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When Jack Roosevelt Robinson stepped onto Brooklyn's Ebbets Field on April 15, 1947, he not only changed the face of professional baseball in America. In ways subtle and profound — ways that have been debated, dissected and celebrated in books, films, popular songs, academic circles and casual conversations in the long decades since — he changed the nation itself.
Breaking baseball's color barrier, Robinson embarked on an odyssey that brought him renown, respect and, by all accounts, an early death, at 53, from the unimaginable stress he suffered, on and off the field, as the first black player in the major leagues.
For most of Jackie Robinson's long journey, from 1947 Rookie of the Year to prematurely aged Dodgers veteran (his major league career lasted only 10 years), LIFE magazine was there, chronicling his baseball triumphs — including Brooklyn's only World Series title, in 1955 — and his life and achievements away from the diamond.
Here, LIFE.com offers a selection of both classic and, in some cases, rare pictures that paint a portrait of a man whose dignity, competitive fire and grace under pressure set him indelibly and inevitably apart from his peers and his rivals.
In 1950, when LIFE covered the filming of the movie version of his life, The Jackie Robinson Story (in which Robinson starred, quite winningly, as himself), the magazine explained the man's appeal, at the time and for coming generations, like this: "Previous baseball heroes — Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Monty Stratton [played by Jimmy Stewart] — have had to wait till they were past their prime or dead before movies were made about them, and actors had to be taught laboriously to copy their stances and swings."
But Jackie Robinson is having his story told by Hollywood while he is still one of the best players in baseball. And Jackie does not need any actor to copy him; he has gone out and played himself. . . . He fitted into his new role as film star with the same easygoing grace and cold determination that have carried him through his whole career. [He plays the part] with the natural charm of a born screen personality.
With the movie completed, "Jackie went back to his spring training and started off the new season in his usual style," LIFE noted, "batting .455 the first week."
Robinson skills on the diamond — and his prodigious athletic gifts in general — were never in question. He was UCLA's first-ever varsity athlete in four sports (baseball, basketball, football and track) and even though he started his major league career relatively late in life, at 28 years old, he brought an electrifying combination of hard-won discipline and explosive talent to the game that thrilled fans, awed his teammates and consistently rattled opponents.
Case in point: One of the most famous of all the pictures ever made of Robinson — in fact, one of the most iconic baseball photographs ever made, period — illustrates not only the man's intensity and his will to win, but his wonderfully disruptive energy on the base paths. (See slide #6 in this gallery.) Captured by LIFE's Ralph Morse in Game 3 of the 1955 World Series against the Yankees, the image shows Robinson mischievously working to distract catcher Yogi Berra and rattle pitcher Bob Turley. This picture is almost always described as "Jackie Robinson rounding third base," but the fact that he is provocatively dancing off the bag actually makes the photograph all the more rousing, and so much more representative of his style of play.
Six decades later, Morse's photograph remains one of the signature portraits of a great athlete at his most intensely, passionately competitive. This, the picture tells us, is the guy you want on your team.
A footnote to that story known to few baseball fans is that, incredibly, Jackie Robinson — after years of battling for a World Series title — did not play in the deciding 7th game in 1955. He wasn't a young man anymore, he was coming off his least-productive season as a Dodger (he hit only .256 with 12 stolen bases and eight home runs in 105 games) and manager Walter Alston benched him. Game 7 was the only World Series game the Dodgers played during his entire career in which Jackie Robinson did not take the field. But Dem Bums won it all that year — the one and only time they won the championship in all the years they played in Brooklyn.
Finally, though, it was Robinson as both flesh-and-blood man and as a combination of lightning rod, rallying cry and highly publicized symbol that caught the attention, and the admiration, of so many people of every race.
"I was in school in Alabama," Hank Aaron once told LIFE.com, explaining why Jackie Robinson mattered then, and still matters today, "when I heard that he signed with the Dodgers. I was so happy. I wanted to be a ballplayer, and while I knew that what he was doing was a long way from where I was, I also knew someone had to do it before I could get there."
Seven decades later, everyone who knows anything about baseball — and about America in 1947 — remains humbled by what Jackie Robinson endured, what he risked and, ultimately, what he achieved.


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Southern Belly: Whiteway Deli in Jacksonville, Florida
Editor's note: Occasionally what looks at first glance to be a conventional guidebook transcends the genre in surprising ways. John T. Edge's Southern Belly is just such a read, which is why I'm pleased that he has allowed us to excerpt selected items from it on Serious Eats, where they appear every other week. —Ed Levine
By John T. Edge | The Sheik on North Main Street, in business since the 1970s, is one of the six fast-food shops in a Jacksonville chain. Like the unaffiliated Desert Rider downtown and Desert Sand on Beach Boulevard, they serve sandwiches—club, ham and cheese, bacon and egg, that sort of thing—tucked into pita bread. By my count, a couple dozen or more sandwich shops around town share a similar bill of fare. Come breakfast, pita cheese toast is a favorite. So is the link, egg, and cheese sack. Not to mention the breakfast in a cup, a sundae-like stack of grits, patty sausage, and eggs. At lunch, the steak-in-a-sack and the cold cut-stuffed camel rider are the main events.
Whiteway Deli
1510 King Street, Jacksonville FL 32204 (map); 904-389-0355
Must-Haves: The desert rider sandiches and the tabouli omelet
The term camel rider might play as a pejorative in most cities, but here in Jacksonville—which has among the largest Arab Middle Eastern communities on the East Coast—it's a marker of influence among immigrants and the descendants of immigrants who, fleeing the economic decline and religious persecution of the Ottoman Empire, began settling in the area in the 1890s.
Many Arab immigrants made their way as peddlers. Some opened groceries, which in time evolved into sandwich shops. Assimilation was the watchword. Mohammed became Mo. Saliba became Sal. Men with surnames like Hazouri built houses of worship like Mount Olive Syrian Presbyterian Church. By 1915 the Syrian American Club was thriving. The Ramallah American Club followed in the 1950s.
For reasons that are unclear, pita bread—and sandwiches stuffed into pita bread—function as totems of both assimilation and enduring ethnic identity among Arabs of Jacksonville. Even sandwiches like the Anne Beard (turkey, tabouli, feta, peppers, and Italian dressing), served by Sam Salem, owner of the Whiteway Delicatessen in the Riverside neighborhood, broadcast Middle Eastern origins by means of the customary envelope.
Sam, who took over the 1927 vintage café from his father, Paul, a native of Ramallah, probably serves the best pita sandwiches in town. Though he's proud of his desert rider, I dote on Whiteway's tabouli omelet. Served in a cardboard boat, it's a puff of egg layered with slabs of feta and a cool scoop of parsley, bulgur, and tomato, the whole affair stuffed inside a warm pita pouch.
When I asked Sam whether he considers the term camel rider a pejorative, he changes the subject and directs my attention toward the archive of candid customer photos he has taken over the past 30-odd years. Sam's chronicle of life at Whiteway is exhaustive, filling dozens of scrapbooks, scores of boxes. By way of an answer, he picks a box up at random and begins sifting through what he calls his "collage of people," calling every second subject by name, reciting their life stories, telling me who they are, who they were, and where they are now.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Posted by Mary Lee at 5:00 AM
Labels: Poetry Month 2019
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The JaneDear Girls Break Up, Pursue Solo Ventures
Looks like another country act has gone by the wayside. Susie Brown and Danelle Leverett of the JaneDear Girls have reportedly broken up and are no longer making music together.
Herald Chronicle mention the apparent split a few months ago in an article promoting the 8th International Dogwood Festival back in April of this year.
"Due to unforeseen circumstances and the breakup of the JaneDear Girls band, a new headlining act will be performing at the 8th International Dogwood Festival," the website reveals.
After the news surfaced, MSN Entertainment elaborated some, explaining that Brown is currently working on a new solo country project. Leverett is also working on solo music with more of a indie/pop vibe under the name Nelly Joy. Nelly Joy's first introduction to the world of solo artistry is a duet with pop artist Jason Reeves, titled 'More in Love With You.' The video has already racked up close to 20,000 views on YouTube.


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Stay on this page to view all records, or see Local Offer services only.


