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Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (815 votes).
In short: how could they do thatIn full: Imagine you've trained for months. You can't sleep the night before because of nerves. You've checked the website and the weather is bad but race will be on. You've paid £83 for a room. You've queued to get a £6 parking ticket. You get to the start with 5 mins to go and then some joker casually tells you that the race has been cancelled because the course has a few puddles on it! Your chip does not work so you don't get a time or position. You then queue 1 hour to get out of the car park. Would you feel as sick as a parrot because I do?Bu thanks to the marshalls.Date of review: April 29, 2012
In short: Enjoyed the race even though the conditions were terrible. Managed to knock 11 mins off my previous 1/2 marathon timeIn full: The decision to cancel the full marathon could have been made a lot sooner although it was probably the correct decision in the end, the conditions werent going to get any better. Excellent marshalling throughout in some very poor conditions on a brighter day it would have been a very excellent run.Date of review: April 29, 2012
In short: Wet and windy conditions forcast for at least a week. Never again. Manchester next year. Crowds and marshals good, shame about the decision to cancel the race.Date of review: April 29, 2012
In short: Well done to the marshalls who did supberbly in the rainIn full: I wanted to say well done to the marshalls because it was dreadful weather. Thank you so much for your support. Date of review: April 29, 2012
In short: Superb effort from the course marshals but event was hampered by poor organisiation.In full: This was a really tough race this year due to the weather. The marshelling on course was superb. It was wet, wind and very cold, and every marshal had a smile and friendly word to say.The decision to cancel the full marathon was correct but could have been made earlier. I was however really dissapointed that they ran out of medals, this was due to all runners receiving a half medal. So the only medals left were those displaying the marathon lanyard. The organisers should have arranged for those who would have been running the full marathon to receive this medal so that there were enough half medals to be handed out at the end. You shouldn't have to ask!Again like others have said, no t-shirt or goody bag. Date of review: April 29, 2012
In short: Runners rose to the weather challenge - organisers didn't quiteIn full: Without seeing the condition of the portion of the Greenway that wasn't run on lap two, it's difficult to make definite judgements on the wisdom of cancellation. I respect that it's a difficult decision - personally I'd have appreciated strong advice to just do the half, but still have the option to complete. The website, is after all, full of disclaimers that you run at your own risk, etc etc. The very late and casual announcement was poor, though. Just half an hour earlier and word would have got around, and people who thought they were running a marathon wouldn't have had the awful experience of finding out it was all over. The bad weather was no surprise and contingency plans should have been in place. And at the finish, some space blankets would have been a godsend. Date of review: April 29, 2012
In short: A big thanks to the marshalsIn full: As I was doing the half I was sorry for all the marathoners to hear so late; but I think it was the right decision.I'm not sure how bad the extra loop might have been but I think over 6 hours is too long to expect the marshals to stand there.I thought the marshals and the support was great considering the conditions.... everything went smoothly for me and there was a lot of encouragement.Date of review: April 29, 2012
In short: Blame the weatherIn full: Trained for four months for the full, and was extremely disappointed to have it reduced to a half, but after slogging down the greenway I can understand the concern. For the first 8 miles didn't see the reason for cancelling, but when I saw the finish approaching I was relieved not to have to go round again. Adjusted my plan and ended up running a PB for the half. An earlier call to cancel would have been better, but I appreciate that it was a difficult decision and they were trying to do everything they can to get the race in. I would do this race again, hopefully in better conditions.Date of review: April 29, 2012
In short: The organisers should hang their heads in shame. In full: Firstly may I thank all of the volunteers who lined the route without these people the race could not have gone ahead. The organisers decision to cancel the full marathon less than 5 minutes before the start was dreadfull, it was the correct decision but it could have been made the much earlier, it was obvious that many runners like myself had dressed for a long afternoon in the cold and rain and we were left with no time change clothing. The water stations were ineffective with plastic cups, I'm glad I wasn't relying on completing a second lap with only plastic cups to drink out of. I was lucky enough to run in the first Worcester marathon two weeks ago, it has to be said Worcester made Stratford look like the newcomers to the marathon scene. I'm very disappointed, next April it will be Worcester for me. Date of review: April 29, 2012
In short: £27 no goody bag or t-shirt and changed on the start line to a half due to weatherIn full: First things first. You can't control the weather. 2011 was so hot that some of the stations ran out of water, 2012 was so wet and windy they cancelled the full Mara and changed it to a half on the start line. You can,t control the weather. However, the route is nice but it is two laps. The main problem I have with this race is that £26 for no goody bag or t-shirt is steep to say the least. Other races do it better cheaper and if your not bothered about goodies or t-shirts the long distance walks association events don't come with either and cost about £10. So overall it was o.k but pricey. Date of review: April 29, 2012
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World Events, History and Culture Book Group
Category: Book Groups & Discussions
Location: Plaut Room
Everyone is welcome to join the World Events group for a discussion of David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell, on Wednesday, January 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Plaut Room.
In David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell challenges how we think about obstacles and disadvantages, offering a new interpretation of what it means to be discriminated against, or cope with a disability, or lose a parent, or attend a mediocre school, or suffer from any number of other apparent setbacks.
Gladwell begins with the real story of what happened between the giant and the shepherd boy those many years ago. From there, David and Goliath examines Northern Ireland's Troubles, the minds of cancer researchers and civil rights leaders, murder and the high costs of revenge, and the dynamics of successful and unsuccessful classrooms---all to demonstrate how much of what is beautiful and important in the world arises from what looks like suffering and adversity.
In the tradition of Gladwell's previous bestsellers---The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers and What the Dog Saw---David and Goliath draws upon history, psychology, and powerful storytelling to reshape the way we think of the world around us. -amazon.com book description

subset: commoncrawl


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Food Habits
Wild turkeys are omnivorous. They primarily eat vegetable matter such as acorns, nuts, seeds, buds, leaves and fern fronds. They also eat ground-dwelling insects and salamanders, which account for about 10% of their diet. Wild turkeys forage primarily on the ground, though they occasionally mount shrubs and low trees to reach fruits and buds. Most foraging occurs during the 2 to 3 hours after dawn and before dusk. (Eaton, 1992)


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Test your vehicle and traffic law IQ — Round 3 (answers)
Last week we presented 20 questions on vehicle and traffic law and traffic safety. Hopefully you took the test. This week we will repeat the questions, give you the answers, and the authority for the answers. Where the authority is MUCTD, it is the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. See how well you did.
1. If found guilty of driving with a BAC of 0.18 or more for the first time, it is a felony. True. It is a class E felony [V & T Law, article 1193 (4)(ii)]
2. A state trooper must be wearing his/her hat in order to make an arrest. False. It is part of the uniform and should be worn, but they are police officers and have enforcement powers even without the uniform.
3. Rural mailboxes along a roadside must be repaired by the highway department if damaged by a highway snowplow. False. (Highway Law, section 319)
4. It is illegal to follow a fire truck with lights flashing closer than 200 feet. True. It is illegal to follow a fire truck in the same or adjacent lane closer than 200 feet. (V & T Law, article 1217)
5. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices is recognized as the national standard for all traffic control devices installed on all public or private roads open to public travel. True. (MUTCD, page I-1, paragraph 02)
6. A linear speed limit (applies to a specific road or highway) can be set at 10 mph. False. The minimum is 25 mph. (V & T Law, article 1622-1)
7. Speed limits on town roads are set by the town board. False. State DOT has authority. (V & T Law, article 1622)
8. Changes to any traffic control device (traffic signs, signals, and pavement markings) should be made only after an engineering study. True. (MUTCD)
9. An engineering study can be made by any police officer. False. An engineering study shall be performed by an engineer, or by an individual working under the supervision of an engineer. [MUTCD, section 1A.13 (03)]
10. It is illegal to ride a bicycle with your feet removed from the pedals. True. [V & T Law, article 1232(a)]
11. Just holding a portable electronic device in a conspicuous manner is illegal. True. (V & T Law, 1225-d-4)
12. All-way stop signs at an intersection are an approved method of slowing traffic. False. Stop signs should not be used for speed control [MUTCD,sect. 2B.04 (05)]
13. A school bus without students does not have to stop at a railroad crossing. False. Any school bus, with or without passengers, MUST stop for railroad crossings. [V & T Law, article 1171(a)]
14. A single solid yellow line may be used on a two-lane roadway? False. A single solid yellow line shall not be used as a centerline marking on a two-way roadway. [MUTCD, section 3B.01 (05)]
15. The Traffic Safety Board is a good resource for traffic law and safety. True. Members of the TSB have the required knowledge or know where to obtain it.
16. Where crossing the lane line markings is prohibited, the lane line markings shall consist of: A) a solid double white line, B) a single solid white line, C) a single solid yellow line? A Where crossing the lane line markings is prohibited, the lane line markings shall consist of a solid double white line. [MUTCD, 3B.04 (30)]
17. The maximum length of a school speed zone is: A) 1/2 mile, B) no limit, C) 1/4 mile? A The maximum length of a school speed zone is 1320 feet, which is 1/4 mile. (V&T Law, article 1622-1)
18. A driver convicted of speeding more than 40 mph over the posted speed limit is assigned A) 3 points, B) 6 points, C) 11 points against his/her license? C 11 points. (NYS DMV)
19. The length of the yellow dashed lines to permit passing on a two-lane road are: A) 3 feet, B) 5 feet, C) 10 feet? C Broken lines should consist of 10-foot line segments and 30-foot gaps. [MUTCD, section 3A.06 (04)]
20. An "area" speed limit, such as for a village, cannot be less than: A) 20 mph, B) 30 mph, C) 40 mph? A An area speed limit cannot be less than 30 mph. (V & T Law, article 1622-2)
How did you do? Are you a traffic law and traffic engineering guru or do you need a little more learning? For these and many more traffic law and safety articles go to: www.franklincony.org and from the pull-down menu for departments, click on Traffic Safety Board.


