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[Page 138 - 141]
Five years back when I was in Orheyev for several days and met Leyb Stolyar, I immediately realized that this is the same person who had at one time so modestly and passionately blessed the memory of solitary pogrom martyrs.
When I went from Russia to Bucharest, I immediately met with my old friends - Vladimir Tyomkin and Dr. Shvartsman - who had very recently traveled from London as the first match was struck for Keren Ha Yesod (ed. note: Foundation Fund of the Zionist Organization) and they urged me to join with them and leave, as skittish gangs were canvassing Bessarabians. In that region Orheyev was considered to be an old Zionist fortress and we had, on that score, selected it as our first objective.
Well, a fortress the Jews, who had not wanted to give any money, were quite resolute about the Zionist fortress, but we obviously did succeed. I do not want to distort history, which would, as you know, get only further and further from the truth. For the sake of Godly truth, I have to tell you the secret of the earthly truth: as for the success, we must not credit ourselves, but Leyb Stolyar.
In the former modest Kaddish reciter, suddenly, like a miracle, a community leader was awakened as if by God's grace. What do I call a community leader? A dictator who orders and commands, and is obeyed by everyone.
His dictator-career began when Orheyev started to receive a large influx of pogrom-refugees. Fleeing from death for being Jews, they crossed the Dniester River from their blessed land of Romania. Everyone knew that two ships always stood ready, the one on the right bound for Eretz-Yisroel, the one on the left bound for America, but until that time came, we had to find a place somewhere for the refugees with their wives, children, and the remnants of their possessions. Orheyev, though, is not prepared to take in such an unexpected immigration. The committee sits until 3 o'clock in the morning, we plan, we make speeches, we yell, we become hoarse. The refugees are scattered in the girls schools, in the streets, and we can not find any houses where they could rest their weary bones. Here Leyb Stolyar springs up with a declaration to the committee, tells us that he is not asking for anyone's opinion, and establishes a second committee which would work with him and him alone in order to solve this difficult issue immediately.
He does this in a simple way. He raps on the door of a proprietor:
- Mister Ghost, today I bring you four guests. Be so good as to prepare a good supper, turn the heat up on the stove, and put them to bed, and tomorrow I will come to see if you treated them well.In several short days, without an office, without money, without propaganda, without meetings, with only his visits, he solved the housing problem with a profound sense of duty to the refugees. The old committee allowed only patented community leaders who approached everything with a method, with facts, and with well-defined plans. The refugees saw that with a little audacity and a little levity, one could easily accomplish a lot more. Leyb Stolyar took on anarchist methods in order to provide the refugees with clothes and other emergency needs. The border area does not doze, always new guests arrive.
- Mr. Moyshe, you may lie down, begging your pardon, on the couch, and the bed, forgive me, you will give to the guests which I will soon bring you.
- What do you say, Mr. Happiness? You have our guests from across the Dniester? I will therefore deliver one small orphan, and in a pinch, you can put him to bed on your daughter's piano.
- Mr. Berl, the Kurilovitser Hasidic Rabbi once stayed with you. A rabbi must have facilities for at least ten people, and he was very comfortable with us. Today, since I bring you only six visitors - it is surely bearable what's wrong, Mr. Berl? When the Romanian officials stayed with you, you took pride, begging your pardon, now (I'm asking you) to take in the grandchildren of our Patriarch Abraham (Avrum Ovinu).
When we arrived in Orheyev he was in the very heat of his Zionist activity. He was very helpful to us in his customary dictatorial way. We decided to spend every evening in the Zionist office and there receive by special invitation the well-to-do Jews, one by one and according to a prepared list. But the well-to-do Jews did not come. If it weren't for the dictator, most of the Jews would have sent us packing without even a zay gezunt' (ed. note: stay well said on parting). The dictator came up with an idea and instituted repressive management. Over several days he became a Zionist enforcer of Torah prohibitions and began to deliver evasive Jews by raising a cry. Every half hour he would go out on his searches (for prohibition infractions) and would take captive a half dozen and once in a while an entire dozen for Keren Ha Yesod. Look here, I have brought you 'prisoners'. So good brother, atone! Pay the prisoner's ransom. If not, you will spend the night and your wife will think that they hanged you from a white goat. And the captives pay up They haggle a bit, a ducat lower, a ducat higher, we come to terms. The dictator stands during the negotiations and assumes a provocative part. A Jew, a kulak (ed. note: prosperous and stingy), asks us to reduce his ransom by 60%, because he has to pay for a wedding this year for his daughter, so the dictator immediately advises him to sell the bird in his stone house on the landowners' street. A second Jew wails like a woman that this year he would have to put up thousands of pots of wine and plums; the dictator acknowledges this, only at the same time he gives a distinct wink and reminds him of an important principle. But my dear Reb Moyshe, why do you not say how much you earned in lambskins? With one word, Leyb Stolyar gets such accurate information about every single person, that the tax-inspector would want to have it for the city - as the holy gospel says, big trouble, big headache.
No one could turn away from the dictator. One time, weak himself, he carried a wealthy Jew into the Zionist office. (Where did he get such strength?) Here - I have brought you a deserter. The deserter was a bit indignant - We are haunted by Cossacks! Even if it's for Eretz-Yisroel, one still should not carry out pogroms against Jews. Only the end result was that they extracted from him the maximum that they could milk from someone so obstinate that he would fight over a penny. In such a manner the Orheyever landlords and proprietors sweated it out for one week, and they probably were as thankful (for no longer being responsible) as a father at his son's bar mitzvah, when the dictator sent word that our automobile was already far, far away on the other side of the bridge
Yes, I want you to decide the question of ritual purity. Our friends are very good people, but I see that on the fine points - in Jewish matters, I mean - you expect more from them. I am ashamed to go to our rabbi, you will have to make the effort now and tell me the religious law. Just tell me: according to religious law, must a Jew pray? I am anxious. The dictator, I think, has discovered that not one of the three Zionist Nationalists davens or puts on tefillin (ed. note: frontlets worn on the head and left hand by Orthodox Jews when praying), and now he wants to edify us somewhat. I try to dodge this and give him to understand that a devout Jew must pray, but for a freethinker (I almost never spoke heresy) it is enough that he fulfills the Seven Commandments of the Sons of Noah.
The dictator starts (to pray) but - no. A shopkeeper he knows appears and - good-bye praying! We are excused from afternoon prayers, and we only have to observe the Maariv (evening prayer). So do you want to hear something? It happens on occasion that I don't sleep the whole night, and I have visions of tefillin. But sometimes I think - what foolishness! The Almighty is not a bandit, and he loves you no less than he loves Leyb Stolyar We will soon enough be called to account on the day of reckoning what do you think! Just yesterday I thought to myself that God himself guides me down the path, he himself leads me to the guests, to the pioneers, to the Jews ignorant of Jewish tradition.
When the first group of pioneers had already decided to go down to Kinneret (ed. note: Lake Kinneret on the Sea of Galilee) the dictator did quite a job, for which, his wife believed, death and destruction would come to him. In those years he was not a great breadwinner. Who had time to work, as you had to provide, with any luck, for so many guests, driving them over the bridge and finding work for pioneers from obstinate employers. In the evening just to sit in Bet Hakholutz (the Pioneer House), with a tin teapot of hot water, which everyone had started to call tea, and sing with friends happily but not entirely intelligibly, the strangely passionate words of God Will Build the Galilee. The dictator took a break in his unrelenting hard work and spent barely one and a half hours a day in order to keep body and soul together, his as well as those of his household. Quite often there were days when there was no bread in the house, not even some coal to put up the samovar (ed. note: a metal urn for heating water). When the missus would sometimes throw open the cupboards of her poorhouse and demand what anyone could see was obviously needed, the dictator would not, God forbid, lose heart. In reply, he would sometimes begin to sing the Chabadish Basyanke song, which he had learned from several Lithuanian pioneers.
The poorer the man - the more revelingAnd at that he would snap his big fingers and do a jig - so, for the small gang, it was a clever maneuver: the father goes dancing, let us go to his aid. And all at once the hungry bunch would dance in a circle. His wife would scold and scold - a house full of madmen, like the father, like the children - only the scolding turned eventually to laughter, and she was then angry only with herself and informed the dancing audience, that they had just made her crazy too, and - she went on laughing.
The richer the man - the more pompous
Oh, what do I hear you
Oh, what do I need you.
The dictator was soon totally out of the hole, and on a better day, when the pioneers had already started to pack their things, he was overjoyed and went to the photographer and paid what he had as a deposit for fourteen individual photographs of each of the pioneers, who were already standing ready to leave for Kinneret. His wife found out and tore her hair out - he is possessed by a pioneer dybbuk (ed. note: a sinful soul that has taken 'possession' of another living body) - and this was his one reproach: I will obviously not be in Eretz-Yisroel, you will not let me go there, at least let my picture stand in Kinneret, a remnant of Leyb Stolyar
You have to wonder what he embraced as managing dictator of Keren Ha Yesod. When we arrived in Orheyev, he was fervent in his Kineret-patriotism. In the several days that we spent there, he displayed so much energy and so much power, that it seemed he himself started to wonder and ask what kind of demon had lodged inside him. The hardest question in the entire campaign was: how to get hold of the people? With assemblies, you can't get money from the crowd. The dear brothers and dear sisters evade the appeal. He knows that Eretz-Yisroel consists of two parts: Jerusalem and Kinneret (in the sea of Galilee). To Jerusalem, old Jews travel to die. To Kinneret, young pioneers travel to work. Both have a hold on him, but the young pioneers have a special place in his heart. Why, he does not know. He knows only that he himself would have liked to leave with the pioneers to Kinneret, but his wife won't hear of it. She knows that either the tsadiks (pious Jews) or the pioneers go to Jerusalem. And since she is sure that her husband is no tsadik, he would remain a libertine there - it makes more sense for him to stay here, where people know him. The dictator provided the pioneers with work. And he posed a question: do you want to present yourselves as brutes? It won't succeed. The town won't believe you. These days there are no brutes here. And he did not know why, only he himself started to believe that his cruelty was nothing more than a performance. He took into his house two speaking Jewish women, who had with them a mute simpleton whom they had adopted along the way.
