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A former customs official who seems to know as much as anyone about the depths of corruption in Kyrgyz politics says he is ready to put his cards on the table.
That could be bad news for presidents past and present.
On May 13, former deputy customs head Rayimbek Matraimov released a stunning attack on ex-President Almazbek Atambayev, his former political patron, whom heaccusedof organizing a smear campaign. Matraimov also warned Atambayev that he had the strength for a protracted duel. His words might also be read as subtle warning to the incumbent head of state, Sooronbai Jeenbekov.
The six-and-a-half-minute video address spread quickly on social media, making a coming-out of sorts for a shadowy figure nicknamed Rayim Million due to his alleged penchant for graft.
He exists! He can speak and even read! declared one tweet that captured the general surprise over the appearance.
On Matraimovs claims that he has ample ammunition, there are few doubts.
Despite hisabrupt dismissal,which Atambayev orchestrated just before departing office in 2017, Matraimov is still viewed as one of the most powerful people in Kyrgyzstan.
A recent volleyball tournament held in honor of his father in Osh and organized by his brother sitting lawmaker Iskender Matraimov wasattendedby a bevy of MPs, the speaker of parliament, and a deputy prime minister.
Yet Matraimovs public image is toxic. He appears fabulously wealthy and appears to enjoy flaunting his wealth despite a career entirely serving the state. Public criticism has done nothing to humble him.
Speaking in Kyrgyz, he dismissed the Rayim Million tag as a slur invented and spread by Atambayev, whom he also blamed for tarnishing his family's volleyball tournament.
That claim ignores the fact that Matraimov has been legendary for years, in part thanks to the luxury-flaunting social media postings of his own children and media investigations into customs corruption.
But Matraimov was on firmer ground when he noted he had been one of the trusted members of [Atambayevs] team before they fell out, citing his promotion to deputy chief of the customs service in 2015 under Atambayev.
Matraimov also claimed that he was forced to extend all kinds of support to [Atambayev and his] party. He has quite a lot of information to use if Atambayev continues to blacken his name, he said.
Matraimov acknowledges that the origins of this spat are petty his sister-in-law and one of Atambayevs daughters got embroiled over a parking space, he said, without offering details.
But the broader context for his outburst is theongoing war of attritionbetween Atambayev and his successor-turned bitter political rival, Jeenbekov. And Atambayev has used Matraimovs swelling status as a public villain to tar the new president.
Atambayev has suggested, for instance, that Matraimov was the main financial backer for Jeenbekovs campaign in 2017. And on May 14, Atambayevs Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan summarily dismissed Matraimovs attack as planned by Jeenbekovs office.
In fact, Atambayev himself enthusiastically endorsed Jeenbekov. But that was before he fell out spectacularly with his one-time protege, whom he tried and failed to control from behind the curtain.
If Matraimovs reputation as a financial resource for electoral campaigns has any substance, his public emergence threatens both men.
Atambayevs political stock has collapsed since he left office, and any revelations Matraimov might issue will compound his credibility crisis.
But for Bishkeks chattering classes, the very fact Matraimov is at large and evenwon a court casefor wrongful dismissal serves as proof that Jeenbekovs promised battle with corruption is hot air.
So far Jeenbekov has managed to kick the Matraimov can down the road.
At an end-of-year press conference last December, he promised journalists he would look into accusations against the former official, while also implying the fuss was overblown.
Six months on that pledge hasyielded no tangible progressand the figure of Rayim Million looms ever larger over his presidency.


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Rely on Atherton Automotive Service Center in Council Bluffs, IA 51501 to provide quality care for your vehicle's systems. Stop by our shop to see how we can help you or call 712-322-2900
712-322-0691 for more information.
To keep your vehicle running at peak performance, we provide Machine Work services that include:
Rely on Atherton Automotive Service Center in Council Bluffs, IA 51501 to provide quality care for your vehicle's systems. Stop by our shop to see how we can help you or call 712-322-2900
What our clients say about us?
Reviews and comments from our satisfied customers
Great service, they fix what's wrong inspect the car and let you know if there's anything else wrong or wearing out that may need replaced or fixed in the future no high-pressure up sales. Just a honest evaluation with guaranteed work. Being in business 90 years tells you something right there. Talk to Matt Jr he will take care of you. Highly recommend.
Honest and reliable service! We will definitely continue to use them for our auto needs.
Got my pickup in right away to be serviced and inspected. Had my pickup back by the end of the Very helpful and friendly. Highly recommend if needing servicing or repair.
Nick and Matt Jr. doing a fine job keeping my older van in road-ready shape for long trips. I think Eddie is actually doing the work! Not always the cheapest but then I?ve tried that. Finding things I need to fix(water pump) and kept me informed. Good appointment process, on time, loaner car. ?Peace of mind? service.
Very knowledgeable bunch of guys. Went beyond what the dealership offers as far as checking the vehicle over for any potential issues or safety concerns. Very honest and take good care of their customers.
Quick and professional service. I thought I knew what shape my car was in through regular maintenance with another shop, but I was wrong. Atherton's provided an affordable comprehensive vehicle check with detailed results that were a surprise. I'm glad, I came to Athertons!
Very diligent and comprehensive service. I want the best service for my classic 2001 TransAM and I get it at Atherton's.
Matt & his crew have always been very friendly, helpful, honest and professional. I appreciate the care they have taken with my Honda. I'd recommend Atherton to anyone looking for quality maintenance and repairs on their vehicle.
No one likes having to call an automotive mechanic. Gone are the days when everyone had "their guy" who took care of their car. What a refreshing change to know there is a place in Council Bluffs, where they will give you a honest opinion and treat you like you are valuable. Nick and the entire time at Atherton went above and beyond for my family and I am so very happy with their service.
Matt Jr. went above and beyond. He found out what problems we had, took care of them in a timely matter and explained in writing what was done, why it was done, and had us on our way. Matt, Jr.. Thank you so much for being honest and dependable.
I love working with Atherton and the service guys! This has been the only shop I use in town for the last few years. Junior always treats me fair and takes great care of my car. They always accommodate a loaner car if I need it. I would recommend them for your service needs!
Matt Jr and his employees did a great job getting my car fixed and back on the road in a very short time, actual in shop time of about 4 hours; they even dropped me off and picked me back up at the motel I stayed at for the night, great bunch of guys.
Great service and friendly staff!!
Great customer service, honest and dependable. I highly recommend Atherton Automotive to anyone needing any type of work done to their vehicle from standard maintenance to fixing major issues.
We have been doing business with Atherton's for over 40 years. Great bunch of people. They get the job done at a fair price. Thanks guys!
My boyfriends car broke down on our 1000 mile trip to Colorado. We got stranded in Council Bluffs and were afraid we would not make it to Colorado in time. Athertons helped so immensely. They had the car fixed in one day at a decent price I am so grateful for there help!
My family and I have done business with Athertons for years and I would not go anywhere else. The "guys in the back" are all very professional and I question NOTHING they tell me. They know what they are doing and go above and beyond to take care of their customers!! Love them. Always will.
Great service, great people
Very knowledgeable bunch of guys. Went beyond what the dealership offers as far as checking the vehicle over for any potential issues or safety concerns. Very honest and take good care of their customers.
Reliable, Trustworthy, Excellent automotive care.
I have known this family for over 30 years, and my husband has known them for over 50! Very trustworthy and hard workers. Easy to get your car in. Always fix what's wrong with it. Easy to work with! Smart and nice group of guys!! I'm so glad I cannot hear anymore squeaks from my car!!!!!!
I recently had my wife's SUV serviced at Atherton Automotive and was moved to post this review because of their excellent work. Atherton Automotive services all of my family's vehicles - a new truck to a well used SUV. They are professional, knowledgeable, courteous, and efficient. Their pricing is very reasonable. We highly recommend Atherton.
Atherton Automotive is the only place I will take my cars to get serviced. They have earned my trust with the honesty and quality work they provide. They are very personable and friendly and once you talk to them you know you can trust them. I own a small business and I know the importance of having great customer service and Atherton's is exactly that. Thanks you guys!
Quality work, fair prices, and professional courtesy every time...highest recommendation for any automotive service needed.
Atherton's has always been our place to go for service. A family owned business you can trust. Great service, great prices, very knowledgeable techs.
Great work and easy to get things done; also, they are always explaining options.
The crew at Atherton's did a great job on my 1997 F250 and it's nice to have someone who knows what there doing.
Very good service, friendly and helpful. Over the years, we have grown to depend on them for all our vehicles' needs. Matt always lets us know what's critical and what can wait. This is a well-run, family-owned business and I'm happy to support a local small business enterprise.
Atherton Automotive is the most thorough repair shop in the local area - they spell everything out in detail and let you make the decisions you want to. Solid advice and timely service. I've been taking vehicles to them for the past ten to fifteen years - they are also a certified AAA shop and provide the related discount.
Atherton Automotive Service has great service, experienced techs, and reasonable prices. Their courtesy inspection was great and kept me informed of what needed to be done and gave me quotes before work was done. I definitely recommend Athertons.
These guys are very professional and always fix my vehicle when I bring it in the first time! I never feel like they take advantage of me and the price is always fair.
Anytime I have any questions, they are very good to explain things so I will understand the issue. They have always been really helpful and understanding when need some service done and have never tried to "sell" me on things that I don't need.
Great guys that do quality work!
Great fast, friendly service ! Done before they promised and works great.
I have taken my cars here for several years. They have always great! I can't recommend them enough. Jr, Nick and the guys do good work and stand behind it.
Great service!
These guys are fantastic! They went above and beyond to help me out! They are super cooperative and friendly and will do anything to help you out. They don't try to sell you extra things, or rip you off in any way. They are just genuine and wonderful people to work with! It's good to know that I have a permanent mechanic I can trust since moving here!
We dropped our car off and they were fast and efficient and quick to get our car back to us. I would recommend anybody who has car troubles to take it into Atherton's.
My vehicle lost power about 30 miles outside of Council Bluffs while traveling across country. Had the van towed to Atherton Auto about 10:00am. I had an fair estimate (alternator) by 4:00pm the same day and approved the work. I was back on the road by 10:00am the following morning with the cost being below estimate. The breakdown could have cost me several days. Very pleased.
Very professional, honest and friendly. I would highly recommend Atherton Automotive to my family and friends.
They provide quality service at a fair price and I highly recommend them for all your automotive repairs and service. Just got my 2006 F-150 back for the first go around of numerous repairs needed and I'm completely satisfied with what they've done so far.
I've been taking my vehicles here for at least 20 years. Matt and Junior have always been honest and helpful. They provide top quality service at a reasonable price. They tell me what repairs are needed and which can wait. I always get my vehicle back quickly. I highly recommend them!
Great place the guys there are honest and truly care about their customers. Took my old truck in for some repair and the work was done promptly and affordably. Definitely recommend bringing your vehicle here!
I was VERY impressed with Jr's ability to allow me to feel comfortable to trust him. The quality and efficiency of service is BAR-NONE! Not only did he do what I came in for, he went above and beyond my expectations. From now forward, they will be the only ones who work on my car.
I've never dealt with a better automotive repair center in my ENTIRE life. I was driving from San Diego to Connecticut, and I happened to break down there in Council Bluff, IA on the highway. I felt quite isolated and far from home. Right off the bat I could tell this company was a tight, clean, friendly operation. And then I learned they were a family run business - two sons, both ambitious and hard working. They got to my car quickly and had me back on the road that night. And the friendliness is was made this experience so pleasant. I met the whole family and each guy was just incredibly nice and thorough. When I made it back to Connecticut I called them back and they were giving me troubleshooting advice over the phone for unrelated problems. Just utterly top notch guys. A+++++
Excellent, timely service. I took in a used car that I was considering buying and they did a very thorough examination that turned up a number of issues. As a result I was able to make an informed decision about the purchase. I would definitely take future business there.
So glad I found a 'neighborhood ' mechanic I can trust. Thorough, yet practical.
Perfect service. All three vehicles were serviced professionally, including some mechanical work on steering mechanism (Buick Riviera) and water pump (Chevy Silverado pick-up). Communications with Atherton Automotive are exceedingly articulate and clearly easy to understand. I heartily recommend Atherton Automotive for your auto maintenance and service needs.
Great communication here at Atherton. Even though I know very little about cars Matt Jr. seemed to value my input about my truck's symptoms and took down a thorough history of my truck before actually working on it. I also liked how the shop explained WHY I needed things done, instead of just telling me "you need to do this." The quality of service was very good and I'll definitely be back in the future.
Not only excellent technical work but a safe and friendly environment to visit while your car is being serviced for an oil change, etc.
Gosh I miss this place! I basically grew up here, the Atherton family was like a family to me! Butch, Matt Sr., Linda and all the kids had such an influence on me growing up. Thank you for you kindness and I'm glad to see the place is still going stronger than ever ! Much love for you all from Florida!
Really appreciate the great job you guys do for us when the van needs TLC. Trust you to do what is necessary to keep me and my family safe on the road. Thanks.

