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It's that time of the year again.
The time when the air starts getting chilly. The time when the grass has stopped growing, turning brown and falling asleep for winter.
It's also, of course, the time of year when Houma-Thibodaux catches on fire.
It's that time of the year again.
The time when the air starts getting chilly. The time when the grass has stopped growing, turning brown and falling asleep for winter.
It's also, of course, the time of year when Houma-Thibodaux catches on fire.
As sugar cane farmers comb through the hundreds of thousands of acres of sugar cane fields planted each year in Louisiana, they set controlled burns to get rid of leafy material that gets in the way of harvesting.
Manuals from the LSU AgCenter say controlled burns save sugar cane farmers millions of dollars in processing costs every year. They make the process more efficient, shorten the harvesting season, reduce the amount of fuel and energy expended, and cut down on the amount of material that needs to be processed.
That means economic benefits, less environmental waste and fewer cane trucks on the road during harvesting season.
Still, the by-products of burning are an annual headache — literally — for some residents living in the ensuing cloud of smoke.
"Every year the first week of November, I end up going to get a shot," Pam Benoit said on Facebook. "It's the only relief I can get from it."
Dr. Chad Simon, an ear, nose and throat expert at the Hagen-Bayer clinic in Houma and Thibodaux, said the smoke is one reason why doctors' offices flood with patients complaining of problems with their noses and sinuses.
Simon said there are two kinds of rhinitis, the medical term for excess mucus, congestion and sneezing. Cane smoke causes irritant or environmental rhinitis, where particles clog or irritate nasal passages.
"The smoke from sugar cane is an irritant," Simon said. "It's a lot like being in a smoky bar, where you end up coughing and sneezing."
Allergic rhinitis, the kind caused by ragweed or pollen, involves allergic responses to particular particles that cause individual bodies to over-react.
"The symptoms are very similar, but the disease process is different," Simon said. "Unfortunately, this is also ragweed season, so we're seeing a lot of both. And a lot of the time, even we can't figure out which is which immediately."
Doctors said some people are more sensitive than others to smoke and similar irritants. That can depend on your family history and other conditions you might suffer from, like asthma or sinus problems.
During the sugar cane season, doctors recommend staying indoors in peak hours when the smoke is thick. If you do start suffering, try using a sinus rinse and/or saline nose spray, either of which is available at most drug stores.
Drugs like Zyrtec, which are designed to help allergies, will be much less effective against smoke irritation even though the symptoms are similar.
If a sinus wash doesn't fix the problem after a few days, Simon recommends seeing a doctor. Prescription drugs like antibiotics and antihistamines can fix rhinitis symptoms if other cures don't work.
Fellow ear, nose and throat doctor David Hagen said there are no known long-term health impacts of cane burning.
"This is basically a seasonal irritant we've had here for more than a hundred years," Hagen said. "The good news is that they're burning a plant, so there aren't the kinds of harmful chemicals that are really dangerous."
Hagen, a long-time local resident, said sugar cane farmers have significantly cut down on the amount of smoke they cause during recent years.
"It's not nearly as bad as it used to be," Hagen said.
Still, that doesn't mean residents shouldn't be careful.
"There are no known demographic risks of burning sugar cane. But we do know that the smoke is toxic to an extent," said Hagen's colleague, Matthew Beyer. "It's just like any other smoke. It's not a major public health risk, but I wouldn't recommend going out and running around in it."
Staff Writer Matthew Albright can be reached at 448-7635 or at email@example.com.


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Melvin beat out Baltimore's Buck Showalter for the AL honor in a close vote by a Baseball Writers' Association of America panel. Under Melvin, the A's made a 20-game improvement, finished 94-68 and won the AL West.
Johnson was an easy choice for the NL prize after the Nationals -- who had never enjoyed a winning year -- posted the best record in the majors and made their first playoff appearance.
Johnson, who turns 70 in January, was honored for the second time. He was tabbed as the AL's top manager in 1997, hours after he resigned from the Orioles in a feud with owner Peter Angelos.
This time, Johnson will get a while to enjoy the accolade.
The Nationals announced this month that he will guide them in 2013, when he will be the oldest manager in the majors. He's set to leave the Washington dugout and become a team consultant in 2014.
"World Series or bust," Johnson said on the MLB Network. "It's going to be my last year, anyway."
Melvin also became a two-time winner, having been chosen in 2007 with Arizona.
Melvin got 16 first-place votes. Showalter got the other 12 firsts, and Robin Ventura of the Chicago White Sox finished third.
The A's were one of baseball's biggest surprises this year, especially after trades and injuries wreaked havoc with the roster.
Johnson received 23 of the 32 first-place votes, Dusty Baker of NL Central winner Cincinnati got five firsts and was second. Bruce Bochy of the World Series champion San Francisco Giants got four firsts and was third.
Washington won its second-ever major postseason award. Bryce Harper was voted NL Rookie of the Year on Monday.
Washington went 98-64 this year, taking over the NL East lead in late May and staying in first place the rest of the way. Boosted by Harper, Cy Young candidate Gio Gonzalez and their fresh "Natitude," they brought postseason baseball to Washington for the first time since 1933.
The playoffs didn't go quite so well. Minus Stephen Strasburg -- team execs decided the ace had pitched enough while recovering from elbow surgery -- Washington blew a 6-0 lead and lost the deciding Game 5 of the division series to St. Louis. Voting for the BBWAA awards was done before the playoffs.
Johnson oversaw a diverse roster, one made up of young and old, Washington veterans and newcomers. A four-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glover, two-time World Series champion and the last big leaguer to get a hit off Sandy Koufax, Johnson spoke with a soft, raspy tone but always held his team's attention.
He would occasionally raise his voice -- he liked to holler "whack-o!" when the Nationals homered.
Johnson managed the New York Mets to the 1986 championship and later guided Cincinnati and the Orioles. He returned to managing in 1999 with the Los Angeles Dodgers for two years.
NL Manager of the Year voting
As selected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America:
(Tabulated on a 5-3-1 basis)
Manager, Team 1st 2nd 3rd Tot
Davey Johnson, Nationals 23 4 4 131
Dusty Baker, Reds 5 14 10 77
Bruce Bochy, Giants 4 10 11 61
Fredi Gonzalez, Braves - 4 5 17
Bud Black, Padres - - 1 1
Mike Matheny, Cardinals - - 1 1
AL Manager of the Year voting
As selected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America:
(Tabulated on a 5-3-1 basis)
Manager, Team 1st 2nd 3rd Tot
Bob Melvin, Athletics 16 12 - 116
Buck Showalter, Orioles 12 16 - 108
Robin Ventura, White Sox - - 12 12
Joe Maddon, Rays - - 7 7
Joe Girardi, Yankees - - 5 5
Jim Leyland, Tigers - - 2 2
Ron Washington, Rangers - - 2 2

subset: commoncrawl


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Raytheon Corp. has sued 21 people for allegedly disclosing company secrets via the Internet in a case that raises questions about the wisdom of chatting about your employer online.
Raytheon officials believe the defendants work for the defense giant and have asked Yahoo Inc. to identify the real names behind the electronic handles. Yahoo runs the chat group in question.
''We are committed to and take seriously our responsibility to protect proprietary information,'' Raytheon spokeswoman Toni Simonetti said Thursday. ''We'll take legal action necessary to that.''
A spokeswoman for Santa Clara, Calif.-based Yahoo said the company will comply with a subpoena if one is issued, but otherwise won't disclose a user's identification.
''We have very, very strict privacy policies,'' spokeswoman Diane Hunt said. ''We're careful not to just give out user information.''
The case underscores a difficulty with Internet chat groups, which encourage the kinds of conversations that might take place after work in a bar. But the electronic message boards create an illusion of privacy that can embolden people to broadcast their thoughts all over the world.
In the case of Raytheon, a $19.5 billion company with 100,000 employees, online messages were allegedly posted by workers who assumed such screen names as RSCDeepthroat, SadNTexas and snowbaw198.
The messages revealed what Raytheon claims are company secrets, mostly about manpower projections and financial issues. In the complaint filed in Middlesex Superior Court in
But much of the information revealed in the chat group was either speculative, inaccurate or already public.
One participant was cited for writing on Oct. 21 that the company sold one of its units to DRS Technologies for $45 million. Raytheon had already made the deal public that day.
Another posted a message in April saying ''Raytheon win Missle-defense contract. Good news will be announce tomorrow.'' A competitor actually won the deal.
Raytheon is asking for an injunction against the chatters preventing further disclosure of company secrets, compensatory damages and attorney fees and expenses. That worried some.
''It seems kind of disturbing that a company would check up on employees this way,'' said Scott Charnas, an attorney who works for a law firm specializing in labor law and is not involved in the case.
Charnas said he didn't know of any statute preventing Yahoo from disclosing the names of its chat group members.
''There may be an expectation of privacy when people sign on with these screen names, but that's probably a false expectation,'' said Charnas.


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Linked by snydeq on Wed 16th Dec 2009 20:13 UTC
InfoWorld's Randall Kennedy takes an in-depth look at VMware Workstation 7, VirtualBox 3.1, and Parallels Desktop 4, three technologies at the heart of 'the biggest shake-up for desktop virtualization in years.' The shake-up, which sees Microsoft's once promising Virtual PC off in the Windows 7 XP Mode weeds, has put VirtualBox -- among the best free open source software available for Windows -- out front as a general-purpose VM, filling the void left by VMware's move to make Workstation more appealing to developers and admins. Meanwhile, Parallels finally offers a Desktop for Windows on par with its Mac product, as well as Workstation 4 Extreme, which delivers near native performance for graphics, disk, and network I/O.
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RE[3]: I've given up on Parallels
by Bending Unit on Fri 18th Dec 2009 21:25 UTC in reply to "RE[2]: I've given up on Parallels"
No. Compiling should never be necessary. That is for developers, before the system is released, not for users.
What if we on Windows had to compile whatever when we upgraded VMware (or some other software). How many would like that? How popular would that software become?
Why should Linux users deserve any less?


