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Nate Silver is yet another example of data reinventing the world we live in.
The day before the presidential election, Silver's FiveThirtyEight blog drove 20 percent of the traffic to the New York Times website, according to The New Republic. Some said the methods of this new-age political forecaster were bunk, but people certainly paid attention. And in the end, he was right, predicting the outcome of the presidential race in all 50 states using hard data rather gut feel.
In 2008, he was nearly as successful, predicting 49 out of 50 states.
No doubt, some will continue to badmouth his methods. The 34-year-old has tested his model on only two presidential elections, and he says only so much about how the model works. What we really need is an open source version of Silver's methods. As Zeynep Tufekci points out in her opinion piece on Silver, this would allow for peer review and eliminate so much of the controversy around his predictions. It would also let so many others benefit from his methods — not only in the political world but perhaps other areas as well.
It's understandable that Silver and The Times want to keep the methodology under wraps. Silver's work is driving valuable traffic to The Times' website, and if he reveals his methods, the site loses a competitive advantage. In the end, peer-review isn't all that important to The Times. But the peer review problem only gets bigger as publications start to imitate The Times, as they surely will. We'll have all sorts of secret algorithms competing against each other — and no one will quite know whom to trust.


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A German housewife was so frustrated with her husband watching pornography, she made an "emergency" call to police for help. When the police arrived, they told the woman there was nothing they could do. "Nothing will move him," the woman tearfully explained. "Not even if I offer him the real thing."
My wife has the same problem as the German woman. No, not that she can't get me to stop watching porn (I wish), but each Saturday in the fall, I'm completely non-respondent during Michigan games. However, at least when I do watch porn, my two-minute drill is better than Michigan's.
Thank you, goodnight! I'll be here all week. Try the veal and enjoy Mr. Anka.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
In a minute!
Posted by Benny Friedman at 10:45 PM
2 comments:
two minutes? what's your secret in lasting so long? I've got to know!
- April 13, 2006 4:42 PM
- Yost said...
LOL, TM. Yeah, Benny. Share with the class.
- April 13, 2006 9:40 PM
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subset: commoncrawl


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Pilar Portela, Media Relations Supervisor based in our Florida office, was recently named an at-large board member to the South Florida chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). Pilar has been a key player in recent years in developing Business Wire's LatinoWire circuits, speaking on industry panels and cultivating relationships with Hispanic journalists and media properties.
According to Pilar, "Through my active participation in NAHJ South Florida I have found that it has brought me closer to the Hispanic media community (both traditional and social media). I have also been part of some really great media events such as our February Hispanic Elections panel discussion featuring Maria Elena Salinas of Univision. Last, I helped to raise books for a local underprivileged Miami school library through a NAHJ South Florida and Business Wire book drive"
Asked what she hopes to contribute via her NAHJ board membership, Pilar said, "Since the National NAHJ Convention in June 2010, I have been actively involved with establishing the NAHJ South Florida Chapter by helping to coordinate meetings and increasing local NAHJ awareness and membership. In the role of At Large Officer I intend to continue to be a big part of the Chapter Committee especially with large projects such as membership and fundraiser drives and also assist the Sponsorship, Event, and Charity Committees."
Congratulations, Pilar!


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LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. — Looking back, Lily Grenci has developed into such a great player, she even surprised herself.
Grenci, a senior forward on the Siena College women's basketball team, has made huge strides the past two seasons, leading the Division I school in scoring and rebounding.
"I didn't think I'd develop into the offensive player that I did," said Grenci. "I didn't realize how good I could become."
Grenci scored a career-best 30 points in a 75-60 victory over Saint Peter's Thursday, broadcasted by ESPN3, the highest output by a Saints player in four years.
Entering Friday's game against Fairfield, Grenci is averaging 15.4 points and nine rebounds per game. She's shooting 82.2 percent from the free-throw line and 42.4 from 3-point range.
In 17 games, Grenci has led the team in rebounding 14 times and scoring 11 times.
Last year, she averaged 15.2 points and 7.8 rebounds as a junior.
"I just focused on every aspect of my game," Grenci said. "Last year, I just put everything together."
This year, however, the Saints have a new coach in Ali Jaques. Along with that, the Saints are a young team.
"I'll tell you, she's been nothing short of great," Jaques said. "She's been one of my favorite players since Day 1. I think she has played a really pivotal role in my transition as a coach here.
"It can be scary, being a senior and having a new coach, but she's been positive about the whole experience. We've bonded and have been able to talk on and off the court," Jaques added.
"She's been great," Grenci said of Jaques. "She wanted to win with the players she has now. Last year I led the team in scoring and rebounding so I don't think anything changed.
"She's competitive and wants to win. It's been great developing a relationship with her," Grenci added.
As expected, the Saints got off to a slow start, but three straight wins in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference have allowed the team to move to 3-3, 7-10 overall.
That this team was eventually going to come around came as no surprise to Grenci.
"I know there was going to be some growing pains," Grenci said. "My team is really tough and the girls are really competitive. We lost some really close games.
"We're making progress every game. It's frustrating because we were in control of those game. We were hurting ourselves but that's coming along," Grenci added.
With a leader like Grenci, that was eventually going to happen.
"Lily's been very, very consistent," Jaques said. She's extremely mature and handles herself well. She's really focused and a really driven young woman."
That has also shown in the classroom where Grenci, a sociology major with a cumulative 3.85 GPA, was selected as one of 30 candidates nationally for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award, which recognizes student-athletes' excellence in community, classroom, character and competition.
The list of candidates will be reduced to 10 by mid-season, then the winner will be announced during the Women's Final Four April 7 and 9.
"As a student, I'm totally humbled and honored and thankful," Grenci said. "It's a great award and it looks beyond what you do on the court but in the class and community."
"She's a successful leader not just for our program but for student-athletes," Jaques said. "I don't think she's done yet. She has half a season left and she wants to still finish her career strong."


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22 CFR 1.3 - Office of the Under Secretaries of State.
prev | next
§ 1.3 Office of the Under Secretaries of State.
The official flag indicative of the office of the Under Secretaries of State shall be as follows: On a red rectangular field a white disk bearing the official coat of arms of the United States adopted by act of June 20, 1782, in proper colors. In each of the four corners a white five-pointed star with one point upward. The colors and automobile flag to be the same design, adding a white fringe. For the colors a cord and tassel of white and red to be added. The sizes to be in accordance with military and naval customs.
[ 38 FR 30258, Nov. 2, 1973]


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Finding Alice
Alice finding her past. Please, I think it's worth reading. It's quick and won't take up your time! :)
1. Grave
Rating 4.5/5 Word Count 739 Review this Chapter
I stood at my grave, and thought things. Things I had never thought of before.
I am thinking that my family never loved me. Or maybe they did, but their love died, and was buried in my coffin, to take the place of my body. An empty shell. It sat underground, their love protected from the outside world.
I stretched my fingers out, then hesitated. Finally I unfroze and brushed my fingers against the cold stone, where they met perfectly. There were no words expressing how much they would miss me, just a name and date.
Even though it was much later, I knew there had been no tears to fall to the soil. Except, maybe my younger sister Cynthia. Maybe she didn't care I had visions. Maybe. Or maybe that's not even why they had put me in there. Had there been something . . . that made me possessed?
I sank to my knees on top of the grave, my grey dress scrunching in the dirt. I didn't care. I watched the stone for a long time, pondering what I had learned.
"Mary Alice Brandon." I said softly, my black eyes staring down at the crunchy grass that rimmed where the stone met the ground. I bit my lip. It sounded wrong.
I stood up slowly, letting my dress swish around me. I picked up the article I had copied, the article that announced my parents engagement. I let it float down, to rest beside my tombstone.
I turned away, almost angrily, but I couldn't find it in myself to be angry at people I didn't know. It was hard to remember, that I had even associated with them before. That they were my PARENTS. But they weren't, I corrected myself. They may have given birth to me, but Carlisle and Esme had made me what I was. And Edward too.
My heart sank. "Oh, Edward," I murmured, looking back at my gravestone, "Look what you've done to this family." I laughed softly, like a parent would when trying to stay mad at their defiant toddler.
I had gone earlier to visit my niece in Biloxi.
She was in a nursing home, and when I entered her room she had looked at me with wise eyes. Eyes filled with hope.
"Are you hear to take me on?"
"Away from here. . ." The woman looked out the window.
I sighed and touched her soft hand.
"No, I'm just about the opposite of that."
She had turned her eyes back to me. "You are right. You're wearing gray."
"I am," I had chuckled, but then turned solemn "I just visited my own grave." This time I looked out the window. "You're my niece you know."
"Yes. My mother would tell me about you. She loved you so. She wouldn't talk to her parents after that. She could feel that you hadn't really died, so she ran away." Cynthia's daughter watched my face.
"I love her too. I wish I could cry, but I can't." I still gazed out the window, not knowing what I was seeing.
"I'm crying for you," the woman sighed, as tears ran down her face, "But please, can't you take me on?"
"I'm afraid not," I told her and kissed her old, wrinkled cheek, "But when you do pass on, tell my sister how much I love her."
"I will, it's just . . . I've lost all my loved ones, and I want to die too. I miss her."
"Don't worry, you'll see her soon enough," I assured her, but hadn't felt like I was telling her that. I felt like I had been trying to convey this message to Edward, through her.
He was breaking our family apart.Edward was to broken to care. But when he went back to her . . . a vision flashed before my eyes and I stilled.
Bella, standing on the edge of a cliff. Her eyes were closed, and she was smiling.
Oh, God. I felt like I was going to die. Edward was going to die. How could she do this to him?
She screamed as she flung herself off the cliff, crashing into the waves below. I watched her struggling for awhile, and then her future disappeared.
I had to go home. I had to tell Jasper.
I had to save Bella. I had to keep this from Edward.
I had to stop their love from killing each other.
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Lottery sales in China rose 27.6 % year on year in the first six months to reach us$ 20.49 billion, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said, Xinhua News Agency reported. In June alone, sales went up 23.8 % from a year earlier to us$ 3.42 billion, the MOF said in an statement.
Scooped by
Carl Zide
onto Poker & eGaming News


