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Another round of comics reviews from Punchy, including an incendiary issue of Daredevil, the final instalment of Spider-Men, some more DC Zero Issues and the return of Greg Rucka's Stumptown. Remember to click the links to head to individual forum discussion threads!
Venom #25– Cullen Bunn wraps up his first arc on Venom, and it was once again very very good. Flash defeats Daimon Hellstrom and the Monsters Of Evil, but the story is not over, and what's coming up looks hella exciting. Get it, hella? Like Hell? Because this arc was about Hell! Come on! Anyways, yeah, the plotline Bunn sets up here, with there about to be a battle between Demons for the true throne of Hell is interesting and it provides a very good explanation for why Hellstrom turned evil and a good motivation for him going forward. Let's just hope it turns out better than that mini-series DC did about Hell, that was a mess. Elsewhere… the relationship between Flash and Katy Kiernan is developing nicely, and I felt like this was the issue that Bunn really nailed Flash's character and inner turmoil as well as Remender had, with him desperately trying to find a happy memory and the stuff with his dad. That's the core of this book really, how fucked up Flash is, so it was good to see that Bunn has a handle on that in amongst all of the demons and stuff. So it looks like the story up next is a crossover with Scarlet Spider, has that book been any good? It's pretty much the only Spider-related title I don't read. But hey, any story with Venom and Carnage in it has to be good, right?
Mighty Thor #20– So I guess Loki is evil again right? Or is he? I honestly don't know, at times it seemed like he was genuinely back to his old ways, but then at others it looked like being a triple-cross. Once again, you can blame all of this confusion on me not reading JiM. But apart from that, this continues to be epic Thor storytelling at it's best, helped by fantastic artwork from Alan Davis, who is doing some of the best work of his career here I think. Seriously, this is JLA: The Nail level good. One of the things I liked best was how he drew Loki's face differently when he was being 'evil', he didn't look like a kid in those panels, but like his old self. I also continue to like how Fraction is using Volstagg not as a joke, which is refreshing. What was that thing at the end? A Hel-Wolf? Never heard of it before.
Daredevil #18– Another truly fantastic issue of Daredevil, this book really has been excellent since #1, and this new storyline may very well be the best yet as Waid gets even darker. The best thing about this book is the contrast between the lightness and the darkness, and this issue had that, with the introduction of a new, interesting case that has me scratching my head, and some very exciting action scenes with DD taking on the mob. But it was also really dark, super-dark, because of the return of Matt Murdock's ex-wife, Milla Donovan. When last we saw her she had been driven insane by Mister Fear, and Matt was forbidden from even visiting her. I, like a lot of lot readers, assumed she'd been forgotten about, but no! Matt returns home from a date with Kirsten to find her in his house, with no memory of anything bad happening to her. A real WTF moment, and it only gets worse, as Matt gets Foggy to go to the Asylum to see how she escaped, only for Foggy to find that… she's still there, and catatonic! What is going on? Has Matt gone even crazier? Or is he being manipulated by someone? (Probably the creepy looking dude on the cover to #19) I just don't know. It's great of Waid to bring back Milla, and exciting to see him trying to have his cake and eat it too. The dark days haven't been dropped, but the contrast between the lighter tone has only made them more interesting. Chris Samnee's artwork was brilliant as well, he works very well with Waid, and really, this is just one of the best books out there, there can be no argument.
Avengers #30– This was a strange one, as it wasn't really an AvX tie-in at all, sure, it took place during the event, but it was pretty much just Hawkeye and Spider-Woman having relationship troubles whilst fighting Mister Negative and his goons. This was Bendis at his most talkative, and whilst there were some cool little bits of dialogue here, it was mostly pretty dull. I guess I don't care about Hawkeye and Spider-Woman's relationship. The most interesting thing was probably at the end when Madame Hydra's involvement in the story was revealed, how she manipulated Spider-Woman. I wonder where that plotline will unfold? In Bendis' last few issues? Walt Simonson's art was good, but really, this was one of Bendis' more forgettable issues.
Avengers Academy #37– The last chapter of 'Final Exam' is here, and wow, that was a blockbuster finish, Gage always finds a way to surprise you. I want to skip most of the issue which was just a fight, and get to the end where Finesse just leaves Jeremy Briggs to die. What a fantastic, dark moment. It's not what you expect from Avengers or heroes in general, but as Finesse herself says, they weren't chosen to be in Avengers Academy because they were the most heroic, it's because they were at risk of becoming villains. Finesse's actions here were shocking, and I can't wait to see if there's any reaction to it, wither in this title's last 2 issues or Avengers Arena (and I think this issue demonstrated that some of these characters are actually pretty well-suited to a Battle Royale-type situation). I mean, not only did Finesse kill Jeremy, but she let X-23 think she did it, only adding to her guilt, and on top of that, the rest of the team didn't seem that bothered about it. It's going to be strange going from this to a game of Flag Football next issue, but that's one of the best things about this book, it can go from one extreme to another and have it all fit together.
Dark Avengers #181– The story gets a little clearer with this issue, as we find out that Wender is a twin, and that the plan FACT had was to steal Sharzhad's forcefield and use it to reinforce the prison, which is a pretty good scheme really. Of course, it's all going wrong and it's going to lead to the post-apocalyptic future the Thunderbolts are stuck in, but what are you gonna do? Parker once again juggles his two different timelines expertly, and things are really coming to a head now in both eras. The best scenes in this issue were Mach V being a total bad-ass for the first time in ages, and confirmation of the return of the Juggernaut. I wonder how powerful Cain Marko is right now? He was stripped of the Cytorrak Power, but isn't he still a mutant? I dunno. There's a lot going on (maybe too much) in this title right now, but it's exciting, and I can't wait to see how everything lands after the inevitable explosion. I'm also interested to see how this all leads into Way's new book with Rulk and Venom and all them.
X-Factor #244– This issue of Breaking Points was a bit more connected to the whole than the previous ones, as the events of last issue (Polaris going ker-razy) were addressed and solved. So Polaris' mind is saved, but it's not without cost, as Siryn sacrifices herself to become the new Morrigan, which is… strange. I did like the opening scene where she was talking to her dad in the mirror, unsure whether he was real or not, but the strength of that scene was undone very quickly when it was revealed that Banshee's appearance was due to the Morrigan. I still don't have a clear picture of where PAD is going with this, but this was a good issue, Kirk's art was great, but where is this all leaving? I hope #245 ties everything together, this arc, more than most, needs a strong ending so it doesn't seem like random terrible events all happening at once.
Spider-Men #5(of 5)– One of the best comics of 2012 (and I really do mean that) comes to an end, and what a great end. Miles and Peter take down Mysterio fairly easily in the end, although I did like that it was Miles who beat him in the end, chasing him into the 616 Universe. In the end, the two Spideys part ways in touching circumstances, with Peter giving Miles plenty of sage (and funny) advice, such as don't let yourself get cloned or let your Aunt marry Doctor Octopus. I wonder what Peter's most important lesson was though? I guess it works better if we never found out, keep it open for a potential sequel! Speaking of sequels, the final page of this issue was a fantastic teaser, as Peter googles to see if there is a Miles Morales in his universe, and all we get is an 'Oh My God'. What did he see? I'm on tenterhooks. My only real complaint about this issue was that we didn't get to see a meeting between Peter and Ultimate Mary Jane, but that's a small thing, apart from that, this was just brilliant, and put rest my fears about a 616/Ultimate Crossover. It worked really well, and was in no way a sign that Marvel have run out of ideas, because this was a good comic in every way. Pichelli's art was brilliant once again, I can't wait to see her return to the main book. This was a superb celebration of the world's best superhero in his 50th year, and will probably go down as one of my favourite Spider-Man stories. High praise indeed, but I just loved this.
Ultimate Spider-Man #15– We get a double dose of Miles Morales this week, as his tenuous tie-in to United We Stand continues. This was a talky issue, but unlike this week's Avengers, this was good talky, as there were some fantastic scenes. Miles and Ganke's back-and-forth was hilarious once again, I just love their relationship, it was great to see them messing about with the web-shooters. The other standout scene was when a Police Officer came to Miles' house to question him about Uncle Aaron's death. Not only was this Ultimate Maria Hill (All 3 Maria Hill fans celebrate!), but it was a very intense scene, does she know he's Spider-Man? How deep do her suspicions go? But in the end, it all works out pretty well, as Miles is exonerated, in his head at least, for the killing of Uncle Aaron. The end of the issue has Miles head to the Triskelion in an attempt to join The Ultimates. Bendis was seemingly heading towards Peter joining the team before he died, so I'm very excited to see where this is going. Even in an issue with not much action, this book is fantastic.
The Ultimates #15– Even though the 'Captain America becomes President' plotline had been spoiled for me by the Mainstream Media, this was still a pretty crazy issue, and the ending was damn cool. The opening scene of this issue, a news report, was actually very helpful exposition, as it explained just what is going on all across America and which areas are most fucked. It was also good to see Cap liaise with Nick Fury here and link things up with X-Men, because up until now, this hasn't seemed like a unified event at all, each Ultimate book has been off doing it's own thing, but now it all sort of makes sense. The story with Morez continues to intrigue, now he's stirring things up with Hydra, which is promising. I really enjoyed the action scenes in this issue once again. There have been some pretty big problems in Sam Humphries' run so far, but he and his artists have pretty much always nailed the action stuff, every character got something to do, and it was all very well-told. Seeing Cap do so many bad-ass things made it plausible enough that he'd be voted President. I'm a bit conflicted about this storyline really, it sounds dumb, but it could be cool. Let's just hope it lasts longer than when Iron Man was Secretary Of Defence. It's also cool that we only have to wait a week for the next instalment, roll on #16 for the inauguration! Oh yeah, and Tony and his magic tumor are still brilliantly weird, so strange.