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The Syllabus of the WBCS ( Preliminary) Examination has been set as under:
|English Composition
|25 marks
|General Science
|25 marks
Current events of National & International Importance
|25 marks
|History of India
|25 marks
|Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal
|25 marks
|Indian Polity and Economy
|25 marks
|Indian National Movement
|25 marks
|General Mental Ability
|25 marks
On an average one gets around 45 seconds for each question. The main constraint is the time one gets to answer questions. A lot of time is wasted in signing attendance sheets etc, therefore there is a lot of need for effective Time Management not only for the exam but in the preparation as well. Speed and Accuracy are important, so solving model question papers on a regular basis would be a great help.
Time Management and strategy for WBCS ( preliminiary):
One should read the entire syllabus by covering each and every aspect. This provides a candidate with loads of self-confidence and knowledge to answer the questions correctly. The first thing a candidate needs to bear in mind is that the examination is designed to evaluate certain qualities like a sharp memory and basic retention power.
Considering the general nature of the examination the tactics must be to focus on greater rather than intensive coverage. One is expected to know history, science, polity, geography, economy and other such disciplines, all at the same time. However, only basics of each of the disciplines is needed. Hence one must concentrate on basics and acquire as much facts about basics as possible but avoiding the element of over-kill in preparations.
Many aspirants prepare General Studies in terms of "reading" (once, twice, thrice etc.) with or without underlining the important facts or memorizing a huge number of questions printed on so called guide books available in market. It results not only in longer time of preparation, but also many important points may skip. Also, even if you underline the highlighting points, most of you have the tendency to read the text in full while going for the subsequent readings. It is, therefore, advisable that texts must be read once and all important points (likely to be forgotten) recorded separately so that you need not study volumious texts again. This would save on your time and should result in greater efficiency. Further, while Prelims is only a screening test, it is on the basis of your performance in Mains, on which mainly depends the final outcome of your efforts. Strategically, therefore, the preparation for the examination should start about one year in advance and you should think about appearing in the Prelims only when you have had a strong grip over the Mains' subject matter.
Answering Strategy:
As the questions in the Preliminary examination are objective in nature and there is no negative marking in the exam, it is suggested not to leave any questions unanswered and intelligent guesswork may be used to answer questions when you don't know the precise answer. Do not get stuck at any question. Move on from question to question and attempt the difficult ones at the end. While solving the paper you may take three rounds. In the first round, attempt only the answers which you are sure of. In the next round, try to eliminate as many options as you can and darken the ovals which are the only one left out after elimination. In the next round, try to eliminate as many options as you can and darken the ovals which are the only one left out after elimination. If you are confused between just two options, it is advisable to make an intelligent guess. If you are left with about five to 10 minutes, select one option out of A,B,C or D and go on dealing with the left out questions.
Refference Books for WBCS ( Preliminiary):
The questions asked in the General Studies paper are of 10+2 level . Therefore emphasis has to be on conceptual clarity. Any concept has to be understood with its origin, merits and de-merits, then it needs to be analysed with other relevant topics and lastly it has to be correlated with the events that have taken place during the year. If one wants to have command over General studies , then he has to prepare 7 major area i.e. - History , Geography, Polity, Science, Economy, Current AffairsGeneral Knowledge. For all the above topics, best way to start is from Basics i.e. NCERT Books of Class 6th to Class 12th.
- For History - NCERT + Book of Kiron Chowdhury.
- Geography - NCERT + Any reference book of secondary standard + a good atlas like Orient Longman /Oxford.
- Polity - NCERT + book of Sen, Sen & Mukherjee / Jojo Mathews's Indian constitution and polity.
- Science – NCERT class 6th to class 12th is more than enough.
- Economy - NCERT class 11th and 12th + book of Sen, Sen & Mukherjee + Read and make notes of newspaper about current economy.
- Current Affairs - one has to be thorough with newspaper readings of at least one year back from the date of exam.General Knowledge - India year book + Manorama year book.
Again remember read thoroughly and underline the relevant portion for further revise or make short notes on each topic of general studies so that the entire syllabus can be revised a day before the exam. The most important technique is doing regular revision. This helps in retaining the maximum information. A separate time slot should be given to doing not only regular but multiple revisions like daily, weekly, monthly etc. Many candidates make a mistake of overloading themselves with lots of information and end up remembering nothing. One should be able to differentiate between relevant and irrelevant information. Since the WBCS (Preliminary) Examination is an elimination round the candidate should also learn to focus only on the information needed and filter out the rest.
- For Mental Ability - R.s.Agarwal.
- English- P K De Sarkar / Wren and Martin is more than enough.
If one is thorough with the above topics from the above materials, then he/she will definitely crack this exam easily.
TIPS: Dos and Don'ts
- Final preparation must start by testing self with the revision-type Model Test Papers.
- Emphasis on your weak-spots.
- Keep testing yourself at a regular interval.
- Make a mental note of areas you have covered and what remains to be covered.
- Be analytical in response.
- Revise your stuff a number of times.
- A calm mental state is most important.
- There is negative marking in the exam, it is suggested to leave questions which you do know or you have not correct answer.
- Do not get stuck at any question. Move on from question to question and attempt the difficult ones at the end.
- In the first round, attempt only the answers which you are sure of.
- In the next round, try to eliminate as many options as you can and darken the ovals which are the only one left out after elimination.
- If you are confused between just two options, it is advisable to leave that question.


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Click this link for the latest NBC renewal / cancellation information: [rssinpage rssfeed='http://feeds.feedburner.com/TvbythenumbersCancel/renewNbcShows' rssitems='1′ rssformat='Y']
Our Renew / Cancel Index predicts the network's decision on renewal or cancellation for scripted broadcast primetime shows by the end of the 2012-13 season in May, 2013. (includes results from September 17-November 11, 2012):
|Renew/ Cancel Index
|Animal Practice*
|30 Rock
|final season
|Up All Night
|😥 😥
|Guys With Kids
|😥 😥
|Grimm (F)
|Parks & Recreation
|🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
|Chicago Fire
|😐 😐 😐
|Law & Order: SVU
|🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
|The New Normal
|🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
|The Office
|final season
|Go On
The overriding theme of the Renew/Cancel Index posts this week is "Why are the ratings failures still on the air"? A bit more detail about that in the ABC post this week.
In NBC's case, while I'm predicting that both Up All Night and Guys With Kids are "likely canceled" I also expect both to air most or all their ordered episodes. That's 13 episodes for GwK and
thirteen eleven plus a seemingly desperate addition of five multi-cam episodes for Up All Night.
At current ratings levels I'd guess that NBC makes no decision on Chicago Fire until the end of the season, where, highly dependent on spring ratings for all NBC dramas, it could still go either way. Read more about that here.
Better to Follow The Bear, Than Be Chased By Him. This season you can follow the Cancellation Bear on Twitter via @TheCancelBear. The Cancellation Bear will retweet all the Renew/Cancel Index post titles and links as well as engage in a little more back and forth banter than we do on our standard @TVbytheNumbers Twitter feed.
*shows no longer on the air have their Renew/Cancel Index "frozen" at the point they left the schedule.
- 😳 – certain to be cancelled by May, 2013
- 😥 :cry:- more likely to be cancelled than renewed by May, 2013
- 😐 😐 😐 – toss up between renewal or cancellation by May, 2013
- 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 – more likely to be renewed than cancelled by May, 2013
- – certain to be renewed by May, 2013
The Renew/Cancel Index is the ratio of a scripted show's new episode adults 18-49 ratings relative to the new episode ratings of the other scripted shows on its own network. It's calculated by dividing a show's new episode Live+Same Day adults 18-49 average rating by the Live+Same Day new episode average of all the new scripted show episodes on the show's own network. The network's average ratings in the calculation are not time weighted (ie. hour long shows are not weighted twice what 30 minute shows are).
(F) -Fridays: Shows airing on Fridays were renewed with significantly lower than average Indexes.
How would the Renew / Cancel Index Have Done Predicting Last Season's Scripted Show Fates? Check out how the Renew / Cancel Index predicted renewals and cancellations from past television seasons.


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The Particulars:
Harvard hosts Binghamton, March 30, at the Murr Center Tennis Courts in the Crimson's final non-conference contest of the season. The Crimson will be looking to win its 10th match of the season. The match is slated for a 4 p.m. start time.
Last Time Out:
The Crimson dropped a 4-0 decision to No. 24 Duke and cruised past Quinnipiac, 6-1, March 26. In a closely contested match, the Blue Devils picked up the first four points of the match to clinch the win. Harvard bounced back to down the Bobcats, 6-1, to close out the day. The Crimson swept the doubles matches. Alexei Chijoff-Evans and Joshua Tchan teamed up to win their second doubles match of the day to help Harvard complete the sweep. The Crimson nearly pulled off a sweep in the singles matches as the team claimed six of the seven spots.
About Harvard:
The Crimson is 9-7 on the year heading into the contest. Harvard has faired well in matches on weekdays this season, posting a 6-3 record between Monday and Friday. Freshman Andy Nguyen leads five players in double-digits in singles wins with 16 on the season. Harvard has claimed 11 doubles points this season and has only dropped five.
About Binghamton:
The Bearcats enter the match with a 15-1 overall record. Binghamton is 6-1 against opponents from the Ivy League, losing to Columbia. The Bearcats have three players who have 10 or more singles wins. Sven Vloedgraven paces the squad with 28 wins in singles action.
Front Nine:
Harvard has had nine different players earn singles wins in dual matches this spring. Sophomores Mac McAnulty and Davis Mangham each picked up their first singles victories in a dual match this season.
Coming Attractions:
Harvard begins the quest for its 28th Ivy League title as it travels to the Empire State to take on Columbia, April 2, and Cornell, April 3.


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I would love to have a good pair of Kleins, mines are from the stoneage
My fave is my 4 in one screwdriver with the Appliance parts and Supply Company of Mobile.Al 50th anniversary logo. Pretty rare and pretty precious.
Make sure the tools say Craftsman on them and not Sears. I think they are different quality.


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- Infantry
- Cavalry
- Artillery
- Safety
- Waterloo
- About Us
- Re-enactors Guide
- The World of King George
- Of All the Kings Men
- Of England and the English
- Of Fashion and Manners
- Of Food and Drink.
- Of Other People, their countries and manners
- Of Pastimes and Politics
- Of People on People and the Nicknames they used.
- Of Words, Phrases and Things from Dictionary
- Of the City our Towns and our Counties
- Of the Professions
- Almanac
1st.Regiment of Foot, Royal Scots, Light Company. (Crown Forces North America)>
Battalion:C Division
Confirmed for Waterloo:Yes
London. Upper Canada
C.O.:Brad Stott.


