text:
The scenes of devastation wrought by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan have Americans rushing to their computers, wanting to contribute to disaster relief efforts.
But before you input your credit card information on some charity's website and hit "send," vet the charitable organization to make sure it's legitimate -- or your money might end up feeding a scammer's greed instead of a person in need.
Just days after the disaster began to unfold, philanthropic and computer security experts were already hearing reports of fake e-mails and Facebook pages popping up, appealing for donations.
At a time like this, Americans are "very susceptible" to pleas for assistance, says Doug White, academic director of the George H. Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising at the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies. "People are saying, 'What can we do to help the people of Japan?' It's a natural outpouring of our humanity."
But just like any other online transaction, you need to do your due diligence about the organization where you plan to send money and the security of its website. That can protect you from credit card and identity theft -- and make sure you're not padding the pockets of a fraudster.
Check out the charity The most important thing you can do before making a donation is to research the charity.
"A lot of fake organizations emerge after something like this," White says.
And even if one is legit, "a charity in a situation like this needs to have an on-ground presence." Donating to a startup that isn't already involved in Japan "may hinder their ability to really follow through on promises," says Bennett Weiner, chief operating officer of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. The organization monitors and reports on charities that solicit nationally or provide national or international services.
You can learn more about a charity you have your eye on through the Better Business website or sites such as Charity Navigator or Guide Star.
Charity Navigator has vetted 5,500 of the 1 million charities in existence, says spokeswoman Sandra Miniutti. The groups evaluated accounts for about 65 percent of all donations made and are registered with the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
The one major exception to Charity Navigator's rating system are groups such as the Salvation Army, which are registered as churches and do not have to file an IRS Form 990, or Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax.
You can check to see if an organization is designated as a 501(c)3 at the IRS website.
In a situation such as the disaster in Japan, White recommends choosing a charity that has a long history of taking in large sums of money quickly, such as the Red Cross, World Vision or UNICEF, which should help ensure the funds are processed properly.
Weiner says it's important to remember "different organizations have different expertise, depending n what phase of the disaster they are involved in." Some focus on search and rescue, others on emergency relief and others on reconstruction
If you want to deduct the donation from your taxes, your contribution must go to a U.S.-based charity, he adds.
Keep your guard up While you probably know better than to fall prey to a Nigerian e-mail scam or a phony bank e-mail asking you to "verify" your account information, it's easier to fall victim to an emotional appeal during a natural disaster.
"Watch out for phishing expeditions," Weiner says. You might receive a spam e-mail claiming to link to the website of a well-known charity, and the e-mail could very well link to a phony site that's set up to collect your personal information and use it for credit card theft or identity theft.
Instead, if you want to give money to a particular organization, Weiner recommends going directly to that charity's website to make a donation through its secure server.
Miniutti also warns against clicking through on links posted on Facebook, even if they look legitimate.
Also be wary of people claiming to be victims of the disaster, she says. In the earthquake and tsunami devastated regions, "victims in Japan don't have Internet, let alone your e-mail address."
Not-so high tech Not all scammers rely on high-tech techniques
Some will use the phone to call, claiming they represent a particular charity, and ask for your credit card number so you can make a "donation." (Being registered on the Do Not Call List does not prohibit legitimate charities from contacting you.)
Rather than providing your credit card information, Weiner recommends writing down the charity's information, and then checking it out online.
"People's guards go down when it's a charity and their emotions are involved," he says.
Even fundraising efforts at local businesses should be scrutinized. You should ask what charity the money is going to, what percentage of proceeds is being donated and if there is a maximum or minimum amount that will be donated, Weiner says.
While these may not be scams, the efforts may be happening without the knowledge or blessing of the charity being touted.
Cash, check, charge? The experts agree that a credit card donation is the best route to take because it gets to the recipient fastest. And the major credit card companies have announced they are waiving transaction fees for contributions to certain charities because of the disaster.
Many organizations also accept donations via text, but there may be texting fees, and delays of days or weeks before the money arrives, White says.
Donations should never be made in cash. While checks are secure, they may be more labor intensive to process.
In a statement, Wells Fargo recommends making donations by credit card, debit card or check because they can be tracked. If you see an unauthorized transaction, you should notify your financial institution immediately.
If you think you've fallen victim to fraud, you can contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud, set up by the U.S. Department of Justice following Hurricane Katrina. If you think you're a victim of a cybercrime, contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center established by the FBI, or the National White Collar Crime Center.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.


text:
3 lessons from global fashion industry leaders.
just-style talks to Ram Sareen, Head Coach and Founder of Tukatech as he shares his thoughts on how to move the fashion industry to a truly end to end solution – and why it's important to let vendors lead when it comes to automating sample and pattern making.
Enthusiasm from the market has driven Centric's massive growth and worldwide leadership position. "Centric is disrupting the marketplace with a strong emphasis on mobility and innovation, and by extending the value proposition beyond traditional PLM. The market worldwide continues to give its endorsement," says Chris Groves, president and CEO of Centric Software. "The fashion, outdoor and other consumer goods markets face rapid changes and constant business transformation. We support our customers through transformational projects that go way beyond PLM to help them reach both bottom line savings and top line growth."
Milestones for Centric this year include:
Bookings growth: Bookings were up more than 70% over the previous fiscal year. This marks the fourth year in a row of more than 70% growth.
Customer growth: Centric reached its 145 customer milestone through the addition of over 40 new customers, the most of any vendor in the global PLM marketplace last year. As one customer states, "Everyone in the market knows of Centric. We were impressed by their forward-thinking mobile portfolio."
Global expansion: Centric opened new offices in three regions; Scandinavia, Mexico and Japan. Entrance into each region was secured by prestigious industry names; retail leader Varner in Norway, the yarn to store vertically integrated Grupo Avante in Mexico and in Japan, worldwide sports giant, Asics.
Asian expansion: Eighteen months after opening an office in Shanghai, Centric Software reached 15 customer milestone in China. "The unrivaled number of customers in China clearly positions Centric as the market leader in this region," says Groves. Centric also opened an office in Japan, secured by the acquisition of two of the world's predominant fashion brands; Asics and Fast Retailing's Uniqlo.
New product innovations: Last year, Centric launched Centric Cloud PLM, a new solution specifically designed for small businesses. Centric Cloud packages extended PLM, including mobility and key industry learnings, but focuses on functionality tailored for small businesses. Centric again significantly extended the process footprint and deepened the functionality of its flagship solution; web-based, Centric 8 PLM. Centric staff, mainly comprised of industry and IT experts, increased again by over 40% and included a team for Centric's newly opened Innovation Lab. Examples of customer feedback include, "[We] selected Centric for its team expertise and revolutionary product roadmap, including the development of mobile applications," and "[Our teams] are hungry for innovation and very used to mobile apps and digital technology."
Mobility: Last year Centric's mobile portfolio expanded to 12 apps with support being extended to Android. Over 30% of Centric customers now use Centric's mobile apps including leading names such as Under Armour, Nina Ricci and Ports 1961. One customer said, "Mobility is key. Overall, we feel that it is a modern solution that will suit a modern way of working."
Customer satisfaction: Over the past year, approximately 35% of Centric customers have spoken publically in support of their solutions and approximately 95% have done so privately. Centric customers say, "Centric is the best fit to work with our team" and "It was the users' recognition of Centric as the best on the market that influenced our decision."
"Outstanding support from our customers has clearly positioned Centric as the PLM innovation leader. Reaching this 145 customer milestone highlights the trust customers place in us. We are truly grateful for the support of our customers and work hard everyday to foster these partnerships," says Groves, "The market speaks for itself."
Read about Centric Software in the PLM directory
3 lessons from global fashion industry leaders.
just-style talks to Ram Sareen, Head Coach and Founder of Tukatech as he shares his thoughts on how to move the fashion industry to a truly end to end solution – and why it's important to let vendors lead when it comes to automating sample and pattern making.
Join 2,000 apparel and textile professionals who get the FREE newsletterSIGN UP

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Family Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Lesser Sri Lanka Flameback (Dinopium psarodes)
Picus psarodes
A. A. H. Lichtenstein, 1793,
southern India; error = Sri Lanka.
Hitherto considered conspecific with D. benghalense, but here treated as a full species due to (compared with neighbouring race jaffnense) shining scarlet central upperparts shading to dull red on wings vs golden-yellow shading to dull yellow (3); lack of black on carpal (1); overall longer-billed, longer-winged and notably longer-tailed (effect size 2.94, score 2); screechier voice#R (allow 1); narrow hybrid zone in NC Sri Lanka (2). Distinct species status also supported by a phenotypic and genetic analysis#R. Sometimes referred to as erithronothos (or, erroneously, erithronothon), but psarodes has priority. Monotypic.
Sri Lanka (except N).
Descriptive notes
Food and feeding
Status and conservation
Only subscribers are able to see the bibliography. Login or Subscribe to get access to a lot of extra features!
Public comments
No comments yet
Only members are able to post public comments. To make the most of all of HBW's features, discover our subscriptions now!


