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Line was uninjured following a crash during a private test session earlier this month, but the team had to replace his Chevy Camaro with a new one, making for a steep learning curve on the eve of the fifth of sixth races in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. Bob Vandergriff (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and defending world champions Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) raced to victories last season at the popular event that will once again be televised on ESPN2HD.
"Obviously it was not great timing," Line said. "We had our Summit Chevy Camaro running good, and we struggled a bit this year, so it felt really good to finally have the car running good, and certainly as fast as anybody's, and now we've got to start over. It's just one of those things. But right now you have to somehow find enough strength to remain focused and be focused better than your opponents at this point in time. That's what's going to make you the champ or not."
A first round loss in St. Louis a week later sent him back to third, but he still only trails Coughlin by 50 points in what is expected to be a heated championship battle over the final two events. Edwards, who has a class-best six wins this season, is just 45 points behind Coughlin, who won the most recent event in Reading. Defending world champion Johnson is 73 points back in fourth place, but Line said he is only focused on his own performance in Las Vegas.
"You have to win, and you really need to win this race," Line said. "I've said that the last two races, and if we wanted to put ourselves in a better position we needed to, and just didn't make it happen. But I also think I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about the points because that's all that matters."
To even be in the championship hunt is nothing short of remarkable considering the team's struggles in 2013. Anderson has yet to post a win - putting his streak of 12 straight seasons with a victory in jeopardy - and Line had only one heading into the Countdown. But the team continued to work hard to turn the season around.
"We had to do something because the Countdown was upon us, and again, we wanted to be able to contend for a championship," Line said. "It's great competition in this class, and that's what brings out the best in you hopefully."
"To have to start over is tough and it wouldn't have been the path that I would have chosen," Line said. "But that's the way it goes, and you have to just deal with those things the best you can and make the best of it. That's racing, that's life. You've just got to make the best of it. Like I say, I feel like we'll have at least a competitive car. We're just going to keep working at it."
In Top Fuel, Shawn Langdon is the series leader over tough competitors Doug Kalitta and Spencer Massey, who trail by 83 and 85 points respectively. Should Langdon increase his series lead to 151 points over second place at this event he will clinch the championship title. Several others are still in title contention, but will need a strong showing in Las Vegas to boost their title hopes, including fourth place points-sitter Morgan Lucas, defending world champ Antron Brown and four-time NHRA Toyota Nationals event winner Tony Schumacher.
In Funny Car, 15-time world champion John Force is the current points leader in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. He will slug it out with Matt Hagan and his Magneti Marelli/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger on The Strip, but drivers like defending champ Jack Beckman and former world champs Robert Hight and Cruz Pedregon remain in contention and can all be wild cards in the title hunt.
The battle in Pro Stock Motorcycle will showcase the brewing rivalry between 2007 world champion and points leader Matt Smith and Hector Arana Jr. Smith has a 125 point lead over Arana Jr. and could clinch the championship title if he can add 26 more points to his lead at this event. Arana Jr., Michael Ray, Hector Arana Sr., and Krawiec all will be racing hard to keep the championship battle in the two-wheel category going for one more event.
Fans arriving early for the penultimate race-weekend will be treated to the traditional NHRA Fremont Street Experience Fan Fest, annually one of the best-attended pre-race festivities on the circuit. The Fan Fest will be held Thursday, Oct. 24th at 5 p.m. on Fremont Street and will feature the sport's top drivers participating in one of the biggest autograph sessions of the year and will also showcase a spectacular NHRA-themed light show over Freemont Street. Ticket giveaways and music will also be a part of this exciting kick-off event for the weekend.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they're granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and enjoy some cherished face time with their favorite NHRA drivers.
Fans also will want to visit NHRA's popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family. Also in support of October's Breast Cancer Awareness month, Alexis DeJoria's Tequila Patron Funny Car team has partnered with Nevada Health Centers to offer free mammograms all weekend long in the Midway for female race fans over 40.
The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense competition on the track.
Families can take part in a special ticket offer for children 12 and under, who will be admitted free in general admission areas with a paid adult.
The NHRA Toyota Nationals qualifying sessions are scheduled for 1:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25. Qualifying continues at 12:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27.
Tickets are available for the NHRA Toyota Nationals online at www.LVMS.com or by calling (800) 644-4444.
Copyright ©2018 AUTOSALES INC, dba Summit Racing Equipment
Ready to take your order at 1-800-230-3030 | Customer Service 1-800-517-1035


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CHICAGO — A Chicago alderman is being honored by President Barack Obama in Washington, a day after he acknowledged he'd been questioned by the FBI in an ethics case.
Joe Moore will be recognized Tuesday as part of the president's Winning the Future Initiative, which throws a spotlight on people and organizations whose accomplishments positively impact communities.
The trip comes a day after Moore said he spoke with the FBI about an ethics case involving alleged campaign work in his aldermanic office and the firing of an employee in 2009. He denies any wrongdoing.
Moore has represented his North Side ward since 1991 and is known for turning over his annual $1 million ward budget to district residents. That "participatory budgeting model" allows constituents to vote on how to allocate money.

subset: commoncrawl


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Peter Beagrie
Football League Expert & Columnist
FL72: Peter Beagrie blogs on Rodolph Austin, John Ryan and Woking
Peter Beagrie sings the praises of Rodolph Austin, John Ryan and Woking in his latest blog.
Last Updated: 14/11/13 8:14pm
The former winger, who played over 770 games, representing clubs in all four tiers of the English footballing pyramid, including Manchester City, Everton, Bradford, Sheffield United, Scunthorpe, and Grimsby, forms part of the Sky Sports punditry team for all the big matches in the Championship, League One and League Two.
So if you have a poser for Peter, whether it's about your team, a player, match or incident that has caught your eye, or a wider point on the Football League, send it in.
Read below for this week's column where Beags talks Leeds engine-roomer Rodolph Austin, MK Dons starlet Patrick Bamford and the Woking team circa 1991...
Hi Beags, I feel Rodolph Austin has been key for Leeds this season. What do you like about his game? Callum Ashfield
BEAGS SAYS: I couldn't agree with you more, Callum. Rudy has been a revelation recently in a central attacking midfield role and been a major reason why the Leeds strikers are getting good service, attracting two or three defenders towards him and then releasing the ball at the right times for the forwards to profit. Austin is strong, direct and has a great strike from distance so it makes sense to get him further up the pitch, while he was also a great choice as captain as he drives and inspires players around him and, never afraid to mix it, is a terrific all-rounder. Alongside Ross McCormack, the big Jamaican has been one of Leeds' most influential players.
How highly do your rate MK Dons' Patrick Bamford? Robbie Kimble
BEAGS SAYS: I rate Patrick very highly, Robbie, but his career is still in its infancy and his full potential is a few years away. MK Dons is the best fit for Bamford at the moment as he is getting game time and playing for a manager in Karl Robinson who likes to play football the right way. My belief is that Patrick should stay at stadium:mk for the rest of this season and then have a campaign in the Championship - possibly with the Dons - as that will serve his footballing education very well. Bamford is a million miles away from Chelsea's first team at the moment but if he stays dedicated and focussed he has a very bright future - whether it's at Stamford Bridge or not.
Hi Peter, Do you think Mark Venus will make a good manager? Andrew Hall
BEAGS SAYS: In a very competitive industry where there are thousands of coaches qualified but so few jobs, Mark is going to find it difficult to get his first managerial opportunity. That is a harsh reality but there are former players who have taken non-League teams into the Football League and a step backwards can often act as a springboard for future opportunities at a higher level. Sometimes, Andrew, your future is more about good luck than good management and I wait to see whether Mark steps out of Tony Mowbray's shadow and goes it alone.
John Ryan has left Doncaster this week. What do you think his legacy will be? Lewis Fleck
BEAGS SAYS: I believe John has been absolutely brilliant for Doncaster and whenever I've met him he's been nothing but a gentleman with a genuine love and passion for your football club, Lewis. Money, ambition and sacrifice have been realised in equal measure in a rollercoaster ride from non-League to the Championship, which has thrilled along the way with a lovely brand of football and a new stadium to boot. John has had a massively positive effect but all good things come to an end and he will be hoping for Doncaster's sake that, despite what the fans sing, there's NOT only one John Ryan.
What was your favourite FA Cup match you ever played in? Ashley Hicks
BEAGS SAYS: That's an easy one, Ashley. It was Everton versus Woking at Goodison Park in 1991. The Cards gave us a right scare, holding us to a 1-0 victory, and got a standing ovation from everyone in the stadium when we exchanged shirts afterwards. I saw a lot of the ball and enjoyed the game; we played well but the Woking 'keeper had a blinder and all of their players covered themselves in glory. There was no giant-killing but Woking emerged with great credit and a story to tell the grandchildren. I was quite happy to nearly be the sacrificial lamb in that one.
Can Ricky Ravenhill make a big difference for Northampton? Also, what else do we need to get off the bottom of League Two?Nick Brown
BEAGS SAYS: The one thing Ricky will bring is a competitive edge as he is very combative and loves a tackle, but he also has leadership qualities having captained teams at various levels in the Football League. It is easy to say that Northampton also need clean sheets and goals as that is the formula that will get your club rising up the table, but I feel the team needs more pace and to be a little less predictable. Aidy Boothroyd has tried to change the style to a degree and while it hasn't born fruit yet, there is still two-thirds of the season left so Aidy has time and will be scouring the leagues to try and find a catalyst to change his team's fortunes.
Send your question to Beags using the feedback form at the bottom of this page or at the bottom of any of Peter's articles...