Supergirl #0– Most of this issue was pretty much the standard Supergirl origin, Krypton is about to be destroyed, so Zor-El follows his brother's lead and sends his daughter off into space to save her. We've seen it all before a billion times. But Green and Johnson managed to find some new wrinkles to this story, including one really amazing WTF moment that is messing with my brain. But more on that later. I liked how this book handled the relationship between Jor-El and Zor-El, with them not speaking to each other. The weird politics of Krypton have always been interesting to me, and this played into that, with Zor-El pushing the boundaries of what is considered right. Was the fact that Zor-El created the Worldbreakers something we already knew or is it a new detail? Either way, it was cool to see one of them in the background. This issue also answered the mystery of 'who shot Zor-El', as we find out that it is Alura, his wife. But how did she get there? This is the WTF I mentioned earlier, she is warned of what Zor is planning by… Superboy. How the hell did this happen? Has Superboy time-travelled? Or is this not Superboy at all? Is it a clone? My mind hurts with this little scene, and it really does elevate this issue above just another origin story. What does it all mean? I wonder if he'll show up in next week's Superman #0? The art from Asrar was very good, his depiction of Krypton was very strong once again, this book continues to be solid, and if the writers can make this Superboy appearance make sense, it could be reaching for the next level.
Wonder Woman #0– Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang take us back to Diana Of Themyscira's childhood for what is now my favourite zero issue so far. This issue is a great amalgamation of Silver-Age tribute and what Azz has turned Wonder Woman into. So whilst the artwork was bright and the third person narration lovely and old-school, the events of this issue still feel like an important part of the ongoing story. This was not just an exercise in nostalgia. The main plot involves Diana, who feels ostracised from the rest of the Amazons because of her supposedly being made of clay (which we know now is not true), learning to be a warrior under the tutelage of War. The story culminates with her really demonstrating the core of Wonder Woman's character, she is a warrior, but she shows mercy, she does not kill for the sake of it. Her sparing of the Minotaur was a very strong moment. Chiang's artwork was once again superb, he really makes this title work and gives it a unique feel. This was a nice little break from the epic scale of the ongoing story, and I'm still amazed that not only does Azz have me caring about Wonder Woman, but has me interested in her teenage years! Roll on Year Two of this excellent title, and roll on THE NEW GODS!
Blue Beetle #0– In the recent JLI Annual, Blue Beetle was shot into space by OMAC, and this Zero Issue picks up where that left off, with the Scarab giving Jaime a history lesson whilst they're floating about in space. We see the Scarab's first attempt at taking over someone, and how it inadvertently led to the creation of Lady Styx, who is a villain I remember fondly from 52. I was surprised to see that show up here, but I bet it's leading up to Bedard using the character in either this title of GL: New Guardians. We then see the Scarab crashing down to Earth, where he bonds with a Mayan Priest and basically becomes Quetzlcoatl. I'm a big fan of 'secret history' type stories where myths and legends from our world are revealed to have a superhero-related reasoning behind them, so this really worked for me. I was a bit bummed out to see that there is no Dan Garrett or Ted Kord in the New 52 Universe, but then maybe the treasure hunter who found the Scarab is Dan Garrett? That's how it's going to be in my fanfic! (Note, I will never ever write a fanfic). At the end, Bedard insures that this trip down memory lane was not for nothing, as Jaime is attacked by a load of other Blue Beetles. I'm very excited for this upcoming story, Jaime is way out of his comfort zone in deep space, it's gonna be cool.
Justice League #0– Shazam takes centre stage in this issue, as Johns and Frank finally get round to Billy saying the magic words and becoming the hero who's name we cannot say for legal reasons. Is it OK for fans to still call him Captain Marvel or do we have to call him Shazam too? I'll call him Captain Marvel because I'm old-school like that, and I don't care what Carol Danvers has to say about it! I've actually really been enjoying these back-up stories, so it was great to have a longer instalment, and it's a lot of fun to see how Johns is reinterpreting the classic Captain Marvel origin. I think the best scenes in this issue were the discussion about whether or not there is a 'pure good person'. Back in 1939 when Cap debuted, it was a more innocent time I guess (apart from WW2 kicking off), so the idea of Billy Batson being pure good would not have been questioned, whereas now, in 2012, we're all so cynical that we don't believe anyone can be purely good. Johns has realised this and therefore given us a Captain Marvel for modern times, who isn't pure good, but who has the potential, who tries his best. I guess you could argue that it's the job of superheroes like Captain Marvel and Superman to fight for 'pure good', but it does get a little cheesy. I also really liked how even though he's now Captain Marvel, Billy still acted like a kid, running around getting into trouble. Those scenes with him and Freddy were like Big or something, and a lot of fun. I love the old-fashioned Big Red Cheese as much as anyone, but this new take has value too, plus, the artwork from Frank is amazing. The back-up was pretty bad though, I really don't care about Pandora, and what the hell is (I assume) The Question doing getting involved in a story involving cosmic shit like this? Unless the 'Man with the hat' is referring to Phantom Stranger, but then, the story was in Hub City, traditionally The Question's turf. Who knows? I just hope it's Vic Sage and not Renee Montoya.
Green Lantern: New Guardians #0– Much like the Zero Issue for Green Lantern, this one doesn't do what most of the others are doing and stays in the present, picking up pretty much where #12 left off. Kyle returns to Earth to try and find Hal, but because he's dead (yep, totally dead, don't even try to argue), he has to team up with Carol Ferris to take down the left over Zombies from Black Hand's attack. It was good to get what is essentially a Kyle solo story, and I'm very interested to see what his future holds. That glimpse of him in all the different Corps was very interesting, I'm excited to see my favourite GL take centre-stage in the Third Army story. Aaron Kuder's art impressed me in this issue a lot too, after seeing him use a very goofy style in last week's Avenging Spider-Man, he adjusted himself here and delivered something that was still recognisably him, but more suited to traditional superheroics. I think this dude has a big future. So yeah, this was a good issue, but I'm still not sure why it was a Zero Issue, but that doesn't matter, it's only a number!
The Unwritten #41– Mike Carey and Peter Gross fill in the gaps left between the end of War Of The Words and the most recent arc. After the final battle against Pullman, Richie took a badly injured Tommy to Villa Diodati to recover, and then things get weird, because there are ghosts there. Ghosts of supporting characters who have died in this book, such as the writers Pullman slaughtered in the first arc, or Tom's various ex-girlfriends and even Miriam Walzer, Wilson Taylor's 1940s girlfriend. This issue featured a lot of tantalising teasers about the mythology of this series, and a shocking revelation of just how powerful Tom Taylor is. The idea of Richie just being dead and kept alive by Tommy's powers of fiction is a great one, and it was shocking to see him as a walking corpse, how he would really look. This was possibly the darkest issue of The Unwritten yet, and I'm including the one where those two children got crushed to death. I'm very excited to see how Tom goes from here to the Tom we saw briefly at the end of #40, and just what the deal is with Leviathan now. This book continues to be one of the most gripping and mysterious on the stands, I have so many questions, and it's so much fun following them down the literary rabbit hole.
Stumptown: The Case Of The Baby In The Velvet Case #1(of 4)– I really think we are living in a Golden Age of Crime Comics at the moment, and Stumptown, along with Criminal and Parker, is one of the standouts. Greg Rucka and Matthew Southworth's mini was a surprise pleasure a few years back, and now it's back for a sequel. The series, for those who aren't familiar, follows Portland-based PI Dex Parios, a hipster, female Jim Rockford, who gets involved in classic Noir-type mysteries with a modern twist. In this arc, she is tasked with finding a missing guitar (the titular baby) by a member of a fictional Indie band. But of course, this seemingly simple case is a doorway to a whole lot more trouble, as she comes face to face with some crazy bald guys who are also after the guitar, and then an agent from the DEA. It was just a lot of fun to be back in this world, I know I make fun of Greg Rucka's endless number of tough female protagonists of ambiguous sexuality, but Dex is a great character and you just know that the mysteries are going to be well-constructed. If you haven't read the first story, I urge you to check it out, and hey, if you're impatient, you could just pick up this issue, there are a few references to supporting characters and previous events, but mostly, this stands on it's own as a great little crime story that's not like anything else on the stands. Highly recommended, especially given Rucka's recent comments about Big Two comics, this is his best kind of work, not that Batwoman shit.
A good week, I'm sure you all agree. My favourites were Spider-Men, Justice League and Stumptown. I think it's so great that I can read a comic about a hero who first appeared in the 1930s in Captain Marvel, along with a new superhero from 2011 like Miles Morales, and then an all-new concept that's not even a superhero at all such as Stumptown, and have them all be equally as good. The mix of the old and the new is what makes comics exciting for me at the moment.
Join me next week for the last lot of DC Zero Issues, including Aquaman and Batman Inc, as well as new issues from the likes of Captain Marvel (the version we can actually call that), Gambit and Hit-Girl. There's also a new title from the twisted minds of Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson! Ooooooooh.


