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The state's crime lab was flooded with more than 42,000 submissions of evidence to test in 2011, and had only 124 scientists to work on them — when they weren't in court testifying.
The state's crime lab was flooded with more than 42,000 submissions of evidence to test in 2011, and had only 124 scientists to work on them — when they weren't in court testifying.
In many cases, the overwhelming lab work is now running about a year behind. But a pair of bills filed in the N.C. General Assembly last week aim to make a dent in the problem by appropriating funds for a new Western Crime Lab at the Justice Academy in Edneyville.
The Hendersonville Police Department typically waits three to six months or longer to get test results back from the state's lab in Raleigh. For the Henderson County Sheriff's Office, the turnaround is often six to eight months.
Their wait time is lower than the state's average, but they also face the painful costs of shipping.
A "perfect storm of insufficient staffing, escalating case submissions and the judicial requirement that lab scientists personally appear in every court proceeding has taxed the lab's current capacity to the limit," said Joseph John Sr., director of the N.C. State Crime Laboratory.
The new facility called for in the bills would replace the current undersized western lab, which operates in a leased building that offers no room for expansion in Skyland. Development of the lab is estimated to cost about $16.7 million.
The western lab specializes in drug chemistry, latent evidence and firearm and toolmark analysis. All requests for drug toxicology services, DNA analysis and digital evidence tests must be outsourced to labs in Raleigh and Greensboro.
The new lab would be equipped to handle all of the services.
"I think any time you can offer advanced services like what this lab will offer on a regional basis, everybody wins," said Hendersonville Police Chief Herbert Blake. He suspects the department would see an improvement in the wait time for results.
Hendersonville Police Capt. Doug Jones said most of the evidence they submit to Raleigh is shipped through the mail. A closer lab, he said, "would be a blessing."
Capt. Frank Stout of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office agreed that a closer lab would help them substantially in "drive time and man hours." An officer from the department was in Raleigh Wednesday delivering evidence from a recent homicide investigation. Stout estimated the officer will have logged a 10-hour day and more than 500 miles.
Increase in evidence
Henderson County submitted 546 evidence items for testing during the July 2011-June 2012 fiscal year. In 2010, however, the submissions had climbed to 683, up from 610 in 2009, according to John.
A significant increase in the demand for drug toxicology services, DNA analysis and digital evidence evaluations from criminal justice agencies has created a greater need for expanded crime lab services, according to information released by the N.C. Department of Justice.
State Sen. Tom Apodaca, R-Hendersonville, said some DNA submissions can take up to three years to process and several cases have had to be dismissed to avoid violating the state's speedy trial law.
In most cases, John said, results on submissions for DNA and toxicology tests are running nine to 12 months behind in the lab, where the goal is to "try to deal with truly exigent circumstances first."
In North Carolina, the nation's 10th most populous state, more than 20,000 law enforcement officers and 600 agencies submit evidence to the state crime lab, according to John. "Submissions in 2011 rose by 15 percent, exceeding 42,000," he added.
Fewer personnel
As the number of cases grows, however, the number of scientists to process them dwindles. There has been no increase in staff since 2007, John said, and in 2011 the workforce of 129 scientists was trimmed by five positions.
The 124 analysts remaining are not only tasked with tackling the towering case submissions, but also with mandated appearances in every court case they work.
The state has 12 toxicologists on staff. In fiscal year 2009, the scientists spent 20,000 to 40,000 hours in the lab analyzing 10,000 submissions of blood for the presence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Twelve toxicologists working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, would normally put in 24,960 man hours, but the forensic analysts were also required to appear in court for each case they worked.
"Lab analysts are routinely required to do mandatory overtime," John said.
Analyzing submissions for the presence of alcohol alone takes about two hours, he said, and testing evidence for alcohol and drugs or drugs alone takes up to four hours.
"We don't have enough right now even if our folks worked literally every minute of every day," he added.
The U.S. Supreme Court decided in 2009 that crime forensic analysts testifying in court through affidavits in lieu of an in-person appearance violated the confrontation clause of the U.S. Constitution. DNA scientists in Raleigh and toxicologists from Raleigh and Greensboro now head out to appear in cases from Murphy to Manteo.
"The court time expended by lab toxicologists multiplied 400 percent in a single year to 2,368.5 hours during 2010," John said in information released to the N.C. General Assembly and media Friday. "Similarly, DNA analyst court time has doubled since 2009 and in 2011 exceeded over 800 hours of analyst time away from casework in the lab.
"They can't be working in the laboratory when they're in their automobiles driving to court," John said.
Twenty-five scientists work for the state crime lab on DNA submissions, which rose to 3,915 in 2011. Depending on the number of items submitted in each case, tests can take anywhere from two days to several weeks to complete, John said.
Assuming all 3,915 submissions took two days each to test, he said the total time required for analysis would take 62,640 hours – the 40-hour-a-week workload of 30 scientists.
DNA tests are relied upon to identify suspects, convict the guilty, exonerate the innocent, eliminate potential subjects of investigation and bring closure to victims, according to the DOJ.
John said that 260 individuals have been exonerated as suspects using the DNA database in the last two years.
Expanding in Edneyville
Apodaca, who introduced Senate Bill 3 to fund the construction and staffing of the Western Crime Lab in Edneyville on state-owned land, said budget constraints may require them to lease a new space for a lab for now. Future construction costs, however, could drive the price estimate up.
The 36,050-square-foot addition to the Justice Training Academy is estimated to cost a total of $20,553,908 (including construction, design, salaries of 28 staff positions, operating costs and start-up equipment). The figure is more than five times what it would cost to lease a larger space.
The DOJ estimates a 36,050-square-foot facility would require a lease of $972,000 a year (for a total of $3,524,412 in operating costs with the lease), locked in for at least a 10-year term.
But by year two, the state would be saving more than half-a-million dollars a year in debt payments.
"With a construction approach, the state would invest more capital up front. However, the state would not have to pay rent or lease charges after 17.2 years to cover the up-front construction costs when compared to a lease approach," according to the DOJ.
Reach Weaver at email@example.com or 828-694-7867.


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Andrew Shaw has signed a new deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, reports ESPN.
The Blackhawks forward, who has been in impressive form this season, will now stay on at the Franchise for another two years as the new deal will run until the 2015-16 season.
The 22-year-old was set to become a free agent once this season came to an end, however he will now have an extended stay in Chicago.
Having been drafted in by the Franchise in 2011, Shaw has continued to impress with some great statistics with 25 goals and 24 assists in just over 100 games.
And after agreeing a new deal with the Blackhawks, general manager Stan Bowman insisted he was delighted to keep the forward at the Franchise.
In his statement, Bowman said: "It's great to come to this agreement with Andrew and keep another important member of our team here in Chicago."
Bowman also revealed that he expects Shaw to continue to improve at the Franchise and has great expectations for the star.
He continued by saying: "Andrew has proven his ability to play a prominent role on our team and we look forward to watching him continue to grow as a player for the Blackhawks."
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms

subset: commoncrawl


text:
TopGear Speed Week: the super saloons
The Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series is beached, 50 yards off the side of the track, facing the wrong way in a field of long grass beyond Hammerhead. Tyres are strewn. Smoke is starting to rise from beneath the front left wheel. In the words of Dr J Clarkson, that's not gone well.
It is customary, in this situation, to blame some sort of catastrophic mechanical failure or interruption: tyre blow-out, brake failure, badger attack. But I am a man, of sorts, and therefore I must man up and admit it: the C63 Black Series is here because, approximately 12 seconds ago, I suffered a spectacular shortage in the oversteer talent department and found myself, in the wincing blink of an eye, transformed from Hammerhead Drift Hero into Foolish Man Travelling Backwards Over Grass At 65kph.


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Men's Saucony Legacy Sportop :: Now featuring better stretch and moisture management, our textured sportop in Legacy knit is a pack leader.
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Sunday, December 25, 2005
Soho Sailor
CommentsClose comment
7 comments
is that the guy from rushmore/
god himself…
a little bit late to post one comment about this one, but it's so gorgeous…
however, the pockets look as though they need to be lowered. I can feel his pain of having to uncomfortably bend your elbows to put your hands in the pockets, because i have a coat that has high pockets as well.
Dig the look. someone find me this sort of man , in my side of the world :)
Great style and absolutely love the coat…….given me some ideas
Beautiful outfit! Is he wearing gloves in the same time he is with the hands in his pockets? Instead of doing this, he may be wearing something on his head, if is so cold outside.
Congratulations for your great work, Scott!!
Bogdan, Romania


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Submission + - Orphaned works and the requirement to preserve metadata (photo-mark.com) 1
An anonymous reader writes: Orphaned works legislation promises to open older forgotten works to new uses and audiences. Groups like ASMP think it's inevitable. But it comes with the risk of defanging protection for current work when the creator cannot be located. Photographer Mark Meyer wonders if orphaned works legislation also needs language to compel organizations like Facebook to stop their practice of stripping metadata from user content in order to keep new work from becoming orphans to begin with. Should we have laws to make stripping metadata illegal?


