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FORT MYERS, Fla. — Until it became too ragged, Daniel Bard used to wear a black T-shirt around the Red Sox clubhouse with "I'm That Dude" across the front.
He was that dude, too, one of the best relief pitchers in baseball. Bard had a triple-digit fastball and a treacherous slider, pitches that produced a 2.88 earned run average over a three-season span starting in 2009.
During that time, Bard struck out 213 batters over 197 innings while allowing only 132 hits. Jonathan Papelbon received more attention because he was the closer, but Bard often had the more difficult assignments.
Former manager Terry Francona would unleash Bard in the seventh and eighth innings to stifle rallies. In the eyes of his manager, Bard was every bit as valuable as a closer, maybe more.
"He was overpowering," Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said on Friday. "Nobody wanted to face him."
But with Bard a willing participant, the Red Sox tinkered with that success last season by making the righthander a starter. Bard did not pitch particularly well in spring training but was given a spot in the rotation.
In the regular season, Bard was 4-6 with a dispiriting 5.30 ERA in 10 starts. Even worse than the results were how he got there. Bard threw a fastball that averaged just over 93 miles per hour, and lost the bite on his slider. He walked more (36) than he struck out (34) over 54⅓ innings, and allowed six home runs.
On June 3 in Toronto, Bard had to be taken out of the game in the second inning after walking six Blue Jays and hitting two. It was painful to watch. The Red Sox sent Bard to Triple A Pawtucket, where he languished until late August.
Bard was inconsistent in the minors and lacked control. The same was true in the six games he pitched out of the bullpen after returning to Boston. The end of the season was a relief for him.
"It was good to get away, I think, and get a couple of months removed from everything and kind of look at it from a bigger-picture perspective," Bard said. "I think that helps. If you're going to talk about last year, you've got to talk about the three years before that, as well."
Bard did some hunting in Mississippi and went on vacation with his wife, Adair. They toured wine country in northern California and later hit the beach in the Virgin Islands.
Once he started throwing again, Bard felt comfortable. His arm was in its usual slot and the ball felt natural coming off his fingers. By the time he took the mound, that feeling was still there.
"It kind of comes natural after not throwing for a couple of months," Bard said. "That was how I threw my whole life."
Bard threw off the bullpen mound at Fenway South on Wednesday and looked like the pitcher he once was. There are many tests ahead, but finally some optimism.
'I think we just tried to tweak a few too many things.'
"He looks really good right now," manager John Farrell said.
Bard said there was no one particular reason last season was so miserable for him. He admits to trying to be too precise with his secondary pitches and then losing his confidence. Not having a manager or pitching coach who knew him added to his inability to make corrections.
"It just seemed to snowball," he said. "If they would have sent me home for two weeks and said, 'Don't pick up a ball,' in the middle of the season, it probably would have been the best thing.
"I think we just tried to tweak a few too many things. The way I pitched in the past was simple. It's attacking hitters, not thinking about really how you're getting there. Have a couple of mechanical keys you go off of and let it eat from there. I kind of got away from that."
Saltalamacchia felt it was more attitude than anything else.
"There are two different mentalities, being a starter or coming out of the bullpen," the catcher said. "I think Daniel's mentality changed as a starter. He was pitching to corners and throwing more sinkers and changeups. That's not him. I don't think [Tigers ace Justin] Verlander changes what he does. He has great stuff and he goes after you with it. He says, 'Here it is.' But pitchers are weird, they think the more the hitters see them, the more they will figure them out. But it's not always that way."
Bard arrived at spring training as an unknown. Was last season an anomaly or is he a pitcher forever locked in a struggle to recapture past glory? Other than to say he will pitch in relief, the Sox have been careful not to define expectations.
"Daniel Bard returning to the way he pitched late in the game for us a couple of years ago, it would give us not only a power arm, but another strikeout-type pitcher late in the game or at some point," Farrell said.
"We're long from outlining what roles are going to be. But I think most importantly is Daniel's outlook, having learned from the struggles of a year ago and knowing what makes him an effective pitcher."
It's far too early to judge. But Bard speaks like a man confident the clouds have parted.
"If I come in here and take care of business and throw the ball the way I'm capable of, a role or a spot will make itself available," he said.
"l know I have some things to prove. But I also know that I feel good right now and I know that in the past when things have felt good, it takes care of itself. Having trust in my own abilities and having trust that God has a plan for me and it's not all in my hands. I'm just going to take care of what I can take care of and trust that I'll end up where I'm supposed to."Peter Abraham can be reached at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.


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Manchester United's value continues to rise, despite concerns over the way the Glazer family are running the club.
A BBC report article shows the club have reported a 74% rise in profits for the second half of 2012, with pre-tax profits for the last six months of the year standing at a whopping £22.3m.
The Glazer's floated the club on the New York Stock Exchange at $14 a share last year and the shares now have a price of nearly $19, giving the club an overall value of around $3bn.
Sponsorship was the main area of growth with commercial revenue rising 26.4%, whilst United are to announce their new training kit sponsor in the near future after it was announced that the mystery company had bought out the last two years of DHL's existing contract.
United claim to have 650m supporters worldwide and can only really be rivalled for the title of the world's biggest football club by Real Madrid - their opposition in the Champions League last-16.
The Glazer family have not been welcomed by the majority of fans but with success continuing on the field many supporters have been prepared to put up with their American owners.
However, it was not all good news as the Old Trafford outfit still have debts of £366.6m, while staff costs rose more than 10% to £84.5m, mainly down to player signings and an increase in wages.
DISCLAIMER: This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeFootball Writing Academy and does not represent the views of GiveMeFootball.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article. GiveMeFootball.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Global Traveler annual Reader Survey Award underlines global industry credentials of Dubai's premier business and leisure hotel
Dubai, UAE; January 3, 2013: The Address Downtown Dubai, the flagship hotel of The Address Hotels + Resorts, the hotel brand owned by Emaar Hospitality Group, has been chosen as the 'Best Hotel in the World' at the Global Traveler Annual Reader Survey Awards for the second consecutive year.
Global Traveler is a monthly magazine for business and luxury travellers, and in this year's annual reader survey, more than 28,000 people – mostly frequent premium travellers – took part to determine the best in some 70 travel-related categories.
Centrally located in Downtown Dubai, the elegantly designed Address hotel has won numerous international accolades since its opening in 2008. A preferred choice for business and leisure travellers, the five-star premium hotel has redefined hospitality standards in the region by ensuring that guests have a memorable stay led by superior service standards and an array of lifestyle amenities.
Philippe Zuber, General Manager of The Address Downtown Dubai, said: "The world's premium travellers have made their choice clear: For the second consecutive year, they have voted our hotel as the world's best. Sustaining industry leadership is the toughest challenge in the hospitality sector, and to receive the honour as the 'best hotel in world' repeatedly is a true testament to how we consistently meet the demanding requirements of our guests."
He added: "There are several factors that contribute to the appeal of our hotel. The location in Downtown Dubai, described as 'The Centre of Now,' our focus to provide tangible guest benefits and an unwavering commitment to excellent service standards make the hotel the number one choice for the discerning traveller."
The Address Downtown Dubai tops other hotels in the category from Venice, Paris, London, Honolulu, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Beverly Hills, in the ranking of the 'Best Individual Hotel in the World,' highlighting its industry thought leadership and appeal to discerning travellers from around the world.
In close proximity to The Dubai Mall, the world's largest shopping and entertainment destination, and offering spectacular views of The Dubai Fountain, the world's tallest performing fountain, The Address Downtown Dubai overlooks Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. The architecture of the 63-floor hotel is unique and breath-taking, enhancing the mood of the venue as a premier lifestyle destination. The hotel features 196 guest rooms and suites as well as 625 serviced apartments.
The Address Downtown Dubai offers an extensive range of gourmet experiences, with seven specialty restaurants & lounges including, The Cigar Lounge, located on level 13. In addition it offers modern meeting and event venues, a signature Spa, a fully equipped Fitness Centre, chilled pools and indulgent amenities and services.
The hotel has been voted Best Business Hotel in Dubai at the Business Destination Travel Awards in 2010, and Dubai's Leading City Hotel at the 2010 World Travel Awards, in addition to featuring in the Conde Nast Traveller Hot List 200.


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The Case of Galileo: A Closed Question? By Annibale Fantoli
The Case of Galileo: A Closed Question?
By Annibale Fantoli (Notre Dame Press, 2012)
Annibale Fantoli's The Case of Galileo: A Closed Question? opens where most Galileo books end—with the aging, nearly blind astronomer kneeling before a panel of seven cardinals as they pronounce him "vehemently suspected of heresy, namely. . . that the sun is the center of the world." Four centuries later, this scene seems absurd. Lay scholars and church hierarchy disagree about many things, but the earth revolving around the sun is not one of them.
For readers with a desire to uncover more than the familiar, but inaccurate, narrative of the Galileo case as one of science versus faith, Fantoli thoroughly examines the exact issues Galileo, his allies, and his critics confronted. They debated whether the Bible was being literal when it reported that Joshua stopped the sun. Several Jesuit scientists, historically considered Galileo's most aggressive adversaries, agreed that Galileo's observations discredited older understandings of planetary motion but disagreed with his new conclusions. The ongoing debate even stressed the already tense relationship between Urban VIII, initially one of Galileo's allies, and several cardinals antagonistic to the pope.
Fantoli's work then innovatively explores what he calls "the burdensome inheritance of the Galileo affair." More than three centuries after Galileo's condemnation, Pope John Paul II formed a commission to investigate and publish a complete and conclusive report on the Galileo case. Though many individuals on this commission produced new scholarship, Fantoli himself found the final papal report disappointing.
Readers can decide for themselves what a satisfying conclusion to the Galileo case might be, but using Fantoli's thoughtful, careful evidence as a guide, they have to agree that even in the 21st century, the Galileo case will remain an open question for a long time to come.
This article appeared in the July 2012 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 77, No. 7, page 43).