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Adding highlights to your hair is an awesome way to give your locks a makeover as well as give you a fresh new look. As with any hair color change, there are some little rules you can follow that will ensure you end up with a great finish. Read on to find out what they are and give them a try today!
Rule #1: Choose Wisely
The best way to get a flattering highlight finish is to make wise choices.
Ensure that you choose a highlight color that not only goes well with your current hair color, but also blends well with your skin tone.
Where you place the highlights is also key. If you want a sun-kissed natural look, thin highlights that are dark at the root and light on the ends are the way to go.
For an obvious highlight look, brighter, thicker highlights around your face should be your option of choice.
Rule #2: Don't Go Color Crazy
Unless you are specifically going for a multi-tone look, stick to one color tone for your highlights. Multiple hair colors can easily turn your look clownish. If you want more depth you can choose one highlight color and one lowlight color but make sure they are in same hair hue family for the best results.
Rule #3: Switch it Up Every Season
Just as your hair color naturally lightens in the summertime, so should your highlights. Give them a summery feel when the warmer weather hits, and a darker makeover during the cooler months.
Rule #4: Avoid the Stripy Look
If the dreaded stripy look has stopped you from taking the highlight plunge, or you've noticed your finish is starting to look more tiger than terrific, make sure your highlight color is no more than three shades lighter than your base hair color. If your highlights are too light, they will stand out too much and give you a dated, stripy finish.
Rule #5: Look After Your Highlights
As with any hair color job, if you want your look to last and to always look its best, you need to look after your locks. Try these tips…
Use a shampoo and conditioner that is designed for colored hair.
Use a toner to keep your highlights bright.
Start a hair washing regime that will keep your locks healthy but won't strip out the color.
Use hair treatments regularly.
It's also important to protect your highlights from damage by using heat protection hair styling products.
Become a hat person and use a hat when out in the sun and a swimming cap when in the pool.
To see how you'd look with the salon hairstyles pictured in this hair article, click on the above images to try the virtual hairstyles with your own photo!


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Given the fact there's an old white guy in the Grand Theft Auto V trailer, and people want it to be Vice City star Tommy Vercetti so damn much, lots of folks thought/hoped the narration of the clip was being performed by Ray Liotta.
Liotta being Vercetti's voice actor in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
Sadly, that's not the case, Liotta's management confirming with IGN earlier today that their client was in no way involved in the production of the clip.
Doesn't mean it's not Tommy Vercetti! It just means it's not the guy's original voice actor playing the part.
GTA V: That's Not Ray Liotta in the Trailer [IGN]
(Top photo by Larry Busacca | Getty)
You can contact Luke Plunkett, the author of this post, at firstname.lastname@example.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.


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Overcoming complex challenges to improve gearbox performance
The gearbox is subjected to a wide range of conditions where factors such as lubrication, load, stress, vibration, and temperatures continuously vary. The SKF way to work through such complex issues is to closely cooperate with our customers.
Over the years, SKF engineers have gained a profound understanding of the turbine gearbox and the complex conditions under which it must operate. The development and operation of gearboxes involves:
- Design, modelling and testing
- Condition monitoring and maintenance
- Engineering and lubrication consultancy
Relying on SKF's portfolio of world-class competences will help you to meet the requirements of the ocean energy industry.
SKF high-capacity cylindrical roller bearingsOptimized to carry higher load capacities
SKF separable high-capacity cylindrical roller bearings
Handle heavy loads and simplify maintenance
SKF Explorer spherical roller bearings
Self-aligning design withstands shaft misalignment and more for increased uptime
Black oxide
Anti-corrosion protection and improved lubricant adhesion
Sealing solutions
Maximum protection for reliable operation
Lubrication systems
Improve reliability, simplify maintenance and reduce environmental impact
Remote monitoring
Reduce operating costs and increase reliability with a proactive maintenance approach


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Want to connect with the expat community of South Africans in Belgium? Looking for South African compatriots to help you with your questions on expat life? Or are you looking for other South African expats to go on an excursion to the French-influenced provinces of the Walloon Region with?
InterNations Belgium offers everything you might need as an expat, no matter whether you already live in Belgium or are still in South Africa planning your upcoming foreign assignment. InterNations is the leading platform among expatriates and global minds in all countries around the world. Needless to say, our community of South African expats in Belgium is going very strong, with members having roots all across South Africa - from Durban, over Johannesburg to Cape Town.
Attend our monthly events and activities for South Africans expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.
Get trustworthy advice and local insights from fellow South Africans in our Belgium expat forums.
Obviously, expat life in Belgium goes well beyond shipping your belongings and taking care of red tape. Socializing with fellow South Africans is an important facet of living abroad and can be a huge stepping stone in getting to know the Belgian mentality and way of life. South Africans in Belgium are a part of our community, calling cities such as Antwerp, Leuven, Brussels, and many others home. You can use InterNations to look for fellow South Africans in Brussels, for example.
Wondering where to shop for South African delicatessen, want to discuss your national team's latest match, or simply talk to someone in your native language? Become a member of the Belgian InterNations Community!
From the French-influenced provinces of the Walloon Region to the Flemish North, you can meet supportive and friendly South African expats in Belgium on InterNations.
Additionally, InterNations hosts regular expat events and activities in Belgium. Our get-togethers are sure to cater to your taste as well: as a member, you can partake in cozy gatherings to enjoy some Belgian pommes frites, join one of our huge expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Brussels's best locations, and much more. Want to discover Belgium? Go on a weekend trip with your fellow expats to see Ghent's canals and other beautiful landmarks.
Our meet-ups and activities offer many wonderful opportunities to mingle with expatriates hailing from South Africa and dozens of other countries in a casual setting. Just sign up for your InterNations membership and you'll soon hear a cordial Siya namkela nonke, welkom, isibingelelo from our South Africans living in Belgium!


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We've all made at least one of the following email faux pas in the past:
– Forgetting to attach a file to an email, especially when emailing a group of people
– Sending an email to the wrong person, just because he has a similar name
– Sending a fiery reply to an email that made you angry
Well… the folks at Google Labs have finally came up with an undo button which allows you a couple of seconds of email remorse – usually that's all you need. When enabled, the undo option appears and if clicked within 5 seconds it will stop the email from going out and possibly shaming the sender. Now, while this is nothing new to people who use Microsoft Outlook with delayed sending, as far as I know this was not available with any of the webmail services. If you already use Gmail, check out the Labs tab under your Gmail settings.
If you don't use Gmail but were looking for reasons why you should switch, now you have plenty:
– the mentioned 'Undo' button
– the two-in-one 'Send & Archive' button
– the 'conversation' method
– the 'Gmail offline' option
– plus, all the POP3 access you may need
….all this puts Gmail ahead of any other email service or program.


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Message Board
Reed Whittemore Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Whittemore has written!
Author Whittemore's Book Reviews
William Carlos Williams: Poet From New Jersey
William Carlos Williams was born in Rutherford, New Jersey in 1883. He attended the University of Pennsylvania where he studied medecine and became a physician, practicing in New Jersey where he spent most of his life. At college he met and became friends with Ezra Pound. He became interested in literature and began writing poetry and prose. His early work appeared in little literary magazines, but soon he was stealing time from his family and p...


