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Now showing items 7-26 of 31
(2013-02-22)The purpose of this course is to support the academic performance and social acclimation of first year undergraduate students in the School of Music by providing greater access to academic and advising resources through ...
application/pdfPDF (171kB)
(2005)How does a course on engineering ethics affect an undergraduate student's feeling of responsibility and decisions about moral problems? Can an ethics course promote moral courage? In this study, we interviewed six students ...
application/pdfPDF (238kB)
(2007-06)Industries seeking engineers have increasing expectations as to how well prepared students should be when embarking on engineering practice. Any prior experience such as through internships is highly valued as it implies ...
application/pdfPDF (536kB)
(Blackwell Publishing, 2007-06)Experiential learning activities are often viewed as impractical, and potentially unfeasible, instructional tools to employ in a large class. Research has shown, though, that the metacognitive skills that students utilize ...
application/pdfPDF (585kB)
(2003-01-27)The ninth annual Faculty Retreat on Active Learning took place on January 27, 2003, at the Levis Faculty Center. The focus was "The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning." The concept of the scholarship of teaching and ...
video/x-ms-wmvWindows Media video (2MB)
(NACTA Journal, 2008)The goal is to develop models of faculty-student partnerships that result in effective peer-teaching opportunities for the student partners. This model explored the development of faculty-coached, student-led panels aimed ...
application/pdfPDF (223kB)
(2008)This research was undertaken to develop a better understanding of how students think about their study abroad experiences. What meaning do students attribute to their international experiences? How can the benefits of ...
application/pdfPDF (81kB)
(2003)We conducted a study to demonstrate that formal training in debugging helps students develop skills in diagnosing and removing defects from computer programs. To accomplish that goal in an assembly language course, we ...
application/pdfPDF (249kB)
(NACTA Journal, 2006)Science graduate students and others who are early in their science career are focused on learning about their chosen discipline area. Many will become tomorrow's college teachers, and yet few will engage in organized ...
application/pdfPDF (1MB)
(2010-01)29 graduate TAs and 1 faculty member teach 2700 Introductory Psychology students annually. This year we developed an assessment program to improve student learning and graduate teaching training (Shigeto et al., 2010). We ...
application/pdfPDF (76kB)
(2013-07-08)Encouraging students to engage in out-of-the-classroom learning experiences is a long-standing priority in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois. Recently, experiential learning opportunities ...
application/pdfPDF (190kB)
RiverWeb (2006)RiverWeb is an education and outreach program started at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The mission of RiverWeb is to promote environmental education and historical and cultural awareness about rivers and ...
application/pdfPDF (16MB)
(2007)The project will develop and assess role-play scenarios to teach central topics in the responsible conduct of research to graduate students in science and engineering. Together the scenarios will cover plagiarism, authorship, ...
application/pdfPDF (91kB)
Some students are left behind: Despite positive attitudes, learning is modulated by prior academic achievement (2010-01)In our Introductory Psychology (Psych 100) program, 30 graduate TAs/faculty teach 2,700 undergraduates annually. While the program has received many accolades and TAs are often recognized for their teaching skills, we have ...
application/pdfPDF (83kB)
(2006)For over ten years we have been developing modules for a supplementary web site used by students in our undergraduate, general education plant pathology course. Survey data confirm that students enjoy using the site, but ...
application/pdfPDF (39kB)
(NACTA Journal, 2007-06)A goal of the Department of Animal Sciences is to enhance the integration of international perspectives into its curriculum. One approach to achieve that goal is to capitalize on knowledge gained by current undergraduate ...
application/pdfPDF (8MB)
(2008)The current research was undertaken to develop a better understanding of how students think about their study abroad experiences. What meaning do students attribute to their international experiences? How can the benefits ...
application/pdfPDF (978kB)
(2007)The goal of this project is to enhance the integration of international perspectives into teaching programs in animal sciences. A student-centered learning abroad program was developed that places students in direct contact ...
application/pdfPDF (6MB)
(2011-08-08)Discussion of the use of multiple methods to facilitate deeper understanding and application of tax rules.
application/pdfPDF (377kB)
(2006)Students in the sciences are exposed to large bodies of information within their chosen discipline. Instructors typically transmit that knowledge as discrete parcels of information via lectures, books or class notes. ...
application/pdfPDF (317kB)
Now showing items 7-26 of 31


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Bangalore: Delhi Daredevils might have slumped to five successive defeats but skipper Mahela Jayawardene is confidence of his team getting into the knockout stage of IPL-6 by winning all their home games.
"We will give ourselves a chance to get into the 'Final Four' if we can win the home games. That is something we really have to focus on," he told reporters at post-match press conference here.
Royal Challengers Bangalore pulled off a nail-biting victory over Delhi Daredevils via the Super Over in a thrilling Pepsi Indian Premier League match here last night.
But Virender Sehwag did not come out to bat in the crucial Super Over and Jayawardene clarified that the Delhi batsman was not on the field for last three overs and hence he wasn't eligible to bat in the Super Over.
"If I had that option I would have fancied sending Sehwag, but that option wasn't there for me," he said.
Jayawardene said that the Daredevils needed to develop a positive frame of mind.
"We just need to get a few results going our way. We probably tend to make negative decisions. So those are things we need to somehow get rid of from our minds and be very positive. It is important that we go with a positive frame of mind because we got a very good team. The talent is there, the ability is there," insisted the captain.
The former Sri Lankan skipper praised his teammates for fighting back and keeping the team in the game till the end.
"Until 16th over the game was over for us, but with a couple of wickets we could manage to put some pressure on their tailenders. We did not take some good decisions during that period and that is how the game goes," he said.
"We probably were 10-20 runs short. Yes we had a good game but no points," Jayawardene added.
Indian pacer Umesh Yadav bowled the first four balls of the Super Over brilliantly, but gave away two sixes in the last two balls.
"These are the mistakes we have been repeating in last four to five games in crucial situations. We are not being clinical enough in executing," said

subset: commoncrawl


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Maybe it was a stretch of warm days or the novelty has worn off a bit. Whatever the reason, fewer people are going to the temporary ice rink in front of the Bandshell.
DAYTONA BEACH— Maybe it was a stretch of warm days. Maybe the novelty has worn off a bit. Maybe people worried about the fiscal cliff are keeping their wallets closed.
Whatever the reason, fewer people are going to the temporary ice rink in front of the Bandshell than during last year's holiday season.
Rink organizer Al Smith is at a loss to explain why.
"The bottom line is I've had a pretty drastic drop and I'm not sure why," said Smith, a local promoter who has also organized events such as the New Year's Eve party on Main Street.
He did nudge up his admission fee from $10 to $12, but he's also advertised more and made improvements to the rink. He's provided a larger tent this year to allow space for more seating, tables, concession sales and a Christmas tree. He also has a connection to electric power now, so unlike last year he's not running a large generator near the rink.
Nonetheless, business at the rink is down more than 33 percent over last year, and Smith said he's starting to wonder whether he wants to give his time and money to the rink again next year.
"It's not a given if we don't do well this year it'll be back," he said. "We need community support. If it's something people want, they need to come and skate."
Many of the businesses in the Ocean Walk Shoppes, a stone's throw from the rink, are also dealing with a customer decline.
"We're kind of seeing the same thing as Al," said Gerard Gammero, the general manager of Ocean Walk Shoppes. "The numbers are down. We're just not seeing the same traffic as we did last year."
Gammero is also left with questions he can't answer. Both he and Smith wonder if a children's football convention drawing about 1,000 fewer kids to the beachside than 2011 is part of the problem.
Gammero also notices less media buzz about skating on real ice near the beach, and he wonders if the newness has worn off.
"It was kind of new last year and it got lots of publicity," he said. "Everyone wanted to check it out and say they did it."
Smith said the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has offered to try to find ways to help.
"I really can't put my finger on it," Smith said.
Jeff Hentz, the president and CEO of the convention and visitors bureau, said marketing has been strong, including a total of four billboards letting people know about the rink placed on Interstates 95 and 4 and in the city. He suspects people might be having trouble finding the rink behind the tall hotels on State Road A1A and figuring out where to park.
"I've got a feeling it's something to do with signage," he said, noting it couldn't hurt to also hand out fliers in high-traffic areas.
Both last year and this year, Smith had to work out agreements with the city because the plaza area in front of the Bandshell is city property. And both this year and last year those agreements weren't finalized until October, leaving Smith less time than he wanted to line up sponsors and organize.
He's working under a five-year contract now, so he won't have to do last-minute rushing next year if he decides to try the rink again. He said he does have the ability in 2013 to opt out of the agreement, which requires him to shoulder all expenses and share half of his net revenues with the city.
For now he's hoping things turn around soon. Both the rink and shops did see a bump with the tree lighting ceremony and Main Street parade the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Gammero said. He and Smith are hoping when visitors in town for the holidays look for things to do and kids start their two-week holiday break Dec. 21, more people will start showing up.
Last year the rink drew more than 12,600 skaters, and Smith has been hoping to increase that to at least 14,000 people this holiday season.
Starting Dec. 21, hours will expand from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until kids are back in school in early January. For now, Friday hours are 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday is 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Monday through Thursday is 4 to 8 p.m.
The rink opened Nov. 16 and will remain open until Jan. 6.


