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From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann
RICHMOND, VA -- During an hour-long program on Richmond talk-radio station WRVA, Gov. Tim Kaine continued to offer few hints about his status as a reportedly "serious" contender for the vice presidency. The latest mini-nugget: He says that he has NOT been approached to speak at the Democratic National Convention.
"I haven't been contacted about that," he said when asked if he'd be speaking in Denver. "If they want me to, I'd be glad to."
VIDEO: While not making "categorical declarations," Gov. Tim Kaine says he's focused on running the state of Virginia and spending the day with his daughter, not talking to Barack Obama about a possible V.P. candidacy.
Kaine was introduced by the station's producers with a tongue-in-cheek promo: "Ask the Future Possible Vice President." But he diligently continued the refrain that he does not discuss his conversations with Obama's team.
"I'm not going to make a case for myself for VP, because I haven't ever asked to be considered," he told a call-in questioner who asked about his foreign policy qualifications as a veep. But he quickly added, "You're right: I'm an economy and education guy. That's what governors do."
The guv also happily touted the news this morning that, for the third time, Forbes magazine has named Virginia as the nation's most business-friendly state. He also voiced his support for an exploratory mission to investigate oil reserves off of the Virginia coast, a position that's somewhat at odds with Obama's opposition to offshore drilling. "I do favor an exploration to determine the size of the reserve," he said, adding that he would only support drilling if the reserve was sizeable and that environmental consequences were negligible.
Later in the morning, the governor visited a Richmond child-development center, where he was serenaded by elementary school-age kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. After a week of feverish speculation and the resulting criticism from opponents, it may have been a relief to him that the only attack he faced there was one from a rambunctious three-year old, who surprised him with a hearty splash of water from a play pool.
Democrats might say... at least he's getting his feet wet.


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New Zealand's self belief against arch-rival Australia will be bolstered by the Magic's breakthrough win in the trans-Tasman netball championship, according to Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander.
The Magic, from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions, upset the favoured Melbourne Vixens in Sunday's grand final 41-38.
The team returned to Auckland today to a joyous reception from fans.
Finally landing the title after two previous grand final defeats and making finals for the past five years, Alexander said the Magic had jumped a mental hurdle.
"I know they've (the Magic) done a hell of a lot of work with a psychologist in areas they felt were still holding them back because it has to be something mental when you get to that level each time and you can't quite make it," she said.
With four Silver Ferns in the Magic starting line-up including skipper Casey Williams, she said it would have a spin-off effect.
While New Zealand have also had some tight victories, Australia have most recently dominated the Kiwis, most notably winning last year's World Championship in Singapore in extra time.
"They really have been honest as a team together you can see that so we'll have to be mindful of that for the Diamonds because that will improve their Silver Ferns performances as well.
"It will mean they're mentally tougher for our next international series.
"It will assist their confidence that they've had a breakthrough win in the domestic competition."

subset: commoncrawl


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Major human drug trial underway for Alzheimer's
A potentially ground-breaking human drug trial is currently underway, which aims to discover whether blood pressure medication can slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). This is the latest in EU-funded studies, which are being made public to highlight the European Month of the Brain.
This major 18-month study is NILVAD ('Nilvadipine in Alzheimer's Disease'), which has funding of EUR 6 million from the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. Leading this five-year project to an international level is Professor Brian Lawlor, from Trinity College Dublin. His research interests are in the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of AD, as well as the neurobiology and treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia and mental disorders.
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, which causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour. Although there are around 100 different types of dementia, AD is the most common form, affecting 62 % of those living with dementia. The disease affects more than 15 million individuals worldwide and around 5 million Europeans. As a result it remains one of the most costly diseases in society, which amounts to more than EUR 440 000 million each year.
The rise in numbers is attributed to advances in public health and medical care that enables people to live much longer than they used to. While one in 25 people aged 70 to 79 has a form of dementia, this rises to one in six people over the age of 80.
However, Professor Lawlor is hopeful that collaborating with Alzheimer's experts from ten countries will prove successful, given the fact that new drugs for the disease have not come to fruition since 2002. This, despite many promising lines of research which have come to nothing.
However, the NILVAD project, has so far, shown more than just promise. The drug, nilvadipine, is already approved for human use in cardiovascular disease, and a pilot trial has demonstrated that the drug could be safe in the treatment of AD.
Professor Lawlor says, 'We are trying to see if it alters the rate of progression of the disease. Animal trials gave promising results and the earlier pilot trial did give an efficacy signal as well.'
The trial will consist of male and female patients with mild to moderate AD aged between 50 and 90. It is hoped, that if this trial is successful, nilvadipine could represent an advance in the treatment of AD patients. Most importantly it would have a major impact on the health and social care costs incurred in Europe by this neurodegenerative disorder.
Project details
See also


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Brookshire's Salute to Veterans Thursday, Sept. 19
at Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home
AUSTIN — Brookshire's Food and Pharmacy is hosting a backyard hamburger cookout honoring residents at the Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 19.
About 250 East Texans are expected to join in fellowship with the veterans at the home for hamburgers with all the fixings, chips and ice cream.
Texas State Veterans Homes provide affordable, long-term nursing care for Texas veterans, their spouses and Gold Star parents. Eight homes are conveniently located across Texas and each first-class facility is designed to enhance quality of life with a clean, caring and dignified setting appropriate to those men and women who have served our country with honor. If you are interested in learning more about our State Veterans homes, "like" us on Facebook or visit www.texasveterans.org call 1-800-252-VETS.
Who: Texas veterans and Brookshire's Food and Pharmacy
What: Hamburger cookout
When: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19
Where: 11466 Honor Lane, Tyler
Why: To honor and serve Texas veterans in the home.


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Hey Guys!!
I need some more help here....
My iMac is from 2007 and it is starting to slow down quite a bit. There is still more than half the memory left on it. I was not sure if there is anything I could do to "clean" it up a bit? I know with PC's you can de-fragment them. Was not sure if there was such a thing on a iMac.
Any help would be appreciated. Also please put it in simple terms. I am not the best with software :o.
Thank you! :)


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Advancing health through science, education and medicine
More than 10 percent of ACSM members reside outside of the U.S. in over 90 countries. Approximately 20 percent of the ACSM Annual Meeting attendees are non-U.S. citizens. ACSM reaches across the globe to serve our international members with a variety of specialized programs. Learn more about becoming an ACSM member.
No matter where you live or work, you can connect with resources that enhance your sports medicine and exercise science expertise. Make your connections. Become a member. Tap ACSM resources.
ACSM is proud to offer FREE electronic access to exclusive cutting-edge research and ACSM journals to professionals and students in select countries identified as Low Income or Lower-Middle Income Countries as identified by the World Bank. This e-membership is available to individuals interested in exercise science, research, sports medicine or health/fitness. View a complete list of eligible countries. If you reside in a country on the list above, apply for your free ACSM membership online today! Also, if you have colleagues who reside in one of the qualifying countries, please share this information with them.
Receive funding to participate in clinical and research exchange opportunities around the world. » Learn More
Attend educational events that provide local access to ACSM programming.» Learn More
Access official ACSM Position Stands in Chinese, French, Portuguese and Spanish. » Learn More
Connect with national and international organizations with which ACSM collaborates globally.» Learn More
Your new
Learn how to run a successful fitness business and make wise fitness career choices with ACSM's practical guide. The book includes sample business plans, budgets, presentations.…
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HI San Francisco - Fisherman's Wharf
Since you're visiting the 'City by the Bay,' why not stay right on the waterfront? Located in historic Fort Mason -- part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area -- HI-San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf is surrounded by the park on one side, and breathtaking views of the Bay, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge on the other.
Enjoy a more rustic stay without leaving the city -- come back from excursions to nearby Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, North Beach (Little Italy), or the posh Marina district, and relax on the sundeck or in front of our wood burning stove.
Pack a picnic from our Cafe Franco -- which serves up healthy organic lunches and dinners as well as a free continental breakfast -- and head out to explore the park's walking paths, galleries, and performance spaces. To see the city, hop on a MUNI bus just outside the park, or join us for free and cheap daily activities like pub crawls, walking tours, museum visits, and day trips to places like Muir Woods, wine country, or Yosemite.
Other hostel amenities include free WiFi, free linens and towels, daily housekeeping, laundry facilities, a fully equipped kitchen, and a brand new flat-screen TV room. In addition to dorms, we have private rooms sleeping up to 4 people.
HI-San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf is operated by Hostelling International, a nonprofit membership-based organization.
'Wake up every morning and look out the window of the former military outpost at a million dollar view of the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge in the sunrise… there's not a hotel in town, expensive or cheap, with a better view.' --Frommer's
'This top-notch hostel is set within the expansive lawns of Fort Mason, mere paces from the bay, and has great public rooms, tons of activities and a cafe.' --Lonely Planet
'Stay in one of the city's most historic buildings, set in an urban national park with unrivalled views over San Francisco Bay to the bridge… A cheery, buzzing place with helpful staff.' --Sydney Morning Herald
Disponibilità e tariffePer visualizzare la disponibilità e i prezzi, seleziona le date e fai clic su "Aggiorna date"
Ostello Servizi & Politiche
- Reception 24 ore su 24
- Trasferimenti aeroporto
- Bar
- Colazione
- Caffé
- Sala comune
- Carte di credito accettate
- Wi-Fi gratuito
- Accesso a Internet
- Cucina
- Lavanderia
- Biancheria inclusa
- Armadietti
- Deposito bagagli
- Nessun coprifuoco
- Vietato fumare
- Parcheggio
- Bigliardo
- Bagno turco
- Travel Desk per i tour
- Distributori automatici
- Accessibile ai disabili
Politica di cancellazioneQuesta proprietà ha una politica di cancellazione di 1. La mancata cancellazione entro questo intervallo di tempo si tradurrà in una penale pari alla prima notte di pernottamento.
IndicazioniMostra mappaNascondi mappa
By Bart: Take a BART train from the airport to the Montgomery station. (Trains run 4 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, 6 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays, and 8 a.m. to midnight on Sundays and holidays.) Walk up to street level and take MUNI bus #30 ($2, exact change) from Kearny/Market to Van Ness/North Point. Walk one block west on Bay Street to Franklin Street. Turn right into Fort Mason and follow the HOSTEL signs to the left of the chapel and towards the water to the hostel.
By Shuttle: Lorrie's Airport Service offers a discounted rate of $14 per person for shuttle service between San Francisco International Airport and HI San Francisco hostels. Contact the hostel for more information and reservations.
By Taxi: There are usually plenty of private taxis available at the airport. Look for an official taxi stop outside the baggage claim. A ride from SFO to the hostel will set you back about $55.
The nearest Amtrak train station is in Emeryville, but Amtrak offers connecting bus service to San Francisco. When you purchase your train ticket, select 'San Francisco - Fisherman's Wharf' as your final destination. From the Fisherman's Wharf bus stop, walk 2 blocks west on Beach Street, then take MUNI bus #47 to the Van Ness/Bay stop. Walk one block west on Bay Street to Franklin Street. Turn right into Fort Mason and follow the hostel signs to the left of the chapel and towards the water to the hostel.
From the Greyhound Station at San Francisco's Temporary Transbay Terminal, exit and turn right on Folsom. Take your first right onto Beale and walk 1 block. Turn left on Howard and walk about 3 blocks. At the northeast corner of Howard and 3rd Street, find the MUNI-30 bus stop. Board a MUNI bus #30 and get off at Van Ness and North Point. Continue walking south on Van Ness to the end of the block. Turn right on Bay and walk 1 block. Turn right into Fort Mason and follow the hostel signs to the left of the chapel and towards the water to the hostel.
From the NORTH (Golden Gate Bridge): As you get off the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway 101 South becomes Lombard Street. Turn left on Franklin Street. Enter Fort Mason at Bay and Franklin. See 'Inside the Park' directions below.
From the EAST (Bay Bridge): On Highway 80 West, follow signs for the Golden Gate Bridge and exit at Octavia Blvd. Turn right on Oak Street (a one-way street). Turn left on Franklin Street (a one-way street). Go all the way to the end of Franklin and enter Fort Mason at Franklin and Bay. See 'Inside the Park' directions below.
From the SOUTH: Follow signs on Hwy 101 North to the Golden Gate Bridge exit. Exit at Octavia Blvd. Turn right on Oak Street (a one-way street). Turn left on Franklin Street (a one-way street). Go all the way to the end of Franklin and enter Fort Mason at Franklin and Bay. See 'Inside the Park' directions below.
Inside the Park: Franklin Street comes to a fork at a chapel, take the street to the left of the chapel (Pope Road). The hostel is the long white building at the end of this street.
Free parking is available at the hostel on a first-come first-served basis.