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What an amazing day! We anticipated PAH II making an impresive splash at Barrett Jackson, but we about lost our minds when the gavel banged and the auction ended.
Before we knew it, the bidding price was at 100,000 and starting to slow down. But the various bidders regrouped and the bidding took off like a rocket. In the blink of an eye the selling price hit 250,000 and had everyone stunned with excitement. After some more encouragement from First Lt. Mark Little from the podium, the price eclipsed 400,000 and had the arean buzzing with pandamonium. When the gavel banged and all was done, the price on the screen was 500,000 dollars! That's right, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS to benefit the Armed Forces Foundation!
Watch for more on this amazing event in the pages of Super Chevy magazine and right here on the website!

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I always thought our ancestress could whip our butts
Yeah, but could they operate an iPhone?
Originally Posted by phbsales
Yeah, but could they operate an iPhone?
...while holding up a mile and a half of traffic by doing 25 in a 55?
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Doesn't surprise me at all. 1st off we are bigger in general (taller), so it's more mass, and less leverage with longer appendages.
2nd we don't "have" to be fast and strong to survive, our food comes to us, and our food rarely tries to kill us.
"If you call that hard work, a koalas life would look heroic."
Oh yeah but our pot smoking hippies over in ARP could suck start a gas powered leaf blower......................
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Watching Under The Hood Of Tiger's Spotlight 43
jaketheitguy writes "Over at KernelThread.com, Amit Singh has released a commandline app called FSLogger for looking under the hood of Tiger's Spotlight. You can watch all kinds of filesystem changes going on in realtime. The utility apparently intercepts and displays filesystem change data as it goes out to Spotlight from the kernel. It even tells you which app is making the changes. Looks like Apple has included some pretty powerful API's in Tiger and there may be some othre really interesting uses of this API as mentioned on the app's page. I for one would really like to be able to tell if somebody changed ANY files on my system without my knowledge. I think you can do that with Singh's program, but how do you make sure somebody cannot disable the program?"


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Arts and Entertainment
|A witness to history: The story behind 'The Butler'
|What sparked Wil Haygood's quest for a black butler?
|Published Tuesday, August 13, 2013
|While the movie "Lee Danlels' The Butler' is fictionalized, Wil Haygood tells the real story of Eugene Allen in book, "The Butler: A Witness to History."
Acclaimed reporter, Guggenheim fellow and prize-winning biographer Wil Haygood had a hunch Barack Obama would win the 2008 presidential election.
That inkling led him on a quest to find a black White House servant who came of age in the midst of segregation and was so embedded in that culture that the very thought of a black president was inconceivable.
He struck gold when he tracked down Eugene Allen, a butler who served eight presidential administrations over the course of more than three decades. Haygood profiled Allen in the Washington Post.
Haygood's article the impetus for the major motion picture "Lee Daniels' The Butler." Haygood penned a companion book for the film titled "The Butler: A Witness to History."
The story of America's most momentous events – from Kennedy's widow returning to the White House after his assassination to Johnson and his cabinet debating Vietnam – are told through Allen's perspective as he witnessed it all while serving tea and supervising buffets.
While "The Butler" is set against historical events, the title character and his family are fictionalized. "The Buter: A Witness to History" tells Allen's true story.
The book also includes an essay in the view of James Baldwin's jewel, "The Devil Finds Works," that explores the history of blacks in Hollywood as well as over 45 pictures of Allen, his family, the Presidents he served and many behind-the-scenes shots of the film's cast.
Haygood has been described as a cultural historian. Other titles under his belt include "His King of the Cats: The Life and Times of Adam Clayton Powell Jr.," "In Black and White: The Life of Sammy Davis Jr.," and "Sweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson."
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My quick, post-Thanksgiving trip Friday to Natchitoches Parish revealed that parts of Louisiana do enjoy some fall color displays.
My quick, post-Thanksgiving trip Friday to Natchitoches Parish revealed that parts of Louisiana do enjoy some fall color displays. In sections where pine tree plantations have not eradicated the hardwoods, sweet gum, maple, elm, sassafras and hickories produce sometimes brilliant splashes of yellow, orange and red.
It did not match the classic fall colors of northeastern states, but it was fall color all the same. And, by the calendar, fall lasts until almost Christmas.
Working trip: This was no sightseeing nor feasting trip. My assistance was needed in trimming the re-roofing project I helped with back in the spring and summer. We had covered the old shingle roof farmhouse with more durable tin, but left the edges visibly unfinished.
I arrived too late on the rainy Friday to get started, but early Saturday, with a film of ice on the puddles, we began covering raw edges with rot-resistant wood, to be painted later by David, my brother, who currently lives there.
Home again: Driving back Sunday via Interstate 49 and U.S. 90, the highways were crowded with scores of pickups pulling trailers loaded with three or four muddy "four-wheelers" each, clearly home bound from hunting camps.
No doubt, many of the big ice chests they also carried contained venison from perhaps their last hunts of the season. One truck had a handsome 10-point rack showing above its tailgate. A couple more had fresh-cut Christmas trees.
Elections: Voters in Terrebonne and Lafourche turn out this month for run-offs from the Nov. 6 elections. Early voting is under way at registrar's offices in both parishes.
Terrebonne will vote in a court of appeals judgeship runoff, and consider a proposed parish-wide .5 percent sales tax for the local levee and conservation district.
Lafourche will also cast ballots in the court of appeals race, and in smaller voting districts, pick a Lockport councilman and in Golden Meadow, pick two councilmen.
There is also a Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District 2.11 mill tax, and a North Lafourche Conservation and Drainage District 1 percent sales and use tax.
The usual reminders about studying the ballot items in advance and presenting an official picture ID, apply in both parishes, "early" and election day on Dec. 8.
Book sale: Just in time for Christmas, a bibliophile's dream, choice books in hardly used condition, for a fraction of their original cost. The Friends of the Terrebonne Public Library's annual book sale is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library, 151 Library St., Houma.
The donated, like-new tomes will sell for $1.50 per inch of thickness, and $10 will buy a stack more that six inches thick. For information, call Rachel LeCompte at 876-5861.
Vocal concert: The Les Amis de la Chanson's silver anniversary concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, 500 Goode St., Houma. Admission is free.
HTCB concert coming: The Houma-Terrebonne Community Band's annual Christmas concert is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 in the J.C. Penney Court of Southland Mall, 5953 W. Park Ave., Houma.
It's free and open to the public. Details coming.
Responding? Contact Bill Ellzey at 381-6256, firstname.lastname@example.com, email@example.com or c/o The Courier, P.O. Box 2717, Houma, LA 70361.


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The Iowa Department of Revenue issued an Assessment Limitations Order, or "rollback," on property values in Iowa at the end of last week. The order adjusts the property values used by local governments to compute property taxes for agricultural, residential, commercial, and industrial property.
State law allows no more than a four percent (4 percent) increase in taxable values for these property classes from year to year in order to cushion the impact of inflation.
For this year, the Department of Revenue's Assessment order sets forth the following taxable values:
- The taxable value for residential property is 52.8166 percent of the assessed value. This is an increase from the 2011 level of 50.7518 percent. (Residential assessed value in Iowa is $137.5 billion; the taxable value is $72.6 billion, which is 52.8166 percent of the assessed value.) Residential property includes farm dwellings.
- The taxable value for agricultural property is 59.9334 percent of the assessed value. This is an increase from the 2011 level of 57.5411 percent. Agricultural property is assessed at its productivity value. (The 2012 assessed value is $47.7 billion; the taxable value is $28.6 billion, which is 59.9334 percent of the assessed value.)
- No adjustments were ordered for the commercial, industrial, railroad, and utility classes, because their assessed values did not increase enough to qualify for reductions. Utility property is limited to an 8 percent annual growth. Railroad property is adjusted by the lowest percentage applied to commercial, industrial, and utility property.
County auditors will apply the adjustments to each property class to compute the taxable values used for property taxes.
Tax liabilities based on the 2012 taxable values and payable in fiscal year 2013-14 will not be determined until local taxing bodies establish their property tax needs early next year.
Additional information about the rollback can be found at: www.state.ia.us/ tax/locgov/propequalroll. html