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4Nikki Klingsporn
2010 Honors and Awards
Played professionally in the Spring of 2011 for VC Wiesbaden of the Bundesliga Damen near Frankfurt, Germany.
2010 (Senior):Second in the BIG EAST and fourth in the nation in assists per set (12.10) ... Her 1,391 assists in 2010 rank as the fourth-best single-season total in school history...Ended her career with her 12th double-double of the season (56 assists and 13 digs) in 3-1 win over Northern Illinois (Nov. 27)...Notched a double-double of 45 assists and 10 digs in BIG EAST Championship Semifinal loss to Louisville (Nov. 20)...Recorded her tenth double-double of the season with 36 assists and 11 digs against No. 19 Cincinnati (Nov. 14)... Helped MU rally from a 2-0 deficit to down Louisville (Nov. 12) in five sets with 57 assists, six digs and five blocks...Tied a career-high with 62 assists and recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 10 digs in win five-set win at Seton Hall (Nov. 7)...Notched 40 assists in a three-set sweep of UIC (Nov. 2)...Tallied a career-high 61 digs in win at Notre Dame (Oct. 24), MU's first five-set win of the season...Helped MU hit .692 in the final set at ND...Notched 54 assists and eight digs in win at DePaul (Oct. 23)...Amassed 46 assists in only three sets for an average of 15.33 in a sweep of Syracuse (Oct. 16)...Notched her eighth double-double of the season with 57 assists and 10 digs at Green Bay (Oct. 13)...Recorded her seventh double-double (47 assists/10 digs) of the season in Marquette's first BIG EAST Conference victory of the season over Villanova (Oct. 1)...Put in a season-high four blocks and three aces, along with 42 assists and seven digs at Georgetown (Sept. 26)...Notched her sixth double-double of the season with 55 assists and 10 digs against Northwestern (Sept. 18) in the finale of the Wildcat Classic...Recorded fifth double-double of the season against Toledo (Sept. 12, 57 assists/12 digs) in the Marquette/Milwaukee Invitational...Named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 6) for the second-straight week...Recorded a season-high 58 assists at St. Mary's (Calif.) (Sept. 5) and notched fourth-straight double-double with 11 digs...Stanford Invitational All-Tournament Team...Recorded double-doubles vs. UC Irvine (Sept. 3, 38 assists/11 digs) and No. 3 Stanford (Sept. 4, 33 assists/12 digs)...Golden Gopher Invite All-Tournament Team...Recorded a double-double (40 assists/10 digs) along with four kills at No. 6 Minnesota (Aug. 28)...Named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (Aug. 30) for her play at Minnesota...Preseason All-BIG EAST selection.
2009 (Junior): Named All-BIG EAST Second Team...Earned BIG EAST Honor Roll (Sept. 14) recognition for her play at the Panther Invitational, during which she recorded a career-high 62 assists against Western Michigan (Sept. 11)...Klingsporn's 1,235 assists rank her seventh in school history on the single season list...Ranked fourth in the BIG EAST with 10.93 assists per set and fifth in BIG EAST-only matches with 10.88/set...Her 62 assists against the Broncos ranked as the fourth-highest total in 2009 in the BIG EAST...Also recorded career highs in every statistical category during the 2009 campaign...Recorded nine double-doubles during the 2009 season...In a victory over Syracuse (Oct. 24), notched four kills, to go along with 51 assists and 14 digs...Against West Virginia (Sept. 27) and Seton Hall (Oct. 2), posted over 50 assists in each and an average of 10 digs...Posted double-digit dig totals in three straight contests, against Iowa, Loyola-Chicago (Aug. 29) and Texas State (Sept. 4)...While setting a career high in assists against Western Michigan (Sept. 11), Klinsporn also recorded five kills, eight digs and four blocks...Reached a career-high 20 digs against Loyola-Chicago on Aug. 29, while recording 47 assists and four blocks...Named to the Loyola Invitational and Marquette Invitational All-Tournament teams, in addition to earning most valuable player honors at the Panther Invitational...One of only two MU players (Gonyo) to start every match in 2009.
Prior to Marquette
2007 (Univ. of Wisconsin): Averaged 7.16 assists per set...recorded career high 47 assists vs American (9/1/2007)...recorded a career high five kills in eight attacks vs. Columbia (9/7/07)...blocked a career-high three attacks against American (9/1/07)...named to the Academic All-Big Ten team.
2006 (Univ. of WIsconsin): Redshirt
Tartan High School: The 2005 and 2006 Minnesota Miss Volleyball...three-time participant in the USA Volleyball Youth National Team A2 training program...named a Mizuno second-team All-American in 2004 and 2005...two time PrepVolleyball.com All-American (2004 and 2005)...listed as No. 51 on PrepVolleyball.com's Senior Aces...named in 2006's Volleyball Fab 50... three-time first-team all-state...St. Paul Pioneer Press player of the year in both 2004 and 2005...2005 Minneapolis Star Tribune Player of the Year...led Tartan high school to five conference titles...four-time all-conference...conference MVP in 2005...the Titan's finished sixth in the state 4A tournament in 2005...three-time all metro...three-time team MVP and two-time team captain...McDonald's High School All-American nominee in Basketball...three-time all-conference selection in basketball...academic all-state as a senior.
Personal: Klingsporn was born in St. Paul, Minn., as the oldest of two children (Troy) to Mark and Laurie Klingsporn.... Mother played volleyball and basketball collegiately at North Dakota State and is a member of the Bison Hall of Fame...High school volleyball coach was mother, Laurie...Father played basketball at Lakewood Community College...Majoring in business administration.
Marquette Statistics
Career/Season Ranks
GoMarquette.com Student-Athlete of the Week


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Over to Dave...
Thanks so much to all concerned for making Pole Bank a lovely place to visit and, of course, to Dave for the video and information. :)
a lovely place to visit i used to cut the grass there when i worked for tameside council in the early 80s
I've added a link to this video in my recently updated post about Pole Bank on Old Hyde.
I've done an updated post about Pole Bank on my Old Hyde blog and linked to the new video
thanks for that Gerald, much appreciated....
What a wonderful job you volunteers.I spent many happy hours in that park in the 1940's-1960's.Drawing lessons with school- Enfield St.dancing displays with Eileen Orpett's dancing classes, singing with Hyde Chapel at Whitsuntide, and playing in the woods with my friends- taking home bunches of wild garlic flowers for Mum-pooh what a stink! Later visiting my parents in Pole Bank Home.Now it will survive for future generations to enjoy. Ann Stafford(now Bacon) Thank you.
Still plenty of wild garlic in the woods Ann, gives the woodland an intense distinctive smell at the height of summer...
See this is yet another chance to promote local Labour Councillors, as if we don't get enough with the local Reporter, Advertiser, and Citizen. Well, that's a left wing 'democracy' for you.
Make the most of your memories of what Hyde once was.
Anne mentioned Eileen Orpet's dancing classes, which I attended in the 50s, along with so many Gee Cross girls. I wonder if anyone has any photos of our dancing displays - be good to see them on his blog if so.
(Thank you rounds are always welcome, of course.
I believe my exact words were "I don't want to be your dirty little secret. The food is decent and the drink specials on Tuesdays include $2.
Also visit my webpage - pub quiz names
DJ spins out on Saturday nights. *Rounds table format. Theme Format:
It is almost like standard format of the pub quiz.
Check out my blog post - free quiz answer sheets
Also, we need to determine the rounds of the quiz according
to it. You must definitely be planning to make it special and memorable by keeping a
good theme, ordering the best food and choosing the best games.
The Bull's Head Pub, Bangkok.
Also visit my web site - funny pub quiz names


text: Diamond Pigeon 1/16/2012 - 9:38 PM Permalink Report Abuse 7 out of 7 people found the following review helpful 5 out of 5 Wind Stopper I'm an avid sportg clays shooter and the wind barrier sweater has kept me comfortable on the coldest winter mornings. I have several Beretta jackets, but leave them in the car when I'm wearing this sweater. After 3 years of hard use, It still looks great. Comment | Was this review helpful? Yes | No Name Leave a Comment Submit Comment


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Chicken Sliders on Pecan Biscuits Recipe
Tender, hot-from-the-oven, pecan biscuit "buns" make these mini pecan-chicken burgers extra special.
VERIFIED BY Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- 2 tablespoons honey Dijon mustard
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- 1/2 cup ground pecans, toasted
- 1/3 cup soft bread crumbs
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons honey Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh tarragon or 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1-1/4 pounds ground chicken
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 2/3 cup 2% milk
- 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 5 romaine leaves, torn
- In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, cranberries and mustard. Cover and refrigerate.
- In another bowl, combine the egg, cheese, pecans, bread crumbs, onions, mustard, tarragon, salt and pepper. Crumble chicken over mixture and mix well. Shape into 12 patties. Chill.
- For biscuits, in a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in milk just until moistened. Stir in cheese and pecans. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 8-10 times.
- Pat or roll out to a 12x4-in. rectangle; cut into twelve 2-in. square biscuits. Place 2 in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 450° for 8-12 minutes or until golden brown.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook chicken patties in oil over medium heat for 2-4 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 165° and juices run clear.
- Slice warm biscuits in half. Spread bottoms with mayonnaise mixture; top with a burger and lettuce. Replace tops. Yield: 1 dozen.
Originally published as Chicken Sliders on Pecan Biscuits in Taste of Home's Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook Annual 2012, p83
Reviews forChicken Sliders on Pecan Biscuits
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"Every year, young readers from all over New South Wales judge their very own literary awards. By voting in the KOALA awards they can reward the Australian children's books that have most inspired, amused, terrified, enlightened and engaged them."
The shortlist for readers in Years 7 to 9 is a fabulous one this year. We are using it as a springboard for a new book group for years 7 and 8 boys and we have an enthusiastic starter group of 20 and growing.
For all age groups see the website.