text:
Rockies trade Ramirez to Royals
The Rockies began ironing out the final wrinkles on their roster this morning, trading reliever Ramon Ramirez to Kansas City for a player to be named later.
Ramirez told teammates goodbye in the clubhouse, shaking heads and gathering up his gear. His trade frees up a roster spot for left-handed reliever Micah Bowie, one of the surprise performers of the spring. An official announcement on Bowie is expected later this afternoon.
"I am happy for this opportunity,'' Ramirez said. "I need to go there and pitch well.''
Ramirez, acquired in the Shawn Chacon trade in 2005, burst onto the scene in 2006, working as one of the Rockies' most effective relievers during the first half of the season. He struggled with his command in the second half and never got on track last year, in part because of an elbow problem.
The Rockies brought Bowie in on a minor-league, non-guaranteed contract. He impressed the staff with his control and his ability to get left-handers out. That leaves only one major roster decision with the fifth outfielder, with the club expected to choose between Scott Podsednik and Cory Sullivan. Podsednik appeared to have a slight edge yesterday.


text:
Outreach Premium Family Night: Wind Energy!
Invite the whole school to an evening of fantastic, STEM-based fun and see why this is such a popular program. We offer you a wide range of Wind Energy related activities and demonstrations. Make a mini wind mill and test out its power! Want to know how windy it is in your neighborhood? Make your own anemometer and take it home to test! This program is great for middle school audiences. You provide 15 volunteers and we'll fill 15 of your tables with creative hands-on activities and demonstrations. Educators and families love this casual, self-directed evening of fun science activities. All activities are linked to the Michigan Science Standards. Discount coupons for a visit to the Museum for all participants!
- Serves up to 500 total participants for 2 hours (additional hours available)
- Includes 10 hands-on experiments and 5 hands-on demos
- Open house format encourages leisurely family exploration
- Requires 15 tables, one room set-up
- Requires 15 volunteers
Fees are determined by driving distance from the Museum.
- Within 25 miles: $1090
- 26-50 miles: $1120
- 51+ miles: $1120 + $.54 per mile
- Each additional hour: $150
Register for a Family Night today!
This project was funded with support from the U.S. Department of Energy and in partnership with the City of Ann Arbor Energy Office.


text:
Harvard heads to Brown for a key Ivy League North Division series against the Bears. (Gil Talbot)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard softball team (15-16, 6-6 Ivy League) hits the road this weekend for back-to-back doubleheaders against Brown (13-24, 3-9 Ivy League). The games will take place on Saturday and Sunday (April 22-23), with play beginning at 12:30 p.m. each day. The Sunday doubleheader will air on the Ivy League Digital Network.
The Crimson currently sits in second place in the Ivy League North Division, three games behind Dartmouth (9-3 Ivy League). Harvard is coming off a solid weekend, winning three of four games against Ivy League North Division rival Yale. The Crimson dropped a midweek contest to Providence, 8-3, at Soldiers Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Lockhart Showing Power at Plate
Sophomore third baseman Erin Lockhart is enjoying a breakout season at the plate, leading the team with four home runs and 26 RBIs. Last week, Lockhart had a big impact at the plate for Harvard and was flawless in the field on 24 chances at third base. Harvard went 4-1, and Lockhart went 10-for-15 (.667) with four extra base hits (three doubles, HR) and 12 RBI. Including Lockhart's 1-for-4 effort against Providence on Tuesday, the sophomore has now hit safely in seven straight games. She leads the team with 11 extra base hits (seven doubles, four HRs).
Web Gems
Harvard has been one of the top fielding teams in the Ivy League (2nd) the nation (.968, 56th NCAA), which has been particularly evident of late. The Crimson has made just one error over the past five games.
Triple Rich
Sophomore Rhianna Rich leads the Ivy League and is 15th in the nation with five triples on the season. Rich had two triples in Harvard's 5-4 (9 inn.) win against Yale on April 16.
Rich and Kaplan Off To Good Starts
Sophomore Rhianna Rich, the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year, junior Maddy Kaplan, last year's Ivy League batting champion, are not surprisingly leading Harvard at the plate so far in 2017. Rich has the team's best batting average (.431, 2nd Ivy League) and has recorded a hit in 25 of Harvard's 31 games this season. She also leads the team with eight stolen bases and 23 runs scored on the year. Kaplan is hitting .382 on the year (7th, Ivy League) and is second on the team with nine extra-base hits (all doubles). She is tied with Rich for the team lead with 23 runs on the season and has 14 RBIs.
Early Success In The Circle
Early on this season, Harvard has been led by strong pitching performances, as the Crimson has allowed three runs or less in 13 games this season. Harvard entered the weekend with two of the top five pitchers in the Ivy League based on ERA, with Sarah Smith (4-3, 3.18 ERA, 3rd Ivy League) leading the way. Kathleen Duncan (3.63 ERA, 6th Ivy League) has been excellent as well.
Scouting Brown
Brown has set a program record for team home runs in a single season with 29 homers thus far in 2017. Junior Annie McGregor has provided the Bears with power in the middle of the lineup, registering a .336 average, .628 slugging percentage, 23 runs, 38 hits, eight doubles, two triples, seven homers, and 23 RBIs. Junior Katie Orona and sophomore Meghan Wimmer have given the Bears two quality options in the circle. Orona has notched a .354 ERA over 20 appearances, 16 starts, and 87.0 innings with five wins, seven complete games and 37 strikeouts. She ranks fourth in the league in innings, third in starts, sixth in appearances, fifth in complete games, and fifth in ERA.
Wimmer has recorded a 4.05 ERA over 19 appearances, 11 starts, and 86.1 innings with six wins, six complete games, and 36 strikeouts.
Schedule Breakdown
Harvard is set to play 45 games with three early season tournaments on the West Coast and beyond, as well as 13 home games at Soldiers Field.
The Crimson begin the season with trips to Florida, California, and Hawaii to compete in tournaments hosted by Eastern Michigan, Long Beach State/Cal-Fullerton, and Hawaii. Harvard opens the season at the EMU Madeira Beach Invitational from Feb. 24-26. Then Harvard will head west for the Long Beach State/Cal-Fullerton Invitational from March 10-12. The Crimson will head further west from there for the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu from March 14-18.
Harvard returns to the East Coast the following weekend for an event hosted by Marist on March 25-26, where the Crimson will play two games each against Hartford and Marist. The team's home opener will be a non-conference contest against Holy Cross on March 28. Harvard will round out its non-conference schedule with a game at home against BU on April 4, and a road contest at Bryant on April 11. The Crimson kick off Ivy League play on March 31 with two games at Penn.
Roster Breakdown
Harvard will have a lot of experience when it takes the field for the first time this weekend. The Crimson returns 19 letterwinners from a season ago, including six seniors, and 13 of the 24 student-athletes who are sophomores or juniors. Five freshmen join the team with two hailing from California, with the other three calling Missouri, Texas and Virginia home. The class features one pitcher, one catcher, one infielder, one pitcher/infielder and a utility player.
RELATED ARTICLE: Softball Welcomes Five as Class of 2020
National Reach
Harvard's roster is comprised of players from all over the U.S. with 14 states represented. The stretch of the Crimson reaches as far west as Hawaii with sophomore Nicki Nishizawa, as south as Florida with three athletes calling the Sunshine State home and as close to Cambridge as Connecticut with junior Morgan Macchiarulo.
2016 Season Recap
The Crimson posted a 29-17 overall record last season and a 16-4 mark in the Ivy League which was tops in the North Division. An infusion of youth, good pitching, plus an impressive offensive season from sophomore Maddy Kaplan lifted Harvard to its sixth Ivy League North Division Championship and first since 2012. Kaplan, the Ivy League batting champion (.472), led the way for Harvard's offensive, while freshman Rhianna Rich, the Ivy League Rookie of the Year, led the conference in hits (61) and had a .433 average in league games. Senior Morgan Groom was outstanding (10-4, 2.30 ERA) in the circle for the Crimson, earning Ivy League Pitcher of the Year honors.
All-Ivy Selections Back For More
Harvard placed seven players on All-Ivy League teams in 2016, and will lose just two to graduation – Morgan Groom and second team All-Ivy selection Zoe Galindo, who was Harvard's starting centerfielder and co-captain last year. Returning for the Crimson will be three All-Ivy first team selections – senior second baseman and co-captain Giana Panariello, sophomore third baseman Meagan Lantz, and junior outfielder Maddy Kaplan. Second team All-Ivy selections – sophomore shortstop Rhianna Rich and sophomore catcher Elizabeth Shively – will also lead an experienced Harvard team.
Classroom Success
The Harvard softball team was recognized last year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) as one of the Top-10 Academic Teams in NCAA Division I, posting the eighth-highest GPA nationally.
Last season, the Crimson posted a 3.590 GPA over the fall and spring semester of 2015-16, the highest mark of any school in the Ivy League. Harvard's accomplishment stands out in the Ivy League, as the Crimson joined Yale (40th) as the only conference institutions among the top-50 in the nation in team GPA. In addition, 15 student-athletes from the 2015-16 team were honored as NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes for earning GPAs of at least 3.5 last year. Harvard's 15 selections match last year's number as the most the Crimson have had in recent years. Harvard outpaced the Ivy League with Columbia having nine selections as the second-highest Ancient Eight school on the list.
RELATED ARTICLE: Softball Posts Top-10 GPA in Division 1; 15 Named All-America Scholar Athletes
Ivy League Digital Network
The Ivy League Digital Network returns for a fourth season as the home for all live streaming and on-demand video content for each of the conference's eight institutions. Broadcast in full HD and featuring a live score bug and play-by-play and color commentary, the Ivy League Digital Network provides fans with unprecedented access to the Ancient Eight. Multiple subscription options are available to fans, including school-specific and league-wide passes.