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NYPA Receives 2012 Outstanding Stewards Of America's Waters Award From National Hydropower Association: NYPA Becomes First, Four-Time Osaw Award Winner
Connie Cullen
(914) 390-8196
May 3, 2012
WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) announced today that it received an Outstanding Stewards of America's Waters (OSAW) Award from the National Hydropower Association (NHA) for the habitat restoration of Little Beaver Island in Grand Island, N.Y. The honor was presented to John Suloway, vice president for Licensing, Acquisition and Project Development, NYPA, at the National Hydropower Association's (NHA) annual conference in April held at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.
NYPA received the NHA's OSAW award in the Recreational Environmental and Historical Enhancement category for its Little Beaver Island Habitat Improvement Project, a $2.1 million dollar collaborative wetland restoration made possible through the relicensing agreement associated with the Power Authority's Niagara Power Project in Lewiston, N.Y. To date, the agreement has resulted in more than $170 million in environmental and economic development benefits to Western New York.
Now with four OSAW awards, NYPA has won the most OSAW awards from among all NHA members. Previous OSAW awards for NYPA include the Common Tern Nesting Habitat Improvement project in Buffalo Harbor (2010); the Lake Sturgeon Spawning Beds Installation in the St. Lawrence River (2009); and the installation of an Upstream Passage Facility for the American Eel (2007) at NYPA's St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project in Massena, N.Y. Prior to the establishment of the OSAW awards in 2007, NYPA received NHA's Hydro Achievement Award for Recreational Stewardship for its collaboration on several projects with Northern New York communities (2006).
"We are always pleased to be recognized for our achievements, particularly with respect to environmental enhancements," said Suloway. "The wetland restoration initiative returned Little Beaver Island to its natural splendor for the people of Erie County and surrounding communities to enjoy."
Speaking about this year's OSAW award winners, including NYPA, NHA Executive Director Linda Church Ciocci said, "Leading through example, these awardees have raised the bar on excellence for the entire industry. The efforts they have put into each of these projects is not only worthy of the prestigious OSAW awards, but is emblematic of the commitment our industry has made to enhance the communities and ecosystems of which we are a part."
Working in collaboration with other stakeholders including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), NYPA was able to restore the previously degraded habitat to near its original state, significantly increasing the area's biodiversity and ecosystems while providing expanded recreational benefits. During the 1950s, Little Beaver Island—owned and operated by OPRHP—was primarily used to store material dredged from various areas developed at the park.
A key aspect of the restoration was to provide ready-access to water for recreational activities, which included the construction of an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant kayak launch. The new launch was installed in Beaver Creek on the northern shoreline just next to an existing marina parking lot for greater accessibility.
"Projects like Beaver Island and others the Power Authority has launched in recent years, not only underscores our commitment to Western and Northern New York, but demonstrates our mission to promote environmental sustainability throughout New York," Suloway added.
Restoring the 10-acre wetland to its near natural historic habitat condition required the removal and disposal of more than 69,500 cubic yards of fill material. A major design component involved the reclamation of valuable organic soils and seed materials that were buried when the original wetland was filled. One of the first steps in modifying the topography involved removing the overlying fill and marsh topsoil which was used to improve a sledding area in the park and also stockpiled for future use.
Grade changes were also made to the site to achieve the elevations required for a hemi-marsh condition (i.e., a wetland configuration where shallow open water and marsh are interspersed in a complex pattern with diverse vegetation and topography). Once the grading was accomplished, the wetland topsoil (including some of the original topsoil reclaimed during the excavation of fill material) was distributed to prepare it for planting and stabilized with erosion control blankets and seeding. The strategic placement of thousands of native plants was accomplished to ensure the right ecological balance to achieve sustainability and to ensure a healthy proliferation of wetland and shoreline vegetation.
The newly planted area was also protected by a deterrence system to prevent damage from wildlife such as geese, deer and carp. An innovative combination of in-water fencing, a flagged grid network of twine, and upland fencing minimized grazing threats by land and waterborne wildlife to vulnerable vegetation.
Large amounts of extracted fill were also creatively used to enhance the park's nearby sledding hill area, making it larger and safer for recreational users. Instead of trucking it miles away at a prohibitive cost, the fill material was used to expand the existing sledding hill and also for converting a deteriorating asphalt parking lot into a green parking area.
An osprey nesting pole was erected to increase opportunities for wildlife observation and take maximum advantage of the wetland location. To further enhance the experience for park visitors, an observer's viewing platform was installed offering panoramic views of the newly restored wetland and a nature trail was updated for adventurous hikers.
The restored wetland was reconnected to the Niagara River through this project to increase habitat value with varying water depths, food and cover to attract multiple species of fish and wildlife. Renewed vegetation on Little Beaver Island is crucial as it will undoubtedly attract increased varieties of fish and wildlife to it shores.
Public acceptance of the project has already been evidenced through increased use of the recreational areas by visitors and in positive feedback from enthusiastic kayakers.
About NYPA:
■ The New York Power Authority uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. ■ NYPA is a leader in promoting energy efficiency, new energy technologies and electric transportation initiatives. ■ It is the nation's largest state public power organization, with 17 generating facilities in various parts of New York State and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. ■ Approximately 80 percent of the electricity it produces is clean renewable hydropower. Its lower-cost power production and electricity purchases support hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the state. ■For more information, www.nypa.gov.


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NCAA Michigan State Spartans Tailgating Chair
by NCAA | Item #: 265379 | Model #: CH-MSU |
We're sorry, this item is not available in your selected Club. Check another Club
About this itemShow your team spirit at home, at the game or on the road!
Your team's logo is displayed on the front and back of the chair as well as on the carrying bag.
- Made of durable 600 denier polyester fabric
- Printed in full team colors
- Oversize seat with 250-lb. capacity


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Restroom Products Are the Ultimate Must-Have
Outfit all of your office bathrooms with restroom products that clean, comfort, and generally care for your workers during their daily breaks.
Show your workers how much you care for their comfort and safety with a full suite of restroom products in every bathroom on your floor. These products provide everything your teammates need at every step of their visit, from the demanding first few minutes to the final seconds of the hand washing, and finally to getting the door open without touching it at the end.
Paper Products Provide Aid and Comfort
Make sure your people have access to high-quality paper products at every stage of their restroom breaks. Check daily for tissue shortages in the stalls, and err on the side of caution if one is running low. You can check less frequently if each stall has a multi-roll dispenser, which lets you put a whole package of tissue rolls into each stall. After finishing with the stall, employees should wash their hands before returning to work. Encourage them to do so with thick, comfortable paper towels near the sinks.
Hardware and Equipment Add Old-World Charm
Disposable restroom products are great to have, but the hardware and fittings you put them in make a difference too. Load those paper towels into a shiny chrome dispenser that's easy to pop open and refill. If, on the other hand, you've decided to really take your office paperless, try installing an automatic hand dryer that blows powerful jets of air to dry hands after washing. Drop a sturdy 13-gallon trash can next to the door to take miscellaneous waste, and your restrooms are ready to supply almost anything a guest needs.
A well-stocked and maintained bathroom keeps customers and employees happy. It is easy for visitors to judge your store or office based on the cleanliness of your restroom, even if all other areas are immaculate. Bathroom supplies are a must, so having plenty of toilet tissue, towels, and soap on hand should be a top priority. We pride ourselves on having all of these important bathroom supplies in stock and ready to ship to you. You will find all of the maintenance supplies necessary to keep your restrooms inviting, from seat protectors to Lysol and Clorox cleaning sprays.
Keep your restrooms clean. You can find disinfectant sprays to keep bacteria at bay.
Keep your restrooms well maintained. An ample supply of toilet tissue, towels, and seat protectors will ensure you never run out.
Put your best foot forward. A clean restroom presents a professional appearance to your customers.