subset: commoncrawl


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New Releases
Dark Star Hyperdrive Edition
John Carpenter's directorial debut is a low-budget, sci-fi satire which focuses on a group of scientists whose mission is to destroy unstable planets. During their journey, they battle their alien mascot (who closely resembles a walking beach ball), as well as a "sensitive" and intelligent bombing device which starts to question the meaning of its existence... [more...]
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It is the time of the Spanish Inquisition. Maria does not like what is going on during the "Auto De Fe". When she speaks out, she is arrested and accused of being a witch. Torquemada has plans for her! He orders her tortured, and her tongue to be cut out. Her husband attempts to free her... [more...]


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Passage to India
November 2, 2012
Previously published in the Wichita Eagle: For many people, Indian food gets a bad rap as a cuisine that is too spicy and intense for their liking even though they have probably never even sampled it. Fortunately, Passage to India offers a way for you to experience the variety and deliciousness of Indian food. Tucked … More Passage to India


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Steve Fulton, the Chair of the 2014 Ontario Genealogical Society Conference that will be held. May 1 to May 4, 2014 at Brock University in the Niagara region of Ontario, has posted an interview he had had with the keynote speaker – Hank Jones Jr.
His speech which is entitled How "Psychic Roots" became an "Unsolved Mystery" will be presented on Saturday evening at conference banquet.
The interview is about 8 minutes long, and is interesting to listen to at http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference2014/hank_jones_interview.mp3
Two things which struck me was that he said "Genealogists are story tellers", and "Document everything". Family history is a series of family stories and we must document everything we write - that should be our mantra as genealogists.
You can go to their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NiagaraPeninsulaBranchOgsConference2014, and their website http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference2014/index.php.
Postscript: Conferences are held every year in Ontario, and as a member of the OGS you are entitled to special discounts for the conference. December is membership month at the OGS. For the yearly rate of $61.20, you can join the provincial society.