As from a sealed well the refugees uncovered in Leyb Stolyar a talent that everyone had to recognize, and there was no one who could not understand in what these talents lay and why they had to obey. During that time his talent embraced even the Tatar-ish hearts of the Romanian gendarmes. Then the refugees had to travel to Kishinev, where it was nearer to America. But the Almighty had created a wooden bridge on the way to Kishinev. On the bridge stood overfed Romanian gendarmes, whose duty it was to stop the refugees from passing through to the capital, and when someone tried to sneak through, they were allowed to shoot in place and after the shots - to give warning three times that they would shoot him, if he did not turn back Leyb Stolyar made a suggestion to the gendarmes and won them over. So how? With the same persistence he practiced to win over the Jews: with a light touch. He took a Beshenets (ed. note: probably residents of Beshen') by the hand and led him right onto the bridge. The gendarme demanded their papers; no papers, so the gendarme told them both to go to the devil. Leyb Stolyar tells him that his protégé has already been to the devil. The gendarme shouts shoot, putting the fear of God into Leyb Stolyar. The gendarme takes out his revolver, Leyb Stolyar proceeds to move forward with the Beshenets behind him, he tears open his shirt, gets closer to the gendarme, smiles into his bandit eyes and says cold-blooded: So shoot! Let us just see if you will shoot. In fact, I wish I were God so that I could see just how you carry it out. The gendarme laughs to himself, acting tough and spitting in the water as he pushes the Beshenets in the back: Quick - run over the bridge, don't let me see your face again. And such a scene was repeated every day, and Jews traveled to Kishinev, nearer to America.
There were other important things. Leyb Stolyar was not on that committee, but as a matter of fact, without revolt and without bloodshed he was crowned by everyone as the director of the town. The border does not doze, all the time new guests arrive. And people pretend not to know that the supposed guests are refugees. Everyone wonders - where did he find the words. For such a silent, shy person, who all his years barely smiled to himself and now Leyb Stolyar commands and everyone obeys him. On the other hand, they rebel against Leyb Stolyar's dictator, and he smiles at being so pegged.
An especially touching moment was when Leyb Stolyar came to say good-bye to us. He asked forgiveness from my old friends and took me away into a separate room for a private discussion.
I want you to decide a question for me. According to religious law, must a Jew pray?It is hardly necessary to describe what I felt at that moment, and with a very raw sense of morality, I passed judgment.
I mean it, actually, in regard to myself. I consider myself, I as stand before you, a devout Jew. Until this year, I never missed Minhah (ed. note: afternoon prayer), no saintliness on my part, but this year, it shouldn't happen to you, I cheated a little. Please understand me. I wronged the Almighty a little. Sometimes in the morning I have to see what's going on in town, to discuss with a few gentiles what work there is for the pioneers, to fix up a bed for the Pioneer House, to get a mattress, and the missus - she should live for 120 years - does not let me out of the house. She says - you have someone to take care of right here, better to sit at home and do your work. So, what can I do? Really, a half-truth emerges, as I go to Bet-Hamidrash to pray. I actually take with me a tallit (ed. note: prayer shawl) and tefillen. Only along comes a shopkeeper acquaintance and good-bye praying! I don't know if I was dreaming that Reboyne She Loylem (ed.note: God, ruler of the Universe) came to me: so dear Leyb, don't keep it under your hat. Don't worry about me so much. People are a higher priority. I will insist upon it in my own shtetl. I can do without your prayers, but the guests are hungry and tired, and the pioneers have to have mattresses. Such thoughts always come to me in my dreams Say something? The Reboyne She Loylem will hold me to account for my sins? What, he does not understand what is going on here? He should go learn wisdom from Leyb Stolyar?
I believe that according to the law you are exempt from prayers.
And if rabbis, who know the Book of Law better than I, will call me for the purposes of a more thorough investigation and will demonstrate, as two times two is four, that the Book of Law says otherwise, and that Leyb Stolyar is a sinful Jew, I will say that two times two is not four, and that the Book of Law does not know Halokhah (ed. note: the practical implementation of the principle) as Leyb Stolyar does.
[Page 142]
The principal refused to take me to the school on account of my young age. I returned from whence I came with a broken heart and tears in my eyes My father, who saw my anguish, comforted me by telling me that he would invite a teacher who would prepare me for grade 2 for the next year. Thus did he do.
Throughout the year, I took lessons in accordance with the curriculum of the Talmud Torah from the daughter of the Hebrew teacher Michael Groyser. When the time for registration approached, I was accepted to grade 2.
It is impossible to describe with words my great feelings of joy. It was a wonderful thing to spend hours in the company of boys and girls, happy in their boisterousness, or to sit on a bench with many people, in a large room with large windows that let in a great deal of light and fresh air For some time, we were cramped, for the large building was occupied by the Russian army (1915), and we were forced to study in two rotations. However, when the building was vacated, we once again enjoyed the comfortable space, and I felt myself fortunate.
When I graduated to Grade 3, the teacher Yitzchak Sherman served as principal instead of Krips who retired. There was also a change of teaching staff. With these changes, the children felt a warm atmosphere, closer to their hearts. We literally breathed easier.
The impression that each of the teachers had upon me is still etched in my memory. Before my eyes I can see the image of the principal Y. Sh. Adam, who had a serious face, a self-assured, deep voice, and a pleasant smile for the students. I see the image of the elder member of this group, Reb Mendel Naychin, who was weak in body and strong in spirit. How pleasant to us were his classes in history and Yiddish. There was the Hebrew teacher Michael Groyser, alert and jaunty; and Velvel Shaposhnik, the teacher of nature, who had soft, bright black eyes and was pleasantly disposed to us. His clear Yiddish accent, free of any mixture of Russian words as many were wont to spice their spoken language made a strong impression upon me.
His lively A gut morgen (Good morning) greeting in Yiddish instead of zdravstvuite that was used by the rest of the teachers, had a special character. His classes brought me special pleasure. V. Sh. had a sense for the dramatic arts. In his time, he participated in the dramatic circle of our city. He organized a drama club for the graduates of the school, who performed with great success when they finished their final year of studies. I remember the teacher Piatr Abramovitz and his wife Fania Isakovna Rabinovitz. The former always looked serious, however he always smiled at the students, and had a sense of humor. He taught us math. She, Fania Isakovna, had an erect stature, was pretty, with golden hair and blue, caressing eyes. She had a good heart and was dedicated to her job. She taught us Russian language and geography. She also guided us in the reading of children's books, which she herself chose and gave to us. We took pride in this.
We had great enjoyment on our excursions, accompanied by our teachers. I still remember an excursion on splendid Mount Ivanus on a sunny winter's day. Blinding, frozen snow covered the ground. We climbed and slipped, fell and got up, and continued to climb, happy and singing from great joy
Bilah Grigorovna Rabinovitz was our teacher for handcrafts. She was a pleasant woman who conducted herself with simplicity. She wore simple, albeit tasteful dresses. She implanted a great love of labor. We usually gathered around her at recess, and she taught us working songs.
Indeed, this precious institution, with its staff of dedicated teachers, raised and educated hundreds of poor children, who lived in substandard living conditions, were lacking food and clothing which darkened their childhood years in their parents' home. Their lot at home was bitterness, agitation, sadness and spiritual oppression. Here in the Talmud Torah, when we found ourselves in large, bright rooms, with warm, enthusiastic relationships with the teachers, we were happy.
From Yiddish by M. R.
[Pages 143 - 144]
Translated by Marsha Kayser A couple of characters from the place where my cradle once stood. Not from Aleksandrovski, but characters from below the Market-Shul, below the bathhouse, from Senoya and the bridge. Characters toiling, extremely busy, but endowed with an immense wealth of humor there they hover in my memory with a very infectious smile
Do you hear, Eli, - he says to my father with a broad smile - look at me, am I not a great 'beauty' Ha?! Yet I doubt if the women run after you, the way they run after me if only one time before Pesach, to 'rendezvous' in their palaces
Reuven does not need special make-up in order to get a big laugh from theater audiences. A kaftan, a kerchief, a peculiar ticklish look, a joke from a shadkhen (ed. note: marriage broker) or Batkhen (ed. note: Jewish improvisational entertainer), and the entire auditorium erupts with laughter.
When Moyshe Klamanovich came into the matzah bakery, Shmuel would welcome him with a melody in rhyme:
I want breadHis coworkers were amused by the last pair of rhymes, and in the noise from scraping floors, the whirling of the machines, his friends chanted the last two lines so long that Moyshe, bewildered, escaped outside Shmuel was a hit.
And a piece of meat as well - eh
And Moyshe Klamanovichn
A colic in the belly.