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Rates of abused and neglected children on the rise in Australia: report
Reports of chronic shortages of child protection workers in New South Wales have focused attention on the plight of abused and neglected children across Australia.
According to figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), rates of substantiated child abuse and neglect have risen across the nation.
An AIHW report released in March, titled Child Protection Australia 2011-12, found the number of children who were the subject of substantiated abuse rose from 31,500 to 37,800.
A notification of child abuse is "substantiated" when an investigation by child protection authorities concludes there is sufficient reason to believe the child has been, is being or is likely to be abused, neglected or otherwise harmed.
The findings reversed a downward trend - a drop in substantiations from 6.5 per 1,000 children in 2007–08 to 6.1 in 2011–12 - with rises in all states and territories except Tasmania and South Australia.
The report's authors cautioned, however, that real increases in abuse and neglect aside, the figures could be influenced by a range of factors including better public awareness and legislative changes.
Very young children were the most likely to be the subject of abuse and neglect, the report found.
In 2011–12, children aged under one were most likely to be the subject of a substantiation, at 13.2 per 1,000 children.
In contrast, AIHW spokesperson Tim Beard said "older children, aged 15 to 17, were least likely to be the subject of a substantiation, with a rate of 3.2 per 1,000 children in 2011-12".
More kids granted protection orders and placed in care
Separately, the AIHW says rates of children aged zero to 12 on care and protection orders doubled between 2000 and 2011, rising from four to eight per 1,000 children.
The report says the rise reflects the increasing number of families considered unable to adequately care for the children, but may also reflect changing community standards regarding child safety.
Child abuse statistics
- Of the 170,000 notifications of suspected abuse or neglect in 2011-12, 46 per cent were further investigated.
- About 37,700 children were found to be the victims of abuse or neglect (or around 1 in 135 children aged 0-17 years).
- Children aged under 1 year were most likely to be victims of abuse; those aged 15-17 were least likely.
- Emotional abuse was most the common abuse type, followed by neglect and physical abuse.
- Sexual abuse was more common among girls.
- Across Australia, almost 41,000 children were on a care and protection order at 30 June 2012.
- Rates of children aged 0-12 on care and protection orders nearly doubled between 2000-2011.
- Nationally, just over 39,600 children were in out-of-home care at 30 June 2012, most in foster care.
- Indigenous children were: almost 8 times as likely to be the subject of substantiated abuse or neglect.
The numbers of children admitted to care and protection orders has increased 3 per cent from 2011 to 2012, from 13,830 to 14,191, the report found.
Almost half (45 per cent) of children admitted to orders were aged under five.
The rate of children in out-of-home care increased from 7.3 per 1,000 children in 2011 to 7.7 in 2012.
The majority of the 39,621 children in out-of-home care were placed for more than a year.
At June 30, 2012, there were nearly 40,000 children in out-of-home care. Most (90 per cent) were on care and protection orders, the report found.
Across Australia, the vast majority (93 per cent) of children in out-of-home care were placed in home-based care such as with foster carers or relatives. More than half of foster carer households had multiple foster children.
Meanwhile, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to be over-represented in the figures, the report found.
In 2011–12, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were almost eight times as likely to be the subject of substantiated child abuse and neglect as non-Indigenous children.
The AIHW says that while most children in Australia grow up in safe family environments, abuse and neglect can cause significant long-term harm.
Adverse effects included poor social and academic skills, a higher likelihood of criminal offending or mental health issues such as eating disorders, substance abuse and depression.
NSW caseworkers slam staffing levels
Staff from the NSW Department of Family and Community Services (DoCS) have told the ABC's 7.30 program that despite as many as nine notifications about a boy's well-being, staff numbers were so short that his case was not allocated for a home visit.
Caseworkers from the Coniston office say the boy's plight was discussed at a number of weekly allocation meetings, which are reserved only for the worst cases, but on each occasion his file was held over for review.
One caseworker said: "The managers and the manager client services could see it was a case that should be allocated and they wanted to allocate it, but there wasn't any staff or capacity to do so."
The boy died on August 3, 2012, from multiple blunt-force injuries to the head and body. Police have charged his 32-year-old mother with his murder.
His death sparked industrial action by the department's Coniston staff, who described his death as "avoidable".
Inexperienced caseworker 'did not believe' paedophile rumours
The issue of shortages in child protection services has been raised at hearings of the royal commission into child sexual abuse.
Jacqualine Henderson, a former caseworker with the now-defunct Hunter Aboriginal Children's Service (HACS), today told the commission that she had no prior experience with children when she went to work for HACS in 1998.
Former caseworker 'didn't believe' child sex abuse rumours
A former Hunter Aboriginal Children's Service caseworker tells the royal commission into child sexual abuse that a child welfare agency was poorly staffed and she was given little training.
Despite this, she was put in charge of up to 12 children at a time.
Ms Henderson told the commission that when her second cousin Steven Larkins, a convicted paedophile, came to HACS to manage it in 2000, there was a rumour he had abused young boys in his previous job with the Scouts.
But she told the hearing she "didn't believe" the rumour.
She said that when Larkins was confronted about the rumour, he became agitated and angry and threatened to sue for defamation.
Larkins, who has been convicted of sexually abusing two boy scouts and of possessing child pornography and falsifying documents, had falsified his Working With Children check.
DoCS also gave him permission to have a 17-year-old-boy, who he was grooming for sex, live with him.
WA child protection staff struggle to keep up
The Community and Public Sector Union in Western Australia said last month that child protection staff were struggling to keep up with a continued increase in cases.
The union said there were 200 more cases in August than at the start of the year.
An extra $30 million had been allocated to the sector in the 2013 budget, but the union said there was no provision for extra staff.
CPSU assistant secretary Rikki Hendon says an increasing number of workers are exceeding their recommended maximum case load.
"Our members' number one priority is the children that they seek to protect from harm," she said.
"They're very concerned that by holding too many cases among not enough staff that those children are being put at risk.
"What we'd like to see the Government do is increase the number of staff in the Department of Child Protection with the demand, the sad demand, for child protection services.
"We need in this state to be prioritising protecting vulnerable children from abuse and neglect."
The Minister for Child Protection, Helen Morton, has rubbished the union's claims, saying the budget for the sector has increased from $250 million in 2008 to $590 million this year.
However, she would not be drawn on whether that money could be redirected to allow for the hiring of additional staff.
"Funding for families and children has increased by more than 100 per cent over the last four years," she said. "It is an absolute beat-up for the unions to be carrying on like this."
Fears of 'broken' system in NT
The Northern Territory's peak child welfare body declared in May that the child protection system there was broken.
Lesley Taylor, the founder and Territory manager of the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN), said the system was not designed to manage the sheer number of people who need help in the Territory.
She called for a wider focus on early intervention and support for families.
"What we find is there is endless tinkering to try and make this system [work] that was never designed to work in this way," she said.
She says that to get numbers down to where NAPCAN is able to cope and do its job well, a policing role, there must be more investment in the welfare of families.
Her sentiments were echoed by the head of a national advocacy agency for child protection.
Frank Hytten of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care warned the Territory Government that things will not improve until authorities engage more with Aboriginal families.
The number of children coming out of home care in the Territory was growing, he said, however he believed that was partly due to the way child neglect was sometimes interpreted by authorities.
"There was a worker, I was told this yesterday, who thought the fact that Aboriginal children weren't wearing shoes in the community was a form of neglect," he said.
"That is not neglect from an Aboriginal point of view."
Topics: child-abuse, children, family-and-children, royal-commissions, community-and-society, government-and-politics, australia, nt
First posted


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Voters across the country are reportedly taking their own pens to the polling stations, amid fears the cross on the ballot paper could be scrubbed out.
Rumours have caused panic that votes cast using the pencils provided could be rubbed out.
But council bosses have moved to reassure voters, saying the entire process is "completely and utterly secure".
One local council spokesman said: "The voting and electoral process is absolutely sacrosanct.
"It is fundamental to democracy and the principles of freedom of speech and the right to vote.
"The whole process is completely and utterly secure and independently validated."


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Oliver Bullough
Oliver Bullough is from Wales, but has spent most of his working life in and around the former Soviet Union. He is the author of two books about Chechnya and the Soviet dissident movement, Let Our Fame Be Great and The Last Man in Russia. He is currently working on a book about Ukraine and international corruption.


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March 5 council meeting canceled
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the South Lake Tahoe City Council has been canceled, according to an announcement by the city this week.
The council's March 5 meeting was canceled because there were few scheduled items, none of which are time sensitive, said City Clerk Susan Alessi in an email.
The next meeting of the City Council is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 19 at Lake Tahoe Airport.


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There are 2 item(s) tagged with the keyword "employer mandate".
Displaying: 1 - 2 of 2
Now that Donald Trump has won the presidency with a majority Republican House and Senate, what does the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) look like? During the campaign, Donald Trump supported Republican Congressional efforts to "repeal and replace" the law with an alternative health care plan. Will he push through with his campaign pledge?
While health care is not a top priority on the campaign trail and not top of voters' minds this year, who wins on November 8 will impact the health care agenda in Washington in 2017. According to analysis presented in the Business Group's special election year webinar earlier this week, even though Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump don't offer many details about their health policy priorities, we can glean enough information from them and from Congress to make some predictions.
Displaying: 1 - 2 of 2


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We've all eaten that cranberry sauce out of a can, I'm guessing. You know the stuff. The solid gelatinous red stuff, the one with the indentations of the can on the side, the one that's not quite real food and sort of hypnotizing in its falseness.
No need to eat that stuff again.
Make your own.
And by the way, the best use for cranberry chutney isn't on the Thanksgiving table, where it's pretty well forgotten in the midst of the spread of stuffings and mashed potatoes. It's the next day, on cold turkey sandwiches. Whole-grain gluten-free bread. A layer of this chutney. Soft goat cheese. Turkey. Repeat.
Oh man, I'm getting hungry now.
2 large navel oranges, zested and juiced
1/4 cup sugar
cinnamon stick
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and diced
1 large Bartlett pear, peeled, cored, and diced
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
6 cups cranberries (fresh are best but frozen are fine)
Making the chutney. Set a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Pour in the orange juice and sugar. Cook, stirring frequently, until the juice comes to a boil and the sugar dissolves.
Add the cinnamon stick, apple, pear, nutmeg, and cranberries to the sugary orange juice. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer, stirring pretty frequently. (Remember that the sugar means you might burn the chutney. No good.) About 10 minutes in, the cranberries will start to pop and release their juices. (Call the kids over. This part's cool.) Keep stirring, but a little less frequently now. About 30 minutes in, all the cranberries will have popped and the juiced started to reduce.
Turn off the heat. Add the orange zest. Stir it all together.
Pour the hot chutney into a large, wide bowl or sheet tray lined with parchment paper. Let it cool completely. Put it in an airtight container, ready for the big day.
Feeds 8.
Make ahead: You can make this three days before Thanksgiving. Refrigerate it and let the flavors develop even more fully before you serve it.
Feel like playing? You can add so many different touches to this chutney. It's endlessly flexible. Try lime and lemon juice and zest along with the orange juice. Try Seville oranges or blood oranges, along with the navels. I love a little cardamom in here. How about quinces instead of apples and pears? I think the scrapings of a fresh vanilla bean would be delightful too. This is easy. Make it yours.


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After last week's snow storm, and Tuesday's record temperatures (we hit a record low of 4 degrees Farenheit or -15 C here in New York City), several friends emailed us or called us from Italy expressing concern for our safety and comfort. We loved the attention, but don't worry…. we are a tough breed! (here is what we have been doing:)
Of course, after a couple of hours of frozen fun at the park, we headed home to warm up by the fireplace ! In most families,a nice cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows would be in order. But my 7-year-old is the kind of kid who, asked by a friend's mom at snack time: "Do you eat parmesan cheese?" replied: "Would you mind cutting it into shavings and add honey and pears on the side?". So here is what we settled on.
My Italian fondue recipe hails from Valle d'Aosta, the smallest of all Italian regions, but dominated by two of Europe's top peaks—Monte Bianco (aka Mont Blanc) and Monte Cervino (aka the Matterhorn) on its borders with France and Switzerland. Skiing down such impressive slopes requires serious refueling, or at least I like to think so! Fonduta Valdostana is even simpler than Swiss Fondue. No wine or kirsch here, just a good pound of fontina (or other good melting cheese), milk and egg yolks. The calequons, those little fondue sets with the tiny forks are really cute, and I couldn't resist buying one at Zabar's, but come on – all you really need is a double-boiler made by layering two regular saucepans.
Even if you are not a health food nut, the combination of lots of butter with cheese and bread cubes might induce some feeling of guilt. That's where the egg yolks come in handy, because at least you are having some extra protein. Besides the bread cubes, you can dip stuff like steamed baby potatoes, slightly steamed cauliflower florets, red peppers, zucchini and pear slices, steamed broccoli or cauliflower or whatever fruit or vegetable you're in the mood for. I find that when I add fruit and veggies to the standard Italian or French bread cubes, I can tell myself that I'm having a perfectly balanced meal. Of course, don't forget a steaming cup of mulled wine!
- 1 lb fontina or other good melting cheese, cubed or thinly sliced
- scant cup whole milk
- 4 egg yolks
- 3 tbsp butter
- salt
- white pepper
- pinch of nutmeg if liked
Place the cheese in a bowl, cover with the milk, cover the bowl with wrap and allow to rest for at least 2 hours at room temperature or in the least cold part of your refrigerator, stirring occasionally.
Make a double boiler by pouring some water into a saucepan, and placing a second smaller saucepan inside the first one. Alternatively, you can use a very heavy enameled cast iron sauce pan on very low heat.
Melt the butter in the saucepan on low heat, stirring. Drain the cheese from the milk and add the cheese to the butter, with only 3 tbsp of the milk. keep stirring with a wooden spoon or with a whisk, until the cheese is all melted, making sure it doesn't stick to the bottom or sides.
Add the egg yolks, one at a time, and remove from the stove top. Adjust the salt and sprinkle with white pepper (and nutmeg, if liked. Or even white truffle shavings, if you want to splurge!)
Serve in warm bowls (or in a shared fondue set) accompanied by bread cubes for dipping. You can also offer polenta cubes, cauliflower florets, pear slices, etc.