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Choo under scrutiny during first workout with Reds
By Mark Sheldon /02/15/2013 7:20 PM ET
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- After the full squad reported to camp on Friday, the Reds held an afternoon workout. No player came under as much scrutiny as new center fielder Shin-Soo Choo.
According to Rob Butcher, media relations director, 25 members of the South Korean media were issued credentials to cover Choo's first workout. There were numerous still and video cameras documenting his stretching, batting practice and other drills.
Choo, 30, was acquired in December's three-team trade with the Indians. After the workout, he and agent Scott Boras spoke to the Korean media inside an empty Minor League clubhouse at the Reds' complex.
Choo and Boras avoided arbitration on Monday by signing a one-year, $7.3 million contract.
"The Reds and Choo had very amicable contract negotiations," Boras said. "He was treated very fairly, and he's happy to be here."
It's widely believed that Choo will spend only one season in Cincinnati, because he can be a free agent next winter. The Reds are also grooming top prospect Billy Hamilton to be their leadoff hitter and center fielder in 2014. There were no efforts during the negotiations to get Choo signed to a multiyear deal.
"We really focused on the one-year approach," Boras said.
Illness keeps Arroyo from Friday's workout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Pitcher Bronson Arroyo was not able to participate in Friday's workout because he's been battling flu-like symptoms the past few days.
Manager Dusty Baker praised Arroyo's dedication, because he still tried to get in some work.
"He's going to throw and then go home because he wants to get his arm in shape," Baker said. "That's how Bronson is. Most guys would just go home. He wants to throw first and then go home."
Izturis trying to make team as backup shortstop
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- In each of the past two offseasons, the Reds signed a veteran infielder to serve as backup shortstop. Two years ago, Edgar Renteria served that role; last season it was Wilson Valdez. This spring, Cesar Izturis will try to make the team as backup to Zack Cozart after signing a Minor League contract last month.
"It all depends on the dynamics of the team. You don't want to have him around just to have him around," manager Dusty Baker said on Friday. "He has to be part of the team. He has to bring something to the table."
Izturis, 33, briefly played for Baker (22 games) in 2006, with the Cubs.
"He was injured when I had him," Baker said. "I'm curious to see if he's still the same. He could pick it, big time. He had a relative bat, decent speed and knows how to play the game."
Worth noting
Might Joey Votto, who learned Spanish in order to communicate with Latin teammates, pick up Korean in order to talk with Shin-Soo Choo?
"If he's a good enough teammate, I may," said Votto, who also knows French.
Three pitchers -- Nick Masset, Justin Freeman and Kyle Lotzkar -- are behind as they deal with shoulder injuries, although Lotzkar threw off a mound for the first time on Thursday.


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January 31, 2013
Conflicts with another application are to blame for the sluggish performance of the Veterans Affairs Department's $491 million disability claims processing system in December, VA Chief Information Officer Roger Baker said in a call with the media Thursday.
Nextgov reported Jan. 4 that the Veterans Benefits Management System had slowed to a crawl the previous month, with slow response times impeding the ability of claims examiners to access veterans' files.
Baker said the claims processing tool operates in a cloud infrastructure with a new customer relationship management system that handles interactions with veterans, including phone calls. The problems VA encountered with the benefits tool last month stemmed from "inefficiencies" in coordinating with the customer management system, he said. He conceded it was a mistake to roll out both at the same time.
In January, VA separated operation of the two systems, and today claims processing is "working well," Baker said. The claims tool currently operates in 18 of 57 Veterans Benefits Administration regional offices and Baker said he planned to deploy it to an unspecified number of additional offices in February, with all 57 on the system by the end of 2013.
VA had 900,913 backlogged disability claims as of this Monday, up slightly from 900,121 at the end of 2012. The department reported that 628,566 of the claims in the backlog as of Monday, or 69.8 percent, had been pending for more than 125 days. That is up from 608,365 claims that had been lingering longer than 125 days as of the end of 2012. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki views the paperless benefits system as key to eliminating the backlog by 2015.
The department has paid the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic in Charleston, S.C., $105 million since 2010 to help develop the Veterans Benefits Management System, Nextgov reported Jan. 2.
(Image via Semisatch/Shutterstock.com)
Correction: The orginal version of this story incorrectly identified the wrong company as the VA CRM contractor.
January 31, 2013


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Photo of the Harvard men's basketball team and U.S.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan '87 (Justin Ide/Harvard
- Photo Gallery (courtesy of Justin Ide/Harvard University)
- Complete Coverage of Event in The Harvard Crimson
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. The Harvard men's basketball team attended a lecture by United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan '87 at Memorial Church Friday evening. The Crimson was present for the lecture on the first allowable day of practice, foregoing a first practice session of the season to attend the event, which ran from 6-9 p.m.
The team held its first practice the following Saturday
Duncan was on campus to be honored as the recipient of the 2010 Robert Coles "Call of Service" Award by the Phillips Brooks House Association. Prior to the event, the Harvard men's basketball team and head coach Tommy Amaker met Duncan, who served as a co-captain of the Crimson during the 1986-87 season.
Duncan was Harvard's leading scorer as a senior, averaging 16.9 points per game, and garnered All-Ivy League honorable mention. He earned Academic All-America first-team honors and went on to play basketball professionally in Australia's National Basketball League.
Deval Patrick '78, the Governor of Massachusetts, was also in attendance at the lecture and introduced Duncan to the audience. During his speech, Duncan spoke on topics such as education reform, the importance of public service and racial inequalities in education.