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SchoolBus2 - Clip Art
SKU: SchoolBus2 Clip Art
Our Education & Schools clip art gallery features this school bus graphic for all of our custom products and gifts. Personalize any of our accessories, a student award, or any gift item for a teacher. Remember, all customized items ship for free from PlaqueMaker!
Our SchoolBus2 clip art will look beautiful on:
Our SchoolBus2 clip art will look beautiful on:
8"x10" Crystal Plaque
8"x10" Sublimated Plaque
Bamboo Sign


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Thread: index vs fultext
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index vs fultext
I' m confussed... In mysql there are three types of indexes (i think):
1. primary
2. index
3. fulltext
Primary will uniquely identify a row. This is clear. But index and fulltext are not. Fulltext is for optimising natural language search for certain words or groups of word that appear in a certain column provided they appear less than 50% of the time... correct? Index would be ideal for optimising a column for telephone numbers... correct?
But which would you use for column of single words... eg street names.
And??? It would seem that it is possible to to use fulltext and normal indexes for one single column... why would anyone do this
Thanks in advance
A confused beginner


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Nov. 3, 2008
NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA - University of Massachusetts Boston women's soccer player Katherine Wall (Arlington, MA) has been named Little East Conference Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for her play during the week of October 27 to November 2, it was announced today by the conference. It's the second time this season that she has earned the award, having been selected for the week of September 15-21. The accolade also marks the fourth time this season that a UMB women's soccer player has earned the honor. Freshman Taylor Massmann (Kingston, MA) was tabbed for the week of October 6-12 and sophomore Lauren Vargas (Rochester, MA) was chosen as the defensive player of the week for September 29 to October 5.
Wall anchored a defense that allowed just one goal in 200 minutes of play for a 0.45 goals against average. The senior helped the Beacons hold host Framingham State College to just one goal in 110 minutes in a 1-1 draw on October 28 and keyed the UMass Boston defensive effort vs. Plymouth State University in a 1-0 shutout on November 1 on the campus of UMB.
The sweeper has played in 17 of 19 matches on the season, starting all of them, while an integral part of a defense that has allowed the fewest goals in a season in school history. Wall's effort in the backfield has also led to a school-record matching total of five shutouts on the year
An Arlington High School graduate, Wall was a captain as both a sophomore and junior for the Beacons and currently ranks second on the program's all-time games played list with 66, while starting all but two of them. The defender has seen time as a midfielder during her career as well and stands fourth on the career points (24) and goals (nine) list at UMass Boston, while ranking fifth in lifetime assists with six.
The Beacons are currently 7-10-2 on the season, including a 3-3-1 mark in Little East Conference play to give them 10 points and the number four seed heading into the LEC tournament. UMass Boston has already set a school-record for victories and will play its first-ever playoff game when it hosts number five seed University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on Tuesday, November 4 in the league quarterfinals at 2:30 p.m. at the Clark Athletic Center.


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Daria Werbowy Does Not Care About That End Table
Violence Against Furniture: Honestly, we're a little shocked. [Fashion Gone Rogue]
Best Volcano Ever: The Boston Globe rounds up some of the most amazing volcano pics we've ever seen. Iceland is basically one big heavy metal album cover right now. [Big Picture]
Fresh: Sly Stone makes a Coachella audience wait three and a half hours, then taunts them incoherently. Still a baller, it would appear. [New Yorker]
Next Year's Model: The new iPhone leaks ahead of schedule. Many tech bloggers died to bring you this information. [Gizmodo]


text: losetup-utils are three bash scripts that attempt to make the use of losetup a bit easier and faster. losetup can be fast, easy, and practical if you need to transport sensitive information over the Internet or in CD's, DVD's, or a pendrive. Also, if you want to store private data on your hard disk or in the cloud, an encrypted volume can be a convenient choice. The types of encryption can be any installed on the system.


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New & NowProfiles
Ginger's Kitchen
Ginger's Kitchen is the brainchild of food52 superstars (clockwise from the top) arielleclementine, Helenthenanny, aargersi and Sagegreen, the first three of whom live in Austin, Texas (and have been known to meet up for potlucks and epic cannonball competitions). Last weekend, Sagegreen flew down from Amherst, Massachusetts for the group's first cooking collaboration, escaping snow fall for comparatively balmy weather in Austin.
The cold may have kept people up north locked indoors, but this inspired foursome was free to roam around Austin, sourcing local produce from the farmers markets and cheeses from the beloved Antonelli's Cheese Shop in Hyde Park. Check our their brilliant uses of Explorateur Triple Crème in their cheeky Don't Hate Me Because I'm Waldorf salad and Dante, an aged sheep's milk cheese, in their Apple Panzanella.
Ginger's Kitchen has only conspired for one contest so far, but if their Brown Butter Apple Pie Salad, their Warm Duck and Grilled Apple Salad, or their raita/tzatziki-dressed apple salad (Raitziki!) are any clues, this cunning foursome will continue to be an inspirational force on food52. The best news of all? Ginger's Kitchen is looking for more collaborators!
And just who is Ginger, you ask? Here's a hint. For more of Ginger's Kitchen's delicious recipes, see their profile page and fan them here.


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Liam Payne caught in the nude as One Direction fan sneaks into gym
One Direction's Liam Payne was left a little red-faced when an obsessed fan broke into the lads' changing rooms and caught him half-naked.
Their fans are known to be a little on the wild side so it's no surprise at least one of them was going to try their luck and catch the boys naked at some point.
But during a gym break while the boys – Liam, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Zayn Malik – continue their US tour, this one fan encounter will have left them all a little shaken.
Bodyguards at the gym were distracted as they tried to push back a horde of excited girls who were tying to break in to see their idols.
And while they were attending them, one sneaky fan saw her opportunity and used the situation to her advantage.
A source said: 'Liam was stunned when he saw her in the changing room he couldn't believe she'd got past security.
'For one thing, he was in the middle of getting dressed and had no idea what she was going to do, as their fans in the US are mad.'
But changing room mishaps aside, the lads are clearly enjoying their time being back in the US for their tour.
Last night they played at Fairfax, Virginia and were so thrilled with the show, they took to Twitter to thank their adoring fans.
Niall kicked off the Twitter love by writing: 'Incredible gig in fairfax tonight! Sooooo loud ! On another level! We had soo much fun on stage!,' and Harry then added: 'The show tonight was absolutely insane! Thank you for having us Fairfax .xx.'
VIDEO: Watch One Direction's music video for Gotta Be You


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Career: Has made 32 appearances as a pitcher, including two starts ... Record of 2-1 and 5.50 ERA in 52 1/3 innings pitched ... Issued 36 walks and has 33 strikeouts while allowing 32 earned runs on 61 hits ... Opponents have hit .290 against him ... Appeared in 50 games and made 34 starts as a hitter (all in 2008 season) ... Batted .254 (29-114) with seven doubles, five home runs, 18 runs scored and 15 RBI ... Drew 13 walks and struck out 20 times ... .336 on-base percentage and .447 slugging percentage.
2008: Began the season as a potential late-inning reliever, briefly moved into the starting rotation and wound up as the team's starting first baseman ... Was successful in each role given to him, using his powerful bat and slick glove to bolster the team's lineup ... Batted .254 with five home runs and 15 RBI ... Scored 18 runs and hit seven doubles ... Drew 13 walks, was hit by a pitch twice and struck out 20 times ... .336 on-base percentage and .447 slugging percentage ... Hit the first walk-off home run in the six-year history of the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth to beat Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game series ... Homered in season-opening series against Big Ten opponent Michigan ... Went 3-for-4 with a game-tying RBI single in a 3-1 win over Louisville to kick launch a 20-game stretch to end the season in which he batted .297 (19-64) with a .469 slugging percentage ... In the game following that Louisville contest hit a game-winning home run and was also the winning pitcher in relief of a win at Temple ... The next day hit two home runs and drove in three against Saint Joseph's ... As a pitcher was 2-1 with a 5.87 ERA in 11 appearances, including the first two starts of his collegiate career ... Pitched 23.0 innings and allowed 26 hits and 15 earned runs while walking 16 and striking out 15 ... Earned first collegiate win in first start against Georgetown, pitching 5 2/3 innings and scattering just one run on six hits.
2007: Appeared in 12 games out of the bullpen ... Compiled one save with no decisions and a 5.28 ERA in 15.1 innings ... Allowed 18 hits and nine earned runs while walking four and striking out 12 ... Did not allow an earned run in seven of his 12 appearances, including five straight scoreless innings over two appearances to start the year ... Pitched three scoreless frames to save a 6-1 win over nationally-ranked Alabama in the second week of the season ... Struck out a season-high five batters in two scoreless innings of an 8-1 win over Norfolk State ... Appeared in two BIG EAST games and did not allow an earned run in 1.2 innings.
2006: Pitched in nine games out of the bullpen and logged 14.0 innings ... Allowed 17 hits and eight earned runs while walking six and striking out six ... Had no record and a 5.14 ERA ... Tossed two scoreless innings against Toledo in his collegiate debut on March 8 ... Made consecutive scoreless appearances in shutout wins over La Salle and Temple ... Allowed just one run over 5.1 innings in his final three appearances of the season ... Allowed two earned runs in three innings pitched in two Big East appearances.
Delaware County Christian School: Lettered in baseball and basketball ... Three-time All-League selection ... Team MVP as a sophomore ... Earned one All-Tournament Team selection in basketball ... Runs a 7.2 60-yard dash ... Batted .453 during sophomore season ... Member of the school's highest honor roll every semester ... Two-year member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Born 4/29/87 in Aldan, Pa. ... Oldest of three children of Burt and Cindy Carver ... Has two younger sisters, Lauren (18) and Melissa (16) ... Accounting major.