text:
Custom Apps
Kiwix Customs Apps combine a specific content package and a reader into one easy to install app. They are available on iOS and Android devices.
WikiMed lets you browse, search and read more than 50'000 Wikipedia articles on medical topics on your smartphone or tablet. This app is a valuable tool for healthcare professionals in remote areas and students alike. Like all Kiwix apps, WikiMed needs no Internet connection once it is installed.
Please note that the WikiMed app requires about 1.1 GB free memory on your device. If your storage capacity is limited, consider using WikiMed Mini instead.
WikiMed for Android is available in more 12 languages. For the full list, follow this link.
WikiMed mini
A lightweight, storage-saving version of the WikiMed app topped at 100 Mb.
Wikimed mini has no images, and focuses on the introduction and infobox.
This offline version of the Wikivoyage project is your ideal travel guide: Even in very remote areas with no internet connectivity (or to save on roaming costs) you have all necessary information about any travel destination at your fingertips.
Chemistry & Physics
This suite of interactive chemistry and physics simulations designed by the University of Colorado explores a wide range of science and math concepts through an intuitive, game-like environment that promotes exploration and discovery.
This app provides valuable information for biologists and nature lovers – no matter how far away from civilisation (and an internet connection) they may be. WikiSpecies covers more than 500.000 animals and plants.


text:
The Cardinal Red Hydrangea is a garden classic. It grows in a wide range of light conditions, from full sun to full shade, and it brings huge clusters of brilliant red flowers to the summer garden, when most other plants have finished flowering. Even its large, rich-green leaves, and pale pastel-green developing flower clusters are attractive enough to give this plant a welcome place in any garden. It grows into a full-sized shrub, 4 or even 5 feet tall, and as much as 5 or perhaps 6 feet across. Wherever you have shady areas, this plant steps in and brings beauty to those places.
Growing Cardinal Red Hydrangeas
Shade is inevitable in almost every garden, but there are plants that will grow well in it, and hydrangeas are at the top of that list. Along the north side of your home there are going to be areas that never receive sun, but are open to the sky, so they are well-lit. The Cardinal Red Hydrangea is the perfect plant to fill those places, and a line of them planted on that north side will be beautiful for months and months.
In the shade of deciduous trees is another place where hydrangeas will grow well, and in dappled shade they bring strong foliage, rich colors, and beauty throughout the growing season. In cooler areas, this shrub will also grow well in full sun, but a good supply of water will probably be needed during the heat of summer. This plant can also be grown in large tubs or planters, and even moved around to show it off when in full bloom, before returning it to a less conspicuous part of the garden when it finally begins to fade.
The Cardinal Red Hydrangea forms full mounds of rich green, and the ends of almost every branch develop large, 8 inch domes of flowers, which are already attractive when they first appear in late spring, as tiny clusters of pastel-green. These slowly expand until by mid-summer they begin to show color, and soon open into spectacular domes of rich red. This color lasts for weeks and weeks, before slowly turning pale brown, but still looking attractive enough to cut and dry, to brighten your home through the dark weeks of winter.
Soil Acidity and Flower Color
Hydrangeas are interesting, because the precise flower color depends on the balance of acid and alkaline in your soil. Each variety responds a little differently, but the Cardinal Red Hydrangea turns a deep pinkish red in alkaline soils, which are common soils in many places. As the soil becomes neutral and then acidic, blue shades begin to enter the picture, and that red slides gradually into a rich and warm mauve.
This hydrangea does not turn dingy purple-brown in acid soils, as some pink hydrangeas do. Whatever your soil type, this hydrangea will be beautiful, so you do not have to follow complex recipes to keep it looking attractive. Whatever your soil type, you will see beautiful color. The edges of the petals of the flowers are fringed, and to really set things off, the center of each flower – and there are dozens in a single cluster – is a bright blue 'eye', that holds that sparkling color, whatever your soil.
Soil Conditions
Hydrangeas prefer to grow in rich, moist soil, so prepare your planting spot well with plenty of rich organic material. Mulch in spring with more, and keep up a good supply of water as your plants develop. Once well established, plants will be more self-reliant for water, and they will survive periods of ordinary drought. They will conveniently signal to you when they are thirsty – the leaves will begin to droop a little. That is the time to place a trickling hose pipe at the base of your plant, and let it run for a few hours until the ground is well-soaked.
The only annual attention your Cardinal Red Hydrangea will need is a pruning in late winter. Cut back the tall branches to the first pair of healthy buds, and remove any thin and weak branches completely. Sometimes, as the bush becomes more mature, you should remove a few of the oldest branches completely, to encourage new growth. When growth begins, your bush will rapidly fill out, ready for another season of color. Never cut your plant down to the ground, as flowers only appear on shoots from older branches, so you will miss a season of bloom if you cut everything down to the ground.
Buying Cardinal Red Hydrangeas at The Tree Center
With the Cardinal Red Hydrangea, those shady spots become an asset, not a liability, and we have top-grade stock of this popular classic variety. We know that this is one of the most popular and dependable hydrangeas available, so order now, as our stocks will not last long. Be sure to browse other popular varieties of this plant that we have in stock, including the Red Sensation Hydrangea and the Glowing Embers Hydrangea.


text:
Well hello everyone!! It's been a long minute since you've heard from me… I apologize for the absence, but quite frankly, life is nuts. Between working, three very active children, and trying to carve away some time to spend with my beautiful wife, I've barely had time to cook, let along even think about blogging! … Continue reading
Category Archives: perfect pairings
Traditional Meatloaf… recipe and wine pairings
Recently a couple of readers reached out to ask for some more easy "comfort food" recipes, and it doesn't get much easier, or more comforting, than meatloaf! Now one issue I always have with most online meatloaf recipes is that they're too darn small. Who needs a 1 1/2-2lb meatloaf?!? So here's a real meatloaf, … Continue reading
Rustic Pork Stew… recipe and wine pairings
So, a couple of things before I get into the story and recipe… First and foremost, it's great to be back and putting up new content for you all! It's been almost a year since my last post, which is far too long. Unfortunately with work, coaching, and three VERY active kids, time is a … Continue reading
Pasta with broccoli and sausage… recipe and wine pairings
Well, like I said, you're going to be seeing more of me now that winter is creeping up and I have far fewer time constraints. Two posts in the span of two weeks! You're gonna get spoiled… lol. I wanted to make a nice and easy family dinner last night, but also needed something that … Continue reading
Tagliatelle Bolognese… recipe and wine pairings
Well, well, well… Long time no see guys! Sorry that I've been away from blogging for so long (5 months, eesh!), but between work, regular family craziness and coaching two sports, well, needless to say time to cook, let alone blog, is a luxury I really haven't had in a while. But winter is descending … Continue reading
Baked Ziti… recipe and wine pairings
Words aren't really that necessary here… If you like pasta, and you like cheese, then you LOVE baked ziti. I mean how can't you? It's ooey-gooey cheesy deliciousness. And you can do so much with it. Vegetables, various meats, even play around with the cheeses… but I like to keep mine pretty simple. Pasta, cheese, … Continue reading


text:
Clean Up Australia Day: Mobile phone, hub caps among roadside litter
CLOSE encounters with a red-bellied black snake and traffic whizzing past did not deter the small band of volunteers who spent three hours cleaning up a six kilometre stretch of Sapphire Coast Drive on Sunday.
A large quantity of rubbish was picked up along the road and in the bush area from Bournda Rd to the Sandy Creek bridge on Sapphire Coast Drive.
The majority of the rubbish was drink bottles - both plastic and glass - cans, cigarette packs and food packaging.
Hub caps, a mobile phone, homemade drug paraphernalia and a mesh cage from the front of an electric fan were just some of the more unusual items found.
Over the past six years a clean up has been coordinated on this stretch of road by the Bournda Environmental Education Centre with the assistance of National Parks and Wildlife Service personnel and community volunteers.
The EEC has focused its attention on this section of the road as litter from this particular area can potentially wash into Wallagoot Lake and Bournda Lagoon.
Bemboka Landcare's efforts to take part in Sunday's clean up unfortunately fell through when equipment from Clean Up Australia Day failed to arrive in the post on time.
However, Pip Collins from Bemboka Landcare said if and when the equipment does arrive the group still plans to hold a clean up at the Bemboka River Reserve.
"It is a good way of increasing public awareness about what the group does," Ms Collins said.
Disappointingly, only a few people turned up at each of the other local sites to lend a hand cleaning up the environment in which we all live.
BEGA High School Year 7 students demonstrated their willingness to keep Bega beautiful by donning gloves and filling bags with rubbish on Friday.
In groups of four, the students collected rubbish in Bega Park before heading next door to the swimming pool where they were rewarded with nearly an hour of pool time.
Picking up other people's rubbish may not have been their idea of fun, but they undertook this community service without complaint.
Year 7 advisor Brenda Montgomery was proud of the students and the school's involvement in the annual clean up.
Bega High School was one of two Clean Up Australia Day sites registered within the town.
The other area to be given a clean up on Sunday was the Valley Fields.
Tathra and Wolumla Public Schools also held clean up days on Friday.
Other sites registered within the local district included Armands Bay Beach, Bemboka River Reserve, Sapphire Coast Drive, Tathra Beach and Yurammie (Yellow Pinch).
Discuss "Clean Up Australia Day: Mobile phone, hub caps among roadside litter"
Please note: All comments made or shown here are bound by the Online Discussion Terms & Conditions.


