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In a low-key internal blog this week, Intel has started to talk publicly about a new online beta tool called the Intel AppUp encapsulator. The company is positioning the new offering as a route to take web applications written in JavaScript, HTML5, Ajax, and Flash and turn those files into a MeeGo or Windows application for the Intel AppUp developer center and app store. No manual SDK code integration and no complex compiling is needed, says the company.
According to the official AppUp Developer Blog, "The Intel AppUp encapsulator embeds web code into a native application wrapper (a hybrid app) and then creates installer packages. The native application wrapper integrates the Intel AppUp SDK for store authorization and Qt WebKit, which provides the HTML5 and JavaScript engines that execute and render the web app code."
The company also specifies that developers can use their own web APIs, third-party APIs and other third-party widgets. In effect, the developer builds the web code just like other web apps utilizing HTML, CSS and JavaScript, images, and AJAX. Essentially, if we accept the functionality of Intel's beta here, then the launch of this tool could allow developers, with just a few mouse clicks, to compile an app they can sell in AppUp for either MeeGo or Windows devices.
In addition to Intel's less technical description of this new offering (i.e., extremely cool), the company has gone on to suggest that there is now a growing app ecosystem between iOS, Android, Windows Phone 7, BlackBerry, and HP webOS -- and that this means that the developer community will be increasingly looking to adopt HTML5-based apps, thereby using so-called "modern web development" to create the best new app experiences.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Accredited Registrar Directory:
Registrars Alphabetical by Origin
The information that appears for each registrar, including the referral
web address and contact information, has been provided by each individual
The 2013 RAA ICANN logo indicates that the registrar has signed the 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement ("RAA"), which is the most current contract governing the registrar relationship with ICANN. The 2013 RAA provides enhanced protections for registrants and an increased level of accountability for registrars, including but not limited to added registrar posting requirements, added compliance enforcement tools and increased accountability to third parties. Prospective registrants may want to take this fact into account when selecting a registrar for their gTLD name(s). The 2013 RAA ICANN logo is not an indication of how long the registrar has been ICANN accredited. You can view this contract at https://www.icann.org/en/resources/registrars/raa/approved-with-specs-27jun 13-en.htm.
A registrar with a 2009 RAA ICANN logo is one that has yet to sign the 2013 RAA. Registrars who are covered by the 2009 RAA are obligated to follow many provisions that safeguard registrants, but they will not be able to offer as many generic top level domains in the future. You can view the 2009 contract at https://www.icann.org/en/registrars/ra-agreement-21may09-en.htm.


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Mondays are my long, long days — this is the day I get to spend 3 hours talking to students in small groups about cancer (they're young and invincible, so so far it hasn't been as depressing as I feared.) And they teach me stuff! Among the things I learned today is that there was a Peanuts special from the 1990s about cancer, titled "Why, Charlie Brown, Why". I was incredulous — it doesn't sound like the kind of thing I'd expect on Peanuts — but I looked it up, and there it was on YouTube. So I'll share. It's not bad.
The class is operating on a much higher level than this special — it doesn't mention oncogenes even once! — but the session today was a conversation about everyone's personal experiences with cancer, and yes, we did talk about television and movies and how they deal with the disease.
(Also on Sb)


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Hi guys,
Welcome back after all that time, i would like very much to share with you my newest creation.
The Pea and the Cat motive. Pea is an old friend with who i experimented years back, while the tomcat was discovered recently.
I hope you'll find the two of them to your taste
Pea&Cat true story..
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Pea&Cat true story..
my blogspot: http://yolk-colordesigner.blogspot.com/
portfolio: http://yolk-portfolio.blogspot.com/
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Joshua Lott / Reuters file
American Indian activist Russell Means, seen here at his Scottsdale, Ariz., home in October 2011, helped lead protests for Native American rights.
Russell Means, the American Indian activist who helped lead the 1973 uprising at Wounded Knee and who later became a Hollywood actor, has died. He was 72.
Means died Monday at his ranch in Porcupine, S.D., on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Oglala Sioux Tribe spokeswoman Donna Salomon said. The firebrand former leader of the American Indian Movement and one-time Libertarian Party candidate for U.S. president had been battling advanced esophageal cancer.
Born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Means joined the American Indian Movement in 1968 and soon became one of the group's prominent leaders. He took part in an occupation of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters in Washington in 1972, and helped lead the 71-day standoff with federal authorities at Wounded Knee on Pine Ridge in 1973.
He found himself dogged for decades by questions about AIM's alleged involvement in the slaying of a tribe member and the several gun battles with federal officers during the occupation of Wounded Knee, but denied the group ever promoted violence.
Russell Means, an American Indian activist who led the 1973 uprising at Wounded Knee, died Monday at his ranch in Porcupine, S.D. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
"You people who want to continue to put AIM in this certain pocket of illegality, I can't stand you people," Means said, lashing out an at audience member question during an April gathering commemorating the uprising's 40th anniversary. "I wish I was a little bit healthier and a little bit younger, because I wouldn't just talk."
Means told The Associated Press in 2011 that before AIM, there had been no advocate on a national or international scale for American Indians, and that Native Americans were ashamed of their heritage.
"No one except Hollywood stars and very rich Texans wore Indian jewelry," Means said. "And there was a plethora of dozens if not hundreds of athletic teams that in essence were insulting us, from grade schools to college. That's all changed."
Feb. 27, 1983: NBC's Chris Wallace and Fred Briggs look back at Wounded Knee South Dakota on the 10th anniversary of the takeover that was led by Russell Means of the American Indian Movement.
The movement eventually faded away, the result of Native Americans becoming self-aware and self-determined, Means said.
Watch the most-viewed videos on NBCNews.com
Means had fought for Native American rights since the 1960s, when he first protested college and professional sports teams' use of Indian images as mascots, which he said were demeaning caricatures of his people.
Agence France Presse / Getty Images file
Leaders of the American Indian Movement, from left, Dennis Banks, Russell Means and an unidentified third man appear at a press conference to list demands of the federal government for an increase in financial aid for the town of Wounded Knee, S.D., on March 16, 1973.
Means was arrested numerous times during his long career of protest and spent several periods in jail.
He ran unsuccessfully for president of his tribe and sought the Libertarian nomination for U.S. president, losing to Congressman Ron Paul at the party's 1987 national convention.
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Means' acting career began in 1992 when he portrayed Chingachgook alongside Daniel Day-Lewis' Hawkeye in "The Last of the Mohicans." He also appeared in the 1994 film "Natural Born Killers," voiced Chief Powhatan in the 1995 animated film "Pocahontas" and guest-starred in 2004 on the HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Means kept busy with his Hollywood career even as he battled the cancer that finally took his life. The Internet Movie Database reports that Means had recently completed projects, and had more in the works.
Means appeared in a film called "Tiger Eyes," which was based on a Judy Blume novel. Means' son, Tatanka Means, starred. The film screened Sunday at the Sante Fe Independent Film Festival.
The Means duo also are credited in "Winnetou: The Beginning," set for a 2013 release.
Means recounted his life in the book "Where White Men Fear to Tread." He said he pulled no punches in his autobiography, admitting to his frailties and evils but also acknowledging his successes.
"I tell the truth, and I expose myself as a weak, misguided, misdirected, dysfunctional human being I used to be," he said.
Salomon, the tribal spokeswoman, called Means' death a "great loss" for the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this story.
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The Detroit Branch NAACP held a press conference on Monday, April 11 to announce the Keynote Speaker and Awardees for the 61st Annual Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner. Former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was announced as the Keynote Speaker. In addition to announcing Secretary Clinton the following awardees were also announced:
2016 James Weldon Johnson Lifetime Achievement Awardee
Honorable James Clyburn
Congressman, United States House of Representatives (D-SC)
2016 Ida B. Wells Freedom and Justice Awardee
Ivy Bailey
President, Detroit Federation of Teachers
2016 Mary Church Terrell Freedom and Justice Awardee
Honorable Goeff Hansen
Michigan State Senator (34th District)
2016 Great Expectations Awardees
- Shaka Senghor
Author, Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison
- Honorable Mary Sheffield
Councilwoman, City of Detroit
Please click the link 61st Annual FFFFD Keynote and Awardees Announcement to read the official press statement given by Detroit Branch NAACP President Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony.