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High Milk Prices: No Farm Bill
PHOENIX -- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is warning that you could soon be paying as much as $7 for a gallon of milk.
It's because an agriculture bill that provides government subsidies to farmers expired last summer.
Vilsack says that if a new farm bill isn't passed soon, Congress may have to revert to a 1949 law that forces the government to buy milk from farmers at twice today's average price of $3.65 a gallon. Vilsack says the government could then pass those costs along to you.
But United Dairymen of Arizona CEO Keith Murfield doesn't think that's going to happen.
"Even if the farm bill does not get signed, and the financial cliff happens, I don't see any changes in the milk price," Murfield said. "In fact, in January, we're going to see the milk price go down 20 cents a gallon from December."
That's because milk prices are tied to butter and cheese. "The butter powder market and the cheese market have dropped in the last month, which will affect the price of what we drink out of the bottle from the stores," said Murfield.
But Murfield says if congressional Republicans and President Obama don't come to an agreement to avert the "fiscal cliff," the earliest that we could see an impact on milk prices would be in March.


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Local high school students are getting the chance to solve crimes.
"This is the second year we have participated with Troy University, Dothan on putting on a forensic class with young kids to sort of give them an idea what it is like outside TV," said Donald Valenza, chief deputy sheriff for Houston County.
And solving murders is a lot different than Law and Order and CSI.
"It doesn't happen as fast as it does on TV they can solve it in like an hour out here when you actually do the process you have to wait and see how it turns out and you have like a failed attempt again and fail," said Alexius Lampkin, Northview High School senior.
Throughout this week students will see what it takes to be a forensic scientist.
"They are going to be working with some of the k9s for the local sheriff's dept they are going to be learning finger prints they will also be involved in forensic biology forensic chemistry with some classroom activities as well as a lot if field work as and simulating a death investigation," said Jeff Lee, chair of the Criminal Justice department at Troy.
Students are looking forward to get the hands on experience.
"Probably the dogs, I want to be a k9 if I can so that's my biggest passion," said Zack Jackson, Geneva High graduate.
"Last year my favorite part was the fingerprints and seeing how when you touch something you always leave a mark," said Lampkin.
But local law enforcement officers hope the mark they leave will be more than fingerprints.
"Hopefully I'll see some of these younger ones in the fields with the department of forensics or law enforcement," said Valenza.
The Mike Schmitz Automotive Group and the Houston County Sheriff's Department sponsored more than half of the students.


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Don Stone: Revered Impressionist painter/teacher to display art in N.H. for the first time
By Laura Pope
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Holding court at his Exeter wintertime home for a rare newspaper interview, the internationally known modern Impressionist painter, revered teacher, expert on the Cape Anne School of Painting and a central, enduring figure at the famous art colony at Monhegan Island — describes and jokes about the often circuitous and fortunate path his artist life has taken.
This life brims with accolades — he's referenced in and is the subject of dozens of books and national magazines and won more than 75 major awards; associations — including memberships in the top-drawer National Academy of Design and the American Watercolor Society and exhibitions, including locally, the Peabody Essex Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and The Copely Society in Boston and is in many private and public collections, including the permanent collection at Dartmouth. His teaching credits include years teaching at two prestigious Boston art colleges as well as four decades teaching at the legendary Maine art colony on Monhegan Island.
For the first time, a selection of his paintings, as well as those of two painters he has mentored — Stan Moeller of York, Maine and Bruce Jones of Exeter — will be on display and for sale (through the summer) for the first time in the Granite State at The Artist Eye Gallery in North Hampton.
Early Influences
My mother referred to me as a water rat," explains the soft-spoken Stone, the preeminent American Impressionist painter, referencing his carefree days growing up in Gloucester, Mass. The memory brings a smile to the face of the octogenarian who reveled in all the boyhood pleasures of living by the sea in a bustling fishing community.
"It was a great place to grow up. My grandfather would take me to the wharf to pick up fish for supper and the big schooners would come in," he enthuses. "Eventually my brother and I shared a skiff. My mother called me a water rat because I would swim in the ocean and in the harbor with the slime and the oil. I loved it."
Many a boy has loved the sea but in Stone's case, that ardor went beyond boats and swims and the wharves; it ignited an unwavering passion for a life of painting, a calling that has carried on and transformed earlier art traditions and passed them on to the next generation of Impressionists to contemplate and make their own.
"When I was very young I would go down to the school administration building with my 11 cents and buy a packet of arithmetic paper; and I would sit and draw and draw and my grandmother would encourage me. I would copy things out of old magazines and then when I was in the 8th grade my teacher came to me and said: 'If we let you go to high school what courses would you like to take?' Not a scholar, the young Don Stone replied: 'I want to be an artist'. She said: 'Do you promise?' and I said: 'I promise.'
"I had four years of fine arts at the Gloucester High School, with no math courses at all, and graduated in 1948." At the progressive school, Stone became a student of Howard Curtis (1906-1989), a Gloucester native and notable marine artist. "After high school, I worked for a sign company lettering trucks with a distant relative and he told me I was wasting my time and that I ought to go to art school. So I worked in the freezer in Gloucester, in 40 below zero, in 1949, and got enough money to go to art school, the Vesper George School of Art in Boston."
Days after graduating from college, Stone served in the Navy as a gunnery yeoman on a destroyer, though in reality he used one of the gun shacks as his studio and painted portraits of all the officers. "I had a good racket going," remarks Stone, with a grin. Out of the service, Stone worked in newspapers, most prominently as a cartoonist for the Boston Post, until it folded, and began teaching at both Vesper George and the New England School of Art. Then a move back home turf — to Rockport, changed everything.
Monhegan Bound
"I met Paul Strisik [1918-1998], who took me to Monhegan Island in 1957. At the time I was a commercial artist and cartoonist. When I met him, he says to me: 'Let's go painting.' I didn't know what he was talking about! I sat on the running board of his car and watched him paint outside and it was like magic. He was my mentor and really changed my whole life." Self deprecatingly, he adds: "Since then, I've just been faking my way along."
Strisik and Stone became part of the already established Cape Ann School of Art, the more than century old group that focused on the ample marine landscapes and people of the region, which had already attracted the likes of Fitz Hugh Lane, Marsden Hartley, Childe Hassam, William Morris Hunt and Winslow Homer. Stone socialized with nine or ten artists of his generation working in the Cape Ann School and often painted with them, especially in the late 1960s.
"I was friends with [Aldro T.] Hibbard [1886 — 1972; who studied with Frank Benson and Edmond Tarbell], though he didn't paint outside with anyone, and with Emile Gruppe, John Jacutti and Ken Gore." Caleb Stone, the artist's son, has followed his father's path — lives in Gloucester, works as an Impressionist painter and teacher, and travels extensively. "He does watercolors, too," notes Stone.
Initially, Strisik and Stone went out morning, noon and night to paint, plein air, or outside, locally in Gloucester and Rockport, then ventured to Canada and eventually went to Monhegan, the small island, accessible only by boat, 10 miles off of mid-coast Maine, peopled by hardy fishing families and, since the mid-1800s, scores of artists including George Bellows, Rockwell Kent, Edward Hopper and Jamie Wyeth.
At one point, Stone and his wife, Sarah, lived year round on the island for several years, a daunting challenge given the isolation, severe weather and need to provision wisely. They still return each fair weather season to the house and studio, purchased in 1980, formerly owned by notable marine and landscape painter Jay Hall Conaway (1893-1970), so Don can paint and they may greet the many visitors flocking to his studio.
Inside the Stone home
A glimpse inside Stone's Exeter home studio instantly reveals his masterful artistry in landscapes, figures, light, moving air, and the great outdoors, from marine landscapes, such as "Gull Rock" that is painted from a bird's eye perspective, to a windswept, light-infused painting of his wife, Sarah, on a hill, entitled, "Springtime on the Island" to the warm summer tones in "Amber," featuring a girl in a blue dress picking lilies in a meadow.
While the thought of fisherman and their families slapped next to artists and their families on tiny Monhegan Island might seem a case of 'strange bedfellows,' Stone sums it up best. The artist considers the fisherman to be as important and as brave as the American cowboy, on canvas, and states emphatically his passion for the former. "I've gone out fishing many times and have a special affinity for the lone dory fisherman." The marine landscape, alone, or filled with figures, has always demanded a connection between artist and those who depend on the sea.
Those Who
Came Before
Like Winslow Homer, Stone made a name for himself early in his career as a watercolor artist. "I made my reputation in the National Academy as a watercolorist and then was doing large egg tempera paintings and bringing in big money. I had a waiting list for them. Then all of a sudden, I ended it. When you do egg tempera paintings everyone thinks: Andrew Wyeth, who I loved and knew very well and Jamie is a very good friend of ours. I didn't want to be considered a Wyeth imitator; I don't want to be an imitator of anyone. So 20 years ago, I turned to oil paintings. You gotta change over time, you can't stand still."
As he influences younger painters, Stone was also influenced by his peers and those artists from an earlier generation such as Spanish Impressionist painter, Jaoquin Sorroya (1863-1923), and the artist who influenced Sorroya — Swedish portrait and landscape painter Anders Zorn (1860-1920).
"Sorolla was painting in that mud, that dark soup that they all painted out of and Zorn said to him: paint in your own backyard in sunlight, and that changed Sorolla's life. I think Sorolla was as good as John Singer Sargent, one of my other favorites. Sorolla is so special to us that when we found about a show of his work in Madrid, a show of 102 paintings that had never been in this group before, we went, and we also managed to see his home, filled with his paintings.
"They're all good painters that s why I don't have a favorite. I mean Homer kills me. I just love him but I also love Zorn and Sorroya and Sargent and Valasquez and Rembrandt."
The Next Generation
Among Stone's many students, two — Stan Moeller of York, Maine and Bruce Jones of Exeter, have developed and matured as painters in their own right, and proudly share exhibit space at The Artist Eye in North Hampton.
"Many times while I am painting, whether out on location or in my studio, the wise words of Don Stone come to mind," says Moeller. "I met Don on his beloved Monhegan Island about 15 years ago, introduced by a mutual friend who was also a painter/musician. Painting during the day and playing music with Don (also a musician) and friends in the evening became a summer ritual, it was a way of life, of loving life as an artist. I was lucky enough to take Don's final Monhegan workshop (about that time) and over the years I have learned much more from Don than all my years studying art in college.
"He has many phrases (Don-isms) that stick in my head: 'value does the work, color gets the credit'; 'always keep your eye on the point of interest, even when you are not painting the point of interest' and many many more. He told me about must-read books, such as John F. Carlson's "Guide to Landscape Painting" and "Landscape Painting" by Birge Harrison. Painting alongside Don en plein air in various New England locations over the years, information would just come out in normal conversation: he is a great teacher and a good friend and I love his stories. I owe much of my success to what I have learned from Don Stone, not only the art, but mentoring on the business end of the art world."
Sculptor-painter, Bruce Jones, who maintains a studio and gallery in Exeter, recalls: "Years ago, when I got out of art school I started a business and didn't paint for a while," recalls Jones. "So I joined some local art groups and one day as I'm driving down the street, I see these fellows painting by the side of the street and I stopped to see if they wanted to join the art group or be part of the show. They directed me to 'the master' downstream and there was Don. I had no idea who he was. He was doing this wonderful little painting. He's very kind and said 'I don't really do that' when I asked him about our group and show, but he did invite me to his studio. That was more than 15 years ago."
About the author: Laura Pope is a career newspaper and magazine journalist specializing in the arts, travel and history. She has traveled to Monhegan Island on several occasions to visit resident artists in their studios and to take in the exhibits at the Monhegan Museum.