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Eleanor R. Siudy LaTour
Mrs. Eleanor R. Siudy LaTour of Hagaman Avenue, Hagaman, died peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on her 76th birthday. Born in Amsterdam, N.Y. on February 25, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Gladys Vedder Cole.
A lifelong area resident, Eleanor was a graduate of the former Wilbur H. Lynch High School and worked as a seamstress for the Hanover Company. Although she had many employment opportunities, her favorite was as a teacher's aide for the Greater Amsterdam School District. She also enjoyed being a homemaker and raising her family. She will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Her family includes: her husband, Thomas N. LaTour, whom she married on June 19, 1994; four sons, Richard (Carole) Siudy of Peoria, Ariz., Mark (Ann) Siudy of the town of Florida, James (Christie) Siudy of Amsterdam, and Eric (Jeanie) Kuehner of Winter Haven, Fla.; ten grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her siblings, Charles Cole and Helen Kuehner.
Services will be held on Thursday, February 28, 2013, at 10 a.m. at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, with the Rev. O. Robert DeMartinis officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited and may call this evening, Wednesday, February 27, 2013, from 4 until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Community Hospice or to the animal shelter of one's choice.


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Medical announcements
A.A. Numerous meetings throughout the week across the region. Visit the website at (www.aanorthdakota.org) for information about places and times.
Overeaters Anonymous, meets Sundays at 5:30 p.m. in First Presbyterian Church, Minot. For more information, call 833-4572.
The Celebrate Recovery support group for people with hurts, habits or hangups meets every Sunday at 7 p.m. in Our Savior Lutheran Church, 3705-11th St. SW. For more information, call Deb Walker at 240-7358.
Al-Anon Monday: Newcomers: 8 p.m., First Presbyterian Church; Tuesday: 8 p.m., Vincent United Methodist Church at 1024-2nd St. SE, use south entrance; Wednesday: Kenmare: 7 p.m., Kenmare Community Hospital, 317-1st Ave. NE; Thursday: 8 p.m., 700-16th Ave. SW; Bottineau: 8 p.m., 123 Sinclair St., Bottineau; Saturday: 10 a.m., First Presbyterian Church.
Gamblers Choice therapeutic group sessions will be offered Mondays from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota office in Minot. For more information, call Lisa Voeller at 838-7800.
The Sexual Assault Survivors' Support Group meets from 2 to 4 p.m. Mondays in the Domestic Violence Crisis Center for women age 18 and older who have been the victims of any form of sexual abuse. The meeting dates for 2012 are: Jan. 16 through March 26, May 7 through July 23, and Sept. 10 through Nov. 19, 2012. Services are free of charge. For more information, contact Diane at 852-2258 or toll free at (800) 398-1098.
Gamblers Anonymous Mondays: 7 p.m., Immanuel Baptist Church. Open meetings are held on the first Monday of the month, at the same time and place.
The support group for people with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and polymyalgia rheumatica meets on the first Monday of each month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the small conference room in the basement of the Minot Public Library. There is no charge to attend. For more information, call 839-0754.
The Minot Breast Feeding Group meets the third Wednesday of every month, at 4:30 p.m. in the lower level of the Minot Public Library. A different topic will be discussed every month. For more information contact Steph Boushee at 218-791-6217 or Sarah Dabney at 937-367-2995 with any questions.
Heart of America Medical Center of Rugby's Heart Smart support group meets the first Monday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. in the GS Professional Building classroom at Heart of America Medical Center.
Compassionate Friends, a support group for parents who have lost a child of any age, meets on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in Trinity Hospital's 4 South Classroom. Call Kim Kraft at 857-5233 or the Rev. Cliff Nelson at 857-3284 for more information.
The Alzheimer's and Related Dementia Support Group meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in Vincent United Methodist Church, 1024-2nd St. SE. Call Jodi Keller at 837-0062 for more information.
Support groups for family members and persons dealing with a mental illness meet the third Monday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. at Vincent United Methodist Church Outlook Room. The Connection Recovery group for people with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder and anxiety disorders meets at the same time. The groups are sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Northwest N.D. For more information, contact Janet at 852-8202 or Sara at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Narcotics Anonymous meets Tuesday: 8 p.m., New Life Lutheran Church, 710-46th Ave NE; Friday: Open Meeting, 8 p.m., New Life Lutheran Church. Non-addicts may attend open meetings; Sunday: 8 p.m., New Life Lutheran Church. For more information contact the NA hotline at (800) 494-8381.
Closed Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Bottineau will be held each Saturday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. Alcoholics welcome. Meetings will only be open to those that have a desire to quit drinking or doing. Meetings will be held at the Bottineau First Baptist Church located at 322-6th St. W, Bottineau, across the street to the west from the Bottineau Armory.
A peer support group for people with mental health challenges will meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Harmony Center, 212 E. Central Ave.
A Domestic Violence Support Group for women aged 18 and older meets from 10 a.m. to noon and from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays in the Domestic Violence Crisis Center. Services are free of charge. For more information, contact Diane at 852-2258 or toll free at (800) 398-1098.
The Tri-Life Chronic Pain Management Support Group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Grace, 707-16th Ave SW. Call 852-5899 for more information.
Heart of America Medical Center, Rugby, hosts a TLC Grief Support Group for those who have experienced the death of someone close to them. The group is supervised by a licensed social worker and meets the first Tuesday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the 1B Hospice meeting room. For more information, call Vicky Reile at 776-5261.
A Prostate Cancer Support Group is held the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Trinity Health Community Conference Room, located in the Town & Country Center. Call 857-7396 for more information.
Minot Pink Ribbons Breast Cancer Support Group meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Pioneer Room of Trinity Homes. For more information, call Connie at 838-2748.
A support group for people with cancer meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Trinity's CancerCare Center in Town and County Center. For more information, call 857-3535.
Ward County In-Home Day Care Support Group: Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church.
Social Misconduct Anonymous: Wednesdays, 8 p.m., Ward County Jail.
Minot Area Parent Support for Autism Spectrum Disorders meeting: Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Minot High School-Magic City Campus. Use the entrance for the Preschool, Door No. 8, southeast side near the greenhouse. Child care is provided by members of the MSU Student Social Work Organization. Call Heather Wittliff at 720-6430 or Angy Edison at 833-5903 for more information.
A support group for people with Parkinson's disease, their families, friends and caregivers meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m., in the community room at Brentmoor, 3515-10th St. SW. Please use north parking lot and door. April 3 program will feature Linda Gertz of Trinity Behavioral Health, speaking about depression and disease. For more information, call Eilene Emly at 837-8538 or Cecilia Howe at 839-1762.
The Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in Trinity Hospital-St. Joseph's. For more information, call Donna Herslip at 837-0824.
A support group for people with ALS meets the third Wednesday of every month from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Easter Seals, 800-12th Ave SW. For more information contact Anne at (888) 672-0484 or send e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com.
The Tackling Tobacco Support Group is for people who have quit using tobacco, are thinking about quitting, want to support someone who is quitting, or have questions about quitting. Individual and group discussions are available Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Minot's First District Health Unit, Door B. For more information, call Bonnie Riely 852-1376 or log on at (www.fdhu.org).
Gam-Anon for families of compulsive gamblers Thursdays: 7 to 8 p.m., 1905-2nd St. SE., Suite 1-B. Call Kathy or Lisa at 838-7800 for more information.
Teens with Disabilities: Thursdays, 4 p.m., 900 N. Broadway, Suite 302.
Minot Blind and Visually Impaired Support Group: Third Thursday of each month, 11:30 a.m., Minot Senior Citizens Center. People may order lunch off the menu. The meeting is open to the public.
The Celiac and Gluten Intolerant Support Group meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Skyline Room at Trinity Health Center-East. For more information, call 857-5758.
The gastric bypass support group meets the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Minot Public Library's South Community Room. The group is for people who plan to have or have already had surgery. For more information, call Linda Alexander at 839-8470.
The Diabetes Self-Management Network meets the third Thursday of every other month (September, November, January, March and May) in the Trinity Health Center for Diabetes Education, Town & Country Center, at 7 p.m. No charge to attend. Contact diabetic educator Deanna Westman at 857-5268 or 857-5000 for more information.
TOPS (taking off pounds sensibly) chapters No. 200 and 223 meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, respectively, at the Minot Public Library, Room #1. Weigh-ins are from 8:30 to 8:55 a.m., and meetings at 9 to 10 a.m., on the respective days. For more information on Chapter No. 200, contact 852-2189; for Chapter No. 223, contact 839-1729. Chapter No. 244 meets at Vincent United Methodist Church, 1024-2nd St. SE, Minot, on Fridays. – Weigh-ins are from 9 to 9:30 a.m., and the meeting is 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. For more information, contact 837-0884. Club 583 meets Tuesdays at 5:15 in the lower level of the Minot Public Library. Visitors welcome, first meeting is free. For more information, contact 721-3532.
Rehab Services Inc. is seeking participants for its Recoveree Connection program. It is a program of men and women helping each other to overcome drug and alcohol addiction through telephone support. To become a part of a recovering community, call Colman Quill at 839-4240 or (800) 258-8132.
For information on when sessions of the "Look Good, Feel Better" program meet, call Trinity Cancer Center at 857-3535. The program is for patients with cancer who are actively undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
The Minot Ostomy Support Group meets every three months. For more information, call 338-2739.
For information on a support group for people who are allergic to peanuts, call 839-0204 or 833-9981.
DivorceCare, a weekly seminar/support group for those who are separated or divorced, will meet Monday evenings at 7 p.m. at West Minot Church of God, 1105-16th St. NW. Please use the west entrance. For more information, call Candy at 721-3339.