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Featured Database: LearningExpressLibrary
March 21, 2013
Program Locations:
Hands on using wireless laptops. Use LearningExpressLibrary to find skill-building courses, practice tests and eBooks for students at all levels as well as for job seekers. Materials include selected civil service and professional certification exams, college and graduate school entrance exams, GED, TOEFL and U.S. Citizenship exams and many other courses. This class meets on the 4th floor.
Registration is now closed for this event
More Info
- Skill prerequisites: Mouse & keyboard skills; Internet 2
- Audience: Adults


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The Clippers and Lakers were playing for much more Sunday than the hearts of Los Angeles basketball fans.
This game was about two rivals forced into survival mode in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
For the Clippers, it also was about making history. Their 109-95 victory at Staples Center clinched the franchise's first Pacific Division championship and, not incidentally, gave them a 4-0 record against their hallway rivals. It was their first season sweep of the Lakers since 1974-75 — before they were even the Clippers. Back then they were the Buffalo Braves.
The division-clinching victory in a designated Clippers home game was fueled by Chris Paul, who had 24 points, 12 assists and five rebounds, and Blake Griffin, who had 24 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
The Clippers also got 20 points off the bench from Jamal Crawford and 12 from fellow reserve Matt Barnes, plus 13 rebounds from DeAndre Jordan.


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Guy Robert "Bob" Courtney, son of Guy Thomas Courtney and Thelma (Baxter) Courtney was born October 4, 1937 at the family home in rural Warren Co., Iowa and passed from this life Sunday, September 29, 2013 at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola, Iowa at 75 years of age.
Bob graduated from Milo High School in 1955.
He served in the U.S. Army from February 1959 to February 1961, serving with the 153rd. Army Postal unit at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois. Following an honorable discharge Bob entered the Iowa National Guard at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa and served until being honorably discharged in 1969.
Bob was united in marriage to Judith Ann Hunt on August 29, 1959 in Des Moines, Iowa and two daughters blessed this union, Carie and Cathy. Bob and Judy raised their family on a farm near Woodburn, Iowa.
Bob worked as an Information Technology Administrator for KPMG in Des Moines for 25 years. Following retirement he helped in his daughter Cathy's accounting office in Osceola for several years.
Bob's passion was singing and playing guitar. He enjoyed bluegrass music and was a member of several bluegrass associations. He and Judy enjoyed traveling to Bluegrass Festivals throughout the Midwest, entertaining audiences with their unique style of dancing. Friends enjoyed their late night "coffee" sessions. Bob never met a stranger.
Those relatives who preceded Bob in death were his parents and his brother Garry Courtney.
He leaves to cherish his memory; wife, Judith Courtney of Woodburn; daughter, Carie (Denny) Cottrell of Woodburn, IA, daughter, Cathy (Kenny) Blair of Osceola, IA, granddaughter, Brandi (Monte) Kastler of Bondurant, IA, granddaughter, Amanda Blair of Elk Horn, NE, granddaughter, Amelia Blair of Osceola, IA, granddaughter, Alicia Blair of Osceola, IA, granddaughter, Alexxa Blair of Osceola, IA, great grandchild, Ryne Kastler of Bondurant, IA, brother, Richard (Mary) Courtney of Osceola, IA, sister, Marie (Lyman) Stuart of Leon, IA, sister, Mary (Tom) Borrall of Creston, IA, sister, Linda Halsten of Creston, IA, sister, Carol (Steve) Bishop of Melcher, IA as well as other relatives and many friends.
An informal get together and jam session will be Thursday, October 3, 2013 at Cathy's office from 5 - 7. 115 E. Jefferson St. - Osceola.
Graveside services will be 9:30 AM - Friday - October 4, 2013 at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity in Bob's name.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com.


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The Full Monty
(Free on Comcast) Bringing cheeky new meaning to the concept of downsizing, unemployed British steelworkers organize into a striptease act to regain their self-esteem. The troupe's Busby Berkeley is their once-snooty foreman, with middle-class pretensions he finds himself only too glad to jettison — along with his trousers. (R; runs through April 22)
(Free on Comcast) Slick "Miami Vice" goes to the movies stuff, but the psychopathic killers are genuinely creepy. (R; runs through April 30)
(Encore on Comcast) For Rosanna Arquette and Christopher Reeve fans. He's a '20s pilot, she's air freight, and the dialogue crashes before the plane does. The juxtaposition of fragile planes and rugged mountains captures more of the heroism and romance of flying than the direction and writing do. (PG; runs through April 30)


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Tom Cruise is bringing the thunder again as super-agent Les Grossman, and he has career advice for Robert Pattinson. Click on the photo to see the video, but be warned, there are some crude words barely disguised by MTV's mini-bleeps…
All of it is to promote the MTV Movie Awards, this Saturday…
–Geoff Boucher
Here's the scoop: Six new "Twilight: Eclipse" star interviews
MINISTRY OF GOSSIP: "Twilight" glows at Young Hollywood Awards
"Twilight" the musical? No but "Breaking Dawn" director is auditioning
Taylor Lautner on Pattinson: "Sadly, we don't hate each other"
The Wolf Pack weighs in on Robert vs. Taylor
Stephenie Meyer and the future of 'Midnight Sun'
'New Moon' premiere shines in Westwood
24 FRAMES: Is "Stretch Armstrong" director a reach?