text:
Medical device manufacturer Johnson & Johnson faces a variety of product liability lawsuits based on its DePuy ASR Hip Implants. The all-metal hip implants were inadequately tested before they were released for sale and experienced high failure rates.
Recently published documents indicate that the company decided to phase out its all-metal hip implants after receiving a nonapproval letter from the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA's letter pointed out that some patients had alarming levels of metal ions in their blood and that the safety data the company submitted was either incomplete, poorly assembled, or inconsistent with other less favorable studies.
It appears that Johnson & Johnson executives decided to sell off remaining stocks of these defective medical devices despite being aware that these devices were highly dangerous. The metal in DePuy ASR hip implants can break off and shoot tiny metal debris throughout a person's body. This results in severe pain, tissue damage and the need for corrective surgery.
The emails and internal documents emerging during the course of the litigation paint a grim picture of a company putting its profits before patient safety.
"We are almost out of ASR, and the few doctors still using ASR are threatening to leave DePuy anyhow," one executive wrote in an email.
Source: The New York Times, "Hip Device Phaseout Followed F.D.A. Data Request," Barry Meier, March 22, 2012


text:
Join our parent perk program and start saving on our favorite products and services for you and your family across the country!
Access all ongoing discounts, deals, webinars and specials from BCB VIP nowOne Year of BCB VIP
Our VIPs love getting the inside scoop and access to the best deals for top-notch products and services across the country and at home. Sign up now and get the VIP treatment!Become a VIP
The Bump Club VIP program is fabulous. It's a great investment and you get the money you spend back almost instantaneously. Whether applying the VIP discount to BCB events, enjoying a prenatal massage with $20 off, getting money off of a family photography session or using one of the many gift cards that accompany the membership, it is so well worth it. And it's introduced me to fun places around the city that I wouldn't have tried before!Ashley O. - Chicago, IL
File this in the "stuff they don't tell you before becoming a mom" folder... once you have a kid, it is really hard to carry on a continuous conversation without being interrupted by a toddler's latest idea, spilled milk or a poopsplosion! Thank God, and my sanity, for the BCB VIP only events! They give me the chance to kick back and relax with my girlfriends for an hour or two and have a complete, adult conversation, all while experiencing some of Chicago's finest hot spots!Lara C. - Chicago, IL
I was taking a prenatal water aerobics class through Northwestern Memorial when I met my first friend who was pregnant. But even though we met there, I would like to say that Bumb Club contributed to the majority of the friends that I have made (as a mom/mom-to-be). My friend in my water aerobics class asked me if I was part of Bump Club and I told her I had never heard of it before. She raved and told me all of the wonderful things that she had done there. I immediately went online and signed up to be a VIP. Whether it be at an event or a playdate with other Bump Club VIPs, this organization has made my pregnancy and first year of motherhood easy, painless, and doable. I feel like we get together at our homes, Bump Club workouts, and other fun events that are offered because we all have things in common now.Lindsey G. - Chicago, IL
I love the perks of being a BCB VIP! I find myself using my VIP membership card often and at a variety of retailers. I still get excited when I'm able to pull out my card and receive a great discount. There are so many awesome deals! The membership has paid off multiple times when doing activities with my family or even treating myself.Meredith K. - Chicago, IL
I cannot say enough about the wonderful BCB VIP program! I signed up for this program the minute I found out I was pregnant and 2 years later, continue to attend use the discounts and different events. With every new transition that my son goes through, I know that I can count on BCB to offer a class or speaker to offer advice and suggestions. Thank you BCB for helping to connect moms and moms-to-be, for offering support and for providing exceptional programs!Stephanie B. - Chicago, IL
Become a VIP Give the gift of BCB VIP
How do you select VIP partners?
We hand select partners to ensure we are connecting our VIP members to the BEST products, services and companies.... if we wouldn't use these items for our families, we wouldn't recommend them to you!
What type of partners do you have?
Any type of products/services that moms/moms-to-be use/benefit from we consider for part of the program. Some of the most popular categories include: Fitness, baby gear, childcare, kid fashion, pregnancy fashion & necessities, gift items and childcare.
Who can benefit from the program?
All parents. The gifts and gift cards you receive upon joining MORE than cover the initial cost of membership.
Who provides some of the gifts and gift cards to VIP and how to I get them?
We are constantly adding new perks but right now all VIPs receive $25 to Land of Nod, $25 to Daily Harvest, $15 to Seedling, $10 to Honest Company, a free custom tee from Psychobaby (value $28) and many more. Once you become a BCB VIP you can login to the app and request your electronic gift cards to these places and many more.
If I join the program today and you add a partner will I get to access these benefits?
Absolutely. We are constantly adding to partners to the program and as more become available you will get to take advantage of them. As long as your membership is active you will have access to all of the current discounts.
You mention you have both local and national partners, what cities do you have local partners?
We continue to expand the list of local cities with perks, currently we have Chicago, Minneapolis/ St. Paul, Austin, Detroit Metro, Houston and Dallas.
Are the webinars relevant to me?
BCB Webinars cover variety of topics appropriate for parents with kids 0-6. These will be FREE always for BCB VIPs and available for VIPs to register first. They will be $10 to the public. There will be a minimum of two webinars offered per month and many will be offered again live throughout the year.
What if I miss a webinar? Can I watch it after?
YES! We will be recording the webinars and will have them available for 48 hours linked through the password protected page to view if you cannot login and watch them.
If I visit a market that has local perks can I access these?
Yes now you can. All VIPs now have access to ALL perks!


text:
Fishing Without Bait 61: Origin Story: An Explosive Experience
Fishing Without Bait is a client Podcast. Sorgatron Media and Sidekick Media Services have helped with the development, technology, social media, and publication. Can we help with you're Podcast? Contact us today!
Jim Ellermeyer continues discussing his personal history to see what made him the host you know today. He discusses his rough times with his father including one rather "explosive" experience. An incident that began his decent into alcoholism.
Subscribe to our Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Music, or look for it on your favorite Podcatcher!
Intro music: "Life" by Tobu.


