazy policy combination.
If the government tries to shrink the deficit through raising taxes, the economy declines further, which accelerates the downward vicious spiral. The delicate equilibrium between a strong yen and fiscal deficit would be broken. And some sort of collapse may follow.
The dispute with China may be the last straw in punching a hole in Japan's unstable equilibrium.
As China is the largest market for Japanese companies and the only major growing market, its trade deficit could mushroom into 2013.
The market's view of the yen may flip from a safe haven to a structurally weak one. It could trigger a huge reversal in the capital flow, causing the yen to switch down to a new equilibrium level of 30% to 40% below where it is now.
Happy retirement
Nagoya recently lowered the speed of the escalators in the city by 30%. This was to make them safer for an aging population.
The Japanese economy is reorganizing to serve an aged society. Its median age is nearly 45. The share of population over 65 is 22% and heading to one-third by 2050. Aging is the most powerful force reshaping the Japanese economy and politics.
Japan is the fastest aging major economy. How it copes offers valuable lessons to other countries that will follow in the aging process.
The first lesson is that the political process needs to change to offer more weight to the youth. Otherwise, the society won't invest in the future, which is a recipe for decline.
Further, burdening the young discourages them from having children, reinforcing the aging trend. The voting age could be lowered to increase youth votes. Also, parents of small children should vote on behalf of their children. If such changes are made, the political force would tilt away from the senior population to the young.
Being concerned about the elderly is a good thing per se; it just shouldn't be taken too far. The Japanese infrastructure, like the escalators in Nagoya, is being modified for the convenience of seniors.
Losing money in shorting the yen seems a common lesson for currency traders. Seasoned currency traders are instinctively dubious of bearish yen calls. As the Fed's policy rate is similar to Bank of Japan's, there is even less reason to be bearish on yen than before. Three current developments strengthen the case for the yen's day of reckoning.
This is definitely a good thing. Chinese infrastructure, though spanking new, is highly unfriendly to seniors. The new airports and high-speed train stations have such vast halls that they are practically impossible for seniors to use.
China's aging process is merely two decades behind Japan's. It is shortsighted to build infrastructure that way.
Japan isn't increasing immigration to alleviate its aging pressure. Instead, the seniors remain economically active. After retiring from corporate jobs, Japanese seniors often take up service jobs like waiting tables at restaurants, driving taxis, or staffing retail shops.
This new phenomenon is very good at solving the income and labor problems in an aging society. China could learn much from Japan in how to cope with aging.
Prediction pitfalls
Predicting the yen's fall has been a fool's game. The yen has been mostly strong in Japan's two-decade-long decline. The financial market is littered with stories of fallen heroes shorting the yen. Japan's fundamentals are so bad that the yen has tempted many inexperienced traders into shorting it.
Losing money in shorting the yen seems a common lesson for currency traders. Seasoned currency traders are instinctively dubious of bearish yen calls. As the Fed's policy rate is similar to Bank of Japan's, there is even less reason to be bearish on yen than before.
Three current developments strengthen the case for the yen's day of reckoning.
First, Japan's corporate sector has deteriorated so much that its well known companies may go bankrupt. If these companies do go under, the contraction of Japan's economy could accelerate, increasing the likelihood of a financial crisis.
Second, the fiscal situation has reached some hard limits. The latest fiscal stimulus package is 0.1% of GDP. It is laughably small and unlikely to make any difference.
If the government could do a bigger one, it is likely to do so. The fact that the government is reduced to doing symbolic fiscal stimulus suggests that no more is possible. Hence, there is no offsetting factor against a strong yen in propping up the economy.
Lastly, the territorial dispute with China kills Japan's dream of growing out of its problems. The dispute is unlikely to be resolved soon.
Also, once Chinese consumers switch to other car manufactures, coming back may become quite difficult. In the short term, weak Chinese demand will accelerate Japan's contraction. There isn't another force to offset it. The only tool to avoid a crash is to devalue the yen.
It appears that the day of reckoning for strong yen is near.
Read this column on Caixin Online.


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HOUSTON - More than 20 cities across Texas have laws against texting and driving, but Local 2 Investigates has uncovered officers are writing few tickets to drivers.
For those who know the grim reality of what can happen with a distracted driver, the lack of enforcement is frustrating.
"They don't care," said Erin Smith, a passenger in a suspected texting and driving accident near Beaumont.
Smith is now paralyzed because of the wreck.
"They're not cutting down on it like drinking and driving. They're so strict about that. Why can't they be as strict about texting and driving?" Smith said.
