text:
MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs unveiled their state-of-the-art spring training facility in the desert Wednesday as chairman Tom Ricketts remained hopeful that work on their historic home back in Chicago will begin soon.
"We're working toward a point that it can get done," Ricketts said Wednesday. "Everybody's talking. Everyone has incentives to see us get to that point. And we're optimistic that we'll get to the finish line on that pretty soon. But it's a process. We just got to play through it."
Ricketts spoke at the ribbon-cutting for Cubs Park in Mesa, Ariz., their new publicly funded stadium and training complex. Pitchers and catchers report Thursday, and players will be greeted by a sparkling new facility.
In Chicago, not much has changed.
The $500 million overhaul to Wrigley Field remains on hold. The Cubs want to install a 650-square-foot sign in right field with a guarantee that the neighboring rooftop owners won't slow construction with a lawsuit. The project funded by the team would also include a Jumbotron in left field and upgrades throughout the stadium for players and fans along with a hotel across the street.
The rooftop owners, who hand over a percentage of their revenue to the team, are balking amid concerns about blocked views. At the Cubs' annual fan convention last month, Ricketts said there was progress but also compared the owners to neighbors peering through the living room window to watch Showtime and then charging others to get a look. That didn't sit well with the rooftop owners and negotiations stalled.
"Everyone has an incentive to get it done," Ricketts said Wednesday. "I think everyone wants to see this get to the finish line, and we're working toward it."
Getting the project in Mesa completed wasn't easy, either.
The Cubs discussed moving to Naples, Fla. Instead, they're staying in Mesa after voters in 2010 approved a $99 million outlay of public money for the stadium complex, a redo of next-door Riverview Park and infrastructure.
The new ballpark has the largest seating capacity in the Cactus League at 15,000, and it includes some features reminiscent of Wrigley Field such as arched steelwork, a brick wall behind home plate and a green scoreboard with a clock. Players will have access to a two-story workout facility, a hydrotherapy room, a 120-seat theater, family waiting room and cafeteria.
There are 12 covered batting tunnels and two groups of 12-mound bullpens, six full-size practice fields and one half-size field for infield practice, as well as other specialized training areas.
"Now, we have a facility that reminds us that we are a part of something special when we come to work every day," president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "This place is as good as it gets. ... if we can't get better here we can't get better anywhere else. I promise you we will work extremely hard to get better and to put that World Series flag on top of this complex to finish it off."


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|2004-10-23, 12:14
|Link #223
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Sverige, Hälsingland,
Age: 36
Ranma 1/2 cuz it's really funny,
Inuyasha cus it has very solid story,
Kenshin the best samurai anime,
Naruto entertaning and addictive,
FMP fumoffu cuz the animation is very good and the story's just hilarious,
|2004-10-23, 13:47
|Link #224
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Loving a peaceful life in San Clemente, California.
Age: 44
not to pick on Mashimaro, but if y'all'd please give reasons why you like the anime, that would be nice. "list threads" are againts forums rules. Because they are boring.
Besides which, it's hard to that believe someone really likes an anime if he or she doesn't explain why. Also, I've discovered a couple of great animes because of what people have said here...
|2004-10-24, 01:55
|Link #225
Saphine Lord
actually i can list more than 5 animes in my top 5 list
1- hunter x hunter, shaman king, full metal alchemist, golden boy, berserk
2- cowboy bebop, haibane renmei, last exile, full metal panic fumoffu, vampire hunter d:bloodlust
3- full metal panic, gto, inuyasha, naruto, tenjou tenge
4- ghost in the shell, one piece, macross plus, macross zero
5- kimagure orange road, mononoke hime, evangelion, gunparade march, wolf's rain, magic knight rayearth
most of them are fascinating and it is of the reason.
besides, i usualy like animes according to my watching duration. if one anime could be seen as at least 7-8 part in one period it is good for me.
for the first number animes, i watched these anime in 2 or there times. at least 20-21 parts in one period because i really like them.
and than the others' number of part decreased. for the 5th line animes, the parts per period were actualla 3-4.
|2004-10-24, 03:22
|Link #226
actually I'm now trying to do a sort of compilation out of all the choices listed so any help anyone could give with that would be appreciated (categories like most ground breaking, best action, best comedy etc...) so if anyone could lend a hand with that it would be appreciated. Here is the thread: "Anime Awards 2004?" http://forums.animesuki.com/showthre...005#post349005
Darcy White
|2004-10-24, 07:42
|Link #228
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
In no special order -just the best I can remember even now.
Green Green
Absolute humour and raunchy romance to boot. Also, there just might be a *real* love-triangle in the end -one can only hope.
Outlaw Star
If you can ignore the horrible ending, several anomalies in the plot (like the protagonist getting shot in one screen then being like nothing in the next), and space-ships with arms so they could shoot with gigantic pistols -instead of their "normal" laser-vulcans- you can find a really entertaining anime.
Love Hina
Again, if the end is ignored this is another great anime -if you are into harem-stuff.
Tenchi Muyo!
Much like Love Hina, but a bit better thanks to the "demon." Some anomalies in this one too and their relationships do not seem to go anywhere, but good nevertheless.
Buttopi CPU
It's just perverted in a right way.
|2004-10-28, 06:25
|Link #230
Join Date: Dec 2003
1. Saiyuki in all of its 3 incarnations (a bummer that they teased us by by didn't animated the Burial arc).
2. Samurai Champloo, had the guts to touch on really unpleasant bits of Japanese history and paid for it (and the fights are awsome).
3. Full Metal Alchemist, not just a crowd pleaser.
4. Slayers Next (3 words, Xellos, Xellos, Xellos )
5. Hmm, not sure.
|2004-10-28, 10:06
|Link #231
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Age: 34
This would be hard to list....but Here is my list at this current moment and time (altho this list would be subject to change in the future depending on future shows I see):
1. Hunter x Hunter
2. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (UNCUT) Don't hate it's really a great show when you get past the first crappy saga.....I'm one that usually watches and doesn't stop til the end unless the show is EXTREMELY bad or has STRONG homosexual content (that isn't comedy...).
3. Initial D
4. Detective Connan (Case Closed) - Also saw this recently, but I have been REALLY enjoying this series on Adult Swim.
5. Sorcerer Hunters - Saw this one recently, but it was a show I REALLY enjoyed watching.
My Top 5 are listed by "Thrill" factor. Ones that "excited" me more (stop thinking dirty you...-_-) while watching it I consider to be the best.
Shows That were considered that didn't make it to the list:
Dragonball Z
Hand Maid May
Adventures of Mini-Goddess
Top 5 Animations (not based on art skills):
1. Family Guy
2. Hunter x Hunter
3. Megas XLR
4. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
5. Aqua Teen Hunger Force
|2004-11-17, 00:36
|Link #237
hmm my favorites are
1.Hajime no ippo (action+depth training+comedy=kickass combination)
2.FMP+fumofu (funnyand original)
3.Noir (gotta love the music and modern day assassins)
4.hellsing(lot of kiling and vampires what more can i say)
5.Naruto (ninjas rock)
top five overrated anime
1.Rurouni kenshin(the ovas were kickass)
2.cowboy beebop(too random)
3.DBZ(oh please call me when there done powering up)
4.Evangelion(comon did that make like ne sense+ a cry baby main char)
|2004-11-20, 07:21
|Link #238
Acolyte - I Heal People
My top 5 favourites (No ranking)
Full Metal Panic --> Daisuki,daisuki!!^_^
Fruits Basket --> Caring guys and really funny scenes
Harukanaru Toki no Naka de --> Even though it's quite similar to Fushigi Yuugi but it's definitely better!!!
Naruto --> I watch because of cool Sasuke..>.>
Rave --> Just started watching and thinks it's good
|lists, top five
|Thread Tools