Shmuel with his helper delivered matzahs to Pesi Reznik. In the kitchen, unpacking the matzahs, his sharp eyes spied something that could cheer his buddies. Without thinking he tossed the bargain into the basket. Rushing back to the bakery a whole pastrami, stuffed ducks, gizzards - I bring! - Shmuel said beaming, pickles and wine, goodies that Pesi sent you
A couple of days later - Tuviya is dressed in a new hat and new trousers. You really earned this, comrade Tuviya you're 'really something!'
The production of the theatre piece Nighttime in the Old Market by I. L. Peretz was risky but successful. The young people were unbelievably ecstatic during the scene We Strike, when a sea of withered hands reached out from under the iron gate on the stage. The scene aroused pain and fury, a youthful yearning for revenge, and the desire to seek out and destroy the exploiter.
Mass meetings, gatherings in all parts of the city. In the small synagogue the non-Orthodox Rabbi Pagis speaks about Zionism. The synagogue is packed with more Jews than come in a whole year - the bourgeoisie, middle-income groups and the like. We see a youthful crowd in Kosovorotkes (ed. note: Russian shirts that button on the side) shouting hurrah. Above everyone's heads we see someone wearing a black cape with a black coil of hair on her head. Zeydl! Dear Zeydl Bakovsky brings a hush over the crowd and a mighty silence rolls like thunder and words like sparks fall over the gathering: Now, when the chains of enslavement are broken, when all the roads of Russia spill with blood for the liberation of all people - do you creep with your reactionary Zionism?! Down with the bourgeoisie, down with capitalism!!! - shouts the cape. Hurrah!!! thunder the Kosovorotkes. And dear Zeydl filled with fire
From his Pranks
Novi (Prophet) we called him because he was an extraordinary fortuneteller. If the city was surprised by an amazing stunt during the night, we did not need Scotland Yard. Our prophet Sholem-Shakhna divined it clearly.
One of his homey practical jokes:
One time when all the members of the family are sitting at the table, Sholem-Shakhna comes to our house to sell us a brand-new hammer. My father pays him his asking price, with the idea that, should someone from the neighborhood recognize it, he would return it. It looks just like our hammer, someone from our group remarked. A couple of hours later, we turn around and we look for our old hammer - a dark day! Sholem-Shakhna has sold my father our own goods!During one dreary winter evening at dusk, Sholem-Shakhna walks quietly into Moyshe Klister's courtyard, drives the horses from their stalls and lets them loose, a landlord's story.
A few hours later the building superintendent notices that the horses are gone. He reports the theft to Klister. Klister does not get excited and says to the superintendent: Go to Sholem-Shakhna and say that I want to see him.
Sholem-Shakhna, knowing what Klister wants, is not impressed and is not in a great hurry to go. The next morning Sholem-Shakhna brings back the horses and gets a gift for the favor
Characters, episodes from our shtetl. There they hover with their infectious smiles
Revised M.R. (Mordechai Rotkov)
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ETSU, 0-2 in the A-Sun, looks to get back on track
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (October 6, 2011) – The ETSU men's soccer team travels to Jacksonville, Fla. this weekend, as the Bucs get two opportunities for conference wins against North Florida and Jacksonville.
North Florida hosts the Bucs on Friday inside Hodges Stadium at 7 p.m., before ETSU travels across town to the Ashley Sports Complex for a Sunday afternoon matchup against Jacksonville at 2 p.m.
ETSU (6-3-1, 0-2-0 A-Sun) is still searching for its first Atlantic Sun victory of the season after two disappointing results against Belmont and Lipscomb to open conference play. Last Sunday's home loss to Lipscomb, 2-1, snapped the Bucs' 15-game winning streak against unranked opponents at Summers-Taylor Stadium, and was ETSU's first loss to the Bisons since the first meeting between the two teams on October 10, 2008.
In those two games, the Buccaneers were issued a total of four red cards – three against Belmont and one against Lipscomb. Junior Alesi Osorio (Austin, Texas) was the first to be sent off following a foul in the 48th minute against the Bruins on Thursday. Belmont took advantage of the man up situation to the tune of three second half goals, and walked off with the, 3-1, victory.
When the game concluded, the Bucs had just eight players on the pitch. Junior Frank Doumbe (Silver Spring, Md.) and sophomore David Geno (Kingsport, Tenn.) were sent off with a red card in the game's final minutes with the Bucs already trailing by two goals.
Down three starters for Sunday's contest, the Bucs had to rely on a few new faces to step up against Lipscomb. Freshman Pedro Zaccarelli (Sao Paulo, Brazil) made his first collegiate start and redshirt freshman Nick Dykes (Nashville, Tenn.) stepped in for his second, but the revamped lineup was not enough.
Lipscomb scored first and, after an ETSU equalizer, a hand ball by sophomore Blaike Woodruff (Georgetown, Texas) simultaneously awarded LU a man-up advantage and penalty kick. The Bisons converted to take the lead and, when the game ended, the Bucs were face-to-face with their first 0-2 start in conference play since 2008.
That was last week.
This week ETSU puts all of that in the rear-view mirror, and focuses on the six potential points which victories over UNF and JU present.
Leading the conference with a GAA of 1.05, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Coulter (Dublin, Ireland) will be heavily relied upon in the Bucs' crucial weekend. Coulter also leads the A-Sun in shutouts (6) and will look to turn his first since blanking then No.25/23 Furman back on September 25.
Geno, the team-leader with four goals, and Doumbe, the leader in assists, will be vital returners to the lineup, as their missing presence was more than felt against the Bisons. Rejoining the lineup with them will be Osorio, who has scored two goals and tallied to assists this season. The only missing part of the puzzle is Woodruff, who will be forced to sit out following his red card against Lipscomb.
North Florida (1-8-0, 0-1-0 A-Sun) looks to keep ETSU right where they are and earn its first points in the conference standings. The Ospreys join the Bucs and Stetson as the three teams which have yet to earn a point in A-Sun play.
If UNF wants to move ahead, it will have to improve on its minus 21 goal differential it has put up this year. The Ospreys have netted just three goals and have given up 24 – tied for the most goals allowed in the conference along with Lipscomb.
Jacksonville (4-5-1, 1-0-0 A-Sun) had just three wins on the year before starting conference play, but currently sit near the top of the conference following its, 2-1, win over Mercer on Sunday. The Dolphins are now 3-2-0 in their last five games, with a goal differential of zero on the year.
JU has spread out its goal scoring, as five different Dolphins have scored multiple goals this year. Stefan Durr and Nick Rodriguez sit atop their team's goal scorers with three goals apiece, as Durr also leads the team in points with six.
The Bucs lead UNF 2-1-0 in the all-time series, while Jacksonville leads ETSU by the same record their series history. ETSU defeated both the Ospreys and the Dolphins last year when the two squads came to Summers-Taylor Stadium and lost, 1-0, each.
Live stats will be provided for Friday's match courtesy of unfospreys.com. Live video will also be available courtesy of ASun.TV.
For more information on ETSU men's soccer please visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's soccer links.

subset: commoncrawl


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- 7 Common Factors of Successful Weight Management
- Just Dance
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- Test Your Grapefruit IQ!
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing.
7 Common Factors of Successful Weight ManagementBy Michelle Chichester
You're working hard to lose the weight and get in shape. You bought P90X®, ChaLEAN Extreme®, Slim in 6®, Hip Hop Abs®, or fill in the blank. For some people, the results they've worked so hard for slowly disappear as bad habits return. Some wonder how "those thin people" can stay that way all the time.
In 1993, the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) was founded to study the behaviors of "successful losers." Those studied lost an average of 72 pounds, with a minimum weight loss of 30 pounds, and were able to keep the weight off for at least 5 years. Looking at various studies on obesity, the researchers found 7 common factors among those who were successful in maintaining their weight loss.
- Eating a low-calorie, low-fat diet. Those studied ate an average of 1,385 calories per day (plus or minus 557), with an average of 26.6 percent coming from fat. Although 26.6 percent from fat may seem high to you, it is lower than the typical American's diet, which consists of simple carbs and ready-to-eat, low-cost processed food. Also, the researchers found that fast food visits were limited to less than ONE per month (step away from the fries!).
- Participating in a high level of physical activity. Those studied burned an average of over 2,600 calories per day. This calorie burn came from doing normal, everyday physical activity, including a lot of walking. In fact, over 75 percent of the participants included walking as a form of exercise, with 48 percent of the total participants adding walking to other forms of exercise. Think it can't be done? The next time you go somewhere, try parking a little farther away and walking, take the stairs instead of the elevator, get off the bus or subway one stop sooner, or walk the dog around the block the next time you want to reach for a snack. It's a great way to get in a little more exercise time.
- Limiting TV viewing. I heard something great the other day. Someone said that they had always made excuses about not having enough time to exercise. Yet, they always fit in 3 hours of TV viewing every night. Instead of plopping down in front of the TV at night, try to find other things to do. Why not take this time to pop in your favorite exercise DVD? Take a walk with your kids, read a book, or take a class. Not only will it get you moving, it also stimulates your brain in a way that TV viewing can't. It can also kill that urge for mindless snacking while watching TV.
- Eating breakfast. Those studied rarely skipped breakfast. After "fasting" all night, your body actually needs the energy that a healthy breakfast can provide. Eating breakfast makes you less likely to grab that pastry in the kitchen at work or run out for fast food at lunchtime. It also keeps your metabolism going, so that your body doesn't shift into the "protect and conserve all fat" mode.