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BOSTON, Mass. -- Sophomore shortstop Jamill Moquette (Boston, Mass.) was named to the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association All-New England Division Three Team Wednesday afternoon.
In his first season with the Beacons, Moquette led UMass Boston in almost every statistical category and was an almost unstoppable force at the plate. He finished with a team-best .377 average, while also recording team-highs with 36 runs, 55 hits, 13 doubles, four triples and four home runs. The Boston native also paced the Little East Conference with 28 stolen bases in 31 attempts.
The Madison Park High School graduate easily adjusted to Division III pitching, as he finished with a .603 slugging percentage and .486 on-base percentage. Moquette garnered the attention of Little East foes all year and was rewarded when he was named the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week on April 9th, after helping the Beacons to a 5-1 week.
He also boasted a program-best 17-game hitting streak from April 2nd to April 28.


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NEW YORK – The Dartmouth men's swimming and diving team dropped their final dual meet of the season to Ivy League foe Columbia on Sunday, 172.5-127.5.
Nejc Zupan won the 100-Breast and Timo Vaimann finished second going 55.06 and 58.49, respectively.
Zupan also won the 200-breast event with a new pool record time of 1:59.95. Zupan picked up his third win of the day, with a 1:49.93 in the 200-IM.
Brett Gillis won the three-meter diving with 377.55 points.
Distance freestyler Jun Oh won the 1,000-free as he just barely out touched Columbia with a time of 9:27.25. Ian Woon finished second in the 200-free in 1:42.79. Oh and James Thompson III finished first and second in the 500 freestyle in a time of 4:39.02 and 4:39.82.
James Verhagen finished second in the 100-back with a time of 50.08. He then won the 200-back in 1:51.55
The Big Green will have three weeks to prepare before Ivy Championships Feb.27-Mar. 2 at Harvard in Cambridge, Mass.


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Jill Biden, a college educator and wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will travel to Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone this summer.
Rajiv Shah, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development and Catherine Russell, U.S. ambassador-at-large for global women's issues, will accompany Biden.
Biden will stress that girls' education and women's participation in government, the economy and civil society can spur economic development, improve health and educational outcomes and strengthen democracies, according to the White House.
The trio will leave June 30 and return July 7.