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Volunteers are true heroes
As the Nolan Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD) prepares for its annual, sole brisket fundraiser coming up on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011 at the Nolan-Divide Community Center starting at 5 p.m. the group of individuals we met couldn't help but recollect what brought them to this point from its beginnings, the stark reality of the recent White Hat fire and the dire need of funds they hope to replenish as a result of the upcoming fundraiser.The inception of the NVFD was in 1973 by the local FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter. After a school burned down and an old truck was given to the city, the need for a local volunteer fire department was recognized. With only around five pieces of equipment and a low starting budget of $400, thirty people blazed the trail to begin the NVFD.Today, the NVFD has 27 firefighters which include seven officers, a Food and Water Committee with a chairperson and three members, and a five-member board. The emphasis of the group is on the volunteer aspect, according to NVFD Public Relations coordinator Bobbi Smith who also serves on the force. They all have other lives but during an average fire season, the members will spend around 15 hours on a fire and still go back to their regular jobs and routines. Though it may lead to sleeplessness, the dedication and devotion of these outstanding individuals is highlighted.Another highlight which sets the NVFD apart from other rural VFDs is their tanker availability. Because of their tanker, they are able to serve outside of the county and remain on the scene from start to finish.Other surrounding communities or other towns who don't have equipment like the NVFD will call for the NVFD's assistance. Sometimes, tires will be given as a trade off for the use of the tanker, understanding the cooperative team effort it takes which is a comfort to the NVFD."We don't hesitate to go," said volunteer Mike Golding as he explained the excitement and thrill before, during and after the fire fight.The most recent and prominent fire fought by the NVFD was the White Hat fire. Dave and Linda Triska, friends of the NVFD, have seen the hard work of the group come into action in their own lives — their house that was built with their own hands was saved from the wildfire. The White Hat fire was the third catastrophe endured by the Triskas in the past decade, and the NVFD has been there each time.And not only was the fire a trauma in and of itself for the Triskas but only days before, surgery was performed on both of them. Two other homes of the Triska's family were near the smoke, and rumors of the safety of the Triskas home were spreading almost as quickly as the fire itself. The efforts of the NVFD led to the saving of the Triska's property and even after, when a flare up from a tree fire (the inside of the tree was on fire) could have proven dangerous. "They'll do it [save us] again," said Linda Triska. "We absolutely love the Nolan Volunteer Fire Department."But beyond saving the hopes, dreams and livelihoods of the community, the members of the NVFD were also saving their own homes. Lindell and Bobbi Smith, a couple which has served on the team for six years, were among those told to leave their homes, even after they had been on shift fighting the White Hat fire. Those who were saving others were indeed saving themselves.Most of the time, the NVFD is the first called to fight the fire and the last to leave. "We stay there until it's safe," said Golding, stating that they stayed hours after the White Hat fire to ensure the lands became cold.Yet in the midst of the White Hat fire, volunteer Johnny Ussery talked about the conflict beyond the flames, recalling, "I've never sensed [until the White Hat fire] that we were losing the battle." By following the mantra of life, limb and property, the NVFD had to sacrifice over 1,000 acres to protect the homes of the people. Also being fought during the wildfire was fear, as volunteer Rebecca Gunn spoke of how frustrations arose as the battle raged.However, the community comes to the aid of the NVFD whether the problem is the fire or other emotional issues. They know that each time a fire is fought by the NVFD, their "second helping hands" pray for their safety. Those in the community and even from other cities drive from all around to provide food and drinks for the firefighters, which they are very thankful for. Mary Ussery-Morgan, chairman of the NVFD Food and Drink Committee, spearheads the campaign.Other thanks from the NVFD are extended to the Nolan County Commissioners for their continual assistance through many avenues, the Forestry Service for their great resources at all times, and Sweetwater Auto Tire — who changed tires for the NVFD at no cost. The Nolan County Sheriff's Office also helps by keeping people off away from the scenes and ensures safety on the highway in order to allow the NVFD through.But one thing that is seen among this group of individuals, while they show their appreciation for outside sources, is the praise they give to their fellow comrades. Randy Petty, the NVFD Chief Mechanic, lends his knowledge and plenty of time to maintain the ancient machinery. Everyone agrees that sometimes, even Petty's hard work is tougher than fighting the fires itself and that the NVFD wouldn't be half of what it is without him. The weekly maintenance is performed to keep the NVFD going in which Petty does to no glory of his own.Other praise shared within the NVFD is to Janeth Ussery, the financial officer who spends hours making sure the paperwork aspect of the program is correct and even writes grants to gain funding. NVFD Fire Chief Rolan Petty is a communicative and cooperative leader who is willing to listen; Assistant Chief Will Hogan continually proves that he is always there and available.NVFD President Brett Rowlett demonstrates his devotion to the organization, while NVFD Board Members Howard Rogers and Steve Baucum help to guide and govern the program.Nevertheless, when the fires and smoke diminished and the fire was completely fought, estimates came close to an excess of $5,000 of the NVFD's own funds used for equipment, gas and nine tires that were used during the White Hat fire.So following the high fire season, the purpose for the annual brisket fundraiser is great for the NVFD in order to cover maintenance costs and replacement items, as well as purchases such as fuel, goggles and tires.Their brisket fundraiser will be held on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011 at the Nolan-Divide Community Center from 5-8:30 p.m. All-you-can-eat brisket plates for adults are $10; anyone under 10 years old pays $5. Advance brisket orders can also be placed at $50 for a full brisket and $35 for a half-brisket. Advanced orders can be placed with Mark Morrow (325-338-8899) or Rolan Petty (325-236-5496).For the first time, the NVFD has found itself needing more safety equipment. They can attest that today's wildfires have become even hotter and faster, prompting the need for more equipment. The purchases don't come cheap — it's rather costly to fight fires — but are greatly needed. The group agreed that days pass after a fire before they breathe normally again, thus stressing the importance of the fundraiser to purchase items like respirators to stave off the personal health threats that coincide with battling fires.Beyond the money, says Golding, the event on Saturday brings the community together and offers a chance to see everyone outside of the tires. Collectively, the NVFD has high expectations to have a great amount of support and financial assistance as a result of the fundraiser.


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Three-way miche taste test... results!
Last week I did a three-way miche taste test, with the same formula using three different flours: King Arthur High Extraction, King Arthur First Clear, and a blend of 60% KA Bread Flour/40% KA Whole Wheat Flour. Here are what the loaves looked like:
Clockwise from the top they are First Clear, Hi-X and the hybrid.
My judges were Michael London, a very well-known baker in upstate New York, and Cindy Corbett, an accomplished home baker with a wood fired oven in her back yard whom I'd met at a KAF workshop. The results of the taste test are detailed on my blog at http://wp.me/p1S3Ig-kY . But to give you a preview, the High-X and First Clear finished neck and neck with the hybrid well behind but still a good choice for the baker who doesn't have access to these other flours.
One of the reasons I'd wanted to do this test was some discussion on TFL in which First Clear and High-X are discussed as equivalents. They're not, per Martin Philip, the staff baker at KAF who provided me with research and advice: "In terms of comparing Type 110 with an ~85% extraction rate to First Clear which lacks the patent portion would be to compare apples and oranges at least from a functional standpoint (the patent portion contains the highest quality protein in the endosperm). " Yet the finished loaves were very close in nose, texture and taste and after a few days I couldn't tell them apart.
I am now doing a follow-up test with the KAF Hi-X pitted against Type 85 Malted from Central Milling. Stay tuned.


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The Pacific Northwest's premier cleantech innovation conference, Oregon BEST FEST convenes university researchers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and others to envision, build, and accelerate solutions to environmental challenges that deliver prosperity in all corners of Oregon.
The two-day, hands-on gathering at the historic Leftbank Annex in Portland, Oregon, focuses on collaborative research, development, and commercialization of clean technologies.
This year's theme: New Horizons...
Oregon is attracting attention as a generator of new clean technology solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Here at Oregon BEST, we are working to help the state seize this opportunity and advance its leadership position.
We are expanding our clean technology focus to cover more products and services being developed by Oregon researchers and entrepreneurs. We are scaling up our programs to deliver them to even more innovators, and support a broader range of technologies. We are ramping up our efforts, and increasing impact, because the wide world of clean technology can and should encompass new technologies, discoveries, and business models that are just as much at home in Burns as in Hillsboro.
We envision Oregon BEST FEST 2013 to be a rallying point to pursue our New Horizons, together.


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The announcement of a new entry in an annual sports franchises is never a surprise so what matters is, what's new? EA today parted its luxurious red velvet curtains to reveal NHL 14, with shiny newness including using tech from the Fight Night boxing games in enforcer scraps.
EA's list of changes this year also includes improved collision physics, refinements to its physics-based skating, one-touch dekes, and the rebirth of Career Mode as 'Live the Life' with off-ice fun like giving interviews.
NHL 14 is due for release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on September 10, developed by EA Canada. It's the first new NHL game since the Wii U launched but no, seems it's skipping Nintendo's new console.
Here, enjoy this announcement trailer which shows far more real-life hockey than NHL 14 hockey:
BOOM video 15158


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Back on September 17, 2009 I ran this post for Treasure Chest Thursday. I rarely do rerun posts, but, this morning blogger friend Barbara from Life From the Roots ran some more photos of her sweet doll, and the very first photo is of the doll sitting in her high chair, looking a lot like like my doll's high chair. So, I decided to rerun my Googly Eye Doll post, for fun and because I am pre-occupied these days with cemetery books and web pages and face it, a rerun is sorta easy and very fast, although I did redo the photo in the digital editor a bit, the last version was a bit dark. I hope you enjoy:
This replica of a Googly Eye Doll was hand made in Germany. Son # 1 and his bride found a doll maker in Regensburg and brought this sweet thing home to me. Her oak high chair was made by Amish (either in the Elkhart County Indiana or Holmes County Ohio area).
I saw a photo of a very old Googly Eye Doll in a magazine and was immediately infatuated. I don't have a large doll collection, but I do have a few that caught my imagination and a spot in my heart. For me, it is usually love at first sight.
Tonight a little snooping on the Internet gave this description, "GOOGLY EYES: Big, round, side-glancing eyes, very popular on dolls from 1910s through the 1920s." A nice article about Googly Dolls can be found at About.com
There were a lot of dolls with Googly Eyes for sale too! But I have mine and she is a treasure to me.


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Down with Dirt
Spring is here and with it comes the yearning to play in the dirt, but as every gardener knows, your carrots are only as good as the soil they grow in. Enter Washington College's composting program, which uses leftover salad bar food scraps from the dining hall to create rich compost, which will help grow, well, more salad stuff.
Begun in 2005, the program is a team effort by Buildings and Grounds, Dining Services and the Student Environmental Alliance. "The compost project on campus is a fantastic example of partnerships here at Washington College," says Michael Hardesty '05, co-founder of the program and Chesapeake Semester coordinator at the Center for Environment & Society. Since its inception, the composting program has steadily grown. Zena Maggitti, director of Dining Services, says 100 percent of salad bar scraps are now collected, and this spring the program collected nearly 11,500 pounds of veggie waste. That's about the average weight of an African elephant—meaning that a whole lot of waste, which would've otherwise gone to a landfill, is now being reused and redistributed here to keep our lawns and gardens green.
The program truly is a team effort. First, Dining Services staff members collect salad bar scraps and sort them, assuring that no non-compostable materials, such as meats, cheeses and other products with high protein content are present. Then Buildings and Grounds staffers weigh and move the materials to the compost center on the campus, where they and members of the SEA chop, turn, and "grow" the compost. They have to ensure the proper ratio of carbon to nitrogen, amount of water, airflow, and fungal growth in the compost material to develop the necessary microbes that will create the highest quality compost in the shortest amount of time.
Until now, compost has been used all over the campus, but soon it will be used primarily to nourish the campus' new vegetable garden. The program is also open to anyone who wants to pay a one-time $10 fee for a bucket, which you can then bring to the compost center to get a bucketful of the good stuff for your home garden.
Another project in the works to help reduce food waste and encourage sustainability at Washington College is called "Project Clean Plate." Generated through a partnership between the dining hall, SEA and CES, this awareness campaign focuses on encouraging people to take smaller portions so that they throw away less food and reduce food waste.
For more information on the compost program at Washington College contact Michael Hardesty (firstname.lastname@example.com).