text:
Self Catering in Somerset - Dunster
Dunster Travel and Heritage Information
Eden Lodge
Booking through:
Sleeps a maximum of: 3
Pricing From: £220.00 - 600.00
Eden Lodge at North Wheddon Farm is a self contained apartment within the eaves of the oldest part of the farmhouse. Eden Lodge sleeps three guests and is a snug cosy retreat for couples or small families. Entered via its own private steps leading into the the lounge diner with comfortable sofas, and oodles of rustic charm.
With large, south facing velux windows the views across the rolling Exmoor countryside are stunning. Create meals in the fully equipped kitchen and make plans to feed the animals on the farm or take day trips out to explore the beautiful local area with its rugged coastline, sandy beaches and memorable walks. Follow the corridor from the lounge diner to the single bedroom, shower room and double room.
Eden Lodge has a private garden with a tumbling stream and more great views. With so much peace and tranquility on North Wheddon Farm it may be difficult to tear yourself away and take the time to visit all that this lovely part of the country has to offer. Make the short journey to Dunster and walk through the beautiful, medieval village.
Stroll through grounds at Dunster Castle admiring the views of the Quantock hills and across the moors of Exmoor. Travel a little further afield to Minehead with its promenade and long, sandy beach, and pebble beach near the harbour, which stretches for a mile and gives views across the Bristol Channel to Wales. The South West Coast Path begins on the quayside in Minehead and winds its way around the coastline to Poole in Dorset: the start is marked by a huge sculpture of a pair of hands holding a map.
Take a walk up The Parade to admire the vibrant floral displays and sample the cafes, pubs and restaurants. Exmoor National Park provides endless opportunities for walkers and Eden Lodge provides an ideal base for enjoying all it has to offer. Dunkery Beacon is nearby and is the highest point in the park and the Brendon Hills sit to the east and are one of the parks quieter hidden gems.
Take a visit to Wimbleball Lake which offers various watersports activities, including sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and rowing. There is also a premier trout fishery and the cycle route takes you around the lake, following mostly bridleways and some quiet country lanes. The route passes through woodland and grassland, with tantalising glimpses of the lake.
Take smaller visitors to Tropiquaria Wildlife Park and spend time looking at the tropical hall and aquarium, take in a puppet show or spend time playing on the number of indoor and outdoor children's play areas. With a few family friendly farm animals and its glorious surroundings Eden Lodge is the ideal place to stay to use as a base in order to visit and explore the local area and all that it has to offer.
Pet Friendly
Get an Ordnance Survey map covering the Dunster area.
Nearest AttractionsHeritage Rated from 1- 5 (low-exceptional) on historic interest
Winsford, St Mary Magdalene's Church - 2.6 miles (Historic Church)
Holnicote Estate - 4.8 miles (Countryside)
Gallox Bridge - 5 miles (Historic Building)
Selworthy, All Saints Church - 5.1 miles (Historic Church)
Dunster Working Watermill - 5.1 miles (Historic Building)
Withypool, St Andrew's Church - 5.1 miles (Historic Church)
Dunster Yarn Market - 5.2 miles (Historic Building)
Dunster Butter Cross - 5.2 miles (Historic Building)
Dunster Castle - 5.2 miles (Castle)
Bury Castle - 5.3 miles (Prehistoric Site)
Nearest Alternative Cottages
Dunster, Somerset
Sleeps: 6
Stay from: £400.00 - 1300.00
Wheddon Cross, Somerset
Sleeps: 5
Stay from: £306.00 - 1752.00
Minehead, Somerset
Sleeps: 4
Stay from: £360.00 - 1787.00
Details of facilities are believed correct at time of publication, but may be subject to change by the cottage proprietor. Up-to-the-minute facility listings will be always presented during the booking process for your approval.
UK Self Catering
England - Scotland - Wales
Popular Locations
Devon - Cornwall - Lake District - Highlands - North Wales - South West Wales


text:
Dubai, United Arab Emirates-Sunday 19 August 2018 [ AETOS Wire ]
Caparol Paints, the German leader in the global paints industry, recently signed strategic partnership agreements with a number of contractors from Iraq to increase its market reach in the country.
Caparol hosted contractors from various parts of Iraq to provide them with firsthand experience of Caparol's paints and techniques. This is part of Caparol's growing interest in the region and increasing its reach across the Middle East. The contractors were given insights on various Caparol paint techniques, the strength of the brand and the paints that will be ideal for the Iraqi market.
With the aim to market Caparol across Iraq, Caparol will also participate in an industry event scheduled to be held in November. Caparol aims to showcase its products to a larger audience in Iraq.
Caparol products including Dibson, Texture and Stone were showcased to the contractors from Iraq. They were also provided training to understand the different decorative paints and uses including ArteTwin, Makhmalia, Armareno, DecoLasur, ArteLasur, Stucco Di Luce and Metallocryl interiors.
Speaking about expanding Caparol's reach into Iraq, Mr. Mowaffaq Balish, Commercial Director Middle East at Caparol Paints, said, "It was a pleasure to host the delegation from Iraq. As we aim to increase our reach in the Middle East, Iraq has been our major focus. We aim to penetrate the market further and carve a niche for ourselves. Our growth in the UAE has helped us explore various other markets in the region and hosting the contractors has been an extremely important step in reaching out in the Iraqi market".
"At Caparol we focus on knowledge sharing and its importance for growth. Our understanding of the interiors and paint industry in the UAE and Middle East has only grown stronger over the years. Through this exercise we have also educated them on the various paints we have at Caparol and its applications. Having developed our product range in-house with an up-to-date research and development team, we believe that providing insights into the industry to our peers is a great opportunity for us", he added.
"Our interest in the region lies in being able to reach across markets and providing our paints and expertise to the interior and paint industry. Our highly efficient paints are a result of our commitment to provide the best in the industry to the people. We hope to further strengthen our relations with contractors in Iraq and increase our reach", Mowaffaq said..
Caparol Paints has always been at the forefront of innovation with a highly sophisticated research and development department that constantly innovates technologies and manufacturing techniques, which complement the local market conditions.
Through its range of products, Caparol brings German paint techniques while focusing on appealing colours and paint textures. The brand has also made headway in sustainability by paying attention to quality and balancing between economy, environmental capability and quality of life.
About Caparol Paints:
Caparol Paints L.L.C. is a leading developer and producer of high quality paints, enamels, decorative and structural coatings as well as energy-saving thermal insulation systems. In an environment where quality is pivotal, Caparol's paint products are tailored to create an appealing look whilst being formulated to withstand the harsh Middle Eastern climate. Caparol truly cares about family and beautiful living spaces. In fact, this core belief has helped Caparol become the largest family run paint company in Germany.
For over 120 years, Caparol's products have cared for the health of countless families and the environment. The company, a part of the DAW (Deutsche Amphibolin-Werke) SE group in Germany, was established in Dubai, UAE in 1998 and since then it has brought the best of its German technology and service to the growing market of the Middle East. The company has secured high profile projects such as Dubai Creek Harbour, City Walk, Bluewaters, Nikki Beach Resort & Spa and Akoya by Damac, among many others.
Factory and Headquarters:
Saih Shuaib – 4, Dubai Industrial Park
P.O. Box 621182, Dubai United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 4 3687600, Fax: +971 4 3687650
Abu Dhabi Office:
Musaffah City, P.O. Box 94476,
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 2 5539955, Fax +971 2 5539952
Al Quoz office:
Landmark – Emirates Glass Factory
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 4 3473538, Fax: +971 4 3474256
FB: https://www.facebook.com/CaparolUAE
In: @CaparolUAE


text:
Parts & Servicing
We supply parts, servicing and repair to get you back on the job as soon as possible. Our friendly staff can help you using our extensive knowledge and experience.
Accident Repair Assistance
Arwel's Agri Services Accident Repair Assistance
It's bad enough having an accident without having the hassle of dealing with Insurance companies. So why not leave it all to us? Arwel's Agri Services have a dedicated team to assist with the whole process from form filling, assessing and carrying out a comprehensive estimates of repairs. Before you contact your insurance company to report the accident simply call our dedicated number 01558 650614 24/7, we can then guide you through the process.
All types of insurance repairs are undertaken from cab glasses to Forage Harvester accidents.
We deal with all insurance companies so why not use our expertise to assist in the process.
With fully equipped service vehicles allowing for the majority of repairs to be done on site, therefore reducing the inconvenience of the down time of your tractor or machine.
We also have fully equipped workshop facilities and access to a comprehensive body shop to carry out the repairs as required.
Arwel's Agri Services can arrange to collect your tractor or machine for repairs at our Accident Repair Centre if required and also arrange for onsite repairs to be done at your convenience for minimal disruption.
Fully trained Service Engineers allow us to repair all makes and models using genuine OEM parts.
What to do if you have an accident:
. Firstly give us a call on 01558650614 or out of hours: 07794 236541.
. We can then discussed the claim process.
. We will arrange a convenient time to assess the accident.
. We will produce a repair estimate and then contact your insurance company.
. See that the repairs are carried out to the highest standard using only genuine
approved parts.
We are delighted to announce that as a dealer network with Kramp UK we are now extending our Saturday opening hours.
We are now available on a Saturday from 8.30am until 12.30pm. Orders received will be dispatched at 12pm for delivery on Monday.
Are you ready for the Harvest Season?
At Arwel's Agri we offer a servicing before you start gathering in your silage.
All Forager Harvesters need their annual service, arwel's agri can do all this!
We also provide a tele handlers, tractors and all implements service.
DISCOUNT is available on labour and parts to those farmers and contractors who provide more than one tractor and/or implement service together.
Call our service department on 01558 650614 for further details.
The parts department can offer a full range of bearings, belts, pto and shaft guards. All these are kept in stock ready for the busy season.
We also have mower blades on offer and tines for all makes of mowers, rakes and tedders.
Panel Repairs / Painting
- Can repair all panels damaged on machines, include painting and sorting out dents.
• Arwel Agri Parts department recognise the importance of offering a first class parts back-up service to support our customers carry a large range of spare parts and service items, we are supported by our suppliers to have the correct parts in stock when needed and if we do not have an item in stock we can get it for the next day
Arwel's agri Services ltd we specialise in filters we stocking one of the biggest range of filters in west wales for the agricultural sector for Claas, Massey Ferguson, John Deere, New Holland, McCormick, Case international, David Brown, Ford, Renault, Matbro, Manitou and Valtra.
• Ivor Williams – Arwel's agri services, supplies parts for all Ivor Williams implements. We're currently stocking brakes, lights, handbrake cable and shoes etc.
• Quickie – Supply buckets, bale handlers, Quicke loaders
Bauer Slurry Joints and fixings 4inch and 6inch now in stock and available to buy.
Arwels' Agri Services Ltd services foragers, Trailers and all kinds of tractors.