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Short double-breasted dress with ruffle detail has 3/4 sleeve and V-neck.
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Irrigating Difficult Spaces
Distinguishing yourself in the irrigation business is a perpetual challenge. Competition is intense and the battleground is littered with casualties of the low-bid war. Too often we choose to compromise profit rather than win the battle of innovation and ideas. Having been in the irrigation business for more than 30 years, I attribute my longevity and success to being innovative and creative in design, utilizing the latest technologies and products, and taking a holistic approach to design and installation.
Over the years, I've built my company identity on being able to handle difficult landscape situations. As a regular subcontractor for several landscape architects, I am often selected for the "difficult jobs" — those with complicated microclimates, unusual landscape designs and intensive management requirements. In this article I will share my overall design philosophy and approach to meeting common challenges in irrigation design, and share some of the ideas, techniques and design methods that I find successful in addressing unusual situations. Of the challenges I face in irrigation design, trees, stair-step landscape design, slopes, pots and planters are the most difficult.
It's been my experience that the most difficult of all plants to design for are trees. Trees are usually specially selected by the customer for their visual appeal, sentimental value and as a long-term investment in the property itself. They are also generally the most expensive plant specimens. For these reasons, you must give special consideration to ensuring that the trees survive the initial shock of planting, and give them the best chance of a long, productive life.
With few exceptions, group newly planted trees on their own zones (or valves). This allows for more precise control of water application. As trees mature and root zones expand, this "temporary" system may be turned off altogether depending on the root profile and water requirements at maturity. For small trees (10 to 15 gallon sizes) use either 6-inch spacing or in-line drip tubing, installed in a concentric-circle design around the base of the tree. The number of concentric-circles depends upon the size of the excavated area around the tree and soil type. The close emitter spacing and slow application rate of the in-line drip product provide a good wetting pattern around the root ball without drowning the tree. This is a common cause of tree death in heavy clay soils.
A second design approach is more applicable to large tree specimens — those typically larger than 60 gallons. For trees of this size, providing an even distribution of water to the fine root hairs across the large root ball is sometimes difficult. Rather than using bubblers and drip tubing, use flat-angle, fixed-spray nozzles that irrigate the excavated area and root ball. The high application rate of fixed-spray nozzles is generally not a problem since the root ball and surrounding soil typically have a high water-infiltration-rate potential. Again, isolating these trees on their own irrigation zone is critical for control.
Another common challenge is the common "stair-step" planting design. With this arrangement, larger plants are placed in the back, usually against a structure (house wall or fence), and plants "step" down in size toward the front of the planting bed. For me, the objective is two-fold: 1) to prevent water stains on windows, walls and fences, and 2) vary water application rate to accommodate optimal plant water requirements for each "stair-step."
My approach to solving this particular challenge is also two-fold: 1) use flat-angle, closely-spaced, high-precipitation-rate nozzles positioned a minimum of 6 inches from the structure itself and that spray underneath the canopy, and 2) employ what I call the "disproportionate nozzle selection technique." Using this technique, vary irrigation application rates through nozzle selection, thereby accommodating rows or groups of plants of different sizes and water requirements. For example, high-application-rate nozzles are placed in the rear of the bed to water larger plant specimens, while lighter application rate nozzles are used for middle and front bed specimens.
Since many planting beds slope away from structures, a certain amount of water will move down the slope (or to the front of the bed) from gravity and capillary water action. To prevent water stains, use a variety of specialty low-angle or flat-spray nozzles at a low height. This minimizes wind drift and over-spray. If the planting pattern and density allow, use multiple rows of 6-inch spacing, in-line drip tubing. I tend to use this design if the particular plant species has a lower water requirement relative to the surrounding plants. Although this design approach does sometimes clash with other philosophies of irrigation design (particularly those that propose equal application rate at all costs within a single zone), it is one way to limit the number of irrigation zones in a design, while at the same time addressing the different water requirements in a single planting bed.
Slopes pose a significant challenge for all irrigation designers. The degree of difficulty varies with steepness, soil type (infiltration rate), level of compaction, plant type, plant density and proximity to critical surfaces (sidewalks and streets, for example). The goal is simple — to prevent water runoff and minimize erosion. With sprinkler systems, keep irrigation application rates as low as possible. This is difficult to do when the area is small and slope is steep, considering that the application rate for fixed spray nozzles is relatively high. Factor in compact or clay soils with slow infiltration rates, and your design options using spray systems are limited.
To minimize runoff: 1) use square rather than triangular sprinkler spacing, and 2) separate the top and bottom of the slope into different zones and vary nozzle trajectory and pop-up height. Square spacing provides good coverage, yet applies a lighter application rate compared to triangular spacing with the same nozzle. For the top zone, I prefer a flat trajectory or low-angle nozzles, and sprinkler heads with a low pop-up height. For the bottom zone, maximize spray radius and spray pattern distribution by selecting a nozzle with a steeper spray trajectory and sprinkler heads that pop up higher than those on the top of the slope. Generally speaking, the steeper the slope, the higher pop-up height for sprinkler heads positioned at the bottom of the slope.
Over the last few years, more and more customers have recognized the aesthetic value of decorative pots and planters. These days, nearly every landscape design features pots or planters. Fortunately, the product options for irrigating pots and planters have also expanded.
The difficulty with irrigating pots is maintaining adequate moisture while preventing water staining on expensive surfaces. When possible, try to provide input on the front end — expressing the need for a good pot medium that has high-water-retention capillary action properties. This definitely helps control moisture level in the pot, however, too much water retention can lead to waterlogged soils, anaerobic conditions inside the pot and poor plant quality.
For pots and planters, the soil mix and water retention properties are a key determinant in design. In pots with porous soils, use one or more micro-spray (or micro-mist) applicators at the surface of the soil to ensure that the entire soil surface is wetted. In heavier soil media, use closely spaced, in-line drip tubing, positioned such that emitters are at the base of plants. Understanding the water-retention quality of the soil medium is also important in scheduling pot irrigation systems. Isolating pots on their own irrigation zones is a must, and necessary to prevent over-irrigation, which can stain other surfaces.
From my experience, soil is the key variable to understand when designing for difficult situations. Understanding soil and the part it plays in efficient irrigation design is a continuing process. The knowledge I've acquired (and continue to pursue) through experiences (both good and bad), experimentation, research and educational courses, such as those taught by the Irrigation Association, pays huge dividends. As an irrigation contractor, your ability to respond to difficult design challenges with knowledge, creativity and innovation will distinguish you from the pack. That I've remained in business for more than 30 years is testament enough that this is true.
Gene Barnes, CID, CIC, CLIA and Texas Licensed Irrigator 1915, is also president of Gallion Irrigation (Houston, Texas).
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Just pure excitement, this has been a long time coming, and finally we Cubs fans are being rewarded with talent on the field. It didn't take Soler long to make an impact, he launched the fourth Major League pitch he saw 432 feet for his first career home run.
Tag: Jorge Soler debut
Cubs Ride Homers From Rizzo and Alcantara to Fourth Straight Win
Solid pitching? Check. Just enough hitting? Check.
It seems simple, but the Cubs have played some solid baseball over the past 90 games (45-45 before tonight), and they aren't showing any signs of slowing down with their latest win in Cincinnati tonight, their fourth straight. Travis Wood found his 2013 magic against his former employer, he worked six scoreless innings, giving up just two hits, while walking one, and striking out five. The Cubs pen shut, no, slammed the door once again, as Neil Ramirez, Pedro Strop, and Hector Rondon were lights out. Wood picked up his eighth win of the season, and Rondon registered his 22nd save of the year.
Offensively the Cubs got started in the first, and that was all they needed. Anthony Rizzo hit an absolute bomb off of Cy Young candidate Johnny Cueto in the first, it was his 30th home run of the season, that's impressive. Starlin Castro returned from the bereavement list tonight, and picked up right where he left off, he went 2-for-4 in the win. Arismendy Alcantara joined the fun late, as he blasted a two-run shot to give the Cubs some insurance in the seventh.
Get ready for Jorge Soler, he debuts tomorrow!
Note: Anthony Rizzo left the game late with some back tightness, he should be fine.
7/19: Around the Cubs Minor League System
All teams back in action on Thursday July 19.
Jorge Soler made his much anticipated debut on Thursday night, but the AZL Cubs fell to the AZL Mariners 4-3 in 12 innings. It was not quite the debut we were looking for from Soler as he went 0-3, grounding out twice and lining into a double play. The Cubs got RBIs from David Bote, Daniel Lockhart, and Justin Marra. Marra also had two hits on the evening. Paul Blackburn got the start on Thursday and pitched three innings allowing one runs on three hits. Carlos Martinez-Pumarino struck out five in four innings out of the pen and Daniel Adrian struck out four in three scoreless innings. Chad Martin took the loss giving up the winning run in the 12th inning. Not the type of game we become accustomed to from the Cubs in Arizona.
The pitching for Boise did their job on Thursday, but the Hawks still lost to Eugene 2-1. Ian Dickson got the start and took the tough loss. He gave up two runs, one earned in five innings. He also struck out five, his record now stands at 1-3. Hunter Ackerman was outstanding in relief striking out four and allowing only one hit in three innings pitched. All of the Hawks offense came off the bat of Stephen Bruno who had the only two hits for Boise. He also drove in Gioskar Amaya who reached on a walk. This is a tough one to swallow as the pitching did so well, unfortunately the hitting did not.
Peoria dropped another to West Michigan losing 4-2. Yao-Lin Wang started and took the loss allowing three runs in the second inning, one earned in just 1.2 innings pitched. Josheph Zeller pitched well in relief allowing one unearned run on seven hits in 5.1 innings. He struck out three and lowered his ERA to 1.69. Javier Baez did it again going 2-for-4 hitting his ninth home run of the season and stealing his 17th base. Chadd Krist only was able to muster up one hit tonight as his average dropped to .462. Dustin Geiger added a hit and scored the only other Chiefs run of the day. Peoria will look to get back on track tomorrow.
It is tough to win when you allow four runs in one inning and then a single run four innings in a row. Daytona didn't disprove this losing 8-3 to Jupiter. Austin Kirk took the loss allowing five runs in five innings pitched. His ERA stands at an impressive 2.88. Hunter Cervenka, Scott Weismann, and AJ Morris all gave up a run in their inning of work out of the bullpen. The good news came from one of the Cubs top prospects Matt Szczur. He was 3-for-4 with a triple, run scored, RBI and his 33rd stolen base of the year. Ronald Torreyes was 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Elliot Soto added two hits driving in one run and Rubi Silva also had an RBI. Not a good loss all the way around for the Cubs.
After giving up three in the first Tennessee tried to mount a comeback, but it ultimately came up short losing 4-3 to Chattanooga. Eric Jokisch took the loss allowing three runs on six hits in five innings. Kevin Rhoderick hopefully got back on track Thursday striking out all four of the outs he recorded. Marcus Hatley pitched a scoreless inning giving up three hits, but striking out one. Juan Apodaca hit a double and drove in two runs. Jae-Hoon Ha was 2-for-3 with a run scored and Logan Watkins drove stole his 19th base of the season and drove in his 36th run of the season. It was a good comeback attempt, but turned out to be another disappointing loss.
Casey Coleman got scratched from his start so Ryan Rowland-Smith took his place and struggled giving up five runs, three earned in just four innings pitched. All of those runs came in the second and Iowa could never rebound losing 9-1. Offensively Brett Jackson was 2-for-4 with the Cubs lone RBI. Dave Sappelt and Blake Lalli each had two hits and both had a double. Adrian Cardenas and Welington Castillo had doubles as well. Other than that not much excitement coming from Iowa on Thursday night.
Thanks for reading,


