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By Emily Wagster Pettus/The Associated Press
JACKSON — The Mississippi Department of Human Services could hire private companies to handle child support collections under a bill that passed the state Senate on Wednesday.
Sen. Nancy Adams Collins, R-Tupelo, said Mississippi has one of the worst records of collections in the nation and private vendors might make the process more efficient. She said the state could be divided into regions, with private vendors handling collections in some areas and state workers continuing to handle collections in others. That would allow officials to compare statistics to see which method works better.
"This is just smart government," Collins said.
Mississippi used a Virginia-based company, Maximus Inc., to collect overdue child support from 1995 to 2000.
"I remember the disaster that Maximus was," Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, said during the debate Wednesday.
Maximus spent more but collected less money for overdue child support payments in Hinds and Warren counties, on average, than DHS did in the rest of the state from 1996-2000, according to a report issued in October 2000, by the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review.
Responding in 2000 to the PEER report, a Maximus spokesman said that if 1995 were included, the company's results would've looked better for the two counties. The spokesman said Maximus increased collections 109 percent between 1995 and 2000.
Bryan said people pushing for privatization now should instead ask why the Department of Human Services hasn't had better leadership the past eight years. The agency's executive director is appointed by the governor, and the executive director chooses leaders of the programs DHS handles, including child support collections.
Senate Bill 2734 passed 35-16. It goes to the House for more debate.
Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson, tried to change the bill to specify that DHS could hire only Mississippi-based companies to handle child-support collections. A majority of senators rejected his amendment.
Follow Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus


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Dorothy A. Ludwig
Madison-Dorothy A. Ludwig, age 83, passed away on Sunday, November 25, 2012 at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison.
She was born in Milwaukee, WI on July 20, 1929, the daughter of Genevieve Abramson. Dorothy was a compassionate, generous and caring parent and friend. She was fun-loving and adventurous. Dorothy loved to travel. She went on many trips with her husband Bob and after he died she continued to travel. She shared her love of travel with her family by taking them on vacations. She had good friends and tour guides in Joyce and Butch. They opened up a whole new vista of life for Dorothy and her husband Bob.
Dorothy made friends wherever she went whether on a cruise down a river in Germany, a bus tour of Utah or standing in line at the grocery store. Dorothy was active, "a live wire", loved to dance (when her knees weren't hurting), loved to sing, loved music. Dorothy enjoyed time during the summer at the family cabin. Most winters would find her in Florida walking the beach, collecting shells and hoping to see Dolphins in the bay so she could go out and play with them. It was very hard for her after Bob passed 4 1/2 years ago but she still made an effort to live life and be adventurous. Dorothy truly enjoyed and appreciated her travel companions. She had a lot of fun with her condo friends and appreciated the support following Bob's death.
Dorothy is survived in death by her daughter Karen (Mike Litzkow) Ludwig; her son David (DeAnn) Ludwig; her grandchildren Darin (Runge), and Danielle Ludwig; in-laws Tom (Barbara) Ludwig, and Barbara Lee; beloved nieces, nephews and other family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Ludwig; and her mother Genevieve Abramson.
A Memorial Service will be he held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 10, 2012, at BURKE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5720 Portage Road, Madison, with Rev. Josh Ehrler officiating.

subset: commoncrawl


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Help with the Gallery
Date of photo: Jul 1954
Reception for Thurgood Marshall hosted at the home of A. Maceo Smith. Thurgood Marshall was in Dallas for a NAACP meeting. Smith is seated at the forefront of the photograph. Marshall is seated at the head of the table.
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Dallas Public Library Homepage


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Classes, Screenings & Support Groups
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Town Square
What makes our town so special....
Original post made by D, Laguna Oaks, on Dec 6, 2012
While taking a walk with my husband, daughter and grand puppy through our old neighborhood of Vintage Hills, we stopped to admire a Christmas Tree and mantle Christmas display in the window. As we were talking about the tree, an elderly gentleman came outside. We had the most wonderful conversation about his 40 years in the neighborhood and how much we enjoyed not only his decorations, but his time.
I love that about P-town and hope it doesn't lose that sense of 'small town' and neighbors who care.
May this Holiday Season you stop and look at the lights, spend a little more time with someone and make them smile.
a resident of Carlton Oaks
on Dec 6, 2012 at 11:46 am
We need to be more uplifting toward one another. I just wish the deadbeat liberals would stop trying to jam their war on Christmas down our throats.
a resident of Oak Hill
on Dec 6, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Thanks for the warm and uplifting holiday message, Carmen. Happy Christmas to you, too.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Dec 6, 2012 at 3:49 pm
I sure wish a someone could post a nice post like this without the trolls having to bring up politics, etc. I wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season.
a resident of Ruby Hill
on Dec 7, 2012 at 4:39 pm
What a nice story!!
While you were there, any chance you saw a brown and black tabby cat? We've been missing her since Dec. 3 and think she may be in the area. Please let me know!!!! I will keep checking this post! Thanks and happy holidays!
a resident of Laguna Oaks
on Dec 10, 2012 at 8:55 am
@ Carmen - Thank you and I agree.
@ Pekhna - sorry sure didn't. As a fellow cat lover I wish you the best in finding her.
Merry Christmas...


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Ingredients: Alcohol, water, and Natural Lemon Oil.
Directions: Store at room temperature (60-85 deg) away from direct sunlight and heat. Keep containers tightly sealed.
Note: This item is considered flammable for shipping purposes and can only be shipped via UPS Ground and UPS Standard to Canada.
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Students have five repayment options:
If your payments are not large enough to cover the interest that has accumulated on your loans, the unpaid amount will be capitalized once each year. However, capitalization will not exceed 10 percent of the original amount you owed when you entered repayment. Interest will continue to accumulate, but will no longer be capitalized. The maximum repayment period is 25 years. If you have not fully repaid your loans after 25 years (time spent in deferment or forbearance does not count) under this plan, the unpaid portion will be discharged. You may however, have to pay taxes on the amount that is discharged.


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April 24, 2004: With the 11th pick in the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select…
"I was in New York. I had my mom and dad with me, my sister was there and my agent. My college coach at the time and his wife were there. Everyone kind of had their speculations of 'what number' and what team. The teams we thought were going to take me didn't, but it ended up working out perfectly for me." — Ben, from the video, "Recalling Draft Day".
You can recall Ben's Draft Day here!
The Ben Roethlisberger Show
You can hear Ben's show LIVE every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. during football season on "The Cook and Poni Show " on Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan (KDKA-FM).
Ben has NO personal social networking pages or accounts...
He does NOT have a personal Twitter account, a Facebook page, nor a Myspace page.
If you come across one, it's a fake!
But you can follow his website's Twitter feed and Facebook page to stay updated!
Follow @_bigben7
Now THIS is a sweet deal!!
Place an order using the group code of 77-7777 on Sarris Candies' website and Sarris will donate 25% of the purchase price to Ben's foundation.
Click on the image above for more info!
Ben, The Steelers, and Make-A-Wish
September 30, 2016: Ben & Steelers make a wish come true
December 19, 2015: This was pure magic
November 13, 2015: Ben Roethlisberger and 9-year-old cancer survivor bond over cleats
November 7, 2015: Fridays in November have been about making wishes come true!
October 31, 2015: Steelers give this special fan 'an amazing day'
October 4, 2015: A gift of life, a wish of a lifetime
September 18, 2015: Ben and Antonio Make A Wish come true
October 24, 2014: Roethlisberger: 'To see the joy is special'
November 15, 2014: Steelers make a wish come true
November 6, 2013: An 8-year old Make-A-Wish Hero
November 1, 2013: Big Ben donates to Make-A-Wish
September 22, 2013: Making a wish come true and then some
July 25, 2013: A great day on the course for a very good cause
July 9, 2013: The 2nd Annual Ben Roethlisberger Foundation Fundraiser
June 2, 2013: Roethlisberger makes impact off the field
April 14, 2013: A Make-A-Wish day to remember
The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation
Check out the Foundation page!
Click on the image below for information on The Giving Back Fund:
If you would like to donate to Ben's Foundation, click here.
Happy Birthday Wishes To
Crissy Fisher (Apr 10)
Bill Fleishauer (Apr 10)
Shontinese Huey (Apr 10)
Grant Kelly (Apr 10)
Michelle Kelly (Apr 10)
Lori Martin (Apr 10)
Brandi Rowley (Apr 10)
Leslie Strother (Apr 10)
Cruz Swanson (Apr 10)
Rayne Weaver (Apr 10)
Kay Len Brunner (Apr 11)
Kim Gianni (Apr 11)
Rob Rich (Apr 11)
Kim Eaton (Apr 12)
Madison Hammers (Apr 12)
John Kiser (Apr 12)
Noah Mathews (Apr 12)
Eden Mattiuz (Apr 12)
Contessa Nicholas (Apr 12)
Sophia Chapman (Apr 13)
Karen Cross (Apr 13)
Jay Dailey (Apr 13)
Jeff Goodman (Apr 13)
Brad Haber (Apr 13)
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Ava Kersh (Apr 13)
Isabel Kersh (Apr 13)
Nancy Kreigline (Apr 13)
Laurie Kressler (Apr 13)
Lauren Neal (Apr 13)
Michael Maust (Apr 14)
"Big Ben" Ahaus (Apr 14)
Morgan Brewer (Apr 14)
Bryan Ferrato (Apr 14)
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Jason Meynier (Apr 14)
Donald Strother (Apr 14)
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Gregory Lawrence (Apr 19)
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Matt Perkins (Apr 19)
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Would you like BigBen7 to post a birthday wish for you or someone else? Just email me with the name, and the birth month and day!
NOTE: Birthday greeting requests must be sent before the birthday month starts and prior to the posting of the new list. Otherwise, they will be put on the calendar for the next year.
Ronald McDonald House Charities - Pittsburgh Area
For more information and to donate, click on the image link below:
Big Ben's BBQ SauceGo with what the Pro's use:
Big Ben's BBQ Sauce sales and fundraising have helped raise over $150,000 for his favorite charities, including The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation!
King Street Sports BarIf you are visiting or vacationing in South Carolina....
Stop by King Street Grille with locations in Charleston, Kiawah Island, James Island, Mt. Pleasant and Myrtle Beach!
"Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is part owner of the Charleston-based chain that is decked out in full Steelers theme. However, King Street Grille doesn't play favorites, it's a sports bar where all sports fans and fanatics are welcomed.
"If you're looking to catch up on sports highlights or catch a game, then this is the spot." -- Sun News Restaurant Review, July 29, 2010.
Book - The C.H.I.L.D. Game Plan
Written By: Bruce A. Tollner, Rep 1 Sports
Foreword by: Stephen R. Covey, #1 Bestselling Author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"
Ben on the book: "As a quarterback, I have played on some championship teams—and I have experienced some painful losses. Regardless of the outcome of any one game, my dad has been there to cheer me on. Whether I throw a winning touchdown pass or an interception, I know my dad is there to say, 'Good job, Son, I am proud of you!' My parents have had a major influence on the way I live life, as well as the way I play football. Because of their influence, and that of my coaches and others, I am blessed to be able to live out a childhood dream to play professional football. The C.H.I.L.D. Game Plan can help you to help your child live out their childhood dreams. Read this book, and put together a winning game plan for your child."— Ben Roethlisberger, two-time Super Bowl Champion Quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers
To order your copy, just click on the image link above!
Ben on the Cover


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Quick question to the forum administrators.
Why was I asked for my user name and password when I went to check out something in the Florida section but nowhere else in the forum after I had already logged in?
Is that Kosher or is their some sort of odd something going on there? I didn't give them, I just clicked out of that section. It was in the Florida 2011 season thread.