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Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 16th May 2007 22:55 UTC
The fourth alpha release of OpenSUSE 10.3 has been released. "Inclusion of YaST Meta Packages handler; instLux allows users to start the Linux installation from Windows; we have removed zmd from the distribution and concentrate now on the tools opensuse-updater and zypper; TeX Live replaces teTex; first parts of KDE4svn entered Factory, its games are installed; OpenOffice.org 2.2; GNOME 2.18.1; improvements to our init script starter startpar to reduce boottime; first changes to support Sony PS3; Linux 2.6.21 with an updated AppArmor patchset."
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RE: OpenSoft anyone?
by Felix on Thu 17th May 2007 09:16 UTC in reply to "OpenSoft anyone?"
If you don't like YaST: just don't use it!
Can you name better graphical configuration tools for FTP, LDAP, NFS, display settings, ... under Linux?
I don't think that Mandriva has that number of configuration tools available...
You can like it or not but in my opinion YaST is the most comprehensive set of graphical configuration tools available today.
YaST will be integrated in Gnome with 10.3. That means it has the same style like application browser and Gnome control center and looks very good.
RE[2]: OpenSoft anyone?
by lezard on Thu 17th May 2007 15:38 in reply to "RE: OpenSoft anyone?"


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Roma playmaker Miralem Pjanic has emerged as a transfer target for three Premier League clubs, according to the Sun.
Pjanic is considered to be one of the finest young talents in Europe, but has struggled to make an impact in Italy since making the move to Roma in 2011.
The Bosnian international has been linked with a move to Tottenham in the past, and could have made the switch to White Hart Lane in January.
However Spurs were reportedly told Pjanic would only be open to a move at the end of the current season.
Speaking in November his agent, Michele Gerbino, said: 'It is difficult to see Miralem moving during the season but we will look at the sums at the end of the season.'
Now it would appear the north London club face some competition for his signature if they are to go back in for the 23-year-old in the summer.
According to the Sun, Arsenal and Manchester City are willing to challenge Spurs for his signature - but may have to fork out around £20 million to secure his services.
Whether Arsenal plan to firm up their interest in Pjanic is uncertain. The Gunners are well stocked in the playmaker role which the talented youngster prefers, and boss Arsene Wenger is expected to focus on strengthening other areas first.
Manchester City have been linked with Pjanic recently, and it was reported that countryman Edin Dzeko had put in a kind word with Citizens boss Roberto Mancini.
However he was keen on to play down rumours of a move to Manchester City or anywhere else last month.
"It is nice to hear that Edin has spoken well of me, but I have a contract here," the former Lyon man told Mediaset.
"Perhaps one day we'll get the opportunity to play in the same club side, but, for now, I'm proud to be able to wear this shirt."
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A reader writes:
I admire your blog and, as a distinctly separate matter, some evident personal traits. You are willing to research, document and state clearly, the conclusions you draw from those findings. That, though important, is secondary to your tenacity. I have read every post on the Prosser-Bradley Affair known as the "Choke-Hold Incident" and until recently, every comment made to each. It is evident by the content of your posts that you have intentionally avoided a "post simply to post" redundancy, keeping it fresh by adding newly found material and incorporating new conclusions in their proper place, to include a summary and time-line when it became appropriate.
Still, even with such praise, I write with some objections because I believe that this issue is of major importance, not just for the city or your state but nationally, and this will only become obvious in time, when looking back on it. The principle reason that I have become reluctant to read every comment is not because of the sheer number of contributions, but their repetition and the rather narrow framework within which the issue has fallen, in the matter as it is addressed.
Perhaps I should tell you why I do not like or follow sports.
There were many new rules being crafted, and I won't detail them but will use basketball as an example. In one particular, very close championship game, I lost a bet with a friend. I lost because my friend was a coaching expert and had been called in to counsel a player on "How to get an opposing player to foul him." I later learned that this was a known "tactic," acknowledged and named as an "intentional foul" which was itself a violation having a penalty if caught doing it. It is, in and of itself, a foul because an intentional foul is recognized as an intent to break the rules (laws) that are the fabric of agreement for the game in an acknowledged attempt to gain illegal advantage and unearned gain.
What Bradley did, suddenly standing, the rushed approach, the confusing gestures, the close body proximity and even the unusual and unexpected language all read, almost word for word as those instructions for creating an intentional foul. Abruptly standing draws attention, the quick approach focuses that attention, the gestures are specifically intended to create the idea that one thing is going to happen while it will not, and the emphasized "BUDDY..!" cements the idea, the emotional response and, at its best, the target becomes both defensive and irate.
It is important to note that, while I learned this many years ago, like the steps of known "Con Jobs" each of these have now expanded in use and are so well known that they have individual names. From "The Fake" to "The Distraction" to "Trash Talking" each has predictable and reliable results. The gestures, in particular, practiced and done correctly, will produce the desired and unavoidable reaction; in fact even being told that a person will approach and "throw a punch" at your face I doubt that you could prevent a defensive reaction of some kind. Try it with a harmless ball of foam thrown at your face to verify.
I am not normally a conspiracy theorist but I propose that this is more, much more, than a spontaneous incident. This was not only planned but all indications are that it required coaching and possibly (repeated) rehearsal. Many of the remaining portions indicate the same, in support and intent, from the threat to "take it public" to the outraged emphasis on details of what and who was told and the perfect timing of each.
You have the correct handle on this: the origin of the leak to the newspaper columnist. You might suggest that all known parties volunteer to publicly waive any claims and support the disclosure by that columnist. No, I do not think that a biased columnist would do that, even under those circumstances, but as there are a limited number of first-hand possibilities that might force at least a "reassurance contact" from the responsible party. It would also leave the columnist at a loss for adequate, possibly awkward, explanation.
Good work, and keep at it. The matter of exposing those, in sports or in politics, willing to cheat the game for gain is important.
This issue applies to other sports as well, simply look at the newest rule changes, often being those to correct similar previous incidents. A switch to chess as player or observer, makes cheating much less a concern.


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Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo has admitted his young stars will soon be ready to take up the mantle of the old guard that have carried the Blues through the most successful period in the club's history.
Stamford Bridge is currently witnessing a change in their side's style of play, led by the exciting young trio of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar – all providing support to World Cup and European Championship winners Fernando Torres.
The likes of Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and John Terry are all coming to the latter stages of their careers and Di Matteo, while insisting they are still crucial to Chelsea's success, admitted they will have to move one eventually.
The Italian also believes the crop of more youthful stars will soon have what it takes to emulate the likes of Lampard and Terry.
"They have been successful at the club for many years and are still very much part of the spine of the team," he is quoted as saying in the Daily Star.
"I think we have a new breed of players who are developing and going to take over because, obviously, everything will have to end at some time."
Chelsea are currently top of the Premier League and unbeaten so far this season and much of this is down to the likes of Mata and Hazard proving highly creative in and around the opposition area.
However, in defence the likes of Gary Cahill and Ryan Bertrand have proved they are more than capable of standing in when needed, giving an indicator that, when Cole and Terry do move on, Chelsea have the resources to replace them sufficiently.
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The Newark Star-Ledger reports the Jets have had "some very exploratory, informal discussions" regarding ex-Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell.
Russell, of course, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft and has been out of the league since 2009. However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported last week that Russell is planning to show his face at the NFL Scouting Combine next month in hopes of making a comeback. Russell is currently tipping the scales at 305 pounds, but hopes to get down to his past playing weight of around 260. The Star-Ledger says these talks happened after Mike Tannenbaum was fired, but it's unclear if John Idzik was in the fold, yet. Only the Jets.