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Nate Berg
Nate Berg is a freelance reporter and a former staff writer for CityLab. He lives in Los Angeles.
It's an increasingly common navigational experience in the age of connected and app-enabled phones: you can see yourself as a little dot on the map, moving on your screen as you move in the physical space of the world. You see your map, your map sees you. And if your map is a Google Map and your screen powered by the Android operating system, you can see your map seeing you and many of the people around you.
This collection and sharing of locational information is the basis behind the traffic-tracking layer on Google Maps. By combining all those devices' location points and detecting the speeds at which they're moving, Google is able to infer how quickly traffic is moving on major streets and highways. Originally launched in 2008, it can be a really useful layer of urban information, representing real-time conditions.
And as the company recently announced, it's growing. More than 130 cities and small towns all over the world have been added to the project, including places like Kalamazoo, Michigan, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Latin American cities like Bogota, Colombia, and San Jose, Costa Rica. With more than 400 million Android users throughout the world, Google is finding that it has enough of a data mass in many more cities to provide this information. This map shows all the locations throughout the world where Google is mapping traffic conditions using phone data.
This is particularly useful in countries that don't have the resources to build their own traffic monitoring systems, as explained in this article on the traffic monitoring expansion from Technology Review.
Traditionally, local authorities have gathered data on traffic flows using detectors embedded into the road surface. "They're expensive to install, so they only cover limited stretches of road," says Stephan Seyboth, Google's product manager for traffic, transit, and directions features of Google Maps. "Our anonymous crowdsourced phone data allows us to reach countries that are out of reach to that traditional kind of traffic service."
This passive crowdsourcing presents some exciting opportunities. Researchers at MIT's SENSEable City Lab, are conducting a variety of projects that explore how tapping into the locational information of mobile phones can greatly inform they way we think about, manage and live within cities. There's a lot to learn from millions of points of data pulled innocuously from real people moving around in the real world. Avoiding traffic is one useful example, but this field of data is likely to become a lot more complex as time goes on.
Image courtesy: Google
The pioneering festival marketplace was among the most trendsetting urban attractions of the last 40 years. Now it's looking for a new place in a changed city.
Two new studies have revived the long-running debate over how police respond to white criminal suspects versus African Americans.
In an era of austere federal funding for urban public transportation, light rail seemed to make sense. Did the little trains of the 1980s pull their own weight?
A different kind of wealth distribution in 17th-century Amsterdam paved the way for its quintessential home design.
Livability indexes can obscure the experiences of non-white people. CityLab analyzed the outcomes just for black women, for a different kind of ranking.


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Hanna Rosin's cover story "The End of Men" has created quite a stir (The Atlantic July/August 2010). Attention-grabbing title aside, Rosin makes the case that women surpassing men in the labor force and in academic achievement is the tidal wave that will finally change the dynamics of power between the genders and lead women to an exalted place of predominance.
But as Mark Twain would say, the reports of men's death are greatly exaggerated.
What Rosin misses is that this sea change of women's power in the marketplace of ideas is not "the end of men" but rather, the beginning of a transformation of traditional roles that will benefit men, women, families, communities -- everyone.
The bad news is that women really aren't ruling the world. As The White House Project showed in its Benchmarking Women's Leadership report, the glass ceiling is still firmly in place with the numbers of women in leadership stalling at 15-17% in most sectors. The United States ranks a scandalous 71st place among countries in terms of women's political representation, and as Rosin herself points out, there are but a handful of superstar female CEO's in the Fortune 500.
Furthermore, many women in this country and around the world are struggling for basic survival. More women live in poverty than men and they typically have more career interruptions, fewer benefits, lower pensions, pay, assets, and savings.
To overcome these challenges, we need to mobilize all our human resources and ingenuity if we are to move towards a revitalized economy and sustainable future.
Consequently, we need more diversity in leadership, and research, some of it cited by Rosin, bears this out. As the National Council for Research on Women showed in its Women in Fund Management report (A Road Map for Achieving Critical Mass -- and Why It Matters), women and men bring complementary and equally important approaches to risk-taking and decision-making and studies show a correlation between management diversity and economic returns. These findings echo Page and Hong's (University of Michigan) Diversity Theorem demonstrating that heterogeneous groups outperform homogeneous ones across the board.
But greater diversity is not a zero sum game: women's gains do not equal men's losses. That girls are progressing in school and now earn more college degrees does not mean that men have lost their ability to compete. We must, however, tackle soaring high school drop-out rates and provide quality education to boys as well as girls and address the needs of all learners.
As for changes on the home front, Rosin writes that there is "nothing essential" about Dad -- but how about the fact that Dad is now permitted to become a more nurturing and caring parent, and redefining masculinity enables him to play a greater care-giving role? This is not a loss, in fact, most men would call it a gain.
Recently released studies from Sweden illustrate how changing policies around paternity leave has changed how men view their roles as fathers. Other research by the Families and Work Institute have shown that young men today willingly want to play a more active part in child-rearing and are demanding more work:life balance.
NCRW, The White House Project, and other researchers are examining the issue of child care in the US and the policy reforms required to support working women and their families. But ultimately, it is up to policymakers to adopt needed reforms. And we believe that greater numbers of women in our legislatures will lead to these changes within our lifetimes.
Our evolving global economy is demanding new skills and roles for both men and women, the question is not whether the new era favors women over men but how each must adapt to new demands and realities.
As last Tuesday's primary elections indicated, in the next decade, women will increasingly come into positions of power and influence. But these breakthroughs should not be viewed as the end of men but rather as the beginning of a new era of innovation and possibility that combines the finest aspects of all our citizens, women and men, working together for a better future.
Is the Marlboro Man dead? Good riddance!


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Pop Sci took a look at its archives back when Prohibition was around and highlighted the kind of science people used to fight it. It includes creative bootlegging methods, smart smuggling strategies, and PopSci's own guide to homebrewing in 1921.
Maybe it's because I just watched Boardwalk Empire but I'm simply fascinated that something like Prohibition really existed. What impresses me even more is the lengths that some people went to get their liquor, like creating a "cable tunnel that ferried submarine 'torpedoes' filled with alcohol across the river" or inventing "jellied cocktails" since the Volstead Act only banned alcoholic liquids. I guess when man has no alcohol, man invents alcohol. Check out all of Pop Sci's Prohibition features in their gallery. [Pop Sci]


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Helen Mangano, Esq.
I am an attorney formerly with the SEC
who represents investors in arbitration.
I work in New York, where I have been a practicing attorney for 16 years, on contingency or retainer terms, and provide free initial consultations.
I have obtained settlements for the return of inappropriate stock market losses for many investors.
If you are an investor who has lost money in securities, you may have a claim. Please feel free to contact me at (914)779-0332 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time, to make an appointment, or send a fax to (914)779-1875. Please don't send e-mail.


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Sign the petition: Stop the Harvesting of Crocodile Eggs
Located an hour north of Brisbane, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, Australia Zoo is a team of passionate conservationists working around-the-clock to deliver an animal experience like no other.
Steve and Terri Irwin's vision has always been to make Australia Zoo the biggest and best wildlife conservation facility in the entire world, and there is no other zoo like Australia Zoo!
We're on a mission to make you fall in love with our amazing animals!
Where else in the world can you take a walk on the wild side with one of our majestic tigers, cuddle a koala, hand-feed a rascally red panda and STACKS more!
Australia Zoo is proud to fund various national and international Conservation Projects.
Learn about our tigers featured in Tigers About The House - BBC Documentary.
2nd January - 27th January
Summer Down Under
2nd January - 27th January
Dolittle Treasure Hunt
26th January
Australia Day