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At the World Championship Still Target Shoot, for one and one-half days, we shoot 12 gauge and 20 gauge full-power 3" shotshells, one after another. In squads of 10, men, women and youth, we shoot. Each target from each shooter in each squad is scored and each squad winner (along with winners and runners-up from prior state and regional events) advances to the semi-finals which begin at the second half of day 2 at 1:00 P.M.
Then the "winnowing" begins.
All of those winners shoot more 12 gauge shells and 20 gauge shells until the finalists in each class have been determined. Traditionally, it's been a "Final Four". This year there were 5 positions in the 12 Gauge Open and only 2 shooters, who shot against each other at the end of the contest, in the ML Class.
In order to win the class, and be named World Champion, a finalist in each class must win 2 times.
These were the finalists this year, with their number of positions (seats) in the finals with an * to indicate the winner:
12 Gauge Open
*Steve Conover – 3
Clark Bush – 2
12 Gauge Hunter
*Brian Sloan – 2
Chris Scott – 1
Clark Bush – 1
20 Gauge Open
*Steve Conover – 2
Karie Scott – 1
Clark Bush – 1
20 Gauge Ladies
*Amanda Fox - 2
Karie Scott - 2
JAKES (Youth - 17 and Under)
Jacob - 1
*Alex Fox - 2
Caleb Gilreath - 1
ML (Black Powder) Class
*Brian Sloan
Steve Conover
I'd like to add my congratulations to all of the winners and to all who shot in the event. I'd also like to add my thanks to all of the staff members from the NWTF who volunteer their time each year to officiate the World Championship.
Lastly, the event could not be held without the financial support of Environ-Metal, the makers of Hevi-Shot products. Cases and cases of Hevi-13 shotshells were fired at the championship and were again the choice of all of the winners.


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Video: Is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Unhealthy?
The American Chemical Society separates fact from fiction in a new video: Is MSG Bad for You?08/25/2014
Video: Food Scientists Discover 'Sweet' Chemical Compound for Fruits
Inside Science explores food scientists' new discovery: a way to make fruits sweeter without adding any excess sugar.08/06/2014
Pairing Foods isn't as Easy as You Think
The act of pairing foods with drinks isn't out of pure luck, there is a science that shows how certain foods work well with certain drinks. Watch this video to learn more.07/17/2014
Video: The Science behind Grilling
Grilling may not be what you think. While many people consider grilling a talent and matter of technique, the chemistry behind the act may prove otherwise.07/17/2014
Sugar vs. Artificial Sweeteners: What is the difference?
Wondering about the effects that artificial sweeteners have on the body verses plain sugar? Watch this video to find out.07/17/2014
What Makes a Spicy Food Spicy?
Learn the science behind spiciness in this video by Ted Ed.07/16/2014
What Makes Candy So Delicious?
Richard Ludescher, a professor of Food Science at Rutgers said, "People who think they like candy just because it's sweet are missing out on a very important element..." Watch the video to find out what that element is.07/16/2014
Honey: A Miracle Food that Lasts Forever
Learn what makes honey the perfect allergy immunizer, medicine and delicious sticky goodness.07/16/2014
Video: What Makes Cheese Cheesey
PBS' Digital Studios goes to Antonelli's Cheese House to discover what really goes into making different cheeses.07/16/2014
What Makes Ice Cream Creamy?
This video explains the difference between different ice cream consistencies and why.07/02/2014
Bacon: The Mystery Behind the Mouth-Watering Smell
The question, "Why does bacon smell so good?" is finally answered in this video.07/02/2014
Clean Labels and Sunflower Oil
The National Sunflower Association advises food manufacturers to use sunflower oil in their formulations to achieve a cleaner label.05/19/2014
10 Videos Only Forklift Operators Will Understand
RSM's Top 10 Forklift Accidents video may help you avoid a future forklift accident.05/15/2014
BETE spray nozzles for Tank Washing, Air Atomizing, High Impact Spraying, and Misting
BETE Spray Nozzles manufacturers and designs industrial spray nozzles for the food processing industry. This short video illustrates the company's capabilities.05/23/2012
CDC Software: Rapid Traceability, Recall, Quality and Costing Demo
Today, your customers may have more stringent food safety requirements than Uncle Sam. Watch this demonstration from CDC Software to see how you can limit the scope of a recall, and then perform the recall in minutes. Get the edge in retaining and winning new customer business. Watch product demo06/07/2011
Scott Scriven of Weber Inc. speaks about Process Expo02/03/2011
Plex Online For Food Processors: Traceability, Recall Management and Receiving
This video show how Plex Online handles recipes and ingredients, handles receiving, production and shipping, improves quality and production controls, provides complete genealogy and traceability, and provides real-time recall management.11/16/2010
Optimizing Quality and Efficiency
See how a food processor improved traceability and efficiency while saving costs when processing 400 different food products.09/28/2010
IFT 2009: Ganeden Biotech09/17/2009
IFT 2009: US Highbush Blueberry Council09/16/2009


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Hypocrisy Served With Rice
December 12, 2012 by John Myers
There is no limit to the hypocrisy of the Administration of President Barack Obama. The latest example is the "green" President's candidate for secretary of state, Susan Rice.
The Democrats have been hypercritical of many Republicans for lining up against a black woman who is Obama's choice to replace Hilary Clinton to oversee the U.S. Department of State. The race card has once again been tossed into the ring.
Congress' top-ranking black lawmaker says he suspects Republicans are pillorying Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, because she is black.
Criticism of Rice began after her Sept. 16 comments regarding the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Rice said the attack began as a "spontaneous reaction" to an anti-Islamic video widely watched in the Muslim world that had also set off protests elsewhere.
Later, we learned that simply was not the truth. According to the State Department, the attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans was not some spontaneous outburst but a well-executed attack organized and launched by a terrorist cell of al-Qaida.
Many right-thinking Americans were outraged by Rice's characterization of the Libyan attack, including Representative Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., who penned a letter to President Barack Obama saying Rice's public comments after the Benghazi attack "caused irreparable damage to her credibility both at home and around the world."
According to the letter, which was signed by 96 other Congressmen, Rice "either willfully or incompetently misled the American public in the Benghazi matter."
It said replacing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with Rice as "the face of U.S. foreign policy" in Obama's second term "would greatly undermine your desire to improve U.S. relations with the world and continue to build trust with the American people."
Democrats Play The Race Card
Representative James Clyburn, D-S.C., along with other black Democrats, say upset Republicans continually use variations of the word "incompetent" to describe Rice, a Rhodes Scholar and former senior fellow at The Brookings Institution.
Clyburn, who is the third-ranking House Democrat, told The Washington Post that the Republicans' choice to be critical of Rice's remarks is one thing, but calling her incompetent amounts to using racial "code words."
"We in the South know what that means," he said. "I take offense when people use those words. I have a problem with them. They are going to disagree with Rice's politics, but if they do, just say she's wrong," Clyburn told The Post. "When you apply the word 'incompetent,' that personalizes this thing, it goes beyond politics, because it's about who and what she is — it's character assassination."
If you accept Clyburn's logic, you can't say a black person is incompetent. If you do, you are making a racist remark.
And Clyburn isn't alone in his beliefs. Congressional Black Caucus Chair Marcia Fudge suggested Rice was targeted by the GOP because of her race as well as her sex. (The Democratic Representative from Ohio must have forgotten that the GOP nominated Sarah Palin for Vice President four years ago while a black woman, Condoleezza Rice, was George W. Bush's Secretary of State.)
Last Wednesday, The Baltimore Sun weighed in the Republican challenge of Rice:
Approval of nominees to cabinet positions is by law the prerogative of the Senate. Certainly the president is entitled to his opinion as to who the nominee should be, but at the same time the Senate is required to state that he has made a mistake.
The president is not omnipotent; he is human in his choices which may involve political considerations and even bias. The Republican Party not only has the right but the duty to question his judgment on any of his cabinet selections, much less one that helps establish our foreign policy.
The Real And Very Rich Susan Rice
Before anybody starts feeling too sorry for Rice, it is important to understand what is really going on with the Democratic Party.
It is politics as usual for the Democrats to portray Obama, a former community organizer on the mean streets of Chicago, and the first lady as people who want nothing more than to help the downtrodden. This fairy tale ignores Michelle Obama's J. Mendel cap-sleeve jacket that cost $6,800, her $540 Lanvin sneakers or the fact the first family vacations in the ultra-exclusive Martha's Vineyard.
But the secretary of state, the Nation's core representative to the world, should exclude politics. And the facts indicate that not only may Rice be incompetent but the Democrats are not being honest about her ability to be an honest broker — especially when it comes to the Mideast, which is in as much or more turmoil right now than it has ever been.
Rice would be the envy of anyone in the oil patch that I have ever met. This poor black woman holds tens of millions of dollars of petroleum stocks locked into a portfolio that makes her look a lot more like J.D. Rockefeller than Rosa Parks.
If this hypocrisy weren't enough, much of Rice's money is betting on the future of Canada's oil sands.
On Earth reports that one-third of Rice's personal wealth is invested in Canadian energy interests, much of it in Canada's oil sands industry.
This seems a major conflict for Rice, who has royally screwed the pooch when it comes to reporting honestly about the Mideast.
As her confirmation looms, it is important to remember Arab sands sit atop two-thirds of the world's conventional oil reserves. Ensuring security in that region won't be a financial concern for Rice. She has most of her money locked up safely in 12 Canadian oil sands companies — companies that will benefit greatly from a Mideast meltdown.
Planes, Trains And Pipelines
A wonderful movie to watch during the holidays is "Planes, Trains and Automobiles." In a classic scene the uptight character Neal Page, played by Steve Martin, turns around while sitting on the freeway beside his newfound and troublesome companion Del Griffith, played by the late John Candy. The car that Page believes Griffith rented with his own money is on fire.
"You finally did it to yourself," says Page laughing.*
In the case of Rice, the Democrats may have finally done it to themselves. Rice's personal fortune is backing Canada's oil sands, an industry that is of vital importance to the United States. And while African-Americans in the Democratic Party are enthusiastic to champion her as the future secretary of state, the Greens are not — and for good reason. Huffington Post reports:
(Rice) would oversee the Keystone XL pipeline proposal if appointed to lead the State Department. But the pipeline review isn't the only environmental issue the next secretary of state will have to handle.
Clinton said earlier this year that energy is a top issue and that the U.S. is reshaping its foreign policy to reflect that. She created a new office within the State Department to deal with energy issues and launched an initiative to attack "short-lived climate pollutants."
In a recent report, E&E's Lisa Friedman called Rice's climate change record "thin," pointing out that she has done little to fight global warming (this woman can't be all bad). Friedman quoted Frank Loy, who served as undersecretary of state for global affairs in the Administration of President Bill Clinton, as saying: "She doesn't have much of a record on climate change issues because they haven't been really the issues she felt were her job to promote."
So if Rice is confirmed, there could be silver lining in a dark cloud, if only because she is one of the few Democrats who understand that the Mideast is not a trustworthy supplier of crude oil. Then again, she might be every bit as incompetent as some Republicans say. With the situation in the Mideast the way it is now, that is the last thing that America can endure.
Yours in good times and bad,
–John Myers
Editor, Myers' Energy & Gold Report
* Note: It is fun to remember that in the movie "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," Steve Martin's character only thought that John Candy's character had rented the car. It turned out that Candy's character used Martin's character's credit card to rent it.
TCC: Prepare to Defend Yourselves…..Molon Labe!