subset: commoncrawl


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Bamboo Road
Many of us have criss-crossed this beautiful area on a 'shoestring' over the years. Now return with us and spin through stunning mountains, along sparkling coastlines, into misty valleys, beside historic waterways, into small villages and ancient historic sites, revel in some of the world's best foods and enjoy the unsurpassed hospitality of the region's people and South Asia's endless charm. The Bamboo Road Bicycle Expedition meanders through China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand & Malaysia – all becoming hotspots for cycle tourists. Enjoy a boat trip through the spectacular Ha Long Bay outside Hanoi, shop until you drop in Hong Kong, cycle through the incredible Angkor Wat or kayak the turquoise waters off Ao Nang on the Thai coast.
The Bamboo Road Bicycle Expedition will weave a magical path between two of the world's Alpha cities – Shanghai and Singapore. Between our departure from the historic Bund in Shanghai and your first sip of an ice cold Singapore Sling at the Long Bar in the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, you and your bike will experience three months of intense, incredible, exhilarating cycling.
Leaving the modern city of Shanghai, riders will soon find themselves pedaling through bamboo-clad hills, alongside lakes and canals and staying in ancient villages. The terrain will change into a rugged lush mountainous zone and cyclists will enjoy a rest day in Wuyi Shan with its spectacular scenery – waterfalls, forests, mountains and rivers. Turning south to the coast, another highlight will be the 14th century city of Xiamen – one of the most beautiful harbour cities in the country. Fresh fish, colonial architecture and bike lanes abound. A few days later riders will arrive in the city of Hong Kong.
This section begins with a leisurely bus transfer from Hong Kong to Kaiping on which the riders can rest up from their late-nights taking in the hustle of one of Asia's biggest economies. Riders will take their mark again in Kaiping where they will discover a vast collection of UNESCO highlighted watchtowers. Built by 'coolies' returning with their fortunes from California, the styles vary from Roman to Rococo. Cyclists will now head west on roads just north of the coast headed towards their rest day in Hengzhouzhen. Take in the sights and smells of the harvest as you meander across the quieter roads of the most populated country on Earth. Watch the edges of the road as you ride, as stretching along the roadways local farmers area busy harvesting and drying rice to sell at the local markets. After a few quiet days its time to say goodbye to China, and hello to Vietnam! The border crossing between China and Vietnam will come shortly after a jaunt through the Friendship Pass. Traditionally the designation for the border of China and Vietnam (though the official border has moved a little bit over the years), Friendship Pass got its current name in 1965 to reflect the close political ties between China and North Vietnam during the then on-going Vietnam War. The ride within this northern part of Vietnam will take the group through stunning mountains, jungle vistas and plenty of political history. Continuing on to Hanoi riders can sample some truly authentic Pho, a little Vietnamese coffee (or beer!) and delve deeper into the over 1000 years of history offered in the capitol city. 2010 marked one thousand years since the establishment of the city of Hanoi and the history is apparent around every corner; From the French colonial to the traditional. Take particular note of the tall, thin buildings. Historically homeowners were taxed according the width of the front of their house. This rule led to some pretty unique architectural examples throughout Hanoi. Wander through the streets and alleys and learn about what makes this city so unique. With two rest days in Hanoi before the next section begins riders can take advantage of an opportunity for a day-trip (or overnight trip) to Ha Long Bay. Consisting of over 1,600 limestone monolithic islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation the bay is otherworldly. Explore the bay on boat, visiting one of the floating fishing villages and exploring the caves (Thien Cung grotto and other caves provide a cool escape from the daily heat); Or just put up your feet, open a cold beer, and enjoy the stunning scenery.
Heading south from Hanoi, the riders will pass water buffalo, farmers, and rice paddies while they pedal along secluded country lanes. Staying inland from the coast, they will travel through small villages and National Parks before turning west and climbing over the Kaew Nua Pass into rural Laos. Here they can explore the amazing karst formations and caves during their rest day in Thakhek, situated on the legendary Mekong River. For the next 10 days the cyclists will follow this historic waterway through pastoral scenes, watching closely for the endangered freshwater Mekong dolphins near Kratie, crossing into Cambodia and past ancient Khmer temples and tropical rainforests before arriving in Phnom Penh.
Having enjoyed a few ice-cold Angkor beers at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Phnonm Penh, riders will cycle along the northern edge of the Tonle Sap, Cambodia's most important waterway. Three days later they will arrive for a double rest day in Siam Reap. Here the participants will marvel at one of the world's most spectacular sights – Angkor Wat. Here they will be able to cycle freely around the 40 square km of temples and statues of gods and demons. Four days of spinning across the friendly and welcoming Thai countryside brings the section to an end in Bangkok.
Leaving Bangkok, the riders will hug the coast of the Gulf of Thailand with palm trees, sand and warm waters on one side and forested mountains on the other. The cyclists will stop for a rest day in Thailand's oldest beach resort, Hua Hin, where the Thai Royal family is known to spend some time. Further south the route turns sharply west towards the Burmese border and the coastal road along the Andaman Sea. There will be some challenging climbing here, our first since leaving Vietnam, and the riders will subsequently enjoy their rest day in Ao Nang, possibly kayaking around the area's stunning islands. The expedition then turns back inland and crosses into Malaysia before jumping on a ferry into historic Georgetown, Penang, the end of this sun-soaked section.
Heading back to the mainland the cyclists will now head inland to the romantic, colonial town of Ipoh before veering south and arriving in the modern metropolis of Kuala Lumpur. Riders will enjoy a rest day here climbing the iconic Petronas Towers or enjoying a relaxing walk through the British-inspired Lake Gardens. The last stretch of this section, and indeed the full tour, returns to the coast and passes through the great historic trading city of Meleka where they can also enjoy the inhabitants' unique take on traditional Malaysian cuisine. Finally, the participants will cross into Singapore, ending this epic adventure.