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At the time this was taped (November 18) everyone still thought ONE LIFE was going to live on the web, thanks to Prospect Park, so we were told to expect cliffhangers. [See the full Prospect Park timeline here.]
My gripe with the ALL MY CHILDREN finale, which actually felt more warm and fuzzy than this one (except for that little J.R. shooting ending), was that I strongly believe both shows could have wrapped up on TV without cliffhangers, satisfying fans who may have watched for decades. Then when the web versions debuted, a hot trailer could draw old, and possibly new, fans in, like movies do. It wasn't to be on either show.
This review is based solely on the final episode, one that many people will tune back into who haven't watched in years. As with ALL MY CHILDREN, the last few weeks have felt like one big finale and many things were done right.
We did see some nice touches on the final ONE LIFE which felt somewhat like a finale: Clint revealing to Jessica that she's his biological daughter; a return visit from Brody (which sort of felt out of place but was still enjoyable); the birth of baby Drew (the moment "Drew" was named was the biggest tearjerker of the day); and Starr reuniting with Cole. We also got a nice "Love you Red" Bo and Nora moment.
And, of course, we had another Clint and Viki marriage proposal ("Will you marry me?") with a piano version of the ONE LIFE theme song playing in the background.
But in many ways I was disappointed.
Characters kept mentioning moments from the past but there were no flashbacks. Why not?
Viki got her due at the end of the show's run (even a return trip to heaven) but I expected, and wanted, her to have the final word on Friday's episode, cliffhanger or not. In a way I felt FRATERNITY ROW got more of a fitting tribute than ONE LIFE TO LIVE in the final month. I enjoyed every spot-on minute of it.
And the final scenes on Friday? Todd and Blair have finally made love then John McBain rushes in and arrests Todd for the murder of Victor Lord Jr. followed by the big reveal of who Allison was talking to the entire episode: a bound and gagged Victor Lord Jr.
"Things are rarely what they appear," Allison said. She referred to "another chapter" during the episode which we now know isn't happening thanks to Prospect Park's failure to find funding to the web version. We will at least get to see some continuation as the characters of Todd, Blair, John and Starr will move on to GENERAL HOSPITAL for a while. But the rest?
Watching the show it was nice to see a diverse cast being used, more than any other daytime soap opera, and true to ONE LIFE TO LIVE's original vision, although these days most soap characters are mostly rich or upper middle class.
It felt special and like a good Friday episode, but with ONE LIFE TO LIVE, a show that has set the bar for daytime many times, I expected more. As with ALL MY CHILDREN, it would have been nice to see what might have been had Prospect Park not altered the finale.
The final moment of ONE LIFE TO LIVE: Allison throwing her script in a drooling Victor's face.
ONE LIFE TO LIVE has been guilty of several daytime cliches and blunders in recent years but has consistently been the best remaining drama on the air in the afternoon. It always found a way to entertain and it did again today. There's really no perfect way to end a serial that has been running for over 43 years. It didn't have that home run moment like Maeve singing "Danny Boy" on RYAN'S HOPE (23 years ago TODAY) or Stu and Jo on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW. But neither of those shows were in as good of creative shape in general at the time they left the air as ONE LIFE is now. It's very sad it won't be there Monday at 2 p.m.
Congratulations to the cast and crew of ONE LIFE TO LIVE both present and past for their dedication, hard work and commitment to entertaining soap fans since 1968.
That's my take. How did you feel? Weigh in below in our Comments section and take our survey below.
- Why 2012 Will Be "The Year Of The Soap" (Part 1)
- Why 2012 Will Be "The Year Of The Soap" (Part 2): DARK SHADOWS, RAGGED ISLE, DALLAS, Univision Telenovelas and More
- Most Fascinating People of 2011
- FLASHBACK: George Reinholt in "New" Love Triangle and 1976 Plot Summary (The Rileys, The Woleks, The Lords & The Craigs)
- FLASHBACK: ONE LIFE TO LIVE in the September 1980 "Daytimers" Magazine; Judith Light at the Emmys, Bob Woods on Playing Bo, and Much More
- "One Life to Live" and "Judith Light" Trending on Twitter During THE VIEW


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Hi folks,
Just a query re:the above.
The above port is constructed of ABS, but the bit on the top is made of rubber (where the glass of the port is).
I was just wondering, is this a rubber skirt protecting the glass, where the glass meets the ABS??
Can this rubber bit be removed??
Was wondering could anyone send me a manual or literature link for the above?
I cant seem to find it on the web?


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Paul D. Henry Elementary Principal Anthony Marquez said he was shocked when he got the news that his job was being eliminated.
Robertson High Principal Darlene Ulibarri said she did her best, and wished the school's next leader luck.
Several Robertson teachers, meanwhile, showed up at Tuesday's Las Vegas City Schools board meeting to ask the district's leaders to bring Ulibarri back for another year.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Las Vegas Optic, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
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|ZIP Code:


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The Jets keep hiring first timers all the time and that to me, tells me that Woody just doesnt learn from the lessons of the past.
Ill be glad to eat my words if im wrong but the odds Revis are in my favor.
I have no issues with the hire. If he is a good as an executive as they say, then he will surround himself with top-notch talent evaluators.
Nobody knows how this will turn out... The guy has an eclectic background and seems like a good candidate. I think Caldwell was the only guy the Jets really wanted and they made a move early. He decided to go to Jacksonville. After that the team went on the due diligence train and moved on from there. GM is the one area that I don't think you need a retread and fresh blood is better. The reason for this is that GMs usually get plenty of time to put their stamp on a team.
Furthermore, Tanny was not at all a horrible GM. While the past two seasons leave one wondering, over his tenure here the Jets have made the playoffs 5 times and gone to 2 AFC Championship games ( going off my head and did not look up) Under his watch we drafted some pro bowl players like Mangold, Ferguson, and Revis. Coples and Wilkerson look like keepers. I was ready to move on from him but it is not like Tanny was a complete failure in the position.
I am happy we have a hire and look forward to seeing what he does!!!
The fat man, when he ranted about the Tanny firing, said it NEVAH WORKS when a team hires a coach before a GM.
That's right. Never works.
Never mind that Carroll was hired before the Seattle GM, and that team is stacked and wins.
Never works, right Fatman?
Who cares what a guy that ill-informed has to say?
Lets be honest. After all that has gone over the last two years, one can understand Mike's issue with this pick. Factor in that some of the GM's who went before our choice, were definitely high end personal people, one should give Mike some credit. Having said that, I am hopeful that he is a great executive who will surround himself with top notch evaluators.
Francessa will never shut his bias pie hole.
I don't understand why the lot of you continue to boost his ratings.
It's like someone gave SAR I a radio show.
being that most jets fans hate this fat slob, all the jets fans in the tri state area should head to bar a in belmar in the summer when he does he show from down there, and heckel him while he tries to do his show.
I think it's fair to say the jury's out. What I Hope more than anything is that he believes in bang for the buck. The NFL is the hard cap league. There is no getting around it. Tanny and Rex doled out stupid deals. Therefore, the Flynn deal worries me.