text:
The goal of this program is to protect and maintain movement opportunities for sensitive predators and other large mammals in the Northern Rockies of Idaho and northwest Montana. The program helps to secure and maintain populations of wolverine, elk, bighorn sheep, grizzly bear, fisher, lynx and moose.
Key conservation strategies for this program include:
For more detail on priority activities, please see NFWF's Business Plan.
No, for information on how to apply please review the Business Plan and the Application Guidelines for Conservation Initiatives under Application Information, or contact the staff representative.


text:
Peter Brown
|Building 2 (B2) 103
(401) 456-8039
(401) 456-8167
Academic Background
B.A., Stanford University, History.
M.A., University of Chicago, History.
Ph.D., University of Chicago, History.
Dissertation: "Early Modern Russian Bureaucracy: the Evolution of the Chancellery System from Ivan III to Peter the Great, 1478-1717." 702 pp.
Russian, Polish (fluent).
Old Church Slavonic, Middle Russian, Belorussian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, German, Spanish (reading ability).
Modern Arabic, Classical Hebrew, and Latin (introductory study).
Finnish (currently studying).
Early Modern Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish Social, Administrative, Political, and Military History.
Northern Rus', Russia, 800-1500.
Comparative Medieval and Early Modern European History.
Language, Culture, Ethnic Studies.
Soviet and Eastern European economic history.
Full/Associate/ Assistant Professor: Rhode Island College, Providence. 1988
Russia, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Comparative Medieval
and Early Modern Histories, Western Civilization.
Wesleyan University, Connecticut.
Loyola University of Chicago.
George Williams College, Illinois.
University of California, Santa Cruz.
Russia Soviet, Imperial, and Pre Petrine.
Central and Eastern Europe.
Europe Medieval and Modern, Diplomacy, Social and Economic History.
Modern China. Islamic and Western Civilization.
World History. U.S. History.
Historiography, Methodology, and Source Criticism.
BackgroundPete Brown is a specialist in Russian and Eastern European history and has wide-ranging interests in many other histories and in methodologies. So much of this was spawned by growing up in California and refined by graduate study at the University of Chicago. These interests are reflected in a broad spectrum of undergraduate and graduate courses that he teaches at Rhode Island College.
These include four (4) courses on Russian history: History 261 (CORE IV), Russian Identity: Between East and West; History 311, The Origins of Russia to 1700; History 312, Russia from Peter to Lenin; and History; History 313, The Soviet Union and After. He also teaches History 161 (CORE II), Western Civilization; and History 200 (The Nature of Historical Inquiry). His 200- and 300-level courses encompass the cultures, histories, and other developments of the peoples inhabiting the land area of the former Soviet Union, from approximately 4,500 B.C.E. to the start of the third millennium A.D.
His undergraduate and graduate seminars include History 361, Seminar in History; History 521, Topics in Comparative History; History 561, Graduate Seminar in History; and History 562, Graduate Reading Seminar. The manifold seminar topics have included comparative Eastern and Western European Medieval and Early Modern social histories; comparative serf and slave systems in Russia, Eastern Europe, and the Americas; methodologies and the historiography of comparative historical investigation; themes in Soviet and post-Soviet history from 1917 to 2000; gender and sexual identities in Russia from 1861 to the present; popular culture in the early Soviet period; the economic history of the U.S.S.R.; the World War II experience in Soviet life; comparative Eurasian totalitarian regimes; Joseph Stalin; Nikita Khrushchev; the "new" Russia since 1991; culture and gender in post-1991 Russia; the Balkans from 1945 to the present; and the history of political theory in History 371, Reading Course in History.
Keeping up with scholarship in English- and foreign-language journals and books and traveling to Eastern Europe and the territories of the former Soviet Union is a challenging but rewarding activity. When time permits, Pete watches contemporary Russian- and Polish-language movies, reads magazines and newspapers in these languages (and occasionally Bulgarian), and listens to Russian-, Ukrainian-, and Polish-language popular music. He walks frenetically for exercise, occasionally fishes for salt-water bonito (small tuna-like fish), hikes out West (too humid for that back here), listens to a wide variety of classical and non-classical music, and tries keeping up to date his collection (late-19th to early-21st century) of Russian and Central and Eastern European paper money. Regrettably, he gave up cigar-smoking in 2002, a pleasure enjoyed since he was 17.
Courses TaughtHIST 161 Western History
HIST 261 Russian ID:Between East&West
HIST 311 The Origins of Russia to 1700
HIST 312 Russia From Peter to Lenin
HIST 313 The Soviet Union and After
HIST 390 Directed Study
HIST 391 Directed Study
HIST 551 Topics:
HIST 561 Graduate Seminar in History
HIST 562 Graduate Reading Seminar
HIST 571 Grad Reading Course in History
- Festschrift in Honor of Richard Hellie, University of Chicago. 2 parts. Edited by Lawrence Langer and Peter B. Brown. Idyllwild, Calif.: Charles Schlacks, Jr. Published as special editions in Russian History, 34, nos. 1-4 (Spring/Summer 2007): iii-x + 1-402, 35, nos. 1-2 (Spring-Summer 2008): iii-vi + 1-258. Thirty-six essays.
- Festschrift for Aleksandr' Aleksandrovich Zimin (1920-1980). Edited by Peter B. Brown. Idyllwild, Calif.:
Charles Schlacks, Jr., November 1999. Published as a special issue in Russian History 25, nos. 1-2 (Spring-Summer 1998): i-iv+1-230 pp.
- Studies and Essays on the Soviet and Eastern European Economies by Arcadius Kahan. Edited by Peter B. Brown. 2 vols. Newtonville, Mass.: Oriental Research Partners. Vol. 1 (published works), 1991. Vol. 2 (unpublished works), 1994.
Book Chapter in Progress
- "Command and Control in the Seventeenth-Century Russian Army." To be published in Warfare in Eastern Europe, 1500-1800. Brill. MS 40 pp., current length.
Books in Progress
- Festschrift in Honor of Richard Hellie, University of Chicago. 3d part. Edited by Lawrence Langer and Peter B. Brown. Idyllwild, Calif.: Charles Schlacks, Jr. To be published as a special edition in a forthcoming 2008 volume of Russian History.Thirty-three essays.
- "Russia's 'Thirty Years' War': the Thirteen Years' War, 1654-1667 ( Social Context, Politics, and Organizational Culture in Seventeenth-Century Eastern European Military Conflict)." MS 500 pp.
- "The Muscovite Chancellery System: the Structure, Expansion, Politics, and Mentalite of Russian Central Administration from the Time of Troubles to the Death of Peter the Great, 1613-1725." One or two volumes.MS est. 1400-1600 pp.
- "Suppositional European Unity: a Linguists' Point of View." The Eurasian Studies Yearbook 79 (2007): 111-18.
- "Salaries and Economic Survival: the Service Land Chancellery Clerks of Seventeenth-Century Russia." Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas 51 (2003): 32-67.
- "Guarding the Gate-Keepers: Punishing Errant Rank-and-File Officials in Seventeenth-Century Russia," Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas 50 (2002): 224-45.
- "The Military Chancellery: Aspects of Control During the Thirteen Years' War," Russian History 29, no. 1 (Spring 2002): 19-45.
- Military Planning and High-Level Decision-Making in Seventeenth-Century Russia: the Roles of the Military Chancellery (Razriad) and the Boyar Duma," Forschungen zur osteuropaischen Geschichte 58 (2002): 33-43.
- "Neither Fish Nor Fowl: Administrative Legality in Mid- and Late-Seventeenth-Century /Russia, "Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas 50 (2002): 1-21.
- "With All Deliberate Speed: the Officialdom and Departments of the Seventeenth Century Muscovite Military Chancellery (Razriad), Russian History 28, nos. 1-4 (Spring-Summer-Fall-Winter 2001): 137- 52.
- "Military Planning and High-Level Decision-Making in Seventeenth-Century Russia: the Roles of the Military Chancellery (Razriad) and the Boyar Duma," in Russische und Ukrainische Geschichte vom 16.-18. Jahrhundert, eds. Robert O. Crummey, Holm Sundhaussen, Ricarda Vulpius (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2002), 79-89.
- "How Should We Model Uralic and Slavic Contacts in the Lands of Medieval and Early Modern Rus', 800-1700 A.D.?: a Comparison to Celtic, Germanic, and Roman-Latin Contact's." In Congressus Nonus Internationalis Fenno-Ugristarum 7.-13.8.2000 (Ninth International Finno-Ugric Congress) (Tartu, Estonia: University of Tartu, Estonian Finno-Ugrian Committee, 2001), 267-77.
- "Peering into a Muscovite Turf-War (How Do We Even Know It's There?): Boyar Miloslavskii and the Auditing Chancellery." Russian History 25, nos. 1-2 (Spring-Summer 1998): 141-53.
- "Foreword." Russian History 25, nos. 1-2 (Spring-Summer 1998): 1-3.
- "The Holdings of the Astrakhan' Regional State Archive." Cahiers du Monde Russe, 35, pt. 4 (October-December 1994): 727-38.
- "The Moscow Civil Elite's Salaries," Sosloviia i gosudarstvennaia vlast' v Rossii. XV-seredina xix vv. Mezhdunarodnaia konferentsiia--Chteniia pamiati akad. L.V. Cherepnina. Tezisy dokladov. [Estates and State Power in Russia, 15th--mid-19th Centuries] Moskva, 13-16 iiunia 1994 g. 2 parts. Edited by N.V. Karlov, 2: 263-73. Moscow: Gosudarstvennyi komitet RF po vysshemu obrazovaniiu, et al, 1994.
- "The Problematics of Armory Modernization in Late Imperial Russia," Russian History 21, no. 1 (1994): 65-81.
- "The Wit and Humor of Joseph Stalin," Faculty of Arts and Sciences Newsletter, Rhode Island College, August 1992, 4-6.
- "Moscow Update," FAS RIC, April 1991, 15-16.
- "The War After the War," Soviet Studies in History, Summer 1991, 44-52. Translation from the Russian of V. Chubarov article in "Moskovskii komsomolets," 22 June 1990.
- "Anthropological Perspective and Early Muscovite Court Politics," Russian History 16 (1989), no. 1: 55 66.
- "The Formation of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth in Contemporary American Scholarship," The Polish Review 30 (1985), no. 4: 437 43
- "Muscovite Government Bureaus," Russian History 10 (1983), pt. 3: 269 330.
- "The Zemskii Sobor in Recent Soviet Historiography," Russian History 10 (1983), pt. 1: 77 90.
- "Muscovy, Poland, and the Seventeenth Century Crisis," The Polish Review 27 (1982), no. 3: 55 69.
- "Soviet Studies on Platonism," International Philosophical Quarterly, September 1977, 293 305.
Encyclopedia Entries
- "Dyak [state secretary]," "Podyachii [clerk]," and "Chancellery System" in Encyclopedia of Russian History. New York: Macmillan, 2004.
Articles in Progress
- "How Muscovy Governed. Seventeenth-Century Russian Central Administration." Russian History. 109 MS pp. (under publication consideration)
- "Other Perspectives on Cultural Impacts of Migrational and Economic History: Icescapes and Waterscapes, Finns, Slavs, and Fish Names in Northern Russia from 18,000 B.C.E. to 1700 A.D."
1700 A.D." 61 MS pp. To be submitted for publication this Summer, perhaps to The Journal of Indo-European Studies.
- "Global History Perspective on the Persistence of Unfree Labor in the Russian State from the 1640s Until the 1850s." 65 MS pp
- Carol Belkin Stevens. Soldiers on the Steppe. Army Reform and Social Change in Early Modern Russia. DeKalb, Illinois: Northern Illinois University Press, 1995. Published in Canadian-American Slavic Studies, 1998.
- A.I Pliguzov and I.A. Tikhoniuk, comps. Smuta v moskovskom gosudarstve. Rossiia nachala xvii stoletiia v zapiskakh sovremennikov (The Time of Troubles in the Muscovite State. Russia at the Beginning of the Seventeenth Century in the Accounts of Contemporaries.) Moscow: Sovremennik, 1989.
Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas 40, no. 3 (1992): 412-13.
- N.F. Demidova, Sluzhilaia biurokratiia v Rossii xvii v. i ee rol' v formirovanii absoliutizma. (The Service Bureaucracy in Russia of the Seventeenth Century and Its Role in the Formation of Absolutism.) Moscow: Nauka, 1987. Slavic Review 49, no. 2 (Summer 1990): 285.
- S.O. Shmidt, S.E. Kniaz'kov, Dokumenty deloproizvodstva pravitel'stvennykh uchrezhdenii Rossii xvi xvii vv. Uchebnoe posobie. (Documents on the Clerical Procedure of Government Organs in Russia During the 16th and 17th Centuries. A Handbook.) Moscow: MGIAI, 1985. The Russian Review 47
(1987), no. 3: 328 29.
- V.M. Paneiakh, Kholopstvo v pervoi polovine xvii v. (Slavery in the First Half of the Seventeenth Century.) Leningrad: Nauka, 1984. Slavic Review 45 (1986), no. 1: 112 13.
- André Corvisier, Armies and Societies in Europe, 1494 1789. Translated by Abigail T. Siddal. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1979. Armed Forces & Society, Fall 1985, pp. 147 50.
- Linda Gordon, Cossack Rebellions. Social Turmoil in the Sixteenth Century Ukraine. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1983. East Central Europe, 1985, pp. 84-85.
- R.G. Skrynnikov, Boris Godunov. Edited and translated by Hugh F. Graham. Gulf Breeze, Florida: Academic International Press, 1982. Slavic Review 42 (1983), no. 3: 477.
- Karol Górski, Zakon krzyżacki a powstanie państwa pruskiego. (The Teutonic Order and the Origins of the Prussian State.) Wroclaw: Ossolineum, 1977. East Central Europe 8 (1981), nos. 1 2: 153 54.
- F.P. Sergeev, Formirovanie russkogo diplomaticheskogo iazyka. (The Formation of Russian Diplomatic Language.) L'vov: Vishcha shkola, 1978. The Russian Review, October 1981, pp. 445 46.
Unpublished ManuscriptsDICTIONARY AND DOCUMENTS