The PrimeCare Surgical Weight Loss Program hosts a support group on the first Tuesday of each month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Minot Medical Center, 2700-8th St. NW, and at Mercy Medical Center in Williston. The program is a partnership between St. Alexius Medical Center and Mid Dakota Clinic. For Williston meetings, please enter Mercy Medical Center through the main entrance near the gift shop. The meeting will be held in the Medical Staff Library. For more information, contact marketing specialist Julie Skaret at 530-7054.
HELP WITH COPING – Mental health and substance addiction recovery help is available from public, private and pastoral entities. For help, call 2-1-1, or go online to (store.samhsa.gov/mhlocator) or (dasis3.samhsa.gov) to find a provider, or contact North Central Human Services Center. The center has a Crisis Mental Health Line at 857-8500 or (888) 470-6968 that is answered 24 hours a day.
MENTAL HEALTH HELPLINE – FirstLink maintains a statewide crisis intervention, information and referral service phone line for all North Dakotans. People may receive assistance from trained crisis management personnel 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling (800) 472-2911 or dialing 2-1-1 from any phone.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE – The Domestic Violence Center Inc. has a toll-free crisis line: (800) 247-1316. The line is staffed 24 hours a day. All services are provided free of charge.
SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE – Help is available at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, (800) 273-8255.
NORTH DAKOTA FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM – The North Dakota Family Caregiver Support Program provides assistance for informal caregivers providing in-home care for an adult 60 years of age or older or caring for a person with Alzheimer's or related dementia regardless of age. The Caregiver Program also provides services for grandparents and other relative caregivers who are 55 years of age or older and are caring for a child 18 or younger or for an adult child with a disability between 19 and 59 years of age. For more information, call North Central Human Service Center at 857-8500.
PRESCRIPTION REFILLS FOR DISPLACED MEDICAID CLIENTS – The Department of Human Services has authorized early prescription refills and has worked with the N.D. Board of Pharmacy to help ensure that Medicaid clients who are displaced can get their medication needs met. People needing prescription refills are encouraged to take their current prescription bottles to the most convenient and accessible pharmacy and inform their pharmacist of their situation.
CHILD SUPPORT UNIT INFORMATION – The Department of Human Service's Minot Regional Child Support Enforcement Unit encourages people with questions about their child support case to call Customer Service at the Central Office of the Child Support Enforcement Division at (800) 231-4255 or 328-6580. Customer service phones are answered Mondays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesdays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Case specific information is available 24 hours a day through the Interactive Voice Response System at the numbers listed above and through (www.nd.gov/dhs/services/childsupport).
MEDICAL TRAINING – People in need of CPR or First Aid training, ACLS training or PALS training, contact the Community Ambulance Service of Minot Education/Training at 852-9483 for these classes.
MEDICAL CARE – People who do not have health insurance can receive medical care at the City and Country Health Clinic in Minot. The clinic is open Monday evenings and select other days. Please call 833-1951 for the schedule. No appointment is required for care. Access the clinic by using the Luther Hall door on the east side of First Lutheran Church, 120-5th Ave. NW in Minot.
CANCER CHECKS FOR MEN – Prostate exams will be offered at the Trinity CancerCare Center, 831 S. Broadway, Suite 113, on Thursdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 857-3535.
SENIOR AID – The Senior Care Line, a telephone reassurance system, is available in the Minot area to seniors age 55 and older who would like to be telephoned once a day to make sure they are all right. To sign up for this service, or for more information, call 852-0561. There is no cost.
HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES – The North Dakota Association for the Disabled assists people with disabilities within the state, many of whom are not eligible for services from other agencies. NDAD provides information, referral, advocacy services and direct financial assistance with personal attendant care, durable medical equipment, home and vehicle accessibility, medications and out of town medical travel. For more information, call Stephanie at (888) 999-6323.
CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE COST ASSISTANCE – The Department of Human Services Children's Special Health Services Unit reminds families of a program that can help cover the diagnosis and treatment costs of children with asthma. Families must meet income guidelines to qualify for financial help with treatment. Application must be made through a county social service office. For more information, call (800) 755-2714.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS INFORMATION – People with multiple sclerosis can receive statewide referral information from the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America by calling (800) 532-7667. The association has wheelchairs, portable ramps, canes, walkers and other items for free loan.
SPECIAL SERVICES – Easter Seals provides opportunities and services to enhance the lives of people with disabilities and their families, and provides in-home support services for people who care for a special-needs child or adult. For more information, call 839-4121. The Easter Seals Society also has a variety of wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and other special equipment available on a loan basis. A nominal fee per month is charged for equipment maintenance. For more information, call the Easter Seals office at 838-0669.
HELPFUL INFORMATION AVAILABLE – The North Dakota Department of Human Services has a website (www.carechoice.nd.gov) to help people locate services for older adults and adults with disabilities. Called the Aging and Disability Resource-LINK, it replaces the state's Senior Info-Line Web site and includes additional information such as food pantries, community services and transportation resources. The same information can be obtained by calling the nationwide toll-free number at (800) 451-8693.
NURSING HOME GUIDE – The North Dakota Department of Health and the North Dakota Health Care Data Committee has prepared the Guide to Nursing Facility Charges. To request copies, call 328-2353. The guide also may be downloaded from (www.ndhealth.gov). Click on "Topics A to Z," then scroll down to and click on "Nursing Facility Charges."
INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES – Independence Inc. assists people with disabilities in working toward goals they establish for themselves, whether it is resources to learn a new skill, some help with advocacy to get a needed service, the support of a mentor or basic information on programs or equipment. For more information, call 839-4724 or (800) 377-5114 V/TDD.
HELP AVAILABLE – Pathfinder Parent Center, a statewide family education training center, serves families with children, birth to 21 years, in regular or special education. For information or free library listings, call 837-7500 or toll free at (800) 245-5840, or log on at (www.pathfinder-nd.org).
WOMEN'S WAY – Women's Way is a federally funded program that pays for breast and cervical cancer screenings for women ages 40-64 who have limited income and no health insurance. For more information, call (800) 449-6636 or log on at (www.womensway.net).
CANCER INFORMATION – The American Cancer Society's Cancer Survivors Network may be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling toll-free (877) 333-4673 or visiting the website at (www.cancer.org).
VISION EXAM ASSISTANCE – Vision USA-ND Project will offer free eye exams year round to low-income, uninsured workers and their families who are North Dakota residents. Applications for the exams may be obtained by writing Vision USA-ND Project, 921-9th St. S., Suite 120, Bismarck, ND 58504 or downloaded from the website (www.ndeyecare.info).
DONATED DENTAL CARE PROGRAM – Care is available at no charge to people of all ages who, because of a serious disability, advanced age or medical problems, lack adequate income to pay for needed dental care. Contact the Donated Dental Services Program coordinator at (866) 572-9390.
EASTER SEALS HELPS – Easter Seals offers a variety of support programs for anyone caring for an elderly person. The programs assist families in keeping older family members in their own home and living independently. For more information, call the Easter Seals Society at 839-4121.
ASSISTANCE OFFERED – People who have been diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome can get support by calling Kay at 852-3268.
GRIEF COUNSELING – Individual grief counseling and support groups are available through Trinity Hospice. For more information, call 857-5083.
ALZHEIMER'S HELP AVAILABLE – The Minnesota-North Dakota Alzheimer's Association has a regional center in Bismarck. The office will provide patient and family services, education opportunities, initiate advocacy efforts for better public policy and support medical research. For more information, call 258-4933.
ANSWERS – The North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities at Minot State University is using an online resource that allows people to submit questions or request information about disability issues via an online form. Access the form at (www.ndcpd.org), click on AskNDCPD and complete the online form. Dawn Olson, NDCPD's consumer liaison, will receive the inquiries and arrange for a response within 36 hours.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLES – The Healthy Lifestyles group meets the second Monday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Parker Senior Center. The meeting is open to the public, and various ways to live a healthy lifestyle are discussed. Call Clayann Almquist at 852-1696 for more information.
CONSUMER EMPLOYMENT WORKSHOP – Independence, Inc. and Rehab Services will hold a Consumer Employment Workshop for people with disabilities who are unemployed and looking for a job or those who would like a new job. The workshop will provide information on the Social Security Administration's employment work incentives for people with disabilities, tips for interviewing, reasonable accommodations and more employment-related strategies and resources. Call 839-4724 or (800) 377-5114 to register.
WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN – The Women, Infants and Children program provides foods for young children, nutrition and health information and referrals to other services for pregnant and breastfeeding women, new moms, infants and children to age 5. WIC is for married and single parents, working or not working who meet income eligibility guidelines. Contact First District Health Unit at 852-1376 for more information.
DISABILITY HEALTH PROJECT – The Disability Health II project of the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities is offering technical assistance on disability-related issues to emergency responders, health care providers and other disability health-related groups across North Dakota. NDCPD is a University Center of Excellence on developmental disabilities on the Minot State University campus. Technical assistance will be tailored to meet specific needs and interests of an organization and will be offered on-site or via distance technology. Training can be completed in one session, which may last from one to two hours. Training includes a presentation, discussion and implementation strategies. To request training or ask questions, contact Emily Rodacker at email@example.com or 858-3546.


