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It sounded like a scene from Hitchcock's The Birds. The morning before a winter storm blew in and dumped 4 inches of snow on our Iowa farm (a foot of snow in northern Iowa), blackbirds swarmed our place, moving from tree to tree. The racket was incredible and the droppings in the barnyard thick after they left.
Bob has been working cattle, vaccinating calves, pregnancy checking cows. He took these two photos. The first shows Wayne Hunerdosse, 90, in the center. He still helps move cattle through the chute on his farm by Medora, Iowa.
Below, farm dog Bennett keeps an eye on each calf coming through the chute for fall vaccinations.


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Welcome, computing educator! The goal of this site is to provide you with a vast array of ready-for-prime-time technology resources to use in your teaching. We divide these into topics in two categories below: those used in class and those used outside of class. For most of the resources, we present a discussion page with more details about the technology and an opportunity to share your experiences with other educators.
This website is divided into three tiers - the first tier is the Home page, which contains the in-class and outside-of-class topic listings. The second tier is the topic pages (e.g., for Presentation Software or Project Inspiration). Each topic page is maintained by moderators, who add or remove links from the topic page as a response to comments and/or emails. The third tier consists of the individual technology pages (e.g., for PowerPoint or Nifty Assignments). Each technology page contains a description, a link to the remote website, a rating, a discussion thread, cost, and other metadata.

subset: commoncrawl


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Player of the Week - No. 7
By Chad Waller, Director of Communications & Sports Information
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kyle Erickson of Montana Western has been named the NAIA National Division I Men's Basketball Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Erickson was selected based on his performances from Feb. 6 - 12 and was chosen out of a pool of conference/independent/unaffiliated groupings.
Erickson, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, went off for two, 30-point games in a pair of Bulldog wins last week. In the 89-75 upset victory against No. 13 Montana State-Northern in the NAIA Game of the Week on Feb. 10, Erickson set career highs in points (32), free throws made (11), 3-point field goals made (7) and field goals made (10). His previous career scoring high was 18, set last season. He finished his night by shooting 10-for-11 from the field.
One night later, the native of Broadview, Mont., notched 31 points and grabbed a career-tying 14 rebounds in the 66-63 win against Great Falls (Mont.). He went 10-for-16 from the floor.
For the week, he averaged 31.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and shot 74.1 percent (20-of-27) overall.
The next Player of the Week announcement will be on Feb. 21.
Nominees: James Justice, Martin Methodist (Tenn.); Ben Worner, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Eric Frederick, Texas Wesleyan; Juan Gray, Tougaloo (Miss.); Ben Steinlage, Baker (Kan.); Daryl Arnold, Belhaven (Miss.); Travis Wilkins, St. Catharine (Ky.); Dezmon Hickman, Missouri Baptist; Charlie Shorter, Mid-America Christian (Okla.); Steven Jurich, Hope International (Calif.).
2011-12 Composite Award Winners
Week 1: Eric Frederick, Texas Wesleyan
Week 2: Josh Orta, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas)
Week 3: Chase Spreen, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Week 4: Eric Frederick, Texas Wesleyan
Week 5: Walter Hill, Shorter (Ga.)
Week 6: Brad Karp, Saint Xavier (Ill.)
Week 7: Kyle Erickson, Montana Western


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Actress, writer and director, Lena Dunham, has weighed in on the controversy over her February Vogue cover, saying she doesn't have a problem with the photoshop edits to the images because "a fashion magazine is like a beautiful fantasy."
The cover featuring the star and creator of the HBO series "Girls" became the subject of scrutiny after feminist blog Jezebel offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who could provide the original, unretouched photos of Dunham. Within two hours of their call-out for the originals, the magazine received them.
Jezebel published a follow-up blog post examining the before and after images, pointing out the parts of Dunham's body that had been altered by Vogue. However, contrary to heavy-handed cosmetic photoshopping revealed in other cases, most of the edits were minor changes, such as pulling up the neckline of her dress, sharpening her jawline and repositioning her shoulders. Some of Jezebel's followers have since criticized the website's pursuit of the images, calling it a "witch-hunt," as well as unnecessary and mean.
Dunham, who has been lauded for breaking body image barriers by unabashedly featuring different and realistic body types - including her own - in her series, herself responded to the controversy by saying that she doesn't understand what the big deal is. She told Slate France that she doesn't "understand why, photoshop or no, having a woman who is different than the typical Vogue cover girl, could be a bad thing."
"I understand that for people there is a contradiction between what I do and being on the cover of Vogue, but frankly I don't know what the photoshopping situation is," she said, according to an English translation posted on Slate's English-language site.
Dunham, who has been praised as a role model for positive body image, said she feels her appearance on the cover of Vogue doesn't change her message. She said the magazine's editors "dressed me and styled me in a way that really reflects who I am."
"Vogue isn't the place that we go to look at realistic women, Vogue is the place that we go to look at beautiful clothes and fancy places and escapism and so I feel like if the story reflects me and I happen to be wearing a beautiful Prada dress and surrounded by beautiful men and dogs, what's the problem?" she continued in her interview with Slate France. "If they want to see what I really look like go watch the show that I make every single week."


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This week: a look back at some of our favorite interviews in past years.
This interview originally aired in 2007.
Jackson Publick is the co-creator of the Cartoon Network [adult swim] series The Venture Bros. The show just returned for a fifth season, after a multi-year hiatus. The series is a sometimes bizarre, often surprisingly heartfelt parody of the boys' adventure genre.
Publick talks about the space race, creating affectionate parodies, and the loss of his mother (and how it shaped the fictional world of The Venture Bros).
The Venture Bros. airs Sundays at midnight on Cartoon Network's [adult swim].
This segment originally aired in January 2013.
Jason Kottke, proprietor of Kottke.org, a collection of some of the most interesting links the internet has to offer, joins us this week to share some all-time internet picks. First, he enlightens us about the practice of sending children through the mail. He also shares a mind-bending physics thought experiment -- if an airplane moves forward on a conveyor belt that's moving in the opposite direction at the same speed, can the airplane take off?
Pop Culture Advice with My Brother, My Brother and Me
This segment originally aired in February 2012.
Our resident pop culture advice columnists, the McElroy brothers of My Brother, My Brother and Me take on questions about movie posters as art, what happens when you judge a child's abominable TV watching choices, and more.
A cut of our 2010 interview with Lemmy Kilmister at South by Southwest. Click through to see video and hear a longer cut of this interview.
Lemmy, the frontman of Motörhead, is a legend to metalheads worldwide. We spoke to him as a documentary about his life premiered at South by Southwest. Lemmy talks to us about seeing The Beatles for the very first time, how dropping acid brought him a new awareness of himself, and creating his own signature bass sound.
Lemmy, the documentary about his life from directors Wes Orshoski and Greg Olliver, is available now on DVD and Blu-ray. A new album from Motörhead is due this September.
This segment originally aired in June 2012.
For The Outshot this week, Jesse highlights the relaxed, harmonious hip hop sound of Digable Planets' revolutionary but commercially disastrous 1994 record Blowout Comb.
Blowout Comb has just been reissued by Light in the Attic on limited edition vinyl.


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October 21, 2011
Psychology professors present, publish in research journal
Brenda McDaniel, assistant professor of psychology, and Whitney Jeter, doctoral student in psychology, gave an invited presentation to the Clay Center Lions Club business meeting in October. They presented "Beyond sticks and stones, tornadoes and war: Chronic verbal abuse in the home school, and neighborhood predicts youth trauma symptoms particularly in boys."
Donald Saucier, associate professor of psychology; Sara Smith, doctoral student in psychology; Danielle Zanotti, December 2009 bachelor's graduate in psychology; and Amber Axelton, spring 2007 bachelor's graduate in psychology, were published in the most recent issue of the Journal of Homosexuality. The publication was titled "Individuals' beliefs about the etiology of same-sex sexual orientation."