- "Dictionary of Muscovite Administrative Terminology." MS 83 pp. 1988.
- "The Muscovite Chancellery System." MS 87 pp. Documents translated from Old Russian. Course Civilization Materials Project. University of Chicago, 1981.
- "Why NATO Should Not Expand to the East: the Case of Poland." 1998. MS 18 pp.
for : The Atlantic Monthly, The Russian Review. DC Heath and Company.
- "Command and Control in the Russian Army from 1650 to Peter," for the annual convention of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Philadelphia, November 2008.
- "The Uralic Peoples of Northern Russia and the California Indians: an Inmigrational-Imput Comparison," The Sixteenth Conference of the Finno-Ugric Studies Association of Canada, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, June 2008.
- "North Russia, Finns, Slavs, and Fish Names: Cultural and Ichthyological Exertions from 20,000 B.C.E. to 1700," Early Slavists Seminar, Harvard University, May 2008.
- "Social Aspects of the Thirteen Years' War, 1654-1667," Twelfth Annual Winter Workshop in Medieval and Early Modern Slavic Studies," at the UCLA Center in Medieval and Early Modern Slavic Studies, UCLA, February 2008.
- "Serfs and Lords: their Symbiosis with Population Growth, Army Size, Warfare, and Elite Consumption from the 1620s to the 1850s," for the annual convention of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, New Orleans, November 2007.
- "The Strategic Dilemmas of Seventeenth-Century Eastern European Warfare" for the Early Slavicists' Seminar, The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University, May 2007.
- "Biting Off More Than They Could Chew: Russian Armies in Belarus, 1654-55." American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Washington, D.C., November 2006.
- "The Inter-Penetration of Russian and Finno-Ugric Economic Vocabulary in Northern and Central Russia by the 1600s." The Fifteenth Conference of the Finno-Ugric Studies Association of Canada, York University, Toronto, Canada, May 2006.
- "The State Is Back! Common Ukrainian and Muscovite Patterns in the Formation of Central Administrative States, 15th–17th Centuries." Seminar in Ukrainian Studies, Harvard University, April 2006.
- "Stimulating the 17th-Century Russian Neo-Cortex and Generating the Pathways for Learning: Counting, Calculation, Numerical Aggregates, and Habituation." 35d National Convention, American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Boston, November 2004.
- "Seeing Through an Opaque Glass Dimly: Reconstructing Individuals' Daily Lives in Seventeenth-Century Russia." Early Slavists' Seminar, Ukrainian Research Institute, Harvard University, December 2003.
- "Was Serfdom Worth It? The Disjuncture of Cost-Effectiveness and Reality from the 1640s to the 1760s."International Convention of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Toronto. November 2003.
- "The Devil Is In the Details: Documents-Mania as Engine in Later Muscovite Social Development and Mentalite." Early Slavists' Seminar, Ukrainian Research Institute, Harvard University, October 2002.
- "Uralic-Slavic Contacts and Strategems of Dominance in Northern Rus' 800-1700 A.D., in the Light of Comparative Medieval History." The Thirteenth Conference of the Finno-Ugric Studies Association of Canada, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, April 2002.
- "The Paralysis of Goliath and David: Operational Blunders and Mentalite of Russian and Polish Commanders During the First Two Years of the Thirteen Years War, 1654-55," 33d National Convention, American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Crystal City, Virginia. November 2001.
- "Bureaucratic Administration in Seventeenth-Century Muscovy." Modernization and Seventeenth-Century Russia. Davis Center for Russian Studies. March 2001.
- "Slavic and Uralic Contacts in the Lands of Medieval and Early Modern Rus', 800-1700 A.D. A Comparison to Celtic, Germanic, and Roman-Latin Contacts." The Russian Studies Workshop, the University of Chicago. February 2001.
- "Patterns of Russian Elite Behavior: Constructing Macro-Inferences from Micro-Investigations." American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Denver. November 2000.
- "Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich as a Model Military Autocrat." The Military and Society in Russia, 1450-1917: a Conference. Davis Center for Russian Studies, Harvard University. 9 September 2000.
- "How Should We Model Uralic and Slavic Contacts in the Lands of Medieval Rus'? Congressus Nonus Internationalis Fenno-Ugristarum, Tartu, Estonia. 12 August 2000.
- "New Thoughts on the Bohdan Khmel'nytskyj-Aleksei Mikhailovich Relationship in the 1650s." Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. 6 March 2000.
- "Guarding the Gate-Keepers: Punishing Errant Officials in Seventeenth-Century Russia." Davis Center for Russian Studies, Harvard University. 4 February 2000.
- "Violence, Coping-Mechanisms, and Personality in the Earlier Life of Peter the Great." The Russian Studies Workshop, The University of Chicago. 25 January 2000.
- "Northern Rus' Encounters Between Eastern Slavs and Finno-Ugric Peoples Before 1500: Comparative Issues of Assimilation and State-Building: Postanovka voprosa ('A Posing of the Question')." American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, St. Louis. November 1999.
- "Perversion, Mindset, and Reform in the Reigns of Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, and Stalin: a New Theory of the Russian Ruling Class." Faculty Colloquium, Rhode Island College. March 1999.]
- "Learning from our Instructors: Peter the Great and Psychohistory." RIC Department of History Colloquium, March 1999.
- "Merovingian Models: Why So Much Political Violence in Kievan Rus', 862-1205?" American Historical Association, Washington, D.C. January 1999.
- "Was the Soviet Union an Imperialist Power?" RIC Spring 1998 series on Imperialism, April 8.
- "Seize the Time! How Do We Peer Into a Muscovite Turf-War? (and How Do We Even Know It's There?). New England Slavic Conference. Wellesley University. April 1997.
- "Allen Drury Redux! Advise and Consent: Careers, Confidants, Counsel, and Crises in Seventeenth-Century Russia." Historians' Seminar. Davis Center for Russian Studies, Harvard University. November 1997.
- "Adversity, Rewards, and Mental States: What Kept the Trail-Broken Elite in Line? The Non-Duma Ranks of the Moscow Service Group, 1650s-1680s." American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Boston. November 1996. Panel organizer.
- "Neither Fish Nor Fowl: Administrative Legality in Mid-Seventeenth Century Russia." Historians' Seminar. Davis Center for Russian Studies, Harvard University. October 1996.
- "Future Prospects for Early Russian Studies in U.S. Colleges and Universities." New England Slavic Association. College of the Holy Cross, Worchester, Mass. April 1996.
- "Social Mobility and the Moscow Service Class." American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Washington, D.C. October 1995. Panel organizer.
- "The Frontier, the Elite, the Army, and the Bureaucracy in the Second Half of Seventeenth-Century Russia." Historians' Seminar. Russian Research Center, Harvard University. April 1995.
- "The Moscow Civil Elite's Salaries." AHA Convention, San Francisco. January 1994. Panel organizer. Presented also (in Russian) at the conference, Estates and State Power in Russia, 15th--mid-19th Centuries (Sosloviia i gosudarstvennaia vlast' v Rossii. XV--seredina XIX vv.), Moscow. 14 June 1994.
- "The Sources of Elite Stability in Seventeenth-Century Russia." Faculty Colloquium, Rhode Island College. November 1993.
- "Tula, Izhevsk, and Sestroretsk Armories, 1860s-1930s: Continuity and Change in Russian and Soviet Technical Innovation, Industrial Development, and Governmental Patronage." New England
Historical Association Conference, Rhode Island College. October 1992.
- "The Pre-1700 Origins of Peter the Great's Provincial Administrative (Guberniia) Reform: The Significance of the Frontier." Conference on the Russian Frontier Before 1800. University of Chicago. May 1992.
- Chair and Commentator for panel--"Social and Political Issues of the 16th Century." The Sixteenth Century Studies Conference, Philadelphia. October 1991.
- "Muscovite Grand Princely Texts, 1380s-1550s, and the Origins of Early Modern Russian Officialese." 26th International Congress on Medieval Studies, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan. May 1991. Panel organizer.
- "The Impact of the Gulf Crisis Upon Policy Change in the USSR." Rhode Island College. April 1991.
- "A Seventeenth-Century Account by a Muscovite Functionary on the Performance of the Russian Bureaucracy." Sixteenth Century Studies Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. October 1990.
- Chair and Commentator for panel--"The Origins of Early Modern European Absolutism, I." The Sixteenth Century Studies Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. October 1990.
- "What Did Muscovite Civil Servants Think of Their Bureaucracy?" American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Washington, D.C. October 1990. Panel organizer.
- "The Government Workers of Moscow: Salaries and Economic Survival." AHA Convention, San Francisco. December 1989. Panel organizer.
- "Are We Back to 1914 and 1939? Taking a Look at Ethnic Tension in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe." Rhode Island College. October 1989.
- "What Do We Know About Early Russian Government?" Faculty Colloquium, Rhode Island College. May 1989.
- "New Angles on the Politics of Ukrainian Muscovite Unification in the Seventeenth Century." Harvard University. April 1988.
- "Master and Minion in the 'Little Russian` Chancellery (Bureau) Before 1700." Harvard University. March 1987.
- Round Table Discussion on Early Russian History. American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies Convention (AAASS), New Orleans. November 1986.
- "How to Understand Russian Military History." University of Connecticut, Storrs. November 1986.
- "Method in the Mindset: What Seventeenth Century Records Reveal About Russian Perceptions of Muscovite Non Russians." Harvard University. February 1986.
- "Rzeczpospolita et eius magistratus: Measuring the Effectiveness of Seventeenth-Century Polish Government." III World Congress for Soviet and East European Studies, Washington, D.C. Panel organizer.
- "Muscovite Generals and Military Amateurism: Unravelling the Tactical Blunders and Human Costs of Seventeenth Century Russian Warfare." AHA Convention, Chicago. December 1984. Panel organizer.
- Chair and Commentator for panel "Documents from the Petrine Era and Foreigners' Images of Russia." Midwest Slavic Conference, Chicago. May 1983.
- "An Insider's Look at the Polish Government and Economy, 1977 1981." Grinnell College. March 1983.
- "Muscovite Administration and the Peoples of the North." AAASS Convention, Washington, D.C. October 1982. Panel organizer.
- Commentator for panel "Fiscal Policies, Institutions, and Revenues in Pre Petrine Russia." Midwest Slavic Conference, Chicago. May 1982.
- "The Auditing Chancellery and the Struggle Against Seventeenth Century Bureaucratic Graft." Midwest Slavic Conference, Chicago. May 1982.
- "Muscovite Concepts of Bureaucracy." AHA Convention. Los Angeles. December 1981. Panel organizer.
- "The Muscovite Military District System." Midwest Slavic Conference, Urbana Champaign. April 1981.
- "The Decline of Muscovite Bureaucracy." Stanford University. January 1980.
- "The Seventeenth Century Crisis of Muscovy and Poland." Midwest Slavic Conference, Minneapolis. May 1979. Panel organizer.
- "Bureaucracy, Thought, and Communication in Seventeenth Century Russia." University of Chicago. February 1979.
- "Administracja Polska, 1569-1696" (in Polish). Institute of History, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw. November 1977.
- "The Muscovite Chancellery System." Hope College, Holland, Michigan. October 1975.
- "Sistema prikaznogo kontrolia" (The Chancellery Control System) (in Russian). Department of Feudalism, Moscow State University. April 1974.
- "Monastery Immunity Charters in Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century Muscovy." University of Chicago. February 1972.
Professional AssociationsAmerican Historical Association.
American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies.
Early Slavic Studies Association.
Finno-Ugric Studies' Association of Canada (President, 2008-2010).
New England Historical Association.
Honors and AwardsHarvard University, Davis Center for Russian Studies/Russian Research Center. Fellow and Associate. 1990-to the Present.
Harvard University, Ukrainian Research Institute. Research Associate and Associate. 1984 to the Present.
Yale University, Visiting Fellow, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Rhode Island College Faculty Research Grants, Faculty Development Grants, and Summer Research Stipend.
Fulbright Hayes Fellow, International Research and Exchanges Board. Moscow, Leningrad.
Ford Foundation Fellowship.
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Eastern European Short-Term Studies Grant.
NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities). Translation Grant.
NEH Travel to Collections Grants.
IREX (International Research and Exchanges Board), Soviet Union. Graduate Student/Junior Faculty Exchange.
IREX, Soviet Union, accepted for Senior Exchange. Moscow.
IREX, Soviet Union/Russia, Short Term Travel Grants. Moscow, and Tartu, Estonia.
Polish Academy of Sciences and Main Archive of Ancient Acts. Researcher. Warsaw, Poland.
Kosciuszko Foundation, accepted for grant.
National Defense Education Act, Title VI.
Cate Fellowship and Social Science USSR Fellowship, University of Chicago.
Phi Alpha Theta, 1989-to the Present.