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On 20th January 2013 I'll be teaching a seminar on karate joint locks, flow drills and counter-locking. The seminar will cost £25 / person and will run from 11am to 3pm. The seminar will take place at Stafford Martial Arts Academy, Top Floor of Paul Reynolds Centre, Browning Street, Stafford, ST16 3AT. There is a maximum of 25 places so please act quickly! Payment Details: Pay by cheque, but contact Leigh to confirm your place(s) first. Email or call Leigh Simms on 07581 443637 or email@example.com
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Philippine Politics is Second Most Profitable Business in Asia, Money Magazine Says
11/26/2014 | 11:45 0 Posted in Local Issues
Singapore | "If Philippine Politics can only be listed as a public corporation, more investors will pour their money to one of the most profitable businesses in Asia", Kurt LaVine, editor of Money Magazine said.
Philippine Politics has been listed as second most profitable business in Asia, beating giant companies like Toyota Motors, Samsung, Keppel, and even its own San Miguel and Ayala Corporation.
The list is the result of 3-year study consolidated by both Asian Development Bank (in which Philippines owed billions of dollars), and Business Insiders. The report said 21% of Philippines' annual budget ($10.5B) goes to politicians' pockets every year excluding bribes from private companies and charity donations.
The following is the lists of top 10 most profitable Asian companies with Philippine Politics at the second spot.
Tata Consultancy Services (India) $13.15B
Philippine Politics (Philippines) $10.5B or 21% of the country's 2014 budget
Tencent Holdings (China) $9.8B
Baidu (China) $7.8B
Galaxy Entertainment (Hong Kong) $6.48B
HDFC Bank Limited (India) $5.6B
Sun Pharma Industries (India) $4.15B
Naver (South Korea) $3.05B
Tata Motors (India) $3.01
Avago Technologies (Singapore) $2.98
The mighty San Miguel Corporation with a net income of $658M is listed at number 19, while Ayala Corporation is listed at number 26 with $349M net profit.
Politicians are also making most money during natural calamities where foreign donations pour. Assessment of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) reveals that the Philippine Government received 35% more donations than it needed, however, victims have yet to receive the said aid.
"Philippine Politics is a high risk but extremely high return investment. A politician who runs for mayor in a small town can spend 50 million pesos during election but when he wins, he can make more than 10 times times of that amount during the course of his 3-year term. No real business could promise 1000% return in 3 years except Philippine Politics", the report said.
In related news, the International Committee on the Red Cross (ICRC), and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHR), are planning to send independent bodies to investigate the case of Yolanda, and to oversee proper distribution of aid, especially those donated by other countries.
Report said some non-monetary aids are seen sold in public places by unidentified groups believed to be associated with some high-profile government officials.