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TV Daily Schedule: KQED Life
Another way to search for programs is from the TV Programs A-Z Directory.
KQED Life: Saturday, March 23, 2013
Channel 54.3 • XFINITY 189
Schedule is subject to change. Please visit kqed.org/tv/schedules/daily for the most up-to-date info.
12:00 amRick Steves' Europe [#513] Iran:Tehran and Side Trips As he's done with previous programs on Israel, Egypt, and Eastern Turkey, Rick takes us beyond Europe to a place that's rich with history - and mystery. Visiting Tehran, Shariz, Persepolis, and a small village, we'll get a rare present-day look at of some of civilization's most important historical sites, and a sense of Iran's 21st century culture. From architecture and art to faith and everyday living, "Iran, Yesterday and Today" is all about the eye-opening gift of travel. duration 26:46 STEREO TVG
12:30 amBurt Wolf: Travels & Traditions [#703] Vatican City Rome's Vatican City has a population of only 550 people and a landmass of just over 100 acres, which makes it the world's smallest independent state, but its influence is extraordinary. Burt takes viewers on a unique tour of the city and its history. There are some amazing images from the ceiling of St. Peter's Basilica as well as a look at St. Peter's Tomb below. We see the Sistine Chapel in close-up and visit the Vatican's 500-year-old mosaic studio. duration 25:51 STEREO TVG
1:00 amNature [#2613H] Victoria Falls Cutting across the Zambezi River, bridging the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world. In the dry season, this awesome force of nature divides two natural worlds -- the tranquil meandering river above the cascade, and the raging abyss of the gorge below. The upper river is idyllic, running shallow through sandstone hills and meandering around islands and reed-beds where elephants, hippos, and crocodiles thrive. In a single vertical drop the river plummets twice the height of Niagara Falls into the wild waters and heavy spray of the narrow gorge, where fish are found only by those who know where to look. Between the two worlds are treacherous cliffs and thick, mossy rainforests fed by river mists, home to baboons whose lives change with the seasons. When the rains fall, the rivers swell and the falls thunder. duration 55:16 SRND51 TVPG
2:00 amNiagara Falls A historical and picturesque exploration of the spectacular waterfall, this film offers stunning views and profiles some of the quirky visitors and workers of the nation's first great symbol. duration 56:46 STEREO TVG
3:00 amFrontline [#3008H] Inside Japan's Nuclear Meltdown The definitive account of the crisis inside the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011. With exclusive eye-witness testimony from key figures - including the Japanese Prime Minister and senior executives at the power company Tepco - Frontline tells the story of the workers struggling frantically to reconnect power inside the plant???s pitch-dark and highly radioactive reactor buildings; the nuclear experts and officials in the Prime Minister's office fighting to get information as the crisis spiraled out of control; and the plant manager who disobeyed his executives' orders when he thought it would save the lives of his workers. The investigation profiles the Japanese soldiers and firefighters who were drafted to cool the reactors and were wounded when the reactor housings exploded; and the families living near the nuclear plant, who unknowingly fled in the same direction as the radioactive plume, exposing themselves to dangerously high radiation levels. duration 56:46 STEREO TVRE
4:00 amUniform Betrayal: Rape in the Military Every day, soldiers live with the possibility of getting injured or killed. This program examines what these warriors may not consider when signing up to serve their country - sexual assault or rape by their brothers and sisters in arms. Filmmakers Jennifer Molina and Sarah Pusateri explore this issue through the eyes of survivors while questioning how the military handles sexual assault and rape. Victims share their painful stories as they struggle to rebuild their lives. duration 56:46 STEREO TVPG
5:00 amTravelscope [#104] In The Path of the Conquistadors The ancient Spanish empire stretched from the Americas to Asia. Joseph visits Loreto, Baja California, Mexico - the first Spanish capital of the Californias and The Philippines - where Spanish influence is visible in the Filipinos' language, spirit and food. duration 26:46 STEREO TVG
5:30 amSmart Travels - Europe With Rudy Maxa [#211] Classical Europe: Ancient Greece and Rome Here's where we pull together some of Europe's most rewarding sites from the classical world. Ancient Greek and Roman remnants are more than cold stone. They hold centuries of stories. So we revisit some favorite classical sites around the Mediterranean, pick up some new stories and see what kinds of connections we can make. It's the Greeks in Athens, Delphi, Delos, Paestum and Syracuse-and the Romans in Pompeii, Rome and Provence, with a little history of wine and olives thrown in for good measure. duration 27:48 STEREO TVG
6:00 amWai Lana Yoga [#606] Twisting Cobra Stretch and compress your abdominal organs with a variety of poses that relieve gas and mild constipation and tone the liver and kidneys. duration 27:55 STEREO TVG
6:30 amPriscilla's Yoga Stretches [#109] The 130 programs are designed to air daily, Monday through Friday. The 15- minute segments are frequently coupled together to fill a 30- minute time slot at the option of local programmers. The first three shows demonstrate and explain three to four new postures or exercises per show. The last two shows serve as review so the viewer has a chance to make certain they followed and understood correctly. In addition, if the viewer missed a show, the Thursday and Friday review days bring them up-to-date. At the onset, the program is strictly teaching the "building blocks" of yoga exercise. As the series progresses, the work becomes more demanding. However, there is an effort to always have a fair balance of some basically simple postures mixed in so that everyone will have an opportunity to participate. duration 13:46
6:45 amPriscilla's Yoga Stretches [#110] The 130 programs are designed to air daily, Monday through Friday. The 15- minute segments are frequently coupled together to fill a 30- minute time slot at the option of local programmers. The first three shows demonstrate and explain three to four new postures or exercises per show. The last two shows serve as review so the viewer has a chance to make certain they followed and understood correctly. In addition, if the viewer missed a show, the Thursday and Friday review days bring them up-to-date. At the onset, the program is strictly teaching the "building blocks" of yoga exercise. As the series progresses, the work becomes more demanding. However, there is an effort to always have a fair balance of some basically simple postures mixed in so that everyone will have an opportunity to participate. duration 13:46
7:00 amPower Yoga: Mind and Body [#121] Flow - Version Five With Sun salutation A, Sun salutation B, variations holding and with legs. duration 27:41 STEREO TVG
7:30 amSit and Be Fit [#1204] Strength Coordination This episode features a potpourri of movements to enhance strength and coordination. duration 27:29 STEREO TVG
8:00 amClassical Stretch: The Esmonde Technique [#720] Stress Relief duration 26:46 STEREO TVG (Secondary audio: DVI)
8:30 amMotorWeek [#3229H] Audi Rs 5 Road Test: 2013 Audi RS 5 * Road Test: 2013 Ford C-Max Energi * Goss' Garage: Brake Fluid Basics duration 26:46 SRND51 TVG
9:00 amHometime [#2704] Creekside Home Foundation The crew places and pours energy-saving insulated concrete forms for the new home foundation. duration 25:14 TVG
9:30 amThis Old House [#3221H] Essex 2012/13, Clam Flats & Lightning Rods Kevin and Roger dig for clams, then finish up the barrier-free walk that leads to the house, using both granite and bluestone, but no steps. The standing-seam metal roof goes on, and Richard's creative ducting and plumbing will minimize the number of holes that need to go through it. A non-reactive lightning protection system is installed. duration 25:46 STEREO TVG
10:00 amAsk This Old House [#1121H] Installing A Ductless Heat Pump/Led Lighting Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and host Kevin O'Connor install a ductless heat pump to heat and cool a bonus room. Then, Richard, Kevin, landscape contractor Roger Cook and general contractor Tom Silva ask, "What is it?" Afterward, electrician Scott Caron demonstrates new technologies and applications for LED lighting. Then, Roger learns how to select houseplants for different situations. And Tom shares a viewer tip for driving eye screws. duration 25:46 STEREO TVG
10:30 amRough Cut - Woodworking with Tommy Mac [#202H] Arts and Crafts-Style Chair Tommy takes on an Arts and Crafts-Style Chair. This episode will demonstrate how to make the legs, arms and back, mostly through standard mortise and tenon joinery. The Road Trip brings Tommy out to Alta Loma, California, where he visits the home of one of the biggest names in chair making: the late, great Samuel Maloof. There, Tommy visits with Samuel's wife Beverly as well as a curator. Back in the studio, Tommy is joined by master furniture maker Chuck Bender of The Acanthus Workshop in Pennsylvania. duration 27:56 STEREO TVG
11:00 amWoodsmith Shop [#403] Table Saw Jigs & Accessories Make perfect crosscuts and get tight-fitting tenons with your table saw. The editors of Woodsmith magazine show you how to build a couple of easy-to-build table saw jigs that guarantee perfect results every time. duration 26:46 STEREO TVG
11:30 amAmerican Woodshop [#2002] Veneer Inlays Decorative wood inlays in Furniture. IBEW explores shop lighting solutions. duration 26:46
12:00 pmGardenSmart [#3009] Difficult areas in our yards and gardens complicate putting the right plant in the right place. How do we address those issues and end up with a great looking garden? Our visiting experts share their ideas to help make your yard and garden a showplace. duration 26:47 STEREO TVG
12:30 pmVictory Garden [#3303Z] Light Using light to your advantage in the garden is a skill. This week, VG at light in many different ways. Host Jamie Durie visits the renowned Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, CA, to take a closer look at specimens that reflect light, absorb light, or bring light into your garden. Then, we tackle one of gardening's most persistent questions: what's a gardener to do with shade? Gardening correspondent Paul Epsom gives a primer on the many different types of shade, and how to choose the right plant for the right place. Our "Homegrown" segment this week features a Burmese salad with greens and herbs straight from the garden and greenhouse. duration 26:46 TVG
1:00 pmP. Allen Smith's Garden Home [#1203H] Colorful Spaces P. Allen Smith celebrates different seasons at Moss Mountain Farm with a lesson on growing tulips, using bold colors to make a huge impact on a garden room, and tips to harmonize color with summer flowering bulbs. On the road, Allen tours The Kauffman Memorial Gardens in Kansas City, Missouri. Allen shares the latest progress on the Garden Home Challenge. duration 26:58 STEREO TVG
1:30 pmGrowing A Greener World [#326H] Behind The Scenes with Growing A Greener World With nearly 75 episodes over three seasons, a lot has gone into the planning of each and every one. But who are the people behind scenes, how does the show come together and what gets left on the cutting room floor that we'd love to have back? From the voices our own producers and production team, this episode provides a behind the scenes look at how the series is made, from how we chose our topics and locations, the highlights and lowlights and our some of our favorite scenes you didn't see. duration 26:46 STEREO TVG
2:00 pmAmerica's Heartland [#803H] Head south for an H2O harvest of crawfish in Louisiana. Sample some exotic recipes made with Belgian endive. Join the search as "working dogs" look for dangerous plant pests and celebrate a special anniversary as an Ohio farm family marks two hundred years of working their land. duration 26:46 STEREO TVG
2:30 pmTravelscope [#513H] Rwanda - In Search of Chimpanzees Joseph continues his Rwanda adventure and turns his attention to the region's other primate populations. Chimpanzee, Olive Baboons, Mona, Blue and Black and White Colobus Monkeys are just a few of the thirteen primate species that populate the Nyungwe National Park. The rest of the area's flora and fauna is equally impressive with more than 140 orchid species and 275 bird species, dozens of them found only in the highlands of Central Africa. In addition to the wildlife wonders, Joseph has personal encounters in the local Banda (thatched-hut) communities and meets the reclusive and vanishing Batwa people. In Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, Joseph highlights the 1994 Rwanda genocide and the efforts that the country has made to overcome its past at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. duration 26:46 STEREO TVG (Secondary audio: DVI)
3:00 pmArt Wolfe's Travels to the Edge [#202] Australia: Arnhemland and the Kimberley Australia's Northern Territory is an immense, untamed wilderness as brutal as it is beautiful. For the Aboriginal people, it's the place of the "Dreamtime", where land and story meet. In episode two, Art Wolfe captures images of rock art intricately painted over thousands of years ago; discovers canyons carved by wind and water; and witnesses an ancient aboriginal dance as he chronicles the connection between the region's first people and the natural world. duration 26:46 STEREO TVG
3:30 pmBurt Wolf: Travels & Traditions [#307] Celebrating Christmas at Biltmore Estate Burt returns to The Biltmore Estate for the second part of his investigation into our Christmas traditions. Why do we have Christmas Trees and why are they covered with electric lights? Who introduced the glass tree ornament and why? How did we get into the habit of wrapping our presents and what do they really symbolize? These and dozens of other Christmas customs are explained in this fascinating and surprising program. duration 27:55 STEREO TVG
4:00 pmSmart Travels - Europe With Rudy Maxa [#207] Salzburg and the Lakes District In musical Salzburg, we focus on Austria's easy approach to life. We visit the city's grand cathedral, take a funicular up to Europe's greatest medieval fortress, and shop along fine Baroque streets reminiscent of Mozart's time. We visit the house where the young Amadeus was born and where he composed his first masterpiece. Investigating the sumptuous palaces of Salzburg's prince-archbishops, we discover some "secret" passions. Then we relax in Austria's woodsy "Sound of Music" land, the Salzkammergut Lakes District. We soar high into the mountains to tour magical ice caves and then stroll little spa towns where Europe's crowned heads once "took to the baths". Tip: Best bargain for seeing lots of sights in a short amount of time. duration 26:46 STEREO TVG
4:30 pmRick Steves' Europe [#512] Istanbul Where Europe comes face to face with Asia, we'll explore the fascinating, multilayered city of Istanbul. We'll lose our way in the Grand Bazaar and feast like kings with locals at a fisherman's wharf. We'll follow the fall of the Byzantium and the rise of Islam at the city's ancient wall, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. To escape the city bustle, we'll board a boat on the churning Bosphorus, make friends over backgammon, and try a traditional bath. duration 26:46 STEREO TVG
5:00 pmEquitrekking Adventures [#603] Costa Rica Equitrekking's Emmy nominated host Darley Newman discovers Pacific Coast beaches and the fertile farmland and lush forests of the San Carlos Valley in Costa Rica. Mixing horseback riding with tree climbing and hot air ballooning, Equitrekking captures the true spirit of adventure in Costa Rica. Riding gaited Paso Fino and Peruvian horses, Darley makes a trek to the famously furious Arenal Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. As smoke billows off the flowing lava, Darley and her local Costa Rican guides ride among lava rocks from the 1968 eruption. Next, Equitrekking takes viewers to the beach, exploring Costa Rica's extreme biodiversity by spotting scarlet macaws, crocodiles and iguanas. Darley lives every horse rider's dream by taking a sunset ride on the beach, before heading back to San Carlos to climb a ten-story tree! Next, Darley enjoys getting in touch with the local culture, by riding in a Cabalgata, a horse festival where hundreds and sometimes tens of thousands of local Costa Ricans open up their farms so that riders can pass through them in a wild trail ride. Darley visits a frog sanctuary to view rare frogs, like the red-eyed tree Frog, and rides horses to a spot where howler monkeys make their home in the trees. Finally, Equitrekking takes viewers to hear the rainforest wake up, flying above it in a hot air balloon at dawn. duration 26:48 STEREO TVG
5:30 pmSpark! [#510H] Erika Chong Shuch, Jesus Aguilar and Kathy Aoki Go on a creative journey with choreographer and dancer Erika Chong Shuch from the Headlands Center for the Arts to center stage. Explore a language created by modern technology with experimental artist Jesus Aguilar. Challenge gender stereotypes with printmaker Kathy Aoki. Experience the animation of M dot Strange. duration 28:03 STEREO TVG
6:00 pmJacques Pepin: More Fast Food My Way [#223H] Dessert First! When in doubt, start with dessert....and it's easy when you use a tortilla for the crust as Jacques does in Crisp Pear Tart. Fresh bay scallops are shown in the shell at their very best, and become too tempting to Jacques who can't resist nibbling on them, in a light, fresh tasting Bay Scallops in Mignonette Sauce. For a homier dish, Jacques shares his comforting Sausage Patties with Pumpkin Seeds and Mushrooms served with Cornmeal Mush. duration 26:46 STEREO TVG (Secondary audio: DVI)
6:30 pmCheck, Please! Bay Area [#205H] Bill's Place, Cafe Rouge, Le Colonial Burgers and chandeliers make an unusual combination at our first stop; while the chandeliers at the next, with its French inspired menu, are more contemporary. Then the Asian flavors of Vietnam combine with a trendy, bar scene for an elegant dining experience. duration 26:57 STEREO TVG
7:00 pmWoodsongs [#1009] Judy Collins duration 56:30 STEREO TVG
8:00 pmAustin City Limits [#3805H] The Civil Wars/Punch Brothers ACL presents new American acoustic music with the Civil Wars and Punch Brothers. The Civil Wars play tunes from their Grammy-winning album Barton Hollow. Punch Brothers showcase their latest, Who's Feeling Young Now? duration 56:46 SRND51 TVPG
9:00 pmAmerica In Primetime [#101H] Independent Woman Witness the transformation of women from model housewives to complex, and sometimes controversial, characters. Interviews include Roseanne Barr ("Roseanne"); Candice Bergen ("Murphy Brown"); Eva Longoria and Felicity Huffman ("Desperate Housewives"), Robert and Michelle King and Julianna Margulies ("The Good Wife"); James L. Brooks and Mary Tyler Moore ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show"); Shonda Rhimes and Sandra Oh ("Grey's Anatomy"); and Liz Brixius and Linda Wallem ("Nurse Jackie") among others. duration 55:50 STEREO TV14 (Secondary audio: DVI)
10:00 pmPOV [#2214H] Patti Smith: Dream of Life Shot over 11 years by renowned fashion photographer Steven Sebring, this documentary is an intimate portrait of the legendary rocker, poet and artist. Following Smith's personal reflections over a decade, the film explores her many art forms and the friends and poets who inspired her -- William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan, Robert Mapplethorpe and Michael Stipe. She emerges as a crucial, contemporary link between the Beats, punks and today's music. Shot in lush, dark tones, featuring rare performance clips and narrated by the artist herself, "Patti Smith: Dream of Life" is an impressionistic journal of a multi-faceted artist that underscores her unique place in American culture. The film is the winner of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary. duration 1:56:35 SRND51 TV14-L
12:00 amRick Steves' Europe [#512] Istanbul Where Europe comes face to face with Asia, we'll explore the fascinating, multilayered city of Istanbul. We'll lose our way in the Grand Bazaar and feast like kings with locals at a fisherman's wharf. We'll follow the fall of the Byzantium and the rise of Islam at the city's ancient wall, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. To escape the city bustle, we'll board a boat on the churning Bosphorus, make friends over backgammon, and try a traditional bath. duration 26:46 STEREO TVG
12:30 amBurt Wolf: Travels & Traditions [#307] Celebrating Christmas at Biltmore Estate Burt returns to The Biltmore Estate for the second part of his investigation into our Christmas traditions. Why do we have Christmas Trees and why are they covered with electric lights? Who introduced the glass tree ornament and why? How did we get into the habit of wrapping our presents and what do they really symbolize? These and dozens of other Christmas customs are explained in this fascinating and surprising program. duration 27:55 STEREO TVG