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Mae Brunken wanted a home with a past. And in a plot with an only-in- Hollywood ending, the interior designer and set decorator found her period piece -- one with a film noir pedigree. Perched high in the hills of Hollywood, her 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival appeared prominently in "Double Indemnity," starring Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray and Edward G. Robinson.
A black-and-white still from the Billy Wilder-directed classic hung in the house when Brunken first visited in 2000. As Phyllis Dietrichson (Stanwyck, who earned one of the film's seven Oscar nominations) stands in her foyer with co-conspirator Walter Neff (MacMurray), the curved staircase is as much a star with its graceful iron scrollwork, terra cotta steps and Monterey tile risers.
"It was one of those California Spanish houses everyone was nuts about 10 or 15 years ago," Neff says in the 1944 film. "This one must have cost somebody 30,000 bucks. That is, if he ever finished paying for it."
Brunken asked for the Paramount Pictures still to be included in the sale, and though the film connection wasn't her only reason for purchasing the 3,200-square-foot house, she saw the opportunity to create another space "around a character and what that character would love." This time, the character was a glamorous movie star of the 1930s and '40s.
"I wanted to restore the house and have fun furnishing it as a part of the Hollywood era," she says.
In blending two styles -- Deco interiors and Spanish architecture -- Brunken chose not to interpret either genre too purely. Instead, the principal of Mae Brunken Design used vivid Art Deco colors and glossy furnishings to brighten the home's traditional terra cotta tile floors, stark white stucco walls and exposed beams.
"I didn't want a dark and heavy palette or for the interiors to be too predictable," she says. "I like my environments to be modern-day and a little playful. I love fresh and happy color. I want to mix different periods and allow the pieces to play together."
When her friend Thomas Boghossian, a retired California Institute of the Arts film historian, saw the house, he suggested that Brunken use a "Double Indemnity" poster as a decorating motif. He saw her property as a rare example of motion picture art direction because both exterior and interiors were used.
"At the time, most films were shot on the studio back lots," Boghossian says. "I could not believe until I went inside -- and then went back to the film -- that they actually copied the interior of the home exactly. Of course, since Mae lived in the home of such a famous film noir title, I thought posters with femme fatales would work perfect inside it."
Boghossian has since helped Brunken acquire an impressive collection of vintage posters with titles such as "Night in New Orleans," "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and "Naked Alibi."
The two-story foyer, an octagonal turret where an original wrought-iron lantern still hangs, doubles as a mini gallery containing some of Brunken's largest posters.
"I love the graphics," she says. "This house has a lot of big walls, and the posters help to warm it up."
The space is central to the home's design, with two wings extending from it at 90-degree angles. Brunken turned the all-white ceiling into a work of art, stripping the beams to expose dark wood, painting the plaster a terra cotta hue and stenciled scrolls in a Deco-inspired pattern of gold leaf and moss green.
For the foyer floor, she designed a bull's-eye rug. "I was inspired by the movie posters to do something as a piece of Pop art," she says of the concentric circles in cabernet, eggplant, gold, cream and turquoise. Descend the "Double Indemnity" staircase, and the rug's mesmerizing pattern feels like an optical illusion.
Simply framed and displayed in almost every room of the house, the oversized posters add some not-so-serious touches to Brunken's luxe furniture in Lucite, mohair, velvet, patent leather and gilded finishes. Pieces are vintage, reproduction and custom, selected for their unexpected qualities, "so that everywhere you look there is something that draws your eye around the room," the designer says.
The poster palettes -- think gold, turquoise and red, for starters -- spill onto some of the walls, including the shell-pink dining room with a gold-leaf ceiling, the pale aqua library with gold-leaf stenciling and a flamingo-pink guest bedroom with views of the Hollywood sign.
The master suite is decorated in platinum and lavender, with a custom velvet headboard, a pale pink bench with Lucite legs and antique mirrored side tables. Six vintage wall sconces cast a soft glow around the room.
After the calm elegance of this space, the adjacent master bathroom gives an energetic jolt. Original black and yellow tiles cover the walls, and the floor is paved in a matching honeycomb tile. Small movie posters, called "window cards," are artfully arranged on the wall, but it's the bumblebee palette that makes Brunken smile.
Down the hall, a guest bath is equally stunning and perhaps more soothing with teal and black Art Deco tiles.
"Some of the bathroom fixtures, like the wall-mounted soap dishes and towel bars, had to be replaced, but I found matches at Liz's Antique Hardware," she says of the L.A. store. The designer is no stranger to high-tech, spa-like bathrooms, because that's what many of her design clients request. "But I don't find my bathrooms inconvenient in any way. They may be a little more simplistic than modern bathrooms, but they still look great."
Only the kitchen, which had undergone an unfortunate 1970s modernization effort, called for major renovation.
Brunken found a 1950s O'Keefe & Merritt stove to replace a generic cooktop, removed layers of vinyl floor to reveal the original oak underneath, replaced old metal windows and eliminated a butler's pantry to create a seating area. Even here, the designer was uninhibited, pairing a 42-inch round table of her own design with Eames-inspired Lucite chairs. A reproduction shell lamp adds shimmer overhead, a contrast to warehouse-style fixtures above the kitchen sink. The blue, terra cotta and gold tile backsplash and counters, the bungalow-style cabinetry and a farmhouse sink seem vintage enough to feel right for the house's age.
Brunken's imaginary starlet would have felt right at home in the sunken living room, designed in a yummy chocolate-and-pink scheme. High, arched windows and French doors open onto a Mediterranean-inspired courtyard garden redesigned by Lisa Moseley. The new alfresco entertaining space is a vast improvement, Brunken says, over the 12-person Jacuzzi with rust-colored tile that once occupied the space.
The living room's brown silk drapes have pink insets; two drum-backed armchairs that the designer brought from a prior home are now cloaked in pink velvet with brown piping for a 1940s vibe. The designer also reupholstered a sofa in rich brown mohair and created a white leather ottoman with antique gold studs. A rug with an interlocking key motif in pink and dark maroon, and a reproduction mirror-front armoire with an overlay of circles, are nods to the Art Deco era. This is where Brunken, now a film noir buff, invites friends to watch movies on a screen tucked inside the armoire.
"Set decorating has changed my approach to interiors of an actual home," she says. "Because when I'm doing a set, I'm creating the character, what she would have and what her lifestyle is."
For this modern-day woman, it's a home of glamour and elegance that even Rita Hayworth or Ava Gardner would envy.


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TASMANIAN surfer Marti Paradisis has finally landed the big one – Australia's biggest wave award, that is.
Paradisis pocketed $20,000 for his efforts in catching an enormous wall of water off Pedra Branca Rock, south of his home state.
It was judged the largest wave ridden in Australasia last year, collecting the main prize as part of Surfing Life's Oakley Big Wave Awards.
Paradisis has won every subsiduary prize during the awards' 10-year history, but this was the first time he had received the Biggest Wave award..
''I wouldn't get to ride waves like this without a lot of help so this isn't just for me," said Paradisis, who narrowly defeated close friend Danny Griffith, who also scored a massive ride on the same day at the same place.
The other finalists were Paul "Antman" Paterson, Tyler Hollmer-Cross, and Jeff "Camel" Goulden, who took out the $5000 paddle-in award.
South Africa's Grant "Twiggy" Baker picked up the $5000 prize for the ''biggest slab'', caught off the remote Western Australian reef break known simply as The Right.


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Fall 2013
7372 Upstream Economics - D. H. Bellman- 24691
Added 4/29/2013
Credits: 3
Course Areas: Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law
Non-Law Courses
Time: 6:00p-9:00p M Location: 126 CBB
Course Outline: Objectives
• Understanding of the physical systems affecting the exploitation of hydrocarbon accumulations
• Understanding the economic structure and issues associated with key upstream processes.
• Ability to construct and use financial models and performance measures for the upstream business
• Appreciation of the key management decisions and the considerations that go into them in the highly uncertain exploration and production businesses
1. Participation on a student team in a competitive simulated oil and gas exploration and production venture, concluding with an assessment of the team's results and lessons learned
2. Preparation and use of a financial model using Excel
3. Two team presentations relating to case studies used in the course
4. Two brief recommendation papers relating to case studies used in the course
5. A final examination problem
Course Syllabus: Syllabus pdf
Course Notes: Course taught by: Professor D.H.Bellman at Bauer School of Business. NOTE to law students: The Bauer School of Business will allocate 5 seats for law students in this course. This course counts as an EENR course for those in the EENR LLM or certificate program. A strong preference will go to students who have already taken International Petroleum Transactions or who have some industry background. Law Students must be pre-screened by Prof. Jacqueline Weaver at firstname.lastname@example.com by submitting a resume and statement of interest in the course (why you want to take the course). If approved, your name will go to Derrick Gabriel in Student Services who will keep a list and allocate the five positions to the first five students on the list. Bauer registration occurs much later in the semester than Law Center registration, so you will not be officially enrolled until the Bauer registration system opens up. Student Services can help you with this.
Using a combination of lectures, case studies and participation in a realistic economic simulation of exploration and production activities, used for training by oil and gas companies, students will gain an understanding of the economics of the upstream oil and gas industry and skills in economic modeling using Excel and Merak Peep.
First Day Assignments:
Final Exam Schedule:
This course will have:
Satisfies Skills Course Requirement: No
Satisfies Senior Upper Level Writing Requirement: No
Experiential Course Type:
Bar Course:


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By Matt Durr
Twitter: @mdurrHDN
HILLSDALE � A 19-year-old Hillsdale man will spend 60 days in jail after he pleaded no contest to one count of domestic violence involving a 5-year-old boy.
HB Harley Collins avoided two more serious charges � one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of interfering with an electronic communication � as part of a plea bargain reached with prosecutors.
According to court documents, Collins hit a 5-year-old boy in the face with a Gatorade bottle during an argument with a woman. During the argument, Collins allegedly threatened to kill the woman and eventually grabbed a knife but did not attempt to injure the woman with it.
Collins also took a phone from the woman when she tried to call police.
Along with the 60 days in jail, Judge Donald Sanderson ordered Collins to have no contact with the woman in the case and to attend a 24-week batterer's program. He was also placed on probation for two years and must pay $575 in fines and costs.
Collins was given credit for 10 days served and will complete his sentence at the Hillsdale County Jail.
Man sentenced for hitting boy in face with bottle
By Matt Durr


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Kimi Raikkonen is confident his Lotus is better than his 12th place grid slot at this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix suggests.
Raikkonen, a championship challenger, struggled throughout Friday practice and was then a high-profile scalp ahead of the top ten shootout in qualifying. He said the car improved over the weekend and that the 1.9s gap to pole position is not entirely representative.
"The car was much better overall today than it was yesterday," he said. "We were quick with the used tyres but for some reason struggled for grip with the new ones in the second session and we were actually slightly slower. For sure P12 is not the position we wanted; we don't seem to have the speed to challenge the leaders here but the car is definitely quicker than that. We'll see what we can do in the race."
Team-mate Romain Grosjean was eighth fastest on his return after a one-race ban, but said his final lap was a bit scrappy.
"The result is not as good as we wanted, but this is a very hard track to get right and we've been struggling for ultimate grip throughout this weekend so far, so overall it was good to be in Q3. After Q1 and Q2 we felt positive but it didn't quite come together in the final session. I pushed a little bit too hard on my last lap; it felt good in the car, but it wasn't good for my lap time and there was one moment where I lost most quite a lot of time. It was pretty close but I don't think I touched the wall; I'll have to check to see if the Pirelli tyre markings are still there !"