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MFR Round Up - Mornington Cup Day [02:46]
All the racing action and news from Mornington Cup Day as well as a look towards champion mare Black Caviar's resumption at Flemington on Saturday.
Aarup Gokarthal(Dk) - Caroline, Jeppe, Daniel, Oktay & Kris.mp4 [12:49]
Music: Michael Jackson - Beat It Queen - We Will Rock You AC/DC - Thunderstruck Van Halen - Jump
2013 So Farrrrrr [03:46]
2012 ended with me in hospital with horrible abdominal pains and I then had exams, leading to a long break from riding. This was ended until the snow came because snow is mean to people. But today we went out competing again - yay! And George is back to his old self (we got 9 strides down a 12 horse stride related distance). Went clear in the showjumping phase, but lost my stirrup over fence 3, leading to him swerving out in front of one of the XC fences, so I fell off and he trod on me. i don't blame him though and he was jumping impeccably so I shan't complain, he felt absolutely amazing :) Harvey has been out 3 times this week and I think we've cracked how to travel him and keep him happy. The schooling clip you see is the first ride back after the snow and he was verrrrry fresh! He's coming along amazingly now, and I did have some footage of the last couple of weeks but my SD card was lost at my friend's party. he's been doing simple changes and we just need to get him going FORWARD. This feels strange as usually I'm on a time bomb pony who aspires to be a rocket. But I have clear aims for them both this year and I think they're all within reach, just have to get out there and do it now! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH :)
Fan Runs Onto Racetrack [00:50]
A man ran across the track during the stretch run of the feature race at Del Mar on Thursday, barely escaping contact with several horses that were driving for the finish line. The man, carrying a duffel bag filled with personal belongings, jumped the outer rail as the horses reached the top of the stretch. As the field got closer, he began running in the same direction as the horses and, about 30 yards before the wire, with Chris McCarron trying to avoid him aboard the race winner, Sea Of Serenity, the man flung the bag behind him, into the path of another horse. The second-place finisher, Factual Attraction, missed the man by inches, and he was then missed by two other trailing horses--Toga Toga Toga and Regal Gentry--who simultaneously passed on either side of him. The man, later identified as Russell Howard Caputo, 38, a onetime resident of Beverly Hills, then jumped the inner rail, ran across the turf course and was apprehended near the tote board by a member of the starting-gate crew and taken into custody. The name of the race was the Royal Order of Jesters Purse. William Knowles, director of security for the track, said Caputo was turned over to the San Diego County sheriff's office. "There are indications," Knowles said, "that he's suffering emotional problems. When he was taken into custody, he made vague references to self-destruction. He said something about doing it on the train, then said that he wanted to do it on the track." A sheriff's spokeswoman ...
Horse riding jumping x ;D [02:44]
pandy x
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Mississippi History & Genealogy Notes
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Black Churches
A look at some of Jackson's oldest
black churches
. Also a look at the
on the campus of Tougaloo College.
posted by Lori Thornton @
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0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
I have to keepreminding myself of the cartoon caption: "I must take action! Someone on the Internet is wrong!!!", because really, it doesn't matter. I'm not going to change their minds by pointing out any half-truths/untruths/myths they post; I'm not going to inform or enlighten them or the people who agree with them, so why bother? Take a deep breath and move on.
Ignore, ignore, ignore. She has the right to post whatever she wants, even if it is factless and belongs in the tin foil hat brigade.If you feel like getting in a pointless debate/pig waltz, feel free to comment on her posts but I've found people that post that kind of stuff are just trying to be inflammatory, an dyou'd just be feeding in to it. You're not going to change her mind.If you can't bring yourself to block or defriend, just skim right over them.
Facebook really needs to let you filter specific people's posts by keyword. "Don't show me anything Bob posts that has the words Glenn Beck, abortion, conspiracy, communist, or Obama." Would be useful for filtering out posts about exes, too
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Goal-Setting Workshop
Start:29 January 2014
Time:10.30am - 4.30pm
LocationEquity, London
Download as vCalendar (for Microsoft Outlook etc.)
This workshop from FEU TRAINING aims to give you tools to process all your aims, now and in the future, so you can create clear, achievable, compelling goals, which are compatible with and do not conflict with any other areas of your life.
Workshop Content
This course will:
- help you define clear, achievable goals which are within your control
- provide a model to allow you to check your goals to ensure that you really want them, and that achieving them will not result in you losing something else that is important to you
- give you an opportunity to amend or re-configure your goal to make it fully desirable to you
- identify what might obstruct your goal, and what you can do about it
- understand what the purpose of your goal is to you and become fully aligned to it – making it a compelling goal
- learn tools to tackle difficulties
- identify your first steps.


text:
It was a cold start to the area this morning. In fact, Greenville airport recorded a temperature that was 2° below the record set back in 1956. The very dry and cool air mass will stick around through the weekend making for a much different feel to the air than this past week.
Old Record: 44° (1956)
New Record: 42°
High pressure moving into the East Coast will bring clear skies and below normal temperatures to Eastern Carolina for the weekend. Afternoon highs will average in the middle 70s both Saturday and Sunday. By Memorial Day some locations may touch 80°. There is little or no chance for rain through the first of the week.
The beaches will see gusty northwest winds at 20 to 25 knots on Saturday with diminishing winds by Sunday afternoon. Folks headed to the beach will see generally sunny skies with highs in the lower to middle 70s and overnight lows in the 50s. A Small Craft Advisory will continue into Saturday afternoon.


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HAMILTON — While many couples whispered sweet nothings to one another, Hamilton School District and its teachers union hammered out a tentative agreement during overnight negotiations on Valentine's Day.
Board Member Richard Kanka, chair of the negotiating committee, said planned to present the plan to the board in an executive session at the Wednesday night meeting. The teachers have been working without a contract since last year.
"I'm happy to report that we have reached a tentative settlement with Hamilton Township Education Association," he said.
The agreement, signed Feb. 15, will have to be approved by the board and the full membership of the union before it becomes official. In addition, the board also went over its new manual on contracting and a new, expanded audit, spurred by the scandal that ousted former Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo.
The board urged the two-part audit after the scandal involving former Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo. Bencivengo was convicted in November of five federal charges related to the school board corruption case against him. Marliese Ljuba, the government's cooperating witness in the case, testified she bribed him with $12,400 in exchange for his influence with members of the Board of Education.
Ljuba, at the time the district's health insurance broker, wanted to preserve her business with the township, which had operated without a contract since 2009.
The district would do all of its purchasing through the purchasing office, rather than approved by separate departments. Also, the district will go to competitive contracting practices for its insurance practices. The board will vote on the manual and audit next week.
Connie Silakoski, a representative from the citizens advocacy group Citizens Campaign, which has been lobbying for these reforms since last year, said she was glad to see the proposal come through.
"You are putting the faith back in the community that has been lost in the past year," she said.
The group also pushed for similar reforms in Hamilton Township, which also passed an ordinance Tuesday that included professional services contracting.
Board Member Patty Del Giudice also brought up an issue with the district's monthly suspension report at Steinert High School. Of the 18 suspensions in January, more than a third were for intimidation and threats. That, she said, was evidence of an intense bullying problem at the high school.
"We do have a drug problem at Steinert," she said. "And there is a tie-in with the bullying issue. They are overlapping."
She said she heard from her child in the school as well as others about widespread use of the drug Molly, or MDMA, at the school. She also asked whether the district could reinstate random K9 drug searches in the schools.
Joseph Slavin, newly minted director of administration, said many of the suspensions and bullying reports from online harassment on social media outside of school. He said parents and others reported the online bullying that occurred outside of school. He cautioned against solely increasing punishments without including education.
"Education of the children will stop the bullying you have to go after that first," he said.
Board President Jeff Hewitson said the administration should look at revising its policies in the near future to try and deal with the bullying problems.
"What we are doing right now is not working," he said.
Parla said he wanted to make a "concerted effort" to address the bullying problems at the district's schools.
"This is a problem not just here in Hamilton. It is in every high school and every middle school across the nation, but we can't accept that," Parla said. "If we just continue with business as usual it is just going to spiral."