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NEW ORLEANS — The Philippines' ambassador to the U.S. on Thursday said he has grave concerns about the death of a Filipino offshore worker off the Louisiana coast this week, questioning the safety practices of American oilfield service firms and criticizing the worker's Houma-based employer and his Philippines-based recruiter for their lack of responsiveness.
NEW ORLEANS — The Philippines' ambassador to the U.S. on Thursday said he has grave concerns about the death of a Filipino offshore worker off the Louisiana coast this week, questioning the safety practices of American oilfield service firms and criticizing the worker's Houma-based employer and his Philippines-based recruiter for their lack of responsiveness.
The federal offshore safety agency, meanwhile, responded by promising to impanel experts to investigate the oil platform accident that claimed the life of Peter Voces, 38, in the Gulf of Mexico this week.
Voces, a welder from the town of Gumaca, Quezon Province south of Manila, plummeted to his death Sunday evening when he was working to dismantle an idle oil platform about 55 miles off the central Louisiana coast.
He was the fourth Filipino to die off the Louisiana coast in the past 12 months.
"This tragedy comes almost a year after a similar incident at another offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico claimed the lives of three Filipino oil workers and seriously injured three others," Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. said in a written statement Thursday. "In light of these events, the Philippine Embassy would like to express its deep concern over the safety of Filipinos working in offshore facilities in the United States."
In an exclusive interview with WWL-TV from Washington, Cuisia complained that the companies that hired Voces, both in the Philippines and in Louisiana, were not cooperating with his embassy.
"We have been trying to get information from both Offshore Specialty Fabricators and 88 Aces Maritime (Services), both of whom are employers, one here in the U.S. one over in the Philippines, (and) they have refused to provide us information that would enable us to contact the family," Cuisia said.
Voces and other platform workers were employed by a derrick barge contractor, Houma-based Offshore Specialty Fabricators, and that company has not responded to any of WWL-TV's requests for comment over the past four days.
The embassy says Voces left behind a wife and three children in the Philippines. Cuisia's staff is trying to work with Offshore Specialty Fabricators to repatriate Voces' remains 88 Aces Maritime Services is the manning company in the Philippines that sent Voces to Offshore Specialty.
"We are lamenting the lack of cooperation of these firms," Cuisia said.
The federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, meanwhile, says it will get to the bottom of what caused the accident.
"My sincerest condolences go out to the family of Mr. Voces," agency Director Brian Salerno said in a statement. "We are assembling a panel of experts who will conduct a thorough investigation into this tragic incident. We are committed to a complete investigation to identify the cause of the incident and to identify approaches to enhance the safety of future operations."
Three Filipinos died Nov. 16 in an explosion on a Black Elk Energy platform near the mouth of the Mississippi River, in the West Delta 32 lease block. It also severely injured three other Filipinos. They were cutting a pipe that apparently had not been flushed of flammable liquids, but there are conflicting reports about who gave the experienced welders the go-ahead to use torches to cut the pipe.
WWL-TV's lengthy investigation uncovered a pipeline of human trafficking, with immigration paperwork allegedly based on lies and workers holding numerous and fake Social Security numbers. the New Orleans TV station found a number of other possible violations, from immigration policies to labor and workplace standards.
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement spokeswoman Eileen Angelico said Thursday that another investigative panel has been reviewing the Black Elk incident and is "nearing completion on its report."
One of the workers who was severely injured in that incident, Renato Dominguez, sued Black Elk and its contractors in Galveston County court in Texas this week, alleging they failed to properly supervise or protect the workers and didn't go over proper safety procedures.
"We are told of course that BSEE has come up with new requirements" for offshore operators, Cuisia said in Thursday's interview. "And we are hopeful that these companies also require their contractors to follow the same safety procedures."
The federal agency has required only two Gulf oil and gas operators to file Performance Improvement Plans because of their problematic safety records: Black Elk and Energy Resource Technology GOM. Black Elk was put under the special scrutiny after the deadly accident last year. ERT, meanwhile, is the owner of the platform where Voces died but was already on the special watch plan because of a fatal crane accident in 2011 and a gas leak in July of this year.
"The fact that they are both involved in accidents that have impacted Filipino workers, we are very concerned," Cuisia said.
Details about this week's accident on the ERT platform are still sketchy. ERT's parent company, Houston-based Talos Energy, said through a spokesman earlier this week that an empty storage container also fell off the platform and into the Gulf waters, which are about 100 feet deep around Platform A in the Vermilion 200 lease block.
The spokesman, David Blackmon, added Thursday that Talos and ERT are ready to cooperate fully with the federal investigation.
"The safety of people is always our highest priority," Blackmon said, "and we will be focused on the safety of our employees and our contractors throughout the investigation."