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U.S. Women's Update: Larson-Burbach to CEV Final 4
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 12, 2014) – The current U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team Weekly update released on Feb. 12 includes briefs on U.S. players.
USAV PROCESSES 229 FEMALE INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS: USA Volleyball has processed 327 international transfer certificates (229 female, 98 male) allowing United States citizens to compete in foreign professional volleyball leagues for the 2013-2014 season, as of Feb. 7. USAV has processed 14 transfers for athletes to compete in the Puerto Rico Women's Super League within the last couple weeks. Additional transfers are expected to be processed over the course of the next few weeks. As of Feb. 7, USA Volley has processed transfers for female athletes to 32 different countries with France and Switzerland being the leading destinations with 28 athletes each. To read where each athlete is playing, click here.
- Follow USAV on Twitter
- Contact: Bill Kauffman
LIFE OVERSEAS: PHOTO EDITION: Several members of the U.S. Womens' and Men's National Volleyball Team, along with other Americans competing in overseas professional leagues, took part in an Athletes Abroad photo blog describing what it is like to live, train and play away from home. Nicole Fawcett shows how to get her "beauty on." Rachael Adams pictures how she stays up on the juicy American gossip. Kristen Dozier has a wintry photo of Poland, but says how it is still warmer there than in the States. Kelly Murphy finally saw the breath-taking mountain views in Italy. Jenna Hagglund submitted a photo with the caption "Touching the sky at the highest point of Germany #heavenly #stairsuckataltitude." Kim Hill shows off one her photos as a tourist in Istanbul, and another with birthday presents from home. Kristin Hildebrand shows what she does in her off-time, "Skyping with her favorite littles." To view the photo blog, click here.
LARSON-BURBACH WITH DINAMO KAZAN IN RUSSIA: Jordan Larson-Burbach (Hooper, Neb.), an outside hitter with the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team, is competing once again for Dinamo Kazan in the Russia Super League. In CEV Champions League, Kazan won both matches over Volero Zurich in the home-and-home Playoff 6 round series to advance to the Final Four round. Kazan rallied past Volero 20-25, 25-14, 27-25, 25-22 on Feb. 6 in Switzerland to start the series. Larson-Burbach notched 15 points with 12 kills and three blocks in the victory. She added a 72 positive reception percent on 18 chances. Kazan won the rematch in similar fashion coming back from a first-set loss to win 21-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-21 on Jan. 11 in Russia. Larson-Burbach contributed 14 points with nine kills, three aces and two blocks. She added a 41 positive reception percent in the second meeting. With the series sweep, Kazan will make its second appearance in the Final Four Tournament of the CEV Champions League. Kazan will travel to Baku, Azerbaijan for the Final Four scheduled for March 15-16. In the Russia Super League, Kazan resumes its league schedule on Feb. 16 match versus Proton. Kazan is two victories ahead of second-place Omichka (9-2) and three points in the standings with 10 rounds remaining in the regular season.
THOMPSON WITH VOLERO ZURICH IN SWITZERLAND: Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.), a silver medal-winning setter on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Volleyball Team, arrived in mid-November to play for Volero Zurich in the Swiss League. In the CEV Champions League, Volero dropped both matches of the home-and-home series to Russia's Dinamo Kazan in the Playoff 6 Round (quarterfinals). In the first meeting on Feb. 6 in Zurich, Volero lost 20-25, 25-14, 27-25, 25-22. Thompson set her squad to a 38 kill percent in the match. Volero opened the second match in Russia strong, but could not extend the series to the golden set in falling 21-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-21. Thompson started the first three sets and helped Volero to a 33 kill percent as a team while adding two aces. With the two losses, Volero was eliminated from the CEV Champions League race. In the Swiss League, Volero eased past seventh-place VBC Cheseaux 25-23, 25-16, 25-16 on Feb. 8. Volero is now 18-0 in the league with 53 points.
GIBBEMEYER, LLOYD WITH CONEGLIANO IN ITALY: Setter Carli Lloyd (Bonsall, Calif.) is competing for Imoco Volley Conegliano in the Italian Serie A league for this winter season, while middle blocker Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minn.) transferred to Conegliano in February. In the Italian Serie A1, Conegliano blanked Igor Gorgonzola Volley Novara 25-23, 26-24, 31-29 in a tightly contested three-set match on Feb. 9 with all frames decided by the minimum two points. Gibbemeyer scored 10 points with seven kills on 11 attacks and three blocks. Lloyd set her squad to a 45 kill percent while chipping in on kill, one block and one ace for three individual points. Conegliano, now in second place with a 9-3 record and 27 points, is idle this coming weekend.
MURPHY WITH NOVARA IN ITALY: Opposite Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Ill.) joined Igo Gorgonzola Novara in the Italian Serie A1 league midway through the league schedule. Novara was handed a tough-luck 25-23, 26-24, 31-29 loss to Imoco Volley Conegliano on Feb. 9. Novara held the lead at the 21-point mark in all three sets (21-20 in first, 21-17 in second and 21-19 in the third). Murphy charted 22 points in the loss with 19 kills on 38 attacks, two blocks and an ace. Novara, 6-6 overall and in sixth place with 18 points, faces eighth-place Robur Tiboni Urbino (5-6, 14 points) on Feb. 16 in its next Italian Serie A1 match.
ALISHA GLASS WITH FENERBAHCE IN TURKEY: Setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) is competing this winter with Fenerbahce in Turkey. In CEV Cup action, Fenerbahce defeated Czech Republic's Agel Prostejov 25-11, 25-21, 25-15 on Feb. 4 to open the Challenge Round. Glass set Fenerbahce to a 56 kills percent (40 kills on 72 attacks) while adding two individual blocks. Fenerbahce concluded the home-and-home Challenge Series sweep with a 25-20, 25-17, 25-15 victory on Feb. 12. Glass set Fenerbahce to a 45 kill percent while chipping in four individual points with three blocks and a kill. Fenerbahce has now advanced to the semifinal round home-and-home series where it will play Azerbaijan's Azeryol Baku. In the Turkish League, Fenerbahce topped Bursa B. Sehir Bld. 25-16, 25-17, 25-17 on Feb. 8 as Glass did not suit. Fenebahce is now 15-1 in the league and atop the league standings.
HOOD WITH ILBANK IN TURKEY: Outside hitter Regan Hood (Dallas) is playing for Ilbank of the Turkish League this winter. Ilbank was swept by Eczacibasi Vitra 25-9, 18-25, 25-19, 26-24 on Feb. 9. Hood tallied eight points with seven kills on 20 attacks and a block. She added a 44 positive reception percent on a team-leading 34 chances. Hood ranks as the 10th-best scorer in the Turkish League with 202 points. Ilbank, 8-8 overall with 23 points, is in seventh place in the league standings.
ADAMS WITH TAURON BANIMEX DABROWA IN POLAND: Rachael Adams (Cincinnati, Ohio), a middle blocker on the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team, is playing in Poland this winter with Tauron Banimex Dabrowa Gornicza. In the Polish Orlen League, Tauron blanked KS Palac Bydgoszcz 25-23, 25-13, 25-20 on Feb. 8. Adams recorded 10 points with eight kills on 15 attacks, one block and one ace in the regular season final match. Tauron ended the regular season in fourth place with a 10-8 record and 30 points. Adams is maintaining a blog during her travels, and is open to the public at rachadams.com.
HILL WITH ATOM TREFL SOPOT IN POLAND: Kim Hill (Portland, Ore.), an outside hitter with the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team, is competing this winter with Atom Trefl Sopot in the Polish Oren Liga. Sopot topped Siodemka SK Bank Legionova 25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 25-12 on Feb. 8 to conclude the regular season. Hill came off the bench in the first and started the final three sets in recording 10 kills on 28 attacks and two blocks for 12 points. Sopot ended the regular season in second place with a 14-4 record and 42 points.
HAGGLUND, MIYASHIRO WITH VILSBIBURG IN GERMANY: Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii), a libero on the 2012 U.S. Olympic silver-medal team, and setter Jenna Hagglund (West Chester, Ohio) are playing for Rote Raben Vilsbiburg in the German league this winter. In addition, Americans Dominique Lamb and Michelle Bartsch are competing on the squad. Vilsbiburg overcame USC Munster 25-18, 18-25, 27-25, 28-26 on Feb. 8. Hagglund set Vilsbiburg to a 32 kill percent while adding an ace and block. Lamb notched 12 kills on 19 attacks, three blocks and an ace for a team-high 16 points. Bartsch added 10 points, including three blocks and two aces.
HILDEBRAND WITH AMIL IN BRAZIL: Kristin Hildebrand (Orem, Utah), an outside hitter with the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team, is playing this winter with Volei Amil in the Brazil Super League. Amil edged Banana Boat Praia Clube 23-25, 22-20, 21-15, 20-22, 15-9 on Feb. 11. Hildebrand charted 13 points in the victory. Amil remains in second place with a 17-2 record and 49 points.
SCOTT WITH BRASILIA IN BRAZIL: Danielle Scott (Baton Rouge, La.), a five-time U.S. Olympian playing middle blocker and two-time Olympic silver medalist, is competing in Brazil this club season with Brasilia Volei. Brasilia rallied past Rio Do Sul 16-21, 22-20, 21-16, 21-19 on Feb. 10. Scott recorded 11 points, including six kills, three blocks and two aces. Brasilia improved to 10-9 on the season and in sixth place with 33 points.
BERGSMA WITH MINAS IN BRAZIL: Alaina Bergsma (Chandler, Ariz.), who trained with the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team in the summer of 2013 after winning the 2012 AVCA Division I National Player of the Year, is playing for Minas Tenis Clube in Brazil this season. Minas lost to Unilever 21-15, 21-12, 21-13 on Feb. 11. Bergsma provided five kills in the loss. Minas is now 3-16 on the season and in 12th-place in the 14-team league.
KIM GLASS WITH BANANA BOAT/PRAIA CLUBE IN BRAZIL: Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.), a 2008 U.S. Olympic silver medalist, is playing in the Brazilian Super League this winter with Banana Boat/Praia Clube. Banana Boat, which is still missing an injured Kim Glass, lost to Amil Volei 23-25, 22-20, 21-15, 20-22, 15-9 on Feb. 11. Banana Boat is in fourth place with a 12-7 record and 34 points. To follow her blog, click here.
FAWCETT WITH EXPRESSWAY IN KOREA: Opposite Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio), who was part of two medal-winning U.S. teams this past summer, is playing for Korea Expressway in the Korean Volleyball League for the second consecutive year. Korea Expressway lost to IBK Industrial Bank 19-25, 25-20, 27-25, 27-25 on Feb. 9 as Fawcett scored a match-leading 44 points with 41 kill and three blocks. She added 12 digs in the match.
PAOLINI WITH HITACHI IN JAPAN: Lauren Paolini (Ann Arbor, Mich.), a middle blocker with the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team, is playing for Hitachi Rivale in the Japanese V-League top division. Hitachi extended its win streak to four matches with a 25-20, 25-22, 31-29 victory over Pioneer on Feb. 8. Paolini captured four kills, two blocks and one ace for seven points. However, Hitachi was unable to win its fifth match in a row with a 33-31, 25-20, 25-15 setback to league-leader Hisamitsu Springs on Feb. 9. Paolini notched seven kills and two blocks for nine points in the loss. Hitachi remains in fourth place with a 9-7 record, but just two losses behind Hisamitsu.
HODGE, FAUCETTE WITH EVERGRANDE IN CHINA: Juliann Faucette (San Diego) is playing in China this winter with Guangdong Evergrande, which is under the direction of 2008 U.S. Olympic head coach "Jenny" Lang Ping. Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.), a 2012 Olympic Games silver medalist, has been out since late December with an injury. Evergrande lost to Tianjin 25-15, 20-25, 25-22, 25-21 on Feb. 8 as the league resumed after the Chinese New Year Celebration. Faucette cranked out 26 points with 25 kills on 67 attacks. Evergrande also lost to second-place Bayi 24-26, 20-25, 25-21, 25-16, 15-12 on Feb. 11. Faucette totaled 29 points with 26 kills on 70 attacks and three blocks. She has 301 points on the season for fourth-best overall in the league. Evergrande, 7-6 overall with 23 points for fourth place, has advanced to the semifinal round.
BOWN, SPICER WITH SHANGHAI IN CHINA: Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.), a three-time U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team selection and silver medalist in 2008, and former U.S. National Team member Nellie Spicer are competing for Shanghai in the Chinese League this winter. Shanghai was handed a 25-18, 25-18, 25-16 loss by second-place Bayi on Feb. 8 as the league resumed following the Chinese New Year holiday celebration. Bown scored nine kills on 12 attacks, while Spicer recorded 51 running sets in the loss. In the 17th round, Shanghai nearly rallied from two sets down to league-leader Zheijiang but lost 25-21, 25-22, 22-25, 21-25, 15-7 on Feb. 11. Bown recorded 16 kills on 21 attacks, three blocks and two aces in the loss. Spicer added two kills on two attacks and one ace for three points to go with 78 running sets. Shanghai is 4-9 with 16 points through the 17th round. Bown ranks second in Best Spiker during the season.
WINTER TRAINING BLOCK CONTINUES: The U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team opened its eight-week winter training block on Jan. 27 at the American Sports Centers in Anaheim, Calif. The training block includes primarily athletes who recently completed their collegiate eligibility, though some athletes with remaining eligibility will train part-time around their academic curriculum and sand schedules. The outside hitters are University of Hawaii's Emily Hartong (Los Alamitos, Calif.), Loyola Marymount University's Kat Luft (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and UCLA's Kelly Reeves (San Diego, Calif.) and University of Washington's Krista Vansant (Redlands, Calif.). The middle blockers are University of San Diego's Chloe Ferrari (Clovis, Calif.), Michigan State University's Alexis Mathews (Detroit, Mich.), University of Southern California's Alexis Olgard (Spokane, Wash.) and Penn State University's Katie Slay (Raleigh, N.C.). The setters are Cal State Northridge's Sydney Gedryn (San Jose, Calif.), University of Missouri's Molly Kreklow (Delano, Minn.) and University of Oregon's Lauren Plum (Poway, Calif.). The liberos are two-time Olympic Games silver medalist Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.), University of Southern California's Natalie Hagglund (Encinitas, Calif.) and Loyola Marymount University's Betsi Metter (Phoenix, Ariz.). The opposites are University of Washington's Kylin Munoz (Monroe, Wash.) and University of Texas' Bailey Webster (Baltimore, Md.). Additions to the roster may occur during the training block. The group will train Monday through Friday from 8:30-11 a.m. except on Feb. 7 and Feb. 20. All training sessions during the Winter Block are open to the public without charge, though it is recommended to confirm training dates and times as they may change.
OPEN TRYOUTS: The U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team will hold its annual open tryout Feb. 21-23, 2014, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo. The tryout process will be used primarily to identify prospective athletes for the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team. Athletes not invited to participate with the National Team may be invited to attend a second tryout as part of the U.S. Collegiate National Teams program (formerly U.S. Women's Senior A2 Teams). To be eligible for the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team through this tryout, athletes must have concluded their collegiate eligibility. This program could begin as early as the spring of 2014, or when the athlete's academic year or professional club season has concluded. Athletes with remaining collegiate eligibility will be eligible for the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team, as well as the U.S. Collegiate National Teams program, which consists of two different options if selected. For the complete press release, click here.