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Help Mady with Her Fight Against Cancer
Facebook is pretty amazing. It gives people access to the world and their friends like we've never seen before. The other day I saw a message up on our Facebook that caught my attention. It had to do with a young gal in Iowa. I asked for more information from Tami VanDerBrink and here's what it said.
Mady Hansmann is a 12 year old girl in the 7th grade and lives Boyden, Ia. She has had stomach issues for a while and after a while of doctoring they found a tumor on her right ovary. Mady then had her first surgery to remove this tumor on March 5 3013 and ended up being a 10lb tumor!
Mady was doing real good for a while and then her numbers on her blood count started to climb back up so back to Omaha for a body scan. Body scan showed yet another tumor so she has to have removed with surgery yet again and possibly 6 weeks of chemo.Mady is a brave strong girl! So we are having a benefit supper with auction to follow to help with medical/travel expenses on October 19th at the Boyden-Hull elementary at 5pm.
So, what do you say. Put it on your calender and help Mady out if you're in the area.


text: MOFGA's Unity Hall is a 4,000 square foot room used for workshops, conferences, meetings, feasts, social gatherings, and, of course, the Exhibition Hall of the Common Ground Country Fair. In 1998, the post & beam construction was built by four different timber framers including Connolly & Company of Edgecomb; Timber Frames by R.A. Krouse of Arundel; Mike Smiley Timber Frames of New Sharon; and Fairbanks Timber Frames of Winthrop. The framers cut sections of the Hall and joined them together at the raising. Unity Hall was made possible by the generosity of Bert and Coral Clifford of Unity.


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Dry Hill Ski Area's snow cannons are running full bore this week, pumping massive quantities of powder onto the slopes in an effort to see the season through to its spring conclusion.
Timothy L. McAtee, the mini-resort's owner, is spending thousands of dollars a day to get the base layer just right while the cold weather and low humidity provide ideal conditions for snow making.
Mr. McAtee said he would prefer 5 inches of man-made snow over 2 feet of natural snow because artificial snow is better for the base.
That calculation doesn't account for the sentimental effect the real stuff has on area residents, though.
Mr. McAtee said it is hard for people to comprehend that even when the rest of Jefferson County is without snow, if the temperature is right, Dry Hill is covered.
It is a quirk in logic that cost the facility a pretty penny last year when it incurred the same expenses from artificial snow making but lost revenue because of the lack of natural snow to whet appetites for wintry sports.
The area on County Route 67 in the town of Watertown offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing and expects to be open through March 15.
Mr. McAtee said snowboarding was the most popular offering a few years ago, until changes in technology brought about a resurgence of interest in skiing. Now there are more people taking ski lessons than ever before.
And then there's tubing: a good remedy for cabin fever requiring almost no skill or equipment.
"We provide the tube, the lift and the hill," Mr. McAtee said.
According to Mr. McAtee, there are so many ways to find out if the area is open, such as checking out the website or simply driving by the place, that it's easy enough to tell if there's snow on the ground and whether a trip is in order.
"There aren't too many communities with a ski area so close," he said.
Mr. McAtee said the area had a decent Christmas, but the recent warm weather put a damper on the season. The area had to close Sunday because the winds were too high to run the ski lifts.
By keeping the snow cannons running all week, Mr. McAtee said, he hopes to salvage the season by laying down a good base layer that will make it through at least two more thaws before residents start to turn their minds to spring sports.
Skiing came to the site years ago when a farmer hauled skiers up the hill behind his tractor. In the 1950s, Hall Ski-Lift Co., Watertown, built the lifts that now ferry riders to the top of the run.
The name itself has an altogether different genesis. According to Mr. McAtee, during prohibition, a liquor distillery was located on the hill until it was destroyed by law enforcement officials, who then christened it "Dry Hill."
The fact that Dry Hill overlooks Watertown makes it even more ironic, Mr. McAtee said.
He said he has contemplated changing the name but eventually decided against it. It's just too popular with customers.
Dry Hill is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Lift tickets are only $15 from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
A $2 discount on lift tickets is available for active-duty military members and their families. For more information, go to skidryhill.com.
-Daniel Flatley, Watertown Daily Times staff writer


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Tag Archives: national apartments association
Team CMC in The Big Easy
Posted on 21. Jun, 2010 by Melanie.
This week we venture off to New Orleans for the National Apartment Association Education Conference and we are excited! Four whole days of jazz, flavorful dining, enjoying warm, summer breezes in French-style gardens….OK, OK so maybe not all that relaxing will take place. There are tons of info sessions we are looking forward to and […]


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Strider - Xbox 360https://www.gameinformer.com/games/strider/b/xbox360/atom.aspxCommunity Server2013-07-19T20:56:00ZDouble Helix Honors The Way Of The Ninja/games/strider/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/18/strider-review-game-informer.aspx2014-02-18T02:01:00Z2014-02-18T02:01:00Z

Strider is one of those awesome classic characters that for some reason Capcom never got behind fully. After the gravity-defying ninja's first arcade outing in 1989, there was only one sequel on PlayStation, and that was over a decade ago. With such drastic gaps between entries, its that much more important that the new Strider game is done right. I'm happy to report that Double Helix nailed all of the classic elements of the series while launching it into the modern era.

There is so much here for fans of the previous games. Strider controls fantastically and always looks like a total badass. He leans forward to sprint, kicking up dust in his wake. His attacks are simply a blur of death. In the rare event that he's standing still, he settles on a cool pose with his plasma scarf trailing dynamically behind him. He takes on favorites like the Ouroboros, the triplet fighting sisters, the mecha-gorilla, and several new characters in a plentiful array of entertaining boss battles.

The world is split up into many large chunks instead one cohesive 2D Metroid map. Areas range from the futuristic Soviet metropolis of Kazakh City to a mad scientist lab to dark underground caves infested with insect-possessed troops. The depth and detail in these environments is impressive – especially the outdoor areas, which convey a massive scope to the world just off your path. Hidden passages and rewards offer plenty for the curious explorer, and color-coded doors taunt you to return with upgraded equipment.

New abilities are unlocked at an ideal pace throughout the six- to eight-hour completion time, pulling you forward with an enticing breadcrumb trail and allowing you to smoothly incorporate new moves into your repertoire. The Cypher, a plasma-based blade, switches easily between four different attributes at the tap of the d-pad. Strider's scarf changes to orange to indicate explosive attacks, blue for freeze slices, and so on. The variety of armed guards, flying turrets, and venom spewing insects are all strong and vulnerable to different attack styles. It effectively keeps you on your toes, and by the end you are constantly swapping attacks to stay alive.

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Tricky platforming sequences add variety and challenge. Since Strider can climb on the walls and ceiling, it takes a lot to trip him up. Buzzsaws, laser grids, and crushing pistons all result in our hero's trademark phase-out death. Fortunately, he merely loses a small sliver of health and teleports to the closest safe platform. This generous respawn system combined with the tight controls means frustration is kept to a minimum. I never got hung up for long on one particular obstacle.