- Maintaining dietary consistency. To the successful weight losers (or winners!), "diet" is not a bad word. They are always consistent with how many calories they are eating. There is no "cheat" day or falling off of the wagon during holidays or vacations.
- Maintaining a high level of dietary restraint. This goes along with factor #5. Those who are successful at weight loss are always conscious about the types of foods that go in their mouths. When you are trying to maintain your hard-deserved weight loss, be conscious of the types of foods you are eating. One hundred calories of your favorite candy treat are not the same as 100 calories of a protein shake. But, if you "mess up," don't beat yourself up. Those who are successful at keeping the weight off jump right back in where they left off, which leads us to the last common factor . . .
- Frequent self-weighing. Seventy-five percent of those looked at by the NWCR weighed themselves at least once a week, with almost half (44 percent) weighing in every day. This allowed them to keep track of any weight gain (or loss) and to address it before it became a "big" problem. Also included in this self-monitoring behavior was the continued counting of calories and fat grams. This continued "reinforcement" goes a long way toward keeping you on track for a slimmer today and healthier tomorrow.
Sources: Butryn, M.L., et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007; 15:3091–3096.; Catenacci, V.A., et al. Obesity. 2008; 16:153–161.; Gorin, A.A., et al. International Journal of Obesity. 2004; 28:278–281.; Klem, M.L., et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1997; 66:239–246.; Klem M.L., et al. Health Psychology. 1998; 17:336–345.; Phelan, S., et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007; 15:2470–2477.; Wyatt, H.R., et al. Obesity Research. 2002;10:78–82.
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Nutrition 911, Part II: What to EatBy Steve Edwards
Welcome to Part II of our oh-so-basic nutrition class designed to give you an overview of basic nutrition and make healthy eating much simpler. Last time was our intro, and we're already changing the syllabus.
Today we're going to talk about what to eat. I've changed the schedule because of something that happened on the Message Boards this week, which hammered home just how far we've fallen in our basic understanding of dieting. In brief, a guy had heard that olive oil was good for him, so he was eating 12 tablespoons of it along with 4 ounces of chicken for lunch. Because of what he had read and heard about dieting, he actually believed he was doing something beneficial. Boys and girls, the situation has become alarming. Let's jump right into discussing what we should eat. When we're finished, I'm sure you'll know exactly what's wrong with that guy's lunch, other than that it sounds like a food challenge.
Your options: protein, fats, carbs, and . . . ?
People often ask me—and I'm not kidding—why they need to eat protein, carbs, or fat. I had one person submit a scathing letter saying something along the lines of "no professional" would ever recommend more than such and such amount of protein, fat, and carbs. The reason I bring this up is that the percentages she claimed "no professional" would ever exceed totaled 70 percent. The problem with her logic was that proteins, fats, and carbs are—basically—your only choices. They have to equal 100 percent of your diet.
Well, actually, they don't have to, but they certainly ought to. Let's look at a few other things that can make up part of your 100 percent. Mainly it's just alcohol. At 7 calories per gram, alcohol is loaded with calories and can, especially during the holiday season, make up a fairly high percentage of your diet. However, I'm not aware of any nutritionist who would recommend that it be much more than a trace percentage, given that alcohol has no nutrient value. Other things you can eat are pesticides, heavy metals in your water, dust, dirt, toys, etc. Most of these things don't have calories, but, even if they did, I think we can conclude that they should not make up a percentage of your daily diet, at least not purposely. Therefore, the percentage of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in your diet should equal 99.99 percent or, ya know, 95 percent on girls' night out or during Super Bowl weekend.
What are they, what do they do, and how much of them should you eat?
I'd like to discuss this more fully, but remember, this class is only the CliffsNotes version. Should you wish to learn more, please read these in-depth articles on protein, fat, and carbs from previous issues. It's good stuff, and well worth 15 minutes of your time. Or at least bookmark them for later.
Protein. Protein serves as building blocks for your body tissues. You need it to grow and repair your muscles and pretty much everything else. It's found in animal products and, to a lesser degree, in plants, making getting enough protein challenging for vegetarians, especially those who avoid dairy products.
What it doesn't do is give you energy. It's material, not fuel. A diet with too much protein does not help you function well. Too little protein, however, and you won't recover from the energy you burn.
It's found in abundance not only in animal products but also in grains and legumes, like rice and beans, respectively. This is why beans, rice, and soy products are so popular in cultures that tend to be vegetarian. It's also found in many vegetables, but because veggies contain so few calories, it's tough to make them a significant part of your protein intake, unless you use a juicer, but now I'm getting ahead of myself. We'll save juicing for a later date.
Proteins weigh in at 4 calories per gram.
Fat. Dietary fat, the kind you eat, should not be confused with body fat, the stuff that causes you to ask your husband or your wife, "Do I look fat in this?" That type of fat comes from an improper diet or lack of exercise—though it's usually both. The fat you eat is very important for many day-to-day functions. Fat:
- Fuels the body and is especially useful for long-term aerobic exercise.
- Aids digestion of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, and promotes a feeling of fullness after eating.
- Helps regulate blood pressure, heart rate, blood vessel constriction, blood clotting, and the nervous system.
- Provides essential fatty acids, in particular omega-3, which help us with brain development, nervous system function, and eyesight. Many experts also believe fatty acids reduce the risk of arthritis, some cancers, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
But before you rush out to stock your fridge with butter and cheese, be aware that 1) there are good fats and bad fats and 2) you don't need too much fat to satisfy the above list.
Bad fats include animal and trans fats, which should be severely restricted in your diet. Animal fats are pretty easy to avoid, since they are obvious. Trans fats are a man-made variety and tend to show up in processed junk foods, like cookies, cakes, chips, and stuff that may sit on a shelf for months or years. Fortunately, they are now required to be listed on labels, which have hurt sales so much that most companies have stopped using them.
Good fats come from plant sources, like olives, avocados, nuts, seeds, and so on.
You may have noticed a pattern: All the foods mentioned above tend to be filling. That's because they are what's termed "nutrient dense." Fat has more than twice the calories per gram than carbs and protein. You don't need much in their natural state. And condensed fats, like oils and butter, should be used sparingly indeed.
Fats weigh in at 9 calories per gram.
Carbohydrates. Maligned and misunderstood, carbs are probably the simplest foods to understand. They are fuel for your body, plain and simple. Carbs help you do stuff, as in they help you stay active. The more stuff you do, the more carbs you need to eat. Conversely, the lazier you are, the less you need to eat.
Carbs basically break down into glucose—blood sugar—in your body, which provides energy for both your muscles and your brain. Unlike fats, there aren't really good and bad carbs. Different types suit you better at different times, depending on—you guessed it—what sort of stuff you happen to be doing.
Carbs mainly come from plant sources, with milk products being the primary exception. In nature, plants have something called fiber, which is the part of the plant we can't digest. The rest of the plant will become blood sugar—fuel—in our bodies, while the fiber will help regulate how we use it. Fiber is important stuff. It not only helps us digest nutrients, it cleanses our digestive tracts and soaks up excess cholesterol.
The "bad carb" moniker comes from those carbs without fiber—things like simple sugars (candy)—and carbs that have been stripped of their fiber—things like white rice, some cereals, fruit juices, pastas, etc., etc. These foods aren't really bad, per se; they are just bad most of the time because they speed into your system and cause an insulin spike, or what we call a sugar rush. Unfortunately, and where the negative association comes from, we tend to consume sugars at the worst times, such as when we're sitting around at movies, watching TV, at work, etc. Insulin spikes during these times can lead us into a vicious cycle, which we'll look at a bit deeper during our dessert session.
But there are times when a sugar rush is advantageous, like during or immediately after sports. At these times, you want an insulin spike because it will help you recover faster by rushing nutrients back into a system that you've depleted by doing exercise. The quicker you recharge your body's glycogen (sugar) stores, the less damage your muscle tissue incurs from the workout and the quicker you recover (making products like Results and Recovery Formula beneficial at these times). This is why "sports foods" tend to be sugary, and why Gatorade has no business as a regular part of your diet. Sports foods are for sports, only, and I don't mean watching sports.
At all inactive times you should opt for the natural version of carbs, complete with fiber, like whole fruits, fresh veggies, whole grains, legumes, sweet potatoes, etc. This will not only keep your energy level more consistent, it will also keep you from craving more sugar. While you need carbohydrates, you only need enough to keep your blood sugar levels stocked up. Your body can't store extra carbs, so it stores them as fat—and not as good dietary fat, but in adipose tissue, which is the kind of fat that might cause your husband to lie to you about how you look in that new dress or your wife to lie to you about how tight that belt really looks.
Carbs weigh in at 4 calories per gram.
How much of each do you need?
The one key piece of advice to take from this class is this: You should eat for what you do each day. Let me use a simple analogy. How much fuel do you put in your car when you don't drive it? How much when you do?
This doesn't exactly equate. You are not a machine, plus you're always on. But the fuel example is relevant. When you are active, you burn more glycogen and, hence, need to eat more carbs. Carbs should be the most variable item in your diet. If you've been hiking through the Grand Canyon, you may eat double, or even triple, the amount of carbs you'd eat than during a day at the office. Your other nutrients don't change as much. You need more protein if you are causing more muscle breakdown, but only so much. Carbs are literally burned off.