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The expression "to take a second bite at the cherry" is a well-known, indeed well-worn one in the English language. It's also a very strange one, since no-one seems to know where it comes from and, in the case of most cherries, it's quite difficult to get even a single bite out of this diminutive fruit, let alone a second one. A recent decision of the Court of Justice of the European involves a second bite at the cherry -- though the cherry in question is, anomalously, an apple. The decision in question is Case C‑534/10 P Brookfield New Zealand Ltd, Elaris SNC v Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO), Schniga GmbH. an appeal
under Article 56 of the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union, brought on 15 November 2010. The ruling itself was delivered on 19 December 2012.
|Gala Schnitzer
KSB submitted the requested material and the CPVO acknowledged receipt -- but said it was not accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate and asked KSB to make sure that this keyl document was provided 'as soon as possible'. KSB sent a European plant passport to the Bundessortenamt and told it that the authority which had issued the passport – the Plant Protection Service of Bolzano (Italy) – had stated that that document served as a phytosanitary certificate. The Bundessortenamt informed KSB that the material had arrived in due time and said that it was appropriate; it added that the European plant passport was sufficient for the purposes of carrying out the technical examination and determining whether the substantive conditions for the grant of a Community plant variety right had been met. The Bundessortenamt did however request a copy of an official certificate confirming that the material sent was virus-free.
Sadly, it was not possible to do this and, in 2001, KSB told the Bundessortenamt that no such certificate could be sent since the material sent back in March 1999 for the purposes of the technical examination was not virus-free. The Bundessortenamt then told the CPVO that it intended to uproot the infected material iso as to stop the virus spreading to other plants.
In June 2001 the CPVO informed KSB that, in consultation with the Bundessortenamt, it had decided to let KSB provide new, virus-free plant material in order to resume the examination of the application. Could this be done? Yes, said the CPVO: it wasn't KSB's fault but its own, since its instructions regarding the phytosanitary state of the material weren't clear enough -- they didn't specify that the material should be virus-free.
|A Baigent
Schniga, taking over from KSB, then appealed to the General Court, which reversed the decision of the Board of Appeal and reinstated the Community plant variety right for Gala Schnitzer. This time it was the turn of Brookfield and Elaris to appeal, which they duly did. In their appeal they relied on two grounds of appeal. First, they claimed that, by re-appraising the facts when considering one of the pleas in law that had been raised before it, the General Court exceeded its jurisdiction to review legality. Since the General Court has jurisdiction only to verify that decisions of the Board of Appeal are lawful, that Court exceeded its jurisdiction. Secondly, they objected that the Court had held that, under Article 55(4) of the Regulation, the CPVO may make a request in an individual case, relating to the submission of documents attesting to health status, that was distinct from the request for submission of the plant material necessary for the technical examination.
As for the second ground of appeal, the General Court held that the CPVO had the right to define conditions which must be met if an application for a Community plant variety right is to be examined, so long as the period within which the applicant for that right must respond to the request made to him in the individual case has not expired. The Court could not be faulted for drawing that conclusion.
What is interesting, says the IPKat, is the Court of Justice's statement of general principle regarding the functioning of the CPVO:
It is heartening to see that the need for the CPVO -- an IP right-granting office -- to exercise discretion in the name of common sense, is so clearly recognised. One wonders what greater public good would be served by not allowing the fresh virus-free material to be submitted.
"51 ... the CPVO – as a body of the European Union – is subject to the principle of sound administration, in accordance with which it must examine all the relevant particulars of a case with care and impartiality and gather all the factual and legal information necessary to exercise its discretion. Moreover, it must ... ensure the proper conduct and effectiveness of proceedings which it sets in motion.
Cherries (not real size ...)
52 ... the CPVO is to determine, through general rules or through requests in individual cases, when, where and in what quantities and qualities the material for the technical examination and reference samples are to be submitted.
53 In view of the discretion which the CPVO enjoys, Article 55(4) of Regulation No 2100/94 cannot be interpreted as preventing it from making a separate request for plant material to be examined and for documentary evidence relating to that material. ...".
Merpel, who like most cats does not eat apples, wondered whether Gala Schnitzer was a woman's name or the designation of a person who schnitzes at galas.


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This kite has been used maybe 10 times. It is in really good condtion. I can meet at crissy any day of the week. I am trying to get some pics as we speak. It is black, blue, and white. It comes with everything: bar, lines, pump.
Email if you want to see it or have any questions


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Writer Rick Edgerton talks #MHFBeanie Round, the harrowing statistics behind Brain Cancer - and what...
27 hours ago
Match Details
Sydney Roosters 26 defeated St George Illawarra Dragons 10
National Rugby League - Round 22 - Friday August 3, 2012 7:45pm
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Referee: Matt Cecchin and Gavin Morris
Video Referee: Paul Simpkins
Touch Judges: Adam Reid and Luke Potter
Crowd: 12,580
Halftime: Sydney Roosters 12 St George Illawarra Dragons 0
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Mitchell Pearce (3 Tries)
2 Points - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
1 Point - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Sydney Roosters (26)
Tries: Mitchell Pearce (3), Joseph Leilua
Conversions: Braith Anasta (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Braith Anasta (1/1)
St George Illawarra Dragons (10)
Tries: Ben Creagh, Matt Prior
Conversions: Ben Hornby (1/1), Chase Stanley (0/1)
LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of Friday Night Football LIVE from Allianz Stadium. Just the single game tonight as we bring you coverage of Sydney Roosters hosting the Dragons. The Dragons are looking to jump into the top 8 tonight with a victory and the Roosters hope to avoid the wooden spoon
IN TEAM NEWS, The Roosters are without Lama Tasi who is replaced by Brad Takairangi. Mitchell Aubusson is called up into the starting side with Arona moving to bench.
Meanwhile for the Dragons they are 1-17, no changes.
Both sides returning into the sheds ahead of this clash to get the final words from their coaches. We are minutes away from kick off.
1 min: We are UNDERWAY with Chase Stanley kicking off for the Dragons.
3 min: Jason Nightingale shadowed the ball over the dead ball line off the SKD kick to the in goal area. The call against the Dragons as they give the Roosters a line drop out.
4 min: Dragons goal line defence holding strong as Brett Morris claims the Mitchell Pearce cross field kick. the Dragons come up with possession as a result on their 10 metre line.
5 min: Nathan Fien from well inside his 40 metre line stabs the kick downfield to come up with a 40/20 kick fro the Dragons. Big chance for the Dragons to claim first points.
6 min: Mitchell Pearce penalised for not being square at marker and he played at the ball in the hands of Nightingale. So, the Dragons with possession inside the Roosters 10 metre line.
9 min: UNFORCED ERROR St George Illawarra Dragons
Dan Hunt makes an unforced error as he took the ball into the tackle and looked to offload. The Roosters come up with possession through a scrum feed on their 20 metre line.
11 min: Penalty awarded a penalty for Ben Creagh being in an offside position as he took the falcon from Nightingale. Roosters attacking inside the Dragons red zone
11 min: Body Cornder has palmed the ball away off the Jake Friend pass and the Dragons come up with it and escape without conceding points.
17 min: After a line drop out from the Roosters, Brett Morris had a little space down the sideline but was forced over the touchline before the goal line. Scrum feed to the Roosters on their 10 metre line.
19 min: Matt Prior in the tackle of Braith Anasta drops the ball and gives the Roosters a scrum feed inside the Dragons half.
20 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
Scored by Joseph Leilua. Conversion attempt by Braith Anasta successful.
Joseph Leilua ran back on the angle at the line to slide through the defence untouched to score an easy four-pointer to kick the points off. Braith Anasta converts from in front
Sydney Roosters 6-0
23 min: KNOCK ON! Nathan Green attempted to take the kick from Nathan Fien but he unable to catch it. Roosters survive without points conceded, 20 metre restart for the Roosters.
27 min: UNFORCED ERROR St George Illawarra Dragons
Nathan Fien took the pass but coughed it up in the same movement as he failed to hold it. The Roosters lucky not to concede points as the Dragons almost cracked the defensive line.
34 min: Penalty to the Dragons for an attempt at slow down in the ruck from the Dragons. Nathan Fien takes the touch finder and the Dragons have their sets starting on halfway.
36 min: Penalty to the Roosters for a shepherd run from Fien. Things getting heated with Fien down injured
38 min: UNFORCED ERROR St George Illawarra Dragons
Daniel Vidot makes an unforced error as he hoped to take an intercept pass but unable to take it. More pressure on the Dragons with a Roosters scrum feed on the 10 metre line.
40 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
Scored by Mitchell Pearce. Conversion attempt by Braith Anasta unsuccessful.
SKD set the play up as he cleaned up the loose ball from the Dragons. Mitchell Pearce on the end of the play as he took the Takairangi offloaded to send Pearce over. Braith with the conversion attempt make it 12 points
Sydney Roosters 12-0
40 min: HALF TIME here at Allianz Stadium sees the Dragons on the back foot behind on the scoreboard 12-0 with the Roosters finding some form.
Second half about to get started with both sides exiting the tunnel
41 min: We are GO for the SECOND HALF: Roosters 12 lead Dragons 0 - Roosters kicking off with Braith Anasta
41 min: Well Well well - Nathan Fien has knocked the ball on from the kick off. Roosters with a line drop out
41 min: TIME OFF! Martin Kennedy has collected Josh Miller. He is getting attention from trainers
41 min: Josh Miller will remain on the field despite looking wobbly on the legs. Roosters with the ball, 20 metres out
42 min: Penalty against Matt Prior so it's time for the Roosters to extend the lead after a slow down in the ruck from the Dragons
42 min: PENALTY GOAL Dewsbury Rams (NL1)
PENALTY GOAL Sydney Roosters
Penalty goal attempt by Braith Anasta successful after Matt Prior slowed down the ruck
Sydney Roosters 14-0
45 min: UNFORCED ERROR Sydney Roosters
Tautau Moga makes an unforced error and the Dragons get another set inside the Roosters side of halfway, attacking 20 metres out.
46 min: Roosters caught in goal off the Fien kick. Dragons get a line drop here and their 3rd repeat set
47 min: UNFORCED ERROR Sydney Roosters
Tautau Moga leapt for the ball off the kick from Nathan Fien and got a touch to the ball before Vidot. As a result the Dragons get another shot at the Roosters line with a scrum feed on the 10 metre line.
49 min: Brett Morris is called back from scoring his try after the pass from Nightingale was deemed to go forward. Roosters hold on and get a scrum feed on their 10 metre line.
50 min: Time off here with Aiden Guerra coming off the field with an ankle injury from the Cameron King tackle
51 min: UNFORCED ERROR Sydney Roosters
Anthony Minichiello ruled to have first touch on the ball in the high ball contest. Double knock on the call and the Dragons have a scrum feed inside the Roosters 10 metre line.
52 min: Penalty to the Dragons from the scrum as the ruck too slow for the referees liking with the Roosters laying down too long.
53 min: Penalty to the Roosters against the Dragons for an obstruction play from Dan Hunt
54 min: SIN BIN
Joseph Leilua is sent to the sin bin for a professional foul.
56 min: TRY
TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Scored by Matt Prior. Conversion attempt by Chase Stanley unsuccessful.
Matt Prior took the pass from Nathan Fien to stroll through the Roosters defence who were down a defender. Chase Stanley pushed the conversion attempt across the face of goal.
Sydney Roosters 14-4
60 min: TRY
TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Scored by Ben Creagh. Conversion attempt by Chase Stanley successful.
Ben Creagh plucked the ball out of the air off the Nathan Fien kick. An amazing take from Ben Creagh to give the Dragons a chance to steal this game. Chase Stanley sacked from the kicking duties and Ben Hornby with an easy attempt at conversion adds the extras
Sydney Roosters 14-10
63 min: Brett Morris has been denied again with a massive forward pass as the Dragons look for space on the left hand side
65 min: Joseph Leilua is back on the field and gets straight back in the play by putting it over sideline. Dragons get the scrum feed on their own 10 metre line.
66 min: WOW! Mini has dropped it trying to get out of goal. VIDEO REFEREE for the Dragons
66 min: No try the decision and Braith Smith takes a breathe after Minichiello almost cost them the game. Line drop out for the Dragons.
67 min: Nathan Fien stabs the kick through and it goes touch in goal. Roosters escape and get the 20 metre tap.
67 min: Nathan Green through it had a try before getting over the line. Knock on and Roosters have it. Green failed to hold the ball and the Roosters work it off their goal line.
72 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
Scored by Mitchell Pearce. Conversion attempt by Braith Anasta successful.
The Roosters seal the win after Roger Tuivasa-Sheck provided the foundation for the points with a massive run. He passed inside to Mitchell Pearce to race away and score under the posts for his second.
Sydney Roosters 20-10
78 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
Scored by Mitchell Pearce. Conversion attempt by Braith Anasta successful.
Mitchell Pearce dives over for his third try of the night. he has been on the end of everything tonight. He took the Minichiello pass to stroll through the gap to score. Anasta converts to make it a 16 point lead.
Sydney Roosters 26-10
80 min: FULL TIME at Allianz Stadium the Roosters have caused an upset with a 26-10 victory over the Dragons.