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Zach LeBlanc's lucky number is 12.
Zach LeBlanc's lucky number is 12.
It's actually 12 and seven, because seven "is awesome," he said, but 12 is a special number for Zach today.
Zach is 12 years old today — 12/12/12.
Zach, a sixth-grader at McPherson Middle School, said the golden birthday is pretty cool. Your golden birthday is when the day of your birthday matches the year.
"It only happens once every 1,000 years," he said. "Not every kid gets to do that."
Zach is a fairly shy kid. He loves video games, but his mother doesn't like the military-style games he prefers.
Instead, she enrolled Zach and his little sister, Aimee, in tae kwon do lessons a few years ago. Zach is a red belt, two steps away from a black belt.
Besides getting to hit stuff, the sport teaches self control, he said.
Zach also runs and is looking forward to possibly running track next year at the middle school. He and his older sister Haley, a junior at Washburn University, like to run with each other when she is home from school. Zach won first place in his age group in the Hillsboro Triathlon this summer.
Zach is a good student, but said he has no favorite subject. He said he is too young to know what he wants to be when he grows up.
Zach plans to invite some friends for go-carts and a day at the YMCA this weekend to celebrate his birthday. There also may be some chocolate cake in the mix.
However, today is not set to be so exciting. Zach tried to convince his mom to let him stay home from school.
"I told him a lot of older people have to go to work on their birthdays," Chris LeBlanc, Zach's mother, said.
Not only does Zach have to go to school, he also has to go to the dentist, but mom said she might pick him up at school for a long lunch.
Zach said he doesn't mind the dentist or the fact his birthday is so close to Christmas. He said he still gets excited about his birthday presents.
"The fun of the birthday is not knowing. It is being 'What is it?' It is being curious," he said. Zach will have to wait for one of his gifts, however. Zach's father, Mike, had a Discovery airplane flight scheduled for Zach for today, but the flight had to be canceled because of weather.
Chris LeBlanc said she didn't think to much about Zach 12s until recently.
"Everything is exciting and special. We want to celebrate big because it doesn't come around often," she said of Zach's golden birthday.
"Unless I live to be 112 years old," Zach said.
Jamya O'Quinn, sixth-grader at McPherson Middle School, also turns 12 today.


text:
January 31, 2014
A Junky Sign of LOVE
January 23, 2014
Gray Love
Over the last year I've fallen quite a bit in love with the color gray. That doesn't include those gray hairs, showing up on my head though, lol. I'm rather talking about furniture, wall color, fabrics etc. I like the soft shades as well as the darker ones and the brownish grays as much as those with a bluish undertone. The color has sneaked into my creations and our home decor here and there already. You might remember my recycled fabrics pumpkins or the chippy mirror that I had painted a medium gray.
I use diluted black silk dye to turn white fabrics and laces into shades of gray. That works just great.
The lace heart front consists of five different eyelet laces and is embellished with gray beads and coffee dyed linen buttons.
I like to combine gray with cream or beige. That softens the sometimes cool appearance of gray.
The pretty French labels on the gift bag and the tag were provided by The Graphics Fairy and printed out on fabric.
You'll get to see more gray fabric creations from me this year but there will also be white ones as well as recycled or upcycled projects using found objects and lovely junk. Lots of ideas are spinning in my head :).
Have a wonderful weekend!
I'll be joining these great parties:
- Grey Dey Thursdey at Petite Michelle Louise
- Be Inspired at Common Ground
- The Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush


text:
BackTalk is an anonymous call-in line for readers to voice opinions on local, state and national issues. Personal attacks will not be published. Call 978-454-BACK.
STAMP OF DISAPPROVAL: I live in Tyngsboro and have been using the Chelmsford post office. They're so much more friendly, helpful and smiling. No one is ever in a good mood in Tyngsboro and it's a lot of work to take care of you.
CLASS IN SECURITY: It's time we make our schools as safe as airports. That's how the world is now.
No town given


text:
Now in his fourth NHL season, New York Islanders center John Tavares has entered the ranks of the elite players in the League. Tavares on Friday joined Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin as finalists for the Hart Trophy, awarded annually to the "player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team." Crosby, who previously won the Hart in 2007, finished tied for third in the League with 56 points despite sitting out the final month of the regular season with a broken jaw. He still managed to hold the lead in the League scoring race until the final week of the season, and his 1.56 points per game led the League. He also had 15 goals and a career-best plus-26 rating. His strong play helped the Penguins win the Atlantic Division title for the first time since the 2007-08 season and earn the top spot in the Eastern Conference. A win by Crosby would give the Penguins back-to-back Hart winners; last year's trophy went to Penguins center Evgeni Malkin. Ovechkin, one of only 11 players to win the Hart in consecutive years (2008-09), already has won the Rocket Richard Trophy for the third time after leading the League with 32 goals, and like Crosby also is a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award. Ovechkin also topped the League with 16 power-play goals and tied for third in the League with 56 points while playing all 48 games. Ovechkin was at his best during the Capitals' late push for a Southeast Division title. In his final 29 games he had 22 goals and 41 points, and helped the Capitals go 20-7-2 during that span. If Ovechkin wins, he would become the eighth player with at least three Hart trophies, joining a group that includes Wayne Gretzky (nine), Gordie Howe (six), Eddie Shore (four), Bobby Clarke (three), Mario Lemieux (three), Howie Morenz (three) and Bobby Orr (three).
NHL Headlines
Tavares joins Crosby, Ovechkin as Hart finalist
NHL.com | May 10


text:
Home > Art / Photo > Oil Paintings > this is me
this is meReport abuse
By Anonymous, faisalabad, Pakistan
this painting is what i feel, what i like and what i want.
This piece has also been published in Teen Ink's monthly print magazine.
Join the DiscussionThis art/photo has 55 comments. Post your own now!
Blah said...
Dec. 9, 2013 at 7:25 pm
Dec. 9, 2013 at 7:25 pm
I'll try my best to not rain on your parade. This is very good,but it looks extremeley simular to Walk in Rain by Lenoid Alfremov (you can google it). There is nothing wrong with using other artist's work ,unless you don't credit them, which is what you are doing.I'm sorry if I sound rude, but I've seen countless people copy his work with no credit.
MaybeImCrazyButIThinkILovedYou said...
May 25, 2013 at 3:17 pm
May 25, 2013 at 3:17 pm
I love it! Especially how you put the date and time on the bottom... Nice touch. Very good.
ElkieLion said...
Feb. 5, 2012 at 10:31 am
Feb. 5, 2012 at 10:31 am
Beautiful!! I love it!!!
SkimKimchi said...
Oct. 11, 2011 at 10:38 am
Oct. 11, 2011 at 10:38 am
WOW 0_o
wolfie-120895 said...
Aug. 6, 2011 at 11:59 pm
Aug. 6, 2011 at 11:59 pm
I love the sheer simpleness of this:) being an ocd stickler for detail makes me happy when i see somthing like this be so beautiful:)
wonderHaley said...
Jul. 15, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Jul. 15, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Oh my gosh. Your description of this picture is exactly how I feel! It's beautiful, by the way. Keep it up!
RhythmAndRhyme said...
Jul. 15, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Jul. 15, 2011 at 2:58 pm
So beautiful! Keep it up! :DDD
GravityMcFalls said...
Jun. 5, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Jun. 5, 2011 at 1:19 pm
I think I understand this picture, but knowing me, I don't. I love the colors and how around you and the other person it's white. My mind, heart, and soul understand it but my brain is waiting to figure it out. Lol. I really love this painting! < ^.^ >
kissjamie said...
Jun. 1, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Jun. 1, 2011 at 8:22 pm
captaindanger said...
Jun. 1, 2011 at 5:27 pm
Jun. 1, 2011 at 5:27 pm
This is so beautiful! Great job.
sunriseusnset said...
May 10, 2011 at 8:08 pm
May 10, 2011 at 8:08 pm
gorgeous. beautiful colors that are really telling a story here. way to express you feelings in such a rational way. again, i love it.
someone_else said...
Apr. 18, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Apr. 18, 2011 at 4:13 pm
This painting is simply beautiful. I'm not much of an artist, so I doubly admire people who can take colored gels and create something as beautiful as this. There is a raw emotion and innocence behind this that is so genuine, it doesn't let you question it. There are so many different layers you can examine this painting on, and each one presents a slightly altered tale. This is true, untainted beauty.
Noxfaratos said...
Feb. 11, 2011 at 11:59 pm
Feb. 11, 2011 at 11:59 pm
I love this! It's beautiful, and in a way what I feel to. Fantastic!
consumedbygrace247 said...
Feb. 11, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Feb. 11, 2011 at 4:02 pm
This is amazing!! I just love the colors and the reflection of the people.
Alia_Tan said...
Jan. 20, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Jan. 20, 2011 at 9:46 pm
I love this painting! it reminds me of my closest friends! always a happy memory that makes my day! Great Job! :D
starlight26 said...
Dec. 29, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Dec. 29, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Wow!! It is truly amazing! LOVED the colors and expression. Keep it up :)
bennyB said...
Nov. 15, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Nov. 15, 2010 at 12:43 pm
I dont get it what does this picture represent??
Uzair M. replied...
Nov. 15, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Nov. 15, 2010 at 1:16 pm
well i treid to explain a relationship which exists between me and somebody who is very special to me. every thing is perfect harmony. colors around and we are very close to each other. But the white color which wraps us represents that there is something which i could not reach in our relationship.
i hope i made sense.
if you are in a relationship you will definately get it. you know what i painted it a long time ago and now the white color doesnt have to be there anymore coz i... (more »)
Brook_little_obbsessive said...
Oct. 24, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Oct. 24, 2010 at 9:15 pm
beautiful and so inspiring i think we can all relate
Emmy13329 said...
Sept. 10, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Sept. 10, 2010 at 3:16 pm
awesome painting!!!,check my stuff later ..if u want ..i stopped posting on here though cuz it takes forever to get published