text:
facetime for android
|Store Front
|Admin Panel
|Click Here
We offer payment gateway from all leading payment gateway provides at ZERO setup fee with free integration. You can accept payments via debit cards, Credit Cards, Net Banking, Paypal, COD & Others.
We help you to tie you up with best shipping solutions providers in the country or you can choose prefered logistics company of your choice, all at FREE including store integration.
We offer multidevice compatible store, which will fully functional on any device such as mobiles, tablets, desktops and laptops. You as a admin owner you always can manage option from admin panel.
We develop your store in a way so you can manage your own store from admin panel such as logo, color, font, style, slider, menu, products manage and lots other without having coding knowledge.
For NON-INDIA customers,please refer USD/$ rates for the below packages and PAYPAL will be default Payment gateway integration for all the packages.Applicable only for NON-INDIA CUSTOMERS
Pricing (One Time Payment)We have variety of pricing & packages to fit your requirements and budget. OneTime Payment for LifeTime eCommerce Store. We will handover all login credential and store ownership to customer, so you can manage store from admin panel and change website color, font color, add new font, font size, header layout, footer layout, full website layout, banners/images and manage categories, products, stock, customer, invoice, marketing, shipping, payment gateway, tax and lots more.
Partners Enquiry
Join our partner program
Earn Up to 30%


text:
Click here to view full PDF release.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. Playing a mid-week doubleheader with Brown on Tuesday, Santa Clara will host Portland this weekend as it opens the 2012 West Coast Conference home slate.
The Broncos are 13-7 and 0-3 in the WCC after dropping a three-game set at No. 24 San Diego over the weekend. San Diego is now 21-6 and 3-0 in the WCC.
Brown is 1-9 this season. The Bears' only win came vs. Maine on March 22. The 22-4 victory accounts for more than one-third of the teams' total runs scored.
The Pilots sit at 14-5 with a 1-2 mark in the West Coast Conference. They opened conference play by dropping two of three vs. BYU.
Fans should keep an eye on SantaClaraBroncos.com, @SCUBroncos and @SCU_Baseball on twitter or the athletics Facebook fan page for in game updates.
Junior RHP Tommy Nance (3-0; 3.11) has lived up to the title of Friday night starter for the Broncos in 2012. He has made five starts while also appearing in relief once. Nance leads the team with 37.2 innings pitched and 23 strikeouts. He has walked 14 while allowing a .244 batting average against. He is second on the team in wins, behind WCC Pitcher of the Month for February LHP Powell Fansler.
Fansler has been stellar as Santa Clara's mid-week starter. He has a team-high four wins and an ERA of 3.12. In seven appearances, including three starts, he has tossed 26.0 innings while striking out 13 and walking just four. Fansler was named WCC Pitcher of the Month for February when he picked up four wins while making two starts and appearing twice in relief.
RHP Mike Couch (1-2; 5.10) threw his first complete game and first career shutout vs. San Jose State on Mar. 4. He allowed six hits and one walk while striking out seven. Converting from a bullpen role in 2011, Couch has made five starts and thrown 30.0 innings. His 21 strikeouts are second on the team and he has only allowed nine walks.
RHP Paul Twining (2-2; 4.61) has been the top bullpen arm thus far for Coach O'Brien. Twining has made 12 appearances to lead the team and struck out 16 batters in 13.2 innings. He also leads the team with six saves. He pitched the ninth inning in each of the four Santa Clara games in the third annual Jack Gifford Memorial Tournament from Mar. 8-11, picking up three saves.
Offensively, OF Lucas Herbst and OF Pat Stover have paced the Broncos thus far in 2012. Herbst is tied for first on the team with .400 batting average (32-80). He has scored a team-high 20 runs and added 14 RBI while hitting six doubles and four triples. With six walks and four HBP, his on-base percentage stands at a terrific .457 which has helped him steal four bases. Stover is third on the Broncos with a .351 (27-77) batting average. Stover leads the team 18 RBI and has also scored 17 runs. He has five doubles and two home runs. His six steals in six attempts leads the team.
Others doing well include 1B Andrew Biancardi who has two home runs and three doubles while adding 16 RBI and scoring 12 runs. C Peter Summerville has started to pick up more at-bats and is making the most of his opportunity. In 15 games, including 11 starts, Summerville is tied for the team-lead with a .400 batting average (16-40). He already has four multi-hit games including a 3-3 performance at San Jose State on Mar. 3. 2B Evan Peters hit a big triple against Illinois-Chicago on Feb. 26 to help Santa Clara come back from five runs down late in the game.
The Bears just wrapped-up a four-game series with Pacific in which they were swept. The Tigers outscored Brown 42-14 and only one game was decided by less than seven runs (a 5-4 Pacific victory on Mar. 25).
Brown has struggled to keep runs off the board as its pitchers have a combined 9.15 ERA. RHP Heath Mayo has thrown 17.0 innings to lead the team but only has five strikeouts against 12 walks. His ERA of 6.35 is second on the team and he has the lone win on the season for the Bears.
RHP Taylor Wright leads the team with a 3.68 ERA in five appearances, including one start. In his 14.2 innings he has struck out 11 batters while walking just five. He has an 0-1 record, picking up the loss at Pacific on Mar. 24. He allowed five runs on 11 hits in 5.0 innings as the Bears fell 10-0.
LHP Will Marcal has an impressive 15 strikeouts in just 12.0 innings to lead the team. He has made two starts and appeared in relief twice.
INF Cody Slaughter leads the team with a .375 (15-40) batting average and .550 slugging percentage. He has smacked two homers and added 12 a team-high 12 RBI.
OF John Sheridan leads the team with five stolen bases in six attempts. He is hitting .310 (13-42) and has one home run and two doubles to accompany his four RBI.
Despite hitting just .188, OF/1B Mike DiBiase leads the team with 10 runs scored. He has found a way to get on base with seven walks and two hit-by-pitches to put is on-base percentage at .357.
The Pilots strength this season has been on the mound. They have a team ERA of 2.09 with is good for second in the WCC. LHP Travis Radke had led the way with a 1.20 ERA in six starts. He has thrown 30.0 innings and struck out 33 against only 10 walks. Batters can't square him up as evidenced by his 14 hits allowed.
RHP Kyle Kraus leads the team with 44.2 innings pitched in six starts. He has only struck out 16 batters but has surrendered just five walks. He has a record of 3-2 and an ERA of 2.22.
Out of the bullpen RHP Owen Jones has made a team-high 12 appearances and has racked up seven saves. His miniscule 0.82 ERA is helped by his 16 strikeouts.
IF Brian Frattali leads the team in hitting with a .323 average. He also has a team-high 11 walks to put his on-base percentage at .450. He has one home run and eight RBI to go along with 10 runs scored.
OF/IF Turner Gill has been the big bat for the Pilots, having knocked three home runs in just 68 at-bats to pace the team. He is hitting .309 and has added three doubles and 11 runs scored. Tied for the team-lead with 12 RBI, Gill has also swiped one base.
Despite hitting just .226 (14-62), IF/OF Caleb Whalen has made sure that his hits have counted. He has eight extra-base hits (two homers, two triples and four doubles) which has led to him knocking in 11 runs and scoring 10 more.
Santa Clara came out of the gates in 2012 ready to play. Thus far they have defeated No. 35 Texas State, No. 37 Wichita State and a Cal Poly team who swept Oklahoma State in three games and the Broncos WCC rival LMU in a four game series. Santa Clara has taken down five teams with a winning record and four teams with a winning percentage of .600 or better.
Below are the teams the Broncos have beaten in 2012 and their current records.
Texas State
Won 5-4, (13)
Won 7-1, (12)
Wichita State
Won 8-5
Cal Poly
Won 5-2 and 11-6
Won 8-4
As of Mar. 26, the Broncos are No. 18 in the www.CollegeBaseballDaily.com Mid-Major Poll. Santa Clara is joined by three other WCC members including No. 8 Pepperdine, No. 14 San Diego and No. 16 Gonzaga. TCU is No. 1 in the poll for the first week this season.
Texas State, who Santa Clara beat 5-4 in 13 innings on the road to open its season, sits at No. 2.
Also in the poll is No. 7 Dallas Baptist who lost to Cal in the 2012 Santa Clara Super Regional at Santa Clara's Stephen Schott Stadium. Santa Clara hosted the Super Regional because Cal did not have the facilities to accommodate the large number of media and fans.
For the second straight season, former Major League Baseball LHP John Franco will coming to the Mission Campus to watch his son INF J.J. Franco play for Brown against Santa Clara. J.J. Franco has started all 12 games for the Bears and is hitting .225 (9-40). He has scored six runs and has one RBI to go along with one stolen base.
John Franco pitched for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets and Houston Astros during a 21-year baseball career. He holds a National League record for games pitched with 1,119, which is third in MLB history. His 424 career saves was second in major league history when he retired in 2005 and is currently fourth behind Mariano Rivera (603), Trevor Hoffman (601) and Lee Smith (478). He holds the record for most saves by a left-hander.
Santa Clara baseball went 7-2 in new head coach Dan O'Brien's first month on the Mission Campus and LHP Powell Fansler was named the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Month for February. He picked up four of the seven Bronco wins while making two starts and appearing twice in relief.
"Being honored as the WCC Pitcher of the Month is indescribable but the award should be given not just to myself but to my team as well," said Fansler. "When I'm on the mound I really focus on executing the pitches that my coach calls. In addition, I have developed a routine that I stick to everyday and when something doesn't feel right I can look to my routine to find out what the problem might be. As for the team dynamic, I have a defense that I know works just as hard as I do, in practice and during the game, it makes pitching a lot easier. Our team mentality is completely different this year and it started with the new energy of the team and coaches. We love to have fun. Furthermore, the coaching staff has fostered a brotherhood that is unbreakable, because of this companionship each and every one of us has grown closer. We trust each other. Thus, the success that the team has been having is a result of the our attitude, trust, and hard work."
"This is great for the program but mostly it's great for Powell," said first-year Bronco pitching coach Gabe Ribas. " I saw a guy who was will to throw strikes and compete in the zone. I think he's done a great job of that all year. He's also done a great job pitching in pressure situations with runners on. He's come out and made some great changes and he's really mindful of where he wants to go this year. He earned it and hopefully we have a bundle more of those coming. Although he's stood out for us, everybody's done a great job. It's great to get individual awards but those are for the individuals. We're a team-oriented program and hopefully we'll get some team awards, too."
Fansler was dazzling for the month, making two starts and two relief appearances. He posted a 2.65 ERA to go along with his four wins. In 17.0 innings pitched he allowed 16 hits and struck out nine against only two walks.
His best start game vs. Nevada on Feb. 28 at Schott Stadium. He scattered five hits over 7.0 shutout innings and struck out three with only one walk.
The 2011-12 Santa Clara baseball team has three members that all played their high school baseball just down the Alameda at Bellarmine College Prep. Freshman Matt Glomb, sophomore Kyle DeMerritt and junior Mike Couch all played at the Jesuit prep school that is just 1.5 miles from the Mission campus. DeMerritt and Glomb played together at Bellarmine, while DeMerritt appeared on the same varsity team as Couch during his sophomore season. Bellarmine, a typical feeder for many Santa Clara students, has funneled many players into a Bronco uniform. Since 2005, each Santa Clara baseball team has had at least two former Bells on its roster with six wearing the Santa Clara uniform in 2009. The Bells have given Santa Clara two Louisville Slugger Freshman All-Americans ? DeMerritt (2010-11 season) and Tommy Medica ?09 (2006-07 season).
Twin brothers OF Matt Ozanne and 3B/DH Drew Ozanne look to continue to produce offensively for the Broncos. Matt started 45 games last season and lead the team with 10 stolen bases and added 22 RBI. He has appeared in 16 games, making 14starts, in 2012. He has one home run and seven RBI. Drew started 29 games, appearing in 37. He had 16 RBI on the season, including a walk-off RBI single against Bakersfield. This season Drew has appeared in nine games while making two starts. He has scored five runs and added two RBI. The brothers batted back-to-back in the lineup three times last season and look to anchor the offense in 2012. He has made three appearances.
Coming off of a spectacular rookie season for the Broncos, Kyle DeMerritt has been hard at work preparing for the 2012 season. He spent time over the summer in the very competitive Northwest League in Wausau, Wis.. where he was a member of the Wisconsin Woodchucks.
"Summer ball plain and simple is a blast," said DeMerritt. "I was given the opportunity to play out of state for two and a half months against players from all around the country. We get fed and housed and our job is to play baseball every day... it doesn't get much better. However, we play 70 games in 75 days which was a grind that really humbled me and allowed me to realize what the next level (professional ball) is all about. On the baseball side I had both success and failures and the competition I faced really helped me mature as a ball player. Lastly, I was fortunate to have an amazing host family and stay in a town where our team was highly regarded. It was awesome playing for the people out there."
Now DeMerritt and his teammates are hard at work trying to become a unit on the field. Coach O'Brien stresses the importance of team chemistry and with DeMerritt as one of the top returners he will be looked upon for a larger leadership role. Thus far in 2012 he has made 15 starts and scored seven runs with seven RBI.
Eight select Bronco baseball games, four non-conference and four conference, in 2012 will be called on the Broncos' online Game Central via Stretch internet, for the first time since 2010. All eight broadcast will be done by a two-man student broadcast affiliated with Santa Clara's athletic department. The crew includes John Nash , a junior on the Santa Clara men's water polo team and an Athletic Department student employee, and Brandon Rebboah, also an Athletic Department student employee. In addition to the eight broadcasted games, all home games will have free video streaming via Game Central. The remaining games to be aired will be Mar. 9 vs. Lehigh, Mar. 30 vs. Portland, Apr. 10 vs. Cal, Apr. 20 vs. Pepperdine, Apr. 27 vs. Saint Mary's, May 22 vs. Stanford and May 25 vs. LMU.
"We're excited to have two passionate and talented Santa Clara students broadcast our games once again. We want people to fall in love with Bronco baseball and who better to help us do that than these two outstanding young men," said O'Brien about the radio broadcasts.
One of the goals baseball head coach Dan O'Brien had when he started was to get as many people into Schott Stadium for the home-opener on Feb. 24 as possible. While the stadium was not sold out, it was close. A total of 1,273 spectators came to watch the Broncos take on Illinois-Chicago and push their record to 5-0.
Some of the attractions included fresh popcorn being popped around the stadium, games for children on the concourse and of course, the Bronco baseball team in their old-school baggy uniforms.
"The atmosphere tonight was electric and I'm just so thrilled that the Santa Clara community came out to support us," said O'Brien after the win. "For their support, we promise to give our Bronco faithful a passionate and energetic effort between the lines the entire season. They will be proud of how our team competes and can be excited for an aggressive and fun style of baseball when the Broncos take the field."
The 5-0 mark the Broncos posted to open the season was the best start for the team since the 2008 season when it also went 5-0. That team took down Utah Valley, Kansas State, Pacific and San Jose State in its first five games. They won games by scores of 12-1,7-2, 9-2, 15-6 and 7-6 before finally falling at San Jose State 10-9.
The 2008 squad opened the season with a mark of 9-1 and finished the season with an overall record of 33-22. That season the Broncos finished third in the West Coast Conference with a 13-8 record in league play.
With the 2012 edition of Bronco baseball sitting at 6-2 through the first two weeks of the season, the best start since that 2008 team, the feeling around the team is that they can compete with anybody.
"We have the talent on the roster to compete in the West Coast Conference this year but we need to come together as a team," said O'Brien. "The college model is all about team, it's all about the guy to your left and to your right and that's where we're going to spend a lot of our time. Our team chemistry is going to be as strong, if not stronger, than anybody in the country. That college model is going to be in the heart of everything we do."