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Most years, you have to wait a while before hearing something that really turns your head. In 2013, it's only taken a fortnight for an album of the year contender to turn up.
{Awayland} is the second album from Villagers, and marks a move into electronic-infused folk that expands on the literate and deeply compelling songwriting that characterised the band's 2010 debut Becoming A Jackal. MusicRadar caught up with Conor O'Brien, who has guided Villagers from its birth as a one-man project through to its current incarnation, to chart the development of the stunning {Awayland} and discuss guitars, gear and the effect Kurt Vonnegut can have on songwriting…
{Awayland} has been a long time coming – when did you start writing the album? Has it been quite a long process?
Some of the songs are old. One of them is about ten years old, and it has changed quite a lot over the past ten years [laughs]. Some of them were written on tour during the Jackal touring, but I think the majority of them were written in the period of the last year and a half or so, as soon as I came off touring.
Do you find it easy to write on the road, or is it easier to be at home?
Yeah, I mean it's easier when you're at home, because you know you've got time and stuff, but, I think, there are certain things about touring that can be quite inspiring as a writer. Just those feeling of, you know, being in new places and what that does to your cerebral cortex [laughs]. And the way that it changes the way you see things. The more you travel, the more you see home in a different light, and all that's quite inspiring and informed the album to a certain degree. But a lot of it was from memory, and you know memory is a funny thing, because every time you have a memory you're kind of inventing it again, it's not really what happened or whatever. I think it's a kind of a fantasy really, the whole thing.
Has your writing process changed much? You've been touring with the band, so was that on your mind when you were writing this album?
I think it was, definitely, the band thing. While we were touring, we sort of discussed recording it all together because we were starting to feel like a proper band. Some of the Jackal songs were getting a little bit more animated and exciting, and most of the time we were wishing that we had waited a bit longer to record Jackal as a full band kind of thing, 'cos of the way they were sounding. We had that idea in our heads, and then even when I was writing the songs and arranging them, I was doing it for the stage rather than for the record. Really I was just doing what I thought would rock the band the most, which was a new thing as well. And then we obviously got together this time round and rehearsed the songs before we'd even touched the recording studio, so the whole thing was a lot more, yeah, group oriented really. Except a lot of the demos were pretty much done to a pretty high degree, so I still put the work in on my own at the beginning. But they had that added bonus of other people's subtleties and ideas. Even the grooves were better because they can play them better than I can. It was good.
Conor O'Brien, 2013 (Credit: Rich Giligan)
Was that always the intention when you started Villagers, to expand it into a band and establish a steady line up, or was that kind of a surprise?
There were no intentions really at all, it was very much day by day. It just started out with me knowing I wanted to write stuff on my own, because I'd never really had the chance to do that, except when I was very young. And I'd just ended a band that was more collaborative and we wrote together, and that was great, I was really proud of that band, but I just wanted to do something very different. It started off with just demos, and once the demos made it clear that they'd need more than two people to play them, you know, I kind of realised I needed at least a five piece bands. That's when I asked some of my friends if they'd do it, and they said yes, and that was it really.
What were you listening to when you were writing this record?
Music wise I think I was listening to more electronic music than I was when I was making the first album. I was listening to old techno music, like early kind of minimal stuff, and more kind of modern, what do they call it, intelligent dance music, IDM, it's a horrible term [laughs]. But that, and funky stuff like Allen Toussaint and Curtis Mayfield. Films, like soundtracky stuff, and Harry Nilsson, like still singer songwriters as well, but I was a bit more interested in textural music this time round.
Was that a conscious intention to push your musical boundaries?
I don't think it was necessarily conscious. I was always going to try and do something different because it's a new album and there's no point in trying to do the same one again. I mean, well, the only point to do the same one again would be money, which obviously works for Mumford & Sons or whoever, but I don't think I could do that. I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I guess I see the process of making an album as a learning thing. If you're not learning new ways of doing things, or new processes or anything, then there's no point really. It's like, the whole point is you're going on this journey and you're bringing something back which you feel is worthy, that you feel people will be able to connect to.
What about your literary inspirations? What have you been reading, which books have been inspiring you of late?
I was reading Carl Sagan, he's an astro-physicist, but only bits. I don't really understand half of it, but it's kind of inspiring, that whole kind of cosmic astro vibe. And also I was reading Kurt Vonnegut for the first time, I'd never read him before. My friend Cormac who plays keys in the band gave me A Man Without A Country, and then I read Slaughterhouse-Five after that. They really inspired me for the album. I think I was starting to write songs that were getting a little bit heavy, and I wanted to use his method of comedy – well, not his method, but I was getting inspired by the way he uses that kind of tragic-comedy thing and lifts things out of their tragic elements and turns them into kind of hilarious moments where you're just laughing your ass off. Even though there's complete heaviness happening in the text, he's kind of almost laughing at it and I love that, and I think he's really good at that. He's got that Billy Pilgrim character in Slaughterhouse-Five who's the complete innocent abroad, and I started almost identifying with that as a character in the album. Then I started getting the idea of writing the album about being from the perspective of the most innocent you could be, which is like a new born child or a baby. How would you approach subjects or themes from this perspective if you haven't been tainted by the wicked world? It's was a good project, really.
This is a big expansive record, quite heavy in places, and there are lots of interesting sounds in there. How was it different to the first album, and how did recording with a full band affect you in the studio?
It took all the weight off my shoulders, 'cos I didn't have to worry about technical, physical things like playing the drums in time or anything. I was really focussed on the actual thematic elements. It also was really nice to have everyone in the studio. We actually had a good time, and it was less lonely. At one stage it was very like a factory, myself and Cormac would be in one room working on the string arrangements, Tommy would be in the other room doing production stuff and Danny and James would be in the next room working on the grooves and making them better. There were lots of different phases, and that was a nice way of kind of splitting up the length of time we were actually in there, which was quite intense – about six weeks or something.
The process of actually making it was very different, because I'd brought a lot of stuff from the demos this time round, and we actually ended up putting those things in. Like literally anything vaguely electronic, a lot of it came from my little demo set up and we just fed it into ProTools when we did the album and changed it a bit afterwards. But we had a lot of pre-recorded things brought to the table this time round, which was new. And we had the synthesiser in the room as well after we had done all the tracking. So we'd be in the middle of mixing a song, and all the recording was done and we'd be in the last week of everything and we'd be like 'oh shit, that needs something much more artificial going on there,' so we'd be able to put a synth line in straight away while we were mixing. Which was nice, it was very back and forth and a kind of obsessive experience.
Were there a lot of those little surprises when you were recording, or was it all pretty much mapped out before you went in?
No there were a few surprises. Like the demo of The Waves is almost exactly the same, we just made a better version of it. But something like Judgement Call or Passing A Message, they changed drastically because of the bands input. And Rhythm Composer sounded completely different, it used to have samples of African drums on it, it sounded terrible like, it was horrible [laughs]. When we got into the studio the band made it really their own, and is suddenly became something worthy, to even to finish the album off with, which was cool. The one that changed the most was probably Judgement Call. We recorded it last, and we just knew we wanted to record something more colourful than the demo. The demo was good, but it sounded like a grunge-era PJ Harvey out-take or something. It was more like grungey guitars, and we knew that wouldn't fly with us, even though I loved grunge-era PJ Harvey, it wasn't going to work on this album.
It sounds like you've been relishing the collaboration that comes with working with a band.
It was a nice change, yeah. We'd really built up a trust over the last two years through touring, so it was strangely easy. A week before we went in, I totally cancelled. I told everyone I was going to do it all myself, I just freaked out. And then nobody replied to me! I'm so glad I didn't, it's a much better album than it would have been if I'd done it myself.
Where did you record the album?
In Donegal, in Tommy's studio. Tommy's our guitar player. We did the first album in his studio, but back then his studio was in his parent's attic. This time round he has a proper studio, so we did it there, which was cool. It was nice and sunny as well, Donegal's quite a beautiful place in the sun so it was kind of inspiring.
Was it important to keep that sense of continuity, recording with Tommy on both albums?
Well, yeah. He had literally just finished the studio, he'd spent his whole time off touring getting it ready, so it would have been kind of awkward not to go there! Myself and Tommy have got a very strong working relationship. If we were to do it with a stranger, where you're paying by the hour, it would have been a much less free experience. We're mates, so it kind of helps, and at the same time we're both workaholics when it comes to it, and we were both willing to do 15 hour days and kind of thrived off that.
Did you mix it yourselves as well?
Yeah, we took a couple of days after we finished and then started mixing. For me mixing is one of the most creative parts of making an album. You can do so much to the sounds, even just in terms of levels of compression or reverb, or lack of compression, which is a lovely thing to be able to do. A lot of people over-compress things, and I think we maintained a rawness that works alongside the electronics. That could have been disastrous, so I think it was important that we mixed it.
What were you playing on this album? Just guitar, or other bits and bobs?
I did all the beats, the electronic stuff, and the synth-y stuff. And then I did the acoustics and some percussion, some shakers and tambourines. All the keys were Cormac and all the drums were James.
What's your synth set up?
It's a Roland Juno 60, and I had it hooked up to a Roland sampler. I got it because I watched an interview with Four Tet where he said he made one of his albums almost entirely on this sampler. I didn't know what to get, so I got that one.
What about your parlour size acoustic guitar? Are you still playing that?
I've two of the same make, it's a Yairi, it's a Japanese guitar, handmade apparently. It's lovely. I've only just recently started to discover it's not really standing the test of time, you have to get it fixed up quite a lot, every six months or something. I love it anyway, it's really nice.
Where did you come across it, and why do you prefer that size of guitar?
It's just because of my body size! I look literally 12 when I have a real sized acoustic guitar on, and I didn't think that'd be good for the stage. And I'd always seen Dylan with parlour guitars, I thought they looked really cool. I saw one in a music shop in Dublin before Villagers started and I fell in love with it. I played it so much, and I asked them if I could have it on a discount or something and they said no. So I went away and went back every week and played it, and then a friend of mine knew the guy who ran the shop and went in with me and got me a discount, so I finally got it.
Are you a big guitar collector?
I've got a Gretsch, a 1963 anniversary model which I love very much. It's not like the super, super version, I think it's the cheaper version but it still sounds really beautiful. I used it on the first album, it's got that nice old-school twang. I've got a Telecaster from my previous band which is lovely, I'm kind of in to guitars.
When did you start playing?
In started when I was 12, my brother gave me his guitar to start with, taught me three chords and I literally started writing and recording that week. I used a tape recorder with another tape recorder, used pots and pans for the drums, so I did multi-track recording! I've always been obsessed with it, and did it all the way throughout school instead of… socialising.
So you were always a songwriter?
I was always obsessed with music, always. I remember being four and being bought to the cinema for the first time and singing the songs from the film.
Did you do the artwork for this album?
Yeah, I did this album as well, but this one's not really hand drawings, I got photographs and put them into a computer and made them all psychedelic. I thought it would suit it, 'cos the music as well has more synthetic aspects to it so I kind of wanted to art work to reflect that to a certain degree.
How have your fans been reacting to the new material so far?
When we first put out the waves there was a really negative reaction to it on Youtube. It's the most electronic track on the album, so a lot of people who are fans of the band were like 'what the fuck are you doing,' so I was bit like, OK, this could be interesting. But I was ready, it's nice to cause a reaction I suppose.
{Awayland} is out 14 January on Domino. For more information, visit wearevillagers.com, or find the band on Facebook and Twitter.