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Help, discussion, magazine feedback and more
Moderators: ChriThor, LXF moderators
ollie wrote:IMHO the registration and insurance of vehicles in the UK must be extremely complicated. There seems to be plenty of examples on TV and in the news of illegal vehicles in the UK. It sounds like it needs a total rethink on the whole process.
guy wrote:Of course, if you have a just and practicable way to combine taxation (as in "nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." - Benjamin Franklin, 1817), 3rd party insurance (for compensation of the innocent) and the MOT (for road safety and environmental friendliness) in a single framework, I am sure the Coalition government would love to hear from you.
ollie wrote:It's combined in Australia. You pay, for cars older than 5 years to have a "Pink Slip" which is a road worthiness certification at authorised testers. That costs about $35. You go to an authorised "Green Slip" insurer for 3rd party insurance, this covers 3rd parties (ie people), in car accidents. Anywhere from $250+ depending on age and history. Then you go and pay a registration fee, about $300 again, where you either show the "Pink Slip" & "Green Slip" or they have been received by the Roads & Traffic Authority electronically. You get the coloured sticker to go with the registration plates and stick it on your car. It's pretty simple actually.
guy wrote:Nelz, you are being far too literal-minded. Go to the lingerie department of a large store and ask for a pink slip.
nelz wrote:To confuse things further, isn't a pink slip what you get when you lose your job in the US?
nelz wrote:guy wrote:Nelz, you are being far too literal-minded. Go to the lingerie department of a large store and ask for a pink slip.
Shall I tell them you sent me?
guy wrote:Of course, if you have a just and practicable way to combine ...
towy71 wrote:It might be easier if your MOT certificate is the number plate, no MOT, insurance or tax no number plate
Rhakios wrote:That would work for private motors, but not for company vehicles on bulk insurance policies, where insurance renewal dates are not the same as MOT test/tax dates.
In fact, due to the fact that once-upon-a-time my car was insured for me by my employer, my MOT and insurance renewal dates do not coincide. Rather handy really as it spreads the cost out a little and means I didn't have to rush to get a cover note when my tax needed renewing. Which is pretty much irrelevant now as it is so easy to get it all done automagically on-line.
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From First to Worst in 8.2 seconds…
Delaying the usual slow April start until May…
At the end of April, the New York Yankees, at 14-9, were atop the AL East Standings, one game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays. The Boston Red Sox, then 11-15, occupied the cellar and were 4 ½ games behind the Yanks.
I knew the Sox had too much talent to stay down for long and it was only a matter of time until they would begin their charge. I had hoped it would take several months to snap out of their funk but Boston has been the best team in baseball in May with a 19-7 record so far this month. They are five full games better for the month than the next best AL East rival, the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees, at 12-14 for the month, have been the worst in the division.
Elaine Thompson/AP
For the overall standings, the Yankees, along with the Rays, are just a couple of games behind Boston. The Red Sox have clearly asserted their superiority and their arrival at the top of the division will most likely be a lengthy stay. I recognize that Boston will go through its own peaks and valleys, but I hope the Yankees can keep it close until the team can potentially bring in reinforcements for the second half. With the trading deadline still two months away, an extended Yankees losing streak would be devastating.
The 'needs' list keeps growing…
Sadly, the team needs more than a single bona fide #3 (or better) pitcher for the starting rotation. The bridge to Mariano Rivera has been tenuous at best with Rafael Soriano's health (or lack thereof) and the failures of others like Boone Logan and Luis Ayala. Nick Swisher, despite his home run today, is playing his way out of New York as he has not hit well enough for the Yankees to pick up his option after the season. Last year's magic in Swisher's bat seems to have departed.
Paul J. Bereswill/AP
The Yankees have lacked the key clutch hits of late. The spots where Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera et al used to pick up late, game-winning hits now seem to be routine outs. Lately, the Yanks have been scoring a few runs early and then try to hold off the opponent's late rally. The formula seems to end in failure more times than not, or so it seems even if it's not true.
Curtis Granderson has been great but he can't do it all by himself. The Yankees seem to have gotten old very quickly. The team needs a jumpstart. It could be in the form of Alex Rodriguez or Robinson Cano getting hot and carrying the team on their backs or it could be a trade although a trade is still a longer term proposition at this point. I guess these are the days when manager Joe Girardi has the opportunity to prove he is one of the best managers in baseball.
Boston Bruins versus Vancouver Canucks
Congratulations to my friend Julia, of Julia's Rants. Her Boston Bruins have made it to the NHL's Stanley Cup Finals. The failure of my team, the San Jose Sharks, to beat the Western Conference Champion Vancouver Canucks prevented a potential wager between Julia and me. As it stands, I find myself pulling for the Bruins to win the championship and avenge the Sharks' loss.
John Tlumacki/Globe Staff Photo
Mike Brown and Los Angeles Lakers…
I am not sure what I think about the selection of Mike Brown as the new coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. I guess going from the legendary Phil Jackson to anyone is going to be a steep drop-off. Brown did enjoy some success in Cleveland and he certainly has the credentials and ability to succeed. Hopefully this turns out to be a good hire for the Lakers.
Tony Dejak/AP
When will it be time for football?…
While I think it is great to see QB Christian Ponder talking with high school kids, I really wish that he was getting ready for the upcoming season with the Minnesota Vikings. I am so ready for the NFL and the Players Association to end the lockout and give us our football…
Mei-Chun Jau/St. Paul Pioneer Press