text:
The finish line for the 43rd New York City Marathon stood silent in the stillness of Central Park on Friday night, its signs listing the sponsors of a race that had been canceled hours earlier. The statue of Fred Lebow, the race's founder, overlooked the empty scene.
"Few things in life match the thrill of a marathon," read a quotation from Lebow on a poster placed beneath his statue.
Few things in New York life, however, have matched the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. And no matter how the city's officials and marathon organizers tried to soften its impact to preserve this year's 26.2-mile race through five boroughs, its end came abruptly Friday.
Earlier last week, in the face of mounting criticism, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg stood firm in defending the marathon, saying it would lift the city's spirits and fill its coffers. Mary Wittenberg, the president and chief executive of New York Road Runners, the organization that directs the race, championed the event as a symbol of resilience.
Now the city, along with Road Runners, will be forced to reckon with significant losses, ones officials could not even begin to calculate in light of the natural disaster.Continue reading the main story
"This was a difficult decision, but the right decision," Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson said at the cancellation news conference in the elaborate temporary structure near the finish line. "Next year it will go back to being a wonderful, unifying, celebratory event."
The marathon generates an estimated $340 million in spending, thanks in part to more than 20,000 runners from overseas who spend money at hotels, restaurants, theaters and shops.
"The marathon is an enormous economic generator for the city," Wolfson said, acknowledging that the taxes helped to "pay our police officers and our fire officers and our teachers."
"It helps businesses," he added. "I am sure there will be a lot of businesses in Brooklyn that will be feeling the absence of the marathon on Sunday. People won't be buying things as they watch."
Nor will they be buying as much beer in Manhattan on First Avenue north of the Queensboro Bridge, probably the most boisterous, fan-packed stretch of the course. "It's our busiest weekend of the year," John Teevan, the owner of the Baker Street Pub, said outside the bar late Friday. "I wish the mayor had made the call earlier because we brought in extra food for Sunday."
But Teevan, who has owned the bar for 12 years, said he understood the outrage that led to the cancellation. "It's a tough call," he said. "You have so many people out in Staten Island who have no water, no basic necessities, and you're catering to all the tourists coming to the city? I think I would be peeved, too."
With some runners staying home or leaving the city early, resources like hotel rooms were made available to local residents without power or shelter; marathon officials said they would donate water, blankets and portable toilets, as well as at least $1 million in cash.
But as the city took initial steps to heal, just how long it would take Road Runners to recover — financially, and in terms of reputation — was in question.
Road Runners, a nonprofit organization, relies on the marathon for more than half its $60 million in annual revenue, which officials say goes into financing its programs and conducting races. This was the first time in nearly 20 years that the marathon was going to be broadcast live on national television, and officials had adjusted the script to be sensitive to Sandy's aftermath.
"This was going to be our version of a telethon to raise funds for New York," Wittenberg said.
According to tax returns and interviews with officials, Road Runners has a relatively slim cushion, generating a couple of million dollars more than it spends each year.
Now Wittenberg's organization will still have to determine how much to pay the television sponsors and the race sponsors, as well as the elite runners who came from as far as Africa and Australia, some of whom would have earned the bulk of their income from appearance fees in the race.
A clause in the insurance policy about "extreme weather conditions" seems to cover the storm cancellation, but just how extensive that coverage will be has not yet been determined.
"We have some insurance," Wittenberg said, "but there's going to be some heavy hits as a result of this."
The public relations hit could be far worse.
All the amateur athletes who trained for months will want to know whether their entry fees, which were as high as $347, will be refunded. Road Runners will, at least for now, stick to its firm no-refund policy, according to an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because that person was not authorized to speak for the organization. But the club has not ruled out offering some form of compensation.
The 2012 entrants will be guaranteed spots in the 2013 marathon "or, if they prefer, the New York City Half," Wittenberg said, referring to a half-marathon that is run in March. It was not clear whether runners would have to pay an additional entry fee next year.
About 140,000 runners applied this year for roughly 60,000 spots in the race. If nearly all of the 2012 entrants want to run in the 2013 marathon, in a race squeezed by multiple wave starts, it could make next year's lottery nearly unwinnable. "We will assess that," Wittenberg said.
It is also unclear how the organization will rework its five-year television rights contract with ESPN and WABC, the local affiliate. A spokesman for ESPN, Chris LaPlaca, said the network had not had time to discuss it with Road Runners. One possibility is extending the contract a year, other network executives said.
Road Runners will also have to negotiate with sponsors like Asics, Nissan, Timex and United Airlines, which were swept into the marathon debate. ING, celebrating its 10th year as title sponsor of the marathon, said it fully supported the decision to cancel the race and donated $500,000 to relief efforts.
In a statement, the company said it "understands that many people, businesses, as well as its own New York-based employees have been impacted by Hurricane Sandy."
The larger problem for the city, though, is how to recoup the dollars that would have been spent by the runners, their families and their friends. On average, each participant spends $1,778 on hotels, transportation, food and beverage, entertainment and shopping, according to an independent survey, produced by Aecom last year.
About 40,000 of the 47,500 runners had arrived, though, and Wolfson, the deputy mayor, said he hoped they would still enjoy the city. Spending by marathon tourists generates an estimated $17.3 million in taxes, about two-thirds of which goes to the city.
The marathon course moved out of Central Park and into the five boroughs in 1976, as a way to invigorate a bankrupt city. There were no guarantees that it would even be run in 1977.
But enthusiastic crowds watched, and marathon stars like Grete Waitz and Alberto Salazar emerged to win multiple times, increasing the popularity of running in New York.
The marathon has become big business over the last decade. Now, with the great demand for entry to the race, many runners join charity teams to raise thousands of dollars for a guaranteed spot. This year, 300 charity teams were projected to raise more than $34 million, even though the runners were unable to compete in the race.
On Saturday morning, thousands of runners from all over the world streamed into Central Park, taking pictures at the finish line. Overnight, marathon officials had removed the quotation below Lebow's statue.Continue reading the main story