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|Investigators Eye Fire in Deadly Train Crash
|By COLLEEN CURRY
|Jul 9, 2013, 11:22 AM
A fire aboard a parked freight train filled with oil may have set in motion the catastrophic accident that torched a Quebec town and left 13 dead and as many as 50 people missing, officials said today.
Using information gleaned from the train's black boxes and witness interviews, investigators from Canada's Transportation Safety Board have begun to piece together how a train parked safely uphill from the town of Lac-Megantic became dislodged and barrelled into the town, derailing and exploding into a fiery ball.
Rob Johnston of the TSB said that investigators now believe a small fire on the train's locomotive engine Saturday night may have set off the events that led to the derailment.
The engineer and crew aboard the train had arrived in Nantes, Quebec, around 11 p.m. Saturday, locked the train in its place for the night, and left.
Around 11:50 p.m., a fire broke out aboard the train, causing the rail traffic controller to call the fire department and the train's owner, the Montreal, Maine, and Atlantic Railway, Inc.
Firefighters and an employe from the MMA arrived at the scene and put out the fire, he said.
But a short time later, around 12:50 a.m. on Sunday, the train started to move, said Johnston, a manager of the rail pipeline investigation branch of the TSB. Investigators still do not know how the train became loose or what role the fire played.
The rails around Nantes and Lac-Megantic have no sensors, and so the rail traffic controller never knew that the train had broken loose, Johnston said.
"The unmanned trains started to descend down a rolling grade to the center of Lac-Megantic," Johnston said. "In this area no types of track circuits, so the rail traffic controller would have had no way to know the train had moved."
The train then derailed at 1:14 a.m., with the cars becoming separated from the locomotive, causing fires that, coupled with the petroleum crude oil, caused the train to erupt into flames as it crashed into homes and buildings in Lac-Megantic.
At least 13 have been confirmed dead in the wreckage, and dozens are still missing. Many of the missing are believed to have been at a bar, Le Musi-Cafe, at the time of the accident. The train is believed to have struck the bar while on fire.
"This was an incredible accident," Johnston said. "All of our people want to do everything we can to do get to the bottom of this and make sure it doesn't happen again. "
Johnston said that investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire and its role in the accident, as well as whether proper operational procedures were followed on the train before it was parked for the night.
The TSB investigators still need to interview witnesses and officials, as well as send parts of the train for testing at its lab in Ottawa, he said.
Searchers are still trying to comb through the rubble from the crash to reach the site of the bar.
Lac-Megantic schoolteacher Ann-Julie Hallee told ABC News that she believed some of her students were at the bar, Le Musi-Cafe, that burned down during the crash. She also said her aunt died at home in the blaze.
"My aunt, her house was burned down. She's 93. She didn't have time to get out of there," Hallee said. "You see those big tank cars, and it's like, OK, when is it going to happen? You know? When is this catastrophe going to happen?" Hallee said. "And then it happened. It happened. It's crazy. I'm sorry."


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NORMAN, Okla. – University of Oklahoma baseball coach Pete Hughes announced his team's schedule for the upcoming 2014 season. This season's schedule features nine games against three teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including the Bedlam Series, which begins on April 1 in Norman.
The slate is also filled with nine teams in the Top-75 RPI and eight teams with 35 wins or more. An additional eight teams competed in the NCAA Tournament just two seasons ago in 2012.
"There is a lot be excited about the challenges presented by our 2014 schedule," said Hughes. "I believe we have improved the strength of our schedule to be worthy of hosting a regional and becoming a National seed. The cleanest road to Omaha is earning a National seed. That will be our goal every year and our schedule will reflect that."
The Sooners, who posted a 25-6 record at home in 2013, will play at home for 33 of its 56-game regular season schedule.
"I am really excited about our home schedule and the teams that will be accessible to the Sooner baseball family. Bringing teams from coast-to-coast to play in Norman will help expand the OU baseball footprint."
The Sooners open the season with five games at L. Dale Mitchell Field, beginning with a three-game series against Seton Hall, which finished the season 44th in the RPI with a 37-19 record, February 14-16 and followed by a two-game set against Arkansas Pine Bluff, February 18-19.
The first road contests for Oklahoma take place February 21-23 at the Central Florida Tournament in Orlando, Fla. The Sooners face the host Knights along with Ohio State and Citadel, both of which posted 35-win seasons and finished in the RPI Top-75.
The following weekend, Oklahoma will be back on the road a four-game tournament at Arizona State, February 27 to March 2. The Sun Devils, who took part in the Los Angeles Regional and finished 20th in the RPI with a 37-22 mark, will be the first of three opponents which played in the NCAA Tournament. The Sooners will also take on Manhattan, Gonzaga and Santa Clara in Surprise, Ariz.
Oklahoma then returns home for a five-game home stand, starting with two games against Abilene Christian, March 4-5 and a three-game series against Rutgers, March 7-9. Despite a 28-30 record, the Scarlet Knights finished 66th in the RPI.
On March 11, the Sooners travel down to the Ballpark in Arlington, the home of the Texas Rangers, to face Texas-Arlington. The Mavericks went 31-27 in 2013 and are only a season removed from the NCAA Tournament in 2012.
The home slate picks up again immediately for three games against Belmont, which won 38 games a year ago and made the NCAA Tournament in 2011 and 2012, March 14-16 plus non-conference tilts against TCU and Arkansas Little Rock on March 18 and 19.
Oklahoma continues its home stand when it opens Big 12 play against Kansas State, March 21-23. The two teams last met in Big 12 Championship pool play; a 7-6 win for the Sooners. The Wildcats, who finished 45-19 and 16th in the RPI, are OU's second NCAA Tournament opponent after winning the Manhattan Regional and advancing to the Super Regionals.
Next up, is a road game at intrastate rival Oral Roberts on March 25 followed by a road series at Kansas, March 28-30. Oklahoma defeated the Jayhawks, 7-2, in the Big 12 Championship game to win its first conference title since 1997. Kansas' season ended at 34-25 and 66th in the RPI.
April 1 marks game one of the Bedlam Series as Oklahoma State visits L. Dale Mitchell Field. The Cowboys, who went 41-19 and finished 52nd in the RPI, are the third NCAA Tournament opponent to appear on the Sooners' slate after playing in the Louisville Regional in 2013.
"Lastly, I think it is tremendous for baseball in our state to have OU and OSU playing each other 5 times," stated Hughes. "Between Norman, Stillwater, Tulsa and Oklahoma City, it is great for the state of Oklahoma baseball to see two NCAA Tournament caliber programs taking its series to the great venues and cities of the state."
During a bye week in Big 12 action, Oklahoma stays home to host Cal State Bakersfield, April 4-6. The home stand continues with a rematch against Oral Roberts on April 8 and a three-game set against Texas, April 11-13. Last season, the Sooners won the series with the Longhorns in Austin for the first time since 1997.
Oklahoma then visits Stillwater for game two with Oklahoma State on April 15, followed by a three-game home series against West Virginia, April 18-20.
Big 12 play continues as the Sooners hit the road for a series at Texas Tech, April 25-27, and continues after a home game against Dallas Baptist on April 29 when they host Baylor, May 2-4.
TCU marks the final road series of the regular season, May 9-11 and Dallas Baptist is the final non-conference match-up of the season on the road on May 13.
The Bedlam Series amps up on May 15 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City and moves on to ONEOK Field in Tulsa on May 16 and 17.
The Big 12 Championship is scheduled for its 10th straight season in Bricktown, May 21-25.


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Friday, September 28, 2012
BELMONT PARK NOTES: Thursday, September 27, 2012
ELMONT, N.Y. – After 36-1 long shot Poseidon's Warrior won the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on August 5, surprising just about everyone but trainer Robert "Butch" Reid, a decision had to be made about his next start: Run next in the Grade 1 Forego at seven furlongs on September 1, or await the Grade 1, six-furlong Vosburgh Invitational 55 days later?
With sights set firmly on the Breeders' Cup Sprint, Reid chose to wait and run the 4-year-old son of Speightstown at his best distance, where he has won six of 12 starts.
After Saratoga, Reid took Poseidon's Warrior back to his home base at Parx Racing, where the colt has sizzled in his workouts.
For the Vosburgh, which drew a field of 10, Poseidon's Warrior will start from the inside post position.
"This horse has a tendency to bear out a little bit," Reid said. "Normally, I wouldn't like the rail, but this horse has decent speed, and this might help him getting around a little bit. I would have preferred maybe the [No. 3 post], but it will be fine.
"I think he's going to be a little bit of a price. He needs to confirm that Vanderbilt win. It's been like a year-long plan since last November when we started thinking about him for the Breeders' Cup. One more step to go."
* * *
Nagging foot issues have limited Jersey Town's schedule in recent years, but trainer Barclay Tagg said the 6-year-old is entering Saturday's Grade 2, $400,000 Kelso Handicap in the best shape since he won the 2010 Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap.
"He has the right amount of breezes under his belt, and he's coming off a race [a third in the Grade 1 Forego on September 1 at Saratoga Race Course] he well ran in," said Tagg. "He has so many minor problems that it's hard to bring him into a race step-by-step. Right now we've been able to do that, so hopefully he'll run well. He looks good because he fills out like a monster.
Jersey Town returned from a four-month layoff to finish fifth in Saratoga's Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on August 5, then made a bold inside rally in the Forego to lead turning for home before tiring to third, 4 ½ lengths behind winner Emcee and a neck behind runner-up Hamazing Destiny.
"He had an opening at the five-sixteenths pole [in the Forego], and he shot through it like the wire was 10 feet on," said Tagg. "That's a bad group to do that with. It turns out it stayed wide open anyway; nobody came back on the rail. He could have done it at the three-sixteenths pole and it would have been a lot better. He has about a good three-sixteenths of a mile where he'll really explode. If you ask him for more than that, he's probably going to come up short."
Tagg was going to run Jersey Town in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Invitational on Saturday as he believes the Charles Fipke homebred is best at the Vosburgh's six-furlong distance, but called an audible on Wednesday and instead entered the chestnut in the Kelso.
"It looked like the Kelso was the better place than the Vosburgh," said Tagg. "There are monsters in both races. There were monsters when he won the Cigar Mile, too. I don't like either race in particular for him. If To Honor and Serve is on his game, he can be unbeatable, but he can be a little inconsistent. I think the mile has the chance to set up speed-wise for an explosive finish. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out."
* * *
Despite largely running a claiming outfit, it is not rare to see trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul pluck an old class horse out of the ranks and send him up to the ladder to a Grade 1 race.
Game Ball, his long-shot entrant in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup this Saturday, is just such a horse. Purchased for $47,500 out of a race at Woodbine, the son of Sky Mesa has run in the Grade 1 Man o'War (seventh) and Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational (eighth).
Now, Chatterpaul will switch Game Ball to the dirt, a surface on which he has won six of seven starts, albeit against less talented company than he will face on "Super Saturday."
Chatterpaul, who won the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap in 2011 with $35,000 claimer Mission Approved, has no illusions about Game Ball winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but he is not afraid of the competition.
"Most of the horses, some of them are really good horses, but some of them are tailing off also if you look at the program," he said. "This horse is doing well, a really nice horse, training well. He can run. It's just that I'm looking for the right spot. I'm not crazy about this horse on the turf. Even the rider, [Jose] Espinoza, said he worked easy there on the dirt, easy in hand, a minute flat.
"It's a really top-class horse, just like Mission Approved," added the trainer. "I wouldn't put the horse in if I didn't see any quality in him. There are a few horses you'll find that you can claim and if they're decent enough, you can bring them back to their old class. And he seems like one who will get back there, eventually."
* * *
Pierrot Lunaire, the longest shot on the board at 48-1, took the lead over the final jump and held off a furious late charge from Spy in the Sky to win Thursday afternoon's Grade 1, $150,000 Lonesome Glory steeplechase.
Trained by Blythe Miller Davies and saddled by her father, Bruce, the 8-year-old War Chant gelding stayed well back as Duc de Savoie led the field of 10 to the far turn of the 2 ½-mile race over national fences. Launching his run on the outside after the second-to-last fence, Pierrot Lunaire was the first to clear the final hurdle and denied the runner-up by a nose after a spirited stretch battle.
It was the first victory since taking the Grade 1 Iroquois in May, 2009 for Pierrot Lunaire, who is owned by Mrs. Calvin Houghland. Unraced in 2010, the gelding made three starts in 2011 and three this year prior to Thursday's race, all in graded events. Most recently he was fifth in the Grade 3 Zeke Ferguson Memorial in June at Colonial Downs.
"He ran well in the Zeke Ferguson over a little shorter trip," said winning jockey Bernard Dalton. "We were handy the whole way, and he was beaten only [13 ¾] lengths against faster horses. Bruce said he was training real well, otherwise he wouldn't bother coming up being a long shot, and he took the blinkers off. The horse just traveled and jumped. [Bruce] said to me, 'I want you to hold him up today. Just pop away, pop away, and don't come with a run until after the second-to-last [fence].'"
Pierrot Lunaire returned $99.50 for a $2 win bet, and earned $90,000. For his career, he is 4-5-4 from 25 starts with a bankroll of $355,579.
"I was really nervous because he did not run that well this spring and had not run since [June]," said Bruce Miller, who in the 1990's trained Lonesome Glory, the champion steeplechaser for whom the race was named. "We put a lot of work into him to get him this far and to be honest with you, I didn't really think he would win. I thought he would run well, but I never expected him to win."
Spy in the Sky was two lengths ahead of Charminster, with Left Unsaid, History Boy, Divine Fortune, Duc de Savoie, Tax Ruling and The Jigsaw Man completing the order of finish. All Together left the course before the final jump. Demonstrative was scratched.
Read more articles in the Belmont Park category.