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New York City electrical contractors are still waiting to hear news about the future of the World Trade Center.
Bob Mann, chairman of E-J Electric Installation Co., Long Island City, N.Y., said so far, no one has drawn up firm construction plans to rebuild.
"We just got a new mayor and everyone has their own ideas of what they would like to do," Mann said. "There's been a lot of talk."
Larry Silverstein, a New York developer who led the group who purchased the World Trade Center's 99-year lease, vowed to rebuild just days after the tragedy. The question remains, however, whether or not the Twin Towers will be replicated. Several ideas have been proposed in the two months following Sept. 11, including constructing hollow 110-story towers as a memorial for those who lost their lives in the tragedy. Another idea is to rebuild four 50-story office buildings as opposed to two 110-story towers.
Before the World Trade Center can be rebuilt, however, the site has to be cleared, which could take up to a year. Electrical contractors are contributing to the recovery effort by powering buildings near Ground Zero.
"We're working down at the Financial Center and doing minor repairs to the buildings that are intact and trying to get them back online," Mann said. "We're trying to keep things moving and clean up the buildings so people can get back in there."
On Sept. 11, companies lost not only employees, but also valuable office space. Mann said companies are now deciding whether or not to keep their headquarters in the Big Apple.
"The big issue now is whether corporations are going to stay in New York or move out of New York," Mann said. "That's what everyone is debating at this point."
What do you think about the rebuilding of the World Trade Center? E-mail Amy Fischbach, Staff Writer, at [email protected] with your views on the future of the site. For breaking news on the Sept. 11 tragedy and the war in Afghanistan, visit www.ceenews.com.
About 51,539 people have voted in a poll on RebuildOrNot.com. Below are the results.
What should be done with the World Trade Center site?
Rebuild them exactly as they were.
Rebuild them bigger and better.
Build a low-rise office park.
Create a national park and a museum.
Just a memorial, no business offices.
Do you think they should be rebuilt as a statement against terrorism?
Yes 72%
No 28%
If they were rebuilt, with modern safety precautions, would you work in the towers?
Yes 70%
No 30%


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Q. When are overcurrent devices restricted from being installed?
A. These are the four key requirements you must keep in mind when installing overcurrent devices.
1) Overcurrent devices must not be exposed to physical damage [240.24(C)]. Note: Electrical equipment must be suitable for the environment, and consideration must be given to the presence of corrosive gases, fumes, vapors, liquids, or chemicals that have a deteriorating effect on conductors or equipment [110.11].
2) Overcurrent devices must not be located near easily ignitable material, such as in clothes closets [240.24(D)].
3) Overcurrent devices aren't permitted to be located in the bathrooms of dwelling units, dormitories, or guest rooms or guest suites of hotels or motels [240.24(E)]. In addition, the service disconnecting means must not be located in a bathroom, even in commercial or industrial facilities [230.70(A)(2)].
4) Overcurrent devices must not be located over the steps of a stairway [240.24(FC)]. Clearly, it's difficult for electricians to safely work on electrical equipment that's located on uneven surfaces such as over stairways.


text:
South American Tour heads to Uruguay
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 13 February, 2014 – The South American Beach Volleyball Tour will make its third stop of the year, this time at Pocitos Beach near the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo from February 14-16.
It follows on from the Tour opener at Macae beach in Brazil and Vina del Mar in Chile and 20 teams in both female and make competitions are expected to compete.
In the most recent tournament two Argentine pairings won gold; Ana Gallay and Georgina Klug topped the podium in the women's competition, while Ian Mehamed and Julian Azaad beat Chilean cousins Marco and Esteban Grimalt 2-1 for the gold medal.
The tournament begins with the group stages on Friday, ahead of the completion of the pools and the quarterfinals on Saturday. Then on the Sunday the semifinals and medal matches take place.


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How to Use
Map 2: Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site.
Questions for Map 2
1. Calculate the distance between Windsor, Vermont, and the Cornish estate (now Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site). Note that Windsor is the closest town.
2. What do you think the location of the Cornish estate shows about Saint-Gaudens' life in this area?
3. What do you think were the advantages and disadvantages to living in this area?
* The map on this screen has a resolution of 72 dots per inch (dpi), and therefore will print poorly. You can obtain a high quality version of Map 2, but be aware that the file may take as much as 30 seconds to load with a 28.8K modem.


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Liebherr is presenting at the 2015 INTERMAT the new telescopic handler TL 436-7 with 7 m lift height and 3.6 tonnes lift capacity.
The new telescopic handler is one out of three available models with lift capacities of 3,2 and 4,1 tonnes. During development, demands from companies in the construction industry and equipment hire were at the forefront.
Liebherr telescopic handlers score particularly highly with the infinitely variable hydrostatic travel drive, the sturdy overall structure, the safe, simple and convenient operation and the outstanding viewing conditions enabled by the new equipment design.
Technical data
|Engine output
|74 kW / 101 PS
|Max. lifting capacity
|3.600 kg
|Max. lifting height
|7 m
|Max. forward reach
|4 m
The three telescopic handler models are powered by a new turbocharged Deutz construction machine engine with 74 kW / 101 HP. This engine is equipped as standard with an oxidisation catalyst and meets the requirements of the IIIB / tier 4i emissions legislation. For deployment on steep gradients where a higher pulling force is needed, Liebherr offers a larger capacity engine with an output of 90 kW / 122 HP and a greater hydraulic delivery rate.
The new telescopic handlers from Liebherr impress with their stability during loading and lifting. The newly designed frame and the balanced wheelbase give the machines a low centre of gravity. The heavy duty telescopic boom is articulated at a point deep in the frame. Powerful friction bearings allow smooth guidance with heavy loads and offer a high lifting force.
The greatest importance was attached to the comfort and safety of the driver during the development of the equipment. Ergonomic control elements in a generously-sized driver cab allow work to be carried out in a relaxed manner. Large window panes, an uninterrupted windscreen, a newly designed driver console as well as the standard tilting steering column and low articulation point of the boom guarantee all-round visibility.
The single lever operation means that the telescopic handlers can be controlled with the utmost of precision. Moreover, the travelling direction switch integrated in the joystick makes it possible to change between forwards and reverse travel quick and easily.
The optimal interaction of hydrostatic travel drive and diesel engine allows fuel savings to be gained particularly in operations where the direction of travel has to be changed frequently.
Easily accessible servicing points for the diesel engine and hydraulic system, as well as an optional central lubrication system including telescopic head, reduce the maintenance complexity to a minimum.


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The standard features of the Volvo S90 Hybrid T8 Momentum include Drive-E 2.0L I-4 400hp hybrid gas turbo/supercharger engine, 8-speed Geartronic automatic transmission with overdrive, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), integrated navigation system, SIPS side seat mounted airbags, curtain 1st and 2nd row overhead airbags, driver knee airbag, airbag occupancy sensor, automatic air conditioning, 19" aluminum wheels, cruise control, distance pacing, ABS and driveline traction control.
Starting at: $63,650
No security deposit required. Monthly payment of $685, based on $65,290 MSRP of 2019 S90 T8 Momentum AWD with Metallic Paint, includes destination charge and application of $5,002 Noncash Credit and $10,300 Lease Bonus. Lessee is responsible for excess wear and mileage over 10,000 miles/year at $.25 / mile.Car shown with optional equipment. Advertised lease payment and financing excludes taxes, title, and registration fees and is available for qualified customers based on FICO score through Volvo Car Financial Services. Payments may vary, as dealer determines price. Offers available at participating dealers. See dealer for details. Cannot exceed 10000 miles per year.
|City/Hwy mpg
|T8 Momentum Search New
|313-hp 2.0L 4-cyl
|8-spd auto
|No Data
|T8 Inscription Search New
|313-hp 2.0L 4-cyl
|8-spd auto
|No Data
Your privacy is important to us.
The Autobarn Volvo Cars Oak Park takes your privacy seriously and does not rent or sell your personal information to third parties without your consent. Read our privacy policy.