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Home > Computer Hardwares > Tablet PC & Notebook > Tablet PC Accessories > USB Keyboard and Leather Case Cover Stand w/ Stylus Pen for 8 inch Tablet PC
Product Details
This black leather case with laptop-style keyboard is especially designed for 8 inch tablets. It also doubles as a bracket that giving you optimal viewing while you typing.
- 3-in-1: USB Keyboard + Folding Leather Protective Case + Stylus Pen.
- Great PU material offers you soft and comfortable feeling
- Equipped with an extendable stand to support your tablet PC
- QWERTY keyboard, quiet keystrokes, comfortable to type.
- Fits for 8 inch PDA, tablet PC and so on.
- Comes with a stylus pen for easy screen touch operation
- It can protect your tablet PC from damage.
- USB Port: USB 2.0
- Keyboard Size: Approx. 20.5 x 8cm / 8.07 x 3.15 inch
- Case Size: Approx. 23 x 17.2 x 3cm / 9 x 6.77 x 1.18 inch
- Keyboard Material: Plastic
- Case Material: PU leather
- Color: Black
- NOTE: Keyboard and case ONLY, Tablet NOT inlcuded.
Package Includes:
- 1 x USB Keyboard and Leather Case Cover Stand w/ Stylus Pen for 8 inch Tablet PC
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Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Harriet Porter Dunn 1823-1885
She supposedly married 1st David Dunn on 26 Dec 1842 in Portland, Chautauqua, New York. In 1850 she and her husband David are living in Portland, New York. Three children have been born to this union: Andrew Jackson Dunn (1843 - 1921), Rachel Dunn Daggs (abt 1847 - ?), and James David Dunn (abt 1849 - ?).
Andrew Jackson Dunn married Roxanna Evans on 4 Oct 1866 in Clark County, Missouri. The following children were born to this union: Ann Dunn (1868 - 1948), Clara Dunn (abt 1869 - bef 1880), Ella Dunn Harris (1876 - 1952), and Mae Dunn Coe (Aug 1879 - ?).
Rachel Dunn married Rufus Daggs. They had two daughters: Ella S Daggs Cohagan (1866 - 1941), and Alice D Daggs Gregory (1867 - 1940). It appears that either Rachel died or she and Rufus divorced, as Rachel disappears from the census records, and a marriage record exists for Rufus and another woman in 1876.
James David Dunn married Mary C Gregory 15 Aug 1880 in Clark County, Missouri. Supposed children were David Richard Dunn (abt 1882 - ?), and William Albert Dunn (abt 1884 - ?).
Harriet's husband, David Dunn, died 13 Dec 1880 and is buried in Sugar Creek Cemetery, Madison Township, Clark, Missouri.
Harriet married 2nd John Leible on 29 Mar 1885 in Clark City, Clark, Missouri.
Sadly 14 days later Harriet drowned in a pond near her home.
If anyone has information on this family, please contact me!
3 comments:
I have a little information about Roxanna Evans, I am researching her mother's family, Olive Case. I don't know much about this family, Mae Dunn Coe apparently died in 1975. She was the informant on the death certificates of many of her family members.ReplyDelete
Paula ~ http://langfordhaymon.wordpress.com/
Thank you for your comment on this post. I have Roxanna Evans' parents as Washington Evans and Olive Case. As I usually don't go any further than just the names of the parents of those that marry into the family, I haven't researched any further. I have noticed that Mae Coe signed quite a few death certificates. Wonder how she felt about that? ;-)ReplyDelete
Hello I am Micheal Dunn, Kenneth it's my fatter, Everett my g father, David Richard my gg father, James David my ggg father, and David (Harriet Porters first husband) was my gggg father.ReplyDelete
I have allot of info of you are interested email me at firstname.lastname@example.com


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From the Wires
Newhouse Shelter's Food Pantry Gets Critical Assistance
BMO Harris Bank donation helps fill food shelves
By: PR Newswire
Nov. 27, 2012 11:11 AM
LEAWOOD, Kan., Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Every woman should be entitled to a safe place away from an abusive environment. But according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. And unfortunately, too often there are not enough places for these women to turn in time of crisis. Kansas City is no exception.
For more than 40 years, one of the local agencies that has been shepherding these victims is Newhouse Shelter. Newhouse provides temporary housing and other critical services to victims of domestic violence and their children 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It is essential that the physiological and safety needs are met for all of those seeking sanctuary from domestic violence.
BMO Harris Bank recently announced a donation of $10,000 to help further Newhouse's mission. Due to the critical need to provide food for their guests, Newhouse will be using the funds to stock their food pantry. Providing the women and children in their care with three meals a day is an important component of their services provided.
Judy Thompson, Vice President of Development for Newhouse said, "BMO Harris Bank listened and responded to our appeal on behalf of the women and children we serve. Their generous donation provided Newhouse with the opportunity to approach other groups for fresh meat, fruit and vegetables to positively impact our Healthy Food Initiative. We are so pleased that BMO Harris Bank supports and honors the programs offered at Newhouse to help abused women reach their goals of self-sufficiency."
"Newhouse helps to fill a critical need in our community," commented BMO Harris Bank Kansas President Brad Smith. "I am honored and humbled that we are able to assist them in their mission to help these special women lead self-sufficient lives away from their past troubles."
For more information on how you can help Newhouse serve the community, visit: www.newhouseshelter.org
About BMO Harris Bank
Based in Chicago, BMO Harris Bank N.A. provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 600 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris BankSM is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with 1,600 branches, and a retail deposit base of approximately $180 billion.
About Newhouse
The mission of Newhouse is to break the cycle of domestic violence by providing the tools that allow women to make positive choices and lead self-sufficient lives. Newhouse provides access, admittance and residence in temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children 24-hours a day, every day of the year. Newhouse takes a comprehensive approach in meeting the needs of the women and children who turn to Newhouse for emergency shelter and for relief from the crushing distress of domestic violence.
SOURCE BMO Harris Bank
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text: Listen Meet Our Volunteers!Michael Newton has been volunteering with Special Olympics for many years. He is now the European Basketball Advisor. He tells SOEE what Special Olympics means to him and his family. In conversation with Michael NewtonMichael Newton just can't get enough of Special Olympics!Michael Newton - a Special Olympics Volunteer from Germany - in conversation with Bjoern Koehler from Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia:Bjoern: Michael Newton, you have been involved for many years with Special Olympics and you were recently nominated as a European Basketball Advisor – how did you come into contact with Special Olympics and what does it mean for you to volunteer with Special Olympics?Michael: I have been involved with Special Olympics for the past 15 years or more but my first real experience was in 1998 at the Mediterranean Games in Athens and coincidentally where the last World Games were held. So one can say I have been a volunteer ever since then. I started coaching a Basketball Team in Bruckberg/Baveria at regional level. I then moved to Head Coach of the German Unified Basketball Team at 4 World Games, became German National Basketball Coordinator in 1999 and now I'm pleased to say I'm European Basketball Advisor. Being a volunteer with Special Olympics is something very special for me. Special Olympics has given me so much pleasure and my goal is to pass this onto others. Bjoern: You have been working in a residence for people with intellectual and physical disabilities for many years. How does Special Olympics contribute to your job and what does Special Olympics mean for the people living in the residence in Neuendettelsau?Michael: I must say, without the support of my boss I would not be able to invest the time I do. Special Olympics makes my job much more interesting and I am privileged to be in the position I am. One of the great things for the residents where I work and athletes is having the opportunity to take part in so many events, which are organised by Special Olympics at regional, national and international level. The opportunity to make new friends and to be the centre of attention is life changing for them and for me.Bjoern: You have three children, what do they say about your long history of involvement with Special Olympics and how does it reflect in their own lives?Michael: Cillian is 20 years old and is a Unified Basketball player. Finn is 18 and is on my organisation team as a media expert. My daughter Nora is 12 years old and plays Basketball. She is also a volunteer at Special Olympics regional events. I must not forget my wife Renate of course who gives me so much love and support and her own interest in Special Olympics is tireless. That says everything!Bjoern: What is your vision for Special Olympics? Where do you see Special Olympics and yourself in the future?Michael: My vision, with the support of Special Olympics, is that all athletes across the globe are included in the sports world. Basketball and Unified Sports are my major goals with Special Olympics and I hope to be able to contribute in this area as long as I'm needed. My future with Special Olympics is a "Never Ending Story". Bjoern: Thank you Michael.End/