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Weekend Confirmed Ep. 37 - 12/03/2010
Subscription Links:
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We've got a handy player to listen to the show right here on the site if you like:
Listen to Weekend Confirmed Episode 37 (player window will pop-up)
And if you're on GameCenter, you can play the show here:
Download Weekend Confirmed Episode 37
Weekend Confirmed comes in four segments to make it easy to listen to in segments or all at once. Here's the timing for this week's episode:
Whatcha' Been Playin: Start: 00:00:00 End: 00:30:08
Whatcha' Been Playin and Cannata-ford a New Game: Start: 00:31:12 End: 01:02:04
The Warning: Start: 01:02:56 End: 01:34:40
Music Break featuring "Let Me Put You at Ease": 01:34:40 End: 01:37:50
The Front Page: Start: 01:37:50 End: 02:08:37
NFL 'Tailgate': Start: 02:09:39 End: 02:18:23
Music Break this week features "Let Me Put You at Ease" by Jonathan Carter aka graphicnapkin. For more, check out his official site and follow him on Twitter.
Original music in the show by Del Rio. Get his latest single, Small Town Hero on iTunes. Check out more, including the Super Mega Worm mix and other mash-ups on his ReverbNation page or Facebook page.
Jeff can also be seen on The Totally Rad Show. They've gone daily so there's a new segment to watch every day of the week!
Our Official Facebook Weekend Confirmed Page is coming along now so add us to your Facebook routine. We'll be keeping you up with the latest on the show there as well.


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The New Face of Risky Drinking Is Female
What should we make of the case of Vodka Samm?
Late last month, a 22-year-old University of Iowa student—best known as "Vodka Samm"—was arrested with a blood alcohol content of .341. On Aug. 31, University of Iowa Department of Public Safety officers intervened when the woman allegedly tried to storm the field at a University of Iowa football game in Iowa City. After her arrest, she tweeted: "Just went to jail. #YOLO" and "I'm going to get .341 tattoed on me because it's so epic." Finally, "Sorry for being like every other college student."
Since then, Vodka Samm has become the poster girl for over-the-top college drinking. Within days of her arrest, she deleted her Vodka Samm Twitter account. Still, she's anything but invisible. Her Vine videos are there for the viewing: the student cradling a vodka bottle like a baby before she downs a shot, looking confused beside a table full of empties.
So much for the frat boy stereotype: the new face of risky drinking is female. And the trajectory for female alcohol abuse now outpaces that of men. Vodka Samm's BAC may have been off the charts, but her behavior is all too common. The percentage of college students who binge drink, using the measure of consuming five or more drinks in one sitting, was nearly 45% in 2011, according to the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey. Consistently, this consumption level is higher than that of noncollege peers.
Tom Moore, a spokesperson for the University of Iowa, told the Wall Street Journal in a statement: "The university's primary concern is the safety and wellbeing of all its students. Substance abuse issues have been a concern on many campuses for quite some time. The University of Iowa continues to implement evidence-based interventions that are resulting in the reduction of harmful drinking, but more work remains to be done."
This year, the Centers for Disease Control reported that female binge drinking is a serious underrecognized problem. Recently, a Harvard study concluded that college women exceed healthy drinking guidelines more often than their male counterparts. Meanwhile, women with a university degree are almost twice as likely to drink on a daily basis as those without.
Vodka Samm? It was just a matter of time. For more than a decade, the spirits industry has been pitching hard at women. First came the alcopops—also known as "chick beer" or "cocktails with training wheels": sweet, brightly colored vodka- or rum-infused concoctions in ready-to-drink format. Designed as drinks of initiation, aimed at pulling young women away from beer to distilled spirits, they have been a rip-roaring success in terms of sales.
Lisa Hawkins, Vice President, Public Affairs, of the Distilled Spirits Council, an industry group, told Speakeasy in a statement that "The distilled spirits industry is opposed to over-consumption by any segment of our society. We encourage adults who choose to drink – both women and men – to drink in moderation and to follow the advice of the Federal Government's Dietary Guidelines."
The statement went on to say "Millions of women have consumed spirits responsibly for decades and are more than capable of making responsible choices. Approximately half of all spirits consumers are women and this percentage has remained relatively constant for the past 20 years. It is perfectly reasonable and appropriate for spirits companies to develop and market products that appeal to women's taste preferences and lifestyle choices."
In the wake of the Vodka Samm incident, many have marveled that she's still alive. "The drinking of female college students has become much deadlier," says Thomas Workman of the American Institutes for Research in Washington, D.C., who has worked on college drinking for years. "I see quite a number of student deaths and egregious injuries and sexual assaults, ones that don't get publicized." Workman is still haunted by the death of Samantha Spady, a student at Colorado State University who died of alcohol poisoning in 2004. Spady, an honors student and homecoming queen, died after 11 hours of party-hopping. Discovered in a cluttered storage room of a frat house, she had a blood alcohol level of .436.
Me? I am haunted by the death of Zara Malone, a 22-year-old student at Britain's Exeter University, who was found dead last year, covered in her own vomit, two empty vodka bottles by her side.
The alcohol industry is now battling for women's downtime. Wines with names like MommyJuice, Mommy's Time Out, Cupcake and yes, Happy B–ch; berry-flavored vodka, Skinnygirl vodka, mango coolers, alcopops: all are aimed at the female market. Women now have their very own feminized drinking culture, and their very own drinking problems. Chugging, and in many cases, not eating on a regular basis, has led to the rise in so-called "drunkorexia." A recent study from the University of Missouri reported that 16 percent of college students who were surveyed said they restricted calories to save them for drinking. Of the respondents, roughly three times as many women engaged in the behavior as men. The risks of drunkorexia include short- and long-term cognitive problems, including difficulty concentrating, studying, and making decisions, as well as liver and blood pressure problems.
If Vodka Samm is poster girl for college drinking, she is also the face of a serious public health problem. Alcohol may not be the new tobacco. But the alcohol industry—like the tobacco industry once did—has focused its sights on women. Closing the gender gap on risky drinking: it's the last kind of equality any of us wanted.
Ann Dowsett Johnston is the author of "Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol," published by HarperCollins.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Core Alcohol and Drug Survey showed that the percentage of college students who had participated in binge drinking, defined as consuming five or more drinks in a single sitting, fell to 44.8% in 2011 from 46.6% in 2006. A separate study published by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs found the binge rate for college students rose to 44.7% in 2005 from 41.7% in 1999. An earlier version of this commentary said that the binge rate was nearing 45%, but failed to note that the author's conclusion that the rate had increased over the past decade was made by combining the results of the two studies.