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This year's total of money donated to the Grundy County Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive has topped last year's breakthrough record by another $3,300, according to We Care of Grundy County.
Although the final tally is not complete yet, the ringing, which took place at Jewel and Wal-Mart from Friday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Dec. 23, is done. During that time, bell ringers collected a total of at least $30,071, which is up 12 percent over last year's total of $26,700.
The total includes the three gold coins that were donated during the first week of the collection, which contributed $2,700 to the total. The total, however, does not include the diamond engagement ring that was donated during the very last hours of bell ringing while Coal City United Methodist Church was ringing the bells on Sunday, Dec. 23. The ring has an estimated value of $1,200. The diamond ring will be sold to the highest bidder. The dollar amount it brings will be added to the final tally. Those interested in seeing the ring and/or bidding on it can stop by We Care during business hours.
"We are thrilled and overwhelmed at the response to our Red Kettle Campaign this year," said Denise Gaska, We Care's executive director and Red Kettle Drive coordinator for the Salvation Army. "We had great weather again this year — very warm and mild, which makes it easier on our bastion of bell ringing volunteers."
Not only were the dollars contributed higher this year, but the participation among organizations that assist in the bell ringing effort was easier to coordinate than in past years.
"While some years it has been difficult to fill all the slots, this year, they filled quickly and we had some groups that wanted to ring on a weekend, but all those dates were full," Gaska said. "Despite the fact we normally would have stopped ringing on a Friday, we added the 22 and 23 to our schedule in order to give those groups a chance to help out. Those extra days helped us get over the $30,000 mark, so we are very pleased that they wanted to fill those days.
"I do find it very heartwarming that for so many people in our area, ringing the Salvation Army bells during the Christmas season is now part of their holiday traditions. And, in those few cases when they've been too late to help, I've often heard great disappointment on the other end of the line. We don't like to let that happen, though, so we try to find any way we can to fit them in."
Thanks to the three gold coins donated during their watch, which were sold for $2,700, the First United Methodist Church of Morris attained the largest collection of any organization participating in the campaign at $4,047. The First United Methodist Church in Morris rang bells every Monday night during the campaign.
The biggest one-day collection was Saturday, Dec. 1 for a total of $1,474. The bells that day were manned by Immaculate Conception Church.
The largest Sunday collection went to Peace Lutheran Church Youth at $1,072.70 — far outpacing any other Sunday collection by more than $300.
The largest collection on a weeknight went to Cub Scout Pack #480 when they brought in $648.
Many groups volunteered to ring bells this holiday season, but We Care also gets offers to help ring the bells from many individuals who fill in gaps that organizations are unable to fill. We Care's Individual Bell Ringing Volunteers this year collected $3,523. Those individuals were: Meredith Barnes, Dave Bell, Doug Benson, Kim Bordner, Theresa and Pete Butler, Sue Castanier, Christina Chapman, Richard Chapman, Colleen Dickinson, Bob Elleson, Paulina Eisenhower, Carol Marie Gaska, Rick Gaska, Sophie Gaska, Debbie Hennigan, Stephanie Kessler, Sandy and Ray Lisy, Karen Lovellette, Marie McNelis, Sue Morse, Jacob O'Marrah, Char and Gary Orndorff, Julie Peden and Travis Peden, Jennifer and Mike Perry, Cindy Perryman, Leann Rankovich, Carmen Rodgers, Marlene and Don Ryder, Darlene Schneider, Jennifer and Brian Shell, Debbie Sinnott, Stephanie Sizemore, Julie Sorden, Jen and Don Surber, Annette Tackett, Becky Tollefson, Barbara and Vance Vaksdall, Dan Werden, Diane Wilhelmsen, and John Wolfer and Kimberly Wolfer.
Gaska also acknowledges the following members of We Care's Board of Directors and staff who assisted in the bell-ringing effort by helping collect the kettles at the end of the night: Dave Bzdill, Kelly Dransfeldt, Marion Gore, Debbie Hennigan, Cathy Milne, Chuck Richardson, Lori Sandgren, Andy Womack, and Mike Wright and Tracy Zabel.
While the Red Kettle Campaign is a time-consuming effort, the hard work pays off in a big way. We Care coordinates this campaign in Grundy County on behalf of the Salvation Army, therefore 80 percent of the money raised stays right here for We Care to use to assist families in need throughout the year with rent, mortgage and utility payments. This year, that total is $24,056. The other $6,015 will go to the Salvation Army regional office in Peoria to be available to those in need in rural counties throughout Illinois and to cover administrative costs for the bell-ringing effort.
If Salvation Army orchestrated the effort in Grundy County, only 65 percent of the funds raised would stay here. In addition, We Care's bell ringers have always been and will always be volunteers, which helps to ensure as many dollars as possible go to help those in need. In other areas, Salvation Army bell ringers are often paid staff.
"We Care and the Salvation Army have a long history of working together," Ed Dutton, service extension director for Salvation Army in Peoria says. "Since 2001, however, when We Care began coordinating the bell ringing effort for Grundy County, we've raised over $218,700, which means over $174,960 has been spent right here in Grundy County."
The collection for 2001 totaled $10,318. The first gold coins were donated in 2003.
If any groups or individuals are interested in participating in the Kettle Campaign next year, it's never too early to call We Care at 942-6389 to volunteer.
The following is a list of all the groups that volunteered to ring bells this holiday season with the total amount of money raised during their bell ringing assignments.
• Boy Scout Troop 471 — $763.29
• Brian Zabel & Associates — $425.42
• Calvary Baptist — $581.73
• Century 21 — $1528.07
• Christian Youth Center — $501.50
• City of Morris Employees — $425.28
• Coal City United Methodist Church — $1,111.80
• Corleone's — $422.67
• Cub Scout Pack #480 — $648.99
• District 54 Teachers and Staff — $807.79
• First Baptist Church — $569.15
• First Christian Church — $1,409.81
• First Midwest Bank — $689.44
• First United Methodist Church — $4,047.81
• Friends in Christ Lutheran Church — $380.13
• Friends in Christ Lutheran Church Small Group — $500.81
• Gardner South-Wilmington High School NHS — $763.30
• Girl Scout Troops #70175 & #70660 — $701.30
• Grundy Bank — $366.00
• Immaculate Conception Church — $1,474.15
• Kiwanis Club of Morris — $577.77
• Living Water Church of the Nazarene — $485.49
• Morris Community High School NHS — $763.29
• MCHS - Staff — $481.42
• Morris Fire Protection and Ambulance District — $345.73
• Morris Hospital — $360.02
• Morris Rotary — $1,041.99
• Morris Theater Guild — $291.79
• New Community Christian Church — $1,435.77
• Peace Lutheran Confirmation & Youth — $1,072.70
• Re-Max Top Properties — $308.30
• Seneca High School NHS — $909.88
• Standard Bank — $389.55
• We Care Ringers — $3,523.49
• West Lisbon Church — $255.21


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Journal Spudley's Journal: Updated email protocol 1
There are so many people and products trying to beat spam. Whitelisting, blacklisting, greylisting... the trouble is, they all miss the point -- the spammers can send as many emails as they like, and only have to get a tiny proportion of them through the filters to make money.
The big problem with spam is that it's untraceable. SMTP doesn't provide any way to prove where an email came from. It does have headers, of course, but they can easily be forged, and often don't provide a full trace anyway.
What we need is an enhancement to SMTP (or complete replacement) that fixes this problem. It needs to work with existing email clients on people's desktops, otherwise no-one will use it, but at the server level it needs to be able to prove where an email has come from before sending it on.
So how do you prove where an email has come from?
In the email headers, there is a trace of the route via which an email has travelled to get to its current destination. Each time a new server forwards it on, it will add an additional header line.
To prove where an email has come from, a receiving mail server should query the servers back down the chain: "Did you send/forward a message with this particular ID on this specific date?"
If any server in the chain says "No, I didn't send that message", then you can be suspicious of the email. If more than one says "No", then the message headers are almost certain forged.
If all the servers say "Yes, we recognise that message", then you have a verified path back to the original sender (or at least to their ISP, which is the next best thing).
We can also ask the sending ISP if the email address given as the sender is one which they recognise as being owned by the sender. (ISPs would generally know your email address with them; if you use other addresses, you as the address owner would need to tell your ISP about them so they could verify them with this system when asked)
This gives us a fairly crude way of weighting messages. We haven't actually blocked any spam yet, but we can add the verification details to the headers, which will give the recipient's spam filtering software something extra to work with.
Now, because we can be certain of the originating ISP of a verified email, and we know whether the sending email address is valid we can, for a verified email, have a fairly good guess as to whether it's a legitimate email or spam, before we even look at the content of the message itself.
We can then do our normal spam filtering to remove the junk. But because we have verified the sender, it allows us to bounce the junk emails back to them, without worrying about the bounces ending up with the wrong person. This means that spammers would no longer be able to send millions of unsolicited emails without getting a good proportion of them back. Okay, granted, they may not bother even checking their mailboxes, but any sensible ISP would quickly disown a user that generated that kind of traffic, and then left it unclaimed in their mailbox. People with bot-infected machines who didn't realise they were sending out junk would start seeing bounces and hopefully do something about it.
The next stage is to create a trust level for verified email. If a particular server is sending out a lot of spam, it will be recognised as such, and because their messages have been verified, we know that particular server is the culprit (or is the ISP for the culprit, which is the next best thing). This allows us to determine the trustworthiness of any given mail server, which can also be added to the headers to aid filtering.
In the first instance, if a server becomes untrusted because it has been verified as sending out a lot of spam, the administrators can be notified. If the problem persists, we can take stronger measures as we feel appropriate.
Of course, this would have to co-exist with the existing untrusted email network, which means that you wouldn't be able to verify every email (in fact, to begin with, you wouldn't be able to verify many at all), and spammers would naturally try to avoid using the verified servers to avoid the possibility of being tracked down. But as more and more servers adopt the system, our spam filters will increasingly see the lack of verification as being a bad thing, and so what spam does come from them will become easier to filter.
Finally, being able to verify for certain that an email has been sent by a particular user at a particular ISP would be a major bonus for businesses -- it would improve security of online transactions, and make fraudulent activities like domain hijacking much harder.
So to summarise, the aim of the exercise here is to be able to verify where an email has come from by checking back with the sending server. This allows us to detect email with forged headers and to respond to spam in a way that punishes the sender, rather than the recipient or any innocent third parties.
It would add to the amount of network traffic required for an email to get from sender to recipient, but not by an intolerable amount, especially if that is offset by a reduction in spam as a result.
I suspect I'm not the first to have this kind of idea, but if not, why isn't it already in use? I'd be interested to hear anyone else's thoughts. But if you are going to pick holes in the argument, please do try to come up with a way to fix it as well.
Thank you for reading.