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RICOH® recommends that our customers utilize their local recycling resources whenever possible to reduce environmental impact and encourages recycling of end-of-life consumables and supplies. If local recycling is not available, our Toner Cartridge/Container/Maintenance Kit Return Program makes returning the items easy.
Ricoh Americas encourages recycling of all end-of-life equipment and supplies. Our Toner
Cartridge/Container/Maintenance Kit Return Program makes it easy by simply
re-using the replacement cartridge box as a return package.
Based upon the type of product(s) you possess, there are two different
preparation methods used for returning consumable items:
To help further reduce the overall energy use and CO2 impact
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Please tape multiple used toner cartridges (in their cartons) together
(quantities may vary).
Note: See size guidelines below.
Or, place multiple cartridges in a larger carton (tape all
seams to prevent leakage).
Next, tape the pre-paid shipping label to the package made
above. Drop the package off at a UPS shipping location or include it with your
next pick-up or drop-off at your facility.
Note: If consumer calls for a UPS pick up for this specific item, cost is borne
by consumer.
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By Martin Kluk, sports information assistant
Game 1 stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/baseball/2012/03-17-b1.htm
I Game 2 stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/baseball/2012/03-17-b2.htm
The Bluffton Beavers baseball team split a doubleheader against the Albion College Britons on Saturday, March 17, 2012, falling short in the first game (6-4) but bouncing back with an offensive outburst to take the second, 15-5. Bluffton moves to 5-8 while Albion stands at 3-7 on the year.
In the first matchup, the Brits jumped ahead early, scoring three runs in the first two innings. Bluffton made it 3-1 after three with its first run of the day when Tyler Wright (Troy) tripled, sending home Doug Paullin (Jeromesville/Hillsdale) who had opened with a bunt single to start the inning.
With two down in the bottom half of the fourth, Tim Webb (Delaware/Worthington Christian) hit a two-bagger that scored Miles Richardson (Granville/Newark Catholic) from first, trimming the deficit to 3-2.
However, an error in the top of the fifth led to two unearned runs for the Brits and put them back up by three at 5-2. The Beavers fought hard and plated a run in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Paullin that scored Richardson before another response by the Britons in the top of the seventh made it 6-3.
Bluffton tried to rally as Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) lined a double which plated Wright and pulled the Beavers within two with one out, but Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern) and Richardson grounded out to end the first game with a final score of 6-4.
Errors were the bane for the Beavers in the game as the unearned runs were too much too overcome. Richardson was solid, going five innings and surrendering eight hits, three earned runs, and a pair of walks with two strikeouts. Freshman Brad Schlabach (Fredricksburg/Hiland) threw two innings of relief, giving up one run. Wright, Stephenson, and Paullin all chipped in with two base knocks while Richardson added two RBI.
For the second matchup between the teams, the Beavers got on the board first with another two-out run when Broyles singled home Stephenson from second base for an early 1-0 edge. As both teams had done all day, Albion notched a run in the top of the second to tie things back up only to have Bluffton answer in the bottom half with a two-out double by Webb, scoring junior Anthony Cianci (Ravenna/Southeast) from first, making it 2-1 through two.
After a scoreless third frame, the Brits chalked up four more runs, three unearned, in the fourth and fifth as Kelly Barnes (Toledo/Toledo Christian) was pitching well but the defense was not picking him up. However, that did not stop the offense. The Beaver bats plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth and a whopping 11 runs in the sixth to take a 15-5 lead and that ended being the final score.
For the 11 run outburst in the sixth, the inning was started by back-to-back solo shots from Cianci and Kyle Niermann (Napolean). To go along with the home runs, Wright had monster fifth and sixth innings with three hits, two doubles and a single, three RBI and two runs scored. Webb also added a single, double and 3 RBI in the big sixth frame.
Barnes earned his first victory of the season. He went seven strong innings, giving up eight hits, one earned run, with a walk and five K's. For the Beaver lineup that posted 15 runs on 18 hits, Wright and Webb each rapped four hits with three RBI. Cianci also notched four hits and just missed the cycle by a triple. Niermann added in three safeties of his own and three RBI.
Bluffton returns to action on Tuesday, March 20, when the Beavers host the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern at 4:15 PM.


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Caviar specialist Petrossian has just introduced the
Caviarcube, a convenient way to use caviar as a cocktail garnish.
Presented in glass jars containing about 15–20 pieces, the cubes are packed in oil for freshness and to maintain the cube shape.
The Petrossian Caviarcube is shown above in the The Caviar2 [squared], featuring two different styles of caviar. This Martini, made from Russian vodka with a hint of vermouth, is accompanied by a Caviarcube, a cocktail onion and an olive stuffed with caviar.
Wholeslae prices available to on- and off-premise; contact:
Charlène Bertrand
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THE TASTING PANEL, 6345 Balboa Blvd, Ste. 111, Encino, CA 91316Content ©2016 THE TASTING PANEL magazine. All rights reserved
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text: At ceremonies here yesterday, the Royal Norwegian Air Force formally accepted a C-130J Super Hercules for the aircraft that was tragically lost in March of this year. Through strong cooperation between the Governments of the United States and Norway, a C-130J originally destined for Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, was redirected to become the replacement aircraft. Tony Frese (left), C-130 Norwegian Program director discusses the J-model with Brigadier General Frode R Flølo (right), Chief of the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation - Air System Division, who accepted the aircraft.


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Harness Racing accident Darren Lupul Quentin Schneider [03:19]
Harness racing accident at Stampede Park Calgary Alberta Canada in Sept 2000, the horse driven by Quentin Schneider abruptly falls at the start causing Quentin (in red and yellow) and driver Darren Lupul (in dark blue) to be launched. slow motion and head on views also included. also unseated in the accident was Derek Wilson
Tags: Harness racing, accident, crash, Darren Lupul, Quentin Schneider, Derek Wilson, horse, race, Calgary, harness accident, wreck, standardbred


text: Pentagon officials are investigating what happened to its Falcon Hypersonic aircraft that crashed into the Pacific Ocean last week. The Falcon is the fastest aircraft ever built and can fly 13,000 miles per hour. It's designed to carry a conventional warhead against any target within an hour. NPR Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman reports.


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A joint initiative between the American Immigration Council and AILA seeks to change the playing field for immigrants facing deportation.
Learn more about AILA's official statements on immigration issues.Read Now
AILA Doc. No. 01102680 | Dated October 26, 2001
The "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools
Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT)" Act of
SECTION-by-SECTION SUMMARY
SUBTITLE A-Protecting the Northern Border
Section 401: Ensuring Adequate Personnel on the Northern Border
Section 402: Northern Border Personnel
Section 403: Access by DOS and INS to FBI Criminal History Records
Section 404: Limited Authority to Pay Overtime
Section 405: Report on Automated Fingerprint System
SUBTITLE B-Enhanced Immigration Provisions
Section 411: Definitions Relating to Terrorism
Section 412. Mandatory Detention of Suspected Terrorists; Habeas Corpus; Judicial Review
Section 413. Multilateral Cooperation Against Terrorists
Section 414: Visa Integrity and Security
Section 415: Participation of Office of Homeland Security on Entry-Exit Task Force
Section 416: Foreign Student Monitoring Program.
Section 417: Machine Readable Passports.
Section 418: Prevention of Consulate Shopping.
Subtitle C- Preservation of Immigration Benefits for Victims of Terrorism
Section 421. Special Immigrant Status
Section 422. Extension of Filing or Reentry Deadlines
Section 423. Humanitarian Relief for Certain Surviving Spouses and Children
Section 424. "Age-Out" Protection for Children
Section 425. Temporary Administrative Relief
Section 426. Evidence of Death, Disability, or Loss of Employment
Section 427. No Benefit to Terrorists or Family Members of Terrorists
Section 428. Definitions
SEC. 1006: Inadmissibility of Aliens Engaged in Money Laundering.
Cite as AILA Doc. No. 01102680.
American Immigration Lawyers Association
1331 G Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005
Copyright © 1993-2018
American Immigration Lawyers Association.


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In the midst of the new syndicated daytime talk show premieres was the relocation of veteran ABC serialized drama General Hospital to 2 p.m. ET. Based on the 56-metered (overnight) markets, General Hospital is averaging a 2.3 rating/8 share in households this week (through Wednesday). And that, comparably, is up by 15 percent from the lead-in average (2.0/ 6) and 10 percent from One Life to Live in September 2011. Results among key women 25-54 (1.8/11) have increased by a hefty 80 percent from the lead-in (1.0/ 7) and 20 percent from One Life to Live in September 2011.
GENERAL HOSPITAL moved to 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT in most markets on Monday, September 10.
Meanwhile, the news for KATIE is not as good, according to Deadline:
In its fourth airing on Thursday, Katie Couric's new syndicated talk show dropped 26% in households to a 1.7/5 in the metered markets and 38% to a 0.8/5 in the key Women 25-54 demographic. In households, Katie still finished first among the freshman daytime talk shows but by a smaller margin.
In four days, Katie has shed 39% in households and 50% in W 25-54 from its big premiere numbers. What is more alarming is that the show has fallen below the time period average last season (2.3/7 HH, 1.4/8 in W25-54), when a large number of stations carried General Hospital.