text:
1. How do I monetize acceleration? This is fairly straightforward to do. For example, assume your acceleration is 0.007 (0.7%), there are five people on the team, your annual burdened cost per person is $150,000, and you have two week iterations. All these numbers are made up, but you know how to calculate acceleration now and IT management had darn well better know the average burdened cost (salary plus overhead) of their staff. So, per iteration the average burdened cost per person must be $150,000/26 = $5,770. Productivity improvement per iteration for this team must be $5,770 * 5 * .007 = $202. If the acceleration stayed constant at 0.7% the overall productivity improvement for the year would be (1.007)^26 (assuming the team works all 52 weeks of the year) which would be 1.198 or 19.8%. This would be a savings of $148,500 (pretty much the equivalent of one new person). Of course a 20% productivity increase over an entire year is a really aggressive improvement, regardless of some of the claims made by the agile snake oil salesman out there, although at 10-15% increase is a reasonable expectation. What I'd really want to do is calculate the acceleration for the year by comparing the velocity from the beginning of the year to the end of the year (in Western cultures I'd want to avoid comparing iterations near to the holidays). So, if the team velocity the first week of February 2008 was 20 points, now the same team's velocity the first week of February 2009 was 23 points, that's an acceleration of (23-20)/20 = 15% over a one year period, for a savings of $112,500.
2. Is acceleration really unitless? For the sake of comparison it is. The "units" are % change in points per iteration, or % change in points per time period depending on the way that you want to look at it. Because it's a percentage I can easily monetize it, as you see above, and use it as a basis of comparison.
3. How do I convince teams to share their data? This can be difficult. Because acceleration is easy to calculate for agile teams, and because it's easy to use to compare teams (my team has .7% acceleration whereas other teams down the hall from mine have accelerations of .3% and -.2% of teams), people are concerned that this metric will be used against them. OK, to be fair, my team might be OK with this. ;-) Seriously though, this is a valid fear that will only be addressed by an effective governance program based on enablement, collaboration, and trust instead of the traditional command-and-control approach. Management's track record regarding how they've used measurements in the past, and how they've governed in general, have a great effect on people's willingness to trust them with new metrics such as acceleration. The implication is that you need to build up trust, something that could take years if it's possible at all.
4. Why does this work for agile teams? Agile teams are self organizing, and an implication of that is that they will be held accountable for their estimates. Because of this accountability, and because velocity is a vital input into their planning and estimation efforts, agile teams are motivated to calculate their velocity accurately and to track it over time. Because they're eager to get their velocity right, and because acceleration is based on velocity, there's an exceptionally good chance that it's accurate.
5. What about function points or similar productivity measures? Function points can be calculated for projects being developed via an agile approach, or other approaches for that matter, but it's a very expensive endeavor compared to calculating acceleration (which is essentially free) and likely will be seen as a bureaucratic overhead by the development team. My rule of thumb is that if you're not being explicitly paid to count function points (for example the US DoD will often pay contracting companies to create estimates based on function point counts) then I wouldn't bother with them.
6. What about calculating acceleration for iterative project teams? Iterative project teams, perhaps following Rational Unified Process (RUP), can choose to calculate and track their velocity and thereby their acceleration. The key is to allow the team to be self organizing and accountable for their estimates, which in turn motivates them to get their velocity right just like agile teams (RUP can be as agile as you want to make it, don't let anyone tell you differently).
7. What about calculating acceleration for traditional project teams? In theory this should work, in practice it is incredibly unlikely. Traditional teams don't work in iterations where working software is produced on a regular basis, they're typically not self organizing, and therefore there really isn't any motivate to calculate velocity (even if they do, there is little motivation to get it right). Without knowing the velocity you can't calculate acceleration. If you can't trust the velocity estimate, and I certainly wouldn't trust a traditional team's velocity estimate, then you can't trust your acceleration calculation. So, my fall back position to calculate productivity improvement would be to do something like function point counting (which is expensive and difficult to compare between teams due to different fudge factors used by different FP counters) and then looking at change in FPs delivered over time.
8. How can I apply this across a department? It is fairly straightforward to roll up the acceleration of project teams into an overall acceleration measure for a portfolio of teams simply by taking a weighted average based on team size. However, this is only applicable to teams that are in a position to report an accurate acceleration (the agile and iterative teams) and of course are willing to do so.
9. What does a negative acceleration tell me? If the acceleration is negative then productivity on the team is going down, likely an indicator of quality and/or team work problems. However, you don't want to manage by the numbers so you should talk to the team to see what's actually going on.
10. What does a zero acceleration tell me? This is an indication that the team's productivity is not increasing, and that perhaps they should consider doing retrospectives at the end of each iteration and then acting on the results from those retrospectives. Better yet they can "dial up" their process improvement efforts by adopting something along the lines of IBM Rational Self Check.
Further reading:
- Acceleration: An Agile Productivity Measure
- Lean Development Governance
- Agile and Rational Unified Process (RUP)
- Introducing IBM Rational Self Check for Software Teams


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26 January 2012
The Coach and Horses Hotel: Beer Garden & Pub Bistro, Randwick (5, 22, 23 Jan 2012)
11 comments:
Love the photo of the baby's bottle next to the beer :)
- January 7, 2012 at 12:05 PM
- joey@FoodiePop said...
Is it just me or is every second pub/hotel undergoing makeovers?
- January 7, 2012 at 12:05 PM
- john@heneedsfood said...
One by one the pubs of Sydney are changing their outfits. Really like the look of the beer garden. Comfy but not too fancy. Also like the sound of the chicken wings. Yummo!
- January 8, 2012 at 5:22 PM
- Simon Leong said...
hi lateraleating, I just hope DoCS is OK with it too ;-)
hi joey, I think you're right. Hopefully the locals are the winners in the end though.
hi john, it's a pretty relaxed beer garden. not too fancy so families should feel pretty comfortable as well.
- January 9, 2012 at 1:57 AM
- Chanel said...
I've been to many a party in their function room ;-)
Nice to see the bistro food & decor is looking good, but not too fancy!
- January 9, 2012 at 1:01 PM
- Simon Leong said...
hi chanel, it does seem to look like a nice function room.
- January 9, 2012 at 2:34 PM
- New York Hotel said...
I finally decided to try it out back in June, but it was closed. It looks like there might be lights on inside.
- January 24, 2012 at 5:11 PM
- thang@noodlies said...
Gosh such a great, detailed review.. I could eat everything in your review!
- January 26, 2012 at 9:35 AM
- penny aka jeroxie said...
You can EAT! I keep thinking about the chicken wings.
- January 26, 2012 at 12:10 PM
- Food is our religion said...
The toppings and bacon on the Oysters Kilpatrick looked seriously generous!
- January 26, 2012 at 3:45 PM
- Simon Leong said...
hi thang, i'm working through the menu slowly so there might be a few more dishes to be added in the future.
hi penny, i love a good chicken wing, especially with a good beer
hi food is our religion, seriously generous indeed. More a Bacon Kilpatrick than an Oyster Kilpatrick perhaps hehe
- January 27, 2012 at 3:09 PM
Simon Food Favourites Map
Small Bars in Sydney map
View Small Bars in Sydney in a larger map


text:
The little blue pill Viagra is known for helping men perform better in the bedroom, but now it is being used to help children with a lymphatic disorder.
Early reports show Sildenafil, better known under the brand name Viagra and sold as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, reduced the size of growths in some children with lymphatic malformation, an abnormal sponge-like growth that contains clear fluid.
The malformation causes cysts to swell and clog up the lymphatic system often leaving children with massive and sometimes deadly growths on their faces and necks.
Dr. Al Lane, a pediatric dermatologist at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University, treated an infant girl who had severe lymphatic malformation.
She had growths that swelled up in her chest and wrapped around her heart, putting her at high risk of heart failure.
Lane gave her Sildenafil, and the drug helped her heart problems. He also noticed a massive reduction in the lymphatic malformation.
So far, only a handful of pediatric patients have been treated with Viagra for the disease. Now research is underway to see if the drug can help more patients and whether the drug is safe to give to children.
Currently there is no cure for lymphatic malformation.


text:
Brevard County libraries pull 'Fifty Shades Of Grey'
Book too graphic for shelves, library officials say
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Some consider E.L. James' "Fifty Shades Of Grey" to be soft pornography, others are calling it 'mommy porn.' So why is it so popular among women?
Brevard County Library officials said they purchased 19 copies of the book because of its popularity, but after seeing reviews they decided to pull it off their shelves.
"It's a shame. It's freedom of speech and there is nothing horrible about this book," said resident Doreen Sley.
Shannon Ramsey agreed.
"I'm intrigued and ready to read it with my husband," Ramsey said.
Others who have read the provocative novel disagree and because of those bad reviews Brevard County libraries pulled the first of the popular trilogy earlier this week saying it doesn't meet their selection criteria.
Don Walker, a spokesman for Brevard County said reviews considered the book to be pornographic in nature and they don't collect porn.
"I think we should have access to these books regardless of whether other people like them or not." Patricia McCarron said.
"It's a little saucy and most of us moms who have kids in school don't have a real life like that," Sley said.
Sley is a fan of the book which is topping bestseller lists across the country.
"I have all three books on my book shelf hidden behind other books ... I would recommend it, but a lot of my friends would not read it," Sley said.
The book is more than a romance novel with graphic descriptions of sadomasochism.
Sley admits while she's a fan she wouldn't want her daughter or even her mother reading "Fifty Shades."
"Oh no! She would be mortified if she knew I was reading it," Sley said.
While you can't check out the naughty novel at Brevard County libraries, you can at Volusia County libraries. However Orange County libraries don't stock the book.
Copyright 2011 by Post-Newsweek Stations. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed