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Hope College's popular contribution to Holland's annual Tulip Time festival will continue with organ recitals on Wednesday-Saturday, May 8-11.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
Occurring every half-hour, the 20-minute performances begin at 10 a.m. with the last performance beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Two organs will be used in the recitals: the Chancel Organ, which was built in 1929 by the E.M. Skinner Organ Company of Boston, Mass., and renovated in 2005 and 2006, and the Gallery Organ, built in 1970 by Pels and Van Leeuwen Organ Company of Alkmaar, the Netherlands.
Dimnent Memorial Chapel is located at 277 College Ave., on College Avenue at 12th Street.


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This is the day I put up some videos from around the blogs.
from Urban Velo magazine in Pittsburgh…Rick Mauck, made this video of the Black and Gold Sprints.
Black and Goldsprints from Rick Mauck on Vimeo.
Fixed City, a trailer for a documentary about Fixed gear culture in Germany.
fixed city | […]


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Every now and again someone suggests the possibility of running Ubuntu like Arch — rebuild new packages as they are released upstream, distribute them in a master repository and synchronize individual machines against those packages. No stepping releases like Ubuntu, just one distro. Not even a version number, so to speak.
The problem is … well, let's just say I've got a bitter taste in my mouth over the 1.3 version of Audacious. I don't blame Arch linux or the package maintainers at all. From what I've read on the Arch forums and the Audacious forums, this is something that's happening upstream and can't be helped.
For my own part, I lost all mp3 support, and streaming audio was completely obliterated in 1.3. I messed with it as much as I was willing and able, then downgraded to 1.2 so I could go back to listening to Shoutcast streams. Having the newest version is hardly useful if you can't do the things you want with the new version.
And that's the weak spot in a rolling release, over a stepping release with stable intervals. At some point, something is going to break and prove unusable, and downgrading is a bit cumbersome. It was hard to even find an ftp mirror with the 1.2 version, since the newer version had supplanted it.
In that sense, it makes it a little like using the development version of Ubuntu. Things are updated constantly, although I have noticed that using alpha Ubuntu software is a good deal more risky than using Arch.
But don't misunderstand me. I love Arch linux almost as much as Ubuntu. I learned so much from Arch that it has made my Ubuntu experience all the better. For all the effort and work Arch forces me to do, Ubuntu is all the more savory for being easy and automatic.
I could hardly pick one over the other, since from my perspective, each has made me appreciate the other all the more. Arch is everything Ubuntu isn't — lean, fast and cutting edge. At the same time, Ubuntu is everything Arch isn't — easy to set up, comprehensive and full-featured with almost no effort involved.
Of course, I won't even get version 1.3 of Audacious in Feisty, so it will be a while before the Ubuntu juggernaut catches up with Arch in that category. And that's the benefit in a rolling release — it takes a long time for the stepping releases to catch up.
Regardless, I'll be keeping 1.2 on both my machines — the Arch and the Ubuntu — until the bugs are ironed out, and everything is back to normal. 😉


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It's no longer necessary to pore over that ledger and paper bank statement. You can "balance your checkbook" the modern way.
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The UT program awards a Masters in Health Informatics and Information Management. This program has been in existence since 1954 and over 600 graduates who have completed the program. The Entry-Level Masters program at UT is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The entry-level program has excellent outcomes and results on the national certification examination are above the national average.
Students utilize the course management system via the Internet to attend classes, complete assignments, and interact with classmates and faculty members. Students may continue to work full time and choose to complete the program in either a full-time or part-time option.
The program has outstanding faculty members who have served or are currently serving in numerous leadership positions in national, regional, state and local levels of the professional organization. Adjunct faculty and guest speakers for classes include hospital administrators, attorneys, physicians, and other health care professionals who provide valuable, real-world insights.
Contact Info:
920 Madison Avenue, Suite 518
Memphis, TN 38163
Phone: (901) 448-6486
For Entry-level Masters Program: E-mail: email@example.com
For MHIIM program: E-mail: email@example.com


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The so-called "compact AR Problem" reads:
Is every compact convex set in a metrizable topological vector space an absolute retract?
It is open according to the chapter by T. Banakh, R. Cauty and M. Zarichnyi in "Open Problems in Topology II" (2007) and according to a 2009 paper, which acknowledges discussions of its authors with Nguyen To Nhu.
Yet according to Sehie Park's 2004 survey and another 2009 paper it has been resolved affirmatively in a 8-page paper by Park published in some conference proceedings in 2004. (If you happen to solve "one of the most outstanding open problems in infinite dimensional topology", apparently you may have an urge to ignore top international journals and submit it to Antarctica Journal of Mathematics - especially if you happen to live in Antarctica.)
Given that Cauty and Nhu have been long active in the area and have obtained substantial results related to the problem, it would be strange if they missed a correct solution. But it is also strange that they didn't mention Park's paper (whatever they think of it).
So what is going on here?
(I must admit that so far I have mostly checked out just those sources that are freely accessible on the internet, but given that some confusion already exists in at least one of the two 2009 papers, I thought that even if I'm missing a trivial solution such as MathSciNet it is perhaps already legitimate to ask this question here, so as to make that trivial solution more widely known.)


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The Rib America Festival is a fun filled family event featuring award winning BBQ and live entertainment from national, regional and local talent. Each rib cooker features their very own special cooking strategy and recipes that make for a truly unique food festival experience.
My Dad and I attend every year. And it's our tradition to sample a few ribs from each of the cookers and ultimately choose our favorite; after which we return home and pass out from meat overload.
Now, amazing sauce, tender meat and spicy rib-rub notwithstanding, I noticed a few environmental elements that altered the perception of certain cookers' value.
1) Lines: like my Dad always says, "Just because there's a long line, it doesn't mean the ribs are good; and just because there's nobody in line, it doesn't mean the ribs are bad." Case in Point: our personal award for the past two years went to Dave's Good Ol' Boys BBQ from New York. And for the last two years, those guys have had NO LINE. Hmmm. Interesting.
SPICE THIS UP: Popular doesn't mean better.
2) Credibility: a lot of the cookers had trophies from various cook-offs over the years - but most of those awards were from the 90's. To me, that didn't seem all that impressive. But while waiting in line for some ribs from a South Carolina cooker, the judges from this year's festival walked over and presented the 2005 1st Place Trophy to their booth! And you better believe their line doubled instantly!
SPICE THIS UP: Credibility is most effective when it's recent.
3) Promotion: one cooker from Chicago - who makes amazing ribs every year - passes out free stickers with a picture of their mascot, Paulie the Pig. And here's the cool part: every customer gets one. And they HAVE to wear it! According to one of the cooks I spoke with, at least one third of the people in line were drawn in by others who were wearing those stickers.
SPICE THIS UP: It's not who you know, it's who knows you.
At the end of a long afternoon, all of the ribs were great. And rightly so - only a select group of cookers are chosen to show at this festival. But "great" isn't that special when everyone else is great. You need something else if you want to stand out and be unforgettable.
How do you spice it up?
* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That guy with the nametag


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Welcome to Merrill Furniture, one of Eastern Maine's largest furniture stores. Since 1953 we have been offering
the best selection of quality name brand furniture along with outstanding service and value. We have 55,000 square
feet of furniture for every room in your home, in every style imaginable, and with fabric options to match your
homes decor.
Our mission is simple: "Sell good quality furniture at an honest price and provide superior customer service."
Since we've opened we've done just this and our customer base is growing generations deep.
Our showroom offers a unique furniture shopping experience. You will experience the comfort of our sofas and
chairs, covered in the finest of fabrics and leathers. You will experience the beautiful finishes that bring
out the beauty of our solid wood furniture. You will experience a showroom where all the furniture has been
selected for the right style, size and placement with colors and textures that are appealing to the eye. Once
you experience the Merrill Furniture showroom, you will be satisfied that you've finally found the perfect
furniture store.
What else do we have that other furniture stores may not offer? A warranty you can trust! Warrantees and
guarantees differ amongst manufacturers. If a manufacturer doesn't provide one, we will provide a one year
guarantee on parts and labor. Best of all, at Merrill Furniture we stock what we sell. Everything on our floor
is available for delivery within one week. If you don't find what you're looking for, we can place a special
order for you.
We have in-house design consultants that will come to your home and help you pick out the perfect
pieces to fit your lifestyle and decor.


text: It's been quite a year for digital cinema cameras. We've seen new models of all sizes and form factors, from the hugest to the smallest, from still cameras that take amazing-looking video to video cameras that also shoot high-resolution stills. Here are some of the new and improved cameras of 2012. . . . CONTINUE READING: Camera Gallery 2012