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I am in the beginning stages of exploring how I can contribute to the English Language Learners (ELL) field. My first thoughts were that I would volunteer (which I am doing now, as an assistant teacher for a small intermediate level class). Then, after learning about resources in the field from people involved in that ESL program, and through my own research, I would have some idea of what to look for in a certification program.
However, after seeing how many resources there are online to assist both teachers and students, my thinking has changed. I am coming from a background where I did much research and outreach in an effort to build an initiative partly associated with community revitalization. I am beginning to think that there is much that can be done to create local learning networks (for both teachers and students).
The ELL Resources-Leesburg Website
To explore these ideas further, I have created a website; which is offered here as a starting point for discussion of both what has already been done along the lines of building local learning networks—and what could be done. The website is titled ELL Resources-Leesburg (use Internet search, or see my profile, for address).
My "information card" summary (accessible from the "Contact" page) is:
"A clearinghouse of links to open source resources: for teachers, to supplement or create lesson plans; for students, as a way to give special attention to specific study topics, or as a means of self-study. With local community focus (Leesburg, VA). Two Discussion Forums (teachers and students) facilitate teacher-to-teacher sharing, and small study groups for students."
Another summary paragraph, from the homepage:
"The ELL Resources-Leesburg website, focused on creating local learning networks, supplemented with Discussion Forums, and looking towards creating 'Community Teaching and Learning Centers' in the future, can be a way to expand the number of people living in the Leesburg area who decide to learn English, a way to accelerate the learning process, a way to increase the social and work-related networks associated with both teachers and learners in the field of ELL, and a way to increase the number of low cost pathways for accomplishing these goals."
A Special Note About "Community Teaching and Learning Centers"
The "Community Teaching and Learning Centers" concept is one I at the "Teachers Without Borders" website. Here is some specific information about that source, and the content which first got my attention…
1) From a "Community Teaching and Learning Centers" section of the "Teachers Without Borders" (TWB) website before it was revised to the current website content. The current focus of TWB does not emphasize the concept of "Community Teaching and Learning Centers". (For more about "Teachers Without Borders", see their website)
"Community Teaching and Learning Centers (CTLCs) are local, practical education centers designed to be embraced by and emerge from the community itself. CTLCs use existing facilities and are often outfitted with libraries (such as dictionaries, references, educational material of general interest) and computers, face-to-face classrooms, and break-out spaces, used primarily to serve several essential functions for community sustainability."
What I Would Like To Learn from Participants in This Forum
It's true: the kind of website design that I can do is "basic skill level design" compared to many other ELL and ESL websites. However, I believe the organization and presentation is clear enough for the potential of this idea to "come through".
What I would like to learn—from teachers, students, other resource persons, etc:
1) Do you know of any organizations, etc associated with ELL, ESL, etc, which are doing similar work along the lines of creating local learning networks like what my ELL website is proposing?
2) Do you think the ELL Resources-Leesburg website/resource –using open source links, discussion forums, etc to create or accelerate the creation of local learning networks (teacher-to-teacher sharing, students study groups, computer access sharing, etc—is a good idea?
3) How can the specific project mentioned here (ELL Resources-Leesburg) be improved?
It would be of great value to me to hear any comments, suggestions, etc. from participants in this "Teaching English" forum.
With Kind Regards,
Stefan Pasti
Last edited by StefanPasti; 26-Sep-2012 at 23:43.


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It's an interesting strategy outlined in the article - that they're less worried about making money quickly and more worried about making robotics a sustainable sector of the economy means they'll either crash and burn early, or their efforts will single-handedly help to define a new generation of technology. Quite the fun dichotomy.
I think the key is that they are planning on licensing the patents from the technology. At least, that's what I got from the article.
1. Develop Robot Tech
2. Patent R
The vacuuming 'bots are cool, but there's so much more they'll need to do before they're really integrated, Jetson's-style.
Its more an issue of how LONG you'll be paying than how much.
And the payment plan is, well, forever...
2. Cat flusher [catgenie.com]
3. Cat feeder/waterer [autopetfeeder.com]
4. electronic dog door [petdoors.com]
5. Dog feeder/waterer [autopetfeeder.com]
I still think incrementing (evolving) the early success of Roomba is the way to make robotics a permanent industry that gets us to what we all want: robot slaves without cruelty.
Forty two.


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Carey's imminent wedding?
What to make of this?
The Daily Mail, which is full of sh-t daily, reported yesterday that Carey Mulligan's hen night happened two weeks ago. Carey is engaged to Marcus Mumford. And, obviously, a hen night usually precedes an actual wedding.
The two spent a super casual Easter weekend with his parents. The Mail has those photos here. The paper also reports that the two will marry by the end of the month. Carey and Marcus have been together just over a year.
True or bullsh-t?
No idea. On the one hand, the Mail hasn't been as wrong as it usually is re this couple and was very specific about the hen night details etc. On the other hand, Carey keeps her sh-t pretty tight. Remember she accompanied Marcus to the White House a month ago for a state dinner and managed to NOT be photographed, not even once? At the White House!!!
I suppose the timing works...if it does happen within the next 2 weeks. That allows for a short honeymoon before Carey has to be back in New York for the Met Gala on May 7th. Carey is co-chairing this year alongside Anna Wintour and Miuccia Prada. I LOVE this event. We ALL love this event. And I would love if Carey and Marcus made their Mrs & Mr debut at this event even though it's totally not her style. B-roll for years!


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The Penn State wide receiver started just once in 2011. It's no coincidence he flourished under Bill O'Brien, and Robinson shared on Saturday how his former head coach impacted his career.
"Going into the off-season, he'd give me a list of things to work on," Robinson said at the NFL Scouting
As he did with other Nittany Lions, O'Brien had Robinson (6-2, 220) study game-tape of some former Patriots. He also enlisted the help of then-Penn State and current Texans wide receivers coach Stan Hixon, who was an assistant with the Bills.
"I got some tape of Brandon Lloyd, some Chad Johnson tape, and some tape of Stevie Johnson from Coach Hixon," Robinson said. "Kind of just seeing those guys at the next
Robinson said O'Brien and his staff were key in developing him as a player, and preparing the team to win despite an inordinate amount of adversity. As a freshman in 2011, he caught just three passes for 29 yards.
"It was a good experience," Robinson said. "He put our team in the best possible situations for us to win. Just challenging me as a player and as a person each and every day to improve my route-running and improve my play-making ability."
Robinson and the wide receivers will run the 40-yard dash and go through drills on Sunday.