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On the night of Jan. 31, 2001, a 19-year-old named Joel Turner was in an apartment in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood when three young men broke in. One of them carried an unusual knife, a foot-and-a-half long. A driver waited in a van outside.
In moments, the lives of these young men were viciously broken. Mr. Turner had been stabbed to death. Three of the men would go to prison for their roles in what happened that night. The crime left Turner's family in confusion and pain.
The thought of being able to face in person someone who has committed a horrible crime against you or a loved one can stir dark instincts. But it also can be a path toward resolution, healing, and, for some, even forgiveness.
Janet Connors, Turner's mother, has met behind bars with two of the men involved in her son's death. It is not the sort of meeting a grieving parent is likely to want to experience alone.
That's where Jon Wilson steps in.
Mr. Wilson owns a business dedicated to boats and boat building, a craft as artful and precise as the taking of a human life is violent and horrid. Wilson was there with Ms. Connors, as he's been with dozens of victims of violent crimes, because he believes such meetings are crucial to the healing process.
This concept, called Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD), lets agonized victims or their surviving loved ones do something the justice system rarely lets them do: talk with the wrongdoer.
"I believe that the process of giving voice is therapeutic," says Wilson, who is not a professional therapist. "When a survivor is able to give full voice to their feelings, they suddenly feel heard in a way they never could have in any other context."
VOD brings together victims, or their surviving loved ones, and their imprisoned offenders to discuss the acts that bind them: domestic violence, rapes, and killings.
The dialogue happens in a secure setting at the inmate's prison. It's the survivor's day, Wilson says, their time to ask, to describe their loss, to speak with measured anger – whatever they want. Convicts listen, answer, sometimes try to explain.
At her first meeting, Connors brought pictures of her son, full of life. "I think for every one of us, when something horrible happens to us and so devastates our worldview, we want an explanation," Wilson says. "Almost every survivor wants to know why: 'I need to know why this violence happened, and why it happened to me.'
"Everything I do is about enabling the survivor to be heard and preparing the offender to respond in a way that's more substantial than 'I can't explain it.' "
Through his nonprofit group, JUST Alternatives, Wilson has worked with clients in Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia, and Vermont. He does the work pro bono.
In many ways the VOD work is sustained by his other occupation. Along the west side of Brooklin, Maine, a tree-edged field slopes to the cold sea. Overlooking the view is an early 20th-century house, its rooms decorated with images of sailing vessels; everywhere is the grace of moving water and curved wood.
This is the home of WoodenBoat Publications, which publishes magazines and runs a boat building and seamanship school, boat shows, and a mail-order store. Wilson, the owner and chairman, launched WoodenBoat magazine in the mid-1970s out of a cabin with no electricity and no running water. It now has a circulation of about 80,000.
His life in Maine provides ballast for his work traversing the emotional storms of VOD.
"If I couldn't come back to this home, and this work, and boats, and art, and love, I couldn't do the facilitation," he says.
Wilson first grew intrigued with VOD when he was researching an article for Hope, a human interest magazine he published until 2003. In 2000, he attended training led by a pastor named David Doerfler, then with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division. From the first day he was hooked.
He began working cases in Texas, which operates one of the oldest and largest VOD programs in the country. (At the time, six states offered VOD programs, Wilson says: Today, just over half the state corrections departments in the country support VOD programs.)
The programs are a delicate subject with state correctional officials. Some report widespread satisfaction among participants, but others refuse to discuss VOD at all.
As the mother of a victim, Connors welcomed a chance to take part in VOD. "Don't take my choice away," she says. "We [victims] are used to getting upset – our whole lives have been upset. But don't take away my choice to meet with the person who caused me harm."
Victims, often women, initiate the VOD process through state victim services agencies. In a series of one-on-one meetings, Wilson helps his clients shape what they want to say to their victimizers. "The iconic story of the victim forgiving the offender is a story that a lot of people like," Wilson says. "But for most victims, forgiveness is the last thing on their minds."
Wilson takes months to help the victims prepare. Their words to the offender must not be said too forcefully: Rail or shout and the offender might withdraw.
"I think Jon doesn't know how good he is at what he does," says Jean Wall, former director of victim services in the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. "He says, 'All I do is listen,' " but he's also doing much more to prepare the victims for the meeting, she says.
The jailed offenders receive no shortened sentences or any kind of credit for their involvement. No dialogue occurs if an offender doesn't fully accept responsibility for the crime. What they do get is an opportunity to think more deeply about what they've done.
Wilson also meets ahead of time with offenders. "When I start out [with an offender], many of them will say, 'I don't even know if I have feelings,' " Wilson says. "Of course they have feelings, but that's how far removed they are from them. Describing their feelings is new to them.
"This is the problem with our system: These guys can do their whole sentence without ever having to think or talk about their crime. We do not insist [that] that person think about what they have done."
Connors's life in an inner-city Boston neighborhood gives her a perspective on the consequences of crime and corrections.
"I was really struck by the waste of ... five young people's lives," she says. "My son was dead. But their lives, and the lives of their families, were also permanently altered.... What became the most sensible thing for me was to have my son's life mean enough to these people so that they could honor and change their own lives."
In a complex case, two of the four men involved in Joel's death pleaded guilty to various charges, including manslaughter. Connors met the younger of the two with Wilson on two occasions, the first in 2005.
"I told him he had a piece of my forgiveness, and that he could have the rest when he walked out the prison door and caused no more harm," Connors says. "The dialogue helped me be able to say, 'I expect you to live a good life because you still have yours.' "
Adds Wilson: "Their dialogue was amazing in that he was so respectful of her and blown away by her generosity to him, which in some ways he felt he didn't deserve."
Connors also met and talked with the older of the two. She asked him to stand with his parents, her, and Wilson at her son's grave after the offender was released.
"This process has brought a significant measure of peace of mind to me," Connors says, "that has helped me let go of a lot of the anger I had toward those responsible for Joel's murder and toward the system that I feel retraumatized my family and our friends. In this VOD process my son's life mattered; I did not feel like it really did in the court process."
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Pop star Ke$ha took on members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church when she sent back up dancers to crash a protest taking place during her concert in Lincoln, Neb., over the weekend.
Three tank top-clad men broke out into a choreographed dance while protestors sang an anti-gay parody of Ke$ha's "We R Who We R," which they renamed "God Hates Who U R."
The energetic dancers were flanked by photographers and protestors holding anti-Obama signs, while swaying to the auto-tuned pop song.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Westboro Baptist Church is known for its anti-gay agenda and protests at funerals for U.S. soldiers. Critics of the group have found creative ways to fight back. A gay rights center moved in across the street from the Topeka, Kan., church in March and painted their new house the colors of the pride flag.
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10 Questions with Mary Oscategui – The Baby Planner
BellyButtonBoutique owner, Karla Trotman was very inspired by mompreneur Mary Oscategui. Not only is she a fitness expert and a mother, but she has established an international organization that sets the standard for how to plan for baby's arrival. Mary dismisses the notion that baby planners are only for the rich. Instead, she offers insight on the business and how new and expectant moms are using baby planners to support and transition into motherhood.
1. What is a Baby Planner?
A baby planner is an objective and supportive educator, who determines the types of services and products that are essential throughout their client's journey toward parenthood. A baby planner customizes their services to suit their client's specific needs, and is committed to empowering their client's by showing them all their many options during pre-conception, pregnancy and beyond. This includes the various options for birthing, co-sleeping, health, fitness, nutrition, going-green, safety, budgeting, product navigation, baby shower preparation, baby registries, and much more.
2. Is this a new concept? How did it start?
Although the origins of baby planning can be traced to a few different sources, "Baby Planner" as a profession was first formally established and recognized in the media in September 2006, when a woman by the name of Keely Paice launched her business in the United Kingdom. They advise on all aspects of pregnancy.
3. How did you get into area of expertise?
It was during my pregnancy with my daughter 'Bella Luna' that I first discovered the importance of having a strong support system. I had always been very independent, yet when I suddenly found myself pregnant and living on the West Coast far away from my family, I suddenly realized that I was going to need to find a network of support as soon possible. There were so many services, products, and decisions to ponder. I was exhausted by the amount of energy and time spent researching all the information on pregnancy. I knew that I needed to reach out for additional support to navigate me through the process. I was blessed to come across an amazing mid-wife named Mary Jackson, who helped me find the support and guidance I needed. Through her close network of friends and practitioners I had full-time support and guidance throughout my beautiful and challenging journey into motherhood.
The entire experience stirred up in me a passion to help and support expecting moms throughout their pregnancy. I realized I had found my calling. A few months after Bella was born, I committed myself to becoming a "baby planner" extraordinaire. Prior to this I had been in the health and fitness industry for more than fifteen years as a Fitness and Group Exercise Manager. In addition I hold extensive certifications as a Personal Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, Wellness Coach, Yoga, and Pilates Instructor. Since I already had extensive training in consulting, business, management, and as a health practitioner, I saw the perfect way to combine this with my passion for motherhood.
4. What types of services are available with a Baby Planner?
We offer in-home consults. We educate and coach expecting moms on everything from birthing options and breastfeeding to maternity health to "going green" and postpartum depression. Because of my fitness expertise, I can offer pre-and post-natal personal training and yoga. Other baby planners who have additional areas of expertise can do the same. We can recommend nutritionists, lactation consultants, sleep consultants, baby proofers, child care agencies and clinical psychologists, etc….
"A baby planner does not diagnose, treat, examine or medically advise their clients. Unless a baby planner holds an additional license or certification in a specific area of practice, a baby planner does not prescribe or attempt to perform for a client additional services that require advanced training." (As stated in the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals Standard of Practice).
5. Do you have to be rich to have a Baby Planner?
Absolutely not. A baby planner can be just as affordable as a personal trainer, life coach, lactation consultant, massage therapist etc….
6. Why did you start the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals?
Our philosophy as a baby planner is a great deal different from the philosophy of other baby planners in the mainstream market. The main stream definition of a baby planner is, "a professional consultant who is paid to assist expectant parents with some or all of the overwhelming tasks of preparing for their baby's (or babies') arrival such as researching baby products like strollers and cribs, nursery planning, home baby proofing, baby shower/baby registry planning, interviewing nannies and midwives, and even shopping for maternity clothes." The cornerstone of these baby planning businesses is baby gear consulting. I found myself passionate about offering another approach.
The main stream definition lacks highlighting the most important part of pregnancy which is offering services providing education to raise awareness of a woman's birthing options, co-sleeping choices and so on. I had a strong desire to provide a different perspective of the role of a baby planner. This passion led me to form The International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals (IABPP) in September 2009. The IABPP inspires, supports, and educates baby planners through creative and effective professionalism, business management, strong leadership, sales, and communication in order to provide their clients with exceptional service. The IABPP provides a baby planner certification program and advanced credentials to baby planner professionals.
7. What should one look for when they are looking for a Baby Planner?
They should look for someone who is educated, objective, supportive, and experienced. They should also look for someone who has interned with a baby planner or went through a form of education, like a certification program. Additional skills should include: a great listener, well-organized, excellent customer service, and empathetic.
8. What is the most unusual request that you have received from a client?
9. Have you ever had a request that you could not fulfill?
As of yet, no. I work with a team of experts who I refer my clients to, when my client's needs go beyond my own scope of practice.
10. How does one get the most use out of a Baby Planner?
By sharing their concerns and needs, no matter how small or large. A baby planner offers support and guidance in the most objective manner.
Mary Oscategui, Founder of The Baby Planner and The International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals, has a determination and love for empowering women "The Baby Planner: A Guide to Becoming a Baby Planner and Starting Your Own Business," which offers a new perspective on what it means to be a baby planner, and provides those interested in a baby planning career with all the tools and support necessary to get started in the new industry of baby planning.
Mary has advised baby planner start-ups businesses offering a wealth of knowledge and support. She has also coached and trained a variety of clients throughout her fifteen year career through the modalities of yoga, pilates, mom and baby health, holistic nutrition, and weight management.
She is a very passionate baby planner, single mom, mom-preneur, certified Yoga and Pilates Instructor,certified Personal Trainer, a Health and Fitness Specialist, Living Foods expert, a Home Birth Mama, and a Going-Green expert. She's inspirational, motivating, and enjoys matching her clients with the best of everything. She is fluent in
Spanish and has a two year old daughter named Bella Luna.
Mary Oscategui, The Baby Planner http://www.thebabyplanner.com
The International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals http://www.iabpp.com
March 8, 2010 Posted by bellybuttonboutique | Bellybuttonboutique, parenthood, pregnancy | Baby Planner, baby registry, IABPP, Mary Oscategui | 1 Comment
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This ombre flower wall is designed with a combination of mix paper flowers in yellow and orange shade colors.
We can customize the size and colors of any of our walls.
These Backdrops can be used as:
Baby Shower Backdrop, Wedding Backdrop, Bridal Shower Backdrop, Trade show Backdrop, Holiday Backdrop, Corporate Backdrop, Birthday party Backdrop, Tea party Backdrop, Reception Backdrop, Sweet Heart Table Backdrop, Cocktail Party Backdrop, Dinner party Backdrop, Quinceanera Backdrop, Charity Event Backdrop, Fundraising Backdrop, Graduation backdrop, Party Backdrop, Grand opening Backdrop, Advertising Backdrop, Promotion Backdrop, Beauty Convention Backdrop, Convention Backdrop, YouTube Backdrop, Makeup artist Backdrop, TV Academy Award show Backdrop, Stage Backdrop, Music Festival Backdrop, TV show Backdrop, Talk show Backdrop, Festival Backdrop, and…..
We can attach and design the flowers around your printed company logo or any printed sign you provide us. Please keep in mind that the printed material should be on a very light weight material like poster paper or foam. The backdrop can also be designed with only flowers and no signage in the middle.
We deliver, setup and then pick up the flower wall at the end of your event.
Delivery, setup and pickup fees are included for all Orange County event locations. Please refer to chart below for the delivery charges in other areas we service.
All of our backdrops securely stand on their own.
Reservations can be made with a small deposit and the remaining balance due a week before the event.
Please contact us via email at email@example.com or call us at 949-394-1331 for availability, reservations and custom order inquiries.
We are happy to make your special occasion as memorable as can be!


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Matsumoto Incorporated is a design studio dedicated to creating successful and thoughtful solutions for leading cultural and commercial institutions.
GingerNutz: The Jungle Memoir of a Model Orangutan
Charles James: Beyond Fashion
Cy Twombly: Paradise
Ellsworth Kelly
Color Chart: Reinventing Color, 1950 to Today
Hiroshi Sugimoto Book Series
Carrie Mae Weems: Kitchen Table Series
Parallel Views: Italian and Japanese Art from the 1950s, 60s and 70s
Diverse Beauty
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty
Francesco Clemente
Special Edition Book
Giorgio Armani
Art Center College of Design
Alumni Magazine
Art Center Undergraduate Prospectus
Recruitment Catalogue
Art Center Campaign Report
Development Publication
The Harold Koda Collection
Hiroshi Sugimoto: The Long Never
Roy Lichtenstein
Jed Johnson: Opulent Restraint
David Webb: The Quintessential American Jeweler
The Furniture of Poul Kjaerholm: Catalogue Raisonné
Dancing Around the Bride: Cage, Cunningham, Johns, Rauschenberg, and Duchamp
Musée Yves Saint Laurent
Jennifer Bartlett: Epic Systems
The Fabric Workshop and Museum
Allora & Calzadilla: Intervals
Exhibition Identity
Paul Strand: Master of Modern Photography
Sarah Sze
Stephen Sills: Decoration
Whitney Museum of American Art Campaign Statement
Identity, Packaging, Advertisement
A.S.A.P. Book Series
Logo Design
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Allan Greenberg: Classical Architect
Packaging, Advertisement, Direct Mail
CUNY Graduate Center Brochure
Identity Brochure
Sointu Watches
Cy Twombly Gallery
Roni Horn: 153 Drawings
I Pezzi Dipinti
Awashima Hotel
Identity, Packaging
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Identity & Packaging