There are only a few spots that the ninja's blade could use a little sharpening. Not that I was expecting The Last of Us, but the story isn't all that great. You're basically out to kill the last boss and all of his minions. There's not much beneath Strider's cold assassin heart. The game doesn't have a traditional teleportation system, so it can be a pain to trudge all the way across the world when you're trying to mop up the last round of collectibles before the last boss. Then, when you beat the game, you have to decide whether you want to save and lose your current game or not save and shoot back to the last checkpoint. There's only one save file available, so you can't duplicate it and have it both ways. Some might also feel that the normal difficulty is too easy, but a hard option exists if you're looking for a more intense challenge right out of the gate.

In the grand scheme of things, these complaints are relatively minor. Strider is a great reboot for old-school arcade junkies and at the same time a fresh action experience for newcomers to the franchise.

The Edge
If you've got the option, be sure to play Strider on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or PC. These platforms have a crisper resolution and a smoother framerate. If PS3 or 360 is your console of choice, it's still a great experience as long as you don't try to compare it side by side with the others.

GIBryanhttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIBryan/default.aspxDouble Helix And Capcom Veterans Discuss Strider Reboot/games/strider/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/13/double-helix-and-capcom-veterans-discuss-strider-reboot.aspx2014-02-13T10:53:51Z2014-02-13T10:53:51Z

The Strider reboot is less than a week away, and developer Double Helix (recently acquired by Amazon) and veterans of the series at publisher Capcom are talking about what players can expect. The new video features more gameplay and an explanation of how Strider Hiryu's design has evolved over the years.

One of the big changes is that this Strider game won't be a globe-trotting adventure. Instead, players will experience different locales in the interconnected, more open Kazakh City.

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Double Helix also wants to recapture some of the magic of gaming experiences gone by. Players will be instructed on how to use upgrades, but there is an element of discovery that is inherent in the design.

For more, you can read our most recent preview of the game. Strider is coming to Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC via digital delivery platforms on February 18.

GIMikehttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMike/default.aspxStrider Gets Release Date And New Modes/games/strider/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/05/strider-gets-release-date-and-new-modes.aspx2014-02-05T11:09:54Z2014-02-05T11:09:54Z

You've got a date with Strider Hiryu. Capcom has announced that its series reboot, in development at Double Helix (Killer Instinct), will be arriving later this month.

In addition to the February 18 (on consoles) and 19 (via Steam) release dates, Capcom has also revealed two new modes. Beacon Run is a checkpoint race. Survival Mode gives players different loadouts and pits them against waves of enemies.

The two new modes will feature leaderboards. Story mode results will also be posted, so players can compare with friends.

A new batch of screenshots shows off the new game types in action. Strider is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC.

GIMikehttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMike/default.aspxA Collection Of New Screens Show Strider In Action/games/strider/b/xbox360/archive/2013/12/07/a-collection-of-new-screens-show-strider-in-action.aspx2013-12-07T15:19:01Z2013-12-07T15:19:01Z

Capcom has released a series of new screens for its upcoming Strider reboot.

You can see the collection of new screens in the gallery below showing Mr. Hiryu Strider fighting robots, fighting people, and fighting the laws of gravity. Strider is a classic Capcom action-platforming character that hasn't appeared outside of cameos in fighting games in quite some time.

The new Strider is planned for release on Xbox One and 360, PlayStation 4 and 4, and PC. Capcom says the game will be available early 2014, but it hasn't clarified exactly when, or if all versions of the game will release simultaneously.

For more on Strider, check out our recent preview.

[Source: Capcom Unity]

GIKylehttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIKyle/default.aspxStrider Will Be Playable At New York Comic Con /games/strider/b/xbox360/archive/2013/10/08/strider-will-be-playable-at-new-york-comic-con--.aspx2013-10-08T12:02:58Z2013-10-08T12:02:58Z

If you are headed to the Jacob Javits Center this weekend for New York Comic Con, Capcom wants you to swing by its booth to play Strider. The title will be playable on the show floor.

Capcom has sent along a new batch of screenshots and a new trailer, too. Strider will be available on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC in 2014. For more on Strider, read our preview from Tokyo Game Show.

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GIMikehttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMike/default.aspxDouble Helix's Strider Is Slick And Satisfying/games/strider/b/xbox360/archive/2013/09/20/double-helix-strider-preview.aspx2013-09-20T05:52:44Z2013-09-20T05:52:44Z

Some ninjas are stealthy, careful assassins. Others are speedy, unstoppable killing machines. Strider falls into the latter camp. I got my hands on the PS4 version of the current- and next-gen Strider reboot at the Tokyo Game Show today. Double Helix, the developer behind Silent Hill: Homecoming and the new Killer Instinct, appears up to the task of turning players into powerful, wall-clinging swordsman. Strider is a fast, smooth side-scroller that feels great so far.

We previously gathered plenty of details about the game following its announcement at the San Diego Comic-Con 2013, but nothing compares to actually playing it. The playable section of the game begins with Strider assaulting an enemy base. Within seconds I already understand the basics and have a great feel for Strider's impressive agility. The ninja can double jump, slide, slash his sword in multiple directions, throw daggers, cling to walls and ceilings, and swipe enemies into the air. Strider's movement and animations are smooth and intuitive, allowing me to start tearing apart the gun-toting guards with ease. Enemies routinely bring guns to this sword fight, but Strider's ample jumping ability makes evading simple. My favorite technique is sliding through foes and turning around to slice them to bits. Flying robotic turrets join their grounded counterparts, forcing me to leap all over the screen and manage handfuls of enemies at once. Strider's fluid and familiar controls makes it easy to feel like an expert warrior within minutes.

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Beating up bad guys is important, but so is environmental exploration. Double Helix is injecting Metroid-inspired exploration into this retelling of the original Strider. Certain areas of the military base are blocked off by locked doors or reinforced floor vents. Finding a slide power up not only makes your low dash attack more powerful in battle, but also destroys these vents to find new areas. My favorite upgrade is a charged, fiery slash, which is great for shattering enemies' shields or breaking through specific doors. Strider's 2.5D visuals and light Metroid elements remind me of Chair Entertainment's XBLA hit Shadow Complex, except controlling the titular hero is much more satisfying and action-packed.

The demo concludes with a boss battle on the back of a giant, robotic serpent called Ouroboros Mk. III. Starting at the beasts' tail, Strider clings to the long creature while avoiding electrocuted spikes. After reaching Ouroboros' head, I destroy one of three energy canisters, which explodes and sends me flying back to the tail section. I repeat my journey across the boss' body several times, dodging missiles, electrical pulses, and taking out enemies along the way. Clobbering all three energy tanks weakens the huge foe and allows Strider to slice its metallic head in half, which reveals an ugly mutated creature's head beneath. The demo ends just as the multi-tiered boss battle is heating up.

Finding the right balance between empowering players and making a challenging, rewarding game is tricky. Strider's precise controls and the variety of increasingly difficult enemies seen in this demo have me confident that Double Helix is on the right track. Strider will be available for download next year on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC.

GITimhttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GITim/default.aspxSee Strider In Action/games/strider/b/xbox360/archive/2013/07/20/see-strider-in-action.aspx2013-07-20T15:46:35Z2013-07-20T15:46:35Z

A new Strider game was announced on Thursday, and Capcom has released a long trailer of uninterrupted gameplay.

The video is seven minutes long and shows Strider's impressive speed and chaotic action. It also shows Strider gaining new skills.

Strider is coming to Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, and PC early next year. For more on the game, check out our extensive preview.

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GIKylehttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIKyle/default.aspxWe Get Answers About Capcom's New Strider Game/games/strider/b/xbox360/archive/2013/07/19/we-get-answers-about-capcom-39-s-new-strider-game.aspx2013-07-19T20:56:00Z2013-07-19T20:56:00Z

Capcom revealed at Comic-Con yesterday that it's working on a new Strider game. Old-timers likely remember first meeting Strider Hiryu in arcades or the Genesis port of the game. Younger players may know him as the guy with the scarf in the Marvel vs. Capcom series. I spoke with two of the game's producers to answer questions that both camps likely have, including gameplay details and more.

My first question was simple. How should we be looking at this? Capcom says it's not a remake of Strider. Is it a reboot? A reimagining? Fortunately, senior producer Andrew Szymanski and producer James Vance had the answers.

"The best way I can explain it is that it's the retelling of the classic Strider story," Szymanski says. "The classic Strider story for every Strider game is that that there's Grandmaster Meio, who's the big baddie, and he has, through nefarious means, basically taken over the world. Strider, a group of assassins, sends in their best guy, Hiryu, to kill him. That was the setup for the first one, and that was the setup for the second one. The second one actually didn't have any continuity with the first one. It takes place 1,000 years after the fact and they clone Hiryu and bring him back from the dead – it's completely insane. So we wanted to avoid any sort of having to create a direct continuity by saying we're retelling the story for modern gamers."

Grandmaster Meio controls the world by pulling the strings from Kazakh City, a location familiar to players. The references don't stop there, either. Gameplay video from the first level ends with an encounter with a massive dragon. He isn't armed with a hammer and sickle, like Strider 1's first-level boss, nor is he as festive as Strider 2's Chinese Dragon counterpart. He is quite segmented, however, and the robotic beast will likely put up quite a fight. I asked if other bosses will be referenced – the giant robotic gorilla in particular – and was told that we could expect to see something along those lines.

Next, I wanted to know why Capcom went down the Metroid-style road of a large unlockable map instead of a more traditional action game.

"The core concept when we came up with this one was how do we marry the fast-paced gameplay and the action and the acrobatics and the environment traversal that Strider is known for with more of a nonlinear, open-ended, exploratory-based map design, where everything is interconnected and seamless and you're exploring and unlocking the map as you move along," Szymanski says. "And this is something I came up with when I was working on the concept phase. I really wanted to do a new Strider because it had been so long and I know people want it, but what could we do to make this happen. One of the initial challenges is that both of the first two games were coin-op games, and they were all about quarter munching. They were super difficult so you'd die often and have to keep putting in money. If you played them start to finish, they're both 30-45 minutes long. How do you take that and turn it into a six-hour console game? Even though we're a digital download title, we still wanted to have a robust campaign that lasts about that long. You can't make a totally linear 30-minute game and expect people to enjoy that in this day and age. The idea of bringing in that map design and that larger world you can traverse through, to me, was sort of that aha moment. This is how we do it."

Capcom is keenly aware of how powerful the character is, and how important that sensation is to players. At the same time, they needed to find a way to open up gameplay and provide room for variation.

"One of the key concepts was not to take anything away from the character that they know and love," Vance says. "When you begin this game as Hiryu, you have all of his abilities that you know from Strider 1 and 2, plus a couple more. But because we have this expansive world design, you can't just keep hacking away at this world for six hours with one attack – you could, but it wouldn't be a very enjoyable game. Part and parcel to that, we created a lot of abilities that play to the character's core design. We don't want to give him a gun instead of his Cypher – he's always going to have his Cypher, and he gets a fire-based Cypher for example. We're playing off these kinds of adaptations of the core weapon set that he has, plus there are a bunch of other things like a robot option that can help him, and maybe there's something more there. And there are a couple more abilities that we can't talk about yet, but I think that they're really inventive and really open up the world for the player."

"A lot of games of this type, when they start you're fully powered, and then a couple minutes in they take all your powers away and you have to find them," adds Szymanski. "We didn't want to do that. We wanted to have him be fully badass in the beginning and have him get more badass as the game goes on. So you can do everything that you could do in the old games from the opening moment, and then it just goes over the top from there. We struggled a lot to how to do variety. We had absolutely no issues with traversal, because one of the points of the original Strider game was that it was one of the first side scrollers where you could grab ahold of nearly anything and climb any surface. All of those are still in there. That's a no-brainer. But how about attacks? Because the first game only had one Cypher attack, and you spammed it just constantly. But we didn't want to give him other weapons, because that would break up the silhouette, and it's such an iconic silhouette with his Cypher. That's how we came up with the idea of changing the properties of the Cypher – we've shown the explosive one, and there are more that we'll be showing as we go along that basically allow him to do different attacks and do different types of environmental interactions."

What about players who know Hiryu from his appearances in the Marvel vs. Capcom series? Did any of his moves from those games make it into his latest game? Younger players might have expectations about the character that don't necessarily line up with the Genesis days, after all.

"That's something that we also took to heart when we were designing the character," Szymanski says. "First of all, the character himself includes elements from all the previous games. It's a brand-new Hiryu character design that's been slightly tweaked. It's kept the iconic silhouette, but some of the details are different. It was done by one of our artists in Osaka who's been doing most of our character designs, and he actually did the character designs for Strider 2. So we have the pedigree there that's doing all the work. The plasma scarf, instead of being a piece of cloth is now an exhaust vent, which is where his excess plasma energy trails behind him. That's the biggest character change, but we've also incorporated some changes from the Marvel vs. Capcom character models as well.

"We wanted to have his core moveset from the original games, so everything you could do in those games you could do in the new one, but a lot of people do know him from MvC. So he's got a launch move that he can use to launch people up – that's straight from MvC. Forward and jump is the cartwheel jump that everyone knows. When he jumps straight up, it's inspired by the animation from Marvel vs. Capcom, as well as the robot option implementation."

"Rather than walk around him like they do in the original one, they swirl around him and shoot like they do in MvC," Vance adds.

Wait a second. So the scarf isn't a scarf anymore? It's some kind of plasma thing? Explain.

"The setting behind the character is that he's a Super A class of the Strider organization, which is super rare," says Vance. "He's the top of the top, cream of the crop. The sword he has is special, because unless you have a certain level of psychic ability – like your chi – if you swing the sword, nothing will happen. But because he has that ability, when he swings the sword it gets an extension of the plasma energy. He's so badass that even when he uses his sword, he still has plasma energy to spare within his mind, and it comes shooting out this funnel in the back of his neck, which becomes this cool-looking jet. We also use it as a UI element in the game, because when you change your plasma type, the scarf will also change to a different color. He keeps changing his mindset, so now you can see the difference."

Players can switch between his various Cypher types by using the d-pad and get immediate visual feedback based on the scarf's color. Regardless of whether or not it's something that can be tossed into the wash, it's a clever way to keep players' attention focused on the character (and the action) and not have to dart their eyes around looking at an icon.