Local 2 Investigates surveyed cities across the Houston area that have ordinances against texting and driving. The investigation found most police departments are writing only a handful of tickets per month.
Since August 2010, Galveston police have written 60 tickets. That's less than three tickets on average each month. In that same time, officers in Missouri City officers have written 55 tickets. In West University, police officers have issued 33 tickets, but that number also includes warnings.
Since 2011, Conroe police have issued just 13 tickets for texting and driving. Magnolia police have written just four tickets.
In Bellaire, officers have issued two texting and driving tickets in more than two years.
"It does surprise me," said State Rep. Garnet Coleman, a Houston Democrat who has pushed for a statewide ban on texting and driving. "Laws have to be enforced for it to work. That's extremely important."
Police in every city said while the laws do bring public awareness to the dangers of distracted driving, the primary problem in enforcement is catching people in the act. The problem, they said, is officers have to determine if a driver is dialing, looking for a number or actually texting. Many times that can be difficult for officers to see, and even tougher to prove.
"The ordinance allows you to scroll through your phone," said Corp. Anthony Hipolito, a spokesman at the Austin Police Department. "The law allows you to dial on your phone. Because of that, it does make the law hard to enforce."
Austin is the largest city in Texas with a texting and driving law. Police write about 16 tickets per month. The Austin ordinance says officers have to prove drivers were "texting." Nothing else violates the law.
Many cities have the same ordinance. Other cities like Galveston and Missouri City don't allow any typing on your phone at all. But the law differs city by city.
"A hands-free ordinance, where you have to be on a hands-free device in your car at all times, would make it 100 percent easier to enforce," said Hipolito.
El Paso is the only city in Texas with a complete ban on handling cellphones while you drive. All use of cellphones must be "hands free." In less than two years, El Paso police have written more than 15,000 tickets.
"Clearly the public safety message, and a sanction that is real, needs to be there," Coleman said. "That's how you change behavior."
Coleman said a uniform state law that goes beyond just "texting" and driving would be more effective and easier to enforce.
Currently, the only statewide law bans cellphone use in school zones. The city of Houston does not have a ban on texting and driving.
Mayor Annise Parker had said she is in support of a state law instead of a city ordinance. A law that would have banned texting and driving across the state, was vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry last legislative session.
Lawmakers said they plan to push for the ban again when the state legislature convenes in January.
If you have a news tip or question for KPRC Local 2 Investigates, drop them an e-mail or call their tipline at (713) 223-TIPS (8477). Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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From Johnny Appleseed to Andrew Pittz, the Heartland tradition of sharing new agricultural staples has grown into the 21st century.
The sixth generation Iowa family farmer is travelling across all 99 counties planting aronia berry bushes to celebrate the burgeoning industry.
Until Sawmill Hollow reintroduced nearly two decades ago, no farm in North America grew the then-endangered crop commercially.
Article Photos
Accepting the aronia berry from Andrew Pittz are Estherville city administrator Penny Clayton; community development director Barb Mack and parks and recreation secretary Sara Montandon.
Photo submitted
Today, over 200 farm families compose the Sawmill Hollow "Farm Team." The "Healthy Family, Farms, & Communities" 99 county tour planting locations help tell the story of Iowa small business, agriculture, and community, celebrating our shared successes.
According to Sawmill Hollow "Farmer-in-Chief" Andrew Pittz, "Whether you're an Iowan business, library, or a Chamber of Commerce, it's about celebrating our shared successes and Iowa neighborliness. We invest in our communities every day -- growing our shared exchange -- Rural and urban, big and small, conventional and organic, we're all working together to grow Iowa."
From the Missouri River to the Mississippi, each planting location shares a story and exemplifies this Iowan exchange. In Sioux City, Sawmill Hollow joined Jumpy Monkey and Opportunities Unlimited, a non-profit that employs individuals with mental and physical disabilities, to plant a bush and pack the world's first aronia berry coffee. In central Iowa, the bushes now stand at the Winterset Public Library, just down the road from the world-renowned bridges of Madison County. In the east, the urban Cedar Rapids Newbo City Market and the rural Tipton farmers' market now house the plants, adding to marketplaces of products and ideas.
In Estherville, Parks and Recreation secretary Sara Montandon, city administrator Penny Clayton, and community development director Barb Mack joined Pittz to plant an aronia berry bush at Iowa Lakes Community College. Pittz and the others engaged in the Iowan exchange by trading stories of popular attractions.