text:
Chilies and salsa turn up the tempo of these corn fritters. Bisquick® mix adds ease in preparation.
If you're not up for spicy, check this. Skip the chilies and salsa, and serve the fritters with butter and maple syrup. Yum!
Use a thermometer to make sure the oil temperature is 375ºF. If no thermometer is available, test the oil using a small cube of bread. As soon as you think the oil is hot enough, drop in the bread cube and count slowly to sixty. If the cube browns by this time, the oil is ready.
Keep fritters crispy by placing them in an uncovered pan in a 300°F oven.
This recipe was a winning entry in a Betty Crocker contest celebrating African American cooking.
© 2017 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved


text:
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|GTA V Latest News | #GTAV | #GTAOnline
2004 Fake SA Trailer II
GTA: San Andreas - General News | @ 08:16 PM MDT | By Zidane
Rafko sends us a link to their new fake San Andreas trailer. There's alot of things that are obviously from GTA3 and GTAVC, but there's alot of new stuff that looks pretty good. The only mirror that I found that works, is the one listed below:
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text: I hate to say it but POTUS has become a black hole for me. It brings out the worst in me, I've told myself before that I shouldn't discuss politics with people because it always ends up personal. Either I look bad or I think someone else does. That's not at all what I want out of my RTF experience. I've deleted most of my post and look forward to discussing dog training with any of you as I have alot to gain from that. Enjoy your passionate discussion over here, I'll be back on the bright side if you're looking for me