How much is quite variable. A muscular athlete will burn more fuel at rest than someone who is out of shape. With my clients, I tend to start them at 40 percent carbs, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat, and then adjust as necessary. This varies by the individual, but this ratio seems like the best average place to start.
Keep in mind that your diet is always a moving target. As you change, so does your nutrient requirement. People often ask me, "Can't you just tell me exactly what I should eat every day?" My answer is, "No."
A person trying to change his or her body composition (lose or gain weight) will eat differently than someone trying to maintain it. And everyone, no matter what his or her goal is, should eat differently on days when he or she does different things. It's not as simple as "calories in, calories out," but that cliché is not a bad ballpark figure to think about while deciding what, when, and why to eat.
Here are simple guidelines. Of course, results vary because all of our bodies are different to a degree. But we're also similar, so using these guidelines as a starting point will work for most people. In the end, no one will be better able to tell you what you need than you will. You have to learn to listen to your body's signals and adjust.
- Overweight and out of shape. This is the only time I recommend a "low-carb" diet. A diet of 40 percent to 50 percent protein, 30 percent fat, and 20 percent to 30 percent carbs can be effective in the early stages of a transition.
- Overweight and in decent shape, or not too overweight and in bad shape. A now-fairly-standard ratio of 40 percent carbs, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat.
- Ideal weight and fit. 50 percent carbs, 25 percent protein, and 25 percent fat. This is probably what I personally average, but consider that my diet varies wildly. On days like today, when I sit in front of this computer for hours on end, carbs might be only 30 percent to 40 percent of my diet. On a day I'm riding my bike for 6 hours, they might make up 70 percent. My protein and fat intake won't change too much. My calories might go from 2,000 to 6,000, with most of this difference being carbs. I'm more active than most people, but my radical example will, hopefully, make this idea easier to understand.
Vitamins and minerals
We left these out of today's discussion. While they are a big part of your nutritional equation, you're likely to get enough if you use the above guidelines to eat. These are found in abundance in all natural foods. Processing foods ruins their nutrient values, so these foods often have nutrients added to them. But there is no guarantee that manufacturers have added good nutrients—you can't beat natural foods for ensuring quality and bioavailability. When we eat enough natural foods to support our activities, we generally get plenty. People who are cutting calories, exercising excessively, or eating a lot of processed food should consider supplementing. There are many different ways to choose vitamin and mineral supplements. Beachbody's ActiVit® is a vitamin supplement with some added performance ingredients, while P90X® Peak Health Formula is a vitamin and mineral supplement. The upcoming Shakeology® formulation not only has all the vitamins and minerals you need, it also has a probiotic and complete greens formula blend—but now we're getting ahead of ourselves. Read "Vitamins – Why You Should Take Them and What to Be Cautious Of" and "Minerals" in the Related Articles section below.
Now let's get back to that guy in the intro. His lunch consisted of 4 ounces of chicken, which is mainly protein with a little fat. Olive oil is a healthy fat. But 12 tablespoons is around 1,500 calories. So we're looking at a nutrient ration of around 12 percent protein, 0 percent carbohydrate, and 88 percent fat in a lunch approaching what is probably 80 percent of the calories that guy should eat that day. It doesn't take a nutritionist to figure out that this guy is going to have a problem reaching any of the nutrient ratios discussed above. That is unless he, quite literally, loses his lunch, which seems pretty likely.
That's it for today. Next time, we'll get back on track of sorting out what advertisers mean as we're sorting through all those catchy slogans at our local supermarkets.
Related Articles
"Vitamins – Why You Should Take Them and What to Be Cautious Of"
"Why You Might Be Losing the Battle of the Bulge"
"7 Foods with Healing Power"
Got something to say? Chat with the writers and other readers this coming Tuesday, February 24th, at 7:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM PT in the Beachbody Chatroom!
If you'd like to ask a question or comment on this newsletter article, click here to add a comment in the newsletter review section or you can email us at email@example.com.
Check out our Fitness Advisor's responses to your comments in Steve Edwards' Mailbag on the Message Boards. If you'd like to receive Steve Edwards' Mailbag by email, click here to subscribe to Steve's Health and Fitness Newsletter. And if you'd like to know more about Steve's views on fitness, nutrition, and outdoor sports, read his blog, The Straight Dope.
Test Your Grapefruit IQ!By Joe Wilkes
February is National Grapefruit Month. How much do you know about this citrus staple?
- Where was grapefruit originally cultivated? Grapefruit is unique among citrus fruits in that it is the only citrus fruit that was not brought to the Americas from the Old World. The earliest cultivation documentation is from 1750, when it was discovered in Barbados. It was brought to Florida in 1820, which is the leader in grapefruit production today.
- How did the grapefruit get its name? It got its name because the fruits grow in clusters, like grapes. Because of this, grapefruit must be handpicked—it's one of the few fruits not harvested by machine.
- How many pounds of grapefruit does a typical tree yield every year? The average tree yields about 350 pounds of grapefruit; some can produce up to 1,500 pounds. Six million tons are produced worldwide annually, and the United States is responsible for one-third of that total.
- What nutrients does grapefruit provide? Grapefruit is extremely healthy and has the one of the lowest sugar contents of any fruit. Its low glycemic index is one of the reasons the "grapefruit diet" became so popular. Grapefruit was believed to have increased metabolism; however, the diet has largely been discredited. Grapefruit is a great source of vitamin C (one fruit contains an entire day's serving). It's also high in vitamin A and a great source of pectin, which helps fill you up and can help lower your cholesterol.
- Why should you be careful about mixing grapefruit and medication? Grapefruit juice has been found to affect an enzyme that the intestine produces that can alter the performance of roughly one-third of medications on the market, including blood pressure and chemotherapy drugs and antihistamines. In some cases, it can increase the drug's properties, causing arrhythmias or other bad side effects. So check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking medications to see if they can have any hazardous interactions with grapefruit juice.
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Buyers of brand new smartphones know that when they go shopping for a new handset, there's a price range they can expect to pay. Most new devices start around $199, depending on features.
But that's not the "real" cost of a smartphone. Most handsets are subsidized – the price of the hardware is rolled into the voice and data plan pricing, and fixed by a contract that usually runs two years. That's one reason why your carrier often allows you to buy a new smartphone after 18 months or so – you've finally paid off the older hardware.
At the GeekWire conference in Seattle this week, T-Mobile's Chief Marketing Officer Cole Brodman complained that this practice isn't good for his industry. He wants to see smartphones sold without subsidies, forcing consumers to pay full price for the palm-sized powerhouses they carry in their pockets.
Brodman says consumers don't really understand the full value of their smartphones:
"It actually distorts what devices actually cost and it causes OEMs, carriers — everybody to compete on different playing fields," said Brodman, speaking at the GeekWire Summit in Seattle. "And I think it is really difficult, especially from a consumer perspective, because it causes consumers to devalue completely the hardware they are using…. It is amazing hardware, but it has become kind of throw away. So, it is unfortunate, you've got dual-core, multiprocessor devices with amazing HD screens that get thrown away at 18 months."
He admitted, though, that this is unlikely to change, because the other three big carriers in the U.S. see subsidies as a primary way to compete.
But if Brodman had his wish, how much would you actually be paying for a shiny new smartphone? You can find out by looking at the price of unlocked smartphones, which are sold without being tied to a particular carrier. You'll find similar prices on replacement phones that are purchased before your contract's hardware-upgrade clause kicks in. These phones lack the subsidies that keep their prices low.
For example, if you want to buy an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S II from Best Buy, it will run you about $700.
The same phone from T-Mobile costs $230 with a two-year contract.
Rather have an iPhone 4S? Apple offers phones tied to carriers starting at $199, but also lets you buy the unlocked version from its website. The unsubsidized models start at $649.
If you want a data plan for an unlocked smartphone from a carrier, you're not likely to get a discount because there is no subsidy. You may be able to find discounted voice plans from some carriers for unlocked phones, or you may be able to use pay-as-you-go, or prepaid plans.
The main benefit at the moment to using a phone without a subsidy is that you won't be tied to a contract, but rather would go month-to-month.
What do you think of the carrier landscape as envisioned by T-Mobile's Brodman? Do you like subsidies with a contract, or would you rather bite the bullet and pay your hardware costs up front? Let us know in the comments.
Update: Barrett Canon, one of my co-hosts on Technology Bytes, notes on my Facebook page that he was able to score a $5-a-month plan discount from T-Mobile with his unlocked Galaxy Nexus phone.


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Hurricane Sandy Victims Get Tax Relief
Those in a disaster area can choose when to deduct losses.
Although no tax break will heal the heartbreak Hurricane Sandy left behind, taxpayers whose homes and personal belongings were damaged or destroyed will get some relief.
But there's a limit to how much you can deduct. You must first subtract $100 from the amount of your loss. After that, your deduction is limited to the amount of losses that exceed 10% of your adjusted gross income. For example, if your AGI is $100,000 and your unreimbursed losses total $20,000, you'd be allowed to deduct $9,900. The 10% threshold was waived for Hurricane Katrina victims; lawmakers from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have proposed the same relief for Sandy victims.
If losses occurred in a presidentially declared disaster area — which is the case for most Hurricane Sandy victims — you can claim them in 2012 or 2011. That gives you the flexibility to claim the loss in the year in which you had the lower AGI. If you claim it for 2011, you'll need to amend your tax return.