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Hello y'all!
I'm a very cute five year old female mini schnauzer. I'm also very smart, I have a bilingual blog, I'm on facebook and I have an e-mail account! We have a parrot, Felipe Lopez (I don't like him but well, SHE does...). I'd love you to visit my blog!:love:
See you!


text: Checked baggage is excluded in these online fares, but may be added for a fee. Please ensure you read the important fees & charges info for our low cost flights. Advanced bookings are recommended for best availability of cheap flight tickets. Fares are subject to change. All destinations ► to Manila Departing Arriving All-in-fare from From Cebu to Manila PHP 1590 Book now From Kuala Lumpur to Manila RM 314.00 Book now From Kota Kinabalu to Manila RM 179.00 Book now From Shanghai to Manila CNY 474.00 Book now From Davao to Manila PHP 1990 Book now From Puerto Princesa (Palawan) to Manila PHP 1490 Book now From Seoul to Manila KRW 114,500 Book now From Macau to Manila MOP 584 Book now From Tagbilaran to Manila PHP 1590 Book now From Tacloban to Manila PHP 1490 Book now From Kalibo to Manila PHP 1190 Book now Back to top


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Empowering People to Tell Their Own Stories
Mr. Remati, you have been working in the film industry for more than 30 years, with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and as a director of the TV department at the Australian Television and Radio School. What made you come all the way from Australia to Jordan and take up the position as a director of RSICA in Aqaba?
Paolo Remati: Before coming to Jordan I was very privileged to work with Aboriginal people in Australia, where we established national indigenous television. From that experience I understood very closely that there are enormous challenges in empowering people through the visual media to take control of their own stories. The attraction for me to come to Jordan was that this is like a road less travelled. Where else would you want to be other than in the Middle East right now?
At RSICA we are training bright young people from all across the Arab region, not only Jordan. When you bring people together across cultures and borders and you try to unlock their potential as storytellers, you get some very interesting results.
Cultural identity and religion are very important topics in the Arab World. How are they being debated at the school?
Remati: The notion of identity is one that we absolutely promote and it is inextricably linked with religious practices. We do not impose any censorship over the content that our students wish to manufacture. What we do do however is to impose the notion of professional respect and courtesy. One of the challenges here in the region is the authoritarian character of the mainstream education system.
Some students see the professor as the fund of all knowledge. We try to encourage critical debate and discourse. For the first year students this is a real challenge. Some of them come and say: "What, I am allowed to have an opinion? To think on my own?". And we reply: "Yes, in the arts it is your opinion which is the most highly valued!" We encourage people to be articulate. If you have a particular view on a particular subject, then go tell that story. But tell that story well.
RSICA's core offering is a two-year course for postgraduates, leading to a Master of Fine Arts in cinematic arts. What can the graduates do with this degree?
Remati: It enables our students to work in the industry, but also to become teachers, because it is a terminal degree and that enables you to pass the knowledge forward. Some are working in television, others are working on set for international productions. All of our graduates are now working within the screen industry or within the screen education industry. We have a 100 per cent employment rate amongst our former students.
The school is quite expensive. Do talented people with limited financial resources have a chance to get in?
Remati: Yes, the school is expensive, but the ratio between the teachers and the students is very low: We have 14 professors and 48 students, because it is a very intensive course that relies on a high level of support. The partners of RSICA try to make sure that the financial capacity is never going to be an impediment to education. Creative talent is not a function of the size of your wallet. Virtually all students from varying degrees have some financial aid or scholarship.
Aqaba is a small town. What is the advantage of having the RSICA located here?
Remati: One of the reasons that it was located here is that Aqaba is part of an economic development zone, the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ). But there are also other advantages:
One is that by bringing people together away from their everyday lives, whether it is in Amman, in Cairo or in Beirut, we are in a sense on foreign territory for everybody. So everything is new for everybody. Having people come together from all around the region in this place requires a different level of creativity and of collaboration. Secondly, look at the landscape here – it is unique. Point the camera in any direction and you have a stunning landscape.
The RSICA is also offering acting classes for the local population. How do people in Aqaba respond to that?
Remati: In order to create films you need cast and certainly in Aqaba there isn't, so we offer an actors' studio on a weekly basis which also helps us to engage with the local community. We found some tremendous actors here in Aqaba. We do not operate in isolation, and certainly we feel we have to give something back to the local community. This year in addition to the actors' studio we have introduced the music studio as well. Practically all films have music, and I would like to have locally created music.
The imperative here is looking for cultural authenticity. We have younger actors, one in particular that I can think of, he is a young De Niro, he is just such a talented young man, and if there was no acting class, we might never have discovered this.
Most of RSICA's students have an Arab background. How far can RSICA contribute to deconstructing stereotypes about Arabs and the Middle East and vice versa?
Remati: We can make a small contribution. As a multicultural school, we use English as the language of business, but the content is created by the creators in their first language, i.e. mainly in Arabic. This leads not only to jobs and to the growth of an industry, it leads to these non-tangible results, like national identity, social cohesion and cultural exchange. So really RSICA is a very good prototype for a cultural exchange mechanism.
Interview conducted by Martina Sabra
© Qantara.de 2012
Editor: Lewis Gropp/Qantara.de
Comments for this article: Empowering People to Tell Their Own Stories
It's shocking that Mr. Remati gets to do this interview and brag about his alleged success as RSICA's CEO. RSICA relocated to Amman recently, and they're operating at minimal resources, with almost no staff, and half of the faculty. The school rejected all applicants for the class of 2014. RSICA is certainly on the verge of bankruptcy, and yet, instead of sustaining it, its Dean does his level best to disseminate the false impression of utter success. I'm beyond flabbergasted.Hassan Ismail09.10.2012 | 14:51 Uhr


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To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
I've been a happy Linux user for over 10 years and it's desktop share is irrelevant to me. Linux has millions more users than 10 years ago and that proves how successful Linux is. Linux is successful on other platforms and devices.
How do you define success? Being used by millions of users is successful. I think people want it to beat Windows to be successful since it's all a good media storm made up by the cliché "Year of the Linux desktop", which doesn't actually mean anything if you put it in context.
For me, as a desktop OS linux is a total useless toy - it's unrefined, unpolished and the dearth of quality applications, piss poor font rendering and clunky dated interfaces make it intolerable.
BUT, SlackerJack is entirely correct in the question "How do you define success?". People endlessly talk about percentages without asking the question "Percent of how much?"
Realistically there are just under 3 billion computer users worldwide. Single digit percentages of userbase is therein MILLIONS of users -- anything with millions of people using it CANNOT be considered a failure.
Not suited to every task? Not for everyone? Rinky toy that's unsuited for day to day use on a desktop PC? Sure. No problem, I can agree with that...
But calling it a failure, being "over" or outright "dead"?!? Hardly. Not even close.
Though if as SJ suggested you look at other Platforms and devices for *nix based OS as a whole (so count iPhone's Os on that) there's an interesting trend -- be it android, the embedded versions on media devices like the gp2x or Pandora, or even the replacement OS on MIPS devices like Dingux -- Not one of them even TRIES to rely on x11.
Which I still say is the dead albatross hung around Desktop *nix's neck. There's a reason Apple chose to run X11 as a translation layer atop their API instead of AS their API...
For all the hacks and bypasses and other improvements X11 is more of a hindrance than a help in terms of delivering on the user experience or even developer experience. If it didn't suck so bad would we even HAVE WM's in the first place? You go back fifteen to twenty years and everyone would say "don't bother trying to program X directly, use something like Motif instead!" -- now we have QT, GTK+ -- NONE of which would even be neccessary if the very nature of the X server/client relationship didn't get down on it's knees behind the donkey. Half the time you STILL can't even tell if the UI acknowledged an attempt to open a program until half a minute later five copies of firefox open en-masse from your clicking again thinking it didn't work, you still constantly have cross-application cut/paste headaches, much less that on 'simple' things like multiple displays it still lags a decade and a half behind Windows and MacOS. Hell, most of the time it can't even pull the DDC info from a monitor properly!
But is that enough to count it out and call it "dead"? Far from it. As always, linux and it's kine are a moving target... Shame that movement is nothing more than constant 'catch up' mode to the more mature Windows and Apple UI's.


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KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Residents say that the Congolese army has taken control of a town that was run by M23 rebels for more than six months.
Jacques Kambale said early Saturday that lines of military entered the town of Kiwanja Friday afternoon.
Doctors Without Borders said late Friday that more than 55 civilians have been killed in fighting in another town in Congo's east, Kitchanga, where 135 people have been wounded. Thousands have fled the renewed violence.
Fighting began again in eastern Congo after the M23 divided into two groups on Wednesday. The new splinter group attacked positions held by M23 near the border with Uganda Thursday into Friday.
The M23 took Goma, the capital of North Kivu, in November but withdrew under international pressure. Congo's government promised negotiations with the group.