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November 4, 2011
Fall turns sycamore leaves yellow.
Stories this photo appears in:
A shaggy dog, golden leaf tale
"I need a Living," says Tom, my beloved editor. "Guess you shouldn't have spent your whole life in newspapers," I say sympathetically. "No. I need a feature, for the Living page."
Right. Write a story. Fall color. East Verde. Cottonwoods. Sycamores. The usual suspects. Except I just wrote about cottonwoods two weeks ago. And I got all gushy last fall about red and yellow leaves, bereft of chlorophyll but high on leftover yellow carotenoids and red anthocyanins. So now I gotta come up with something fresh. Besides, Lobo needs a walk.
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Are you a candidate for the Botox Generation? Here's the deal:
You have been in the work world for 25, 30, maybe even 40 years. You are sick of the commute. While you may like — even love — your job, you've had it. People keep telling you there are other things in life. Like travel, recreation, more time with family and friends. And sleeping late. Or…
Thanks to your time in government, you've made a lot of contacts. You are eligible to retire (with lifetime health insurance, with your employer paying more than 70 percent of the premium) and you've maybe got a worth-it's- weight-in gold security clearance.
There is a government contractor out there who (you think) would love to have you, especially since you won't go on his health plan and you won't need (because they don't offer) a pension plan. That happens a lot here in D.C.
What impact will the Trump administration have on feds? Read the latest in our First 100 Days section.
What impact will the Trump administration have on feds? Read the latest in our First 100 Days section.
The Washington area has one of the largest concentrations of federal employees in the nation. About 14 of every 100 feds is based here.
Because the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia-West Virginia metro area has the government foundation, the recession here has been mild compared to most other places. The furloughs and shutdowns — while a financial nightmare for some families — were a blip on the radar compared to the no-job, foreclosure reality in many other places. Federal contractors may have suffered more than feds because none of them were reimbursed for their shutdown days. Still, many are doing well.
Over the weekend, National Public Radio reported that something like 70 percent of the people retiring in the private sector have less than $30,000 in their company-based 401(k) plans. That's about a third of the average TSP balance for federal employees.
It's been reported that in the metro Washington area, the number of people who lost jobs during the recession are all back at work. But…
In many cases, it is much different (as in lower-paid) work than before. Many of the newly created jobs are in the retail, restaurant or fast-food business. Some older professionals have taken low-paying, do-you-want-fries-with- your-burger? jobs because their pensions and benefits don't cut it. One expert has called it the Botox effect. People spending badly needed dollars on cosmetic surgery to look younger to potential employers. Go figure!
Many people retiring from their private-sector jobs won't have a pension to rely on. Of those that have, or will have, almost none (like the CSRS and FERS retirement systems) are linked to inflation. Their benefit will never get any bigger regardless of how much living costs rise.
Lots of companies dropped defined-benefit retirement plans years ago — or, during the recession — in favor of Social Security and an employee-funded 401(k) defined contribution plan. There is talk in Congress of doing away with the FERS pension for future hires, but so far it has all been talk. Current employees would not be affected.
Federal workers and retirees haven't had a good legislative year since 2009. Since then, it has been furloughs, shutdowns and three years of a pay freeze courtesy of Congress and the White House. There have been lots of threats to the federal benefits package, but they have been just that. Threats. The same old circa-1980s threats that keep on coming. Some of them could happen next year. Or not.
Recent threats to feds, bad publicity from government and endless stories about over-paid bureaucrats have made many people question their career choices. As a friend says: "Question but don't quit."
To paraphrase the late great comedian, Henny Youngman, when somebody asks you, "How's your job?" (actually, he said wife), the correct response is, "Compared to what?"
Compiled by Jack Moore
Monkeys peel bananas from the bottom — not from the long stem end, like most people do. Apparently the fruit bruises less easily that way and allows them to more easily eat to the end.
(Source: The Telegraph
Fixing the federal hiring process: Deus ex machina Many potential job-seekers give up on federal employment because the process is so daunting, says former DHS CHCO Jeff Neal. But, does it have to be this way?
Photos of the amazing, moving, important and amusing things happening in the federal community.
A daily update of important moments in the history of the U.S. government.


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THE EVERYDAY HUNTER: Why Wildlife Thrives in America
Passenger pigeon gone. Billions once darkened the sky. A person has to wonder how they found enough food, and how they kept from turning the nation into a reeking pigeon coop.
American bison almost gone. These enormous bovines thundered across America from the eastern woodlands to the Great Plains, but as man pushed westward they were slaughtered almost to extinction.
Unregulated hunters are correctly blamed for the demise of the passenger pigeon and the near demise of the American bison. Unregulated hunting has caused the extinction of a few species, but we can be thankful that the North American model of wildlife conservation has replaced unregulated hunting.
Many people think hunters are the biggest threat to wildlife, and voices who opposed hunting stopped the slaughter. Nothing could be further from the truth. It was modern hunters themselves who organized to protect wildlife, and ended the indiscriminate killing of wildlife. Since then, not a single species has been threatened by regulated hunting, and hunters have proven themselves the greatest conservationists the world has ever seen. The proof is that every hunted species in North America is thriving.
That might seem counter-intuitive, but we have abundant wildlife today because of the North American model of wildlife conservation. What's that? And why is it so effective? Good questions. It's remarkable that while the nation fought a Civil War, reconstructed the South, settled a continent from shore to shore, and industrialized a rapidly growing society, it also developed a policy that provided for wildlife conservation in the midst of all that a policy the world had never before seen.
The North American model of wildlife conservation rested (and still rests) on two key principles: (1.) fish and wildlife are for the non-commercial use of ordinary people, and (2.) game animal populations should be managed in order to sustain optimum levels forever.
These principles are new with the New World. In the Old World, wildlife had been the property of the landed gentry, and they could do what they pleased with the animals that lived on their land. That's why, in the Old World, hunting was primarily a pursuit of the wealthy classes.
In America, no societal barrier exists that prevents anyone of any class or race from hunting. But if everyone is free to hunt, how are hunters prevented from killing everything? And how can the second principle sustaining wildlife at optimum levels be possible?
For one thing, the idea that fish and wildlife are for the non-commercial use of people put an end to market hunting. If these principles had been firmly in place in the late 1800s, regulated seasons, bag limits, and hunting methods would have kept the passenger pigeon thriving.
These principles came along just in time for the American bison, putting that national icon off limits to hunters while their herds rebuilt.
For another, the North American system clearly differentiates between hunters and poachers. It made game laws possible and desirable, so any violation whether bag limits, hunting without a license, or hunting out of season carries an enforceable penalty. Hunters are a healthy and necessary part of this system. Poachers are outside the system just as surely as bank robbers are outside the banking system.
Another benefit of the North American model is that it has given hunters a high stake in wildlife management decisions. Measured by the money hunters put into wildlife conservation, as well as their time and energy and knowledge of wildlife, no one else cares about wildlife as much as hunters do.
On a once wild continent man has now tamed, no other system will let so many people enjoy so much wildlife whether that enjoyment is the harvesting of game animals, or the pure pleasure of simply watching wildlife.
Out of the two principles of wildlife conservation have come seven specific tenets by which wildlife is managed across the United States and Canada. They're often called the "Seven Sisters" of conservation. Next time, I'll share them and explain what each of them addresses.
When the "Everyday Hunter" isn't hunting, he's thinking about hunting, talking about hunting, dreaming about hunting, writing about hunting, or wishing he were hunting. If you want to tell him exactly where your favorite hunting spot is, contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Allan Cotton
COTTON, Allan of Rogers City died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013.
He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by a brother; Raymond (Ginger) Cotton, sisters; Barbara Clem, Denise (Gary) Strempel, and Kandi (Ken).
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Shepard of the Hills Lutheran Church, 7740 W. St. Joseph, Highway, Lansing, Mich. with Pastor Joel Tullberg officiating. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Shepard of the Hills Lutheran Church. Condolences may be made at www.palmerbush.com.