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Call to Order
Here they are, ranked for your pleasure.
Yahoo! group in ( )
Adam Scott (A): His best finish was T15 in 2012 at Olympic Club and it is quite surprising that's he's only cashed in six of 12 of these in his career. I choose to live in the now with the 2013 Masters champion as he's been dominating just about everywhere he tees it up. In his last 13 majors, he's hit the top 25 ELEVEN times. Of those top 25's, seven have been in the top 10. I'll take the best ball-striker, for my money, in the world to continue his reign as world No. 1.
Rory McIlroy (B): The 2012 champ has shown he already has what it takes to rock it out at this level as he has won both of his majors by EIGHT SHOTS EACH. Sure, he's just as capable of 65 as he is 80 but I LIKE the fact that he has never seen Pinehurst No. 2. He won't have any demons or bad memories (see: Augusta) and I would be shocked if he wasn't contending at the end of the week. He tore up new Congressional. He tore up Kiawah. I'm on board. He's finished the last two majors in the top 10 as well. #choochoo
Phil Mickelson (A): He looks to complete the career grand slam this week at a course where he lost to Payne Stewart in 1999. If premium short game is required this week there aren't too many in the same category as the man with six seconds at this event. He said many moons ago, before he won a major, that he would win plenty of them. He's said that he wants to win more than one U.S. Open. The stars should align this week but he'll have to be ultra-sharp to take down the two dudes above him on this list. He knows this victory cements his place EASILY in the top 10 of "best ever" lists.
Bubba Watson (A): The only man who has a chance to win the grand slam THIS year has been torrid this entire season. His second green jacket was his second victory of the season and he also has a pair of T2s and a solo third his last time out at Memorial. Don't overlook the Memorial performance. Watson had struggled on that track and had a chance to win in the final six holes on Sunday but just missed out on the playoff. I know some styles of courses suit certain guys in certain ways but the absence of rough this week should favor the long-hitting lefty. Don't forget he's already learned a painful lesson at Oakmont in 2007 that he can learn from. I'm playing the form card here over the recent U.S. Open results.
Jason Day (B): I speak for most gamers when I wonder aloud what an injury-free season for Day would look like. After winning the WGC-Match Play he ran into thumb issues and has only played twice since. But, he's played 14 majors and made 11 cuts. In six of those he's finished in the top 10 and that includes three seconds and a third. In three U.S. Opens he's finished T2, T59 and T2. Last year he entered Merion on a four tournament streak that included only one top 25. #biggamehunter His excellent short game doesn't hurt this week either.
Matt Kuchar (A): Speaking of excellent short game, Kuchar is definitely in that conversation. The quirkier and harder the course, the more Kuchar stands out as he's sixth in scrambling and seventh in total putting. Check this out: in his last 17 majors he's made 15 cuts. He has six top 10s and his WORST finish is T28. Read that again. No, go ahead.
Jim Furyk (B): With zero victories since his 2010 TOUR Championship, Furyk has frustrated only the pickiest of gamers as he continues to rack up high finishes. He's 16-of-19 at the U.S. Open with six top fives that includes his 2003 victory at Olympia Fields. This season has proven again that he's pure class as he's racked up five top 10s in 12 weekends and hasn't been cut. Oh, he leads the TOUR in scrambling as well.
Sergio Garcia (C): He'll have good memories of No. 2 as he was T3 here in 2005. The Spaniard is nasty around the greens and can paint fairways and GIR with anyone. His last time out he WD with a knee issue after one round at Wentworth. He tweeted out on 30 May that his doctor said his knee was reacting well to treatment and that he'd be ready to go for this week. The Golf Channel is reporting Tuesday that he's still in pain. He'd love to get his name off the "best player not to win a major" as he tees it up for the 63rd time in a major. He's played the weekend in 12 of 14 starts and has eight top 25's, plus four of those in the top 10.
Justin Rose (B): The Golf Gods will note that he assessed himself a one-shot penalty last time out at Memorial that led to his MC. That MC broke a streak of T14, T8, fifth and T4 so I'm not worried about ONE MC. The defending champ from Merion is playing well and will need a big week with the flat stick to join Curtis Strange and the gang as repeat champions.
Dustin Johnson (B): Name a major he HASN'T contended in. Go ahead. In 2010 he was one bad decision from winning the PGA at Whistling Straits. Earlier that year he was the 54-hole leader heading into the final round of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach before he fired 82 to finish T8. He opened with 67 at the 2013 Masters as well and finished T13. He's been around the block. He's second in the all-around ranking and has the power to overcome any distance set-up. He'll win this week because I'm not playing him in the GC game like I did the last two weeks.
Jordan Spieth (B): After finishing as the low amateur (T21) at Olympic Club, Spieth MC at Merion last year. His entire focus this season has been improving his play in the big events and it has shown. He was T2 at Augusta and T4 at the players. Throw in a T5 at WGC-Match Play and that's a tidy hat trick of payments. Spieth is a super short-game player and is wise beyond his years. Remember he hung out with Ben Crenshaw before the Masters? I would think he's probably picked his brain a few times on this redesign!
Jason Dufner (B): Here's a guy who will push the limits of the fairway necks this week as he said he'll be loading driver as often as possible. After his display in dissecting Oak Hill, another Ross course, last summer, I can hardly blame him. The 2013 PGA champ has a top five finish in a major in the last four years. His last two U.S. Opens have seen him finish T4 and T4. Temperature goes up, Duf shows up and it's going to be hot and humid this week in North Carolina!
Charl Schwartzel (C): He's played the weekend at the U.S. Open in four straight and last year began Sunday one shot behind Phil Mickelson's 54-hole lead. His 78 saw him crash and burn to 14th. He adds that to T16 and T9 for a very steady return in three of the last four years. In seven of eight weekends he's finished T19 or better including T8 last time out at Memorial.
Lee Westwood (A): His record in majors covers just about everything besides the top prize and that will work for fantasy gamers. He has had no less than TWO top 10s (out of four events) in the majors in every year since 2009. Think about that for a second. He has 12 top 10s in his last 20 majors. That includes two seconds and six thirds. He's 12 of 14 in U.S. Opens and that includes nine top 25s and five top 10s. His three worst finishes are T36, T36 and T33. His worst finish in the last four years is T16. Gamers know that Westwood can struggle with chipping and putting but there is no question he shows up for the greatest test of golf almost every year. Hitting as many fairways and greens that he does minimizes his scrambling deficiencies for me.
Graeme McDowell (C): With nine cuts made from 10 events in 2014 on TOUR, McDowell has rewarded investors with five top 10s as his steady play continues. If there is one person in the field that is upset that the fairways have been widened, it's probably G MAC as he thrives on driving the golf ball. He's also proved that his excellent short game holds up in these conditions as well evidenced by his 2010 win at Pebble Beach and his T2 at Olympic Club (he really likes the Bay Area) in 2012. His run of T18, WIN, T14 and T2 was busted with a MC last year at Merion.
Ernie Els (B): When great U.S. Open players are mentioned, I find it weird that Ernie Els fades to the wayside, at least here in the States. It seems that Mickelson's six runner-up finishes are more important than Els' two titles (1994, 1997). It seems that the "Big Easy" is "old" and not as competitive as Mickelson. Els is barely a year older than Mickelson. Weird. Els has played 21 of these and seen the weekend 17 times. He has finished in the top five seven times and the top 10, 10 times. Don't forget he's also won two Open Championships so he knows how to work the ball into and around "linksy" courses as well.
Hideki Matsuyama (B): He played in three majors last year as a 21-year old and finished T10 at Merion, T6 at Muirfield and T19 at Oak Hill. Those were his first tries at the U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship. He won two weeks ago on TOUR as he outlasted Bubba Watson and defeated Kevin Na in a playoff at Muirfield Village. The field is lucky this week that this event isn't being played at a course with "Muirfield" in the name! He's 23rd in scrambling and 12th in the all-around so I know those results from last year weren't a fluke. He's legit.
Bill Haas (B): After WD at RBC Heritage, Haas has started ramping up his game up at the right time entering this week. His last four starts have been T44, T26, T21 and his first top 10 since March, T8 with a closing 68, at Memorial his last time out. As I've mentioned before, Haas will par courses to death and this week would be an excellent time to execute plenty of pars. His record in majors isn't where he wants it to be but with Scott Gneiser on the bag, he hopes to get some major help. Gneiser was on the bag for David Toms win in 2001 at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
Webb Simpson (B): Another North Carolinian like Haas, Charlotte resident Simpson played himself into contention last week with T3 at FESJC. Simpson, the 2012 champion at Olympic Club, finally broke out of a slump as that was his first top 10 in seven events since February. It's remarkable that he's in the top 10 in the all-around (seventh) but only has one top 10 in his last six. Form is temporary, class is permanent and he proved that with his closing 68 to win in 2012.
Just Missed
Luke Donald: His weakness has been spraying it off the tee so he'll be excited to see massive fairways this week and any wayward iron shots won't bother one of the best short-game players in the world. Donald hasn't had much U.S. Open success but did find T8 last year at Merion, his first in 10 tries.
Henrik Stenson: With his ball-striking prowess, I would have figured he would have been more proficient in the U.S. Open but his majors of choice are the PGA and Open Championship. In his last four U.S. Opens he's finished ninth, T29, T23, DNP and T21 last year at Merion. That's a very solid record. His only start in the States in the last six weeks was T34 at THE PLAYERS but he was T5 at Wentworth in late May and fifth last week in a light field at the Nordea Masters in his native Sweden.
Ian Poulter: He lit up TPC Southwind last Sunday for a final-round best 64 to jump into the top 10 (T6) for the first time on TOUR since November. Poulter is reputed as having the game for big events but he hasn't found a top 10 in 10 tries at the U.S. Open. The good news is he's made seven cuts and loves a proper grind around the greens. He'll be an excellent complementary piece for weekly players this week based on his form and short game.