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PREP NOTEBOOK: Red Devils win top-five match-up
Third-ranked Newton-Conover won a match-up on the tennis court of top-five teams, winning three singles and two doubles on its way to defeating No. 4 Salisbury, 5-3.
Micheal Ogden (S) def. Ryan Lampe 6-4, 6-3; John Tate (N-C) def. Alan Lebowitz 6-2, 6-4; Abraham Post (S) def. Tyler Barrymore 4-6, 6-3, 10-6; Hunter Nestor (N-C) def. Brock Overcash 6-4, 7-5; Jesse Gill (N-C) def. Clint Comadoll 6-3, 6-1; Shivam Desai (N-C) def. Chris Derrick 3-6, 6-1, 11-9.
Lampe-Tate (N-C) def. Ogden-Overcash 8-4; Barrymore-Nestor (N-C) led Lebowitz-Post 6-5; Comadoll-Derrick (S) def. Gill-Dan Avis 8-4.
Anthony Dehart (N-C) tied Jacob Gemoble 6-6; Daniel Mowery (S) def. David Dominguez 8-4.
Alexander Central 7, Fred T. Foard 2
Philip Fergeson (AC) def. Jacob Stinson 6-0, 6-1; Brandon Thomas (AC) def. Jacob Bechtol 6-3, 6-2; Graham Rubner (AC) def. Russell Michaels 6-1, 6-1; Alex Lowdermilk (FTF) def. Trevor Fry 6-1, 6-3; Jackson Walsh (AC) def. Jil Patel 6-0, 6-0; John Wilson (AC) def. Samuel Hefner 6-4, 3-6, 11-9.
Fergeson-Fry(AC) def. Stinson-Bechtol 8-1; Michaels-Lowdermilk (FTF) def. Thomas-Rubner 8-4; Walsh-Wilson(AC) def. Patel-Hefner 8-1.
Girls soccer
Fred T. Foard 6, East Burke 1
Taylor Rios scored two goals for Foard, while Caroline Durham, Liz Bell and Ashley Jolly and Maddie Miller to lead the Lady Tigers to the non-conference victory.
Melissa Patton scored the lone goal for East Burke (0-1)
St. Stephens 4, Crest 0
Olivia Homes pocketed two goals to lead the Lady Indians to the 13th annual Lady Indian Memorial Classic Tournament Championship against the Lady Chargers.
Kalyn Meosky and Nichole Siemering also scored goals for St. Stephens (3-0), while Taylor Logan and Caroline Holmes combined for the shutout.
Bandys 4, Lincolnton 1
The Lady Trojans netted three goals in a span of three minutes, including scores from Amber Krenson, Angelina Perez-Hernandez and Cassidy Winchester, leading Bandys a non-conference victory.
Winchester scored two goals in the game for Bandys (2-0) and also assisted on Kreson's and Perez-Hernandez's goals.
Maria Carinci was the winning keeper and had seven saves.
Larissa Bonilla scored the Lady Wolves' lone goal at the 76th minute.
Maiden 13, Ashbrook 0
Following up her no-hitter Wednesday, Hannah Callahan one-hit Ashbrook on Thursday, striking out eight batters in a shutout performance.
Jessica Cooper hit a two-run home run in the third inning, while Callahan went 2-for-3 with two singles from the plate for the Lady Blue Devils (2-0).
Pitcher Madison Edwards suffered the loss for Ashbrook (2-1), giving up seven hits and walking 14 batters.
St. Stephens 12, Bunker Hill 0 (five innings)
Greg Lucas tossed a complete game one-hitter for the Indians, who had 15 hits on the night against the Bears (1-2).
St. Stephens hosts Maiden on Friday at 7 p.m.
Other baseball scores
Hickory 15, Statesville 0


text: François Séguin pursued an impressive career in theatre and opera before gaining international recognition in the world of cinema. He has worked with Quebec companies such as Théâtre du Rideau-Vert, Nouvelle Compagnie Théâtrale, Grands Ballets Canadiens and Théâtre de Quat'Sous. During his prolific career, François worked in Canada and abroad. Through his longtime collaboration with François Girard, he designed the sets of the contemporary oratorio Lost Objects, presented at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, as well as a double-bill staging of The Seven Deadly Sins and Kurt Weil's The Lindberg Flight, presented in Lyon, Edinburgh and Wellington (New Zealand). He made his debut in the realm of cinema as a set designer during the early 1980s. His most notable film credits include Silk (2008 Jutra award for Best Art Direction) and The Red Violin (1998), both directed by Girard. He has worked on other feature films including L'âge des ténèbres (2008), Les invasions barbares (2003), Afterglow (1997), Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994), Love and Human Remains (1993), Léolo (1992), Being At Home with Claude (1992), and Jésus de Montréal (1989). After ZED, Michael Jackson ONE marks François Séguin's second collaboration with Cirque du Soleil as Set Designer.


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In a few days a couple of the DP crew are going to Shenzhen to do some sourcing. We're trying to score some custom stuff to put in the Seeed store, like a new probe cable, an own-brand soldering iron pencil or push buttons. There will be a few factory tours, a day trip, meetup with Hackvana, and some general exploration of Shenzhen. We're going to post live on the blog about our adventures all next week.
As part of this I started a fulfillment company that will handle shipping of paid orders from the free PCB store. This is for limited stuff (10-20pcs) too small for Seeed to handle. I'll get some fresh for-sale PCBs in there soon, but we can also stock limited quantities of experimental stuff that we find in Shenzhen.
If you have any suggestions/requests please let me know. We will try to find enough stuff to ship back a pallet worth to the fulfillment company, just to say we did.


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Iraniha family
Kevin Iraniha, after graduating from an international law program in Costa Rica, with his brothers Jahan, far left, and Shervin, second from left. His father, Nasser Iraniha, is on the right.
A U.S. citizen from San Diego who was barred from boarding a flight home from Costa Rica — apparently because he has been placed on the U.S. no-fly list — was attempting to fly to Mexico and cross into the United States by land on Thursday, attorneys familiar with his case said.
Kevin Iraniha, 27, had just completed his master's degree in international law at a United Nations-affiliated Peace University in Costa Rica and was preparing to return home on Tuesday when he was refused boarding, according to Munia Jabbar, a staff attorney with the Council on American Islamic Relations, or CAIR, a non-profit civil rights group.
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Iraniha went to the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica, where he was questioned extensively by FBI agents about his religious beliefs, his attendance and contacts at mosques in Costa Rica, and whether he was involved in activities that presented a threat, Jabbar said.
Iraniha was born and raised in San Diego. His father is an Iranian-born U.S. citizen, and his mother is a native-born U.S. citizen.
The officials indicated he was on the U.S. no-fly list of people who are prohibited from boarding domestic flights or international flights that enter U.S. airspace. The list has grown from just a few names prior to Sept. 11, 2001, when Islamic extremists used commercial flights to attack the United States, to a roster of about 20,000 names, including about 500 U.S. citizens in 2012.
In order to get home, Iraniha booked an alternative flight to Mexico City and onward to Tijuana, and planned to drive over the border to San Diego.
Kevin Iraniha could not immediately be reached by phone, but his brother Jahan said that he had received messages confirming arrival in Mexico City and imminent boarding of a flight for Tijuana. Family members were planning to go to the Mexican border to meet Iraniha Thursday evening, according to Jahan Iraniha, who declined further comment until Friday.
"At this moment we are trying to get him safely home, and we will look at the details and questions in coming days," said Hanif Mohebi, executive director of CAIR San Diego.
Dozens of Americans — primarily Muslims — have been stranded overseas by the no-fly list. As in Iraniha's case, many discover they are on the list only when they are at an airport trying to check in for a flight.
Related reporting:
American seeks political asylum in Sweden alleging torture, FBI coercion
American aid worker: U.S. bars my return
What gives? Another American in Libya no-fly limbo
Bittersweet homecoming for Libyan-American caught in no-fly limbo
No-fly Muslim takes case to court of public opinion
The no-fly list does not bar American citizens from returning to the United States by land.
But Iraniha's ability to return is still uncertain, and there are few precedents for attempting to do so.
Another American who found he was on the no-fly list when attempting to return to the U.S. from Bogota, Colombia, was Raymond Knaeble. After landing in Mexico City in May 2010, with plans to travel onward by land, Knaeble was interrogated by Mexican officials for 15 hours and then deported to Bogota, according to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
According to the court documents, filed on behalf of 15 plaintiffs challenging the U.S. no-fly list, Knaeble finally got back to the United States from Colombia in August 2010 by traveling by bus for 12 days.
The no-fly list, maintained by the Terrorist Screening Center under the FBI, includes "known or reasonably suspected terrorists," according to the FBI website.
A background check showed no criminal background for Iraniha.
In 2010, he helped organize a peace protest to counter a planned Quran burning by anti-Muslim activists, according to the Ocean Bay Rag, a small publication in Southern California.
Iraniha spoke to the Union Tribune of San Diego after he was initially barred from his flight and questioned by the FBI about his religious beliefs and affiliations.
"It's discrimination," he told the publication. "I was shocked; it was really weird to have such questions being asked. First and foremost, I'm an American, and secondly, I don't believe in violence."
The publication said Iraniha — a self-described peace activist and "beach boy" — plans to take some type of action, possibly filing a lawsuit.
Iraniha's two brothers and his father, who had come to Costa Rica to attend his graduation, were all allowed to fly home to the United States.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- Crackdown on painkiller abuse fuels new wave of heroin addiction
- Jerry Sandusky trial: Many jurors have Penn State ties
- Judge grants Zimmerman another bond hearing
- Dog gets starring role in study on what stresses killer whales
Follow US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and


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A thief stole several items Monday from a store on the 2200 block of East Ken Pratt Boulevard, police reported. There are no suspects.
A Longmont woman reported Monday that several items were stolen from her home on the 2300 block of Village Lane.
A resident on the 200 block of Pikes Peak Place reported damage to plants and flowers in her yard. The case is open.