text:
When the Polo Marcos are hitting their perimeter shots, there's not a lot any defense can do to stop their offense.
Factor in a strong transition game and 6-foot-7 senior AJ Dollmeyer in the post, and the Marcos have numerous weapons at their disposal. Polo hit eight of its 17 3-pointers Dec. 16 against Oregon, and outscored the Hawks 18-7 on the fast break en route to a 78-47 victory in the quarterfinals of the Forreston Holiday Tournament.
"When teams actually try to guard AJ in the middle, that really makes them draw in their defense," Polo senior guard Brian Cavanaugh said.
"That leaves the rest of us wide open to take outside shots, make good cuts, and drive the lane."
Cavanaugh was responsible for all three of those things at one point or another against Oregon (3-6).
He missed just two of his 11 shots, and hit four runners off the wing in a span of 3:20 to open the second half and put the game away for the Marcos.
After an early blitz gave Polo (8-0) a 22-9 lead with 2:49 left in the first quarter, the Hawks whittled away at the deficit. But when Oregon got to within 26-23 early in the second on Trevor Otten's coast-to-coast three-point play, the Marcos answered in the form of a 9-0 run.
Matt Murray's 3 with 8 seconds left looked to get Oregon into halftime on a high note, but Austin Webb's half-court buzzer-beater hit nothing but net to extend the lead to 44-30 at the break.
"They shot the ball really well, and we couldn't stop the ball in transition," Oregon coach Quinn Virgil said of the Marcos. "I was happy with the way we played in the first half, but I thought that half-court shot was a big momentum swing. "We'd whittled away to within shouting distance, then he drills that shot, and it took away what I thought would be a good chance to make a surge to start the second half."
Instead, Cavanaugh and Co. were the ones making the surge. Dollmeyer (12 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks) scored inside and Zach Quaco (10 points) hit two free throws in the midst of Cavanaugh's spurt, then Brad Cavanaugh (11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) hit two technical free throws and a pull-up jumper to cap a 13-0 run and extend a 46-33 lead into a 59-33 margin with 11˝ minutes left to play.
Brian Cavanaugh finished with 20 points, while Matthew Handel hit five 3s made it five Marcos in double figures with 17 points. Polo shot 54 percent (29-for-54) and turned the ball over just six times.
"We were really in the flow tonight, and had great balance" Brian Cavanaugh said. "Everyone was taking good shots and making good decisions. Hopefully, we can play like this every game."
Jessie McKinley led the Hawks with 14 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists. Otten added 12 points, with two 3s and two three-point plays.


text:
I have a mint condition Sea and Sea CX-603 housing, macro port and Rebel 2000 with 28-90mm lens and many extras for sale. Please see classified section or http://cgi.ebay.com/...me=STRK:MESE:IT . Will waive shipping costs for Wetpixel members
Canon Rebel SLR system
Started by AndreSmith, Sep 18 2004 09:48 PM
No replies to this topic


text:
Well, it happened. It happened and I am in big trouble.
We have entered the terrible twos.
I am not quite sure I how I have been able to avoid them all these years � at least to this level of severity, but I have. Well my youngest, the precious little angel that she is, is making it up for it. Big time. And she is not even 2 yet.
A few months ago I started to notice a little change in her. Maybe it was because her speech really started to take off. Now instead of one or two words sentences, she was stringing nine and 10 words together and carrying on complete conversations with us. She was becoming clearer to understand. And like that �a-ha� moment kids seem to get when they start walking � turning everything into a run, her newly discovered ability for easy communication has turned a seemingly simple conversation into a battle.
I mentioned this to my sister-in-law recently and she immediately responded �she getting into the terrible twos.� It was like a palm to the forehead. Well, yeah, duh, Sarah, of course that is what this is � why didn�t I think of that? I�d like to say that it was because I couldn�t admit that my baby was about to turn 2 and I was in denial, but no, I just really hadn�t had much experience in the �terrible two� department.
When my oldest was 2 she really wasn�t terrible at all. We sailed through that year unscathed � at least that is how I remember it. We got a full dose of the independent threes, the independent fours and fives and I�m not quite what to call the sixes yet, but let me tell you, we have it. My son didn�t seem to have them either, although to be fair he was also up against his new baby sister and sleep deprived parents, so any major fits he may have thrown would have paled in comparison to a crying baby and being woken up three to four times a night. But no, I think his year as a 2-year-old was pretty uneventful.
Now it�s the baby�s crack at it and she is taking full advantage. What�s more it feels like this is the terrible twos on steroids. It is more like she is an almost 2-year-old acting like a 6-year-old with a little 3-year-old attitude mixed it. Because who is she learning all her wonderful behavior from? Why her darling 6-year-old sister and angelic 3-year-old brother of course! Maybe that is why my oldest never really had bouts of fit throwing like her younger sister. She didn�t have anyone to emulate. (I made sure to do all my feet stomping and tantrum throwing in private.)
It is so startling to see her throwing a fit this way it takes me a couple beats to get my wits about me. I know that she is frustrated because she can�t fully communicate how she feels (aren�t we all like that sometimes) and I know that she doesn�t understand that her throwing a fit does not help her cause at all � more often than not it hinders it. While I know all these things and the fact that I am supposed to stay calm, rational and even-tempered like all the books and parenting experts say, it�s a pretty tall order when she has been screaming at me and kicking me while I attempt to change her messy diaper. I�m sure if those experts were hard pressed they would admit to losing it just like the rest of us normal parents.
I know that getting down to their level and talking calmly and quietly does work and I know that consistency is the key (so say the experts), but whoever is able to stay calm and quiet and get down to their 2-year-old�s level at 5 p.m. when dinner is bubbling over on the stove and the house is disaster and they just discovered a roll of toilet paper has been completely unrolled and stuffed in the toilet deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. They are my hero.
However, now that I am knee deep in these glorious terrible twos, I am going to try my best to look on the bright side of them � if for no other reason than to give me some glimmer of hope when I am in the trenches of a tantrum or a screaming fit in a grocery store.
It is only a phase. I have yet to hear of the �terrible threes, or sevens or 15s (that is called something else entirely), so I know at some point it will come to an end. Maybe it will be in six weeks, maybe six months or maybe not until she is well into her threes, but it will end.
Being a strong-willed child now will be of great benefit to her when she is older. It won�t help me or my husband much, but I like to think that her stubbornness will help her stand-up for herself and hopefully others and she won�t easily succumb to peer pressure.
And if nothing else I�ll fall back on the old �what doesn�t kill you makes you stronger.� Going through the �terrible twos� and (hopefully) coming out the other side will make me a more tolerant and patient parent (fingers crossed). Being an eternal optimist I have to think that way.
Plus I have been told that I was a pretty strong-willed and stubborn kid myself. And I turned out fairly normal right? I guess that depends on who you talk to �
Sarah Gray is a Morning Sun columnist.


text:
Hi folks,
I am wondering if anyone can assist with a problem I am encountering. I found a "Lego digital Designer" free on the internet, it had all the Lego emblems and such, I assume it is a Lego sanctioned program. I went ahead and downloaded and set it up. But it freezes whenever I open it.
Not being incredibly computer literate, I assume it has something to do with setup or maybe my computer cannot handle it? I have a Windows laptop. Should I just uninstall and try again? Or was I duped into a fake program?
Any help would be appreciated.


text:
The lights are on
This console cycle has seen the advent of the often-adored HD collection. The uptick in visual fidelity brought about the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 has made these compilations easy to sell to fans. But what happens when a publisher comes back to the well again?
This June, Konami is planning to release a second assemblage of Metal Gear Solid titles, this time exclusively for PlayStation 3 in a package called "The Legacy Collection." The reason for the exclusivity is the inclusion of the original Metal Gear Solid, which we expect will simply be attainable via a download code. The title is currently available on the PlayStation Network.
Purchasers will also walk away with Metal Gear Solid 2: HD Edition, Metal Gear Solid 3: HD Edition (which includes the original MSX versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2), Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD Edition, Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions, and Metal Gear Solid 4: Trophy Edition. The package also includes two digital graphic novels by Ashley Wood. Wood's art has been featured throughout the series' history and is easily recognizable due to the combination of oil painting with digital effects.
It seems that the other PSP titles, Portable Ops and the Metal Gear Acid games are likely to be trapped on Sony's first handheld for the foreseeable future. The inclusions not featured in the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection released in 2011 are the original Metal Gear Solid, the VR Missions, Metal Gear Solid 4, and the digital comics.
The package will be available in June 2013. No price (or the presence of the Transfarring feature) has yet been revealed.
F*ck! Why couldn't it include the PSP games, too? Oh well, I still might buy this.
Should we put everything in one collection? No, no throw two on the first, then add 4 more on the other. Sound business, goofy rationale.
Sounds like a great deal, but unfortunate for people like me that already have 3/5 of these titles on the old collection. I assume that this will be full priced with that many games.
Never played a Metal Gear game, but I think that I may start here.
I should prolly pick this up :)
LoL I already have all Metal Gear Solid games, but I've never heard of VR Missions, I wonder what are?
My guess is this will be 59.99 USD. Seems reasonable. I will be getting it since I have never played A MGS game. Except Peace Walker on PSP. But that was a demo.
"The reason for the exclusivity is the inclusion of the original Metal Gear Solid"
More likely due to it including MGS4.