Billy Horschel: I can't call the man who finished T4 last year at Merion wearing squid trousers a sleeper this week. Those who read this column know that I have been keeping a close eye on Horschel over the last few weeks as he has started to turn his game around. Yes, he isn't making very many putts but he's hitting tons of fairways and even more greens. He was T26 at THE PLAYERS, T15 at Memorial and T6 in Memphis last week. He's obviously moving in the right direction. He's third in ball-striking but it's his short game that is keeping him on this list this week. He's also fearless which could have some repercussions this week! He's a great compliment in a weekly lineup as well with a premium player.
Jimmy Walker: He will benefit from the widening of the fairways as well as being one of the best putters around. In his first trip to Augusta he finished T8 so I'm not deterred by his lack of experience at Pinehurst. He also is a GIR machine which will come in handy this week. He has three top 10s in five starts since Augusta so he hasn't looked like cooling off.
Stephen Gallacher: He closed 68-66 at Wentworth for T5 and 65-68 to reach a playoff at the Nordea Masters (P2; Jaidee) in his last two starts. Hot golf is hot golf and the Scotsman will know a few things about playing a links-style course.
Chris Kirk: This is only his fifth major but I'm more concerned about his current form entering this week. He shot 67 on Sunday at THE PLAYERS to finish T13. He missed a 10-footer on Sunday on No. 18 to finish T14 at Colonial. He opened with 66 and closed with 68 to finish T4 his last time out at Memorial. He's made 20 cuts on the bounce, is in the top 20 in scrambling and is a solid bunker player.
Brendon Todd: With finishes of WIN, T5 and T8 in his last three outings, I'm willing to look past his experienced on this stage as well. He isn't the biggest hitter but he's sixth in total putting, eighth in scrambling and 11th in adjusted scoring. He's a rank outsider based on reputation and lack of experience but he's a cool, steady customer.
Jonas Blixt: Can you name the only player to finish in the top five in the last two majors? Yep. Blixt was fourth at Oak Hill last August and T2 last April at Augusta. He's played his last NINE majors rounds at par or better. His short game and putter keeps him in the conversation the longer the weekend carries on. Huge risk, massive reward this week for gamers as Blixt has been all-or-nothing since last summer.
John Senden: With T30, T10 and T15 in his last three, Senden looks to continue to build on his excellent 2014. He should play great this week because he MC for me as my OAD last week in Memphis. It's just how the universe works. Anyhow, one MC is his last 10 isn't going to sour me on the Aussie who has found magic in the flat stick. Hell, he MC last week with 67 on Friday so it's not time to sleep on him.
Long Shots/Sleepers
Bo Van Pelt: He heated up around this time last season and finished T21 at Merion. In 2014, BVP is heading in the proper direction as he racked up T26 at THE PLAYERS, T14 at Colonial and T19 last time out at Memorial. He's made six of seven cuts at U.S. Opens so his game is suited to this test.
Miguel Angel Jimenez: Ah, the great argument of where he should be placed this week. Some folks are high on him. Some folks are higher on him. He's MC in six of his last eight U.S. Opens, including his last four. His two weekends went for T16 and T6. This sounds like his current run of form in 2014. He was fourth at the Masters and then won his next time out at his home country's open. He followed that up with getting married and T35 and T70. Last week's T5 at the Lyoness Open was a perfect tune up. Hale Irwin is the oldest winner at 45. The Mechanic is 50. He won't lead the line and I'm not overbidding/overpaying for him either. #ageist
Retief Goosen: The two-time champion has found a bit of form on TOUR which makes me take a little harder look this week. He also shot a million here in the final round in 2005 with Jason Gore but the easy-going South African has a couple of these under his belt. He's played six weekends on the bounce on TOUR and was hovering around the lead last week before 75-72 weekend sunk his chances. His experience, temperament and ability to put difficult greens intrigues me this week.
Joost Luiten: After winning twice last year on the European Tour the 28-year old Dutchman found himself moving up the OWGR. In 2014 he's found T13 at WGC-CC, T26 at Augusta after closing with 67, fourth at the Open de Espana, T12 at Wentworth and third last week at the Lyoness.
Bernd Wieseberger: He has finished T2 and second in two of his last five starts over the last two months including a playoff loss last week at Lyoness.
Scott Langley: Believe it or not, this will be his fourth U.S. Open in the last five years for the 25-year old. He's made the cut in his first three so that tells me he's a grinder and his game is suited for such a challenge. He's 14th on TOUR in scrambling and 47th in strokes-gained putting this season.
Keegan Bradley: He's 30-OVER in his only four rounds in two U.S. Open appearances. He has one top 25 finish in his last six on TOUR, T8 at a birdie fiesta in New Orleans. Too many better options to "hope" that he breaks out this week.
Hunter Mahan: Another American with Ryder Cup aspirations that are slowly slipping away, Mahan hasn't fired since he hurt his hip in Orlando in March. He has two rounds in the 60s on the weekend in 2014. They both came in the same tournament, WMPO, in the first week of February. I would be surprised that this would be the week that it all comes together. His best finish in his last seven was T26 at Augusta.
Angel Cabrera: Just stop it.
Zach Johnson: A month ago I thought this would be a great chance for Johnson to contend for another major championship. But after just one top 25 in his last seven TOUR stops and a U.S. Open record that involves nothing better than T30 in 10 starts (4 MCs), I'm gone.
The Man with His Own Column
Brandt Snedeker: He admitted in interviews this week that his 2014 has been very disappointing and I don't think there are ANY gamers out there who would disagree. Instead of dismissing Snedeker in the FADE column, where he has been the landlord for much of the spring, I find it interesting that he changed putters and brought in Payne Stewart's old caddy for some help about Pinehurst. Einstein's definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results so I view this as a step in the right direction. This is the first time in eight years that he's going with a new putter and Stewart's old caddy has come in to help with the nuances of No. 2's greens. I'm not saying this makes Snedeker a contender this week but at least it is SOMETHING for season-long owners. Weekly owners will remind me that he's never finished worse than 23rd in five U.S. Open weekends out of seven attempts. Remember, he's had nothing better than T37 since the end of March.
Jordan Spieth of the Week Last Week
The column was taken over and thrashed by the kid from Texas last year. Out of respect, I'm not changing the title of it for 2013-14. It will remind me just how good Spieth was in the last three months of the season. This year, we'll still identify an up-and-coming player and/or rookie that fantasy players should have on their radar.
Frys.com: Hideki Matsuyama, T3; Brooks Koepka, T3; Max Homa, T9.
SHCO: Ryo Ishikawa is only 22, don't forget, T2; Chesson Hadley, T5.
CIMB: Kiradech Aphibarnrat, 24, might have enough money after this week to earn Special Temporary Membership. Pay attention!
WGC-HSBC: Jordan Spieth was 17th. Tommy Fleetwood (T18) is only 22 and plays in Europe. Matsuyama WD with a bad back.
McGladrey: Scott Langley turned 24 last April and is in his second season on TOUR. He finished T22 last week and No. 124 last season. #slimpickinngsthisweek
OHL Mayakoba: Harris English turned 24 last July. He won.
HTOC: Er, Jordan Spieth, solo second.
Sony: Hudson Swafford and Will Wilcox both finished T8. Both played on the Web.com Tour last year and are rookies on TOUR this season.
Humana: Patrick Reed won. He's 23. You need to pay attention.
FIO: Ryo Ishikawa, 22, bagged another top 10 finish. That's his sixth in his last 10 events on TOUR or the Web.com Tour. He's an alternate this week as of Monday afternoon.
WMPO: Hideki Matsuyama is 21. In 11 events the last two years, he's hit the top 25 in NINE of them, including T4 last week. #ALLRIGHTYTHEN
Pebble Beach: Er, Jordan Spieth, T4. Patrick Reed, 23, finished T13 and he's won twice since August. Golf is good hands, again.
Riviera: Harris English won't be 25 until July. He was T10; Spieth was T12.
WGC-Match Play: Victor Dubuisson is 23 and was second. Jordan Spieth was T5. #youthmovement
Honda: Russell Henley is now the fourth player on TOUR under 25 with two wins. He joins Patrick Reed, Harris English and Rory McIlroy in this very elite club of pups.
WGC-CC: Patrick Reed is 23. He's now won three times in eight months on TOUR.
Puerto Rico Open: Rookie Chesson Hadley, 26, took home his first title on the big boy circuit.
Valspar: Chesson Hadley backed up his first win with T14 on a tough, tough Copperhead Course. Scott Langley, a second year player from Illinois (see above) was third.
API: The young Japanese lad Ishikawa racked up another top 10 (T8) this week. Yep, he's still just 22.
Valero: He'll be remembered for all of the wrong reasons but Andrew Loupe, 25, finished T4 in only his eighth start on TOUR. #slowgolfclap
Shell Houston: Russell Henley's T7 shows him heating up before heading back for another crack at Augusta.
Masters: That Jordan Spieth guy was T2.
RBC Heritage: John Huh, T3, is a TOUR winner but is only 23 years old. Remember?
Zurich: The winner was 22-year old Seung-Yul Noh. He fits this column to a T.
Wells Fargo: Defending champ Derek Ernst was T30. He'll turn 24 on May 15.
THE PLAYERS: That pesky Spieth was tied for the 54-hole lead and finished T4.
HPBNC: T16 was the best the youth could muster with John Huh, who turns 24 on Wednesday.
Colonial: Second-year player David Lingmerth poked his head up again with T5 to lead the youngsters. Hideki Matsuyama, who co-led after 54-holes, finished T10.
Memorial: Matsuyama must be a quick study. He was the 54-hole leader at Colonial yet finished T10. He took it deep this week with his first victory on TOUR, in a playoff, nonetheless. #impressive
FESJC: Brooks Koepka continues to rack up non-Member points and his T19 this week added to that.
Coming Later TUESDAY Afternoon
Playing the Tips will be up and running this and every Tuesday afternoon and will list all of the Rotoworld experts picks in the GolfChannel.com game, the Yahoo! Fantasy Golf game and my One-and-Done feature. Look for it around 6 ET every Tuesday for the rest of the season.
Coming Wednesday
And the analysis doesn't end here. Rotoworld's Rob Bolton and I will be co-hosting a one-hour live chat Wednesday at NOON p.m. ET. We will be breaking down the field at the U.S. Open and answering your questions. Simply return to the golf home page to join in on the chatter.
114th U.S. Open
Pinehurst Resort and Country Club
Course No. 2
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Pinehurst Course No. 2
Yards: 7,562
Par: 70 (35-35)
Greens: Penn G-2 Creeping Bentgrass; 6,388 square feet on average.
Stimpmeter: whatever the USGA can crank it up to without being ridiculous
Rough: There isn't any
Bunkers: 111
Water Hazards: There is one pond that probably won't come into play on No. 16
Course Architect: Donald Ross (1907); R.T. Jones (1974); Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw Redesign (2010)
Purse: $8,000,000
Winner's Share: $1,440,000
FexExCup Points: 600 to the winner
Defending Champion: Justin Rose claimed his first major victory at Merion as he defeated Phil Mickelson and Jason Day by two shots
Dates: June 12-15
Notes: The top 60 and ties will advance to the weekend. It used to be the top 60 and any player within 10 shots of the lead. The latter no longer exists as of 2013. If there is a playoff, it will 18 holes of stroke play beginning Monday morning.