text:
The mayor of Bell opened Monday night's meeting with a question: "How is everybody?"
Did he really have to ask?
Residents responded with a shower of "boos" as the council prepared to take up the salary scandal that had meeting attendees fuming. The council voted Monday night to lower the salaries of four of its members from $96,000 a year to $673 per month following public criticism.
If the "boos" didn't give Mayor Oscar Hernandez an idea of the mood in the room, a series of speakers went into detail.
"You were a crook yesterday, you're a crook today, and you'll be a crook tomorrow," one speaker said as he pointed at the council.
Just hours after the fiery meeting, the state's chief fiscal officer arrived in Bell Tuesday morning to review records. State Controller John Chiang said he was responding to a city request for a review that could last up to six weeks.
If the review discovers anything requiring further investigation, the matter could be referred to the state attorney general and the Los Angeles County district attorney, Chiang said. Bell's interim chief administrative officer Pedro Carrillo said he requested an independent audit of city finances by the controller.
Hernandez apologized Monday night for excessive pay and said he will finish his term without pay and not seek re-election. His term expires March 2011.
"To the residents of this great city, I apologize that the Council's past decisions with regard to the indefensible administrative salaries have failed to meet that test. We know we have hard work ahead of us to restore Bell's trust even as we work to maintain the unparalleled city services that our families depend on," Hernandez said in a statement. "As a first step to putting Bell on a new path forward in our governance, I will continue to serve our city without pay through the remainder of my term," he said.
The full statement has been posted online.
The apology comes after the City Council booted its police chief, city manager and assistant city manager at an emergency meeting on Thursday. The council called another such meeting for Monday night to address the future of this 2-square-mile city southeast of Los Angeles.
"The fight doesn't end here," said Ali Saleh, who co-founded the group Bell Association to Stop the Abuse after the salaries were revealed.
Attorney General Jerry Brown's office is looking into the case. Brown said Monday he has subpoenaed hundreds of records from the city. He demanded to see employment contracts from the city of Bell within 48 hours to determine whether to file charges.
Hundreds of residents who were enraged to learn last week that the lowest paid of the three ousted employees was making more than $300,000 a year were expected to attend the council meeting and demand that council members, most of whom are making about $100,000 a year, either slash their own salaries or resign.
Saleh and other BASTA members, whose acronym translates to "Enough!" in Spanish, planned to paper the town with 12,000 flyers over the weekend, urging people to attend the meeting.
For many residents at Monday's meeting, a pay cut was too little -- they called for resignations. And, as the LA Times reports, it was too late for some former city workers.
At the same time that top Bell officials were receiving some of the fattest municipal salaries in the nation, the city cut spending on police, social services, and parks and recreation, according to interviews and records reviewed by The Times. While City Manager Robert Rizzo was receiving more than $700,000 a year, Rosario Torres was laid off from her $9-an-hour job preparing children for kindergarten.
"They tell you they don't have the money to pay you, and you think 'OK, I understand, they just don't have the money,' " Torres said. "But I never imagined they were making so much money themselves. It's incredible."
The salaries exploded into public view after a Los Angeles Times investigation, based on California Public Records Act requests, showed the city payroll was bloated with all sorts of six-figure salaries.
Here are the numbers:
- Chief Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo made $787,637 a year, getting a series of raises since being hired in 1993 at $72,000. President Barack Obama makes $400,000.
- Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia made $376,288 a year.
- Police Chief Randy Adams earned $457,000, $150,000 more than Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck.
- Mayor Oscar Hernandez and three of the council's four other members make about $100,000 a year, most of it salaries for sitting on various boards and commissions. Only Councilman Lorenzo Velez makes a modest salary of about $8,000 a year.
Hours after last week's emergency meeting, Hernandez released a letter in which he defended the compensation. He also attacked the newspaper that first reported about the sky-high salaries.
"Unlike the skewed view of the facts, the Los Angeles Times presented to advance the paper's own agenda, a look at the big picture of city compensation shows that salaries of the City Manager and other top city staff have been in line with similar positions over the period of their tenure," Hernandez said in the letter.
If there is a recall, Saleh said his group would like Velez to stay on the council and work toward reforming local government in the city of 40,000 where one in six live in poverty.
The council salaries were made possible by a little-noticed ballot measure that passed during a special election five years ago.
A state law enacted in 2005 restricted council pay in "general law" cities, but that same year the Bell council authorized a special election with one item on the ballot -- converting Bell to a "charter city." The LA Times reported that the measure's language did not mention the effect the change to charter city would have on council salaries.
The measure passed. Fewer that 400 people voted.


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At 9:30pm, come on out for ALL PLAY! Bad Dog's newest addition to the academy night, where Bad Dog faculty and cast help YOU get on stage in some fast and fun formats, designed to expand your bag of tricks and get you performing on our stage.
Bad Dog Theatre - Toronto Improv Calendar
Bad Dog Theatre's weekly improv comedy shows!
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: March 17Good Evening
Later Event: March 18Drop-In Workshop: Midweek Micetro


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Capitol Records released Glenn Campbell's hit song, "Galveston," on March 17, 1969 so we pulled out a version from the Lawrence Welk radio series, Guest Spot, show number LW70-36, distributed to radio stations as transcription discs. Guest Spot was one of many syndicated radio shows sponsored by the
United States Armed Forces, the U. S. Navy and Naval Reserves for this series.
The copy in the Southern Folklife Collection, call no. TR-12/504, is part of the extensive and always fascinating Eugene Earle Collection (#20376). Track list and liner notes are included to the left. The modulation in the last verse and the sound of the telecaster in the guitar solo where the string sounds so loose that it might fall off just gets us every time. The first clip below is the introduction to the show itself, the second is a sample of "Galveston."
"Intro" Lawrence Welk–Guest Spot


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freitasm:lchiu7: Out of interest how is all this streaming affecting your caps? I have a 90GB plan with TCL at the moment but with all this streaming and long Skype video calls with my daughter in the US that's getting hammered.
Might have to look at moving to a provider who has better plans.
We only watch one or two episodes a week, so on a 120GB this is the least of our concerns.
Not you directly, but in general it always surprises me though people who can go over 100GB by downloading content... Where can people find time to watch all this digital bits they are hoarding? Or is our family the only one that spends less than six hours a week in front of TV?
When you have 2-3 users in the house doing Youtube a fair bit and then with Netflix and Hulu streaming, it doesn't take too long. Then I have a SIP phone connected to US provider and make a fair few calls to the US on it as well as receiving calls. I don't know precisely what data phone calls use but it all adds up. Then there's Skype video.
As for TV about the only TV we watch is the news in the morning and at 6pm. It might be on as background some of the time and then on Food TV. We watch hardly any episodic TV and if we do (but this doesn't of course impact our data cap) it's recorded and watched later.


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Apparent Cocktail
1/2 Dry Gin (1 1/2 oz Beefeater's Gin)
1/2 Dubonnet (1 1/2 oz Dubonnet Rouge)
1 Dash Absinthe. (1/4 tsp. Absinthe Verte de Fougerolles)
Shake (stir, please) well and strain into cocktail glass. (Twist orange peel over glass.)
Not all gins are as happy being mixed with Absinthe as others. Experimentation has led me to the conclusion that Beefeater's is definitely "Absinthe Friendly".
In regards Dubonnet, there are two varieties available, as there are of Lillet. According to Ted Haigh's book, "Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails," when mixing classic cocktails, always choose Dubonnet Rouge and Lillet Blanc. Advice I have stuck with. I don't know about the details of Dubonnet product history, but in the case of Lillet it is easy. Lillet Rouge wasn't manufactured until the 1960s, so couldn't possibly have been used in cocktails of the 1930s.
This is actually quite a pleasant cocktail as written. However, I felt like it needed a little extra zip, so added the orange twist. Yum, even better!
This post is one in a series documenting my ongoing effort to make all of the cocktails in the Savoy Cocktail Book, starting at the first, Abbey, and ending at the last, Zed.