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Shameless does two things especially well: observational nuggets from the Gallaghers' cartoonish world of poverty and goofy, weird, perverted little capers. When the show is firing on all cylinders, it's working both as a skanky slice-of-life, and there's some little plot arc that seems to be building to something. But here, at the beginning of the third season, there's not much of anything to grab onto.
There were flashes of classic Gallagher hijinks sprinkled through "The American Dream," and yet, there's still not a feeling that any of it is adding up to anything in a hurry. And even as this is usually the case with Shameless, there's a very different dynamic to watching this show than there was in the first, or even the second season. The Gallaghers and their ways are no longer novel to the audience. The nature documentary layer of Shameless has been stripped away now that the viewer has become familiar with the Gallaghers' living and mating habits.
I don't think it's enough at this point to have Lip gather up the cash for the property tax bill by tricking a bunch of privileged kids into thinking they're headed to a secret Wilco show. It's not enough to have Fiona promote her club night using an e-mail list from a phone Veronica lifts off a fellow promoter. It's not enough to have Frank do gross Frank things like giving a crying baby Valium or calling child services on his own family for no apparent reason. At this point, those kinds of standard Gallagher beats don't stand in the place of story anymore. I don't need to know what number the equation is going to spit out, but I need to know that the variables are being moved around in a deliberate fashion, and Shameless is missing that sense of urgency.
"The American Dream" is one of those Shameless episodes that makes me wish the show was about Fiona. Just Fiona. Because the stories this show tells about Fiona are the ones that make me want to watch this show regularly. As much fun as a Gallagher scheme can be, I'd feel comfortable dropping in occasionally to see one of those, but that's not what makes me watch this show from week to week. It's a scene like the one in which Fiona is riding high off the success of her maiden voyage as a club promoter, only to watch her pile of money dwindle as Meg, the crooked politician, the liquor distributor, and the staff all took their respective cuts.
I also want as much Debbie as I can get in a Shameless episode, and "The American Dream" was a terrific one for Debbie (and Emma Kenney in the performance) as we see her finally lose her patience with Frank. Debbie's story could be saddest Shameless has delivered yet. Debbie is the kid who will always see the best in Frank, and to see him finally deliver the heartbreak she couldn't mend was tough to watch. I almost want them to steal another old lady so Debbie will have someone to talk to.
But with the exception of Debbie, my attention begins to wane when the focus moves away from Fiona. Jimmy's precarious situation with Nando and Estefania doesn't interest me a whole lot because Shameless never really sold the Fiona and Jimmy relationship as much as it dumped it into the environment and waited for everyone to get used to it. Will Steve's continued marriage to Estefania run his relationship with Fiona? I'm not sure it matters much if I'm indifferent to their relationship (and if Fiona is, which seems more the case with each episode).
Ian continues to have ill-advised sex with the worst people he can seek out. Carl has braces now. Lip hates college and wants to watch it die. Kev and Veronica pop in and serve their purpose when the story calls for it. And not that I miss her, but without Karen around to provide the connective tissue between the Gallaghers and the Jacksons, Sheila, Jody, and Baby Hymie are sort of floating off in space. Adding Frank to the Jackson house doesn't really help that situation either, because it's just creating a larger cluster of characters I'm not terribly invested in right now.
I'll be the first to admit that I didn't quite get Shameless when it began. I had to learn how to watch it, what to expect, what the whole point of it was. When "But At Last Came A Knock" came along, everything fell into place for me. I understood what the rhythm of a Shameless season is like, which is why I was so lenient with "El Gran Canon." I realize this show can look like it's not up to much for a really long time, and then suddenly reveal that everything was exactly where it was supposed to be. But there are just as many examples of characters and plots that never managed to materialize into anything—Jasmine comes to mind—so I'm never totally confident that I'm going to find the ride worthwhile when all is said and done.
Still, it's far too soon to tell, which is what makes the early going of this season so frustrating. I enjoyed this episode more than the premiere thanks to the Fiona and Debbie stuff. I wish Shameless didn't always leave me feeling so ambivalent, but now it's back to being what it started out as: a show I want to like much more than I do.
Stray observations:
- It's a curious and interesting choice to make Wilco the band the kids were so eager to see that Lip could run his parking scam.
- Watching Frank is never a pleasant exercise, but I've never liked him less than when he destroyed Debbie's project and called it a piece of shit. This show can be tough if you don't find Frank invariably funny.
- Mickey is back to continue demanding sex from Ian without emotional reciprocation. So… hooray, or something.


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My dear Hayden Elizabeth,
Wow! Where has the time gone? You are fourteen years old now, that's an entire decade plus four years which simply blows my mind, and, though I have no idea how we got here, or where all of those years went, I am still as madly in love with you as I was on the day you were born, more so if that is possible.
You are a beautiful young lady both inside and out. Because you are fourteen, you are currently more concerned with the outside, always worried how your hair looks or if your makeup is just right or that you are wearing something fashionable. That is totally natural at your age, completely age appropriate, but I want you to know that you are so much more than those things, that your beauty is so much deeper.
My sweet girl, you are so kind, you have such a tender heart, and because of this you feel all the feels so forcefully that there are times when you are absolutely beside yourself with emotion at the injustice of it all. I don't always handle these times perfectly because I don't know how to navigate your intense feelings any more than you do, I don't know how to help you through those times except to assure you that they will pass, that they are growing pains, and that we have all gone through them, and survived. You will survive them, too. It might help if you let me hug you through them, but that is your decision, I'm only the mother.
You are brilliant, Hayden. I know you don't believe this. I know you think your grades at school define you, tell you how smart you are, but that is not true. Those grades are simply a measure of how well you can memorize facts and spit them back out on a piece of paper, and sometimes you struggle with that and it frustrates you, and saddens your father and I because we hate to see you struggle or be sad. Of course, you still have to memorize those facts and spit them back out. Of course, you still have to do your best in school, and strive for the best grades you are capable of obtaining. But, please, understand those are such a small measure of your intellect, and absolutely no measure of who you are as a person. You are, to name a few, incredibly creative, wildly curious about the world around you, relentlessly competitive, unfailingly kind, and wickedly funny; these are the measure, this is your brilliance. You are so smart it frightens me at times; I love your brain.
I love your sense of humor. I love to hear your laughter, to see you smile. I love that you are beginning to understand and appreciate the jokes, the social subtleties, when we watch a television show or movie. I love that you can be silly with your sister or your friends or, sometimes, your parents. I love that you can laugh at me, and, more importantly, at yourself.
I love that you love country music even though it's not a popular choice with your friends. I love that you collect phone cases. I love that you love Maine as much as your father and I love it, and that those family traditions we hold so dear are just as important to you. I love that you are so athletic, that you are a kick ass lacrosse player, a long distance runner, and that you love field hockey (and you're a great player) even though you were not sure you wanted to try a new sport after excelling in soccer. I love that you showed up and taught yourself something new. I love that you chose all of the details for your new bedroom. I love that I can count on you to be helpful around the house. I love that you take selfies everywhere you go. I love that you are a terrific big sister to Anna; that you protect her from the world as best you can, and make her laugh every day. I love that you love animals, and the beach, and shoes.
Hayden, I am so amazed and proud of the young woman you are becoming. I can't believe I get to be your mother, I thank God every day for this gift you are. I get to watch you grow and learn and become the adult you are going to become. I know I have very little to do with this, it is more and more obvious daily that you are your own person separate from me and your dad, but we get to come along for the ride, and it's a wonderful ride.
I love you,


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It is currently Fri Jan 24, 2020 5:51 am
worldserviceproducer wrote:Hello. I'm a producer on a BBC World Service news programme. We're obviously covering the fact that Charlie has passed away. I was wondering, given all the thousands and thousands of songs Charlie must have played on his shows, whether anyone who knew him can suggest a piece of music or a song that was one of his personal favourites, that we could play a bit of on our programme, The World Today.
Also, if anyone has any thoughts on the "must have" interview, the person we should really be interviewing about Charlie, please do say.
Best wishes
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I realized that I haven't posted for quite a while now. There are two reasons:
- The lack of responses didn't motivate me much to continue writing letters, which of course lead to even less responses. And
- I've discovered a new hobby, cosplaying (you can see photos of my first cosplay and after MagicCon also the next cosplay here), and I use pretty much all my spare time to build my next cosplay, so that it will be ready for the MagicCon in April (and then probably the next cosplay, for the next MagicCon, and so on). It leaves me almost no time for this hobby. But maybe I can bring myself to write a few letters now and then.
Anyway, I got a couple of autographs since my last post.
Three I won't post because they are badly smudged (another reason for not being very motivated) – Chris Pratt, Hugh Bonneville and Jim Carter), and one is probably a sec (Richard Madden). Here is the rest:
Isaac Hempstead-Wright (Bran Stark / GoT)
John Bradley (Samwell Tarly / GoT)
Mark Dacascos (Wo Fat / Hawaii Five-0)
Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy / GoT)
Owen Teale (Alliser Thorne / GoT)
Craig Parker (Haldir / LotR, Lord Narcisse / Reign)
Alexandra Dowling (Queen Anne / Musketeers)
Poppy Drayton (Amberle / Shannara)
Jerome Flynn (Bronn / GoT)


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We create "one of a kind" stories with an "of one mind" attitude.
Our new platform to celebrate the beauty and diversity of crafts, culture, and people.
"...we need the innovation drivers that guarantee fair and environment friendly production of fashion. Thank you for your engagement!"
"Abury's concept of giving back to the society through free education for the people of different remote regions of the world is absolutely noteworthy. I am glad to have been a tiny part of this exciting idea."
"Congratulations to all the team that everyday make for bring an amazing project like this to life. Keep walking."