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Christopher B. Carroll has earned his Eagle Scout reward. His certification project was building a permanent marquee sign for the Bagdad Ruritan Club. He is a member of Boy Scout Venture Crew 470 of Simpsonville. He is the son of B.J. and Ginger Carroll, graduated from Shelby County High School in 2012 and is a freshman at the University of Kentucky majoring in business management.
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09 May, 2014 | (01 hr)
Sign In to access this Webcast
China is actively trying to tap into conventional and unconventional gas resources, but it has not yet shown the technological and innovative capacity to take advantage of its shale reserves competitively. This webcast focuses on three questions:
- How will China's supply and demand affect global gas and energy markets?
- As China's manufacturing costs increase, how and to what extent will China's natural gas help it remain globally competitive? How will this affect the business investment decisions of foreign companies that arrived for cheap manufacturing?
- How can foreign firms help the Chinese exploit their shale gas reserves?
Who should attend: Senior-level executives whose strategy, planning, and/or supervisory responsibilities include China; executives from energy MNCs; and strategists concerned with energy costs.
Kenneth Dewoskin
Kenneth Dewoskin is Senior Vice President at The Conference Board and a Senior Advisor to The China Center. A former professor of International Business and Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan, Dr. DeWoskin has been involved with China for over 40 years. He has also studie...Full Bio
Willem Overmeer
Willem Overmeer is a senior advisor at The Conference Board and the program on Scenario Building & Analysis. He works closely with individual members of The Conference Board to identify critical trends in the corporate environment and translate these trends into scenarios that help shape entr...Full Bio
Ethan Cramer-Flood
Ethan Cramer-Flood is the associate director of The Conference Board's China Center for Economics and Business. Based in New York City, he helps direct the Beijing-based China Center and supports The Conference Board's Asia-based operations in Hong Kong and Singapore. Cramer-Flo...Full Bio


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HOUSTON — The Bengals closed the regular season with a 7-1 finish that featured their best players playing the best when they needed them most, but in Saturday's AFC Wild Card game at Reliant Stadium they couldn't summon the synergy that produced their third playoff appearance in four years.
Instead, head coach Marvin Lewis's playoff record dropped to 0-4 when the Texans took advantage of the worst offensive show in the 34-game era of quarterback
The Bengals were supposed to be rising and the Texans were supposed to be diving, but another stale offensive day quickly squashed that. The offense that scored just seven touchdowns in December wasn't any better in January. They didn't score a touchdown for the second time in three weeks and didn't have a third-down conversion without benefit of a penalty. In managing just 127 yards passing, the first-team offense finished the season scoring just one touchdown in the last 10 quarters.
Dalton finished 14-of-30 with a 44.7 passer rating and the ugliness was spread out. About 15 percent of the team's 48 snaps went for no yards or negative yards and two were screen passes, two were sacks and two were runs.
And Cincinnati's second-best in the NFL sack unit didn't register one.
But somehow the defense kept the Bengals in it and, amazingly, gave the offense a chance to win it with 2:57 left in the game and the Bengals looking at a third-and-11 from the Texans 36. Green beat cornerback Johnathan Joseph on a double move down the right side and he was open in the end zone, but it was overthrown. And wide receiver
Dalton didn't target Green in the entire first half and he didn't get it to him until 10:15 left in the third quarter. Their 45-yard connection seconds later—Green's first 40-yard-plus catch since Nov. 25—set up
But on the next series on a route over the middle, Dalton tried to hit Green quickly and Green looked like he didn't think it was coming. The ball sailed into the arms of Joseph and the Texans had the ball at the Cincinnati 26 with 3:06 left in the third quarter.
But the Bengals defense just didn't give up even though it had some adversity. It came up with another stand in a series it lost third cornerback
The Texans got their only touchdown with the aid of two penalties, a 15-yard interference penalty on rookie cornerback
The Bengals allowed 420 yards, the most since they gave up 431 against Denver in Week 8, but it was hardly all the defense's fault since it was on the field for 77 snapps while the offense had just 48.
The bad news for the Bengals after their worst offensive effort in the first half all season and maybe of any other was that Foster had more touches than the Bengals ran plays while Cincinnati had the ball for less than six minutes with Dalton completing just four of 10 passes for three yards.
But the good news was the defense held Houston to two red-zone field goals and another from 48 yards while scoring its fourth defensive touchdown in as many weeks and went into halftime down just 9-7.
With its offense invisible, the Bengals defense again came to the rescue. Cornerback
Still, the Bengals defense got worn down with a ridiculous time of possession against the Bengals: 23 minutes to seven minutes, thanks to an offense that didn't come close to getting the ball in the hands of its best player and couldn't block defensive tackle J.J. Watt in the screen game or on some pass rushes. Watt had one of his signature sacks in the half working against right guard
And when Dalton did get a ball off, tight end
Bengals running back
Naturally, the defense kept the Bengals in it. It came into the game preventing TDs on 12 of its previous 17 red-zone trips and did it again Saturday three out of four times.
Graham kicked a 27-yarder following a Bengals red-zone stand with 13:07 left in the first half to make it 6-0 when the secondary made Schaub check it down to force the field goal.
Then after Hall's touchdown, the Texans had a third-and-three from the Bengals 4, but Schaub didn't make a very good throw to Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson cutting to the sideline in the end zone and the incompletion forced Graham's 22-yard field goal to make it 9-7 with 2:23 left in the half.
But it was a costly drive that consumed 7:11 with the Texans grinding out two third-and-ones as Foster channeled last year's 153-yard effort in this game.
After Hall gave the Bengals the lead, they had a great chance to take control of the game on the next snap when safety
The Bengals did a decent job in the first half against the pass working without safety Chris Crocker, holding 112-catch receiver Andre Johnson to two catches for 30 yards and Schaub to 19-of-26 passing for 144 yards and a 70 passer rating. But a defense that allowed just 97 yards per game on the ground gave up 106 in the half.
The Texans got Graham's 48-yard field goal on the second drive of the game that started at the Texans 4 to take a 3-0 lead with 7:49 left in the first quarter.
But the Bengals got a big stop from defensive tackle
The Bengals could have had a first down on their second snap, but Gresham dropped one over the middle and when Dalton went back to him over the middle on third-and-eight, free safety Glover Quinn knocked it away. Then the next drive got blown up on Houston's one sack of the half when Watt came up the middle.
The Bengals and Texans defenses came out crisply with three-and-outs to start the game. Cincinnati limited Schaub to a two-yard gain on the first snap when the Bengals blanketed the receivers on play-action bootleg. The Bengals then swarmed a screen to Foster for a four-yard loss.
But the defense could only do so much in a half the Texans ran 47 plays to Cincinnati's 18.
PREGAME NOTES: Chris Crocker, the man who helped solidify the Cincinnati defense's run to the sixth ranking in the NFL rankings, didn't suit up for Saturday's AFC Wild Card game against the Texans at Reliant Stadium and the Bengals turned to 12-year veteran Nate Clements to make his sixth career start at safety.
Crocker, who was limping in last year's Wild Card game on a bad knee, suffered a bruised thigh last week in the first quarter of the win over the Ravens. Clements came into the season with 159 starts at cornerback before he was switched to safety early in the season. Then the Bengals brought in Crocker off the street in late September and Clements was relegated to a backup role with Leon Hall and
Also inactive for the Bengals on Saturday were cornerback
With the Texans putting inside linebacker Tim Dobbins on injured reserve, the Texans went to their fourth backer to give Barrett Ruud his second start of the season. Brian Cushing and Darryl Sharpton are already on injured reserve.
The Texans introduced their defense while Lewis sent out for his captains The Establishment: Andy Dalton, Rey Maualuga,


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I share the view of the Tony Egginton, executive mayor of Mansfield, that the time has come to streamline our system of local government.
A structure established in 1974 cannot expect to serve the county properly in 2014. The electronic revolution has changed the way we all work, with emails instead of letters and instant information via the internet.
You do not need to be an expert in local government to realise that significant savings for taxpayers can be achieved by having fewer councils occupying fewer buildings, employing fewer managers and delivering all services 'under one roof'.
Unitary councils already serve many parts of the country - Nottingham City, for example - and Northern Ireland is set to introduce 11 new "super-councils", a reduction from 26 district councils. So why shouldn't Nottinghamshire change?
Currently there are 307 borough and district councillors and 67 county councillors for Nottinghamshire, meaning a potential 374 councillors for a population of 750,000 approximately.
Forty-two of the 67 county councillors also sit on district councils, incidentally claiming an allowance from both councils.
I am not saying that these elected representatives are not good, hard-working people who care passionately about their communities, but do we need all these councils or councillors and can we afford them?
Council tax is one of the highest bills that all householders have to pay and nowhere is this truer than in Nottinghamshire, which already has the highest tax rate of any shire council.
Add on top of this the extra average tax of £160.43 per year charged by the local borough and district councils.
Residents tell me they have had enough. After all, they pay their council tax to support services, not to sustain excessive numbers of administrators, buildings and councillors.
The vast majority of people I meet are only aware that "the council" provides their services and that they can approach "their local councillor" with questions and concerns.
Many do not understand the difference between county and district councils and nor do they really care.
Why should they? Modern life is busy enough without having to guess which council provides which service, or which of three or four councillors to approach for help.
Far from benefitting democracy, the current system often causes confusion and delay. Surely having one councillor would be easier for everyone concerned, and if you are unhappy with their performance you can vote them out at the next election.
Currently, Nottinghamshire County Council is being assessed by the Boundary Commission, who will spend time and public money redrawing all the electoral division boundaries for the county.
The question they should be asking is: do we need a different structure instead of spending money fiddling with the existing one?
I agree with Mayor Eggington and Councillor Garner that two unitary councils, namely a North-West Nottinghamshire Council and South-East Nottinghamshire Council, would be a good model.
The simple building blocks would be Mansfield, Ashfield and Bassetlaw making one council and Broxtowe, Gedling, Rushcliffe and Newark & Sherwood making the other.
Residents could then elect the best councillors for the job, irrespective of whether the candidates were previously borough/district or county representatives.
Including the existing Nottingham City Council, this would provide us with three unitary councils all of approximately the same population.
These would be more locally focused authorities with better economies of scale, able to just get on with the job. They would require fewer officers, buildings and councillors, saving us money.
I believe that this debate will only gather momentum and I am keen to hear the views of residents from across the whole county on the best way forward. What is certain is that only by spending less on buildings and local government bureaucracy will we have more to spend on services, keep council tax down and leave everybody with more money in their pocket.