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Published in Partnership with Forbes.com.
This article was co-authored by Andrew Stern, Tom Carroll, and Dan Zook of Dalberg Global Development Advisors.
Article Highlights:
- The world's 450 million smallholder farmers occupy a critical segment of the agricultural value chain, yet are often plagued by low yields, low quality products, poor linkages, and little access to finance.
- The demand for smallholder agricultural financing cannot be addressed with a single strategy because agricultural markets exhibit variations in features, such as crop characteristics (e.g., export crops versus domestic staples), aggregation points (e.g., fragmented versus tight value chains), and value chain power dynamics (e.g., buyer power versus supplier power).
- Actors should deploy investments through five primary growth pathways, including i) scaling existing models, ii) innovating new products, iii) financing out-grower schemes of multinational buyers, iv) financing through alternate points of aggregation in the value chain, and v) building out new direct-to-farmer distribution channels.
The world's 450 million smallholder farmers represent a large — and largely unmet — opportunity for agricultural financing. As population growth and rising incomes create unprecedented demand for food, multinational companies increasingly rely on smallholders to secure their supply of agricultural commodities.
In response to consumer preferences for ethical and sustainable sourcing, traceability, and quality, companies have also made bold sustainability commitments that implicate smallholder value chains. As a result, smallholders present a compelling opportunity for buyers, lenders, and other actors in the agricultural value chain. However, smallholder production is often characterized by low yields, low quality, poor linkages, and little access to finance.
A recent Dalberg report — supported by the Citi Foundation and Skoll Foundation — called "Catalyzing Smallholder Agricultural Finance" suggests that with increased financing, farmers can improve their yields and products and in some cases double their income. Strengthening these farms is also important for the environment, as smallholders represent stewards of natural resources that are in need of sustainable management to prevent deforestation and the degradation of ecosystems.
At an estimated $450 billion, the global demand for smallholder agricultural finance is a large opportunity. Impact-driven smallholder agricultural lenders such as Root Capital, Oikocredit, Triodos, and Rabobank have played a catalytic role in driving financing into this market. With a total of $350 million in disbursements, global impact-driven agricultural lenders have been meeting smallholder financing needs, building local markets, and drawing in commercial lenders. However, they have still have headroom for additional expansion.
Additional actors, including donors, impact investors, technical assistance providers, governments, and commercial banks, also play a critical role in driving the market, but require tailored approaches to maximize their impact and ensure that they are deploying their resources to the most relevant opportunities.
The demand for smallholder agricultural financing cannot be addressed with a single strategy. Agriculture markets exhibit variations in features, such as crop characteristics (e.g., export crops versus domestic staples), aggregation points (e.g., fragmented versus tight value chains), and value chain power dynamics (e.g., buyer power versus supplier power). According to the Dalberg report, actors should deploy investments through five primary growth pathways, each of which maps to a particular market typology.
First, existing models of short-term trade finance for producer groups can be replicated and scaled, while encouraging commercial banks to follow. Second, new products can be innovated, such as providing long-term financing to cooperatives, addressing working capital needs, and developing on-lending schemes to finance group members. Third, financing schemes can be deployed through multinational buyers who have tightly integrated out-grower schemes (i.e., strong contractual relationships) with smallholder farmers.
These first three growth pathways have a reasonably clear path forward and can build from successful models and existing experience. However, these models will only address 10 percent of the world's smallholder farmers who are aggregated into producer organizations. To get to the remaining 90 percent and truly unlock smallholder potential, investors can explore two additional pathways. A fourth pathway suggests a way to reach the remainder of farmers by providing finance through alternate points of aggregation in the value chain (such as warehouses or input suppliers). Finally, for farmers that are in very loose and dispersed value chains, direct to farmer financing models can be piloted, such as augmenting microfinance with new technology platforms.
Each of the five growth pathways above is discrete and can be pursued independently of the others. However, within each pathway different actors are interdependent, so collaboration is required. Donors and impact investors, including bi-lateral and multi-lateral agencies, provide the foundational capital for all five pathways, but their role depends on whether they are focused on scaling proven models or innovating new models.
Multinational buyers can work with lenders to facilitate financing, using purchase contracts as collateral or using their relationships with farmers to originate loans, assess risk, and collect payments.
Commercial and impact-driven lenders must decide where to apply resources in order to match their capabilities with the most appropriate need and opportunity. More specifically, impact-driven smallholder agricultural lenders can replicate existing proven financing models and innovate new financing products. Within commercial banks, small business teams can follow agriculture lenders into commercially viable markets; corporate agriculture teams can support out-grower schemes of multinational buyers; and, transaction teams can develop tailored hedging and insurance products to manage and share risk. Finally, microfinance institutions can tackle the cost of distribution for direct to farmer lending.
More broadly, information collection and transparency are required in order to accurately size and segment specific market opportunities and inform the appropriate pathways. Furthermore, industry alliances and working groups can be strengthened or established in order to develop and promote best practices among investors, multinational buyers, and other actors in the smallholder finance ecosystem.
The report draws on the experience and insights of an advisory committee that included the Citi Foundation, the Skoll Foundation, Root Capital, Technoserve, and ANDE, as well as interviews with over 65 commodity buyers, investors and value chain experts. The full version is available on Dalberg's web site, here.
With collective action across these five pathways, actors from the private sector and the development community can contribute to feeding the world, increasing incomes in farming communities, and preserving our natural resources.
Andrew is a Partner in Dalberg's Washington DC office. He leads many of the firm's efforts to engage the private sector on global issues and development initiatives. Andrew helped to design and launch the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, a program at the Aspen Institute that helps to build small businesses in developing countries, and serves on its Executive Committee.
Tom is a Partner in Dalberg's Washington DC office and is a leader in Dalberg's agriculture practice. For the last several years, he has led engagements focused on identifying challenges and opportunities across the agricultural market and supply chain in sub-Saharan Africa, including cash crops (for export), staples, and horticulture.
Dan is a Project Leader in Dalberg's New York office. He specializes in engagement of investors and corporations on international development and emerging markets strategy.
Read More - Economic Opportunity, Collaboration, Fundraising, Hybrid Business Models, Sustainable Markets


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I don't get to post much anymore on this board, as I'm busier now with my job, along with my daughter's ventures, but I was kinda' curious what everybody's take of this whole post-season berth is.
Are you in the mindset of "I'm happy that it's happening, but I look for them to be promptly eliminated"?
Do you feel "Please let somebody else draw Philadelphia in the first round of playoffs"?
I'm somewhere in between, especially seeing how the month of September has played out for them. I keep telling myself that they are playing like this so that they could come back home to clinch this thing in front of a home crowd, but I know that's far fecthed.
I know that the Reds have had a month of September that had them go a stretch of 3 straight weeks without a day off, which obviously wore on the players, and it seems like the "real" Dusty that I remember as the manager of the Cubs has resurfaced, for me being that 13-1 loss against the Brewers when anybody, my wife included who is not a baseball fan, could see that Cueto was way off and he didn't get him out soon enough and when he did, he replaced him with Harang.
It's goofy stuff like this that makes you wonder what the post-season will hold. I know this team has the talent and tools to go deep into the post season, I just don't think Dusty is the best of stewards to oversee that talent.