"Sweet Corn Days the first weekend in August," Mack, Montandon, and Clayton said in unison. Sweet corn days - which features a duck derby, 6,000 free ears of corn, and the beloved street dance piqued Pittz's interest.
"You can bet we'll be back in Estherville the first weekend in August as long as the berries aren't ripe yet," Pittz said.
As the tour rolls across the state, culinary events show the versatility of the Iowa "Superfood" at hometown shops and Hy-Vee grocery stores -- the first retailer to carry Sawmill Hollow's aronia berry.
Already, Sawmill Hollow Family Farm represents a rural success story. Last year the farm business was recognized not only as a Renew Rural Iowa "Business of the Month" but also as a top 51 company shaping the natural and organic industry - the only family farm or rural business to make the list.
Iowa Governor Branstad declared September "Aronia Berry Month" to demonstrate the importance of the new industry to the state's communities. On the tour, Governor Branstad offered his support, saying "The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative sets out to make our state the healthiest in the nation by 2016. In the last year we have moved from the top 20 to the top 10 with farmers like Andrew Pittz of Sawmill Hollow, the aronia berry, and these great public-private partnerships." Atlantic, Iowa-based regional Rural Development Director Theresa Jordison echoed the themes of the tour, calling Andrew Pittz a "pioneer in creating opportunity."
Sawmill Hollow also hosts the North American Aronia Berry Festival, which features 30 Loess Hills artisans and small businesses. In many ways the tour acts as an extension of the event, celebrating Iowa stories from across the state and making it a natural fit for programming from Iowa's Healthiest State Initiative. This year's event will take place September 21- 22 at Sawmill Hollow Family Farm. From the fork of a dirt and gravel road, their first field day grew from 35 attendees into an end-of-summer blowout that attracted 4,000 visitors last year. This year's festival will also house 99 collages to represent every stop on the tour, promoting each county, and encouraging festival attendees to visit great attractions across the state.
The aronia berry, native to North America, is a dark pigmented fruit that contains the highest antioxidant content of any food in the world, tripling the content of a blueberry and doubling the imported Brazilian acai berry (Source USDA).


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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A father faces felony child neglect charges after a Florida Highway Patrol trooper spotted a baby left alone in a car outside a Best Buy store.
The incident happened about 5:30 p.m. Thursday near Orlando.
Trooper Edy Rivera saw the infant in a car seat inside a locked car. He went into the store, looking for the vehicle's owner.
When no one came forward, he broke the vehicle's window and got the baby boy out.
A short time later, officials say 34-year-old Haider Darwash returned to the vehicle. He told troopers he thought his wife had the baby. She was located standing in line at another business in the shopping center.
The child was not harmed.
Darwash was booked into jail. An attorney was not listed on jail records.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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CARY – District 26 plans to increase the amount of iPads students and teachers will have access to at school.
School district officials are proposing to purchase 300 iPads when the new fiscal year begins on July 1. The district plans to have 200 of the iPads designated for teachers and administrators, and 100 for student use.
A vote by the school board on the $225,000 purchase is scheduled for Monday.
When combined with current devices in the district, there will be about 280 iPads available for student use, either by checking them out from a school library or via classroom carts that teachers can check out.
iPads were first brought into the district in January.
In a survey of elementary teachers in the district conducted in November, 75 percent who responded said they would be willing to give up the replacement of two classroom computers in return for an iPad.
Having their own iPads allows teachers to learn and understand the technology they're teaching their students, said Instructional Technology Coordinator Jennifer Fisher.
As a curriculum tool, there are apps that can enrich lessons, Fisher said. The iPad allows students to move around the room and interact with students, document student behavior, have digital teacher's editions for books, shoot pictures and videos, and engage in interactive class activities, among other things, Fisher said.
The district plans to make the purchase during the summer so the iPads would be available for student use at the beginning of next school year, Fisher said.
District 26 also is requiring teachers to go through iPad training and provide sample lesson plans that include use of the iPads.
"We feel as the demand for these continues to grow, the more we can get dispersed for multiple classrooms to use the better for the students," said Andrew Fitzsimons, the district's technology coordinator.
So far, more than 100 teachers have been trained on how to use the devices, and the iPad carts have been used in classrooms more than 200 times.
"That is a huge voluntary jump that staff is wanting to integrate this technology into classrooms," Fisher said.
Some schools are limiting the amount of times teachers can use the iPads to one time a week or an hour a week because of the demand, Fisher said.