text:
Making Sense of Mismatched Certificates? 322
Ropati continues "On the Capital One login page, there is a Verisign link on the page to check that the website is suppose to match. So I click on the verification icon and I am rewarded with a link to Verisign. They report that this web site certificate is for onlinebanking.capitalone.com not the servicing.capitalone.com where I log in. Is this the mismatch my browser reported. I know nothing about certificates.
I call Capital One and ask them to fix the problem. If this was a browser issue on my part, then the Verisign link should match. The tech support supervisor, Joe — XRT413, said he couldn't do anything about it and he couldn't escalate the problem to someone who could.
So my questions are: Are the certificates a mismatch or is my browser bellyaching for nothing? Is the certificate mismatch a security hazard? If someone poisoned my local DNS routers would it be obvious in the URL? How would I prevent such a thing? If everything was working correctly, would the certificate alert me to DNS poisoning, or is this just cosmetic security?"


text:
Chestnut Knoll Residential Care is thrilled to announce that in one night, they were able to raise $1,800 for the Relay for Life Cancer Walk and accomplish personal goals that were set. Chestnut Knoll recently hosted a fundraiser at Greshville Inn, where 10% of the sales were donated to the Boyertown Relay for Life Cancer Walk occurring in June, in addition to cash donations.
�It was a great event!� said Barndt. �The event was supported by our families, friends, residents, volunteers, and members of the greater Boyertown community. It was wonderful to see everyone coming together for a fun night and a good cause!�
Many guests came to Greshville Inn to join the Chestnut Knoll staff and management team for the evening, and enjoyed dinner and drinks from Chestnut Knoll guest bartenders, Jennifer Diehl, nursing office manager; Shawn Barndt, executive director; and Sam Gaugler, bus driver.
In addition, various �levels� of cash donations were tracked and posted at the event. Prior to the event, the guest bartenders set goals for themselves to do certain tasks if their cash amount was reached; and of course, each goal was reached and they followed through with their tasks. At the $200 level, Gaugler put on a dress and served guests for the rest of the evening in his dress; at the $500 level, Diehl agreed to dye her hair pink; and at the $1,000 level, Barndt also agreed to dye her hair pink.
Charlene Deery, owner of Bella June Hair Salon in Boyertown donated her time and supplies in order to create the pink hairdos. The ladies set an appointment for 9 a.m. on February 1 at Bella June Hair Salon and had a little pink color added to their hair!
�We are very thankful for all the support that was shown to our team that night, as well as for the donation of pink hairdos for reaching our bar tips goal by Bella June Hair Studio,� said Barndt. �A special �thank you� for Connie and Kevin from Greshville Inn for allowing us to pull this event together!�


text:
Harvard will make its second straight appearance in the NCAA
tournament (Kevin Burns).
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – With its second straight Ivy League title in hand, the Harvard softball team will travel to Seattle, Wash., May 17-20 for the regional round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. It is Harvard's second straight berth in the NCAA softball tournament.
The Crimson will face the host Washington Huskies at Husky Softball Stadium in its first game of the regional round. Maryland and Texas Tech, who Harvard faced in the elimination game of last year's NCAA regional round, are the other two teams making the trip to Seattle.
The Crimson earned its way into the NCAA tournament thanks to a sweep of Penn Friday in the Ivy League Championship Series. Senior Rachel Brown spun a three-hit shutout collecting four strikeouts, helping Harvard clinch a 1-0 win in Game 1 of the championship series. The Crimson turned up the offense in Game 2, connecting on 12 hits and plating five runs, while Brown earned her second save of the season to clinch the 5-2 win for the Crimson.
For the complete softball NCAA tournament bracket, click here.


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text:
So, how is this at all different from the way Apple has been making the same claim for the past several weeks?
Slashdot needs to serve ads and Apple hasn't done anything else to bitch about.
It's nothing new from Apple.
And no matter how you spin it, turn it upside down and examine it, try to put the most positive face on it, it is also hostile toward consumers.
Xerox can copyright a shortening of the term Xerography ("dry printing").
Apple has been using the term and suffix
Microsoft copyrighted a network centric API called
Microsoft copyright a window manager called Windows. (recall that the original Windows was not really an OS but just a GUI window manager for DOS.)
It seems to me that apple winds on many grounds.
the term application has many meanings so it's use in the narrow term for an application on a computer is similar to the narrow usage of the generic words Apple or Amazon as company names in their fields not as fruit or rivers. Apple would probably get in trouble if they opened a store in the amazon basin and called it the Apple Amazon store.
So if Windows can bar Lindows and Amazon could bar apple from calling one of it's regional stores Amazon since they are in the same field why can't Apple bar amazon from re-using it's coined app term.
Likewise apple wins because App is a word invented like Xerox.
Just because someone used a slang term "killer app" does not mean the slang can't be copyrighted.
Go ask Yahoo if Yahoo is copyrighted.
Absolutely NONE of those things are "copyrighted". Try again.
app has been used to describe applications long before Apple decided to also.
Likewise apple wins because App is a word invented like Xerox.
I'm curious what you mean by that, because in the end, all words were "invented".
Apple has been using the term and suffix
My 1985 Atari ST with GEM used
"start GEM and run INSTALL.APP"
http://www.retroarchive.org/cpm/archive/unofficial/gemworld.html [retroarchive.org]
Apple has been using the term and suffix
My 1985 Atari ST with GEM used
"start GEM and run INSTALL.APP"
http://www.retroarchive.org/cpm/archive/unofficial/gemworld.html [retroarchive.org]
Which is a good point. THey could lose too. The point I was trying to get across is that copyrighting or trademarking something seemingly already out there or easily derived is not a reason to say they don't have a case. But if the term was already in use for the specific meaning and in the same manner it will be hard sleding.
So while you point out that
First, Microsoft doesn't have a trademark (which is what you are talking about - not copyrithgs) on
Xerox may be based on Xerography but as long as the name of their company wasn't Xerography they are fine. And their trademark is still valid by the way. You don't buy a Canon Xerox machine. You buy
Yahoo is a trademark, Xerox lost it's trademark on xeroxing since they weren't actively protecting it until it was too widely used.
Same goes for the term "googling it", not copyrighted, nor trademarked (and doesn't fall under the trademark google) since it became a generic term before google tried to protect it.
And same goes for all you examples I guess - but you seem to have trademark and copyright confused.
Xerox can [trademark] a shortening of the term Xerography ("dry printing").
But where did the second X come from? That's a big part of what makes it a coined term.
Apple has been using the term and suffix
As have distributors of warez, in the "appz" section. Compare the refrain of "The Warez Song" by Test of Time, released on MP3.com in either 1999 or 2000: "One more game, one
So if Windows can bar Lindows and Amazon could bar apple from calling one of it's regional stores Amazon since they are in the same field why can't Apple bar amazon from re-using it's coined app term.
Likewise apple wins because App is a word invented like Xerox.
Actually, MS did not bar Lindows, they ended up settling because they almost lost that one. And for the record, "Windows" does not describe what it is, "An operating system", however "App Store" is precisely that, "A store that sells Apps".
Further, Apple did not invent "App", as even the mark "AppStore" was registered back in 1998 by another company.
Google started using the word App in 2006 for Google Apps (well before the Apple trademark application in 2008).
App was a buzzword in 2002 for Microsoft 95/98 application development.
Numerous references exist for making an "app" in various perl and php forums around 2000.
A killer app for computer chat [economist.com] published in the Economist in 1999.
Article titled "The Killer App" [googleusercontent.com] published in the Harvard Business Review in 1998
App Launcher [woodmann.com] software patcher circa 1998.
"DOS App" [googleusercontent.com] used on uunet in 1994...
And that is just fr
Apple with its fully closed garden is some kind of white knight...
Black knight at the moment. White knight is unavailable until six months after black knight release due to technical difficulties with the light sensors.
if they simply ignored Apple? If someone came around to shut them down, they'd say "Really? You think our app store is confusingly called an App Store? Go away and grow some common sense."
Actually the populace can reduce the effectiveness of a trademark by genericizing it [wikipedia.org]. If everyone from your grandmother to your 5 year old nephew began using "app" and "app store" as everyday jargon, the trademark would be genericized and has reduced legal protection.
So if you want to annoy Jobs and co, all you have to do is start referring to any software as an "app" and any outlet that sells software as an "app store" regardless of if it is or is not owned or run by Apple.
Some examples of companies that suffered from this effect are the term "googling" instead of "searching" and use of "kleenex" instead of "tissue".
Hoover up that mess will you!
Black is white, down is up, right is left, and an App Store is not an App Store.
Down is up, right is left, B, A, B, A, Start.
Wait, what?
Down is up, right is left, B, A, B, A, Start.
Wait, what?
Ask your girlfriend, next time you go down on her...
"App store" is short for "Apple store"! Of *course* nobody else can use it! Not even if they're selling actual fruit!
Yes, we wouldn't want anyone to upset the app cart.
If the "App" is short for "Apple" (as they're presumably arguing), then that means that they're calling their online applications store the "Apple Store," which seems to conflict with their physical hardware-oriented stores of the same name. Methinks that would indicated that "Apple" was not what they meant there.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to listen to the Beatles on the Apple record label. Of course, in that case [wikipedia.org], Apple argued that "Apple" was a generic term. I guess things have changed.
This strangely echoes the fight between MCA and Nintendo over the name "Donkey Kong".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_City_Studios,_Inc._v._Nintendo_Co.,_Ltd [wikipedia.org].
MCA claimed that Donkey Kong infringed on their "King Kong" trademark, Nintendo won the battle when they showed that MCA had previously argued (and won) that King Kong and its characters were already in the public domain.
Maybe it stands for Applecation Store.
Maybe Apple needs a Kleenex(tm) to cry into and a Band-Aid(tm) to make it all better...
I know it seem insanely obvious now, but the term didn't really gain traction until Apple came out with the iPhone around 2007. Don't believe me, then believe Google Trends [google.com].
I'm pretty sure others (like MS) were using terms like marketplace, download center, central, etc. before they decided to jump on the App Store band wagon
Whether or not "app store" was widely used is irrelevant. The fact is that "app" was widely used years and years before this to refer to programs/software/applications. Where does one sell "apps?" An app store. If that isn't obvious, I don't know what is.
In other news coming to hand, "Free Software" doesn't mean the software is free of cost.
http://video.adultswim.com/frisky-dingo/guys-nibblies.html [adultswim.com]
Each honest calling, each walk of life, has its own elite, its own aristocracy based on excellence of performance. -- James Bryant Conant