Be prepared to provide estimates of the value of your property before and immediately after the disaster. Records from your mortgage lender and state property tax office could provide proof of improvements and repairs to your home. For furniture and other personal property, Web sites such as eBay can help. Be realistic: A big disconnect between your income and inflated personal-property claims will raise a red flag, says Judy Strauss, an enrolled agent in Cobleskill, N.Y., whose clients include victims of Hurricane Irene. "The IRS will know that's not reasonable," she says.


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The CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce talks to one of their Foundation's scholarship recipients.
Sometimes, a student's hard work can be rewarded with a scholarship to help defray the ever-rising cost of education. Monique Perez is one of 23 Tucson-area students who, out of a pool of 180 applicants, were recognized with a scholarship from the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's president and CEO, Lea Marquez Peterson, talks with Monique about her dedication to education, and Monique's excitement over being a University of Arizona freshman in the fall.
In cooperation with Tucson Values Teachers, Arizona Public Media presents Teachers' Voices. These conversations between educators, their peers, and their students focus on the real experiences they face each day in Arizona's schools and classrooms.
Funding for the production of Teachers' Voices is provided by Wells Fargo and the University of Arizona College of Education.
The series is produced by Matt Felix for Arizona Spotlight.


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Youth Rising: Move Over, WSJ, Here Comes the Next Generation
Sure, young people read the New York Times and the Washington Post—but that doesn't mean they find their views routinely represented within the pages.
Connor Toohill is one of many young people working to change that.
To raise the profile of youth voices on the national scene, Toohill, a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame (and a 2009 high school graduate from San Diego) got together with a group of friends to launch the Next Gen Journal in 2010.
Next Gen Journal is an online news portal run exclusively by college students—among them writers, editors and operations gurus. It now boasts more than 140 contributors from about 67 colleges around the country.
"Every time you turned on the TV or opened the paper, people were talking about the next generation. But it didn't seem genuine – people were talking about the group but they weren't plugged into the group. I was really frustrated about that," Toohill told me in a recent interview.
Next Gen covers a variety of topics, from news and politics to sports, culture, and college life. Its online medium allows for stories to be tweeted and blogged about, creating a buzz among young audiences (and even some more traditional ones; Next Gen was recently profiled on PBS).
"Anytime you have young voices in the conversation, there is more concern for the future, bigger structural issues, rather than the day-to-day interest group minutiae and the media cycle," he says. "We're heading into an election year where the conversations are around debt, unemployment. These have an effect on our generation, maybe even disproportionately so."
Fitting, then that one of Toohill's most recent articles—one of his proudest journalistic feats yet—was an interview with presidential candidate Jon Huntsman.
Toohill believes that college students are crucially positioned to contribute to conversations affecting their future. "A lot of that [political] engagement happens in college. After that, you're becoming a part of workforce and making a living," he says.
"There's a lot of talk about what the next generation wants and needs, without really including us." – Connor Toohill, Editor-in-Chief of Next Gen Journal.
Just What Does "Youth Voice" Sound Like?
I asked him, perhaps simplistically on my part, what is the voice of the next generation? His nuanced answer is critical to understanding why Next Gen has been so successful.
"Above all, it's always tough to talk in generalities. On every issue you'll find a lot of divergence. With that said, there are a lot of common tendencies. The Pew Research Center has shown this—on gay rights we're more progressive, we're more trusting in institutions, we're more concerned about issues that will have profound impact on the future like the debt, climate change, and issues affecting us right now like the student loan debt and the job market. [Overall] there is a large degree of interest and concern among people in our generation," he says.
Toohill also is quick to point out that the next generation is not a homogenous group of engaged, active, and connected individuals.
"There are degrees of interest and concern," he says. "We're a diverse generation and we have a lot of different opinions and level of activity. There isn't a monolithic group, and if we're going to authentically represent our generation, it's important to convey that."
He cites Pew statistics showing that that there has been "a pretty big drop since 2008 in young people who are paying attention to the presidential candidates, or who think the election will have a large impact."
Structurally, then, the Next Gen Journal feels a responsibility to attract writers that represent the diversity of engagement and privilege. "If we just take the people who come to us immediately, I don't think we'll be as accurately reflective of our generation. It's something we actively have to go out and try to get," Toohill says.
He and his team plan to increase outreach to students from community colleges, international students and students from historically black colleges and universities, and students on all points of the political-ideological spectrum.
Leading a Large Team
One thing that's striking when Toohill speaks about the Journal is his lack of "I" statements to explain his work. Above all, he is a facilitator and a collaborator, increasing participation by writers ten-fold in just several months, and holding strong with a core team of 20 people--a world away from its start as a small online rag written by a few high school friends.
Teamwork, according to Toohill, is "an important part of what we are as an organization. Given the amount of work that goes into what we do – and the scale we are at now—it couldn't be run by one, two or three people effectively."
So, how does he nurture this growing body of participants? His answer reflects a key collaboration strategy. "I identify people who have particular talents or skills for a certain spot and get them into the position so they can be put to good use." He also makes sure that the team is aware of where the Journal is headed and views motivation an "important part of what I do."
Thinking Big
I was slightly surprised to learn that Toohill is not a journalism major. In fact, he wrote just one op-ed before college. His interest in the community stems more from previous engagement in student clubs, campus ministries and his stint as a congressional intern.
"I've always been interested in taking on projects, taking on initiatives, and being involved in something large-scale. Sometimes it is easy to fall into the path of least resistance, but it's also good to break out of that," he says.
He reports spending more than 30 hours per week at the helm of the Journal, "keeping in touch with staff and working on long term development." While it's a serious responsibility, he doesn't see it as a chore. "You have to make decisions about what you want to do, and what your time is day to day."
Taking Risks and Adapting
Like many online ventures, it was an uphill start. At first, there were few visitors. It was hard to get traction. Everyone on the team had moments of questioning. But they stuck with it.
"It's just been about adapting to what we see, and going with what works best. We've always been true to our core ideas," he says.
For example, the team started by publishing their content at night when students were online, but found that the traditional morning push increased page views.
Next Gen Journal also credits its success to its early research about the needs, views and social connectedness of young people.
Content was an early challenge. The team got permission to reprint pieces from different college newspapers and solicited writers online. Now, most of their writers come to them.
What's next? Toohill is circumspect, protecting what he says are some exciting developments. But expect to see more partnerships, allowing Next Gen Journal to "continue exposing the work we do to a larger and larger audience" through news outlets with high credibility and readership. Additionally, he is planning for increased direct engagement with students on college campuses.
Advice for Other Next Gens
Connor's advice for other engaged young people is something he took to heart early on. "Don't be afraid to encounter skepticism – it's very rare to have something that everyone sees as worthwhile right off the bat. You're going to face days that are tough, but you'll have to keep driving through that. If you believe that what you're doing is important and surround yourself with really good people who also believe it's important, it could really work out well."
Reflecting on his own Journal, he says "We couldn't predict where we'd be a year later, but I'm very happy."
Eddy Ameen writes and curates the Youth Rising blog for SparkAction.
Are you a young person leading social change? Do you know of one? We want to hear from you for possible inclusion in a future Youth Rising Blog. Email Caitlin[@]sparkaction.org and share your reactions in the comment section below.


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Samsung Galaxy S9
At Sprint 632 W Main St Ste 106, American Fork, UT
At Sprint 632 W Main St Ste 106, American Fork, UT
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Buy or upgrade today
Order onlineShip to home Buy for pickup Additional discounts may apply
Choose a plan, and select shipping or store pick-up at checkout
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The Galaxy S9 and S9+ feature a Reimagined camera which takes professional-quality photos using Pro Mode. The Dual Aperture Lens produces stunning super low light allowing you to capture the right amount of light, day or night. Super Slow-Mo captures 4x as many frames per second so you can slow down reality. The innovative AR Avatar feature lets you create an emoji that looks and moves just like you. Seamlessly translate signs, menus or maps in your native language with Bixby Translate.
Feature list:
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In an announcement dated 14 October 2013, MyHeritage.com indicated that they have "entered into a strategic partnership with FamilySearch which will add billions of historical records to MyHeritage."
Considering the statements made earlier by FamilySearch which I wrote about recently, this is not much of a surprise. I expect to hear additional announcements about sharing data files in the future with other online database companies.
In order to avoid mis-stating anything about the agreement, here is the substance of the Press Release:
TEL AVIV, Israel & SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MyHeritage, the popular online family history network, and FamilySearch.organnounced today the signing and commencement of a strategic partnership that forges a new path for the family history industry. Under this multi-year partnership, MyHeritage will provide FamilySearch with access to its powerful technologies and FamilySearch will share billions of global historical records and family tree profiles spanning hundreds of years with MyHeritage. This will help millions of MyHeritage and FamilySearch users discover even more about their family history.
FamilySearch will provide MyHeritage with more than 2 billion records from its global historic record collections and its online Family Tree. These records will be added to SuperSearch, MyHeritage's search engine for historical records, and will be matched with family trees on MyHeritage using its matching technologies. MyHeritage users will gain access to an unprecedented boost of historical records and family tree profiles, which are key to researching and reconstructing their family histories. This reinforces MyHeritage's position as an international market leader, with gigantic assets of family trees and records, which are the most globally diverse in the industry.