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Find out what it means to be Asian Pacific American and all the Asian cultures that exist in the world and in America.
Research Starter: Confucianism
Global Trek
Immigration: Stories of Yesterday and Today
Allen Say
, the award-winning author and illustrator of books like Home of the Brave and Grandfather's Journey. His book,
Music for Alice
, is about the incredible life of a Japanese-American woman during WWII.
Author Videos:
Keiko Kasza
Shaun Tan
Meet More Authors:
Linda Sue Park
Laurence Yep
Allen Say
Part 1
Part 2
Ken Mochizuki
Greg Tang
Ed Young


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Two Gentlemen of Verona (2009)
By Tom Markus
May we watch a rehearsal?" I've been asked that question hundreds of times. When I was a young director, I supposed people wanted an early viewing, and I replied, "You'll enjoy the play much more when it's ready for an audience." I was right when I said that, but I had missed the point. They didn't want a sneak preview. Those folks truly wanted to watch us work.
What work happens in a rehearsal? We talk a lot, analyzing the script to understand the characters and the story; we try out different ways to say the lines; we invent varying ways to move around the stage so as to tell the story most clearly; and we repeat things over and over and over again. To "rehearse" means to hear again. The French word for rehearsal is repetition, and that's wonderfully accurate. When folks do watch us at work, they are often disappointed because we repeat things over and over. We revise and refine, revise and refine throughout the entire rehearsal period.
However, ask actors, directors or designers, and they'll tell you that some of their most exhilarating theatrical experiences happened on a bare stage when the actors did a run-through of a play with makeshift scenery and wearing rehearsal clothes. Ask them why, and they'll eagerly tell you that they were free to focus on the characters and the story, and to imagine the visual world the way they wanted it, to see the scenery and costumes in their mind's eye. They'll use Shakespeare's phrase from the chorus in Henry V and tell you that watching a rehearsal gives you the freedom to let the play "on your imaginary forces work." This production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona is inspired by the experience inherent in a rehearsal, and we intend it to appear to be one. Our concept is especially appropriate for this play because the title characters revise and refine their understanding of true love and honorable friendship through the twists and turns of the plot, rehearsing until they achieve a complete knowledge of honorable friendship and true love in the final scene. As young Proteus and Valentine rehearse the values that form their maturity, so we rehearse the play to find its mature form.
We invite you to find our "work" entertaining.
By Elizabeth Ann Jochum
Shakespeare's Rehearsals
Scholars and theatre artists have long speculated about how Shakespeare's company rehearsed their plays. While little is known for certain, it is possible to imagine what this process looked like (as was done in the 1998 Oscar-winning movie Shakespeare in Love). Some of the rehearsal practices differ greatly from the way we prepare plays today, but others are similar. Shakespeare's company was originally a traveling troupe that performed a different play each day on the road, never performing the same play two days in a row. This repertory practice continued even after the company settled in London. Scholars estimate that the group performed between 30 and 40 plays each year. This meant that an average actor might have committed 30 or 40 parts to memory, while learning a new role every two weeks. Shakespeare's actors performed six days a week, just as CSF actors do. Scholars believe that rehearsal periods lasted from three days to five weeks, and that rehearsals were held onstage in the morning before the day's scheduled performance. While CSF actors might memorize 2,000 lines for the summer shows, Shakespeare's leading actors had 10 times that many in their heads, with much less time for rehearsal.
Elizabethan actors were given just their own parts and cues on a roll of paper (perhaps the origin of the term "role"). As a result, they prepared their parts alone and probably had only one or two run-through rehearsals before opening. CSF actors, by contrast, receive complete scripts and run through the play numerous times during roughly four weeks of rehearsal. The role of theatre director did not exist in Shakespeare's time. Young actors created their parts with advice from senior company members (there was no formal training for actors). As company playwright, Shakespeare most likely instructed his fellow company members on how to deliver their lines. He knew the actors and could tailor characters and dialogue to their strengths. For example, the comedian Will Kempe seems to have specialized in wordplay and clownish characters; he probably originated the role of Launce in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and played Dogberry inMuch Ado About Nothing.
Elizabethan actors worked together as an ensemble day after day, playing old parts and preparing new ones with astonishing efficiency. Their collaboration with the playwright likely made for a lively, improvisational atmosphere in rehearsal, a spirit our production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona aims to recapture.


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Sybil Weinstein
Madison - Sybil Weinstein passed away on January 21, 2013 in her Madison home with her daughters and her beloved friend Tatiana by her side. She was 91 years old.
Sybil's children, Naomi Cobb of Milwaukee and Freya Grand of Washington, DC, her sons in law David Cobb and Paul Ellis, and her grandchildren Elias Cohn, Sonya Cohn and Ariella Cobb will miss her dearly.
Sybil and her husband, Arvin B. Weinstein, lived in Madison since meeting at the University of Wisconsin in 1940. Sybil's long, rich life was enhanced by her many dear friends and neighbors, by a large and close-knit family and by the cultural life of Madison, a community that she loved. Sybil and Arvin also shared a great passion for travel and together they explored countries all over the world.
There will be a Memorial Service at Temple Beth El, 2702 Arbor Drive in Madison on Thursday, January 24 at 1:00 PM.
Donations in Sybil Weinstein's name may be made to Madison Jewish Federation and the Madison Symphony Orchestra.


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I know you liked Shockey but exactly how many championships did he bring us? I love Shocks too. I'm a huge fan of the U. Still he was a whiner.
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I know you liked Shockey but exactly how many championships did he bring us? I love Shocks too. I'm a huge fan of the U. Still he was a whiner.
[quote user="nycsportzfan"]
*I'm a Dwayne Allen guy, personally, as many know.. I do like Fleener as well, but allen is the guy i'm hoping for.. I do like the top 4guys at the positon though, and think all 4will have a solid NFL career.. My top 4would go like this

1. Dwayne Allen

2. Coby Fleener

3. Ladarious Green

4. Orson Charles
[/quote]Allen is my favorite TE too...for us that is.
I never like drafting TEs in the first because we don't utilize ours enough in the pass game to warrant drafting one early imo. I would like us to pick up a big bodied blocking TE late in the draft though.
i think gmen trade down and get an xtra pick from colts who def want fleener..then trade up in 2nd rd to get thr te they want in allen
For years, the Giants havent featured the TE.
Bavaro and Shockey
We have used adequate level TEs as receivers effectively. With that, i feel that Yes we need another healthy TE, but we dont need to take one in round 1.
Relax. I'm sure the Giants can get a good TE in round 4!!!!
Not all mocks. When it comes to the Giants draft, I pay attention to the beat writers.
Neither RV nor Mike Garafolo think Coby Fleener is even a chance
[quote user="slipknottin"][quote user="NewYorkSwagg"]I say wait till the six round and grab Egnew from Missouri we don't need a top TE. We have good TE's on the team already and maybe the best blocking TE in the NFL Bennett.[/quote]
What good TEs?*
Ballard is out for the season.
Beckum has been an underachiever.
Bennett has been a huge disappointment as a receiver.
Who else?* Pascoe?* Hes started 23 games for the Giants and has a total of 22 catches.
[/quote] I love your posts LOL
[quote user="Desepx"]we don't need a insanely athletic play making TE, we have that with bennet.
if a TE is really needed, we can just pick up somebody late that has some size and eli will make him look like a first rounder with the matchups he will see.
[/quote] Only 4 tds in four seasons for Bennet..
[quote user="B&RWarrior"]I know you liked Shockey but exactly how many championships did he bring us?* I love Shocks too.* I'm a huge fan of the U.** Still he was a whiner.[/quote] I was a fan before he became a head case
thought we were going Fleener for sure after Martin went off the board


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Alone in the dark, I present you Pitfdll, which is a GStreamer plugin for Win32 DLL loading. I guess I changed mind - I don't see a working free software WMV9/QDM2 decoder coming up anytime soon, no matter how close the ffmpeg people claim to be or how hard Fluendo is trying to release binary-only plugins. So we'll have to come up with something else for the time being. The plugin reads WMV9, IV50 and QDM2. More can be added by adding two lines of code defining the DLL and the format it supports in GStreamer notation.
The rushers will notice that it doesn't work in Totem, which is on purpose; Totem is heavily threaded, and threading breaks the DLL directly (see README). I'm unsure why, and would love to get some help from someone familiar with Wine or Xine (the DLL loading code is a direct cp -a from the Xine tree) code in this process (contact me on IRC in #gnome-hackers). Once that's fixed, I'll do a real release and add it to the repositories so people using Totem-GStreamer can finally enjoy those dreaded Apple.com trailers. :-).


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Part 2 of Trey's "Get Ready for The Summer" sale is live! Head to the official webstore to save on accessories, posters and more for a limited time: http://atlr.ec/1hsiP57
Shop Trey's webstore now for your official "Na Na" workout gear, and pick up $5.00 select tees and more at the Apparel Flash Sale! Check back next Monday, May 5th for new limited time specials! Trey wants to see your #TRIGGAGEAR! Already own official merch? Tag yourself on Instagram wearing your favorite Trey Songz merchandise!