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Tuesday, May 22Today's Hours:
Courier Article by David Locker
Sunday, February 2, 2003
New Books on Gold Rush Herald Its Importance
If it can be said that America has an empire, it is a land-locked one that stretches from sea to sea.
In 1842, when John C. Fremont embarked on his first expedition of the western frontier, the country's practical border ended at St. Louis, and the western territories were in the hands of the American Indians, Mexico or England. Though a trickle of settlers had been moving west on the Oregon Trail, the American presence in the West was confined mostly to a hardy band of mountain men.John Fremont did more than any other man to advertise the unknown and often hostile West. Written with the help of his wife, Jessie Fremont Benton, his widely read published reports of his expeditions popularized the idea of western settlement.
Fremont's reports paved the way for the explosion of immigration that occurred when gold was discovered near Sutter's Fort in 1848.
Pathfinder: John Charles Fremont and the Course of American Empire by Tom Chaffin (Hill and Wang, 2002).
Who, you may ask, was John Fremont? Though a household name in the latter half of the 19th century, he is little-known today. The reason for this is perhaps the disastrous course of the second half of his career.
The first half of Fremont's life was blessed with extraordinary luck. Men of influence and knowledge, who taught him the art of scientific exploration and wielded hefty political clout, befriended him. His great political ally was Sen. Thomas Hart Benton from Missouri, whose daughter he married.
Fremont was a dashing, Byronic figure who impulsively climbed mountains, rafted unruly streams and crossed mountain passes during the harshest winters. Not only an explorer, he was a leader of the Bear Flag Revolt in California, a general in the Civil War and the Republican candidate for president before Abraham Lincoln.
It was during the Civil War that his fortunes turned, and his rebellion against authority, perhaps a hangover of his illegitimate birth, resulted in a court marshal. An ardent abolitionist, his mistake was to rush into emancipation before Lincoln was ready.
Chaffin's biography reads well, though it is exhaustive in historic detail. Instead of debunking Fremont, as has been the fashion lately, Chaffin lets his record speak for itself. That is about as good as we can expect in this day and age, when all our heroes are portrayed with feet of clay.
A Newer World: Kit Carson, John C. Fremont, and the Claiming of the American West by David Roberts (Simon & Schuster, 2000).
When Fremont's luck was still holding, he happened to run into Kit Carson on a steamboat when he was hiring the men who would accompany him on his first expedition. This chance meeting not only helped ensure the success of Fremont's mission, but also propelled Carson into fame and immortality.
Roberts doesn't care much for Fremont, but he considers Carson a true hero of the West. Carson was a small, wiry man who was straight-talking, loyal and brave. A great shot, he was also a renowned Indian killer. It wasn't long after his appearance in Fremont's published reports that he became a dime-novel hero and folk legend.
The Age of Gold by H.W. Brands (Doubleday, 2002).
For those of you who are looking for a popular historian who can stand with David McCullough and Stephen Ambrose, look no further than H.W. Brands.
The author of The First American, a prize-winning biography of Benjamin Franklin, and T.R., a biography of Theodore Roosevelt, switches course a bit here and tells the story of one of America's most important events, the California Gold Rush.
This is historical storytelling at its best, with great characters such as Fremont, John Sutter and Leland Stanford. The Gold Rush was the inception of the American Dream, with its emphasis on immediate riches over the Puritan frugality of the past.
Eldorado: The California Gold Rush by Dale L. Walker (Forge, 2003).
Walker, a Spur Award-winning author of books on the American West, has produced another readable and well-researched history of the Gold Rush.
An author more in the popular mold of David Roberts than the scholarly Chaffin, he concentrates on the personal stories of the people involved and gives us a lively picture of the chaotic and lawless mining camps as well.
David Locker is a librarian with the Evansville-Vanderburgh Public Library. The opinions expressed in this column are personal and do not reflect policies or official recommendations of EVPL.


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On Friday, in his moving and heartfelt statement in response to the horrific shootings in Newtown, Conn., President Obama said, "As a country, we have been through this too many times…. And we're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics."
He's right about so much here, but so wrong about one thing.
In a democracy, politics is a synonym for "democracy." It is through politics that people with strong feelings and interests peaceably hash out their disagreements. When politicians say they want to do something regardless of the politics, or to go "above" or "beyond" politics, what they generally mean is they want to do something regardless of the rules or what their opponents have to say or, often, the facts. This, after all, is the point of the expression "a crisis is a terrible thing to waste."
SLIDESHOW: The 10 trigger-happiest states in America
I've lost my share of loved ones in recent years (a father, a brother, a close friend and a mentor), though (thank God) I've experienced nothing that can match what must be the soul-eating despair that comes with the murder of a son or daughter. Still, one piece of advice you often hear in such situations is "don't make any big decisions" in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy.


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STILL doing pre-Christmas LOs! ;-) I may catch up some day ("may" being the operative word!)
Thank you for looking!!
Journaling: Your Kindergarten class was scheduled to lead chapel two weeks before Christmas break. Your teacher, Mrs. Polvado, selected an adorable skit of the Nativity Christmas story using the poem, "The Night Before Christmas" as a backdrop. You were given the role of one of the shepherds. You diligently studied your two lines: "Did you hear what the angel said? Let us go see the baby Jesus" and "The Lord will watch the sheep. Let us hurry!" We practiced your lines together for weeks. You knew them inside out. Finally, the big day arrived, and you confidently recited the lines in the car one last time on the way to school. There wasn't a hint of nervousness in you as your teachers quickly costumed your class in bathrobes and angel wings. Even seeing the crowd of parents and students didn't phase you. Soon the play began. Everyone was doing beautifully, singing Christmas songs and reciting their lines. About halfway through the skit, as I was taking pictures, I noticed you had a puzzled look on your face. You kept looking at your teachers as if something was not quite right. Then it dawned on me. They had inadvertantly skipped over your part of the story. I was afraid you would start getting upset but was so proud of you for not crying or raising a fuss. As you headed toward your seat after the performance, I gave you a big hug and told you how very proud I was of you. Your class performed the skit again a week later for the parents, and this time, you showed everyone what a great little shepherd you were. But what I will remember most is how you showed real poise and strength of character that day. I will always be proud of my "little shepherd."
Stitched by Anna No. 1 White, Magical Sparkles,
WinterScape ART Prints -- Anna Aspnes
Loosely Labeled Dates -- Katie Pertiet
Everyday Inspiration 11/23 -- Dana Zarling
December Daily -- Ali Edwards


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I was struck by a series of hanging paper cranes during a recent visit to Poets House in New York City. Origami is the one form of art I simply can't pass by without pausing — perhaps because it seems the perfect blend of purposeful and playful.
There's a similar exhibit as you enter the Arizona Museum for Youth in Mesa, inside a foyer that also houses a giant hanging paper crane. Recently I visited the museum with my adult son Christopher, who's been enjoying the museum with me since he was just knee-high.
We explored the museum's ArtZone — which currently features an exhibit titled "One Thousand Paper Cranes." Exhibit materials note that in Japan it's believed that a wish comes true for the person who folds 1,000 paper origami cranes.
A sign at the museum invites visitors to fold paper cranes in an effort to secure their wish for world peace — collecting them for shipment to Hiroshima, Japan — where they'll hang in the Children's Peace Monument.
Admirers of Japanese and other Asian art can always find it in the Phoenix Art Museum's permanent Asian Collection. Its offerings, which can be viewed online, include several Japanese prints and screens.
Phoenix Art Museum holds its next "First Wednesday Asian Gallery Talk" at noon on August 3. It's free with museum admission or membership.
The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix presents a "Museum Encounter" with Bobby Seigetsu Avstreih and the Japanese Shakuhachi Flute at 11:30am and 2:30pm on Aug 6. It's free with museum admission.
Through Each Others Eyes, an organization that uses photography to promote international understanding, has a photographic exchange exhibit with Japanese photographers. It's the 17th such exchange between photographers in sister cities Phoenix and Himeji.
The Japanese Friendship Garden (Ro Ho En) in Phoenix, which closes for the summer months, is holding an "Opening Day Celebration" on Oct 1. Their annual "Moonviewing Festival" (Ot sukimi) takes place Oct. 15.
Musical theater fans are keeping an eye on the development of "Allegiance — A New American Musical," which follows a family touched by the internment of Japanese Americans in parts of the U.S. following the attack on Pearl Harbor. "Allegiance" is described as a work about "love, loss and heroism."
Cast members include Lea Salonga as Gloria Suzuki, George Takei as Old Sam Omura and Telly Leung as Young Sam Omura. A private workshop was held last week in New York, and the musical will enjoy a world premiere next year at the Old Globe theatre in San Diego.
If you share my love for origami, or you have yet to appreciate its wonder, check out the PBS "Independent Lens" film titled "Between the Folds." It features the art and science of origami by exploring the work of ten powerful paper-folders.
You can learn more about the history of origami and all sorts of paper-folding resources from PBS "Independent Lens" online. But your best bet is still buying a bunch of origami paper so you and your children can learn by doing.
— Lynn
Note: Start today if your family celebrates Christmas and you'd like to decorate your tree this year with paper cranes like those shown in one of the images above. Paper cranes and other origami or kirigami (paper cutting) art also make beautiful garlands and table decorations.
Coming up: Valley studios offering acting classes