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Kelly Layman
Executive Director of Communications
ACTIONS TAKEN: Florida Board of Governors, Nov. 10 In Boca Raton
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—November 10, 2011
BOCA RATON, Fla.—In regular business, the Florida Board of Governors today took the following actions. This list represents highlights and is not the complete list of business. Please consult the web site www.flbog.edu. for all agenda items and back-up materials.
Unless otherwise indicated, votes below were taken by the full Board based on the earlier work and discussion within standing committees; the committees forward their respective business items to the full Board of Governors agenda for action and any further discussion necessary. The full Board meeting is the concluding meeting of the two days of proceedings.
Board of Governors Elects new Chair, Vice Chair
Governors Dean Colson of Coral Gables and Mori Hosseini of Daytona Beach were nominated and elected to the posts of Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, for the 2012-13 leadership term. There is a separate press release on this item that has been sent. Meanwhile, the terms for four seats on the Board of Governors conclude in January 2012; see www.flbog.edu. under "The Board" for the listing of members and terms. Fourteen of the Board's 17 members are appointed by the Governor in staggered seven-year terms.
From the Academic and Student Affairs Committee (Chair Ann Duncan)
Voted to approve the Public Notice of Intent to Amend Board of Governors Regulation 6.018: Substitution or Modification of Requirements for Program Admission, Undergraduate Transfer, and for Graduation by Students with Disabilities. This will align existing Board regulation language with changes made by the Legislature in the 2011 Session (s. 1007.264 and 1007.265, Florida Statutes).
Voted to approve the Public Notice of Intent to Amend Board Regulation 8.016, Academic Learning Compacts. These amendments would simply clarify the process related to student learning outcomes assessment. A presentation on the compacts was made in the committee on Wednesday. Several years ago, there were more than 800 compacts for baccalaureate degrees were put in place, to assure student learning and critical thinking skills, among other commitments in the curricula. Each Academic Learning Compact in place at a university is posted on its web site for access by the students and the public. A detailed historical presentation about the success of this initiative – considered a national model – was made by Board staff at the committee-level meeting, and is posted under Wednesday's materials.
Note: These amended regulations are expected to return to the next full Board meeting in January for final action after the public comment period required in our Board regulations.
From the Strategic Planning Committee (Chair Frank Martin)
Dental Education Proposals: As reported in the media earlier this week, UCF withdrew its proposal on Tuesday. The other proposal on the agenda represents a collaborative partnership between UF and FAMU that would dedicate some of the new student slots at the existing UF dental school for minority students, shepherded by FAMU, who would work in underserved and rural areas in Florida.
Regularly queried documents by the media:
The Florida DOH report presented by DOH at the June meeting of the Board of Governors can be found here: http://www.flbog.edu/pressroom/meeting_items.php?id=126&agenda=528
The Senate's Interim Committee study and report, released this summer and reviewed at the September meeting of the Board of Governors, can be found here:http://www.flbog.edu/pressroom/meeting_items.php?id=150&agenda=541
During committee-level discussion of the UF-FAMU proposal, Governor Hosseini made a motion to approve the concept of the collaborative partnership but require additional financial information at the Board of Governors in January. In discussion, Chair Parker asked about the cycles of funding and whether there would be a way to move the partnership forward while the funding over the initial start-up years of expansion might be less recurring dollars in costs to the state. Governor Perez had extensive questions about the per-student costs in the expansion relative to the number of new student slots. The committee vote passed with members voting no. Today, the Board took up the same vote in a motion, and it passed by acclamation.
Voted to approve the "Board of Governors' Strategic Plan Update for the State University System of Florida: 2012-2025." During the past 18 months, the Strategic Planning Committee has aggressively worked on development and finalizing this document. At its August special workshop and in meetings prior, the committee crafted an updated mission statement and vision statement for the State University System, and identified increased or new goals and performance indicators for the 13-year period. The committee identified three "critical points of emphasis" for the updated Strategic Plan: Excellence, Productivity, and Strategic Priorities for a Knowledge Economy. Targeted 2025 goals have been identified within this framework – and in recognition of the tripartite mission for public universities: Teaching, Research, and Public Service. The Strategic Planning Committee and the Board staff will now develop implementation plans for the new goals and performance indicators; these will augment the existing dashboard performance indicators that are found today in the Board of Governors' Annual Report as well. See www.flbog.edu. – "Annual Report" link.
"Organizing the System for Success": As part of the strategic planning process throughout 2011, several Board regulations have been developed or updated. Two votes on final action for two regulations were at this meeting: One is Board Regulation 8.004: Academic Program Coordination. This regulation promotes the collaboration and coordination of program delivery across the State University System. The other regulation is amended Board Regulation 8.009: Educational Sites. The amendments clarify the approval processes for campuses and other educational sites by delineating responsibilities of the Board of Governors and universities' Boards of Trustees. These two votes fully conclude the work done during 2011 to address a total of three Board regulations; specifically, two were amended from language in the 1970s-80s during the time pre-dating the Board of Governors (operating as the Board of Regents), when the System was much smaller with fewer universities. That language also did not include the university Boards of Trustees – as those bodies were established in the past decade. As Board Chair Parker and Committee Chair Frank Martin have stated in the past, updating these Board regulations has been critical and necessary, in order to ensure that there is no unwarranted duplication in the System – and to demonstrate to the Legislature and other stakeholders that the Board is meeting its constitutional obligations and responsibilities to oversee a coordinated, accountable State University System.
From the Facilities Committee (Chair Dick Beard)
Voted to approve the Higher Education Classroom Utilization Study to send to the Legislature. See agenda item under Facilities Committee and the study report posted. Apart from the existing widespread utilization of classroom facilities on nights and weekends currently at many state universities in the System, the Legislature asked for a more detailed study to further maximize possibilities.
From the Budget & Finance Committee (Chair Tico Perez)
Voted to approve the "2011 New Fees Report to the Legislature." Florida Statutes require the Board to submit an annual report summarizing fees at the universities. In January there were eight new fee proposals submitted to the Budget and Finance Committee for consideration. Ultimately, the Board of Governors approved four new fees at its March meeting. The report on the web site summarizes the proposals, actions taken on each proposal, and details about the fees approved, including anticipated revenues and expenditures.
Voted to approve the market tuition rate list of proposals. Please consult the "fact sheet" I sent out earlier on this topic. Please note this issue is only for graduate-level online degrees or graduate-level courses offered through continuing education, and has nothing to do with baccalaureate degree programs. The following universities submitted proposals: UCF, FIU, FSU, UF and USF. The market tuition rate proposals are optional and voluntary. The 2010 legislative "governance rewrite" directed the Board of Governors to evaluate market tuition rate concepts nationally, and implement a Board regulation framework, should universities voluntarily pursue the market tuition rate for certain programs. The Board is in its second cycle/second year of a three-year pilot program. Some universities in the System are not pursuing market tuition rate programs.
Regarding student fees that universities may propose or propose to increase for FY 12-13: Any such proposal must be first heard and approved at the university Board of Trustees level, then submitted to the Board of Governors. Universities have a deadline of Jan. 16 to send formal proposals to the Board of Governors. The Budget & Finance Committee will have a meeting, to be announced, in February for a separate hearing on the proposed fees. Any new fees would not be implemented until Fall 2012 term. The Budget and Finance Committee in the past has rejected some fee proposals and sent them to the full Board with a recommendation against approving.
Higher Education Strategies Ad Hoc Workgroup (UNF President John Delaney, Workgroup Chair)
A presentation was made on some of the national trends in higher education, an ad hoc workgroup formed after the September Board meeting. The presentation was added this morning to the web site agenda materials. Further discussions will be had in the Strategic Planning Committee on how these items may interface and support the Board of Governors' existing 2012 legislative policy agenda, the existing Legislative Budget Request, and the just-completed Strategic Plan update (2012-2025) that had final approval at this Board meeting. (More regarding the Strategic Plan update is below.)
Board of Governors Foundation, Inc.
The Board gaveled in as the Board of Governors Foundation, Inc., in order to discuss and approve a few items. The annual report of the Foundation stated that more than $600,000 has been distributed through several endowment scholarship funds for which the Board of Governors distributes scholarship and financial aid monies to the 11 institutions. The Foundation budget was approved, and the new Chair and Vice Chair of the Foundation will be Governors Dean Colson and Mori Hosseini, respectively.
Previous editions of "Actions Taken" from the past year of Board meetings are all on the web site, along with other resources, at www.flbog.edu/pressroom for your reference at any time.


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Even if we are buried in snow and ice here in Vermont, the 2007 car show season is rapidly approaching, and here's one for your calendar.
If street rods and muscle machines make your heart race a little faster, then you'll want to get to the 19th Cobblestone Nationals held by Fast Lane Classic Cars, this coming Memorial Day Monday, May 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in St. Charles, Missouri.
Voted the best in St. Louis in 2004, the Cobblestone Nationals is one of the largest car shows in the Midwest. Each year promises a bigger turnout, with attendance up to 12,000 expected. Several vendors will be on hand to demonstrate and display their products. Shuttle service is available. Spectator admission and parking is free. Visit www.fastlanecars.com, or call Show World Promotions at 314-378-7469, for more information.
(This post originally appeared in the March 8, 2007, issue of the Hemmings eWeekly Newsletter.)


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Friday, June 4, 2010
Solomon, Ye'or, Littman...and a Surprise Guest Appearance
First up, David Littman. For many years now, Littman has had the challenging task (to grossly understate the difficulty) of speaking truth to power within one of the most disgusting, dissembling bodies on the planet--the United Nations' "human rights" arm. (First it was a "commission". Now it's a "council". But nothing has changed; if anything, it's achieved new heights--or depths--of Zionhass, which it dusts in a coat of sugary, high-flown "human rights" palaver). Littman, who represents a couple of NGOs, is like the sole sane resident of a loony bin, who is constantly pointing out to a less than receptive audience that it is unfair and just plain crazy to keep singling out Israel as the most ignominious, rigths-abridging place on the planet when the ones who are doing the singling out, many of them Arab and Muslim, have long ago signed onto a treaty, the infamous Cairo Declaration, that embraces sharia, a fundamentally inequitable system of Islamic laws. And, oh, yeah, having embraced sharia "rights," they trash the genuine rights of their own people left, right and centre. Littman says he's akin to the child in the Andersen tale, the still, small voice of reason who refuses to go with the flow and admire the Emperor's finery when the potentate is obviously naked. The thought that popped into my head as Litwin regaled us with his brave but necessary exercise in futulity: Speaking truth to power is difficult, sometimes dangerous, but often do-able. Speaking truth to irrationality, to lunacy: that's well-nigh impossible.
Next to speak: Sam Solomon. I had heard Solomon speak at that IFPS conference on free speech and freedom of religion held in Washington, D.C. last fall. As someone who grew up in Islam (I'm still confused about where the "Solomon" name comes from), he can literally recite the Koran chapter and surah--and does. And when he does, speaking in the loud, incantatory style of a Muslim preacher, I must say, I feel my entire body seizing up, and for a moment or two, I stop breathing: hearing German barked out in movies about WW2 often has the same effect .) Solomon said that the very idea of a "two-state solution" is ridiculous because Islam, and those who practice it, could never countenance something that is a 100 per cent violation of their faith. And the existence of a sovereign Jewish state, a state where those whom Islam reviles as the lowest of the low, the minions of the devil, the defilers and revilers of Allah's revelation, cannot--can never--be permitted. To do so is to repudiate Allah and his Messenger, simple as that. So to persist in the illusion that "peace" in anything other than the Islamic sense of the word (i.e. the peace, the big sleep for Western civilization, that will come once sharia law is installed globally) can be effected between Jew and Muslim is, well, barking mad.
Finally, Bat Ye'or. Ye'or is married to Littman, and, visually, they make rather a striking couple, in a Mutt and Jeff sort of way, he being so tall, and she being so, well, tiny. Vardit, who was sitting next to me, said she reminded her of another small ball of fire--Kathy Shaidle (who was there with her blogger hubby, the intrepid and indefatigable BCF). Ye'or's message was perhaps the grimmest of all. Essentially, there's a battle going on for custody of Chrisitianity. For Western civilization to survive, the Judeo-Christian construct, the one that gave rise to that civilization must continue. However, it is facing a bold and concerted challenge from the OIC, which wants to sever the Judeo from the Christian and create a Christian-Islamic teaming. In that way, it uproots Jesus--the Muslim prophet Issa--from his Jewish origin, something that lo these many centuries later still sticks in Islam's craw (if a religion can be said to have a craw), and makes him officially--and finally--theirs. Thus, the Christian-Muslim pairing isn't really a partership (since Islam does not accept the equality of non-Muslims, infidels). It is a ploy to de-Judaize Jesus, get the Christians (and especially the Vatican) onside, get rid of Israel (an impediment to their plans) and, eventually, ride the OIC stallion (charger?), the current caliphate, to global predominance.
If that's not scathingly brilliant, ambitious and terrifying, I don't know what is.
(Interestingly--and tellingly--Ye'or mentioned that this is the first time she's been invited to speak at a synagogue. "I've spoken at many chuches," she said, but, clearly, her message is too incendiary for most shuls--so a tip of the hat the Rabbi Stern for opening his doors to her and her co-speakers.)
As riveting as the speakers were--and, indeed, they were--for me the high point of the evening came toward the end. By then, the question period had gone one for around an hour, and many people had already left. Then--the next to last questioner, a large, somewhat chubby chap, white-haired, wearing a sky-blue shirt. "My name is Mark Harding," he said into the microphone. At that stage, I gasped. "Do you know who that is?" I said to Rochelle Wilner, who I had been chatting with at the back of the room. "That's the Christian guy who, back in 1997, was convicted of a 'hate crime' for speaking the truth about Islam. He spent time in jail, and afterwards they sent him to an Islamist imam for 're-education'."
Needless to say, after the program had officially ended, I sat myself down next to Harding and introduced myself. I told him I'd been writing about him in my blog. "What happened to you was a travesty," I said. "The government of Canada owes you an apology." He thanked me profusely, and we chatted a bit about his ordeal. "I don't hate Muslims," he said. He never "hated" anyone. As a Christian evangelical, he was trying to bring them to Christ by exposing the hatefulness inherent in Islamic doctrines. But back in 1997, several years before 9/11, warning people about Islam's designs on the planet--designs they have never kept secret--was construed as "hate speech." The Christian's "hate speech," not the Muslims'. Post 9/11, of course, Harding seems like a latter-day Jeremiah, as everything he warned about, including Toronto being a potential target, was completely borne out. At the time, however, the judge, a Jew, who was completely ignorant about Islam and its teachings, thought Harding was a raving loony, and sent him straight to the slammer. (He still has a criminal record, he told me.) "What about that 're-education' stuff?" I asked. Actually, he explained, it was part of his post-jail "community service." He was really only supposed to be licking stamps and acting as a general dogsbody for that Islamist racket, but the imam took it upon himself to include some, ahem, special lessons in Muslim scripture. Luckily, Harding told me, "God was good, and I only had to listen to it for an hour."
Update: LGF caught it on film (in London, the night before last).
4 comments:
- Mentat said...
Hi Scaramouche. Mentat here. Thanks for this. I wanted to be there. Did you see Caroline Glick's column wherein she said:
"The reality is simple and stark. Israel is the target of a massive information war, unprecedented in scale and scope."
That is really the bottom line. Unable to defeat Israel militarily, the Muslims seek to defeat it by convincing the world in a propaganda war, especially the US, that Israel is evil and have the world force Israel to do the Muslim world's bidding.
- June 4, 2010 at 8:24 AM
- scaramouche said...
Hi Mentat. Yes, I did see the Glick, and I completely agree.
- June 4, 2010 at 9:00 AM
- Josephine said...
Thanks for the link, Scaramouche!
- June 4, 2010 at 10:15 AM
- Miriam said...
Did you think it was odd that Bjorn wouldn't let David have the floor. Was it some personal emnity or was there some other reason that I just didn't get?
I was interested in David's words about the British connection to Zionism back in Victoria's time. Perhaps they had to concentrate on the main issue, not enough time ?
- June 6, 2010 at 9:01 PM