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Some of the industry's newest automation comes from Racine Railroad Products, which is not just building railroad machinery, but devising it. For example, when Union Pacific wanted someone to design a fully automated machine to apply anchors - anchors keep rails from moving outward - it came to Racine Railroad Products.
"That's a big part of this company," company President Steve Birkholz said recently. "Our survival is continuing development of this kind of stuff."
The anchor applicator is a sophisticated machine used in re-laying track, explained Birkholz and Chief Engineer Dave Brenny. The base model costs about $230,000 and has just one function: setting anchors in their precise, proper place as it rides along the track. To accomplish that, the machine:
1. Locates the tie that needs anchors.
2. Removes anchors from a magazine supply.
3. Locates the rail base.
4. Lowers and installs the anchor to the rail.
5. Squeezes the anchors against the tie.
6. Applies the anchors.
7. Moves the machine to the next tie while pulling another pair of anchors from the magazine.
Every step is performed without operator intervention.
Although Racine Railroad Products designed the anchor applicator for Union Pacific, it is sure to also appeal to other railroads. In that industry, distances and costs are gargantuan.
"To re-lay a mile of track costs about $1 million, and it's paid for by the railroads," Brenny said.
As sturdy as rails are, they take a pounding from trains, so rail maintenance is almost year-round now.
"In the Powder River Basin in Wyoming, they're replacing rail every year," Brenny said. "In some stretches, it could be 50 years."
There's a specific order to replacing track, Brenny and Birkholz said. A production gang could be 30 to 100 men, most of them operating machinery. And each machine performs just one function - pull the spikes or insert the tie plate, for example.
"It's like an assembly line where the assembly line moves, but the product stays stationary," Brenny said.
"It's almost like a circus of machines," Birkholz added.
Because of enormous costs and distances, the railroads are always looking for ways to automate. That's meant opportunity for Racine Railroad Products. It has been making railroad maintenance products, from the fairly simple to incredibly complex, since 1970.
The local company makes both the large, complex machines and also hand-operated power tools - some gasoline-driven, others hydraulic-powered. Some examples are rail profile grinders, tie drills, spike drivers and rail saws that can cut through a rail in about 90 seconds.
"We design, engineer, final-assemble and market," Birkholz said. Other parts of the process, such as machining and sub-assembly, are usually contracted out to area firms and fabricators.
During final assembly, "Each worker is building his/her own machine," which keeps the work interesting, Birkholz said.
"With the larger equipment, sometimes there's no competition," Birkholz said. That's because Racine Railroad Products is often designing a new machine, sometimes upon request - and protecting it with patents.
"We study the operations out there," Brenny said. "And we look for opportunities to mechanize and reduce manpower."
Last fall, the company started work on a new tie-straightening machine for BNSF that will sell for about $315,000. A prototype should be ready by about May, and Birkholz said Racine Railroad Products could end up producing more than 20 of them just for BNSF alone.
He said, "We're building Porsches for the railroad industry."


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The question of who will lead the Sheriff's Office could be answered tonight when the Henderson County Republican Party executive committee selects a recommended replacement for Rick Davis.
The question of who will lead the Sheriff's Office could be answered tonight when the Henderson County Republican Party executive committee selects a recommended replacement for Rick Davis.
Five candidates placed on the ballot by the party's selection committee — plus anyone nominated and seconded from the floor — will address the executive committee during the voting process. Voting will be done by secret ballot, and a majority of certified votes cast (50 percent plus one vote) will be necessary to win.
The decision won't be official until county commissioners meet Monday to elect the person recommended by the committee.
On Nov. 23, Davis announced he was taking a leave of absence due to a diagnoses of manic bi-polar disorder. After he was granted medical retirement in early February, the selection committee was formed to interview those interested in the position and narrow down the list.
Five of the 11 candidates were recommended by the selection committee for the ballot, according to a two-page Candidate Credential Discovery released by the county Republican Party Saturday.
Those recommended are Michael James, retired N.C. highway patrolman; Rusty Jones, highway patrolman; Charlie McDonald, retired Sheriff's Office captain; Ben McKay, a deputy with the Sheriff's Office; and Frank Stout, retired N.C. highway patrolman.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Board of Commissioners' chambers. Only current members of the executive committee are eligible to vote, according to rules established by the executive committee and issued Wednesday by Party Chairman Mike Scruggs.
The selection committee will read the names of their nominees and the chair will then call for nominations from the floor.
"This requires both a nomination and a second," the rules state. "Both nomination and second must be made by certified current members of the executive committee. No nominations from the floor shall be made without the candidate's permission."
Nominated candidates will have four minutes to speak. If balloting requires additional rounds, each candidate will have two minutes to make more remarks, except in any final round between two candidates, when each will be allowed an additional four minutes.
State statutes say commissioners are to consult with the executive committee of the outgoing sheriff's political party before filling the vacancy, and should elect the person recommended by the committee if the party makes a recommendation within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy.
Selection questions
A Democrat who submitted his name for consideration questioned Wednesday why he was interviewed twice and not selected as one of the five finalists.
Martin Katz, a retired Broward County, Fla., sheriff's office deputy and a registered Democrat, sent a letter to Scruggs about his interviews and why party affiliation was a requirement.
"I was up-front regarding my political status and from the beginning was told party affiliation was not a requirement for the position," Katz said in the letter.
In a response, selection committee Chairman Andrew Riddle said state law requires that the party appoint a Republican.
"According to N.C. Statutes, the Republican party is bound to nominate a registered Republican," Riddle said in his response. "However, your background qualified you enough to be considered. It would be to the advantage of our community and out next sheriff to utilize you as a resource."
Riddle said he will recommend Katz as a resource to the next sheriff.
Reach Harbin at 828-694-7881 or email@example.com.


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So I'm down in Gulf Shores, watching today's local news on a Mobile, AL station. The lead piece was about the Mayor of Mobile coming home and catching a burglar in his garage. The Mayor evidently was ready to take care of business -- according to the report, he pulled his pistol and held the criminal until police arrived.
Gotta wonder why the Mayor had to take care of business himself. After all, we keep being told that important public figures need police protection.
But more interestingly, the news was reported in an absolutely ordinary, non-hysterical manner. It was sort of like people down here think it's normal for others to be carrying, and protecting themselves and their property. Imagine that...
Rich Phillips
Edited by richp, 21 December 2011 - 05:37 PM.


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This report is from Sporting News writer Sean Deveney.
NBA commissioner David Stern has been rattling his saber over the past year when it comes to the practice of flopping in the league. On Wednesday, he finally showed he was serious.
The league released an outline of what will be its new anti-flopping policies.
Its action drew an immediate response from its players' union, which announced Wednesday night if would challenge the rule.
According to policy outline released by the NBA:
"Flopping" will be defined as any physical act that appears to have been intended to cause the referees to call a foul on another player. The primary factor in determining whether a player committed a flop is whether his physical reaction to contact with another player is inconsistent with what would reasonably be expected given the force or direction of the contact.
Physical acts that constitute legitimate basketball plays (such as moving to a spot in order to draw an offensive foul) and minor physical reactions to contact will not be treated as flops.
That means the new flopping guidelines won't have an impact on in-game result, and there is no review process that would allow referees to stop action, look at tape and change calls. Instead, the league will punish floppers by looking at tape after the game.
The penalties start with a warning and scale upward. After the warning, a second flop gets a player a $5,000 fine. A third is $10,000, a fourth $15,000 and a fifth, $30,000. The league is leaving open what happens to a player after that fifth flop, saying, "He will be subject to discipline that is reasonable under the circumstances, including an increased fine and/or suspension."
The league said it will announce a separate set of flopping penalties for the playoffs at a later date.
The National Basketball Players Association said it plans to file a grievance and an unfair labor practice challenge with the National Labor Relations Board. Its chief called the rule an "overreaction and overreach" by NBA executives.
In the NBA statement, league vice president Stu Jackson said, "Flops have no place in our game—they either fool referees into calling undeserved fouls or fool fans into thinking the referees missed a foul call. Accordingly, both the Board of Governors and the Competition Committee felt strongly that any player who the league determines, following video review, to have committed a flop should—after a warning—be given an automatic penalty."
Although there are some defenders around the league known for hitting the floor all too easily on the defensive end, most players are happy about the change. There has been a noticeable rise in flopping over the years, and something needed to be done.
"When I first came into the league, nobody flopped," said Lakers forward Antawn Jamison, the fourth pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. "Guys tried to see how strong they were and said, 'You're not going to knock me down.' But it has gotten worse. Some guys do it better than others. It will be interesting to see how they call it. It's tough as a referee what is happening. It will be interesting to see.
"I don't know how it got to the point it has. You're starting to see it in big games, in big moments. It has an effect on the game. I think they don't want it to decide the outcome of a game. I am glad it is happening."
That puts Jamison at odds with his union.
"The NBA is not permitted to unilaterally impose new economic discipline against the players without first bargaining with the union," NBPA executive director Billy Hunter said in the union's Wednesday statement. "We believe that any monetary penalty for an act of this type is inappropriate and without precedent in our sport or any other sport. We will bring appropriate legal action to challenge what is clearly a vague and arbitrary overreaction and overreach by the commissioner's office."
The NBA's response? "Although we haven't seen any filing from the Players Association, our adoption of an anti-flopping rule is fully consistent with our rights and obligations under the collective bargaining agreement and the law," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.
However, Jamison was not alone. Lakers star Kobe Bryant said he hopes it has an impact on the game.
"I like the rule," he said. "Shameless flopping, that's a chump move. We're familiar with it. Vlade (Divac) kind of pioneered it in that playoff series against Shaq, and it kind of worked for him."
Players cautioned that it would be difficult to completely eliminate flopping, but welcomed the attempt to try.
"It's good. Guys can't be flopping and get away with it anymore," Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden said. "It was bound to happen at some point. Obviously, the league got fed up with it and they put it in. I'm happy they did."
-Story originally appeared on SportingNews.com.