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Illustration copyright 2000 by Nucleus
Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac (follicle) that contains a
maturing egg. It forms on the ovary's surface, then disappears not long after
it releases the egg. If a mature egg is not released or if the sac reseals
after releasing the egg, the sac can swell up with fluid, forming a
functional ovarian cyst.
Most functional ovarian cysts do not cause symptoms and go away by
themselves. But they do sometimes rupture, twist, or bleed, which can
cause severe pelvic pain.
Last Revised:
October 8, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine & Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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Obama, Geithner and the Missing Six Trillion Dollars
Timothy Geithner, President Barack Obama's first Treasury Secretary and chief architect of many of the various and sundry bank bailouts and associated programs carried out during Mr. Obama's first term in office, recently wrote a book telling his side of 'the story.' To be clear, I haven't read the book and have no intention of doing so. Life is short and the relevant side of the story, the economic consequences of Mr. Geithner's policies, is the one of interest here. The prevailing storyline in the banker's ghettoes of New York and London is of an indispensable and functioning financial system saved and a second Great Depression averted through Mr. Geithner's necessary but unpopular programs to transfer public resources to nominally private corporations— Wall Street banks, in order to save them. Implied is that the travails Wall Street faced in 2008 – 2009 were the result of 'natural' forces and that its restoration is substantially related to restoration of 'the economy.' Mainstream economists have put forward variations on this latter claim through repeated assertion that 'the economy,' as measured by GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and the official unemployment rate, has 'recovered' to pre-recession levels.
Graph (1): Contrary to the view on Wall Street and within the Western economic establishment restoration of Wall Street has not 'fixed' the economy. The policies of Mr. Geithner, the Obama administration and the Federal Reserve have 'fixed' profits, compensation and bonuses for Wall Street. The drop in median income is evidence of ongoing economic Depression for most citizens of the West. Assertions to the contrary by Mr. Geithner, the Obama administration and the 'eternal sunshine of the spotless mind' crowd of Western economists are evidence of whose interests they represent. Apparent in the recovery of financial profits without a recovery in household incomes is that Wall Street doesn't need a functioning economy to earn 'profits.'
The Fed Is The Great Deceiver — Paul Craig Roberts and Dave Kranzler
Paul Craig Roberts and Dave Kranzler
Is the Fed "tapering"? Did the Fed really cut its bond purchases during the three month period November 2013 through January 2014? Apparently not if foreign holders of Treasuries are unloading them.
From November 2013 through January 2014 Belgium with a GDP of $480 billion purchased $141.2 billion of US Treasury bonds. Somehow Belgium came up with enough money to allocate during a 3-month period 29 percent of its annual GDP to the purchase of US Treasury bonds.
Certainly Belgium did not have a budget surplus of $141.2 billion. Was Belgium running a trade surplus during a 3-month period equal to 29 percent of Belgium GDP?
No, Belgium's trade and current accounts are in deficit.
Did Belgium's central bank print $141.2 billion worth of euros in order to make the purchase?
No, Belgium is a member of the euro system, and its central bank cannot increase the money supply.
So where did the $141.2 billion come from?
There is only one source. The money came from the US Federal Reserve, and the purchase was laundered through Belgium in order to hide the fact that actual Federal Reserve bond purchases during November 2013 through January 2014 were $112 billion per month.
In other words, during those 3 months there was a sharp rise in bond purchases by the Fed. The Fed's actual bond purchases for those three months are $27 billion per month above the original $85 billion monthly purchase and $47 billion above the official $65 billion monthly purchase at that time. (In March 2014, official QE was tapered to $55 billion per month and to $45 billion for May.)
Why did the Federal Reserve have to purchase so many bonds above the announced amounts and why did the Fed have to launder and hide the purchase?
Some country or countries, unknown at this time, for reasons we do not know dumped $104 billion in Treasuries in one week.
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Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown (born February 5, 1969) is an American R&B singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and dancer. After success in pop group New Edition, Brown began his solo career in 1987 and had a string of Top 10 Billboard hits, culminating in a Grammy Award. He was a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a fusion of hip hop and R&B. His second album, Don't Be Cruel, included popular songs such as "My Prerogative". Brown is the ex-husband of R&B singer Whitney Houston and starred in the reality show Being Bobby Brown.
Bobby Brown began his music career as a member of the R&B boy band New Edition which he founded along with childhood friend Michael Bivins. He is the youngest member of the group since the inception. The group's hits with Brown included "Candy Girl", "Cool It Now", and "Mr. Telephone Man". Brown was voted out of New Edition in 1986 when the other four members felt that their careers would be jeopardized by Bobby's lewd, line-crossing on-stage antics. Throughout the All for Love tour, he feuded with Ralph Tresvant and cut in on Tresvant's lead vocals. In 1996, Brown rejoined the group for New Edition's comeback album, Home Again. In the middle of the tour, he engaged in further racy on-stage antics. He extended his solo set and cut into Bell Biv Devoe's time. Once again, he left New Edition. In the fall of 2005, New Edition performed at BET's 25th Anniversary Special. The group performed a medley of its greatest hits, and even brought Bobby Brown on stage for a rendition of "Mr. Telephone Man". It was later announced on BET and Inside Hollywood that Bobby had rejoined the group and would be on the next group album. In January 2006, New Edition announced that the group would launch a new album and tour in 2008. Bobby also appeared at a concert in Columbia, South Carolina that New Edition had filmed for a future dvd release.
After leaving New Edition in 1985, Brown stayed with the group manager Steven Machat and Machat secured from MCA, the groups record label, a record deal guaranteed for Browns solo career if Brown agreed to leave the New Edition. MCA released his first solo album, King of Stage, in 1986. This album included "Girlfriend", a minor hit which went to #1 on the Billboard R&B charts and #57 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other than that, King of Stage did not garner much attention. However, Brown's next album, 1988's Don't Be Cruel with Machat overseeing the entire production and styling of Brown with Louil Silas, MCA's rep, rocketed him to super stardom. Working with the writing/producing team of L.A. Reid and Babyface, as well as Teddy Riley, Don't Be Cruel spawned five Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles: "Don't Be Cruel" (#8), "Every Little Step" (#3), "Rock Wit' Cha" (#7), "My Prerogative" (#1), and "Roni" (#3). The album would eventually be certified 8x platinum (8,000,000 units sold).


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Here's an article on feeding (goats) that I wrote. Just the way we do things here and thought I'd share!
Whether you are a novice goat owner to an experienced rancher, it seems there are always the constant questions about what and how much to feed. After many, many changes over the years with our herd, figuring out what works best and what doesn't, I think we have finally narrowed things down for our herd. But as always, one thing is not going to work for everyone. Depending on what part of the country you are in, whether you are dry-lot feeding or pasture raising your goats, management and feeding issues are going to vary a lot.
Goats have many nutritional requirements and dairy goats are one of the harder to keep livestock, at times. Milking does and growing kids need calcium. The most common source of calcium for goats is good Alfalfa hay or pellets.
Remember when you are feeding goats, you are feeding the rumen. The goats rumen is a very complex system, and requires lots of nutrients from hay, pasture and browse. Goats are browsers, which means they eat lots of forage and cannot do well just off of a pelleted or grain based diet. Turned out in a lot with forest and grass pasture, typically the goats will go to the forest first and eat the leaves, bark and various things first before going to eat the grass. Whereas sheep on the otherhand, will not typically eat the leaves and bark like goats do, they'll go straight for the grass (which has earned them many nicknames, but this isn't about sheep).
What we have been feeding our herd for years now, is this.
Milkers get Alfalfa or Alfalfa/Orchard grass hay twice a day. After the morning feeding, during the pasture months, they will go out and browse all day long. During the winter months, they get fed more hay. On the milk stand, each milker gets between 1 to 1.5 pounds of grain each milkling. So a doe, depending on production and size,will get a total of 2 to 3 pounds of grain a day. We feed a 14% protein grain, with 3-4% fat.
Kids get fed grain once a day and then are given lots of alfalfa or alfalfa/orchard grass hay. It is best for kids to have free-feed hay. I am not a big grain fan, so if the kids are growing well and don't seem to be lacking, they will not get any grain at all, only hay and milk. If you are bottle raising your kids, the longer you can keep them on the milk bottle, the better. They get a much better start in life this way. Our kids are typically bottle fed until 5 months of age.
Dry does and bucks get pasture all day (when it's there), and alfalfa or alfalfa/orchard grass at least once a day. If the pasture is not good, they get fed hay once in the morning and once in the evening.
If there is any animal that is thin for some reason, first start out with trying to figure out why they are thin. Worms, mineral deficiency, etc. Once you have that taken care of, you can give them Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, Rice Bran, Soybean Meal or Calf Manna as these are all very high in fat and protein.