Recent History Lessons
After winning 31 of 40 tournaments in 2013, the USA has now won 22 of 30 events in 2013-14. Harris English, Jimmy Walker (THREE), Webb Simpson, Ryan Moore, Dustin Johnson, Chris Kirk, Zach Johnson, Patrick Reed (TWO), Scott Stallings, Kevin Stadler, Bubba Watson (TWO), Russell Henley, Chesson Hadley, Matt Every, Matt Kuchar, J.B. Holmes, Brendon Todd and Ben Crane have won for the USA.
Adam Scott, Matt Jones, Steven Bowditch, John Senden and Jason Day, all Australians, have cashed five victories. Matsuyama joins Seung-yul Noh as the Asian representatives and Martin Kaymer is flying the flag for Europe with his victory.
S.Y. Noh, Steven Bowditch, Matt Every, Jimmy Walker, Kevin Stadler, Chesson Hadley Matt Jones, Brendon Todd and Hideki Matsuyama are the first-time winners this season. There were 12, first-timers in 40 events last year and we've had nine in 30 events so far in 2014. #onpace Troy Merritt gave it a go this week but came in solo second.
Young Guns Versus Prime Time Versus Old Guys
Jimmy Walker (34) started the season out on the right foot for the Prime Time guys and has since added two more wins to lead the FedExCup standings. He has been joined by Ryan Moore (30) in Malaysia, Zach Johnson (37) at Kapalua, Kevin Stadler (33), at WMPO and Bubba Watson (35), joined them at Riviera. Matt Every (30), Steven Bowditch (30) and Matt Jones (33), all first-timers, flew the flag before Watson picked up victory No. 2 of the year at Augusta. Since the first major, Matt Kuchar (37), J.B. Holmes (32), Adam Scott (33) and now Crane, 38, add to the prime-timers trophy case.
Scott Stallings (28), Patrick Reed TWICE (23), Chris Kirk (28), Webb Simpson (28), Dustin Johnson (29), Harris English (24), Jason Day (26) and Russell Henley (24) Seung-Yul Noh (22), Martin Kaymer (29), Brendon Todd, 28 and Hideki Matsuyama (22), are the twenty-somethings who have made large noise this year.
Australian John Senden, 42, won at Tampa Bay for the only W for the "Old Guys" this season.
Pay Attention: It's FREE!
Francis Ouimet, 1913, was the last player to win in his first U.S. Open.
The last amateur to win was John Goodman in 1933.
In the last four years, three winners have been foreign-born. There have been 28 international champions and eight in the last 15 years.
Justin Rose became the first Englishman in 33 years to win last year. Tony Jacklin in 1970 was the last Englishman to win.
John J. McDermott was 19 years, 10 moths and four days when he lifted the trophy in 1911. He's the youngest champion.
Hale Irwin was 45 years and 15 days when he won in 1990. The oldest champion was entered into the field that year as a special exemption by the USGA. They were quite right.
There are 21 multiple champions. This week, two of them are in the field as Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, both South Africans, have both won twice. They look to join Tiger Woods and Hale Irwin on three titles. They'll need two more to join Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones and Willie Anderson who all have four.
Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15 shots. That's the largest margin of victory in an major.
Rory McIlroy had it to 17-under-par in 2011 at Congressional. He finished on 16-under setting the record for the lowest tournament score.
The lowest round ever fired in U.S. Open play is 63. Johnny Miller might remind you of this during the telecast as his won him the 1973 edition at Oakmont. His 63 is the only one ever fired on Sunday.
Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and Vijay Singh are the other three players to turn it that number as well.
The largest Sunday comeback is seven shots accomplished by Arnold Palmer in 1960 at Cherry Hills.
Curtis Strange is the last player of six to defend his title. He accomplished this feet in 1988 and 1989.
Only five players in the field this week played "old" Pinehurst in 1999 and 2005. Stewart Cink, Jeff Maggert, Jim Furyk, Justin Leonard and Phil Mickelson hold this distinction.
Phil Mickelson has six seconds. That's the most all time.
The last player to win with a birdie on 72nd holes was Bobby Jones in 1926.
No player has won multiple majors in the same year since Padraig Harrington in 2008. Think about that for a minute.
Jimmy Walker, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson are the only players on TOUR with multiple victories in the 2013-14 season. All three players are in the field this week and are ready to go.
This Will Win You a Bar Bet
Robert Garrigus is one of only eight players to post all four rounds in a U.S. Open under par. The others are Sam Snead, Billy Casper, Lee Trevino, Tony Jacklin, Lee Janzen, Curtis Strange and Rory McIlroy.
Please Remember
Only eight players have won on TOUR the week before a major and then went on to win the following week.
Byron Nelson: 1945 Chicago Open; PGA
Ben Hogan: 1946 Winnipeg Open; PGA
Sam Snead: 1949 GGO; Masters
Art Wall: 1959 Azalea Open; Masters
Lee Trevino: 1971 Canadian Open; The Open Championship
Sandy Lyle: 1988 GGO; Masters
Phil Mickelson: 2006 Bell South; Masters
Tiger Woods: 2007 WGC-BI; PGA
Phil Mickelson: 2013 Scottish Open; The Open Championship; Mickelson has won all five majors when he's played the week prior.
Please note none of these players went on to win the U.S. Open as their encore.
Past Champions Since 1999
1999 Payne Stewart
2000 Tiger Woods
2001 Retief Goosen
2002 Tiger Woods
2003 Jim Furyk
2004 Retief Goosen
2005 Michael Campbell
2006 Geoff Ogilvy
2007 Angel Cabrera
2008 Tiger Woods
2009 Lucas Glover
2010 Graeme McDowell
2011 Rory McIlroy
2012 Webb Simpson
2013 Justin Rose
Note: Payne Stewart (deceased), Tiger Woods (injured) and Michael Campbell (injured) are not participating this week.
Inside the Ropes
Pinehurst No. 2 has hosted just about everything there is to host in the world of golf. This North Carolina resort is anything but a traditional resort course as it has hosted the 1951 Ryder Cup, 1936 PGA Championship, two U.S. Amateurs, two TOUR Championships, 1989 Women's Amateur, 1966 Western Amateur, 1994 Senior Open and the prestigious North & South Men's Amateur since 1901. In its totality, Pinehurst No. 2 has hosted the most championships of any course in the U.S. A.
In 2010 Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw were hired to bring No. 2 back to the design that made Donald Ross, the original architect declare, "the fairest test of golf I have ever designed". Over the years Bermudagrass had spread all over the track and hid the original routing. It didn't help that deep rough and green everything was the style at the time. The grass covered the original sand swept areas that made this course one of the best Ross ever designed. Coore and Crenshaw were tasked with restoring it to what it looked like back in the heydays of the 1930's and 1940's when Ross lived just off the third hole. They used aerial photos from that time period to bring the course back to its original style and design.
All 18 holes received attention during the restoration and some received more than others. Fairways were expanded and tees were added. All the rough on the course was REMOVED. Gone. See ya. I bet the players who teed it up here in 1999 and 2005 wish that would have happened sooner! Removing the rough and reintroducing the native sandy areas and wire grass matched what the original No. 2 looked like. The removal of the rough was not just for the U.S. Open as the design team eliminated over half of the irrigation that served to keep the course green. Native areas would grow and develop based on what Mother Nature would provide.
If that wasn't enough, they planted over 200,000 wiregrass plants, eliminated overseeding protocols in the winter and making bunkers look like they did 70 years ago. The "rough" is now considered the plants that are growing in the sandy areas off the fairways that are no longer watered. It's natural selection at its best.
Gamers, the good news is that they only fiddled with two greens, No. 15 and No. 17 were flattened and smoothed in spots to add extra pin placements. Guys who have played here in the past will still have their experience on how to handle the toughest part of the course, the green complexes. But, from the tee box, it looks and feels like a very different track. Instead of staring out at lush greenery, tall wiregrasses and sandy mounds have taken over causing the players to adjust their bearings off the tee. The course, as of Monday, was a lovely combination of brown-green-brown from tee-to-green. Mother Nature has cooperated and No. 2 should be playing firm and fast in the fairways and it could resemble an inland links course.
The better news is that the fairways have been widened up to 50% so getting the ball in play won't be as challenging as most traditional U.S. Open setups. But, and there's always BUT, the players who choose to hit fat part of the fairway will be left with longer irons into the diabolical, upside-down bowls that Pinehurst No. 2 is famous for. Those who choose to bomb it will find those fairways neck at about 300 yards in most places. On either side of those necks will be wiregrass and sand. Hit the target and a shorter iron can be used to stick the ball on the minimal landing areas on these greens. It's classic risk-reward.
A U.S. Open should make players think and this again will be the case this week. Multiple players have commented that playing in gnarly rough only gives one option moving forward: pitching out. With the wiregrass and sandy areas, players now have to decide how good the lie is, how far they can advance it or just take the medicine and pitch it out. This decision is vitally important because of the green complexes. The wrong lie can lead to the wrong side of the green and crooked numbers will start popping up. Hitting GIR is important this week but with the false-fronts, run-offs and small landing areas, MISSING GIR on the proper side is just as important. Missing in the correct place will give players a better chance to save par and get out.
The decisions made this week from these areas will be just as crucial as having an excellent short game so I'm looking for experienced, big-time players that are mentally and physically tough enough to handle this test over four days. Patience will be just as much of a factor as finding fairways and GIR. I've read from multiple players that there is absolutely no reason to go flag hunting this week as the reward does NOT outweigh the risk. A birdie saves you a shot; a double-bogey adds two.
This is why I enjoy the U.S. Open. It's a completely different test than Augusta where the attacking, scoring player is rewarded. It's completely different than The Open where the subtlety of links golf must be mastered all while fighting the British winds. The PGA is probably the dullest major for me. I'd love to see it return to stroke-play into match-play but I'll save that argument for a different day.
The days of balls buried in the Bermudagrass and pitching out sideways are over and a "new" day dawns this week at Pinehurst No. 2. New tee boxes have been installed on 13 holes, including one on No. 6 that makes an already difficult par three stretch to 250 yards. Those extra tees added over 300 yards to make it 7,562 yards from the tips. It will be the second-longest open after 2008 Torrey Pines (7,643). It will have the two longest par fours in history, Nos. 4 (529 yards) and 16 (528 yards). Brown is the new green. I'm not sure Donald Ross would have envisioned the length but from the reactions of the players and media who have been on it recently, it's going to be an excellent setting for our national championship.