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Garden tools that the pros love: Hula hoes, hori horis, Ho Mi diggers, bypass pruners and more
Tooling aroundJanuary 17, 2014 11:31 PM
Phil Gruszka digs through a yellow 5-gallon container, looking for the one tool he can't live without. He pulls a distressed orange hand pruner from the depths of the bucket.
"This is the baby," he says with a smile. "It's been in the family since 1963."
He has a sentimental attachment to the weathered Sandvik bypass pruner he inherited from his father, Stanley.
A look at favorites tools that stand the test of time
Professional gardeners talk about their favorite tools, ranging from pruning shears to shovels. (Video by Doug Oster; 1/17/2014)
"He never had a lot of money in his life, so for him to spend more money for this than the cheaper tools, he certainly saw the value in having a quality tool."
Mr. Gruzska started working with plants and trees as a teenager in the street department of his hometown of Downer's Grove, Ill. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service and Longwood Gardens, then eventually landed here as director of parks management and maintenance for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.
"I'm a tree pruner. I love pruning trees," he says with the worn tool in his hand.
But that's not all this pruner does for him. In the field and sometimes in a bind, he uses it as a knife, screwdriver, trowel and bottle opener. "I hate to admit that I've cut wire with it, too, but if you're out on a job site and you don't have a wire cutter with you, this tool will work."
It's comforting to hear a professional uses his tools the same way we all do.
The pruner still has the original high carbon blade, and it is constructed with case-hardened bolts and locking nuts, which have never slipped in half a century. "The beauty of a bypass pruner is you can sharpen, sharpen, sharpen and you continue to have an effective cutting surface."
Besides keeping an edge on the blade and oiling it, he's done nothing but use it daily in his job.
Mr. Gruszka advises gardeners to buy quality tools; they have a good chance to last for decades or longer. "I believe this hand pruner is going to go to one of my sons and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up going to one of my grandchildren," he says.
Curt Pesanka's shovel
In the Fruit and Spice Room at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Curt Pesanka lifts a bright silver shovel above his head and plunges it into the ground, sinking the blade deep into the soil.
This all-metal shovel has hung on a tool rack at the Oakland conservatory for as long as anyone can remember. While holding the shovel, he says: "You cannot break the handle. You cannot break the shovel."
Mr. Pesanka, who is the indoor display foreman at Phipps, often uses it to pry out huge plants that must be moved from one room to another. He originally thought this shovel was fabricated by hand because its welds are visible. Only one of its shoulders has a rubber foot pad, which he thought was odd and led him to believe one was missing. Then several years ago, Mr. Pesanka discovered the same exact tool in catalogs, sold as either a left- or right-footed model. An extra rubber pad can be ordered for an additional cost. This shovel even has a name.
"When we are in another room and I send someone to get this shovel, [I say] 'Go get Ironsides,' and they know exactly which shovel to bring me."
Mr. Pesanka sharpens the blade often with a file. "You put a nice edge on this shovel and it will go through roots like butter."
Because it's so heavy, it's easier on his muscles; the shovel does the work. With a smile, he warns: "When you throw this shovel, keep your feet out of the way."
There's only one like it in the conservatory, but he's thinking it might be time to buy another. It will need a different name.
"This is Ironsides. Maybe we'll name the other one Thor."
Claire Dusak's knife
Sitting on a brick wall in the Serpentine Room at Phipps Conservatory, outdoor display foreman Claire Dusak holds a scary-looking soil knife.
"It's not sharp enough to hurt you, but you could pull up a perennial and divide it right there with one swoop," she says.
The tool, also called a Hori Hori, has a 6-inch-long blade that is serrated on one side. "It does 1,000 things," including digging, scooping, cutting, weeding "and it also scares anyone who wants to mess with you," she says, laughing.
The cracks in sidewalks are no match for this formidable tool, Ms. Dusak says, and because it doubles as a measuring device, it can help determine how deep to plant bulbs.
For seven years, it's been her favorite tool. Ms. Dusak first tried one that was slightly larger with a wooden handle. As the rivets holding the wood loosened, her hands would be pinched between the two pieces of wood. When she noticed ones in catalogs with one-piece plastic handles, she ordered a few for the staff.
"It's an all-purpose tool, and the nice bright orange handle makes it easy to find when dropped in the grass."
Ann Talarek's digger
At the overlook, one of the best spots to view Fallingwater, Ann Talarek holds a strange-looking hand tool with a swan like head called a Korean hand plow or Ho-Mi digger.
Ms. Talarek, horticulture specialist for the historic house in Bear Run, Fayette County, discovered her favorite tool seven years ago. "I gave it a try, and it's been in my tool bucket ever since."
She says it's great for weeding, loosening soil, cultivating, seed sowing, transplanting, dividing plants and more.
"The fact that I can do many things with this tool instead of having to switch out for something else is my favorite thing about it."
Ms. Talarek has never had to sharpen the forged steel blade. There's a version with a longer handle, too.
"I've lost more of these in the woods than anything else. I found one I had dropped in the spring, and other than a little rust, everything was intact. I had another Ho-Mi digger."
Dave Will's scuffle
Soergel Orchards garden center manager Dave Will is an organic specialist who won't use chemical sprays to get rid of weeds. Instead, he uses a long-handled tool called a scuffle or hula hoe. It differs from a conventional hoe in that its business end resembles an open rectangle and it is used in a back-and-forth motion.
He first saw one in catalog and thought it was too good to be true. Two decades later, it's still his favorite tool. "It makes weeding so much easier and I'm all for easy," he says.
"You slide it back and forth; it works in both directions. It really reduces the time and drudgery of weeding."
Its smooth motion and long handle is easier on his back and joints, Mr. Will says. And because it cuts just below the surface, it barely disturbs the soil. "You're cutting the roots right underneath the soil, so you're not exposing weed seeds to sunlight."
Leaving the soil intact also cuts down on evaporation, he says.
Mr. Will says he has never had to sharpen the tool, which he uses only in his home garden.
Laughing, he says: "We use the high school kids here to weed."
Note: A.M. Leonard: www.amleo.com, 1-800-543-8955 carries soil knife, Korean hand plow, stirrup hoe and all-metal shovel.
Doug Oster: firstname.lastname@example.com or 412-779-5861. Visit his garden blog at www.post-gazette.com/gardeningwithdoug. Twitter: @dougoster1.


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We have consolidated all of our University news sources into one location called BingUNews. Inside stories published through 2016 will remain available here. Stories published in 2017 and later will be found at BingUNews. Enjoy!
'Fiske Guide' names Binghamton a 'best buy'
July 25, 2013Tweet
Binghamton University has been rated a "Best Buy" by the Fiske Guide to Colleges, and recognized as one of the "premier public universities in the Northeast."
Binghamton is one of 41 institutions − 21 public and 20 private − to be recognized by the college guide. The "Best Buy" rating is based on the quality of academic offerings in relation to the cost of attendance.
"Binghamton University is committed to becoming the premier public university of the 21st century," President Harvey Stenger said. "These rankings, which serve as a tool for prospective students and their parents as they consider colleges, help validate our efforts to provide an exceptional education to our students."
To determine the list, Fiske researchers combined cost data with academic and other lifestyle information about each college and university to determine what institutions offer remarkable educational opportunities at a relatively modest cost.
The guide gives high marks to Binghamton's academics, including its efforts to expand global awareness. Binghamton professors earned praise for their accessibility and classroom presentation. As noted by one student, "I've never taken a class with a professor who didn't truly care about my progress as a student." Students also are very positive about Binghamton's lively social life, its strong athletics program and residential communities.
According to Fiske editors, "With a four-year graduation rate that is among the highest of any public university, Binghamton has a reputation for an excellent education at a reasonable price."


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Weekend Results: Chaibi Tops Bovy, Beljaards Victorious
- Written by Rian Scalia
A few notables were in action this weekend. In Villeurbanne, France at Fight Zone 5, French notable Hichem Chaibi topped the experienced Thai Bovy Sor Udomson on points. Also on the card, Abdallah Ezbiri knocked out Filipo Solheid to become the new WKN European K-1 Champion in the 66.7kg division. Also in France, Karim Ghajji and Thomas Adamandopoulos both won on points at Urban Boxing United.
In the Netherlands, Nick Beljaards won on points against Yassin Lahmidi at the Bari Gym Gala. Beljaards will have a quick turn-around and fight at It's Showtime's May 21st event against Mo Ben Nasser. At the event "A Night To Remember," Khalid Chabrani defeated Errol Koning by 5 round decision. Koning will be facing Murthel Groenhart on June 11 for It's Showtime in Warsaw, Poland.


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It's Time to Donate a Little More
By Cristine Cronin
With the holiday season bearing down, many charities are on tenterhooks about end-of-year donations. Every year the nonprofit sector asks itself the same question: "Will giving be up or down this year?" After all, the yearend is when charities have an opportunity to balance the budget. Some people donate as a way to give thanks and help the needy; others are motivated by the tax deductions.
When you work in the charity sector, you are regularly reminded of the generosity of Americans, whether evidenced by the loyal perseverance of board members or the unstinting efforts of volunteers and staff. In New York City alone, there are more than 99,000 board members and 342,000 volunteers working at no pay to help NYC's nonprofits. Together they contribute an estimated 2.8 million hours of assistance per week, or the equivalent of 79,000 full-time employees, according to "New York City's Nonprofit Sector," a report from John Seley and JulianWolpert, co-directors of the New York City Nonprofits Project.
It's estimated that Americans give nearly $250 billion a year to charitable causes. Some Americans are puzzled when you point out how giving we are as a nation. A Midwesterner said to me: "I don't know anyone who is so terribly charitable."
I reminded him that most of the families in his neighborhood volunteer at their children's schools or take part in their kids' charity activities, such as cleaning up neighborhood parks, selling Girl Scout cookies, or holding car washes and book drives. The man I spoke with coaches Little League and helps with his church's poverty program. What would he call all that? The irony is that charity is so entwined in the fabric of our daily life that we forget our actions are even charitable.
But there's something different about 2005, which makes holiday giving more of a front-burner issue. It has been a year of seemingly constant disasters and persistent strain on resources, starting with the cleanup in the wake of the Asian tsunami, which struck on Dec. 26, 2004. That was a calamity beyond our imagination, taking the lives of more than 224,000. More recently, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma affected Americans closer to home, with harrowing images of people in life-and-death struggles.
History shows that people give much more readily in times of crisis. Televised images are forceful and convey a sense of urgency, which often translates into rapid donations. The Internet has played a salient role, because it allows donors to make gifts easily and instantaneously, while still caught up in the moment.
One can't help but wonder how many donation dollars are lost to good intentions that get deferred. It is estimated that donations in response to the recent earthquake in Pakistan were only 15% of what was raised after the tsunami, in part because fewer images of the earthquake were broadcast.
And one also can't help but wonder how the tragedies of 2005 will affect holiday giving. Will Americans hold back because they feel tapped out? Will our charitable instincts be dampened at this crucial time of year? Considering that approximately 76% of the nearly $250 billion raised by charities each year comes from individuals, the importance of these questions can't be ignored.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported last month that donations in 2004 to the 400 largest U.S. charities grew by 11.6%, and that 2005 is already looking strong. It appears then that big charities will weather the 2005 storms.
What's unknown is the fate of the vast expanse beyond the 400 largest charities. There are more than 1 million charities in the U.S. Many play pivotal roles in their communities, feeding and caring for the underserved and those most in need.
These groups depend greatly on holiday generosity, and their donors are often middle-class people with moderate incomes. If they stepped up to the plate for the tsunami, Katrina, Rita, or Wilma, they may feel less inclined -- or even less able -- to give during this holiday season.
Experience tells us that the middle class has fairly consistent giving patterns. In 2004 approximately four out of every five adults -- 83% -- donated money to one or more nonprofit organizations. Independent Sector's "Giving and Volunteering in the United States 2001" indicates that nearly 9 out of 10 American families give charitable contributions, with an average contribution of 3.2% of their pretax income.
In truth, most of us could be giving more. The average 3.2% of income is not that much, put in context of consumption patterns: Americans spend $23.5 billion a year on candy and gum, according to Thomson PDR; $8 billion on cosmetic procedures, reports the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery; and $40 billion a year on weight loss, per Fitness magazine. We can all probably afford to dig a little deeper into our pockets for charity, even this year. Especially this year.
Cristine Cronin is president of NYCharities.org, a free Web site dedicated to helping people donate whatever they can -- time, money, or talent -- to New York State's 60,000 charities