Finally, does the entirety of the game take place in the city?

"We've taken the surface of Kazakh City that actually appeared in both previous games and then expanded it out to be Meio's home base," Szymanski says. "It extends deep underground, it extends into bunkers, and various military installations, as well as Meio's actual residence. Even though one of the classic parts of the old games was this type of globe-hopping nature, where one minute you're in Kazakh, next you're in the Amazon, and then you're in Siberia, that was really cool, but that doesn't mesh well with the idea of interconnected space."

Look for Strider on the PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on their respective digital marketplaces in early 2014.

GIJeffhttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIJeff/default.aspx


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The children of today are the decision-makers of the future. Therefore, it's imperative that youngsters learn about the planet and how to protect it.
Teaching children about the ways they can protect the planet or make simple changes to decrease their carbon footprints now may pave the way for more informed adults later, and children can discover the benefits of giving back rather than taking more.
• Bike, walk or carpool. Kids are in transit just as much as their adult counterparts, and how they get from point A to point Bcan help or hurt the environment. From home to school, from school to an extracurricular activity, from an extracurricular activity back to home, transportation is a large part of the day. Automobiles consume large amounts of fossil fuels and also release harmful contaminants into the air via their exhaust systems. Walking or biking to school gives children the opportunity to enjoy fresh air and exercise while reducing their reliance on fuels. If school is too far away, involve kids in the set-up of a carpool with friends and discuss the benefits of riding together.
• Take a trip. Children are visual creatures and often learn the best lessons by seeing what something is all about. A day trip to a working farm or a recycling center can teach important lessons about sustainability and conservation.
• Shop secondhand. Children and toys go hand-in-hand. However, what was once the latest and greatest toy can quickly become overshadowed by something new tomorrow. Explain the benefits of getting gently used toys, clothing and books instead of purchasing them new. Doing so reduces the reliance on the production of new things, cuts down on shipping and also saves money. Encourage kids to set up a toy swap where they pass on toys they no longer find interesting to others who can enjoy them.
• Lead by example. When installing new LED bulbs or switching out an appliance for an Energy Star-rated model, explain to children why this is being done. Children learn quickly and can grasp abstract ideas more easily than adults may think. They soon may catch on and make their own green changes, such as turning off lights when not in rooms, unplugging game chargers when not in use or using less water while brushing teeth before bed.
• Cook together. Instead of purchasing fast food and processed, packaged foods or traveling to a restaurant, make a meal at home that everyone can enjoy. Not only will this enable the family to talk about important local and global issues, it saves energy and reduces the family's carbon footprint as well.


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Agents of C.A.R.E.
Health care disciplines team up through interprofessional education (IPE) to tackle the challenges of the future.
Today's health care challenges are more complicated than ever. We now know more about who and what we are than at any point in our history. And with that knowledge comes power. Power to heal more effectively, power to deliver care more efficiently, and power to adapt treatment so that patients are healed on their own terms.
And if we have learned anything, it's that great power comes with great responsibility.
Ohio Northern University is working to harness the power of four distinct academic programs —pharmacy, nursing, exercise physiology and medical laboratory science — into a single health care alliance under a new interprofessional education (IPE) program implemented this year. These disciplines are formative on their own, but joined together form a life-saving force of blockbuster proportions.
Interprofessional teamwork, as it is known in the field, has been shown to produce startling results. According to the Academic Health Center at the University of Minnesota, interprofessional teamwork is responsible for improved health care experiences, 50 percent reductions in both adverse patient outcomes and the length of the average ICU stay, a dramatic decrease in the clinical error rate, and lowering the per capita cost of health care, all while increasing in the professional satisfaction of those employed in health care fields.
ONU's IPE program is an introduction to interprofessional teamwork for students who will likely be exposed to it in their careers. The program is a problem-based, cross-disciplinary approach to allied health education developed by ONU faculty members Susan Montenery, assistant professor of nursing; Natalie DiPietro, associate professor of pharmacy practice; Michelle Musser, assistant professor of pharmacy practice; Lisa Walden, assistant professor of medical laboratory sciences; and Sara Terrell, assistant professor of exercise physiology. The group received important feedback from fourth year pharmacy student Adam Smith, who provided a student perspective during program development. Additional program objectives include providing opportunities for students to work collaboratively to solve cultural health care cases, exposing students to other health care disciplines, improving curricular connectivity, and fostering team-based communication and decision-making.
"Exposure to IPE within undergraduate settings presents opportunities for students to practice skills necessary for successful patient-centered, team-oriented treatment," says Terrell.
ONU's IPE program organizes students from the four disciplines into teams of eight or nine. Based on enrollment in those programs, a typical group comprises five pharmacy students, up to two nursing students, up to two exercise physiology students and one medical laboratory science student. Each group is assigned a medical care scenario to which they must provide plans for both assessment and recommendation of treatment.
To aid in the University's mission of preparing students to "act as ethical and responsible members of a global community," each IPE scenario presents a unique cultural detail to further expand the educational value of the exercise by increasing cultural competency.
In their coursework, students learn the proper steps and procedures for delivering care based on patient symptoms and biological metrics among other measurable data. At the most basic level, health care loosely follows the formula if x then y. The cultural details within the IPE scenarios introduce new variables to that equation. Students must rely on the breadth of their knowledge, and one another, to treat patients who for religious, cultural or socioeconomic reasons cannot receive the most practical manner of care.
In one scenario, students were asked to figure out a way to help a young Muslim woman continue her medication regimen during the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims are required to fast. In another, students had to help a stroke patient whose religion prohibited him from receiving any medical care. As the obvious answers were stripped away, students thought harder and sought solutions farther outside the box.
"Due to our patient's cultural beliefs, certain treatments weren't an option. As professionals, it is still our responsibility to make the patient aware of the benefits of certain treatment plans, and of the harmful effects that could arise due to not partaking in them," says Kaitlyn Theisen, a junior exercise physiology major from Saranac, Mich. "It also forces us to come up with alternate treatment plans that better take into account their cultural beliefs. All we can do is make sure they have all the information in regards to treatment options. Ultimately, it is their decision."
While the case studies were designed to force the issue of cultural competency, the lessons students learned during the exercise reinforced best practices for interaction with all patients, not just those in which cultural differences are apparent. The faculty intentionally included many open-ended questions in the case studies to get students to explore as many options for assessment and treatment as possible. For example, they asked students to consider why a patient might refuse a medication choice and if there is alternative that they could suggest. Also, should their medical advice go unheeded, what education and counseling could they give their patient to see that some improvement in his or her condition still occurs?
"Having a nursing course specifically geared towards cross-cultural care definitely quickened my thought process on what interventions would and would not work for each patient," says Ellis Pohlman, a junior nursing student from Maria Stein, Ohio. "It is important to ask every patient their cultural background and preferences to help build a care plan that will work best for them."
As much as the faculty behind IPE wanted the students to interact with one another and apply their knowledge toward a common goal, they also want to make sure that the manner in which they are providing this experience actually worked. From the very start, they designed the IPE to be both an active participatory learning experience and a research project.
Before beginning the IPE program, the faculty assessed 225 students' readiness for interprofessional learning upon a validated scale. According to Terrell, this kind of project isn't typically done with undergraduate students, so it is vital to have evidence to support that ONU students are more than capable of such an advanced exercise. The program itself included two group problem-solving sessions and a follow-up session during which the groups shared their results. After the program, students were reassessed with the same questions. While the hard data is still being processed, the faculty group has already been accepted to present at an academic conference this summer. The early results are certainly positive.
According to the results, 43.6 percent of students "agreed" and 48.6 percent "strongly agreed" that participation in the IPE activity improved their understanding of what other health care-related disciplines do and their role in patient care. Nearly 50 percent "agreed" and 41.5 percent "strongly agreed" on the post-activity assessment that the activity had made them more aware of cultural competency principles and its importance in patient care.
This interdisciplinary collaboration may serve as a starting point for future discussions on enhanced IPE integration within health care curriculum. As it stands currently, IPE is a supplemental component to existing courses within the disciplines — EXPH 3301 Exercise Management of Chronic Disease and Disability, NURS 3301 Transcultural Health Care, PHPR 3011 Profession of Pharmacy 5, and MLS 4611 Professional Practice and Development.
"I think where we would like to see this go is to where IPE becomes more than a few exercises within a class," says Terrell. "I see it as crucial to shaping our curriculum in the future."
Additional IPE activities are currently in progress. On March 26 and April 2 pharmacy students (P5) and senior nursing students (NURS 4981-Transition to Professional Practice) will be collaboratively completing complex case studies using the same assessment criteria. To learn more about IPE at Ohio Northern, please contact Natalie DePietro.