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When I made the "Shit Salvadorans Say" videos, I never once worried while filming that my accent would be so gringo as to be a distraction – but apparently some thought it was.
Initial response to the videos was overwhelmingly positive and I was happy to have made people laugh – but then came the first negative comment about my accent, which, more than hurting my feelings, kind of left me dumbfounded.
"That lady doesn't even sound like she's Salvadorian, that's the funny part," read the YouTube comment.
I responded that I don't sound Salvadoran because I'm a gringa. (I refrained from typing "duh" at the end of that response.) I chalked it up to one person obviously having a bad day and taking it out on me, however before I could shake it off and move on, more comments came in.
"Y'all don't got the accent."
(At least I "got" good grammar I retorted in my head.)
"I think the gringa was right on the money in what to say, but I can't get passed the whole gringa accent," said another.
Nice. A back-handed compliment. And then…
"The accent isn't there."
"Lo siento esto es una gringada! Cero Salvadoreño!"
"OMG! I'm Salvadorian and this is NOT how my family or I talk lol what part of El Salvador are you from?"
"She sounds white lol maybe she's first generation American and didn't learn Spanish well lol."
"Sorry y'all sound too gringo."
Every time I'd get an E-mail notification that a comment had been left, my heart would start to race – will it be a positive comment, (for there were an equal amount of people who loved the videos) – or a negative comment? Will it be more of the same or will they find something even crueler to say that will crush me? I finally decided to disallow comments on those YouTube videos because I started to obsess.
Now, YouTube comments are famously horrendous, and I've kept that in mind, but I'd be lying if I said it hadn't made me self-conscious about my accent. I've been studying Spanish for twenty years now and I'm still not fluent. I make grammatical mistakes all the time, but my accent is one thing I thought I had conquered.
Although I knew I didn't sound "Salvadoran" and that I wouldn't be mistaken for a native speaker of any Latin American country for that matter, I never worried that I sounded "white" or "gringa" — at least not in recent years.
"You told me I don't have an accent!" I said to Carlos after receiving yet another Youtube comment, and Carlos insisted very sincerely that I don't. Perhaps he's blinded by love, but then I think back on all the people over the years who have so enthusiastically complimented my Spanish – did they just mean it was good compared to other gringos?
"Wow! Your Spanish is so good!" I've been told in both Spanish and English – but what is "good" Spanish? Does the fact that I can do more than ask where el baño is make me a success?
Do I speak better than the white "abogados" and used car dealers on local Spanish-language channels whose mispronunciations make me cringe? Better than college girls who go to Cancun on Spring break and get drunk while wearing over-sized sombreros? Better than Dora the Explorer or Erik Estrada? What standard have I surpassed exactly?
As I read Roque Dalton poems aloud to Carlos in bed last night, asking him to rate my accent on a scale of one to ten, he asked me why I continue to sweat it. "Your accent is cute," he said, taking the book from my hands and pulling me to him. I eyed him suspiciously, for "cute" is very different from "fluent" or "beautiful" or even "good." A puppy chasing its tail is cute. A baby babbling gibberish is cute.
"Your accent is perfect," he amended, and I noted his accent in English, the one I love so much, the one he makes no attempt to refine but which causes misunderstandings for him at fast food drive-thrus.
In the end, I realize, I have a decision to make. I can continue to try to erase my accent or I can embrace it. I'm not sure yet which way I'll go.
What is your experience with having an accent? What is your native language? What is your second language? How do native speakers of your second language react to your accent? Do you embrace your accent or try to erase it?


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31st December 2012
Costa del Sol
The healthy flavours of Andalusia
Andalusia embodies the classic image of Spain to the fullest, from the flamenco dancing and bullfighting to the hectic nightlife and ancient architecture. Andalusia also boasts many delicious foods, offering us a chance to stimulate our palates and the best is that the major protagonist of the andalusian cuisine is seafood. With five coastal provinces, the consumption of fish and shellfish is rather high: white shrimp from the Bay of Cádiz, prawns, murex, anchovies, baby squid, cuttlefish, "bocas de la Isla", a dish found in San Fernando that uses a local crab that can regenerate its claw, flounder, smelts. Much […]


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With over 900 used cars to select from at Johnsons Volkswagen, we can be found at Birmingham, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Liverpool, Warrington, Stoke and Stafford. Our dealerships in these locations hold our stock of Approved Used Volkswagen vehicles, which include models such as the Polo, Up!, Golf, and Golf PLUS. Our website listing is updated with our new arrivals, so bookmark our page and visit us often to view our latest stock and vehicle offers.
Used vehicles sold through Johnsons all undergo rigorous servicing and testing to make sure we bring you only the highest-quality used vehicles. We offer competitive finance plans on all of our vehicles to ensure that you get the best deals at the best prices, and also offer comprehensive aftercare services for your car.
Before you decide which car suits you best, find out why you should buy a used model from Johnsons Volkswagen by clicking here. If you have any questions regarding our used Volkswagen vehicles, contact us to speak with our experienced members of staff. We are also happy to arrange test drives for you in the Volkswagen vehicle of your choice.


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Are there any methods/techniques that cover distributing cash into a specific percent of a portfolio asset class while gaining the best average price?
As a simple example, a portfolio starts with 100k cash. It eventually disburses its cash into four asset classes. This means 25k goes to purchase assets in each class. If one of these classes is the SP500 index, you might decide to divide the 25k into four purchases, getting a better price with each purchase. For example, assuming the SP500 is dropping, purchase might be made at:
$6250 buy 1350
$6250 buy 1325
$6250 buy 1300
$6250 buy 1275
For an average price of 1312.50 in your SP500 allocation of the portfolio. However, in the real world, you will not be so lucky. You might buy 1350, the SP500 drops to 1339, then bounces to 1362 and remains above 1350 for the next few weeks. You only made one purchase and was not able to take better advantage of gains in the SP500. Or, it may continue dropping to 1225. You spent all your 25% allocation for this class at 1275 and are not able to take advantage of a much better average price.
Funds are available upfront. Shorting isn't allowed.
What area covers techniques that deal with this topic?


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On Campus Recruitment Week: Madison Square Garden
The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) is a world leader in live sports and entertainment experiences. The company presents or hosts a broad array of premier events in its diverse collection of iconic venues: New York's Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; the Forum in Inglewood, CA; The Chicago Theatre; and the Wang Theatre in Boston. Other MSG properties include legendary sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL) and the New York Liberty (WNBA); two development league teams – the Westchester Knicks (NBAGL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL); and one of the leading North American esports organizations, Counter Logic Gaming. In addition, the Company features popular original entertainment productions – the Christmas Spectacular and New York Spectacular – both starring the Radio City Rockettes, and through Boston Calling Events, produces outdoor festivals, including New England's preeminent Boston Calling Music Festival. Also under the MSG umbrella is TAO Group, a world-class hospitality group with globally-recognized entertainment dining and nightlife brands: Tao, Marquee, Lavo, Avenue, The Stanton Social, Beauty & Essex and Vandal. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com


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Azhagi Tamil Serial is the account of Sundari, a 40-year-old widow, who has combat all through the past 20 years with the sole purpose of bringing up her children all by herself.in the wake of prescribing Azhagi to accomplish him taking after day at Ashok Park, Aakash had gotten away before long to the get-together of his partners when his mom had drawn nearer him there. In the wake of arriving at among the get-together he had once even looked at Azhagi and she superfluously was taking a gander at him just.
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After thousands of Twittering geeks and quasi-geeks alike had settled in to the packed exhibition hall and overflow rooms to hear the latest updates delivered straight from Twitter's leader, their excitement soon turned to boredom and finally, severe annoyance, as the interview's pace, tone and content fell well below expectations. After an hour's time, the halls in Austin were more than half empty, and an opportunity to showcase one of technology's biggest successes in the last few decades was for the most part lost.Time and again, when I ask my readers what they fear most, several mention the fear that, despite their best effort, their speech will fall flat, get no reaction or a bad reaction--that there will be a mismatch between what they see and what the audience sees. It's poignant here, because so many thousands of people looked forward to this keynote as a highlight of the interactive conference--even Gray's piece is titled, "The SXSW Keynote With Ev Williams You Had Hoped to See." His long wishlist for the talk indicates that would-be attendees came there--as most audiences do--with many questions they'd hoped the speaker would answer. And when that didn't happen, many voted with their feet and left.
What could have happened to make this talk work? Here are a few suggestions you can use to avoid just such a fiasco:
- Engage the audience first. Any time you have a room bursting at the seams (and overflow rooms needed), or a controversial topic, or major news pending, it pays to let the audience express itself early in the session--even if you only take 10 or 15 questions that you promise to touch on. Let them put their questions on the table early. You get a sense of the room, they get to choose what's discussed, and everyone benefits. You'll look smart, inclusive, able to handle risk, and friendly...and you'll have my attention.
- Think about the energy you'll project. As has become common in large high-tech keynotes, this talk was a seated interview with a moderator, whom Gray calls on the carpet for asking easy questions. For the audience that meant: Not much to look at, and no drama--it's tough to get people excited when you and your sole questioner are agreeing with one another. And any amount of time the questioner is speaking, the audience is really wanting to hear the main attraction. Worse for Williams, being seated might just be the last position a CEO should be in when speaking--it diminishes your authority, and even more important, your energy, which starts to slip 10 minutes into the session when you're seated. (That goes for your audience, too.) By staying seated, he lost the chance to use his body to create visual interest, to move into the audience and to create a sense of excitement.
- If you're talk is about an interactive technology, demonstrate that quality. One big downside to the onstage interview (and I've been on both sides of them) is that, at base, it's a conversation between two people with a big crowd of listeners. On Twitter, that would be a direct message--one that excludes all but the two people on stage, putting the audience in a passive role. Williams ran into a buzz saw that's been running for a while now: Speakers about high-tech wonders are stuck in presentation styles enforced by both tradition and the large crowds they attract. The audience expects more interactivity, human or technological, in such a talk. It doesn't have to involve slides. The surprise element of one important person standing up to speak is like catnip for audiences--he might say or do anything. Want to use technology? Do so in a way that surprises and delights us, then get back to talking.
- You've got to plan your content. Sometimes, speakers who know they're about to be interviewed live in front of a crowd decide they need to plan less and just go with the questions. Big mistake. You need to make sure the questions reflect what the audience wants, or inject into your answers the news you want them to know, or both. And what better way to elicit "what will you want to hear from me during the keynote on Tuesday?" than to ask it on Twitter? Then just be sure the interview or speech answers the major groups of questions--and answer the rest online.
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Average speed cameras could be installed on all UK motorways if a government-backed group gets its way.
The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) has stated that the cameras, currently only used for roadwork traffic management, would provide significant environmental benefits.
Not only would they apparently keep drivers at a lower speed, thus burning less fuel, they would also replace the current speed traps, which encourage heavy braking and accelerating when used.
Taking away control
The SDC also has recommended that all cars should be fitted with speed limiters too, with a timetable in place to curb the maximum speed of cars, possibly in line with school opening times.
Stewart Davies, from the SDS, said: "While information technology alone won't provide all the answers, it could go a long way towards making travel in the UK safer, more pleasant and more sustainable.
"Already, eco-driving technology can help motorists spend less at the pumps and reduce their emissions; better information can make using public transport easier, and video conferencing technology can help business travellers avoid some journeys altogether."
Via What Car