FamilySearch members will benefit from MyHeritage's unique technologies which automate family history discoveries. Smart Matching™ automatically finds connections between user-contributed family trees and Record Matching automatically locates historical records relevant to any person in the family tree. By receiving accurate matches between FamilySearch's Family Tree profiles and historical record collections, such as birth, death, census, and immigration documents, FamilySearch members will be able to more effectively grow their family trees in size and in depth and add conclusions supported by historical records.
"For more than a hundred years, FamilySearch has been dedicated to working with the world's archives to preserve their records for future generations" said Gilad Japhet, Founder and CEO of MyHeritage. "Their massive undertaking has made family history more accessible to everyone. This partnership highlights MyHeritage's technology leadership and our firm commitment to adding historical records on a massive global scale, accelerating our vision of helping families everywhere explore and share their legacy online. We look forward to a fruitful future working hand in hand with our friends at FamilySearch."
"FamilySearch values collaborative partnerships that enable more people, in more places, to discover their family history" said Dennis Brimhall, CEO of FamilySearch. "MyHeritage is an innovative company that has a fast growing, global online audience. We are excited to commence this partnership which enables FamilySearch to better serve the global family history community."I think this is a wonderful opportunity for both companies and for all their users. I am really looking forward to this happening.


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Music video just done up mixing elements from the story about the Segregated Prom in Georgia. Watch, forward, spread the word.
DetentionSlip.org covered this story earlier this week:
Segregated Proms En Vogue in Racist Georgia High Schools
The NY Times covered it as well:
A Prom Divided
Sound track was done up by DJ Whoquestion, a high school student who actually first tipped us off about this story earlier this week. Video was put together by TheTruth (which explains any typos).


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sponsored by
CHRIS COYNE, agent - State Farm Insurance
Writer's Club will meet Feb. 11
Send a link to a friend
29, 2014]
Lincoln Writer's Club will
meet Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m. in the Alumni Room of the student center
at Lincoln College.
All are welcome.
For more information, call
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In 1992 the Minnesota Legislature adopted the following act (Minnesota Statute 1.5):
The State of Minnesota hereby adopts a policy of zero tolerance of violence. It is state policy that every person in the state has a right to live free from violence.
In furtherance of this policy, Minn. Stat. 15.86 mandates that each agency of state government adopt a goal of zero tolerance of violence in and around the workplace.
Each agency is also encouraged to develop a plan that describes how the agency will (1) seek to eliminate any potential for violence in and around the agency workplace; and (2) seek to eliminate any potential for violence by affecting the attitudes and behavior of the people that the agency serves or regulates.
It is the goal of the Alexandria Technical & Community College to achieve a work environment that is free from threats and acts of violence. The college will not tolerate workplace violence of any type from any source. This includes threatening or violent actions by employees or students directed against other employees or students, by employees or students directed against college customers or other workplace visitors, and by college customers or visitors directed against college employees or students.
It is the policy of the Alexandria Technical & Community College and the responsibility of its managers, its supervisors, and all of its employees to maintain a workplace free from threats and acts of violence. The college will work to provide a safe workplace for employees, students, and visitors to the workplace. Each employee, and everyone with whom we come into contact in our work, deserves to be treated with courtesy and respect.
The college's policy on work-related violence includes the following:
Copies of this policy and plan will be distributed to all employees and will be posted on employee bulletin boards. Division chairs and supervisors will be responsible for informing employees of this policy and plan and for enforcing compliance with them. This policy and plan will be discussed at new employee orientation, and all new employees will be provided with a copy of this policy and plan. A copy of this plan will also be available in the college's Library.
The college will continue to provide information about the services available through the Employee Assistance Program and the Health and Wellness Program to help employees deal with concerns and issues related to workplace or family violence. Training needs will be assessed; and training sessions for division chairs, supervisors, and employees will be developed and presented. The college will work to further advance this plan and identify and address specific action items.
Following appointment of the college's Incident Response Coordinator (IRC), employees will receive informational materials on the role and responsibilities of the IRC.
Effective immediately, the IRC will assume responsibility for coordinating the college's response to work-related threats and acts of violence. Division chairs and supervisors will continue to have primary responsibility for ensuring a safe workplace, monitoring and resolution of employee conflicts or disputes, taking appropriate corrective action when potentially violent situations develop, and for working with the college's IRC when threats or acts of violence do occur.
For purposes of this Plan and Policy, the following items are considered to be "dangerous weapons":


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Looks like the Dr. Strange movie has gone a future possibility to a definite addition to Marvel's cinematic slate. THR is reporting that Marvelis considering four potential directors for the film, all of whom seemingly have nothing in common with each other.
The four directors are:
• Mark Andrews, who co-directed and co-wrote Brave
• Jonathan Levine, who directed 50/50 and Warm Bodies
• Nikolaj Arcel, who wrote the screenplay for the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and directed the foreign film A Royal Affair
• Dean Israelite, who directed the upcoming time travel flick Welcome to Yesterday and that's pretty much it
That's quite the disparate group. Seeing as two of the candidates are practically unknowns, it's impossible to say if there'e a frontrunner right now, or who might be best to try and figure out how to bring magic into the Marvel cinematic universe. I imagine we'll get a hint of what Marvel's plans are when we see the Scarlet Witch in action in Avengers: Age of Ultron.


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When the opportunity to listen to Underwood & Flinch was presented I found myself debating whether I could stomach yet another story of the undead. Between CM's The Vampire Diaries television series and a slew of recent books and movies, I feared that my taste for vampires was waning. Fortunately, your tale has left be hungry for more.
The story is full of underlying themes, well beyond the dark, toe-curling horror parts of the novel. The main theme is that of the life of a minority, much in the way Bram Stoker's Dracula focuses on women as a minority. Aside from that, Mike also talks of history, crime, psychology and morality. He uses his main character as a vessel to portray what might even be human existence. He is without a doubt a very powerful writer. He has managed to intricately weave together a story that touches your emotions, without ever actually letting it on. You listen to the podcast, entranced by the plot and the horror, and when you finally put your iPod down and think back, you realize it was much more than just that!
Now, Mike is intending to publish this book in the near future but requires your help, he is hosting a fundraising campaign over at Indiegogo.com and need donations.
The Good thing is, if you donate as little as $10, you will not only get some great perks, But also your name will appear in his book as a patron. How cool is that, you become an immortal in a book about an immortal in Mikes award winning story.
So please follow the link below and if you can, donate what you can


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The recent announcement that VMware would soon match Microsoft Azure and provide a virtual machine (VM) of the cloud host environment touches on a theme that's been near to my heart for several years; namely, that developers grossly underutilize virtualization on their development platforms.
The recent wave of interest in virtualization began nearly 10 years ago with VMware's release of its Workstation product. This tool enabled us all to test how code might run on a different OS. Because it was sold that way, I believe, it imprinted itself as the primary use case for VMs on the desktop/laptop. The sole exception might be power users on the Mac, who use Parallels to run Windows-only software.
There are, however, other important use cases. The first is testing software you're developing. A best practice is to not test your software on the same machine you're developing it on. This is even more important if that machine also hosts your mail and private data. If the software corrupts your system, you're dead in the water. As technical experts, we love to believe we can anticipate how software will behave and that this can't happen. This carefree approach works fine until some small upgrade requires a new DLL or an older version of a library; then, all of a sudden, other software you depend on doesn't work quite the same. Run your executables in a VM and you can tweak the environment all you want without ever worrying about disturbing your system.
A second good reason to do this is so you can test your code on a configuration profile that matches the actual delivery environment. For example, suppose you're writing a CRUD app for your IT department. If your company conforms to the best practice of delivering a standard configuration to users, you can create a VM with this configuration and then run your test in the VM. This step assures that you're duplicating the user's runtime context. It avoids silly situations like releasing an app that unaccountably requires Cygwin when users to go install it, because, eh-hem, you forgot that that package was already installed on your system. ITIL-oriented shops will recognize a best practice in this enforcement of a standard deployment configuration. You should, too.
Evaluation of new software products and releases is a regular activity for developers: new tools, new releases of an IDE, a new device driver. Each installation twiddles with the registry (in Windows) or the config files in Linux/UNIX-based systems. Installation and deletion leave behind files, settings, and other artifacts that clutter all systems regardless of OS. Why have these junk bits that slowly but inexorably destabilize your system? Test all new products in a VM. Not only does this spare your system the mess, but you can save the VM on a NAS for future re-examination of the product without having to reinstall it.
A final use case for VMs is rarely ever discussed, but is compelling when you consider it seriously: Safe Web surfing. Like most readers, I surf the Web essentially unprotected save the antivirus and firewall software on my laptop. This generally works because I most often go to sites that, in my imaginary world, are known safe. However, periodically I descend into Web searches far afield from the mental map of the safe Web neighborhoods. Try looking up anything that could be remotely linked to sex or search for photos that might be disturbing to sensitive viewers and you enter into a warren of dark places in the underbelly of the Net. I have no desire to take my chances there, so I do such searches from within a VM. If a knucklehead has installed a fly-by virus on a Web page, I can back out and throw away the VM without fear that my personal data is being stolen or my system compromised by a rootkit.
In sum, there are many reasons to use VMs, especially for developers. Now that today's laptops typically come with 4GB of RAM, quad cores, and huge disks, there are no good reasons for not using VMs regularly in daily work.