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We have a young bowler at my club that had an incredible season last year, in our 3rds taking 29 wickets. He was promoted to our 2nds this season but is yet to take a wicket. During conversations with him last night, he is wanting to remodel his action and change the length of his run up, to try to correct his lack of wickets.
I suggested to him it was only a confidence issue and if he were to take a couple of wickets, this weekend, he would be back to just bowling and would forget about the self doubt and over analyses.
Obviously he is bowling at better batters and the leg side wides are in play, in this division. Have any of you had to try to convince a player his action is still good but, it is down to a lack of confidence. How did you deal with this?


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Law School Admissions / Re: Traffic Violations« on: November 02, 2009, 12:08:11 PM »
Both of the schools I applied to in Oregon wanted FULL law violation disclosure - every traffic ticket, etc. They are the only schools that asked for traffic violations. Does it come down to different state bars wanting different info?


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Ensemble joins festival celebrating black theater troupes
Published 5:13 pm, Friday, June 28, 2013
The Ensemble Theatre will perform Ifa Bayeza's play "The Ballad of Emmett Till" as part of the National Black Theatre Festival being held July 29-Aug. 2 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
The biennial festival is the largest assemblage of black theater companies and their staffers. This year's festival is expected to attract more than 65,000 people to the six days of performances, readings, workshops and seminars. The presentation of plays is by invitation only; this year's appearance marks the fourth time the Ensemble has been asked to present a play at the gathering.
"We're excited about our fourth opportunity to commune with our brothers and sisters in the arts," Ensemble artistic director Eileen Morris said. "It is imperative that black theater companies continue to grow professionally, explore new perspectives and find innovative ways to tell our stories."
The Ensemble will revive its 2012 production of Bayeza's theatrical collage about Till, the Chicago teen who was lynched while visiting relatives in rural Mississippi in 1955. The play received a 2009 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. For the festival presentation, Elizabeth Van Dyke will direct the original Ensemble cast of Kendrick Brown, Rachel H. Dickson, Broderick Jones, Joseph Palmore and Lee Waddell.
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The festival was founded in 1989 by Larry Leon Hamlin, with the support of noted poet Maya Angelou, to unite African-American stage companies, showcase their best work and help ensure their survival. Hamlin, the founder and artistic director of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, died in 2008 at age 58.
"Larry Leon Hamlin was a pioneer who had a dream, much like our (the Ensemble's) founder, George Hawkins," Morris said. "He pursued every avenue to make that dream come true and, with his vision, created a festival that celebrates African-American art and brings together actors, directors, playwrights, theater founders, technicians, filmmakers and educators in dynamic interchange. He left a legacy that will continue to change and impact the nation's perspective of our culture."
Mildred's 2013-14 season
Among Houston's small, alternative theaters, Mildred's Umbrella Theatre Company is the wild card - perhaps the company whose "type" of programming is most difficult to define. The track record has been variable, but the output consistently interesting - almost always recently premiered plays, usually offbeat ones and often brand-new scripts from area writers. So as you read Mildred's lineup for the new 2013-14 season, if you don't recognize any of the titles, don't worry about being out of the loop.
"Foxfinder," Aug. 15-31: Mildred's will present the U.S. premiere of Dawn King's play, a finalist for this year's Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Premiered at London's Finborough Theatre in 2011, it's described as "a darkly comic exploration of belief, desire and responsibility, set in a world both strange and familiar, from a striking new voice in British theatre." It depicts a time when "foxfinders" are employed to unearth and destroy creatures believed to threaten man's civilization.
"Carnival Round the Central Figure," Nov. 7-23: Produced off-Broadway in 2011, Diana Amsterdam's play takes a woman's visit to a dying friend and turns it into a wild ride spanning all the mysteries and fears surrounding life's final moments. The result is billed as "an extravagant psycho-fable about a man whose imminent demise makes him a ringmaster in death's circus."
"Museum of Dysfunction IV," Dec. 6-14: The latest in the company's annual program of short plays, co-produced by Wordsmyth Theatre, selected from 200 submissions by writers across the U.S.
"Rome," March 6-22: Mildred's has produced several intriguing scripts by area writer John Harvey. This will be the latest, which is all we know about it so far. But it must have something to do with the Eternal City, right? Watch this space.
All the company's 2013-14 productions will be at Studio 101, 1824 Spring.
For information and tickets, go to www.mildredsumbrella.com
Everett Evans
Former HGO trainee wins contest
Jamie Barton, a former member of Houston Grand Opera's training program, recently won one of the world's most prestigious vocal contests, the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.
Barton, a mezzo-soprano, was a member of HGO Studio from 2007 to 2009. She performed in the world premieres of Andre Previn's "Brief Encounter" and Christopher Theofanidis' "The Refuge," and she also appeared in Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and Hector Berlioz's "Beatrice and Benedict."
The biennial Singer of the World contest was established by the British Broadcasting Corp. in 1983. Past winners include soprano Karita Mattila and baritones Bryn Terfel and Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Barton, a native of Rome, Ga., is only the third American to win the top prize.
Barton will return to HGO in April 2014 to play Fricka in Richard Wagner's "Das Rheingold."
Celebrate the Fourth of July at Bayou Bend
No fireworks for this daytime event, but you can celebrate Independence Day with a free afternoon party at Bayou Bend. Crafts, games, performances and more will take place on the grounds of Miss Ima Hogg's mansion. Hear the Texas Army Fife and Drum Corps; see uniforms and weapons from the American Revolution; listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence. 1-5 p.m. Thursday at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, 6003 Memorial. Details: www.mfah.org
Alyson Ward