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Eli's Cheesecake: a tasty tour for a tiny price
Sep 17, 2010
When it comes to splurges, there are few things more decadent and delicious than cheesecake. And when it comes to cheesecake, there are few places in the world that do it better than The Eli's Cheesecake Company in Chicago.
First offered in 1980 as a menu item at Eli's Place for Steak restaurant, the dessert became a favorite of famous clientele like footballer Gale Sayers and President Bill Clinton. Eli's Cheesecake debuted at the first Taste of Chicago that year, and it has since become the No. 1 dessert at Taste, selling nearly 2 million slices at the annual festival.
Eli's Cheesecake World — a 62,000-square-foot bakery, café and visitors center — was later opened on Chicago's northwest side to support national demand. The bakery makes thousands of cheesecakes weekly in a wide variety of flavors. Visitors can purchase the sinfully delicious treats and see how they're made, thanks to daily tours.
Eli's Experience, a walk-in tour conducted Monday through Friday at 1 p.m., costs just $3. The tour begins with a video presentation in which visitors learn about famous Eli's fans like Frank Sinatra, the history of Eli's through the years, and how cheesecakes are created from the crumbly crust up.
Tour participants are then rought into the bustling, high-tech bakery section, where they can see Eli's products being created, decorated and packed. A return trip to the café offers a complimentary slice of Eli's cheesecake in several flavors, and is a delightful capper to the tour.
For those unable to attend a weekday tour, there's always Eli's: Tasting and Traditions, a walk-in experience available Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. This free event includes a presentation and a sample of cheesecake and three other Eli's products. A takery tour isn't included, but the presentation and samples are well worth the trip.
Named the top food tour in the nation by the Food Network, a visit to Eli's is a fun, inexpensive way to spend an afternoon. Kids and adults alike will enjoy learning about the history of Eli's Cheesecake, delight in seeing the production process — and everyone will smile wide as they take a big bite of ooey, gooey cheesecake.


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The cough that is so strong it can break bones is making a comeback and this time it's hitting more young adults. So, will the vaccine designed for mostly babies and toddlers wear off?
The whooping cough, or pertussis vaccine is part of a whole series of childhood immunizations.
Pertussis is a bacterial infection that first comes up as a cold and soon turns into severe coughing.
Infants are among the most at-risk. Now, there are concerns that with the increase of whooping cough, the vaccine to help remedy it may wear off.
Health officials caution parents to play it safe when it comes to getting sick. They say while most older people can usually recover, they can just as well spread their sickness to infants that are too young for vaccinations.
Now, doctors want to develop boosters for older kids and adults as a precautionary measure for babies and infants. Canada and other countries already give whooping cough boosters.
Since the 1980s, there's been a 51 percent increase of whooping cough cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC now fears the numbers may be ten times as bad because many of the whooping cough cases go undiagnosed.
Doctors stress keeping infants away from anyone who is coughing.


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On Friday night, the Carmi-White County Football team will try to accomplish something that just hasn't happened yet, get a win at home.
On Friday night, the Carmi-White County Football team will try to accomplish something that just hasn't happened yet, get a win at home.
The Bulldogs are undefeated this season, that is, when they are wearing the road whites.
But in this ultra-tight Black Diamond Conference in 2012, almost all the wins have been hard to come by.
Not only are the next two games for the Bulldogs extra-important because they are critical games that need to be won at home, they could also have a hand in playoff seeding and qualification.
When Carmi came into the season, the top three games on the schedule looked to be the defining games for the conference, but with Fairfield and Vienna-Goreville both at 3-1, the Bulldogs have to be on top of their game.
"We have talked about there being more parity in the conference for a couple years, but it never really went that way," said Coach Kurt Simon. "This year it is very even."
This week the Bulldogs will face the Fairfield Mules. The Mules are coming off a come from behind win over Eldorado. Simon was impressed by the resolve of the Mules in the game.
"What impressed me was that Fairfield was down 14-0, and didn't panic," said Simon.
Fairfield will be led by running back Dyllan Bailey, who has around 700 yards rushing in just four games this season.
Standout back and line backer Andrew Garrison is reportedly out with a broken leg.
Fairfield will look to add to Bailey's total on the ground in their game plan.
Back for Carmi this week should be Lucas Mercer, Brandon Pollard and Tyson Russell off their earlier injuries. John Lamp is most likely out for another week.
Friday night is homecoming for Carmi, so it is the perfect time for the Bulldogs to put things together and get the first home win on the season.


text: The Board of Selectmen has tapped Bill Boulter to serve as its chairman for the coming year. In its annual post-election meeting, the board also chose Arthur Boyle as vice-chairman and Lew Stone as clerk. Also at the meeting, the board welcomed its newest member, Michelle Burt. In the April 27 annual town election, Burt outpaced two others to fill the seat formerly held by Greg Hanley, who didn't run for reelection. Boulter is in his second term on the board and served as chairman twice before. He was first elected to the board in 2008, the year he retired after a 44-year tenure with the Police Department that included a year as chief.


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Main Site - :: Why Won't God Heal Amputees? ::
Say I don't change the oil in my car. Have I not cursed myself to have engine failure?
curse (kûrs)n.1.a. An appeal or prayer for evil or misfortune to befall someone or something.b. The evil or misfortune that comes in or as if in response to such an appeal: bewailed the curse of ill health.http://www.thefreedictionary.com/curse


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Students Spend Spring Break in Atlanta to Aid Flood Victims
April 05, 2010
A group of 14 Mount Union students and staff members traveled to Atlanta, GA during spring break to assist those affected by the flood this past September.
"Other than the long hours in a stuffy vehicle, this was anything but the "typical" spring break trip," said Adam Hood, a junior business administration major from Barberton, OH. Hood decided to attend the alternative spring break trip because of his appreciation for community service. "No beach, no MTV broadcasts and no luxury hotels, only a beautiful city and a chance to help others in need," he said.
The Office of Community Service and Service-Learning at Mount Union worked with Community Collaboratives International (CCI), a nonprofit organization that helps arrange travel, room and board and work for college students who want to volunteer. Students from Ohio Northern University and colleges and universities in Michigan, Iowa and Pennsylvania also spent their spring break helping others in Atlanta's 4th Ward, an area affected by flood damage following the September storms.
"My favorite part of the trip was meeting a group of students that had a similar goal to mine when it came to giving back to the community," said Hood. "There are many different things we learn in college, but it is these types of bonds that really show you what you can't learn in the classroom. It gives you hope and a reason to get out of bed in the morning knowing there are people out there that you can share your dream with."
"Everyone was friendly and they were thankful that we gave up our spring break to help others," said Sara Robison, a senior media computing major from Little Hocking, OH. "The only thing that really surprised me was how many other people came to Atlanta for their spring break. We had over 100 people staying in the same place we were!"
The group of students traveled to Atlanta with Amanda Espenschied-Reilly, director of service-learning and community service; Heather Eichner, Ohio Campus Compact and AmeriCorps Vista at Mount Union; and Nicolette Hall, a graduate student from Youngstown State who is doing an internship in the Office of Service Learning and Community Service.
Throughout the week, the group completed a variety of service projects for several different organizations including working at a low-income preschool, working at the Methodist Children's Home, volunteering in the Red Cross' furniture bank and working with Mad Housers building shelters for the homeless individuals.
Espenschied-Reilly explained that students also had the opportunity to spend their free time exploring the city and experiencing its culture. The group attended a Thrashers hockey game and visited the Georgia Aquarium and Centennial Olympic Park.


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In Pearl, residents of the hardest hit area lived in a trailer park. Officials say 37 trailers were destroyed and many others damaged. At least 15 people, including firefighters and police officers, were transported to area hospitals with injuries.
Residents of the Highlands mobile Home Park are left picking up the pieces. Family photo's were dug out of the rubble. Jane Black doesn't know where her trailer is. She was left in shock.
"I've been through a lot but I have never been through anything like this, never," said Black.
The worst part is, she could not find her beloved kitten or puppy.
"I went berserk" said Black. "I have a little baby puppy that's missing somewhere. I don't know if I'll ever see him again."
As family members tried to salvage what they could of her belongings, frantic efforts began and then rejoicing.
They found a kitten.
Moments later word came that Black's puppy had been rescued Monday night.
The tornado victim was reunited with Bama, her puppy, at the Mississippi Animal Rescue League.
Cinder blocks mark what is left of trailer homes.
Mark Elliot, his daughter and wife saw the ef3 tornado coming but did not have time to escape. Their trailer was rolled and they survived.
"It felt like the hand of God picked up my house and shook it and set it back down," said Elliot.
Pearl's Mayor described the scene when the first responders got to the hardest hit area of The Highlands.
"If I was in a trailer, I would find somewhere else to go," said Mayor Brad Rogers.
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Mariners officially ink Bay to one-year deal
By Greg Johns /12/08/12 5:25 PM ET
SEATTLE -- Jason Bay officially joined the Mariners on Saturday as the club announced that the free-agent outfielder signed a one-year deal to get a shot at reviving his career in his hometown.
To make room on the 40-man roster, left-handed pitcher Mauricio Robles was designated for assignment. The club will have 10 days to trade, release or outright Robles to the Minor Leagues.
Robles, 23, was acquired in 2009 along with Luke French in a midseason trade with the Tigers for Jarrod Washburn. He has yet to reach the Majors and split last year with Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Tacoma, posting a 5.78 ERA in 43 appearances.
Bay, 34, was a three-time All-Star with the Pirates and Red Sox and averaged 29 home runs and 99 RBIs in a six-year stretch from 2004-09. But he struggled badly the past three seasons after signing a four-year, $66 million deal with the Mets in 2010 and was released this offseason with $21 million still owed.
The Mariners signed him for $1 million in base salary, with $500,000 guaranteed and the other $500,000 coming if he makes the team out of Spring Training. The deal also includes a potential $2 million in incentives.
"I am glad we were able to put this together and bring Jason back to the Northwest to continue his baseball career," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "This is a good opportunity for Jason as well as the Seattle Mariners. Jason has a history of being a productive Major League player and has participated in postseason play. We look forward to adding his experience to our young group of players."
Bay lives in Kirkland, Wash., less than 10 miles from Safeco Field, and attended Gonzaga University after growing up in Trail, British Columbia.
The Mariners hope Bay can regain some of the success he had prior to signing with the Mets as a high-profile free agent.
He earned an American League Silver Slugger Award in 2009 after hitting a career-high 36 home runs and 119 RBIs with Boston and was the 2004 NL Rookie of the Year with the Pirates. Bay hit 21 or more homers in six straight years, including four seasons of 30-plus home runs, 100-plus RBIs and 100-plus runs, before joining the Mets.
He hit .306 with three home runs and nine RBIs in 14 playoff games with the Red Sox and also batted .467 in five World Baseball Games for Canada in 2006 and '09.
The Mariners are looking for some veteran run producers to help a young lineup that finished last in the AL in scoring for a fourth straight year in 2012. Zduriencik is open to adding two outfielders to the mix this offseason and Bay provides one option as a right-handed-hitting corner outfielder with power potential.
"Jason is a gritty, talented player with a winning attitude," manager Eric Wedge said. "We know he has a passion for the game and we're looking forward to having him on the field when we get things going in a few months in Peoria."
The Mariners will look at Bay both as an outfielder and designated hitter. The 6-foot-2, 211-pounder played just 70 games last year while batting .165 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs. In his three years with the Mets, he hit .234 with 26 home runs and 124 RBIs.
Bay's contract buyout with the Mets gave him total free agency in exchange for deferred money. His new contract with the Mariners is exclusive of the money owed from the Mets, so whatever he makes will go on top of the remaining $21 million.
As a right-handed hitter, Bay could benefit from the left-center field alley being moved in next year at Safeco Field, though the Mets also brought in their fences a year ago at Citi Field.
He's had limited exposure to Safeco so far in his career, with a .227 batting average, one home run and two RBIs in 26 at-bats in six games.
Bay has almost exclusively played left field in his 10 years in the Majors. He joins a Mariners outfield that includes Michael Saunders, Franklin Gutierrez, Casper Wells and Eric Thames as the primary returners.
Mike Carp was targeted as the starting left fielder last year, but injured his throwing shoulder in the season opener and could also be in the mix if his shoulder has fully recovered, though he may be viewed more as a first baseman.