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mediation(redirected from Legal Implications of Mediated Agreements)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Encyclopedia.
A settlement of a dispute or controversy by setting up an independent person between two contending parties in order to aid them in the settlement of their disagreement.
In International Law, mediation is the friendly interference of one state in the controversies of nations. It is recognized as a proper action to promote peace among nations.
The individual who intervenes in order to help the other parties settle their dispute is called a mediator.
n. the attempt to settle a legal dispute through active participation of a third party (mediator) who works to find points of agreement and make those in conflict agree on a fair result. Mediation differs from arbitration in which the third party (arbitrator) acts much like a judge but in an out-of-court less formal setting but does not actively participate in the discussion. Mediation has become very common in trying to resolve domestic relations disputes (divorce, child custody, visitation), and is often ordered by the judge in such cases. Mediation also has become more frequent in contract and civil damage cases. There are professional mediators, or lawyers who do some mediation for substantial fees, but the financial cost is less than fighting the matter out in court and may achieve early settlement and an end to anxiety. However, mediation does not always result in a settlement. (See: arbitration)
mediationnoun adjustment, adjustment of difficullies, arbitration, conciliation, finding a middle course, interference, intervention, intervention to facilitate a compromise, negotiation, negotiation process, parley, settlement of difficulties, settlement of dispute
Associated concepts: fact finding, mediation board
See also: collective bargaining, conciliation, intercession, mollification, negotiation, reconciliation
mediationa form of alternative dispute resolution, whereby parties attempt to resolve their differences without going to court. Some court systems utilize voluntary or compulsory mediation, especially in family matters. Mediators are trained in the necessary skills and some are lawyers and some are not. Often the result of a mediation will be encapsulated in legal form to prevent the deal being unstitched. It is used in disputes as varied as child custody and international disputes.
MEDIATION. The act of some mutual friend of two contending parties, who brings them to agree, compromise or settle their disputes. Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. 2, eh. 18, Sec. 328.


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If you happen to wander across sweet Alice during her travels in Wonderland and she should happen to flash red, white, and red all over, you're probably going to die. This is Hysteria.
Similar to the powerful effects of the Rage Box from American McGee's Alice, the Hysteria power in Alice: Madness Returns infuses our hopeless heroine the power to destroy her psychological demons when all hope seems lost. It's a way to pull her back from the brink of death, while pushing her enemies over it in spectacular fashion.
Save your hysterics for when Alice: Madness Returns comes calling on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on June 14. You'll need them.


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Although you might not be rock climbing in Colorado or practicing yoga ocean-side, your at-home workout can still be an adventure. Kacy Duke, a celebrity fitness expert who has worked with Gwen Stefani and Rachael Wiesz, shares tips on staying active during your next stay-cation:
Discover: Seek out new, adventurous activities that challenge your mind and body. Local parks and gyms offer unique classes like belly dancing, rock climbing, or even outdoor yoga.
Comfort: A recent survey from Dove® deodorant found that nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of women prefer to wear sleeveless tops while working out. Reach for one that is brightly colored to channel the tropics; think aqua blue, hot pink, or sunny yellow. Make sure underarms are sleeveless ready — try Dove® Visibly Smooth antiperspirant/deodorant, which minimizes the look and feel of underarm hair over time to help women feel stubble-free longer.
Enjoy: Start your morning with a brisk power walk to a neighborhood café. Treat yourself to an iced latte or tea — after all, you are on vacation!
How do you stay active during a stay-cation? Tell us and you will be entered for a chance to win a Dove® Visibly Smooth deodorant prize pack including Dove® Visibly Smooth antiperspirant/deodorant, a designer tote bag, and a $100 gift card for stylish fitness apparel!
Visit www.dove.com/visiblysmooth for more information.
* Kacy Duke is a paid Dove deodorant spokesperson.


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Facts: Mother and Father are the never-married parents of two children. In 2005, the trial court entered a parenting plan designating Father as the primary residential parent. In 2007, the court modified the parenting schedule so the parties shared equal time.
In 2010, Father petitioned to modify the parenting plan alleging that Mother agreed to care for the children during Father's vacation to Mexico; that after he arrived in Mexico, Mother informed him that she would not keep the children; that Mother threatened to allow the children to go into state custody if Father did not arrange for their care; and that Father purchased an early return ticket home from Mexico as a result. Mother responded that she made a "good faith effort to care for the children during the Father's parenting time."
After the trial, the court made the following findings :
1) Mother deliberately sabotaged Father's vacation by agreeing to keep the children and then changing her mind after he had left the country.
2) Mother will not co-parent. She is unable to share in activities where Father and Step-mom are present.
3) The comments and actions of Mother are increasingly noticeable to the boys.
4) While Mother accuses Father of being controlling and harassing, the proof did not support this and her emails indicate her own controlling and harassing behavior.
The trial court stated:
It is obvious that Mother loves the boys. It is also obvious that she is not willing to work with others in their lives and cannot put her jealousy and insecurity aside for the betterment of the boys. . . . Children are more perceptive than adults believe them to be and these two boys are literally caught between the two people they love the most.
The trial court examined the factors of Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-404(b))and found that
Mother and Father are equal with one very important exception—Mother has repeatedly shown this Court that she is either unwilling or unable to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship between the children and the other parent, consistent with the best interest of the children.
The trial court concluded that a change in the parenting schedule was in the children's best interest. Mother's parenting time was reduced to alternating weekends, alternating holidays, and two weeks in the summer. The trial court further ordered Mother to reimburse Father for his return plane ticket and his attorney's fees. Mother appealed.
On Appeal: The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court.
The threshold issue in proceedings to modify a parenting plan is whether a material change in circumstances affecting the child's best interest has occurred since the adoption of the existing parenting plan. After making the finding that a material change of circumstances has occurred, the court proceeds to make a fresh determination of the best interest of the child.
The trial court first found a material change of circumstances here, writing:
Taken as a whole, the record supports the conclusion that a change of circumstances had occurred since the entry of the[parenting plan]. . . . The conflict between Mother and Father continued to escalate following the [trial] court's 2007 order and was heightened by the marriage of Father to Stepmother in 2008. The events surrounding the Mexico trip that ultimately caused Father to file for a modification were not isolated but were part of a larger pattern of conduct by Mother; they constitute a material change in circumstance.
As for the children's best interest, the Court stated:
The evidence, especially the numerous e-mails, fully support the court's conclusion that Mother is bitter, and we agree that this bitterness has, in turn, prevented Mother from being able to encourage a relationship between the children and Father. As observed by the court, the record reflects the discomfort and anxiety the children experienced as a result of Mother's behavior. Thus, we affirm the trial court's holding that the change in the parenting plan is in the best interest of the children.
The Court also affirmed the award to Father of reimbursement for his travel expenses and attorney's fees.
Taylor v. Knott (Tennessee Court of Appeals, Middle Section, December 12, 2012).
Information provided by K.O. Herston: Knoxville, Tennessee Divorce, Matrimonial and Family Law Attorney.