Adding more sets will allows students to do more hands-on work with devices, Fisher said.
Board member Scott Coffey said he wanted to see if the district could buy even more. He asked district administrators asked to see if there could be more money allocated toward purchasing more iPads.
Only buying 100 iPads for student use is a drop in the bucket to meet the demand in the district, he said.
"The quantity that's being recommended, I don't think is sufficient to meet the demands of the district and its students," Coffey said.


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Sacred Cells: Embodying the Feminine Divine
Every cell in our beautiful and amazing bodies contains the whirling wisdom of the universe. This is the journey of one witch remembering that, and celebrating the sacred and divine in beings of all genders and manifestations.
Roots Down, Branches Up
In my Reclaiming Witch tradition, before we do any type of magical work (environmental or social justice activism, personal or community healing, solitary or public ritual), we ground. It's the act of drawing on the connection between The Earth and The Stars. It can be done through a long and elaborate liturgy, or with these four simple words.
Roots down, branches up*.
We may each envision it slightly different, but for me, roots down follows the line through my root chakra (that spot between my anus and vulva), down my legs and feet, and through my soles. It continues through the floor (if I'm inside) or directly into the ground (if I'm outside). That line continues down through the dirt and worms, rocks and ground water, streaks of minerals, and pockets of oil and natural gas. It continues to the molten center of The Earth, that place of terrestrial heat and energy. Then, that energy, that lovely core energy, flows back up along that root line through the layers of The Earth herself, back through my soles and legs and root chakra, up through my other chakras into my whole body: bones and blood and soft tissue, organs and nerves and cognition.
Roots down, branches up.
Branches up follows the line up through my crown chakra (the top of my head), that place where, long ago, there was a soft spot in my skull before those plates grew together. That line branches out and up through the air, the clouds, all the layers of our atmosphere. It continues into the dark vacuum of space, through The Moon in all her phasing, and to the stars. The vast energy found there, which is both unfathomably dark and at the same time brighter than anything imaginable, flows through those branches back down. It flows back down though darkness, through The Moon, through the Air. It enters me at that tender spot of my crown chakra and flows down through all my chakras, flooding my whole body in capillaries and cell walls, synapses and lymphatic fluid, hormonal secretions and the viral and bacterial colonies that live in balance with my human DNA.
Roots down, branches up.
Then, when I am intentionally conscious of that connection between the core of The Earth, and the vastness of space (which my molecules always know exists, but my cognition often is too distracted to remember), then whatever work I will be doing alone (or with others), can really begin.
Roots down, branches up.
Of course, it is possible to work without taking time to recognize that connection. Most humans, including me, seem to do it all the time. But to be intentional and conscious of it, strengthens our work. I can only speak for myself, but if I don't start there, I fall into all kinds of silliness and illusions: mostly vacillating between delusions of grandeur and a sad little martyr complex.
Roots down, branches up.
Blessings on you in your magical work. Blessings on your activism, your healing work, your rituals. May your sacred cells be fed and nourished by the energy flowing through you: up from your roots and down through your branches. May that energy sustain and strengthen you. May your strength add to the strength and healing of The Whole. Blessed Be.
*Gratitude to Raven Moonshadow who, years ago, introduced those simple words for grounding into Reclaiming culture.
Monday, 27 January 2014
Roots down, Branches up.....
Very 'practical application' functional.
Thanks for something to think upon ....
It may tie in with my own ~>
Ascend. Transcend. Transform.
Benedictus Bonum Sum....
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
After I read this & I had scribed & posted my 1st 'comment' I received an email from a young mother having a seriously severe 'bad night'. It was not until after I had send her email to me onwards that it occurred to me that 'Roots down, Branches up' might possibly be a further source of inspiration & guidance.
Benedictus Serenitus Scriptus Bonum Sanctus Sum....
GBH. 06:15 am pacific. 01.28.2014.
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
"Roots down, branches up" I love it! Thank you for sharing.
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
I'm curious about how you blend Christianity with your faith in the Divine Feminine. I was a progressive Christian exploring goddess spirituality and then committed both to it and to my magical practice, and I realized that there didn't seem to be room for Christianity. I no longer believed that Jesus was the Son of God, and I no longer believed that we needed salvation or that he came to save us. Maybe you do still believe those things?