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I have come across the following Canadian websites, blogs, Facebook, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too
Biggar Branch, Saskatoon Genealogical Society http://biggargenealogy.wikifoundry.com The website says that the "Society members have recorded and indexed cemeteries in the R.M.'s of Biggar and Glenside, and the cemeteries at Landis, Cando and Lett (Rosemount). The Biggar Branch has published a list of births, deaths and marriages from The Independent Biggar, SK for the period 1913 to 1950 and they are available for purchase. Other indexing projects have included: obituaries from The Independent -1984 to 2006, undertaker records, census records, Canadian National Railway seniority lists and early school registers". Note: These indexes are not online.
Barnardo's Homes http://www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do/who_we_are/history/barnardos_homes.htm The website says "Barnardo's ran hundreds of children's homes across the UK from Thomas Barnardo's day until the 1970's. We don't run orphanages and children's homes anymore. However, this is a complete directory of all the homes and what has happened to them". Note: I have used this list while doing research, and have found it to be a good list to locate Barnardo's homes in the UK.
Genealogy Home Children in Canada http://coolenconnections.hubpages.com/hub/Genealogy-Home-Children-in-Canada This is a new site, provides an excellent list of Home Children websites in Canada.
Gone Researching: Genealogy experiences, thoughts, ... and we'll see where we go with this http://goneresearching.blogspot.com This new blogger is following family line in Ontario, among others.
Facebook, Videos, You Tube
Photos: New Brunswick's Internment Camp B70 http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Brunswick+Internment+Camp+photos/8746644/story.htmlThis is a photo archives of Internment Camp B70, located in Ripples, N.B. It housed more than 700 Jews in the early months of the Second World War.
Newspapers Articles of the Week
Ottawa is a work in progress http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/Ottawa+work+progress/8842977/story.html Ottawa's Carleton University professor Andrew Cohen write about the choice of Ottawa as the capital of Canada, and how so many people disagreed with Queen Victoria's choice in 1857.
http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/to-learn-more-about-maine-make-the-pilgrimage-to-quebec_2013-08-29.html The Maine Sunday Telegram suggests a trip to Quebec should be on every Mainer's must-do list.
Blackberry tea honours group's wartime heritage http://www.canada.com/Blackberry+honours+group+wartime+heritage/8883306/story.html Read about how the British Columbia Women's Institute helped the Second World War effort by canning fruit and vegetables and sending them to Britain.
British Home Children enhanced Canada's mosaic http://www.sackvilletribunepost.com/Opinion/Columnists/2011-12-07/article-2827996/----British-Home-Children-enhanced-Canada%26rsquo%3Bs-mosaic/1Read about how a British Home Child stayed in the grandparents home of writer Bill Hamilton, and how he was able to trace her voyage back to Liverpool, England.
Doors Open in Ontario this fall http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/Canada/Ontario/2013/09/04/21096946.html See the lineup of the Doors Open in Ontario this fall.
Story of the Week
Some land records have been digitized
(Based on a bi-weekly column I write for the Vankleek Hill's The Review. Parts of the column appeared on August 28, 2013)
Canadiana.org is a Canadian company in Ottawa which is preserving Canada's published history and some of these non-indexed records will be – free! Over the next ten years, it will work with 40 institutions, such as libraries, the Library and Archives Canada, and archives, to "identify, catalogue, digitize and store documentary heritage—books, newspapers, periodicals, images and nationally-significant archival materials—in specialized research databases".
The part of Canadiana.org which interests me is the Heritage Project at http://heritage.canadiana.ca.
The Heritage Project is going to take some of Canada's most popular archival collections, such as 60-million pages of FREE primary-source microfilm images from the 1600s to the mid-1900s.
I have read the list and I am impressed! What would have taken me years to find these documents in the different institution across the country, will be appearing online right in my own computer.One of the first projects that they have done is the Heir and Devisee Commission of the Upper Canada (Ontario) Land Records.
Records can include (although not always) affidavits, bonds, location certificates, powers of attorney, orders-in-council, copies of wills, mortgages, deeds of sale, and testimonial letters.
The digitized copies of the microfilm reels onsite appear in the same order as on the microfilm reels themselves. Remember, unfortunately, there is NO index by name.
Alternatively, the records are arranged by district, then by type of document, then in chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order.
The list of microfilm rolls are on http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_mikan_205142, just click on the reel you want to view, and it is there for you to research.
Reminder: Check out Canadian Week in Review every Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It's the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! The next post will be on 16 September, 2013


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GCH CH Summits Emery It's In The Bag
The Packerland Kennel Club spent the last weekend of March in Manitowoc WI hosting their two shows. Saturday's final saw Arley Hussin in the final ring with the Golden Retriever, GCH CH Summits Emery It's In The Bag, the Longhaired Dachshund, GCH CH Hundeleben Queens Amada SL, the Doberman Pinscher, GCH CH Protocol's Veni Vidi Vici, the Russell Terrier, GCH CH Goldsands Columbus, the Pomeranian, CH Chelanes The Stone The Builder Refused, the Boston Terrier, GCH CH Gunther's Gussied Up Edna, and the Belgian Tervuren, CH Matilde Of Anduin.
GCH CH Protocol's Veni Vidi Vici
(Photo by Michelle Steigmeyer)
Best went to the Golden, Chloe, and Reserve went to the Doberman, FiFi. It's the third BIS in twelve final appearances this year for Chloe and breeder/owner/handler Beth Johnson.
GCH CH Goldsands Columbus
(Photo by Lynda Beam)
Sunday, Chloe and FiFi would be back along with the same Dachshund, Russell, & Boston to see BIS judge Linda Robey. They were joined by the Shih Tzu, Ista's Hurricane Chaser, and the Shetland Sheepdog, Two J's Voodoo. Judge Robey would go with the nation's Number Ten Dog All Breeds, the Doberman, FiFi, and the Only Russell Terrier to win an AKC BIS, Bosse. It was the seventh BIS of the year for FiFi and breeder/owner/handler Jocelyn Mullins.


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Despite suing Samsung for patent infringement, Apple just can't quit the South Korean company. Samsung is contracted to product Apple's new A8 processor, according to reports.
There were rumors of others companies getting the contract, but now reports say that a Samsung official has said that the company will be working on the new processor for Apple new iPhones and iPads, according to AppleInsider. Shipments of the new A8 microchip are expected to start this fall.
The Taiwan-based TSMC was expected to take on the Apple contract, according to AppleInsider, but the news of Samsung getting the contract makes sense. Despite the antagonistic relationship in court, there appears some grudging respect for one another's attention to detail and design -- why else would Apple use Samsung for so many years if it didn't give the Cupertino, Calif. company exactly what it wanted?
U.S. & World
The truth is that it probably did and at a decent price. So, despite suing the company for patent infringement and trying to block Samsung from selling its products, Apple is still willing to have a working relationship. If only they could work this well together in the courtroom.


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Oxford Area High School FBLA sends 28 members to state competition
By ACL
Members of the Oxford Area High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America qualifying to attend the Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership Conference to be held from April 7 to 9 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center are, front from left, Davin Axelsson, Carly Gaspar, Hannah McComsey, Chris Chavez, Alyssa Sniechoski, Hannah Cummiskey, Victoria Calibey and Rachel Winand; middle from left, Emma Wilkinson, Kassidy England, Rachel Hannum, Bailee Hilaman, Abby Harvey, Alex Peffer, Brianne Roper, Jackie DiGiacamo and Lauren Keeler; top from left, Gabrielle Murphy, Sarah Johnson, Henry Trabue, Abigail Roper, Alex Chavez, Joe Barr, Bradley Way, Kyle Youssi, Elaine Estes and Thomas Sumner. Jocelyn Golly is not pictured.
Twenty-eight members of the Oxford Area High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America will attend the Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership Conference and Competition to be held from April 7 to 9 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. The students qualified for the conference after participating in several business-related categories at the FBLA Region 9 conference on Dec. 2, when over 600 chapter members from 14 area high schools competed in online events as well as live presentations at Great Valley High School.
Oxford students advancing to the state level are seniors Davin Axelsson, first place for Spreadsheet Applications, and Toria Calibey, first place for Word Processing; seniors Rachel Winand and Lauren Keeler, first place for Desktop Publishing, Team; the team of seniors Hannah Cummiskey, Carly Gaspar and Alyssa Sniechoski, first place for Hospitality Management; and sophomore Abby Roper, first place for FBLA Principles & Procedures.
Also advancing to the state level are the team of senior Kyle Youssi, juniors Elaine Estes and Thomas Sumner, and sophomores Joe Barr and Emma Wilkinson, second place, Parliamentary Procedure, Team; the team of juniors Bailee Hilaman and Brad Way, second place, Desktop Publishing, Team; juniors Josh Stillman, third place, Business Calculations, and Alex Peffer, third place, Business Law; freshman Sarah Johnson, second place, FLBA Principles & Procedures; sophomore Jocelyn Golly, third place, Word Processing; and freshmen Gabrielle Murphy, third place, Introduction to Business; and Rachel Hannum, third place, FLBA Principles & Procedures. Senior Henry Trabue and sophomore Alex Chavez will also advance to the state competition for Agribusiness.
Seniors Hannah McComsey, Brianne Roper and Jackie DiGiacomo will attend the conference after being named finalists in the Public Service Announcement event.
Junior Kassidy England will attend the state conference after being named a finalist in the Community Service Project category for organizing a car wash to benefit the Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation.
Along with Alyssa Sniechoski and Hannah Cummiskey, senior Chris Chavez will attend the state competition after the team was named a finalist in the American Enterprise Project event.
Junior Abby Harvey was re-elected Region 9 secretary for 2014-2015 and will attend the conference as part of her current term. Emma Wilkinson was elected regional treasurer for the next school year.
Any individual, business or organization interested in making a donation to the FBLA chapter to offset the cost of attending the state competition may contact adviser Kim Webber at email@example.com.


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A yawning suspect earned a stern rebuke and a trip to jail after he told a South Florida judge, "I don't care, man."
Joseph Butler was facing grand theft and resisting arrest charges when he appeared before Broward Circuit Judge John Hurley Tuesday in the incident captured on court video.
Butler, arms crossed, stood as the prosecutor read from his lengthy criminal past then yawned loudly, drawing the ire of Hurley.
"Oh don't worry, sir. Sir, I heard you yawn, but don't worry. You won't yawn in just a minute. Trust me on that one," Hurley said.
"I don't care, man. I really don't care," Butler said.
"I know this is boring to you and you'd rather be out doing something else, but I can guarantee you won't be stealing anymore after this conversation," Hurley replied.
Hurley then set Butler's bond at $104,000, but ordered him held without bond on three previous grand theft arrests.
"So he's gonna be staying in jail for awhile," Hurley said after dismissing Butler. "Good, maybe he can yawn all he wants while he over there."