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Judge Chin Says He Will Cut the Google Book Settlement 38
Miracle Jones writes "In a move that has shocked the publishing world, Judge Denny Chin has filed a brief saying that he has decided to cut the Google Book Settlement in half, letting Google host the first half of every book the company has scanned, and letting other interested stakeholders fight for the rights to the rest. 'We think this is a hard decision, but a fair one,' said John Peter Franks for Google. 'We would like to be able to host and control whole books, but at least we get the front half.'"


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News that Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki's head had rolled over the VA scandal was just hitting the wires Friday as I pulled up to the house of Phillip Meraz.
News that Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki's head had rolled over the VA scandal was just hitting the wires Friday as I pulled up to the house of Phillip Meraz.
Meraz, 69, was drafted into the Vietnam War. He has Parkinson's disease from Agent Orange. Not all his health issues are medical; he still occasionally flails awake screaming.
He requires sedatives. "I was scared to go to sleep at night," Meraz said. "I'd wake up screaming, hitting (his wife), roll out of bed and hit the floor."
Added Meraz' wife, Barbara Avey, "One night he was yelling, 'There's kids! There's a kid over there!' I didn't want to ask about that one."
I wanted to talk with Meraz just to learn about a typical disabled vet's experience with VA care. But first I learned why he requires care.
The Army shipped Meraz to the region north of Saigon. His unit, 1st Cavalry, 9th Squad, was assigned to scout by Jeep and occasionally helicopter; also to search and destroy.
"It was scary," said Meraz, whose scout vehicles and helos repeatedly came under fire. "Single fire - bop! bop! bop! - sometimes machine gun fire."
The enemy mined the roads. They detonated the explosives under command vehicles. Meraz was three vehicles back when a mine blew apart a lieutenant's Jeep.
It blew the driver's foot off. A sergeant was too hysterical to radio medevac coordinates. Meraz had to do it. "I tell you what, it was very scary."
Scouting, Meraz sometimes traversed jungle that looked burned away - by wildfire, he thought. But it was Agent Orange.
When he got out in 1970, the terrors of post-traumatic stress disorder were acute. But they abated. He took work as a painter. Then, in 1996, he started to tremble.
Soon his Parkinson's was so bad he hid one hand in his pocket to conceal its wild shaking; his waist gyrated so widely it looked like he was dancing; he required crutches. Disabled, he had to leave his trade. He sank into depression.
He turned to VA care.
First, Meraz had to go through the VA's regional headquarters in Oakland. There disability is adjudicated, treatments approved, insurance matters handled.
But when Meraz would call, the phone would ring 20 or 30 times, and then click as the call disconnected. Over and over. Or an operator would put him on hold, which would extend into a deep freeze of 25 minutes or more.
Half the time, the phone would finally be picked up by a harried person who said to call back.
Buddhist calm is required. Meraz doesn't have it. "I can't handle it," he said. "I'm not supposed to be drinking. I had a couple damn Korbels yesterday, it made me so mad."
Finally Oakland declared him 80 percent disabled. He went for care.
Veterans get care through VA hospitals. But there is no VA hospital near Stockton.
Congress approved one in 2004 - a $300 million outpatient clinic and 120-bed Community Living Center to serve 87,000 area veterans.
But Uncle Sam never built it.
Meraz has to drive to Livermore or Palo Alto. Which a 69-year-old guy with Parkinson's is unable to do. His wife, who is 72, has to brave stressful Bay Area traffic.
"I hate it," Avey said. "It's a hardship."
If the appointment is for 9 a.m., they have to rise about 4 a.m. If an appointment takes all day, and they hit commuter traffic on the way back, they may not get home till 7 p.m.
The irony is Meraz lives five blocks from Dameron Hospital.
As bad as it is, though, it is much worse for vets living in the Sierra. They must travel twice as far.
Meraz and his wife both say once they manage to get into a VA hospital, buildings are immaculate, doctors superbly professional, treatments good.
But the system is grossly underfunded and mismanaged. As we now know, misconduct was systemic, too. The bottom line appears to be that Congress, so quick to beat the war drum, is slow to fund care for warriors.
After a decade, VA doctors performed special neurosurgery on Meraz called deep brain stimulation. The surgery was a godsend. It greatly reduced his seismic shaking. Meraz is grateful.
Meanwhile, his teeth rotted. Meraz says he started placing calls two years ago. Unable to get approval, he paid several thousand out of his own pocket. But his money has run out.
He has trouble chewing his food. His off-kilter teeth bite his lip. Other teeth are missing. Meraz expects ultimately to get dental care; and expects it may require 10 trips to Palo Alto.
A decade has passed, and the federal government has not yet built the French Camp VA hospital. In fact, Uncle Sam recently pushed its construction back - again - saying other projects are more important.
Meraz, who served his country, who has a chest full of campaign medals, drives past dentists every day. Just not VA dentists.
"To go to Palo Alto to get a tooth pulled is crazy," he said.
Contact columnist Michael Fitzgerald at (209) 546-8270 or email@example.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/fitzgeraldblog and on Twitter @Stocktonopolis.


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We Have a Forum
February, 10 2007
It was supposed to be my birthday present to all you TFFers, but it was a bit late in being fully baked. Finally it is out of the oven and has cooled enough to be useful.
TFF now has a forum again. And this time it is one written by me and integrated into the site. It does require a separate membership. That is so it isn't limited to just authors, but will offer a way for fans to join in the fun.
You are all invited to join.
Click the Forum link in the left column. If the forum menu there is a Join Forum link. Click it, fill out the form, remember to use the anti-spambot verification number, and send it. We have to approve each member, so it may take a bit, the managers are all volunteers and have real lives to attend to, but we'll get to it ASAP.
Hope to see you soon,


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COLUMBUS, Ohio—The No. 14 Radcliffe heavyweight crew placed second in each of its six races against top out-of-region competition at Saturday's regatta featuring five of the nation's top 19 teams at Ohio State.
The Black and White varsity eight (9-6) hung with its highest-ranked foes in narrow losses to the No. 4 Buckeyes in their morning race and to No. 3 Michigan in the afternoon on the Scioto River at Griggs Reservoir. The order of finish was the same in the two second varsity eight and two varsity four events, as Radcliffe topped No. 19 Clemson in all six races.
The morning and afternoon races were rowed on the same course but in differing conditions. The OSU varsity finished off a morning session characterized by a head wind and moderately choppy water by edging Radcliffe by less than 1.4 seconds, while the Black and White's time of 6:41.89 was seven seconds faster than the Tigers' mark.
Radcliffe finished far ahead of Clemson in its other morning races. The second varsity eight topped the Tigers by more than 11 seconds in 6:58.47, and the four beat them by more than 12 in 7:47.69. Ohio State won each race by about nine seconds.
Following a lunchtime hail storm, a tailwind picked up, along with the speed of the boats, in the afternoon. The Black and White second varsity eight was up first and finished more than 13 seconds ahead of third-place Clemson in 6:36.86. The Radcliffe and Michigan fours raced seat-for-seat down the course, with the Wolverines finally winning by less than two seconds in 7:22.74. The Tigers were another 10 seconds back.
The Wolverines' varsity won the final race by 5.63 seconds. Radcliffe placed second in 6:23.91, about 13 seconds ahead of Clemson.
Back home on the Charles River, the varsity four B and C boats and the third varsity eight defeated boats from the Radcliffe lightweight second varsity and the Boston University and Northeastern heavyweight squads. In both fours races, the Radcliffe heavyweights and lightweights took the first two spots, respectively. The Radcliffe B four won a close race, while the C four topped the field by nearly 40 seconds.
Radcliffe vs. Clemson, at Ohio State
Varsity Eight
Ohio State 6:40.63
Radcliffe 6:41.89
Clemson 6:48.88
Second Varsity Eight
Ohio State 6:49.20
Radcliffe 6:58.47
Clemson 7:10.00
Varsity Four
Ohio State 7:38.47
Radcliffe 7:47.69
Clemson 8:00.23
Radcliffe vs. Clemson, vs. Michigan
Varsity Eight
Michigan 6:18.28
Radcliffe 6:23.91
Clemson 6:36.85
Second Varsity Eight
Michigan 6:28.80
Radcliffe 6:36.86
Clemson 6:46.99
Varsity Four
Michigan 7:20.87
Radcliffe 7:22.74
Clemson 7:28.61
Radcliffe vs. Radcliffe Lightweights, Boston University, Northeastern
Varsity Four B
Radcliffe Heavyweights 8:45.2
Radcliffe Lightweights 8:46.4
Northeastern 9:19.2
Boston University 9:43.7
Third Varsity Eight
Radcliffe 8:12.5
Boston University 8:21.5
Northeastern 8:39.8
Varsity Four C
Radcliffe Heavyweights 9:08.9
Radcliffe Lightweights 9:48.3
Boston University 10:15.6