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|Luxurious 2 room King guest suite. Bedroom features a king bed, desk with chair, plenty of storage, large screen tv, second room features a sitting area with sofa, 2 chairs and kitchenette. Private bathroom with shower. The shower water is solared by the sun so there is cool to warm water in the rooms, but our outdoor showers have hot water after 6:00 PM.
Low Season: starting at $135 - $175
12% tax and service charge not included.
All rooms are located within the walls or our property which offers security and privacy along with our tropical gardens creates a haven for relaxation. Each of our guest rooms are uniquely themed and appointed with hand painted details, original artwork, high quality pampering bed linens and natural themes reflect the lush landscape. Enjoy your air conditioned well appointed guest room and complimentary made to order breakfast.
Select a guest room below for rates, photos and more information.


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Physical Description
Bornean orangutans are sexually dimorphic. Females range from 30 to 50 kg, whereas males are from 50 to 90 kg. Head and body length is about 1.5 meters and the arms have a spread of about 2.2 meters. They have a thin, shaggy coat that is reddish brown in color. Males have large cheek pads, which are made up of deposits of subcutaneous fat bound by connective tissue. These cheek pads continue growing for much of an adult male's life. Orangutans have a high, sloping forehead and a bulging snout. They have short, weak legs, but strong hands and arms.
Other Physical Features: Endothermic; Homoiothermic; Bilateral symmetry


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Legend Passes
USA Pentathlon is greatly saddened at the news of long-time Pentathlon coach, Howard Johnston. Coach Johnston was loved and respected by generations of Pentathletes. He will be sincerely missed. A great runner, coach, mentor and friend. Life is a journey--not a race.
The following was written by Richard Olive and republished from the San Antonio Express-News.
Johnston taught athletes about running, life
The news of the recent death of Howard L. Johnston, former track and field coach at Highlands High School and head of the running program for the U.S. Modern Pentathlon Team, spread quickly among the athletes with whom he had worked.
"He not only made us faster, but better men," Chuck Richards, a three-time pentathlon national champion and 1972 Olympian, wrote in an email. "We all grew with his direction."
The influence of Johnston, who died Friday at 86, was celebrated not only for its impact on runners, but on the athletic landscape of San Antonio. Victor Rodriguez, superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District for 12 years before retiring in 1994, recalls Johnston's work as Highlands track coach and vice principal, but also in spearheading the district's enforcement of Title IX in the 1970s. "We needed somebody well-respected," said Rodriguez, who had replaced Johnston, an Illinois native, as Highlands track coach in 1967. "It went without a hitch because of his leadership. We didn't have any trouble bringing that on because of him."
During Johnston's run of more than a decade overseeing the running program at the pentathlon training center at Fort Sam Houston, ending in the late 1970s, the Drake University graduate worked with notable athletes including Olympian Bob Nieman, Paul Hornsleth, Mark Driscoll, Orb Greenwald and Richards, among many others.
Several who trained under Johnston recalled him Monday as a hard-driving coach who complemented workouts with a wry sense of humor and unwavering humanity. At one point, the coach worked with the athletes while his own son waged a successful battle against cancer.
"He was one of those wonderful coaches who changes your life no matter how much you resist it," said San Antonio Sports chairman George Block, a former pentathlete. "We saw him as a coach, a father and a vulnerable man. He taught us all how precious life was."
Johnston's Highlands track and field teams were powerful, capturing the title at the Border Olympics — then a nationally recognized meet in Laredo — in 1966. The Owls annually were state-title contenders in individual and team competitions.
In the 1950s, Johnston, who had run cross country at Drake, teamed with Rodriguez to bring that sport to the city. "In my opinion, I never respected anybody more in track and field than Howard Johnston," Rodriguez said.
Johnston was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jerry Bradley Johnston; and sisters, Lois Johnston and Doris Miller.
Visitation for Johnston will be from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday at Porter Loring Mortuary North, 2102 North Loop 1604.
Twitter: @RichardCOliver


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13406 E. Philadelphia St. Whittier, CA 90608
Accredited by the California Board of Education and the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing, Whittier's Graduate Programs in Education offer both credential degree programs and a master's degree in education (M.A.) with emphases on a variety of concentrations.
Founded nearly 50 years ago and accredited by the American Bar Association since 1978, Whittier Law School offers a practical, hands-on legal education. The school's nationally recognized curriculum, called "Experience the Law," gives students practical skills training from the first year in law school. National Jurist magazine recently named Whittier Law School the 6th Most Innovative Law School in the nation, and U.S. News and World Report has ranked the school as the 13th most diverse law school in the nation. Whittier Law School is located in Costa Mesa, California, 30 miles from Whittier College.


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Brian Wilson doesn't get enough credit. Here is a man who had pure genius in his talent. Don't forget - this is a man (Brian WIlson) who had to fight his record company, his daddy, his own group to put out the music that he knew was pure genius. And for his time period ('64-'67) Brian Wilson put out some of the greatest songs in the history of music. And don't forget - he virtually did it alone. Remember, the Beatles had a huge advantage over Brian Wilson. First of all, they had a creative team of two guys (Lennon-McCartney) over his one. Second, they had George Martin and the record company had their back. And despite these odds, Brian Wilson had "game" and up to a certain point - he held his own against the group. He was innovative, Brilliant, and most of all - a huge influence on the Beatles (The bass playing on Pet sounds, the harmonies, the use of instruments). Brian Wilson deserves his props - The dude is a genius.
But, you have to give it to the Beatles - they wiped the floor with him and every other person in the 60's. They were just too damn innovative


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Share Your Reflection

The survey was given online - meaning those with access
The survey was given online - meaning those with access to the internet were more likely to fill them out, and college-educated people are more likely to fill out surveys anyway. I think these results are a bit skewed in those directions. But it IS telling (at least to me) that nearly half have full-time jobs - and make less than $25K/year.

This "movement[ ] can include different types of minority
This "movement[ ] can include different types of minority communities" because contrary to popular misconception it is united by the desire for us to be one community. In the many voices it's message is singular and clear, let's create the ideal existence. http://www.thelastwhy.ca/poems...

I've always wondered what the term "minority" was a
I've always wondered what the term "minority" was a euphemism for? I suspect it simply stands for "not like us"; thus laying bare who the "us" is - they are not listed among the various labeled "minorities"! So, is OWS a non-minority movement? with females constituting at least 50% of the population and possibly 60% of the college educated, are women a "minority"? this stuff is so 20th century!! Grow up "non-minorities" the world does not revolve around you!


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Photo File Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers UniFrame
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Country of Origin: United StatesWeb ID: 21312336


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Casperson: Information came from former rep.
ESCANABA – Sen. Tom Casperson said he publicly apologized for inaccurate information on a resolution to delist wolves as an endangered species because his name was on the document that was prepared by a House Representative.
Casperson came under media scrutiny recently because he issued a statement saying there was false information in the resolution about wolves being outside a day care while children were present and wolves being shot in the backyard of the daycare.
"I was totally unaware of the inaccuracies," he said this morning, attributing the information to former Rep. Matt Huuki of Atlantic MIne, whose office staff interviewed the day care owner.
Huuki introduced the resolution HR48 to the House on March 22, 2012. It was adopted by the House on April 14.
Later that day, Casperson introduced the same resolution in the Senate as SR39. The resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 31, 2012.
The resolution was forwarded to Congress which delisted the wolves in several states including the U.P. and northern Wisconsin where 700 wolves were present, exceeding the 200-wolf benchmark recommended for the delisting, he said.
It was two weeks ago when Casperson was notified by MLive.com that the resolution contained false information, he said. He immediately issued the apology to the Michigan Senate saying when he introduced the resolution it was his understanding the language was correct.
He later found out that kids were not in the yard while wolves were sighted there on several occasions and wolves were not shot in the back yard but were killed a quarter mile down the road from the day care.
Casperson said this morning the inaccuracies do not change the threat or the nature of the resolution which also could have stated the fact that eight wolves were taken down by federal agents in Ironwood.
"Accuracy is important," Casperson said, adding he and his staff will micro-manage information coming into his office from other sources from now on.
– – –
Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, email@example.com