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Tagged: Prince Fielder
Breathing Down Our Necks
The 2012 MLB season is just about three weeks away. Players are currently in camp fighting for roster spots, getting in shape, and preparing for what will be a summer-long grind.
29 teams have the mentality of, "let's put a good team together and have a fun season."
The Yankees on the other hand have the mentality of, "when camp breaks we need to win the division, win the pennant, and then win the World Series."
Good logic.
And as usual, it won't be easy. A number of teams have bettered themselves during the off-season, and will pose huge threats to the Yankees bringing title number 28 home to the Bronx in October. A few teams will be breathing down the Yankees' neck and they need to keep a sharp eye on them.
The top five are…
The Rays
When the Tampa Bay Rays first entered the league, they were almost a laughingstock; a joke that always finished at the bottom of the AL East. But in 2008 they came out of nowhere, capturing the division over the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, and then going on to win the AL pennant.
Since then, the Rays have been pests; a team that won't go away, no matter how many times a knockout blow is delivered to them. Last year they swiped the AL Wild Card from underneath Boston's nose, and have been to the playoffs three of the last four years.
On offense this season, Tampa Bay might be under the microscope, at least a little bit. The Rays didn't re-sign Johnny Damon in the off-season, but signed Luke Scott – who hit just .220 last year – to supplant him. After a year with the Chicago Cubs, Carlos Pena is returning to the Rays – and he only averaged .225 at the dish in 2011.
One of the only true powerhouses the Rays have at the plate is Evan Longoria, who only batted .244 last year, yet clubbed 31 homers.
With their seemingly thin offense, one might get to thinking, why are the Rays such a threat?
The answer is their starting pitching.
Number one man James Shields went the distance last year, tossing 11 complete games to lead the league in that category. He also threw four shutouts to lead the league, winning 16 games along the way.
Behind him is the pride of Vanderbilt, southpaw David Price. Last year Price compiled a 12-13 record; not the best numerically, but he was an All-Star and was coming off a season in which he won 19 games. He did prove to be a workhorse despite his uneven record, logging 224.1 innings and making 34 starts, which led the league.
Behind the 1-2 punch of Shields and Price is a supporting cast of excellent arms. 24-year-old Jeremy Hellickson is the reigning AL Rookie of the Year. He threw 189 innings in '11, won 13 games, and notched an ERA of 2.95.
Jeff Niemann won 11 games last year, as did Wade Davis, giving the Rays five pitchers with double digit wins.
If a team has that kind of efficiency out of their starting five, they are going to be very tough to beat.
The Red Sox
Boston seems to be in a little bit of a state of flux. This off-season was busy in Beantown, as they let go of revered manager Terry Francona and signed on the ever-colorful Bobby Valentine to be their skipper. They allowed closer Jonathan Papelbon to walk, as he took his flame-throwing arm to Philadelphia to be the Phillies' closer.
Two of their big-ticket starters, John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka, have undergone Tommy John surgery. Lackey will miss the entire 2012 season and Dice-K will be out until at least June or July, leaving the Red Sox with Josh Beckett and Jon Lester as their top starters.
Other than Beckett and Lester, the Red Sox have a ton of questions marks as far as their rotation in concerned. How will Daniel Bard make the transition from the bullpen to the rotation? Is Clay Buchholz going to perform at a high level?
Will Felix Doubront be a factor? What about Alfredo Aceves, who has had back problems in the past?
The starting pitching is not the only part of the team under scrutiny. Boston signed Andrew Bailey to replace Papelbon in the closer role, and will insert former Yankee Mark Melancon into the setup spot, supplanting Bard.
How will Bailey handle closing in Boston as opposed to Oakland? Will Melancon rise to challenge of setting him up in close-game situations?
All of these questions won't be answered until the season commences, but if the Red Sox score runs – and they are capable of scoring runs – it won't be a problem. Although Boston got off to a horrendous start and a fatal finish, they still scored 875 runs, which was good enough to lead the majors in '11.
And they always seem to give the Yankees a hard time.
Last June Boston swept the Bombers in three games at Yankee Stadium, being led by Yankee killer David Ortiz. Big Papi smacked two homers in the series, and stirred up controversy when he flipped his bat in what many felt was a move to show up the Yanks.
Bottom line: Ortiz proved he still has it when it comes to making the Yankees' lives miserable.
Along with Ortiz, 2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia will undoubtedly be swinging a hot bat this year, as will All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who hit .338 last season with 27 homers and 117 RBIs.
Like the pitching, speedy left fielder Carl Crawford and butch third baseman Kevin Youkilis are question marks. Crawford is dealing with a wrist injury that many analysts say caused a decline in his numbers last year. Youkilis had season-ending thumb surgery last August.
If Crawford and Youkilis come back – and return to form – the Yankees, and all American League pitchers for that matter, need to look out. These two sluggers have the potential to cause major problems for the Yankees when they are at 100%.
All things considered, the Red Sox will have a potent lineup. And no matter what anyone says, the Red Sox are always in the back of the Yankees' minds. Always.
The Tigers
Last October the Detroit Tigers dashed the Yankees' hopes and dreams of winning the World Series, eliminating the Bronx Bombers in five games in the ALDS. New York was forced to watch the Tigers celebrate on their soil, as the team from the Motor City proved to be too much for the Yankees to handle.
And it may have just gotten more difficult to beat them.
This off-season the Tigers signed power-hitting lefty Prince Fielder, who clobbered 38 home runs and drove in 120 runs last year. The hefty first baseman has twice averaged .299 at the plate (2009, 2011) and in 2007 Fielder led the National League in homers with 50.
It's what you can expect from a big guy, but don't let the size fool you.
Despite his heavy, 275-pound frame, Fielder is durable. He has played in all but one game since 2009, appearing in all 162 games in 2011 and 2009. He played in 161 games in 2010.
Fielder will join the likes of Miguel Cabrera and Delmon Young, two powerhouses who have already proven their worth in Detroit. Last season Cabrera led the league in doubles (48) and batting average (.344). Like Fielder he is also durable, as he appeared in 161 games in '11.
Young dazzled in last year's ALDS vs. the Yankees, punishing them with a .316 BA while clubbing three homers and posting a .789 slugging percentage. He collected six hits in the five game series and drew two walks, showing his worth when the stakes were high.
Detroit is obviously the front-runner to once again win the AL Central, and behind ace Justin Verlander – the reigning AL Cy Young winner and AL MVP – their chances of taking the central are high. The other teams in that division pose virtually no threat, and potentially the Yankees could face the Tigers in the ALDS again this year.
If a rematch is in the cards, the Yankees have to adjust accordingly. It didn't work out for them in last year's postseason.
The Rangers
It's no secret that Texas is one of the prime teams to beat, as they have represented the American League in the World Series the past two years. The Rangers lost their number one starter C.J. Wilson to a division rival, the LA Angels, but something tells me it's not going to matter. The Rangers' pitching will still be top notch.
Colby Lewis won 14 games last year, as did Matt Harrison. If you were to ask manager Ron Washington, he would probably say both Harrison and Lewis possess the stuff to be number one aces. Alexi Ogando went 13-8 last year with a 3.51 ERA and he'll be another weapon in the Rangers' rotation.
Throw Neftali Feliz and Yu Darvish into the mix, and you have quite a set of pitchers, although there are some questions surrounding Feliz and Darvish.
Feliz is making a transition from the bullpen to the rotation, so much like Bard in Boston, his performance depends on how well his stuff translates; how well he works being stretched out. If it goes well for him, and he throws as hard as he did working in the closer role, he'll be a feared pitcher in the American League.
Like Feliz, Darvish is making a transition – but not from the bullpen. He'll be making the switch from Japan to MLB. In his native country, Darvish was one of the finest and most revered pitchers. Last year alone Darvish struck out 276 batters over 232 innings of work, and won 18 games with a 1.44 ERA.
Those numbers can be deceitful, however.
Ask Matsuzaka, or Hideki Irabu, or Kei Igawa, or any pitcher who sparkled in Japan and fell apart here. Pitching in the states is much different than pitching in the Far East, so Darvish is basically going to be an enigma until we really see what he can do – and we won't know what he can do until he logs some innings here in the good ol' U.S.A.
As far as the Rangers' offense goes, they won't have many problems if Josh Hamilton stays healthy. Even if he spends time on the disabled list, they have plenty of power to make up for it. Mike Napoli, the Rangers' catcher, smacked 30 homers and drove in 75 runs last year.
You know you're going to be alright when you're getting that kind of production out of the catcher spot.
Along with Hamilton and Napoli, there's Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz, Elvis Andrus, and Michael Young – a perfect combination of veteran and youthful offense.
A message to the Yankees: when you're in Texas, look behind you. 'Cause that's where the Rangers are going to be! (I couldn't resist the cheesy/obscure Walker, Texas Ranger reference).
The Angels
In recent times the Angels have almost had the Yankees' number, being the only team with a lifetime winning record against the Bronx Bombers. LA's pesky hitting coupled with their stellar pitching are going to make the Halos one of the best teams in the league this season, if not the best.
And it starts with one of their gigantic off-season acquisitions.
The biggest, obviously, is first baseman Albert Pujols. The slugging 3-time NL MVP signed with the Angels on Dec. 8 – and, as if LA wasn't hard enough to beat already, they just got that much more difficult; that much deeper.
Pujols adds a surefire power bat to the lineup that already includes scrappy, young hitters like Howard Kendrick, Erick Aybar, Maicer Izturis, and Mark Trumbo. Former Yankee Bobby Abreu gives the Angels a veteran presence, as do outfielders Torii Hunter and Vernon Wells.
Last year LA scored 667 runs. Expect that number to go up in 2012.
Along with their strong offense, the Angels have stacked the deck as far as their pitching is concerned. As noted, the Halos snatched the Rangers' ace C.J. Wilson over the winter, and he will join Dan Haren and Jered Weaver – who were both in double figures in the wins category last year. Haren notched 16 Ws while Weaver put up 18.
Ervin Santana sealed 11 wins last year with an ERA under four. If he does the same working in the back end of the Angels' rotation this year, they are going to win a lot of games.
The Angels are pretty much the team that has it all; the complete package. If you were to ask me for my World Series pick, on paper, it would be the LA Angels.
But as Yankee Captain Derek Jeter always says, "on paper doesn't win you ballgames."
True. But the Angels look awfully dangerous, and have eliminated the Yankees from the playoffs twice, in 2002 and 2005. The last time the Yankees and Angels met in October (2009) the Yankees came out on top, beating the Halos in six games.
They may need to do it again if they want to win number 28.