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DR. HOOK- Keep it up: Health, exercise mean good sexual health
"Conjunction junction, Erectile dysfunction."
I don't think my changing the lyrics of this School House Rock song would go over very well. I think Superhero Verb Man would take action against me.
But, lately, erectile dysfunction (ED) medication ads have become the Male House Rock to bring awareness of male sexual dysfunction. Really, before these treatment alternatives became popular, men just wouldn't bring it up... to their doctors that they have problems.
In 1994, the Masssachusetts Male Aging Study found that male sexual dysfunction starts at age 40 and gets worse each decade, really sliding downhill after 50. (Is that why old millionaire men always date 17.9-year-old girls? To get a jump start?)
In this study, in the 40-year-old men, 40 percent had some level of dysfunction (ED, decreased sex drive, less satisfaction with orgasm, less ejaculation). Another study showed in men older than 55, 47 percent had ED. That's a downer.
Who are most at risk for male sexual dysfunction? Well, I don't want to beat it in again, but it's those who don't exercise, eat right, and keep their weight around ideal body weight. Obese men and men with diabetes have many excuses for male sexual dysfunction. Studies have shown ED alone will improve in one-third of men who exercise and lose weight. The way I look at it is this: in the animal kingdom, who gets to mate with the females? The lion king or the lazy cowardly lion?
Diabetic men are at risk for low testosterone, and that hormone is needed to help erections and make the man... well, horny. But also diabetic and obese men are at increased risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. All these factors can lead to damaged pipes going into and out of the penis, leading to ED.
Adam Ant in the '80s sang, "Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do?" Well, he included "subtle innuendos" about having sex. And those who smoke, do drugs, and drink too much alcohol are at risk for sexual dysfunction.
Stress, psychological factors, and emotional issues can definitely affect a man's sexual abilities. Psychiatric disorders need to be treated with psychotherapy and medications. But antidepressants– in particular the SSRI meds (e.g. Zoloft)– can cause sexual dysfunction.
Cimetidine, an over-the-counter antacid, can lower hormonal levels to lead to sexual dysfunction. Spironolactone, a type of BP medication, can do the same. Thiazide diuretics, like HCTZ or chlorthalidone, for treatment of high blood pressure can deflate the penis.
But for most men on BP medicine who have ED, the medicine is usually not the problem. The ED is from the years of uncontrolled hypertension that led to vascular damage to the penis. The penis needs higher blood pressure to fill up, but that doesn't occur as well with reduced normal blood pressure.
Peyronie's disease isn't talked about a whole lot, although one famous politician's allegedly crooked member was discussed by a woman who sued him. Fibrous tissue develops so that the erect penis bends, kind of like an elbow. It can also be painful– for both the man and his partner.
Neurological disorders like stroke, MS, and spinal cord or back injury can all cause sexual dysfunction. We hear the brain is the biggest sexual organ in the body, and that's true for most men (with the exception of John Holmes, Hugh Hefner, and Charlie Sheen). Genital nerve damage can impair sexual function, and hard-core bicycle riders are more vulnerable to this.
So if you're having male sexual dysfunction, talk to your doctor about it. It's nothing to be embarrassed about, and it shouldn't deflate your ego.
Dr. Hook cracks a joke or two, but he's a renowned physician with a local practice. Email him with your questions.


text:
When FoxNews reported on NewsCorp, the FoxNews anchor always says NewsCorp is the parent company of this network.
Likewise, when FoxNews reports on Rupert Murdoch, the anchor says, Rupert Murdoch is the CEO of NewsCorp, the parent company of this network.
So, when MSNB & NBC reporter discusses Barack Obama, when they talk about Tim Geithner, why do they not say Barack Obama is the President of the United States, a major investor in the parent company of this network?
When MSNBC & NBC report on the Pay Czar restricting the take-home pay of officials at Citi, Bank of America, and GM, why do they not say that officials at GE, which also was saved from bankruptcy by Treasury backstops, was not impacted?


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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The teenager accused of murdering University of Florida student Christian Aguilar has admitted to punching the missing teenager until he lost consciousness, according to an arrest report from Gainesville police.
Investigators said Pedro Bravo confessed to beating Aguilar after they confronted him with new evidence, including the discovery of blood in Bravo's vehicle and Aguilar's backpack.
Authorities are testing the blood to see if it matches Aguilar's DNA. They said they found Aguilar's backpack inside a suitcase in Bravo's closet.
Bravo was denied bond Saturday and has been under suicide watch.
According to the report obtained by Local 10, the teenager admitted to punching Aguilar in the face, forcing him out of his vehicle near a wooded swamp area and beating him for 10 to 15 minutes.
"The [defendant] stated that he was on top of the victim punching him until the victim lost consciousness," the report said. "The [defendant] stated that the victim was barely breathing and not moving, lying on his back partially in water, at the time that the [defendant] left him."
Police said Bravo also confessed to throwing Aguilar's phone in the water.
Authorities said Aguilar may have been buried near a lime rock roadway. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences scientists have confirmed that lime rock residue was found on Bravo's vehicle.
Gainesville police charged Aguilar's friend and former Doral Academy classmate, Bravo, with his murder on Friday. Bravo had previously been arrested for depriving a victim of medical treatment.
Aguilar was last seen on September 20. According to investigators, Aguilar and Bravo got into a fight that day. Bravo told police that he beat Aguilar up and left him by a field on the UF campus, but did say much else until he was confronted about new evidence, according to detectives in Gainesville.
Investigators have been unable to account for Bravo's whereabouts on September 20 from about 3 p.m., when he was seen with Aguilar at an area Best Buy on surveillance video, to about 8 a.m. Friday.
On Wednesday, investigators said Bravo purchased a shovel and duct tape a few days before Aguilar went missing.
Gov. Rick Scott joined the massive search for Aguilar on Saturday, combing through wooded fields and parking lots.
"The body of Christian Aguilar has not yet been recovered. The Gainesville Police Department will continue its search efforts for Christian Aguilar and would still encourage citizens to volunteer to help us in that search," said Gainesville Police Officer Ben Tobias.
Classmates at Doral Academy Preparatory High School reacted to the news that a former classmate had been accused of killing one of their own.
"Most of us came to tears when we heard about the news," said student Claudia Brito.
"Certainly this is a new event in this case that is just really been devastating for all of us," said school principal Douglas Rodriguez
At Doral Academy, Aguilar was a top student and was once good friends with Bravo, the teen police said bought a shovel and duct tape before they had their last argument. Chris disappeared shortly afterwards.
"It's a shame to see that we have one family that's been devastated but we also have another family that I'm sure is devastated by these events," Rodriguez said.
The school has banded together, making videos supporting search efforts. Several organizations, including cheerleaders, have raised money to help Aguilar's family cover the expense of searching for him in Gainesville. Rodriguez said students have raised more than $12,000.
"We try to raise as much money as we can," Brito, a cheerleader, said.
"They deserve everything. If it's closure, if it's the truth; they just deserve to know the truth and closure," said family friend Kimberly San Martin.
"Our whole philosophy here is we need to bring Chris here and we need to help his family find him," Rodriguez said.


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Would these two friends manage to wheedle that young lad into sex? He is sweet like candy! Fellows hope that they could feel his tender skin, that his plump lips would wrap around their hot pricks. That young boy must have very tender and tight anus that is just made to be cum dump!
Of course video games can be a really interesting and captivating thing, but there are games that are much more interesting! Now you will see it yourself! Lets take a look how that boy would be scared shitless as he would see how hard is the dick of his fella and how tight are his ball! Now they will pour shit load of sperm into his anus! see more
This young lecher invited two friends so let's see if he manages to fulfill his fantasy! Dudes don't even suspect about desires of their young lad! Of course only yesterday he was playing his toy, but now there is bright explicit desire for sex in his eyes! 18 years is the best age to fulfill all the dirtiest fantasies! Don't try to guess what he is dreaming about! He bum is waiting for sperm!