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A group of Colorado's top civic leaders, bipartisan in its makeup, is working to empower a panel of troubleshooters — some of whom would be ordinary citizens — to help regularly suggest changes to the state's constitution.
Past efforts to create a constitutional-review commission so worried conservatives protective of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights that they referred to the idea as a "TABOR death panel."
But proponents say the group would simply be tasked with looking at the state constitution's flaws and strengths, with no particular agenda. The point, organizers of the effort say, is to examine whether direct- democracy amendments are still relevant for the state years after voters have approved them.
"People are frustrated by the conflict in our constitution," said Bob Tointon, president of Greeley-based construction firm Phelps-Tointon Inc. and one of the Republicans involved with the effort. "They are frustrated by the issues that get on the ballot so easily in Colorado."
Because the process of getting a ballot initiative before voters is relatively easy in Colorado, a number of voter-approved amendments limit state revenue while simultaneously mandating increased spending. Voter-approved changes have also had the latent effect of shifting the burden for funding schools from local districts to the state.
There has been talk for years about trying to untangle the resulting Gordian knot, but those involved in the current effort say the level of interest is at an all-time high among business and civic leaders.
Tointon and other members of the board of Colorado Futures, an organization of civic and business groups, are researching the idea of the constitutional-review commission. First order of business: Ask Colorado voters to approve a constitutional amendment to create the commission.
Members would come from an array of backgrounds — ordinary citizens, subject-matter experts and others. The panels would convene every 10 years.
Leaders of the effort say they don't want a panel whose members are selected the conventional way — handpicked by the governor, Supreme Court and lawmakers. Instead, they're looking for a model that enhances the credibility such a commission would need with the public, maybe even one like a grand jury that calls up citizens to serve on it.
"I think we want something that's going to be trusted as the voice of Colorado," said Gail Klapper, member director of Colorado Forum, a group of leading business executives involved in the effort. "I think sometimes we find that we talk only to ourselves, those of us interested in good public policy for the state. We thought it would be interesting and creative and instructive to have a broader outreach for individuals who would come up with the ideas."
And with their voter-approved mandate, the panelists would distill their findings into a list of recommendations they would then send back to voters for approval.
The ballot measures sent to voters by the commission would not be bound by the constitution's single-subject rule for amendments, meaning sweeping changes could be enacted.
"The problem with fixing it (the constitution) any other way is that it's a very complex set of problems that are all intertwined," said former University of Denver Chancellor Dan Ritchie, another Republican involved in the effort. "You just can't do it with a ballot issue here and there."
That's why supporters of TABOR, which limits state revenue and requires voter approval of tax increases, have been skeptical of such a commission.
Legislation in 2010 to refer to voters an amendment creating such a commission died at the hands of Senate Republicans, who refused to support a measure they called a "TABOR death panel."
Former Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, said at the time, "The more I thought about this, I realized the whole purpose is to weaken TABOR."
But Ritchie says such fears are unfounded when it comes to the latest effort.
"It's not to get rid of TABOR," he said of the commission. "I think that's the last thing they would do."
The amendment creating such a commission could get to voters one of two ways: Lawmakers could muster a two-thirds vote to send it to the ballot or organizers could launch a citizens' initiative and gather enough signatures to put it on the ballot themselves.
The latter method would be costly, but business groups inclined to support the effort would probably end up spending millions to promote a ballot issue — initiated or referred — with voters anyway. Those involved in discussions say it's unlikely any ballot issue to create a commission would be put before voters until 2014 at the earliest.
Getting a two-thirds vote in the legislature to refer a controversial amendment to voters is a heavy lift.
House Minority Leader Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, said GOP lawmakers would have to see specific proposals before taking a position.
"I don't think it should be something where Republicans automatically throw up their hands and say 'no,' " Waller said. "But I think if it's the kind of thing that makes it easier to get rid of TABOR, then Republicans would not be amenable to that."
Tim Hoover: 303-954-1626, firstname.lastname@example.com or twitter.com/timhoover


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Ulta Beauty Haul!
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14 comments:
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Conventional wisdom says that American universities that have lost their religious roots are places where neither spiritual longings nor moral boundaries can get a hearing. But Donna Freitas, a religion professor at Boston University, says that students themselves defy this wisdom by showing an insatiable interest in spirituality and ethics, particularly as they challenge the hypersexed party scene dominant on such campuses. Freitas spoke with CT assistant editor Katelyn Beaty about her latest book, Sex and the Soul, and what nonreligious schools (which Freitas calls spiritual schools) can gain from born-again virgins and evangelical authors such as Joshua Harris and Lauren Winner.
Sex and the Soul emerged from conversations in your class "Dating and Friendship" at St. Michael's College. What about those conversations made you want to investigate sex and spirituality on campuses?
I thought it was interesting that even though hookup culture was prominent on campus, I had so many students trying to get into the class, dying to have a conversation about spirituality and religion in relation to their dating lives. I saw in them a yearning to critique hookup culture with spirituality and religion, even if they were unsure of what that meant.
There was also a turning point during my class when my students came back from spring break. One student admitted out loud that she hated hookup culture—that she was participating in it but that it didn't make her happy. Suddenly the whole class shifted: they were all shocked to realize that they were all unhappy; they were acting a certain way because they felt like that's what they were supposed to do. I was interested in that dissonance between what they thought everyone wanted to do ...1


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Difference between revisions of "Papallacta"
Revision as of 23:04, 28 July 2011
Papallacta is a city in Ecuador.
Get in
Papallacta is located 67 km (40 mi) east of Quito on the route taken in 1542 by Francisco de Orellana. It crosses over the Andes through beautiful valleys on each side. Find a bus from Quito to Baeza or Tena and tell the bus driver/cashier that you want to get off in Papallacta.
Get around
A taxi from the bus stop to the Termas costs $ 1.5 be advised that the taxi drivers will try to charge you more - so ask beforehand.
The thermal baths and the Reserva Ecologica Cayambe-Coca are the leading reasons to visit Papallacta. Otherwise, there aren't too many activities in this little town on the side of the hill.
The beautiful Reserva Ecologica Cayambe-Coca presents miles of lakes and trails in a preserved and secluded setting. Access/camping/fishing fees were $5 in 2007. This reserve receives support from The Nature Conservancy, USAID, Parks in Peril and Rumicocha Ecological Foundation. The reserve is located high in the Andes around 13,000 feet so it receives quite a bit of rain. Access points are located past Termas de Papallacta as well as near the summit on the Via Interoceanica (as you reach the summit, look for a cement hut 1/4 mile off the road to the north).
Trout is the most popular dish of the area.
There are a few hosteria's (small family run hotels) that are inexpensive. A few of them are located along the road from Quito to Papallacta. Ask the bus driver to stop in Papallacta and you will easily find one if you continue walking along the road.
Get out


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TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Tuesday night's general election results will be updated minute-by-minute throughout the WIBW Channels.
CBS News begins its coverage of the Presidential returns at 6 pm Tuesday on WIBW-TV, when the first polls in the nation close. Because of that, 13 News at 6 will be seen on MyTV, 13.2.
Televised coverage of Kansas election returns will begin shortly after Kansas polls close at 7 pm. Continuously updated numbers will be carried on the lower third of the television screen. A team of nearly 30 people will be working to update those numbers and results of more than 70 area races in all. The latest numbers can be found online throughout the night at www.wibw.com/elections.
CBS will provide WIBW-TV time to update local races at 25 and 55 minutes after the hour. 13 News will bring you the latest numbers as well as live reports from Republican and Democratic watch parties. A roundup of the latest local results will happen in a half-hour report on 13 News at 10 before WIBW returns to CBS News coverage of the Presidential race.