text:
Earlier this year news of a hard fork on Monero (XMR) rocked the crypto movement as a new coin, MoneroV (XMV) is set on emerging. With the hard fork approaching, XMR has seen a soar in its prices as more investors look forward to the airdrop of new XMV coins later this month. The price of one XMR coin currently trades at $288 according to Coinmarketcap signifying an 8% increase from last month's cryptoburst. This mid cap sector on DigitalassetsDB. The two are the only coins in the top ten largest coin that closed Friday in the green as others made day-to-day losses. However, is the new MoneroV coin really worth all the hustle, time and money?
What is MoneroV?
MoneroV platform is a community-led hard fork on the Monero cryptocurrency aiming at solving Monero's blockchain problems of scalability and privacy features. This will be done by creating a totally decentralized platform that allows its users to develop, enhance and simplify use of XMV to create a new scalable blockchain.
XMV offers a privacy to the user, is untraceable, immutable and secure blockchain fork that will allow faster, more anonymous transactions.
Who will receive the XMV tokens?
According to MoneroV website, anyone holding Monero (XMR) on the day of the fork, presumably mid-March, will be entitled to a 1:10 ratio of airdrops of XMR to XMV. In essence, every XMR coins you hold is worth 10 XMV coins. After the fork, all Monero coin holders will receive the tokens in their various wallets given that the Monero wallet provider accepts the new XMV coins.
"MyMonero will definitely not support any non-native forks of Monero — including MoneroV. This means there will be no support for obtaining access to funds or airdrop coins on such non-native forks."
-Monero team statement on Medium
Why this hard fork is labelled a scam
- Currently no exchanges have confirmed accepting the coins on their platforms. However, some 'medium-large' cryptocurrency exchanges are expected to review the blockchain and determine on the future of XMV. This casts a doubt on the future of XMV given many owners of XMR will not be able to access the coin.
- The Monero team, led by Paul Shapiro, issued a statement on the partner's Medium page last week Friday confirming that they will not be part of any fork on Monero. Hard forks are generally not accepted by the original developers for obvious reasons but this time it is different. The creators and developers of MoneroV (XMV) remain unknown till this day raising questions of a scam waiting to happen.
- The date is still not set for the hard fork which will happen at block 1564965 giving MoneroV miners a chance to mine XMV. This is estimated to happen on March 18th, when the Monero developers also meet for their bi-annual developer's update that will focus on mining centralization around the same period with the proposed hard fork. Why should such events coincide even when developers don't agree with the fork?
- The biggest red flag remains the disclosure of your private keys in order to obtain an airdrop that is aimed at increasing the speculation of MoneroV coin and cause its price to rise. The MoneroV team claims to release the specified coins some days after the hard fork. Basically, two scams are in play here.
First, your private key is used directly with the MoneroV blockchain network which would lead to the wallet recording the private code and thereafter hackers stealing your XMR. Secondly, the scammers (if they are) may obtain your details and expose them on the blockchain as opposed to the parent chain which is safe, anonymous and private.
All should be taken into account before investing in any new cryptocurrency or ICO. Do your own research. This may well be the start of a scam and Monero developers will now have to tread carefully as this hard fork may looks to doom the prospects of Monero (XMR) hitting $500 by the end of 2018.


text:
Add Your Business/Event
Taichung is located in west-central Taiwan. With a population of over 2.6 million, it is now the second largest city on the island and major manufacturing hub.
Taichung is a 3-hour drive from Taipei, although taking a bus is the cheapest option. Tong-Lien Bus (統聯客運) and Kuo-Kuang Bus (國光客運) operate the route several times an hour, every day.
Alternatively, take the Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) train that runs between Taipei and Kaohsiung. Taichung Airport is a domestic hub with a limited international services.
The gay scene in Taichung is very small when compared with Taipei, but there is a strong LGBT community. Several exclusively gay venues including karaoke Gay Bars & Clubs, Gay Saunas and Gay Massage Spas can be found within the Central District, near the Taichung Central Station.
These gay venues attract mostly local Taiwanese clients, although the scene in central Taiwan is growing. For several years, Taichung hosts an annual Taichung Pride Parade which has become more popular over the years.
Taichung's downtown area is relatively small and easy to get around on foot. However, the city has a good bus network that makes it easy to explore the wider city.
A metro system is currently under construction and expected to be completed in 2018. Taxis are widely available and convenient (tips are not required).
It is possible to do a day trip from Taipei to Taichung. First-time visitors may have spend a few days to explore all that Taichung has to offer.
For our list of Taichung hotel recommendations for gay travellers, visit our Gay Taichung Hotels page.
Popular visitor attractions include the world-class National Museum of Natural Science and hiking in the nearby hills. Taichung is famous for its downtown shopping experience, and in particular, the night markets where you can enjoy local food and snap up a few bargains.
The most popular are the ChungHwa night market (中華夜市), the Feng-Chia university night market (逢甲夜市) and the Chung-Shiao night market (忠孝夜市).
Don't forget to try the "bubble tea" – the most famous drink in the region.
Are we missing a new venue or has a business closed? Or has something changed and we've not yet updated our pages?
Please use this form to let us know. We really appreciate your feedback.
Want us to add your business? Click here. Want to add an event? Click here.