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Just north of India is a land steeped in mystery-Nepal. Bill tours the city of Kathmandu, visits the World Heritage temple complexes, and walks along the city streets, where ancient and modern vie for space. We fly around Mount Everest, arguably the world's most famous mountain, before heading into Chitwan National Park. In Chitwan, Bill searches for tigers from the back of an elephant and observes the myriad of wildlife that call the park home.
Visit the Website: http://www.journeyswithbillball.com
Episode #111 / Length: 26 minutes


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I'm going for three weeks to the US Southwest soon.
Which National/State Parks should I definitely visit, besides Gran Canyon? (I'm referring to
most impressive views and great hiking).
Which peaks should I definitely climb?
I know it may be a tough question, and I have kind of a list already, but any recommendations are welcome. Am curious for your reply ...


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The Institute communicates its scientific and educational information in a number of ways. One major outlet is peer-reviewed publications and reports. Cary Institute staff regularly publish in the best-rated journals in their respective fields.
Export 1 results:Sort by: Author Title [ Type] Year
Filters: Author is Gao, C. [Clear All Filters]
Journal Article
Ecological Forecasting and Data Assimilation in a Data-Rich Era", Ecol. Appl., vol. 21, p. 1429-1442, 2011., "


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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — There was a time when Ohio State players could look forward to a break after trading bruises with archrival Michigan.
Not anymore. At least, not this year.
No sooner did the second-ranked Buckeyes escape Michigan Stadium with a 42-41 victory — thanks to Tyvis Powell's last-minute interception on a two-point conversion pass at the goal line — than they were already immersing themselves in preparation for yet another make-or-break game.
The Big Ten championship game against No. 10 Michigan State — the only top-15 team Ohio State has played in a school-record 24-game winning streak under coach Urban Meyer — looms on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The Buckeyes are beaten up, physically and mentally. But this is no time to reflect on what's been accomplished so far.
"I think they are sore," Meyer said on Monday. "I have got to be smart this week in what we do. As far as energy and focus — and throw in the fact that it's finals week at Ohio State — we have to be really efficient with these guys."
Now No. 2 in the BCS standings, the Buckeyes need to win to hang on to their spot in the BCS national championship game.
Since 1943, Ohio State has not had an opponent between Michigan and a bowl game. But with the Big Ten going to a two-division format three years ago, it was only a matter of time until the Buckeyes were busy again the week after their annual grudge match with Michigan.
A year ago, the Buckeyes also went 12-0, but were not permitted to play in the Big Ten title game or a bowl because of NCAA sanctions from violations that occurred on former coach Jim Tressel's watch.
It's not as if they don't have some things to work on this week.
The defense was overwhelmed by Michigan's previously erratic offense. The Wolverines' Devin Gardner completed 32 of 45 passes for 451 yards and four touchdowns — including three in the fourth quarter as Michigan pulled even after trailing by 14 points.
The Buckeyes surrendered 603 yards.
Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell was displeased with the stats but couldn't have been happier that the Buckeyes' offense did enough to bail out his side of the ball.
"Did we win? Did we win?" he repeated when asked about the failures of his defense. "Because I've been up there quite a few times in my 18-year career (as a player and coach) here and have not always been able to come away with the win. Momentum and things happen and we didn't play great on the defensive side of the ball. So there's a lot of things to correct."
Ohio State's running game doesn't have a lot of flaws right now. Carlos Hyde, the first running back in Meyer's 12 years as a head coach to top 1,000 yards, rumbled for 226 yards on 27 carries and scored once at the Big House, while quarterback Braxton Miller rushed for 133 yards and three touchdowns.
But the Buckeyes will be up against a Michigan State defense that is ranked No. 1 among all major colleges against the run (allowing just 64.8 yards per game), in passing efficiency defense and also in total defense (giving up just 238 yards a game).
Offensive coordinator Tom Herman said the Spartans do not have an apparent weakness.
"I don't know if there is a first-team All American on that defense," he said. "But they have 11 guys that know exactly what they are doing and they do it really well and they tackle well and they are always in the right spot. They are about as sound a defense as you'll see."
As has been the case throughout the season, Meyer won't discuss BCS rankings or the potential of playing in the national championship game.
The Buckeyes, by virtue of two-time defending national champion Alabama's quirky loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl on Saturday night, moved up a spot to No.2 in the BCS rankings.
If they beat Michigan State they will most likely play in the title game on Jan. 6 in Pasadena, Calif.
Meyer declined to get involved in the verbal skirmishing over whether a Southeastern Conference champion with one loss deserves a spot in the title game, and also refused to defend his own team's claim. Yet.
"We play a game," he said of the Big Ten championship. "And for someone to ask about something (that might happen) after this game, I mean, that's cheating my football team. There will be no conversation about what happens after this game until after the game."