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Liberation Support Movement
Building Solidarity with the African Liberation Struggle$6.00
The Liberation Support Movement was a North American solidarity organization which existed from 1968 to 1982. Marxist and anti-imperialist in orientation, they primarily sought to build support...
Hope Breathing Life
Postcards for Liberation$14.00
Sixteen postcards featuring artwork by Zolo Agona Azania, a New Afrikan political prisoner who has spent 23 years on death row, and this despite having forced the State to admit to racist...
Essays from the Minister of Defense$3.50
Three essays, and a couple of statements, largely from 1967, around the theme of "In Defense Of Self Defense."
Black Liberation Army Political Dictionary$3.50
From Agent-Provocateur to Welfare-Warfare State, an educational dictionrary of terms and definitions produced to enlighten, and educate, by the BLA.
Coming Of Age
A New Afrikan Revolutionary$2.50
From the introduction: "Read 'Coming of Age' and become aware of the path taken by one New Afrikan woman as her youthful search for the "amerikkan dream" led her to conscious participation in the...
Creating a Movement with Teeth
Communiqués of the George Jackson Brigade$5.00
A collection of communiques that announced, and explained, the various actions of the George Jackson Brigade.
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A handbook on revolutionary armed struggle written by an anonymous Black Liberation Army soldier in the 1970s. It details strategies and tactics for urbvan and rural guerilla warfare.
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Spring is busting out all over this weekend with Kentucky Derby preps in the East and West, and opening days at Keeneland and Pimlico
The Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and the Santa Anita Derby offer points toward a start in the Run for the Roses. Saturday's $250,000 Calder Derby, like the Illinois Derby later this month, was off the qualifier list but is interesting anyway.
There are some nice sprints and some tough competition on the grass.
In Australia, 2-year-olds will run Saturday for a big pot at Rosehill in Sydney. In Japan, the 3-year-old fillies start their own Triple Crown quest on Sunday.
Dubai was great but now it's time to refocus and recalibrate. So let's get going.
Derby preps
Saturday's $1 million, Grade I Wood Memorial at Aqueduct is billed as a battle of undefeated V's, starring Verrazano and Vyjak. But, as usual in these spring tussles, there are some potential upsetters looking for a "V" of their own, representing victory in the 9-furlongs fixture.
Vyjack has the hometown edge, with all four of his wins coming at the "Big A." The last two on that list are the Grade II Jerome and the Grade III Gotham. He's won both ways -- contesting the pace in the Jerome and coming from far back in the Gotham. Verrazano didn't make his first start until New Year's Day at Gulfstream Park, where he won a maiden event by 7 3/4 lengths. The More Than Ready colt then stepped up to a 1-mile allowance and used the extra distance to extend his winning margin to 16 1/4 lengths. He then moved to the Gulf Coast and won the Tampa Bay Derby by 3 lengths.
Verrazano "has been a rare horse who's been able to go from a maiden on Jan. 1 to the Derby favorite on the first of April, which you don't see very often," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "He's been able to handle everything we've thrown at him so far and now we have another step to go." Verrazano has never been worse than third at any call in any of his races.
Gustavo Rodriguez, who has been handling Vyjack, said the off-the-pace win in his last race was calculated. "We changed the training. We put him behind horses, and it seems like everything is good with him," Rodriguez said. "We think the horse is getting better as time goes by ... I think, obviously, Verrazano is the best horse that we've faced. But I think Vyjack is also the best horse that Verrazano has faced to date."
Joel Rosario, fresh from the Dubai World Cup win on Animal Kingdom, will partner Vyjack, an Into Mischief colt, while John Velazquez will add his "V" to Verrazano's.
Looking for an upsetter? Check out Normandy Invasion. He was going great guns at Aqueduct but had a nightmare trip after a slow start in the Grade II Risen Star at Fair Grounds in his last start, then still got up to finish fifth. He was beaten less than 2 lengths for it all -- although it's hard to make much sense of a race won by a 135-1 long shot like Ive Struck a Nerve. "He probably needed that race for the last bit of fitness after the freshening," said Normandy Invasion's trainer, Chad Brown. "He's very fit right now."
Then there's Quinzieme Monarque, who has run six times -- with one win and five fourth-place results. He comes off a turf start in Florida, which often is a good angle, and is very well bred. Elnaawi was third in the Gotham. Mr. Palmer won the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park for trainer Bill Mott and the Pulpit colt "could do" if the favorites fail.
After counting your Aqueduct winnings, turn your gaze west and find the $750,000, Grade I Santa Anita Derby, another 9-furlongs event. This one was to have featured the top four finishers from last month's Grade II San Felipe -- 6-1 upset winner Hear the Ghost, beaten favorite Flashback, Tiz a Minister and Goldencents. However, Hear the Ghost Thursday was removed from the Triple Crown trail after suffering a minor injury and won't run Saturday.
The Santa Anita Derby does feature Super Ninety Nine, who ran away with the Grade III Southwest Stakes over an off track at Oaklawn Park, then was done early when he returned for the Grade II Southwest Stakes, getting home a tired fifth.
Bob Baffert trains Super Ninety Nine, Flashback and Power Broker -- the latter making his first start since a fifth-place showing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He earlier won the Grade I FrontRunner at Santa Anita. Flashback won the Grade II Robert B. Lewis before losing to "the Ghost" last time out after being used up in a speed duel through the early fractions. This race will determine the strength of Baffert's hand in the Run for the Roses.
Baffert skipped the Dubai World Cup bustle this year after suffering a heart attack there last year. He watched Power Broker work on Sunday and said his chances shouldn't be dismissed because of the spacing between races. "He hasn't lost any of his conditioning, because he really hasn't been away. He's just been away from the action. But he has a really good foundation on him," Baffert said.
Goldencents faded from the pace in the San Felipe along with Flashback and the Into Mischief colt also needs to show he can go on in a more "centsible" scenario.
If you can't make it to the track and your cable package doesn't include the NBC Sports Network or the racing channels, don't despair. Both the Santa Anita Derby and the Wood Memorial will be available on Horse Racing Radio Network, Sirius channel 93, and streamed live on www.horseracingradio.net.
Back east, Calder resumes operations Saturday with the $250,000 Calder Derby, run at 9 furlongs on the dirt. Like the Illinois Derby, this race was left off the qualifying list Churchill Downs drew up for the Kentucky Derby. So it attracts 3-year-olds who showed promise earlier in the year -- but not quite enough to move along the Road to the Roses -- and late bloomers who might be candidates to be "new shooters" come Preakness time. Eight of those types are entered and it looks like a good betting opportunity. Speak Logistics, a distant third behind Orb and Violence in the Grade II Fountain of Youth, is one to look at closely.
Kentucky Oaks preps
Speaking of good betting opportunities, take a look at Saturday's $500,000, Grade I Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland -- 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track with 14 starters and a pair of also-eligibles. The morning-line favorite, at 4-1, is Tuttipaesi, a Graham Motion trainee who started her career in Italy, then showed a win, then a third in the Grade III Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream earlier this year. Kitten's Point, who won the Herecomesthebride, is 5-1 on the early offering along with Spring Venture, a winner at Ocala last time out. Kitten's Point -- not to be confused with Kitten's Dumplings, who is also in this race -- shows a second-place finish over the Keeneland artificial track in last fall's Group II JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes. Spring in the Air came from Woodbine last fall to win the Grade I Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland so watch out for her. Nipissing was 4-for-4 over the Woodbine all-weather last year and makes her seasonal debut.
Six are set to go in Saturday's $250,000, Grade II Gazelle at Aqueduct. Pletcher saddles Princess of Sylmar, who has won four straight, including two lesser stakes at the "Big A." Let Me Entertain U, a daughter of Nobiz Like Shobiz and our "name of the week," chased the Princess in one of those wins. Walkwithapurpose has run with a purpose at Laurel Park, where she has posted five straight wins.
The strongest of the weekend's Oaks preps, though, is the $300,000, Grade I Santa Anita Oaks, if only because it includes the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner, Beholder, who also won the Grade I Las Virgenes in her last outing. Fiftyshadesofhay, second in the Las Virgenes, is back for more. She won Grade III Santa Ysabel by 5 3/4 lengths over a sloppy track two starts back. The other four are stepping up in class. If Beholder runs to her notices, she could go to Kentucky as the favorite to wear the lilies.
Saturday's card at Aqueduct includes the $400,000, Grade I Carter for older sprinters and the $250,000, Grade III Bay Shore, for 3-year-olds who likely will be nipping at the heels of their elders come Breeders' Cup time. Both are at 7 furlongs on the main track.
The Carter gets Fort Loudon, who won the Grade III Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship before taking third in the 1-mile, Grade II Gulfstream Park Handicap while fading from the lead. Discrete Dancer won the Gulfstream Park Handicap and Swagger Jack finished second in both those Gulfstream races. Sahara Sky visits from California with wins in his last two starts, the Grade II Palos Verdes and the Grade II San Carlos. Saturday's Charm comes off a second in the local Grade III Tom Fool behind Comma to the Top. Brigand was second in last year's Jerome at Aqueduct.
Honorable Dillon has some claims in the Bay Shore after winning the Grade II Hutcheson at 7 furlongs at Gulfstream before a seventh-place finish going 1 1/16 miles in the Grade II Tampa Bay Derby. Clearly Now, the morning-line favorite, won the Grade III Swale at Gulfstream going 7 furlongs. Maleeh is undefeated in two starts, including the Fred "Cappy" Capposela. Other recognizable names include Clawback, California import Salutos Amigos, and Declan's Warrior.
Out west, Santa Anita has the $150,000, Grade II Potrero Grande at 6 1/2 furlongs on the Derby undercard. Comma to the Top returns to California to contest this, along with seven others. Unbridled's Note finished second in last fall's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, then third in the Grade I Malibu Stakes back on the main track. Jimmy Creed jumped up to win the Malibu at a price and is back. The rest of the field looks aspirational.
Fillies and mares
My Wandy's Girl is the morning-line pick in Saturday's $250,000, Grade II Ruffian at Aqueduct and no wonder. All the 4-year-old Flower Alley filly has accomplished so far in her career is 14 wins, three seconds and two thirds from 20 starts. However, all but three of those starts came in Puerto Rico. In the U.S., she won a minor stakes at Aqueduct, then got home third in the Grade I Gazelle and second in the Grade II Barbara Fritchie at Laurel. Also to consider in the six-horse field: Funny's Approval, riding a four-race victory skein at Mountaineer that culminated in a huge upset win in the Barbara Fritchie; and Withgreatpleasure.
On the grass
Keeneland's Opening Day feature on Friday is the $100,000, Grade III Transylvania for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the lawn. Brown Almighty is a longshot on the morning line but it should be noted the last time he ran on the bluegrass he finished third (placed second) in the Grade III Bourbon Stakes behind Balance the Books. The favorite, however, is Up With the Birds, riding a three-race winning streak. In this bunch you'll find Amen Kitten and Redwood Kitten. And speaking of kittens, the 11-horse field also is graced with Bambazonki, a Chris Block trainee who finished second last time out in the ... wait for it ... Kitten's Joy Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Ten 3-year-old fillies are entered to tackle 9 grassy furlongs at Santa Anita Saturday in the $150,000, Grade III Providencia Stakes. Birdlover has run well in good company in both England and California and won the China Doll stakes in her last outing, beating many of these. Scarlet Strike has been consistently in the money in stakes races without any of them. Magnificent Shirl has shown promise before and after finishing 11th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
The home of the Preakness kicks off with three stakes races on Saturday, including the $75,000 Dahlia for fillies and mares on the grass.
Tampa Bay Downs
Saturday's card features six stakes races restricted to Florida-breds, on both the grass and the main course.
Gulfstream Park
Friday's program includes the $60,000 Gulfstream Park Aftercare Stallion Stakes, restricted to progeny of stallions whose fees are donated to an on-line auction to benefit retired Thoroughbred horses, which seems like a wonderful idea.
The Aus-Group 1 Golden Slipper for 2-year-olds Saturday at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney. A field of 16 is drawn with the favorite set as Overreach, a filly trained by Gai Waterhouse. She drew the inside barrier for the 1,200-meters event. The daughter of Exceed and Excel has two wins and a second from three starts.
Sunday finds the Group 1 Oka Sho at Hanshin -- the Japanese 1,000 Guineas. The first leg of the filly Triple Crown is a 1,600-meters test for 3-year-old distaffers. There is no standout in the large field but the winner will become a favorite for the remainder of the series.
Ten supplementary entries, including several from the Dubai World Cup program, have been added to the nomination list for the Singapore Airlines International Cup and the KrisFlyer International Sprint on May 19. Among the supplements are Meandre, Igugu and Wigmore Hall. Hong Kong sprinters Eagle Regiment and Frederick Engels also are on the list for the races at Kranji.
News and notes:
Graham Motion, asked by "America's Best Racing" after Animal Kingdom won the Dubai World Cup, "What would you like to see more of in Thoroughbred racing?" replied, "Having just been to Dubai, it's amazing to see the crowd like that when there's no betting. I'd like to see more events like that. In Dubai, it's about the horses and the show. The betting is what makes the world go 'round, but we can make this sport a spectacle and interesting for everybody. There were 50,000 people there that night just to see the horses and the show."
And more good news for American racing: Darley has acquired a 29 percent stake in Animal Kingdom and plans call for him to shuttle between Jonabell Farm in Kentucky and Arrowfield Stud in Australia for dual-hemisphere breeding. Animal Kingdom's welcome infusion of unusual bloodlines, along with the presence in Kentucky of Frankel's three-quarters brother, Bullet Train, is bound to help American breeders cope with the challenges of a changing world and a more international racing environment.