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Central Connecticut softball's junior Tessa Brown and sophomore Laura Messina were named NEC Player of the Week and NEC Co-Pitcher of the Week for their performances in last week's 4-0 sweep, the league announced Monday. The Blue Devils are riding an eight-win streak and are 6-0 in conference play.
Brown earns her first NEC weekly honor of the season. She went 6-for-9 at the plate in the Blue Devils' 4-0 week. She batted .667 including going two-for-two against Holy Cross, posting two RBI and one double in game two of the doubleheader. She tallied three RBI, scored two runs and drew four walks on the week, both of her runs coming against conference foe Bryant. She turned in a .769 on base percentage and a .778 slugging percentage. She also registered 10 putouts and three assists through the four games.
Messina earns her second consecutive NEC Pitcher of the Week honor, as she went 3-0 on the week, including two wins over Bryant to move her conference record to 6-0. The sophomore registered two shutouts this week to reach 12 for her career and break the previous CCSU record of 10. Messina posted a 0.37 ERA on the week, allowing only one run in 19 innings of play. She struck out 13 batters against Holy Cross and eight in the first game of the Bryant doubleheader. She posted 27 strikeouts her last three games, breaking the 300 career strikeout mark and nearing the CCSU record of 313.
The Blue Devils return to action this weekend, April 6-7, for four-straight conference match-ups at the CCSU Softball Field in New Britain, CT. Central is scheduled to play Sacred Heart in a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. and Saint Francis (PA) in a Sunday doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.


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Tahoe Fund raises money for bike path
(AP) — A nonprofit environmental group has presented a check for $12,850 to help fund part of a bike path along Lake Tahoe.The check from Tahoe Fund was presented Monday to the Tahoe Transportation District for the Rabe Meadow Bike Path, a key segment of a proposed bike and pedestrian route around Lake Tahoe.The initial one-mile Rabe Meadow segment is part of a stretch that will extend from the Nevada-California line to Round Hill Pines Resort near Zephyr Cove. Officials say it will provide a direct connection from the South Shore's major tourist and lodging corridor to several residential, shopping, school, and beach areas. Tahoe Fund is a nonprofit established to raise support and money for projects that enhance environmental, recreational and educational programs at Lake Tahoe.


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Though Whitney Houston's funeral will be an intimate affair, held Saturday in the small New Jersey church she attended and sang in as a child, her fans will be able to share in the memorial by watching along online and on television.
(WATCH LIVE NOW: Whitney Houston's Funeral Online)
The decision to share the private service with the public online is a compromise, since so many fans wish to say goodbye to the legendary singer. Hollywood.com reports that only one camera from the Associated Press will be allowed in the church, and the service will be held at noon at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark.
How can you catch the service?
- CNN will air the funeral live starting at 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 PT. Piers Morgan, Soledad O'Brien, and Don Lemon will anchor the network's coverage, which will start at 11 a.m.
- Click here to watch the live stream on TIME NewsFeed
- E! News will be hosting a special report, Whitney Houston: The Funeral, at 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 PT, USA Today reports. The network will also be posting live updates to its Twitter feed, and will simulcast their network coverage. BET's special, Live: The Homegoing of Whitney Houston, will also air at 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 PT.
- Access Atlanta has rounded up some websites that will also be live-streaming the services: wsbtv.com, cnn.com/live, livestream.com/aplive, foxnews.com and majicatl.com
- Many radio stations will be airing hour-long tributes to Houston, and taking calls from fans.
(PHOTOS: Whitney Houston: A Life in Photos)
More and more big names are emerging as attendees and participants in the Houston's funeral: longtime mentor and record producer Clive Davis will speak, while Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder will perform. Franklin was especially close to the singer, considering Houston her goddaughter; Houston called her "Aunt Ree."
Kevin Costner, who was the singer's costar in The Bodyguard, will also be speaking, People magazine reports. Houston's publicist Kristen Foster told the Associated Press that the eulogy will be given by Marvin Winans, a close family friend and gospel singer. Ex-husband Bobby Brown received an invitation, as well as Oprah Winfrey. Also taking part in the program are Alicia Keys, Tyler Perry, Dionne Warwick, Cece Winans, Dionne McClurkin and Rickey Minor.
In honor of the singer, the flags at New Jersey's government buildings will be flown at half-mast on Saturday, the Washington Post reports.
If you're looking for some comfort and closure: gather your tissues, tune in online, and pay homage to the great Houston alongside some of her biggest supporters and fellow legendary voices.


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Buck Shaw Stadium might not be big enough for commissioner Don Garber to consider hosting the MLS Cup there, but the San Jose Earthquakes hope their home-field magic is good enough to put them in the Dec. 1 final.
The Quakes are famously unbeaten in their last 18 MLS matches in the quaint confines of 10,525-seat Buck Shaw, an 11-0-7 run that dates back to Aug. 13, 2011. San Jose have outscored their opponents 46-21 during that stretch.
Another such performance tonight against the LA Galaxy in the second leg of the clubs' Western Conference semifinal would put the Quakes one step closer to a title game -- a match San Jose would automatically host as holders of the league's best regular-season record at 19-6-9.
Down 1-0 after Sunday's first leg, the Galaxy will have to break San Jose's streak to avoid relinquishing their postseason crown.
"[We have] a lot of confidence," Quakes forward Steven Lenhart said of the stadium, which opened in 1962. "It's fun to play here, the fans are really supportive, and I think we have something really good going here. I think that the preparation for us is key. I don't think it's just by chance that we're showing up and winning. We've put in the work to protect our home and put on a good show for our fans. So I expect the same [Wednesday]."
Despite the plus-25 goal differential in their last 18 Buck Shaw matches, Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch is doing his best to keep his teammates from buying too deeply into the notion that it assures advancement to face either Seattle or Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference finals.
"There's definitely some confidence that comes with that, but we also know in the next breath that LA is a very dangerous team," Busch said. "They have so many weapons. And this is a one-game-only thing. It does not matter what happened here in the past, it only matters what happens [Wednesday] night. You take confidence in that we've played well here, but again, it's a little different scenario because it's winner-take-all."
The Quakes also remember that home-field advantage isn't the end-all, be-all. The New York Red Bulls were 10-3-2 at home in 2010, owners of the top seed in the Eastern Conference when San Jose shocked them 3-1 at Red Bull Arena to pull off a 3-2 series win on aggregate in a first-round playoff series that year.
"In between the lines anything can happen, and we're proof of that, going into New York and getting a result that most people probably didn't predict us getting," Quakes defender Jason Hernandez said. "We're just going to come out here and it's 0-0 at the start of the whistle and try to have a good performance."


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I've got a different concept of the House of the Cat.
10 Houses.
6 Unveiled: Bear, Elk, Falcon, Fox, Serpent, Fox.
4 veiled in black: Boar, Horse, Wasp, Spider.
11 Olivana (not including Dragon, which is... not an animal)
The Cat. Not Unveiled. Not veiled in black. Fogotten. Marked out.
Veiled in Yellow.
Because the Curiosity is the most foul gift ven can have.
The ability to see what other don't. The eyes of Sorcery. The eye for Sorcery.
They see what others don't see. And this inevitebly drives them mad.
Where Serpent knows, Cat sees.
You roll Curiosity to notice something strange. The omens of the future. The signs and glyphs of aelva danna. The spectres and posessions. Rituals used. Artefacts hidden. And you get visions. For privelege and every wager you can name an omen you see. The vision foul, grotesque and frightening. And giving hint to the qwestion you asked.
My character is a Cat with Curiosity 4 and Aspect "Oracle". I ask the qwestion: "Who of the peole around me is the most dangerous?" I gather 7 dice, make 3 wagers and make a roll.
Privelege: I see blood on the hands of Count Kether.
1 wager: I see flies and centipedes in my glass of wine.
2 wager: I see blood tears from the eyes of Lady No.
3 wager: I see web spreading around Count Rathal's seneshal.


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How the Affordable Care Act affect you, how much it will cost and what you can buy will depend on a variety of factors, beginning with where you live.
Use our ACA Super Tool below will give you immediate help and answers as you begin to research the best options for you and your family.
Each state will have its own online "exchange" where consumers can shop for coverage. Other important variables include age and income.
U.S. & World
Options also vary for employers who want to offer new insurance options to their workers.
Low-income Americans who can't afford care on the private market will generally have two potential choices, depending on their circumstances. Those whose earnings fall under 138 percent of the poverty level will be directed to the newly expanded Medicaid programs (if their states choose to take part). Those who come in above that line will be directed to the online exchanges, where the lowest-income enrollees, up to four times the poverty rate, will be eligible for tax credits and subsidies provided they don't have access to affordable employee coverage.