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This resource is no longer available
Best Practices in Demand and Inventory Planning for Pharmaceutical Companies
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You can already watch youtube on those systems...
You can watch youtube on those systems, but its not exactly a perfectly smooth experience. On the Wii half the time I tried it videos would either just stop in the middle randomly, continue to play in the background when switching to fullscreen and a ton of other annoyances. So a little compatibility testing and a more streamlined interface would be more then welcome.
I tried YouTube's TV interface on my PS3 yesterday. While I appreciated some aspects of the simplified interface, it seemed that the video playback itself was less pleasant. The framerate just about chopped in half if I attempted to play video in full-screen, and there were some annoyances with the progress bar and control buttons -- the progress bar didn't seem to work right, and the play/fullscreen/etc. buttons were just aesthetically displeasing.
I also ran into the problem where some videos are "not av
uh, if you've ever tried to read 12-point text on a non-HD glass tube, then yes, you are definitely missing something.
i tried out the new interface last night. it's great. simple and streamlined, yet functional. unfortunately it doesn't solve the crappy framerate and buffering problems.
You can already use YouTube on PS3 via the web browser. It works fine.
So are they just slapping in a new theme?
I would disagree. I have a PS3, and while I can watch YouTube videos on it, there are several minor playback issues -- in particular, the audio and video are not fully synched, and occasionally playback hiccups as it gets resynched. It's very noticable in videos that rely heavily on rhythm, such as drumming videos.
No real difference except a big button that says YOUTUBE for non-slashdotters who don't understand that WebBrowser = YouTube. Remember, most people don't know what a web browser is, as far as they're concerned the internet is IE rather than IE being an internet device.
I distinctly remember watching youtube on my television through my Wii 2 years ago.
my house had wifi, the wii picked it up, i went to youtube, and watched a bunch of videos.
what is new here?
a streamlined interface?
is that it?
Nintendo is good at making games, but it seems to treat there users as baby when ever it comes to options and technical things like an internet browser, if a screen has more then 4 buttons on it It makes the developers fear its too complicated, how much do you bet its internet browser will nothing like Firefox in terms of usefulness
From the article
""10-foot television viewing experience through a streamlined interface that enables you to discover, watch and share YouTube videos on any TV screen with just a few quick clicks of your remote control. With enlarged text and simplified navigation, it makes watching YouTube on your TV as easy and intuitive as possible.""
In short it will provide the PS3 and Wii the exact same non-browser based setup that most quality HTPC software has had for years. Except that with most HTPC software now you
In short it will provide the PS3 and Wii the exact same non-browser based setup that most quality HTPC software has had for years.
But most non-geeks still don't own and don't think they want a home theater PC. Otherwise, more of the arcade-style games that are currently released only on consoles would get ported to Windows.
But most non-geeks still don't own and don't think they want a home theater PC. Otherwise, more of the arcade-style games that are currently released only on consoles would get ported to Windows.
I spent a couple of minutes trying to craft a statement as developmentally retarded as this one, but I failed.
A Home Theater PC might be capable of playing games, but it's not necessarily used for same.
If I were a games developer with a game that fits well on console, and I wouldn't make dramatically more money by adding a PC port, I wouldn't bother to do one at all. Supporting a console game is practically a non-issue compared to a PC game.
If I were a games developer with a game that fits well on console, and I wouldn't make dramatically more money by adding a PC port, I wouldn't bother to do one at all.
Which was sort of my point. HTPCs aren't widespread enough that game publishers large enough to have a console license would make more money by adding a PC port.
Personally, while I can watch embedded YouTube videos, my Wii won't let me watch them from the YouTube site. Claims my version of Flash is out of date, and it's impossible to update.
I would like to actually browse YouTube from my Wii, so this new setup is a good thing.
Then it's a bug in my system. I get told every time that I only have Flash 7, and need to upgrade. But WiiOpera can't upgrade.
If it's embedded, it's fine, but surfing YouTube itself is useless.
It's actually not an Opera issue. It's an Adobe issue. They have not released a version of embedded Flash beyond flash 7.
http://my.opera.com/haavard/blog/2007/04/13/wii-browser-out-but-why-flash-7-and-not-8-or-9 [opera.com]
Google, in its infinite wisdom, keeps redirecting me to the Australian version of YouTube and the "YouTube Australia's Official Blog". I thought it might be when I was logged in, so I set my location to be the United States and still got redirected. I logged out and still keep getting the stupid Australian blog. Funnily enough it displays a nice big white area where you would expect the content of the article to be. I know, I know, this is my punishment for trying to RTFA.
Go into your web browser's cookie manager and delete the cookies for www.youtube.com and au.youtube.com and you shouldn't be redirected any more.
For those who don't want to read the article, just head to http://www.youtube.com/tv [youtube.com] on the appropriate console browser.
This is a slight disappointment. It's nice to have a new TV-friendly interface, but it's a little bit stretch to say "Youtube is coming to consoles". You still need the web browser, and the Internet Channel on Wii isn't free. I was expecting a separate free app that was optimised for Wii (or PS3); that would have been more efficient and probably more portable, as paradoxical as it may seem
Of course, when I got it, it was a free beta test of the internet channel, buuuut it does everything the regular internet channel does, and if I go to the Wii Shop, it doesn't have an option to purchase the internet channel, and shows me as already having downloaded the internet channel.
So, if they made it cost money now, it was free for pretty much the first year that the Wii was being sold (if not longer, as I got the internet
The Internet Channel is a version of the Opera 9 web browser for use on the Wii by Opera Software and Nintendo.[1] On December 22, 2006, a free beta version (promoted as a "trial
Not worth it for me if I have to pay - computer is sitting only a few feet away.
Not worth it for me if I have to pay - computer is sitting only a few feet away.
For $10, North American customers can buy a copy of Internet Channel and Super Mario 3. It might be worth it for people who don't have a PC in the same room as the big TV, who would otherwise have to pay $500 to have another PC built with a video card that has composite out. (None of the PCs at Office Depot have it.)
i'm watching youtube videos in opera quite from the start of the wii
Microsoft has a slightly different content policy on their machine.
They keep a very tight hold on what may live on their platform, and generally they try to "monetize" whatever goes on it.
No web browser, no youtube, no BBC iPlayer.
They have started to slowly embrace the concept user-created-content (and eventually free-as-in-beer content) through XNA, but the real ethos of Xbox is the ultimate walled-garden, money-tree entertainment device. Time will tell as to whether this is the best avenue for them to go
I already do this with a Neuros OSD [neurostechnology.com]
"Have you ever wanted to just sit on your couch and watch YouTube on your TV?"
Besides, you can enter YouTube through your Wii since the Internet Channel exists.
Works quite well. It did work before, or course, but the interface is a bit simplified, and font sizes have been adjusted for being viewed from a distance.
Just gave it a try on my Wii. The interface is pretty nice. But it still uses the browser, and the big issue is the suckiness of the ancient Flash plug-in. The video is extremely jittery, so even with the nicer interface, I still don't think it's worth using.
It's kind of surprising to me that they'd invest this effort, but not bother to try to fix the big issue. I'd think a custom application, like the one on iPhone, would be a much better solution.
Or Adobe could suck less.
Q: 'Have you ever wanted to just sit on your couch and watch YouTube[...]'
A: NO! NO, GODDAMNIT! Every fucking time I go to that festering pit of desperate wannabes called YouTube, I do so with a specific purpose and hopefully a specific video link! And I leave the site immediately once I've seen what I need to see.
Some people have no interest in passively consuming whatever tripe the delusional people who submit YouTube videos produce. DELUSIONAL. Why? Someone who posts assumes that others care. Well, we do
If I have not seen so far it is because I stood in giant's footsteps.


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LONDON, Ont. — As the final and 61st prosecution witness finished testimony Thursday at the high-profile trial of Michael Rafferty for the murder of Victoria (Tori) Stafford, Crown attorney Kevin Gowdey rose to his feet and announced simply: "The Crown rests its case."
With that, the Crown's proceedings against Rafferty which began March 5, neared the end.
It's now the turn of the defence, although it's unclear if the defence will call any evidence. The trial has been adjourned until Tuesday.
Rafferty, 31, is charged with first-degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and kidnapping the young Ontario schoolgirl three years ago. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
On Thursday, the Crown closed its case similarly to how it began: with video surveillance images — the same images played during the first day of the trial.
Gerald Lanna, a certified forensic video analyst with the Ontario Provincial Police, told the 12-member jury that through painstaking work, he was able to determine that a car seen on three separate occasions outside the Grade 3 student's elementary school on the day she disappeared could possibly be Rafferty's 2003 Honda Civic.
Lanna testified that Rafferty's vehicle could not be excluded as the same vehicle caught on area surveillance video travelling northbound on Fyfe Avenue at 9:04 a.m., 3:05 pm. and 3:30 p.m. on April 8, 2009.
Click here to read @LindaNguyenPN's tweets from the Tori Stafford trial
Stafford, 8, was last seen outside Oliver Stephens Public School in Woodstock, Ont., around 3:30 p.m., the same time that car was near the scene.
Her decomposing remains were found on July 19, 2009, more than two hours away in a field near Mount Forest, Ont. An autopsy concluded she had died from multiple blows, most likely caused by a claw hammer.
Lanna said Rafferty's vehicle was similar to the four-door vehicle in the videos because they both were dark-coloured, both had dark rims, and shared a slight slope on the front hood.
A similar looking vehicle was also captured on video a few minutes earlier at a nearby Esso gas station in Woodstock, a small city located west of Toronto.
Lanna said he able to make this comparison because the car had what looked like a shoddily installed air intake on the front, a back spoiler, dirt marks on the side and a bad paint job.
"To me, I would have to say that that is our vehicle," he told the court.
Court has previously heard that Rafferty's dark blue car, which was seized by police following his arrest, had a poor black exterior paint job, a similarly poor white interior paint job and had both a back spoiler and a front air intake.
But during cross-examination, Rafferty's defence lawyer, Dirk Derstine, began a heated exchange with Lanna, asking him if he could unequivocally conclude that the car in the video was Rafferty's vehicle.
"I'm going to suggest to you even with all your comparison and your science . . . you cannot say those are the same vehicles?" he asks pointedly.
"Is it fair to say the vehicles . . . could be the same vehicle but are not necessarily the same vehicle?" he asks a second time.
"Is it the same car? Can you say it's the same car? We can't keep going around the mulberry bush." Derstine said a third time.
After a pause, Lanna replies: "I can't say it's the same car."
The Crown contends this vehicle was used to transport the little girl. Court has heard that traces of DNA likely belonging to the blonde girl was found on a gym bag and in Rafferty's car.
As part of his evidence, Lanna also played a timeline video of all the surveillance footage acquired by police during the investigation.
The crowded courtroom remained silent as jurors watched the 30-minute long video, which showed evidence seen earlier in the trial. Rafferty did not watch most of the footage, and instead was seen taking copious notes.
The video clips, mostly taken on April 8, 2009, included the infamous footage of a woman in a white jacket walking away with Stafford and images of Rafferty at an ATM machine in Woodstock and Guelph, Ont., on the day she disappeared.
It also contained chilling footage of Rafferty's girlfriend, Terri-Lynne McClintic, at a Home Depot purchasing a claw hammer and garbage bags at a self-checkout counter in Guelph.
McClintic, 21, is now serving a life sentence for the child's death after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in April 2010.
On Wednesday, the trial saw video surveillance of a happy Rafferty visiting McClintic who was jailed for breaching a court order just a month after Stafford was killed.
In the videos from May 8, 2009, and May 12, 2009, the two often embraced, laughed together and appeared at ease. At one point, Rafferty caresses McClintic's face to brush away her hair.
It is the defence's theory that Rafferty was a horrified spectator in the abduction and murder, which they say was orchestrated and carried out by McClintic alone.
McClintic has testified that she killed the child but that it was Rafferty's idea to take her for sexual purposes.
She alleges that Stafford was repeatedly raped before she was killed, something the defence has vehemently denied.
The court has also heard that the couple were in constant contact through numerous text messages and phone calls days following the abduction and while McClintic was incarcerated. Rafferty even visited with her at the Woodstock courthouse during one of her court appearances.