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"When all the uniforms are stripped off, I like to think it is the writer who remains . . . the right turn of a phrase will stop me dead in my tracks every time." – Ryan Stone
" . . .Poetry isn't being told the moon is shining – for me, it is being shown the glint of light on broken glass." – Ryan Stone (borrowing from Anton Chekhov)
" I am frequently awake in the small hours of the morning and find my 2:00 am mind is quite adept at slipping out of the shackles my daytime mind imposes." – Ryan Stone
" I wrote a poem called "Unburied Hatchet" . . .I sent it into the monthly competition in Writers' Forum Magazine . . .and was blown away when it won first prize and £100." – Ryan Stone
- Read the publication first, to gain an idea of what style of writing they publish. While it doesn't hurt to offer something fresh, I usually have a fair idea of an editor's likes and dislikes before I submit.
- Read and re-read the submission guidelines before you hit send. An improperly worded subject line can be enough for an editor to discount the submission without even reading the poem. Some publications request everything in the body of an email, others prefer attachments. Decent editors are inundated with submissions which meet their specific requirements and most, won't waste their time with sub-standard submissions.
- Take rejections gracefully. Analyze any critiques subjectively and apply critiques if you think they are warranted. BUT DON'T GIVE UP – submit, submit, submit. There are a million homes for poems out there and because a poem isn't right for one editor or magazine certainly doesn't mean it won't be a prize winner for another editor or magazine. While I'm realistic about my own writing, I generally look at rejections as a case of a bad fit, not a bad poem.
" I tend to write a first draft quickly once an idea forms and then I'll put it aside for a week or two, before returning and revising a poem over and over and over . . ." – Ryan Stone
- The important thing is to write, write, write and keep writing. It doesn't have to be good. I have loads of writing which will probably never see the light of day; however, once the first jumble is out of my head, the writing that follows is much better.
- I don't edit my first draft as I write. I write it all down and worry about cleaning it up later. If I'm only editing a word or two, then I'll delete and replace. If I'm editing a whole line or large section, I cut and paste in a new version – v1, v2, v3, (etc .) and keep each version in the same document. I find it's much easier to revise without the fear of losing words or ideas I may want to later reinstate.
- Once I'm happy with a version of my work, I put it aside for a few days and return to it later with 'fresh eyes.' I find it much easier to spot weak points, sticky spots, doubled up words, bad rhythm, (etc.), when I'm reading it fresh.
- The poem is more important than the truth. When I'm writing a poem based on an actual event, I find it easy to place value on a thing because its memory is significant to me. Often, I don't want to let the thing go from the poem. This can become a weak point as the particular thing doesn't make the poem better and doesn't hold the same value for the reader. Once I let the poem dictate what to keep and what to cut, rather than trying to stay one-hundred-percent true to my memory, my poetry comes together far tighter.
"Once I let the poem dictate what to keep and what to cut, rather than trying to stay one-hundred-percent true to my memory, my poetry comes together far tighter." – Ryan Stone
Please Find More Links to Ryan's Writing Below:
Thank you so much to Ryan Stone for doing an interview for me. I appreciate his time answering the interview questions a great deal.
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text: In this write-up we will certainly review exactly how curtain panels in various styles could include a new look to an existing space while conserving the homeowner loan on the job of redecorating. There are three materials that could give simply the right touch of elegance as well as energy that every residence proprietor is always looking for when it comes to picking curtain panels. An excellent panel ought to balance the ideal degree of privacy and also convenience to a space by shielding the residents from outdoors audiences. It should also let in enough indirect sunlight so as to make the within brighter as well as livelier. An equally essential element is that a panel must be easy to maintain and also should maintain its initial beautiful problem even after duplicated cleaning. Sheer Beauty Large curtain panels can offer just the appropriate level of style to any kind of area. When positioned to ensure that the hem sweeps the floor with dignity it will give any type of room a great classical touch. Large drapes allow much sunshine so it can be utilized to brighten any dark places in your home that would not look good with artificial illumination. When made use of in combination with lace or silk it could additionally be used in bed rooms to offer privacy in addition to intimacy. 2 or more layers of sheer material can also be utilized to offer a greater degree of personal privacy. The Vintage Touch of Silk Curtains Curtain panels made of silk remind us of careless mid-days in old English mansions at tea-time. The usage of unique detergents will certainly likewise prolong the original appearance and condition of silk curtains, offering much more worth for money. The Fragility and Elegance of Lace Curtains Lace curtains can lighten up any space, not only because it permits the passage of much light from outdoors yet also because it's clean color uses an acceptable contrast to any kind of dark shade. Shoelace could also be utilized in mix with other textiles such as silk or large whenever a better level of personal privacy is required. Sheer curtain panels can provide simply the best degree of elegance to any room. Curtain panels made of silk remind us of lazy mid-days in old English manors at tea-time. The usage of special detergents will likewise lengthen the original look as well as condition of silk drapes, giving a lot extra value for money. Shoelace drapes could lighten up any space, not only since it allows the passage of much light from outdoors yet also since it's clean shade provides an acceptable contrast to any dark color.