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Verona boys hockey downs Madison West
Wildcats face Edgewood in sectional final
VERONA - Zach Jones and Harry Seid both scored two goals as Verona's boys hockey team defeated Madison West 5-1 Tuesday night at Eagle's Nest Arena in Verona.
Seid scored twice in the first period to get the Wildcats off to a good start.
In the second period, Liam Schmitt started the scoring, then Jones added an even strength goal, and a 5 on 3 power play tally to make it 5-nothing.
Quinn Paskus scored the only goal of the night for the Regents early in the third period.
West goaltender Henry Cutting made 52 saves, while Verona's Alex Jones made 17 stops for the Wildcats.
Verona advances to the sectional championship game Saturday night at 6 pm against Madison Edgewood at Hartmeyer Ice Arena.
Edgewood defeated Middleton 3-2 in overtime in the other sectional semifinal at Madison Ice Arena Tuesday night.


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2006 Range Rover Sport Supercharged - True Color Intensity
Troy Lee Designs Blasts a Gun Full of Color at a High-End Target
Painting trucks and coming up with a new scheme, design, and color array for every custom vehicle is not something most of us have the talent to do. Add in the ability to know what colors to mix and create a spectrum of hues that nobody could possibly identify, and you have one crazy mess of colors. Standard solids are barley scratching the surface of what painters are squirting on vehicles nowadays. Troy Lee Designs (TLD) turns out many killer helmets over the course of a year, but it's the multi-colored rides TLD paints each year we look forward to seeing. One such awesome creation is this Range Rover Sport. It is covered in a range of candies that most would have no idea how to spray down.
Range Rover USA has been lounging in the spotlight of increasing sales, due to the company finally expanding its vehicle base to appeal to a wider array of customers. One of the more entertaining SUVs in its lineup is this '06 Range Rover Sport Supercharged. When we test-drove the vehicle against the Jeep SRT, we discovered a V-8 beating down 390 factory horsepower underneath the hood that made our hearts race. To celebrate its successful launch of the blown road rocket, Range Rover commissioned Troy Lee Designs to custom paint one of its forced-induction SUVs for the company's display at the ever-impressive SEMA Show that is held annually in Las Vegas. The underpinnings of the Range Rover Sport feature a four-corner, independent height-adjustable air suspension and Land Rover's Terrain Response system. Maintaining the capable off-road prowess Rover is known for and adding dynamic on-road capability, everything was left untouched save for the black powder-coated factory 20-inch rims that were trimmed with candy-red strips. Continental 275/40R20 4x4 SportContact tires supply the grip and the power is provided by a 4.2L V-8 that pushes the aforementioned 390 horsepower through a six-speed automatic transmission.
As for the interior, the plush Rover rolled off the assembly line with the Perforated Sports Ebony Cherrywood interior option. Feeling more like a sports car than an SUV, the cockpit environment was set up with a sea of supreme black leather and black plastic overtones with cherrywood and aluminum accented trim, all of which ran over the center console and door inserts. Troy Lee sought to add more color than the assembly plant would ever consider, and in doing so, he removed the factory cherry and aluminum pieces along with some of the black plastic parts that were attached to it. Before the components were set back in the vehicle for the final placement, TLD had smoothed and coated them in a wet-appearing deep coat of candy-apple red. No added appointments were made otherwise. Range Rover had already put in place the optional Harmon Kardon Logic7 audio system and it had been deemed perfect. The non-standard stereo claims 550 watts of power wailing through 14 speakers with 3-D imaging effectively harnessed by a 12-channel amplifier. A 7-inch wide LCD screen controls the sound, along with navigation and other system adjustments.
After gawking at the amazing paint, you would never care that not a single body modification exists on this vehicle, save for the removal of the plastic, three-dimensional "Range Rover" emblems from the hood and lift gate. In their place, TLD laid the same logo in eye-catching silver-leaf lettering outlined by a bright red border. That deep dark abyss is thanks to three coats of House of Kolor Black. Altogether, more than 250 hours were mandated in the paint process that included masking, back masking, painting, striping, clearing, and a final finish. Innovative design details are featured throughout with colors ranging from Tru Blu Metallic to Candy Tangerine and Cherry Pearl to many more in between. Rover wanted a unique vehicle, so Troy Lee Designs filled it with a show-winning color scheme that would have made any car standout.
The odds are, almost all of the buyers purchasing a Range Rover would never agree to have their personal vehicle painted in such a way as this showpiece. But, it's impossible to argue with the final result. Should these color swaths be lifted from this top-dollar SUV and spread across a truck more regularly featured in our pages, it would be a trophy-garnering machine. After being a SEMA Show centerpiece, the Rover was moved to the lobby of the Rover USA headquarters, in Irvine, California, where we snapped these images in the company's front fountain. If we ever have the disposable sure to have Troy Lee Designs drop us a killer color image session like this.


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LinkedIn ordered to face claims of misusing user e-mail lists
SAN FRANCISCO - LinkedIn must face a lawsuit claiming the company violated customers' privacy rights for marketing purposes by accessing their external e-mail accounts and downloading their contacts' addresses.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, means LinkedIn members who sued can continue to pursue damages for revenue the company made using their e- mail address books as they try to expand the case to include thousands of other customers. Thursday's ruling follows Koh's earlier decisions in a Google Inc. privacy case involving e-mail users that were sharply critical of the search engine company's policies.
The lawsuits against LinkedIn and Google, as well as one before Koh against Yahoo! Inc., have raised novel questions about how wiretap laws enacted before the Internet apply to the companies' use of troves of data generated when people send e- mails and surf online.
Users of the world's most popular professional-networking website consented to LinkedIn's sending an "endorsement e- mail" to recruit their contacts to the site, Koh said in her ruling. The judge said the company's practice of then sending reminder messages to contacts who hadn't responded was grounds for the lawsuit to go forward.
LinkedIn's sending repeated e-mails could impair reputations by allowing contacts to think the network member is "unable to take the hint" that they don't want to join the website, Koh said.
While Koh agreed to throw out claims based on federal wiretap and stored communications claims, she said LinkedIn may have violated California's right of publicity, which protects against the appropriation of someone's name or likeness, without their consent, for commercial purposes.
"This type of injury, using an individual's name for personalized marketing purposes, is precisely the type of harm that California's common law right of publicity is geared toward preventing," Koh wrote.
"Nothing in LinkedIn's disclosures alerts users to the possibility that their contacts will receive not just one invitation, but three," she said.
Crystal Braswell, a spokeswoman for LinkedIn, said the company is pleased that the court "rejected plaintiffs' unfounded 'hacking' claims and found that LinkedIn members consented to sharing their email contacts with LinkedIn."
"We will continue to contest the remaining claims, as we believe they have no merit," she said in an e-mail.
The customers who sued seek group status on behalf of other users. They are asking the court to bar Mountain View, California-based LinkedIn from repeating the alleged violations and to force it to return any revenue stemming from its use of their identities to promote the site to non-members, according to court filings.
LinkedIn required the members to provide an external e-mail address as their username on its site, then used the information to access their external e-mail accounts, according to the complaint.
The customers allege it was part of LinkedIn's growth initiative to send multiple e-mails endorsing its products, services, and brand to potential new users.


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Here are a few plants I've recently added:
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Greenery in the Sunroom
Here are a few plants I've recently added:
9 comments:
- Cindy said...[Reply to comment]
What beautiful orchids. I don't have much luck with them unfortunately. You are right tho, however long they last it's better than cut flowers...
Have a great week!
- March 27, 2012 at 2:53 PM
- ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...[Reply to comment]
Your plants are beautiful Andrea and I love that cute little rusty rabbit!!
- March 27, 2012 at 3:29 PM
- Kelly said...[Reply to comment]
I love all of your plants in there. That blue orchid is just beautiful! I've never seen a blue one before. I have a fake orchid, but have never owned a live one. The terrarium your mom got you is so cute too. It's perfect in that room.
- March 27, 2012 at 4:04 PM
- Elizabeth (Blue Clear Sky) said...[Reply to comment]
Great glimpses of your sunroom and lovely plants. I especially like the terrarium, your coffee table and that chunky rug. I have been thinking lately that we need more greenery at our home too.
- March 27, 2012 at 4:09 PM
- Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...[Reply to comment]
Love your plants. Hopefully they will do well in that light filled room.
- March 27, 2012 at 4:44 PM
- Jenny said...[Reply to comment]
What beautiful flowers and plants! I don't think I've ever seen a lue orchid before - stunning! Love that room, I'll bet you get a lot of use out of it.
- March 27, 2012 at 6:39 PM
- Diane said...[Reply to comment]
I would have to say your sun room is my favourite room in the house. I am a sun lover, so I love all the windows. Your orchard is indeed beautiful. Diane
- March 28, 2012 at 4:42 AM
- Tammy @BeatriceBanks said...[Reply to comment]
Love how all the greenery and flowers bring life to your sunroom! Blue orchids are amazing! I especially love the silver urn. swoon!
- March 29, 2012 at 10:02 AM
- thistlewoodfarm said...[Reply to comment]
What a perfect place to curl up with an book. I love all your decorations. It is so peaceful!
Have a great weekend!
- March 30, 2012 at 3:01 PM