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County approves $600,000 bond issue to cover trials and approves
budget for 2013
Send a link to a friend
[November 30, 2012]
All 12 members of the Logan County
Board were present for the rescheduled, reconvened session on
Thursday evening.
Early in the meeting, the board unanimously agreed to the
issuance of $600,000 in taxable general obligation bonds for the
year 2013. This is the current estimated amount that would be needed
to cover major criminal cases -- the Gee family murder trials that
are scheduled to begin and could end in 2013.
Pistorius explained to the board that the initial petition was
approved for $1 million. The full amount would be available to the
county for up to three years. The county would still be able to go
back and take out another $400,000, if needed later.
Finance chairman Chuck Ruben said that the annual payments would
range between $42,000 to $48,000 and would carry a 4.542 percent
interest rate over the life of the bonds.
The board then unanimously approved the 2013 budget and levies
that had been on display for 30 days.
The board also approved annual renewal of property, liability,
casualty and workers' comp insurance at $220,611 with CIRMA, which
Jan Schumacher said is a 1 percent increase.
In the field of economic development, it was with some excitement
that Bill Martin announced: "We received the official word from
Washington, D.C., on Monday that Logan County is now part of the
Central Illinois Economic Development District."
This was a long-awaited call -- four years waiting since Logan
County submitted its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for
approval. Logan County took the advice of then-congressman Ray
LaHood and, working with the Peoria-area economic development to
gain a regional strength, piggybacked the Logan County CEDS with the
central Illinois group.
CEDS aids in federal loan and grant processes and approval for
development and infrastructure projects.
In other matters, Sally Litterly, county clerk and recorder,
reported that hotel-motel tax collected in October and going to
tourism at 4 percent came to $16,730 and for Main Street Lincoln at
1 percent, $4,183.
Several road and bridge matters were brought before the board. A
contract for construction with the Mount Pulaski Road District, a
bridge inspection agreement with Thomas Hammel and Richard Boblitt
at $130 per bridge, and a high-speed rail local roads engineering
review were all unanimously approved.
Gene Rohlfs said that the floor for the new T-hangar at the
airport had been poured that day.
A motion to discontinue the cleaning contract with Mrs. Dahmm for
the John Logan Building was voted to send back to committee.
The board unanimously agreed to accept an engagement letter
contracting CliftonLarsenAllen to do the county's annual audit.
Ruben said it would be at the same cost, an hourly rate that is
determined by how much time it takes working with the county
On a public health and food matter, during this month's executive
and economic development committee meeting, Terry Carlton raised a
concern over the shutdown of food being served free at a public
event during Lincoln's homecoming in September.
The food in question at the fall event was chili that had been
prepared in homes, not prepared in an approved kitchen or under food
handler guidelines that include storage and temperature regulation.
[to top of second column]
During discussion it was noted that the food was being given
away, not sold. This could affect any number of events, including
church potlucks, business customer and staff appreciation, and other
social activities and mixers serving food.
The committee agreed that this should be looked at a little
closer. Carlton suggested that it would be important to define:
"What is a public food service event?"
David Hepler, county board liaison to the Board of Health, said
that he and Carlton had met on Monday with the county's public
health administrator, Mark Hilliard, and the department's director
of nursing.
While Hilliard was present on Thursday, and Carlton was asked if
he had anything to say, he responded: "I have nothing at this time.
I'm good."
This was Bob Farmer's last meeting as chairman of the board this
term. At the meeting's close he said: "I want to thank everybody.
It's been a pleasure, it really has. And I'd like to thank David
Hepler for being vice chairman. He's done a wonderful job."
[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]
Past related articles on bond issue
and funding major criminal trial
County starts down road to fund Gee murder
County to seek $1 million in bonds to
cover murder trials
County gets past bond approval
period, moves proposed
What is CEDS and what went into the
Logan County CEDS?
CEDS is defined by the Economic
Development Council for Central Illinois as "the result of a local
planning process designed to guide the economic growth of an area."
"A CEDS process will help create
jobs, foster more stable and diversified economies and improve
living conditions. It provides a mechanism for coordinating the
efforts of individuals, organizations, local governments and private
industry concerned with economic development. In order for projects
to qualify for Economic Development Administration assistance under
its public works, economic adjustment and most planning programs,
the project must be consistent with the goals and objectives set out
in the CEDS."
Logan County Regional Planning
Commission FAQ sheet
(Explains interrelatedness of the
comprehensive plan, GIS, CEDS and Greenways Plan)
Past articles related to
November 2008 --
Lincoln and Logan
County leaders work to advance economic opportunities
CEDS access in motion, opens avenue
to federal development funds
March 2009 --
County eyes April 27
for big 10-year planBrainstorming CEDS projects to begin
April 2009 --
Lincoln: Brainstorming
for CEDS
New fire station, street repairs and
upgrades identified as top priorities
April 2009 --
Logan County gathers ideas for future
May 2009 --
Street repairs, good
drinking water and drainage top 'want' lists in northern Logan
May 2009 --
Mount Pulaski and Emden weigh in on
community needs
Related websites
Lincoln & Logan County Development
U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic
Development Administration
Economic Development Council for Central
To read the
current CEDS document for the Economic Development Council for
Central Illinois,
click here
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text:
Are you ready for some hot weather? Spring break is a college fad, but school spring break and family vacations are increasing in popularity. You probably have a new swimsuit, sun block, and a camera, but what about sunglasses?
Are you ready for some hot weather? Spring break is a college fad, but school spring break and family vacations are increasing in popularity. You probably have a new swimsuit, sun block, and a camera, but what about sunglasses?
Imagine going out on a bright day without any sunscreen, then staying out for hours. Can you say sunburn? Excessive exposure to UV light from reflections on sand or pavement can burn the eye�s surface. Think of it like sunburn on the skin, and as the damage accumulates over the years, you can do some real harm to your eyesight without even knowing. Over time, the eyes can develop cataracts, as well as cancer of the eyelids and the skin around the eyes.
Everyday people are buying sunglasses from drug stores and department stores, but are these sunglasses protecting your eyes?
Look for a UVA-UVB protection rating. A label indicating that a pair of sunglasses �blocks 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays� or �UV 400� is highly recommended. If there is no label, or it says something like �UV absorbing� or �blocks most UV light,� do not buy them.
You may look great in a pair of inexpensive, non-protecting, tinted sunglasses, but your eyes may suffer. The tinted lenses can relax your pupils, letting damaging UV rays enter your eyes. Stick with brands like Oakley, Ray Ban, and Maui Jim that specialize in sunglasses.
Best type of sunglasses:Wrap-around shades give the most sun protection since they block more light that otherwise would have entered your eyes, especially from the sides.
Polarized Lenses:If you are frequently distracted by glare while driving, boating or skiing, look for polarized lenses, which block the light waves that create glare. However, polarization in itself will not block UV light. Make sure the lenses also offer 99 percent to 100 percent UV protection.
Though the FDA does not require that sunglasses have UV protection, the agency does insist that they meet impact-resistance standards. This means that the lenses won�t shatter when struck and they are 10 times more durable than regular plastic or glass lenses.
Don�t forget the kids:Upgrade your children from their Dora and Spider-Man toy sunglasses to legitimate shades that offer 98 percent to 100 percent UV protection. Children with light-colored eyes are especially susceptible to sun damage. The injury is cumulative, so the earlier children make a habit of wearing shades, the better off their eyes will be in the long-run.
Do you go indoors and outdoors all day long? Transitions are lenses that gradually change color outdoors. Now there are even different types of transitions, including extra-active that change inside of a vehicle, and polarized Transitions that become automatically polarized as they tint.
So now the only thing left to decide is where to go to model you new sun wear and enjoy your trip. Below is a list of 2013�s top spring break destinations for college students and families.
College spring break top 10 destinations of 2013
1. Panama City Beach
2. London
3. Paris
4. Cancun
5. Miami
Family friendly spring break destinations
1. Amelia Island, Fla.
2. Florida Panhandle
3. San Diego, Calif.
4. British Virgin Islands
5. Riviera Maya, Mexico
You can reach Dr. Rachel Wruble at Summit Eye Associates, 704-865-3937.