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WEST NORRITON — Bee-fuddled, bothered and bee-wildered?
Only if you're the type who tends to "prevaricate."
Thankfully, Spring-Ford Intermediate School seventh grader Ashraya Ananthanarayanan did not hedge her bets as she leaned into the microphone and slowly spelled out the word that clinched her title as the champion of the 65th Annual Times Herald Spelling Bee Friday night.
Anxious moments were in no short supply in the Norristown Area High School auditorium as Ashraya went head to head with McKinley Elementary School's David Ghalili in one of the most memorable bee showdowns within memory.
After the two earlier had knocked such conundrums as "braggadocio," "paparazzo," "gesundheit" and "maraschino" out of the park with ease, they battled it out in a final five minutes that kept the crowd constantly guessing as to who would prevail.
Ashraya had correctly spelled "arbitrage," but faltered on "parochialism," which also tripped up David.
Ashraya got another chance but stumbled on "flexuosity," a word David couldn't salvage for himself.
Ultimately, Ashraya handed pronouncer Ken Mont the level of perfection he was seeking by spelling "Bethesda" and then sailing through "prevaricate."
Getting this far was no piece of C-A-K-E, as the 24 other able word enthusiasts from schools throughout Montgomery County clearly demonstrated.
The disappointment in the audience was palpable when many of the crowd favorites fell to some formidable challenges, including third-place winner Anushka Malhotra (Wissahickon Middle School); fourth-place victor Mallika Dinakar (Arcola Intermediate School); fifth prize winner Aviva Schuh (Bala Cynwyd Middle School); Camille Harrison (Springfield Township Middle School); Andy Rutkowski (Cedarbrook Middle School); Owen Hagopian (Glenside Elementary School); Lisa Chemplayil (Murray Avenue Middle School); Anna Ryu (Skyview Upper Elementary); Dylan Hecker (Overlook Elementary School) and Angel Onate (Pottstown Middle School.)
Ashraya's father, Ajay Ananthanarayanan of Collegeville, beamed as he reflected on the many weeks of preparation it took to carry his daughter to the championship.
"It was very interesting the way the last round unfolded," he said. "It was exciting to see her prepare. First, she won at her school and then made it here. I think she definitely did well. It was a tough competition. I think she will do well when she goes to the national spelling bee."
Looking for all the world like a Junior Miss pageant winner in a shimmering gold dress and holding a bouquet of flowers presented by her Spring-Ford teachers, Ashraya seemed thrilled and humbled by her victory.
"I didn't know how to react. First I was thinking, 'oh my goodness, did I actually win?'
It was just awesome," she said, thanking her teachers Barbara Crist and Connie Willauer for their part in her triumph.
With her victory spoils that include The Times Herald cup, a dictionary, certificate, online subscription to Encyclopaedia Brittanica and a cash award of $100, Ashraya is on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 28, on an all-expenses paid trip sponsored by The Times Herald.
Follow Gary Puleo on Twitter @ Mustangman48.


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We already knew that Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung wasn't playing this week because of a case of turf toe.
But his absence might be about seven weeks longer, though that's the good news.
According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN, Okung is likely headed to the injured reserve/designated for return list, after getting what was described as "encouraging news" from foot and ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte.
While it's better than being out for the season, it's still a significant blow for an offense that was struggling a bit anyway.
The Seahawks have played defense such that they don't need a lot of points (and against the Jaguars this week, single digits might be enough), but Okung is not the kind of player easily replaced.


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Indiana communities face threats that jeopardize the safety of our citizens. Better communication tools can help police officers, firefighters and other first responders protect local communities. However, Indiana's public safety agencies are utilizing radio equipment and systems that may not be adequate to contend with threats in today's environment. Public safety system challenges include:
With Project Hoosier SAFE-T, law enforcement, fire, emergency medical and other first responder agencies will be able to:


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The Phils could not avoid being swept by the Braves, as they lose to Atlanta, 6-2.
After losing the first two games of their series with Atlanta, 6-1 and 2-1, the Phils could not avoid being swept by the Braves, as they lose the final game of the series by the score of 6-2.
The Braves took the lead in the first as, with two men out, Jayson Heyward hits a solo home run, his eighteenth home run of the season, giving the Braves a 1-0 lead. The Braves added to their lead three batters later as, with two men on, and with still two men out, Dan Uggla hits an RBI double, knocking in Chipper Jones, who had earlier singled, then moved up to second base on Freddie Freeman's walk, making it a 2-0 Braves' lead, while sending Freeman, who had just walked, on to third base. The Braves then took a 3-0 lead in the third as Jones hits a lead-off home run, his tenth home run of the year. The Phils would get a run back in the fourth as Shane Victorino hits a lead-off home run, his ninth home run of the year, cutting the Braves' lead down to 3-1. The Phils then cut the Braves' lead down to 3-2 in the sixth as, with a man on second, and with two men out, Carlos Ruiz hits an RBI single, knocking in Victorino, who had started the inning off with a single, then stole second base. The Braves increased their lead in the seventh as, with runners on the corners, and with one man out, pinch hitter Tyler Pastomicky, who had started the inning off with a single, then moved up to second base on Michael Bourn's sacrifice bunt, 2-1, then stopped at third base on Martin Prado's single, would score on pitcher Jake Diekman's fielding error of Heyward's grounder back to the mound, giving the Braves a 4-2 lead, while sending Prado, who had just singled, up to second base. Two batters later, after Jones had grounded out, 4-3, for the inning's second out, moving up a base both Prado and Heyward, the Braves took a 6-2 lead as Freeman hits a two-run singled, knocking in both Prado and Heyward. That would end up being the final score as Cristhian Martinez pitched a scoreless ninth.
Roy Halladay (4-6, 4.33) took the lost as he pitched six innings, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out seven. Jake Diekman pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up three unearned runs on three hits. Kyle Kendrick pitched a third of an inning, giving up two walks. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a walk, while striking out two. Tim Hudson (10-4, 3.68) gets the win as he went five and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs on seven hits, while striking out five. Jonny Venters pitched to one batter, giving up a hit. Chad Durbin collected his tenth hold of the season as he pitched one and one-third scoreless innings, striking out a batter. Eric O'Flaherty pitched a 1-2-3 inning, striking out a batter. Cristhian Martinez pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit.
The Phils had nine hits in the game, with Shane Victorino (2 Singles, Home Run, RBI) leading the team with three hits, followed by Kevin Frandsen (Singles) and pinch hitter Hunter Pence (Singles), with two hits each. Carlos Ruiz (RBI) and Juan Pierre had the other two Phils' hits, both singles. The Phils also had a stolen base in the game (Victorino (24)).
The Phils (45-57, 5th) have the day off.


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"My Dyslexia"
Philip Schultz
W.W. Norton, $21.95
I have read one scene in "My Dyslexia" over and over. Each time I read it, the writing is clearer, and the pain I feel when reading the words is more palpable: "I remember the first time I even considered the idea of being a writer. I was in the fifth grade when my reading tutor . . . asked me out of the blue what I thought I might like to do with my life. Without a moment's hesitation, I answered that I wanted to be a writer."
This answer provoked uncontrolled laughter on the part of the tutor, a former school superintendent, who thought it was hilarious that an 11-year-old boy who could not read wanted to be a writer. Although we feel the boy's pain at the presumed humiliation when he was laughed at, Philip Schultz claims he was not offended or hurt by his teacher's laughter because he himself totally understood the irony. Writing and reading are woven into one pattern. If you can't read you can't be a writer.
I keep imagining that the same teacher is still laughing at the same irony. His student has totally lived out the incongruity between what might be expected and what really happened. The boy who could not read has won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry.
For many years, Mr. Schultz did not have a label for his problems. He knew he was different from most of the other children in his class, and he fought his mockers and was disciplined, even expelled from school. He describes in spare detail how he was bullied and ridiculed because he was in the "dummy" part of the class, but "I didn't discover I had dyslexia until I was fifty-eight years old, when my oldest son was diagnosed with it in the second grade. I learned from his neuropsychologist's report that we shared many of the same symptoms, like delayed processing problems, terrible handwriting, misnaming items, low frustration tolerance for reading and most homework assignments involving writing, to name a few."
The accumulated knowledge about dyslexia, including the diagnostic tools developed in the past few decades, has come about to the benefit of Mr. Schultz's son and many others, but the author, with little help in the days when he was a boy, had to understand the tricks his mind played on his own.
"Every decision or idea attracts a horde of fierce self-commentaries which automatically refer to a vast switchboard of do's and don'ts." Even now, after all these years and experiences, Mr. Schultz admits he still has difficulty sitting down to read unless he tricks his mind with some distraction like online solitaire before beginning. "And when I make the mistake of becoming aware that I am reading, and behaving in a way that enables this mysterious, electrically charged process to take place, my mind balks and goes blank and I become anxious and stop."
Developing a sense of self-worth is an important struggle for a child with dyslexia because dyslexics may be subjected to mockery and ridicule. The need for self-worth is not limited to children with dyslexia, however. Achieving a sense of it may be the central struggle for almost everyone. But individuals with dyslexia face additional hurdles. It is difficult to separate the idea that "there is something different about the way my brain processes information" from the idea that "there is something wrong with me."
Despite this, the author observed, "Even when the entire world seemed to be ganging up on me, some persisting sense of myself argued on my behalf." The ability to receive and process the arguments about self-worth being made on behalf of a person with dyslexia must vary greatly from individual to individual.
As I worked on this review, I became aware of why I was so interested in the passage about the reading tutor who laughed when the young Philip Schultz said he wanted to be a writer. Through my childhood and teen years, I had a speech impediment. I stuttered. Not all the time, but sometimes when faced with important moments.
After the point I had publicly declared my intention to enter the ministry, a profession that required a great deal of public speaking, there was an assignment to make a presentation in English lit class, but when I stood in front of my classmates to deliver my prepared words, I could not get the first sound out of my mouth. No matter how I tried to form the first word, it would not release. I shuffled, turned in a circle hoping I could unwind what had struck me dumb, opened my mouth, closed it. Then tried again, formed the sound with my lips, but that first word, all words, in fact, were locked up safely and would not escape on that occasion.
My classmates were laughing hysterically. It did not help when the teacher tried to explain, to cover for me: "Don't you know what he was doing? He was miming." I'm sure other people have had humiliating experiences that attacked their own sense of self-worth. My experience was an isolated incident, not a daily, lifelong struggle such as faces the person who lives with dyslexia throughout his childhood and youth.
Many of us know the flavor of taunting, ridicule, and bullying. "My Dyslexia" provides a sweet taste of success in how to overcome it. No matter how difficult it is to maintain the internal dialogue about self-worth, the effort is worth it. We are in the debt of Mr. Schultz, who has shared his experiences and thereby encouraged us all to persist and believe in ourselves. We should try for what we want most and try with all our hearts.
Philip Schultz's collections of poems include "Failure" and "The God of Loneliness." He lives in East Hampton.
Gary Reiswig is the author or "The Thousand Mile Stare: One Family's Journey Through the Struggle and Science of Alzheimer's." He lives in Springs.


text: Hung out the last 2 nights here in Corvallis, OR. Had Gusts up to 40 MPH with medium-heavy rain. I stayed nice and dry under my MacCat Ultra with pole mod. I had the warbonnet superfly (with doors) set up first, but even with the side tieouts the tarp was whipping around, and I was afraid one of the guyouts might break off in a gust. Not so with the MacCat. The slimmer wind profile, generous cat cuts, extra side tieout and pole made all the difference! This thing was rock solid. This will be my go to tarp when high winds are in the forecast.