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A thick and sturdy little board book is shaped like a farm animalthis one, a sheep. When it's closed, toddlers can actually stand it up and play at having a miniature farm animal! Open it up, and they'll find a charming little story. The sheep has its face on the cover, with eyes that wiggle and jiggle when the animal is moved. Bright and cheerful illustrations on every page come with an amusing story in easy-to-understand words for preschool kids. (Ages 3-5)
Hardcover Boardbook / 14 Pages / 3 x 3 1/2 x 2 1/4 / 2000


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LOS ANGELES - Phillip Phillips, a bluesy Georgia guitar man, was crowned the new "American Idol" on Wednesday after defeating teenager Jessica Sanchez in record viewer voting. He was the fifth male "Idol" winner in a row.
Phillips, 21, a pawn shop worker from Leesburg, Ga., looked stunned after host Ryan Seacrest announced his name, then wordlessly accepted a hug from Sanchez and congratulations from his fellow finalists.
He dissolved into tears as he sang "Home," the song that may be his first single.
Phillips received the winning share of the record-high 132 million votes cast after Tuesday's final showdown with high school student Sanchez, 16, of Chula Vista, Calif. The vote count was not announced.
His victory extended the "American Idol" winning streak for men to five consecutive seasons. The last female to win, and the last non-white, was Jordin Sparks in 2007.
Phillips has more in common with the last four winners than gender. Like them, he is a young Caucasian guitar player, also known to "Idol" watchers as WGWGs - white guys with guitars.
Last year's winner was Scotty McCreery, preceded by Lee DeWyze, Kris Allen and David Cook.
Sparks, 22, was among the guest stars who helped fill out the two-hour finale show, among them Rihanna, Neil Diamond, Reba McEntire, Chaka Khan and John Fogarty. "American Idol" judges Steven Tyler, with his band Aerosmith, and Jennifer Lopez also performed, but it was Sanchez and Jennifer Holliday who stood out with a powerhouse duet on "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going."
Besides music, there was a marriage proposal for the season 11 finale: Former contestants Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo got engaged on stage.
Young, 31, a season five finalist, told Seacrest that he and DeGarmo, 24, had just moved in together. Then Young got down on one knee and popped the question to her.
"I love you to death. You're my best friend," Young said in his proposal, which included a jarring credit for the jeweler who made the engagement ring he was offering. DeGarmo, a runner-up in season three, tearfully accepted, her head bobbing up and down.
But the point of the finale, saved for the final minutes and the highest possible ratings, was anointing the newest Idol and winner of a record contract.
During the three-song showdown Tuesday between Phillips and Sanchez, the show's judges praised his performance across the board. Sanchez was faulted for a lackluster rendition of her third song, "Change Nothing."
Although some critics dismissed Phillips as a Dave Matthews clone, viewers embraced him for his humility, his on-camera mugging and his memorable acoustic covers of songs like Usher's "U Got It Bad." In weekly tallies, Phillips never fell among the low vote-getters.
On Tuesday, he earned consistently high marks from the show's judges, while Sanchez faltered on "Change Nothing," the song that could serve as her first release.
The teenager agreed with panelists Randy Jackson, Lopez and Tyler, saying she should have gone more "urban" with her song choice.
Phillips had better luck with the slow-tempo, acoustic tune "Home," which the judges said recalled artists like Fleet Foxes, Paul Simon and Mumford and Sons. At one point during Phillips' final performance, the pawn shop worker was accompanied by a marching band.
It was a hit with the panel. Jackson, beaming, exclaimed: "I love the song. I love you. I love the production. I love the marching band. Everything about that was perfect."
Last year's contest between McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina drew more than 122 million votes, the record that was broken Wednesday.


text: Adam Goetzman NIMBY fights raise issues, often to community advantage By Marjorie Fox • Oct 15, 2013 Marjorie Fox Mercy Health West Hospital will open this fall in Green Township. When plans for the hospital were announced, some residents voiced their opposition. It was a classic NIMBY fight. In Greater Cincinnati and in every other community, there is a history of neighbors questioning or opposing projects they might support in general, but "not in my backyard". Often the concerns raised by neighbors lead to compromises that can be advantageous for all concerned.


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Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) will hold an "open house" for prospective students on Monday, Nov. 7, for its masters in counseling degree program. Refreshments will be served.
Visit the lower level of the Seminary building between 4:30 – 6 p.m., to find out more information about EMU's accredited degree program providing psychologically and spiritually grounded training in professional counseling.
The master of arts in counseling is a 60 semester hour CACREP accredited community counseling program. The curriculum includes study in the areas of professional identity, counseling theories, group counseling and more.
For more information on the MA in counseling open house and for directions contact Brenda Fairweather at 540-432-4243 or email email@example.com. (See the campus map.)


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Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) is China's official, standardized Chinese language proficiency test for non-native speakers. The test is administered in many nations and supervised by the State HSK Commission of the PRC Ministry of Education.
The new HSK test was launched by Hanban in an effort to better serve Chinese language learners. The test is the result of coordinated efforts by the experts from different disciplines including Chinese language teaching, linguistics, psychology and educational measurement. The new exam combines the advantages of the original HSK while taking into consideration the recent trends in Chinese language training by conducting surveys and making use of the latest findings in international language testing.
Levels 1-6
Please sign up and pay by November 15, 2013.
For more information, visit https://www.pdx.edu/confucius-institute/hskyctbct-language-proficiency-exam
Information is also available at the testing website http://www.chinesetest.cn/index.do


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If the Sunnyside Daybreak Rotarians were expecting a glowing preview of the 2013-14 Sunnyside Christian High School girls basketball season, they were destined to be disappointed.
Instead, the Rotarians left their Wednesday morning meeting with a new appreciation for the work that goes into coaching the team. Longtime Sunnyside Christian High School girls' basketball coach Al Smeenk told of his team's willingness to work hard, stay focused and to be disciplined.
He never questions whether girls can work hard, because his girls work really hard.
"You get what you demand of them," he noted.
Smeenk, who is entering his 31st year as Lady Knights coach, told the Rotarians his team is intense. Its members are not ashamed to compare their basketball bruises after games.
"They give a lot and so I feel they need to know they are valued. I try to make sure I develop a good working relationship with each team player," he added.
Smeenk strongly holds to the adage "people don't care what you know, until they know how much you care."
I want my team to know I care, but I also want them to work hard.
He admits he is also pretty intense, and as any Christian High School girls basketball fan can attest, Smeenk is not a coach to sit on the sidelines.
"I make good use of the space in the coach box," he laughed.
Smeenk said this year's basketball season starts Monday, Nov. 18, with the first day of practice. The WIAA mandates players have at least 10 practices under their belts before being allowed to play in a game.
"We'll be picking up a few Saturday basketball practices," he added.
Smeenk admits there have been at least two times during his coaching career when he has considered hanging up his clipboard, but "…I love the kids and I love the game.
"I love that they work hard and never give up," he said.
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Rustic Cabin in Northern Ontario Woods
A beautiful little home in the woods shown in 4 photos from Deek Diedricksen, tiny house builder, designer, artist, musician, and impresario on his lively RelaxShacks blog here.
3 comments:
What a great looking place it is my dream to have a place in the not to distant future to go to
- April 15, 2013 at 4:21 AM
Blue, blue windows behind the stars,.....
yellow Moon on the rise,....
big birds flying across the sky,...
throwing shadows on our eyes,.....
- April 16, 2013 at 5:48 PM
Beautiful!!!! I am just starting my journey of a 12x8 building with a loft, in East Haliburton County, Ontario Canada, Nonconforming building lot on the river, with over 200 ft of frontage :),, wish me luck!!!
- May 1, 2013 at 12:48 PM
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ A 69-year-old Kansas man ends up with a broken rib and collapsed lung after unsuccessfully trying to get a young woman to dance with him.
The Wichita Eagle reports the man attempted to dance with the woman at 1:10 a.m. Sunday at the Driftwood Lounge when she took exception and pushed him.
Police spokesman Sgt. John Hoofer says the man was injured when he fell back onto a wooden bench.
He was transported to a local hospital. Police are still looking for the woman, who is in her 20s.