— Andrew Binstock, Dr. Dobb's Executive Editor
[email protected]


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align with the stars, appreciation, Asteroid 1566, astro-flash, Astro-LOA, astrology, Crispin Korschen, Daedalus, escape, fight or flight, free call, freedom, GoodVibeAstrology.com, Icarus, Jeannette Maw, Kim Falconer, learn astrology, Mars, Mythos, tolerations, Venus
Astro-LOA Flash: Asteroid 1566 Icarus conjuncts Venus and squares Mars (see ephemeris below) activating a cosmic dance between desire, love and adventure. It brings up a bit of a love-will-freedom-closeness contrast, which translates into A) relationship dramas or B) Self-discovery. Of course, it can be both!
Mars wants to take independent, willful, dynamic action. Venus wants to put her needs on the back burner to win love and connection. Icarus wants to inspire the heights of possibilities. Put the tree together and you have interesting times ahead.
Most likely you will find it impossible to put up with anything that irks.
This can manifest as a full realization of what you've been tolerating. (what holds you back) If you feel limited or restricted, watch the next week for a creative win/win. The impulse is to 'fly free' so let your spirit soar, while honoring your core values (Venus) and your desires (Mars). . Check decisions made in 2008. Where did they lead? Now YOU decide what to keep, what to toss, and what's next!
The goal is to find the And/and, not Either/or. Love AND Will. Freedom AND Closeness. Tethered AND Free!
The Mythos: Icarus was Daedalus's boy who, ignoring his father's practical warning not to fly too close to the sun, lost his feathered wings, fell to the sea and drowned. Not a very successful outcome, though he did escape the prison tower they'd been stuck in. Some people associate Icarus with a kind of crash and burn mentality. Not me. I see it as freedom. Expansion. Liberation! What drowns is the old self, reabsorbed into the collective unconscious. What lives on is wiser, more inspired and ready for the next challenge.
True, this asteroid can represent some extreme measures, feelings and insights but mainly it represents an attempt to escape intolerable situations. It is the impulse to get out of limiting patterns or go for goals that others might say are impossible. Note: It doesn't have to always end 'badly'.
Icarus with Venus and Mars can be vivid inspiration. But trapped, he is like a wild bird caged. Ever had that feeling? It's like an instinctual urge to run like hell when all they've said is, sign here, or pick you up at 7, or maybe I do . . .
Icarus with Mars especially is a chance to gain a deeper insight on the 'flight' side or our fight or flight response. Where do you feel like flying the coop? Is it fear, instinct or healthy self-awareness? Take a moment to think about it this week and eliminate a toleration or too. Why? Because tolerating something is not a virtue. It can be a heavy energy drain. (Read more about Granting Freedom from Tolerations.)
Here's what Jeannette Maw has to say about it:
Toleration: To tolerate something means to "allow the existence of, to permit or endure or put up with something." This implies that the something (or someone) is less than ideal and tends to drain a person's energy. Thus, a toleration is often a hindering influence to the vibration. More . . .
Leverage the Icarus/Venus/Mars energy and Toss out Tolerations now!
If any of you know where Icarus is in your natal chart, feel free to mention it here.
Mine's exact on my descendant putting me in an Icarus return! Wowza!
If you want to learn more about using astrology to boost your law of attraction skills, support coaching/counseling others and get yourself into alignment with your dreams, Good Vibe Astrology is the place to be.
Join us for more discussion on our Align with the Stars call, open to all on March 15/16. We're talking Icarus, Saturn Rx and the season of the eclipse. See you there!


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The Dynamo continued their struggles this past weekend, losing to Seattle 2-0 at Qwest Field on Sunday. Houston finished with zero shots on goal for the second straight game. Although the Dynamo have struggled the past few weeks, one bright spot has been the return of midfielder Geoff Cameron, who had not played since injuring his knee on April 24.
Dynamo Academy player Christian Manisck continues his blog about his experiences training in Brazil.
AEG President Tim Leiweke sat down with the Houston Chronicle for aQ&A to discuss the new Dynamo stadium which is projected to open in 2012.
The Dynamo are proud of the performance of backup goalkeeper Tally Hall, who has stepped up in a big way due to Pat Onstad's injury.
After practice today, Dynamo rookies Francisco Navas Cobo and Sammy Appiah learned what being a rookie is all about.
The annual Houston Labor Day Cup presented by South Texas Dental is coming up fast. The three-day youth soccer tournament showcases teams from all over Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico.
The U.S. national team will take on Brazil tonight in the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey. The big question is whether or not Bob Bradley will be coaching the national team beyond this match. One possible destination for Bradley could be EPL squad Aston Villa, whose coach recently resigned.
The United States Soccer Federation is attempting to enforce stricter standards on Division 2 soccer clubs.
Former Romanian international Ilie Dumitrescu has signed on to be the new head coach of Steaua Bucharest. The interesting part about this story is his annual salary.
Former Dynamo assistant coach John Spencer has been announced as the new head coach of the Portland Timbers as they make the jump to Major League Soccer in 2011.


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Southeastern Connecticut's 'Wizard of Paws,' Dr. Debbie Gross Saunders, has two young children, a happy obsession with buying fun dog collars for Bogart (her two-year-old clumber spaniel) and a deeply felt commitment to helping other beloved family pets live their best life.
On a great day, she delivers hope to a stricken pet owner — that there are options besides euthanasia for a pet who has experienced a significant loss in mobility. On the best day, she watches an animal — who had to be carried in to undergo treatment — joyfully stand and walk.
Saunders has always felt a bond with animals. "I've never had a issue with biting or aggression," she said.
While pursuing her bachelor's in physical therapy from Boston University, she came up with the idea of uniting her love for animals with her clinical expertise. She went on to earn her master's in orthopedic physical therapy from Quinnipiac University and her doctorate from the University of Tennessee in 2008.
She exudes calm — which can be an occupational hazard when she's out in public and dogs trot over and sit down next to her. One close friend in particular calls her "Dr. Doolittle."
But that name was taken. So she opened her practice under the moniker 'The Wizard of Paws' and now operates two canine rehabilitation facilities; at 2 Avery St. in Mystic and 155 Westchester Road in Colchester. The services provided at these locations mirror those associated with veterinary hospitals, including rehabilitation after orthopedic or neurological surgery, and treatment for hip and elbow dysplasia, muscular and athletic injuries, degenerative problems, wounds and cancer.
Saunders also helps show dogs gear up for the rigors of daylong competition. She was elated this past February, when an Irish setter her team had worked with made it to the coveted "Best in Show" division at the famed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York. "We all became so bonded during that process," she said. When the announcement was made, "I almost fell out of my chair." When Grace spoke with Saunders, she was also looking forward to seeing some of her clients compete in the Thanksgiving Classic Cluster at the Eastern States Exposition (the Big E) in West Springfield, Mass.
But whether the dog is a rarefied breed or a pound puppy, love for these creatures and a desire to see them enjoy the highest quality of life for the longest time possible are what guide her practice.
"I can honestly say that I love what I'm doing" she said.
Back on their feet
Dogs are abundantly loving and expressive. So even when they can't tell you exactly what is wrong, changes in personality usually indicate a problem.
Owners may notice changes in eating and sleeping patterns, or the animal being withdrawn from the family unit, she explained. "If your dog has stopped jumping up and greeting you when you get home," that can be a sign.
The facility in Colchester is bright, open and welcoming. There is a mirrored area with a soft floor for exercise ball work, which builds an animal's core strength. Paint pawprints from each client decorate the walls. A rottweiler grumbles happily as it exercises in one of the underwater treadmill tanks.
Dr. Saunders is a big advocate of water therapy and uses it to help her canine clients stabilize joints, improve agility and build strength in large muscles like the hips. Water reduces the dog's body weight up to 75%, which reduces stress on the joints. Adjusting the height of the water targets different muscles and injuries. At the same time, the resistance of the water ensures a good workout - one mile on the treadmill is equivalent to three miles on land, she explained.
The Colchester facility provides special needs boarding, a kennel, in other words, for dogs undergoing rehabilitation. She also offers laser therapy for pain and inflammation, which helps dogs who have exhausted their pharmaceutical options, she explained.
Saunders is proud of the fact that most of her clients come from referrals. "We constantly strive for that trust," she said.
Many of the maladies she sees can be attriuted to two common factors: age and excess weight.
"Every five pounds of extra weight your pet carries can reduce its life expectancy by roughly 2 years," she said. Exercise is as essential to dogs as it is to humans, she explained. And just as with humans, a healthy diet and active lifestyle make all the difference. They become even more important as the animal advances in years.
"We try to help people understand that older dogs - they don't have to hurt. Being old is not a license to hurt," she said. "Different breeds are prone to different issues, but most dogs older than 7 have some form of arthritis."
Saunders urges her human clients not to give up on otherwise healthy animals who have become sedentary from weight gain or aging. If the animal seems unhapy, it is within the owner's power to change that. "We want owners to understand that as much as we'll do, they're the bigger component," she said.
They even design at-home exercise programs for senior dogs, who can draw a lot of benefit from simple exercises on the rug, she said.
Dr. Saunders takes a practical approach to measuring her success. "We look for objective improvements. When a dog jumps into the car for the first time in six months — that's huge," she said.
Her website includes testimonials from owners who are happy to see their animals jumping again - even if it means they have to be retrained not to jump on the coffee table.
As Trump drops in polls, confident Democrats sense November sweep
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Connecticut has been on a better COVID-19 path than most states. Here's why that might be.
Southeastern Connecticut voters weigh in on presidential election