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
Hi Jeanine - My journey of experience with, and understanding of, the various aspects of the Christian trinity has been a wonderful and long one. Without giving you the whole history, where I find myself now is appreciating the life and teaching of the human Jesus, and the presence of the Cosmic Christ Consciousness that has unfolded since the death of the human Jesus millennia ago. I, like you, don't believe in atonement theology or the salvation aspect other folk have attached to Jesus. I appreciate the historic figure of Jesus and the record we have of his teaching of radical compassion and inclusiveness. I have experienced the presence of the Cosmic Christ who I experience as gender fluid or more precisely not attached to gender. My experience of the "Father" part of the Christian Trinity is pretty marginal, I am more of a Panentheist which to me means that everything is One and what I/we call "God" is the consciousness of the whole - so again not attached to gender. I have most frequently experienced the "Holy Spirit" part of the Christian Trinity in very fluid mostly feminine energy. I am lucky to be in a Christian denomination that is comfortable with a variety of theological perspectives, and mostly full of clergy who are comfortable with The Divine flowing back and forth between feminine and masculine energy. I don't know if that answers your questions - happy to continue the discussion. Blessings on you in your experience of The Divine. - Lizann
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
That does help, tremendously! I miss Christianity sometimes and I was wondering how it was that you had managed to keep it. But I also appreciate the human Jesus and hope to develop more of a relationship with him (in spirit) at some point since he is not the Jesus I thought I had a relationship during my decades of Christianity. That's great that your church is so open to that kind of diversity of thought and belief. I wouldn't call any of what you described above "Christianity," though. Unless I am misunderstanding how broad progressive Christianity is. I tried to find a place for myself within it, but it just seemed that there was nothing left to hang my hat on.
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
My experience of Progressive Christianity does hold room for what I've described, my favorite Progressive Christian theologians are Jim Burklo ("Open Christianity"), Matthew Fox ("Original Blessing") and Rita Nakashima Brock & Rebecca Parker ("Proverbs of Ashes" and "Saving Paradise"), and of course all the Jesus Seminar writers, especially Marcus Borg. But I must say in terms of actual ritual experience, my body would rather dance with my witch community than sit in a pew and listen to even the most Progressive Christian sermon
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Thanks so much! Just ordered Open Christianity.
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
LOL! I love Marcus Borg, but haven't heard of the others except for Matthew Fox. Thanks, I will check them out.
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
Sorry, I also meant to say that I liked "roots down, branches up" as a way to remember and foster that connection and groundedness.
Friday, 18 April 2014
"Of course, it is possible to work without taking time to recognize that connection. Most humans, including me, seem to do it all the time. But to be intentional and conscious of it, strengthens our work. I can only speak for myself, but if I don't start there, I fall into all kinds of silliness and illusions: mostly vacillating between delusions of grandeur and a sad little martyr complex."
I really resonate with this. Thank you for posting
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Fayetteville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church will be holding its annual Christmas performance on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m.
The production, free of charge to the public, will be held in the sanctuary of the church. A nursery will be available for those with small children who would like to attend the performance.
This year ARP will present "Many Moods of Christmas" by Robert Shaw and Robert Russell Bennett. The "Many Moods" is a collection of many of our most popular Christmas carols in a beautiful arrangement with a heavy brass orchestration.
Some may remember the church presenting this majestic piece of music about ten years ago, and it has remained one of the most popular programs.
In addition to wonderful local singers, joining the program are the children's choirs of ARP and The Heritage Children's Chorale of the South, a 40-voice group of young singers from eight to 18. This group has sung all over the country and has been a part of some of Fayetteville ARP's past programs.
This group has also performed and recorded with Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Vince Gill and Donna Summer, to name a few. They were originally founded and sponsored by First National Bank and have been in existence for over 25 years. They are under the direction of Mary Stephenson.
The orchestra this year will be a large group of trumpets, trombones, French horns, flutes, oboes, clarinets and a large percussion group of marimba, chimes, celeste, timpani and sleigh bells, among others. These artists are from the Nashville area and also perform and record all over the country as part of the Bradley Brass.
"The 'Many Moods of Christmas' is truly a wonderful way to get into the true spirit of Christmas like it was years ago with your families before its current commercialization," said Joe Stephenson, ARP choir director.
"This is going to be a major undertaking, but one we feel will be well worth the effort," he added. "Please plan on joining us to help make this a truly spectacular, memorable and moving offering to the community, as well as a blessed reminder of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ."
ARP Church is located at 1720 Huntsville Highway, Fayetteville.