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Children's author Jon Scieszka created Guys Read because he believes, "Boys will be motivated to read if they are given reading that interests them. So the biggest part of this site is a collection of book titles that guys have reported they liked." If you're a boy and you liked a book, you can recommend it here, too.
Best selling adult and young adult author James Patterson teams up with children's literature expert Judy Freeman to select the books "guaranteed to make kids mouth water" to read more.
This site is devoted to providing reviews of graphic novels (longer comic books) for kids. Most comics used to be written just for kids, but now many stories are written for adults and teens. This site will help you choose what's right for you!
Information about Shakespeare's characters, facts about Elizabethan times, quizzes, coloring pages, word games, mazes, crossword puzzles and more. Age 10+ Part of the famous Folger Shakespeare Library's website.
"The most complete and amazing reference to the wonderful world of all things Harry Potter – including magical spells, potions, maps, lists of wizards, and all manner of magical items."
Bruce Lansky's website of funny poems. Ignore the advertising and enjoy this self proclaimed "number one fun poetry site for kids on the web!" Read and rate hundreds of poems, learn how to write poems, and create poems online.
Cricket Magazine Group's stated mission is to "nurture a love of reading and writing, stimulate a child's imagination and intellect, and encourage creative expression." Here are quality games, activities, and additional stories that match the magazine for each age group from toddlers to teens.
Information on Rick and his many books, sections on Greek and Egyptian mythology - plus fun activities.
Information about the books, the game cards, and all the different authors. News about the 2nd series, and message boards to talk with other fans.
E Franklin 1/11


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The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba of The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. This is a weekly meme where we can share news of the week and highlight new books received.
Last week wasn't one of my better ones. Trusty DTE once again had power lines come down during a storm, and we didn't have power part of the week. Better yet, I had appointments scheduled, so I got to meet people without the benefit of a shower. Ugh! If DTE would spend some of the billions they make gouging us on energy costs and trim a few trees once in a while, maybe we wouldn't have to suffer through outages several times a year. Since we are on a well, when there is no power, we have no water. I don't even want to think about the food I had to toss, because I didn't trust it after being in the fridge for two days with no electricity
Hope you had a better week! As least I got some awesome books to make the bad memories of getting ready for work by Kindle light a fading memory.
Check out my current contests! See the Contest Widget on the Sidebar to enter!
Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews to share new additions to our library. Click here to learn more about it.
New Arrivals at the Café:
The Savage Dead by Joe McKinney (ZOMIBES)
His by Christmas by Kaitlin O'Riley
The Scroll of Years by Chris Willrich
A Dance of Cloaks by David Dalglish
Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis
Head Over Heels (A Lucky Harbor Novel) by Jill Shalvis ($1.99 for Kindle)
Run To You by Rachel Gibson
Confessions of Love by Melissa Blue
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
Haunted Chemistry by Lindsey Loucks
Playing Dirty by Jennifer Echols
Wish Upon a Star by Michelle McLean
One Thousand and One Nights by Ruth Browne (More ZOMBIE!)
A great big thanks to the publishers for their continued support!
What did you get? Please leave links and share!


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"How I Met Your Mother" star Neil Patrick Harris will take the stage for the fourth year as the host of the Tony Awards on June 9 at Radio City Music Hall.
Harris, who got his start on "Doogie Houser" in the 80s, has also starred in Broadway productions of "Cabaret" and "Assassins." His opening number from the 2011 Tonys has more than 11 million views on YouTube. Take a look at it above.
Harris hosted in 2009, 2011 and 2012, taking a break in 2010, when "Smash" actor Sean Hayes hosted. The awards show honors and recognizes the achievements of Broadway theatre productions.


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From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
The second poll today is out showing Obama up just seven points in North Carolina, down from his double-digit leads leading up to the primary. (Mason-Dixon was the other).
A Research 2000 poll shows Obama with a 51%-44% lead. (The Mason-Dixon poll did not show him breaking 50%.) Just 3% said they were undecided. Looking inside the poll, Obama's lead is buffeted by his support among men, 56%-38% and is virtually tied among women, trailing 49%-47%.
Obama gets 30% of the white vote (66%-30%), higher than he got in South Carolina and other southern states, per exit polls. And he pulls similar figures among blacks as he has in other states, 88%-5%. The poll also indicates Obama needs to have a large turnout among younger voters. He gets trounced with the over-60 crowd, 59%-35%. He is virtually tied with the 45-49 group, 50%-46% for Clinton. He leads by wide margins with the under-50 groups: 30-44 (55%-40%); 18-29 (67%-29%).


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To apply
What: Boulder County Sheriff's Office Victim Advocate Training
When: Tuesday and Thursday evenings, Saturdays, from April 1 through April 19
Application: Visit http://bouldercounty.org/safety/victim/pages/vicprogram.aspx" title="bouldercounty.org">bouldercounty.org/safety/victim/pages/vicprogram.aspx or call Donna Foster at 303-441-3656 or firstname.lastname@example.com or Leigh Anne Sutton at 303-441-4737 or email@example.com
More info: Applicants must be at least 21, submit to a background check, have personal transportation, and be reachable during once-monthly assigned shifts.
For Danette Tye, the hours she spends in her volunteer job means propping up others to let them move on with their lives after a tragedy or crime.
She, and other Boulder County Sheriff's Office victim advocates, assist law enforcement who respond to accident scenes, deaths, or crimes when victims find themselves in a position where they have to start picking up the pieces.
"I think it is about giving people their lives back after a devastating event," she said.
She and fellow advocate John Flavin have been in their roles for five years. They provide victims, families, and friends with information after a crime or death to help them orient themselves and move forward with next steps, like working with law enforcement, mortuaries, getting help after domestic violence, or any other needed resources.
The Boulder County Sheriff's Office is recruiting new advocate volunteers to beef up the group's ranks. Flavin said their are about 25 advocates working now, while ideally the program should have about 40 to cover shifts and need. Volunteers complete 40 training hours and meet monthly. Each is assigned to a day shift from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., a night shift from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. or a weekend shift from 6 p.m. on Friday until 6 a.m. on Monday once a month. The shifts are on-call and Flavin said he has covered entire shifts with no callouts to shifts with back-to-back scenes.
Both Flavin and Tye said all personality types can work in the program, but noted that some of the work is grim. It is important, they said, for volunteers to avoid taking on the grief or stress, but instead be there to support the victims.
"It is a lot of listening," she said. "To a great extend the victims lead you where you need to go."
Flavin noted most victims are grateful and are able to communicate when they no longer need or want an advocate to help. Some of the work extends to following up with those affected by the situations, they noted.
Advocates work closely with law enforcement. The sheriff's office covers unincorporated Boulder County and some cities, like Lafayette and Superior. Longmont has its own program.
Tye and Flavin said that they learn something new each time they are called out because every situation has its own dynamic. There is no routine call, Tye said.
While some of the situations can be difficult to see, Flavin said regular debriefings help the volunteers deal with residual emotions about them. They also support one another, he said.
"It is rewarding to provide community service and it is rewarding to help people," he said. "Often we get feedback that we are appreciated."
Applicants must be at least 21 years old and pass a background check. Advocates must provide their own transportation and must be reachable during shifts. Training, which covers crisis counseling, victimology, legal procedures, law enforcement, and resource information, is provided. For those who do not want to respond to scenes, the program is also seeking volunteers to provide victim outreach after events.
Contact Times-Call staff writer Pierrette J. Shields at 303-684-5273 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has confirmed the club are close to sealing a deal to bring in Roger Espinoza from Sporting Kansas City in January.
The 26-year-old Honduras international has long been linked with a move and is set to swap Major League Soccer for the Barclays Premier League when his contract expires at the end of the year. Espinoza is a versatile player who can play in either defence or midfield and he impressed at this summer's Olympics with his performance against Brazil.
"We're working really hard to try to make it happen and we're looking forward to seeing if we can get that one done successfully," Martinez said.
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2012, All Rights Reserved.
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms


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Linda Sabo, 73
Linda Jayne (Gates) Vandivier Sabo, 73, succumbed to a long bout with cancer on Wednesday, February 20, 2013, at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born in Ft. Wayne on April 7, 1940, to Jayne (Sample) and Benton Earl Gates, Sr. and grew up in Columbia City. She graduated from Columbia City Joint High School in 1958.In 1962, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University, where she studied radio, television and film. There, she was initiated as a member of the Xi Chapter of Chi Omega Sorority.After graduation, she worked as an assistant buyer at L.S. Ayres & Co. flagship store in downtown Indianapolis. In 1966, she worked public relations for the Indiana Sesquicentennial Commission.In 1984, she began work as an administrative assistant to history, economics and accounting departments and to the Roger D. Branigin chair of history at Franklin College, retiring in 1994.She served as president of the board of the Franklin Symphonic Council, president of the Franklin Swimming and Diving Club Boosters and was longtime board member in several capacities of Charlotte Emerson.Her first husband, Richard W. Vandivier, preceded her in death March 4, 1998. They were married in 1966, and have three surviving children, Hugh Vandivier, 44, of Indianapolis, David Vandivier, 42, of Washington, D.C. and Miriam Metzinger (nee Mary-Jayne Vandivier), 41, of Jerusalem, Israel; five surviving grandchildren;stepdaughters from Richard's first marriage, Elizabeth Vandivier of Washington, D.C. and Jennifer Corry of Sacramento, Calif. and seven stepgrandchildren.She married her surviving husband, William Julius Sabo, 75, April, 26 2003. Also surviving are six stepchildren, Michael Sabo, 52, of Chicago, Gregory Sabo, 50, of Dayton, Ohio, Timothy Sabo, 48, of Hollywood, Calif., Monica Figler, 48, of Jupiter, Fla., Jerome Sabo, 47, of Schererville and Stephen Sabo, 44, of Chicago and eight stepgrandchildren.Visitation and wake will take place at Flinn and Maguire Funeral Home, in Franklin, from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday with a mass of Christian burial at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Indianapolis at 10 a.m. Monday. Burial arrangements are pending.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her name to the Pelvic Reconstruction Research Fund with donations payable to Memorial Sloan-Kettering to MSKCC, c/o Jane Weyl, 633 Third Ave., 28th Fl., New York, NY 10017.


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Hi Everyone,
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