text:
Africaarr. Roger Emerson - Hal Leonard Corporation
Africaarr. Roger Emerson - Hal Leonard Corporation
Click to review
Millions have seen and heard the amazing YouTube performance of Toto's Africa by the Slovenian choir Perpetuum Jazzille as they re-create the sounds of a rainstorm solely with body percussion. This accessible arrangement will allow your choir to wow your audience in the same way! Highly recommended!
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This article is part of our fantasy football advice & strategy series.
When fantasy football began to surface back in the early 1970s before the personal computer, leagues kept their scoring systems very simple.
With the arrival of the Internet and real-time information and large databases, fantasy football has thousands of different formats, rules and styles.
If you've never played fantasy football before, it's time to review a few basics. If you are a fantasy football veteran, take a look at the many different ways to play you may never have thought of before.
First the basic principle: in fantasy football you build a team and earn points based on your players' real-life performances. Your ability to spot the players who will have strong statistical seasons will earn you praise – and possibly even a few dollars.
There are two basic formats to playing fantasy football. You either get a group of friends and form your own league (a buddy league) or join a contest where you complete against others over the web.
The easiest way to get started in fantasy football is to join a free online contest.
There are several types of fantasy contests offered online. Most, such as those offered on Yahoo.com, ESPN.com and NFL.com, feature a free contest where users pick players based on a salary cap and try to accumulate the most points based on a mathematical formula (6 points for a rushing TD, 3 points for a passing TD, etc.).
In these contests you compete against thousands of other users and only the top few scores win a prize. You must also play by a standard set of rules. A good site to learn more about these free contests is RotoGuru.com.
For more advanced users, some contests offer the lure of bigger prize money but charge an entry fee. Contests sponsored by such publications as USA Today and The Sporting News are of this type. The entry fee is typically between $15 to $60. These contests offer opportunities to win money and prizes for weekly standings, finishing first in a randomly assigned division and for the overall season.
If proving to your friends that you know the most about football is your goal, you can also form your own league with a group of friends. You can choose your own rules and categories – with hundreds of options to choose from. And on the Internet, you can have a web site build a homepage for your league and keep track of the stats and standings for free.
There are three different styles of leagues to chose from: points, Categorical and Head-to-head points. Most fantasy football leagues play in a head-to-head format with a 14- or 15-game schedule and then a playoff system with a final championship game. (Many leagues don't like to play their super bowl on the last week of the season when many superstars are benched to rest for the playoffs).
In the head-to-head points format, a team earns points for what each player does in the league's categories (for example: 6 points for a rushing touchdown, 3 points for a passing touchdown, 1 point for every 25 yards rushing). The point totals are then added together for a final score. Between the two teams playing on that week's schedule, the team with the higher point total is the winner.
Points earned in head-to-head points leagues are based on touchdowns, yards and bonus scoring. Most leagues award six points for every touchdown scored rushing or receiving with three points for a passing touchdown. The points are reduced for passing touchdowns since quarterbacks typically throw twice as many touchdowns as other position players score during a season. (However other leagues like to keep all touchdowns at six points for simplicity).
Yardage totals are based on each players' rushing, receiving or passing totals in each game such as 1 point for every 25 yards rushing or 50 yards passing. Bonus points are based on achieving certain benchmarks during a game such as bonus points for a 100-yard rushing game, a 300-yard passing game, or extra points for a 50-yard touchdown score or a 50-yard field goal.
A traditional head-to-head points league has the following scoring system: 6 points for every rushing or receiving touchdown, 3 points for every passing touchdown, 1 point for every 25 yards rushing, 1 point for every 50 yards passing, 3 points for a field goal, one point for an extra point, 2 points for safety, 2 points for an interception, 1 point for a sack and 6 points for a defensive touchdown.
Leagues where touchdowns comprise most of the scoring are often referred to as "touchdown leagues" while leagues were passing, rushing and receiving yardage comprise the majority of the points are referred to as "yardage" leagues.
The Categorical scoring method is the traditional fantasy baseball format which is also often called "Rotisserie" scoring. It can also be used in football. In each category, you receive a unit every time one of your players contributes to that event in the game. For example, if your player throws a touchdown pass, your passing touchdowns category is increased by 1. Then your total team's passing touchdowns are compared to all other teams in the league then points are awarded.
The number of points a team receives in each category depends on the number of teams in the league. If there are 12 teams in the league, the team with the best stats for a category receives 12 points. If your team had the most total passing touchdowns based on the example above your team would receive 12 points. The team with the second best stats receives 11 and so on until the worst team receives 1 point. Points in all categories are totaled for each team to determine the team's standing in the league.
The Points style is similar to the head-to-head points style format. The only difference is that there is no schedule. Whoever posts the most total points wins the league, regardless of where they stand in each individual category.
Your league will also need to decide how many players to draft and start on your team. Traditional standard is to start one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker and one team defense.
Some leagues prefer to start two quarterbacks or three wide receivers so that leagues have to go deeper in the talent pool. Other leagues don't like forcing teams to start a tight end, since there are so few of them that catch the ball regularly. Instead, these leagues often start three or four receivers with owners able to use a wide receiver or tight end in these slots.
Another roster decision your league will need to make is how your league configures the use of defenses and special teams. Many leagues will elect not to use any defensive players or points at all. Most leagues elect to use a "team" for a defense (so that one fantasy team has the "Tampa Bay" defense).
Scoring is based on turnovers and defensive touchdowns or based on points or yards allowed. Scoring formats for team defenses that favor points for touchdowns and turnovers and sacks often don't reward the best defensive unit - rather the unit that's on the field the longest. Yet another method is for league to draft individual defensive players with points awarded for such categories as sacks, interceptions, tackles, fumble recoveries and touchdowns.
Special teams are another area to iron out before the season starts. What happens when a player scores on a punt return? Some leagues give credit just to the individual player. Other leagues give credit for special team touchdowns to the team defenses. Other leagues pick separate "team special teams" (such as "Kansas City") in addition to team or individual defenses.
Using "team" or individual quarterbacks and kickers is another debate. Some leagues like to use "team" quarterbacks, so that if you draft the Green Bay Packers quarterbacks, you get Aaron Rodgers and all his backups. Since quarterback is the most productive offensive position, teams like to prevent one key injury from ruining a team's fantasy season.
Many leagues also like to use team kickers since it's hard to keep track of all the kickers' names with many last second cuts and signings in training camp. The theory here is that most fantasy leagues don't like to follow kickers, just the teams they play for.
Most leagues also allow for a reserve list of to seven to ten players for a total roster size of 15 to 20 players. With each team having a bye during the NFL season, each fantasy team will need plenty of reserves during the course of the year.
Once you have decided the format, there are a few other decisions you need to make.
Someone from your group of friends will have to serve as the commissioner to settle disputes, enter the league's information on your web site and work to resolve other issues. Having an organized commissioner and a format to settle disputes (maybe a league vote) is very important to keeping things fun. You would be surprised how even the most mild-mannered owner can get hostile over a dispute in the rules.
Your league will also need to decide how to choose its players. Most buddy leagues like to have their selection process in person, on a conference call or in a live online draft room. Half the fun in these drafts is the ability to mock your friends' picks and talk trash.
There are two formats to most roster selection processes: an auction or a pure draft.
The pure draft format works much like the NFL or NBA draft, with teams drawing their pick number out of a hat. The order is then usually reversed in the even number rounds, so that the team that has the top pick also has the last pick of the second round. The draft continues until every team has all their active and reserve roster spots filled.
Most fantasy football leagues are based on the draft format and the rankings you will find in most fantasy football magazines are based on a draft (as oppposed to an auction).
At RotoWire, customized player rankings for your league can be computed by entering the number of teams in your league, your point system and the positions you start each week. Our draft kit provides a wealth of useful information.
The other selection process is an auction, where teams are allocated a salary cap to chose their players. This is the format used by most fantasy baseball leagues.
Using the auction format allows for a myriad of variations that can get quite complicated – and add flavor to your league.
You can use the prices paid for your players in the auction as a reference point for keeping players for the next season, for example (these leagues are called "keeper leagues").
Before the season gets under way, you will also need to determine a process for conducting transactions. First, you will need to determine a deadline for making roster moves (most leagues have weekly deadlines, but with the Internet many have daily transactions).
Second, your league needs to determine the process by which teams can pick up undrafted players (free agents). Among the common ways to determine priority for selecting free agents is reverse order of standings, a free agent budget and first-come, first-served.
The free agent budget seems to be gaining as the favorite of most leagues because the one person in your league watching ESPN all day doesn't always get the first free agent. The teams at the top have a shot to get the one free agent they need to win.
Once you've defined the setup of your league and drafted players, you are ready to roll.
Two words of advice as you move forward.
First, make sure there is a method to keep everyone interested all season long.
A system where teams can keep players for next year keeps the last-place teams interested as they try to improve their teams for next season. A prize for a second-half winner or a penalty for the team that finishes last is another option. When teams that fall out of the race lose interest and don't turn in lineups, it often makes it too easy for the top teams to win games.
This is the problem that plagues many free contests and leagues where random people meet online. When half the league isn't participating come Week 12, the league isn't as much fun. Keeping everyone active and interested makes it more fun for everyone.
Most of important of all, it's best to keep it as simple as possible.
Though you will have some members in your league who want to use a complicated formula or an obscure statistic, keeping the league rules and setup simple will make it more fun and keep everyone active. Resist temptation to add more rules and categories.
Remember, fantasy football isn't the real thing. It's more fun.


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The Solo's set-up process is straightforward - install the SlingPlayer software and, by and large, you're away. Sling has certainly improved the process, hiding more the networking stuff away, but it could do more to smooth it for the less technically adept. We forgot to open up the relevant part of our laptop's firewall, preventing SlingPlayer from spotting the Solo. The app could have suggested directly that we check this - we eventually found the solution in the Help file. It's a common enough mistake, after all.
Sling's Slingbox Solo: select which of the three inputs you'll use
The Solo's internal workings are more advanced than those of the original Slingbox. The new model can process and send out images at up to 640 x 480 resolution, so it's just below the UK's PAL 720 x 576 picture size, but a little more computer-friendly, and certainly not, of itself, HD. However, the Solo is able to recognise 16:9 widescreen signals and format the image size accordingly. It's also able to transmit at up to 8Mbps - up from the old model's 2.5Mbps limit - though what you actually receive will depend on the bandwidth of the narrowest part of the network over which the Solo is transmitting.
Sling's Slingbox Solo: good viewing full-screen on a 15.4in laptop display
Click for full-size version
Our powerline adaptors run to a raw speed maximum data rate of 85Mbps, which translates as a real-world throughput of 20-25Mbps - still more than enough space for the Solo's maximum output:
Sling's Slingbox Solo: decent picture quality over the local network...
We got a throughput of up to 5700Kbps going via powerline from Solo to router and then over 802.11g Wi-Fi from the router to the laptop. That's enough to yield a very watchable widescreen picture on the MacBook Pro's 1440 x 900 display. Of course it's not HD - and not even SD really - but it is perfectly good to watch, particularly if you don't sit nose to screen.
Out and about, the results were less impressive. We left our abode and used a Novatel Wireless Merlin XU870 ExpressCard HSDPA add-in to connect back to base over Vodafone's 'super 3G' network. We got bitrates of up to 650Kbps, well short of the local network speed and with a consequent reduction in picture quality:
...but not quite so clear via 3G
That said, it was no worse than a lot of content on YouTube, and while you might not want to put your feet up and watch the latest episode of whatever US drama series is hip this month, it's not so bad for keeping tabs on the news though a small window in the corner of your screen. And with a device that has a smaller display - a Nokia N95, say - where Sling's technology can trade pictures size for lower compression within the same bandwidth, it will be more watchable.


text: This multi-platinum selling, five-time Grammy-nominated singer, pianist, and musical anthropologist has devoted his career to the rediscovery, preservation, and performance of the historic material we know as American Popular Song. Michael Feinstein presents an evening dedicated to The Sinatra Era - celebrating the writers, music, and performers of that fabulous era when Frank Sinatra reigned supreme. Backed by a seventeen-piece Big Band, Feinstein guides viewers on a musical exploration of how Sinatra affected his contemporaries and how they, in turn, affected him. Through his performance, Michael Feinstein conjures up the biggest musical legends of that golden era using their extraordinary music, spiced with intimate stories about their larger than life personalities.