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Seventy-six trombones led the big parade in "The Music Man," but 71 tubas led carolers Saturday in Naperville during the 38th annual Tuba Christmas concert.
About 150 listeners gathered outside U.S. Bank at Jefferson Avenue and Washington Street to sing along as 71 sousaphones, tubas and baritones belted out 13 holiday favorites from their "Carols for a Merry Tuba Christmas" song book.
"This is by far our biggest crowd of listening people, but it's also our biggest Tuba Christmas," said Ron Keller, who directs both the tuba concert and the Naperville Municipal Band.
The audience included family of the performers, like Jim Rostis of Plainfield. Rostis said he enjoys hearing his son and grandson play in Tuba Christmas because the quality of sound is impressive.
"When people hear tuba, tuba, tuba, how good can it sound?" Rostis said. "It sounds spectacular."
Novice tuba players Luke Bentley and Carly Salutric, both 11, of Lockport, also joined the crowd. Luke's mother, Cheryl Bentley, took the classmates to hear their instrument featured in a Christmas show after a friend who works in Naperville told her about the concert.
"It was awesome. I loved it," Carly said after the show. "It was so loud and everyone seemed professional."
Many of the tuba players actually were students -- one as young as 10. Sitting or standing near the bank's entrance wearing red or green "Tuba Christmas" hats and scarves, the performers battled cold temperatures to keep their valves from freezing mid-carol.
"I was a little apprehensive when I saw the temperature this morning at 10 degrees, but I was confident with a little sun, we'd survive," Keller said.
The temperature was 18 degrees at the DuPage Airport in West Chicago at Tuba Christmas' 11 a.m. starting time, according to the National Weather Service, but audience members checking cellphone weather apps said it reached the mid-20s in Naperville.
Either way, the weather was just warm enough for the outdoor show to go on before performers headed to an indoor concert at Westfield Fox Valley mall in Aurora.
But the tubas couldn't get through their first half-hour concert of the day without booming a couple of low notes that made listeners laugh. Laughs could be heard along with song lyrics during "Good King Wenceslas," and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" got the crowd bouncing along to a polka-like beat.
Even without the trumpets or flutes that more often star in musical ensembles, Bentley said she heard plenty of variety and melody in the sound.
"It was very soulful," she said.


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Chancellor Cigarroa on the U.S. Department of Education's College Cost 'Shopping Sheet'
AUSTIN – University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., issued the following statement today (July 27) regarding the U.S. Department of Education's new initiative to better explain and inform college students and families about costs of attending college and financial aid options.
Statement from Chancellor Cigarroa:
"University of Texas System institutions have been working diligently over the past year to provide clear and concise information regarding the net costs to attend college and the various financial aid and grant opportunities available to students and their families," Cigarroa said. "The UT System supports the U.S. Department of Education's "shopping sheet" financial aid form, and I express our gratitude to our campus officials who have been instrumental in developing the form. The "shopping sheet" also allows UT institutions to include relevant portions of our Dashboard business intelligence system in the information that we provide to students. Providing such information is yet another example of the UT System's commitment to transparency and is aligned with the 'Framework for Advancing Excellence Throughout the University of Texas System,'" Cigarroa added.
Cigarroa was one of ten leaders of colleges and universities invited to the White House in June to participate in a roundtable discussion regarding college costs and financial aid. The meeting was hosted by Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Richard Cordray. The new form will be distributed along with financial aid award letters beginning this fall.


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The Texas Progressive Alliance January 7, 2013
The Texas Progressive Alliance welcomes the 2013 Legislature and hopes that it actually tries to make Texas a better place as it brings you this week's roundup.
Off the Kuff discusses what some new legislators are saying about education and the questions they should be but aren't being asked.
The GOP is for more of the same and demonizing the poor and less fortunate, the Democrats are for finding reality-based solutions that help everyone get ahead. WCNews at Eye on Williamson points this out Fairness and equality (are) missing from Texas economy.
There were a few under-reported environmental developments in Texas last week, so PDiddie at Brains and Eggs reported on them.
BossKitty at TruthHugger had to laugh at the low brow War on Kwanzaa, then, got riled at the Sunday Morning talk shows, Drop the script written by bitter old men!
Over at Texas Kaos, Libby Shaw explains how Senator John Cornyn Threatens to Wreck Our Government. Check it out.
Neil at Texas Liberal posted that he left the woods for the safety of the city.
Texas History for the Week of January 6 – 12
|January 06
|Actor Guinn Williams Jr. dies (1962)
|Final bell rings for boxing promoter (1929)
|Viceroy appoints Coronado to find Seven Cities of Cíbola (1540)
|Revista Católica relocates to El Paso (1918)
|January 07
|Nazareth Academy opens (1867)
|Big Brazos bridge opens in Waco (1870)
|James Moreau Brown buys future site of Ashton Villa (1859)
|January 08
|Kickapoos rout Confederates in battle of Dove Creek (1865)
|Prima ballerina Nana Gollner born (1919)
|Legislature makes fence cutting a felony (1884)
|Youthful Confederate spy executed at Little Rock by Union soldiers (1864)
|January 09
|Frontier icon Crockett loses election, heads for Alamo (1836)
|Texas Academy of Science organized (1892)
|Anson Jones commits suicide (1858)
|Frank X. Tolbert dies (1984)
|January 10
|Houston honors philanthropist (1964)
|Texas aviation leaders die in plane crash (1954)
|Spindletop oilfield discovered (1901)
|Black physician and civil rights leader born in Waskom (1894)
|January 11
|Black veteran honored for war bond sales (1945)
|Texas troops captured at Arkansas Post (1863)
|Confederate Navy sinks Yankee ship (1863)
|January 12
|Ambitious French colonization scheme fizzles (1841)
|Unionist paper closes down (1861)
|Vigilantes hang horse thief in Denison (1874)
|Crusading El Paso newspaper folds (1886)
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First time visit to Hong Kong. Front desk staff speak English. Started our day with hotel full breakfast. We walked through the nearby neighborhoods t...Hotels.com に掲載されている 743 件の口コミをすべて見る


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With an undefeated record at Gulfstream Park and one of the fastest performances of the year already under his belt, Robert LaPenta's 4-year-old colt Cool Coal Man is poised for a big effort in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2) Saturday.
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito is excited to send the son of Mineshaft into the 65th running of the storied race as it shifts to one mile for the first time this year. He eagerly points out how impressive Cool Coal Man ran in his 2009 debut winning an optional/allowance race by 2 ¼ lengths going 6 ½ furlongs here Jan. 28.
Cool Coal Man is 3-for-3 at Gulfstream, including a victory in last year's Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) early last year. He will be bidding to become just the second horse to win both races along with Sensitive Prince, who took the Fountain of Youth in 1978 and the Gulfstream Park Handicap the following year.
Among those standing in Cool Coal Man's way will be Robert Clay's Formidable, a speedy winner of two sprints already this meet for Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens, who guided the career of Sensitive Prince. A son of Sky Mesa, Formidable breaks from post 2, a source of concern for Zito with his charge starting along the rail in post 1.
"We're a little disappointed about the post," said Zito, who will give the leg-up to Jose Lezcano Saturday. "We have to sit back because we don't have the same speed as 'The Chief's' horse, but we should be able to get in a good spot. He'll be in the game, that's for sure."
Zito's concerns about the rail draw were lightened Wednesday when LaPenta's 3-year-old colt Just a Coincidence stalked his way to an allowance race victory at the same distance from post 1 and stamped himself as a potential stakes contender on the Triple Crown trail.
"I really like the way he came home today and the horse he beat is a nice horse," said Zito after watching Just a Coincidence and jockey Paco Lopez best Gone Astray. "You never know. The Florida Derby (G1) comes up a little too quick, but we'll find something. We were concerned about the post for Cool Coal Man, but maybe we're on to something after what this horse just did."
Cool Coal Man finished 15th in the 2008 Kentucky Derby (G1), 31¾ lengths behind Big Brown, and later faltered to 11th-place in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga after a wide trip and a fifth-place result on a 'sloppy' track in the Jerome Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park in October before Zito put him on the shelf with a Gulfstream assault the goal.
"He's a very cool horse and I love the way he came back," said Zito. "He's been training great and has come back from his little vacation tremendous."
'Quality' Derby Dreams Keep Velazquez in Florida Instead of Dubai
Fresh off a three-win day, two-time Eclipse Award champion jockey John Velazquez was visiting his Gulfstream Park clients Thursday morning and pondering the extensive travel schedule ahead of him over the next month.
One place he likely won't be headed is Dubai as he is giving up his spot atop 2008 Eclipse champion female sprinter Indian Blessing to stay in the U.S. and ride Edward P. Evans's Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner Quality Road in the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) the same day, Sat., Mar. 28.
"It was a very tough decision," said Velazquez. "But Quality Road is really the one horse I've got that's heading toward the (Kentucky) Derby (G1) right now. Indian Blessing is a really good horse, but it's about the Derby right now and Quality Road is a 3-year-old that has that kind of promise."
The Florida Derby has been held on the same day as the Dubai World Cup (G1) festival in the United Arab Emirates since 2006. Two years ago, Velazquez gambled by getting off a Fountain of Youth Stakes winner to go to Dubai and came a cropper when Scat Daddy and Edgar Prado won the Florida Derby while the best he could manage was a fifth-place finish aboard Bishop Court Hill in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1).
This year's Florida Derby is shaping up as a showdown between Quality Road and the undefeated Dunkirk, owned by the Coolmore partnership of Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor and trained by Velazquez's main patron Todd Pletcher. Velazquez has gotten little inside information on his intriguing rival.
"I've gotten no edge on (Dunkirk) so far," he said. "He hasn't done anything wrong and he's going to be tough."
Desormeaux & McPeek Lead Competitive Gulfstream Title Races
Jockey Kent Desormeaux is leading a very competitive Gulfstream Park title chase this season with 38 victories, but Julien Leparoux is only one back with 37 wins and a Wednesday triple for John R. Velazquez brought him to within two of the lead with 36 trips to the winners' circle.
Desormeaux is riding here for the second full season since moving his tack from California and the Hall of Fame rider is bidding for a first Gulfstream championship. Leparoux is based at Gulfstream for the first time as he arrived this winter on the momentum of a record-breaking performance leading the Churchill Downs fall session.
Alan Garcia is another newcomer this year doing well to rank fourth with 34 wins, followed by Jose Lezcano fifth with 33, Eibar Coa sixth with 31, Edgar Prado seventh at 30 and Cornelio Velasquez and Elvis Trujillo tied for eighth with 29 apiece.
Velazquez has previously won Gulfstream titles in 2004 and 2006, Coa in 2003 and 2008, Prado in 2005 and Velasquez in 2007.
Ken McPeek has led the trainers' standings since early in the meet and remains on top after sending out 22 winners as attempts to capture his first title here, but Todd Pletcher is only three behind at 19 as he bids to extent his streak of Gulfstream championships to six in a row.
Nick Zito is having a strong meet third with 15 wins, followed by Peter Walder fourth with 13, Bill Mott and Wesley Ward tied for fifth at 11 each and Marty Wolfson and Kiaran McLaughlin next with 10 apiece. Mott has won nine Gulfstream meet titles, the most recent in 2002.