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China's plan to encourage hundreds of millions of rural residents to settle in cities to boost growth faces opposition from local governments, according to Li Tie (李鐵), an official with the National Development and Reform Commission.
Li spoke at an urbanization forum in Beijing on Saturday where officials, researchers and company executives highlighted the challenges facing the leadership's push, including the strain on local government finances, the dangers of overbuilding and the cost of scrapping the hukou, or residence permit system that denies migrants and their families the same welfare, health and education benefits as city dwellers.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (李克強) has championed urbanization as a "huge engine" for growth as he seeks to shift the world's second-largest economy toward a model that relies on consumption rather than investment and exports.
As policymakers draft plans for the new leadership's reform agenda ahead of a key Chinese Communist Party (CCP) meeting later this year, Li is grappling with vested interests that could stymie some of his plans.
"Nobody wants such a big group of migrants to be their neighbors and share their so-called civilized space. This is a conflict of interest," said Li, director-general of the China Center for Urban Development. "We are facing rejection from the hearts of so many mayors and city elites who have enough ability to influence decision-making."
One of the thorniest issues facing policymakers is who pays for urbanization — the cost of the physical infrastructure and the recurring annual spending on providing millions of new urbanites with healthcare, welfare and education services.
"Urbanization isn't only about changing people's residency, it's about their overall development and an improvement in the quality of their lives," Li Lianzhong (李連眾), head of the economy bureau at the Policy Research Center of the CCP's Central Committee, said at the forum.
Ending the hukou system and replacing it with identity cards will signal a "victory of reforms," he said.
Mao Daqing (毛大慶), executive vice president of China Vanke Co (萬科), the biggest developer by market value traded on the country's stock exchanges, questioned whether China needs more towns and cities when most migration has been to China's 70 biggest conurbations.
"These big cities interest people because they have more job opportunities, education opportunities and medical resources," Mao said.
"Those other 610 cities can't attract people even though they already exist," he said, adding: "It indicates some of those 610 cities have problems or can't survive," he said.
Taking Beijing as an example, Mao said that assuming 700,000 people moved into the city each year, that could cost the local government at least an extra 77 billion yuan (US$13 billion) a year in urbanization-related spending, equivalent to doubling its annual land sales or a 25 percent increase in tax revenue.
"This is totally beyond the affordability of a local government, Beijing can't afford it," Mao said.
"We must guide big cities, develop medium-sized cities and unleash small towns," he said.
More people lived in China's towns and cities than in rural areas for the first time in the country's history in 2011, government data show, with 691 million living in urban areas compared with 657 million in the countryside.


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Scientists, like people in other professions, hold a wide range of positions about religion and the role of supernatural forces or entities in the universe. Some adhere to a position known as scientism, which holds that the methods of science alone are sufficient for discovering everything there is to know about the universe. Others ascribe to an idea known as deism, which posits that God created all things and set the universe in motion but no longer actively directs physical phenomena. Others are theists, who believe that God actively intervenes in the world. Many scientists who believe in God, either as a prime mover or as an active force in the universe, have written eloquently about their beliefs.
"Creationists inevitably look for God in what science has not yet explained or in what they claim science cannot explain. Most scientists who are religious look for God in what science does understand and has explained."
— Kenneth Miller, professor of biology at Brown University and author of Finding Darwin's God: A Scientist's Search for Common Ground Between God and Religion. Quote is excerpted from an interview available here.
"In my view, there is no conflict in being a rigorous scientist and a person who believes in a God who takes a personal interest in each one of us. Science's domain is to explore nature. God's domain is in the spiritual world, a realm not possible to explore with the tools and language of science. It must be examined with the heart, the mind, and the soul."
— Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome Project and of the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health. Excerpted from his book, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief (p. 6).
"Our scientific understanding of the universe … provides for those who believe in God a marvelous opportunity to reflect upon their beliefs."
— Father George Coyne, Catholic priest and former director of the Vatican Observatory. Quote is from a talk, "Science Does Not Need God, or Does It? A Catholic Scientist Looks at Evolution," at Palm Beach Atlantic University, January 31, 2006.
From Science, Evolution, and Creationism, National Academy of Sciences and Institute of Medicine. © 2008 National Academy of Sciences


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The Electronic House Expo, March 5-9 in Orlando, Fla., gave 4,000 attendees the chance to see the newest in "Connected Home" products displayed by more than 125 manufacturers. Vendors continue to promote their solution for structured wiring systems that enable homeowners to install today's technology as needed, but with the flexibility to easily upgrade in the future.
The market for new residential low-voltage wiring systems is expected to increase by more than 60% in the next four years, with expenditures for residential cabling going from $302 million in 2001 to more than $2.1 billion by 2004, according to The Insight Research Corp., Parsippany, N.J.
This activity continues to provide important marketing opportunities for residential installers and electrical contractors willing to embrace these developing technologies. In all cases, the cabling and connectivity products involved include: twisted-pair copper (Cat. 5e recommended) for voice and data, RG-6 coaxial cable for television and video delivery, along with optical fiber for higher bandwidth demands in the future. Security and energy management applications can require other types of cable.
New standards are expected to advance residential networking, home control, digital entertainment and surveillance/security applications. Ethernet has become the de-facto standard for local area networks in offices and factories, but it now looks like Ethernet will be an important standard for the home market, too. Two recent IEEE standard changes are speeding the usefulness of Ethernet-based services capable of delivering content from a service provider or a telephone company directly to a residential gateway (a connection box in the home).
Also evolving are the IEEE 802.11b and 802.11a wireless standards. Although the commercial market first applied this technology, many newer products will find important applications in the residential markets, not only for moving data to, or across, a local area network in the home, but also to provide lighting control and other conveniences.
The Consumer Electronics Alliance has begun testing four powerline technologies to determine a standard for high-speed data transmissions over AC lines in the home. Test results are expected later in the spring. Four companies involved in the program are: Inari Inc., Draper, Utah (two technologies); Itran Communications Ltd.; Ramat Gan, Israel; and nSine Limited, Reading, England.
Security is taking on an important role in the home, and, according to recent consumer surveys, increasingly desired by homeowners. GE Industrial Systems exhibited its GE Smart line of home technology products, which will soon include Interlogix security (gear and services). Both GE and Microsoft have invested in Smart LLC, Las Cruces, N.M., a start-up company that showed new technology in three product areas: low-voltage cabling, audio distribution (both cable-based and wireless) and control.
Belden, Hammond, Ind., introduced its HomeChoice line of structured cabling products, which can carry voice, video, data, security and entertainment services on a single composite cable (Cat. 5e twisted pair, RG6 coaxial and optical fiber, if needed). Its coaxial cable uses Durobond Plus, which is a foil tape surrounded by an 80% braid and an outer layer of foil with a shorting fold, equivalent in performance to metal conduit.
For load control and energy management, it offers the remotely-controlled, mechanically-operated "Smart Breaker." Cutler/Hammer Eaton Corp. is also teaming with Briggs & Startton to launch a line of home standby generators. Three turnkey solutions are provided: a 5,500W manual, a 6,500W semi-automatic and a 10,000W automatic system. By partnering with FutureSmart Networks Inc., Cutler-Hammer offers a structured wiring panel that can hold cable TV, telephone, DBS satellite and Internet lines and distribute them with RG-6, Cat. 5e and optical-fiber cables.
Home Director, Durham, N.C., introduced its Elite Series home communications/control system using DiLAN technology from ITT Industries Network Systems & Services, New York, N.Y., which runs over Cat. 5e cabling. A homeowner can share a single Internet connection among multiple computers and devices, and distribute services including cable and satellite television, security systems, computer networking, home theater, multi-room audio systems and advanced telephone systems to any room in the house. Video signals from cable, satellite or digital television feeds, security cameras or DVDs and VCRs can be viewed on any home television while music from a single stereo system or MP3 music file can be played in any room.
Show talk centered around electrical contractors stepping up to provide a continuing service, and essentially becoming a "digital gardener." An electronic equivalent to a landscape gardener would periodically check on the backup battery supply (or UPS), install new software features and/or perform routine system maintenance in the home.


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Fusion is growing!
We are seeking Per Diem registered Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapist Assistants and Speech Language Pathologists to help provide quality patient care at facility located in Sterling, MA.
Week and weekend hour opportunities
Requirements: Must be licensed in MA
Fusion Rehab Services specializes in providing the highest standard of physical, occupational and speech language therapy services in our region. Our management team brings with them over 50 years of experience in healthcare, management and rehabilitative services. We have built a solid reputation on the cornerstones of responsibility, respect, integrity, collaboration and innovation.
Our unique approach balances quality care with a pleasant work environment, because if you're not happy then you can't provide the highest quality of care to your patients. And we help you along the way, with support and compliance guidance to make your work day easier. And we invest in our therapists with ongoing professional development in the areas you want to grow.
What sets us apart from other therapy companies? At Fusion Rehab Services, we provide healthcare services with an emphasis on care. We believe it is our responsibility to acknowledge and respect the unique requirements of each patient, client and therapist we meet.
To apply for this job please visit www.fusionrehabservices.com.