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Mr. Colion Noir says in less than five minutes what it would take me five really long posts, spread out over five days, to say. I'm really impressed and couldn't agree with him more. He packs a lot into the five minutes, but my takeaway — and something I couldn't agree with more — is that it's the media that encourages the exhibitionism we see in so many mass shootings. We should be lionizing the heroes, not the killers. As for the killers, nothing would deter them, as he says, than a few bullets headed their way.
Colion Noir has a whole channel and I urge you to check it out.


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NASCAR Willie's Racing Lines
I quickly realized the man had some rather interesting observations about NASCAR racing and I agreed to help him out. So, for better or worse and for richer or poorer, here's "NASCAR Willie's Racing Lines."
"However that new Mobil 1 Oil commercial starring Tony Stewart and that foreign dude did catch my eye."
(Note: NASCAR Willie's reference to the foreign dude is actually Formula One Racing star Jenson Button).
"I was pretty impressed with Tony Stewart doing that split all the way to the floor."
(Note: the rest of us are reasonably sure that Tony's split was computer generated).
I loved the ending when Tony dunked an Oreo cookie in a glass of soda pop. I've got to try that 'soda cookies' deal."
"After watching Biffle and Ford's performance during this race, I am now absolutely sure of one thing: F-O-R-D no longer stands for Found-On-Road-Dead."
"We should do this Father's Day thing at least once a month."
Feedback can be sent to firstname.lastname@example.com
Go to our forums to discuss this article


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Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Game Week is Finally Here!
Well, no more. Not for another 12 weeks at least. Hey, those exposed electrical wires can wait. A real friend wouldn't get married in the fall. And didn't you just spend all summer vacation with your kids? Sheesh.
We here at the MZone can't wait for kickoff either. As such, we have a host of new posts for your viewing pleasure today:
* The latest suspension at Miami leaves the team in a bind
* The Key Play Curse strikes Notre Dame
* What do Journey and Phil Collins have to do with college football in 2006?
* A collection of all the OSU stuff found and sent our way
* Either the coolest pong shot video ever or the reason today's college students are waaaaay behind the rest of the world academically
Finally, a big thanks to all those who bought t-shirts after reading our post last week about turning the Big House into the LOUD House. Mucho appreciated.
15 comments:
- Wild Willie said...
... crap like that. This last weekend I was confronted with a major dilemna. As a TX alum, there are at least three games per year that you absolutely do not miss. ou being the one posing my current dilemna. I was informed by my wife that on the same day I would have to make it to my mother-in-laws 60th birthday, and this was not up for debate. Understanding the politics of this situation I have decided to extend the debate (yes it is up for debate) out over the next month to help increase my chances of watching the game. My question for all out there is what advice do you have to aid in my debate. Keep in mind that childish illogical answers will only hurt me.
- August 28, 2006 8:50 AM
- Benny Friedman said...
Wild Willie, you really only have one choice: Fake your own death.
I gotta believe you're not the only one going to this party that wants to watch the game. Actually, if you are, that might be better as you can TiVo the game and not have to worry about finding out the result beforehand.
- August 28, 2006 10:10 AM
- Yost said...
Did you tell your wife, why have a 60th birthday (everybody does that) when you can have a surprise 61st birthday...in the summer. Best part of that, she won't suspect a thing.
Just trying to help.
- August 28, 2006 10:59 AM
- Boomer Bear said...
I think the Tivo idea is great. I do it all the time (have 2 now for premium sports watching) and it usually works out great with no commercials or stupid half time commentary. I married into a Texas family and they wouldn't dream of missing the big games for birthday parties, they would just move the party. Try to do it on Saturday night (or if its the Ohio State game - shoot for Friday Night). Other than that the fake death Benny suggested is looking pretty good!
"The Bear"
- August 28, 2006 11:36 AM
- Boomer Bear said...
Also guys,
What do you think about Georgia Tech? From all reports I am hearing they have a great reciever and the Notre Dame opener with them will be a lot tougher than the Irish are expecting. Any insider info on this?
"The Bear"
- August 28, 2006 11:42 AM
Why don't you give your mother-in-law an even bigger gift by separting from your wife for a couple of weeks? If she is like my mother-in-law, this will tickle her pink and you don't have to go to this party. Then you guys make up in a couple of weeks and everyone is happy. I used to use this when single for Valentines Day, weddings, Xmas...works great and you save a lot of money too!
- August 28, 2006 3:21 PM
TIVO or DVR rules- you get very spoiled being able to zap through commercials, time outs, etc., as well as having complete control of instant and slo-motion replays. The biggest problem is making it safely back to the TV without hearing the score.
- August 28, 2006 6:16 PM
- Yost said...
So true, Anon. You MUST avoid any and all phonecalls, emails, newscasts. There is always some "friend" leaving this message...
"Dude! Can you fucking believe it?! Holy shit!? We won!"
- August 28, 2006 6:37 PM
- TitleIX said...
need more info....
what time is the party? is it in the same time zone or a different time zone???
do you have a brother-in-law???
this takes an Ocean's Eleven
we need details!
- August 28, 2006 8:27 PM
- Kirbdaddy said...
Yost, just wanted to let you know that that the Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader listed The M Zone as one of its best college football blogs to visit in its college football preview. Congrats!!!
- August 28, 2006 11:04 PM
- Yost said...
No kidding?! Sweet. Do you have a link?
- August 28, 2006 11:27 PM
- Yost said...
Found it.
- August 28, 2006 11:40 PM
WW, the only option is to take the mother in law out to dinner BEFORE her brithday so that you can enjoy quality time before the game. When the game is on, you leave her time to attend to other guests, thereby being the perfect son in law. If your wife quibbles, you remind her that that you will take the m-i-l to brunch the FOLLOWING day to share her happiness and memories.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am now divorced, so it is unclear that I can offer quality advice on m-i-l interaction.
- August 29, 2006 5:57 AM
- Wild Willie said...
The advice is wonderful, and I am sure that I will have to employ the dvr. My only hope is that it is an early kick off (12 eastern), and then I can just be late to the party. I have such a hard time not watching games live, but dvr is the next best thing. ... Or maybe faking my death is a better thing.
- August 29, 2006 7:36 AM
Yost, also key is avoiding the reverse phone call:
"Dude! Can you fucking believe it?! Holy shit!? We lost! [COACH] should be fired!!"
If a loss occurs and I don't know about it beforehand, I can at last watch the game and understand how it happened. But if I find out before there's no way in hell I'm watching the recording.
- August 30, 2006 12:10 AM


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Hey, who's the young radical in this video interview on Masslive saying, "Capitalism isn't working for the masses"?
Why, it's former City Solicitor Pete Fenton.
Fenton was one of several people stopped in downtown Springfield the other day for man-in-the-street interviews about the government shutdown. He spoke about the economic pressures caused by the shutdown and the larger dysfunction that's landed us where we are. "Government has to work for the masses for it to work," he said. "Right now, I question whether it is."
I've always liked Fenton; he was one of the few people in the Albano administration who was nice to me—and, more important, he always made sure I received public documents I was looking for when others in City Hall were, shall we say, less forthcoming. So I'm happy to issue him a pardon for indulging in a little name-dropping in his interview, especially given the sass in his comment: "I told Richie [Neal]: You solved the problem in Ireland, now solve the problem in America."