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At the provost's discretion, a CEP can be convened to help the OP analyze the extent to which a conflict of interest may exist and how it might be managed and resolved. The CEP can also be convened at the request of interested parties or to resolve any disputes that an employee may have with the OP's determination. The CEP will consist of four tenured faculty members, one of whom will chair the committee, one member of the group to which the individual with the potential conflict of interest belongs, and a representative from the OP as ex officio and nonvoting member. The university general counsel or designee will act as counsel for the CEP and will assist in fact development and interpretation of each case brought for consideration. The CEP and its chair will be appointed jointly by (1) the president of the Faculty Senate or, in the alternative, the assistant chair of the Graduate Council and (2) by the provost. Members from the supportive professional staff, operating staff, or the student body will be appointed in consultation with the appropriate councils or officers.
A person who has a close professional or personal affiliation or any real or apparent conflict of interest with the individual with the potential conflict of interest should not be a member of the CEP, and is required to bring such affiliation or real or apparent conflict to the attention of the provost and the president of the Faculty Senate or the assistant chair of the Graduate Council immediately, or within a reasonable amount of time after discovery. This person may still be called as a witness to the CEP. The CEP may provide advisory interpretations of the university's policies and procedures to the provost on conflict of interest. After consultation with the university general counsel or designee and, if necessary, with the employee, the elected members of the committee will render an advisory determination such as one of those listed above under E.2. Review.
The advisory findings of the CEP will be forwarded to the provost who will make a final determination. The OP will provide the employee with written notification of his or her determination. Original documentation will be retained in the OP with a copy given to the employee.
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Editor's note: African Voices is a weekly show that highlights Africa's most engaging personalities, exploring the lives and passions of people who rarely open themselves up to the camera. Follow the team on Twitter.
(CNN) -- Kenya's national football team may not have made it to the World Cup Finals in Brazil -- but one man will be there for his African nation.
Stepping into the role of representing Kenya is Aden Marwa, the country's first linesman to officiate at the beautiful game's biggest event.
"Football is my life, football has made my life change a big deal," Marwa tells CNN.
Like many a young boy, Marwa became obsessed with football, often walking vast distances so he could get to a TV to watch a match. Yet despite his passion for the game, he wanted nothing to do with refereeing and for good reason.
"Those times it was hard because a match would hardly finish without a referee being beaten," he explains. "The fans were rowdy and you know, the facilities were not very good."
Read: Rwanda's first female pilot takes off
"You were playing in open fields so the referee could be attacked anytime so when I could see that as a young boy, I didn't love it. So I was scared."
However, by the time Marwa became a linesman in 1998 at the age of 21, the game had changed dramatically as more resources and education had been funneled into the sport.
"Once you decide you want to become a football referee there are three pillars. One is your medical fitness, two is your physical fitness and then three, the technical fitness, so these can not be compromised."
READ: Tanzania's most decorated athlete
By 2006, the ambitious referee got his big break refereeing a game in the Kenyan Premier League before making his international debut as an assistant referee for FIFA just two years later.
Today he holds the accolade of "best assistant referee" in the Kenyan Premier League and his talent has taken him to sun-kissed shores of South America for the 2014 World Cup, where he has been performing as a reserve assistant referee.
The 37-year-old knows this will be the biggest test of his career so far and is prepared to have the eyes of millions of football fans scrutinizing his every decision.
"Referees have to make decisions in the shortest time possible. I see it once but you, on TV, will see it and see a replay and you can even pause with technology and even review," he says.
"As a referee I only have one angle to look at that ... so the challenge that we have as referees, the biggest one, is how to place yourself at the right position and the right moment to make that very important, crucial decision."
Check out the video below to find out how Marwa prepared for his greatest moment to date and earned his dream job officiating at this year's World Cup.
READ: Rwanda's first female pilot takes off
READ: Tanzania's most decorated athlete


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Over at DU they believe its all but over and now they are talking about landslides and taking back the House. lol I sure can't wait to see them when Romney wins.
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Over at DU they believe its all but over and now they are talking about landslides and taking back the House. lol I sure can't wait to see them when Romney wins.
Someone should advertise rope or razorblades over there that night.
Of course Lawrence O'donnel will announce obama to be the biggest winner of the night.
There is a change today, now Obama is ahead by 2 points on Rasmussen, the country is coming apart at the seams, we are burning our food supply and letting the Chinese drill for our oil in the gulf while we leave it to them for environmental reasons, fuel continues to rise in price, food is rising, incomes are down, but we will wait in line for a iPhone 5 and life is good.
Everyone tells me to wait for the debates and things will change. How could anyone after 4 years of this Marxist not already know what he is about?