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2002 Softball
Kurtz HCAC Player of Week
Kurtz named Heartland Conference Softball Player-of-the-WeekApril 24, 2002
Bluffton College senior Emily Kurtz (Wooster/Smithville H.S.) has been named the softball player-of-the-week in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference for her efforts in pitching BC to two HCAC victories last week.
On Thursday Kurtz shut out Anderson University 2-0, recording eight strikeouts and allowing just three hits. On Saturday Kurtz returned to the mound to beat Franklin College 3-2 in extra innings. Kurtz pitched all eight innings for Bluffton and struck out seven hitters while only allowing one earned run.
Kurtz currently holds a 6-8 record on the season and owns a 1.49 earned run average. Kurtz holds the career Bluffton College record for ERA (1.94) and innings pitched 458.2, both breaking previous records held by her sister Erin (1997-2000). She is also tied for the all-time lead for pitching appearances with 67 and now ranks 2nd all-time in career strikeouts with 205. Kurtz also holds the single season record for wins (13) and ERA (1.28) both as a junior in 2001, when she was selected first team All-HCAC.
Kurtz received the Kathryn E. Little Award on April 16, recognizing her as the top senior female student-athlete of the year as selected by the BC athletic department faculty. She carries a GPA of 3.5 in Middle Childhood Education with a concentration in Math and Social Studies.
Bluffton is now in second place in the HCAC with a 9-4-1 league record. The Beavers are 11-17-1 overall and will travel to Ohio Northern on Thursday and Kalamazoo on Saturday to wrap up the regular season part of their schedule. The HCAC tournament begins May 3 at Hanover College.


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5 Healthy, Gluten-Free Recipes For The New Year
Now that we are five days into the New Year, I wanted to check in with you on your New Year's resolutions. Did you make any (like one of these 4 gluten-free resolutions we suggested)? Have you kept them so far? One of my personal resolutions is to focus on finding healthier gluten-free options that can help fuel my half-marathon training schedule for the next four months.
Gluten-free does not necessarily mean low calorie or fat free, so I have scoured the internet to find five healthy, gluten-free recipes that you can feel good about eating.
1. Stuffed Peppers
The more colorful a dish is on my plate, the healthier it seems. Ok, so maybe this isn't ALWAYS true. I mean, Cheetos are bright orange and they are definitely not in my "healthy" or "gluten free" category. However, this recipe for Stuffed Peppers from Elana's Pantry is a bright and healthy dish that goes great with rice. I usually pick red or orange bell peppers, because I digest them easier, but you can use whichever kind of pepper stirs your taste buds. Bonus: This dish is also dairy-free!
2. Zucchini Noodles and Thai-Inspired Chicken Curry
Have you ever heard of zucchini noodles? Me neither! Alta from Tasty Eats at home created this inventive dish after going grain free. I love thai food…the flavors, the textures, the smells. This healthy option is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or make it ahead of time for an exotic lunch at work.
3. Salmon, Fresh Blueberries and Lemon Salad with Chive Vinaigrette
Salads are a staple in every health-minded woman's (or man's) mind, but not all salads are healthy. (Cobb anyone?). This recipe posted by Anne-Marie at This Mama Cooks! incorporates one of nature's super foods: blueberries.
When cold weather hits, I'm all about the soup. Sommer, from A Spicy Perspective, shows how to make this delicious bowl of warmth from scratch. According to her, "This roasted red pepper soup is gluten free, dairy free, low carb, low calorie and oh so delightful." After checking out the photos she posted, I have to agree it does look deliciously gluten-free!
5. Flourless Honey Almond Cake
Each of us needs a little something sweet occasionally. This recipe for Flourless Honey Almond Cake from Eating Well is the perfect weekend treat.
What are your favorite healthy, gluten-free meals? Comment below!
One response to "5 Healthy, Gluten-Free Recipes For The New Year"
Thanks for the recipes. I learned this year that I was gluten and lactose intolerant. I don't think I am really missing much, but, it is difficult to live in a house with 4 other people who have no problem and gluten things are calling me from the cupboard.


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1. Ex-Start Menu
The departure in Windows 8 from the Start-button-on-desktop metaphor is perhaps the most radical change in UI history, and it's the one that will hit users early. But, it doesn't have to be permanent. There are a number of free and inexpensive tools that restore the Start menu to its rightful place in the universe -- on the desktop.
One of the better free utilities is Start Menu X from independent developer OrdinarySoft. The tool replaces the Start menu in Windows 7, Vista and XP and adds one to Windows 8. Start Menu X improves Microsoft's own Start menu with features such as automatic alphabetization of menu items, customizable lists and power buttons, support for virtual entries and a Run button. There's even a "Skip Metro at Startup" option at installation. The best thing about it? It makes no modifications to Windows, so when you quit, it's gone. And that's good, because it takes a few liberties with the Start key but puts them back when it's done.
You might also look at Start8 and Pokki for Windows 8.


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So, are we all paired off for teh weekend?
SAR, given all the talk about his BMW and his high falutin Kenmore appliances, he's bound to pick up my monthly mortgage payment as a token of hospitality.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
Tapatalk sucks f*cking balls.
Dear asshats. When you say you update allows you to upload photos....it would probably be a good business move to actually allow your product to upload photos.
I had a great Hottie Forum-type pic to post. But Tapatalk wouldn't allow it. It appears that only images that contain Trojan viruses are allowed here anymore...via our esteemed advertisers who put up advertisements that no one ever has ever clicked on.
Web advertisement is the biggest lie played on people since....
How many people here have actually clicked on one of those stupid advertisements on the JI banner?
I can just imagine you in your waning days in the ICU;
"Hospitals are for idiots, man. Who invented these? Big business pumping insurance companies for the last dime. Amirite? SUck it!!!!"
(nurse adjusts feeding tube, rolls eyes)
"WHo works in a hospital, dude. Losers, thats who. I was a plumber that never plumbed. Beat that. Suck it!!!!"
(nurse changes diaper, nods head )
"Vent......ven.....venilators...venilators man...sucker bet dude. Cash cow for...the....the....the....sip of water please"
(nurse gives sip of water)
Boney fist shakes weakly as silent maw gapes and now unseeing eyes... go cloudy and dull.
(Nurse pulls sheet up over ashen face, then chuckles sadly. "You win, PK....you win". Shakes head, checks watch)
Last edited by 32green; 05-09-2013 at 08:16 AM.
^^ hilarious
but PK won't die in the hospital. he's got that "you'll never get me alive, pigs!!" mentality.
No way he goes like that.
It'll be driving a pickup, crashing through some fundamentalist Christian's house, with a beer in one hand, and yelling "SCIENCE, B1tches!!!!!!" at the top of his lungs.


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Pot Roast with Gravy Recipe
Popular Videos
- 1 beef rump roast or bottom round roast (5 pounds)
- 6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 bay leaves
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 3 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
- 4 to 5 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup cold water
- Cut roast in half; rub with 2 tablespoons vinegar. Combine the salt, garlic powder and pepper; rub over meat. In a large skillet, brown roast in oil on all sides. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker.
- Place the garlic, bay leaves and onion on roast. In a small bowl, dissolve bouillon in boiling water; stir in soup and remaining vinegar. Slowly pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until meat is tender.
- Remove roast; keep warm. Discard bay leaves. Whisk cornstarch and cold water until smooth; stir into cooking juices. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes or until gravy is thickened. Slice roast; return to slow cooker and heat through. Yield: 10 servings.
Reviews forPot Roast with Gravy
My Review
Average Rating
"Very good recipe. I used a moose roast and they can be less than tender. It was a 3 1/2 lb roast so l left it whole but cooked it for 6 hrs., turning a couple of times. It was excellent. Janet. VFE"
"It's been years since I've cooked a roast in a slow cooker (I usually do them in a pressure cooker), but I saw this recipe and figured I'd give it a shot. The recipe was excellent and turned out a flavorful, moist, juicy roast.I did change it up slightly by deglazing my skillet after browning the roast with about half a cup of beer, which I then added to the liquid to pour over the roast, along with 1/2 a packet of ranch dressing mix and some more beer just to be on the safe side because in all walks of life, it is very hard to determine just how much beer is enough!I agree with the reviews that say the gravy sets up quickly. It took about ten minutes, which was the perfect amount of time to rest the roast and slice it without having to return the slices to slow cooker, so I skipped that step and just ladled gravy over the meat."
"This was a very easy recipe and also a home run at our house. My family was practically licking the gravy off of their plates. We served this with mashed potatoes and it was amazing. I was hoping for leftovers for some awesome sandwiches, but no such luck. I used a homemade cream soup substitute for the can of soup hoping that it would cut down on the salt, but it still was a tad too salty for my taste. This one is a keeper!"
"OK, but the gravy is very salty and also, the flavor of the vinegar is very overpowering. The gravy cooks in about 10 minutes, not 30."
"I made this for company, and I was unsure at first but it turned out great! I changed it up a bit, by putting more beef broth in it and we had the gravy over our mashed potatoes."
"this is sooo good! and the left-overs are just as good!! I mixed in some bbq sauce one night and served it on buns, taco sauce and salsa the next and served on tortillas."
"I have tried a few pot roasts, and never actually made one until i saw this recipe. It was delicious! My husband loves fast food, and rairly likes anything homemade, but this pot roast was delcious. He wants it again! The gravy was lovely, but i put more beef stock in so i got a little more gravy out of it. It just used the juices that were left as the gravy. It was already thick and flavorful so i didn't bother with the cornflower step."