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Although an official record of this type is hard to qualify, July 2013 will go down in the boardhead recordbooks as one of the windiest months the Gorge has seen since the invention of epoxy resin and neoprene. And while gardeners, construction crews, outdoor wedding vendors and neighbors chasing runaway trash cans down streets were afflicted by it, staff at many local businesses took a breather this week and gave the wind due credit for what they're calling a very busy, and very good month.
"Good wind is good for business," said Matt Luchsinger, sales staff and weekend manager at Big Winds in downtown Hood River. "What we sold the most of in July was small gear, both kites and sails. With so many consecutive days of high wind, people who came to town without small gear couldn't get out on the river with what they brought."
Officially, the 24-hour average wind speed for a weather station near the Hood River Waterfront Park was 8.2 mph for the month of July.
"As far as a number goes, it's not all that impressive to look at the monthly average," explained Larry Spellman, who runs a popular blog for weather geeks and atmospheric aficionados (hoodriverweather.info). "But July was impressively windy. The data is an around-the-clock average that includes nights, which are much less windy. At HOXO (weather station at Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research Center on the Heights), this was the windiest July on record since 1989."
For those who want more confirmation, even Bart Vervloet — the familiar voice and character behind the former "Bart's Best Bet" wind forecast for 22 years — conceded that this July was one to remember.
"It was a good month to be a wind forecaster because it blew every day," he said Wednesday from the Gorge Surf Shop on Oak Street. "And not only was it windy, it was exceptionally warm and windy. If you look at temperatures to the east, in eastern Oregon and Idaho, they were really high last month. That's the real wind engine around here in the summer."
Additional data from the waterfront park site, labeled MBPHOO on www.wunderground.com's weather station locator, shows daily maximum wind gusts for the month. Every day of July saw gusts of at least 20 mph, with about half near 30 and the highest (July 4) reading 39 mph.
Relatively new to the local wind-sports scene, downwind stand-up paddling in the Gorge has exploded in popularity in the last few years and saw a spike in action last month as paddlers on long, narrow boards made specifically for riding rolling swell took advantage of the classic Gorge conditions in a new way.
"The Gorge has become one of the best-known places in the world for downwind SUP," said Luchsinger. When the wind rips through the Gorge and the swell gets big, runs here are comparable to the world famous ones in Hawaii."
Luchsinger said Big Winds' new shuttle service for downwind SUP and kiteboarding, which drops off at Viento State Park, was popular enough in July to necessitate one or two shuttles almost every day of the month. He also said, as expected, windsurfing lessons through the shop were well-booked through the month.
At the Gorge Surf Shop, longtime staff member Gary Koop briefly reflected on his years in the Gorge.
"I've been in the Gorge for almost 25 years and this has been one of the windiest summers I can remember. One thing that is different now from the old days is how much more people rely on forecasts to determine if they'll come to town. There were several days that weren't forecasted to be windy but were."
"Predicting anything past about three days around here is just guessing," Vervloet added. "Things just change to fast. I always tell people, don't bet against the wind here; you'll be wrong most of the time."
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ALWAYS Keeps Your Searches Private
US Worried Russia-Georgia Conflict Could Hurt U.S. Space Program
The U.S. government must now decide whether it will overlook Russia's skirmishes with Georgia. Even though Russia and Georgia have officially signed a cease-fire agreement, the volatile situation between the two nations could jeopardize whether or not NASA astronauts fly to the International Space Station aboard Russian spacecraft in the future, U.S. officials warn.
NASA will be forced to rely on Russian spacecraft to ferry astronauts to and from the ISS on the Soyuz spacecraft and transport supplies from Earth to the space station once the shuttle is retired in 2010. The next-generation Orion spacecraft is not expected to be done until 2015, at the earliest, NASA previously said.
"The new challenge we have is that for approximately five years, the plan — which is a very bad plan but is the only plan that NASA and the administration and Congress have approved — is to be dependent on the Russian Soyuz vehicle to get people to and from the international space station," said Tom Feeney, (R-FL). "And so now, with the political realities with Russia invading Georgia, we have a new wrinkle thrown in."
Furthermore, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D, FL) also said the situation between Russia and Georgia could greatly impact the space cooperation between the United States and Russia. Without the use of Russian spacecraft after the shuttle is retired, NASA astronauts will be unable to get to the ISS to help finish its construction.
Nelson also pointed out that a U.S. law signed in 2000 directly prohibits the government from entering contracts with any nation that gave assistance to North Korea and/or Iran with any nuclear programs -- Russia has helped the nations with their nuclear programs. Congress must now either reauthorize the waiver so a transportation agreement can be made, or will uphold the 2000 law and not work with Russia.
So far, the House Foreign Affairs Committee has supported the waiver, though it must now pass the House, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senate.
The French-brokered cease-fire that has been signed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili forces both sides to return their troops to their original locations prior to the skirmishes. But even with an agreement in place, tensions between the United States and Russia, the two largest contributors to the ISS, remain high.
The U.S. government must now try and determine whether or not it will move forward and pay millions to the Russian government for ferrying astronauts into space, or delay the looming retirement of the space shuttle fleet a few more years.
August 18, 2008 - source Daily Tech
- SadInAmerica's blog
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We had a little heat wave a few weeks ago so I ran the A/C and got a bill for 300 dollars, so I try not to run it too much.
If I jump in the pool I am cooled off for hours after. Of course the dogs don't swim so when they start panting the air goes on.


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Having home-field advantage isn't a necessity
The Dodgers want it. The Braves are obsessed with getting it. The Cardinals, Pirates and Reds would prefer it. Anyway, just between us, one of the most overrated things in sports is home-field advantage in baseball during the postseason.
There, I said it. Now I'll prove it.
The Dodgers want it. The Braves are obsessed with getting it. The Cardinals, Pirates and Reds would prefer it. Anyway, just between us, one of the most overrated things in sports is home-field advantage in baseball during the postseason.
There, I said it. Now I'll prove it.
Well, with a lot of help from common sense, along with the prolific folks at the Elias Sports Bureau.
Let's start with the controversy that really isn't involving baseball's decision to award home-field advantage for the World Series to the league that wins the All-Star Game. The system began after the 2002 Midsummer Classic ended in Milwaukee with a tie. Here is my first point of many: Of the 10 World Series champions since then, a reasonably thinking individual could make the case that only one of those winners clearly was the inferior team in that particular World Series.
The 2003 Marlins. Somehow, they whipped a Yankees bunch that was in full dynasty mode with the in-their-prime versions of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and the rest. That was the first year of the All-Star Game determining World Series home-field advantage and guess what? The Yankees had home-field advantage, and they still lost. Not only that, they did so at Yankee Stadium in Game 6.
As for the World Series winners since then, we've had those two inspired Red Sox teams during their post-Curse of the Bambino era. We've had the relentless Cardinals of Tony La Russa -- twice. We've had the Yankees getting it right again for George Steinbrenner in his final days. We've had the White Sox and Phillies rising throughout their magic seasons to crush the overmatched Astros and Rays, respectively. We've also had a couple of pitching-rich Giants rosters with a lot of Buster Posey.
The bottom line: Baseball's last nine World Series champions would have won it all regardless of where the Fall Classic was played. That means we've put too much emphasis on this home-field advantage thing -- at least in recent years, and maybe further back than that.
Still, the frantic pursuit continues for those wishing to host as many home playoff games as possible. Since the American League won the 2013 All-Star Game, it will have home-field advantage in the World Series. But in addition to those National League teams I mentioned earlier, you have the Red Sox, Tigers and Athletics in the AL seeking to finish with the best record in their respective league in order to receive home-field advantage through the LCS.
How important is all of this when it comes to trying to reach the World Series and actually winning it?
Not as much as you may think.
All of the following statistics were provided by Elias, starting with these telling ones: Since division play began in 1969, there have been 43 postseasons. The NL team with the best record in each of those years has reached the World Series 17 times and won eight, and the AL team has done so 21 times and won 11. Those aren't impressive numbers, and neither are these: In the early years of division play, baseball used a best-of-five format in the LCS, and the team playing at home during a decisive Game 5 won just 16 times to the opponent's 18.
OK, OK. In contrast, teams with the home-field advantage have done better throughout history in decisive Game 7s during the LCS and the World Series. Out of 51 such games, the home team is 28-23. Plus, if you consider all of the 104 World Series that have used a best-of-seven format, the team with home-field advantage is 60-44.
Here's something else to consider, though. I live in Atlanta, where the Braves want home-field advantage more than anybody else, and where such a thing hasn't mattered for a while.
We're talking about for a long while.
During seven of the Braves' last eight trips to the playoffs (including their last six in a row), they've lost in the first round. That includes last year's first NL Wild Card Game. More strikingly, in six of those seven losses for the Braves, the other team clinched that particular playoff series or Wild Card Game at Turner Field.
So much for home-field advantage. In reverse order, Turner Field rarely has been louder than it was last season when the Cardinals came to town for their Wild Card Game with the Braves. In addition, future Hall of Fame third baseman Chipper Jones announced his retirement during Spring Training, and after an impressive regular season, a victory over the Cardinals would keep his farewell alive.
Instead, it died along with the 2012 Braves with much help from an infield fly rule call that resembled the outfield fly rule. There also was Jones' crucial error earlier in the game. (Oh, and in case you're wondering, the Rangers spent last year losing at home to the Orioles in the first AL Wild Card Game). Before that, the Braves were ousted at Turner Field from the 2010 NL Division Series by the Giants to end the career of legendary manager Bobby Cox.
As for those other NLDS elimination games at home for the Braves during their string of them, there was 2004 against the Astros. There was '03 against the Cubs. There was '02 against the Giants. The Braves did sweep the Astros out of the '01 NLDS with the final game in Atlanta, but the year before that, the Braves were swept out of the NLDS by the Cardinals with the final game at Turner Field.
That said, the Braves are clinging to a 1 1/2-game lead over the Cardinals for the best record in the NL at 90-62, and they are ahead of the Pirates by 2 1/2 games and the Reds by 3 1/2 games. So given that the Braves have the best home record in baseball by a bunch at 52-22, they believe gaining home-field advantage through the NLCS will enhance their desire to grab their first World Series championship since 1995.
Um, OK.
Terence Moore is a columnist for MLB.com.