Okay here we have 5% Republicans who are apparently to stupid, burned out from drug use, criminal and being paid off or are dimly aware of their own existence that are willing to vote for Obama. Then we have 6% of Democrats confused as to their own political leanings obviously smart articulate and well informed who have mistakenly put their trust in a party that lied to them, who are now prepared to vote for Romney. Why can't we trade the 5% who are freaks and an obvious embarrassment to our party for the 6% of the Democrats that should be free from their zombie brethren to breath the fresh clean air of Republican conservatism?
I did see this, though:
That is interesting. Mainly for the fact that Romney has 55% of the white vote, 11% of the black vote, and 8% Latino vote. If what was said above is true, and Romney has what I mentioned here. It is going to be close. Probably enough for obama to contest it, which he would do with no matter how much of a margin he lost by.Quote:
In estimating the turnout on Nov. 6, the poll projects an electorate that is 74 percent white, 11 percent African-American, and 8 percent Latino. The likely-voter party splits are 36 percent Democratic, 29 percent Republican, and 30 percent independent.
The estimates are similar to the 2008 turnout, when, according to CNN exit polling, 74 percent of voters were white, 13 percent black, and 9 percent Latino, with Democratic turnout at 39 percent, Republicans at 32 percent, and independents at 29 percent.


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The XPG (Xtreme Performance Gear) SX900 solid state drive is an expanded capacity SSD which uses new optimized firmware to utilize greater storage capacity of the NAND Flash components. With superior NAND Flash, the XPG SX900 SSD reaches new levels of stability and performance. The drive breaks new ground in storage capacity for SSDs utilizing the SandForce 2281 controller, reaching 512GB, a 7% increase over common SSDs in the market that use a SandForce controller. This represents a milestone in ADATA's history of NAND Flash based products.
The XPG SX900 SSD adopts specially selected Flash chips from reliable manufacturers, and supports the Windows TRIM command. The Windows TRIM optimization command can directly delete stored data in the Flash memory and release unused space (Free Blocks) to be used for system writes immediately. This results in more accelerated transfer and write performance for solid state drives, and is also effective in slowing down efficiency decline and depletion chances, maintaining effective operation and extending the life of the disk.
In both desktop and notebook computers, users will enjoy an unprecedented high-speed experience when they edit video, retouch large picture retouching, and use computer drafting, reading and writing operations.


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Foothills Trail in SC/NC July 18-23, 2011
Hike the Foothills Trail in South Carolina with us. We'll leave Nashville on Sunday afternoon and drive to SC. We will hike Monday-Friday (and part of Saturday, if/as needed). This will be a strenuous pace. Return to Nashville on Saturday night.
The Foothills Trail is 77 miles, with lots of waterfalls, primitive camping, rivers, lakes, and (or course) mountains.
If you can not hike the entire week, but want to join us for a portion of the trail, there are road crossings where we could arrange that.
If interested, post reply or contact me via email or PM.
Also, if anyone has hints, suggestions, warnings, or helpful info, I'm all ears.
Rain Man


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2003 Men's Soccer
bc 2, taylor fort wayne 0
By Ben Risinger, SID
September 25, 2003
The Bluffton College men's soccer team (4-4) won their third contest in a row Wednesday night 2-0 over Taylor Fort Wayne. The Beavers have now won four of their last five games and picked up their first shutout win of the season. Justin Rohrer (Millersburg/West Holmes) led Bluffton with both goals on the night. Andrew Ferguson (Fredonia, Ny./Fredonia) and Chad Perry (Dover/Dover) posted one assist each. Goalkeeper Ryan Thomas (Jamestown/Greeneview) had two saves at goal.
"Our goal is to play the best soccer possible. When that happens the wins will happen," Coach Steve Smucker said. "I was very pleased to get the shutout, that was our goal for the match. If we want to do well in our conference we have to tighten things defensively though."
Bluffton will be in action next Wednesday when they travel to Urbana . The contest is slated for


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Posted by Editor on 12/20/05
Capilano College Mountain Bike Program
Caroline Dépatie, Program Developer & Program Consultant at Sunshine Coast Capilano College sent us information on the new Mountain Bike Operations program they are starting next year.
Here is some more information on our Mountain Bike Operations (MtBO) Certificate Program. I am not too certain what type of information your require, hopefully this is a good start:
What makes the MtBO unique?