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Cotton crops affected by rain
November 16, 2004
Farwell farmer Randy Cain said there's little chance his cotton crop will produce quality T-shirts this year. And the more it rains the greater the chance his 220 acres of cotton will produce nothing more than yarn.
The clock is ticking for Cain and other area cotton farmers. Wet weather over the weekend stopped the area harvest in its tracks. With fields soaked and muddy, farmers are now faced with the tedious task of waiting for extended periods of dry and sunny weather before they can get into their fields and bring in the crop.
"If the sun came out today and started shining and didn't have any more wet weather it would be minimum five days before we could even get back in the field," said Cain, branch manager of the agriculture store Wilbur-Ellis in Farwell. "We're not losing quantity, we're losing quality. In other words, they wouldn't be making a nice cotton shirt out of it, but probably put it into yarn."
Mark Williams, a member of the National Cotton Council, said much of the cotton in other parts of the country was harvested before the rains came, leaving only a little crop in their fields.
Williams, who works about 2,500 acres of cotton with his son Ryan in Farwell, said this area's harvest didn't start until just before the rains started, leaving he and other area farmers in a vulnerable position.
"It is by far the worst here on the High Plains of Texas and eastern New Mexico, because we just barely got started with our harvest," Williams said. "Some people hadn't even put a (harvester) in the field yet."
The wet weather comes right as farmers were starting into the cotton harvest, leaving over 90 percent of the crop in the fields at this critical time, said Stan Jones, Curry County's Ag. extension agent.
If it freezes while water is in the field or on the plants, farmers could experience severe plant damage and crop loss, he said.
"Most of them were going to get after it (start harvesting), either last Friday or (Monday), and it's just not happening," he said. "It's too wet."
This fall the North Plains Pest Management News reported the accumulation of heat units was slower this season, which prevented normal maturation of the cotton crop. Because of this, most farmers let the cotton mature in the fields until the recent freeze. This fact, combined with the recent wet weather, is making harvest decisions for area farmers difficult.
The longer the cotton stays in the fields, the more the quality of the crop will suffer and market value per bale will drop, area farmers say. That is putting a premium on getting the harvest in as soon as possible.
Williams said he hasn't experienced big losses on his cotton crop yet, but the longer the rain stays around, the more likely he will incur big losses in quality and quantity.
"We're just hoping for the weather to clear up before we really have big losses," he said.
Once the farmers begin the harvest, it may take upwards of 30 days to bring in the entire harvest, farmers say.


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Jammers win again, at Hudson Valley
WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. – The Jamestown Jammers just keep playing winning baseball.
Jamestown won for the eighth time in 10 games Thursday, improving to a New York-Penn League Baseball League best 16-8 with a 5-2 victory over the Hudson Valley Renegades at Duchess Stadium.
Jamestown benefitted from the fantastic pitching duo of Chad Kuhl and Justin Topa. Kuhl allowed just three hits over four innings and Topa allowed just one hit in three innings of relief, earning the win.
The Jammers came through with just enough offense to support the strong pitching and defensive effort. The team built a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when Harold Ramirez scored after Edwin Espinal reached on an error. Later in the inning, JaCoby Jones was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to push the visitors' advantage to 2-0.
Jamestown increased its lead to 3-0 in the fourth and again a Hudson Valley error was the primary reason. With Jeff Roy attempting to steal second, the catcher's throw sailed into the outfield, allowing Espinal to score from third, making it 3-0.
The lead was increased to five in the ninth after Jin-De Jhang hit a run-scoring sacrifice fly, bringing home Roy and Ramirez's RBI single plated Adam Frazier to complete Jamestown's scoring.
The Renegades (13-12) would add two runs in the ninth, but it wouldn't be enough to cost Jamestown the victory.
The Jammers will look for the three-game sweep in Hudson Valley on Friday, playing in a 7:05 p.m. contest at Duchess Stadium.
Jamestown 020 100 002 – 5 11 0
Hudson Valley 000 000 002 – 2 8 3
2b-Adam Frazier (J), Julian Ridings (H). WP-Justin Topa. LP-Austin Pruitt. Save-Roberto Espinosa.


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We have a SUPER comfy queen size bed, and don't have the funds right now to purchase a king in the same quality. It's plenty of room for our almost three year old, husband and me, but when the new baby arrives in February we'll be crammed. Has anyone with a queen purchased a comfy twin and box spring of equal height as the queen and pushed them together? is there a way to keep the matresses together to make one bed? is there a sheet large enough to go over the queen and twin to make it look like one big family bed? Thanks in advance for the advice!!
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cosleeping w/toddler, preparing for new baby
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- Apr 2008
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Rebecca Ray API Leader, Austin, TX
Mom to Finnian, age 5 and Baby Beckett
cosleeping w/toddler, preparing for new babyTags: None
We put the baby in a small moses basket in bed with us (and the toddler at first). After a few mos we then got an arms reach co-sleeping bassinet for the baby to sleep in and it's working great! Your idea sounds like it would work as well, good luck!Last edited by melissa_h; 03-06-2009, 07:41 PM. Reason: Edited to remove trademarked term
We bought a double and pushed it right up against our queen. The double is a bit lower than the queen but I like it that way as it helps prevent DS accidently rolling into the queen with me and the baby. It's not the one big bed you describe and we've got seperate bedding for each bed but it still feels like we are all pretty close (but not too close ).
We don't use any box springs, just mattresses on the ground. The mattresses will very slowly creep apart but I just keep an eye on them and push them back when they start to seperate.
I was going to recommend a co-sleeping bassinet as well as I think that would bring about more room. You can always put the side down that is made for connecting it right next to the bed (I believe there are safety straps as well that can be tied up underneath the mattress to ensure that it is safely next to the bed without gaps). Hope that helps! We used Arms Reach ***********.Last edited by melissa_h; 03-06-2009, 07:42 PM.
Toddler bed.
We got a toddler bed (no box bed) just mattress like our bed. It is pushed up agenst our bed. We let dc sleep half on and half on our bed.
The beds do not move apart. Our bed is all wood and heavy. The wooden toddler bed is sandwiched between our bed and a wood dresser.
Note. Do not put anything on the dresser that can fall off. You don't want it falling on dc.


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Looks like a pretty neat mixer, but note the power requirements at 230V., also you should know the Hz cycle to make sure it is compatible with U.S. power. Another option is the Hobart A-200 series mixers (110 V.). They are expensive new, but they are easily found at sales and auctions.Tom Lehmann/The Dough Doctor
Tom, You missed he is located in Denmark. Kermit I have an Artisan and think it does a fairly good job at kneading. Could you elaborate on how you go about the mixing and kneading process?Don
Hello Don,I am not sure of the % by weight but flour/water used is as follows:3 1/3 cup bread flour 1/4 cup whole wheat flour1 1/4 cup warm water-Art


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Income taxes (1 - 10 of 215 items) in Custom Date Range
Refundable Tax Credits: Comprehensive Compliance Strategy and Expanded Use of Data Could Strengthen IRS's Efforts to Address Noncompliance
GAO-16-475: Published: May 27, 2016. Publicly Released: Jun 27, 2016.
IRS Referral Programs: Opportunities Exist to Strengthen Controls and Increase Coordination across Overlapping Programs
GAO-16-155: Published: Feb 23, 2016. Publicly Released: Mar 24, 2016.
IRS Correspondence Audits: Better Management Could Improve Tax Compliance and Reduce Taxpayer Burden
GAO-14-479: Published: Jun 5, 2014. Publicly Released: Jul 7, 2014.
Partnerships and S Corporations: IRS Needs to Improve Information to Address Tax Noncompliance
GAO-14-453: Published: May 14, 2014. Publicly Released: Jun 13, 2014.
2013 Tax Filing Season: IRS Needs to Do More to Address the Growing Imbalance between the Demand for Services and Resources
GAO-14-133: Published: Dec 18, 2013. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 2013.
Corporate Tax Compliance: IRS Should Determine Whether Its Streamlined Corporate Audit Process Is Meeting Its Goals
GAO-13-662: Published: Aug 22, 2013. Publicly Released: Sep 23, 2013.
Tax Refunds: IRS Is Exploring Verification Improvements, but Needs to Better Manage Risks
GAO-13-515: Published: Jun 4, 2013. Publicly Released: Jun 4, 2013.
Tax Administration: IRS Could Improve Examinations by Adopting Certain Research Program Practices
GAO-13-480: Published: May 24, 2013. Publicly Released: May 24, 2013.
2012 Tax Filing: IRS Faces Challenges Providing Service to Taxpayers and Could Collect Balances Due More Effectively
GAO-13-156: Published: Dec 18, 2012. Publicly Released: Jan 17, 2013.
Identity Theft: Total Extent of Refund Fraud Using Stolen Identities is Unknown
GAO-13-132T: Published: Nov 29, 2012. Publicly Released: Nov 29, 2012.