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ROBBINSVILLE — Since 1920 Roma Bank has served the greater Trenton area, but after nearly a century, the local institution with roots in Trenton will become part of Investors Bancorp.
The bank, initially started to aid Italian immigrants, will be bought by the Short Hills-based banking institution in an all-stock deal. An all-stock deal is essentially a buyout of the existing stock in the company.
Once the buyout is completed Investors Bank will own 100 percent of Roma Bank's shares and all 26 Roma branches will become Investors Bank branches, losing the Roma name.
The Robbinsville-based Roma Bank has branches in Mercer, Burlington, Ocean, Camden and Middlesex counties. As of Sept. 30, the bank had assets of $1.84 billion, deposits of $1.49 billion and a stockholders equity of $218.8 million.
Roma Bank has 302 full-time and 64 part-time employees. In 2010, Roma acquired Sterling Bank which increased the companies reach into southern Jersey.
In a Dec. 19 statement, Kevin Cummings, President and Chief Executive Officer of Investors Bank, said, "We are pleased to enter into this partnership with Roma Bank. The Roma Bank branch network complements our presence in Central and Southern New Jersey and provides a strong foothold in the greater Philadelphia market. Roma Bank's customers can look forward to an enhanced array of products and services delivered with the same high level of service Roma Bank provides."
Bank officials valued the buyout at around $454.4 million. The shares will be sold at $15.00 a share On a conference call that took place on Dec. 20, Cummings said, "In a simple way, were paying 25 to 30 cents for a dollar.
Cummings also commented in the statement on the merging of two mutual holding companies, "We are excited about the uniqueness of this transaction and this combination of two mutual holding companies. We believe it will enhance the value of a potential second step conversion by Investors Bancorp."
The merger would be Investors seventh since 2008, in which time the company has doubled in size from $6.8 billion in assets to $12.2 billion in assets according to bank officials on a Dec. 20 conference call.
According to Investors Bank, the acquisition of Roma Bank would make Investors Bancorp the second largest bank headquartered in NJ.
Peter A. Inverso, President and Chief Executive Officer of Roma Financial Corporation, commented, "Investors is a well-managed, community-oriented institution which, like Roma Bank, distinguishes itself with its focus on customer service. The breadth of Investors' product offerings will allow us to maintain, expand and enhance services and products for our customers."
Also in the Dec. 19 statement, Michele Siekerka, Chair of the Board of Directors of Roma Financial, added: "We are all very pleased to be joining with Investors. This transaction opens up many new opportunities for our shareholders, our community, our employees and our customers."
According to Investors Bank, customers of Roma bank will have the same rights and privileges at Investors Bank based on the date when their account was established at Roma Bank.
The merger has been approved by each company's board of directors and is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2013. However the merger is subject to state and federal regulatory approvals and closing conditions.
According to the statement issued by Investors Bank, three members of Roma Financial Corporation's board of directors will be appointed to the board of directors of Investors Bank and its holding companies. The remaining Roma Board members will serve on an Advisory Board.
Who will be appointed to Investors Bank from Roma Financial Corporation and who will be appointed to the Advisory boards has not yet been made available.
Roma Bank fell under the watchful eye of the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in October of this year. Roma bank was required to review compliance measures after the bank failed to meet the OCC's standards for risk management, asset quality and information technology.
Roma became part of the OCC's jurisdiction after the office of Thrift Supervision was absorbed by the OCC under the Dodd-Frank act last year. That act tightened up bank regulations.
Prior to its absorption, the Office of Thrift Supervision had been responsible for regulation of federal and state charted banks in addition to credit unions and savings and loan associations.


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I am runnning Android Code from the Linux Format Coding Academy.
When compiling my build.xml document in eclipse for the android code I get the error /home/crichton/android_code/build.xml:37: Cannot find /Users/juliet/android-sdk-mac_x86 /tools/ant/pre_setup.xml imported from /home/crichton/android_code/build.xml
In looking in the build.xml file I see
<import file="${sdk.dir} /tools/ant/pre_setup.xml" />
The sdk.dir is redirecting the output to /Users/juliet/android-sdk-mac_x86 /tools/ant/pre_setup.xml
If I take the sdk.dir out I can append directories to the path to try and get the right ant tool to work. However, if I take sdk.dir out the project dir of the coding project gets automatically appended to the file.
How can I edit sdk.dir to let me tell eclipse where ant is? Ant works from the terminal and it is in my ~/bashrc file with the $PATH showing all directories available to the ant tools.
If I use geany to compile it tells me that CountdownActivity.java:3: package android.app does not exist none of my import android.app and such are getting imported.
From my reading this is standard and you need Ant to compile a build.xml file to include your android libraries?
If anyone can help me put the rest of the information I am lacking or misunderstanding thanks.
Also the author of the article telling you how to build the Android programs name is Juliet so that seems to me to much of a coinciidence with the error being recieved.


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Golden Apple has selected a record 135 Illinois high school students whom it will groom to be the top teachers of the future. Eleven of them are from DuPage County.
Golden Apple will shower the students with $23,000 in financial aid over the next four years to attend an Illinois university, but perhaps more important, it will provide related guidance, mentoring and training.
A key component is a six-week session each summer where they spend half the day observing in the classroom and half the day learning how to be great teachers.
"They see things they would like to emulate and things that they close their eyes in horror," said Dominic Belmonte, CEO of Golden Apple.
In return for the assistance, the students commit to teaching five years in an Illinois school of need, where the program provides them with help in how to deal with students, parents, fellow teachers and administrators.
"Our work continues through college and into their teaching careers," Belmonte said.
The DuPage County students selected from among 1,285 nominees are: Stephanie Bernardo of Downers Grove, Illinois Math & Science Academy; Elsa Cadwallader of West Chicago, West Chicago Community High School; Madeline Rae Collins of Roselle, Lake Park High School; Miguel Hernandez of Aurora, East Aurora High School; Maya Lane of Roselle, Conant High School; Mary Kate Maloney of Glen Ellyn, Glenbard West High School; Kelly O'Ryan of Elmhurst, York High School; Kathy Rodriguez of Carol Stream, West Chicago Community High School; Nicholas Sorrentino of Elmhurst, York High School; Cassandra Thill of West Chicago, West Chicago Community High School; and Rebecca Williford of Naperville, Waubonsie Valley High School.
Of the students who are named scholars, 83 percent complete college, and 91 percent of those complete or exceed the five-year service requirement, Belmonte said.
The scholars are 60 percent minority and 35 percent low income. Of black students, 75 percent graduate, and of Hispanic students, 78 percent graduate, rates that are several times those for all black and Hispanic students, he said.
"This blows out of the water any other program," he said, citing as an example Teach for America.
Golden Apple, founded 23 years ago, gets its funding from the state, corporations and individuals.


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EDITORIAL: Journal Register Co. a reminder of print journalism's instability
We all depend on news media to remain active, aware and informed in our society, but there is no doubt the industry is in a major state of upheaval and change right now.
Journal Register Co.'s decision last week to lay off 840 of its employees serves as a sobering reminder of that. The company owns Mount Pleasant's daily newspaper, The Morning Sun, as well as three other dailies in the state and several weekly newspapers.
JRC's decision is wise from a business standpoint, and while it is always tough to see anybody, especially our fellow journalists, lose their jobs, the company most likely had no other choice. At the end of the day, delivering news content is still about making money. Ad revenue is drying up in print across the board, and while website views continue to climb, companies simply cannot get the same kind of revenue from online ads.
We are in a state of flux in terms of how we consume our news, but that doesn't mean the industry is dying out. It means, like other publications, we must adapt. Central Michigan Life is not immune. As our online product and social media presence continue to expand at great paces, the amount of physical print readers we have is declining. People want their news now, not the next day, or in our case, two days from now.
That doesn't mean that those who seek out news refuse to pick up a daily print product, it just means they will seek it out in the easiest medium.
It's a reminder that the future of traditional newspapers and magazines, both in physical and digital forms, relies on them finding their niche and targeting their content toward a specific audience.
That's what the most successful news organizations have done in recent years. The New York Times, The Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, for example, have remained relevant by catering to a specific audience and marketing their in-depth content to them, instead of the general public at large. Same goes for successful local publications such as Crain's Detroit Business.
These publications are successful, especially business publications, because they offer in-depth reporting that can't be found anywhere else.
The main mistake media made was giving away news for free across the board, and, now, we're clutching at straws trying to grasp a way to survive that we should have thought of sooner.