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Autore: Welcome to Fudzilla
Time Warner says it, so it must be true
Time Warner Cable's Chief Financial Officer Irene Esteves has written off the impact of high speed internet access is having on consumers. Google has been providing high-speed internet to Kansas City in a bid to pilot the technology in the US. The move should be scaring the Beejesus out of the cable companies but Esteves says she is not bovered.
So why are the cable companies not following Google's Eric Schmidt, who classified Fibre as "a real business" rather than a mere experiment. Esteves told the Verge that people did not really want their Internet to go like the clappers. Esteves said the cable companies were in the business of delivering what consumers want, and stay a little ahead of what we think they will want. At that Time Warner Cable was already delivering 1 gigabit, 10 gigabit-per-second to business customers, so it certainly has the capability of doing it.
Residential customers have thus far shown little interest in the superfast broadband speeds. Only a small fraction of our customer base" ultimately choose those options, Esteves said. In otherwords if you think you want breakneck internet speeds and Time Warner does not think so then you are wrong.
Esteves said that she was not totally blind to Google Fiber's potential but insists that no one really wants the service. While Google could reinvent until Time Warner Cable sees clear evidence of that happening, the provider is perfectly content with its current offerings.


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Problem of Hell
Like the problem of evil, the Problem of Hell points out the contradiction in a supposedly just God who sends people to an eternal Hell to be punished for their transgressions. Religious believers differ over what actions warrant an eternal sentence in Hell, but the idea that not believing in a particular God is sufficient for you to deserve this punishment is common.
- The Christian god is a loving, just creator.
- Refusing to accept Jesus' gift of salvation renders an eternity of torment.
This central Christian doctrine leaves skeptics with a slew of objections. Why does God judge belief? Beliefs have little impact upon the world relative to the physical actions they inspire. We even realize this in our courts. A just being would punish wrongdoings and let the criminal go after accounting for their actions. Why would God trust finite beings with their infinite future? We would not allow a child to sign a legal document or make investments bound to affect the rest of their life, and yet God allows his creation complete control of their eternal soul! This objection is especially pertinent given the number of religions that make similar claims on the individual's soul. Since no faith appears to have stronger supporting evidence than any of the others, how is it just to punish an individual for making a good-faith effort to follow a different creed and/or philosophy?
Infinite God, infinite sins
Some theologians have argued that since crime committed against a finite being leads to a finite punishment, sin against an infinite god has infinite consequences. The problem is that we judge the severity of a crime based on the harm inflicted on the victim, not its lifespan. If God is omnipotent, by definition he can't be harmed. He is therefore punishing his creation for deeds that had absolutely no effect on himself. Furthermore, this objection falls short in failing to discriminate between different degrees of transgression. The real-life justice system gives out different punishments to offenders based on the severity of the crimes they committed. Under this standard of justice, there is only one crime--rejecting the word of God--and one punishment--eternal damnation in Hell. Given the indiscriminate nature of this punishment, one might question its desirability as a standard of justice.
By ignoring God, humans choose hell
Theists have suggested that by ignoring God or rejecting the atonement, humans also reject all prospects of a pleasant afterlife: God would not want to be with humans who denied him, and he wouldn't force them to be with him. On an infinite time scale, this is also morally unsound because the judging god is still giving thoughts and beliefs priority over physical actions. Given a choice between heaven or hell, most skeptics will prefer a continued existence with a god not believed in to eternal torment or eternal death.
Moral actions require belief
Other Christians believe that God judges humans by their glorification of him and his will, based on their adherence to his message as described in the Gospels. They believe that the only way to have the moral resume required to get into heaven is by believing in and accepting God. Like the other counter-arguments, this response forgets about the infinite time scale attached to it. It also implies belief in God to be the single most important moral action. The biblical God's omnibenevolence can still be questioned on the grounds that he prefers belief-inspired actions to regular good actions with infinite consequences.
The existence of hell is necessary for the existence of heaven
By far the cruelest response to the problem of hell. The argument goes something like this.
- P1: A heaven where everyone is eternally happy and no one is excluded would not be possible.
- a) People get used to anything.
- b) People define happiness and pleasure in contrast to lack of happiness and pain.
- P2: Pain or a lack of happiness cannot exist in heaven, even for a moment.
- C1: Heaven can only exist if there is some pain outside of heaven, which can be observed by those within heaven.
- P3: Those who go to heaven stay there forever.
- C2: For all eternity, there must be some people outside of heaven who experience pain.
- P4: The greatest possible happiness can only exist in contrast with the greatest possible pain.
- C3: Some people outside of heaven must experience the greatest possible pain, i.e. the eternal torture called hell.
- P5: God can only produce suffering upon those who deserve it (but that includes every person because everyone sins), so hell must be just.
- P6: Those who go to heaven become morally perfect and must agree with God's moral judgments.
- C4: The infinite pleasure felt by those in heaven is an exultation of God's justice in torturing the damned and his mercy in saving believers.
- P1: A heaven where everyone is eternally happy and no one is excluded would not be possible.
Note that the gist of this argument is not a proof for the existence of heaven or hell. Rather it is an argument claiming that in order for heaven to exist, the people who go there must watch (or at least constantly be aware of) other people being tortured in hell. Otherwise heaven wouldn't be pleasant enough to deserve the name. One can attack the premises in this argument, such as by denying P1.b), and/or by defining a heaven like what C.S. Lewis suggested, which eternally gets better and better so that one never tires of it.
However, perhaps a more powerful argument against this line of reasoning is the incredible sadistic cruelty that it entails. The suggestion is that the most important function of hell is for those in heaven to observe it as if it were a spectacle in the Roman Colosseum. That is, one gets to watch non-believers endure punishments like eternally burning without being able to die, and laugh and think "Well, glad that's not me!" and that is the only way that heaven is prevented from becoming boring. Most people would not want to go to a heaven like that, and they shouldn't!
The suggestion here is that the only way to be eternally happy is to feel a smug sadistic pleasure in being infinitely better and more prosperous than most other people. If that is true, the whole system seems to be built on selfishness, arrogance, and ill-will towards others. In that case, perhaps heaven and hell, as they are traditionally conceived of, should not exist.