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Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame, where graduates come with gridiron fame. The Fighting Irish are in the national collegiate championship football game Monday with a 100 percent Graduation Success Rate for their African-American players, tied for first with Rice University. Among the 70 teams in this season's bowl games, Notre Dame also tied with Northwestern for a 97 percent overall graduation rate.
But cheer not just for Notre Dame. Fifty-six teams, a record 80 percent, scored either a "Touchdown" or a "First Down" in my 17th annual Graduation Gap Bowl. Touchdowns are scored by teams with graduation rates of at least 50 percent for black and white players, and with racial gaps of less than 15 percentage points. Notre Dame's opponent, Alabama, earned First Down honors with very good graduation rates, but too big of a gap between black and white players to make my end zone of education.
Alabama, to its credit, saw its black grad rate rise from 38 percent six seasons ago to 68 this season. That symbolizes the general upward shift in graduation rates even from schools which specialized in making a mockery of the "student-athlete" model. Five schools which I would have disqualified from bowl games two seasons ago for having black or white player graduation rates under 50 percent, have now earned the ranks of "First Down" — Fresno State, North Carolina State, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M.
The upward shift, surely a result of public pressure for universities to provide an education in exchange for the billions of dollars the athletes generate, was felt all the way to the top. A record 21 schools had black player graduation rates of 70 percent or more.
Two seasons ago, only four of the nation's 25 top-ranked were Touchdown teams in the Gap Bowl. This year, the number doubled to eight, making it the first time in the Graduation Gap Bowl that top-ranked Touchdown teams outnumbered top-ranked Disqualified teams. Cheer, cheer not just for old Notre Dame, but for the dawn of a top 25 that scores a Touchdown even before teams take the field.Derrick Z. Jackson can be reached at email@example.com.


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Did you read today's front page stories & breaking news?
From the Wires
Residential Finance Corp. Wins Inc. Magazine's Hire Power Award
Mortgage lender ranks number five in Ohio for jobs created.
By: PR Newswire
Dec. 7, 2012 10:41 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Residential Finance Corp. (RFC), a nationwide mortgage lender, is featured in the inaugural ranking of Inc. Magazine's Hire Power Awards list of 100 U.S. businesses that have generated the most jobs in the past three years. Inc. Magazine dubs those on its list "the real heroes of the American economy."
The growth within Residential Finance in the past three years puts it number five in the state of Ohio. From 2008 to 2011, the company grew its employee base in Ohio from 185 to 321, an increase of 74 percent.
"The Hire Power Award is a testament to how highly we value our employees and their dedication to putting our clients first," said Michael Isaacs, president of Residential Finance. "At Residential Finance, we are as passionate about creating a positive, growth-oriented culture as we are about providing exceptional service. That commitment to both employees and clients is driving our expansion."
Inc.'s Hire Power Awards rank small and mid-sized private businesses by the number of new jobs they generated from 2008 to 2011. In total, the top 100 companies on the list generated more than 73,000 American jobs during the three-year period.
Residential Finance has also ranked on Inc. Magazine's prestigious Inc. 500/5000 list of the country's fastest-growing companies for the past four years. "Being recognized for both the Hire Power and the Inc. 500/5000 awards in 2012 reflects the substantial growth RFC is experiencing in all areas," Isaacs said.
The Hire Power Awards were created by Inc. Magazine as a way to honor job creators who rebuild the economy by putting Americans back to work.
About Residential Finance Corp. (RFC)
Founded in 1997, Residential Finance Corporation (www.ResidentialFinance.com), offers homeowners and homebuyers nationwide a wide range of home mortgage loan options, including special lower-rate government-insured FHA and VA loans, residential mortgage loans, jumbo mortgage loans, and reverse mortgages. RFC's highly-trained staff delivers mortgage expertise and customer service excellence, winning the company many awards, including Columbus Business First Corporate Caring Award, Columbus Business Journal Best Place to Work, Florida Trends Best Company in Florida, American Business Award Sales Department of the Year, Inc Magazine INC5000 Fastest Growing Company, and American Society of Training and Development Excellence in Practice. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, RFC has branches throughout the country, and is seeking loan officers and branch managers to join their network of branches. For more information about these positions, please visit MyRFCCareers.com or email firstname.lastname@example.com. NMLS#1652. Equal Housing Lender. Equal Opportunity Employer.
Press Contact
Mary McGarity
SOURCE Residential Finance Corp.
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Names & Faces
Updated 1:51 am, Friday, December 7, 2012
Don Larsen
The uniform the Yankees right-hander was wearing when he pitched the only perfect game in World Series history has sold for $756,000. Larsen achieved perfection in Game 5 of the 1956 Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The pinstriped uniform with No. 18 on the back received 22 bids in an online auction on Steinersports.com. The winning bidder was Pete Siegel, CEO of GottaHaveIt.com. His company has been building a collection of Yankees memorabilia. The price includes a 20 percent buyer's fee above the final bid of $630,000. Larsen said the auction would pay for his grandchildren's education.
Chad Greenway
The Vikings linebacker said the crowd needs to be rowdy on Sunday when the Bears visit, but his advice to fans might not be the best public-service announcement. "We have to play accordingly and our fans have to show up accordingly, which we know they will," he told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "Hopefully, they're super-duper drunk. ... So drink liquor, not beer." Greenway got specific about drinking instructions. "Yeah, I would say morning drinking. Why not? You could pull an all-nighter. Then you'd have the drunk, tired guys who will really be obnoxious."


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Longmont's outlaw garden is now legit.
On Monday, Dan Nelson's garden at the corner of Main Street and Quail Road got a city permit, allowing it to stay through Halloween. Nelson had put in the flowers, plants and raised beds after cleaning weeds and flood debris from the corner, learning later that he needed a permit to plant on city-owned land.
City officials told Nelson on Wednesday that he would have to dismantle the garden, before relenting the next day and helping him through the process he should have followed.
Nelson's sister, Sarah Nelson Carroll, said numerous passersby have cheered her brother on and even offered seeds or money to continue the work if necessary.
"It's been amazing," she said. "Just small things can make a big difference."
Carroll worked with Charles Kamenides, the city's parks maintenance and sanitation operations manager, to secure the permit. She emphasized last week that she wants her brother's experience to inspire others to work with the city first instead of after the fact.
According to the permit, the garden cannot grow above three feet tall — to keep from blocking the view for traffic — and Nelson cannot use harmful chemicals to maintain it. Nelson and his sister have also agreed not to add any more plantings to the corner.
The garden must be removed after Oct. 31.
Carroll said she was told that city officials want to put in a community garden near the Longmont Recreation Center, just down the road from the contested corner, but that the dream is still very long-term.
"There isn't the money for it," she said. "But if there's people like Dan who say 'Hey, I can donate,' maybe it could speed things up a little."
Contact Times-Call staff writer Scott Rochat at 303-684-5220 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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Oct. 22, 2003
Box Score| What's Up With Women's Soccer On The Road
FAIRFAX, Va. - Coming off a pair of tough 1-0 losses, Maryland came out with heart and fury as they posted a 2-0 victory over regional rival George Mason on a chilly and windy Wednesday night. Freshman Ashly Kennedy (Edgewater, Md.) scored her first career goal and sophomore Mallory Mahar (Medina, Ohio) scored her fourth header goal in seven games. Sophomore Kimmy Francis (Richboro, Pa.) set up both goals with corner kick assists.
The Terps (8-6-1 overall) put the pressure on early and often as they mounted a furious attack all night long. Maryland prevented Mason from having a possession in their offensive end of the field for the first 20 minutes of the game while piling up the first seven shots of the game. The Patriots (7-5-3 overall) did not get a shot off until 18 minutes were left in the first half.
Maryland took a 1-0 lead as the freshman sensation Kennedy scored her first career goal just 6:20 into the match. Kennedy banged in a corner kick from Francis, which was tapped over to Kennedy from Audra Poulin (Silver Spring, Md.) to open the scoring.
The goal marked the seventh time this season, the Terps scored within the first 11 minutes of the game. Maryland has scored the first goal on nine occasions this season - going 7-1-1 in those games after the win at Mason.
Mason had their best chance of the game as Amy Alecci sent a shot off the left goalpost with just under 20 minutes left in regulation.
The Terps responded to Mason's scoring chance with a goal of their own as Mahar headed in a corner from Francis with 18:23 left in regulation. For Mahar, the goal was her fourth of the year - all on headers -- and gives Francis six assists on the season. Francis now has 14 career assists tying her Kelly Amonte for eighth all-time at Maryland. Eight of Francis' helpers have been off corner kicks.
Mahar has scored all nine of her career goals on headers over her two seasons.
In goal, senior Kristen Barnhill (Charlottesville, Va.) made two saves to post her sixth career solo shutout and third this season. Mason's Sarah Coughlin was busy much of the night as she made eight saves in the defeat.
In the all-time series, Maryland remains undefeated in the last nine regular-season games going 8-0-1 since 1995. In those nine games, the Terps have outscored Mason 22-3.
Maryland returns to the friendly confines of Ludwig Field this Saturday night as they host No. 16 Wake Forest (9-4-3, 0-3-2) at 7 p.m. The Terps have just three games remaining this season as they travel to Duke on Oct. 31 and host Navy to close the season on Senior Night on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.