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Following every Baltimore Ravens game this season, Ryan Chell and I will take to the airwaves Tuesdays on "The Reality Check" on AM1570 WNST.net with a segment known as "The Five Plays That Determined The Game."
It's a simple concept. We'll select five plays from each game that determined the outcome. These five plays will best represent why the Ravens won or lost each game.
This will be our final analysis of the previous game before switching gears towards the next game on the schedule.
Here are the five plays that determined the Ravens' 18-16 win over the Detroit Lions Monday night at Ford Field…
(Note: not all pictures are always of actual play)
Glenn Clark's Plays…
5. Louis Delmas called for unnecessary roughness after Joe Flacco pass intended for Marlon Brown incomplete on 3rd down (2nd quarter)
Ended up giving the Ravens three points in a spot where they would have gotten nothing.
4. Daryl Smith sacks Matthew Stafford for five yard loss at Baltimore 47 (1st quarter)
Lions had moved the ball at will on first two drives until this play, game appeared to be headed to a shootout or even a blowout.
3. Matt Elam intercepts Matthew Stafford pass intended for Nate Burleson (4th quarter)
The "ender".
2. Jacoby Jones 27 yard catch from Joe Flacco on 3rd & 15 (4th quarter)
The significance of this play has somehow been lost.
1. Justin Tucker 61 yard field goal GOOD (4th quarter)
I still don't believe it.
(Continued on Page 2…)


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After building a 22-point halftime lead, the Iowa Lakes men's defense wasn't quite what coach Troy Larson likes to see in his teams.
But the Lakers were never really threatened by the visiting Briar Cliff Junior Varsity in the second half, maintaining around a 20-point lead until a late run made the final score 82-71.
"Sometimes you have these nights where your feet aren't as active," said Larson. "It's tough to keep up the intensity when you have a big lead."
Article Photos
Iowa Lakes' Mark Miedema (33) wards off a Briar Cliff defender to take this shot on Thursday.
EDN photo by David Swartz
Larson said his team's best stretch of the game was the final 10 minutes of the first half as the Lakers built that 53-31 halftime lead.
The Lakers were 23-of-38 (60.5 percent) from the field including 5-of-9 from 3-point range.
After a total of five fouls was called between both teams in the first half, both teams attacked the basket more in the second half.
The visiting Chargers lived up to their name, attacking the Lakers' interior defense early.
Five minutes into the second half, Iowa Lakes still had a 21-point lead, 65-44. But after watching Briar Cliff get several easy layups, coach Larson replaced all five starters. The reserves struggled to score while the visitors scored four points over the next couple minutes. Ben Shellim was inserted back into the lineup and immediately hit a 3-pointer and then converted a 3-point play. A layup by Tae Harmon followed by another 3-pointer from Shellim gave the Lakers their biggest lead of the second half at 76-50.
The starters came back into the game, but time was running out for the visitors.
Shellim led the Lakers with 25 points while Josh Schaben finished with 16, Kelly Madison had 12, Deondre Parks had 11, Harmon had six, Kevin Larson had five, Mark Miedema had four and Colton Neff had two.
"I thought Ben and Josh both played well and Mark gave us some good energy," said coach Larson. "Dre (Parks) also had a good first half."
Madison, Schaben and Neff each had seven rebounds. Madison and Parks each had four assists and Parks had two steals.
Iowa Lakes extends its winning streak to 10 games. The Lakers (16-4 overall, 7-1 in the conference) are home against Southwestern Community College on Saturday. Game time is 3 p.m. following the women's game.
Southwestern is responsible for the Lakers only conference loss of the season and is responsible for their last loss.
"Our fans have shown us great support this season and we are excited to have another great crowd saturday, our guys are very excited to play saturday and it should be a great college basketball game," said Larson.


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Sorry I didn't reply sooner, I don't check my profile often. Thank you, I am glad you liked the article. I've got a few more feature/opinion articles I will be proposing to Dizzy soon. They wont be on the same topic, but you might like them if you liked the game journalist article.
hey dude, sweet article on being a game journalist.


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(Part 8 of an 8-part College World Series preview)
Exhibiting an ideal combination of a dominant pitching staff, clutch hitting and a sound defense, LSU enters the College World Series looking like a tough team to beat.
Through five NCAA Tournament games, the Tigers (57-9) have allowed 14 runs on 29 hits in 45 innings. Over the past three games, LSU's pitching staff has limited the opposition to 10 hits. Furthermore, the Tigers have been touched for only one home run in the past 10 outings.
LSU owns a .308 team batting average and has displayed a knack for coming through with the timely hit.
Defensively, the Tigers and UCLA share the top fielding percentage among CWS teams at .980.
LSU carries an eight-game winning streak into Sunday's 7 p.m. first-round tilt against UCLA.
Having matched the 1997 national championship team's school record with 57 victories, the Tigers are chasing the seventh national title in program history. Besides 1997, the Tigers also left Omaha with the championship trophy in 1991, 1993, 1996, 2000 and 2009. This marks LSU's 15th trip to the CWS.
First-team All-American and Freshman of the Year Alex Bregman (.380, 6 HR, 52 RBI) is the Tigers' sparkplug, leading the team in batting average, hits (104), total bases (154), triples (7), doubles (18) and runs (59).
Mason Katz paces the Tigers in home runs (15), RBI (68), slugging (.630), on base percentage (.454)and walks (37) and is second on the team with a .366 batting average. A four-year starter, the All-American senior first baseman was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth round.
Senior left fielder Raph Rhymes (.343-4-46), junior designated hitter Sean McMullen (.317-2-30) and junior third baseman Christian Ibarra (.315-6-39) are among five Tigers batting over .300.
Junior second baseman JaCoby Jones (.299-6-31), the Pittsburgh Pirates' third round draft choice, and freshman Mark Laird (.297-0-18) played key roles as the Tigers swept Oklahoma 2-0 and 11-1 in the Baton Rouge Super Regional.
Jones went 5-for-7 with a homer, triple and double vs. the Sooners. Breaking up a scoreless game in the bottom of the eighth, Jones lashed a one-out triple and scored on pinch hitter Tyler Moore's base hit. With two down, Laird singled home an insurance run.
Coming off of an ankle injury in the SEC Tournament, Laird missed the first three games of the Baton Rouge Regional. The Ouachita Christian product went 5-for-9 in the Super Regional, accounting for half of the Tigers' six Game 1 hits.
All-American sophomore righthander Aaron Nola (12-0, 1.68) will draw the starting assignment against UCLA. Coming off of perhaps his best outing of the season, Nola threw a two-hit shutout while facing only 29 batters in the Game 1 Super Regional victory over Oklahoma. It was his fifth complete game of the year.
Limiting foes to a .187 batting average, Nola has accumulated 117 punchouts while walking just 17 and surrendering 78 hits over 118 innings.
Junior righthander Ryan Eades (8-1, 2.79), the Tigers' Saturday starter during the regular season, was the first of nine players on the current LSU roster chosen in last week's Major League draft. He went to the Minnesota Twins as the No. 43 overall pick.
Sophomore lefthander Cody Glenn (7-2, 2.24), the team's Sunday regular season starter, hasn't pitched since May 22. Suspended for the Baton Rouge Regional, Glenn was reinstated for the Super Regional but did not pitch.
Junior righthander Nick Rumbelow (1-0, 3.41) and senior lefty Chris Cotton (4-1, 1.23, 16 saves) are the mainstays of the bullpen.
Saturday, June 15
Game 1 — Mississippi State (48-18) vs. Oregon State (50-11), 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 2 — Indiana (48-18) vs. Louisville (51-12), 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Sunday, June 16
Game 3 — North Carolina (57-10) vs. North Carolina State (43-19), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 4 — UCLA (44-17) vs. LSU (57-9), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Monday, June 17
Game 5 — Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 6 — Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Tuesday, June 18
Game 7 — Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 8 — Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Wednesday, June 19
Game 9 — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Thursday, June 20
Game 10 — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday, June 21
Game 11 — Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 2 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 12 — Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, June 22
Game 13 — if necessary, TBA
Game 14 — if necessary, TBA
Sunday, June 23
No games scheduled
Monday, June 24
Game 1 — 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Tuesday, June 25
Game 2 — 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Wednesday, June 26
Game 3 — 7 p.m. (ESPN)