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Q: Do I need submerged plants in my pond, and how do they help?
Jennifer – McLean, VA
A: Sure, floating and surface plants, like water lilies and hyacinth, add pops of color and beauty to your water garden, but those underwater cultivars deserve some love, too! Just like a rock concert's or theatrical production's support crew, subsurface plants play a critical role in the health and wellbeing of your pond.
Here's just a few things they do:
Supply Oxygen: Underwater plants are called "oxygenators" for a reason. They naturally produce oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis – and oxygen is one of the best things for your pond's health and vitality. When submerged plants like the colorful and fast-growing Red Ludwigia are used in combination with a sub-surface aeration system, you'll wind up with cleaner water that supports your pond's inhabitants.
Protect Fish from Predators: Sub-surface plants, such as the lush Red Stemmed Parrot's Feather, also give your fish and other pond critters places to hide when predators stalk or attack. Koi and goldfish will swim into the lush growth and hide out when a raccoon stops by the pond or a blue heron circles overhead. The greenery provides excellent camouflage for your finned friends.
Provide Spawning Areas: The leaves, stems and root systems of underwater plants give your pond life safe places to spawn and lay their eggs. And when those tiny fry hatch, the plants provide protection, food and a comfy place to call home. An excellent choice is the ribbon-like Vallisneria, which can create grassy meadows beneath your pond's surface.
Submerged plants are easy to add to your water garden or fish pond. Simply fill planting baskets, like the Laguna Planting Baskets, with planting media, add some oxygenators, and place the planted basket on the bottom of your pond or on a plant shelf on the side of your pond. The planting baskets allow the plant's roots to branch out and find nourishment while containing it and preventing fish from nibbling on its root system.
Don't neglect your pond's support staff. Add some plants to your pond today. You'll be glad you did!
Pond Talk: What is your favorite submerged plant?
Filed under: Aquatic Plants, Water Gardens & Features | Tagged: aquatic plants, oxygenation, plant baskets, submerged plants |


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The top women gymnasts in the U.S. no doubt were feeling the pressure Sunday leading up to the finals of the U.S. Olympic trials in San Jose. But some fans - particularly young, aspiring gymnasts - had the jitters, too.
"Our daughters said it Friday night - they had butterflies in their stomachs just watching the girls compete because they know what they're feeling," said Liz Bates, a parent of a young gymnast.
On Sunday, the 14 gymnasts at the trials were competing for five spots on Team USA. Some youth coaches say it's a teaching moment for their athletes just to watch how the top U.S. gymnasts handle the pressure.
U.S. & World
Joi Chavatte, a gymnastics coach from Florida, says she expects the gymnasts to focus on the task at hand. And that's performing well tonight.
"They just have to teach themselves to not think about the end results," Chavatte says. "They're just trying to think about what they're doing. They're taking one routine at a time, one skill at a time and not thinking about how to make it to Olympics. Just hit their routines and be proud of what they're doing."
Ruth Bettis, a youth coach from Oak Grove, says it's a great opportunity for her team members to watch the best of the best and have something to shoot for.
"It's a great example for the kids to see all of the hard work and dedication they put in, all the time they put in, and see what the ultimate payoff can be," Bettis says.


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The secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has launched a new online tool that showcases how businesses and communities can adapt to the inevitable effects of climate change.
The new Adaptation Private Sector Initiative database on the UNFCCC web site features climate change adaptation activities pioneered by leading private companies.
Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Levis, Nestle and Starbucks are among a slew of large multinational companies who are sharing details of successful, business-friendly practices via the database, alongside a host of other household names. The database contains details of activities both on how companies can make profits or savings, or prevent losses through adaptation-related activities.
By showcasing private sector adaptation success stories, we intend to help both communities and businesses become more climate-resilient and to put the benefits and business sense of adaptation firmly on the agenda of the private sector. Climate risks which affect communities around the world are always also business risks, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, speaking from the World Economic Forum in Davos.
In 2011, ninety percent of the recorded natural catastrophes were weather-related. According to the UNs top climate change official, climate disasters such as extensive drought in Africa or massive floods in South East Asia can have enormous impacts on the operation of any local or global business and consequently on its revenue stream, and both businesses and governments at all levels need to prepare.
There are currently around 100 examples of adaptation actions listed in the UNFCCC Private Sector Initiative database, which are both practical and in many cases scalable. The activities are undertaken either alone or in partnership with other stakeholders, from a wide range of regions and sectors, and also cover activities such as the development of climate friendly goods and services and climate proofing the supply chains of companies. Examples of best practices include efforts to make drinking water clean and safe in developing countries and efforts to improve the yield of coffee beans in regions that are particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Governments can take heart from and be inspired by these private-sector initiatives. We have seen good decisions on adaptation emerging from the recent UN Climate Change Conference in Durban last year, including a decision to launch an Adaptation Framework and a Committee which will provide high-level guidance on adaptation action, as well as a new Technology Mechanism, which will boost cooperation on adaptation technologies, the UNs top climate official Ms. Figueres said.
At the same time, the initiatives detailed in the database both show how the private sector can secure early advantages by adapting without waiting for absolute policy certainty at the international level, and how governments and the private sector can work together to respond to climate change now. Public-private partnerships and cooperation with a wide range of stakeholders is becoming increasingly important to ensure successful implementation, she added.
In addition to the new database, the UNFCCC secretariats Momentum for Change Initiative provides a platform to showcase successful public-private partnership at all levels that have led to real benefits for both people and the climate.
please consider the environment... only print this page if you really need to (
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Torrealba update, Olivo contract final details
DENVER — The domino that needs to fall for Yorvit Torrealba's next move is teetering. Bengie Molina is moving closer to signing with the Mets, which should clear the way for Torrealba. The Giants, Padres, Rangers and Mariners have all expressed interest in the former Rockies' starter.
Torrealba appeared close to returning to the Rockies last month but the sides couldn't agree on how a two-year, $6-million contract would be allocated. The Rockies turned to Miguel Olivo. I have written that Olivo's contract was worth a guaranteed $2.5 million. Here is how it breaks down officially in the paperwork filed with the union, noting that the club option will become a player option if he plays 110 games as a catcher next season:
2010: $2 million
2011: $2.5 million or a $500,000 buyout.
The base in 2011 increases by $100,000 for games starting at 100 and ending at 140.


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Friday, April 23, 2010
I want to be addicted
1. The best game for me is one that can get me addicted to it. If it's just meh, that means it's boring and I won't play it. Hence, in my universe, a really good game is addictive. It makes me wanna play it.
2. If a new game can't hold me for more than 15 minutes, chances are it's boring. So I won't play it. Those first few minutes are crucial and they can make or break my impression of the game.
3. Finally, a good game in my book should also have high replayability. I won't mention WoW here (oops I just did) but Diablo (especially D2) is a good example.
I am forever searching for games that fulfill these basic requirements. Unfortunately these days they are few and far between. I haven't played another game apart from WoW for years, simply because there hasn't been one good enough to keep me interested. I tried Fallout 3 (having played the previous two excellent episodes) and I couldn't do it for more than an hour. I'm not giving up hope though. Once in a blue moon I come across a rare gem such as Borderlands and let's not forget that Diablo 3 is on the horizon. Viva el addiction!
19 comments:
- Medwards said...
You should apply for the Starcraft II beta and give it a try. I've never been big on RTS games, but I have to admit that this one is quite addictive. But I'm really looking forward to Diablo 3 as well.
- April 24, 2010 at 2:55 AM
- Markco said...
How about changing how you play wow? Become a weird pvp spec or try your luck at mastering the auction house?
- April 24, 2010 at 7:48 AM
In my opinion what you wrote does not refer to addiction. I would say that 1), 2) and 3) are the "top three" points that make a game fun and worth playing it.
That said, even chess is amazingly fun (for some) because it involves tactics, patience, etc. But what if you play chess all the day? It becomes and addiction.
A good book can be amazingly addictive... that you could finish reading it in one or two days. That's great. But what if you start reading books all the time, skipping important tasks, sleeping less hours at night and so on? It would be bad. It would be an addiction.
It's not WoW or -more in general- gaming. It's "how you dedicate to your passion". Do you do that in a healthy way OR do you find yourself trying to stick to your PC as soon as your wife turns to the kitchen and leaves you 5 minutes "to check if that chest will drop a rare ring..."?
That's the main difference between "hobby" and "addiction". WoW is just an example, it could be any kind of game. It's just that WoW is developed in a way to drag you in a kind of infinite loop.
- April 24, 2010 at 11:19 AM
Yo Darth, I'd like to invite you to try "Just Cause 2". There is a nice demo that will make you cry for more when it finishes.
It's an action FPS with a very interactive/destructible world (Crysis anyone?), full of crazy physics and a UBER SUPER HUGE world, TONS of vehicles, weapons, etc.
The main character (you) is a sort of 007 super hero: you can do amazing tricks, fly with your parachute, drive ina "stunt-like" way and so on.
Missions can be re-done when you fail (Grand Theft Auto anyone?) so if you die 2-3 times in a row you just quit, do something else and try again next time. No hurry, no stress.
Is it addictive? Yes, because it's full of places to visit (AMAZING landscapes, trust me), full of missions and much more. BUT it's a "nice" addiction, you wont feel the need to play 4 hours on a row, every single day.
Try it. The 3D engine is incredible, I can run it at (almost) full detail, 2X AA, 16XAniso on a GeForce 8800GTS @ 1280x1024, 2Gb ram, Intel dualcore (a bit old).
- April 24, 2010 at 11:25 AM
- Darth Solo said...
@Medwards I don't know man, though I've dabbled in Warcraft 1/2/3 and Starcraft + Broodwar, as well as the C&C and Red Alert series, I never had what it took to actually finish the damn single player campaigns.
@Markco thanks but no pvp for me and I'm kinda tired of making gold. Right now I'm just taking a long break from WoW.
@Dalaila I took a look at JC2 and it looks very similar to Crysis. Though I finished FarCry, I couldn't finish Crysis. It got frustrating at some point. I'll see if I can get a demo of JC2 but right now I'm having too much fun in Borderlands.
- April 24, 2010 at 7:23 PM
@ Darth
I did not like Crysis too. I finished it because I spent the money for the original game but to be honest I hated it. JC is much better imho, give it a try (demo)
- April 25, 2010 at 2:43 AM
- Darth Solo said...
I'll try it when I have some time if you promise to try Borderlands :D
- April 25, 2010 at 12:16 PM
I never used to play any type of fantasy games untill World of Warcraft and most games couldn't hold my attention. One day while watching Xplay, they reveiwed Planetside and I was amazed at the concept. A first person shooter on an epic scale. Hundreds of people fighting in the same locations. When I got my hands on it the game was addictive. Three years went by before I was looking for something else and that was where WOW came in.
I just came across an article saying that Sony was in the works for a Planetside 2 and Blizzard is working on a first person MMO also. This should be interesting.
- April 25, 2010 at 6:40 PM
I officially
Borderland's inventory system
Damn it!!!
- April 28, 2010 at 4:17 PM
Hey Darth! Was sad to read ur takin it easy..this was one of the better blogs in the wow-o-sphere..anyways all goodie, im breaking from wow now too after 4 or 5 yrs, jus feel its getting too repetative. Anyways started playing Fallen Earth and im totally head over heels for it! Was thinking u should give it a shot if ur looking for a good game to sink ur teeth into...plus its very, very, solo friendly
- April 28, 2010 at 5:35 PM
@ Darth
Borderlands kicks a**! I love it.
- April 29, 2010 at 5:26 PM
@ Darth
I miss a chest... damn the inventory and items management are hooooorrible :|
- April 30, 2010 at 9:52 AM
- Darth Solo said...
@Anonymous hey thanks man! I don't think this is such a great blog though but I really appreciate the compliment.
@Dalaila yeah the inventory system kinda sucks because they ported it over from consoles. Though I don't know if you're playing it on console or PC. They didn't adapt the interface for PCs which is a great big shame.
The inventory gets easier to maintain later as you approach levels 35-40 because at this level I have 39 slots. There are quests along the way (Claptrap Rescue) in most areas which reward you with an extra 3 slots.
At this level however, I've also collected a lot of nice guns which I don't want to get rid of. I have, for example, 2 rocket launchers with different elemental effects, 4 sniper rifles with various effects and so on.
I'm really glad you like the game!
- April 30, 2010 at 6:44 PM
@ Darth
I'm on PC version. I've ot the demo then downloaded the full game to "test" it before buying. Yesterday I spent those 29 bucks on the Steam version.
Graphics are pretty good and fast. I just removed the intro videos and the black border around models, now it looks MUCH better.
- May 1, 2010 at 3:23 AM
- Darth Solo said...
Heh heh you're already hacking it. Does removing the black borders make it look better?
- May 1, 2010 at 9:53 AM
@ Darth
Yes, it's MUCH MUCH better. Graphics still look cartoonish but in a good way. I feel the black border is too much and removes some beauty of the engine.
What's your nick? I could add you on Steam or Gamespy.
- May 1, 2010 at 11:43 AM
- Darth Solo said...
I don't play this online and I don't want to. It's sort of a WoW cure if you will :) Besides, I really don't want to get involved with Gamespy.
- May 1, 2010 at 5:39 PM
@ Dart
To be honest it's really different, much like playing Diablo online... with MUCH less people around. No way to get addicted.
- May 1, 2010 at 7:11 PM
- Gyldenfeax said...
I hope I'm not the cause of a WoW relapse, but Children's Week has just started.
- May 2, 2010 at 3:08 AM