- 1st program of its kind in North America and in the world (as far as my research goes)
- Location: British Columbia and Sunshine Coast (located in between North Vancouver and Squamish and Whistler)
- Quick: 8 months program
- Potantial to continue studies in Capilano College Tourism Diploma afterwards
- Highly supported by industry experts
- Developed based on feedback from industry experts
- Support of the Sunshine Coast Community
- Industry growing so lots of employment opportunities for graduates (especially in the mountain resort market)
Where did the idea come for such a program come from?
- Originated from me attending a mountain bike event last May and thinking this would be a good idea to explore. I presented the idea to Capilano College and it went from there.
- We surveyed delegates at the 2005 International Mountain Bike Conference in North Vancouver in May 2005 and 90% of respondents highly supported the idea of such a program. The 4 main issues that seemed important for the delagates to included in our program were, in order:
1) Environmnental issues
2) Trail and Park design and building
3) Community relations
4) Risk management
Delegates seems to agree that there were a future for employment in the industry especially on the mountain resort side. I also completed semi-stuctured interviews with industry experts such as Doug Detwiller (Sprockids), Tom Prochazka (Whistler Mounatin Bike Park), Lora Woolner (IMBA Canada) and Jay Hoots (Trail Builder) about the idea. All were very supportive and added information which was considered in the design of the program
Why run the program on Sunshine Coast?
- The Sunshine Coast has a very strong Mountain Bike Culture - our trail system is well developed and we have amazing terrain
- We are located a ferry away (40 minutes) from Horseshoe Bay.
- The Sunshine Coast is the birth place of the Sprockids program (youth cycling development program) which has been adopted by the Canadian Cycling Association.
- Potential for partnership with clubs and municipalities to keep on developing exceptional mountain bike opportunities.
- It is really important for us to work with the community with this program.
What will the certificate program entail?
- 9 courses (26 credits) in Trail/Park Design and Building, environmental sustainabiliy, risk managment, event management, mountain bike leadership, first aid, communication and tourism.
- Starting in September 2006 (September to April program)
- One of the requirements is the ability to ride a mountain bike at a advanced beginner to intermediate level. We will be going out on trails. You will require a mountain bike in this program
- Program includes fields trips around the area (eg. Whistler) to expose students to the industry
Response so far?
- With minimum marketing (mostly word of mouth) we have received an unexpected amount of interest about the program (more than we anticipated). We are recommending that students register early and we will have limited enrollment in the first year. Our registration systems will hopefully be in place by the end of January.
Other information:
- One of the important things for me through this program is to represent the Mountain Bike community as a whole and support the development of Moutain Biking on the Sunshine Coast. It will also be important for our students to realize that trails are not only developed for mountain bikers but have a multi-purpose function (ie: hikers, families, etc.).
|Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage | Back to Top


text: A Shrewsbury man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he traveled to the Dominican Republic to have sex with underage girls. Conrad Gallant, 62, entered his plea on Friday in federal court in Worcester, according to court records. He faces charges including sexual exploitation of children and engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. Gallant allegedly traveled to the county to have sex with minors at least four times between February 2011 and his arrest last March. He is being held without bail.Travis Andersen can be reached at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.


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It's not often that five legends of the Detroit blues scene gather to perform on the same stage, but that's exactly what happened on this magical night in Detroit. Alberta Adams, Calvin Cooke Sr., Sir Mack Rice, Johnnie Bassett and the Howling Diablos came together for one knock-out performance!
Visit the Website: http://www.amrf.net/
Length: 56 minutes


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You had three extra days to file your taxes, but now it's April 18 and you're risking the midnight scramble. Don't let procrastination become panic—you still have options.
|Going DIY? If your Adjusted Gross Income is less than $58,000, you can use the online IRS Free File option for your federal return. It's bona fide, easy-to-use tax software provided at no cost by various tax software companies.
|Googling around for online tax accountants? Stop—you'll be vulnerable to identity theft. Online scammers posing as tax pros can take advantage of you when you're desperate, says John Ams, executive vice president of the National Society of Accountants. Instead, find local CPAs through the NSA website, go through a professional organization, or ask friends for recs.
|Too frazzled to make the cutoff? File Form 4868 to extend your deadline to October 17. But don't do it just to put off a payment—the deadline for payments is still April 18, so you risk racking up penalties and interest on money you owe.
|Worried you'll make a mistake? Uncle Sam has your back—check out the IRS's tips for last-minute filers.
Wrap it up. What are you going to do differently next year?
photo source: OhThePlaces' shop on etsy