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Want to remind yourself or a friend about this program? Fill out this simple form and klru will email you a reminder on the day that it will air.
Jimmy Cliff
series: Austin City Limits
air date: 6/09/13 11:00 PM
Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff performs his greatest hits and songs from his LP Existence.
WARNING: Email reminders for this program have already been sent out. Your reminder may not reach the intended address in time for this program's airing.
Back to TV Schedule


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Jail-transport van wrecks on I-430; highways clog
This article was originally published March 7, 2014 at 8:22 a.m. Updated March 7, 2014 at 8:43 a.m.
- Comments (7)
- aAFont Size
A vehicle crash on the Interstate 430 river bridge involving a jail-transport van Friday morning has caused heavy traffic congestion in central Arkansas.
A Washington County sheriff's office transport van was involved in the crash that backed up Interstates 430 and 40 for a large part of Friday morning, Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said. Nine of the jail inmates were taken to an area hospital, Sadler said. He added that he didn't have details on where on the I-430 bridge the accident occurred but that traffic was being routed around the crash scene.
Arkansas Online's traffic map showed traffic at a standstill along I-430 in each direction, on Maumelle Boulevard and on Interstate 40 east and west.
Cassandra Green, who by 8:20 a.m. had been stuck on Maumelle Boulevard for an hour and 20 minutes trying to get to I-430 South, said an accident on the interstate had backed up that road and I-40 from Conway but that she'd seen no ice on the pavement. Green says on a normal day, her trip takes 15 minutes.
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department said Friday morning via Twitter that all highways and interstates in the state were free of ice and snow, and some forecasters said Friday morning that freezing fog could have caused slick conditions. The National Weather Service said fog should persist through mid-morning.
Correction: The van involved in the accident was previously identified as a prison van, but Sadler later clarified that the van was a Washington County sheriff's office transport van. The change has been made in the story above.
Comments on: Jail-transport van wrecks on I-430; highways clog
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 total comments
DoWhat says... March 7, 2014 at 8:50 a.m.
Look folks. If ICE on a bridge caught you by surprise you probably don't need to be driving. Ironically 2 of the vehicles on the southbound side were prisoner transports driven by cops. Not too smart.
( permalink | suggest removal )
Lakeview says... March 7, 2014 at 8:54 a.m.
Now watch for the Lawyers to swarm in to protect those "injured" prisoners.
( permalink | suggest removal )
Pacorabone says... March 7, 2014 at 9:02 a.m.
Hope those vans weren't driven by the kind of cop who shoots and kills a man who is
"attacking" him with a wooden cane.
( permalink | suggest removal )
DSPLR says... March 7, 2014 at 9:04 a.m.
News flash to AHTD..... clear and cold forecast is going to create frost and black ice, especially on bridges and overpasses. There is no excuse for the lack of pro-active pre-treatment of elevated highway sections by the AHTD when icing conditions are forecast. The lack of action is symptomatic of what occurred earlier this week on I-55 and I-40. Missouri is clear and Arkansas is not, Missouri actually received more precipitation than Arkansas.
( permalink | suggest removal )
RBBrittain says... March 7, 2014 at 3:58 p.m.
@chiefmom: Stop spreading misinformation about the NLR shooting. That "wooden cane" had a large gold knob on the end; it WAS a deadly weapon when misused as a club. And though the officer probably didn't have time to check before firing, the victim had a lengthy record of disorderly conduct -- ESPECIALLY against cops. (He sued LRPD in 2010 over one arrest, and lost.) Though NLRPD still has to finish its investigation (as it should), from what's come out so far it's 99% certain that shooting WAS justified.
( permalink | suggest removal )
bbbush says... March 7, 2014 at 4:48 p.m.
@ RICHARD BRITTAIN: Your accusation of misinformation is invalid because thats not the point she's attempting to make. Regardless of whats on the end of the cane ( which does not classify it as a deadly weapon) his actions did not warrant death. What makes me laugh but not surprised is how over the course of a year there have been an influx of police shootings and killings that have preassumably justified but again im not surprised this is Arkansas.
( permalink | suggest removal )
Pacorabone says... March 7, 2014 at 5:24 p.m.
Richard Brittain... I would think a tazer or stun gun would be appropriate... But a gun? Seriously????
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Anyone else feel like this NFL season has been terrible?
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Hey guys, I am looking for a good tutorial for a navigation bar that starts at the bottom of a loaded browser, then as you scroll moves to the top and remains fixed there. Here are a couple of examples I am referring to:
- Not exactly but close enough I can manipulate
I know how to fix a nav in a specific location, but as you can see in the Join Sessions example it seems to respond to that first home page "slide". Thanks for the help in advance!


text:
Lets go on vacation. Seemed like a good idea. Let's escape the cold and head to Florida. Except that Indiana is having a freak heat wave. And my husband had the brilliant idea to DRIVE to Florida. Where are the Wright brothers when I need them? We are not Amish. We do not have to travel by horse and buggy. Maybe my husband has forgotten about my bad back, tiny bladder and inability to sit still in the 17 years I've known him. Are our trips to Ireland, Europe and Asia ringing a bell? Midway through all these adventures, he was asking the stewardess for a parachute. And this was before we had children. Nope, he decides that a 2.5 day drive through all 67 states is a better idea than a 2.5 hour plane ride. Then he leaves town for work and leaves the packing to me. The amount of packing done for 1 female and 2 children is the same amount if you are gone for 3 days or 3 months. The list includes but is not limited to: shirts, pants, socks, pajamas, underwear, swimsuits, shoes, books, DS & games, Leapsters & games, DVDs, snacks, bottled water, hand sanitizer in bulk, sunglasses, activity books, camera, sunglasses, sunscreen, stuffed animals, blankets, night lights, white noise machines, and bed rails. Why leave home? We are bringing everything with us. This is why I am not worried about being robbed while we are gone. Nothing is there. We brought it all with us.My husband's packing took 12 minutes. He packed some t shirts, socks, shorts, sandals, a small bottle of shampoo and deodorant. His stuff fits in a plastic bag from Walgreen's. Our stuff practically needs a pack mule and a U-Haul.
Packing complete, we hit the open road. We drive for 37 hours before we even left the state of Indiana. I was jet lagged before we hit another state. Kids were content to have snacks thrown in their laps and watch movies. I stared at the cornfields and wondered if my husband would noticed if I slowly opened my car door and rolled out. After driving for about 7 hours, Christian announced he needs to poop. We assure him we will pull over and find a restroom. He assures US that he can wait until we get home. What we have here is a failure to communicate, folks. We won't be seeing our home for another 9 days, buddy. He looked out the window and asked where we were. We told him we were in Tennessee. Now he is confused and mad. He told him we were going on vacation to Florida? What is with this misinformation? Did someone not read the map? We are only on day 2 of our safari across America. So far we have explored a cave, an underground waterfall, watched Sara do a zip line, seen a KFC building shaped like a giant chicken (complete with moving eyes and beak) and taken our son (with sticky hand phobia) to a BBQ place called Sticky Fingers. What else can we expect over the next few days? Watch out, America. We are invading the South. And we will take prisoners. I need the company for the long drive home. We have snacks and DVDs for your entertainment. But you better travel lightly because our car is full.


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Thomas will feature for Pontypridd as the Sardis Road club open proceedings against Neath on Sunday, August 25.
And he says he is looking forward to clashing with some familiar faces. Fellow international Sevens stars Lee Williams, James Davies and Jason Harries look set to feature for Carmarthen Quins while Chris Knight will be in contention for Llandovery.
It means Cardiff Arms Park will host some of the best Sevens talent in Wales at the competition on the new artificial pitch at the home of the Cardiff Blues.
"Playing at Cardiff Arms Park with the Welsh clubs will be brilliant and to have a tournament of this standard in Wales will be beneficial to us as a national Sevens squad and to the clubs themselves," said Thomas, who led Wales at the recent Sevens World Cup in Moscow.
"I think the banter will be flying about the Wales squad, we're back in next week before we play this competition so we're looking forward to it."
Thomas forms part of a Pontypridd squad which secured a first league and cup double in their history last season.
For the Foster's Sevens, Dale McIntosh is also able to call on Owen Jenkins, Rhys Shellard and new signing Alex Webber, all of whom have international sevens experience with Wales under Paul John.
Former Ystrad Rhonnda man Webber is a new face at Sardis Road after making the jump from league rugby to the IRB Sevens circuit in one foul swoop.
He now has the chance to impress at Principality Premiership level though will first be looking to lay down a marker at the Foster's Sevens.
"Alex Webber has been amazing for Wales and if we can have him for Pontypridd in this tournament it will be massive for us," added Thomas.
"We did well last year to be top seeds for this tournament and looking at our squad, we'll hopefully have the guys who are in the Wales team available."
In terms of Pontypridd's preparation for the competition, Thomas said: "We're playing the Abercynon Sevens and that's a good step ahead of the new season.
"But we'll be taking this tournament really seriously and it will be good to see our new signings and look at what they can do on a Sevens field."
Tickets for Foster's National Sevens are just £10 - click here to purchase tickets