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Injunction hearings rescheduled for St. Vincent soup kitchen appeal
Norwich — A federal judge in Bridgeport scheduled hearings for Feb. 25 and 26 on an injunction request by St. Vincent de Paul Place that would allow the soup kitchen to remain open at the former St. Joseph School during an appeal of the city's permit denial for the facility.
The question of whether the facility can remain open past Saturday's expiration of temporary permits remained unanswered late Thursday.
Peter Davis, director of planning and development, said Thursday that unless he receives a court order delaying enforcement of the permit denial, he will ask building inspectors to issue a notice of violation Monday, ordering the soup kitchen to vacate the school.
U.S. District Judge Warren W. Eginton in Bridgeport held a conference call Thursday with attorneys representing St. Vincent de Paul Place and the city of Norwich and set a schedule for the injunction arguments and hearing.
Attorney Timothy Bates representing St. Vincent said Thursday that he anticipates that Eginton will issue an order that the soup kitchen be allowed to remain open at the school until the injunction hearing is held.
Attorney Joseph Schwartz representing the city of Norwich in the appeal, declined to comment on the enforcement issue.
According to the schedule set by Eginton, the city must file its response brief to the injunction request by Feb. 11, and St. Vincent must file its reply to the city's brief by Feb. 18. The injunction hearing is set to start at 9 a.m. on Feb. 25 and continue on Feb. 26.
The Commission on the City Plan on Dec. 18 denied permits for the soup kitchen to remain permanently at the former school, agreeing with neighbors who testified that the facility already was a detriment to the neighborhood. Residents cited trespassing, littering and foul language by soup kitchen patrons.
Brian Kobylarz, a Hobart Avenue resident who led the neighborhood opposition, objected to the injunction request and the potential month-long delay in city enforcement of the permit denial. Kobylarz plans to attend the hearing, although residents are not legal parties in the case.
Three decades later, Desiree Michaud's friends and family still seek closure


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|National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon
|Tuesday, 21 December 1999
When The National Lampoon first started, it was a spunky, funky and sassy magazine, confident and arrogant, staffed with outstanding writers and artists; it spun off into a mini-industry of clever offshoots, including parodies of high school yearbooks, Sunday comics pages, and other delights. The first Lampoon movie, ANIMAL HOUSE, continued along the same lines -- fast, funny, impudent and deranged.
But since then, especially on movies, the words "National Lampoon" have come to be a warning, not an invitation: see at your own risk, because it ain't gonna be funny, unless it stars Chevy Chase as a bland father, and even then you're on your own. This holds true with NATIONAL LAMPOON'S LOADED WEAPON 1, a dreary, plodding spoof of, mainly, the LETHAL WEAPON movies. But when the spoof isn't half as funny as the original -- which wasn't even a comedy -- you're in big trouble.
Emilio Estevez is Jack Colt, a play-it-by-ear, loner cop suffering from the loss of his beloved, an Irish setter; he teams up with family man Wes Luger (Samuel L. Jackson), who's everything Jack isn't: rule-bound, black and tall. Together, they go after the cocaine ring that's selling Wilderness Girl cookies laced with the drug. The screen story is by Don Holley and Tori Tellem, with the script by Holley and Gene Quintano; Quintano directed, rather badly.
LOADED WEAPON begins well enough, with a funny parody of the by-now clichéd convenience store shootout: everything gets blasted in a cinematic way, including the two bad guys, who take forever to crash in slow-motion through big glass windows. But this movie giveth with one hand, and slappeth with the other: did we really need more Pakistanis behind the counter?
The movie's a lot better at throwaway gags than it is at its big set pieces: Jack leafs through a magazine, and is almost buried in its blow-in cards; after a love-making session, he wanders off through the moonlight, his (artificial and spectacular) bare buns gleaming in the moonlight, out-Gibsoning Gibson; Jack's beachside camper is so gigantic on the inside it requires marble pillars to hold up the ceiling.
But even some of these gags are peculiarly misfired: in a hallway shootout, Jack and Wes meet Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada from "CHiPS" -- but nothing whatever is made of this, they're just there, as are Richard Moll, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Charlie Sheen, Corey Feldman, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Charles Napier, Ric Ducommun, J.T. Walsh, Paul Gleason, even Bruce Willis. It's as if the fact that these people are turning up in a spoof is enough of a joke in itself, but it's not, and only Walsh and Moll try to do something with their cameos. At least when Jimmy Doohan shows up as Scotty, it's a joke in itself.
Whoopi Goldberg has an extended scene at the beginning -- she's Wes' ex-partner -- but she hasn't been this unfunny since THE TELEPHONE. It's not that she does anything wrong, it's that she isn't given anything to do. Again, her presence itself seems to be the joke. F. Murray Abraham is seen as "Dr. Leecher," in an extended parody of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, but it's an empty gesture, since it isn't especially funny, and adds nothing to the plot. Jon Lovitz wanders in and out of the movie in a role intended to match Joe Pesci's in the second two LETHAL WEAPON movies, but LOADED WEAPON can't find any more for him to do than the third and fourth LETHAL WEAPONs could for Pesci to do.
Emilio Estevez looks like he's about to smirk throughout most of the movie, which doesn't help matters. Samuel L. Jackson, on the other hand, is precisely on the money -- as always. He's a treasure.
Quintano is neither much of a director nor much of a writer, though he does have at least the theory of parodies right. They need to be played straight, not spoofy, not over the top; the problem here is that he plays some of it so straight that it's too familiar, and paces it so badly that it's usually dull. (No car chases!) On the other hand, the funniest performers in the movie, who aren't given anywhere near enough to do, are William Shatner and Tim Curry as the head bad guys, and they play their roles as broad as a barn. Shatner in particular is not only having a great time, but giving one, too; I especially liked the insouciant way he spits out a piranha. Too bad Curry and Goldberg didn't have a big-grin contest.
Quintano and Holley let the plot get away from them. At the beginning, Goldberg hides a very important microfilm; at the climax, it simply turns up in Jack's hands, with no explanation as to how he knew about it, much less found it. And they don't know how to pay off their climax: the bad guys simply expire routinely, instead of going out in some spectacular fashion, which would be more in keeping with this kind of movie.
I suppose Emilio Estevez wanted his own spoof after his brother Charlie Sheen did so well with the far superior HOT SHOTS (at least the first one), but he should have insisted on a better, more coherent and funnier script. At least LOADED WEAPON isn't very long...
The DVD is a nothing-special edition; the film is preserved for home video use, the disc offers both pan-and-scanned and enhanced/letterboxed versions, plus a few biographies. But there are no outtakes -- there must have been plenty -- and no commentary. If you like the movie, you've probably already bought the DVD. If you've never seen it -- well, there are lots of rental stores.


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By IAN HICKS
Shale Play
GLEN DALE, W.Va. - Like numerous other landowners up and down the Ohio Valley, the natural gas rush has helped the Reilley family of Glen Dale turn a large, empty plot of land into a source of income. But unlike most of those properties, it's not what lies beneath the surface that the industry finds valuable.
Article Photos
The Reilleys are leasing about 7.5 acres along W.Va. 2 to MarkWest Energy Partners and Sheehan Pipeline as a staging area for their nearby operations. Each day, heavy equipment maneuvers on the site amid piles stacked high with lengths of green pipe through which valuable natural gas soon will flow from local well pads. This is just one example of how 2012 has been a better than average year for business in Glen Dale.
Brent Reilley, who is also part-owner of the Reilley's Arms Motel in town, said the influx of out-of-town natural gas workers has made this the busiest year he can recall in perhaps the last 10-15. During the summer, he said the motel was routinely booked solid - often suggesting that those they had to turn away check out places that normally would be considered competitors.
Reilley said things have slowed down since recent bouts of cold rain began to signal the winter to come. Even so, states such as Oklahoma, Louisiana and Kentucky remain well-represented among the license plates on vehicles parked outside the motel and Young's Cafeteria next door.
Many of the drillers and pipeliners have moved out of the hotels in favor of more permanent living arrangements, Reilley said, noting a typical worker will stay five to seven days, sometimes longer, and often will go home on weekends.
"We've only had one say the price was too high, but he stayed two or three weeks," said Reilley.
He hopes 2013 will bring more of the same once the weather warms up again, but he also knows things likely will return to normal eventually.
"It's better than it was," Reilley said of the local economy, "but how long's it going to last? ... It's been hard times before. ... Every good thing has to come to an end."
With the motel next door and the MarkWest pipeyard so close by, the daily breakfast crowd at Young's Cafeteria has grown substantially. According to Rick, a manager at Young's who declined to give his last name, the gas workers have kept business strong during traditionally slow periods. Many of them, he added, have become regulars.
"We know a lot of them by their first names. ... They're real friendly people. They've made a nice addition to the area," Rick said.


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Austin, TXUSA
February 12, 2012
No introduction yet
Help support your Meetup
The Austin Sports and Social Club is Austin's larges Sports & Social organization with over 16,000 members. We offer 12 different sports, over 40 sports seasons annually, and 6 sports tournament per year. Players don't have to be athletes to play; we offer divisions for different skill levels. The Austin SSC creates year-round opportunities for individuals to play a variety of team sports in a social atmosphere that continues into happy hours and lasts long after the games are over. It's the perfect combination of sports and a social scene that caters to residents from South Austin to Round Rock. The Austin SSC is open to everyone 21 and up.
We also offer Outdoor Group Fitness boot camps, an annual 10 Adventure Race (Austin 10k Plus), and Urban Adventure Race (Downtown Dash) and a minimum of 10 social events annually. Social events range from boat parties on Lake Travis, University of Texas Tailgating to fundraising for local charities.
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2,473 Friends
1,120 Softball Players
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