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FOX RIVER GROVE – A lottery subscriber matched all five numbers Friday and won $162,500 in the Lucky Day Lotto game, according to a news release.
Michael Egan has lived in Fox River Grove for 10 years. He started his lottery subscription in August.
Since Egan started the subscription, he has received regular emails saying he won $1 in the previous night's drawing.
People can win small amounts of money for matching two or more numbers.
Egan, who works as a software consultant, said he received an email notifying him he won in the Friday drawing, but it was different: It asked for additional information.
"I was in shock, and my wife almost fainted," Egan said. "I went to the Illinois Lottery website to double-check the winning numbers."
Egan's winning numbers were 5, 11, 18, 27 and 28. He used family birthdays when picking the numbers, he said.
With a lottery subscription, the numbers played stay the same during the duration of the subscription, said Micaela Small, Illinois Lottery spokeswoman.
"Not too many people know about it, but for some people, it's very convenient," Small said. "One of the great features is if you win, the lottery emails you to let you know."
Egan said he plans to pay off debts and may take a trip to Hawaii with his wife, Karen. They have two sons.
"Karen has been an oncology nurse for 30 years, and she could use a vacation," Egan said.


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- ATP World Tour Finals
Djokovic sails past Berdych into semis
Novak Djokovic joined Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals with a straight-sets victory over Tomas Berdych.
The world No. 1 fended off a spirited fightback by Berdych to seal a 6-2 7-6(6) victory at London's O2 Arena.
Having already beaten Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray in his opening two round-robin matches, Djokovic could afford to lose and, providing he won a set, still progress.
However, Djokovic refused to take his foot off the gas, and after powering through the opening set to secure his place in the last four, he held firm to deny a valiant comeback from Berdych, who battled back from a break down to force a second-set tiebreak.
Berdych, who had kept his hopes of qualification alive with victory over Tsonga on Wednesday, soon found himself in trouble after a cross-court forehand from Djokovic handed the Serb three break points.
Three big serves saw the Czech dig himself out of a hole, but he was soon under pressure once again and, when his forehand sailed long, Djokovic grabbed an early break before streaking to a 5-1 lead.
Berdych stopped the rot to force the top seed to serve out the set, but the Serb was in no mood to hang around as he wrapped up the opener inside 33 minutes. With his place in the semi-finals secure, Djokovic tightened his grip with an early break in the second set - a blistering forehand return leaving the world No. 6 rooted to the baseline.
Just as he looked to be firmly on course for victory, Djokovic inexplicably appeared to take his foot off the gas, and allowed his opponent to break back. Berdych, whose first serve had looked shaky in the opening set, was more assured in the second, his accuracy improving from 48 per cent to 60.
But Berdych had only beaten Djokovic once in 11 previous meetings, and despite racing to a 5-1 lead in the tiebreak, he showed signs of hesitation as he allowed Djokovic back in, and the Serb needed no second invitation as he wrapped up the victory in an hour and 37 minutes.
Djokovic finished top of Group A ahead of Murray, who defeated Tsonga in straight sets to join the Serb in the last four.


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Along with the immediate causes - disability, addiction, inadequate income, exorbitant housing costs, foreclosure, domestic abuse - government policies at all levels contribute to homelessness among mothers and children.
Three years ago Daphna Browne [a pseudonym] was living in the Bronx with her then-10-year-old daughter. Life was difficult. Browne was on Social Security Disability because of severe depression and an anxiety disorder; still, if she was thrifty, she could pay her $650 monthly rent and support herself and her child.
Her life began to unravel, she says, when her landlord told her that she had to leave the one-family house she'd called home for more than two years. The reason? He didn't need one. Under New York state law, tenants in buildings with fewer than six units can be evicted whenever an owner decides that he or she wants them out.
Browne tells me that she was aghast when she received legal papers directing her to move - after all, she had always paid her rent on time - so she immediately headed to Housing Court to contest the order. Although the judge gave her 60 days to find a new place to live, she and her daughter ended up in a shelter for homeless families when her search failed to turn up anything affordable. "I receive $1600 a month from Disability," Browne says. "I've filled out many, many applications for subsidized housing, but so far, nothing. All these applications have gone nowhere. Meanwhile the staff in the shelter wants me to take an apartment for $1100 a month. How are two people gonna live on $500 a month for food, metro cards, utilities, clothing, a phone and personal items? Believe me, me and my daughter want out of the shelter. People there make problems." Browne suddenly stops speaking, then shakes her head furiously, before rattling off a list of indignities, from security guards who are verbally abusive to constant antagonism and fighting between residents. "It's not a healthy environment for a 13-year-old to grow up in and it's bad for me, too," she concludes.
Twenty-four-year-old Lissette Vega [also a pseudonym] and her 11-month-old son have lived in the same building as Browne for 14 months. "I became homeless when I left my baby's father," she says. "He'd been hitting me for a while, but it was getting worse. When I was six months pregnant, I realized I had to protect my child from him." Although Vega works part-time, she says that her $9- an-hour salary is not enough for her to rent an apartment. Like virtually everyone in Brooklyn's Auburn residence, she hopes to someday become eligible for a subsidized unit.
Browne and Vega are just two of the more than 3.5 million Americans - 41 percent of them families with young children - who the National Coalition for the Homeless estimates are without permanent domicile. Of course, the reasons people become homeless vary, but well-known culprits include disability, addiction, inadequate income, exorbitant housing costs and foreclosure. Women, however, face an additional causal factor: domestic abuse.
Let's look at costs first. The US Census reports that the national median rent in 2009 was $842 a month for a two-bedroom apartment. Despite regional differences - the census names North Dakota as least expensive, with a median rent of $564, and Hawaii as the most costly, $1293 - housing everywhere is pricey. What's more, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) reports that more than 10,000 units of public housing are lost to demolition or sale each year - 165,000 government-sponsored apartments disappeared between 1995 and 2010 - causing what they call "a silent crisis impacting the housing stability of America's lowest income residents."
Now let's turn to domestic violence. The National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that 28 percent of the families that entered the shelter system in 2008 did so to escape battering. In addition, the coalition reports that 63 percent of homeless women have experienced abuse at some point in their lives. Not surprisingly, they carry the scars of mistreatment - anger, insecurity, isolation and low self-esteem, among them - wherever they go, whether the shelter or the workplace.
And the problems, of course, go beyond the psychological. According to Rita Smith, executive director of the Denver-based National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), when poverty, homelessness and domestic abuse intersect, glaring gaps in social service delivery become evident. "Many communities are downsizing municipal programs for the homeless and for domestic violence survivors. Social services have been dramatically impacted. No program can say that it never turns anyone away anymore," she begins. The people who are most at risk, she adds, are losing access to the support services that would have helped to keep them safe. "When they cut the court system, for example, a woman may have to wait several days to file for a restraining order," she continues. "This puts her in greater danger. Likewise, when a police force is reduced, it increases the response time, so when a woman calls 911, it may take the police longer to arrive. When a shelter is full, a woman may turn around and go back to an abusive partner rather than sleep on the street." What most infuriates her, she says, is that in some places shelters have been forced to reduce their staffs, so even though they may have 60 beds, they can only accommodate 30 to 40 women, because they don't have enough workers to feed, counsel and clean up after a larger group.
Barbara Anderson runs Haven House, a shelter in Jeffersonville, Indiana that serves a largely rural population. "We started providing services in 1996 and now shelter between 60 and 90 people a night," she says. "Forty-four percent of our residents are women, most of whom became homeless following a death, a divorce, or domestic violence. By the time they get to us, they're stripped of any belief in themselves, whether due to episodic or chronic depression or because of abuse."
Anderson's pride in running the program is audible, and she quickly points out that Haven House allows people to stay as long as they need shelter. "It doesn't make sense to force someone to leave a program after 30 days, but that's common policy in many places," she continues. "All homeless people face problems, but from what I've seen it's always worse for women. It's brutal on the streets. If you think you have a glass ceiling on a job, you should see what homeless women bump up against. The worst part is that women carry their experience with them forever." Anderson reports that when she runs into former residents - even if it has been 12 or 15 years since they've been in the shelter - the encounters typically end tearfully. "Seeing me," she says, "reminds the woman that somewhere along the way a promise was broken, somewhere along the way there was a breakdown of what should have happened."
And politics? Is either party interested in assisting those made homeless by domestic abuse? Are the presidential contenders discussing the need to build affordable housing? And what about concrete efforts to stem relationship violence?
Although the short answer is "no," Rita Smith of the National Task Force Against Domestic Violence credits the Obama administration for launching programs to address violence and sexual assault on college campuses and appointing a White House advisor on violence against women. "The administration has begun to talk about strategies to address the issues," she says. "The '1is2many' ad campaign on ESPN is important, since it shows that the White House is willing to come out and say that there is nothing manly about beating women and kids." Nonetheless, Smith concedes that budget shortfalls and reduced services can only be reversed by an infusion of funds, something that neither Democrats nor Republicans are currently promising or even suggesting, leaving one of the most vulnerable populations without recourse or resources.
Perusing the RNC and DNC platforms makes this gap clear. Predictably, the RNC pledges only to restore "a wise and frugal government" and create "a culture of hope, raising families beyond poverty." Combating homelessness, indigence and relationship violence get nary a mention, although prohibiting Internet gambling is listed as a priority.
For what it's worth, the DNC platform recognizes that "Fifteen percent of our fellow citizens live in poverty and one in five families struggles with food insecurity. Many of these families work but are unable to pay the bills. We must make ending poverty a national priority." While short on specifics, the 40-page document gives an affirmative nod to expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit/Child Tax Credit, raising the minimum wage and ensuring that men and women are paid the same amount for work of equal value, steps that would surely help the working poor pay their rent. The platform also addresses foreclosure - but not the building of public housing or the imposition of rent controls - and vows to help homeowners refinance their mortgages. It further promises to reauthorize and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act.
Such assurances are small comfort to Daphna Browne and her daughter Janelle. "I just want to live decent," she says, her lilting West Indian accent still audible after 27 years in the US. "I worked until I got sick, taking care of people as a health aide and I am not asking for very much. I want a kitchen where I can cook healthy food and not have to eat prepared meals that are sometimes too salty, sometimes too sweet and sometimes too watery. I want a place where I'm not treated like dirt and where I don't need to be afraid that someone is gonna get up in my face for no reason. I don't understand why there is insufficient housing for disabled people on fixed incomes. I don't understand why I've been homeless for so long."