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WASHINGTON — Far-reaching legislation to grant a chance at citizenship to millions of immigrants living illegally in the United States cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a solid bipartisan vote Tuesday night after supporters somberly sidestepped a controversy over the rights of gay spouses.
The 13-5 vote cleared the way for an epic showdown on the Senate floor on the measure, which is one of President Obama's top domestic priorities yet also gives the Republican Party a chance to recast itself as more appealing to minorities.
The committee's action sparked rejoicing from immigration activists who crowded into a Senate committee room to witness the proceedings. ''Yes, we can!'' they shouted.
In addition to creating a pathway to citizenship for 11.5 million immigrants, the legislation creates a new program for low-skilled foreign labor and would permit highly skilled workers into the country at far higher levels than is currently the case.
At the same time, it requires the government to take costly new steps to guard against future illegal immigration.
There was suspense to the end of the committee's deliberations, when Senator Patrick Leahy, the Vermont Democrat who serves as chairman, sparked a debate over his proposal to give same-sex and heterosexual spouses equal rights under immigration law.
''I don't want to be the senator who asks people to choose between the love of their life and the love of their country,'' he said, adding he wanted to hear from others on the committee.
In response, he heard a chorus of pleas from the bill's supporters, seconding private appeals from the White House, not to force a vote that they warned would lead to the bill's demise.
''I believe in my heart of hearts that what you're doing is the right and just thing,'' said one of them, Senator Richard Durbin, Democrat of Illinois. ''But I believe this is the wrong moment, that this is the wrong bill.''
In the hours leading to a final vote, the panel also agreed to a last-minute compromise covering an increase in the visa program for high-tech workers, a deal that brought Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah, over to the ranks of supporters.
Under the compromise, the number of highly skilled workers admitted to the country would rise from 65,000 annually to 110,000, with the possibility of a further rise to 180,000, depending in part on unemployment levels.
Firms where foreign labor accounts for at least 15 percent of the skilled workforce would be subjected to tighter conditions than companies less dependent on H-IB visa holders.
The compromise was negotiated by Hatch, whose state is home to a growing high tech industry, and Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York. It is designed to balance the interests of industry, which relies increasingly on skilled foreign labor, and organized labor, which represents American workers.
AFL-CIO president Rich Trumka attacked the deal sharply as ''antiworker,'' although he also made clear that organized labor would continue to support the overall legislation.
Robert Hoffman, senior vice president for government affairs at the Information Technology Industry Council, welcomed the deal.
The issue of same-sex spouses hovered in the background from the start, and as the committee neared the end of its work, officials said Leahy had been informed that both the White House and Senate Democrats hoped he would not risk the destruction of months of painstaking work by putting the issue to a vote.


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Cinnamon spiced rice pudding baked in a sugar pumpkin with milk, honey, vanilla, ginger and nutmeg. Once baked the tender pumpkin is stirred into the pudding.
Pumpkin pie meets rice pudding. They fall in love.
The same rice used for risotto, arborio rice, makes it super creamy. The thickness of the pudding is entirely up to your personal taste. The longer you cook it the more liquid the rice will absorb.
Just keep in mind that it will thicken further as it cools and stirring the pumpkin in will also soak up some of the liquid. If it turns out too thick for your liking stir a little heavy cream or whole milk into it.
This seasonal treat will make your entire house smell edible.
Like autumn dressed to the nines.
Cinnamon spiced rice pudding baked in a sugar pumpkin with milk, honey, brown vanilla, ginger and nutmeg. Once baked the pumpkin is scraped up and stirred into the pudding.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Stir in the rice, cover and educe heat to low. Simmer rice about 20 minutes to al dente.
- Meanwhile in a large mixing bowl whisk together the milk, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Rub the inside of the pumpkins with a tablespoon of butter and 2 tablespoons brown sugar each. Set them so they don't touch in a large roasting pan.
- Stir the hot rice into the milk mixture. Divide evenly between the pumpkins keeping an even ration of rice to milk in each one. Put the lids on the pumpkins. Add boiling water to the bottom of the roasting pan until it reaches about an inch up the pumpkins. Cover the enire pan with foil.
- Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes until pumpkin is tender and most, but not all of the liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Carefully scrape the sides of the pumpkins stirring the flesh into the pudding. If the rice pudding is too thick you can stir in a little heavy cream or whole milk. Serve with whip cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon or brown sugar.
Recipe adapted from Ellie Krieger
Method adapted from Food Network Magazine


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HANOVER, N.H. – The Dartmouth sailing team ended the fall season on a high note over the weekend as the women's squad captured the Atlantic Coast Championship. The Big Green reeled in a total of 112 points over A- and B-Division races to score an eight-point triumph over second-place Boston College in the event hosted by Cornell.
Also in their final race of 2013, the coed sailors captured fourth place in the Atlantic Coast Championship hosted by Charleston. The Green and White earned 237 points over two divisions of racing to finish just two points back of third-place Yale. Dartmouth finished tied with host Charleston, but by virtue of winning a tie-breaker, finished in fourth-place.
Both the coed and women's race featured a field of 18 teams.
During the women's race, Deirdre Lambert and Carissa Crawford turned in a dominant performance to win A-Division by four points. The duo won three of the 11 races and had five other top-five finishes to register 46 total points. In the B-Division, a quartet of sailors combined to register 66 points to finish third. Kelsey Wheeler, Sarah Williams, Lizzie Guynn and Sarah Peck produced five top-five results over their 11 races.
In the coed championship, the tandem of Matt Wefer and Avery Plough tallied 117 points over 14 races to finish seventh in the A-Division. Wefer and Plough finished in the top-seven in seven races, highlighted by winning race six. Scott Houck and Julia McKown earned 120 points in B-Division to finish sixth thanks to a second-place finish in race 10 and a third-place result in race one.
The Big Green sailing teams return to the water this spring, looking to continue their strong performances.


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My grandmother was an avid reader. She read most anything she could get her hands on — Reader's Digest, Farmer's Almanac, the Bible, mysteries, romance novels, newspapers, magazines ... gosh, I even remember her reading our set of World Book Encyclopedias just for enjoyment.
Grandma loved to read. As a matter of fact, I can remember more than one occasion where a trio of wide-eyed kids would interrupt her book late in the afternoon to ask what she was fixing for lunch. A world away on adventures only her books could give her, she would admit she had forgotten about lunch ... Eventually, she would lay down her book and would rustle up some peanut butter and crackers or an orange Popsicle. As kids, an orange Popsicle was a perfect lunch, and from my grandmother's perspective, life was good. The kids had eaten, and she could promptly get back to her book.
Grandma read every chance she got. She read every evening, long after the rest of us had gone to bed, and she whiled away many an afternoon with yet another paperback book firmly planted on her lap as she sipped a cup of coffee and tuned out the rest of the world. I remember times when we would talk to Grandma for five minutes or so before realizing she hadn't heard a single word we'd said — her mind (and ears) far away and involved in an adventure in her most current book.
As a small child, I can remember my grandmother reading out loud to me frequently. Grandma never spoke to the children in the family like the children we were; she spoke to us like we were adults, using words of which we had never heard and clearly giving us something to ponder. Consequently, she also read adult books to me too. There would be no fairy tales or Golden Books read to this little girl. Instead, I got the benefit of hearing a variety of selections from the Reader's Digest, excerpts from romance novels, complete chapters from mystery novels and more newspaper and magazine articles than my little mind could ever begin to comprehend.
"Should you be reading that to her?" my grandfather would ask her more than once.
"She's learning," my grandmother would say. "Plus, I think she likes it."
Like it? I loved it. It didn't matter what she read to me, I was all ears. And she was right. I did learn a lot from her out-loud recitations.
At 4 or 5 years old, my vocabulary was quite extensive, and my spelling skills were advanced. I was actually able to read before I ever set foot in a school, and I could play Scrabble with my grandmother and almost hold my own. Bottom line was I learned all kinds of things from the stories/articles she read. But perhaps the most important part of listening to Grandma read aloud was that I learned to love reading, and I learned to love words. I always think Grandma — if she was here now — would get a kick out of the fact that I now make my living with words, reading and writing.
Grandma liked to read because it afforded her the opportunity to travel the world and experience life other than that on a small, Midwestern farm, where life was quite predictable. With a book in her hand, she was able to imagine, learn, speculate and conquer. She was more than a farmer's wife, mother and grandmother — she could be any of the characters who lived on the pages of her books. Cooking, cleaning, household and farm/yard chores were clearly on her list, but when she could manage it, they were always on the list behind a few hours with her most current book.
Last week was Banned Books Week — an annual event celebrating our freedom to read, which hopefully draws attention to what harm may come from censorship. While the banning of books has been around far longer than any of us, probably the most recent issues involving book banning came with the well-known "Harry Potter" series, which by and large would have seemed fairly mild compared to some of the stuff Grandma used to read to me.
Now with my own book on the shelf (which has nothing in it that could come even close to being under scrutiny by book-banners), the idea of banned books hits a bit closer to home. I'm struggling to understand those who would wish to ban a book.
After all, if you don't like the content, don't read it. If you get halfway through a book and something offends you, close it. If you are worried about what your children read, monitor what they're checking out at the library. Why try to ban something that doesn't agree with your philosophies, morals or ideals? Just ignore it.
I have to think my grandmother would agree ...
BCR Editor Terri Simon can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. Her new book, "Grandma's Cookie Jar," can be ordered at www.boxingdaybooks.com or found at various locations in the Illinois Valley.