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UH Manoa Professor Gary Varner receives Department of Energy Advanced Detector Research AwardUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Assistant Professor
Tom Browder
University of Hawaii at Manoa Assistant Professor of Physics Gary S. Varner has received a highly competitive U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Detector Research Award for the second time. One of only 3 recipients nationwide, Varner's $70,000 award is for the development of a new type of readout for novel particle identification detectors at the KEK Super B Factory particle accelerator. This support is the result of initial seed funding providedjointly by the UH Vice President for Research and the Dean of the College of Natural Sciences.Varner has developed an innovative "oscilloscope on a chip" that provides the ability to do high precision timing, which is necessary to determine whether particles produced at the Super B Factory contain a heavier "strange" quark. Measuring this "flavor" is essential to the search for physics beyond the current Standard Model of particle physics.His electronics can measure time intervals at the pico-secondlevel (10^-12 sec), a small fraction of the time it takes light to travel an inch. This award will provide funds to test and implement his new approach.
B Factories are high energy particle accelerators that produce particlescontaining particles containing b (beauty) quarks in large numbers, closeto 1 billion/year. Varner along with other University of Hawaii facultymembers, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students participatesin the Belle experiment at the KEK B Factory in Tsukuba, Japan.The Belle experiment is most celebrated for its critical role inexperimentally verifying the theoretical scheme of Kobayashi andMaskawa, who were just awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics.
The KEK Super B Factory will produce hundreds of times more b-quarks than the existing facility at KEK and this requires significant improvements in the capabilities of the devices used to detect them. Super B Factories are currently being planned at the particle physics laboratories in Tsukuba, Japan and in Frascati, Italy. Operation at the KEK Super B Factory is expected to begin around 2012. The award was announced on the DOE Science Web site:
For more information, visit: http://www.er.doe.gov/hep/hep_ADR/2008ADRWinners.shtml


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The #NRL Ladder after Round 11. Souths and Cronulla march up the table while at the other end, the T...
15 hours ago
Robert Stone (Executive Officer of the St George DRLFC) took time out to share his thoughts in this exclusive interview with Saints On TV at www.showroom.com.au/dragons
SOTV: I'd like to start of by asking you about your playing days. I still have vivid memories of the 1977 Grand Final replay at the SCG. While sitting in the Sheridan Stand and in a moment that brought the house down, I saw you run some 40 metres to score under the posts. Not bad for a back rower. Tell us what your favourite memories are as a player and how many of these memories come from playing at Kogarah. Who was the best player you played with or against?
RB: My two favourite memories of Rugby League are of scoring that try in 1977 and being told at Kogarah Oval one Tuesday night that I had been selected in First Grade. Billy Smith was always my favourite player. He was many years ahead of his time - The Joey Johns of the 60's and 70's. Billy had that competitive edge and was one of the toughest men I have met.
SOTV: For those who don't know, what exactly is the difference between your position as Football Club CEO and Peter Doust's position as Leagues Club CEO. In particular, what are the responsibilities of the two offices and do these responsibilities overlap at all?
RB: Peter Doust is the Chief Executive Officer of the St George Illawarra Dragons, he is also Deputy Chairman Of both the St George DRLFC and the St George Leagues Club and I am Executive Officer of the St George DRLFC. I am also on the Board of the St George Leagues Club.
When the Joint Venture was put together a void was left for someone to look after the local St George area. The St George District Football Club Board recognised this and I was employed to ensure that the District is properly serviced. While Peter looks after the Dragons and is responsible to the Dragons' Board, I am responsible to the Board of the St George District Rugby League Football Club. My brief includes the following:
* Secretary to the Board of the St George DRLFC * Delegate to the NSWRL * Oversee Development in the Junior League and Schools * Charged with ensuring that our past history is properly recognised and that our past players are correctly serviced (a huge job) * Protection of our intellectual property * Responsible for the maintenance of Kogarah Oval
It is fair to say that both Peter and I work very closely as the Dragons have vested interest in ensuring that our history is preserved and that Kogarah Oval is well maintained, not only as a training venue for the Dragons, but as a community asset for the future.
SOTV: Many fans are concerned about the club's commitment to returning to playing home games at Kogarah Oval. Can you explain the club's intentions in this area and what barriers are stopping the team playing at Kogarah in the near future?
RB: The Boards of the St George DRLFC and the St George Leagues Club are committed to playing in the St George area if a suitable venue is found.
Both Peter and I have met with the Council and specifically Jim Taylor, the Mayor and Gary Sawyer the General Manager. We have formed a "Working Committee" to look into "all aspects relating to the future of Kogarah Oval".
We are currently looking into the long-term viability of the Grandstand.
The Council commissioned an Engineer's Report on the Grandstand at Kogarah Oval and this was presented to us on 2 April 2002. We had our own Engineer look at the Council Report and presented our own report to the Council on 16 April 2002. We are currently waiting to hear back from the Council.
As you would realise the Kogarah Oval issue is a very emotional one for a large number of people including the Board of the Club. Some supporters would see us there tomorrow playing against the Bulldogs. Unfortunately, this is not practical. The Oval does need a substantial injection of funds if it is to be used on a regular basis. Funds of this nature need to be outsourced and we are currently lobbying the State and Federal Government to enlist support for a move back to Kogarah Oval. We have had a number of meetings with Local Members from within the area in relation to the Kogarah Oval issue and are quite confident of their future support.
SOTV: The new Northern Grand Stand at WIN Stadium has been in the news lately over its future name. A popular choice has been 'The Graeme Langlands Stand'. Has there been any discussion about the naming of the stand? Rumours suggest that the stand will have a sponsor's name. When do you think a decision might be made?
RB: It is my understanding that the new stand at WIN Stadium in Wollongong has already been named the Northern Grandstand. The Graeme Langlands stand sits well with me and if, down the road, a sponsor was found, what would be wrong with naming it, lets say the BHP "Changa" Langlands Stand. To be honest, I am not up to date with the politics surrounding the naming of the Stand.
SOTV: Do you think home ground issues as a whole are affecting team morale? Do players feel more comfortable playing at a home ground such as WIN or Kogarah?
RB: Issues relating to the team's performance really should go through the Dragons. Personally I believe that professional players should be able to adjust to any venue.
I have a firm belief that team spirit/friendship/culture is the prime requisite for winning. Whether the culture of the Dragons has been affected by different venues I am unable to say. I guess it is fair to say that the Dragons' NRL form has been a little disappointing. It is also fair to say that we haven't had our best team on the paddock for more than one game. It is easy to pass judgment using results but let me say that Rugby League culture is very complicated and finding the right balance to ensure success is very difficult. I do believe that, with the best possible team on the paddock, we can beat any team in the competition.
SOTV: Do you think Saints can turn their season around enough to be 2002 top four contenders?
RB: As stated already I do believe the Dragons have been a little disappointing but we still have a long way to go. We have the players to win the competition but to be honest we will probably have to do it from outside the top four.
The St George Illawarra Dragons are ideally placed to become a powerhouse of the game in the next few years.
We have two very successful Leagues Clubs supporting the team. We have two areas supplying supporters and we have two areas supplying future NRL players.
Put this scenario up against some of our local NRL Clubs where Leagues Clubs are at best break even and you can see that the future of the St George Illawarra Dragons is very solid.
SOTV: In general terms, what sort of club do think St George Illawarra will be in say, ten years from now? What do you believe is require for the club's continued success?
RB: My thoughts on "future success" revolve around the Club continuing to provide the promising players they are producing now and continuing to build a culture where players and management are reluctant to leave because the Dragons are a great team to play for.
SOTV: Anthony Mundine recently put his hand up to play with Saints again. According to media releases, he was only interested playing a few games' and the club kindly rejected his offer. How was the news of Anthony's offer received by the club and how did you react? Also, what chances are there of Anthony playing with Saints should he be 100% available in 2003?
RB: Anthony Mundine is one of the best athletes I have seen. His ability to play the game is unquestioned but I am not convinced he is committed to a full-time position at the Club. What I will say about Anthony is that he has split the Club down the middle. 50% of the supporters want to burn the Club down if he doesn't return and the other 50% want to burn it down if he does.
As for 2003, I really couldn't comment on him returning unless I sit down and have a talk to him.
SOTV: ...thanks very much for your time.
Saints On TV


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text: Hunting: Story Story Posted 09-11-2013 Steve's Alaskan Bear Adventure III BEARS SPOTTED! West chronicles Alaskan hunt Steve West spots a bear den a mile away. By: Steve West This is Part III of a five-part series of Steve's Alaskan Bear Adventure Click here for Part I | Part II Steve West of "Steve's Outdoor Adventures" took his show on the road for bear hunts in the Alaskan wilderness. Through April into early May, West and his team awaited the warmup that would bring bears out of their dens. West, a professional hunting consultant who books clients for trips, teamed with DeLorme inReach to update followers of the bear hunts, which will be featured on his Outdoor Channel show starting in October. Following is West's daily account and photographs of this Alaskan Bear Adventure. See his entries and photos from April 13-17. See his entries and photos from April 8-12. April 18, 2013 After sleeping until 10 a.m. and then eating breakfast, the planes hit the sky. The temperature is skyrocketing today and is up to 44 degrees when the planes take off into the blue sky. Mid-afternoon the report comes back, BEARS SPOTTED!!! Doug spots a small boar on his den … too small to hunt and only one bear a long ways out. But this is a good sign that things are opening up! We all head to bed that night with high expectations for tomorrow, because the weather forecast we got looks very good! April 19, 2013 No sleeping in today, we are all amped up about the possibility of finding some more bears. Planes lift off at noon, and by 2 p.m. the daytime high hits 45 degrees at the cabin! Good news rolls in, pilots return to tell us about a sow with two cubs at one den and another small boar on his den … and right below him a giant bear that left the den and headed to the valley bottom where they also saw some moose he was likely hunting. 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