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Monday, July 1, 2013
Things the Tobacco Industry Doesn't Want You to Know
As Big Tobacco attempts to clean up its image, now is a good time to remind you of some facts the industry would like you to forget:
Smoking-related health conditions are a leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for nearly one of every five deaths annually.
Every year, tobacco use kills more Americans than HIV, drug and alcohol abuse, suicides, murders and car accidents combined.
Secondhand smoke accounts for approximately 50,000 deaths in the United States every year.
If tobacco farmers around the globe were to grow food instead, they could feed more than 70 percent of the world's 28 million malnourished people.
In 2012, cigarette companies spent nearly $27 million lobbying government agencies and members of Congress.
Big Tobacco companies market covertly to teens, despite publicly stating that youth should not smoke.
Each year, the industry spends more than $400 per customer on special promotions, coupons, mailers and other direct marketing efforts to make sure current smokers don't kick their addictions.
Now, companies are pushing expensive and unregulated e-cigarettes. What's more, e-cigarettes are offered in a variety of flavors that young children and teens could find especially appealing, like cherry, grape, vanilla and strawberry.
The health effects of e-cigarettes are still unknown. Medical associations and regulatory bodies are concerned that e-cigarettes are nothing more than a "gateway" to a nicotine addiction.
Posted by Richard Lawry at 1:29 PM 0 comments
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Welcome ! Enjoy your shopping , enjoy your life !
rag & bone offers innately wearable styles that blend classic tailoring and an edgy-yet-understated New York aesthetic. Rooted in dedication to craftsmanship and innovation, each collection is designed in NYC and developed by some of the world's most skilled manufacturers. Since the brand's origins in 2002, the focus has been (and remains) on creating the highest-quality goods.


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BOORAGUL teen Blake Tweedie, who has emerged from a coma after a horrific accident, had his spirits lifted with a visit from Knights star Jarrod Mullen.
Mr Tweedie, 18, faces a long recovery, having become a paraplegic with brain damage after being hit from behind by a four-wheel-drive.
Mr Mullen visited Mr Tweedie in John Hunter Hospital recently, giving him a signed jersey and hat.
''The club got the call after Blake's accident because he is a mad fan and his family thought we could help lift his spirits,'' Mr Mullen said.
''We were more than happy to spend some time with Blake.
''He is obviously doing it tough but he responded to us, which was great to see.''
Mr Mullen hoped he brightened his day and ''helped in some way''.
''I told him we would come back to check on him and I would take some of the other boys with me,'' he said.
Mr Tweedie's mother Melissa Tweedie, of Toronto, said she appreciated the Knights' compassion.
The Newcastle Herald reported last month that a vehicle hit Mr Tweedie while he was walking home from Booragul railway station with two mates along the side of Toronto Road near St Paul's High School, Booragul.
The impact threw him 20metres through the air.
After emerging from a coma, Mr Tweedie was moved from intensive care to the hospital's high-dependency unit.
''They're not sure how much brain damage he has until he goes to Sydney in a fortnight for rehab,'' Mrs Tweedie said.
Mrs Tweedie said her son had died twice, once on impact and a second time on the operating table.
It will be a long road ahead for Mr Tweedie, but he has improved and started to communicate.
Mrs Tweedie said her son would be in rehabilitation for about 12 months.
While he could not talk, and needed speech therapy, he was texting.
''We took him his iPod to listen to music and the next minute we gave him his phone and he was texting,'' she said.
THUMBS UP: Knights star Jarrod Mullen visits Blake Tweedie in Hospital after the teenager emerged from a coma. On October 5 the Newcastle Herald reported a vehicle hit Mr Tweedie.


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No one really likes confrontation, but that was the topic of my first session this morning, "How to Confront New Competition," led by Rick Caro, president of Management Vision. Rick is not a confrontational person, so there wasn't any need to worry about the session getting too heated. Caro's main message was that instead of blaming any slow growth or decline on a competitor, club owners must truly look at what they are doing at their own clubs first, and they must ensure that they have differentiated themselves enough before a new competitor comes in.
Caro talked about how you find out a new competitor is coming into your market (realtors, equipment vendors, city planning and zoning boards, club members who may have received direct mail from the new club).
Then, Caro said that club owners must know their market and that of the new competitor to truly know whether the new club will compete for the same members. Club owners should do a "drive test" (drive 8 miles from their club in every direction for the primary market--and do the same for the competitor if you know where they will be located--and 12 minutes in every direction for the secondary market). Plot this on a map and see where your markets overlap.
Then, ensure you know who your club members are by ordering complete demographics on your market and then hiring an industry expert to interpret the data. (It's only data until someone interprets it, and then it's information that can be acted upon.)
Once you know how much of your market overlaps and whether your brands and demogrpahics overlap, you'll have a better idea of whether the new club is competition.
If they are competitors, then you need to determine which members are most vulnerable to leaving. Those members would be people in the overlap area, especially if they are members who use your club less than four times a month and/or haven't been a member of your club for at least three years.
Find out exactly who the new club is, their brand, their servies/amenities, their pricing, their facility design. Find out exactly where they will be located and whether it's just one club or one club of many planned for your city. Find out what they will feature and what their concept is. What are their differentiating factors and how do they differ from yours? Ask yourself why they will have an impact on your club and why they will be successful. Then, find out how they will be positioned and priced.
Caro then talked about how to evaluate future competition, the criteria to look at when comparing your facility to theirs and the types of research you can do to evaluate your competition. I'd detail these gems of information for you, but considering how well received this presentation was, I have a feeling that Caro will be offering this one at a future Club Industry show, so I better leave a reason for you to sign up to attend. --Pam


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"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."
~ Roger Caras
All pets should be in stable, loving homes where they are thought of as a beloved member of the family. Spay/neuter is the ONLY answer to the pet overpopulation problem.
We strive to find the best possible match for the pets in our care. They will live with us until they are adopted.
In order to match our pets with their perfect owner, we undergo a relatively thorough background check during our adoption process. This includes a vet reference, as well as various questions regarding their future home life (fenced back yard? any other pets or small children? etc.) We will ask you some basic questions over the phone to assure compatibility and to better understand just what you're looking for. That way we can match you with a pet that best suits your needs as well as theirs. From there, we will set up a "meet 'n greet," so you can spend some time with the prospective pet, and get to know him/her more intimately. No pet will go home with its new owner on the same day, however. We will do a home delivery, and if needed, you can borrow some basic supplies to get you started (i.e. pet crate, dog food, leash/collar, etc.)!
We strive to place our pets in a home that best matches their needs. If any of our furry friends peek your interest, please contact us right away! Browse through our lovable pets today, take some time to read their stories, and you too could find your new forever friend!
"You can't change the world by helping one dog, but you can change the world for that dog." ~ Anonymous
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